My 1st Letter to My Future Son

I sort of think it feels a bit odd to always do mummy's talk on my own, so I'm making this mummy's talk entry into a letter to my future son...

Yo son!

By now, you are around 24-week-old already, time really flies hey! In a blink you will be out in this world sharing the good and bad with papa and me, plus a lot more people who will surely love you a lot.

In fact, by now, many have showed their love for you already! Ah Ma (my mum) and Mama (Papa's mum) are already buying some nutritious food and soup base for me so that you and me can be healthy and both have bought you cute clothes too! Your 2e and 3e (my sisters) have already bought me a classical music CD set to let you listen to (even though I still prefer pop music). Even at work, colleagues have been feeding me and you well, some kindly passed on some secondhand stuff for you and me and I'm very thankful for that. Papa and mummy aren't that rich so it is quite normal that I very much welcome secondhand baby stuff since those stuff are just temporary cos you will grow damn fast!

Papa and mummy haven't been buying a lot of necessities for you yet but I promise, we will, soon! I have been pretty obsess with buying clothes for you though, especially cute onesies! The other day we were at Debenhams where they were having sales and I couldn't resist buying you another set of onesies that are too cute to resist, even though they aren't even cheap! But since papa approved, I got them for you! :) I need to stop shopping for onesies and start buying other stuff that you need though! :p

Cute to the max I can't wait to see you wearing these!!! 

Oh yes, definitely going to me my major hunk! Hehe...

Never thought of buying this until recently cos we want to protect you from those bloody mozzies! Like the packaging say, let's kill mosquito together! LOL!

About three weeks back, we started to feel you either kicking or punching inside my tummy and it was MAGICAL! There was once I don't know was it because of the ice-cream I ate, the song Happy that was playing, or that you just wanted to join your cousin Jolie dancing that made you so excited that you let go two really huge kicks (ouch~) and I totally love that experience! Every single time you knock on my tummy, it puts a smile on my face. So baby, it's ok, continue to kick more cos mummy and papa both love that and I'm so glad you are such an active boy! :)

Mummy has been doing okay, sleeping well most of the time (only one night when I fell sick and was unable to breathe properly because of the nose block), only occasionally feeling down because of how big I look now. In fact now when I look down, you are so big I can't see my own private part anymore. Soon, I won't be able to see my feet when I look down too! And my feet have started to swell too and all these changes are really so new to me that they worry me like crazy! They say the third trimester will be the toughest and I'm bracing myself for that, hoping that you will continue to be a good boy and help mummy go through that difficult period with ease. 

Had to changed my engagement ring and wedding ring to a smaller finger and soon, have to take them out all together when all fingers got swollen. :S

Sometimes mummy can be damn emotional... I cry and get angry easily when people say something mean to me, my eating habits and etc. Swear words come out of my mouth and I hope you will not pick those up from me cos those are really bad words. Also, please don't be as emotional as me okay? Please, be a good boy!

Papa took these photos of me when I was busy cooking with the apron that couldn't fit my tummy with you inside anymore... :p

Talking about eating habits, while I don't think I eat extremely unhealthy food, only sometimes some cravings for junk that I just had to take, I hate people judging me for what I eat. However, I make sure I don't take things that would hinder your growth and any development of your body and organs. Doctor told us you are growing a little too well the other time we met you through ultrasound so I'm listening to the doctor - eat healthier snacks like banana and nuts which I definitely love and so far I think you love them too! :)

I drank some ice-coffee, so what?  You 'blow' ah???

I ate my favourite Cintan Asam Laksa too! But I felt so good after eating it!!!

Here's how big I am now!!! 

As for papa, while he isn't a perfect husband (in fact sometimes very annoying), having you makes me realised one thing - I've never felt so sure about the fact that I've married the right person. He has been telling me if he has some kinda superpower, he would swap bodies with me and go through labour on my behalf. Isn't that sweet, baby? And the other day after the check-up, the nurse was giving us a pre-natal briefing when she said if possible, all husbands should be by the wives' side throughout the whole labour process cos the they will be in a lot of pain and needs encouragement blah blah blah... I turned to your papa and he literally wept! In front of me, the nurse and another parent-to-be couple listening to the briefing! So cute of him I just wanted to hug him but I thought it would make us cry more in front of other people so I held myself back to avoid awkwardness. Hehe...

For you and my safety and comfy, papa spent over 300 bucks buying this pair of Fitflop sandals for me. :)

I think he will be a good father, teaching you a lot of useful stuff, just like how he has taught me. He might not be the over-protective dad (unless if you are a girl, that's a different story all together), but he will still love you a lot, that's for sure. In fact, I think he can't wait for you to grow old enough to play toys with him! Be it toy cars, toy airplane, toy helicopter or whatever you boys love to play with, he is already so excited he has been checking out the toy sections at malls  more often than ever! I myself, too, can't wait to see my two boys enjoying some play time!

That's your papa checking out toys to play with you in the future! *wink~*

Anyway, now that I have you in my tummy, I can already understand why parents always hope their kids will grow up being nice and filial to them. Mummy has to go through 9 months of pregnancy having you in my tummy with backache, nausea, growing fat and all, then God-only-knows how many hours of pain to give birth to you; then when you are out, sacrificing a lot of stuff to take care of you while papa may have to work damn hard to feed us and make sure you have enough for schooling and all... It really isn't easy being parent so we hope you would appreciate us when you are a big boy! :) One day when you become a father yourself, you will learn that yourself too.

Alright, talk to you again next time yo!


With Much Love,
Your mum, who is obviously trying to be as hip as possible

Banana Leaf Rice You Must Try @ Appu Uncle Curry House, Seksyen 19, PJ

I very rarely have banana leaf rice but with people like Lea (whom I suspect she is half Indian) around, we always get to try out nice Indian food. She has previously brought us to Kanna Curry House but this particular weekend when we had an ex-colleagues gathering, she introduced us to Appu Uncle Curry House and it kinda makes me don't ever wanna go back to Kanna. Seriously!

Had to steal this from their FB since I forgot to snap pic of the exterior of the restaurant. 

Located at Seksyen 19, near where you enter SS2, Appu Uncle Curry House looks extremely clean and tidy with some very good service from their staff. You can see from their restaurant. the owner has done some parts in marketing and branding too with some funky stuff so you feel like this is not the typical curry house that you think you know.

Really cool and funky postcards they have. 

I had a look at the spread of dishes and I was already impressed. They all look so yummey!!!

Seafood bakar/goreng made-to-order.

Mutton, chicken and fish! Make your choice!

So anyway, we all had a banana leaf rice each with three refillable vegetables dishes which one of them being my favourite Aloo Gobi so I went yay and I'm refilling for sure! :p Also free-flow were some really fresh and crispy Papadum! Thumb-up!

My banana leaf rice, happily served on REAL BANANA LEAF!!!

Yummy Papadum! 

We ordered some other dishes to share. My favourite is their Sotong Goreng which was super fresh, flavourful and simply too delicious to resist. Love every bit of the dish!  

Oh you better don't miss this Sotong Goreng! 

I also love the fried bitter gourd a lot because of it's freshness and crispiness, unlike those you find in Mamak stalls that are forever so soggy. The fried chicken (which wasn't very oily too) is a must-try too - pipping hot, crunchy and such an enjoyment to bite on. I also tried the dried curry chicken but that's really nothing to shout about. Perhaps next time I should try the curry mutton instead.

Just look at them and you already know they are good!

Fried Chicken!

Dried Curry Chicken.

Tables around us mostly ordered their famous Curry Fish Head which looks pretty awesome but I guess non of us are fan of fish head so we had to skip that.

Here are Maddy and Lea...

I think June will kill me if she sees this picture of her noming... :p

And the very happy Mummy Shirlexia. :D

And honestly, it was quite affordable too! I didn't take down prices of each item, but banana leaf rice and drinks for 6 persons, 2 fried chicken, 2 fried bitter gourd, 1 curry chicken and a Sotong Goreng, we paid RM81, which is RM13.50 per person, which was a very good price I must say! :)
It was definitely a lovely meal with some awesomely delicious dishes (plus real banana leaf by the way, BIG PLUS POINT) at a very clean environment and great hospitality! I really must go back soon to try their other dishes too! Wanna join?

Appu Uncle Curry House
14, Jalan 19/3,
Seksyen 19,
46300 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor
Tel: 03-7955 2525

The Famous Sarawak Laksa @ Aunt Christina's Sarawak Laksa, Lucky Garden

I love Sarawak Laksa, although I haven't gotten myself all the way to Sarawak to try a real authentic one yet (I would very much love to since Sarawak sounds like another great place for great food). I have a personal favourite in Wangsa Maju which I've tried many years ago when I was still in college I don't even know if the stall still exist. The next one is this one in Subang, which isn't too bad.

Recently though, Deardo brought me to Bangsar to try the very famous Aunt Christina's Sarawak Laksa and needless to say, I was excited.
Aunt Christina's stall is super famous that she has been featured in numerous TV shows, newspapers and magazines. Some claimed she has the best Sarawak Laksa in KL! When we were at the old school kopitiam, almost every table has at least one person eating her noodles. 

Sarawak Laksa we forgot how much, probably around RM6. 

The Laksa comes in an extra big bowl, but with noodles and soup probably covered only half a bowl, topped with two big prawns, probably the biggest size I've ever seen in a Sarawak Laksa. I love the thick soup a lot, very flavourful and you could literally taste those spices used too cook it. I would prefer the bihun and bean sprout to be a little not so overcooked while the prawns aren't too fresh, but overall, it was a satisfying bowl of goodness. 

Siew Yok and Roast Chicken Rice.

We also tried the chicken rice at the shop since we saw so many people ordering it but while the rice tastes pretty good, the chicken and Siew Yok aren't up to standard.

Us, we traveled all the way to Bangsar for a bowl of Sarawak Laksa. 

Well, if you ask me, I won't say it out loud that Aunt Christina has the best Sarawak Laksa in KL, partially because I don't think I've tried all of them yet. Taste wise, I don't think it is fantastic although undeniably the soup is pretty awesome. Still worth a try if you are a Sarawak Laksa fan just like me! :)

Aunt Christina's Sarawak Laksa
Kedai Makanan Nam Chuan
2-4, Lorong Ara Kiri 2,
Lucky Garden,
59100 Bangsar, KL

Hainanese Chicken Chop Gravy Recipe

Hi ya'll!

I hope you had a great Christmas celebration and are sailing into a brand new year with hopes of a better year, just like what I'm hoping for! :) So HAPPY NEW YEAR guys!!!

Since it's a brand new year, here's a new recipe to share - Hainanese Chicken Chop's gravy. Haha, cos I didn't deep fried my chicken, only grilled it so it's not really the real deal lah. Only the gravy is the real deal here. Googled for the recipe and ended up using this cos it's very simple. You can pick up how to marinate and deep fried the chicken chop there too,

What you need:
6 tbsp tomato ketchup, 2 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tbsp HP sauce, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 cup water, 2 tbsp sugar, cornstarch for thickening, tomato sliced into quarter, onion roughly cut and chopped garlic. You can add green peas too if you like. 

What to do:
1) In a bowl, add the tomato ketchup, oyster sauce, HP sauce and Worcestershire sauce.

2) Add in the sugar.

3) Now add in the cup of water.

4) Stir and mix them all sauces evenly.

5) Now move on to a pan, simmer the onions and garlic over low fire until garlic turn just a little brownish. 

6) Next pour in the mixture, and immediately the tomatoes. 

7) Cook until tomatoes soften, then pour in cornstarch+water to thicken the gravy. 

And you are done! Just pour the gravy over your chicken, add your favourite side dishes and you are ready to have your Hainanese Chicken Chop!

We had a grilled chicken in stead of a fried version, and had it to go with some pan-grilled potatoes and broccoli and carrots!

Taste wise, I find the gravy a little too sour to my liking. So next time I'll have to cut down on the ketchup, but otherwise it was quite a good first try! Maybe it would be good to make a real chicken chop when we really decide to buy an air-fryer. *wink~*

2014 in a Nutshell and What to Expect in 2015

Majority of blogs I frequent have done their parts in their own reviews of their year 2014. I'm honestly a little lazy but I know how to make this quick.

This was my New Year resolution post for 2014 and now, let's see how many of those have I achieved...

1) Take the new career's challenge and own it

Well, not quite yet. Let's just say the company turns out to be not as what I've expected it to be where the nature of it has been and is still pretty slow-moving so unfortunately I haven't have that sense of achievement that I've make much difference both to the company, and to my career. 

Here's to a better 2015 where things can move faster!!!! I can't wait!!! 

2) Make driving a breeze

Sorry guys, I haven't been driving at all since my new office is pretty far away from home. I am useless, I know... :( Plus, since finding out I'm pregnant we've totally shut the driving idea off all together until I pop and I shall see if I can start again. NO, I MEAN, I MUST START! Otherwise who will send my kid to school in the future???

3) Fit into that freakin' Cheongsam

Forget about it. I'm pregnant! 

4) Make our dream honeymoon a reality

Oh yeah! At least this one is done and it was truly an unforgettable one! And with so many aviation accidents that happened in 2014, I must say we are very thankful that we returned from Santorini safely even though we had to take 6 different flights all together during the entire trip. Thank God for that!!! 

Enjoying the breeze and sun in Santorini! 

Of course, somewhere in August 2014, we found out I'm pregnant, something that we have not expected to come so soon. But since then our lives have changed, quite crazily. Almost everything we do, we eat and we spend we have to think twice because we know our priority now should be our little boy who will be joining our family somewhere end April-early May. 

A 3D scan reveals how our little boy may looks like when he officially join our family next year. :)

So if you ask me what are my 2015 new year resolutions? I will tell you whole loads of stuff that are related to our baby. But most importantly, I pray really hard for a smooth and safe labour and that our baby boy will be a normal, healthy, smart, charming and happy boy! :) 

Happy New Year ya'll from Deardo and I! We were waiting for our table for our New Year Eve dinner... :p

As to you who are reading, I pray for you to be healthy and may your dreams come true too in 2015! :) 

HERE'S TO A BETTER YEAR AHEAD!!! *pop champagne bottles~*

Brand New Year, Brand New Look!

For our house, at least! :)

Oh before that, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! :D

The last time you saw me talking about renovating and buying new furniture for our house was about a year plus ago, since then we have slowly changed a few small things but only last weekend we had quite a major makeover for the house, before we could start buying our baby boy's cot and probably a drawer and other stuff before his majesty's grand arrival.

Let's update the list that we have made earlier:

TOP OF THE LIST:
1) Sofa set
2) Built-in wardrobe
3) Shoe cabinet

THE REST OF THE LIST:
1) Master bedroom's bed+mattress
2) Master bedroom's make-up table
3) TV
4) TV table (cabinet)
5) Dining table set
6) Refrigerator
7) Kitchen work table
8) Curtain(s)
9) Chair(s) for entrance (so that we can sit and wear shoes)
10) Aluminum gate for front entrance grill door (while this is really not urgent, I hope to get this done soon too, if it's not too much to pay)
11) Steel window gate (may ignore this forever)
12) Lights
13) Glass display cabinet (not getting this anymore since we need space for baby's stuff now)
14) Coffee table 
15) Sliding door for kitchen entrance (decided not to have)
16) Sliding door for back toilet
17) Cupboard for keeping of documents, books and etc

Phew~ So glad now we only have one more item left! *punch into the air~*

Deardo and FIL were my heroes over the weekend spending hours fixing what needed in the house.

We finally took down the old, stupid-looking curtain left by the previous owner into something we really like.

No more sore eyes every time we sit on our couch! 

Chinese-style yellowish curtain... 

Now... Lovely lovely splash of colours! 

The classic lace curtain that I've been dying to have in my house!!! Yay! 

We got some quotations from Taiping at those shops that tailor make curtain, but ended up still buying them all from Ikea simply because they are way cheaper (about RM1k difference okay), prettier and most importantly they have the pretty classic lace curtain which I couldn't find anywhere in Taiping!

Ahhhh,,, Now at least it feels more like a country home-style living room! :)

We also finally changed the ugly make-up table in our room. Here's a reminder of how ugly that piece of shit that was in our room for more than two years...

Gosh, so lou tou I don't get it.

And now, drum roll please~!!!

Oh hai! From my new make-up area!

White colour big-ass mirror and a simple white shelf top to replace the old school make-up table. It makes the whole area looks so much more nicer, brighter and neater! 

We also changed the room's curtain into an anti-glare one so now our room feels like those hotel rooms every morning, no direct sunlight at all; which makes it all the more harder to wake up though. LOL.

Also changed some lights in our house. Here's a before photo of our light in our room...

Together with the old wardrobes too... LOL.

Is it Japanese style? Or Balinese? I'm not even sure. The only thing I'm sure of is that it doesn't match our theme of the house at all and it's really dark I can't do make-up or take proper selfie in the room.

New lights!!! So bright yo!!!

Well, the new lights aren't very special-looking lar, but at least it doesn't go too far off the theme of our house and most importantly, they are much brighter! So next time can do make-up, selfie and check out our baby boy properly, even his poo poo's colour! :p

Our old lights at the dining area looked like this...

Oh yes, together with the old dining table set which I hated the most! Urgggh...

Again, I still doubt the previous owner has any taste in anything! *face plam~*

Sorry, I was lazy to clear all the junk before taking this photo. :p

We changed it to a more modern-looking, very-the-dining area type of lights. I don't know about you but I think they look awesome I couldn't help but asked to have a proper dinner last Sunday right at the table (most of the time now we just sit on the couch for our dinner).

Lights are from a shop in Puchong, although most of other stuff you see in the above picture are from Ikea.

We still love buying Ikea stuff a lot and don't see any major problem with the furniture yet so far. Planning to buy baby's stuff from them also soon! Can't wait! :)