Planning for Krabi

I'm still keeping quiet about this with others. I'm afraid it might get cancelled like the Sabah trip in 2011.


Whatever it is, I planned this because:

• The kids wants to travel by plane
• To fulfill my urge to go and travel oversea
• To replace the cancelled trip to Sabah

Luckily, AirAsia had a zero fare fair when I was planning this. I managed to book the zero fare seats for 6 people (Lutfi will sit with me) and paid RM1,088 including 40kg check in luggage to-fro. That's about RM180 per pax. The last time I surveyed, the price is more than RM1,600.

I've also booked Somkiet Buri for accomodation 30 June - 3 July. Still haven't paid the balance yet. I actually was eyeing on Ananta Burin, Buri Tara and Apasari because I would like to stay in the pool access rooms.  The hotels are located on the other side of Ao Nang at Nopparat end. The main street though is stretched on the other side where it is easier to get food and shop. Also, when I read reviews of the hotels, not all are good as I thought. Alas, I booked Somkiet Buri because:

• The hotel serves halal food. Thus there is no need for us to look for breakfast in the morning and this will save time.
• The hotel offers pool access rooms at a reasonable price compared to other hotels at Ao Nang end.
• So far the reviews are encouraging.
• We can walk and explore as Somkiet Buri is nearer to the tourist spot and halal food stalls.
• Easier for me to look for spas

The itinerary is simple. Rest and relax! This is my first time travelling by plane with kids overseas! Excited as well as anxious! Can't wait!

Lutfi now is 20 months

Around 2 months

Around 3 months @ Summit Hotel, Prai

Looks like Irdina when she was small

Nov 2011

Jan 2012

Lutfi has grown! To me he is an intelligent kid! He communicates, understands and very persistent! Does not take 'no' as an answer but he knows his boundaries and will say 'no, no, no" mimicking us saying that to him....

Loves to dance and listens to music. Currently his favourites are Intifada, Iftitah both from Raihan, Monkey jumping on the Bed, Animal Songs and IAM4U...

Doesn't eat a lot like his sister, Jasmin. Carrot is his favourite and has a sweet tooth. Runs and climb a lot. He's quite friendly and brave but sometimes shy with people he's not familiar with. At times he's kind of clingy but sometimes he just barge in at new places.

Plays with Kasyif and laugh whenever his brother makes funny noises and faces. Plays hide and seek with sisters and everyone will laugh looking at his face and behaviour.

 

At 3 months, comfortably lifting his head



Mar 2012 @ 6 months

 

May 2012 when Mak Andak got married (8 months)



 

Last month. Still fit the same T-Shirt when he was 5 months

Last week @ 20 months

I feel blessed. It's ironic, having kids make you sane (as most of the time they make you insane!)

Books I intend to buy & read

Found these when we were in the new impressive PPAS in Shah Alam.

Me in Vietnam

Some pics from my break in Vietnam last year. Yes! Last year..... Sorry for the delay...

Kain cotton...Rambang mata

Night market very near to Pink Hotel

Pink Hotel... Not bad...

One of the halal restaurants we went.

Map of city centre

Trying to find Hard Rock Cafe

Found it. Bought T-shirt and cap for hubby

Some of the Vietnam crafts at night market

Back to the hotel

Vietnam Spring Roll

Fried young lilies (I think)

Posing with Chu on the way to complementary accomodation.
Our flight was delayed and postponed to the next day due to hurricane.

She dropped a pair of scissors and it landed on my toe.

Foot massage.... ouuu.... aaaa.... so good

What I had on MAS on the way back

Dreading to leave KLIA

The gang... Really had fun!

Herbalife progress May

Pleateau..That's all I can say...The weight is not moving to hit 60kg yet. The lightest morning weight so far is 64.1kg and 64.4kg in the afternoon. Then I got my period 2 days ago.... I was also injured last week because I didn't warm up before a netball practice. Thus my movement is a bit restricted.

Though my goal to get to my ideal weight is still in my head. I just need to be patient and just continue the good habits and routine.....

As for my husband, he sounded happy lately and still has his focus on losing more weight. He already achieved what he has targeted and trying hard not to get back to the old eating habit again.

Back in Mar 2012 

2012

 

My 2nd customer!

Yeay! Someone bought the Herbalife Teamix 50g from me!

Actually, quite a few of my colleagues asked me what have I done now that I've slimmed down. Most of them have tried Herbalife but with some unfavourable impression of the products. They don't like the taste and some said the products are expensive.

Now, I've decided to provide a free sample of F1 and tell them that it's better to blend than to just use a shaker.

Things I need to do:

1. Bring a blender
2. Sample of all 5 flavours
3. Set a meeting date
4. Bring a scale and calculate body fat
5. Compile paper cuttings on obesity

Still need to decide when to do the shake party....

Trying out entrepreneurial skills

We decided to open a stall during Little Caliph BBB Seksyen 3 Sports Day on 1st May 2013. What made me decided to do it was when my eldest said 'Mama selalu kata nak buat itu , nak buat ini (jual)tapi tak pernah buat..' Ouchh! That hurts!...Thus this time I should really mean what I've said!

So  I paid RM20 for registration and off we planned. The objective of this activity is to provide an insight to the kids what it takes to do a business. Everything should be handled by the kids (except the decision making and prep before the event) so we decided to sell simple stuff. Easiest and cheapest for such event (we imagine sweaty parents & kids) to make would be aiskrim M'sia and dadih. Then we purchased 2 cartons mineral water and include sale of used kids' magazine. Selling price for all items is at 50sen except dadih (RM1).

We borrowed 10x10 tent from Hairi and cooler box from Makcik. Bibik made 100 aiskrim M'sia in 3 different flavours (milo, sarsi and asam boi) as well as 100 dadih (chocolate, tropical fruit, corn and strawberry flavour).

The total sale was RM57 all done by the girls. Although it didn't get to cover the total costs, it was a new good experience for the girls. We learnt that it was not a good idea to sell ice-cream if you don't have a proper freezer. Dadih was the best seller with chocolate as the favourite flavour. Backdated magazines also were doing well where a customer paid RM5 for a lot of 10 magazines.

I asked the kids would they like to do it again. They said yes but don't want to sell the ice-cream. Good! Small step at a time.... My mission accomplished!

Erecting the tent.

This type of tent is quite easy.

Preparing the stall

Our stall :-)

Learning about business (LAB)

Dadih & Aiskrim M'sia

Ice creams in cooler full of ice.

This didn't sell well although at 50 sen. Maybe because people bring along their own plain water?

Abang seemed happy playing with friends

The salesgirls....

Assisting a customer

Abang in the 'blue ship' team.

Lutfi. Hi!

Teachers' Day 2013

I don't know why I'm so in high spirit today. I guess it has a lot to do with me feeling contented to be able to put my children first before work.

THE STORY
Earlier on Tuesday morning, I was telling my colleagues that my daughters were asking me to provide gifts for their teachers on Teachers' Day. I said I wanted to do homemade gifts but I have reports to do thus couldn't have the time. Then they said 'Cutilah!...'

Hmm...I wondered why it did not cross my mind to take leave? Maybe because I was busy thinking about the reports I needed to prepare. Hey! The dateline is Tuesday, so if I really can submit the report on time, I could take a leave on Wednesday and fulfill my kids's request. If I've done my work, why not?! At first I was in doubt and hesitant to ask my boss because this week is our 'report week'. However, I told myself that if this is for the benefit of my children, I should fight for it.

THE LESSON
What struck me was I keep saying that I will always put family first but why in this situation, the idea to take a break from work and entertain my children came from my friends? That really, really struck me like a lightning....


THE EXPERIENCE
As usual I was thinking of buying something decent but then my eldest told me to prepare for 20 teachers! Hmmmm... I decided to bake fancy cookies because it is simple to make, taste good, fancy, cheaper option and the kids can help me out. The homemade trait conveys 'we really appreciate you thus we don't mind spending some time to prepare this for you'...

My wish for better education system:

• To leverage on technology at schools so less deskjob for teachers and they can concentrate on developing the children.
• Good quality teachers who develop the emotional, and spiritual aspects of my children
• Good system that develop the creativity, curious mind and spirit of young children

To all my teachers....My siblings, relatives and friends who teach...Happy Teachers' Day!

Jasmin cutting the dough

Cutting smaller heart shape for friends

Plain cookies ready to be baked

Production line 1_Decorating

The output

Production line 2_Sealing & packaging

Handmade tags

4 cookies for Kasyif's teachers

Made from our sincere hearts for all the teachers :-)