It probably sounds a bit pathetic, but neither my family, nor my in-laws, nor my parents family have ever had a barbeque before, so we thought we would start a tradition. Also, noticing the fun we seem to have at our ladies only Eid parties, my husband has been threatening for ages to have a […]

This week I had agreed to meet some very dear friends from university for dessert.  We usually meet for a meal, but I thought this idea was good because it would give me time to get the kids fed and all of my chores done. What actually happened was that I left work early, sneaked […]

I did say (back in March) that I would post pictures from my brothers wedding. Kooky Little Sister finally brought round the CD her friend put together for us and most of these pictures are ones he took for us. Before the wedding, both the groom and bride had their henna night, seperately but on […]

My lovely neighbour did our henna this year.  She did mine, Little Lady’s, Darling’s and both of the neighbour’s girls the day before Eid.  She is very talented and always so gracious about doing it: I love that she always does Darling’s henna too.  She did put a dot on Baby’s hand to see if she […]

I just posted about how I like things neat and tidy, when Little Man asked me if we could go to the supermarket.  I asked why and he showed me the cupboard where we keep our pasta and biscuits.  He had climbed onto the counter and reorganised the whole cupboard.  Small things on top and […]

I found myself fretting on Saturday night, realising that I had been busy with family and had allowed my chores to stack up. I often find that Sunday turns into a chore marathon, with me trying to get everything done before the weekend is over and in time for everyone to be ready for school […]

The newest edition of InCulture Parent is out now including my column “The Big Question – Sex Education and Islam”. Please do take a look and leave a comment. Your thoughts and advice on this subject would certainly be of interest to me and I am sure others too.

I wrote quite some time ago about planning for our half term and end of term breaks in a way that makes the most of our time off of school or work but also includes the children in the process.  The example below was where I let the kids fill the activities out in the […]

Alhamdulillah, I think this has been one of the busiest times of my life. Fasionista’s baby, Kooky’s wedding, my little one being born making me a mum of five, with two Eid’s and Ramadan in between and Little Lady starting high school and then changing high school within half a term. It’s also our turn […]

A colleague at work reccommended I take my children to National Seal Sanctuary.  It was a bit of a trek from our hotel, but turned out worth it.  The tickets for nine of us added up, but the proceeds are used to help rescued seals and also a few penguins and otters. The sanctuary was […]

I am enjoying spending time with the kids during the Christmas break, but as the hubby is away for the weekend (and taken the brother-in-law with him), I am also enjoying some unadulterated me time once the kids are in bed (although I do miss him of course).I checked out some books from the library. […]

I want to see a photography exhibition by David Bailey yesterday, organised as part of the Create 2012 Festival of art in London.  The photo’s covered a number of periods where the photographer had returned to East London where he grew up. The photo’s were a treat and my reaction to some of them surprised me.  I originally  thought the […]

I am astonished to find myself so quickly at the start of another month of Ramadan.  I make dua that we make the most of the beautiful opportunities this blessed month presents to us: to purify ourselves spiritually and physically, to renew our iman, to work on our relationship with Allah (SWT) and to increase our worship and […]

By the dawn; By the ten nights, And by the even and the odd. And by the night when it departs. – Al Quran 89:1-4Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to […]