When we first survey nurseries for Isa, we did not put budget into consideration. The first thing we looked at was the facilities. the care takers, the surroundings. These are all the things I look for. I believe in positive environment to nurture a well and discipline behavior.

But to get a complete factors on point means paying extra and we did not want to put our financial strain on ourselves so we looked for a day care that charges affordable fee. We had Isa over at the nursery for a year. Everything was fine except an incident made me decided to look for a better one. But because we had paid advance, I decided to let him finish that 1 year cycle.

A few months before the end of 2018, I scouted for other nurseries. This time I wanted more than surroundings and teachers. I wanted Isa to be exposed with other languages which I feel would be very beneficial for him long term and for his future. I called a few Chinese/English based nursery and I'm happy to know that most of them provide HALAL meals for the kids. I believe many nurseries know that parents started to realize the advantages of having to master different languages for their children. I don't emphasize education on Isa but I wanted him to have fun, to improve his social skills, to let him learn to be more independent. Children are meant to have fun but because I restricted him a lot at home, so the only chance he gets to let loose is in school.

But........

Everything was good until I saw the fee 😀 . An average good Chinese/English based nurseries or day care ranges between RM700 to RM900. But knowing how Juan sees his money, I find ways on how to make him see where his additional RM300 goes to. So we went to the nursery that I planned to send Isa to and gather some information from there. Lots of questions being thrown to the teachers based on my experience with Isa's previous day care. I requested to look around the nursery too (make sure you do that because most nurseries are okay to bring you around). When I had the chance to take a walk to see the whole area from kids play area to the kitchen, I will see the small things that some parents might not noticed. Being a very particular parents, I want to make sure that my children's safety is the school's top priority. I will list down the differences of a RM400 and RM700 school below.. Please be informed that whatever information I listed is based on my personal experience and this could vary in every parents but I do hope that this list helps a lot. But then again, all nurseries are not perfect. Most importantly that your child gets what they really need. A conducive learning experience and positive surroundings.

2018 has been challenging but great at the same time. Not only that, it changed my view on things that actually lead to happiness This year has opened my eyes on things I should be focusing this coming 2019.

I've been going on a self-reflection journey for the past couple of months. Looking back on things I have done right or wrong for this year. It has been an eye opener to not just me but the whole family. I have discovered so many things in life that surprises me. Plus, to get myself prepared to brace the new year.

I wanted 2019 to solely focus on things that really matters. With all this in mind, I guess I do not have time to think of other matters, which I think is good. When you have too much time in hand, your mind starts to wander off. That is why sometimes you're unable to achieve your goals. You're too distracted. I want to focus on positive things. Surround myself with good vibes only. Taking negative things that I consider as learning curve. Part and parcel of life which I cannot avoid and everyone of us knows that life consist of black and white, yin and yang, ups and downs, left and right. They come hand in hand and it is a matter of balancing both sides. You can't avoid them.

I realized that the smallest and simplest thing in life holds the biggest part in our heart. I learn to be grateful in many ways. I compare myself with people who are less fortunate and yet I complained so much. So what more do I want?

We're moving to a new house next year, insyaallah and I thought this is the best time for me to start fresh. Reorganize my entire life and future.

This year has been so good that we can only thank God for all the blessings and rezeki that me and Juan received. We were so overwhelming with what has happened in 2018. In a positive perspective. So for 2019, I thought it would be fair for me to repay His kindness by doing myself a favor in learning how to be a better Muslim, in every sense. It has to start with ourselves la kan.

I need to learn to sometimes pause and take 1 step back so that my mind is not overwhelmed with too many things. Being a working mum is hard. You have to juggle between your day time job and being a mum/wife. Sometimes you forget that your family is not your subordinates.

Ever since Isa came into our life, he taught me the meaning of patience. A meaning  I could not grasp before I had him. He also taught me to be very,very grateful with everything and anything I have in my life. Simple thing like giving him my pots and pans to play, he is already happy. I used to seek happiness in materials. It made me believe that the more materials you have, the more happier you'll be. The more friends you have, the better your support system is. But Isa change my perception of happiness. It's about simplicity. A really simple life because logically, at the end of your life, the only thing that you will bring together with you are your deeds.

One of the many videos I have watched recently, below is one of my favorite. How this refugee family see the simplest thing in their everyday life as something they treasure. I learn to appreciate the smallest thing I have in my possession. No matter how small they are because you might have something that other people have been longing to experience it like peace and safe. It's a very general word but to some extend, it means the world for others. Watch it and you'll understand why

So for 2019, I only wish the best for me and my family, travel more, spend quality time with people that matters, take time to reflect, be a good person, be humble, be grateful, take a step back when I feel overwhelmed and tak mau mengumpat orang dah (nie susah skit la *laughing*). And for this, I wish nothing but the best to everyone and Happy New Year.

I can't deny that technology makes life easier but there has to be a limit. Technology has its pros and cons on a child’s development. It is impossible to completely restrict the use of technology, it is the responsibility of the parents to strike a balance. Here are a few tips:

1. Switch off the TV and put away your phones during meal times and encourage conversation among one another.

2. Remove any gadgets, especially TV and laptops from bedrooms.

3. Introduce traditional games back into your child’s playtime such as hide and seek, Scrabble, chess, congkak etc.

4. Get back to nature. Bring the family for fishing or hiking. This is something I'm still struggling to do cause I am not a nature person. Gosh...Mosquitoes.

First thing first, NEVER TRAVEL DURING PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. Yes, that is a lesson I learned through the hard way. You thought Singapore immigration was tough, think that again after lining up for 4 freaking hours at the immigration just to get a stamp... Gila mampus

Ok, we planned to travel to Hatyai before the Merdeka holiday but it was canceled because Isa just recovered from HFMD, thank God the hotel accepted our cancellation without any charges through Bookings.com

Fast forward, I booked the same hotel again a month before the recent holiday. Best part was, I did not noticed that it was a public holiday until around 2 weeks before we departed. But I thought, redah ja la. Bila lagi kan. I wanted to drive into Hatyai but because Pak Yeo was a kiasu person and he doesn't like to get stuck in traffic in a confined place, he suggested the train. I thought why not. Secara logic, we will think that a human queue would move faster than a car queue. NO! We were so wrong.

We woke up at 5.30 just to catch the 7.57am train. I thought 'Eh sikitnya orang hari ni', Happy giler. When the train came from Butterworth, we had to stand for around 20mins. Pack giler train.

We arrived at the Malaysia-Thai border train station at around 8.30am. But because there is a 1 hour time different, Thai was only at 7.30am. So we waited another 30 mins before the ticket counter opens. And so I thought. We had to line up 2 hours just to get to the ticket counter. Hell why? Apparently, their ticketing system still uses the old method with only one counter. Itu pun, fax printer is set up on piece of table. Bukan laser printer or printer moden lain yang kita nampak di counter KTMB Malaysia. With the PH at that time, the line could go up to half of the station. Every ticket print is counted because there are quotas for each train. Kalau Malaysia ada ticket counter mcm ni, sampai esok pun xhabis print lagi  *sigh*






Their 7-Eleven is a must place to go when in Thailand. It is similar to Japan's but at a smaller scale. Not many halal food is available there but I purchase some of their cosmetic products :-). Prices are quite reasonable. Definitely cheaper if they were imported into Malaysia. There are many choices of drinks too.


Souvenirs: RM110
Grab: RM30
ASEAN night bazaar: RM100
Clothes shopping: RM40.00
Tuk-tuk : RM12.50
Food massage: RM72 for 3 person / an hour

Tips if you're traveling with a kid or toddler:

1. Bring at least 2 USB fan.
2. Loads of water.
3. Kid's snacks. There is a cafe upstairs too.
4. Bring change of clothes and wet wipes.
5. Bring a stroller for your kid to sleep while waiting.
6. Wear comfortable clothes because it's gonna be really sweaty and warm.

Tips at the Thai immigration:

Thai has a very strict practice when it comes to their law. Do not jump queue when lining up at the immigration because they noticed details. You'll end up having to line up all over again if they sees this. Always stay in your line. Obey the laws when you're in their country. Punishments and penalties are no joke in Thailand.

This post was drafted while I was watching #engkauyangkupanggilibu Ariani Mother's Day campaign.

I rarely take photos with my mum. But I do have many photos with her as a kid. I have always talk about my dad. But behind the scene, my mum is the person who make sure that everything in the house run smoothly. From preparing our meals to sending us to school. Everything has to be done by her. This is because my dad were not at home, due to work commitment that requires him to travel. So basically it was only me, my sister and mum. Mum has been managing everything on her own. Dari drive kereta to riding bike to send me to music school. Jatuh motor pun ade but nothing serious.

My mum  doesn't really give in, in arguments. I definitely took her trait too. Stubborn. So most of the time, her children and husband will have to give in. Despite all that, mum has been working real hard. To make sure that the household is managed properly. She makes sure that everything is in order, until today.

Even when I have a kid now, she would call to ask if there's any help needed. What her cucu eat, how's his nursery, has he bathed, etc.

We fought a lot during my teenage years. We couldn't really see eye to eye. It was so bad to a point that my dad has to come back to resolve the issue. I couldn't understand the things that my mum had to do or imposed on me because at that point, it felt like I was being tied down, not being able to have the freedom to express myself. Everything has to be done in a certain way.

It was then.... But today, I started to understand all the rules and regulations that my parents enforced on me. It was to make sure that I do not deter from my purpose and goal, being disciplined. I bet if it's not because of my parents being strict on me, I wouldn't be where I am today. I may or may not understand why, but one thing for sure, I'm so grateful for those beating I got from my parents, especially from Cik Timah :-)

You may not understand why you have curfews, why you can't go out with that hot dude from school, why you have to go extra tuition, why your pocket money can't be increase, why this and why that. But believe me, you'll thank your mum once you've grown up and have a family of your own. For now, just tahan je....

Happy Mother's Day, mummy....

As for their Coffee and Mint soap bar, it helps to exfoliate dead skin cells, leaving your skin feel so soft and smooth and smells good too.


The Himalayan pink bath salt also contains cocoa butter leave that will not leave your skin dry, while organic lavender and rose oil will make you feel fresh and rejuvenated. Best is to use them in a bath tub. So that when you scrub your body, the salt doesn't get washed away into your bathroom drain. Oohh, did I tell that there are real rose petals in the scrub too?