Buffet

Move over Downton Abbey..and helloo Desperate Housewife
Contrary to my earlier post, I've decided playing the romantic and tearful Jane Austin doesn't suit me at all.
We do after all live in the 20th century. Ladies wear pants and does other things than sit round the living-room reading books and writing love letters.
So we went to a buffet Ramadhan (duhh :p). It was in New Pacific Hotel in Kota Bharu, close to Hospital Kota Bharu. You can't miss this big purple building if you're in our capital. Although, I was quite surprised on how broken down this hotel looked considering it's age.
The buffet itself is nothing too fancy but I found it well worth the money we spent.
Mia-chan was also on her best behaviour tonight so I actually get to savor some of the dishes.






Don't expect extraordinary list of food, but it was more than enough for all us ( moderation is best :p).
The main includes nasi hujan panas, lemon chicken, sambal kerang, gulai kawah, ikan patin asam pedas, butter prawns and varieties of kerabu ( did'nt get to try any tho).. And of course, being in Kelantan means no meal is complete without 'budu' and ulams.
My plate looks like this ( first round)





Notice the small portion of rice? I did try to stick to my diet:(
But who can diet when you are served with this amount of food?






And finished off with..














I was so busy eating I didn't get to snap more pictures.
They also have these cute stalls offering tempura of prawns/ chicken/ fish/ vegetable, mee chambok ( not sure if i'm saying that right), kebabs, nan bread and chicken curry.
Desert are a bit of a downside..not enough varieties there- just local kuihs that can be found in any Bazaar Ramadhan and melon as fruit.
Overall, the level of satisfaction is 3 out of 5. That was helped by an onsite mosque for margrib prayer and a decent looking ladies room ( I always use this as a measure of how posh a place is. Haha)





My little one was also a happy camper. She gets to taste a handful of her favourite foods like prawns, ABC and ran round the hall without being disturbed..

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Ramadhan Buffet

It is the month of Ramadhan and it is also my first Ramadhan at home after 10 years.
Of course, going through Ramadhan is much different at home..firstly, it's very warm hot nowadays. 4pm to 6pm are most challenging to me. You'd be lying helpless in the livingroom OMG the thirst (and 'ketok-ketok Ramadhan doesn't help either)
What I find strange is there are more food on show compared to other months. People are selling in Bazaar Ramadhan, 'di tepi jalan' and also in front of their houses. There are food everywhere you look!
The other trend emerging nowadays are people breaking fast in hotels. Big buffet with everything you can eat on offer. Me, being a stranger to this all of course would like to try it out. So on this day (because I've just got back from MIL's house and today is Monday) I suggest to do this to all family members. And..I said I would gladly pay for it all. (belanja orang puasa kan dapat pahala).
After much deliberation and browsing the net for the best place to eat, we found this hotel which offers reasonably price Ramadhan buffet.(I'm out of work, don't expect 5-star maa..). RM46.40 per head and children below 7 eats for free. So I went ahead and book the buffet for 4 people right..
Well, let's just say that I'm never gonna be a good wedding planner or any sort of organizing.
My parents decided it wouldn't be fair to break fast somewhere that fancy without my sister and her husband who are both working today (because why they wouldn't work on this day, during margrib, of all days?)
Call me a sore pain in the butt, but I hate changing my plans..same as Mia-chan hate people telling her 'NO'.
They wanted to reschedule, but I was hit with a realization so hard it freeze my brain for a couple of seconds.
If my parents wants their daughter and son-in law to be there with them (who they last saw less than 48hours ago) imagine how much I want my husband to be there with me.  . A week of Ramadhan had gone and we haven't once break fast together. I remembered us talking about going to Bazaar Ramadhan, eating weird and wonderful 'kuihs' and..going to hotel to break fast (just one time, because it's so expensive la). We promised to enjoy this Ramadhan together because we never had a Ramadhan at home after being married. OK, I know couples always promise each other to be there through joy and pain...and he's rarely there when I'm in pain(he will disagree with this),  but I so want him to be here right now. It is hard to enjoy this without him. Oh I hate this feeling, I've never been so dependant to anybody before. Without him I feel like I lost a finger  (OK, maybe a thumb). It never can be perfect despite the circumstances..
This post is looking like 'Downton Abbey 3' now, so I'm gonna stop here.
I don't expect people to know that I miss my soulmate, to know that when I suggest going to somewhere fancy is just to bury this sinking feeling I have in my stomach with every Ramadhan that passes by -he might miss Ramadhan and we can't celebrate it together  this year:(..but I want people closest to me to understand that I miss him, the same as they miss their sons or daughters.
P/S: I'm sorry that I can't post Ramadhan buffet pictures..not until he comes home.

Who'd have thought that I'd came home and eat salad?
Yuck! I hate salad. I don't understand why people go to expensive restaurants and then just ordered salad. What a waste.
Well, joke's on me. Yours truly are actually eating salad!
I tried to colour it a bit by adding scrambled eggs, meatballs and chicken fingers..basically everything I can find in the fridge. It looks kinda gross but trust me it better than chewing greens on its own.
As much as I want to slim up, I can't do salad on a daily basis, so I need to create another low carbs recipe tomorrow.


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Maroon top

Man, I look fat. My mum got it for me during her holidays in Surabaya
Maroon top, I will wear you again someday...


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An unfortunate event

Sorry for the poor quality, but you get what i'm trying to say right?
My iPad's dead!
I don't know what's wrong with it, but I'm pretty sure it's dead. I mean, 2 lines of black and white can never be a good thing.
Oh I hope we can still save it though..purely because I can't afford to buy a new one.
And you guessed who the culprit was..




Little miss mia-chan of course..


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I miss you

Sometimes I do wonder if coming home is a good thing after all. I do miss the things , people, places in Dublin. I mean, you can't completely erase 10 years of memories over the span of a few months.
Below are things that I miss most:
1. Pasta- it was the staple of my diet. Every second day is a Dolmio day. Now, jangan kata pasta, nasi pon x boleh sentuh with the low carb diet I'm currently experimenting with.
2. Coffee-my favourites are Caramel Macchiato and Latte. A must before starting work, oh I miss the small coffee shop in front of the hospital reception..after the 8th coffee buys, you get a free coffee.
3. Work- I missed being busy. Busy makes me feel important. That sounds crazy, and I know I will not be saying that in a few weeks time.
4. Shopping-I missed clothes, bags, accesories...I spent hours on the net doing my research on new trends and what not (oh I'm just a hoarder)
5. Flying- when they're not shopping, they travel. Besides bags, my favourite search is cheap flights. In fact, right before writing this, I was reading a blog where the owner talks about Paris. Looking at her pictures reminds me of the time we went to Disneyland and 31 Rue Cambon. Oh I miss those times..

her first time

second visit

Of course I missed a lot more than the above. Our friends for example..

having BBQ outside our old house..

It's just one of those days where I missed Dublin. Tomorrow might be different. Actually, hearing Mia-chan's scream of excitement downstairs (playing with her Cik Su) kind of assured me that we made the right choice. 

Dublin and Europe will always be in our fond memories, but I'm sure we'll create fonder memories here..our home.

Kelantan vs KL

One thing about adults that I hate is having to make decisions. 

And on this particular one, I have been going back and forth so many times I lost count. There are pros and cons with both and I don't think I'll ever get it right.

It's the biggest dilemma of this year and yet, I have been thinking about same over the last few years and still can't make my mind up. Who knew finding a place to stay would be this hard..

The catch is I have a 2 year-old who needs constant supervision and I want somebody I trust to be with her 24/7 ie my parent (wink!). Plus, Kelantan and Dublin are the only places I knew while the rest, I have no freakin' clue. Ampang? Shah Alam? Meru? They are all KL to me. Basically, you can 'jual' me in KL la..

And, haven't you read the news? Robbery, rapes, murders..OK, they can happen everywhere, but KL have the biggest portion of them.

And so you ask, why KL after considering all of the above?

Because, I'm not sure if Kelantan is the best place for us now. Maybe I'm not ready to serve my state yet..maybe I need to be more confident and more illegible for Kelantan. I know for certain one day I want to serve here, but maybe not just yet?

It's that time of the year again!

Officially 29 since yesterday. Moans..
I got me a birthday cake and  warm wishes from family and friends. As they say, it's the thought that counts..so thanks ever so much.
Birthdays are not as fun as you were 16, especially when you are hitting the BIG 30 next year. But hey, it's a good reason to celebrate..well, any reason is a good reason to celebrate (plus, I get to eat cake. Yummy!)
This year, I'm hoping for great things and good health. It is also the beginning of a new chapter and I am nervous but excited for things to come. Like they said.. aim high, aim for the sky!

Cabin Fever

Let me out!

Taking care of an active 2-year old 24/7 is not pleasant. My beautiful daughter, mummy loves you dearly, but you do give me headaches.

When you're not busy tearing the house apart, you would be playing 'catch me if you can' when you know mummy can't keep up with your pace (how can they run so fast?).

And my God, where do she get all those energy? I would be panting after running round circles in the living room.  And she runs everywhere!

the troublemaker

Man, I need a break. The last time I was out was to get her supply of nappies and milk (over the recent months, that was my only ticket to get out of the house). .and I was in such a rush that I bought a size too big and the wrong type of milk powder.

I haven't been able to take care of me because I didn't have time to buy toilettries or make-ups. I look a mess and my wardrobe stinks! I have been rotating the tops too often because the rest don't fit no more. Some of them are so out of season that I wouldn't wear them in my dreams.

OK, so I do realise I'm making out reasons to go out shopping but I need to get out of the housewife role sometimes. Plus, my bags need to get their occasional outings too!

Diet Update

This is looking impossible more than ever now.
Yes. the thing gets rid of my hunger pangs, but it didn't get rid of my appetite. Everything looks good, especially when they are beautifully presented on plates and  joined by sugary drinks with 'ais' (oh so colourful and tempting!). How could I ever say no?
And the worst culprit?
Bazaar Ramadhan!
Everybody knows not to shop for food when you're hungry..big No-NO
I do try to stick to the plan..well, maybe not hard enough. It was so hard cutting out carbs and sweets though. All of my favourite food contains carbs!
I am feeling guilty now for having 2 helpings of spagetti meatballs just now (with loads of meatballs on top), so I will behave for breakfast tomorrow. 2 eggs with no hint of carbs in sight!
Well, maybe I'll sneak in a toast if the situation gets too hard to bear.

I want!

Peace. No Hate. No War.

Walk in Closet

It is a fact that I have too much time on my hands nowadays. This very rarely happens. It's making me uncomfortable and itchy. I am itching/ dying to have something to do. I am constantly reminded that this is just a short transit time before embarking on a new job, new environment, new home..
Urghh!
I hate changes..what I hate more is having to wait for these changes to happen. It's like waiting for the death penalty, counting your days to the inevitable horror.
OK. Quit moaning.
I am using this time to prepare mua-self for what lies ahead. No..not the job part. The new home bit of course.
I am designing the new home for my babies! Although I do realise that this may take a while to happen (ie a few years), there's no harm in planning ahead right?
So I have been looking at a few ideas for THE walk in closet, and here are my best picks..

PROFESSIONAL

CHIC BOUTIQUE

WHITE

COVERED

SIMPLE

KIM K's

THE WIRE

FRESH COLOURED

WINDOW SHOPPING

EVERYTHING ON DISPLAY

Mine will have an island in the middle AND it has to be white...my mind thinks better with bright colours ( it is vital to have a clear head when choosing your outfits)

Oh my, I can just imagine my stuffs in them..beautifully arranged and displayed. It'll be the centre of the house..after the kitchen of course.
First, I need to get me somewhere to live in :(

Diet

Staying at your parents memang best. Especially when you're not working.. your child taken care off, your laundry done and your meals are catered for. What more do you want eh?

Rasa macam back to the old days, time remaja2 dulu..hehe. Tambah2 bila sang suami ke offshore mencari rezeki, rasa macam orang bujang pulak. Haha.

Tapi bila dah hari2 duk bergolek tido, makan and tengok tv..badan pon dah macam dugong la. And then your jeans sendat, your tops tak muat, pipi macam tong drum..Masa tu lah baru nak mengeluh

Since coming home, I reckon I've gained about3-4kgs kot. Sorry, no weighing scale in the house, so no exact weight can be calculated here. Reminds me that I should go to Econjaya with a twenty cent to check my weight later. Regardless, for sure I've gained that much if not more. Yikes!

Mulut2 orang sekeliling pun dah berbunyi..dah gemuk la, nampak kasar la. Aduss, where are your sensitivities people?

Anyhow, my mum nowadays are a Manager (that's what dad call her). Over the last few months, beliau telah giat mengusahakan (eh, bukan..more like mempromosikan) produk eGamat Emas. I don't to go into details here (unless CEO eGamat Emas nak bayar I komisen untuk promote their product la kan..email i ada kat atas tu.Haha)

One of her earlier victim..opps, i mean customer  is my dear sister who's trying to shed off her post pregnancy weight. I used to make fun of her la once, mana la tahu nak kena batang hidung sendiri. She claimed to have lost about 5 kgs in one month about using this...

BEAUTREME

Those who knew me would know that I never believe in this kind of marketing agenda. How can you 'kurus' without eating soup for breakfast/lunch/dinner and going to the gym?

Not possible.

Lepas dah pegi gym mesti lapar kan? Makan lagi. Actually lagi banyak masa time tak pegi gym dulu. And the cycle continues.

I must be really desperate.

Well I am. Raya ada sebulan lagi, I want to don my yellow 'kurung Riau' without looking like a balut nangka.

And my other half had been dropping hints..

Me: I look fat in this (my 2months-old top)

H: Nooo...you look fine

Me: Lie. I look fat. kan,kan?

H: Noo..

Me: Betul ke? You think I should wear this?

H: Mmm..maybe best to wear the looser one (pointing to my maternity dress)

And guess what other men in the house said when I mentioned dieting

Brother in law: You're not fat Kak Long. If you're fat, than there are lots more people out there who are fatties.

Abah: You're fatter when you last came home.

MEN.

Anyhow, since yesterday, I have embarked myself on a journey of Beautreme. I'm struggling to find pictures of myself kurus. None in this lappy whatsoever. 

If it is what it says on the tin (or box), I will fit in the maroon top again in a few weeks. (will upload pics in other post)

• Diformulasi untuk membantu pembakaran lemak secara efektif.
• Mengurangkan penyimpanan lemak.
• Mengurangkan selera makan.
• Diperkaya dengan serat yang merangsang pergerakan usus untuk mengeluarkan bahan sampingan pembakaran lemak.
• Kandungan multivitamin dan garam galian memastikan keperluan badan bagi zat nutrisi semasa program melangsingkan badan tidak diabaikan.

Kandungan
Ekstrak Phaseolus Vulgaris, Asid Linoleik yang di konjugatkan (CLA), L-Karnitin, Garcinia Cambogia, Kromium, Lesitin, Malta, Multivitamin dan garam galian (Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, E, D, Biotin, Asid Folik, Kuprum, Magnesium, Molybdenum, Selenium, Potassium, Zink dan Iodin)

• Formulated to burn fat effectively.
• Minimize fat storage.
• Suppress the appetite.
• Enriched with fiber to enhance the elimination of the by-products of fat burning through the digestive tract.
• Multivitamins and minerals ensure the body needs toward the vital nutrients is not neglected during the slimming programme.

Ingredients
Phaseolus Vulgaris extract, Conjugated Linoleic Acid, L-Carnitine, Garcinia Cambogia, Chromium, Lecithin, Malt, Multivitamin and minerals (Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, E, D, Biotin, Folic Acid, Copper, Magnesium, Molybdenum, Selenium, Potassium, Zinc and Iodine)

Wish me luck!