Category: Family

Gratitude is attitude (start a Gratitude jar)
Stylemesisteradmin
November 5, 2018

Gratitude Jar

This world. It’s great isn’t it. We have all the mod cons. All the stuff our ancestors could never have imagined. All these opportunities we receive, all the love, the recoveries from illnesses….the blessings we have. We often forget them. It’s human nature (unless you actively rewire your brain) to concentrate on negatives rather than positives. Call it society. Call it normal. Whatever you want to class it as it’s an active block in your life.

My personal journey with GRATITUDE is I keep a gratitude diary. I fill out the diary with three things I am thankful for everyday. I’ve been doing this for a while now. It’s been a part of my own personal developmental journey. You see until you can see what the good stuff in your life is you cannot dispel the negative. Your thought process needs to move to positives. You need to concentrate on the good. The light. And then multiply them.

It’s Laws of Attraction. Like attracts like. You think about the good, you concentrate on the good. You focus on the good.

You then manifest MORE of the same/similar.

We’ve all had negative experiences where we’ve got out of bed and the day has started rough. We’ve muttered ‘flippin’ great’ and the next thing you know you’ve poured coffee down your white shirt, your toast is burnt, your car engine has overheated and you are late for your annual review. You then have to combat the rush hour traffic on public transport. You open your post and there’s an invite to your exes Wedding. Because at the start of a less than happy day things started a rough and we were like “what else can go WRONG” and the universe answers your vibes that you are sending out in the way you are manifesting via your attitude.

So to increase goodness we concentrate on GOOD VIBES ONLY.

As a Muslim gratitude is attitude. We’re taught to be thankful for the blessings and also count the lessons. And what doesn’t kill is it teaching something to us and we need to grow from it.

Rather than allow my daughters to get into the habit of concentrating on the negative I’ve introduced a Gratitude Jar into the weekly family activities. The idea is to get everyone in the family to think of at least one thing they are grateful for over the week and write it down. We then place it in the jar. Then when the year is done we will read our slips and put them in an envelop for future reference.

The idea is to get into the habits of expressing gratitude and acknowledging the good in life. It’s also a way of reflecting on our lives (I’m a firm believer in reflection to improve ourselves). And the more we thankful the more we attract of the same good stuff.

It’s a great activity to do as a family and it costs next to nothing to do.

Materials needed:

Paper (we use coloured craft paper. We’ve got A4 size mixed colours. The pack cost £4.00 and will last us more than a year.
A jar-I upcycled a jar by writing on it a verse from the Holy Quran

(If you are grateful I will give you more 14:7).

We use various pens to write out our slips.

And apart from that you don’t need anything else.

So go on; increase your gratitude as a family and see how the positive attitude brings in more positive vibes for you all.

 

Cajun Spiced Chicken Mince & Pasta
Alliyah Dawud
November 2, 2018

Cajun spiced chicken mince Skillet pasta

My youngest is somewhat of a fussy eater and planning family meal planning can sometimes turn into a war zone (e.g. no I don’t like pasta anymore, no I don’t like meat it’s not healthy…etc etc). However as a parent I am always trying to ‘reinvent the wheel’ of healthy food options my children will go for.

I like chicken mince. It’s cheap, quicker to cook and healthier than a few other meats…did I mention it cooks quick?!

Most Asians love a good slice of spicy action and cajun spices are up there with blends I keep around to make everything taste delicious.

This recipe makes 4 large children’s portion plus 1 adult portion. I just thought I’d point that out.

Feel free to double the sauce recipe and freeze half for a busier night.

Ingredients:
300 grams chicken mince
2 tbsp rapeseed oil
4 tbsp fried onions
1 tbsp salt (more/less depending on dietary requirements)
1 tbsp garlic granules
1 tbsp dried mexican oregano (or ‘standard’ dried oregano)
1 & 1/2 heap tbsp cajun spice mix (Recipe blend here)
3 tbsp single cream
200 ml passata
300 ml water
OPTIONAL: 1 bell pepper or 1 turkish chili (for a bit of heat) sliced thinly
250 grams cooked pasta (I used rigatoni as the shape allows the sauce to cling effectively. Yes, I am a geek).
50 grams cheddar cheese grated (for spice lovers you can get a few varied of hard cheeses infused with chilies. Those would be awesome with the recipe too).

1) Heat the oil in a large skillet pan on a medium heat.
2) Add the onion and pepper (if using) and fry for 1 minute. Add the chicken mince. Fry for one minute stirring regularly to stop the chicken sticking to the pan.
3) Add the salt, garlic granules, cajun spice and fry for 1-2 minutes to cook the garlic granules out. If you find the chicken is sticking too much add a tbsp of water (or chicken stock).
4) Add the passata and cream-stir well.
5) Add the water and stir. Turn the heat off.
6) Add the pasta and stir. Sprinkle over the cheese and place in the oven at 170 for 5 minutes until the cheese melts. SERVE.
Alternatively if you do not have an oven mix the pasta in and keep on a low heat and stir for 1-2 minutes to heat the pasta through. Sprinkle on cheese and serve.

Leftovers make a great midnight snack (or lunch the day after).

NOTES:
Cajun spice blends can be found online cheaper than at Supermarkets (those glass spice bottles are expensive!).
Dried Mexican oregano can be purchased online (even on Ebay). It’s great in Tex-Mex recipes and well on everything (including Pizza but please don’t tell the Italians).

Poundland Pimped up Headphones
Stylemesisteradmin
October 29, 2018

Pimped up Poundland headphones

My daughters love music (they get that from me). Their current favourite artists include Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Selena, Little Mix, Katy Perry, Jonas Blue….and the list goes on.

Recently we discovered Primark sold headphone splitter adaptors for £2.00. Not just that but they are heart shaped too. The idea of being able to download to a single media player and both girls can listen to the music is very appealing to me as it’s one less item to look after whilst we travel.

I decided to give the adaptor a go with the girls and whilst out and about I noticed poundland did some funky white headphones. Nothing posh. Just standard white headphones (retro style with over the head-band).

I got two pairs in the same colour (white) for the girls and plan to write their names on. Practical yet stylish. No more arguing over whose headphones are whose.

For this project I used:

Headphones (£1.00 per set from Poundland)

Mod Podge (yellow label=matte finish). I used literally a tiny amount and would say the cost was 25 pence. Clear nail varnish also works if you have that in your polish box (you could even use a glittery polish to add a bit of bling)

Sharpie marker pens (I have a huge collection so didn’t buy any extra for this project)

OR other permanent marker pens. The Works do affordable range of permanent marker pens too. Prices start at £2.00.

1) Give the headphones a wipe down
2) Plan your design and draw it onto the headphones. I find brighter colours work best.
3) Allow the design to dry completely to avoid smudging.
4) Give the headphones a coat of mod podge. Allow to dry completely and give it another coating.
5) Voila! Your headphones are ready to go.

You can also use fluorescent pens, glow in the dark pens or even metallic gold on black headphones.

 

Day eleven of the Batwing Abaya Challenge
Stylemesisteradmin
October 26, 2018

 

Day eleven of challenge

Plans: Work & possible meeting

My outfit contained:
Batwing Abaya
Checked Blazer
Silver necklace
Faux suede black ankle boots
Black lace Hijab
Harry Potter bag (£5.00 from Primark).

I needed to carry a lot of books yet there was a chance my meeting would run into Lunch so I added a casual bag (that is a real bargain. Primark reduce items on a daily basis….). Very happy with the bag taking the outfit from work to casual meeting without me sticking out too much.

Don’t forget to like and share the blog and leave any feedback below. Sharing is caring guys.

Day twelves look will be posted tomorrow.

Breakfast from the freezer…Breakfast Burritos
Alliyah Dawud
October 19, 2018
Best Breakfast Ever.

Breakfast Burritos

Hands up if the morning rush has you feeling running around like you are running the country.
When you have lots of responsibilities towards family and loved ones you often neglect yourself. One of my own SELF LOVE things I do is have breakfast. Even if it’s a bowl of yogurt and a banana. But I do it. I also ensure my girls have a breakfast too. It’s the most important meal of the day.

What I like is a bit of variety. Let’s face it breakfast can get boring when it’s the same old cereal.

As we try to get the most out of our Saturdays I limit our Breakfast time to an hour. Its more than enough for us but also helps build our family tradition of having a leisurely breakfast together.

I’m aware of various fast food chains doing breakfasts which is awesome for those days when you need breakfast but may not have the time to cook them (we usually have a fast food breakfast when we visit our friends in Cambridge as it adds to the excitement on the weekend). So what’s the answer to me wanting a warm, instant breakfast that’s not too calorific in comparison to the fast food chains but doesn’t take years to prepare? Freezer Burritos!

Now before you scoff at the monitor/phone screen) here me out. Burritos are an awesome wrap that can be made the way you like them in bulk, frozen and then zapped in the microwave for less than 3 minutes and boom! Hot breakfast.

I love wraps. I also Mexican inspired food which is one of the reasons this is one of my favourite Breakfasts ever.

I churn out 24 breakfasts in 90 minutes which makes this a nice activity to do at the weekends. That’s approximately 4 minutes per breakfast. I think that’s awesome going really.

Slight caution: try not to overload your Burritos or else you won’t be able to roll them up.

So here’s my breakdown of what I put in my Burritos:

Scrambled eggs ( 2 eggs per Burrito)

Spinach (I wilt it down with lemon and a pinch of salt. I usually use frozen spinach and use one block per wrap)

Salsa (store bought. 1 tablespoon per Burrito)

Hash browns (I buy a bag of prepared hash browns for less than a pound in Aldi. I use one hash per wrap. I usually cut it in half. I cook the hash browns in the oven to save time)

Black (turtle) beans (a great way to add protein to the burritos. I use 1 tablespoon per Burrito.

Cheese-grated (I use mature cheddar as I get more flavour her gram. I use one tablespoon per Burrito. YOLO!).

Sausages ( I use lamb sausages and I grill or bake them at the same time as cooking my hash browns)

Sausage patties (If you are a vegetarian Quorn do awesome ones!)

Turkey bacon (as a non pork eater I use Turkey bacon. I also grill them with the sausages. Keep an eye on them and don’t over crisp them).

Crispy potatoes (for children you could even add waffles etc. Cook them in bulk in the oven and voila! Done!).

Sliced fried mushrooms (I fry a load off and use about two tablespoons per Burrito. If you want an extra flavour punch fry in garlic or chili oil)

Baked beans (minus the sauce so I drain them) I use 1 tablespoon per Burrito)

My favourite combinations:

The GREAT British combo: eggs, hash brown, sausage, bacon, beans, mushroom

Cheese, mushrooms, beans & bacon

Hash browns, bacon and cheese

Eggs, black beans, salsa & cheese

Mushroom, bacon, cheese

Beans, cheese & bacon

Just let your imagination run wild.

To make sure your Burritos keep their texture I drain off excess liquids (including fat off the sausages).

Okay what else will you need?

Large Torillas (doh!)
Greaseproof paper
Cling film
Ziploc bags
Marker pen to label your Burritos

And this is what I do:

I use large Tortillas

I create a conveyer belt and place all the cooked things in a line. Yes I do love a bit of organising that gets me going.

I then place the ingredients on the wrap and fold (click here to view an awesome video from…..on how to fold a Burrito!).

I then place the Burrito on greaseproof paper, label them, wrap them in cling film and place them in a ziploc bag.

Why have I not included amounts or recipes?
In all honesty I feel this is a DIY foodie hack you can play around with and personalise. I have included how much of each ingredient I put in my Burritos as an estimation guide for you guys.

To actually enjoy the Burritos. Take them out of the freezer. Remove the cling film and greaseproof paper and wrap in a damp kitchen towel. Blitz in the microwave on high for 3 minutes. Check the Burrito to see if it’s defrosted. If it’s still frozen ensure the kitchen towel is still damp and blitz for a further 2 minutes.

To eat: be careful to not burn yourself with the steam. Serve with a dollop of HP sauce or whichever sauce takes your fancy!

So guys what is your favourite combo? Comment below.

 

Love,

 

Alliyah