Helloooo

Hellooooo! Who do we have here???

Oh! Naomi...never liked her. Maskeena allahoma la shamata.

Kiss An Angel - Book Review

One of the first books I've read for Ms. Phillips was Breathing Room. After finishing the book I announced to Fahad I want to move to Tuscany and live in a barn house and learn how to cook authentic Italian food. (Poor hubby he really puts up with my crazy ideas) I still, till this day open the book at any page and start reading it and I get plunged in the wonderful worlds she created and I don't want them to end. I was hooked, then I discovered the Chicago Stars series, and after every book I read, I want to move to Chicago! *Sigh* I love her writing style, and the hate to love plots, they are super hot! hot! hot!. Very witty dialogue and funny, and colorful secondary characters. Sometimes I wish I could write like her ;) If you haven't read any of her books, I highly recommend most of them.

Plunged to the depths of despair by an arranged marriage to a mystery man who whisks her away to the circus, Daisy Devreaux turns the tables on her would-be tamer and soars with him to new heights.Wedding Day Pretty, flighty Daisy Devreaux can either go to jail or marry the mystery man her father has chosen for her. Arranged marriages don't happen in the modern world, so how did the irrepressible Daisy find herself in this fix? Alex Markov, as humorless as he is deadly handsome, has no intention of playing the loving bridegroom to a spoiled little featherhead with champagne tastes. He drags Daisy from her uptown life to a broken down traveling circus and sets out to tame her to his ways. But this man without a soul has met his match in a woman who's nothing but heart. Before long, passion will send them flying sky high without a safety net ... risking it all in search of a love that will last forever.

http://www.susanephillips.com/

Marina Bay Sands Resort

This morning both boyos decided to throw a temper tantrum bigger than the other when I took them out to play at one of the malls. We were in a public place, I couldn't strangle them, but when we got back home I confiscated the computer and video games.

When Fahad returned.... I pulled him aside where the little devils wont hear what I got to say.

"I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown! I can't take it anymore! If you come back home sometime next week and wont find me, don't be alarmed, I'll be hiding in some resort for a couple of days just to relax."

"You've gone crazy!"

"Exactly!" I smile knowing he understood me :)

I open an email from my brother about the Marina Bay Sands Resort in Singapore. Just amazing! Would it be worth going there? Well maybe not for a couple of days and not this time of year. Check it out ;)

How Hot do You Feel

Fantasy World & the Birthday Wish List

Again I paid a visit to Fantasy World for gift shopping. As much as I've been there I have never noticed the Birthday Wish List service until that day!!! Well the child will be given a number where he/she can make a list of the toys he/she wants from Fantasy World, and then mention the number on the invitation card. This way the child gets he/she wants and no duplicate or unwanted toys. Good idea! Right? Well my initial reaction was "3aib"! But then I remembered one of Abdulaziz's birthday party and the three identical remote control cars he got. Well half the gifts he got were not him or suitable for him. I'd rather have the money spent on a gift donated to charity. Now it's your turn to say what you think of this? Another cool thing I noticed it a sea scooter. I might get it if we plan a trip to the Chalet or something. Prices begin from KD65 - KD130 depending on the model.

Four different models to choose from.

Cool right?

Johnny Rockets

This month isn't my best dieting month!!! I've been eating lots of forbidden food and exercising less... I feel the hard work I've put in the last few months is crumbling :(

While talking about food... do you know how much I love Johnny Rockets?? Yes! So since I'm eating junk... why not go for the good ones? Fahad and I weren't in the mood to go out...it was just too hot outside, and we had new DVDs I wanted to catch up on. I was craving Johnny...its been a long time I didn't have any Johnny burgers. So we ordered in.

The best onion rings

I usually order a patty melt or a single rocket, with onion rings and a chocolate milkshake. You're not really enjoying a burger if you don't have a milk shake with it. Right? Fahad had his usual Original, no tomato's or pickles. It was the only thing we ate that day. We were so full until the next day ;)

What is your favorite?

Big Girls Don't Cry - Book Review

Late one evening I received a message from my Sis Reem "La ye6oofich Big Girls Don't Cry! It is hilarious! Can't stop laughing!" I look it up and it sounds interesting. I drop it in my amazon basket but never got around to place the order, then I look it up on my ebooks site and what ya know...its there and I download it but there was some kind of problem and wouldn't open. A couple of days ago my nephew comes back to K-Town for the summer and he has this big bag filled with books and among them BGDC!!!! Thanks Reem :*** I finished reading the book in two days! Yes It was funny and romantic, sometimes annoying, and the style reminded me of Danderma's writing ;) If you like Yawmiyat Wa7da Q8ya Dathra you'll like this book! :)

Leena may be down on her luck—but big girls don’t cry. They get even... Leena Riley has returned to her hometown of Rock Creek with her tail between her legs. Her fabulous plus-size modeling career in Chicago never took off, and now the only job she can land is as a receptionist in a veterinarian’s office. She has to be desperate to work for Cole Flannigan… Being two years older than Cole never spared her from his taunts in school. Now all grown up, Cole is still the golden boy, a sexy charmer with commitment issues and a short attention span—until Leena and her curves strut into his life. And though she turns his office upside-down, he can’t resist the animal attraction that makes him look at Leena in a whole new light…

Author's Website:

http://www.cathielinz.com/ Check out her other books ;)

Love Letter - Gaius Plinius Caecilius Scundus

Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, born Gaius Caecilius or Gaius Caecilius Cilo (61 AD – ca. 112 AD), better known as Pliny the Younger, was a lawyer, author, and magistrate of Ancient Rome. Letters survive in which Pliny records this latter marriage taking place, as well as his attachment to Calpurnia and his sadness when they were unable to have children. Circa A.D 100 You say that you are feeling my absence very much, and your only comfort when I am not there is to hold my writings in your hand and often put them in my place by your side. I like to think that you miss me and find relief in this sort of consolation. I, too, am always reading your letters, and returning to them again and again as if they were new to me – but this only fans the fire of my longing for you. If your letters are so dear to me, you can imagine how I delight in your company; do write as often as you can, although you give me pleasure mingled with pain.

Pistachio Biscuit Rolls

Chef Abdulaziz come back with a new delicious recipe.

Ingredients:

300g digestive grounded biscuits

75g grounded Pistachios

395g one can of Sweet condensed milk

100g melted butter

1 tsp rose water essence

1/2 cup of grounded plain biscuits (extra for dusting)

Method:

- Mix all ingredients in a bowl very well until it turns into a dough. Take 1 tsp quantity and roll into a ball, and then dust with the extra biscuits. Place them in mini paper liners and serve. Bon Appetite!

Pistachio Biscuit rolls

World Cup 2010

Isn't anyone as frustrated as I am with what's going on in this years World Cup?

Disappointing results and full of surprises!!!

I miss you Zizou!

Rice Milk

As I've mentioned previously, I gave up milk for a while

and I found myself less bloated, yet I miss it terribly!!!

I miss my morning Lattes so much!

Since I don't like Soya, I decided to try Rice milk which I found at Sultan

the other day. It isn't that bad in taste better than Soya milk.

It has a vanillesque flavor and fragrance, however it is a bit watery it doesn't

have that creamy texture milk has. Give it a try.

I still miss my milk :(

Art Project - First Try

We Started on our first project. Spinning art with

my kids names and phrases... Unfortunately I was surprised

by the size of the paper, I thought it would be bigger.

The papers are as big as my plams. If you plan to buy

it make sure to check out the papers.

So We got it started I made the boys choose to colors

for their names and glitter. Ahmed.

Abdulaziz

3ain AlSai7 عين السيح

More spinning...

AlZain Kilah الزين كله My plan is to make a large frame, with the boys names

and Kuwaiti phrases...but the papers are small and we ran out of them.

I have to go looking for new cards or see a different

brand of art spinner, because in the end this one just stopped working. :s

Karate Kid - Movie Review

The plot concerns a 12-year-old boy from Detroit who moves to China with his mother and incurs the wrath of the neighborhood bully. He makes an unlikely ally in the form of his aging maintenance man, Mr. Han, a kung fu master who teaches him the secrets to self-defense. It is a remake to the 1984 Karate Kid, exactly same plot except this one takes place in China, with Chinese phrases and wisdom, and beautiful breathtaking scenery. There wasn't so much anticipation while watching the movie since the story isn't new or different and I did find myself bored at times, but Jaden Smith made it up with his cuteness!!! I'm going to watch it again with Abdulaziz this week.

Le Ralais de L'Entercote

We stopped at Fanar for lunch and a movie. Fahad's turn to chose, and he chose Le Ralais de L'Entercote, he was craving their steak and famous sauce. I can't say more about the place. I love their simple lettuce salad and the steak was tender and the fries very crispy, it was all good and delicious. After that we shared a cup of ice cream with hot fudge sauce. Yum!

Leo Africanus - Book Review

Hassan Al Wazzan known as Leo Africanus (Christened by this name by Pope Leo X) is one of my favorite books by Amin Malouf. Yes I read literary books too, not only trashy romances as some liked to point out. It is one of my many books which I like to reread every now and then. It is the wonderful biographical adventures of traveler Hassan Al Wazzan in the late 1400. It is a historical fiction which takes to different parts of the world starting from Andalusia through the Sahara to Timbuktu to Cairo and finally to Rome, yet, with no historical inaccuracies. I love how Amin Malouf portrayed and described every character, with their different backgrounds and beliefs; and scenes of Cities and Palaces were accurately illustrated in a way which makes you feel as if you are standing right now in this particular place and taking in all the textures and colors. In this book we learn that people are from different backgrounds, ideas, cultures and religions, and there are the good and the bad, and no one is perfect. I highly recommend this book to those who like adventures, travel and history.

Smelling Sweet

A lot who kiss my kids, comment on how good my boys smell. Yes! I the proud mama have a huge grin on my face when people say that. It takes a lot of work making two rowdy stinking dirty boys smell so good! Plus it is summer and dusty so you can imagine the scents which waft when they come near you. Lol!!! Boys are Boys! The secret is water! Lots of showering during the day. Shower before going to school and showering after coming from school. Showering before outing and showering after they come back home! I've been using Mother Care Products, since I had Abdulaziz, they are gentle on the skin and smell so good. The body lotion is better than anything I've used on them. It moisturizes their dry skin and keeps them soft. The baby powder is cotton sweet and the shampoo and bubble bath fragrance lasts longer than you can imagine. Perfume plays a big role. It surprises me that some parents do not use perfume for their kids, their choice and I don't mean to sound judgmental, but as angelic as the child is, it is even better if he/she smelled good. For Abdulaziz, he is a little man now, he uses Carolina Herrara 212 the silver bottle, the perfume is clean and strong and keeps him smelling fresh all day. For Ahmed, because he is still a chubby baby, he uses Anais Anais from Cacharel, it is light and flowery and makes you want to eat him, it is also the same perfume my siblings and I used when were kids and all my aunts used it on all my cousins. It has become a trademark family scent. I also use Teeb and 3oud for special outings and occasions only, because their skin is still sensitive to the strong Arabic oil perfumes. Well… that's it, not a big seceret. Al Nathafa min Aliman… ;)

Mother Care Products are amazing!

Carolina Herrera 212 & Cacharel's Anais Anais

Smurf'd - Summer 2011

Gargamel (played by Hank Azaria I just adore him!)

Grouchy, Papa & Clumsy Smurf

3asa allah ya7yeeena by this time...I'm a big fan of the old version

Hey Ya! Have a lovely Weekend!!!

The tune steal into your head and you can't get rid of it!!! I spent all morning until now rocking to the music in my head. One of my favorite bands OutKast with the genius Andre 3000. Hey Ya!

5 Weight Loss Myths Holding You Back

Myth 1: Your ideal weight is what you weighed when you were first married (or graduated from college, or before you had children?

If you're hoping to get back to what you weighed a year or two ago, fine: There's a chance you really might get close to that weight again. But if we're talking 15 or 20 years ago, you might want to reconsider. Many people put on weight as they get older. And no matter how hard they try, they have a tough time being as active as they might have been in their early twenties. Don't live in the past. Set a weight-loss goal that's appropriate for the way you live now.

Myth 2: Your ideal weight is the number listed on a standard height and weight chart.

True, height and weight are often related. Taller people weigh more than shorter ones, all things being equal. But all things are never equal. Many other factors play a role in determining what you weigh. For example, your body type: big-boned and solid, small-boned and light, or in between. Your metabolism: whether you naturally burn brightly and move a lot, or take things more slowly. The number of fat cells you have. How much your parents and other relatives weigh. The number listed for someone your height on a standard weight and height chart is just an approximation of what your healthy weight should be. Don't let this one number be the way you determine if you've succeeded or failed.

Myth 3: Your ideal weight is the lowest weight you've been able to get down to when you've dieted in the past.

Okay, so you've lost that much weight. But the fact that you're dieting again says you gained at least some or perhaps all of it back again. If you set a weight-loss goal that's too low for you to maintain, you'll get caught in the trap of yo-yo dieting -- losing weight, gaining it back, and trying to lose it again. The best weight goal is one you can live with.

Myth 4: The less you weigh, the healthier you'll be.

Not true. In fact, many studies show that if you're overweight, even seriously overweight, losing just 5 percent of your current weight is all you have to do to get the bulk of the health benefits: Lose that much and you'll dramatically lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer. In fact, most of the health payoff comes in that first 5 to 10 percent.

Myth 5: If you don't get down to your dream weight, you'll never be happy.

You don't believe that, do you? A number is just a number. And if it's a number that leaves you frustrated and stuck in an endless cycle of losing weight and gaining it back again, it's time to retire it for a more reasonable one.

Playmobil

First of all "Hail To all the Sporty Ladies" who I noticed exercising at the Avenues then having a hearty breakfast at Dean & Deluca!!!

I had a meeting at the Avenues and decided to take Ahmed with me. I dropped him off at Baroue and was browsing through the toys when I found Playmobils! I mentioned them in previous posts. They are amazing toys for kids with huge imagination! My boys would sit for hours playing with them. I can hear them making up stories and sound effects as they play and it makes me wonder what is going on in their little heads.

I usually ask my siblings when they are in France to buy them for the kids or I'd order them from Amazon France. Now they are available at Baroue, although a bit pricy but worth it.

House of Hunks

Benjamin Millepied: Born 1977 in Bordeaux, France. He is principal dancer at New York City Ballet. And dating none other than the gorgeous Natalie Portman.

Just imagine Natalie waking up to this every morning ;p

سلط ملط

ودي افهم.. بس هالحكومة وهالوزراء «الطيبين» لما يحنّون على راسنا يوميا.. ويحثون ويتوعدون ويصارخون: طفوا الكهرباء.. خففوا الكهرباء.. الاحمال بالاصفر.. الاحمال بالاحمر.. الاحمال ما دري وين.. هل هم متوقعين ان احد راح يسمع كلامهم؟.. هل في انسان عاقل راح يطفي مكيفات بيته عشان الكهرباء ما تنقطع؟!الأكيد.. ان البيوت ما فيها شي شغال اهم من المكيفات.. البيلرات مطفية وهم تجيب لنا ماي حار.. الليتات مطفية عشان البيت ما يسخن من حرارتها.. واللي شغال فقط لا غير هو التكييف.. يا جماعة حتى مطابخنا على الغاز مو الكهرباء، وبالتالي ما راح نطيعكم ولا راح نطفي المكيفات الا اذا انقطعت الكهرباء.. وصار امر الله.اللي سمح بفرز القسايم وضاعف عدد البيوت وبالتالي استهلاك الكهرباء هو انتوا مو المواطن، اللي سمح بإدخال كم الوافدين الهائل اللي يستهلكون ايضا الكهرباء هو الحكومة مو المواطن، اللي سمح ببناء ناطحات السحاب والعمارات أم 30 و40 و50 دور باضاءاتها ومكيفاتها ومصاعدها هو الحكومة مو المواطن.. اللي ضبّط فضيحة مولدات 2007 وقبل شراء «السكاريب» هو الحكومة مو المواطن. وبالتالي.. ما نرجوه أن يحترم كل وزير نفسه.. ويحط لسانه داخل حلجه.. ويسكت.. الدنيا حرّ وما لنا خلق نغلط على احد.. ولا احد يغلط علينا.واعلموا.. ان ما عندنا استعداد نطفيها.. وإذا انتوا تبون تطفونها كيفكم.. طفّوها وقعدوا بوزره أو بفنايل وسراويل أو حتى «سلط ملط» من الحر في بيوتكم أو في مكاتبكم.. انتوا احرار.. اما نحن.. فالمكيفات ستظل شغالة حتى يقضي الله امراً كان مفعولاً.

وليد جاسم الجاسم

Read this on Ansam's blog and like to share it with you all ;)

http://www.alwatan.com.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?Id=36370&WriterId=142

Naz- Persian Soul Food

Kabab Kubideh with Zureshk and saffron rice.

Khoresht-e Bamya (Okra stew)

After reading Pomegranate Soup I craved Iranian food very badly. Shirin Bano don't have delivery service so I decided to order from Naz....I ordered only once from that place and had a bad experience because the delivery driver couldn't find my place, and my home is very easy to find, the food arrived cold and unappetizing.

This time it arrived early, the food, compared to Shirin Bano, was so and so. At least it appeased my craving and I lived on liquids for the next two days ;)

They have branches in : Sharg Co-op Tel. 22451892/3/4

Jabriya Co-op Tel. 22251362/3/4

AlZahra'a Co-op Tel. 25246983/4