Tag Archives: Dubai Mummy blogger

New York, New York | Top places for children to visit

One of the great things about this website is to tap into friends who are mums from around the world.  Mary Ann Ball, our New York correspondent has given her 5 top places to visit if you are bringing your children to New York this year.   Enjoy NYC.  It is just an amazing place.

Mary Ann Ball has an eight-year daughter so she is also basing her experiences for these recommendations.

1) Eloise at the Plaza for a “Rawther Fancy Tea”
2) American Girl for brunch, lunch, or tea for your daughter and her favorite doll
3) Dylan’s Candy Bar, for the ultimate in candyliscious heaven
4) FAO Schwartz for a super toy bonanza, and don’t forget to see the giant piano show
5) Bronx Zoo to view over 600 species from around the world, the world’s largest urban zoo.

I would also add to Mary Ann’s list with the following:

1) Central Park

2) Broadway shows like the Lion King and Spider Man

3) My favourite hotel in NYC is The Mark which is right next to Central Park on the Upper West Side.

NYLA Method | Beautcamp | Fairmont Hotel | Palm Jumeirah

Unfortunately or fortunately, being pregnant with number 4 means I can’t take part in Dubai’s latest craze, The NYLA Method Beautcamp.  It is a gruelling camp to work muscles that never existed to your knowledge especially at 630am.  I hear from other mums that have attended that the NYLA girls are still incredibly enthusiastic even at that hour.  I then volunteered an unsuspecting friend, Sophie Weller,  to try out the beautcamp for a week.  Here is her verdict on survivability.  Sophie also has her own health and fitness blog, Now For The Last Ten.

When I first walked out on to the beach of the Fairmont on the Palm for my first NYLA Method class it felt like something straight out of a dream. The beautiful view of light fog over Dubai Marina gradually lifted to reveal the breathtaking skyline, making the 6am start infinitely more bearable.

The NYLA Method team has currently taken over the beach for it’s 5 week women’s only Beach Body Beautcamp. This is an intensive course taking place at 6.30am five days a week; for ladies to achieve dramatic results in a fairly short period of time due to a unique combination of Barre and other targeted strengthening movements.

Prior to my first session I was slightly apprehensive. Despite being fit through regular cardio, strength training and more recently Crossfit, I hadn’t ventured in to the world of Barre before nor was I familiar with its technique. I’m also not a frequent yogi, so I didn’t know if I’d have the agility required for such a workout. I needn’t have worried. The NYLA Method is simple to follow but puts you through your paces at the same time, regardless of your level of fitness.

Rather than a cardiovascular workout, which I wouldn’t describe it as, the focus of the NYLA Method was primarily on bodyweight and band assisted moves which created a serious ‘burn’. Throughout the workout you are pushed to your limits in terms of repetitions and I was encouraged to keep going longer than I would have done had I been working out on my own. It’s clear that the Method aims to create long and lean muscles through targeting each muscle group with different toning exercises. Particularly tough were the thigh and ab sections; each day I woke up feeling as though they’d had a thorough workout

The highlight of my week on the NYLA Method Beautcamp really was the instructors. Founder Andrea De Bellis has brought together a team of seasoned professionals who know how to get the best out of each and every woman in the class without feeling at all intimidated. Making sure you were pushed to your limits without putting you at risk of injury; each instructor took the time to walk around during the class to check form was correct and that no one was struggling with any of the movements. Exuding super high energy with toned/sculpted bodies themselves, they acted as a fantastic motivator and really made my NYLA Method experience stand out from any other workout I have done.

I’ll definitely be popping in to see the girls in their new studio when it opens later in the year (location to be confirmed). Until then, there is still two weeks left of the Beautcamp – to check it out for yourself and find details of how to sign-up for a class here.

If you prefer to do personal trainer for prenatal or any other classes this bespoke can also be offered in the home.   Check out their website www.nylamethod.com

ethical muse | Cork | Changing the way we view fashion.

My two lovely girlfriends Cathy Leibman and Christina Decker are always on a mission. A mission to change the world of fashion in terms of the environment and to change the lives of the children through education at the Masooli School in Uganda whilst being super busy mums.  Most fashion products associated with charities and social ventures in the market tend to be ‘sympathy products’ meaning poor quality goods but not for Christina and Cathy. They spend much of their time hunting down talented artisans to help fund their visions and to bring their craftsmanship to life but they also ensure their products can compete on a global scale.  

ethical muse is a profitable global leader in the world of ethical fashion, elevating design perceptions while making an impact in the lives of others. Combining their passion for philanthropy, fashion and sustainability  Cathy and Christina have created a for profit business which gives back in a 360 degree way; sustaining the global and local artisans they work with to make their products, and donating 20 meals from each item they sell to support the feeding program at the Masooli School in Uganda.

Cork:

Always on the lookout for new sustainable materials to use in designing their products, cork caught their eye over a year ago. Working with an artisan in Portugal to design the perfect travel accessory, they recently introduced their cork travel pouches just in time for summer! Cork is an inherently sustainable resource, being both biodegradable and renewable.  Cork  is harvested from the cork oak tree, but instead of needing to cut down the tree to use the raw material, the bark  is peeled off and the tree is left to regenerate, making it not only a sustainable, waterproof and durable material to work with, but a fashionable one too! The cork travel pouches come with embellished zipper pulls and colorful Androsia batik cotton lining.

Coming soon:

ethical muse is also about the launch the Jute tote bags made from upcycled coffee sacks.  You can also choose the colour of the lining/handles and 6 – 8 of your personal photos can be added to the side panels for a truly personalised bag.  It takes 3 – 4 weeks to create your personalised bag.  I am ordering one for my mum with photos of her grandkids!  What a fun beach bag for granny.

For more information or to order any of the above products please email contact.ethicalmuse@gmail.com or check www.ethicalmuse.com for more information.

Simple Summer Chic | For mums everywhere

Collecting Summer Holiday Outfits.

I spotted this simple gorgeous outfit from Banana Republic.  Simple and elegant.  Perfect for the summer holidays.

I think I am so pregnant that I can only dream of wearing these things for now.  Perhaps I could save it for next summer since it is a classic.

Banana Republic is located in the Dubai Mall.