Grateful for another year

Today has physically and mentally been a long day. Even though it didn’t turn out the way I imagined, I’m so grateful for another year. You see, today is my birthday. 25 years ago my life started and I’m so grateful to have turned 25. Even though the number always scares me a little bit every year. But the thing is – I don’t feel 25. I guess it’s because I had this imagine of how 25 would feel and look like from a young age. And now that it has arrived, I don’t feel a day over 20, maybe 21. It’s like time stopped 5 years ago, even though it didn’t. 

My plans today were having a huge breakfast, taking my son to daycare and then continuing the day with my daughter. I planned to meet my mum and we would have coffee and cake. I would take her home to my house and cut her hair, pick up my son and start dinner. I wanted my brother to come visit us and we would all have cake together, and maybe I would open some presents. All of this never happened because it couldn’t. And even though we plan, God plans as well and He is the Best of Planners. 

Today didn’t happen has I imagined but I’m still so grateful for the family I’ve got, for my two healthy children who even at hard times bring a smile to my face, and for another year. God willing, I will have many more to come with my family by my side. 

---

Elizabeth

Advertisement

Premier jour à Paris

A week ago I was strolling the streets of Paris. I was finally travelling again, even though it was only for 3 days. A little getaway is always nice – no matter the length. This was also the last month for me to travel since I am in my last trimester, as we speak. So here I am, a week later with lots to share with you.

---

11th of March 2019 – Notre-Dame & Crepes

My day started a little bit after 5 am, way too early for my inner clock, but since I knew I was being picked up in an hour I made my way out of the bed. I packed my last belongings and ate a bowl of fruit. Right before 7 am I was in Oslo meeting up with my mum. We were finally on our way. At the airport everything went smoothly and we awaited to arrive Paris at 11.05 am. Starving we went to a cafe at the airport in France. After a short break we found our taxi driver and arrived to our hotel at 1 pm. A cute, modern hotel called ‘Hotel Pratic‘.

We freshened up and after an 1 hour nap we wanted to explore the streets of Paris. We weren’t far from Notre-Dame so we decided to take a city map and get on our way. The sun was shinning and the wind blowing. We saw the beautiful church from outside and decided to save our 10€ for a late lunch.

We stopped at a restaurant just next to the well-known church and enjoyed our first proper french meal. Even though I had a greek salad and my mum had a hamburger. Later we made our way back to the hotel. But before the day was over we stopped at a local boutique where I was gifted a Paris mug from my mum. We also stopped by the supermarket before we got our dessert at ‘La Cedrerie du Marais‘. A lovely lady catered us with nutella crepes and a steaming hot coffee. What a great way to end our first day.

---

Elizabeth

Pregnancy & Body Image

You’re suppose to feel this overwhelming sense of joy when you’re pregnant. And anything else would just be unusual.

Well, it’s not. Your body goes through A LOT of changes in only 9 months. And even though you might be the only one knowing it for the first months, you’ll rapidly start to grow and show. And you can’t make your body stop getting bigger. You can exercise and eat as healthy as one only can with daily cravings, but in the end, you’ll get big.

You’ll hear comments like; “You’ve gotten so big. Are you sure there aren’t two in there”. It’s frustrating cause it’s like no one knows what you’re actually going through. And who knows if you’ll ever get back to the size you were before. The invisible pressure is definitely there.

Even as this is my second child I’m much bigger than what I was with my first. I keep telling myself that I’ll get back to my ‘normal’ self and this in it self is a miracle. But as much as it is a miracle, and I am truly grateful to be a mother again, I can’t help to feel like I’m not myself.

I don’t feel sexy in my body, I don’t feel as confident. Most of the time I feel bloated and like I have to pee every hour. I’ll never have my abs back to normal and my bellybutton will most likely not go back to it’s normal self. And I feel guilty for feeling this way. Because my body is getting bigger and I don’t like looking at myself in the mirror, even though I’m creating a human being inside of me.

---

Elizabeth

Reminder to all reverts out there

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Sometimes it can be hard to see how far you’ve come when everyone around you is pointing out your mistakes.

Remember the time you didn’t wear the hijab. The time when you still ate pork or drank a glass of alcohol. The time before Islam. Before you change you’re life.

I used to read a lot of forums on fb and at first it was fine but soon it began to drag me down. Every notification made me question my faith and there were times I wanted to cry because I felt like I was a bad muslim. That my afford wasn’t enough.

But do your best and that will be enough. Be proud of yourself! Be proud of how far you’ve come and pray that Allah will help you become the best muslim you can be. We are all on our own journey and for some it’s easy and for others it takes longer.

Find a balance and don’t lose yourself. Your faith should make you stronger and lift you up.

Elizabeth

I can only pray and hope for better days

Today I just had the worst start to the day. I woke up at 6.30 am thinking I would lay in bed a couple of minutes more and figure out what I should wear for work. A minute later I must have fallen asleep because I abruptly woke up at 8.40 am, 20 minutes before my call time to work. Bare in mind it takes me about 30 minutes to drive to work. Jumping out of the bed in panic when I finally realized how much I overslept. Stressed out trying to contact my work I made my way to the bathroom and only managed to comb through my hair and put on some new clothes.

To say it mildly, it was a stressful day. I arrived 15 minutes late but my customer was taken good care of, but I stayed 15 minutes late until my break. I’ve been home a couple of hours now and gathered myself, spent time with my family and finally made dinner so I could eat a proper meal. The last couple of hours I’ve also been working on tomorrows video which will be up at 2 pm on my YouTube channel. Next on my shopping list is a new camera since my old Nikon doesn’t want to start. Right now I’m filming on my iPhone and trust me, I know the quality is bad.

I can only pray and hope for better days.

Elizabeth

The yearly autumn flue

The last couple of days I've been roaming around at home, having 'Fuller House' as a background noise while I looked after my baby and myself. We've been sick since Monday, sneezing every two seconds, wrapped in blankets and wool clothes. Sleep is definitely the best medicine and hot lemon tea with honey.

On another note, my brother had his birthday on Tuesday so I tried myself out in the kitchen and made an (almost) vegan cake. Some ingredients I didn't even find in the store so I had to use my regular non vegan supplies.

Today we're back to drinking lemon tea, cuddling up on the sofa and trying to get rid of the yearly autumn flue.

Elizabeth

Healthy post workout protein pancakes

This is a perfect breakfast or an even better post workout meal. Lots of protein, and who doesn’t love pancakes? I found some left over protein powder in my cabinet and to be honest I have to continue making some pancakes the next couple of days because my powder has almost gone out of date. These turned out so good so I don’t mind eating pancakes the next couple of days.

---

♥ 1 dl flour ♥ 2-3 dl milk ♥ 1 egg ♥ 1-3 scoops of protein powder (depending on how strong you want the tast to be) ♥ Vanilla powder ♥ Margarine for frying

1. Mix all the dry ingredients inna bowl.
2. Add 1 egg to the mix and a little bit of the milk and start stirring with a whisk.
3. Continue on adding the rest of the milk to a fine batter.
4. Heat up a pan and add a generous amount of margarine before you fry out your pancakes.

Add any topping you’d like & enjoy!

Elizabeth

Never my intention

I’m sitting here on the floor waiting for my new video to upload to youtube. It’s challenging having both a youtube channel and a blog to maintain because I feel like one or the other get forgotten, but that’s never my intention.

I really wanted to step back in Ramadan and not post anything meaningless. But now that we’re back in our everyday lifestyle it’s time to get back into some old routines as well. Leave your bad habits behind and focus on the positive. Take with everything good you’ve learned this Ramadan and implement it in your daily life.

For me that is working out and eating regularly and more healthy again. I usually don’t crave any sweets anyway, but I’ve missed the working out part. I’m already sore from yesterdays leg workout. I also want to make more videos but I won’t promise anything I can’t keep. Other than that there are some projects I’m working on here at home that I’ll hopefully be able to share when they are done.

Elizabeth

Health benefits during Ramadan

Heath benefits of fasting during Ramadan:

1. Detoxes & revitalizes the body
2. Blood sugar and blood pressure drops
3. White blood cells become more active
4. Organs start their repair process
5. Getting better concentration
6. The body repairs any damaged cells
7. Liver, kidney and skin are detoxing
8. Last 10 days you get more energy, improved concentration and memory

Elizabeth

Ramadan

The 9th month of the lunar calendar is the month of Ramadan.
The month where the Quran was revealed in year 610.
The month where the doors of heaven are open and the doors of hell are closed.

"Recite in the name of your Lord who created - 
created man from a clinging substance.
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous - 
Who taught by the pen -
taught men which he knew not".
(Quran 96:1-5)

---

Make the most of this month and have a blessed Ramadan!

Elizabeth