I've been insulted, queried, and bribed about these cake balls. I am making them next week for my bunco night and just for y'all, I am going to post a "how to" complete with pictures!
I will warn you though that once you taste one of my balls (hee hee), you'll be a frosting junkie like me!
On a side note - anyone remember Schwetty (spelling?) balls from SNL?
.JPG)
Monday, June 23, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
9 Cans of Rotel and 8 Tubs of Frosting
I know, I know, you're wondering...rotel and frosting, where is this gonna go?
I've enjoyed living as an expat tremendously! Have I changed? Absolutely! If it's possible, I've become more outgoing, apparently fell in love with the exclamation point, and am now a hoarder! The latter makes me a true expat - no longer a rookie. Let me explain.
HEB does not exist in Dubai! Oh how I miss it (and Target)! The grocery stores over here, while well stocked with a variety of items, don't always load up on the Texan goods or other pantry necessities. You can't find a chipotle here to save your life! And, it's quite often hit and miss. You can't bank future success on past finds.
So here's the deal. When you find something that you LOVE, you must buy every single one on the shelf, because quite possibly it will be not be there next time. Frosting, tortillas, and rotel all fall into the stock up category. It's so bad that there are posts on the expat woman forum of ladies looking for certain items. I could have made a fortune selling Betty Crocker frosting on the black market! Cake Balls (thanks Mel!) are a hit here and tub frosting is a vital ingredient. It's not uncommon for me to receive an email from a friend here passing the word that frosting is in stock (of course only after she has stocked up herself!).
So there it is. I hoard. And I am not ashamed.
Anyone for dinner? I'm serving queso with a little frosting on the side.
I've enjoyed living as an expat tremendously! Have I changed? Absolutely! If it's possible, I've become more outgoing, apparently fell in love with the exclamation point, and am now a hoarder! The latter makes me a true expat - no longer a rookie. Let me explain.
HEB does not exist in Dubai! Oh how I miss it (and Target)! The grocery stores over here, while well stocked with a variety of items, don't always load up on the Texan goods or other pantry necessities. You can't find a chipotle here to save your life! And, it's quite often hit and miss. You can't bank future success on past finds.
So here's the deal. When you find something that you LOVE, you must buy every single one on the shelf, because quite possibly it will be not be there next time. Frosting, tortillas, and rotel all fall into the stock up category. It's so bad that there are posts on the expat woman forum of ladies looking for certain items. I could have made a fortune selling Betty Crocker frosting on the black market! Cake Balls (thanks Mel!) are a hit here and tub frosting is a vital ingredient. It's not uncommon for me to receive an email from a friend here passing the word that frosting is in stock (of course only after she has stocked up herself!).
So there it is. I hoard. And I am not ashamed.
Anyone for dinner? I'm serving queso with a little frosting on the side.
Monday, June 16, 2008
New Trend in Photography!
I couldn't figure out why everything looked so fuzzy in the viewer. I turned my camera around and discovered the lens was completely fogged up. Yes, it was THAT humid out!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Day to Day in Dubai
Not much of a post, but here are a few pictures I thought you'd appreciate.
Well, if this ain't clearer than mud...
I'm not sure if it's intentional that the workers look like prisoners...the side of Dubai not on those cutesy little powerpoints you get from that person who never emails to see how you are, but forwards you anything that comes through her inbox!
I rarely leave the villa without my camera, but on these occasions I was high and dry. Thanks Heather (she's always prepared) for forwarding these to me :)
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Can't think out of the box? Have a kid!
Happily kid free, but have a friend's tots coming over?
Have kids, but they're bored with all the typical toys?
No worries! Here's a list of everyday items you probably have lying around that will provide hours of enjoyment for kids of all ages!
1. Empty water bottle, soda bottle, juice bottle (you get the picture - might want to make sure they're plastic though). They can be thrown (great while in the car) and they have no predictable bounce. Hilarious for kids. Cheap for you! Most importantly - NOT painful if you're "accidentally" hit in the head!
2. Blanket - just leave it piled up on the couch. Fun to pull, chew, hide under, and drag around. This will give you at least 30 minutes.
3. Cat toy (wand with a feather thing at the end) - great to carry around and hit the cat with (especially if your cat doesn't run and hide at the first ear piercing squeal) or you or the other kids or the wall. However, as a responsible mom, proper supervision required.
4. Spatula - nice rubbery type end for chewing or sliding under a piece of furniture.
5. Cell phone - all those little buttons to push AND sounds. Toddler's dream, however, the exorbitant amount of baby saliva could damage your phone (In case this happens, pull all the pieces apart and shake vigorously).
6. Empty spice bottle - perfect size for those chubby little hands. Makes a lot of noise when hit against the wall, table, tile floor, tv (don't tell Kelly).
7. Pillows - you know, those smaller ones at the ends of your couch. Pile them on the floor; they're like magnets for the wee ones. Fun to flop on, roll over, and hide under.
8. All the tubes in your shower - face wash, exfoliating scrub, deep conditioner - forget the duckies in the bath, just throw in the clearasil. It even bobs around in the water. NOTE: you may only use these until the little munchkins figure out how to open the tops. The cleaning up might outweigh the reward of an occupied toddler.
9. Shoes with laces (most fun while on someone's feet) - good to untie and yank on. Option 2: light enough to be carried around and dropped somewhere else (the game is for you to find them) Advantage: your toddler is practicing walking!
Have kids, but they're bored with all the typical toys?
No worries! Here's a list of everyday items you probably have lying around that will provide hours of enjoyment for kids of all ages!
1. Empty water bottle, soda bottle, juice bottle (you get the picture - might want to make sure they're plastic though). They can be thrown (great while in the car) and they have no predictable bounce. Hilarious for kids. Cheap for you! Most importantly - NOT painful if you're "accidentally" hit in the head!
2. Blanket - just leave it piled up on the couch. Fun to pull, chew, hide under, and drag around. This will give you at least 30 minutes.
3. Cat toy (wand with a feather thing at the end) - great to carry around and hit the cat with (especially if your cat doesn't run and hide at the first ear piercing squeal) or you or the other kids or the wall. However, as a responsible mom, proper supervision required.
4. Spatula - nice rubbery type end for chewing or sliding under a piece of furniture.
5. Cell phone - all those little buttons to push AND sounds. Toddler's dream, however, the exorbitant amount of baby saliva could damage your phone (In case this happens, pull all the pieces apart and shake vigorously).
6. Empty spice bottle - perfect size for those chubby little hands. Makes a lot of noise when hit against the wall, table, tile floor, tv (don't tell Kelly).
7. Pillows - you know, those smaller ones at the ends of your couch. Pile them on the floor; they're like magnets for the wee ones. Fun to flop on, roll over, and hide under.
8. All the tubes in your shower - face wash, exfoliating scrub, deep conditioner - forget the duckies in the bath, just throw in the clearasil. It even bobs around in the water. NOTE: you may only use these until the little munchkins figure out how to open the tops. The cleaning up might outweigh the reward of an occupied toddler.
9. Shoes with laces (most fun while on someone's feet) - good to untie and yank on. Option 2: light enough to be carried around and dropped somewhere else (the game is for you to find them) Advantage: your toddler is practicing walking!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Lost Highway Leads to Abu Dhabi
I was THRILLED when I saw the first commercial that BON JOVI was headed to Abu Dhabi! I begged, pleaded, and bribed Kel to get tickets so I could go! Luckily my friend, Heather, also wanted to go so the husbands were dragged along! The drive down to Abu Dhabi (which is the capital of the UAE - a bit of trivia for you nerdy folk) only takes a little over an hour and the concert was held at Emirates Palace sometimes mistaken for the presidential palace. It's a hotel with a golf course and a private beach.
It was pretty easy getting in and out which is surprising because usually things like that here end up way more complicated than they should be.
The stage was set up outdoors with a pit, gap section, and grandstand seating in the back. We sat in the cheaper gap section, but it was great!
Bon Jovi rocked! For 46, he's looking pretty good!
It was pretty easy getting in and out which is surprising because usually things like that here end up way more complicated than they should be.
The stage was set up outdoors with a pit, gap section, and grandstand seating in the back. We sat in the cheaper gap section, but it was great!
Bon Jovi rocked! For 46, he's looking pretty good!
The entrance to the concert.
The Gap standing section.
Jay and Heather.
Some big Bon Jovi fans and two guys in wigs :)
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Dylan is ONE!
I didn't think the day would arrive (especially when he was first born and I was getting no sleep), but finally, my baby is ONE! It's cliche, but the time flies. All of a sudden he's up and walking, trying to communicate, and KNOWING when he's bad. He slyly looks up at me just before he yanks the cat's collar or tries to eat my laptop cord. It is hard not to laugh, because the little devil just knows.
We are so thrilled that all the grandmas and grandpas got to celebrate with Dylan in Dubai! We celebrated the American way - burgers and potato salad. And, of course a little cake. He loved it when everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to him and even clapped.
Dylan tore through his presents and was definitely more interested in the wrapping instead of what was inside.
Dinosaur cake made by Grandma Debbie
Clapping since everyone was singing to him
What's in this one??
Ready for the driving range!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)