Photo Post: Mommy & Me

It's been a while since I've posted anything but the truth is that life has been really busy.  I did however manage to take out my camera and dust it off last week and give this awesome mommy and her two kiddos a photo-shoot.  It was really fun for me and we took tons of pictures that day.  Here's just a glimpse of what I shot last Wednesday.

Aren't they gorgeous?!
xoxo,
Mayuya

It's Fall Y'all

Pre-School Pictures and Routine

This past Tuesday has been very emotional for me as I kiss my first baby goodbye at her classroom door.  Time really flies and it was really bittersweet seeing her all ready for pre-school when just a couple of years ago she was an infant looking in my eyes as I feed her.  My beautiful Safiya is finally in school well pre-school and she's growing more and more independent each day.  This week has been a learning experience for me as I adjust to our new schedule but it's been fun as I enter this next stage of motherhood.  Nothing like a little chitchat as I drive her in the morning and a little chitchat as I pick her up.  We're really connecting on a different level now that she's all grown up and studious :)

The first week of school or the first four days to be accurate I would take a cell phone picture of her outside before we get in the car.  It makes us both smile and she loves posing.  Oh my baby girl isn't a baby anymore!

I also created a little table with our morning routine and our bed-time routine to help me and her stay focused and of corse little sister follows the routine too so hopefully that'll make next year easier for her :)

Hope you find these helpful as much as the girls and I found them helpful.

Goodnight Mamas because I'm really tired after a long day with my girlies.

xoxo,

May

Photo Post: At the Zoo!

Hello There,
I'm still here and well and alive :) it's been a busy busy time for me trying to juggle so much but it's been good!

These pictures where taken earlier this summer at National Zoo.  The girls had so much fun and I captured some photos.

Enjoy!

Smiling while deep in thought

I heart cows!

Sun Bathing

Bunnylicious

Don't move!

Green!

15 minutes?

Hope you liked them :)

xoxo,

May

Praying for Egypt

Wow! I can't believe that it's almost been two months since i've last written a post.  Time flies....

A lot has been going on though and life has been busy busy busy.... 

At the end of May i went to the Lucketts Fair and got to meet Marian from Miss Mustard Seed, She's really awesome and I'll write about it soon, one of these days, hopefully.  I've also been crocheting bunting and sewing pretty pillowcases that will be available for sale soon and I will announce when and where when it's time.  I've been to the beach and to the zoo with the family and have been trying to be out and about with the girls. Just a lot has been going on and I haven't had the chance to share it.  

Lately though I've been following the political chaos that's been going on in Egypt my motherland and it's really sad.  I was humming today while doing housework and the humming turned into words and then I finally came up with this little poem dedicated to my beloved Egypt.

Praying for Egypt praying today

Praying for Egypt praying away

I pray for happiness and no more dismay

Praying for the beloved land far away

I pray for the women and the children at stake

I pray for the men that fight for freedom's sake

I pray for the enemies and Tyrants to fall

I pray for free people to stand proud and tall

I pray for the love that people used to feel

I pray for the unity that autocrats steal

I pray for knowledge and freedom to think

I pray for a media written with honest ink

I pray for justice and equality for all

I pray for God Almighty to answer my call

I pray for land of the Nile and the Red Sea

I pray for the Mediterranean I pray for all three

I pray for the Sahara and for the countryside

I pray for liberty and prosperity to never be denied

I pray for the flag that no more soars the skies

I pray for the tears that are build up in peoples' eyes

I pray for the country that I used to know

I pray for my Egypt to once more start to glow

I pray for my children to one day go back and see

The Egypt that it should be the Egypt that is free

xoxo,

May

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I'd like to wish my beloved dad a happy birthday!

My dad is the best man that I know and he's definitely the first man I've fallen in love with.  No other man can have that special place in my heart that's reserved just for my daddy.  My dad has always been so giving that he never took a vacation just for him.  He always opted to spend the time with us and to spend the money on us.

Thank you dad for teaching me how to be self confident, how to stand for what I believe in, and how to be strong while still maintaining integrity and humbleness.  

Thank you for carrying me on your shoulders when I was too little and too tired to walk anymore.

Thank you for having me hang out on your lap as I caressed your face and talked.

Thank you for being supportive and for cheering me on when I didn't believe in myself.

Thank you for being so selfless and for being the most generous man that I know.

Thank you for still being there for all of us and for loving my daughters the way that you do.

No "Thank yous" are ever enough for a man like you.  

All I can do is pray for you~

May God grant you all that your heart desires.

May He give you a long, healthy, happy, and blessed life.

May you and mom be blessed partners in this life and in the hereafter.

May He grant you the highest levels of Paradise and make you from among those that he loves and from among those that are near to him.

I love you daddy and miss you dearly every day even though you're only four hours away.

Not only are you the best daddy ever, you're also the best grand-daddy any little girl can dream of having.

Thank you for being you.

Love,
May

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Yesterday, was my first daughter's third birthday. Oh how time flies....I just want to say that:

The day I had you is the day I become a mom for the first time. I felt emotions that I never knew existed and felt a love stronger than any other love I've known. You bring me joy and happiness everyday and I'm so thankful to Allah for giving me this gift. I pray that Allah gives me the ability to raise you well and to instill in you good values and morals. May you live a long fulfilled life with much success in this life and the hereafter. May you achieve all your potential while maintaining your great sense of humor and simplicity. Finally, May Allah protect you and bless you in all that you do. I love you more than words can express and I'm so grateful to be your mother.

Then it was time for a photo shoot with little sissy!

Love you always sweet little "monsterettes",

xoxo,

Mommy

American Flag Coffee Table

This is a makeover that was pretty time consuming but at the end it was totally worth it.  I got this table about a month ago and it was in excellent condition and sturdy.  I had it just hang out and wasn't sure what to do with it.  I was thinking turquoise but that was so predictable, then I was thinking dark top and light bottom but then I've done that before. I let it sit around for about a week before I actually decided to do the American Flag, I have thought about the Union Jack but that's been popping up all over blog town everywhere and plus I'm American :)

I work pretty slow and I'm pretty meticulous but at the end it was all worth it...Here's what I had to work with.

It was in pretty good shape as you can see.  Then I took out my tape, ruler, and calculator and started measuring and dividing (that was fun for a math teacher like me).
Here I had already painted the blue box and started on the white stripes.  Don't you love my little mint plant hanging out by the patio door? Nothing like some middle eastern mint tea after dinner :)

Then I was busy busy busy for a few days and didn't take any further pictures till I was finished.  I mean seriously do you expect me to photograph each step? Once I'm into it I'm really into it and the camera is the last thing on my mind.....

I ended up giving it a rub down with some clear wax mixed with a gel stain.
So here's the after shots!

I didn't have any star stencils so I traced a star off the computer screen from google images.  I then transferred the star on card stock paper and cut it out with an exacto knife.  That's it I had my own homemade stencil :)

I really like how it turned out! I'll probably go ahead and give the top a poly coat for extra protection.

I love how the American flag and just country flags in general really go with any decor style.  Flags are truly timeless additions to any decor.

Please show some love and let me know what you think.... Any Americana projects on your to do list?

xoxo,

May

I'll be linking up to the following parties:

Photo Post: Vintage China

I've been busy busy busy refinishing furniture this past week and have tons of projects going on.  I actually found some awesome pieces on craigslist yesterday and they are happily hanging out in the garage.  I bought all of the pieces from the same girl and she had some great stuff around her house. I actually like her too and we got to chit chat about furniture and randomness. Don't you just love when you meet neat people that share snap shots of their life with you.  I believe you meet anyone and everyone for a reason. Anyway, these makeovers will be shared as soon as possible.

To take a break from all the brushes and waxes today I decided to take out my camera and shoot some of my vintage china.  I have a lot of china but not a lot of vintage china so I'm slowly increasing my collection.  I'm happy with how the pictures came out so here's some eye candy!

How about you guys? do you collect vintage china? or vintage anything for that matter? Would love to here from you.

xoxo,

May

Painted High Side Table/Entry Table

This table is another project from this weekend...notice I say "another" because it's surly not the last...I've been super busy painting this weekend and it was so much fun..

Anyway, this table is a Drexel Furniture high table.  The top was pretty scratched up so I stripped it...If only I knew how yucky stripping was, I would have just sanded away...There was a sticker on it that said "Property of US Government" which I though was charming so I went ahead and stuck it on the bottom in an effort to preserve it and protect it from the paint.  :) yeah I'm sentimental like that..

Here's the before! More masculine then the Queen Anne Table and the finish is too!

The top had a very thin layer of veneer so I stripped it to the wood...

 I painted it this blue color but kept the drawer and the top stained.

blurry but ok :)

I then gave the top another color wash in blue and some dark wax.

The height of this table makes it perfect for an entry way, and so does the drawer and the shelf.
So how do you like? Show some love!
xoxo,
May

I'm linking up to these parties: