... Part DEUX

After deliberating, i have decided not to pay to upload more beautiful pictures of me... so, here shall be the continuation of my blog and photos 

http://lina0711too.blogspot.com

See ya later, Alligator...!!!! At our new page.

Signing off from this blog for now...

I'm revisiting Melbourne...!

There, the title of this post says it alll....  :)

Photo limit *boooohooooo*...!

I've reached my limit for the no of uploaded photos... now i've got to subscribe for me to store my photos in my blogspot...  :(

Johor Premium Outlet

Easter Friday. 3 days off work. If its in Australia, it'll be 4 days off work, including Easter Monday.

Hopped into the car and took a little drive to JB. Yayyyyy!!!! Our virgin ride to JB in our Honda Freed. This is what I'd do if I were in Australia... pimped someone's car or got our own set of wheel and drive to where the petrol could last us... While it's endless sceneries to explore downunder, there's nothing much to so her in SG, seriously. My butt itched to get into JB for the fun of it and somehow The Premium Outlet got into our list. Frankly, the only agenda in our to-do-things-in-JB list.

The never-fully-renovated home

We could only afford to do piece-meal renovations. So far, to date, i managed to complete what i had been wanting to do... flooring, library cabinet, glass kitchen wall, Nurul's room...

And today i tidied up half of my shoe shelvings. I bought new shoe containers from Daiso. The ones that i've been looking for since I first saw them on Japan hour many years back. I didn't have a snapshot of the 'before' photo but here are the shoe boxes i discarded.

My ol' shoe boxes. Although some are a decade old, they are still hardy boxes. But too bad, i don't have any use for them. Problem wih these opaque boxes is that i need to open them up to see whose/what type of shoes are in there... although some are labelled, they look messy due to the different sizes and colours.

Better visual management of items.

A trial with 4 nos. of boxes purchased. Very good results.

I'm such a sucker for Daiso containers.
So Daiso, here I come again...!!!!! :)

Tangs Teahouse

 

My first time bringing my family to Tang Teahouse at Simpang Bedok.

Detoured there from Sentosa after our Movenpick weekend getaway. I like the dimsum there... and especially the seafood horfun. Double thumbs up! 

Tucked in a little corner, they've got Botak Jones in there. Never tried it but it didn't give us a good impression especially with the supposedly cheese fries! Think they used mozarella cheese and not the molten yellow cheese we usually get from KFC's cheese fries. Such a disappointment from the much-raved-about Botak Jones!

This is their range of dimsum. The seafood horfun i ordered really fed me to the brim of my stomach. Good thing we only got 1 type of dimsum. Couldn't recall what it was called. But the chilli was superlicious! I wanted to try the chicken feet dish, but at my table, i was presumeably the only insane one who could stomach the dish down.

I dunno why but i think Nurul's hair looked very, very nice and flowy that day... :) Pa was pretending to sleep...

Great school progress

Rasing kids is never easy. Especially school going ones. Always curious and demanding to know facts about life; and what revolves around them.

If not for mak, i would have to slog extra hard to see to my kids homework and spellings and what-noughts. I'm amazaed that they can cope with what are on their plates. School, Madrasah (religious class in English), private music lessons... including my and mak's constant naggings....

I'm very happy with what i heard, about an hour ago.

Before she went to bed, Nurul mentioned that 2 good things happened in school today. 

1. Riyan and his good buddy were tasked to carry books for their teacher... means teacher trusts them and i know that their group has always been getting compliments from their form teacher for not being noisy and having good school work examples. I'm so proud that Riyan understands instructions and dutifully carries them out in school.

2. Nurul was the first to be released for recess. She was not making noise in class so Ms Pang let her off early. So the other kids commented why she only her and so the reason was she was a good student... I was being cheeky so i told her in future if it ever happens again, turn to the class and stick out her tongue at them... ;p

Good job, fellas! Show them wat you've got!

Our second staycation

I've always thought 'Staycation' is an Singlish word. No, its not! Anyway, when its staycation, it just means one thing. I have no Annual Leave. Yes, sad but true. Just started off in new workplace, with spanking new office :) So no AL yet. Not till a couple months down the road. Can't wait till June when i'll get all my 24 days AL!!!! WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!

Our first overnight staycation was in Rasa Sentosa about 2 years back, i think. That was superb cos it was right next to the beach. The room was large with balcony, great swimming pool and complimentary anniversary cake. Downside was that it was not accessible to lots of attractions and Halal food outlet. It was just convenient for us cos we had a car. That time there was a music festival going on so it was packed!

This time round, it was still in Sentosa but we decided to stay at Mövenpick Hotel & Resorts. Maybe next time, we'll try the Amara Sanctuary Spa Resort.

And so, our March staycation began...

Weekly family dinner

I didn't realised that i had 2 phone lines that could be re-contracted. I got a new Andriod using Pa's Singtel voucher and then I was informed that I can get 2 free phones with my current work and personal phone lines.

So I got 2 Samsung Aces. I gave one to Nurul - but didn't get her a new line/pre paid. Just for her video recording and You Tube-ing. The other Pa sold it to a phone dealer in Bendemeer. We got $230 for the phone minus the memory card! With that we used part of the money for a satisfying family dinner at Swenson's.

My kids LOVE Swenson's... the food portion is good for the kids and they get their monthly complimentary ice-cream too! Most importantly, they love it when we have dinner or lunches together... cos we hardly do that with them during the weekdays.

This time round we went to the Tampines Mall branch. Ordered quite a bit cos firstly I was hungry and secondly my appetite seemed to grow really well recently. No, I'm NOT pregnant.

My men...

... my jokers.

Me and my sweetheart.

Pa's and Nurul's fav cheese.... baked rice.

She was eyeing it....

Her usual. Spaghetti bolognaise.

My first time trying Aglio Olio Swenson's version.

Salad with mini seafood platter.

His usual.

Sedap...!

Made our way to Sedap Corner to celebrate a girls nite outing with Zub who came back from Jakarta en route to Hong Kong.

Us, less Sahra...

Highly recommended.

Good that Zub suggested Sedap Corner. Not only it is in the East, where we all live... its food is delicious! Although not my first time there, it was my first time with my girls there. It was KECOH (rowdy in English)! Starting already was kecoh with Naf who was punctual but went was 'lost'. Drove there early cos i was straight from work. I was hearing raeggae while she was hearing jazz??!!? ahahahahahhahaha It was SOOOOOO hilarious. Only then i realised she was at the wrong eatery.

Zubby gave each of us 'dolls'... i love mine!!! and the rest too... Now now an official Harajuku babe... a Harajuku Lover!

ok, Dinner. I wanted to have the vietnamese 'pho' cos i was freaking hungry. But the Thai Belacan rice was too tempting.... couldn't resist the raw mango and onions. It was so full of belacan smell, i love it! All the raw ingredients just complement each other so well! Everyone of us had a different meal. From pasta to rice with mixed veg. Never had a good dinner with such great laughs in a while. Thanks girls!!! Just missing Sahra only... she had school that nite.

MINE, MINE!!!!!!!!   :)

Ours, from Zubby! Thanks babe...  :)

Ain't she sweet...?

Mine.

Naf's.

I mentioned previously i'm doing something to Nurul's room. --> this blog

OK, Nurul took over the master bedroom when we moved here 7 years ago. The room was large and it'd be good for my mom and the kids with the attached bathroom, especially since she was taking care of Riyan when I just delivered him. Pa and I sacrificed and took the smaller room.

The current bed was not a kid's bed. There was no kids decor done up for her. Poor fella! So i'm slowly refurbishing the room so that it'd be 'girlie' and more for someone of her age.

Step 1: I painted the walls lavender, added IKEA flower wall lights. Then got her kids furniture for her PC.

Step 2: I got the vinyl wall sticker from Decorette. I chose the daffodil pattern. I got white stickers... it would stand out more if the walls had been a darker shade of lavender. But it's ok... it turned out just fine... didn't want o over do it.

Step 3: Searched for kids bed. I wanted this design intially. I fell in love with this design when I saw it at one of the Korean shops selling bedsheets and quilts in SQ2.  Found out it was from Picolo. Thought of getting it with aditional trundle bed for my mom.

I have always loved kids room to be with white finishings and furniture. But my default window frame was dark brown to begin with... so although i thought white would look mismatched, i went ahead with the decision to get white bed for Nurul.

So we went down to the showroom with the kids. Was contemplating getting a similar looking bed for Riyan but the boys version. Then both kids saw the bunk bed. THEY fell in LOVE with it! So they psychoed me to get it and i thought it was a very good deal which included the matress... $1688.00. I was sold into getting it. On the condition that they took turns to sleep on the top deck. I'm happy, my kids were happy.

 

So bed was delivered within the same week. And this is the new look of their room. Riyan sleeps there on most nights now. When he's brave enough to be on his own, the beds can be separated and the top one will be his single bed in his very own room.

I didn't have the fund to change the wardrobe into white... maybe just maybe i'll repaint the existing book cabinet white... hmmmm.... food for thought and IF i have the time.

The master bedroom was big for Nurul intially. Kids need space which are smaller to create the comfort and cosiness. The bunk bed really 'broke' the room visually into different segments... which suits kids since they are little people. One segment where my mom irons and the other where they study.

But what i'm thinking of now, which is not an expensive idea, it to change the lamp and radio to suit the bed and new deco...

I. M. beautiful

Yes... on and off i do get compliments that i'm sweet, some find me pretty etc... but i just think that i'm ok. Not beautiful but grateful that I am born without disabilities. Nothing fantastic. Though i've been called Eurasian, Chinese, Fillipino, South African, South American, Spanish. All these when i was not wearing hijab. Or maybe because i wasn't speaking much Malay??

But my best compliment from a stranger was on last Sat before the night's talk by Brother Idris Tawfik.

I was at Jason's Market,City Hall. Was stocking up some sweets and tidbits; and queing up at the cashier. Of course, i was wearing the hijab then. It was my new red, pashmina scarf. I donned it the 'Atikah style' ehheheehheeheh.

There was a caucasian man with a young girl behind me. I was just looking straight but both the man and girl was looking at me. He pointed out at me. I turned to look at him and then he said "Now, this is what i call beautiful..." Both of them smiled, i thanked him and smiled back  :) The girl was very shy...

The thing that made this comment special and different from the others was that it came from a caucasian and commented when i donned the hijab. Alhamdulillah....

The only thing i regretted : i should have held my hand out to the girl as a friendly gesture... but i was stunned (happy stunned) by the comment...

I miss living in australia...

From Pa... a modèle déposé

Something for me...  finally decided on my belated birthday present... a customised colour Le Pliage all the way from France. Thanks Pa    :)

It's really worth it to pay for service...it made its way to my doorstep in less than a week via the official website.

Longchamp

I needed time alone...

As I'm counting down to the last days at my current workplace, i needed time off to organise my thoughts about work on Friday.... but couldn't concentrate on what i was supposed to think about cos the lunch was just too good.

Lunch at Jalan Kayu but in United Square.  ;p

Bintan, Nirwana Gardens

I was repositioning my dry box and found these CDs... compilation of old digital photos.

This photo video below is one of the best holiday photos i put together.... i think it was for Faris' school work or something.... *dang!* can't upload it cos it's tooooo long and huge a file.  :(

so you've got to settle with some of the photos taken...  

Welcome to Bintan 2007!

That time, we went to Bintan, Nirwana Gardens with Cik Latif, Cik Yon and the 2 boys. Our first time in Bintan. Didn't know what to expect. Then, the idea of a resort was, to be frank, rather cloudy... based on our first resort experience in  Tioman. That one in Tioman was both scary yet fun. Scary cos of the boat rides and the water snake spotted. Fun cos almost 20 of my family members went.

Off to Madrasah

sat class... Riyan's first year in Madrasah. He almost cried cos the assembly area was full of people and was not organised well. But he enjoyed the class at the end of it. He complained about a naughty boy who splashed water at others during ablution time.

Nurul's now in Tweens Alive! She's pretty excited about it... feeling all grown up.

Been using the iphone for photos... should start to reuse my DSLR again... since i have the 35mm lens.

Watch out for this space.... a surprise for Nurul...!

So which one will be the surprise? The wall colour? The sofa? The light? or the decal?... stay tuned......  ;p

New school for Riyan

Riyan was excited + worried because of Primary 1. While he was excited trying on his new school uniform and carrying his new school bag, i thought he was pretty worried about the whole new experience. New environment, new friends.... back to the topic of being shy again.

Ready for school at 7am...

After school, while waiting for Nurul.

I took 2 days leave just to console myself that he was doing fine in school and that he was eating well during recess. My worries were dumbfounded. He was coping very well, short of talking to his classmates (even if it meant asking their name). He wanted to buy food from the stall, which was a good move. He loved the food, great! Bascially, i think he could be independent.

I think i should learn to let go a little.... cos he's a big boy now.

Riyan's finally 6....

While his friends would soon embark to being 7 years old, Riyan just turned 6 on 29 Dec. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BU-SUK BOI!!!!

I love this hairstyle of his... handsome, rite? Ok, each school holidays shall be this style.

Riyan didn't want to celebrate his birthday with many people... he was that shy! I couldn't take leave from work so we took him out for a simple dinner at Seoul Garden, Tampines Mall. Wanted Fish and Co but I forgot that it was at Tampines One. Never mind........ I was craving for a buffet, anyway.

I'm not sure if i had posted what we got for his Hanis schoolmates given out on the last day of school. I am crazy over Daiso containers, so i got them for this friends. Stuffed it with snacks, yoghurt, stationeries... got some of the items online...

My little elf....

Yikes! Forgot to rotate photo....