Rise and Shine! I’ve finally gotten my life somewhat together. After being sick for two weeks post Tanzania trip, my body is finally at 80%. That’s good enough for me. That means, back to weekly meal planning, finally joining a gym here in Amman and being as productive as possible at work and at home.
Let’s talk breakfast. (more…)
It’s been HOT. So hot. Unbelievably hot. Unbearably hot. I wouldn’t mind the heat if it wasn’t so humid too. That’s what I get for making Northern VA home. I shouldn’t be complaining though, it didn’t start warming up around here until mid-June. Then, inexplicably, we went from 60 F to 95 F seemingly overnight. Also, I shouldn’t be shocked. It is what it is, I guess. I’ll be complaining about the heat and humidity every year, every time we hit a heat wave. You can count on it.
The only thing we can do to beat the heat is stay indoors, where it’s nice and air-conditioned and snack on some No Added Sugar (as long as you don’t add the ganache) Watermelon Coconut Popsicles. (more…)
Happy Eid! We made it through the month of Ramadan, and we can finally enjoy a steaming mug of coffee during daylight hours. I always take my morning coffee for granted until Ramadan rolls around and reminds me just how crucial that cup of coffee is for me and my ability to function most of the day. What did you miss most during Ramadan? Let me know in the comments. (more…)
I’ve been obsessed with granola lately. No really, I have. I’ve been taking it to work with fruit, chia, flax and honey. I’ve been adding it to yogurt. I’ve even added it to my favorite raisin bran cereal, and aside from that, I’ve been eating it in handfuls — straight from the bag. If you saw my mini fruit and granola bowl tutorial on Instagram last week, then you know I was already running low on granola. I’ve managed to finish off the entire bag, and in my typical procrastinating way, haven’t gotten out to the store to get any more. So what’s a granola-obsessed girl to do?! Make my own, duh!
Making granola at home is super easy. (more…)
My coworker’s wife just had a baby. Everyone in the office had been counting down, waiting for their precious bundle of joy to arrive. A few months ago, we combined his birthday desk decorations with a guessing game of whether they’d be having a boy or a girl – complete with a chalkboard tally. When we found out they were having a girl, everyone had some advice to give. As a father, I can only imagine the excitement and some of the fear of having a daughter. As a mother, I’m positive his wife was ecstatic to have a mini-me. I have to say, she is the most adorable little nugget. Their lives changed overnight and in the most incredible way.
As a matter of Arab tradition, when a baby is born, the family holds a Mubraka where friends and family come over to visit the mother and new baby. I’ve seen very small gatherings, and very large gatherings. It’s a way to meet the new baby and wish well for the family. A special dessert is served called Karawya كراوية. The reason they serve karawya is pretty good, actually. Despite it being a dessert, it has nutrients and energy that are supposed to be good for a nursing mother. (more…)
We’re about one-third of the way through Ramadan, and while it hasn’t taken too much of a toll on me, I have been indulging in my daily afternoon naps. I have to say, this is pretty much the only time of year I’m able to take a nap mid-day – and two-hour naps at that! You’d think that would mess up my sleep schedule, and in a way it has, but not too extremely. (more…)
