Merry Xmas Everyone!

I love this time of year as everyone is in a celebratory mood, there's plenty of yummy food and well, we here in Dubai get to wear our winter clothes for about 2 weeks :).  Happy holidays to all!

Images: Sweet designs, A Punch of Color, via Pinterest, housetohome.co.uk, Stephmodo

Fancy a good bite?

I've recently come across this site which is super helpful for any foodie who loves to travel.  The World's 50 Best Restaurants (there's actually top 100) is organised by Restaurant Magazine and is a list that's been compiled by over 800 industry experts including chefs and food critics.  So basically this is THE list.  The site also has regional spotlights, most recently on Peru and Singapore, where they dive into the culinary scene in those countries.  And you can also access past years' winners.  So next time you're about to jet off, check this out.  

The 2012 list should be out in April 2012.

Fancy baby rooms

So I'm pregnant and expecting a little girl.  Yippeeeeeee!!! :)  As you can imagine we are super excited and are counting down :) So first order of business - the nursery!  I have so many ideas running through my mind! I've posted some pictures here of some rooms that just totally inspired me.

These are pictures from One Claire Day, I love this nursery!  It's so charming and warm.  Check out how the books are displayed in the cases on the floor!

I love the simplicity of this nursery from Daffodil Design.  I'm quite set on painting the walls of the new nursery grey, just not sure if I'll go with a light grey or a darker shade. I love the Dwell Studio bedding too.

This nursery via Chic and Cheap nursery is so cute.  Even though it's predominantly a baby pink color, it's done in a mature and modern way.

This nursery from Chic and Cheap Nursery is so funky.  Love the bright colors mixed in with the dark grey walls. And all the little touches make it so much fun!

This is blogger Joni of Lay Baby Lay daughter's nursery.  I love the eclectic style and the little touches that make it so personal.  For example, the pictures on top of the changing area are in the style of a family tree, with old pictures of both sets of grand parents etc.  

Y's 2nd Birthday Party

We weren't planning on having a birthday party for Yousef this year (his birthday is in August and we were in Europe etc.) but for the last couple of months, everytime we went to a birthday party he would later come home and pull out plastic plates and cups and pretend he's having his own birthday party.  We decided it was a must when he started singing Happy Birthday to himself to sleep!!  Anyway, we just had his 2nd birthday party yesterday and I'm soo happy we did end up having one.  He had a blast and I think the other kids did too, and we had fun planning it.  


Y's current obsessions are cars, trucks and diggers, so the theme was "construction".  Here are some pictures that I thought I'd share :)

The Entrance to the party

The set up

We had a sand pit, a building blocks corner and a table where they can color in construction themed pictures.

Had to include Bob!

The food table

The very yummy cake :) - from Sweet Secrets

Tool cookies from Lime Tree

 More decorations!

The kids digging in!

There was no shortage of trucks around!

We also had cones surrounding some of the areas to work with our theme.

 The kids getting slightly messy!

The coolest playdate ever!

You know, Angie and Gwen hangin' out with the kids in London... 




Image: via Marieclaire.co.uk

H&M Home

I've just discovered the H&M Home collection.  How did I not know about this until now?  Apparently the collection as been available online in Europe since 2008!  Given how affordable this collection is, you can change up the look of a room as many times as you like!  Here are some photos taken from their site to give you an idea of the cool stuff they have. (Love the bath mat in the second photo!)

Images: H&M

Emmy Awards 2011

I really enjoyed the show this year, even though I had no clue who the hostess was (I'm NOT a Glee fan).  My favorite part was when Amy Poehler and the other women nominated for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series got up on stage while the nominations were still being read. Hilarious!


Gwynth Paltrow in Emilio Pucci.  I'm not loving this look at all.  There is just way too much going on, the beading and the detailed pattern, the little ruffles at the end...  Plus I never thought showing that sectoin of a tummy was flattering.

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang.  Love this look.  The dress fits her perfectly and the color helps keep it a little sweet.  I want those earrings.

Julianna Margulies in Giorgio Armani Prive . This was the worst look of the evening.  I'm sorry Julianna, I love you and I can't wait for The Good Wife to start again, but really? Did you just bedazzle one of those collars you get from a vet? 

Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab. Wow. And she knows it.

Katie Holmes in Calvin Klein Collection.  This is quite nice.  It's very simple and effortless while the color gives it that needed pop.

Heidi Klum in Christian Siriano.  I'm all for supporting past designers from your own show, but this just looks like you're trying too hard.  Wonder how she managed to sit down in this?

Kristen Wiig in Zac Posen.  She looks a lot hotter here than she did in Bridesmaids that's for sure!  This is very pretty and the color is definitely different.

Kate Winslet in Elie Saab.  Ok she doesn't make the most exciting style choices but this woman knows what works for her.  She looks absolutely stunning!

Julie Bowen in Oscar de la Renta.  This was my favorite look of the night.  She looks super sexy and modern.

Cat Deeley in Monique Lhuillier.  She looks really pretty as usual.  

Nina Dobrev in Donna Karan.  Yes she looks lovely, but the reason I put this photo is as a shout out to my new favorite show!  I know I sound like a 15 year old, but I LOVE Vampire Diaries and have been raving about it every chance I've had.  Oh and if you do watch it, I'm on team Damon! I was so excited to find out they are actually dating in real life, how cute is that? Ok, OK... I'll grow up.

Images: People, Huffington Post, Via Go Fug Yourself

lmnop's 25 books to read before 5

I LOVE children's books.  I love the sweet and clever stories, the amazing illustrations and the bursts of color.  Since I'm always on the look out for new books for Y, I was happy to find this article in laugh make nurture organise play's latest newsletter.  The books are even broken down by age!

25 before 5:

- Dear Zoo

- Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See?

- Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

- Hug

- Goodnight Moon

- Who's in the Garden?

- Banana!

- Peepo!

- Froggy Green

- Orange Pear Apple Bear

- The Foggy Foggy Forest

- Olivia

- How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?

- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

- Elmer

- The Giving Tree

- Lost and Found

- Man on the Moon

- The Gruffalo

- The Lion and the Mouse

- Iggy Peck Architect

- Mr Chicken Goes to Paris

- Gorilla

- Daddy Lost His Head

- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

You can read the full article here. 


Their magazine, site and blog are a must for all you parents out there, check it out here.


Image by Ian Macpherson for lmnop.

Tough Cookie

Thought I'd share some of my latest loves. 

Shoes by Valentino

Leather cuff by Givenchy

Shoes by Christian Louboutin

Flats by Sam Edelman

Booties by Sam Edelman

Rose gold and black necklace by Joomi Lim

Titanium spikes bracelet by Joomi Lim

Images: High heeled banshee, Matches, Sam Edelman, Joomi Lim Blog, Matches