Masha Allah

2023 has been nothing but amazing. Alhamdulillah.

Our last flight was back in 2018 to KL. Yeap that year we flew to Penang, Krabi and KL. After that I was telling the husband that I was too lazy to plan for anymore trips. And then Covid hits end 2019.

So here’s the recap for 2023:

Feb - 1st staycation ever with the BFFs at Orchard Hotel

June - Conrad/ Crowne Plaza/ Voco

Aug - Pan Pacific

Nov - Umrah

Dec - Ipoh

That’s a whopping 5 staycations and 2 trips. Alhamdulillah. So contented and grateful.

What’s 2024 resolutions gonna be like?

1. Avoid toxic friends. I’ve learnt that I might lose friends along the way and that’s okay. As long my constants are by my side, Insha Allah

2. Be more disciplined to solat on time

3. Ngaji consistently with no excuses

4. Speak less

5. Give more attention to the son and expect less

6. Do not buy anymore bags 

7. Do not fall for points redemption anymore

Achievable? I hope so. 

Is it I need to come up with birthday wishlist already? 😮

Highlights of Ipoh

 

Obek’s kampung. I remembered going there when I was super young by bus. So this time we took a flight instead. 

It’s so nice that at least 3 of my cousins staying so near to her. Meriah. 

POV from above. Amazed by all the fluffy clouds.

This was our take-off. We had to take a bus to board the plane in the rain but SG being SG, the bus stopped directly at the ladder so that we’re sheltered from getting wet. Flight was at 7 so we had to be at airport by 4.45am. 

Had Popeyes, prayed subuh and managed to grab my perfume as well. Son got his soft toy from Changi Rewards redemption too. Happy je eh. And it’s a norm for planes to queue before take-off at Changi. 

Before reaching the homestay, Bro drove us to grab brunch. Bought nasi kandar, went Watsons (he even bought Hotwheels here no less) then finally reached homestay after almost 2 hours. While waiting for another cousin to reach, we went to this Callduck Coffee House.

The desserts were so ducky cute and we went to take pictures with real ducks after our tea break! Lucky la the son didn’t sulk cos we didn’t bring him along and I gotten him the Duck keychain.

Eldest cousin’s house just opposite Obek’s. 

Really huge piece of land. Wedding at kampung super meriah. Cousin got kambing golek, cendol and ice cream station. He even got Bawean silat group to perform.

So cool!

This was our homestay. It was great as it can accommodate all 10 of us and we have our own rooms. And we had our meals together.  

Truly Ipoh experience living among the locals.

This has got to be one of my fave highlights. 

It was hot and spicy and you see covered for hygiene kan. The one at Empire Sushi was exposed all the time and cold. Tsk. Wondered when I can return to have more. 

We spent almost RM100 eh just at the family mart for sandwiches and Onigiri.

I’m pretty sure the son enjoyed his Year End holidays this time because Alhamdulillah we went for our Umrah trip and ends the school break with a short Ipoh trip with the extended family as well as my cousins. Fun, challenging and so memorable. He experienced the Kampung wedding vibes, witnessed Silat and gamelan and hope he can learn not to take for granted what we have been blessed with.

IPOH

Blogging from Ipoh! We chanced upon this random food mania at Angsana and sis bought this. 

Spicy ye.

And we didn’t buy these but we have 12 of them now, given by relatives. Alhamdulillah

My damages so far. Got 2 baju kurung! A telekung, 3 tops and my cargo pants! My cargo was only $17!!!!!

Yay!

Early Night

 

Gonna turn in early later but before that gotta share what cousin got me from Penang! I’ve been procrastinating to get CD make up set that comes with the pouch but never did. So happy that I got my hands on this one!

And I never had their lipstick too except their addict lip balm. Looks so classy pls. He received so many samples too! And threw in that Chanel pin as well. 🥹

So so grateful. 

Can’t wait to join the fam tomorrow! ❤️

More gifts!

 

Cousin came back from Penang with lotsa goodies!

All in that cute Penang jute bag.

My fave famous amos. ❤️

Then he bought me a gift set from Dior. 🥹

Nak cry can? 😭

Then I asked him I want to dinner at his place. 

He bought us chicken rice. 😭😭

May Allah reward him with alot more rezeki and good health always. 

My year end gift for him.

Love eh the bag and the wrapper inside.

Macam bag inside a bag.

If only there’s a real Dior bag in it. Heh.

And then the neighbour asked me if I’m getting the socks to match my clogs so I joked to her to buy for me plsssss. Betul-betul dia belikan ye. 🥺

Another day another shopping haul

 

Finally went to Vivo to see their revamped Miniso.

So many stuff to grab but proud of myself for being able to stop the urge to splurge.

Settled for these which can be used kan?

Wanted the travel pouches but I just bought pink Daiso ones recently, wanted the headband for my facial mask wearing but I already have 1.

Cannot resist the tumbler although the Care Bear’s eyes mcm lebam. Haha. All these for about 20 bucks.

My online purchase finally here! I mean it didn’t take long but cannot wait to add on to my collection.

Never turn back after trying this local brand. 

Didn’t get enough of yesterday’s cake then I saw this cute mini log cake. Took some time for me to decide to buy but glad I didn’t regret a bit cos it was yummy!

Pretty la the bell.

Another reason for going over to Vivo today was this!

Saw at Jewel but didn’t buy then husb said to grab today.

Super pricey eh like I could get a decent Birkenstock and be all mature in dressing but I still nak this one juga. 

Very help to tutup aurat the feet area eh.

Can’t believe that I got 4 pairs of new footwear just over the wkend. Apakah.

When making the payment, the sales said to hold on for the bag. Ingat bag apa la ye but a very hamburglared zip lock bag for the clogs. Let’s hope the gf will be able to grab them tomorrow so that we can twinning next year! 

Such a long long day

 

Cute much? Decided to grab this for the husb at the pop up store. So random.

Cannot resist this super ultra cute cake so he bought it for me. But too full tonight so gonna have it for bf instead.

Pretty colours? But I got 2 damn blisters from walking in these shoes that he had to….

Get this Barbie flip flops for me. 🤣

Just as I mentioned that my social batt running low, bumped into my polymate today! It’s been more than 20yrs eh. But glad we’re still very much the same and catching up like we just met recently. 

Jewel-Millenia-Suntec

P a n c i t

Annual gathering + retail therapy

 

My favourite princess ❤️

Bonus treats from sis and my new PJ and sweater.

Xmas gifts for the boy and me from the Aunties.

Red velvet cakesicle!

Pretty flower at the condo. 

The cakesicle set.

And with that my social battery is running low. 

Gotta slow down again before the upcoming trip. 

H a p p y

 

Super grateful and love for the 10th year 

anniversary flowers! ❤️

Month of gatherings

 Can you believe it that we’re left with only 1 ole2 bag?

Happy that the BFFs managed to make time to meet tonight! We usually meet for birthdays but today was random cos I had to pass them their ole2. And BFF belanja Swensens! Yums.

And the other BFF passed us some Korean ole2. ❤️

Kamsahamnida! 

Another gathering tomorrow!

Ole-ole

 

Ordered this last Thursday and it came today! 

Loves the pink!

So so happy that we’re left with only 3 bags of ole2! And these were from the girlfriends. From their KL trip!

Chocolates to last us this holiday!

But i’m craving for potato chips. 😬

Cannot move on

 

Looking back, our Umrah trip was so meaningful because I remembered telling my Bibik at a wedding and they immediately planned to send me off already. 

A cousin salam me duit terus. 🥺

Going for Umrah was not for our personal journey only but to those who are closest to you. BFFs sounded happy for me and advised macam2. 

Haiz such emotionally intense trip. I didn’t cry at all at the airport but when my cousins hugged me and whispered to doa for them, I can’t. Just can’t. My heart.

And then there’s another Bibik I told the night before we’re supposed to fly, suddenly appeared at my house the very next morning just so she could ask me to doa for her as well. 🥺

When we were faced with flight delay for 4 days, both the husband and I were so affected especially on the 3rd day of delay. Everyone told us it’s our ujian over here may Allah make it easy for us when we’re over there. True enough, we were able to perform our 3 Umrah smoothly  as well as our Tawaf Wada. 

And we’re glad too our small group was not chaotic but rather intimate and I must say we got along quite well. A makcik and kakak must have noticed me having my daily ice-cream and without fail asked me if I would have had it for that day. Sometimes joining me in my ice-cream zone. 

I put on the dress given by BFF, brought along her glittery zikir counter, the book from the husband and the sejadah bought by sis from her Feb Umrah trip. The things that teman me during my solo prayers. And I was relieved  especially when other solo prayers sat next to me particularly one Ibu from Indonesia who even shared to me about his son working in SG and a Malaysian young lady who smiled sheepishly at me. ❤️

There’re so many memories I would like to share but I guess I’ll keep them in my heart. It’s an indescribable feeling when you’re there. Sis asked the nephew if I cried in front of Kaabah. There were times I wanted to but I kept it in. Would always wipe them tears off quickly. 

Let’s doa that we could be invited again. 🤲

Redha

 Definisi : (réda) bersedia dgn ikhlas hati (utk membuat sesuatu), rela: ada di dalamnya orang-orang yg ~ bersekutu bersama-sama sbg manusia; meredai merelai: jalan yg diredai Allah itu jalan Islam yg akan menenteramkan hidup; meredakan merelakan; keredaan kerelaan: terhasil sebuah masya­rakat yg berdisiplin, sebuah negara yg aman damai di bawah ~ Allah. (Kamus Dewan Edisi Keempat)

https://prpm.dbp.gov.my/cari1?keyword=reda

Have you redha? 

Alhamdulillah

 So much to be thankful for. Alhamdulillah.

The boy’s getting better and hope he could recover fully real soon. Grateful for the support from family.

 Most of the ole2 has been distributed today.

Snacks from Japan from sis’ trip.

Alhamdulillah. Proud of him and hope he could be steadfast in his studies and conduct in school.

I almost couldn’t make it to our annual gathering. You wouldn’t believe it that it’s been almost 20 years since I knew these colleagues who turned friends. We’ve been through milestones and such of our lives together. 🥹

Finally tried the beef wellington. 

A not so little something for them I hope. 😬

Get busy

 

Missing the luxurious treatment over at Madinah.

Husband took the Business Class for our train to Madinah from Makkah. ❤️

It’s 3.10am and I can’t go back to sleep. Can’t be still jetlag kan? And I didn’t nap earlier on. 

While the ole2 has been sorted out 90%, left with the Zam2 water to be rebottled, my mind’s pretty occupied in settling the son’s school matters. 

Received his books but need to find time to housekeep his previous books. 

And we haven’t ordered his uniforms yet. 

Then need to hunt for revision books too. 

Probably when all’s done then going to have a peaceful proper December break but no concrete plans made. 

Just glad that the laundry has left with only 1 last basket to be cleared. Slowly but surely.