I started the day in the best way possible yesterday with a text from my brother-in-law at dawn announcing the birth of Fashionista Sisters baby. We’ve all been waiting on tenterhooks the last few days as her due date approached and praying for her, particularly since the day before when she mentioned that she thought contractions were starting.She […]

As the days get longer, colder and darker, I find that I have to re-frame my attitude towards the dark and the cold.I used to hate summer because I could not stand the heat. I used the spend the whole summer holiday cooped up in my room reading and mostly refuse to go anywhere apart […]

I’m very lucky in that I work with a group of generally very nice people. It’s still always nice though when a Muslim sister joins the workplace, which was what happened this week. A fellow hijabi, she seems very competent and confident and also a chatter-box like me, so it wasn’t long before we got […]

I realised that I never got round to posting the pictures from Darling’s Aqeeqah (sacrifice of an animal for the baby).  We did this when she was about 10 days old and with such sort notice it was chaotic and great fun. We decided to do it here instead of sending the money to Pakistan […]

After following the baby around for the last three nights as he threw up in various parts of the house, seems we have all caught his bug. The doctor confirmed that all three of the kids and I have viral gastroentiritis, so we are staying in bed and nibbling on toast as reccommended. That is […]

Dear Fab asked recently what my sister Fashionista had been up to because she hasn’t been updating her blog recently.  Well she has been busy with her cake making.  She recently completed a cake-making course which was gifted to her and made some really ute cakes as part of this: Everyone loved her cakes and […]

 One of the things I love in Ramadan is sending iftar to neighbours, family and friends and people sending back treats my way. I like that we just make a little extra and send it out and Allah (SWT) blesses it and it is enough for quite a few others. Over the last 10 days, […]

Last Friday (28th September 2018) was Macmillan Coffee Morning (also known as the World’s Largest Coffee Morning).  I got together with a group of girls at work to host one of our own and raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. We encouraged people to bring in cakes and savoury snacks to sell and one of […]

There was a time when I was known for my temper.  I could erupt quickly and nastily and no one near me was safe.  I thought that time was long behind me.  But as my children move into their teenage years, I find my oldest at 15, has found some buttons that can switch the […]

For my cousin’s wedding, my aunt invited us to a party for dua (supplication) and naseehah (advice) for the bride. This was something we had not heard of before. In our family, the minute a wedding is announced, we just want to party like a bunch of heathens. I wore one of my favourite outfits […]

I’ve been trying to eat more healthily recently, reducing sugar and carbs where I can. But to be honest our food is so carb-based, I didn’t know where to start. No rice, roti, nan, bread, chips, pasta…what’s left?!? So I’ve been experimenting with salad ingredients and having it with a piece of fish, chicken or […]

Alhamdulillah the blessed month of hajj began last night and today is the first day.  The first ten days of dhul-hajj are such a great opportunity for us: Rasulullah (Sallahu Alaihi Wassalam) said: “On no days is the worship of Allah desired more than in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The fast of […]

Long-Suffering Sister bought me this book as an Eid gift (with a £20 note inside which was nice of her). The booker prize-winning tag didn’t go unnoticed either, so I expected a good read.The White Tiger of the title is Balram Halwai, a Bangalore businessman who recounts the events of his life throughout the book […]

I recently came across Imam Shadeed Muhammad’s Instagram account for the first time and was really impressed by his wisdom and the things he had to say. In one of his recent video’s, part of the #livingwithprophetyusuf Ramadan Series, he talks about beauty: “Beauty if determined by quality not quantity. Allah called the story of Prophet […]