Girlcation London Style

It was time for another girlcation and what better place to visit than London? It is chic, fun, and not-so-child-friendly, making it a playground for moms in need of a vacation. England wasn't my first choice because it didn't seem exotic enough, but I knew we could be in Siberia and have a blast as long as we could all be together. I will be the first to admit I was wrong, London was the perfect choice for a million reasons.

Here are some musts for a successful girlcation:

1. Stay in a luxurious apartment that is full of breakables and fine linens and relax because you know your children aren't there to break anything. (Thanks to Amber and her fine house hunting.)

Our adorable 3 bedroom apartment in Notting Hill.

2. See thea-ture that makes your heart happy. I believe I have been Defying Gravity for 2 days straight-on repeat.

Wicked is wickedly delicious. Almost as delicious as 'Fiyero' (I believe there was a gasp by all the women-and some men-the first time he entered the stage). We tried to stalk him, but to no avail. He was probably more interested in the men than 5 cute married women anyway.

3. Eat at the finest of restaurants, even if it takes you over an hour to find. It is always worth it.

Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant. The world's slowest service, but some of the best food ever.

Gordan Ramsay's recommended Tapas restaurant. Two servings of creme brulee, please. While on girlcation it is a rule not to care about your wasteline (or what it may become after you go home, for that matter).

Pub fish and chips doused in vinegar. The true London experience.

4. Visit all of the landmarks, even if Obama disrupts your flow.

Why is it when I see these guys I just want to say, 'Bob's your uncle!' His name is probably not Bob, nor is he my uncle, and yet, I just said it in my head for the 50th time.

5. Experience the history, but pay extra for modern comforts.

Shakespeare's Globe Theater.

Authenticity is great and all, but not if it means I have to stand during the entire All's Well That Ends Well. Those poor common folk near the stage were chastised every time they crouched down. We splurged and had cushions for our hineys. I don't regret it one bit. My boney butt thanked me for the rest of the day.

6. Visit as many museums as your attention span can handle, and be thankful children are not dictating your schedule.

Tate Britain and National Museum.

I ogled at the impressionist exhibit trying to soak in all the details so I could return and report to my Van Gogh-loving husband. The paint was thinner than I had expected and the paintings were less detailed. I had to take photos, illegally of course.

7. Experience the weather and love, love, love the chill and wetness. My genetic memory was in play and those black clouds were as familiar to my heart as maple syrup and back bacon.

8. Check out the British cuteness, and then realize you are officially a cougar.

Buying macaroons not just because they are delicious.

9. Engage in all the cheesy and touristy crap you can find.

Apparently, the closest urinal for miles. Oh, the things we will do for a good photo.

10. Most importantly, laugh and enjoy all of the girly goodness you can!

Never have I laughed harder. Who needs a workout when you have some of the funnest and funniest women around. They are not only beautiful, they are also smart, engaging, and exceptionally fun. Love.

Farran reminding us to take time to smell the roses, and keep our eyes open while doing it.

10 Reasons to Go on a Girlcation

(R to L) Megan-spunky and fun mother of two adorable twins, Amber- Texan beauty queen and mother of 3, me, and Afton-culinary master and mother of 3

I can't tell you how great my girl excursion was for the soul. The atmosphere was grand and the resort was luxurious, but the best part didn't have anything to do with location. It had everything to do with girl power. Every woman must take in a girl vacation. My friend described the deliciousness of the trip here. I second everything and add my simplified 10 reasons why you should plan a girlcation today:

1. You can get to know women aside from where they buy their kids' clothing or shop for diapers.

2. You can go to sleep at 3am and wake up at 11am.

3. You can shop until your legs collapse, and never hear a word of complaint.

4. You can share make up tips and borrow clothing from each other. The result maybe a little hoochie, but extremely fun nonetheless.

5. You can talk about seex, and share in your confusion why men love their anatomy so.

6. You can do a yoga session and do the goddess pose and really mean it.

Strong like the trees

7. You can explore waterfalls together and swim with the fishes. PLUS, you can make fun of all the Europeans in thongs and Speedos.

8. You can eat 3 times the number of calories than normal because everyone knows if the food came from someone else's plate, it is calorie free.

9. You can share a glitter filled tub together and talk about Hollywood gossip and pretend you know everything.

10. You can talk about the pains of motherhood, but also know deep down inside we all can't wait to wrap our arms around our little boogers again.

Shopping in Beijing

Since everything comes from China, I knew we were going to devote a lot of time to shopping. It is a girlcation after all. I brought one overnight carry on and one HUGE empty suitcase. Amber did the same and we were so ready to spend a few bucks. We went to the Pearl Market, Silk Market and the 'dirt market' over a span of 3 days. It was so good to know that our husbands and children could have never endured this kind of shopping torture. It was a true girlcation.

The Chinese take haggling to a whole new level. They start at least 10 times the real price. If I was with Axel, he would have said, 'You offend me by starting so high' and he would move on to the next guy. But in China, it is all part of the game.

Once the price is given, you cut the price by 1/10th and move up from there. Sometimes they are immediately offended that you start too low and they grab their calculators and scoff at you as you walk away. They are mad that you are privy to their game. So many dumb American tourists see the price and pass the cash. Not this girl.

The other trick I came to learn while in China is that if the price is fairly reasonable to you and you are not 100% sure that you will see the item again, you should buy it. A number of times I said, 'I will come back.' When I did, the price we negotiated went back up to the original price and they would not budge knowing I obviously really wanted that one thing. I passed up two items that I deeply regret not buying.

The Chinese use all the typical tactics but some of them are highly exaggerated:

1. They will grab you, call you friend and tell you you are the most beautiful person they have ever seen.

2. They will make faces to show that you are offending them as a human being for trying to negotiate so low.

3. They will tell you about the high quality of the fake knock off they are selling. This one always made me laugh because they would say, 'Good quality, made in China'. To me, that is an oxymoron. I had one lady tell me that sometimes the fake one is made better than the original. Surely.

4. When you will not budge from your price, they will yell at you, call you stupid and ugly as you walk away. OR, they will put on an angry face, show you that you are slitting their throats (by hand gestures) and take the money while putting the item in the bag. OR they will barely be able to contain their excitement for selling their item for 5 times the real price.

Sadly, I fell into every one of these categories during our shopping excursions. It was tricky business, but I think if I go back, I will be all the wiser.

One of my favorite purchases was a collection of calligraphy brushes.

My favorite places were the toy shops. It was so interesting to see all the items that are Made in China. Everything was about 1/3rd of what you would pay in the states and about 1/6th of what you would pay in the Middle East.

Amber found her treasure--wigs. A brown and blond wig is just what a redheaded actress needs!

Amber spent a lot of time at the Pearl Market looking at pearls. I wasn't that into the whole pearl thing until I saw how beautiful they looked on. Amber bargained hard and bought quite the collection. After she did all the hard work, I bought some from her. As payment I lugged an extra 5 pounds of her stuff in my carry on. It was totally worth it. I look dazzling in my pearls!

A very small sample of what we bought while we were in China. Our luggage was close to double the weight allowed on Qatar Airways. We didn’t have to pay extra. It helps to flirt and smile a little.

It is necessary for one to go to China with nothing and come back with unexpected treasures. My only regret is not buying more--of everything. Be prepared to invest a lot of time in being the seller’s friend or enemy. There is no in between. In China, bargaining is a passionate game.

Bahrain Booty

Even though Bahrain is right next door, there is something extra fun about being in a hotel, with my husband ALONE. He was sick most of the time, but it was great to visit for dinner and send him off with a kiss in the morning. I did very little on this trip. The hotel had an excellent gym so I worked out for two hours and then came back to the hotel to create more photobooks--my idea of a perfect day.

A typical taxi in Bahrain

It was especially exciting to see local Bahraini people really working. I mean real jobs. Like driving a taxi. After living in the UAE and Qatar, you expect that if a man is wearing a dishdasha he is only required to shop or work in government. It was good for the soul to see that there is less of a divide between 'us' and the local people.

Since we were still in the Gulf we did what all people are required to do-shop. The rank of your country is dependent on the size of your mall. If this is indeed true, Bahrain is better than Qatar. The BCC has everything you need, including an indoor swim park.
One thing that Axel is very thankful for is he has a great staff. Managing 4 countries isn't easy for him because he can't be present all the time. That is why he is grateful for staff members who he can count on. It was a pleasure to have lunch with two of his staff members. It was nice to put faces to the names. One afternoon I met one of Axel's staff and his family. His wife said she reads my blog (hi Bindiya!) and was inspired by my girlcation. If I can encourage more women to go on a girlcation every once and a while, this is all not in vain.

Truly, the highlight of the trip was carpet shopping. A couple of evenings Axel and I wandered 'carpet row' (or so I have nicknamed it) and played the haggling game. We didn't intend on really making a purchase, but we ended up flying home with 4 beautiful treasures.

The most impressive purchase we made was from this man. Axel and I felt like we played the game perfectly. We wanted to look at his 'small silks' because that is the next level for us. (Yes, there is a carpet hierarchy.) Collectively, he had some of the most beautiful carpets we had ever seen. Furthermore, when he threw out his highest quality Qum, Axel and I both looked at each other and immediately knew, 'That IS our carpet'. We both maintained our composure and said that we were hungry and we would return.

At that moment, we ran around the corner, grabbed an ice cream for dinner and began expressing our undying love for that carpet. We discussed our next strategy and walked back in the store knowing we wouldn't leave without buying it. In addition to the Qum (the Holy Grail of Persian carpets), I was very interested in getting a kilm runner (a less expensive rustic Afghani rug). This is how it was played when we returned:

Axel (in Arabic): I LOVE that Qum, but my wife isn't convinced. She doesn't know, but I really, really want that Qum carpet. She thinks it is too expensive. She is more interested in getting a kilm runner. I must have that Qum, but I don't think she will go for that price. Can you work with me on this?

Dealer: (in Arabic): Your wife doesn't know Arabic? She just wants a kilm? I don't know if I can move much further down the price, it is one of the best Qums I own.

Me: I really want a kilm runner, can you show me one?

The boys throw various kilms. One stuns me. It is, yet again, the highest quality (meaning the highest price). I pretend I am not that interested in any of them. I hum...I ahhh.. while Axel converses.

Axel (in Arabic): You have to come down in price. If you give me something reasonable, I can work with my wife on this. It is almost my birthday and I think I can convince her if you go lower than that.

Dealer (in Arabic): Okay, I can give you the kilm and the Qum for *blank*.

Axel (in Arabic): I will talk to her. (In English) Terah, we need to talk.

As we talk I give all the signs that I am distraught, saying statements like, "We can't afford that!"; "That is the price of a small car!"; "That is a trip to Malta and Cypress"; "I would only be convinced if it was *blank*. Otherwise, give it a month, maybe you will come back. I don't even really like it."

Axel (in Arabic): You've got to help me. My wife said she will only do it if we get both the kilm and the Qum for *blank*. If you do it, I can buy the carpet right now. If not, I won't be able to come back until next month. By then, she will change her mind completely and not let me buy any carpet. PLEASE give it to me for *blank *. Please?

At that point, reluctantly, he agrees. The purchase is made and he drives us back to our hotel. The entire time I feel like I deserve an Academy Award for my performance. I wanted that carpet sooooo badly I could die. It was hard to show distain and play the opposing force, but if it saved us almost a thousand bucks, totally worth it.

Here are our prizes. The blue one is the coveted Qum. You can't see its glory quite yet. It deserves a blog all on its own. It is our 5th child. The rest are to be pooped and peed on, but the Qum will line my casket. I swear.