SunDevil | ExpatWoman.com
 

SunDevil

SunDevil
774
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EW GURU
Latest post on 15 May 2012 - 21:14
Sorry, Greenfield's KG programs are all full. Look into Gems Wellington DSO, they still have my KG 2 son on their accepted list even though I have told them 3 times we are turning down the spot. So there are still spots there.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 May 2012 - 15:04
I have a son starting KG2 and a son starting PreK there in the fall. I spoke to the registrar this week and she said that Sept 5th will be the orientation for PreK-KG2. There will be two time slots for us to pick from and we'll go in for one hour and let the kids see their room and meet their teacher. Then on Sept 6th it will be all day, business as usual. She also said they hope to have a school supply list put together by the end of May so parents that travel back to the states for the summer can stock up on supplies when they are on sale.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 May 2012 - 08:28
Verdeque, if you are interested in UAS you'll have to act now. My boys will be there in the Fall in PreK and KG2 and I called the registrar this week for a friend to see if there are any spots remaining and PreK-KG2 is fully booked and the registrar said they are no longer doing assessments for that age group. But you might be able to get a spot for your daughter.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 21:20
We are from TX and I love Houston! It's like a second home to us since my BIL and SIL live there. It's much cheaper in TX than Dubai. TX does not have a state income tax so only federal taxes are withheld on your paycheck. There is a lot to do in Houston for families and the beach is nearby. When looking for a place to live it's basically divided into "inside the loop" and "outside the loop". It depends on how much drive time your DH can handle. My BIL and SIL used to live out in the suburbs in a town called Tomball. Nice town and you can get a pretty big house for your money but they both worked downtown and the commute was horrid so they sold that house and moved inside the loop. They paid a lot more for their house and it's an older house but the previous owner completely gutted it and did a beautiful job with the remodel and the house is gorgeous now. They live in an older neighborhood and there are still some original owners there but for the majority it's younger families moving in with children so it's a really great place for families. Plus since it's an older neighborhood they have the HUGE oak trees that cover the houses and the street and it's like a canopy underneath. You'll pay a little more for a house inside the loop but now their commute time is around 15 minutes to work so they have more time with their family.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 May 2012 - 21:43
Finally a real breakfast in UAE!!
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 May 2012 - 14:53
Fee Increases http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/private-schools-can-revise-fees-annually-with-approval-1.1006862 Thank you!
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 May 2012 - 14:46
My LO's school got a good rating and has asked for a fee increase. Does anyone know how much of a fee increase they can get now based on the ranking?
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 29 April 2012 - 14:24
I splurged on a KA two years ago and got the Professional Series 6 qt and it's worth every penny. My mom has had the same one since I was a young girl and it's still going strong. I bought mine in the US and just use a transformer each time. I also keep mine on my counter since it's too heavy to keep lifting in and out of the cabinet. I have a cover for it that I bought on Etsy that matches my kitchen linens and it completely covers the machine and has a pocket on the outside to keep the little cookbook. I've made several breads with it and pretzels and the first time I had it on the wrong speed and noticed a smell but the following times I had it on the correct speed and didn't notice anything.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 26 April 2012 - 09:37
Thank you SkyKitty, I'll look at Seat Guru. DD is just a little peanut so I don't think she'd be over the limit. On the way here she was one month old and slept the entire time. I think we'll be dealing with a different situation on the way home but she's still an excellent sleeper so i'm counting on that. Her brother's will also have their own seats so once she falls asleep I can always slip her next to her 5 year old brother when he's sleeping.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 25 April 2012 - 21:34
Not to totally hijack this thread but does anyone know if they do the bassinet in business class in a Delta 777 that has the total lay flat seats? We are traveling home with DD who will be one and it would be nice to have her in something besides my arms for 15 hours.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 20:35
Ask them to prove it was your DD by DNA testing the sample! Imagine - it was probably bird poo !!! think how many bird poos end up in the pool over 24 hours !!! ohhhhhh am no expert but i'm not aware of birds that poo black !! and i would imagine the clipboard men would know what sort of poo it was... And if the rules are no eating by the pool then that's what they mean - melon is eating...and tbh i can understand that one - imagine the mess and attracting birds etc.[b'>.our Ranches pool has the same rule and i've never thought to break it.[/b'> We go there to swim... You can't eat at the Ranches pools? We pack a lunch and swim, eat, and swim some more. We eat in the corner on the table with the cover and throw away all our trash afterwards. Never had any problems and last week the life guard helped us raise the umbrella at the table so we'd be in the shade.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 14:45
I have been on the lookout for Nippy's cat as we live in Mirador and that's not far from her place in Al Reem. This morning I saw a B&W cat fitting the description on street one of Mirador on the section that backs up to Al Reem. I tried to get to it but it was scared and ran away into a yard. It was a little on the thin side but I couldn't get close enough to see if it had a collar.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 10:06
Rents in AR's still continue to rise for a family home.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 21 April 2012 - 19:30
Thank you Marianna, I looked at her profile and she looks like the kind of doctor I'm looking for.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 21:14
Finished my nightly run this evening in AR's in the rain and thunder. It was awesome!!
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 14:34
I think you are going to have problems with these people from now on and you are going to come out the loser in the end with all the emotional badgering they going to do. Let them have the place but take them up on the offer to move you at no cost to you and get out. You will only fight this again next year and they may not be willing to let you move on their dime. by next year we will be back home in the States... so we wouldnto have this situation.. Uh huh, well that changes things. If you are absolutely sure you are only going to be here one more year then stay put and fight it, but if you feel there is a chance you might be here longer, I'd move out.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 14:32
She has a choice! http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/19/10752424-report-i-am-the-real-dictator-wife-of-syrias-bashar-assad-says
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 14:25
I think you are going to have problems with these people from now on and you are going to come out the loser in the end with all the emotional badgering they going to do. Let them have the place but take them up on the offer to move you at no cost to you and get out. You will only fight this again next year and they may not be willing to let you move on their dime.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 14:18
There is a link on that article (the one posted on msnbc.com) about emails that she has been sending out basically supporting her husband's decisions. It doesn't sound like she's hiding behind him in horror, it sounds like she's arm and arm with him giving him suggestions. She does not sound like a compassionate woman that is worried about her people.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 21:10
I could not find it here so I ordered mine through Amazon in the states and used SNS to get it here. I just ordered mine last month.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 10:29
Three weeks ago I turned down two spots at DSO for my 5 and 3 year old. On Wednesday I got a call from them asking if I was going to take the spots that had expired back in March and I told them I had already declined their offer for placement and she still had us on the list. So if you want DSO don't give up b/c there are people like me who were on the list and had turned them down already but there were still holding spots.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 10:26
Thank you! I'll give them a try today.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 April 2012 - 23:16
We need a new refrigerator. We were a family of 3 when we moved here and now a family of 5 and have outgrown the fridge. I want a side by side but don't want the ice and water in the door since we don't have a water line to run to it. We went to E Max in Oasis a couple of months ago and I found the perfect one but the kids were acting like lunatics and DH and I gave up to get them home. We went back the other night and it's now gone. Tonight we checked all the stores in MOE's and nothing. All ice and water in the door and I don't want to lose that space when I can't use that function. Any suggestions on a good appliance store? I've checked Dubizzle regularly and don't see anything there either.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 20:25
Sal123 I've got your email so you can delete it.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 14:11
Mirador has two nice size pools with parks attached and also another park next to a tennis court. All of them have grassy areas that the kids can play soccer on. The downside to Saheel is they don't have the double entrances at the gates and the lines can really back up trying to get into Saheel. The other neighborhoods have a visitors and resident entrance so you don't have to wait behind all the taxi drivers and delivery trucks to get in. But Saheel does seem to have a lot of children that live there. You really can't go wrong with any of the neighborhoods you listed. They are all really nice in AR's.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 13:48
Dxb19 I have the Chicco Keyfit 30 for sale right now on Dubizzle. We bought in the US from Babies R Us and brought it here when DD was born. It's only 8 months old and had a cover on it the entire time so it's practically brand new. Not a spot on it. The nice thing about the Chicco is you can buy more than one base for each of your cars. The base is attached to the car with the LATCH system and it remains in the car but you can take the "bucket seat" in and out easily. When you get to your destination you just take out the bucket and the baby stays in it. You can hook it to your buggy and it makes a travel system. The baby can rest in there and never be disturbed if they are sleeping. Now we have 9 month old DD in the Britax Roundabout (which is a convertible) b/c she was getting too heavy for the Chicco and the thing I miss is when she was in the Chicco I could strap her in and then run around the house getting the last few things ready and then pick up the "bucket" and head out the door and click her in. Now I have to make sure everything is totally ready to go, get all my things, grab the baby and then get her buckled into her car seat in the car. If she's fallen asleep on the ride home I wake her up when I unbuckle her whereas if she was still in the Chicco she'd stay asleep while I carried her inside in the "bucket".
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 09:49
If you check it at the very beginning with the luggage then the airline moves it to your next plane. There isn't a special fragile section it goes to. If you take your stroller with you to the gate and give it to them just as you board, then when you get to your next spot you'll have to wait just outside of the plane door while they bring it to you. You'll have it for your layover and then you can check it again when you board your next plane right before you get on the plane. We have a BOB Revolution and spent way to much money on it for the baggage handlers to tear up so I bought the BOB buggy suitcase. It's been across the Atlantic several times and always protected by the suitcase.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 10 April 2012 - 08:21
You can run around on the grass in the communal parks. My boys play at ours all the time and go with the next door neighbor children and play soccer. My oldest learned to ride his bike on the grass so his crashes didn't hurt as much. They get used all the time. But no, you won't find big expansive fields to play in.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 09 April 2012 - 17:16
For example H&M now have a 'scent' in their stores which when you walk in (In the UK) - you are supposed to subconciously smell and then associate with them when you smell that smell again later. It's all about selling the experience of the product. Very interesting! That's what I tell DH when I'm dragging him into Tiffany & Co. I tell him "even the air smells better in this store, it's medicine for the lungs" to which he gives me his best eye roll. Dh won't even let me lick the windows of Tiffanys :( Well maybe if you stop licking the windows he'd let you go in! LOL
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 09 April 2012 - 13:06
Oh one more thing, we have the long silver remote control but I keep seeing ads for the new black remote control. Do you go to the Du or OSN stands to get the new remote or do we have a remote that is good enough?
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 09 April 2012 - 13:00
For example H&M now have a 'scent' in their stores which when you walk in (In the UK) - you are supposed to subconciously smell and then associate with them when you smell that smell again later. It's all about selling the experience of the product. Very interesting! That's what I tell DH when I'm dragging him into Tiffany & Co. I tell him "even the air smells better in this store, it's medicine for the lungs" to which he gives me his best eye roll.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 08 April 2012 - 08:15
I called in February and they said they would be open in 3 weeks which would have been nice since we had guests coming in town. After three weeks I went to the mall and asked and they said it would open in March but last week I stopped by the concierge and now they are saying June. Typical for Dubai.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 April 2012 - 23:36
I remember being paid $4 for notorization. My, how times have changed -- or rather they are overcharging for the service! Yes we about died when they said how much money it was going to cost. This was October of 2011 when we had the notary and was for a real estate POA.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 April 2012 - 22:13
I already responded to your FB message but for anyone else, we went the consulate along the creek in Dubai and got one notary for $50 USD. We did make an appointment for the service but got an appointment within a day.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 April 2012 - 11:41
Thank you!
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 April 2012 - 11:39
Our's is outside 365 days per year and never had one problem. I'm sure it would take direct blow torch type flame to cause it to blow up.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 03 April 2012 - 16:14
I can't seem to find Onion powder in this country and have no idea why. Me too SunDevil. My mom is coming this week and bringing a load of stuff like this I can't find. Do you want me to have her bring some (she brought me some her last trip)? That would be wonderful, thank you! One bottle of onion powder will hold me over until I get home this summer. My sister brought me two giant bottles of Lawry's seasoned salt this Christmas and I didn't even think about the onion powder.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 03 April 2012 - 14:41
I can't seem to find Onion powder in this country and have no idea why. Funny, I've seen it everywhere when I was searching for garlic powder... I see minced onion every where but not onion powder. I just got garlic powder this week at Lulu's.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 03 April 2012 - 13:49
I can't seem to find Onion powder in this country and have no idea why.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 03 April 2012 - 12:32
Notheragain check out the AR Mom's group. We meet every Monday in the Alma park from 10:00-12:00. I promise if you go and don't know anyone, just say, "Hi can I join in with you ladies?" and they will clear you a spot on the blanket. It's a really friendly group. The group also does a Thursday play date in Motor City at Extreme Fun and they do all types of activities throughout the month. You can be as busy as you want to be with the group or stay more low key and only join in activities occasionally. They also do a mom's night out once a month.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 April 2012 - 20:38
I went to Mel for blonde highlights in February, have previously saved my hair appointments for my trips home to Oz...but she was great. I'd highly recommend her. Melanie does my blonde highlights too and she's great. She does a mix of three different colors and it looks really nice.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 April 2012 - 09:35
Does it have to be Maxicosi? I have the Chicco Keyfit 30 that I'm selling, I just haven't had the chance to list it on Dubizzle yet. http://www.chiccousa.com/gear/car-seats/keyfit-30-fuego.aspx We bought it in the states and it's only 8 months old. I also kept a full cover on it the entire time so it looks brand new. There's not a spot on it. Our's is not red, it's gray.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 April 2012 - 09:31
Thank you! The man at the payment area told me all supplies were included but then said the teachers would send a notice home. I told him I'd like to get the supplies in the states where they are much cheaper and better quality but he kept telling me the teachers would give a list of supplies needed and the shops to buy them here after school started but in the next sentence would tell me all supplies are included. I used to teach in the states so I know teachers can use some basic supplies for their room and I'd love to contribute but want to get the good stuff not the cheap stuff that breaks after the first week. So finally I just gave up and said thank you. LOL
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 30 March 2012 - 20:17
I was just checking to see if you found it. Hooray!
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 30 March 2012 - 09:59
I just rummaged through all of our receipts but can't find the name of the shop. We always enter through the E door on the Hwy 44 side of the building. It's on the main drag and when you go in the E door go left and it's in the F section. The building will start to curve to the right and if you walk straight you'll walk straight into the shop. It sells industrial fans, floor fans, there are some ceiling fans hanging in the shop and DH even bought the industrial rubber door mats there. I hope you find it.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 30 March 2012 - 09:46
Do not buy a European or American SUV. They don't make cars with specs especially for the Gulf region, so you will have an AC unfit for these circumstances. All Japanese brands do Gulf specs, so with Toyota, Mitsubishi or Nissan you'll be all right. Edited to add American. edited by Oopsiedaisy on 30/03/2012 I disagree. We imported both of our cars from the states when we moved here and both have excellent a/c. Our Honda Odyssey Touring has 3 rows of a/c and gets cold right away and our GMC Envoy has two rows of a/c and individual climate control and it also gets cold quickly. Well, the Honda is Japanese. GMC I don't know of, sorry if I was mistaken. In general though the Japanese cars are best in this climate. Yes it's Japanese designed but both cars were manufactured in the US. The Odyssey actually has two a/c's on it which makes it really quick to cool down. What about the Honda CRV or Pilot if the Envoy is too big?
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 30 March 2012 - 08:28
Do not buy a European or American SUV. They don't make cars with specs especially for the Gulf region, so you will have an AC unfit for these circumstances. All Japanese brands do Gulf specs, so with Toyota, Mitsubishi or Nissan you'll be all right. Edited to add American. edited by Oopsiedaisy on 30/03/2012 I disagree. We imported both of our cars from the states when we moved here and both have excellent a/c. Our Honda Odyssey Touring has 3 rows of a/c and gets cold right away and our GMC Envoy has two rows of a/c and individual climate control and it also gets cold quickly.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 23:43
We got our's at Dragon Mart and they sold us a huge long amount too. Even sold us the silver heat tape to attach it to the vent. It's in a shop by the lighting and window treatments on the main aisle, not tucked back into some corner. It was really easy to find. The shop sold fans, hood vents and we walked in and asked if they had the dryer vent and they had two different sizes. So bring your measurements or take a picture with your phone of the vent it needs to be attached to.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 29 March 2012 - 23:40
You wouldn't dare go without your favorite plant souk buddy!! They are open 7-7 on Fridays. Happy bargaining!
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 27 March 2012 - 13:02
. SunDevil, go have a recce then come back and let us know routes you find to Spinneys in preparation ;) Yes except my minivan doesn't exactly have the clearance needed to navigate that back road that was previously dirt. LOL I'm hoping it's paved now. Sue62, if you go in the Studio City r/a and keep going past the r/a that takes you into the Polo Club you can go right and go to that stop light that is on the main drag through Motor City. It's the light right there at the corner of Spinneys and the Autodrome. BUT it wasn't paved all the way through and you had to do some pretty good off roading to get between the two paved parts. That's the back road I'm talking about and wondering if it's paved now. It would have been nice if the letter had included a map of exactly what will be closed.
 
 
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