Assalamualaikum.

Onto Edinburgh Day 2. We covered a lot of things in one day, can you believe it or not. We started early in the morning. Over there, 6 is already terang. We went out to have breakfast at The Elephant House, notorious for the place where JK Rowling wrote first wrote Harry Potter.


For a while, I thought we were transported to Athens, Greece.

Assalamualaikum.

Since I've not blogged for some time, I was thinking to write about some stuff that is missing from here. First off, I'm going to share you about my travel late last year. We went to London, Oxhill, Cornwall, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh & Madrid.

I didn't exactly remember when did we start to plan for our trip, but it was not that early like most people do these days. And since it was such a long trip, we decided just to take Mimi. Since she is still breastfeeding, so I have no other choice but to bring her along. Lucky she is considered an infant, so most costs are reduced. The flights especially!

We booked MAS going to London. It was a 13 hour flight. Although I was a little anxious about how Mimi would be in the flight, I have had experience already bringing a baby on board (Lulu went to Gold Coast, Australia when she was 9 months old). Thankfully, it wasn't hard. Alhamdulillah. In fact, for the whole of this trip, Mimi is an angel.

As soon as we arrived in London, we had an early flight the next day to Glasgow. Our destination, Edinburgh. From Glasgow airport, you have to take a shuttle to Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow first. From there, take a bus to Edinburgh. The journey to Edinburgh from the bus station takes about 1 hour. We had book a hotel in Edinburgh, Cityroomz. Which is one of the cheapest too. The room is decent size and very clean with very nice bathroom too.

After checking in at our hotel, we did a simple overview of Edinburgh. I couldn't believe I am looking at such a picturesque place through my own eyes. Night time came early, it was the fall season. And in this part of the world, it was so so very cold! We did some shopping (sempat!) for ourselves & Mimi. I was already prepared to shop for cold weather clothing here, so we didn't pack a lot of clothing, esp Mimi's. Got great bargain there (extra-lightweight down jackets!) and more bargain for Mimi. Most of Mimi's attire that she wore are new!

Assalamualaikum,

For those who know me, they know that I am a supporter of breastfeeding.
I have not stop breastfeeding since Lulu was born in 2011. Oh, there was a break between March 2013-July 2013 when I was pregnant with Mimi and had to go for Umrah.
Before that though, I was still breastfeeding Lulu. So, Lulu's breastfeeding record is 1 year and 9 months. Just 3 months shy from the full term of 2 years.

Mimi is now 2 years 2 months. And I am weaning her off. My breasts need a break! Can I finally be free? I have been trying to wean her off for few weeks already, but she would always need to breastfeed at night.
When we started, it was so hard to get her to drink formula. Mimi is really attached to me (or should I say, my boobs?). She simply cannot give up breast milk. So we tried different formulas. From Mamex, Mamil, and then we found that Mimi drank more during the Friso Gold stage. I was happy. Did we finally found the milk that Mimi approve?

NOT!

Although Mimi did drink a lot more of the Friso Gold, there was one problem. She had terrible constipation. At first, it seemed normal...later on, it was so bad that everytime her stool wanted to passed, she grimaced & do the thing you do when you berak, but the shit tak keluar pun! Terrible!
So I got her Lactul, medicine yg mcm doc bagi after give birth tu. The purpose is to melembutkan the hard stool. But I guess the hard one was already blocking the passageway for the other stool to go out...so that really hard one has to pass first.

*if you're easily grossed out, skip this paragraph*
It was a pain for her. Seriously. I heard from other mothers that their little ones had bled trying to pass the hard stool, but I can't stand to see Mimi fighting the "stool battle", so when she had that passing feeling again, I put her in a crouching position, and I myself got that hard thing out for her. She was kinda crying and said, "Mama...sakit, sakit." But when it was all out, I knew she was relieved. Afterwards, the next two three times she berak, the stool was very soft. The Lactul had soften the stools but not the one at the "doorway".

After that episode, I told my family about it all in our family Whatsapp group. And my sister suggested Mamil. She had done marketing for brands and knew it helps with sembelit. So I switched Mimi's formula to Mamil balik.
When we switched the milk, we were about to go on our family trip to UK. So I only brought a little for the whole trip and planned to breastfeed her more during our time there. Trust me, travel is so much easier when you are breastfeeding. You don't have to bring milk, warm water, etc.
But when we were there, Mimi drank quite a lot of the formula and it finished few days before we're due to go back home. So I breastfed her during that time.
Back home, we continued with formula & breastmilk. She still cannot give up the breastmilk fully.

However, last night for the first time ever, she lasted the whole day without breastfeeding and slept herself off without the need to bf! Yay!
Will I miss breastfeeding her? Errr...maybe not. Coz now I noticed that my breasts are not as full as before, I think because milk is starting to deplete and it hurts when she wants to breastfeed. So my breasts also is telling Mimi & me to stop the breastfeeding...
*It tells me secretively that it wants to get back into shape & breastfeeding is not helping her achieve that.*


Anyway, even on formula, I am positively sure that Mimi is pretty much Mommy's girl because sometimes when getting that bottle of milk, she will say to me, "Nak baring dgn Mama..."
Oh well.

Assalamualaikum,

Since I was a kid, my mom always tell me about going places. Travel.
But back then, travel is expensive. So we could only dream.


Come year 2000, travel became cheaper. Budget airlines blossom. Everyone can fly!
However, not all travelers are the same. Some people don't bother in sightseeing, thus choosing to 'holiday' in the destination they go. Some people only go to the beach. While others may like exploring places they go, to see this and that. Recently, there are more people who are called backpackers.

I am not a backpacker. But that does not mean I don't travel on a budget. This is where I think most people get it wrong..they think that when you travel to places with tight budget, you are force to backpack. For me, backpacking is more suitable for people who travel solo/in a small group, carrying just a backpack & no luggage, with extremely tight budget, sleeping in the most cheap places such as hostels, room, tube, or even couch and most likely with no kids.

As per Wikipedia,
Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent international travel. It includes the use of a backpack that is easily carried for long distances or long periods of time; the use of public transport; inexpensive lodging such as youth hostels; often a longer duration of the trip when compared with conventional vacations; and often an interest in meeting locals as well as seeing sights.

Although I've always wanted to try it, I can't. The most obvious reason, Lulu & Mimi. Btw, I was only able to freely travel on my own when I got married. Even then, we had not enough money to go on our honeymoon. We had our destination but we postponed because of money. 6 months later, our destination changed. We went to Matta fair and saw a great deal for a trip to Korea and we decided to just go for it. It was Allah's plan. At that trip, everyone except two were around our age & we clicked! It was like going to a vacation with friends instead. Believe it or not, our trip was less than rm3.5k per pax, around 9 days, with Jeju Island.

After that, we did not go anywhere. In the beginning of our marriage, me & FF had always wanted to go travel together. But at that time money was scarce for us, I had a job where I cannot simply ask for long leave, and we also had investment commitments. So we left our dream honeymoon destinations aside.

I guess we really were able to travel after we had Lulu. We started slow by just one place. Then I got to perform Umrah while Mimi in my tummy. After Mimi was born, we were able to go few places and almost all of them with the kids. And traveling with kids, there is never an option to backpack. Although it is not that cheap cheap to travel with kids, we try to minimize our costs as much as possible. And we always always try to minimize our luggages too.

I am always grateful to my Maker for He have given us these many blessings in our lives. From not being able to travel together to being able to do that a bit later in our marriage. Patience in dreaming plus sticking by FF and supporting him in his decisions paid off.

Insyallah, if time permits (if I'm not busy), I will do posts on our travels. It may not be like most travel blogs out there, but I just want to share a glimpse into our travel life with kids.

Till next post,
Assalamualaikum.

Assalamualaikum.


On July 25th, which is about a week after Raya, we did a celebration for the girls' birthday. Both Lulu & Mimi was born in July. So, since this year Mimi's birthday was on the last day of puasa, we decided to combine Raya open house with their birthday celebration.

At first, I didn't have any theme to go for the birthday. But one day, upon discovering a wooden pallet dumping ground near where we live, I decided to do the birthday decoration myself. That's when I thought that a bohemian theme would go very well with pallets. Tau2 la skrg ni kan wooden pallets tgh in trend huhu.

During the last week of puasa, me & FF started painting the pallets that we collected & I started buying the poles & fabric needed for our teepee & tent. I also customized our sampul raya to give out to the kids.

You know, the feeling after achieving something for your kids is priceless. Seeing your kids running underneath the teepee, playing & Lulu actually requested me to make her a feather headband, which I did at the last minute. I feel proud & so happy seeing the kids loving it.


It was our intention to hold the party outdoors since our lawn is big and I know that kids like to run around and all. So, we set up a kids play area at the smaller lawn side while the bigger lawn is for cars to park. I also had few giant bubble sticks and bought some bubbles solution so that the kids can play. I must say, the giant bubble thing is a big hit!






The ever manja Mimi, with her TokBa je manjang.
Pulut kuning made by my Mom for the girls.

Assalamualaikum.

Well, school is close today. Lulu got ready at 730am and when FF sent her to school, it was close. Apparently we didn't get the memo yesterday. The haze has been getting worse lately. This keeps happening every year. Why does the Indonesian keep burning the sawit field? And at the same time every year?! The people/companies that does this should be sued or punished. Because of their doing, other people have to suffer?

Anyway, this means today & esok (Malaysia Day) cuti. But in my case, I got no cuti. Cuti or not, I still have to work. Guess I forgot to mention that I now shoot for ItsyBabies? We're doing a newborn hospital shoot kinda thing. Am currently attached to a hospital in Ampang. So if you guys tetibe nk terberanak ke...dtg to hospital where I am, and dpt la photoshoot free! Haha.

Since yesterday was my birthday, we celebrate by going out for lunch. At Miyagi. Miyagi is a Japanese restaurant in Bangi and is deemed as one of the best Japanese restaurant in Malaysia. But...why in Bangi? I don't know... Apparently the place mmg dah lama ada kat Bangi. We've been there once and I've been longing to go there again. So, my birthday is the perfect excuse. Last time pegi, it was just us and Lulu. Now dah ade new addition, Mimi. Alhamdulillah, makan sedap & kenyang.


See you on the next post!

Assalamualaikum.

I'm back. I turn 30 today. OMG!
One of my azam is to TRY and start blogging again. Pick up where I left off. So so much has happened from when I last wrote & 2015 has been an awesome year so far. Alhamdulillah.

Anyway, just now before I go off to work, FF told me that there is something on the table for me. Lo and behold, Surat Cinta. Haha. Lagi istimewa, usually we give each other cards during special events, tp this time I get a letter which is typed using a typewriter. Ala-ala zaman muda bercinta gittew.

Looking back on my twenties, I did a lot, achieved a lot, learned a lot, repent a lot, and I think I grew as a better person. I have a lovely marriage with two kids filling up my time, I do what I like to do,..and if I'm not grateful for what I have, then I do not deserve all this blessed treatment from Allah.

Day to day, I try to make the best out of each day but still, I am just human. Human make mistakes, human tend to procrastinate, human tends to be lazy, human get angry/pissed off and I get all that. There are days that I feel like tak productive langsung and there are days when I feel so tired just taking care of these two kids. It's part of life.

So as I grow old, my azam would be:

1. To do something that could change someting else to the better. Walaupun sekecil zarah, setiap perbuatan baik kita akan dibalas oleh Allah dgn baik.
2. Seek knowledge by reading books.
3. Be more health conscious.
4. Open my eyes to the world by travelling.
5. Dpt menunaikan Haji sebelum plan nak baby no 3.
6. Lebih byk membaca buku2 agama serta dpt menghafaz ayat2 hafazan yg byk dh terlupa.

Yang lain spt mendekatkan diri dgn Allah, be a better daughter, wife & mom tu benda biasa & obviously termasuk sekali jadi x perlu la nk tulis panjang2 kan.

To finish this off,
Happy 30th Birthday to me.
Moga Allah mendengar isi hati aku & menunaikan hajat & hasrat yg tersirat termasuklah yg tersurat.
Amin.

It's been a year plus since my last post. Reading it, I thought, I have come quite a long way. It's Christmas today in 2014 and a little contrary to my previous post, I am being more affectionate to FF now.
We celebrated our 5th anniversary last two months, with an impromptu trip to UK & Madrid, a trip to Bali and a short visit to my sister's in Singapore (which is also a trip to see Malaysia vs Singapore in Kallang Stadium).
Last Saturday, we enjoyed Final AFF Suzuki 2014 where Harimau Malaya ended up losing to Thailand in SNBJ. It was all good because no one expected them to reach final at all!
In terms of life, I can say that it's merry. As a mother, sometimes I am exhausted of handling these kids especially Lulu who is always very hyper! As a wife, I am always trying to be the best to FF. To understand him better & to accept his flaws. We have our moments...like me nagging on him about this and that or him calling me "poyo" on the social media and whatnots...but I guess we've come to understand quite a lot now about each other.

Actually, I'm not quite sure why I do this post. After such a long time neglecting this blog. Don't know when I will post again. I think I just want this to be here to remind myself in the future, that as of now, I am very pleased with my life. We may not live in a dream house, we may not live privately as what we once dreamed...but I believe there will come a day when I get to design my own house the way I wanted it to be. God willing. Mostly, at this moment, I am happy with how my life is going. I have the love from family...that is what matters most. Without the love of family, material stuff is meaningless.

Alhamdulillah. I thank Allah for my life now. Less than perfect, yet I feel that it is perfect enough.