Cup of tea with Aisha

 Assalamu aleikum wa rahmatullah all :) how r u? I have had something to do every day this week, which is good. It's good to be a bit busy sometimes. I'm a bit tired, but I had to come see you guys :) and make a cuppa of course, some silver tea. ... I've gotten out of my comfort zone this week, by going to new places and also been out in the evening time, which I normally avoid. This is what happens easily to anxious people, they start to avoid certain places etc. So, as I want to treat myself and not in that good way, but maybe good in a long run -way, I occasionally do things I don't like to do but which are good for me. And of course there's a greater good: I met a sister I haven't seen in a while, and her toddler too, ma sha Allah. It was nice to catch up and meet face to face. I'm more active online, but I want to be more active overall and enlarge my circles. After all I can't live just in my home-market-home life forever, I need to do things and g...

 Assalamu aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh dears :) how did your weekend go? This could be an aw27 style post, but it's not. Today, like every day, we focus on the everyday things and experiences > consuming. So today, we finally went to the Winter Garden here in Helsinki. The weather was warm, and we had matching sweaters, so a bit too warm, but a nice day still, hehe.  ... The Winter Garden is small but a very precious spot close to Pasila and Töölö. It's free, that's nice too. It has three different rooms full of plants, which are actually very common houseplants but grown for years, probably decades. Cacti, palm trees, flowers.. and a little pond with koi fish living in :) Then there's a rose garden outside. Beautiful place. Of course this time of the year the flowering plants and the roses outside had seen their best days already, but the sunshine mended the flaws. I recommend! We've had some ups and downs, so spending time together and going on a date f...

 Assalamu aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh :) how are u? I just made a cup of 'hopeatee', in English 'silver tea'. It's a warm drink often introduced to us as kids by our grandmothers. A drink which simply has hot water, honey and milk. It's not bad at all :) I am following a diet, and also want to reduce my caffeine intake, so this is a good alternative. I have been a bit busy, doing regular things, nothing special. Household chores and grocery shopping. ... Generally the start of the week has been good, alhamdulillah. The anxiety is there, as always, but more at the back of my thoughts. I can do things and go to places, and it's so relieving. Today was clearly a colder day, autumn is here. So should we go to autumn favorites? :) 1. Shea butter My go-to moisturizer. Starts to get extra handy now when the weather changes. Cold means dry skin, so I usually use shea butter to moisturize my skin, usually after shower. It's best to apply as soon as possi...

 Assalamu aleikum wa rahmatullah all :) how did your weekend go? Alhamdulillah. Today I had so good time with my friends. We had some fresh baked apple pie with vanilla sauce, and good talks about everything, just like it is best. :) Then on my way home I went to a nepalese restaurant to get a dinner for myself, and accidentally bumped into one old friend. We haven't seen each other in few years, and so much has happened. In sha Allah we'll meet again soon :) I came home through a dark forest, called my husband and slipped in the mud with my white sneakers.. when I came home, the first thing my husband did was taking my shoes and washing them. He is so sweet and he really goes an extra mile helping me. Princess treatment is not always fancy dinners and gifts, even thought that's nice too. But it might also be a filled water boiler, found in the kitchen ready when I come home, knowing well that the first thing I always do is make a cup of tea.  ... I have had very sweet enco...

 Assalamu aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh all :) how have u been? I've been fighting against the anxiety and I think I'm winning, alhamdulillah. I had to cancel my participation to a sisters meeting, but I try to go to the mosque tomorrow in sha Allah. So today I had other plans.. I got a gift card, so I bought a gift for myself. Got a gift for hubby too. And then I went to market. After I got home, it started to rain like someone would've just snap their fingers, full rain.  ... There has been a lot of causes getting visibility again in social media. I feel ashamed how easy it is to just live in a little bubble, enjoying all the comforts in life, and forgetting what the reality is for millions and millions. I'm glad these platforms like Tiktok can give voices to the people who need be heard. It's heartbreaking to listen, but we must. There's so much pain than can't be just set aside because we wanna have a nice brunch or something. I'm not claiming...

Assalamu aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh dears :) how's your weekend going? I planned yesterday evening a walk for today, but the weather was looking so grey I decided to stay today just home. I treat my anxiety with a happy pill, prescribed one, and after few cups of morning coffee I changed to my regular green tea, so I have something to sip while I write.  ... I'm feeling optimistic. I want to thank all of you who made du'aa for me, it helped, alhamdulillah. A prayer never goes to waste. I feel a lot more grounded and stable. Yesterday I even wore my new abaya to go do groceries, and it felt so good. Little steps.  I've been trying to think about the connection with the hijamah and my mood. I was expecting to feel better overall afterwards, but even though physically I feel light, my mood has been so low and anxious, and I've had very dark thoughts. It might be that these two aren't connected, but also I thought maybe after cleaning the physical heart fr...