Beading Frenzy!!!

My girls have a new hobby...

CUTE video

I LUV ladybird books.....

I just got my oldest DD this nice book from Ladybird about grammar and punctuation....

I can speak English very well but I always felt that I'm not very strong in the grammar and spelling. I hesitated to teach my oldest these subjects ,but when I saw this book it gave me a kind of confidence that I can do it.

She is really enjoying it very much ...it has stickers & is very colorful.

Another set that we use is the Read It Yourself series ...we have Level 1 series ...it is a collection of 6 books ...they are very easy and suitable for early readers

.

Learning about my body

Guitar lessons....

Puzzle Time!!!

My youngest DD doing a Garfield puzzle with a little help from mommy!!

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.

Free animal coloring pictures

I was referred to this site from one of my yahoo groups...Crafting Muslima....thanks sister Ummnour of ...loving Allah & Raising my Children

This is a very nice website that has a number of free afting printables...the theme is animals of the world....

You basiclly print out the pictures for the kids to colour...

They alot of nice details ,showing off the culture of each country through a unique animal pic

The animal representing Egypt is....the camel...a stereotype I know...but really cute...check it out...

Abdul Camel lives in Egypt. Camels have worked for man
since about 2000BC. They live in deserts and dry lands and
can go for long periods without water. They travel
in groups called ‘Caravans’. Abdul is decorated in colours
and motifs that have been used in Egypt since ancient times.

Starting my spiritual Journey....

In sha Allah I'll be leaving for Hajj sometime during the next week....I'm really excited & overwhelmed with the idea.....

I haven't blogged for sometime now....because of a super busy schedule...

We have a wedding in the family...my young cousin who's like a sister to me is getting married in less than 1 week...It is actually a very emotional time for me....watching as this little kid is all grown up & ready for marriage...sobhan Allah... Got me thinking about my own kids...& that in a very short time they're gonna be starting their own lives ... well....I'm just getting old

I also started studying MACROBIOTICS & this is something I'm very excited about...but anyways that's another post ..in sha Allah

This is in addition to taking care of my kids & a very hectic work schedule....

I need to start researching my hajj journey .....

So far I've found a great blog Footsteps to Hajj I need to read through it as it has loads of important info....

I also found a very simple yet informative tutorial on Hajj on the BBC website

Another must-read is an online journal of a canadian sister writing her journy to hajj

This is a simple illustration of hajj taken from wikipedia;

Actually I found some amazing blogs like this blog "Just Quran" showcasing some rare photage of Mekka

I found a little Hajj booklet for the kids ,it is in PDF

Also one of my friends suggested a great book by the late Saied Sabe' "Fiqh Al Sunna"...I will be reading through the chapters of hajj & umra & also this will be the book I'm taking with me as a reference .

I'm planning a list of stuff I'll be taking from here:

• The book "Fiqh Al Sunna"
• I think I need to get this bag where I can keep important documents handy & with me at all times
• A list of all the people that asked me to make duaa's for them

I still need to figure out what I'll be wearing....I've heard different opinions about this....some people suggested wearing Saudi abbaya with comfy clothes below...others suggested wearing white abbayas....this is very Egyptian ...but I have issues with wearing the color white ......

well anyways ..........that's another post all together....

Any suggestions ......??

ya mosahel ya Rab.

This is hilarious.....

A Collage by my youngest DD ..& PLZ don't ask me what it's about...I have no idea....LOL

5 Point Star

We are in the process of making our own Ramadan Diorama with the kids...we needed a pattern to make paper stars ...I found a nice tutorial HERE & we had fun making some nice stars out of old magazines

Below is a diagram of the five steps to make the star.








Begin with a square sheet of paper and in the first step, fold it in half. Continue through the other steps. (The folds in steps 3 and 4 below can be done together before pressing hard. This helps to make the folds more even.)

After opening the star, there will be 10 creases. Press each of the 5 creases from the points to the center in the same direction and the other 5 creases the opposite. (The creases to the tips should all be in the same direction and the creases between the tips in the opposite direction. ) In other words, the direction of the creases should alternate going around the star.



These stars can be displayed in relief or displayed flat.



Here are some other variations:











& here's the one I made...& I have to apologize for the poor quality....

A class of their own: The family with 11 children who turned to home schooling

And I thought dealing with 2 kids is hard.......!!!!!!!!
They are truelly amazing...what do you all think?

With 11 children in the house, Debbie and Steve Shepherd could be forgiven for packing their brood off to school each morning with a sigh of relief.

But as lessons start each morning, time off is the last thing on their mind.
For the Shepherds don't believe in school - at least in the conventional sense - and educate their children at home.

Mrs Shepherd, 43, who is eight months pregnant, said: "People are amazed when they discover not only that we have 11 children but that we educate them all at home.

"It's a set-up that works well for us. In many ways it's actually easier having 11 children than it was having just the first few, because they are good at entertaining one another."

They may escape school but the Shepherd children don't escape study. They have three hours of lessons each morning, with the afternoons left free for trips to the park, museums, libraries, or playing in the garden.

But their lifestyle will be the envy of the average school pupil - they never have homework and don't sit exams, as they are not legally required to take them.

The law says that it is a parent's responsibility to ensure their children receive an education suitable for their age, aptitude and ability at school "or otherwise".

"As long as the word 'otherwise' appears in that stipulation then parents are free to home-school their children," said Mr Shepherd, 44, a former computer specialist who was forced to give up his career in 1995 by a road accident which left him with spinal injuries.

He makes a living as a musician. Mrs Shepherd, who does not work, used to be a manager for Mothercare.

The couple teach their children at their seven-bedroom Victorian property in Grantham, Lincolnshire, using a recognised home-schooling curriculum, which includes maths and English. Other subjects are tailored to the children's interests.

Tom, 19, and Joe, 17, love music and sport, Rhiannon, 16, adores Jane Austen, while Jed, 12, is described by his parents as the genius of the bunch. The younger ones Ike, ten, Zac, nine, Charis, eight, Jim, six, Liberty, five, Talitha, three, and Nathanael, 19 months, are still finding their academic feet.

Although neither parent has formal teaching qualifications, they do get advice from a support group.

The Shepherds make extensive use of the internet and local libraries, and council officials monitor their lessons every six to 12 months.

None of the children will complete their schooling with a GCSE or an A-level to their name. But this doesn't seem to be holding them back.

Joe has been accepted on a one-year media course at Lincoln College. Rhiannon is applying for a distance journalism course.
Jed, who is already tackling a biology course to an A-level standard, has designs on being a vet. Tom, the eldest, who has just finished his home schooling, wants to be a pilot. Only he has ever set foot in a state school. It was Tom's experience as a four-year-old which led his parents to home schooling.

Within days he became withdrawn and another mother suggested that his parents teach him at home.

Durham University research says the number of home-educated children is 150,000 and rising. Within a decade, 3 per cent of those between five and 16 will be home-schooled, it is predicted.

Mr Shepherd said: "Part of the reason for wanting to teach our children at home is to give them a proper childhood where they don't feel the pressure to grow into mini-adults well before their time. And I disagree with the number of tests imposed on children as young as seven.

"I believe standards have fallen markedly over the years."

Mr Shepherd saved money while working as a computer consultant, easing the family's financial pressures but they still have a frugal existence. The weekly food bill is just £130. But the couple have no plans to stop adding to their family after their 12th child is born next month.

Rhiannon said: "I don't feel I've missed out by not going to school. I've had a brilliant education".

beauty mask!!!

Today my cute as a button youngest DD saw me while having one of my rare moments of beauty.......with a yougurt & honey mask all over my face...she looked at me for a minute & with the cuteness of a 5 year old she said" mommy shouldn't you have 2 slices of cucumber on your eyes"
I just laughed ...I guess this is the picture she had in mind........



just had to share...apparently a beauty diva is on her way....

Now on another note ...some beauty recipes for puffy eyes:

• Used Tea Bags (chilled or slightly warm–both work)
  
• Potato Slices (thinly sliced)
  
• Cucumber Slices (thinly sliced)
  
• Apple Slices (thinly sliced)
  
• Strawberries (mash then apply to the puffy area or you can make slices and apply)
  
• Plain Yogurt (dab over puffy area)
  
• Chilled teaspoons (rest directly on eye area for several minutes)
  
• Cold Compress spritzed with witch hazel water*
  
• Cold Compress spritzed with lavender water*

*For the witch hazel water or lavender water compress, first soak the compress in cool water, ring out then spritz with witch hazel water or lavender water–just a light, even spritz will do. Witch hazel water can be found at organic or health food stores, your local pharmacy may carry it too.

Tip: When using sliced food items, slice really thin then apply a couple layers over the puffy area. With thin slices, they’ll form to your face easier. Spritz or dab cool water over the skin first before applying food slices.

Recycling a Milk Jug

We have a couple of milk jugs hanging around the kitchen...as usual dear hubby wants them out ...while I see them as an artistic opputunity so I started googling "milk jug craft" & I got tons of great ideas...

Here are the ones that caught my eye

Elmer Elephant:

The 1st one I like so much & it's pretty easy...all it needs is some elmer's glue, googly eyes & scrap paper

Milk Jug Animal Craft
Follow the directions below to create a mouse milk jug animal. Use your imagination to make your own favorite animal. You can create silly features using paper rolls, chenille stems, pom-poms, or yarn.

What You'll Need:
Plastic milk jug
Pencil
Scissors or craft knife
Permanent markers
Craft glue
Black pom-pom
Scraps of pink and gray felt
Poster board or cardboard

How to make a milk jug animal craft:

Step 1: Draw a cut-line on the jug as shown. Then, cut out the top part of the jug. Leave the handle on to carry your container.

Step 2: Draw on the mouse's eyes and whiskers. Glue on a black pom-pom for the nose.

Step 3: Cut two small semicircles from a scrap of pink felt. Glue one on each ear. Cut a long tail from the gray felt, and glue it to the back of the jug at the bottom.

Step 4: Draw paws on a piece of poster board, and have an adult cut them out. Glue the paws to the bottom of the jug.

Milk Jug Garage

Materials Needed:
Plastic 1-gallon milk jug
Craft knife
Construction paper
Black marker
Toothpick
Cardboard
Thread spool

First, cut a 3 1/2-inch-square garage door opening in one of the container's flat sides with a craft knife (parent's job only). Glue construction paper roof shingles around the top of the jug. Next, add a business sign, made out of construction paper and hung on a toothpick. Poke the toothpick into the jug just above the garage door.To make a floor, set the jug on a piece of cardboard and trace around the base. Trim the edges so it will slide easily through the doorway. Decorate by gluing on construction paper tiles.Glue on a construction paper fuel pump and air hose by poking a hole in the side of the jug and tying on a piece of string. A thread-spool car lift finishes of the interior.

Pine Needle and Milk Jug Bird House

Materials Needed:
Pine Needles
Yarn or Hot Glue
Milk Jug
Non-Washable Paint or Permanent Markers Instructions:Cut a hole in the side of the milk jug, big enough for a bird.
Paint or color the jug keeping in mind that some of it will be covered by the pine needles.
Select what type of pine needles you are going to work with and how much of the jug you want to cover. You will have to then decide if you want to use hot glue or yarn.
We used yarn on ours and tied it really tightly! My daughter used loose bundles of pine needles and wraped each with yarn tighly, I used full bundles that were not bigger than my jug and wrapped each around the jug and needles tighly.
Put it outside for the birds to enjoy!

Planting Seeds: a Preschool Science Experiment and Craft Project Rolled into One

Before outlining the steps that you can take to do this preschool activity with your child, it is important to point out that you do have a number of different options. A few of these options are highlighted below, so no matter how much time you have to devote to planting seeds indoors with your child, you should be able to do this activity.

Easy Approach

Supplies Needed:

Soil

Seeds

Styrofoam Cup

Paint or MarkersWhat

You Will Need to Do:

(1)Have your child decorate their styrofoam cup, either with paint or markers. Stickers and glitter can also be added. Let dry.

(2)Let your child add soil to the cup. They can either use their hands or another foam cup to make the transfer.

(3)Have your child sprinkle a few seeds in the cup.

(4)Add a little bit more soil to the top.

(5)Add a small amount of water and place by a window.

Harder, But More Creative ApproachS

upplies Needed:

Milk Jug

Scissors

Construction Paper

Glue

Popsicle Sticks

Paint or Markers

Soil

Seeds

What You Will Need to Do:

(1)Cut a milk jug container. Leave the bottom portion and have it be about five or so inches tall.

(2)Have your child glue half a piece of construction paper. Wrap the glued part around the milk jug. Two pieces of paper may be needed. Tape can also be added for reinforcement.

(3)Cut the excess construction paper off, but leave a little bit on for décor purposes. Scrapbooking scissors can create a unique design.

(4)Have your child either paint or color popsicle sticks with markers.

(5)Glue the popsicle sticks to the side of the milk jug. Your child can put as many or as little as they want on each side.

(6)Add the soil.

(7)Add the seeds.

Milk Jug Easter Basket — A great Easter Craft for Kids

Here is a great Easter craft for children to make other than Easter eggs. Children will have a great time with this art project, that allows them to create their very own Easter Bunny Basket. Mine have done this for years and each year they figure out different ways to decorate their easter basket.

What you need
1 clean milk jug with it’s lid
1 bag of cotton balls,
construction paper (white, pink, and black) , white glue, and 2 googly eyeballs (optional)

What you do
Stand your milk jug upright and cut a hole just above the handle. This hole must be large enough for your hand to fit inside of it.
Cover your jug with glue and then cover with cotton balls. To avoid rough edges on the opening of the jug, take each cotton ball and glue half of one on to the inside and then wrap it over the cut edge.
Glue 2-3 cotton balls on the end of the milk jug lid for it’s tail.
Take and cut out two sets of bunny ears one large set out of white construction paper and one slightly smaller set out of pink. Glue the ears to the top of the Basket so they can stand up. Cut out whiskers, nose, & eyes (could use googly eyes or makers) out of construction paper.
Add Easter grass to the inside of the basket and have an Easter Egg Hunt

Harriet the Heifer

You can download the instructions as a PDF file HERE

& there's always the milk-jug chandeliers for the truely artistic:

So What do u all think??