IMAGINATION

"Anyone who thinks the sky is the limit, has limited imagination."

 

Rumah Mak Itam

Father, a daughter & 3 sons.

Aidiladha 1433H

Taqabbalallahuminna waminkum.

Eid again!

Alhamdulillah, the 11 pariwisata have safely landed at LCCT on Thursday evening. Bandung is fun, seriously! I keep on bugging MrJ to come back to Bandung as soon as we can. It's a great escape from the hectic life, Subhanallah. 

Shopping wise, yes, the man/women/baby branded wear are much more cheaper than here. But most of them are Made In China. (Even if they claimed it's made in Paris) We even found the exact same match of what we bought in China last July @ Bandung. And of course, China is way cheaper. Super Duper Cheap. I'll blog about Bandung in the next entry insya-Allah.

From the 3 of us, Salam Aidiladha and safe journey to all!

To Imah, Happy Birthday!

Are you smarter than the 5th Grader?

Thank you for taking the Creativity Test. The results show your brain dominance as being:

Left Brain	Right Brain
46%	54%

You are more right-brained than left-brained. The right side of your brain controls the left side of your body. In addition to being known as right-brained, you are also known as a creative thinker who uses feeling and intuition to gather information. You retain this information through the use of images and patterns. (that's how I memorized my biology text book for SPM) You are able to visualize the "whole" picture first, and then work backwards to put the pieces together to create the "whole" picture. Your thought process can appear quite illogical and meandering. (yes, very true! and often left frustrated when people couldn't comprehend what I'm thinking) The problem-solving techniques that you use involve free association, which is often very innovative and creative. The routes taken to arrive at your conclusions are completely opposite to what a left-brained person would be accustomed. You probably find it easy to express yourself using art, dance, or music. Some occupations usually held by a right-brained person are forest ranger(askar wataniah?), athlete(batu seremban), beautician, actor/actress, craftsman, and artist.

I've taken this test and the result is predictable, I mean I know I'm slightly slanted to the right brain than the other. That explains why I'm still stuck in a highly technical unit and at the same time occupied with my part time job of make-up-ing VP's power point presentations and doing 5S decoration. (I'm a beautician, craftsman and artist) I'm not whining, just trying to swallow the reality.

You can take yours here. It's pretty accurate. At least to me.

8:65

 Source

“Wahai Nabi (Muhammad)! Kobarkanlah semangat para mukmin untuk berperang. Jika ada dua puluh yang sabar dia antara kamu, niscaya mereka dapat mengalahkan dua ratus orang musuh. Dan jika ada seratus orang (yang sabar) di antara kamu, niscaya mereka dapat mengalahkan seribu orang kafir, kerana orang-orang yang kafir itu adalah kaum yang tidak mengerti.” Al-Anfal:65

8:53

"Yang demikian itu karena sesungguhnya Allah tidak akan mengubah suatu nikmat yang telah diberikanNya kepada suatu kaum hingga kaum itu mengubah apa yang ada pada diri mereka sendiri. Sungguh Allah Maha Mendengar, Maha Mengetahui." Al-Anfal:53

Ujian Flash Card

Petang semalam Nadirah ada ujian Flash Card. Sambil duduk di atas belakang badan Abi, Mummy pun menayangkan kad-kad dari set Baby Einstein. (gambar-gambar daripada DVD Baby Wordworth - First Words Discovery Cards)

Kad-kad yang berjaya disebut oleh Nadirah (adapun sebutannya pelat tetapi hampir bunyinya dikira lulus) adalah seperti berikut:

1. Cat (sejak azali, haiwan kegemaran malar hijau Nadirah)

2. Dog (sejak azali selepas cat, pagi semalam menangis mahukan dog yang sedang woof woof di tepi jalan)
3. Ball (apa sahaja yang bulat dipanggil ball, termasuk watermelon)

4. Couch (ajaib, mummy tidak menyangka sama sekali anakanda hafal perkataan couch)
5. Table
6. Bed
7. Clock
8. Tree
9. Swing
10.Chair
12.Bowl
13. Telephone
14.Cup
15. Book
16. Bear (Teddy bear)

Lagi 10 kad, apabila Mummy sebut perkataan pada flash card, Nadirah akan tersenyum dan hanya memberi respon - "hmmmm". Abi yang menjadi "chair" Nadirah pula bertepuk sekuat hati jika Nadirah berjaya meneka dan menyebut perkataan yang tertera dengan betul. Our PomPomBoy.

Ok Nadirah, malam ni sambung lagi 10 kad ya sayang. You can do it!

8:48

Dan (ingatlah) ketika syaitan menjadikan terasa indah bagi mereka perbuatan (dosa) mereka dan mengatakan, "Tidak ada (orang) yang dapat mengalahkan kamu pada hari ini, dan sungguh aku adalah penolongmu." Maka ketika kedua pasukan itu telah saling melihat (berhadapan), syaitan balik ke belakang seraya berkata, "Sesungguhnya aku berlepas diri dari kamu; aku dapat melihat apa yang kamu tidak dapat melihat; sesungguhnya aku takut kepada Allah." Allah sangat keras siksa-Nya. Al-Anfal:48

 Source

Happy Birthday to Abu Maryam!

 









Happy Birthday to Abu Maryam!
No need to say more, you know everything :-)

8:45

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Apabila kamu bertemu pasukan (musuh), maka berteguh hatilah dan sebutlah (nama) Allah banyak-banyak (berzikir dan berdoa) agar kamu beruntung. Al-Anfal:45

8:40

"Dan jika mereka berpaling, maka ketahuilah bahawa sesungguhnya Allah pelindungmu. Dia adalah sebaik-baik pelindung dan sebaik-baik penolong." Al-Anfal:40

 Source

Menghirup Udara Pesantren Bandung

Mudah-mudahan dapat menghirup udara dan aura Pesantren di Bandung nanti. Ya Allah, jika iaNya baik untuk kami, dunia dan akhirat, maka permudahkanlah urusan kami ke sana. Ketemukanlah dan kumpulkanlah kami dengan orang-orang soleh dan solehah, di mana sahaja kami berada di atas muka bumi-Mu ini.

Amin.

Speaking of choices again

The 10kg Maryam is always testing my nerve, Astagfirullah. Ever since we moved in to a new house, carrying her up and down and around the house is somewhat draining out my no-more-energy soon I reached home. Plus, she just want Emi, Ami, Mimi and Mi only when I'm around. That's so sweeeet dear. :-)

Should I spend RM420 on Scootababy Hip Carrier or RM399 on Ergo Sports Black?
 

I'm not sure if New Carrier is included in 2011 budget last Friday. I wish.

Antara 2 Pilihan Rumah

Dalam kehidupan kita, seringkali tiba waktu yang mana kita perlu membuat pilihan antara dua, A atau B. Contohnya, ke mana mahu dituju pada cuti sekolah akan datang, Port Dickson atau A Famosa Resort, masak lemak atau sambal tumis, baju merah atau baju biru dan pelbagai kombinasi lagi.

Namun manusia selalu terlupa suatu aspek yang penting dalam membuat pilihan. Masing-masing lebih cenderung  kepada pilihan hati yang selalunya bertunjangkan nafsu. Alangkah moleknya jika di hati kita dilengkapi sensor yang sentiasa dapat mengesan pilihan Allah, bukan pilihan nafsu semata.

Contoh:
Membuat pilihan untuk membeli antara 2 buah rumah (untuk tinggal sendiri):

Rumah A: 2 tingkat, 25x75, lot tepi (corner), rumah baru, jauh dari Masjid/Surau, tiada khariah surau
Rumah B: 2 tingkat, 20x65, lot tengah (intermediate), rumah lama, boleh berjalan ke Masjid/Surau, khariah surau yang aktif

Hakikatnya rumah A sangat menarik kerana pertama, ianya rumah baru yang pastinya "tidak secomot" rumah yang dibeli atas orang. Kedua, saiznya yang lebih besar dan mempunyai tanah di tepi rumah untuk projek lanskap.

Rumah B adalah jauh lebih kecil, memerlukan wang tambahan jika mahu diubahsuai untuk menjadi lebih selesa seperti Rumah A. 

Walaubagaimanapun, jika kita memilih rumah A, kemungkinan besar kita telah meminggirkan dan menyukarkan kewajipan suami dan anak-anak lelaki kita untuk menunaikan solat berjemaah di surau/masjid setiap waktu. Perkara ini kurang diambil pusing apabila kita memilih rumah idaman kerana kita yakin asalkan solat 5 waktu, ia sudah memadai.

Peringatan untuk diri, carilah rumah yang boleh kudengar azan berkumandang, boleh berlari suami ke surau apabila terjaga ketika azan Subuh berkumandang, sempat berbuka puasa di rumah sebelum bersolat Magrib di surau dan komitmen tinggi khariah surau untuk mengimarahkan rumah Allah. Ya Allah, Engkau ketemukan aku dengan rumah yang menjadikan kami, penghuninya cinta akan rumah-Mu, bukannya leka di dalam rumah sendiri. Makhbulkanlah doaku ini Ya Allah.

Apabila memilih rumah, pilihlah rumah yang dekat dengan rumah-Nya.

Bandung is calling

Bandung call is finally here.

Help is needed.

Tips, Hotels, Dos, Donts, Shopping, Attraction etc are most welcome.

Real people. Real story.

Our Story:Jalur Lebar

We started off with this:

But since most of the time I had to this: (I'm serious, tell ya)

Then we decided to POTONG..

And try this:

Which turned out to be this:

Moved on, we subscribed to this fella...

and the speed is almost like above, but better than the rest we've tried..

Until yesterday, he came to our house...

to STAY!

Mr Unifi, we've fired 3 of your competitors. Make sure you proof to us that you're second to none. Else, out of the board room.

:-)

gLee!

Owner of all the pictures above, thank you so much!

PakPoi and Nadirah

Nadirah calls this guy - Poi. Pak di pangkal nama sudah hilang. Many people said that Nadirah has a close resemblance of Epoi. And on the other hand they said Epoi look like my dear Arwah Abah. Conclusion: Nadirah looks like Arwah Tok Shaarani, the person that will love Nadirah dearly if he's still around.

As a record, they are still times that I call Nadirah as Epoi. Weird eh? I don't know when it's going to over/stop.

This picture was taken at Tok Pandak's house in Padang Rengas, Perak on Day 2 of Syawal. I really love this picture. It has the essence of love and life. Thank you PakCik Meme for the gorgeous composition and sharing it with us :-)

Kepada PakPoi, selamat menimba ilmu kedoktoran dan keakhiratan di Warsaw. Nantikan kami tiba di sana! Amin.

Buat Duit Dengan Rumah - Tuan SK

Last ramadhan was the very month Mr J and I managed to read and "khatam" many books that were originally qeued in our reading list. The reading momentum is still on till now, alhamdulillah. Moga-moga ole-ole Ramadhan ini dapat diteruskan sehingga akhir hayat. Amin.

Anyway, Mr J and I reading lists are equal so we take turns. Due to that, we have to speed up to make sure we can finish on time. Normally Mr J will bring back few books to SGMT and does his reading peacefully for the rest of the weekdays there. On weekends, we exchanged books. 

Anyway, I'd like to share a book on property investment which I started @ KT last week. Buit Duit Dengan Rumah is a very informative and awesome book for those who want to invest in property. Books on property that I've read/seen before are mostly US based scenarios, so there are parts that I found quite difficult to digest. On the other hand, the book written by Tuan Shamsuddin Kadir (Tuan SK) is very down to earth, in line to Malaysian property market and directly connected with our Deen. Masya-Allah. I've never seen a book on investment that emphasize precisely what us as a Muslim should do and shouldn't do in the process of buying property. Perfect! Thumbs up to Tuan SK for his effort in educating Malaysian Muslims to be more vigilant and "Smart Kaya" through his books. 

There's a chapter in the book about a mindful father that brings me close to tears. I think the 2nd last chapter of the book. Probably because I read it with ME in mind, and it touches me as if I am one of the characters in the story. 

Those who are reading this entry, I'd like to encourage you to get the book and r.e.a.d. Like what Barney says in his song - "Books are Fun" :

Books are fun! Books are great!

Let's sit down with a book today.

Books are fun! Books are great!

Is it book time yet? Oh, I just can't wait..

To read a book.

Do you know why I love to read a book?

Why I get so happy every time I take a look?'

Cause books can take me anywhere that I want to go.

Books help my imagination grow.

Full lyrics here.

"Books help my imagination grow." Not just that, book helps our money grow! I leave you girls with that thought and am now continue with Tuan SK other book, "Kaya Dengan Rumah".

Happy reading!

Homemade Soy Drink: Made with love

Last Sunday, the cooking team (yes, it's a team now = Abi, Mummy, Hasanah, Nadirah + Opah&Epoi acting as food critic) has successfully produced our first batch of Soy Drink from our dear kitchen. 1st attempt and it was a success! It's not rocket science like I always thought. 

Ingredient: Soy, water, sugar and pandan leaves (100g of soy : 1 litre of water)

The soy was soaked overnight and we then peeled off the skin - yes, each one! (the most painful part of the process) I think Nadirah was the only one who enjoyed this peeling process cause she got a big license to wet her clothing without Mummy being angry at her.

Blend them. Then strained the soy milk through a fine-mesh strainer into the pot. (or any clean baby-lampin like material). 

Finally bring to a boil over low-high heat and sweeten to taste. Don't forget to put pandan leaves for a fresh, yummy aroma.

The verdict: Very delicious alhamdulillah! Epoi said it taste like Yeos (he's exaggerating!)
:-)

If any of you have a better recipe, let me know. I'd like to experiment more.