Freebie Friday – Sham Wow, Nail Care Product & More
1. Free Sham Wows - Wow! Here’s a perfect way to try them for free. Take a quick 5-minute survey about your cleaning products practices and you’ll get some 2 Sham Wows.
2. Natural 10 Beauty Nail Care Product – Write one email describing your nail problems and they’ll send a sample of the product they feel will best help you.
3. Home Made Simple Coupon Book – 6 Products, over $30 worth of coupons!
4. Lorax Activity Book – Join the Lorax and learn how you can help global warning with little changes at home and school.
One-Day Only Deal (Not a Freebie)
Walgreen’s 1 Day Only – July 31, 2009 Friends & Family 15% Off Coupon
Summer Islamic Reading Program Mommy Kick-Off Winner
Mubarak (Congratulations)
Umm Nassim of Islamic Unit Studies! You won for helping spread the word about our country’s 1st Annual Summer Islamic Reading Program. Umm Nassim posted about American Muslim Mom’s launch and our reading challenge, and we received the most referred visitors from her blog over the past few weeks. Jazaka Allahu Khayrun (May Allah bless you for your work and efforts).
Even before the launch of one our new site, she supported our efforts & became one of the first families to register her children. Also, she’s the only blogger we could find who actually posted a Summer Islamic Reading Challenge button right on the top of her sidebar. WOW! Again, JazakaAllahKhir for your hard work and support. 
Alhumdulilah (Praise be to Allah), Umm Nassim won The Beautiful Names by Saaleha Bhamjee donated by Muslim Writers Publishing + $10 Gift Certificate to Dar-us-Salam Islamic Bookstore
Please email us with your mailing address to we can send your book to you.
Kid’s Coloring “Design a Button” Contest
Unfortunately,we did not receive any entries, inshaAllah (God willing) everyone is busy reading their Islamic books 
Therefore, we are extending this contest until the end of the program, and inshaAllah the winning design will be used for next year’s 2nd Annual Summer Islamic Reading Challenge button!
Alhumdulilah (Praise be to Allah)
We have 27 children registered to read Islamic books during our debut reading program. While, we had some duplicate entries, and I thought we were over 50 already, alhumdulilah–this is a great start! My girls are excited to know that other families are choosing to read Islamic books in addition to all the Free Summer Reading Programs offered throughout the country.
Of our registrants, the youngest is 7-weeks old baby, and oldest is a 18 year-old. I’m so honored and proud that we reached children in all our age categories because we have fabulous prizes to share! But, of course, there’s nothing better than dedicating some extra leisure reading time with the family for the sake and pleasure of Allah (May He be Glorified).
Please continue spreading the word. With your help, I know we can reach 200 children, inshaAllah.
That’s it for now! Please comment below and share how your reading experiences are coming along.
Freebie Friday – Protect your family, Teach Babies to Read & Free Mommy Samples
- Islamic Books & Gift Certificate – Register & Read Prizes given out Wednesday, July 29th!
- Omaha Premium Steak Cookbook – Learn to cook steak like the pros.
- Guardian Report – Learn how to protect your most important asset – Your Family – Hmm…something we dont think about often.
- BrillBaby – Teach your Baby How to Read FREE eBook, Printable & How-To Guide - All printables fashcards are available here.
- Sample of Gain with Febreeze Freshness – Love Febreze…Now that its added in laundry detergent, it saves us a step
As always, if you have some Freebies to share today, please comment with the links below!
Media Search: American Muslim Hijab-wearing Teen for CNN.com
[UPDATE: Please email me your full name, age, age when you started wearing a hijab, city/town and state, phone number, and other interesting family details or personal stories, inshaAllah, God willing.] Please contact me as soon as possible if you are a mom of a Muslim teenager living in America who wears a hijab, you are a Muslim teen wearing a hijab in America, or if you know of a teen ready to share her experiences. I’m trying to help a colleague at Turner.com (A Times Warner Company) find a teen willing to she her [ "our" ] perspective of why a Muslim American teenager would dress modestly and cover her hair while living here in America. According to his resources,
Outsiders may see the hijab (head covering worn by Muslim women) as a symbol of female oppression. Why, they may wonder, would a young woman in the U.S. embrace oppression by wearing a hijab?”
Rather than hesitate and not allow your daughter (or sons, if the opportunity arises) to talk to the media, I’d like to share my thougths on the issue:
We should embrace the opportunity to share our faith proudly, clarify misinformation openly, and strengthen our relationships with those willing to hear and spread the truth of and for the sake of Allah (May He be Glorified).
This is the breathe in which American Muslim Mom was launched. And, I pray that Allah (May He be Glorified) will bless us, as we all strengthen the eman (faith) of our children through our own confidence and pride in practicing our deen (way of life/religion), while at the same time teaching others (non-Muslims) in the process. Ameen.
I tried for years to keep my little darlings away from the media to keep my personal life separate from my professional life, while protecting their privacy at the same time. But, that ended when I started working for an Islamic insitution, and our girls had their opportunity to speak to the media themselves.
Then, when a colleague contacted me regarding featuring my daughter and her award-winning invention for Muslims by herself, we jumped at the opportunity. They did not contact me because it was an Islamic invention, but because her invention already had a prototype and for her inspiring young age.
We thank Allah (May He be Glorified) continuously that her unique invention continues to gain this kind of exposure, and that she was/is able to articulate the practice of Islam so well in many arenas predominantly to non-Muslims. Simply by inventing and designing her useful and necessary Muslim on the Go, Portable Prayer Pack, she’s able to make dawaa (introductions and/or the spreading of Islam), mashaAllah (Allah has willed).
Subhanallah, Glory be to Allah, the innocence, confidence and pride that shines from our young children is absolutely beautiful as well. While adults work so hard to handle media through professional training, as I did when I worked for the government–I quickly learned that if we just teach our children to talk with pride, honesty and confidence, Allah (May He be Glorified) will always be with them and their words will come more naturally and purely then we can ever train them for. Read these two articles and see how our, then, 7 and 8 year-old daughters answered the reporters’ questions.
Please contact me with the above details as soon as possible, the reporter has been searching for a teen Muslimah since last Thursday, July 16, 2009.
Freebie Friday – Kid’s Activity Guides, Back & Neck Pain Remedies & Divorce Resources
1. Canada’s Physical Activity Guides for Children & Youth
- Family Guide to Physical Activity for Children
- Teacher’s Guide to Physical Activity for Children
- ‘Gotta Move!’ Interactive Magazine for Children
- Physical Activity Chart & Activity Stickers
- Family Guide to Physical Activity for Youth (10-14 years of age)
- Teacher’s Guide to Physical Activity for Youth (10-14 years of age)
- Let’s Get Active!’ Interactive Magazine for Youth (10-14 years of age)
These books are great! Colorful, fun, interesting and interactive.
2. Back and Neck Pain Remedy DVD 
My personal favorite this week because my awful back and neck problems. InshaAllah (God willing) these remedies work well with my present physical therapy exercises. Alhumdulilah (Praise be to Allah), the exercises I’m doing right now, are the best ever since I started physical therapy 5 years ago.
3. July’s National Child-Centered Divorce Month Free eBooks and More!
And if they decide upon divorce, then Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #227)
And for divorced women, maintenance (should be provided) on reasonable (scale). This is a duty on Al-Muttaqun (the pious – See V.2:2). (Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #241)
But if they separate (by divorce), Allah will provide abundance for everyone of them from His Bounty. And Allah is Ever All-Sufficient for His creatures’ need, All-Wise. ( An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #130)
Thanks goes to Rosalind from ChildCenteredDivorce.com who shared this event that provides many necessary free resources for those handling divorce.
Some freebies include:
- Helping Children Transition Through Divorce Audio by Dr. Amy Botwinick an Dr. Christina Callebrese
- Child centered innovative parenting solutions to family problems eBook by Jayne A, Major, PHD
- Post-Divorce Parenting: Success Strategies for Doing it Right eBook, by Rosalind Sedacca, CCT
- The 10 Secrets to Coping with Your Divorce eBook, by Shelley Stile
- Divorce – How to Save Your Money, Your Sanity & Your Life ebook, by Susan Allan
- The Secret to a Friendly Divorce eBook, by Attornery J. Richard Kulerski
- Watch Out For These Landmines In Your Divorce! Audio by Cynthia Tiano, Esq.
- The Five Things You Need to Know Before You Sign the Dotted Line!Audio by Lisa C. Decker,CDFA
From the Page
In recognition of the challenges divorcing parents face, divorce professionals across the nation have teamed up to provide parents with free gifts and other bonuses related to divorce, parenting and transition issues
So, hop over here to grab them all.
1st Annual Summer Islamic Reading Challenge Kick-Off Event
A. Calling all Muslim Moms: Win The Beautiful Names by Saaleha Bhamjee + $10 Gift Certificate to Dar-us-Salam Islamic Bookstore
B. Calling all Muslim Youths & Young Adults: Win
1-day – 8 years: Grandma & Hijab-Ex Family Activity Book by Linda D. Delgado
9 – 14 years: Grandma & Hijab-Ex Family Activity Book by Linda D. Delgado
15 – 22 years: The Beautiful Names by Saaleha Bhamjee
Alhumdulilah (All praise is to Allah).
We give all praise and worship to Allah, and ask that He blesses us for any work that we do in favor of furthering our deen (way of life). We ask forgiveness if we intentionally by ignorance or unintentionally by mistake shall lead ourselves or others astray. Ameen.
Welcome to the new official home of American Muslim Mom – A family-oriented online magazine for Muslim Moms living in America, American Muslim Moms living aboard, or any Muslim mom living in the West or a non-Islamic state determined to raise Mu’min (true believers) despite any obstacles that Allah, the Almighty, may lay in front of us.
We proudly welcome our many non-Muslims family, friends, colleagues and homeschool buddies from around the world who are respectful of Islam, and stick around because they quickly find out that we’re really NOT that different after all.
Because, I believe that
- All American Moms love a bargain, and freebies are even better!
- All American Moms want to provide our children with the very best education possible, and homeschooling is only one option.
- All American Moms want safe, healthy, wholesome games, toys, learning aids, books and more, and we appreciate honest recommendations.
- All American Moms love family vacations and mini-weekend get-aways, so if we can find a deal, we love to share the tip.
- All American Moms want to community of acceptance, respect, honor and trust; so, when we share our recommendations and opinions, we know we’re being heard.
- All American Moms want security, peace, happiness, love, life and fulfillment beyond this life on Earth, and
- All Muslim Moms, our belief is “La illaha illallah, Muhammadan Rasullaha” (There is only one God, God, and Muhammad is His (last) Messenger)–the first part being widely accept by most Moms regardless of religion.
So, we have a lot more in common than not.
To help spread the word of our new and improved online presence and help promote our country’s very 1st Annual Summer Islamic Reading Challenge, we holding two Contests. Our goal is to have at least 250 children and young adults entering PreKindergarten to Senior Year of College read at least one Islamic book this summer and write an honest review recommending or not recommending this book to others.
Additionally, to run this campaign, the estimated cost is $1500. We’ve received approximately $300 in donated gifts thus far, but we still need approximately $1200 in gifts and aid (since we promised to mail gifts to every participant). Please help spread the love of reading Islamic books by supporting this program with whatever means possible. While this is a free program, estimated cost per child is $3. Learn how to Support Us here, or make a generous donation here.
A. Mommy’s Promotional Campaign!
The one Muslim Mom who helps promotes AmericanMuslimMom.com and the 1st Annual Summer Islamic Reading Challenge the most will receive all the gifts listed above. All promotional acts comment below by 12 midnight, EST, Wednesday, July 22 29, 2009.
Please be as creative as possible. Listed below are the rules, and suggested methods of promoted AmericanMuslimMom.com. All entries must be written in the comments area with links supporting your promotional activity below.
RULES*:
- Contest is open to U.S. residents only. If you accept USD in a paypal account, international clients may apply.
- You must leave one comment telling us why you think a Summer Islamic Reading Program is important for our Muslim youth today.
- Write about the Summer Reading Program on your blog (you must make sure a trackback is logged, otherwise make an additional comment below).
- Post our challenge button on your website and comment below.
- Add this site to your blogroll for a minimum of 6-weeks (we’ll check the status by Technorati, but please remind us via a comment below).
- Sign up for our RSS feed (here) ideally by email, then forward the email to your family and friends. Every one person on your list will count as one promotional act. Proof of numbers must be provided. [Preference for email subscription having the same email address on the comment that you have in the RSS feed].
- Sign up for our optin eNewsletter (here) to receive your free eReports, and make an email recommendation to your family and friends. Every one person on your list will count as one promotional act. Proof of numbers must be provided.
- Post about the challenge at an appropriate forum and comment below. You must be the first in the forum to announce the challenge, or amend the forum post with a positive recommendation of the challenge.
- Post about the challenge in yahoo group, gmail group, or other listserve and comment below.You must be the first in the group to announce the challenge, or amend the forum post with a positive recommendation of the challange.
- Tweet about this challenge and comment below.
- Submit the challenge to your favorite social media site. Every submission counts as one promotional act.
- Bookmark this challenge page and comment below.
- Submit the challenge to linkedin, facebook, etc.
- Introduce the challenge to your local masjid, Islamic school (fulltime, weekend or summer programs) by passing out the challenge flyer, and comment below.
- Post our flyer at local Muslim markets, restaurants, businesses, etc. and comment below.
- Help target Muslim Student Associations, Muslim Youth Associations, Girls and boys halaqah and Hifz programs, and comment below.
- Invite us for a written or audio interview. Contact us at contact[at]americanmuslimmom.com
- Make a virtual introduction to Muslim media outlets, such as magazines, newspapers, periodicals, blogs, etc. Each introduction counts as one promotional act. For example, make 10 virtual email introductions equals 10-promotional acts.
- Make a virtual introduction to Muslim companies, corporations, and potential sponsors or advertisers. Each introduction counts as one promotional act. Any introductions turns into a sponsor or advertisers, receives an additional promotional act. For example, make 10 virtual email introductions and 2 becomes sponsors, equals 12-promotional acts.
- Recommend appropriate blog carnivals, such as your favorite mommy blog carnivals, or Muslim blog carnivals. Every one blog carnival counts as 1 promotional act, if we participate in any of the blog carnivals you receive an additional promotional act.
- Recommend appropriate blog directories, for example mommy blog directories, or Muslim blog directories. Every one blog directory counts as 1 promotional act, if we participate in any of the blog directories you receive an additional promotional act.
- Offer to volunteer to help publicize the challenge by emailing contact[at]americanmuslimmom.com
- Make a monetary donation (click here), or donate a gift or prize by emailing contact[at]americanmuslimmom.com
- Offer other promotional suggestions not mentioned above by commenting below.
*ALL past promotional acts prior to today counts, as long as you update your post with our new URL AmericanMuslimMom.com, and your comment below.
B. Children’s Design a Button Contest
RULES:
- Open the coloring page here.
- Design a Button. Create & Enjoy!
- Scan and email on or before 12 midnight EST Wednesday, July 22 29, 2009 Friday, August 15, 2009 to contest[at]americanmulismmom.com
- Email must state: (a) Child’s full name. Only the first name and last initial will be publicized. (b) Age and DOB (date of birth).
- Age groups: 1-day – 8 years, 9 – 14 years, and 15 – 22 years.
Have fun!
Free CT Museums, Parks, Farms & Businesses
Thanks to Jim’s article in the New Haven Register, over 200 state attractions are free, low-cost or offering freebies to those participating in today’s CT’s 5th Annual Open House Day.
While we’re running a bit late for all the main activities, our goal is to make the Wadsworth Atheneum’s Juneteenth Family Day in Hartford, CT.
Anyone attending any of today’s Open House Day events, please share your experiences below. We love day trips or half-day trips
There were definitely some great deals for Early Risers! On a Saturday–we’re definitely NOT that kind of family.
If launching a brand-new website was so easy…
Then, EVERYONE would be doing it!
Subhanallah, Alhumdulilah, La illaha illallah, Muhammadan Rasululah.
God is perfect, Praise be to God, There is Only One God-God, and Muhammad is His Messenger.
I can NOT begin to explain HOW frustrated I am to be at the disposal of others andtechnology.
Being a non-techie prohibits me greatly, then add my busy mommy-life which prohibits me to even have time to learn myself…
Then, top it off with the “code broke our test site”…URGH!
Sabr/Patience…my last name: Sabra….Patience…
Delegation is one major key to success, peace, happiness…more time…more efficiency…
All these words have been repeated in all my prayers over and over again.
So, first I don’t understand how-to -do-it…then, it breaks…
Then, there’s shipping misunderstandings…
If anyone (which we know many have) visited the new domain, one can see things go up & down…since the “code was breaking the test site” I finally approved to use our new domain and start working directly on it.
Then, shaytan wants to make me crazy…with little whispering debates…”due to lack of time: do I post the contest here so I don’t upset the audience, and to assure that the program and our site is legit!?!? Do, I keep all our great new fresh content for the new site??
Forgive me God the Almighty.
But, I didn’t let shaytan infitrate my head…because this site is dedicated to Allah…I have MORE reason to keep Him and Only Him on top of my mind.
So, I’ve been leaving the computer! Hey, I can’t do anything anyways
I have over 2-dozen books to read and review with my girls–we each have 2-3 different books going on at the same time.
Even if we read for the “other” Summer Reading Programs, we also read Islamic books, Arabic elementary books and the Qur’an each day.
Our librarian was impressed by all the girls’ reading.
So I shared that we (all 5 of us, including hubby) sit down daily for 90-minutes to read–this is only English books (secular & Islamic).
These 90-minutes do not count Arabic books, Qur’an, or any independent reading they do on their own throughout the day and night.
Remember, we always have books in the car, at doctor’s appointments, and even in grocery lines now…not ever place has the convenient self-check-out lanes that we love.
Anyways, the librarian remarks, “you must not let your girls watch TV”.
We discussed another homeschool family that reads a lot too; and that we’re the only 2 families that read a lot. But, she says they don’t even have a TV in their house.
I continued, “Me!? No Way! The girls CAN’T watch TV until they read 90-minutes. They can’t even pay on the computer until they read.” [Again, this is our summer routine. But, because it's so relaxing, peaceful during this time, it may be our year-long new habit, inshaAllah/God willing].
So, we continued to discuss all the benefits (at least for us) for the TV. It’s an educational must-have in our homeschooling lives!
Anyways, we chuckled when she was rest assured that I’m not one of those “extreme moms”"…
So, I shared…”come one…you know me…oh, and by the way as Muslims, and Everything we do is in Moderation“.
She looked at me…and we sighed in silence…hmm….”that makes sense”.
Alhumdulilah, Praise be to God. Allah is always in all that we do.
But, unfortunately, I’m told often–instances like this “learning lesson” come into my dear sisters’ days–but, rarely do I hear them finishing the story of how they shared little food of thought, or words of wisdom when Allah gave them a perfect opportunity to make dawaa (introduction/education to Islam).
It’s these little opportunities to shed light of Islam that makes our deen beautiful and approachable.
I have so many stories of “approachablility” from non-Muslims when total strangers come up to me and my girls, asking us questions.
They continue to share that they never felt comfortable “approaching” other Muslim women (obvious in their hijab/head scarf) before.
Then, they just felt like we would definitely answer their questions.
Subhanallah/God works in perfect ways.
I can literally say this has happened almost 50-60 times in the past 4 years of wearing a hijab.
Alhumdulilah/Praise be to God. Every single time we were welcomed with geniune interest, sincere desire, and the most-kind curiosity to learn more about who we are and what we believe.
So, I’m curious, since I have not heard many positive stories, PLEASE share any of your positive stories below:
- Sharing Islam openly in a daily conversation such as mine above with our librarian, or
- Non-Muslim stranger(s) just walking up to you (with OR without your kids) interested in finding out more about Islam.
Tomorrow, inshaAllah (God willing)…
We’re ever-so-close to launching the new and permanent home of AmericanMuslimMom.com and the 1st Annual Summer Islamic Reading Challenge…please make du’a for us.
Looking for Coupons?
Now that we know we can save money with coupons , we need to be able to find them.
[WARNING: This coupon saving series is made for Coupon Newbies, like me. So, if you are a Strategic Shopping Expert, please share your tips and advice. I'm just starting to learn the lingo and habits to Intelligent Shopping.]
- There are the obvious places that coupons hang out, but you may not be aware of some other places you can get coupons. So, compiled are some hidden treasures below. The most likely place to find money saving coupons is the Sunday newspaper. On Sunday, the newspaper is full of store circulars and coupons for products you use all the time and new items that you can try for next to nothing. This is the first place that everyone looks.
- Manufacturers also offer printable coupons online. These coupons have barcodes and can be printed off of your printer and used in the store they pertain to. Most people don’t think about these coupons but they save you lots of money. For example, you can find Printable Grocery Coupons at Coupon Mom.com, and Ocean State Job Lot has great exclusive internet coupons each week.
- Have you ever received emails with links to recipes like Betty Crocker? You can unsubscribe to these emails whenever you like, but give them a try. (Registration required). Not only do you find interesting recipes but also offers for coupons. Simply agree to receive new offers and your emailbox will be full of coupons for cake mix, pancake mix, free trial size lotions, and other toiletries. I use one email address just for these offers. One daughter enjoys screening it for us daily .
- Printable coupons are also available on websites. Try sites like www.coolsavings.com and www.allprintablecoupons.com. You can search by category or brand name to find coupons that fit your needs. Click on the coupons that you want and then print them out.
- If you belong to survey sites, you know that you can make extra money by offering your opinion. Some survey sites also offer points for taking advantage of their offers through links on their sites. On MyPoints.com, one of these discount links leads to printable grocery coupons. Every coupon that you redeem at the store earns you points towards gift card rewards when you reach a certain points level.
- Don’t neglect all those magazines you buy. While you are reading the articles and looking at the pictures, take a glance over at the advertising pages. Many advertisers include a coupon along with their ads to entice customers to buy their product. Some types of coupons offered can include, Buy One, Get One Free or up to $1.00 or more off of a starter pack for air freshener or a new mechanical mop. If you ignore them, you’ll be throwing away money.
- Every few months, a new yellow pages-type phone directory is usually thrown at your driveway. While we use the books for our bonfires, I sieve through all the back pages usually labeled “coupon section”.
- Look for displays at the front of your grocery store. Some grocery stores have coupon bins and bulletin boards where customers can drop off coupons that they don’t need in case someone else can use them. There could be a coupon worth using in there if you take the time to look.
Coupons are a valuable asset to Strategic Shoppers trying to save money on all of their goods and services.So, get in the habit of looking for a coupon deal everywhere so you don’t miss out on great savings.
