The Treasured Life

Giveaway Part II

2010-04-01T11:23:00.004-04:00

Thank you to everyone for entering my first giveaway event! The winner was randomly picked last night....cue drumroll...the winner of the Morning Dew Earrings is Pat of Chase Your Dreams on Etsy! Congratulations Pat, I hope you love your earrings!

To the rest of all you lovely folks, don't despair! You have 2 more chances to win a Treasure Box Jewelry original piece. Here is the second piece up for your viewing (and winning) pleasure!

This is the Maple Syrup Necklace :) Yes, winter IS on its way out(fingers crossed..and everything else that can be crossed!) but I still enjoy my pancakes and syrup even in the spring and summer!

To win, just follow the rules HERE! If you had entered for part one, you are still in the running! You can still increase you chances, so be sure to check out the different ways to enter :)

For the Maple Syrup Necklace, the deadline to enter is Saturday at 11pm, EDT! SO be sure to enter, and tell all your friends!

And a very Happy April Fools Day!! (This blog post is not a joke though, haha!)

Ciao!

Treasure Box Jewelry Giveaway Event!

2010-03-29T10:25:00.007-04:00

So, I have hit 200 fans on my Facebook fan page! Thank you so much to everyone who has fanned me :) As promised, here are the details for my first ever giveaway event!

As of right now, it will go on for at least a week and there will be 3 winners and 3 different prizes. The first prize is the pair of earrings shown above, the Morning Dew Earrings.

How can YOU get them? Here's how!

For 1 entry into this giveaway, leave a comment here telling me about a charity/cause that is close to your heart.

For another entry, go to my shop at Treasure Box Jewelry and leave a comment here on my blog, telling me what your favorite piece is!

For 2 more entries, you can make any purchase in my shop and let me know in the comments.

You can get one entry each for letting people know about this giveaway by either your Facebook or Twitter..if you do both, you get 2 entires! Just be sure to let me know in the comments!

That's it! Be sure to leave me your email or someway to contact you in case you win :)

For these earrings, the contest is open until Wednesday at 11PM EDT! So be sure to get your entries in. I will pick a winner at random and post it here! For the next prize, if you have already entered once, it still counts. However, you can still increase your chances by doing everything else, if you haven't already.

Good luck and have fun!!

Six Years Ago....

2010-02-11T10:00:00.009-05:00

It's not a special number, anniversary wise. I mean, it's not the first, the fifth, the tenth. But this year is the first time that I felt like blogging about it. Six years ago yesterday, I lost a person that I had never met. I lost my little baby girl before she was born, before she was able to live outside the womb. She was 22 weeks and she had such major complications that she wouldn't have made it to term, let alone live after birth.

But she was a kicker. How that little one kicked! This was February of 2004, and it was my second pregnancy. My first one ended in miscarriage at 10 weeks. Of course, we were devastated, but thrilled when we found we were expecting a few months later. All the early scans and exams were fine, the baby had a heartbeat, and I was gaining weight normally. And she moved all the time! It seemed that everything would be fine, and after I made it past the 3 month mark, I relaxed and started planning.

At the end of January '04, we went in for the Level II ultrasound, the anatomy check...and where we would find out the sex. We had plans to hit Babies R Us afterwards, to go shopping for clothes and everything. Looking back, I remember how quiet it was during the scan. The technician didn't say anything and after a while, I asked her if everything was ok. She said that was going to get the doctor. At that, I started crying and my husband was trying to calm me down. When the doctor came in, she did the scan again. She said, "I am so sorry, but your baby is not going to come into a good life." She said those exact words, and at first I thought she meant that the baby had some syndrome that meant lifelong health problems, but I didn't care. For a minute, I was ok, thinking that at least we would have our baby. It didn't matter if it would need special care. Then she said, "What I mean to say, that they baby has complications that are incompatible with life." When she said that, I went all numb. I had no idea what she was saying anymore and it made no sense at all. She told us that there was too much fluid around the brain, that the heart had only 2 chambers, and a host of other things that were not good. We were stunned, had no idea what to do. Both the doctor and the tech kept apologizing and right before she cleaned me up, I suddenly asked what the baby was. They looked again and told me that it was a little girl. All I could do was sit lay there and nod and try to stop shaking.

As I was getting myself together, the tech asked me if I wanted a picture. I just looked at her like she had 2 heads. She gently told me that most parents still want a picture of the baby, even when they know the outcome. It gives them something to hold on to. TO this day, I send blessing to that tech, because I am so grateful to have that picture. It's a perfect outline of her profile, you can see her little arms and hands. You can't tell that anything is wrong. It is proof that she existed, if only a little while. But she was here and she made sure I knew it.

We went to our OB-GYN's office and he showed the appropriate amount of professional sympathy before moving on to our options. We could either wait for a miscarriage, wait until full term (if it got that far), or terminate. The doctor who was at the scan was a specialist in maternal0fetal medicine and she again told us that there was no way possible for the baby to live. They were 99% sure that I would miscarry in a few weeks. I was in no state to make any kind of decision. Even now I remember that I just couldn't think. So Nasir told the doctors that he didn't want me in any more pain and that we would terminate. At that, I woke up and asked again if there was any chance, ANY at all that the baby would survive. They said that the biggest thing was her heart, it only had 2 chambers and that it was only a matter of time before it failed.

The first available appointment wasn't until 11 days later, on February 10th. The reason for that was because I was so far along, there was only one specialist who could perform the surgery. In those 11 days, while the baby kept on kicking, I changed my mind a thousand times. I cried everyday. It was the only time that I saw Nasir cry. It was horrible.

I know there are other people who have gone through worse. My heart goes out to them. I can't even imagine going through the loss of a child that you have loved and held and cared for. But for us that time, it was the worst thing ever. On the day of the surgery, I was so sad and scared. They took me in to the OR and I was shaking so bad. I asked if the baby's heart was beating and they told me us. I wanted them to stop right there and the doctor took the time again to tell me all the facts. They put me under and afterwards, when I was awake, the doctor came in and told us that everything was fine, but that she had been a very sick little baby, that she would not have held on much longer.

I know there are people out there that will say that I should have waited, that her heart was still beating. But I am also anemic. If I had waited for a miscarriage or until term, there was a chance that I would either hemorrhaged out or have had to have an emergency hysterectomy. So we made the decision with a lot of thought. Even taking account of all the facts, it was the single most hardest thing I have ever done. We later found out that the baby had a severe form of Turner's Syndrome, and that there was nothing that we could have done to help her.

I was told not to get pregnant for another year, to let my body heal. It was almost a year when we found out that were expecting again, in January 2005. Needless to say, it was joy overshadowed by terror. At every scan, I sobbed horribly. We couldn't sleep the night before the Level II scan. And when we went in, we found out it was a boy and everything was fine. I finally allowed myself to relax.

Fazal was born on August 27th, 2005. He was perfect in every way...and I'm not just saying that. He had every test done to him to make sure that he really was perfect :) We named him Fazal, which mean's "God's blessing." When we had our daughter, Zahra, 2 years later, I finally was able to put to rest my fears of never having a daughter.

I know I am blessed beyond belief. I thank God everyday for giving me my healthy children. And I pray for all of those that have lost their beloved child. It is the worst possible situation for a parent. A friend told me that there is a word to describe every person who has suffered a loss in their family. A wife who has lost her husband is a widow, a husband who has lost his wife is a widower. A child who has lost a parent is an orphan. But there is no word to describe a parent who has lost a child.

The heading picture is of a sculpture that I found on Etsy, just browsing around. It is by Dana Truesdale of The Midnight Orange. She makes stunning sculptures of everything, but her Angel Sculptures were the most heart-wrenching. They are so simple, but nothing has ever touched me like these little pieces that fit in your hand. This one is called "Never Ever Let Go."

I hope no one ever has to buy one.

Paradise at the Feet of Mothers

2010-02-07T10:02:00.000-05:00

A well-known hadith states, "Paradise lies at the feet of the mother." Mothers are treasured, not just in Islam, but in every religion, culture, way of life. They give us life, they guide us, nurture us, are there for us. And they come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes the one that you think of as your mother isn't your biological mother. She may be an aunt, a grandmother, a mentor. Whoever she is, she is always there. The painting above is by K. M. Berggren and is titled, "Clarity."

What do you think that this hadith means? To my thinking, it doesn't mean that paradise is automatically found with every mother. You must be a mother in every sense of the word, you must guide your children to be the best that they can be, you must create a haven that is safe, secure, and nurturing for your children. Your childhood has such a big impact on the rest of your life. If you had a happy childhood, that is the best gift that you could have received. And I am sure that as you look back, you really did feel as if your life was a paradise back then.

But mothers are human too. We make mistakes and lose our tempers and all sorts of stuff :) But I think that as long as you try your best, you CAN make your life a paradise for you and your family.

I know Mother's Day is still a looong time from now....but do we really need to wait for a day to celebrate motherhood? I say NO! (emphatically shaking my fist in the air!) Call you mom and just chat for a bit. If you're a mom, just leave everything, all the ENDLESS chores and cuddle with your little ones...or call them if they are older. Just celebrate this beautiful bond and savor it.

I have always wanted one of those mother's necklaces, the ones where you have your childrens' names stamped on metal tags. So I thought, well I am a jewelry designer, so why not make one myself. So I did. Here it is....

Want one for yourself? Order one from my shop and I will have it customized for you, up to 5 kids :) I adore mine! These would make great gifts for any mother or grandmother that you know!

Need more ideas for your mom or as a treat for yourself? Then check out these lovely finds, any one of which would be perfect as a gift!

Here is a gorgeous photograph taken by Amelia Kay Photography. It is called "Love Whisper," and I think that it would make a wonderful gift.

Lovely, handmade journals by Robyn's Art would make a very special gift, especially if your mother loves to journal. Robyn can also make art journals that would be perfect for painting, sketching, etc.

This is one of my favorites, the Empress Silk Journal. I actually have this one and I love it!

The Baby Blue Starburst Hemp Choker necklace by The Happy Soul would be great for any mom to wear during the summer!

And of course, what woman wouldn't love gloriously scented luxurious bath products? Here is one of my favorites, Oatmeal Milk and Honey Loofah Bar by Sunset Soaps. A brilliant gift!

I have so many favorite Etsians and all of their crafts would make the perfect gift for any mom. Even if it isn't Mother's Day, does it really matter? I don't think so, especially since a gift given out of the blue seems so much more special than when it is given on a pre-determined day. As humans, we are all so expressive all about, "let it all out!" So go ahead, let it all out and show your love for that special woman in your life, whether she be your mother, your grandmother, your aunt, a teacher, a neighbor....whoever she is. You'll make her day...and yours :)

A Treasured Friend

2010-02-03T00:46:00.004-05:00

This amazing photograph was taken by my wonderful friend, Robyn. I met her through that magical place Etsy. You can visit her amazing shop HERE. Have I ever met Robyn? No, not in person. But that is the magic of Etsy, the magic of being an artist, the magic of having that yearning to create. We just happened to connect and click, and I consider her a true friend, always guiding and advising and supporting.

Robyn has started an amazing new series on her blog. They are the Round Table Discussions, and the main purpose is to talk about...everything! To talk, to listen, to learn, to inspire....truly amazing. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be a part of this series. I am truly grateful and humbled that I was a part of this experience, because I am a Muslim and a Pakistani-American....and not everyone is comfortable with that.

So if you want to know more about me, visit her blog and read the Round Table Discussion, "Walking the Cultural Line."

Thank you Robyn, for making my voice be heard.

Movers and Shakers

2009-11-11T13:42:00.004-05:00

Hey y'all, it's been a while I know! But, in my defense, I have good excuses. We finally sold our house and made it through the closing. We have moved into an apartment until our new house is ready...whenever that may be. Moving was chaotic, to say the least, and I never, ever want to move like that again! Because our byuers were very fickle and iffy all the way to the end, we never knew if the closing would get through, so I was totally disorganized in packing.

Are you moving? I found this blog, Steps to Organization, which has some helpful moving checklists. The blog's author, Wendy Cross, is a professional organizer, and aside from moving, she has some pretty cool organizing tips! Check out her moving checklist 1 and moving checklist 2 if you are preparing to take this journey. I must warn you though, realistically, you WON'T get totally organized, but at least you can smooth out a lot of the wrinkles!

So now we are back to apartment living, and I must confess, it's not that bad. Of course, it's smaller, and we have a LOT of stuff in storage, but I like it! I like having the option to just call maintenance to come fix something rather than figure out how to fix it myself so that we don't have to pay someone $200 for some little thing. Of course, when we move into our new house, I am going to brush up on some home maintenance skills.

A lot has happened in the past few months! Both Fazal and Zahra had their birthdays, so I am now a proud Mama of a 4 year old and a 2 year old. Stay tuned for a lot of updates in the next few weeks and some oh-so-adorable pics :) Here is one that I love!

My Etsy shop, Treasure Box Jewelry, is still up but with all the wackiness going on, I have taken a little break from things. I have a lot of items that need listing, so I will be doing that also in the coming days. Of course, being on a temporary hiatus still doesn't stop me from buying endless amounts of glorious beads and findings! Since we are in the midst of fall, I love the the La Terre Necklace from my shop reflects the burst of color that comes with the season!

La Terre Necklace by Treasure Box Jewelry

And now a parting treat for you! One of my best cyber-friends, Lisa of Jeweled Ambrosia, has branched out into fabulous hair accessories! They are all so amazing, but this one is my favorite!

Vintage Rhinestone, Rosette and Sequin Headband by Jeweled Ambrosia

So adieu for now and have a blessed day!

Life's a Beach!

2009-08-03T10:00:00.001-04:00

I love the summertime in Jersey. This year, it seems like it took its pretty time getting here, but at last it has arrived! I love being able to step out of the house without lugging coats and jackets and mittens...all the trappings of winter that seem welcome and charming the first week of cold, but then get tiresome. Just a t-shirt, capris, flip flops and of course, my favorite summer accessories, anklets and sunglasses and you're out the door!

Sandcastle Anklet by Treasure Box Jewelry

We've already been down to the beach this season, numerous times. We went for the Fourth and watched the fireworks at Pier Village in Long Branch, NJ. Then we went kayaking with some friends a couple of weekends ago (though technically not at a beach, it was a lake reservoir, but still there was water and sand!) Then this past weekend, when Nasir came home from work, we packed up some food, towels, blankets and chairs for a spur-of-the-moment outing. This is the advantage of living so close to the ocean. You can totally be spontaneaous!

When we got out there and set up, I took Zahra out of her stroller. This was the first time that she actually ventured out onto the sand, barefoot and excited to be exploring this new environment. I took her down to the water and saw that there was no fear in her, only awe and curiousity as the waves crashed on the shore. She made a decision to go farther and tried to get me to let her go. Not a chance!! But I did let her get her feet wet and she absolutely loved it! I remember the first time that we took Fazal down to the water...he wasn't having any of it. He was scared and clingy and was satisfied with admiring the view from far away...very, very far away. But this little firecracker of mine wanted to dive right into this unknown that she was facing. For a few minutes, I let myself think of everything from her perspective, the newness of the experience, the intital awe that we get from encountering something so breathtaking that there is no room for fear. It seems like that feeling is getting so hard to come by as the years go by, and even if it does come, we tend to skip over it.

And now some lovely finds from some wonderful and talented Etsians. I hope they fill with you with awe and inspiration!

Gold Starfish Necklace by Cindy V. Designs

Lola's Greens Brown Wrap Skirt by Vidals

Shell and Pearl Rose Ring: The Sea Treasure Collection by Star of the East

Urchin Bowl by Element Clay Studio

Beach Umbrella: 8 x 8 Fine Art Photograph by Daydreamers

Going With the Flow

2009-07-07T01:08:00.005-04:00

Apparently, though I am fast approaching a milestone birthday (my 30th, gasp!), I have yet to neatly package myself into a certain type of person.

Who says I have to?

Life is complicated and tough without having to fit into pre-set molds that we must try to squeeze into...who wants to squeeze into something that will just make you all tense and tired and smothered? Not me and I hope not you either!

So though things are utterly crazy right now (not EVEN going to get into it!), I am going to teach myself to lay back, relax, not to take things so seriously. I started my blog to muse about the little things in life that we all tend to miss, and what happens? My evil, type-A, everything-must-be-perfect-or-it's-not-even-worth-it half overtook my other laid-back, beach-bum, sunshiny gal half and I totally neglect everything but the hassles and trials of the "real" world. Well, no more!!

I am going to walk a new path (that's me in the first pic, in my favorite black flowy skirt, walking a new path). I have been taught to schedule everything to the last second and to systematically work through everything until all is done. And though there is something to be said about scheduling and to-do lists, we all get so caught up in doing stuff, that we never just sit back and let things happen. So many things are overlooked and so many things, the truly important things get left undone.

I'm tired of being tired everyday, just drained from all the unnecessary and often imaginary stresses that I put on myself. I need to trust in God, and trust that my faith will see my through anything. I think a lot of our stress comes from the pressure that we put on ourselves to be bigger and better than everyone else....but why do have to be bigger and better? Why can't we just be ourselves and be content with that? If you have the drive that definately go for it. But the minute that you are unhappy, you need to stop and take a break and re-evaluate. I am not saying quit, not at all. I am saying that you should pace yourself so that it never comes to the point that you get burned out and do quit.

My daughter Zahra is a free spirit. Always smiling and laughing...until she really wants something and then she'll let lose a scream that will make your ears ring. But she gets over it pretty fast and goes back to her happy self. I used to be like that...And I am going to get that back.

Here's Zahra enjoying the simple things in life, a summer rain.

I am a woman, a wife, a mother, a human, a daughter, a sister, an artist, an intellectual (at least I think so, I love to read!) But's that not all that I am. We are all so much more than these labels....

So burst out from that ill-fitting mold...I am. It didn't do much for my figure anyways.

First Home Jewelry Party

2009-06-05T13:34:00.003-04:00

These past few weeks, I have really neglected everything besides making jewelry, in preparation for my first home jewelry party. It was nerve-wracking to have a deadline, but it was good to build up my inventory. I don't have a studio, so as you can see from the picture, my dining rooms has happily agreed to fulfill this position...at least temporarily! It's hard to keep organized and since we STILL have out house on the market, I often have to pack up a few times a day. REALLY kills by creative buzz sometimes, so when I really am working, I usually just keep working, even when people are going through the house. I have actually been asked for my card a few times so, hey, not a bad idea!

But I digress. The first picture is of my popular Sweet Dahlia Ring in my shop. I made 8 of these and they have all sold out. I made another version, in a pinky coral color. I have ordered more supplies for the Plum version, so stay tuned! These rings were among the 95 items that I managed to make in time for the jewelry party on May 29th. My hostess said that it seemed like there would be about 50 people there so I was totally stressing about not having enought items. As it was, only about 20 people came, but that was totally fine by me! I ended up making 11 sales and got 2 custom orders, so all in all, a pretty good first run!

My two biggest hurdles were 1)Packaging my jewelry and 2)How to display the jewelry.

For hurdle one, I made earrings cards out of cardstock. I just used Word to make template and then copied and pasted it until it covered a page and then printed them out on cream cardstock. The square measure a little larger than 2 X 2. I found an image of a treasure chest in my clipart so for the earrings, I just faded it to a watermark. You can definately see it, but it doesn't compete with the earrings. Across the top I put my shop's name and then I just poked holes with a safety pin and put the earring through! For necklaces, I used a dark coffee brown color, and the cardstock was heavier than the paper that I used for the earrings. Also I changed the treasure chest to an actual picture instead of a watermark. Instead of squares I made rectangles measuring about 2 x 4, so when I printed them out, I cute them out, folded them in half, put the necklace into that space, and then stapled the top! All done!

So the second hurdle was how to display everything. I got a lot of great ideas from picstues and of course my Etsy friends! I love Etsy, how people you have never met before are always so willing to help you! I basically just used what I had around the house. A cardboard box, binders for necklaces, serving trays....and I bought some inexpensive black fabric and just draped and covered everything. I used a silver dip bowl for my business cards and added a mirror and VOILA! My simple and easy display! My favorite part was using a decorative box that looked like a treasure chest and I filled it with crumpled newspaper, tucked in black fabric, and put my necklaces on these! An instant treasure box!

I really enjoyed meeting people and I am hoping to have more of these parties! Plus the food was really good ;) The hostess set it up as a Victorian-Style tea party, with little finger foods and all kinds of teas, so it was wonderful.

Have you done a jewelry party? Share your experiences!

Cape May in Pictures

2009-05-15T23:02:00.022-04:00

I have a lot of wonderful pictures from our recent trip down to Cape May. I thought I would do a two-part series on it, just so that I could get everything in. This post features the pictures that I took. This pic features the Emlen Physick Estate, a gorgeous Victorian mansion. Ironically, there was a craft show going on there...which we missed!

This is the old 5 & 10 store in the downtown Cape May area...things cost a little more these days!

Zahra splashing in the fountain in downtown Cape May. When I pulled her away, she immediately let me know that she was not appreciative of my interruption.

Carpenter's Square Mall that had even more cute little boutique stores. To the left, under the teal green tent is Gecko's, the Southwest cuisine restaurant that we had dinner at one night. They had a delicious tomato and basil salad and tiny cornbread muffins with jalapneno jelly. It was divine!

I took this picture on our foray into Wildwood and the boardwalk there. They have a amusement park there, Morey's Piers, and Fazal had the time of his life riding the rides. This was of the balloon ride and I love that I got it just as one of the balloon cars (or whatever they're called!) eclipsed the sun.

Fazal riding the cars at the pier! He rode this ride twice, since he wanted the racecar the second time around.

The beach at sunset. Both kids loved playing there in the sand, though it was starting to get chilly. Still the weather was beautiful!

Congress Hall, a lovely hotel in downtown Cape May. Very Victorian and elegant, I hope we stay there on our next trip!

Another lovely Victorian house, this time functioning as a bed and breakfast. The architecture was so stunning, I think I may have gone overboard with the pictures!

So that is a tiny piece of of our trip. I still want to mention the shops that I really liked, but I'll leave that for another post!

Twilight Jewelry, Treasuries and Twitter

2009-05-08T08:51:00.013-04:00

At first, I really could not understand the whole hype behind the Twilight saga. Sure, I read the first book, and the writing was not the best. Of course, you have to take into account the target demographic (of which I am NOT, but shhh, don't tell!) But then I read about Stephenie Meyer and how she incorporated her own values, such as abstinence, self-control, etc., into the themes of the book. Though I am not Mormon like Stephenie, I also uphold the same values. So the books really started taking their hold on me. Plus, who could resist all that star-crossed romance and those supernatural love triangles! So I have become an almost-crazed fan. Almost I say, because, after all I am a busy mom and I simply don't have time to totally surrender to the vampire voodoo!

I make Twilight jewelry in my shop, though I only have a few pieces. The picture above shows my latest, just listed today. It is the Covered in Feathers Necklace, and you know what that means!! So go show some love to this necklace :) You can also view my other Twilight Jewelry in my shop on lovable Etsy!

Happy day! I always feel like that when I am in a treasury...and also when I get to make one of my own. Here is the lovely treasury that I was featured in, my Blue Danube necklace is at the bottom...

It features other members of the EtsyNJ Street Team and it is a lovely collection, curated by CreationsbyRobin. Check it out while you still can!

I love the color purple; passion, royalty, grapes, plums :) So I chose that color as my theme for the Passionate Purples treasury I curated yesterday, again featuring members of my team. Check it out and click away!!

I have joined Twitter, so if you Twitter, go ahead and follow me! It really is fun and you can use it for promoting your crafts and just let everyone what's going on in your daily life. I've put up the Twitter widget on my sidebar so you can see the updates on there too. And you can find other Etsians on there and see all of their new handmade treasures! Have a fabulous Friday everyone!!

Sweeping Down the Plains

2009-04-29T19:30:00.027-04:00

I am back from my 2 week trip to my hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. No matter how long I go for, it always goes by way too fast. I found this gorgeous painting of Tulsa titled, "Downtown Dawning." It is by Celeste Vaught, an amazingly talented artist and a fellow Tulsan! I found the painting on her Flickr page and when I emailed her to get permission to use her painting in my blog, she couldn't have been sweeter! She has a whole Downtown Dawning series, featuring other cities as well. Her work has been featured in numerous galleries and has graced many magazine covers. She is inspired by the Impressionist artists such as Monet and Cezanne. I think that is one of the reasons that her work really resonated with me. I have always loved the Impressionistic style of painting. Her work is now being featured in the new Water Street Gallery in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma. To learn more about this wonderful artisit, read her blog and visit her website. I hope to meet this extraordinary person on my next trip to Tulsa.

Going home always brings back old memories! I especially love going through my old books and reading them again. On this trip, I picked up the Little House series by Laura Ingalls W ild er. This series always make me feel so warm and comfortable. It is so perfect for today's hectic, chaotic lifestyles that we all tend to lead. The simple morals and day-to-day lessons are so valuable, I think, especially for today's tweens who whine when they don't have the latest cell phone! (I know, of course, that not all of them are like that, but I have seen a few, and that's STILL too many!) It is so refreshing to read how Laura and her sisters relish the littlest moments in their loves, like how they are so excited about getting real glass windows in their house! They are postively skipping with delight...and me along with them! I can't wait until Fazal and Zahra are old enough to share these books with me.

This post would not be complete without some Oklahoma-themed finds from my beloved Etsy. Here is this awesome journal made from an upcycled vinyl record album cover of Rodgers and Hammersteins musical Oklahoma!

And I found this print of a Oklahoma state sign. It is a "through the viewfinder" photograph, which means that you take a photograph of an object through the viewfinder of one camera with another camera. The effect, as you can see is very shabby vintage feel and I love it!

How cool is this photo album made from an Oklahoma license plate? I thought that this was so creative and wonderful!

After I came home, Nasir was off for the week, so we spent the weekend down in the delightful town of Cape May! Stay tuned for the details of that trip, especially all the fun things that I bought :)

Diving into ACEOs

2009-03-31T14:20:00.011-04:00

I have always loved drawing. Crayons, colored pencils, finger paints, oils, pastels, acrylics..you name it, I've dabbled in it. My favorites are colored pencils and acrylics. Colored pencils because they are so versatile and vibrant. Acrylics, for the same reasons, but also beacause they are paints and using them makes me feel like a real artist :) Also, they dry pretty fast making them a good choice for hectic lifestyles and impatient personalities!

So I have opened another Etsy shop, called Chameli Creations! Chameli is the Hindi word for that lovely flower, jasmine. The word "jasmine" is derived from the Persian word (also used as a a name), "yasmin," which means "gift from God." I am not a classically trained artist. That is to say, I have never had any formal training, other than those elemantary art classes, but I don't let that hinder me from trying. Flower, trees, nature in general is a great inspiration for me. I am not good at drawing life-life portraits and such. But I do like abstracts and strong, vivid colors. I use the world around me, our gift from God, to inspire me.

The ACEO pictured above is one of mine, entitled "Mountain Home." I have 3 more in my shop and I plan on drawing more. It's very exciting getting into a new art and learning all about it.

ACEO stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. They have only one rule, and that it that it must measure 2.5 by 3.5, the size of a baseball cards. If it is any other size, it can not be called an ACEO. The size makes it easy and affordable for are collectors to collect a variety of art from all over the world and place them in card albums or shadow boxes, give as gifts....the possibilities are endless! I LOVE the idea of collecting mini masterpieces and I am looking foward to starting my own collection.

Here are some of my favorites that I found on Etsy.....

Open Heart ACEO by ArtGarden

Happy Together ACEO by PaintingPrints

The Clamshell Mermaid by SusanRodio

Hope you enjoy these and are inspired to start your own art collection!

Just Bead It!

2009-03-24T00:50:00.013-04:00

On Sunday afternoon, after I had put the kids down for a nap, I headed to Red Bank, to visit The Red Bank Bead Company. (Don't worry, my husband was with them!). Downtown Red Bank borders the Navesink River here in Central Jersey, and it is a very posh and upscale area, with specialty boutiques and designer stores. There are also a lot of antique shops and great activites during the summer season. I'm lucky to live only about 20 minutes away. So as I walk through the door, I felt like I had entered heaven. I think a lot of jewelry artisans share this sentiment, that something just happens when you are surrounded by beads and findings and wire and stones. You're surrounded by infinite possibilities. At first I was just walking around in a daze. It was like I couldn't take in everything fast enough. Then I calmed down and wandered around, with a constant tirade in my head of buying what I needed as opposed to buying what I wanted (two TOTALLY different things!) I bought a few things, among them metal bookmarks that I am going to embellish with an array of fabulous beads. My friend Deana gave me the idea. Like myself, she loves to read, and since she doesn't wear a lot of jewelry, she mentioned to me that I might make jeweled bookmarks. Thanks Deana! You can read her blog here, and read about her amazing life with her husband Steve and their warrior son, Maximilian. So stay tuned for those bookmarks to show up on Etsy!

Speaking of beads, I love beaded earrings. There is just something about them, especially if you have your hair up and you're wearing gorgeous clothes. You feel confident and awesome. Here are some of my new earrings, just listed in my Etsy shop.

Mango Sunrise Earrings

Pretty in Pink Earrings

Night at the Disco Earrings

All these earrings really reflect my personality. I have so many interests and passions, and so many things that I want to do. These earrings are all so different and varied. I think that really does describe the kind of person that I am. It seems that we are all pressured to find an identity, to make ourself fit into pre-conceived categories. I personally don't think that it works that way. Even now, sometimes I don't know where I fall in these categories. I turn 30 this year, God willing. I think it's okay to be the odd one out now.

Aprons Galore...and More!

2009-03-19T11:58:00.017-04:00

As a mother, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I'll be the first to admit that, though I like cooking, it can get tiresome doing the same old thing everyday. But I know that this Patti Paisley Demi Apron from the Bella Morgan Boutique will make those mundane tasks all the more exciting! Aside from aprons, they have all kinds of loverly, handmade items, like diaper bags, burp cloths, bibs, tutus, etc....

They are also having a great giveaway for this delicious Cupcake Apron. Go visit The Apron Goddess to enter for a chance to win!

I got inspired by this apron, so I checked out what Etsians had to offer by way of this sugary confection. Here is an adorable Little Girl's Cupcake Bracelet...

A Sweet Cupcake Painting.....

A Cupcake Cook Charm Necklace, which I think is fabulous...

And this cute Princess Tea Party Dessert Felt Set

I am going on a sugar overload, so catch you later while I go brush my teeth :)

Roller Coaster to the Dragon's Den!

2009-03-16T15:37:00.038-04:00

So starting your own business is like a roller coaster. Here's the first dip. See that big jumble of jewelry? Those are a few of the pieces that I made for the Medford Craft Show that was held this past weekend. Of course, with the husband at work, it would have been hard for me to get out there with the two little ones in tow, so Sheri was nice enough to sell for me! I heard from her last night and she told me that I made a whopping $27. Oh well. She said that the economy had a lot to do with it, since there was a huge crowd, but not a lot of buying. Here is everything all packaged up and tagged, ready for selling.

It doesn't look like a lot, and I guess as craft shows go, it wasn't. But Sheri told me to make as much as I could and just send it on over! So I made about 30 earrings, 20 necklaces and some bracelets. She has mailed everything back to me so I should be getting that soon. Then I will list everything in my shop!

Now here is where the ride gets better. I am finished with the custom order that I got from my sister's co-worker/friend, Dalana. She ordered one necklace at first and then she ended up with wanting three. Here they are:

Egyptian Goddess Hathor Necklace

Lotus Flower Prayer Box Necklace

Zodiac Libra Necklace

Now another dip. My consignment deal fell through. I was walking through the mall and I was peeking into the nail salon. I couldn't see my jewelry display anywhere! So I went in and the owner was all flustered and embarressed at seeing me there. She told me that she wasn't comfortable displaying it since there were children that would grab at it and she was afraid that they might steal it. Well, the counter was about 4 feet above these thieving children, and besides how many children came in to get their nails done? Of course, she just didn't want to display them so I took them back after telling her that she should have at least called me. She was all like, "Oh, I was going to call you on Monday." Sure you were. But that's all right. There were a couple of other places that seemed interested so I will try again!

I love featuring and promoting artists of all kinds. If you like candles and awesome body products, then you will love the Dragon's Den! Sarah is part of the fabulous EtsyNJ Street Team and her shop is so luxurious. See the pics of her Cinnamon Sandalwood Tea Light Candles and Oatmeal Honey Soap.

She is having a great giveway at her blog! Just go and vote for your favorite candle scents and leave her a comment. She will then pick 2 winners to receive a FREE set of 6 tea lights! There is NO catch, since she will even pay shipping! The poll closes March 23rd, so go vote and and enter yourself for a chance to win!

And with that, the ride has ended and I wish you all a scent-sational day ;)

Treasured Highlights!

2009-03-08T13:16:00.010-04:00

I have been featured in my first (and hopefully, not last!) Etsy treasury! My Emerald Forest Dangle Earrings were featured in this lovely Go Green Treasury, beautifully curated by Robin of CreationsbyRobin. Robin is a fellow EtsyNJ Team member AND a talented jewelry artist. She has so mnay beautiful pieces, but this one is one my favorites, the Go Green Sea Glass Heart Necklace

I was also featured on a blog for the first time! Read it HERE! CreativeCrafts2009 are two sisters from Colorado who knit, crochet, and make lovely handmade cards. Here is one of their handmade items, the Love Never Fails card!

For me, these are the highlights that made my day! Thanks to all!

Spring Fever!

2009-03-06T00:28:00.007-05:00

In anticipation of spring, the EtsyNJ Street Team is running a sale! Check it out here! And of course, I am participating as well. I am offering free shipping on any order in my shop for the run of the sale. I am so lucky to be part of such a great team! Starting out on Etsy is pretty easy, but it can also be overwhelming. And the feeling of being overwhelmed applies not just to Etsy but to everything dealing with the handmade world, in which I have just dipped my toes in. So I have a lot to learn and being part of a team gives me a resource that I can go to for any questions that I have. It was through the team that I learned of a Craft Show taking place in Medford, NJ. It runs from March13th to the 15th. Even though I can't actually be there, Sheri the organizer said that it would not be a problem. I could just send the stuff to her, she would sell it and then send me any remaining items and my money! Hopefully, all I will get back is a big check....and nothing else!

I have also set up my display in the nail salon that agreed to sell my jewelry on consignment. I am really wanting to go to the mall and walk past and see if anything has been sold or not! I started out small. about 6 pairs of earrings and 4 necklaces. I pulled up a sample contract online and tailored it for my situation. I have to admit, it was a little scary for some reason, asking the owner to read and then sign the contract. I have always been geared toward the sciences my whole life, so doing something business-related made me empathize with the whole fish-out-of-water scenario.

Looking around on Etsy, I found this lovely necklace...

A gorgeous steampunk necklace that invokes that irresistable essence of early spring. It's made by JewelsofLuxury and I think that she did a great job on the composition of the photograph as well. Here is a painting that drew my eye, titled "Dreaming of Spring." How apropos!

The artist, Sascalia, is a self-taught artist in mixed media. She grew up in rural France, and now lives in the U.K. I adore the colors that she uses and her technique is so storybook-like. My walls are looking bare! And since it can still run a little cold in early spring here in the Garden State, I leave you with this lovely scarf from Grace Sakowski of gsakowskidesigns!

I Am A Snowcone....

2009-02-16T23:06:00.011-05:00

Yes, it's true. I am continuing with my rant about snow and winter and all things cold. I used to like the cold. I used to like the snow. Really, I did. I did not hate it as I do now. However, after moving up North, (note the capitalization, since for me it may as well be the North Pole), my tolerance has dropped like the wind chill. I could have the heat on, wearing socks and a sweater and still be shivering under my blanket....yeah, even with the blanket, I'm cold. So basically all winter long I stay cold and shivery like some old lady with brittle bones.

However, I still do love the appearance of snow. It looks so pretty falling and everything looks all soft and cozy. These pictures are from our sunroom, where it just looked fantastic and brilliant. It makes me want to curl up in my fluffy robe with hot tea and a great book. Fazal was begging to go out and play. I wasn't too keen on that idea so I told him to wait until his dad came home. I remember we used to go out and play whenever it snowed. In Oklahoma, the winters are cold, but it never seemed to snow a lot. But maybe that's because I am thinking about those winters from a kid's perspective, where the general rule is that it can never snow enough. I never seemed to feel cold then....

Ok, enough about the me and the cold and all that boringness. Here are my latest earrings on Etsy. I got inspired by those beautiful "Water Lilies" paintings by Claude Monet. So of course, I named them the Water Lilies Beaded Dangle Earrings.

Water Lilies by Claude Monet

Also, I have been trying to market and promote my jewelry to local salons and such. A lot of them already carry jewelry, but I did have a couple of appointments with salon owners last week. I found a salon in the mall that would like to consign some of my jewelry! I am pretty excited about that! Now I just need to get down to business and start making stuff!

Featured Etsy Artist: Courtney Cates

2009-02-03T20:45:00.019-05:00

Pink and Green Surround-A-Loopy Bow

For my first featured artist, I chose a newbie like myself. Courtney Cates is from Fort Deposit, Alabama where she is a full time student as well as a crafter. She has just opened her Etsy shop, BowsEtc09, a couple of weeks ago. I met her on Etsy on the forums and I wanted to help her promote her shop and get her some sales! She makes beautiful hair bows, bow boards, pillowcase dresses and burp cloths. Read on to see how she got started in crafting....

"I got started in crafting when my niece was born. I never could find hairbows that I wanted for her in the stores... they were all too expensive and all the same colors. I had a little experience in crafting already from when I was little. My mom made some hair bows and sewed a little and my dad did a lot of woodwork. I started making hair bows to match my niece's outfits. When I saw that she had too many hair bows, I started making the bow boards."

LadyBug Hair Bow Board

"Then, this past year I decided I wanted to start trying to sew because I knew I had the talent to do it if I could just get the time. So, I started making the pillowcase dresses. Then, a friend of mine had a baby and I did not know what to get her for a baby shower gift... and that's when I started making the burp cloths. "

Lime Green and Pink Pillowcase Dress

So, I was up to hair bows, hair bow/picture boards, pillowcase dresses, and burp cloths. I also make door bows (for Christmas, etc) and Christmas tree topper bows... and I made my first "real" dress a few weeks ago... by a pattern!! I also make baby blankets and what I call 'tie fleece blankets' and I'm working on trying to make a quilt... we'll see how that one goes! "

Pink and Green Polka Dot Trim Burp Cloth

All of Courtney's items are made of quality materials and are made to withstand the wear and tear that comes with children. If you need something unique and handmade for a baby shower or for your own baby, head on over to Courtney's shop on Etsy!

IndieSpotted, Crafty Neighbors, and CPSIA

2009-01-31T00:11:00.007-05:00

I have been spotted! IndieSpotted that is. IndieSpotting is a website featuring, what else? Indie finds of all kinds. My Dragonfly Charms Optical Lens Necklace was on the first page, the second item! I am really honored that someone liked my necklace so much that they would submit it. Of course, there are so many other beautiful items on the site. I love persuing through sites like these; you can tell how much love and hard work went into all these creations.

Also, I have joined the EtsyNJ Street Team. They also have a really cool blog, as well as a Yahoo Group. I am really looking forward to meeting these crafty neighbors of mine! I am going to try and get involved in some of the craft fairs. It might be hard with these two little ones, but I am definately going to be as involved as I can.

More great news for the handmade community. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has granted a one year stay to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). Read about it here! Though I might not have been affected, this would have shut down countless small businesses. Many people rely on the income generated from their handmade products, and this would have killed any chance they had of a decent living. I am SO glad that they have seen some of the light. Hopefully, this stupidity will just fizzle and die!

Stay tuned in the next couple of days for my first artist feature! I have been busy just playing around with my blog and making it nice and pretty. I think I finally have it now!

A New Name, A New Blog

2009-01-29T15:04:00.012-05:00

In keeping with my new jewelry business, Treasure Box Jewelry, I have chosen to change the name of my blog. The nature of my blogs are going to stay the same. But I wanted to a name that would reflect my new interest in handmade items as well as stay true to my personal beliefs of hope and happiness in this world. The Treasured Life is what I have come up with. I really believe that life is a treasure and should be treated as such.

Also, I am going to start doing features on talented artists that I have found on Etsy. I have a few people lined up and I am looking forward to talking to them and seeing how they have gotten into their craft. There are people out there who are working so hard, but they get lost in the hustle and bustle of the world's chaos. If I can let even a handful of people know about their efforts, I will be happy that I have done a little something for them.

Life is full of possibilites and I love it!

A Cop Story

2009-01-26T23:50:00.018-05:00

This past Friday, I was on my way to a friend's house for a committee lunch. This committee is not for planning something; it's more or less a way to get out of the house for a while and also a way to save some money. The idea is that all the people in this committee put up $100 every month and then whoever ends up getting that money (via a drawing or whatever), hold a luncheon at her house. So if there are 10 women in the committee, they get together once a month for 10 months until every woman had had a turn. At the end of that time, each woman will have essentially saved up $1000.

So anyways, that's where I was going on Friday. I had never been to this friend's house, but I trusted Mapquest would get me there. Well, not quite. I got to the end and I realized that my directions did not tell me which way to turn after taking my last exit. So I turned right and kept going. I soon realized that I was probably going the wrong way but I wanted to make sure. So I called her. I had turned right at a light onto a dead end street and I was turning around while I was on the phone, when lo and behold, I see that a policeman sitting in his car had seen me on the phone while behind the wheel. So he pulls up next to me and rolls down his window. By this time, I had hung up with my friend, (while she was still talking, I might add!), and waited for what this cop would say to me. So he's like, "That's $105." And I'm like, "Excuse me?" He repeated it, adding that that was the amount of the ticket for being on the phone while driving. My bewildered mind thought that he was asking for the money right now. I quickly apologized and told him the truth, that I was lost and I was getting directions. Looking back, I am so GLAD and LUCKY that I didn't pull out my wallet; he might have thought that I was trying to bribe him or something!

Anyways, before we got any further, he glanced in the backseat where the kids were and proceeded to tell me what was wrong with the way they were in their car seats! On Zahra's seat, I had left the car seat carrier bar up and Fazal's shoulder straps were not posititoned correctly. He made me get out and fix that and then he got out of his car and started looking at how the seats were installed. By this time, I was over an hour late for the lunch, but I didn't care. All I cared was cooperating with this cop so that I wouldn't get a ticket! Anyways, he ended up taking both seats out and reinstalling them correctly, telling me horror stories about children being in car accidents while sitting in car seats that were not properly installed. He ended up being really nice and gave me credit for having the child safety lock on the car doors.

Here are some guidelines that he gave me:

-In an infant car seat that doubles as a carrier, the bar should always be down (I think I knew that but I didn't follow through with it; I'll spare you the details of what MIGHT happen if left up)
-There should be a fist's width of space between the passenger seat and the car seat
-The shoulder straps for an infant should come from below the baby's shoulder
-If you use the LATCH system to secure the seat's, put all your weight on the seat while installing the seat and pulling the belt
-For a front-facing car seat, the shoulder straps should come from above the child's shoulders and the front clip should be at chest level
-The car seat should not move more than an inch around any which way

Whew!! I think that was all. He was nice enough to ask me if I had the time so that he could install them right. Well, of COURSE, for my children's safety, I have all the time in the WORLD!
These two are my everything!

I was more than happy to get out of the car and take time to listen to him and have hims install the seats right. I really think that
having a car seat installed correctly is very

complicated. Not all parents, even the very
careful ones, take the time to make sure that the seats are installed correctly. No parents wants to think about the "what-ifs"

But as parents, we must be prepared to take every step possible to safeguard our kids. I know that hospitals will not release you and your new baby unless you have a car seat. But I am not sure how many make sure that the seat is installed right. Just like car inspections are required by law, perhaps child seats should have the same kind of law. You should be required by law to have your car seat checked, because I am sure that in a lot of car accidents, the extent of injuries and even fatalities could have been prevented by proper installation.

In the end, the officer was extremely nice (he introduced himself but I forgot his name!) He didn't give me a ticket and helped me with the directions. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He made sure that those seats were really secure and tight. He may have saved their lives. At least, now I have learned my lesson to be even more diligent in these types of things and be more careful. My little munchkins deserve that...and so do yours!

Potty Training, Treasure Box Jewelry, Etsy, and Winter

2009-01-22T11:12:00.010-05:00

Yipeee!! OK first off, Fazal is doing really well with his potty training! This is actually a second attempt; we started this adventure back in August, just before he turned 3. It was NOT working at all, so back in diapers he went. A lot of people that I talked to told me to wait until he is 3, or even 3 and half. Waiting until then allows them to get better at control and all that. I was a little skeptical and very sick of changing diapers. But wait I did and now we started 4 days ago and he is really getting it. I am so happy and relieved...and yet again, amazed at this journey we call parenthood!

On to my beloved Treasure Box Jewelry. The story of how it started begins with Twlight. Just before the movie released, I got pulled into reading the books and seeing what all the hype was about. Well, at first I was like, why do people think this is amazing literature. Then I reminded myself of the demographic that it was aimed at. Even then, it's not great writing. But the plot and basis for the saga pulled me in and it worked its magic on me. So I was online one day and I was just wasting time and I came upon a link for Twilight-inspired jewelry. It led me here. Amazing jewelry and then on to amazing Etsy. I totally fell head over heels and I imagined that I could do the same. So I did and that is where Treasure Box Jewelry was born. Lisa , the author of the Little Lovables blog, has been amazing throughout the entire process, giving me tips and sending me goodies in the mail. I am forever grateful! So I am now a jewelry designer and I absolutely adore it. I am in the process of ordering busniess cards and seeing if I can get either wholesale or consignment orders, aside from my Etsy shop. I am always adding more pieces. Here is one of my latest:

Dragon Charms Optical Lens Necklace

And another piece, my Twilight inspired Bella Charm bracelet

I have lots more in my shop, and I try to list new items every few days. So be sure to check it out!

Thank goodness I have this jewelry venture to keep me busy this winter. I have come to the realization that I truly detest winter. The cold and the wind and the having to bundle up like the yeti to go out and get the mail. Also, the hassle is multiplied when you have young kids. TRying to wrestle them into fat puffy coats and then strap them into car seats...exhausting and frustrating! But most of all, it's the cold that seeps into my bones...it makes me feel feel like 92 instead of 29. Oklahoma had winters too, but New Jersey winters are different. I am just waiting for it to be over. Can't wait for t-shirts and flip-flops! I may make some cute anklets to celebrate!

Inauguration 2009

2009-01-21T01:55:00.005-05:00

What an amazing day! The first African-American president is sworn in to office and I am lucky enough to be alive to witness it. Not only is Barack Obama a minority, he comes from a Muslim background! Now we all know that President Obama himself is not a Muslim, and that's cool. But his father was from Kenya and he came from a Muslim family, so I think that is pretty awesome. I think it just goes to show you that skin color and religion and politics can bring together people, not just divide them. I have always had friends of different faiths and colors. They were mostly Christian, since I grew up in Oklahoma, but never was I once discriminated against. I think a lot of people woulf be surprised at how many people were actually interested and intrigued by our different backgrounds and cultures. And I never felt like I had to hide that part of myself to fit in. Watching the news, you see the entire world celebrating this momentous occasion with the United States. I think that is what is so amazing about this man, how he has given hope and inspiration to millions all over the world. I know that he is not perfect; after all, he's human. But there are some people in this world who have the ability to change people from the inside, and that kind of change can be powerful when multiplied. I pray that God gives him the strength to make good on all his promises and to make this world a better, more hopeful, and less fearful place....not just for us, but for future generations as well.

Paci War Won!

2009-01-20T15:50:00.005-05:00

So Fazal has finally stopped taking his pacifier. It only took a trip back home to my parents' house in Tulsa for him to stop. My mom, somehow, magically, convinced him that he is now a big boy and that he doesn't need it. It took a few days, but he finally went the whole night without it. I was afraid that once we got back to NJ, he would want it but though he mentioned it a few times, he never actually came out and asked for it. Here he is, a big boy on his aunt's laptop!

Now, on to potty training!

The Paci Wars

2008-11-16T11:19:00.004-05:00

Oh my goodness gracious! Well, here I am again...at least it hasn't been quite a year yet since my last post. I think I may be getting better at this. Well, no matter. I write this for myself and, in my defense, it is hard to find the time to sit and blog while I have these 2 running around. So anyways, all is good at our house. Fazal and Zahra and I have settled into a comfortable routine that definately has its moments of utter chaos. The latest is getting Fazal, who turned 3 this past August, to give up his beloved pacifier. He calls it his "patha"...don't ask me where he got that name, I have no clue! I know I am going about it the wrong way. Let me tell you, it's been a struggle and it's still going on! My father-in-law is a dentist so he is always worried about Fazal and his need to, at the very least, go to sleep with his patha. But his doctor was lways like well, as long as he gives it up by the time he is 3, it should be fine. Well, he's 3 and it is most definately NOT fine!

I started to wean him off a few months ago. I didn't want to start right after Zahra was born for the obvious reasons. So we talked to him about him being a big boy and only needing it for sleeping time, not during the day. He seemed to understand that pretty well and was actually really good about it. Then came a few days where he wanted it again during the day and I would always distract him. One day, I came home after running errands. Nasir was with the kids and it had been a particularly long day and what do I come home to? Fazal is running around with his patha in his mouth! Back to square one, so to speak. I glared at Nasir, knowing that he gave in, and proceeded to gather up all the pathas and took them into the kitchen and cut off the fronts. I showed them to Fazal and told him that they were broken and he couldn't use them anymore. Well, of course, he started to bawl. Of course, I realized what I did was horrible! He loves his patha and he didn't want to see them broken! So I began the whole "big boy" speech thing again and supporting and encouraging and only giving it to him when he went to sleep. He was okay for a couple of weeks, and again, he has started to ask for it again. But this time, the demands are accompanied by lovely temper tantrums involving screaming and flailing about. Even now, as I am am typing away he's at my shoulder, begging me for his patha fix! What's a mother to do? But I am resolved to be strong and get him through it, because I have realized that this is about him, not me. He has spent his whole life thus far with his beloved patha. Of course he needs time and patience on my part to get used to a life without it.

But that doesn't make it any less annoying!

Back to Blogging

2008-01-31T18:46:00.001-05:00

Ok well, here I am again. I must be the worst blogger in the world. But to be fair, I did just have another baby. Yes, Nasir and I are now the proud parents of our baby girl! Zahra Noor was born on September 15, 2007, so she is now 4 and half months old. I have visited some of the blogs that I used to read, so I have yet again been bitten by the blogging bug. I am sure there are millions of people who are clamoring to see what I have written ;) But seriously, even if there are only a few people who do take the time to read this, I think I just like doing this for myself. I could describe myself as one of those old-fashioned girls who still wishes that people wrote letters to friends and reltives instead of sending an email, however efficient it may be. Don't get me wrong. Technology is great and email and all that is fun and fast. But there is just something so wonderfully romantic about sitting down with a cup of tea and some beautiful stationary and writing letters. I am so glad that Nasir and I wrote letter, not emails, to each other during our engagement. Even though I was in Oklahoma and he was in Pakistan, we wrote letters. Of course, computers over there had not become that common as they are today (we're talking about late 1990s here). So now I have this bundle of our old letters all tied up with a ribbon. I can't imagine doing that with email. I might have printed them out and then tied them up...but somehow it's not the same thing.

So, now dear readers, I have now finished with my musings for right now. I have some serious tending I need to do to my blog. And of course, I have forgotten the slight amount of HTML that I had taught myself so I will have to brush up on that so that I can update everything. So please, stay tuned!

Queen of Procrastination

2006-10-13T15:38:00.001-04:00

OK well I am officially the Queen of Procrastination....all bow to the Queen! I have neglected my blog so bad that they are sending Social Services out to my house. It's just that being a new mother is so much more time-consuming that I thought and in the words of my husband: "You only have ONE right now!" Ummm, I think I can count. But seriously, it is crazy. Everytime I get a routine down, something happens that changes it. Fazal is either cutting a new tooth or he doesn't want to sleep at night. It's always something. So you could say that I am only procratinating only when it comes to me because Fazal is doing great! Recently, I signed on to Facebook and MySpace and then I remembered this poor blog of mine. And everytime I get somewhat decent at HTML, I stop blogging and then I forget what I have learned and I have to start all over again! But I am going to do justice here and give my very first blog it due attention. And then hopefully, someone else will get my crown.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

2006-03-05T19:26:00.001-05:00

I was sitting here with Fazal looking for the nursey rhyme "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to play for him because he loves it whenever me or his Baba sing it for him. Well I found this amazing version of it on a website, totally jazzed up and VERY different from the original version. The guy who mixed it up is Anton Fosh, a 17 year old musician from Scotland who is studying music. He uses the original lyrics that were written by Jane Taylor way back in 1806. I thought this was such a great adaptation. Hope you enjoy!!

Initiation into BabyLand!

2006-03-04T13:11:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone!! Well my last update was around the time when my baby was due. He was born on August 27th and he is already 6 months old!! We named him Fazal, which means God's blessing. So far everything has been so wonderful with him and we have a great routine set. I can't take all the credit for that; I think he was just born that was because he sleeps and wakes at the same times every day.....AND he sleeps through the night **gasp**!!! But seriously, I got really lucky with him and I think I see him as more precious because I had to suffer losing 2 pregnancies before finally having him. He is at a great stage right now, just starting to sit up and roll all around but he still needs me...but that will probably change in a few more months as we go to crawling and then walking. He has started solid foods now, actually for a couple of months now, and now he wants to feed himself. He of course lacks the motor skills to do so, but that sure doesn't stop him from trying!!!! All in all, it truly is a life-changing experience (excuse the sap here), and I can't even begin to imagine my life without this 15 pound love of my life!! Right now he is sleeping, so I thought I should probably get some things around the house, but my blog has been seriously neglected, so I figured I'd take a few minutes to give it some much needed TLC. Stya tuned for some more updates coming soon.....and I promise this time, it will be soon as in a couple of days, not a few months!! Ciao!

Last Days of Sleep

2005-08-04T01:59:00.001-04:00

Well I am finally back...not that you all have missed me....but then again you may have. I had gotten so lazy about blogging. I mean I had just started and was going pretty good and then I just lost steam. I mean there were a couple of things that had occupied me, like buying a new house and expecting a baby...you know minor things like that. But now we are pretty much settled and my EDD is September 3rd so I got a few more weeks of sleep...however uncomfortable it is at this point! So anyways, I was up and I started reading a few of the blogs that I used to frequent. Then I started to feel bad about neglecting my blog even though it's not that vital to the Internet world (not yet anyways...hee hee)....and so I figured the web is pretty forgiving. So here I am crawling back with my head hanging down in shame. I also feel bad because I had just started to get into HTML and learning all of that and now I will have to start over. Oh well. Anyways, this is it for now but stay tuned for bigger and better updates especially on the baby!

Six Degrees of Blogging

2005-01-08T13:22:00.001-05:00

Well, at first I had no idea what a blog was. So I Googled it. Then I started reading all these other blogs and I was like well, I want one too. And even though I have been writing diaries and journals ever since I could write, I have always had one problem....CENSORSHIP. Does anyone else have this problem, or am I more vulnerable to it because of my Pakistani upbringing. You know where you shouldn't hide anything and paranoia is a trait that is actually cultivated in every offspring. You know that voice in the back of your head that says "What if someone sees this, what will they think?" Even now I am typing and I can feel the restraints kicking in and it is taking all of my willpower to keep going. Well maybe not that dramatic, but you know what I mean...or at least you do if you grew up like I did.

Growing up in a Pakistani household was not bad at all. Actually for the longest time I really didn't think of myself as any different than anyone in my school. There was a big desi community in Tulsa but there were none in my class. But as I grew older and especially when I went to high school, I saw people going out and staying out till all hours of the night. Looking back I really didn't mind....but it makes me wonder, what if my kids do and what will I do? I guess I'll tell them, "If I can do it you can too." I think parents have to make their kids realize that the Pakistani culture is a rich one and they should not let anyone make them feel inferior just because they can't do the traditional Amreeki things, like dating and all that. And you gotta let your kids know that there are other ways to have fun. Right now I can't think of them, but you know when the time comes I'm sure I'll come through. No but seriously, I am human (though my sister has doubts sometimes!), so I am not gonna pretend to be some saint and say that I didn't feel left out at times. I did and lemme tell ya, it does not feel good to be left out, when after a while people stop inviting you and you spend each weekend at home watching TV, or worse.....doing your homework. But I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that I really did not have any Pakistani friends my age. I have seen that in the bigger cities that have a more diverse population, kids tend to stick to their own ethinic groups, thus retaining their original culture and at the same time creating a hybrid of the old and new. But I think that it is healthy to have friendships with all kinds of people. You have to keep in mind (and this is to all those self-righteous people out there who think that they just sprouted out of American soil), everyone in this country has immigrant roots. The only true Americans are the Native Americans, and the rest are all implants. Growing up in America shelters you somewhat. You think that America is all there is in the world. I rememeber being amazed one time when I was young as I was watching TV and seeing other big beautiful cities such as Dubai and Sydney. I mean, I thought that places like that were only in the U.S.! Before you think, "Geez, what rock has she been living under," you have to understand there are a lot of people like that who have that same ignorant thoughts. They think that that the rest of the world is a third-world country. And that is such a pitiful and distorted view of the world it ain't even funny.

But anyways, I think we got to remember that there is a world out there apart from the U.S. The internet really makes you realize that. I mean, I surf the net and there are SO many things out there, it only seems to make me feel even more ignorant and uneducated. Countless books, movies, songs, places, histories.....the list goes on and on. It makes me feel impatient and restless, knowing that there a gazillion things out there yet that I have not yet experienced. Yet at the same time I love it. Imagine if you knoew everything...maybe some people would like that, but personally I think that you would just be sitting around waitng to die. I mean there would be no joy of learning of discovery.What a sad existance. But don't despair! I have yet to meet a person that knows it all...(though I have met people who think they know it all...*grimace*). So we can rest assure that there are plenty of things out there to see and discover to keep us occupied in this life. All these blogs out there....it's wonderful that people all over the world have a platform on which they can share their thoughts and dreams and experiences. So now we can not only learn from textbooks, we can learn from people all over the world, without even leaving our home. But even through all the advances in technology, I still think that we should all take a chance to go out and actually see the world and talk to real people and have real hands-on experiences. In my opinion, that is what life is all about....wouldn't you agree.....why are you still sitting there? Go live your life!

World Aid for Tsunami Relief

2005-01-06T23:53:00.001-05:00

It is amazing to think that the United States would be behind in anything in this day and age. Usually the U.S. likes to be at the front and center of the world stage. But in the global relief effort for the South Asia tsunami disater, they are the last. In a news article on Yahoo, it relates the fact that the U.S. is the least of the donors with $350 million. And now the Bush administration say that they are going to increase that package. Well, they started out with a measly $15 million, then went up to $35 million. Now they are up to $350 million. It seems to me that to the U.S., these contributions constitute a global contest of some sorts of who can be the biggest donor. In a global catastrophe of this magnitude, the U.S. should be leaders, like the Bush administration prides itself it to be. However, in this they are merely followers...and bad ones at that.

Nerd-o-Meter

2005-01-03T14:06:00.001-05:00

Here is my nerd score

I guess that's all right. I think my nerd level may have gone down since high school. Just something to pass the time with. Have fun.

Happy New Year

2004-12-31T12:24:00.001-05:00

To everyone out there, a very Happy New Year. The new year gives us all the opportunity to start over it seems, but I think that we should approach every day this way. Every new day we all have the chance to do things that we have ignored or things that we meant to do and never got around to do doing.....or perhaps to stop doing the things that we know we should not be doing.

On another note, I can not even believe that it is 2005. The funny thing is that one of the first things that I think about is that my 10 year high school reunion is in 2 more years. Now that makes me feel old! I wondered about why I thought about that particular aspect of my life and I think it is because my high school years were so formative in the kind of person that I am. Of course, college did that too, but I think that in high school you are in a kind of limbo. You have been going to school with pretty much the same people that you went to elemantary school with and though everyone is growing up, you don't realize it. I mean, it's like 13 years in the same kind of atmosphere, not that many variables. You are essentially coccooned from the rest of the world. But then it comes time to go to college and it kind of throws you off. Everything that you knew changes. In high school, I thought that finals week was hell. Now I would gladly trade some adult problems for a another finals week. Everyone always said to enjoy this time. They said that it wouldn't last (I'd think, whatever they don't know what they are talking about). But now I know that they were right. And I tell younger people that now, but they have heard it from countless other people that their eyes just kind of glaze over and you know they aren't listening to you. I guess it is something that they will realize after it is all over.

But I digress. I'm sure I have depressed everyone out there when all I wanted to say was Happy New Year. Sometimes I can get really long-winded.

I guess you can blame that on my high school English classes.

South Asia's Tragedy

2004-12-29T18:28:00.001-05:00

The disaster that has pummeled South Asia is needless to say absolutely horrific and heart-wrenching. I can not even begin to imagine what those people are going through and where they will find the strength and spirit to go on. My heart and prayers goes out to each and every one of the victims. It is our duty to do all that we can do to help them through this time. Every little bit counts; please don't let yourself think, "Well, I can't really do anything for them from across the world." Visit the Humanity First and Red Cross via the links that I have added and also the countless other organizations that are helping the victims. You can find information for helping the victims and there is something for everyone. Even though these types of disasters have people asking the inevitable, "Why did God allow this to happen," we should not let go of our faith. Understandably, the victims are in no position to just sit there and pray...they are just trying to survive. But we can pray for them if nothng else. InshaAllah, God willing, our prayers will reach them and give them the strength to go on.

The Pandora Complex

2004-12-28T18:39:00.001-05:00

Well, anyone who knows about Greek mythology, probably knows all about Pandora. For those who do not, that is a shame, because Greek mythology (and all mythology for that matter) is truly fascinating! For the un-enlightened ones here is the story of Pandora....a short version of it at least.....

Zeus, the king of the gods, wanted to punish mankind for accepting the gift of fire from Prometheus. So he hit upon a plan that would do just that. He had Hephasetus, the smith-god, mold a girl out of clay and had Aphrodite pose for it to make sure that the girl was beautiful. He breathed life into the clay figure and then invited all the gods and goddesses to greet her and offer her gifts.

The girl received many wonderful gifts, but the two most relevant ones to this story are the gifts that Hera and Hermes gave her. Hermes, the messenger god gave her a beautiful golden box and told her that she must never ever open the box. And then Hera, the queen of the gods, gave her curiosity.

After that, Hermes took her to Epimetheus, Prometheus's brother, and told him that she was to be his wife. She was named Pandora, the all gifted. And so the couple were married and lived happliy ever after....or would have if not for that golden box.

Pandora was constantly thinking about the golden box. She polished it everyday until it sparkled...and even then it seemed to her that the box was mocking her. She thought about opening it, but she always remembered her promise to Hermes to keep it closed.

But the box was tormenting her. She put it in the storeroom, but still found excuses to go there. She buried it in the garden, but even then it was all she could think about.

One night, she went out into the garden. She unearthed it and took out the key. And then she opened it. To her horror, black scaly bat-like creatures flew out. They circled her head and then flew off into the night, hissing and cackling.

With the last of her strength, Pandora shut the lid on the box, trapping the last creature that was struggling to get out. And then she fainted away.

But how did Zeus punish mankind? And what were those creatures? They were the ills of mankind.....diseases, insanity, old age, famine, drought, etc. They flew into homes all over the world, and when the time was right, they attacked, bringing death and pain and sorrow.

And what was that very last creature that did not get out? That was Foreboding. If it had escaped, everyone in the world would know of every misfortune that would happen to them. There would be no hope and thus mankind would be ruined. For man can go through a myriad of endless troubles, but without hope, he cannot live.

Now what does this have to do with my blog, you ask. Well, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Pandora's box as a "prolific source of troubles." I think we all have a certain amount of Pandora in us. We all are curious and we all have troubles. But we also need to realize, through all the troubles and pressures of today's world, that things could be much worse. Sometimes, we ourselves are responsible for our troubles...we need to look beyond the golden box. But if we do get blinded by the golden box, that's all right; after all we are only human. But no matter what, we should always have hope. I am sure that there are people out there who do not agree with me and that's all right. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I welcome them. But even through all of our differences, we should all remember that hope is the greatest gift that we have.

With that said, I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas with the world. I think that hope does not have to be an abstract idea. Hope can be found in everything, books, movies, and art, among other things. So this is where I will talk about these things and share my experiences......and I hope that these things will provide some sort of certainty in this uncertain world.

Welcome

2004-12-25T16:21:00.001-05:00

Hey everybody....welcome to The Pandora Complex. You may be wondering about the the title...or maybe not. You may be wondering about me...or maybe not. Well either way, I will get to all of that...when I feel like it. For now, this is it...but more is to come.