And finally, the last of bargain shoppers’ paradises is opening up:
H&M is set to open in Amman on 30/11/2011 – that is next Wednesday!! I will check it out and come back to update – the shop will open up in Taj Mall in Abdoun. Curious if Topshop is also coming back, so I have planned in some Mall time for the next week, and will let you all know 
It is undoubtable that Jordan accepts and welcomes foreign influences – be it in education, food, visitors and of course expats.
The expat community is quite large and diverse, and I guess a fair share is catered for in their food needs and I didn’t complain so far
except for one thing: everywhere I have lived so far, including Amman, I missed what we understand as ‘bread’. I know that many nations are higher ranked than us when it comes to food but German bread is unbeatable, and I can’t be told otherwise .
So imagine my delight when I heard the other day that a German bakery is set to open in Amman!!! I had been wondering what they are planning to open underneath the escalator on P1 in Baraka Mall – it had looked bakery-like so I thought they might open a cake shop or something. I hadn’t dared imagining – but now we know, it will be the German bakery. If you haven’t tried it yet, go for the opening on 10 March 2011 and check it out – you have to have at least once a ‘Schwaebische Brezel’.
Ladies, gents, kids — hurry down to City Mall ’cause the Gap is now open. Ages of walking past the ‘Opening in August’ sign and today while I casually strolled around the Mall I noticed that now indeed the Gap is open for business in City Mall. Was out with the family so no time to check it out but I definitely will SOON.
Yay, no more parking troubles at Wakalat Street – all my shopping in one place!
More and more of the large retailer have began shipping to Jordan (we did already discuss Saks.com) and while browsing the Banana Republic website a pop-up window informed me that they are now shipping to Jordan as well.
While we have our own Gap here in Amman (amazing since they closed operations in several European countries) Banana Republic is another favourite for your basics and classics. Well, now you don’t have to miss out anymore! Go check it out here and enjoy how Jordan gets more connected with the world. (If only we could convince J Crew now to do the same…)
Cooking is possibly a rare pleasure that stressed working mother does not always get to enjoy. I will be honest and out myself that in general housework only lets my heart beat faster to a certain extent….
But there is nothing quite like preparing Iftar for your family – not because you are hungry and you can’t wait, no, just the simple pleasure of sitting and having lunch/dinner together every day (which usually rarely happens) is truly enjoyable. For us our favourite soup is part of the deal and thus has to be prepared on a daily basis. Ever since cooking this for the first time, everyone is in love.
Chicken – vegetable soup: – for four people so increase accordingly!
1 chicken breast (both sides if you like a lot of chicken with your soup)
2 onion
6 – 8 small to medium-sized carrots
2 – 3 medium-sized potatoes
2 bay leaves
if you like two slices of ginger
2 maggi cubes – VEGETABLE broth
some chilli powder
salt
Instructions:
Wash the chicken breast and boil in about 2 litres of water in a large pot (around 30 cm). Add the bay leaves and ginger (optional) as they create quite a nice smell. While the chicken is boiling peel potatoes, onions and carrots and if you have use your kitchen machine to cut this into very small pieces. My machine has a piece that cuts the vegetables into very fine strips which is the best as the flavours will come through strongest and the soup will be done very quickly. Failing that, you should cut each into very small pieces (I hope you have a machine as it takes forever otherwise).
Take the boiled chicken out and cut into small pieces. Add the vegetables to the ‘chicken water’ and also throw in the maggi cubes (you might need to add some more water). For this small amount I usually 1.5 cubes. Let the vegetables cook for about 20 minutes, if the pieces are rather large add additional time. Then put the small chicken pieces back to the vegetables and cook for another 5 minutes. At the end, add about 2 tea spoons of salt and a pinch (or more depending on your flavour) of chilli.
Sometimes we like to add thin pasta for soup but I suggest trying it for the first time without those for full impact of flavours!
Join the forum discussion on this post
So yes, the month of fasting is upon us and it is as every year a challenge and at the same time great satisfaction to work on control of mind over body!
We like to be quietly at home during Ramadan, spending as much time as possible with the family, enjoying precious moments that usually get lost in the mass of work pressures, school schedules, TV movies and unnecessary thoughts and concerns we clatter our brain with. It is a time of forgiveness and outreach towards those we long thought irrelevant to our lives.
Food as always plays an important role, ironic really as it is what one should deprive themselves off. This year I have begun prior to Ramadan to reduce the food intake and it makes it much easier and pleasant to go from 1 to 0, than 100 to 0, (not that I really was at 100, ehm). I find myself not stuffing myself during Iftar and then unable to move, rather I eat enough to get by and have to say this is a much more pleasant experience. No hunger pangs, nerves and bad mood!
I also think that exercise is vital as we should not let ourselves go during a month that is meant to achieve the opposite! No gym or anything super heavy of course – just some light pilates at home to keep the body in unison with the mind.
We hope that Ramadan will be a happy and beautiful time for everyone and that we shall
Hm, I am wondering whether this is really JUST a fall trend. I mean we have been seeing military around for a while, and especially this S/S 2010 season military was all over the place. The most memorable military influence would have to be this Balmain catwalk pic (all over the mags):
And while this may be a bit OTT it totally captures the General notion.
Well, fast forward to Fall/Winter 2010/11 and military is still to be seen but the interpretation is different. Less pomp and more utility.
I personally love the toned down navy blue look that is only a hint at military and so much more long lasting. ^ but then Burberry Prorsum can do no wrong this season (for me at least 
.
(even Etro is hinting at it!)
Love this Kors look ^! (watch out for another feature on Kors as he is at the top of his game this season)
Finally, best military item to shop for this season has got to be a jacket for me:
This MbMJ one is already sold out at mytheresa.com but netaporter.com’s still got ‘em.
The fashion item to shop in your own closet for is: utility pants!
We wish everyone happy Ramadan, – may it bring peace, happiness and forgiveness, insha’allah.
or even everyday!
So when out and about with kids, for work, doing the school run or of course travelling, a light weight yet super stylish bag is the only way to go (especially when having everything stuffed in there so that the little people don’t get bored on the plane). Leather is most certainly out as it comes with its own weight and cannot just be wiped of when the juice is splilled all over.
And while I naturally gravitate to LV, Prada has the answer this week. I love this messenger bag and can’t wait to get my hands on it as I swore last time while we were travelling that next time I would have a bag that would allow me to be handsfree. Nylon has never looked this good to me!
You can find this in black and brown on the Raffaello network website. They ship to Jordan DDD, so no hidden charges and you can choose to use DHL or Aramex as your carrier.
I can’t wait to get my hands on this one!
Alright, so it is probably a futile question – but so what, it is still fun to debate these seemingly problematic fashion dilemmas.
When faced with the choice, which one would you rather go for: Marc Jacobs or Marc by Marc Jacobs (available at Aiizone)?
Let’s just take these two dresses for comparison:
^ this is the Marc Jacobs number (available at netaporter.com)
^ this is the Marc by Marc Jacobs option (available at mytheresa.com).
No doubt which one is which but is that really the point when you choose one over the other? Now I am not your regular dress girl so I should make my point possibly comparing two different items but I think there are a number of reasons why a lady would choose one over the other. I am not putting this down just to age (as MbMJ is actually targeting a younger crowd) but also down to style. There is something severe about MJ whereas MbMJ is rather playful. Price-wise they are in different leagues which might explain a possible difference in quality.
Having said all of this, I personally love MbMJ – there is something so street-chic and cool about this line. And when we were in Milan some time in June we found the MbMJ cafe right next to their store in the Brera quarter, at this little piazza Piazza del Carmine 6, totally cool to chill out (something we are truly missing here in Amman – oh well, let’s hope Abdali will bring such things with it). My favourite the line’s shoes and to that end I bought the most amazing pair of high-heeled pumps at Aiizone a year and a half ago. Made in Italy, beautiful creme colour, patent leather. And since then I decided that I needed some more, as these wear so well – thus I decided to get one off the Internet. Similar style, except in black, and one complaint I have to share: no longer Made in Italy. Quality has suffered IMHO as a result of this, although I am sure it is better for the bottom-line. But that might just be the reason why a gal ends up choosing MJ over MbMJ.
