The Fountains

Last night my girlfriends and I took the kids to a new outdoor mall called The Fountains which is still in the process of opening. We wanted to see what all the buzz was about this place because apparently everyone that's been there seems to go on and on about this place.

So we took off to get Big Spoon Yogurt which is a self-serve frozen yogurt place that has every topping imaginable you can put on your frozen yogurt. Your yogurt is weighed and charged by the ounce. I think the excitement over this place is that fact that people get to serve themselves. For some reason humans just like to feel like they are somehow always in control......lol Anyway, it's a pretty tasty treat nonetheless.

After having our treat we made a way around the corner, we found a fire pit with nice comfy chairs around the perimeter of the pit.

Strolling along the sidewalk looking at all the stores that have opened we made our way to the center fountain. Now this fountain was impressive to all of us. We must have sat and watched it for an hour or so. It's interactive with music so the water show coming up from the center of the fountain is keeping beat with whatever music is playing. Although disappointingly it didn't play very many songs, BUT even when it wasn't playing music the fountain was still performing. It was lit up with all different colors and every so often mist would emerge and then float over the crowd of on-lookers. Amira and her friend, Michael, were having so much fun waving their hands up in the air trying to touch the water that I couldn't help but at one point to jump up and join them. :-)

Love spontaneous moments such as that one.

P.S. I will leave you with this video clip that someone recorded of the show.

Tis the holiday season

As the holidays begin to spin at a much faster pace this time of year, one must keep their senses keenly aware. Last night after the gym, Vicky, Amira and I grabbed some dinner, and then decided to drive through one of the nearby neighborhoods to look at the decorated houses. There's just something so spectacular about seeing all the lights lit up at night---so many different colors, themes and designs.

As an aside, I was so surprised to see these white lights dawning on buildings in Dubai when I was there last February. I learned that this is a tradition for announcing a wedding. Thought that was pretty cool, and yet reminded me of Christmas time. :-)

Anyway, as we are slowly driving down these lovely streets, ooooing and aaaahing over the houses and their displays we see Santa on a moped with a plastic Rudolph either bungee corded or duct taped to the front of the moped. I'm telling you all three of us laughed so hard. We could not believe our eyes. This was yet another reminder to myself to be ready for anything because I was so shocked at the sight that I failed to pull out my camera and capture the sight, so my apologies for having to share another image. However, it certainly was a fun way to wind up the week and the evening.
Last weekend Grandma, Amira and I went to our local mall so Amira could see Santa. She had decided on her own that she wanted to write him a letter---which she told me, was about God and the angels. Anyway, we waited in line for an hour or so, but made great use of our time by watching all the people. People are rather amazing creatures and such a fun form of entertainment. There was an older couple in front of us that we assumed was holding the spot in line for their grandkids or something, but when it came their turn they gleefully went to sit on Santa's lap for their picture. The older man said, "by now at my age he (Santa) should know my name and what I want", to which we all laughed.

Amira bravely walked up to Santa, handed him her letter--to which he and the photographer looked so pleasantly surprised to receive, and dazzled them with her brilliant eyes.
It was so fun to share this experience between Grandma and Granddaughter---one I will always remember and feel blessed for experiencing.

The next few days will absolutely be madness in the retail business, of which I plan to take no part in----other than to maybe sit somewhere and watch the delirious madness in people’s eyes. :-)

Thanksgiving Weekend Recap

Well Amira and I had a great Thanksgiving holiday this year. Of course Thanksgiving day we spent at my parents home with my family (previously remarked on "Thinking Out Loud'), which was nice.

For the remainder of the weekend Amira and I spent everyday going to the gym and then to a park near our home. We were so pleased to have such nice weather, and with all the crazy people shopping like it's the 'last supper' or something, the park was truly our calm paradise, alhamdullilah.

We enjoyed a picnic of leftover turkey--sandwiches and soaked up the lovely weather and atmosphere. Amira loved climbing on this one piece of equipment that looked like a rock wall, so had take a video to show Grandpa when he and Grandma return from their cruise. Last year we went on a mini cruise with my family and Grandpa decided he wanted to do the rock wall climbing on the ship, and with great effort he was able to succesfully make it to the top and ring the bell......mabrook to Grandpa. Not bad for a guy in his early 60's. Anyway, since my dad and I like to joke with one another, I decided to take this video of Amira rock wall climbing not only to show him, but to rub it in his face that she successfully does so in a skirt-----effortlessly. :-P

Gotta love family kidding. ;-)
Just wall climbing


Throwing in a slide ride as well.

End Zone Dance

Grandpa was trying to teach Amira the most important move of the American football game--the end zone dance, which is what a lot of players do after they've made a touchdown. :-)

Think Before You Ink

This guy had what he thought was a great tattoo...

until he wound up in jail. Now he's...

THE MOST POPULAR GUY IN PRISON

Happy Feet

Last Thursday evening Amira and I were so excited because we were finally going to see Mixed Up Me and Angela after a dry spell. With school back in session and Angela’s theater rehearsals our time isn’t as flexible as it is during the summer, so we managed to squeeze in a little time together.

I’m not sure who was more thrilled Amira or myself, but regardless we were excited. When I told Amira we were meeting them the first thing she said was is, “which Starbucks are we meeting at?” I was embarrassed and thrilled at the same time because first I was so proud of her memory skills and then second embarrassed that she equates the four of us with Starbucks. Anyway, we got to Starbucks and Mixed Up Me and I immediately start catching up as we knew the clock is ticking, and Amira and Angela started playing as well. Watching them out of the corner of my eye I could see they were practicing something, but wasn’t quite sure what it was. All I knew was they were ripping the place apart, they weren’t disturbing patrons, they were not screaming and Mixed Up Me and I were able to catch up---all signs of a successful Starbucks visit. :-)

When our time was wrapping up the girls came over and said they wanted to show us something. They wanted to show us the penguin dance, which of course is a made up name as well as a made up dance. Angela asked Amira if she was ready, and she said she wasn’t because she wanted to dance with Brandon. Whoever Brandon is???? However, Angela being the good sport she is agreed to assume the role of Brandon. And with that said I leave you this quick little clip I was able to capture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nYbDW9JLyo

Color IS GOOD!

Maxine's recent doctor visit

Yesterday I went to the doctor for my yearly physical. My blood pressure was high, my cholesterol was high, I'd gained some weight, and I didn't feel so hot. My doctor said eating right doesn't have tobe complicated and it would solve my physicalproblems. He said just think in colors...Fill your plate with bright colors... greens, yellows, reds, etc.

I went right home and ate anentire bowl of :

And sure enough, I felt better immediately. I never knew eating right could be so easy.

UHHHHHHHHH

Well in defense of Miss Teen USA South Carolina, I have to give her a little bit of reprieve for merely being nervous standing in front of a huge audience. HOWEVER, what a fine reflection her answer gives to our educational system. Are we not a proud nation?

Cleaning and Friends

Musical

Well this weekend was musicals galore.

On Saturday after dance practice, I picked Amira up at my parents’ house. I just knew the first thing she was going to ask me (as she had been asking for 4 days in a row at this point) if she could go to Charming Child's house and play her piano. Now to the best of my knowledge she had no knowledge of Charming Child even having a piano, but with Amira nothing surprises me because she's extremely intuitive. So on my way up to my parents house, I contacted Mixed Up Me and told her I was being proactive just in case Amira asked about the "piano" again, and Mixed Up Me said to call her once we left my parents house.

So loaded up in the car, waving "bye-bye" to grandma and grandpa, Amira says, "Can I play Charming Child's piano?" I told her I had to call Mixed Up me, to which she said, "Ok, call her NOW Momma". I responded that my phone didn't work right NOW because grandma and grandpa live in the country and Momma's phone doesn't always get resception, to which she responded "it's ok Momma - you can try in a minute".

As soon as I had service I called Mixed Up Me and told her that Amira hadn't even waited for us to pull out of my parents driveway before asking is she could play Charming Child's piano, and we both laughed. Mixed Up Me stated that we best let her play the piano otherwise she'll never stop asking us, so we made arrangements to go to their house.

We walked in the door and immediately went to the piano, and Amira assumed the position of pianist and the following are snippets from her performance.




...................

On Monday evening my dad and I had a date to go see the movie Hairspray. My parents had seen it the week before and my dad just cracked up, so I was thrilled to be seeing it with him just for the mere fact of hearing him crack up. I love it when I hear someone genuinely laugh so hard. Just as I suspected, he laughed so hard to which of course I couldn’t help but laugh at both the movie, which was great, and my dad for being so tickled. It was a great evening.

Picture it - California 2007

This morning perusing the blogsphere realm, I went to one of my marked favorites, Amira.

Apparently she's been extremely busy since her return from Bahrain and is now preparing for her friend's engagement party. In the mist of all the madness, and I assuming an attempt to settle her nerves from the entire calamity, she found this cool link online that transforms your face.

After seeing how cool hers were, I just HAD to do it myself. So, here are the results. :-)

Me as Baby

Me as Modigliani

Me as Botticelli

Me as Mucha

Thank you Amira for staying up to all wee hours of the morning just to find and share this site. :-)

I now send this challenge out to all of you to try it and post your results.......pretty please.