Rainbow Cupcakes!

Mix food coloring into the cake mix

This is how the mixed product should look

Mix the colors together. Use a fork to spread the mix.

Finished product, tie-die cupcakes!

Here is a special treat you can make on Fridays with your little ones. Zakariya loved watching the colors mix together in our mixer! He did not have any cupcakes but still enjoyed watching us make them. I tutor one of my younger cousins in Quran reading, we did this as a project together. The idea behind this project was to encourage him to help out his mom in the kitchen... I gave him several examples of the Prophet salalahu alayhi wasalaam doing daily chores in home and even sewing his own clothing.

Over all this project was a hit and my cousin loved biting into the cupcakes and seeing what colors would come next. The only thing I would do differently next time is try to find natural dyes because there is a whole lot of food coloring used in this acitivity.

Try this project and post your pictures, can't wait to see what your cupcakes turn out like.

A much needed... salaat break!

Zakariya was busy playing at his grandparents house when he realized it was time for salaat. He had a short conversation with himself and then decided it was time to pray- shortest but cutest prayer ever, don't ya think? You can hear him whispering some verses- or so he thinks =)

My parents got Zakariya this tiny prayer mat when they went for umrah. Mashallah he loves it! It's like he knows it is tailor made to his size, he usually just prays next to his baba and at some point leaves and comes back only for ruku!

We try and make salaat time an exciting time around the house. Especially times when we are all at home to pray together. I think it is really important to have your kids around when you are praying- It really does make them comfortable around the beautiful words of the quran/recitation and of course dua. I love when my little guy puts his hands together to make dua, it completely melts my hearts more than anything else.

May Allah make him amongs the righetous and may he have the ability and strengths to work in Allah's way and may he be of those who forever leave lasting contributions to the deen ul Islam (Ameen)

How does your family encourage salaat, dua and quran into your baby or toddlers life?

Dr. Seuss for nursing moms!

Dr. Seuss for Nursing Moms (Could not find the author to credit!)

Would you nurse her in the park?

Would you nurse him in the dark?

Would you nurse him with a Boppy?

And when your boobs are feeling floppy?

I would nurse him in the park,

I would nurse her in the dark.

I’d nurse with or without a Boppy.

Floppy boobs will never stop me.

Can you nurse with your seat belt on?

Can you nurse from dusk till dawn?

Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull,

I will nurse her `till she’s full!

Can you nurse and make some soup?

Can you nurse and feed the group?

It makes her healthy strong and smart,

Mommy’s milk is the best start!

Would you nurse him at the game?

Would you nurse her in the rain?

In front of those who dare complain?

I would nurse him at the game.

I would nurse her in the rain.

As for those who protest lactation,

I have the perfect explanation.

Mommy’s milk is tailor made

It’s the perfect food, you need no aid.

Some may scoff and some may wriggle,

Avert their eyes or even giggle.

To those who can be cruel and rude,

Remind them breast’s the perfect food!

I would never scoff or giggle,

Roll my eyes or even wiggle!

I would not be so crass or crude,

I KNOW that this milk’s the perfect food!

We make the amount we need

The perfect temp for every feed.

There’s no compare to milk from breast-

The perfect food, above the rest.

Those sweet nursing smiles are oh so sweet,

Mommy’s milk is such a treat.

Human milk just can’t be beat.

I will nurse, in any case,

On the street or in your face.

I will not let my baby cry,

I’ll meet her needs, I’ll always try.

It’s not about what’s good for you,

It’s best for babies, through and through.

I will nurse her in my home,

I will nurse her when I roam.

Leave me be lads and ma’am.

I will nurse her, Mom I am.

Boring Meal

Happy Friday from our family to yours. Please remember us in your prayers.

Here is a special treat to start your weekend off, Enjoy!

Silent Birth?

In an interview with 'Today' host Natalie Morales, the actress discusses the "silent birth" technique commonly employed by Scientologists, a practice where "everyone attending the birth should refrain from spoken words as much as possible ... chatty doctors and nurses, shouts to 'PUSH, PUSH' and loud or laughing remarks to 'encourage' are avoided." Preston explains, "Silent birth is basically just no words as much as possible. If you need to moan, if you need to cry out ... of course that's normal. But, it's just bringing them in, in as peaceful and gentle a way as possible."

Preston credits the silent birth technique for the peaceful demeanor of her children, saying, "My kids have always been amazing. Just very calm, very peaceful, happy and I absolutely know it's very much because of that."

While Benjamin's birth posed potential risks for both mother and baby due to Preston's age, the 48-year-old actress says that her excitement outweighed her concern. "I didn't [consider this risks]. I just considered that it was difficult," she says. "We're just really happy that we're so fortunate."

Source: http://www.popeater.com/2011/01/19/kelly-preston-silent-birth/?icid=main%7Ccanada-hp%7Cdl4%7Csec2_lnk1%7C196204

As a Doula this article sparked great interest to me, first off Kudos to Kelly Preston for braving pregnancy at the age of 48. Not many people her age would even consider pregnancy because of the “high risk” label given to women over 35. However, with many things in life there is greater risk and that does not stop us from anything else we do. Don’t agree with me? How about the family diet? Isn’t it “high risk” to eat Popeyes, McDonalds, KFC? Of course it is, but you still eat it!



Giving birth is a natural ability that Allah has blessed women. Subhanallah, it is the one area in which all women can come together and celebrate.


I am obviously a practicing Muslim and have no intentions to endorse scientology or its beliefs. Having said that I still respect her choice of birth and think it’s a great option… especially because many a times there is way too much going on and being said in the delivery room!


I have been apart of some amazing births- but there have been times when that Dads to be, mother of the Mom to be, Mother in laws, Nurses and even Doctors have really rubbed the lady in labour the wrong way… all because of something that has been said.


Can you imagine, muting everything?!


Doesn’t sound so bad does it?!

Snowday @ the Park

Our Snow day in pictures.

Some kids in the neighbourhood made this snowman along with toilet paper used as a scarf!

Jummah Mubarak- Surah Kahf

Asalaamu Aalaikum,

Please remember our family in your duas on this blessed day... don't forget to read surah Kahf... and if the young child (below) can do it, so can you =)

Kidsport Family Fun & Indoor Playground

We drove by this place so many times... over winter break I finally decided it was time to venture on over and check it out.

Here are my thoughts:

1) Kinda germy... the whole ball pool idea, touching all those toys... Does anyone even clean them? I was tempted to pull out my antibacterial wipes but a kids gotta be a kid. So I left sanitizing and showering for after we get home.

2) Say what??? Only $5.31 for admission (if your child is under 3 but over 1) for unlimited hours of play!

3) Several parents kept themselves busy while their kids played, some were studying others were socializing. Good idea for those of you who have been trying to get through your book all month.

4) Lots of space for the toddlers to run around... W I L D !!!

5) Beware of children who gaurd their forts... what you don't know what I am talking about? You know those kids, they gaurd a toy until it is time to go home... all while you are coaching your kids on patience and waiting for their turn... but the turn never comes!

6) Eat before you go, no outside food allowed and the inside food options were not sounding very nutrious or appetizing.

7) Be prepared for an amazing evening off- Zakariya was soooo tired after all this play, it was like he has a workout at the gym. I got to enjoy the evening off while my bebo slept earlier than usual.

8) Take friends! I asked my younger cousin Hibah to come with us... super good idea for when Zakariya got stuck in the ball pool, she just jumped in with him and kept him company... I think it may have been against the rules though, but thats because shes 13 years old.

9) Wear socks... otherwise your kids cannot go in.

10) It reminded me a lot of the McDonalds playplaces we used to go to while growing up.

For the price, gym work out and over all fun my bebo had, we will for sure go back Inshallah.

Who wants to come with?!

Eat me. Literally.

I often meet parents who swear their children will eat nothing but ____ (insert odd item of food here) don’t get me wrong, I am sure like all children; kids will always prefer their food of choice over their parents’ food of choice. Let’s be honest, we were once kids- I grew up eating nothing bunch French fries and drinking coke… still I am not sure that my parents creatively tried to get me to try the odd vegetable or so. It was always too much work, there were always too many mouths to feed- too many taste buds to satisfy, my mom spent most of her married life co-living with my dad’s family… this meant living with my aunts, uncles and their kids- a bunch of different people, she simply never had the time to make individual meals- and when she had the time we were too old to know that vegetables were good for us and did not want anything to do with them!

Of course now things are a lot different. The majority of us are not co-living and if we are we have much more freedom then our parents generation had. I picture some of you rolling your eyes on that one, what I mean is, you have the freedom, time and resources to go to the store and buy the groceries of your choice for your children, Alhumdulillah.

There is also SO much variety available! I mean you can pretty much trick your kids into eating ANYTHING, a few weeks ago I did an experiment on my cousins (probably about 5 of them) I dropped off some Lasagna and did not even tell the adults what was in it. Waited for them to finish, asked my aunt to call afterwards to tell me how it was and told her the big SECRET afterwards. It was whole wheat/ semolina Lasagna with soy cheese and everyone ate it without a clue! I know my aunts will agree with me on this one, they probably never would have bought soy cheese or whole wheat pasta otherwise- just because their kids are used to the other stuff. Which is what most parents do, they stick with what they know and what they are comfortable with. It is hard to break out of mold but dear parents, it is never to late to reverse bad habits, especially habits that will better your childrens lives. Turn the clock on the family history of diabetes, heart disease- NOW is the time to make the change. I will be honest here, the reason I knew I was going make nutrition a priority with Zakariya was because of our family history on both sides of diabetes. May Allah protect him from any illness... But this was my motivation and I thought I just have to teach him from the start how to make better choices. Not to be perfect or never eat candy but to make better life choices Inshallah.

So to everyone who says my kids just won’t eat it… have you REALLY even tried? I mean creatively tried it? If you don’t have the time to try that is fine, everyone has their reasons…. BUT please stop blaming your kids and making them seem high maintenance and picky! Yes, there is a such thing as a fussy eater- for sure this is a very difficult trait to deal with-every parent has a different trial when it comes to their kid, for some of us it means having fussy eaters. This just means you have to try harder for the sake of your child and with ihsan because your child was given to you as an amaanah (trust) from Allah.

Did you know they have organic pasta (made with whole wheat, beets, spinach) in the shape of Alphabets? What about alphabet shaped French fries? I encourage you to put a little bit more time and thought into your family’s nutrition options and you will be surprised to know what is available out there. May Allah make it easy for all of us to preserve our health and bodies for his sake.

My Secret is OUT

My days reading about "Teen Mom" drama in tabloid magazines are gone. We found Zakariya under my Mom's dining room table riping my dear magazine to shreads!

I think my kid is trying to tell me something...

What have your little ones gotten into lately? Your purse? Your make up bag? Under the kitchen sink? The water cooler-- we really need to child proof that one!