Just Thinking and Appreciating

Bismillah

I love caffeine. I love Earl Grey tea and Organic Chai (the Tazo kind). I first tried it and got hooked when someone, who I miss often, sent me a gift with different sorts of teas, books, house accessories… masha’Allah. I’m grateful this tea was introduced into my life.

And with raw honey it is out of this world.

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I love taking trips. I’m excited about the possibility of one at the end of this month to Orlando, bi’idhnillah.

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I don’t have a 200 dollar camera but I feel like I do when I see the tranquility in these pictures. I was browsing some pictures from this past year from our trip to California and back and I am amazed at the difference in every state. The United States is amazingly beautiful.

The more expensive the camera, the better the detail and picture. I know. I wish I could afford one but then the guilt of buying it and not putting my money to better use would eat at me. Who says you need a 200-500 dollar camera anyways? The memories are within the heart and if we live the moment we will appreciate it so much more. We should appreciate the moment more.

I tried to capture as many shots as I could through Colorado. I got such a green vibe going through this state. The freshness of the air, the colors, the style of the homes… very soothing for my heart. I hope to be able to re live those moments again insha’Allah.

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It’s the simple things of life that are the most enjoyable. I hate being inside shopping malls and neighborhoods that don’t have simplicity of the past, the feel of the countryside. We fool ourselves when we think more material things will make us happy.

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I love watching my children as they enjoy the simpler toys. I think my children have 3 or 4 battery operated toys and all of them allow them the ability to use their own imagination. I’ve seen that they enjoy things they can put together so much more vs. the things that are already put together. This always makes me think. Lately I enjoy handmades more and buying things that have been used (toys, baskets, books, etc.).

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You know, my children have taught me to appreciate the things that I make. The picture above is a close up of what didn’t fit into my vinegar bottle of my own homemade laundry detergent after it cooled down and thickened (post to come insha’Allah).

Honestly, it’s due to seeing my children’s excitement when they try to invent their own sauces, cook their own eggs or just mix the eggs,  build a castle with cardboard that I get excited when I try new things. Seeing their excitement… well, it’s just priceless.  These are the moments of deep joy that I hope will lead me to find contentment with everything in my life. Ya Allah.

There’s beauty in everything. We just have to be willing to see it. I realize I have much to learn but what I have learned in my twenty three years of life is that  beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

To be given the opportunity to find beauty where it is usually not attributed is a blessing. My life seems to be leading to this lesson more and more. Alhamdulillah.

Time for bed. I think I’m in trouble in the morning. : )

1431 New Year Goals

Bismillah

Last night I wrote out a list of things I had to do today. Included in the list was to write up a post on one of my challenges for the year. Insha’Allah that post is coming later (once the chores of life are taken care of first) but for now I will focus on some of the new year goals that I have that I want to share, in hopes that I can be encouraged by sharing it, bi’idhnillah.

This past year was a year full of many tests, for all of us, and full of blessings that we will never be able to count. Alhamdulillah. InshaAllah this year, 1431, will be one where we can build better habits and break old ones. I’d like to tackle different areas of my life this coming year but all revolving around my deen, for ultimately this world is temporary and the eternal abode comes after death.

Some of my goals are:

1. To read more beneficial things and really reflect.

2. To keep working on my prayer. I struggle a lot to pray on time. So many different reasons for this!

3. To eat healthier and exercise more.

4. Have a journal. I started to get back to it a few days ago so inshaAllah I hope to retain it.

5. Enjoy the outdoors more.

6. Improve my cooking of simple meals and learn to enjoy cooking.

7. Become a better homemaker (includes lots of things).

8. Get a few college credit courses in.

9. Improve my Arabic and Spanish and go to Fawakih again (INSHA’ALLAH!)

10. Declutter more and more.

11. Waste less.

12. Find ways to live a greener life.

13. Read and memorize more Qur’an.

14. Read Ma’arif Al Qur’aan more. (I love this tafseer!)

15. Work on a 101 for 1001.

16. Remove yeast from my life.

17. Be consistent with green smoothies.

That’s all for now. Insha’Allah as the year continues I will continue to think of these goals with a more specific set of SMART goals for each and may alter these. Of course, the full list is offline but inshaAllah blogging needs to remain beneficial for me.