Master in the Making!

Forgot to say.. I got in! hehehe!

In what you may ask? Will be back to my alma mater to pursue my post-grad course in September!

Master of Engineering - Safety, Health and Environment, University of Malaya here I come! woot! woot!

And back in town for good?? That's the plan peeps!!!

See you soon my KLites!

Weekend Lunch with Friends

Was in KL earlier this month for a family dinner (will spill on this later), and surprise! surprise! I finally had the time and energy to actually go out and hang with some friends! Well, actually I was supposed to meet Sophie to pick up a technical manual I've asked her to help purchase from SIRIM and we decided to make it into a gathering and invited Azie and family to join us too.

So we decided to meet at our go to place, The Empire @ Subang. I invited buih too but since he's sucha young stud *sarcasm*, he wasn't up yet when I texted and called him and only later replied that young studs don't wake up early on Sundays..pbbhhhtttt!!!

And just our luck, friends of suami, Ezran and Nadia, was at Empire too when we were on our way there. I haven't seen them in ages and heard that they we're finally expecting a bub in August so we sort of forced them to wait til we got there so I could see Nadia's lovely little baby bump!

Sophie and Azie was running late and suami was sooo hungry, so we had lunch at Madam Kwan's with Ezran and Nadia first. Nadia was sooooooo cute waddling with her 7month belly around and said she had even started waddling during her first trimester coz she felt it was more comfortable!haha! How cute is that?!? Hope that everything will go smoothly for you babes!!! We were later joined by Syed Umar who just returned from a surfing trip in Bali. haha..seems like our impromptu lunch turned into quite a gathering!

Managed to squeeze in some gossip about our obgyn (Nadia goes to the same obgyn as I did when I was expecting CKD) and share some preggers & baby stories while the boys did their thing. And all through, my little baby girl was doing real good eating her pasta. Finally got her to eat some solid food. She's been soo fussy with her food lately and resorted to her eating bananas and papayas only.

Sophie and hubs finally joined us when we were just finishing our lunch and said Azie was running late waiting for baby Mya to wake up from her nap. After we were done with our lunch only did Azie and family made it to Empire so we decided to move to a different venue. By then, Ezran and Nadia had to go as they had a wedding to attend and Umar had some stuffs to do.

Sapet (Azie's hubs) decided to go to Pasta Zanmai and finally the little ladies got to meet.

Meet & greet session between CKD and MM

Both are a week apart when they were born (Mya being the older one) and they were soooooo cute. We had so much fun seeing how they both reacted towards each other.

Lunch time..trying to keep the little ladies occupied while we gossiped and chatted

CKD was a little blur coz she's not really used to being around other people. But Mya was being sucha social butterfly and led the way for CKD! LOL! By the way Azie, if you're reading this, Keisha has picked up Mya's "skill"!hahahaha!

After lunch and much gossiping, we had to leave because I needed to pick up some stuffs from our old condo for work. It was soo much fun to meet up with our friends and was really great to be able to see the little ladies growing up. I'll post up the video of the girls later (and please excuse the conversations the adults were having *unless i can somehow post the video muted..hmm*)

Resharing pictures of CKD and MM from previous functions. How they have grown!

MM & CKD at buih's birthday last November. Babies were about 7months

First time baby MM and CKD met during CKD's aqiqah hence the bald head for CKD. They were almost 2 months I think.

Hope they'll grow up being good friends with each other and become gossip buddies like their mommies and fave aunt!!haahah!

Pey, you missed a cute session with your two girls dude! Next time wake up la..:P

First Family Vacay

Well sort of.

Suami and the in-laws came to Perlis the weekend before Wesak Day holiday. The in-laws had to attend the Perlis King's birthday celebration and suami was here for his much missed time with the family.

My mom took the opportunity to go off to Jitra and visit her friend and also to give my MIL some more time to be with Keisha.

But since it was a long weekend for all of us (I took leave from Friday til Wednesday the next week since we got 2 days public holidays because Wesak Day clashed with the King's birthday), I asked suami to take us to Penang since there's not much to do anyway in Kangar.

I've never been to Penang and suami was so surprised. Sometimes my husband surprises me too...how can I've been to Penang if he has never taken me? :P

Well, our original plan was to actually just go to look for some DVD boxsets in Batu Ferringhi. But I gave it little thought and asked suami to make it into an overnight trip since we were bringing Keisha along. It would've been very stressful for Keisha (and mostly me too!) to take a day-trip to Penang even if it only takes about an hour and a half to get there from Kangar.

We stopped by the Arau train station to have breakfast because some locals told me that the nasi dagang at the train station in Arau was the best in town. It wasn't as great as the one that my mom would make, but it wasn't entirely disappointing either. The gulai ikan tongkol was nice, just that the rice was a tad bit hard. I wouldn't say it's the best I've had, but possibly the best in town for Perlis la.

We arrived in Penang around 1pm and check-in was at 3pm so we stop by 1st Avenue Shopping Mall. I have a confession. It was sooooooo nice to be in a MALL!!! LOL! I guess there is still a lot of city girl left in me. They had almost anything you need there (except for a baby store). And I must say that I personally feel the items in the boutiques and shops in Penang are much nicer than those in KL. Hehe. Didn't purchase anything there but just went walking around aimlessly til it was time to go and check into our hotel.

We checked into Naza Talyya Hotel in Tanjung Tokong and was glad that suami managed to get a room for us. He only did the booking online the night before and managed to get a room for RM115/night plus breakfast (without breakfast was RM80). The original price was RM250++ so I guess it was quite a deal.

Keisha was soooo excited inspecting all corners of the room and especially the telephone. We had to unhook the phone just incase she kept calling the reception. :P

our room in Naza Talyya Hotel. Little girl so excited exploring the room.

So after freshening up and Keisha made a poo poo, we headed out to town. Geared with our trusty Papago and suami's endless bbm with a friend who's from Penang for places to go, we headed for Bangkok Lane for fried noodles, mamak style.

Mee Goreng Mamak @ Bangkok Lane, Penang

Ice please..yum!

Old Semi-d houses on Bangkok Lane

Afterwards, we did some sight seeing and headed for Batu Ferringhi. I love how they have beautiful beach villas along the road. But I must say, Penang has a different feeling from any other Malaysian towns that I have been to. It kinda gave me a feeling like I was not in Malaysia, but a lot like I was in Singapore. Maybe because both are islands? I don't know.

PAPAGO! Must have when traveling to foreign towns!

Her makeshift bed in the car

We didn't stop by the beaches or any tourist spot coz it looked so crowded and parking was quite a challenge. The fact that we were driving the Hilux didn't help either. Plus coming from Kuantan, I'm quite a snob when it comes to beaches. Coz I think my hometown has the best in-town beaches, heh! So we did what any other city folk would do and headed to the Gurney Plaza, another shopping mall since I told suami I needed to get some baby bottles for a colleague who was expecting a baby soon. Plus we needed to get some food for Keisha too coz I forgot to bring her cereal and she hadn't had anything solid yet.

And that was where we burnt a terrible!terrible! hole in our pockets! But I was satisfied with the purchase. I bought the baby bottles for my colleague and a pair of swimsuit for Keisha. And suami bought a new camera for us since our old one broke just before we went for our Bali trip last year. But it think it was a good deal coz 

1. We needed a new camera (my BB is overloaded with badly focused pictures of CKD)

2. I'm definitely fully utilizing it now(refer previous post)

3. did I mention we needed a new camera? LOL!

Fuji Finepix S2900HD @RM700

It's no DSLR, and I'm no pro at photography either. But I don't like those point and shoot compact camera and I don't think I'm good enough to get a DSLR. So this camera was right up my alley and similar to the old Olympus we has before (don't even remember the model coz it was THAT old, 8MP old enough?) Not reviewing this camera on this post. Don't even think I'll review it coz I don't think I'm eligible to review cameras. But do expect LOADS of pictures on future posts!

Anyway..back to the vacation. We headed back to the hotel after the shopping spree. Rested for a bit, got Keisha fed and washed and then headed back to Batu Ferringhi for dinner and for some DVD boxset shopping. I know we should've had dinner at Gurney Drive as recommended by many. But again, parking was terrible in Penang, ESPECIALLY Gurney Drive, and its such a hassle coz we had Keisha with us. We try to avoid overly crowded and congested places when we're with her. Well actually, maybe not so much because of Keisha, both suami and I aren't really big fans of congested places.

So we did a VERY touristy thing and had dinner at one of those many restaurants at Batu Feringghi. Within walking distance to the roadside stalls selling all sorts of arts, trinkets and treasures. The restaurant had a cozy feeling to it. But the food was nothing great and overly priced that I'm not even bothered to review about it here. One tip tho, don't eat at Batu Ferringhi. It doesn't do justice to Penang's reputation as a food haven as raved by my friends. Promise next trip to Penang, I'll make it a food fest! Provided we have the right company with us coz if it was up to just suami and I, we're pretty bad at experimenting new foodies.

Ayah and his little island girl

I loveeeeee the paintings sold at the stalls at Batu Ferringhi. But since I'm practically house-less, and my stuffs are still in boxes both in Perlis and KL, I didn't want to get any. But maybe before I move back to KL (did I just spill that out?opst! :P) I'll make another trip with suami for more DVDs and paintings.

Keisha totally KO towards the end of suami's DVD rampage purchase (he bought about 126pcs!!) stayed out til the next morning.

Enough excitement for me today please

Stressed out with mama who wouldn't stop taking her pictures with the new camera! 

In the morning we woke up and just had breakfast at the hotel. Washed up and headed back to Kangar. Yeah..we're sucky tourists!hahahah! It's just that we didn't feel like we wanted to explore Penang so much. But we really promise we'll do better on our next trip here.

Penang bridge. Bye bye Penang! I'll be back!

So the next day was the King of Perlis's birthday, and FIL being a member of the Jemaah Dato' Dato' Perlis was invited to the glorious event. I just wanted to share the official uniform FIL had to wear for the ceremony.

FIL looking grand in the official uniform for the King's ceremony

and stinky little girl interframes!

It was a wonderful long weekend for us. Especially nice because this was the longest suami stayed since we moved here. But it was truly heartbreaking to see Keisha when suami left for KL. She looked so confused when we said good bye and was acting as if she was expecting her ayah to come open the door anytime soon the whole day. She doesn't seem to understand the sadness that she feels, but I do and I hate it.

My in-laws left the next day, so yet again, another heartbreaking moment for the little girl.

Owh baby girl..fingers crossed things will happen as planned for mama and we will be back together with ayah, mak tok and wan soon ok sayang?

And as to NOT to jinx the plan, I will only reveal it once everything is confirmed.

A Rockin' Good Time!

Motherhood is Not Easy, But it Has its Rewards

So I was going through my regular blog reading and Sarah from welcome to the gOOd life wrote something that hit home, about how frustrating it is to be a mom, especially being a SAHM with 2 (very cute by the way) little girls.

Most of the blogs that I follow (my crafty inspiration list) are of SAHM who has mad sewing and crafty skills and each has 2-5 kids. Honestly..I can't imagine having 5 kids. I'd probably go mad or probably die along the process of raising the kids! yes, no doubt CKD is cute and all..but there are times when I wish I could have my old single life back. What I miss the most is sleep! Undisturbed 8 hours of sleep! (a little longer would be nice too! my record is 20hours..:P)

Does that make me a bad mom?

I guess I don't want to dwell so much on the matter. It's just really good to know that I'm not the only one who feels like we need a break every now and then.

But on a contradicting note..with my TKC friends (who texts non-stop on our BBM group chat) are either just had a baby or is expecting one really soon..I kinda miss being pregnant!hahah! But Nenn said (the only doctor in the group chat - who I think should start charging us for all the medical consultations that she is giving through the chats!hahah!) being pregnant for 2 years in a row (which what happened to me) is not good and can cause the mother to be anaemic and even with vitamins, would be very hard to increase our Hb count.

Yeay! Now I have a new excuse to blame my lazy-bum self! LOL! I can imagine seeing my mom rolling her eyes at me when I tell her this! :P

Well people..Motherhood IS HARD! And as much as we say we enjoy being a mom and how rewarding it is to see our children grow up, etc etc etc..there are moments when it's soooo hard and could really push our stress level off the roof! There are moments when we wish we could just up and leave!

But hey..reality is reality. You can't just leave everything behind and go. What keeps me going now is my mama actually. If I feel being a mom (for only a few hours of the day since I'm at work from 8am-5pm) is hard, then what I should do (and is doing) is put myself in my mama's shoes coz she is with Keisha ALONE, the WHOLE DAY..and my mom is 62years old.

I know how difficult Keisha can get, and I get frustrated with her a lot when I spend the whole day with her - and that's only on weekends. Mama is with her from Monday-Sunday..gives me a BIGGER sense of appreciation to my mama.

So I try my best to take over handling Keisha when I get back from work. I let my mama hog the TV and watch her KBS World shows at night (and causes me to have a new found addiction for Korean Dramas). And Keisha sleeps with me everynight, so yeah, I get the graveyard feeding shift. Coz as much as I need my break, my mama needs some too.

And although every morning I wake up wishing I could sleep a little longer. I drag my feet every morning getting ready for work..secretly grumbling and complaining in my head (hey..gimme a break!), I'll kiss my sleeping baby and my lovely mama before leaving for work, also secretly wishing I didn't have to go to work and spend the day with them instead.

My baby girl is not the most perfectly behaving little girl. She's naughty and difficult most of the time, now more than ever. But "Praise Him for the sunny days" she's adorable and lovable and cheeky and a joy. Must share that her favorite song right now is Colbie Caillat's 'I do' which she will sing "Atem, atem, atem" while clapping and moving from side-to-side everytime she hears the song or whenever she feels like breaking into a song herself. I don't even mind the sleepless nights sometimes especially when I get to catch her smile in her sleep, and see how peaceful she looks sleeping.

So I guess I just need to see things in different perspective, to highlight the good and accept (and manage) the hard. There will be times when I will get frustrated and feel like giving up..but that will just mean that I'm human.

That's my reality.

It's not all sunshine, blue skies and green grass. I get the occasional rain, stormy clouds and muddy fields that sometimes feels as if they last longer than most. But there will ALWAYS be a rainbow at the end of the storm!

So choose to be happy people! BUT REMEMBER that it's still okay to cry sometimes! (and the occasional complaints *wink*)

Happy Mother's Day

It was mother's day yesterday and Keisha decided to give me a very special gift..

She walked on her own for the very first time!

I couldn't ask for a more special gift than that..*fuzzy feeling* CKD has been pestering us to hold her hands as she tries to walk these past few weeks. And at the same time, I have always tried to encourage her to walk unsupported. But she always only gives me a huge cheeky grin and deliberately fall on me.

But yesterday, I tried to get her to walk on her own and SHE DID!! She followed me all over the living room laughing and grinning..walking by herself! I was ecstatic! Happy to see it with my own eyes her first steps...

She's so big now..trying to remember how tiny she used to be...sigh..

I love you Keisha! and thank you for coming into my life..thank you for all the happiness you've given me..

Silly moment with mama!

Smile baby!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies and mommies-to-be out there! Your child is the best gift you could ever have as a mother!

Praise Him for the Sunny Days!

I've seen a rainbow yesterday but too many storms have come and gone
Leaving a trace of not one God giving ray
Is it because my life is ten shades of gray?
I pray, all ten fade away, seldom praise him for the sunny days

- Waterfalls, TLC

I seem to be channeling negativity and pessimism a lot lately. And like the lyrics to the Waterfalls song, "Seldom praise him for the sunny days" I have been ungrateful.

I guess that has always been how I deal with things. By complaining and making excuses for myself. My wake up call came when I found out my Scheduled Waste Manager Certification has expired and I didn't get my 'Competent Person' title because I failed to submit my report. The thing that smacked me in the face was finding out that the certification course now costs RM3000 plus when it was about RM1500 when I took it 3 years ago.

I feel as if I have failed myself.

I reflected on what I have been given (material and spiritual) and I noticed that yes..I have deliberately sabotaged myself by being ungrateful, lazy and a spoiled brat.

You might think that it was just a course I failed, why make it such a big deal? The course would've been a major added value to my resume and my value as an Env. Eng. Something like a certified Safety Offficer but even more because I would've been one of the pioneers to have such certification. And I blew it. All me and nothing or no one else but MY OWN FAULT!

So I'm set to turn into a new leaf. And I have a new mantra..

"Stop wishing and start doing!"

I've applied to do my Masters and fingers crossed I'll get accepted to my chosen course and varsity and I am set at doing my very best. First class honors here I come (I'll try!)

And for my current situation, I'm gonna change my ways. I swear, I'm trying my best.

Turning 30 this year, bout time I act like one and grow up already.