Dinner at Yayasan Sarawak

I had a dinner at Yayasan Sarawak, Jalan Stonor, KL last night. What's so special about the dinner? The meal served. Remember once I wrote bout losing weight in July? Today is the last day of July, and yesterday, instead of weighing and worrying, I stuffed myself with scrumptious Sarawak's dishes.

As far as I remember, I haven't try a lot of Sarawak's dishes, I actually don't know much bout their food. But after last night, I ultimately fell in love with 'em.

My orange Gen 2 had a small problem last night, so I went there by Leen's Myvi. Thanks Leen for your kindness, why is her Myvi even in the picture, owh, i forgot to mention that I went there with hubby, Baby Sarah, Leen & Ain.

At first they served us with Laksa Sarawak... very nice... followed by Mee Kolok. I never had one before, it was so delicious and one day, God permits, I'll go to Sarawak myself to find a bowl of Mee Kolok. The next dish was Nasi Goreng Dabai. It's a fried rice with a bit of purple color and some dabai fruits to make the taste at it best.

Finally they spoiled us with Kek Lapis Sarawak, different colors and flavors, they even tapau some for us. I leave the dinner with a full and bloated stomach and 4 plastic bags of Mee Kolok and Laksa Sarawak. Nyum Nyum!!

Thank you, especially to Puan Noranne and all of the Yayasan Sarawak delegation for an overwhelming hospitality, after all, We're Malaysian no matter where we are.

10 Things!!!

10 Things I havent done ( or i really need to do ) after giving birth to my baby gurl

1. Watch movies ( owh how much i missed sitting in a very dark room with a large screen on!)
2. Splurge on a new shoes ( Owh guess stiletto, pls wait for me)
3. Sleep in all day long
4. Go to a hair salon
5. Buy my favourite book
6. Eat Jamu.. ( yes, eat jamu to slim down)
7. Family Vacation with my L'il One (and her daddy of course!)
8. Update my wardrobe
9. Pampering myself ( it's itching every where!)
10. Eat less! ( WIP :p)

Well, there's another thing, i want to straighten my hair after raya. Erm.... %&*T^$%^.

Again about babysitter

I intend to post this entry last two weeks, but due to time constraint and several other contributing factors, i only managed to post it today.

RM 300? Huh! My hubby stares at me in astonishment. Yes, she wants us to pay RM 300. Let me see the text message, he said to me.. I innocently show him the text message I received earlier from Baby Sarah’s new babysitter Kak Nor. “ Maybe we’ll find a new babysitter then”, I tell my darling hubby, but I think we can still afford it, it’s just the same if we go to the Day Care Center which will charge us OT after 5.30 pm...”

That is part of the discussion we had yesterday night during our everyday meeting. We discussed about the new babysitter who demands a payment of RM 300 a month to take care of my baby girl. Huh! This morning, the babysitter explains to me, the extra RM 20 is a courtesy for me, in case I fetch my baby gurl late. Ok whatever.

Im no demanding mother, neither fussy, I’m just trying to provide the best for my baby girl. I didn’t set up any requirement for the babysitter, but I really hope she can take care of my baby without any agenda.

Money is another thing, to stay in the budget is always the most important aspect to live happily. But, no doubt I’ll put my baby girl safety on top of the list compare to none. So guys, 300rm for a babysitter? Worth every cent.

Happy Birthday Sayang!!

Today is the 19th of July 2010. I have marked my calendar for today is my hubby’s birthday. I would like to wish my Sayang a Happy 32nd Birthday! May you are granted with prosperity and happiness throughout your life!

I didn’t plan anything for him this year. Why? Maybe we kinda have a tight budget this year. Hahaha! Erm, he loves me… maybe my presence is the biggest gift for him. Since he loves my cooking and I know how much he enjoys it, I’ll cook something nice for him. But I still haven’t got any idea. I’ll cook western I guess. How romantic. Just imagine, candle light dinner, home cooked lamb chop or salmon, French fries, mashed potatoes, aromatherapy candles and Baby Sarah on my lap… erks!

Anyway, I’ll cook this weekend. All are invited but please make a RSVP. *wink**wink* There’ll be a birthday cake of course! Hihiks!

SHARING SESSION

I had a very brief sharing session with my boss yesrterday morning. We talked about family, his vacation to Singapore's Universal Studio and works thingy. My boss is a happy and easy going person, a book lover and a brilliant person he is, he always love to share anything new he read from the book. He’s married with two kids, a boy and a gurl, Arif and Rania.

There are few tips of course he highlighted to be to be more successful in life. I just want to share and hopefully it is helpful to you as it does to me.

Have your own career road map. He said Look at the bigger picture of your career path. Always forecast on where you want to finish. Well, it reminds me of Stephen Covey 7 Habits of Highly Effective people which is to begin with an end in mind. My boss indeed is a very smart man, and I immediately agree with him. Hahahha. I can feel like there was a force from somewhere asking me to agree on whatever he said this morning. As in simple word, what he meant is to determine where you want to finish. Then try to plan it backwards. One closest example is to use our former Director General Tan Sri Ismail Adam’s Model of Excellence.

My boss always mentioned to me that he likes to explore new things and that is why he loves to work in the organization the maximum of two years. This leads me to the second point to ponder which is to update your resume frequently. Just to challenge and motivate ourselves, try to apply for a job out there to see your potential or to be precise to check how much you worth as at now. He stressed so much for me to be creative and always challenge myself: not to feel secured in whatever you have today. It is a mean world out there.

Then he pointed out to me on why people can’t reach their maximum potential. The first one is because of laziness and the second one is because of the fear. People who unleashes their true potential is often a hardworking person, so for some of us, new initiatives need more sacrifice, more time consumed, more energy used. Or else, we fear the initiatives we plan is going to fail, thus, we chose to sit back.

Hence, he mentioned to me The 5 Minds for the Future (Howard Gardner). Those 5 are The Disciplined Mind, The Synthesizing Mind, The Creating Mind, The Respectful Mind and The Ethical Mind. I haven’t had time to read about it yet. But I’ll try ASAP…: p

He also advised me to manage my family well. Finding a balance between family and career as well as to check on how far I want to go without neglecting my family is no nonsense. After so much of thinking, I somehow feel that I need to sacrifice either one. Up till now, I choose my family over my career.

So in the end, he left me with an example of water in a cup and on a saucer. So Asrida, you need to think wisely which one you want to be…

P/S: Credit to my boss Encik Mohd Azlan bin Zaharudin and I wish u all the best.

FLORIA PUTRAJAYA

People say a picture is worth a thousand words, so please take your time to enjoy images below. It was taken on July 11, 2010 as the colorful memories of us.

Event : Floria Putrajaya Flower and Garden Festival 2010
Venue : Putrajaya
Date : July 10- 18 2010

Amazing flowers at dusk

Gorgeous!

Hey, What a white guy like you doing in a fine place like this....

In front of Jabatan Pertanian Malaysia Exhibition

Posing on a bamboo chair

He's not an exhibit... he's my husband

Us

Contemporary Garden

Setiausaha Kerajaan Johor's Exhibition

It was such a great event to go to. How i wished i had a very large garden with a lot of flowers and a tiny water fall... how serene and calming.. how i wish... i wish...

2010 WORLD CUP

World Cup 2010 was OFFICIALLY OVER YESTERDAY, it is different from other World Cup held. First, the Controversial Jabulani, second, The South African Trademark, Vuvuzela, Third, The Amazing Octopus named Paul and lastly Spain as the new 2010 World Cup Champion.

Jabulani Ball

Vuvuzela

Paul the Octopus

New World Cup Champ : Espana

There are few other things to add on to the enjoyment of this year’s World Cup, from the defeat of Brazil, huge victory of Portugal over Republic of South Korea, France team refuses to go practice, the New Uruguay hands of God and so on. I believed every one of us has our own sweet memory about the World Cup. Even for my 53 years old mother. Hihiks!

I didn’t get the chance to watch all of the games this year for My ASTRO Facility has been terminated, plus im busy with my l’il angel. Nonetheless, I keep myself updated by reading the newspaper, surfing the net and watching the news.

World Cup this year is full of magical moments and memories, after all it is held once in every for years and it unites every continent of the world. Congratulations South Africa for 2010 World Cup… Hello Brazil, till we meet in 2014

-All photos are from Google Image-

Combo Pixs

Book Review

(Source: Google Image)

I have finished reading The Power of Small by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval. It took me almost a month to finish reading this book. It is an excellence book and I recommend everyone to read this book. We usually underestimate the power of small, not realizing that small details may give us extra advantages from others or vice versa.

There are nine (9) chapters in this book.

Chapter 1: The Power of Small
Chapter 2: Small Truths
Chapter 3: Make Small Talk
Chapter 4: Go the Extra Inch
Chapter 5: Take Baby Steps
Chapter 6: Watch Your Cues and Clues
Chapter 7: Little Mistakes Spell Disaster
Chapter 8: Make It Big by Thinking Small
Chapter 9: Small Changes the World

The authors has highlighted few cases and stories on why small things matter. In fact, in our daily life we have to be more detailed about just everything because any ignorance may result in a bad outcome. We come across few things in daily life we choose to ignore because we’ve been taught to ignore small things lingering around. This small things may include, to greet your neighbor good morning, to kiss your husband before you leave or even to re-check again your make-up… ;p

In work environment I may suggest little effort you can take to put you above the rest;

• To greet people around ESPECIALLY your boss and subordinates,
  EXTRA POINT: ask how their family is

• To double check any notes, memo or paper before showing it to your boss.
  EXTRA POINT: Meticulously check any spelling error such as a person salutation or name

• Even to pick up the phone before anyone does ( who knows a simple phone call may become a door of opportunity for you to be more successful)
  EXTRA POINT: Offers to take a note from the caller

What I love the most about the book is, it teaches me to pay attention to small stuff in daily life. It shares real life stories about successful person today, as a tiny effort he made in the past. The stories as well are very excellence and it stressed why small details are so important.

So, lesson learnt for me is, even though I know my husband loves me so much, I can’t take it for granted. I’m sure small effort I made is really a BIG thing to him. Erm… his B’day is coming up.. Maybe Sayang, just a small Birthday wish will make your day……

LOOKALIKE

Do we look alike? Some friends say my baby gurl and I look alike.. Im not so sure about it, i always thought she looks very much like her daddy. Erm, maybe it's true but i just don't see it yet. Baby Sarah, is a healthy baby now, aged six (6) months, very brilliant and clever baby. Mommy Sarah on the other hand is a very clumsy (semetimes) person, aged 27 this year and looks younger than ever. Hahahaha!

But, do we look alike?

After all, she's my daughter.

Majlis Penghargaan Tan Sri Ismail Adam

Date : June 30th, 2010
Venue : Marriot Hotel, Putrajaya
Time : 8.30 pm till midnite
Menu : Chinese Course
Dress Code : Batik Malaysia


Tan Sri Ismail Adam is ushered to the VIP Holding Room.

From left : Dayang Faizah, Khairunnisa , Mommy Sarah and Shazleen

From Left : Izatul Ashikin, Shazleen, Khairunnisa, Banner, Mommy Sarah, Izzat and En. Affendy.

It was such a grand event. It was started by a karaoke session, speech, prize giving ceremony, singing a b'day song to Tan Sri and Tan Sri 'bersalam' with all the guests present. The menu that night was Chinese Course. There were about eight(8) dishes served ( if im not mistaken). Hot and Cold dish, Shark fin Soup, Buttered Prawn, Siakap, Longan and coconut mixed dessert, Yin Ling Vegetables ( if im not mistaken), fried rice and some green and pink kueh. The menu was not the best i've ever tasted. It's just so biasa... nothing interesting, nothing nice it was just below my expectations. I ate a very nice chinese course during my friend's Chan Yoke Tee's wedding. It was my very first and it was so delicious.

The food gimmick was a l'il bit late, and it was not worth our time waiting, so simple and expected. Huh! Am i a complainer? Yes I do. But i have to give 5 out of 5 to the table server name Aidil. He serves with smiles and it was such a pleasant thing after a bad food and all.

I didnt eat much that night because i miss my baby Sarah so much. At 10.00pm, she's usually in my lap already. The event was finally over at 12.00 midnite. Im very sure, everyone there was very sleepy and wished they were home in their warm and comfy bed.

After all, it was a very successful event and to be remembered to some.

STUCK

I'm stucked in the office during a very long Friday Prayer's break. Am I happy about it? I certainly not. Why I'm in the office now? I cant help it, if I feel slightly unhappy, I have to glance to my Senarai Tugas Jawatan hangs nicely on my partition board. I'm stressed out! I probably will write several entry today since i have a very long break and I have done what I was asked to do... I'm ultimately a free woman now... Of course there are several things to do... but i'l just relax and blog while im having my break. I've taken my free lunch with Puan Laili just now so the pain is still bearable.

Friday break, is a girl's time. A catch up session. A relaxation time and gossiping with the other girls, but this Friday break is just not as usual. I am sad yes, but i just don't have a choice.

There's nothing to whine and complaint about. It's just my responsibility. Nuff said.