Fox61 Morning News – Mommy Blogger Shares Back to School Tips…Not Religion
Fox61 News anchor, Rebecca Stewart’s article School Tops List Of Kids’ Worries in today’s Hartford Courant, prompted her to share her top tips to help with Back to School Jitters in today’s Mommy Minutes:
This “Mommy Minutes” segment was a perfect transition for anchor/reporter Sarah French to introduce me as a CT author and mom blogger with tips to help make the transition from the flexibility and fun or family vacations to the classroom setting a better one.
Due to the breaking news of the California wildfires, we we cut off and I wasn’t able to share the Rand McNally Boredom Breakers car game series. So, here’s our review, if you missed it earlier this week.
I really enjoyed my time with Sarah French. But, our time right before our interview was absolutely insane. We were rushing during a commercial break updating my intro, putting on microphones and trying to find the producer all while hearing people yelling 2-minute countdown…30-seconds, etc.
The Producer informed me in a rush, that I was not aloud to bring up my association to American Muslim Mom blog, although I’d be introduced as a mommy blogger. She kept stressing that I can’t discuss religion, and the title of my website alone denotes religion and the network can’t promote it.
But, I informed her that I’m not a part of any other mom blog. I even asked if they found my Empower Women Now for women entrepreneurs…but, she said no, it’s something else.
Anyways, I didn’t have the number of my publicist, to find out which blog I was supposedly “a part” of. Knowing my introductions to the products and DKCNews was from RoleMommy, I mentioned it to the producer when she was rushing by and she said ‘yes, that’s it’.
The problem (as I anticipated) happened when I sat in the studio, with lights and camera on us. Their own anchor, Sarah French, told me she’ll introduce me and give me an opportunity to talk about any thing I wanted about my mommy blog. She said to tell her where my tips can be found, etc.
I was confused yet again.
She showed me what the TelePrompter wrote as my introduction.
So, we began to rush, change and even update misprints in her notes, while looking for the producer. Then, finally we heard a staff person yell,
“she said, she can’t say anything about American Muslim Mom”.
So, in 3-2-1…I offered to go right into my 3 tips instead of having an intro [we're on the air]
- Making more family fun day trips with your kids for free,
- Playing educational car games, and
- Playing free educational online games.
Now, there was nothing religious about our pitch to be a mommy blogger who has tips to help transition kids back to school.
Nonetheless, here are some positive thoughts to share:
- I’m happy about the wonderful relationships I built with RoleMommy and DKCNews because of this opportunity.
- I liked being called a “Mommy Blogger” to show that we are educated professionals, and do have a purpose to educate and share wonderful tips and resources on and offline.
- I’m proud to be a Muslim Mom who blogs, and has newsworthy information to share beyond “promoting” any “assumed” religious message.
- Being on Fox61 News with a hijab was great! I’ve been on TV and the news many times in my previous careers (real estate, public health, and as an entrepreneur), all prior to my covering for the sake of Allah (may He be Glorified).
- By far, this is the best title and role ever: Being a Muslim Mom (my life) Blogger (my new growing passion)!
While there was a ton of confusion surrounding the minutes before the interview, I believe Sarah and I did very well in sharing our main points of back to school tips–which had nothing to do with religion in the first place.
It’s obvious that I was excited & happy to share my tips. I wasn’t even nervous–actually, it was painfully funny.
Regardless, all the chaos prior to going on the air may have been the culprit to my head bee-booping happily throughout the interview. I know I’m an animated speaker, but have I always been a head bopper, too!? Leaving today with a laugh! 
I would LOVE to hear your thoughts and input. Please comment below.
Follow-up Interview Tips (with available links) available here.
Want to Live Debt-Free? Then, Watch These Seven Expenses
The Holy Qur’an reveals a dozen times the topic of Riba (usury), such as
Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners. ( Surah Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #276)
The Tafsir (meaning & understanding of the Holy Qur’an) states
[278-281] O Believers, fear Allah and give up that interest which is still due to you, if you are true Believers; but if you do not do so, then you are warned of the declaration of war against you by Allah and His Messenger.323 If, however, you repent even now (and forego interest), you are entitled to your principal; do no wrong, and no wrong will be done to you. If your debtor be in straitened circumstances, give him time till his monetary condition becomes better. But if you remit the debt by way of charity, it would be better for you, if you only knew it.324 Guard against the disgrace and misery of the bay when you shall return to Allah: there everyone shall be paid in full, for the good or evil one has earned and none shall be wronged.
Other ayats include,
O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from Riba (usury) (from now onward), if you are (really) believers. (Surah Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #278)
O you who believe! Eat not Riba (usury) doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful. ( Surah Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #130)
Therefore, it is crucial to reach a a debt-free life as quickly as possible.
7 Expenses That Are Keeping You in Debt
by Yahoo Finance, written by Erin Joyce of Investopedia.com
- Not Knowing Your Limits
While bank accounts can charge you an overdraft fee for spending beyond your balance, credit cards will charge over-the-limit fees, late fees and increase your interest.
Tip: sign up for email alerts in which they can show irregular usage of your accounts, and send monthly ebills to keep you on-track.
- Fees, Fees, Fees
Consolidate as many of your cards as possible. Keep bank accounts and credit cards to an absolutely minimum. Eliminating cards eliminates unnecessary fees.
- Paying the Minimum
Paying minimum fees will never get your debt paid off. By doing so, one is more inclined to using one’s credit line more often as well. As Muslims, we should only be using the “charge card” philosophy in which you pay ALL debts in full each and every month, so you do not carry over a debt nor charged interest.
Ideally, using credit and charge cards should be eliminated from your spending habits. At the very least, try hard to wean out of their usage.
- Credit Card Cash Advances
Using credit card cash advance should never be an option, even in cases of emergency. Speaking openly with family and friends for assistance during difficult times is preferred than resorting to ribaa (usury).
- Payday Loans
As the article states, this unregulated industry is the most dangerous and costly option if you’re trying to acheive a debt-free lifestyle, and is not recommended at all.
- Not Negotiating
This action is probably the single-best investment of your time, when trying to gain debt-freedom. A few confident and educated phone calls can save you a good amount of money, and prove to you that you DO have control over your own money.
- Ignorance Is NOT Bliss
Erin closes her article perfectly,
Debt may seem like a life sentence, but it doesn’t have to be. The number one tip for maintaining financial health is awareness. Be aware of your money and where it goes each month, and be aware of the options available to you. There are easy ways to help alleviate the stress on your finances and move from red to black, and the rewards are more than just monetary.
We’d love to hear your tips, thoughts, woes and/or worries to trying to acheive debt-free living. Please share below.
Habitat Heroes Saving the Planet One Game At A Time – Review
Habitat Heroes – Saving the Planet One Game at a Time
Get your little ones into environmental conservation and learning about new cultures! Kids can travel the globe, learn more about environmental causes and new cultures by using their imagination and the click of the mouse. HabitatHeroes.com, the first online social networking site for young eco-warriors includes games that teach children about endangered species, the environment, healthy eating, and cultures around the world.
The ideal age group is 5 – 8 years old as tested by our daughters ages 9, 8 and 6 years old and discussed with other moms.
- Registration is free.
- When you login, you pick the Server to get to all the games. The first one is “Earth”. After nearly 2 weeks, the girls are still in “Earth”, and the below reviews are based on their experience thus far.
- When you play a game, you earn CC (Creature Cash) which is money you can use to buy food, clothes, and furniture.
- Every day there raffles in which a certain amount of CC is deposited into your account.
- After you completed a full game, you can also win furniture and clothes which is similar to WebKinz.com, but you don’t need a code to get in, and the idea of Habitat Heroes is to learn while you play.
Please note: our daughters are world-travelers who have been homeschooled since birth. By visiting 2nd an 3rd world countries, their first-hand experience with water and food conservation, knowledge of animal rights and their existence, and exposure to multiple cultures, languages, clothing, religions, etc. is not typical to other American children aged 6, 8 and 9 year-old. The girls said that they learned about all the endangered animals taught on this site simply by visiting museums and previous internet research available for free. Our girls on the mission to find “Fun Facts” that they do not know…and haven’t found any yet. Please read their reviews with this in mind.
Over all, our 6 and 8 year old daughters enjoy playing the games immensely, and ask to play them often. The colors, characters and sound effects are awesome.
Habitat Heroes Review from our 6 year old:
The games I like best are:
- “The Bully”. He runs around the school and turns on the lights, runs the water in the bathroom, and turns on the computers. The goal is to turn everything back off.
- “School” has three kids (one little kid who’s about 4 years old, and two older kids about 6 years old). They make a tube from a water pump in school. Some local gardeners who wait at the end of the tube to fill their buckles so they can water their garden.
- There’s a gardening game that I get to plant peppers, onions, pumpkins and tomatoes which I like to play. I have to water the plants not too much and not too little or else they’ll die.
- While the games are fun, I already knew about the lessons taught in these three games.
Habitat Heroes Review from our 8 year old:
- I like the “Rhino Attack” game in India because I can help the rhinos from the people who try to take away their horns. I am a “truck”, and then I “net” (catch) the bad people. I already knew that people use the rhinos’ horns to make swords.
- In China, there’s a place where you type in your birthday, and they tell you which animal you are. I didn’t know which animal I was, so this was a fun activity.
- I like “School” too, because I like to help people with their gardens and I love taking care of my gardens. It’s fun putting the tubes together. Once you put the tubes together right, they share you a a new fact; such as how much water Americans use. Although its a cool feature, I already knew all the facts they share about water.
- I like the game called “Shanti’s Sari Salon” in India because it is a dress up game. I like dressing up the girls, teens and women; then, picking where they will go.
We’re wondering if one of the optional backgrounds is a masjid (mosque), because the building has a moon and a star on top of it. Since there are masjids and Muslims in India, we believe it is one. While Muslim Indian women also wear Sari dresses, they cover their stomachs and arms completely; whereas the non-Muslims show their tummies and wear short sleeves. Therefore, we recommend that either the selection of clothes are expanded to be appropriate for the background they choose, or the background should be eliminated or adjusted without the moon/star symbol. We recommend this because we should not mislead, misguide anyone, especially children, about global cultures.
Habitat Heroes Review from our 9 year old:
- I think the games are very easy and the lessons learned are for much younger children.
- Recommendation: Since some kids may just want to gain as many CCs as possible to buy more things, he/she may click around the website just to find CCs, without reading the important “Fun Fact” along with it. To get the most educational value from this site, parents should make sure that their children are reading and understanding each “Fun Facts” that is associated with the newly found CCs.
A special thank you to RoleMommy for introducing this site to us, and DKC for their marketing assistance.
We’d love to hear your experiences with this site. Please share below!
I shared my support for HabitatHeroes.com on Fox 61 News too. Watch below:
All the links (and more) shared in my video are available here, and my commentary of my experience with Fox 61 News here.
Freebie Friday – Kitchen Kids Cookbook, Bruise Relief Cream, Horse Safety DVD
3. Free Fiber One Samples + $5 coupons
4. Horse Safety First – How to Become Your Horse’s Best Friend – With Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard. With 11 chapters ranging from Horse Psychology to Rules for the Trail and Arena, this 50-minute DVD will help you learn the basics of being safe around your horse.
5. Free Handsoap by Flic Spa Salon (offer is valid while supplies last)
Parents’ Role to Assure Children Get the Most Out of Ramadan
One of our most favorite Islamic sites offering daily fatwaa, shared a beautiful fatwaa about the parents roles in assuring that children gain the most out of our blessed month of Ramadan. We highly recommend that you subscribe to their RSS feed for you and your children’s spiritual growth and well-being as Shaykh Muhammad addresses current issues each day.
The Family and Ramadaan
I am the head of a household, and now Ramadaan is coming. How should I take care of my family and teach them during this blessed month?
Praise be to Allaah.
It is one of the blessings of Allaah to the Muslim that He enables him to fast in Ramadaan and to spend its nights in prayer. It is a month in which good deeds are multiplied and people are raised in status, when Allaah frees some people from the Fire. So the Muslim should strive to make the most of this month and the goodness it brings; he should hasten to spend his life in worship. How many people have been deprived of this month because of sickness, death or misguidance.
The Muslim must make the most of his time during this month; he has an unavoidable duty towards his children, to raise them well and bring them up properly, to urge them to do all kinds of goodness and make them get used to that – because the child will grow up in the manner to which his father makes him get accustomed.
During these blessed days, the father and mother have a role to play in making the most of this time, and we can offer parents the following advice:
1 – Checking on the children’s fasting and encouraging those who fall short in this regard.
2– Reminding them about the real nature of fasting, and that it is not just giving up food and drink, but it is a means of attaining taqwa (piety), and that it is an opportunity for sins to be forgiven and expiated.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ascended the minbar and said: “Ameen, Ameen, Ameen.” It was said to him, “O Messenger of Allaah, why did you do that?” He said, “Jibreel said to me, ‘May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person who Ramadaan comes and his sins are not forgiven,’ and I said, ‘Ameen’. Then he said, ‘May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person who lives to see his parents grow old, one or both of them, but he does not enter Paradise,’ and I said, ‘Ameen’. Then he said, ‘May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person in whose presence you are mentioned and he does not send blessings upon you,’ and I said, ‘Ameen.’”
Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah, 1888; al-Tirmidhi, 3545; Ahmad, 7444; Ibn Hibbaan, 908. See Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3501.
3 – Teaching them the etiquette and rulings on eating, such as eating with the right hand from what is directly in front of them; reminding them that extravagance is haraam and is harmful to the body.
4 – Not letting them spend too long on eating iftaar so that they miss praying Maghrib in congregation.
5 – Reminding them about the situation of the poor and destitute who cannot find even a mouthful of food to quench the fires of hunger; reminding them of the situation of those who have migrated or are fighting in jihad for the sake of Allaah in all places.
6 – These gatherings offer an opportunity to bring relatives together and uphold the ties of kinship. This custom still exists in some countries, and it is an opportunity to reconcile and mend broken ties between relatives.
7 – Helping the mother to prepare the food, and to clean up and keep the food fit for eating.
8 – Reminding them to pray qiyaam (taraweeh) and to prepare for it by not eating too much and to get ready in time to perform the prayer in the mosque.
9 – With regard to suhoor, the parents should remind the family of the barakah (blessing) of suhoor and that it gives a person the strength to fast.
10 – Allowing enough time before Fajr prayer so that those who have not prayed Witr may do so, and so that those who have delayed their prayer until the end of the night may pray, and so that each person may make du’aa’ to his Lord as he wishes.
11 – Paying attention to praying Fajr on time in congregation in the mosque, for those who are required to do so. We have seen many people who wake up at the end of the night to eat, then they go back to bed and neglect Fajr prayer.
12 – It was the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the last ten days of Ramadaan to stay up at night and wake his family. This indicates that the family should pay attention to making the most of this blessed time in doing things that are pleasing to Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted. So the husband should wake his wife and children to do that which will bring them closer to their Lord.
13 – There may be small children in the house who need to be encouraged to fast, so the father should urge them to get up for suhoor, and encourage them to fast by praising them and giving a reward to the one who fasts the whole month or half of it, and so on.
It was narrated that al-Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwidh said: On the morning of ‘Ashoora’ the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent word to the villages of the Ansaar saying, “Whoever started out not fasting, let him not eat for the rest of the day, and whoever started the day fasting, let him fast.” She said: We used to fast and make our children fast, [and take them to the mosques] and make toys for them out of wool, then if one of them cried for food we would give him that toy until iftaar.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1859; Muslim, 1136 – the words in square brackets were narrated by Muslim.
Al-Nawawi said:
This hadeeth shows that we should train children to do acts of worship and get them used to that, but they are not accountable. Al-Qaadi said: It was narrated from ‘Urwah that when they are able to fast it becomes obligatory upon them. This is a mistake which is disproven by the saheeh hadeeth, “The Pen is lifted from three: from the child until he reaches adolescence…” And Allaah knows best.
Sharh Muslim, 8/14
14 – If possible, the father and mother should take the family for ‘Umrah in Ramadaan, and that is something that will benefit them in the Hereafter,, themselves and their family, for ‘Umrah during Ramadaan has the same reward as Hajj. It is better to go at the beginning of Ramadaan so as to avoid the crowds.
15 – The husband should not overburden his wife with more than she can bear of having to prepare food and sweets. Many people take this month to prepare fancy foods and drinks, and they go extremes in that. This detracts from the sweetness of this month and goes against the reason for fasting, which is to attain piety.
16 – The month of Ramadaan is the month of the Qur’aan, so we suggest that each family gets together to read Qur’aan. The father should teach his family to recite Qur’aan and help them to understand the meanings of the verses. In the same gathering they may also read a book about the rulings and etiquette of fasting. Allaah has enabled many scholars and seekers of knowledge to write books which can be used for preaching and teaching during Ramadaan; the books are divided into thirty parts, so one topic can be read each day, and this will benefit everyone.
17 – They should be encouraged to spend and check on their neighbours and the needy.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was the most generous of people, and he was at his most generous during Ramadaan when Jibreel met him. He would meet him each night and revise the Qur’aan with him. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was more generous than the blowing wind.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6; Muslim, 2308.
18 – The parents should prevent their families and children from staying up late at night and wasting their time in things that are of no benefit, let alone things that are haraam. For the devils among mankind are more active in this month in promoting evil things and acts of immorality to those who are fasting, during the nights of Ramadaan and during the days.
19 – They should remember the family’s meeting in Allaah’s Paradise in the Hereafter, and the great joy of meeting there under the shade of His throne. These blessed gatherings in this world and coming together to obey Allaah by seeking knowledge, fasting and praying are only the means that lead to attaining that happiness.
25 FREE Family-Fun Educational Day-Trips in CT
CTVisit.com was intregral in compiling this list. Thanks!
Break the Back-to-School Blues by promising a Family-Fun Day-Trip after school or during the weekends. Compiled is a list of 25 (+3 Bonus) area museums, farms and/or orchards that all offer free admissions (some select times & dates). Enjoy exploring CT, and please share your experiences below!
Free Admissions in CT All the Time
1. Eli Whitney
Wednesday–Friday: 12–5pm
Saturday: 10am–3pm
Sunday: 12–5pm
2. Submarine Force Library & Museum & Historic Ship Nautilus
Wednesday through Friday, 10 am – 4 pm.
Closed Saturday through Tuesday.
*Donations are appreciated.
3. Connecticut State Museum of Natural History
Wednesday through Friday, 10 am – 4 pm.
Closed Saturday through Tuesday.
*Donations are appreciated.
Route 7, Cornwall Bridge, CT
800-501-6545
Open year round on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am until 5:00 pm. Also open some week days throughout the year. Call for exact days and times.
5. Rocky Hill Historical Society
785 Old Main Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067
860-563-6704
info@rockyhillhistory.org
September through June: Wednesday through Friday 12 noon to 4 p.m. July through August: Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Museum will be accessible on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment to university classes and scheduled tours.
Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm. Sunday 12 noon- 5pm.
Tuesday–Saturday 10:00 am–5:00 pm, Sunday 1:00–6:00 pm
September through October: Thursday until 8:00 pm10. Norwalk Museum
Wednesday – Sunday from 1 pm – 5 pm
12. Jillson House Museum
627 Main Street
Willimantic, CT 06226
Phone: 860-456-2316
2nd and 3rd Weekend of every month.
1-4 pm
* This home was built in 1825 for a mill owner. The structure is made from stone taken locally from the banks of the Willimantic River. Exhibits include artifacts, antique furniture and local memorabilia.
13. Military Historians Museum
N. Main St.
Westbrook, CT 06498
Phone: 860-399-9460 Open: Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and by appointment.
* The largest collection of American military uniforms in the country. Unit crest insignia, vehicles from World War II Weasel to a Desert Storm truck, music room, research center.
14. Mystic River Historical Society Museum
74 High Street at Old New London Road
Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: 860-536-4779
Open: Mid-May-mid-October, Tuesday, 9 a.m.-noon; Wednesday-Thursday, 1-4 p.m. Archives building is open year-round
* Visitors to the museum can see two sites, the Portersville Academy (built in 1839) and the William A. Downes Archives Building. The Academy contains a recreated 1840’s school room and changing exhibits relating to Mystic history. The Archives Building contains a growing collection of artifacts, printed material, maps and photographs.
15. New England Center for Contemporary Art
7 Putnam Place
Brooklyn, CT 06234
Phone: 860-774-8899
Open: Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
* Three-story late Colonial converted to museum of 20th-century modern art, contemporary Chinese art. Changing exhibits, gift shop.
16. Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry
Weaver Road (off Route 44)
Storrs, CT 06269
Phone: 860-486-4605
Open: Late April-early November,Friday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
* Collection of more than 2,000 puppets from the world over. Each exhibition features a different view of the variety of styles and periods in puppetry. Admission: Free; donations accepted.
17. Brayton Grist Mill and Marcy Blacksmith Museum
Route 44
Pomfret, CT 06258
Phone: 860-928-0304
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day, Sundays 2-5 p.m.
* This fine example of a one-man mill operation of the 1890’s has original milling equipment. The tool exhibit represents the craft of three generations of blacksmiths. Maintained by the Pomfret Historical Society. Admission: Free; donations welcome.
18. Chaplin Museum
1 Chaplin Street
Chaplin, CT 06235
Phone: 860-455-9209
Open: Mid-July–September 30, Sundays, 1-4 p.m.
* This one room museum features historic memorabilia and local artifacts. Themed exhibits are changed every year. Admission: free.
Free CT Farms & Orchards
483 Matson Hill Road, South Glastonbury, CT 06073
Phone: 860-633-2789
20. Ellsworth Farm
461 Cornwall Bridge Road, Route 4, Sharon, Connecticut 06069
Phone: 860-364-0025
21. Lyman Orchards
Apple Barrel Hours: Open 7 days a week | Sept/Oct: 9am -7pm. | Remainder of year: 9am – 6pm.
Free Admission Days each Week
22. Ocean Beach Park
Kids Spray Park open 10:00-5:00 Always free.
Daily parking $14. Nights are cheaper, free on Monday night, but spray park is not opened at night.
23. New Britain Museum of American Art
Saturday admission from 10 a.m. to noon is free to the public.
24. The Custom House Maritime Museum
Free admissions every Sunday.
25. Yale Peabody Museum
Free admissions on Thursday afternoons from 2:00 to 5:00 pm during the months of September to June.
Bonus: Free Admission Days each Month
Free admission on the first Sunday of every month.
27. Stepping Stones Museum
Free admission on the last Thursday of every month.
28. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum
Free admissions the last Saturday of every month.
We’d love to keep growing this resource list. So, if you know other places worth listing, please comment below! Share your reviews & experiences with us too.
Boredom Breakers Story Starters by Rand McNally
As a not-at-home-school family always on the road, locally or internationally, we never find ourselves “bored” while in the car. We learned to create new games, make-up stories, read and write neatly while speeding down the awesome Autobahn in Germany or catch-up on our hifz (Qur’an memorization) while being stuck in traffic in CT’s worse I-91/I-95 bottleneck. So while we’re not on the look-out for “Breaking the Boredom”, we do actively seek new ways to keep our car rides excited. Thanks to RoleMommy we had the opportunity to review Rand McNally’s Story Starters (Boredom Breaker)
There are 5 different types of games in Rand McNally’s Boredom Breaker “Story Starters” CD and book pack.
The first set, called “Mystery Mastery” has a main character, Detective “Pig-Eater” pronounced in French “pi-gi-aa-ter”. He always keeps us laughing, because with that name, he’s definitely not a Muslim 
[Muslims eat halal, which prohibits pork and pork-products].
The wonderful, expressive, an funny voices and sound effects keep the girls awake and very mentally-active in the car.
- Our 9 year old listens carefully, and got most of the answers right in the first-time. A tricky one will force her to listen to the story and read the clues again.
- Our 8 year old listens carefully, and tries hard to add her input–often laughs or has her “ah-ha” moment when her older sister chimes in the answer.
- Our 6 year old just likes listening to the story. Ask her about any of the stories, she’ll recall them in detail; but when we start discussing what the mystery is, she doesn’t participate in the discussion much. But, she chimes in “I knew the answer!”
Our only negative feedback so far is that once we finish the “Mystery Mastery” stories, we’ll know all the answers. So, we’re taking our time listening to all the stories. The girls and I shared that we’ll definitely have to listen to these stories with Baba for longer trips, and/or listen to them with friends/families and see how far they get without us sharing the answers.
I know our littlest one would like to listen to them again, regardless.
Please note, we just “started” to listen to these Story Starters and enjoying them very much. We look forward to listening participating with the “What Happens Next?…” and “Fill in the Beep”, as I’m told that we’ll be able to enjoy these stories countless of times. Since we’re in the car so much, we’ll definitely get good use out of this CD car game. 
*Rand McNally developed four additional games based on extensive parent research. Moms across the country were clear about what they like – creative activities that make kids laugh and allow family members to learn more about one another – and what they don’t like – games with a lot of little pieces.
Additional Boredom Breakers Titles:
- Car Karaoke (Boredom Breaker)
- Car Game Countdown (Boredom Breaker)
- Travel Card Games (Boredom Breaker)
- Magnet Message Makers (Boredom Breaker)
At these low prices, we look forward to trying all them all!
Since we plan on posting updates as we slowly get through all the games (we’re not in any rush), we’d love to hear your experiences with any of Rand McNally’s Boredom Breaker car games too. Please comment below.
The Great Muslim Adventure Day – 6 Flags New Jersey
InshaAllah, September 21, 2009 Eid Prayer and Celebration. Confirmed Imam – Shaikh Yasir Qadhi. InshaAllah, we will attend this year–it’s predicted to be the largest single Eid prayer (or jummah prayer) in the entire U.S., with an estimated 25,000 brothers and sisters attending. Takbir, Allahu Akbar.
From the page:
Featuring:
- Congregational Prayers
- Drive-Thru Wild Safari Park
- Entire Theme Park & Rides
- Tiger and Dolphin Shows
- Ethnic Halal Foods
- Islamic Goods Vendors
- Camali and Kids Shows
- … And Much More
Anyone local? Are you planning to attend? I’d be open to host a quick Eid ice cream get-together with any American Muslim Mom community members. What do you think!? Please share below.
Siwak/Miswak: The Natural Mouth Freshener
Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah_! Our special guest, the Blessed Ramadan, is here. Here comes another opportunity for us all to revitalize our weak souls; an opportunity for us all to honor this guest of ours who comes only once in a year.
Staying healthy with an odorless mouth can be a challenge for most of us. The two common symptoms that are experienced during fasting are weakness and dry mouth. We feel weak and weary because our bodies have been deprived of food and fluid for many hours. So, what happens next? Our mouths become dry and emanate bad breath because of the presence of some bacteria which, as by-products, give out sulphides and ammonia which are the main causes of bad breath. So, how do we move up the scale by staying healthier and stronger while in the fasting mood? Well, let’s take a look at the benefits of siwak for our mouths and our bodies.
Benefits of siwak/miswak when used in moderation:
It polishes the teeth, prevents plaque, perfumes the breath, strengthens the gingival, clears the phlegm and the sight and prevents cavities. It also preserves the health of the stomach, clears the voice, helps the digestion process, helps make the speech clear and encourages one to recite the Qur’an, remember Allaah and pray. Siwak also fights sleepiness, pleases the Lord, delights the angels and increase the number of the good deeds (culled from “Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet,” page 280-282).
Al Bukhari narrated that the Prophet, salla llahu alayhe was salaam, said: “Siwak cleans the mouth and pleases the Lord.”
That does not mean that you should avoid using toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. The use of siwak is just a reminder for us all because of its immense benefits and more so, we would be upholding the sunnah of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad,salla llaahu alayhe was salaam.
In the Sahihain, it is narrated that the Prophet, salla llaahu alayhe was salam said: “If it was not for the fact that my nation would not be able to bear it, I would have ordered them to use siwak before every prayer.”
May Allaah give us all the ability to practice the sunnah accordingly, amin. May He bless this Ramadhan for us with tremendous rewards here and in the afterlife, and may He keep our mouths moist with the effects of the siwak, the natural mouth freshner while remembering Him at all times, Amin!
By Maryam Funmilayo
Jazaka Allahu Khayrun Sister Maryam, we appreciate your thorough and detailed article. We knew some of the benefits, but didn’t realize all the hidden blessings, subhanallah.
So, have you ever used a siwak/miswak before? Which word do you use? How did you feel the first time you used it? Remember the unique taste? Please share your experiences below. We love miswak, and we don’t have them often enough; but we’re trying hard this past year. Subhanallah, we just stocked up specifically for Ramadan, and enjoyed biting off the tips yesterday
Help Support Positive News Reporting of Muslims in America (Associated Press)
Special Note to David Grant: I enjoyed a motivating and reflexive conversation yesterday. Thank you for publishing an interesting article about Ramadan as practiced by Muslims here in America. I hope you’ll keep my cell phone number handy for future opportunities to work together!
Alhumdulilah (Praise to be to God), one 20-minute conversation with Associated Press’s David Grant of Detroit, turned into over 50 media placements in reputable media outlets, such as LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Yahoo News! Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah), this news coverage forced us to debut our “Press” page.
While we discussed much more than the 2 tiny lines shared in this story, the full article shares the fundamentals of fasting in Ramadan and shares an interesting perspective of one of our beloved pillars in Islam.
To support *good news* being reported about Muslims in America, we at American Muslim Mom graciously urge you to comment on individual articles, share the links via email and/or social networking or bookmarking sites, and/or even write letters to the editor thanking them for their time and efforts. If the media outlets see our concerted effort to thank them for their good reporting, rather than complaining about poor-media-images; inshaAllah, more wonderful opportunities may arise and bless us for working in the name and sake of Allah (May He be Glorified).
Linked below are a fraction of the articles published.We’ll keep updating the Press page as new articles are published, inshaAllah.
We’d love to hear your thoughts, please comment below as well.
August 21, 2009 As the holy month of Ramadan creeps into summer, US Muslims plan to stay up later, fast longer
August 20, 2009 Longer, Hotter Days Strain Islamic Holy Month
