Poupette a La Plage

I recently the discovered the brand Poupette a La Plage - an adorable brand of beachwear for boys and girls aged 6 months to 12 years. Started by mom of two Katia Najjar in 2011, the creations are made from vintage 'House of Liberty' fabrics from London and then made right here in Dubai. The quality is absolutely amazing and I could not resist buying a set for my son :)

Each print has swimwear, dresses and accessories for boys and girls so you can either buy a set of the same prints or mix and match.

I can almost guarantee that your child will be the best dressed kid at the beach! 

For more info about Poupette a La Plage, Click HERE 

Spotlight on a FABULOUS Mommy - Dalia Ali of Dee by Dalia

This week's Spotlight on a Fabulous Mommy is Dalia Ali - the talented designer and brains behind the super cute clothing brand Dee by Dalia. Her signature style is tutu skirts, off the shoulder tops and clothes that make a women embrace her femininity and uniqueness. Clothes that make you stand out from the crowd. Dalia has two sons and manages to be a big part of their lives as well as a fashion designer in her free time. How does she do it all?

Tell me about your family?
My husband and I have been married now for 8 years and we have two adorable boys. Rakan is 6 and Kinan is 5 years old. We both grew up in the UAE and consider Dubai our home.

Tell me about Dee by Dalia?
I started Dee by Dalia around 2 years ago as a small project out of my own home. It has grown since then and I now have my own studio in Dubai Design District D3 . My line is for all edgy and stylish girls out there that like to dress up in a unique way. Dee by Dalia is all about being different whether with weird cut outs or off the shoulder tops. We are stocked in Harvey Nichols and at Sauce Boutiques across the U.A.E 

Being in the fashion world requires always attending events, meeting people and looking your absolute best. How do you manage this with your hectic kid's schedule?

I love spending time with my boys so it is difficult for me to leave them. What I do is pick and choose the events that I can attend. I only go to morning events when my kids are at school or evening events when they are asleep. They are my priority so as long as they need me I don't leave them. My kids are older now so there is a lot of homework and activities everyday but with my husband's help, we are managing. I find it very possible to be a working mum!

Getting dressed every day for social events is not easy and it is honestly not always fun -  but I'm a fashionista at heart so I have to admit I love it most of the time.

What is your typical day like?

I wake up, drop the kids to school, then head to the gym. After that I go to to work which entails choosing fabrics, meeting with buyers or designing for upcoming collections.  My driver or I pick up the kids from school then we all have lunch.  I help my older son with his homework  then take both boys to after school activities. 

We go back home, have dinner with my husband then put the boys to bed. Afterwards, I either sit at home and work or go to social events.

Hardest part of being a mom?

The guilty feeling when you have to miss something important in your child's life or the feeling of not doing enough for them.

Easiest part?

My children's hugs and kisses - their love and reward I feel for being their mom means the world to me.

What do you do in your 'me' time?

I head to my favourite two places in the the world - 'The Nail Spa' for a message and then a hair treatment at 'Marquee Salon'.

Any advice for moms who also want to have a career?

Just do it!! It might never be perfect but you can keep trying to make the best out of it. 

To find out more about Dee by Dalia Click Here

Click Here to read last week's Spotlight on a FABULOUS Mommy -Mira Naaman of Nectar Juice Bar

Moxilicious Moccasins

Since I started including children's fashion in My Small Obsessions, I have been pleasantly surprised to discover that there are many cute brands that are produced right here in the U.A.E. One such brand is MOXILICIOUS - an absolutely adorable concept store that sells moccasins for babies and young toddlers ranging from 3 months to 24 months. The leather is imported from Italy, and is non toxic and metal free. Perfect for our kids that love to put everything in their mouths! 

The moccasins are soft and breathable and super comfy for little feet. They are very trendy and the best part? They stay on children's feet and don't fall off easily! I'm definitely investing in a pair :) 

CLICK HERE for more info about MOXILICIOUS 

PINK for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This year, two of my mom's friends, one of my sister's friends, and my close friend's mother were all diagnosed with breast cancer. That's Four women - all in the same small community at the same time. I realized that we women feel invincible at times but that none of us are safe from breast cancer. In fact, according to U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics - 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. That's a big number! 

Make sure you get yourself checked regularly - breast cancer can creep up on you when you least expect it. Catching it early will increase your chances by 90% for a safe recovery and a beautiful long life filled with pink sunsets with your families :) 

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness month, here are a few of my favourite PINK images to put a smile on your face and remind you to do regular breast exams. 

Pink Sunsets (Tumblr) 

Bride with a pink umbrella (styleunveiled.com)

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes (Iheartnaptime.com)

Little Pink Ballerina (volegov.com)

Pink Cakes (ablissfulnest.com)

Spotlight on a FABULOUS Mommy - Mira Naaman of Nectar

Today is the start of a new series of interviews called 'Spotlight on a FABULOUS Mommy'. Over the next few weeks, I will be interviewing inspirational women who are not only moms, but also have their own businesses and careers on the side. The moms that I have chosen are those who I look up to. They are very involved in raising their children, and don't throw all responsibilities on the nanny. At the same time, their businesses are very successful.  How do they do it all?

My first interview is with Fabulous Mommy Mira Naaman of Nectar.  She raises a lovely young toddler as well as owning/managing her own healthy juice bar at Bodytree in Abu Dhabi.  Her juices are phenomenal and are gaining a strong cult following; and her son is super cute, smart and amazing. Read all about how she keeps sane while doing it all :)

Tell me about your family?

My husband and I have been married for four years and have an amazing little boy who is two.

Tell me about Nectar?

Nectar is a California-style healthy juice bar in the Yoga, Pilates and Dance studio Bodytree. Nectar is a unique juice bar concept to Abu Dhabi, and is now part of a growing health movement across the UAE. We juice all our delicious concoctions to order. Simply fruit + veg = juice!  No refined sugars, no junk, no additives. We also hand-make a line of healthy snacks and raw treats that are healthy and delicious like our Paleo Granola and our Organic Kale Chips! 

How do you manage to run a business while your son is young and still needs a lot of your time?

I usually work from home when he naps, and at night. Sometimes I take him with me when I need to.  Before he started nursery, I used to take him with me to work. Literally to meeting sometimes! Our location is very unique. I am lucky that the juice bar is at Bodytree which has such an amazing network of women and working moms. I remember one instance when I was having a meeting with my team while breastfeeding! Women need to support women. It is empowering to be in a safe, mommy friendly environment. I am lucky to have a great team with a supportive partner at work who is also a working mom.

What is your typical day like?

My son just started nursery, so this is our day:

Alarm, I’m up! (Before baby). Get dressed, get him dressed, convince my toddler he needs to wear shoes today, get breakfast organized, snack packs, and a coffee on the go.  Head to drop-off, kisses, hugs, high-fives, zoom off to work. Check up on Nectar operations, team meeting, discuss upcoming events with the Bodytree team, pop-ups, promotions, specials. Hit a Bodytree workout class (BTB is my fav!), grab a smoothie, chat to clients, work the till, supervise bar team, head back for pick up.

Head home, lunch for my little one, straight to nap. My hubby comes home for lunch so I prep lunch. I check emails intermittently throughout. Nap over, baby up, hubby back at work. Off for an errand, car seat, goji berries, books, parking, traffic, calls from the car - errand done! 

Home for dinner and shower-time… book, bottle, lights off, bed for baby. Back to work - open laptop, check emails missed while fighting with the car seat, research new ideas, computer off, lights off…bed! Repeat

Tips for staying Balanced and Inspired?

• A supportive spouse J He helps me with our boy everyday!
• Surround yourself with inspirational women
• Take time for yourself and do something you enjoy
• Don’t over commit yourself at the expense of yourself and your sanity

Hardest part about being a mom?

Staying calm when juggling a lot of apples. Trying to do both work and motherhood equally well without coming short on either one.

Easiest part?

Playing! Getting to be a kid again when I play with my kid, coloring, painting, doing a puzzle, playing with play-dough!  It’s so much fun to be a kid again during playtime!

What do you do for fun?
Bake! I love to be in the kitchen. I love baking, cooking, and obviously tasting! Trying out new recipes, remake classics, enjoy new ingredients, fill the house with sumptuous aromas - Yum!

Any advice for moms who also want to have a career?

If you have the privilege, do something you love and enjoy.  It will make it easier when you have to put in long hours after your mom job.

   Nectar is located at the Bodytree Studio on the corner of 26th Street and 11th Street in Abu Dhabi.

For more info, click HERE