Catawba KSE | ExpatWoman.com
 

Catawba KSE

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Latest post on 07 February 2012 - 19:16
Hi SunDevil. I can help! Know chairman of ball so if you want me to ask directly email me.....you know who I am!
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Latest post on 01 February 2012 - 12:25
I have a black and taupe one. It is a taupe pillbox with black and brown feathers and taupe flower. If you are interested post your email and I can send you a picture.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 31 January 2012 - 08:51
I have always just bought a bottle of mineral water after I get through security...Arwa has the lowest sodium content. Then add pre measured powder from one of those compartmentalised containers. I don't take the ready made formula because sometimes they make you taste it and it makes me gag!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 25 January 2012 - 20:04
It is very rare for companies to pay nursery fees, even at the executive level. Nursery school is not compulsory and as such most companies do not cover the fees. As others have mentioned, if they cover school fees at all it is usually from reception/kg1 age when schooling is mandatory. (Have worked for over 15 years as a consultant for companies on expatriate packages/policy so can say this with a lot of experience.)
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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 19:20
Thanks ladies, very helpful tips. Catawba, we were looking at Arcadia too, so good to have heard a first-hand experience! Would highly recommend it. The service, location and price are great. Our ONLY sort of complaint......the living/dining room area in the apartment we had was quite small. It had a dining table for 6 but apart from eating, only two small, hard chairs in each corner to relax in. So if you wanted to relax/watch tv after the kids had gone to bed, it wasn't very comfortable. Having said that -- I'd still book with them again as everything else was great. I used it as an excuse to go to bed early each evening! Take a good book or iPad (there was wireless) and spend the evening in bed which is a rarity at home with a one year old and all the responsibility! If you have any specific queries, let me know.
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Latest post on 22 January 2012 - 09:40
We just went in December for 4 days with our kids, including baby. We stayed here: http://www.arcadiaresidence.com/ http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g274707-d612009-Reviews-Arcadia_Residence-Prague_Bohemia.html Very resonable prices for apartments. THey couldn't have been more helpful. Picked us up at airport with a carseat, walked us around neighborhood to show us tram stop, local supermarket etc. Provided detailed instructions how to get wherever we wanted to go including tram/bus timetables. The owner lives on the groundfloor so was available for queries. We had a two bed apartment which was comfortable and clean. Nice size bedrooms. Very compact kitchenette/living/dining area but all we needed. Highchair and cot provided. They deliever a HUGE breakfast to your room every morning. It is a short walk to the tram station and from there only about 5 stops/less than 10 mins to the old town. We took public transport everywhere and it was very easy (we didn't have a pushchair though -- carried baby in a backpack which was convenient to get on and off trams and buses). Prague Zoo was great; its big and you can easily spend the better part of a day there. Toy Musuem was also good and it is next to Prague Castle so you can do both at the same time. Petrin Hill is also good. You can take a funicular to the top and then spend your time winding your way back down. At the top there is a playground, mini Eiffel Tower replica you can climb up, maze of mirrors.....also a small outdoor cafe with space heaters and blankets perfect for a gluhwein to warm up! There is a castle that is only about an hour train ride outside of Prague that looked great for a day trip but we didn't make it. We spent the other days wandering around Old Town and the Christmas markets.
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Latest post on 15 January 2012 - 19:50
Catawba, perhaps we should swap recipes to encourage each other! Happy to swap! Maybe each time we make one we just post recipe if easy or post what we made and if other interested to have it post recipe? Most of my recipes are on-line so easy to post link automatically. Let me know what you think. Forgot one of my favourite meatless dinners which I've been making for years...portobello mushroom burgers. Grilled portobellos have a consistency and taste like meat and are great alternative to normal meat burger. I take portobellos and brush them with an olive oil and crushed garlic mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Grill on BBQ or in oven until tender (fork or knife goes easily through). Serve just like a burger on a bun with all the trimmings....plus I make a basil mustard sauce that is like a aioli and is killer (recipe below which makes quite a bit). My husband would prefer a real burger but certainly doesn't complain when we have portobellos. 1 cup mayonnaise 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil 2 tablespoons dijon mustard 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1 clove crushed garlic Edited as I got aioli sauce recipe wrong <em>edited by Catawba KSE on 16/01/2012</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 20:07
I'm with Sandfly 100%. Sure every maid would like to earn in excess of Dhs2000 but only the ones that are worth that are going to earn it in the long run. When we interviewed maids they had all sorts of demands and expectations -- we didn't hire any of them. They either had to rethink their expectations to find a job or pull the wool over somebody's eyes to get the job they wanted. We found a maid with a great personal recommendation and hired her at slightly above average wage. She has been with us for 4 years and proved invaluable ---- she is smart, hardworking, proactive, cheerful, conscientious, trustworthy, honest etc. We now pay her over Dhs2000 a month. I know what the average salary is and I'm not getting ripped off...I'm getting what I pay for. I don't want a maid that is desparate and will work for Dhs700; I don't want a maid that will cause the problems that to others are par for the course; I don't want a maid I have to watch over 24/7 for fear that if I leave her out of her room she's going to get us both in trouble. I want the maid we were lucky enough to find and I'm going to pay to make sure that we keep her and that she's happy and remains an asset to our household. I'm not making it harder for people that want to pay less to hire maids; as someone else pointed out if Dhs700 a month is much more than most can make at home there are always going to be people that will take a job for that amount (despite whether it is a fair wage or not). Sure, many will ask for more but they aren't likely to get it. I'm paying a higher salary to ensure I get someone at the higher end of the workforce.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 January 2012 - 18:05
If you don't have any luck finding someone with an old one......I just found replacement bowl and lid by searching on-line and having it shipped from UK site. Even found parts for 15 year old blender on-line.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 08:08
I'm interested too as have made the same resolution - at least one night a week fish and one vegetarian. I do alot of soups and can post a few recipes if you are interested. Served with bread and salad they are filling and I eat leftovers all week for lunch.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 07:56
I don't believe you can buy it here as real vanilla extract is made using alcohol. It is one of the things I always bring from home. Also easy to make - just need vodka, vanilla beans and a couple of months...
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 07:40
Spinneys usually has it but they run out from time to time so I stock up on it when it is in. Baxters chicken or vegetable stock (and sometimes Campbells chicken) is in the aisle with the canned soups. They also sometimes have vegetable stock in a carton in the aisle with the stock cubes.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 January 2012 - 19:16
All dvd players can play all regions if you 'fix' them to do so. They don't from the outset because it makes more money for companies if you have to buy dvds from a specific region to fit your player. Just search on-line for 'dvd hack codes' and you will find many sites where you put in the make/model of your dvd player and they will give you a code to enter which changes your dvd player from regional specific to able to play ALL dvds. I've done it with at least 4 dvd players and it has always worked.
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Latest post on 28 December 2011 - 14:14
A circular was delivered to houses awhile ago re banned landscapers. Link below. Bit cheeky of security to bring their own though! http://arabianranchescommunity.com/blogs/44
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Latest post on 27 December 2011 - 19:32
I was pregnant last year and we went (husband LOVES his designated driver!). We watched from a private apt in the Address hotel so can't suggest where to watch....but if you are driving I can suggest where to park. I drove since pregnant and we parked in Dubai Mall and waited AGES to get out - literally it was taking hours to get out of the carpark. If you drive - park on the 7th floor at Dubai Mall - this is the floor that has an exit leading directly out to the upper level road (above what I think they call Financial Center Rd) so you can get out in minutes. There were huge lines of cars all trying to go down and get out with no one moving -- after waiting at least a half hour luck we decided to go up and once to 7th floor we were home free. Park 7th or above to get down to 7th and out quickly.
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Latest post on 27 December 2011 - 19:25
I have to drink a glass of wine so I don't feel like I've drunk too much wine!
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Latest post on 11 December 2011 - 09:40
There is a Playmobil knights set put on DuBizzle as of yesterday for only Dhs 80.... ETA: just seen another one that is bigger for Dhs 250. Checkk out Dubizzle! <em>edited by Catawba KSE on 11/12/2011</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 18:14
I would try Lulu in Barsha. The last six months or so they have had a range of some otherwise hard to find Mexican spices. I don't know if they have paste but they have had many different ground spices and I THINK that I saw ground achiote. If you are walking down the centre main aisle that bisects the store with aisles on your left and right.....they are on the right side at the end of an aisle just off the main aisle on the top shelf. I hope you find it! In any event, if your cuisine is Mexican I think you will find some Mexican spices you will not find elsewhere -- I know I have.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 11:00
I wouldn't freeze batter. I just make a huge batch of pancakes and freeze them - all you have to do is pop them in the toaster to reheat.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 19:25
10%
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 02 December 2011 - 07:10
There are four balloons headed for the Ranches right now. Must have taken off somewhere else this morning but about to fly over.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 29 November 2011 - 13:20
Don't worry! All three of my children were big babies (3.75, 3.9 and 4.2 kgs). All three were delivered naturally without any pain relief and my longest labor was only 3 hours (and that was for the smallest of the 3) . When I was worried how big my first baby was estimated to be a few weeks before due date my doctor told me not to worry - what really counts is head circumference as that's the only bit that won't give during delivery.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 28 November 2011 - 15:08
I wish they would issue access cards to the residents so that you need to swipe a card to gain access to the community areas, This is exactly what I said yesterday when they made me sign in at the swimming pool. It would solve alot of the problem. As I see it there are several issues: --Non-residents using the facilities whether for lessons or personal use: In my opinion, this is a no brainer and should't be allowed. If they issued cards like suggested above the problem would be solved. -- Using communal pools/courts for lessons: If you stop non-residents from coming in for lessons maybe this would be alot less of a problem. However, I think it is a great service to residents for them to be able to use community facilities for lessons. After running kids to/from school it is great to be able to take them to lessons close to home, particularly when you have more than one child involved in lots of activities. Suggesting schools should be made available for lessons rather than the community -- well schools have their own students to service and after school clubs to run and don't have capacity to accommodate the entire community. The issue is that having made coaches register and pay fees, Emaar should also be limiting the number of kids in a swim class or how many hours in a row a coach can book a court. They don't because the more hours a coach uses a facility the more money they get (I was told by a swim coach that they pay by the hour). I have to say that sometimes the classes are not as disruptive as the groups of kids who come with their parents and are left to swim unsupervised. My kids have a swim class limited to 4 kids and take up a small portion of the pool when they swim. There is a group of moms that meet on that same day at the same time every week and spend the time catching up while their kids run riot in the pool. I've had to tell the older kids several times to quit jumping almost on top of little ones or to quit using throwing things as hard as they can in areas where there are little kids. Banning lessons doesn't mean you get a calmer pool or more sunbeds. It is all about reason and respect.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 November 2011 - 20:55
"Heigh ho" is an Elizabethan expression of boredom or sadness. See much Shakespeare. V different from Disney's dwarves. Regardless of its origin, it still bugs me. And given the way people use and spell it......more dwarf less Shakespeare to me. edited by Catawba KSE on 21/11/2011 <em>edited by Catawba KSE on 22/11/2011</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 November 2011 - 19:46
I hate the word 'squat.' I don't know why -- just a vulgar sounding word. Maybe linked back to grade school when we were made to do squat thrusts in PE! I also hate the phrase 'hey ho.' What are you -- the seventh dwarf?!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 November 2011 - 08:43
If you like the crockery ( which clearly you did as you bought it) why wouldn't you just exchange the chipped ones for ones that are ok rather than 3 hours after buying wanting to return the whole lot? If they are willing to exchange the chipped pieces so you have a full set that is undamaged then I think they've been reasonable, especially since they could have been chipped intransit to your house as someone has pointed out. In the end you willnhave gotten what you paid for.
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Latest post on 21 November 2011 - 08:16
Stopped for my son at 3 months. I just didn't give it to him one night. Waited all night for him to wake but he didn't and has not since. He's a very big guy though and drinks loads during the day so has capacity to sleep 12 hours through. I'd just try one night and see what happens...never know until you try and you might get a pleasant surprise!
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Latest post on 21 November 2011 - 08:03
Spinneys Motor City had fresh turkey breasts as of yesterday.
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Latest post on 20 November 2011 - 19:15
We were driving home at 6pm and my 4 year old asked why the sky was so pink. It was a lovely evening.
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Latest post on 20 November 2011 - 19:08
Spinneys Motor City has had big bag of Ocean Spray fresh ones. Carrefore Mirdif City Center had fresh ones today as well. <em>edited by Catawba KSE on 20/11/2011</em>
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Latest post on 20 November 2011 - 14:58
Carrefour at MCC have huge Turkeys up to 10kg, they were around 150dhs. Yes, was there this morning and they have loads of very big ones. I got a 9.8kg one for 147dhs.
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Latest post on 18 November 2011 - 00:29
That's ashame. I have to say though that we have used them five or six times and always found them to be professional, clean, polite and competent.
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Latest post on 16 November 2011 - 15:47
Yes, have also seen them at Dragonmart.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 16 November 2011 - 09:13
I have about 10 pairs that I bought when I was pregnant in the UK. Happy to sell for very little if the sizes are right. Also have long sleeved tops and jumpers for colder weather. If you are interested leave an email and I can send you a list of what I have and sizes. What size do you have? I don't mind buying a few pairs for myself. Many pregnancies, many sizes! Jeans I have left: Mamas and Papas UK 14 Business Bump UK 14 Tete a Tete EU 44 Indigo Blue Petite XL Also a really nice comfy pair of Noppies Large beige cords. Loads of other stuff (dresses, bathing suits, shirts/tops etc).
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Latest post on 15 November 2011 - 15:08
I have the other Leon cookbook and love it. It was given as a gift to my sister-in-law and I liked it so much had to buy it myself. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leon-Ingredients-Recipes-Allegra-McEvedy/dp/1840915021/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321354593&sr=1-1 Alternatively, I just bought 'When Suzanne Cooks' and I'm really enjoying the recipes in it. It is an Arabian cookbook but the author emigrated to Canada when she was young so the recipes have a nice modern twist. She now lives in Dubai so it might be nice gift reflecting recipes of the region for another Canadian living in Dubai? http://www.suzannehusseini.com/joy-of-cooking/
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Latest post on 15 November 2011 - 13:58
They have gorgeous colours at Kinokuniya book store at Dubai Mall. Made me want to get organised! They aren't cheap though......I bought a two ring binder and it was Dhs 31.
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Latest post on 13 November 2011 - 18:28
I have about 10 pairs that I bought when I was pregnant in the UK. Happy to sell for very little if the sizes are right. Also have long sleeved tops and jumpers for colder weather. If you are interested leave an email and I can send you a list of what I have and sizes.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 November 2011 - 16:36
I found that spinneys had the best quality and were the cheapest last yr, they even beat the pieces at the plant souk and up satwa. Maybe depends on vendor or how hard you bargain at plant souk? After looking everywhere last year we found biggest and best price at plant souk. They also had blue spruce which I like because so much more room on branches to hang things. Pays to know what they cost elsewhere so you can bargain. They started out asking a price more than Spinneys but bargained down to about Dhs 200 less. I did not bargain on the poinsettias and am ashamed I paid more than Spinneys!
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Latest post on 31 October 2011 - 18:55
Please come to Motor City Green Community - I have a TON of candy! I would appreciate it someone keeping it all off my hips!! I would love to send them your way - we are absolutely overrun in AR Saheel! Still have over an hour to go and I'm about to take down our decorations and turn the lights off as we've been through everything I've bought specifically for Halloween and are now almost through any random sweet from a long ago party favour bag I could find.
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Latest post on 31 October 2011 - 09:35
In my experience in AR, the bulk of the kids come between 6:00 - 7:30. Mostly finished by 8pm.
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Latest post on 30 October 2011 - 11:11
Loads of Bisto in several different aisles at LuLu today. Always get Slimline tonic at Spinneys.
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Latest post on 27 October 2011 - 01:17
I have found it before at ACE Festival City.
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Latest post on 27 October 2011 - 01:16
Desertrose, I am in the same situation. I have LOADS of baby stuff to give away but would prefer to find someone who really needs it rather than someone who will just take it and sell it on or give it away. Psdmew, do you know if they are having a boy or girl? I would be happy to give them loads of clothes if it is a girl, as well as some other basics.
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Latest post on 25 October 2011 - 20:04
I think Sue was making fun of the -al at the end. It's meant to just be phonetic. Thanks...my point was if you're gonna take the p!ss out of someone's grammer/language etc, it looks better if you spell it right lol I'm with you...several hours after I read it I can't get over the post a few before using [b'>'most stupidest.'[/b'> I know I'm a dork but....it winds me up!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 October 2011 - 09:07
I almost always see Karo Corn Syrup at Spinney's in the baking aisle. Looks like this: http://www.karosyrup.com/
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Latest post on 22 October 2011 - 20:07
FYI just saw a notice in Spinneys in Motorcity for a pumpkin carving class next sunday for the over 6. Yes, great idea but they are only taking the first twenty kids.......it will be a madhouse!
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Latest post on 21 October 2011 - 19:31
I would wish my body looked like it did three years ago, toned, muscular and so fit :( Now that would be *my* second! Then you are both lucky because I'd have to say 12 years not 3!
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Latest post on 21 October 2011 - 19:16
All my bloomin' kids to be asleep!!! That would be my second! I'm having to play Old Maid with them right now and I really wish I was on the couch with the tv on instead!
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Latest post on 18 October 2011 - 20:12
We have been to both and although we enjoyed both, I would go to Khasab over Dibba. I think the coast near Khasab is more dramatic. We were told we would see dolphins on our dhow cruise at both.....but I've heard at Khasab they are pretty sure (which they were and we saw them most of the dhow cruise right by the boat for most of the trip) whereas at Dibba we never saw anything. We personally think trip to Khasab is more beautiful.
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Latest post on 17 October 2011 - 08:41
I was at Just Kidding in the Gold and Diamond Park on Thursday and they had very cute toddler size quilt covers 75% off. Also some flat sheets.