Lantern Court Ramadan Goodies - Review and Giveaway

Ramadan is almost upon us!!

For my non muslim followers, in brief, Ramadan is the month of fasting when Muslims refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.

It is an important part of our faith and I often feel like I need to make more of an effort to make our festivals exciting for muchkin. She learns about Easter, Christmas etc at school, but because most of our family is abroad, Ramadan and Eid seem to just quietly come and go.

Last year I made more of an effort with Eid by decorating the house as she is now at the age of understanding what is happening and will understand my explanations. However, I still needed ideas on how to make Ramadan exciting for her.

So when Lantern Court contacted me about their new line of holiday goods I was excited to be able to review some of their products. I loved the look of their 'Ramadan Mubarak' collection as purple is my favourite colour.

The whole collection

Napkin opened up - a good size

The balloon - I love it and munchkin will too!

I absolutely love this collection! The design is modern, yet keeps the traditional sun and moon symbol. The colours are vibrant and this collection certainly has a festive feel which puts a smile on my face. 

Although they are paper plates they do not feel flimsy like some paper plates can. You can place hot or cold food on them without fearing that they will fall apart. Although I have not yet tried putting food on them, (as  I am saving them for Ramadan), I can tell that they are of good quality and I will have no worries about filling them full of food.

The napkins are of a good size and when folded up feel like they could handle a spill if need be. And I can't wait to blow up the large sized balloon!

The collection will certainly make the start of Ramadan feel abit more festive to us when we use these inshAllah! 

Giveaway!!

OPEN ONLY TO THE UK

I have one 'Ramadan Mubarak' Collection to giveaway! This includes:

Pack of 10.25'' Dinner Plates

Pack of 7'' Salad/Desert Plates

Pack Napkins

18'' Metallic Balloon (1 ballon)

If you love the look of the collection and would like a chance at winning then all you have to do is:

Visit www.lanterncourt.com and post a comment below saying which product you like and why. 

Additional entries, please leave a comment below telling me which you have done, with a way of contacting you should you win:

• Like Lantern Court on Facebook
• Follow Lantern Court on Twitter
• Follow Lantern Court on Pinterest
• Follow my blog via Google Friends Connect or Networked Blogs
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet : I want to win @lantern_court ramadan products with @muslimmummies. You can too here http://bit.ly/MyJ4f0
• Share the competition with your friends using the link on my facebook page

Give away ENDS 14th July 2012 at 6pm

Winner must contact me within 24 hours or another winner will be chosen

Winner will be  picked using random.org

Good luck!

Friday Wisdom 29/06/2012

“Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we're holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we'd rather collapse and back away. They're like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we're stuck. This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it's with us wherever we are.”

Pema Chodron

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When things go wrong.......

......everything seems to go wrong!!

Have you noticed that when you DON'T want things to go wrong, that is when they do?!

At the moment I am trying to save as I want to decorate the house before baby arrives, and obviously because my income is going to drop substantially. (I am so used to having my own income to do with as I please that I will find it difficult not working!)

Therefore we do not need any necessary expenses as I am going on maternity leave soon..3 weeks!!..and more than likely won't have a job to return to as I am at risk of being made redundant.

But life seems to have other plans.

First the washing machine broke down but that was simply the plug playing up so managed to get it fixed.

Then the oven on the cooker went! It wasn't worth fixing so we had to pay for a new one.

Now the worst thing that has happened has.

Hubby's car has been pretty much killed. Someone hit him. Alhamdulillah hubby is fine, (which is the main thing), but the car I think will be written off.

Seeing as his car is his source of income (he is currently using it as a taxi) this is SO what we do not need right now. We cannot afford for him to be out of work.

On the plus side he's being given a mercedes benz tomorrow as a temporary car! Can't wait to take it out for a spin!! (Yes I am a bit of a car freak!)

CLOSED: Keep Me Safe Kids: Review and Giveaway

Winner of Giveaway is:

A Hindley!

Well done!

If you have young children, you will understand how a day out can be quite stressful. If they are out of your eyesight for even just one second your heart literally ends up in your mouth.

Take David Cameron recently, you must have heard how he and his wife  left their daughter behind in a pub. 


It could happen to anyone.

Alhamdulillah I have never lost my daughter or ever forgotten her but that is partly because she was, and still can be, a clingy child who pretty much sticks to me like glue when we go out. It is only now as she is getting older she can wander off.

'Keep Me Safe Kids' is designed to put your mind at rest when you go on days out. Gemma, who came up with the idea of 'Keep me safe Kids', states on her website:

I'm sure, at some point, all of you have lost sight of a child - even just for a second - and experienced that horrible sinking stomach feeling. As a mum of two small children, I know I have. My aim is to keep the panic to an absolute minimum, whilst helping to re-unite parent and child quickly and easily. 

Keep Me Safe Kids stickers are perfect for days out at the park, farm, indoor play centre, museum, beach, and of course, holidays. In fact, just about anywhere kids like to be.

Gemma was kind enough to send me a sticker to review and we recently tested it on a day trip to the beach.

Muchkin was a bit wary about wearing such a big sticker but once it was on she soon forgot about it. And it certainly did give me some peace of mind knowing that if she somehow did manage to get lost, then I could be contacted.

It was pretty windy on the beach but the sticker stayed put. It stayed on for the whole visit and in all honesty probably could have stayed on for days. It also appears to be waterproof so if it rains on a day out I think it wouldn't affect it too much.

These are certainly a great idea and I will definitely use these with my next child. Although it would be fab if Keep Me Safe Kids came up with some more designs!

For more information on Keep Me Safe Kids or to buy stickers online, you can visit www.keepmesafekids.co.uk or find them at www.facebook.com/KeepMeSafeKids

Giveaway!

I am lucky enough  to be able to offer you a pack of 5 stickers. So if you want some peace of mind for when you go on a day out during the summer, all you have to do is leave a comment below with details on how to contact you.

UK entries only!

For extra entries you can:

-Follow the blog via google friends connect or networked blogs

-Follow me on twitter: @muslimmummies

-Follow Keep Me Safe Kids facebook page: www.facebook.com/KeepMeSafeKids

-Tweet: I want to win a pack of Keep Me Safe Kids stickers with @muslimmummies #giveaway http://bit.ly/LCsTOG

Deadline for entries is 4th July at 4pm

Winner must contact me within 24 hours or another will be chosen

Winner will be chosen using Random.org

Trip to the beach!

This weekend I was determined to go out somewhere, come rain or shine!!

I was seriously getting fed up of sitting at home at the weekend and getting totally bored out my brains. I have been meaning to take munchkin for a day out for the past month as during the summer holidays I will be heavily pregnant. Even after just 3 hours at the beach I couldn't believe how exhausted I ended up being at just 27 weeks!!

We went to  Hunstanton which also has the Sea Life Sanctuary. Apart from it being a bit windy we had a lovely day. In all honesty I prefer it when it is not too hot. It is less busy, you are not sweating away AND you don't have practically naked people every where you look! Sorry but I can't stand seeing everyone else's flesh. 

Enjoy the  pics!! Am linking this post with Fiona at Combes Mill

Silent Sunday 24/06/2012

Friday Wisdom 22-06-2012

 “All the world is a stage, 

And all the men and women merely players. 

They have their exits and entrances; 

Each man in his time plays many parts.”

William Shakespeare

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The thought of giving birth scares me

The thought of giving birth scares the living daylights out of me if I am honest.

With munchkin no1 I went through the pregnancy pretty much in denial that this baby had to come out eventually....I tried not to think about it at all as I would just get into a bit of a panic.

At school I was friends with 2 others and we used to say we would never have kids; one even went so far to say she would remove her uterus (not sure if she ever did but I know she hasn't had any kids but keeps horses!)

The whole going through 9 months of labour, painful birth, and then screaming babies, sick, exploding nappies, whinging toddlers just did not appeal to me.

So when I fell pregnant with my first soon after marriage, I tried to totally block out the fact that I had to go through labour. That was pretty easy because after an initial bleeding scare the pregnancy was a breeze.

When I actually went into labour 2 weeks earlier than my due date, I was in denial - I didn't believe baby could be early and I hadn't mentally prepared myself for it. 

Alhamdulillah the labour was quick. In less than 2 hours from waking up and gettting to the hospital, munchkin had arrived. It was all a bit panicked as they thought my placenta had burst so they started prepping me for a c-section. They gave me a spinal block so after that I felt nothing!!! But alhamdulillah I didn't have to have a c-section. When they handed me munchkin I was in shock that it had happened so quickly and just looked at her thinking 'OMG a baby!!'

Because I never fully experienced the pain of giving birth, I will admit I am slightly freaked out again. The fact that I have diabetes and that can mean a large baby is also freaking me out. In all honesty, as the final 3 month countdown begins I am TOTALLY freaking out. All the hospital appointments and scans don't help. Yes they are making sure that everything is ok but it just panics me because it reminds me I NEED extra care to ensure nothing goes wrong.

I know I am just being a bit daft - must be the hormones on overdrive.

Silent Sunday 17/06/2012

Week 26 ~ Pregnancy Update

SubhanAllah! Can't believe I am 26 weeks today! It only seems like yesterday I found out I was pregnant! The days and weeks are flying by! I am FINALLY beginning to show and people can now notice that I am pregnant. 

So I had my next appointment at the diabetic clinic. And the Midwife decided to freak me out abit! They sure like to panic you.

This is the first time the fundal height was measured. This is a measure of the size of the uterus used to assess fetal growth and development. First the trainee midwife had a go and she was quite heavy handed. Bubs didn't like it and kicked back!!! The midwife actually felt the kick. Don't blame bubs for kicking.....I mean how would you like being pressed on?!

The MW training her was concerned the measurement was a bit small so she had a go too. I was getting fed up as it was hurting when they were pressing down trying to find my pubic bone. 

Her measurement was 2cm bigger than what the trainee got. But she was concerned that the measurements were small and she wanted me to have a scan there and then. I explained I had a scan in 3 weeks anyway but she said she wanted me to have one now.

She managed to get the sonographer to fit me in reluctantly and the measurements were fine.....if anything bubs has had a growth spurt. So all the panic for nothing!!

The diabetic consultants changed my medication to slow release tablets as I have been experiencing a bad stomach for a while. Am slightly stressed by that as I had pretty much managed to control the diabetes with the old meds and knew what foods I could get away with. I now feel like I am starting from scratch again but today hasn't been too bad. I have to see how it goes over the weekend and ring them on Monday to let them know if my stomach has settled down.

I will be seeing my own MW in less than 2 weeks and am back at the diabetic clinic in 3 weeks!! Getting so fed up with all the appointments BUT at least they are looking after me well.

Smart Ark Islamic Toys - Eid Toy Drive

I saw this and just had to share it as mashAllah think it is a wonderful idea.

Taken from Smart Ark's FB page:

Eid Toy Drive For Children In Palestine!

We are collecting donations for an Eid toy drive. The gifts will be donated to children in a little village called Dier Ibzia, near Ramallah. 
I spent sometime volunteering in Dier Ibzia in 2003 and met a lovely young sister, who I have kept in contact with. Alhamdulilah she now runs a small project teaching mostly girls in Dier Ibzia.

The villagers in Dier Ibzia live on the poverty line and there is 70% unemployment.

Insha'Allah we hope with your help to make the children there smile!

Donated items should be light weight items, such as craft kits and stationery.

Cut off date is: 14th July 2012

Alternatively you can make a small monetary donation, details below:
Smart Ark Education Aid (Charity Number: XT28304)

By bank transfer:
Smart Ark Education Aid
Account number:78040225
Sort Code:090127
(please make the reference “toydrive”)

By Paypal:
info@smartarkeducationaid.org
(please make the reference “toydrive”)

May Allah reward you!

Please contact me for further queries: info@smartark.com

Friday Wisdom 15/06/2012

“Even after all this time,

The sun never says to the earth,

'You owe me.'

Look what happens with

A love like that.

It lights the whole sky.”

Hafiz of Persia 

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Would you complain? Swimming problems

As it is the summer term (and I use the word summer loosely here!), munchkin has swimming for 2 weeks. She has 8 sessions in the school pool.

So why do I want to complain about this I hear you ask.

Well it is a couple of things.

One of the things that has annoyed me since last year is the fact that we have to pay.

Oh actually, we are asked to make a 'contribution'. We don't HAVE to, but they keep a list of all the parents that have paid.

I know it is only £8, £1 a session, but my attitude is WHY should I pay. Apparently it is part of the curriculum so she HAS to do it.

Ok so why do I have to pay?

Do I have to pay for any travel costs? Does it cost to walk from her classroom to the pool?

Do I have to pay for a qualified instructor???

If it is part of the curriculum why should I contribute to the cost of heating the pool? Not my problem. Does she have to pay for her reading books? Her maths activities? For the paper she uses in the school?? No because that is all part of the curriculum and school activities.

If we have to pay we should get the option to pull them out.

For those in the UK, you will know the weather has been miserable.

But they are still making them swim in the cold and rain. Then they spend the rest of the day with wet hair and if it is not raining they are sent out in the cold to play with wet hair.

Munchkin has a swimming cap but because she has long hair mashAllah she cannot put it on herself. The school refuse to help her.

Now because of the swimming in the cold and rain and walking around with wet hair she is getting a cold

And if I don't send her to school I am going to get hauled in for a meeting about her attendance - see my post here for the low down on that.

I seriously could scream right now and punch something.

Monday Gratitude 11/06/2012

I keep meaning to join in with Marie's Monday Gratitude and finally remembered to today! I think it is an excellent idea to remind yourself of what you are grateful for each week.

So for this past week I am grateful for:

Munchkin turning 6 Alhamdulillah! (where has the time gone?!)

Reaching my next birthday

Having a day out with the family and shopping!

Feeling bubs move so much Alhamdulillah, although beginning to think I'm going to end up internally bruised!

Getting my gestational diabetes pretty much under control this week

Not feeling as hormonal and more relaxed!!

Haivng the week off work and finding the time to do things I enjoy - sit down and read a book!