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Shakshouka – Baker & Spice

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We found ourselves enjoying the view of Burj Khalifa early Saturday morning after hearing mass, while waiting for Baker & Spice to serve breakfast at 8 am.

BurjKhalifa

Kids amused themselves by taking photos, going up and down the stairs and waving to Dubai fountain cleaner.

VnCatBakerSpice

I’ll have Shakshouka please as soon as the waiter handed us the menu, he cheerful replied “which one, madam?” I look down on the menu,  I indeed had 3 choices on how I want my shakshouka – red, green and matbukha.

Baker and Spice Hot Drinks

I ordered Capuccino and the boys shared a cup of thick Mexican Hot Chocolate – the best hot chocolate we’ve had here in Dubai.

Shakshouka Matbukha at Baker & Spice

Shakshouka Matbukha – 4 eggs poached on a homemade tomato and red peppers sauce with garlic, chili and olive oil.

Four sunshiny egg goodness served with freshly baked farmhouse bread = a good morning indeed!

We all enjoyed every bit of sauce. V who swears he doesn’t like tomatoes and peppers (I didn’t tell him dish consists of the mentioned ingredients) exclaimed that it’s one of the yummiest breakfast he had.

Baker and Spice make use of organic and local produce all year round in their menu.

Baker & Spice – Souk Al Bahar
P.O. BOX 116593, Dubai, UAE
P: +971 4 4252240
F: +971 4 4252241

Vs First Play – Peter Pan the Never Ending Story

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V saw above poster while we were driving towards Dubai Marina and asked us if he can watch Peter Pan.

After 3 months of waiting, he finally watched his first live play with Daddy.

VPeterPanPlay

He called me after and simply said “It was awesome Mom! I’m sorry you & Chloe didn’t watch it with me”

PeterPanWendyTweets

The morning after, I showed him a tweet from Wendy. Made him smile all day and kept repeating “Mama, she sent me a message. I can’t believe it!”

My V, don’t grow up too fast.

Chore Chart

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Chore Chart

“Mom/Dad, you know what Vat19 has a new toy. I did really good in school today, can we buy the toy from Vat19?”

As a rule, we don’t buy toys if it’s not there birthday and we should always stay within budget – sadly we don’t stick by this rule, sometimes V manage to persuade us (especially his Dad). We currently have 3 box full of Vs toys plus his growing Skylanders collection.

When he wants the latest toy presented online – we reply with, you have to work hard and save money to buy it. He still doesn’t get school money, he get’s to save by collecting coins he finds around the house.

hmmm, should we give him school money? At what age did you start giving your kid school money?

V reminded me to put on his good list chart (suppose to be his advent activity that we didn’t get to do), for him to earn tokens. The idea led to creating the kids their first chore chart.

For each competed task they get one triangle, collect 5 triangles and they get a star. At the end of the week if they manage to get 5 stars they earn 1 token. Each token equals to 0.25 dhs (Daddy thinks I should make it to .50), they can cash out tokens if they’ve save a total of 5.00 dhs or 20 tokens. I will then deduct 10% for savings.

whew! I hope that by doing the chore chart V learns the value of hard work and savings.

Do you use chore chart system in your house? How do you do it?

You can download  MyNappytales Chore Chart and change list as you need them.

Samsung Launching People

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Did you wake up today with a brilliant idea? An idea you know in your mind and heart, it will be the next big thing.

I have been a stay at home mom for 5 years now, some days I think that I am stuck to this mommy routine and there is nothing left for me, but I know deep in my heart that I am everything to these two little people, who I care for 24/7.

A light bulb moment once sparked while preparing Little Miss lunch and assisting V on his homework,the idea got me all excited. Why in the world did I just think about it now! I’m sure it will be the next big thing!

Then, reality slowly creeps in, questions & doubt slowly clouds my thoughts.

How in the world will it work? Will someone even care to listen? And will they even believe in it, believe in me?

Then, after having a cup of coffee, I (you) shrug it off as silly.

DON’T!

Rephrasing what Dr. Seuss’s said “A dream or idea is something, no matter how small.”

Samsung has a new project called “Launching People” which gives each person a chance to be heard. A platform where we are given a chance to present our idea no matter how small or silly it may seem.

Samsung’s Launching People mentorship competition might just be the big break you are waiting for! Competition has been extended till March 15, 2014, submit your ideas via Launching People’s Facebook app in English and Arabic.

 

You have a chance to work with four mentors: Reema Al Banna (Fashion), Dino Varkey (Education), Mohammed Saeed Harib (Invention), and Fadi Malas (Start Up).

Don’t hesitate.

Get ready and turn that spark into one bright light!
Read more about Samsung’s Launching People here.

 

We all have passion & dreams.
Share your idea here and Samsung can help you make it happen!

 

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.

Wheat Free Snacking

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I can’t remember the last time I shared a recipe here. That doesn’t mean that I’ve been slacking on kitchen duties, I do have 3 people living with me who are constantly in need of something to eat.

Grace introduced me to wheat free world, I tired doing it for 3 weeks and was really happy with how my body reacted to wheat elimination. No sudden headache, and didn’t feel bloated or lazy are some of the noticeable changes during the 3 weeks. I’ve been trying to not indulge in any food with wheat, which is a hard for me since I love to snack on bread and crackers. To solve this snacking problem, I’ve been baking wheat free goodies.

Here are some of the wheat free recipes I’ve tried and really enjoyed.

 

 

1) Almond Meal Chocolate Chip Cookies with Coconut from Minamalist Baker

Almond Meal Chocolate Chip cookies with Coconut

These are crunchy and chewy. The LittleOne liked them as well and we ate a dozen cookies in two days.

2) Carrot Coconut Breakfast Loaf from Anjas Food 4 Thought

Carrot Coconut Breakfast Loaf

Anja’s recipe use for cranberries and pistachios, I didn’t have any. Replaced both with blueberries and walnuts. Mix of nuts, dates and blueberry elevated yummy levels of this wheat free bread. I’m going to make another batch.

 

Nanan

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I breastfed V for exactly two years and I am still breastfeeding LittleMiss C. Both of them refer to breastfeeding, breast and milk (from mommy) as “nanan,” a word we adapted when V was about a week old  which was suggested by Lola Alma.

LittleMiss C in her 18 months only had “nanan” in a bottle when I left her in the care of Lola Let and she didn’t liked it at all. Big brother V didn’t see her sister drink from a bottle and for him, babies like her sister only get milk from Mommy’s “nanan”.

Last week, V’s exam results and papers are back, his answer to one question on the PSHE subject caught my attention. It made me laugh and really proud.

Nanan

Question: When I was a baby I drink in a  Nanan  

I asked him why he didn’t answer baby bottle. He simply replied “Mama, Chloe and I only drink in your nanan. Please tell teacher that I’m correct, I think she doesn’t know that “nanan” is drinking milk from you.”

Saddens my heart how society expects all children feed from a bottle, when it is natural for our infants to feed from us, their Mama.

I shared the photo above on Breastfeeding Q&A Dubai UAE facebook group, this made all breastfeeding mama’s really proud.

The school/teacher expects children to answer question base on what is written on the books they have provided. I am meeting teachers next week, we will discuss and educate them what “nanan” is.

*BF mama’s have also pointed out poor grammar used in the test questions.

Family Fun Day @ Al Tamimi Stables

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We spent a lovely Friday at Al Tamimi Stables located in Sharjah with family friends Mio (ThirdCultureFamily) and Grace (SandierPastures).

LittleMan V only knew about the days activity when he woke up that morning, and was anxiously waiting for his Daddy C to come home from a basketball game. Too excited indeed that both kids can’t contain themselves to sit and eat breakfast.

We drove for 30 minutes and finally reached our destination.

Sharing some photos:

Bouncy Castles at Al Tamimi Stables

Central area where families gather to enjoy the sun, children ran and bounce in the castles like there was no tomorrow.

Al Tamimi Stables is a 30 acres of lush farm area with over 500 domestic and exotic animals. Sports facilities, stables, petting zoo and cafe are among other things that will keep everyone busy.

Falcon show at Al Tamimi Stables

Basic ‘Falconry’ class – did you know that the falcon is the fastest animal!

Falcon at Al Tamimi Stables        LittleMan V and Falcon at Al Tamimi Stables

LittleMiss C saw the Falcon and just screamed “tweet tweet…birdie” while LittleMan V was so fascinated that he asked so many questions and was the first one to fall in line to touch and take a photo.

Petting Zoo Al Tamimi Stables

Children with the assistance of volunteers, staff and parents had a chance to hold and feed animals at the petting zoo.

Getting creative at Al Tamimi Stables

Children explored creative side of things, making puppet sticks, coloring pages, and painting pots after which they get to choose a plant to bring home.

Potted Plants Al Tamimi Stables

Flower pots now add joy to our home.

AlTamimiPassportGuide

At the end of each activity, children get a stamp and win titles of Green Hero, Creativity Hero, Sports Hero, Horse Hero and Animal Care Hero.

LittleMan V didn’t get to complete the stamps, and missed riding a pony that he requested that we go back again.

"snow" Al Tamimi Stables

I know for sure that LittleMiss C and B just want to play with “snow” under the sun.

A huge Thanks to Grace for tagging us along and Al Tamimi Stables staff for making that Friday a truly fun family day.

For more information on the activities at Al Tamimi Stables, visit the website.

Kidzania presents First Kinder Chocolate Factory for Kids

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My LittleOnes and I were invited to the opening of the first Kinder Chocolate Factory for kids at Kidzania, Dubai Mall.

Kinder Chocolate Factory Opening

We registered and were ushered to go inside the theatre and wait for the event to start. Inside the theatre, the most amazing balloon artist I’ve met kept the kids and adults in awe with his balloon creations – he made Vierte a jetpack and Chloe a penguin. We also enjoyed munching on chocolate chip cookies, red Jell-O, chicken spring rolls and fruit juice.

Balloon Twisting & JellO at Kinder Joy Chocolate Factory

The event started with speeches from Mr. Giovanni Martini, VP Marketing for Ferrero Middle East and Kidzania Governor, Mr. Francois Yves Pain. A key to finally open the world’s first Kinder Chocolate factory was presented which only means “let the fun begin!”

Kinder Joy Chocolate Factory Opening

Groups of six children at a time will be able to experience the simulation of chocolate production for the duration of 20 minutes.

KinderChocolateKidFactory

Work at Kinder Chocolate Factory started off with wearing uniforms and introduction class on the ingredients use to make a yummy kinder chocolate.

Kinder Chocolate Factory Simulation

Children get a chance to manipulate machines and ingredients. At the end of every session, each child receives a Kinder chocolate bar, 10 Kidzo salary for their work and a souvenir chocolate factory ID.

Kinder Joy Chocolate Factory

We stayed a bit longer after the event, KidZania truly is a wonderful fun place! As in, you really need a full day for you child to experience each establishment that promotes the physical and intellectual growth of our children. I will share more about our experience on another post.