June Ends, Ramadhan Begins

As Salaamu Alaikum(Peace Be Upon You)!

 Today is the last Monday in June. I wasn't going to write this blog until I remembered that. :D Feeling kinda lazy. Anyway, that means: tomorrow is July!! I love July. Maybe it's just because my birthday is in July, I don't know. Speaking of my birthday, it's in 5 days. I will finally be 17. I hate having to wait half the year to be the age I'm supposed to be for the year. I think I like how Korean's do it better. At the start of the year, you are considered to be the age you are turning that year and actually a year older as well because they count the near-year you were in the womb as a year too. But, I think it'd just be cool without the womb-year thing. Then on New Year's I'd be 18 instead of having to wait until half of 2015 is over. In Islamic months I am already 17 too since my Islamic birthday is the 9th of Safar which was in December last year.

 Anyway, long, unnecessary birthday history aside I'm happy July is approaching.

 Now, onto the subject of Ramadhan. Today is the second day and there is an hour until we break our fast. So far Ramadhan has been great. Fasting actually has been pretty easy despite being 16 hours this year and everything else seems to be working great as well. Alhamdulillaah.

 Last post I promised to update you on the pool party last week. Well, it was amazing! So first, that day Laila and I went for volunteering, then we stayed a little later to go to the 3D Printing event, which was really cool. I made a heart t go on a necklace which I actually have turned into a choker. It looks super awesome. So after the event we rushed home and started to get ready. Ummi found Laila's old swimsuit(which we were looking for so that I could wear it) and Laila did a little adjustments because it's a little big. Then I packed nearly everything I could think of that we'd need to go to the pool and we left.

 When we got to the pool it was so exciting. We went in and so many people were there swimming and getting food to eat and sitting and it just looked amazing. So we quickly took our stuff off(we had our swimsuits on underneath) and went into the water. It was awesome! Laila and  I of course, needed floaties so we grabbed some of the noodles and use those to float. Sakina made friends quickly with some girls who also didn't know how to swim and they stuck together in the 2-3 ft area. Ummi just sat talking to someone from our homeschool group's mother. At some point all the older girls(which included one of the girls who volunteers with us) who knew how to swim decided to do scynhronized jumps into the 9 ft water. It looked really fun but of course, we couldn't join because we don't know how to swim. Then Laila got the idea that if I held her floatie board(she'd traded the noodle for it) while she jumped and then handed to her when she rose up then that could work. So that's what she did. Then she tried to convince me to do the same thing but I was horribly terrified. Even so I stood up on the side of the pool and thought "I  can do this" but then I couldn't. So I told her that I wasn't going to do it so she said "I'll call one of the ladies, she can help catch you, then it'll be fine." So she called the lady and the lady agreed. Hesitantly, though, once she learned I couldn't swim. Then that lady called someone else to help her. Then slowly by slowly a whole bunch of people were coming to help and I was still frozen there wanting to jump but also not wanting to. So they were patiently waiting, urging me on and finally, I was like "Okay" and I jumped and it was okay though some water got into my throat and my nose. I didn't want to do it again though. Laila did so I helped her two more times and then we went back to swimming with the floatie noodles.

 So all-in-all it was pretty fun. The next day was the "I Can Be a Gameshow Star" thing at the library which was super fun. Jawaad and Saalih ended up winning.

 So yeah, the past week was pretty cool. So I think that's it for today's blog. It got a little long because I like to talk. :P

 Signing off for now, bye, annyeong, sayonara, adios, au revoir, ma'a salaama!!! Oh and Ramadhan Mubarak because I forgot to say that with all the unnecessary talking I did. XD

 Sumiyya <3

Pool Party! And TNT?!

Hola!

 Bienvenidos to my humble blog! I don't have very much to talk about besides the fact that today I volunteered again and I got to help with story time which was awesome! I can't wait to do it again. Wonder what I'll be doing tomorrow(forgot to check the schedule)

 Other than that, recently we have taken 3 boys under our wing. The ages of 7, 9, and 13. Truthfully, it's been a little weird and it's like we have 3 mini Jawaads(which is almost never a good thing :P) but, you know, I guess it's okay.

 So, as for the title: tomorrow there is going to be a sisters-only pool party at the pool that I previously mentioned which is sisters-only on Thursday but today was an exception as they made a special reservation specifically for this day. I'm really excited because I haven't been anywhere near a pool since we left Xenia(yes, nearly 3 years ago). But, we might have a bit of a dilemma because they want us to bring a side dish and we're broke so we don't have the means and/or ingredients to make something or buy something. We don't want to show up empty handed though. :(

 But, if that gets worked out(and InshaAllah it does) then I'm totally looking forward to gong! So excited!

 Tomorrow is actually going to be filled with activity because Laila and I have to volunteer from 10:15 to 1:15, then there's going to be an event we'll go to from 2-4(and we might just end up helping out during the event as well, who knows?). Then the pool party is from 6-9. So it'll be action-packed.

 Speaking of volunteering, that actually reminds me of the second part of the title and why I added it. No, I'm not referring to the explosive kind of TNT. What I'm talking about is: A TNT Award! Now, you're probably even more confused. :D Anyway, a TNT Award is what staff members give to volunteers if they feel like they were a huge help on something or if they went out of their way to make sure that their job was done not only to T but even better than that. If a staff member feels like you have contributed even more than required of you, they write your name and why they're giving you a TNT Award and then at the end of the volunteer program they will either count up and see who has the most TNT Awards and give them a special prize, or they'll do it in a drawing style and whoever they choose gets the prize. I'm hoping it's the drawing because then even those who may have only got one(whether or not they deserved more) still get a chance to win. Plus, the special prize isn't just something small, it's actually a really cool prize like a gift card or an electronic device.

 So anyway, I got one and so did Laila. One of the main teen section librarians, Mrs. Ventola gave us each one for helping her figure out how to do cobra knot bracelets for the Summer Reading Kick-Off event that they had on the 18th(which was pretty fun, btw). Really though, we should be thanking her because for so long I had wanted to do those and now that I've leaned how and gotten started, I kinda have the motivation to get more supplies and do much more. When I get the money, that is.

 So I think that is pretty much it for today. See you next Monday and I'll tell you how everything went with the pool party and everything(if we go).

 Signing off for now, sayonara, bye-bye, ma'a salaama, annyeong, au revoir, adios!!

 Hasta Lunes! <3

 Sumiyya <3


 

The First Day of Summer Volunteering!

Annyeong!

What's shakin', what's poppin', what's going down?

 I just came back a little while ago from my first day of being a Teen Summer Volunteer. It was cool! The first thing I did, and this I did for most of my shift, was help out with a Children's event that was going on. I operated the Ring Toss game and gave the kids a prize( a money pencil) after they had their turn. There were all kinds of kids there and they were fun and cute and awesome.

 Funny story: One of the girls asked me why I wear a mask. I told her it was a veil and it was to keep my face hidden from men. She said: "Why? You don't wanna date?" I was laughing on the inside so hard but I just told her "Nope, don't date."

 The younger kids were especially cute because they had a habit of instead of tossing the ring they would just stick it on the little spike thing. It was pretty funny. Especially one girl in a blue jumper who was absolutely adorable, she kept sticking the rings of one color on their matching color cone/spike things. There was also a kid with his dad and he was super cute. Gave his dad a hug when he finally got his last ring on and then he said determinedly "I wanna try again!"

  So yeah, I had some fun with that whole event. Though I got quite a bit sweaty as I was running around picking up the rings plus I was wearing two shirts(My volunteer shirt! ^o^ and a long sleeve white shirt to cover my arms).

 Then after that I did a little bit of shelving. It was nice. Then when that was finished, the head librarian of the Children's section told us that we could just clock out for the day even though our shift was ten minutes from being over since we worked pretty hard.

 So, all in all, it was great! After my shift I did some Summer Reading activities, got candy and my Summer Reading hours prizes(I've already passed 10 hours in just 4 or 5 days) which were a coupon for a free Jr. Frosty at Wendy's, two $5 fine wavers, and a free book. I chose Looking for Alaska by John Green. I was already planning to read it so having a personal copy helps.

 I cannot wait for my shift tomorrow and the Summer Reading Kick-Off at my library(It's a week late) where I'll also be volunteering. Tomorrow Laila and I won't be in the same section of the library. She'll still be working in Children's but I'll be doing something else. I'm kinda nervous.

 Well, that's it. Just wanted to talk about that. Also, the 15th of Sha'ban was this past Friday. We fasted and it was okay. Didn't feel too long. Although, I think I did fall asleep a couple of times so that could be half of why but it was nice. Can't wait fro Ramadhan!

Signing off for now, sayonara, bye, adios, au revoir, ma'a salaama, annyeong~!

Sumiyya <3

Summer Excitement

Ohayo!

Wassup? It's the first Monday in June and that means A. It's a brand new month, for new experiences! B. 2014 is already half over O_o and C. Summer is in the air! I can practically taste it. Or maybe that's just the heat and sweat I'm tasting because it's been raging hot in the 90 degree line which of course means we ain't seen nothing yet.

Well, either way I'm completely excited for the Summer. For once my Summer Schedule is packed. I've got so many things I'm doing and want to do and I cannot wait!

The first thing that I'm planning to do is: Teen Summer Volunteering at the library! Woop, woop! Get excited 'cause I know I am. :D I honestly cannot wait. I really think it'll be a wonderful experience. Oh, and get this: Mrs. Ventola told us that last year she was going to pick us but there was only one spot left and she didn't want to choose one over the other. I mean, yeah we were disappointed last summer and yeah, she could be just trying to appease us but so what? I am most definitely appeased. XD

The second thing I plan to do is: Be on Swagbucks like crazy because that's my only income this Summer(no job unfortunately :(( ) and I'm trying to save up as much as I can.

The third thing I plan to do is: Be a tag-a-long going with my sister to tutor a girl in fashion design on Thursdays. I'm just going there for backup(safety in numbers, even if that number is 2) but I might be able to contribute something.

Speaking of Thursdays, the fourth thing I plan to be doing is: Going to a local, private pool that is Ladies Only on Thursdays. My friends Laylaa and Hafsa plan to go as well so we could hang out there together. Plus I could finally learn to swim!

The fifth thing I plan to do is: Go to as many library events as I can, which'll be easy because I'm probably going to be helping set up half of them anyway. Oh, and I'll be doing Summer Reading as well.

Some other things I hope to do but it's not concrete is: Taking the GED test and graduating finally, Getting my permit or at the very least just doing some driving lessons with my mom, Learning at least a spattering of French and Arabic before I leave for Saudi, and getting a bank account(which actually I will need for Swagbucks)

Oh, and biggest of all, most of the Summer I will be fasting. So that'll make the above things a tiny bit harder. Especially since it'll be so freaking hot and the days will stretch into forever but InshaAllah I got this. Allah never gives us something we can't handle. Plus, people do way more than I plan to do while fasting and they are just fine.

So, InshaAllah everything this Summer will go well. I'm super excited! Aren't you?

Signing off for now, bye, annyeong, adios, ma'a salaama, au revoir, sayonara and arigatou for reading!

Sumiyya <3

Summer Volunteering, Jobs, and Hello Clean, Beautiful Room!

What is up?

So it has been quite a while but this time, I don't care that much. I'm okay wit letting a few weeks slip away so it's cool.

Anyway, I have exciting news! Laila and I are going to be TEEN SUMMER VOLUNTEERS!!! We signed up last year and weren't picked but this year, we were better, more experienced, and we got in! I'm so happy and I cannot wait to start.

Today we decided to look at the shift times they gave us and pick when we want to work. So we're looking at Mondays-Thursdays 10:15-1:15 and Saturdays 1:15-4:15. Our orientation is next Saturday and I believe we start on the 16th of June(not sure).

There was also another reason why we were setting up our schedules today and that is because: Laila got a job! Yes, Laila got a job where she will be teaching a 5th grade girl how to design and sew her own clothes as the girl is an aspiring fashion designer. Laila applied in April, then we met the lady in early May and talked to her and all that and she contacted Laila just today asking when she can start. To be honest, we didn't even think she was going to write because it had been quite a long time.

On the topic of jobs, my brother recently got hired and today he got fired. He was working at a place where he was supposed to make radiators and they said he was working too slow so they laid him off. He called my mom crying. Poor thing. He was so excited to finally have a job and we were excited for him. But, as my mother reminded him: "Everything from Allah is good" so that probably wasn't the right thing for him. InshaAllah(God-willing) we will find a better job soon.

Now on to my room. So if you don't know, my room can get messy. And when I say messy I mean MESSY like a Hoarders house kind of messy. It aggravates me because a lot of it is my sister's fault(not saying all of it is) and she doesn't like picking up her stuff. But this time not only was our room in huge disarray, so was/is our house. My mother decided that it had to end so she decided that we would all clean the house from top to bottom starting one room at a time and we started with my room. We took everything out of it and then I vacuumed the floor, washed and hung up/folded up the clothes and organized the closet and bookshelf. We are still in the process of transporting the stuff we took out back in(although, really it was mostly my sister's fabric).

Anyway, now my room is sparkling and fresh and clean and beautiful and I can breathe! Plus, I can get off my ladder without having to worry about hurting my foot on anything. XD

So, I'm not really excited about it but we'll have to the rest of the house as well and I guess I'm ready. I mean, now that I can breathe in my room I feel more energized. However, I do want to finish reading Shatter Me before we start.

So that's it, signing off for now, byers, annyeong, sayonara, adios, au revoir, ma'a salaama!!!

Sumiyya <3

Friday Night Lights

Well, hello there!
My name is Sumiyya Abdul-Rasheed and this is another Monday blog.

If you don't know, I was just doing a Tyler Oakley(who's last  name I just realized is the same as Annie Oakley)-style intro. If you don't know who he is, check him out. He's pretty funny and has great videos although lately he's just been doing a lot of Q&As(Q and Slays :D). Also he does Top That videos with Becca Frucht on Popsugar's channel. So yeah, anyway, check him out.

Today I really wanted to talk about something really awesome I went to this past Friday. It was at one of the local libraries in my area called Hickory Grove. The event was called Friday Night Lights.

Basically what it was was teens hanging out on a Friday night with also kind of an open mic night/talent show feel to it. If there was something you wanted to perform(song, poem, rap, flip, etc...) then you could just get up there and perform.

I came late to the event but luckily I made it in time to have a slice of pizza and some drink and I, of course, made it just in time for the talent portion. So here's how it went down:

The first performer was a girl named Jade. She did a poem which was really nice. I could see that she had a poem book(like me!) so this was really her passion.

The second one was a girl named Kimberly. She sang Angel by Natasha Beddingfield. It was nice but her voice could maybe use a little training. Otherwise she sounded great.

The third one was yours truly :D I did a poem too. It's one of mine called Window of Wonder. I thought it would be really cool to get up there and do it so I did and it was awesome. A lot of people seemed to like it.

The next performers were two kids. They both did flips. Not at the same time though.

The next performance was by two brothers who I think were Muslim and also who I think were twins. Anyway, they both started beatboxng and then one was beat boxing while the other was rapping and they killed it! It was sick. I think they might have gotten the best reception. At least from me.

Then some other boys decided to rap as well but there was a great confusion as to what was going on. Then one started rapping and it was kinda wack to be honest but he did his thing and some of it was okay.

Then Kimberly got up and sang again. She sang Lights by Ellie Goulding this time. It was nice as well.

Then the final act and I think it ties for first in my mind with the twins'(?) performance was by someone named Bernard. He sang a song which I later learned was Chocolate by The 1975. He played guitar while singing and both his guitar playing and his singing were totally amazing! My sister and I were like: If he doesn't have one already, he should make a YouTube and do covers because that was just so amazing. Also, I think I might just have to check out more of the 1975's songs because although honestly after hearing the original song, I didn't like it all that much but it has grown on me and been stuck in my head.

Here's a picture I surreptitiously took of him: 

So after all that we had to tidy up while waiting for our parents to come. So Laila and I helped.

Then we left and went to the store. And that was my Friday night.

It was pretty epic ^_^

So signing off for now, bye, au revoir, annyeong, adios, sayonara, ma'a salaama!

Sumiyya <3
 

Graduating

What is up? 

I'm on time for once, eh? :D

What I wanted to talk about today is that my mom is graduating tomorrow. 

That's right, tomorrow she will finally be done with college. She will finally have a BA in both ESL and Instructional Design. She will finally have time to breathe. She'll finally have time to chill. She'll finally have time for us. 

It's been 5 years since she started and was thrown into the throng of homework and back to back assignments with hardly any break between classes. It's been a long 5 years. There have been times when she just didn't want to do it. There have been times when she actually didn't do it. There have been times when she excelled above everyone else. But finally, this is the time, when she's through with it all.

I'm so excited for her and for us and our life for the rest of this year before we move to Saudi. I also kinda wonder: "What will she do now?" Homework was the thing that kept her busy. I mean, of course there were other things but it was mainly that. Although, I also think that now she'll be able to sleep do much better. She can go to bed earlier. She doesn't have to stress so much about grades and all that good crap. She can relax. 

That's why I'm excited and happy for her. Her graduation is way bigger than when my father graduated because it's been 5 years in the making and it's finally here.

So, since she won't be able to go to her graduation party because it's in Iowa(or somewhere over there), we are actually throwing her a surprise graduation party. We're pooling all our resources and getting help from our grandparents an aunts and uncles and we're really hoping to make this a special event, dedicated solely to her. 

So this is pretty much it, I wish her the best, and I love her, and I congratulate her a million times on finally graduating. 

Signing off for now, sayonara, ma'a salaama, annyeong, adiós, au revoir, goodbyeeeee!!! 

Sumiyya <3