Dining Out in Doha: Carluccio's

We finally enjoyed the breakfast at Carluccio's! We waited too long for this breakfast at the Pearl but it was worth the wait. It's not 100% authentic Italian food here in Doha but it comes close.

It was not easy to find also for us. At the big round about, we turned right, instead of turning left. So if you are visiting the restaurant, it is at P7. Turn left after the big round about and follow the sign. I think P7 is still under construction right now but there is still a HUGE arrow pointing to the parking entrance of Carluccios. We missed it but we it's a habit of ours to miss important signs. We were able to turn back immediately and after parking the car, it was all breeze finding the restaurant.


The kids are so fond of eggs, and they definitely loved the eggs at Carluccio's. We didn't get to sit outside and enjoy the excellent view while eating because it was already sizzling hot and humid at early mornings. That's a big shame. Although, the kids enjoyed running around inside the restaurants freely. But hey, these kids can run around inside any restaurants no matter how tiny the place is. But in the case of Carluccios, they had some space to run around without irritating other customers who were eating at that time.

We definitely love the kids pack. It's a coloring puzzle. Plus, the pencil colors look elegant and not cheap! The kids had a good time while waiting for the breakfast.

The husband find the food good enough. Not so-so like any other restaurants he tried but not extra good. It's in between his taste. Well, that's not so good then.

It's a good place, though not extraordinary in Doha. We have enjoyed the Opera more this time around. Would we come back? Maybe for lunch or dinner during winter time.

It is a bit expensive for our taste but nothing we can't make at home. If we are going for breakfast again, it would be just to relax and have a long breakfast with husband. 

The kids pack so posh!

my chocolata!

omelette!

my egg florentine! I enjoyed every bit of this!

breakfast combo! 

husband does not look impressed!

but hey, they devoured the food and nothing is left. 

Keep exploring!
 

Our Favorite Bedtime Stories

Looking for the life's "pause" button because the kids seem to be growing up way too fast? Somehow, for me, reading these type of books for kids make everything stop: forever they will be my babies. These books will always be remembered as their bedtime stories. They may sometimes think that I am cheesy  I love you  to them all the time, every chance I got, but I want to absorb every moment until they say eoowww. Well, K1 is actually starting to mock me but hey, I still got two kids to go. And deep down inside, K1 still loves to told I love you and all the time looking forward to our cuddle time.


Here are our favorites:


I Love You With All My Heart - Polo the polar bear questions how his mother can love him with all her heart and learns from his many friends the all-encompassing quality of a parent's love.


I Want a Cuddle Kisses - Poor Little Rabbit has fallen over and hurt her paw. She wants a cuddle, but where can she find one that's not too prickly, tickly, bristly or bumpy? A warm and gentle story in which Little Rabbit discovers that everyone needs a cuddle at times, even Little Foxes! Ages 3-6.

Kisses: In this warm, playful tale, a father helps his daughter get ready for bed. Lisa asks her daddy to give her a kiss. "Of course, " Daddy says. "Do you want a witch's kiss? A butterfly kiss? A Morn kiss? A circus kiss? An Eskimo kiss?" Finally Lisa tells him what kind of kiss she really wants. Each of the kisses is lovingly and humorously illustrated with Marijke ten Cate's expressive artwork.

Parents and children cherish the quiet time at the end of the day when books are read. Bedtime stories are a comforting, shared ritual of love, laughter, and anticipation of sweet dreams.

I Love You Stinky Face - A vividly illustrated bedtime story that shows how the unconditional love of a mother can be tested through the relentless questions of her little boy.

"But Mama, but Mama, what if I were a super smelly skunk, and I smelled so bad that my name was Stinky Face?"

Mothers love their children and this unconditional love is truly tested in I LOVE YOU, STINKY FACE. Lisa McCourt and Cyd Moore beautifully weave a reassuring tale of the love and affection of a parent. The imaginative son turns himself into a meat-eating dinosaur, a swamp creature and much, much more before being satisfied with the fact that no matter how stinky he is or how slimy of a creature he could possibly be, he is loved and nothing will change that.

Here is K1's version of her review of the books:





Hope you like these bedtime books as much as we do!

Keep reading!
 

Criminal Minds and Internet Safety

“The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had.” - Eric Schmidt 

I have been an avid fan of Criminal Minds the past two years. I think I have watched all episodes and now re-watching it again since the it's summer and in between seasons. I actually have written about the  "Parenting Lessons From Criminal Mind." It's always fun watching the series! I have to squeeze it to my working mom schedule as my "me-time." A time well spent.

Recently, my online friends (I have a lot, although very few close ones!) have discovered someone who is a big scam! She surprised all of us with her identity theft incidents, lies and God-knows what else. It is really scary that she preys on mothers like us who are vulnerable to gain a lot of friends who share about the same passion - our kids. To use our kids as a ruse is such a disdain.

I am now scared about the internet. I have pictures of my kids and family members in the internet and social networks. And out of nowhere, I've seen this episode of the Criminal Minds: Season 5, Episode 22: The Internet is Forever

It is a story about the serial killer/ unsub  who uses social media network to learn about the victims' routines and to eventually kill them while video streaming  the scene online.

To quote Ross (not verbatim, though): "Sushi for lunch, yumm..., My boss made me work late tonight, grrr.. "WHO IS A PERSON SO IMPORTANT THAT WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS KIND OF DETAIL" - this actually made me laugh! Everyone wants to be important that a lot of "followers and friends" would actually comment from the status post. I know I feel that. Aren't we all some sort of narcissists?

I won't stop blogging; blogging makes me calm and put things in perspective with all things going on with the family. It helps me to plan and prioritize my kids activites. But I will be cautious and vigilant due to the recent incidents. It is scary. I hope she realizes have karma. Things she did will come back to haunt her. But I will not stoop down to her level and will not degrade her (publicly or privately.) I hope people like this realizes that there is nothing to gain but lots of hatred from friends. Shame.

I hope I made my two points: Internet could be bad, and if this turns out bad for us, I have watched Criminal Minds series, all of its episodes, twice. Yes, they will never find your body AND they will never even know you are gone. Ever.


Stay vigilant!