Checking up... and in!

Salaam Alaikum, people and hello to everyone else out there in the world... I'm passing through as the Man (the hubby) as given me an assignment to do which requires some time being spent on Blogger... so what's a better time to hit you all up with a blurb about my life!


So..... I'm currently searching for a new school for the brood.... totally NOT satisfied with the establishment they've been in for the last 3 years... things change and the best teachers there have since moved on so I need to find a better school, a decent school where my kids can get what they need both secular and Islamically (which no easy task here). A zillion schools and a whole bunch of issues in about 99% of them!!!! It's a daunting task but it must be done.... hopefully I can be be successful in finding "the one".......

What else,...... let's see- of course, the babies aren't babies anymore, the Naughty Princess, Big Papi, Little Papi and Papito are 7,5,3 and 2 respectively- wasting no time!!! And it's that time again to plan their new yearly ritual of a themed party after the school year ends- their reward for their hard work and studying all year... so this year's theme is princess and pirates.... let the costume search begin! It's the least I can do for the poor things.... they have no real time to play and hang like how we used to growing up so I try to make up for it by doing something with/for them every month... they most definitely deserve it!!!! It should be (I hope) a better party this year as I intend to invite Big Papi's entire KG class, Little Papi's Baby class group and the Naughty Princess is "selective" (slightly tilted upwards nose) with her friends so whomever she decides is attending shall be there..... lots of kids, running and screaming so I chose a nice huge park with a big kiddie playground for them to go crazy in... can't wait myself... a nice fish pond, play area along with camel and horse riding... hopefully it can bring a smile to their faces, Insha'Allah!

Life has been very busy but good, Alhamdulillah, so I can't complain about anything.... I look forward to end of this academic year and I hope to pursue a few things of my own now that the brood is getting big.... I need personal fulfillment now in other areas to be more pleased with myself- I look forward to the challenge and making it happen!

Hope to have another "mental break" sometime soon so I can check back in again.... but if I don't get a chance, everyone be safe and happy and do random acts of kindness towards your fellow brothers/sisters!!!!

Desertion!!!

Salaam Alaikum, my dearest people...... and hello to everyone/anyone else reading my blurb... yeah, it's been a LOOOONG while since the Empress has passed through... I know, this action is called desertion or abandonment but I HAVE been busy! Six months worth of busy... on many different levels. And I must admit, a little lazy too with sitting down to actually type about life nowadays- as I have stated before, it's become toooo easy to keep up with family and friends on FB... I just type a few lines and hit that "share" button = life and/or thoughts sent!

So many things have happened in six months, Alhamdulillah, mostly all good so I don't where to exactly begin... there hasn't been anything "major" to report about... just keeping up the brood with the eldest two being in school- handling their studies and trying to keep them on track with all the have to do... it's amazing just how much work the wee ones get these days... my daughter will enter 2nd grade in the fall, and I must tell you, the work load from last year with ALL the textbooks was astounding!!!! But my Naughty Princess worked very diligently so she did well, thanks and praises be to Allah! And add to all that schoolwork, she and her brother have a Qur'an/Arabic teacher who comes to our home 3-4 times per week for 2 hours each session.... and she gives her a bunch of homework too each class!!! My daughter's school year ritual: off the bus, wash her hands, have a snack, within that hour span- in with tutor for 2 hours, dinner and homework simultaneously since the work load is unbelievable... so she can sleep by 8! Poor thing.... so my reward for her hard work? A nice little Princess party!!! I invited a bunch of little girls so they could all play "dress up" and eat and run around... complete with princess crowns and coloring books.... along with face painting and my favorite obsession, henna! They all had a blast and it appears all the Mommies had a good time as well.... :)

So, now, I'm prepping my third child for baby class for the fall... my big dilemma right now? Finding a good/safe/educationally sound preschool to enroll him in for the summer... I want to get him ready and used to the idea of not being with me or seeing me all day.... I don't want him to have a panic attack or start crying when the school year rolls around so I think this is a good time for my "shadow" to gain some more independence.... but all the best preschools have no space!!! So, what is a Mom to do when she's looking to make it happen for her kid? Call and play the "art of negotiation".... that's what all the smart Mommies try to do anyways... ha! What can I tell ya... you can take the girl outta New York.... ;)

There are many ideas/past passions lingering in my mind that I need to tie up, do something with but I don't know where to begin exactly... some has to do with writing (book and article writing) and the other stuff is centered around my brood.... my biggest problem is that living in Cairo, it's hard to find or get to the resources you need in order to be successful... some things we would find to be trivial back home is a BIG to-do here... and it sucks. Either people don't know, it doesn't exist here or it's insanely mega expensive to obtain.... I guess the mentality is, if you're smart enough to know about it or seek it out, you got the mula to pay for it..... :S

Now... will I promise like I have in the past to post on Fridays... nah, I can't make the commitment especially with summer being here... I'll be busy scooting the bigger kids to practices, Insha'Allah (gotta make them well-rounded) and back home in the afternoons for a jump start on next year's Arabic and keep up with their Qur'an lessons.... while I find and hopefully be "scooting" the third spawn back and forth to his summer session... somewhere.... which means I'll just have my Mini-me son at home, attached like glue to my lap...... :)

I hope these lines find all of you in the very best of everything.... and I will try to pop back in sooner than six months from now!!! Sending you all my warmest wishes...... be well!!!

The Empress is back........

Salaam Alaikum, my people and hello to everyone else in the blog world.... what's new, World???

Haven't been very good at keeping my promise with popping in on each and every Friday but life just doesn't permit me to do so.... with four little ones, life here can be hectic.... there's always something or somebody waiting or needing my attention!

I wanted to blog a few days ago only to find out just before that my internet service was out... my home phone service was out for over a week so they managed to fix that problem but in the process, they did something to my internet service.. so they called me on my house phone and basically said "okay, we fixed your phone so you can talk now but we jacked your internet service... call the company to fix it.... you're on your own".... thanks, phone people.

Anyhoo, a very lovely sister I know just returned from a fab trip to Turkey and she brought back some goodies I requested.... can't WAIT to see it!!! I'm in need of a vacation myself but my biggest babies are in school so no time to get away. I soooo need a change of scenery but I have no way of escaping..... sigh

I plan to potty train Little Papi starting next month... he's definitely ready now and it's time since I'll be looking to get him "prepped" for baby class in his brother and sister's school come September... so I'm thinking about putting him in a nursery for half a day starting the beginning of the new year so he can be relaxed and not cry when it's time to start the "real" school next fall... he's kinda clingy and I don't want him to cry his head off when it comes time for us to part.... doing it the right way can save your child from experiencing any psychological issues.... I don't want to traumatize my baby! Masha'Allah, for all those who know him, he's a REAL show-stopper and outgoing kid (half of Cairo already know who he is and his name- he attracts ALOT of people) but he needs to spend some time away from me now in order to gain some independence.... aww, then I'll only have one baby left..... my beloved Papito (Masha'Allah).....:(

Looking forward to getting my mind back on track... I haven't been feeling like my overly confidant self for the past few months... and it kinda bothered me. I've always known exactly what I wanted and how I wanted it but for some reason, I've kind of been "side tracked" meaning my mind has been in too many places and I felt strange not knowing what I should do next.... for all those who know me, that's not me!!! But I chalk it all up as having my plate running over for the last 2 years... yeah, soon it will be 2 years since I parted from my friends and family, my land, my home, my language (LOL) and trekked to the other side of the world with three small kids ages then 4, 2 and 6 months while being 5 months pregnant... all alone to start a new life!!! Many called me crazy... most thought I was losing my mind.... alot thought I wouldn't go through with it especially after I found out I was pregnant again BUT I did it!!! I'm not a weak person and when I set my mind to something, it's pretty much a sealed deal so I proceeded as planned.... but anyhow, mentally, I purchased a "bigger" plate so Anisa can be (and feel like) Anisa again.... I have NO TIME to be uncertain.... to doubt myself and what I'm doing... gotta keep moving forward!!!

I ask that you keep me and my family in your prayers.... as we try to live a pleasing life to Allah and do what's best for our family... some time to best thing isn't always the easiest thing so I do what I must for the sake of those I cherish and love.... and hope and pray, in the end, it will prove to have been worth all the trouble...

I'm just a woman (... a Superwoman but still only mortal... LOL) who was thrown into the lion's den and trying to come out victorious AND unscratched... ya think I can do it???

Do you like my post pic? Anyhoo, it was a mental note to myself... anybody coming to Cairo soon, please holla at me... I sooo need some new MAC lip glass.... ;)

Be good, take care and do a random act of kindness to gain some rewards... and remember to try to love those who don't love you!!!

A litte time to gab........ !

Salaam Alaikum and greetings to the rest of the crew out there!

Had a moment to sit as my two eldest spawns (lol) are in school while the other two make a mess with all the toys.....

Just wanted to check in and see how everyone was doing out there in the world... anything new anyone care to share? Life has been busy here but with small things like getting the rugrats ready for the new school year and spending some quality time with my other half.... we had a great summer!!!

Oh yes, if anyone of you come here to live for any amount of time, DO NOT buy any house hold items from a company called Olympic... you can have a warranty with them and they will make you call time after time, send a technician who will basically come look at said item and tell you everything is good. I have an 11 kg washer/dryer and ever since I had this stupid thing, it's been one problem after the next. It's come down to me screaming into the phone at customer service and demanding supervisors..... and it doesn't matter- here they don't pride themselves in their work or ethics so it's like screaming at a wall. If this were to happen in America, for sure this problem would have been solved MONTHS ago as people don't want their company to have a bad rep so they take care of the problem... sooooo not the case here- they could care less. It's sickening, tiresome and disgusting. My hubby had the delightful experience of being able to witness the daily antics here with the companies, cleaners and other workers.... and his reaction?????? Pfft..... LOL..... told him. Initially, he thought I was "overacting" with my re-enactments via telephone but he saw first hand their lack of knowledge, crappy attitudes, and the sluggish temperament of the lot..... I can't even be angry anymore- it's become like one HUGE joke.... yeah, HA HA..... Dude, where's the flippin' hidden camera?????

Besides, the daily melodrama here, life has been quiet which I guess is good. My online store is there but it's not the fulfillment I was looking for.... I'm kinda looking for something else to do with my time. I want to make something/open something but here it's not easy to make money like back home.... here people want stuff, but they expect to get it for nothing- can't make anything here worth anything because there won't be a profitable return so I'm kinda stuck with ideas. I thought about just forgetting the whole idea of starting something but I want to be productive AND earn some cash.... hey, I got four kids, Masha'Allah!!!! LOL

And oh yesss, my brother is coming to pay us a visit!!!! I'm excited and he's thrilled as he misses his niece and nephews...... it's gonna be nice, Insha'Allah, to have him here. It'll be his first time in Egypt so he'll be armed with his high-powered camera and BIG lens for all the pics I'm sure he's gonna take. As a hobby, he's a photographer and drawing artist so I'm sure this trip will give him lots of fresh material to work on upon his return home! Can't wait to see what he comes up with.

Anyhoo, it's time for me to take a seat on the sofa for cartoons and continue the "munch fest" with Little Papi and Papito before the Naughty Princess and Big Papi's bus arrive.... then it's all business with homework and dinner!!!!

Everybody be safe, take care.... and be happy! Thanks for reading..... :)

P.S. I LOVE my post pic.... American Muslimahs, REPRESENT!!!!!!!

Random Update

Salaam Alaikum everyone... and greetings to everyone else out there in blog land. I finally had the chance to start my little private blog project... and it's almost complete. The only hold up is for some reason I can't load some pics of my brood onto the blog so as soon as I figure that out, it will be up and running..... and I mulled over more than a few names and came up with something I feel perfectly describes us: Life's Mosaic: Tales from the Noisy Kingdom.... LOL!

Oh yes, since I'm paranoid about "putting my kids out there", I did state that the blog will be private.... so those who know me well (and good enough) will receive an invite to view.... and I hope I don't offend anyone but I feel the need to protect my kids' identities....

And I mentioned few posts back about me trying to open an Islamic clothing store and the owner turned out to be a big headache so I let the 2 small stores go.... I will be posting on Facebook within the next few days the items for sale. It includes abayas, usdells (overhead or on-the-head garment), a ZILLION hijabs, Saudi and Egyptian niqabs (material is waaaay different), butterfly abayas, girl and teen prayer garments, men & boys thobes, and gloves. I have a slew of very nice bras but I don't know exactly how to handle that one.... taking pics WILL take forever... but I guess that item will get listed sometime this month.... :)

So for you ladies in the Cairo area, I will basically be having "open house" for the month of Ramadan so you can purchase direct from me.... and of course, I can ship anywhere. Please tell all the sisters you know whom might be looking for some items for Ramadan and Eid for herself, her family or gifts for the sisters!!! In with keeping everything simplistic enough, the name of the page on Facebook will be "the Barefoot Empress Boutique".......

So just in case (again) I don't make it back here, I wish all of you a very happy and healthy Ramadan.... and may Allah (SWT) accept all our prayers and duas... InshaAllah, Ameen!!! I love you all for the pleasure of Allah.... please make dua for me and my family!

Checking In.....

Greetings all...... just checking in as previously promised.....

I've been thinking about creating a private blog for my babies..... been mulling around a few thoughts about what I would want it to include- haven't narrowed it down yet. I want to make it private as I don't share much info about my brood- as I like to protect them and their identities..... the world can be a strange place and I guess I'm just a little paranoid but that's me. I can't find it within myself to put my kids names and forget about pics, out there for just anyone to look at... feels too weird.... hence the reference to their nicknames here and everywhere else I might mention them.... lol

The years fly by soooo quickly and I was thinking about how to preserve this period of their lives... to capture it for me to look at in the later years and for them as well. For them to look back on themselves growing, smiling, fighting, living in a foreign country, making new friends, traveling around Egypt and the sorts. And now, you have the cool option of turning your blog into a book.... which I feel is totally cool- just might do that.......

Anyhoo, hope everyone is getting ready for the blessed month of Ramadan!!! I'm a mixed bag of emotions as I was looking forward to being in New York, in "my" masjid with my sisters.... doing it how we would do it every year. But instead, I'm here in Cairo, with my family and praying that this year won't anything like the last Ramadan. I was confined, cooped-up and not pleased about not being able to go the masjid.... I already beat that dead horse issue here.... ain't going there again.... sigh

InshaAllah, I plan to check in again before Ramadan officially starts but if I don't make it back and/or you can't come back to read my blurbs, Ramadan Mubarak!!! Much love and kisses from me and my family to you and yours....... :)

In need of an English and Math tutor.....

Assalaam 'Alaikum sisters!

Quick post... do any of you sisters here in Cairo have a GREAT, reliable English/Math tutor? I would like to hire one ASAP for my kids who will be 3 and 5. I believe in being proactive and I'm not in the place to devote much time to them right now (meaning being totally consistant with everything) with all I have going on in this house! They'll both start school in the fall and I like to be ahead of the game.... especially since the educational system here in this country is lacking greatly. I've heard many, many wonderful things about the school they'll attend but I need to know they'll at least to "up to snuff" with their classmates. I brought alot of workbooks with me from New York but I don't want to start to stop... because of stuff coming up and the likes, ya know what I mean? And with my Little Papi who requires a great deal of time, I know a tutor would do them better justice than me at this point! And I feel with someone else in the house, they'll pay closer attention than with me.

I'm looking for someone as soon as 2 weeks to start- I'm finishing up my house and I need to go away for a breather before the hubby arrives... so we're looking for someone twice to three times a week indefinitely... I will ask some of the many sisters here but I wanted to get the word out there.... let me know!

Finally... greetings from Al Rehab, New Cairo!

Well.... we finally made it, Alhumdulillah! Been in Rehab since the 27th of February, waiting for an internet connection (to which I was told was already in my flat) so I was literally cut off from the REAL world until yesterday when I met the fab Umm Travis! She called me since my other sister, Umm Ismail, has been in constant contact with me and knew I wasn't feeling so great since arriving (another wonderful perk about living here- constantly sick) so she reached out to my sister- and she called!

We met at one of the most popular malls here and it was great... I can honestly say, I felt like I knew her forever! I developed an instant love and bond with her in my heart- InshaAllah, I hope it grows ever so stronger! (hugs)

So, getting back to this internet thingy, you know, I wouldn't have been soooo pissed if people would just actually be forthcoming with info. Don't tell me the guy is coming tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow never comes. If you tell me, "Hey, Anisa, can't have internet for 3 weeks", I can accept that but to keep blantantly lying to me is NOT cool. Quickest way to my bad side? Do just that... things will go sour in NO TIME...

So no more waiting for a stupid DSL connection as my fab sister told me about the store where I already hooked up my mobile service thru, that they offered a wireless modem (and I didn't know anything about this- not very computer savvy at all) so when we went in to check it out, I was sold! At bit more than I was looking to spend for the internet but at this point, I would pay almost any amount to be in touch with my friends and family! They all are going bonkers in New York (and the rest of America for that matter) wondering what the heck is going with me and my kids over here- most didn't want me to leave anyway so you KNOW the imagination is running wild with all sorts of weird stuff. People in their right mind wouldn't pack up their very small children and willingly fly them to a 3rd world country to live... lol

So... we are here.... dealing with the arrogance that is the way of the locals, and feeling like I've been placed in a time warp- dragged back about 100 years but I knew about all of this before I came so I can't complain by acting like I didn't know- just takes some getting used to. Having almost everything in life at your finger tips to going back to a "one horse town" like Umm Travis said in her post (more like donkey cart town)(lol) is alot to deal with at once- and I don't care HOW modern they seem, it's just NOT when u look closer... oh well.

Not feeling great today at all, went to bed shivering from chills like my poor daughter the night before so I'm coming down with something. So I think we'll be in the house for the next few days until I can feel up to snuff and the children are okay- they still have some lingering congestion and stuff going on.

Umm Trav, sorry for not such a fab first meeting (which is TOTALLY not me) (LOL) with all the running around shopping but I PROMISE, InshaAllAh, to make it up to you! Even my daughter took an instant liking to her- when she realized when we were getting in the cab that Umm Travis was missing, she said "Mommy, where's Auntie? We left her inside the store!" (meaning the mall). Yes, you left an impression with her. And my Big Papi was trying to pull up her niqab to see her face in the store.... always him, my little sourpuss! lol

Oh yes, Umm Trav.... met yet another character from Blogger? I know I'm pretty much very animated but THAT much? LOL LOL LOL

To all the sisters here in Cairo, looking to link up so send me your mobiles and home phone numbers, InshaAllah, so we can get together in the near future. And to all those who have my New York number- just give me a little time to figure stuff out here as how to connect everything and set it all up- then, InshaAllah, we'll be chatting like I never left!

Signing off to lay down for a hot minute- feeling rather yucky. More post to come, InshaAllah, about our adventures and the sorts here in the land of the pyramids!

Mom of the Year Award!

I just received what I deem to be, one of the coolest honors to be bestowed upon a woman... a Mom of the Year Award! My lovely sister Mona over at Mama Mona nominated ME as one of her choices- thanks sis!

Here are the rules of this tag:

1. Admit one thing you feel awful about (involving being a mom). Once you have written it down, you are no longer allowed to feel bad. Remember you are a good mom!

2. Remind yourself that you ARE a good mom, list 7 things you love about your kids, you love doing with your kids, or that your kids love about you.

3. Send this to 5 other moms of the year that deserve a reminder that they too are the best moms that they can be.

Remember to send them a note letting them know you have selected them, and also add a link to your post that directs people back to the person who nominated you!


My Number One peeve about myself....

1.) Well, my number 1 is basically the same as Mona's: I yell.... ALOT. So much so, sometimes I get irritated hearing myself. But let me give you an inside idea of my house: my kids are 4, 2 and 6 months and when the bigger two are playing, you can hear them throughout the house! Then they start to fight, bite each other, scream and when they're done abusing each other, one tries to outrun the other to come and tell me... and I'm usually somewhere in the vicinity of the bedroom where the 6 month old is sleeping... can you guess what happens next??? Exactly, couple their screaming with the high pitch, agitated baby and you've got total chaos- especially when you're trying to pack, wash dishes, vacuum and keep your sanity ALL at the same time. Geesh, never told anyone that one... felt good.

And to boot, everyone is on their BEST behavior when the hubby comes in.... sweet and smiling while playing NICELY. Then he says "WHY is Mommy always complaining you two are bad? My little darlings..."- yeah, right.


My 7 things I love about my little terrors (MashaAllah!):

1.) The simplest things make them happy- give them a new batch of crayons and watch their little faces light up!

2.) I love to watch them in the park- there's one park they love most of all- down by the water so they play on the rides and then we go watch people fish, watch the boats sail by and watch the birds fly around. They especially love the geese and the ducks when they're around!

3.) I love that they ALWAYS tell me they love me- especially my Big Papi. Not a day goes by when he doesn't say at least once, "I love you, Mommy!" My Princess says it too but not quite as often as he does- she's definitely her Baba's girl....

4.) I love that they are very social kids- they make friends very easily. Some kids have hang-ups and don't play with other kids especially when there's a difference in skin tone, race and/or ethnic background. Mine will run up to ANY kid and start blabbering and playing- and I like it. My kids are exposed to ALL kind of people- and it shows!

5.) I love that they never forget about each other- when they are out and some one gives one of them something, each will ALWAYS look for the same for their sibling... I didn't exactly teach them that but I always tell them what you have, you share with your brother/sister- what is yours belong to them also... always share. So when they get anything, they look to collect for the other one too! And now, they include my Little Papi too...

6.) MashaAllah, at this very young age, both are quite bright for their ages... I hope their love of books continue! My daughter and her "constellations" and my son tells everyone he wants to be an astronaut... and he look sooooo serious when he says it too- he's only 2. Who knows, too early to tell- my husband tells him, "No, you're going to be a hafiz!" And I always chime in, "Well, he can be a hafiz astronaut who gives dawah in space!".... HA! My daughter pretends to be a doctor on a regular and she says her name when she gets big will be "Dr. Ben"- it's from one of their cartoons... InshaAllah!

7.) I love that they watch out for each other- THAT one I taught them. I tell them always, "Never leave your brother/sister... always look out for each other, let no one hurt you!" Even though they're young, they get the picture. I remember when they were playing in the park and someone knocked into my daughter, and my Big Papi said, "Hey! watch out for my Nana! (that's my Princess's nick name) She my friend!!!" He calls her his friend- see, he totally understands at the tender age of 2.

Now... I nominate the following AWESOME women to receive this prestigious award:
Umm Ismail over at Umm Ismail's World

Umm Khadijah over at The Striving Muslimah

Queen over at The Life of a Bangladeshii Wife

Sis. Najea over at Hijabi Couture

Desert over at Desert Monsoon