Ibet's Mini Makeup Set

12th June 2009. Bip. Bip. "Ibet dapat masuk matrix di P.Pinang" Mak sms me. "Alhamdullillah" We were so afraid that her father's death last year would effected her and she proved herself that we had underestimated her.

It was 2 months before SPM 2008. Pak Cik Ali suddenly had a stomach ache. He fell sick and it gotten worst each day until he could not eat. He was very weak that he could not even carry himself. My aunt called ambulance and took him to the public hospital. The Dr did some medical test .. and guess what the Dr discharged him the following day claiming that he was only suffering from minor gastristis.

My aunt cried and begged the Dr to treat her husband; as she strongly feels that there must be something wrong with her husband. Yet the Dr only prescibed some medication and sent them off.

That night, my uncle groaned in pain ... and not long, he took his last breath.

It was a surprise to all of us -- his lost was so sudden, so fast that we could not even said our goodbyes. Abah had just recovered from his surgery -- So me and my brother drove them back to Perak.

We reached there just an hour before they performed the funeral. My aunt looked so lost. She only uttered a sentence to me ... a sentence that will always ring in my ears each time I see her. "Ja, Mak Cik orang susah .. pasal tu agaknya hospital tak nak terima. Kalau kami ada duit boleh hantar Pak Cik gi private hospital ... tak macam ni kan?" I was trying my very best not cry in front of her ... Please, please ... (I said to myself) at that very second be strong for my Aunt.

I believe that statement will not only ring in my ears but also to those who heard it ... Ibet, presevere ... be strong and stay focus; only a good education can change your future.

Kak Ija baked this for you ... mould the mini make up kit until nearly dawn. I am proud of you. Remember Dik, this is just the beginning of a new life ... Insyaallah.

Stress and Strawberries

9th June 2009. It was already 9pm. I received an sms from my Boss that she will be away on medical for 2 weeks. Yaiks!! Why is this happening now? .. Well, itulah dia ... manusia hanya merancang Tuhan menentukan..

My luck seems to turn around 360 degree in less than a week ... Bip.bip. Another message came in.

" What happen today? There was commotion about the bonus payout.." Apparently, someone lodge a complaint to the management who as usual did not further investigate before bashing into our Head's office..

O gosh!!! This is really upsetting .. and I have to face the music alone, without my Boss this week.
It was already 10.30pm when I finished confiding to my boss of what happen at work today. Tried to rest, tried to console myself .... but .. I just can't sleep.

So I woke up, looked at some recipes -- and decided to try this new Strawberry Cake recipe. My hubby came by.. "Dear? Its 11pm... You have an order tomorrow?" .. Nope I said -- this is my stress theraphy. Baked 25 cupcakes and mould a rabbit (initially) ... and slept at 2am.

Woke up early in morning and cream the cakes. Hmm this time the rabbit does not look nice at all. So I plucked her head off and mould a bear head instead. .. No time to change everything! Got to rush to work and brought some for colleagues to taste the new recipe.

And yup ... they liked it! Hmm probably it's time I'm seriously considering opening a cake house.

A Tiramisu to Celebrate

7th June 2009. Today I invited Mak, Abah, my brother and his family to have lunch with us. Mak made my favourite Crab in Coconut Milk, we stimmed some fish, made some vege... Simple lunch. Then the dessert ... my 1st attempt making a Tiramisu.

Tried to add the caramel and fried peanuts as decoration but the caramel harden so fast that it became something like 'kacang bipang!!' instead. Aduss it was so hard that I can't decorate it well. Hmm probably by adding some choc cream can help to 'cover' the unsightly deco.. hmmm didn't work that well either. Must, must try this again.

Hmm bila boleh makan kek ni?? My brother said .. Alamak kesian la pulak . Okay okay let snap a picture before we 'demolish' this fugly cake..

Dissertation

5th June 2009. Today is the deadline for my MBA dissertation submission. And at 12 pm I was still typing my Chapter 5! Gosh .. unbelievable, the magic of stress, words comes smoothly as if I have memorized the whole chapter.

Sharp 1.30pm Adeline from WIM-UEL called, she said I was the only one who has not submitted. OMG!!! This is definitely not helping ... my heart was beating fast as if I was chased by a dinasour!

Okay, I took a deep breath ... "Subhanallah 10x " ranting softly.. Now the final touch, this year, UEL added a new requirement -- all thesis / dissertation need to be attached with a Reflective Summary, some sort of diary or challenges I faced in completing this research.

Woookay ... now typying, thinking, as fast as I could (hmm need to add some 'fiction' here)... and on the dot at 3.30pm, I have completed everything. Altogether 12,000 words ...Alhamdullillah .... Ran to print and bind.. And finally reach WIM-UEL at 4.30pm --just half an hour before they close. Huh .. this is really, really last minute work!!

And yes!!!! Habis dahhhh ....Merdeka!!! This requires some celebration!

Flower Cake for My CheGu

28th May 2009. Sabrie & Syukrie came home from their Kafa, religious school and peeped at the kitchen, half shouting 'Mama'! Hhmm ... what is it now? I was at my last sentence on my email to Prof Koshy, my dissertation supervisor.

'Mama? Where's our cupcakes?' The teacher's day is tomorrow Mama!' ... Aah? My mind was still at the last sentence..

"The cakes remember? You suppose to make cupcakes for the potluck party.." ... This time, they got my attention. What cake? "Mama ... I told Ustazah we will be bring cupcakes for all us" .

All of us? .. and how many of US? "... 100 je la Mama "

100!!!! Eh mana sempat sayang.. Mama ada conference call lagi pagi esok, kerja sekolah Mama ni banyak lagi nak tulis... (face like Puss in the Boot..) .. Okay takpe , I call Ustazah okay ..

"Assalamualaikum Ustazah .. ni Mama Sabrie dan Syukrie. Sabrie kata dia dah cakap nak bawak cupcake untuk semua tapi maaf Ustazah tak sempat buat untuk semua .. 50 aje boleh? Waalaikumussalam .. laa tak apa Puan, apa yang boleh saja.... Alhamdullillah terima kasih..."

Okay boys .. 50 cupcakes only okay -- I've spoken to Ustazah. " Thanks Mama .. you're making the Cookie Monster right?"

Hmm cookie monster for kids ... flowers would be better for your Ustazah kan?

"Hmm ya... you're right. Flower Cupcakes would be good .. (smiling) ...We love you Mama"

Big hug, . .. I love you too boys ... (while my fingers sms'ing Mak's hp no .. SOS!!)

Sesame Street Birthday Cake

22nd May 2009. I am on leave today ... study leave.
Yup .. STUDY Leave .. an unrecorded leave taken to complete my thesis which is due next week. Spent all day writing, research, write again .. and only managed to add 400 words. OMG ... this is bad.

Clock is ticking.. Ad Din & Fiqah's birthday party tomorrow and I have not start anything!! Ok .. cool down Niza. Like Mr VK used to say .. "Apa-apapun maruah mesti mau jaga". Aduss .. so 8.00pm sharp I start
baking the cakes. One big orange cake and
another 30 chocolate cupcakes.

Cakes in the oven .. and now its time to mould
my Big Bird.
Hubby came and peep .. "Dear , why is your chicken so togel?"
Yaiks! Ooo how la now .. shall I make the feathers? Ha! Mak's jam tarts!!
Hmm just cut them with scissors he he he jadi pun... :)











Now the grass .. Alamak satu PJ cari tak jumpa nozzle ni. Yang ada big grass tip. Big nozzle = huge grass .. But on the Cookie Monster and Big Bird -- they look just fine :)

Nawal's Birthday

14th May 2009. A friend asked me if I can take last minute order - a simple chocolate cake will do. Hmm ok, I said thinking that I only need to buy eggs and cooking chocolate ...
I have gone home earlier than usual, went to my convenient Pasaraya TTDI to buy the two things.

What surprised me when I reached home is that I just realized-- I'm short of another major ingredients. My other half have used my box full of cream to make his banana shake !! O no! So I called Mak asking for alternative and guess what? She was at One U ... fuhhhh Alhamdullillah... As always, Mak -- the SuperMom, helped me in distress

Started at 8.30pm and completed only at 3am ... all because of the unsightly spot at a side of the cake. Trying all kind of deco to cover it up ... Then finally decided to add the golden sugar balls by the side..

Belek punya belek siap juga akhirnya. My first chocolate cake sold .. he he Hope you girls like it. Next time probably I can make prettier deco :)