5 More Minutes!

Assalaam Alakium ladies!

Good morning! I hope you all will be proud of me when I say I actually stayed up after fajr prayer today! Whoot! After some whining to the Writer that I didn't want to get up, he finally got through to me and I got up. I kept saying "5 more minutes". haha You know five minutes turns into an hour when you fall right back to sleep. How does that happen really? That extra hour only feels like five minutes and if you are hitting the "snooze" or in my case the "dismiss" button you really aren't getting any extra sleep. What's the point of falling asleep to only be awaken 5 minutes later for the next found of creative sounds.

 Good thing that didn't happen today because I needed to work out early, there is no other opportunity today. This is the first time this week that we've actually stayed up after fajr and got a workout in before work. It feels great to just get it out of the way. I know if I would have given into my five minute thing I would have been writing how I didn't get up yet, again! And how many times can I write that without seeming like I'm not even trying? 

Thursday's are super long days for the Writer and I, more so for him. Tonight is the second session of the KnewU: KnewBorn class at the Andalucia Center here in Houston, Texas. I've wrote about it before here but for a quick little overview; it's a class geared towards new Muslims and teaches the basic tenets of the Islamic faith. Of course, anyone can come new Muslim, old Muslim, non Muslim doesn't matter, it's a judgment free zone. =) 

InshAllah, I plan on taking notes like I did for the last session so look out for that in the next few days. I'll try to get the notes up tomorrow inshAllah. Oh yes, tomorrow is Friday! Happy day! =) You know those weeks that short of just creep on by, well this week is one of those. 

Have a great morning and inshAllah I'll be back with another post this afternoon. 

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Sleepy

Assalaam Alakium ladies!

I woke up extra early this morning, mostly due to the fact I went to sleep at 9:30 last night! I had horrible stomach pains last night, maybe because of a gluten sensitivity/intolerance. Still unsure about that, I need to make an appointment I just keep forgetting! Ugh. That's pretty early for us over here but now I'm tired again. Don't you hate feeling wide awake at 5 in the morning then come noon you're ready to go take a nap, that is definitely me today. 

I have to go into work early today and work a little longer than usual so I have to make this post quick. After work the Writer and I are going to the Andalucia Center here in Houston for the KnewU: KnewBorn class. I've wrote about the class before so if you want more info search KnewU. I'll be sure to post a recap of the class tomorrow inshAllah. 

With the Writer's new work schedule it's been a little tough to transition. We've been eating out A LOT lately, we need to change that for sure. It's even harder on Thursday's (today) since we are both away from home from 8 am to around 10 pm. I did manage to juice some apples and carrots this morning before our workout AND pack us both lunch. I call that a win. hehe I'll let you know what happens for dinner when I figure that out myself. 

When you have busy days away from home how do you keep things healthy without eating out too much?

Have a good afternoon and inshAllah I'll see you later!

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Fajr Double Advantage

Assalaam Alakium, good morning everyone!

It's only 9:30 AM and I've already been up for 3 1/2 hours, yup that's right I stayed up after fajr prayer. My husband and I call this "fajr double advantage" when we stay up after fajr. Basically, you wake up for fajr, pray and do something productive before your workday starts. Today, we went to the gym and got a good sweat session in. Feels good to get your workout over with early in the morning.

The key to the fajr double advantage is to GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP. Go to bed at least 7-8 hours before fajr prayer. I often feel sluggish getting out of bed in the morning but after 15 minutes I'm fine (if I get my 7 hours). I usually pray fajr, read some Qur'an or study a new surah I want to memorize and get a workout in. I don't do this everyday of the week but when I do I feel accomplished by the time I am off to work.

Make sure to prepare the night before. Set out workout clothes if you are going to workout, gather books for studying Qur'an, write a list of things you'd like to get done..ext. Preparing the night before will make things easier on you, especially when you're still half asleep or don't want to get out of those toasty blankets.

Do you stay up for fajr double advantage? If so, what things do you do?

Spotlight on hadith:

"Abu Musa (Radhiallaho anha) reported: Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said, "He who The observes Al-Bardan (i.e., Fajr and `Asr prayers) will enter Jannah.'' (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Have a great day!

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~