Introspection of my wish-list from 2012

Self development is key to human evolution. 
Sometimes all is takes is just writing down a list of things you desire the most. As you do this you are expressing to the universe what it is that you want. 
This is the first step to your goals and dreams manifesting themselves. We as human beings have tremendous potential! We just need to gain tools to discover our inner potentials and then exploit them.
When I look back at this wish list 4 years ago, I can't help but to be grateful to see that although I have grown a lot, I remain fundamentally true to myself. My wish-list is still quite relevant to my life. Alhamdoulilah.

Let's make a quick review and see where I am at today. I will make some comments next to them.


My wish-list from 2012:

1. faith and guidance from my Creator (always) 
  This is still quite relevant Alhamdoulilah


2. happiness  Alhamdoulilah, I was not really happy back then, but today Praise the LORD I am HAPPY!!!

3. simplicity  I am still quite basic and I adore simplicity. In fact some of my new goals require more simplicity of me!!!


4. peace (body, mind, soul)  I am still working on this, but it's still in progress. I have learned so many tools on developing peace of mind and stillness through meditation, yoga, prayer, study circles ect... I still need to get in shape in terms of exercise but we are working on this.... In terms of feeding my soul, I am still working on this... I want to read more.. especially on spirituality.



5. fun Now for  this one!!!! I have got to admit that... being a grown up sucks sometimes, cause it's difficult to find time for FUN. I have got to find ways to have more fun! Cause yes it is still a priority for me.. I don't care what people say, there is still a CHILD in me that does not want to GROW UP!


6. travel+discoveries  Alhamdoulilah since then I have travelled ALONE to Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Kosovo, Zimbabwe, and the United States!!!


7.  a Master's Degree  YAAY!!!! I have got to tap myself on the back for this one, cause lord knows it was not EASY. It took a good two and half years to complete this degree half there half online, while still working, got married in between, got pregnant, had a baby ect.... Alhamdoulilah.. I completed an MS in Environmental Sciences and Policy with a concentration in Environmental Management from Johns Hopkins University.

8. a small family  I am blessed and highly favored as they say, I am happy I found true LOVE. The man of my dreams, walked into my life and just like this, gave me life again, and a reason to be excited about life! He asked for my hand in marriage, and I said YES! Today, Alhamdoulilah, we are happily married and have a beautiful bundle of joy! My baby boy MAK! a.k.a. the "Russian Destroyer".... (in tears from laughter)

9. at least 3 published books  I am NO WHERE NEAR from reaching this GOAL although I have tried. I don't think I am quite ready yet. Let's give it more time.

10. a non-profit Organization  to empower people in all aspects  HMMM yeaa about that!!! We are still working on that. 

I am back!

Greetings to all,

This blog will be short. But I just wanted to let the followers of this blog that I am BACK!
Alhamdoulilah.  When I read the blogs I wrote 4 years ago, I realize that my passion still lies here.
Although I am not the greatest tech person. I will try as best to keep blogging to inspire.

Still sticking to the motto... 100% NATURAL to live a sane and pure life!

Peace and Blessings to you all
Fatey

Healthy eating ;) What does it really mean? Part I

Greetings Beautiful People,

I am definitely not a nutritionist, but I can say that I am very health conscious and I have been blessed with a family who values healthy eating options and alternatives.Alhamdudilah

My mother, sisters and I are constantly on the lookout for the newest studies on healthy eating and the ones that make the most sense. My mother is an non-certified nutritionist lol, and my older sister a medical student. I on the other hand, am an environmentalist interested in anything related to healthy, and sane environments; therefore, I love healthy food, and eating right.

You know what is funny? but really sad. Is that some people (usually wealthy ones) brag about "eating healthy". They are constantly watching their calories,by eating more veggies, salads, fruits and whole grains. Some even go out to farmer's markets and  say they prefer "fresh foods".
Those are all great initiatives, but  some of these same people who so called "ate healthy" still ended up developing different types of health problems, like thyroid, diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancers and more!
 In other words, their "choice" did not really make an exceptional difference (in the long run) in the fate of their health.

                       If you care about your health, then this post might be helpful!

So...based on my observations, I conclude that in order to consider yourself eating healthy you've got to include the following criteria.

 PART I:

Minimize your risks and children's risks of obtaining autism, learning disorders, diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, allergies, osteoporosis, migraines, dementia, hyperactivity. 

                             By doing the following 3 things:

1)  Minimize or exclude completely; artificial, and artificially preserved foods, food additives, artificial sweeteners, contaminated food.
i.e canned food, food in jars that do not need refrigerating.You usually find the following: MSG, mercury in tuna, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, sodium nitrate and more...

 2) Minimize your toxicity levels; by eating "organic" meat, poultry and vegetables.

"Organic" means that  your meat, was not fed  corn/poultry/miscellaneous foods and not given antibiotics to deal with their gastrointestinal diseases, or hormones to trigger fast growth and your veggies were not sprayed with "toxic" pesticides, are not genetically modified, did not grow in "carcinogenic" synthetically fertilized soil.

The Food and Drug Administration  in the U.S does not tell us which vegetables are genetically modified or not. However, in France it is a definite requirement to label GMO on any genetically modified organism. We are also uninformed (not labeled anywhere) about the levels of toxins found in our fruits and vegetables from the heavy heavy spraying of pesticides and the great amounts of synthetic fertilizers inserted in the soil.

      -You can join an organic Co-op, if you can find them in your country (We do it, here is Senegal, it's amazing).You basically join a network of people interested in eating fresh organic veggies from small farmers. You get your veggies either monthly or per season. You can then refrigerate or freeze them for storage.
This is the cheapest option.

-You can also buy the labeled "organic" (no pesticides, hormones, fertilizers, antibiotics)... at any supermarket. But make sure you read the ingredients in the back or call the company for more information on how the produce were manufactured or how the animals were reared.


3) AVOID GLUTEN  and opt for GLUTEN FREE PRODUCTS or make your processed foods from scratch.
 (many people are gluten intolerant and have no clue, but the impact it has on your health is tremendous).

According to the Mayo Clinic Gluten is found in: 
wheat, rye, barley, semolina, farina, matzo meal, graham flour, bulgar, durham, kamut, kasha, spelt and triticale and many processed foods.

Yes that means that most of your  breads ( even whole wheat, or whole grain bread), your pasta, flours, and other processed grains...

For more help read THE INGREDIENTS BEHIND, on the package and see if you spot GLUTEN.

Health effects of gluten might include: Abdominal Bloating, Abnormal Stools, Calcium Metabolism Disturbance, Constipation, Flatulence, Impaired Growth, Intestinal Malabsorption, Iron-Deficiency Anemia, Muscle Wasting, Offensive Stools and Subtle Cramps, Poor Appetite or Irritability, Poor Muscle Tone (Hypotonia). Recurrent Oral Ulcers, Severe Weight Loss.

Ok! so that was Part 1, looking at the disease aspect of our common daily diets. We should  all really take a closer look at what goes into producing and placing our food on the shelves of super markets, before we happily consume them. We should identify the harmful ingredients in our foods, and try our best to avoid them at all costs.

    It takes a lot to have time to care, but it's worth it in the end!

Personally I would rather invest in my health now, then to await painfully expensive medical bills to pay off in the long run.


Stay tuned for Part II, inshaAllah where I will discuss " Diet" and my version of the healthiest or "Ideal Diet"; not just for optimal weight, but to avoid many diseases in the long run!



Hope you enjoyed it!

For more info on this visit:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/organlink.cfm or google "eating organic" duhh

 http://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Top-20-Things-You-Should-Know-About-Gluten.pdf

Healthy Nibbles for Eid!

Healthy Nibbles! Gluten free Brownie Cake, and an Apple Crumble! I served my guests these today and they loved it! They could not believe they were wheat free, dairy free, and gluten free!

Recipes coming soon.

But since I promised you all an article on healthy eating! it is on it's way --> LOADING--->

A 100%Natural Facial Scrub

Ok,  so my crazy environmentalist/toxicologist side made me take a very dangerous venture.
 I don't know how many of you are ready for this!

 If you happen to check the ingredients behind most of your body products, you can discover many things.

 Take a look at your facial wash.

 I took a look at mine (Clean&Clear- morning burst facial cleanser), and spotted the 4 different harmful toxins.
1) Sodium laureth Sulphate (can cause malformation in children's eyes, can cause damage in the immune system, and is a carcinogen--> possibly the most dangerous of all ingredients in personal care)

2)  Methylparaben ( has estrogenic activity in human breast cancer cell structures and is banned in the E.U)

3) Propylparaben (estrogenic effects, carcinogenic)

4) Ethylparaben (estrogenic effects, carcinogenic)

                                           One word: SCARY!

Luckily, I'm an optimistic person and I love to cherish natural things. I have been using a really smooth mix of  HONEY AND SUGAR, as a great facial scrub. It makes my face feel clean, smooth and gives it an amazing glow. 

The Recipe is so easy and simple:
 It's a 1:2 ratio of honey and sugar   i.e  1 tablespoon of honey + 2 tablespoons of sugar

Step 1: mix the ingredients
Step 2: refrigerate for at least 15 minutes until it hardens slightly
Step 3: rub the mix onto your face and  gently scrub it. Do this for at least 3 minutes.
Step 4: give the scrubbing a rest and let it remain on your face for at least 15 minutes. If you can do more, why not?!
Step 5: Rinse with either luke warm, or cold water.

                  IT'S AMAZING FOOD FOR THE FACE!

I hope I didn't scare too many of you, the point is to be very observant, because the FDA approves a lot of messed up things, and being aware of our chemical exposures is one way to minimize our risks of  obtaining cancer and other health threats.

     BE PROUD, BE HAPPY, BE BEAUTIFUL, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY BE NATURAL!

Hope you all enjoyed this post! Check out the blog for further posts. My next post insha'Allah, will be on the meaning of eating "healthy"

Sahelian Pride


For more info on the chemicals check out:  http://livinganointed.com/identifying-toxic-chemicals/harmful-carcinogenic-ingredients-in-skin-care.pdf

Beurre de "Karite" or Shea Butter

Some people think its sticks. I embrace it. It's simple, pure, enriching and provides an incredible glow!

According to the Center for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine, 

"It is 100% natural and is rich in essential vitamins (A,E & F) and cinnamic acid which contribute to its excellent wound healing properties. Thus, shea butter is commonly used in the treatment of eczema, rashes, burns, and severe dry skin".Moreover, "other therapeutic properties include its ability to provide ultraviolet sun protection, maintain healthy skin and preventing premature wrinkles. The presence of Vitamin F in shea butter offers protection to the skin and also rejuvenates and soothes rough and dry skin, gives it youthful appearance. With its ability to combat the aging process of the skin, shea butter is fast gaining popularity in the cosmetic industry, and can be used in bath, beauty and body care products such as soaps, creams, and lotions. It also has a wide application in the pharmaceutical industry, such as in the production of suppositories" (CSRPM, 2008).

Shea butter only grows in Africa (accross a belt from Central to West Africa). African women are the main producers of shea butter. Interesting enough, it's recent and increased popularity, has caused it to become highly commercialized and industrialized  and it now  replaces cocoa butter in the chocolate industry.

It is incredibly precious, and valuable. Plus, by buying products like the above, you help to empower women, by supporting fair trade.

The raw version can also be purchased in the typical West African market and it is quite inexpensive. You can mix it with essential oils and have a chemical free body lotion that can keep your skin healthy for milleniums. lol


 BE PROUD, BE HAPPY, BE BEAUTIFUL, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY BE NATURAL!

Sahelian Pride

My wish-list:  Insha'Allah

1. faith and guidance from my Creator (always)
2. happiness
3. simplicity
4. peace (body, mind, soul)
5. fun
6. travel+discoveries
7.  a Master's Degree
8. a small family
9. at least 3 published books
10. a non-profit Organization  to empower people in all aspects