BabyCakes in Oman

My friend over the last 6 or so months has been making these great little gifts that she calls BabyCakes - in fact she gave one to miniSythe the week she was born - it was unexpected and totally awesome! What they are is simple: baby clothes wrapped up to look like cupcakes, they're a great spin on a way to give new parents gifts, celebrate baby showers and to give gifts in general.

Here's the official blurb from the BabyCakeLady....

BabyCakes specializes in making gift baskets, hampers and baby shower favours that make wonderful and thoughtful gifts.  Each order is custom made to the requirements of the client using only high quality products such as bibs, onesies, washlothes, socks, accessories, diapers and other baby essentials. You will never again have to buy a boring baby shower gift or visit an adoring new mother with an unimaginative present.

BabyShower favours have been a huge hit since they were launched only a few months ago. Unlike anything else available in Muscat, these baby shower favours are handmade and tailored to the client’s request. Available in blue, pink, yellow and white the souvenir can be created in the shape of a cupcake, baby booties or placed in a tiny baby basket. Baby shower favours differ in price based on the client’s requirements by can be anywhere between 0.500bz to OMR 1.5.

Give a beautiful gift basket filled with quality newborn layette that covers a baby from head to tiny toes. Each product in the basket is carefully selected to be of the best quality and wrapped in the shape of a cupcakes. Unlike store bought gift baskets which are made up mostly of paper wrap and filling, the ones produced at Baby Cakes are layered with diapers, receiving blankets and other baby essentials. Baskets and hampers can be further customized by adding personal tags, labels or stickers to each gift. Depending on their size and content, gift baskets range from OMR 10 to OMR 40.

BabyCakes has a prospering page on Facebook where all creations can be viewed and ordered: www.facebook.com/BabyCakesOman or can be contacted via email at: babycakesoman@gmail.com

le fin.

Shopping Festival tomorrow, and the FIFA world cup

Tomorrow, the 4th of April sees a shopping festival held down at the Al Bahja Hall in Qurum, it's called A day the women way and runs from noon until 9pm.

The stall holders are from Oman, America, Europe, Indo-Pak, Philippines and many other nationalities with a wide range of consumer requirements varying from beauty care, clothing, jewellery, healthcare, restaurants, consumer products(!!) and many more.

In addition to the Fun & Entertainment zone, there will be a live music & dance performance, multi cuisine food stalls and free kids play area.

Also, all day tomorrow at the Bank Muscat HQ in Seeb, they are displaying the FIFA World Cup trophy for those that would like a chance to get up close and personal to one of the most, if not the most, widely competed for trophy in the sporting world. I understand the trophy is being displayed all day and is being unveiled by His Highness Sayyid Fatik bin Fahr Al Said, the secretary-general at the ministry of heritage and culture.

Have a great weekend everyone.

le fin.

Yard Sale this Friday

This Friday the 8th February there is another of the Muscat Mum's Yardsales, which have proven to be pretty popular lately.

This one is in MQ, on the road from Costa Coffee down to BSM - at 19 Al Nadhayer St between 8:30 and 10:30 in the morning.

le fin.

"Fatma" by Fatma Alsaleh

Fatma Alsaleh has launched a new line of t shirts for her new brand "Fatma". Here's a selection of her Tshirts but there are more if you find her on Instagram and look at her pictures.

 Traditional Omani Necklaces
Top: 12 Rials
Bottom (beaded + close up of details) - 18 Rial

 Oman in our Heart (9 Rials)

Omani Kids (8 Rials)

For orders or inquiries, Fatma can be reached by email: fatma.a.alsaleh@gmail.com or via instagram @fatewm

T-shirts are all available by order, since she doesn't have a store yet, and sizes availble: all child sizes, S, M, L, XL and sometimes XXL.


le fin.

British week at the Sultan Center

Well it only runs for another couple of days but I only just came aware of it... perhaps this may be of some interest to some of you.


More soon!

le fin.

Mommy & Me

This coming Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th see's the second annual Mommy & Me exhibition here in Oman. The exhibition is held in the Al Noor Hall in MQ (thats the big hall above Subway / HSBC). Doors open on both days at 9am and close at 9pm - so 12 hours for each day.

This year it looks like the main sponsor is Pampers, but here is a list of all of the Exhibitors:

Mennez
Bespoke Memories
Cake Heaven
Afkaari Boutique
The Entertainer
Sew Chic and Unique
Heaven's Chocolates
Twinkle
Lazain Boutique
BMW
Brain Buzz Toys
Buzoor
Gatherings
Lil Bee's Boutique
iCommunicate - Speech-Language Pathology
Abracadabra
Cake House
Oman Sail
Lamar Design
Um Naif Trading
Um Mansoor for Babies Collections
Arabian Secretes
ProShots
Patchi
GlamSmile
Sweet Factory
Al Harub Medical Group
Whispers of Serenity Clinic
Aster Hospital
Medident
Al Qurm Veterinary Clinic
Azzan Bin Qais
Arsenal Soccer School
Apple Green Private School
Small Steps Nursery
Coffee bean & Tea Leaf
Bread Talk
Second Cup
Early Intervention
Art of Living
Ya Mama Foundation
Awladana
Let's Read Campaign

As you can see, it's quite a long list, so the exhibition should have something for every kind of mommy!

For more information, there is a website here, and you can follow the official twitter account here. There is also a Facebook page here, and kids enter for free - obviously!

More soon.

le fin.

Something positive to say about HSBC

I was quite amazed about this, I received a text message from the people at HSBC informing me to come and pick up my Entertainer 2011 book from any of the branches. The bit that amazed me was that it only took me 2 minutes to get the book and I didnt have to fill in 3 forms, or find out that I've got a new mysterious wife who has run up debts for me.

I nipped into my local HSBC branch and presented my ATM and one of my Credit Cards, and they provided me with a book full of vouchers from Entertainer 2011 - the vouchers expire on December 31st and dont work on certain days (Eid, National day, Christmas, etc) - but still, for a freebie, I think that's pretty decent. I already used one of the buy 1 main course get 1 free vouchers at my favorite Ruby Murray house in town: Passage to India.

So if you bank with HSBC and were not aware about this voucher book - nip into any HSBC in Oman with your HSBC ATM and Credit cards, and they should give you one of these voucher books!

le fin.

Muscat Grand Mall - store listing

As promised, here is some more information on Muscat Grand Mall's new stores. There are quite a few and I didn't bother listing out all the smaller stores but have made a list of most of the bigger stores.

So here we go, in no particular order (and of course some things may change):

Carrefour
H&M (Al Shaya)
Index
"Toy Store" (no idea, but perhaps Toy's R Us?)
Books Plus (Apparel Group)
Max (Landmark Group)
Emax (Landmark Group)
The Body Shop (Assarain)
VaVaVoom (Al Shaya)

Mango (Jawad Group)
K Corner
Oman Mobile
Chic Shoes
Charles & Keith (Apparel Group)
Vinici
Bread Talk (Bin Mirza)
Crocs
Ajmal
Lala Rose
Claires (Al Shaya)
Payless Shoes (Al Shaya)
Mothercare (Al Shaya)
ELC (Al Shaya)
4U
Jumbo
Okaidi
Gymboree
Yateem Opticals
Sunglasses Hut
Gulf Greetings
Centre Point
Capital Stores
Nawras
Costa Coffee (Jawad Group)
Clarks
Pinkberry (Al Shaya) (woohoo!)
Magrabi Opticals
Mona Lisa
Inglot
Spring (Apparel Group)
Totem
Nike
Adidas
Diadora
Tips & Toes
Nandos (Bin Mirza)
Finland Eye Centre
Marble Slab Creamery
Caribou Cafe
Gloria Jeans Coffee
Edible 2 Go
Nectar
Lalique
The Pizza Company
Chillis (Bin Lahej group)
Uno Chicago Grill
Dr Nutrition
Champion
Joe Bloggs
Reebok
Mom & Me
Hobby Land
McDonalds
DQ (Jawad Group)
Asmak
Subway
Burger King
City Cinema (3 screens)
Fun City (Landmark Group)

That's quite the selection, and obviously not set in stone, but it clears up the rumour that Al Tayer are not currently leasing units for their brands in the mall, but Al Shaya are. I wonder what the LuLu Mall people have to say about that?

I also heard that perhaps P.F. Changs would be coming to the mall too, but didnt see it confirmed yet.

The Mall is slated to open on October 25th, but from the information I've seen, I think it'll be December or possibly even later than that.

Personally I'm pretty happy Pinkberry is going to be closer to town :) I wonder if H&M will stock men's clothes?

So what do you think?

le fin.

Just a quickie: Borders is now closed at MCC

It's been coming for quite some time now... but Borders is finally closed at MCC.

Coincidentally, for Nando's fans, the MCC branch is due to open the 19th June.Below is a snap shared by the fairly active Nando's facebook page. They are also on twitter (and active). And they also have a pretty good website, detailing their menu and other things, found here.

Please also vote in the new poll.... which English language free newspaper do you read?

le fin.

Just a quickie: Silver Senses & Downs syndrome support group

Silver senses and Downs syndrome support group are hosting a day for sampling and buying from businesses both local and international. Designers from Dubai, Jewellery from South Africa, oxygen facials from Australia....even cupcakes from Oman.

Find them at the Ramada hotel tues 10th May 10am - 7pm.There is a RO 1 entry with free entry to prize draw.

Click here for a link to where the Ramada hotel is. It's in Shatti.

Don't forget to enter into the competition for a pair of free tickets to the Craic Attack night this Thursday!

le fin.