One year ago today, I was all in tears. My heart breaks with even just the thought of not being able to celebrate Christmas with my family for the first time (read more about it here :p). But I promised to be home.

And now, a year after, I am more than happy to be finally home! I am overjoyed that I'm spending the holidays with my family. Yay!

I am so glad to be home! I must admit though that it would have been perfect if Mark is also here with me. Hmmm...who knows? Maybe we'll be back in Christmas 2016?! InshaAllah! :D

Merry Christmas everyone!!! :)

      sweetnothings.kriskamarie
       @kriskamarie   @kriskamarie

These are all the things you need to know about renting a room in Dubai. Remember it’s always important to vigorously research this topic, this way when you get there you won’t be surprised or shocked about anything because you will be well informed.

Become Aware of the Laws
When looking for a room for rent in Dubai, get to know their renting laws. This can really help you out if a landlord ever tried forcing you to pay an amount that you never agreed upon in your fifth month of being there.

Real Estate Regulatory Agency
Any brokers or agents that you rent with must be registered in this agency if they aren’t they could end up ripping you off by thousands and sometimes millions of dollars.

Contract
When looking for apartments for rent in Dubai, make sure you are registered with Ejari because this protects your rights and gives you a real legalized tenancy contract. So if any problems were to ever happen this will be a solid document that will help you.

Deposits
Security deposits must be written in your Ejari and blue tenancy contract by the brokers. This amount is usually refundable once you have left the property.

Overcrowding
Large families cannot stay in flats or villas in Dubai because overcrowding is prohibited.

Brokers
Look for great deals by different brokers and choose which one is best for you, don’t settle for the first one that you find.

Get Insurance
Make sure you get either home or contents insurance because if a fire or a flood were to ever happen a tenant is not always responsible for reimbursing you unless stated otherwise in your contract with them.

Sign Up Online
Easily register your apartment with Dubai’s Land Department and Ejari online by registering your tenancy contract through the online system provided by Ejari. Simply complete eight steps of registering your apartment and you’re good to go, just make sure you made your online payment and that you have hard copies of everything when needed.

Utility Services
After you have paid for your apartment you can easily get internet, water and electricity. For water and electricity, you can easily apply online on the Dubai Electricity and Water Authorities (DEWA) website.

Know Your Rights
A lot of times when landlords demand an increase on rent from their tenants, the tenants end up just leaving. However, if your landlord has not given you a 90-day advance notice on the risen cost then they are not entitled to one.

* This is a sponsored post.

Had some last minute errands with Mark a couple of weekends back before I flew to the Philippines. Our search for my baby sister's purple bathrobe (which she specifically requested for her wedding shoot) led us to Ansar Gallery in Al Karama. We didn't find anything and since it's already past lunch time, we just decided to have our lunch there.

Pampangeño is what a native of Pampanga (a province in the Philippines) is called, Pampangeños being the collective term. Being the Food Capital of the Philippines, Pampanga also offers delectable dishes which I have come to love (next of course to Ilocano specialties :D). And because Mark and I were both craving for some Filipino food, we were sold when we saw Pampangeños.

Complimentary Soup

Filipinos enjoy family feasts, and that is what is evident in Pampangeños. It was already past lunch time but families still dot each of the tables when we arrived, good thing we were still able to score a table for two.

We were served with a complimentary egg drop soup. It was served hot which perked our tummies up. I was already eyeing for the Sizzling Beef Sisig when Mark blurted out the same when I asked him what he wanted, so I had to change my order. :p I was choosing between the grilled seafood platter and grilled chicken and thought that the first would be too much so I settled for the latter.

Grilled Lemon Grass Chicken with Unlimited Rice - AED 22.00

Served with vinegar and soy sauce, lemon, atchara, and unlimited rice, this dish would have been perfect if the chicken meat didn't lose its juiciness. The chicken was overcooked making a bit tough to chew. The rice on the other hand was on the soggy side which I didn't like.

We knew that Mark's order was coming when the sumptuous aroma of the Sizzling Beef Sisig filled the air. Sizzling hot and with vibrant colors from the fresh chilies, onions, and egg, this dish is such an eye candy. And we were glad that it tasted just as much as how good it looked. The generous serving of beef chunks were accompanied by crushed cracklings which added texture to the dish. Mark also approved of this dish that he had another serving of rice. :D

Sizzling Beef Sisig - AED 23.00

There's no doubt that the dishes were good. But one letdown, and definitely a defining factor whether a restaurant will be visited back again or not (well at least for me), is the slow serving time and the unremarkable customer service.

We felt the Filipino hospitality when the staff greeted us with a smile as she ushered us to our seats, yes, but it all ended there. It took a long while before one of the staff finally stopped and heeded our request for the menu. Then another period of waiting game began just before a different staff took our orders. Waiting for the dishes to be served took even longer.

If not for the Sizzling Beef Sisig, which Mark claimed to be the best tasting beef sisig that we've had, I'd definitely not recommend going back to this restaurant especially if you're not patient enough to wait.

PAMPANGEÑOS
Ground Level, Ansar Gallery
Al Karama, Dubai
United Arab Emirates
+971 (0)4 3961446
Nearest Metro Station: Burjuman (Red Line)

      sweetnothings.kriskamarie
       @kriskamarie   @kriskamarie

*** THIS POST IS FROM DECEMBER 2015 ***

*** THIS IS NO LONGER FOR SALE***

Only a couple more weeks before Christmas! Yay! Have you completed your Christmas shopping yet? How about for your Noche Buena, have you already thought of what to have?

It's undeniable that hams are the star of Noche Buena especially in Filipino households. And when it comes to ham quality, is there any better than a premium cut whole-meat ham? This is what Holiday Ham is all about.

Photo from: https://www.facebook.com/HolidayHam

Aside from being the star of the holiday feasts, Holiday Ham also makes a perfect Christmas present. So why choose Holiday? Well, there are only three reasons:

The lazy bug bit me (and I must say it bit me really hard haha!) that I wasn't able to cook, so Mark and I decided to dine out for dinner one weekend night. :p We were supposed to have dinner at Ravi Restaurant, but it was packed, so we checked out the nearby restaurants in Al Karama.

Pipian