So I was browsing topshop.com when my eyes saw the word Make Up at the top of the page.
Topshop does makeup? How cool!


I clicked on the tab right away and was impressed with the design. The black crayon-like doodles on the white packaging is uber cute!




I don't think they're available in Malaysian stores yet but if they were, I would love to get my hands on their kohl eyeliner, cream eyeshadow, eyeshadow duo and the mascara especially.


Mmm... the crayon eyeshadow pencil looks interesting too. Gee, I feel like trying everything!
Does anyone know when will the makeup line be available here?

Labels: Beauty/Skincare

Ayra is not the only one with a new hairdo.
Look!





Botak sudah si kecik ini! She's been botak since last week by the way.


To be honest, I don't like this botak phase because I will be getting lots of "Baby boy ker?" question from strangers even when it's obvious that she's wearing girly clothes (pink, floral, etc). I know, hair grows eventually!


So in the mean time, I'm gonna put on this crochet flower beanie on Raina ALL THE TIME.




I don't know about you, but I think she looks girly enough in it.
Kalau ada orang tanya lagi siap! ;p



p/s: Raina is 1 month old today!

Labels: Mommyhood and Baby

A few days before Raya, we decided to give Ayra a haircut. I actually like girls with long hair and want my girls to keep theirs that way but Ayra's hair was messy! Her hair wasn't that long (slightly past her shoulders) and it's straight at the top and wavy at the bottom - which I think is nice, but this girl doesn't like to have her hair combed/brushed so the bottom part got all tangled up and that made it even harder and painful to comb so she hated it even more!


A haircut seemed like the only solution.


We took her to A Cut Above at Mid Valley Megamall as they provide haircut services for kids. There are ride-on toys (or whatever you call them) and cartoon on TV so hair-cutting should be no problem, right?




Wrong!


Well Ayra was excited for the first few minutes... until the hairstylist came with a pair of scissors and a comb in her hands.






She cried like somebody was going to hurt her, holding onto her dad for dear life and refused to sit on the ride-on thingy. We kind of expected that anyway because Ayra is afraid of strangers (especially guys) so we already know how to handle it. Senang jer, kasi iPhone. Senyap terus! Things went quite smoothly after that. Phew!




I told the hairstylist to trim the bottom part just a little - sampai paras leher camtu, but she cut her hair so short sampai bawah telinga; a bob-style. I didn't like it at first but I thought to myself, alaa hair grows!







Ok so it's not so bad after all. In fact I think my girl looks chic in her new hairdo.
And most importantly kemas, easy to manage and no more tangles. I'm liking it!

Labels: Mommyhood and Baby

One of my blog reader sweetly emailed me asking if I would like to give her red velvet cake a try. Of course I said YES!





All I can say is, her cake is absolutely DELICIOUS! I especially like the cream cheese, I wish it was thicker! The cake is soft and moist and fresh. I love fresh homemade cakes! I can't believe an amateurish baker could bake a red velvet cake that's a lot better than some of the places I've tried before.


I think I won't be hankering for red velvet cake at least for a month. I mean, that's one big cake - should be enough to satisfy my cravings!


Thank you, Yantie!

Labels: Food and Recipes

I know, I know. A lot of you had been asking about my baby's name.




The reason why it took me this long to announce it is because I was still undecided about the spelling and her second name so I thought I'd wait until it has been registered; when it's 100% confirmed.


At first I was thinking of putting Adelia at the end of her name just like her elder sister, so it'd be Sharifah something Adelia.




But my husband wasn't keen on the idea because he wants all his children's name to be different just like his and my siblings. So I agreed. Lagi pun kuasa veto untuk letak nama anak ada pada tangan suami so wajib ikut. Hehe.


After going through hundreds of Muslim baby names, we've finally found the ones we like. Her name is Sharifah Raina Aryssa.


At that time we were still undecided whether to choose Raina, Raaina or Rayna tho. They sound the same but have different meanings.


Raina = peaceful queen
Raaina = beautiful/pretty princess
Rayna = pure and clean


But after about 2 weeks of getting to know my baby girl, I finally chose the first one because she is such an easy baby! So peaceful, tak banyak ragam, tak banyak nangis. A peaceful queen she is!




As for Aryssa (or Arissa), it means bright.
So Raina Aryssa, a bright and peaceful queen.

Labels: Mommyhood and Baby

This year's Raya has got to be the least fun Raya I've ever had. I'm still in confinement so tak rasa macam Raya sangat. I spent my Raya days pretty much at home (eating Raya cookies)!


First day of Raya, went to my Mak Long's house. Second day of Raya went to my sister's house. That's it. And tomorrow I feel like giving Topshop and Dorothy Perkins a visit! ;p






Anyway, I hope it's not too late to wish you all Selamat Hari Raya! Do forgive me for my wrongdoings, whether intentionally or not.



p/s: How do people lose a lot of weight while breastfeeding?? Coz I'm hungry like ALL THE TIME, I just had to eat eat eatttt!

Labels: Family/Friends

I am a lip balm girl. If someone asks me "What three things would you bring if you were stranded on a deserted island?".


One of the three things in my list would be a lip balm. I'm dead serious. I cannot live a day without applying lip balm at least 10 times a day. It's not really an addiction. It's just a habit I have gotten used to for years.


It all started when I was about 14 years old. I guess it's normal for teenagers at that age to start developing an interest in the beauty department. Dressing up, accessorizing and yes, makeup. I was definitely one of them!


I remembered my very first makeup product. It was a LipIce lip balm. I know, it wasn't even a makeup! But I was 14 and too young for lipsticks so a lip balm was the closest thing. The first time I bought my very own lip balm, I couldn't be happier. I felt like a grown up lady! The LipIce lip balm comes in a nice tube with yummy fruity flavor and leaves a cool tingling sensation on the lips. I know this sounds silly but I felt beautiful just wearing it. It was more than just a lip balm. I remembered the "magical" feeling it made me feel - taking out the tube of LipIce from my pocket, twisting it open, circling it on my lips in front of the mirror and smacking my lips. It felt all girly and feminine.




Since then I have never stopped wearing lip balm. I make it a habit to apply several times a day - after my shower, before and after eating, before going to bed and whenever I want to as I love the feeling of soft moisturized lips. It's funny tho, now that I am all grown up and "allowed" to wear lipsticks, I rarely ever wear one because... uhh well, I just prefer lip balms. Lots and lots of them.




I don't mind if I left my lipstick or lipgloss at home when I'm out but if it's my lip balm, it's either I go back home to get it, or buy a new one. I feel incomplete not wearing a lip balm! And LipIce has got to be the brand with the most fun and trendy lip balms with so many kinds to choose from - the LipIce Fruity, Lip Pot, Sheer Colour, Colour Gloss and Colour Lipbalm in various colours and flavours!


If you're a fan of LipIce, go "like" them at the LipIce Facebook Fan Page.




There's also a contest going on with cool prizes to be won:


1st prize: 1 x iPhone 3G
2nd prize: 1 x Toshiba Mini Notebook
3rd prize: 1 x iPod Touch
4th prize: 1 x Nintendo Wii
Consolation prize: 100 x RM100 LipIce Hamper


...and weekly prizes of 5 x RM100 cash!
Go check it out girls!

Labels: Advertorials, Beauty/Skincare, Nuffnang

Ever since hitting the age of 25 I've been more concerned about skin moisturizing. I read somewhere that our skin starts to age at around that time so I started to switch all of the products that I use to everything moisturizing!




I admit I neglected the biggest part of my skin, which is the body, until a couple of months ago when I was in my final trimester of pregnancy. If you remembered, I attended this Vaseline event and only after that I realized how very important it is to moisturize your whole body. And so I started to religiously use one of the Vaseline lotions that were given which is the Intensive Rescue lotion, at least once a day.




My skin feels soft and moisturized like never before. And amazingly, I did not have any stretch marks! I'm serious. Of course I still have the stretch mark scars from my first pregnancy, but it could have been worse if I did get stretch marks again for the second time. I guess my skin is moist enough, thanks to the moisture locking lotion!


If you have been neglecting your skin, listen up! Vaseline just launched its Amazing Skin campaign to urge women to appreciate and care for their skin top to toe by giving it the proper care and nourishment. The best part is, there's a contest for you Nuffnangers so that you can celebrate your amazing skin too!


All you need to do is go to this website: http://www.nuffnang.com.my/vaseline/, click on the Submit button and upload a pic of yourself with your skin - your hands, your feet, your shoulders or whatever. Something like this.




Then download the image complete with the Vaseline logo, write a blog post with the title "Are you moist enough?" and include the image in your blog post as well. Once done, submit your permalink to this site and you could win invites to the Celebration of Amazing Skin poolside party on the 2nd of October 2010 at Luna Bar!



The best written blog posts will win these attractive prizes:


1st prize: RM3000 cash + Vaseline products
2nd prize: RM2000 cash + Vaseline products
3rd prize: RM1000 cash + Vaseline products
5x consolation prizes: RM200 cash + Vaseline products


That's not the only prizes to be won tho. The female blogger with "The Most Vibrant Skin" at the party will win...


*drum roll please*


A COACH BAG WORTH RM2000!


There will also be an exhibition of Vaseline Amazing Skin Photo Gallery, Vaseline product sampling, entertainment, games and lucky draws too. You don't wanna miss this!

Labels: Advertorials, Beauty/Skincare, Events/Activities, Nuffnang

I started having menstrual-like cramps in the wee hours of a Saturday morning. Despite this being the second time, I was still a little unsure if I was in labor so I started to track the contractions using a contraction timer on my iPhone. Each contraction was about 3 minutes apart so I thought, "This must be it. I'm in labor, yay!".


Then I remembered that I still haven't packed my hospital bag so I grabbed my small luggage and stuffed everything needed inside. I took out Ayra's diaper bag and packed her stuff too because she will be staying with my in-laws when I'm at the hospital. It only took me 15 minutes to finish packing for all 4 of us (including the baby!). And then I realized I haven't shaved my legs so I spent the next few minutes in the bathroom, shaving my legs and timing my contractions at the same time. I think it was around 5 in the morning. I must be crazy!


Since it was still too early in the morning and my contractions were still bearable, I decided to go to the hospital later and get some sleep first. But when I woke up, the contractions were gone! In fact I didn't feel the contractions at all during the day. I thought it was a false labor. Kecewa sedikit because I was so eager to meet my little one. But hubby sent Ayra to his parents' house anyway since it was the weekend.


The next day at around 1 am, I felt the contractions again. This time it was stronger and more intense than yesterday's. I was so sure it was true labor but still insisted to go to the hospital later during the day. So there I was laying on the bed, "savoring" the contractions while reciting surah Maryam. I managed to finish reciting it from where I last stopped - just in time!


By 8am, the contractions became stronger and stronger (yes I didn't sleep!). Hubby and I got ready. I had my second and third breakfasts in the car - first one was Herbalife shake at home, second one was Sausage McMuffin with Egg, lepas tu rasa macam tak cukup, pusing balik beli McD Hotcakes pulak. Heh, I just wanted to make sure I have enough energy to give birth because I didn't sleep, remember?


We arrived at the hospital at 10-ish am. I was taken to the labor room and the midwife started to do an internal examination to check whether I was in true labor. I was already 6cm dilated. She then monitored the baby's heart rate and everything was fine. I started reciting surah Yasin while waiting for the doctor.


7cm dilated. The midwife was pretty amazed by how "well" I seemed to be coping with the contractions. She still asked if I wanted an epidural tho just in case, and I politely said no. The doctor arrived, greeted me and went on with the internal examination. She said the baby had pooped inside so she had to break my water to speed things up.


And things did speed up right after that. Everything happened so fast, I couldn't believe it was really happening!


I was reciting Al-Mathurat when the super strong contractions came. Oooohhh the pain was indescribable! But reciting Al-Mathurat seemed to lessen the pain and took my mind off of it. After like 5 really really strong contractions, I suddenly felt macam nak tercirit so hubby called out the midwife. The doctor was kinda surprised it happened quicker than expected. And the next thing I know, I was pushing and pushing and pushing... and then the baby's head popped out. Phew, that was hard work! And my husband managed to record the whole process!


At 12.41 noon, my baby girl was born :)





Alhamdulillah, everything was normal. I can't believe I was in the labor room for only an hour plus (first time was almost 7 hours!). Berkat doa dalam bulan Ramadhan agaknya sebab saya tak putus-putus doa dipermudahkan proses bersalin and everything. Thank you Allah!


As for her name, tunggu dah register and betul-betul confirm la baru saya announce yer.

Labels: Mommyhood and Baby, Pregnancy

Can somebody build a time machine and get me back to the 90's? I really miss the music during that time, especially *ehem* the Backstreet Boys.


These songs have been playing on my head for the past couple of days. They're among my most favorite BSB songs.








I love how they reminded me of the time when I was a teenager. I miss those days!


I don't know about you, but I think music nowadays are full of crap! Well, most of them.

Labels: Random Stuff

My blog was featured in Remaja magazine in the 15th August issue.




When I saw that page, I suddenly remembered that I still haven't worn those three pairs of shoes which I bought like ages ago. Two of them are safely tucked in their shoe boxes, still in the paper bag! Takpe, lepas habis pantang boleh sambung pakai high-heels.


Or yes, they can be my Raya shoes (except that I would still be in confinement masa Raya. *sigh*).


In the mean time, I'm giving those tootsies of mine a little rest in this Mary-Jane slippers-cum-socks that I bought recently from Old Navy. I feel cute wearing 'em. Like a baby. Well it looks like a pair of baby booties, no?




I love that it has a buttoned strap on each slipper - cute! And it's so cuddly and oh-so-comfy, it's almost like walking on a cat's fur!

Labels: Blogging, Shoes