Good Morning 2012

2011 wasn't a bad year. It had its ups and downs, but this is life, ain't worth living it without a bit of salt and pepper and a dash of chilli. As long as my kids and Hubby are happy and healthy, it's what really matters to me the most. However 2011 ended with a bitter note with the passing of my maternal Grandmother, allah yer7amha w yethabet'ha 3end alsu2al w yesakenha fasee7 janatah. She was an amazing lady, kind, generous and with a lot of wisdom.

I am Thankful for my Children, Alf 7amdillah, Thankful for a very very patient husband who puts up with my moments of insanity. I'm Thankful for my parents, my sisters and brothers and my little nephew "Baby Ahmed". I'm Thankful for my Mama and Papa in law, and my sisters and brother, my nieces and nephews. I'm Thankful for my wonderful aunts, cousins and my best friends.

But most of all, Fahad and I highly appreciate your support to us and our business, is our other family, those of you who I've met and those I still haven't had the pleasure to meet and hopefully this year I will, My Bloggers Sisters & Brothers, My followers on Twitter and Facebook. I am Thankful for having you in our lives.

For 2012 I don't have any resolutions like I always do every year. I discovered I'm very bad when it comes to resolutions, because whatever I had put for myself for 2011 I did the opposite. This year I'm going to take it one day at a time, probably be a bit more organized and give myself more "Me Time".

I'm looking forward to 2012. There will be a lot of changes inshallah, and hopefully to the best. I am hopeful and optimistic. I guess that is the right attitude to start the year.

I wish you all a Happy, Healthy & Wealthy Year.

I love you all.

Pants

 I've noticed patterned pants are increasing and coming strong next spring. I was wondering if we are going to see this trend abused in many ways this spring season? Below are the ones I've liked on Net A Porter and I've included a flared jeans which I loved since this cut is making a comeback!

Gucci

Erdem

Tory Burch

Etoile Isabel Marant

 Current/Elliot

Current/Elliot

Happy Holidays!

It has been a very long last month for me. Very busy and more than I can chew. At times very stressful and ready to snap at anyone… well I snapped and bit most of the times. The funny thing is I had a "Me Time @ Spa Time" on my schedule which never happened  I really need it.

Only few more days till 2012. Any plans? None whatsoever! At this time of the year I'm supposed to be chillaxing poolside at my beloved Bar AlJissa, Oman, with Fahad and the boys. We had to cancel because of unforeseen working schedule. *sigh* Besides I'm having a guest coming for New Years. I'll post about him when he comes ;p I know that my Ahmed will not enjoy this new guest ;p

 *sigh* I love this place.

I want to go there!

*My Dream Bike*

I'm trying to make the most of it with the boys, going out for walks while they cruise with their bikes. *sniff* I want a bike! I was supposed to get me one. I found it in Dubai and we were flying for a day to get it and again we canceled :(  Ahmed got very sick and Abdulaziz had exams during the week. Yallah 5ira.

Ahmed is sick again this morning. Same thing like every time, except this time I caught it too. I feel physically drained. I want to cuddle and watch some movies :s

I wish all my none Muslim readers a Merry Christmas

 and hope you enjoy your Holiday with your loved ones.

Christmas Gifts

 The boxes, the cookies & of course the cards.

This one is signed by Ahmed.

Abdulaziz didn't show me his cards.

Every Christmas I try to think what to get to the teachers as gifts. I don't want to get just anything that I'd expect other parents will get. As usual I was looking for something different, and at the same time get the boys to participate in making them.



I was inspired by Martha Stewart, a cute box filled with cookies…right? What do you think? Crazy idea! Because after getting back home from work I had to start on them, especially that my main oven isn't working and I only had the small oven which only takes one tray at a time :s It was exhausting!


Few days before I prepared my list of things to do and prepare for. Then with the help of the boys (a bit chaotic at times) we started our baking after the homework and revision were done.


The cookies we made: Sugar cookies with colored sugars, candy cane chocolate chocolate chip cookie squares, chocolate & peanut butter chip cookies, Ginger sugared cookies. I also wanted to add something Kuwaiti so I placed an order from Homemade for their famous pistachio Ghraiba.


I really hope the teachers appreciate this labor of love. I know that my kids and I really enjoyed making them and so did my family and friends who I sent for them some of the cookies to try out ;)

 I'm thinking of introducing this cookie at Gelato Italiano.

Would you buy it?

 Note: I don't have pics for Abdulaziz,

because he is like a Tornado in the kitchen.

He doesn't give me a chance to think of snapping a pic of him.

Homemade Ghuraiba

Gelato Italiano Winter Flavors

 Gelato Italiano new winter flavors! White Chocolate

with Ginger cookies and caramel sauce

& Marron Glacee with roasted chestnut chunks.  

 I make the Ginger bread cookies myself ;)

and it is so yummy! I love having it with Nero gelato.

 This flavor is so exquisite! and the roasted

chestnut chunks blances everything so well,

I hope you'll like it.

 Of course no post is without the boys!

Thumps up from Abdulaziz and Ahmed to the new flavors ;p

Gelato Italiano.

 Sharg, Ahmed AlJaber st. Gaz Tower.

 Tel. 22434434

First Time at Baking Tray

God only knows how many times I pass by Baking Tray during the week on my way to the store, but yes! the horror! I know…I haven't tried it for the frist time until last weekend :p It was a cold cloudy Friday and we wanted something yummy and filling to warm up our tummies ;p

We arrived there at a time which wasn't a lunch hour nor a dinner hour so we were the only ones there. It was a bit chilly and Ahmed who napped in the car was cranky and whining. He was a bit distracting

The staff were welcoming saw us seated, then we changed tables because of a cold draft, then they forgot about us for a bit because they got caught up in taking delivery orders, from what I saw. Even the menus were left at the first table we sat at and Abdulaziz went to get them for us. But after calling one of them, everything went smoothly. We placed our orders. The waitress was helpful in suggesting some of their popular dishes.

We ordered: (I hope I get the names right) Avocado Salad, chicken Sandwich (don't remember the name and not pictured), Philly steak sandwich, Mushroom pizza, Lasagna bolognaise (not pictured), Roasted Potatoes (not pictured), Chocolate Cake, Pumpkin pie (both not pictured), and last but not least Baking Tray's famous cookies.

The food was very good. I tried a bit of everything and the boys really loved the Lasagna. Fahad liked his chicken sandwich and he ate half of my Philly steak, which I loved!

Yep! Will visit again very soon to try their breakfast ;)

 

Abdulaziz getting us the menus.

He wants to work there and get

paid with a dozen Chocolate chip cookies per day ;p

Can this happen?

 I loved their tomato butter.

Avocado Salad.

I loved!

Philly Steak Sandwich

It had that amazing sauce in it

which makes it different from

other Philly steak sandwiches

I've tried before :) and the bread! YUM!

"So Aziz, how was your food?"

He gives me a thumps up!

"Ahmed, did you like your food?"

"Leave me alone mama! I'm eating!"

"Ok, just tell me, did you like your food?"

"Yes! Here!" he gives me a thumps up.

I felt he wanted to tell me,

"Yalla 5al9eeni!" ;p

Movie Review - A Whole Bunch of Them

Again my best part of the day when my boys are in bed. My popcorn freshly popped, a jug of crystal light iced fruit punch and a movie. *Sigh* it is so relaxing!

Here are the movies with a short comment

of what I thought of them.

Loved this movie... very inspiring and will watch

it over and over on a cloudy day with a cheesy pizza.

 Fabulous! Just imagine you get picked up at midnight in Paris and get transported in time and meet all the great artist and writers in the early fifties and get transported again to meet more from the early 1900!!! Wow! What a dream!

 I highly recommend you watch this movie with a bunch of your girl friends!!! Hilarious!!! Couldn't stop laughing! Watched it twice! First time by myself, second time with my sisters and I laughed even more ;)

"Meh"

I liked the originals with Arnold better.

 Breathtakingly disgusting! I just couldn't digest the whole movie. I need to watch it again.

 Funny! Entertaining...and Collin Farell makes a very hot vampire.

Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!

House P2

 Dana didn't follow a certain theme in choosing the décor and furniture. She didn't stick with certain colors, she mixed champagne with royal blue and a rainbow of muted shades, gold and silver gilded for the formal rooms. She also mixed the modern, classic and ethnic popped them into the blender and came up with great elegance and luxury.

Unfortunately the pictures to the formal living room aren't clear so I'll post them later. In this post you'll see the dining room and guest bathroom (w ento bkaram).

So what do you think?

House P1

 My sister Dana took upon herself the herculean effort of renovating the family home. The process of meeting with architects, designers and the whole renovation thing took almost a year, but the results of her efforts are breathtaking! Never doubted her, she has great taste!



These are snaps of the outside terrace (pics not giving it justice), the Entrée, and the Syrian room (my favorite room in the house).

The Terrace

 

The Entree

The Syrian Room

What do you think?

Stay tuned for more ;)

Addicted to Instagram

I've recently joined instagram and I'm an addict!

I find myself snapping more pics

on my Iphone instead of my camera and I edit them and post them right away on instagram. It is so fun!

Enjoy the pics and tell me what you think?

You want more? Follow me @Um3azoz ;)