Launch of a Youtube Channel

It’s been a little while, but I am back online and rolling back into the swing of things.
Despite my second blog that is vegetating on the back burner currently. I have however, finally launched the youtube channel I have been planning for sometime now. Right now, I am working on video game reviews and playthroughs. Rest assured there will be more to come.

My first game review was meant to be on Mists of Pandaria, however since Blizzard wasn’t quite cooperating with me in loading the game properly. I had to make a last minute arrangement to settle for something else.

So I give you my first review and gameplay video of; Realm of a Mad God.

Extended Hiatus

Unfortunately due to a multitude of factors, I came to the conclusion that my blog needs to go on an extended hiatus. I cannot give you an ETA of when it may be active again, or if it positively will. (Though more likely than not, it will)

Sadly I have so many activities going on in my life right now that blogging has become more of a hindrance to me than anything. I simply don’t have time to keep it updated regularly for now.

However, due to the critical information some of my posts contain such as;

- http://khatija.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/cosmetic-chemicals/

- http://khatija.wordpress.com/2011/04/30/whats-in-your-nail-salon/

I have selected to keep the blog up and viewable during it’s inactivity for informative purposes.

Thank you to those of you who were regular readers. Hopefully sometime in the near future I may once again recommence my blog.

- Khatija <3

Crafts for Kids; Rain Stick

Well, my recent posts have been slow due to the holidays. However, now the holidays are over so I will present you with another one of my at-home crafts I’ve done with the kids.
This project was a DIY Rain Stick with several items you can find laying around your home.
Rain Sticks have surfaced throughout many cultures internationally. From the Native Australians, to the Native Americans. The traditional Rain Sticks were frequently crafted from cactus, by inverting the needles, drying the cactus out, and filling it with any sort of noise making content such as pebbles.
The items I used consisted of;

• Paper Towel Tube
• Sheet of Paper
• Wooden Skewers
• Rice
• All Purpose Craft Glue
• Markers

If you have young children, a safer alternative to the wooden skewers or toothpicks would be a strip of aluminum foil rolled, and twisted into a “double helix” DNA strand-like form within the paper towel roll. I opted for the wooden skewers(cut), or tooth picks for a more natural rain-like sound.

1. Skewer or Tooth Pick Method;
   I would advise marking a series of dots in a spiral form down the paper towel roll. Most often times you will likely find a pre-existing crease in the roll that you can follow. After you have marked your roll, poke small holes in the roll where you will be inserting your cut wooden skewers or tooth picks. Once you have inserted the skewers or toothpicks, dab a spot of craft glue on the tube over each hole. This will help seal the tube, and keep your skewers or tooth picks in place.Aluminum Foil Method;
   Roll out a length of aluminum foil twice the length of your paper toll roll. Roll the foil in such a way to keep it’s length, then fold it in half. It should be about the length of your paper towel roll now. After you have done that, bend the aluminum foil to form a sort of spiral pattern that almost resembles a “double helix” DNA strand.
2. Once you have completed the path obstruction inside the tube. Cap off one end of the tube. I used paper glued down to the ends. After that, fill it with your noise maker. Rice, beans, whatever sound you like best. Then cap off the opposite end of the tube to seal it completely.
3. To decorate the tube, for a more polished finish. I measured a piece of paper according to the size of the tube, decorated it then glued it to the surface of the rain stick instrument. I wrote “Rain” in Cherokee on my rain maker accordingly to my Cherokee heritage.

Once you are finished with your rain instrument, enjoy!

USA Congress Censorship laws affecting internet globally

Initially I had planned another kid’s craft post for my blog this week.
However something I felt much more crucial came to my attention that I felt deserved a post of awareness. Not because I am an incredibly political person, but because the repercussions could affect everyone throughout the world that uses the internet.

Right now USA Congress is debating a law that would give them power to censor the world’s internet purely on grounds of suspicion. By creating a blacklist to shut down companies like youtube, facebook, blogsites and more.
If you are not residing in the USA, and are thinking ” This doesn’t affect me. ” Think again, considering that many major companies and websites a lot of us throughout the word are infact USA based. The same country that criticized China and Iran for censorship is now trying to pass a law in order to do the same to their own people.

Want to know more? This fellow breaks it down in much better detail;

Want to take action? Find a petition opposing the law here;
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_internet/

Not satisfied with just signing a petition and still want to do more?
Here is a list of news station links you can contact to let them hear YOUR voice;
http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/ngd4r/i_work_in_news_this_is_how_you_stop_sopa/

” If you don’t become an actor, you’ll never be a factor. ” – Lupe Fiasco

Easy-Bake Pizza Recipe!

Okay, sure. You’re looking at the title and thinking ” But you can pick up an oven-ready pizza at the grocer and just throw it in.” Okay you got me, but while that may be true. Allow me to persuade you to a different option.
Sure, you can pick up any old oven-ready pizza at the grocer or even order delivery. Let’s be honest though. The cheaper they are, the greasier they get and are not the healthiest option for you. Sometimes even the more expensive ones are pretty greasy.

If that wasn’t enough to catch your attention, let’s weigh the cost a bit. Calculate the volume of pizza you can make from scratch via bulk ingredients at home. Now compare it to your oven-ready, or delivery pizza of equal quality to the home-baked.
Yea, now THAT is tougher to argue, isn’t it?

So, now that we’ve decided to home-bake our pizza with an easy recipe. I’ll give you a simple list of ingredients to start the dough.

• 1-3/4 Cups Self-Raising Flour
• 1/2 Parmesan Cheese (Preferably shredded; Mozzerella is a nice substitute as well)
• 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
• 2/3 Cup Hot Water

1. Preheat your oven to 210C
2. Toss your flour, and cheese into a mixing bowl. Add your oil, and hot water in the center.
3. Stir well, the water should be hot enough to considerably melt down the cheese.
4. Knead dough til all ingredients are well combined. Then roll out the pizza dough to suit the tray size.

I recommend popping your dough into the oven for about 5 minutes before throwing your toppings on. This will make your crust a bit crispier.
Now, as it turned out I did not have enough fresh tomatoes to make my sauce from scratch as I originally planned. So we just grabbed a can of tomato sauce to do the job.
If your sauce isn’t all ready seasoned, do so, basil and oregano work very well. Cover your dough with the sauce, throw on your cheese and toppings of choice. Then pop it right back in the oven!
Once the cheese is melted and the crust is a nice golden brown. It should be done. Enjoy!

Reader Appreciation; Thank You <3

It has come to my attention that my blog has reached more of an audience than I initially imagined.

• First, I do want to thank each of my subscribers and regular readers. You are the reason I keep posting. What is a theatre with no audience? Just the same; What is a blog with no readers? If you’re a regular reader; please share the blog, share my facebook page for more likes. More followers = More motivation to roll out the content.

• I want to apologize that I have not kept my original quota I set for myself. What I originally planned to be a post a week turned into one or two posts a month. Now that the volume of readers have come to my attention, I will make a more conscious effort to reach that post a week quota to give you a reason to keep coming back.

• Sometimes as a reader I understand some of you may become a little more curious about the blogger. I have updated my “Making of an Artist” section a bit to more accurately coordinate with the nature of this blog. Additionally, however beautiful my children may be, I will not post photos of my children publically. This is for their protection. You don’t know who is viewing your photos, and what they are doing with them.

• I also want to express that I do have future plans for a few things. A youtube channel being one of them. I plan to make it interesting and educational. I am in the process of acquiring the appropriate equipment to execute these plans. Rest assured, updates will be posted to my blog as well as my facebook page.

• If you are not following my facebook page, I would recommend it. Sometimes I will post my plans for a new blog post before I actually touch my blog. It is easy to find, easy to follow. You can find the “like” button in the right hand column of this page.

• If you are a blogger, or hosting a youtube channel and you would like to exchange link-backs. Please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am more than happy to exchange link-backs.

With all of that said, I will be planning a new creative blog post soon – possibly this weekend! As always, thank you for reading.

Kids Craft; Maracas!

Everyone knows kids enjoy making noise. This is a fun little project that will likely keep them occupied for hours.
Items Include;

• Paper Plates
• Popsicle/Craft Sticks
• Markers or Crayons of your choice.
• Dried Pasta/Beans of your choice.
• A bottle of all purpose craft glue.

First, you’ll want to decorate the top portion of your maraca with your crayons or markers. There is no limit, or guide-line to how much or little it should be decorated. So feel free to colour the bottoms of two paper plates until they are aesthetically pleasing to you.

After colouring, turn the plate right-side up. The coloured portion should be facing downward against the table. Then add your pasta, or beans to the center. I counted out about ten pieces of pasta to be sure there was just enough to rattle and still have enough space inside to rattle easily for the best sound.

Once you have added your dried sound makers. Add a strip of craft glue all around the edge of your paper plate, then place your craft stick exactly where you want it. Placing the second paper plate on top of the first – blank side down so that your coloured side will show.
As you can see, our maraca wasn’t the only canvas to be decorated!

After you have glued your plates, and stick in place. You’ll want to give it a little bit of time to dry. Follow the drying recommendations of your craft glue. Once it has dried completely – Have fun with your home-crafted maraca!