Hey girl hey. And boy.
I don’t know about you but the words “quarantine”, “social distancing” and “coronavirus” have been all I was writing and reading about lately that all I wanted to really do is to lie down and breathe. While I was doing that, I remembered that I was tagged looong ago by the beautiful Jasmin to do the Small Joys Tag. And I thought amidst this big issue, I wanted to tone it down a bit and just remember all the little things that bring me joy in my daily life. They’ve become so much more obvious now that I’m spending so much time with myself and family and I encourage you to think about your own small joys too! Let’s get right to the rules (and ooh new tag so new rules *blasts dua lipa- okay I’ll stop)
I GOT NEW RULES I COUNT ‘EMΒ
- Thank the blogger who tagged you!
- List 15 of your Small Joys (They can be as weird, random, and silly as you want to make them!)
- Tag 5 blogger friends who bring you joy (and feel free to say why they bring you joy!)
- Have fun with it!
I GOTTA TELL THEM TO MYSELF – clearly it’s the end of the day please give me a break
*In no particular order*
- Pickles
Okay I know it’s weird but I just love pickles and pickled vegetables. Knowing there’s a pickle jar in the house brings me so much joy like I don’t know what it is. It’s not that good for you but it makes me motivated to make sandwiches and to actually make quality meals for myself in the morning. It’s so weird typing this out but pickles are just really good!!

spongebob gets me
- Birds Chirping
I’ve come to REALLY appreciate birds once I’ve moved because I don’t think I ever paid attention to birds chirping before. But now that I’ve attempted to become a morning person, birds chirping are one of the best sounds ever and I just feel so at peace when I hear them. And okay random realization but if you whisper ‘subhanallah’ (all praise to God in Arabic) and say it a couple times it actually sounds like birds chirping. At first I was like okay it might just be the s whistling sound but the regular s doesn’t sound like birds as much as subhanallah does. I don’t think birds speak but it blows my mind every time.
- My dad’s voice
My dad’s been a teacher for more than 20 years and he just has a natural loud voice. Every time he comes home, you can feel the presence and his voice is just really comforting. My dad is a huge joy and I have no idea what I’d do without him.
- Tea
No beverage makes me happier than tea. In our family, we always have a tea break after sunset where we get together and drink tea with biscuits. I’m not even British but the Brits reading this better get what I mean. π
- Babies
Babies are my lifeeee. They’re cute when they laugh, cry, smell good, smell bad – I don’t care, they’re perfect and I just want to carry them all.

me in the future
- A small mall
Y’all small malls are my favouriteee!! There’s always one every time I moved and I used to live in UAE for a while where it has some of the biggest malls in the world but I never really liked them. There was one called Mazyad Mall that was big compared to the ones in Canada but it was one of the smallest in UAE and I just LOVED it. Small malls = less people so it actually ends up feeling really spacious and it’s not as noisy and crowded as other malls.
Mazyad over Dubai mall any day ^^ And obvi all the small malls here in Canada.
- Dhar Mann Videos
My siblings and I watch Dhar Mann together every week and although his storylines are cheesy, they just make me smile.
- Dubai indent montage song
This one is oddly specific but the Dubai channel has this ring before commercials and I heard it so much growing up. (skip to 0:43)
- Walks
I walk to school and after two years of transportation, I really missed having a school close enough to home. Walks are sooo refreshing and it makes me feel like the world is just one giant room.
- Finishing a Workout
After one Pilates video, everything in my body aches but it feels really good that I finished. Once you do Pilates for a while, you start to like the soreness. I don’t know guys – you need to try it for yourself.
- My mom’s laugh
My mom’s laugh is so contagious and it makes me happy see her happy. Periodt.
- Milk and dates after fasting
Ramadan is right around the corner and y’all I can’t begin to explain how milk tastes after breaking the fast. Like if you drink anything, you can feel it go down your throat and iftar (sunset breakfast) is such a joy overall. P.S. Literally everyone drinks water with dates but milk is where it’s at!!
- When the imam (prayer leader) recites from a chapter I memorized in prayer
When I was little, any time someone would recite from a chapter (in the Quran) I knew I’d get so happy because it felt like it was my chapter lol. Obviously now I don’t think that but I feel myself focus just a little more when the imam recites from a chapter that I know.
- Group Athkar (Praise)
Supplications and remembrance of God is something I used to struggle with but my local mosque started arranging zoom calls for everyone to supplicate together. One person usually says the morning and evening praises and we follow along but having fixed times to do them with other people has brought me so much joy. And now instead of feeling like I’m too tired to do them, I actually look forward to doing them every day.
- YOUR COMMENTS
This is a huge joy but y’all honestly make my day with your comments. They make me so happy and everyone better stop making me emotional because Kleenex is actually out of stock. But seriously, thank you all SO much for reading and taking the time to comment on my posts!!
I love all of your blogs but I can only pick 5! I tag all of you to do this but I’ll follow the rules as well.
I Nominate
Jo– Jo is a big contributor to the kleenex stock decrease and I just love how authentic she is in the way she writes. She’s funny, artistic and she doesn’t give herself enough credit for how much of an impact she has on everyone. Joy literally has the word Jo in it so here we are.
Amber– Amber recently came back to the blogosphere and she’s SO kind like how can someone be this kind and compassionate towards everyone? Her blog design is a whole aesthetic and I get so happy when I read her comments and posts.
Gracie – Gracie gives me so much hope for the future. She inspires me so much and I’m CONVINCED that she’s going to be the queen of England soon. Gracie is such a blessing to WordPress and she uplifts everyone purely out of her heart. She’s an amazing writer and she truly is a light!
Kityp0p – I legit feel like I know Kityp0p personally because I’ve been reading her posts since I first started my blog and her photography skills are through the roof! She’s always slaying and she just seems passionate about sharing her daily life on the blogosphere. Her posts make me smile every time!
Lucy– I haven’t read many posts from Lucy but I’ll get to binging asap – her comments are soooo sweet and I just love her personality and her experiences. She’s such a genuine person and her support brings me sooo much joy!
If you aren’t on the list, please feel free to do this and leave a link so I can read them!!
Anddd that’s all for today.
What are your small joys?
Do we have any in common?
I’ll see you in my next post.
Bayyy.
I love pickles too!!! ππ
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PICKLE SQUAD!! β€
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Yesss π€π€
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Great post, congratulations ππ!
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Tysmmm – you too!
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Ahhhh sending you so much love because this made me smile hard FOR REAL girl. Definitely going to do this so thank you for the nomination β€οΈβ€οΈ Also that skipping Grandma gif is back and I STAN
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No problemmm β€ I can't wait to read it! YESSSSS π
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THANK YOU, your nomination means the world to me!!!!! ππYour the sweetest and your currently making me blush( which I didnβt think was possible)!!!!Your posts are always so relatable and genuine( one of my favorites is the one about signs youβre secretly a grandma) and whenever you respond to any comments, you take time and always find nice things to say( did I mention that your responses are also very funnyπ).
Great post and babies are the cutest thing in the entire world!! There so adorable and everything they do is cute:) Do you have names that you like for babies?
Hmmm , I have never tried dates with milk( usually have them with water) but, Iβll give it a go. I mean everything tastes good with milk π
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SIIIIIS NPPPP β€ Your comments mean the world to me!! Ajfhydujfhyudisj stop ittt I told you kleenex ran out of stocks. π Tysm!!
I KNOW RIGHT AHHHH! Oooh yes I made a post on names before (https://bayance.wordpress.com/2019/06/09/baby-names-i-love-1-arabic-edition/) – quick promo but omg I can't narrow it down to top 3 or two. Okay but for girls I want it to start with A (amal, aseel, amaani) and for guys I'm thinking Omar, Adam, Zayn or Laith. I can't narrow it down omll!! What about you?
Yesss exactly ππ
Tysm for reading and can't wait to read yours if you end up doing it!
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I love the name Zayn(lol, probably because it reminds me of One Direction) and Amal, there sooo pretty! I just read your post on baby names and, wow you have a lot;)Who am I kidding though, so do I! I like the names June, Manon, and Anne for girls and for boys I have too many that I can’t narrow it down;) Thanks again for the nomination and I will definitely get around to doing it!
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Ngl I HIGH-KEY had a crush on Zayn Malik in 6th grade so it may or may not have inspired this name. Hahah yes π Oh wow I’ve never heard Manon before that is so cool!! Please make a post on baby names (if you want) because I would love to read it!! No problem and yay I can’t wait to read it!
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Bayance, Byance, Bayance! Pass me some Kleenex please π₯Ί Seriously, that comment you wrote about me- my heart was like *boom boom* not that it doesnβt boom boom but like imagine boom boom βing like fast, right, Iβm going to stop now π Anyways your comment just ahh made my day! π₯Ί The fact you nominated me – I was not expecting you to nominate at all! Like seriously thanks so much Bayance π₯Ί Am I allowed to re-nominate you back? Youβve been there for me from my early time on the blogosphere and were there just when I came back and was finding my feet again, and honestly that means so much π I feel like I can always talk to you if something is up and I look forward to your posts so much! And I canβt WAIT to do this tag! Iβve got two to do, and Iβm excited! π Anyways thanks so much again and hereβs some more Kleenex if you need it as I know theyβre out of stock there *passes Kleenex*! π And I love going on walks and the feel after a workout or physical activity! The soreness like feels good, I totally get you! We are both not couch potatoes anymore ππ I canβt wait to answer all the joys in my life! βοΈ Amazing post and so fun to read π ps. Iβm so sorry – I hate pickles! π
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AGDHYGS no problem!!! Omg someone get Amber an ambulance.ππ Ah sis you literally make my dayssss. Nooo hahah π DFSGDGSH KLEENEX RAN OUT IM TELLING YOU :’)))) tysmmmm!! Yayy I can’t wait to read it!! I need more Kleenex this comment made me need FIVE. Yasss ππ we left the potato life! Altho I do end up going back to it every once in a while. π Tysm!
p.s. HOW DARE YOUFHGSDUHUHG π Lol jk it’s all good (or is it?) π
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Awww! π *NEEE NAWW sounds in the distance* π Thatβs so sweet, you make mine too! Especially when you nominate me for awards π HAHA! Iβm sorry, your going to have to start using toilet roll π Oh my gosh Iβm sorry Iβll pay for all the Kleenex you used one day π€ We did! My gosh same (but shh donβt tell anyone π€«) No worries! π
p.s. IβM SORRY! BLAME MY TASTE BUDS! π Damn Bay, canβt keep up with these riddles XD
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This tag is so fun!! There are so many little joys in life and no better time than to share them and practice gratitude than now! π
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AGREED β€
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i *vehemently* protest any and all charges that i was part of the kleenex stock decrease. itβs total defamation of my nonexistent character that i, somehow, couldβve possibly done something good enough to do that, and therefore i request that these charges be droppedddd
ahem but gahhh you made my day. thanks so much for this, and every thing on your list was a pleasure to read through π
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*searches up vehemently because Jo is too eloquent* Looool sis say it to the judge. π The charges were written with permanent marker there’s no going back.
You as well!! Tysmm for reading! β€
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This was such a fun post to read and really got me thinking about all the little things that I have to be grateful about, and that was a lovely feeling! Love and power to you!
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Ahh thank you so so much for reading and I’m glad you felt that way! β€ You as well β€
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I didn’t see this post until just now haha XD I love this small joys idea–I’m new to blogging so I just expect to know nothing lol. The pickle one tho–I was thinking of my sister the entire time. Literally every single time my mom goes to the store and asks if we need anything, my sis will be like, “PICKLES I NEED PICKLES” even if we have three jars already. The “finishing a workout” one is also so relatable. As I right this I just got back from my morning run and ahh it always feels so good. I especially love being sore before running, you just run it off and feel even more sore afterwards. It’s really satisfying, and call me crazy but when I’m all sore from exercise I LOVE that feeling. One small joy I’ve had recently is cleaning my room. I’ve gone on a Detext (https://theweeklybeth.wordpress.com/2020/04/24/detext-day-1/) and so with all the extra time, I’ve been re-organizing and cleaning my room. It’s so satisfying having an orderly, clean room, everything put where it belongs. xD I’m a little nutty lol Great post!!
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Ahhhh thank you so much for this amazing comment – we have so much in common!! Your sister is a mood I love her already! How do you go on runs? I literally die two meters in. Have you always liked running? I need running tips! The soreness feels so good after yess!! Ah I just checked out the post and it’s exactly what I needed!! Thank you so much!! β€
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Well, we have a park near where we are staying that has a long track going around it. I find some fast-paced music helps. Somedays I listen to rock–I recommend Relient K (they’re so good! Completely clean, catchy, and superb artists. And the lead singer has such an amazing voice β€ and good hair lol) their songs "Come Right Out and Say It", "I so Hate Consequences", "Bummin'", "Devastation and Reform," and "Mountaintop" (Mountaintop is one that the lead singer wrote for his wife, and it's so beautiful and makes my heart happy). I also like listening to EDM, like Marshmello, Capital Kings, or Andy Hunter. Anything fast-paced that makes you want to jump and dance works. Yeah, I've always been a bit of a runner. But mostly a sprinter, I had to learn to love running for long distances. Running is something that most people have to really learn to love, so the most you can do is stick to a constant running schedule, find a nice spot to run at, and over time you'll come to love it. Some tips? Land on your heels!!!! You can damage your foot SO bad if you land on your toes or your whole foot when you're running, so pay attention to your feet. Also pay attention to your breathing, breathing out of your mouth is better because you can get more air in. Glad you liked my post!!
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