25 Bookish Things About Me [Tag]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

This is a booktuber video tag I saw, and because I don't make youtube videos any more i'm going to blog it instead. Here we go!

1. My favourite children's book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar
2. When I was young I was rewarded with book's for good behaviour, and this is something I will do with my children in the future
3. I will buy a book just for the pretty cover without even checking the synopsis... if it's the right price!
4. Although they're more bulky, I prefer hardback to paperback
5. I hate spine crinkles on paperback's
6. I have been known to read my paperback's with them open at 45degree's to stop spine crinkles
7. I always keep my book's in clean, near perfect new condition
8. I hate to lend my book's as I rarely get them back, and other people don't respect book's to my standard
9. Dog ear's upset me - use a bookmark!!
10. Some of my favourite memories as a child were at the children's library where i'd sit for age's reading book after book
11. I always used to pretend to be the teacher and read my book to the imaginary class, holding my book out toward my 'audience'
12. I love a bargain bucket of book's, most of my book's have been fab little drop on's
13. I read a wide variety of book's
14. I don't have a favourite author
15. In high school my favourite curriculum read was 1984 by George Orwell, and I some how still have my copy of it. Along with: Macbeth, Henry V and Great Expectation's. Oops.
16. I am yet to read most classic's, even though I had a collection of them as a child
17. My favourite children's author is Roald Dahl, I used to spend my £3 pocket money on his book's from whsmith when I was little
18. My favourite book of all time is The Quran. No matter what, when or where, each time I read it, it's as though something click's, relate's to that moment in my life and touches me. It still has the WOW factor, and i'm pretty sure that will never fade. God is the greatest.
19. I love building my mini islamic library but dislike how Islamic book's are so expensive
20. Other than my islamic book's, my next largest collection is cookbook's, I love getting inspiration from them
21. As a child care practitioner, one of my favourite activities is reading to children, I couldn't encourage it any more, if a child wants a story for the third or fourth time, read it, set their love of reading from an early age
22. When I was young, I remember my Nana reading an Enid Blyton collection book to me, I loved it so much I wanted to take it home, she said "no" and to keep it at her house so I had something to read whilst visiting and incase I lost it, but she finally gave in. I did end up losing it, to my complete dismay. I don't know the name of it, it didn't have it's dust jacket and was a blue hardback but all I can remember from it was a character called Mr Squiggle appeared when a naughty girl kept drawing on the wall's (I think her name was Kathy..?) If anyone knows which book this is, please let me know! I'd be incredibly grateful!
23. I can only read in deadly silence, how people listen to music and can concentrate on the story as lyric's go through their ear's, at the same time, boggle's my mind!
24. I love urban outfitter's book's, they always seem to find fun, quirky, coffee table, must-have-it book's
25. I find it sad when people say they've never read a book in their life or utter "I hate reading". What? where have you been? who are you? You just haven't found a book you like. You are missing out on so much. Join a library, have a browse, just read something.

If anyone is on GoodReads, come join me! It's free to sign up and it's basically a social network for reader's. If you're like me, i'm sure you'll really enjoy it!

Easy Zaatar Crisp's on The Pink Chopping Board

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Asalamu alaikum.
 New segment alert!
 I've decided to share some of my recipe's with the WORLD!
I love food and I love to experiment with lot's of world food's and cook for other's. It's even better when an idea goes to plan and everyone enjoys it, asking for seconds or my family request to eat it again within the same week.

My main foodie loves are Italian and Middle Eastern food. You maybe surprised to know that they overlap slightly as many Italian dishes came from the Arab's. Many ingredient's are shared but they both also have their uniqueness. Saying this I try to cook a variety or dishes from around the world (including my own door step) as there's far too much good food out there to contain yourself to one type.

--
Today on "The Pink Chopping Board", i'm going to start with something so incredibly easy to make, and very, very tasty. It's healthy, halal, vegetarian, vegan and made of ingredient's you usually have in your cupboard, which is always nice to discover.

It makes a great gourmet snack, party food, starter, side to breakfast and much more.

If you're unfamiliar with zaatar زَعْتَر‎ , it's a delicious middle eastern spice and herb blend. Zaatar usually consists of: oregano, sesame seeds, summac, thyme, basil and salt. However there are many varieties differing between the countries of the Middle East.

There are so many way's to use it. A traditional way, which I have learnt from my Palestinian in-law's, is to dip a piece of warm pitta bread in olive oil and then into a small bowl of zaatar, in a similar way to a dipping oil. Or, there is zaatar manakeesh or manakeesh bi zaatar, this is a bread dough which has olive oil spread on it, sprinkled with zaatar and then cooked. I much prefer it baked. Some contemporary idea's which i've seen zaatar used for are, seasoning chunky homemade oven chips and even popcorn! I will be trying these out, very soon.


 Zaatar Crisp's


Just 3 ingredient's:

Zaatar
Extra virgin olive oil (or olive oil is fine)
Pitta Bread


Let's begin!

Combine zaatar mix and oil in a bowl

For these type's of dishes where I can afford to use too little or too much (as you can easily save it for later), I usually eyeball my ingredient's. For this I use about 2 handfuls of zaatar and less than half a cup of oil for two pitta's. Pitta bread comes in different size's so only take these measurements as a guide, remember it's not set in stone. If your mix is too thick, add more oil to your liking. If you run out of mix and have left over plain pitta pieces, put them in a ziplock food bag and save them for when you cook them tomorrow... because i'm sure you will, once you taste the deliciousness! You will be hooked.

Pre-heat oven to 200C

Open up the pitta bread and cut each half into triangle's

Using a pastry brush spread the mixture on the inside of the bread. 

I have to say, it maybe easier to spread the mix and THEN cut it into triangle's. See which works best for you. I just started doing my thing, trial and error people, trial and error.

Cook for 5-7 mins 
NOTE: if you use a fan oven, you may want to check yours prematurely so you don't cremate them!

Season with salt 
(only if your zaatar mix doesn't contain any already)


Enjoy & sahtain!

Shamelessness - Lower your gaze

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم  In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Have you noticed how it's the most impure activities that seem to be most popular these day's? Human's unable to control themselves, lacking their sense of shame. Looking at impure thing's, undressing to please other people's desire's or for money, intoxication of alcohol and drug's, gambling money and asset's, using interest in business transaction's, sex outside of marriage, harm and abuse of self or other's, impure illegal act's...and we wonder why so many generation's are damaged mentally, emotionally and physically. The main problem? They don't follow life discipline. 
Not only that they do not allow positive role model's. All of the above would be the easy route, giving into tempation. Everybody else is doing it, why shouldn't I?  In today's new's it's rare for somebody to become famous in a respectable and honourable way. We are typically fed the get famous quick by X,Y and Z. Just think of any reality tv show, i'm sure a few have popped into mind even if you don't make a habit of actually watching them (not to mention a show created entirely about the title of this post!).
Go disrespect yourself or your kid's and you get easy money. Great! Everyone's working for money, right? Well, I can get it super quick, and lots of it AND maybe i'll be famous too! The problem with this is that once your sin's are exposed, you cannot remove them from the world's eye. You can ask for forgiveness sure, but everything is out there and the way technology is, will no doubt be there forever. The kim kardashian 'tape', snooki's antic's, nicki minaj's performing like a clown in a music video, and the lady gaga's of the world (this is the part where i'd wonder if their parent's are proud of them on how they were taught, but in retrospect i'd imagine they would be, which makes my stomach turn. Especially when you learn that it's beyonce's mother who creates her stage outfit's for her(!)). 
Lose all your dignity and respect, for what? Some cash to buy material item's that you won't be able to take with you when you pass? No, thank you. I'd rather lose everything worldly and still retain my dignity than act like an animal for money. Audoobillah.
We shouldn't be looking up to these people or even allowing our children to look at such disaster's. We should be ashamed to even come into contact with any of these people. The warm weather we experience is a big example, in England especially as soon as there's a slight ray of sunshine people seem to strip off, no care for who can see them or what they are exposing to other adult's (and children!) too. Humanity should have a sense of shame, "lower your gaze", which applies to men first, then women, we are not animal's unable to control ourselves. Where is our hayya modesty? If you feel no shame in looking at somebody who is half dressed all awrah on show, gyrating on tv, then something is really really wrong. I don't know about you but when I see thing's like this it makes me cringe so much, for my fellow human being's in this life, Muslim or not. Modesty is beautiful. How many young girl's wish to be like beyonce? rhianna? and many other women who are in the spotlight, imitating their dances, singing inappropriate lyric's only to have their parent's praising them for this and putting them on singing show's. What??  Even though it is out there, and yes there is alot of it, it doesn't mean to say we join in with such activities which displease Allah SWT. Controlling yourself is jihad, a personal struggle. For every step in life there are rule's and discipline; in school, at work, the legal system and even driving a car. Rule's to ensure health, safety, and (usually) positive outcome's for everyone. If there were no rule's there would be total chaos. Just like our own lives, if we don't have any rule's or care for anything then it will become chaos. Islam has an answer for all these harmful goings on in the world to help people better themselves and to be prosperous.  Rather than tumbling fast on a downward spiral. Let's face it, we maybe the cleverest of being's created but we sure can make the worst decision's which can be far from proactive. Lust, greed, envy to name but a few can influence our decision's if not disciplined.  I can type and type about non Muslim's and their impact and infiltration on our ummah for day's, but let's take a look at ourselves, inshaAllah. We now have girl's going all out in public in an outfit which is far from the islamic requirement's - I don't wish to see VPL's on anyone nevermind my own sister's! Men asking their wives to remove hijab, women commenting in public how 'hot' a guy is, men staring at strange women, children not using their manner's towards their elder's, more profanities used than Quran uttered, friend's envious of each other...Muslim's losing their faith.  The below video by Nouman Ali Khan is a great reminder and is a short clip taken from Returning to Allah (if you wish to view the full lesson), I don't think I can put it in better word's.

Islam always has the answer and always is the answer, SubhanAllah.

APRIL recap - Link Love

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Asalamu alaikum, i'm back with a belated monthly recap.

April was mostly spent pondering my future with work and studying. I researched more universities and the course I am interested in. I still have a little way to go, in term's of entry requirement's, i'm getting there slowly but surely. I may go into this further in a separate blog post in the future inshaAllah, as I didn't take the typical education route.

A trip to Ikea and The Range helped us complete some home improvement's and DIY

Listened to this fab interview on nutrition for beginner's, if you're looking at improving your diet then i'd recommend it - ProductiveMuslim interview's Nour Zibdeh from NOURition

After my interview was successful I was asked to return for a 3 day trial so show them what I could do, the job position is very much sort after and I am yet to hear a decision, dua's needed as it's much more than a job to me, Allah knows. 

Spent a whole week creating lesson plan's, researching fun, early learning activities, children's islamic art's and craft's and making resource's/DIY sensory recipe's

We went to Jimmy's World Grill

Enjoying the cartoon's on The Muslim Show

I discovered my new favourite lip balm - burt's bees beeswax lip balm

Have you heard Dawud Wharnsby Ali's song "Rachel"? I cried when I heard it for the first time this month

One word: Dexter. I'm completely addicted and have just finished season 5

Went into the city for a little shop with Mum

Mango & Passion fruit cooler for me

Discovered some fab recipes and made: chocolate courgette cake, pistachio nut butter, & Zaatar crisp's

You can have your cake and eat it too!

Baked Zaatar crisp's, mmmm.

Wilted spinach in kufta after trying and tasting it in the cannelloni at La Favorita

Downloaded a great, free dua app called: Dua & Azkar thanks to ProductiveMuslim for sharing it

I still havent been able to hit the gym, but I have been doing home workout's alhamdulilah - no excuses!

Islamic Knowledge
Returning to Allah - Nouman Ali Khan
Why Yusuf Estes left Catholicism
YOLO is destroying our youth and ummah

TV & Movies
DEXTER
Prison Break
The Amazing Race (I only watched it online for #TeamYoutube)
Safe
What to expect when you're expecting
From Prada to Nada
Zookeeper

Books
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
It's quite good, I just haven't had time to or the ability to fully function to read. Sounds crazy as I love reading but I guess i've had alot on and just decided that it's better to flake infront of the TV with netflix...we all have those day's.

Random Googles
giant bubble recipe, urbanfonts, fonts2u, pre school printables, growing milkweed for monarch's, Boots simply sensitive gently refreshing toner, school bullying dr michele borba, keele university, audiomicro, arabic for children, close protection training, slow cooker reviews, nutritiouseats,

InshaAllah I will be writing more blog post's this month, i've got to get that blogging bug back as I really have missed it!

March: A monthly recap of another kind...

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

What a month!

SubhanAllah, you know Allah is great when He can help guide you through the worst condition's and you continue to feel happy and blessed coming out the other side. Overwhelming emotion doesn't really capture the magnitude of event's which took place this March. Let me just say that the month has been quite something. I'm not even talking about the amount of snow and freezing temperature's we've had through March either.

A month where I have done some major soul searching. I spent a week with my Dad, away from my husband to enable us both to breathe and think about our future together (8 year's together and only spending one or two chunk's of time apart? Alhamdulilah I think we had done great so far, but we really did need it!).
This led to many thought's and feeling's. Asking what I truly want in life, the thing's I would do or give to complete them, setting my priorities straight, giving myself a good old reality check! Have I been doing the best I can? Completing my duties as a Muslim, wife, daughter and so on? Letting myself get into a rut and feeling defeated from thing's out of my control. Was I going to let it keep me down, and then let it repeatedly kick me and control me, whilst I was down?

These are the moment's that change my life.

Learning things about myself that I never thought possible, clearing the mist. Age is inevitable, maturity is optional. Alhamdulilah these moment's and event's in our life are 100% a test from the One who loves us most. Created to set us up for a higher quality life here and in  Jannah, inshaAllah. The most difficult test's are for the toughest soldier's, and i'm blessed to have been given this time to complete my challenge and inshaAllah learn from it and continue with positive action. Of course I will probably stumble along the way, I am not perfect. However as long it keeps me close to Allah SWT, i'm grateful.

I feel as though I have never experienced any such emotional heartache as I have done this month. At the same time I have also felt elation and bounce-off-the-wall happiness from some family news and an announcement from one of my close friend's, mashaAllah. It was bliss, almost everyone I knew had some sort of happy news to share which was joyous and refreshing.
I had the pleasure of visiting Germany with my husband this month too. It wasn't a planned trip, just a nice treat for the both of us, we spent it with family so it really was a treat not having to worry about anything! (If you've experienced arab family hospitality, then you will know what I mean!). It's also one more country marked off the 'to visit' list.
I then had one day to smooth out the anxious reality snap back, get myself into gear and prepare for a new opportunity. Then the following day I was sitting in an interview for one of the best opportunities to grace me. I'm currently making dua that I am successful, to be blessed with this job so I can give my talent's and put them to good use, ya Fattah.

This maybe the year when everything changes.