feel-in' thrifteee!

i seriously enjoy spending time with my children, and one of our favorite things to do as of late is thrift store shop. last week was no different. with only my two girls by my side, we hit our favorite store and got it in! 

study table

so many things to see and buy. for starters, baby girl wanted this cool lil hula doll. i think it may actually be a knick-knack, but it was only 0.99 and she said she wanted to put it on the new folding table i picked up for her study area (for only $5). the plan is to pain, decoupage, or SOMETHING it.

hula doll

for the house i purchased a small shelf and two sconces (which will sprayed metallic gold) to display an arabic plaque i got at six flag's muslim youth day last month.

a few other things brought home were this awesome painting on glass, (trust me, the photo DOES NOT do the vibrant colors justice), and two wicker baskets whose use i still haven't decided.

for my sewing endeavors i copped this plastic wood-look sewing 'basket', and MOST EXCITINGLY, patterns that cost a STUPENDOUS 0.49 each! WOOHOO!! they're were only four that i wanted, but any sewists out there KNOWS the thrill that comes with getting such a deal. 

this will be getting a face lift, too.

not very large inside, but will do for
moving small projects around the house.

i will use the child's doctor costume to
islaamic garb, and the blazer pattern
is great for a fabric i planned to sew a
jibaab. 

i didn't buy anything for myself, but i eyed a couple of purses i had to DRAG myself from the store in order to leave behind. i would show them to you, but blogger won't allow me to upload anymore photos. hmph! go figure... 

i need to get going anyway, i have lots to do! all my grand plans of chores to get done today have yet to be  realized. 

toodles! 

                                            

     

backyard gardening

i really missed having a garden, but living in an apartment complex now i thought it would be impossible to have one this year. not only are there a slew of rules to follow, but the only dirt/gardening area is out front beneath my window, and i know the management would not be happy with a bunch od tomatoes and lettuce springing up from the ground. then i had an idea to use cement blocks as a sort of plant bed. i went online to see if it could be done, and saw that it not only could be done, it had been done successfully by many others. great! it was time to have my garden. following are some photos documenting the journey. become a follower of my blog to stay updated, or offer encouragement and advice.

peace!

                               backyard patio slab: not a big space, but sufficient for now...

                                      
                                frontyard: i went to work one day, and when i returned this
                          is what had been prepared for me. i would have preferred the plot            
                            to be more beneath the window, but as it turned out, this area is        
                                better for what i decided to do: caladium, garlic, sunflowers,    
                                 and herbs. i will not be denied my edible front garden!! lol

                                since bordering our patio and walkway  is a large grassy play
                                   area for the neighborhood children (and to deter possible    
                                      "would be" thieves) we fixxed a fence around the bed.
                                 that's my baby peeking out the door; i grew her, too! not bad, huh? =D    

                                              
                                                        gettin' ready to dig...                  

                                                           all in!

                                                       about two weeks later...                                                           

                                        
                                    tomatoes, pole beans, zuccini and yellow squash, collard
                           greens, eggplants, chillies, bell peppers, and (as of yesterday) sage       
                                 i am still planting, and have to rearrange some things also.          

                               red potatoes i started in a potato planter yesteday. i could have 
                       used one of those plastic reusable totes you can buy at the supermarket,
                                            i bought one of the planters at walmart instead.

                                 some strawberries i planted vertically in a hanging plastic 
                                                         shoe organizer (forgot to upload)

                                              he had a ball playing in the manure-lol!!

                                                      he likes to get his hands dirty:))

house!

watch: soulful house documentary

polygamy: why not?

my girlfriend texted me a couple of months ago saying that i should turn to the cable channel tlc. i obliged, and about three hours into watching several episodes of the show she suggested determined that i was hooked, a newly recruited fan.

the show is called "sister wives", and follows the real-life polygamist marriage of utah native koby brown, his four wives, and their family. normally i am not one to watch reality shows, but my girlfriend and i are of those who find absolutely nothing wrong with the concept of "sharing" a man, certainly if the relationship exists within a realm of love, respect, honor, and committment. such a lifestyle is one that most tend to shun in the open (though i suspect they don't behind closed doors), so the fact that a family was brave enough to divulge themselves to the public fascinated me. besides that i am always interested to see how those from other backgrounds, cultures, and religions practice this way of life.

one of the things i think may stand out for many viewers is how "normal" (to use the words of an interviewer) they all seem. the browns all work, partake in regular past times, and have children who appear to be happy. the only thing that may not be normal in relation to the rest of the country is that koby has managed to stay married for 21, 18, and 17 years to each of his first three wives, the fourth being 9 months thus far. in a culture that welcomes divorce about 50 percent of the time, that's saying something big.

in the past, popular public information about polygamy has come via media probes of so-called religious cults who marry children and their close relatives, or mooch off tax payers by collecting welfare benefits. then of course there is the hbo hit series "big love" which portrays yet another view-albeit fictional- of how polygamist relationships flow.

the thing that always riles me is how people tend to point the finger at couples who choose to live this way. according to recent headlines the browns are not only in danger of imprisonment on bigamy charges, but of losing their children. so far as i know, they have not attempted to have each of the marriages acknowledged by state law which takes the charge of "bigamy" off the table. also, unlike polygamy cases we've heard of in the past, all the women were adults at the time of marriage, and chose to do so of their own free will. so what is the problem? in my opinion, it is nothing more than good ol' prejudice, fear of something not understood... or is it?

it seems more than a bit hypocritical that so many gasp at the thought of a man having multiple women, being open about it, and the women being fine with it, when this is something deeply ingrained in our [american] society. "as long as he knows to come back home at night" is almost a mantra among married women, used by many a girlfriend or mother to console a broken heart. hilary clinton, former first lady of the united states, admitted that she knew her husband cheated for years before she was humiliated the world over by his affair with monica lewinsky, but chalked it up to him having "a problem". hugh hefner is the envy of millions of men, and his live-in girlfriends are celebrated for their "status". even clergy and celebrities are not exempt from such lifestyles; reverend jesse jackson had a "love child" outside of his marriage, and kim porter is famous for being p. diddy's main squeeze, baring their children while he publicly dates other women.

i don't understand why [at it's jist] it is perfectly alright for adulterous affairs to carry on, children denied the right to their name and heritage, but when a man stands up to say, "hey, these are my WIVES and children whom i love and care for, and whom love and care for me" there is a serious problem. polygamists should serve years in prison, but adulterers run free. polygamists shouldn't raise children, but neil patrick harris and his partner make people magazine cover for adopting twins together. maybe koby brown and his last three wives should say they're not married, just cheating on the first wife so the courts will leave them alone. obviously that seems more logical and just in the eyes of the law; who cares about a bunch of women and children anyway?

Lest We Forget

(from my facebook page)

i debated on whether i should use this picture for my profile, or one of young emmett as he looked before he met with the devil- clean-cut, dapper, that hint of arrogance that can only come from being young and feeling yourself,believing the world is yours.

i decided on his funeral photo because i feel somethings warrant a jolt in order for the severity of its reality to be understood.

it is my opinion that in 2011, when the internet has made the ability to have "friends" of all ethnicities as easy as clicking a mouse, people are no longer lynched or homes burned down due to "mixing the races" and the such, that we not only have forgotten that we stand on the shoulders of others who have fought and died for us to be able to live without those same realities, but we seemingly think that we are somehow home free. a "that was then" mentality.

so what, do we forget? do we let all their work and [BRUTAL] deaths be in vain? is it enough that we can now walk down the street hand in hand with a white woman or black man without incident (besides the obvious "looks" or under-breath remarks), eat in intergrated restaurants, or make a couple of million for shaking our ***es?? (to be continued)

strange fruit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs

southern trees bear strange fruit
blood on the leaves
blood at the root
black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees
pastoral scene of the gallant south
the bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
the scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
then the sudden smell of burning flesh
here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
for the rain to gather
for the wind to suck
for the sun to rot
for the tree to drop
here is a strange and bitter crop

Composed by Abel Meeropol (aka Lewis Allan)
Originally sung by: Billie Holiday

strange fruit

a'swingin' from the tree

ripped out the very

heart of me

look out behind

you're sure to see

this country's horrid

legacy...

Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography of America

to be a bird in a tree

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101218/ap_on_re_us/us_search_for_amelia

the story and mystery surrounding the disappearance of amelia earhart has always intrigued me. i wonder- if she indeed safely reached land and lived as a castaway- what it was like for her. i imagine she must have been petrified yet brave, hopeful yet hopeless. was it anything like tom hanks in "castaway"? did she and her co-pilot comfort one another, as men and women do? did they suffer much if they eventually succummed to their demise due to lack of food and water, as has been speculated? did the abandoned lose her or his mind if they did not die at the same time?

i would bet many hours were spent reminiscing about family members and events, making promises to fulfill all the goals and dreams they vowed to in their youth. oh, the things they should have done and said while they had the chance! what agony it must be to face impending death without your loved ones surrounding you, nor the hope that they would ever see you again... if that is what happened. shall we ever know?

what the feezie?!!

o-kay, i publish and then view my last post, and what do i find? all of my posts are waaay down the page! what's up with that?? please, somebody help!

just can't seem to shake it...

oh my goodness, I LOVE THIS SONG!!

Baby you can't go on
Wondering where you belong
Let me help you find yourself
'Cause you don't need nobody else

Ahh, you should be right here with me babe
Instead of going round this frantic town
And start messin' around
With all the lonely lonely people out there
No one to care
Why don't you come and stay with me
Because I love you so

You tell me you love me so
Why do you have to go
Everything you'll ever need
You will find right here with me

Ahh, you should be right here with me babe
Instead of going round this frantic town
And start messin' around
With all the lonely lonely people out there
No one to care
Why don't you come and stay with me
Because I love you so

Stay with me, Stay with me
Stay with me, Stay with me
Stay with me, Stay with me
Stay with me, Stay with me, Stay with me...

Ahh, you should be with me babe
Ahh, you shouldn't go no where
And all I'm trying to tell you babe
Happiness is waiting for you

So wont you stay with me?
So wont you stay with me?
I got what you need
So wont you stay with me?

Don't go nowhere baby,
don't go, no, no
I got what ya need
So wont you stay with me?

Don't go, Don't go, I love you so
Don't go, Don't go, I love you so
Don't go, Don't go, I love you so
Don't go, Don't go, I love you so

y'all remember that?? stay with me by de barge. this is one of those songs that wigs me out, even if i don't 'hear' it. i love this song so much that all it had to do was pop in my head last night, and it's been on ever since. it's ramadaan (mashALLAH), so i've been keeping away from the music [for the most part], concentrating more on playing the qur'aan. i broke down a little while ago though and tried to listen to a 30 second sample (yes, desperate, i know), to no avail; my speaker wouldn't work for some reason. that's what i get, right?.

that song though drives me mad- i can't even articulate what it does. it's like some deep-rooted, emotional/spiritual thing that makes me want to cry, and fall in love over and over again. kinda like that thing you feel when you get so overwhelmed by the sight of your child. and it's not just the music alone, nor the lyrics, but a combination of the two; it's just right on point! i love you de barge!!

RAMADAAN MUBARAK!

SubhanALLAH, Ramadaan is here! This is our 4th day in, and I'm lovin' it. I can't really say why; there's just something about Ramadaan. People who don't observe it's fast [etc.] may think that it's a struggle or burden, but it really isn't- not for me or my friends/family. In fact (and many of you can vouch for me), many times when we break fast we are not even in a rush to eat. We have to of course because we know our bodies have rights over us. My point though is that there's no feeling of deprivation or anything.

Then let us not forget Ramadaan is not just about 'doing without'. The point is to elevate ourselves back to the state in which we were created, via our father Adam. Fasting from food, drink, intercourse, as well as focusing more on charity, helping those who at the time may be struggling a little harder, etc. uplifts us spiritually, and focuses the attention where it needs to be: with the One Creator, ALLAH. Yet this month is meant to be a stepping stone, a template to how we should be- and in fact are ordered to be- throughout the rest of the year. InshALLAH, we will accept the hikma (wisdom) in it and live it consistently (Amin).


I'd like to say this Ramadaan is even more special to me because my sister has come back to the deen (subhanALLAH!). She hasn't been 'practicing' for a long time, but decided enough was enough for her, and has been getting up for suhur, making her salaah, and even plans to start back dressing modestly. I'm very proud of her.

Another thing I am grateful for is the fact that Ramadaan naturally enforces a communal bond, not just at the masjid (it's beautiful to see oodles of people praying, eating and playing together every night, especially with the weather being so pleasant), but within your personal circle. I truly enjoy getting up to prepare my family's suhur, and calling around to wake up other family/friends. (How often can you phone someone 4 in the morning, and it's all good??) It's a beautiful thing, and I'm just glad I was chosen to be a part of it. ALLAH certainly does give th ebest gifts, no?

back in the work field

sistas [all nationalities]:

have you ever felt like you do everything you can for your children and husband- making sure their needs are met, their dreams fulfilled- and you think to yourself that you are truly satisfied living in that role.

then one day you realize that [just how the older, wiser women warned] your children are growing (some leaving), your husband doesn't necessarily appreciate you in the way you feel you deserve, and aside from raising smart, respectful, ready-for-the-world children, you have virtually nothing. no fly business that you always thought you would have, no money to call your own, no degree that you were supposed to go back and get, no just-for-you accomplishments- besides the ones that came before hubby and children.

you look up and realize that although you FEEL [and probably THINK] you're still 25... your not. it dawns on you that even if you live to be 80, 80 isn't really that far off. you can remember 20 years ago as if it were merely 2 MONTHS ago, and you know for sure that if you do have until 80, the next 40 or 30 years will likely zoom by just as quickly. and what if your husband dies or leaves you, or your children grow up and eventually leave home? then what??
the panic kicks in, and while some of us actually get up off of our tails and do something, some of us don't.

obviously i am not simply throwing some arbitrary question out at you; i have owned this plight for quite some time. thankfully though, i was able to build up the strength and courage to join ranks with the former gals: i got up off of my butt and went back to work! i know this post probably makes me sound manic, but i'm not; i feel good. damn good, y'all! i had to find myself again because mu was m.i.a. i'm not that deep, so i know a whole lot of you feel where i'm coming from

and trust, i don't regret my choices of staying home with my babes, homeschooling, or even running [my husbands] restaurants because not only did i ask ALLAH for all of these things, but they benefitted us all. of course, the children being able to spend quality time with me and each other was tremendously beneficial on too many levels to even name, and homeschooling opened them up to worlds they never would have known in private or public school sectors. and while the restaurants liked to have broke a sista down (big-ups to all you restauranteurs out there!), it taught me business hands-on, and gave me confidence that i could not only cook for other people[and have them love and even pay for it!], but also teach them how to cook for themselves (2 businesses that i've started on my own).

oh, and one of the many things homeschooling has done for me (besides make me smarter, and a HUGE history buff) is teach me how to teach others. which brings me finally to the point of this post: i am back at the school i used to work, teaching grades 4, 5 and 7 (general ed.), as well as high school health. it is a private muslim school, and i'm very excited. when i worked there before the students/parents/administration liked my style of teaching, and over the past few years have asked me to consider coming back. it was really challenging at times, and (for the past year) i was trying to take some time off at home, not bogging the children down to one place while i worked. and so i REALLY debated going back, but i'm glad i did. the best thing is that the children come to work with me, so i don't have to stress about getting to the sitter before making it to work, and the 2 older ones will be in my class so i will still be teaching them.

to think, just a couple of weeks ago i was a borderline-desperate woman, and today... i can see mu breaking thru. isn't it something what prayer can do?

Aw'ight, now that that's done...

we can kick it. What's been goin' on?

I'll tell you what's on my mind today. Last night I was watching the Run's House episode that Vanessa poses for Maxim (one of favorite shows btw). Not only was I agreeing with Angela--the clothes WERE NOT 'tastful'-- but also Run. What is the problem with being concerned with what your children/ family are doing, even after after they are so-called grown?? And what's more, why is so wrong to actual care what your parents/family will say or think about your actions, and actually using that knowledge to help yourself come to a decision? Russel and Kimora's advice was off the hook to me.

In my opinion, the fact that we usually don't care what others think [we even flaunt this fact like it's something to be honored], only about our own irrational, momentary desires which comes from the lowest part of ourselves, is what has gotten us into the fixes we are in today. What fixes, you may be asking; well, honey, where to start? We can talk on a global, national, or personal level. From global warming, to the spread of AIDS, to too many babies being born out of wed-lock, to having a daughter posing near nude and being concerned little about how it will effect her family; 'selfishness', and the ability to go for what we want, when we want, just because we want has caused many a problem.

Now a know alot of y'all will think I'm going off the deep end, like 'Alright Mu, how'd you get this from that'.

(To be cont.---sorry!)

Guess who's back???

Hey y'all!!! Man, have I had a tough time getting back here!

First, I was off line for awhile because we had no internet. Then, when I finally got it back, there was a new way to log into Blogger: get a g-mail account (which you probably already know). So of course, I obliged. But since I hadn't had time to blog, I forgot my sign-in information, which is where the real confusion started...

Well, anyway I'm back, and I'm so excited! So many things I've been wanting to share (still so little time to do so, but I will try much more often). But first thing's first: must get some music up in here!

baffled

woman slashes 5-year old nephew's throat

i feel a bit depressed.

what is going on? so much murder, so much evil-- and so close to where my family rests our heads. and so many children dying... for no reason at all. what am i to do??

sorry, marvin

well, as you can hear, i had to do away with marvin. it was just starting to get on my last, chile. i get rid of one thing from my sidebar, everything is in chaos. i had to ask myself: is marvin worth having your entries cast way to the bottom of the page? well, the real marvin, yes, but the video i had (with no marvin in it whatsoever)... well, do you hear that?? yes, silence. i do miss the sweet sound of that voice, and sincerity of his words though. [you do know he wrote that song for me, right? picked it straight out of my heart...] maybe another time when i'm feeling a bit more patient i will try it again- siiigh...

___________________

belated ramadaan mubarik!

i've been so busy with life (and my other blog) that i hadn't checked in really all ramadaan. it's been good; ALLAH is always good to my family and me. i can hardly believe that it is nearly over! what's messin' wit dat?!

it seems like yesterday that i was making a shopping list of all the things i was going to cook and bake for suhur (early morning breakfast) and iftaar (dinner/ breaking of fast). no matter how i plan though suhur always winds up looking liker this

i'm not complaining because we could have nothing at all like so many people who go hungry all day everyday. i just always want to make it extra special, since it is an extra special month. maybe next year i'll better in executing my plans. now it's time to get those 'iyd gifts together-if i can afford them. i swear these children think we have a dollar tree out in th... omg, i think i just channeled my mother! time to go...

they say it can happen anywhere-

and i guess it can.

can you believe that someone actually shot up those little amish girls? not only were they innocent (as children), but what on earth has the amish ever done to any body?? it's just too sad... too sad. what are we to do about and for our children?

may ALLAH protect us all from such hatred and evilness in our lives- amin.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061002/ap_on_re_us/amish_school_shooting

she gettin' good, she gettin' good

those are the words my [stank] 14yo ds spoke because i actually know how to transfer my digitals onto the computer now- mind you they were
words of sarcasm as opposed to encouragement, god forbid. he just doesn't realize that i

am 34 now, and fiercer than ever- heyyy! [w/ a circle snap]
-------------------------------------------------
so anyway, like many of you i love to roam about this great 'blogosphere', and in doing so i am getting inspiration and confidence in so many ways. (ie, hear that dope music? oh, makes me wanna holla, way they do my life... thanks for the idea joey)

one thing that's been inspired is my sewing. i've been sewing for years, but for some reason never had the nerve to make a simple duvet i wanted for my comforters. well, after checking out miss nikki and how far she's come in NO TIME, i had to tell myself to stop buggin', and went on ahead and did it. the fabric a beautiful brocade that i got from our local discount fabric spot for $1.50/yard, and it feels so silky soft! it didn't go the full width of the comforter, so i put strips of the same black 'silky' polyester that's on the reverse on each side. so all that apprehension, for what? now i have 2 duvet covers in 1, and all it took was some time. easy-peasy, as they say.

now if i get this picture posting thing down, i'll show the accessories i'm adding as they get done. check y'all later...

*the headboard is actually part of one of those 'drop-in' bed frames that i got the other day for free from a freecycle member. freecycle rocks, yo!

feels like heaven

not really anything in particular to write about, just trying to be good to my blog.

i'm sitting here with my sleeping baby on my lap, lights out, cd 101.9 playing in the background, its 'cool jazz' [as they call it] every so often coaxing me to a nod. it's so quiet; only my big boy and i are awake, and he's in the other room watching csi. you would think that i too would be in bed, but no way. this here is my time. my 2 middle ones are fast asleep, exhausted from another day of trying to break me. they shower me with kisses and claim that i am loved-even massage my achy, worn muscles at the end of the day- but i know they're secretly trying to drive me crazy. i mean, what else could it be?

no one in their right mind could need to be told 52,000 times [no exaggeration] to make up his bed, or to stop hitting his sister-EVERYday-right? and no sane human being could possibly want to lift her voice 600 octaves in the most nerve distorting screech ever NOT known to man, simply because her brother threw her pillow, or called her a boy. (and i won't even mention the teen--ooh, i tremble at even the thought of him. thank goodness dh takes him along to work sometimes, or i dunno...)

anyhow, this is my time and i intend to enjoy it for all that it's worth. after all, which blessing of my Lord shall i deny?

YAY!!

joey, you are seriously THE BOMB, sis!

you saved me from a truly JACKED up looking space, and i luvs you, man! 4EVA!