A "Home" Day...

and busy busy bow making day!!! I let Fayth pull out any toy she wanted and she entertained herself for hours & played in the family room while I stood in the kitchen making bow after bow!!! I took a break every so often to sing & dance with Fayth, paint a picture, read a book or change the laundry!! Lauren and V came over to help out for about an hour. Fayth LOVES Veronica and she was so good with her today. I loved having my sweet NOT high maintenance child back!! She was so cute and talked Lauren's ear off. Lauren was able to cut some ribbons while chatting & watching over V...which was a huge help. I am pleased with how the bows are turning out. Kristen helped me "korker" a million ribbons all week long which will make the process a whole lot quicker. I have ordered 24 pairs of flip-flops and Robin is bringing them over with her. I plan to make korker bows for the flops and sell them at my next show in May. Friday is my first "craft market" and I'm so excited...I'm pooped but excited!! Lauren is going to help me out for awhile on Friday while I "get my feet wet." Dana, too, has offered to come by to help, hang, sell and chat!! I will totally take a bunch of photos and post them over the weekend. Fingers crossed...hope to sell enough to at least pay for my booth and membership to the ARTE.

Our Last Stroll...

at dusk last night. Kristen is in LOVE with the downtown area and especially, OLD TOWN, with the great architecture it has to offer. Old Town is located right in front of our towers and is where Fayth goes to school. It is also part of the hotel group that Jon deals with all the time including The Palace Hotel, Qamardeen, and AL Manzil. I, too, loved Old Town, and really liked the apartments when we first moved here. However; Jon wanted the view of the city and Burj Dubai (Burj Khalifa) which I totally understood and am happy we live where we do now!! She wanted the chance to take a few final photos before heading home. Her hubby has been uploading them to my computer and I can't find ALL of the photos she took...I'll have to have words with him...but it was a wonderful stroll and she got some great shots.

After returning to our apartment, I prepared a huge spaghetti dinner, chopped salad, with homemade garlic bread. I wanted them to "fill their tummies" before getting on the 14 hour flight!! With our Vino...we toasted to good times, good friends, and good memories!! It has been a pleasure to host the Johnson's and we hope they have some fond memories of Dubai!! Thanks guys for coming. Jon was thrilled to have a buddy come over. Sorry we couldn't get in the CLOSED TOWER...watch it open TODAY!!! Wouldn't that be a kicker!!!

Now, let our normal life "return to normal" for about a week and a half before Robin arrives to whoop up the city!!

Stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A candy store??????? I have never stepped foot into this candy store because I felt like it was out of my "league" but Kristen wanted to take back a few special treats for Easter. After opening the HUGE, white, crystallized doors...we walked into the (very cold temperature) store only to be awed at all the candy and amazing displays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I was in heaven for a bit!! One piece of candy was more beautiful than the next. Not to mention, the AMAZING store, with stunning white furniture, chandelier, and moldings. Certainly fits in well with "The Dubai Mall" & the rest of the extravagant shopping!! We were pleasantly surprised by the prices but have no idea how the chocolates taste. However; who really cares, right...in this case...appearance is all that matters!!! I think I have a new favorite store to buy some special treats in. Kristen is going to let me know how her four pieces of "artwork" candy made the trip home!! I'd love to have, the round ball, as a centerpiece in my future pink and brown kitchen!!! That would definitely be a statement piece!! Do you think it would last??!!

Adult Night Out & Final Hurrah!

On Monday night, we headed to Madinat Jumeriah, for dinner at my favorite place (with a coupon of course) The Noodle House. Our night started off a bit slow!! Our babysitter was suppose to arrive at 7:00...well, she finally got here at 8:30 after missing the bus and the taxi cab driver getting stuck and lost IN A FRICKIN CAR PARK AT THE DUBAI MALL!!! Oh, the joys of babysitting here!! Anyway, arriving to eat dinner, just like the locals...at 9:00 was a true "feel" to the city of dining here!! We had to wait for about 1/2 hour to get our table (which meant we wouldn't be eating until 10:00)...however; it was just enough time to do some shopping in the souk. This is my favorite place in Dubai because you truly feel like you are on vacation. It's just peaceful, authentic, has great shopping and has amazing views of the Burj Al Arab. We finally sat down to eat and can you believe...WE HAD THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE...our own "private" area outside overlooking the Burj Al Arab...definitely worth the wait!! After dinner, we were all POOPED...so instead of heading to the outside bar that was HIGHLY recommended at the Atlantis (Robin...I'll be taking you there)...we took a driving tour on the Palm, Marina area and came home!! The two buildings that I took a picture of happen to be a favorite of mine (Madonna's tatas...as Tom Jepson said when he was here)!!

So, it was "our final hurrah" and it was a very enjoyable evening out...even with a few bumps in the road!!!

Old Souq Shopping

On Monday, we headed to Diera, the old area of town while Fayth was at school on a special field trip & Jon was at work. We shopped through the gold souq, the spice souq, rode the Abras across the creek, and shopped a bit more for some souvenirs. Kristen bought a gold and emerald stone "authentic & old" looking ring that is just stunning. I, of course, got to do the negotiating, which I LOVE...we got her a great deal!! Then, at the spice souq, Patrick bought himself some saffron for cooking. As you know, saffron is "cheap" here and when people come to Dubai...that is usually the "thing" to buy! The store keeper, gave us a lesson, and then Patrick chose which kind he wanted. It was all very interesting. It was another HOT day down by the creek. Patrick and Kristen loved seeing the way Dubai was over 30 years ago. We enjoyed our morning of shopping. When we returned, they headed to the pool for some much needed rest and "book reading." I scooped Fayth up and came home. I told her we were going to meet them at the pool...and what did she say, "Mommy, I'm tired...I want to sleep!" Are you kidding me, I thought...what kid turns down the pool?? A kid that has been on overdrive since PJ & Kristen have arrived!! She has been "high maintenance" all week and I think she finally wore herself out!! She slept for three hours!! It was another great day with our friends!

Belly Dancing...A Must See!!

Dune Bashing from the INSIDE...

Dune Bashing...

Sunday afternoon Patrick and Kristen went dune bashing. Their morning was spent by the pool and relaxing while I caught up on housework, laundry, the blog etc. Now...here I am again...catching up on the blog and they're LONG gone!!!

We had such a ball with them there was no time to blog. Only hic-cup all week...Jon was sick and had a miserable cough and just wasn't himself for a few days...however; he trudged through it and we still had fun!!

So, back to the dune bashing...

THEY loved it as does everyone else who experiences the gorgeous desert, sunset, warm sand, and authentic dinner complete with henna, shiesha, and belly dancing!!! However; Patrick and Kristen's experience was a little bit more exciting. PJ got picked, right off the bat, to join the lady belly dancer on stage (she's no FOOL...a good looking guy to shake her hips around!!). If you know PJ...he may not admit this...but this is "right up his alley!" He shook his hips quite well, I must say and had a blast doing it. Then, Kristen was taken on stage as well. She, too, did a great job. They were "movie stars" for a few moments and lovin' every minute of it!!

I will try to post the videos...

So, dune bashing, a MUST DO!! I am so excited because Robin comes to town in less than two weeks and I'm going to go do this with her when she's here. We have another two for one coupon just waiting for us. I did it back with my mom, in 2008, but FORGOT the stinkin memory stick for my camera!! I was not a happy camper!! So, this time there will be...tons O' photos!!!

I hope you enjoy the photos. They changed the color to sepia in some and they are gorgeous!!