We created photobooth photo strips for us all – one of each of us, and one of the girls together, one of me and T together and one of all of us and then I put them together into a photo collage!

The girls really didn’t quite understand the concept of a photo booth!! We just don’t have them here – if you want your passport pics doing in Abu Dhai you go to a photo studio!! I let each of us have only 6 photos (I know it’s usually only 4 but I had to give the kids a chance!!) the only stipulation being 1 had to be a nice one, and the others could be as goofy and funny as they liked! We then downloaded them and chose 4 for each strip and put them together in photoshop – we used these photostrip overlays (they work in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements) and put them all together. If you don’t have photoshop you could easily do it as a collage project, making a photostrip frame from black card and sticking the individual photos in. (Edited to add: the day after I published this post I spotted this photobooth website on Pinterest - another great alternative to making collages if you don’t have Photoshop!)

Here’s the final version…..

I printed the page up as a 12 x 16 and popped it into a nice simple Ikea frame – and hung it on one of our photo walls – voila! It makes me smile every time I walk by it

Have fun… Kirsty xx

PS For some more fun photo projects see my Instax Heart Project and the Christmas Glitter fun we had

Seriously, this boy has attitude! 

The makings of a rockstar. 

Thank you so much Luke and your lovely Mum for making my morning so much fun – I loved hanging out with you.  Kirsty xx

Yesterday, for Chinese New Years eve the girls got to dress up in their special qipao’s and perform at a CNY dinner – I had such a proud Mummy moment as they bravely stood in front of 200 strangers and sang away in their second language and received the hugest cheer

I thought in celebration of Chinese New Year it’d be fun to share some pictures from when the girls and I spent a month in Shanghai last summer…..

Now I should enter a disclaimer that I do think I must be ever so slightly crazy to mix 2 kids, lots of glitter and 3 expensive DSLR cameras, so use your own judgement on this…..

First of all, take a sheet of card, sprinkle thinly, but across a wide area with glitter, sequins, sparkly shapes etc, etc…. let the kids choose their own – we did one each and then lined them up so we could take pictures of each others

For some simple and pretty bokeh fun and patterns just meter the camera yourself, or put on A mode with the lowest aperture your camera will go to – set it to the middle focus point and hand over for the kids to experiment…

The kids did really well – they loved playing, then using a paintbrush to rearrange their sparkles and taking again….

For some extra fun follow this tutorial on how to get shaped bokeh – we made a lens cover with a heart shape cut out and played some more – super extra pretty…..

They may not be the best most sparkly bokeh pictures ever but I think they’d look great printed for Christmas cards or gift tags – and the girls were so happy with their sparkly pictures.

Have fun…… Kirsty xx

Big brother used to be on my site from when he was teeny – but look at him all grown up and handsome…

but little brother had never sat in front of my camera before

they rocked it!

it blows me away when I get so many adorable shots in just 20 minutes!!!!!!! Kirsty x

If you’ve followed this blog you’ll have seen something of the UAE and the celebrations of National Day before here and here.

This week has been filled with parties, fly pasts, concerts, singing, dancing, competitions, fireworks and the whole city has taken on an air of celebration.

If you’re on my Facebook page you’ll have seen my girls all dressed up for their school party and getting into the fun of the celebrations.

For us it’s more than a 1 day party – this is the country where one of my children was born and she’s incredibly proud of it – and just as we celebrate Chinese New Year for Saffy who was born in China, we are thrilled to be part of the celebrations for National Day here in the UAE for Indy.

She may not be Emirati, but UAE will always be part of her identity. 

The girls indulged me a little photo shoot for 5 minutes after school while they were still dressed up in their kandora’s and with some of the gifts they’d been given by their Emirati class mates.

These are just outside our flat – we live slap bang in the middle of the most congested area of town – it’s not the prettiest part but we love it here

So, to all my fabulous friends – Happy National Day – hope you’re getting into the spirit of the celebrations (yes, we even have flags on our car!) and enjoying the long weekend… until next time, Kirsty x

My kids actually wear uniform to school but in the interests of creativity I decided to ask them what they’d wear if they had their own choice!!

I totally, wholeheartedly approve of their choices – they seem somewhat Kate Middleton inspired, a mix of high street and designer – a bit of GAP, Mothercare, Monsoon and Next with a bit of Stella McCartney and Polo thrown in!!

I’d have loved to have done these outside but man, it’s still so hot here in Abu Dhabi…. so we had to make do with our living room and our Ikea table and stools and chalkboard!! But I am so not complaining!

Saffy LOVES her school and I’m so thrilled about that – I’m hoping this rubs off on her feisty little sister!!

It’s a big year for Saffy too because she enters Year 1 – in the big school, where they get to play in the big playground and do “proper” lessons – not sure what she’s been doing the last 2 years if not proper lessons

If you see me in the supermarket these few days and I’m looking a little down it’s cos I’ve lost my trusty sidekick , my fellow Starbucks girl, my trip to the park playmate, my arts and crafts advisor and my all day long hand holder…. and she’s growing up far. too. fast….

If you’ve had little ones head off to school for the first time and celebrated with pictures come back and share a link with me – or if your big ones have headed back for a new term – I’d love to see how you all captured it.

Happy back to school week, Kirsty xxx

This was just us, down at the beach one afternoon, just the girls jumping in the waves, just me, playing some more with my new toy (my lensbaby!) and each time I play I fall more and more in love… my 2 little sunlit loves, Kirsty xx

PS Edited to add I was super excited that this session was featured on let the kids

We had a lot of fun – laughing and jumping and goofing around…

I know their wedding back in Canada will be awesome because this couple are so full of amazing energy

And so happy and lovely together…

Wendy had her makeup done by Lina - who must have done a really good job to make it look so great in that heat!!!

Thanks for so much fabulous fun – have a wonderful wedding day Wendy and Curt, lots of love, Kirsty xx

PS this was the shoot I mentioned on my Facebook page where we saw dolphins down by the Emirates Palace – go over and check out the photos - it was just so amazing to see – I’d never seen them in Abu Dhabi before

I gathered together 6 of the cutest kids in Abu Dhabi (OK, I’m so totally not biased given that 2 of them are mine!!!!) and we put together a party with cupcakes and cookies and streamers and flags and flowers and bunting and pinwheels, and most importantly of all, fabulous party clothes and hats and accessories to go with!Oh yes, they tasted as fabulous as they looked…..I know, slightly crazy having 6 kids in one shoot huh??? I only actually managed to ever get 5 in a shot!!! They were all so good though and fabulous for their individual shots too – I think cupcakes always help The incredibly sweet English Rose familyThe beautiful Noor was last seen on my blog when she was only a few days old…. isn’t she growing up to be the most gorgeous little lady? She had to be in the shoot as it was her Mummy who planted the idea in my head!!! And I blame her totally for my 3 month obsession with all things red, white and blue!!!!I was so lucky to work with some fabulous vendors for this shoot – wonderful people from across the globe who jumped on board when I shared my ideas with them – I know they’re going to be excited to see their hard work too!Saffy’s union jack dress came from the ever wonderful Lillipops

Indy’s crown skirt was specially designed by the oh-so-talented Jen at The Trendy Tot

Saffy’s top hat and Indy’s hairband were from the super amazing Tristian at GracyLu Originals - who joined in despite being 8 months pregnant! And did you see the amazing red, white and blue vintage brooch she put into it? How fabulous is that?

Tilly’s crown (which Indy also got her hands on) was from the super special Sweet Violet Jane and her skirt was made by her fabulous Mummy, who is also the genius behind English Rose here in the UAE – and who made the red white and blue bunting, cushions and pinboards – not to mention fashioning braces and ties for her boys too.

Archie’s very dapper hat was from Blueberry Hill - I had been so wanting an occasion and a fabulous little chap to use this on and it was perfect!

The crown and union jack cupcakes came from Tickls cakes - and yes, they tasted as good as they looked!!

The colour themed cupcake cases, sprinkles, straws and pinwheels came from a lovely Etsy seller who put them all together specially for me – big thank you to Kim at Sweet Treats Supplies.

I made the felt, button and ribbon bouquet myself (union jack ribbon sent by my lovely Auntie in England), the heart cookies were a morning project for Indy and myself and my Mum and the girls made the frosted cupcakes and the chocolate and sprinkle dipped marshmallows – I can’t tell you how divine these tasted!!!

I really could not have done this without the help of all these amazing people – plus the Grandparents of all the children in the shoot who came along to help on shoot day!Hopefully you’re now in the mood for a celebration – get out your red dresses, tie your hair up with blue ribbons, find yourself a white hat, grab some flags to wave at the TV, make some cupcakes (or even those white chocolate marshmallows with sprinkles!!!) and enjoy the party on Friday…. I know I’ll be glued to the TV for sure,

William and Kate, we wish you a lifetime of love and happiness.

Happy celebrating, love, Kirsty xx