Its about 30min before 2005 comes to an end. I honestly can't believe how fast it whizzes by, I almost forgot what has happened for the last 12 mth that have brought me here. I am not usually too sentimental about such turn of events but I do reflect about what has happened throughout the year and ask myself if the year have been as good as I planned it to be. In my record books, its not too bad. I don't make resolutions as I always disappoint myself when its not fulfilled. For 2006 I hope for happiness, contentment & health for all around me.Boring I know But its honest & sincere.
For myself I hope I can be a better mum, daughter, wife, friend, acquaintance and confidante.I hope I can be more patient, more tolerant and be more wary of my spending habits(there, I've confessed..I think I could have saved more this year).
I also hope that my kids do not grow too fast as I do especially love them as they are now.(wishful thinking I know)
Career-wise, I am at a comfortable place now, doing what I love - designing & teaching - at my chosen time - although I do not earn as much as I did before:( but there's always my lovely hubby to back me up at THAT department. And I get to see my kids more & able to window-shop at leisurely hours like on 11am weekdays- which i am so grateful for.
And I only hope the best for all around us in the year to come.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

We got a new addition to our family - no I am not expecting my third child - not yet. My mom picked up the most littlest but ugly looking kitten ever.(surprise Eli!) Amirul & Amira were so excited. Amira starts meowing non-stop. The kitten must be wondering if she's in another cat kingdom. My mom was 2 hearts about keeping her. One minute she put the box in the corridor and another minute back in the kitchen. She finally settled for the kitchen and I suppose that confirms her decision. Amirul puts onhold-all daily activities like Kids Central-watching to a halt. Amira for once stays put in one place for more than 10 minutes(if you can ignore her non-stop meowing) it was blissful.

I don't know how I feel about Jiji(because she comes around Hari Raya Haji & to also commemorate our late Titi). I don't know if we are ready to go thru this whole motion of pet-keeping and the heartbreak of losing one again. right now we are just enjoying her presence and I'll keep you posted...

When I started this blog, it was really because my husband thought I could make some money out of it. I thought maybe I would write the daily routine of my life - like a journal.But that would be quite utterly boring and also means that some personal space is not really my own anymore. I was blog-hopping and saw few blogs -some nice, some-awful(design-wise - cant help it lah!)some are familiar faces that are friends of friends or cousins of cousins. Some treat the blog like a journal cum diary. They wrote about everything that happen to their day and lives and those like me - working mothers - would write about their kids.

Some I feel like I know them after reading just a few entries posted by them. Then I wonder do I want people to know me just by clicking away? Do I want them to feel like they are acquianted to me just because they read my blog?

I guess some people have different reasons why they do or write the way they do - it makes me wonder - all the time. I supppose these are the exact same things that makes our lives more colourful and make each one of us unique & different.

Just feeling a wee bit forlorn today - must be the year end syndrome...

I heard Debbie Gibson's 'Electric Youth' on radio while finishing up design for Hyatt Hangzhou. And boy does it really bring back tons of memory. (I think my girlfriends who mostly are now mothers - except for 2 - would agree to that)

It was almost 20 years ago when we were the ones who would perform at each and every concert that the school has - Teacher's Day, National Day, NPCC Farewell Cancert Day (also jadi) as long as we can prance on stage. But Debbie Gibson is especially nostalgic as it is one of the numbers that even though we got all the dance-steps to a T could not make for all adoring eyes to see as some teachers thought that we have performed 'enough' already - meaning give others a chancelah. I think when we were on the roll we performed so many numbers like "New Order-The Great Commandents" to "Starship's-Always". Any dance will do...even simple steps like moving left to right & waving your hands can do too...we even rope in some guys from our uniformed group to make it look like we do not dominate too much.Oh I was also involved in - are you ready for this - BORIA! So Melayu I know - must inject a bit of culturelah - support our people.

Back then Bros & Menudo were our idols,(Ricky Martin, who's part of Menudo was virtually unknown at that time) then came New Kids on the Block. The ultracool would put posters of Depeche Mode on their files & folders. I put all my favourite artistes on pins on my bag...until you can hardly see the surface of the bag if you know what I mean - the more the merrier. I memorised almost all Debbie's & Tiffany's songs..and sing along cassette tapes in walkmans.

aaahh..those were the days when you thought nothing else matters but the gel on your hair and the pom-poms on your socks.

We did our spring cleaning (again, after 3 mths or so)to clear more debris and trash after a surprise visit by the termite colony 2 mths ago. Major nightmare I'm telling you. But we are lucky we managed to detect it before it could cause a large-scale havoc to the rest of the house.(Yes, thats them in the picture)

There are still trails in the store room's wall as a constant reminder of their visit and how they made sure they left us a mark to remember - and I mean major cleaning up of the store room which was already filled to the brim with stuff.

I take it as a sign that perhaps its telling us that "Hey If you are not staying here all the time, we might as well rule!")

So our house now is back to its tip-top condition...and me a happy houseowner again:)

PS: also many thanks to our "home-boys" Yan & Izzat for helping us clear the termite-infested store-room:}

I think OSIM should stand for -Only Shopping In Mind.

I tried the OSIM i-squeeze yesterday after about an hour of shopping around the ever-madness IMM. After about 10 minutes of squeezing & kneading of my sole,ankles & calves, I feel as light as a feather! Its true! My cuzzin Kikin can attest to that. You feel like you can fly. Feel like you can shop for another 4-5 hours.never mind the throngs of shoppers, nevermind chasing after Amira in the crowd. I am SO convinced-at least for awhile. As we have to take a 20 minute walk back home, the effects also last that long.:( but for a while it feels sooo shiok.but i think $588 is a bit hefty to feel as light as a feather for 20 minutes right? I also say...

NO i did not get a candy.

I braved myself and finally went to visit my dentist today after 3 years. Accelerated by the fact that my jaw hurts everytime I open my mouth and the mouth ulcers that refuse to go away (I tried Bonjela, salt, til my eyes water, to no avail).

I was pretty nervous while waiting for my turn - like waiting for my exam results I tell you-wondering what my teeth report card will reflect.

But surprisingly my teeth is still in good condition(phew) except for a decay in my right molar. The pain in my jaw is due to some lacerations against my cheeks-meaning I probably accidentaly bite on it.So my teeth got polished & my molar filled, my dentist got richer by $100.

so I cant help but grin all the time afterwards. Its amazing what clean teeth can do for you:)

went to see King Kong midnite movie over the weekend - not exactly midnite, more like wee-morning 1am - movie. Not too bad. a bit tad too long if you ask me. But we enjoyed it. its been quite some time since we caught a movie. quite surprising the massive amt of people still awake at 4am - or maybe its the x'mas weekend, but then all shopping centres are closed at that time.



and also thanks to Tina, I found out what a 'nam-nam' fruit is.(that it actually existed with such a name still amazes me)it looks like a cocoa fruit & i read that it taste like 'kedondong'. So Tina if you finally found the fruit pls tell me what it taste like.



10 YEARS 9 MTHS and counting...
today, it would be that long since we knew each other. still feels like new, still full of surprises.
wonder where the time have gone and i turn to Amirul & Amira & know exactly where it went to.

I am not a person who expresses herself easily - (except maybe through my shoes, bag & what I wear).Oftentimes I ask myself why is it so difficult to do that? But today I would like to express my gratitude to the most important person in my life (And i think he knows,I NEVER, EVER do this}.

Ode to my "mari"

Thank you for:
* Rubbing my feet when it hurts - be it from work, shopping or simply when I feel like it
* Always telling me that I am beautiful - all the time
* Putting me on the pedestal
* Waking up in the middle of the night so I can sleep and wont be cranky the next day
* Not complaining & listen when I whine & whine (about anything & everything)
* Always putting me & my lovelies above others
* Giving in to me - almost everytime
* Giving me 2 beautiful treasures
* Allowing me to be me
* Allowing me to learn thru my mistakes ALL the time
* Putting up with my crazy antiques.
* Believing that I am above the best that I think I am
* Making me believe that you can be THAT lucky
* Trusting me
* Being you
* Loving me...

I think the novelty of the double-decker bus journey have worn off for Amirul. What previously used to be a moment of excitement of mere sitting on the upper deck of a double decker bus have been replaced by the constant nagging of "Umi, are we there yet..?"
So the 45 minute smooth journey he so enjoy 2 mornings ago is now a chore...now must I got to find other exciting things for him...

i was working on my 44-page layout design earlier today when I heard Josh Groban's "You lift me up".
Must be the damn hormones..tears start streaming...

this is what you call drama-Mama.

Anyhows, here's my anthem to my princess...

"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance"

"I hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack"

after 4 years of resisting the blog, i finally relented and decided..what the heck..this could be fun. I'll just see how far I'll go with this.

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