Tag Archives: Dubai Mummy blogger

Parenthood

Motherhood| Donna Benton, Founder of The Entertainer talks to us about her new salon venture named after her daughter Chloe.

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Donna Benton is the Founder and Chairman of the Entertainer.  She has lived in Dubai for 16 years and considers it home.  She is mum of two, Chloe, aged 6 and Jack, aged 3. Donna has an amazing reputation in Dubai as a businesswoman and philantropist, often described by many as down-to-earth, relatable, and she never stops giving back to communities.  Her team sing her praises as she exercises a leadership role that incorporates support, development, understanding and compassion, and her team are inspired and loyal to her as a result.  We are so grateful that Donna has taken time to talk to us about motherhood, business, and her new venture named after her first born, Chloe’s Beauty Hair and Nails.

Congratulations on the success of the Entertainer expanding internationally – what do you think are your key ingredients for its success?

Thank you.  It’s hard to believe that the Entertainer is now in 15 countries globally and that since launching the App in 2013 we’re now almost 100% digital.  I think a large part of the success is due to the fact that we’ve always stuck to the same business model – our offers are always buy one get one free and they’re valid 7 days a week (excluding public holidays). For this reason, it’s not always been easy to convince merchants to participate. But from the start I knew it was important to keep the offers consistent and ensure that they had as few restrictions as possible. So that when people buy the Entertainer they know what to expect and they also know that they’re going to get good quality offers and substantial savings.  These days, the App brings the offers to people with even more added bonuses and convenience.  We’re continually making improvements and launching new functions, sometimes even in direct response to customer requests. For example, last month we launched a delivery category, which lists all of the restaurants in Dubai offering buy one get one free on home delivery – something our customers had been asking for.

What made you decide to create Chloe’s Beauty, Hair & Nails?

Through the years I’ve enjoyed working with the spas and salons in the Entertainer Body and it’s an area I’ve always been interested in. Having been in Dubai for 16 years I’ve had my fair share of beauty treatments, but since having children the visits had started to become less frequent.  I realised that it was because salons tend to open quite late in the morning – in fact they open about 2 to 3 hours after school drop-off.  Plus when you’re working full-time it can be hard to find the time – even without children. I famously installed a salon in the Entertainer office a few years ago so that my employees can have treatments during the work day.  So I decided to launch my own salon to address these inconveniences – and of course it’s called Chloe’s after my daughter.

What is the concept of Chloe’s Beauty, Hair and Nails?

I wanted to create a convenient and affordable beauty haven that works for all the different groups of women in Dubai. We’re open from 7am – 9pm on weekdays (9am – 9pm on weekends) so you can book an appointment at a time that suits you perfectly – before work, after school drop-off, during your lunch break and even after the kids have gone to bed. We also have a kid’s treatment area so, even more conveniently, you can bring your kids with you and relax knowing that they’re being looked after. We have a private VIP room, which allows groups of up to 4 guests to enjoy their treatments together and is perfect for wedding party preparations, a girls’ get together, hen night or birthday celebrations.  It also allows for people who just want a bit more privacy. Finally the prices are very reasonable – I want people to feel like they can afford to have regular treatments and leave feeling pampered and relaxed rather than worrying about what they just spent.

How quickly can a mum on the run do her manicure and pedicure plus have a blowdry? (on average)?

Depending on the length of your hair, we can have you pampered and preened in about 45 mins to an hour.  If you’re pressed for time it’s best to let the girls know and they will make sure you’re finished in time.

The team are trained to be extremely timely and efficient. Plus if you’re really stretched for time, we offer express services – for example you can have an Express Manicure for just 30dhs and in less than 20 minutes you will have clean and tidy nails as well as a polish change.  It’s actually the perfect place to have a one-to-one meeting, which I do with my team on a regular basis.

How much time do you have for yourself as a working mother?  How do you ensure you carve that out for yourself?

I’m a firm believer that a happy family needs a happy mum.  It’s really so important to take time out for yourself.  For me, I prioritise exercising as that makes me feel great.  I tend to start each morning with a run on the beach – I’m often joined by one of my girlfriends and I find it the best way to clear my head and get ready for the day.  I’m also fortunate enough to have a great support team around me and the children. I’d never underestimate the importance of a great nanny!

How do you balance your time with the family and work?

I’m very organised and I do plan ahead, but balance doesn’t necessarily mean sticking to a rigid schedule – it’s actually more important to be flexible. So some days I might take the afternoon off to do something with the kids and then catch up on work in the evening after they’re in bed. Also I don’t feel guilty about being a working mum. I think it’s a great life lesson for my kids to see how hard I work and that they enjoy the life they do because of what I do. My parents instilled a fantastic work ethic in me and I hope that I pass that onto my children.

You are a role model to many other mums and women out there, who is your personal role model?

Motherhood is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding, jobs in the world.  There’s no formula to being a perfect mother, everyone has their own style and can be brilliant at it.  So anyone with happy, thriving children should be an inspiration to others.  My mum is a great role model for me. She provided me and my sister with unwavering love and affection and always taught us to treat people how we would like to be treated ourselves.  She’s been a constant support in my life and I hope that I have the same close relationship with my children that I have with my mum.

What three pieces of advice can you give to mums with young children wanting to start up a business of their own?

You’re going to have to be brave! If you have a good idea for a business, but you’re always putting off taking that leap into the unknown, don’t be afraid to take some risks and put your fears to one side.

Starting your own business definitely isn’t easy and don’t underestimate the work ethic and belief in the product that you need.

Remember, you can love what you do, but if the figures don’t add up, it’s a hobby and not a business.

What is the best advice you have been given?

My grandmother played a big part in my childhood and I always remember her saying “always save your money for a rainy day” and thank goodness I listened to her.  If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have had the $3,000 in my savings account that I used to start the Entertainer when the job that I’d moved to Dubai for didn’t work out!

What do you hope to instill in Chloe and Jack when they grow up?

Impeccable manners, compassion and a strong work ethic.

What is your greatest fear as a mother for your children?

The most important thing is good health, that’s really all you need in life.

It is well-known that you are incredibly compassionate when it comes to helping others around you as well as under-privileged children, what is your philosophy behind this?

We didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up and now I’m fortunate to live a very comfortable lifestyle.  I can afford to help others and therefore I do, it’s that simple. We have a villa in Thailand and I support a local school there as well as an orphanage.  We visit them each time we’re in Phuket to give the children new toys and donations we’ve collected. We’ve just installed a new playground in the school and it’s great to see the kids having so much fun.

Your favourite holiday destination?

Phuket – it’s our ultimate holiday destination and having a villa of our own means that it’s pretty much an open house, so we always have friends and family come and join us for part of our holiday.  Being amongst my friends and family is the best relaxation for me.

Favourite online website for shopping?

I don’t tend to shop online, does that sound very old fashioned?  The options here in Dubai are fairly limited. In fact, I don’t tend to shop much at all.  I probably do one big shopping spree a year and it’s usually when I’m home in Australia or in the States.

Happiness is….

Smiling children.

Chloe’s Beauty, Hair and Nails is located on Jumeirah Beach Road, Shop 5, next to BurgerFuel, Opposite Saga World. 

Tel: 04 388 4884

www.chloesuae.com 

Fatherhood

Fatherhood | James Bignell | A professional family photographer with 17 years experience talks to us about his craft and how he tries to capture that ‘magical moment’

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James Bignell, is a professional family photographer based in the UK, and comes to Dubai several times a year to take family portraits for his growing list of clients.  I thought to feature James in our Fatherhood section, as he has been our family portrait photographer for the last 7 years since Luca was 18 months old, and we have done several more shoots since then. James’ photographs are natural and capture the children’s expressions beautifully  – some photographs are posed and others tell a story.  Looking back at photos of Luca, Sofia and Lorenzo, it is such a lovely investment to have these family shoots, and we have just completed a set for Leonardo too.  As a keen photographer myself, I have never liked studio shoots much, and prefer James’ style where the children are given more freedom to express themselves in his work.  The children are comfortable with him, and he is extremely patient which is a gift when doing family photography.

James Bignell

James has been a professional photographer since the mid 1980s having started out his career as a still life photographer working for a big advertising agency in Soho, London.  For the past 17 years he has specialised in photographing people and his favourite work is especially with family.  He still continues to do commercial headshots and teaches digital photography in the UK.

James is married to Victoria, who is a writer and they too have 4 children.  His eldest daughter, Dixie is a fine figure skater and studying musical theatre at college.  His eldest son, Ike, is a keen footballer player and represents his county, Kent, and also been recently inviting by Premiership Champions, Leicester City to trial with them.

Often, many people don’t understand the value of professional photographers.  When it comes to taking photos of children and families, many people don’t realize there is an art to it.  People assume it is just the camera that does the work.  Tell us more.

Understanding the camera inside out is essential but is only a very small part of the job. It’s so complex on so many levels. You have to understand how to light a person in different lighting conditions. Be aware of textures, colors, composition and most importantly engaging with different personalities.   I’ve always spent time in galleries, studying art, working on my creative eye. You get into a zone when your working where your total concentration is only on what is in front of you.

You are always trying to create that magical moment but it can’t be forced, DH Lawrence once said ‘sometimes you have to let the book write itself ‘ You have to go with the flow and make the most of every situation you find yourself in. Fortunately there are no magic buttons so it will always be a skill; I’m using 30 years of life and work experience to create an image. Then there’s the complex software we use nowadays to further enhance our images. That is another skill in itself. 

You come out to Dubai once or twice a year; can you tell parties who are interested how to organize a shoot with you?  Can you walk us through the process from start to finish?

It’s so easy, all they have to do is email me on james@jamesbignell.co.uk I keep a list of clients who want me to work for them and as soon as I know my Dubai dates I email them back with the days I’m available.  It works on a first come first served basis. So the earlier they book they can pick the best day and time for them. Once a shoot is complete I either visit them for a screening if we both have time or I post the images to a secure server online for them to choose, I offer full creative support so they get the best creative solutions for their homes. The process can take time but I resulting images and products are well worth it. 

You do most of your printing in the UK (which I appreciate), what other ways can you preserved these photos?  Do you make albums?

I print in the UK and sometimes in Dubai but that is depending on how urgent the job is and how large the print run is.

I use a company called Queensberry Albums based in New Zealand who make the best handmade albums in the world. They are precious family keepsakes and I can only imagine how special they will become in the years to come. It’s a shame nowadays so many people have images on their computers and often they get lost or they do nothing with them. I think it’s wonderful to have beautiful artistic images on your walls and around the home. They bring such a lovely family feeling to a home. I work closely with a framer in Dubai and also ship out acrylics and canvases. Anything is possible, 

Most people are also afraid of pricing of professional photographers, and without giving away too much, can you just give us an idea what you charge for your time?

To do a shoot properly, with all the postproduction work, the editing, image preparation and screenings. I have to set aside around 16 hours. Plus all the time helping clients choose and the admin work. So if someone is genuinely interested in quality work I would expect them to appreciate that I’m a professional and with my experience they should pay a reasonable fee for my time. My loyal returning clients understand this. I find that most people appreciate hard work and quality.  So depending on the exchange rate around AED1000 – 1500  per shoot.

What are your new dates in Dubai in March?

I’m hoping to come out again before it starts to get too hot to shoot so in the next couple of weeks. 

How do you balance work and the kids?

I try and spend as much time with the children as I can, I really miss them when I’m away working but try to never miss a football match or an ice skating show. My youngest son loves golf and I take him out at least once a week to play.  I’m always up very early so try and get as much production done then so we have time as a family in the evening.

You have an interesting family scenario where your children are home-schooled.  What are the benefits and the challenges?

 Only 2 are home schooled now but it’s given us the opportunity to allow them some sense of freedom they might not have had otherwise. They are all good kids and work hard. The biggest challenge has to be feeding them every day and having to be there for them at all times. They have plenty of home schooled friends and their childhoods have been happy one’s.

Tell us your favorite part about coming to Dubai?

I love seeing my old clients and how their children have grown, it’s so lovely to meet new additions to their families and catch up with what everyone is doing. I love leaving a cold English winter and getting some summer sun and seeing how Dubai has changed and developed. It’s a remarkable country and I have huge respect for what the Emiraties have achieved.  I’m also a big fan of Lebanese cuisine and there are so many great places to eat.

 For more information go to Jamesbignell.co.uk or email James at james@jamesbignell.co.uk

Parenthood

Motherhood | Omaira Farooq Al Olama | Emirati Mum of three shares her story about raising her three daughters whilst running a successful company.

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Omaira Farooq Al Olama, is an Emirati mum of 3, and the daughter of a former UAE Ambassador based in the US where she had spent her formative years growing up.  She returned back to Dubai after finishing university in the US as Dubai’s first female criminology graduate.  Omaira is passionate about her home country, and is determined to help her fellow nationals achieve and strive for their best.  She is the Founder of Advanced Learning Formulas, a company to help young Emiratis connect better with the multitude of businesses and cultures in the UAE.  She works with them, coaching and equipping them in this ever-changing business landscape of today.  She is also extremely hands-on as a mother taking care of her three young daughters, her twin girls aged 7 and a younger daughter aged 6. This photoshoot is probably representative of Omaira’s character; she is a colourful, vibrant and an interesting woman who has overcome personal challenges to recallibrate her life again to create a wonderful childhood for her three daughters.  She is positive, inspiring mother and business woman, who has an incredibly infectious laugh.

How did you create your incredible business, Advanced Learning Formulas (ALF)?

It was in 2010 while I was still working for the government, when I noticed some of my younger Emiratis were just not understanding the trainers, and couldn’t develop a connection to them. It wasn’t that these trainers were bad, in fact, they were great. However, the younger nationals couldn’t relate. It was then that I decided to create a company of the “people” is the best way to describe it, where I would develop, train and coach them. I would be their backbone, someone they could relate to, open up to and in most cases someone that will tell them when they are wrong or what they need to do to further develop themselves to succeed.

Can you share some of the challenges in your business that you have faced and how you have overcome them?

In the beginning when I first launched, I was met with mixed reviews. The large companies were so used to the normal training companies that they didn’t know what to expect. I would explain to them that I don’t do generic training, there are many companies who are more than equipped to handle that. However, if you want to get through to your national, get through to them clearly in terms of work ethics, mindset, creativity, business morale, ethical conducts etc, then I was that person. Our success stories lies within many of the Banking and Government sectors. We have brought down the rate of attrition and we have many quotes from the heads of HR, however one of the newest success stories we can write about, is the number of Emiratis who are going back to school to get an education to quote Mr. Samir Al Maskaris (Head of Emiritization and Business Partner at ENBD) “Our new coaching initiative that is run by ALF Administration, has seen not only Emiratis in our workforce loyally committing to us, but have encouraged themselves to go back to school and get their education. This comes by the passion and dedication of ALF towards the nationals and their continued support in terms of helping them develop themselves in their career.”

There are so many women and mothers wanting to start their own business, what would you tell them?

Follow your dreams, but pick something you are passionate about, that makes you happy, that you can relate to. Don’t waste your time doing something you think might make you successful because you have seen others do it. Do something that interests you.

You have been a motivational role model for Emiratis, mothers, and other young women who are wanting to make a difference in this community, who has been your personal role model?

Amira Haya, her dedication to children and to education is something that is so amazing and so nurturing. She has that aura in her that calms everyone around her and allows people to focus on what is really important.

You are also the mother of twin daughters who are 7-years old and your youngest daughter is 6 how do you ensure a work life balance for your children?

The best part of owning your own company is that you can choose your own work hours. A 9-5 job had the best salaries and lots of adult interaction, however, for me being able to choose the days I want to spend home with the kids, or even just to do something for myself, this gives me more flexibility

What do you hope to instill in your children when they grow up?

To work hard, but have ethics. If they make a mistake I want them to tell me, I teach this to my students all the time. Its ok to make mistakes as long as you learn from them.

There are parents from multicultural backgrounds here who struggle to decide which education system to put their children in (British, IB, American, French etc); you grew up in America so how did you decide on the current system that you have chose for your 3 girls?

While I respect all the education systems that are available here in the UAE, I chose American as it encourages creativity and allows my children to have the rest of the day after school to go to activities and not stress too much about homework or tests at this moment in time. Though I do feel the British system prepares from university, I still feel more comfortable with the American system.

What kind of mother would you describe yourself?  Are you pretty relaxed or would you describe yourself as a #tigermum? 

Depends on the situation. I’m very relaxed for certain things, for example, if my daughters want to dye strands of their hair, or put  makeup on etc. However, I’m very strict when it comes to behavior. I grew up respecting elders and I really want to instill that in my children. It is also important to have a good attitude and positive outlooks towards life. We are all so fortunate to be here and to live the lives that we live, and I never want them to forget that.

What are you very strict about at home with your daughters?

Discipline. I love to let them explore and challenge things so that they get a better understanding, however, I won’t let them cross that line and become rude kids, I’m always conscious of how they act, and sometimes I get a bit strict with them, which I do try to be more relaxed about.

Can you share three things that you have learnt as a mother?

Patience, always have a stash of sweets and hide my make up!

I believe the training that you do for the Emirati community also has a relevance for any mother in the world wanting to go back into the workforce, can you share 5 pieces of advice for mothers wanting to work again after children?

Don’t look at other peoples success or failures as something that defines you, what works for some might not work for others.

Do something that interests you and that you are passionate about

Don’t feel guilty, as long as you know you are spending time with your children, it is ok to go back to work and follow your dreams. They will respect you and look up to you just as much as when you were staying at home with them.

Be kind to others and never feel threatened by other peoples success. The worst thing is watching women not be happy for one another.

And follow the old saying “if at first you don’t succeed, try try again!”

Food

Calling up for a bit of help | Hello Chef! | Fresh ingredients with easy receipes delivered to your front door starting at AED35 a meal

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It is now week 8 of the school term. Time has flown by with the logistics of 4 children, packed school calendars, homework and after school activities, and there are days when I run out of steam and we are only half way through the term.  My beginning of term resolutions are waning fast, and as much as I love cooking in the kitchen, I need inspiration by week 8.  It seems I am always in a supermarket or organic shops having run out of items for school lunch boxes and the children’s dinner.  Also, with 4 children, it has also become very expensive.

I decided to try out Hello Chef! for a week, to put a little zest and fun back into cooking for the family because there are days when I run out of headspace and my children are also bored by the usual receipes.  Often, I also find when I am finally inspired by my large volumes of cookbooks to try new receipes, my enthusiasm then goes unrewarded as my key ingredient is not available typically in supermarkets here, and it could be something as common as organic eggs or chicken even though re-stocking at supermarkets has improved dramatically over the last 8 years.  Hello Chef! has also saved me a week’s worth of painful supermarket shopping.

Hello Chef!

Hello Chef! is the creation of Olivia Manner, who is half Finnish and half French, and is herself a mum of two young children. She felt she had to give up her day job to find a new lifestyle that suited her family, and her passion was born.  Olivia has a university degree in Hospitality Management from Finland which has given her a strong foundation to support the concept, whilst her French mother has given her memories and passion of family dinners that she hopes to re-create in more homes in Dubai and the rest of the UAE.

How it works?

Olivia and her team create new recipes every week, you can go online and choose the size pack that suits your family on www.hellochef.me and your ingredients and easy recipe instructions are delivered to your front door for free.  Meals start at roughly AED35 a meal making it very economic too.

Who’s cooking now?

Most of the time I am rushing through dinner preparations having rushed around all afternoon covering children’s activities, and when we all get home I don’t always have the patience required to start cooking with children around 4.30pm.  With Hello Chef! everything is delivered to our home in packages of Day 1 – Day 5 which are all clearly labelled, it has saved me sufficient time and patience to ask my oldest two children to cook with me.  The truth is that my children love being in the kitchen cooking with me – my eldest boy tells me that is his favourite thing to do with me.  It makes me really happy to spend this time with them. The recipes are simple enough that the children can read it themselves; and my 7 and 5 year-old are happy peeling potatoes, preparing the salmon and trying new recipes that work.

One of the dishes delivered home was chicken and broccoli pasta, and broccoli being one of my 5 year-old’s worst nightmare I was a little nervous but I made sure that was a meal she alone prepared  it for her 3 brothers with a little help from me.  The difference was she was so proud that she cooked it that she ate it (without the broccoli, of course) but even if there were tiny florets floating around she would happily eat it.   I know if I had just laid out the already cooked meal in front of her at dinner time, she would have refused to eat any of it. She has since requested the dish again.

Leftovers can also be used for the children’s lunchbox at school the next day.

Dinners for friends

I rarely host dinner parties these days.  After a 6am start everyday, I am often too tired to prepare dinner for anyone.  We might go out but rarely host.  With Hello Chef! I am probably more willing to invite just 2 or 3 friends round for a casual dinner London style.  Imagine coming home, and finding all your ingredients on your doorstep.  That is indeed becoming a luxury in my view.

Educational

I have always believed that despite the privileged help we receive at home, it is always important that children see their parents cooking. Also, I want them to understand the importance of preparing dishes from scratch, not out of jars and bottles.  I know that is not always possible with our busy schedules so we cook and freeze a lot in batches to save time.  Hello Chef! helps us to prepare fresh food that day.

I know my family loved it, and we will definitely be using Hello Chef! again especially for our super busy weeks.

For more information please visit www.hellochef.me