Always be thankful!
Life has many ups and downs Read the rest of this entry
May31
Category Archives: Entertainment
May26
When Disney gets you!
Disney seems to really understand me….
I believe there’s a kid in everyone and sometime in our life we seem to loose that inner child.
I really wish that my girls always keep the kid in them as I believe in everything magical and I still find the wonder in all things Disney.
My father’s (May he rest in Peace) favorite ride at Disneyland was It’s a Small World. I still tear up every time I hear that song.
Even though we still haven’t done the Disney family trip yet I do believe that every Disney movie reminds me of my inner child.
Now with that said I feel like there’s so much more to every song from every Disney movie I’ve watched.
I have emotionally gotten attached to singing “Let it go” from the movie Frozen for every situation in life that was out of my hands and can’t change. I’m sure every one can relate to that on many levels.
Well I’ve evolved from having “Let it go” as my soundtrack to “You’re Welcome” from the movie Moana!
Disney can always find a song from Disney that truly makes me feel better or express my emotion. It’s a fact Disney gets me!!
Making Life Memorable with every Disney Soundtrack!
Apr23
Music from the Past – The List
My daughter is only 10 but I see glimpses of what she’ll be like as a teenager….on the most part it seems manageable so it should be interesting to see what I have to say a few years from now!!!
The one thing that I do enjoy about her “grown-upness” is our conversations and her new love to my music….. Its moments when she says “Mama in your olden days” or “in your time”….seriously!!!! Me OLD???? I didn’t get THAT memo…UGH…make that double UGH!!!
Back to my happy place of I’m young, thin and tall!!! We started listening to some of my favorite songs….they reminded me of when I was carefree and had no responsibilities……
I decided to make a list of some of the songs in no particular order genre and the people each one reminds me of!! I’ve attached the youtube links for each song just for your entertainment
1. The Sign by Ace of Base.…….. Reminds me of Lesley
2. Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? by Bryan Adams……… Reminds me of Salma
3. Hold on by Wilson Phillips.…… Reminds me of Mona
4. That’s what friends are for by Dionne Warwick ….Remind me of Wessan
5. Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle……Reminds me of Terri
6. The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five ……Reminds me of
7. Kiss by Prince….. Reminds me of Maha
8. 500 miles by the Proclaimers….. Reminds me of Hiba
9. God Blessed Texas by Little Texas Reminds me of Richard
My Ultimate and tearjerkers
10. Que sera sera by Doris Day. and Those Were The Days by Mary Hopkin…..My amazing Al-Hajjaj family!
I love Making life Memorable one song at a time!
Jun16
It’s official They Have a YouTube Channel
In this day and age it’s so hard to keep up with our kids. Even though it seems things are so much more convenient and accessible there isn’t enough time. Even though I have extremely strict rules about electronics (and I’ve been successful so far!) Kids are just built differently these day and we as parents have to adjust and know when to give and come to a mutual agreement about it all….
The girls have been wanting to have their own YouTube channel for some time and I’ve prolonged it as much as I can. Until one day Jennah came up to me with her notepad and we finally set some YouTube rules.
So this summer we will keep everyone entertained with what my girls think is the theme…. Stay tuned and as they always say “Please Subscribe!”
I’ll leave you with their Intro….
Well as it turns out my kids even go by my motto without me intentially teaching it….all about Making Life Memorable
Oct6
Scoop A Cone
Make it your mission this Eid Holiday to do as many special things for your children.
Enjoy every moment you can for as my husband says “Soon they’ll grow up and not want to hang out with us anymore”
Between your Eid visits with extended family take a little break and savor the moment with your little family.
Today’s suggestion is to go out for ice cream. One of our favorites is Scoop a Cone. What’s yours?
Here are the girls Making Life Memorable one scoop at a time!
Scoop A Cone locations:
Dasma 22574508,
Salmiya 69976218,
Bairaq Mall 23824093,
Al Kout Mall 23930607,
Sea Shell Resort in Julaia.
Also available on Talabat
For Kart bookings call: 97276602
Sep29
Bubbles Kids Entertainment
I took the girls to Discovery Mall the other day to play in their play area. A time that they can spend hours on end and it’s never enough.
As I was walking around trying to entertain myself I passed by a little Kiosk called “Bubbles”
The area is a little heaven for little girls. They can act like hairdressers and style doll’s hair, there’s an area that they can color and paint pottery and even take pictures with a life size Elsa cutout.
They also have the option of hosting a kids birthday party. Unfortunately it’s only for weekday birthdays but it would be cute to take the closest friends and have a small birthday on the “real” day.
Now that Birthday season has started I hope this helps and gives you an option in Making Life Memorable for your little princess.
For more information about Bubbles Kids Entertainment call 97900381
Sep27
Birthday Games
When planning my girls’ birthdays I always like to have at least 2 or 3 games for the kids. I’ve come to realize that all they want to do is just run around and have fun but I still do it anyway!!
One thing I always like to make sure of is choosing a game where everyone is a winner and no hard feelings. There’s nothing worse than making a kid cry on your child’s birthday. So musical chairs is OUT! Too rough and just our mean of a game for me!
The way I avoid any losers is by actually having the kids that are out choose a gift from a huge box of 100fils toys, stickers, bubbles, stationary, colors, play dough….etc Soon some of the kids wanted to loose just to be able to choose a gift from the box.
Off course the games I choose are always theme related.
For example, Zeenah’s 3rd birthday was a monkey theme. So instead of the traditional pass the parcel I had pass the monkey.
I used a stuffed monkey that they passed around. Whenever the music stopped the person that had the monkey got to leave the circle and choose a gift from the “Box”.
Last person got to keep the stuffed monkey as their prize.
I take every opportunity I get to get artistic and crafty.
The minute I found these cute little plush bananas I had a light bulb moment…..
A Banana toss would be a perfect “Monkey Themed” game.
First on the agenda was to get a big cardboard box.
Perfect, conveniently I have a gift shop that I always save some shipping boxes just for occasions such as these!
I took the box and outlines the monkey I wanted.
I then cut out the “mouth” intended for the banana’s to be tossed into.
Off course after that was my favorite part which is painting!!!
It was even better than the way I imagined… The girls were super excited after I had finished it that they played with it constantly before the big debut on the birthday.
For a 3 year old birthday I figured 2 games was just enough and I was right!!!
We had the singing of the birthday shortly after and a chance in Making Life Memorable for everyone involved.
Sep13
Fun @ Art Space
I hope that yesterdays post made you even more curious and intrigued to learn more about Art Space in Galleria 2000-Salmiya.
Between my busy schedule and the girls its been really difficult to make it out to Art Space and enjoy the full experience until last week everything changed!
The perfect date, time and artwork!! My husband, two girls and I head to Galleria 2000 and live it up.
The kids workshop we went to was 5pm-7pm with Mr. Salem, A man full of life and enthusiasm and the ability to captivate the children to follow his step-by-step tutorial of what seemed like a difficult painting at the time.
The girls sat eagerly with their cute Art Space aprons on watching Mr. Salem’s every movement as he began to set everything up for them from paints, canvases and brushes. It was hard for me to resist not going into the studio to join in the fun!!
Then the fun began as he started to explain to the children every step, his interaction with the children made it even more fun as they also stated their opinions and choices. With occasional one on one help, especially for Zeenah (she is after all only 4!) every child felt his special touch and assistance.
Every child had added their own version of what they wanted and cam out with an amazing canvas that’s going to go up on our wall. You can actually see the girls personality in each paining.
I am extremely impressed with their capabilities and with their capacity of following instructions. All this while my husband sat comfortably in the café enjoying the girls enthusiasm from behind the window and sipping our coffee.
Needless to say we ALL went home happy.
But this was not enough for me!!! I wanted in on the fun too, for days all I can think of is “They have adult classes!!”, “this is my kinda place”, “I need to go again”
While talking to my best friend and how much I love the place it suddenly dawns on me!! “WE HAVE TO GO!!” So we set it our next “Date night” is going to be at Art Space….
We found the perfect time to join the class and our Painting conveniently had my favorite quote of all time
Off course as soon as I walk in I’m greeted by the gorgeous Sarah and Salem, immediately feel like I’ve known them for years. My best friend walks in and she feels the same way!!
We make our way into the art studio Apron and all and meet our Instructor Lamia. A truly adorable lady that made painting seem like it was a piece of cake!! Oh which we were served by one of the other instructors, just because.
As I’m sitting there painting my background all I keep thinking too myself is “I can live here and how are they going to keep me away!”
Sure enough as we follow Lamia’s steps, instructions and techniques while choosing our own little changes and tweaks the painting starts to look more and more presentable than ever expected.
This all wouldn’t have been remotely possible without Lamia (our instructor) and the Art Space team’s continuous support, encouragement and cheering.
To that I have great honor in presenting my “first” work of art without complete embarrassment.
Here I am proud by Making Life Memorable one canvas at a time. Surely not the last of them!
Sep12
Art & Culture
There are so many things we can do with our children when it comes to activities yet I favor those things that are most meaningful and everlasting.
Jumping up and down in a bouncy castle does have it’s benefits but still there’s no real culture.
In my quest for art and culture I stumbled upon an amazing instagram account called @artspaceQ8 and that’s when the stalking began!!
“Artspace Café” is a unique and amazing concept. The concept is simple yet so unique at the same time! It’s a Café fused into an art studio.
They host daily workshops in a casual and authentic atmosphere. Their vast range of times is perfect for everyone schedule with 4 different sessions a day for all levels: 11am-1pm, 3pm-5pm, 5pm-7pm and finally 7pm-9pm.
In addition they have kids sessions during the weekends Thursday, Friday and Saturday from either 4pm-6pm or 5pm-7pm.
With a café attached you can also enjoy a cup of coffee, relax on the couch, listen to music or even grab a book to read.
Look around and I’m sure you’re going to find lots of artwork that you’re going to fall in love with. Surprise Surprise all artwork around the café and studio are also for sale!
And even better if you’re feeling artistic and inspired you can pick up a canvas and have an artistic session of their own using all the tools, paints and facilities they have available.
An art studio that has a life of it’s own. Amazing set of people that are so friendly that you actually feel like you’ve known them for years and you’re just hanging out in their living room.
I’m equally impressed by the artistic level displayed by everyone at ArtSpace. The willingness to assist and help you is uncanny. They are actually so vocal in cheering you on that you feel like you’re Picasso! The positive energy and love in their humble space makes you want to jump for joy, a rare feeling these days. Maybe it’s the youthfulness of everyone but it sure made feel good and that’s all that matters.
Be sure to follow @artspaceQ8 on instagram and visit them in the basement of Galleria 2000 in Salmiya,
Here’s to you visiting an authentic space and Making Life Memorable!
Read more about our artistic debut at Artspace.
Aug25
Fish Market
One of the things I remember doing with my father (May he rest in Peace) other than actually fishing is going to the fish market.
The stink the wet floors and seafood galore….It was a mix of stinky and fun all put together. Quality time that I truly cherished. Only now does it hold great value in my heart…..didn’t realize it at the time.
The nice thing is that these days it’s been upgraded. The Fish Market next to Souq Sharq is somewhat cleaner than the one I remember going too. So it was time to pass on the tradition to the girls and take them to the Fish Market.
I let them wear their rain boots for fun to make sure there were not complaints about dirtier their shoes. All the people there were extra friendly, I’m pretty sure they love seeing kids there and showing of their fish knowledge to the little ones.
Off course there’s always that one guy that lets them touch all sorts of things on the counter…. The girls chose to pose holding the jumbo shrimps and so shine their personalities:)
They may not realize it now but this day really helped in transferring my experience with my dad into Making Life Memorable for them.