theKnot

Packing..

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000+08:00

Two hundred and fifty-four outfits. Millions of diapers and wipes. One thousand pair of jackets and blankets. A huge suitcase with nothing but toys and story books inside.

Bottles of lotion.

Passports.

We are going on a holiday again! Our flight leaves tomorrow and as usual, I'm still wide awake (when will I ever learn not to drink coffee at night?). But what's making this holiday an even more joyful experience for us is because..

Little Z is going too! And we are going here to visit his grandparents where it is now winter! Double joy!

Do keep us in your prayers for a safe trip, and do take care while I'm away. My eyebags and I will see you when I get back.

Till next time!

In Florence..

2011-12-16T22:00:00.000+08:00

Walking through the streets of Florence is like traveling back in time – the very cobblestones that Michaelangelo and the Medici walked on remain essentially the same here. So, when I say everything is old, in Florence it really means old.

Considered the cradle of the Italian Renaissance, Florence is truly one of the world’s most beautiful places.

We stayed at a small family-run Hotel Joli just a couple of blocks away from the Santa Maria Novella station (where the father is in charge of the hotel’s reception with his son helping out with the translating, and mom? She prepares the breakfast, naturally) Overall, the hotel was decent, nothing too fancy but most important of all, clean.

Well rested for the night, and a few toasts with two cappuccinos in the morning later, off we went for yet another picturesque day.

With gorgeous panoramic view of Florence, Piazzale Michealangelo is a great place to let the city unfurls before you. The bus ride there took roughly about 30 minutes (so we had plenty of time daydreaming about owning a property there after seeing so many beautiful houses on the journey up) and Piazzale Michealangelo is also the home of the two faux David statues which were satisfactory in our opinion, as we didn’t want to pay to see the original one at the Galleria dell’ Accademia. And there are literally hundreds of historic places, museums, and galleries that are fantastic in their own right in Florence. From the thronged halls of the Uffizi to such open air troves as Piazza del Signoria, this city will keep art lovers busy for days.

And, if art isn’t your thing just as it is not ours either? Florence is worth explored just for the architecture alone (or in our case for the pizza, pasta and gelato too).

Oh, and the shoes.. Being the home-based of Salvatore Ferragamo, shoes and leather are a big thing here and I must admit, there’s nothing quite like an Italian leather handmade shoe. So, while you’re better off walking around the city in flats, don’t let that stop you from bringing those gorgeous high-heeled shoes home!

Arrivederci, Florence!

In Venice..

2011-12-16T21:08:00.000+08:00

The grand canal, the colours, the Byzantine mosaics, the mysterious alleyways, the gondolas, the pastries, the Venetian masks, the rich history that is palpable in the streets and squares - I was overwhelmed by it all.

Venice is something else.

I know anyone would feel the same way as they begin to explore this water-dependant city. A bit overpriced maybe, a bit too crowded maybe, but we still couldn’t find it in our hearts to not be in love with Venice.

We boarded a train from Milan bound for Venice’s Stazione Santa Lucia through Verona. And we started from Piazza San Marco before making our way to rest of the city. This square that Napolean called the “drawing room” of Europe has been the heart of Venice for more than 1000 years and it contains most of the city’s major attractions and some of Europe’s grandest cafes.

Looking back, it was the best decision for us when we avoided the main touristy paths with the exception of Piazza San Marco, and just wandered around the back alleyways instead. Because we got to see a different side of Venice, where the actual Venetians lived, and where it’s way more beautiful and relaxed.

Our last remaining day there was spent sitting at one of the cafes on the outdoor terraces to soak in the scene for one last time. Just sipping hot chocolate and watched the day went by.

And I think that last bit there, is the bit I’m going to remember most about Venice.

In Milan..

2011-12-11T22:50:00.001+08:00

So, we went around Milan. (I figured it's better for me to jump straight to the point as there isn't that much brain left after a half of chicken with rice and a corn on the cob by the side.) And it was wonderful!

We stayed at Aunt Rosy's (my sister's mother in law) cozy crib and she made us feel right at home with her motherly pestering - making sure we come home in time for dinner, calling us five times a day, and even offered to punch anyone who we think is being rude to us. And if there's one important thing you should know about Italian mothers.. is that they will never let you leave the dinner table without filling you up to the brim. To eat, is to simply love.

Now, seriously. She's such a warm and lively woman to be around with really, and it was simply mind blowing to hear about her lifelong experiences of traveling the globe.

Milan in short is just as everyone knows it - a fashion capital of the world and a very work-oriented city. To go shopping in Milan is a must and the beautiful and well-designed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is just the right place to do so. Both big Z and I had our fair share amount of gawking at all the beautiful people walking in and out of the Galleria. Situated just next to it, is the Duomo di Milano. This gothic looking cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete and what makes it even more unique is the exclusive pink marbles of Candoglia used in its architecture.

Both of the Galleria and the Duomo are basically the only main attractions here in Milan, and just happened to be so appropriately called by the locals as "The Living Room" of Milan.

Brilliant.

Ps. I did attempt to upload as many photos as I could but my willpower fell in short this time around. So, for more random shots from Milan, feel free to check out my flickr.

In Paris..

2011-12-04T14:21:00.001+08:00

I did mention I was going away, didn't I? Well, now I am back!

It's December and things have gone from good to better, bad to worse, and back to life as usual again. I have far too many things to say about our recent trip. But as much as I want to launch into a detailed perfect descriptions of each places we've been to in one post, I'd figured whittling them down in a few different posts would be less tiring to the eyes.

Europe flew by in a flurry of beautiful sights, croissants, gorgeous people, pizzas, autumn breeze, hospitality, hot chocolates, wet dogs, surprises, and love. So much love. The whole trip was marvelous and it left us feeling so liberated. To be able to breathe in foreign air and to see the world from a different angle was simply amazing.

And Paris?

We've all seen Paris from the movies, but I hadn't realize quite how beautiful a city Paris would be. I have been to London, Milan, Florence and Venice during this trip and I must say I preferred Paris to all those places. Big Z and I stayed at a delightfully small boutique Hotel Joyce just a short walk away from the Opera and Sacre coeur. I have nothing but good things to say about this hotel and I would totally recommend it to everyone.

Walking through the streets, soaking in the view as much as we could, I'd realized how interesting it was just to look at the Parisians. So trendy and glamorous, whilst also managing to be rather helpful and kind. What a clever balance to strike. But these were only from our experience and we've all heard stories about how stuck up they can really be. So, we're just glad we didn't encountered any problems despite of our excellent French.

And one of our main highlights of Paris was visiting the Mosquee de Paris (twice!). And the pleasure of sipping the famous mint tea at the Hammam cafe of course. It's currently the largest mosque in France and the third largest in Europe. Full of greenery and beautiful architecture, it was nice to be able to just blend in with the rest, and calmed ourselves there after an overwhelming day of sightseeing.

Paris was indeed a joie de vivre experience for the both of us but, right now? We're just glad to be back. All the things that happened before and after the trip made us nothing but thankful. Just to be alive and well. And I'd say there is nothing quite like travelling to the other side of the world to learn about life and make one go all reflective.

Till the next post.

And also..?

2011-10-09T05:20:00.002+08:00

Big Z and I are going to turn three tomorrow!

Other than that I have nothing much to tell really. But the thing is, our anniversary this year heralds change. And it's a huge leap from last year. A change in the shape of a holiday, for just us two. And it's only a matter of hours now before we leave.

Here's a clue..

So.. can you tell that I am very, very, very, excited?

Till then, blog.

via weheartit

And.. Little Z just turned two!

2011-10-09T04:58:00.000+08:00

Two years ago on this very day is the anniversary of the first time I saw you. And you were just perfect.

Just now as I put you to sleep, stroked your hair, and told you I love you. And tomorrow you'll wake up and tell me all kinds of things. Use your new words, gasp with delight with your new toys and race around for all the world to see. You've been entirely mine for twenty four months now, and even back then, pre-world, I felt our connection.

But now as you spend your five hours a week at playschool without me there, play with your friends without me there -- becoming yourself without me there. Every once in a while, like now, when I am weepy and a little saddened, I feel a pang when I think about these things, about you being in the world all by yourself. But I know, that's entirely the point.

You were born to be here, and now I must stand back and stand by for the treasured occasional hugs and kisses.

Happy birthday baby boy.

Oh, wow.

2011-10-09T03:48:00.001+08:00

It's half past three and I'm having trouble sleeping and considering my fourth cup of coffee. And I am almost resigned to the fact that I will sit here pondering on when am I ever going to bed until the point it's too late to even think about sleeping and I will just shrug my shoulders and go and get ready.

But before I spill the beans on why am I having this sleep-trouble or where am I getting ready to go to.. I thought I'd share a few happenings in photos while I was on my (blog) break first..

Eid : Fleeting thoughts..

2011-08-29T18:59:00.000+08:00

Casting away some sad-tinged feelings I have been having these last couple of days as Ramadan is ending, I am now gleefully waiting for Eid.

It's going to be a different one, however, with my parents not being back here in Malaysia this time around. And as much as I would like to make some allusion to how I feel about all of this, there is no way I can go into details without me weeping like a baby. I'm trying to keep up the spirit of Eid and see everything in a really positive light.

And it's actually looking mighty bright..

My sister and I are ready to cook up a storm using some recipes mom had sent us. But for that to commence, and the proper order of something as complicated as rendang can be made happened? I’m suspecting a lot of bickering in the kitchen. And while my brother in law, Roberto, may have an Italian cooking flair and skills up his sleeves, I simply can’t wait to see how he will fare this time!

We've finally finished off shopping today, and never in my experience have KLCC been so crowd less. It was all a jolly good time at first... but what I somehow failed to acknowledge, though, was the fact that everyone else is (of course) in their lovely respective hometown. So, it doesn't matter how many reassuring shopping bags from Zara I prepare myself with, the fact will remain that Eid won't be the same without my parents. Thankfully, having my two adorable Z’s around is making up for all this nonsense and in the end, the saying of home is where the heart is? Just proved to be true..

Right now, I’m back in the luxury of my home, waiting for that first beautiful sound of Takbeer. I’m on Instant Messaging with mom to get some last minute cooking advice. I will make sure everyone (yes, the little one included) help around the house, and big Z already put his immense culinary skills to the test and rolled some pastry for iftaar. I might even go out and get my hair done, but to be honest I don’t know if I can be bothered. It seems a lot of hassle to just sit there for hours and would no doubt ruin my schedule (which may only involved tickling little Z or some reality tv.)

All in all, I'm trying to cheer myself up here and writing things down appears to help.

I hope this Ramadan has brought us all an inch closer to Allah swt, an inch closer to becoming a better Muslim, and an inch closer to our goal, Jannah.

Now, let's all have a joyous celebration shall we?
Eid Mubarak.

Look what came for me today!

2011-08-23T08:59:00.000+08:00

A long time reader and twitter friend, Hunny from Brunei sent this my way today -- and there is simply no other way for me to express how ridiculously smitten I am other than this grand THANK YOU note for the thoughts, prayers and of course... the red velvet (even little Z loved it!)

I’d be more than glad to send each one of you a piece of cake too, but I can only send my love and prayers. And I'm sending loads of them today. I hope everyone feels it!

A year older, and a year wiser.
Sanah helwa to me!

The Lounge @ GTower

2011-08-18T15:50:00.001+08:00

Having met this girl once at an event, I was completely taken aback when I found out that she's a food blogger. Cos really, if you've ever had the pleasure of meeting her real-life, you'd know how insanely cute and petite she is. So, it all seemed so ridiculous for me to fathom. And while I am still contemplating whether to have that last piece of chocolate cake, she goes all around town sampling and doing food reviews..

Ah, the injustice.

But in between feeling sorry for myself (and my thighs), I just couldn’t say no when Rebecca informed me of an invitation to join her and a few others for a Buka Puasa Buffet experience at The Lounge Restaurant, GTower KL. It was my first time there, and what struck me most was that, the whole space really has a lounge feel to it, aptly reflecting its name.

The buffet spread features traditional delicacies from all across the peninsular and at a price of RM80++ for adults (and 50% off for children aged 6-12 years old), diners can expect an extensive menu of local favorites which varies on a daily basis. From rendang to nasi minyak to satay to roasted chicken to roasted lamb and to many other dishes you can think of -- Chef Johnny (main chef of The Lounge) always makes sure everyone is spoilt for choices.

Now, on to some photos to tickle your fancy :

And I know I don’t usually say this, but I can confirm from my experience that the food really, really lived up to my expectations. I definitely foresee myself and my family paying them another visit anytime soon!

ps. A big warm thank you to Gladys for hosting us.

More details here :

Address:

The Lounge,

Ground Floor, GTower Hotel,

199 Jalan Tun Razak,

Kuala Lumpur

For reservations :

+60321681828 (Guest Service Officers)

+60321681919 ext 7032 (GTower’s Festive Counter)

Favola, Le Meridien..

2011-08-16T07:00:00.001+08:00

Just the other week, as I was about to make a huge fuss over what to eat for iftaar, big Z reminded me of an invitation to a Buka Puasa Event with Naza World that we had agreed on going to. And if I were to be honest, after what felt like years of buying food only from our nearby ramadan bazaar, I'd jump at any chance I get to dine outside for a change.

Held at Favola, Le Meridien, it was a private event with less than 40 guests, giving everyone the chance to get up close and personal with the man who inherited the Naza legacy -- Datuk Wira SM Faisal Nasimuddin. At only 31 years of age, this man has numerous awards and recognition under his belt and he's truly an inspiration to many young entrepreneurs out there. And I know, I'm not the first one to say this -- But if there was ever an award for the most humble yet successful man in Malaysia? He'd win for sure.

Anyways, as soon as I entered the restaurant, I was in love..

The settings were beautiful with many attention to details and I couldn't get enough photos of them. I did, however, decide to behave and wasn't snapping away as much I'd like to. So, here are just a few of my favorites :

And then there will be trials..

2011-08-14T21:55:00.008+08:00

Do you have days when you really, really want to express something, but you simply couldn't find the words? Do you have days when you really, really thought that everything would be fine and no one would mind, so you took every single thing for granted?

I have those days. And I've been having them for quite some time now.

I've disappointed many by thinking that I could easily get away when I blog using others' ideas, modified them accordingly to fit my life, and took the credits for myself. I've learned a lot since then and now, I came to realize that what I did, was indeed plagiarism. I should have given the credits to whom they belong and I should have done that a long time ago. It was my fault entirely, due to my poor judgement and ignorance.

In any case, I am deeply sorry for all of this. I apologize to readers. I apologize to everyone that may have felt cheated by me passing someone else's work as my own. And I apologize to those whom trust I've betrayed. There are a lot of pressure involved in everything that you do these days, and blogging is no exception. I may have gotten so overwhelmed and I know surely now, that I wasn't thinking right. And I have to own up to my mistakes.

But most of all, I apologize to all those bloggers' whom copyrights I've violated. Personal emails had been sent to each and one of them a while ago. And they have been nothing but sweet, encouraging, and they appreciated my apologies, for which I thank them profusely. Although I know that I was (am still) blatantly wrong in so many ways, I'm just hoping that someday.. I will be able to look back on all of this and have a good hearty laugh at myself.

From a different note, as I've mentioned in my previous posts, this Ramadan has taught me a lot and never in my life have I felt calmer than I am now today. Trials are blessings from Allah swt, and with His guidance, I hope to always remain patient, to always prepare myself for the hereafter, and to always remember that I will be meeting Him soon.

And last but definitely not least, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who had been personally emailing/texting me, with nothing but kindness, generous hearts and advises. I appreciate them a lot.

May Allah grant you all the good in this life and the next.

Sincerely,
Aimie

Reflect..

2011-08-12T23:47:00.007+08:00

I forgot. One too many times now, I forgot.

I forgot how it was to feel so violated. I forgot how it was to feel so cheated. I've let myself down and I've let myself drifted. And so I was ignorant, too ignorant to know what's right. And it's worst that I forgot about others' rights. And I became foolish. Foolish to the fact that Allah had given me the sign and what it felt like. What it felt like to be violated. But no, I was again too busy being upset, that I forgot.

For days and days, I've been reflecting on every single thing that happened. And for days and days, I've been sending out emails to those whom I've harmed and violated. And for days and days, my husband has been nothing but a kind, kind shoulder to me.

And so we talked.

The things he said when he heard me muttered to him in tears were just, "Remember, everything happened for a reason, and today I'm so thankful that Allah showed you the way. And I'm thankful that this Ramadan will mean so much more for the both of us now. So, make duaa love, make duaa."

And so I reflected, and then it all stopped. It just stopped.

It's amazing how a little time off can do to your soul. And it's amazing how the power of duaa can become a shield and touch your heart. And it's amazing how the power of duaa can give you the courage and strength.

And so.. this is how it will begin, again. And this time with forgiveness and duaa.

( Thank you to those who have been nothing but kind with words of encouragement on Twitter. I owe each one of you girls a big fat hug.)

On hiatus..

2011-08-10T11:33:00.013+08:00

With apologies I’ve decided to put this blog into hiatus for a while.

I needed this time off to re-evaluate the ongoing in my life, the good things and the bad things. All these while, I don’t know how I failed to see. Failed to see the bigger picture. And I need to start finding my true self and reflect on all the things I did and could have done.

Earlier this morning I was reading these words, and I suddenly burst into tears. It’s almost as if the person who wrote them dedicated it just for me.

"One of the distinguish features of Ramadan is forgiveness. Our Prophet SAW explained that Ramadan is a month whose beginning is Mercy, whose middle is Forgiveness and whose end is freedom from the Hellfire. This makes it a great time to ask Allah SWT for His forgiveness. It’s also a wonderful time to open our hearts and cleanse them of grudges, hatreds and bitterness by forgiving others. The path to connection with Allah SWT is always paved with tests and difficulties. And nobody gains spiritual uplifment without having to prove their mettle. This process includes facing all kinds of hardships. And if we truly want Allah’s love, mercy and forgiveness..We must remember that the hurts of this world are temporary and we are working towards that which is permanent."

Boy oh boy, the words hit me so hard I realized now, that I’ve got a lot, a lot, a lotttt of work to do to fix myself, emotionally and spiritually. I needed this break a long time ago, and now I finally have the courage to do so. And with this hiatus, I hope I am able to just breathe and live again..

I do realize this post is all over the place and I must be confusing some of you lot now, but don’t anyone go on worrying.. cos the truth is, this is the best decision I've made so far. And for the time being, I’m hoping to use these remaining days of Ramadan just to cleanse my heart and seek forgiveness to those whom I’ve wronged intentionally or unintentionally, starting with the blogosphere..

So here I am, with all my heart, praying for forgiveness from all..

Till then.

An iftaar with Iman..

2011-08-07T15:12:00.133+08:00

I know I've said this before.

But I had no idea what I was doing when I first decided to blog. And sometimes, even now, I'm still just as clueless. But when I look back at my old posts from years back, I'm just glad that to be reminded me of the good old days so this blog serves as a keepsake for and I treasure it for that. And back then, things were a lot simpler, I would only blog once a month and I was of course, the only reader.

And then, somewhere along the way, I started to blog more and more. And I've fallen in love with it. And I love how the blogging community made each other feel so supported how strangers can become friends just by reading each other's blogs. Friends just like this inspirational American-Muslim mom, Iman.

Why inspirational, you ask?

Iman and her husband Monem, are dedicated towards educating others, especially Americans, about Islam. They have a film documentary made called “On a Wing and a Prayer” which follows their adventures living in the states, while Monem attempts to obtain a pilot’s license after the 9/11 tragedy. And also another one titled “Faith Walks The Land” which depicts Iman traveling across the U.S. meeting small-town Americans and discussing stereotypes about Islam. And with all of that on her plate, she's also a mom of three young children.

Can I get a big woaaaah now?

We've been exchanging emails for months and I've been following her blog and her sister, Amnah's blog from as long as I can remember. So, when Iman suddenly mentioned in her email about coming to visit KL in August, I was of course, beyond excited and happy. We couldn't wait to finally meet in the flesh.

So, as luck would have it, we managed to get together for iftaar at Ben's last Friday. Iman and her family were such a darling to be around with, as expected, and I would totally consider kidnapping her two lovely princesses any day. Yes any day, I say.

Definitely, a time well spent -- with good food, happy faces, and lots of laughter. And I couldn't imagine spending it any other way.

It's amazing how small the world can be now, and it all started with this little blog.

Brunch..

2011-08-04T15:37:00.054+08:00

If you ask me what's my most favorite part of weekends, I'd say brunch time with my family.

There is just something so simple yet satisfying at the thought of going out to brunch. I love how it has this certain leisure pace to it, and if I were to be more honest, I only mostly love it only because it's conveniently more affordable than going out for dinner. Ha!

A few Saturdays ago it was restaurant week for us, so instead of heading to our favorite place, we brunched at Al-Amar Express at Fahrenheit 88 (after much drooling over at Becky's review of the place btw) I loved, loved their Lebanese pizza, and for the price of RM16 only? You know I'll be visiting again.

Sorry for the lack of photos, cos as I was about to take more of them, my camera powered off. So for now, I'll just leave you with these..

Ramadan (again)!

2011-08-02T01:14:00.004+08:00

Giddy about little Z's third Ramadan this year.. (he was still swimming very happily inside of me back then) And.. it's become somewhat of a tradition in our little family to dress him up on every first day of Ramadan!

Big, big love!

Ya Ramadan..

2011-07-31T18:18:00.003+08:00

It's that time of the year again, alhamdulillah.. So, my two Z's and I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a blessed Ramadan! May the spirit of Ramadan illuminate the world, and may Allah shower His Rahmah and Barakah on us all.

A healthy fast : 10 things to know to get the most of Ramadan

This month is more than simply skipping a meal and counting the minutes to Iftar and the days to Eid ul-Fitr. Don’t just go through the motions; have a meaningful Ramadan by following these healthy tips for the mind, body and soul:

1. Spiritual Gain: Ramadan is a time to reconnect spiritually by personal reflection and group remembrance. Its important to remember the historical events and significant days that make this month sacred and the virtues we can receive from then. The Quran was sent as guidance during Ramadan and should be a focus of our contemplation, especially in this time. Uplift yourself in every way by becoming more spiritually aware of your life and of God. Fasting is a form of worship in Islam and has many other benefits.

2. Fasting is healthy: Medical research shows that fasting can actually help you live a longer, healthier life. When you fast, your body is better able to repair and purify itself. Over time, this improves your immune system, your energy level and even your ability to think!

3. Ramadan Detox: The digestive system absorbs nutrients that every system in our body requires. According to doctors, fasting cleanses these body systems by removing harmful toxins that accumulate from normal, everyday life, helping absorb nutrients faster and more effectively. This gives us better overall health and even radiant, glowing skin!

4. Fasting of the heart: Ramadan is a time for patience, selflessness and gratitude. By fasting, the heart becomes sensitized to others, teaching us empathy and kindness. We also learn self-control, dedication and discipline. This helps to get organized, set the right goals and priorities, as well as to decrease stress, frustration and procrastination. This empowers the mind and soul and gives us a healthier perspective on life. During Ramadan look inward at your own attitudes and habits and make positive changes.

5. Foods for fasting: It’s especially important to keep your diet balanced during Ramadan. To boost energy during the day have slower digesting foods, especially during Sahur (the pre-dawn meal). These include fiber-rich foods, and complex carbohydrates such as whole grain breads and cereals, barley and oatmeal. Eggs are a power food because they are packed with protein and iron for energy and mental stamina. Two-Thirds of the brain is composed of fat; therefore you need essential fats, such as those in fish, cheese, and meats to avoid midday brain fog. It is also very important to drink plenty of water during Sahur and after the iftar meal. Dates, a traditional Ramadan food from the time of the Prophet are an excellent source of natural sugar, fiber, carbohydrates and minerals.

6. Foods to avoid: During Ramadan, it’s even more important to avoid unhealthy foods, which can make you feel hungry, lethargic and dizzy soon after eating them. Avoid simple carbohydrates such as sugary foods, cookies, cakes, crackers, chips, potatoes, white bread, white rice and pasta. Too much food, as well as a heavy, unhealthy diet will also sap your energy and give you a stomachache or headache; go easy on the fried, oily and spicy foods. Additionally, limit coffee, tea and pop because the caffeine makes your body lose water; stay hydrated with water and juice instead.

7. Finding the Ramadan spirit: We often eat because we are bored, stressed or feeling blue and when we can’t turn to food, we may feel moody. During fasting, our bodies also react to a withdrawal from food and you may feel depressed, restless, or anxious. It can be hard to get motivated especially if you’re not around the support of family and community. And it’s natural to feel tired, low on energy and irritable when you’re fasting. However, don’t use fasting as an excuse to not do your best at school, university or work and on projects or activities. Remind yourself that many people around the world fast in much more difficult conditions. Your own attitude will determine how much you benefit from your fasts. Understanding some of the benefits of fasting, eating the right foods, getting enough sleep, exercising and prioritizing your life during Ramadan will help keep away mood swings. And over time, your body will adapt to the physical and psychological effects of fasting and benefit from it. Fasting a few days of every month, as was the Sunnah of the Prophet, will also help you ‘train’ for Ramadan – not too mention you’ll reap the rewards of fasting all year round.

8. Exercise: Yes, even in Ramadan, it’s important to stay active to keep healthy and energized. This doesn’t mean you should play your usual game of soccer or basketball or go for a long run. This month take up light activities like beginner’s yoga, walking or biking. Go for a stroll with your family after iftar. However, to stay hydrated avoid working up a sweat or being outdoors in hot climates.

9. Build family and community: Ramadan is a time for charity and giving. Make time for your family this month and help out at home – you’re not the only one fasting! Try to attend prayers at the Masjid with your family whenever you can. Invite family and friends to break the fast with you and give thoughtful gifts to others.
Fasting increases our compassion for those who go hungry throughout the year. Volunteer in a soup kitchen or raise funds for your local food bank.

10. Doctor’s orders: Some may not be able to fast due to important health reasons. For example, if you are diabetic, your doctor may recommend that you don’t fast this year. Don’t worry, you will be able to fast in the coming years; people with diabetes can fast once they are able to control and treat their condition. If you are on daily medications, talk to your doctor about adjusting your schedule during Ramadan. Remember, in Islam, our bodies are our responsibility and we must make our physical and mental well being a priority. Even if you cannot fast there is a lot you can do to get into the Ramadan spirit: feed someone that can’t afford a meal, organize family and community events, help raise money for charity, and of course, read the Quran and pray as much as possible.

by Dr. Noreen A. Kaseem
source: www.suhaibwebb.com

Little z, lately..

2011-07-29T11:24:00.038+08:00

To know this little boy of mine is to know happiness and zest for life. From the moment he wakes up until the moment he goes to sleep he narrates his entire day through. He talks and talks and talks, complete with hand gestures.

He can even say I love you mommy now, but it sounded more like “La-voo mommy!”. And lately he's been playing pretend so he would talk in high pitched voice and back to normal voice vice versa as if he's having a conversation with me. He's really been trying out phrases too, and surprisingly, is getting good at it. The other day he dropped his cup, and said “Oh my, what did I do?” I, of course proceeded to melt to the floor.

Favorite past times are anything involving cars, buses, fire trucks, little cars, tractors, balls, big cars, tiny cars and almost everything with wheels.

Seriously. It's so funny how he's so into mobiles. And this brings me to his latest favorite past time: naming letters of the alphabet and numbers.

Three months or so ago, he saw Word World and ever since then, he's been fascinated with alphabets. He'd run around the house, finding any toy alphabets that he could find and hold on to them the whole day. And just last month, it's the same episode all over again, but this time around with numbers. Now, at 21 months old, he can name all the letters from A to Z, and the numbers from 1 to 9. Mommy writes it down, and he'll say it out loud. It’s all very impressive.

Though he's happy most of the time, he has his tantrum days, but I wouldn't call it tantrums though, cos they're very minor and we wouldn't really understand what's upsetting him even.

I'm sure it's just one of the many lovely things that comes with having a child in the house. And he’s just beautifully quirky in his own way and we wouldn't want to change a thing.

I can't wait to see what a two year-old little Z brings, much less tomorrow.

On Chelsea FC vs Malaysia..

2011-07-22T17:14:00.032+08:00

Chelsea, chelsea!!

Big Z and I went to see the game last night. And whooboy, I’d been dying to go; not going to lie. And I'm so glad I had the chance cos I’m crazy about last night’s game! Not only because we got to see Chelsea FC before our eyes.. but also because our Malaysian Team did so, so well! (I may or may not have lost my voice now. euf) And I don't mean to brag but uhmm.. grandstand view with police escort to the Stadium and back all courtesy of Naza World?? Well, that's the biggest excitement for me, obviously!

The whole experience was rewarding, from the training session to the match day itself. However, there was one incident that turned everything a bit sour; the boo-ing of Yossi Benayoun. It was such a disrespectful thing to do, and that just speaks to how some Malaysians are seriously lacking in the manners industry. Sigh.

But all of that apart, I can't help but notice how genius the people behind Naza World are! They had an idea and made it happen instead of just talking about it for years and years and then watching opportunity fizzle away, hence their Sponsorship as Official Transporter and Logistics for ChelseaFC to support healthy lifestyles and the local Sports Tourism.

So for the gazillionth time, thank you Naza World for an awesome, awesome night! xx

Real blog, real friends..

2011-07-20T14:05:00.018+08:00

I've been blogging for more than over three years now and so far along the way, I've been fortunate enough to have met some amazing blogging women.

With first meetings, it's always kind of awkward. Because you're not quite sure who they really are behind their blogs and there could be chances that you won't get along.

But with this lady here whom I've known for quite some time now through her blog, we clicked in an instant, and I'm so glad for that! Both my Z's and I had the pleasure meeting her husband and her little Riyaz, and they all are really as adorable as they can be and Big Z and Ayu's husband had a pleasure getting to know each while the moms when for a walk with just the babies. Aw. So, I foresee another date (or two, or eventhree!) coming up real, real soon.

So here's to real life blog friends and playdates!

A beautiful affair @ The Binjai on the Park..

2011-07-19T00:05:00.039+08:00

I have some posts laying around in the draft section waiting to be attended to, but I'm way too full from dinner, so there's no way I can sit and write for more than five minutes. And Little Z's already asleep so I figured I'd take a minute to bang out a little post on my friend's solemnization I attended last Saturday. Which could be the most beautiful ceremony, and with the most beautiful bride! Oh and just so you know, I'm kind of obsessed with The Binjai on the Park right now, and wondering if I can ever fork out eight million ringgit to own a unit there. Yeah, made me cringe too.

I loved, everything about the ceremony so I'm just going to share with you a page from that day as seen from my camera, and list some of my favorites from the day... Hommous, gorgeous friends, pretty dresses, arabic music, and the dais baby..the dais!

It was a lovely and beautiful affair, and I can't wait for all the glory that is the reception this Saturday!

Congratulations Syued and Amir! Xx

Out of the Blues..

2011-07-17T03:08:00.013+08:00

I bet most of you don't know about this one little fact about me : I’m terribly afraid of sports balls (footballs, basketballs, tennis balls etc). Mostly, the solid rubber ones, because I’m clumsy and whenever someone throws a ball at me I feel like they can easily hit me and my head would crack open. Kind of like how elephants are afraid of mice.. only more embarrassing. I have been reduced to tears in the past when faced with a flying ball.

But then I met my husband.

This man talks, eats, sleeps football. Every night, he will meticulously go through every single article on Teamtalk and Soccernet, pausing only a moment to update his Fantasy Premier League. I mean, really. If I had an inkling of what is in his mind all the time, it’s definitely football!

So, what is a football fan without a favorite team, right? As soon as he heard about Chelsea FC coming over to Malaysia, he wouldn’t stop yapping about it. And I swear I heard him chanting “Carefree, wherever you may be, we are the famous CFC” in his sleep a few times. But he’s still in denial about it though, I’m not sure why.

And big news is - Suddenly, out of the blue, I found out that I'll be getting two FREE Grandstand passes to both Chelsea FC training session and match, happening next week courtesy of Naza World as the official car of the Chelsea Asia Tour 2011 - Malaysia!

Well, to be honest, I was hesitant at first due to my fear. (erm, ballsophobia?) But after seeing big Z’s face of pure unadulterated joy, bubbling over into wide grins when he heard the news? Sigh, I couldn't possibly say no. So, yes we’re going insha’Allah. And I really, really hope to see you lovely girls and guys joining us there. (refer here or below to find out how you can win yourself some free passes too!)

Hopefully, I'm able to keep calm at the match and not get hit by a ball. Can someone please borrow me a helmet?!

Moving along..

2011-07-10T13:04:00.038+08:00

I'm happy to report that I accomplished one of my goals. Especially the planning bit, it feels amazing to have everything in order.

This weekend was spent a lot at home and enjoying breakfast and ice creams from nearby cafes. It feels great to just disconnect from everything and just live your everyday life to the fullest. Cos, sometimes, I can be too caught up with this blogging habit of mine that I am constantly thinking about it every second of the day. Which is not healthy, obviously. And sometimes, it comes to a point where it's annoying even to big Z on how I'm always with my camera everywhere I go and snap photos of everything at sight. Pssh.

So what I'm trying to say is, I have to start actively find and create balance between blogging and real life. And just understand that no matter what, family will always, comes first.

ps. By the way, some of the photos above were taken by big Z, not too bad I say!

I know you know..

2011-07-07T17:43:00.020+08:00

Stay with me as I talk about how awesome this site is for a second or two.

Her shop is pretty much new and still all fresh from the oven, but what makes it interesting to me is because the owner is actually one of my juniors from university. I've been wearing hijab for more than ten years now and I've been donning this same boring style since day one. So okay, maybe I added a bonnet over the years and I've stopped wearing pashmina but honestly, I have no desire to experiment. But of course, I've to take advantage of all of the gorgeous pieces people all over are selling too now can't I?

It would be silly of me if I don't.

I could spend hours going through this site and as a matter of fact, I just learned today that they're looking for a model to star in their newspaper slot soon (try your luck!). I highly recommend checking out what she has to offer there.

I'd say, sweeeeeeeet!

Almost two, but not quite yet..

2011-07-06T13:24:00.049+08:00

One of the sweetest things about living with a child is how your house is completely transformed into a play school. Toys are strewn about everywhere you can ever imagined. And the thing is with little Z, though he takes good care of his toys, but every so often, I'd find his toys in the most peculiar places. Cars in bath tub, balls in the sink, and trucks in the laundry basket. And sometimes? The findings can be a little naughty too, like a little crayon drawing on my couch and books.

I didn't expect how amazing it is to live with a toddler. His imagination grows every single day and I can hear new words coming out of him, he's getting cleverer everyday and I'm so proud of him. We call him our little wonder boy, ever so eager to learn new things everyday. Just looking at him playing by himself and have a few mini conversations is nothing short of hilarious.

The other afternoon I happened in on little Z playing with his happyland folks. After he was done, he tucked them all carefully where they belong. Watching him take care of something smaller than himself makes my heart melt.

In two days, my boy officially turns twenty one months, and in just a few months he's turning two!

I can't believe how fast time flies!

Love it when a plan comes together..

2011-07-04T00:47:00.032+08:00

I realized something last week that kind of blew my mind.

I'm almost always fickle when it comes to picking out what to eat and cook during weekdays. Really, I am. I have a really hard time deciding what to buy when I'm out grocery shopping with a list or even without a list. Most of the time, I end up rushing to the stores more than 2-3 times a week and buy more things than I actually need. And if all else fails.. it's dinner outside or takeaways. So I've thought this over, and finally came to a decision..

That is to plan out our menus for the week!

Every Saturday I'd plan out all the meals and write down all the ingredients that we need but currently do not have with the help of my recipe books, of course. I am no Martha Stewart, ladies. And, on Sunday, we'd go to the market, and get everything we need there, the fish, the chicken, the veges and the fruits. It's so much cheaper to shop at the morning market as compared to grocery stores really. But that is if you can stand the, uhm.. smell. Cause I remember I dreaded going to the markets with my mom when I was younger.

But things are different now, and I realized that an extra effort goes a long away. And having said that, I am now a big fan of morning markets.

And back to the planning bit, I find that by doing all of this beforehand, I don't have to be worried about not knowing what to eat or cook for dinner for the rest of the week. Because, honestly, it stresses me out to even think of what to eat during weekdays. There would always, always some last minute runs to the store and and usually? I'd end up buying more things than necessary. And it all can go to waste.

I totally recommend doing something like this! It will save so much of your time, trust me.

So, here's to planning and eating homemade meals!

On this is how we roll..

2011-07-01T14:50:00.050+08:00

I can be too lucky sometimes, I swear. Not that I'm not grateful or anything but to receive an invitation to an exclusive VVIP experience by Chevrolet to the premiere of Transformers 3? I think I deserved a slap. And not only that, they even topped it off for us with an all paid scrumptious dinner at Amarin Heavenly Thai. We were pampered to the brim, and for that alone, another slap.

And because I'd been dying to go out for a movie? I went. And because I'd be one of the first in the world to watch Transformers 3? I went. And because we'd each have our very own chauffeur driving us in a Chevy to the event? I went.

Despite the fact that it was a workday, I went. Despite the fact that upon arriving I realized that my camera wasn't with me, I went. Despite the fact that big Z wasn't feeling up to par, I went. Cos we'd be one of the first in the world to watch Tranformers 3, I went. And cos we'd each have our very own chauffeur driving us in Chevy like a bunch of bosses to the event..

Of course, I went.

And the movie was just okay, nothing to be shouted from the rooftops about, (and the new girl appeared to be trying a weeny bit too hard) but hey, free popcorn people! And the after dinner? Well, let's just say that a gorgeous someone over-ordered so, oh boy, we were spoiled for choice!

Swank!

On haute (oht) days..

2011-06-14T08:37:00.018+08:00

On Saturday, big Z and I paid a visit to the much talked about cafe, The Haute Food co, for brunch. It's hidden somewhere in Hartamas and was quite a challenge to find. But once we were there, neither of us felt like leaving as the place is so inviting and cozy as you can see for yourself from the photos. I was so tempted to just tuck myself in, relax, and enjoy a good healthy meal (their famous sticky date pudding with ice cream is worth a try, by the way).

And on Sunday, I rounded it out with some catching up over an Italian lunch with some of the most charming women I've had the pleasure to know for almost 10 years now. Where did time go?

Lovely endnote to the week, here's hoping for more.

On the little memories..

2011-05-30T11:46:00.003+08:00

I hope I never forget.

Dear little Z,

On seeing your peanut butter toast this morning, you said, "Mmm, delicious.."

I had to actually stop for a moment and make sure that was really what you said. Of course, you quickly repeated it again, as you do with all of your little 'light bulb' moments. Suddenly you were seeing mommy's toast in a totally different way.

And, just today, as soon as we came into the apartment from our walk, you shouted, "Salaamikum!". My little boy, saying his salaam. Sure, you're putting so many simple words together already like "I want this", "let's go" and "I love you", but you saying your salaam today boy..., blows my mind.

Love,
Mommy

On one of those (perfect) days..

2011-05-24T19:42:00.017+08:00

It was one of those lovely and perfect days. An early treat for the birthday boy at Plan B on Friday night. Coffee and shakes with girlfriends on Saturday, while little Z took his afternoon nap. And a birthday lunch at Ben's after, always delightful, the sensuous list of desserts there is almost as long as my arm, and no, not exaggerating. And an hour of just walking, marveling at things we wouldn't buy.

A day of pure simple joys, and I wouldn't imagine having it any other way.

A husband, and a friend..

2011-05-22T19:54:00.086+08:00

I have been friends with big Z for more than six years now. I know to some, six years isn't all that long. There are relationships out there that have a lifespan of 10 years or 20 years even. But as for me, in my two years and half of marriage, I think it's safe to say that my husband has truly become my best friend.

When I was a kid, I remember hating boys so much that I thought it was just ridiculous to have a boy as a friend, ever. Boys were stinky, naughty and always got on my nerves those days. And I thought it was ridiculous for anyone to be friends with boys. But of course, I was not even twelve yet back then, and things changed over the years. And slowly along the way, I remember being curious at how my mom being a girl and my dad being a boy never got bored of each other and how they always seemed to love each other's company. And now? I understand completely how that happened.

I've come to know that you can actually be friends with a boy. I've come to know that a boy can be amazing too. I've come to know that a boy too can be the best listener just like any other girls. I've come to know that behind all that mess of a boy, they too have soft spots and I've come to know that once you've gotten to know them better, you'd never trade them for anything else in the world. Yes, all relationships have problems and they are definitely the big ones and the petty ones. But even on the days where his dirty drawers are on the floor, wet towel on the bathroom floor, dirty dishes by the sink, he forgot to do something, I still look at him and just know he's my person and my friend. No one makes me laugh harder, or more importantly, loves me exactly as I am and is my constant cheerleader. He always has more faith in me than I do in myself. And I realized more and more everyday, that my husband is truly my best friend.

That being said, a very happy 29th to my love, my husband, my friend.
May Allah bless you, always.

On three weeks with the parents..

2011-05-11T02:21:00.002+08:00

I hate goodbyes.
I am not good at them.
I always end up crying.

And to think that after all these years I should have probably gotten at least a notch better with goodbyes whenever my parents' visit ends? Nope. Not getting any better. I've gotten worst instead. And there's nothing I can do, or want to do about it.

And now? I'm left with just a dreadful homesick feeling, a cold that is just refusing to go away, and some photos to be reminded of my three weeks with the parents..

On some current ideas for our new place..

2011-05-01T03:41:00.007+08:00

So, our new place is going to be ready by the end of this year inshaAllah, which means we have a new place to decorate. Naturally, I've been browsing a lot of home decor sites, but honestly, the more I read home decor blogs the more I appreciate good ol Ikea.

I once thought I grew out of Ikea (or rather, big Z told me I should grow out of Ikea) and I haven't had the best luck with all my Ikea purchases either, missing screws and such. But on the whole, they offer many great pieces that are affordable. And you can just grab them straight off the shelves. No waiting six to eight weeks for the delivery guy. Open the box and several hours and curse words later, you have furniture! And yay, It's grand.

But even though I do love me some Ikea, I don't think they are up to par in their dining chairs selection. And if there's one thing that big Z and I can agree on when selecting furnitures.. it is our undying love for wingback dining chairs. I think they are just great for adding elegance to a dining room.

In any case, here are some beautiful wingback dining chairs of my dreams :

You'd better believe I'm going to have a photoshoot with this wingback dining chair when I finally get my hands on one. And, yes, it is necessary to call it by it's full name every time you mention it. It's way more fun and annoying to my husband that way.

Images credit : House Beautiful

Penang trip..

2011-04-28T11:05:00.007+08:00

Pardon my absence; big Z, little Z and I were busy playing rock stars at Hard Rock Hotel Penang for the last four-and-a-half days. And to make it even better, we were able to enjoy those days with my mom, dad, my brothers and sister. And to make it even better than better, our suite was awesome and little Z had a time of his life at the free form swimming pool. Seriously, he didn't want to come out!

It was a wonderful few days spent with some of my favorite people in the world, wouldn't trade it for anything else.

On some random news..

2011-04-20T11:30:00.017+08:00

I'm looking forward to a mini-vacation with my family in Penang. And I'm so excited. I have only two weeks left before their visit ends so obviously, it's unacceptable. And obviously, they need to move back to Malaysia. And obviously, I am going to cling to them just like a little baby koala would.

And also? I feel so happy lately. And that is the most important thing, I guess. I'm on one of those peaks of happiness and I feel like I can do anything and eat everything, and I can feel that is something incredibly satisfying waiting for me around the next corner.

Like around the corner of the newly opened Ben's @ Pavillion perhaps? Yes, I'm cheesy like that.

But in all seriousness guys, Ben's is now my new favorite restaurant. So don't be surprised if you see me stuffing my face there often.

On a weekend filled with food..

2011-04-06T00:04:00.020+08:00

Dear weekend,

You know how much I love my food. And if I can get away with eating without adding a few inches on thighs I'd be forever indebted to you. And my husband?

Let's just say he's becoming the supportive husband he truly is, and he's behind me all way when it comes to food. But the thing is, my husband loves sushi. Which I'm not a big fan of. Never. And every time I ask, "What should we get for lunch/dinner/whatever?" his face lights up and he says, "SUSHI?!" And we'd have a fit just for that alone. I love my husband and I'd of course sacrifice anything for him but...

I'd still rather have something else. So could you please oblige with me weekend, and stop making my husband suggesting sushi for goodness sake.

This girl needs her pasta, cheeseburger, and all the desserts in the world. I know you'd understand weekend, that's why I love you.

With warm regards,
Aimie xx

Fresh air.

2011-03-23T11:45:00.008+08:00

I took these photos during one of our morning walks this week. And I must say, I think I'm falling in love more and more with this place.

On Lat Kampung Boy the Musical..

2011-03-17T11:07:00.006+08:00

So on Tuesday night, I was lucky enough to be one of the first to watch the special preview of Lat Kampung Boy Sebuah Muzikal at Istana Budaya – which is um, probably the greatest thing ever! Though I did come in a bit late as my scarf wasn't cooperating and I had to wrestle with it inside the car first grr. But still, thanks to Bryan and Leonard, I was invited along with a few other bloggers to come down and take it allll in.

Having never seen the famous cartoonist fondly known as Lat in any incarnation except as the lovable character Mat in The Kampung Boy series, I was completely taken in by a story of his life that is part of our cultural conscience as Malaysians and music that even non-musical theatre junkies like me know only too well.

The musical begins with Lat’s early years as a boy growing up in a small village and slowly progresses to his other adventures in the city as an adult in finally becoming the Kampung Boy caricature we all know. Lat has achieved tremendous recognitions throughout his career, making the country (and Ipoh-rians ahem!) proud so, it’s only a huge honor to see his life story being turned into the Lat Kampung Boy sebuah Musical. I was totally wooed by the charisma of every single cast coupled with the simple yet expressive illustrations by the famous man himself as most of the props.

So my hat goes off to Hans Isaac and Harith Iskander for the brilliant directing and hilarious script!

But what I probably treasure most from this inspirational tribute is the lessons, - that how traditional upbringing and strong values play an important role in shaping who you are, and that even in a small kampung, life can still loom large for a child.

So don't miss out on this one girls, go get your tickets now!

Where's little Z?

2011-03-10T22:19:00.001+08:00

Little Z just turned seventeen months a few days ago and he has this new game that's been cracking us up. He runs behind one of our living room couch to hide while we say, "Where's my baby? Have you seen him?" He then appears from behind the couch laughing as if he's been well hidden for hours.

Last night as we played this game, big Z would say, "Where's my baby? Is he under the table?" or "Is he in the closet?" or "Is he in the fridge?" and we heard a cute little "no" escape from behind the couch.

I guess he thought we needed some help.

Happy seventeen months baby boy!

Today I am stuffed (.. at Plan B)

2011-03-09T23:50:00.004+08:00

I love, love this place and it's fast becoming our go-to-place for brunch!

On a lunch date with my girls..

2011-03-01T11:28:00.026+08:00

I've been finding a lot of things to be delighted about lately. Like having lunch with my awesome girlfriends, rubbing cheeks with the gorgeous Hana Tajima (again, I know!), being photographed for a fashion spread.. But to have everything happening all at once during Sha's farewell lunch at Alexis last Saturday?

Overwhelming to say the least.

And I don’t know why it’s taken me so long, but I’m finally realizing the fact that I have a fetish. Just give me soft colours and silk, and I’m good to go. And I'm also starting to see the fun in embracing more girly-dates. And please tell me I'm not the only one who wants to grab a camera and snap away immediately once I realize I am surrounded with gorgeous ladies, cos I for one couldn't stop staring at them and ended up being a bit bitter looking at how gorgeous they are. Really, no exaggeration here.

So, now, just on with the photos shall we..

* credits to Ami and Garbagelapsap for some of the photos. xo

On Canoodling..

2011-02-28T18:30:00.021+08:00

I love it when I have something productive to do during weekends. Although, my interpretation of productivity? May only involved sitting on the couch all day and reminiscing with my husband. But this weekend we decided to go out and find some good food for our tummy instead. I'm growing tired of all things Western or Italian to be honest, I was dying to try something new.

So as Big Z and I had a bit of a time just to ourselves on Friday night, so we decided to go Canoodling!

Cos nothing can beat a lush bowl of hot noodles on a rainy night mm mmh. It's based in Bangsar Village 2, serving variety of Asian style noodle and desserts. And some facts of the day for you guys, Canoodling is under the same wings as Plan B, T Forty Two, and For Goodness sake. And the owner? He was the former owner/founder of Delicious. And that's all I know, aha you're welcome.

The nifty décor and the casual ambiance make this place worth a try - plus, if you're a sucker for a deal like me? The menu are priced from only RM2.90 to RM9.90 and you can even doodle their tables while waiting for your food.

I know, I know, I couldn't believe my eyes the first time either. So go, go, go!

Pray for our brothers and sisters.

2011-02-21T02:31:00.009+08:00

What was first began in Tunisia; Egypt has shown the world that 'the barrier of fear' can be broken down, Allahhu akbar.

And today, the Muslim world is on fire. Clamoring for change. Fierce demonstrations erupted in Bahrain, people are protesting in Yemen, and tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in Iran. And even Algeria, Jordan and Syria have also been part of the domino effect.

And by the hour, a massacre is happening in Libya. Protesters are being killed by the brutal regime of Gaddafi, the ruling president of over 42 years.

Dear readers, please make du'a for all of our brothers and sisters. May Allah swt give them the strength and protection. Ameen.

Tea Party with Hana Tajima.

2011-02-09T02:56:00.017+08:00

As many of you already know, Hana Tajima graciously arranged a small tea party for a few of her favourite girls from the internet (as she puts it) last Sunday. And to my surprise, I was on the invite list too, along with 15 other bloggers (insert scream!). Okay, well, maybe it seemed small to many people, but to me it was HUGE.

Anyway, I didn't realize how nervous I was going to be until I found out about the other girls who were going to be there. Why you ask? Because all of them are famous fashion bloggers (except me, of course!) - Aishah Amin, Adriani, Ami Schaheera, Eyqa Sugarscarf, Jezmine Blossom, Honeypokapoka, Lady Gagamelan, Lady Fira, Lyna Kamal, Maria Elena, Moon, Sue Anna Joe, Shahirah Elaiza, Shea Shahirah, Yana Petisuara were all there! Pheww!

So obviously, the stars were aligned perfectly for me this time, as never had I imagine myself being in the same room, rubbing shoulders with Hana Tajima.

Seriously, this girl, she has it all figured out. Not only in her sense of style, but also her principle, faith, and her outlook on life. I stumbled across her blog about a year ago when I took one look and was instantly hooked. And one thing I noticed about her style from before until now, is how simple and expressive it is. But there is no mistaking that the looks Hana created are carefully thought through and more importantly, very true to who she is.

Now, back to the tea party.

It was held at Rumah Tanjung Spa, located in Bukit Damansara. All of us were cheerfully greeted as we arrived by the lovely Hana, the ever so friendly Puteri, and also the beauty consultants there. We also had the chance to meet the owner of Rumah Tanjung. She captivated everyone as she shared her experience and journey to find the perfect natural ingredients for beauty and well being. Who would've thought something as simple as 'ginger' can do so much to your health.

Hana and her team did a wonderful job and had everything beautifully arranged for us. We even had an exclusive preview of the upcoming collection by Maysaa. We seriously had to fight the temptation of stealing the new pieces there and then cos they are all oh so gorgeous! Or, maybe it was just me.

To Hana, thank you for being such a peach and for making this day possible for all of us! Your talent is a constant inspiration to me, and I wish you (and your husband) the best of luck at your absolutely amazing label Maysaa.

ps : Some photos are courtesy of Ami, Sha and Fatin.

On getting my groove back..

2011-01-25T17:56:00.027+08:00

Last weekend was great. It was one of those weekends which I just feel like repeating over and over.

Because I was in bad mood all week due to runny noses, scratchy throats, and sinus pressure. Even my eating was all askew. And in attempt to make myself better, I have been coating myself in Vicks Vaporub for every single night. It's all very glamorous, thank you so much.

But after a quick visit to the clinic and a prescription to combat what I was told was, obviously, a sinus infection, I'm happy to report that I feel so much better and refreshed now.

And during weekend, we had fun just lounging around, watching tv with just the two Z's. Made some good meals at home and went out the park and soaked up all the goodness that is the sun and recreation. Little Z has always been one happy little chap every time he hears us say, "Outside!". Just look at him all smiling there. Melts my heart.

And that said, my house too is looking absolutely homey as we've been taking turns to clean out and make sure everything is always in order. And this tag cleaning team sort of thing? Makes me happy.

So I guess a few more blogging breaks wouldn't hurt, now would it?

On our trip..

2011-01-10T02:43:00.015+08:00

So, as promised here are the photos from our Singapore trip. And if I were to sum up the trip in a few words, I'd say there were countless memories made and we had fun at the Universal Studios. You simply must try the popcorn there, you must. And little Z? He had just started walking and so naturally, we had lots of fun practicing his new found skills at the most of the malls there (if you get what I mean.) Okay, here are the photos!

A new year, a new year.

2011-01-05T03:56:00.020+08:00

at Marina Bay Sands.

Pardon the absence; we were on a our short Singaporean holiday these past few days. And it was a rather last minute trip. And the trip was everything I've hoped for. I had fun. Little Z had fun. And big Z had the most fun carrying our luggage and stroller everywhere. It was so hard to get taxis there by the way!

Anyway, no seriously, the actual trip was nice. The drive there wasn't too bad; it took about six hours to get there. Tiring yes, but we had fun along the way. Little Z behaved so well on this trip and he even slept the whole way from KL to Singapore and back. Lucky us!

And although tt was only four days spent in Singapore, but it was incredibly nice to have some family time and to have a bit of a celebration for the new year. Although our celebration consisted nothing of extravagant things or fireworks and what not, we were just happy to have this short getaway. And I was just too happy that I took too many photos this time. Which obviously will be coming up on the next few days or so.

All in all, it was a lovely trip. But right now, with the unpacking that needs to be done? Not so lovely.

Till then.

Happy New Year.
xx

Wordless Wednesday : buh-bye homies!

2010-12-29T12:37:00.001+08:00

On our very own SATC lunch date..

2010-12-28T01:47:00.010+08:00

Sisterhood at The Curve, that is.

Can you believe in all my trips to The Curve I had never actually been to Garden Lifestyle Store and Café? So, stepping into the beautifully decorated and very cosy café, I was blown away by how much detail went into making this place a joy to be in. From the white and green colour schemes to the faux flowers nestling in little pots, it was clear that this place was designed to be a place to have a nice meal with girl friends.

We had a blast. Talked about our lives, love, religion, shifting priorities, and just a little bit of everything. You know, it’s a strange yet an amazing feeling to connect with people through the internet. Cos that's exactly how I felt when I met Sha for the first time a few months back, and Hana for the first time at the Maysaa/Yuna event, and getting to know Lea again for the first time post-college. And there's absolutely no way possible that the words I’m typing here are going to do them justice because they truly are beautiful inside, and out.

And I can't help but feel so lucky to have something like this. From blog friends, to real friends! xx

Wordless Wednesday : it's Mom's birthday today!

2010-12-22T09:20:00.000+08:00

On Live Fashion/Love Music..

2010-12-16T23:55:00.021+08:00

Needless to say, last Monday was my favorite Monday of all Mondays. And it's hard to put into words, because I'm still so in awe of how wonderful everything went. Sha and I had so much fun! There were a million little things that happened, and I would go over every moment in details, but I don't think I could possibly find the words but if you still want to know..

(Like how we arrived fashionably late but still got into the event, and how Yuna totally commandeered the mic and rendered us with her soothing voice, and the never before seen pieces by Hana Tajima of Maysaa, and a short interview with the crew from tv3, and how we missed the whole meet and greet session, and how we met ‘Huna’ at last! pheww!), my darling sis aka blogging superstar had everything written neatly here.

Now on with more photos shall we, starting with what I wore :

My gorgeous date that day Sha Elaiza. Love you bella!

And emm, I don’t like to brag, but I totally spent the day chatting up with these superstars too..

Lea, Hana Fedora, Sue Anna Joe, Tahirah, Azzah and so many others!

The whole time at the event, I keep on reminding myself how lucky I am to be surrounded with all these beautiful inspirational ladies, that if it weren't for our blogs, we would never have known each other. And it's nothing short of amazing to see how thankful and glad everyone was just to be in each other's company.

Because I know I was.

As for all of you who wanted to be there but just couldn't be? I’m sure there will be lots of other events lining up in the near future. Till then? Let's just inspire one another like nobody's business!

On some pre-wedding photos..

2010-12-15T23:44:00.013+08:00

Whooboy! It has been a hectic, crazy, whirlwind of a week. My head is still kind of spinning from everything.

On Sunday, my sister became a wife. And I’ve spent many hours perusing all the photos in hoping to come up with the perfect blogpost for her wedding, but the words are still not flowing. So, that just has to wait.

For now, I’ll just share some of the photos that I was able to take during the pre-wedding dinner. I didn't have the time to document all the details cos I was too busy entertaining the guests though.

So, here are some of my favorites from the day that I was able to snap :

ps : And by the way, Little Z is walking everywhere now! One of these days when I finally figure out how to load our camcorder footage to my computer, I’ll share the video here with you guys.

Wordless Wednesday : 2006

2010-12-08T02:16:00.000+08:00

Ah, December.

2010-12-01T23:46:00.022+08:00

Today is the first day of December.

And I have a good feeling about this time of the year. It has this certain sense of new beginnings and hope. And could also be that I'm feeling all the goodness of December as we're counting the days the celebration of my sister's wedding. And I'm just so, so happy for her.

And above all, I'm just so glad to be back here at my parents' place I guess.

I'm in my old bed again. I'm walking the streets that I've known all my life. I'm hearing all the birds chirping every morning here, which is a rare, rare thing to hear back in kl. I wake up to the sounds of giggles and laughter every day. And the little one? Don't get me started with him. He's enjoying this getaway so much that he's forgotten all about his mommy and daddy. It's anny and anpa all the way now. Oh, and the lazier evenings, are spent only in front of the tv watching some show my dad forces us to. Which is simply, blissful.

And, I tell you, it took all the strength and willpower to get up in the morning and go running when I'm back home. And I thought with the fresher air and the greeneries I'd be jumping off the bed with joy every morning to put my sneakers on. Nope. Didn't happen.

I actually haven't gone in the last couple weeks. I'm spoiled to the brim when I'm with my parents. But it's not like I'm making running the biggest priority anyway so I shouldn't feel guilty that I didn't burn those calories. Great right? I think so.

On a totally unrelated note, I miss big Z.
And it has only been 3 days. Boo!

Wordless Wednesday : Eid ul Adha

2010-11-17T14:05:00.000+08:00

Wordless Wednesday : love in a cup

2010-11-03T01:00:00.018+08:00

On the little darlings..

2010-10-28T00:00:00.010+08:00

What do you get when you have five moms, five dads, two little boys, two little girlies, one little Z and a spacious playgym? You'll get an awesome playdate and some darling, darling photos!

with the gorgeous little Insyirah and the handsome little Aleeq.

with the darling little Khayr.

and with the little princess Aleesya.

Oh god I can feel my uterus smiling just by looking at these photos!

And by the way, what do you guys think of the Wordless Wednesday section? I'm thinking of changing it to Nearly Wordless Wednesday instead, cos not writing anything feels kind of uhmm I don't know...awkward? lol.

On the recipe..

2010-10-26T12:15:00.003+08:00

As promised, the recipe some of my friends have been awaiting+craving. This cheese cake is among the most tasty treat you can crank out in the least amount of time. It is my mom who emailed me the recipe 3 days before little Z's birthday, but please don't mind me pretending like I've invented them heee. Do try, I promise they won't disappoint.

Cream Cheese Cake:

1/2 package of McVities Digestive biscuits,
100g butter, softened

Smash your biscuits. (It's ok if you cheat and eat one out of the package before beginning. I promise I won't tell because I do the same thing. And I promise it won't throw off your recipe.) It doesn't matter how you smash them, just turn them into the tiniest particles possible (you know, crumbs). If you're lucky enough to have a food processor, go for it. If you're old school like me, just toss them into a Ziploc bag and beat them to smithereens with your burliest rolling pin. It's a good way to release some of your angst too.

Now, combine the biscuit crumbs and butter in a bowl and press into base of a lined and greased 20cm pan; place it inside a fridge and let it chill.

1 tablespoon gelatin, dissolved in 1/4 cup boiling water
1 can of pineapple chunks, drained
1 can of condensed milk
juice of 1 lemon
500g block of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

Here comes my favorite part, just blend all the above ingredients together until you get a smooth, rich texture. And pour into the prepared base, and let it chill until set.

(yes, that's all!)

And as for the decoration, just let your imagination run wild ladies!

On Life As We Know It..

2010-10-25T15:31:00.003+08:00

I caught the trailer of Life as We Know It out of the corner of my consciousness and immediately dismissed it as a waste of my time. The trailer and all of the other advertising make the movie seem like the same old same old, you know what I mean?

But oh-boy was I wrong. Tettt.

I saw it last Friday and I enjoyed the movie (and cried the whole through!) and loved how easy it was to watch despite the heavy background story line. This being said, it is a great movie to watch with your girlfriends AND men in your life! (and psst..can I tell you a secret? Even my husband had shiny, glassy eyes during the tough, mushy and happy parts! hehe)

The acting is great including that of little Sophie! As a parent you will totally relate and observe many small details and occurrences. And I can't stop going back to the way Messer was holding little Sophie in a semi-sitting/ I am carrying a ball like position that actually look very comfortable for baby. And Sophie was taking her first steps in the movie, little does this couple know what that means!

I could go on and on you know! So to wrap up, here are some lessons I've learned that I need to highlight :

Draw up your will, your revocable trust, and guardianship instructions, especially if you have a child. Also, get life insurance.
Trying not to cry, as I did during this film, makes my head hurt, and I should just give up earlier to the facade and weep. It’s far less painful.
Men who are good with kids are super sexy. Especially if they look like Josh Duhamel.
Romantic comedies bash men too much.
Eleven isn’t too young to be a good babysitter/whisperer. hehe.

So despite the heavy parts, Life As We Know It was indeed a distracting bit of entertainment, so go watch it guys! Go! Go!

On our anniversary..

2010-10-15T00:28:00.062+08:00

I was still in my confinement during my first wedding anniversary last year, so this year, for the second anniversary, it's fast becoming the highlight of my year. I couldn't sleep thinking of what to wear and where to go. But as for what to wear, thank goodness, we have Zara here and they never seem to disappoint from my experience. Although to be honest, I'm not really a dressy type, but hey, a girl still wanted to look special on her wedding anniversary so as I wandered around Zara.. I found it. And once I tried it, I knew I had to buy it.

It's exactly what I'm looking for, although I thought the empire waist cutting on the dress makes me look like I'm 3 months pregnant...but I didn't mind. It was definitely love at first sight.

As for our anniversary dinner, it was absolutely incredible. We went to Enak at Starhill Gallery. It's a gorgeous restaurant with super attentive and friendly waiters! I loved how they complemented our tables with fresh flowers and a welcome card, making us feel special that night. And don't get me started with the food? By far, the best Malaysian cuisine I've had in a very long, long, time.

So, it was a lovely evening. I felt pretty and we had good food. Here's to more anniversaries to come, inshaAllah!

Little Z turned 1!

2010-10-12T22:07:00.000+08:00

Little Z's birthday was an absolute smash last weekend. We nixed the park picnic idea when I heard a chance of rain in the forecast but we wound up having even more fun cramming up sardine-style in our tiny apartment.

Thank you for the cards, the pony and the police boat sweethearts! Here's to many more birthdays and presents to come! Sloppy kisses!

Everything was done right from scratch by big Z and I, from the baking to the crafting! I enjoyed baking his birthday cheese cake the most cos it was easy to make but taste oh so heavenly! And the cupcakes turned out just as great so we just had to give this curious boy a chance to taste one and destroy. He was a fan!

Oh and a little background: I'm not typically a fan of pom-poms but this tutorial from Martha Stewart was too cute to pass up. And I used an old fleece fabric to make the fun name banner. I loved this little decoration..it's still hanging on our wall. Not sure if I'll ever take it down!

On عيد الفطر..

2010-09-23T14:28:00.000+08:00

I can honestly say that this is the first year since being a twenty something that I've completely and utterly felt excited about celebrating Eid!

I don't even think I did much that was different, but with this little boy in the picture this year, everything just fit together. My emotions, traditions new and old, finding the perfect outfits, cooking up a storm with my family, watching the same movies on Astro twice within the span of a week, traveling back and forth from KUL to IPH to TRG, phone calls with relatives, and collecting Eid packets for the little one!

Even though life has been busier than ever, I've felt so much joy this Eid. I've felt content. And as much as I still have that ache of missing my family now as life continues as usual, I have been doing well when it comes to not keeping those thoughts at the forefront of my mind. It has helped me feel less weepy.

Eid came and went without much pomp and circumstance, which is fine with me. We were able to attend a few get-togethers with various aunts and uncles, grandparents and cousins. Although, both little Z and I are left with a terrible a cold and cough after all that travelling! But, things are looking up inshaAllah.

Today I find part of myself not quite ready to say goodbye to Eid. I've always hated endings, especially when it comes to things I look forward to. When things are over, I'm always left with this sad, empty feeling. It doesn't matter how wonderful any specific event, holiday or experience is, either. Weddings, a really good book, moments from my childhood, a perfectly planned trip, my favorite movie, a day that has been looked forward to. Big or small, I just hate things being said and done. As much as I'm looking ahead to newer things and working harder than I ever have to make things happen, I still have that ache as I sit here today.

It's almost as if I feel like I missed out on something, or perhaps didn't appreciate certain moments enough as they were happening. Maybe it's just me and it's hard to explain, I guess.

But anyhow, I'm covering up that ache by drinking a chai latte with a goofy husband and surrounding myself with the thoughts of all I want to accomplish before this year ends. Good, good things.

ps : How was your Eid? All swell I hope!

On a day before Eid..

2010-09-09T06:10:00.000+08:00

Welp. I finally got around to posting. Granted, there are three other posts (which I wrote, re-wrote, then promptly abandoned) floating around the abyss of the drafts section. And yes, I'm still working on that hijab tutorial everyone's been requesting. Sorry! I'm finding it very difficult deciding between a pictorial tutorial and video tutorial. And, of course, there are many other things that I'm considering, but I'm choosing not to think about them because it will make me more distracted than I already am at the given moment.

In any case, I'm excited. Eid is only a day away (and I promise I will try to post that hijab tutorial during Eid at least if not tomorrow when I have the time) Lame excuse, but still. It's still something, right? Right.

And lastly, here are some snippets of my iftar sessions with friends just for fun. Made me totally happy. Oh, and I ate and laughed entirely too much, which is to be expected. Okay, photos galore ahead!

at Fullhouse, Sunway Giza

With the bff. and these babies below are yummehs..

Full faces after Iftar.

With good old friends from TCS, being all silly at Syuen Hotel.

and at Chinoz on the Park with Mashie and Sue..

Fun, fun times.

Ramadan!

2010-08-09T17:01:00.002+08:00

"Ramadan Mubarak everybody!"

Love,

Little Z

Let them eat crabs.

2010-07-16T13:20:00.003+08:00

My family and I are off to Ipoh later today, so I am again in packing mode, trying not to leave anything behind. I'm not quite sure how we ended up deciding to go back, but I think it had something to do with a serious hankering for curry crabs that big Z and I got after Shazia mentioned this restaurant on formspring (their nasi lemak is to die for!). It's been a while since we last visited my hometown anyway so we figured a long weekend would be the best way to kill two yummy birds with one stone. And lastly, as you can see from the picture below, that is me wearing the chiffon scarf snood as requested. Hope this suffices.

I wish you all a wonderful and sunny weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday!

My new new new favouritest thing in the world ever

2010-07-14T10:50:00.003+08:00

I am famous in this house for claiming that the thing that I have bought is my favourite thing ever. That this thing (the thing that just arrived this morning, having never before mentioned desiring, ever ever ever) is the thing that completes me in some way, that outdoes every other thing I’ve ever bought and said the same thing about, and certainly the one from the week before that I said could never ever be outdone.

But THIS, right? It really actually is one of my favourite favourite things I have ever bought. Better than anything else I’ve ever said that about, and certainly the thing that I said that about last week. It's hassle-free, cool & comfy, and it's black (which makes it SO easy to mix and match with)!

I'm in love and yes, I'm confusing.

Go buy one for yourself too! Go!

Small world.

2010-07-10T13:19:00.033+08:00

It's amazing what ageing can do to you. The older your get, the smaller the world looks. And there is just something serendipitous about how two person living in different time zone are finally meeting each other. And it's more amazing how we can just shrug the awkward feelings off, smile, and have a good worldly conversation. Cos, indeed it's a small world.

And the blog world? Even smaller.

Turns out, I got to meet this sassy gal even sooner than I might have all because the world is so itty bitty small and the stars aligned themselves the right way or something like that. And therefore, this marked my first ever 'blind date' with someone I met online. And it was the loveliest time. We talked like we knew each other since forever and it's kind of the truth really, as it's just natural to see our blog chemistry translate into a real one in just a few minutes of talking. And I for one, am so glad that we've this chance to meet. And I know, this is not the first time and the last.

It was lovely meeting you Sha. (minus the tantrum thrown by a little someone named Z the whole time we were there of course..ahem.)

Rebung

2010-07-07T07:30:00.036+08:00

I was at my wit's end after a hectic Sunday morning of cleaning and unpacking, but fortunately I have the best husband in the world who always make my stress melts away - with FOOD. While I was busy sorting things out, big Z adorably planned a special buffet lunch for us at Rebung@Bangsar. They serve classic Malay cuisine there, and has always been my family's favorite place to dine while in Malaysia. And now after 7 years, I'm glad the place is still up and running, and we still go there on occasion!

You see? On any given weekend I take probably no less than fifteen pictures, but you’d never really know it from this blog. It’s a combo of me being a little camera shy over here, and let’s be honest, it’s a product of pure laziness. I’m often too tired and hardly savvy enough to get the whole uploading picture mojo going on, but tonight I really pulled out the big guns, didn’t I? And I'm going to make this a little goal of mine, to share more pictures from my everyday. So can I please have the wicked fancy shmancy camera already?!

And one last thing, here's little Z with the friendly Chef Ismail. Just have to LOVE his somebody-save-me expression! haha.

What a weekend!

2010-07-05T18:16:00.006+08:00

Have you all enjoyed the weekend? Glad it’s July? Did I mention that big Z and I escaped away to Singapore recently?! We did! And we had so, so much fun.

Here, some photos!

We had a hard time finding a map of the city. I had an internet connection for a hot second, so I did what any normal people would do, and took digital photos of the map I brought up online, and carried the camera around with us as we were strolling the streets. Savvy, right?

But it helped us got here:

Have you ever been to ION orchard? I hadn't, but my sister has been raving about it since forever. And my husband nearly caused me a heart attack there when I found out that he had been making secret phone calls to a SA named 'Cindy' about a certain beige bag that I wanted but is sold out in KL. I swear the minute she brought the bag out my heart skipped a beat. And I really did get ridiculously excited, still am!

We just had to go to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf over and over again cause that was the only place we were convinced halal and we had a somewhat unplanned walking strategy and ended up getting lost a couple of times and walking a whole bunch further than we thought we would to find a decent place to eat. And throughout the trip (well, only a day actually, the other days were spent in meeting rooms bluegh) we just did some shopping and a lot of window shopping as the GSS is still on!

And everyday now, I marvel at these new shoes I've grabbed on sale..and how I'm a person who feels like I should share my footwear with the internet.

Our reason for heading up there was for work so we couldn't bring little Z along so God knows how much I've missed him while we were there.

But you know, it’s nice to get out of your own element once in a while. So after the wonderful time we had in Singapore, back home, we had a serious FEAST. There’s so much more, for one little weekend! And I hope you enjoyed the little glimpse into it all that I got the chance to share here.

Of sinus and sales.

2010-06-28T14:25:00.004+08:00

This past weekend, I spent a lot of time cleaning, with the “help” of my two boys. Funny how a little clean sweep through your home makes you see its little corners and character through new eyes. Actually, I am still reluctantly cleaning and I needed to take a little break and remind myself that having a sparkling house is a very good and necessary task!

Although, just so you know.. I am now - sneezing, intense congestion, running nose, watery eyes, it's as if someone is pumping air into all my sinus areas and they are on the brink of exploding! A full on sinus infection in all its glory from all that cleaning.

Saturday night, big Z suddenly decided that it's time to upgrade little Z's car seat to a bigger one. which was fine by me as I didn't have it in me to whip up a dinner for us anyway, and Mothercare is having a SALE now with an extra 10% off for members, which was awesome!

We went to the flagship store in Bangsar and little Z came home with some new friends for his HappyLand, a Snakes and Ladders mat, and a Britax carseat. And dinner was pretty good as well, grilled chicken & portobello with a frosty chocolate banana shake is a weird combo but it works, cos big Z was busy ordering for himself and the little one wouldn't even let me touch the menu. ufff boys.

So, how was your weekend ladies? all swell I hope!

p.s : photos are from my phone anyway (horrible, I know! I'm still on the hunt).

Daddy's day!

2010-06-22T21:11:00.002+08:00

I got to spend a really lovely day with the newest dad in my life the other day. It seems like only yesterday he was sweetly encouraging a frustrated, post-partum me as I tried to figure out how in the world to nurse our ravenous newborn son... Now he is an all-star dad who works hard every day to support our little fam and spends his precious free time dancing to the wiggles for our child.

the big and little one @ 12 days old

I love how much little Z adores him. If we had a cent for every time big Z makes our little one laugh in the past 8 months, we would be independently wealthy for the rest of our days. I'm praying that one day little Z will grow up to be just as strong as caring as his daddy.

Happy Father's Day baby!

Here we go again.

2010-06-15T21:31:00.008+08:00

Do you see me? Do you see what I'm doing right now? You don't. So I'm just going to tell you. I am NOT watching the World Cup. that is what I'm doing. The month of the men in our lives ranting at the TV, interspersed with swearing and tears. Four years ago, I had to put up with this man (far right) calling me from Germany to brag about the World Cup for every single day of the whole month.

And this year, it's worst. The man's right here in my living room harassing the poor TV. Since I can't kick him out of the house, I have to just buckle up for this rocky 1 month ride and figure out things to do to survive.

And if all else fails, I have no choice but to watch along side him. It's just that I'm sure I'd be looking at something else instead. Someone pass me the hottie list, now.

what's in my bag?

2010-06-10T12:17:00.000+08:00

Shahirah over at Colors Of My Life challenged me to empty my bag and put my life out in front of you. so here goes!

Lets start with the bag. It's a Furla hobo that has seen better days. this bag has been my loyal companion for the last 4 years. and I can stash just about anything in there (read: rubbish) without thinking twice.

Now over to the stuff inside the bag that I refer to as mine despite being constantly chewed on by the smallest member of the family.

1. Guardian wet wipes and 2. Minuten disinfecting wipes. to satisfy my cleanfreak mentality. toilet seats, baby changing areas, shopping cart handles.

3. Marc Jacobs sunglasses. which I la la la love. it was a gift from mom 2 years back. so I really think I ~~need~~ deserve a new one by now. ahemm..august, come quick.

4. Chanel Blanc Essentiel Base. Love the brightening effect and fresh scent.

5. Dior Lip Show Palette 6. Dior Lip Maximizer and 7. Lancome Juicy Tubes. do I really need to justify the need to carry around more than one lip gloss/color with me? don't think so. bah.

8. Sensai Liquid Eyeliner by Kanebo. in my opinion, the best liquid eyeliner to date. very easy to apply because of it's fine brush and most importantly, very easy to remove too.

9. Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen. big Z swears upon this one. bwahahaha (please don't kill me). Seriously now, this does wonders. It hides away all kind of skin imperfections in a flash! so that I can say bye-bye to my dark under eye circles.

10. Lancome Magnifique Lotion. I supposed this is great for dry skin attacks. Doesn't work if you don't apply it and I have no idea why I still keep this thing in my bag.

11. Nokia E75. this is heavy. I hate carrying it around. it's heavy. but I need it with me all the time. but seriously, it's heaaavvy.

12. Watson tissues and 13. Hansaplast adhesive bandages. I guess it's sod's law that I haven't encountered blisters since I started carrying around that thing.

14. Furla coin holder key ring which I got for free with the bag, I think. and hasn't actually been used except for the house keys since my marriage to big Z, carrier of the coins.

and an almost emptied 15. Dior Cherie parfum.

So there you have it. But the truth is, many are still missing so I think now the real question is what's not in my handbag if I'm honest! my bag is too full of coppers to close. there's the wallet, the obligatory used tissue, peppersmith gum, ipod, digi camera, a moleskin, a moleskin diary, passes, cards, dior show mascara, tweezers, USB flash drive, tiny nail file bought 3 years ago which is tiny and most excellent for handbags, nostril spray, oil blotters, unpaid bills, car keys for a car that lives at my parent’s house 2 hours away…

oh you know..just the essentials!

Cough..cough..

2010-06-09T16:20:00.000+08:00

Have I told you guys about the latest "it" thing that little Z likes to do these days? cough, he mimics my cough. whenever I would cough or chuckle for that matter he would make the exact same sound as well. So I would cough, and he would "cough". Is this an odd coincidence or is there some meaning behind it that I haven't figured out yet?

8 months.

2010-06-09T02:19:00.010+08:00

For anyone who's spent any length of time with little Z, you know that he's a big sponge: soaking up everything with his eyes. I knew that he would eventually act upon his observations but I wasn't prepared for what a whirlwind of action he would unleash on us this past few months.

I went back and read my fifth month entry just to make sure I wasn't over stating how far he's come cos I think we hit some major milestones in just 3 months : solids, crawl, sit, and my favourite..sloppy kisses! A topic that I will later turn into a long winding essay of course.

We started feeding little Z solids on the day he turns six months old and so far, he eats well and doesn't discriminate ; if it's on a spoon,it better be in his mouth. But things are about to change starting this week - no more spoon-feeding endless bowls of rice cereals -- instead we're trying out the idea of Baby Led Weaning. It's all about involving babies with family meals right from the get-go. Basically, you skip purees, go directly to finger foods, and let babes learn to feed themselves on their own accord.

We simply stick little Z in his high chair with us while we eat, offer him simple, healthy foods that he can easily grasp, and let him explore. Right now he gnaws or sucks on things, and is taking in tiny bits at a time. But we can tell that he is really enjoying it. Although it's a little nontraditional and makes for a giant mess, the method makes so much sense to me and so far we're having a lot of fun!

Here's my quick+humble summary of how/why it works:

Babies meet all of their nutritional needs through breastmilk or formula alone in the first year of life, so you need not worry whether they are getting enough.
Evidence shows that by 6 months, babies have a much more mature digestive tract and are better able to handle the introduction of a variety of foods...Not just bland mush.
Breastfed babies especially are already used to controlling their intake and have already been exposed to a variety of flavors via mommy's milk. I don't need to micromanage his portions or exposures or worry about overfeeding him.
BLW naturally progresses with the child's development. At this stage, infants are very oral and learn about the world through their mouths. Right now, little Z is super curious and has the hand-eye coordination to stick almost everything en la boca. Why not his own food? Plus, he's already learning to equate colors, textures, and shapes with different tastes. Very cool.
We don't substitute solids for those very important-hearty milk feeds. Instead, we schedule our meals in between his feedings when he is happy and alert. Eventually, he will realize that this solid food business is satisfying his belly and he will naturally begin to drop his milk feeds during the day. And somewhere in between, he'll begin mimicking everything we do--that's when the utensils and manners come into play.
I should also mention the safety aspect: We only give little Z foods while he is sitting upright and under our careful supervision. Of course we are mindful about choking hazards.
Eating real, nutritional food from the beginning will help him learn to love a variety of foods and will (hopefully!) help prevent picky eating and mealtime battles as he grows.

source : Baby Led Weaning

We want to give little Z the opportunity to try everything, eat at his own pace, and learn to love nutritious, well-balanced foods that we offer him. This whole approach is so laid back and easy, I love it. No more slaving to make and freeze my own purees and no wasting money on those spendy little jars.

And yesterday while we were out celebrating (and making a huge mess!) at Chilis for his 8-month birthday, he again swept us off our feet when he did this...

He offered me his rusk......and so I cried. :)

When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do is..

2010-06-06T23:30:00.005+08:00

Go for a walk. Have a cuddle. Listen and recite. Get a pedicure. Have a bath. Read something glossy and eat something sweet. Stare mindlessly at the window. Look at old photos and reminisce. Make a list of anything. And of course, spend hours in front of the lappy just for a blog facelift. ta-daa!

Anything to add to the list? What do you do when you're feeling rather blue?

Every moment, so precious.

2010-06-03T14:25:00.006+08:00

16th of May - little z's first dip. obviously, wasn't too thrilled about it.

I have just discovered

2010-05-26T12:07:00.001+08:00

that when you try and save a couple of lines of thought so that you can get back to them in the morning and then publish them by mistake, many readers may see it and get confused by it, even if you’ve unpublished it seconds later.

To those that saw? Shhhh..here's a distraction!

To those that didn’t? What? What post?

Oh, no, there was nothing to see here…. move along…. move along.

14 years and counting.

2010-05-19T02:02:00.010+08:00

"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older" - Anonymous

are we home yet?

2010-05-17T17:39:00.003+08:00

After what feels like an eternity of pondering on where to move and how to prioritize our apparently endless list of needs and demands. We finally made a decision - we went from 'let's just stay here until we have 10 kids' to 'let's move to the beach' to 'let's not move until little Z has to start school' to 'let's move when the Zen Residence is ready!'

Yes, we've bought a condo! actually, we've placed the deposit on it a few months back but things were a little dicey after hearing what our parents had to say about our plan. While mine think it's better for us to just stay at ~~our~~ their existing condo for at least 10 more years, big Z's parents want us to move nearer to their place or better yet, move in with them! notice the pattern here? sigh.

So after everything has leveled off, and the issue with the parents is going swimmingly again, we're forging ahead. The paperworks are signed and stamped, there's no turning back. *gulp*

There's one problem with our new purchase though - they're not done yet. Zen just broke ground last year and construction is expected to complete sometime next year, so we're in a full blown hurry up and wait mode. in which I'm not very good at, obviously.

This is our specific floor plan and I've already laid claim to the walk-in wardrobe, yard, kitchen, the oh-so-spacious lanai(balcony), and the enormous master bathroom! so the big and little Z can share the remaining unclaimed part of the house with each other. go play now you two shuh shuh..

Before we decided to go ahead with our purchase, we did some research to find out more about this development, and the overall favorable review does include tids and bits of information that made us realize that, there can never be a perfect house out there, but the right home isn't that hard to find.

We're glad that we've found our perfect home and as is to be expected, we're beyond stoked!

I think..

2010-05-16T12:19:00.000+08:00

I've heard somewhere that men are afraid of going through a woman's purse..

I think I know why now.

Inspiration.

2010-05-02T15:39:00.000+08:00

today is 27 Rejab where it's significant to Muslims is the Isra' and Mi'raj or the journey of Prophet Muhammad saw from Masjidil Haram in Makkah to Masjidil Aqsa in Baitulmaqdis then on to Sidrati Muntaha which is located on the seventh sky; and back to Makkah again, all in one night in the year of 721 AD.

It was during this journey that prophet Muhammad saw was said to see the original form of Malaikat Jibrail or Gabriel, the angel. and it was said that the angel is so huge that it will take a thousand year to completely spread one of its wing. It was also during this journey that the five times prayer were ordered for all Muslims. and of course we know that initially, Allah swt ordered for the solat to be performed fifty times a day.

while in heaven, Prophet Muhammad saw was passing an area where it has the sweet scent of small limes. the Prophet asked Jibrail regarding this, and Jibrail replied that it's the graveyard of Masyitah, the woman's leader in heaven. Masyitah believed in Allah and she was the nanny of Firaun's princess. Firaun was one of the kings of Egypt who claimed to be god and would execute anyone who didn't believe him.

while Masyitah was combing the princess's hair, the comb fell and Masyitah cried the name of Allah. upon hearing, the princess asked who is Allah, and reported back to her father that Masyitah's god is Allah and not firaun. Firaun was furious so he ordered that Masyitah and her family to be boiled in burning oil. so one by one, Masyitah's family member was thrown into the smoldering oil until it was time for Masyitah's baby to be thrown. Masyitah almost denounced her faith because of her love towards her baby and that was when with Allah's consent, the baby spoke to her in clear words and asked her not to give up as she was on the right track. So together with her baby, Masyitah jumped, still with her Islamic faith intact.

There are many stories with lessons to be learned from Isra' and Mi'raj, as posted here by lovely nora. a basis reminder for us all, myself especially, there were number of punishments that befall women which made Prophet Muhammad saw cried every time he remembered them. why women? it was shown to the Prophet during this journey that almost two-third of those in hell are women. during this journey, our beloved Prophet was shown:

a woman was hang from her hair with her brain boiling. these are women who do not cover their head from the sight of men who are not their muhrim. A muhrim is a man who is not allowed to marry a woman in Islam such as the woman's father, brother, or uncle.
a woman was hang from her tongue and her hands came out from her hip with burning oil thrown inside her throat. these are women who love to hurt their spouses with bad words.
a woman was hang from her breasts. these are women who breast-fed without the permission from their spouses.
a woman tied on both her hands and legs while being encircled by snakes and scorpions.these are women who are able to pray and did not seek permission from their spouses to go out from their houses and did not take the specified bath after their monthly or confinement periods are over.
a woman who ate her own flesh with fire burning under her. these are women who love to beautify themselves for other men who are not their muhrim and those who love to talk about other people's imperfections.
a woman who cut her own body with a pair of scissors from hell. these are women who like to show of their jewelery.
a swine headed woman with her body like a donkey. these are women who like to start a fight between two persons and are liars.
a woman shaped like a dog with snakes and scorpions entering her mouth and coming out from her bottom. these are women who are in constant anger to their spouses and lied about other people.

"Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alteration of night and day,- there are indeed signs for men of understanding. Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and earth, (with the thought) : "Our Lord! not for nought Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire." Ali Imran :191

May Allah makes us men of understanding and safe us from the penalty of hellfire.

Ameen.

yay for moms!

2010-04-15T14:56:00.000+08:00

This weekend was going to be one of those very quite and cheap weekends. The ones where you do and see everything which are completely free, money wise and stress wise.

So there I was busy doing some research on my computer when I found out about Mother's day! Yep, I didn't even if it was Mother's day and by research, I of course mean Facebook, Twitter as the main source of information these days.

So, what to do? We went out looking for FOOD of course! and decided to head over to Marche, mainly because a) it's near b) the waiting line was bearable and c) it's colorful - little Z will have plenty of things to look at, hence buying us more time to EAT.

We were each given a passport (or something. I was clearly too busy anthropomorphizing to pay attention to the actual procedure.) to order from the many stalls in there. So I guess it was pretty interesting rather than the normal "sit, order, eat, bill" dining.

he is super fast with his hands these days. nothing within reach is safe. he simply must touch everything and makes this adorable out-of-air sound when he can't reach something. it's like he's running from thing to thing and say "hey, what's this??"

the usual suspects with the privilege of enjoying their meal first are none other than, the big and little Z.

and as for me, I will usually get to recite the following over and over again while they eat.."aaa..zuhair..aaa..okay, good boy..nom..nom!" Exciting stuff.

once the little highness is done with his meal, I get to escort him around the restaurant while he greets everyone and everything that comes in our way.

and only then can I settle happily back at my table and enjoy my cold mushroom soup. oh just the joys of being a mommy!

Happy Mother's Day.

And...

2010-04-15T00:25:00.000+08:00

I’m back in the game! high fives all round. It’s been, what, forever since I last posted? And I apologize, because I left you with mere bread crumbs to last you through this blog famine. But hunger no more, or at least for a few days, because I’m back with stuff to share with you. So, to tide you over until tomorrow (when the real blogging returns) I will share with you a few things I did while on my little excursion home to visit my family who are currently here on a holiday from Riyadh.

there was a lot of nibbling and kissing and snuggling and loving on this.

with a lot of this.

and this.

so basically, we've been spending a lot of time just relaxing (big z and I, specifically). Which is kind of a new feeling for me, this so called laying low and lounging and filling a whole evening with movies or thai massages. It’s nice, actually, not having plans all of the time and not having to worry about little Z when we go out as we know he's in the good hands of his anny and anpa. It's rejuvinated me a bit. too bad this won’t last for long, because they're flying back there on the 19th.

but the last and not so pleasant bit is, a nasty virus found its way into our house the past week and my poor little Z got infected. so on friday at 1 a.m we hurried him to dsh as his body temperature was 40 degree celsius and he was shivering head to toe. So the doc in charge that night admitted him straight away. alhamdulillah it was nothing more than a viral fever and according to his ped, a lot of kids have been getting it too because of the weather these days. it was very hard on all of us seeing him there at the hospital like that for the whole 2 nights but right now, I am just so so glad that everything is well and that little Z is fully recovered.

So that explains the quietness over in these parts these past couple of weeks. cos sometimes quiet is just really, really nice.

this weekend

2010-04-07T12:19:00.001+08:00

Little Z went to his first birthday party! Yay!

too bad it was big Z who got the hold of the camera that day and most of his shots were nothing short of blurry images. Albeit a bit disappointed, I must admit, it wasn't entirely his fault because knowing the current condition of my ill-fated camera, I should be thankful that it hasn't gone kaput by now. so currently, am on the lookout for a compact, semi-pro of some sort, nothing too bulky as I need to at least be able to slip it inside my handbag (any good suggestions?). and I guess my ol' flame rebel will not be in the picture any longer as the last thing I need is another bag with only a camera in it to carry around whenever we go out. oh and speaking of bags, we bought the oioi messenger diaper bag to replace the stolen one but we couldn't find the giraffe print in any of the mothercare outlets so we settled for this one but in kiwi green instead.

ok, I'm sorry I got sidetracked for a bit there so back to the highlight of our weekend now if I may..the party babies..

only three photos survived the blurry fiasco. so there you go, all three.

21st March '10 - at li'l shania's 1st birthday party.

Just a little something.

2010-04-07T02:13:00.004+08:00

I have a policy. It’s summed up here.

Basically, think of my blog as an open house. I’ve invited you over, although I don’t know you very well. I like you though, because that’s my default feeling about pretty much every member of the human race. Now, would you really say to the woman who greets you at the door to the open house, “You suck!” No, you would not. Nor would you say that to anyone at any event (unless you’re a nutcase, but that is another story entirely.)

Bottom line: If I suspect you are the kind of person who might do that, then you won’t be able to comment here. There’s also a chance your comment got lost in all the spam, kind of like what might happen if you tried to get to the open house but for some reason you couldn’t find the house. Try it again, okay? The open house is mostly always open! Here is my address (aimfordsky (at) gmail.com).

me-time.

2010-03-27T12:20:00.000+08:00

i've recently realize how old i've gotten. ok, maybe not that old, but i remember a time when to keep my skin clear, all i had to do was wash it with soap and water everyday, and i could eat whatever i wanted and not gain a pound. i look at my bathroom counter tops now and see all this crap that i buy to try to keep myself looking youthful, and wonder..how is it that i've come to need all this stuff that i hardly ever use. what with a baby around, a house to run, and business to take care of, it's hard to divvy up my time with each of them. i mean, there's the facial wash, foam cleanser, balm cleanser, toner, serum, essential oil, moisturizer, moisturizer with SPF, night time cream etc..godd i'd consider myself lucky to be able to reach facial cottons alone these days!

so last weekend, after our poor violated car was sent to the workshop, i managed to squeeze in some me-time at the lancome beauty institute in bangsar village II. and after 4 months of neglecting my skin, i wasn't surprised when the therapist told me about the horror state my skin was in. (hi i am aimie. and my skin is dehydrated. weeps). so i agreed with whatever mumbo jumbo the therapist had to say as i would do anything to retain that dewy skin i used to have (not).

right after a quick tour of their boutique and a sip of lancome own blend tea, we headed to our cabin, a cocoon-like treatment room with coordinating music and lights. and so the hydra-harmony treatment began. oh and i love love loved it! the extractions wasn't that painful, and everything was done professionally with her being in there for the entire 95 minutes massaging my hands, shoulders,back and head while a mask was put on my face. so at least we all know that she wasn't stealing time. and how i wish she could pamper me like that forever! i left the place feeling refreshed, and my skin felt awesome.

this rant has gotten too long and am butt lazy to finish this off decently so i guess it's suffice to say that i enjoyed my facial there to the bits and if i haven't won you over, maybe this will.

oh and i must add, the pricing is reasonable and the therapists there didn't come off as pushy. bonus points! i will definitely pay them a visit again next month.

any joiners?

Simple pleasures.

2010-03-20T15:03:00.000+08:00

There's just something comforting about sitting on the sofa in the evenings. Zarir gave me some beautiful roses the other day. Here they are in my favourite part of our apartment.

In dire need of a good nap

2010-03-14T15:01:00.000+08:00

but these are too lovely to be missed. and for the fact that the boutique is only a couple blocks away from where i'm living, double lovely. oh no..i'm getting the "wants".

Yumm..

2010-03-04T15:18:00.000+08:00

This is what sabotage looks like. Today, it's in the form of pavlova. Kindly point this entry out to me when I complain about being fat.

you won't believe what they stole.

2010-03-02T12:16:00.000+08:00

So, it was saturday and we were at a hospital feasting our eyes on a beautiful newborn boy when we received the bad news -- the bane of every car's owner existence. Yep, our front window had been completely obliterated..our car was broken into! What once had been a window now lay in a thousand pieces on the sidewalk and inside the car. Though fortunately, the sun was up and it was a clear day so we didn't have to deal with the consequences of waterlogged upholstery which would have been the case if it was raining and that would have been an angering experience even more.

But perhaps most perplexing out of this entire ordeal was what on earth the thief/thieves saw in our humble vehicle? Could it have been the vent visor? (righttt, super expensive stuff that one) Perhaps it was the nearly empty jug of water sitting on the floor of the backseat? (is there a black market for that stuff??) Or maybe it was the assortment of used tissues and receipts tucked into the passenger-side door? (maybe they were planning on recycling those?)

Do you want to know what they ended up taking after all that effort? You shouldn't be surprised to know we barely keep anything valuable in our car at all. Except for the baby's car seat which is obviously too big to go through the window.

We combed through our belongings and picked out the shards, we discovered that they walked away with only one item : Lil Z's hoppop diaper bag with his avent bottles, some diapers and a bib, a flusk, powder milk dispenser, and a little tub of cleansing wipes! Psssh.

So now some strange man is walking around wangsa maju with this diaper bag and wipes.

Though it was a hassle, we're just glad we're safe and he didn't thrash (or steal!) the car. Besides, it's almost comical what he ended up deciding to take.Though next time, why don't you just knock on the door you thief?! I'll gladly save you the effort and take you shopping at Mothercare instead.

So, a bye-bye to mr.hoppop, and a hello-hello to ms.oioi..

friday..already.

2010-02-19T12:04:00.006+08:00

i have no idea where this week went. first thing you know it is sunday evening and you're enjoying dinner with your family, and then the next thing you know it is midnight on thursday and you are still trying to unpack your luggage from the last weekend getaway at the beach. how time does fly. today evaporated. nothing went as planned. for some reason around 11 am i found myself asleep on the couch, and i don't even remember sitting down. i must have been in zombie mode. but on the up side, great little nap! and i feel energized to tackle some of the things i hoped i'd accomplish earlier today.

like unpacking..pffft.

happy weekend people!

4 months.

2010-02-08T16:16:00.000+08:00

Dear Zuhair,

When I was pregnant with you, I worried about not knowing how to take care of you. I worried about not knowing to what to do with you all day. I worried about you getting bored of your poor old mommy who hasn't got a clue. But oh boy, was I wrong. When you arrived, everything clicked instantly. And most days you'd find me just staring at you all day long. You're fast becoming my favourite past time.

In the last few weeks, I can see your personality started to blossom. You will gurgle some words and wacth the world goes by with your wandering eyes. You smile a lot. In your sleep, while you play, while you drink. You smile and smile and smile.

You're so soft spoken and laid back, it's hard to even hear you cry that it got us worried but later on we know that you're just too happy to be with us and once you have started to discover how fun it is to shriek, oh boy that was a delight to hear. You crack yourself up when you do it and have been giggling more and more each day.

I'm happy to report that you have finally learn to poop without issuing a press release each time. Sometimes we have no idea what you were doing and all we here is some grunts and some of a cheeky smile as if to say "hey, guess what I did"..

You are so fond of your daddy. I can see your eyes light whenever he comes home from work and whenever we hold you in a standing position you would jump around all the time. Such a big boy in a tiny body, so we bought you this as an early 4-month birthday present and you loved it. you even fell asleep in there, twice.

The not so good news is, a not so clever man stole your diaper bag last saturday. but I like to quote what your jaddati said to you when she heard about the incident, "Allah just wants to replace your diaper bag with a better one, Zuhair.." and on sunday, aunty dayana and dayah came over to visit and you didn't waste a single second to charm the pants off of both of them. You are a darling boy.

We love you Zuhair.

love,

mommy.

ok, i give it a wow.

2010-01-22T18:10:00.006+08:00

i always worry when a movie gets so much hype that in the end it will not live up to the expectations. but avatar delivers. the 3D version at least, although it did leave me all dizzy afterwards. so does it worth the spending and the puppy face i pulled to drag hubs along? definitely. the plot was trippy, but not as deep as i thought it would be. or perhaps, i was just so intrigued by the dazzling effects that i paid no attention to the story itself. my bad. so here's a bit of a glow from us to tickle your fancy. meh.

right then, i'm off.

happy weekend people.

Goodbye 2009..Hello 2010!

2009-12-31T15:14:00.008+08:00

So, this will probably be my last post for the year 2009. I can't believe 2010 will be here in just matter of days. er, it's tomorrow isn't it? wow. i never thought this year would be over this soon (as in so, so, so many so's soon) but i will admit, as things in life started to improve and drama started to die down, time flew!

to bring in 2010, i'd like to celebrate 2009 with some of my favorite moments.

getting to be even better friends with my husband:

an amazing honeymoon in aussie:

getting to spend loads of quality time with the loved ones:

finding out that my sister will be tying the knot in june '10:

spending many many (probably too many) nights dining out:

celebrating engagements and weddings of good old friends:

taking quick breaks from the city during weekends:

a blissful 9+ months of pregnancy:

finding true, true love:

a wonderful year Alhamdulillah. can't wait for the next one.

happy new year everybody!

aww.

2009-11-17T21:02:00.003+08:00

a big thank you to everyone for your wishes!

love,

Zuhair, Aimie & Zarir

oh?

2009-11-14T15:10:00.008+08:00

oh? hi! salaam!

hey! hiya! hello.

how's life? alright?

me? yeah, yeah. fine, good. good!

you? you alright? haven't seen you in, no. yeah, ages. god.

i've just been busy,you know? still, probably my fault.

um, still in my confinement. no, not gone on x-factor just yet, no, ha, ha, um LOL.

oh god. this format is not sustainable, but honestly, i have no idea how to write a "return to blogging" post without cavorting recklessly into some classic blogging trap or other ( eg: wondering rather desperately whether anyone is out there? and if so whether and how much they've missed me.) i would quite like to neatly summarize my life as it has been in the last 2 months or so but am incapable of doing anything neatly, as demonstrated here by my poor swaddling technique causing this whimsical pose. (ironically, this is a pretty neat example.)

introducing, zuhair azhad bin muhammad zarir, 4 days old, born 8th 0f October 2009 at 11.36 p.m, weighed 2.87kg and 20.9 inches long.

there, a good start no? ;)

eid.

2009-09-21T16:15:00.006+08:00

the twinkle lights are up, the lemangs are fabulous, the rendang is to die for, the orange cake is a big hit, the kiddos are all smiling, the duit raya envelopes are getting lesser, the cookies need restocking. eid was simple with only 4 + 1 of us. had to skip the hubs hometown cos travelling east coast will be a tad too much for a 9 month preggie ol' me. nevertheless, going for salatul 'eidan was much anticipated and eid is blissful as always. mom will only be back from riyadh on the 1st oct inshaAllah, can't wait. annnnnnnd, during our last week's visit to the doc, she surprised us by saying "oh eid mubarak aimie and zarir, do bring your hospital bag along for the next visit on the 1st oct, you'll be in full term by then, so just in case any dilations are detected, i'll admit you on the dot". oh yippie, more reasons to celebrate then.

eid mubarak everybody,

thousand apologies for my wrongdoings or sayings.

have a great one.