I'm In The News!!!!

*from my other blog at Dilla Speaks Out

Big moment in history — I am in the NEWS!!!! Wassap????? Heh heh heh.. Still in a daze, somewhat.. Can’t believe it still… Glamour tak? For the benefit of you guys who did not have a chance to get the hardcopy, here it is in the softcopy form… courtesy of Nadya, the e-browse product owner. (Thank you, sissy)

Been waiting for Tuesday since last Saturday. That was when the article was due for. Izza, the KOSMO! journalist was looking around the workshop last weekend. She was looking for the face-painter her friend told her about. Hmmmmmm, that sounds like me.. She is looking for ME! So, we had the interview thing and I promised to send some pictures to her for the piece. Pictures were taken by Kira, of course, my trusted apprentice.

And then, Tuesday came. Got to get my KOSMO!Got to get my KOSMO! When I entered mynews.com (located at the Lower Ground of Menara Telekom) this morning, my heart was skipping a beat. (Btw, you can’t get any more from there now. Lily got the last copy at noon. heh heh heh) Reached for the first KOSMO! in sight and I quickly skimmed through the pages to see if the article made it. Would it be a small one, a full-page coverage or what?

Then I saw the image of Ariff, the brave kid who wanted a full-faced skull last Saturday. Hmmm, that’s familiar. True enough.. there was yours truly , looking pretty professional beside him. IT’S ME!!!!!! What a rush… I brought bought two copies and ran back up to the lobby to get my hubby… grinning all the way… heh heh heh

It made my day, really. Showed the half-page article to the whole office (GM included) and I was smiling the whole freaking morning.. (and afternoon) SMSed some people about it and got some pretty wild responses. My brother-in-law even asked for a quotation for his annual dinner. Wassap??? Way to get the business going… (BIG HUMONGOUS Smiles…) Hmmm.. I might just afford that professional Krayolan kit after all…

Me? I am pretty high on the piece itself. Need some space to let the reality sink in and live among the mortals again.. heh heh heh

-dillz blogging out-

My Khadra, the Drama Queen

*from my other blog at Dilla Speaks Out

My heart welled up with pride and sheer happiness when she started to open her mouth. Couldn’t help the tears that started to trickle down my cheeks. There we were. Two proud parents in the audience. So proud of her. So, so, so proud of her.

Is that your daughter? She’s so good. How old is she? Look at her sing.

It was her first concert at school. 15 December 2005. I took leave on that day. It was a big deal for me. I had to be there. It was her FIRST concert ever. The Early Years Playgroup was having their Christmas Concert. Khadra and Naqib were having their concert. It was a big deal to many of us. Everyone was there: Azrul and me, Ibu and Encik, Achu Kira, Zizie and Nazz, Khaleeq and Nelysa, Aunty Shahrain, Nita and Ziad and of course our trusted bibiks - Lydia and Tibah.

The first number was for all the children. Khadra was in the middle of the front row. I can see why. She sings the loudest and in tune, of course. She does all the actions correctly and whole-heartedly. She’s not afraid of the audience. In truth, I think she loved the attention. She was soaking it in, enjoying it.

The second number was a special item from the kiddy class. The four of them was singing. Sasha, Khadra, Allistair and his twin Samantha. Songs were Itsy Bitsy Spider, In a Cottage, If You’re Happy and You Know It.

Her next appearance was in the Train parade. Everyone had to be a "professional". Khadra was the Train Conductor. She had the cap, the overalls, the walkie-talkie, the whistle and the train schedule/tickets — the whole shabang! No special reason - just that it was the only unisex outfit we could find at Toys R Us. There were also fire-fighters (Emir and Nawfal), Naqib and Violet were police-persons, Sufiyyah was a nurse ( a pretty one, at that), Daniel was a doctor, we had 2 soldiers (Noah and Allistair), a magistrate(Sasha), Sofea was the train driver, a ballerina (Milla) and many more.

In the finale, they were all dressed up in Red Indian costumes. Khadra had hers made by Aunty Liam. The skirt was too long, so I converted them into a dress by adding two bands on the skirt. (Pretty nifty, eh?) Miss Sharon, (her teacher) made her a little cradle to carry a little baby on her back coz she shakes the most. To add a little originality to it, everyone’s faces was painted, the teachers included - courtesy of Speckle & Sparkle, of course!

The moment was just so precious. Her first performance ever, and she shined like a star. To quote what my dad said,

A star is born.

-dillz blogging out-

She's All Grown Up

*from my other blog at Dilla Speaks Out

Did you all know that Khadra has gone to school already? Well, technically, it is more of a playgroup la. There are 2 classes: one for the kiddies and another for the kindys. Khadra in the kiddy class, in fact, she’s the youngest one there. We are paying RM550 monthly for this and her school starts at 9.00am and ends at 1.00pm. Pretty steep for a 4-hours play,eh?

The thing I love most about sending her to school is that I never know what to expect from her. She amazes me every single day with the things that she does. It’s hilarious really-seeing this little girl acting all grown up.

She speaks English berabuk-abuk. (Even her Malay is English-sounding)

She would ask me to "LINE UP" with her before going to the loo.

She recites her "doa" before her meals.

Bismillahir rahmanir rahim. Thank you God for the food we eat. thank you God for the birds that sing…

She practices her concert pieces in the shower. (Yup, the concert is on the 15th of December, and I can’t wait! I’ve applied for leave already)

She knows exactly what she wants and she does not want.

She loves dancing - with music , without music; in front of the telly, on the side walks, just about everywhere. "Look, ibu. Kakak dance!", she would say. (Maybe I have to enroll her into a Dance School next year)

She knows her ABCs and 123s. She loves her stickers.

She comes back with songs that I never taught her and I could even make them out!

She loooves dressing up and accessorizing.

Check out these pictures from her school -

My daughter is fast growing up. Maybe I should start planning for her wedding now…

-dillz blogging out-

Body Painting

*from my other blog at Dilla Speaks Out

Found myself a new activity on weekends - Face Painting! Love it! Love it! Love it! I’ve started painting on my nephews and cousins since 1998. It all started from this book I bought from ‘In The States".

We now have a ‘do’ at The Curve on weekends. Ziezi has a Painting / Sand Art / Window Art / Magic Art Workshop at the flea market and I am occupying a tiny space in her lot. Currently, it’s on Saturdays and I make my appearance for about 4-5 hours to establish my presence, mingle with prospective clients, practise my art and get new ideas for my design. (read - the money is shite!) It’s kinda like my marketing plan lah.. I also get reservations for private functions, family days and parties, that’s where the real dough comes in. (Big SMILES, Big SMILES) I am getting money from doing what I love.. Great, isn’t it?

Not to sound boastful or anything, I think I am quite good at it. Heh heh heh. Check out some pix I have in my profile. I have a photo album on the whole works too.. Here’s more pictures in my portfolio !

With my gypsy image (dangling earings, long scarf tied at the back- the whole shabang!), my natural passion for it, my PR with the kids - the whole thing really works..

What more, I only use the best paint in the world — Kryolan Face Paint.I tried others, but it’s just not good enough, though… Still looking for a supplier here in Malaysia. Got to know of one place from Faizal — in KL Plaza. But the paint is costing a bomb. RM240 for a 12-color pallette. Sheesh… Anybody has any other suggestions? Maybe I have to ask my sister to buy it for me from the UK. We’ll see how it goes..

-dillz blogging out-