Art in Abu Dhabi show at Emirates Palace

Today hubs and I went to Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi to see an art show called Art Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately when we got there that part was still closed, but at least the part on Indian modern art and the part about the new Guggenheim Museum that is being developed along with some paintings from the Guggenheim in NYC was open.

Emirates Palace is a hotel, but it is also used as the Abu Dhabi Community Center, if you will. They have all kinds of free exhibitions in there which tend to be around art, because they re developing a whole island here which will be dedicated to culture. Along with a Guggenheim, they are also getting a Louvre museum, an Opera House, and a performing arts center. These are expected to be open around 2013. Aside from trhe art exhbits, many of the concerts that come to own take place here too. The last big name was Justin Timberlake.

Outside of Emirates Palace- I think it cost something like 1.4 billion dollars to make- it is made entirely of marble and it is huge.

Cupola - interior view,

This was an artwork at the Iindian exibition- it is made entirely of bindis!! How cool is that?? (Bindi's are the dots that married Indian women sometimes wear on their foreheads.)

This is a carpet of Emirates Palace at night- it is huge and so intricate- it looks like a painting even hanging on the wall, you would never know just by looking at it that it is a rug.

Here is the opposite carpet across the hallway- one of the Palace during the day:

Entry to the Guggenheim exhibition. It is free to enter all of the art exhibitions, but many of them dont allow photos inside- this one included.

Some guys playing arabic instruments that I cannot remember the name of this minute in the Emirates Palace hallway.

This was at the Indiart art show- statue mabe of gold, copper, and silver. They had a lot of really good pieces, many even for sale at that show.

Yaght- this is parked there a lot. I always thought it belonged to a Sheikh, but I know a lady who works at Emirates Palace and she said it actually is a weathly british guys who sails back and fourth between Abu Dhabi and the UK> Apparently he really likes Abu Dhabi and the EP is is home away from home.

Tomorrow I am off to Bangalore! Have a good weekend!

Final-sale follies

Ok, here is part 2 to yesterday's post - the last of the goods from my packages. Like anyone, I have made some J.Crew final sale follies . Not all of these are the end of the world, and I sure I can make them work in the long run.

I believe this was called the falling petals cami- it was in FS for a LOOOOOONG time and I pulled the trigger because someone was talking about it on the mothership andI also saw it on Joyce and it looked great.

It actually looks pretty good under a cardi.

The main issue I have with it is this stupid zip on the side. It doesn't fall straight on me and is a bit tight around my curves, hence that little bump where the zipper is on the left. This is a cardi only cami!!

Next is the liberty floral print jacket which was a J.Crew collection piece. This is 100% due to Dina as it looks so nice when she wears it and I think I got it marked down to 39.99 something like that.

I like it, I just don't know what to wear it with! Here it is with jeans and gold shoes. I will keep trying it with different pieces today...

Next is the Saturday pant in shell pink. I love my navy blue ones, and all they had left in my size was shell. Shell is a nice pink color but completely see through!! In order to wear these I will have to get full coverage nude color underwear which I do not own at the moment, so these pants will be more expensive than 19.99 in the end!!

These might make good vacation/weekend pants, but not for work.

Gladiola cami in grey. I have it in navy, but I thought the grey would go with more.Here it is with some bling necklaces, black cardi, jeans, and my lanvin flats.

it was like christmas!!

Yesterday, I got not one by two packages in the post!! One with J.Crew stuff my mom sent over and the other was my Net-a-porter box from their 20% off sale. I felt like a 5 year old on Christmas morning!!!

Here is part 1. Most of the J.Crew items are from the -20% summer final sale about a month ago. Keep in mind I can wear summer clothes year-round. My sister is bringing my winter goods when she comes next week. Only 4 more week until we leave for Norway for Christmas!!


This is the Ikat halter dress accessorized- I think it looks a bit too plain on its own, but it will work in the summer months.

sweater- J.Crew
necklace-marni
belt-J.Crew
shoes- Dumond

Here is is on its own...


Tory Burch - Ports wool dress from net-a-porter. It is very simple and elegant, I don't think it needs a necklace, just a chunky cuff will do. Shoes are j.Crew from last winter.

I forget the name of this dress- I think it was the lawn ruffle dress, something like that from J.Crew, color is shadow. I love it!!! This is one of those dresses that can work from day to night.

Night: (all accessories- J.Crew)

Day: sweater- J.Crew, Belt Linea Pelle from 4 years ago, shoes Massimo Dutti last winter.

I know this dress was a bit controversial but I am liking this too - Prarie ruffled herringbone shirtdress. It needs ironed, but still looks good! This looks great over leggings and its super comfortable.

This is the second dress from net-a-porter I am on the fence about. My husband hates the print, but he is very conservative so he just doesn't like anything with a pattern on it. This is from Anna Sui.I like it with the leggings, but as a dress it is just way, way too short for my taste. I am not sure if I should keep it or send it back.

Part 2 coming tomorrow!!!

Lemlem at net-a-porter

For anyone that missed lemlem on J.Crew they have some summer items on net-a-porter. I am loving the pink scarf below!

I was sporting the Francis blouse today, I was also wearing some brown pants from the Gap, I cut them off the picture because they just looked weird in the picture. Belt is the Cabernet skinny belt from J.Crew.

Next week I am off to Bangalore on my reconnaissance visit to the city with HR and to check out what it is like to live there and meet people from the team. I will be there Sunday through Friday. I am sooo looking forward to the weekend though. With the company picnic last week, I feel like this week and last have just turned into one very,very long week!

20% off sales galore!

I saw this sign today and couldn't resist... it is like a frigging brain twister just to say keep the door closed!

Anyways...

How about all of those 20% off sales going on? J.Crew, Net-a-porter, they are cleaning out my bank account this month!!

Here is what I ordered from J.Crew, perfect for Christmas in Norway!! (I am thinking ahead...) Does anyone have the new jeans in Amore wash? What do you think of them? I am also loving the vintage forest color from the crew this season...

By the way, my computer is kaputt, I ordered a new one with my airmiles points, and I hope it comes in soon so I can post comments on other blogs, otherwise I have to use the hubs computer which doesn't let me post comments for some reason :-((.

a few days in Dubai (again!)

OOTD (Yesterday):
Casual day at the company picnic
shoes: Tory Burch Revas
top: J.Crew outlet from summer 07
jeans: Tommy Hilfiger
pink necklace: bought at Sauce in Abu Dhabi, don't know the brand but it is clearly an Arab brand due to the symbolism on some of the charms.

Peacocks everywhere! This hotel- Jebel Ali Hotel and Beach resort- has a thing for peacocks and they are literally everywhere- around the pool, wondering around the tables at breakfast, in the drive way area, etc!
Here is another one at the reception area, they are really pretty.


This was taken a few days ago- Dubai sunrise. One the left is the Burj al Arab and off in the distance is the skyline of Dubai with the world's tallest building Burj Dubai. This was taken from a hotel in the Knowledge Village area.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Do you work in a kindergarten?

I have an event coming up which registrations for events always make me cringe.

We are expecting over 1000 people to attend, adults and children. It is for an industry where technology and competence are quite important. I start to get a little bit scared for the future of this industry when I see what kind of things come back on forms to register for simple events.

For example:
"I didn't register because I was on a business trip, can I sign up now". NO ONE goes on a 4 week business trip- lousy excuse.

"My parents don't eat much, they are senior citizens. Is it ok if I bring them with me to the dinner and not pay." Just plain old wrong on so many levels.

"The Internet wasn't working." For four weeks?!?

" My son is 7 but he can pass for 5, so just sign him up as 5 and under." WTF???

"My cousin is in town visiting. Since he is visiting, can I bring him without paying? I don't know what to do with him otherwise." I don't care if he is visiting from Mars, guests no matter here they are from still pay, and if you don't want to pay, I am sure he'll be fine at home watching TV!!

Additionally, the form, posters, etc. say very clearly, no tickets - no entry. I am 100% certain we will have at least 20 that show up without tickets asking if they can pay to get in that will need turned away.

AND.... To top it off, yesterday I was at the wholesale stores buying 300 kids prizes. Whilst running around the shop looking for prizes, a little kid who very clearly had the flu and should have been at home because he just looked awful, coughed all over me. I could literally feel the germs entering my body, so today I am sick with a cold and my ears feel like they are going to explode- it better not be the flu.

Upon checking out of the store, the lady behind the counter asked me, "Do you work in a kindergarten?". I thought to myself, ummmm something like that!