A million things to be grateful for....

I cant believe I went through another month without blogging, especially on my favorite month, May being my birthday month and all :p There was a period of time when I can't go a week without at least an entry. Nowadays weeks can go by without a single update.

Some people would probably concluded that the writer's block is mostly contributed to the fact that I have nothing interesting to write about. I'm fully aware that 95% of my blog entries/Instagram and FB posting are about my kids.. Actually plenty of "interesting" things is happening @home and at the work front. Not all particularly positive. I guess my need to filter those happenings does limit postings :p Whatever...

Anyway I had a great birthday celebration. Nothing fancy, I watched movies with the kids, ate ice cream and had fish and chips for lunch. What I've come to appreciate is that though I may not necessary have the "big" things, I am thoroughly blessed with the little things. I just need to be continuously grateful :) Alhamdullillah. 

Accepting that, makes me easier to please. Even the sight of my tomato plants blooming can put me in a good mood for the whole day. Ahhhh.... the joy of being older and wiser (haha like real)

Anyway there's another thing to be grateful of today....

Alhamdullilah for another chance to celebrate Ramadan. May I become a better Muslim than I was yesterday. I'm aiming to make small but consistent change for the better. Semoga Istiqamah. Wishing everyone a blessed and fruitful Ramadan. Inshaallah :) 

Things that matter Part IVV

As much as I hate to think about it, I know there will come an inevitable time when we won't be receiving sweet birthday postings from my dad anymore. I hope and pray that Allah grants my parents and parents in law a long and healthy life (InshaAllah) but in the meantime, I make it a habit to document this sweet messages for Ryan, Iman and Ranya's reading later on. 

The 3 of you are so loved by the people around you. Don't ever forget that and always be grateful. Love you babies....

 Print screens from Atuk Hanif's FB for Ryan's 6th Birthday (201215) and Iman and Ranya's 4th Birthday (121215)

November S.U.R.P.R.I.S.E

We decided to surprise the munchkins with a trip to Lost World of Tambun last month. We had to attend a wedding of a relative in Tanjung Malim, so I persuaded Lan to go for a quick road trip to Ipoh. Lan was hesitant at first because of the school holidays and the dreaded traffic jam, but he is no match to my power of persuasion :p

Anyway we had tons of fun the two days we're there. The kids did not stop thanking us on the way back which were very sweet, but being stuck in the traffic jam with them was not  fun, esp with the 3 of them refreshed from a long nap and bored to death inside the car haha.

Can't wait for Road Trip 2.0 (Birthday Edition) next week, InshaAllah. May god give me strength and patience to deal with the trio *yes I'm melodramatic like that*

For the ones who has been asking for review of the theme park and hotel, click on the links below for more information. Hope you'll have as much fun as we did :) 

• Lost World of Tambun
• Ipoh Foodpedition 
• Ibis Styles Hotel, Ipoh

Toodles!!!

Wedding Bells Alert

Last Friday, my cousin Mimie got married and I was there to celebrate with her and the rest of the family. My family is very big on gotong royong  and since the cousins on my dad's side is pretty close, we try to be there for her and my auntie to help out.

The munchkins had to attend their Merdeka Day school event on Friday so it was just my parents, Lan and I. Alhamdullilah everything turned out great

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Nikah Day: Masjid Negeri Shah Alam

Date : 28 August 2015

The beautiful bride and one with my cousin Amer, myself and the newleyweds.

No babies, means plenty of chance to camwhore with my husband :p 

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Reception : Dewan Jubli Perak, Shah Alam

Date: 29 August 2015

My gorgeous flower girls, doing their flower girls duties :) 

Trying to get a decent photo with all 3 is a MISSION of its own....

Mummy dah give up, so decided to take photos with other family members instead. Hahaha

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Mama Sue and her countless selfies :p 

Thank god for willing "wefie" subjects, with the exception of my husband yang on mode berserah dan redha. My anak buah and children are pretty much camera ready 80% of the time and will come running when I say "come take a photo with me". Yeah "vain" is part of our family DNA.

Alhamdullilah, it was a great time spent with family. Can't wait for our  next family gathering.

P/S: Kidzania Review Post is up --> Press Me

What Hari Raya means to me...

1. Opportunity to meet up and catch up with my beloved family :) 

I know people loves to complain about their relatives, but Alhamdullilah I have the best ones (plus minus a few odd jobs haha)

The Hanif Clan

The Malek Clan

 @ Merlimau 

Annual Family Open House @ Our Crib

2. The super stressful annual raya family portrait

Like I mentioned on IG, this semi "OK" pic took at least 4 hours and  6 different photographer (one semi professional) to achieve. No little models in making in this family for sure :p

3. Opportunity to seek forgiveness and spending time with my beloved husband (haha)

 Mr and Mrs Barney :p 

4. Yummy food???

Sadly I didn't manage to take a pic of my fave ketupat, rendang and kuah lodeh combo. Super yummy and  worth gaining the extra thousand pounds :p

5. My babies

Last but certainly not least. Hari Raya means nothing if this little munchkins is not by my side driving me insane but making me laugh at the same time. Love love them so very very much...

I know it is a bit late, but I want to wish my friends and blog readers a Selamat Hari Raya and Maaf Zahir Batin. May our ibadah in Ramadan be accepted by Allah and hopefully we'll get the chance to have another Ramadan next year * InshaAllah*

Keep Calm and Travel On...

I know for someone with 3 little children, we do travel quite a bit. Trust me it ain't easy but I'm currently at that "exploring stage". I don't care if it is  a trip in the country or out of Malaysia, I just want to see new things and expose my children to new experience/places. I would willingly eat out of my brown bag everyday if it means more travel opportunities :p. 

Some people may think that it is a waste of money as they would rather buy new bags/ gadget etc but I really do believe in the quote that "travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer". 

You'll be surprised of the impact travelling has on little minds. Little children are actually able to absorbed new cultures like a sponge and it made them very inquisitive and will open their eyes and hearts to the different cultures/races/religion around the world. Hopefully it will be less "kau-kau and aku-aku" mentality from my children. Inshaallah. 

Oh well, maybe one day I'll be able to visit more of those "exotic" destinations with my family, as for now I'm more than contend with my "Cuti-Cuti Malaysia" adventures. Finally completed the entries of my hotel reviews and travel diary of the following places I've been for the past 3 months. 

1. iCity- City of Digital Lights
2. Bagan Lalang Adventure and Avani Sepang Hotel Review
3. Hatten Hotel Malacca Review
4. Malacca Foodpedition

So any ideas of where I shall visit next???

My Life is Full....

I just read this very enlightening article about our obsession to appear "busy". One thing we do not realize is "busyness" is a form of sickness, it makes us unhappy, stress out and ungrateful. We go through life in a hurry and never stopping to smell the roses on the pursuit of being busy. To some being busy is a form of "validation", the busier you are, the more important you're perceive to be. The problem is you're just adding unnecessary stress to your life. So why bother? 

Next time someone ask you this question "so how's work? how's life?" Instead of automatically saying "I'm busy" and rattling about the list of activities you're going to do or expected to do. Pause... smile... and say "My life is full" 

YES I'm busy tending to gabijillion work expectations and disappointment but at least I still have a job which pays for my holidays and shoe obsession :p

Weekend filled with activities and no rest ? family events? kids classes? a million invitations and activities? Rather than treating it as a hassle, I try and think of it as a good opportunity to meet and spend time with family and friends.

I know committing to sending my kids to extra classes means that we'll have less time to sit around and do nothing. However, extra classes for them mean they'll get to mingle with their peers, exercise, learn new knowledge and develop new interest. Wouldn't I rather have that than allow them to waste time just watching tv and playing with tablets all day? Anyway, Some people can't even afford basic education, so the fact that I have to make several class rounds during the weekends should not be something to complain about. 

Dirty house? oh well having to do housework means I have a house to clean :p 

Yes my life is full... not with just activities but also with love,laughter and blessings and for that I shall be grateful. 

Reminder of things to blog:

1. - 101 Guide to Traveling in Japan
2. - Travel Diary Osaka, 
3. - Travel Diary Kyoto 
4. - Travel Diary Nara
5. - Universal Studios Japan (Wizarding World of Harry Potter)
6. - Hotel Review : Hotel Mystays Otamae
7. - Munchkins Bento Box preparations
8. - Empathizing with special need kids
9. - Ryan Development Report
10. - Iman and Ranya's 1st Quarter School Report

That is a long list. I will find the time inshaallah, not for the benefit of other but for my own personal satisfaction :) have a good weekend everyone. 

Goodbye 2014...

2014 was a trying year for most of us. Personally, I suffered from a fair share of disappointments and the lost of a very dear friend. As a nation, we had to go through several tragedies and natural disasters. It is a year of heartbreaks for me.

However, I believe Allah is fair, with each trial and tribulation there's always a better thing waiting for us. Maybe not today or tomorrow, maybe it won't even happen in the near future, but one day InshaAllah. We just have to have faith.

Another important lesson that I learn in 2014 is that sometimes the things that we don't have is a bigger blessing than the things that we have. Sometimes we don't realized that things like money, power, looks etc is more of a curse than blessings. These things may push you astray from god, sever relationship with friends and family and actually do more harm than good. So other than be grateful for the things that you have, don't forget to offer thanks for the things that you don't have and is not good for you :)

Despite several lows in 2014, a lot of positive and awesome things happened in 2014. Alhamdullilah. My biggest blessings has and will always be my family. I'm so grateful that I was born in a loving family and are now entrusted with a beautiful family of my own. May Allah continue to bless me with this precious gift of love. All the sacrifices, pain and exhaustion is worth the smile on my family member faces.

I'm also thankful for the chance to travel and explore with my children. I believe I've created several mini travel bugs in my munchkins. I do hope one day they'll remember the fun we had as a family and the lessons and knowledge we collected with each places we go to...

May 2015 brings in more travel opportunities to experience and appreciate the beauty of the world that Allah has created for us to explore. InshaAllah. 

I pray for a better 2015 for myself, my family and friends. May we be protected from harm and may we become better persons everyday. Thank you to everyone who gave me a reason to smile even for a bit. I love you and I appreciate your presence in my life. 

See you next year, InshaAllah :)