Having children is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I love being a mum. I am so proud of my little boys. I love them to bits. I really do.
But why do they have to always be getting my stuff and wrecking it?!
I don't have a lot of "possessions". Not just for the sake of having possessions. Okay maybe some creature comforts like my Nici cuddly toys on keyrings and of course the essential bits of jewellery. And I'm into bags and purses too. And lipbalms... The main problem I'm having is keeping my kids off my notebooks and pens.
I have a weak spot for Paperblanks notebooks. I just LOVE them especially the ones with a magnetic strip to close them. I have 3 favourites: The islamic Tileworks one called "Bursa", The French Ornate one called "Violet" and the Tribal Embroidery one called "Sequined Garnet". I use them as regular notebooks to jot down ideas, things to do, things to buy, so as you can imagine, mine are basically full of household chores and grocery lists! But they are very useful for keeping track of telephone conversations and telephone numbers, directions and reference numbers all in one place so you don't have to hunt that scrap of paper or the back of an envelope when you most need it. I also find it useful for planning a few days ahead for trips, journeys, packing lists, telephone numbers, address, lists of presents to buy for birthdays and even working out puzzles and problems. I personalise mine by sticking in photos of my family and lots of pages are filled with doodles and experimental art work, sketches and cartoons. The thing I love about Paperblanks notebooks is that there is an envelope-pocket at the back to keep important scraps of paper / receipts, note cards, business cards and I like to have a section for writing down new topics to research in the Holy Qur'an and try to keep track and learn the Surah (Chapter) number and Ayat (verse). Not being a native speaker of Arabic, I find that writing down the phrase you want to learn in a notebook like this, phonetically, can help to commit the foreign words to memory.
I am all for using modern technology, and I have even got a "notepad" that uses handwriting recognition and a sketch pad on my smart phone. But there's nothing quicker and nothing quite like picking up a pen and setting it to paper, in my experience. By the time I've pressed "keypad unlock, applications, notepad, new note", and selected what colour pen and paper, I've already written the message in my trusty Paperblanks notebook, with a trusty old Bic :o)
Here are some Paperblanks notebooks: Blog continues after - scroll down:
So I was wondering how I could keep my beloved notebooks, pens, and other creature comforts out of the way of curious, sticky, meddling fingers!
Well of course, one of the best ways I have found is distraction. Keeping them busy with their own toys and crayons and colouring in books and plenty of paper to be creative, and all the other supervised creative sessions with sticking, cutting and painting etc. But there is always going to be those moments when your back is turned and they are climbing up trying to raid your stash! So the solution?
A safe!
It's the grownup version of a Keyper - you remember the snail from the 80's with a shell that opens with a key and you can keep all your junk secret and safe from your brothers? Well the same principle applies here, but with more space, more security and better peace of mind. They are meant for cash in offices I guess, but look how cute the pink and purple one is sisters! I already have the red one, but I'm gonna get the pink and purple one (because my kids broke the lock on mine....!)
Sunday 31 October 2010
Thursday 28 October 2010
Gifts for brothers, fathers, husbands, uncles, sons, the poor
There are events being celebrated every day of the year whether it is a birthday, religious holiday or a national awareness campaign. You name it, no doubt there is a special day for it! Yesterday for example was Pink Hijab Day which was an awareness day for Breast Cancer. You can see mine on my Facebook page So if your loved one could use some new socks, a nasal hair trimmer or some new toiletries, why not gift it to them, whatever the occasion. Better still, why not buy a pack of these socks which have got £7 off, (and it's a 3 pack woo hoo!) which you can then give to a person in need next time you are in the city and you see someone who looks a little shivery from the cold. Why not get a blanket too to donate too as an act of kindness? If you can't afford to buy new, why not see what you have at home that you are not using and see if anyone could make use of it. Give to the poor, the needy, the homeless, the traveller, the sick. And if you don't have any items spare, maybe you could volunteer some of your spare time to help at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Every day is Charity Day :o)
More men's gifts
Random acts of kindness make me smile!
Arabic root letters sad dal qaf
See Holy Qur'an
Chapter 2 verse 271,
2:271
57:18
76:8-9
2:177,
2:215,
17:26,
24:22
More men's gifts
Random acts of kindness make me smile!
Arabic root letters sad dal qaf
See Holy Qur'an
Chapter 2 verse 271,
2:271
57:18
76:8-9
2:177,
2:215,
17:26,
24:22
Wednesday 27 October 2010
The kind with the thumb hole
I am just in LOVE with this style of fleece or hoody, especially ones where the sleeves are extra long so they are snug over your hands up to your fingers with a special hole for your thumb to stick through! Although it reminds me a little bit of the kid in the classroom with a broken arm (there was always one!) this style is very cosy and provides extra warmth.
Triangular Scarves from Kudibal
Triangular scarves seem to be all the rage here in Munich. These ones really caught my eye today from scarfbyscarf.com
Long Sleeve womenswear
Long sleeve womenswear
Seeing as it is Pink Hijab Day, let's take a look at some pink long sleeved tops:
Seeing as it is Pink Hijab Day, let's take a look at some pink long sleeved tops:
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