Tag: #lifestyleblogger

My top 10 versatile decorations…that will last!
Alliyah Dawud
December 24, 2018

Versatile decorations for Eid, Ramadan and beyond.

Don’t you just love it when Christmas decorations land in shops in July. No really. I’m being sincere. But why would a Muslim be excited about the decorations that spill out of every single shop on the High Street?

Because we’re living in an era where most decorations can be used across religions, cultures and beyond.

How is that possible I hear you cry. Well firstly the decorations market is becoming more and more competetive as social media sites such as Instagram show us how ‘the other half lives’ and well we all want to buy decorations that truly are awesome, unique and non standard in the traditional sense.

When I was a kid I remember tinsel, tinsel, more tinsel and red and white decorations. Gold was also a feature colour. But that was the colour palettes the general consumer worked with unless they became creative and produced their own decorations (in an era before Pinterest trust me this was very very difficult).

I love decorating my home for Eid, Ramadan and Birthdays. I just love bringing in magical vibes for the girls to get lost in. So I’ve created a list of my top 10 decorations that are fit for a variety of celebrations.

Make a list of what you need and when the decoration season hits fill that basket with a bargain or three of versatility.

NOTE: shops have already started slashing prices guys! So see you all on Boxing Day to get our decoration fix.

1) Beaded garlands.

Without a shadow of a doubt this is my top decoration. You can pick up beaded garland in an array of colours. We currently own a bucket of gold beaded garlands plus pink and purple. We also have some white ones (for Frozen themed parties).
Now I use them: hang them up, wrap them around things, use them to hang up lanterns…get creative.
Why I love them: they are so versatile. Plus they are cheap and durable. Poundland bring in a range of colours every year. That’s a quid for 8 metres. And if you are looking at topping up your collection you can pick up garlands for as cheap as 25 pence in the post Christmas sales. That’s right. How do you think I ended up with a bucket of gold beaded garlands?

2) Paper lanterns
Oh my goodness. This is where my Pinterest obsession creeps in. Years ago I came across an image of a Tangled themed wedding and they used various paper lanterns to decorate the gazebo. It looked magical. The next thing you know I was ordering various lanterns in various colours and sizes.
So as these lanterns are made from paper you cannot use them with candles (just thought I would point out the obvious) and due to the material they can be delicate to handle so you need to bare that in mind. However since I first started using lanterns 4 years ago I haven’t damaged a single one beyond a bit of TLC.
Now to use them: assemble them (straight forward procedure so don’t panic) and hang them up. If you want to create a magical airy look use transparent thread.
Why I love them: the instant pop of colour! If you need to decorate a large area you can get some pretty big lanterns and hang them in clusters (in a mixture of sizes) to create a bit of a feature. The combinations are endless if you mix them up with honeycomb balls and paper fans. Plus if you look after them you can REUSE them!
My top tip: want a bit of extra bling for an outdoor event? Spray the lanterns with glitter spray. The glitter will glisten in the sunlight.
I usually order mine 6/8 weeks before I need them so I can order them cheaper from China.

3) Honeycomb balls
When my oldest turned one I ordered pink honeycomb balls and at the time places like Poundland didn’t stock them so I paid a silly price per ball. Anyhow 7 years in and those honeycomb balls are still being used. The honeycomb balls get their name from their pretty shape.
You can buy honeycomb balls (made out of tissue paper) in a wide range of colours and sizes so there’s something to fit every budget.
Why I love them: the range of colours and sizes available readily makes these babies a must for me. Plus if you fold them back up and store them carefully they WILL last (like I said I’ve had some for 7 years…).
Tip: if you require larger sized honeycomb balls and want to grab some at a bargain try eBayers in China.

4) Glitter covered branches.

So if you cannot take glitter avoid these guys. But if like my family you need a bit of bling these are worth their weight in gold.
Basically dried branches are painted and covered in glitter. You then take these beauties home and place them in a vase and great a centre point for your table, mantle etc. I bought a range of colours in the post Christmas sales. I drape beaded garlands on the branches to add some extra bling. You can mix and match to make a statement.
Why I love them: its a big statement piece at an affordable price. I paid £1.25 for a bunch of branches from Asda post Christmas. They can be reused too.
Tips: planning a mendhi? Why not get green branches and drape over gold beaded garlands as the centre piece for tables.

5) pre cut foil letter banners
I love a good DIY project but I find some things are cheaper to purchase readymade and in the case of Foil/glitter card signs. If you calculate the price of card, plus the time it takes to cut the letters out etc buying pre-made is a bargain.
I use Eid Mubarak glitter letter signs to create statements at Eid. I got 3 signs from eBay for £4.68 (the seller was based in China and I placed my order 2 months in advance).
Why I love them: simple statement really. Affordable and reusable. Plus I like to have signs in photos incase I suffer from memory problems when I’m older.

6) Fairy lights
Oh dear lord. Fairy lights! I don’t think these need much of an introduction but with such a variety there’s so much scope with them. Drape them around the home, hang them up, use outdoor ones draped over plants…the possibilities are endless. There’s colourful lights, twinkling ones, solar powered outdoor lights, flashing ones…ones you can connect up to speakers. What a time to be alive if you love fairy lights.
Why I love them: just re-read the above.
Tips: Superstores often have offers on around Christmas and you can actually pick up bargains before the post Christmas sales.

7) Paper mache pre-made letters
If you have lots of shelves or a mantle that needs a bit of festive love this could be a cost effective option for you.
I bought my letters off eBay and paid £1.20 per letter (with an additional 15% off for buying 10+ letters). I then painted the letters using metallic paint (purchased from Poundland-I can recommend their metallic acrylic ‘poster paints’ as I’ve used purple, gold and turquoise from the range). The project took a total of less than 2 hours and I now have a set of awesome freestanding letters than look awesome on my shelves.
Why I love them: you can spell whatever you want to. And you can use any colour, use a bit of glitter…and let your imagination run free.
Tip: a great crafting idea for little ones to get them in the festive mood and let them participate in the decoration of the home for any special event/festivity.

8)Painted upcycled jars (as candle holders)
I love a good DIY project so this was right up my street. I collected a range of glass jars and painted them in a range of jewel coloured glass paints.
I use these holders with battery powered ‘tealight’ candles so I don’t have any major fire hazards to worry about whilst celebrating. Plus I don’t have to scrape wax out of the holders (less work!).
Why I love them: I can use the jars outdoors and indoors and the glistening lights look magical. Plus the colour range of paints is amazing.
Tips: keep the jars in your shed/outhouse during colder months as frost will damage them. Get children involved in painting jars. If you have a steady hand try using glass outline pens to draw on patterns. The possibilities are endless.

9) Baubles
The old fashioned bauble has withstood the test of time. You can pick up baubles in all colours, textures, shapes and sizes too. You can hang them up, place them in vases, stick them to a hula hoop and create a large wreath….get creative with these babies. You can also create personalised bauble countdown garlands by writing on the baubles too (e.g. 6 sleeps til Eid…. etc). Hang some baubles with ribbon and hang them in your window.
Why I love them: baubles are a cheap and effective away to add colour and texture to your home and decor collection. You can get creative with them too. Pick up boxes of baubles from Superstores and DIY stores such as B&Q in the post Christmas sales.

10) Wire decorations
Again I love DIY and garden wire based decorations are one of my favourite things ever. Firstly you can get really creative and let children join in. Secondly wire is really affordable (especially if you use garden wire) and thirdly you can create decorations for the garden that will last a while.
My favourite things to create are cressant moons and also letters too. I wrap them with hessian string (again super affordable) and then paint them (our favourite: gold paint). Intertwine with fairy lights and create something magical.

That concludes my list of decorations I recommend for your decoration box. I delibrately left off balloons as yes they are super cheap but cannot be reused.

What is your favourite decoration? And what would you rather be without? Leave a comment below.

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

My top 10 items for surviving the Winter blues…
Alliyah Dawud
October 15, 2018

Preparing for the Winter BLUES

I try to love and embrace all seasons I really really do! But I do suffer from SAD (Seasonal affective disorder). So basically when it’s cold outside, dark and dreary it gets scary for me. I used to spend the majority of the cold months indoors miserable and feeling low until I discovered I could work towards helping to REDUCE the side affects.

Since then my Winters have improved. A lot.

Here is my Winter survival kit

1) SAD Lamp
Small and compact this lamp is awesome. The colder shorter days result in less daylight which isn’t good for SAD/winter blues sufferers.
I switch it on whilst I’m working (ensuring it’s set to the right level to actually do it’s magic on me). Half an hour a day and it contributes towards happy vibes for me.
Price: available on Amazon from £39.99

2) Vitamin B 12 & Vitamin C
In all honesty I try my best to stay on top my Vitamin intake but it can slip. From September I try my damn hardest to take Vitamin B 12 to ensure my body can fight dreaded Fatigue. It’s a must. I usually feel a burst of energy from a month into taking this suppliament regualary.
I also ensure I take Vitamin C to fight Winter bugs.
*Always consult a specialist before starting a new suppliment*

3) Qi Qong (Life Energy Cultivation) Yoga sessions
Great for balancing you, relaxing you and taking stress away. There’s no pretzel moves…it’s about flow. And it’s awesome.

4) Essential oil roller ball (self blended combinations)
To perk myself up I use essential oil blends. Citrus blends rock and are an instant lift.

5) Meditation
Because if you can think it, you can do it. Meditating clears my thoughts and helps me tune into the source (God) and that is a blessing for me.

6) Prayer beads (tasbeeh)
Dikr (repeating suppliments) calms me no end. It also lifts me. So it’s crutial for me personally to do more of it in the darker months.

7) A brisk walk (no more than 10-15 minutes a day)
Yes it’s cold. But what’s the point of having an awesome coat if I’m not going to ware it? A bit of fresh air is super important for health.

8) Journaling
Noting down how you feel and reflecting on things is a major way of keeping ‘tags’ on yourself. I recommend it to everyone

9) Gratitude Diary
Because believe me when you are feeling ‘down’ it’s easy to forget the blessings. So I ensure I remind myself daily!

10) Manifesting Box
I reread my letters, notes etc to keep focus on my goals. Why? I don’t want to fall off the band wagon, lower my vibes and slow down my life. I keep focus.

 

That’s my list. What’s on yours? Leave your comments below.

 

Love,

Alliyah