Apricot | ExpatWoman.com
 

Apricot

Apricot
1987
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 22:11
Weird. I always thought of JBS as being the same as Uptown Primary, only Arabised to suit the population in Jumeira/ Barsha, but then I have second-hand info about both schools thru happy relatives and no first-hand experience. I'm just bummed that JBS doesn't offer a sibling discount, only learned this a few days ago. Heck I think the only school on Derien's list with a *proven* track record is Raffles, and that's only because the parent managing group has been running fancy private schools in Singapore for more than three generations. Even Gems is younger than that, and they only started reaching out to the non-Indian community about 8 yrs ago.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 21:55
Crate n Barrel has a lower priced line called C2B in the States. Don't worry, furniture sales and their low low financing schemes are well advertised in the local newspapers. There's a chain called Home Goods for discount furniture, as well as Levitts, great sofas, (depending on where you're planning to move of course) and Pier Imports. And of course Craigslist, which is similar to our Dubizzle.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 21:44
The big honey cake from Spinneys, it costs DH 80 and looks like it could feed an army, about 26 cm across! BTW, Choithrams bakery muffins are really good.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 21:41
Giant cupcake will feed a dozen kids and adults. They slice up irregularly and into taller-than-normal slices. You can buy the tin at Lakeland and Tavola for the same price. Either way, Have fun!
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 21:36
Just to alert u guys that Dxb Customs hav been slapping extra duty on most Aramex S&S packages sent from America lately, as much as Dh 250, but not charging duty on parcels sent via USPS (the govt American postal service) to Dubai.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 21:30
Yes they need visa sponsored by relative or hotel, it will be single entry, only valid for 30 days, then they have to leave the country and can't re-enter until 30 days have passed. We always have this issue with BIL's family wanting to come for both Eids, then winter break.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 21:25
I like Olay's Regenerist line, also use the Olay gentle cleanser. I use the Regenerist day cream w SPF, the Regenerist serum at night, add extra sunscreen. My cousin gets me the fragrance-free Regenerist products from Tesco/Asda in UK as they don't bring them here.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 21:16
There was a spectacular thunderstorm here in Singapore on Sunday, it was great showing the kids what a storm looks like from our hotel room as they had slept through the evening storms in Dubai during April.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 21:10
Congrats AmyAus on the baby! I miss the hospital food at Latifa Hosp. Have u had the special Friday biryani? Or the meatballs in gravy? Enjoy!
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 21:05
Cooks Illustrated magazine did a study 2 yrs back, they concluded that nearly all nonstick pans, regardless of price-point, lose that nonstick coating with usage. Their favorite was Tefal pro-line, 3 ply frying pan. You can buy a 25 cm size for about Dh 150 at Carrefour. I bought 2 sizes, but always coat w 1 tsp veg oil prior to heating.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 20:49
Hi Naiyyar, could u pls tell me where u got the Harald chocolate from? I need it to make my son a cake from the Whimsical Bakehouse Kids Cookbook, they do all their cake decoration with buttercream frosting, then stick on details made with hardened Choc decorations, they call it "the chocolate method". Another thing u could do with the coating Choc is to make and coat cake balls. I ended up using all my white coating Choc to make Nigella's blondies, made 4 batches for new-baby-welcoming parties.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 20:33
You can buy flash-frozen, pre-chopped tarragon at Carrefour, their own label, in a small pale green carton.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 20:20
Hi Sharie, thanks for sharing your research efforts! Yes, the rep I spoke to at Al Habtoor laughed when I asked if they'd be willing to service a Vitamix bought in the UK! Clearly others have also asked him :)
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 20:14
Harald Coating Chocolate, it comes in 1 kg blocks. I'm looking for it as my last source, Geant supermarket no longer stocks it.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 May 2012 - 18:53
Chicken tagine will freeze fine. Have never tried freezing quiche, but I have tried freezing mini cheesecakes (Philly cream cheese, eggs, sour cream, cream) and those defrosted beautifully in the fridge. Steak and Mushroom pie freezes well. After pie was assembled, I half-baked then cooled. Wrapped in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Defrosted in fridge, then baked in oven at 220C. The bottom pastry was still a bit undercooked, but everything else was fine.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 May 2012 - 18:49
Maria Bonita is on Umm Al Sheif Street in Jumeira 2, but on the side closer to Beach Rd.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 May 2012 - 18:08
We use the Emirates Islamic Bank Skywards credit cards. The miles add up since DH uses his for work purchases.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 May 2012 - 18:05
The Entertainer Kids book has vouchers for spa parties at Color Nail.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 May 2012 - 17:44
This is just a food suggestion for Munich (we visited when I was pregnant with first child): Rieschart bakery and Nordsee fast food. There are branches of Rieschart all over, incl the train station, the main Marienplatz. The Marienplatz branch serves breakfast upstairs (accessible by staircase only), boiled/poached/ fried eggs, coffee, pastries. They have these lovely pretzels split in half and filled with soft butter and chives. Nordsee has decent quality food and there are branches all over. (much better quality in Germany than the outlets in Dubai mall, festival city) We bought Henkels knives in Munich in a discount cookware shop also selling the Alessi range on the street btwn Marienplatz and the train station. We booked most of our train tickets in advance online. We took day trips to Stuttgart to visit the Mercedes Benz museum (not advisable, incl the journey times it takes the entire day), to Salzburg to visit the Mozart museums and eat Sachertorte at Hotel Sacher (the museums are nice, the cake is ok) but there are also Sound of Music tours. The train journey from Munich to Salzburg is incredibly picturesque, as is the drive from Munich to Neuschwanstein castle. There is a BMW museum in Munich (unfortunately it was closed during our visit).
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 May 2012 - 17:28
already checked there but they dont... :( they seem to have more cooking related stuff and this is more decoration related... maybe i should check out a scrapbooking store... not even sure they have those in dubai Yes, there is a scrapbooking store here, it's called Paper Lane, in the Town Center mall on Beach Rd next to Mercato.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 May 2012 - 17:27
Maybe try Harvest Home in Jumeira Centre? they have a bunch of cupcake related stuff, incl a plastic cupcake plunger manufactured by Chicago Metallic.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 May 2012 - 17:24
The Canesten should help. Otherwise, if you can find a female pharmacist, they are helpful in suggesting various topical creams, etc.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 May 2012 - 17:22
maybe the guys who had the mandate to import it have closed their business down and moved on ... without realising the impact. The same for Ben and Jerrys icecream. My Dh is a huge fan and the few tubs you see in shops are the last of the shipment as they are no longer bringing them in. A local businessman had the licence and is now doing something else and so no-one is importing Ben and Jerrys anymore.... sigh, and it seems our dear Robinsons may be following in the same direction. SighhhAwful news for my mouth but awesome news for the tum/thighs/bum as Ben & Jerry's is the only ice cream worth the calories. Apart from homemade....oh dear :)
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 May 2012 - 15:23
May she rest in peace...very sad.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 May 2012 - 01:44
We took long-life milk cartons, long-life juice cartons, mini cheeses, plenty of snacks and biscuits when we went to Seychelles with two toddlers.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 May 2012 - 01:41
Also what do the bakery's use like Mr. Bakers? The white cream like taste and texture that they use all over the cake. it also dosnt melt in this heat. The flowers and the frils they make stays the same even in this heat. That white cream is a non-dairy dessert topping made from sugar and palm oil shortening. Like this: http://www.alibaba.com/product/in110045451-113464171-0/Great_Chef_Cream.html Naiyyar, you have a lot of questions that would be best asked on another Internet forum. Might I suggest visiting cakecentral.com (they have a section for people like you interested in starting home businesses), Real Baking with Rose Levy Beranbaum, King Arthur Flour, and the forums at Wilton.com. The members of these forums are very generous about answering even the silliest questions and will hold your hand through the learning process. Plenty of international members as well, so it's not as US- or UK-centric as you might imagine.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 May 2012 - 01:20
Union Co-op, they keep them in a chiller cabinet near the weighing station.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 May 2012 - 01:03
Any clues to where this is? Rashidiya?
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 May 2012 - 00:53
Dubai Ladies Club, for starters. Spa Dunya in JBR. So many along Al Wasl and Beach Rds.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 May 2012 - 00:51
I dont understand the hype surrounfing the Lime Tree cafe carrot cake - its big for sure, but that really does just equal a big slice of something thats [b'>underflavoured[/b'> and really dry.I bake at home, and the first thing I said as I bit into my slice was, "did they forget to add salt and cinnamon to the cake batter?" I love the Magnolia Bakery carrot cake. <em>edited by Apricot on 16/05/2012</em>
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 May 2012 - 00:35
Dr. Amer is the best!I agree! He's really great at following up to check if the meds are working right, he will help find the best combination.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 22:28
I used Churchill cleaning company last month to deep-clean some wall to wall carpeting and to clean a padded, upholstered reclining chair. They came 15 min early, did a fab job and joked that they got most of their customers through recommendations on Expat Woman.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 21:50
Goodnight Moon Dear Zoo In The Nightgarden...Makka Pakka
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 21:30
May they really follow through with this plan very soon. I hope the recent news about Abu Dhabi's zoo has shamed Dubai Municipality into action. Irooni, best to visit the zoo in the winter, less smell.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 00:47
I'm sure you'll find a solution at a salon and do take a look at Karkafi (I spelt it incorrectly earlier) there's so much they can do. This is their fb page http://www.facebook.com/karkafihair and their Dubai number UAE: + 971 4 35 28711. I went to their shop on Al Mina Rd but that was a couple of years ago and I'm not sure if it's still there.Still there, I drove past the shop on Sunday morning.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 00:29
Cole Haan does big sizes and also has a big width - their Nike Air range is very comfy too. Mostly my high heels are from their range now. The selection in the US is however much better than here - and, of course, cheaper! Is this a store in the malls?Yes, they have stores in Mirdif City Center (Top Floor, Galleria), Dubai Mall (Ground Floor, near Banana Republic), Dubai Marina Mall. I went to the MCC branch last weekend and they didn't have any wide-width shoes.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 May 2012 - 10:40
There's an area called Breach Candy, they have big branches of the dept stores there, including Amersons, as well as the Ritu Kumar shop, that often has sales. Less expensive is a place called The Ramp on Linking Rd (diff part of town), mostly readymade suits.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 May 2012 - 10:37
I've baked with Jenan whole wheat flour and with the Al Baker Chakki Chapati Flour, and the only difference I've noticed is that the Chapati flour is ground up finer so you don't have those flakes of wheat dispersed through the flour. <em>edited by Apricot on 07/05/2012</em>
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 May 2012 - 10:35
I've seen them in most branches of Tavola, in the Wilton section.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 05 May 2012 - 01:50
I've seen Maris Piper potatoes in Spinneys and Waitrose; they are recommended by the British chefs for mashed potato. C4 sells yellow French potatoes in net bags.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 24 April 2012 - 13:20
Hi Mirdif Ingrid, the swim instructor that Waves Academy have hired for the kids classes is Deb, an Aussie lady who has been brilliant with teaching my friend's 3 kids how to swim :)
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 24 April 2012 - 13:09
Cook them for more than 1 hr, keep adding water to thE pot.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 24 April 2012 - 13:07
You can buy Kallo Yeast free stock cubes at Spinneys, Choithrams, or my fave, C4! Oh, all the Kallo stock cubes are veggie too! I made veggie DH some jasmine rice in the Kallo yeast free stock cube recently and it came out really yummy, not too dissimilar to rice cooked in a Maggi stock cube. There's also a low-salt version of the Maggi chicken cubes, it has Arabic writing in turquoise across the label.HTH :)
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 20:39
We found great toilet seats , a lot better quality then Ace, in al quoz. 90 dhs each. It's a street with loads of Jotun paints and bathroom shops.Lassie, could you pls be a little more specific? I'm interested in getting some stuff from this area.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 20:36
One more question, where can I find Millet flour? edited by LuLee on 23/04/2012 Millet flour is translated "bajra ka atta" in Urdu/ Hindi, and can be found in Choithrams Safa Park (most convenient but overpriced) or Lulu Barsha or the Al Adil store in Barsha near Holiday Inn. I have never looked for it in Spinneys.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 15:41
I too called DH Babe until the kids began to mimic. Now I'm more formal, calling out Abu (name of eldest child) or even Baba.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 15:34
So far it's alive and healthy but not growing anymore either vertically or horizontally. Wrote too soon! A few days later, the mint plant just withered up and died.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 14:44
Spinneys Mercato should have both items, maize flour in the home baking aisle and flaxseeds with the organic stuff.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 14:38
I suggest a visit to Bookworld in Satwa, opp the plant shops. It's a used bookstore that's cheaper than House of Prose, and has an extensive collection, fairly well-organized. Particularly good section of chapter books for kids :) His pocket money will go far.
Apricot
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 14:28
I use generic detergent for front-loading machines, either Co-op or C4 brands. DH and DSs have eczema so Tide, Ariel, etc really irritate their skin, but the generics, (I use half of recommend amt) help. Also boost the detergent with Casino brand (Geant) oxy bleach powder.
 
 
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