Mattress Shopping!

This kinda felt like our first big adult moment...Joey and I trying out each and every one of the mattresses in the little Seally's shop and picking one together for our new apartment.  We went in with a strategic plan: we would try out each one, not say anything, then once we had finished laying simultaneously on all of them, we could give our top 3, then go with the one we both had in common.

Genius plan.

However, I ended up having a top 4 and then we were torn between two, so we spent the next 10 mins trying out these again and again!  haha

I love having a floating in the clouds feeling to a mattress, nice and cushiony since I'm a side sleeper most of the time; and Joey likes a little firmer support on his back.  It's funny how different we all are, especially with little things like sleeping preferences.

We ended up agreeing on a lumbar supported, yet cushiony mattress at a decent price.  YAY!   

You're not alone.

There are a plethora of networking opportunities in Abu Dhabi...you've just gotta take the first step and get yourself to one.

I had a lovely experience today with one particular women's group in Abu Dhabi (American Women's Network).  It wasn't my first time meeting with them by any means, but it just really hit home with me today just how accessible friendships and community are here.

It's almost like when we were in kindergarten and we would simply walk up to someone say "hi my name is Jennifer...want to be friends?"  I don't know what happens after the age of 5 that makes making friends so daunting, but it really is the easiest thing.  Especially in a place where you can feel pretty alienated, it's so nice to know there are others around feeling exactly how you're feeling.

We had a lovely morning of coffee, yummy treats and wonderful conversation at the AWN chair's villa in the center of the city.  During the meeting we each told a little bit about ourselves, so it was nice to really individualize everyone (think there may have been about 50 of us) and find similar connections.  Afterwards we all mixed and mingled, exchanging information and making plans to meet up again later.  I think I may have even been one of the last people to leave...it just felt so homey and nice, I didn't want to go.

I really do enjoy the opportunity to experience events like these, and in the end knowing...we're not quite so alone after all. :)

Yoga in the Middle East

I'm officially teaching yoga here in Abu Dhabi!!   Wooo-hooo!

I had my first class this morning 9:30-10:45 with 4 lovely ladies, then held another class this evening at 19:30.  Again a small class, but another wonderful experience!  It's interesting creating vinyasa sequences with each new student in mind.  No one moves at the same pace, has the same experience, or flows with the same alignment...so it's definitely challenging as a teacher.

Then throw in the language barrier.  My classes have been a mix of germans, emirates, egyptians, russians and a couple americans.  I'm definitely training myself to use less words and really demonstrate using my own body.  It's a challenge, but I'm truly loving it!

Can't wait for my next class on Wednesday at 10:45am!!

Oh, yeah...AND I'll be teaching over at the corniche with the lovely girls from yoga juice starting next month!  Definitely excited to join that yoga community too!!  Namaste friends!

Avoid the Destination

I was just doing a little prep work for my 1st official yoga class in Abu Dhabi when I landed on something really interesting...learning to not always do things with a destination in mind.

In yoga, we end each practice with the resting corpse pose "savasana". But does that mean we should mentally tap out of all the asanas leading up to it?   Allowing all the breathing and movement to be a blur?

Absolutely not.

Each movement should be taken in, felt with the entire body and fully enjoyed not just physically, but mentally as well.  Allowing our minds to turn inward and focus on the sensations we're feeling is what keeps us coming back to yoga again and again.

The ability to be completely present in our minds and bodies.  

You don't always have to have a destination in mind...you can just take a walk to walk.  Explore like you did as a child.  Smell the crisp leaves of fall, feel the wind on your cheeks, listen to the birds chirping and fluttering high in the trees, maybe even look up to see if you can spot a fun animal shape in the white puffy clouds.  No need to limit yourself or your imagination.

So, today I challenge you...no matter what you're doing, what you're planning, where your going, simply allow yourself to...

BE COMPLETELY PRESENT.

I'm an official Abu Dhabi driver!

That's right, last night I was fearless on my first solo drive (to yoga down at 11th and 30th...or Al Buteen and Al Khaleej Al Arabi St...that's right, there's two names for every street!)!!  (and back!)  It's definitely different from driving in any other place...you have to constantly be looking around and making sure no one is moving into the direction of your car!  They like to just cut over w/out any warning, no blinker, friendly wave or distance ahead to move in...sometimes they just move into the side of your car, I guess hoping you move over or speed up.  That happened to me and Joey the other night.  Only there were cars all around us, so we had no where to go.

Thank goodness for horns!!

It's definitely defensive driving.  The only similar feeling I could think of was...the rush of playing mario cart.  If you can imagine!

Pearls for the Lady

I have the best fiance in the world!  He not only treated me to a much needed body scrub and massage, but he surprised me with an evening at one of the most treasured spots in Abu Dhabi.

An evening of pearls!

Firstly, dinner at Pearls and Cavier, the gem of the Shangri-La!

After we sat down I noticed no one else was in the restaurant but us, leaning over I asked Joey what was going on, were we eating too early??  (It was 7:15 after all ...my favorite dinner time, but I guess I'm a rarity. ) To which he replied, "I had this arranged."  I literally laughed out loud and retorted, "You did not!" A sad little look glazed over his hopeful face as he said, "Jen, can you just let me pretend for a moment!  This IS every guys dream to buy out a place for his special girl!"

What a sweetheart I have!

After the wine arrived, Joey looks at me and says, "you look really nice, but something's missing..."  I knew instantly what was in store!  The weekend before we had ventured to the souk at the Dubai mall in hopes of finding the perfect little pair of pearl earrings.  Unfortunately, the ones I had in mind just didn't seem to exist.  Everything was BIG and gaudy...and I just wanted simple...elegant.  With Joey's keen sense and my hopefulness we wandered into every store, eventually finding the perfect jeweler to create our vision.  They had mentioned being able to make it and drive it to Abu Dhabi for us when it was ready (in a couple days).  After Joey had surprised me with the most perfect pearl earrings, our own joint creation, he told me the story of how he came to get them.  Nothing's ever easy I suppose, but ALWAYS possible.

As it turned out the man at the store had been in an awful car accident the afternoon we had stopped into his shop and never called Joey about the earrings.  Joey in turn called him a couple times the next day until he finally got through.  After the initial shock, they began discussing options in regards to the earrings.  The man was more than happy to have our earrings made, but would not be able to get them to Abu Dhabi.  Luckily, Joey is always quick with options and called our friend to see if her driver (our bud Tarek) could run them to the Shangri-La the night of my birthday.  Wow.

I will indeed always cherish these earrings.
Also, a special thanks to everyone for thinking of me on my birthday.  It's your love and kindness that gives me so much energy and happiness.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  (my wish was to share that happiness)

Femme Fatal comes to Abu Dhabi???

I honestly heard the rumors weeks ago, but never thought it was possible.  But to much surprise and even more hopeful anticipation, monday it was announced...

BRITNEY SPEARS IS HEADLINING FORMULA 1 IN ABU DHABI!!!

Holy cow, this is awesome!!  I may not be a HUGE Britney fan, but she does have some fun music!  Especially "Criminal"....but what a huge statement for the middle east to rally for her to headline the biggest event to hit the sand.  Just kidding, we have an awesome track at Yas Island!

"One of the jewels in Abu Dhabi's crown is the new 5.55-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit, which on November 1, 2009, hosted the country's inaugural Grand Prix. It was also the first F1 twighlight race, with powerful lighting ensuring a seamless transition from day to night.

Located on the spectacular Yas Island, the track is set to revolutionise the design of future Formula One circuits. Boasting top speeds of 320 km/h and average speeds of 195 km/h, it features nine right turns and 11 left turns and is one of the few venues on the calendar to run in an anti-clockwise direction.

Designed by renowned circuit architect Hermann Tilke, Yas Marina has a waterfront setting scenic enough to rival the likes of Monaco and Valencia. And with the track wrapping itself around the island's glamorous newly-built marina."

And since it is the middle east, tickets shouldn't be TOO terrible to come by!!  (We HOPE!!)  Oh yeah...and here's the rest of the A-MAZING line up!!  Anyone want to come visit us next month??