http://sjhphotos02.wixsite.com/sjh-photography
A huge shoutout to this amaizng photographer, Sidra, I have worked with her on numerous shoots and I cannot stress enough how brilliant she is.
Checkout her work
http://sjhphotos02.wixsite.com/sjh-photography
It is always nice when you are complimented for your style and fashion sense. Isn’t it?
I started blogging and went public on Instagram to share bits of my life as a mother, wife and most importantly as the Woman of today. My amazing followers on Instagram were quick to notice that I had a thing for fashion. They always liked my outfits and I get so many compliments about the way I dress up. Everyday I am asked the same question, ‘Where do you buy your clothes from?’…’We want to go shopping with you!’. I won’t lie, I really enjoy it. Fashion is very close to my heart. I believe in the saying, ‘dress like you are already famous’.
When you are public on Instagram and you love fashion opportunities are bound to come your way. One of the leading eastern wear store, Brands Just Pret, reached out to me to be a part of their Blogger Special photo-shoot for their upcoming Diwali and Wedding Collection. I was over the moon excited as I had always loved wearing beautiful clothes and getting photographed.
Our photoshoot was arranged at one of the most royally decorated fine dining restaurants in Dubai, Jodhpur. the organizer was a lovely girl, Fatima Anwar, who told all the mom bloggers to bring their babies along as it was a kid friendly Photo shoot. This was the highlight for me because the shoot was on a weekday. Also I was relived to know that other mom bloggers were a part of the photo-shoot too. I have to give it to the team of Brand Just Pret, they were extremely professional and very accommodating.
Designers: S&M (shah & Mengals) and Naushad Imdad. Jewellery: Juvelista
Yesterday, I got the opportunity to visit the store Brands Just Pret. They launched their 7-day Diwali, Wedding and Lifestyle pop up at their multi brand boutique in World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi. The event was Attended by media, shoppers and VIP guests. I was amazed to see over 30 talented designers displaying their stunning Diwali and Winter Wedding pieces. Every dress was a master piece and a must have. Me along with other bloggers got to opportunity to try some the gorgeous dresses. Lucky, right? Have a look at some of the pieces
I am wearing Designer Mahma (Left) and Kanav (right)
The store is located in World Trade Center Abu Dhabi.
If you were not convinced before I am sure after seeing these amazing dresses you are and would be heading to the store first thing in the morning.
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Instagram is amazing, you get to meet lovely people and get to know about things that are beyond your imagine. A few days ago I got a call from the lovely owner of the Store Kids Style For Less.
Did you ever think that there is a store that sells designer clothes like Dolce&Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, Prada, and Gucci…basically any brand that you can think of? I bet it never even crossed your mind and like me, you have always wished to buy those clothes for yourself or your little one but on a closer inspection found that it was worth a month’s rent.
When I heard about this shop ‘Kids Style for Less’ and the idea behind it I couldn’t wait to visit it. Lana, the owner of the store is such a lovely person. She took me showed me around the store, explained me the concept behind it. The clothes were immaculate, Well-arranged and every piece was a stunner. She explained me how each outfit was hand-picked and restored to perfection.
The store has huge variety of kids’ clothes and toys. Brands like Gymboree, ELC, Ralph Lauren, Armani, coach are sold for less than 1/4th of the original price. And if you thought this was it, you are wrong, the store has a gorgeous section for mommies with stunning dresses and elegant hand bags.
Zaydan and I got to try on some clothes. Zaydan is all dressed up in Ralph Lauran and I am wearing a Dolce&Gabbana skirt and a Micheal Kors blouse.
You can visit the store in Wasl Square, Unit 32 Block 6 Dubai.
Contact 0509686935
Website: www.kidstyleforless.com
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A month ago Huggies Arabia and Global Event Management arranged a coffee morning for mummies at Studio77 . It is always lovely to meet fellow mommies, listen to them talk about their babies, share the wonderful joys of motherhood, rejoice their triumps and share each others sorrows. We see them face the same challenges that we are facing with our little ones and its very satisfying to know we are not alone. The best thing about these mommy meet up is the “no Judgement look’ the mommies pass to each other. It feels so much better that we are all part of a sisterhood.
The event had some amazing gifts and goody bags for the mommies also the first 15 mommies to reach the venue were given a 30 minutes studio photoshoot. We managed to get the 11th spot, Yay!!! Although I had very strategically planned the morning and was hoping we were going to be the first ones there, guess all mommies were as enthusiastic about winning the shoot as was I.
The photographer Jie at Studio77 was very passionate about the photoshoot. She was extremely patient with all the mommies and their babies. She was creative and also very friendly. We had an amazing time during our shoot. We received our pictures the same day which was such a pleasant surprise. The pictures is captured beautifully and depicts the bond between a mother and a son..
I was so pleased and impressed by their services and the hospitality that I knew we had to go back there for a family picture. And finally we managed to book another shoot with the amazingly talented Jie. this time my husband accompanied us. I am sharing one of my most favorite picture from the shoot.
If you want to book a beautiful photoshoot for your family please find the details of Studio 77 below.
A few weeks ago, I came across Balloonee. Balloonee is a better, convenient and more interesting alternative to transporting pre-inflated balloons.
I remember us not having party planners as a child. We still had parties though! Deciding on a theme and making the party a success was the biggest mission. And still is for me!
The one thing standing in the way of a hit or a miss party is almost always the decor. And what completes every party’s decor, you ask? Balloons! But you knew that already.
Everyone loves them! They are colorful, fun and usually what makes your party fabulous. Don’t forget the amazing pictures you get!
It’s amazing how the balloon market has developed over the last decade. The wide array of shapes and sizes of balloons wow me like nothing else. Not to mention the customized balloons!
And what amazes me even more is how liquids can be used to make your balloons float in air. One way to incorporate fun and learning was introducing colors to my son through inflated balloons. And when I heard that you could fill them up at home with your children, I knew I had to get in on it. No more breaking your bank buying balloons from expensive party centers. It can all be done by yourself.
They have two types of balloons: disposable and refillable.
Each tank comes along with 30 latex balloons and a 40 m long white ribbon. One tank of helium can fill up-to 30 latex The directions are pretty easy to follow.
You can place your order on their Instagram page
@iloveballoonee
https://www.instagram.com/iloveballoonee/
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So I wanted a pet dog when my husband surprised me with this beautiful looking green plant in a pot. ‘If you keep this alive for the whole month, I will get you a pug’, he said.
‘How difficult could it be to nurture a plant, it just needs water’, I thought.
It didn’t come as a surprise to my husband when only after a week he brought me to our balcony to show that plant was fading. It was getting pale with its ends slighty dried up. I swore I had been watering the plant but sadlt it wasn’t enough.
While I desperately rately searched around ways to keep the Aloe Vera alive I learned more about the plant and how much we can benefit from it. It is a beauty plant. The next door plant was actually ‘plant of immortality’ as deckared by ancients. It has uncountable benefits. Its good for skin, hair, digestion, nails, eyebrows and lashes. Yes,that’s right. Basically its good for both inside and outside of the body.
That is it. The secret to beauty, youth, clean and clear skin. I have been using is ever since. My plant is blooming and I have the most easiest and cheapest beauty heck in my refrigerator. It is a must have for every girl.
To avoid cutting pieces of the plant every day. I cut the oldest strand and peel of the skin, blend the gel into a think liquid, put it in a squeezy bottle and tada. It stays good for a whole month.
I miserably failed the test my husband out me in. But guess who benefited the mosy iut of this whole experiment. Yes thats right. My husband. He got rid of me nagging him about the dog and saved a lot of my beauty products money.
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There’s a woman I know, now I am not a judgemental person, but every time I see her I get hypercritical about her ways. Last time I visited her house, she had a very modern monochromatic themed living room. I envied the view she woke up to. Lately she has been avoiding calling friends over because she can no longer keep the house clean; it is a mess, chintzy settings, toys scattered everywhere. Why would she buy her kid a gazillion toys when she doesn’t have the space to keep them? Her kid is going to be a spoilt brat.
She prefers cooking the baby food herself and takes a lot of pride in it. I think that is what she does all day cause this has been her excuse for not meeting for lunch, going shopping or having a spa date. People should just stop making plans with her because she is going to say no for sure.
I walked past her the other day at a brunch and she was alone with her infant having breakfast, What a loner, I thought to myself. Her kid had thrown food all around his seat while she was working on a coffee looking a little absent minded. There is a little too much baby talk on the phone.
As much as I appreciate her sharing her baby stories with me, I’m just not that interested. Every baby crawls, coos, stacks and throws. It isn’t something you broadcast. And for God’s sake don’t tell me how tired you have been.
We ran into each other at the grocery store a couple of weeks back, she was clumsily carrying a few items in her hands while directing the baby in the stroller. She looked awful, stressed and over worked. I had a flashback of when she would multitask at her office, manage her beautiful house and always look impeccable. ‘She has let herself go’, was all I could think. She sneaks in the gym at odd times WITH HER BABY.
She celebrates her child’s life… EVERYDAY. She really needs to get a life. It is so weird that she is willing to spend $70 on a stupid baby activity class even though her nails needed serious attention. While thinking all this, all I could do was stare at her in the mirror. I am her. She is me. And she is a stay-at-home mom.
Once in a while, put the negativity, stress and worries aside to have a look at your life. You will see beauty and bliss in every frame.
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If you are a mother, especially a new mother, you all must have come across people with their brilliant parenting advises and suggestions. They might not have been doing parenting right, or must have learned over the course of time BUT they will expect you to be at the pinnacle of perfection.
Why do people think that it is okay to pass on their wisdom when it is uninvited? You are a first time mom but it doesn’t mean that you need all those recommendations? Or do you? No matter how well you are getting along with your child they will still have a say, “He is so quiet and calm, I bet motherhood is so easy for you” “His hair are thin, did you give him enough head shaves. Try almond oil”, “He is so lean you should give him rice pudding”.
It didn’t occur to me earlier, but every time I meet a new person or someone who has seen Z after a long time they have a say about his upbringing. If you follow me on Instagram and snap-chat you would know that the baby loves to watch Barney. An occasional 10 seconds story doesn’t mean that he was sitting in front of the idiot box all day long and just binge watching the purple dinosaurs show. ‘You must avoid making him watch videos all day,’ ‘he’s going to trouble you in the years to come because of his TV routine’.
In an encounter with a ju
judgmental lady, a few weeks earlier, I heard a bizarre statement, ‘Meat and milk are not good for babies, raise your kid to be a vegan’. So now I don’t even have a say about how I want to raise my own kid. I understand the importance of going all organic but why would you order a meat-lover to raise their kids to be vegans. Not that being a vegetarian or vegan is anything bad. It’s a choice people. You make yours, I make mine and when my kid is old enough, he’ll choose whatever he likes for himself. Period.
When you are not a mother you say things like, ‘I won’t allow my kid to watch TV’ or ‘I will make him sleep at 7pm sharp’ or ‘ store bought food will be a No No in my house’. You only realize how wrong you have been when you become a mother.
The struggle of motherhood is real. Any constructive suggestion is always welcome but saying things just for the sake of it or making the mother feel bad about her parenting style is not good. Have you ever met someone who criticized your parenting style? How do you handle it politely? Or do you let it go and not affect you?
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really confused with us traveling every 2 months. I sorted out the laundry and found that all I had worn this week were my night suits. Was this what my life was all about now? As I folded the lot, there were some very well loved night gowns in there too, I had become too attached to them. They needed to be thrown away but I always felt so comfortable in them, never thinking about how it made me look in front of my always impeccable looking husband. He had often mentioned why I still wore them and had not bought new ones in a long time but I never looked past that statement for a deeper meaning.
Motherhood didn’t come as a surprise to me, it takes nine long and tiring months to make a baby, it can’t ever be a surprise. It came with a lot of unwanted (at that time) excitement and enthusiasm. Little did I know that as each day with the lil-poopster would go by, I would have waves of varying emotions throughout the day. Feelings of joy, amusement, regret, jealousy, contentment, discontent and what not!
The moment we knew we were going to have our first baby, I was sure I wanted to resign from work and become an ‘all time stay at home mom’. It seemed like an incredible idea because I thought I wouldn’t have to wake up early morning, completely unaware of what I was getting myself into.
Staying at home with a baby couldn’t be so difficult, I thought. Back at home every other mother I knew stayed at home, looked after kids, looked like a trophy wife, had an impeccable house, so well-managed and even kept up with the social engagements that happened around the city. ‘I could do that too’, a naive Virdah would think. I, however, was NOT back at home. How could I have missed that part? I was alone in this huge city, where I had been working for the past 2 years (nearly the same amount of time since we relocated to Dubai after living 2 years in Abu Dhabi). It was all work, work, work or spending time with the Mr.
| You thought is was going to be easy. But it wasn’t, was it? |
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