Alhamdulillah, all praises are due to God. Internships…something I didn’t think I would delve my feet in until a few years into the future. But, subhanAllah, the opportunity came knocking on my door, or rather my e-mail inbox. I wasn’t prepared  for it, nor expecting it. And, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to take it on. Life’s timing, though, once again, glory be to God! I had just came out of my media lecture, one that featured a panel of three guest speakers, alumni of my school and potential major, who stressed not to pass up any opportunity one gets in college. Following my usual routine, I left class once dismissed and walked to the library to check my e-mail. I decided I had to dedicate myself to building my future and give this internship a shot.

SubhanAllah, effort goes a long way, and it feels so good. Gaining trust of people through digital means and building deep virtual friendships is priceless.

So, what did you do this summer?

Many of my friends are taking summer classes this year, while I am not, nor am I working full time at my retail job. Then people wonder , “What are you doing in the summer?” I am able to respond, “I am interning at American Muslim Mom, the #1 online ranked community for Muslim parents. I can work from the comfort of my own home, at my own pace, on my own time. I’m gaining experience in a field which I hope to pursue, God-willing, while supporting a website with strong Islamic priorities–something that has helped me grow spiritually as well. I am learning responsibility and making real deadlines. I interpret instructions, and follow them accordingly to complete tasks. I write blogposts, and love it enough to launch my own.”…Quite a long, passionate answer from someone they expected to say “ummm…nothing.”

This newly discovered enjoyment encourages me that I am stepping in the right direction with my major choice, InshaAllah, God-willing.

Moving on…

I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a more productive summer, Alhamdulillah. Interning at American Muslim Mom has been quite the learning, fun, and rewarding experience that I am not willing to part with yet.  With Ramadan practically here (written in late July), outstanding projects are coming to a close, and loose ends are being tied. Ramadan is a time for us to put more focus on our spiritual lives, InshaAllah, and with that we can reduce our work hours. Immediately following Ramadan, my second year of college begins, summer is over,  and it will be time again to hit the books.

…but loving where I’m at

But, I am not parting with American Muslim Mom just yet. A couple hours a week in my schedule will find themselves dedicated to AMM, InshaAllah. And even when I will need to move on from this internship, I know I will not have completely parted with it. It takes time to build bridges of friendship, love, genuine trust and care. Alhamdulillah, I think I have achieved that. That’s a sturdy, stable bridge. And it takes more than walking a few steps away from it to break it down.

Ponn: As tears trickle down my cheeks in reading this post, my cloudy eyes express my profound respect in Habeeba and her great talents and abilities, mashaAllah. Subhanallah, while Habeeba helped catapult the American Muslim Mom brand over the past 4-5 months, she has deeply touched me personally and spiritually. During some trying moments of business growth, Habeeba listened intently to my stubborn passionate will to only please Allah through my actions and written words; and although faced with opposition, with Allah’s will we prospered and grew. InshaAllah, our sturdy, stable bridge will withstand time with your contributions of sadaqah jariyah. May Allah bless Habeeba and her family handsomely in this dunya and akhira. Ameen.

An Intern’s Happy Ending to Summer 2011 is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Alhumdulilah, Praise be to God, American Muslim Mom continues to grow! Subhanallah, Glory be to God.

To enlighten

• Online Eid Gift Guide – Halal Shopping Made Easy Check out our intentions and please refer Muslim business owners or entrepreneurs for a referral fee of $5 (via paypal) for any approved advertiser.
  

To educate

Listen to my various online business tips in launching 3 websites in 2-weeks, and a 4th inshaAllah,  God willing, this week.

For example, having Ummah Design behind the American Muslim Mom brand, Eid Gift Guide & Kid Bloggers Club, subhanallah!

To empower you to action

• Publicity Spark – Do It Yourself Online PR
• Ponn Sabra – Network with me!
• Kid Bloggers Club – Come learn how kids and parents blog for fun, free stuff and profit! Relaunching VERY soon! Get your kids excited with us.

Special Thanks to our Sponsor

As shared in our show commercial, visit Muslim Toys and Dolls and say you were referred by American Muslim Mom to receive a free gift value at $9.95. Check out the owner’s unique creation: the Little Ponn Muslim doll–a large, soft, adorable hijabi doll named after yours truly, subhanallah, Glory be to God! Having never seen a doll like this before (and we’ve traveled in many Muslim and non-Muslim lands), it’s a must-have for any Muslim home. She even has Velcro removable clothes. She sits conveniently by my bedside, and wears my glasses for safe keeping. My girls and I hug her as often as we can. After all, no one is ever too old to squeeze a doll…let alone a Muslim one!

Always interested in your kind feedback and thoughts. Please comment below.

American Muslim Mom Podcast #10 is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Thanks to Broadcast Blogger, fellow Founding Member, Melissa Bastow of The Barrels of Blog Online Magazine invited my girls and I to share our “To Do List” for this summer for her June edition…and well, as suspected Summer always flies by taking away the whole month of June, even before you noticed, subhanallah, Glory be to God! Much of my family has been asking what we’ve been up to since we moved, and honestly our readers know more what’s going on, then my own family half the time. However, because we’ve been posting many “business” related things, I haven’t had the pleasure of sharing  how crazy busy we are in our own personal lives lately at all.

Running a Virtual “Lemonade Stand” as a Online Kid Business

So, when Melissa asked us what’s on my family’s To Do List This Summer–it felt kind of odd to share that my girls and I set big business milestones, deadlines, etc. But, hubby and I decided that we’ve been traveling SO much this past year, that we’re just going to stay home for the next few months and explore the Midwest locally. We actually have some big academic goals to reach (which we didn’t share in our list), because we’ve been so hands-on & exploring the world through travel, that we’re all craving to actually sit down, read, and learn with workbooks and possibly texts to supplement our online studies…which we rarely get to do (typically every few years, since we’re never stable to unpack our libraries long enough).

Anyways, our list was actually what they plan to do with Kid Bloggers Club, but we’ve actually been so busy doing many of the things listed simulateously, that we’ve fallen behind in sharing our wonderful discoveries thus far. The girls are loving the life as profitable entrepreneurs, as they’re enjoying the monetary benefit of working hard for themselves, budgeting their time, since studies come first and their business is a “side-business” and must be on-the-side…My demands.

So, let’s move on to

Our Summer To Do List Picture

In addition to writing our To Do List, we had to share one picture, so let me explain what the picture means to us.

• Laptops, computers, blogging, online education, Summer Reading Prgs online, their online business, etc.
• Horses – Western Riding, Volunteering at a Stables, preferably a Horse Rescue Center,
• The beautiful dainty flowers are in our rock-bed in our front yard,
• The gorgeous bottle was a specialty olive oil (re-purposing),
• The bracelet (arts & crafts) my girls made for me,
• That’s an awesome olive oil coffee cake, and our lovable nutmeg cookies, and
• Fresh Summer Berries.

We tried to capture the majority of our To Do List with this one picture, and we’re happy to report that we did everything on our To Do List Picture already! YeeHah & Yummmy!

So, What’s On Your Summer Family To Do List?

We’re truly excited about reaching our many Islamic goals (many were not captured on this list…you know how editorial space is with magazines, right?) Many of them coming out rather soon, before Ramadan, inshaAllah. And, since Ramadan is during the Summer–we’re not dreading the long days of fast (as some sadly are), but we’re all welcoming it, because it gives us extra daylight hours to do the many things we want to accomplish during our most glorious of months! And You?

Loving the Sunnah of Horses

Since horseback riding is one of the three physical activities that is Sunnah, we’ve always dreamed of owning and riding horses fluidly and confidently. While the East-Coast typically has English riding centers, once things got to the point where we had to decide to invest to continue, we knew English Riding isn’t necessary the methods of riding that was in accordance to the Sunnah, so we knew we had to make the opportunity to learn Western Riding.

Well, in one-week our lives have completely changed! We’re a block from our stables and let’s just say when their teacher’s horse Dakota’s Cloud nudge me for a hug, then cuddled securely and comfortably. I whispered out a little du’a, and as if he heard, he sighed in pure pleasure. And, the girls and their teacher said, “aww–he just wants to hug you” “aww…he wants your attention”.  I felt a whole new motherly love, mashaAllah!

Now, I know why girls and hubby love horses. Of course, I always did–but I was Mama at a distance, taking the cool pictures, cheering them on, motivating them to muck the stalls, encouraging them in my notorious, this-is-so-fun-to-clean-poop attitude, because it’s healthy and sanity for them, etc.

Like wow! Now, even the “Off” horses, I look them eye-to-eye, hum Qur’an into their ears and the nuzzling of horses is so powerful.

Tonight was no exception! We now officially met all the owners of all the horses, learning the difference between horses, their walks and temperment…and a 2-month old colt. I proudly mucked the stalls with them, as everyone amazed dressed head-to-toe in black hijab and dress, mashaAllah.

All the girls met so major milestones in Western Riding today; and I met the pleasure of what I always awe in pure delight whenever I expect only good things from practicing the Sunnah, but happily surprised when it FAR exceeds those expectations. Our stall-mate is a fiesty young gorgeous black Arabian horse (those used in the Battles of Badr & Uhud), and this little dude totally trusts and always walks over for my eye-to-eye Qur’anic hymns and hugs; and it gives me immense pleasure and pride (and ah-ha I-told-you-so there-was-a-reason-why) that my girls and I haven’t never really been cat or dog people…we’re not into pets, but we love and cater to farm animals (notice nothing domesticated)…and our pet, now and forever, inshaAllah, will be horses!

Let’s Motivate One Another to Reach Our Summer Family Goals

Please enlighten, empower and educate us, what’s on your list?

Comment below and let’s hold one another accountable for reaching these family milestones together, okay?

We have some private family goals to, that we keep dear to us, because we want to protect us from any jinn in even sharing our aspirations. But, if when we reach them, we’ll be happy to share the good news.

Do you have private family To Do List items? That’s a yes-no question…not a I-must-divulge question.

What Will You Be Doing This Summer? is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

John Kremer’s Open Horizon Book Marketing Blog pointed out Target.com’s Ready, Set Read website. 12 tips…but, stay posted, the website is sure to blossom.

I just completed the RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) Summer Reading Challenge for our 5 year old. Ages 5 and up, children must have read a certain amount of hours during the month of July.

RIF is an phenomenal website: there’s dozens of helpful tips, such as how to build a family library, and sections for kids, educators, parents, and much more

RIF sounds like a great resource center and community service.

BTW, the Dick and Jane hardcover 6-7 stories in one-book format, is perfect for Beginning Readers too. Each book is broken into themes and the reading level gets harder from the beginning to the end. So, our eldest was able to read the first couple of stories, and was so proud of herself!

Dick and Jane series IS the classic and best beginning reader book series, rated by all 4 Sabra Girls. We all love the lovable stories, beautiful illustrations, family themes, and most of all feeling a sense of accomplishment for having read more than “the boring site words”.

Ready, Set, Read! Target & RIF. is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

So, everyone rants and raves about the Bob Books, by Bobby Lynn Maslen , but the girls and I are not taking too well to them.

So, through trail and error…here’s what we came up with as our recommended starting points for Beginning Readers.

Please share your opinions and recommendations in the comments section below…we’re open to trying everything and anything.

Please keep in mind, our girls are now 2, 4 and 5 years old, they each have different attention spans, interests and learning styles…so, since we just logged in our 30th hour of reading today at the library (and we just started July 5th) we’re avid readers at this house.

1. Dora the Explorer Phonics: 12 Book Reading Program They’re all into Dora…the familiar pictures, colors and themes keep our attention and we’re picking up words very easily.

2. A recommendation for Mem Fox, such as ‘Time for Bed’, A children’s author and literacy author….we got 3 of her books…and they are Gggggreatttt! I ordered a half-dozen more at the library. She’s called the”read-aloud lady”….promoting repetitive words and reading aloud from birth.

One warning: I read her books first, becuase a couple of them have some pages that I wouldn’t want my girls to read or even “joke” about.

For example, in her Boo to a Goose there’s a page where she says, I would run around with my pants down, but I wouldn’t say “boo” to a goose. Now, I wouldn’t want my girls to do that…not even to be “cute”.

We love Harriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild! becuase this is the kind of relationship I have with our preschooler.

3. I just came across Cathryn Falwell , by our youngest pulling off “P.J. & Puppy” about potty training by herself. I immediately ordered over a dozen of her books at the library lat night. We got “Nicky Loves Daddy”….she illustrates for her own books, and all 3 girls are really proud of themselves as they relate to her writing style, repetitive words and phrases, and her illustrations are so lovely.

I read she resides in my home state capitol of Hartford, CT, with her husband, 2 sons and their dog who inspired her to write “P.J. & Puppy”.

Ohhh….do I miss home. Being a native to my beloved Hartford (my home during grad school and when I was the City’s Deputy Health Director)…hits my heart passionately.

Geez…I’m such a “girl”!

4. Last but not least…the imfamous Dick and Jane books. The library doesn’t carry the little book series (like the Bob Books), only the hard cover older book editions…so I guess I’ll have to ultimately buy the 2 12-book series for $9.99 (with 20% educator’s discount)…but it’ll be well-worth the investment.

Our eldest and I read Books 1-3 at Barnes & Noble today…and she actually READ Book 4…all by herself. I pointed to the earlier books, showing her the pictures and themes to remember the previous words she just learned…but, honestly she READ Book 4 by herself!

Well, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

So, these series and authors are what we’re sticking with for awhile.

Oopps. (5) I’m reading American Girls (TM) books to them…just as FTI (For Their Information).

[Disclosure: we read anything and everything that crosses our path (such as newspapers, magazines, junk mail, etc. Therefore, these recommendations are for phonics, vocabulary building, and our reading lessons. I wholeheartedly agree with Mem Fox when she promotes reading aloud to children (babies) as much as possible.]

Happy Reading!

Recommendations for Beginning Readers is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

As I absolutely love blogging…I had to find a whole new voice, direction, and focus for us, as we make our “official” first-year’s journey through homeschooling here in the state of Ohio. ..Toledo to be more specific.

As I see huge difference in my raising girls than I would if I had boys…this changed our sub-title to “It’s a Girl-Thang! Homeschooling girls: tips, tools & resources…from birth and beyond (on a shoestring budget).”

The truth be told: my husband and I have been homeschooling our girls the moment they were born, and I don’t envision us stopping any time soon…that’s how I came with “from birth and beyond”.

Starting anew, will allow me to write naturally, and I’ll feel more comfortable that I have targeted opinions, tips, tools and resources for those looking for girl-thangs!

Don’t get me wrong…we plan on raising very worldly girls, so I will not be writing “girlY-things” per se.

It’s just that in raising them and letting them lead some of their education, interests, activities and desires…I realize that we will always have a “Girl-Thang” going on at this house. At least until a little dude comes around…if ever

Examples of “It’s a Girl-Thang”:
- As our eldest spent 2.5 hours at Safety Town each day for the past 9 days, she always shared her “new girl friend’s stories”. When asked if she has any friends who are boys, a quick “no” jumps out of her throat.

- As we walk down the aisles at the library or bookstores…you ONLY hear “Dora….princesses…Strawberry Shortcake!”

- When we shop for clothes, and in various tones of high-pitches you hear “awww….ahhh….howww cuuuute….ohhhh”.

That’s the “Girl-Thang” I’m talking about.

So, after a month of incredible swimming lessons, tomorrow’s graduation planned for Saftey Town…we’re planning a nice relaxed August before we start our long awaited dancing lessons in September.

Leotards and tutus are already hanging in our closets…and the girls are impatiently waiting for their very first ballet and tap shoes fitting.

To all homeschool girl…young and old–I, too, am a Girl-at-heart–we, Sabra Girls, are here for ya!

Peace-out!
Mama

P.S. While I’ll obviously share Toledo and Ohio-specific resources, hopefully these posts will empower you to find similar resources in your area, and cause you to still stick around. Afterall, our tone will always be from one (or 4) girl(s) to another!

P.P.S. We’re sticking to a shoestring budget too…utilizing the world wide web at our fingertips. Share your tips and resources often.

It’s a Girl-Thang! is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Toledo Public Library has the best Summer Reading Program.

Since we’re 2 weeks behind from our vacation, we’re quickly catching up on lost tracked-time.

We constantly read…even during vacation, but I didn’t think of tracking the hours, books and their authors.

Nonetheless, we finished 5 hours each for the week and got our coupon sheet (we already cashed in our free McDonald’s hamburgers), dragon tattoo, and twistable eraser.

We were spoiled with so many books from Grandma and Grandpa, that I am literally reading ALL day long to one or all three to them at a time.

The past 3 nights, I’ve read from 1-2.5 hours alone in bed. I’m surprised I didn’t lose my voice yet.

Toledo has the Best Summer Reading Program! is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog