Art Attact; Bubble Windmill

At around 7pm yesterday evening, we sat down and watched an educational segment on Astro TVIQ. I'm not sure what that segment was called but it featured a girl who made a Bubble Windmill out of milk cartoons and cardboard boxes. She was stressing about recycling rubbish to make fun things.

Now, you know that I have my stash of trash, right? I've written about them here. Since last night, Shahrin had kept going on and on about wanting to make a bubble windmill too. So, this morning, after being pestered about it for the zillionth time, I gave up. I told him, "All right, we'll make one for you and Adik (Nazrin)".

I took out my stash and luckily, I have just about everything that I would need to make A Bubble Windmill!

My stash: milk cartoons, a cardboard box, a Styrofoam thingy, wooden skewers and some glue (not in the picture).

 Mind you, this is not a tutorial, I'm just writing down my own way of doing this. I skipped some part from last night's show, since I was pressed for time and the boys were too 'helpful' with the scissors. Couldn't take the chance to take it slow and make everything pretty and decorative, hehe.

Poke one wooden skewer through the top section of a milk cartoon.

Cut another milk cartoon in half, this would be the container to hold the bubble mixture; some dish-washing liquid and water

My 'Handy Helpers' busy at work assembling the windmill.

I've cut some cardboard into rectangles to make the blades for the windmill, Shahrin helped me attach them on to the square Styrofoam.

Nazrin was really focused on the job!

The finished art.

The blades were cut-up cardboard, poked through with more wooden skewers and inserted into the square Styrofoam, the blades were set at an angle so that they can catch the wind. We placed a fan on the table to test the windmill. In this picture, you can't see the 4 wire loops I made. The wind was supposed to turn the blades as well as make bubbles by making the wires pass through the bubbly solution underneath the windmill.
 

Here is the windmill in action.

This new 'recycled toy' lasted for about 10 minutes, then everything fell apart. Heh. The soapy solution made the blades soggy and one by one they fell off. As I was in a hurry to finish tidying up the house and make breakfast, the project is a KIV for now. I managed to distract him with something else, but if I know my son, he'd usually forget something if that something has already been given/bought/done. I think I'm saved for now. For what it's worth, we did have fun watching the Windmill turn for the 10 minutes of its life. Heh.

I joined the Sassy Sites blog-hop party!

After the class is over...

We had our final class for Business Writing last Wednesday.
Our lecturer let us have back our 2 tests papers to go through while in class.
The first test was to write a Refusing Credit letter and the second one was to write a Market Trend report.
These pieces are marked according to the format of each piece, the content, grammatical accuracy and style of writing. The total mark is then calculated to give the 'pointer' for each test. 1 test = 5 points (highest mark).
As the teacher was explaining more about some of the other business letters that could come up in the exam, I took the chance to look through my own test and the other 2 girls' tests as well. The one Chinese girl (who is literally 10 years younger than I am) in class got 4._ and 4._ for her tests, while the one Indian girl in class (she's 8 years younger) got a 3._ and a 4._ for hers. Me? I only got a 3.5 and a 3.2.

Bummer.

I've never felt sooooo disappointed about my English papers before. NEVER. English is like my strongest subject. I've never even got an A- for English, let alone a B?!!

So, I asked my lecturer about my results. You know what she said? She said, "You are a good writer, Anis but you just don't have the content suitable enough to satisfy the requirement of these tests". She is right. The Chinese girl always get good remarks for her letters/memo that we have to write in class. I would always ask to borrow her paper after class, so that I can go home and study her content. She has got some good ideas when it comes to 'marketing new products' or 'planning a launch' or reasons to 'why we are refusing to grant credit for your purchase'.

I feel so terribly disappointed.

On the 29th, we will be sitting for our final exam. As a part-time student, I have the flexibility of choosing whether or not I want to sit for the exam. Shahrin's operation to correct his hypospadia condition has been set for the 20th and recovery should take about 3-4 days. (I had written about his operation here). That doesn't give me enough time to study. I am still undecided about this. But my teacher said that I would be fine because I only lack content, everything else is good. Yeah, sure. Content. I think I should read more business reports/news from now on as a preparation. De javu feeling: I remember clipping news from our local news papers in preparation for SPM Bahasa paper. hehehe..

What a week!

This week has been a roller-coaster ride from beginning to the end. And quite frankly, I don't think the week ever ends. It just rolls into another and another and another. The only difference is one week could be better than the other OR vice verse.

I slept late 3 nights in a row, going to sleep at 3am and waking up early to send Shahrin to his pre-school. Then spent the day doing my usual chores and packing in some extra work when the boys were preoccupied with something else other than pestering me. Plus I had to help Ahmad with HIS work, putting up awnings for our neighbor. He couldn't do it alone since it was a 2-men job. Unfortunately, he couldn't afford to hire a helper so I had to pitch in by being his helper. Nothing strenuous, I just helped by handing things over to him or holding things steady or tidying up his tools. However, I have to say that he never did the same for me. :( 

I truly felt like I was doing a million things at the same time but in reality, I could barely focus on one. At least I got paid for my 'hard work'. Know how I spent that hard-earned money? The last day I had to attend class in USM (btw, I've completed my class & will be sitting for the exam on 29/4, can you believe it? haha) I was paid RM40 for 2 translation jobs that I had stayed up late doing. On my way home, I kept thinking to myself that I deserve a little R&R and indulgence. So, I went to Secret Recipe. I've been dying to go there ever since a buddy in USM told me that they've opened a branch in Parit Buntar.

I walked through its door, fully expecting the warm fuzzy feeling I would get when I FINALLY get to bite into a slice of cake. I've been wanting to have a slice since.......forever.

I got myself a Chocolate Indulgence. It has several layers of something and something. The first bite was divine! (Cue sound of a choir here) I practically smacked my lips a few times just to savor the taste. Don't ask me to describe it though, I have no idea how to. Hahah. Then, one of the waitress approached me with their menu. I looked through the lunch menu and decided not to order any but I did get an Ice Blended Cappuccino. Then, into my 6th bite of the cake and my second sip of the ice blended drink, I began to feel terrible. The cake was RM6.50 and the drink? RM8.90. Plus government tax and service tax, the total was RM17.40. The euphoria didn't last very long when I began to think about how much I've spent. I could've used the money for something else other than splurged it on overpriced slice of cake and a drink.

Anyway, while on the way home, I rationalized my spending by telling myself, it has been a long time since I last bought anything for myself. Sure, I could've saved the money or used it for buying groceries for my family, but ultimately, I did felt good about myself while I was enjoying the first 5 bites (too much chocolate did make me feel a little nauseous). The feeling was great because I know I've worked hard and earned that money. I did make peace with myself by the time I got home. Suffice to say, it will be another few years before I splurge on a Secret Recipe cake again hahaha.     

I am a Bling Buubies Nursing Apparel's reseller!

This is a sticky entry, please scroll down for the latest entry.
p/s: Thank you, thank you, thank you Adik!!!! -hugs n kisses-

Hello ladies!

I am so excited about this. I have been given the green-light with selling
Bling Buubies Nursing baju kurung online, here on my blog.

Personally, I have breastfed both my boys and while doing that have been (first born) and still is (second son) very rewarding; mentally, physically and financially, there are times where I felt torn, between keeping my virtue in tact and fulfilling their demands.

I always wear casually on outings; blouse, T-shirts and slacks and the occasional baju kurung.
If you breastfeed, you'd know how it is,right? Whenever your services are required, you'd have to 'discreetly' find a seclusive spot (heh..good luck with that, especially if you're in a mall), lift your top-piece and let the baby/toddler have at it.

Now, with shorter top-pieces, things are easier, but with baju kurung, you'd really have to do a lot of fidgeting and maneuvering before you can get down to business.

Now, a few talented SAHMs had gotten together and build a business based around breastfeeding and things related to babies. One of their brand is Bling Buubies Nursing Apparel; Baju Kurung and Jubah, where these pieces have been constructed to ease nursing, even in public.

Check them out:


Miss Maisara 03 (RM180.00)
Color/Motif - Grey-Blue / Floral motif
Material - Korean Washable (Easy to iron and maintain. Suitable for mothers who value time)
Nursing Opening - Type 1
Available size: M

Miss Maisara 02 (RM180.00)
Color/Motif - Pearl White / Floral motif
Material - Korean Washable (Easy to iron and maintain. Suitable for mothers who value time)
Nursing Opening - Type 1
Available size: M

Miss Maisara 01 (RM180.00)
Color/Motif - Pearl White / Floral motif
Material - Korean Washable (Easy to iron and maintain. Suitable for mothers who values time)
Nursing Opening - Type 1
Available size: M

Measurements for size M:
Shoulder length: 15.5 in
Waistline: 28 in
Length of top-piece: 40 in
Length of bottom-piece: 41 in

These are ready-made pieces. They also do custom-made orders if you have your
own fabric choice.


If you wish to purchase these beautiful, practical and affordable baju kurung, just leave a comment below or PM me on my Facebook page.

Let's get stylish, breastfeeding Mamas!

Earth Hour

Come on, people!

Pledge to join the Earth Hour Movement.

I really wish I could join the event at Sunway Piramid tonight.

From 8.30 tp 9.30 tonight, let's all turn off our lights and other 

electrical appliances.

That's for tonight, but we can still do our part in conserving our energy resources 

and help save the earth through other everyday activities.

What I've been doing everyday to help our earth:

1- Unplugging any electrical appliances not in use. 

It actually works! You can cut down on your electric bill by doing this.

2- Turning off lights and fans when leaving the room.

This is really simple to do. When nobody is in that room, turn off the light and fan. 

Even now, we are not using the fan at all since its raining outside & the house is cooled by the breeze.

 

3- Refusing extra plastic bags when purchasing small items.

E.g. when I'm only buying a packet of Shahrin's formula. 

There's no need for a plastic bag for just this one, right?

4-Reusing plastic containers for food items.

Instead of buying new, fancy, overpriced porcelain containers or other types of containers.

E.g. I reuse the plastic containers I got when I bought Raya cookies for storing sugar, Milo,

Nescafe and Shahrin's formula as well as other items.

Though I really wish I can spruce them up a bit. They do look bland. 

There are other 3R (Reuse, Recycle, Replace) tips I use around the house curtsy of my Mom 

but I think I'm going to save those for later.

So, Happy Earth Hour Everybody!

Doodling with Shahrin

Shahrin loves to draw and color. He used to get so upset whenever he accidently colored outside the lines of the picture he's working on.I always had a hard time convincing him that it's ok to do that, because who cares anyway, right? These days he had gotten better at drawing and coloring 'inside the lines'. I'm not sure how he figured out that coloring outside the lines is not right but I've read somewhere that it can be taken as a sign that the child is not mentally developing correctly. Personally, I say that's BS but then again I'm not in the ECE (Early Childhood Education) thing, so what do I know. Heh.

The house I kept wanting. Shahrin drew this for me after I told him that I want my own house, sweet of him.

His attempt at an anatomically correct 'stickman'.

Ok, I did the top part & Shahrin did the bottom. I let him play on the lappy last night while I watched CSI S11, he called me to come & see this. Boy, did my heart swell up! Hehe. 

He also loves making stuff with his building blocks. When he showed me this, I asked him what is was & he told me, "Flower la Ibu" like 'Duhhh?' hahah

This is what Ahmad drew. Shahrin certainly got the talent from him.

"Ibu, see? Shahrin buat monster!" The four smaller blobs are monster-fairies. Such imagination.

The simplest lunch ever!

 

Fried anchovies with chilies

Well folks, I have got to be the laziest wife ever! Ahahahahahahaha.........
I served this to my husband this afternoon, with a side dish of fried egg.
And that was it for lunch. However, if it were up to him, the fried egg alone would've been just fine, with a splash of soy sauce and a dollop of chili sauce on the side.
This one is very easy to do.
All you need are:

1) Sun dried anchovies (half a bowl or how much you want it)
2) 3 - 4 small chilies (a.k.a cabai Melaka)
3) 3 medium size onions
4) 2 garlic cloves
5) Vinegar
6) Sugar

Cooking:

Firstly, fry all the anchovies till they are crisp. Remove from the frying pan and set aside.
Then, saute the diced/sliced onions, chilies and garlic. When they are just about turned brownish, pour in some vinegar, about 4 spoon fulls or depending on how much sourness you prefer. Finally, add in about 3 spoon full of sugar. Stir everything together till the caramelized sugar have coated every anchovies.

And that's it. You're done! Simple, right?
Just the way I like things to be, simple. Heh