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School Bag Tag

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The day we got back from our vacation we claimed V’s school books and uniform, yes we are excited.

V has a total of 10 books which I have yet to label and cover. Book cover used here is very different from the book cover we use back home. A mom friend advised me to cover a dummy book on my first try and do it slowly.

I’m looking for ways to personalize book labels and bag tags, doing crafts is just not my thing, I can only do one if there’s an instruction (with illustrations please) right in front of me. That’s why I’m happy that I came across Jill’s blog – Controlling my Chaos, she’s a teacher with two lovely daughter, I absolutely love how she organize things and how she makes things pretty. Anyway, I got this  bag tag idea from Jill I don’t have any digital scrapbook software instead I used MS powerpoint, I have yet to find a wood and a Mod Podged mentioned on the post.

Any tips you’d like to share for a 1st time school mom?

Vacation mode

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V all set for vacation

1 more sleep and we’re on vacation! I’ve been busy making list of things we need to bring: travel documents, hotel reservations, medical papers, government records, and emergency numbers.  Clothes – done. Now what else?

Stay safe everyone!

Fresh Fraisiers for July Daring Bakers

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Fresh Fraiser Cake

20 something Jana of Cherry Tea Cakes was our July Daring Bakers’ host and she challenges us to make Fresh Frasiers inspired by recipes written by Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad Robertson in the beautiful cookbook Tartine. The day the challenge was revealed I was both scared, excited and full of questions – what if I don’t find the ingredients, what if I won’t be able to complete or if I totally fail?

I stumbled upon Daring Bakers way back 2006 I applied, got accepted then I backed out and didn’t once again got the nerve to join the group, guess life back then was well kinda complicated.

Daring Bakers Fresh Fraiser

Here I am 5 years after my first attempt to be a Daring Baker actually completing a challenge but waited the last minute. Yes, I was studying the recipe for weeks and only managed to work on the challenge yesterday because my phone reminded me of the deadline. Lazy lazy me.

This is my first time to incorporate fresh fruits on a cake, reading how to make Fresh Fraisier made me miss my Mama who absolutely love fruits on her cake. She’d stare at the beautiful fruit cake dessert and cherish every bite. I just hope I can squeeze some time to make this for her on our vacation.

FraisierCakeChocolateGanache

As I take out the cake Vierte requested if he can put sprinkles and chocolate which led me to make a chocolate ganache that we spooned over the sliced cake. Since the strawberries were not that sweet the ganache somehow added a bit of twist to the fraisiers freshness.

I absolutely had fun completing this Fresh Fraisier challenge while thinking about my Mama and celebrating FIA’s 1st birthday.

Once again a Yummy Happy Birthday to my fellow UAE Food Bloggers! Enjoy some virtual Fresh Fraisier slice.

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Happy Birthday UAE Food Bloggers (aka FIA)!

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Happy 1st Birthday FIA!

A special yummy birthday post for a food loving and equally beautiful 56 talented UAE Food Bloggers!

 

My once a upon FIA story began when I commented and joined Rajani’s (eatwritethink) blog giveaway April this year.

 

MyNappytales started as a baby-mommy blog then I stopped when we moved here for Mr. C’s work, fast forward to March this year I decided to write about food and once again I found time to blog. I actually first virtually met Kari and Sandy when Vierte had some chicken and soup craving which led to visiting other UAE base bloggers. I didn’t know then that FIA existed.

 

After 3 food related post Rajani asked if I wanted to join a UAE food group without hesitation I said YES. Arva (iliveinafryingpan) fried up an overwhelming welcome message (made me smile ear to ear) and introduce me to the group FB page.

 

I already got to meet some of them at the Farmers Market for some photography lesson, baked our goodies at BakeFestDXB, lined up at Tavola to meet Martha Stewart, and just recently went on a food safari at Atlantis. From finding one food item to restaurant recommendation to photography tips each one helps.

 

FIA added spice to my boring SAHM life, everyday I read and learn a thing or two on each blogpost.

 

Besides winning the blog giveaway I aslo won a new set of friends. I’m so happy to be among happy delicious people.

Happy Birthday 1st birthday Famished In Arabia!

 

Hop on to Ms. FryingPan’s  post here for some FIA history.

Planning Vierte’s Room

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Vierte’s birthday will be in a couple months, when he reached 3 years old last year Bana and I had been discussing to buy V his own bed and hopefully when we get to move to a two bedroom flat, his very own room.

Before I gave birth to Vierte we have prepared a baby nursery corner for him inside our bedroom with the intention for him to sleep on his crib. Bana was not with me when I gave birth he was working overseas at Qatar that’s why we decided that I continue staying with my Auntie.  On our first night back home I let Vierte sleep on his crib, but oh my I was restless and kept checking on him plus I was breastfeeding too. After a week with no proper sleep for us I decided to let him sleep beside me, easier for me to check that his breathing (paranoid after reading about SIDs) and nurse him.

Aside from planning V’s room we also have to consider the possibility of sharing the space with a sibling.  I came across this beautiful baby nursery with dark grey painted walls that brings out the colorful decorations pop at Unique Baby Gear Ideas website. Both Bana and little V hope that we have another boy but still we have to consider a baby girl. Hold on I’m not pregnant yet I’m just planning V’s room.

I still have 6 months to plan the room taking into consideration existing toys we have and find the right space and slowly talk to V in giving up some of them. One design tip is to recycle things, if only I could ship all of V’s baby nursery stuff here from Manila.

It’s nice to see photos of real baby nursery along with stories on what inspired the parents and how they planned and where they bought the things.  My favorite among the boys theme are Sports, Nascar and finally the Dr Suess nursery theme; as for the girls theme Ella’s Sweet Cherry Blossom is on the top, beach and surf theme.  And when the time comes that your kid outgrows the theme the fun once again begins 🙂

Bliss at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai

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My Bana had a conference at Atlantis The Palm last week and we didn’t let the opportunity pass to stay in one of the most expensive hotel here in Dubai for free. The Bana initially suggested that we stay only on the last night thinking that we would get bored (boredom = more expense) since he will be in the conference the whole day and can’t even join us for dinner.

Atlantis Palm Dubai

Checked-in at Tuesday to one of Deluxe Guest Rooms which had 2 queen size beds. Sadly I was not able to take any pictures of the room, you can view it here instead from the Atlantis website. Since it’s before Ramadan the hotel was fully booked as Arab families flew from other Middle East country to Dubai to enjoy some time with their family and probably go shopping as well since it’s DSS. Staying at Deluxe Room will cost AED850 with full access to Aquaventure, Lost Chambers and a free day pass at Kids Club. A family friend who works on the same company as Bana also stayed in the hotel with us. The wife J and I decided that for the first night instead of swimming we walk around the hotel to appreciate the interiors and then to Lost Chambers.

Atlantis The Palm Lost Chambers

It was our first time inside the Lost Chambers and we all enjoyed looking at 65,000 colorful marine animals. The kids even got to touch some fish, Lost Chambers staff were willing to answer all our questions, it would have been much nicer if information on the marine animal was provided on the side of the aquarium.

Atlantis the Palm - Lost Chambers Aquarium

Our favorite among them were the big fish, and jellyfish. Vierte and I visited Lost Chambers 3x and only once with Bana.

RedJellyFish

Vierte was excited to show his Dad all the marine animals like a tour guide pointing and describing each of them.

Atlantis Lost Chambers - Petting Fish

Every after breakfast we frequent both Royal and Zero Entry Pool have lunch take a nap and go back swimming again. We kept ourselves busy swimming for three straight days.

Atlantis The Palm - The Edge

Vierte and I had lunch at The Edge located beside the Royal Pool, we ordered Malaysian Chicken Curry and Grilled Chicken with Mash Potato and Corn. Little foodie man was so hungry swimming all day that he requested the kind waiter to please cook it fast. The Malaysian Chicken Curry with Coconut rice just had the right spice that made me enjoy it even more and Vierte only had praises for his Grilled Chicken that he finish everything on his plate.

Swimming at Aquaventure, Royal Pool, and Zero Entry Pool

Swimming at Aquaventure, Royal Pool, and Zero Entry Pool

While we did enjoy swimming Vierte really wanted to swim with the dolphins. He was still underage to swim with them he can only do a photo session but it was quite expensive at AED 295 for a 30 minutes encounter.

Dolphin Bay, Atlantis the Palm

 Good thing we were able to see the dolphins on our visit to Dolphon Bay since there were three groups having an encounter. He settled with the photo below for now but still insisted that he was a big boy and can swim with the dolphins on his birthday – 4 more birthdays to be exact.

Atlantis the Palm Aquaventure Big Bucket

We spent our last day at Aquaventure which we had free access even if we checked out that morning. The facility opened at 10am till 6pm, hotel guests can borrow towels and life vest if you wish to rent a locker which we did it costs 40Dhs.

Aquaventure water fun

Vierte didn’t like the slides and preferred the torrent and waves ride which we did four times and requested to swim at the big pool after.

We didn’t escape Dubai heat but we sure did have 4 days of bliss at Atlantis. Till our next hotel life (for free?) we are settling back in the comforts of our sofa. Be sure to visit Atlantis The Palm when you’re in Dubai.