Lingerie SalesMEN no more :D

Hello there folks...

For as long as I had this blog... I had a sign that stated 'Say NO to SalesMEN in Saudi'... it has been a hot topic for many locally & internationally. There have been several times where men were told that the this double standard act had to stop- where men and women are strictly banned from mingling, yet we as women had to buy some of our most intimate belongings from MEN. Many chose to ignore the decrees where they were told the jobs had to be handed over to women instead of the men who currently held the position. Just imagine walking into a shop to buy yoursel funderwear, you pick up a 34C, and then a man comes out no where and says, this 36C looks about your size! Excuse me!!! The nerve right? Well this was a normal occurance for women across this nation. Many completely stopped buying their intimates from Saudi, and waited to indulge while the travelled. I remember once when I was in teh La Vie en ROse pictured bellow (before it became family only- women sales reps- I was buying some pyjamas, and then the sales clerk - a man- tried to get me to buy this feathery looking whips! He continued on to tell me that the black is nice, but the red one would be much nicer! The nerve! Something I wouldn't even talk to my husband about, and now I had some perve trying to sell me some feathery whips! I will leave the use for it to you imagination!!!

Many of the owners of these franchises refused to listen to the decree, or the many calls by the labour minister that this had to be put to an end, that  they needed to train women- but alas..... ladies we have finally done it! I can now safely remove the banner from my blog, and change it to something else. Now that we have finally been allowed the dignity of buying out own intimates... can I please be given the dignity to take my self in my own car to purchase them? Pretty please? That is my next Banner. I pray that sometime n teh near future my latest banner will be allowed to retire as something from the past. That one day they will allow us women to live as adults in this nation.  ... So Alf Mabrook ladies... .. now lets continue on and hopefully be able to drive OURSELVES to the lingerie store!

Taken at Kindom Mall Riyadh

Some articles on the subject;

80% of ladies stores begin hiring Saudi saleswomen, says JCCI

Saudi begins goodbye to male lingerie salesmen 

Saleswomen Seize Power in Saudi Arabia's Lingerie Shops

lll

Al Shaya; No Refunds, Really?!

What especially bothers me is that we do not have change rooms here... so we MUST buy goods just to try it on... so under this new rule... we are forced to buy merchandise (even if we do not know it fits)... and then we are not allowed to have a full cash refund? Really... I guess we are gonna have a lot of ladies hiding behind the racks to try clothing on now... good move Al Shaya... your greed HAS gotten the best of u! #MajorFail

Al Shaya; No Refunds, Really?!

The Terrible Twos really do exist!

I love my children... I really, Really, REALLY do! They have brought in so much happiness to my life... they have shown me that there is more to life then meets the eye.

The Day I had my first child, my life had changed. My daughter was such an adorable little baby, so sweet, so peaceful, and so quiet. She was good (and still is) great at listening to me. Now at 4 she actually knows how to read my eyes, and can see what I am telling her. She knows what looks means 'don't you dare', she knows what look means 'go ahead', and many other gestures with different meanings. My dear daughter made it all so easy. I used to hear about the whole terrible 2 think and always thought to myself; those parents really don't know how to parent.. I should go give them a lesson or two.

Well a couple of years down the line... I am in desperate need of help and advise. I scour through article after article on how to deal with my now terrible 2 son. At times he has me in disbelief.. I ask myself, did he just do that? He is truly a sweet little kid (I guess I am biased).... but there are those times where he just locks his head up and throws out the keys. Somehow the word NO becomes a YES. Sit means stand up. Stop means go. (You get the point). I keep telling myself, he is just a kid, it will pass, but what if it doesn't? I have seen kids act worst then him and much older?  can sit here and blame cousins and what not for the learnt behaviours. But that will surely do no good. I am at a loss folks, I need help with my baby boy. I have been told often, boys will be boys. But what if I want a little boy that will listen to what he is told? I think another problem we have in my household is the different types of parenting. My husband is the smack him one type, and I am the talk to him type. My husband keeps telling me to just smack him, and he will listen... (I once actually did... and I felt like a shithead for a while). I don't believe beating him into submission will help, my talking is surely not helping, and the million and one websites that promise me it will all be over soon have given me no solace.

My son playing outside <3

Till then, I will try as many methods as I can google, and hoping that one day I will find that Magic Jackpot winner, as I am truly tired. I look at my 6 month old son now, and fear what is in store for me... 

PS- I promise not to have the holier than thou attitude again... lesson learned!

Blogs I love... and a Happy New Year :)

There are many blogs I LOVE, the blogs just put a smile on my face when I visit them... they are always full of nice fun and interesting topics... here is a list of 5 blogs I truly enjoy.. they are in no specific order... and they by no means are a full list of the blogs I enjoy reading... there are more.. but as I am here with my 2 year old son and my infant.. I really could not commit to a longer post now... I will be sure to more of the lovely blogs I love to explore and read....

1) Noor over at http://littlepinkstrawberries.blogspot.com and http://www.yasalamcooking.com/
This girl is talented masha'allah... she always has an interesting topic to share.. and a yummilicious recipe to tickle everyones fancy.. Warning! You may gain weight just looking at her beautiful concoctions !!

2) Leyla over at http://blueabaya.blogspot.com/ gives readers a wonderful insite of Saudi from an Finish married to a Saudi's perspective! Her finish humor makes the blog a delight to read... she is also over at http://imagesofsaudi.blogspot.com/ where she shares her wonderful photographic skills and takes visitors on a journey of often unseen sites in Saudi!

3) Mama B over at http://yamaamaa.com/ ... Ya Mamaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (need I say more?) her humourous views on parenting here in the Magic kingdom is simply hilarious. She allows readers into the life of her Saudi family... her posts often have me in tears (tears of nearly pissing in my pants laughter!) a must READ!

4) Dentographer over at http://dentographer.blogspot.com/..  he is a dentist and a photographer... need I say more? his blog takes you into his wonderful world of photography.. he shares his wonderful life as a daddy... and has you loving every single post he publishes (yala.. get back to blogging already... ur one of the people who got me back to blogging!)

5) Under the Abaya over at http://undertheabaya.wordpress.com/... she takes you along on her funny yet at times heart wrenching roller coaster called life. Her words speak to me often... she takes you into her little world.. her self realization, her acceptance.. and her will to make it!


and there you have it.... Enjoy!


Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy (Hijri) New Year <3

My gadget monster

Just as I was getting the hang of blogging my son spilt half a cup of coffee on my laptop... May it RIP. In his 2 years 1 month and 2 weeks in this world ... He has destroyed 4 laptops, an ipad, 2 of my Ericsson phones and my husbands old blackberry! Anyway I am typing this from my iphone and wanted to explain my absence. Moreover I would like to wish you all a very happy and blessed Eid...

3idkum Mubarak wa 3sakum mn 3wada 

Cute :D

So my baby girl walks up to me this morning sits next to me, gies me her cute little look, but this time there was a hint of confusion in it... she then goes on to say....

Lujain- When I was laying down daddy went to the funny place... and he turned into a small daddy.


Me- Your daddy became a small daddy?!


Lujain- 'Yes mommy', then she whispers.. 'mommy how did he do it? how did he become small'

Me- honey it was a dream, go see daddy he is still normal :D






hehehe.. her dad turned into a midget in her dream .. Priceless :D




She just came to me and says-




Lujain- Mommy you were melting, and Mansour was jumping on you...


Me- Oh My... Was I the wicked witch of the west?


Lujain- Blank look :D :D :D

Source: http://mcrapu.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/kids-dream.jpg

Brat Ban- KSA

What is a brat ban you say? They are establishments that have a NO-Child policy.

What does that mean? Well if you have a child with you, you simply can not go there.

There are movie theaters, restaurants, grocery stores and countless other places that are implementing this ban. As a mother of 3 kids 4 and under, what is my say on the subject? I am all for it! I think there are places where children should not be allowed. Sometimes people need time away from their little ones. Lets take this scenario.

You have been working all week, and you and your partner need some alone grown-up time. you get a babysitter (or maid here) to take care of your kids, you get all dressed up, a dash of perfume, and you're out the door. You make it to the  5 star restaurant, are seated in a nice comfy corner. You laugh, and talk about your week, while sipping on your Saudi champagne. Out of no where you hear a loud squeal, and a baby crying. There is a toddler sitting there screaming  and throwing his food. You can no longer concentrate on your partner as all you hear is kids screaming, and a baby crying. the parents are mortified and don't know how to control the situation. Your date night is ruined, you might as well have brought your own kids so they could join the commotion.

That folks is why I truly believe, some places in Saudi need a brat ban! Hell, I feel the labour and delivery ward at the hospital needs to enforce a time where children should not be allowed to visit! When I had Abdullah, there were kids running around the halls at Kingdom Hospital at 2am!!!!

Anyway, this morning I was that mortified parent. I went to a new upscale french restaurant for breakfast, and I could not even enjoy anything. So please lets start a brat ban in this country, so parents like myself will know to leave their kids with a sitter/family member, and newly weds can enjoy some peace and quiet and truly enjoy the ambiance...

Heck.. lets get rid of all loud people.. children and adults alike ;)

What do you see wrong in these pictures?

Can you spot anything wrong with any of these pictures? look really hard and you will notice something way off...

Have you noticed it yet? Pls take a good look... you will see something really wrong!

If you weren't able to see it.. look at the car I in the middle.. look at the rear window.. do you see the child laying down there? Mind you we are on a highway..in RIYADH! Not the safest of roads in the world.... I will never comprehend why parents allow such craziness.. I see kids jumping aeround the car on higways here.. I see fathers holding infants on their laps why they drive like mad men on the roads... i find mothers with children on her lap in the front seat, without a worry in the world. The look at me like a mad women when I have my kids all buckled into the car seats... I don't understand why they do not understand that for th safety of their children they need to buckle up! If an accident happens and the child is thrown out of the window and is kille.d. its is MURDER!

How long will it take for people to learn to take care of their kids.. to put their safety first above all laziness. There really needs to be an awareness campaign in this country...!

The Halloween Wake-up call....

My daughter has been doing a Halloween countdown now for about 2 weeks, asking me daily... 'Mama how long do I have left for Halloween'.. and I tell her without even thinking. She came home yesterday all proud showing me her weeks work. Don't get me wrong.. I think it was cute.. and I told her how beautiful her work was.. and how proud I was to have such a smart, beautiful daughter...

A Black cat she cut out and glued.

A pumkin she cut out and coloured


&

A flying bat she made.

She will be having a Halloween party at school next week, in which we ordered her a sleeping beauty outfit from Amazon. Just now it hit me when I asked my daughter... ha 7abeeebti... what is next week... and she shouted out HALLOWEEN. I was actually waiting for her to say Eid!

It hit me hard.. My 4 year old daughter, who was born and lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia... a supposed Qaseemiya... knows NOTHING about Eid and knows next to nothing about Islam, except that I pray... she is doing the countdown for Halloween and driving me crazy daily yo try on her 'princess dress'... yet hadn't the slightest clue what Eid was supposed to be.

I failed big time! I really failed!

I am supposed to teach her what Eid is, I am supposed to teach her about Islam, by verbally teaching her, and through my actions. Sadly I failed!

This was a wake up call for me, that I MUST be more active in teaching my daughter things. One month in school and she is already doing the Halloween dance... and I am pretty sure Christmas will be yet another countdown.

I am awake now.. and shall be the teacher I am supposed to be.. give her more one on one time... teach her about our beautiful religion...

Weird/funny my things my daughter says..

About a week ago:

Me- Hon what do you want dad to get for you from the store
Lujain- Mama I want dad to get me some more dolls
Me- Honey you already have enough
Lujain- No Mama... I need more... they are bored and they want to talk to more dolls..

When she gets home from school, I like to ask her how her day went.

Me- How was your day love?
Lujain- I cut some papers with scissors
Me-Oh thats nice, so now you can cut?

Lujain-Yes Mama

Me- What else did you do hon?

Lujain- we did exersize mama. (she is eyeing the playroom)

Me- What did you do?

Lujain- 'she got up to show me' Really fast :)

Me- Oh that is nice hon, so you had fun

Lujain- yes mom (she is getting really fidgety now)

Me- what else did you did you learn 7abooba?

Lujain- ummmm mom, I really can't talk now, can we talk later?, I need to go colour before Mansour wakes up :D

(If Mansour is awake, he terrorises her, and doesn't let her get anything done.. :D)

Two days ago:

I gave both kids some cheetos (Not a usual thing.. but once in a while I give it to them. Mansour usually ALWAYS does a grab and dash on her where he will walk near her without notice... and in a split second grab whatever is in her hand and runnnnnns... lol.. I call it the 'grab and dash'. Anyway Lujain finished hers.... and was staring at Mansours bowl (it takes him ages to finish)... she looked to see that I wasn't looking, and grabbed one and stuffed it into her mouth. He was in shock... not happy... and I had to laugh really hard (I noticed the whole thing).. I then made her give back what she took from him (whatever she wasn't already happily munching).. and continue to laugh...

Lujain- Why are you laughing mama?
Me: I think that was hilarious... my have the tables turned..
Lujain- It is NOT funny, I am angry!
Me- You did wrong hon
Lujain- No, that was my bowl, so it is my cheetos...

Last night:

Lujain: Mama I learnt Arabic (she says it like an American... Ay-ra -(soft r) bic
Me: What did you learn today?
Lujain: Baqara (she says it Back-a-ra (soft r)
Me: That is nice... Baqara means cow hon..
Lujain: Yes mom, and I learnt another word!
Me: Thats is great what did you learn?
Lujain: khashakaha (thats what I heard!)
Me: ha? what was the hon
Lujain: says some gibrish again and she was looking all proud!

For a second I thought maybe just maybe there is a word I may not understand.. so i waited for my husband.. and he asked her to repeat her new word.. and she replied... Khashaha-whatever.

None of us understood... I need to call her arabic teacher! Perhaps get her to send home whatever she teaches her daily...