Keeping Up With Kaya: October

A mini guide to what’s hot and what’s new in Dubai this month

Wow mamas, September whizzed by in a flash and we’re already into October with dipping temperatures (finally!), the long weekend over Islamic New Year and Halloween just around the corner! Life is back in full-swing in Dubai with play-dates re-starting, brunches back on the menu and heaps of weekend plans in the making. From make-up treats for getting back out on the social scene in style to cute new little toys for kids, these are a few of the things I’m loving in October. Have a great month, mamas!

Adding to my diary…Dubai Parks & Resorts Opening

The opening of this much-anticipated theme park in Jebel Ali (Dubai’s biggest, complete with Legoland and Legoland Water Park, Bollywood Parks, Motiongate and a dining area called Riverland has been eagerly awaited by plenty of mamas just itching to treat their littles. Well, some of the park will sadly delay opening until December BUT it’s been confirmed that Legoland will open its doors on Monday, 31 October, 2016 as will Riverland, a dining and shopping area built to look like a French Village and other worldwide destinations complete with man-made river for drifting around on boats. Sounds pretty cool, right?!

Shopping at…Sephora online

Never been to Sephora? Well, there’s no need to make the trip anymore mamas as this beauty superstore is going online so you’ll be able to browse and buy with a few clicks – yippee! With celebrity fave brands including Urban Decay, Shiseido, Hershesons hair products, and their very own Made In Sephora line that has the most fabulous range of liquid liners and other essentials, be prepared to burn some plastic! Oh, and if you ever want a little makeup help then be sure to visit Leonardo in the Dubai Mall store –just call and book in for a makeover before you hit the town and be wowed by his contouring skills (helloooo cheekbones!).

Mad about…Mapiful

For lots of us, Dubai is a second home for a few years – and I’ve found the most amazing way to remember this very special place in the form of printed map posters. Whether you’re buying for yourself or gifting someone who’s leaving the desert, Mapiful is an awesome site that allows you to design your very own unique map poster. Explore, zoom, customise and order… et voila! Your fave neighbourhood, the place your kids were born, whatever, can be framed and on your wall. And worldwide shipping is free – woohoo!

Discovering…Le Clos

Hubby travel a lot? Need to buy an extra special bottle of something over an anniversary/birthday/because-you-feel-like-it? Le Clos is a fine wine and luxury spirits retailer owned by MMI in Dubai that offers pre-ordering services at Dubai Airport that deliver your choice to you on arrival plus a store at Al Hamra Cellar in Ras Al Khaimah. Okay, so this mama is particularly partial to a very pale pink Rose wine from Provence named Whispering Angel (as are many of my friends), so when I was told that Le Clos could engrave any bottle and make it personalised I started planning for future gifts galore!

Read more: Entertaining at Home – Sassy Mama’s Guide

Treating the kiddies to… Plus-Plus

Got little people who love to build? Mine are Lego and magnetile obsessed but carrying those things around when travelling or on car journeys can be pretty inconvenient. Enter Plus-Plus, new building toys with endless possibilities! Hailing from Denmark, Plus-Plus come in one simple shape that can be put together flat, to create 2-D or 3-D mosaics or even to make structures and curves (really they need to be seen to be believed!). Lightweight and oh-so-fun, they come in a mix of basic, neon and pastel colours – and you can buy them pick’n’mix style or in little mixed boxes at Virgin Megastore and at Klug Educational Toys in Jumeirah Village Mall. Suitable for ages 3 and up. The perfect gift, especially as Christmas is less than three months away!

Read more: Control the Clutter: 5 Easy Ways to Keep your Kids’ Toys Organised!

Moving into…Fish Beach Taverna, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort

Warning: if you visit this amazing new resto you may want to redecorate your home to look gorgeously coastal and Greek. One of the prettiest places we’ve seen to dine out in Dubai, complete with washed out blue soft furnishings, white-washed walls, stone floors and a beachfront terrace that might just be my new fave place to sit and watch the sunset over a glass of rose and plate of freshly grilled squid. Simply divine – words don’t do it justice – just GO!
Tel: (+971) (0)45117139, www.fish-dubai.com

Read more: Eating and Drinking in Dubai: New Restaurants To Try in 2016