The Sweet and the Bitter Chocolate in the Family

Monday, August 1, 2011

Kejayaan Dipermudahkan

Aspire Paradise is a new company that is worth paying attention to. Please visit this website to find out more.

'>

Crystal and Pearls


A visit to Sabah will be incomplete without buying pearls
This is a two line bangle with odd shape pearls.




Crystals - pins, brooches and bangles... (must buy and must bargain too)




This is new (at least to me) - Just put it on - unique but cheap (RM 20 - 30)

Ahlan Wassalan Ya Ramadhan 2011

It's the time of the year again where all Muslims all over the world fulfill one of the teachings of Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad s.a.w. What is fasting? We refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise till sunset (Subuh to Maghrib). That's not the only thing we must do... we must also refrain all our other senses (eyes, ears etc) from doing bad / the forbidden.

Reading the Holy book - AlQuran is encouraged. Moderation is welcomed. Giving and Sharing are loved.

It is hoped that with the one month of Ramadhan all good things / practices will remain in all Muslims and become our habit in all other days / months.

Please visit this link below to see how people of other countries welcome Ramadhan:

http://news.malaysia.msn.com/ramadhan/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=5074688

or

http://news.malaysia.msn.com/photogallery.aspx?cp-documentid=4270867

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

mayonnaise jar, golf balls, pebbles, sand and coffee

I was cleaning my inbox and stumbled upon this interesting email from a friend. Please read:


When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students, if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.' The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
1) The golf balls are the important things - family,children, health, Friends, and Favourite passions – Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.
2) The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.
3) The sand is everything else --The small stuff. '

If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. 'Take care of the golf balls first --The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

'One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled.' I'm glad you asked'. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.' Please share this with other "Golf Balls" I just did......

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Selamat Hari Raya Part 2

daniel, deena, me, mak, bapak, dinie, azhar and delailah


Eid Mubarak away from family (parents n brothers and sisters) is of course a sad scenario. However, work, time and money play a role. As the saying goes, we cant always have everything we want. Anyway, after 2 rayas in Bangi/Penang/Tg Karang, I'm back again in Sabah and the rotation will be Sabah / Penang / Tg Karang / Sabah ... and the cycle goes round until me and family move (if we do move).

Being in Sabah, I am lucky because since end 1998 (the first time I moved to Sabah), me and family have found a place to call kampung/home on the first day of Eid Mubarak. Each time we do not go home to Penang/Tg Karang, we will surely head to Tuaran (last time it was nearer - Tmn Nelly, Kelombong) after prayers. This year is no difference except that my friend (mak and bapak eldest child) is not around this year.

All in all, where ever you I spend my raya, it's okay with me cause I have my hubby and children. I got friends and neighbours to visit too and they visit me too. Sometimes I wonder why people quarrel on where to spend the first day of raya. To my memory, alhamdullillah, I have never been in that situation yet.

Selamat Hari Raya. Maaf zahir batin to whoever is reading this 'luahan hati'.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

SELAMAT HARI RAYA...

at Penang airport a week before Raya. ( spend 3 days there )


Time flies... with the kids growing very fast, my raya celebration this yr has changed too. Raya has always been a special celebration especially for children... After fasting for 30 days (or 29 days this year). My kids has started to appreciate and understand raya better this year. The first two has started demanding baju raya, duit raya, kasut raya etc this year (not forgetting bunga api/mercun). Because of this, the preparation for raya was done early (unlike previous years where shopping etc were the in the last week of ramadhan).

The house is a bit more cheerful with the kids noise and bunga api/mercun and the colour of the blinking lights around the house and the traditional pelita...

Eventhough we spend the Raya away from our parents / the kids grandparents... it was still fun. My parents came for three days. This year also was the first time I made my own ketupat. I also had our open house on 7th raya. (Haven't done one for the past two years because we were in KL).
Lembah Impian Resort (raya ke2)
Lembah Impian Resort (raya ke2)

Open House Preparation (outside)

Dinie and daniel waiting for tetamu

Hampers from tetamu. (the green one is special from a politician)

Daniel penat melayan org till midnight sampai tak sempat pakai baju after mandi

Friday, August 7, 2009

FOOD!!!

Kek Lapis Asam Manis - baked by a friend (July '09)


Big Apple Donuts


Homemade cake (Putatan)


Manhattan Fish Market (QueensBay, Penang, early June '09)



Home cooking - steamboat n seafood BBQ (Tg karang, early June '09)