Week-40

Dear Baby,

Tomorrow I'll be 40-weeks pregnant with you. Everybody can't wait to see you. They have been asking your dad and I non-stop. But we tell them that you will come out when you are ready.

To be honest, I am quite nervous and a little bit afraid of the birthing process. But I know in my heart that both you and I will do just fine. Your dad is also ready to be there and support us when the time comes. So Baby, come out anytime you're ready, ok? We're waiting for you.

Love,
Your mom

Yummy Homemade Truffles

I'm entering my 39th-week of pregnancy now. We visit the obgyn weekly now. At 2.5 kg, baby is borderline average so hubs was given the task to make sure I eat more. But nothing to worry about. Baby is healthy and in an engaged position - ready to come out and meet us at anytime now.

The past couple of weeks, I have been busy with washing all baby clothes and baby items, shopping for a diaper bag, and at the same time, making truffles and delivering to customers. The Oreo and chocolate truffles are available for orders.

Chocolate truffles are available in 4 different flavours and 4 types of coatings. Flavours are - original, coffee, cinnamon and orange. Choice of coatings are - cocoa dust, choc rice, milk choc or white choc.

Homemade chocolate truffles (left) and Oreo truffles (right) for sale. They are made to order.

Crowd favourite - Oreo truffles!

Some of the truffles made last week for orders.

Also worked on more craft projects. This one is a gift for a dear friend - Oreo truffles and a handmade key ring with a band symbolizing the friendship and M for both our names.

If you're interested in ordering the truffles, you can contact me at my email address: yuzminfaizal[at]gmail[dot]com

Looking Back on 2012 and Ahead to 2013

***Warning: Long-ish post.

Ok, it's now the fourth day in the year 2013. I'm not making any resolutions this year. With the baby on the way, I know it will be a very busy year getting to know the baby and getting used to our new life as 3 instead of 2.

Last year, many things happened...

I finally took the plunge and put my career on hold. It was one of the biggest decisions I have ever made, and it wasn't easy. But my priorities changed after we found out that we're expecting a baby. I want to be there for the baby and to be able to take care of the baby myself. With our country's Employment Act, maternity leave is only 60 days. I really cannot imagine sending a 2-month old baby to a baby sitter / stranger. I have received many comments ranging from "oh you are so fortunate" to "so just goyang kaki at home?" but this decision came with many sacrifices on both my part as well as the hubs. And we both know that this is one decision that we will definitely not regret. 

Empty desk on my last day at work.

My pregnancy so far have been quite easy. I am now in my 36th week. We've attended Hypnobirthing class and breastfeeding class. And I've done yoga weekly up until 2 weeks ago when Upward Yoga temporarily closed for Ninie to go on her maternity break.

Journal writing as a way of bonding with baby.

Our 'tutup muka' baby at 20weeks (left) and 25weeks (right).

Baby at 29weeks, getting really really chubby!

That's right... We're having a baby GIRL!

I also made many new friends who are also SAHMs (stay-at-home-moms). We try to meet as often as we can. These ladies kept my sanity in check. Ranting, sharing tips and advice on cooking, baking, taking care of babies, and everything under the roof.

The past 1 year was also a year of baking, crafting and sewing.

Hubs got me a Kitchen Aid for my birthday. I made meringue kisses, pavlova, tarts, cupcakes ordered by ex-colleagues, candied orange peel, cinnamon pancakes with home made apple sauce, chocolate truffles, etc. The chocolate truffles are for sale. Details will be provided soon.

I also designed my own cupcake toppers. These are available for order.

I made cards, a Halloween costume for the hubs to wear to his office Halloween party, friendship bracelets, felt crafts, cross stitching, iPhone covers, etc. Some of these crafts are for sale.

So that was my 2012. Here's to more baking, crafting and sewing, and our baby in 2013!

Happy 2013!

Time Passes So Quickly...

When I started this blog, I thought I would be good at keeping one. I thought I would be able to write posts and upload photos regularly. But I have been MIA many times. And I feel kinda embarrassed that this blog is SO outdated! However, I don't think the fact that I haven't updated in a long time has disappointed anyone. (I hope not!) LOL.

But... I have some news to share. For now, I can only tell you briefly. But will hopefully have time in the near future to tell you in more details and also update more often.

• I've finally decided to put my career on hold to focus on family. Because...
• We're expecting a baby! :)

In the meantime, you can also follow me on Twitter and/or Instagram. Just search for yuzminfaizal. Take care and TTFN... :)

Rocky Road Oreo Fudge Brownies

Fudge brownies from an instant mix, with a twist. Crushed oreos, chocolate chips, Hershey's syrup, Rocky Road ice cream and full oreos.

I forgot to include the Hershey's syrup in the photo until after. LOL.

Crushed Oreos, chocolate chips, Hershey's chocolate syrup, Rocky Road ice cream with marshmallows, peanuts and more chocolate chips all get added into the brownie mix.

Line the baking pan with full Oreos before pouring in the thick batter.

I think I may have put them in the oven a tad too long. But they are still so yummy and fudge-y! All they need now is a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream... ;)

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B. U. S. Y. BUSY

Ok, I have been MIA for too long. Since March. Did that one post in May count? Yep no, I didn't think so. So that's 9 months of hiatus. 9 whole months of MIA-ness on the blog! Maybe I was abducted by aliens? No. Or kidnapped for a ransom? No. Or maybe I was just plain lazy. Also NO. :S Well... Maybe a little. LOL. Actually... I got married [that was in May] and have been so busy adapting to married life.

To those who are not married yet, a word of warning (?) or advice: When you get married, you will be busy! Very very busy. B. U. S. Y. BUSY. You will have more family members to spend time with, more family dinners and events. Family breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Family outings. You see... I come from a small family. Divorced parents. Dad does his own thing, pretty much. One brother on my dad's side, equally busy with work and girlfriend and stuff. Another two brothers on my mum's side. So there is hardly any family dinners or whatever on dad's side. And once in a while, I visit my mum and my two brothers. That's about it. I'm not complaining. Getting married means I gained a dad who likes teasing me, a mum who cares and prepares home-cooked meals almost daily, two sisters, two more brothers, two nieces and two nephews. :)

Besides adapting to married life, I have also been busy baking. Will post on that later. Will also post on our day-trip to Singapore yesterday to watch the Broadway musical, Wicked. :) Till then... XO

Gratitude Rock

I am thankful today for the yummylicious salmon and Swedish meatballs.

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Shoe Mission

I am on a mission to search for my wedding shoes (2 pairs, 1 for each reception). I have seen many online and they're all very pretty and some are exactly how I want my wedding shoes to be. But I have yet to see any that I like in real life.

I want something with a bow at the front. Because people can see the front of my shoe when I sit on the dais. Something like these:

http://www.landlockedbride.com

For Eddie's reception, we will be wearing traditional in majolica blue and the family/wedding party will wear grey. So a silver grey pair for Eddie's reception.

And for my reception, I will be wearing a dusty pink dress (Eddie will wear a coat and tie) and the family/wedding party will wear purple. Would a pearl off-white pair of shoes (like the one in the pic above) go with this colour theme?

I think I have to start looking at options of buying them online.

Hm, on second thought, I have not seen and do not know how the beading on my baju will look like. What if the shoes I buy do not match the overall baju look? Oh dear.

Gratitude Rock

Today I am thankful for:

• being able to resolve the Thai character display challenge at work
• being able to restrain myself from buying that really lovely dress and shoes
• the girl-time spent with Sandy

Gratitude Rock

Today I am thankful for:

• the yummy smoked salmon sandwich I had for dinner
• the quality time spent with an old friend
• the very convenient shuttle tuktuk from hotel to Emporium and back

Gratitude Rock

Today I am thankful for:

• the wifi in my hotel room so I can talk to Eddie online and save on phone bill
• the non stressful easy day at work
• the alone time I had

Gratitude Rock

Today I am thankful for:

• the 4 years we've been together
• my beautiful wedding ring and band

Wonder Woman

This was taken at the MAC Wonder Woman roadshow in Midvalley. It's so huge and looks so cool. I want one in my home! Hehe.

Gratitude Rock

Today I am thankful for:

• the DS game Eddie bought for me
• the new battery for my car which was FOC (it was still under warranty)
• having completed finalizing the wedding invites and confirmed them for printing
• the free movie tickets to Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa
• the surprisingly good movie I enjoyed

Gratitude Rock

Today I am thankful for:

• the daily home-cooked dinner by bf's mum
• the THREE ice creams I had today *grins sheepishly*
• being able to leave work earlier today

Eddie is grateful for:

• successfully transferring the game to my PSP and it works
• having sorted out his wedding paperwork

These Boots Are Made for Walking

Melanie and I in our oversized borrowed safety boots for site visit. They were so big that I wore my shoes in them!

Safety boots: size 10
My shoes: size 5-6

My Name is Bond, James Bond

Look at the plate number! Wow! The owner of the car must really like James Bond; to be driving a Bond car with 007 plate number. Hehe.

Photo taken of car parked at Caltex, Glenmarie.

Ayam Kampung Hassan

Last Saturday, we went to see a designer for my akad nikah dress at Bandar Tun Razak. The night before, when we were asking the family for directions to Bandar Tun Razak, Eddie's dad suggested that we stop by at Hassan's to try the ayam kampung and masakan kampung. So we did. :)

You can tell that Eddie liked the food there. Hehe.