My Little Life
I’m Amnah, a Muslim mom blogger from the San Francisco Bay Area. Here you’ll find crafts and projects for kids and moms alike, sweet and savory recipes, and random ramblings about raising three little girls.Connect
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Category Archives: Celebrate
Many Blessings First Birthday Party
My sweet, stoic Baby Z turned one! I can’t help but celebrate each girl’s first birthday because it’s such a special milestone. The girls have no idea what was going on, but years later, they’ve looked back on those parties and enjoyed seeing the festivities. For Jenin’s first, we had just moved into our old house, not even fully unpacked and barely furnished. It was my first venture into baking, making 9 different kinds of cookies. All the day before. I still have the burns on my arms to prove it. I very quickly learned the dos and (many) don’t of a successful party. Maysoon’s monster bash was a major momzilla moment. I went all out with homemade games, decor, … Continue reading
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Posted in Celebrate, Party
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The Story of Jenin
Today, my oldest daughter turns 6. Where – someone please tell me where – does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was that overwhelmed and confused new mom. Wait.. Ummm… Let’s move on, shall we? The following was my parent letter that I submitted while she was star student for the week. There once was a girl named Jenin, Who had the most beautiful eyes I’ve seen. Nicknames like J, Juju, and Lily, This special girl can be quite silly. Favorite foods of pizza, spaghetti, and maftool, She thinks science experiments are super duper cool! There once was a girl named Jenin, With a cute little room she rarely keeps clean. Jumping rope, painting pictures, and nature … Continue reading
Posted in Birthdays, Celebrate
7 Comments
Eid Treat Bags: Sweet and Simple
This Eid my husband was out of town, 3 weeks total, and I was to fend for myself with three young children alone on the Eid. I survived. Someone give me a t-shirt. Every Eid brings about a new style of Eid treat bag. Given the circumstances, I kept the bags just as I said, sweet and simple. A couple of chocolate coins (which I’ve always wanted to include), a punching balloon which was the highlight of the last Eid treat bags, a bouncy ball, and some alphabet stickers. That’s it. All packaged up in mini black bags with gold ribbon. A little nod towards the Kaa’ba. The older kids got their chocolate wrapped million dollar bars. The tiniest ones … Continue reading
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Eid Treat Bags: Classroom Edition
Every year during Hajj, the Holy Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the students at my daughter’s school reenact the rites of Hajj. The whole school participates and the days are filled with light and blessings (noor and barakah). The end of the week is celebrated with a Eid party. Last year the students in class had a gift exchange. This time around the teacher decided on a goody bag that each child contributed to. Each child was allowed to bring in a small item to give to their fellow classmates. The kids went home with a bag filled to the brim with all sorts of goodies. Handmade cards, stickers, pencils, an acrostic poem bookmark from the teacher, super fun little toys, … Continue reading
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Review: Up A Notch
With Jenin in school, me involved with PTO and Girl Scouts, and general happenings in life, there always seems to be an occasion to celebrate. From Eid, the first day of school, and birthdays to baby showers, teacher appreciation brunches, Girl Scout cookie sale rewards and everything in between. There is really no limit to life’s daily moments that can be commemorated with something special. Now, you can always just give out little treats and call it a day. But why not customize them and take it Up A Notch? (See what I did there?) Seriously though, customized items make all the difference. It becomes a sweet gesture that’s thought out, cute, and memorable all at the same time. Hands … Continue reading
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Artsy Eid Gift Set
I love giving gifts. To me, it’s the thrill of the hunt for the perfect gift and the reaction to said perfect gift that makes it so much fun for me. However, when you take that experience and multiply it by 10+, it becomes stressful and overwhelming instead. I mentioned that we had an abundance of kids from our family in town for Eid il Fitr. In the past, we would purchase a gift for each kid. This year, that idea wasn’t going to fly. Instead, we all drew names and only had to purchase a Eid gift for as many names as we put in. The point was for us to put more thought into the gift and to … Continue reading
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Eid Wrapped Chocolate Bars
We were super blessed during Eid il Fitr. We had a lot of family in town. It was possibly one of the best Eids I’ve had here in a long time. Family from overseas, family from out of state, and family from out of town. We were all together and it rocked. Kids galore. They were everywhere. So much so that you had to watch where you step. The number of teens went up too. With so many kids and teens, it essentially threw off our Eid gift/money gift routine. There were far too many kids to do one gift each. Instead we pulled names from a hat for a gift exchange. It worked out nicely, I think. As for … Continue reading
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Sugar-Free Eid Treat Bags
On the Eid, my kids eat a lot of sugar. A lot. It’s sort of ridiculous. But it’s Eid and I allow it. At least until someone starts complaining their belly hurts. Then they gladly forfeit their pinata loot and I get the chance to say “I told you so”. Mom – 1, Candy – 0. This past Eid I went in a new direction; Sugar free. It worked. No one complained. There’s no worries about cavities or allergies. It works. Gold star for me. A punching balloon, a top, glow sticks, a whistle, sparkly notebook, stickers and a custom “Eid Mubarak” pencil. That’s it. The whistles? Seriously? That’s the last time I let Jenin help me shop. Here are … Continue reading
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Eid Il-Fitr 2012
Eid Mubarak to all of my Muslim readers, followers, and friends!! No, I’m not late. I’m still celebrating. I pray your Ramadan prayers we’re accepted and your Eid wishes granted. Family picture. Eid goodies. This year, we drew names for a gift exchange. Only had two gifts to assemble this time. I love how both turned out. My traditional Palestinian maa’moul and the girls’ version. I made a piñata! My first. Still debating if it’ll be my last. Details to come. (Sorry about the small pictures. Posting from my phone!)
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Giveaway: modernEID
Do you know what I absolutely love? Parties. Even more so, Ramadan and Eid parties. The food, the company, the festive halal-ness of it all. One of my favorite companies has extended their already awesome line to include even more contemporary gift and party ware. {Squeal} Oh yeah, I’m talking about modernEID. You know I love me some modernEid. This year they’re at it again and they’ve grown! They now feature eight (8!!) chic and distinct designs that will cater to any contemporary hostess with the mostess. Not only have the number of designs increased, so have the super fun products. All my favorites are there, along with some cute new friends. Hello, striped straws! I had a fun time … Continue reading
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