it's 2 weeks into the new year. did i make any resolutions this year? i guess...but as always, they're not written anywhere including here..because writing them down would mean you are somehow stuck to it and not being able to achieve them would be quite disappointing. so, my way of doing resolution is just to keep in mind what i want to do and counter check it every now and then..i think i'm quite at par with what i have set my mind to do..so yeah, this year, i will be all that i can be!!! (macam pernah dengar je..ha ha). okaylah, i'll just share some of them with you..but not the specifics ok..just generally...i will try to be a better muslim..by doing what i have been thought to do...and with that, i hope to be a better wife, mom, daughter, friend, etc, etc..i hope to squash the ego we humans too often are guilty of having, even when we think we don't have any ego (that denial itself is an ego...see). i hope the children will be well, insyaAllah (this is not a resolution, btw...it's my hopes and prayers from Allah swt), and that our lives will be richer with many blessed moments and joyous ocassions, Aameen.

oklah...running out of ideas now..oh yea...this weekend...marked my 5th anniversary to my dear husband. for the first time, he got me roses and a card (usually he would get other things) which really made my day, because it's been a long time since i got any flowers from that hubby of mine. he's one of those guys who thinks giving flowers is a waste of money..since the flowers are going to get crinkled and dried up..and there goes your money! at least that's how he is after getting married...before...well, i remember he got me two dozens of roses sent to my dormroom door with a little romantic note too...hah! that was of course, the beginning of it all...and then, there were other ocassions, like sorry for being such an idiot ones, or simply no-reason-at-all flowers, which occurred more during the courting days..and then..the number of roses began to shrink..just like the flowers..haha..but the love...excitingly enough is growing to beautiful dozens of roses, alhamdulillah..no special dinner or anything romantic for this year..nothing of that sort..instead, we transformed our lawn into a camp side with a tent, a pool big enough to fit 10 adults (but only four of us hung out in there: me, hubby and our two kids) and a bbq of succulent lamb, chicken, potato salad, corn on the cob, vadai (courtesy of pasar malam), karipap (also from pasar malam..this one is my fav karipap of all time..it's the pusing type) and lots of other knick knacks....and me..i got him a card too...got him something else earlier..so that was his anniversary gift lah..May Allah grant us a happy and ever-lasting marriage and many more kids, inshaAllah..Happy Anniversary to you, bie..(ha ha..why am i wishing him here, he does't even read my blog)

coffee anyone?

i am a self-confessed coffee-holic...i just can't get thru the day without one caffeine fix, usually at night...at times like this...when i'm on the computer..either for work, or pleasure..i would get coffee samples at supermarket eventhough i know damn well how the regular Nescafe tastes like...just to give a little "perk" up my brains...aaahh..the taste of coffee..i like them hot, creamy, and aromatic..don't really like the cold concoctions..they take too long to finish, for me at least, because i'd have to sip them slowly in order not to get brain freeze...right now i'm having...i think it's called bonton coffee or something..has a green label on it..about to finish this bottle...and then am thinking of getting another kind of coffee..the 3in1 or 4 or 5 in 1s are not that bad either for my taste buds..like the Alicafe...it all started with my hubby..he was the one who recommended it to me..i still don't know the effects of females taking tongkat ali related things except that it's a sure way to get me to stay awake for a couple of hours at night!! are there any known effects by the way? like maybe an increase in the testosterone level (do women have testosterones???!!) anyway, it has a nice taste, and smell..and i'd drink that on nights that i feel rather sleepy...on nights like this one, ie. nights solely devoted for wasting time, i would have this type of coffee i'm having..the bonton coffee...there's another one which comes from my hubby's coffee collection..kopi jantan..he thinks it's the equivalent to western's almond coffee or the like..i've tasted it...but don't quite fancy it...alicafe is definitely better, hands down. you may be wondering if i have ever tried the female version of alicafe a.k.a the kacip fatimah...yes, i have...but i find it so-so..doesn't give me the boost that i look for in a coffee..ohh..and of course, the kopitiam coffee, although i much prefer the one that is mixed with tea or the "cam" as some might call it. the tea is also to die for...hmm...thinking of getting my kopitiam fix this week. have a good week everyone!

happy nu yaaa!

Hello...

well, it's already coming to the third day of the new year everyone...mine started with a minor hiccup...but let's not get into details..i'm just trying to forget about it..and create new memories...i'm back at work today, and needless to say, my initial intention to start doing some serious work was successfully shattered by the persistently annoying human being in the face of this earth. i wonder if there is any ounce of intelligence in his tiny tiny brain..anyway, thank you to those who dropped by my blog and gave me words of encouragement. at least i know i'm not alone =) thanks guys! that's right, i'm keeping my chins up..hopefully, things will look a little better in a few weeks... and dude...when are u going to learn to speak more effectively???!

oh yeahhh..my new year getaway to the land of cik siti wan kembang was absolutely wonderful...and it is indeed my kinda place to shop...i was naturally mesmerized with all the colorful batik stuff and tudung and the local food like nasi kerabu, nasi dagang, laksam, akok, ketupat palas..and lots more....here are some pictures...( i really need to study now for my class tomorrow, hence the short-cut)

laksam...one of my favorite kelantanese dishes

this was the lala which was just ok lah..

this was the kerabu kaki (ayam)...not really my kind of kerabu

and of course..the yummy and easy to make, nasi kerabu