I went to a Green Fair this weekend, hoping to learn something new. It’s funny how differently we all experienced it. The fair had stalls for plants, home-made and organic food and toiletries, crafts (lots of jewellery stalls) and information on local voluntary and charitable projects of various types.I found it beneficial and came away […]

I came across this wonderful piece by Danusha Laméris (Poet Laureate of Santa Cruz County, California). Small Kindnesses by Danusha Laméris I’ve been thinking about the way, when you walk down a crowded aisle, people pull in their legs to let you by. Or how strangers still say “bless you” when someone sneezes, a leftover […]

Eid Mubarak everyone. Taqabbal Allahu Minna Wa Minkum (May Allah accept it from you and us).  I hope this Eid is a peaceful and joyful one for all of you, full of good food, good company and good deeds insh’Allah. May Allah shower the Ummah with his mercy, love and grant them happiness, peace and […]

I have been quiet on the blogging front recently while I try and make sense of my real life. I have a cycle of establishing routines at home and then finding that something comes along and we are back at square one with meal plans, bed times, housekeeping timetables and all sorts of other good […]

I needed something easy to write about while I was feeling a little brain dead and stuck and this felt like an easy list to make. Forty of my favourite books by the age of forty. 1.     The Sealed Nectar by Sheikh Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri – an important and easy to read biography of the beloved […]

I recently got the opportunity to review Amazing! magazine for children.  It got a big thumbs up from my children who loved it.  The creators of Amazing! magazine have kindly offered to give away 10 free copies of their next edition to readers. To win a copy, like either their Facebook or Twitter page and leave a comment […]

I have been meaning to get a lemon tree for a long time.  My various relatives in my parent’s village on Pakistan have trees in the yard filled with oranges, lemons, guava trees.  I used to think how lucky to walk out of your house and be surrounded by trees laden full of sweet, scented […]

Little Lady is nearly finished with primary school, after about four more weeks the school holidays begin and then the adventure of secondary school.  When I was a kid this meant the relief of primary school ending and an end to being pushed around because I was so small and the terror of big school […]

The Good Finding the perfect outfit for Eid (hot pink, silver and pearls). Being bought another outfit by Long-Suffering Sister (turquoise, silver and diamante). Finding 6 bunches of flowers for £5 in the market, in the colour’s of my Eid décor. Finding the white tops I needed for Little Lady at market for £1 each […]

I recently agreed to make a banner for a sister as I enjoy doing these. Little did I know it would be such a learning process.My first attempt didn’t turn out so great: I usually glitter the letters in this way (with glitter glue pens) and it looks okay, but it didn’t work on white […]

I have written before about the need for mums to unwind and some ways that might help in trying to do this. This last week at work has been manic and although things have calmed down I have struggled to ensure I do not carry the stress home. Sometimes it has been very small things […]

I really do need to get a bit more domesticated. Or at least remember to empty the pockets of my husbands trousers and take the belt out before I put them in the wash next time… Unfortunately, I seem to have given my husband the impression that my answer to cleaning the cooker or fridge […]

You might want to look away now as I am about to do something I don’t normally do – VENT!!!! I don’t usually like to use my blog for this purpose, but I thought hey – what’s the point of having one if I can’t use it now and again to clear my head.What a […]

I love both crafts and thrifting, but with no decent boot fairs not until summer, I have avoided buying new materials. A recent trip to a PDSA charity shop though, led to these stamping and embroidery materials. The stamping kit cost £2, and the mini stamps came with it. A second package for 75p had […]