Sometimes, the BEST things for us in life are the HARDEST to do, and cause us discomfort and pain while we do them, but we NEED to do them regardless. Since September, I have been focusing on my physical and emotional health and I have to say that focusing on these two aspects of my […] Read more…
5 Health Tips For Shoppers
November to January seem to be the busiest months for shoppers, as there are many great sales to take advantage of. I usually do most of my shopping in these months myself! With that said, it can be really easy to fall into the trap of unhealthy habits while shopping, so today I’m sharing […] Read more…
Diastasis Recti- What you need to know about it
A couple of months ago, I wrote about how I found out I had diastasis recti (DR), since then I have received so many questions about this condition. So today, I’m answering the most frequently asked questions about diastasis recti and I’m also sharing what I learned so far in my journey to getting fit. […] Read more…
Stop telling others they need sabr, when what they really need is STRENGTH
“Just have sabr (patience), things will change eventually on their own.” This is a sentence I have heard so many times, and in some cases hearing these words helps, BUT in other cases it simply makes a situation WORSE. Read more…
Why Does a Gender Pay Gap in Canada Still Exist?
It was the near end of my Sociology class and the very last assignment for the semester was going to be handed out; little did I know that this assignment would lead me to a dose of harsh reality of a gender pay gap that existed amongst Canadians. Read more…
No, I’m not pregnant, I have DIASTASIS RECTI!
Do you have a noticeable mummy tummy that stands out? Do people often stop you to ask if you are pregnant when you really aren’t, and in fact, you had your baby months and even years ago? Well, you could have diastasis recti and not even know it! Here’s my story of how I found […] Read more…
10 tips on how to help children with back to school anxiety
I still remember hearing my son’s teacher tell me he was having a tough time adjusting to his environment at school and that he may have anxiety- my heart sank. A future therapy session confirmed that my son did indeed have anxiety- my heart sank further. Read more…
Easy and Inexpensive Backyard Privacy Screen
I built this privacy screen for my deck, it was really easy to put together, each panel cost less than $20 to make, and it took me less than 10 minutes to build! Read more…
Creating a backyard oasis on a BUDGET
My summer project this year was to create a backyard oasis on a budget; I’m so happy to say that not only did I come under budget, but I’m very pleased with how the entire space turned out! Read more…
Laylat al-Qadr
“The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months” [Surah al-Qadr 97:3] Alhamdulillah, we are in the last 10 days of Ramadan, and this is the time we need really need to increase our ibadaah, or acts of worship, especially during the evenings. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) […] Read more…
Ramadan Nights
Some of my Ramadan nights were spent in me pouring out my soul to Allah, where I would ask for help for myself and for my loved ones, where I would transform my pain into a powerful dua that would heal my wounds. Read more…
Why I don’t get involved in community events during Ramadan
Ramadan is a time when the community comes together to help those that are less fortunate. During this holy month, you will see many Muslims volunteering their time to put together food hampers for those in need, hosting community iftars for those who are alone due to being reverts or not having family around, or […] Read more…
A memorable Ramadan with kids
As a mama to four children living in Canada, I really want to make Ramadan memorable for my family. This year, my children are 10, 7, 5, and 2 years old, so the challenge is to make sure each child from each age group is excited for Ramadan! Read more…
4 DETOXES that will help you get ready for RAMADAN!
Here are four detoxes you can do to get ready for Ramadan and that will benefit you during the holy month as well. These detoxes will make you feel more stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually! Read more…
The one thing I did that increased my productivity and made my kids less cranky
A few years ago, I did one thing that increased my productivity and made my kids less cranky and get along with each other more. This one thing took me just a few minutes to do and was FREE, yet the payoff was immense. Curious to know what this one thing is? Keep reading to […] Read more…
Ramadan Instant Pot Meals
Healthy, quick, and easy meals to make in Ramadan using your Instant Pot! Read more…
Y.F.T by AmmaRaza Review Update
I first reviewed these adorable Y.F.T by AmmaRaza thobes back in September 2017, and my boys have been wearing these thobes since. It’s been about about 7 months since we have had these thobes, so I thought I would share a review of how they have held up! Read more…
Play time vs. nap time
There are days where I wake up exhausted, and I start the countdown to nap time as soon as I get out of bed! Read more…
Things you lose and gain as a mother
Sometimes, motherhood is filled with hectic days, where you can’t seem to find anything- Read more…
Living room before kids vs after kids
Your living room BEFORE you have kids vs. AFTER you have kids! Read more…
life without kids vs. life with kids
Life with kids means that your sink, laundry basket, and trash can are ALWAYS full… Read more…
Motherhood Comics
I’m so excited to announce my new series, a collection of comics that are inspired by motherhood! Read more…
The light she carries
What if the light she carries with her is there to blind those surrounding her, so that they don’t see her pain. Read more…
The Two Ramadan Books I Read To My Daughter’s class
Back in October 2017, I went into my daughter’s grade 5 class (she attends a public school) for reading week, with two children Islamic books in hand – and it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g! Read more…
Thinkernation Arabic Puzzles Review
As a mom of four children, I’m always on the lookout for educational products that will benefit my family. So, when I came across Thinkernation and their Arabic puzzles, I knew I had found something special! Not only are these puzzles made from high quality materials- which is important, so that they last through FOUR […] Read more…
A New Beginning
It’s official, I have moved to SumairaZ.com! Some of you have already noticed the change in my usernames on social media and I have been receiving many questions about about why I made this move. Read more…
30 LIFE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED IN MY 30’S
I’m a few years into my 30’s now, and I can wholeheartedly say that I have never loved myself more! Read more…
To my daughters, THIS is real beauty
To my daughters, Your beauty is not defined by your skin tone, nor is it defined by a number on a scale. Beauty is not found in the color of your eyes, nor the color of your hair. Beauty isn’t about having a symmetrical face shape, nor is it about the shape of your […] Read more…
Just breathe
Sometimes, it can feel like you’re drowning- Read more…
4 Modest and Timeless Outfits for the Colder Weather
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about what I have been doing for self care, and one of those things was getting out of my pj’s and getting dressed into actual clothing! Read more…
Why you should NOT tell a mother she’s too blessed to be stressed
Does this sound familiar? A mother tells her friend about how difficult her week has been with her one month old colicky baby keeping her up all night and her toddler throwing massive tantrums for what feels like all day long. The mother’s friend speaks up and says, “You shouldn’t be complaining, there are so […] Read more…
Do Women Lose Themselves In Motherhood?
Do women lose themselves once they become mothers? Read more…
The New Beautiful You
As soon as you become a mother, you are no longer alone. You begin to realize this when you feel your unborn baby move for the first time and then things become even more real when your baby starts to kick, thus keeping you up all night! Read more…
When Kindness Saves The Day
As a mother of four young children, I can say that I have had plenty of bad days. You know, the days where you wake up with a headache because the baby didn’t let you sleep, days where the children seem to be constantly fighting, and days where your daily to-do list is so long […] Read more…
5 Things To Do In September To Get Back On Track
There are many things I miss about the summer holidays already, like watching the kids play at the splash park, the afternoon strolls to the pond with my family, and eating ice cream almost every day- but if there’s one thing I’m looking forward to this September, it’s putting the kids to bed early and […] Read more…
Y.F.T by ammaraza Review
What is Y.F.T by ammaraza? Y.F.T. by ammaraza is a premium brand of thobes/tunics for boys; every piece is designed by Ammara Zaman, mother of Y.F.T. (which stands for Yaqub F. Taveras). Ammara wanted to create a clothing line for her son Yaqub, who is Guyanese/PuertoRican/Dominican, that was both contemporary and that had Islamic roots, […] Read more…
Don’t Compare Me To Your Mother
There are many things that set me off, and this particular sentence is one of them- Read more…
10 Things NOT To Say To A Mother
There are many things you shouldn’t say to a mother, for instance things that are rude, insensitive, or just plain ANNOYING! Read more…
12 Reasons Why A Mom Could Be Running Late
Before having children, my definition of being on time meant arriving at my destination 10 minutes early. Of course, after having children, that all changed! Read more…
Dear New Mothers, It Does NOT Get Easier!
Dear new mothers, I’m sorry to tell you that it does NOT get easier. As a new mother, you may hear people telling you that it WILL get easier, but I’m here to tell you that people are lying, and things may actually get worse. But don’t worry, there […] Read more…
The Negative Things I Hear As A Breastfeeding Mother
Often times, you hear about how mothers are not supported for their decision to feed their babies formula, however, I find that I’m not supported enough as a breastfeeding mother. Read more…
Talking To Our Daughters About Anti-Bullying and Self Confidence
I wanted to talk to my seven year old daughter about bullying (like I do every year), but this time I wanted to invite other girls her age to join in on the conversation. Read more…
I hope you have a BOY!
“I hope you have a BOY,” is a phrase I heard too many times during my pregnancies. I mean…really? Read more…
The After School Mess
On some winter days, this is what my foyer looks like at 3:30 pm- Read more…
Parent Wars! (Plus, tips on how to avoid getting into one)
What’s a PARENT WAR? Too often, I see parents criticizing each other on social media; so much so, that it breaks my heart! Will you believe that there are actually parent wars out there? There are- I’ve witnessed them! It’s like one group of people are trying so hard to convince others that their method […] Read more…
20+ Gift Ideas For Toddlers
When searching for a gift for toddlers, it’s important to remember that toddlers need to engage in sensory play. Read more…
10 Different Ways To Teach Children About Eid Al-Adha
Whether you are a parent, caregiver, grandparent, teacher, aunt, uncle, or an older sibling, you will want to explore different methods of teaching children about the significance of Eid al-Adha; after all, each child is unique and will have his or her own way of learning and exploring the religion of Islam! The most […] Read more…
My (Un) Planned Pregnancy Pt.1
When I first found out I was pregnant with my first child, I was in shock! My husband and I were not ready to become parents at all, for we were still in the process of pursuing our own goals and dreams. Read more…
That Second Pregnancy Guilt
When I was pregnant with my second child, I was overwhelmed with an extreme sense of guilt… I couldn’t help it but feel guilty for not spending enough time with my first child, for I was on bed rest for 7 weeks due to unexpected complications… Read more…
Dealing With Tantrums
It always amazes me how much my children are so different from one another. For instance, three of my children started their tantrums at different ages, and for very different reasons. Therefore, I have found three different techniques that have helped my children cope with their tantrums. Read more…
The Muslimah Mommy’s Tips For Mothers During Ramadan
How do mothers enjoy the blessings of Ramadan while taking care of their children? This is the question I often get asked as a mother of four, and below I’m sharing my tips that have helped me since becoming a mother almost a decade ago! The Muslimah Mommy’s Tips for Mothers During Ramadan: Read more…
Top Energy Boosting and Hydrating Foods For Ramadan
As a busy mom of four young and active children, I have to make sure that my diet is filled with foods that will combat the feeling of fatigue throughout the year, especially during the holy month of Ramadan! Below is a list of meals I prepare during Ramadan; these meals are easy to make, […] Read more…
Why I Refuse To Discuss My Child’s Grades
With this school year coming to an end, I’am reminding parents not to focus too much on their children’s end of the year results. Read more…
I’m So Awesome That…I Have A Stalker!
I’m so awesome that I have a stalker! This stalker follows me everywhere, and doesn’t leave my side. He knows where I’am at every time of day, and to say that he is obsessed with me would be an understatement. Read more…
Moving Forward
Moving Forward is a series that will consist of blog posts, insta-stories, insta-lives, and facts about important topics that we NEED to be discussing as a community and society. I will be targeting subjects that aren’t often addressed within our communities and I will be tackling issues that need a new way of being viewed […] Read more…