Moving In : Part 01 - Clearing out the old stuff

We are moving to my late grandma's house. I live there since I was born until I got married in 2004 and stay at my parent's. The house keeps the old stuffs intact before I decided to move in. The clearing process took us a while because everything in the house brings back the old memories.

I cant help it but to pick up each and every piece of cloth and tell a story about it to my husband and to my kids, "Ayoh always wear this to the mosque.." (Ayoh is a Kelantanese accent for Ayah @ father - I called my grandfather Ayoh since I heard my dad called him that)... or "Cik made this blanket.." (I called my grandmother Cik - a term used by Kelantanese to respectfully address a lady - also because I heard my dad called her Cik). The story-telling goes on and on about my grandparents clothes, their books, classic glassware (grandmothers should have that!), my toys, old furnitures... you name it. Everything reminds me of the good old days in this house.

The house is far from ready to be occupied. We went there at night just to get hold of the new place. We let the kids sleep on the sofa for a couple of hours while we clean the house before go back to my parent's house after midnight. I have a very big issue with PESTS and I will definitely get the pest control team to do their thing before we move in.

While we were occupied with other task, Nazreen was happy trying everything he found in the old (and new) stack.

More on our MOVING IN Adventures! Click here.

Family : Port Dickson, March 2011

I was invited as a speaker for a course in PD. We stayed at Regency Hotel. This is their first time at the beach. I am paranoid with the idea of taking kids to the beach, but since my hubby really want to capture a good photo for his portfolio, why not?

Family : Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, March 2011 (Day 02)

Balloons.

We were with Team 11 (Mr & Mrs Hancock from USA - The Portland Rose balloon) on Day 02. For those who haven't had a chance to visit the hot air balloon fiesta, I would like to share with you the process.

Family : Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, March 2011 (Day 01)

Important : Don't wear high heels if you plan to go there.
(no balloon photo for the moment)

UNICEF statement on the Japanese earthquake and tsunami

As a Friend of UNICEF (read my entry here), I am touched by the devastation in Japan, especially Japanese children who had lost their mummy or daddy [or both] in the tragedy. The statement by Mr Lake is best describe my feeling, and fellow UNICEF friends'.

STATEMENT
Mr. Anthony Lake
UNICEF Executive Director

NEW YORK, 14 March 2011 – As the world unites in support for the people of Japan, we at UNICEF express our heartfelt sympathy for the tragic loss of life following the massive earthquake and tsunami. This double catastrophe has left the country and its friends stunned and bereaved, and new threats caused by the quake and its aftermath continue to be of utmost concern to us all.

As in all emergencies of such devastating magnitude, children are the most vulnerable. Working in close cooperation with the Japan Committee for UNICEF, we have offered our support to protect the children affected by this catastrophe and to provide critical services in the days ahead.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan, one of the world's most generous nations. We stand ready to assist them as they have helped so many others, in these, their days of greatest need.

Uncommon life of the commoner

I am currently on this (I borrowed it from my brother but I am definitely going to buy one!!). I usually experience the overwhelming feeling whenever I started to read any books but this particular 800-pages thick book makes me feel 500 times more overwhelmed. Believe me, this is a very good book. Everyone should read it - it was written in a very simple and straightforward style.

As Tun Dr. M told us about more his life, he also [indirectly] told us about our nation and the characters of our three late Prime Ministers of Malaysia. It is so wonderful to see things from his perspective and being able to understand why he decided to make certain move and how he became a tough skin. You can read more on his family value, his life in medical college, our nation's currency crumble and even 9/11 tragedy.

What you should do now is log on to MPH website or drive to the nearest MPH. It-worth-every-cent!

Lazy Sunday : yummy

Guess what we made last weekend? Almond powder, the main ingredient... and more almonds for its filling....

YES! You guessed it right. M-A-C-A-R-O-N!!! After one week of intense planning (me & my dear hubby) and take turns to study the intricate macaron-making process and troubleshootings on the net, we made a trip to bakery supply shop and WE TRY TO MAKE OUR FIRST MACARON. I was so thrilled while waiting for my hubby to put the macaron mixture inside the oven. Everything went well and the mixture was shiny during the settle down period. After a few minutes inside the oven, our macarons rose and we saw FEET!!! Yay!!! First try and succeed! That means my hubby did a good job in folding the mixture, the important process that I didnt dare to venture.

Anyway, I didnt capture the macarons' photo. It wasnt perfect yet. We think overheating was the main problem. We really need silicon baking tray and parchment (non-stick baking) paper. If anyone knows where to find them, especially the latter, do tell me.

Lazy Sunday : Dye works

On one lazy Sunday, my hubby took out Nabil's old school shoes and one box of fabric dye powders. He turned this cute little white school shoes :

into these cool walking shoes. For Nabil and Nazreen.
And I took out an old [yellowish] white cardigan and a tunic [and my sister need my help with her old blouse too]... and I turned these...
into this >>

It turned out beautifully. So does the other two. Thanks to my dad/grandma who introduced me to this art since I was... six years old? (I can still remember the whole kitchen was really busy dyeing my dad's military uniform to orange). Also thanks to my mom who did it over and over again until there's nothing else to dye anymore in the house. Now I have a hubby with the same passion towards... colour.

Family : Masjid Wilayah, Feb 2011

One lazy weekend, we have no plan and we decided to bring the kids to Masjid Wilayah.

Photos courtesy of Papa from Secret Lens Photography

Family : Ulu Yam, January 2011

We picked up Nabil, Sarah & Haziq from school, went sightseeing @ Batu Dam, jungle trekking @ Riverstone Resort and lastly.... swooosh! They jumped into the river and have fun.

Family : Petrosains, Nov 2010

Too much info to digest. We spent 3 hours in Petrosains.

An Evening with 2.2004

2.2004 MHLG gonna have a meetup y'all!

(Designed by me)

See you there.

Silat

I love silat very much (Silat is a powerful Malay martial-art). I still keep its uniform and everything related to it intact, hoping that one day, I can be active again in silat... I've gone far in silat before. But now I can slowly accept the fact that I couldnt be as active in that sport anymore. It is already hard to balance between family and career. I cant squeeze it in anywhere dah. So, bye bye for now, silat *tears*. I'll introduce you to my sons when they are ready.

Family : Wangsa Walk, July 2010

Where people walk walk and fell down.

And sit wherever they want.

Journey : Raya 2010

I found this while looking for other photos. Our journey for Raya 2010. 6 states (Johore, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Pahang) in two weeks. We have to shop for new clothes in Negeri Sembilan because we ran out of clothes on Day 3. lol.

This year we gonna add Terengganu, Kelantan and Sabah to our list.

My BFF

Saifulizam was my best buddy in KAED. After we had graduated, I got married (and he recently married to Salya), we hardly meet. One day, my family visited his family @ Malacca and I saw something very familiar on his wrist. Our watches are identical! (well, mine is already cracked - u'll get that a lot when u have 3 heroes in the house). I still love it alright.

My hubby bought it for me. And guess what? Salya bought it for Saifulizam....

Haziq & Sarah's birthday party

Haziq & Sarah are my sister's kids. These are my simple & quick deco while waiting for the guests. I finished this in 20 minutes, just in time before the first guests arrived. Kids' birthday party should be colourful, yes?

I am using a few toys as coasters and jelly container (mostly trucks).

Family : Sunway Resort & Spa, October 2010

The law of nature. Ngauum..

Corrugated Board Warriors!

What is left from Malam MITI's project...

Malam MITI 2010

Me and my hubby made these for Malam MITI 2010 (with the help of my cousins/Kapas dedicated staffs, NA & SA - Nazreen was warded that time and we spent most of the time @ Selayang Hospital).

Thanks for the lovely sis Haida from MITI for her trust and support for our newly-established company, Kapas Media & Services. Will talk about Kapas Media later.
Block letters in action (I got this from sis Haida MITI). Until now I cant believe we managed to pull it off.

These are what left from MALAM MITI project (here).

Family : Dinos Alive! @ National Science Centre, Feb 2010

Dino feeding frenzy. They just fed the dinos.
3 tired, 1 scared.

Bags

I like it when they bring their own bags and be responsible on what to bring and what to wear during traveling. (So I can bring smaller bag ;p)

Family : KL Bird Park, July 2010

So many birds everywhere. I was screaming and running all over the place. The only one who loves the birds is Nazran.

Family : Floria @ Putrajaya, July 2010

They ran happily towards the road and hit the wall. The aftermath.

Family : Eagle Ranch Resort, July 2010

Go-karting our way!

Family : CosmoWorld, August 2010

My sister's treat. 10am - 5pm.

Family : i-City, Feb 2011

Papa's birthday. We booked a suite and spent weekend around Shah Alam.