more embroidery

made more embroidery.

loved every minute of it. :)

it's always amazing how the little iron on bling gems transfer the whole thing to something very much more fancy than a bunch of simple stitches. :)

Dreaming.Or not.

i recently got some land to my name.On my mom's island..In hopes that we get to live there some day.it's a little scary because i don't still consider myself old enough to really own anything.And i have this weird thing that where i believe that if i own anything,i am tied down by it and its not a feeling i like.
But these things,got me thinking,it won't be such a a bad thing to have a place of our own,a place we own,a place we can call our own. :)

A fence.Who doesn't like a fence?And with the splashes of color..I see this in my dreams now..

What if this is how the house looks like?(I've such little girl taste.)

                                                            Have tea here..Or read? :D

   

                                     Aah this porch would be lovely in the quiet of the morning.

I would love to have a garden.there is no space enough for a garden in the house we live now.there isnt no sunny spot to keep a pot either.or for few herb plants.i would like that.great things about living in the city. :/

How nice it would be to grow my own herbs!or even little veggies..maybe..i dont even know how green my thumb is yet,if it is at all.i sure hope it is.

And then have some more tea.And chat.

http://alifesdesign.blogspot.com/

This is nothing compared for the thousands of images i've saved over the time.of dreams such as this.
Can you tell that im avoiding getting my hopes and dreams too up?
Is that a bad thing?
I try not to dream too much and live in the moment. for too much of dreaming can make a person forget to live and even make him miserable.no need to waste so much time and thinking and worrying and no need to sigh for a future that we do not know anything of yet. (i do not mean this in a negative way.)

Always thankful insha Allaah.And happy. :D

But aaaah, dreams.

Mostly pinterest you YOU YOUUU!!!

http://www.facebook.com/UmmuN0ora

Ta-Da!
This here is my Face Book page.
Like and share! :)

No Titles Does This Post Deserve.

You know sometimes how it feels like when you are so sorry that you just cannot find the words to apologize and so end up ignoring the whole thing because you feel so guilty?well,thats how i feel about how i have neglected my blog since my vacation.its been 10 months.
things have happened since I've been here last.my toddler has weaned,she has started preschool,making friends of her own,developing a beautiful personality of her very own,my beautiful child masha Allah.last time i was here,i was complaining about all the time she demands from me.Now she sleeps on her own,her tantrums less,negotiating more.

And i started a small cupcake business,which didn't really work out,timing wasn't very good,and i think i eat way too many cupcakes so I've put it on hold.
But it seems i'm baking every other week,a big batch of cupcakes and cookies, or a double layered frosted cake for someone or another :D.

I also started my own Facebook page to display my handmade stuff.Not very sure where its going yet,but i'd like for it to become a small business.
http://www.facebook.com/UmmuN0ora
do Like me! :o)

I've also started embroidering and embellishing black abayas.
I've sold about 12 of these embroidered work.This is my latest one.The one i love most yet! :D

if i try uploading pics of all the stuff I've done in the past 10 months,i wont be sleeping tonight.And we can't have that.
Also i'm just way too lazy.I will try to keep you, my dear blog,updated.hows once every six months sound?
:D

I shall be back soon!
(insert the hero disappearing sound here.)

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. :)