Yasmine is an Lebanese sassy mama of 3 kids, plus an awesome baker (check out petites choses) whose brilliant combinations of classic flavours and ingredients mixed with whimsical florals and a wide array of beautiful bits and bobs (think lots of gold foil and galaxy swirls)  ensure that every cake is its own piece of art! Describing herself as a ‘passionate kind human’, Yasmine is a baker, self proclaimed hummus queen and food blessed ambassador and this, mama believes in doing her bit to put smile on everyone’s face. This is her little black book.

Describe your perfect Friday in Dubai

Most beautiful spot in/around the city

Something on your bucket list that you haven’t got round to doing yet.

Best cup of coffee

Favorite restaurants

Hidden gems

Favorite play spot with the kids

If you need a party outfit you’ll go to…

Where do you go to kit out your kids?

Where do you go to get fit and get pampered?

Best thing you’ve done in Dubai to date?

Dubai summed up in 3 words

The post Little Black Book: Yasmine Idriss, Baker at Petites Choses appeared first on Sassy Mama.

This mama not only has a dream job (PR Director at Christian Dior…does it get much better than that?!) but also a beautiful baby boy and a zest for life. We chat to Bridie about everything from her average day to the restaurants she loves plus how she juggles a career with motherhood and lots more.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your career?

I started working in PR in London as part of my Masters course in the Topshop press office which was every 21-year-old girl’s dream. Following that internship, I moved to Dubai (for a year… 12 years later I’m still here!) and moved into the beauty sector of PR.

I’ve been lucky enough to have worked for some of the most amazing brands such as Jo Malone, Bobbi Brown and La Mer. Four years ago, I joined Dior Beauty and have completely fallen in love with the beautiful French Maison and everything it represents. During busy times of the year (around eight months of the year) I travel every other week for new product launches or to Paris Fashion Week which means lots of planning with childcare and packing. One of the spare rooms in my house always has a suitcase semi packed on its floor! 

Tell us about your husband and kids

I met my husband in Dubai after living here for a year. We met at a Thanksgiving dinner through mutual friends. He is the calm to my hectic and has always been fully supportive of any career decisions I have made. My son Raef is two years old and is at the most adore-able age right now.

Dior was very supportive of my request for a longer maternity leave than is usual in the region, and we settled upon six months leave on the agreement I attended a couple of international trips with top editors. I naively agreed to this pre-baby and so my husband found himself joining me on a press trip to the Cannes film festival when our son was eight weeks old. Never again!! 

How do you balance work and motherhood?

It’s more of a juggle than a balance!

Read more: Life Hack: 18 Apps to Help Sort Your Life Out for 2018

How do you save time? What are your organisational tips and tricks?

I am a huge fan of list writing. I write lists about lists…

I have removed social media notifications from my phone and limit social media time to lunchtime and after Raef has gone to bed otherwise I find myself losing hours lost in a feed.

I have learnt to become efficient at packing for my trips and I have an incredible Nanny who comes to our house five days a week and a great cleaner who comes twice a week. One of my sisters lives in Dubai and stays at my house if my husband and I are both overseas which is invaluable and her and my son have a very special relationship. I couldn’t do my role here without my support network around me.

Read more: Beautiful Beaches In Dubai For Great Snaps Of The Kids This Winter

Describe your average day

We have breakfast as a family and then my nanny arrives and gets Raef ready for nursery while I get ready for work. I drop Raef to his nursery on the way to the office. I work in D3 and my day mostly consists of meetings with press, influencers, production companies and event producers. I usually have a lunch with one of my friends who work in D3 or an editor. I get home around 6.45pm in time for bath and story time.

I have had to learn to say no to mid-week socializing. Pre-child we would socialise most evening, now I limit my mid-week plans to only two evenings a week catching up with friends or out to dinner with my husband if we are both in the country at the same time!

Weekends are all about family time, Friday is beach day with my husband and Raef and Saturday we meet with friends and our kids play together.

If you were stranded on a desert island – which 3 children’s items would you not be able to live without?

• Calpol
• A dummy
• ‘Bunny’

Favourite activity with your little boy?

Kite beach and Al Khazzan Park opposite City Walk

Read more: 14 Fun Things to Love Doing With Your Kids in Dubai

Dream family vacation?

My dream family vacation is where I spent my summers as a child in Northern Mallorca. My whole extended family spends the summer there and I’m so happy that my husband and Raef have fallen in love with that part of the island as much as I have. It is my favourite time of the year and I am guilty of living for Mallorcan summers.

We spent a week at The One and Only in the Maldives when Raef was six months old which was very special and definitely felt like a dream vacation.

We recently spent Easter in Sri Lanka and it was the perfect break with children. The wildlife gave hours of entertainment and I’m already excited for when Raef will be old enough to join us on safari in Kenya which is one of my favourite trips I’ve ever taken.

Favourite date-night restaurants?

Il Borro, Zuma, Coya, Marina Social

Read more: FOODIE NEWS FLASH, April 2018: New Restaurants & Cafe’s In Dubai

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a parent?

“Everything is a phase”

Who is your hero or heroine and why?

I have many – I am constantly inspired by friends both here and overseas, colleagues and of course my family. I come from a very large female family and I am grateful of the values that have been instilled in me growing up.

What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?

God there are too many to list..!

As a mama I wish I were better at…

Living in the present

My most humbling mama moment was…

Whenever we travel. I love to see the world through my son’s eyes and he makes me notice things that would have otherwise passed me by

Read more: Parenting Tips: The Importance of Growth Mindset, and How to Boost It

One thing I won’t sacrifice as a mama is…

Breastfeeding my new born. I loved feeding Raef and the closeness and bond that came with it.

I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about…. 

Work. Unfortunately!

Even when my children have families of their own, I’ll still…

Always make time to listen to them

Read more: The Best of Art Dubai for Families & Kids

My favourite moment of the day is…

The morning when my son comes into our bed for a cuddle before we get up and start the day

I always feel saner after…

Exercise

I wish I had more time for…

Reading

The post That Mama: Bridie Forster appeared first on Sassy Mama.

In Dubai, March usually ushers in the warmer weather, with skies becoming clearer just for a short time before the air is filled with fragments of gold dust (or to take the glamour out of it, we see more sand storms!). Every March 21st, we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. I can still remember that very first walk around Safa Park 12 years ago where my flesh felt tender, and my soul even more so. Pushing this tiny bundle of chromosomal wonder around I was hoping I wouldn’t have a breakdown. Turns out I was still coming to grips with the idea of a giving birth to a child that I had not dreamed of, or asked for. There may or may not have been a sand storm that day, but one thing I know for sure is that I wore my sunglasses even though it was overcast (in case of a sandstorm approaching of course…).

I’ve written about my journey with Down Syndrome and this incredible human being many times before, but one thing I’ve never really expressed is a fear that most of us come across in our lifetime. It is that deep seated small voice of insecurity that resides in our social programming. The “What if they don’t like me?”, or “What if I don’t get chosen?”, or even “Am I good enough?”.

Inclusion is a huge buzz word that seems to percolate and drip feed into conversations, particularly when discussing education here in Dubai.  Going back 12 years ago, I can still feel my skin tightening in resistance to the cold metal surface that lay beneath me as the recovery room feel silent and they whisked my baby away. There was an eery calm that fell over the room that day, and it was not until the words “Down Syndrome” were uttered, that the cold amplified through my veins. My mind raced with visions of my child sitting alone in the playground, or even worse being bullied.

“What if they don’t include her?”

So back to my question and my greatest fears….

“What if they don’t include her?”

Ruby recently celebrated her 12th birthday with a disco at home. We invited her whole class plus a few others, and were so happy to see almost every single child attend her party. There were boys in Ruby’s class that don’t normally attend girls birthday parties. Their Mums went out of their way to tell me that it was really important to them that they attend Ruby’s party. I cannot tell you the joy I felt seeing my girl playing with 20 some odd other children here at home, dancing, singing, swinging, and eating pizza on her special day. Ruby has been blessed with some incredible friends, and it is by inclusion and integration in her classroom that these friendships have developed over the past few years. There is no pity party here. These kids genuinely love Ruby for who she is and see her gifts so beautifully.

Our biggest challenges lie in educating adults when it comes to the potential and abilities that are held in our daughter’s DNA.  The fears I had of children being unkind or cruel are no match for the relentless truth of pursuing the true goal of inclusion in the adult world.  We are getting there, but it is not without continuous championing and advocating for our children that this will become a reality.

I am grateful for how far we’ve come, but what warms my heart the most, is that these beautiful children that surround Ruby with their love are the leaders of the future.  I just wish their time to lead would come sooner!!

They do the most beautiful job of including, nurturing, understanding, and loving our daughter.

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!  12 years on, it is a an honour to walk this path and educate, advocate, and mainstream beauty in difference.

For more information on the advocacy work Stephanie is passionate about, please visit www.iammostextraordinary.com.

The post ‘What If They Don’t Include Her’: One Mamas Beautiful Account Of Raising A Daughter With Down Syndrome appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Emily Liden is a French mama of two gorgeous girls and blogger at dubaioursandbox Having grown up in Dubai she knows the city inside out and shares some of her favourite spots for eating out, for relaxing and for that quality family time in her ‘Little Black Book’.

Describe your perfect Friday in Dubai

On Friday early morning, hubby is out in the desert riding moto bike. This shaped our family weekend routine for years. Friday morning we girls hang out, we do our things until pappa comes home around lunch time. “Girls time” include breakfast out and about at the beach or sometime in Al Khazzan Park, opposite CityWalk, we love Inn the Park coffee shop (good kids menu and good coffee for mama). Later in the afternoon, it will be sundowners with friends in the desert where kids get to ride quads, fly a kite and chase sunsets. It could also be family and friends BBQ at home. It’s all very chilled!

Most beautiful spot in/around the city

I love the big outdoor, I am happy by the beach or in the desert. Saying that we recently did an early Friday morning scooter ride around Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Fountains, it was amazing.

Read more: 10 Of The Most Beautiful Photo Locations in Dubai

Something on your bucket list that you haven’t got round to doing yet.

On my must do list, a Family Safari in Africa, hopefully it’s coming soon…
On my bucket list around the region, the new Zipline in Jebel Jais and visit Salalah in Oman by the Indian ocean.

Read more: Our Ultimate Dubai Bucket List

Best cup of coffee

Close to home with my best friend at Comptoir 102, for a Black Coffee or Heaven on Earth Smoothie.

Favourite restaurants

There is so many options, hard to pick.
– Currently love the mood at Sean Connolly  at Dubai Opera.
– Recently tried The Maine Oyster Bar and Grill loved the atmosphere and food, reminded me of our years  living in NYC.
– For beach vibes, Salt Burger
– Good old Dubai classics Ravi Pakistani food in Satwa and Al Ustad Kabab in Bur Dubai
– For the girls Wagama for noodles soup

Hidden gem

Little home decor boutique, Nook Concept – in Beach Centre, Jumeirah 1, perfect for gifts.
Online Dubai flower shop www.florette.ae for beautiful eucalyptus, ranunculus, peonies…

Favourite play spot with the kids

Aventura, family park. Set amongst a 35,000 square metre natural Ghaf tree forest in Mushrif Park. Fun circuits and thrilling obstacles like tree-surfing, zip-lining and rope-climbing. Love how kids get to be active in Nature.

Read more: Our Favourite Free Activities With Kids in Dubai

If you need a party outfit you’ll go to…

On a budget Zara is perfect otherwise, I am pretty sure to find my perfect outfit at Maje. Would also recommend So Chic.

Where do you go to kit out your kids?

Zara, Gap and H&M. For swim wear we love Stella Cove and Snapper Rock.

Where do you go to get fit and get pampered?

I do yoga, with a lovely Swedish instructor.
Nails at Tip & Toes, Hair at Jetset and Be Bar, best spa experience at Talise Jumeirah.

Read more: 4 Perfect Last Minute Mother’s Day Gifts

Best thing you’ve done in Dubai to date?

Would have to say: Finishing high school, meeting my husband, giving birth to two girls….
Joke a side… Desert camping is always our family favourite. If not camping I would go back to The Ritz Carlton Al Wadi Desert in RAK for intimate hotel stay in the desert.

Dubai summed up in 3 words

Home away from Home (sorry its 4)

The post Little Black Book: Emily Liden appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Femke Speelman is a Dutch mama of three gorgeous kiddos and founder of Phemke Resort Wear, a fashion line that’s ethically made, made from the highest quality natural materials and created to empower women, local communities and artisanal craftsmanship around the world (BIG HIGH FIVE TO THAT!). Femke chats to us about everything from juggling her work with family life to those magical moments that make her feel a little more sane (the first cup of coffee after dropping the kids at school for example!).

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your career?

Entrepreneurship is in my genes and it’s always been my dream to start my own business. Having been a brand manager from the start of my career my expertise is creating and launching new concepts and brands into the market. Add to that a touch of adventure and you’ll understand I am very much in my element doing what I am doing now. Running Phemke allows me to be creative and every day I am challenged which I thrive on. Basically I can combine everything I love: travel, fashion, photography, adventure, and making customers happy by creating beautiful accessories and clothes.

Tell us about your husband and kids

My husband and I have three beautiful, healthy and adventurous girls, 6, 4 and 2 years of age. They were all born in the UAE and my husband and I try to give them a great start in life by showing and teaching them about different countries and cultures.  We love to go camping in the desert, swimming in the ocean, visiting the zoo and learning about animals and visiting unknown places. My husband is a lawyer and despite the fact we have very different ways of working we make a great team.

Read More: 10 Of The Most Beautiful Photo Locations In Dubai  

Where do you live in Dubai?

We have lived in three different places in Dubai: Arabian Ranches, Victory Heights and Jumeirah Park with Victory Heights as our absolute favourite due to the running tracks, parks, Els Club and proximity to the girls’ school which is Victory Heights Primary School. We have recently relocated back to the Netherlands after 7 years of happiness in Dubai.

Describe yourself in 5 words

Ambitious, determined, entrepreneurial, adventurous and loyal

How do you balance work and motherhood?

Having your own business makes it easier to for example pick up the kids from school and take them to their sports classes. The pitfall of being your own boss and being an entrepreneur is that work never stops and there’s a risk of being on your phone the whole time. I try to limit the time I work to the mornings and evenings, when the kids are at school/nursery and in bed (but it’s not easy and sometimes it doesn’t work like that due to deadlines and urgent matters!).

How do you save time? What are your organisational tips and tricks?

I always think twice before I schedule meetings because they eat up a lot of my time (especially with the traffic!). I either schedule meetings early mornings straight after pick up or late mornings, just before pick up. And sometimes a lot can be done by phone or courier. I try to have at least one day in the office without any meetings or interruptions, as a mum you learn to work very efficiently!

Describe your average day

On the days my husband is taking the kids to school I dive straight into my office and start replying to emails and e.g. sending proposals to resorts. Being a mum of three school runs and sports eat up a lot of time but thank god for Whatsapp! Most of my suppliers but also customers are on Whatsapp and throughout the day I am communicating with them and I am checking my emails constantly. An average day usually also includes meetings with our resellers (mostly the high-end resorts) as I like to keep close contact with my customers.

If you were stranded on a desert island – which 3 children’s items would you not be able to live without?

The girls’ detangling brush, shampoo and conditioner! I’d love to go back to the basics and off the grid and please bring on the challenge to live with just what the island would give us but not without these three items! The girls’ hair is a nightmare and tangles very quickly. If I don’t have these three items they’ll end up with blonde dreadlocks (myself included!).

Read More: Happy Campers, Camping In The UAE (& Beyond)

Favourite activity with your kids in Dubai?

Definitely camping in the desert.

Favourite kid-friendly restaurants in Dubai?

Social House in The Dubai Mall, Arabian Tea House in Bastakiya & Cheese Cake Factory at JBR.

Dream family vacation?

Hiring a camper van in New Zealand. Camping, exploring, hiking, swimming and a beautiful scenery….I don’t think you can make us any happier than that.

Read more: 5 Last Minute Travel Deals For Spring Break!

Favourite date-night restaurants?

My favourite is Asian food: Tong Thai if we have something to celebrate (try their cocktails with chili, coriander and ginger, mouthwatering good!) and Hanoi in JLT if we want to order a table full of authentic, affordable Vietnamese food (and don’t forget to order a Vietnamese coffee afterwards).

Read more: Dubai’s Hottest New Restaurants

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a parent?

Nobody knows what they’re doing really, just do whatever makes you and the kids happy. There’s no right or wrong.

Who is your hero or heroine and why?

My dad, a true entrepreneur and my source of inspiration. Sadly he passed away in 2016 and I miss him every day. I wish I could ask his advice and I would have loved his help with making the right business decisions.

What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?

In my previous corporate job I had to launch and give presentations for hundreds of people throughout the region. Being 6 months pregnant and at the end of a long series of launches my exhaustion caused my voice to break….I had to get off the stage to get some water. The whole presentation was such a struggle and so embarrassing!

As a mama I wish I were better at…

Live in the moment more and enjoy the girls thoroughly instead of thinking about work all the time.

Read More: Dubai’s Best Outdoor Play Areas 

My most humbling mama moment was…

When you have babies you have so many humbling moments…these beautiful little miracles that are totally dependent on you. The fact that they wouldn’t survive without you being there taking care of them is the most humbling and at the same time grateful and proud feeling in the world.

One thing I won’t sacrifice as a mama is…

Work! I want to be a good role model for my girls and I think it’s important to make them see mummy is working hard to achieve her goals and follow her dream of becoming a very successful business owner. My ultimate dream is to create a global business in which they can have internships and jobs and eventually take over if they want to.

I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about….

Luckily I don’t wake up in the middle of the night unless my children wake me up!

Even when my children have families of their own, I’ll still…

Be there to help them where needed. I know how wonderful it is when you get help from your parents with babysitting, school runs and sleep-overs so that you can enjoy some quality time with your husband without the children.

Read more: Our Favourite Dubai Cafes For A Babyccino (& Latte!)

My favourite moment of the day is…

Coming home after the school run making myself a nice cup of coffee.

I always feel saner after…

Exercising! So little time but so much needed!

I wish I had more time for…

Sooooo many things!! Holidays, exercising, working, creating photobooks of our holiday pictures, reading a book, cooking and the list goes on and on. Maybe one day when the girls are in their twenties and all the hard work has paid off I can finally enjoy days without running around like a mad woman!

The post That Mama: Femke Speelman Of Phemke Resort Wear appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Georgia Macmillan is Australian mama to 2 gorgeous kiddos and one of the cutest pooches we’ve ever seen! Brilliantly creative, Georgia’s love of art has now evolved into the most beautiful collection of paintings and digitally printed fabrics and wallpapers inspired by our desert surrounds (check out her website for plenty of inspiration on home interiors). In true Aussie style, Georgia and her family love the beach at weekends – she shares some of her favourite Dubai spots to chill, be pampered and eat out plus more in her little black book.

Describe your perfect Friday in Dubai

We are early risers are usually head to the beach first thing in the morning. We love the little beach next to DOSC. Then Din Tai Fung around 11.30am for an early lunch (any later and the line isn’t worth the wait!!). It’s our family’s version of the ‘Sunday Roast’! My husband and I loved Din Tai Fung when we lived in Sydney and are thrilled to have it in Dubai. Followed by an afternoon rest for all, and then my husband and I usually go out to dinner, either the two of us to a restaurant or to a private dinner party.

Read more: Beautiful Beaches In Dubai For Great Snaps Of The Kids This Winter

Most beautiful spot in/around the city

The beaches (and I really do love our home).

Something on your bucket list that you haven’t got round to doing yet

I would love to explore more of the surrounding desert, cruise on a dhow in Khasab, and I fancy the idea of a staycation at one of Dubai’s luxury hotels.

Read more: Cruising and Camping in Khasab

Best cup of coffee

Undoubtedly Boston Lane at The Courtyard.

Favourite restaurants

BB at the DIFC (new favourite!), The Flamingo Room by Tashas, La Petite Maison, Zuma, Coya, Din Tai Fung

Read more: Dubai’s Hottest New Restaurants

Hidden gem

It’s hardly hidden but the tiny baker next to the Ripe Store off Al Manara Road is really great. It’s hard to beat fresh Arabic bread straight out of the oven served in a plastic bag!! Also not hidden, I’m a fan of The Courtyard and it’s amazing stable of stores – George’s of Dubai and Tribe are favourites and Boston Lane is always such fun. And across the road I love exploring Al Serkaal Avenue too.

Read more: Our Favourite Dubai Cafes For A Babyccino (& Latte!)

Read more: So you have a couple of hours to spare, Mama? Why not check out Alserkal Avenue?

Favourite play spot with the kids

We’re a typical Australian family, so the beach first and foremost! We also love Al Khazzan Park and the excellent cafe Inn the Park. An easy spot to watch the children play while we enjoy a leisurely coffee and lunch.

If you need a party outfit you’ll go to…

I consult my wardrobe first, then Boutique 1.

And where do you go to kit out your kids?

Jacadi, Petit Bateau and favourite Australian brands Country Road Kids and Seed.

Where do you go to get fit and get pampered?

I do training on the beach with the fabulous Claire Falconer and a group of friends three mornings a week (year round!). I love being outdoors. Gyms have never appealed to me. For hair and beauty and I go to Pastels Jumeirah.

Best thing you’ve done in Dubai to date?

Aside from the arrival of our second child and amazing travel adventures, it would definitely be starting my textiles and wallpaper business – georgiamacmillanpaints.com. AND moving. We moved to a bigger villa before Christmas and couldn’t be happier!

Dubai summed up in 3 words

Exciting, global, opportunity

Read more: 14 Fun Things to Love Doing With Your Kids in Dubai

The post My Little Black Book: Georgia MacMillan appeared first on Sassy Mama.