Hello Summer!

Today's post is to merely to advertise an awesome tent-like-thing, the girls received as a summer gift from their Grammy (thank you Grammy!)

It's called the Fortamajig, (actually only Fortamajig minus 'the'. It just sounded strange introducing it without signifying it with 'the' you know?)

 It's brilliance is-- it's just a big piece of fabric, with lots of elastic Velcro. So you can pretty much attach it to anything. And form it into whatever shape or form you want. Do click the link they have neat displays for the thing... coolness!

So this is pretty much what we spent our afternoon doing (right after we opened the cardboard package)

Summer related:

An awesome person sent me this link for safe sunscreens. (Thank you!)

 A life saving post for any tall person caring for a short person or many short people this summer.

Food related question:

I can totally live on watermelon with feta cheese (you never tried it? heaven!) this season, and frankly I don't like my kitchen very much with soaring temperatures. Any ideas for simple, non-stove, yet nutritious, summer meals? I can do minimal stove use I guess. 

 We had this with seedless watermelons tonight.

Peace. 

oh speaking of summer, this looks cool. (yes I can totally sneak one extra thing, you see that's the cool thing about this blog. IT'S MINE! I can do whatever I want with it *insert evil laugh*)

Photo of the day :: First day of summer

Hot. Sticky. Buggy. Goodness, so much fun. Even for a bug-o-phobic?(wait...just googled it) an herpetophobic like moi!

Links:

I am finally coming around, and finding the appeal in Glee. I know!

I don't know if you are familiar with the Darabuka, I know how to do a few basic beats, but she really rocks it!


would have loved to attend this show.

Ninety degrees today, Ah yes! (btw, this is not me, oh noooooo)


And this is why I love etsy.

I don't wear heals, but heart!

I have farmers market asparagus, waiting for us to stay indoors for just a few hours, so I can make this.

My mother owned that same exact dress in lilac in the seventies, with the same braided fabric belt. Too bad she's about a foot shorter than I am.

Peace.

I fell in love again...

 ... with the city. Garrison Keillor warned in one of his articles, about visiting a new place in spring-- you might find your self moving there permanently.  And oh how wise and true his words are. I am not going over seas this summer, and so far our plans are to stay put. But frankly I don't really mind. (except that I miss Egypt.)

 Chicago my friends is not a city to lament living in (except maybe in winters, {but that's another story} and frankly if we didn't have 'them' rough winters, everyone would come and stay--and that would be problematic)

 It's also a bonus when we get visitors, there's always stuff to do and places to go. So yesterday was millennium park day. (If you've never been to Chicago before, I absolutely recommend a mandatory visit. Come in spring if you can. Who knows you might decide to stay, and then we'll be real life friends, how about that?)

 If you're decision comes later in season, no worries, we have the best feet coolers in town. Just come, all things go...

Peace.

Sympathy

 I used to get tonsillitis every month without fail when I was a little girl. You know what this meant... Yup, I was spoiled rotten during my childhood-- if that is at all possible!

My mother is one of these mothers, that have enormous hearts. When I fell sick, she would sit next to me, rub her hands against my forehead and alternate between singing and reading Quran. She would then make me potato soup. And demand all four siblings of mine, to be my personal slaves, for the entire duration of my sickness. Sweet life I'm telling you! (no wonder I got sick all the time.) I still keep my tonsils by the way. The doctor didn't see a reason to remove something that is perfectly functionable just because my mother thought it to be a good idea (around that time, the trend was to rid oneself as soon as one could of their tonsils, for they're but a nuisance) "God put it there for a reason, so let's keep it there, until God gives us a reason to remove it"... Thank you Doctor wise-man-you, sorry I don't remember your name.

I am remembering this because, a couple of days back I felt horrible. I had achy bones all over, and could hardly lift my self from laying flat on the floor. I had mastitis.  I was 95% sure. So I checked my temperature and sure enough I had a fever. It was late, so I had to wait till morning to get checked. My husband gave me everything one needs in a situation like mine. He gave me a hot wash cloth to release my milk clot, pain killers, food, and lots of fluids. And then he went to sleep... WHAT?
bbb... but... I need sympathy! I want him to rub his hands against my forehead and alternate between singing and reading me Quran. I want potato soup. I want... I want my mommy.

The next morning I woke up sore, and bitter. I got some sympathy from declaring to my facebook friends about my state. (I also learned that you can suck out the infection by placing cabbage leaves on the infected side. must. buy. cabbage!) But it wasn't enough. So I called my doctor who prescribed antibiotics (heart) over the phone for me. and a couple of pills later, I was as good as new. Well, almost, I called my mama and she sang and read Quran to me over the phone.

Peace.

Scenes from our weekend ::

Cook out in a park near the beach naturally means an extended beach visit with everyone. The short peeps got all wet and sandy, the tall peeps were happy to watch. (I wish I had some frizbie captures from the same outing for today. Next time I'll remember to throw with one hand and click with the other!)

ninety five degrees today! is it summer already? (her neck was all cute and sweaty. heart!)

Thank goodness for shady yards and ice-cream! (also brooms)

Rhubarb syrup, all jarred up and ready to rock some sparkly drinks!

How did your weekend look like?

Happy Monday (we have a thunderstorm for Monday's forecast, time for arts and crafts)

Peace.

snot bubbles and cake-y cookies

I am sitting here staring at the screen, while listening to my youngest baby make unhappy noises as she sleeps-- she has the sniffles and it's at it's worst at night. I have her head all propped up with pillows for easier breathing, yet I can still hear her deep inhales and exhales, sometimes followed by moans and bark sounding coughs. My heart is aching for her. I truly wish I can lend her my nose until her illness clears up. (she wouldn't want to sport my big nose on her tiny face for longer than needed)

 I am not one of those all natural, remedy giving parents, even though I truly wish I was. I am not that patient. I will make chicken soup, and I will give arnica for speedy healing. And I give vit D to promote the immune system. (I also hold and snuggle with her as much as I can, my lower back is currently suffering from carrying her most of today.) But if my baby is aching, I give Tylenol, which I have a love/hate relationship with. Well maybe a hate all the icky stuff inside: the dyes (I try to get the dye-free kind) chemicals and what have you. (and those recalls are scary) But I love that it numbs my baby's pain. What's a mama to do?

How do you treat illnesses at your end?Please share.

 The sun was a tease today, hiding behind clouds, playing the shy game. I did manage to air Mei's mattress in those brief sunny moments. (I should air Grabby's tomorrow, get rid of some germs.) meanwhile Grabby rocked some  awesome snot bubbles-- my next door neighbor declared them the biggest she's ever seen.(high praise I'm telling you!) She even wanted to get her fancy Camera to take some shots. We agreed that it's best to leave it to our memories... I think we made the right choice.

 Mei helped mama make chocolate chip cookies this morning. (no, I still didn't buy sugar) I googled baking with agave nectar, (since I had a bottle on hand for like EVER,) and fancy shmancy internet peeps said that it can substitute sugar in any recipe except the result of the cookies will be chewier than usual. Well I say: internet peeps, with-all-do-respect, it's not true. The cookies were more like cake than cookies. I mean I am not the crusty-flaky cookie kind of girl. I am the 'a-little-bit-crusty-from the-outside-yet-chewy-gooey-from-the-inside kind of chocolate chip cookie girl. Yet the cake-y texture didn't do it for me. I mean if I want a cake-y texture I'll just bake cake. You know what I'm saying? so just so we're clear for next time, I am sticking with my trust-worthy sugar all the way!

Btw: apologies on the title, I couldn't resist!

Peace.

right about now

The sun has been gracing us for the past two days (we are very appreciative over here.) Sun usually = Mama in good mood, even if babies are unwilling to step outside. (are they mad?) We stepped outside anyways and they loved it.

We didn't make it to the beach yet, even though I so wanted to go today, but Mei wanted the park instead. (mad I'm telling you!) She went to the park as the green fairy (don't mind the wings, I buy them from the second hand store whenever I spot them, they do the job, even though I so want to try my hand at making them myself one of these days!)

***

 (photo from before, remember?)

I have two pounds of rhubarb in the refrigerator. I am in love with rhubarbs this season. I also make a point to always have radishes on hand. I know they don't go together, but I am about to attempt the unthinkable... or maybe not (one episode of food poisoning is enough, blech)
So I tried to make this and this (also this), this morning with the girls, but imagine that-- I have no sugar or salt in my house. true story. what are the odds that they both finish at the same time and without me noticing. Well the odds are apparently very likely. (I am in a contradictory mood tonight, I just noticed, or did I?)

***
Sewing:
 I have officially abandoned sewing for the past three months. I miss it, I won't lie, but I am currently in a rut. I have two cut pieces of fabric waiting to be sewn together to form a very unusual garment--since I didn't measure or follow a pattern (what? I am trying to revolutionize the craft. I believe. Also I am mad)

last words: I miss my Camera!

Peace.

Added:
oooooooooo I just saw that smitten kitchen posted this. must. buy. sugar!