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Rainforest Cafe

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Eat, watch fountain show, visit footlocker, and say “Hi” to the crocodile – sums’ up our visit to Dubai Mall.

Crocodile! In the mall? Yes, a big one welcomes mall visitors as they pass by Rainforest Café.

This is our second time dining in the café and on both visit we celebrated something special. First visit was to celebrate V’s 3rd birthday and this time to congratulate him for doing a good job in school.

Thursday morning we told him that Dad and I had a surprise because he is a super big brother and for doing good in school. He immediately though of his SkyLander Giants collection and started talking about the characters he wants to buy. I told him it was not a toy but we are sure he’s going to love the surprise.

V was obviously excited that even the bus nanny told us that he can’t stop talking about the special surprise gift we have for him, he played a guessing game with his bus friends.

We walked our usual Dubai mall trail and when he saw me stop right in front of the crocodile (or is it an alligator) V gasped “Oh! I know! We are going to eat here?! It’s my surprise?!”

V got to choose where to sit and of course he wanted to sit near the fishes.  Inside Rainforest Café you get a good view of the Dubai Mall aquarium, one of the divers welcomed us with a wave.

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photo captured using FujiFilm X20

Our table was near the aquarium across the rainforest animals which was just perfect for us to enjoy a “jungle animal show” which happens every 30 minutes. During this time the animals (monkeys, elephants, and snakes) come alive making noises along with the sound of rain and thunder. LittleMiss C was screaming with them as well hehehe.

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photo captured using Iphone 5 Panorama

Our server for the night, Abegail took our orders and suggested to have V’s food serve along with the appetizer that we ordered. Manager for the night Mr. Mohammed made sure that we were comfortable, he also did visit other guests as well.

Appetizer: Pita Quesadillas

Daddy C and I enjoyed every bite the filling was full of meat, cheesy and tasty. I didn’t mind the thickness of the pita bread but Daddy C would have liked a thinner bread.

RainForestAppetizer

photo captured using FujiFilm X20

V’s Kid Meal: Poppin’ Shrimp

The meal came along with a Apple juice that was served in a spill proof cup. V enjoyed his shrimps and finished the whole bowl and described it as “crunchy outside, soft and yummy inside”

RainForestKidMeal

photo captured using FujiFilm X20

Mom’s Main Dish: TBone Steak

Daddy C mistakenly requested medium well (I prefer med-rare) but surprisingly the “done-ness” of the steak was tender enough for my liking despite it being med-well. I also ordered Mango Monkey juice drink.

RainForestCafeTBoneSteak

photo captured using Iphone 5

Daddy’s Main Dish: Steak and Shrimps

Daddy C ordered the winning dish on our table, he particularly enjoyed the buttered shrimp.

RainForest Main Steak & Shrimps

photo captured using FujiFilm X20

V also helped himself with a few bites of my steak and Dad’s shrimp and vegetables. LittleMiss C had corn and peas which I prepared at home or her dinner.

We didn’t have any room for dessert but was really tempted to order “Sparkling Volcano” I guess we need to schedule another visit and have some room for it.

Mommy notes:

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photo captured using Iphone 5

  • Your kids might fancy a jungle themed party, Rainforest Cafe is the perfect venue they have a good space for your party needs. Visit facebook page Rainforest Cafe, Dubai Mall to inquire on birthday party packages.
  • For those moments when your little one needs to pee, a comfortLoo is located inside the café with a changing table too.

Disclaimer: Rainforest Cafe, Dubai Mall invited us to enjoy and dine in the forest with them. 

 

The Ultimate Blog Party 2013

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Ultimate Blog Party 2013

Maayong adlaw sa inyong tanan. Good day to all.

A party wouldn’t be complete without cake don’t you think. Please grab a slice of this Ube Macapuno Cake and let’s get started.

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Hi! I am Abigail a stay at home expat Mama residing in sunny Dubai. This is my first Ultimate Blog Party and I’m excited to meet and read about you. First a big thank you to beautiful twin bloggers, Janice and Susan of 5 minutes for Mom for hosting this event. I first read about the party over at Grace of Sandier Pastures and I just think it’s a wonderful event to get to know people across the blog sphere.

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We have been a resident of Dubai for 4 years now. Deciding to move here and leave my 8 years of corporate life back in the Philippines was quite difficult I didn’t know if I was ready to live a life away from the comforts of a paying job and the help I get from my relatives in taking care of my son. Looking back I don’t regret the decision I made, moving here made me into a Super Mom (but I do have my moments of tantrums which can be cured by having my nails done or a tub of ice cream).

Would you like a cuppa good coffee with your cake?

I am a Mama to Vierte – 5 years old and Chloe the newest addition who is 9 months old.

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V currently is in Foundation Stage 2 class and enjoys singing (He just did a solo song number in their yearly concert), and currently collecting the Skylander Giants (and playing the ps3 game with Dad) he can’t stop talking about them and even ask me to record a video.

Our pouty LittleMiss C has just started to learn how to walk with the help of tables and chairs to pull her up and cruise around the house. She started solids at 6 months which I prepare at home but is not really interested and would rather breastfeed instead.

My two angels are keeping me really busy and my schedule depends on their activities. How do I manage to get some me time you may ask?

MyNappytales is my escape from the four corners of our home. I first started the blog to update our relatives then I eventually met some blog friends and talking to them online is like leisurely sitting on a café (while in reality I’m a MumPacifier to LittleMiss & mopping the floor).

Enough about us, I know you still have to party. Please leave a comment and link to your blog so I can party with you.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Before you do leave grab a chocolate chip cookie and subscribe to my RSS feed and via email and let us continue sharing stories.

What are you Mom?

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Conversation with V before afternoon nap

V: “Mom, what are you?”
M: “What do you mean?”
V: “Mom like when my friend said that her Mommy is a dentist. How about you what are you?”
M: “I’m your super Mommy. A stay at home Mom”
V: “No! What do you like when you grow up?” (upset with my answer)
M: “My work before was helping people in the office with computer and internet problems”
V: “I mean now Mama! I want you to be something else like T’s Mama is a dentist. I want you to be something also.”
(By this time he’s already crying while repeating “I want you to be something else too”)

I too cried.

I’m really not sure why I did but I imagined him having a chat with his classmates with most of them having working moms and he doesn’t have anything to say on what his Mum do. V gets upset when he doesn’t have anything to say about something.

So I told him that being a SAHM is also a kind of special work and I get to be rewarded with spending every minute with them. I knew he wanted some other answer besides me being his Mum so I told him that Mommy is also a blogger and sometimes I get to be invited to events and write about it and Mommy is a baker that makes cake and other yummy sweet treats. I get to do all this cool work and stay at home with them.

I then asked him if he really wanted me to be something else and work out of the house.

He replied with a big NO.

I asked him again what my job was, and he happily replied “Chloe and mines super mommy.”

Are you ready for Taste of Dubai?

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One of the many festival that we look forward too is Taste of Dubai (TOD).

TOD will feature about 30+ restaurants, and cooking demo with celebrity chef’s – V is looking forward to have his picture taken with Jeny Morris and Reza.

We went to our first TOD last year, the choices were overwhelming and we just manage to try food from 4 prominent restaurants. That’s why this year I am preparing our list on “What to eat at TOD!” with the help of my foodie friends from Fooderati Arabia.

Below is a list of food preview they had for TOD:

PearTreeDiaries – Thiptara & Asado Taste of Dubai Preview

IshitaUnblogged – Taste of Dubai Menu Tasting

the Hedonista – Taste Teaser

Foodiva – Taste of Taste of Dubai

My Custard Pie – Simple Italian Food

 

 

Afternoon Tea Party with MamaKnowsDubai

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We attended our first tea party last Sunday held at Millennium Airport Hotel hosted by MamaKnowsDubai.

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My family look forward to events organized/hosted by Kellie – Chief Mama of MamaKnowsDubai, she always make us feel welcome with her cheerful smile. Our first one was cineMama event held at Mercato.

The weather was perfect that afternoon cool breeze and a little sunshine to keep us warm. V had fun with the kids on the bouncy castle while Chloe was happy sitting on the grass with a cookie.

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Every bite was yummy – Millennium Airport Hotel

I also got to meet Leslie of BuckleUpDubai and Julia of http://www.juliawhalephotography.com/ who took photos that afternoon. Chatted and shared a smile with other moms as well, I hope to see them again on the next event.

It was refreshing to enjoy the afternoon talking to other moms and just forget about house chores and what to cook for dinner.

Looking forward to the next event with MamaKnowsDubai

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Hop on & bookmark
MamaKnowsDubai
for fun activities the whole family will surely enjoy.

How to Renew Philippine Passport in Dubai

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V and I went to the Philippine Consulate this morning to renew our passports. Mine expired this month and V due to expire on November. Arrived at 7am to queue, Dad C was in line for us while the kids and I stayed in the car. Around 5 minutes to 8 am the line for passport application was escorted inside the consulate, this time Kuya V was with Dad. After 15 minutes Dad C called me to go inside the consulate, our passports were processed first since Kuya V (5 years old) was with us after 30 minutes we were done!

Yes we may have experienced a fast smooth process because Kuya V was with me, but I do believe that the Consulate is trying their best to accommodate everyone the best they can.

Some tips to ease application woes:

Check when your passport will expire, and take note of it. (If Dad C didn’t buy our tickets for June I wouldn’t have known that my passport will expire this year.
Book and appointment, you don’t need to get this yourself you can ask a representative to get one for you. Dad C went to the consulate to book for us.
(a) Go to the consulate to get an appointment (this is what we did)
(b) Send a private message at the facebook page – PCG Dubai and N. Emirates with your Full name, Passport  number, and mobile number.

Fill our E-Passport Application Form. As of February 2013 you can get the form here, click/point one of the box, type details and print. You can also get application form on the links below.
(a) http://www.philembassy.ae/downloadforms.html
(b) http://www.pcgdubai.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ePassport-Application-Form11.pdf

Prepare documents.
(a) Old passport
(b) Photocopy of your passport data page, visa page and last page. I suggest you prepare 2 copies of each.

No need to bring photo, they will take your photo during the process no extra charge. You can smile but you can’t show any teeth (I hate this part since I look weird smiling without showing my sparkly white gems) and ladies will be asked to remove earrings and make ears visible. Remember you will use this document for 5 years so wear something presentable and practice your smile.

Be early, you are suggested to come between 8:00 – 10:00 am. As I’ve said we arrived at 7 am and about 30 people were already in line before us.

Bring a Pen (with blue or black ink). Just in case you need to do corrections or fill out a new application.

Prepare Dhs 240 for each passport renewal application.

Bring food and water, just because I don’t want you to be hungry.

a lot of Patience. It can be frustrating to be waiting for hours but please do remember that people working at the embassy are doing their best to accommodate everyone.

You don’t really need to take a whole day off to finish as long as you come prepared. Some went without getting prior appointment and got disappointed because they were not accommodated, I really suggest you get an appointment.

Crying over the claw game machine

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Kuya V begged me a dirham to play the claw game at Lulu, we don’t allow him to play this silly game since I know he will not get 1 dusty toy out. He insisted since he never tried it once so I gave in.

He moved the claw from left to right just above the red plush toy push the button, he watched the claw move down with a wish to get the toy but the claw didn’t even manage to grab the toys tiny hair.

Poor kid played it twice and failed. He cried all through out 30 minutes of grocery shopping asking me why he failed even if he tried he’s best.