Post Category - Family LifeFamily Life - Post Category - That MamaThat MamaFounder and designer of clothing label Dinz that’s aimed at making women feel confident and look good while being fun (think perspex clutch bags filled with colourful bubbles, cute prints and oh-so-flattering shapes), Rima is also mama to Maha, almost 3 and Mohammed, almost 2 who share her sense of humour and oodles of energy! Despite having a very hectic schedule, Rima rarely has a hair out of place – and for that alone we are very envious!
BASIC PROFILE
Name: Rima Zahran
Occupation: Designer
Children: Maha 2.9 and Mohammed 1.10
Nationality: Palestinian (Emirati kids)
How long have you lived in Dubai? 17yrs
1) Tell us about your business and why you started it.
Dina (my sister) and I started Dinz in 2007. It’s a fun, loud and daring clothing label. Our main aim is to make women feel confident and feel good in our clothes. All our clothes are studied in detail to make sure they are very flattering. We also part own a social media agency.
2) What do you feel have been your biggest achievements both in your personal life and career so far?
Having kids, by far. Nothing can compare.
3) As a child what did you dream of being when you grew up?
Definitely a designer!
4) If you had three wishes, what would they be?
My kids to grow up happy and healthy, Maha to take over Dinz with Dina’s daughter (she doesn’t exist yet), for Mohammed to become a doctor like his aunt from his dad’s side.
5) What does being a Sassy Mama mean to you? 
It’s all about knowing how to balance my kids and my lifestyle. By manage, I mean dedicate all my time to raising my kids myself without too much help at home, but also knowing how to still manage my own life by finding ways to getting some me time to dress up, look good, have a night out every once in a while. It’s really all about balance. With one kid, it’s doable but with two very young – things can get rocky. Staying focused is key!
6) What’s a typical day in your life like?
Do you really want to know? Haha, think hectic, chaotic, loud, running against time but full of laughs all day long.
7) What’s your guilty pleasure?
Dropping the kids off at the nursery… Ah, that feeling on the way back home where you feel free! You have so much to do, but don’t know where to start so instead you just blast the radio and listen to whenever song you feel like listening instead of The Wheels on the Bus and Old McDonald..
8) What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given in your personal life and career?
RELAX! Its great advice, but haven’t quiet been able to master it..
9) What do you most enjoy doing as a family in Dubai?
We do everything together and I love everything, but my favourite thing in the world is when I’m cooking dinner in our kitchen while my kids are playing with their dad in the living room and I can see them all laughing, shouting and fighting. It’s what I’ve dreamed of for many years.
10) What is the ‘best-kept’ secret in Dubai, something fellow mamas should know about?
Le Petit Palais. It’s heaven, drop off your kids, go do some retail therapy, grab a coffee and pick them up an hour later all refreshed with a big smile.
11) Which three words best describe your personality?
Hyper, protective, loving.
12) What advice would you have for a new mama?
It’s tough at first, but as all the tough times that we go through as a first time mom pass, you learn quicker than you can imagine. All the tough times become a memory, so make sure you take care of your own child. Don’t let a nanny take your place, there is nothing in the world more satisfying than seeing your kids grow up and knowing that you made this happen.
13) What advice would you give to a mama who wants to go back to work or start her own business, but is worried about juggling family and career?
Wait till they’re at nursery or school, know that your work also needs time and dedication just like a newborn child does. You will lose sleep and have less time for yourself, but as women we need to always keep in mind our number one priority are our children. No one forced us to become mothers, we chose to so it’s only fair that we dedicate our lives to our children and we take care of them in the best way possible.
14) If you were on an island and could bring only three things (family not included) what would they be?
Play doh, crackers and blush obviously!
15) Top three books?
Men are from mars, women are from venus, the secret and Vogue (the spetember issue can pass for a book no?)
16) Describe your style.
I’m a skinny jeans, casual tee and heels kind of girl. I obviously now wear a lot of sneakers, but my hair and make-up must always be done!
17) If there was a movie produced about your life, who would you choose to play you and why?
OH MY GOD, I really think there should be! It would be a comedy called “Trying to Stay Hot with Two Kids… And Failing”. I would choose VB, but a funnier version of her.
18) Tell us something funny that your kids have said or done.
The list could go on and on, so I will just choose one for each kid. Last weekend, we were at Maha’s friend’s birthday and in the hopes of getting Maha to wear hers, I told her, “Look at Aya, she wears ballerina shoes!” She goes up to Aya, touches her shoes and says, “Nice shoes, I like them – where’d you get them from?” It killed me! Keep in mind, she’s not even 3.
And my Hamoodi (Mohammed): he dug up his sister’s white underwear the other day. He put it on his head and said “Mama, look same Baba Gutta.” Then I realised he was talking about Ghuttra!
images of our Sassiest Mamas 2014 are courtesy of Jo Cole www.jocolephotography.com
