Life, as we know it

There will come a day when you will be like me, a wife and a mother. A day that has showed me what it meant to love and be loved. How come somebody so small have so much love in their heart? I never cease to believe in that. It was never a smooth ride, but the sweet ending is always a blessing. 

But the heart wants what it wants. It mellows down to the slightest heart ache, let alone to tears. Day in and day out, I remind myself that you don't know how strong you are until being strong is the only option. 

Family comes first, even for the most successful wife and mother. 

The secret to success is always rather vague. We define what it means and by all means be grateful it happened to us. Above all that, Allah is watching us and He has His best interest in us. Be that person our heart has set to be. I am determined to that. Dreams follow me wherever I go, it is just a matter of time. I can't be wishing for 25hours a day, no? 

On struggles

Each one of us have our own struggles. To say one do not understand you is unfair 'cause you'll never know what is behind every smile you see. Let alone to understand their struggle, give it big or small.

Chalkart fan

I have a thing for chalkart, apparently. Though I have always take a sneak peak at this form of art, I have never tried doing it myself until week! I wanted it for my wedding but I could not find time to sit down and practise my handlettering. 

So yeah, after drawing inspirations from others, this is what I came up with. Right now, I still in the phase of doodling our name with lots of hearts in between. Sounds so high school, isn't it? I hope to do more. I'm using black ink so there is no room for mistake. It is okay 'cause ot is my favourite pen that I got from Dollarama years ago. Well, sounds like I need to practise more and be more creative! Cheerios!

2013 to 2014

And so 2014 began a month ago. It has yet to draw itself to me and I have not reserve myself for any big plans so far. Oh, perhaps moving into a new place is a big deal. Ah, yes yes. It is. As excited as I am planning for house renovation and finding house decor ideas constantly, I cannot escape the fact that we are living just us after this. I wonder how different that will be for me!

Above all, 2013 has set a great note for me. I felt I have accomplished amazing things last year and being married topped the list! Perhaps it will forever top the list. On a side note, I think being husband and wife have pros and cons as you two begin to adapt to each other. Fights and occasional merajuk seem less likely these days; and since my MIL is still the ma'am of the kitchen, I get to feel overjoy whenever I get the chance to cook for them.

I am praying for great news in 2014.


p/s: I miss writing my blog; though I am considering creating a new blog since blogger.com has a lot of spam comments. Luckily, I get to approve the true comments and not let spammers rule the comment box. 

The Vow

by Momenthis

The Vow

If you tell me seven years ago that I'll be marrying Syahir, I would not believe you. But time took it on us, separating us and reuniting us again four years later, only to make us one. Since then, there is no looking back for me and I cherish every day I spent with you.

Today, I'm yours and I will forever be yours. 

With all the love in my heart, I promise to be your forever loving wife, through thick and thin together until death separates us this time. I want to be the best in everything for you, the best mother to our children, the best chit chat buddy, the best partner in crime, the best traveling companion and yes, forever your best friend. 

Above all, I have met that certain someone whom I can share all my love with and who would listen patiently to me every single time. 

For that, I am eternally grateful to have met you, Syahir. 

May we be forever until Jannah.

I Love You. 

{Engagement}

13 April 2013

Kuantan

Photographer: Axpic Photography (Najmi Aliff) (KL based)

Mini pelamin: Stages by Amirul Khursaini (Kuantan based)

Hantaran: Reena Khairyah of AwanSpectrum

Peplum baju kurung and bead work: custom made by Kak Intan of Intan Tailor (KL based)

Hand bouquet: Eeva Florist, Pasar Besar Kuantan

Makeup: done by Yours Truly

Am 26.

I turned 26 about a month ago and this gorgeous pink eustoma is my bday gift. Don't you think flowers always make the perfect gift? Nevertheless, much like the rest of the crowd, I'm treating age as just a number. 

Uh oh, and my friend's sister said I don't look my age. Quite a compliment huh.

p/s: Just opened a tumblr account. Yet to post anything exciting. Haha 

In yellow no more

As the saying goes, life goes on! After 2.5 years of dedicating my life to working offshore as a wellsite geologist, I'd say the time has come for me to move on with my career, which can only means, be a permanent office-based staff! Nevertheless, I have no regrets for the past years cause I sure learned a lot and met so many people. I feel my networking circle grew larger by the minute! As if!

Now that I begin to stay put in one place, I wonder what will the challenges be for the next few years? And I think I begin to understand why some men prefer this offshore life. Sure you are away for 28 days straight without your family, but when you get off, that 28 days off is just priceless! Almost all the people here said the same thing. I guess I can't relate cause I go to the office the next day.

For me, it's just time to move on and try something else. I still enjoy offshore though.

Finally, here you go, a picture of me drilling in the Omani desert. It was such a great experience there! Again, met lots of great people as well and seeing this picture reminds me of my long delayed Middle East review. Yikes!

I guess, I'm no longer telling you bout my offshore stories eh? Haha. Maybe more on what 2013 will mean to me :) 

A new year, a new hope

A picture taken from TIME: Lightbox.
This picture is showing Afghan women at a refugee camp in Kabul trying to pick up
spilled flour on the snow (taken on Feb 3rd, 2012)

Let me open 2013 with this heartfelt picture I took from "TIME Picks the Most Surprising Photos of 2012". There are tons of pictures in the album, but this one steals my heart immediately. 

Hopefully, 2013 will be a better year to you, me and to all. Insya Allah. So far, 2013 looks promising and I simply cannot wait for all the exciting life-changing events/moments/experiences that are about to happen this year. That is how I much I can say. 

And in the lights of the picture above, let us all be thankful/bersyukur for all the good or bad things that happened to us thus far. I cannot ask for any other ways to make me who I am today and I am just grateful for all the things I have and the people I know and came to love. 

Cheers to 2012 and I sure hope 2013 will be better, especially to all the war-stricken nations. They deserve better. 

p/s: New Year's resolution? Nah. 

Joyride 2012

2013 is in the next few days.
And I skipped my tradition last year, but I'm not about to do the same this year! It's my so-called-exciting-poll-of-the-year! Lalalalaaaaa

90% similar template as 2010 with some deleted moments cause they are irrelevant (like Best "Whoa, he did not just say my name" moment) and some added moments.

Big teary moment:
A gold ring on my ring finger.
Ok, I didn't cry but I felt overwhelmed by the whole journey from when we got to know each other until today. After two years, we'd say it's time to think of a future together :)

Miss Taken :p 

Best besties moment:
With my girls enjoying brunch at Haven Cafe, Ampang Hilir. Oh mon dieu, we were crazy! We talked and talked non stop for 3 hours! There were just SOOO many things to gossip and share about after sooo many years being away from each other. Simply madness, in a super amazing way.

Best makan-makan moment:
HOMECOOK food. Seriously! You may think I sounded lame, but over the year, I've enjoyed my own cooking cause I got more creative and wanted to try new recipes! Many thanks to the recipe books at home courtesy of Amal and my certain someone (made him buy me one...). And when people complimented and asked for more, that's enough for me to say it's the best moment for me.

Chicken breast in balsamic and apple cider vinegar with sauteed potatoes!
Mouthful name, but taste good in the mouth as well. Haha

Ikan kembung masak kuning. My personal favourite :)

Best mommy-daughter moment:
Much like 2010, it has to be our trip to UK and Paris! Not to mention, the passing-down-recipe moments. But if you ask me to cook you my mom's famous nasi dagang, I would politely decline your request cause I'm no where near good at making them. Nasi tah kemana, gulai ikan lagi lah! Tolong kacau2 nasi dengan santan boleh :)

Best LIVE performance:
We skipped concerts and we do orchestra now! We watched The Beatles, then Peter & the Wolf and Babar the Elephant. It all felt a bit regal, but we enjoyed the experience.

Best PLAY:
Hands down, it was Aliaa's "Indicinelive!". It was hilarious, witty and full with sarcasm, in which I enjoyed thoroughly! She is such a good actress!! Hugs darling!

Best in awe moment:
I was very much in awe with the Eiffel Tower that I decided to spent some time just taking pictures and hanging out at the park with the tower in sight. I must go back! The next time? Off to Paris with my certain someone!!

Not my best self-captured post with the Eiffel Tower
LOL

Best thing I drew and crafted:
Bday present for my certain someone. I had this idea of creating a coupon book for him to redeem whenever he wants to. So, with some minor drawing talent, I put up a book for him entitled "Fit for a King" as a present.

Le coupon book for my beau

Some "coupon". Yet to redeem this. Sigh to my busy schedule!

Best new found love:
YOGA and SPA.
I once thought yoga was boring cause it is not so heart-pumping like aerokick etc. and I once thought spa is for them girls who are super manja and need to pamper herself each time. Boy was I wrong! I fell in love with yoga in the first 10 mins of trying it! And I wish to keep doing it for as long as I can. And, I was introduced to spa by Izzy. We tried a spa in Bangsar and I felt in love almost immediately. It must be the work stress that I now find it a must for me to wind down and relax in the hands of the experts!

The most expensive thing I bought:
I bought a designer handbag in London and that's after thinking for two days. At last, I said to myself what the heck, I've been working for 2 years and so I need to reward myself with something grand.

Longest days spent offshore:
24 freaking days! In which I spent Aidilfitri offshore again this year. Having spent Aidilfitri in offshore Vietnam last year, I can only say that the celebration was a bit more exciting this year.

All in the same boat. Beraya offshore sajalah.

Worst nervous like a freak moment:
Emcee-ing for the first time! Ok, I lied. I used to emcee back in high school days, but the truth is I hate hearing my voice over the microphone. However, when Harun and Mardiana offered me as the emcee at their wedding, I felt honoured and took it, regardless of the feeling "I may embarassed myself". Sure enough, I made a few mistakes and I sounded "garang" according to Amar. Sigh. Nevertheless, I wrote the script myself with lots of pantuns in it! I felt accomplished on that note!

Doa dibaca tangan ditadah,

Hati tersentuh tiada terguris,

Bismillah pembuka madah,

Selamat datang membuka majlis

 cabd

Si Puteranya segak ala laksamana,

Si Puterinya cantik tiada terbilang,

Pelamin terhias seindah singgahsana,

Meraikan raja sehari di hari gemilang

cabd

Merantau jauh di luar kariah,

Adat tertib dijaga sendiri, 

Majlis yang indah bertambah meriah,

Melihat pengantin berseri-seri

Worst eye bag moment:

Coring job. Set the coring point at 12am, spent the next day in the office, took the 9pm flight to Miri, arrived offshore via chopper very early in the morning the next day, spent the next 48 hours with coring job until I finally close my eyes. Nevertheless, it was such a good experience for me as wellsite and operation geologist. 

and last but not least, the person I miss dearly every day! (cause I'm always away! cheesy skit!)

:)

Bowling time! But I chose to just be a photographer.
Never a good bowler ever...

At Harun & Mardiana's wedding. I was the emcee, he was the one reciting the doa

US! Countdown to 2012. So fitting for this post.

Gosh! Tired faces. Except I have sunglasses to cover my eyes.