outright discrimination.

Tonight is the battle of 3 reading materials; Interlock, A Doctor in the House or N S Bindra's Interpretation of Statutes. It's a no-brainer why Bindra lost. But it's also amazing why none of the other 2 options got chosen. I ended up reading AMICA.

Yes, this.

As you might already know, I'm not really into fashion. Well, even if I am, it's hard to say whether I qualify to declare as such. Why? Well, take one glance at me and your curiousities are answered, that I'm sure of.

But be that as it may, the model on the cover of AMICA really just caught my eye. I wondered how she could look so stunningly demure... while NOT being exposed at parts where models are normally exposed to catch one's attention. Somehow, it amazed me. Really amazed me.

Reading on, I came across the name Adlina Anis (that's the stylist for AMICA, at least then) so many times that it sparked my curiousity. For one, it is an AMICA Singapore magazine. And let's face it - let's be open about things here- it's quite an open secret that Malays in Singapore are marginalised. Or at least, that's what I've been told time and time again. So it somehow didn't make that much sense to me that some Malay girl could land herself in the fashion industry there amongst others who are... well... not Malays.

As I read through the magazine (from the back cover to the front, weird, I know!), I found the AMICA Feature somewhere in the middle. And it featured none other than Adlina Anis, the name which consistently appeared throughout the magazine. And that 2-page spread was short, sweet, concise and honest. Quite inspiring, if you asked me.

I guess these days, with the right guidance, attitude and support, anyone can make it in any field. Of course, some industries require more perseverance than the rest, like the Fashion Industry, for instance, but this lady is living proof that it can be done.

That said, I am reminded at what happened to my sister earlier this year. I tried to print screen her FB page, but couldn't but, this is how the day went for her on that fateful day -

mira salehin going job hunting! and this is what happened;


me: is there any job vacancy?
person 1: yes, hold on. *Shouts some other person's name
person 2: yes, we have vacancies. But we don't hire people with tudung . What about you*looks at my friend* ? you can apply :D
me and friend: NO THANK YOU.
EXIT.


Apa punya kedai ni? -.-

Just in case you are wondering, that kedai was Elle.

And my sister is like an unpaid walking advertisement for Elle as she's got so many pieces from there. And eventhough she just recently decided to don the hijab, she has still managed to style her old clothes (Elle included) so that she remains decent!

I think that it was Elle's loss, rather than my sister's.

After that incident, I do think that the Fashion Industry favouring skinny girls over big-sized ones is merely being shallow, not discriminatory. This thing that happened to my sister - that's discrimination. Outright discrimination. Try telling me otherwise. 

And surprise, surprise, this happened in Malaysia, shame on us. So much for all that racial tolerance we pride ourselves with.

Shy to comment? Well, never mind! Your reactions mean the world to me! Make me smile today :)

Tick Tock Tick Tock!

It’s not hard to see why Mama’s so hooked on Groupon, seeing that it makes shopping so easy (and cheap)! After I joined Groupon, I have purchased several deals (mostly food) and I’m currently waiting for my Weedo voucher so that I can have my Honeymoon pictures printed properly. So, yes, so much for being on Groupon, I haven’t purchased that many things yet.

I sometimes wish I could stop equating the amount of things I can get for the baby with a certain amount of money so that I can finally get the things I want, but I CAN’T FREAKING HELP IT! Tsk!

That said, I have missed out on a few deals because I was unsure whether or not I should get them. And yes, I can see my friends shaking their heads in disprove right now as this has always been the case with me.

I don’t know when I’ll learn. Haish.

One of my most regretted “misses” is this:

It isn’t Kitchen Aid, I know, but it’s a start, right? And we could all do with a start. I don’t even know why I hesitated to get it! It was, after all a bargain. RM88 instead of RM129 and I hesitated?! *slaps forehead!*

Right now, I’m eyeing 2 deals on Groupon and (still) contemplating, surprise, surprise!

One of them is this. And I don’t know whether I should get these. And how many I should, if I do. It states there that the Company will charge RM10 for delivery of 5 and I’m thinking, alang-alang dia nak hantar 1, might as well order 5. Right?

And that ladies and gents, it my very problem with bargains. Because when I get a really good bargain, I feel like I should squeeze the bargain for another bargain so that I can make the most out of it. *tamak haloba*

I really hope I’m not the only one who’s like this, but seriously, who doesn’t like bargains?

I’ve been looking at the hours ‘til the deal expires since it said 72 hours. And now, it’s all down to 13 12 hours left. Do you think I’ll get it, or would this be one of my regretted misses (again)?

Hmm... when will I learn? Tick tock tick tock tick tock!

Got to make up my mind, fast!

Shy to comment? Well, never mind! Your reactions mean the world to me! Make me smile today :)

Gotcha!

I was on the phone with my brother just a few days back talking about so many things when Adik interrupted us and wanted to tell me something. Oh, yes, my brother’s back for good, by the way.

Adik: Akak, I just got myself my Roger!

Me: Oh, yes, so I heard. Happy?

Adik: Of course!

Me: Dreams finally came true huh?

Adik: Yup, yup! I have a new boyfriend now.

Me: So, when you say that you’ve got a new boyfriend, you mean that you used to have an old boyfriend before your new boyfriend?

Adik: Ermmm.

Me: Don’t mess with the lawyer babe. I so gotcha.

Adik: I’m so not going to say anything that will be used against me "=___________________="

Hmmm, Adik, is there something you want to tell me? Hahahaha. I'm waiting ;p 

Oh, and by the way, Roger is a 32G Ipod. My siblings are so rich, I should stop giving them treats ;p

Shy to comment? Well, never mind! Your reactions mean the world to me! Make me smile today :)

humour me.

Oftentimes, during moments of complete freedom, I stare at the computer and the computer stares back at me. The cursor blinks and I type in a word, just to tempt ideas to flow from my head and out onto the New Document staring at me. That’s how it normally works, when I go through some sort of a “writer’s block”. I type in whatever nonsense I can think of, delete that nonsense, and finally come up with a not-so-nonsense piece of writing.

But of late, it hasn’t worked its wonders. Not like it usually does. So, instead of producing nonsense for people to read (if there is anyone reading), I come up with nothing at all.

I’m trying to pinpoint a reason or 2 as to why I am so... blocked. Thing is, after rummaging through my head (hyperbolically speaking, of course), I have discovered that there are thoughts. Loads of them. It’s just that I haven’t managed to put them all down on paper, whether virtual or physical. In other words, my thoughts are so ALL OVER THE PLACE, I can’t seem to make head and tail of what it is I’m trying to say.

And I’m sorry, but you’ve just had to finish 3 paras of preamble, before I actually get to my point, which I’m beginning to wonder, if there is any.

In the end, I put it all down to my lack of youth. Seriously. Sometimes, I don’t know what happened to that person who I used to call me. I used to anticipate “events” and “funny conversations” because then, I could go back to my blog to report them. Like it was crucial for me to update on the ongoings in my life, to make me look like I had a “life” of some sort. So that I don’t look like a loser who didn’t have friends or things to look forward to.

Now strangely, though I do go out, go on oh-so-random dates with my husband at ungodly hours, sometimes (yes, at 3 in the morning one time), meet up with friends and have very meaningful conversations over coffee or ice cream, I don’t seem to care much about taking photos and uploading them or even “reporting” them to this space, like I used to.

And strange but true, but I seem to think of the act of “reporting of events” will make me seem more of a loser because then, it would look like I am trying too hard to impress. Who? I can’t quite figure that out myself yet, too.

In the end, I don’t know which is better (or more pathetic); to be able to know that you’ve grown out of the habit of “reporting” everything and being able to instead enjoy and savour the moment you are in without worrying how nice/terrible you look like in the photos OR losing that part of you who used to love taking photos of everything and recording every moment that mattered at that moment so that you could look back in wonderment of how silly/funny/terrible things were like at some point in your life.

More than anything, at this very moment, I just feel like there’s nothing that I want to write that hasn’t already been written. And that nothing I can write that can people can relate to. Either way, I just want to find that balance, in hopes that I have not become some other person whom I hardly know anymore.

And I hope that I’ll somehow finally find it in my heart to be ecstatic about the little things that used to humour me. Where on earth did my youth go to? Really, where?

Shy to comment? Well, never mind! Your reactions mean the world to me! Make me smile today :)

xoxo, confused first time mom.

Of all the things to get for my son, the one that I’ve (ironically) been most confused about is clothes. Yes, clothes. I love baby clothes. They are cute. They are adorable. And comes in the loveliest colours. Whether you’re having a boy or a girl. Oh, and wait, they are a great boost to the parents’ ego too, aren’t they? i.e. MY DADDY IS MY HERO, MY MOMMY IS THE PRETTIEST. Bila lagi nak buli anak? Masa kecik je la dia nak mengaku (paksa rela) pun. Hahaha.

But both my moms (my own and in-law) have quite persistently dampened my spirits to buy clothes for my boy.

Granted, I don’t know how big the boy will be when he pops out. Plus, they all grow up really, really FAST, I know. But takkan lah anak aku tak payah pakai baju? Sejuk lah dia kan, kan?

But still, sebab malas nak dengar banyak yap yapping, my boy only has 5 sleepsuits, 7 rompers, 5 pairs of socks, 1 cap and a pair of mittens. Anak orang lain, by the time lahir dah ada one closet full of clothes! Argh. Stress!

Thing is, if I were to just get those clothes (after all, my son, right? so, up to me lah kan? ahha), I’m still not sure which I should get. I’ve been going in and out of Mothercare, only to question myself – ni kan Malaysia, kena pakai long sleeves and long pants all the time ke? Tapi at the same time my mom asks me, “Eh Girl, baby 2 bulan lebih dah boleh pakai baju lengan pendek eh?”

HOH? Tak boleh ke?

I know it’s ridiculous sebab there are so many other things to worry about, I know. Tapi , I can’t help but be confused about what to put on my child. Plus, things like berapa lama nak kena bedung dia (sebab I bought 2 swaddling blankets and now tak sure if membazir ke apa) and whether kalau dah swaddle kena selimut lagi tak? Ke panas sangat? And whether or not I should expose my baby to chemicals (baby bath, lotion, etc) as soon as dia lahir or just mandikan dengan air per se since babies don’t smell bad at all. Sebab there’s always 2 (or worst, 3 or 4) versions of things and this person buat like this and the other buat like that. Bikin aku pening, please!

Oh, and according to my mom, masa kecik, none of my siblings dipakaikan talcum powder anywhere on our bodies. It reduces chances of getting rashes, especially at places like celah-celah kaki, leher, butt and armpit. So, I’ve got to remind whoever handling my baby not to put talcum powder sesuka hati jugak. See, bikin pening lagi sebab certain people lumur anak with powder tapi tak ada apa pulak. Hmmm.

Oh, if you happen to be wondering if I have a checklist for my boy, of course I do. I live on checklists! But of course, I don’t follow it in toto because I know certain things are just totally and completely unnecessary pun. But here’s the whole list, just in case you want to get things for your baby.You can adjust accordingly, of course.

1. Breastpump – done
2. Milk storage plastic/ bottles – done
3. Cooler bag for milk – done
4. Feeding bottles – done
5. Liquid wash
6. Nipple cream
7. Bottle brush – done
8. Nursing pillow
9. Breastpad
10. Warmer –this is one of those things which I have been told to be unnecessary sangat! More than 3 mommies told me this.
11. Sterilizer- done
12. Drying rack –unnecessary
13. Bath tub –done
14. Hooded towels – done
15. Bath gel
16. Lotion
17. Baby oil
18. Baby wipes
19. Cotton roll
20. Cotton wipes
21. Baby cream
22. Baby vanity care case
23. Combs
24. Baby detergent
25. Baby powder
26. Changing mat
27. Wash cloths –done
28. Gripe water
29. Nose saline – I was told that this is important!
30. Mittens and booties – 1 pair as mentioned above
31. Diapers
32. Swaddle/receiving blankets – swaddle done tapi blanket tak beli lagi
33. Clothes – as mentioned above
34. Baby binder –dah pesan with my cousin
35. Socks –as mentioned above
36. Leggings/tights
37. Stroller –done
38. Car seat –not for now
39. Travel/diaper bag – done
40. Baby carrier
41. Baby sling/pouch
42. Nursing cape
43. Infant car seat – done
44. Bedding set
45. Cot –done
46. Mattress – done
47. Dresser
48. Playpen
49. Pillows
50. Rocker/bouncer
51. Play mat
52. Toys

For Mama -
Maternity Sanitary pads
Disposable panties
Nursing bra - Fabulous Mom is having sales until the end of January and they are super duper cheap! Sila dapatkan. You'd be surprised to see your size. I totally was. *Pengsan*

So, ngeri tak tengok list?

I know that I’ve bought most of the essentials, tapi everyone keeps telling me that it’s the small things yang akan buat panic nanti at the end of the day and those yang akan burn a hole in your pocket because you don’t have the time to make informed decisions about your purchases.

Sigh.

How now?

Have I missed out anything?

Am I ready to be Mama?

Truth is, I freak myself out.

*takut!*

Shy to comment? Well, never mind! Your reactions mean the world to me! Make me smile today :)