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Friday, April 18, 2008

two weeks off

i have two entire weeks off of work... and it feels great! i'm sure i won't get too much relaxation in but i'm so hyped up that i don't think i'd be able to relax anyways.

for the big day i have the flowers sorted and the cake is almost done too! now i can FINALLY sit back and enjoy the time i'll have with my family (who begin arriving in less then 48 hrs!!!). i'm hoping we'll get some beach time in with a good book. i'll let you know how that goes

ooh ooh and i finally go the baby booties done!! what do you think?



i'm very proud of these cause it's the most shaping i have done in a piece and on top of that i had to try to get them to come out the same shape and size, which fortunately it seems like they did ; )

Sunday, April 13, 2008

what a weekend...

we had Red Bull Air Race this weekend here in Abu Dhabi and it was fantabulous... there were planes, there were sky divers and we even had a helicopter that could fly up side down



over all it was a blast and worth getting there early for a good spot in the shade and a good view of the show (Thank You Hilton). i'll try to post some pics soon!

the other exciting news is that is only 7 days my family will start to arrive and the festivities will begin! we have a desert safari planned that i am very excited about seeing my mom on a camel. hehehe

you may not hear from be until after the big day and things start to calm down again but don't worry i'll be back! and i'll still try to post before "D" day or rather "W" day ; )

Sunday, April 6, 2008

i'm so excited and i just can't hide it....

we are only 2 weeks away until my first guest arrives and i am getting so excited! and nervous but lets not focus on that. lets focus on the fact that i will finally get to show my family my "hood" so that they have more of an idea what it's like to live out here in the Middle East... in reality, besides the lack of sour cream and Double Stuffed Oreos, it isn't so different. some days i love it here in Abu Dhabi and i feel like i live in paradise and other days i wonder what i'm doing here. but it will be fun so show our families how much fun it really is here : ) besides i get to see my family and my niece who is beyond beautiful... my sis will have to check to make sure the baby she brings home with her is real and not a dolly i put in frieda's place so i could keep her ; ) hehehe just kidding...

so to pass the time waiting for my family to arrive i have been knitting. but i didn't want to start some big complicated project that i would have to take a two week break from... i wanted instant gratification so i have been knitting (beyond slowly) baby booties. they are almost done. i have one put together and the other i am done knitting but need to stitch up the seams and add something extra like bows.

anyways this is where i'm at so far.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

wedding cake drama

so i went to a cake shop in Dubai to order my wedding cake.... here is my idea of what happens a cake shop

Me: I need a cake in 3 weeks please
shop: ok great what do you want
me: well i would like it to be two levels and..... (fill in details of cake)
shop: great! i have a recommendation... we could do the bows (dots, ribbons what have you) like this!
me: wow! great idea! i'll take it (big cheesy smile)

now here is what really happened

me: i need a cake in 3 weeks please
shop: oh here look at our 6 pictures of wedding cakes and pick one
me: you don't customize them to order?
shop: yeah we can do that. what do you want...
me: well i would like it to be two levels and..... (fill in details of cake)
shop: oh we cant do that....
me: well you have a cake that is simular over here. cant you do that only in a different color?
shop: well yes but you won't be happy with it.
me: why
shop: "you won't be happy unless the cake is white or off white"
me: (insert my image if annoyance) i won't? i think i know what i want
shop: why don't you put butterflies on your cake? that would look nice
me: (rolls eyes) thank you for your time (leaves shop)

so you people know me... i didn't ask for some rediculous looking cake like this

or like this


i just wanted something simple that didn't have flowers or butterflies on it but apperently the cake lady knows me better then i know my self...

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

make what?

so i have been watching a lot of BBC Food Network and getting all these fabulous ideas for food... mostly it just makes me hungry so i end up making something gourmet like spaghetti with butter and cheese. but sometimes the stuff looks really good but they always say "just pop down too the store and get some...". most of these things are not in my stores and definitely not the ones near by. it took me forever to find authentic (dried out) flour tortillas forget about sour cream (yuuummmm), good sharp cheddar cheese, Lawry's Seasoning Salt and chicken stock in a can.... these are a few of the things that just don't exist here!

i heard i can make some of these things (chicken stock and sour cream (yum)) but it seems like kinda a lot of work! i didn't even know you could make sour cream i though it just came that way or it had to go through some magical transformation like gummy bears, marshmallows and the Oreo icing. they are just something magical and the taste soooo yummmy. perhaps i will try to tackle this process when yoghurt just wont work as a substitution for making ranch dressing anymore (cause it's ok but SO not the same) and i'll see if it's true that you can make your own sour cream.... then again maybe it's good that i don't have it. i have heard it's not the healthiest thing to eat out there ; )

oh and incase you haven't herd Red Bull Air Race will be in Abu Dhabi on the 10th and 11th. below are some pics from last year... and you can check out www.redbullairrace.com for more info