Ramadan Survival Kits

This is a good project for moms to do, decorate and make nice in baskets or something for Muslim neighbors or friends..but I decided to have the kids make Survival Kits for themselves as a reminder of actions during Ramadan and adab. 



 

I talked to the kids first about camping, and what they would take with them to prepare for it.  After many ideas, we boiled it down to 5 basic necessities:

1. Food/water

2. Shelter/covering

3. Cleanliness

4. First aid/Emergency

5. Flame (to start fire)

 

 

We took those ideas and related them to preparing for Ramadan.  Our Ramadan Survival Kit:

 

Ramadan Survival Kit Includes:

Candle,  Allah is Nooran  ala Noor, Light upon Light, light to ignite our desire to do good and be better this month

Tasbih, our Remembrance of Allah through prayer and dhikr, use in cases of confusion and emergencies.

Ayatul Kursi use frequently in the morning and evening, for the Quran is a protection for you.

Dates, eat for instant energy and nutrition

Mints in case of bad breath, as a reminder to keep ourselves clean and smelling nice at prayers

Zam Zam, use to purify, energize, and cleanse inside and out

Reflection Journal write often to become mindful of your thoughts and actions

 the next post i'll show a detail of how to make decal candles ia.



This one's for the neighbors....

I'm excited to start up Ramadan first with my neighbors.  This year I decided to go off the whole break-"fast" kinda idea, and made Chocolate Chip Date Pancake mix to pass out.

I had all the kids make their own. This one is my nephew's.

I started out with a 32oz size mason jar, with a wide mouth opening.  I chose to go larger even though the mix can fit into a smaller jar cause I had to put a large tag on it explaining Ramadan.
You will need dried date pieces.  I called many stores, but was only able to find them at Whole Foods, in their Granola "Bar" section, (no their normal bulk aisle).  You can also order from Amazon, Bob's Red Mill Dried Date Pieces: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=bobs%20red%20mill%20dried%20date%20pieces

Do not use fresh dates, that will mold, or whole dried dates that are too hard.  These date pieces are covered in oat powder and have a long shelf life.  Remember to chop them down to smaller bits so people don't have to eat chunky pancakes!

 

 Just fill the jar, add the tag, and nice fabric and you're done!

For the jar  (my homemade pancake mix recipe, but you can use any you like)add:
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup almond meal
1 tbs. ground flax seed
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1-2 tbsp. sugar
(add cinnamon pinch if you like)


Mix all ingredient and add to jar.  Then add 1/2 cup chocolate chips layer (add more if you like)
then  1/2 cup chopped dried date pieces (add more if you like)

For the tag: this is what I wrote, you can copy and paste
(this is papyrus font in brown), mount on any printed cardstock.

This weekend we will sight the new crescent moon marking the start of our Holy Month of Ramadan.  Muslims all over the world will be fasting from sunrise to sunset to reenact the hunger and thirst felt by the poor all over the world.  Through fasting we will learn self-discipline,

generosity, patience and perseverance.

We will now break our fast at sunset with a date, and pray together in gratefulness for the Blessings and Mercy Allah (God) has showered on us.  In this prayer we will ask for peace and unity throughout the world, and we include you,  our dear neighbors who have been so kind and caring!

Here’s a little something to help break your fast!

Chocolate Chip Date Pancakes

Just add 1 ¾  milk or water, 2 tbsp. oil, and one egg beaten.

 Mix, pour, cook and enjoy!



 



Wow, its been a while

For some reason as Ramadan season comes into motion, I remember all the crafts that I want to do.  But since last Ramadan we've had some fun times homeschooling and crafting.  Here's a post dedicated to some crafts from the past (year). 

My fall leaf flower, made from leaves collected from my yard! This year, our seasons were blended together and we couldn't tell if it was fall, winter or spring!

My kids made this, its our Masjid Nabawi from sugar cubes! It's cute how the kids added the "rawdah"!, We were doing a lesson on arches, and we compared the 3 styles and how they came about.  The structure didn't end up being too strong, and the kids learned the importance of laying a foundation down first.  All in all, lotsa fun and lota learning !

 

Last Ramadan, Activity calendars and Moon & Star Rice Crispie Treats to share with neighbors!

 

 

just like riding a bike...

After 10 years... I got to do what I one day long ago had only dreamed of... teaching my kids how to throw... not throw a ball...but throw a pot on the wheel.. (my hubby can take care of the other one!)  here is what they made.. (with a little help :) )

 

After a couple of practice throws... I got into the groove... just like riding a bike, it all came back to me and my hands took over...

I also started buying some pre-made bisque ware... (cause ceramic studios cost an arm and a leg!) to practice some painting techniques.. here is my new Martha Stewart adhesive stencils at work:

Summer Crafting

Tried some new things for our Girl Scouts crafting party!  I had a blast.. hope they did too!  Here are some of the things we made:

We used wedding party favor tins from Michaels and filled them with melted coconut oil, beeswax, olive oil and a bit of honey to make it sweet.  The girls got to scent and flavor to their liking!  Most girls felt that the coconut smell over powered everything else!  My girls love nail polish, lip gloss and such...I just feel that instead of giving them junk from the toy store... they got to make their own healthy version, which they can't stop putting on! (especially my 4 year old, who was quite thrilled to be part of the older crowd for once!)

 

So these are the message boards! I found these chargers on sale.  Decided to mix up some chalk paint...

 

Got the good 'ole puffy paint going... and.. voila!

the girls eventually, drilled their own holes and added a wire hanger.  they also painted one more coat of black chalk board paint.  Here is one but, they all turned out beautifully!

(the bags made with stencils and fabric paints was the other project!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crafting Club!

I started a crafting club for a group of girls whom I just adore!  They remind me of my beautiful and wonderfully talented niece who moved away several years ago. 
    Alhamdulillah, i'm so excited to be working with these talented and creative girls.  Last time we met we worked on polymer clay.  We made mini-wall mirrors and cooked stuffed chicken breast with cous cous and "monkey bread" for dessert.  It was great hanging out!

Here are some pics of the projects.. they did an awesome job working with an unfamiliar material, the chicken was tasty too!

Polymer clay like "Fimo" has to be baked for 20 min or so depending on its thickness

 

girls used different techniques to swirl colors and make patterns

 

Here's the chicken recipe link for those who like to follow recipes... but as my niece says, "zakia khala, I can't follow recipe, just like you!" it drives her mom crazy! lol!

http://cuckooking.blogspot.com/2010/08/cajun-chicken-with-pepper-jack-cheese.html

 

Next week, we're going to work on nail polish magnets and make "lemon dill salmon" with asparagus and "chocolate sin cake"!

 

Origami Star Cards

Here's a fun activity we did with my daughter's Girls Scout troop:

First, i cut out the shape i wanted out of tag board or recycled manilla folders in the center front of the card:

 

 

Flip to the inside.  Take origami paper, and cut half.  (sorry don't have pics of the rest yet)

Fold each strip in half lenthwise and glue down covering a few corners of the star.

Repeat again and again rotating around the star coverign just the corners, till you reach the center. Remember each strip that you glue, should have the folded side showing.

 

 

I had the girls, use gold and silver gel pens to outline the star and decorate.

 

Here's a pics of the Henna Cookies we decorated also: