Let Go

If you haven't taught,, then you wont understand what I'm about to say,,,

You wont understand the amount of love, pressure, agony,,fatigue,,forgiveness and morality around.

You wont understand how hard it is to face the whole world with nothing but your single heart. You need a strong one to be against this ugly world,,,,it's not a descent fight but you are going solo.

You wont understand that you have to check your self a million times before lecturing those girls about goodness,,vice,,virtue,,honesty and nail polish.

You have to go through the whole process of first being a mean teacher that has nothing to do with teaching other than the lessons she/he gives and your only concern is that the red pen runs out so fast so you might as well buy two at the beginning of each semester and then you become a mad teacher and then a patient one and then helpless and frustrated ,,,then you learn to smile and laugh and love and share and heal and at the end you end up being a parental figure and you love them so so damn much,,,like they are your own.

And because you love them ,,you want what's best for them,,but are you the best?

Because in this ,,,only BEST is acceptable. 

You wont know how a simple fight with a 16 year old is the greatest bond of love and affection,,,you wont know how yelling is always ALWAYS understood as a message of tenderness,,do you ever yell at someone and they love you back? Well,,we have that privilege.

You wont understand that you change your whole life style according to it,,,your dates,,your schedules,,your eating habits,,your social life,,,your fridge ,,,,your list of good people and even the way you dress,,,

The way you think,,,the way you buy your coffee mugs and even your key chain sometimes reminds you of your job.

You wont understand the responsibility that burdens your shoulders and the guilt you feel when mistakes happen.

You wont feel the warmth of hugs in the morning,,,,and believe me this is coming from someone who's been so careful not to break the ice with those "strangers"!! So careful to maintain the social circle created secretly in my mind and that is so hard to keep when your constantly bumping into tens and tens of reckless - not so sober- controlled by crazy hormones girls.

You wont understand the look on their faces when they are praised,,,inspired,,,rewarded and the sparkle that glows in their eyes when they know they are smart,,and that they are loved regardless of what the grades say,,they are loved regardless of their weight and popularity,,they are just loved for being who they are.

When you know their deepest darkest secrets and you still don't want to hang them or beat them to death.

When they teach you forgiveness, tolerance, temper management techniques,, the latest movies in the box office  the best restaurants in Amman and  their very unique cheating methods,,yes smart also includes shrewd.
You wont have to pray for the Tawjihi ones,,text the sick ones,,call heart broken ones and think of ways to let them enjoy your company when the last thing that they enjoy is attending a class.
You wont have your head on the pillow and them in your mind.

You wont understand how desperate you feel when you know that leaving this job means leaving a big part of your life ,,leaving your soul and your passion behind,,,but then again you want what's best for them and you think again,,are you the BEST?!

When you feel your not doing it right,,and the hugs give you pain more than comfort because your not fit for this ,,the smiles, trust and respect they give you turns into guilt and sorrow,,
Maybe then ,,,its time to let go.

A Calendar For My Very Special Salsabeel

So here we go again,,,
Winter break is over,,I really don't know if I should say gladly or unfortunately :/
I love work and getting up active and ready to produce some energy and positivity around, but this time I wasn't eager at all.
Many moms are so glad ,let me tell you :p
I did great art projects and crafts this break and tons of cleaning and organizing around the house as well as the kitchen, maybe that's why I wanted to stay at home and do more.
Anyways, the new semester began and whether I like it or not I have to force some good thoughts into my head,,,I can`t afford entering a classroom with a grumpy attitude or a crossed face.
Hope this year brings happiness and success to all the ones seeking it,,,I keep my Tawjihi girls in my prayers all the time,,,my heart is with you ladies,,,(and yes I'm waiting to eat lots of Kunafah and gain weight).
One of the very special things I made was a special gift for a special student of mine,,,yes she is that special.
A calender that is all girly and pinkish,,,I tried my best to make it simple and chic( hope I nailed it :p) ,,couldn't resist the flowery fabric I saw and the minute I laid my eyes on it an art project popped into my head.
(The quality of the pictures is not perfect as they were taken by my mobile)

It has  square calender sheets for each month so she could cross out days, it  also has some tiny post it notes that could be used to tag days and write comments.

So ,,my dear Salsabeel,,I hope you like it and each day of this coming year would bring you closer to God and grant you all the happiness this world offers.

If you desire to make a similar one then all you need is the following:
canvas ,,or you could just use cardboard
patterned fabric or paper
burlap
pegs
a glue gun (be careful using it,,I always burn my fingers)
some ribbons
and you can print out 2014 calendar here

Glue the fabric on the canvas and make sure the back side is also neat.

Use a ribbon and make a bow then glue it on top so it would go as a hanger.
Decorate as you desire,,I made burlap flowers and used buttons as centers for them.
Glue a peg on to hold the calender paper sheet that you printed out.
The moment you begin,  many ideas will start flowing so don't worry about the design,,,you will always end up doing totally something else.
I wrapped it and made a card to go along.

Enjoy it Soos,,I love you <3

جبران خليل جبران ,,,,

“لا تجالس أنصاف العشاق، ولا تصادق أنصاف الأصدقاء، لا تقرأ لأنصاف الموهوبين،لا تعش نصف حياة، ولا تمت نصف موت،لا تختر نصف حل، ولا تقف في منتصف الحقيقة، لا تحلم نصف حلم، ولا تتعلق بنصف أمل، إذا صمتّ.. فاصمت حتى النهاية، وإذا تكلمت.. فتكلّم حتى النهاية، لا تصمت كي تتكلم، ولا تتكلم كي تصمت.

إذا رضيت فعبّر عن رضاك، لا تصطنع نصف رضا، وإذا رفضت.. فعبّر عن رفضك،

لأن نصف الرفض قبول.. النصف هو حياة لم تعشها، وهو كلمة لم تقلها،وهو ابتسامة أجّلتها، وهو حب لم تصل إليه، وهو صداقة لم تعرفها.. النصف هو ما يجعلك غريباً عن أقرب الناس إليك، وهو ما يجعل أقرب الناس إليك غرباء عنك.

النصف هو أن تصل وأن لاتصل، أن تعمل وأن لا تعمل،أن تغيب وأن تحضر.. النصف هو أنت، عندما لا تكون أنت.. لأنك لم تعرف من أنت، النصف هو أن لا تعرف من أنت.. ومن تحب ليس نصفك الآخر.. هو أنت في مكان آخر في الوقت نفسه.

نصف شربة لن تروي ظمأك، ونصف وجبة لن تشبع جوعك،نصف طريق لن يوصلك إلى أي مكان، ونصف فكرة لن تعطي لك نتيجة النصف هو لحظة عجزك وأنت لست بعاجز.. لأنك لست نصف إنسان.

أنت إنسان وجدت كي تعيش الحياة، وليس كي تعيش نصف حياة ليست حقيقة الإنسان بما يظهره لك.. بل بما لا يستطيع أن يظهره، لذلك.. إذا أردت أن تعرفه فلا تصغي إلى ما يقوله .. بل إلى ما لا يقوله.”

مربى القرع

واخيراً دبحنا هالقرعة !! كان يوم حافل 

بنت خالتي (شهيرة) مو طبيعية !! من اكثر النساء المنتجات اللي عرفتهم,,وبصراحة بستحي من هيك ناس,,بنت خالتي بتزرع قرع,, وبتخبز (مو بحكيلكم الخبز شرط للنجاة في عيلة ماما,,,ما بياخدو الايزو ازا ما خبزوا ,,الله يعطيهم الصحة والعافية يا رب ) بتعمل جبن بالبيت ولبن وبتربي جاج عشان البيض البلدي,,يعني كلو صحي واورجانك !! لازم ياخدوكي عا اوروبا يا بنت خالتي . وكل هاد وهي عمرها فوق الستين سنة اتوقع ازا انا مو غلطانة!! الله يباركلك في صحتك يا شهيرة ويقويكي يا رب

القرعة من عندها,,ولما احكي قرع ما تتوقعو هو نفسو اللي بتشوفو بالمحلات,,,يعني هو شوي اكبر,,بالواقع هو كتييير اكبر

كنت من زمان حابة اعمل مربى من القرع ,,والشيشان بيعملو بطريقة مختلفة ,,لانو عادة بيشربو الشاي بدون سكر ولازم يكون جنب  الشاي اشي زاكي متل العسل الطبيعي او المربى و هاد المربى مثالي مع الشاي

الطريقة سهلة كتير بس بدها شوية وقت ,,,, حبيت اصور الخطوات لأنو عن جد كنت مستمتعة وانا بشتغل

اول شي لازم القرع يكون بلدي,,يمكن العادي او المستورد بيزبط بس ما يعطي نفس النتيجة

بعدين بتحتاجو كلس من عند مواد البناء,,,اه قرأتو مزبوط,,,كلس!! او في ناس بيسمو (شيد) ازا بتسألو مواد البنا بيعرفو,,بيستخدمو كمان للزيتون.  بننقع الكلس في ماء عادي ويتم تحريكه جيداً ,,بنتركه  يترسب وبناخد الموي اللي تصفت عالوجه ببطئ شديد حتى ما ناخد من الكلس اللي تحت

الكلس بيعمل على قساوة قطع القرع ولما نغليها بالقطر بتضل محافظه على شكلها

قشرت وقطعت القرع,,,واول ما قطعتها  طلعت ريحتها ,,يا الله شو الريحة كانت قوية ومنعشة,,فريشعالاخر

ومن جوا رح تشوفو الالياف تاعتها ,,,اشي صحي بتمييز

الولاد كتير انبسطو وهمه بيساعدوني وحاولت قد ما بقدر احول الموضوع لتجربة تعليميه ودينية (معلمة شو بدي اعمل !!) فرجيتهم الالياف اللي جوا وخليتهم يساعدوني بأيديهم ويجمعو البذور عشان نزرعها بالمزرعة

عملت شوربة وخبيت شوي عشان اعمل فطاير بحكيلكم عنهم بعدين

يقطع لمربعات صغيرة

وينقع في موية الكلس ليلة كاملة

تاني يوم بنغسلو منيح منيح

يرش ملئ ملعقة ملح ليمون وبنحركو منيح ويغسل مرة اخرى

متل كل انواع المربى العيار هو كيلو سكر لكل كيلو بدنا نعملو

بنعمل من السكر قطر (كاسة موي لكل كاستين سكر ,,يغلى جيداً عالنار) وبعدين بنسقط القرع بالقطر وبنتركو عالنار يغلي لعدة  ساعات

لميت كل المرتبانات اللي في الحياة وعقمتهم بالفرن

mason jarsهدول نوع مرتبانات كنت من زمان بدور عليهم اسمهم

المميز فيهم انو الغطا تاعهم بيفتح غير شكل,,كتير في افكار بتقدرو تعملوهم منهم

ممكن ينحط عليه كبش قرنفل

 انا حطيت عود فانيللا  

وزينتو

وصورتو 

ووزعتو للأحباب

وعملت بطاقات عشان اهديهم مع المربى

بس اكتر صورة بتضحك هي صورة العجقة اللي بعملها بس اصور اشي,,,لا تعلقو عا مفتاح جرة الغاز,,,هاد من لوازم التصوير 

اه,,,كدت ان انسى الشاي 

شاي شيشاني :)

وصحتين 

Enjoying Baking

I'm not that great of a baker ,,,don't be deceived by the looks,,,but it's something I look up to be.
If there is anyone on earth who is my inspiration then i'ts my mom. In my mom's family baking and being a baker is a MUST. She has been baking since I cant remember when,,,she bakes great amounts of Chechen bread and half of it is for charity,,,all the neighbors get to eat her bread the day she bakes. Let alone the pastry and the cakes as well as "Ma'mool"
Dad is also a great motivation since he is the one who always brought us cooking books every time he traveled,,,mom , my sisters and I have a descent collection of all kinds of cook books that vary from those about bread to grilling to desserts and sea food. ( LOVE YOU DAD <3).
So...back to me,,I was saying that I love baking but my oven is giving me hard times lately and there is no time with all the madness of work and kids and keeping a household neat and clean so Betty Crocker is always there to save me ;p
These blueberry muffins are made from a ready made mix and they were absolutely delicious,,you should forgive me because I baked them at the most crucial time of my life which is correcting exam papers.
I'm in love with my bird cage cupcake stand and the shabby chic liners as well.

Baking more is one of this year's resolutions,,,I miss those days when I was a stay at home mom and baking was a technique to relieve stress.
these are some things I made

apple croissant

cinnamon cookies

red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting 

chocolate cake

m&ms cake 

cookies for the parents meeting

This was my first fondant cake,,it looks funny I know especially that the nose was eaten by the kids

cookies also for the parents meeting

a birthday cake I made for my best friend and surprised her in her office

the pictures are not taken by me though

(told you I love balloons :p)

cupcakes for the kiddos

Mariam's fourth birthday cake