Holidays & Cupcakes

It was a really tiring public holidays which were in a row recently. It was not any trip or journey we had during the holidays but the trip to the oven in our own kitchen. To add more, me and my husband were back and forth delivering the cupcakes order within Klang Valley during last christmas holidays. A day before christmas eve we already baked few hundreds cuppies for orders lining up on christmas eve and on christmas holiday itself. The orders for christmas eve came from TRHY's office. On christmas day, there were orders for Nurul and Ojie. Both were colleagues from former work place.(Thank guys for the support!)

Nurul's:

Luckily for us this 'hantaran' artist only wanted minimum order(25pieces) for herself. Usually Nurul ordered our cupcakes for her hantaran items.(will upload the hantaran cuppies la'er).

Ojie's:

She ordered few hundreds cuppies for majlis akikah and also for her birthday which falls on christmas day.(Happy Bday pal!) The majlis akikah was meant for her newborn, baby Azra Zafira. Here were few captions of the cuppies.

Packaging for Ojie's

Assorted cuppies

Close-ups on the designs

And managed to capture Ojie with Baby Azra. Sorry Jie, the quality wasn't good as the baby was in her baby swing and I was hurrying; rushing back to prepare for my cousin's daughter birthday party that after noon.

Hurried back home then to decorate for Arissa's birthday cake; my cousin's daughter. I baked the cake the night before but kept aside for the icing deco as I wanna concentrate on the main orders. Actually it was my husband birthday too as both share the same birth date. So I need to decorate two choc cakes.

Back from the party, la'er in the evening we baked another cupcakes. This order need to be delivered the next day and from Lily, another TRHY's officemate. Lily wanted a custom-made cuppies for her father's birthday. Her father is an adventurous type, likes golfing, surfing, and trekking. When it comes to any custom-made design, it is always be my husband who will get his hand at work. Usually the cartoon character on our cupcakes is his signature.

So now, do you agree we had a tiring holiday? Anyway we had a good stress therapy by looking at the colorful assorted cuppies we made!

Reached Half-Decade Mark!

Praise be to GOD!

Half-a-decade! That's something. Yup, it's our anniversary!

On last 29th November marked our fifth anniversary. I am truly grateful with this marriage. Blessed with one three-year old girl, we learn more of our roles and responsibilities. Everyday is special with a lot of things to explore and experience. Off course we experience our ups and downs along the trails.

It's totally a different life phases between my single life and my marriage life. Before, I would always stayed back in the office, and only came back around 9pm. With my housemates, we always watched mid-nite movies at a nearby 'cheap' cinema or watched any dvds until wee morning; and woke up late on the weekends. Came public holiday, I always rushed back to my hometown to be with my parents.

But now as a wife and mother, everyday I would try to finish my work on time and rush home. I become more organized, focus and occupy with my tasks. I would say it's a pretty balance life. During my early marriage, we still had the mid-nite movies but with our girl now, it's kinda hard to leave her behind(for someone to babysit),even to attend a dinner function. If it's really a wedding reception of a very good friend, then we might opt that only one of us could attend the function. Other than that, we might rsvp nicely not to attend and choose to stay home instead.

Holidays means three of us going together. No such thing as leaving my girl at my in-laws or my parents to babysit while we were away. True, a couple must always find a time being together, being a way for the two of them without any kids trail behind. Maybe when my girl grow up and choose not to follow us, then only it's time for us to have holiday as a couple again. But for now, it's really heartwrenching not to bring her along.

But all in all, I'm grateful to GOD to have a good husband, indeed a very understanding soulmate for our journey together! Love you dear!

Episode/s

My 'episode' in one of local financial institutions lasted last week.  It had been a very wonderful memorable phases of my life working there; being surrounded by good friends, but a very stagnant growth in career path.  I know that I need to move, but keep on postponing because of a very comfortable niche until a headhunter called and insisted to forward the cv to him. Knowing me, (still procrastinate); being too lazy to update my cv.  For me it was like filling up the KPI which highlighted the utmost responsibilities but in the end, though you are high achiever and exceed the targetted performance, you'll still be considered on target (or on average).  It's always the ones who does less and 'taichi' his job to others get the exceeded performance which is soooo unfair!

Anyway, I did update the cv.

Surprisingly, I had been called for interview. Maybe it was just my lucky star.  Went thru first interview, and I did not really hope being shortlisted.  For me, I just wanted to check what my 'marked-to-market' is. It had been quite sometimes after the interview when they invited me for next interview.  This time, it was a teleconference interview with overseas interviewers.  Still, I did not put too much hope on it but did study and brushed off a little bit on technical aspects .  I did not mind not  offered the job but I do mind if I look 'stupid' during interview session.

Two days after the interview,  the company called and offered me the job.  It was then that I realised I need to bite that dust since opportunity may knock once on my door. And I am quite worry working in the comfort zone would hinder me from a good career path outside the shell.

Now, here I am in a foreign bank in Malaysia, just started last Monday.  Hope this new 'episode/s' would grant me better opportunities and satisfaction for my career path. 

 

I'M BACK!

"I am back!" - (Courtesy of Arnold Schwarzenegger - Terminator)

It had been such a long time after my last post here.  All because I have problem with posting image in the blog since May 2008.  What a blog without a picture right?  Really frustrated, since then I had not updated this blog.

But today, when I unintentionally check  my blog, voilla! The image attachment icon is there! Yippie! So, pals, just wait for my next entry ya...D:)

Brb!

Happy Mother's Day!

Ayah: Happy
Jasmine: Eppy
Ayah: Mother's
Jasmine: Maders
Ayah: Day, Mama
Jasmine: Day....mama....
Ayah: Happy Mother's Day, Mama!
Jasmine: Eppy Maders Day Mama!(Chuckled)
Jasmine: I Luv U!

That were the most beautiful things ever happened to me on last mother's day. Hubby teached Jasmine to wish me and she utterred word by word with full enthusiasm. On the special day, I just wanted to had ice-cream with my family! And it turned out my sweet,lovely Jasmine had her biggest share on our ice-cream.

Anyway, Happy Mother's Day to all mother out there, especially to my MUM and MIL!

Boza's blog...

Last few days I accidentally found my long time friend, thru blogging! Who says blogging is wasting time? Not at all for me!

My friend, Boza, which we used to called her during MRSM years, really had very cool blogs. She blogs about her life as a stay-at-home mum with three cute girls and a baby girl, her family going places, and the coolest blog is 'jabishahinthekitchen' which I feel in love constantly with.:D Not only me, my office mate, Leen also give credit to her 'kitchen' blog. As Leen favorite channel is AFC, she found out Boza's blog is her TV's escapade for a while.

Yes, Boza,(if u r reading this), you really deserve the best credit rating from all food craving bloggers like me. I realised, sometimes now at work, I would slip for a while and check your blog. And not to forget, you really have the cute assistants who tag along with their mummy in the kitchen. Really can't imagine how you could cope and manage being a stay-at-home mum. A salute to you my dear friend!

Mummy's Brain

Lately, I found out I always misplaced my belonging like keys, wallets,watches, and other trivial stuff. And to make matter worse, I could not recall where I placed those things. I also forget things easily. Just last week before going out, I asked Jasmine to take shower but I was supposedly instruct her to wear her shoes. Last month,I forgot to bring my girl's disposable diapers for few days in a row!

For my surprised, I could not recall things as I usually could. Usually my husband would ask my assistance in recalling things that he forgotten, and he always take advantage on me as his 'memory box'. For example, he always 'used' me to recall things especially people names whenever we bump into during function i.e wedding reception, movies, mall and even at pasar malam or pasar tani. I am far more organised than him. Sometimes I could help him to recall and lead back his mind to where he put the keys, handphones,wallets. And I am so proud of being able to recall on almost anythings! Sometimes I made fun of him for unable in recalling things(only small stuff, important things like Jasmine's appointment and his work stuff he always remember). But now, he cannot count on me anymore! What a relief!

No! Actually it's sad for gradually loosing this bit of GOD's gift to me. Not many people could recall things effectively. Some may only recognise people faces but forgot the names, but I could recall both.

To my relief, I found out that these happen to all the mothers like myself. It's about motherhood. So, all mums out there, please bare with these symptoms as this is only temporary. Expert says the life of a new mother. Some experience it right after giving birth, but some like me, experience it a bit later. And expert also says this happens when mum is too handful with managing household, child, and the career at one time. Maybe it's true. And I really hope this forgetfulness might vanish for once!

Travelog,Bali (Nov 13,2007)

Nov 13,2007 - Tour Day II

The first part of the day, we mingled in Kuta. The first thing caught our eyes was DVD store. We managed to have loads of DVD's pirates copies .Hehe....Per copy was around RM2! and it drove us really crazy! Among our catch were new movies, tv series and not to forget your own copies which you yourself handpicked them.

After that, we stopped at the beach. We observed that many 'mat saleh' were carrying their surf boards to the open beach. Kuta beach is well known for sea-surfing, maybe because of the good tides. Well, I really don't know why. Even the glaring sun never hinders these 'mat saleh' from surfing.

Kuta Beach

We took some pictures at the beach before wandering about the shops and outlet nearby. Fast food restaurants like Pizza Hut, McDonalds was situated within walking distance from the hotels there. It was very convenient. We bought HRC t-shirts,Crocs, printed Bali's t-shirts, and few souvenirs. This time, Ayah managed to have his sandal size at Crocs outlet.

Done lingering around Kuta beach area, the driver drove us to Super Nova(it was like Mydin store) as Ayah wanted to buy few Indonesian songs. For original DVD, it was only RM15 per copy. Ayah then happily bought Dewa, Nidji, Radja and few others (which I don't really know the band and singers). You were so cranky and after had your milk, you dozed off in the car. While in the car waiting for Ayah, a mean beggar knocked the window. She was still young, age around 10 I guess, and she was with her kid sister. Pitied her but we had been warned not to entertain the street beggars as it will attract few others running begging after us. After few times knocking the window and failed to distract my attention, they left.

From Super Nova, the driver drove us to the famous mall, Galleria Mall. It was next to Planet Hollywood. The mall has two entrance, one is DFS(Duty Free Shop) and the other is local shopping mall. We didn't buy anything from DFS. All items were tagged with USD priced, and were very very expensive! The other entrance of the mall placed the leather outlets, boutiques, electrical goods, cafe and restaurants. The cafe and restaurants were at the mezzanine floor. We found the famous donuts, JCo, there too! and few minang restaurants. Surprisingly, it was a surau situated at the corner of the parking lot.

Around 2pm, we left for Tanah Lot. It took us one and half hour to reached there. Tanah Lot was famous for its coastal temple. Perched on a rocky outcrop at the sea's edge, the temple's only accessible to the Hindus. It was a tourist attractions for its sunset scenic view but we did not stay until sunset as we wanted to catch the Uluwatu sunset instead. The temple silhoutted against the setting sun. At the foot of the rock, is the spring of holy water. The driver told us that the holy water tastes like tap water though it is at the coastal verge. We didn't join with other hordes of tourist to taste the water as we needed to queue up. After all, we needed to rush to Uluwatu which was at the south tip of Bali; and it was another two-hour drive from Tanah Lot.

Tanah Lot Temple

Uluwatu offers natural environment, beautiful beaches and great ocean view from the hill. Uluwatu Temple,the sacred temple, situated on high cliffs and is inundated with monkeys. These monkeys, considered 'sacred' and highly honoured by residents roamed freely around the compound. Being vey used with human, totally unshyly got the habit of snatching water bottle, hat or anything that is not tied down. Some tourists would gladly offered food like snacks in order to distract the monkeys. There was a scene when an assaulted tourist screamed after her hat been snatched by a monkey.

In Uluwatu, we watched 'kecak dance and firedance' in the temple complex. We paid 50,000Rupiah for entrance. Kecak dance is the most unique Balinese dance as it is not accompanied by gamelan but by the choir of the seventy men. The name derived from the ranting 'cak,cak,kecak,kecak' throughout the one hour performance. The sunset view was very magnificient. The cliffs are 50 meters high, I guess, and the water below is brilliant blue! After that, we had a sea-food dinner by the beach at Jimbaran.

Sunset at Uluwatu

At the beach, you were busy 'sand bathing'! You played, poured and showered the sand! And did not even bother to eat which gave me and Ayah good times savouring the tasty seafood. It was first ever candle light dinner for me and Ayah by the beach, under the moon light! We really enjoyed the food though we could not finish all.

With full stomach, we left Jimbaran and headed to Kuta. Again! But this time we headed for Aromatherapy Massage for whole body massaging. The staff voluntered to babysit you, but your loud wailed made me stop after half-way massaging. Ayah completed the session without any interruption. I continued the session later after taking you to sleep. The session ended around midnight and we left to our hotel after that.

That night we really had a good sleep. We checked out the next morning and after had breakfast, we left to Ngurah Rai airport. All in all, our holiday was an enjoyable one with lots of pictures taken for our memories!