The Avenues is having a Funville for children from Dec 25-28 with activities to include cartoon characters, face painting, hair braiding, henna and sand arts. Show time 5-9pm in 2nd Avenues, first floor. (Sorry for the difficulty in reading the text on the pic, this was how I found it.) 

I found a new yarn and craft shop in Kuwait. (New to me, not new to Kuwait :) It's a small shop and the selection of different types of yarn is limited but the colors selection for the types of yarn it does sell is really great and the prices are really affordable. The shop is located in the basement of the Kaifan mall and is called Crafty. 

I found some lovely 100g Alize Diva and Bahar. It's fine (maybe sock weight?) but I am not an expert so maybe someone can comment below on the best uses for this type of yarn? I typically prefer bulkier yarns but the colors were beautiful, especially the one with 'silk effects' so I'm thinking to try and make a prayer shawl with it. I crochet only - learning to knit is a 2014 resolution - so if anyone who crochets can advise me on the best projects for this type of yarn, that would be awesome. Thanks and wish me luck!

A great breakfast for the kiddos - healthy and lots of veggies and a nice twist on pancakes. 
 
Makes 16-18 pancakes
Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups shredded root vegetables, such as turnips, rutabaga, sweet potatoes, carrots, or beets
• 1 large yellow onion, peeled and shredded
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 6 – 8 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Snipped fresh herbs, for serving, such as chives, dill, parsley, tarragon or chervil
• Crème fraiche, for serving

Instructions

1. Combine shredded root vegetables, onion and eggs in a large bowl. Add flour, salt and pepper; blend thoroughly.
2. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ¼ cup of batter; flatten slightly. Cook 4 or 5 pancakes at a time until golden on each side, turning once. Transfer pancakes to a platter lined with paper towels. Continue making pancakes in the same way, adding oil to skillet as needed.
3. Transfer pancakes to a serving platter; sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve with crème fraiche.

Photo from Whole Foods Market. Recipe from Our Seasonable Table. Check out their amazing blog for beautiful photos and lots of awesome recipes. 

We should remember not to compare our kids or their development to other kids. Each child is special and develops according to his or her own clock. 

Artist, photographer, interior designer and visual merchandiser Sofia Axheimer tells stories through the visual relationship between things. Her photo stories are soft, quiet masterpieces of texture, color, light and composition.

Currently working as a freelance stylist in Kuwait, Sofia studied at Beckman’s College of Design and Stockholm’s Tillskärarakademi. Originally from Sweden, she has lived in London and Kuwait for the last five years. She lives here with her husband and four year old daughter. 


In an interview with Kuwait Moms Guide, Sofia explains the inspiration behind her work, the artistry and commercial applications of it along with how she teaches her daughter about her art.  

KMG: How do explain your art?
Sofia: I do not necessarily see it as art - although I agree it is artful. I have always had a need to express myself either visually or in writing, and at this point in my life I find great joy in channelling this need through photographs. For me the art is not in the items themselves but rather the composition. The images are also a means to an end in that private and commercial clients can get inspired and imagine ways they might collaborate with me. I have many artistic interests and am wide in the field of styling. I work with most things creative such as interiors, food, fashion, travel, and lifestyle.

KMG: What inspires your designs?
Sofia: Things around me. It can be a cut pomegranate, someone passing me on the street, an art exhibition, or simply a colour. The souks inspire me as well as travelling and exploring. I love walking in Souk Mubarakiya in the morning just before the stalls open. Encountering new cultures and the contrast between them. Inspiration is also something I have with me from the past, my life up to this moment. In Sweden I'm inspired by nature, walking along the beach in the autumn or in the woods. My grandmother’s old garden, vintage stores and antique auctions. But most of all my family inspires me. My daughter, my husband who is an architect, and my mom from whom I have so many good traits.

KMG: How do you come up with ideas for your designs?
Sofia: There's no structure to it. It is very intuitive and organic and can start with the most simple item like a box of figs or a vintage dress. I do not knowingly follow any trend or rules. I have always had a very strong sense of style and what I like and what works and how I can use it. Each story comes naturally and always has a distinct 'red line' going through it. Once I have that initial item I will automatically start building up the story around it with colour, interior, or other items and so on.

KMG: What role does color/ texture play?
Sofia: Color for me is a big thing; it's quite often the first thing I think about when working or it comes up very early on. Swedish design is mainly based on neutral and muted colors which I still love but over the years I have developed a taste for rich colors, and I strongly believe this is due to cultural influences. Since moving to the Middle East this taste has become even stronger because of the importance of color in the culture. Texture has a more important role for me when I work with interior styling. Then both color and texture need to be in balance.

KMG: How is your work applicable to business?
Sofia: The images you see on my webpage and Instagram are not directly related to work I have done for clients, but rather a constantly evolving portfolio of my own 'commissions' and what inspires me at the moment. At the same time it's a showcase of my style and breath of talent for potential clients to get inspired by and interested in working with me. When doing commissions it is not always possible to push the boundaries as far as I would like so my work on the web page and Instagram can be seen as a form of 'release' for those ideas.

KMG: How does being a mom affect your work?
Sofia: It keeps me busy. My daughter always comes first and she is very tolerant considering her age. She's used to exploring places with me. I normally plan my work the night before and try and finish things I know she will not enjoy before I pick her up from nursery. But even when I am not directly working I will evolve ideas and thoughts as a result of being with her. It is difficult to turn off a creative mind. I find myself making notes or developing a story while doing the shopping or waiting for ballet class to finish.

KMG: Do you teach your daughter how to design?
Sofia: We encourage her to draw and paint which she does constantly throughout the day. At home she always have access to crayons, paint, paper, and quite often it's the first thing she does in the morning and when she gets home from nursery. She has a beautifully free mind and we try and not interfere. Sometimes she does want one of us to paint or draw with her and that is always great fun. She is often with me when I cook or bake, and she does help as much as she can in her own way.

To see more of her amazing work, visit her webpage or follow her on Instagram @storiesbysofia

School holidays means lots of free time for the kiddos so we've got some ideas on activities to do and places to go. The recyclable art park in Yarmouk is one of Kuwait Moms Guide’s favorite must-see parks in Kuwait. The park and the art installations inside are amazing and a great way to introduce kids to the idea of recycling and taking care of the environment. 

Inaugurated in February 2013, the park art is the concept of local artist Bader al Mansour (check out photos from his most recent exhibit, Saduing) and Faisal al Obaid. It was featured in local press back during the opening but for those moms who haven't been, its still worth a visit. (You can also check out Kuwait Moms Guide's full list of parka and playgrounds.)

The artists used scraps including automobile tires, computer parts, bolts, washers, screws, exhaust fan parts and other junk to create installations including a giant sea turtle, a lounge chair made from discarded keyboards, a Mona Lisa replica, flower arrangements, a duck and turtle pond, and a giant tree constructed of tires. 

Organized by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, the park showcases the talent and creativity of local artists while also providing a lovely outdoor space for visitors. It has lately fallen into disrepair and some of the art has been vandalized or destroyed. There is still much to see, however, and also a small playground with climbing structures and swings for the kids. 

Located in Yarmouk, block 2 close to the mosque.

So the winter break for schools has started in Kuwait and if you aren't traveling, then the kids will be home for the next two weeks. This can add a lot of stress on parents and even if you are a stay at home mom, you'll need a lot of fun ideas to keep the kiddos busy. Here's 10 ideas to keep them engaged, learning and having fun all break long. 

1. Have a treasure hunt. Create a list of small items they can find throughout the house. Give them the list and a basket and let them go for it. Make the list simple but also things that will challenge them to think or use their motor skills: something purple, something round, a pair of socks, a photo from a magazine, two pieces of ribbon, something we take to the beach, etc. 

2. Draw a wall. Buy some erasable markers or crayons and give them a wall in their bedroom or in the hallway. Give them a theme (Christmas, winter break, soccer, jungle, etc.) and let them draw a mural. Just test the markers/crayons first to make sure you can wash it all off afterwards. Let them draw in stages. After stage one, ask questions about what they are drawing and why and what they plan to draw next. 

3. Make one day a Yes Day. I tried this and my daughters loved it. They have already asked for another Yes Day during the break. 

4. Let the kids make lunch. Give them basic directions and let them choose from an array of ingredients and help oversee the cooking but let them make the decisions, set the table, chop the veggies, etc and let them clean up afterward. Reward them with stickers or a trip to the park.

5. Get outside. Go for a bike ride, to the park, for a stroll. There's now a place you can rent bikes for the day from called Lets Bike Kuwait (Telephone 6627-2945 or Instagram @letsbike_kw). I haven't tried them yet but what a great idea. Any moms that do try them, pls send me an email [email protected] with your experience and photos :) 

6. Hold a children's olympics. Make a list of childhood games (hopscotch, jumping jacks, dance freeze, spoon on the nose, etc.), invite some friends over for a playdate and then hold contests for each game. Make sure to have a medal or prizes for everyone at the end.

7. Get out the arts and crafts and create living stories. Let your kids use playdough, paint, collage materials, etc to create stories about their own lives. Their first memory or their favorite doll/toy. They can also collaborate where each child helps create a larger story but you have to give them clear directions and areas where each can work on the stories seperately.

8. Have a photography day. Get disposable or small handheld cameras for each of the kids. Take them to the park, playground, shops, or even the Corniche and let them photograph whatever they want. Then let them choose the photos they want on a computer. Print them out four to a page and make photo books from their journey. The kids can then caption the photos for practice writing/reading. 

9. Have a late night movie night. Get two or three movies, some pizzas or popcorn (even better if you let the kids make their own pizzas) and let them have a party. Be sure and ask them about the movies the next day. I always have my older daughter explain the storyline, name the characters and tell me what she liked and disliked about the movie and what she learned that she didn't know before. This is really great if you haven't seen the movie because when you do watch it, you'll see it through your child's eyes. 

10. Do the chores/dress up party. I let the girls dress up in any of my clothes until they've gone through the whole closet. We then take a break, have a snack and then have a 'clean up' party where they help me sort the clothes by type, color and etc. One of my favorite ways to clean out my closets and keep the kids occupied at the same time. 

Have other great ideas for winter break activities? Email me [email protected] or comment in the section below. Thanks and hope to hear from you all!

Shakshooka Market will be held today at the Rijeemy Village at 360 Mall rooftop parking lot from 6-8pm. Please bring small change and reusable bags. 

This really made me think. What will my children remember from their childhood? Will they remember the hugs and kisses or the time I lost it in the grocery and yelled at them for making too much noise? 

I hear my own parents' voices in my head all the time - especially now that I'm raising kids of my own - and what I hear is not always encouraging or helpful. I want my daughters to be strong, independent, loving and curious and to trust their own inner voice. 

Now I need ideas on how to make that inner voice calm, confident and always reassuring. Any suggestions moms?