Konnichiwa from Tokyo

It's day 1 in Tokyo and already we've had a full day of walking. Landed at Narita International Airport at 7.08 am and I've been greeted with cool, crisp weather which I've missed so much. Took the airport limo (just a bus but over here, they call everything from the airport, a limo) and it took us 1.5 hours to reach our hotel.

Welcome to Japan! Taken right after passing through the immigration with flying colors, hehe.

So far I've picked up on Arigato go zai mas (Thank you very much), Wa-kari-masen (I don't understand), Hait (yes), sumi-masen (excuse me) which are enough to get me by. Thank God most signboards have English Language on them so walking about is not so challenging.

B trying to rent mobile phones because both of ours couldn't work in Japan. Takde 3G. So people, if you plan to come here, make sure that your phones are 3G enabled even though you're okay for roaming. Sucks man! It costs us 210 yen/day to rent a mobile and we're staying here for eight! Memang sah lepas ni aku beli N82.

I've had my dose of uber fresh sashimis and delectable sushis and perfectly battered tempuras. All I can say is YUMMY!! I don't mind at all that all these will be my staple food for the next 7 days.

Us waiting for our airport limo. Departure time stated on the ticket was at 8.45 am and guess what! Exactly at 8.45 am it went, not waiting for anyone. Talk about Japanese punctuality!

I'm staying at Hotel Villa Fontaine located at Shiodome. I was very, very impressed with the hotel upon arriving. Will share photos later. Right now I'm off to bed. Tomorrow nak jalan-jalan kat Shinjuku sorang2 while B and his colleagues will be away for a site visit somewhere 2 hours away by train. I'm arming myself with the trusted Tokyo Metro Guide and several useful pictures in my digicam (like gambar oink-oink, toilet, and the hotel).

B checking us in at the hotel. The hotel boasts of cool minimalist decor tinged heavily with zen-like concept. I love it!

The very spacious hotel lobby that greeted us. Cone-lighted lamps made of straw are placed on each table. The effect these lamps bring during the night are breathtaking with their warm soft glow. Very romantic indeed!


p/s: Yatie, I wish you were here with us. I know we would have painted the town red while our husbands are away doing their business. Oh well, we'll plan for another one, shall we?

Sevenmoon - Part II

As promised, pictures from our honeymoon. We didn't go very far from home. I wasn't in the mood to take a long drive nor go on a flight or even a boat. Since I did all the planning, I called the shots.

I booked a room at Impiana KLCC, me being the city girl et. al, I just can't get enough of the city. The hotel is magnificently located between two of my favorite malls, making it easier for us to just stroll from one mall to another without having to bother about traffic jams and paying for exorbitant parking rates.

The day kicked off with a pleasant surprise bouquet from B. Seeing that this is the first bouquet after how many years, I screamed and jumped with joy. Yes, I am that jakun!


After dropping off the kids at my parents' place, we headed to the hotel. I was telling B to step on it as I have booked us for a 6 pm couple's spa at the hotel.


Luckily we made it in time. We were greeted with soothing Balinese music, invigorating yet stimulating smell and a very relax ambience. I LIKE!! The spa is called Swasana Spa and they based their treatments on spices.

Our VIP room which I must say looks very, very inviting and romantic what with the soothing almost haunting music and delicious-that-makes-me-want-to sleep smell. We were treated to a jacuzzi dip before the prodding, kneading and massaging session began. Heavenly, I tell you!

Instead of reflexology, the spa offers foot massage service. We wanted to book a session but all slots were fully booked. Oh well, some other time then.

The nicely decorated pathway in the spa. They put up rows and rows of large jars filled with every spice imaginable. A unique concept, I must say.

The greeting area before going into our VIP room. Tastefully decorated! We were going ooh and ahh over everything.

Treatment over. My body has never been prodded, massaged and thumped so much compared to the last 1.5 hours I had at the spa. At first it was damn painful because the masseuse attacked all my sore points sampai terkentut-kentut dibuatnya hahahha... I was embarrassed and so must the masseuse but she did well not to show it. After a while, all the knots in my muscle were slowly loosen and it started to feel good.

Our deluxe room with a king bed. Huhuhu... with just the two of us, there were plenty of space to roll about. Good thing the kids weren't here or they would have hogged the bed all to themselves.

Very tasteful decor. I especially loved the warm wooded floor. I made a mental note that I shall replace my floor at home to this when it rains moolah. Bilalah tu kan?

Our honeymoon was actually a city escapade. We ate a lot, walked a lot, talked a lot but not shop a lot and get to the things that we loved to do before having kids. I was controlling myself and saving all my money for the next big trip so that explains the lack of carrier bags everytime we went back to the hotel. Nonetheless, we really splurged on food since both of us LOVE to eat. We ate at Spice of India, Pavilion (Good but still can't beat Al-Diafah for their lamb briyani and mendi), Yo Sushi (The seafood was fresh and tasty, portions are big and pricey nothing really to shout about), Pelita at Jalan Ampang for our supper (their tandoori chicken was super tender and delicious!), Al-Marjan at KLCC (Very disappointing tastewise. The two meals that we ordered were really salty so much so, I had to gulp down ice water with every single bite that I took) plus the endless munching here, there, everywhere.

I couldn't resist trying the Fish Spa at Kenko (located on the same floor as GSC at Pavilion). First time putting my foot in the pond and I yelled so loud that I almost fell over. The fishes came sucking at my feet like piranhas and it felt SO TICKLISH and weird. It took me a good 10 minutes before I got used to the bizarre sensation. I was laughing all the way and so were all the other patrons. B? He didn't even dare look. He got all squirmy and chickened out at the last minute. Wuss!

We tried the newly launched U-hu-hu cheesecakes. They were going at a promotional price of RM 25 for 6 pieces. The after promotion price would be RM 30 for 6 pieces. My verdict, mine and Liza's cheesecakes taste better. I didn't say it. B did the moment he popped a bite, spontaneously. People were queuing to buy these cheese-cups okay. B cakap, maybe sebab derang tak reti nak buat so to them, these are the next best thing. Oh well, each to its own, I say.

Romance rekindled, bond strengthened, sleep caught-up, feet sore from so much walking (we didn't mind one bit because we were used to walking miles and miles when we travelled in the States, UK and Europe) and we have never been so in love compared to now. We talked and talked about the kids, our plans, our ambitions, our concerns - everything laid out on the table. I just love it and InsyaAllah, we'll do it again next year and try to make it an annual event.

Sevenmoon

I am 43 minutes into my seventh wedding anniversary. Seven years and counting. Goodness! Time sure has passed by so fast.

I've planned a surprise getaway for our anniversary. Can't really say it here because B reads my blog. I'll just post the pictures when I get back. The kids will be staying with my parents. I've already explained again and again to Zareef what's happening later during the day. The excuse I'm giving; both Mummy and Daddy will be going away for work and has to sleep at the workplace, so Zareef and Zara will be spending 3D2N at Atok's and Nenek's. I know it's lame but that's the only way for us to get away from the kids and have a proper honeymoon. If Zareef knew what I've planned meticulously for the past month, he'll go balistic! So, a white lie it is then. Hopefully Zareef, when you read this in a few years to come, you'll forgive me aight!

I sure am going all out this time for our celebration. Must be due to being deprived and cheated from a proper honeymoon when we got married seven years ago. We did go for our honeymoon but on the second day, B was called away for work in Singapore despite being on his wedding annual leave. What a spoil sport his company was back then! No wonder jodoh B with that company tak panjang.

So, to make up for a spoilt honeymoon, I decided to take matters into my own hands and ARRANGE EVERYTHING! Yes, I did all the planning, bookings, logistic arrangements for the kids and purchasing given that B is too busy to even sit down and plan with me. This time around, I'm making sure that I have a proper honeymoon, one that both of us rightly deserve!

My darling B, happy seventh anniversary dear! May our marriage be blessed by Allah and our love for each other never ever dies. I love you till the power of infinity!

It's Back to Work

On the weekend that B was in Rome (lama dah citer nih), I woke up at an ungodly hour to go for a walk-in interview. I left my babies at my parents' and and reached the place nice, early and foggy. Registered myself and while doing this, I did a quick scan and immediately felt ancient because all the IC numbers belonging to peeps before me started with an 8 while I was the only one which started with a 7.

I wanted to turn back thinking why in the world was I doing this. After a few seconds, the thought felt so tempting that I did make a turn but it was only a half-turn. The other half somehow forced me to march forward.

I was asked to complete an IQ test. WHATTT??? I think the last time I did an IQ test was for a Renong scholarship which took a whole wasted Saturday. 34 questions in 40 minutes. Each question had nine pictures followed by a choice of nine answers. By question no. 28, my brain was damn exhausted. I didn't feel like finishing them up but I persevered. I left out two questions which I didn't even bother to look at.

I was so glad when the invigilator said "Masa tamat". Phewww... lega! I was told to wait for the result. If I pass the test, then only will I be called in for a interview. My brain was so drained that my tummy did a rumble and double flip. Yes, I always get that whenever I finished doing an exam. I'll be so famish that everything looks good in my enough to eat even if they weren't.

Habis je makan, invigilator called up my name. Wahhhh... I passed the IQ test. Now, it's crunch time! Interview went well, I dare say but I wasn't really hoping for the job. The main reason I went for the quite tough interview was to test my marketability and polish my interviewing skills and these two I managed to accomplish.

Two months pass without any word from them and I too almost forgot about them until I got a phone call two days ago. They are offering me a job with my stipulated salary and MORE! They wanted me to report as soon as possible but had to say no - the kids come first and I have to sort their logistics etc. After the phone call, I was in a daze. It felt so surreal that I had to seat myself and just stare at the wall contemplating everything for a good 20 minutes. Sampai Zareef pun risau.

I'm starting on April Fool and having a 10-day-break shortly after (which I also requested and was immediately approved. Mesti depa cakap banyak betul songel minah but she's good so bagi saje la hehhehe) for my trip to the land of the rising sun.

I am still in disbelief over my rezeki in getting a job. I can only thank Allah for that. I thought I was a rusty engineer whom no one would want to hire given that there are many young guns who have all the required knowledge and certs to go with it. Apparently not la kot.

All I can say is, Syukur Alhamdulillah...

Now tambah lagi satu pening. The kids. HOW??

Leap Day

I have to write something today for it'll only come once in every four years. Babies borned today sure are special but confused at the same time, I guess. How would you answer your child's question regarding his/her birthday that only occurs once every four years? You know how kids are when they start asking questions, don't you?

Like just now, after picking up Zareef from school, we headed to PP to buy some groceries. Along the way, there were banners and flags everywhere. Zareef being his normal inquisitive self, started asking questions on why are there so many flags and banners around. Me being the no-nonsense, straight to the point mom, said that it's election time. "What's election, Mummy?", he asked. Oh tidak. Start dah sesi soal jawab.

However, I decided to just dive in and answer his questions straight, honest and put it in a 6-year old layman's term. Told him that election is when everyone who stays in Malaysia can vote for their leader.

"Macam tu, nanti bila Zareef dah besar, Zareef nak jadi leader la. Boleh tak, Mummy?"

"Boleh... As long as you become a good and beriman leader, then by all means, be one."

That put a smile on his face. I wondered what sort of ideas were running in that little head of his. Good ones, I hope.

Good Bargains

Ladies,

1. If you're a COACH lover, please do go here. I bought my watercolor wristlet from her and I am very much impressed and happy with her service. Prompt, friendly and efficient. Authenticity is not a question at all. She provides original receipt of purchase. The bargain part; the items she's selling are way cheaper than in the boutiques.

2. If you're in need of a good massage, foot refloxology, manicure, pedicure and facial do at the comfort of your home, please go here. My best friend has recently ventured into this business and I must say, I'm so proud of her!

3. If you're in need of delicious cupcake fix (other than mine, hehehhe), please go here. My best friend is doing it part time although she wishes that she can do it for full. Her cupcakes are delish and reasonably priced too. I'm waiting for her to quit her job so that I can JV with her to open a cafe (sighhh... bila boleh jadi kenyataan nih).

On Being Original

My girlfriend Liza is a cupcake enthusiast and she bakes them too! Good yummy ones I might add. I know because I ordered 100 of them last year for Zareef's and Zara's birthday bash and everyone couldn't get enough of it

Naturally, being a cupcake connoisseur, she has thronged every available website there is on cupcakes. So when I wrote about Cupcake Chic in my previous post, I immediately got a message from her through YM!

Oh boy! She told me that the menu and cupcake design for Cupcake Chic looks so familiar but she can't quite pin-point where has she seen it before. But wait, thank god for bookmarks and favorites. Lo and behold, now she knows where she's seen the menu and the design. Check out Sprinkles, people! Especially their flavors section and compare it with this, Cupcake Chic's menu.


Same right! Coincidence? Uhhh... I don't think so. Sprinkles was established in 2005 and have garnered quite a number or awards while Cupcake Chic has just opened their doors at The Curve last month or maybe the month before i.e. a new kid on the block.

Liza said the latter is so not original and I totally agree with her. If you go to the latter's cafe, you'll find that their cupcakes are arranged in the same manner as Sprinkles (pictures can be found in their website). EXACTLY the same!

What I'm trying to say is, if you're gonna open a cafe, make it yours. Let it be your OWN design and not someone else's which you just then conveniently change and tweak a little bit here and there. BE ORIGINAL! The only thing that I'm glad that the latter didn't copy is the price. Kalau tak, bengkok jugak nak bayar RM 10 for a cupcake or would you? I'll let you be the judge.

ps: lagi satu yang musykil; try checking out donut epal besar's website. Takde you say? Hahhaha... memang la takde tapi kenapa depa tulis kat kotak that it's under construction? Kalau under construction, there should still be a thread of some sort, right? Please correct me if I'm wrong. Nak jugak guna nama epal besar tuh...

Cake of the Day

TERUJA?? Ahhh yes, I can see some drool there.

Syukur Alhamdulillah...

That's all that I can say for all the rezeki, blessing and good fortune that Allah has bestowed upon us right at this very moment.

To my Darling, you rightfully earned it. All your hard work, late hours and time away from home has been rewarded thousands fold over. I'm so proud of you and what you have achieved thus far. I love you with all my heart and soul. Never doubt that the children and I have your back.

The Long CNY Weekend That Was

What does one do if one's husband is away for the long CNY weekend? Some would say, stay home and be a couch potato but not me. No way! Eventhough B is not around, it doesn't hold me back from gallivanting with my two kids. So, here are the things that we did the whole of the four-day weekend...

Day 1:

We went here....

and saw lots of animals and people! so sesak but for the kids' sake and educational purposes, I dived into it head on!

Hihihi... Zareef imitating the fish's large mouth.

Zareef feeding the deers or was it reindeers? Their antlers were long and beautiful!

On the tram with cousin Hannah, his idol.

Last but not least, my favorite animal. So magnificently strong and big but still remained calm and sexy. Ehhhh... boleh ke?

Zara was so psyched to see all the animals. She kept on pointing to all the animals and saying "OOOHHH, OOOHHH" repeatedly.

Day 2:

We went for a swim in the evening at Pusat Kejiranan Presint 16. Despite it being a public pool, I was very impressed with it facilities and CLEANLINESS, what with me being the hygiene freak. There are three pools; one for the toddlers, one for the kids complete with a water slide and one for the adults with depth going to 1.6 m deep. You'll have to put on proper swimming attire complete with swimming cap though. No t-shirts and shorts and long pants allowed, which I'm so glad because I hate to be swimming in someone's hair, if you get what I mean.

We spent a good two hours here just lazing and swimming in the pool. Zareef was busy going down the slide and pulling all sorts of stunts in the water. I think it's high time to enrol him in a swimming class since he loves swimming so much.

Sorry no pictures here as I was busy tending to Zareef and Zara, the water nymphs.

Day 3:

We went to the likes of Ikea, Ikano and The Curve. Zareef puts it as "Lets go Shopping Day". We had lunch at Little Penang Cafe and bumped into Bess and Co. Her daughter Mariah is the sweetest thing, sitting down perfectly quiet in her highchair unlike mine who'll grab everything available on the table. We managed to catch the Lion Dance show. Zareef was so inspired by the show, so much so that he was trying to jump from one sofa to another when we got back.

Another reason I went there was to get my hands on these...


More information on them can be found here. It's RM 4.50 per piece, RM 25 for 1/2 dozen and RM 48 for a dozen. Pricey? You be the judge.

Clockwise from top left, I bought Butter Pecan (butter pecan cake with caramel frosting), Othello (chocolate cake with vanilla frosting), Banoppy (banana poppy cake with vanilla frosting) and Fatal Attraction (chocolate cake with chocolate frosting). The person at the counter claimed that these are all best sellers.

What do I think? Well, this is my honest-to-goodness opinion and does not reflect what others think; I didn't like the vanilla frosting at all and so did Zareef. Despite me having a sweet-tooth and a penchant for all things dessert, to me the vanilla frosting was way too sweet bordering to cloying. For every small bite that I took of the cake with the vanilla frosting, I had to drink a big gulp of water. We (Zareef and I) were cringing and closing our eyes everytime we took a bite. After two bites, Zareef gave up and said that 'I don't like it and Mummy can have all of it'. Aduhhsss... ada yang kena diabetes camni.

The banoppy and butter pecan cake were a bit dry and crumbly. The banoppy had bits of bananas at the bottom. I'm not sure what bananas that they used but it didn't work for me because I didn't really taste the banana (it wasn't ripe kot). It would have tasted better if they were to use pisang emas or rastali.

Butter pecan was so-so. It had small chopped pecans at the bottom and laced with caramel. Again, I didn't enjoy it that much because the frosting was too cloyingly sweet.

However,not all was lost as I truly like the Fatal Attraction and Othello. The chocolate cake was just right in its moistness, texture and it wasn't too sweet. I'm giving a thumb up for the chocolate frosting because it has the right amount of sweetness that goes very well with the chocolate cake but not for the Othello though. This time, I scraped off the vanilla frosting and ate it sparingly with the chocolate cake.

Will I try it again? Hmm, sorry to say, I think that's it for me. I spent RM 18 on four cupcakes which to me is a bit pricey but for research sake, I did it. I think I'll just bake my own whenever I'm in need of a cupcake fix after this.

Day 4:

We woke up early to meet and greet B at the airport. His flight was delayed so instead of just waiting for him at the arrivals, I had to park my car and bring the kids down. Forgetful me forgot to bring along the MacLaren. So I had no choice but to put Zara and Zareef on the trolley which they enjoyed immensely. After 30 minutes, B came out all grinning and our family is now complete again. How all of us miss him so much, only God knows.

After having breakfast, B started pulling out all kinds of goodies from his bag. Everyone got something. Zara got a stack-and-nest toy from Playskool, Zareef got a Transformer Decepticon named Storm Surge added to his collection and me? Nyeh nyeh nyeh...


Nak tengok ke apa ada kat dalam? Okay la, terasa macam show-and-tell pulak.

I feel complete. Thank you so much Darling for this. You're simply the best!! I don't know how to repay your kindness and generosity but hopefully with me being your loving and doting wife to you and the kids sort of make up for it. Like a friend put it "Baru la berbaloi kena tinggal selalu" and I readily concur...

Rude Ignorant People

What would you do if you were faced with these situations?

1. You are at a traffic light that's blinking in yellow (that means go at your own peril hehe) and you can't cross because traffic is nonstop. There's a car behind you that keeps on honking and revving its engine urging you to go. *Apa? Nak suruh aku ngan anak-anak aku kena langgar??? Giler punya manusia!*

2. You went to your husband's office with your kids to met his colleague (ada bisnes dealing sket). When everything is done, the whole lot of you started to make your way to the lift. Along the way, out came a lady from one of the offices and walked in front of you. Then you being the mulut laser takde insurans went away and said "Mak aii... Busuknye B.O dia Aling. Tak pakai deodorant ke?" only to find out a few seconds later in hushed tones that THE LADY is your husband's PA??? *Aiyakkkk... mamposss..*

3. Your Indonesian cleaner who comes once a week to clean your house went ahead and locked your bedroom door without first asking whether you have the keys to it. And this happened on the eve of CNY and so all locksmiths in town were out having their reunion dinner. Tried the paper clip and slipping ID techniques but to no avail. You were so fcuking mad that the only other option that's viable is to knock the door down. Thank god for your neighbor who suggested calling an Indonesian handyman who busted away the door knob and lock to your bedroom. You had to pay RM 55 for it but you don't mind at all as long as you can get into your room. *I am sooo gonna deduct her salary for this. Stupid idiot!*

4. People who asks for discounts but expects superior decorations and stuff on their cakes when you are already selling at 100% below the recommended retail price. Plus, you are repeatedly told that your cakes taste good. You know you only sell the best because you only eat and bake the best. *So how now brown cow??*

5. People who send petty comments saying that you are a show-off, snob and shallow for showing your bags to the world. *Huhh?? Get a life people! My blog, I'll do whatever I want with it. Kalau tak puas hati, pegi la buat blog sendiri. Besides, I greatly encourage shallow obsessing (borrowing from Purse Blog's motto) and I follow the "If you have it, then flaunt it" mantra. Apasal? Jealous ke that my husband loves me greatly and buys for me things that he knows I love? Malas aku nak layan*.

6. People who tells you what to do with your kids when obviously, the said people dah lama tak pegang and jaga budak kecik. *I'm their mom. I know what's best for them. Opinions and suggestions are highly appreciated but not when they are given under malicious undertones or in other words, sindiran semata-mata.*

Okay, enough of rantings for today. I'm going to cool it all off with a swim with my kids at my brother's place this evening. I'm all alone, again, this long weekend with my kids. B is away in the land of Ratatouille, Eiffel Tower, croissants and baguettes. He'll be back on Sunday morning. Arghhhh... I'm starting to dislike his out-of-country trips. Again, cepat la balik.... sighhh

From Rome With Much Love

B just got back from Rome this morning. Right now he's sleeping off his jetlag and I can't wipe out the silly wide grin on my face.

Why????

Because he came back with all these....



nyehnyehnyeh... I'm a happy brown cow now.

Thank you sooooo much Darling!! You're the best! I totally love the Fs ( I only asked for one, but dapat tiga. I am so over the moon). And the smell, tok sah cakap la. It's the next best thing to a newborn child, seriously!

ps: Zareef pun menyelit gak his Transformer; Autobot Landmine which B also bought on his trip. Bagi can la...

Wearing Two Hats

It's not easy juggling two roles without any help at all. Last night, when we sent B off, one of his many pesanan was to "Banyak-banyak bersabar with the kids. If they drive you up the wall, then by all means, ask Abah and Mak to help".

So far, it's been a-okay here. One down, six more to go. Zareef cried buckets when bidding farewell to daddy dearest yesterday. First time ever! Selama ni B pegi mana-mana, tak pernah pun nangis. I don't know why.

If you're reading this Darling, the kids and I miss you very, very much. Take care ya! Please eat lots and lots of gelato yang sungguh lazat itu on behalf of us and also the pastas and pizzas. We love you very much.

Sighhh... cepat la balik.

To Gold Coast and Back

It was my MIL's idea to go at the very last minute. She summoned her three sons and concocted the idea. The three sons were very eager and I was thrown into a packing frenzy but what can I pack at such a short notice? LIGHTLY said B. Okay then.

Hehehehheh... GOTCHA!! Yeah I know. I'm sure some of you are spewing god-knows-what curses at me right now.

We went to Sepang Gold Coast or formerly known as Bagan Lalang which was an hour's drive from our home. God knows why the name was changed. For commercialization purposes perhaps? But please... Gold Coast??? You got to be kidding me! This place is like a century behind the world famous original namesake. What were they thinking?? Apparently NOT la kan. They even have a development going on looking very similar to the Palm in Dubai and get this, it's called... yeah you're right The Palm Resort. Like... DOHHHHH

Anyway, name aside, we did have a wonderful time there albeit for a short while. Everything was decided at the very last minute so we only reached there at 6 in the evening. Upon reaching, I was surprised with the scene that greeted me. I was imagining barren lonely sea filled with slut and mangroves like the last time I was there for my Biology class way back in Form Five at SSP. Boy, was I dead wrong. Instead what greeted me was clean, white, powdery sandy beach. We went on a Sunday, so there were families here, there, everywhere enjoying the breeze, playing on the beach, swimming in the warm inviting sea and even having a spot of picnic and barbecueing. How cool is that!

I think Zareef had the most fun. He rode the pony, played on the beach, built sand castles and even attempted a dip in the sea but was strictly prohibited by his Wan. What a spoilsport.
It took us only an hour to drive here from Puchong. The whole journey was quite entertaining with winding trunk roads passing through fields of dragon fruits, small villages and monkeys on the side. I love old trunk roads because they are full of surprises at every bend with small towns dotting the road along the way plus B get to brush up on his driving skills (yes, he is a rally driver wannabe). Since we have the trusted X-Trail, going off-road is not a problem at all.


Zareef had so much fun that he was begging us to come again. Even I was enchanted by the place. To end the night, we had a seafood dinner there. Oh God! The food was delicious up to the point of me crying! Yes, I did shed a few tears and snort while eating the lip-smacking delicious chili crab. All the sea creatures were fresh fresh from the sea. We had ikan kerapu masak 3 rasa, sweet and sour siakap, chili crabs, kerang rebus, chili kepahs, grilled stingray, grilled huge prawns, sotong tepung and kailan ikan masin. Sorry, no pictures of the said food as my camera ran out of juice. I was definitely stuffed! All that I've mentioned costed B only RM 192 and was gobbled down by 6 very, hungry adults. Very good I say, both the price and the yummylicious food. Oh, it's Bagan Lalang Seaview Restaurant if any of you are interested. Don't go anywhere else because it ain't worth it (that'll be another post to share). You can't miss it because it's right smack at the corner on the right upon reaching Sepang Gold Coast.

We came back happy, full to the brim and sleepy. Zareef has already made plans for us to come again (which we did but again, that'll be in the next post). So people, do go to Sepang Gold Coast. It's clean, it's beautiful, you'll get to spend good quality time with your family, then end it with delicious food and get this, it's only an hour drive from Puchong. How cool is that to have a beach so near my place!

I'm In Love

With its vibrant colors, how can you not love a gorgeous bag like this????? Aduhhhhssss memang la aku dah sakit.

Fruit of My Labor

This came in today through courier.

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Huhuhu... I am so bouncing with happiness right now. It's so beautiful! Even better than the picture above. Not bad eh for a brief sojourn into the world of baking business. Alamak! Now I have to start saving again for the impending trip next month.

Sizzling with Bogo and Fern

My two good friends, Bogo and Fern hosted a BBQ at their parents' place last week. It was good to see them again. Bogo was surprisingly quite thin and lean. Maybe because he was left all alone to fend for himself in Baku, Azerbaijan.


Menu for the night was of course BBQed chicken and meat, mashed potatoes with gravy, crispy salad, fried rice and all kinds of cakes and crisps for munching while waiting for the chicken and meat to cook.

The gracious hostess with the mostess who had prepared delicious marinated chicken and meat. Fern has always been known to cook up a storm whenever we came over for a visit at their cool abode in Sutton. She is such a good and talented cook. Memang patut la Bogo kurus kering kat Baku sebab Fern tak ikut. Tak cukup makan.


The long-lost friends, Zareef and Luqman finally reunited. It didn't take them long to warm up to each other. Look, they're even eating together.

Ex-Boilers; me, Bogo and the famous DJ PhutureCybersonique a.k.a Iwan having a chat. I somehow missed Sal because we had to leave early to check into Novotel as B had to work there for the weekend.

While B was cooped up in the meeting room trying to finish his work, the kids and I had fun in the sun at the pool. We then had lunch and tea at nearby Pavilion (minus B of course) with me pushing Zara in the stroller and dragging Zareef into stores after stores, one floor after another.
We even went back the next day, much to Zareef's dismay and chagrin. Tapi tak boleh nak argue dengan Mummy la kan because I bribed him with lots of food and a dvd. Hehehheh... kena la ambik hati anak jugak kan.

What do I think of Pavilion? It's a cool mall. Too big perhaps but it was build to compete with 5th Avenue and Ginza. Boleh ke? My only complain was that the air-conditioning wasn't effective at all. We were feeling hot and bothered and Zareef was sweating like he had just finished playing ball. They should do something about the air-cond. Who wants to shop when they're all hot and sweaty anyway?

See You Later Auntie Zoow!

I had a makan session at my place recently especially for dear Zoow. Emi, Nong and Hazel came along as well. I made nasi lemak and the works, sambal udang petai, mayonnaise chicken, tiramisu and had lots of local fruits at hand to the likes of manggis, pink dragonfruit, durian and mandarin oranges.

I had such a lovely time eating and yakking away. We were, as usual, loud, boisterous and laughing like banshees at times. The only time that we were quiet when everyone was savoring the delicious organic durian from Janda Baik. It was so quiet for a moment that you can literally hear a pin drop.


Thanks Zoow, Emi, Nong and Hazel for coming over. I had fun feeding you guys. And Zoow, next time you know the secret weapon to winning Zara's heart kan. Arm yourself with a camera and she'll suck up to you in no time at all.


This was what was left of the tiramisu that I made. It was a hit with everyone even Hannah who is notoriously known for being a picky eater (so I was told by her mom). I'm relieved that it turned out well. I can't believe how easy it was to make. Ingredients can be pretty expensive what with the mascarpone cream and savoiardi fingers. Below is the recipe if any of you is interested in trying

TIRAMISU

4 large eggs separated
4 tbs caster sugar
1 tub mascarpone cream
3 tsp good coffee mix with 2 cups warm water
cocoa for dusting

Method:
1. Over a double boiler, beat egg yolks and 2 tbs of sugar till they become lemon-colored and light in texture (looks like custard).
2. Beat in mascarpone cream till well incorporated. Set aside.
3. Over a double boiler, whip egg whites with remaining 2 tbs of sugar till firm peaks are formed. This will take about 6-7 minutes. Good exercise for the arms.
4. Fold in egg whites mixture into mascarpone cream mixture.
5. Dip savoiardi fingers into coffee mixture lengthwise. Do this quickly or else the fingers will get soggy and break in your hands. Let at least half of the fingers get absorbed with the coffee.
6. Arrange coffee-fingers in a rectangular dish till completely covered.
7. Spoon half of mascarpone cream mixture on top of coffee-fingers.
8. Repeat process of layering coffee-fingers and then spooning cream mixture on top.
9. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
10. Dust some cocoa powder on the cream mixture prior to serving
11. Enjoy with loved ones.

A Purple Wedding

My brother-in-law (BIL) got married last Saturday hence the super busy me. My mother-in-law went nuts on everything purple and got everything in Barney's color but with a nicer hue. Luckily it (the color purple) happens to my favorite color as well so I didn't mind playing along at all.

My contribution towards my BIL's wedding was a purple (notice that I'm using this color a lot? Please bear with me ya) cupcake tier with 95 assorted chocolate moist cupcakes on it. Plus I took the liberty of putting myself in-charge of the newlywed's dining table (sounds like gila kuasa kan but in truth fact was nobody wanted to do it. My mom ended up helping me serve the bride's family because not a single of B's relative was in sight to help out except for his Mak Long).

Me being the perfectionist, made sure that everything went in order as planned (ke adhoc planning. Beats me). Lets just say, by the end of the evening, I was pooped out so much so that I had to send Zara home with my brother because she just couldn't bear the heat, people and environment. Kesian dia.

Here are some pictures from the wedding.


The hantaran cake that I made for my BIL. I'm still a beginner when it comes to playing with fondant. I had help with the flowers though. Bought it ready-made at Bake With Yen. I figured that it'll save time, energy and money rather than I go bonkers trying to twist, turn and roll the sugarpaste into flowers that I don't think will be pleasing to the eye.


The 5-tiered purple cupcake tower which I made myself. It took me 3 hours from start to finish to complete this cupcake tower. I ended sleeping at 3 am on the wedding day with blisters on my finger from handling the hot glue gun.



Pengantin lama hihihi... By the way, B is wearing his baju hantaran that I gave him 7 years ago. It still fits albeit a bit tight around the waist line. Come to think of it, I should have worn my baju hantaran as well.

With my dear Mom and two nephews, Hariz and Iwan.

Major Update

Please have a look at my baking blog which has gone through a major update. Enjoy!

Happy 2008!

2007 has passed in a blink of an eye. Yupp! That fast. One thing for sure, I've been slacking in updating this blog of mine like Zoow has loudly pointed out. My bad. Blame it on by rather erratic baking schedule, impromptu holidays, trying to be supermom, writer's block and laziness all rolled into one.

This year however, I've promised myself as well as Zoow, that I'll be blogging more. Yes, you heard me right. At least once a week. So Zoow, you can stop complaining ya and if I start slacking again, then, shoot me!

Lets see what I've achieved in the year 2007:

1. Started my baking business with a few hiccups along the way. But now, praise to Allah, my small home business has grown in leaps and bounds. My deepest gratitude to my fellow customers for your strong encouragement, kind praises and constructive criticism. I thank you with all my heart.

2. Became a homemaker 100%. I did try with a maid but it only lasted for 6 days. It wasn't me, it was her. She didn't want to look after Zara who was then only 5 months old. Upon hearing that, I sent her packing. In her case, it was beggars CAN afford to be choosers.

3. Made more friends. My new neighborhood is not so bad after all. My neighbors now know me as Nora who bakes. They've even requested for a baking class! Oh my! I am soooo not prepared to teach other people to bake or decorating even. But I am generous with my recipes and tips so just give me a holler if you need one ya.

4. Perfected my multi-tasking skill. Oh yes! Being a SAHM is seriously no joke. It sometimes drives me up the wall and it can sometimes turn pretty ugly (just ask Zareef, he can testify to that) but I try to take it all in a stride. What I usually do is to plan ahead. I would have three to four plans running around my small head, thinking aloud in my mind; I'll do this first then that and while I'm doing that I'll prepare for tomorrow's thing. My mind would be swirling with all these thoughts that sometimes, it is hard for me to go to sleep at night. I would still be lying awake on the bed with B snoring happily (yang tu pun kept me awake jugak) so much so that I have to get up and jot down my thoughts just to clear my ever shrinking head. How's that?


5. Patience is virtue. I'm slowly learning to be more patient. I keep on reminding myself that sabar itu separuh daripada iman. Patient with myself, with B, with Zareef, with Zara, on the road (I get annoyed easily with people who hog the fast lane when they are driving at 60 km/h). I try to control my temper, my annoyance, my pettiness and my penchant for all fine things.


I have too many aspirations for 2008 that if I were to list them down, would well cut into 3 pages buat the main ones are:

1. To be a better Muslim i.e. watch my prayers more carefully. I have the tendency to roll 2 prayers into 1 like praying a late Zuhur and an early Asar and Maghrib with Isyak. Very bad! So I'm trying not to do anymore.

2. Be more patient with B and the kids. No sulking and tarik muka masam when B has to come home late or work during the weekends and to stop being a momzilla to Zareef and Zara. Achievable? I truly hope so.

3. Stand by my man and support him 200%. Who says being a lecturer is just about teaching students? Hell no! On top of his lecturing job, B has to play his role as an HOD and attend (useless) meetings all day long, look after students enrolled in his department, do research, do networking, answer to higher authorities, attend seminars and conferences and take care of his fellow lecturers' welfare. Sometimes, it gets so bad that he leaves before the sun is up (and so do we) and comes back when we've slept. So yes, I'm trying very hard not to grumble, complain or moan on his workload.

4. Do charity. I've always wanted to do more charitable things but having a baby, moving to a new house and 1001 other things have prevented me from doing so. Now that Zara is 14 months old and can be carted away to my parents or the daycare, I plan to donate my time to an orphanage home near my house. I want to help them with their school work, give away my books to them and donate Zareef's bountiful toys.

5. Concentrate on my small but thriving baking business. Might try to come up with some baking modules due to several requests of a baking class. Alamak! Boleh ke ni?

So there. My aspirations for 2008. I pray that Allah will help me to achieve some if not all. Aminnnn