It seems even "bibbety bobbity boo" is affected by the recession!

DD and I decided to "dress up for dinner". It's always a pick-me-up. We wear pretty dresses, do our hair, wear make-up, jewellery and of course high heels!

I was running late with the meal so had only a few minutes to get dressed and lay the table with fancy plates, cutlery and glasses. We looked good, and she felt good - her mood was much happier (high heels can do that ). I can't say my mood improved, but it was over all too soon! Within an hour - **POOF** the magic ended and Cinderella changed back into jeans and t-shirt so that she could clean the dishes, clear the kitchen, sort out a stink nappy and all the other chores that awaited her !

Ok, my pity party is officially over for this week ! ;-)

Rainbow required

I feel blue :-(
Maybe the potty training experience left me a bit frayed, and a few other issues that irritated me the past week. But I am in a slump and can't find a way out.

ZS said I should rearrange my furniture: been there, done that - didn't work!
Then she said I must change my bedding ... I felt I needed retail therapy - and decided to BUY something new for my bed - something bright and cheerful! I went to a cheap store as I didn't want the experience to depress me next month when the credit card bill arrives ..... nothing seemed BRIGHT enough! Out of desperation I chose blue stripes (in hind sight - it reflected my mood) My bed looks nice, but not thrilling me.

DS was a typical male at he stores again today - crying and wanting out of the experience. I miss DD - she shops so well !

DD has been coming home moody this week, which results in the kids fighting and crying.
When I spoke to her today she asked for a new toy ... THAT's what I need too!!
We concluded that we will go dress shopping, for something pretty to make us feel perky!
Now if only I could recall where i saw a pretty dress, but felt I had no need for .......

Potty training

This has got to be the hardest thing EVER !! DD took almost a year to get it and she still can't keep it in! It was so stressful for me trying to train her that I decided to do it differently with DS.

3Daypottytraining.com says one should start at 22 months. When I think back, DD was showing interest but I wasn't ready, then we started camping and that was new to me so I didn't want to start then - eventually I delayed it until she was 3 !  I don't know if it was better to wait until she was older. But i can tell you that I started with DS this week.

Why ?  Well, he showed interest.  How ? Every time he poo'd he would want to be changed and drag me to the toilet.  The weather was great too, so it seemed like a good time to start. And 3 days ?   That's way better than a year !  Even if he took a week !

Well Day 1, was messy, as expected. By lunch time he seemed so stressed.  Even though he didn't mind the toilet previously, he didn't want to sit on it.  He enjoyed having me around him ALLLLLLLL day, but the second I was distracted he would wee !  By the afternoon he refused to drink anything - figuring out that it made him wee !  Day 2 was better. He wee'd less frequently so there wasn't as much stress, but I pushed and took him to the toilet all morning !  When we fetched DD at school he fell asleep and when we came home he was SOAKED!

Today was Day 3 .... he wet his bed again and clung to me when I put him on the toilet.  Toilet training is mentally draining (for me!) I felt sorry for him.  I asked if he wanted a nappy and he said no. (poor baby)  I made up my mind I was going to be his Siamese twin.  But a conversation with DH made me miss his call to "pee, Pee PEE !!"  Then a  few moments later, I missed the sign that he poo'd.  I kept it up for a while.  The IT programmer in my was trying to look for the algorithm - what is the frequency of a wee or how soon after a drink ?  Except he is not code and doesn't behave in a predictable manner ! We sat reading  and he wet himself - this time he didn't even react. Was it just a small one ?  Maybe I should quit.  Is he stressed? I AM stressed! What if I am a few hours away or a  day away from success ?  I asked if he wanted nappy - again he said no.  I told him he was still my big boy - he hugged me, tightly.  I put the nappy on......  he fell asleep......

I got a newer edition of 3daypotty training : he must wake up dry, perhaps I should try THAT first ......

He woke up dry from his nap!!  AARRRRGHGGHHHGHHG !!!!!! What am I doing ?

I put him on the toilet and he doesn't wee ....... 

He wets his nappy and calls me, wants me to take him to the toilet.... what's going  on ?

I read more of the book - the new edition has been updated : basically train him like we did the cat : every time he wee's take him to the toilet to realise THAT is where is must happen.

OK, I'll give him another chance .... he poo'd in the nappy !! Still won't wee on the toilet.

I need a break !!  

We go out for the afternoon ..... late evening I change him - he is pretty much dry !!

What must I do ?

Why is this so hard ?

Insha'Allah he'll won't still be in nappies when he is 10 !

Triple Chocolate Treasure

Ange from hegab-rehab mentioned a cake she had and I did a search for it .......

Looks yum !!!

Triple Chocolate Treasure Cake

Cake:
1 3/4 cup White sugar
1 3/4 cup Flour
2 tsp Baking soda
1 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp Salt
5 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 cup strong black coffee, lukewarm
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla

Filling:
6 squares white chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup whipping cream
Garnish:
whipped cream
2 squares bittersweet chocolate, melted

CAKE: Preheat oven to 350F. Combine all cake ingredients and beat on high for 2 minutes. Pour into a greased and floured 9" springform pan. Bake 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cake will dip slightly in centre. Cool 10 minutes; remove sides of pan. Push the handle end of a wooden spoon into cake to make deep holes over entire surface of cake.

FILLING & GARNISH: Melt white chocolate and
butter with whipping cream over very low heat. Stir until smooth; cool slightly. Pour filling into holes in cake; cool. Garnish with whipped cream, melted chocolate drizzle and edible gold glitter, gold candies, candied flowers and mint leaves just before serving.

a visual recipe : http://www.baldock.ca/recipes/triple_chocolate_treasure_cake.htm

I can't wait to try it !!

I am A Muslim Woman

By Rehana Shah-Bulbulia  seen in Muslim Woman Magazine Vol 8, Ed 3

I am a Muslim Woman

An order issued and decreed

By an Authority of Wisdom up High

In my bondage ONLY to Him, I am freed

All Praises are due to Allah

For I am a Muslim Woman

I am a Muslim Woman

Not First a daughter, nor first a wife

Not first a mother, nor EVEN first a woman

But ALWAYS first a MUSLIM, in this journey called life

All Praises are due to Allah

For I am a Muslim Woman

I am a Muslim Woman

My roles and functions quite clearly designated

Transcribed from inspirations and revelations Divine

The Hadith and Quraan, beauteous and sanctified

No need have I to fight for what's mine

My case has already been fought ...and won!

In the Supreme Court and under the Fairest Judge Of mankind

All Praises are due to Allah

For I am a Muslim Woman

I am a Muslim Woman

Who has to endeavour and learn each day, each night

EXACTLY what my Lord requires of me

So that I may fulfil my Promise...His Right

And in return secure and gain the Ultimate Success

The Ultimate Reward...His Vision, His Sight

All Praises are due to Allah

For I am a Muslim Woman

I am a Muslim Woman

Enshrouded in veils of black, all clad from head to toe

NOT because I am oppressed, uneducated or denied

SIMPLY because my Lord has Commanded it so

And in obeying Him, I feel replete...complete inside

All Praises are due to Allah

For I am Muslim Woman

I am a Muslim Woman

Who feels no need or compulsion to compete,

Fight nor revolt and rise against my husband

I have NOT been created for such a feat!

My role is to be his and his is to be mine...comfort and companion

All Praises are due to Allah

For I am Muslim Woman

I am a Muslim Woman

The Greatest Teacher (SAW) has taught me my role

Through Hadith and Quraan, Sunnah and Shariah

I can attain success and achieve the Supreme Goal

All Praises are due to Allah

For I am Muslim Woman

I am a Muslim Woman

And to my fellow mothers, my fellow sisters, I say

Let NOT the ways of the west and shaytaan lead you astray

SHOUT OUT...in your actions, in your words, in your thoughts

"I have been honoured, I have been blessed

This is my way...the ONLY WAY

I am A Muslim Woman, Today, Tomorrow, Forever"

All Praises are due to Allah

For I am...You are ... a Muslim Woman

Favourites

I saw this on Hegab-Rehab .... I wasn't tagged but liked it.

Favorite color: Blue
Favorite perfume (guys): 
Favorite perfume (girls):  rose oil
Favorite pj brand: comfy
Favorite clothes brand in general: factory shop ;-)

Favorite person in the entire world: DH
Favorite country: South Africa - home !
Favorite car: Toyota Prado !
Favorite sport: 
Favorite sport player: 
Favorite spot in America: the Canadian side of Niagara Falls
Favorite animal: cat
Favorite movie: 
Favorite singer: DD
Favorite day in the week: Friday
Favorite time of the day: Fajr
Favorite holiday season: Summer
Favorite number: 
Favorite food: Roast chicken + potatoes, with yellow rice and sweet veg
Favorite chocolate:  ALL
Favorite cartoon: Katie & Orbie
Favorite blogger: Al that I follow
Favorite Flavor Ice Cream: Tin Roof
Favorite Mobile Brand: 
Favorite name: 
Favorite hobby: scrapbooking
Favorite room in my house:  kitchen
Favorite Fruit: nectarines
Favorite flower:  
Favorite Quran Recitor: Sudais
Favorite Ayah: "on no soul will Allah place a burden greater than it can bare"

welcome to hamsterville!

After a month of doing housework fulltime (Priscila is NOT coming back it seems), I retract my earlier curse on my dear mother.  I understand why she didn't let us do housework .. it's BORING !!

Maybe I am just having a bad day, or it's the usual female monthly excuse, or housework is getting to me - but seriously since leaving my web programmer job and 3 years of studies I have never felt my talents more wasted than standing in front of the sink 2 or 3 times a day washing dishes!

I used to like routine.  DD was in a very strict one - 

I'm beginning to 

wonder if it created her or she created it ?! Anyway, when DS came, I threw routine out so that I could cope.  Now this year brings with it a daily scheduled event and as a result everything else is slotted a time on my schedule.  Which  is why I feel like I am a hamster stuck on this wheel that goes round and round everyday - the same routine, the same events at the same time, the same dishes (so that I don't have to pack away!), the same sandwiches for lunch, the same boring food every week !! (I miss my experiments!)

Regular events that I miss :

• Priscilla arriving at 7:30 am every week day
• My 8am call to ZS
• My 10am tea time
• Going to bed after 10pm
• Waking up after 7am 

Postive thoughts to clear my negativity :

• Waking up at 5am and seizing the day Algamdulillah
• DD going to school and developing into a person away from me
• Spending time with DS alone in the morning
• Having a hobbitt's 2nd breakfast around 9am (all that housework makes me hungry)
• Kids both asleep by 8pm everynight...... now if only I had the energy to stay up and spend time with DH