Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice..

EDITORIA SERVICES

2014-05-13T17:25:00.002+08:00

Do checkout my new company editoriaservices.blogspot.com
Well I've been doing it for awhile. The company has been there more than a year in fact. Now it gets its own page. Hopefully InsyaAllah, it will thrive. Do recommend my service as well okay readers. Thanks!

Malaysian in Swedish court

2014-03-15T01:39:00.001+08:00

The malaysian children whose parents are being tried in swedish court reminds me of why i am now a sahm. When their story first got out, i was mad wt swedish judiciary for not allowing even a small reprimand on kids. I believe at times they need to be caned at a certain extent as a sign of severity of such misdemeanour.

However as the trial took place, it seems that the kids know what the consequences are of their telling the counsellor. The fact that the eldest boy went to the school counsellor was a sure sign that he had enough from the parents. Gosh.. What terrible things hve they been put through?
Kids, as i understand them from my own experience, give hundreds of chances to their parents. That is why many, despite tough parents they have, still love their parents. Many ppl do not understand these kids' torment. They are not spoilt kids at all. I truly pity them. The fact that they told similar stories cant mean they lied and the way they feel was similar too. Their detachment from the parents remind me of my own detachment from my mom and my mom from me. My mom is not a monster though. She has her way of not attaching herself to anyone. I dont like it nonetheless. The detachment that the kids were telling rang a few bells. I get you kids. Poor you. But it made me realize there are worse moms out there than mine. I love my mom nonetheless. I just need to make sure i dont do it to my own kids.

6 months in a nutshell

2013-12-26T23:40:00.001+08:00

From email:

First time blogging since amna arrived. Yes, we named her amna. Yes, she's a girl. I insisted on finding a name in the Quran, so that was the name that really was like "that's it! that's the name" when i saw it while reading the Quran. And i put a star next to it. One day, when she's bigger i'd show her. Insyaa Allah.

Today she is 6 months old exactly. Happy 6 months amna! I need to cut short so i could finish this before she wakes up.

1. When she was born, she had a watery right eye that we found out from her paeds was due to unopened tear duct. Massaging as advised worked in the end, it opened up i think before she turned 1 month. cant remember.

2. Amna's a big girl of 3.47kg at birth. She is 7.4kg today.

3. Her middle name is Fariha meaning happiness. She is a happy child. Smiling all the time when she's not tired. Easy to get her to laugh, make her fly like a superman, just laugh at her and she starts laughing with you, say 'op', imitate her hand movement when she's excited (she knocks her waist with both hands one after another and kicks her legs).

4. It was difficult to get her to sleep at first, but later on we got to know that she needs to be wrapped tightly with a swaddle to sleep. So she is being swaddled up even these days (at 6mo) at times. At 2months plus, it was getting so easy to get her to sleep that i just pat her bum or shake her a little and she would be fast asleep. But not these days, she wants to latch all the time now. Hubby gets her to sleep when i have classes at night and he's been marvelous, being able to get her to sleep still now, without swaddle at times.

5. Amna gets atopic dermatitis on her cheeks. she needs cream and moisturisers all the time. Her skin is sensitive. WHen it is hot, she develops red spots. Mosquito bites end up as big patches of redness that turn brown later and stay for ages. i have to watch her cheeks, the back of her earlobes and her inner elbows.

6. Since 5 1/2 mo, she started pushing herself up with her hands and legs. Now she does a push up position where she is on her palms and her toes only. She's so busy exercising these days. She tries to grab things in front of her but end up getting further away as she was always on reverse.

7. Today she managed to get herself to sit on her bum.

8. She gurgles a lot as she tries to communicate. She has a deep voice as well, so she is pretty loud although not high pitch ( a lot more bearable).

That's all i can think of right now.. This blog is the only place i can keep all these safely before i start making a baby book. I guess my next entry is in 6 months time??

Baby Arrival Checklist

2013-06-01T18:10:00.000+08:00

Checklist for Baby's Arrival:

Baby's Car seat: The old one is too uncomfortable already.
Recipes for confinement mothers and a cook
Find a masseuse for confinement
Prepare hospital bag: Diaper, baby clothes, toothbrush & paste, mommy clothes, flannel blanket, socks
Stock up on easy-meals: cereals and milk, granola, cookies (for kids)
Plan for babysitter for Dan and Zahira
Figure out checking in procedure at the hospital

Recipes for confinement mothers

2013-06-01T18:07:00.001+08:00

Vince's ginger chicken:

GINGER CHICKEN - One serving

Ingredients -

1. Quarter Chicken - cut into pieces
2. Muk Yee (Jelly Fungus) - cut into smaller pieces
3. Ginger - sliced into strips
4. Cooking oil, corn preferred - (no peanut oil!)
5. Sesame oil (optional) for taste

Methods -

1. Heat up frying pot with medium fire with one table spoon of corn oil.
2. When hot, place in sliced ginger into the pan and stir
3. When ginger emits fragrant, put in pieces of chicken and stir until partially cooked.
4. Put in the Muk Yee and stir fry , still in medium fire.
5. To ensure that no flavour is lost, reduce to slow fire and pour in half a cup of water to complete the stew mix
6. Cover the pot and leave it boil in slow fire for about 45 mins to an hour
7. Before serving add a few dash of sesame oil for flavouring (optional)

Ikan Percik (Baked Fish)

What you need:

1/2 cup coconut milk

1/4 cup tamarind, soaked in water drained, and pitted (could also use tamarind concentrate)

3 lbs. fish fillet

3/4 cup minced onions

1 large clove garlic, minced

2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root

salt to taste

1 teaspoon dried hot chilli peppers

What you do:

1. Combine the onions, garlic, and fresh ginger.

2. Rub the fillets with salt and half of the onion-garlic-ginger mixture.

3. Place the fish in an oiled baking pan.

4. Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

5. Combine the rest of the onion-garlic-ginger mixture with the chili peppers, coconut milk and tamarind.

6. Spread this sauce over the chilled fish and bake uncovered at 400 F for 20 minutes.

Ayam Percik (Spicy Barbequed Chicken)

1. 4 pieces chicken whole legs

2. 1 pieces ginger (pounded)

3. 15g turmeric powder

4. 1 tbsp coriander powder

5. 2 tbsp tamarind paste (mix with water to make juice)

6. 1 tbsp salt

7. 20 pieces dried chilies (pound)

8. 8 gloves garlic (pound)

9. 10 pieces shallots (pound)

10. 30g ginger (pound)

11. 5 pieces buah keras (pound)

12. 1 tbsp belacan (pound)

13. 3 stalks serai (pound)

Seasoning:

1. 700 ml coconut milk

2. 2 tbsp sugar

3. Salt to taste

What you do:

1. Marinate chicken with ginger, turmeric powder, coriander powder, tamarind paste and salt for 3 hours.

2. Heat 4 tbsp oil in wok and saute dried chillies, garlic, shallots, ginger, buah keras, belacan and serai until fragrant, then add in seasoning and bring to boil.

3. Add in chicken and simmer in low heat until soften.

4. Dish out chicken and keep the gravy.

5. Place in aluminium foil, bake in oven at 220 celcius until golden brown.

6. Chop chicken whole legs into pieces and serve with gravy.

Kids Updates

2013-06-01T08:35:00.001+08:00

7 weeks are almost over.. Hubby is coming home soon. Can't wait. Kids are having school break and i've just realized how talkative my son is. He gives a running commentary while playing his games
. He was doing it while i was teaching last night, sitting next to me, disregarding the presence of my student there. I guess he is used to ppl over at our house. Maybe he can be Hasbullah Awang one day.. huhu.. The same boy is very reserved as well, how ironic.

Zahira's handwriting has improved so much, better than her bro's. Very steady. I read my entry on her 2 months into her school days, and i was so worried about her writing back then. She had no confidence whatsoever at the time. 5 months on, things had turned out differently, Alhamdulillah. Last April, a friend of her poked her eye with a pencil. I was furious, and worried. Told her teachers about it, and they were really concerned. Of course they asked the said girl whether it was true, but the girl didn't admit. However, other friends confirmed the incidence, as she tried to poke others too at the time. The girl cried, making Zahira felt sorry for her i guess. When she got back, she told me it was not the girl's fault, it's just that the pencil was sharp. I knew then that the girl must have cried when cornered. How sweet my little princess for defending her friend like that.

On the very same day the girl was confronted by teachers, Zahira wanted to invite a few friends over for a play date, including this girl, but i had to refuse. "Mama not ready to accept her in as a guest at our house yet i'm afraid Zahira." I only managed to get one girl (Sarah Najwa) as her play date, the rest either couldn't make it or their parents are not around to fetch them. She loved it. I hope we can have her over again soon.

Zahira and Sarah Najwa

Time to sit back..

2013-05-20T18:25:00.001+08:00

Apart from one or two, i think people (ie left wingers) have moved on, or refrained from posting on social media. Hence i can rest back and relax. I don't really like posting politically inclined statuses, but the heat was on. I don't know. Somehow i was afraid that many people would buy the oppositions dumb stories and whatnot, which a lot of people actually did, hence the argument on popular votes. Luckily, there are still enough people with more sensible thinking. Phew!

If somehow, a reader of this doesn't agree with me, i don't want to care anymore. You might want to read this: http://syedsoutsidethebox.blogspot.com/2013/05/answering-ch-hwes-what-chinese-people.html And you might just want to sit back, open your eyes and mind since election is already history for now. These days, mainstream media are very much into letting the opposition to have media time on tv, and i see a few ustazs who were temporarily banned due to their political stand back on tv. So, you can start to watch tv again as your leaders might pop up.

I thought most of the people on the PM's cabinet were cleverly chosen. I hope they would be able to prove to us that they have good intentions in bringing us forward. But, the most important is the PM. He has to work harder than before. His work was highly regarded and recognized before, he would have to be extra clever this time around to tackle the other problems esp unity, as well as to keep the economy up for another 5 years.

Sigh..

2013-05-15T21:22:00.000+08:00

Aiih anakku... U two can fight as if you are going to kill each other, and minutes later play like nothing happened. That's good.. just that you get me boiling inside, screaming normally, scared that one of you might get hurt in the process, for nothing really. I resolve to just watch the two of you blankly from now on, whenever this happens. The rest i leave to my dear Creator.

Life update

2013-05-15T14:24:00.000+08:00

Tup..tup.. dah 1 and 1/2 months we are left behind by hubby/papa. It seems easier this time around, kids are pretty busy with school and studies (kafa and whatnot) in the morning. I have Al-Quran classes almost every afternoon. Besides, we threw the idea of counting down as it makes us feel longer. We are supposed to start counting down today, but then, maybe not. Skype and fb messaging has made things easier, Alhamdulillah.. Still, we miss papa.

Kids are good with Anita these days, she is my sister's baby, 7 months old. She and her babysitter come and stay with us on weekdays while my sister works in Putrajaya. She is some sort of training course for my kids, in view of the coming of my third baby in June.

As far as pregnancy is concerned, i feel heavy, sleepy and tired. Swollen feet, loose hips and hard to breathe are things i have to endure now. Discomfort is common eh, nothing out of ordinary.. oh, except for the braxton hicks. I dont think it should be too frequent but they are. I just hope baby stays long enough inside. As far as preparation goes, nothing much. I will bother a bit more when hubby gets back.

Zahira says the darndest thing..

2013-05-13T08:21:00.000+08:00

Zahira seems good at memorizing scripts.. She can repeat many sayings by Merida of Brave.

She used to say "I want my freedom!" ala Merida when i was busy giving her a shower. Ask again when you at least can shower and wash yourself after calls of nature okay darl!

Recently, while waiting for me to come and wash her after her no.1, she said "Cepat laa Mama, before I die.."

I find it funny now, but may not be in the future.. But i might as well just enjoy it for now.

Yesterday was Mother's day, but i found myself appreciating the presence of my two kids more than i feel i should be appreciated. At least that is true until about late afternoon. hmm.. the ups and downs..

Here's to racial harmony and unity...

2013-05-10T21:34:00.002+08:00

Masyaa Allah.. Syukur pada yg Esa kerana menyelamatkan negaraku. When they announced that BN form the government yet again, tears was running. How did I become so pro-BN? Masyaa Allah. 2 weeks before that, when they dissolved the parliament, i was like, should my vote be split? I was still thinking maybe i should vote for PAS because they are more Islamic, and the fact that people are saying voting for BN makes me a kafir. Astaghfirullah.. sapa mau jadi kafir kan?

At night, after prayers, i kept asking Allah to show me the way, the truth, the guidance only He can give. And then, for that 2 campaigning weeks, i started to do some homework. I thought my vote should be with conviction, not just a fence-sitter style. I started reading political blogs. I was actually already inclined towards BN, but just like i said i don't want to 'jatuh kafir', like they said.

For one thing, i detest the way PR supporters have been campaigning since one year ago (or was it more). They were a lot of hatred towards BN, a lot of the topics are so like 'ahli mesyuarat tingkap', no proof. Then there's this other part of me that believes Najib was really remarkable in pushing Malaysia's economy forward. GTP and so many Ps i can't even remember. But it was all directing Malaysia on the right track. He was also acting like a salesman, going from one country to another, getting foreigners to invest in Iskandar etc. I actually thought to myself, he is actually good.

Although i'm a woman, whom by nature loves gossips, i find it weird that politics in Malaysia are like that. I tried to read Malaysian Insider and Harakah which ppl said are much better in terms of delivering the truth. Somehow, it didn't feel that way. One day, a couple of years ago, I also realized that this Anwar Ibrahim should not be trusted, let alone be the prime minister. Can't remember the turning point, but i think it was Saiful's case and then the Omega watch. Why would many people slap him with so many of these moral accusations?

But another turning point too was the viability of their alliance. Pas wants to make Malaysia more Islamic yet it has allies that do not have the same aspiration. I mean talk about DAP, the last thing it needs is to make Malaysia more Islamic. Their members involve people who advocated muslim apostates, and also Anwar's sodomy case who actually said all Anwar's secret is with him. It is marriage of convenience as far as i can see.

I don't know why people can't see this, especially youths. So, when i did my homework searching for someone i can believe in, someone who is involved in the nitty gritty of things, I found a blogger who knows Chinese more than I do. Someone who i think can speak about both, Chinese and Malay. She at lifeofannie.blogspot.com has a chinese mother and a malay father. She confirmed my and a lot of malay perception that the Chinese look down on us Malay, that Malay is being unfair for having extra rights so on and so forth. In her case, her mother blurts out a lot of things pointing to that notion, which also suggest that that is what her race thinks anyway. Annie however is of belief that Malay, despite the rights they have, have not been oppressive, since Chinese are doing just as well in this country, if not better. Annie is also a racial harmony advocate, and she happens to believe that BN is doing a lot of good to the country, just like i thought. So I immediately become her follower. She introduced me to Ghani Othman, another leader with caliber, a lot of contribution to the state of Johor. Now this is what I like, people who actually acknowledge others' efforts regardless of what the herd is thinking.

I guess she inspired me to speak up. I started campaigning every day in the run up to the election. I was hoping that a lot of fence-sitters would be able to make a decision for themselves, not based on things purported by the opposition supporters. My friend who supports BN and I used many opportunities to throw our opinions especially on walls of left wingers, and sometimes on our walls as well, when someone dared enough to voice out their opinions. But we kept it professional, by sharing just facts. We kept reminding them that they should stop sharing baseless news, which somehow reduced the amount of junk shared (or is it because i unfollowed most of them?). I think more people i knew whom never showed their political affiliation before started to write as well or share pro-BN stuff on FB. We somehow got each others back, helping each other to build our courage. Somehow, before that, BN supporters are very quiet. I might have, once in a while in the past showed my dissatisfaction towards the opposition. It died down for a while until these last 2 weeks coming to election. A lot of my friends are saying the same thing, that too much rapping on faults of the government, nothing can ever be good coming out of BN.

Although BN won, I was sadder. The fact that BN is said to have lied on the polling day, what with bangla, blackout and all, showed how bad the bleeding is in the society. Thanks to Anwar. I just hope that this 5 years would make more people see more clearly, bigger changes that benefit the Muslims would occur and the racism is sent to the grave, once and for all.

Toilet renovation

2013-04-27T13:30:00.001+08:00

Assalamualaikum..

Alhamdulillah, it has been my wish to change our toilet downstairs from i can't remember when. Now my wish has been fulfilled. Thanks to Allah for the extra rezeki, thanks to hubby for providing our family and giving the greenlight. :)

A lot of things are not quite right with it; the tiles had rusty colour, the cement holding the tiles had come out everywhere causing soil and sometimes worms to surface. Historically the toilet was a laundry room for the previous owner, i guess that was the reason for the loose cement. The shower didn't work as well and the toilet bowl wasn't properly connected to the sewer. Let me put a picture of the old toilet.

Nampak cam okay.. but mmg tak okay. I always maintained it so that it stay dry, because dry toilet wont invite worms. Allah knows how i hate them, but due to this toilet, i have braved myself to fight them. :p
See how small the toilet is. When i did my research i had an idea that toilet renovation would cost me RM5000. That's a lot of money. Nothing is cheap. Hopefully the small size would mean smaller cost as well.

Anyway, since we have these banglas doing renovation around this area all the time, and he has looked after my roof all these while, we hired him and his friends. They were definitely cheaper than hiring a contractor who then hire these banglas/ indons to do it for them.

First stop was Super Ceramic Puchong, near our hse. I knew the tiles are very important. They can't be square like it is previously, or the smaller mosaics that ppl super love now.. High maintenance! And i had an idea how we want it to look like..

Anyway, lets cut to the chase and go straight to its after pic.

After 2 weeks of waiting, the mirror and shower screen are finally installed. Allah knows how women love big mirrors, betul tak? hehe.. It makes the toilet seem larger too.. it works its magic! yeay! Look at that small niche. Nasib baik bangla sanggup nak buat. tp dapat small jer, just enough for travelling size bottles. It was because it would not be good on the tile arrangement. Niche is important for small toilet like ours. Need to reduce things that jut out. Btw, the tile is 3D with borders. It was RM9 per piece, same price with non-3D ones.

Got that rain shower head as well. I've not tried it. When they shut the water supply from reservoir, it would notoriously cause the water pressure to reduce. But dah tengok dah, it works. The bangla was such an expert. When the whole thing was done, we found a leak in the wall, at the corner in the above picture. Water was coming out inside and outside, like a lot. So, they came back. I told them that the tile shop has run out of stock for that tile in all of Malaysia and we have just 2 pieces left unused. He just listened between the tiles and knew which one (just one) to hack to find the leaking part of the pipe. How clever!! The small window is also new to let light and better vent.

The lilium picture has been sitting on the shelf of my bathroom upstairs unhanged all the while. Now it has found its place.

The toilet and sink is in smaller sizes, fit better in this small toilet. It is also very

Zahira-friendly. I am teaching her to got to the loo by herself so that when baby is out,

she can be more independent.

Anyway, the whole thing so far cost us around RM4400, including the smaller accessories. Everything is counted. We could change the door, but i'm refraining at the moment. Ppl kept saying the door needs to be water proof, but i like solid wood doors. But they don't have solid wood doors in smaller size for bathrooms. So, i'll just wait. The current door is still okay, although it has problem locking, darling hubby had made a latch that actually works. Alhamdulillah, this project is now considered DONE!

Election 2013

2013-04-21T11:48:00.002+08:00

Election is looming. 2 weeks to that big day. Ppl have been talking about politics since 5 years ago, non-stop. As for me, it's my second time voting. The country has had 12 elections so far in its independent life and i have voted for one, hoping to vote again this time.

First time voting, i found it so easy to choose. It was deemed "Let's give the opposition a chance to prove themselves" election. 5 years down the line has come down to these days.

Youth like me would have no qualms changing political sides, whenever we deem suitable. I have been quite sure which party i want to vote for prior, but now not so sure anymore. Must say it is due to the Malay attributes, whereby Malays are very reasonable people, due to our upbringing. We are told that although we need to be successful, money is not everything. Islam also makes sure the rich looks after the poor. When we have so much money, we felt burdened by it and tend to give it away as sadaqah.

Some Malaysians have deemed the reigning party to be mean to non-bumis, highly corrupted etc. Whilst some policies may be better off changed so that it is fair for all Malaysians, i think this corruption claims is highly exaggerated. For employed Malaysians, life goes on without them having to bribe anyone every week or even months. The lowest form of bribery is possibly traffic offences that necesitates the offender to make a choice whether to save his/her rm150. Even then, they could have chosen not to bribe, in the name of being honest and keeping to our principles. Malaysians can now get their ICs or passports in 2 hours or so without having to pay under the counter anymore. I have not had to bribe someone so far in Malaysia in my almost 33 years of life. Alhamdulillah. Nor my mother, my husband and my sisters.

This supposed corruption possibly happens at higher levels where millions of ringgit is concerned, esp when handing out projects for the country. So it involves businessmen/contractors who really wants to bag a project. My husband has encountered this sort of nonsense when he was working closely with his CEO. A man who claimed he was close with the PM was busy trying to get my husband to see him as he apparently has 'something' to give to my husband. My husband totally ignored him. After all, my husband didn't have that kind of say in his company's decision. `He went on to say that he's sorry that he would have to let the PM know of the non-cooperation given by my husband and his CEO. I think it is a simple nutcase who has an illusion of grandeur. I have no doubt that the PM couldn't care less whether he gets a project or not. It was that simple, they came and offer in the hope that they can get big money later on.. Such gambling moves are so easy for some people, but not to a lot more other people. I believe a lot of people are aware now that taking such money may spell grievous trouble. For conscientious muslims, it would be easy to say no. These days however, a lot of people forsake their principles for luxury, that it has become a new religion. I wish to say that such desire for luxury is there in the minds and hearts of anybody of any race and party. It is that individual that needs to be stemmed out, not a whole party.

On why Malay/Muslims are reasonable people, it is because after 50 years ruling this country, the Chinese are still able to live more luxuriously than the Malay, the Indians are not that far off. Basically, in Malaysia, if you work hard and you are good, you'll get a job. I came from a highly multiracial school. My non-Bumi friends are all doing well now i must say. Good for them. I know for a fact that my non-bumi friends are intelligent people, and it does translate in the jobs they have right now. So I do wonder when people say non-Bumis are not given equal rights to employment, do those people actually have the same quality as that of my non-Bumi friends?

Anyway, i have been asking Allah for guidance for this election. Anything can happen. But my prayer is for the party that upholds Islam most as well as ensures the everlasting peace of this country to win this time, regardless of which i vote for.

Columbia Asia Puchong: Antenatal Checkup #1

2013-04-18T21:20:00.000+08:00

At 29 weeks of pregnancy, i asked my GP to refer me to a hospital, namely Columbia Asia Puchong. I've been having braxton hicks contractions everyday from quite early on. It was suspected due to UTI, however, UTI is gone, contractions remain esp on walking and at night when i'm lying down to sleep. At other times, i can't really tell whether my stomach is just full. hehe.. i might have more actually, something to worry about.

Dr i'm assigned to is Raja Juhaidah. Quite young, older than me i think but still young. She prescribed two dose of dexamethasone to mature fetal lungs earlier in view of preterm labour. Must say i get extra worried when she prescribed dexa cos the last thing i'd want is to deliver in the absence of my other half. I was born when my father was in Australia, right after my mother had her iftar on the 11th of Ramadhan. The last thing i need is for history to repeat itself. The Ramadhan delivery is a different matter. I hope Allah would give us a Ramadhan baby. Anyway the steroid injections hurt. They were done on consecutive days. It hurts to walk right after, but the pain didn't last. Alhamdulillah.

At first i planned to book FPP at Putrajaya Hospital. I called them last week and was told that Dr Hamidah's list for the time i'm due to deliver is fully booked. She only accepts pregnant ladies who are in their 28weeks or less. I was stunned, cos never i thought it could come to that. Her cut off was 32 weeks before, but she has become so popular i guess. There's always 'hikmah' behind everything, i always tell myself that. Parking in Putrajaya is very difficult, whilst Columbia is pretty easy and free. Clinic was pretty empty, there were only 3 couples apart from me. However, their charges are more expensive than Putrajaya. We would have to top up. Considering many companies not covering deliveries, I'm not gonna fuss about it. Alhamdulillah to everything.

Rumah Peranginan TNB Cameron Highland

2013-04-12T17:47:00.001+08:00

For the first time, we managed to get the "Rumah Peranginan TNB Cameron Highland". We had Rumah Osman if i'm not mistaken. It's an old bungalow, so, naturally it spooks me a bit. However, the house has been made up so well (i think) it loses its colonial style. Rooms are spacious (3 bedrooms- 2 double beds, 2 twin beds and 3 baths). Beds are comfortable, rooms are carpeted. A big playground for the kids to enjoy and the compund was well maintained. It is meant to be stayed with your whole families. The dining table is huge! Make sure you bring your extended family with you. We went with my cousin's family. It was a chance to let the kids get close with their second cousins.

Its downside is its kitchen. Their utensils are quite worn out. When we were there, there seems to be gas leak every time we tried to use the stove. Hopefully they have fixed it. The caretaker lives next door, easy to get help and she was friendly. Of all TNBs houses around Malaysia that we've been (Desaru and Genting were the other ones), i think this one is the definitely the best one. Nothing supernatural to be reported as well. :)

Dining area

Master bedroom (potentially)

With my cousin Alin and her family.

It has Astro but not all channels.

Its compound.

Communication skills parents should have ~ Faber/Mazlish

2013-04-12T13:51:00.000+08:00

INSTEAD OF PUNISHMENT:

1. Express your feelings strongly - without attacking Character
2. State your expectations :
3. Show the child how to make amends
4. Give the child a choice.
5. Take action
6. Problem solve

TO ENGAGE A CHILD'S COOPERATION:
1. Describe what you see, or describe the problem.
2. Give information
3. Say it with a word "The towel!"
4. Describe what you feel.
5. Write a note.

TO ENCOURAGE AUTONOMY

1. Let children make choices
2. Show respect for a child's struggle
3. Don't ask too many questions
4. Don't rush to answer questions
5. Encourage children to use sources outside the home
6. Don't take away hope

ALTERNATIVES TO SAYING "NO".

1. Give information
2. Accept feelings
3. Describe the problem
4. When possible, substitute a "Yes" for a "No": "Yes, certainly, right after lunch."
5. Give yourself time to think

Book review: Sibling Without Rivalry and How to Talk so Kids will Listen by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish

2013-04-05T15:31:00.002+08:00

When it comes to reading books on parenting, i want nothing more than examples after examples of how to cope with situations i deal daily with my kids. No need paragraphs after paragraphs of motivational talk. Faber and Mazlish books are the best i've seen. They give examples in a comic style, to the point that Danish also wants to read them. Here are examples of their comic strips..

Here are the authors, they've written these books for ages, they have started self-help groups that have seen their children grown up to become adults.

And here are 2 books they've written that i have:

Together with their examples, they've recorded discussions they've done in their groups in the past. It is easy to relate and easy to follow. However, i must say i always succumb to my emotion and anger as well, hence the needs to have these books by me all the time. I should write down their important skill points here as well as reference. Highly recommend them for every parent. Everyone should have a copy.

Star rating: 5 stars

Going to be Papasick again...

2013-04-03T15:37:00.001+08:00

In a few more days, we are (kids and I) going to have to swallow the pill, Papa is not going to be with us for 55 days. We have never been left behind for that long. The longest was 16 days. This was the last time, almost a year ago. Masyaa Allah. Have to always remember, Allah is with us. I'm in my third trimester as well. If everything goes smoothly with this pregnancy, hubby would be home before delivery. Insyaa Allah.

Cameron Highland 2013

P/s: I will have to watch the election results all by myself as well.. If the kids allow me..

More sewing machine produce.. Skirt and Hijab for Zahira

2013-04-03T15:11:00.001+08:00

Yaya is very particular about not being called Yaya these days. IT IS ZAHIRA.

The skirt was done last year using my old blouse. It has a lot of flaws. Hee.. Living up the beginner's label.

The hijab was done using her baju kurung leftover fabric. At first, it came out too short that i had to add more fabric. I think she looks so cute in it. Her teachers thought so too.

Another DIY Project: Fitted sheets

2013-03-21T15:01:00.001+08:00

A lot of my projects sprouted last year. I've been itching to get myself a sewing machine for a while, and then one day we got it. Sangat seronok. I bought it at Tesco, a small, almost portable. Cost me RM110 at the time as it was on offer (RM30 off). The brand is Global if anyone is wondering, not the smallest size. What it can do is sew anything not to thick, and needs just normal stitching. nothing fancy. Fitted sheet is an example of what i managed to make.

This was my first attempt at making fitted sheets. Fabric from Kamdar, very nice cotton to sleep on. If i'm not mistaken it was 3 1/2 metre of fabric for a super single bed like this.. but the excess under the mattress was really little. However as it is well fitted, it has never given away the lack of extra fabric under it. I bought more of this fabric to make the bolster case and another pillowcase later on. I think the fabric cost me almost RM60 altogether and we get 2 pillowcases and a bolster case. My experience buying at hypermart, sheets like this might be as low as RM40 but the fabric is not comfy and no bolster case to match with. The exact type of fabric as a bedset might cost RM90.

Second attempt was for my princess. She would have loved a pink princessy one, but i couldn't find such fabric at Kamdar. Not many fabric outlet like Kamdar in Puchong and i dont feel like going to KL just for it. The minnie mouse makes up for the missing princess. This time i bought 8 metre of fabric (or was it 9?). I was so ill-advised this time that i have metres more of this fabric. This time i made a mistake of leaving too much excess of fabric under folded under (since i have tonnes of it i guess). By the time it was done and tried on, the sheet was very loose. I had to fix it a couple of times. So my advice, if you're making a fitted sheet, don't give too much fabric under the mattress as it would need extra pulling by the elastic. Besides, you'll find it harder to take it off later. Since Zahira wanted a bolster, i turned one flat pillowcase into a flat bolster.. Hence its shorter length.

There were other experiments i did using this sewing machine, including skirts for Zahira, barbie's dress (the hardest thing to do), a pair of pants for me (that could hardly fit my hip.. hehe). I don't know why but i like to learn from my own mistakes, it would make me pay more attention on the measurement next time.

DIY Project Last year (2012): Wallpaper

2013-03-20T14:35:00.001+08:00

Salam all,

A few things done by ourselves last year. But papering the walls by ourselves must be the most amazing DIY we've ever done. Doing it by ourselves (with my other half), is super satisfying and more meaningful. Rasanya for days and days i kept on checking the new walls. Awesomenyer.. hehe..

But have to remind readers, in this house, projects get delayed most of the time. From the time of purchasing the wallpapers to getting them on the walls and completing all four feature walls took some time. May not be as bad actually. Once we started on the first wall, we did all four 2 weekends in a row. Have a look at some of the photos.

The wall of my son's bedroom. Walls needs to be smooth so as to not make holes on the paper.

Hubby getting rid of the excess paper using anti-cutter.

Wallpaper by Korean Wallpaper (yatching theme).

Yaya's wall is full of hearts and it is PINK (her favourite colour)!

Finally, the master and mistress get their feature wall done. Our bed

should sit in the middle there.. (Too lazy to go up and take another pic).

There are 4 wallpaper designs, i forgot to take a photo of my hallway which has the other wallpaper. It is silvery white with subtle vertical lines. Supposedly a wall complete with photos, as yet, no photos are up there yet. (that's one project not finished.. huhu). This wallpaper was easiest to cut due to its design.

It was worth it BUT it was tiring. Hubby does a lot of lifting and making sure they are level. I do lots of pushing the extra glue out of the paper and spreading glue on the wall paper.. Ada laa slight defect, terkoyak a bit here and there, extra care at corners is needed.. But i think overall it was a job well done for a novice like us.

Advice on choosing wall paper, it is easier to connect wall paper in my bedroom compared to my daughter's and my sons because my wallpaper has reeds right at the edge that we could exactly match with the previously done.. My daughter's wallpaper was the hardest as the hearts were floating by themselves. However, my wallpaper may create extra wastage as they have to match exactly. The hallway had the least wastage as u can just cut the next sheet right away if they are vertical lines. Also, beware of wide papers, they are not that easy to hang and they may tear as well. These ones are wide, we had to be extra careful. Put lots of glue to avoid them drying up when they actually get onto the walls.

As for cost, all 4 papers came at RM1000 from Korean Wallpaper next to IOI mall. At special times, they may offer 5 for RM1000. 1 roll is enough for one feature wall. The DIY kit was RM30 if i'm not mistaken. We had a briefing on how to do it from the staff.. You can also learn from youtube for extra tips i guess..

Al-Badar: The new way of teaching Al-Qur'an..

2013-03-12T08:57:00.001+08:00

Salam,

Recently i had the opportunity to join a briefing on how to use the Al-Badar method of learning the Qur'an at Yaya's school. I came across this method when Yaya started at GA. For year 4 and 5, GA now uses Al-Badar. The book is a thin one, blue in colour, supposedly the faster way of learning the Qur'an.

Since i've been teaching Qur'an as well, i was curious to know how it works and compare the Iqra' to it. Naturally i want my students to get to the first juzuk of the Qur'an as fast they can. But at the same time, things like tajweed and makhraj needs lots of practice. No shortcut there. In fact, this method has its first print in 2002. It is not that new.

Anyway, i thing i can summarize Al-Badar as follows:

1. A better way to get to know the arabic alpahabets (hija'iyah) as they spend time learning them first. The most bizarre thing i find lacking in Iqra' is the lack of teaching the alphabet per se. Hard for me to refer to each alphabets to the kids, more mature students would know as they read muqaddam before.

2. They grouped the single lines of fathah/kasrah/dhammah together which is similar to what muqaddam used to do which i think is easier to learn and compare when you put them together.

3. They are also much more clearer in teaching the way the letters are written when they are combined at the beginning, in the middle and at the back.

4. They are good for kids, as they have selawat to accompany the learning. Not very practical for mature students.

5. May have to be used with Iqra' for better practice. Iqra' gives a lot of examples to practise with.

6. For those who already knew the basic. They need to learn the tajweed in the second book.

7. They have writing activity as well.

However, i'm still weighing the pros and cons for my students. What i find is that the first book is too simple which makes me wonder if it is enough. Second, the complete set with CD comes at RM50, which is a bit too expensive. Iqra' is around RM12 for a complete set. Having said that, it might be a good way to teach newbies especially kids.

Yaya's school experience (as far as 2 months is concerned)..

2013-03-08T17:25:00.000+08:00

In terms of school, Yaya's transition into school life has been quite smooth. She couldn't wait to start at Genius Aulad this year. Apart from the 3rd day of school, she was really ok. On the 3rd day, she suddenly asked me to stay in her class, of which, her teacher explained might be due to me coming slightly later than other parents on the previous day. I wasn't that late, but i guess she got nervous when everyone started leaving one by one. But, she was fine when i said i'd buy her something at the shop if she behaves. She did.

These days, she might say she doesn't want to go to school, because she's tired or unwell etc, but when we get to the front of her school, she just get on with it. There are days she came back saying that she cried at school as she was slow at writing. I hope she gets through these days as quickly as she can. I help her with writing but she can be very playful when i teach her. So manja. I can see her getting more and more confident in writing the alphabets.

As for reading, she is developing the sense of enthusiasm to read on her own at home and in the car, just like abang. This she didn't seem to have at the beginning, but when the school starts, she is more into it. As for learning Al-quran via Al-Badar, she has trouble saying a few letters due to her "pelatness". How i wish it would go away soon.

Losing tooth..

2013-03-03T19:13:00.001+08:00

Danish lost his second tooth today.. Was so brave of him, pulling it all by himself. Just like the first time..

The story behind the Surah Al-Munafiqun...

2013-02-07T17:17:00.001+08:00

Salam to readers (if any),

Zaid bin Arqam once heard Abdullah bin Ubai bin Tsalul (founder of the munafiquns) uttered unpleasant words to his friends. This happened around the time of hijrah, in Madinah. Abdullah bin Ubai was a resident of Madinah, hence he was part of the Ansars, who were supposed to help the Muhajirins, Makkans who fleed Makkah without bringing anything with them.

Abdullah said, as reported in some hadiths "Go ahead and fatten them, your dogs (referring to Muhajirin). One day they shall eat you up." Hearing this, Zaid being a kid, felt uneasy. He told his uncle, who later told the prophet s.a.w. Being Rasulullah, he checked with Abdullah whether he did say anything as such. Nabi as we all know had no special power, apart from being so kind-hearted. Abdullah and his friends of course denied everything. So Rasulullah believed them and claimed that Zaid must have lied.

Zaid, who loves Rasulullah s.a.w. so much, was heart-broken as he knew what he heard and being called a liar by Nabi must be a hundred times more painful for him. Hence, he locked himself up in his house. Not long after, Nabi sent someone to tell him that Allah has sent His message in the form of Surah Al-Munafiqun. The Surah cleared Zaid's name, and from then on, Muslims realized that there were munafiqs among them.

For one thing, Nabi could not have written the Al-Quran by himself, as the Al-Quran sometimes corrected him as well. Bear in mind, the mistakes he made were there for a reason especially to prove that he did not made it up. Second, Nabi himself did not accuse anyone of being a munafiq. Allah told him about the munafiqs. Who better to know and say anyone is a munafiq apart from Allah swt. Someone may appear a munafiq to us but maybe his deeds, his ibadah is more than us or more accepted than us. Besides, ibadah should be done discreetly. We should be worried about our own ibadah if we kept doing it in front of others.

Hence, the lessons from this true story is that, learn about sirah Nabi if you are not sure about Allah's existence. Just because you don't know about it does not mean it's not true. The other lesson is be wary about labelling people munafiqs or kafirs. We don't know what is in the hearts of others. Allah knows inside and out.. This is not about being on which political side, or to blame the person who started it. It is about ourselves, being careful about what we say. At the end of the day, your sins are yours only.

Source: Muqaddimah Ceramah Ustaz Shamsuri Ahmad (Tafsir Nurul Ihsan- Surah Al Munafiquun)