I haven't been feeding my body well. Ever since the first day of Raya, I've been stuffing myself with loads of lemang, ketupat palas, kuih Raya, lontong, rendang, nasi lemak and more kuih Raya almost every day. And not to mention, colorful sugary drinks. I feel unhealthy. And so guilty.


I've had enough of bad food and now my body is hankering for something pure. Besides fruits (dates, to be exact), I find myself craving for salads most of the time. It's a good thing that the food I'm craving for is so easy to make and doesn't involve cooking. Just toss everything together, add in the dressing, and it's ready!


Here's a simple salad that I made for dinner last night.




Lettuce, cherry tomatoes, slices of tangerine, chunks of canned tuna in water, and a few dashes of Italian dressing. The tangerine gives a burst of flavor and sweetness, yum!


Next time I'm gonna try making salad with slices of toasted almonds, apples, avocados, carrots, raisins, chicken breasts, and perhaps with homemade dressing. If you know any simple and healthy homemade salad dressing, do share!

Labels: Food and Recipes

I love prancing around the house in new shoes. Sometimes I would even wear 'em while doing a little bit of housework. This may sound silly, but it makes house chores a lot more fun!


These peeps are from Charles & Keith. I've always have a thing for glossy patent shoes, especially black. It makes the feet look oh-so-sexy. What's your favorite?




The front part of the shoes was initially too tight for my chubby toes. Going a size up didn't solve the problem bcoz they're too loose, so I had the front parts stretched. And now they're SO comfy! They fit like a glove.


This morning I slipped 'em on and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. My husband looked at me in amusement. My baby on the other hand crawled, chasing after my black glossy feet whenever I walked around the house. It's her current favorite "toy"!





p/s: Happy birthday, Hanis!

Labels: Shoes

No, these are not mine. At least one of them is not.
It's my baby's!




I figured it would be hassle-free to pack her "beauty" stuff in a separate case instead of tossing everything inside her luggage (yes she has her own luggage too) and later having trouble finding her hair brush or whatever it is as it's buried underneath her mountain of clothes. So a vanity case would solve the problem, just like mine.


Her "beauty" stuff includes Buds head-to-toe cleanser, Angel Baby lotion, Angel Baby bottom balm, Buds rinse free cleanser, baby wipes, thermometer, finger toothbrush, hair brush and some hair clips.




p/s: I'm in Alor Setar! We'll be staying here for about a week.

Labels: Bags, Going Places

Last week, MAS invited me for buka puasa session at Alexis, The Garden. It was just a small gathering for selected Bloggers - yours truly, Redmummy and KampungBoyCityGirl.




The initial plan was to dine at Ole Ole Bali, Mont Kiara, but that had to change bcoz traffic was really bad on Friday night.


Notice I wore the cropped cardigan from MNG? I managed to alter it a little with a few nips and tucks using safety pins, which is unnoticeable unless you have X-ray vision! And did you notice all three Bloggers posed with our hands in our pockets? ;p


Anyway since we didn't get to dine at Ole Ole Bali with MAS, my husband and I decided to go to the one at Sunway Pyramid for buka puasa, a couple of days ago. Ole Ole Bali offers authentic Balinese cuisine (altho they have Western food as well) in a Balinese atmosphere.




My husband had Barley Lime. Nice, but I would prefer if there's pearl barley in it.


Next came our main course. Both of us ordered Nasi Campur Ole Ole, served in a basket. It's one of their specialty dishes.

Labels: Food and Recipes

My little sister, Wani, is clearing out her cosmetic and fragrance stock, and they're going at less-than-retail prices!


These are just half of the items on sale.




Some of my favorite picks:

Estee Lauder Pleasures Exotic - one of the yummiest scent I've ever owned and the best part is, it stays loooong. It's hard to find a fruity-floral scent that lasts long, no?

Maybelline Define-A-Lash mascara - Hands down, the BEST mascara ever! Kalah those high-end brands like Chanel and Lancome. It volumizes and lengthens my lashes like nobody's business!

Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation - Wanna know the secret to my "glowing" skin? It's this! I love that it's lightweight and gives a luminous, air-brushed look. I started using this foundation when I was pregnant bcoz I was in need of an instant glow to my dull complexion and was hooked since then!

Bvlgari Rose Essentielle - Love the sweet rosy scent and the bottle is so pweeeetyyy!



Go and have a look-see at her blog, http://schazwanyhameed.blogspot.com and do spread the word. Some of the items that she has on sale are not available in Malaysia (or has been discontinued), so hurry grab them before they're gone!

Labels: Beauty/Skincare, Sales and Shopping

When I was a little girl, it's like a must to have everything new for Raya. Like, EVERYTHING. Baju Raya, kasut Raya, stokin Raya, hair band Raya, baju tidur Raya, panties Raya - head to toe la for Raya!


But all of those seemed to change now. I no longer bother not having everything new for Raya, except for baju. I don't even bother buying new shoes just for that, probably bcoz I buy shoes every month. Ok, I'm exaggerating. The last time I bought a pair of shoes was like hmm... 2 months ago. Or was it 3?


Anyways, I was planning to wear my baju Raya with whatever scarves I have. But when Adorable Muslimah asked if I would be interested with their products, I thought why not. I could really do with some new scarves for Raya! They have a few collections of scarves but the one I like most is the Swirly Fest Scarf. The swirly details are pretty and they reminded me of the top that RMK's model wears in this ad:




The scarves come in various colors, and I chose three - pink, black and cream. My favorite is the pink one, which is some kind of dusty pink color. I hope it matches my pink leopard-print kebaya (I have yet to pick it up from the tailor).




The Swirly Fest Scarf may look like tudung Bawal, but it's actually not. The material is nothing like it as it is made of chiffon-like material; lightweight and kind of licin. I like it!





(Please excuse the dimly lit photos as my baby was sleeping at that time).


I was also given this beautiful embroidered praying garment, the Umayra Telekung. I prefer my telekung to be nothing too contrasting when it comes to color so I opted for light pink (it comes in Hot Pink and 5 other colors). This telekung is made of 100% quality cotton and it comes with its own bag. Perfect for on the go!




In case you're still wondering, Adorable Muslimah is an online blogshop selling apparels for Muslimah at really affordable prices. They're still opening orders for this week, so if you want to do some last-minute shopping for Raya, check out their online shop at http://adorablemuslimah.blogspot.com!

Labels: Advertorials, Fashion

This video is recorded a few weeks ago, at my MIL's house.

Labels: Mommyhood and Baby

I love Paddington House of Pancakes. Every time I dine there, I would spend ages browsing through their thick menu, flipping it from cover to cover, trying to decide which one to have. It's like looking at a photo album. There are more than 100 types of pancakes from all around the world and they're all mouth-watering!


One of my favorites is Full Monty.


I decided to make savoury pancakes for iftar dinner yesterday as I ran out of idea what to cook. Besides, we ate lots of rice the week before so we want something a lil bit different. Here's my version of Full Monty - mushroom omelette (instead of sunny side up), mashed potato, baked beans, cheesy sausages, fresh veggies and of course, pancakes.




Since it was just the two of us, I cut down half of the ingredients for the pancakes and managed to get 6 big pieces. I know this sounds silly but I can't help admiring how perfect my pancakes turned out, every time I make them. They're all golden brown and even, with golden rings circling around the edges.


My husband finished off his plate in a jiffy, but I didn't. Not that it wasn't good; the portion is too big for me!


Anyways...




This is Ayra, "helping" me out in the kitchen while I was cooking. Dia pun nak masak jugak! ;p

Labels: Food and Recipes

Besides the alarming amount of hair loss, I also have super itchy scalp and flakiness which are recently added to my list of hair woes. I can't decide which one bothers me more - the itchiness or losing A LOT of hair - but both are driving me crazy!


I've tried a handful of hair products including Kerastase Bain Gommage, The Body Shop Ginger Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Head & Shoulders, but none seemed to wow me. It's frustrating but I am constantly looking for a cure, hoping for a silver lining.


I am contemplating between these 3 shampoos:
Bumble and Bumble Tonic Shampoo - Contains Tea Tree Oil and Peppermint extract to help soothe the scalp and it tingles (I love tingling shampoos)! Great for flaky hair/dandruff too, or at least that's what I read in MUA reviews. And the packaging is cute!



Frederic Fekkai MORE Scalp Purifying Shampoo - This shampoo basically helps thinning of hair by purifying, balancing and invigorating the hair and scalp.


Nioxin System 2 - This one seems like the most professional out of the 3, and just like Frederic Fekkai, it's formulated to help hair loss. I wonder if it takes care of itchy scalp and dandruff as well.



The first two shampoos are not available in Malaysia tho, but they can be purchased online at StrawberryNET or eBay. But the main question is, I'm not sure which of my hair problems should be treated first - itchy scalp or hair loss? Or do they link to one another? I know itchy scalp and dandruff are. Hair care is not my area of expertise so a little help here, please.

Labels: Beauty/Skincare

I found these photos of both my husband and I when we were babies. So I decided to compare whose looks Ayra inherited the most.




Hmmm... I think she's a mixture of both. But surprisingly, she has my cheeks and chin (I've always thought she inherited her facial shape from MZ). And yes, kecik halus definitely ikut mama dia! ;p

Labels: Mommyhood and Baby

So I weighed myself yesterday and was smiling from ear to ear when I saw the numbers on my scale. I lost another 1.1 kg since the last time I weighed myself, which makes me weighing at 54.6 kg!



To date I've lost a total of 2.4 kg since first starting my weight loss program - which was about 2 weeks ago. I'm so haaaaaappyyy!


And not only that, my body fat has also decreased from 35.2% to 32.6%. According to the Tanita scale, anything above 29.6% is considered obese in terms of body fat percentage (even tho your body weight or BMI doesn't indicate that you are) so obviously I have a lot more that I need to get rid off. But at least I'm making a good progress, no?




If you've been following my Herbalife success stories before I got married, then you'd probably remember this entry where I mentioned about Basal Metabolic Age (BMA).


A metabolic age number younger than your chronological age generally means that you are fitter and in better health than the average, the lower the age the better in shape you are. An older metabolic age points towards being less healthy and fit than your peers and if it’s much older than your chronological age, this should be considered a wake-up call. (Source)


In plain English, BMA is kind of like the age level your body is functioning at and let me tell you - it's the scariest part of the whole body analysis thing! Imagine your body functioning like a 40-year old when you're not even 30! Well that is was me. It's no wonder why I'm always lack of energy - my body is wayyy older than it should be. Not good!


When I first took Herbalife a couple of years ago, my BMA was 25. It was slightly older than my real age. If I'm not mistaken, I was about 53kg at that time. Then after losing a lot of weight and body fat, my BMA improved tremendously. I was 24 years old when I weighed 45kg, and my BMA was 17! I was fit and in great health with the help of Herbalife.


Fast-forward to after I had given birth: my BMA was 41, no kidding! I gained weight, I ate whatever my heart desires, I did not practice good eating habit and lifestyle. In fact, my BMA remained 41 until recently when I started my weight loss program. So yesterday after about 2 weeks of consistently taking Herbalife shake and tea...


Ta-daah!



Dah muda sikit! ;p


Anyways, my short-term goal is to weigh 53kg before Raya. I have 2 more weeks to achieve that!

Labels: Herbalife

Cardigans are one of those key pieces that seem to work for any season, day and night. You can wear 'em alone or layer 'em over cami or blouses or just about any top to make a fab layering piece. They're a wardrobe must-have and they come in various shapes and sizes - long, cropped, tie-front, button-down, open-front, asymmetrical, et cetera.





Currently I'm loving these cardigans from MNG. The ruffles give a touch of feminine flair. I have the one on the left (but mine is Navy blue) which I purchased quite recently and I have yet to wear it. I love the pleated ruffle neckline and the puffy sleeves. It's so cute and chic.


But the thing about losing weight is, the clothes that you can fit in now won't fit you forever - or at least not that long - bcoz you're shrinking day by day! That's the "problem" I'm having with this cardigan. It seemed to fit me nicely when I tried it on in the fitting room just a couple of weeks ago, and then suddenly it looks awkwardly loose on me now. I'm not sure if it's good news or bad - I mean, I'm happy that I've shed a few tiny inches here and there, but the fact that I don't get the chance to wear the clothes that I just bought (this, and another one) is pretty upsetting!

Labels: Fashion

This Heelarious shoes is surely an attention-grabbing. Anyone who sees it would go, "Eh, cuba tengok kasut baby tu" or "That's a cute shoe" or "That baby is wearing heels!".




Well what can I say... like mother, like daughter. Ayra is after all, the daughter of The Pink Stilettos! ;)

Labels: Shoes

One of my blogniversary resolutions is "updating my blog on a daily basis" yet my blog is 5 days overdue! Sorry. I'm in such a sluggish mode lately. And on top of that, my laptop has been making this weird buzzing sound which irritates me but come to think of it, I should be the one to be blamed bcoz I clumsily dropped the poor fella the other day - woopsy!


So anyways as you all know, I was at the Parenthood Expo all three days, helping TheLilCaliph.com at their booth. The booth can be considered as a "mini shop". Seronok! Before this I only get to browse their stuff online at TheLilCaliph.com, so you can imagine how tempting it was just to be at their "mini shop", surrounded by all those interesting baby stuff. I found myself checking out almost every item on display, sampaikan at first one of Molina's assistants thought I was a customer! ;p




Since it's H1N1 season and everything, there was a body temperature screening for each and every person who entered the exhibition centre, including babies and kids.







Most of the items were on sale, and among them were Zoobies (15%) and Hotslings (20%)!


There was a babywearing contest on Saturday, so Wani and I helped preparing the goodie bags for each participant. As I mentioned in my previous entry, there were 2 babywearing categories which are Mei Tai/SSC and pouch sling. Seronok tengok kerenah babies on stage - some moms even had to kejar their babies as they crawled excitedly away from their moms. So cute!






The Hotslings that were being worn in the babywearing contest were new and provided by TheLilCaliph.com and right after that, they were sold for only RM100 each. What a bargain! Too bad there was only one size 1 and I was too late to grab it!


Anyway, I met a few of my blog readers - or shall I say our blog readers bcoz mostly yang baca my blog, baca blog Wani jugak and vice versa (kan?).









This pink Marshmallow Envirosax bag was the last one so I quickly asked Molina to reserve it for me before someone else grabbed it. It's cute, no? I'm planning to make it a bag to put Ayra's stuff (toys, dirty clothes, etc) when we go traveling or even when we go shopping for her stuff.




SNUGGbaby was also at TheLilCaliph.com's booth during the Parenthood Expo, selling beautiful handmade babywearing gears. I was given some SNUGGbaby items which I shall blog about in the near future.









Wani yang takde baby pun sibuk beli baby stuff for herself that I recommended! ;p


Just when I was about to leave, I spotted this one booth selling lots of iron-on embroidery patches. They're too cute that I couldn't resist (and spent almost a hundred on 'em)!




They also have T-shirts and rompers for on-the-spot ironing, so I decided to make one for my baby - front and back.


Anyways, for those of you who couldn't make it to TheLilCaliph.com's booth during the Parenthood Expo, fret not bcoz they are extending their sales and promotions online. So check out their online store at http://www.thelilcaliph.com for great bargains while stocks last!


p/s: Thanks Molina for giving me this opportunity! Seronok la, I pon macam nak bukak kedai sendiri ;p

Labels: Advertorials, Events/Activities, Sales and Shopping