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An Introverted Blogger

anintrovertedblogger

📚Book Reviews
🌵Plant Mom
🥑 Recipes
✈️ Expat 🇨🇦🇸🇦🇵🇰🇺🇸🇧🇭🇶🇦
Read a melting pot of some interesting reading at 👇

Whenever I repot my plants this is the soil mix I

I’ve read ‘The Idea of You’ twice already. F

I’ve read ‘The Idea of You’ twice already. First time was on audio (and I would highly recommend that), and then when my library hold came through I read it again.

I think by now everyone has either read the book or seen the TV adaptation, so I won’t go into details about the story. But let me indulge you in what I loved about it.

I think what made this story for me, was Solene and how this relationship was so much more than just a romance for her. Being with Hayes, helped her rediscover the meaning of love, happiness, and what it means to be desired. For her, it was also her journey of self-discovery which, at her age can be oddly fulfilling.
I will admit, that Hayes’s character took me by surprise. For a 20-year-old lead singer of a boy band, he was surprisingly mature which was a breath of fresh air. He was relaxed in complex moments and seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. Hayes is clever, flirts just enough to keep you on the edge, and knows what he is doing. Hayes is essentially your perfect book boyfriend.

I have a full review on my website. Link for my website is in my bio.

Have you read this ? Or seen the adaptation? Would you recommend I watch it?

The idea of You| book review| Anne Hathaway| August Moon

This is what we’ve been up to during our summer

This is what we’ve been up to during our summer break. Even though my kids are teenagers, they still need something to keep them busy otherwise they resort to doom scrolling on Instagram.
Doha summers are brutal so here is what we’ve been doing indoors.

A 1000 piece puzzle! That’s been by far the most engrossing. I rolled up the carpet in our upstairs family room, and laid out the puzzle on a mat. Whenever anyone in the family wants to do something creative, they sit down and complete part of the puzzle. Sometimes we do it together and sometimes it’s a solo activity!

Taboo! This has quickly become a family favorite. We don’t have teams, but just try and see which one of us can get the most guesses correct. It gets funny when kids say ‘remember the first day of social studies homework in grade 6?’ The answer was ‘family tree’ but only me - the mom -knew that.
Go figure!

UNO is brutal! The kids have some crazy new rules which end up making someone draw 16! How is that even a rule?! And a player can ‘jump in’ before their turn, and you can double up the card you throw etc. At this point I’ve lost track, but UNO has become quite challenging!

And finally Table Tennis. Both kids love it. This has become fiercely competitive. Kid 1 came back from his first year of college and said he’s become quite good at it, because apparently he plays it there with friends a lot since it’s in his dorm. At least he learnt something in college!

😎What is keeping you and your family busy this summer?

🥇Can you guess what the theme of our puzzle is?

#summervibes #indoorgames #summeractivities #doha #summerfun

I preordered this from because Kristin Hannah is m

I preordered this from because Kristin Hannah is my auto buy author and I still haven’t read it!
Not only that, I had it shipped from the US to Qatar and paid an exorbitant shipping fee and it’s still on my bookshelf. But I know I would have had major FOMO if everyone had this book with them and I still didn’t own a copy - the crazy things I do! But this read is up next.

Though I have to say I had just read Dust Child (which was also set during the Vietnam War) and so I wanted a different read before diving into this one.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who buys books to just put them on their TBR!

#tbr #tbrpile #bookshelf #booklover #bookstagrammer

A non aesthetic picture of the reality of exam sea

A non aesthetic picture of the reality of exam season in our home. Past papers, revision notes, sticky tabs, laptop, notebooks, textbooks- it’s all there! And if your child is like mine then there is some last minute cramming sessions happening before for the exams.

It’s May and whoever you talk to is going through either AP exams or IB finals or GCSE’s or if you child is in university they have their finals too and the pressure is crazy.

I feel for the kids! It seems like they work hard all year and so much of it comes down to these final two weeks!

I usually tell my kids that they’ve worked hard and they know the content and it’s ok to worry a little bit and to be nervous. Start your exams with a prayer (dua)and just do your best.
And then I frantically scream ‘omg is your calculator charged?’ 😂
Of course ideally I want them to get a good nights sleep and have a healthy breakfast before they go, but it doesn’t always happen.

Also seeing my child head out in the morning carrying the clear white plastic bag with pens, pencils, student ID etc brings back stressful memories for me. 😂

✏️What helpful advice do you give your children before their exams?

#examstress #examseason #apexams #ibexams #gcse

My only regret with this book is I wish it had com

My only regret with this book is I wish it had come out earlier.
The author -Wallace has some great takeaways in her book that makes this essential reading for parents of teenagers and high schoolers.
This book is well researched and takes a deep dive into the achievement culture in the US and the pressure on the children to get into the top US colleges. She then writes about the mental health aspects including the sense of self worth that results from this pressure.
A survey the author conducted had 83% of parents agreeing that ‘others think that my children’s academic success is a reflection of my parenting’.

I have to admit I was one of those moms. I often felt if my child did not do well in a subject, it somehow reflected on me - that maybe I wasn’t trying hard enough or not providing my child with the best resources to succeed.

The pressure surmounts so much so that children absorb the idea that their self worth is dependent on their GPA, their extra curricular, the awards they receive etc.

The author interviewed many parents across the country and one interview that stood out to me was when the parents who were concerned about college admissions- hired a tutor in middle school, not because the child was struggling but to ensure the child was able to test into the advanced math track in 7th grade and eventually take AP Calc BC in senior year!
There are countless more examples - one of parents encouraging their kids to keep doing a sport because it would look good on college applications. Everything in their family revolved around the insanely hectic athletics schedules.

But at what cost? There are alarming rates of anxiety and depression in teenagers because of this pressure. Our children need to know they matter and that it is imperative to invest in intrinsic values such as friendships, volunteer groups which help cultivate a sense of belonging for our children. In the latter part of the book the author details how to help your child and how to reframe so many conversations that I think many of us parents have with our children.
Sometimes we know all this - but a reminder is always needed.

📕What are your thoughts on achievement culture?

I am a part of multiple Facebook groups for book r

I am a part of multiple Facebook groups for book recommendations and discussions and I enjoy reading what others thought of a book. (Yes I am still one of the few who use Facebook 😂).

There have been multiple instances where some folks have recommended books by Palestinian authors only to be dismissed constantly saying these books should not be read or the authors are anti-semitic, and should not be supported and promoted.

Very few people actually want to read these books and open their minds and unlearn what they’ve been told. But for the most part, comments are closed off by the moderator as soon as someone asks for books on Palestine because others come forward saying whatever you read in these books is based on fiction and is all fabricated.

With so many posts on social media (not mainstream media as much), one would think that people would open their eyes to the truth. But the comments suggest otherwise. I was beyond shocked to read some of the comments. Books like ‘Mornings in Jenin’ or ‘Against the Loveless World’ are difficult books to read and beyond heartbreaking.

I’ll be honest, I hadn’t read many books by Palestinian authors except for Etaf Rum until recently. But I would urge you to go to your local library and pick up a book by a Palestian author and have a read.

Most books in this post are from @qatarnationallibrary and when I went I also picked up two cookbooks to try out some Palestinian cuisine.

Thank you @the.versatile.sisters for this mug!!! Love supporting this cause and creating awareness.

The mug design was created by @jam_musings in collaboration with @ceraenoorofficial

#palestinianauthors #diversebooks #diversereads #keepreading #doha #booklover #bookstagram #palestine

How’s your TBR pile looking? I wish my TBR pil

How’s your TBR pile looking?

I wish my TBR pile was just this high. Unfortunately it’s probably 10 times what you see in this pic.
But going into this new year, I told myself I would read at least one book every month that has been sitting on my shelves. So with that in mind I’m going to tackle one of these in March.

Do you have any suggestions on which one I should pick? And how is your TBR pile looking?

#tbrstack #amreading #unitedbookstagram #bookaddict #backlistbooks #introvertlife

Do you sit together as a family for meals? I thin

Do you sit together as a family for meals?
I think I may be in the minority here (but I’m hoping I’m not because this is just the best thing!), but we have always tried to have meals together as a family.
At the table.
With proper placemats and all.
Ok maybe not the flowers that I’ve pictured unless I was loving my family a little extra that week. 😂
And definitely not manageable for all mealtimes.

When the kids were younger and had a crazy amount of after school activities, our breakfasts were where we came together to chat a bit with all 4 of us at the breakfast table. And we are all early risers so breakfast was never rushed, so that helped.

Even when the kids were in high chairs, we would pull that to our breakfast table and have them join us at meals (even if they had their meals earlier).

The kids are older now so we do dinner times together. We talk about our day, funny stories from school or crappy days at work. Basically we try to always eat the table. Together. And we never do TV dinners unless there is a live sports match on !

This didn’t start out as a tradition for our family but I’m so happy it became one. It is probably the best part of our day. Food is our love language and what better way than to share meal times together. But its not always been perfect. Sometimes kids are rushed for homework etc, but we still spend that time together if we can.
After all these years I’m so glad we do this.

I came across a post by the @thefocusedhomemaker in which she said family dinners are an essential component of a healthy family dynamic. It is a good way to foster deep connections, build relationships and help improve communications!

They don’t have to be fancy or complicated but a place to come together and share a few laughs together or cries depending on the day.

How do your mealtimes look with your family?

#intentionalparenting #intentionallifestyle #familylife #familydinner #familydynamics

I tired the Turkish poached eggs (çılbır) the o

I tired the Turkish poached eggs (çılbır) the other day and I have to say I’m in love!
They are traditionally made with a base of Greek yoghurt, but I used a mixture of labneh and Greek yoghurt mixed with lots of finely grated garlic, lemon zest, chopped dill and salt.
Next I made the chili oil with butter, olive oil, Aleppo peppers and red pepper flakes. It comes out fantastic!
Next I poached 2 eggs which came out perfectly jammy and immediately placed them on the prepared yoghurt/labneh base. Add the warm chili oil on top and serve with some crusty bread. Top with some extra fresh dill. This is my new favorite breakfast for the weekends.

#çılbır #turkisheggs #poachedeggs #breakfastideas #turkishpoachedeggs #easybreakfast #wholesomemeal

This meal comes together so quickly and is full of

This meal comes together so quickly and is full of flavor. You won’t regret making it. 💕
Be sure to save it for later

Thai Basil Chicken

500 gms chicken minced
6 cloves garlic finely chopped
2-3 Thai Bird chili (seeds removed) roughly chopped
2 Tbsp Brown sugar
4 Tbsp Soya sauce
2 Tbsp Oyster sauce
2 handfuls Thai sweet basil leaves

Heat oil in a wok on medium high heat and add the garlic and thai bird chilies. After about 30 seconds and the minced chicken and cook on high heat till it changes color. Next add in the brown sugar, soya sauce and oyster sauce and mix well. Cook an additional 3-4 mins on high. The chicken will release its own water, so cooking on high will make sure the liquid is to a minimum. Tear up the basil leaves and mix it in. Taste for salt.
Serve with steamed white rice and a crispy fried egg. Top with some more fresh basil.

A lot of flavor comes from the Thai sweet basil so be generous with it.

#thaibasilchicken #thaimincedchicken #thaifood #recipe #easymeals #easyrecipeideas #quickmeals

‘Notes on Grief’ had been sitting on my booksh

‘Notes on Grief’ had been sitting on my bookshelf since last year but I hadn’t picked it up because I kept thinking ‘did I really want to read about grief?’.
Did I really want to read of a story about losing one’s father? But that is precisely why I had bought this book in the first place. There is some sort of unspoken connection where grief is concerned - specially if it’s one’s parent and specially if it’s your father.

There is no doubt Adichie is a talented writer. She is brilliant with her words - deep and lyrical. I think I have loved everything I’ve read by her.

Adichie had lost her father during the early days of Covid and in this book she writes with intense and raw emotion drawing you into her sorrow.

This is a short poignant book and whether you’ve lost a loved one or not. But perhaps it speaks to you more if you’ve been through it yourself. Maybe that’s why I kept marking out parts that resonated with me having lost my father too. Grief is a very personal experience and it is forever a part of you. It changes you.

I’ve collected some quotes that hit me the hardest (swipe to see them). I hope they come out clear enough - I’m still learning to take better pics.

#notesongrief #chimamandangoziadichie #loss #grief #bookreview #memory #copingwithgrief

🇯🇵My first post for the year is for ‘Janua

🇯🇵My first post for the year is for ‘January in Japan’🇯🇵

These are some books I’ve read in recent years by Japanese authors and some are on my TBR that came highly recommended by friends.

❓Do you have any recommendations for Japanese translated works of fiction for me?

📖 Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
📖 Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (translated by Geoffrey Trousselot)
📖 Tales from the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (translated by Geoffrey Trousselot)
📖 Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (translated by Geoffrey Trousselot)
📖 Kafka On The Shore by Haruki Murakami (translated by Philip Gabriel)
📖 Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori)
📖The Courage To Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
📖 Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (translated by Jay Rubin)

#januaryinjapan #translatedlit #japanesebooks #diversebooks #diversereads #japaneseliterature

Not only is this the best book of 2023 for me, it

Not only is this the best book of 2023 for me, it is in the list of my favorite books of all time! Yes, it’s that good!

The Covenant of Water is a book you want to take your time reading and not rushing through. Savor every word, immerse yourself in the story and be a part of the characters lives.

I started this book on audio because I couldn’t find a physical copy of it in Qatar in June. I can’t begin to tell you how exquisite and engaging the narration is by the author himself. I finally managed to find a copy on my summer travels in Spain and then continued reading on.

The Covenant of Water is a stunning multi generational family saga that takes place in Kerala, India. We follow a family that suffers from a strange ‘condition’. In every generation at least one family member dies from drowning. And in Kerala, water is everywhere.
The story begins with 12 year old Mariamma being married off to a 43 year old widower with a young son. As the story progresses we are witness to love, faith and tragedies spanning generations.

Though this book is a daunting 700+ pages, not once do you feel that the story is dragging. The language is beautiful and draws you in decade after decade. I honestly was mesmerized by the writing. It’s written like a classic masterpiece.

I haven’t yet listened to the podcast for this book, but that’s on my list to do in 2024.

🌼What was your favorite book of 2023?

#abrahamverghese #oprahsbooksclub #thecovenantofwater #historicalfiction #bestbookof2023

Traveling with kids is always an experience in its

Traveling with kids is always an experience in itself. Isn’t it?
In the first pic we were in Limassol, Cyprus and the kids were 4 and 6 years old. They were young and when we ventured out we had to make sure the kids had snacks, water, took bathroom breaks, naps when they could or else they would get cranky. We would want to explore the city on foot, but our kids would tire out eventually. Dinner times would be early and they would fall asleep as soon as their head hit the pillow. The kids didn’t care if we stopped for pics or asked the locals for directions.
They were just happy to be with us! That’s all that mattered. 💕

The second pic is from our trip to Mallorca this summer of 2023. Kids are 16 and 18 and everything is the same - except this time it’s the parents that need breaks while walking , the gelato to keep going, the bathroom breaks and the early bedtimes 😂. Don’t even get me started on what happened if I missed my nap time! If we tried and spoke the local language or asked someone where to go, we were met with eye rolls from our teens. If we used google maps we weren’t quick enough or the volume was too high, or we walked too slow!! The family pics had to be taken quickly or else they would complain! ‘Do we really have to stop everywhere for a pic?’
But we were just happy the kids were with us. That’s all that mattered.💕

✈️ How are your family holidays?

#mifamilia #familyvacation #cyprus #mallorca #travelingwithkids #travelingwithteens #blackandwhitephotography

I hate flying! And yes hate is a strong word. But

I hate flying! And yes hate is a strong word. But we wanted to travel to another city from Barcelona so decided to do a short flight to Mallorca. With my luck it was a turbulent one! 😭
As we bumped over the clouds, I kept telling myself ‘Nadia - you love the beaches, the water - it will be worth it!’. And thankfully it was! I loved Mallorca for its coastlines, and small town feel in the center of the city. The aquamarine colors of the water and the vibe of this island were just perfect!

I enjoyed the hustle bustle of Barcelona and trying to hit all the tourist spots, but honestly sometimes I do like the quieter pace of travel with cafes, beaches, afternoon naps, dressed up dinners and evenings strolls.

🌊 What’s your ideal vacation? Fast paced with many cities? Or beach and laid back holidays?

#mallorca #mallorcaisland #mallorcagram #spain🇪🇸 #spain❤️ #visitspain #summervibes #europetravel #europedestinations

A charming and seductive city with gorgeous coastl

A charming and seductive city with gorgeous coastlines, quaint villages, cobblestone streets and mountains is Mallorca, Spain. 💕
We stayed in Palma which has historic sites, beautiful art galleries, restaurants and cafes! In the evenings we had a light breeze and the city came alive with live music and tourists walking around town with gelatos in hand.
We also took an old style train to Soller that had beautiful valleys with orange and lemon groves. From there we took a tram to Port de Soller which is a picturesque little coastal village.

Mallorca had a relaxing vibe which was great after Barcelona.

#mallorca #mallorca🌴 #spaintravel #spain🇪🇸 #mallorcaparadise #islandvibes #spainfood #travelling #summervibes #summertravel

Took a short family holiday to Barcelona, Spain an

Took a short family holiday to Barcelona, Spain and here are some random things I thought I’d share about our trip. 💕

1. I saw so many Pakistani’s in the Port Vell area dressed in traditional shalwar kameezes with families! I had to google ‘Pakistanis in Barcelona’. It turns out they are the second largest immigrant population in Barcelona after Italians and samosas are a very famous street food because of them. Who knew?!

2. Our hotel location was amazing! We stayed within walking distance to most places and we walked an average of 15k steps a day! Loved every minute of walking the city!

3. Kid 2 practiced her Spanish everywhere and I loved it! Whether it was restaurants, tourist sites, or taxis - she immersed herself in the language and it was amazing how quickly she picked up new words! And I have to say, the locals were so supportive of her giving it a try.

4. I saw so many pet dogs everywhere and they looked so loving! I want one now! My kids are teens and you know how that is. I just want someone to love me back. Even if it’s a dog. 😜

5. I loved the al fresco dining everywhere. The small tables lined up outside restaurants were just perfect in the evenings. Sunset was around 9:30pm and the light breeze made for an exquisite setting.

🇪🇸 We are light travellers for these kind of short holidays. We took 2 small suitcases between the 4 of us for a week. 🇪🇸Are you a light traveler or do you like having everything and more - just in case ?
Which one are you?
Tell me in the comments!

#spain #travelling #barcelona #funfacts #summervibes #barcelona🇪🇸 #barcelonacity #barcelonaspain #españa

Barcelona in 10 seconds. Architecture, Food, Colo

Barcelona in 10 seconds.
Architecture, Food, Colors & Street views.
More in stories and highlights.

Some places we visited:

📍Basilica Sagrada Familia
📍Casa Batllo
📍Park Guell
📍Mercat de la Boqueria
📍Las Ramblas
📍Gothic Quarter
📍Palau de la Musica Catalana
📍Passeig de Colom
📍Casa Mila, Cathedral of Barcelona (external)

#barcelona #spain #sagradadefamilia #barcelonacity #barcelonafood #barcelonagram #visitspain #parkguell #gaudiarchitecture #casabatllo #summertravel

Some books are meant to be listened to and this is

Some books are meant to be listened to and this is definitely one of them. I was a huge fan of Nirvana when ‘smells like teen spirit’ came out and also liked the ‘Foo Fighters’, but I didn’t know much about Dave Grohl himself. But after reading this memoir, I’m a huge fan! His memoir was a treat to listen to and I would highly recommend it - even if you’re not a huge fan of the music.

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl is a memoir that shows Dave’s fascination with music from early childhood, his partying hard days, his desire to become one of the best drummers, and the tender moments with friends and family. His writing is very natural and the narration just phenomenal and very relaxing to listen to - just like having conversation over coffee with a friend.

Dave was raised in Springfield, VA by his mother who taught public school in Fairfax County and was his best friend.
Dave Grohl recounts when he hit the road with the band ‘Scream’ when he was just 18. He also talks about his time with Kirk Cobain and how Nirvana became the rock sensation of that generation and finally when he formed the band ‘Foo Fighters’.
Though what it stands out to me in this memoir is that how Dave Grohl takes each moment with intent and gratitude.

This was a quick and captivating audiobook and listening to him narrate it was beautiful! He’s a natural storyteller!

#davegrohl #thestoryteller #audiobook #foofighters #memoir #nirvana #davegrohlstoryteller #bestaudiobooks #audible

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