DIY Pom-Pom BookMarks

If You are a book reader and love colours then join me in the five-minute craft challenge. A DIY, you can try with your kids and have some fun by giving this book tag to your favourite person or your (Bookworm)Friend.

I made this cute book tags/marks and it takes hardly 5 minutes. You need a pom-pom (I bought some from Michael’s), paper clips and a hot glue gun.

I have a crush on rose gold nowadays and I bought rose gold paper clips from “Urban Planet”, you can use any type, size or colour that’s easily available craft stores or dollar stores.

All you need to do is, hot glue your pom-pom on the paperclip and make sure the clip is upside down. Put a little pressure and leave it to dry for few minutes. I always use rubber pad whenever I used my hot glue gun.

I add this Book tag on the thank you card along with some Homemade Eucalyptus Pink Bath Salt for the year-end teacher’s gift this year.

I love these tags and made few for myself too…Isn’t it so cute, tag the favourite person you want to share with!!

Food & Recipes

Baklava

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Baklava is very rich and sweet pastry layered with chopped nuts. It is one of the most famous desserts of Geek/Turkish cuisine that looks a bit difficult but actually, it’s not. I made first time on this Eid and shared on my Insta stories and many of you asked me for the recipe and I had no clue at that time how it will turn out but trust me it is one of the most simple desserts I have ever tried.

Let’s make it!!

Ingredients:

Puff / Fillo Pastry.

Assorted chopped nuts: I used Almond, Walnuts and Pistachios.

Butter:1/2 cup(melted)

Sugar:2 tsp

Egg: 1 for brushing

For Sugar Syrup:

Sugar 2.5 cups

Water:2 cups

Lemon Juice:1/2 Tsp

Combine sugar, lemon juice and water in a saucepan. Allow it to boil and keep stirring until sugar dissolves completely. Reduce heat.

Mixed nuts with butter in a bowl and add 2 tsp sugar. Mix everything well.

Pre-heat oven to 300.

In a baking tray, grease the bottom with butter. Place the first sheet and layer it with nut mixture, place another pastry sheet, brush with butter and repeat. Brush the top with beaten egg and sprinkle leftover nuts.

Cut into 3 * 3-inch squares and Bake at 300 for 45 mins or until it is golden brown. Remove from oven, pour prepared warm syrup and allow to saturate it well.

Let it cool and serve.

DIY Eid Wreath

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Eid is less than a week away, Hope the last days go well and we make the maximum benefits of this blessed month of Ramadan. I already start missing Ramadan but we are also excited for Eid, although we don’t have Eid holidays as such(like back home) but will be going to get a day off that will proceed to the long weekend if it’s on Friday.

Preparing for Eid is so much fun, I already shopped for Eid dresses and jewellery. Along with that, I do some extra to make the day more special.

I always decorate my home with fairy lights, banners and garland but this time I wanted to make a wreath for my front door and I am happy to share this DIY with you. I made it under $15 and mostly dollar store items.

SUPPLIES:

Any basic Wreath I bought this from Wal-Mart for $5.(dollar store has some similar ones and also wire/foam)

Artificial Flowers (of your choice)

Ribbon.

Scissors.

Alphabet Stickers and poster board.

(I bought some stuff as shown in the picture that I didn’t use at all )

I didn’t follow any rule, just start from the right side, I used the floral twines and then start inserting the orange and white flowers. I simply twisted the flower wire and make it secure at the back. I didn’t use any extra cord or wire, you may need if you use the wire ones.

Fill up the empty space with more flowers and finish it with some branches of orchid and Snapdragon. Try different combination according to your taste and decor.

I made an Eid greeting sign and hang with ribbon, I used my E-6000 to secure it with the wreath. I had countless ideas in my mind but I love the simple Eid greeting. I Just cut the card and paste the alphabet stickers.

I use a suction hook to hang it with my front door. You can hang an Eid card or wooden sign, or even make any welcome note to greet your guest.

Isn’t it so pretty and affordable…I fall in love with this…I will add fairy lights a night before to make it more festive.

Lots of things going on here, I am going to send Eid gifts/goodies to my kid’s school friends to share the joy and make our Eid occasion more special, will try to share ya…! More posts are hopefully on their way.

so, how you guys doing on your Eid ? have you bought your eid dress etc, do share if you make anything extra to make it more special….share some with me…Happy Eid everyone!!

life style

Five Things I Miss The Most About Ramadan When Fasting Abroad!

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When I say I miss Pakistan so much, I really mean it. It’s not easy to live far away from your country and family when you are missing everything badly almost every other day. Ramadan and Eid are the days when we missed the most. My husband and I always talk about our childhood days and share our Ramadan and Eid stories with kids.

Let’s share with you guys too…here are some most missed things!!

Azaan and Siren:

Yes, I can install all the apps and reminders on my phone but hearing an actual Azan on a loudspeaker five times is such a blessing. I used to live in a neighbourhood where the mosque was just a minute away, That Azaan sound still echoing me since then, it was the most beautiful voice I had ever heard.

Do you remember, the warnings that issued right before the sehri end was something I simply missed. I remember they used to say”Hazrat sehri ka time khtam honye wala hay,khana peena FORAN bandh krdein warna apka roza nahi hoga”.

That Dhool Walas:

If you are a girl who really annoyed with that drum sound that used to wake up 1 hour before sehri and you really don’t have to make as such anything just because you’re the youngest and you have a super sweet mom than high-five(I used to help in Iftar).I am sure they probably un-aware our love-hate relationship and we only see them in person when they come to get their Eidi(money) again with drumming at the door. I didn’t know one day I would be missing that thing too, but I literally do.

That AfterNoon Nap:

Living in a non-muslim country is not easy, you don’t get half days off during Ramadan. My kids have same school timings so that my husband work hours too but in Pakistan, I remember we get half days and that nap I simply missed that was taken right after zuhar prayers for a couple of hours.

Exchange of Iftar on daily basis:

I used to live in a lovely neighbourhood and we often exchange dishes but during Ramadan, it was done on daily basis. My mom used to make extra Iftar and share with our neighbours and I just love to go and hand out those iftar trays full of yummy iftar to my friend’s house and getting back from them was even more fun.

Rush In markets and food street:

Oh God….this is the most missed memory I always have…the lineups to get samosa and other fried item and after iftar the rush in shopping malls and markets to get eid stuff is I missed the most.

Traffic Jam:

Yes!! its funny but I do miss that traffic Jam when everyone was in rush to get home before iftar. I myself had broken my fast on the road a couple of time and I remember we used to keep ” dates ” with us to break the fast just in case.

I know it’s a long list that goes on…I can write a lot on this but… Hey..why don’t you guys add some if you are living in Pakistan or abroad like me which is the most favourite or missed thing of the blessed month of Ramadan?.