Friday Feature- Why I can't be a tourist

Asalam Alaikum,

I don’t usually take too many pictures when we are outside shopping or just around town. This is mostly because Tariq has safety concerns. The area we live in is not one of the “high class” areas with lots of foreigners, so he worries about us sticking out more than we already do. He says that if I were to walk around the local market snapping pics, that it would encourage thieves because I “look like a tourist”.

Sometimes I use a cell phone camera, or Tariq will use it for me to take an interesting picture. They don’t usually come out well, but I am thinking about posting some just to give an idea of some of the interesting things we have seen.

This is probably one of the biggest reasons that I love to read other gori/desi blogs. Many times while visiting Southeast Asia, they have taken the types of pictures that I want to. It is pretty cool to see the things that I think are interesting/cool/weird pop up on somebody’s blog. Sometimes I’ll have moments when I’ll say something like “Ooh that happens here too!” or “Oh I felt that way too when I first saw the toilets here”.

I think it would probably be different is we actually were just visiting. For now, while we are living here full time, I’ll just have to stick to my bloglists and enjoy everyone else’s interest pictures!

Easy Overnight Granola

I recently found this recipe on the Alicia Cooks blog. I made a double batch this week and I've been enjoying it as breakfast cereal each morning since. It would also be a great topping for ice cream, yogurt, applesauce, etc. The best part about this granola, apart from it's slight sweetness and warm spices, is that it has clusters! All of my other granola making attempts have resulted in a loose granola that is impossible to eat without a spoon.
This will be my new go-to granola recipe. Alicia's recipe is a great basic granola so it's perfect for adding whatever flavors are your favorite. I added chopped pecans and almonds to mine. If you add nuts, put them in before baking. If you're adding dried fruit, add them after the granola bakes and cools.

Overnight Granola

1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. salt
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup quick oats (not instant)

Preheat your oven to 300*.

Combine oil, honey, vanilla, spices, and salt in a small dish and stir to combine. Place oats in a large bowl and stir to mix the two kinds up, then add the liquid ingredients and stir until well coated. Spread the oat mixture out on a baking sheet or large jelly roll pan. (I pressed the mixture down with my hands to help form clusters)

Place the oats in the oven and bake for 10 minutes and then turn off the oven and leave the granola inside. Do not open the oven. You can leave the granola in overnight to cool or take it out after about 3 hours.

Stir a bit to declump and store it in an airtight container at room temperature.

Makes 6 servings

Chenille Baby Set

Asalam Alaikum,

A family friend's daughter just had a baby, and our friend had asked me if I would knit a little set for the baby. She even bought the yarn and needles. The yarn was a really soft chenille, in a variegated blue, pink, and yellow.

The cardigan and pants.
The hat.
The bootees.

Patterns:None really, but the cardigan was inspired by the Five Hour Baby Boy Sweater, the hat was inspired by this pixie hat, and the bootees were inspired by Saartje's bootees.
Needles:They were labeled as a 6, but they aren't the same size as a US 6
Yarn:Chenille, heavy worsted-light bulky?

I am pretty happy with the way everything turned out, and our friend seemed pretty happy too.

Ini Aqil punya..

Baby Quilt Blanket Set

Babycot Size

order dr my old schoolmate Fairose Harun utk Baby Aqil yg bambam n comel..

hope Fai berpuas hati yerr.. esok mak pos k...

Ready Stocks - Amissa 3pc Boy Set (Code:AMS 2)

Amissa 3pc Boy Set (Code:AMS 2) (pant, top & tie) Price : RM 50/set Size : 90 (1-2y) 100 (3-4y) Sold 110 (5-6y) Sold to Angie Ng Email - FP/Poslaju 120 (6-7y) Sold 130 (7-8y) Sold interested? sms/call : 016-6835083 (Pn.Ida) email : ida_haikal04@yahoo.com