Cool headcover

Papa bought a new track bottom and he cut off the inner layer which usually irritates - especially when we are sweating. Our young designers love it so much (last year's photos).

Phew! The Power of Blogging just ended

Evening Talk : The Power of Blogging just ended.

Although it was a bit slow at the beginning due the technical problem, but it went well. We targeted for 100 pax but 70+ is good enough.

Thanks to the speakers - Shahabudeen Jalil & Sue Lunatots. Really love your talks!

We got lotsa sponsors too.

(caution, it might cause a serious drooling problem)

Congo Bars & Red Velvet Cupcakes from scrumptious sugar.

Chocolate cake by cupster. (OMG AP, you are so skinny! Pls eat your delicious cake MORE)

Macarons by cute bites.

Photographer from secretlens photography.

And garlicandbutter sponsored framed khat and button badges for the speakers and PUSPANITA KPKT's Secretary who officiated the event. i hope they like it! I just made it this morning.

1433

Salam Maal Hijrah.

Let's embrace the true meaning of hijrah.

Habitat Magazines travel around the globe!

I had a chance to attend a meeting and conference for a week in Brunei. (The answer for this entry). I brought a very heavy box of souvenirs and magazines. I want to give Habitat Magazines to as many people from different countries as possible because I've spent days and sleepless nights in making it a reality. From collecting articles, Google-ing/gathering photos, arranging layout, design, looking for filler, WRITING AN ARTICLE (with the help of Rosdiana and Nadia for translation), went through one tough proof reading after another and running to the printer's office a couple of times. I am not familiar with InDesign at first, I have to rely on step-by-step guide from a book and Youtube.

NOW, I am so proud to know that people around the globe bring the magazine back to their countries/offices and share it with their colleagues. Although the printing set up was a bit OFF (the margins are too narrow), but never mind, as long as they can learn Malaysia's best practices and our strategies dealing with the climate change, it is enough for me.

Alimaa Altengerel from Mongolia, my best bud since Adelaide meeting until Brunei. The future first female Minister in Mongolia. She loves the cover.

Kerry McGovern, EAROPH Australia's President really love the cover design by Cepoi (here)

Derek Martin, CEO of International Federation for Housing and Planning (IFHP) in Netherlands

Prof Konami from Japan

Evelyn from Brunei

Jung from Korea. They will host the next meeting & conference in Daegu, Korea (2012). See you (and another Jung, and another Jung) there!! FYI, 3 Jungs from Korea attended this time.

Ar John Koh, an architect from Malaysia

*so proud*

It was a bit embarrassing to get those prominent individuals to pose with the magazine. But I need to do it. Dont ask me why.

Thunderstorm @ Putrajaya

I am on the level 20 in one of the tallest buildings in Putrajaya. I dont know how scary thunderstorm in Putrajaya could be (I only heard about it before) until it happened every single day in early November. The frequent lightning (like, every 5 seconds) during thunderstorm usually accompanied by strong winds and heavy downpour. Driving home in that weather condition is really a nightmare.

I can see those scary lightning strikes through the full glass wall in my office. Even though I've shut the vertical blinds, but I can still see its glaring light followed by the sharp and loud crack of thunder. So, I just leave it open. Sometimes it is exciting to guess where the lightning will strike.

My hubby enjoyed it very much. It has become an obsession. He will pick me up at the office with a car full of lenses, tripod, monopod/unipod, u name it (oh ya, kids). We have to wait for him in the car quite a while for him to capture the best lightning photo of the day. I usually prepared some sandwich in the office before I went down so we can eat and enjoy lightning 'performance' with Papa.

Trust me, all photos ARE GREAT. I will never see thunderstorm the same way again. The lightnings are so beautiful. (Below, cloud-to-ground lightning and far below, double lightning) See I am into lightning as well. I know the terms already. LOL.

Happy Graduation, Nabil

Nabil just graduated from preschool!

First, he performed dikir barat with his fellow classmates, then, they rushed out and prepare for the graduation.

I helped the teachers to took off the ribbons and put on the robe. Owh, he is so adorable.

Then we went home, he change into something more comfortable and we went out again. Just the two of us. Papa have photoshoot the whole day and my mom agreed to take care Nazreen and Nazran. Nabil really wants to eat at Kedai Tuti. I guess I can give it an exception. Your kids doesnt graduate from pre-school everyday. It is once in a lifetime thing. We should celebrate. Plus, Mama also wants to eat at Kedai Tuti ;o)

Evening Talk : The Power of Blogging

Come and support (me)! My first program after being appointed as Head of ICT Bureau for PUSPANITA. It is open to outsiders as well, we only charged RM5.00 (yes, FIVE RINGGIT ONLY).

I am looking for blogger friends who wanted to promote their blogs / businesses by sponsoring *anything*. For the time being, I got sponsors for RED VELVET CUPCAKES, BUTTERSCOTCH BROWNIES / CONGO BARS, FRAMED KUFI and THUMBDRIVES. They are meant for speakers (the cupcakes) and for those who have guts to ask questions to the speakers.

If we received a lot, all participants could at least bring home one cupcake.... Just like OPRAH dan ELLEN, eh? No one go home empty-handed.

Well, what are you guys waiting for??? Register as participant OR sponsor anything (10 cupcakes/macarons/shawls pun ok!). Thanks!!!

Qurban 1432

Alhamdulillah. I manage to perform Qurban this year. One goat was all I can afford for the moment but it means a lot.

...The act of Qurban (Sacrifice) is carried out by millions of Muslims every year during Eid Al-Adha following the example of the father of Prophets, Ibrahim (AS).

Allah (SWT) says in the Quran: "It is neither their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah, it is your piety that reaches Him". (Al Qur'an, Ch:22 v:37)

The prophet Muhammad PBUH was asked "What is Qurban?", He answered, "It is the sunnah of your father Ibrahim (AS), for every hair of the Qurban you will receive a reward from Allah and for every hair in the wool you will receive a reward". (Hadith - Ibn Maja and Tirmidhi)....

(via net)

When it first arrived (we have someone else to slaughter and skinned it first), we (me, my husband, my brother and my dad) spent a couple of minutes STARING at the flesh, thinking where to start. 

Then, we looked at each other and "You go first", "No, you go first", "How to do it?", "I think we better watch Youtube first", "Oh, I heard the telephone rang" (flee inside the house - NO, it actually doesnt rang) and "I am going to call up my friends to help". They involved in qurban at the mosque every year, but to do everything on their own for the first time, it kinda funny.

see??? Where to start?

Everything went well. My brother grilled some on the spot and later we distributed the rest to relative, friends and neighbours.

(small bite size for kids, large one for ME)

So guys, let's save some money and perform qurban next year!

Travelling. Again.

I am off to an official trip to our neighbouring country on 2nd day of Aidiladha. See ya!

Salam AidilAdha

Just feel like putting my family's (my mom, dad, brother & nephew) photos during Hajj in 2008. I can still remember, they went to Mecca with my in-laws to perform Hajj and two days later, I delivered Nazran via c-sect. It was a true challenge for my dearest hubby. I couldnt move for a week, Nabil and Nazreen were handful and he had to take care one small delicate newborn. Alone. And to make things even worse, three of them got chicken pox when Nazran turned 21 days old. OK, enough about us.

Just enjoy these photos...

(Haziq was just 6 years old that time. Circumcised. They put him on a wheelchair for his safety)

Volleyball

I didnt attend last Saturday's volleyball tournament althought my husband really wants to play volleyball (on my behalf because I usually will be busy chasing my kids around). My uncle passed away on Friday (AL-FATIHAH).

I was told that my team is the winner. *again*

World Habitat Day 2011 - All women team

Do not underestimate women.

The event was a success but we refuse to let others know the hard-working people behind it. (We actually smile behind those boards when the photographer counts...1...2...3!)

Futsal

Corporate Club Sports Carnival 2011 has just started. Last Saturday we had a futsal tournament. I am on the Red Team. In order to be the overall champion, the whole team practices balance lifestyle started last week. We pledge to exercise a lot and eat well.

You can see our determination last week. First, we play futsal like crazy. Then, we eat like we haven't eat for a week. lol.

In the end, we are the futsal champion!

Let's negotiate the terms...

I was introduced to the art of negotiation while I was representing my office to the Malaysia-United States Free Trade Agreement Negotiation Round in KL back in 2005. Then followed by series of Malaysia-New Zealand, Malaysia-Australia, etc negotiation rounds from 2005 until 2010. It felt so good to be able to be a part of such important process and read about its success in the newspaper afterwards.

Since I was curious to know how the lead negotiator made it (negotiate) looks so easy, I bought some books on negotiation - particularly on international trade, strategies and tactics. I also attended a few courses on negotiation in Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) and INTAN Kiara to learn more on cultural influence and cross-cultural negotiation. I got this during my recent Effective Negotiation Course.

Well, I am not that resourceful yet. I still didnt have guts to negotiate at Pasar Malam. International trade, fine with me. Local night market? erk....

[simple] makeover : TV area

Last week of Syawal, we did a simple makan-makan for family and neighbours. You guys knew our house was never ready for any guests back then (it never did until now! ;p), but we determine to do simple makeover - overnight - to sprinkle some Raya mood in the TV area.

Buffet was served in the living room so our living room was left empty without furniture (until today) since we moved all the sofas to the TV area. We kinda like the whole look so it might take a bit of time for us to return it back to the living room.

Scroll down and tell me what do you think of our simple last minute makeover.

BEFORE

IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING IN
AFTER AN OVERNIGHT MAKEOVER (...until NOW)

It was quite messy near the TV after the kids finished playing their PS2

More on our MOVING IN Adventures! Click here.

I am sending this entry for an online contest at susunatursioca, for fun. The gift sponsor is Rehana.

Karnival Raya - Nazreen the 10kth

Yeah, late entry.

One fine day in last Ramadhan, we broke fast at Mangiamo Cafe @ Equestrian Club, Putrajaya. After Isyak and a quick tarawih, we went to Karnival Jom Beli Barang Raya or something like that, at Precint 2.Nazreen was the 10,000th person to walk-in!! They were a bunch of people interviewed us and took photos. Nazreen received a bag full of cookies from one of the sponsors. OMG, he was so happy. He was dancing and smiling all night.

Bivouac

They have these in their room for about 2 months now. They refuses to sleep on their bed. They prefer to sleep like a sardine (in the can) in that small tent. I love camping very much (here).

The kids have special area for studying. There were cute moments worth watching whenever one of them start to teach the other.

But it usually lasted about 3-4 minutes.

It will then be followed by an argument.

And at least one will broke into tears.Kids are fun.

Kicking board

Kick board usually used by beginner to learn how to swim. I bought two for my kids (before Nazran was born). It lasted for a few years.

Until one night, Nazran decided to make me a birthday cake. He really insists me to BLOW THE CANDLE and ask Papa to take photos. Just like the real birthday.

Nabil got [kool] fever

Nabil got a fever. And Nenny (my mom, Nabil's grandma) give him a Kool Fever. You know, the gel-in-a-pack thing that you stick on the forehead of the sick person to lower down the temperature.

Of course Nazreen and Nazran want it too!
So I stick a bit of masking tape on their foreheads. They can't tell the difference. They seems happy.

Happy World Habitat Day 2011!

3 October 2011 @ Putrajaya International Convention Centre. Official launch of World Habitat Day 2011 by The Hon Minister of Housing and Local Government. 500 invitees including Ambassadors / High Commissioners from Kenya, Singapore, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Lesotho. Great food. Awesome choir. Beautiful tree for the launching gimmick (thanks to Mariam Zainal, Hafiz and their team!)

It was a successful event. Thanks to all involved!

Special thanks to members of International Unit - Rose, Nadia, Nura, Misspi and Zaza. (yes, all women team!).

I will blog more on this. I need to buy a new adaptor for my laptop first. For the mean time, enjoy our videos :

1 - Cities and Climate Change theme launch (by Aziqqurol Hakim Azizan)

2 - Our programmes for World Habitat Day 2011 (by Muhammad Fakri Zaki Abadi Ahmad Zairi)

Thanks, all!

Oh, Nazreen

On our way back Balik Kampung on 2nd day of Raya.

Him : Mama, hari ni hari apa?
Me : Rabu.

(5 minutes later)
Him : Mama, hari ni hari apa?
Me : Rabu.

(5 minutes later)
Him : Mama, hari ni hari apa?
Me : HARI RABU, sayang.

And it went on and on and on from Kuala Lumpur to Muar. Luckily Mama was so patient that day because she has nothing much to do in the car except for sleeping (which Papa dont like - lol).

That night,

Him : Mama, hari ni hari apa?
Me : RABU, NAZREEN. Kenapa tanya banyak-banyak kali?
Him : Semua orang dalam radio dengan TV kata hari ini Hari Raya. Patutnya hari ni Hari Rabu, kan? kan?
Me : Mm.... (explaining for 10 minutes but he seems not satisfied with me saying that hari ini is also Hari Raya)

Before he went to sleep...
Him : Mama, hari ni hari apa?
Me : Hari ni hari Rabu, Nazreen.
and he sleep. Smiling. Satisfied.

Last two days...
Him : Mama, hari ni hari apa?
Me : Jumaat.

(5 minutes later)
Him : Mama, hari ni hari apa?
Me : JUMAAT, WHY?
Him : Kenapa semua orang dalam TV cakap hari ni Hari Merdeka dengan Hari Malaysia? Hari ni Hari Jumaat, kan? kan?
Me : oh, Nazreen....

I have to go through the same old explanation over and over again.
Oh, Nazreen! You'll get the concept one day...

UPDATES

Our laptop has been kaput for a while. I dont blog from office esp during office hour, hence no update. I have tons of entries to be posted but it can wait. It can always wait.

Right now, I am struggling to produce our HABITAT MAGAZINE 2011. Our annual baby. And I am proud to announce that my BFF, Cepoi is the winner for the Habitat Magazine Cover Competition 2011! Congratulations, Cepoi! Well, dont request for open table, guys. He is married and he has lotsa responsibilities for his family. So, let him keep the money, ya!

My hubby sent three entries and I had prepared one entry, quite similar to Cepoi's (did I told you we are bff?), but unfortunately I withdraw my entry. It is a long story. I will blog about our entries later. And this is Cepoi's winning 'cute' entry (the theme is Cities and Climate Change) on the magazine's template :

And, afterward, I will be struggling with our makan2 for Raya since we received requestsss from our relatives to have makan2 at our new habitat. Well, you guys know our house is not ready for guests, right? BUT WE WILL MAKE DO.

We will leave the window frame paintwork half complete (we are talking about half white - half grey). We gonna let the old messy landscape in front of the house as it is (believe me, IT IS MESSY like 100 years old untouched garden with weeds and all). I really have no time to do everything since our office shifted to Putrajaya. I came home at 10pm everyday. I cant do much.

(edited - my ILS cant make it on 17th so we are postponing the makan2 that day BUT you guys are invited to come anytime, just inform us 2 days prior)