Author: taskeentm

Ertuğrul Gazi tomb: This ain’t a movie site- so go, but go with correct intention!

Yes, it finally happened!

I’ve always wanted to go to Sogut to visit the burial place for Ertugral Gazi and some of his family members. But I didn’t manage to for the past 5 years living in Istanbul because:

a) it felt like my intention wasn’t right – this is a graveyard for a real person, not a movie set for Engin (The Turkish actor who plays his role in the hit series Diliris Ertugral)
b) the distance of 4 hours to drive with two kids to this remote town had zero appeal to me.

Until last year, Alhamdulillah we got an out of the blue opportunity to go with our friends visiting from South Africa who had hired a car and driver and wanted us to join the road trip! So having great company (and no kids!) and travelling in comfort made it all the more worth it (even if some of us dozed for most of the ride!). I also managed to correct my intention to remind myself that I was going to visit the resting place for a great Muslim personality in our rich history. Although not much is known about him- what we do know is that he raised one of the greatest leaders in modern Islamic history, Osman Gazi who founded the Ottoman Empire- one of the most powerful states in the world.

It took us around 4 hours (one way) with one comfort break at a petrol station. Total duration for the whole trip with lunch stop 10 hours- we left around 8am from Besiktas and we made it back home for kids bedtime.

What to see at the tomb site


What’s to see at the site:

– Tomb and burial sites for Ertugal, Halime Hanim, Turgut Alp and others. We made dua here and walked around the site.
– There are some Alps dressed in traditional gear to give you some movie vibes- but that’s it – don’t expect more
– Souvenir shop with plenty swords, IYI tribe gear and houseware and gifts which was great to check out.
– Sadly facilities are linited for toilets and food. Small snacks and drinks you may find only.

Length of visit : 1 hour maximum

What I learnt from the visit:
I was quite touched at the site, thinking back to what it must have been like in those days to fight for land and rights and how these amazing leaders had a vision for their people that they managed to fulfil. It’s really remarkable what they achieved and its important to teach our children about this important part of our muslim history.

Read more on this site in Sogut here

Lunch in Sapanca



What’s to see around there:
There are some other things such as Ertugrul Gazi Museum and the house of Sheikh Edebali. We stopped at Sapanca for lunch on way back to Istanbul because we really needed to pack in more value for this rather this long day out! You could drive to Bursa to make it a longer trip with overnight stay.

So is it worth it to go to or not?
No easy answer from me, sorry! I am glad I went, there is alot of significance for this site – if you are willing to read up or watch the series even for inspiration. In my case, there was a bigger picture of spending time with my friend as well for a couples outing after ages, but everyone’s motivation is different so you need to decide whether you would want to spend your time and energy on this trip out to Sogut!


Have you been, what did you enjoy about your visit? If you haven’t, been yet, is this on your bucket list?


Twenty Ways to keep kids occupied on a flight

Recently we had a super helpful chat on our local moms group in Istanbul about keeping kids busy and happy when traveling! 

Seasoned frequent flyer moms shared their tried and tested tips for keeping kids occupied and entertained all flight long (beyond screens)

20 ideas for flight

Heres some ideas to help you a plan a smoother trip with your little ones:

Starting with this amazing list from Tanja Altintas (from Germany). She says: “I always picked some things from each category but every time slightly different and with new things to discover….”

1. Packs of stickers, diamond stickers, decorative sticker tapes, foam stickers
2. Small stationary things like stamps sets, colour pencils, small postits sets and booklets, clips, and whatever I could find
3. Small boxes of playdough and a small ziplock bag or plastic box with a few tools and moulds
4. Colouring books & colourful DINA5 paper (I bought Ikea paper mix and cut it into half)
5. Two small size notebooks
6. Small magnetic drawing board or watercolour book
7. Several tiny picture books
8. A couple of small tiny toys they like to play with (duplo/ lego/doll/soft toy/cars/wooden bracelet sets)
9. A few small packed snacks
10. Mini boards games or usborne cards…. What to do on a long ride/on an airplane/funny things to do…. Etc
11. Mini activity books
12. Rubix cube or similar toys
13. Wipe and clean activity cards
14. Mini puzzles in tin boxes

travel
busy bees

More Ideas from moms:

15. I usually filled a small plastic box or plastic bag which has min 6-8 departments with the cut stickers and other things to stick on, so they could handle it without a mess

16. I’ve done really long road trips before and one thing I remember being advised was to offer a wrapped gift/toy/snack every 2hrs or so. That was fun for us both. 

17. I find doing anything together is more helpful than relying on solo activities for them, it’s surprisingly therapeutic to colour in a few colouring pages and play I-spy

18. Get kids involved in choosing 1-2 items to take along from home helps a lot with co operation later!

19. Choose a 1-2 new things from the airport. The kids get so excited being able to choose and tends to play with their new toy/s for quite a good chunk of time

20. I pack a big backpack with an arsenal of small new toys that are pretty much disposable since I may lose them, stickers, etc plus snacks, wipes and a change of clothes (pyjamas take up the least space).

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Which of these do you find most helpful? Do you have any smart tricks to share? Let’s build a bank of ideas together to save us moms on any trip or travel time!

Visit to Ihlamur Kasiri (Palace & grounds)

An oasis  of calm in the busy Sisli/ Besiktas area!

I recently went out with my 3 year old boy to spend the morning in nature and we both had a blast! 


What’s to see?

                          Spectacular palace (Entry to the palace for a separate fee)


                                        Beautiful peacocks always a pleasure to watch.


                                    Ample space to walk around beautiful trees and flowers.

                Rabbit hatch – take along carrots and lettuce to feed the animals.

                                                            Two ponds, with ducks & turtles 

Look out on my Instagram account for the FULL video of the cute turtle trying to get up on the edge next to his turtle friend and not quite making it! 

FOOD:

Cafe /restaurant with full menu.
It’s technically a museum so picnics aren’t allowed. Small snacks are ok.

Flat, stroller friendly. Good for toddlers, but requires a watchful eye near the main pond area as it’s open with no barrier.

Across the road from the palace are two playgrounds with swings, slides etc so you could add that to your day if the kids want more activity.

A great way to spend some time in nature and be near animals – a precious find in Istanbul!

Will you go to visit ?

discovering Istanbul, one kid-friendly place at a time,

Taskeen
Productive Muslim Mom

Dinosaur Themed Garden Party for a Three Year Old

 ZAYD TURNED THREE!  Alhamdulillah 

We hosted a simple dinosaur theme garden party at home. As always, I used smart ways to bring the theme alive that don’t break the bank.

{Read my blog post for ideas on how I throw parties on budget with max fun!}

Here are the elements for the party with a few close friends:

Plates & matching crockery. This has a great impact. I bought a package this time including decor, so it was all in one no need to search for different items (and forget stuff!)

Table setting and food : We had roast beef sandwiches for hungry carnivores, savoury muffins, honey pancake rollups (made by my friend Ayesha- Martha Stewart recipe- yum) , dino eggs (grapes) for herbivores

                                         

Sugar free cake, iced with whipped cream (very tricky to work with as cream doesn’t whip stiff in Turkey!)

Mom’s Tea & treats: Sugar-full cupcakes for Mama saurus + tea/coffee

Snacks: Selection of healthy-ish nibbles for pekish dinos

Water Play: We had water balloons which was great fun and ideal for our summer heat to cool down.

Grateful that it went off well, (managed their minor moaning in the morning till friends arrived!). He says he loved the “cake” and “presents”  so mission accomplished! Alhamdulillah

Is your little one into dinosaurs yet?

Taskeen
Productive_Muslim_Mom

How to see 3 museums and 2 masjids in Istanbul Old City in a day!

A few weeks ago, we were fortunate to have the opportunity to do some sightseeing in Istanbul, after months of staying local to home due to the pandemic.

I had a few places on my bucket list and decided to tackle them
all on 1 day as I couldn’t be sure when I would get a chance like this again (given having the kids around during upcoming school holidays, various lockdown situations etc!)

(Tip: don’t recommend this itinerary  if you’re a savour the moment kinda tourist! But if you have limited time like me then this itinerary may work as you get to taste all the sites mentioned just enough to satisfy your FOMO!!) but as I live here, I do also know I could return insha Allah if I didn’t finish it all, so mindset is different. Also kids didn’t join us this time so super speed was possible! 

Note: On a random weekday everywhere inside was super quiet and outside was not crowded at all therefore social distancing was always adhered to.

Destination: Sultanahmet/Sirkeci Istanbul
How to get there from Etiler: Bus to Kabatas. Change to tram – stop at Gulhane Park. (1 hour)

First stop: Archaeological Museum- we love history! Interesting to understand how early inhabitants conceptualised life and death and religion. There are also art works through the years and lots of statues. Some buildings are closed off but still worth a visit.
Duration: 1 hour.

Coffee Break at Coffs in Sirkeci. Suitable if you’re in the area and in need of a coffee fix!

                                     
Museum of Science & Technology- fascinating to learn about the contributions made by muslims in this field. Our favourite (needed more time to read and digest). There are many sections. We had 45 minutes but probably 1-2 hours is better

Stroll through Gulhane Park. Must see for a break and breathe of fresh air

Dhuhr prayers and my first visit to Hagia Sophia since it has  returned asa a masjid.

The energy inside is very uplifting and strong. This incredible building has been a place of worship for 100’s of years and you feel it Alhamdulillah. I wish we had more time to soak it all in.
Note: women’s whudu facilities are located all the way on the opposite end at Blue Mosque currently.

Lunch stop – Kofte Ekmek at the famous Sultahahmet Kofteci across the road. It does the job but I fail to see what the big hype is except maybe its been around for a long while? We bought our takeaway and came back inside Sultanahmet square to eat it along the benches under the trees. They is now a checkpoint to enter so there are just two entrances to the complex that I saw.

Refreshed we were ready for the next visit to Masjid Sokullu Mehmet Pasha– do read up more on it as the history is interesting.

It is designed by Mimar Sinan and the most fascinating (and not that well-known) aspect is that it hosts 4 pieces of the Black Stone (Hajr Aswad from Makkah). 

It is quiet and peaceful, as in all masjid courtyards in Istanbul Subhanallah. It is closed between prayers, but we were fortunate to join another couple who managed to find a caretaker who kindly opened up for us. It’s mesmerising.

Here is one of the 4 pieces of the black stone placed on top of this mimbar.  It was so exciting to witness and I am so grateful we made it there, Alhamdulillah.

Quran through the ages. So interesting to see how style changes.
Very interesting to read about what influenced Muslim rule in the world through the decades, to where Turkey is today.

There are including relics of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). I cant speak to the authenticity, I myself was surprised to see it here as I only knew of Topkapi Palace that also hosted these historical significant artefacts. 

It was also of interest to learn about the clothing that changed through the years. You should spend 1-2 hours at this museum to do it justice.

Ice Cream stop before we headed back home. We ended our whirlwind tour at 3:30pm.

Exhausted, but exhilarated!

Tip: Museum Pass card got me FREE entry to all places. 

Other tips: Be prepared to walk. We hit 10 000 steps just at midday, to give you an example. Dress comfy, carry a light back pack with you. Bottled water is available and cheap. Use toilets at museums. 

Have you been to these places – which is your favourite site?  Which one makes it to your must checkout on your next trip? 

MbyDesign
The Organised Traveler

Travel: Discovering Balat and Fener

It’s been ages since I’ve travelled across the Golden Horn for good old fashioned sightseeing so on a rare mild weather day recently, we headed over to explore the historic neighbourhoods of: Balat & Fenner in Istanbul, Alhamdulillah. I had this on my bucket list as it’s usually cited as the slightly lesser known tourist spots as well as being interested to see yet another different side to this rich, captivating city! 

Situated near Eminonu, on the European side of Istanbul, there are several buses headed in that direction and we took the 99 Bus.

Being a random Monday, there were tourists milling around but it was crowd free and restaurants were quiet making social distancing easy and feasible everywhere we went. 

Equipped with a  guide book and Google maps on our phone, we walked around the area, stopping for breakfast and later snacks (Pancake house).

Here’s the highlights from our 3 hour self tour:

Breakfast at Balat Antik Cafe – beautiful garden setting with a great menu for breakfast, coffees with fresh gozleme and juices on offer.

                                   

Walking along between the significant sights, we came across charming streets, colourful tables, beautiful settings to admire or sit down and enjoy. There are also quirky stores, really nice to browse around and support local designers and stores.                                                
Funny street art -very apt! 
                    
  

Greek Orthodox College: A really interesting story is about how when Conqueror Mehmet conquered Constantinople (Istanbul today) he granted immunity for the Church of St Mary to remain a Greek church and the signed order is in the church today. This was how Christians, Muslims and Jews lived alongside each other. 

Mesnevihane Tekkesi- musjid, lodge where sufism was taught. This is located on a rather steep hill – but worth the short walk up to see these places and the view. There is also a musjid up here if you need a prayer stop.

                                                     
 There’s plenty of cute cats and cafes here, you’ll never get enough of. Make sure you have your camera and good walking shoes! It’s a worthwhile visit if you have been here a while or on your third or subsequent trip to Istanbul and want to experience a different vibe in the city. The walk itself around the area between sites is probably around 45 minutes. Adding in leisurely stroll, snack and meal breaks and that’s how we spent about 3 hours here.
Have you been to Balat or will you be adding it to your travel itinerary for your next trip? (when safe and feasible!) Share with us your favourite thing about this neighbourhood below.
Exploring Istanbul, one amazing little spot at a time,
Taskeen, travel happy!

Our recent FOREST EXCURSION to Kemerburgaz Kent Ormani

FOREST EXCURSION: Alhamdulillah, we took a much needed nature break recently. It’s been a long winter holiday home so we enjoyed a day out in nature for fresh air and a welcome change of scenery! 
📍Kemerburgaz Kent Ormani
We have been here before, but this time we discovered more as we went by car, whereas last time we went by taxi and therefore saw just what we could on foot! Check my previous post for details
on that visit.
This time we explored these areas:


 

Lake (Gol): 

It’s so beautiful to sit near and take in. There are just a few benches and tables near the lake to sit at for a picnic, as well as benches to sit on to view though its on a hill. 

However there is a long pathway alongside the lake where you can probably find more places to sit.


Forest : We drove along a little deeper into the forest this time, where it was super isolated. There are even playgrounds here- almost for our private personal use! We had our picnic  lunch here as well as nap and quiet time amongst the trees which was awesome.


bonus : hearing the adhan amongst the trees (yes they have a mescit – prayer facilities)

Animals: We were thrilled to come across a pygmy goat family. This is nearby to the main entrance on the way to the ice-rink

Rides: always a favourite- there is a carousel, train and water car rides – plenty of options. You need a ticket (20TL/ride- bit pricey but kids loved it) 

Sahlep in the forest


Food: I’m not sure if the restaurant is was open for takeaway. However there were two kiosks serving everything from fresh gozleme, sahlep, sandwiches, biscuits, drinks and snacks. Some hot food ran out though so I wouldn’t rely on it for main food but it was perfect for snacks.

This has become one of our favourite nature places out of the busy-ness of the inner city. Just great for a day out as there’s something for everyone!

Discovering Istanbul, one fun family spot at a time!
Taskeen,

@Productive_Muslim_Mom




Lockdown Birthday : Family Zoom Party

PART TWO: FOURTH BIRTHDAY ZOOM PARTY 

With our family split across 3 countries, the best way to have everyone join in our celebration was through a family zoom party! Never did I think I would get dressed for a screen appearance but there you go! 

This was the covered pancake stack & party table (Remember to set up a great zoom backdrop!

Pancake Stack cake Recipe-  #sugarfree and #colourfree I used the recipe from @tableforfivedubai but left out the sugar.
Use a large frying pan so there’s space to flip.
Sandwich each pancake with unsweetened cream and fresh strawberries 
The cream is coloured with natural beetroot powder (post coming soon)
Decorate & eat!

Stacking in progress! sandwich with cream and strawberries.

Inside the stack once cut. Very exciting for the kids. Delicious treat for everyone.


Since we had a cake for part one of her birthday (see previous post), it was great to do something different for this occasion- thanks to @zaakira1 for the inspo and on the job help as I flipped and stacked pancakes in the morning!

Have you had many zoom parties? Let us know below or on Instagram!

Taskeen
Productive_Muslim_Mom

How to throw a kid's birthday on budget- lockdown style

We recently had my pre-schoolers (ie no longer toddler!) fourth birthday celebration. Alhamdulillah

Given the lockdown context, and observing social distancing we did it in two parts : a small party at home with 2 friends and a family zoom party during the weekend. Double the fun, double the cake!  

We were sad not to have our usual bigger crowd to share in her happy day but given the cold weather we had to host indoors and therefore kept it safe with just 1 family to join us this time. And let’s face it, my two little ones make a party by themselves already! Having it at home also meant zero venue costs and fortunately I have the space to host this way.

She chose the theme : Kitty cats which was cute and easy to work with.

My aim is to keep costs low, and fun factor high! I enjoy the little touches to bring a theme together and have also realised that keeping it simple makes it more enjoyable for the kids as they can enjoy all the elements – and easier for me (to not get overwhelmed and also enjoy the preparations!)

I rarely spend more than 100 TL a pop by being smart with decor, re-purposing elements each year and making most things myself. So here is what we put together this year :

Cat themed tableware

Top Tip: Use plates/cups/serviettes as an essential part of the decor to bring the theme alive!

I have found that theres nothing more fun for kids than to eat their favourite snacks from cute colourful plates- on party day and beyond. Therefore, I choose to spend my money on matching serving tableware (this time I got it all from Partidunyasi)  and often keep extra stuff for special snack time on another day.

For decor I printed these letters from this website to make a sign. We blew balloons and I printed a cat sign to add to a frame which I placed on the table as well. 

Lets talk about the cake – the highlight of the day! Delicious #sugarfree cake made with bananas , sweetened only with honey. I used whipped cream to cover the cake, and crackers, cranberry’s and raspberry for to complete the kitty’s face. I added kitty cake toppers to match the colours. As the cake contains no refined sugar – its challenging to work with so I have to get creative! Firstly, it doesnt rise as much as regular cake so I use a cake stand for height. Secondly, no sugary buttercream to easily cover dents and give a smooth finish – so I used unsweetened whipped cream instead and even did a crumb coat to cover the cake better! At least it resembled a kitty cat and together with everything else was well received by the kids – and of course I’m not stressing about sugar highs or lows after!

Also on the menu was “fishy snacks” (crackers as a savoury snack) & boxed milk (kitty’s favourite). Given we had had pizza for lunch earlier, this was just right to keep the kids satiated and full of energy for more play and excitement in the afternoon.

For activities : I printed and made kitty masks (free printable from here) which were a great hit! All you need is string/elastic, stapler and a stanley knife to cut the holes for the eyes. I also had a pin the tail on the cat game prepared but we didn’t get to it – saved it for later! I like to the traditional party games so we also did musical chairs which is always loads of fun for the kids.

Lastly, I used this invite (from google) to send digitally to her friends and used the same one for the family zoom party (next post)

So you seem its really to easy to throw a kids party (and stay sane in the process!)by keeping things simple and using whats available like free printables and things you have on hand already. 

Lastly, home brewed karak chai made by my dear friend Sabreen, a perfect way to end a beautiful birthday 😻

Next post: Part two : Family Zoom party

Productive_Muslim_Mom

How being grateful and positive in the time of crisis can help you through : A promise from the Quran

While studying the story about the Prophet Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) in our weekly halqa, I came across a beautiful lesson from the Quran giving timeless advice on being positive in the time of crisis.

The ustadh in the video I watched explained that as human beings, when we are in a difficult situation, we tend to focus on the problem. What we learn from this story that when faced with a testing scenario, if we want relief and a turnaround of things, we should stop thinking of the problem and focus on what would make us grateful to Allah. 
Context 
In the story of the Prophet Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him), he led his people who were tortured and humiliated in their homeland to escape through the split water. Whilst they were now safe from Pharaoh, on the other side, they were all alone in the burning desert- they’ve left their home behind and now have to face a new path and set up a new life with nothing at all. Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him), gives them a speech about how to best to deal with this crisis they were in at that time. From the Quran (14:6):

And [recall, O Children of Israel], when Moses said to his people, “Remember the favor of Allah upon you when He saved you from the people of Pharaoh, who were afflicting you with the worst torment and were slaughtering your [newborn] sons and keeping your females alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.

He begins by advising them not to be patient – but  to be grateful.  When you’re in a crisis, all you see is the problem in front of you. Its hard to see how in the middle of a life/death situation there is any good, right? Yet Moosa (may Allah be pleased with him), reminded his people and us – that a way of being  grateful is to at least reflect on the bad things you have been saved from. 

This will shift you to a positive mindset. And where does this positivity take you? In the ayah below, we are given the promise from Allah:  “If you are grateful, I will increase you. Holy Quran (14:7)

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe’
Furthermore, how much and what exactly is being increased is not defined. As when we are in a rough, dire situation we need all kinds of help and Allah recognises this by keeping it completely opened and limitless – Subhanallah!
In the context of the pandemic this is extremely relevant. We may find it hard day to day to see the good in the  lockdown restrictions and impact on our lives – however there is always room for us to be grateful to Allah for what we could be facing. Many of us have not had to suffer through the virus, we had a lockdown in luxury, or some of us who did get sick experienced it mildly or fully recovered. If we reflect with an open mind, there is always so much to be grateful for what we have been saved from.
Oh and by the way, even if you’re not appreciative and choose to complain, it takes away nothing from Allah – you only harm yourself. As is captured in this verse (Quran 14:8): 
And Moses said, ‘If you should disbelieve, you and whoever is on the earth entirely – indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy’.

Lesson: Get over yourself. You’re not doing it for Allah. You’re doing it for yourself.

So in summary, how can being grateful and positive in the time of crisis help you ?
Allah promises in an undefined, open ended guarantee that He will “increase us”. All we have to do is show one little speck of gratitude and Allah will take care of the rest. How do we do this?
1. Switch from focusing on the problem to being grateful even in the situation you’re in.
2. If you cant find the good in your situation, then at least be grateful to Allah for what you have been saved from.

This also made me realise that you can’t be grateful and complain at the same time. Go on, try it!
So every minute we spend complaining, is taking us away from drawing in good to change our situation. So really it’s in our hands – do we choose to go down the path of being negative and moan OR the path of being positive and grateful to Allah in order to attract more good in?  
Perhaps I’ll add this to the things I want to do to do better in 2021 i.e simply complain less! It’s a practical way to show gratitude as well in every situation or moment.

Being grateful, one less complaint at a time,
Muslimahbydesign