Al-Fatihah

Got news that Azura Hani Ahmad a.k.a Zoorek and Norhashimah Wahid a.k.a Sheema both succumbed to their illnesses this morning. They both have passed on. As and when there is info, I shall keep the updates coming on this post.

Al-Fatihah to my two lovely sisters. Ya Allah, grant their loved ones the strength to carry on.

I was totally numb, trying to make sense of things. It was so overwhelming that I had to stop the car and park by the roadside and cry and cry and cry. What a devastating way to start the week. I shall miss them dearly.

*Update on Allahyarhamah Azura Hani Ahmad

8:55am : Jenazah akan dibawa ke rumah aunty dia di: No 48, Jalan 17/4, Petaling Jaya. Kebumi sebelum Zohor.

10:28am : Directions to her aunty's house - if u are coming from the Masjid Bulat Section 14, at the Rothmans roundabout, take the 3pm exit. Take the first second left turn and look out for Jln 17/4 on your right after Pasar Seksyen 17.Go straight on until you get to a cross-junction. No 41 is the first house on your left.

10:55am :(via sms) Azura Hani, akan dikebumikan @ Kota Damansara, Seksyen 9. 2:30 today.

6:00pm : Tahlil arwah will be carried out at her aunty's house (same place) after Isya' for the first night.

9:00pm: Zoorek's mom confirmed that the 2nd night tahlil will be carried out at the surau instead of her aunty's house. The 3rd night will be done in Meor's house - 105B, Menara Jaya, Section 14, PJ (Opposite Milleneum Tower) Tahlil as usual will be after Isya'. She encouraged that we come to the one in Meor's house. :)

2nd June 2010 : Tahlil arwah malam ke 7 akan diadakan di rumah Abang Hak - No. 78, Jalan Lee Woon (Belakang Zoo Negara) The itinerary would start after Maghrib. Aunty reminded to be there a little earlier, takut sesat.

*Update on Allahyarhamah Sheema Wahid

9:05am : Jenazah akan dibawa ke: No 41, Jalan Enggang Timur 1, Taman Keramat. Kebumi estimated around 11am.

10:07am : Jenazah bertolak dari Hospital Klang pukul 11am. Burial will be a little later.

10:25am (fr sms) : Skrg arwah sheema di bilik forensik, after that dimandikan di Masjid Al-Ansar, Jln Enggang 1, Tmn Keramat, all details about arwah ada di nst, utusan n few local newspaper, all press n govt ppl ada di hospital, arwah akan dikebumikan selepas zohor atau tgh hari ni..time x confirm lg

5th June 2010 (fr sms) : Salam, Di jemput utk menghadiri Kenduri tahlil malam ke-7 for arwah Norhashimah Wahid on 060610; tomorrow nite will be held @sheema's mother house @ keramat after isyak. Please forward to other family member and friends as well.. TQ

-dillz blogging out-

Send your Prayers and Love for Sheema

I just got home with my sister Illa from visiting Zoorek in the UMMC ICU last Saturday. Right after Maghrib, I got a phone call from Jaja (Khairiza Kurdi), my junior in STF. She was calling to update me on Sheema's condition in the ICU. The beautiful Sheema Wahid is a friend of ours from UNITEN. She is married to Zul, who happens to be a friend of my hubby and also my brother. They make the sweetest young couple.

Jaja called to say that Sheema wasn't doing too well. I could feel my heart literally sink to the pit of my stomach. Me and @azrulx rushed over to Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Rahimah in Klang that very night to see how she was doing. We were allowed to go into the ICU two at a time. Sheema was strapped to the life support machine with all sorts of lines attached to her body. Her feet was propped up a little and Zul was always, always by her, stroking her face and speaking to her. There was another lady there too, whom I assumed was her sister. She was just rubbing her feet, kissing her hands and making sure that she was covered sufficiently by the blanket. Such exhibits of unconditional love and adoration that really tugged at my heart. I managed to recite for her the Yaasin. Though with some difficulties. I couldn't contain my tears and I was actually sobbing between the lines. It was such a sad sad sight.

The thing is with Sheema, everything happened too abruptly. We were caught by surprise with the news and how quickly her condition had worsened. Sheema was taken to the Bangi Hospital on Thursday and transferred to the Klang ICU on Friday. The day that we visited her, that was a Saturday. It was only two weeks ago that she organized her daughter, Hylda's 2nd birthday party on 15th May 2010.

Pictures from Sheema's facebook on Hylda's party

Last update I heard today via sms:

Alhamdulillah she's improving. Her lips colour came back, bruises on d hands gettin lesser n her BP is rising 2 normal. But her condition is still critical. Jazakallah 2 all who r praying for her.

Things are looking up. Please don't stop sending your prayers and positivity for her.

-dillz blogging out-

Sisters in Cyberspace

It's already 2.30am. I have been tossing in bed while my three kids are already sound asleep. It's nice to be children. Not much to worry about, just what games to play today, eat when you're hungry, go to the loo if you need to do the number one or the number two. Sometimes, maybe worry about homework or exams. Not too often, though.

But this morning, I had someone specific in my mind. Her name is Azura Hani Ahmad or more fondly known as Zoorek back in my high school years. I was made aware Zoorek's illness a few months back. News and updates travelled quickly in this Information Age - mainly on facebook, twitter, blogs and BBM. She was diagnosed with leukimia and had undergone the first round of chemo with such strength.

A few days back, I was informed of a solat hajat for her on twitter. Informant was noneother than @idlan who was physically in the land of the original Fish and Chips. Zoorek's condition is deteriorating.

In facebook today, it was Ryzah's mobile upload that really caught my attention. It was a snapshot of Norzu's column in NST -From KL to Cape Town that was published yesterday.

@idlan with her trademark kerut

The caption of the picture read:

My first thought when I saw this page on NST today was "mak aii, besornya muka Idlan in Nor's column hari ni"..

But I was reduced to silent tears by the time I finished reading the column for it mentioned Zoorek (our schoolmate) who's fighting for her life in UMMC now and Mike (also a schoolmate) who passed away of cancer last year. Just like Nor, I too didn't manage to see Mike before she left us for eternity.. I hope I will be able to make my way to UMMC this week to visit Zoorek.

Good luck Nor for your second leg of adventure and Al-Fatihah to allahyarhamah Mike, Anor, Pet and Noni (our batchmates who have left us).

(Norzu also blogs about her 5month adventure on My Lost Year: From KL to Cape Town ) Read Idlan's post on Zoorek - I think I thank .

Apart from that, facebook is also providing us the platform in the form of status updates from Srikandis who have visited Zoorek. On Friday, for instance:

Zasya Evilblue : latest update on kak zooreq (as of my visit tghari tadi): her bp ok, temp 37.5, wbc 0.7 (still low), urine dah yellow-brownish, lungs are deteroriating coz of infections altho bleeding dah takda (but this is very bad), ventilator and oxygen on 100% (high setting - she's 100% depending on machine since her lungs are weak, n oxygen level kept dropping since last nite). she's not doing good. :( keep praying ya sisters

Marisa Ahmat : Update on Zoorek as per my visit 7pm: her lungs deteriorating, the antibiotics yet to function but ptg td the docs changed her ventilator to a stronger one to help her lungs pump at an optimum level. other than that she's still the same. but today, my heart broke once again becoz the sight of her labored breathing (...due to the new ventilator) was too devastating. :((

It really made me think about how trivial my problems and issues really are. On one hand, we have a strong 33 year old girl whom I have known since she was 13 years old, fighting for her life. On the other, me stressing about exams and my weight and all other things that wouldn't even matter when I permanently leave this world. How about what I'll be leaving my kids? Do I have enough amalan to answer the questions of Mungkar and Nangkir when I am alone, in my dark grave 6 feet down under?

Life really is temporary. Everybody goes. There's no exception to the rule. It's really how you prepare yourself for the afterlife and the balancing between living for today and beyond. But when bombarded with information of someone so young, so close, so real is actually fighting for her life - it just struck a nerve , I guess. Technology also make you feel so close to the scene - with almost real time update on what is really happening.

I really need to make my way to UMMC tomorrow. According to Zasya, Zoorek is in ICU, Level 3 Menara Utama. In the meantime, dearest sisters in cyberspace, please keep Zoorek in your prayers.

-dillz blogging out-

I Miss My Munchkin(s)

I really miss my little Deyda. Yes, we live in the same house but I hardly see her on weekdays. By the time I leave the house in the mornings, she is still in La La Land. Sleeping and occasionally snoring. :) By the time I get home at night, she is already preparing to sleep or already asleep. The only time that I really get to gomol her is on the weekends.

Such a drama queen, this one. Just like her sister, I guess. :) She is cheeky and mischievous and so loving. Always putting up a smile and ever willing to shower me with her bear hugs and sloppy kisses. Anak bongsu agaknya.. :)

Since it's a public holiday tomorrow, we decided to take the kids out for a special treat to the movies tonight. Shrek 3 Forever After it is. :)

Picture from: here

This is my other munchkin that I miss.


My sister, Kira who is in Alexandria, Egypt right now, studying Medicine. Year 1 out of so many. *updated* In the above picture she was a measly 3 year old, giving me a visit in ole Cobham Hall during my A-Level years - she actually sent me this picture with the subject "found a nice pic of us that wld have been perfect for your blog entry" haha! (looking at the two - Deyda and Kira, they have a lot of similarities, don't they? Yeay Deeds! You're gonna grow up pretty like your Achu)

For the rest of her, sorry Ki, saya cilok gambar awak.

Beautiful and talented. But, I really miss the time that we spend together. The karaoke-ing, the eating and especially the goofy things that we do. Case in point, see below:

Adik, bila mau balik? Kanda sudah rindu, wooo!!! ( Anak bongsu, kot)

Er, boleh ke pergi Egypt je, Inche Azrul?

-dillz blogging out-

The Quest for the Perfect Tudung Gym

Semenjak-duamenjak ber-eksesais ni, I have been scouring high and low for a suitable headgear for my gym sessions. In the olden days, (referring to my high school years throughout my university days) we would normally wear the tudung bawal, ikat belakang. Then, the time finally came when the tudung bawal is no longer in fashion. I moved on to tudung Donatella - alah, yang patterned and very nipis and light tu. And that too went out of fashion. (which basically means I don't have them anymore) I have also experimented with some bandanas, which served the purpose but kinda made me look a little Rempit. Wearing the Syrian to gym just makes me really uncomfortable , especially when I start to sweat. So, needless to say, the quest for the perfect tudung gym goes on.

Then, I came across this magnificent product. It's the multifunctional headgear by Mily & Cole that comes with instructions on the varied ways to wear them on the very distinctive monkey board. This particular kiosk that I went to is located at the Lower Ground Floor of Bangsar Village I. Opposite the F.O.S. There's a lot of patterns to choose from and they priced one headgear at RM29.90. But, if you get 3, they go at RM69.90. Apa lagi? I picked up 6 pieces on my first visit. hihihihihihi

1. Mily & Cole Instruction Board. Please see overleaf.
2. Hasil tangkapan hari itu.
3. The pirate look.
4. The cap

Macam menarik kan? The actual headgear is just a long piece of fabric that has been sewed on one end. It looks like a sleeve. However, you can do all sorts of styles with it. Pirate lah, cap lah, apa lah.. Just follow the instructions on how to wear them. It comes in many colours, patterns and textures. I chose those without holes and were lightweight - senang nak jaga (as opposed to the wooly ones)

Now, let's see how it fares on the ground.

In the gym locker room on one very early morning.

OK, apa....

From my first hand experience, it was very snug and stays on the head very well. Takde la nak tercabut cabut ke apa. So far, I am very happy with it. Nanti boleh tambah collection. hihihihihihi

-dillz blogging out-

Preparing for the Show!

Told you about our upcoming Teachers' Day performance earlier . So, we finally met up for dance practice last Sunday. About 10 parents showed up for the choreography. We will be performing Dancing Queen from the Mamma Mia musical and the Wonder Girls' hit - Nobody But You! :) Two full hours flew by while you were having fun!

The other fun thing was preparing for the show - searching for the costume and the accessories. We went scouring Pavillion and Sungai Wang for the perfect short can-can skirt to be worn over our black tights. ZZ of course was entrusted to find masks and wigs for the show. Excited nya... hihihi

Here's a little sneak peek of MY wig:

Me in my Dark Purple wig

So natural, kan????

-dillz blogging out-

Just a Teensy Stressed Out!

Could never had imagine how much stress this PKSR is putting onto the parents until I am actually going through it myself.

Picture from: here

Khadra's done with the Bahasa Melayu and Agama exams. Today is Science and Maths. I am a little worried about tomorrow's schedule. English and Arab. So, I made her an A4 size notes on the 5 topics she needs to know already last night and asked her to go over it with me on our way to school this morning. Yes. In the car. Later, I have asked Saufi to send Khadra over to my office after she's done with her papers today and over my lunch break, we'll be going through that Arab revision. So, lunchtime is more focused on trying to do the activity book.

Seems like I had to craft some way to get her revisions done. In time. Within my limitations as a working mom. Wa-emma over my lunch break sekalipun. Takut tak sempat when I come home tonight. Coz she'd be too tired to go through any hardcore memorizing already. I left her some practice questions for English that she could go over on her own. Malam karang baru I can have a look at it. Nasib baik also we've done some English over the weekend.

I need to start thinking about the other exams on Thursday too- Music and Art. Oh, I need to go get the supplies for her topeng watak kartun and maybe a trial run for tomorrow night. So, a big fat YES. I am a little stressed over here. hihihihihihi

Just am a little glad I got to talk to some of the other moms after sending her off for her second day of exams today - apparently, I am not alone. We are all losing our minds here! hahahahahahaha

So, YES. This shout out goes out to all parent(s) who has at least one child undergoing the PKSR1 exams this week. Some of might have gotten that over and done with last week (lucky you!) but some of us are actually going through it right now. Right now. Right now.

Please, please take a breather and give yourself a pat on the back. You are doing a good job so far. Just two more days till it's done. If you find yourself just losing it a teensy little bit, just remember these words. Two.More.Days. If you find yourself crying in the toilet, just let it out and then get your butt out there (again). Persevere. Keep it together , guys! Your child needs you! hihihihihi

-dillz blogging out-

My Road to Health : Week 2 Scorecard

I do believe that the key to making this work is not to deny your desires, but to control them. I have to make this a part of how I live my life. Not just a temporary way of doing it. So, as such, there will be engagements and birthday parties to attend to, as well as reasons for me not to check into my gym - kids' activities, dance practice, work commitments, what have yous.

Anyways, this is how I have done last week:

Exercise-front
Not too bad. Not too bad.

• 2 PT sessions this week - my PT let me experience the different kinds of cardio machines. This time around it was much harder, resistance was high and we were on the "Weight Loss" program - I sweat like a pig under the blazing sun. She also worked on my weakest muscles - the tummy are and the thigh. Loads of crunches in many different ways. Pumpinglah , apa lah. I didn't know I could hurt and sweat so much while staying put at a single point. Menggeletar, OK. More flexibility and stretches akin the stuff they do at a traditional Thai massage parlor. Needless to say that some of my joints popped and I was excreting wind from places you don't want to know about. Sorry, Jess. hihihihihihi. I like it that my PT does different things every time I come in. keeps it interesting. Just that I think I have to keep a journal on all the stuff she's asked me to do. After this PT sessions conclude, I at least have a reference point. Nak ambik PT sampai bila-bila, mau bangkrap. hihihihihi
  
• Walked up the 12 flights of stairs, all 144 steps of it 4 times last week. Itu pun, without my partner-in-crime who was out for training. So, extra effort and perseverance di situ. I also tried running up the steps for 4 floors and walked up the remaining 2 floors. Yeay me!
  
• Couldn't make it to Kids' Yoga or Dance last Saturday due to attending the 3 parties we had lined up.
  
• I made it up with 2.5 hours of dance practice at Khadra's school last Sunday. (This one is for the Teachers' day performance) On top of that my gluteous maximus and feet had loads of exercise courtesy if the amount of walking I made hunting for the perfect short can-can skirt for the performance. We scoured Pavillion and Sungei Wang and back. :)
  

Dietary-front

Except for the trying to eat more home cooked/prepared meal, I only tried to keep up with what I have done the previous week :

• Sukses on the air kaler-kaler thing. Absolutely NO carbonated drinks, or coffee, or teh ais on weekdays.
  
• The drinking of 2litres of water in a day is going on effortlessly on weekdays. Needs a little more concious effort to pass my mark on weekends.
  
• Drinking water only 30 minutes after my meal is becoming more a second mature to me. I am making this work even when I was out for a buffet lunch last week. Yeay! Succumbed to it a little at @mimpimurni's engagement party though.
  
• Bought 4x4 packs of Anlene concentrate, so that's going well. :) Still snacking healthily with cherry tomatoes and baby carrots.
• Started making more home made dinner. The secret to this is planning. Need to have the ingredients that makes up a quick, healthy meal in stock in my fridge. Wholemeal bread, cold cuts, cheese, salad, cherry tomatoes, etc - Walla, you have a home made sandwich! :) It really brings down my eating out , especially at night.
  

My Indulgence

• The team was treated to a Japanese buffet lunch on Monday. I had loads of oysters and salmon sashimi. :)
  
• 3 parties lined up on Saturday - Teelong's engagement , @mimpimurni's engagement and LJ's birthday bash for Kya and Kash. So, foods galore!
  

-dillz blogging out-

Exercising the Rights of Free Speech

Just got to know that yesterday, 20th May 2010 was the Everyone Draw Mohammed day. Apparently, there's a facebook fan page encouraging everyone to draw the face of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) as well as blogs dedicated to this cause. From my readings, the event transpired in protest of the death threats by Islamic extremists to the several people such as Salman Rushdie, Matt Stone, Trey Parker and the Danish cartoonists. If one could pin it down, it is bacisally the fight of freedom of speech vs. Islamic fundamentalist. The logic goes, if death threats were issued to those who publish images of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), there is no way they (referring to the extremists) can kill everyone if everyone draws a picture of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), is there? Hence, proving a point.

Pakistan, as a nation, has blocked facebook and youtube altogether - read here and here - over 'sacrilegious content'.

I tend to agree with what Ahmed Rehab, the Executive Director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, Chicago, has to say in his piece regarding the matter;

Just because one has a right to do it, it does not make it the right thing to do.

In another article, Zeenat Rahman, the Director of Strategic Partnerships of Interfaith Youth Core wrote:

... interfaith engagement is not only up to rabbis, imams, and priests--we all have a responsibility to know one other. Yes, we can draw pictures that we know will offend others, but should we? Is that progress?

In the end, it is all about tolerance, innit? It's just sad that some (a lot, actually) people have to go to this extent to proof a point.

As for myself. I am exercising my own rights of free will - tak nak masuk facebooklah dalam seminggu ni. Merajuk.

-dillz blogging out-

Thursday Morning Reminder

Got an email from momsie , delivered at 7:29am this morning. The subject was I Still Know Who She IS. (She sent me another mail too about the miracle soursop fruit that can kill cancer cell, but let's not dwell on that)

The e-mail read:

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him.

I saw him looking at his watch and decided since I wasn't busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On examining it I saw it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors and got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while. As she is a victim of Alzheimer's disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised and asked him, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?"

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me but I still know who she is."

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm and thought,
That is the kind of love I want in my life.
True love is neither physical or romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank.
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.
Life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain.

Beautiful, innit? Just a little reminder to be happier with the cards that has been dealt for you. And I do pray to have that kind of love in my life.

Thanks, mom for sharing and a very happy Thursday to all!

-dillz blogging out-

Macarons Smacarons

By its Wiki definition;

A macaron is a confectionery whose name is derived from an Italian word “maccarone” or "maccherone". This word is itself derived from ammaccare, meaning crush or beat, used here in reference to the almond paste which is the principal ingredient. It is meringue-based: made from a mixture of egg whites, almond flour, and both granulated and confectionery sugar.

The confectionery is characterized by its smooth, domed top, ruffled circumference, and flat base. Connoisseurs prize a delicate, egg shell-like crust that yields to a moist and airy interior. The French macaron differs from other macarons in that it is filled with cream or butter like a sandwich cookie, and can be found in a wider variety of flavors that range from the traditional (raspberry, chocolate) to the exotic (truffle, matcha tea)

The most famous one is of course the luxurious Laduree Macaron. As quoted from its website; these small, round cakes, crisp on the outside, smooth and soft in the middle, are made every morning in Ladurée’s "laboratory". The Laduree tea salons can be found at Champs Elysees, Royale, Le Printemps and Bonaparte in Paris; at Harrods and Burlington Arcade in London, as well as in Switzerland, Monaco and Tokyo.

Picture from here

They look so pleasing to the eyes with the vibrant colours and so sinfully tasty, don't they? Their permanently available flavours consist of: Chocolate - Bitter Chocolate - Vanilla - Coffee - Rose - Pistachio - Raspberry - Blackcurrant Violet - Caramel with salted butter - Red Fruits - Orange Blossom - Liquorice - Lemon.

So, yes, I have secretly been longing to try some macarons. More specifically, the Laduree macarons, to be eaten with my Inche Azrul at the Champs Elysees cafe.

Pictures from here

How very dreamy, right? Jom ah, @azrulx.

*snap*snap* Back to reality. Seeing that Paris is sooo far away and what with the volcanic ash and everything else, *cheh konon* this longing has remained a longing until an opportunity opened up just recently. :)

mimpimurni was looking for Malaysian made macarons and in her quest she had found RainDough. To top it up, they are having a promotion on Nutella Macarons, more fondly called the Nutte-rons. It is going at RM35 per 16 pieces. I jumped at the offer and ordered mine yesterday. :)

I got them lot this morning , after a self-pickup from RainDough's house in PJ. Tested them with Inche Azrul in the morning (our dessert). It was crispy, crunchy at the outside and soft and lumpy in the inside. Reminds me a little bit like a crispy but gooey brownie and a little like Ferrero Roche (must be the nutella) So sedap.. From that 16 pieces, let's just say there's 11 left and I am tying the pretty pink ribbon back before it all vanishes. Need to keep them for my kids, pulak. These people at the office are monsters, lah! (Cheh, padahal, dia sendiri dah makan 2!)

Hurry, girls. The orders close today. Email Raindough@gmail.com for the details. (Ordering info can also be found on their blogshoppe and they are also on twitter - follow / reply to @RainDough)

-dillz blogging out-

I am the Foursquare Mayor of Marmalade Cafe, BV II (for now)

Just caught the foursquare bug a fortnight ago and here's my stats this morning.

After 15 nights out, adalah dimaklumkan Dilla Z. dah maju... Not bad, eh??? :) hihihihihi Woot! Woot!

So what the heck is foursquare? To me, it is an interactive explorer game that I enjoy on my Berry. Yes, you would need some kind of smartphone, I think - either Berry or iPhone, just pick your poison. What you would need to do is download the foursquare (or 4sq) application on your phone, register a username and you could check-in straight away.

Check-in? Check-in? What's that? You check-in(to) a place when you are in the vacinity. (Can not lie one, the phone got GPS maaa) For every check-in, you will be given points. Higher points if it is the first time you checked into that location. If you can't find the location, then you could even add the venue on 4sq. (and get some extra points while at it) Points are not thaaat exciting.

The thing is, is you check-in enough times at the specific location, you might even be crowned as the Mayor of that venue. At some locations, look out for the "special deal". A Mayor could even be eligible for special discounts, you know. I was told by @inaleem, true story this, that one Kopitiam in Bangi gives out free ommellette for its 4sq Mayor. Exciting stuff that! I am proud to be the (current) 4sq Mayor of 5 venues :

• Marmalade Cafe
  
• Carrefour Market @ The Sphere
• Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Damansara
• Level 9 S, Menara TM
  
• Pondok Azlul
  

The other thing that I am interested at is in collecting badges. It makes me feel like a pengakap trying to collect as many as possible. hihihihihihihi. Here are some of mine.

The full list of known badges could be obtained via TonyFelice's list or from IwasAround.

What fun is a game without having friends to play them with, right? Connecting your friends couldn't be any simpler. You could connect your 4sq account to your twitter and/or facebook accounts and the contacts will be linked automatically. Just add the ones you wish. There are also options for you to send your location / achievements to the said twitter / facebook accounts. In a way, it is also like the friend-finder application. However, there are some cool privacy settings too. Uncheck the "Tell my friends" box, and your location will be kept a secret. They could only see "Dilla Z. @ [off the grid] Checked in, but hiding their whereabouts". This is especially useful if you don't want stalkers to know where you are at any precise moment.

Just to get up to speed with what this foursquare thingy is all about, please read this 4sq review

In the mean time, lemme explore and work on those School badge - need to check-in after 3am on a school night, SuperMayor badge - must have mayorship of 10 places at a time, GymRat - 10 checkins into a gym in a month and Jobs-three checkins into an Apple store. ;)

-dillz blogging out-

My Road to Health : Week 1 Scorecard

I was touched by toughcookie's tweets yesterday. Our replies to each other went something like this:

toughcookee reached d pool n realised it is actually raining. baru semangat nak swim nightly... huhu how to kurus la @dillazag??
dillazag @toughcookee hahahaha. Not heated pun you berani turun. Bagus2. teruskan semangat! :)
toughcookee @dillazag hehe... the semangat came from u la.. tu yg i semangat tu. tapi sekarang potonnnggg... :(
dillazag @toughcookee Takpe2. Start again, babeh. Every day is a new beginning. Esok plak try!
toughcookee @dillazag susah sgt want to get off my butt but i kept thinking abt u so tht i can be strong. tu yg a little frustrtd. takpe... esok eh...

So, miss toughcookie, I thought I'd keep both our semangat going. Instead of telling you want I wanted to do, I decided to tell you what I have done. This is, of course, in regards to all things related to me getting healthier (and hotter). The rights and the wrongs. Yes, even that McDonald's dinner will be included. ;)

I wanted to keep the scores for myself. You know, to keep me motivated. And maybe to keep you going too. :)

Exercise-front
All in all I thought I have been really good this week. The intent to do as well as actually doing it :)

• Had my first PT session on Monday where I did a little bit of cardio and was introduced to the various muscle machines. Then we did some stretching. I was told to continue with my cardio after PT session was done. I did 20 minutes on the bike, maintaing 85rpm (or above) all the while.
  
• Walked up the stairs twice this week, from the 3rd floor (where the office cafe is) to my office on the 9th floor. Am proud of that! Have enlisted @adnil9 as my companion. We try to keep each other motivated. :)
  
• Went to the gym again on Wednesday, this time before work. After I dropped off Khadra at school, I did a quick cardio on the elliptical and had a quick shower. Was all hyper and it really started off the day tremendously. :)
• PT was cancelled on Friday, but I went in anyways and joined the Latin Mix group exercise. Danced and got sweaty all in one. Me likey!
• Accompanied Khadra for her Kids Yoga on Saturday while I did a quick cardio on the elliptical. Did the weight loss program this time.
  
• I had time to go to the gym on Sunday, but decided against it as I declared Sunday as my rest day! Didn't want to overwhelm my body with too much! :)
  

Dietary-front
Started slowly this week with:

• Cut out my air kaler-kaler. No carbonated drinks, or coffee, or teh ais on weekdays. Can only indulge on weekends.
• Drank at least 2litres of water in a day. Did marvellously at the office coz I have one of those water tumblers with the measurements on it. Somewhat a challenge at home coz I was not keeping tabs on how much water I have drank.
  
• Only drank water 30 minutes after my meal. Sukses! (I drink before my meals)
• Started on the Anlene concentrate - a lil packet a day (on weekdays, coz I keep stock in the office)
• Snacking healthily with cherry tomatoes and baby carrots.
  

My Indulgence

• Could not resist the calling of McDonalds on my way back from the gym, Monday night. Had the burger and fries and a few sips of Coke. Can't help it, the drive-thru was calling my name! hihihihi.. Indulged in it. But didn't have any more fast food the rest of the week.
• One caramel macchiato from Starbucks on Saturday. Oh, how I have longed for thee. Sedappp!!!
  
• Nasi lemak ayam rempah Village Park and cupcakes from Wondermilk for dessert on Sunday
  

-dillz blogging out-

So I Think I Can Dance?

My elder sister, @ziezizag BBM-ed me this morning, the verbatim conversation is as follows:

@ziezizag: Dilz
@dillazag: Yes
@ziezizag: Nak join parent dance grp for teachers day?
@dillazag: Ha?? Aku bukan reti menari wei. Hahahaha
@ziezizag: Nak tak
@dillazag: Tak pe lah
@ziezizag: Asal gedik n ingat step
@dillazag: Thank you for the offer
@ziezizag: Bila lagi. I ngan fiza dah confirm
@dillazag: U and fiza mmg la sessuai!
@ziezizag: Nora aili karen lin. Jom la
@dillazag: Can't commit
@ziezizag:Kd will be so proud of u (Editor's note: Ayat killer ni. Mana boleh masuk nama anak guwe wei. Meruntun lah hati ibu)
@dillazag: As is I hv too much on my plate. How many u guys need?
@ziezizag: 12
@dillazag: Mak aih
@ziezizag: They know we working. So I guess shd b ok. 2 class with becky (Editor's note: Becky of Soul Krazy in Showdown2010. She rocks.) Pastu w fiza. Hahahaha
@dillazag: Tanya la melur
@ziezizag: 2 jun 10am. Practise 2 sundays. with becky. Free. Cepat confirm seat
@dillazag: OK la
@ziezizag: Yeay

Mati la guwe.

Picture from : here

-dillz blogging out-

Results Are (almost) Out!

Khadra just finished her Formatif 2 Exams (fancy name for what used to be our Ujian Bulanan, but done every two months) last week and some of the results are already in.

This was her very first exam ever. She has been revising for it by doing the practice questions on her elective activity books for English, Maths and Science. Ibu assigns her specific pages in the book and finds it done by the end of the day. Sometimes, when she gets stuck on a question, she would get irritated with it and would not move on. So, I told her to mark the questions that she was unsure of answering with a question mark. Sometimes , I get a big question mark in pencil that fills the whole page at the end of the day. hihihihihi Maknanya tak pahamlah macam mana nak jawab tu. Then, Ibu would mark the work and leave little notes of encouragements and stars and smiley faces (wherever applicable) This went on for a full week prior to the exam.

**start of digression

Disclaimer : I didn't even dare go NEAR Bahasa Melayu. I wanted to just gauge where she really is on her own accord. Standard of Bahasa Melayu is high these days, even for Primary One.

Sample of questions that baffled me in her Bahasa Melayu activity book:

Q1:

Picture form : here

A.Sang Rimba
B. Sang Lamri
C. Sang Bedal

Q2:

Picture from : here

Kereta ______ itu kepunyaan abang Asraf.
A.Persona
B.Saga
C. Waja

Q3: ____ ialah suami Puan Norliza.
A. Encik Rahman
B. Cik Rina
C. Puan Asmah

Advanced,kan? You are expected not just to know vocabulary, but general knowledge is tested as well. Case in point:
Q1: If you've never read any kisah dongeng or fables, how would you know that a singa could be called as Sang Rimba? BTW, what is a Sang Lamri anyways.
Q2: The question on the car thing. I mean , unless your dad /relatives/people you know drives one, would a child be able to tell the difference between a Persona and Waja and Saga? I memang buta kereta - so I don't know the difference. Dah tu, kalau dapat gambar googled as per above , OK lah jugak. Ni dalam activity book tu, it's just a lame sketch that vaguely resembles a car. Boleh?
Q3: The name thing is also a general knowledge kinda question. I mean, you need to actually know what kind of names are generally feminine and what are masculine. In turn, the title of someone would also indicate whether it is a male or a female and either married or otherwise.

*** end of digression

So, on the night of the exam, I made sure that she had a good sleep and rested well. No more revisions. Chill aje lah. On the first morning of the exam, we went through some do's and don'ts of a typical exam. Don't chit chat. Not to look at anyone around you. Don't sleep during the exam. I told her to try to answer the questions, just skip if you don't know the answer and come back to it later. Once done, check your answers - once, twice, thrice. Then, if you have more time, start colouring the pictures in the exam paper. (Tak nak kasi tidur lah ni) Don't leave any sections blank - even if you are not sure of the answer, at least attempt to answer.

Last sekali, before masuk sekolah, we would recite the doa that my mom taught me for penerang hati. Allahumma Bariklana (*Sheesh , itu doa makanlah, Ketua Pengawas!) Allahummaftah and Rabbishrahli. Tawakkal je lah, wahai anakanda...

When I got hold of some of the exam papers, I was pleasantly surprised that her writing was neat and she had coloured objects on the exam papers - with boarders and blending, no less! :) Aanyways, here's how she has done (so far) :
Pemahaman - 94%
Penulisan - 88%
Bahasa Inggeris - 95%
Mathematics - 100%
Science - 94%
Bahasa Arab - 91.5%
Agama Islam - 93.5%
(The rest I don't really know. Once I know, I updatelah *updated*)

BM was OKlah - she:
Mixed up between:
a) rumah teres and rumah panjang
b) Lembu tinggal di dalam hutan and Harimau tinggal di dalam kandang
c) Kakak mandi pokok bunga setiap waktu petang and Azman gemar menyiram di kolam

Boleh tahan jugak exam skills dia. There was a question on body parts and she really did not know what the knee is called in Malay. However, she knew her rambut, mata, leher, jari, kaki, tangan, bibir, gigi, hidung and rambut. By the process of elimination she got lutut right! Yeay!
The other subjects I wasn't too worriedlah. Some silly mistakes here and there. Looks good to me and I am proud of what she has achieved. But apparently, the results are not THAAT goodlah. Some kids are getting 100% in all subjects (by some, I am generalizing here and may include pupils from other Primary One classes in her school) Maybe we need to look into the option of tuition for her Malay. Don't knowlah. Would have to see how this unfolds.

One hurdle done. Yet, her PKSR1 (ala-ala midterm examlah zaman kita dulu) will be on the 24th of May 2010. That's in another 2 weeks time, y'all! Stress betul ya, jadi anak-anak zaman Millenium ni.. Kesian..

footnote: Sila kesian kat ibu dia sekali

-dillz blogging out-

#1b1t

First off, what the heck is #1b1t ?

According to Dr. Idlan, it stands for One Book One Twitter. Idlan is my junior back in my high school, Sekolah Tun Fatimah and she happens to be my reference point for anything nerdy and intellectual. hahaha!

I have been intrigued by her tweets recently about the hashtag #1b1t and was enlightened today through her her post . Any chance to do something good and engaging in cyberspace. I am all ears! :) (Plus to proof that I am not too much of a bimbo! hahah!)

In Idlan's words:

In sum, the project is about getting everyone on Twitter to read one book over 2 months and discussing it, using the #1b1t hashtags to identify content. The book that has been chosen for the project is Neil Gaiman’s American Gods; which is not surprising given Gaiman’s (@neilhimself) popularity among tweeple.

The first thing you need to do is get your hands on a copy of Gaiman's American Gods. Then, follow @1b1t2010 for updates and to add the #1b1t to your tweets for discussion of contents. To ensure that there is some structure to the whole project, also read the discussion reading schedule. In essence, it is an 8week project, starting from May 5th 2010 and by the week of June 23rd, those who are in the project would have already completed the entire book. It's still not too late, people. Here's the schedule!

Week 1 : May 5-11
Caveat, Warning for Travelers
Epigraph
Discuss Chapters 1, 2, & 3

Week 2 : May 12-18
Discuss Chapters 4, 5, 6

Week 3 : May 19-25
Discuss Chapters 7, & 8

Week 4 : May 26-June 1
Discuss Chapters 9, 10, & 11

Week 5 : June 2-8
Discuss Chapters 12, & 13

Week 6 : June 9-15
Discuss Chapters 14, 15, & 16

Week 7 : June 16-22
Discuss Chapters 17, 18, & 19

Week 8 : June 23-30
Discuss Chapter 20 and Postscript

There's another link that you should be aware of, called the One Book, One Twitter: The Lab Notes. Additional notes and the how tos will be posted here. For example how to go about with the hashtags once the discussion is underway. It's a page so that there are rules for us to follow and that everyone have the same understanding.

This is what I picked up from the Lab Notes:

We have established an official system of hashmarks. It goes like this:

#1b1t: General Discussion

#1b1t_1c: Discussion of Chapter 1 (and prologue material)

#1b1t_2c: Discussion of Chapter 2

... and on until we hit Chapter 19.

For all you tweeple out there, come on, let's join in the bandwagon! Happy reading!!

-dillz blogging out-

And the Award Goes to...

Yeay! Been a while since I received a Blogger award. This one is from miss Amy from her post here. Thank you baybeh! Saya terharu! All this while I have only gotten 2 awards before sahaja:
i) the I love your blog from chicsinred, Kucingorengemok & floweRinthedessert and
ii) the Uber Amazing Blog from ms ngantuk.

hahahahaha.
Dapat award! So comel! But it does kinda make me feel good. To know that at least one other person reads my blog and sayang juga sama saya! Me love you too guys! :) So, here I am spreading the love!! I am gonna do this tag!

The Rules are as follows:

Step 1. Accept the award and put it on your sidebar. (Ya, saya tambah rule ini - haha!)
Step 2. Describe 7 things people do not know about you.
Step 3. Award the Award to 7 other Beautiful Bloggers and describe why they deserve the award.

Step 1 :
Done. Completed it a while back, really. Long before I actually composed this entry. hihihihi

Step 2 :
7 things people do not know about me?

1. I go through my family's stuff at least once a year. We live in a condo, so space is always an issue. One way to cope is to run through the inventory of things in the house - especially clothes for each and every one of the family member. Sort it into things I would want to give to my siblings/nieces and nephews/ immediate relatives / friends or to be given away to a needy home/ kampung /organization. Result? Salvage some space for our new clothes. hihihihihi :)

2.Still related to the home. We have bought the adjacent condo unit and Insya Allah, the keys will finally be with us come July or August. Never knew we would have to wait so long for the process to go through at the local authority. It's been 10 months of waiting already.

3. When we finally get a hold of the keys, the plan is to make an opening between the two mirrored units. Existing unit would be the family area - kids' rooms, maid's quarters (Cheh! Grand je bunyi dia) , family lounge and work area/bilik solat. The other unit would house the new Master bedroom, a guest room and a possible walk in closet. (Maybe not. Tak tahu lagi)

4. I used to offer face painting services to parties and events before. But now I pencen already. Took my little sister under my wing and she has turned it into quite a handsome money-making hobby. :) I still have the tools and materials , and they are of the best quality - Krayolan tuh.. Just that I couldn't be bothered to do it commercially any more. Malas. hihihihihi I do it still on special requests lah, especially if those requesting are my kids, kakak , adiks or the teachers of my kids' schools. :)

5. I used to scrapbook too. Bought the book, enrolled into a few classes, bought lots and lots of tools and stocks of materials. Now? Well, let's just say, "What scrapbooking?"

6. Maybe this is old news, but I proclaim myself as the Queen of HHTA (Hangat-Hangat Tahi Ayam) I am always excited when I begin a project or so-called passion, but somehow I don't see it through in the long-run. Please refer to: Exhibit A: Face-painting, Exhibit B: Scrapbooking, Exhibit C: My previous gym experience, Exhibit D: My numerous diet regimes.

7. I love food. Eating them - loads. Making them - not so much. I love exploring new eateries. Thankfully I have my Inche Azrul who loves to eat too and I have several friends who would jump at the chance of a eat and gossip session! hihihihihihi

Step 3 :
I would like to award these following bloggers.:

1. mimpimurni - She's a beautiful person , inside and out. A famous blog entrepreneur who makes such exquisite jewellery. Also, follow her plans for her wedding with her 7 year boyfriend (who happens to be a friend of ours!) at murni&jamil.

2.KS - Walaupun dia privatise blog dia, this does not disqualify her from being my nominee, yaww! I love this lady. Known her since my PPP days and she is married to one of my adik angkat. haha! Also owns the shopping services at shoppingqueen78.

3. toughcookie - I stumbled upon this mommy blogger a while back. Since then, she has been reading my blog too. We finally met at a mutual friend's - welcoming her new born baby, no less. Such a beautiful, bubbly and genuine character, I felt an instant connection with her. She's also been inducted into the TEKBES! hihihihi - read her tagreply

4. Ngantukalways - Another gem I chanced upon during my days in PPP. :) The beautiful kaynie who writes about her life with his boy Jibby. She has not been blogging of late. Maybe this will bring back the enthusiasm, girl!

5. Ica - The cousin of my BFF, LJ. Known this mommy since way back when - almost as long as I have known LJ, kan Ica? She's only been blogging since this year but is much more prolific than the rest of us. Way to go, girl. :) Keep on writing coz I do enjoy your writings!

6. noordinarymomster - One of my favourite finds in the blogosphere, I can relate to her writings very well. Yet to meet her in person, though. Her stories are simple and sincere, that's what I love about her blog. Next year would be our year , dear - both Imtiyaz and Khaleeq will be going to Primary 1. haha! - read her tagreply

7. Bagaholic Anonymous - My junior in STF and love her sense of style! This bag-lover is a fashionista and loves all things beautiful and classy! :) Me likey! - read her tagreply

Here's a feel-good way to end your Monday, spread the love, y'all!

-dillz blogging out-

Happy Ibu's Day!

I am a mom of three. The first is a girl, Khadra (7 yo in June 2010); the second one is a boy, Khaleeq (6 yo in July 2010) and my baby girl is Khaleeda (3 yo in November 2010). So, every 2nd Sunday in the month of May I am entitled to celebrate Mother's Day with other mothers in Malaysia and probably Asia. (coz apparently people from other parts of the world celebrate them on different days ;) )

I am in no way a perfect mom. Never claimed that I am a supermom. Simply coz I am not. Just a woman trying her very best in raising three kids and balancing her career, family and social life. Sometimes there are good days for this Ibu and sometimes there are bad, ugly ones. After a disagreement / fight with my kids, I sometimes get little notes such as below slipped under the door of my bedroom. It simply affirms that I am just human after all.

First paper reads: Dear Ibu, I don't like you. I'm so sorry. Love, K1 Picture of a broken heart with "Broken" written on it.
Second paper reads: I'm sure you don't like me too. Put a (Tick) if you like me or an (X) if you don't like me.

To which I answered as:
(Tick) and I love you too. Love, Ibu.

After she read that, she gave me a hug and smiled the biggest smile. It saddens me, that she would think I would love her any less since we had a disagreement. Khadra, do know that you would always be my first born daughter and I would love you unconditionally till the day that I die. Yes, she has a lot of jiwa, my Khadra (takes after her Achu, I think)

But being a mommy brought me a share of many happy memories too. The little DIY gifts and art pieces, the achievements be it little or big, the running around and round the bean bag, the completion of a milestone, the great big bear hugs, the incessant kisses, the private family performances and the checking up on you to make sure that you are OK. Those are the images that I hold onto so dearly to give me the strength and perseverance to go on - to keep doing what I am doing coz it is a sign that I have been doing something right too. I wrote about some of it in my Mom's day 2009 post last year and another one in the Mom's Day 2007 - she said that I was the best mother in the world, then! hihihihihi.

Here's someone who's been doing it right. My very own Ibu - she has 7 kids, an illustrious career and loved by all. (Am still wondering how she managed that!)

She is my source of reference and I do adore her so very much. Now that I have my very own kids, I appreciate her even more. I understand where the nags are coming from, all from a beautiful heart filled with love. I remember one time I was so overwhelmed with mommy duties that I wrote an entry for my mom. She was in London at the time, visiting my sister Ema and she actually commented on the post. hihihihihihi. There was this other time when i was ranting about what I sometimes want from life, she wrote almost an entire paragraph in the comments section that went like this:

datuk azizah said... Syabas i am so glad ibu2 muda sekarang dah pandai menyesuaikan diri sebagai ibu. do only whatever u are capable of, don't stress yourself semata2 only on perkara duniawi ini, ingatlah give the kids whatever yg menjadi your tanggungjawab as orang ISLAM semoga mendapat kejayaan di dunia dan akhirat. Give the best to your husband and children. But...remember anak2 dan harta hanya merupakan perhiasan dunia,yang akan ditinggalkan apabila kita kembali menemui ALLAH, yang kita bawa adalah bekalan ASA {amanah saham akhirat) bukannya ASB. Oleh itu jangan lupa isilah tabung ASA anda sekarang juga selagi masih hidup dengan melakukan amalan soleh kerana mati tak mengenal umur, lebih2 lagi dunia sekarang yang penuh stress ini. tak menjadi kesalahan kita mencari harta dunia asalkan halal dan tidak menyeksa diri sendiri dengan melampau. Jangan jadi orang yang cari harta dunia sampai tak sempat beramal ibadat kejalan Allah, tiba2 sakit , mati, orang lain yang enjoy. ASA kosong ,dirinya diseksa terpekik melolong, tak ada siapa dapat menolong! fikir2kanlah. sekadar ingatan ikhlas seorang ibu.

Ya, Ibu saya IT savvy - she has a facebook account and she sometimes reads my blog (and leave comments too). I love you so very much, Ibu. She is just the best!

So, to all mommies out there - in good times and in bad times , have a very Happy Mother's Day, y' all! :)

-dillz blogging out-

I'm Serious This Time (I Hope)

People who see me on a regular basis could sometimes (Duh!) tell that I have gained weight. Some would even politely enquire if I was pregnant. On better days, when I successfully camouflage my outfit, I could look slim, even. haha!

I have just announced to the whole world, (OK not quite the whole world. *I'll rephrase that*) all 45 (45 adalah bilangan follower saya. So sweet. Thanks, y'all!) of you that my current weight is 66kg in this previous post in response to Kak Shana's Minus-4 Mission - to lose 4kg by 30th June 2010. And Yes, 66kg is a far cry from where I really wanna be right now. Considering that I maintained a healthy 55kg throughout my university days right up to maybe the year 2008. Even at full-term of my three pregnancies, the heaviest I have ever been was 64kg. So, at 66kg currently and not even pregnant - well, that speaks volume, literally! Add to that the problems I have been having with my asthma lately - shortness of breath, sometimes the coughing got so bad that it translated to a bad fever, even and then there's the once-in-a-blue-moon headaches. So, yeah, I have been mulling about this, "I should really do something about my health / weight" for quite some time now.

I really think the culprit to the state I am now, have been :
1. no execise what so ever for the past 3 years
2. lowered metabolism rate after I stopped breastfeeding Khaleeda
3. unhealthy meals

So, to start off my journey from gemukness to hotness. I have made that first commitment - I signed up at a gym yesterday. Yes, congratulations, ME! :) It is a sign that I am trying to take this seriously, but I know it is a challenge in itself. I know so, simply because I have been down this road before, and true to my Queen of HHTA (Hangat-Hangat Tahi Ayam) title, I failed. Miserably. I signed up on a 3year tenure and out of that time, I probably went to the gym about 8 or 9 times. (All inclusive) So, in my opinion, it is gonna work this time due to these reasons:
1. Do it coz YOU wanna do it.
I want it really bad this time. The motivation and drive are in me. I want to lose the weight and I want to be healthier. (Last time, saya kiasu nak ikut jugak laki pergi gym, padahal bukan nak pergi sangat pun)
2. Choose a gym location that blends well with your current life. Maybe close to your office or close to your home.
The place I chose to go is close by. Bangsar Village II is where my life is. It's close to my home and office. I get all my other ME treatments there - facials, massages, mani/pedi, hair salon. I can almost call it as my third home. (I shall be the 4sq Mayor of BVII, just you wait!) So, this goes well with the plan. Previously, I signed up at a gym near my husband's office and I came up with all sorts of excuses not to go. Jauh la, penat la.. :)~~
3. Commit specific time for gym and try to stick by it.
I am planning to go at least 3 times a week. It would be a combination of before work and after work, depending on my work commitments.
4. Make it part of your life. Fitness is a lifestyle.
Seeing that the gym has Kids Dance and Yoga on Saturdays, I will be having some quality mommy-kiddo time with Khadra and Khaleeq (if he's up for it). They can dance/yoga and I do my workout! That seals one weekend workout for me. Weh-hey!!
5. Get help from a Physical Trainer (PT)
To help me start off in the right directions. I have decided that I shall be engaging in the services of a PT. She could coach me on the right way of doing things to help me achieve my objectives. At least she could really hassle me if I am going off track.
6. Get friends to work out with you.
Some of my friends are interested to join me in this journey. Weh-hey!! If you don't have friends with you, then make some at the gym! :)

Let's just hope that by the end of this all, Dilla Zaghlol = ONE HOT MOMMA!

Fuhhh!!!! hahahahahahaha

Picture from: here

-dillz blogging out-

Tea-ing in Style at Harrod's KLCC

Did y'all know that one could actually have some food at the very cozy cafe in Harrod's KLCC? Me neither, until I saw some tweets/fb statuses about the famous Harrod's afternoon tea set. It just so happens that me and a couple of girlfriends from way back when have been meeting up for food. The modus operandi has always been that one person would pay for the eat-out, and we have been taking turns. Not much different from a structured "kutu" scheme that our moms and aunts used to indulge in. The other unspoken rule is that the place chosen has always been a little on the up-scale side, bordering gourmet, if you will. *Cheh cheh cheh - cultured lah konon*

So, aaaaanyways.... It was my turn to host and I chose to have tea in style at Harrod's with my girls. Before that, I did a little research on the place and found this very useful review on masak-masak blog. She wrote it in May 2009, so adalah terlambat sikitla kami yang baru nak pergi menerai ni kan? (Oh, she took great pictures too)

Vitals: Lot No 137, First Floor, Suria KLCC - it's opposite California Pizza Kitchen, next to Godiva.
T(+603-2166 6000)

I got word that the afternoon tea is only served up till 6pm. Also, it was also worth noting that the cafe is very intimate and there are not very many seats available. So, it really seemed like a good idea to call in for them to reserve us a place as well as keep a few sets of afternoon tea for us working mommies. (Rushing through mad #kltraffic after work, well.. we were bound to reach KLCC after 6pm, right?)

1. Entrance to Harrod's KLCC. There's the display of bags, coin boxes, pastries etc. Walk in and head to the left for your ultimate tes-ing experience.
2. My Old Grey (eh, ye ke? ke Jasmine, eh?) - everyone got the stylo little teapot with strainer and such
3. Butter - salted and also the sun dried tomato variety.
4. Mira showing off her scone. Mine had jam and clotted cheese on it.
5. The whole set - 3 types of sandwiches, fruit tartlets, some choc bites and 2 pieces of scones. (each)

Each Harrod's Afternoon Tea set is priced at RM60. We took a set each, which in retrospect I think is a little membazir. For a party of four, I really think two sets and two additional orders of pot of tea(at RM20 each) would be more than sufficient.

Let me just tell you, the experience is awesome. Syok jugak borak-borak over tea ni. So English. So wannabe. hihihihihihi. The ambience is just so perfect for chit -chats, really. Seems that the clientele do not leave. Chit-chat.Chit-chat. Sip tea. Chit-chat. Chit-chat. More tea, anyone? One lump or two? (Ke kitorang je camtu?) hihihihihihihihi We were truly enjoying ourselves tremendously, living the lifelah, kata orang. That was until we saw what the table next to us was having.... We decided that we just had to order dinner right there and then. :)

Here's what we ordered:

1. My soup of the day - pumpkin soup. Comel that little cream dollop in the middle, kan?
2.Lobster Thermidor for the craving mommy, Mira.
3. Salted Beef Sandwich
4. Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding

Lemme get the prices out first and foremost:

• Soup of the Day RM20
• Lobster Thermidor RM100
• Salted Beef Sandwich RM38
• Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding RM50

Everything was shared amongst us. So we had the order in the middle and the waiter set up empty plates for everyone. There were four of us ladies and we only ordered 3 entrees. Which was more than enough, I thought. OK, side note here; the lobster - so not the place to have one. It wasn't fresh live lobster to begin with. But since we had a craving pregnant woman amongst us, we ordered it anyhow. Fortunately, the food were generally good tasting. I especially liked the Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding. Sedaaaapppp!!! Mixed reviews on the Salted Beef Sandwich. I liked it (but not screaming like, kinda like); but Shan thought it was just OK.

BTW, the mineral water? Ty Nant Sparkling /Still is priced at RM15 per bottle. I really liked the place. Nice corner of the Earth to lose yourself with your companion / girlfriend to sit and talk and talk and talk. One should really try it. I, for one would highly recommend it! :)

-dillz blogging out-

Shopping-shopping Bandung!

Apa gunanya pergi Bandung kalau tak shopping kan? hihihihihi

We went craaaazy at Pasar Baru for textiles and telekung. (Definitely NOT one for the men coz we literally spent 4 hours at Pasar Baru getting our loot!) I'll share with you my favourite outlets too. For textile, we went to Vogue Textile and Tailor at Lantai 2. It looks a little like the insides of a castle - with gold coated pillars and what not. The Sales Assistants are very friendly and helpful, don't be surprised if you are being entertained by the brother to the owner himself. Siapa nama dia, ya? Ram, rasanya. Real dashing young man (with two kids already?).

Really nice cotton fabric going at Rp25k per meter, the chiffon ones at Rp12.5K per meter, with satin lining at Rp15K per meter. Our brocade set siap 6m lace and 4m lining was only RM90. Seriously murah and mata dah jadi rambang, OK? Pilih. Pilih. Pilih. Beli. Beli. Minum air Teh Sosro kotak. Pilih. Pilih. Pilih. Beli. They take credit cards too, so don't waste your cash here! Wallawei....Suffice to say that my little family are all set for our Hari Raya stocks. hihihihihi

For telekung, go up to Lantai 3 to Toko Garuda 35 and talk to Milala. He gives the best deals - at wholesale price. I got a really nice telekung for Mimy's wedding hantaran and one for yours truly. Then a couple of those mobile, foldable, parachute-like fabric telekungs for jalan-jalan. Sangat puas hati. :)

Next are the Factory Outlets (FOs). We only went to three that are worth mentioning. I loved Grande Resort Outlet at Jalan Ir. H. Juanda. I got loads of tops, pajama pants for myself. there were some stuff for the kids too. I was truly a happy camper. The other place that was worth it for me is Rumah Mode Factory Outlet - more so on the kids' selections. My best buy would have to be the costumes I got for them - High School Musical cheerleading outfit for Khadra, Cars racing suit for Khaleeq and fairy outfit for Khaleeda. Each going at Rp139K. Oh so worth it! :) The last FO that I went in was Stamp FO where I got all the swimming towels and panties/underpants for the kids! Gumbira does not even begin to describe the euphoria inside me!

Mission completed. Saya happy!
-dillz blogging out-