Where The Mind Speaks Its Thoughts.

The Little NAPBAS Model

2012-01-02T11:07:00.001+08:00

Aydein loves the camera. Point the camera at him and he would grin, tilt his body and head whenever you say "Smile!"

And looking at the photos below, I think the camera loves him too! I mean really, is this really the once-a-baby I gave birth to?

That is why when my colleagues asked if Aydein could pose for their NAPBAS category video, I immediately said.. why not!

When it was time for the shooting, he was shy seeing all the many kakaks and abangs in the office at first, but warmed up quickly thanks to a packet of M&Ms and the friendly Community Relations sweethearts!

It didn't take long for him to get comfortable with the friendly Nuffies around, and in just a couple of minutes, we were able to get the shot we wanted! :)

Here's the video of my baby boy as the model for the NAPBAS Best Parenting Blog category. It's just a very short clip of him though, but he did so well in the video, I just can't help but to feel so proud of my baby boy! :D

P/s : All props and toys in the production of this video are his! :P

Considering of sending him to a talent agency? Definitely maybe :P

Nuffnang Christmas & New Year Dinner

2012-01-01T20:53:00.000+08:00

Shortly after the night of glitz and glamour, all of the Nuffies from 7 different countries were treated to a fancy dinner at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

I was actually really looking forward to this dinner more than ever because instead of just seeing their names in the emails, that night would finally be the night where I could finally meet and know the people behind the emails in person! Barely 4 years ago, the Nuffies looked like this ...

Today, our family has grown to include over 100 people spread out over 7 countries ; Singapore, Phillipines, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia and of course, Malaysia!

Notice that most of us were clad in red & green outfits? Okay la maybe this picture doesn't really justify that, but our HR had actually specifically set a theme for us to wear on that night, and the theme was : Green, Red or anything Glittery! :D The moment I saw Green & Glittery, I immediately thought of one outfit that would be perfect for this occasion -- nothing fancy, just my baju kurung moden! :P

Here are some of the pictures taken on that night!

Here's the picture of the people behind the Community Relations team! From left : Joel, Yours Truly, Anne, Farah and Luke!

And last but not least, the girls that I do almost everything with at the office! From left : Farah, Anne, Yours Truly and Sue! <3

The ANTM-Wannabe Pose

The Gediks Pose

The Group Hug. This is love. <3

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! :)

The GLAM Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2011

2011-12-24T22:54:00.001+08:00

If Oscars is THE event to honor the bests in the film industry and Grammy Awards to honor the bests in the music industry, we also have NAPBAS as THE event to honor the excellence and the bests in the blogosphere.

Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards, also known as NAPBAS is a prestigious, star studded event that all bloggers look forward to, and I am proud that I had the chance to be part of the event that was held at the JW Marriott, Putrajaya recently.

Since it was a black-tie event, guests were requested to wear formally ; ladies in dresses, men in suits. While the guests were not restricted to wear any color-coded attires, the Nuffies had special theme-color on that night, which was : black with a hint of gold.

I had trouble looking for a long dress with long sleeves without looking like a witch, so I was very happy when I found this breathtaking dress at Pavillion. It may have costed me a fortune, but it was all worth it. It was, after all, a star studded event, wasn't it? :)

As you can see, it was simple, and elegant. Just what I wanted. I had no time to look for a new shawl to match with the dress though (NAPBAS got all the Nuffies busy!), so I used the good old Maysaa snood, and style it up, my way.

I love how the gold brooch on the snood gives the classy look to it. My colleague even thought it was very high fashion! :P

Anyway, the night was ah-mazing. Words may not justify just how beautiful the night was, so I shall let the pictures do the talking! (Pictures credit to : NAPBAS flickr)

First of, look at how beautiful the grand ballroom was put together night!

Beautiful kannn! Every detail was accounted for, and it was absolutely gorgeous! :) Next, introducing the hosts of the night, Nadia Heng & Leang!

As well as the performers of the night, Viva Vertica, James Baum, Reshmonu, and the one and only, Harith Iskandar!

The guests were also served with fine-dining dishes and desserts while being entertained.. (Pictures credit to cikepal06.blogspot.com)

After the winners were announced and the night came to an end, the bloggers took the chance to take pictures with each other, and I too, did not miss to join in the fun! :P (From top to bottom, with Filla, Shila, Nisa, SueAnnaJoe and Wahidah!)

Us Nuffie girls also had our group photo taken with each other too!

It was indeed a glamorous, and memorable night to remember. Hats off to those who made this event a successful one. Can't wait to see what NAPBAS 2013 has in store for all of the bloggers! Long live Nuffnang! <3

Letter To My Secret Santa

2011-12-14T10:55:00.001+08:00

Dear Secret Santa,

Isn't it wonderful that Nuffnang has this super fun tradition of exchanging gifts among the Nuffies every year during this time? I dont know about you, but I think it's cool that they make each of us choose our Santee randomly and that we have to get gifts for our Santee secretly!

I have thought about that perfect gift to give to my Secret Santee, what about you? Have you, my Secret Santa, thought of that perfect gift you would get for me? *bats eyelashes* :) :) :)

I know getting that perfect gift for me could be a headache, but here's me being a sweetheart and listing down things I would love to have, *coughs coughs* just in case you need help getting that perfect gift for me! :D

It doesn't take a lot to make me happy really! Here are some of the things that I would LOVE to get this Christmas! :)

1) Makeup set

I love, love, love makeup! Among my favorite brands that are sold at wallet-friendly price are Topshop, Maybelline, The Body Shop, Silky Girl & Elianto. But if you're feeling generous and would like to spend more, you can also get some from Estee Lauder, Shizens, Bobbi Brown and Lancome! :D

2) ThePopLook Maxi Dress/Tops

I've been eyeing these for a while now. They are from ThePopLook and I would forever love you if you could get me 1 of these and match them up with some matching accessories to meet the budget! :D

3) Jewelries/Accessories Set

Just like any other girl, I love bangles, rings, bracelets, necklaces and everything pretty! Doll me up with all these and I'll be one happy camper.

4) Sushi Vouchers

Those who knew me would know that I absolutely love sushi. A LOT. So much so I could finish 10 sushi plates all by myself. Maybe even more! My favorite sushi place is Zanmai Sushi, so it would be great if you could get me vouchers from there! I am also a fan of Sakae Sushi so if you want, you can make my tummy happy and feed me sushis! :D

5) Pampering Vouchers For 2!

I am in dire need of a good, pampering session at a good manicure/padicure/spa centres! It would be lovely if you could get me vouchers for 2 though, at least I would have someone to talk to while getting pampered. :) :) I do not mind those from group buying websites even, just make sure it is near to Shah Alam/Subang area as I live in that area!

And.. that's about it! See I told you it's easy to make me happy! I mean, it's not like I am asking for an LV bag *coughs* or a Chanel *coughs coughs* or a Birkin *coughs coughs coughs* :P

I promise I've been good this year, Santa, and I look forward to see the surprise you have in store for me! :D

Love <3 ,

Thara

Princess for A Night

2011-12-04T19:15:00.001+08:00

I love playing dress up. Ever since I was a kid, I enjoyed strutting down the stage, wearing all sorts of outfits and costumes for kids fashion shows. I remember even winning one of the fashion shows dressed as a sexay hula girl!

That is why, there was no surprise why I was actually all for the costume-photoshoots during my Malam Berinai the night I got married. When everybody else was ready to crash and catch some breath, I was ever ready to ..

That is why when I heard Astro IPTV was going to throw an event and Nuffnangers were supposed to dress up according to their favorite Hollywood characters, I was excited! I wanted to be Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) in Legally Blonde initially but thought the better of it since I wear hijab and it just wouldn't go with the look. I mean, It's called legally blonde for a reason, right. :P

So I decided to go with Princess Leia from Star Wars instead since the character wears a cape and would look perfect on a hijabi like me! :D

Once I reached the place, I was blown away at how sporting the rest of the Nuffnangers and Nuffies are! Checkout some of the Malaywood stars of the night! (Picture credits to : Nuffnang.com.my, Tianchad.com and Submerryn.com)

That's me as Princess Leia with the beautiful Vivy as Nicole Richie

That's Merryn as Britney Spears

That's Fresh as the Catwoman

That's Sha and Ave, both as Captain America & Peggy Carter

That's Haze and KY, both as Amy Winehouse & Marilyn Manson

Of course, all that effort didn't go unrecognized since 2 best-dressed bloggers actually walked away with the Grand Prize of Sony Bravia's 32inch LCD TVs each!

Thanks Nuffnang and Astro IPTV for a fun-filled event like this! It was definitely a night the princess would remember forever!

Now, who's throwing another themed party soon? :D

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Superdad

2011-10-17T21:48:00.003+08:00

It's been 2 months now, and I am proud to announce that my family and I have survived these difficult 2 months without our bibik!

Ever since our bibik went back to her hometown for 2 months Raya break after serving us for 2 years, we had to manage this household on ourselves. We'd prepare meals for ourselves, wash dishes, do laundry, and look after the little one (the toughest chore!) all by ourselves! And mind you, we had to do all these while working as well!

Since Aien has the privilege of working from home, he would normally look after Aydein at daytime while working, and I'd normally take turns to help out at night, when I get back from work. However, when I fell sick recently, Aien was forced to do most of the household chores alone.

He would cook breakfast, lunch and dinner for us..

He would do the dishes for us..

He would wash the clothes for us..

He would hang the clothes for us..

He would clean and tidy the house..

He would bathe the little one..

He would brush the little one's teeth..

He would dress the little one..

He would feed the little one..

He would prepare the milk for the little one..

All these, while getting his work done as well! It was tough on him, but he did it anyways, without complain, without asking anything back in return..

Isn't he the best, superdad (husband) ever?! :) :) :)

The Agony of Stevens Johnson Syndrome

2011-10-09T18:37:00.001+08:00

For someone that has never gotten admitted for anything except for delivery, this year, somehow I have managed to set a record for myself for being admitted into the hospital for 3 times in less than 6 months!

It started somewhere in June this year, where I was admitted for ectopic pregnancy. And then, just after Raya in September, I had middle ear effusion, which required a surgery and a course of antibiotics. And just when I thought I am done with hospital, I was again tested with Stevens Johnsons Syndrome, a severe allergy reaction towards medication that required immediate medical attention.

It started one day, when I woke up with burnt feeling on the tip of my tongue. I ignored it and went to work anyways. At work, I tasted some of the chocs and chips that my colleagues brought back from London, and my throat actually burnt this time when I tasted one of the dark chocolates. I stopped taking them and drank lots of water instead.

At home, my eyes started feeling dry and they were bloodshot red after some time. I went to work with shades the next day anyway, thinking they were just strained and would get better after a while. They didn't, and I asked to be excused early to see a doctor.

I travelled to HUKM and went to see my sister doctor. After examining me, her diagnosis for me was severe viral infection as the symptoms then were not as obvious.

However, the next day, my condition got worse. My lips got swollen with a few blisters on it, and rashes started to appear on my body. I MMS-ed my sister my swolen lips picture, and just one look at it, she told me to get myself admitted immrdiately as it was confirmed to be Stevens Johnsons Syndrome, not viral infection as diagnosed earlier.

By then, I had multiple ulcers all over my throat, my tongue, my gum, and my lips. Basically, the ulcers were all over my mouth. Swallowing was painful, let alone talking and eating. More and more rashes started to come out all over my body, and my vision started to become a little blurry too due to this. It was really frightening!

Rashes that started at my palm, then spread to the rest of the part of my body

Did you know that Stevens Johnsons Syndrome is one of the deadliest sickness with high death rates? You can read more about it here. Lucky for me, mine was detected early and isn't as serious. I was given some steroids to supress more blisters from coming out and some oral anticeptic during this time. The worse thing is, I was told that it would take 1-2 weeks for me to fully recover! Can you imagine the depression I felt having to know that I would have to endure the agonizing pain for more than a week? :(

Some of the relatives that came to visit me at the hospital. Thanks for coming, guys! :)

As talking was impossible during this time, the only means of communication was just writing and sign languages. Bunyik yang keluar pon bunyik intonasi je, cakap dah macam orang bisu. Tapi nasib baiklah Aien paham most of what I tried to tell him! Seriously, I was really impressed!

When it comes to food intake, doctor said I do not have to be on drip if I can eat and drink well. As such, I forced myself to eat, no matter how painful it was, just so I could get better faster. Mealtime was no more fun, every mouthful is painful. And the worse part is, all that I could eat then was just porridge -- for every single meal! Of course, if you call it eating la, sebab I dont even taste the food. Main telan je semua. I was so sick of taking porridge everytime, that I actually burst into tears when I opened the bowl covers and saw porridge yet again!

Anyway, after 2 days of being admitted, the doctor was confident that I was able to look after myself at home and allowed me to go home. Before leaving the room, the doctor told me to be ready as my condition would get worse before it gets better for the next few days.

She was right. After a few days, more rashes started coming out all over my body, my blurry vision still not making much of a difference and my lips.. well, if I didn't know better, I'd think that this was some sort of uncurable weird desease! They went from swollen, to gory looking lips!

Brace yourself, as I am about to show you the Stevens Johnson Syndrome's healing process. It's going to look nasty as you scroll lower, so if you're the type that get disgusted easily, you might want to skip this part.

Now the picture that you see above, is the condition of my lips at the peak of its state. They turn black due to the blood + dead cells. As the healing process starts to kick in, new skins start to develop.. and here's how my lips looked like..

During this time, my bestfriend was Vaseline as I applied it a lot to keep my lips from sticking together as well as to keep them moisturized. Ice cream helped to ease the discomfort in the mouth too. It is also important for one to not pick on the scab, because when it peels, it bleeds, and the scab will form again.

Despite all this, my sister said I was lucky, because for some serious SJS cases, one could expect blisters and lesions like this to spread all over AND inside the body, which could ultimately lead to death! I cannot, CANNOT imagine if THAT were to happen to me! T_T For that, I would like to thank her, who was quick to detect my illness and for being there for me during that difficult time. You've always been there for me, sister, and I can't thank you enough! <3

Anyway, after about a week, the rashes at my body started to dissappear, and my vision started to go back to normal. My lips, however, took 2 full weeks to recover.

It seems that the culprit seemed to be the antibiotic I took after my ear surgery. I have never had any allergy reaction towards medication before and it is very unfortunate that I had to find out about this the hard way! Nevertheless, I learnt a lot from this episode and one of them being -- never go easy on ANY medicines. Always be cautious on what goes into your system, because really, it really isn't funny anymore when you cant talk or see!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Create Memories With Mum Getaway

2011-10-05T10:00:00.000+08:00

Being admitted into a hospital is never a pleasant experience, that I can tell you. Take it from me, someone who has been admitted to the hospital 3 times this year alone. The painful stitches, the terrifying blood, the bitter meds, the limited movement, the uncomfortable beds. I am telling you, I've had about enough! No more hospitals for me, please!

That is why when I heard there was a program on MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens, I was not hesitant to sign myself up for it! The one day workshop is organized and supported by Her World Magazine while the MMA (Malaysia Medical Association) HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens is supported by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals. It is aimed to educate both mothers and daughters on the risk of cervical cancer and how it can be prevented. Well, anything that can help educate myself and prevent my future daughters from getting admitted, I’m all up for it!

I was looking forward to that very day because I could feel it was going to be a fun and informative one after going through the itinerary. However, unfortunately for me, when the day finally came, I was not able to make it! Lucky for me, I had friends to help me capture the pics and provide me with briefs about the event, so let's find out exactly what this event was all about!

On the day of the event, 30 mommy bloggers together with their daughters were brought back to nature as the program was held at a serene place at Aman Rimba, Janda Baik. Just look at this place! I think it couldn't be any more perfect for a mommy-daughter event such as this!

The event started with a welcoming speech by the event organizer and then followed by the first activity of the day -- the treasure hunt!

I can imagine how fun the treasure hunt was just looking at this photos! Once everybody has settled down, the program continued to focus on the main highlight of the day -- the talk on MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens.

Did you know? Cervical cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths amongst women in Malaysia, after breast and colorectal cancers? It's truly worrying isn't it? Now let me tell you a little bit about this cancer and how we can avoid this from happening via early prevention.

Now, cervical cancer is a cancer that affects women of different ages and backgrounds across the world. It begins in the cervix – the part of the uterus (or womb) that opens to the vagina – and becomes gradually more invasive if left untreated. Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with an extremely common and contagious virus: the human papillomavirus (HPV).

There are over 100 identified types of HPV, most of which are harmless. There are 15 cancer-causing types which can lead to cervical cancer; some of the most common include HPV 16, 18, 45 and 31. Both younger and older women are at risk of cervical cancer due to new infection or re-infection by cancer-causing HPV.

Cancer-causing HPV types 16 and 18 together cause up to 70 per cent of all cervical cancers worldwide. A vaccine targeting HPV 16 and HPV 18 has therefore the potential to prevent up to 70 per cent of cervical cancers.

What is the MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens about?

The MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens is an initiative of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and supported by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical (GSK). The programme was developed to complement the MOH’s HPV NIP for 13 year old girls to protect them against the most common strains of cancer-causing HPV that are responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancer[i]. The programme seeks to augment the MOH’s efforts by providing an avenue for girls who do not fall into the HPV NIP’s cohort to arm themselves against cervical cancer through affordable vaccination.

Why is such a programme needed?

Because cervical cancer is detectable at an early stage and preventable through vaccination, the MMA believes that all teenage girls should be protected against this disease and given equitable access to vaccination.

What is the rationale for this programme?

The MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens aims to support the Government’s effort to protect women against cervical cancer which is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in Malaysia[ii]. The World Health Organization (WHO) also reported in 2007 that more than 700 Malaysian women die from cervical cancer every year.

How will this programme be implemented?

Under the MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens, teenage girls between 14 to 19 years of age will receive two of the three doses of vaccination at an access price. To encourage dosing compliance and to ensure optimal efficacy, the third dose will be provided free of charge.

How much is the cost of vaccination under this programme?

Teenage girls who qualify for the MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens will have to pay RM466 for two doses of vaccination, while the third dose will be provided free of charge. Payment will be made in two equal instalments of RM233 upon the administration of the first and second dose of the vaccine.

Who qualifies for this programme?

The MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens is open to girls aged 14 to 19 years old, before their 20th birthday. Registration and administration of the first dose of vaccine will need to take place between 1st March and 31st December 2011.

How to enroll in the programme?

Parent/guardian will need to sign the Vaccine Registration Form to enroll the daughter in to the MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens.

Where to sign up for this programme?

To date, more than 500 clinics have come on board the MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens to lend a hand in the fight against cervical cancer and partnerships with further clinics are being negotiated. To obtain a list of participating clinics closest to where you live, please dial 1800 22 8688.

How long will it take for one to finish the whole programme?

It takes six months to finish the whole programme, as the vaccine will be administered in three doses. The first dose will be administered at the clinic on a set date, followed by the second dose a month later and the final dose six months later.

Where can one find out more information on the programme?

You can log on to the programme Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MMAHPVVaccinationProgrammeforTeens to obtain more information. A hotline number (1800 22 8688) has also been set up to facilitate questions revolving around cervical cancer and the MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens where the public will be advised on these and other related topics by a qualified nurse.

And there you have it! All there is that you need to know about MMA HPV Vaccination Programme for Teens. Quite an insight, eh? :) After knowing this info, I can’t wait to educate my nieces and my (future) daughters about this myself!

After the talk, the bloggers were served with lunch. This was when the bloggers had the chance to get to know each other over a hearty meal.

Immediately after that, the ladies were taught techniques to a healthy, glowy skin exclusively by Origins. They even had the chance to try out these anti-aging products themselves!

That's not all! Once their skin is all moist and glowy, they were turned into chic, glamorous ladies thanks to the Victoria Jackson touch of makeup! Good stuff, I heard! :D Checkout the ladies trying out the products and looking all pretty!

All the makeover session was making the bloggers beautifully hungry again so just before the prize giving session, they were served with a little refreshment.

Then, the final agenda of the day – the prize giving ceremony for the treasure hunt winners! The proud winners walked away with hampers by Victoria Jackson on that day. How lucky of them!

And of course, what's an event without a group photo? :) Here's all of the bloggers with the daughters just before leaving the place.

It sure looked like a fun, informative day out for all the bloggers! I may not be there, but I am sure I speak for the rest of the bloggers how amazing the day was! Thanks Nuffnang, Her World and GSK for a productive day out such as this! I look forward to a next day out like this in the future!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

His Virgin Hair

2011-09-30T19:04:00.000+08:00

The thing about my little family is that, we are not blessed with luscious, thick hair like some of you do. My hair is thin, Aien's hair is thinner, and little one, Aydein's.. well, let's just say he got his hair from the both of us lah.

And unlike some newborns who are born with thick, luscious hair the moment they are brought to this world, Aydein was born with very fine hair that took forever to grow!

That is why, you can imagine how crushed I felt when we had to shave his head bald for his cukur jambul & aqiqah.

It killed to see my baby's hair being shaved off like that, but since it was sunnah, I let them anyway, and promised myself that no one was ever gonna touch his hair ever again after that day!

And believe it or not, Aydein never had his hair cut anymore after that day! It grew longer and longer that when he showers, his hair would fall down to his shoulders!

However, the thing about Aydein's hair is that.. it's curly. That is why, no matter how long it grows, it doesn't show, because they only end up in adorable curls and ringlets!

However, the thing about curls and ringlets is that, over time, it kinda make you look messy. Which is the case for my boy, especially the curls at the back of his head.

I get disturbed too, looking at the messy back of his hair sometimes, but I didn't want to cut them, worrying that it'll take forever for his hair to grow again!

I've had people telling us to shave his head off regularly in order for it to get thick, so one day, after 2 years ++ of not doing anything to his hair, we decided to... cut off his hair and get that adorably messy curls gone, at least for while.

I wanted to take Aydein to a professional barber, but just like he insisted to cut Aydein's umbilical cord and shaved his son's head bald during aqiqah, Aien insisted to cut his son's virgin hair himself.

I actually cringed at each snip Aien made (sayang ok bela rambut anak sampai 2 tahun lebeh!) but surprisingly, Aydein remained calmed and smiley the whole time! Good boy, Aydein! Macam gini lah anak mama :)

And after a few snips and snaps here and there, I am proud to introduce, the all neat and handsome boy.. Ahmad Aydein!

LAIN GILA KAN RUPA! <3

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A Little Too Not Over You

2011-08-14T04:01:00.007+08:00

(all pictures credit to mynameisjin.com & google.com)

Anyone who knew me well would know that I am a huge fan of David Archuleta since he auditioned for American Idol. I followed him since Day #1 and heck, even voted for him online -- something that I never do for any reality show! David has won many hearts with his powerful vocals and humble personality, it is not surprising how everyone could relate to him (and that includes my parents -- they're his fans too!)

That is why when news had it that he was gonna be performing in KL again, I was ecstatic! I missed the chance of going to his show when I was carrying Aydein in my tummy 2 years ago; I wasn't gonna miss it again!

On the day of the concert, I was already there at Stadium Negara as early as 6.45pm eventhough I know the show wasn't gonna start until 8pm. As soon as the doors to the concert opened, I pulled my husband's hand and rushed to get a seat as close as I can get to the stage. The show started at about 8.45pm with an opening by our local singer, Hao Ren.

Shortly after, the strong crowd of at least 2,500 roared and cheered as the lights dimmed to start the show and out came Archie! (The hairs at my arms stood up as I typed this hahaha! Guess I haven't really recovered from the post-Archie-effect) :P

He started the show with his new hit, The Other Side of Down and belted out a few songs from his new album Everything and More, Elevator, Something Bout Love, Falling Stars, and some of the hits from his previous album, Crush, A Little Too Not Over You, Touch My Hand, and Zero Gravity to name a few.

In between he also did covers from Gnarles Barkley (Crazy), Vanessa Carlton (1000 Miles) and one of the best songs of all time, Heaven by Bryan Adam. I only have one word for it -- phenomenal. Did you know his cover for Heaven actually made him through the Hollywood week back on American Idol? :) :)

Sorry for the video quality; recorded it using the iPhone. Oh did I also mention that he can also play the piano extremely well too? Checkout this video, his cover for 1000 Miles by Vanessa Carlton, dedicated to his mom. Sighs, such a sweetheart isn't :) :) :)

He's truly a gift, isn't he? :) With powerful vocals and adorable looks such as that, you can imagine how wild the crowd went on that night! I gotta admit, I couldn't help singing and *ahems* shrieking along with the crowd as well! :P

The best part of all is, we even got seat upgrade to the center of the stage to fill up a few empty seats! Man, it was the best! :D Truthfully, David never ceases to amaze me and I hope he continues to amaze us with his amazing, ah-mazing talent for the many years to come! <3

Ps : I am no longer a concert virgin! :P

iPhone Drama

2011-06-30T09:36:00.002+08:00

There are 2 things in the world I can't live home without -- my purse and phone. Sometimes I even leave home with just my phone and I'd be fine. That pretty much shows how very important my phone is to me. So when my iPhone dropped and got stuck in the sewage, I was flabbergasted!

See I followed my colleagues out in a car to go to somewhere, and as I recall, I placed my phone on my lap. Once we reached my office building, being the clumsy me, I actually got up, totally forgetting about the phone and stepped out of the car, oblivious to my surrounding. Once we reached our office, the next thing I knew, my phone was gone.

I searched everywhere -- in my handbag, under the seat, in the dustbin, behind my laptop -- but I couldn't find it! Suspecting it might have dropped when I got down the car, I went down to search for it, but couldn't find it on the street. So I went up back to my office, and started panicking.

All the while some of my colleagues (Rina, Angie, JoAnn and Anne) were calling my number non-stop just to make sure it has not be stolen. They reassured me that my phone is still ringing, out there somewhere, and that I should keep on searching.

So I did. I went down back again, and asked my colleague to dial my number again. And then, I heard it! I heard this very faint familiar sound coming from.. under the pavement. I neared the sound, squatted down, and there it was! My iPhone under the seawage! It was so near yet so far! I could see it with my eyes, but my hand is not long enough to reach it!

And that's when it happened. Before that, let me stress on one thing. Malaysians really are a bunch of good people. We might be the biggest kepochi in the world, but definitely good at heart. Everybody there tried to help me out. Some, of course just stood there to watch.

At one point, there was so many people crowding the place, it felt like I was selling some minyak mujarab in Chow Kit Road or something. One by one tried to help me out. The more that tried to help me out, the deeper the phone went, until the phone was out of sight, and all I could see is pitch black!

I got even more frantic and even called the Bomba (fire brigade) to help me out! Like, seriously! They refused to help me at first, saying that they only help in cases that involve life and death. And at that point, my motherly instinct kicked in and I knew I had to do, say anything, to save my "baby"! I said, "Encik, this IS my life! If you could just send someone to help me over here, I would be eternally grateful to you. I'd even buy you and your guys lunch, I promise!"

See, I was desperate not just because that's a bloody iPhone that I cling on to every night and day in there. My life truly depended on it because all the important data, emails, and everything is in there! I'd be damned if someone got their hands on my phone!

I guess I must have babbled too much that the guy on the phone just cut me off and said, "Puan, kalau puan tak berenti bercakap ni, macam mana saya nak hantar orang saya tolong Puan?" AND I WAS OVER THE TOP! Hahaha. :P

The bomba actually came, but they didn't manage to do anything, because the next thing I knew, there was this Indonesian pakcik who actually went all out to help me, to the extend of opening the sewage concrete cover and going down into the drain to help rescue my phone!

After a few minutes, he came out of the drainage, all smiley and proud -- with my iPhone in his hand! He was the hero of the day! :D

See, that's one of the perks of having kepochis around you! They might just save your life! :D

Ps : I still can't believe I actually called the Bomba. Damn I'm such a drama queen!

Little Romeo

2011-06-27T10:51:00.003+08:00

Have you ever caught yourself saying "awwww" and smiling to yourself when you stumbled across pictures like these?

So adorable kan! I am not sure about you, but I definitely enjoy looking at adorable baby photos and then imagining how my son's first monkey love would be like one day. :P Misti comels! :D

And then one day, as though hearing my thoughts, he decided to surprise me with something I'd never thought a boy his age is capable of doing -- flirting!

It was like looking at one of those adorable baby photos again, only this time, it's MY son as the main model! :P Uh, but just so we're clear son, I know I said it's cute imagining your monkey puppy kitty love and everything, but adorable or not, no girls allowed until you're at least.. uh, 18 okay? Good boy.

Oh, and before I go, here's a peek on how my cheeky son Aydein hit on a mat-salleh girl named Yaya. :P Watch out mamas, coz you have no idea what toddlers nowadays can do! :P

Fashion Story

2011-06-24T14:06:00.007+08:00

I've never really been a big fan of games. When everybody else was going crazy over FarmVille, Mafia Wars, and Texas HoldEm Poker, I was going crazy declining ALL the annoying invites to play the games!

Heck, believe it or not, I haven't even completed all the Angry Bird levels on my iPhone yet, let alone Cut the Rope! BUT that all changed when I started playing Fashion Story.

Fashion Story allows you to manage and decorate your boutique as how you imagine it to be. I have always dreamt to have my own fashion boutique. But since brick and mortar store is way too expensive for me to afford right now, running a "virtual" one pon jadi lah..

Playing this game is easy. When you start playing the game, you will be given a certain amount of cash in "gold coints" as well as "gems" to help you "kick off" your business. Then, you will need to order the items you want to sell in your boutique from the "Catalogue". You will see duration of hours under every item. That represents the length of time that you will need to wait before the item could "reach" your shop in order for you to sell it.

Ada item yang kena tunggu 1 atau 2 hari sebelum ready, and ada item yang ready dalam seminit pon ada! So once your items are ready for collection, simply tap on it, and place it at the rack or the counter at your store! Make sense so far? Don't worry, they do have a Help section that will help you get started, so make sure you go through it before kicking off your business alright! Err, if you plan to play this, that is. :P

Like most games, this game also plays by levels. In order to get to a new level, you will need to collect as many stars as you can. Once the yellow bar of stars is full, you'll be promoted to a new level! The best thing is, each time you reach a certain level, you'll get to order a new outfit! :D

And if you make enough profit to your shop, you get to expand it to a bigger one and renovate it to suit your own style! See when I started, my shop was a sad looking shop, with little items in it..

Now, my boutique is doing pretty well, it is big enough to have a lounge area, with 2 cute giraffe cushions at it!

I am telling you, this thing is so addictive, even my husband is hooked on it! :P

The only downside to it is that it is an online game and it requires Internet access. So if you are not subscribed to an Internet plan or suddenly happen to be at a rural area where the coverage is really really bad, then you won't be able to play this game :(

Also, in order to make your shop look pleasing like *ehems* mine :P, you might also need to spend a few bucks just to buy em "gems". Like, real bucks. See, there are some items that you can only get/buy using "gems".

So, if you do not have enough "gems", you will need to buy it. I guess this is how the TeamLava makes money out of this game. And fanatics like me, would actually BUY them gems, just to make our shops look.. well, pretty. :P Believe it or not, I actually spent a good RM40 to buy them gems!

It's so crazy because I never thought I'd spend a cent for any game! T_T Just so you know though, I am not the only crazy ones here as PinkStilletos and Mommaholicseries too, have their own virtual boutique! :D This game is available on iTunes, so download it now to find out what the buzz is all about! :D

Our World, Their War

2011-06-12T14:20:00.014+08:00

Being a girly girl since before, my favorite movie genre had always been Romance. Try asking me to list down 10 of my favorite romance movies of all times, and I can give you the list in less than 5 seconds. But try asking me to list down at least 5 of my favorite action movies of all times, and I might just give you a blank stare. :P

That is why, when my husband took me out to see Transformers in 2007 when we were dating last time, I was rather skeptical. I gave it a shot anyway, and actually found myself looking forward to the sequel of it by the time the movie ended! I liked it -- I liked it a lot. :D Needless to say, when Transformers 2 was released in 2009, I was one of the firsts to line up at the box office counter! :D

As such, naturally I wish to be one of the firsts to catch the Autobots and Decepticons in action this time around too! Particularly because I am a big fan of the sunny yellow bot, the none other than the mighty Bumblebee!

As such if given a chance to transform into any of the Autobots, I would definitely choose to be a Bumblebee and help the rest of the Autobots team to save the world from the evil Decepticons by first duplicating myself into multiple mini-Bumblebees, using the magical Ultimate Movie Card.

And since "Bumblebee" is technically a "bee", I will then make sure that these version of mini-Bumblebees are equipped with explosive "sting" that will automatically and literally blow their opponents up the moment they "sting" their opponents. These super fast and super small mini-Bumblebees will then fly in swarm and attack the Megatron and the rest of the Decepticons with their sting which will result in HUGE explosion! And just like that, the victory is on our side! :D

Now let's say it together! Bumblebee and Autobots for the win! :D

The Day I Lost My Baby from Ectopic Pregnancy

2011-06-11T11:11:00.004+08:00

I had my weekend all planned out last week. I was supposed to go to Johor to send my baju for tailoring, and attend the Nuffnang Trudy & Teddy Tea Party event to meet all the mommy bloggers right after I get back from Johor. Little did I know that God had other plans for me.

Last Friday started off like any normal days. I went to work, did my work like usual, even had quite a ball at the office as we celebrated our boss's advanced birthday at the office. Nothing was amiss.

But then just before I left the office, I felt the need to answer nature's call and that's when I noticed a little spotting. Since my Aunt Flow did not come and visit me the month before, I assumed she was just late and finally came to visit me that month. Oh hello there, I thought happily. Datang jugak kamu ye.

However, as soon as I reached home, the pain that I thought was just menstrual pain slowly kicked in. Mula-mula, it felt like normal menstrual cramps. Tapi, lama-lama makin sakit. Lagi tahan, lagi sakit.

When the pain got severe, I started popping the pain killers, still thinking it was a bad case of menstrual pain. At this point, I actually thought to myself, "oh macam gini la kot rasanya bila some of my friends cakap segugut diorang segugut yang amat dahsyat".

But when the pain killers didn't work and the pain started to become unbearable, I started crying. No kidding, I started sobbing like a little girl! I needed a stronger pain killer and asked my husband to take me to the nearest clinic.

When we reached the clinic, the lady doctor told us that she could not just simply give me a jab to ease my pain. She had to rule out all the possible threats that were causing me the pain. She mentioned that the pain could be due to UTI (Urinary Tract Infection), muscle pain or threatened abortion (miscarriage).

I told the doctor, it was impossible for me to be pregnant because I just did the pregnancy test about 2 weeks before and it came out negative. The doctor insisted for a second test just to double confirm and the next thing I knew, the result stood right in front of me.

I was pregnant... and speechless. I can't actually describe how I felt then, but I am sure it was a mixture of confusion, happiness and fear. Out of worry for my safety, the doctor advised me to see a specialist immediately for further examination. And that was when everything started.

As soon as we reached Sime Darby Medical Centre, we asked for Dr Delaila since she was the same specialist that delivered Aydein. After examining and performing a scan on me, she said that she couldn't see any fetus in my uterus which could mean early pregnancy, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

I didn't want to say it out loud, but deep down inside, I could feel that I was suffering from ectopic pregnancy. I knew because the intense pain was coming from one side only and it was throbbing.

Aien on the other hand, was being all positive about it. He kept on reassuring me that everything would be fine and that whatever the result may be the next morning, I was to keep an open mind about it and to accept it with open heart.

That night, I could not sleep because the pain was so painful, it made sleeping impossible! I spoke to my unborn baby, I told her to be strong. I told her I loved her, I told her to fight her way through. I told her if she were to make it, she would get to see her brother, and her papa. And somehow, the pain got better after that, and I was able to get a few hours of sleep.

The next morning, the moment I've been dreading for finally came. The doctor told me that the blood result confirmed that I was suffering from ectopic pregnancy and that the fetus had to be removed immediately to avoid complications. At that point, I felt my heart constricted. I felt as though I was crushed. In moments, I would be brought to the operation theatre. In moments, I would lose my baby.

Tears started to trickle down my cheeks as soon as the doctor left our ward. Aien kissed my forehead and told me it was going to be okay, that it was meant to be, and that I should stay strong. I guess Aydein could feel my remorse too, because he behaved really well throughout our stay in the hospital.

I was told to fast for at least 6 hours prior to the operation. During the waiting period, I had so many things in my mind. What if I stay awake after they sedated me? What if I stay unconscious after the anesthetic wears off? What if something goes wrong and I lose a lot of blood during the operation?

This was when I started feeling frightened and extremely down. But thanks to the support and words of encouragement from all my friends, my spirit started to lift up once again.

And then, it was time. I kept on reciting prayers on the way to the operation theatre and also the kalimah syahadah just before they sedated me.

And in less than 10 secs after they put the gas on me, I knocked off. The 1 ½ hours operation went well, alhamdulillah, because the next thing I knew, it was over, and the nurse showed me the fetus that was taken out from me. The fetus was still in the form of blood clot about the size of a red bean.

I just nodded but didn't say anything because I was still drowsy from the anesthetic. Once I was stable, I was brought back to my ward, to the smiling faces of my family.

And despite the pain from surgery, I thought to myself, O Allah, thank you for giving me the chance to breathe in the air one more time and to be able to see and appreciate the people that I care most about in life, even better. Verily, with every difficulty, there is relief.

Ahmad Aydein Is TWO!

2011-05-31T11:20:00.010+08:00

Aydein sweetheart,

Happy 2nd birthday, sayang! I am glad I have been given the chance to live yet another day to celebrate this meaningful day with you :) How do you find toddlerhood so far, kiddo? Must be pretty darn cool to be able to run, jump, climb, grab and demand just about anything you want eh!

Has anyone ever told you how you first got to this world? I think I might have told you about it somewhere last year, but in case you don't remember, let me refresh your memory okay? Believe it or not, you were conceived almost right after your papa and I got hitched! Just a month after we got married, to be exact. You must be a pretty darn good swimmer, aren't you? :P

When I first knew I had another life inside of me (that's you!), to be honest, I was caught off guard. I thought I couldn't manage, I thought I was not ready. But God is fair. He gave me 9 whole months to prepare myself, and when it was nearing the due date, I was actually eager to see you!

Did you know that you've been a very good sport all the while before you were born? I never had morning sickness you know, and I honestly thank God for that! And when it was time to deliver you, you proved to be a good sport once again! Delivering you was one of the sweetest experiences I have ever had. It was painful definitely, but smooth-sailing. Painful because I had to endure 2-3 hours of unbearable pain, and smooth-sailing because I did not even have to use any kind of drug to get you out to this world! Yes sayang, I gave birth to you the natural way. :)

When I first held you in my arms, it was magical, almost surreal. All the pain that I was battling with moments before just instantly disappeared when I looked at that angelic face of yours. So peaceful, so pure.

After you got to this world, both me and your papa always try our best to raise you to become a good khalifah, and provide you with the best that we could provide to our only child -- that's you. It saddens me for not being able to to fully breastfeed you up till 2 years, but I always, always try my best to give you the best for everything else, and that, you have to know.

And now, look at you! All grown up, handsome and strong! A little stubborn too, but I guess that's a trait you got from me, eh? :P

I am sorry there won't be any huge birthday party for you this year like you had last year when you turned one. Trust me, I had it all planned since January! However, after discussing with your papa, we figured that it's best that we hold a birthday party every alternate year, so do look forward to next year as you can expect a big surprise coming up for you next year!

Meantime, you can look forward to a getaway trip that we've planned for you soon! Yes sayang, we're taking you out on a birthday trip soon! We're thinking of a trip to an island, what do you think? We could build a sand castle together! I am so excited about this trip I even bought this for you! :D

Comels kan! Don't worry, this is not your birthday present. :P I know you've grown very fond of toys lately, so we've decided to take you to Toys 'R Us this weekend where you will get to choose whatever you want at that store okay! :D See how lucky you are? You might not get to have a party this year, but you get vacation + small birthday celebration with family + present of your own choice instead! :)

Last but not least, happy 2nd birthday again, Aydein sweetheart. May you be blessed with success and goodness in life and the hereafter. I look forward to seeing and hugging you when I get home later! I love you, little munchkin!

XOXO,
Mama.

Awak Layak Ke Terima Duit Hantaran Beribu-Riban?

2011-05-24T15:26:00.007+08:00

Marriage. It's that one stage of life that most of us look forward to. Some of us are willing to spend A WHOLE LOT just to keep up with the crazy 'current trend' nowadays. The question is, will the 'current trend' guarantee happiness?

I came across this VERY interesting blog entry that actually made me think. It's about dowry or 'duit hantaran' in Malay.

picture credits to Google.com

After reading the entry, I can't help but to agree to the things that he highlighted. I have shared the link to this blog entry in my tweet previously. But I thought I'd just share the extract of the blog entry here again, for all of you to read as well, just in case if you're not my Twitter follower.

To all my single friends (boys & girls) who are not married or planning to get married, do read the entry below! It's truly an eye-opener. Well, to me at least.

To all my married friends, do spread the message around. Ambil yang baik, and perhaps educate our families & friends mana-mana yang patut :)

Jangan Sayang Aku Kerna Aku Tinggi

gadis semakin lama semakin mahal

aku pun tak paham kenapa. hari ni ade jemputan kawen untuk family aku. so, tadi aku sajelah aku tanye kakak aku berape hantarannya, dengan nada cool bagai sesuatu yang norma, kakak aku kate, “hantarannye 12ribu”. apekegile!!! oh duniaaaa.. kau menyukarkan lelaki miskin macam aku untuk cepat ade anak.. ohooo~

ianya perlu diubah!! ye, aku perlu ubah mendealah fenomena gadis semakin mahal ni. selagi ianya berterusan, selagi itulah gadis akan semakin mahal, semakin mahal dan semakin mahal. ini tak bulih dibiarkan. perlu ade pencetus, yang akan membuatkan lelaki-lelaki miskin yang nak kawen berkata, “hantaran dorang tu seribu setengah je.. takde masalah pun. kawen jugak. bahagia jugak. so, aku pun kawen nanti nak hantaran seribu sengah jugakla”. heh!

kereta, komputer dan gadis

kereta, semakin hari semakin murah. begitu juga dengan komputer, semakin hari semakin murah. ini menunjukkan teknologi semakin berkembang. bila sesuatu itu semakin berkembang, harga akan berkurang dari semasa ke semasa. gadis pula lain ceritanya. semakin tidak berkembang, semakin mahal! itulah yang berlaku pada gadis pada hari ini. kalau orang dulu-dulu kahwin, hantaran untuk gadis 3,4 ratus. habis kuat seribu dua ribu camtu. sedang dalam diri gadis itu, al-Quran 15juzuk dia hafal. paling koman surah al-mulk jadi amalan. sembahyang tak tinggal. masak, jangan kau cerita. segala negeri punye masakan dia bulih tibai jadik segala. daging salai lomak cili api, laksa penang, baryani gam, cek mek molek, sata, kuah lodeh, segala ceruk mane punye masakan buleh. hantaran 3 ratus, pakej lengkap, bahagia ke akhir hayat lagi.

la ni, hantaran 8ribu, oh tak, 10ribu, err.. sekarang 12ribu ke 20ribu.. tapi masak?? arararara.. kuah kacang pun bukak mesra.net camne cite bai? nak masak asam pedas, rase bubur lambok kot! masak buleh kawtim lagi kot.. kot la. al-Quran.. surah-surah lazim pun terkial2.. jap, check balik fatihah pun ade yang tak molek lagi. itu hantaran beribu riban tu dol! pendek kate, dalam dunia kegadisan, semakin tidak berkembang ilmu di dada, dunia meletakkan harga yang semakin mahal. silap2, belum sempat habis bayar loan kawen, dah cerai. berlaku kan?

aku tau, yang bace akan cakap, kau ingat gadis ni ape, barang! harga gadis semakin mahal pulak!! bukan, aku tak cakap gadis itu barang. gadis itu sesuatu untuk dimiliki untuk sama-sama berkongsi hidup dengan. so, kau yang faham tentang gadis itu bukan barang untuk dijualbeli dan diperdagangkan, mesti kau tidak akan kisah pasal hantaran bukan. tapi masalahnya, manusia hari ini yang meletakkan gadis itu bagai barang! nilai semakin mahal bila semakin tinggi mutunya(kunun dengan ade kelulusan), semakin mahal bila ianya semakin cantik(kunun hot la), semakin mahal bila ianya limited edition(kunun dianya anak tunggal).. nah! kau yang letakkan nilai gadis itu macam barang bukan!

kereta, komputer dan gadis, bila kita pilih untuk memiliki, semuanya ade spec(specifications) masing2 bukan? kau mesti mahu yang terbaik, dengan harga yang terbaik untuk kau jugak. dunia hari ini banyak menyusahkan kita. dengan berleluasanya fahaman kunun ade nilai standard dalam hantaran mengikut zaman. contohnya zaman la ni, rm10ribu tu at least. gile betul! aku yang tak fikir pasal kawen lagi ni pun dah terasa getarnya. kamonlaaa… takkan takde gadis yang faham?? seksa kot nak kumpul rm10ribu.. tu hantaran je tu.. majlis lagi.. beli barang2 hantaran lagi.. koman2 rm30ribu kot nak kena standby. adess.. pastu bulan2 nanti nak bayar duit loan kawen, loan kereta ngan rumah lagi. ohhhhh~ hidup dengan hutang sampai mati. silap2 wasiat pun sampai tulis suruh anak sambung bayarkan hutang. aku bercakap dari sudut seorang lelaki miskin macam aku.. kau yang kaya, duit berlori-lori takpelah.

aku menulis bukan mengatakan aku anti pada hantaran mahal. sekadar aku mahu gadis hari ini faham akan beban lelaki yang tak berduit. cuba letak diri korang kat tempat lelaki yang nak gile kawen ngan korang tapi takde duit sampai kena buat loan untuk hantaran 10ribu tu. huhh! tak pun, camnilah. ape kate korang je yang bagi hantaran kat lelaki? haa.. best gak tu! kat akula especially.. amacam??

kesimpulannya.. aku rase, kawen tak patut dijadikan beban. aku rase belambak artikel pasal mahar/hantaran kat internet ni. aku tak bace pun aku tau die mesti nak suruh gadis2 sedar tak payah mahar mahal2, same macam ape aku tulis. lagipun aku bukan gadis untuk bace artikel camtu. aku tulis pasal ni sebab tibe2 aku rase aku perlu ubah fenomena ni. semangat macam semangat luffy tibe2 menjelma dalam diri aku. ho!

Extract from http://parkins07.wordpress.com

Now, what do you all think? Make sense, no? :)

Babies See, Babies Do!

2011-05-16T13:14:00.003+08:00

At 1 year 11 months, my little toddler absorbs things extremely fast, like a sponge. He's picked up many new words, composed new simple sentences, and absolutely loved mimicking every single thing we do -- like putting on his own shades when we wear our shades, pretending to snore when he sees his grandpa sleeps, or pretending to sneeze hard whenever we sneeze!

But among many things, he has a thing for my makeup kit. I noticed that each time I put on some makeup on my face at the dressing mirror, he would watch me intently, all fascinated.

Putting on makeup with him by my side is a battle each time because he would try to grab the first makeup item that he can reach and try to apply it on his face. Of course, before the product could even touch his face, I would quickly grab it from him and that's when the battle and the crying starts.

But this boy is smart. He knows that the only time that mama is unconscious is when mama is sleeping. So one day, while I was in a deep, deep slumber, I was suddenly awaken when I heard my husband exclaimed, "YA ALLAH AYDEIN! YANG, TENGOK ANAK YOU NI!" loudly. I got up from the bed, and my heart sunk when I saw.. this.

And then, later on, I saw.. this.

Checkout the sides of his lips! T_T

And my heart sunk even lower, when I saw.. this!

Yes, that's my Topshop Lip Polish in Rhubarb that I used oh so very carefully just because I didn't want it to run out fast. And there my boy went, digging the whole thing out from the container and smeared it all over his face, hands and carpet! I wanted to scream (loudly) but all I could do was just stare in disbelief as the lip polish that was once FULL is now almost left with... nothing. :(

What made it even worst is that there's no replacement for it anymore! Not at the moment, that is. The personnel at Topshop KLCC informed me that Rhubarb color in particular is now out of stock/out of season when I went there recently to get a replacement. As such, I will have to wait until the color is in-season again!

GRRRRR! Now when is that going to happen? Next week? Next month? NEXT YEAR? Grrr I want my Rhubarb Lip Polish back! Does anyone of you have an extra, new Rhubarb lip polish that you would like to sell out? I want to buy!

I'm a Pirate, Take Me To Stranger Tides!

2011-05-09T12:46:00.002+08:00

In case you don't know, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is premier-ing soon and I for one, am very ecstatic about it!

Synopsis

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth when a woman from his past (Penélope Cruz) forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

When I was a kid, I have always wondered how it would be like to be a pirate. How cool it would be to be sailing across 7 seas in 'em outfits that only beggars wear and STILL look cool.

But among the many good things about being a pirate, there are 3 things about being a pirate that appeal me the most :

1) The Language!

I have always had a thing for foreign language. Heck, I even learnt Spanish own my own just because I find that language very beautiful, thanks to the Spanish soap dramas that I watched everyday last time. Pirate language on the other hand, although uh, not as beautiful, but they would still come in handy during gossip sessions! For all I know, I could even learn the Mermaid language and be friends with them! Some say that mermaids are actually ugly and not how they're portrayed to be. Hmm, that's another thing I would like to know if I were I pirate!

2) You Steal, You Hero!

We all know stealing is bad, and in some countries, you'll even get your hands chopped for stealing! But not for pirates! The more you steal, the more glory you bring to your ship! Not that I want to steal, but, you know what I mean. T_T

3) Sharksfin and all exotic seafood.

Some of you are going to hate me after this, but I gotta admit, I LOVE SHARKSFIN! There, I said it. >< And, by being a pirate, I can take sharksfin and all kinds of exotic seafood all day, all night! I don't even have to worry about gaining weight because hey, who judges an obese pirate on a ship? NO ONE! That's another reason why it's awesome being a pirate.

Now, does anyone of you want to make me your pirate and take me to stranger tides?

Nuffnang On Bernama TV

2011-05-02T21:29:00.025+08:00

As most of you might have known, Nuffnang was featured on Bernama TV (Ch : 502) last week.

I know, big deal right. But being a jakun girl that never appeared on TV before, I practically told the whole world about it via Twitter and FB.

Tak masal, I know. But really, I was darn excited that day, I had to make sure everybody was as excited as me too! :P

I still remember the day of the shooting. Everyone in the office was super excited and even made an extra effort to wear something nice and put on a little makeup just in case any of us got captured in camera. One of them was (ahem) me, and I was glad my effort paid off because my boss wanted me to be part of the "acting" group!

Haha yeap, on camera we were asked to act as though we're having a discussion, but off camera we were actually laughing our socks off! :P I mean duh, that's expected la kan! :P

The shoot was taken at our new office and this shot that I am going to share with you below is taken while our boss, Timothy is interviewed by the TV crew. One thing for sure, I really admire how he composed himself throughout the interview -- so relaxed and cool okay! If it were me, I am sure I'd be sweating profusely and stuttering every 2 mins! :P

This is another shot taken while Tim is showing the viewers how the ad campaigns are assigned.

Not everyone gets the chance to be on TV and for me, it was such a very memorable day even if I only appeared just for a brief second! Hehe. Ye lah, lu ada? Takde kannn! :D I also loved the part where a picture of me, my husband, Redmummy and Reddaddy at the Nuffnang Footprints is zoomed at one part of the video :D

Tak sia-sia you follow I pi events kan, yang? :D

Anyway, for those of you who have missed the show, don't fret, because I've actually recorded the show using a video camera just for memory's sake.

Oh and do excuse me if the video is a little shaky, senget and also if you hear a little 'TENG! TENG! TENG!" sound at some parts of the video -- that's actually my 'smart' maid banging the milk carton with a spoon and later on got shhh-ed by me. T__T

Alternatively, you could also watch another recording of us here, thanks to Iman! Last but not least, long live Nuffnang!

26th Birthday Wishes

2011-04-27T09:06:00.008+08:00

19 April 2011. I was in a deep slumber and got awaken when I felt kisses all over my face. I opened my eyes and my heart instantly melt when I saw my husband and my baby smiling down at me, one of them wishing me a "Happy Birthday" and another jumped up and down beside me cheekily. It's my birthday! Another year older and (hopefully) another year wiser!

Nuffnang is kind enough to give me the day off to celebrate this special day and honestly, I think that is the best gift a company could give to an employee! Thank you boss!

The morning started off with a trip to the dentist. You see, I have always wanted a set of gleaming white teeth like those supermodels, so on that special day, one of my wishes came true when my husband brought me to a dental clinic nearby and signed me up for the teeth whitening treatment. Unfortunately, since my gum was sore after scaling, the doctor suggested that I only start with the whitening treatment a week after. We'll see how the treatment goes in 2 weeks time ok!

That night, my husband took me and Aydein out for a special dinner. I was given a choice to go any place I want to dine, and for some reason I don't know, I chose Marche @ The Curve.

I loved the variety choices of food available there, but sadly, there wasn't much choice available on that night. Dah la food dah tak variety macam dulu, tak sedap pulak tu! I didn't even finish my birthday meal that night, such a waste!

Even my slice of red velvet birthday cake that usually tastes nice, doesn't taste as nice on that night :( It's from The Apartment, by the way.

The best part of the day was that I get to spend the meaningful day with the one I cared most in life who were always there for me through thick and thins! Nothing grand, very simple, and very meaningful. Just the way I like it. :)

Of course, what's a birthday without surprises and gifts kan! :P And if last year he surprised me with an iPhone for my birthday, this year he brought me to an optical store to fulfill one of the wishes I've been wishing for, for months -- designer shades!

I tried on many of them on tha t night, but there are some things in life that are made just for you, and in my case, I think this shades is made especially for me, so I went "Helloooo, gorgy!"

I had to think twice when I looked at the price tag, but oh well as they say, if the shades fits... :P

Shades baru saya santik takkkk? :D Heeeee thank you, husband! I love you so much more! :D Oh and for those who have wished me over my Twitter, Facebook and SMS, thank you to you toooo! Your wishes made my day! :D

Honestly, at 26, I have almost everything a girl could wished for and I could not ask for more. For that, I am eternally grateful to Allah for blessing me with all these good things in life. I know, I am blessed.

Shoes Here, There & Everywhere!

2011-04-25T09:25:00.002+08:00

** this is a delayed entry.

The moment I stepped my feet into PWTC recently, I was like, Wow, shoes here, there and everywhere!

At least, that's what I thought. After walking in my heels for a good 15 mins, the only shop that caught my attention was Carlo Rino. I comforted myself and told myself that surely there would be more branded shoes around, a Vincci at least. Pusing punya pusing, yang ada are just shoes from Princess, Jukebox, Magly and some unheard of brands.

It was a huge disappointment. A huge, huge disappointment particularly because I have been going on and on about it all week! I imagined myself going back from PWTC with bags and bags of shoes, but with limited choices like this, how am I to shop la?

I did have a good time feasting my eyes on the different designs of shoes though.

The very gorgy knee-high boots by Zang Toi. A little too pricey for me, though. I shall come & get you one day, gorgy. One fine day.

Checkout the crystal ball! Ntah berapa berat la nak berjalan in these!

The very sweet & classic nyonya shoes

Yang ini 9-inch heels ye. Takde 3 ribu, tak payah berangan.

Various shoes in funky designs

Miniature wooden shoes

Kasut bling-bling kelab malam

Not sure if this is the same for all the previous years before, but this time around, they had this competition to search for Miss MISF Cinderella to fit in their 9-inch heels. I can't imagine walking in a heel that high, can you? Of course, if you're a chicken like me, you could also try on the heels and get yourself photographed in a picture like this girl without having to walk at all :)

They also put up a display of a huge shoe 100% made of edible chocolate! No one dared to have a bite though! :P

Oh and guess who else that was there on that day? Yes, our very own Dato' Jimmy Choo! :)

I didn't grab anything during that day since I couldn't find anything that I like, and also because I just grabbed a pair of heels recently.

Speaking of which, I also have a pair of heels that I would like to let go. I never found the need to wear it much and kept it somewhere, but the next thing I knew, I totally forgot about it and actually found it again when I was cleaning my room recently. Typical me!

As far as I can remember, I have only worn it twice. I tried to walk in them again recently, but my elephant feet just cannot fit into them anymore and caused a wee bit of impair at one little spot of the insole. It's size 5, by the way.

I am letting it go at RM49 (half the price) so let me know if any of you would like to have a go at them okay!

My Super Cool Car!

2011-04-11T09:26:00.001+08:00

Back then, I was not a really big fan of toys. That changed however, as I grew older. Now, I have so many fun and colorful toys, they just don't fit into one toy storage anymore!

And that's just half of them! However, among all, I have got one particular favorite! I'd like to call it my very super cool remote control car!

Why is it super cool? Let me tell you. ONE, the tires are nothing like the tires at papa's car -- they aren't plain black. They've got cool colors flashing out like disco light! Weewoo weewoo!

TWO, it can turn 360°, no kidding! I am sure your daddy's car can't do this, heh!

And THREE, it listens to me because I get to control where it goes! So if I press on the right button and say, "Go right, boy!", it will go right. And if I press on the other button and say, "Turn around, boy!", it will, of course, turn! I can't make it dance just yet, but I'll check the manual back later. :P

See, if you want to control this cool car, you have to have a style! In Malay, we say it "kena ada gaya," Hehe. Okay, here's how you do it. First, you have to tilt your body a bit to the left, like this.

Then, you bend forward, like this! Eh, make sure your hands are still controlling the car ok!

Or if you simply can't think of any "gaya", you can of course simply stand like this. Tapi, tak cool lah you know.

Papa told me that he was such a fan of Tamiya cars back then, he even entered a competition for it and won! Much to my surprise, mama told me she too, had a Tamiya car which she named Dancing Doll when she was a kid! I know now where I got this "gaya" from. :)

Lebai Aydein

2011-04-05T22:57:00.005+08:00

Like many other kids, my 22-month-old boy does not like having anything on his head ever since he was little -- not beanie, not cap, not songkok -- until recently. Nowadays, whenever he sees a kopiah (a kind of hat muslim men wear for prayer), he would quickly grab it and put it on his head.

Sometimes, when he can't reach it, he will even demand for it by patting his head; a signal to tell us that he wants the kopiah on his head, especially when Aien and I are preparing ourselves for prayers.

The funny thing is, he does not only wear it during prayers. He wears it when he plays..

He wears it when he "sweeps" the floor..

He wears it when he watches tv...

He wears it when he goes for a drive...

He wears it when he sleeps (or fake to fall asleep :P)..

And of course, when performing solah with us as well..

Update : Just received this picture from my husband just a while ago. Yes, he wears it even when chillin in the (new & clean) dustbin too!

Isn't he's such a darl? :)

AHC Neck Covered Inners

2011-03-30T14:30:00.001+08:00

When I was wearing instant hijabs last time, I never paid much attention to inners even though some of them are such eye-candy, like the 3-layered syria that was once sold in SugarScarf.

pic credit to colorscarfbyriqa.blogspot.com

Mind you, I was so close to buying them just because they're so comel like lollipops, but I didn't, thanks to the more-rational side of me. :P

However, come 2011 I was all about shawls and colorful colors thus the need to get new inners started creeping in. At first I bought the normal syria inners that covers the head but leaves the neck bare. The problem with these kind of inners is that they can't be worn with shawls made of chiffon or rugs because these kind of hijabs are either transparent or see through. Some parts of the neck are still (vaguely) visible thus defeats the purpose of one wearing hijab.

That is why when I stumbled across AHC website and saw Hani the owner modeled AHC's very own neck covered inners, I was so delighted!

pic credit to alhumairacontemporary.com

Without hesitating, I placed my orders and bought two neck covered inners from her immediately. Much to my joy, the parcel arrived just 3 days after placing my order!

Everybody was right about AHC hijabs -- they smelt really good! A little too good in fact, that I pening sekejap immediately after I opened the parcel. Hehe harum semerbak ok! :) Without hesitating, I straight away tried on the new neck covered inners and I have to tell you, they are made from the highest quality lycra cotton that is very soft, and not too thick.

[picture]

Yes, when it comes to quality and comfort, AHC definitely delivers it. I love that the stitching is very neat and thorough. However, the thing that slightly disappoints me is the fact that the inners are not very snug fitted. In order for it to stick to the frames of my face, I will need to put a pin/brooch under my chin -- otherwise it would be loose.

Contrary to the neck covered inners that I bought from Jalan TAR, the moment I slip it over to my head, it fits just as nicely without the need to put any pin or brooch on it.

However, as you might have guessed, the quality of the material can't beat the inners from AHC (the one from Jalan TAR is slightly thick), but unlike AHC inners, the one that I bought in Jalan TAR has curly seam which adds to the premium look to it. Oh, and it's cheaper too! Of course, the disadvantage of cheap items is that the stitching isn't as neat and the neck covering as you can see, is short in length so one can't get as much coverage there.

Needless to say, I am happy with my purchase from AHC and I have to give Hani credits for her excellent service throughout the purchase. One thing about AHC is that, their products memang selalu laku macam pisang goreng panas. So each time there will be an update about her product, Hani will announce first hand to her fans in her Facebook about the date and time of the new update.

So for those of you who would like to grab a few items from here, kena lah standby and keep on refreshing the screen at the appointed time ye. Because imagine, during the day I bought the items, she published her new stock at 12.00pm and by 12.30pm, banyak items yang dah already out of stock! So kalau you terlambat sikit pon, memang ok-sekian-terima-kasih lah. :P

In future, I do hope that AHC will produce neck covered inners with curly seam because although they can't be seen (as they will be tucked inside our shirt or shawl) but still, it's classy that way. :) AHC neck covered inners are highly recommended! Grab one for yourself the next time Hani restocks! :) As usual, happy melawa-lawa ladies!

Discover Your Miracle with Lancôme Maqui Miracle

2011-03-28T09:21:00.002+08:00

When it comes to compact power, I always get confused as to which tone that best suits a person -- a tone darker or a tone lighter? That is why when I got the opportunity to join Loreal Lancome Workshop organized by Nuffnang, I was over the moon!

The moment I stepped into the Loreal office, I was greeted by this very sweet scent that comes from a vase of fresh flowers placed at the corner of the room. And I am not sure if it's the beautiful staffs around there, or the sweet smell coming from the flowers, or the professionally set lounge area, but for a moment there, I almost felt like I belong there. :P

The special workshop was held to promote Lancome's latest launch -- the new Maqui Miracle compact powder. In case you don't already know, Maqui Miracle is the first 12-hour long lasting compact powder ever launched and it also contains the highest UV protection with SPF 35/PA+++ ever in a compact!

How cool is that! And did I tell you that the workshop was conducted by the non-other, the infamous Zamri Zainol, Lancome's makeup artist with over 14 years of experience in the beauty industry! With that much of experience in the beauty line, I am surprised that he has not come up with his own beauty product just yet! :P

On to the product, now as mentioned in my previous entry, I am very particular about putting something onto my face unless it is tested and proven to be safe on all types of skin, especially on dry skin like mine. However, after confirming with Zamri and the fact that all of us received a goodie bag with the new Maqui Miracle in it, I figured, hey's let's give it a try!

The special thing about Maqui Miracle compact powder is that it has dual-sponge, a two-sided sponge that helps you create the coverage you desire. The velvety porous side is used to pick up the powder, while the silky smooth side helps to blend and polish the foundation, giving you the perfect finishing that you want. Pay attention to the 2 sponge's surfaces below :

For all you busy ladies out there who seriously have no or very little time to apply makeup but still wishes to have that radiant look to your skin, this is the answer to all your prayers! With Maqui Miracle, it honestly takes less than 2 minutes to get that fresh, natural look that you've all been waiting for! Need convincing? Check this out!

This is me, before Maqui Miracle.

This is me, WITH Maqui Miracle!

Can you see the difference? Mind you, no Photoshop editing done whatsoever okay! I discovered the miracle purely by using Lancome Maqui Miracle itself, and the best thing is, the powder langsung tak over okkk, I LOIKE! :) Now you can have it too! All you need are just 3 things ; Lancome Genifique Serum, Lancome Teint Miracle and Lancome Maqui Miracle. I do not have Lancome Teint Miracle, but even without that, look what transformation it has made to my skin! (With a little help from eyeliner and gloss of course :P)

By the way, when choosing the tone color, Zamri told us that it depends on individual's preference. If you just want to look totally fresh and natural without a trace of makeup, then go for the same tone as your skin. (Tapi rugi lah kan, dah bayar RM130 pastu tak nampak macam pakai makeup pon, baik pakai bedak Pureen je :P). But if you want to look natural with a slight hint of makeup, go for a tone lighter. However, you can also go for a tone darker but you need to make sure that you're fully makeup (with eyeshadows, blusher & gloss).

Among the ladies who came for the workshop

Now I know I told you that Topshop Powder Foundation is good, but I am telling you, Lancome Maqui Miracle is way better and I myself am impressed with the output, no kidding! Okay, suddenly rasa gatal nak beli Lancome Teint Miracle pulak!

Oh wait, Lancome Teint Miracle or Topshop Skin Tint?

Hmm temptations, temptations, go away!

Befriending The Ex?

2011-03-23T09:02:00.010+08:00

Case of the ex -- we've all been through it. Some treat it like a chronic H1N1 disease (oh tak boleh sentuh langsung, asal sentuh je boleh meletop bikin panasss), while others treat it like it's just a normal viral fever (awal-awal tau tu panas lah, lama-lama dah cool, dah tade pape). Of course, there are also the lucky ones who do not have to go through it at all, and for those people, I would say they are blessed. Saved from all the heartaches and the dramas.

However, for those who have gone through it though, I am sure you've encountered one or all of these scenarios below :

Scenario #1 : At a mall or a restaurant.
Eh, macam kenal? Alamak, itu ex-girlfriend my sayang lah! *cover muka dengan tudung* (kalau yang free-hair tu cepat-cepat turunkan rambut). Awkwarddddd!

Scenario #2 : At home, surfing the net.
*ting* (idea masuk la tu) Eh, agak-agaknya minah ni ada Facebook tak eh? Jom stalk, stalk, stalk! Ak ella, private la pulak! *kecewa*

Scenario #3 : At home, surfing the net.
*ting* (tak puas hati, idea lain pulak masuk) Eh, carik pulak lah kot awek ni ada blog? Eh, ada lah. Stalk lagi, lagi lagi! Halaaaaa private jugak! *kecewa*

Scenario #4 : At home, surfing the net.
*ting* (memang tak bole jadik, kena carik sampai dapat jugak!) Eh, kot ada Twitter okay jugak boleh follow! Carik, carik, carik! Yay berjayaaaa! Seb baik kau tak private (lagi) bai. *sengih lebor*

Scenario #5 : Outside, with your current partner.
Eh sayang, your ex lah. Jangan over ok, buat relax sudey.

Any of these scenarios sound familar to you? Hehehe, I know because I've been there too. However, lucky for me, I am friends with some of these ex's to date. Don't ask me why or how I do it, but I can actually be friends with the ex's. There is even a case when both me and this girl Fara used to date this same guy in Uni and hated each other's guts, and the next thing we knew, we both dumped the guy, and now good friends to each other! :D

Si cantik Fara and I

Truth be told, my in laws especially can't seem to quite get how I can actually be cool when it comes to being friends with the ex. In fact, I am also cool about my husband being friends with his ex. Yes, my husband has an ex (no wait, exs actually) and I am actually friends with his ex, Kenji, up till this date. I guess it's the trust that we both put in each other kot. I mean, we are both adults, and we know our limits. And most importantly, we love each other dearly. With that much of love in our heart, I told them, insyaallah nothing can go wrong. :)

Miss popular Kenji/Fiza and I

I do not know about you, but I feel much better once I become friends with them. You see I hate having unpleasant feelings about someone, anyone. But it's hard not to have that kind of feelings especially when you know the person used to share something special with someone very dear to you, you see. And as humans, you are just bound to have this feelings, even if you do not want it.

And from my experience, after becoming friends with them, and getting to know them, I actually gain even more respect and liking for them, and all the unpleasant feelings disappeared just like that. Some people ask me, "Thara boleh eh berkawan dengan Aien's ex? Tak rasa jealous ke apa ke?" I told them no, I am not jealous of them. In fact, I am glad I am (can be) friends with them because I gain more friends to add to the list! :) And if you ask me, I sincerely think that the ex's are great people, beautiful in their own way. I see now why my partner(s) fell for them. :) (Yes, partner(s) because I had exs too, you see :P)

My husband used to ask me, would you be friends with my exs? I said, why not, just as long as you know how to jaga yourself, then there's no reason for me to naik hantu right :D

How about you? Dare becoming friends with the ex?

Farewell, Robb Chew!

2011-03-20T01:26:00.005+08:00

Yesterday was an emotional day for all of us in Nuffnang Malaysia. As some of you might have known, Robb Chew also known as one of the pioneers of Nuffnang, has decided to spread his wings and embark on a departure to take on a new challenge and a different opportunity in life. Yes, Nuffnangers. Robb has decided to leave Nuffnang for the greater good.

picture credit to isaactan.net

For those of you who have been with us for quite a while, you would know that Robb has been the backbone of the company, specifically to the Blogger Relations department ever since Nuffnang was established. He was the one that came up with the Blogger Relations Department, a department that is responsible to take care of the bloggers' welfare to date.

The very first time I spoke to him, to be honest, I was very intimidated by him. He kept asking me questions about how Nuffnang works even when I was there for barely a week! I thought, man, give me a break, I've been here for barely a week, and you're asking me all sorts of questions already?! But it was not long after that, that I discovered that he memang has this effect on people, especially for those who do not know him. But once you know him, he's really a nice chap after all! :)

Nevertheless, there was something that Robb said on that day that I would remember forever and I hang on to it till this very day. It goes something like this. He said, "Thara, you need to know how things work around here by heart. I don't want you to take this job as just another job because we are all passionate about this company and we want someone who is passionate about this job, who cares for this company, as much as we do," And he has my respect since. :)

Robb has contributed so much not only to the Blogger Relations department, but also to NuffnangMY, that some of us (the girls, of course) even had tears in our eyes when we looked at the projector that displayed all of his pictures at previous events and happenings during his tenancy with NuffnangMY on the special farewell ceremony that we threw for him.

We sang 3 songs for him -- That Thing You Do, Time Of Your Life and Auld Lang Syne led by our in-house guitarist Timothy Teoh. By the third song, I could not hold my tears any longer and I could see the same for some of the girls. Water works like crazy!

After that, one by one, boys and girls went to Robb to share their last hug.

Everyone, except me of course. Nevertheless, I walked up to him still and holding out the little gift I got for him earlier, I said, "I can't hug you, but this is for you," :)

Just before we left the office, Robb sent us all an email, and a personalized message to each and every one of us. Here's what he got to say to me :

I do not know what the future holds for Blogger Relations from now on, but I do have faith in Nuffnang and I trust that Fresh as the new Blogger Relations Team Leader will do just as great! Here's to all of us in Nuffnang!

The backbones of the Blogger Relations Department

What's Cooking - Curry Mee / Mee Kari

2011-03-05T11:11:00.017+08:00

I am sure all of you have cooked before, even if it means cooking a bowl of Maggi. And I am also sure that in the many dishes/cuisines that you've cooked, you have one special favorite whereby each time you cook and serve it, everyone can't seem to stop talking about it and that will make you gloat with pride. :D

I've got a few, and here's one of them -- my very favorite curry mee!

To cook curry mee isn't difficult, but it's just rather tedious because it involves many ingredients (if you want a nice, delicious curry me, of course). Of course, if you do not mind eating just the mee and curry alone, then that's completely fine as well. It will still turn out good, only less 'oomph' lah! :P

Anyway, for those who are craving for curry mee but simply do not have time to go out and eat out, how about eating in and trying this recipe out? Oh, and mana tau kot ada tetamu nak datang ke apa, boleh cuba hidangkan mee kari spesel ni ye tak! Confirm next time tetamu tu datang lagi bawak pinggan! :P

Okay, enough talk, and let the cooking begins! The recipe is going to be in Malay, just because it's much easier to explain in Malay ok, haha :P Right, this is how I make my curry mee. You will need. . .

Bahan-bahan
=========

1) Mee (300g)
2) Isi ayam (100g)
3) Udang (200g)
4) Udang kering (2 sudu besar)
5) Bawang putih (4 ulas)
6) Bawang besar dipotong bulat (1 biji)
7) Bawang merah (5 ulas)
8) Serai (2 batang)
9) Rempah kari daging/ayam (1 paket kecil)
10) Pes cili (2 sudu besar)
11) Santan (4 cawan)
12) Sawi (1 ikat)
13) Kacang panjang (1 ikat)
14) Taugeh (1 paket)
15) Tauhu goreng cina (5-10 biji)
16) Fish balls (1/2 paket)
17) Fish cakes (1/2 paket)
18) Kerang (1 kg)
19) Telur (2 biji)
20) Cili merah dihiris nipis (1 biji)
21) Gula (secukup rasa)
22) Garam (secukup rasa)
23) Minyak untuk menumis (secukupnya)
24) Air (secukupnya)

Cara-cara
=======

1. Tumbuk udang kering, bawang merah, dan bawang putih sehingga lumat.

2. Tumis bahan yang ditumbuk hingga sedikit garing dan masukkan rempah kari (dicairkan dengan sedikit air) dan pes cili. Kacau hingga pecah minyak. Jika terlalu kering, masukkan air dan kacau hingga pecah minyak.

3. Masukkan bawang besar. Kacau hingga bawang layu dan masukkan santan. Kacau supaya santan tidak berketul dan biar hingga mendidih. Jika kuah terlalu pekat, masukkan air secukupnya.

4. Masukkan gula, kacau sebentar, masukkan udang dan garam. Apabila kuah tadi mendidih, masukkan serai, tauhu goreng, fish balls dan fish cakes. Biar mendidih sebelum dihidang. Akhir sekali, sesuaikan rasa (garam & gula).

Bahan sampingan
=============

1) Sementara itu, celur sawi, kacang panjang dan taugeh hingga layu. Angkat dan toskan.
2) Celur mee. Angkat dan toskan.
3) Celur kerang di dalam air yang mendidih selama 10 saat. Kupas kulitnya dan ketepikan.
4) Rebus isi ayam. Apabila sudah masak, carik-carikkan isinya dan ketepikan.
5) Rebus telur. Apabila sudah masak, ketepikan.
6) Hiris halus cili merah mengikut citarasa.

Swimming Fun!

2011-02-23T09:45:00.000+08:00

The very first time I was introduced to the swimming pool was when I was as young as 7 months old. I was not a very big fan of water then, so when mama brought me in with her into the freezing cold water, I hated it!

I swore I would never go into the pool ever again and that the closest I would get to a pool is just by dipping my feet in them.

However, everything started to change when I followed mama and papa to Sunway Resort Hotel where they had this big, big pool for swimming. At first I was reluctant to go in. But seeing how happy my cousins and papa were, swimming away in the huge pool, I just couldn't say no and jumped in as well!

I really had a great time! I never knew swimming in the pool could be so fun! In fact, I had no idea why I hated it in the first place!

Now that I've conquered my fear, I kept pestering papa for more swimming sessions! Lucky for me, my auntie has a pool at her house in Bukit Jelutong so we don't have to go to the Public Swimming Pool for a swim.

Seeing how much I enjoy my water session, mama thought it would be a good idea for us to have our own inflatable mini pool whenever I feel like swimming.

By now, I am more confident in the water that I would start splashing the water...,

Play balls in the water...,

Even toss and turn in the water!

So one day if you feel like going for a swim and need a buddy to go with, you know where to find me!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Mary Kay Skin Care

2011-02-20T16:32:00.004+08:00

Many have asked me what products have I actually used for smooth, flawless skin like mine. My answer to them is simple ; nothing.

I am dead serious, I never use anything -- not Clean & Clear, not Olay, not Simple, not SK II, not even Hazeline Snow! I guess I am one of those who are blessed with natural, low-maintenance skin so the only thing I do use to clean my face is purely clean water.

First, let me remind you that my skin isn't exactly "flawless". If you look closely, you could see a little calar here and there as well. Sometimes, it can get a little dry too, and it shows during that particular time of the month. So when I heard about Mary Kay and how it could help revitalize my skin, I thought, hmm, let's give it a try! I made an appointment with one of the beauty consultants and the next thing I knew, I was already at their office at Jaya33 last Sunday morning.

The lady who introduced herself as Iman was very pleasant and helpful. She let me try all the many different products there.

All the while she was talking, I couldn't help but to notice what beautiful skin she has! She isn't only fair, she also has that pinkish, healthy rosy cheeks to compliment her complexion!

She told me it isn't difficult to get that healthy, beautiful skin. Everyone can have it with these 4 simple steps which I will gladly share with all of you, because it works wondrous on me!

1) Cleanse with Mary Kay Cleanser

As mentioned earlier, I never paid much attention to all this cleanser-whatsoever-thing before but now that I know how important it is to actually cleanse and care for my skin now that I wear makeup quite a lot, I realize how fresh my skin felt after cleaning my skin with this cleanser.

2) Mask with Mary Kay Mask

I used to wonder, why laaa some people actually go through all the trouble of applying mask & cucumber on their face and looking like a first-class hantu? My question was immediately answered after trying them out myself.

In case you're wondering, I purposely applied them on half the side of my face so I can feel the difference. Once I washed them off, I can feel the masked side of my face felt ten times smoother and, get this, fairer! Tak payah pakai Fair & Lovely bagai okeh. With this mask, you can see the effect in just 5 minutes!

It seems that the use of a mask is to open the pores, remove dead skin cells and acts like a mini scrub. I guess my skin has a lot of dead skin cells that I never cared to care kot, tu yang lepastu teros jadik smooth gila tu!

3) Freshen with Mary Kay Freshener

Okay, let me tell you that this one, is memang the bomb! My skin immediately felt fresh and uplifted after applying this to my face! It seems that it helps to close the pores back again after the masking process previously, so it leaves your skin nice and cooling.

4) Moisturize with Mary Kay Moisturizer

And last, but not least, the moisturizer. Seriously, I have to thank this moisturizer for its amazing effect on me. I am not sure if it's the effect of cleansing, masking and freshening altogether, but after applying this moisturizer to my skin, my face felt soft and moist. It doesn't feel too sticky nor too dry. It's basically just what I need for my dry skin!

And there you have it! 4 simple basic steps to fresh, glowing skin! You can leave it just like that or you can enhance it just a little more like what I did during my session then for a longer lasting effect.

1) Mary Kay Soothing Eye Gel

Tengok container pon dah nampak soothing kan? Hehe. But it's nothing like having them around your eyes! They're honestly very cooling and very soothing, just like the name suggests. You know those cooling eye masks that you put on your eyes whenever your eyes feel tired? This one feels exactly like that, only better!

To apply it is easy. Just put a little of the gel on your ring finger, and gently make small circles around your eyes, like the picture above. Sumpah mata rasa bertenaga and bersinar lepastu! Ok tipu, tak bersinar. Bertenaga je :P

2) Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation

This one awfully reminds me a lot of Topshop's Skin Tint that I am longing to buy! Even the tube size is about the same size of Topshop's Skin Tint! :D

Now, I am not sure about Topshop's Skin Tint that I have yet to try, but I definitely love how this one blends in with my skin. It's nothing like the Maybelline's foundation that usually leaves my skin dry and too-white. This one definitely gives a natural color to my skin! In case you're wondering, I used Ivory 200.

3) Mary Kay Mineral Powder

Interesting fact about this powder is that, the brush is made of goat's hair so they wash easily whenever you want to clean them! I also love how the brush makes an even color to my face and the fact that the powder is loose powder, so takde la nampak bertapuk-tapuk ke apa kan.

4) Mary Kay Lip Mask & Lip Balm

Oh this baby is also amazing. This Lip Mask is used to remove any dry/dark skin and restore the structure of your lips. I tried, and I loved the effect, just like this lady did! My lips are chapped no more! :D For those with dry lips, I highly encourage you to get this one!

I am telling you, Mary Kay works wondrous on me I am even thinking of getting some of their products as soon as I get my pay! I love any products that makes me look fresh and good naturally without trying too hard, and Mary Kay products definitely deliver just that!

For those of you who would like to inquire more on any of these products, feel free to contact Iman the beauty consultant at madameiman2@gmail.com or 019-2661775. Iman is an experienced Mary Kay beauty consultant with years of experience, and needless to say, I was very much impressed with her knowledge in skincare and of course, complexion!

For more useful info and tips on skincare and amazing promotions, don't forget to checkout her beauty blog at http://madameiman.blogspot.com !

As always, happy melawa-lawa, ladies! ;)

Once A Nuffnanger, Now A Nuffie!

2011-02-12T19:29:00.021+08:00

I know, I know, I have been disappearing for quite some time now, I know. But the good news is, I am back! Not that anybody cares anyway, but whatever. :P

When I was working with Loveclients, I had the luxury of going to work at 10am, and being chauffeured every bloody day since Aien and I were working in the same office. But since that's no longer the case anymore, after doing a little calculation on the ridiculous parking fee (RM10/day), toll and petrol cost, I have decided to take the train.

Yes, that is what I have to go through everyday. God knows how much I hate the smelly crowd and the stinky trains! Unlike last time, now everyday is an early start for me as I have to leave the house latest by 7.30am and even then I will only reach the office at 9 - 9.30am. Yes, the story of my life! The only good thing about this is the fact that I have lost 4KGS out of walking and err, dieting, so I have trains to thank for, in a way. :P

One of the best things about being a Nuffie is that, I get to meet bloggers everyday! They would either drop by our office to collect their merchandise, or they would simply meet us at events like we held recently ; Burlesque Prrmiere Screening and the TuneTalk briefing.

with Lily (ciklily.com), Eric (eyriqazz.com), Daydeck (daydeck86.com) and Hamzah (terbangtinggitinggi.com)

If I don't get to see them on events, as mentioned earlier, I will still get to meet them when they drop by our office to collect their merchandises. And when they do, they would usually leave their trail behind on the Nuffnang Footprints Wall. Have you left your trail there yet?

Many of our bloggers have made a tour around Nuffnang office. However for those of you who have not, allow me to be your tour guide from this entry! ;)

Like all companies I've worked in so far, Nuffnang too practices an open-concept office. Here's a peek of our office when you step into our orange hut!

The very first time I stepped into Nuffnang office, I thought it was pretty cool. Slightly cluttered, but definitely cool. The office is cozy as you can see, but among all, this is my favorite spot! The chill spot where the Nuffies chill and lepak after a hard day at work! Cool kan!

Another cool thing about Nuffnang that I love is the fact that we are free to browse Facebook, Twitter and IM anyone during office hours as long as we get our work done! Now that's what being an adult is all about -- being in control of our own actions!

Heck, we even have two TVs in the office for everyone to watch while working! Mind you, kitorang tak tengok CNN or BBC channel ok, we watch Starworld, E! or HBO! :D

That's Junior Masterchef on TV! :D Oh and we also have our own little pantry, ...

... that it is always filled with "healthy" junks! Hehe.

And of course, the espresso machine. If I were so jakun when I first saw the espresso machine in Loveclients, now not anymore! Hehe. However, since I am still not a big fan of coffee besides the one and only Java Chip from Starbucks, I hardly ever use it.

Oh and who could ever forget, the aquarium meeting room! This is the very room that I went in for my interview and yes, the very room for who's about to get interviewed in the future too!

So that's all there is to it to Nuffnang office! Sighs. It's funny how life works sometimes, no? Last month I was just a regular Nuffnanger, blogging and sharing my thoughts away with my fellow blogger friends during my free time. Now I am a Nuffie in Nuffnang, and taking blogging/advertising industry very seriously! :)

Whatever it is, I am contented with what I am doing now, and I pray that I can go far in my career this time. For those of you who have yet to meet me, trust me, we will! As long as you're a blogger, and an active one at that, we will meet each other -- sooner or later. And when you do, don't be shy to say hi! :)

Have You Tabung Haji-ed Yet?

2011-01-30T21:12:00.004+08:00

My sister, Aien and I were in the car not too long ago, when she suddenly asked, "Have you guys registered for hajj yet?" And when we said no, she went on and on on how important it is to register now before the queue gets even longer, etc.

She even told us how her friend Riena actually saved up even when she was still in secondary school for this very purpose. Everybody was making fun of Kak Riena then, but who's laughing now, when Kak Riena recently came back from Mecca, happy that she's performed one of her duties as a Muslim even before she reaches 30?

What my sister said really knocked us hard on the head. We've been too busy saving up for other things, we forgot how important it is to also save for hajj. Mind you, the waiting list is not short. It can take more than 20 years for your turn to arrive!

Bearing this in mind, we quickly went to the nearest Tabung Haji branch in Shah Alam to register ourselves for hajj recently.

In order to register for hajj, one needs to open an account with Tabung Haji with a minimum amount of RM1300. We were asked to fill up a few forms, and after handing over the required amount of cash, we were each given a hajj book with our names written on it.

As expected, our turn isn't going to be anywhere near soon. In fact, our turn will only arrive in year 2037! We were doing calculations in our head, and we realized that we would only be able to perform our hajj only when we reach.. oh my, 52!

That's us all wrinkled and old! Realizing how long the queue is, we felt asthough it was our responsibility to avoid the same thing from happening to Aydein. Hence, we brought Aydein's birth certificate and registered Aydein for hajj on the same day as well.

In 26 years, Aydein would be 27 years. By that time, insyaallah, he would be old enough to come together with us for hajj! Wouldn't it be wonderful to have your son together with you when you perform your hajj? :)

With that said, I urge all of my friends, married or not, to set aside some of your money and save up for the fifth pillar of Islam. You want to perform your ibadah while you're still able to do it. Not when you're too old and too weak to do anything. :)

Nuffnang, Here I Come!

2011-01-26T21:43:00.005+08:00

If you do follow my Twitter updates, you would know that I have been actively seeking for new jobs and attending interviews for the past 1 week.

It saddens me to have to leave Loveclients and the fact that I won't be working under the same company as my husband any longer, but given the company's current circumstances, I believe this is the right move, and that I am clearly better off with a new position in a new company.

I knew that I made the best decision by leaving Loveclients, because less than 24 hours from the point that I was interviewed with this company I've been dreaming about, I got a call from them telling me that I am accepted in their team! I was dizzy with happiness. I landed the job!

Okay, so here comes the news. Some of you may already knew about my new company from my tweets, but as for those of you that don't already know, well, ladies and gentleman, there's no secret there -- as you can see from my blog title, you're looking at the new Blogger Relations Executive at Nuffnang (MY) Sdn Bhd! :) :) :)

Yes lovelies, I will be working with Nuffnang the leading blog advertising company! Basically, my job scope requires me to communicate with bloggers, write anddd plan events! I love writing, I love blogging and I love planning events! So you can imagine the joy that I felt when I actually received the offer! This job and I are like match-made in heaven and I was practically flying without wings! :) :) :)

Today marked my first day working with the team and so far, so good. I love the working environment, the team and the company's policies, but most of all, I love that I was given a personal, brand new laptop to do my work! :) :)

With that said, I can't wait to see what tomorrow and the future has in store for me in Nuffnang! I have successfully achieved resolution #4 and I can't wait to achieve more! Here's to the brand new year, brand new me with the brand new job! Here's to 2011! ;)

Topshop Makeup Makeover

2011-01-23T20:07:00.010+08:00

When I was a kid, I used to sneak into my mother's room and tried out her lipsticks and eyeshadows. I would try out all the different colors and get super pissed when my mother found out and asked me to wash them all off, all because she said I was too young for all that.

So imagine the joy that I felt when I am finally "old enough" to have a little color to my face. It's as though I finally receive the golden ticket to the Makeup Factory! I love how even a little dash of makeup could do wonders on one's looks. For example, these chic and adorable ones from Topshop.

To be honest, Topshop makeup is new to me, and thanks to ThePinkStilettos who first introduced them in her blog, I must say, after one try, I just immediately fall in love with them. Let's find out why.

1. Topshop Solid Gel Eyeliner in Etch

+ I like how the dark pitch-black color accentuate my eyes. It is precisely what I need because I like to go for simple makeup that concentrates more on the eyes, and less on the lips/cheek. Compared to pencil/crayon eyeliners that I usually use, this gel eyeliner makes a thick, dark line easily. Your eyes are guaranteed to pop up immediately.

- However, the thing that I don't like about this gel eyeliner is the fact that I need to apply it many times before I can get the look I desired because it tends to get out of "gel" halfway, being the gel eyeliner that it is. Sometimes, it can also smudge if you're not careful. So if you're new at applying makeup to your eyes, I'd suggest that you stick to pencil/crayon eyeliners because this one can get pretty messy easily if you're not careful.

* Anyhow, this gel eyeliner comes in 4 different colors ; Etch black, Facet pink, Steely blue & Ravine green. Check them out here.

2. Topshop Lip Polish in Rhubarb

+ I love, love, LOVE this one! It's actually my favorite! Not only that it smells good (it has fruity smell to it), it also has the perfect color to my skin tone! I also love that it has a little sheer effect to it, so your lips actually glitter under the sunlight, just like diamonds! So cantik, I tell you!

- However, the only thing that turns me off is the fact that it does not come with any applicator/brush. So I will need to use either my finger or the cotton bud each time I want to apply the lip polish to my lips. Such a bummer.

* Anyhow, this one comes in 5 different colors ; Rhubarb, Truffle, Poetic, Lavender & Iced Coffee. Check them out here.

3. Topshop Powder Foundation

+ I love that this foundation suits my skin tone perfectly and personally, it works fine on me as of now. It is pretty long lasting and senang cerita, tak over. I've tried other brands and I always get the same comment from my husband, "Yang, macam hantu," or "Yang, too much lah," or "Yang, macam opera cina,". #_#. Now, I am not sure if he's just simply dah tak kuasa nak layan anymore or what, but never once did he complain about my makeup ever since the first time I applied this Topshop foundation to my face. So it should be good right? :)

- The only thing that's a little alaaaa is the fact that the casing is white as like most powder foundations, so it tends to get dirty easily!

* Anyhow, this one comes in 3 different shades ; Nude 1, Nude 2 & Nude 3. In the picture above, I was wearing Nude 2. Check them out here.

So if you're interested, you can find these and more only at Topshop KLCC. Other outlets takde okay, so kalau tangan tu dah menggatal nak try Topshop's latest makeup collection ni, sila lah terjah Topshop KLCC hari ini. I promise you, misti rasa macam nak beli the whole rack! :P

Speaking of which, the next time I go there, I'm thinking of getting their Skin Tint, Powder Blush and Cream Eyeshadow. Sumpah sangat tempting ok!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Got Ride?

2011-01-19T22:19:00.002+08:00

Aydein has a thing for rides since before. I am sure you knew from the entry I posted earlier.

We first noticed his interest in rides when he couldn't take his hands off his cousin's toy car during our Raya visit to my BIL's house. That's when we knew we just had to get one of his own!

Not long after that, we saw a hot red fire engine at a toy store near our office. It was too cute to ignore so we grabbed it right there and then. As expected, Aydein loved it! He kept going back and forth, back and forth around the house!

Of course, a kid can never have too many rides. That's why, toy or not, he would still get onto his toy train, get his little bum-bum on it, and ride it! :P

Oh, don't forget, his toy car too! :D

Knowing how obsessed he is with rides, we decided to surprise him with a gift right after he got out of the hospital. It is also a gift for him for behaving so well during his stay in the hospital. :) Lo and behold, Aydein's new ride! :D

Sighs, kids nowadays. I don't remember having any of these when I was a little kid!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Hijabi Girl

2011-01-12T04:09:00.018+08:00

I never paid much attention to fashion & beauty ever since I conceived Aydein, despite my love for them. That changed however, when I wrote my resolutions for year 2011. Now I am friends again with my makeup, heels and shawls.

I have always wanted to wear shawls. I loved how they are soft, colorful, and can be styled in many stylish ways. In fact, I wore it for a while when I was pregnant, but when Aydein came along, it was just too troublesome that I just had to switch to instant hijabs.

Instant hijabs are very practical especially for a mom like me but I wanted a little oomph, a little spice in the way I look. That's why, come 2011, I was all for shawls and colorful colors. I was also bored of the same way that most ladies tie their scarves, so I tried something different, something that looks like this.

Although not everyone fancy this style, however to me, it is different, casual and trendy. It softens the whole look somehow and I just totally dig it! But of course, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Some people dig it, some people don't. BUT I'm glad to know that many seem to dig it, from the response I got from my FB! :D

Heee thanks people, you guys rawk my sawks! :D What about you, do you dig it or ditch it? :P

Anyway, as you might have noticed, I don't usually put up vain pictures of me much on my blog. Eversince Aydein came along, he's been stealing all the limelight from me all to himself! Not that I mind anyway, he is ten times better looking than me :P But just for this one time, here's another piece of me with another shawl that I bought recently. Look at the embellishments, I love how they sway with me when I walk!

And then, as it happens, the country is suddenly shaken by this fashion icon in the muslimah fashion industry, the chic and the none other, Hana Tajima Simpson. I actually knew about her even way before she made her appearance during the recent Live Fashion/Love Music event. However, again, I couldn't care less about beauty & fashion then because the only thing that revolves around me then was my baby.

That's why, when she made her appearance in Malaysia recently, it just doubled my spirit! I am so inspired by her, I even purchased her infamous chiffon scarf snood, from her Maysaa label. I am telling you, the quality of the material is so top notch that it was worth the RM104 (including delivery fees) spent on this! Just look at the parcel. Have you ever received a parcel nicely wrapped like this? :D

And when I put it on, I instantly feel like a supermodel! Okay, I'm exaggerating hehe. But really, just like its website says, with one simple zip fastening at the back, it's the quickest way to a high fashion look!

It may just look like any ordinary hijabs with chiffon lining out there to you, but honestly, they are nothing quite like this. You will only feel the difference when you put it on. And the best thing is, you can style it in many different ways.

Another quick style that I like to do when wearing this Maysaa snood is by bringing the chiffon layer to the front (refer Hana's picture above). I find it classy in the effortless sort of way :D Of course, there are tons of other styles you can do with this scarf -- you just have to be creative about it! For example, I don't know this girl (I found out that her name is Yanny) but I was bloghopping and I like how she wears her Maysaa snood. Simple, neat and simply cantik! :)

Oh and this Maysaa chiffon snood also both covers the neck and part of the chest/back, so it makes styling even easier! :)

So for those of you who haven't got it yet, get it now and I promise you, it will be worth every penny spent! For any faulties, you can even have it returned and get a replacement for FREE. On top of that, you would also be getting 10% off the next purchase! BEST KANNNN! Jangan sengaja rosakkan tudung tu udah la ye.. :P

Until then, happy melawa-lawa, ladies! ;)

Hello Mr Nebulizer, We Meet Again.

2010-12-30T10:43:00.002+08:00

I am not sure if you knew, but recently, papa was admitted to Tropicana Medical Centre for upper respiratory system infection. He was coughing badly and was in a bad state of health that we had no choice but to admit him to the hospital for close monitoring and care.

About the same time, I was coughing badly myself. Mama suspected I might have gotten the bug from papa so she took me to the clinic nearby and I got better after a few sessions of nebulizer treatment.

However, after 2 weeks, the attack came again. I started coughing badly again and it got so severe that even a few sessions of nebulizer treatment weren't doing any good to me. I was still coughing badly, my breathing was harsh and chesty, and I had a lot of phlegm in my lungs. Suspecting that it is acute bronchiolitis infection, the doctor immediately wrote a referral letter and I was admitted to Sime Darby Medical Centre.

Here, I am monitored very closely. Believe it or not, I have to take the nebulizer treatment every 3 hourly! I used to hate Mr Nebulizer so much. But now, we are so buddy-buddy, I can even smile and giggle during the session. Heck, sometimes I even sleep during the session!

I do miss home, though. Although the friendly nurses here keep bringing me delicious food, I hardly eat them. I miss home cooked food! Luckily mama brought me something from home to keep me company. They're my friends Cookie Pot, Choo Choo Train and Speedy Car!

Not only that, I also received a surprise get-well-soon gift from my cousin Farah. Look what she got for me!

Sweet, isn't she? :) Oh, good news! The doctor swung by this morning and she said that I am getting much, much better. Although the phlegm is still there (it takes 2-3 weeks to clear off) but at least the wheezing is gone. The best thing is, she said I can go home today!

Thanks all for all your prayers and support! I love yous!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Keeping The Spirit Up!

2010-12-26T12:06:00.006+08:00

Can you believe it? In less than a week, we will be embracing another new year, Year 2011! It may be just another year for some of you as it has been for many years for me before, but this year, I am adamant to make some changes in my life.

This year, I have a lot to change. I have got so much to do, so much to achieve, I am bursting with excitement! This is my 2011 resolutions, and this is what I am going to achieve! (Ok, what I PLAN to achieve, that is. :D)

1. I am going to LOSE WEIGHT.

It SUCKS (SO BAD!) not being able to fit into the nice tops and outfits like I could last time. It sucks even MORE when you see there are MANY HOT MOMS out there that could still strut glamorously in their stylish stilettos and clothes while carrying their baby in one hand without losing their glamour.

I WANT to be THAT kind of a mom, not just because it will boost my confidence, but it is also a healthy lifestyle that EVERYONE should live with. That is why, I am going to make myself lose that darn 10kgs and get back my pre-pregnancy weight, if that's the last thing I would do! I am aiming to lose 1-2 kgs every month and I am giving myself 6 months to achieve it. I have actually already started working on it, and it's showing a really good progress so far. Let's just hope it stays that way for a very long time! :D

2. I am going to have an EXTERIOR MAKEOVER.

I love fashion & beauty. Truly. But ever since I had Aydein in my life, I just couldn't be bothered. Heck, I don't even care going out without a single dash of makeup on! But that's going to change. Although makeup is not necessary because my husband likes me "natural" the way I am, I still want to be more presentable, more in touch with my feminine side.

3 things I want to do :

1. Get my hair done.
It's been a long time since I did anything to my hair, so that's going to change.

2. Get colored lenses.
Simply because your eyes will look bigger, and more cantik when you have contact lenses on! I am going for either hazel brown or grey, whichever suits me better. Maybe even both! :D

3. Get new tops, shoes and outfits.
I am sick of wearing the same baju over and over so I am going to get some new tops (and shoes, and outfits) to go with the new me!

3. I am going to have an INTERIOR MAKEOVER.

Praise to Allah, I am blessed to have the family that I have now, at such young age. I am only 25 (26 next year), and already I am blessed with an understanding husband, a smart son, and 2 supportive families.

3 things I want to do :

1. Better wife to Aien

Unfortunately, I am a very opinionated person (since I was little!) so I tend to argue at anything that doesn't seem right to me. However insyaallah, I will try my best to listen more, and give in more. O Allah, please grant me all the strength and patience in the world to do just this!

2. Better mother to Aydein

I try, but somehow I have a feeling that I haven't given Aydein enough. Being a working mom that I am, I don't get to spend that much of quality time with him that a mom should. I need to find time, I must find time.

3. Better daughter to my parents and PILs

My parents have been complaining that I haven't been calling them much. Again, it all comes back to time. But that shouldn't be an excuse. Everybody is busy, but they still find time to call their parents every once a week, no? Again, I need to find time, I must find time.

4. I am going to work on getting my income raised

Easier said than done, but seriously, I am going to make sure I earn more than I did this year, no matter what it takes. How to live a comfortable life without that extra $$ kan?

5. I am going to start my own business

I have been dreaming to set up my own business for some time now. There are 2, 3 ideas that's playing in my mind, but now isn't the right time for me to execute it. When and if I finally launch it, you will be the first to know!

So those are my 5 resolutions for the year 2011 that I hope to achieve. Some say you shouldn't have resolutions, because resolutions are bullpoop. But I say it's better to have resolutions and fail after trying, than not having any and fail without even trying!

As George Bernard Shaw said "Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything". :)

Have a brilliant start to the year, everyone!

Maclaren Baby

2010-12-23T14:24:00.004+08:00

Aydein has been a Maclaren baby ever since he was.. well, a baby. I could still remember how excited I was the first time I pushed him on his stroller. He was a few months old, and the first place we took him of all places was to the PC Fair at PWTC.

Although there are many other brands available in the market, we chose Maclaren for it's simplicity, practicality, and most importantly, it's light weight.

The stroller was one of the closest things we had to us when it comes to baby-stuff besides diapers and milk. Everywhere we go, it goes with us.

We had it when we went shopping,

When we went traveling,

When we meet our friends,

Or simply when we go out visiting places.

That's why, when it was taken away from us the night we got robbed (it was at the back, in the car trunk), we felt the loss. We even had to borrow a family's stroller when we went out recently -- which also happen to be, a Maclaren!

It sucks not having a stroller, you know. Jalan-jalan without a stroller is definitely not as convenient. So we started scouring for a new stroller, and after a lot of scouring, look what just arrived for us recently. Introducing, Aydein's new ride!

The new and dashing Maclaren Black/Champagne Quest Sport! Now that we've got the ride, who wants to go jalan-jalan with us? :)

Stylish = Louis Vuitton?

2010-12-17T23:08:00.011+08:00

Ever since I became a mom, somehow I like to check out hot moms with a sense of style rather than those trendy, single ladies. I mean, it's easy to look like a million dollar chic when you're not married, but for moms, even applying em makeup could be a challenge, especially when you have a toddler who constantly tugs on your skirt or arm, just to crave for attention! You'd be a champion if you manage to pull off clean smokey eyes without looking like a crazy panda. Not to mention, those moms who could still maintain their slim figure even after they've put on more than 10kgs! Seriously, you ladies definitely have my respect!

However, I can't help but to notice that more often that not, these hot, stylish moms usually have the same things in common.

1. They carry Louis Vuitton handbag

2. They use Allerhand diaper bag (if not the designer ones)

3. They push MacLaren stroller.

Okay, I could understand MacLaren stroller for its light weight and practicality. Also for Allerhand diaper bag for its many compartments, but Louis Vuitton? Why Louis Vuitton? Why ALWAYS Louis Vuitton?

Now, it is very important for everybody to know that I have nothing against LV bags or those wearing them. In fact, kalau sape-sape yang bermurah hati nak hadiahkan I satu, kecik tapak tangan, nyiru I tadahkan! Hee.

It's just that, I just don't understand why it always has to be LV?

Why not this killer, sexy one by Prada?

Or this chic, elegant one by Gucci?

Or this drop-dead-gorgeous, glamorous one by Chanel?

I don't know why, but every time I turn to look at a stylish lady (married with kids or not) and look at her handbag, it always has to be LV. It's so cliche!

Hmm. If I am rich one day, I want to make a difference lah. I want to strut in boots and carry Chanel handbag here and there. Or Prada. Or Gucci.

LV? Perhaps, but maybe the last one on the list.

Heh. Berangan!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Let's Go To The Zoo!

2010-12-14T18:56:00.022+08:00

By now, you probably know my love for animals after watching the video that mama posted. I get super excited when I see cats, dogs, even cows that Mak Long, mama and papa thought it would be great to bring me to the National Zoo now that I appreciate animals better! I was so pumped up and ready to go, I even volunteered to walk alllll the way!

When I was at the zoo, I saw many animals along the way. Monkeys, birds, hippos, even crocodiles! But you know, among all, this particular one interests me the most! Guess what it is!

Hehe yes, the goats! Don't ask me why, though, mama thinks it may be because I smell like them! Ape lah mama ni..

I also went to the reptiles section to see all sorts of snakes! Mama told me they are poisonous, that's why they are kept in tanks. Did you know that there are also "albino" snakes? If you look closely, you can see an albino burmese python in the tank. Wicked!

Too much of walking was making all of us tired. Thank goodness for us, there was an animal show happening nearby. We took this chance to give our feet a little break while being entertained by the smart, well trained animals. Look! The sea lion jumped so high!

I had a good time at the animal show but it seems that the fun never stops at this zoo! We then stopped by at the "petting zoo" where I got to feed the goats, calf, and donkeys! It was so fun, I tell you!

Oh you know, when mama first gave the carrot to me, I thought it was for me hehee. So when mama asked me to feed the donkey, I refused and protested! Sorry donkey, I thought the carrot was for me! :P

After that, we went to say hello to the tallest animal in the zoo -- the giraffe! The giraffes aren't just tall to me, they are also very pretty! Look at the beautiful patterns on their body! Cantik tau!

We also did not forget to swing by and greet Mr Elephant! They're so huge, I wonder how much this one weigh?

All the walking and sight seeing was making me tired. I saw too many animals in one day, it was giving me a headache! I wonder if there are still many more to see? Help!

But before I knew it, I was already dozing away in lalaland.

It's such a bummer, because I didn't get to see the king of the jungle "in person"! Luckily papa was kind enough to take a few shots of them as well as the tiger and shared them with me! Both are my favorites, and I actually missed them! Grrr!

It's okay though, I'll make sure I'll catch them again next time! Thanks Ma, Pa, Mak Long, Pak Long and those who were there with me on this zoo trip. I had a great time! :)

Girl's Night Out

2010-12-08T18:27:00.001+08:00

As much as I love spending time with my two superboys, somehow there's just something about chilling out with my girlfriends that makes me feel so young and carefree again.

So when my friend suggested that we throw a small bachelorette party for our colleague Fareeza not too long ago, I was all for it!

This is Fareeza, the celebrated one. Don't we just look like sisters? :D

Anyway, before heading to KLCC, being the "girl" that we are, we stopped by the Ladies for a quick refreshment. Biasalah, dah kata perempuan kan. :P

Once we were ready, we headed down to KLCC to hunt for our best-est friend in the world that never fails to let us down even at the crappiest time -- ice cream!

For once I didn't have to worry about milk, diapers or foods flying on the table! All that matters were the delicious Haagen Dazs's fondue that we finished in less than 15 mins! It was THAT sedap ok!

Once our tummies were filled with the sinfully delicious ice cream, we went to Nail Parlor to get our nails done.

That's right, it was mani-padi time! I can't remember the last time I actually had this luxury to pamper myself, so after a long and stressful week, a little me-time was just what I needed!

My nails were neatly trimmed, buffed and polished, it was honestly heartbreaking to see them getting smeared with the nasty turmeric powder from cooking! But it's okay. Melawa-melawa jugak, responsibility kene buat jugak kan! ;)

Shortly after the manicure session, my friend and I had quite a blast singing out hearts out at a karaoke centre nearby. After belting out a few songs, we said our goodnights to each other and headed home with a satisfied smile plastered on our faces. It was definitely a great night out! :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Adam's 2nd Birthday Party

2010-12-06T15:32:00.009+08:00

If you think that only adults know how to party, then you have yet to meet my friends and I!

You see, my friend Adam just turned 2 a few weeks back and we were invited to his birthday bash. Unlike many birthday parties I attended earlier, the best thing about this party is it was held at Kizsport Centre, OU.

Wait. Hey, I remember this place! I followed mama to this place a couple of months back for Nuffnang's bloggers event. No wonder everything looked so familiar then! :P

My family and I arrived quite late that day because we were busy looking for the perfect gift for my buddy. In the end, we bought a train set for him. Hope you liked it, buddy!

As soon as we arrived, I joined my buddies at the play area. It was so much fun, I wish I could keep the rides to myself!

Shortly after that we were brought to a private room where the birthday was held. The moment I stepped into the room, I was overjoyed! There were balloons everywhere! But before I knew it, my tummy was growling. Lucky for me, they had kids' food served on the table. Mmm yummy!

When it was time for cake cutting ceremony, as usual, all of us gathered around the birthday boy and sang a birthday song to him. Oh, did I tell you the cake was delicious? I couldn't get enough!

After that, we all gathered to take group photo together. Introducing, your future football stars, ladies and gentlemen! :D

Of course, what's a party without fun and games? Once I was refilled, I wasted no time and dived into the pool of balls! The pool was just like what I had on my party, only bigger, with more balls!

Before we went back, we took along with us a little gift from Adam's mummy.

Thanks again Adam and family for having us. We had tons of fun! Until we meet again! ;)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Just Because I Miss Blogging

2010-11-30T17:50:00.011+08:00

If you have me in your Twitter account, you would know how much I miss blogging.

However I have been swamped with too much work that I simply do not have time to update my blog as regularly as before! Mind you, I have tons to tell, but I just can't find the time, thanks to the new job scope I am on now :(

The only thing that gets updated regularly is my Twitter account, because it allows me to give out (and receive) short, timely messages, just like SMS. I would love for every one of you to have an account too, because then we can share tweets (and updates) with each other, frequently! :)

So this is my short, timely update to all of you, just because I miss blogging so much. Until then, stay glued for a new entry from me (though I don't know when!).

XOXO.

Hello!

2010-11-03T16:47:00.005+08:00

It's funny how babies would crack up like crazy at a simple joke or funny sounds. Like 2 nights ago, Aydein was on the bed playing with my phone and I was on my way to the washroom when I thought I heard him say "Hello?".

I replied a "Helloo!" back in a funny voice, which got him laughing even more! And it went on and on that I quickly grabbed Aien's phone and have it recorded while Aien continued to amuse him. :P

He must have laughed a bit too much and a bit too hard that it drained the energy out of him, because he slept soundly and easily after that! :P

Oh, I am sorry if the video shakes at some parts. His laugh was so contagious, I had to hold myself back from bursting into hysterical laugh myself! ;)

The Night We Got Robbed

2010-10-29T16:51:00.002+08:00

I must have told the same story for at least 10 times or more now, but just in case there's any of you who have yet to know the story, here it is.

It happened around 9.50pm, we went to our new house owner's house in Sunway -- just a few blocks away from our current house, to settle some loan issues for our new house.

Aien pressed the bell and waited outside of the house for the new house owner to come out. I waited in the car with Aydein on my lap, while browsing through the net with the phone in my hand.

We were there for barely 5 minutes when suddenly the driver's door suddenly flung open, and I saw 3 indian men crowding Aien, one of them with parang and baseball bat in his hands.

I was confused. At first I thought it was the house owner's bodyguards, trying to tell us to leave the premise. But before I knew it, I heard Aien said "Eh, kenape ni!" and one of the men shouted "Jangan buat apa-apa ah! Jangan buat apa-apa!" while levelling the parang at Aien's face.

Then suddenly the door at my side flew open! Everything happened so quickly, I barely even had time to think. All I knew was that I had to get out of the car fast when the man shouted "Akak keluar sekarang! Akak keluar sekarang!"

Outside, I heard Aien told the men, not to hurt Aydein and I, so I wasted no time and got out of the car. I already knew right then that we were mugged and the best thing to do was to do what we were told to do (get out of the car) before anything worse could happen.

Once I stepped out the car, I saw the whole thing. How there were about 5-6 men on their motorbikes on standby with more parangs in their hands, and how they managed to conceal their looks by putting their helmets on.

After telling us not to say or do anything one more time, all of the 3 men earlier got into our car and sped off, while the rest of the bikers tailed closely behind them.

Aien and I watched in dismay as they took our Wira away, helpless and dumbfounded. Luckily there was a chinese man nearby, and he helped to drive us back home.

Shortly after we reached our place, the police came to get further details on the issue. And believe it or not, our car is the third car to be reported stolen that night!

And to make matters worse, a few hours later, we found out that my in laws house in Seksyen 11 Shah Alam got broken into the very same night while they were in Johor. Some valuebles were taken away, but alhamdulillah nothing major happened and noone was hurt.

What happened to us last night made me realize how dangerous the world is out there and that crime could happen anywhere, even if it is in your very own neighborhood, or your very own house!

Things could get worse than this, we could have lost a life last night, but alhamdulillah, Allah protected us from all that. I believe there is a "hikmah" for all that have happened, and I am just very grateful that all of us came out of it unharmed.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Merry Go Round

2010-10-28T01:14:00.007+08:00

There are many reasons why kids just love getting on rides. They are colorful, they move round and round (or back and forth) and they usually have catchy tunes to them while they move about.

Younger babies may not appreciate them all that much, but if you have an active 1 year old who is seeing the world differently now, rides seem to be something impossible to dismiss, especially when there are many of them at the shopping malls!

The very first time we put Aydein on his first ride was a couple months back, in Times Square. I guess he was still a little too young to appreciate the theme park back then, so it didn't look as though he was having as much fun then.

Not for long, though! Now, each time we pass by any rides, he would actually pull our hands, point towards the rides, and drain our pockets with the ride's fee every 5 minutes! (the ride usually only lasts for 5 minutes, you see.)

This was taken not too long ago, at one of the rides in KLCC. See how much he was enjoying the merry go round? :)

It's amazing how simple things like this could make a child's day. And if only we could all see the world through the eyes of a child, this world would definitely be a better place to live in!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Is It Zoo Time Yet?

2010-10-21T23:21:00.013+08:00

When you have a baby, timing is everything.

There used to be a time when the toy car you bought meant nothing but something for him to chew on. Now, it's something that he can't sleep without. There used to be a time when playground was not even in his dictionary. Now, it's a place he wants to go to everyday. And there used to be a time when a hamster meant nothing but a furball to him. Now, the very sight of it would make him jump with joy!

Yes. Timing is everything. So when you see your baby shrieks with joy when he sees a cat, even if it means looking at cats' images from his papa's laptop, that's when you know, he's ready for a trip to the zoo! :)

Notice how he was too excited that his papa even had to pull him back from scratching the screen? Uh huh. This boy is definitely ready for the zoo! ;)

Quadruple Celebration!

2010-10-21T12:19:00.008+08:00

Being a Libra must be wonderful for my husband Aien, this year. What's not to like, especially when you're being celebrated 4 times for one occasion!

First, there was the advance birthday celebration with the officemates. Actually, the whole thing was my idea because I thought it would be fun for him to celebrate his special day with the crazy people we have in the office. You have no idea how tricky it was to throw a surprise for someone who lives under the same roof!

You see, at first, I planned to throw him a party at a private place decorated with balloons and streamers, something like this.

I don't know why, but ever since I organized Aydein's first birthday party, I am so into event planning. I am even considering doing it full-time! Unfortunately, I could not find any party shops around my workplace (not even KLCC and Pavillion) that I ended up arranging the little get-together at Kenny Rogers instead, and requested the staffs to put up some balloons at the place.

Once I got everything planned out, I told Aien to join us for a party, assuming the party is for Syikin's (our colleague) Farewell Party later that day. It was easy to trick him into believing this as coincidentally, that day was really Syikin's last day with Loveclients. However I told him I had to leave earlier because I needed to accompany my friend who wanted to get a pair of shoes for her wedding in KLCC, so we decided to meet each other at Kenny Rogers later.

Meantime, I went to KLCC with my friends, and looked for a cake for the birthday boy. I wanted to get an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins for Aien, but there is no Baskin Robbins in KLCC. So in the end, I settled with Chocolate Strawberry from Secret Recipe which is actually very, very nice!

Once everything is set up, I lit the candles and waited for Aien to show up. And once we saw the glimpse of him, we all sang a birthday song to the birthday boy who clearly looked really surprise at first, but managed to regain his self control by smiling widely. Happy birthday, sayang!

Then, on October 3rd, Aien and I went for a movie together to celebrate his actual birth day. Once we are done with movie, we went back and picked Aydein up for a family dinner at Dome's. It was not much, but it was meaningful because we had the 3 of us together.

And that night, I called all of Aien's siblings and asked them if they could all gather at my in laws house for Aien's third round of celebration -- with the big family this time. I bought yet another cake from Secret Recipe (Pecan Butterscotch, which is just as nice!) and had a good time celebrating them with the bunch.

Finally, a few days later, my elder sister Sarah came over and we all went for the final celebration at Zanmai Sushi -- her treat! I wished we had the rest of my family around though, but it was still a wonderful evening because hey, sushi would make anybody's day! ;)

Happy 25th birthday, sweets! May you have another wonderful year of good health, laughter, happiness and joy!

My Personal Favorite

2010-10-19T14:55:00.022+08:00

Among the many cool friends mama has, I think the coolest of them all has got to be... Aunty Zatie, she's my personal favorite!

Not that I will ever stand a chance with her next to the macho Uncle Ejad, but you know, she has always been there every step of the way since the day I was born!

Auntie Zatie is the one on the left, in purple.

According to mama, she has been following my development since day 1 through this blog. Once in a while, she would drop a line and ask how I am. Not just that, she along with Uncle Ejad would go through all the trouble of giving me a little something now and then, each time they think of me!

You see, when they came and visit me when I was a newborn, they brought along with them a set of adorable clothes as well as a Lamaze plush toy that I named Dancing Tiger. Remember him from this post? I called him Dancing Tiger for a reason -- because you can pull the tail to make it jiggle/shake!

A few months after that, mama came back from work with another gift from Auntie Zatie for me. It was a cute blue bib that says "Thank Heaven for Little Boys". I really liked the bib, that I used it over and over till it gets worn out! Heee.

Unfortunately, when it was time for me to meet her on my first birthday a few months back, she was not able to make it as she had to attend her brother's wedding. But that didn't stop her from sharing that meaningful day with me still.

Last week, Auntie Zatie and Uncle Ejad swung by my place and surprised me with a post-birthday gift that comes with a special card!

It was a big gift for a small me! I got really excited and curious that I started ripping the wrapping gift open! Hmm I wonder what's inside?

And after a bit of help from mama, I finally managed to rip it open! Oh, look! It's a funky Shape Sorter!

Thanks Auntie Zatie, and Uncle Ejad! :D

Did you know though, if mama only knew about shopping, fun and games before she got hitched back then, Auntie Zatie on the hand, is already well equipped with motherhood knowledge like Medela, EBM and things that mama only knew after she had me! Isn't that awesome? :)

Mama said although Auntie Zatie is yet to tie the knot with Uncle Ejad, she has a good feeling that Auntie Zatie would be a good mother in a future knowing how well versed Auntie Zatie is when it comes to motherhood! So Uncle Ejad, make sure you waste no time and marry Aunty Zatie quickly so I can play with your future baby! ;)

Until I see the both of you again next time, take care! :)

What You Can Do I Can Do Too (Part 7)

2010-10-14T14:55:00.013+08:00

It feels like a long time since I last updated on Aydein's progress. It's amazing how he has progressed so much from just rolling on his back, to creeping, to crawling, to cruising, to standing, and recently, walking. Just when I thought he could not surprise us with anything anymore, he would do something to leave us glowing with pride yet again. :)

Anyway, at 1 year 4 months, Aydein can do a lot more things as compared to before.

He can walk - very fast too if he wants to.
He can even walk backwards whenever he feels like amusing us!
He can also twirl his body round and round for the fun of it.
He goes to you when you say "come here"
He will get the thing that you point to while saying "aydein take/ambik?"
He puts out his hand at the sink when you say "wash hands"
He gives an object to someone if prompted, e.g. "give papa"
He puts out his foot out when prompted, "wear shoes?"

He can shake his head "no" and meaning it.
He knows the comb goes to the head.
He knows the toothbrush goes into the mouth.
He knows that the phone goes to the ear.

He gives you a big, wet kiss on the cheek, and lips too, if you pout your lips at him.
He can sleep through the night at times.
He can sleep by himself although at times.
He can eat by himself.

He refers "cat" as "auw".
He is overprotective over the people he loves, like.. ME! Hee!
He will clasp his hands at both of his ears while saying "Awaaba!" when he sees anyone performing solah.

He can now say papa clearly. Among others are : mama, ball, bye, bird to name a few.
He can express himself clearly by pointing to the things he wants.
He can "salam" and kiss your hand.
He enjoys handing objects to you.
He will also bend down and "sujud" when he sees anyone performing solah.

However, he has also picked up some habits/attitudes over the past couple of months that were nonexistence earlier.

He will roll and roll on top of me before he falls asleep every night.
He is very clingy, especially with me, nowadays.
He doesn't warm up to strangers as easily as before. Talk about stranger anxiety!
He knows now "bye" means leaving him so he'll cry each time we leave him for work.
He has a say to what goes into his system (fussy eater alert!).
He tends to throw a tantrum when he doesn't get what he wants.
He sometimes likes people to get things for him, instead of getting it himself.
He is possessive of his toys whenever his elder cousins are around.
He has a habit of handing over his bottle after each feeding.

Aydein keeps surprising us with all the little things he does. It's been such an amazing experience watching him grow up. He has grown so much and so fast over the past couple of months that sometimes I wish I could slow down the time so he will be my little baby forever. It's true what they say, no? Cherish every passing moment with your baby, because babies won't be babies forever!

Introducing My New Obsession!

2010-10-08T05:54:00.014+08:00

2010 seems to be full of surprises for me. First, I received a bouquet of flowers for Mother's Day from my colleagues. Then I received a chic tote as a surprise gift from Aien when he came back from US. And yesterday, he managed to get a crazy shriek from me again when he surprised me with.. this!

Okay, hold your horses, let me explain!

You see, on my last birthday, Aien told me that his gift to me would be a little late. He would not tell me why at first, but eventually he did (because I pressed him!), and that it would be an iPhone 4. When I heard this, I was dizzy with happiness! However, I realized that we are not from the rich and famous. iPhone 4 to me costs quite a bit, hence, I feel that it would be a waste for Aien to spend that much on me. So I told him to forget the idea and get me something else -- something cheaper, much cheaper that that.

I have gotten my eyes on iPhone 3GS for quite some time now however, I even asked Aien to get a second hand one for me, just so he would not spend so much on a new one for me. Honestly, I just needed something that I could use to update my blog and other social network applications. Even a cheap phone with that functionality works for me because the Nokia 7370 I was using then simply cannot do that.

The Nokia 7370 that I hang onto, for nearly 5 years

He kept saying things like, "No, sabar lah," or "We'll find one that is best for you," or "Let's just wait dulu", that I simply stopped asking or hoping.

And then, yesterday, while I was working in the office, I suddenly heard an unfamiliar ringtone coming from my handbag. I peered inside my handbag and was confused to see an iPhone with an unknown number ringing in my handbag. It took me quite a while before I lifted it up and by the time I did, it stopped ringing. Still, I held the iPhone in my hand, staring at it for a while, trying to make out, why the hell was the iPhone doing in my bag? And then, it slowly registered. I turned around, and asked Aien, "Oh, my god. Did you get this for me? Is this iPhone mine?!" When he turned and just smiled, I shrieked and I shrieked and I shrieked like crazy! :D

And when the chaos is over, I asked him, why iPhone 4? Why not HTC, or 3GS or any other cheaper phones? He said simply because it is the best phone for me. :) And oh my, the trouble he went through just to surprise me with this iPhone! He told me he actually went to 5 different stores at 3 different locations and had to even forge my signature in order to buy the plan okay! Long story cut short, he went all out just to surprise me with this sleek beauty! Well, what can I say? His effort definitely paid off because he really did manage to surprise me yesterday! :D

Again, sweets, if you're reading this, thank you so much for this wonderful post-birthday gift. Patience definitely paid off, because hey, after months and months of waiting, I am now the proud owner of the new iPhone 4! :D

Raees Aryan's 1st Birthday Party

2010-09-26T11:11:00.030+08:00

I love birthday parties! Birthday parties are always filled with fun, food and colorful balloons! You see, my friend Raees just turned a year old. We first met each other at my very own first birthday party just a couple of months back. This time around, we went to his place to celebrate his first birthday!

Kids like me love gifts you see. That's why, I helped mama to wrap the gift I especially got for Raees earlier, and brought it along to the party!

As soon as I arrived, I was greeted by the birthday boy who happily accepted the gift that we brought him.

And then, without wasting anymore time, I started making my way into the living room that is filled with colorful toys and played with them.

However, eventhough there are so many toys scattered around the room, somehow, I have got my eyes fixed on this one thing.. It is..

That's right -- the baby pool! Yes, I would play with the balloons, I would play with the colorful blocks, I would play with the push toys, but in the end, I would still end up jumping back into the pool of balls!

Even when when everybody was busy playing toys, I would be busy in my little "hut"!

So you get what I mean. Auntie Irin even said I am the pool dominator! :P

Oh and another thing that caught my attention were the flying balloons! They were so beautiful, I even asked papa to lift me up so I could catch one!

Anyway, as I was busy playing, I couldn't help but to notice that, at a glance, Raees's outfit looked a lot like mine! Some even mistook me for Raees that day. Luckily they gave their gifts to the rightful owner of the gift or someone would have gone back smiling quietly by the end of the day! Hehe. Can you spot the difference?

I was not the only one having fun there. Mama too was also having a good time catching up with some of her friends there.

Oh did I tell you that, she also got the chance to meet Auntie Anne and Auntie Airin (also a mummy blogger) there? She obviously got the chance to meet Auntie Irin too, because, Auntie Irin is the host lah! Hehe.

And then, it was the moment we were all been waiting for -- the cake cutting ceremony! All of us gathered around the table and sang a birthday song to Raees. Once we were done, Raees -- or rather, his mommy and daddy -- blew the candle out!

Once we had the cake, we hung around a little longer before saying goodbye. But before we left the place, we took a little time to sign our names and wrote down our wishes for Raees at the Guest Book section.

We also brought back a little gift with us. It has chocolates and candies inside, and the best thing is, it is 100% handmade by Raees's mom!

Birthday parties always make me happy. And lucky me, I will get to attend another fun birthday party very, very soon too! Oooh I can hardly wait! Until then! ;)

My Non-Stop Raya

2010-09-22T22:45:00.012+08:00

If there's anyone that can describe "beraya sakan" best, it would be me. Seriously, I don't think I have ever been to so many places, and experiencing so many new things, like I had this Raya. I can't even remember having this much fun on my very first Raya last year. Oh well, then again, I was still a baby then. ;)

You know, we spent the first 2 days of Raya in papa's hometown in Batu Pahat, Johor. After Raya prayers, all of us gathered at the hall and "salam" with each other. Since I can now salam, I too did not miss to salam with everyone including Tok Ayah and Tok Mak! Tok Mak said since I am a big boy now and able to salam, I can now receive my very first "duit raya"!

Once everybody else arrived, we took our family picture together. If we were all dressed up in grey last year, this year, we were all for brown! ;)

Not in picture : Uncle Ujang's family

Later that night, we played firecrackers together. I was actually sleeping earlier, but got awaken when I heard the loud sound of the fireworks. It went BAM BAM BOOM in the air! I did not want to miss the fun, so I jumped in the wagon and played fire crackers with the rest of my cousins!

Then on the 3rd day of Raya, we started making our move to Penang. When we arrived, Opah was already waiting for us with the ketupat and rendang she made earlier. During our short visit there, I also managed to steal a little time to see my long-awaited friend -- Nawal!

Then, on the 4th Raya, we pushed off to Kedah to visit our family and friends. This is us at Atok's place just before leaving for Raya visit.

Not in picture : Pak Lang Raqib, the photographer.

And this is taken at my uncle's hometown, Kodiang.

The next day, we pushed off back to KL. Opah and Atok also came to KL together with us because they were following us to our next destination. So on the 6th day of Raya, my family as well as Pak Long, Mak Long, Atok and Opah headed to our next destination -- Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan!

We had the infamous Gulai Lemak Negeri Sembilan for lunch there, and according to mama, this is where Opah was born. Oh, and here's the exciting thing. Although my great-grandmother is no longer in this world, I actually got the chance to meet my great-great-grandmother!

Isn't it awesome? She's lived long enough to see her very own "piut" and that "piut" is me! Mama said she's about 90 ++ years, and she's already senile. Shortly after 5 minutes after you've introduced your name, she'll ask you yet again, "sapo ni?" And if you ask her how old she is, she would tell you that she's over a 100 years old! Hehe. But I wonder how she can live that long, though. Mama said it must be the healthy food!

Then, we made our way to Melaka. Here, we went to see Tok Lang's family. After having dinner with the family, we made our way back to KL.

After a few hours sleep that night, as soon as the sun appears, we packed our things yet again and pushed off to Penang -- for the second time! Actully, Mummy Na wanted to go for a little vacation in Penang and wondered if we wanted to come along, so we did, and that's how we ended up there once again!

We stayed in The Northam All Suites Hotel near Gurney. It's really a very nice hotel. All of their 142 suites have water-massage jacuzzi in it! I don't know about you, but I do not have jacuzzi in my house, so I was pretty excited to have this one in my suite!

During our trip here, I got the chance to go to almost all of the famous shopping malls available in Penang -- Komtar, Prangin Mall, Gurney Plaza and Queensbay. I also went to three different places in hunt for the best nasi kandar in town. We went to Nasi Kandar Butterworth, Nasi Kandar Tajuddin Hussain and Nasi Kandar Beratur. I don't think we've ever been to that many mamak restaurants in 3 days!

I also got on a huge, huge yellow boat! Papa said it's called as ferry. It's nothing like the boat rides I have experienced before. This one is really big and it can even carry many, many cars in it! That's me on the big boat! :)

And then, it was time for us to head on back to KL. We arrived shortly after midnight. I am telling you, from KL - Johor - Penang - Kedah - Penang - KL - Negeri 9 - Melaka - KL - Penang - KL, it was definitely one non-stop, tiring, but fun Raya to remember! :D

Anyway, here's a short pantun before I end my entry this time :

Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir & Batin,
Kalau nak duit raya, datang lah rumah Aydein!

Selamat hari raya, everybody! From The Little Family : Mama, Papa & Me! :P

The Walking Toddler

2010-09-21T12:10:00.022+08:00

Some say that a baby is not a toddler until he turns a year old. Some say a baby is not a toddler until he walks. Well I guess Aydein is officially a toddler now because he has turned a year old and can already walk!

It first started a few months back, late June to be exact -- just a few months after he started creeping and crawling. I watched proudly as he took his first few steps before toppling over. Then he gained a new skill by standing up by his own. He would bend over, balance himself with both of his hands on the floor, then push himself up straight. Aien and I would then clap and cheer for him, which he would gladly respond by clapping happily along.

I am guessing however, that crawling is faster for him compared to walking. That is why he would continue to crawl and refused to walk much after that although he should already be a pro walker by now.

During Raya however, things changed. He began to walk a lot and further, in fact. And last night, he made all of us proud again by walking a whole lot more! He was enjoying his new ability, that each time he fell, he pushed himself back up again, and continued walking -- more and more!

And although it is hard for our hearts to accept it, that's when we knew, our baby is not a baby anymore. :)

Wagyu Steak, Anyone?

2010-08-26T21:04:00.004+08:00

How do married couples usually celebrate their 2 Years Anniversary? A short getaway at a hotel by the beach? Quality time with family at home? A treat at a fine dining restaurant?

As for me, I got all 3 of them! The moment we reached home that Sunday morning after our short vacation in Langkawi, we spent the whole day just chillin' at home with the little one, after 2 days of non-stop activities.

The next day, Aien took me to San Francisco Steakhouse that does not only have a very nice ambiance to it, but it is also near to our house! It seems like the perfect place to go for a once-in-a-while treat, so just after Maghrib, we swung by that place for dinner.

Once we were seated, we took our time going through the menu. Too many good food for our small tummies lah! But we settled with Cod Fillet, and Wagyu Steak.

While we wait for the main course to arrive, we were first served with bread and butter for starters. I loved the butter! However, although they were good, I do feel that they can't beat the bread and butter in Italiannies! :D

Once we were done with the starters, the waitress brought in our main course. Aien was served with Chilean Cod Fillet with Miso Paste.

I was served with my order, Wagyu Rib Eye Steak. I had mine medium-well done. Hey, how come fine dining dishes are always very little and simple looking?

A little on Wagyu Steak. It is said to be the most expensive steak in the world. The steak is made of the highest meat quality, that it even has certification from CAAB and MSA EQA.

Did you know however, these cattle only eat grain for 500 days, and they are so goddamn pampered, they live in an airconditioned room, not allowed to move around much, and believe it or not, they even get massaged!

Easier said, ini spesis lembu pemalas tahap gaban, rasa macam nak lempang je! :P But seriously. Lembu? Kena massage? Even I yang pi kerja kene naik turun bukit pon, bila balik takde sape nak massage okay! Balik rumah kena masak lagi ade lah! :P

Although the steak is famous for being exceptionally tender, juicy, and flavorsome, for some reason I dont know, I found it just like any other steak. It's juicy yes, it's very nice yes. But to me, it's just not worth the price. Aien's cod fish on the other hand, was so extremely good, and so much better, I would choose that cod over Wagyu steak anytime! On top of that, it is 3 times cheaper than my steak!

Oh, did I also tell you that they also have menu for kids? The menu for kids also look very appetizing that I plan to bring Aydein here the next time we dine here! :)

Whatever it is, it was needless to say, a beautiful evening and a night to remember, thanks to the man I fell in love with then, now and forever -- the none other, Ahmad Azarinurazie, the one and only. :) Happy Anniversary again, sweetheart!

The Island Boy

2010-08-24T20:19:00.005+08:00

I have only turned a year old, and already I have had experiences going to weddings, carnivals, going on a boat ride and up the hills, and to add to the list is, island hopping! Yes, it was such a good time going from one island to another in a boat last weekend in Langkawi! It was my first time there, and I experienced a whole of things!

It was a whole new experience for me, right from the start of the journey. According to mama, the journey to Langkawi from KL would usually take 5 hours by car. Since we did not want to waste time on the road and would rather use the time spent on the island itself, we travelled to Langkawi by airplanes.

It was my first time on a plane and I am telling you, the plane was so huge, and the wind at the airport was very strong that I actually gaped at it the first time I saw it. I can't even take my eyes off of it. It was so cool!

Once we touched down, we were greeted by the friendly people at the airport. Many approached us and asked papa if we would like to ride in their cabs. At last, papa agreed to ride in one of those cabs and then headed towards Meritus Pelangi Hotel.

Meritus Pelangi Hotel is a very nice place to stay. It is a chalet-like resort, perfect for families. Once we reached there, we were greeted by Tok Mak and Tok Ayah who were already there waiting for us, with the rest of Mummy Na's family. Remember them from my previous entry? After a little chit chat, we were told to go to sleep because there would be tons of fun waiting for us the next day!

After breakfast the next day, the adventure started with our trip to Pulau Beras Basah. To get to this island, you'd have to go through strong waves and wind that are much, much stronger compared to the ones in Putrajaya and Mines. Since the weather was hot, mama applied some sunblock lotion all over me! She said it's important to avoid myself from getting burnt.

Once we reached Pulau Beras Basah, I shrieked with joy! It was a whole new experience for me! I have never been to a beach before, let alone stepping onto the sand, but even then, I did not once cry. I found it weird at first - stepping on an uneven surface, but I liked it!

Then, we spared no time and changed into our swimwear to get ready to dive into the salty sea water.

Finally, the moment I have been waiting for finally arrived -- I jumped into the sea! Seriously, you wanna know what I think? I think swimming in the pool is way nicer because sea water makes my eyes hurt! They tasted really bad when I accidentally swallowed them while swimming too!

Mama noticed my annoyance, so after a while, she took me out of the water and played sand with me at the shore while we watched the rest of the family having a blast in the water.

Oh did I tell you during this time, mama and papa also took the opportunity to get on the "banana boat"? I watched in awe as the boat flipped over and dropped mama and papa in the middle of the sea!

Oh and I also made friends with some of the origins there too! Say hello to my new friends, or rather, enemies! They like to steal stuffs when you're busy swimming, so you'd better have one eye open while you swim!

Once everyone has had enough with the water activities, the adventure begun -- island hopping! It was my first time going from an island to another, so it was really fun! First stop, eagle watching. Mama told me the eagles were beautiful! It was such a bummer that I missed this part, though. I fell asleep because all the excitement at the beach earlier was making me real tired and sleepy!

While I was sleeping, mama told me that they all went for a refill at a beautiful, floating restaurant at Teluk Batu Merah. The restaurant's name is Rezeki Sangkar Nelayan and it is very new. It seems that they just opened two weeks before our arrival there. Besides dining, you can also feed the HUGE fishes there. I'll show you the pictures later.

This restaurant allows you to pick the live seafood of your choice, before handing them over to the chefs who will cook them for you the way you want them. We chose a few live fishes, crabs, as well as a lobster! The lobster is such a beauty. Look!

While waiting for the chefs to cook our dishes, the rest of my family went fish feeding at the back of the restaurant. This was the big tiger shark I was telling you about! Mama told me it was surprisingly tame that she could actually "pat" it.

There were also other fishes there too. Here are some of the smaller, beautiful ones!

Once the dishes are ready, they spared no time and stuffed themselves with the delicious food.

While they were busy dining, feeding fishes, and chatting away, I was busy dozing away. A few minutes later, Muqeet, my fellow cousin follow suit!

I got up just in time as mama finished dining, so I got a taste of some of the fish leftovers which mama fed me along with the chinese fried rice that she ordered and packed for me earlier.

After that, I was up and energized for more sight seeing. Next up, Pulau Dayang Bunting. Can you see the shape of a pregnant maiden there? That is why that island is called Pulau Dayang Bunting! Tok Mak said that it is believed that any ladies who wish to get pregnant could come and swim here and they'd have higher chance to conceive. I think it is just an old wives tale.

Then after by passing a few more island, we went back home to clean ourselves and rest.

The next day, we went to Muzium Laman Padi Langkawi. Here, I got the chance to see the different types of equipment they use to process rice paddy, from the traditional equipments through to the modern ones.

Then, we went to Makam Mahsuri as well as Telaga Mahsuri. Mahsuri is known as the most beautiful lady in Langkawi then. She was accused of adultery and was killed by stabbing. It is said that when she got stabbed, white blood flowed from the wound, signifying her innocence. This is her tomb.

Then, on our last day there, I had the opportunity to move about in the sky in a cable car! I am telling you, it is so freaking high up in the sky, it even freaked papa out!

Haha. But im telling you, the view from up there was so breathtaking, it was all worth it!

Langkawi was definitely by far, one of the best trips I've ever had! Next up, how about a trip to Disneyland, mama? ;)

Mr Nebulizer and Aydein

2010-08-17T13:44:00.021+08:00

The one thing about kids socializing with each other is that, they tend to pick up a lot of things from each other. They learned new skill from each other, they try to copy or imitate each other, and for Aydein's case, they also pickup bugs or viruses from each other.

It feels just like yesterday since the last time Aydein fell sick. And recently, he seemed to have caught one of those bad bugs that caused him to cough badly. He's been coughing so bad, that phlegm started to block his airways and there's even wheezing sound coming out from inside his body, like an asthmatic person.

I initially thought that it would go away. But after a few days, it got even worse that I had to ask my sister doctor to come over and examine him. My sister told me Aydein's condition is pretty worrying and that he needed medical attention asap. And since she didn't have with her all the right equipments then, we were once again forced to bring him to the nearest hospital, so the first thing that came to mind was, SJMC.

Just after subuh yesterday, we went straight to the doctor and Aydein was diagnosed with Bronchiolitis, not Asthma. More about Bronchiolitis here. He said that the only way Aydein could have gotten this is from other kids around his age. It seems that it is rare for adults to transmit this virus so I'm guessing that he caught this from one of his cousins that he saw recently.

Poor baby had to be on nebulizer in order to get his airways cleared. He cried very badly. Very, very badly like I've never heard before. He was so very upset that he was forced to wear the mask and inhale the gas. He tried to struggle out of it, but we managed to hold him back. He cried and cried, and paid no interest even when we played his favorite Barney clip from his dad's phone.

Later that night, we brought him to see another doctor again the very same night, because he was not getting any better. This time, we went to Menara Clinic to see our regular Dr Alan instead, because we weren't very happy with the service given by the doctor we saw earlier in SJMC. Aydein was given another dose of nebulizer gas. That was when we know, how strong -- really strong, this boy is.

He pushed his body forward, wriggled left to right, just to free himself from the mask while crying out really, really loud. He was really strong, that he even managed to get out from Aien's grip and snatched the mask off his face. And when Aien held him back and I put the mask back on his face, he cried on top of his lungs and looked at me with that pleading look at his eyes. I felt really sorry for him, but I had to pull myself together, knowing that this is the best for him.

And this morning, we went to Menara Clinic again to follow up. Aydein has gotten much, much better since last night. There was very little wheezes, that the doctor felt that it was not necessary to put him on nebulizer anymore.

Aydein tired from crying

He advised that we come again tonight for checkup though just in case, because it tends to get cold at night and that's when the attack usually happens. Let's pray that Aydein recovers fast so there is no need for him to see Mr Nebulizer no more -- and save his tears.