A Public Service Announcement Re: The Best Decision You Will Ever Make

PSA, guys: Get out of your seat. Grab a loved one. Locate your nearest IKEA. Now, drive to said IKEA with said loved one in tow.

Walk the exhausting distance from the main entrance of the store to the cafeteria while exploring the display rooms that have been strategically placed to trap you on the way to what you actually came for, all the while imagining yourself to be a person you really aren't.

i.e. "Ooooh, all-white bedding! My infant totally isn't prone to diaper explosions slash I never eat snacks in bed, so that sounds like a SUPER IDEA."

Daim cake aka a little slice of heaven

Now, that you've reached the cafeteria after playing plenty of make-believe and collecting some more fake plants you don't need, therefore, making your aforementioned loved one wonder why they came in the first place, make it up to them by ordering two cups of coffee and ONE slice of Daim cake to share (because let's be real, I don't know a single person on this planet who isn't on a diet) and because sharing food with loved ones is actually fun, try it!

In case you're wondering what part of this story is the "best decision you will ever make", it's the Daim cake (too darn good!!) that will have you wanting to make it a regular tradition.

My husband and I have partaken a few times now and I can't say I know a better way to forget about our problems (aka furnishing our whole dang house with nearly impossible to assemble IKEA furniture).

Thanks, IKEA...for selling Daim cake...not the bed my husband has to build from scratch using a manual with no words in it and 4,000 jigsaw puzzle pieces!!

I'm not going to write a detailed description of what Daim cake entails. I'll let your taste buds make that discovery on their own. But, you don't have to take my word for it. After a bit of googling, I discovered I'm not the only one going gaga over this delicious treat. Read here.

Scroll to the end for some cute pics of Khizoo's IKEA adventures!

Do you have any food traditions? Share them in the comments below! Also, PLEASE let me know if you've tried Daim cake or if you try it after my recommendation and what you think of it!

xx
Aneela

Khizoo trying on some sofas for size

Same chair in adult and baby size :)

Khizar and his daddy, tired after a long day of walking/being carried through IKEA

My Sardai (Natural Energy Drink) Recipe

This post is dedicated to the dear reader who commented on my blog today. I promised I would write something today, so here I am, delivering on that promise right before midnight, albeit a bit forcefully!

Today, I want to share my recipe for sardai with you all. Sardai is basically a natural energy drink, almonds being the star of the show. It is a frothy, cool, and refreshing treat that I think would be a perfect Ramadan (fast approaching!) drink.

After I had my son (exactly 4 months ago tomorrow!), I completely lost my appetite for food for a long time. One of the things that helped me get my strength back was this drink. I totally believe in it as an energy drink as it is chock full of calcium, protein, and healthy fat! It is super filling and fulfilling! :))

Back then, I used to take the easy way out and use store bought almond flour, but now I make it the traditional way. I don't drink it nearly as often anymore, just when I'd like a treat, but I do prefer the taste of making it the "old-fashioned way".

So here it is, how to make sardai! Please note that I have not listed quantities. Honestly, I don't measure my ingredients to make this. The key is to taste as you go and you will eventually learn exactly how you like your drink.

You will need:

• almonds
• sugar
• milk
• ice
• cardamom powder (optional)

1. Soak almonds in water overnight.

2. Peel almonds and grind in blender with ice, sugar, and a splash of milk. The milk will help the other ingredients blend more easily. You want to blend for a while until the almonds are ground to your liking. I do like my almonds a bit chunkier as it adds a nice texture to the drink.

3. Add the rest of your milk and blend again to incorporate all of your ingredients. You can add cardamom powder at this stage if you like that flavor. If you don't have cardamom powder, you can make your own at home by removing the seeds from whole cardamoms and grinding them in a food processor.

4. Pour yourself a tall glass of sardai, drink up, and go use up all that energy you just gained!

P.S. I literally just had sardai tonight in place of dinner. It's the perfect meal replacement/dinner+dessert in my PERSONAL OPINION aka I am not a nutritionist, so follow my lead at your own discretion.

Let me know if you're interested in trying this recipe out or what you need that extra kick of energy for in the comments below! I'd love to hear from you! In the meantime, take care!

xo Aneela

Broken Hearted Gratitude.

I sit in my mosque with my 4 month old son playing and cooing on the prayer mat in front of me. The melodic sound of the call to prayer makes him giggle audibly. I want to encourage his laughter by giggling back, but I refrain out of respect for the blessed occasion. As I listen to the Friday sermon, focusing on the message of peace and moral training passed along from my beloved imam, I think only of how grateful I am. To be here, to be able to bring my baby here, to feel safe in this place, and to have the freedom to practice my faith in this country.

My heart is broken for those who are killed for their faith. Sometimes the world cares, and other times no one speaks up. Having my own child now, my heart breaks for the children who cannot go to their places of worship because they aren't safe, and for the parents who can't take them there.

I have nothing enlightened to say about this, apart from: please allow this blog post to be a call to action. Let us wear our faith proudly. If we have the freedom to go to our places of worship, let us go often to the house of God.

We all have days when we're tired, when the to-do list is too long and the only reasonable solution seems to be to remove visiting the mosque/church/temple from the list.

I vow to go for those who cannot. I vow to proclaim my faith for those who are afraid.

Do you?

#prayfornewzealand