Al Qasr Hotel

The place is called Madinat Jumeirah, inspired by the city of Venice. It is a shopping complex, offers  luxury hotel accommodations, award-winning restaurants, and a superb  nightlife. I took the  photo from  the adjacent five-star Al Qasr Hotel. The sailboat-like structure at the far-end is Dubai's 7-star hotel.

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Car Wash

We recently took our car for a manual wash at the nearby local Emarat Petrol Station. The dry, sandy, and windy weather condition in Dubai makes for a very dirty car in no time at all. We went for a full body wash and our toddler watch in awe as the car was hoisted and given a full under chassis jet washing.

After, the Fortuner was all  gleaming for at least, a day =)

Two boys in blue, waiting.

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Tiramisu

My dessert during a lovely lunch at a South African Restaurant called The Meat & Co.

 Tiramisu

It is one of the most popular Italian cakes. Tiramisu is made of cake dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks and mascarpone cheese, and flavored with liquor and cocoa.

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Custody Laws

I will add two more terms we will define as I continue my post on child custody. Lawyers will tell you

that the focus is on the child or children. That is the main consideration over the wants and desires of the parents. As a general rule, the child should have continuing access to both parents and the parent most able to be supportive of this should become the custodial parent. 

What is the difference: custodial parent or non-custodial parent.

The parent who has, primary physical custody of a child is the custodial parent.

The child usually lives with the custodial parent. The parent who spends less time with the child, is called the non-custodial parent.

The child doesn't usually live with the non-custodial parent except when visitation rights are being exercised. This situation arises when the parents separate and live in their own homes. It is the custodial parents home that the child resides in but will spend time with the non-custodial parent who has visitation rights.

This allows the child to be able to spend time with both parents, even though they live in separate residences. 

And that is all folks! If you want to know more about custody laws and how to get the best child custody lawyer in your area, visit Get-Custody.com, the prime internet source on specialized family lawyers. 

Dolphin Show

This was taken last month when we attended Dubai Dolphinarium's spectacular Water Magic Show.

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Custody Lawyers

I previously shared on my other blog about how to get the best child custody lawyers. As I read more about the topic, and inspired by my recent John Grisham novel, The Testament, I learned some terms and definitions in child custody cases that I would like to share with you today, my dear readers.

Definitions of Child Custody

 
LEGAL CUSTODY - All decisions can be made about education, health and welfare, as the right and responsibility of the parent with legal custody.

SOLE LEGAL CUSTODY - The parent awarded, sole legal custody, makes all the decisions in regards to education, health and welfare of the child, while the other parent has no role to play in these decisions.

PHYSICAL CUSTODY - This is the parent who has been determined to have the physical right to be with the child.

SHARED CUSTODY - The legal and physical custody is shared equally by both parents.

JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY - This situation calls for a parenting plan to determine who will be with the child at a certain time but they both have joint custody.

This scenario usually takes effect where the parents are determined to provide a caring and nurturing environment but keep their personal differences to themselves, for the sake of the child. 

Health Benefits of Date Palm Fruit

On a recent longing for smooth, dark melt-in-your-mouth chocolate, I tried to satisfy myself with dates. They are everywhere especially in the month of Ramadan when they are offered for free. I was fascinated that my craving was satisfied. And so bought a whole pack while on a grocery trip much to Hubby's amusement.

This prompted me to read what goodness it does for the body. Emiratis consume dates as part of their staple diet. So there must be something more aside from being a rich-in-fibre fruit.

Accordingly, health and benefits of eating fruit of the Date Palm includes:

 Dates are sweet dry fruits loaded with vitamins and minerals.

1. Since dates get digested very easily, they are used for supplying quick energy and repairing waste.  

2. Milk, when boiled with dates, become a very nutritious and invigorating drink for children and adults, especially during convalescence. 

3. The nicotinic content in dates makes them an excellent cure for intestinal disturbances. 

4. Regular consumption of dates has been found to check the growth of pathological organisms and help in the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines. 

5. Being a laxative food, dates have been found to be beneficial for those suffering from constipation. 

6. For alcoholic intoxication, drinking water in which fresh dates have been rubbed or soaked, is said to be quite effective. 

7. Studies have shown that consumption of dates, soaked overnight and crushed, is good for those who have a weak heart. 

8. It has been seen that dates serve as a tonic for improving sex stamina as well as sterility due to functional disorders. 

9. Researches have revealed that dates are effective in preventing abdominal cancer. 

10. Dates have a tonic effect and thus, hold value as medicines.

Ampalaya Con Egg

I am getting old. This is my favorite ulam for the past three months. Yay!

 Ampalaya Con Egg

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Stucco

Last night, we were at a farewell party of a family migrating to Canada. As were were talking about their new house, Rose said that it is not as grand as their home in Dubai but with a little redecoration and some new wall paints and a new fence, their new house could be looking really very pretty.

And since Rose does not work but like me a stay-at-home mother, she wants to know how will the painting job be dealt easier. So I told her about an idea on how to build their fence. I read about stucco, a very durable outside coating a material made up of cement, lime, and sand mix with water. Rose was very interested since they intend to build something sturdy that could withstand the time until they are citizens of Canada. I also mentioned that for an easier labor and to save time, she can buy one of those stucco sprayer.

Anything to save time, she said since she is also a mother to a 5 and 7 year old kids. Rose was happy last night to have new ideas for repair and redecoration.

Stretching The One Income Dollar

Hear ye, hear ye fellow bloggers! I found another lovely website by a blogger mom from Canada that do site promotions, reviews, and most importantly giveaways. Monique, the author, has also written a book called Stretching The One Income Dollar (the same title as her blog). As the title suggests, you will learn plenty of tips and trick from her blog and writings to make ends meet in these trying times.

I hope you will have time to visit and join her blog contests. See you there!

Fountain at St. Peter's Square

This is one of the matching fountain in St. Peter's Square made by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1675. I took the photo early morning before tourists started to crowd the Basilica.

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Wonder Bus at Dubai Creek

The Wonder Bus is among the fascinating vessels you will see crossing the Dubai Creek. True to its name, the amphibious bus will tour you around the city - from land to sea - seating on the same seat.

Dubai Creek is a natural sea-water inlet that cuts through from the Arabian Gulf to the center of the city. It divides Dubai in two parts - Deira Dubai on the north side and Bur Dubai on the south side. The length of the Dubai Creek is 14 KM. You can get a unique and wonderful view of the cityscape from the Creek, thus making it very popular among tourists.

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Coco's Waffle Breakfast

Belgian Waffle is identified by its larger size and lighter batter. Ingredients call for yeast and egg whites to make them fluffy and crispy.

Coco's Belgian Waffle Breakfast

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Ramadan Kareem!

This is our fifth Ramadan Celebration here in Dubai. Expats are expected to give respect to the local custom like what everybody is saying but exactly how?

I found these list of expatriate expectations from Xpress. I first posted them in 2007  on my other blog and I am reposting to serve as gentle reminders for the days of the Holy Month.

• Be patient with people who are fasting.

• Do not eat in front of them.

• Try fasting. You will get a sense of what the month is about and how it feels.

• Go for Iftar (the meal to break the fast eaten after sunset). Even if you are not fasting, you can break the fast with your Muslim friends and join the daily mini-celebration.

• Avoid being on the road around Iftar as people who are fasting will be trying to get home.

• If you live near a mosque then be aware that evening prayers will take place everyday of Ramadan staring from the night before the fast starts. Also, during the last 10 days, there are further prayers late into the night.

• Avoid having loud music blaring from your car stereo. This is the month of piety so many will not appreciate this and may find insulting.

• If you smoke, try avoiding or lessening it this month. It would be a good start to improve your health

And if I may add, ladies are expected to cover up - no sleeveless and shorts while shopping. This is the time of the month where pashminas become absolutely fashionable. Don't worry because you can get back to your play suit in 29 days. ((^_^))

Peace be with you on Ramadan and always!!!

Afternoon Snacks!

Hubby had a week off from work so I cooked afternoon snacks that we would devour in between swimming and watching DVDs. I made Crema de Fruta and good 'ol macaroni salad among others. Here are the rest of our week's all Pinoy snacks.

Sweet corn on the cob

Pancit

Strawberry Milk Gelatin

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Beaches

This month's Girls Talk is all about Reel Life. For a starter, we are ask what movies we can recommend to watch with a friend.

Mine is an old comedy-drama titled Beaches starring Bette Midler .  The theme song is the Grammy winner, Wind Beneath My wings. Boy, I get goosebumps every time I hear the song. I first read the novel back in early college and was soo touched by it I kept looking for the sequel. Yes I did found it eventually.

I was about to graduate when I found a VCD copy at a nearby video shop. I watched it alone and having read the book many times, I knew the scenes and conversations in my heart. Still that did not refrain me from laughing and crying thinking the  characters are the luckiest to have found their soul sister.

Anyways, Beaches is a 1998 movie about lifelong friendship between CC Bloom, a performer and Hillary, a rich debutante. Having met at the age of ten, they see each other through the good times and the bad times, through marriages and divorces, through the disasters and happiness. It epitomizes the bond that can never be broken between two women. I will share to you a favorite scene:

Hillary: I don't even remember what it was I was mad about and I don't care. Whatever it was that you did, I forgive you.

CC Bloom: What I did? You and your lousy letters. Just to get one of them made me special even before I opened it. All your crappy stories, all your big dreams.

Hillary: I didn't know that.

CC Bloom: Well, what the hell did you know? Did you know how bad things were for me? No, because you wouldn't even open my letters. If you had even answered one, just one! Told me what a jerk I was, anything! But you didn't. You took your friendship away without even discussing it with me. So, thank you very much for forgiving me. But I don't forgive you. 

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Sustainable Weight Loss Menu

Finally, I found the help I have been - as a woman - needing desperately for awhile. I blogged before how my post-baby body is five kilogram away from the pre-pregnancy weight. We'll my son is turning three come December and I definitely waited long enough to let nature do its course. So now I am turning to fat loss 4 idiots menu plan for some big help.

In the program, you eat four meals a day. This is to encourage your metabolism running high all day and burning more calories. A sample of the menu goes something like this:

MEAL 1
The first meal of the day may consist of boiled eggs and cottage cheese.

MEAL 2
On the same day, meal 2 may involve fresh green and red vegetables (such as kale, cucumber and red pepper) as well as fresh pear slices.

MEAL 3
Meal 3 could be roast beef slices and broiled halibut.

MEAL 4
For Meal 4, sausage links and a side of ham slices.

Definitely sounds sustainable right? You stay on the diet for 11 days and expect to lose around 11 pounds. You will lose more if you incorporate aerobic exercises. What's more, the fat loss menu for idiots have been the top program in the internet for the last six years.

It is definitely worth a try.

Sepia Scenes

Going home from Dreamland, Hubby decided o try the new Emirates Bypass Road. Along the way, we saw a herd of camel gracefully treading the road.

"As a camel bereath labor, and heat, and hunger, and thirst through deserts of sand, and fainteth not: so the fortitude of a man shall sustain him through all perils."

~ Akhenaton, King of Egypt, 14th B.C.

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Sepia Scenes