Training in Penang

We're in Penang for a training session. Gua le yg jadi cikgunya. Hubby also doing the training but for different product. Since both of us are in Penang, we decided to bring the kids also. Dania and Dina luuurrrvvee the fact that we'll be staying in a HOTEL!! Yes, to those two, hotel = paradise. Mostly because there's a swimming pool. And a king-sized bed.

We'll be staying in Penang until Saturday, taking an extra day to bring the kids jalan2. The bummer is, it's always raining here. Hmmm, what to do, monsoon season.

The good thing about the rain is, my teambuilding session supposed to take place this Sunday-Tuesday has been cancelled!! Yeah!! Oklah, postponed. Whatever.

But my sympathy still goes out to those trapped in the floods. Dudes, don't play around in the flood! Malehlah aku dok baca berita orang mati lemas ni....

Good Luck and Farewell

Today Selangor had a holiday, Sultan's birthday. I took the opportunity to see an old friend who will be leaving KL to go back to her hometown in Kedah. Brought the kids along to play with her girls.

We stayed for lunch (I bought KFC) and the girls played painting (1st time for Dania and Dina so it was an exciting occasion) and cooking and hola hoops. Games that girls play when they're together.

I'll miss my friend but I know she's doing the best for her girls. It's amazing for me to see her so strong after losing her hubby so suddenly a few months back. I guess when you have kids, you have no choice but to be strong.

We never really talked about the incident or how she was going to continue living without the support and love of her hubby. Some things, you just have to take one day at a time.

So I'll pray for her. I'll pray for her kids. I'll pray for Allah to take care of them and to give them strength and happiness in their new life.

I was really sad to leave her house today but I hope this won't be the last time I see her. Kedah isn't that far from KL and there's always the INTERNET to help us stay in touch.

So Z, stay strong. I'll miss you and your insane chatter. Here's to seeing you and your family again real soon.

Maya Angelou's Poem

This poem goes out to all the gals who rock this world...so that we all know what we should absolutely have.

"MAYA ANGELOU'S" BEST POEM EVER

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..

whom she can trust,whom she can't,and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...be it to her best friend's kitchen table... or a charming inn in the woods...when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year...

New School for Dania

Hubby is back!! Yeah!! Kurus sket, I guess the freezing weather and the non-eating much took a bit of a toll. But still chubby...hehehehe...still my teddy bear.

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Yesterday, we registered Dania at her new school, Tabika Perpaduan. A bit sad that we won't be sending her to Smart Reader anymore but I think this new school would also be good for her. Plus I plan to send her also to the Kafa school at our area. If she went to Smart Reader, my worry is that she might not be able to take an afternoon nap before going for her Kafa school.

Yesterday, we also took the girls swimming at ayah's club. Dina had a blast but Dania wasn't so happy as there were'nt any kids that wanted to play with her. So I promised that the next time we go swimming, I'll swim with her. Heeee, must buy proper swimming suit. Cannot wear T-shirtlah at the club.

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I have pictures and videos of Dania, taken during her Smart Reader concert. I'll upload them soon. Till then, take care everyone.

Pizza and Bikes

Yesterday I sent an sms to hubby (yeah, simcard no longer kaput!!). Asked whether he had eaten and told him how much we all missed him (serious, susah nak tido takde cik abg teddybear kat sebelah).

2 minutes later, I received a reply from him.

"Makan sandwich je lunch tadi. nasib baik ada tuna. mlm tadi nasib baik jumpa pizza. mcd/burger king dia xda fish. makan pizza kena rm50. air kosong je tu. miss u 2."

Alahai, sib baik aku tak ikut, if not my face also will be like pizza when coming back. Like I said, Denmark is expensive.

Just 2 more days until DH comes home. Alahai, rindunya....

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Yesterday I took the kids to the playground. It's been a while since we've been there because either the weather wasn't permitting us to go or I arrived home too late. So yesterday, when the kids asked me to take them to the playground, I said yes. Dania had just recently mastered riding her two-wheeler so the kids decided to ride their bikes to the playground. Which was great, except on the way back, Dina got tired. Of course, that meant I had to push her and her bike all the way home. Grrr...

Coz the "China Doll" look is so 80's

Like all moms, I think my kids rule. My kids are the cutest. My kids are the smartest. It's not a matter of being kiasu, it's just unconditional motherly love.

I'm not saying your kids aren't good looking; I'm sure they're perfect. But when my kids smile, boy, can they melt your heartstrings.

But now, I've found a product that can make them even cuter!! Is that possible? How, you ask?

By decking them out in Baby Toupees!!!

Check them out.

I think Dania would look good in a "Rachel" toupee; for Dina, I'm thinking Tyra Banks!! America's Next Top Model, ya 'all!

* taken from http://gigglesugar.com (thanks to Moby for the link!)

I am a "ugifte forældre" this week

I'm a single parent this week. Last night hubby took off to Denmark for a conference, in other words getting a free vacation on company's money while picking pamphlets from the various booth operators, you know, just to show that he actually DID attend the damn event.

Why didn't I follow? For one thing, Dania still has school. That's right, everyone else is enjoying their school holidays and my little girl still has school to attend too. Until the 15th of December!! Freaking kiasu Smart Reader!!

Not that I couldn't ask my M-I-L to come and babysit the kids but after checking out the weather info, I decided to axe my plans of hitchhiking with hubby across Europe. Reason - it's freaking -2 degrees over there right now!! Holy stiff nipples, batman!! Most likely, my plans to go trotting and shopping through the street of Copenhagen would be replaced by watching HBO or the Adult Channel in the hotel room.

Plus also, everything is damn expensive in Denmark (according to Tripadvisor.com). Dinner (without drinks) could cut you back by USD40-50. Hubby bought packets of instant mee and instant soup with him. I told him, just grab a basket of danish bread during breakfast and let that be your lunch and dinner too. Hehehee...

Finding Denmark money (kroner) was no easy feat. A lot of the money exchange booths we went to didn't even carry the currency. We found one in MV but they had limited supply, so in the end hubby exchanged money for some Euro bills.

I hope hubby can smuggle in some of those Danish buns back home. Hmmmm....buns.

Human Tetris

One thing I love about the Japanese apart from their high spirit of dedication, is their sense of humour. I remember when we were growing up, me and my brothers would always look forward to watching "Istana Takeshi", which was basically a really stupid yet highly hilarious game show.

My brother gave me a link to another Japanese game show and I must say I laughed until tears came to my eyes. I think also...yeah...little pee came out too. Hahahahaha...

It's called "The Human Tetris".

Seriously, how do the Japanese come up with these game show concepts?

Enjoy!!!


ps: You can watch more clips on YouTube. Just search for "Human Tetris". :D

A Birthday Note to Dina Yasmin - 3 Years Old

My dearest Dina,


First of all, let ibu apologize for the delay in getting your Birthday Note up. You may not understand it now but for the past month, ibu was in a very sad place and just couldn't find the strength to write any happy notes as I should.


I don't know how much of the situation do you understand but you do know that ibu no longer has a baby in her tummy. Eventhough you may not comprehend what that means entirely, you do understand the fact that I get sad sometimes and that I need comforting. Something that you have been very good at these past weeks, with all your kisses and your hugs.


Your birthday celebration was small and simple; just you, your sister, abah and ibu. I bought your cake from Auntie Noresh who did such a great job decorating the cake with your favorite cartoon character, Spongebob. Your sister was more impressed with the cake than you were but you did give me a fierce hug and a whispered thank you.




What should I write about you turning 3? Maybe the fact that you've grown much taller and even filled out in the tummy area. Maybe the fact that eventhough you've left the Terrible Two territory, you've entered the Terrifying Three zone, which is much worst because now I can actually understand all the scolding that you give me for not making your juice the exact way you like it, or for making you share stuff with your sister. Yeah, this not-sharing thing, has got to stop because God help me, if I have to listen to one more yell of ibu, adik rampas my color pencil!!, then somebody is going to sleep outside with the stray cat that won't go away.
Maybe I should write about how Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne is your favorite song or that you now know how to draw balloons and suns. Maybe the fact that you're left-handed should also be mentioned here because not only do you write with your left hand, you eat, drink, throw and hit with your left hand too. Sometimes I think you became a lefty just so you could be MORE different than everyone else because if there is one word that can summarize you is DIFFERENT.


My dearest Tigger,

But you being different is exactly why I love you so much. I love the way talk, eventhough you're still pelat, it gives me the sense that you're still my little baby because in every other way, you're just so in dependant now. I love it when you lie down next to me and we play the name-that-body-part game. I love the way you laugh when we get to "armpit" or "thumbs" because for some reason you think thumbs are hilarious. Just another example of how you never fail to amaze me every single day.

I want to thank you, for all the unconditional love you've given me. For all the smiles, laughter, hugs and kisses. For being different because life would be so much less interesting if you weren't.

Words just can't express how much I love you, Dina Yasmin. But I thank Allah for each and every day I have to show you.

Happy third birthday, my Beautiful.

Love, ibu.

An Update

Sorry for the long silence. It's been....tough. There have been many happy moments since my last update but everytime I sat down to write a new post, the unhappy feelings came flooding back.

I have lots to update the Internet about. Dina's birthday note (it's been pending for more than a month!! Unacceptable!!), our Raya pictures, our trip to the Melaka Zoo (hubby and I are such amateurs).

I'll write about these experiences soon, I promise.

Till, then, take care everybody.