My husband has been reading the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, and shared something the other day that really stuck with me: Instead of just setting goals, focus on building small habits. As someone who loves making goals, I was curious about how I could shift my focus to small, daily habits that could help me achieve the lifestyle I want.

Here are some of the habits that I’m working towards:

1⃣ Staying active – Morning walks (whether it’s solo or with a friend), hitting the gym once or twice a week, and doing HIIT workouts or yoga at home on the other days.

2⃣ Creating a cleaning routine – I’ve started spreading out my chores throughout the week, so I’m not stressing over cleaning the entire house in one day.

3⃣ Staying organized – I’m working on having a place for everything and using the “one touch” method so I can just get things done right away.

4⃣ Embracing new experiences – I’m trying to attend more community events and set up playdates for the kids so we can make new memories and experiences together.

5⃣ Staying connected with friends – Texting, calling, and meeting up for lunch or coffee to make sure I’m nurturing the friendships I value.

What small habits have you incorporated into your life to make it easier or more enjoyable?

Let’s share and motivate each other! Drop a comment below!

Sincerely,

One of our favorite things to do when the weather is warm is eat popsicles outside on our patio, it’s something I’ve been doing with Shahzaib since he was small, and it’s such a fun bonding activity. I also wanted to incorporate some fun activities on the weekends and came up with the following list that I thought I’d share. The nice thing about where we live is that the cities around us host some of these activities for free, such as movie nights at the park, concerts and events downtown, farmer markets, and others, but even if yours don’t, several things can be done for little or no money that will leave your children with lasting memories:

• Movie at the park
• Drive-in movies
• Movie night at home or backyard
• A day spent at a water parks or splash pad
• Swimming at the pool
• Going to the beach or lagoon
• Camping
• Picnic at the park
• Concerts and events downtown
• County fair
• Farmer markets
• Activities at the library
• Local train rides
• Visiting a zoo or museum
• Day trip to a farm or berry picking
• Gardening/growing fruits and vegetables in your backyard

I hope you find this list helpful. If you do, please like and save it so you can refer back to it in the future. I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer .

Sincerely,

Since then, life has become so hectic for me. I never realized how much juggling was involved in being a working mom. The one benefit of this job is that I work remotely, but that comes with its own set of challenges. Anyways, nine months later, I am still trying to find a balance.
By the way, how is it May already?

We have something exciting coming up very soon, and I can’t wait to share it with all of you and take you along the journey. It honestly couldn’t have come at a better time since we all really need it. Any guesses as to what it could be? Let me know in the comments section below.

Otherwise, I hope you have a great week, and I’ll be back to share the exciting news very soon.

Sincerely,

I still cannot believe that Shahzaib is three years old already. It is surprising how quickly time has gone by; it is true how the saying goes, “The days are long, but the years are short.” – Gretchen Rubin.

Anyways, for Shahzaib’s birthday this year, I was initially contemplating whether I should even do a party or keep it simple with just the family. I had decided on the latter until a few weeks before his birthday when Shahzaib wasn’t feeling. He was so unlike his typically bubbly, chirpy self, which was heartbreaking but it also made me realize that my baby is getting bigger and we only have a certain amount of birthdays that we will get to celebrate with him until he is old enough to make his own plans, which is why a week before his birthday I decided to throw him a party.

Since it was all done last minute, Amazon Prime 2-day shipping saved the day. I was able to order everything I needed to make his construction-themed birthday party a success. We set up a little sand station filled with construction vehicles for the kids to play with, a build-your-own toolbox station that doubled as party favors, and a variety of delicious foods and treats. I also incorporated his construction toys into the decor and used them both at centerpieces and on the appetizer table. In the end, everything came together. It was great getting to see our family and friends, and the fact that Shahzaib had a wonderful time is all that matters.

Here are some pictures from the party for you to enjoy!

I have included the links to the items I purchased for the construction theme birthday below for anyone interested.

Backdrop:

Balloon Arch Kit:

Construction Paper Centerpieces (Used these as wall decorations):

Construction Party Decoration Tape:

Construction Theme Paper Goods:

Construction Theme Disposable Table Cloths:

Sincerely,

In order to bring the spirit of Ramadan into our house, Shahzaib and I did a fun craft project that we could use to decorate our house. To make these, all you need are some paper plates and colorful paper strips. It was an easy activity for him to follow at his age (2.5 years) and we also talked about the different shapes and colors of the strips as we made them which made it both fun and educational.

Materials:

• Paper Plates
• Washable Paint, I use the Crayola Washable Kids Paint
• Construction Paper (Cut into thin strips)
• Scissors
• Paint Brushes
• Tape or Glue

Instructions:

1. Paint the plates in the color of your choice and let dry.
2. One the paint has dried, cut out the shape of your choice using the scissors in the middle of the plate. I made ours using a star, moon, and masjid shape.
3. Apply the tape or glue on the backside of the plate around the shape that we cut out.
4. Stick the strips of construction paper that you cut out onto the backside of the plate. Stick as many or as few as you would like.
5. Once you are done, display your Ramadan paper plate decor around your house and enjoy!

I hope you have fun making these with your kids and be sure to tag me if you do. I’d love to see how they turned out.

Sincerely,

There are a few things that I am planning on incorporating into my routine now so I will be more prepared when Ramadan begins that I hope you can benefit from too.

1. Strive to read Quran daily with meaning
2. Listen to Islam lectures or podcasts throughout the week
3. Make Dhikhr whenever possible
4. Limit the amount of snacking during the day
5. Establish a consistent bedtime
6. Calculate Zakat and allocate how much money to donate to each organization

What are some things you to prepare for Ramadan?

Sincerely,

As a mom to a toddler, this situation isn’t ideal and I wonder what effects it may have on him or if he will even remember this crazy and odd time. Regardless, I wanted to share some tips with you to overcome quarantine fatigue with your toddler.

Enjoy the great outdoors
There are so many benefits of being outdoors, a quick walk outside can be a great way to get some exercise and can also improve your mood. So dedicate some time in your day to take a walk around your neighborhood or head over to your local park for a relaxing evening stroll.

Practice self-care
It is essential that you make time out for yourself. Whether it’s enjoying an uninterrupted cup of tea, pampering yourself with your favorite facial mask, or lighting up a candle and reading a book. Do whatever makes you happy and try to be consistent with it. Neglecting yourself can lead to serious burnout.

Set a routine
It’s important to establish some sort of a routine for yourself and your toddler. Things go a lot smoother when your child knows what the day will look like and there are no surprises. Having a set routine also helps you to take breaks for yourself during times when your child may be napping or having some TV time.

Keep in touch with family and friends
Even though we aren’t able to meet with our family and friends, we can still call, text, and reach out to them. We are all navigating these challenging times together so don’t forget to check in on one another to see how they are doing.

Take a break
This entire situation can feel pretty overwhelming at times. When you feel like it’s getting too much. Stop and take a break. As much as I try to limit screentime, there are exceptions and this is one of those times you may need to use it. Take five minutes for yourself to do some quick guided mediation, journal your thoughts and how you are feeling, or just listen to your favorite music to uplift your mood.

Involve toddler in hobbies
These are not your normal times but our children do not know that. An easy way we may distract ourselves maybe by keeping busy with our hobbies. If you like to bake, why not involve your kids in the process and make it a fun activity for you all, or if sports is your thing, why not teach it to your kids, it’s a great way to bond and spend time with them while strengthening your relationship.

I hope you found these tips helpful. Also, please let me know if there is anything else you have been doing to overcome quarantine fatigue that I may have forgotten to mention. I’d love to hear what it is so please let me know in the comments section below. Thank you!

Sincerely,

During one of our trips, my husband being entrepreneurial-minded as he is was throwing out different business ideas he thought might work for that economy, one of which was a Mary Kay for Africa. This sounded interesting since I like beauty products but seemed too farfetched to actually take on. Months passed by but this idea still lingered in the back of my mind until one day in January of 2017 when I decided that I was going to make this dream a reality. That’s when Imara Beauty was born.

Women’s empowerment was at the forefront of my company’s mission. One thing I had noticed time and time again during our trips was the number of educated women in Kenya and the lack of jobs available, and for me, this was the real issue I wanted to tackle. I wanted to create an avenue by which these women could provide for their families but also have a chance to learn, grow, and be acknowledged for their tenacity and all the hard work they put in.

If it wasn’t for the support from my husband and encouragement from my family, none of this would have been possible. I guess what I am trying to say is that each and every one of us is capable of creating greatness in the world. By empowering one woman you can impact a whole community.

Sincerely,
Sana

Ramadan (Celebrate the World) – This is a really nice and colorful book that easily explains everything that happens during the month of Ramadan. The illustrations are so bright and fun and one of Shahzaib’s favorite things about it. 

It’s Ramadan, Curious George – I think this is a staple in almost every Muslim home! It’s such a cute story about George and his friend Kareem who is fasting for the first time.

Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan and Hassan and Aneesa Go to Masjid – Both of these books are wonderful and follow a brother and sister as they experience Ramadan and going to the Masjid for the first time. It’s a fun little story and makes it easy for kids to understand the concept behind both things.

My First Muslim Potty Book – I was so excited about this book, first because it is written by my friend Yusfa @taqwa_tots, and secondly, since it couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve been wanting to introduce potty training to my son as he nears his second birthday and this book was just what I was looking for. It takes you through the process of how we as Muslims cleanse ourselves with water after using the restroom and does it in such a cute manner. Did I also mention that the story rhymes?! Shahzaib and I absolutely love it!

Send me your recommendations on other Islamic books your kids love to read? I might get them to add to our collection for next year.

Sincerely,
Sana

For the last 8 years, I’ve decorated the house with DIY banners, balloons, or wrapped lights around our staircase, really anything to make it feel like Ramadan and/or Eid are here.

Since last year was my son’s first Ramadan I went all out and bought a ton of decorations plus my mom stitched him his very own Ramadan advent calendar that we’ll cherish and use for years to come.

This year I wanted to incorporate something new and got us these matching pajamas from Jasmine and Marigold @jasmineandmarigold. They are so nice and say “I’ll be dreaming of Eid” how cute is that! I’ve always seen families post pictures of them in their cozy holiday pajamas with Christmas trees or snowflakes on them and now we can take part in that tradition too.

I am hoping to incorporate this and add many more traditions in the years to come.

What are some of your family’s Ramadan traditions, share them below in the comments

Sincerely,