Open House/ Raya Gathering 2009

During Ramadhan this year, I'd been asking hubby if he didn't want to have his friends over during raya for a makan-makan session at the house. The reason being that none of them had been here, not on official visits with their wives and family. He was hesitant at first as I guess he hated the idea of the hassle of being a host and pitied his wife too.

Last year raya, we had some of my friends with my relatives over for open house and BBQ, and then we had a separate session for hubby's relatives. We had two open house sessions, man! that was very tiresome and so we stopped at that. Thus, this year we've decided to have no open house, but just a simple gathering for a small group of his closest friends.

Hubby requested the main dish for the day : spaghetti bolognaise. And I added some side dishes and deserts to complement them. Because I cooked everything myself, I had to limit the number of dishes or else memang tak menang tangan, what with cooking, cleaning up the house and handling that toddler of mine. Hubby lent a helping hand in taking care of him most of the time, and cleaned up some part of the house.

Hubby made this fruit salad consists of red and green apple mix with yogurt, serious terer hubby i okeh! Next to it is the potato salad i made, it was a hit with among the ladies. Memang sedap hehehe...

Custard with lychee, this was a hit too. And mango flavoured dadih in the small containers. My BIL loved them so much that he tapau-ed back some, and I brought the rest to my mum's.

We'd been counting the number of invitees before and hubby said that I should prepare food for about 10-15 people, but we ended up with almost 30 people who came over. Luckily food was sufficient and we still had some left over which I brought to my mum's that nighty. Anyway, let's see some of the guests in action, makan time!

Our first guests of honor to arrive. After that people just kept coming and going, the flow was just nice.

I told hubby next year we MUST buy bigger dining table so we can accommodate more people to dine at one time.. haha

IMMA yang malu2 kucing to have her face plastered in my blog. haha..and hubby, and their lovely boboy of coz. :-D

Irfan senior and Irfan junior

My BIL's family, haish Kak Rina! Why did u have that red glow in ur eyes in all pics, scary hokeh! huhu

Cuteness! Irfan geram tengok. Hehe


Nice couple : Budan and Ida

The Charlie's Angels, no no, I mean...Hubby's Angels. huahuahua

A couple of them came later that night as they had something earlier. Our door was closed at around 11pm that night.Alhamdulillah, we had a good time entertaining and being a host on that day, and I got to use all my fancy pinggan mangkuk and schmancy cutlery that had been kept in the store for so long! Haha..Most importantly, Irfan enjoyed having so many kids to play with.

Thanks everyone for coming. Do come over anytime you feel like it okie.

Of Our Raya this year

We had a good raya this year considering that there was a wedding on the raya week, and things got pretty hectic with 3 grandsons of Idris Mohamed being under the same roof most of the time. My sister's family decided to crash at our place and man, I never thought it would be so fun to have two kids under my roof for one week. Yes, it was tiring. They fought all the time, but when one wasn't around the other one would start looking for his 'buddy'. I knew Irfan had much fun playing, or rather bullying, his Abang Ariez, as never in his 1.6 years of living he had playmate to hog his toys and run around with.

As much fun as we had, there's one thing for sure, no adik for Irfan until he can behave and make his own milk take care of himself. Seriously, last week was the most tiring week of my entire life!

My brother's family crashed at my mum's place, and with baby Emran, that's a different story all together. The first couple of days, he kept on trying to cuddle but ended up squeezing and squashing the baby. And there were a couple of times he managed to smack baby Emran, much to my dismay. I was so annoyed he couldn't behave himself in the near vicinity of the baby that a couple of times I myself smacked my little boy hard. That taught him a lesson alright as after that he would only sleep near Emran, or kiss him softly on the forehead.


Back to the two kids, Ariez and Irfan had a fight over my dad. Ariez was not happy to see my dad picked up Irfan while Irfan pantang nampak my dad, he'd threw tantrum so my dad had to pick him up. Oh no, he didn't want no one else but grandpa when grandpa was around. I think his main intention was to piss off Ariez, bad bad cousin you had been, Irfan! Boys, you have to learn to share your grandfather okay, coz you're gonna have more rivals coming around soon. Haaah! Why don't you two gang up against the rest of them. Yessss, that's more like it!


We didn't manage to visit any relatives on hubby's side yet, but I've been to most of my auntie's house as they did open house/makan- makan for our family. The solemnization ceremony of my sister took place on Wednesday, and the reception on Friday night. I didn't invite any of my friends as we had a combined reception between the bride and groom's side, thus number of invitees had to be limited to close family and the newlywed's friends. Sorry guys, jangan kecil hati okay.



And last but not least, there won't be any open house for us this year, as I'm not up to the hassle of being a host like last year, but friends are invited to come for raya whenever you feel like it. Just give me a ring okay, our door will always be open for you. :-D

Last Night's Wedding

We had a blast last night. It was the wedding reception of my sister and the kiddos (Irfan and his cousin, currently staying at our house) sure had fun. Would love to share more but we have a plan this afternoon so I'm gonna leave you guys with these pics first.


Cheerios~ have a fun weekend peeps!

1st Day raya

First day of raya was spent with my family and the in-laws of course. What a pleasant coincidence that this year, all the three couples with our two sons wore something in silver and purple (inlaws family). They make a great combination, silver and purple, no?

Gumuksnya! Benci!

My mum was busy as usual and I cooked the ayam masak merah dish for her. It didn't turn out too well! Kinda too salty. As of previous years, it was a full house on the first day of raya, with friends and relatives all coming over since morning until night time. What a pleasant raya we had, especially with Irfan getting cheekier and entertaining everyone (esp. the grandparents) with his cheekiness.

Now I have to get ready to welcome my visitors tonight. More on raya post soon insyaAllah.

Asal Usul Baju Kurung

Tengah frust my baju raya isn't yet completed, suddenly I came across this article about how baju kurung was introduced into the Malay community. Haaa, lagi la frust! I want my baju kurung (modern) to be worn for raya. Tonight will get them from the tailor insyaAllah.

I've always like wearing baju kurung compared to kebaya, maybe because I'm too fat voluptuous and I need to hide those love handles curves from being exposed. Baju kurung has always been the most comfortable attire for me especially when worn to classes, and to work. My dad has always been a strict parent who will reprimand us whenever we wear something too revealing.I admit that during my teenage years, I sometimes wore revealing cloth especially when going out with friends as I've always wanted to fit in with the cool people. But of course I didn't wore them in front of my parents, I covered up with oversize cardigans and jacket in front of them.

Now that I'm a mother and a wife, adalah sedikit keinsafan not to wear such clothes anymore, especially with all these love handles, it'll definitely provide an eye-sore view for the onlookers. Haha..

Anyway, back to the main point for this entry, asal usul baju kurung. I got the story from here, I hope she wouldn't mind me copying the write up to share with readers of my blog.

The true meaning of baju "kurung" :

"Tuanku, pacal namakan busana yang pertama ini baju kurung. Boleh sahaja disediakan untuk lelaki mahupun perempuan. Tetapi, dengan sedikit perbezaan. Adapun pacal namakan baju kurung kerana pertama, busana ini dikurung oleh syarak. pakaian Melayu itu haruslah dikurung ketentuan syariat. Maka memang pacal rekakan pakaian ini supaya labuh, longgar, selesa dan tidak mengetam."

"Adapun kurung itu dikurung oleh adat. Manusia Melayu itu apabila mengenakan baju kurung, segera dia tahu membawa diri, menyesuaikan dengan tempat, tahu pula alat kelengkapan yang harus dipakai sama, tahu cara memakainya, dan wajib pula tahu apa makna dan tujuan mengenakannya"

"Pacal mengimpikan sejenis busana yang apabila dikenakan di badan si pemakainya terkurung dan terhindar sifat angkuh dan sombong. Oleh baju kurung itu sekali-kali si pemakainya tidak bercakap bohong dan apabila sudah berbaju kurung peliharalah iman supaya tidak terpesong"

It is true indeed, whenever I wear baju kurung it would bring a different feeling inside, unlike when I'm in my jeans and blouse.

And what's the motive behind the design, the men's baju kurung (also known as baju Melayu) has 5 buttons whilst the ladies kurung has one button?

".... Pacal membayangkan rumah butang yang lima itu maknanya rukun Islam..... Ampun Tuanku, pacal juga mengimpikan butang yang satu itu ialah lambang akidah kita. Kita mengesakan Allah yang satu....."

"Pacal bayangkan bumi ini bulat seperti mulut belanga (leher baju kurung) dan kita duduk di mukanya (butang nan satu yang mengancing leher baju) sebagai abdi Tuhan."

Now, wearing the attire will mean so much more to me as I now have the knowledge of why it was designed in such a way, in accordance to the Islamic teaching. And it has always been my view that baju kurung is the epitome of a true gadis melayu : penuh dengan sifat ketimuran.

Wallahua'alam.

Takdak baju raya pun bole raya jugak kan?

I'm seriously P.I.S.S.E.D O.F.F!! As feared, my baju raya is not yet completed! Okie, so the first baju I sent to this tailor near our house. When I called her earlier at around 8pm, she wasn't around and I was asked to come back at 10 ++pm. So we headed to the other tailor all the way in town. We arrived just in time as she was already closing up. My baju was supposed to be ready by the 15th, but when she checked just now, it's not done! I'm seriously never gonna send my clothes to her again albeit her satisfactory work. She's charging more nowadays, my plain, and I mean it, PLAIN with no beadings whatsoever, baju kurung modern cost just as much as the one with beadings last time. What the ???? Dahla cekik darah, now she can't even complete it on time. She even had the guts to ask my husband to come back on M.O.N.D.A.Y, you guys, MONDAY. Eeeee, I'm just so mad! I need that baju for the upcoming wedding on the 4th day of raya. Or else I'm going to have to recycle whatever baju I have in peach or silver.

Okie, so being disappointed with THAT capek tailor, we headed back to the other tailor. Oh before that we went to buy IRfan's diapers and milk supply, and a few other stuff at Sunshine Bayan Baru. AFTER that we headed back to Sally the tailor and when I called her again, guess what? She's stiiiiiill not at home. We've been all around the island, where else are we suppose to go before she would freaking come back? Where, tell me where?

Ok lah I better stop right this minute or else this blog will soon fall under the X-Rated category. Pbhtttttt!

Makeup Raya

Though before this I didn't feel all psyched to celebrate the upcoming raya, now as the day is drawing closer I'm getting some good vibes from all the TV shows and the so many blogs in the blogsphere discussing and describing about the eid.

I was bloghopping as usual this morning and reading all the blogs in my list when I came across this entry in my adik ipaq's blog. Huhu. Suddenly it made me wanted to try out some new technique for the eye makeup, this can also be considered as a preparation for raya, right guys? Haha..

Anyway, I love makeup. Which women don't, rite? My mum said ever since I became a SAHM, she gets rimas seeing me doing my makeup dengan tahap melampau especially when I tried to apply the smoky eyes effect and whatnot yang always end up tak jadi. What she meant is, nak pi beli ikan pun nak bermakeup smoky eyes bagai! Haha..seriously, not to that extent lah. But whenever I could and whenever I was in the right mood, I'd take time to apply makeup, not because I want to look pretty for people I meet, but I just don't want my hubby to be embarrassed by his selekeh stay at home wifey yang gendut!

Once in a blue moon, I'd make a painstaking effort to make up for hubby for when he gets home. That's a bit too troublesome to do as I have a clingy baby by my side like all the time, and I cook everyday. So most of the time I won't have enough time to cook, shower and color my face just in time before my hubby gets home but whenever I did, I knew my hubby loved it!

Irfan loves my makeup, he said "mama, tannntiiiikk!" hehehe

But I know I'm not that good in applying makeup especially on the eyes part. I really2 love smoky eyes effect on other people but I'm not good in applying them on myself, I always ended up looking like a ghost! Anyone can give me an extensive lesson on that?

Ampun Maaf Dipinta

Internet is very weng today! Tension! Perhaps it's a sign for me to stop bloghopping and ym-ing and do housework instead.

This whole week is a none cooking week for me. We're already in the festive mood and hubby decided to just buy dishes from Pasar Ramadhan, yippie for me! Tonight we'll be having iftar outside with his colleague so I don't even have to cook plain rice or boil water to make coffee for us. Haha double yippie! Dasar pemalas.

Anyway, since I don't have faith in the internet connection nowadays, I would like to wish all bloggers and readers of this blog Selamat Hari Raya Aildilfitri in advance. Maaf Zahir dan Batin. I might've been too cocky or hurt anyone's feeling throughout my entire blogging period, so please forgive me and let bygone be bygone. Have a happy and cheerful raya with your loved ones, and don't forget duit raya for my little boy Irfan okeh!

Now, I just need to get my baju kurung raya from those tailors. I hope it's done, if not tak raya la saya! Huhu..

Handbag Raya

This year, since I'm currently not working, our raya preparation takdak la beria-ia sangat. No new curtain, and nothing new (major) for the house. We did a little makeover for the house a few months earlier so at least some part of the house has a new look this year, though we didn't do any major renovation. Hubby fixed a new lampu lip lap at the balcony to add to the festive mood, but it's still not properly done. As for clothes, we did get something new for the three of us, and then I baked my own raya cookies. I have to get new tudung to match my outfit, but that's about it. I was actually quite satisfied with our preparation until I went to my PIL house last week for Iftar.

As we were about to go back after maghrib prayer and I proceeded to salam with my FIL, he said to me, "Eh dah nak raya ni, beli la handbag baruuu!" and I was like hahhhh! I totally agree with you la FIL! Why don't you ask your beloved son to get me this or if you wanna get it for me I would be too happy to accept *LOL* :


I've been drooling over them for too long! Hehe..

Never Ending Story

Oh my! This feels like it's never gonna end. People are busy performing more ibadah with hope to meet lailatul qadr while I'm busy with my raya cookies. My red flag is finally here, I thought I'd be able to fast for the whole month as my period cycle nowadays has gone bonkers, sometimes it goes on for almost 40 days! But somehow it arrived on time this month. Pbhhttt! So I'm going to miss reciting Quran with hubby for the remaining 5 days of Ramadhan *sob sob* tu la masa boleh tak fully utilized it, now baru nak nyesal.

Anyway, since I was quite free this morning and I had half a pack of cornflakes and a container of cooking chocolate left, I made these chocolate cornflakes as hubby had been mentioning it for a bit too often. Another reason is I would rather have him munch on these than the biskut mazola for the remaining 5 days, as I don't have much left and pray hard for the mazola to see the first ray of sunshine on raya day.

Anyway, I got the recipe for this chocolate cornflakes on the internet. At first I was wondering why the flakes won't stick together after it I spooned them into the paper cups. I was tempted to bake them in contrast to the recipe but out of sheer frustration I just left them on the table waiting for hubby to get back and think of a solution. :-p

When he got back from work, I complained to him about those cornflakes and when we checked, tadaaa! They've stuck together in the cups. So my chocolate cornflakes menjadi after all. I just had to left them to really-really-really cool off rupanya. Yippie!

Look at those lines!

Whenever we shop for his clothes, Irfan has a tendency to grab stripe design for himself. Haha NOT! His mama does. Somehow, I can't run away from those lines! Deiyym! Tengoklah. It's either stripes, or plain tee. Now, I should really be more creative and venture into checkered and cartoon characters pulak.

So hubby, are you up for another round of shopping? ;-p

Raya Cookies - 2nd Batch

The second batch of kuih raya - Mazola biscuit. I omitted the peanut on top as I was too lazy to fuss with them. They taste soooo good, thanks Kayla for the recipe!

I got 200 pieces of these, packed in 4 containers so again these will be distributed among my mother, MIL and myself. Perhaps I shall make more raya cookies tonight? ;-)


Are you done with your raya cookies?

Matching-Matching Raya

Yeay! Finally managed to get the same t-shirts for Irfan and his two cousins. Sayangnya couldn't get one for my nephew in Houston, as they didn't have one in his size. Kesian Ariez, if not bole matching-matching raya nanti!




*Psssstt! Macam ada three sons plak kan haha!

Baju Raya for the boys

Earlier, hubby insisted there won't be any baju raya for him, and no more for Irfan. But he gave in the end. Tsk tsk tsk. Now, bila plak baju raya mama nak siap ni?

Biskut Mazola

Last sunday was spent baking the cocoa walnut cookies. Oh, I think I've perfected them and now they're not as hard as Hagrid's infamous cake anymore. I made 6 containers of these to be distributed among mum, MIL and myself. While mum and I were busy baking, Irfan was busy making a wreck with the dough. So definitely the cookies will have a hint of Irfan's taste in them. Oh, now I get it why he kept on asking for biscuit and more biscuit raya nowadays. Haha!

Hopefully tomorrow my mum will be able to come to the house, so I could proceed with baking Biskut Mazola. I have yet to try Kayla's recipe for Mazola, and my aunt's recipe for Bunga Cina cookies (? i don't even know how it looks like, but my mum ask me to make them haish!). I hope I will have the time and mood to make some cornflakes, as hubby is quite interested to make them. I want them with honey but he wants them with chocolate, so we dare each other to bake each our own, and see whose will taste better. Hehe..

Oh, I can't wait to make more raya cookies. And I better go and hide those I have before my son finishes them all!