I Loved You

Assalamualaikum...

How's your day, so far? Today is not a worse day for me, but it had been better than it. My second son, Aaron Idris, is not with fever since yesterday. He couldn't sleep well last night and of course me as his mother, had to attend his needs. He was clingy and he wanted me to cuddle him all the night long. The result: I'm like a walking zombie today. 

I cooked simple dishes for the kids and myself as for lunch. I'll suggest to Juma for dinner at outside. I planned to visit my grandmother that in my uncle's house today, but i have to cancel it. I think I better stay indoor for Aaron's sake. 

I'm looking forward to meet my friend, Ainul Hayati, who is coming on the next week. Her husband, Azhan, is currently in the United Kingdom, managing his business. I knew Ainul through Azhan, way before they got married. Azhan is my ex-boyfriend and he has been my good friend since we broke up. He introduced me to Ainul, his then-girlfriend and told me that he really like her. I have no problem in getting along with Ainul. Her character is almost same like me and I guess that's the reason we could be good friend. 

Actually, I have no problem on keeping my friendship with my exes. Of course there are reasons why we broke up but I guess it shouldn't stop us from being friend. I admit I went out with numerous guys before my relationship with Juma started to become serious. I don't keep in touch with all of them, but most of them. Till now, we do contact each other via Facebook or we meet up sometimes. 

Some of them are married and has their own family. Some of them are Juma's friends. Some of them are working in the same environment as Juma. And I'm a lucky person as my husband has no problem with me being in touch with my exes. To him, best man wins and I should know my limit. Cool right? And I won't trade his trust with anything else, seriously!

How about those guys' other half? Some of their spouse are my friend and some of them are uncomfortable with me being close with their husband. I understand and I respect what they think and feel. They have all the right to think and have opinion on it. 

I come across some of my friends who can't befriend with their exes. Many factors lead to it, I understand. But to me, why should I waste the relationship that I've build before. If we can't be lover, we could be friend. If I use to love you before, no problem fro me to like you now, as a friend. What say you?

Price versus Quality, who win?

Assalammualaikum...

I got the idea of the topic today while I washed my dishes. As usual, I'll share my experience and towards the end, you'll know which side I take. 

When I was in Kuwait, I had no trouble in making decision on what products to use because generally the quality is equal. But when I returned to Malaysia, I realize that the quality is varies as it goes with the price. For example, the dishwasher liquid. If I shop in Tesco or Carrefour or Giant hypermarket, I can get their in-house brand of dishwasher liquid half of the price of Glo/ Palmolive/ Axion. However, the quality is very low. The dish is not well-clean, especially if the plate was oily. You have to use a lot to make it clean. And it needs lots of water to wash the liquid off from the dish. The smell is not pleasant as well. It also makes you hand skin dry. I use the hypermarket brand before and I just couldn't stand it. I stashed it away and bought a good quality dishwasher liquid which is easier to use and clean up. It also protect my skin from getting dry. The price is nothing compare to the quality it gives you. 

Maleec never milk using milk bottle as he got it directly from me. However, Aaron is not as lucky as Maleec and he is still using formula milk. I didn't have much idea about formula milk and milk bottle. So, I asked lots of questions to the nurses while Aaron was still in the hospital due to jaundice. The nurses told me to find NUK brand as for the milk bottle. And I bought it. I use that brand till Aaron reached one year old where I bought unbranded milk bottle. I could see the different quite immediately. The NUK bottle milk comes with its own teat design. To tell you the truth, Aaron never experience colic while using NUK bottle milk. The NUK teat replicates mom's nipple and it wouldn't confuse the baby. Plus, it is long lasting too! Comparing the NUK milk bottle, I found it is hard to clean the unbranded ones. The milk seems to be plastering at the wall of the bottle and I have to pour in hot water to dissolve it. The teat that comes with the unbranded milk bottle is low quality and usually I'll just throw it away and replace it with NUK's teat. I think if I'm going to get a new milk bottle for Aaron for the next time, I'm going back to NUK brand. Period!

Now, let's talk about shoes. I don't mind wearing unbranded shoes but I've learned to curb my expectation on it. I love leather shoes and I invest on buying some of the high end brand such as Salvatore Ferragamo, Bally and Bruno Magli. But for fancy shoes, which I wear sometimes, not for walking but juts parading, I use Vincci brand (Malaysia brand), and some I bought in Bangkok, Thailand. It is unfair to compare the quality as the price gap is big. Blister is the biggest problem when we talk about shoes. To avoid facing it, I use the leather shoes for walking. Leather is good for walking as it mold according to your feet and it allows you feet to breathe. But leather shoes is not cheap. It will be more expensive it is from designer brands. 

Do you like chocolate? Do you have a particular brand or product that become your favorite? I love After Eight. It is minty. I love any flavor of Toblerone. When I was pregnant with Maleec, Toblerone chocolate was one of the items that must have in my fridge. And I've taste unbranded chocolate. From the taste, we could tell the quantity and quality of the cocoa in the chocolate. 

In my opinion, to anything that we consume, the quality has to become the priority rather that the price. After a thorough calculation, you will be surprise to learn that the low quality but cheap item is expensive in another way. Look at the damage that it brings to you. However, we can't deny the demand of the cheap products as not everybody afford to buy the expensive ones. 

Happy spending!

Oscar 2013- Red Carpet

Lets take a look at what A-listers wore during Oscar 2013.

Jennifer Hudson

Nice blue dress, covering the arms, showing some legs. The material itself is divine. 

Salma Hayek

I'm starting to get bored with her hairdo. Can she take the challenge to wear different style of hair? The dress is great, just take it is a normal look of Salma; something tight that can show off her body. Boring!

Guliana Rancic

I think she was late for the red carpet. She didn't find time to done her hair. She was out from bath, put on a dress was given free to her and dash to the red carpet. I bet she did her make-up in the car, on the way to the event!

Amanda Seyfried

The style of the dress, the material of it, with classic hairstyle, Amanda looks gorgeous. Perhaps she wants it not to look crowded, therefore not much accessories on her. But I think it will zest up her look with a bracelet, perhaps diamond bracelet. However, she looks stunning, as usual.

Zoe Saldana

I love this dress! Can I have it, free? Look at the details at the chest. Look at the shade of colors at the bottom of the dress; from white to black. Look at the waist, the belt made the dress more interesting. Zoe is smart by adding the chandelier earring to her Oscar look. 

Reese Witherspoon

Hmm.. I expect more from you, Reese. The dress looks ill-fitting. It didn't cup her breasts well. The tummy area looks so messy. Argh! It looks un-finish to me!

Catherine Zeta-Jones

You look like a drag queen, Miss Jones! Please hire a new make-up artist, and advise your current want to change her career! The dress, owh, its a sore to my eyes! Yikes!

Jennifer Garner

I forgive her hairdo, though I'm kind of bored with it already. The dress save you, Mrs Affleck. Gorgeous dress with nice details at the back. Beautiful color too. And the necklace, oh, so breathtaking. 

Jennifer Chastain

Oh my! So classic! You look pretty, young lady. I'm speechless when I look at you. The hair, the makeup, the dress; everything matches!

Kristen Stewart

Your Oscar look is match with your acting talent, which is worthless. The dress is ugly as it looks like pillow case. Argh! Just get out from the Hollywood scene, please!

Sandra Bullock

The dress is heavily beaded. Too heavy for me. Can you show effort on your hair? I think it will give a better justify to the dress if Sandy pull up the hair and pin it. 

Jennifer Aniston

Effortlessly beautiful! Gorgeous dress, nice hairdo, simple yet chic accessories and nice candy arm!

Amy Adam

At last, I found somebody who tried. Gorgeous dress, as prestige as the award. The bracelet and earrings spice up her look. The hair is simple but matches Amy's style for the night. 

Did you watch the Oscar awards ceremony? What do you about the winners on that night? Did you see Jennifer Garner's expression when Ben won the Best Picture for Argo?  ...Behind a successful man there is a woman. Congratulations to the winners. 

And yes, Jennifer Lawrence is not here. 

Harvesting rain water in my store room

How's your Sunday, lovelies? Are you enjoying every bit of it? I do, till NOW!

It was raining, and I was attending my laundry at my store room which is attached to my laundry room. When I entered the store room, I found that a pond of water on the floor! I called up Juma and we found that the water seepage also happen in the laundry room!

Apparently, the water get through the roof. Now, the ceiling is not virgin anymore with few spots of water. And what's my biggest fear is that the water will damage the whole ceiling of the store room and laundry room.

Take a look of the condition in my laundry room and store room currently:

 My laundry room. The items on the floor belong the store room. I have to find place for a new home to them while the people work on the problem.

Can you spot the water patch at the ceiling? This is in the laundry room.

Can you see a small hole at the edge of the ceiling, near to the wall? 

Because of the hole at the ceiling, I have to remove some of the items to the laundry room, as you can see in the picture earlier. Most of it are magazines and books. Damn! The pail is collect the dropping water.

The contractor who did built the store room and the laundry room just went back. They found that a pipe is broken and a tile roof need to be change. Let's see what happen tomorrow!

Maid: Angel or Devil (Part2)

Assalamualaikum..

Let's talk about house maid again. A little bit background info about my history with maid. I've been staying with maid since I was in primary school, when my parents left to work. I also experience hiring two maids to take care of my children. Here's the list of my bad experience with them:

1. Stealing

My first maid went back to Indonesia with my jewelries! I've hide my jewelries in a place that I assume nobody would ever think of. But she is smarter than me and she found it. I didn't check her luggage when she was leaving my house since I trusted her. At that moment too, she was upset with her lost as her youngest daughter died. But the heartless bitch ran away with my gold bracelets, necklaces and so forth!

My mother's maid stole my parents belonging. How we got to know about it? When we went to her house, we saw the painting that my father drew was hanging on her house's wall, the brother was wearing my father's shirt and many more. Why can't you ask?

2. Abuse

My brother been abused physically and verbally by the maid. I saw it and told my mother. She admitted it and apologized, But again, she did it again and again! Damn her!

3. Neglect the children
I saw with my own eyes that my maid pushed Maleec away when he went near the maid. It's normal for young kids to hold you now and then, but the maid just pushed him away. I was so sad with her behavior towards my son but I didn't say anything. Why? If I say something that she might not like, perhaps she will take the revenge on my kids when I isn't around. Therefore I just keep quiet.

I saw my maid was busy talking on the phone with her boyfriend and hold my 4 months baby with a single hand. At this point, I told her to put down the phone and pay attention to the baby. She gave me unsatisfied look!

Maleec was asking for more food and my maid just walked away from him without attending his need.

4. Busy body
My mother's maid can't wait to bring us to the playground in the evening. Why? That's the place where she met her friends, who were maids as well. They will gossiping about the domestic issues in each house. In the end, everybody in the neighborhood knows what's happening in my house.

My aunt's would eagerly come back from the playground when she heard a bad rumors about neighbor to bitch around with my aunt. I just can't see the point why you have to busy body about people's life. But later, I found the answer: the maid feels it is the only way to connect with their employee. Sad!

My maid will tell me every single detail on what happened in my in-laws' house when I was away at work. Even she ear dropping my father-in-law's conversation with his wife and children. Too much information!

5. Not appropriate attire and behavior
My maid was lying on the floor in the middle of my living hall, with her a skimpy, tiny blouse, exposing her tummy (not so flat!) while my husband was around! Need I say more?

6. Demanding
My maid only wants to wear the same products that I'm using.

My maid was choosy with food and I had to prepare special food to her sometimes as she didn't eat certain food, e.g shrimp, squid! Who's the maid now?

My maid demanded to have holiday on each weekend. Reason: she wants to go to Chow Kit to eat Indonesian cuisine! Halo! You have no holiday until you work for 3 years! And what is so tiring about your work? You don't have to cook. You barely clean up my house. And you have to look after my baby, but most of the time, my mother-in-law was the one looking after him!

7. Lack of capacity
My maid doesn't know how to cook, clean up the house, communicate with the kids; yet she demands for better salary! Wow!

8. Hygiene
My maid always need to be remind to trim her fingernails. She also needs to be remind to wash her hand after she did housework, before attending the kids.

I know some people are lucky to have a good maid. But I had a bad experience with them. I don't think they are fit to handle my children. And I wouldn't take the risk again to hire maid.

Recipe: Walnut Chocolate Brownies

Halo again! How's your day today? Productive enough to put into a tight sleep?

I would like to share with you a RECIPE! Do you brownies? I do! I do much. I love anything with chocolate.

On early February, my mother and stepfather organized a thanksgiving feast (kenduri kesyukuran). There is many reasons for the celebration... my parents are able to go for Umrah again, my brothers' wedding, my sister-in-law's pregnancy and my step siblings' wedding. I'll story about the feast in another article, so, stay tune!

Out of blue, I decided to bake brownies as the door gift. In my love, I've baked brownies and it never turned out to be normal. It will be either too soft or too hard. Once, the sugar settled at the bottom of the brownies. But I challenge myself to get the right recipe ASAP and make the door gift.

As now, my faith in Anna Olson is quite high. Therefore I googled the recipe of brownies from Anna Olson and tried. It didn't turn out well! It wasn't soft and it seems it didn't 'get-up'. After looking closely at the ingredient, I realized that I didn't put in baking powder! Silly me!

On the next day, I baked again and at this time, I got it right. So let's try out and let me know whether you like it or not, ok?

Ingredient

1 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder (you can add more as you wish)
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 eggs ( I separate the white egg and yolk)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour (I use 1 cup wheat flour and 1/4 cup self raising flour)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
toasted walnuts (or other nuts)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C) and grease an 8 x 11 inch baking pan.
2. Pour in sugar in a large bowl.
3. Melt butter (over stove or in microwave) and pour into the bowl of sugar. Stir it well.
4. Add in cocoa powder.
5. Lightly beat the white egg and yolk. Add in the white yolk and mix it well. Add in the yolk and mix it well.
6. Add in vanilla extract.
7. In separate bowl, add in flour, salt and baking powder. Mix it well.
8. Add the flour mixture into the mixture.
9. Stir in walnut.
10. Pour into the pan and let it sit for 15 minutes. Bake for 40-50 minutes, until firm when touched.

I didn't snap the picture of the brownies. Will post it once I bake for Juma, perhaps in 4 days time.

Good luck with the recipe!

Maid: Angel or Devil (Part 1)

I quit my job because I need to take care of my kids. Not that they are sick or need special attention compare to other kids, but because they are my children. Some people suggest me to send my children to the nursery, child care center or hire a nanny to take care of them while I work. Those are brilliant ideas, just that, it doesn't work for me.

When I had Maleec, my first son, I took some times off from work. When he is big enough in my opinion, I went back to work. I left Maleec with my in-laws when I went to work. When I was about to have Aaron, my second son, Juma and I had a discussion and we made decision to hire a maid. Initially, the maid will be taking care of the kids at my in-laws; house when Juma and I are working. We had a maid. She arrived few months earlier before the arrival of Aaron.

She did her work well. But I didn't get along well with her. To me, I hate a nosy people. She is that type. She will talk about what happened in my in-laws' house once she got into my car. I hate to know too details about the domestic issues of my in-laws' family as it will effect my relationship with them (it did!).

Besides, she also knows how to demand. Once, I bought her a shampoo. Instead saying 'thank you', she told me that the shampoo doesn't suit her hair. In my opinion, if she wants to use certain type of product, it is not my responsibility to meet her request. Like it or not, that's what I bought for her use and if she has favorite products, she is welcome to buy it using her own money.

She too seems not so eager to work long time with her due to her problem with her kids back in Indonesia. Happens to be, her ex-husband loves gambling and use all her belonging to gamble. She was afraid that her ex-husband will take her kids and harm them.

When Aaron arrived, she did take care of me and Aaron very well. I praise her on her job while I was in confinement period. She cooked healthy dishes to me, she massaged my whole body and took care of Aaron like her own son.

Unfortunately, her youngest daughter died and she has to return to Indonesia. We gave her 2 weeks break but she didn't return. She went back to Indonesia with my gold jewelries! Since then, I better be more careful!

But again, I have no choice but to find another maid. At this time, I was looking for a younger maid with less responsibilities. And I found one. She is totally opposite of the first maid I had. She never leaves prayers, she wears hijab and she didn't talk much. But, she has a phone and 24 seven she is with her phone. I knew she has a boyfriend and I think everybody has their own right to be in love.

The maid didn't know the limit and most of the was on the phone. Her work quality is poor. She didn't know lots of housework and not willing to learn. Or in short, she is a lazy bug!

I've talked to her, warned her and even scolded her. But no improvement. Her poor hygiene always leaves me in trouble. Just imagine, that hand with long finger nails is the one that feed up my kids. Me, a Malay, use my fingers, instead of spoon and fork, to eat. Maleec been hospitalized once because of the Hepatitis A. In fact, he spent a night in ICU because of that problem. I know who's the culprit: my maid!

Oneday, while I was at work, my mother-in-law called me up and told me that my maid ran away! She left Aaron in the middle of the living room in my in-laws' house and ran away without her belonging! Sayonara my maid! I don't need you anymore and you just make my life lots easier!

Ever since the incident, my mother-in-law refuses to have any maid in her house. Therefore she took care of the kids by herself while me and Juma working. But she isn't feel well. And Juma and I made decision to not sending them to childcare or hiring new maid, but me to leave my job!

I can't be at work, worrying about my kids' at home. Some people install surveillance camera and connect to their phone, to see what's happening in the house. But I rather not to take the risk. I love them so much though they always drive me crazy. I can't think if anything happen to them because of the babysitter or the maid, I could forgive myself. Juma and I are not rich, but what we have is enough for us to live. That's why I can leave my job and take care of the kids.

Look at this video (though I haven't and wouldn't watch it!). I love my kids and I will do everything I can to prevent them to be harm . They are sick people out there and who knows it is your maid!

Prevention is always better than cure.

Another day, Another story!

1. Is watching 'Hitch' and I confirm again and again that Eva Mendes is not beautiful. To me, she looks plain and nothing extraordinary. Her acting was so-so. Nothing wow about her.

2. It;s midnight. But, the sound of fireworks break the silence of the lovely night. Happy New Year to all Chinese!

3. I'm so tired and worn out.

The kids weren't easy today. They were choosy with food. They were naughty as well. I'm so tired. 

Aaron is playing with my stepfather's lappie!

Maleec is dancing, like Timmy :)

I think I was hard to handle too, when I was small and young like Aaron and Maleec. My mother and grandmother told me that I was a short temper and pain in the ass. 

But of course I was small at that time and I don't mean to give a hard time to my mother and grandmother (or anybody who is taking care of me). If I could turn back time, I wish I could behave at the best, be the easiest child to my parents and make them proud. How I wish I didn't make my parents sad with my actions. 

That's what I told myself whenever my kids are not behaving well. I know, when they grow up, they wish they didn't give me a hard time when they were small. 

But that is the circle of life. Now, I need to rest. 

Have a good night!

Movie: Istanbul Aku Datang

I'm 31 years old already (yeah! I don't mind to let other people know my age). And I know sometimes I don't sound like 31 years old. But, to the heck with it! One more thing, I still enjoy watching chick flick. Hahaha.

There is so many movies that I want to watch but either I have no time to down or I don't have chance to tell Juma to get the DVDs for me.

One of my brother, Fareez, is home for Chinese New Year break. He told me he downloaded a Malay chick flick movie, 'Istanbul Aku Datang' (Istanbul, I'm Here). From the trailer, it looks appealing to me and it is one of the movie that is in the list that I should look for it and watch it.

Oh my! I just love it! Every second of it. Not even a split second bore me. What i love about that movie:

1. The costume. I love everything on Lisa's body. The top, cardigan, beret, tights, shorts, the colors, the printed, everything!

2. The cinematography. It is well plan. You can feel the tense, the joy, through it. The director has a good visual and it has become reality by his good team.

3. The story line. It was simple, predictable and sweet.  The script is not cheesy, just straight to the point. It sounds like the lay man conversation rather than trying to woo the audience with phrase that make us puke sometimes in order to sound more romantic. (I hope you get what I meant!). The script and story line managed to make people who is married (read as me!), want to fall in love again and again with their partner.

4. The actors. Lisa and Beto did a good job, kudos to them! Tomok can do better, but to expect, he is a singer, not an actor. The rest of the supporting actors too, did a wonderful job! A good team indeed. Though it is a small role to Aizat, we could see himself in that movie.

5. The music. Oh my! I loove every song in the movie. Lovely. It suits every scene.

6. The location. After watching the movie, I feel like I want to visit Istanbul. Istanbul is the next Paris then, thanks to this movie!

Congratulations to Bernad Chauly, the director, to the producers and to the actors. Good job and keep it up. Ok, need to go now. The third round of 'Istanbul Aku Datang'.

Oh My Blackberry!

I've been using the Blackberry phone since Aaron never exist in this world... and it died today!

This post is a story in a story. If you don't understand what I mean, you'll get it sooner or later.

Few hours ago, I dug my phone that was in my bag. The whole day today, I didn't have time to check on my phone. My had a small family and friends gathering today and of course I've been busy helping her. The gathering was held in a hall, so I just tossed the phone in bag and off to the hall. That's explain why I didn't know about the status of my phone.

After dinner, I was wondering why Juma didn't call me today and would like to check whether he had been trying to reach me. Nevertheless, I found that my phone was off. Then, I charged the battery but still no sign from the phone that it is charging. Luckily Farhan was home and I asked him to check on the phone. My mother heard our conversation and told me that Aaron dipped the phone in the tea drink! And that is how my Blackberry phone died!

I was so angry! NO! I'm still angry! Juma bought it as a gift and I hate to spoil any gift from Juma. That is one. Another thing; I'm broke! Damn broke! SO, where am I going to find money to get the replacement? Grr!

Aaron is being super naughty lately. Once he awake from his sleep, he starts to 'work' (read as making mess). Now that I'm staying few days in my mom's, Aaron had been giving her headache. In this morning, while I was half asleep, I heard my mom screamed few times to him. I heard that my mom scolded him that he put my stepfather's shoes on the bed. Later, Aaron took few packed drinks and pour it on the clean clothes. Then, he went to the cabinet and took off the vacuum cleaner. After bored with it, he went to my mom's room and started to suck on the jubah that my mom ironed to wear for the gathering.

In short, he would never stop making mess until he is off to sleep. Grr!!

I love you son, but can you please reduce your naughtiness?