Love Birds Kissing

I spotted these white love birds kissing on a recent trip to Dubai Zoo.

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Everything Happens For The Good

I am sharing this from the book Cappuccino & Success

There was once a King who had a wise advisor. The advisor followed the King everywhere, and his favorite advice was, “Everything happens for the good”. 

One day the King went hunting and had a little accident. He shot an arrow at his own foot and was injured. He asked the advisor what he thought about the accident, to which the advisor replied, “Everything happens for the good”. 

This time the King was really upset and ordered for his advisor to be put in prison. The King asked his advisor, “Now, what do you think?” 

The advisor again replied, “Everything happens for the good”. So the advisor remained in prison.

The King later went on a hunting trip, this time without the advisor. The King was then captured by some cannibals. He was taken to the cannibals' camp where he was to be the evening meal for the cannibals. Before putting him into the cooking pot, he was thoroughly inspected. The cannibals saw the wound on the King’s foot and decided to throw him back into the jungle. 

According to the cannibals' tradition, they would not eat anything that was imperfect. As a result the King was spared. The King suddenly realized what his advisor said was true. The advisor also escaped death because had he not been in prison, he would have followed the King on the hunting trip, and would have ended up in the cooking pot. 

Success Principles 

It is true that everything in life happens for a purpose, and always for our own good. If you think about it, all our past experiences actually happened to bring us to where we are today, and it is always for the good. All the past experiences makes us a better person. So, whatever challenges that we may face today, consider it happening to bring us to the next level.

 

Red Bull Mini Cooper

I spotted this Saturday while driving down Sheikh Zayed Road. On the driver seat was a very pretty lady and a girlfriend.

10 Things I Need To Buy For Home

Now I feel nervous thinking how to maintain our new place. I am only used to having one bathroom. For the next 12 months, I will I have to buy tissue rolls for three baths! I am thinking I should keep the half bath locked and open it only when we have visitors lol!  Anyways, I hope Hubby is up for shopping next weekend because we need these:

1. Kitchen and cookware items
2. Three bar stools
3. Bed for Andreas
4. Three sets of bed linens
5. Bedside tables to match our sleigh bed.
6. Lamp shade and candles.
7. Living room set
8. crockery and cutlery
9. Bathroom  accessories
10. Three sets of curtains

I gotta' behave myself until then =D

Wickedly Decadent Desserts!

Among the desserts offered at Rock Bottom Cafe's Friday Brunch.

Strawberry Mousse

Raspberry Mousse Cake

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Affordable Tickets and Sports Trophies

It's spring and time for some sports clinic!

For all NBA fans, you can visit http://www.bostoncelticsticketservice.com/  for all your ticket needs to support the Boston Celtics. Now who is up for some soccer trophies?

Our regional organization's annual sports clinic is scheduled on April. We will not be able to join because of Hubby's work schedule but our family is assigned to buy trophies in recognition of the winners.

After a considerable amount of time searching online, I found a a professional supplier of awards called Trophiesales.com. They offer premium trophies, plaques, medals and awards for all occasions on a suitable budget. I am looking for Tennis Trophies and Softball Trophies and these are what I found from the website.

There are also talks of baseball games for younger people so I am also on the lookout for baseball trophies. Hubby was very glad to hear about my finds online. When he learned that I did not blew the budget for trophies, he is now considering buying corporate awards for his design staff. They do appraisal every six months. As a token for the best structural designer and best design engineer, he gives them awards in forms of gift vouchers. This time though, a corporate plaque like the photo below, can be given as recognition. 

Elizabeth Taylor's Famous Quotes

The Queen of Hollywood. Tempestous but oozing with talent. The world's most beautiful woman. The woman who always had to be in-love.

Elizabeth Taylor can claim as many title for her legendary life of beauty, glamour, and Holywood films. She is also one of the world's most quoted actress. I rarely write about celebrity but when I saw National Velvet in a film class during my university years, I need to pay respect to the woman who had taken my breath away.  I stopped breathing for a sec every time the camera goes near her face. She was only 12 then but her eyes wereof a woman's. And they were violet. I knew she was famous but not that she has violet eyes lol!

In 2004, nursing a broken heart, I threw myself to movie marathon on Friday nights. Thanks to the local DVD shop, I was able to watch Cleopatra and learned that life is party; that the world may not submit to me at all times but I am my own Queen, and I am going to hold my head up high.

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, thank you.You must be very happy to be reunited at last with Richard.

The look of love. Elizabeth Taylor with her great love, Richard Burton, whom she married twice.

My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked.

Elizabeth Taylor

I've been through it all, baby, I'm mother courage.

Elizabeth Taylor

I really don't remember much about Cleopatra. There were a lot of other things going on.

Elizabeth Taylor

If it is not to make the world better what is money for?

Elizabeth Taylor

It is very strange that the years teach us patience - that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.

Elizabeth Taylor

I've only slept with men I've been married to. How many women can make that claim?

Elizabeth Taylor

My body's a real mess. If you look at it in the mirror, it's just completely convex and concave. I've become one of those poor little women who's bent sideways. My X-rays are hysterical. The bone doctors just throw up their hands and say, 'Sorry, there's nothing we can do!' Which is so cheery.

Elizabeth Taylor

Revealing in America's W magazine she is suffering from congestive heart failure and spin disease scoliosis, November 2004

Richard is a very sexy man. He's got that sort of jungle essence that one can sense.
Elizabeth Taylor
On Richard Burton


The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.

Elizabeth Taylor

You find out who your real friends are when you're involved in a scandal.

Elizabeth Taylor

Success is a great deodorant. It takes away all your past smells.

Elizabeth Taylor

Shopping For Patio Set

Our family friends will be celebrating their 7th wedding anniversary next month. Since it is spring time, they have decided to throw a small barbecue party at their new villa. They recently moved to their new house with  a beautiful backyard garden so this will also serve as a house warming party.

I learned all about the details when they invited us last night for a dinner. Although P (the wife) and I rarely see each other, we do ask and value each others opinion when it comes to party planning and entertaining friends. They already bought a huge electric barbecue grill and now  she is asking me to go shopping with her for patio furniture set because her husband will be away for a business trip.

Fortunately, I recently came across a website called FurnitureForPatio.com where I learned tips on how to buy patio set. One has to visualize the chairs and tables and determine the lifestyel in mind. After deciding on how much you will spend, learn the materials that best mirrors your style. If you want a Victorian feel, you can buy the wrought iron. If you want a romantic vision on your garden, wicker will work. 

P and I further explored the site comparing styles and designs. She is now imagining entertaining friends on a classic lawn chair, enjoying the barbecue and cocktails. Apparently, she is now calling the upcoming celebration a patio picnic! I can't help but feel excited as well =)

A Little Treat For My Boys

 Because blogging life is just beautiful!!

A few weeks ago, I experimented if I can withdraw from my PayPal account  to my NBDEmirates Debit Card. I usually receive a text message from my bank regarding any transaction but this time I did not receive any information.Thinking my bank probably did not accept the money (money laundering is a big issue in UAE), I just forgot about the whole transaction.

Until I saw a lovely chronograph watch over the weekend and I just knew I have to buy it for Hubby. Mentally calculating dollars to dirham, the amount was enough to buy the watch. I rushed to the nearest ATM hoping that maybe - just maybe the PayPal money was there and that my bank simply chose not to inform me. True enough, it was credited to my account and I happily punched to withdraw =D

At last, I can give a little treat to my boys from my own money! So here's what I bought for them:

This is the second watch I bought fro Hubby from my blogging moolah. The first one is a personalized watch from ArtsCow. Hopefully, I can buy his coveted diving watch next next year, yay!!

The summer months are fast approaching and winter apparell are on discounted price, so I was also able to purchase these winter boots and winter cap for my little Andreas.

Hubby had to add a few more dirham to what was left of my moolah so we can also buy these sandals for Andreas just in time for spring.

Thank you so much to my fellow blogggers for the referral and cheers to more blogging opportunities!

An entry for

Thrift Hunt: SwimSafe Floatsuit

I am joining a new meme today wherein we are encouraged to share our adventures on bargain hunting.  I do shop a lot (maybe because when you live in a city, you have to buy everything lol!)  but I never pay anything for full price - especially when I am buying something for myself. Over the years, I have learned to curb on impulse buying and opting to save for travel.

To start with, here is a floater I bought for my son. Swimming gear for children can be quiet expensive so I am gald I found these on flea market last year. They were selling the SwimSafe Floatsuit for 25AED but iIwas able to reduce the price to 10AED ($4). ((^_^))

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Chocolate Crinkles

I bought these from a nearby Filipino bake shop called Pan De Manila.

Chocolate crinkles are small chocolate cookies rolled in confectioners sugar and take on a cracked look.

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Illustrated Book of Leonardo Da Vinci's Science and Inventions

A couple of months ago, we visited Maraya Art Center in Al Qasba, Sharjah. On our way out after viewing the art works, we saw a small library and we decided to stop by for some reading. We saw this book titled Inventions: Leonardo Da Vinci. It is filled with notes and 3D illustrations of the Renaissance Man's science and inventions.

As we turn the pages, intricate paper engineering blew us away. Check this out:

Leonardo kept a series of journals in which he wrote almost daily, as well as separate notes and sheets of observations, comments and plans which were left to various pupils and were later bound.

 

 The man who painted Mona Lisa and The Last Supper was also famous for his concept on robots or human machines.

Da Vinci's concept of flying.

Architectural sketch

His studies on human anatomy allowed him to dissect corpses in Milan and Rome.

His concept on tanks

Artillery and canons

Leonardo's machines, bridges, and hydraulics.

The world's most famous drawing - The Vitruvian Man

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The Art Show: Against The Tides 2011

On Friday, we visited an Art Show in Dubai Festival City commemorating International Women's Day. The  exhibit ran from March 8 - 12, so the show title was just pure coincidence.

More than 50 artists joined the exhibit with art creations ranging from water color, acrylic, and mixed media. Here are some of my shots.

All art creations on display were for sale. proceeds go to charities supporting women's cause.

I think the famous Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai was an inspiration for the painting =)

Titled Dream Girls and it costs 4, 500 AED.

Artists tried to represent all women from all over the world.


Festival Centre, DFC

A gift pack from the sponsor,Dove, was handed to every visitor.

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