My dear hubby left for another long biz trip early this morning and somehow today I feel so ‘empty’ and lonely (please take note that this is NOT statement beli jiwa taww). The house suddenly feels so quiet and lifeless even when all the kids are around. I miss him terribly and it’s not even 24 hours yet! Why lah? Is it weather? Yes, let’s blame it on the cold and gloomy weather...ngeeee.
I’m counting down to so many things as we speak – PMR results will be announced in exactly 4 days *dup dap dup dap*, Nana’s first day in Primary1 in about 3 weeks time *double dup dap dup dap* and moi going back to work a week after that *gulp*. I still can’t believe that I’m going back to WORK soon (somebody pinch me please!).
I have to admit that though I feel sad that I will have significantly less time to spend with my kiddos – Brilliant Big D who will be sitting for his possibly life-changing exams in 2 years time, smarty-pants Kyle who is going through a clueless phase, my closeted smart girl Nana, and especially my Terrible Two who is in the ‘I-don’t-wanna-put-on-my-diaper-but-don’t-wanna-pee-in-the-toilet’ phase – I actually look forward to working again. My heart is actually bursting with excitement. Weird huh? I honestly hope that this doesn’t make me a bad mom.
I recently told someone close to me that when life gives you lemon, you make lemonades. Make the best of what you have instead of complaining about it. I say, my lemonade is in progress and I hope it’ll be a sweet one.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
I'm 38!
The clock just ticked 15 minutes past 1am. It’s my 38th birthday today and here I am in front of my notebook, blogging in the wee hours. Everyone else in the house is sound asleep. Birthday wishes have started coming on my FB wall. I feel so loved already...hihihi.
I just finished watching The Social Network at the cinema on the eve of my 38th birthday with my husband. What a way to kick start a new beginning to a 38-year-old me. Love the movie! I have one question though – are those guys at Harvard really THAT smart? I was dumbfounded to see how Mark created a program in a jiff, hacked systems spontaneously, used algorithm to map out programming language (or something like that. I’m not that smart okay.), etc. This guy is a damn smart fella I tell ya. What did his mother feed him when he was a baby???
Owh, just to digress a little bit, studies have shown that babies born to smart MOTHERS are smart. Men are advised to find themselves smart wives if they wish to have smarter children. See the direct correlation? If your children are smart, it's YOU, not your hubby okay. Take all the credits to yourselves, we have scientific evidents to prove it!
Anyway, back to moi turning 38 (38 is a good number don't you think?). I wish for a better life in the years to come. One that would bring more happiness, tranquility, peace, prosperity, wisdom, good health and a blessed life from the Almighty. I have a lot to be thankful for in the last 38 years of my life and I am counting my blessings every day. Thank you Allah.
People say wisdom comes with age. I say, I sure hope it’s true, otherwise growing old doesn't come with a perk.
I just finished watching The Social Network at the cinema on the eve of my 38th birthday with my husband. What a way to kick start a new beginning to a 38-year-old me. Love the movie! I have one question though – are those guys at Harvard really THAT smart? I was dumbfounded to see how Mark created a program in a jiff, hacked systems spontaneously, used algorithm to map out programming language (or something like that. I’m not that smart okay.), etc. This guy is a damn smart fella I tell ya. What did his mother feed him when he was a baby???
Owh, just to digress a little bit, studies have shown that babies born to smart MOTHERS are smart. Men are advised to find themselves smart wives if they wish to have smarter children. See the direct correlation? If your children are smart, it's YOU, not your hubby okay. Take all the credits to yourselves, we have scientific evidents to prove it!
Anyway, back to moi turning 38 (38 is a good number don't you think?). I wish for a better life in the years to come. One that would bring more happiness, tranquility, peace, prosperity, wisdom, good health and a blessed life from the Almighty. I have a lot to be thankful for in the last 38 years of my life and I am counting my blessings every day. Thank you Allah.
People say wisdom comes with age. I say, I sure hope it’s true, otherwise growing old doesn't come with a perk.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Kyle Harris is 10!
Last weekend we celebrated Kyle’s 10th birthday. I do not wish lie by saying that I didn’t feel guilty with the ‘no birthday present’ punishment. I did, really bad. Nonetheless, being a strict mom that I am, I must stick to my decision. But I told him that if he could bring home very good result in the first semester exams, I’d make it up to him. He’ll get that expensive toy he’s been eyeing for. I'm not that evil after all kan.
We celebrated his birthday a day earlier on Saturday as we had a family commitment that we can’t get out of (a kenduri that we MUST attend on my hubby’s side) on his birthday. As usual, he picked Chilli’s (again and again). And after the kenduri on Sunday, we had another celebration at home. I baked a cake for him (my first ever homemade birthday cake y'all!). He loves vanilla and chocolate cake. Hence, moi being a very resourceful mom gittew (LOL!), baked a vanilla caked with chocolate frosting, smart eh? Bought some pizzas and voila we had a small party at home.
My homemade birthday cake...
The birthday boy and his cake
Kyle Harris, at 10 years old, is heavier than me by a good 10kg. I bet in a few months time, he’ll be taller than me too. He used to be able to fit into my t-shirts. Now, they are too small for him. His front teeth are no longer too big for him. They were when he was 9. His dimples have started to disappear because he has grown so chubby over the years. He hates local food. His favourite food is Italian, anything Italian, but mac and cheese in particular (opps, this is American right?). He loves guns, weaponry, cars and everything related to army and weapons of mass destruction. Loves sciences documentaries, Chuck Norris and iCarly (iCarly comes as a shock to me. Such a sharp contrast from all his other favorites). He wants to be an engineer, one that involves weaponry. Seldom missed his prayers and often the one who’d remind his brother to pray. But most importantly, he doesn't realize how smart he is yet.
Happy 10th birthday Kyle Harris! May you grow up menjadi anak yang soleh, berjaya di dunia dan akhirat, dan kepada agama, bangsa dan negara, insyaAllah. I love you with all my hearts son.
We celebrated his birthday a day earlier on Saturday as we had a family commitment that we can’t get out of (a kenduri that we MUST attend on my hubby’s side) on his birthday. As usual, he picked Chilli’s (again and again). And after the kenduri on Sunday, we had another celebration at home. I baked a cake for him (my first ever homemade birthday cake y'all!). He loves vanilla and chocolate cake. Hence, moi being a very resourceful mom gittew (LOL!), baked a vanilla caked with chocolate frosting, smart eh? Bought some pizzas and voila we had a small party at home.
My homemade birthday cake...
The birthday boy and his cake
Kyle Harris, at 10 years old, is heavier than me by a good 10kg. I bet in a few months time, he’ll be taller than me too. He used to be able to fit into my t-shirts. Now, they are too small for him. His front teeth are no longer too big for him. They were when he was 9. His dimples have started to disappear because he has grown so chubby over the years. He hates local food. His favourite food is Italian, anything Italian, but mac and cheese in particular (opps, this is American right?). He loves guns, weaponry, cars and everything related to army and weapons of mass destruction. Loves sciences documentaries, Chuck Norris and iCarly (iCarly comes as a shock to me. Such a sharp contrast from all his other favorites). He wants to be an engineer, one that involves weaponry. Seldom missed his prayers and often the one who’d remind his brother to pray. But most importantly, he doesn't realize how smart he is yet.
Happy 10th birthday Kyle Harris! May you grow up menjadi anak yang soleh, berjaya di dunia dan akhirat, dan kepada agama, bangsa dan negara, insyaAllah. I love you with all my hearts son.
The end of an era, the beginning of another
A few years ago I kept telling myself that I needed a well deserved break...a loooong one that is. And Moi, being a determined woman that I was, followed my heart and went for it. The timing was just perfect, I was expecting my fourth child, Nana was starting kindergarten and we just moved to a bigger place in a very nice neighborhood.
Now, 2.5 years later, I am beginning to feel that I have enough, in fact too much, break. So much so that it makes me feel rather useless, worthless, unproductive (dan yang sewaktu dengannya) because I could actually contribute significantly to the household income with my talents (this is me trying to make me feel useful and important again *grin*). I seriously feel that I am wasting my knowledge and over time it’s beginning to rust, slowly but surely. I do not just want to confine my talents to just writing brochures and press releases for the rest of my life. Not to mention the low self-esteem moments that would come and go whenever I see fellow friends are moving forward and upward career-wise. I want to feel important again!
I still remember how it feels at the end of every month when my hard earned money was wired into my bank account. It felt superb. It felt like I have done something significant for myself. It felt like I was alive. It felt I was doing my part building the nation (alamak too much pulak ahkak ni kan). Spending our own hard earned money also felt equally superb, doesn't it? Guess what, I miss that feeling. As silly as I may sound, I feel that I must go back to work to feel alive again while my brain is still intact (and still in good working condition too).
And the timing is just perfect, Daniel has sat for his PMR, Nana is going to Primary 1, Sophie is no longer depending on me for nutrition as I had successfully weaned her off breastfeeding (yeay!) plus a system has already been put in place at home. My maid could work on ‘auto pilot’ mode when I am not around. She’s efficient enough to handle things at home on her own (she’s a godsend I tell ya!). In fact, she's better at managing the household chores than moi...hahaha. I totally suck at it!
Hence, on Thursday last week I made the biggest move of the century by calling my previous employer to let them know that I have decided to go back to work in early 2011. Sure enough, my ex-boss called me almost instantly after she was informed of my decision. A job was offered to me and Alhamdulillah it comes with a much better salary package *smiling away*. It was that easy, all it takes was a phone call and a job was offered at once. I couldn't believe it was that easy!
But, truth be told, I kinda expected it to be that easy. She’s been asking me to come back to work for her for ages and I knew that her offer is always open. What can I say, she is my biggest fan ever gittew...ngeh ngeh ngeh (perasan la pulak ahkak ni kan. Kasi chan boleh?).
InsyaAllah, if I didn’t change my mind at the last minute and if everything goes as planned, I’ll be closing another chapter in my life as a freelance writer (and also a tai-tai wannabe who failed miserably, LOL!) and starting a new one as a Corporate Communications Manager. I shall report for duty on 10/1/2011.
I say when you tried very hard to be something that you are not cut out for; at one point you should just stop trying. Perhaps it's just not meant to be. Bye bye tai-taihood, hello corporate world!
Now, 2.5 years later, I am beginning to feel that I have enough, in fact too much, break. So much so that it makes me feel rather useless, worthless, unproductive (dan yang sewaktu dengannya) because I could actually contribute significantly to the household income with my talents (this is me trying to make me feel useful and important again *grin*). I seriously feel that I am wasting my knowledge and over time it’s beginning to rust, slowly but surely. I do not just want to confine my talents to just writing brochures and press releases for the rest of my life. Not to mention the low self-esteem moments that would come and go whenever I see fellow friends are moving forward and upward career-wise. I want to feel important again!
I still remember how it feels at the end of every month when my hard earned money was wired into my bank account. It felt superb. It felt like I have done something significant for myself. It felt like I was alive. It felt I was doing my part building the nation (alamak too much pulak ahkak ni kan). Spending our own hard earned money also felt equally superb, doesn't it? Guess what, I miss that feeling. As silly as I may sound, I feel that I must go back to work to feel alive again while my brain is still intact (and still in good working condition too).
And the timing is just perfect, Daniel has sat for his PMR, Nana is going to Primary 1, Sophie is no longer depending on me for nutrition as I had successfully weaned her off breastfeeding (yeay!) plus a system has already been put in place at home. My maid could work on ‘auto pilot’ mode when I am not around. She’s efficient enough to handle things at home on her own (she’s a godsend I tell ya!). In fact, she's better at managing the household chores than moi...hahaha. I totally suck at it!
Hence, on Thursday last week I made the biggest move of the century by calling my previous employer to let them know that I have decided to go back to work in early 2011. Sure enough, my ex-boss called me almost instantly after she was informed of my decision. A job was offered to me and Alhamdulillah it comes with a much better salary package *smiling away*. It was that easy, all it takes was a phone call and a job was offered at once. I couldn't believe it was that easy!
But, truth be told, I kinda expected it to be that easy. She’s been asking me to come back to work for her for ages and I knew that her offer is always open. What can I say, she is my biggest fan ever gittew...ngeh ngeh ngeh (perasan la pulak ahkak ni kan. Kasi chan boleh?).
InsyaAllah, if I didn’t change my mind at the last minute and if everything goes as planned, I’ll be closing another chapter in my life as a freelance writer (and also a tai-tai wannabe who failed miserably, LOL!) and starting a new one as a Corporate Communications Manager. I shall report for duty on 10/1/2011.
I say when you tried very hard to be something that you are not cut out for; at one point you should just stop trying. Perhaps it's just not meant to be. Bye bye tai-taihood, hello corporate world!
Friday, December 3, 2010
A new height
Things didn’t go as I planned this week, but thankfully it turned out for the better. Completed a new job, and for the first time in my short career as a freelance writer, I charged the customer RM200/page of copywriting. And mind you it’s 12-font size with double spacing okay! I know...I can’t believe it either! I’m darn proud of myself. Syukur Alhamdulillah.
This has undoubtedly taken me into a new height (tolong beri laluan untuk ahkak nak syok sendiri kejap okay). Next year, I’m planning to register a company (an Enterprise), get myself a fax machine and start selling Glokalmama Communications. I was once told that one could earn up to RM15K a month as a translator (for real?). If so, I wanna quickly get myself certified as one also ler. Hopefully by early next year I could get all of these done. RM15K/month is a lot of moolah u’ols.
Since I am in such a good mood today (although I still have one outstanding job to complete), I’m baking an orange chocolate cake later...lalalalala.
I say never underestimate your own talents and capabilities. I’ve been selling myself short all these while, it’s time for me to start demanding what I’m worth...because I’m worth it (ehehehehe boleh ka gittew?). Happy weekend everyone.
This has undoubtedly taken me into a new height (tolong beri laluan untuk ahkak nak syok sendiri kejap okay). Next year, I’m planning to register a company (an Enterprise), get myself a fax machine and start selling Glokalmama Communications. I was once told that one could earn up to RM15K a month as a translator (for real?). If so, I wanna quickly get myself certified as one also ler. Hopefully by early next year I could get all of these done. RM15K/month is a lot of moolah u’ols.
Since I am in such a good mood today (although I still have one outstanding job to complete), I’m baking an orange chocolate cake later...lalalalala.
I say never underestimate your own talents and capabilities. I’ve been selling myself short all these while, it’s time for me to start demanding what I’m worth...because I’m worth it (ehehehehe boleh ka gittew?). Happy weekend everyone.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Another sad day for Malaysians
I am about to immerse myself with work but I just have to write this entry first before my momentum wears off again.
Yesterday I saw this Air Asia X ad in The Star (full page advertisement). Tadaaa!!!
Moi, being a very conservative person, feel somewhat offended by this particular ad. Do you? I ask myself yesterday, when did Malaysia becomes so open about two people kissing openly? What kind of messages are we sending to the kids by showing this ad in a local daily? Gosh, I have goosebumps each time I think about where Malaysia is heading, particularly when I have 4 kids under my care.
7 years ago when I was working with Parkson Corp. the rules and regulation pertaining to the media was still very strict. An ad can’t show one’s armpit or show too much skin, much less show 2 people in a compromising position. But today, I don’t think these rules even apply anymore. Everything can go lah. With new media taking over the mainstream media as the most popular medium of advertisement and getting your daily dose of news, everything is possible. Just look at the ads on the right hand panel of Facebook. You could even see foul language being used in selling sexual enhancement products, etc. that are not suitable for audience under the age of 25. And our 10 year old kids are on FB!
PDA (that's Public Display of Affection, not Personal Digital Assistant ok!) is so common amongst local youngsters these days, particularly budak2 Melayu. We have lots of things to thank for that, amongst them are our local artists with their skimpy dress hugging and kissing each other openly. It's like a public service message to the young generation to say that "It's OK to do that." There are also the idiot box aka the TV to thank for. Even kids channels like Nickelodeon and Disney air stories stories that I don't approve of. A few months ago, I had a shock of my life when I saw a 10 year old kids with "In a relationship with xxx" status in FB. Astaghfirullahala'zim.
It's even sadder to see some Malay Muslims who proclaim themselves as the "Modern Malays", sipping a glass of wine openly and proudly, etc. (you know what I mean right?). When I was still working, I felt so offended when I was labelled as modern Malay - simply because of my dressing style! There wasn't a tiny bit of pride when people said that of me.
Going forward does not necessarily mean that we have to abandon our culture and adopt what most people think is ‘modern’. Progressive does not equate to freedom. And freedom often comes with a hefty price. I hope our kids will not be the ones paying the price, nau’zubillah.
I laud Brunei for standing strong on its policy for not allowing liquor to be sold in its land and gambling activities to be held in the oil-rich country. And I curse the media for making a mockery of their stand on it (you should read what The Star wrote about this issue). They do not bow to the pressure of modernisation like us, bravo! I laud countries like Saudi, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh who have banned Facebook in their country. If one were to conduct a study on the effect of Facebook to humankind, I betcha it’s more cons than pros. I am willing to bet my life on it.
Just a few days ago our Police force announced the opening of a mock casino to train its personnel to be good at gambling, all in the name of crime fighting. This just doesn't make any sense to me. Must they waste taxpayers' money to build a mock casino? Perhaps next when they want to seriously fight prostitution they need to build a mock brothel with real prostitutes in it. Or build a mock drug-lab to fight drug trafficking. Could someone please enlighten me on this one? I just don't get it! Especially when gambling is prohibited in Islam and we know for a fact that most police personnel are Muslims! Menghalalkan yang haram in the name of fighting crimes? Hello!!!
This is the price of modernization we Malaysians have to pay indeed. I can't help but wonder whether next year, an Armani underwear ad showing a steamy David Beckham would be printed in The Star (sorry ahkak off track sikit, LOL!).
I say yesterday was another sad day for Malaysia. It’s a start of a new wave of change on the advertisement front. A sad sad day indeed...
Yesterday I saw this Air Asia X ad in The Star (full page advertisement). Tadaaa!!!
Moi, being a very conservative person, feel somewhat offended by this particular ad. Do you? I ask myself yesterday, when did Malaysia becomes so open about two people kissing openly? What kind of messages are we sending to the kids by showing this ad in a local daily? Gosh, I have goosebumps each time I think about where Malaysia is heading, particularly when I have 4 kids under my care.
7 years ago when I was working with Parkson Corp. the rules and regulation pertaining to the media was still very strict. An ad can’t show one’s armpit or show too much skin, much less show 2 people in a compromising position. But today, I don’t think these rules even apply anymore. Everything can go lah. With new media taking over the mainstream media as the most popular medium of advertisement and getting your daily dose of news, everything is possible. Just look at the ads on the right hand panel of Facebook. You could even see foul language being used in selling sexual enhancement products, etc. that are not suitable for audience under the age of 25. And our 10 year old kids are on FB!
PDA (that's Public Display of Affection, not Personal Digital Assistant ok!) is so common amongst local youngsters these days, particularly budak2 Melayu. We have lots of things to thank for that, amongst them are our local artists with their skimpy dress hugging and kissing each other openly. It's like a public service message to the young generation to say that "It's OK to do that." There are also the idiot box aka the TV to thank for. Even kids channels like Nickelodeon and Disney air stories stories that I don't approve of. A few months ago, I had a shock of my life when I saw a 10 year old kids with "In a relationship with xxx" status in FB. Astaghfirullahala'zim.
It's even sadder to see some Malay Muslims who proclaim themselves as the "Modern Malays", sipping a glass of wine openly and proudly, etc. (you know what I mean right?). When I was still working, I felt so offended when I was labelled as modern Malay - simply because of my dressing style! There wasn't a tiny bit of pride when people said that of me.
Going forward does not necessarily mean that we have to abandon our culture and adopt what most people think is ‘modern’. Progressive does not equate to freedom. And freedom often comes with a hefty price. I hope our kids will not be the ones paying the price, nau’zubillah.
I laud Brunei for standing strong on its policy for not allowing liquor to be sold in its land and gambling activities to be held in the oil-rich country. And I curse the media for making a mockery of their stand on it (you should read what The Star wrote about this issue). They do not bow to the pressure of modernisation like us, bravo! I laud countries like Saudi, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh who have banned Facebook in their country. If one were to conduct a study on the effect of Facebook to humankind, I betcha it’s more cons than pros. I am willing to bet my life on it.
Just a few days ago our Police force announced the opening of a mock casino to train its personnel to be good at gambling, all in the name of crime fighting. This just doesn't make any sense to me. Must they waste taxpayers' money to build a mock casino? Perhaps next when they want to seriously fight prostitution they need to build a mock brothel with real prostitutes in it. Or build a mock drug-lab to fight drug trafficking. Could someone please enlighten me on this one? I just don't get it! Especially when gambling is prohibited in Islam and we know for a fact that most police personnel are Muslims! Menghalalkan yang haram in the name of fighting crimes? Hello!!!
This is the price of modernization we Malaysians have to pay indeed. I can't help but wonder whether next year, an Armani underwear ad showing a steamy David Beckham would be printed in The Star (sorry ahkak off track sikit, LOL!).
I say yesterday was another sad day for Malaysia. It’s a start of a new wave of change on the advertisement front. A sad sad day indeed...
Monday, November 22, 2010
Cuti sekolah datang lagi!
Horayyyy...it’s finally here again! I’m sure many moms like me rejoice at the arrival of the long awaited school holiday. Lotsa things are on my mind this school holiday, there are so many things I wanna do with the kids but unfortunately Mr. Provider aka the hubby has to be away (again and again and again) for at least 2 weeks in December, travelling to a godforsaken country. I say godforsaken because he’s travelling to, of all places in the world, Nigeria! The last time he was there about a year ago, his 8-day trip had to be extended to 15 days because things work in s l o w m o t i o n there. I’m praying hard that this 2-week trip would not be extended to 3. After the trip he’s supposed to be in Libya for another week. But I’m praying very hard that this trip will be postponed to next year...hihihi *evil laugh*.
So that left me with nothing much to plan. We can’t go holidaying without him, can we? After all he’s the paymaster! The only thing I look forward to is my trip back to my mom’s. InsyaAllah I’m going back with the kids (minus the kids’ father) mid of next week. We might stay there a little bit longer than usual as the person with work commitment is not joining us this time *sob sob sob*.
This long holiday would be Nana’s last before she embarks on a new chapter in her life – primary school. Next year she’ll be joining 39 other kids in her class. At the time I registered her at the school I was told there will be about (if my memory serves me right) 10 classes of P1. I wonder how would she survive amongst so many peers. But I have faith in her. I know she could do it! Mini Me is going to Primary 1. Time flies huh? Before I know it, I’ll be preparing for her wedding pulak. Can growing up please take a break?
We are also anxiously waiting for Dan’s PMR result come end December. Frankly, I’m not expecting the world from him. He only put 50% effort into it despite my endless nagging. I think I put more effort in praying for him than him studying *sigh*. I recited surah yassin twice a day when he was sitting for his PMR - once in the morning when he sat for his first paper and once in the afternoon when he sat for his 2nd; performed solat hajat; and countless doa. Anyway, PMR is not the end of the world but SPM is *momma in denial mode gittew*. I shall drill him to his last sweat from next year onwards. Be prepared my son, Momma will turn into a drill sergeant tak bertauliah come next year...ngeh3x.
The engineer-to-be Kyle is getting a 'severe' punishment this year. His results has been slipping over the year, although his class teacher assured me that he I have nothing to worry about (really?). I have decided (and managed to convince my hubby, who reluctantly agreed to it) not to give him a birthday present this year. I have taken away the 1 thing that he looks forward to every year – an expensive birthday present! I hope this shall serve him a lesson to remember for the rest of his life. I know that by doing so I will lose my popularity but I'm willing to take that risk before he becomes more and more complacent. Bak kata orang corporate, it's a calculated risk gittew, boleh?
This smarty-pants son never fail to forget his exams date, hence, never prepares for it. He would only remember that it’s tomorrow! Smart eh? If he had told me earlier I'd would have asked him to study much earlier too. Stick won’t do it for this boy anymore, the only option I have left is to take away his carrot. Let’s see whether it’ll work. I told him that from this year onwards he has to EARN his birthday present by bringing home good results. Owh, by the way, he’s result is not that bad actually he still got most As and a few Bs. But when I see his percentage keep dropping steadily, it’s time to alert the base. Houston we have a problem!
I say nurturing smart kids is hard. They know how to work their way around equally smart parents. Sabar sajalah labu...
So that left me with nothing much to plan. We can’t go holidaying without him, can we? After all he’s the paymaster! The only thing I look forward to is my trip back to my mom’s. InsyaAllah I’m going back with the kids (minus the kids’ father) mid of next week. We might stay there a little bit longer than usual as the person with work commitment is not joining us this time *sob sob sob*.
This long holiday would be Nana’s last before she embarks on a new chapter in her life – primary school. Next year she’ll be joining 39 other kids in her class. At the time I registered her at the school I was told there will be about (if my memory serves me right) 10 classes of P1. I wonder how would she survive amongst so many peers. But I have faith in her. I know she could do it! Mini Me is going to Primary 1. Time flies huh? Before I know it, I’ll be preparing for her wedding pulak. Can growing up please take a break?
We are also anxiously waiting for Dan’s PMR result come end December. Frankly, I’m not expecting the world from him. He only put 50% effort into it despite my endless nagging. I think I put more effort in praying for him than him studying *sigh*. I recited surah yassin twice a day when he was sitting for his PMR - once in the morning when he sat for his first paper and once in the afternoon when he sat for his 2nd; performed solat hajat; and countless doa. Anyway, PMR is not the end of the world but SPM is *momma in denial mode gittew*. I shall drill him to his last sweat from next year onwards. Be prepared my son, Momma will turn into a drill sergeant tak bertauliah come next year...ngeh3x.
The engineer-to-be Kyle is getting a 'severe' punishment this year. His results has been slipping over the year, although his class teacher assured me that he I have nothing to worry about (really?). I have decided (and managed to convince my hubby, who reluctantly agreed to it) not to give him a birthday present this year. I have taken away the 1 thing that he looks forward to every year – an expensive birthday present! I hope this shall serve him a lesson to remember for the rest of his life. I know that by doing so I will lose my popularity but I'm willing to take that risk before he becomes more and more complacent. Bak kata orang corporate, it's a calculated risk gittew, boleh?
This smarty-pants son never fail to forget his exams date, hence, never prepares for it. He would only remember that it’s tomorrow! Smart eh? If he had told me earlier I'd would have asked him to study much earlier too. Stick won’t do it for this boy anymore, the only option I have left is to take away his carrot. Let’s see whether it’ll work. I told him that from this year onwards he has to EARN his birthday present by bringing home good results. Owh, by the way, he’s result is not that bad actually he still got most As and a few Bs. But when I see his percentage keep dropping steadily, it’s time to alert the base. Houston we have a problem!
I say nurturing smart kids is hard. They know how to work their way around equally smart parents. Sabar sajalah labu...
Monday, November 15, 2010
Quest for flawless complexion (part 8)
Wow, once I started writing it seems like I can’t stop. Glokalmama the writer is back! Yahoooo yippeedee yippeedeedoo!!!
Now on to my quest for flawless complexion. I have good news y’all! My quest is finally on the right track. I have found the best solution to my skin problem. My skin is almost 70% better with only 2 treatments so far – 1 round of chemical peel and 1 Transderm treatment. And it’s all happening in just 3 weeks, no joke! If I knew it would be this easy, I would have came and seek treatment from Dr. Chua much earlier. Thanks to my dear friend who suggested that I see this doctor. Peeps, if you have skin problem like moi, please go see a doctor, not a beautician - take my words for it!
To date, I’ve spent only RM480 for the chemical peel (natural fruit acid), which by the way was not the usual harsh type; RM180 for the lightener; RM120 for the sunblock; and RM350 for Transderm treatment. Previously I had spent RM4K for New York Skin treatment without any result at all (a total waste of money I tell ya!); RM1,800 for SKII products with very minimal result and forgot how much I spent at Dermalogica and Clinique counters. Gosh, I could have saved lotsa moolah!
I’m pretty confident that with a few more Transderm treatments, my complexion will be flawless...lalalala *happy to the power of 1000*.
I say syukur Alhamdulillah. Perhaps Allah is making it easy for me now that I have my aurat covered. Submitting yourself totally to God has its rewards, Wallahuwa'lam.
Now on to my quest for flawless complexion. I have good news y’all! My quest is finally on the right track. I have found the best solution to my skin problem. My skin is almost 70% better with only 2 treatments so far – 1 round of chemical peel and 1 Transderm treatment. And it’s all happening in just 3 weeks, no joke! If I knew it would be this easy, I would have came and seek treatment from Dr. Chua much earlier. Thanks to my dear friend who suggested that I see this doctor. Peeps, if you have skin problem like moi, please go see a doctor, not a beautician - take my words for it!
To date, I’ve spent only RM480 for the chemical peel (natural fruit acid), which by the way was not the usual harsh type; RM180 for the lightener; RM120 for the sunblock; and RM350 for Transderm treatment. Previously I had spent RM4K for New York Skin treatment without any result at all (a total waste of money I tell ya!); RM1,800 for SKII products with very minimal result and forgot how much I spent at Dermalogica and Clinique counters. Gosh, I could have saved lotsa moolah!
I’m pretty confident that with a few more Transderm treatments, my complexion will be flawless...lalalala *happy to the power of 1000*.
I say syukur Alhamdulillah. Perhaps Allah is making it easy for me now that I have my aurat covered. Submitting yourself totally to God has its rewards, Wallahuwa'lam.
A clueless couple in BJ
Over the weekend my hubby invited me for a game of badminton at our usual arena, our front porch and the road leading to it. And I enthusiastically agreed to it! We both love a game of badminton to break some sweats. But then we both realized, I can’t go out like that as I was in my 3 quarter pants and short sleeve t-shirt! He looked at me and asked, “what should you wear then?” To which I answered “you tell me, I don’t know!” We both laughed...hahaha.
Honestly, I don’t know what should I wear if and when I feel like exercising (which by the way is only once in a blue moon lah). Hence yesterday I went hunting for bandana-like scarf to no avail. I can’t find it anywhere or perhaps I was looking at the wrong places. I also wondered what if when we go on a vacation and I wanted to swim? Looks like I still have plenty to learn about this tudung wearing business. Not as easy as you think y’all!
I say, the first wave of test is coming my way. Ya Allah, terangkanlah hatiku untuk terus menuju kejalanMu ya Allah.
Honestly, I don’t know what should I wear if and when I feel like exercising (which by the way is only once in a blue moon lah). Hence yesterday I went hunting for bandana-like scarf to no avail. I can’t find it anywhere or perhaps I was looking at the wrong places. I also wondered what if when we go on a vacation and I wanted to swim? Looks like I still have plenty to learn about this tudung wearing business. Not as easy as you think y’all!
I say, the first wave of test is coming my way. Ya Allah, terangkanlah hatiku untuk terus menuju kejalanMu ya Allah.
My little rascal
Last week I spent 5 days as a ‘real’ homemaker when my maid was sent back to my mom’s. Needless to say, it was the busiest 5-day of my life. Entertaining a particular 26months old toddler (and 2 other young kids) while doing house chores and cooking (without a break) was a huge challenge for me indeed. I came to a conclusion that I am not made to be a housewife for life. Ah well, at least I’m heroic enough to admit that, LOL!
I just weaned Sophie off my breast a few days earlier hence she was still acting out which I presumed was her way to channel her frustration out for not being able to hold on to that one thing she felt most secure with. The day that I successfully weaned her off, she opted to sleep with my maid. And guess what, instead of celebrating, I found myself sleepless that night. I felt like I lost the connection with her. It is always the case when a mother stop breastfeeding her child. I remember vividly crying uncontrollably when I weaned off my firstborn. I cried like hell! My husband, on the other hand, was in celebration mode *grin*.
My baby has officially graduated from breastfeeding. Next is potty training, but this I foresee will be a bit tough. She refuses to use the toilet to pee or poop but she'd take her baby dolls to the toilet and put them on the toilet seat to 'yak'. I'm weighing whether or not to send her to Montessori next year, perhaps I should. She's already turning into a prima donna even at 2yo!
Busy reading the manual of her sister’s Melodian. Macam faham saja!
She was still jumping around before I went to the loo at way past midnight. Came out of the loo 3 minutes later and saw her sleeping on the floor like this.
Don’t underestimate her size for she could make a hell lot of mess. This is how she eats her snack, a little goes into her mouth and most are thrown onto the floor. Once she finish eating, she'd throw EVERYTHING onto the floor including the water bottle (I'm not kidding here peeps!). I had backache cleaning up after her all day long for 5 days. Her fav eating spot is on top of the kitchen island. High chair is only for babies she said.
Fishing at our indoor courtyard. A couple of minutes later, she threw the fishing rod into the water coz she was too mad she didn’t catch any. Typical type A personality.
Give her a pen, she'll turn into a tattoo artist! Look at the pictures below...yes, she drew on her own hand. Owh, she's also a great graffiti artist. My walls (and my floors too) are covered with her 'masterpieces' *sigh*.
But, how could you be mad when she gives you this look, rascal or not?
I say as we aged, our passion towards certain things including disciplining your younger brood may diminish with it...or it is just me? Hahaha...
I just weaned Sophie off my breast a few days earlier hence she was still acting out which I presumed was her way to channel her frustration out for not being able to hold on to that one thing she felt most secure with. The day that I successfully weaned her off, she opted to sleep with my maid. And guess what, instead of celebrating, I found myself sleepless that night. I felt like I lost the connection with her. It is always the case when a mother stop breastfeeding her child. I remember vividly crying uncontrollably when I weaned off my firstborn. I cried like hell! My husband, on the other hand, was in celebration mode *grin*.
My baby has officially graduated from breastfeeding. Next is potty training, but this I foresee will be a bit tough. She refuses to use the toilet to pee or poop but she'd take her baby dolls to the toilet and put them on the toilet seat to 'yak'. I'm weighing whether or not to send her to Montessori next year, perhaps I should. She's already turning into a prima donna even at 2yo!
Busy reading the manual of her sister’s Melodian. Macam faham saja!
She was still jumping around before I went to the loo at way past midnight. Came out of the loo 3 minutes later and saw her sleeping on the floor like this.
Don’t underestimate her size for she could make a hell lot of mess. This is how she eats her snack, a little goes into her mouth and most are thrown onto the floor. Once she finish eating, she'd throw EVERYTHING onto the floor including the water bottle (I'm not kidding here peeps!). I had backache cleaning up after her all day long for 5 days. Her fav eating spot is on top of the kitchen island. High chair is only for babies she said.
Fishing at our indoor courtyard. A couple of minutes later, she threw the fishing rod into the water coz she was too mad she didn’t catch any. Typical type A personality.
Give her a pen, she'll turn into a tattoo artist! Look at the pictures below...yes, she drew on her own hand. Owh, she's also a great graffiti artist. My walls (and my floors too) are covered with her 'masterpieces' *sigh*.
But, how could you be mad when she gives you this look, rascal or not?
I say as we aged, our passion towards certain things including disciplining your younger brood may diminish with it...or it is just me? Hahaha...
When tragedy strikes
It has been a while since I last wrote in this space. I was totally not in the mood to write anything whatsoever. Glokalmama the writer is still MIA *sigh*. But I shall try my best to write with the absence of my inner writer today.
A lot has happened in the last few weeks. My parents and family back in Kedah were tested with Mother Nature’s fury – mega flood, the worst in the history of Kedah. I could only hear what they were going through during the tormenting 1 week and the news I heard was not exactly music to my ears. My parents’ place was submerged in more than 2 meters of muddy water – in a nutshell, if you can’t swim, you’ll certainly die! Alhamdulillah my parents and family evacuated themselves in the nick of time. According to my sister they could see how fast the water was raising...scary huh?
The aftermath is indescribable! My parents lost almost everything. I doubt nothing much could be salvaged after being drenched in muddy water for a solid week. The pictures I saw brought tears to my eyes. I sent my eldest son and my maid back to help with cleaning, at least something than nothing at all. Taman Tabung Haji (my parents’ place) was in the news quite often since the tragedy – TV3 did coverage a few times, The Star also mentioned the place today and good Samaritans from as far as KL and Johor went down to help. It must have been one of the most badly affected areas. Alhamdulillah, water has receded but the cleaning process continues. And it shall continue for weeks to come. Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, permudahkanlah urusan keluargaku dan saudara-saudaraku di sana...
The entrance of my parents' house
The stuff that came with the water and stuck at my parents' compound after water receded. My sister said they smell like ketam busuk.
Students from UUM and USIM who came and help on the 3rd day of cleaning. Water supply was still inconsistent then.
But then again, if we were to compare this with Tsunami, earth quake, tornado dan yang sewaktu dengannya, it was just a tiny test from Allah. Alhamdulillah, the people in affected states especially in Kedah managed to see it through.
But there is something that’s been bugging me since this disaster strike our nation. Why is that when another country is strike with a tragedy, we, the ever generous Malaysians, eagerly and wholeheartedly help with whatever we could - be it money, manpower, medical supplies, food and what not. It was like a contest to see who can collect the most donations. Various NGOs stepped up and set up all kinds of funds and charity events to help. But when a tragedy hit our own people in our own country, help is, to say non-existence is an exaggeration, perhaps a more suitable choice of word would be ‘insufficient’. Look at the amount of funds collected compared to what we had collected for victims of the many tragedies in Indonesia. I feel sad for Malaysia...really really sad.
I say the world is coming to its end. Tragedy will strike one after another. Bertaubatlah selagi masa masih menyebelahi kita...Allah Maha Besar!
A lot has happened in the last few weeks. My parents and family back in Kedah were tested with Mother Nature’s fury – mega flood, the worst in the history of Kedah. I could only hear what they were going through during the tormenting 1 week and the news I heard was not exactly music to my ears. My parents’ place was submerged in more than 2 meters of muddy water – in a nutshell, if you can’t swim, you’ll certainly die! Alhamdulillah my parents and family evacuated themselves in the nick of time. According to my sister they could see how fast the water was raising...scary huh?
The aftermath is indescribable! My parents lost almost everything. I doubt nothing much could be salvaged after being drenched in muddy water for a solid week. The pictures I saw brought tears to my eyes. I sent my eldest son and my maid back to help with cleaning, at least something than nothing at all. Taman Tabung Haji (my parents’ place) was in the news quite often since the tragedy – TV3 did coverage a few times, The Star also mentioned the place today and good Samaritans from as far as KL and Johor went down to help. It must have been one of the most badly affected areas. Alhamdulillah, water has receded but the cleaning process continues. And it shall continue for weeks to come. Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, permudahkanlah urusan keluargaku dan saudara-saudaraku di sana...
The entrance of my parents' house
The stuff that came with the water and stuck at my parents' compound after water receded. My sister said they smell like ketam busuk.
Students from UUM and USIM who came and help on the 3rd day of cleaning. Water supply was still inconsistent then.
But then again, if we were to compare this with Tsunami, earth quake, tornado dan yang sewaktu dengannya, it was just a tiny test from Allah. Alhamdulillah, the people in affected states especially in Kedah managed to see it through.
But there is something that’s been bugging me since this disaster strike our nation. Why is that when another country is strike with a tragedy, we, the ever generous Malaysians, eagerly and wholeheartedly help with whatever we could - be it money, manpower, medical supplies, food and what not. It was like a contest to see who can collect the most donations. Various NGOs stepped up and set up all kinds of funds and charity events to help. But when a tragedy hit our own people in our own country, help is, to say non-existence is an exaggeration, perhaps a more suitable choice of word would be ‘insufficient’. Look at the amount of funds collected compared to what we had collected for victims of the many tragedies in Indonesia. I feel sad for Malaysia...really really sad.
I say the world is coming to its end. Tragedy will strike one after another. Bertaubatlah selagi masa masih menyebelahi kita...Allah Maha Besar!
Friday, October 29, 2010
My Hijrah
I walk out my door today a different person. It took me my whole life (and that’s almost 38 years) to prepare for this day, the day of my hijrah. I walk the earth today a different woman I hope, a huge milestone towards a better me insyaAllah. I pray to Allah to keep guiding me to be a better Muslim. "Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, kuatkanlah imanku dan terangkanlah hatiku untuk terus menuju ke jalan-Mu ya Allah."
My journey towards my hijrah started on the first day of Ramadhan. The passing of my brother was a big revelation too. I kept saying that his death has left a huge impact on me in many of my previous posts. Even my husband couldn’t understand how the event has affected me as a person. Seeing a very close family member being buried was a real eye-opener for me. Life is short indeed. We don’t come and go into this world according to chronological order. Setiap yang hidup pasti akan mati (nak jadi ustazah jap boleh?), it’s only a matter of WHEN.
The magnitude of sacrifices a woman has to make in order to wear hijab might not be so easily comprehended by those who have covered their head their entire life (and for men too). It’s not just merely covering your head with a piece of cloth, it’s a total change of lifestyle altogether. I’m sure many could relate to me on this one. I waited for this day to come my whole life, and it finally came calling today...Alhamdulillah. And I hope it’s here to stay for the rest of my life.
My husband jokingly said "next trip kita balik kampung Mak boleh buat kenduri" ...hahaha funny.
I say we shouldn't wait for something to fall out of the sky to show us the way, for it may never come. If you are lucky you may stumble on something that would finally hit you but most of the time you’d need to find ‘it’ yourselves, wallahuwa’lam.
My journey towards my hijrah started on the first day of Ramadhan. The passing of my brother was a big revelation too. I kept saying that his death has left a huge impact on me in many of my previous posts. Even my husband couldn’t understand how the event has affected me as a person. Seeing a very close family member being buried was a real eye-opener for me. Life is short indeed. We don’t come and go into this world according to chronological order. Setiap yang hidup pasti akan mati (nak jadi ustazah jap boleh?), it’s only a matter of WHEN.
The magnitude of sacrifices a woman has to make in order to wear hijab might not be so easily comprehended by those who have covered their head their entire life (and for men too). It’s not just merely covering your head with a piece of cloth, it’s a total change of lifestyle altogether. I’m sure many could relate to me on this one. I waited for this day to come my whole life, and it finally came calling today...Alhamdulillah. And I hope it’s here to stay for the rest of my life.
My husband jokingly said "next trip kita balik kampung Mak boleh buat kenduri" ...hahaha funny.
I say we shouldn't wait for something to fall out of the sky to show us the way, for it may never come. If you are lucky you may stumble on something that would finally hit you but most of the time you’d need to find ‘it’ yourselves, wallahuwa’lam.
Quest for flawless complexion (part 7 - chemical peel)
My quest for flawless complexion continues after almost half a year break. Yesterday I underwent a small procedure to improve my skin – chemical peel. A much cheaper alternative than a combination of laser treatment and chemical peeling that was recommended by the other doctor I saw 2 weeks ago.
Today, my face, especially at the melasma areas, has turned very dark (black is more like it actually!). I was advised that it would take between 3 to 10 days for the skin to drop and for a new layer of skin to grow. Therefore I am now confined in the comfort of my own home – I look too ugly to go out and meet people *sigh*. What a bad timing coz I have a few social obligations to fulfill this weekend – a kenduri Tahlil and Nana’s Annual Concert *double sigh*. I should have planned more carefully next time. But what to do, itik dah jadi sudu...ngeeee
Today, my face, especially at the melasma areas, has turned very dark (black is more like it actually!). I was advised that it would take between 3 to 10 days for the skin to drop and for a new layer of skin to grow. Therefore I am now confined in the comfort of my own home – I look too ugly to go out and meet people *sigh*. What a bad timing coz I have a few social obligations to fulfill this weekend – a kenduri Tahlil and Nana’s Annual Concert *double sigh*. I should have planned more carefully next time. But what to do, itik dah jadi sudu...ngeeee
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Mutiara hati - sampaikan walau se-ayat
Of late I've totally lost my interest to write. The writer in me is missing in action, leaving me behind high and dry...*sob sob*.
Anyway, a friend shared this on her FB wall recently. Every now and then we need to be reminded of the things or amalan that we often take for granted.
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Assalamualaikum,just wanna share with everyone kisah benar yang saya lalui. Baru- baru ni ketika saya nak ke Surau berdekatan dgn rumah saya untuk sembahyang Isyak, seorang pak cik berjanggut putih dan berjubah putih dari jauh melemparkan senyum kepada saya. Kerana masih ada banyak waktu, saya tunggu pak cik berjanggut putih tu dan bertongkat yang tidak saya kenali itu. Timbul di hati saya untuk jalan seiringan ke surau. Bila beliau hampir pada saya, kami saling memberi salam.Orangnya sudah berumur.
Tiba-tiba, pak cik itu memulakan perbualan. Beliau cakap dalam bahasa Melayu dan Inggeris yang agak baik. Beliau cakap semua ayat Quran baik dan penting, tapi ada tiga surah yang beliau ‘pegang’ betul-betul, dan beliau nasihatkan saya supaya pegang betul-betul juga. Beliau juga nasihatkan saya supaya pesan pada anak-anak supaya pegangnya betul-betul.
Pertama, kata beliau, surah Al-Fatihah. Selain penting untuk sah sembahyang, ia juga ada doa minta bantuan Tuhan dan mintak tunjukkan jalan yang betul.Mudah-mudahan dengan ‘menjaga’ bersungguh-sungguh surah Al-Fatihah,akan terbuka pintu bantuan dan jalan yang betul untuk kita, kata pakcik.
Kedua, Surah Al-Ikhlas. Surah ini, katanya, surah tauhid. Kita mesti ingat Tuhan itu Esa dan semua amalan mesti untuk-Nya. Tak guna buat baik tapi tak ikhlas.
Ketiga, surah Al-Kafirun, kata pak cik. Bahagian ini, menarik sikit. Pak cik tu cakap surah Al-Kafirun ada kena mengena dengan zaman sekarang, zaman globalisasi. Dalam zaman globalisasi, katanya, anak-anak saya mesti diajar supaya pegang betul-betul surah itu. Sebab, dalam zaman globalisasi, anak saya mungkin kena kerja atau belajar sampai ke Amerika atau kemana-mana. Kalau dia pegang pada surah Al-Kafirun, insya-Allah, dia akan selamat, kata pak cik. Dia akan bergaul dengan orang beragama lain, tapi dia sedar "untukmu agamamu, untukku agamaku" Betul juga, fikir saya.
Kemudian, pak cik cakap ada satu lagi perkara yang saya mesti pegang. Orang Islam, katanya, mesti ada tiga kekuatan. Pertama, kekuatan minda. Minda, kata pak cik, ialah ilmu. Orang Islam mesti ada ilmu, termasuk ilmu moden, ilmu teknologi, ilmu teknologi maklumat (IT) dan sebagainya kerana ilmu-ilmu itu perlu untuk hidup.
Kedua, kekuatan hati. Hati ialah iman, kata pak cik. Hati orang Islam mesti kuat supaya betapa banyak sekali pun ilmunya, dia sedar siapa yang lebih berkuasa. Bila ilmu ada iman, barulah ilmu dan hidup jadi betul. Kalau minda kuat tapi hati tak kuat, maknanya kekuatan tak seimbang dan ilmu boleh rosakkan iman, kata pak cik.
Ketiga, kuat fizikal. Pertama-pertama, kalau tubuh badan lemah, susah ilmu nak masuk dalam minda, kata pak cik. Kalau pun ada ilmu dan ada iman, jika tubuh badan tak kuat, susah nak beramal. Maknanya, kekuatan masih tak seimbang, katanya. Habis saja pak cik cakap pasal tiga surah dan tiga kekuatan, beliau minta diri dan hilang dari pandangan saya setiba nya di surau tersebut
Terima kasih kepada pak cik berjanggut tu. Sebelum itu beliau berpesan agar saya sebarkan kepada yang lain. Pesanannya memang baik untuk saya sampaikan.
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Anyway, a friend shared this on her FB wall recently. Every now and then we need to be reminded of the things or amalan that we often take for granted.
#########################
Assalamualaikum,just wanna share with everyone kisah benar yang saya lalui. Baru- baru ni ketika saya nak ke Surau berdekatan dgn rumah saya untuk sembahyang Isyak, seorang pak cik berjanggut putih dan berjubah putih dari jauh melemparkan senyum kepada saya. Kerana masih ada banyak waktu, saya tunggu pak cik berjanggut putih tu dan bertongkat yang tidak saya kenali itu. Timbul di hati saya untuk jalan seiringan ke surau. Bila beliau hampir pada saya, kami saling memberi salam.Orangnya sudah berumur.
Tiba-tiba, pak cik itu memulakan perbualan. Beliau cakap dalam bahasa Melayu dan Inggeris yang agak baik. Beliau cakap semua ayat Quran baik dan penting, tapi ada tiga surah yang beliau ‘pegang’ betul-betul, dan beliau nasihatkan saya supaya pegang betul-betul juga. Beliau juga nasihatkan saya supaya pesan pada anak-anak supaya pegangnya betul-betul.
Pertama, kata beliau, surah Al-Fatihah. Selain penting untuk sah sembahyang, ia juga ada doa minta bantuan Tuhan dan mintak tunjukkan jalan yang betul.Mudah-mudahan dengan ‘menjaga’ bersungguh-sungguh surah Al-Fatihah,akan terbuka pintu bantuan dan jalan yang betul untuk kita, kata pakcik.
Kedua, Surah Al-Ikhlas. Surah ini, katanya, surah tauhid. Kita mesti ingat Tuhan itu Esa dan semua amalan mesti untuk-Nya. Tak guna buat baik tapi tak ikhlas.
Ketiga, surah Al-Kafirun, kata pak cik. Bahagian ini, menarik sikit. Pak cik tu cakap surah Al-Kafirun ada kena mengena dengan zaman sekarang, zaman globalisasi. Dalam zaman globalisasi, katanya, anak-anak saya mesti diajar supaya pegang betul-betul surah itu. Sebab, dalam zaman globalisasi, anak saya mungkin kena kerja atau belajar sampai ke Amerika atau kemana-mana. Kalau dia pegang pada surah Al-Kafirun, insya-Allah, dia akan selamat, kata pak cik. Dia akan bergaul dengan orang beragama lain, tapi dia sedar "untukmu agamamu, untukku agamaku" Betul juga, fikir saya.
Kemudian, pak cik cakap ada satu lagi perkara yang saya mesti pegang. Orang Islam, katanya, mesti ada tiga kekuatan. Pertama, kekuatan minda. Minda, kata pak cik, ialah ilmu. Orang Islam mesti ada ilmu, termasuk ilmu moden, ilmu teknologi, ilmu teknologi maklumat (IT) dan sebagainya kerana ilmu-ilmu itu perlu untuk hidup.
Kedua, kekuatan hati. Hati ialah iman, kata pak cik. Hati orang Islam mesti kuat supaya betapa banyak sekali pun ilmunya, dia sedar siapa yang lebih berkuasa. Bila ilmu ada iman, barulah ilmu dan hidup jadi betul. Kalau minda kuat tapi hati tak kuat, maknanya kekuatan tak seimbang dan ilmu boleh rosakkan iman, kata pak cik.
Ketiga, kuat fizikal. Pertama-pertama, kalau tubuh badan lemah, susah ilmu nak masuk dalam minda, kata pak cik. Kalau pun ada ilmu dan ada iman, jika tubuh badan tak kuat, susah nak beramal. Maknanya, kekuatan masih tak seimbang, katanya. Habis saja pak cik cakap pasal tiga surah dan tiga kekuatan, beliau minta diri dan hilang dari pandangan saya setiba nya di surau tersebut
Terima kasih kepada pak cik berjanggut tu. Sebelum itu beliau berpesan agar saya sebarkan kepada yang lain. Pesanannya memang baik untuk saya sampaikan.
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Thursday, October 14, 2010
Mutiara hati - sampaikan walau se-ayat
I just thought I should take a quick break to share a little information about fitnah, untuk renungan bersama di malam yang hening ini. I'm putting on my Ustazah hat tonight boleh...ngeeee.
Mungkin ramai menyangka perbuatan menyebarkan berita fitnah sekadar satu kesalahan kecil. Sebab itu, perbuatan seumpama ini dilakukan seperti tiada apa yang merugikan.
Hakikatnya, dosa membuat fitnah menjauhkan diri dari syurga. Sabda Rasulullah SAW bermaksud: "Tidak masuk syurga orang yang suka menyebarkan fitnah" (Hadis riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim)
"Dan fitnah itu lebih besar bahayanya daripada pembunuhannya" (Surah al-Baqarah, ayat 191)
"Wahai orang yang beriman, jika datang kepada kamu seorang fasik membawa sesuatu berita, maka selidik (untuk menentukan) kebenarannya, supaya kamu tidak menimpakan sesuatu kaum dengan perkara tidak diingini, dengan sebab kejahilan kamu (mengenainya) sehingga menyebabkan kamu menyesali perkara yang kamu lakukan." (Surah al-Hujurat, ayat 6)
Dosa membuat fitnah digolongkan sebagai dosa sesama manusia. Justeru, dosa itu tidak akan diampunkan Allah, melainkan orang yang difitnah itu memberi keampunan terhadap perbuatan itu - No amount of doa and prayers could make the sin go away! Ya Allah, betapa besarnya dosa fitnah.
Oleh itu, bersangka baiklah sesama manusia. InsyaAllah, lama kelamaan penyakit fitnah akan berkurangan.
Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, jauhkan lah aku, keluargaku, saudara-saudaraku dan sahabat-sahabatku dari sifat fitnah, hasat dengki dan buruk sangka...amin.
Sekian dari Ustazah Glokalmama untuk hari ini.
Disclaimer: Tiada kaitan sama ada yang masih hidup atau sudah mati. Penulis hanya ingin berkongsi ilmu. Peace.
Mungkin ramai menyangka perbuatan menyebarkan berita fitnah sekadar satu kesalahan kecil. Sebab itu, perbuatan seumpama ini dilakukan seperti tiada apa yang merugikan.
Hakikatnya, dosa membuat fitnah menjauhkan diri dari syurga. Sabda Rasulullah SAW bermaksud: "Tidak masuk syurga orang yang suka menyebarkan fitnah" (Hadis riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim)
"Dan fitnah itu lebih besar bahayanya daripada pembunuhannya" (Surah al-Baqarah, ayat 191)
"Wahai orang yang beriman, jika datang kepada kamu seorang fasik membawa sesuatu berita, maka selidik (untuk menentukan) kebenarannya, supaya kamu tidak menimpakan sesuatu kaum dengan perkara tidak diingini, dengan sebab kejahilan kamu (mengenainya) sehingga menyebabkan kamu menyesali perkara yang kamu lakukan." (Surah al-Hujurat, ayat 6)
Dosa membuat fitnah digolongkan sebagai dosa sesama manusia. Justeru, dosa itu tidak akan diampunkan Allah, melainkan orang yang difitnah itu memberi keampunan terhadap perbuatan itu - No amount of doa and prayers could make the sin go away! Ya Allah, betapa besarnya dosa fitnah.
Oleh itu, bersangka baiklah sesama manusia. InsyaAllah, lama kelamaan penyakit fitnah akan berkurangan.
Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, jauhkan lah aku, keluargaku, saudara-saudaraku dan sahabat-sahabatku dari sifat fitnah, hasat dengki dan buruk sangka...amin.
Sekian dari Ustazah Glokalmama untuk hari ini.
Disclaimer: Tiada kaitan sama ada yang masih hidup atau sudah mati. Penulis hanya ingin berkongsi ilmu. Peace.
A day off to smell the roses
I’m all rev up to work today. Can’t wait to finish the last 2 chapters by today and next week shall be dedicated to fine tuning the copies and editing...woohoo!!
I took a day off yesterday – no work was done at all. During the first half of the day, I went out with my galfriend to get consultation from Dermatologist for my skin condition (I’ll come back to this later) and went looking for a piece of furniture and all around town (fruitlessly I may add, but it was really FUN though); and later in the evening took the kids out for some shopping and dinner. I woke up today feeling so refreshed & recharged with a renewed motivation all over again to finish my work...woot! woot!
So, the secret is to spend some money to get motivated all over again huh? Mr. Hubby, let’s pray that Mr. Motivation would not go astray too frequently, okay.
Now back to my skin. Yesterday, for the first time I visited a Dermatologist (finally!) to get consultation for my melasma. As I had expected, I was advised that for condition as severe as mine there is NO other treatment but laser and chemical peeling that could help lighten it. The cost proposed is not as expensive as that proposed by New York Skin (which was a whopping RM15,800!) but nonetheless it’s still expensive for moi *sob sob*. Each laser treatment would cost RM800 (and I was recommended to undergo 5 of this *gulp*), and chemical peel @RM600 each *double gulp *. The Doctor also recommended some cream to apply day & night as well as sun screen. The only good news is the cream proposed by the doctor is a lot cheaper than SKII...phewww!
I have decided to visit a few more clinics to see whether I can get the treatments at a cheaper cost (must do my homework first ok!) coz I know for sure that Mr. hubby is not willing to part with that much moolah just to make his wife look beautiful again...ngeeee! I'm pretty sure that when I presented the case to him (he's coming back from Guilin tonight), he'd most probably say "just use a good foundation, it'd cover up the dark spot." As he says, I always look pretty in his eyes (ayat cover line gittew). Don't know whether I'm lucky or unlucky...
On a different subject, Sophie had a jolly good time during our outing last night. Over the last few months, she has developed into a friendly and very talkative young toddler. Tak takut orang punya ini budak. Last night, she even had some adoring ‘fans’ who went to the extent to take her picture...LOL! By the way, she was wearing her sunnies in a shopping mall at night...hurmmmm. She definitely didn’t get that from me.
I say, don’t be too hard on yourself. Go out and smell the roses. You’ll be surprise at how a small act of appreciating yourself would enrich your Chi. I love myself.
[Note to hubby: remember, a happy wife makes a happy home.]
I took a day off yesterday – no work was done at all. During the first half of the day, I went out with my galfriend to get consultation from Dermatologist for my skin condition (I’ll come back to this later) and went looking for a piece of furniture and all around town (fruitlessly I may add, but it was really FUN though); and later in the evening took the kids out for some shopping and dinner. I woke up today feeling so refreshed & recharged with a renewed motivation all over again to finish my work...woot! woot!
So, the secret is to spend some money to get motivated all over again huh? Mr. Hubby, let’s pray that Mr. Motivation would not go astray too frequently, okay.
Now back to my skin. Yesterday, for the first time I visited a Dermatologist (finally!) to get consultation for my melasma. As I had expected, I was advised that for condition as severe as mine there is NO other treatment but laser and chemical peeling that could help lighten it. The cost proposed is not as expensive as that proposed by New York Skin (which was a whopping RM15,800!) but nonetheless it’s still expensive for moi *sob sob*. Each laser treatment would cost RM800 (and I was recommended to undergo 5 of this *gulp*), and chemical peel @RM600 each *double gulp *. The Doctor also recommended some cream to apply day & night as well as sun screen. The only good news is the cream proposed by the doctor is a lot cheaper than SKII...phewww!
I have decided to visit a few more clinics to see whether I can get the treatments at a cheaper cost (must do my homework first ok!) coz I know for sure that Mr. hubby is not willing to part with that much moolah just to make his wife look beautiful again...ngeeee! I'm pretty sure that when I presented the case to him (he's coming back from Guilin tonight), he'd most probably say "just use a good foundation, it'd cover up the dark spot." As he says, I always look pretty in his eyes (ayat cover line gittew). Don't know whether I'm lucky or unlucky...
On a different subject, Sophie had a jolly good time during our outing last night. Over the last few months, she has developed into a friendly and very talkative young toddler. Tak takut orang punya ini budak. Last night, she even had some adoring ‘fans’ who went to the extent to take her picture...LOL! By the way, she was wearing her sunnies in a shopping mall at night...hurmmmm. She definitely didn’t get that from me.
I say, don’t be too hard on yourself. Go out and smell the roses. You’ll be surprise at how a small act of appreciating yourself would enrich your Chi. I love myself.
[Note to hubby: remember, a happy wife makes a happy home.]
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Keeping up with myself
It seems that this low self esteem episodes would come and visit me every now and then. Of late, I have no motivation to write, no mood to go out and to do just about anything - zilch, none whatsoever! All I wanna do is sleep all day long. The circumstances surrounding my petty life are not helping either. Negative vibes please go away...shooooh shooooh.
Right now, I just wish that I have a reboot button. Wishful thinking eh? There is only one way to boost my spirit (since I’m too lazy to leave the comfort of my home) - WRITE! Thank God for blogging...phewww!
Last week I posted my open letter to my children on Facebook. It was more of a reminder for my kids especially my eldest who was sitting for his PMR, and to my darling hubby too. Once a while they need to be reminded of how we feel towards them, don’t you agree? I never thought that the letter would touch so many hearts. I guess when you write from the bottom of your hearts, it unwittingly moves and strikes a few emotional cords.
It took me a whole day to write the letter in July, just a day before my anniversary. And I was writing it while fighting back tears so badly. I cried a bucket writing it; in fact I still do each time I read the letter. The letter is my legacy to my children. I’ve put everything I want them to hear from me in writing with a hope that after I breathe my last, they will have something to remember me by for the rest of their lives, insyaAllah.
A friend suggested that I compile all my letters to my children and husband and publish them in a book, I loike! Although the idea sounds sooooo intriguing at this point of time, my only problem is I only have this one letter...teheehee . But the idea of compiling some of my entries in this blog and get it published is making me excited already lah. That will be my next project I hope. For now I still have to finish the 2 freakin' chapters that I've dreaded for so long. It seems like I’m writing this book forever (at such a small token I might add). No more books for me thank you, unless it’s of my own interest to write or if the subject matter is close to my heart. The time and effort I’ve put into this project does not justify the amount of reward I shall pocket. Not to mention my sleeping pattern has totally changed because of this too *sigh*. Nonetheless, this is rezeki from Allah, alhamdulillah. I should not complaint.
I say syukur & redha with pemberian-Nya is the key to a blessed life. Reminding myself to be contented with how things are and never ever complaint ke atas segala ujian dari yang Maha Esa. Alhamdulillah.
p/s: The title of this article might seem irrelevant with the content. But I like the sound of it...ahaks!
Right now, I just wish that I have a reboot button. Wishful thinking eh? There is only one way to boost my spirit (since I’m too lazy to leave the comfort of my home) - WRITE! Thank God for blogging...phewww!
Last week I posted my open letter to my children on Facebook. It was more of a reminder for my kids especially my eldest who was sitting for his PMR, and to my darling hubby too. Once a while they need to be reminded of how we feel towards them, don’t you agree? I never thought that the letter would touch so many hearts. I guess when you write from the bottom of your hearts, it unwittingly moves and strikes a few emotional cords.
It took me a whole day to write the letter in July, just a day before my anniversary. And I was writing it while fighting back tears so badly. I cried a bucket writing it; in fact I still do each time I read the letter. The letter is my legacy to my children. I’ve put everything I want them to hear from me in writing with a hope that after I breathe my last, they will have something to remember me by for the rest of their lives, insyaAllah.
A friend suggested that I compile all my letters to my children and husband and publish them in a book, I loike! Although the idea sounds sooooo intriguing at this point of time, my only problem is I only have this one letter...teheehee . But the idea of compiling some of my entries in this blog and get it published is making me excited already lah. That will be my next project I hope. For now I still have to finish the 2 freakin' chapters that I've dreaded for so long. It seems like I’m writing this book forever (at such a small token I might add). No more books for me thank you, unless it’s of my own interest to write or if the subject matter is close to my heart. The time and effort I’ve put into this project does not justify the amount of reward I shall pocket. Not to mention my sleeping pattern has totally changed because of this too *sigh*. Nonetheless, this is rezeki from Allah, alhamdulillah. I should not complaint.
I say syukur & redha with pemberian-Nya is the key to a blessed life. Reminding myself to be contented with how things are and never ever complaint ke atas segala ujian dari yang Maha Esa. Alhamdulillah.
p/s: The title of this article might seem irrelevant with the content. But I like the sound of it...ahaks!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Early warning signs of Cancer
A friend of mine who's currently living in the US has recently won her battle against breast cancer and has since became an advocate of cancer awareness. Lucky for her the cancer was detected at an early stage (stage 1). She had a mastectomy to remove both her breasts (one was cancerous and another as prevention measure), went through 3 cycles of chemotherapy and was recently given a clean bill of health. I am happy for her. Not many cancer patients are as lucky as my friend to win the battle against this deadly disease. The key here is early detection.
The following article was taken from her blog which I feel is good to be shared with my readers too. Let's help spread the awareness of early detection for the benefits of all.
EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANCER by Flora McCraith.
Experts estimate that nearly 40 per cent of all cancers are preventable and that the survival rate for many common cancers has increased by more than 30 per cent. However, if cancer can be detected early through screening, the survival rate increases to over 80 per cent which means they have a chance of cure. Cancer can affect anyone, including children so knowing the symptoms is important.
Symptoms vary according to the type of cancer, and two of the most common symptoms are lumps and weight loss. Below are some of the most prevalent cancers and their early warning signs.
A. Colon cancer
Rectal bleeding, blood in your stool or changes in bowel habits such as persistent diarrhea and or constipation are warning signs which should be investigated promptly.
B. Bladder or kidney cancer
Needing the bathroom constantly and then not being able to go, a burning pain when urinating, blood in urine could be symptoms of bladder and kidney cancer. But, there may be other causes for these problems, so see your doctor for evaluation.
C. Mouth and throat cancer
A sore that does not heal may be related to cancer. Smokers and people who use chewing tobacco may develop oral leukoplakia. Oral leukoplakias are rough white patches which form in the mouth. These patches may develop into cancer.
D. Skin cancer
Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 1 million new cases will be diagnosed in 2010. Symptoms include ulcerations that never heal, moles that change colour, size, or appearance, and flat sores that look like moles.
E. Breast cancer
Change such as development of a lump or swelling, skin irritation, redness or dimpling, nipple pain or retraction, or a discharge other than breast milk, should be seen by your health care provider for evaluation.
F. Stomach cancer
Unexplained tiredness and or weight loss of ten per cent or more with in a period of three to six month and vomiting blood or experiencing frequent indigestion and pain after eating may indicate stomach cancer... see your physician!
G. Lung cancer
Symptoms that do not improve within two weeks should be evaluated by a doctor as they may indicate laryngeal, hypopharyngeal or lung cancer. Other symptoms to report include sore throat, trouble swallowing, pain with swallowing, trouble breathing, ear pain that doesn't go away, lump or mass in the neck, coughing up blood, and chest pain.
H. Cervical, uterine and endometrial cancer
Sadly when it comes to ovarian cancer there are often no symptoms until it's in the later stages of development. However, for the three mentioned above, bleeding between menstrual cycles, any unusual discharge, painful menstruation, and heavy periods require consultation with your physician. If you have gone through menopause, it is especially important to report unusual bleeding or spotting to your
I. Leukaemia
Paleness, fatigue, weight loss, repeated infections, nosebleeds, bone or joint pain, and easy bruising are possible warning signs of Leukaemia which should be investigated.
15 signs of possible cancer women ignored
No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss
Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out.
"Unexplained weight loss is cancer unless proven not," she says. It could, of course, turn out to be another condition, such as an overactive thyroid.
Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to "rule out the possibilities, one by one.
No. 2: Bloating
Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom.
If the bloating occurs almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.
No. 3: Breast Changes
Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined. If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated.
Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding), see your doctor. If it's outgoing normally and turns in, that's not a good sign. If your nipples are inverted chronically, no big deal. It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom.
If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.
No. 4: Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding
Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out, she says. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer.
Think about what's normal for you, says Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. "If a woman never spots [between periods] and she spots, it's abnormal for her. For someone else, it might not be."
"Endometrial cancer is a common gynecologic cancer," Saslow says. "At least three-quarters who get it have some abnormal bleeding as an early sign."
Your doctor will take a careful history and, depending on the timing of the bleeding and other symptoms, probably order an ultrasound or biopsy.
No. 5: Skin Changes
Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation.
If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked, too, she says. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.
No. 6: Difficulty Swallowing
If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isn't so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes.
But that difficulty could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus, says Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society.
Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.
No. 7: Blood in the Wrong Place
If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid. It could be colon cancer."
Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for cancer.
Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating, Mishori says. But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer.
Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.
No. 8: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression
Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.
No. 9: Indigestion
Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag.
It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat.
Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.
No. 10: Mouth Changes
Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, according to the American Cancer Society. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer.
Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.
No. 11: Pain
As people age they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer.
Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed.
No. 12: Changes in the Lymph Nodes
If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome, Linden says.
"If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's [been] longer than a month, see a doctor," she says. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement.
If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.
No. 13: Fever
If you have a fever that isn't explained by influenza or other infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma, according to the American Cancer Society.
Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool.
Expect your doctor to conduct a careful physical exam and take a medical history, and then order tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or other tests, depending on the findings.
No. 14: Fatigue
Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer -- as well as a host of other problems. It can set in after the cancer has grown, but it may also occur early in certain cancers, such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.
No. 15: Persistent Cough
Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- should not be ignored.
You would expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine your throat, check out your lung functioning and perhaps order X-rays, especially if you are a smoker.
The following article was taken from her blog which I feel is good to be shared with my readers too. Let's help spread the awareness of early detection for the benefits of all.
EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANCER by Flora McCraith.
Experts estimate that nearly 40 per cent of all cancers are preventable and that the survival rate for many common cancers has increased by more than 30 per cent. However, if cancer can be detected early through screening, the survival rate increases to over 80 per cent which means they have a chance of cure. Cancer can affect anyone, including children so knowing the symptoms is important.
Symptoms vary according to the type of cancer, and two of the most common symptoms are lumps and weight loss. Below are some of the most prevalent cancers and their early warning signs.
A. Colon cancer
Rectal bleeding, blood in your stool or changes in bowel habits such as persistent diarrhea and or constipation are warning signs which should be investigated promptly.
B. Bladder or kidney cancer
Needing the bathroom constantly and then not being able to go, a burning pain when urinating, blood in urine could be symptoms of bladder and kidney cancer. But, there may be other causes for these problems, so see your doctor for evaluation.
C. Mouth and throat cancer
A sore that does not heal may be related to cancer. Smokers and people who use chewing tobacco may develop oral leukoplakia. Oral leukoplakias are rough white patches which form in the mouth. These patches may develop into cancer.
D. Skin cancer
Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 1 million new cases will be diagnosed in 2010. Symptoms include ulcerations that never heal, moles that change colour, size, or appearance, and flat sores that look like moles.
E. Breast cancer
Change such as development of a lump or swelling, skin irritation, redness or dimpling, nipple pain or retraction, or a discharge other than breast milk, should be seen by your health care provider for evaluation.
F. Stomach cancer
Unexplained tiredness and or weight loss of ten per cent or more with in a period of three to six month and vomiting blood or experiencing frequent indigestion and pain after eating may indicate stomach cancer... see your physician!
G. Lung cancer
Symptoms that do not improve within two weeks should be evaluated by a doctor as they may indicate laryngeal, hypopharyngeal or lung cancer. Other symptoms to report include sore throat, trouble swallowing, pain with swallowing, trouble breathing, ear pain that doesn't go away, lump or mass in the neck, coughing up blood, and chest pain.
H. Cervical, uterine and endometrial cancer
Sadly when it comes to ovarian cancer there are often no symptoms until it's in the later stages of development. However, for the three mentioned above, bleeding between menstrual cycles, any unusual discharge, painful menstruation, and heavy periods require consultation with your physician. If you have gone through menopause, it is especially important to report unusual bleeding or spotting to your
I. Leukaemia
Paleness, fatigue, weight loss, repeated infections, nosebleeds, bone or joint pain, and easy bruising are possible warning signs of Leukaemia which should be investigated.
15 signs of possible cancer women ignored
No. 1: Unexplained Weight Loss
Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying. But unexplained weight loss -- say 10 pounds in a month without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake -- should be checked out.
"Unexplained weight loss is cancer unless proven not," she says. It could, of course, turn out to be another condition, such as an overactive thyroid.
Expect your doctor to run tests to check the thyroid and perhaps order a CT scan of different organs. The doctor needs to "rule out the possibilities, one by one.
No. 2: Bloating
Bloating is so common that many women just live with it. But it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly -- even when you haven't eaten much -- and urinary problems, such as having an urgent need to go to the bathroom.
If the bloating occurs almost every day and persists for more than a few weeks, you should consult your physician. Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order a CT scan and blood tests, among others.
No. 3: Breast Changes
Most women know their breasts well, even if they don't do regular self-exams, and know to be on the lookout for lumps. But that's not the only breast symptom that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, which could indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, also needs to be examined. If you have a rash that persists over weeks, you have to get it evaluated.
Likewise, if the look of a nipple changes, or if you notice discharge (and aren’t breastfeeding), see your doctor. If it's outgoing normally and turns in, that's not a good sign. If your nipples are inverted chronically, no big deal. It's the change in appearance that could be a worrisome symptom.
If you have breast changes, expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine the breast, and order tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and perhaps a biopsy.
No. 4: Between-Period Bleeding or Other Unusual Bleeding
Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding. They also tend to ignore bleeding from the GI tract, mistakenly thinking it is from their period. But between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, bears checking out, she says. So does bleeding after menopause, as it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer. GI bleeding could be a symptom of colorectal cancer.
Think about what's normal for you, says Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. "If a woman never spots [between periods] and she spots, it's abnormal for her. For someone else, it might not be."
"Endometrial cancer is a common gynecologic cancer," Saslow says. "At least three-quarters who get it have some abnormal bleeding as an early sign."
Your doctor will take a careful history and, depending on the timing of the bleeding and other symptoms, probably order an ultrasound or biopsy.
No. 5: Skin Changes
Most of us know to look for any changes in moles -- a well-known sign of skin cancer. But we should also watch for changes in skin pigmentation.
If you suddenly develop bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling, that should be checked, too, she says. It's difficult to say how long is too long to observe skin changes before you go to the doctor, but most experts say not longer than several weeks.
No. 6: Difficulty Swallowing
If you have difficulty swallowing, you may have already changed your diet so chewing isn't so difficult, perhaps turning to soups or liquid foods such as protein shakes.
But that difficulty could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as in the esophagus, says Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society.
Expect your doctor to take a careful history and order tests such as a chest X-ray or exams of the GI tract.
No. 7: Blood in the Wrong Place
If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it's from a hemorrhoid. It could be colon cancer."
Expect your doctor to ask questions and perhaps order testing such as a colonoscopy, an exam of the colon to look for cancer.
Seeing blood in the toilet bowl may actually be from the vagina if a woman is menstruating, Mishori says. But if not, it should be checked to rule out bladder or kidney cancer.
Coughing up blood should be evaluated, too. One occasion of blood in the wrong place may not point to anything, but if it happens more than once, go see your doctor.
No. 8: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression
Any woman who's got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a checkup. Some researchers have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer, but it's a poorly understood connection.
No. 9: Indigestion
Women who have been pregnant may remember the indigestion that occurred as they gained weight. But indigestion for no apparent reason may be a red flag.
It could be an early clue to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or throat.
Expect your doctor to take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion before deciding which tests to order, if any.
No. 10: Mouth Changes
Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue, according to the American Cancer Society. Both can point to a precancerous condition called leukoplakia that can progress to oral cancer.
Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look and decide what should be done next.
No. 11: Pain
As people age they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers, although most pain complaints are not from cancer.
Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. Expect your physician to take a careful history, and based on that information decide what further testing, if any, is needed.
No. 12: Changes in the Lymph Nodes
If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck -- or anywhere else -- it could be worrisome, Linden says.
"If you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it's [been] longer than a month, see a doctor," she says. Your doctor will examine you and figure out any associated issues (such as infection) that could explain the lymph node enlargement.
If there are none, your doctor will typically order a biopsy.
No. 13: Fever
If you have a fever that isn't explained by influenza or other infection, it could point to cancer. Fevers more often occur after cancer has spread from its original site, but it can also point to early blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma, according to the American Cancer Society.
Other cancer symptoms can include jaundice, or a change in the color of your stool.
Expect your doctor to conduct a careful physical exam and take a medical history, and then order tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or other tests, depending on the findings.
No. 14: Fatigue
Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer -- as well as a host of other problems. It can set in after the cancer has grown, but it may also occur early in certain cancers, such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.
No. 15: Persistent Cough
Coughs are expected with colds, the flu, allergies, and sometimes are a side effect of medications. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four weeks -- should not be ignored.
You would expect your doctor to take a careful history, examine your throat, check out your lung functioning and perhaps order X-rays, especially if you are a smoker.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Online purchase anyone?
Given the speed of trade globalization, the convenience of internet excess and the wonders of Facebook, many entrepreneurs wannabe have reaped the benefits of modern technology and started doing online business. Almost everything under the sun, from apparels, handbags, potteries, lingerie, accessories, cakes to furniture and lots more are available online. There are literally thousands of internet entrepreneurs making full use of Facebook and blogspot. And like thousands other Facebook users, I too have fallen into this online purchase trap (more precisely, terjebak!).
To date, I’ve purchased a pair of baju kurung, a “Laura Ashley” dress for my girl and a blouse for myself. And guess what, the saying “what you see is not always what you get” best explains my experience with online purchase. I vow to never buy anything online ever again, seriously! I don’t mind paying more for peace of mind than pay less and get crap.
Baju kurung – the quality wasn’t as good, though the price is darn cheap for a pair of baju kurung like that. The quality of sewing particularly, is really bad. Nonetheless, to buy a pair of heavily beaded baju kurung at RM150 is unbeatable in term of price. It’s so so cheap. I just wish the manufacturer would pay a little bit more attention on the quality of sewing. But then again, you can’t expect much from a RM150 baju. Hence, this one is forgivable lah. The next time I want to purchase baju from her again, I’d rather take a little extra effort to go to her house and hand pick the baju instead, like I did the first time.
“Laura Ashley” dress – the online seller claimed that it was a Laura Ashley dress for girl. I bought it at RM61 including postage fee and it was couriered down all the way from Kuantan. One look at it I know for sure it’s not from Laura Ashley. You can dupe a makcik kampong but not me okay!
Korean blouse – my latest purchase. This one really pissed me off. It looks so pretty in the picture (on a very pretty model) but when I got it through Pos Laju, the quality is worse than those you can get from pasar malam. I’m not joking or exaggerating, it is really bad to the power of 1000! Although I paid only RM39 for it, I felt really cheated. A blouse like that could easily be bought at pasar malam at a much cheaper price. I don’t think that I’d ever wear the blouse in this lifetime...grrrrr. I think if I were to pass down the blouse to my maid, she too wouldn’t want to wear it. Yes, it's that bad...percayalah!
In short, I’ve learned my lesson, not once but thrice. No more online shopping for moi thank you.
I say, seeing is believing. Nothing beats the sense of sight, touch and smell. Allah jadikan mata untuk melihat, telinga untuk mendengar, hidung untuk menghidu, tangan untuk memegang dan kaki untuk berjalan...
To date, I’ve purchased a pair of baju kurung, a “Laura Ashley” dress for my girl and a blouse for myself. And guess what, the saying “what you see is not always what you get” best explains my experience with online purchase. I vow to never buy anything online ever again, seriously! I don’t mind paying more for peace of mind than pay less and get crap.
Baju kurung – the quality wasn’t as good, though the price is darn cheap for a pair of baju kurung like that. The quality of sewing particularly, is really bad. Nonetheless, to buy a pair of heavily beaded baju kurung at RM150 is unbeatable in term of price. It’s so so cheap. I just wish the manufacturer would pay a little bit more attention on the quality of sewing. But then again, you can’t expect much from a RM150 baju. Hence, this one is forgivable lah. The next time I want to purchase baju from her again, I’d rather take a little extra effort to go to her house and hand pick the baju instead, like I did the first time.
“Laura Ashley” dress – the online seller claimed that it was a Laura Ashley dress for girl. I bought it at RM61 including postage fee and it was couriered down all the way from Kuantan. One look at it I know for sure it’s not from Laura Ashley. You can dupe a makcik kampong but not me okay!
Korean blouse – my latest purchase. This one really pissed me off. It looks so pretty in the picture (on a very pretty model) but when I got it through Pos Laju, the quality is worse than those you can get from pasar malam. I’m not joking or exaggerating, it is really bad to the power of 1000! Although I paid only RM39 for it, I felt really cheated. A blouse like that could easily be bought at pasar malam at a much cheaper price. I don’t think that I’d ever wear the blouse in this lifetime...grrrrr. I think if I were to pass down the blouse to my maid, she too wouldn’t want to wear it. Yes, it's that bad...percayalah!
In short, I’ve learned my lesson, not once but thrice. No more online shopping for moi thank you.
I say, seeing is believing. Nothing beats the sense of sight, touch and smell. Allah jadikan mata untuk melihat, telinga untuk mendengar, hidung untuk menghidu, tangan untuk memegang dan kaki untuk berjalan...
Monday, October 4, 2010
Burning the midnight oil
It’s 4am and I’m still up, burning the midnight oil. Never in my wildest imagination I thought that I would say this one day - I’m having writer’s block! Yes, I’m saying this again loud and clear, I am having writer’s block. I can’t write, I just can’t for no apparent reasons. My mind wanders elsewhere each time I switch on my notebook. Last month I could blame it on puasa and lack of caffeine but this month...who and what can I blame it to? Can I blame it on the husband? Ehehehehe...
I am behind schedule in my book. I still have a few chapters to write, the few last CRITICAL chapters. Chapters that carry the most important information of all and would guarantee the sale of the book (not that it would affect me though coz I don’t get royalty). Perhaps the emphasize on the importance of the chapters scared the hell out of me and keep me from writing it *puzzled*. At this point of time, I really need divine intervention lah coz I promised the client that I’d deliver 2 chapters by this weekend *gulp* (sendiri korek lubang kubur gittew). And I haven’t even finish a chapter...how lah? Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, permudahkanlah urusan hamba-Mu ini...amin.
Ok need to get back to work now. Can’t afford to waste anymore time, the clock is ticking Azura!
I say time may not always be on our side. Make the best of it at all cost, including sacrificing your precious sleep like moi...teeheehee.
I am behind schedule in my book. I still have a few chapters to write, the few last CRITICAL chapters. Chapters that carry the most important information of all and would guarantee the sale of the book (not that it would affect me though coz I don’t get royalty). Perhaps the emphasize on the importance of the chapters scared the hell out of me and keep me from writing it *puzzled*. At this point of time, I really need divine intervention lah coz I promised the client that I’d deliver 2 chapters by this weekend *gulp* (sendiri korek lubang kubur gittew). And I haven’t even finish a chapter...how lah? Ya Allah ya Tuhanku, permudahkanlah urusan hamba-Mu ini...amin.
Ok need to get back to work now. Can’t afford to waste anymore time, the clock is ticking Azura!
I say time may not always be on our side. Make the best of it at all cost, including sacrificing your precious sleep like moi...teeheehee.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Sampaikan walaupun se-ayat
Please view the video with an open mind. A very interesting video to watch, especially part 1, part 2 may come as a little hard to believe for me though. A great revelation indeed to those who believe, but then again DO NOT take everything and anything you see on the internet as the truth and nothing but the truth. Remember, keep an open mind...
This video was posted by a friend on FB (it's 20 mins long!), that was taken from http://salafus-sholih.blogspot.com/ But this guy wasn't the original author.
Part 1
Part 2
Do check out the blog. Lots of useful info there if you fancy reading about Islam & akhir zaman. I particularly like the author's point of view about Islam - he's neither extreme nor moderate. Me & him are on the same page, I loike!
I say Allahuakhbar, Allahuakhbar, Allahuakbar!!!
This video was posted by a friend on FB (it's 20 mins long!), that was taken from http://salafus-sholih.blogspot.com/ But this guy wasn't the original author.
Part 1
Part 2
Do check out the blog. Lots of useful info there if you fancy reading about Islam & akhir zaman. I particularly like the author's point of view about Islam - he's neither extreme nor moderate. Me & him are on the same page, I loike!
I say Allahuakhbar, Allahuakhbar, Allahuakbar!!!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Raya Get-together at Micasa
It’s the time of the year again (no it's not what you think!), I hosted the 2nd annual IU9 girls Raya get-together recently at my humble abode. A week prior to the event I was down with very bad flu that kept me sleepless for days (in fact I’m still down with flu and severe cough as we speak). I was worried that I might not have the energy to cook and to entertain friends on the actual day. But, entertaining being my forte (I loike this statement!), I brave myself and got everything ready in time for the gathering, syukur Alhamdulillah.
Based on the learning outcomes from last year’s event, I set up 2 food stations – one for the ladies and 1 for the gentlemen, and arrange more chairs at the living room. I also prepared some finger food for the kids. It was so much easier this way but pity the hubbies coz they had to eat on the sofa whereas us ladies had the dining tables all for ourselves...hehehe. The bigger kids on the other hand had a party of their own upstairs – and there were 28 of them!
Thanks to friends who brought food for the day we had so much to eat and plenty of leftover too. It's always hard to eat as much when you keep chatting non-stop kan. But fret not there was an AJK to tapau the food, thank God! Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do with the leftovers.
In addition to my nasi daging, Shikin brought laksa Penang, Wengky - fried angel hair pasta, Saf - bread pudding, Lin - Kuzi Ayam, Eika - kek lapis & super delicious choc cake, Shahar - swiss roll cake, Am - 3 types of homemade talam, Ezy (who came after everyone left) - ice cream and jelly, Wan - dates and drinks from Bahrain & Jaimy (I terforgot la). Thanks all!
Coming back to entertaining being my forte (teeheehee!), I actually love having friends and family at my house. I like the sense of the house being ‘alive’ with lotsa people in it making a lot of noise. But, to get lots of people like that is not easy. This event was almost cancelled at the last minute coz quite a number of couples couldn’t make it. But, thanks to those who could make it, it was a blast indeed! Till next year people...muahhhs.
The girls who came. It was great having all of you frens!
Upacara tapau-menapau
The husbands who are also from the same batch. I loike this...pandai cari jodoh kannn!
Some of the 28 kids who came with their parents. Some were having a party of their own upstairs. These are true IU9 kids coz both parents are IU9-ners :-)
Based on the learning outcomes from last year’s event, I set up 2 food stations – one for the ladies and 1 for the gentlemen, and arrange more chairs at the living room. I also prepared some finger food for the kids. It was so much easier this way but pity the hubbies coz they had to eat on the sofa whereas us ladies had the dining tables all for ourselves...hehehe. The bigger kids on the other hand had a party of their own upstairs – and there were 28 of them!
Thanks to friends who brought food for the day we had so much to eat and plenty of leftover too. It's always hard to eat as much when you keep chatting non-stop kan. But fret not there was an AJK to tapau the food, thank God! Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do with the leftovers.
In addition to my nasi daging, Shikin brought laksa Penang, Wengky - fried angel hair pasta, Saf - bread pudding, Lin - Kuzi Ayam, Eika - kek lapis & super delicious choc cake, Shahar - swiss roll cake, Am - 3 types of homemade talam, Ezy (who came after everyone left) - ice cream and jelly, Wan - dates and drinks from Bahrain & Jaimy (I terforgot la). Thanks all!
Coming back to entertaining being my forte (teeheehee!), I actually love having friends and family at my house. I like the sense of the house being ‘alive’ with lotsa people in it making a lot of noise. But, to get lots of people like that is not easy. This event was almost cancelled at the last minute coz quite a number of couples couldn’t make it. But, thanks to those who could make it, it was a blast indeed! Till next year people...muahhhs.
The girls who came. It was great having all of you frens!
Upacara tapau-menapau
The husbands who are also from the same batch. I loike this...pandai cari jodoh kannn!
Some of the 28 kids who came with their parents. Some were having a party of their own upstairs. These are true IU9 kids coz both parents are IU9-ners :-)
Nana is 6!
Mini me (she looks exactly like me!) celebrated her 6th birthday recently on 22nd Sept. Yup, in case you are wondering, both my girls were born in September. Wait! My boys were also born in the same month – December. Talk about planning ek? Bagus punya! I haven’t organized any ‘real’ birthday party for my girl ever since her first because her birthday has always fell either in puasa month or Raya week. This year, fortunately it falls in the second week of Raya. Hence, I could organize a small do at her school.
On the actual day of her birthday, we took her out for dinner and she chose Chilli’s (again!). Off we went to Empire Subang with the whole clan and after dinner we took her to Toy’r’Us. This year I decided to let her choose her own present. I told her she can pick ANYTHING she wants from the store, no restriction whatsoever (sounds like heaven for kids isn’t it?). Guess what, she picked a Playdoh set that only cost a fraction of the present that I would normally get her. This little girl sure knows how to save her parents money, bravo Ariana! I was actually trying to coax her to pick another item that I felt was more suitable as her birthday present but she was adamant on getting the Playdoh set. Well, I normally don’t allow Playdoh at home, hence it was a ‘present’ for her indeed.
Two days later, I organized a party at her kindergarten with her classmates. I ordered a mermaid cake (she likes Princess Ariel so much) especially for the celebration, fried some chicken nuggets and made mini 3-cheese pizzas. The cake was simply beautiful and she loves it. I’m delighted that she felt special that day. I have to admit that ever since Sophie came into the picture, she didn't get all the attentions she used to get when she was the only girl in the family. And it wasn’t easy having an adorable girl for a baby sister. All attentions seem to diverge to the younger one.
But one thing I adore about Nana is even though Sophie has taken away almost all the stars from her, she never hates her little sister. She loves her so so much and very protective of her baby sister, such a darling sister she is. Momma loves you darling...muahhhh!
Here is my not-so-little-anymore princess during her birthday celebration at school...
This little girl was also there to celebrate her kakak's birthday :-)
On the actual day of her birthday, we took her out for dinner and she chose Chilli’s (again!). Off we went to Empire Subang with the whole clan and after dinner we took her to Toy’r’Us. This year I decided to let her choose her own present. I told her she can pick ANYTHING she wants from the store, no restriction whatsoever (sounds like heaven for kids isn’t it?). Guess what, she picked a Playdoh set that only cost a fraction of the present that I would normally get her. This little girl sure knows how to save her parents money, bravo Ariana! I was actually trying to coax her to pick another item that I felt was more suitable as her birthday present but she was adamant on getting the Playdoh set. Well, I normally don’t allow Playdoh at home, hence it was a ‘present’ for her indeed.
Two days later, I organized a party at her kindergarten with her classmates. I ordered a mermaid cake (she likes Princess Ariel so much) especially for the celebration, fried some chicken nuggets and made mini 3-cheese pizzas. The cake was simply beautiful and she loves it. I’m delighted that she felt special that day. I have to admit that ever since Sophie came into the picture, she didn't get all the attentions she used to get when she was the only girl in the family. And it wasn’t easy having an adorable girl for a baby sister. All attentions seem to diverge to the younger one.
But one thing I adore about Nana is even though Sophie has taken away almost all the stars from her, she never hates her little sister. She loves her so so much and very protective of her baby sister, such a darling sister she is. Momma loves you darling...muahhhh!
Here is my not-so-little-anymore princess during her birthday celebration at school...
This little girl was also there to celebrate her kakak's birthday :-)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sophie is 2!
My sweeety pie celebrated her 2nd birthday on 17/9. Sophia Amani was born via emergency c-section on Nuzul Quran 2008. I chose the name Sophia in honour of my late maternal grandmother who was my second mother. I miss my Tok sooo much *sob sob*
We were all looking forward to celebrate her birthday with makan-makan days before her birthday. I’ve been craving for Red Velvet Cake from Just Heavenly for a while hence I suggested Chilli’s BSC (so that I could get the yummylicious cake there, smart eh?). My kids love Chilli’s hence they get pretty excited and superbly happy (they actually shouted 'yeay' in the car) the minute I suggested the place...phewww! Should I pick the wrong place everyone would put on their long masam face I tell ya. My kids, especially the boys, are really particular when it comes to food. They would rather go hungry than dine at a place they don’t like. Trust me, I’m not exaggerating.
But, even an experience parent like moi (perasan teheheee!) makes mistake. I didn’t feed the birthday baby before we left the house. Hence, she threw tantrum all the way there until the food arrived on our table (yup she was that hungry and I was a mean mom). My first attempt at cutting the cake at the venue failed. She refused to cooperate and almost hit the cake with her bare hand. Nevermind I said, we’ll do another round of cake cutting at home. Owh, I made another major mistake - I requested for only 1 candle when in fact my girl was turning 2! In my defense (as usual I have to defense myself ler), I was coaxing a baby who kept screaming “nak mamam” when I was ordering the cake, so I couldn’t think straight *grin*. Good enough excuse? Yes, I think so...hehehe.
Once we reached home, dear hubby improvised by halving the candle (thank God for the smart hubby) and we sang her happy birthday enthusiastically (yes, really!). She was so so happy and kept clapping until we finish the song. The look on her face was, like MasterCard says it, priceless!
Here are some snapshots of my baby, my heartbeat, on her birthday. Momma loves you so much darling!
I wish she could stay this cute forever and ever...
All grown up! She's the only child that I 'raised' myself. The rest was practically 'raised' by the maids :-(
We were all looking forward to celebrate her birthday with makan-makan days before her birthday. I’ve been craving for Red Velvet Cake from Just Heavenly for a while hence I suggested Chilli’s BSC (so that I could get the yummylicious cake there, smart eh?). My kids love Chilli’s hence they get pretty excited and superbly happy (they actually shouted 'yeay' in the car) the minute I suggested the place...phewww! Should I pick the wrong place everyone would put on their long masam face I tell ya. My kids, especially the boys, are really particular when it comes to food. They would rather go hungry than dine at a place they don’t like. Trust me, I’m not exaggerating.
But, even an experience parent like moi (perasan teheheee!) makes mistake. I didn’t feed the birthday baby before we left the house. Hence, she threw tantrum all the way there until the food arrived on our table (yup she was that hungry and I was a mean mom). My first attempt at cutting the cake at the venue failed. She refused to cooperate and almost hit the cake with her bare hand. Nevermind I said, we’ll do another round of cake cutting at home. Owh, I made another major mistake - I requested for only 1 candle when in fact my girl was turning 2! In my defense (as usual I have to defense myself ler), I was coaxing a baby who kept screaming “nak mamam” when I was ordering the cake, so I couldn’t think straight *grin*. Good enough excuse? Yes, I think so...hehehe.
Once we reached home, dear hubby improvised by halving the candle (thank God for the smart hubby) and we sang her happy birthday enthusiastically (yes, really!). She was so so happy and kept clapping until we finish the song. The look on her face was, like MasterCard says it, priceless!
Here are some snapshots of my baby, my heartbeat, on her birthday. Momma loves you so much darling!
I wish she could stay this cute forever and ever...
All grown up! She's the only child that I 'raised' myself. The rest was practically 'raised' by the maids :-(
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Catching up after Raya
It’s raining heavily outside, tones of works are waiting for me, clients are calling asking about the status of the jobs and I’m down with flu and fever for the second time after Raya (I can’t think when I’m sick, hence no work done yet since Raya). But I’m not complaining, instead I’m thankful, alhamdulillah. Moga terhapus dosa2 kecilku, aminnn.
I have a lot of things in mind but too little time to write, hence this entry will be short and sweet. I need to warm up my brain too before I start work again hehehe...
The recent TV3 Raya ad has caught my attention big time. I have a lot to say about that but I guess what I wanted to say has been said by others online. I feel that those responsible for approving such lousy ad should take full responsibility for their action. 1Malaysia is not about religion you dum***s, you should never ever mix religions together. I have been involved with TV commercial productions before and I know for a fact that it takes a big team to work on the project from the story board to final editing. What puzzled me was, weren't there anyone who was quick to say something about the improper and offensive concept that clearly won’t work? Don’t tell me that everyone in TV3 is blinded with the 1Malaysia concept so much that they can’t see that religion is a very serious and sensitive issue? Come on lar people!
Sadly, Islamophobia is on the rise around the world too. And the western media is doing their best to portray a very negative image of Islam. I feel so sad when fellow Muslims take what the western media is saying as the truth. I think we all are smart enough not to believe everything the media is saying (particularly when those behind them are out to tarnish Islam). The stoning of Soraya M for example, the Western media had a field day with this sensational story. I’m not saying that I agree with the stoning punishment, all I’m saying is the story has been sensationalized and manipulated to their benefit and to our detriment.
The murder of the local cosmetic millionaire also garnered our attention, so much so that the media is covering the news every single day. Even the story about her daughter going to the office for the first time since her death was aired on TV3 Prime News (do we really care?). It was like a plot in Hindi movie to say the least. If there is one thing I should learn from this saga is – money does not guarantee a good ending to your life. Your ibadah is the only guarantee, wallahuwa’lam. Also don’t ever befriend lawyers from a certain race...hahaha. Oops, am I being racist here?
Speaking of racism, I wonder why it is ok for people from other races to utter racist remarks, but it’s not acceptable when we the Malays did it? It’s so unfair isn’t it? But then again, the world is unfair and unkind. Live with it people. Suck it up!
Interestingly, so many ulamak are making their say about FB these days. There was even one circulated in FB that shows an Imam giving advice about FB in his Friday sermon, I loike! He said in a gist “FB adalah agenda Yahudi untuk menghalalkan maksiat.” I can’t agree more, it’s so so true. We all have seen it and done it, but try to deny it either consciously or otherwise. Nau’zubillah. There was one about dosa 24 jam on FB. I have since deleted all my pictures that show aurat (accept for one that I recently posted). Hubby has requested that I deleted that too *grin*. And I tell you that it wasn’t easy for me to click the delete button.
I say it takes a lot of courage and conviction to do good things ke jalan Allah but it’s so so easy to perform maksiat. May Allah show us the righteous way, insyaAllah.
That should be it for now. I’d like to wish everyone SELAMAT HARI RAYA, MAAF ZAHIR & BATIN, TERKASAR BAHASA, TERSILAP KATA, HALALKAN MAKAN, MINUM & HUTANG JIKA ADA.
I have a lot of things in mind but too little time to write, hence this entry will be short and sweet. I need to warm up my brain too before I start work again hehehe...
The recent TV3 Raya ad has caught my attention big time. I have a lot to say about that but I guess what I wanted to say has been said by others online. I feel that those responsible for approving such lousy ad should take full responsibility for their action. 1Malaysia is not about religion you dum***s, you should never ever mix religions together. I have been involved with TV commercial productions before and I know for a fact that it takes a big team to work on the project from the story board to final editing. What puzzled me was, weren't there anyone who was quick to say something about the improper and offensive concept that clearly won’t work? Don’t tell me that everyone in TV3 is blinded with the 1Malaysia concept so much that they can’t see that religion is a very serious and sensitive issue? Come on lar people!
Sadly, Islamophobia is on the rise around the world too. And the western media is doing their best to portray a very negative image of Islam. I feel so sad when fellow Muslims take what the western media is saying as the truth. I think we all are smart enough not to believe everything the media is saying (particularly when those behind them are out to tarnish Islam). The stoning of Soraya M for example, the Western media had a field day with this sensational story. I’m not saying that I agree with the stoning punishment, all I’m saying is the story has been sensationalized and manipulated to their benefit and to our detriment.
The murder of the local cosmetic millionaire also garnered our attention, so much so that the media is covering the news every single day. Even the story about her daughter going to the office for the first time since her death was aired on TV3 Prime News (do we really care?). It was like a plot in Hindi movie to say the least. If there is one thing I should learn from this saga is – money does not guarantee a good ending to your life. Your ibadah is the only guarantee, wallahuwa’lam. Also don’t ever befriend lawyers from a certain race...hahaha. Oops, am I being racist here?
Speaking of racism, I wonder why it is ok for people from other races to utter racist remarks, but it’s not acceptable when we the Malays did it? It’s so unfair isn’t it? But then again, the world is unfair and unkind. Live with it people. Suck it up!
Interestingly, so many ulamak are making their say about FB these days. There was even one circulated in FB that shows an Imam giving advice about FB in his Friday sermon, I loike! He said in a gist “FB adalah agenda Yahudi untuk menghalalkan maksiat.” I can’t agree more, it’s so so true. We all have seen it and done it, but try to deny it either consciously or otherwise. Nau’zubillah. There was one about dosa 24 jam on FB. I have since deleted all my pictures that show aurat (accept for one that I recently posted). Hubby has requested that I deleted that too *grin*. And I tell you that it wasn’t easy for me to click the delete button.
I say it takes a lot of courage and conviction to do good things ke jalan Allah but it’s so so easy to perform maksiat. May Allah show us the righteous way, insyaAllah.
That should be it for now. I’d like to wish everyone SELAMAT HARI RAYA, MAAF ZAHIR & BATIN, TERKASAR BAHASA, TERSILAP KATA, HALALKAN MAKAN, MINUM & HUTANG JIKA ADA.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The usage of the term MasyaAllah vs Astaghfirullah
I need a quick break peeps...hence, I need to write something here *happy*.
As a Muslim, it is our responsibility to share what little knowledge we have with each other. I'd like to do my bit today by sharing the correct use of the phrase “MasyaAllah”. I can't help but notice that some of us, Malay Muslims especially, are using the phrase in a wrong context. MasyaAllah by definition means “Allah Maha Agung”.
More than a decade ago an Arab woman said this to me upon seeing my wedding ring “MasyaAllah, what a beautiful ring” (she was just trying to being nice of course. My ring is an ordinary ring by the way, but that’s not the issue here lol!). That was when I realised that I was using the term incorrectly more than half of my life. The correct instance to use the phrase is when we see something nice or beautiful, like the nice Arab lady did. For example, we say “MasyaAllah she is such a beautiful baby”, or “MasyaAllah! what a nice home you have”, and NOT when we see something bad or unfortunate.
Instead, “Astaghfirullahal’azim” is to be used when we see something of a bad nature, met with an unfortunate incident or see something awful. By definition it means “Aku memohon ampun kepadamu Ya Allah”. For example, when we see an individual did something very bad, we should say “Astagfirullahal’azim” and not “MasyaAllah”.
JazakAllah.
As a Muslim, it is our responsibility to share what little knowledge we have with each other. I'd like to do my bit today by sharing the correct use of the phrase “MasyaAllah”. I can't help but notice that some of us, Malay Muslims especially, are using the phrase in a wrong context. MasyaAllah by definition means “Allah Maha Agung”.
More than a decade ago an Arab woman said this to me upon seeing my wedding ring “MasyaAllah, what a beautiful ring” (she was just trying to being nice of course. My ring is an ordinary ring by the way, but that’s not the issue here lol!). That was when I realised that I was using the term incorrectly more than half of my life. The correct instance to use the phrase is when we see something nice or beautiful, like the nice Arab lady did. For example, we say “MasyaAllah she is such a beautiful baby”, or “MasyaAllah! what a nice home you have”, and NOT when we see something bad or unfortunate.
Instead, “Astaghfirullahal’azim” is to be used when we see something of a bad nature, met with an unfortunate incident or see something awful. By definition it means “Aku memohon ampun kepadamu Ya Allah”. For example, when we see an individual did something very bad, we should say “Astagfirullahal’azim” and not “MasyaAllah”.
JazakAllah.
Monday, August 23, 2010
10 things I love about Malaysia, really!
I was ‘browsing’ the newspaper earlier today (yes, these days I opt to browse the news instead of reading them) and came across an article written by a guest writer. She wrote about 10 things she likes about Malaysia, which includes the architecture, the food, the weather, the people and the other customary 10 things that people would write about. Then I thought, hmmmm since I need to ‘warm up’ my brain perhaps I should write something like that too. So, here it goes...
10 things I love about Malaysia, really!
1. The weather (I know it’s cliché but I just have to say that I love it!): Although people generally hate the hot & humid Malaysian weather (including my other half), I would not trade it for anything, ever! I simply hate cold weather, esp. during winter. My body was not built to withstand such extreme coldness; hence, the Malaysian temperature suits me just fine. I super like the weather here.
2. The convenience: Malaysia may be one of the few countries where a family earning less than RM3K a month can afford to have a live-in maid, or have part-time cleaners come and clean up the house once or twice a week, have a handy-man to come and fix things up in the house as and when necessary, etc. I used to call them up just to change my light bulbs or to move furnitures around, amazing eh? (Well, in my defense, my ceiling is mighty high and my furnitures are mighty heavy) It's either Malaysians are too rich to do this ourselves or help is too easy to get, not to mention help is cheap too. All thanks to the heavy influx of illegal immigrants into our prosperous borders. It’s a love-hate situation, don’t you think? (Note: for the record my maid is a legal one)
3. The abundance: Think what you want, but I think it’s so easy to make a few bucks here. Not-so-good nasi lemak sells like hot cakes in the morning by the road side, karipap, kuih or anything that can barely be eaten sell like hot cakes by the road sides too (these days the Indons are venturing into this business, what happened to us Malaysians? Perhaps everyone sudah kaya but me kot), pirated DVDs business turn some to very rich businessman, ali baba business has turned some lucky Malays to millionaires, even illegal money lending makes good business here too. Today The Star reported that Malaysia is "foreign beggars’ heaven". They are said to be able to reap up to RM8K a month from begging on the street *terkezut beruk*. Need I say more?
4. The safety: You may think that Malaysia is no longer a safe place to live in but I beg to differ. Today, we can still send our kids to school relatively worry-free - we need not worry about our kids being killed by some kid/individual who ran amok at school or worry about kids carrying guns to school. We also don’t have extreme act of Mother Nature occurring in our land - no volcanoes to erupt, no earthquakes to bring buildings to rumbles, no major flooding to sweep away lives before your eyes. Alhamdulillah.
5. The political antics: Wouldn’t you agree that the Malaysian political scene injects a daily dose of humor into our lives with their bickering? I find them to be humorous (this applies to ALL). What a bunch of jokers they are! BUT, we can’t ignore the fact that we enjoy political stability here. No one is killing each other freely because of their political differences (yet). Alhamdulillah.
6. The wealth: Malaysians are darn rich! Thousands can afford to sip a cuppa of RM10 coffee everyday (everyone I know but moi). They buy designers items like I buy bread from the convenience stores. Luxury cars that cost more than my house roams our roads freely. I have friends who own handbags that cost RM20K each *gulp*, neighbours who drive cars that cost almost a million ringgit, need I say more?
We have yet to hear serious cases of Malaysians losing jobs due to recession (some did BUT it’s not a significant number like in other countries). People are still making lotsa moolah every day here (again, everyone BUT me). Even in America, people are losing jobs every day as we speak.
7. The melting pot: We have everything we want here. Just name it and I’m sure you can find it. Feels like going Italian for dinner? Fret not there are plenty of authentic Italians and also the not-so-authentic ones in town, Arabic food, Mediterranean, Vietnamese, etc. from fine dining to road side stalls. Apart from food, we also have places of interest that covers almost all but a snowy mountain – beautiful beaches, rainforest, historical places, wild life, etc. Malaysia is a mini wonderland on its own.
8. The caring society: I bet only in Malaysia when an accident happened on the road/highway, everyone slowed down to look (I mean everyone from BOTH sides of the road)...teeheehee. We care so much that a little road accident can cause a 3km jam on both sides of the road (mind-boggling isn't it?). Jokes aside, we can’t deny that Malaysians are a bunch of caring people. We help people in need ALL the time. That explains why individuals/ organisations who want to build masjid, orphanages, schools, etc, came all the way from Thailand, Cambodia and even Afghanistan to collect donations from us. We are way too generous when it comes to charity, don’t you agree?
This caring attitude goes around in the neighborhood too. Two years ago when my next door neighbor passed away, I’ve witnessed a society that works efficiently in time of need. When the grieving wife was still in the hospital with the body of the deceased, the people in the neighbourhood was already camping in their house setting up tents, making arrangement with the masjid and the authorities without being asked to (and these are working citizens – everyone took the day off to attend to the burial arrangement including my dear hubby). It works so smoothly like a system was already put in place. The family of the deceased didn’t have to do a single thing, everything was taken care of by the neighbours. I’m glad that I chose to call this place home.
9. The festivities: We celebrate so many festivals all year round. We even have TV commercials that would bring down tears to our face during each festive season (I bet this only happens in Malaysia). Even the durian season is celebrated like a festivity by us Malaysians. We celebrate everything and anything with makan2 - for crying out loud there are even national level makan2! Malaysia Boleh!
10. The heroes: we have heroes in almost all categories – Ibu Mithali, tokoh Maal Hijrah, national astronaut (or Malaysia’s first space tourist, no?), tokoh kemerdekaan (did you know that there are actually a number of them? I only knew about this today ahaks), sports champions, sasterawan negara, biduan negara, and lots more. We celebrate them heroes with so much pride and attribution, and we look up to them as good examples to the society. These days we even have icons for young Imam. I like the fact that the general Malaysians (I hope) are moving towards spiritual fulfillment, a commendable shift from the Akademi Fantasia mentality. Alhamdulillah.
Now that my brain is all warmed up (woot! woot!), I should go back to work! I say writing from your heart is practically effortless and FUN but writing for others need lots and lots of reinforcement (and gallons of cheap coffee)...sigh!
10 things I love about Malaysia, really!
1. The weather (I know it’s cliché but I just have to say that I love it!): Although people generally hate the hot & humid Malaysian weather (including my other half), I would not trade it for anything, ever! I simply hate cold weather, esp. during winter. My body was not built to withstand such extreme coldness; hence, the Malaysian temperature suits me just fine. I super like the weather here.
2. The convenience: Malaysia may be one of the few countries where a family earning less than RM3K a month can afford to have a live-in maid, or have part-time cleaners come and clean up the house once or twice a week, have a handy-man to come and fix things up in the house as and when necessary, etc. I used to call them up just to change my light bulbs or to move furnitures around, amazing eh? (Well, in my defense, my ceiling is mighty high and my furnitures are mighty heavy) It's either Malaysians are too rich to do this ourselves or help is too easy to get, not to mention help is cheap too. All thanks to the heavy influx of illegal immigrants into our prosperous borders. It’s a love-hate situation, don’t you think? (Note: for the record my maid is a legal one)
3. The abundance: Think what you want, but I think it’s so easy to make a few bucks here. Not-so-good nasi lemak sells like hot cakes in the morning by the road side, karipap, kuih or anything that can barely be eaten sell like hot cakes by the road sides too (these days the Indons are venturing into this business, what happened to us Malaysians? Perhaps everyone sudah kaya but me kot), pirated DVDs business turn some to very rich businessman, ali baba business has turned some lucky Malays to millionaires, even illegal money lending makes good business here too. Today The Star reported that Malaysia is "foreign beggars’ heaven". They are said to be able to reap up to RM8K a month from begging on the street *terkezut beruk*. Need I say more?
4. The safety: You may think that Malaysia is no longer a safe place to live in but I beg to differ. Today, we can still send our kids to school relatively worry-free - we need not worry about our kids being killed by some kid/individual who ran amok at school or worry about kids carrying guns to school. We also don’t have extreme act of Mother Nature occurring in our land - no volcanoes to erupt, no earthquakes to bring buildings to rumbles, no major flooding to sweep away lives before your eyes. Alhamdulillah.
5. The political antics: Wouldn’t you agree that the Malaysian political scene injects a daily dose of humor into our lives with their bickering? I find them to be humorous (this applies to ALL). What a bunch of jokers they are! BUT, we can’t ignore the fact that we enjoy political stability here. No one is killing each other freely because of their political differences (yet). Alhamdulillah.
6. The wealth: Malaysians are darn rich! Thousands can afford to sip a cuppa of RM10 coffee everyday (everyone I know but moi). They buy designers items like I buy bread from the convenience stores. Luxury cars that cost more than my house roams our roads freely. I have friends who own handbags that cost RM20K each *gulp*, neighbours who drive cars that cost almost a million ringgit, need I say more?
We have yet to hear serious cases of Malaysians losing jobs due to recession (some did BUT it’s not a significant number like in other countries). People are still making lotsa moolah every day here (again, everyone BUT me). Even in America, people are losing jobs every day as we speak.
7. The melting pot: We have everything we want here. Just name it and I’m sure you can find it. Feels like going Italian for dinner? Fret not there are plenty of authentic Italians and also the not-so-authentic ones in town, Arabic food, Mediterranean, Vietnamese, etc. from fine dining to road side stalls. Apart from food, we also have places of interest that covers almost all but a snowy mountain – beautiful beaches, rainforest, historical places, wild life, etc. Malaysia is a mini wonderland on its own.
8. The caring society: I bet only in Malaysia when an accident happened on the road/highway, everyone slowed down to look (I mean everyone from BOTH sides of the road)...teeheehee. We care so much that a little road accident can cause a 3km jam on both sides of the road (mind-boggling isn't it?). Jokes aside, we can’t deny that Malaysians are a bunch of caring people. We help people in need ALL the time. That explains why individuals/ organisations who want to build masjid, orphanages, schools, etc, came all the way from Thailand, Cambodia and even Afghanistan to collect donations from us. We are way too generous when it comes to charity, don’t you agree?
This caring attitude goes around in the neighborhood too. Two years ago when my next door neighbor passed away, I’ve witnessed a society that works efficiently in time of need. When the grieving wife was still in the hospital with the body of the deceased, the people in the neighbourhood was already camping in their house setting up tents, making arrangement with the masjid and the authorities without being asked to (and these are working citizens – everyone took the day off to attend to the burial arrangement including my dear hubby). It works so smoothly like a system was already put in place. The family of the deceased didn’t have to do a single thing, everything was taken care of by the neighbours. I’m glad that I chose to call this place home.
9. The festivities: We celebrate so many festivals all year round. We even have TV commercials that would bring down tears to our face during each festive season (I bet this only happens in Malaysia). Even the durian season is celebrated like a festivity by us Malaysians. We celebrate everything and anything with makan2 - for crying out loud there are even national level makan2! Malaysia Boleh!
10. The heroes: we have heroes in almost all categories – Ibu Mithali, tokoh Maal Hijrah, national astronaut (or Malaysia’s first space tourist, no?), tokoh kemerdekaan (did you know that there are actually a number of them? I only knew about this today ahaks), sports champions, sasterawan negara, biduan negara, and lots more. We celebrate them heroes with so much pride and attribution, and we look up to them as good examples to the society. These days we even have icons for young Imam. I like the fact that the general Malaysians (I hope) are moving towards spiritual fulfillment, a commendable shift from the Akademi Fantasia mentality. Alhamdulillah.
Now that my brain is all warmed up (woot! woot!), I should go back to work! I say writing from your heart is practically effortless and FUN but writing for others need lots and lots of reinforcement (and gallons of cheap coffee)...sigh!
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