2015

My first entry in 2015.

I've been lacking, like a lot in writing stuff here.

Basically I just don't know how to write anymore as the blogging space seems too..vulnerable. At one time I feel like sharing stuff but at the same time, I feel not safe anymore.

Anyway, to kick the mojo, sharing you current song that touch my heart.

I'll write again, after my emotion is quite stable. In a few hours I hope! *sigh*

The Baking Goddess Wannabe

I did something unbelievable last weekend, despite of my hectic schedule, craft hobby and rumah sepah tak kemas mode - attending a baking class!!

Well, it was a bit chaotic I'll say because I had work migration on that night, and then the very next morning nak pegi baking class pulak! Nasib baik the migration went well and not that long, so I managed to catch my nap. But then, kejap je sebab sahur kan.

It all started when I follow Kak Yani's IG (@thekitchenguardian) and fell in love with her baking style. Then a few weeks back, she starts making classes and the seat are full within few hours. Hot stuff sangat k. And me being me (sometimes can be very impulse despite of my crazy schedule) cepat2 email cakap nak masuk waiting list, and the moment she told me there is a slot, I quickly say yes!!

Thank God I said yes because it was the last class..until next September. Hehe so anyone interested, get ready k.

Since this is the last class for now, the turn around was very big, around 24pax. We are divided into 4-5pax per group for hands on session.

We learned how to make swiss meringue buttercream, lemon curd, lemon cupcake, belgian choc cake, choc ganache, choc buttercream and congo bars. Well, for a baker maybe you'll think "elehhhh senang je ni" hahaha but for a novice like me, whom only bakes buttercake (which most of the time didn't turn out ok) this is a big step! Making the buttercream itself already gives me shiver 

swiss meringue buttercream, which surprisingly seems easy to make (suddenly i sounds like a pro kan haha), and tasty too! MrComot loves this version very much! It uses egg white instead of whipped cream.

Choc button as the main ingredient

 

Congo bars in progress

Belgian choc cake fresh out of oven

Lemon cupcake on the left

My group's Belgian Choc Cake. This is deliciously evil!

Sorry, can't help it! 

Me with my group. 2 of them are in early 20s. Woww...so young and already exposed to all this stuff. I still remember when I was 20s, all I ever do is study (not that much) and hmmm..didn't achieve much. How I wish I spent my youth more wisely. Well, I think it's generation era, those days, we are more "follow the flow" type, don't really dare to chase other dreams.

We get to bring back some cupcakes, congo bars and a quarter of belgian cake, bake by us *proud moment*.

I gave the cupcakes and congo bars to Zahra and Emir and both reject the cupcake (I guess they don't like the lemony taste) but they chomped on the congo bars like crazy. Zahra keep on saying "Thank you mommmyyy sedapppnyaaaa". Coming from Zahra that is a fussy eater, that means a lot to me. Seems like I need to reproduce those bars ASAP.

Anyway, baking is indeed a hard work. They are a lot of thing you need to prepare and be patience about..mixing, baking, cooling, decorating. It definitely has to be something you love doing. Else, it will eat you inside out. So tiring. So I decided that I don't want to be a baker and stick to my crafting (and I definitely appreciate and have more respects for home-made cake baker!) but..maybe congo bars kena buat, since Zahra loves it so much, and it's easy to do!

Side story, the class supposed to be from 10AM - 2PM but somehow it dragged until 4PM and I'm fine with it, but this is my first time leaving the kids with MrComot during the day and they are very attached to me. So nak dijadikan cerita, Emir pooped and refused to be washed by MrComot and he stays in the soiled diaper for 2 hours plus! Knowing him...dia mmg choosy nak I yg basuh berak dia. If MrComot wants to wash he will throw tantrum. Finally MrComot managed to wash it and I was already on the way back that time 

Oh ya, MrComot loveees lovesss lovess the lemon cupcake so much! And this surprise me because he always tell me, sourish cake is weird, cake has to be sweet. That's his definition of dessert generally. So I expect him to like the belgian choc cake, instead dia suka sangat the lemon cupcake pulak, and hint me "Boleh buat lemon cupcake lepas ni". Aghhhhh such pressureeee!!! Haha. Can I buy them instead? 

By the way, the class gave me a little boost, I can do this! InsyaAllah. I only need to be rajin and that will the hardest part hehehehe.

My Wonky Pizza

Ok, actually I regret that this post will be about my rant only, sans picture as a proof. Haha. Not that I want to proof anything, but I regret that I didn't take out my phone and snap my pizza, that is wonky but 1000 times better and yummy because I made it myself!! *pat at the shoulder*

Seriously, that's the yummiest pizza I ever had!!! Dang the picture!

So finally in my whole life, I made pizza from scratch. The base and everything. But we are talking about the base people! The base!

I've been tempted to make it myself because

1) order in general pizza (dominos, pizza hut, canadian pizza) is too junky. I don't like them anymore.. always too salty, too flavourful, too junky as in junk food.
2) higher end pizza (italianies, barbera, etc), is yummy..but lets face it, it's expensive and I can't always have it like all the time, like..oh mann I'm bored for dinner, let's order in Italiannies pizza! Well, it kinda weird and I'm not that rich enough
3) frozen base is....kinda ok, but not that ok and it's priced at around 10ringgit for 2 medium base. Ok lah..but not so worth it (comparing to the taste) and I rather have readymade frozen pizza.

So I was thinking, woman, why don't u make your own pizza base!

The thing is, I'm kinda scared, with the kneading and yeast and whatnot..not the process, honestly if I think carefully now, I'm scared if my pizza is blah! LOL!

Hard to admit it you know.

So last night, I faced my fear and measure some flour, brew some yeast with water and sugar, sprinkle some salt, dash some olive oil, knead knead and knead. let it to rest and rise, then knead again. Made some simple topping which is seasoned shredded chicken with pineapple chunk, and pepperoni laden with cheese.

And mannn...the-most-delicious-pizza-ever!

And guess what, my husband siap cakap tiba-tiba, ok so u decide, to buy actifry/airfryer or breadmaker first? Like seriousssllyyy? Because I've been pestering him to buy me breadmaker since I want to make pizza base and bread (typical spendthrift wife symptom) and he said, noooo I don't see we will make bread that often and we can always buy the base and better buy airfryer and suddenly, he changed his mind? Just because my wonky pizza base? LOL!

Oh yeahh..about that wonky pizza.. typically me, I just don't know how to do it, and I don't know how to roll it, so I just pull the dough outside and somehow it doesn't look round, not even squarish, in fact, I don't know what shape is that!! Gagagaga.

And my husband even said, we need to buy pizza pan for our next pizza! I feel like to do the ROFL literally . Woww..my wonky pizza and the impact.

Since I don't have the picture to feast your eyes, I'll post the before and after of the dough. Apparently that's the only picture I took that day, because I want to see is the dough really rise up.

And oh ya, the motive I didn't snap the pizza photo is because I am too upset with the shape at first that I refused to save the moment, and after we bite it, we were busy eating that yummy thing and our hands kinda messy so I forget the phone 

No recipe! Because I am not sure if I get it right. But basically it's 2cups flour + pinch of salt + 1tsp olive oil, 200ml warm water + 1tsp sugar + 1 1/4 tsp dry yeast (add to the flour mixture after the yeast mixture is alive - it makes few bubbles then arise to the top of the water, in about 15-20mins). The original recipe is from salam2benua.blogspot.com and I lost the direct url but u can google it up :- resepi pizza salam dua benua :P

I keep on adding the flour until my dough feels right (not sticking, like the melting cheese to my fingers). So I don't know how many cups of flour that I used. Really. And it's normal white flour, not bread flour or self raising one.

Wonky pizza aside, I love this instant pizza from Dr Oetker. It doesn't taste that instant and act as a quick fix on our lazy days. I've been stocking it up but I'm not sure on the nutrition though. But my fav is Spinaci and the spinach taste so yummy even Zahra loves it (and she hates all vege except for broccoli).

Destressing @ Hammam Bangsar

I'm not the girly type who goes to spa, do my hair or facial. In fact I never had any facial the whole my life (come to think of it, it's pretty funny. I should try at least once!). I prefer reading or shopping to de-stress my life. But lately (it has been months in fact), I'm so stressed out and was thinking to try a spa, maybe it will help. I mean, why not? The last spa session I had was when I got a FREE voucher by buying my wedding ring (that will be like more than 5 years ago) and last massage session was about 2 years ago, after I gave birth to Emir. But that was confinement massage, so it doesn't count right?

And I had only 2 sessions of spa my whole life, the FREE one and another one is with Jojoba at Times Square (they had this promotional thingy buy 2 for 1 price, something like that). Woaa...come to think, maybe I am stingy at spending money on spa haha.

Anywayyyyy...so I was thinking, that's it! I am so stressed now that I'll do whatever I can to help myself, and that will leave drugs away. Say NO to drugs kids! So a pampering spa it is!!

Like.....in real pampering style! 

And that's why I choose Hammam! It looks so luxurious and I am feeling posh *cough* *cough* and I read so  many reviews that the service is good. Going there alone will be kinda sad...so I planned this event with my darling Cik Siti months ahead. We are busy with routines and decided to take annual leave just for this session. Imagine the anticipation to the date, I keep on going "Come on! few more weeks to go!" lol

Look at the beautiful tiles!

I booked 2 sets of Princess Hammam package (that will be scrub + massage) because it is the most basic package and I couldn't decide yet what we want to have. We were briefed by a friendly guy (which I didn't get the name, too bad, I kinda like him though!) and while sipping on warm Moroccan tea, he explained all the package they offered. We changed the package to My Fav Concubine (which add body mask) and Cik Siti add on Rose hair mask but too bad, they forgot to change the package and we stick to Princess Hammam :-/ 

Thank God Cik Siti still gets her Rose Hair mask because she said it's soo soo nice! I am jelly you know. I didn't do it because I don't really have hair. Ok, it's not funny..but I am born with thin hair and I'm fine with it, less management (still feeling jelly haha).

We were given a locker each to keep our stuff safe and a robe and the dispos for us to change. Oh my God..I feel like little kids, we even giggled in the changing room :-/

The waiting lounge

I love this spot! 

Two therapists ushered us to hararet - it's a bathroom with steam and were bathed by the therapists like a little kid! She literally pour buckets of water over and over again, you know, like the one you mandi from telaga or kolam.. but better because the water is hot. Not boiling hot but something warm towards hot and it's salt water.. bathing never feels so good! After that she applies traditional Moroccan black soap all over the body and ask me to lie down on a tiled bench in the same room. Since it's steaming room, so the tiles kinda hot but the moment your whole body touch it..again it feels soooo good! My stress is almost gone already. There were two benches there and both of us are about 1 mtr apart and I can't help it but giggles again. It feels funny somehow because we are lying half naked but my eye sight is not perfect, so it's okaaayyyyy LOL. Kinda tone down my shyness :P

The therapists left us for about 10-15mins, well I kinda lost the time because I feel suffocated already and almost call them up. Haha..talk about being drama queen. The steam helps our skin pores to open up and be ready for scrub session.

Then the scrubbing part came...well..to be truth, I am quite shocked initially.. because I was expecting they will scrub us with coffee or whatever grain, but it's purely using a scrubbing glove. Just a glove! And mannnnn....The first min was kinda a torture actually. It's not gentle I'm telling you, but in a good way! The aim is to scrub all the dead skin, so have to do it the right way. I keep on chanting  "think of happy things.. think of happy things" lol! But you get used to it a few minutes after that and I am actually enjoying the torture haha.

After almost one hour scrubbing us, we were bathed again...and she soaped me, shampooed my hair complete with conditioner.  I managed to peek on the scrubbing result and oh myyyy...I can see all the dead skin (or daki) all over the bench. It's a total ewwww! And I definitely feel squeaky clean!

Oh ya, the cut away  the glove that is used on us...so don't worry about hygiene! one glove for each customer!

The therapist then pat me dry and wrap me with towel and robe and ushered us the lounge for a break. Seriously, all I ever did was lift my hand, sit or stand up. Princess sangat!

Bakhlava (which is so sugary yummilicous which you didn't see because it sits happily in my tummy) and Moroccan tea.

Princess for a day. Still can't leave without the handphone. Still doing some work :-/

After the rest..it's time for massage. There are 4 types of massage oil that we can choose from, all with argan oil base, only with different essential oils to boost up the purpose. Pine wood for muscle relaxant, rose for sensual, another one I forgot what essential but for slimming and detox and the last one is their signature oil which can expel all the negative element and replace it with positive one. That one smells good, somewhat citrusy but you have to add RM30 for that signature oil. I chose with rose essential in the end.

They have jacuzzi in the massage room. I wonder what package will get to use it.

Couple massage room. Nice lighting actually and this pic just don't do the justice.

Pretty lights

The massage....melt all my stress away. I almost fall asleep but I didn't because I am a light sleeper, but it's reaaaally good. The only thing I don't like is the selection of music, because it doesn't sound Moroccan enough to me. I know..ridiculous stuff to concern about haha.

Being social media junkie, updating IG

Sipping tea again. Look how rejuvenate I am!

Talking about rejuvenate, I feel like lazying around and sleeping at home after the spa session..I mean, you can't be stressful after stress-less right? And I can't wait to go back home to have my sleep. We wandered around, browse some shop, had nasi daun pisang for lunch (the funniest part because I am so wangi with the rose oil and suddenly stuff myself with curries lol), bought coffee and around 5PM, we are off from the place and I picked up my husband from work and the kids from school.

I thought I will sleep when I hit the sack, but boy...how wrong was I. I feel so energetic and refreshing that I couldn't sleep at all.

I've been whatsapping Cik Siti and she had the same problem too! Haha.

In the end I decided to iron my husband's working shirt (which resulted in 3 weeks stocks! Talk about being productive!) and only slept at 3AM.

The next morning I thought I'm gonna wake up late but ha ha ha..7AM and my eyes are wide awake.

I feel so good for the next couple of days and stay calm even when my kids giving me headache with their fighting and whatnot.

The spa outing definitely helps my well being so am gonna do it again. And hammam is highly recommended!!

To Cik Siti, tq so much for being my partner in crime!! It was fun! I love ya!! Hahaha.. See.. I'm still excited about it =)

What I Want for 2014

Ok, time for fun entry!! What I want for 2014 (read it like how I met your mother tone, so fun! lol). Ok kidding. Anyway I just loveeeee to do this. Haven't I? Listing out all the want thing. So superficial! Yeah, superficial stuff is FUN! Hehehe!

You can read my wanting list for 2013 here: http://aandes.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-i-want-for-2013.html

In fact you can use the search button on my blog and type "what I want", if you would like to see my other side of being *childish* *cough* *cough* throughout the year.

Yes I do think wish list is kinda childish :P

Ok enough ranting..here is the review of what I want last year, and lets see, did I get it or not.

2013 Wanted stuff:

1) Printer for craft that can wifi and scan

Well, I GOT IT!!!! In fact I bought it early of the year - January 2013. Or was it December 2012? I couldn't find the receipt though, it's shucked in one of my drawers. Nevermind. Anywaaaayyyy... it's a big and shiny black inkjet Canon PIXMA hmm forgot the model. But it's super niceeee! Double way, poor my printer, it is bought and left unloving after that, until now, that I feel like crying. 

Yes!!! It's still unopened after a year. I'm just busy you know =/

My poor printer dumped together with Zahra's doll. Well, at least you got a pretty companion.

2) A vacation - local / oversea doesn't matter

WE DID!! I almost forgot about this, because I didn't blog about it. Proscrastination. By the way, we went to PENANG!! And had loads of fun! Will try to blog about it (even though it's so last year! Booo!)

3) Bias tape maker

Got it! But you guess it right. It receives same fate with my printer. Sobs.

 

sorry baby. Maybe I should sell you?

4) Rotary cutter set with mat and ruler

GOT IT!! And been lovingly used =D

I've been using it for almost everything, from fabric to paper and to measure

5) New curtain and sofa cover for the house, current one has been stuck (and unwash) for 4 years! 

Errr...NOPE! Let it remains unwash for 5 years will ya! =D

6) A proper built-in sewing table

Well, I did get a sewing table handed down by MrComot's auntie, but to say built-in, it's not. So how do I put this. 50-50! I think the table is good enough for me as I'm not settling down my art's room quite yet. So I don't plan to get a proper one..maybe later. Much later. So this is my new sewing table, which has pretty red and pink ombre drawers. And I stuff everything there. What an eyesore! =/

Nice drawers dude! But...I see junk is killing you.

2013 needed stuff:

1) 365-project 

I didn't make it, BUT I did the yearly book with photobook.com.my and it's awesome! Gotta make it yearly. Nanti I show!

2) Open my blogshop, seriously, I bought too many! Need to let go some stuff. 

I DID IT. Yeay yeay, andes did it la la andes did it. Well, literally...not really. I did make some arrangement on to open the blogshop, like setting up a domain, upload pictures, register with SSM and whatnot BUT, I never get it launched in 2013. So will make official announcement later and maybe some giveaway! *ambitious mode ON!*

Anyway some hint below....presenting you the cutest bee on the block!

3) Finish my pregnancy journal (Zahra and Emir).

Errrrr...NEXT!! *totally forgot about this! Gah!!*

Haha..it's fun right?! I never knew I wanted so many thing? Goldfish!

OK, now lets talk about what I want for 2014.

Hmmm...hmmm...

Hmmm...

HMMMM...

I can't think.. of..any. Really.

Really.

Woooooaaahh! I AM OLD. I don't know what I want anymore. All I want is to be happy. Ever after. 

And maybe to paint some room, and stencil my kitchen with blue waves. And maybe assembling my printer. That poor dude.

Yes, I want to do that this year. Lets get serious.

1) Do some stenciling/painting. Blue waves for my wet kitchen

2) Another stenciling/painting for the front wall, golden blocks perhaps.

2) Assembling the printer and print awesome wall art!

3) Do the yearly book

4) Again...pregnancy journal (Zahra and Emir). Lets face it, I have to repeat this until I come out with one!

There's something missing. I need to buy something this year. Wait..let me think about it.

.

.

.

.

Oh yes, my ultimate no 5

5) I want a wooden swing!! In fact, it was on 2011 list. Memory returns =D

*pic googled*
The kids must lovin it!

So how about you? Berangan tak rugi! Hahaha

All and all, I want to be a better muslim and person, a fun mommy and devoted (as in, wake up early, cook some nice food, keeping my tone low) wifey. I can do this! 2014, bring it on!!

*image googled*

Domestic Goddess Wannabe

I wanted to blog about this since last weekend, the day of this incident itself, because I was so so so happy. But work caught up hence this late update. 

Anyway the excitement still there...so here I presenting what I've been up to last weekend.

I found a shop selling fresh wet groceries, in 10mins away from my house!!

Ok.. well, maybe it's nothing to you guys, but I was like a happy kid when I get there! First and foremost, we rarely get to buy fresh stuff because of time contraint. Weekend is the only time we at home, and we didn't cook during weekdays. So most of the time we had to succumb with Giant and Tesco online. I used to think Giant's fish is good enough, but when I look at this shop, blehhhh no more Giant after this..err..unless no choice la.

And I haven't been to any market or pasar malam/pasar tani beli barang basah in 5 years of marriage. So this is my first time trying to be..ahem..a real domestic goddess...ahem!

My MIL told us about this shop long time ago but we didn't have the chance to check it out. It's just normal kedai runcit dekat seksyen 4 KD. MrComot went there first, with Zahra and brought home fresh squid  and complaint that he couldn't really shop because Zahra said the shop is icky and stink so she doesn't want to walk. Typical Zahra /:)

So last weekend, I went there all by myself around 1030AM. Quite late already. Tapi gigih okk. Normally we will go everywhere together, but MrComot said it is impossible to shop there with the kiddos. So MrComot took care of Zahra (he brought her to Giant to buy some dry groceries) and I left Emir with my sister at home, and pinjam kereta my sister, drive sorang2 pegi kedai. I rarely drive alone after kahwin..so tell me about it. And my kegigihan is sooo worth it haha. The fish is super super fresh and I feel like buying all!

Some of the stock.

Bought 1 big siakap (barramundi), about 1 kilo pelatling (mackerel), a bag of lala (clams), cili padi, limau kasturi, daun kesum, tomatoes, ginger, taugeh, hard tofu, and coriander leaves for only RM33!! It's cheap!

Talk about that fresh coriander leaves..this is my first time buying such stuff, so I keep on sniffing that leaves ok. Sooo sooo sooo nice!  :D

Reached hole around 1115 and I didn't plan to cook for lunch at first because I know myself, I am a bit lembap in kitchen..I have to start cooking at 1030 not going out shopping the stuff haha.

But because the ingredient is so fresh, I was super excited and rolled up my sleeves and start sweating in the kitchen.

See the siakap? "Masih bersinar" as my mom would say to fresh fish. And yeah, it is sparkling!

Rub some fish sauce, chopped garlic, onion, ginger, tomatoes, cili padi, lime juice, pinch of salt and coriander leaves.

Turn to siakap stim limau cili padi. YUMS!

Taugeh with tofu , fried with ikan masin style

I soak the clams in saltwater to remove the sand and it was 12 something already. Told you I'm slow in the kitchen haha. So decided to cook the clam later and proceed to eat lunch.

After lunch, I didn't take a nap but start process the mackerel and turn it into

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

LAKSA KEDAH!!!

Ok tell me now, super effective or not? LOL

I don't know what's gotten into me but I was so excited to cook that day. Which is so not me! I would prefer take out anytime ok? Maybe I'm bored with outside food but my ultimate catalyzer is the fresh fishes!

When everything is fresh, the food will be extra delicious too, bundled with love and my sweat of course! Lol!

Anyway, I don't really know how to cook laksa kedah but I love it very much. The recipe is simple too, so I just belasah buat and keep on asking MrComot how is it?

"Sedaaaappp!! Tengok me sampai hirup semua kuah"

Good boy!!! Tak sedap pun takpe, janji you give me RIGHT answer hahaha.

Oh ya, the laksa is kids friendly - just mackerel + cili giling + daun kesum + asam keping + salt. That's all!! Didn't put bunga kantan (ginger torch) because it's quite windy for my stomach and no belacan..just because MrComot prefers without it. And yet, it still tastes delicious!

So no more fish from Giant after this. Kedai runcit seksyen 4, see you soon!!!

We are 5!!

*image googled*

Just something random, our marriage turns 5 last 10th Oct!!! Thank you Allah..for all the happiness and blessings that you shower us. 5 years is definitely a long time but not long enough for you to  master your marriage. There are so many things I need to learn about. However, marriage definitely made me a better person. It's where I learn to be selfless. Life is not about me, me, me anymore right. Well, most of the time is all about me (thank you Mr Husband!) but yeah..marriage is a hardwork. The is no such thing you fall in love and happy ever after. You need to nurture it all the time. Then you'll be happy. InsyaAllah..trying my best here =D

We didn't make any celebration during last year's anniversary because both of us were extremely busy and I sharply remember that we  made a pact in the car that we going to take annual leave and make something special for this year's anniversary. But oh well...this year pun busy jugak. In fact MrComot wasn't in town on our anniversary as he has meeting in another state. So there goes our pact *sobs* *sobs*. And after he came back pun takde celebrate mana-mana sebab both dah start busy that time. But it doesn't matter really..maybe next year! ;)

Anyway, I ordered this shoes from ebay UK about 3 weeks before and been checking the mailbox a week before the anniversary date and was 'ready' to accept the fact that my parcel is missing, because international parcel is not traceable when it reaches Malaysia. But Mr Postman decided to hand me the parcel on my anniversary day!! How sweeeeeet is that? So I considered this is my anniversary gift untuk mengubat hati yg lara haha.

 All the way from Great Britain ;)

Freckle Face in Navy Nubuck ;) ;) ;)

I've been looking up and low for Freckle Face (it's an old design from Clarks so it's not in market anymore) and most the sites don't have my size. Then one day jumpa this one, it's like a miracle!

By the way, since MrComot is not around, I made a crazy thing that day. Skipped my lunch and went to SSM to register my own company....

Which is crazy because.... I don't have any product to sell!!! LOL.

Well, I have something in mind, of course related to crafts and handmade stuff. I have a lot of buttons ribbons fabrics that I keep on buying and mounting in the craft room, and was thinking to let it go. Well, I can just sell it without register a company right? I mean, takat jual 10 butang je, perlu ke nak company bagai hahaha... but 1010 means a lot to me. So if I want a registered company, I want it to have that date as the registration date! Ini semua POYO! Hahaha

Nevermind that.

Since I already have a company, I HAVE to sell something right. InsyaAllah..when I'm less busy and get to upload the pics, I'll announce my shop site ;)

I announced this move to my husband and he gave me a short and sharp reminder:

 "multimillion, but we won't rob from the people"

Yeah, I won't rob from the people! InsyaAllah. Semoga Allah pelihara my heart from all this thing. Business is not easy..you tend to be blinded by the money right. Cewahhh cakap banyak, barang pun takde nak jual haha.

Anyway, my shop is going to be a place where I share my passion in crafts. Sharing is caring. Robbing is not allowed!! =P

One of the days..

I had this gastric attack few weeks ago which is really weird because I've never had gastritis after my last treatment in 2006. It was very bad that I vomit every 2 hours even when there is no food in the stomach, up to an extent I thought I am pregnant!

But I know I am not, so I went to see the doctor.

It started well, telling her that I got stomach pain, been vomiting like crazy, did some pregnancy test which came out negative and suddenly I burst out crying. Right in front of the doctor.

I don't know what came into me but I just feel like crying. I feel so weak and so in pain. And I feel so hopeless because I am in pain. You got me? I hardly fell sick it the sickness is making me so upset.

Started from the stomach pain, it has become a psychology session. I am on emotional turmoil and been pouring down my life to the doctor.

I told her that I am so tired with my life right now. With all the traffic jam and all. So basically this is how our life every day.

7-am : send the kids to babysitter, go to work, reach around 830 - 1 1/2 hrs journey
working
630 pm : pickup the kids, go back home, reach at MIL's around 8pm - another 1 1/2 hrs journey
have solat, dinner, feed the kids dinner
930 pm : go back home
10 pm : readied the kids..sampai rumah je they want to play first. then brush teeth, wash up a bit, clean myself, pray and stuff, it's almost 12am before we hit the sack.

Every.single.day

Then it hits me that I am freaking tired of it.

I don't think that we have quality life anymore. I want a life where I get to be on the bed with the kids at 10pm max, read them story book, or teach them quran during maghrib. A simple life but fulfilling.

Then I even mention that I've been breastfeeding for 3 years non-stop, not that I feel it's a burden, it's just I am so tired.

I tried some multivits and supplement, but it just doesn't work.

Weekend is fine because I call up the weekly maid to clean up the house, so basically I don't do any house chores, it is just I am so tired with the weekdays routine. I want to do more in my life than being a robot, you know.

The doc keep on giving me tissue paper and smile "I understand. I've been there too. With 2 small kids"

Then the session goes on and on and she concludes that I got the gastric because I am stress! Apparently the more stress you are, the more acidic your stomach will be. Hahahaha.

Ok..so we discuss my problem, brainstorming ideas to how to tackle it, to make my life better, etc etc.

She gave me an MC for me to go shopping to wind out my mind. But I spend the whole day sleeping! How I wish I can go shopping but my stomach still hurt very much that day.

Anyway the next day, I woke up fresher than ever. I know what I want in my life now!

To get a maid!

Hahaha. Ok seriously, I am considering to have a maid. I can't afford to reach home at 10pm anymore and be a zombie.

Or maybe I should quit my job and be a full time housewife. That will be my most wanted job!!! But deep inside I still tak berani. I still want to work and make money. Sigh. I know, selfish. Double sigh.

God..show me the way!

What I want for 2013

Ok, this is going to be stale. I always make a point what I want and need to do every year but none achieved in last year! And some of them already carried forward from 2011! Ahhhh benci benci benci! But yeah, it's a fun thing to do (I mean the wishlist, not the 'none-achieving' part ha ha ha), so I'm gonna make a new list this year! Some will be carried forward, some maybe not.. like the diamond ring. I think I've grown up wiser hahahaha... You can read my 2012 wishlist here by the way.

Anyway recap last year:

Wanted stuff:
1) A color printer - none. Actually almost to get one, as in A-L-M-O-S-T. I've been surveying around and decided to buy this one, already talked to the salesman, and we went there on 31st Dec 2012, and then dia cakap habis ok? HABIS! Ughhhh I almost cross this one from my list. Dang! Anyway it'll be restock soon, so we'll see if I getting it or not, macam dah tak semangat haha..
2) Silhoutte cameo - ilek
3) Timber flooring - ilek
4) Wooden swing - ilek

Needed stuff:
1) Finish my entries on Japan trip in 2008 - NO!
2) Finish album compilation on the honeymoon trip - NO!
3) Finish my entries on Langkawi trip in early 2011 - NO!
4) Finish making my pregnancy journal with Zahra Elena - NO!
5) Finish making my pregnancy journal with Emir Qalef - NO!
6) Edit all the honeymoon trip videos and upload them in youtube - NO!
7) Print the wedding pictures - NO!
8) Kemas my craft stuff - err.. a lil bit, since I already start sewing
9) Launch my online store - it's simple on blogspot je, but I have to take pictures, packing, etc etc. It's tedious to me :( - NO!
10) Start 365-project! - NO!

Oooooo kaaayyyyy. I'm so hopeless!!! I hate my 2012 wishlist! Gahhhhh!!!!

Nevermind that, let's roll to 2013 and see what I *think* I want to have and to do.


What I want for 2013

1) Printer for craft that can wifi and scan

2) A vacation - local / oversea doesn't matter

3) Bias tape maker - Already order this so can I put it in my wishlist? Hihihi

4) Rotary cutter set with mat and ruler 

5) New curtain and sofa cover for the house, current one has been stuck (and unwash) for 4 years! 

6) A proper built-in sewing table

Something like this. It's a built-in base, see that the sewing machine doesn't sit on top of the table? Nice righhhhhttttt? ;)

Ok, enough of the material stuff, let's see my need to do list, and I'm trying to be realistic here, so no more copy paste from last year (haha takut la tu last year punya list panjang).

1) 365-project
2) Open my blogshop, seriously, I bought too many! Need to let go some stuff.
3) Finish my pregnancy journal (Zahra and Emir).

Ok that's all! Honeymoon compilation can be wait I guess? 

Anyway we've been very very very busy. I hope I can achieve more this year. I mean, come on! I'm already in 3-series, I have to do something about my life. I am happy with what I achieving right now, but it's kinda comfortable and I'm afraid it will turn to laziness and that's not pretty right?

So the ultimate goal this year is to be great!

And hope God grant me His great guide in my life. Ameen...

Orla Kiely Scarves

I went to MidValley last week and wandering around browsing any shops when I decided to enter Uniqlo. It was my first time inside there, MPH used to be at the spot and with nothing particular in my mind, my eyes scanning randomly in the shop and that's when I saw this!

The famous Orla stem design

The first time I saw it, I was, hmmmm this look so familiar. I am craft junky and been reading lotsa craft and sewing blogs and I remembered seeing this particular design in ikatbag : http://www.ikatbag.com/2012/08/stem.html

Then I browse each scarves and almost jump with joy, yes! It is Orla carves! The thing is, I never knew Orla made scarves? Because her design is more for furniture and home decor fabric (and now I'm googling it, yes Orla does make scarves and it is sold at &150 and that will be almost RM500!) And how come Uniqlo is selling this?

I feel like grabbing all the yummy colors but keep my sanity intact and grab two pieces that suit me best. 

 This one does looks like upholstery fabric right? But it looks better when you don it as tudung, because the prints turn out cuter when overlapped.

Icy grey stem

Anyway, they have mirrors all around in the shop, so you can try the scarves and see which one looks good on you. The cashier was very friendly too and told me that the scarves are sold on the fastlane and I asked stupid question "is this real Orla or imitation?" Haha I know..noob right? Then he told me that IT IS from the famous Orla design, Uniqlo paid some money for the copyright and turn them into these scarves and sold it for a fraction of price. They also got it for some tops and cardigans. Darn! I don't have much time so I give it a pass. Else, I'll ask him to stop scanning and run to the back to look at the cardigans haha.

Since I can't get my hands on the jackets and home decor fabric, this will be enough for now. Ohhh my Orla Kiely scarves!

It's sold at RM39.90 per piece, go grab it if you love the prints!