Dear Husband

Dear Husband,
I am sorry I am not a beauty queen,
But I am just beautiful me.
I may not be a good chef,
But I try to cosset you with delicate tidbits.
I am sorry I am not an interior designer,
But our laugh is enough to brighten up our home.
I may not be a good doctor,
But trust me, my touch has cure you.

Dear Husband,
I am sorry I am not a good best friend,
But I try to soothe you when you are down.
I may not be a good wife,
But my love for you will never fade.
Live without you is hard.
I want you to stay by my side,
Facing our ups and downs,
Now, forever, always, until Jannah.

Dear Husband,
I thank Allah for sending you to me,
I love you, Sweetheart.
Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary!

Sincerely,
Your Wife♥

Oh Ovulasi!

Masih ternanti2 bilakah akan berlaku ovulasi. I am currently trying to get to know my body better. Each morning, I grab my thermometer to record my body temperature. Then key in my BBT in Period Tracker & Kindara Apps. Some friends recommend Fertility Friend. I should give a try later. You can download them for free at Apple Store or Google Play. Thanks to this technology. It is easier to estimate my fertile period. I don't have to jot them down and plot a graph. Why so 'school science'? Haha. I had enough of charting and graph plotting of a huge volume of data. Trust me. I digest that everyday. Ok tipu, tiap2 bulan je. Itu pun masa buat project report. 

Sejak lepas habis AF, terus rajin makan supplement dgn penuh disiplin. As for now, I drink HR Goat's Milk (Honey & Dates) for breakfast. Plus, I consume Catalyst Virgin Coconut Oil soft gels + Folic Acid (prescribed by my O&G). I end my day with a tablespoon of Gulsan Concentrated Pomegranate + a tablespoon of honey. A few of friends talked about the goodness of Habbatus Sauda. I should get 1 too. I will choose capsule according to my preference. 

Eh, haritu pegi Jusco jumpa pulak booth jual Nubian Goat's Milk. Beli 2 botol kecik je. Memang bau kambing, tapi lebih creamy dari susu lembu. Dalam seminggu ni kena betul2 disiplin makan supplement tu. BD pun kena sungguh2. Kena monitor cervical mucus jugak. InshaAllah, tak lama lagi ovulate lah. Wish me luck!

Detecting My Ovulation Day

Mayday..Mayday...Kawan2, aku tak tau kira ovulation day utk kes AF aku yg tak teratur ni. Ada teknik utk kira tak? Puas dah google. Tapi masih tak faham. My CD1 started on 4 April until CD12 on 15 April. My AF appeared after 4 months wait. When will I ovulate? FYI, I was prescribed Clomid. Consumed on CD2 until CD6. Bilakah waktu sesuai utk BD dgn bersungguh2? LOL.

Terharu Pada Yang Ambil Tahu

Last weekend, some of my colleagues went to Langkawi. Aku over excited sbb dapat kirim ferrero rocher & whittakers choc. Sangat murah harga rocher, beza dalam RM10 compared to those at local supermarkets. 

Bila seorang akak ni (yg aku kirim choc) balik, dia terus hulur choc aku, then dia hulur jugak sebotol air mineral. 

"Aik?Akak bg saya mineral water ke?"

"Bukan, ni akak amik air Tasik Dayang Bunting. Nanti awk buat mandi ye, selawat dan niat."

I feel touched. Ada jugak my colleague yg concern. Mula2 terfikir, tapi untuk tak menghampakan akak tu, aku bersiram jugak dgn air tasik 450ml tu. Try je petua orang2 tua. Urusan lain2 tu biar Allah yg tentukan.

                                                         *                    *                      *

Kelmarin jumpa colleague yg dah lama tak jumpa. We all jumpa masa video conference dgn Datuk Director. Dia ni beza setahun je dgn aku. Lama jugak dia tak conceive. Bila jumpa hari tu, masing2 segan nak tanya dah conceive ke belum. 

Alhamdulillah, dia baru je pregnant 3 bulan. Bila korek2 tanya (exaggerate betul perkataan 'korek' itu), rupanyanya history menses dia pun ting tong. Dia punya period sampai 20 hari. Then, dia pergi consult dgn Dr Lokman kat Johor Maternity Centre & disuntik ubat nak besarkan telur. I guess clomifene. 

Lepas sebulan bersih dari period, she managed to conceive. Dia pun bagitau dia tunggu setahun untuk pregnant. Tumpang happy bila tau kawan2 dah berjaya pregnant walaupun bermasalah dgn menses. Really hope someday my turn would come to share the good news and spread the baby dust. ^_^

Tepek pic my niece, Alisya yg selalu jadi mangsa keroyok & ciuman bertalu2

Deeper Conversation

"Yang, bestnya kalau boleh dapat baby twins. Is it possible for us to have them w/pun takde background twins?"

"Kita usaha untuk dapat 1 ye. Dapat 1 pun dah bersyukur sangat."

"Tapi yang, teknologi sekarang dah canggih. Mesti boleh. Guna IUI. Imagine when a sperm swimming towards an ovum, then berlaku fusion, then cell divison, meiosis..."

"Kalau dapat kembar, sorang satu dukung anak. Hehe."

"Haah. Pastu kena beli serba 2. Baju, botol. Tapi kembar ni mesti dari baby diorang pandai communicate guna bahasa baby. 2-2 ketul tu berborak2 dalam babycot.. So cute!"

Footnote: It's my habit to have a lil chit chat with husband before I doze-off. 

So, I've Put On Some Weight!

It's unbelievable. I stepped on the scale for about 4x to make sure it's working properly. U know, u can't 100% trust/rely on cheap stuff. Ok, i bought a cheap bathroom scale from Watson's.

I told husband, "Yang, scale ni tipu. Saya dah calibrate pun apsal macam tu? Timbang kat rumah mama takdelah berat mana!". The fact is, I just can't accept the increment of my body weight. I never imagine to reach such weight. I almost drop my jaw when I stepped on my newly-purchased scale. Gila la wei! Gila dempak dan bulat! :0

It happened so fast like I never notice that. Then I stop and think. Something must be wrong. Finally I realized, blame the supplement! IT HAS MADE ME FAT. I rushed and start Google-ing. Yes, Vit B Complex will increase your appetite. Husband brought a set of supplements from hospital for me to consume. Sebab I dok mintak kawan husband tolong prescribe Folic Acid. Hehe. Best dapat ubat free.

The thing that made me feel uneasy is that a bunch of my office mates keep asking, "Berisi ni dah ada baby ke? Muka pun nampak glowing..". Nak kena ulang2 cakap, "Belum rezeki lagi kak. Ni berisi sebab supplement." Cakap sambil sengih2.

Pernah satu malam mimpi I pregnant. Masa tu lepas buat UPT tunjuk 2 lines. Happy sangat. Siap dalam mimpi tu buat UPT 2x. Then masa bangun pagi tu, terus capai UPT kit. But it was -ve. *sedih*

I knew, someday I will. Each night before bed, I ask husband to touch my tummy and pray to Allah. Yes, Allah knows best! InsyaAllah! InsyaAllah!

2012 Recap and 2013 Target

Alhamdulillah, Allah masih bagi kesempatan utk bernafas sehingga hujung 2012. Esok dah tahun baru. Jom tengok apa yg dah berlaku 2012:

• Dapat attend training dgn sensei from Japan. Baru ko tau keje dgn Jepun mcm ne!
• Wage increment. Syukur
• Company dapat bg bonus setelah sekian lamanya
• Telah jadi PUAN NINA finally. Yay!
• Dapat tengok Mt Kinabalu
• Pegi Universal Studios Singapore. Awesomeness!
• The worst part is, I've put on some weight sejak kahwin. =.='
• Dah pandai baking 
• Menambah berat husband dgn jayanya. Hehe

Ok, sempena 2013, ni aku punya target. Harap2 berjayalah:

• Mesti perbaiki & tingkatkan ibadah
• Usaha lebih gigih untuk conceive
• Harus turunkan berat badan
• Nak develop hobi baru
• Nak lebih rajin & proaktif
• Mesti start menulis tesis & scientific journals!!!

Korang macam mane so far?

Dah 6 Bulan

Tajuk gempak kan? Haha. Bukan pregnant 6 bulan, tapi dah 6 bulan usia perkahwinan kami. Setiap hari kita kenal antara 1 sama lain. True colors masing2 dah nampak. Takpe, yg penting saling tegur-menegur & cuba memahami. Alhamdulillah, byk dah aku belajar. Yg paling achievable is both of us have gained weight. Masing2 mulalah sibuk nak work out, nak stay fit. Hehehe. 

Husband salahkan aku sebab masak sedap2 utk dia. Haih.. Tu namanya teknik nak cosset perut and ambil hati suami. Ye dok? Yang penting, setiap hari makin sayang dan appreciate pasangan kita. Alhamdulillah, husband sentiasa di sisi tak kira sakit atau sihat. Dia dah sangat masak perangai aku yg akan marah2 bila lapar dan kadang2 mengigau sampai nangis ketakutan /sedih. Dia yg tolong soothe aku sambil cakap "Yang, saya ada ni. Jangan nangis..". Thank you, hubby! Next year bulan 5 anniversary kita boleh gi honeymoon lagi. Yay!

November Celebration (Events) To Date

Assalam peeps. November month is amazing. Oh, this month i turned 27. And hubby also. Actually, there are many November babies in both hubby's and my family. Hubby's and Pak Ngah's on 3rd, Bang Sirr (hubby's cousin) on 4th, my ayah's on 5th, mine and Ayah Teh's on 6th, Eryna's (my niece) on 7th, my uncle's on 10th and lastly Ain's (my cousin) on 29th. Did i miss someone? I hope not. Well, it's quite a list right?

Seriously, I didn't know hubby's birthday is 3 days earlier than mine during our friendship time. Namanya jodoh kan?Tengok jelah ramai ahli keluarga kami yg lahir dalam November. This entry is not only about November babies, but the celebrations and events that we had (attended) so far.

3 November 2012

• Hubby turned 27. 
• We attended Seminar Jutawan Industri by the prominent Dr Azizan Osman at The Zon JB
• Watched "Skyfall" (our first movie after we got married)
• Bought hubby lunch

6 November 2012

• I turned 27! Still I behave like a kid. Hikhik
• Was surprised by a bouquet of roses during office hours. Senyum sampai telinga.
• Got another surprise that evening after work. It was my birthday cake.
• Dinner with hubby

8 November 2012

•  We hit the road to Universal Studios Singapore, baby!! *I will share the moment in my next entry*

10 November 2012

• I baked my very first red velvet cake for ayah.
• We had family dinner in my hometown.

In short, I would like to thank Allah for giving me good health to celebrate my 27 years of age with my loved ones. This year I celebrated my birthday as a wife, a daughter, a daughet-in-law, a sister, a sister-in-law, a scientist and a graduate student. ALHAMDULILLAH. Deepest appreciation to my beloved mama for bringing me into this world. I ♥ U! Million thanks to hubby for all the surprises, love, care and able to share the hardships together. I ♥ U!

3 in 1 Role: How I Juggle?

All of a sudden, this question popped out from my mind? Some random people may ask, how do you juggle your work and home life? Well, this is not a tough task actually. I mean, to work + further study + do some household chores. Ok, to be exact, I am a scientist, working from 8 to 5. Yep, being a scientist is not an easy task. It involves critical thinking, how to manipulate variables, statistical analysis which I found tricky, playing with scientific instruments, conducting experiments, facing some obstacles especially when power is down or running out of chemicals and even confronting some pest problem. Then, report writing and paper synthesizing. Plus, dealing with staff and superior attitude. Hey, enough. STAHP whining!!! Ok, noktah.

Being a grad student at the same time is not actually difficult as I chose 'research mode'. No exam is needed. But at the end of the day, I must submit some progress reports. Glad to inform, so far, I have survived. This is my 3rd semester. Another 3 semesters to be completed. *Ya Allah, harap2lah habis semua semester. Kalau kena extend pun, nak buat 1 sem je.*

As a wife, I have to take charge of household chores. My routine starts right after work until I put myself to sleep at 12 midnight. Kalau anda seorang isteri, anda boleh baca di sini. Banyak fadilatnya. But I think being a mom is way tougher. Ramai kawan2 blogger yg sangat komited bekerja dan dalam masa yang sama nak menyusukan bayi mereka sepenuhnya. Ada yang tertekan sebab kekangan kerja menyebabkan kuantiti susu EBM kurang. Sabar ye kawan2. I wonder, when my time comes, would I be as good as them? How strong am I could be? Everything might change. Ye, di situ hikmahnya. Ramai yg bertanya soalan cepumas "Dah ada ke?", "Dah berisi belum?". Biasalah nak tanya apa lagi kat orang yg baru kahwin kan.. Soalan2 tu buat kami stress. Sekarang ni aku dah kembali positif. Allah lebih tau apa yg terbaik untuk kami. Jadi, teruskan berdoa dan usaha ye. I am still trying to conceive. Any tips?

So, macam ni lah cerita 3 in 1 ni. A wife, a grad student and a scientist in action. Lepas ni bila dah ada baby, jadi 4 in 1 pulak. InsyaAllah. I bet, mesti ada yg lebih mencabar dari ni. Pagi ni bersemangat betul nak tulis, sebab my colleagues ramai dah cuti balik kampung. Esok raya! Tapi balik kampung jap je. Hubby needs to go to work this weekend. Till then, Salam Aidil Adha! 

No proper breakfast on a table like nasi lemak, nasi goreng and what-so-ever during weekdays.

This is pretty mad for having lab apparatus on my office desk.

Ain't that business kill my leisure time. Yes, I enjoy baking during weekend.

Newly found hobby: fresh flowers arrangement for home deco.

Still, I got time to enjoy Sunday morning walk with hubby.

Importante: Walau sibuk sekali pun, Allah jangan kita lupa!

Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

Sprinkle some raisin & choc rice

Pop in the oven

Garing a bit, but sedap

Voila! Served with vanilla custard sauce

Resepi: CT Delima

Kentang Bakar Rempah

Ok kakak2 & puan2. Hari ni saya nak kongsi resepi sihat tak kira untuk snek atau hidangan utama. Sebab apa sihat? Sebab tak perlu goreng dgn minyak yg banyak.

Bahan2 yg diperlukan:

Kentang

Ketumbar

Jintan manis

Jintan putih

Lada putih/hitam

Garam

Minyak (sawit/olive/corn)

Cara2:

Panaskan ketuhar pada suhu 170 darjah celsius. Gunakan api atas & bawah.

Kupas kentang & cuci bersih.

Potong ikut bentuk yg digemari (wedges/bulat).

Tumbuk bahan2 rempah tadi (jintan, ketumbar & lada putih/hitam).

Gaulkan rempah yg ditumbuk tadi dengan kentang dan garam secukup rasa.

Renjiskan minyak pada kentang & perap seketika.

Masukkan ke dalam ketuhar & masak sehingga warna keemasan. Suhu direndahkan kepada 150 darjah. 

Tunggu sehingga masak (15-20 min).

Baked potato with spices

Selamat mencuba!

1st Wedding Anniversary Getaway List

One night, I asked hubby where should we go for a vacation in conjunction with our ultimate 1st wedding anniversary next year. This is my habit to create a conversation on bed (instead of saying good night and sleep). Because during that time lots of inspiration/ideas will come.

We would find some romantic places. Although it's only 4 months since we got married, but I already made a list of some nice places.

Local/Domestic:

1) Colmar Tropicale, Bukit Tinggi

2) Tioman Island

3) Langkawi Island

International:

1) Beijing (but this one would be nice if we could experience cold season, so maybe post-anniversary la..)

2) Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (hubby's suggestion)

3) Bali

4) Koh Samui / Krabi

Sebab apa senaraikan awal2? Sebab kalau plan international tu jadi, bolehlah book ticket murah Air Asia awal. Nak travel naik MAS memang mahal la. Lagi pun dengan company senang naik MAS so kita naik Air Asia pulak. Hakhakhak.

Beijing in autumn

Koh Samui

Krabi

Ho Chi Minh

Tioman Island

Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi

Colmar Tropicale, Bukit Tinggi

So I vote for Tioman (local) & Beijing (international). Oh, haruskah menggunakan teknik menggoda hubby supaya dapat pegi Beijing?

Review of My Wedding: Preparation

It's been 4 months since we took the oath as man & wife. My life has changed. Way different. My schedule is hectic. Unlike those days when I was single. I just can skip my dinner & sleep a lot. Waktu rehat tengahari balik rumah bantai tido, balik kerja pun golek2 kat tilam lagi. Haihh.. Memang dasarrrrr... Yeah, I was a sleepyhead before. Sekarang pun ada sikit. Hikhik. 

Ok, to cut it short, sekarang baru ada masa nak bagi review kenduri kahwin 4 bulan lepas. From A to Z. I just want to share. To be honest, if i could turn back time, rasa macam nak rewind balik dari segi pemilihan fabrik, make up, deko hantaran, deko bilik, ahhhh semualah. Preparation memang kelam kabut since adik-beradik dahla 2 orang je, memang tak menang tangan. Ni pulak 1st event dalam family we all yg 4 beranak ni. Oih, tiba2 rindu nak sanding & pergi photoshoot malu2 & blushing2 gitew.. Hikhik #gedik#

Pengantin (that was me) was totally stressed out. Muka memanglah naik jerawat. Memang tak sempat nak indulge myself kat spa, urut2, mani, pedi & hair treatment semua. Sempat buat facial je. Uhuk T_T. So here's the recap. 

Homemade choc. Sponsored by my Mak Busu. Ni tengah masukkan dalam bekas untuk doorgift majlis nikah.

Tergolek2 sampai choc ni ha.. Dok asyik test rasa je. Heheh

Road signage ni design sendiri, print & hantar laminate. Murah!

Pre-wedding photoshoot was taken 2 weeks before we got married. I was busy posing for the camera.  Candid by adik.

Bilik pengantin in cleaning & decorating process.  Deko sendiri je.

After was given some magical touch. "Magical' lah sangat!

Inai yang adik pakaikan pada jam 3pagi, a night before the solemnization.

Cik kak memborong fresh flowers untuk DIY gubahan hantaran.  Ni pengantin punya keje jugak yg terpaksa pergi florist akibat shortage of manpower. Haha.

Onde-onde Bulat

Lama tak update blog.

Busy dengan rumahtangga. Hikhik.

Hari ni nak share resepi kuih onde-onde a.k.a buah melaka yg sesuai untuk minum petang.

Actually, this is a longgggggggggggggg overdue post. *penekanan pd huruf G yg banyak*.

Kuih ni dibikin masa puasa hari tu. Tapi hari ni baru ada semangat nak blogging balik.

Check this out.

Bahan-bahan:

1. Tepung pulut

2. Daun pandan

3. Pewarna hijau *optional*

4. Gula melaka or gula apong

5. Kelapa parut

6. Garam

Pewarna ni yg paling femes. Dapatkan di kedai runcit berdekatan. Kalau tak nak letak pawarna ni pun tak pe.

Ni lah penyedap dia. Ekstrak daun pandan. Rasa pandan & warna hijau yg asli. Just blend banyak2 daun pandan yg dipotong dengan air.

Adunan ni adalah tepung pulut yg dibancuh dengan sedikit air, ekstrak pandan & beberapa titik pewarna. Gaul semua sampai dapat this consistency.

Gula Melaka yg diketuk sedia untuk disumbat dalam adunan tepung tadi.

Adunan tepung yg digentel bulat & dah disumbat gula Melaka. Saiz ikut masing2. Ni yg bite-size. Ngap sekali je. *ni hasil kerjasama suami isteri*

Tuangkan kelapa parut di pinggan besar & tabur secubit garam utk enhance rasa lemak dia. Rebus onde2 tadi sehingga timbul & toskan. Golekkan di atas kelapa parut ni.

Onde-onde siap dihidang. Hari tu buat dapat banyak. Adalah rezeki jiran2 rasa air tangan suami isteri ni. (=

Senang je nak prepare kuih ini kan..

Mudah & cepat!

Let's Masak Soto Johor

Yes, every Johorean bachelorette must know how to make Soto. It's a signature dish of Johor. Mesti kena tahu masak. Kalau dah kawin senang nak masak rumah mak mertua. Hehe. I just let these photos do the talking. Oh, special thanks to dear husband who help me to mash the potatoes, gentel bergedil dan siat isi ayam. 

Kentang yg dah dilecek dan dicampurkan rencah.

Bite-size bergedil yg husband kita tolong gentel.

Mini rice cube after 45-min cook.

Voila! Soto Ayam Johor is ready for iftar.

Today's Special

My family is coming for breaking fast today. It's time to masak2.. I just love it. And I dream of having a big kitchen, pantry and kitchen island.

Dear You

The sun goes down, the stars come out, and all that counts, is here and now. 

My universe will never be the same, I'm glad you came...

Dear You, I love you!

Neon lights at Dataran Penggaram, Batu Pahat. Strolling down with mr husband after family dinner.

It's been 2 months and counting!

Alhamdulillah, it is been 2 months since we took our pledge during ijab and qabul. Ya Allah, please grant our wishes, shower us with barakah. Amin..

Picture was taken after we were officially husband & wife. Pic courtesy of ARphotostream

Choc mousse cake for our ultimate 1st month together. 2 bulan takde kek, reward hanya makan sahur bersama2.

Masak Lomak Cili Api Daging Salai

Sejak bergelar isteri orang N.Sembilan ni, i try my best to learn some signature dishes from Nogori. Yeah, i really want to cosset his stomach. Tu petua menambat hati suami. Tambat perut dan selera dia dulu. Hee.

So, I learn how to cook the authentic 'masak lomak cili api' from my mother in law. It is just a piece of cake. Kacang je!

What u need:

Turmeric, Thai chillies (green), coconut milk, lemongrass, salt, smoked beef (daging salai).

How to cook?

Pound turmeric and chillies.

Add to coconut milk and beef. Bring to boil. Keep stiring.

Add smashed lemongrass and salt.

Voila!

Senang je kan? Semua boleh buat..

Ni lah hasilnya, masak lomak daging salai dengan penuh kasih sayang & keikhlasan (=