Since everyone is getting into the new Pokemon Go game I thought I'd offer some designs to all Pokémon fans! If you're a Pokemon fan too, please let me know in comment box below. And, hey! If you have any cool ideas for a design based on a show, song, scenery, flower, plant, or jewellery you really like, then make sure to let me know and I'll try it out!!😃
Assalamu alaikum.
Hi guys! I recently watched a fascinating documentary called True Cost. It's about fast fashion, waste, pollution, but most importantly, the people who make our clothes. It's also about how the big company owners are getting richer and the poor, poorer. It's about pesticides, GMOs and how it's all a monopoly to make money and put farmers and related workers into impossible debt. Shockingly, farmers have the highest rate of suicide in the world!
One of the places the documentary focuses on is Bangladesh. How the building had cracks in it and the workers complained and pointed it out. They were silenced and forced to go back into an unsafe environment to work. Hundreds were killed. Few survived. It was around this time, that the industry was making the most money. With so many people in need of a job, they were easily replaceable. The big company owners, who ever they are, obviously don't care.
Definitely a good movie to watch. I give it five stars! It teaches us not to waste and not to mistreat the land as well as it's people.
If you want to learn more and take action, visit www.truecostmovie.com.
Also, my mom just got me a book today from the library. It was published in 2012. It's called Over-Dressed, The Shockingly, High Cost of Cheap Fashion. Obviously, I haven't read it yet, so can't tell you much other than it's a very similar topic. It's scary how this book came into my life right after I finished watching that documentary.
Lastly, I decided I would go through my pants, shirts and sweaters to see where they were made. So here's the list:
China 6
Hong Kong 4
Cambodia 5
Honduras 5
Bangladesh 3
Turkey 1
Mexico 1
Haiti 1
Trengganu 1
Unknown 6 (cut tag or too faded to read)
*Note: that doesn't include the clothes in the wash, on my back or in the closet.
I grew up with hand me downs, so I think for someone who had the latest thing or even just clothes that are actually from their time, would probably have a different mix of countries.
Assalamu Alaikum.
Today the new student council got together to plan next year's events. Every year is always the same. So I offer up new ideas no one else has ever thought of. Instead of only wearing a colour for anti bullying, or cancer, why not put on a play about those subjects? Give meaning to those events. Make it exciting! Get other students who aren't on the council involved directly for once.
But the girl who takes the notes said no one would be interested and didn't welcome my idea. She wrote it down but clearly wasn't for it. I don't see why my idea should be shot down without even trying. How does she know what everyone else is thinking? She clearly doesn't care for it herself. But so what?! She's not the only one in the school. She doesn't own the school council. Everyone's ideas should be welcomed and appreciated, regardless.
One of the boys liked my idea and we should do a play in the hall for bullying and see what people do. I said, "Oh! You mean like a 'What would you do?' scenario?" "Yeah!" "Oh my gosh! That's a great idea! I love it!" "Yeah, and then we can let the teachers know so they don't do anything about it. And whoever intervenes can get a prize or something" She still didn't seem impressed. And oh well! It's not her decision. This is supposed to be a collaborative thing. You know I was really glad that someone was finally on my side, but I'm just so tired of the student council at my school. They never do anything. If someone does want to something, they won't let them and make them feel invalid and alienated. They ask for new ideas but accept none if it's not exactly what they want or if it's too different. I want to be the change I want to see in the world, but it's really hard when the people or club that's supposed help you realise your dream or vision for the school are same people weighing you down. I'm never really heard, seen or acknowledged. I try so hard, but it seems my efforts are always in vain.
Another idea unwelcome, was to ask everyone to write about a time when they were bullied and what they and/or someone else did in that scenario to stand up. Of course I wanted it to anonymous, and on identical pieces of paper so no one could tell, and have a member read them out loud after they put them in a box.
Wearing a colour doesn't change or influence people. It states, "We're going to pretend we care, but not actually do anything about it". If we do the exercise I offered, it gives everyone a chance to remember that it happens to everyone and not just someone else. It gives a chance to share our experiences and connect without being vulnerable. It also reminds us, that bullying is very real, and that we shouldn't just pretend it doesn't exist. It makes us feel and opens our eyes.
I also said we could watch a video about different students telling their story. And I offered doing something informative, like when and why was the anti bullying week started? By who? And it's relevance today here at the school and in our daily lives.
You'd think one of those awesome ideas would inspire her. Hopefully some of those ideas will be realised next year and not just thrown out like last night leftovers for the dogs.
I get the feeling they like my ideas, but don't like me. When I was grade nine I offered an activity where everyone writes something nice about everyone in the school but no one wanted to do it with me. They said it was too much trouble. So I did a small amount that I could handle on my own. I left the school for a year. When I came back, I was surprised to see pink post it notes on everyone's lockers saying different nice things about them by various people. I'm sure if I remarked to them that they finally used my idea, they would say no it's someone else's. I don't get credit for anything. I hate my school. I want to be with active people like me in a Muslim community.
I recently bought this wreath at a craft fair where I was doing a Henna booth. I love gardening and just marking things beautiful in general! I love having our fresh food and harvesting it; it's so much fun! However, my parents have kinda lost their mojo, so this is a good reminder for me whenever I'm in the backyard watering the plants or pulling some weeds.
Assalamu Alaikum.
I forgot to post this. Before I posted about Pandan pancakes, well here's the real deal. When I made this, because it's a food from my father's culture, he tells me he doesn't want me to leave. If you ever feel like trying out this recipe, then here you go.
Pandan Chiffon Cake
From Easy Malaysian Style Cookery.
You will need:
8 eggs, separated
1 1/4 cups caster sugar (superfine sugar)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla essence
3/4 cup (180 ml) coconut milk
1/4 tsp pandan extract
1 cup self-raising flour
1 tsp cream of tartar
*Note that if you don't have self-raising flour at home you can always mix 1 cup of all-purpose flour with 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt.
1. Beat egg yolks, sugar, oil, and vanilla essence in a medium sized bowl, with a whisk or an electric mixer until combined.
2. In a separate tiny bowl, combine coconut milk and pandan extract. Then beat in the coconut-pandan combination with the previous mixture.
3. Sift flour 3 times into a large bowl. Then make a well in the centre. Finally whisk egg mixture into the flour well.
4. Beat all egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer until frothy. Then add cream of tartar and beat until firm peaks form.
5. Fold in egg whites into flour mixture in 2 bachets using a balloon whisk.
6. Carefully pour mixture into a 21 cm increased Chiffon pan. Pull skewer through batter and/or lift pan with batter and mildly hit a hard surface with it to disperse bubbles.
7. Bake at 350° F for about 45 min or until cake feels springy to the touch (I did an hour). Gently invert pan on a cooling rack. Do not move or bump pan until cake is completely chilled. Run rubber spatula around the sides of the pan to release cake. Slice. Enjoy!
Assalamu Alaikum.
Today I went to another craft fair. I only had five customers but alhamdulillah, I can feel my business growing.
Assalamu Alaikum.
I know I'm not old and wise yet (I suppose that means I'm young and stupid, lol), but if I had to give a piece of advice to the world, it would be to "ask for help". And I suppose, a part of being mature is swallowing one's pride, realising when we're most vulnerable and in need, and having the strength to reach out for aide. I personally have always had trouble with that and I still kinda do. I don't like bothering people or being needy or non-selfsufficient. So, when I learned that Allah (God) is actually waiting for us to ask him for anything and everything that is good from him and as often as we want, I was pretty surprised. Ever since I started making du'a consistently my life has been changing for the better now, in every way possible. Alhamdulillah.
