Learning about My Body

This is the book "Learning about my body" we're working on right now...I got it for 12 SR ...quite cheap(it was in the disounted rack at Jarir...my favourite book store)

I made 2 photocopies of the book...one for each kid....so they can work on it together...

This book is alot of fun with so many hands on activities & numerous reproducibles

My oldest has been asking alot of questions....& masha Allah they're both enjoying the book very much.

In sha Allah I'll be posting pics of the finished products...

Sustainable Happiness

I was reading this article today...& I thought I'd share with all of you...

Happiness is a big issue on everyone's list

In the last few years, psychologists and researchers have been digging up hard data on a question previously left to philosophers: What makes us happy? Researchers like the father-son team Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener, Stanford psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, and ethicist Stephen Post have studied people all over the world to find out how things like money, attitude, culture, memory, health, altruism, and our day-to-day habits affect our well-being. The emerging field of positive psychology is bursting with new findings that suggest your actions can have a significant effect on your happiness and satisfaction with life. Here are 10 scientifically proven strategies for getting happy.

Savor Everyday Moments
Pause now and then to smell a rose or watch children at play. Study participants who took time to "savor" ordinary events that they normally hurried through, or to think back on pleasant moments from their day, "showed significant increases in happiness and reductions in depression," says psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky.

Avoid Comparisons
While keeping up with the Joneses is part of American culture, comparing ourselves with others can be damaging to happiness and self-esteem. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, focusing on our own personal achievement leads to greater satisfaction, according to Lyubomirsky.

Put Money Low on the List

People who put money high on their priority list are more at risk for depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, according to researchers Tim Kasser and Richard Ryan. Their findings hold true across nations and cultures. "The more we seek satisfactions in material goods, the less we find them there," Ryan says. "The satisfaction has a short half-life — it's very fleeting." Money-seekers also score lower on tests of vitality and self-actualization.

Have Meaningful Goals

"People who strive for something significant, whether it's learning a new craft or raising moral children, are far happier than those who don't have strong dreams or aspirations," say Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener. "As humans, we actually require a sense of meaning to thrive." Harvard's resident happiness professor, Tal Ben-Shahar, agrees, "Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable."

Take Initiative at Work
How happy you are at work depends in part on how much initiative you take. Researcher Amy Wrzesniewski says that when we express creativity, help others, suggest improvements, or do additional tasks on the job, we make our


Make Friends, Treasure Family
Happier people tend to have good families, friends, and supportive relationships, say Diener and Biswas-Diener. But it's not enough to be the life of the party if you're surrounded by shallow acquaintances. "We don't just need relationships, we need close ones" that involve understanding and caring.

Smile Even When You Don't Feel Like It
It sounds simple, but it works. "Happy people ... see possibilities, opportunities, and success. When they think of the future they are optimistic, and when they review the past they tend to savor the high points," say Diener and Biswas-Diener. Even if you weren't born looking at the glass as half-full, with practice a positive outlook can become a habit.

Say Thank You Like You Mean It
People who keep gratitude journals on a weekly basis are healthier, more optimistic, and more likely to make progress toward achieving personal goals, according to author Robert Emmons. Research by Martin Seligman, founder of positive psychology, revealed that people who write "gratitude letters" to someone who made a difference in their lives score higher on happiness, and lower on depression — and the effect lasts for weeks.

Get Out and Exercise
A Duke University study shows that exercise may be just as effective as drugs in treating depression, without all the side effects and expense. Other research shows that in addition to health benefits, regular exercise offers a sense of accomplishment and opportunity for social interaction, releases feel-good endorphins, and boosts self-esteem.

Give It Away, Give It Away Now!
Make altruism and giving part of your life, and be purposeful about it. Researcher Stephen Post says helping a neighbor, volunteering, or donating goods and services results in a "helper's high," and you get more health benefits than you would from exercise or quitting smoking. Listening to a friend, passing on your skills, celebrating others' successes, and offering forgiveness also contribute to happiness, he says. Researcher Elizabeth Dunn found that those who spend money on others reported much greater happiness than those who spend it on themselves.

I'm watching malcolm X

For all facebook addicts out there...there's a Malcolm X fan page

The Malcolm X.org website has all his speeches categorized according to the "phases" of change he went through

Brother Malek ...may Allah rest your soul .

I have a new toy!!

Something sweet is on it's way Habibi....

I'm planning to send some gifts to my brother's family in the US...so I had to think about gifts that they won't find easily in the US.

Clothes & toys are not on my list....for obvious reasons...the quality & prices of these 2 are way better over there....sobhan Allah

That leaves me with the option of Egyptian sweets like meshabek & mooled sweets...yum ...yum..

For the little ones in the family I will buy them some Arabic books & stories...in sha Allah if I find any products by ABJAD or EDU-FUN I will buy them at once .I'm just not sure I can find them in my city.

I remember getting my own kids a product from Abjad from a bookstore in Cairo ,it was a book that helps them learn the arabic numerals they simply write with a marker on the pages & then wipe with a soft cloth. This way it can be used & re-used many times.

I started looking online for products. I ran into a couple of sites like Sindbadmall that has these products ...well now some of the products is really pricy like this set that sells for 460$......ouch

The ABJAD site has alot of reasonably priced sets that look like so much fun

See details of this product HERE

See details of this product HERE

details of this product HERE

I hope you have fun looking at these very nice products I found.

A Candle For Gaza

photo credit is HERE

In support of our brothers & sisters in Gaza...

My heart has felt very heavy since this massacre started in Gaza....
& this caused me to stay away from blogging for a while now...

Al Jazeera is on at our house 24/7 & the tragedies are heart breaking...

what's devastating is the feeling of complete helplessness infront all that's happening to my fellow muslims & human beings...

I have a very close friend living in Gaza...she's an amazing muslima pediatrician & I pray to Allah that she is safe ...




A Palestinian girl cries during the funeral of her brother who was killed after an Israeli air strike in the northern Gaza Strip January 4, 2009.
Picture taken from REUTERS/Ismail Zaydah

Going on a rally or a demonstartion against this is not an option for me in my nick of the woods..but nontheless support of has swept the globe ....but sobhan Allah I don't know if anything will happen soon


Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against the Israeli attacks on Gaza in front of the Israeli embassy in Ankara January 4, 2009.
REUTERS/Umit Bektas


I don't think this is enough ...but what can we do when we ourselves are opressed by our presidents, kings & sheikhs



But here is something that we can all do ......
this was sent to me by muslimhsers yahoo group by sister Umm talhah...may Allah reward her al Jana ...Ameen

Here's what she posted:


as salam alaikum,

my apologies for sending something off topic.
for those who are not aware of the facts:

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=29449
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/cur_sit/dec08.html

then, please don't forget innocent children, women and men in gaza. the following is taken from http://www.muslimmatters.org/

OUR 60-Minute Action-Gaza Plan (one-time, not daily):
1. MAKE Du'a 10 minutes REPEAT EverydayPrint out the dua’s listed here: http://tinyurl.com/gaza-dua and post it on your fridge or any other prominent location. Read the du'as now and move on.




1. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: “My Lord came to me tonight in
the most beautiful form…” and in this hadith he said that Allah said, “O Muhammad, when you pray, then say:






‘Allaahumma inni as’aluka fi’lal khayraat wa tark al-munkaraat, wa hubb al-masaakeen, wa an taghfira lee wa
tarhamanee wa tatooba ‘alayya. Wa in aradta bi ‘ibaadika fitnatan, faqbidni ilayka ghayra maftoon (O Allah, I
ask You (to enable me) to do good deeds and avoid evil deeds, and to love the poor, and (I ask You) to forgive
me, have mercy on me and accept my repentance. If You decree that some trial should befall Your slaves, then
take me to You [i.e., cause me to die] without having me be subjected to that trial).” (Tirmithi - hasan)
2. Abu Burdah ibn ‘Abd-Allah narrated from his father that when the Prophet (saas) was afraid of some people
he would say,





“Allaahumma inna naj’aluka fi nuhoorihim wa na’oodhu bika min shuroorihim (O Allah, we place You before
them and we seek refuge in You from their evil).” (Abu Dawud - Sahih)
3. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saas) used to say the following words of
relief at times of distress:




“Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah al-‘Adheem al-Haleem, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah Rabb al-‘Arsh al-‘adheem, la ilaaha ill-
Allaah Rabb ul-samawaati wa Rabb ul-ard wa Rabb ul-‘Arsh il-kareem (There is nothing worthy of worship but
Allah, the All-Powerful, the Forbearing; There is nothing worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the mighty
Throne; There is nothing worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of heaven, Lord of earth, and Lord of the noble
Throne).” (Bukhari and Muslim)
4. The Prophet (saas) said: “Shall I not tell you of something that, if any worldly calamity or disaster befalls any
man among you and he says these words, he will be relieved of it. (It is) the du’a’ of Dhu’-Noon (the Prophet
Yunus - as): “Laa ilaaha illa anta subhaanaka inni kuntu min al-dhaalimeen (none has the right to be worshipped
but You (O Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have
been of the wrongdoers).” According to another report: “No Muslim man says this du’a’ concerning anything
but Allah will answer his prayer.” (Sahih al-Jaami’)
5. The Messenger of Allah (saas) said: to Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays, “Shall I not teach you some words which you
can say at times of distress and hardship?

‘Allaahu rabbee laa ushriku bihi shay’an (Allah is my Lord, I do not associate anything with Him).’” (Sahih -
Abu Dawood)
According to a version narrated in al-Sahih al-Jaami’, “Whoever is afflicted by worry, distress, sickness or
hardship, and says, Allaahu rabbee laa shareeka lah (Allah is my Lord, He has no partner or associate), will be
relieved of that.”











2. DONATE 10 minutes Make a donation. Every one of you can make a small donation, even if it is $5.



• Islamic Relief USAhttp://www.irw.org/campaigns/palestinecrisis08



• KinderUSAhttp://www.kinderusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=2



• Palestine Children’s Relief Fundhttp://www.pcrf.net/can/can2.html



• American Near East Refugee Aidhttps://secure2.convio.net/anera/site/Donation2?df_id=1280&1280.donation=form1







3. JOIN MM's new DIGG Club on FACEBOOK 5 minutes This is a means to increase the power of the word-of-mouth for important news articles or analysis:







• Learn about these tools: http://tinyurl.com/mm-digg.



• Join the new FB group by going to this link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42909069316(make sure you ONLY join if you are COMMITTED to spending 5 minutes maximum per day).



• Here's how it will work:As soon as there is a significant/fair article brought to our attention, we will send a message on FB to the entire group.All members of the group are required to do their part: to DIGG, SU, Reddit, whatever, within 48 hours of receiving notice (it takes only 1 minute to do it).You have suddenly become part of blitzing truth over falsehood.







4. CALL GAZA {OPTIONAL}



• Call any random number in Gaza, and tell them that you are calling from North America (or wherever you are), make Duaa for them and tell them all their brothers and sisters around the world are with them; this will give them moral support and courage !



How to call? > Very simple!



• Dial any of these number and replace the last 4 digits by any random ones, try 4 or 5 times and you'll reach a family insha'Allah ! Even if you don't speak Arabic, talk to them with very slow and simple English



(011)9728284-XXXX



(011)9728282-XXXX



(011)9728255-







5. SIGN PETITION 2 MINUTES



CAIR has launched an online petition drive to collect one million signatures. Be part of it by clicking here. http://petition.cair.com/







6. WRITE or CALL your Congressional Representative 15 minutes To locate your U.S. Representative: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtmlTo locate your Senators http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm Talking points at the bottom. You can be much more detailed than the letter to the editor.You can review talking-points here towards the end of the post: www.tinyurl.com/action-gaza You should also consider sending a quick note to the Saudi Arabia’s ruler (see http://tinyurl.com/7kjdvm.







7. WRITE a Letter to the Editor 20-50 minutes REPEAT for other newspapers Letters to editor is the most-read section in the entire newspaper, and is read by local leaders as a means of keeping up with the pulse of the community.



• Write a letter to your local newspaper (you can find it from the list here). You have a better chance of getting published than writing to one of the national newspapers.



• Consider these guidelines to increase your chance of getting published. The most important point: Make ONE point, even if you have a hundred swarming in your head. Be very succinct and add some “color” or “reasoned emotion”, it may increase your chance of getting published.







8. CIRCULATE (EXTRA BONUS AJAR): • Cross-post on your blog. Email it. Post to your facebook profile.• Print out this hard-copy of this "Action-Gaza", make copies and distribute.FINALLY, DIGG the POST to get the message out by clicking here:http://digg.com/world_news/ACTION_GAZA_Can_we_Spare_60_Minutes_Can_we_Walk_the_Talk