Finally here.

My shoes love the beach too.

I am quite absent vacationing.Mostly trying.I overlooked the fact that being a mommy also means that you really don't get vacation anywhere anyhow. :)

The weather has been stormy and cloudy and gray and rainy and all in all,very lovely.Give me a few days here and there to enjoy the sun and im a happy girl.

Hubby,me and Noora got wet in the rain today.On purpose.And it was AWESOME! :D Noora was shivering after a while,teeth chattering,and yet she insisted that she wanted to stay out playing in the rain,and that she did,till it stopped.I wonder where she got her love of rain from. ;)

We don't have internet access readily as we do in Mal'e.I thought i would miss it,but surprisingly enough,i don't.

Life is simpler here.

Pots and pans outside a kitchen

The air is crispier.cooler.its cleaner too.

a cousin of mine,on a palm tree!

The kids find entertainment on their own..they don't need the TVs and the video games..I can only hope that the techno stuff that is ruining the younger generations will stay out as long as possible..

passion fruit

Tree and vines grow here,and there is soil here,actual,soil!we have none in Mal'e anymore,with the exception of a very few homes..There is no space to grow anything in Mal'e.Its all tall buildings everywhere..Too many of them if you ask me.I cannot imagine how great it will be to grow and pick your own fruit!!!This is one of my greatest wishes..to one day be able to grow something..herbs,fruits or veggies..even my own chillies..oh how nice that would be..

Be back with more soon! :)

IT's finally happening..

We are leaving for our vacation this Saturday! :D
I cant wait to touch the white white sand..

To feel the soft cool breeze..

The sunshine on my face..

To see my daughters curiosity meters go crazy high while she absorbs the new and very beautiful places and things that she would be seeing for the very first time...

Oh dear i'm getting my pre vacation  heebie jeebies.

Coconut Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

I love coconut using coconut in baking.It doesnt hurt that it is one of the very few things that are grown locally. ;)

These cookies are absolutely the best there is.They are chewy,the coconut gives a lovely texture,it smells heavenly so all in all,this is my favorite cookie recipe.My picky little girl agrees.So does the hubby.

It tastes way better and is cheaper to make than the store bought extremely expensive oatmeal cookies. 

I am asked for this recipe all the time,so here it is!

Coconut Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Coconut Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup white sugar (use only 1/2 cup if you don't like it too sweet.)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cup rolled oat (quick cooking oats work well too)
• 1 cup shredded coconut (1/2 cup would work too)
• 1/2 cup dark raisins (i like them better than the golden ones.)
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil (i have also made with as little as 1/2 cup)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla

here how:

1.preheat oven to 175 degrees C.grease cookie sheets.

2.in a large bowl,stir together al the dry ingredients.

make a well in the center and add oil,eggs and vanilla.mix well with a wooden spoon or your hands.roll into balls and place on cookie sheets,2 inches apart,and flatten slightly.

3.bake for 10 to 12 minutes till light brown and chewy.cool a while and remove and let cool completely.

Store in an air tight container.

• I use fresh shredded unsweetened coconut.If you are using sweetened,you may want to lessen the amount of sugar.

Don't let the sunshine spoil your rain.

Life wise,i'm very drained these days.No one told me these toddlebums drain you almost empty..and i miss my mom.after my dad passed away,my mom went back home to her island.(Our country is a bunch of islands sitting together (but not joined) in the Indian ocean.)
I'm seriously in need of a vacation.The thought of it,is the only thing that's got me going these days..
As soon as hubby has got it settled at work,we are off insha Allaah..
We were expecting to leave tomorrow,I tried to not get my hopes too upsy because this might happen.but in my mind,i had made plans and i had made a lot of things in preparation.But the Boss has other ideas.(As much as i hate to say this,we haven't had a decent vacation for the four years we have been married.). :(

I can't wait.To see my mom,my lil brother(Noor,the two n half year old noora's uncle :)),all my extended family who lives on this tiny island that is my parents home island.
Oh keep me in your prayers,i'm sewing and stitching and beading and crafting like a mad woman and neglecting pretty much all else that i have to do, because that's the only things that s keeping me sane.

For now,i'm trying to adjust my attitude.I can't afford to be mad at those who are standing in our way for no good reasons or be too frustrated.

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aah that;s better.Even seeing that makes me feel a lot better.The rain is coming..lets be happy while we wait :D (for those of you who don't know me,rain is my source of rejuvenation.what the sun is to the trees,the rain is to me,i always say. ;))

Lets show you what ive been doing.

Mini quilt.

Midnight madness is how i got it done in 20 minutes.

Free machine sewing,that joy.

pink ruffled dress.I love this pattern,made it three times now :D

Label on the dress directly!

Instead of sewing on one of those tags,i ironed a little piece of my name directly on to  the fabric.and it stays well.chiffon holds iron transfers best,as of yet.

She is quite the sand lover.

 She loves picking things by her small hands,she has a good technique mastered..she finds lost pins and needles for me..exactly what i dont need her to find!

 Noora on papa's motorcycle.

that's how we got to her to stay put for this photo. :)

Papa hold her while momma tries to snap one decent pic of this dress!!

Embroidery on Noora's jeans.Quite in love with this one. :D
The bling is iron on.
No pictures of her in the jeans im afraid. :(

I'm assuming i will be making a lot of stuff in the next few days, because I have to do something to keep me from exploding..God knows how close i am..

Anyways,lets keep the smiles up.Cuz you can't smile from the outside without feeling better from the inside. :D

Simple wishes that have taken over my whole mind..

Of watching the sunrise on the beach..

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Of playing with the waves..

Of feeling and smelling the cool green grass..

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Of picking little flowers..

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Of taking long walks under the trees..

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Of running free..

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Of relaxing and really enjoying a good book..

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Of walking in the rain..

Of sitting under the stars..

Upcycling jeans!

I made some up-cycling with a pair of my old jeans.I made this bag,and a pair of jeans for the little miss.

 I used Velcro to close it.d black on hand,but i don't think i can stand that,but i will wait till i get to go out to get some white Velcro.myself fights with myself,one half of me needs instant gratification,the other is a perfectionist,who would gladly take all the time as required.Poor self.

See,I even stitched on it my very own personalized label.Love it! :D
I will get to how i made that later..but here is the basic tutorial!
And notice the pencil in the pocket?Aaaah its so chic that i can hardly handle it.

 It's fully lined with a some floral cotton.I love the contrast.the looong handle is upside denim and the other side floral cotton, the liner fabric.

 The stitching is quite wobbly as i couldn't help being hasty.As i said, some times, i need results,and i need them fast.

 See the pretty flower?
My hubby says i can't help it if i wanted to.There has to be a flower.
I even wanted to iron on some jewels.My brothers and my hubby liked it this way,no LOVED it this way, so my bling has to wait a bit on the sidelines.for now.

And this,would be a sneak peek of Noora's jeans.it's adorable!
I should get some action shots of the adorable diaper bum in it.

So how do you like my very first bag? :)

Things that are inspiring me today.

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I'm on a embroidery high these days.
literally. :)

Ummu Noora

I sleep when Noora wants me to, I work as she wants me to, I live and breathe mostly as she allows me to, so I don't think I belong to myself anymore.

So i might as well just admit it.

Proudly. :)

why cant more people T.H.I.N.K?

Credits

Credits

DEEEEp breath.
we've gotta stop letting unkind words hurt us so much.

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i'd rather be free of anger.i'd rather be light of grudge.

Credits

 because life,is too short for that.

New Yellow Blouse

that's the dress i made last night.i made a pattern and made this as a sample to see if the pattern works.And guess what,it did.

It was another good sewing session.the whole thing was completed within 45 minutes from start to finish,drafting the pattern,cutting and sewing.the stitching had to wait due to a toddler clinging on my legs.i couldn't sleep after everyone was tucked in,so i finished it. :) i love hanging out hanging out by myself and my stitching or other crafty crafty when everyone is gone to sleep.pure bliss.

Don't mind the scribbled background.(that was the best place i could get some decent light from.The wall outside my kitchen.The kids next door like drawing there.me,not so much.)

The trim is the same as i used on this one.I've got lots and lots of yards of this same trim,good thing i don't seem to get tired of it.

The little flower bunch is embroidered.I am still having doubts about the color.it doesn't look too bad does it?

I'm in a very sewy mood these days.Here is to making a lot more dresses while i am feeling like so.

this time im back.for sure.i think.

hahhhhh its been long.its been hectic around here.

i think I'm going to get back to blogging once again,and hope to post more often!

lets forget how much I've neglected my blog for a minute there,shall we?

no?

OK then lets see if some eye candy can bribe you. show you something hoping you will forgive me once you are too overwhelmed with how beautiful it is!deal? :D

my shiny braided bread.glorious it was.

I made Dana's braided bread a few nights ago.It came out really great,the texture super nice and it so happened to be the best Ive made yet.It was easy to slice,no crumbling,and it kept well without refrigeration for three days.

i wish i worked better on my photos.

tsk,what a pity.

it was late,two thirty in the morning,so its just this shot and an identical one to this,that i managed.sorry.

You should try this bread.but remember to make two it two loaves.or they will grow too huge and get almost stuck to the roof of your oven like mine almost did.ahem.

on other tones,i made a sample beaded flower.i cant remember for the life of me where i saw the tutorial from.so i cannot give credit where its due. :o( i've been searching far and wide for days,to no avail..please point it out to me if anyone knows! :o))

Beaded flower

i made a lot of dresses for my baby girl while i was busy not blogging.lets see how long it takes for me upload ONE, atleast! :)

Anyone has tips about toddler tantrums?Noora has become an expert.and i seem to be following her.and i seriously need help.poor husband.

i cannot focus on one thing for very long these days.

*snap*

gather some ideas while im away,alright?

let me be back in a while.

this time,im back for sure.

i think.

toodles! :o)