Penned Down #10: Detoxing The Laziness Away

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

Have you ever encountered a situation where you were trying a product with so-called claims and it turned out working for real? Well it did happened to me this morning, which was very rare as I often tried variety of products but they turned me down as always.

The thing was, I had been constantly tired or lacking in energy lately. Most of the times, I had to drag my uninterested body to finish up the usual house chores or to attend The Hubster. Sometimes I just felt fatigue even to catch my own bath time. How pathetic, I know.

'Lazing away by Yours Truly'

The lethargy affected my both physical and mental state. Always I felt demotivated and exhausted to do anything. Even during my sleeps, I did not quite enjoy them for I constantly woke up in the middle of the nights without reasonable explanation. So I took my own sweet time to squeeze my brain out to find the cause. Finally I figured out the solution. I need to detox my body!

It appeared to me that every symptom of my weariness these days only happened after the recent Eid. Well a lot of things did happen after Eid (or should I say, not happened)? I had skipped my daily exercises, stopped eating healthy and revoked my diet. Unfortunately my body had been accumulating those destructive toxins by now.

So last night I went straight up to Daiso in Aeon Seri Manjung. Bought only a packet of detox patch just to see the potency. I knew there are lots of detox patch under Kinohimitsu label but I'd rather spend my bucks to cheap stuffs for trying out in case they are not effective. Yeah, I am that cheapskate by situation. Moreover I did not worry to use the cheap stuffs because they went onto my feet, not my sensitive face. Teehee.

I laughed upon reading the label; 'You will wake up feeling refreshed'. I was like, come on man. Are you kidding me with this RM5 thingy? Bahaha. Still with mounts of skeptical feeling, I patched them on both feet before sleep. To my surprise, I really woke up with fresh body and mind this morning! No kidding. This stuff really worked as it claimed to be.

I then stripped out the patches on my feet and they turned out to be dark brown. So I googled and found out the colors on used detox patch indicate different conditions. Black means weak body condition with heave toxins deposit. Brown means moderate health condition with normal waste deposit. While grey means excellent health condition with little toxins in body.

Mine was between black and brown so I still have to worry and continue my detox. Well you don't have to rely solely on the foot patch for detoxification. You can make your own detox drink by mixing altogether lemon, cucumber and mint to plain water of 1 gallon pitcher and stop taking carbonated drinks, coffee, tea or milk for two weeks consecutively. You will be amazed with how detoxification will benefit your body.

Being healthy is sexy, people!

Anyone Can Bake #2: Cotton Soft Cheese Cake

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

Calling for all cheese cake lovers, this recipe is a must for you! Always when it comes to cheese cake, we can only imagine the overly rich cheesy taste in it that sometimes we feel like errr, throwing up only after eating two slices. No?

Fret not, people! As recalled by Sprinkle Bakes, this cheesecake is a textural masterpiece. Like the name indicates, it is light and cottony and its sponginess will have you tearing it apart with your bare hands just to examine the beautiful interior. It's a sponge cake-slash-cheesecake hybrid. A beautiful thing.

When I first tasted this cake (baked by Yong the-eldest-sis), I was reacting like a baby who just had her food put into her mouth for the first time. I was stunned with its delicate texture which made it different from any other cakes. Turns out this cake has been on top of my favorite list to bake now.

But behold, for this type of cakes (or should I say, anything that involves meringue) is always a bit tricky. Two major issues often said are side shrinking and top cracking. However I did some research and found out lots of tip and tricks provided by successful bakers. So I simply combine them below for your easier reference.

Do remember to follow every details on each step. Original recipe is by Alex Goh's Fantastic Cheesecake with slight modifications adapted. Good luck!

 

'Courtesy of SprinkleBakes.com'

Kek Keju Kapas

(Cotton Soft Cheese Cake)

What You'll Need:

(A)

120ml milk / 60ml milk & 60ml whipping cream

160gm cream cheese - softened at room temperature

25gm butter - softened at room temperature

(B) 

4 egg whites
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
100gm caster sugar

(C)

4 egg yolks

40gm superfine flour

30gm corn flour

Pinch of salt

1/2 lemon zest

Now Let's Get Baking:

1. Preheat oven to 150C (302F). Grease and line the bottom of the pan. Best to use 8 inches spring-form pan.

2. Using a large bowl, pour in milk. Place the bowl over simmering water. Add cream cheese and stir occasionally until completely dissolved and the mixture turns smooth. Stir in butter until dissolved. Remove from heat. 

3. Let it cools down a bit before sieving the cream cheese batter using a wire mesh sieve. Add in the egg yolks and combine well. Make sure the mixture is not too hot, as you don’t want to cook the egg yolks at this stage.

4. Combine superfine flour, corn flour and salt. Sift in the flours into the cream cheese mixture, a small amount at a time. Mix well between every addition, and make sure there aren’t any flour lumps. Stir in freshly grated zest. Set aside.

5. Place egg whites in a large clean bowl. Make sure there’s no oil or water in the bowl at all. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites for 3 minutes at high speed then add cream of tartar and blend again. Pour sugar in the egg whites and blend everything at low speed until stiff peaks form (meringue).

6. Divide and pour the cheese mixture into meringue in 3-4 times, fold delicately until well combined. Cheese mixture is to be mixed into the meringue, not the other way round to avoid lumps and improper mixed meringue.

7. Pour the mixture into the baking pan. Put boiling waters into four ramekins or tart molds and place them below the baking rack at four corners. Bake the cake at the lowest rack in the oven, use top and bottom fire setting for about 50 minutes or until set and golden brown.

8. Slightly open your oven door during the last 10 minutes of baking time so that the cake can shrink slowly before you take it out from the oven. Test with a needle or skewer that comes out clean. Leave the cake in the oven with door ajar for another 10 minutes before taking it out.

9. Remove pan from oven. Let it stands until cake pulls away from the sides of the pan before removing the spring-form ring. Let it cools completely on a wire rack. Chill in a fridge for about 3 hours.

Baked with much loves, people!

Scent of Sentiment #2: Tears in Africa (Part II)

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

This is the sequel from the first video on my previous post. Everyone knows how poverty, starvation and famine have caused most unfortunate people in Africa to still suffer in agony even though we are now living in modern days with freaking smart phones and else. How irony.

For this group of people and others whose names unmentioned, they truly served the purpose of humanity. This shows an example of how your little contributions could have aided these children's lives. If you have more to give then give more. If you have little to give then give little.

Always remember that everything we own now are borrowed from our Creator. He might take back whenever He wants so never feel reluctant to share what we gain from Him. You will never be a cent poorer to help the less fortunate, though.

Click here to start sponsor a child today or you can make affordable donations within your budget range. If you are from Malaysia, click here instead.

Just a friendly reminder to you and I, people!

Scent of Sentiment #1: Tears in Africa

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

Each time we waste our foods, please think of these children.

For these children are starving to death, when all we do here are putting away our plates with leftovers into the bin. Are we aware that it might be their source of foods to fuel up their weak bodies?

 Each time we salivate over high-end products, please think of these children.

For these children are struggling to stay alive, when all we do here are spending away our bucks just to have the taste of branded labels. Are we aware that it might be their source of money to provide them with shelters?

Each time we grumble about the never ending work load, please think of these children.

For these children are trying their best to ease each other's burdens, when all we do here are complaining about the unfairness of work load given. Are we aware that these children never fuss over the unwanted task of taking care the less fortunate among them?

This is not a time to blame anyone or to just watch over. Jump in and help out. Do the walk and not just the talk. Forget the culture and religion differences. What if they were our child? It is already 2013 and starvation among the children in poverty still exist since forever. 

Always remember that Allah SWT would never left us with hardship to endure unless we are capable with. Please pray for the unlucky children all over the world; regardless the skin colors. May their futures will be brighter than ever. Amen.

Click here to start sponsor a child today or you can make affordable donations within your budget range. If you are from Malaysia, click here instead.

To help people in needs is always better than to help people who isn't, people!

Penned Down #9: Here Kitty, Kitty

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

I love cats, and will always be. Cats have been my loyal companion ever since I first saw these creatures too-fluffy-that-I-am-gonna-die thing (you do know what movie it came from). Teehee. My fondness to cats is beyond anything you could imagine; not even the same level with how I see a baby. The connection between me and these creatures is simply unexplainable. But sorry kitty, I am now officially allergy to you.

Suddenly it came to my over-wondering mind; how did I get the cat allergy now after years of allergy-free-symptoms? I never had problems with physical contact before; now I can never get too close with them anymore. Once I used to have a cat named Puteh who acted truly like a loyal friend to me. He really accompanied me at all times like dog-bonding stuff and a very clever animal, too.

He knew his toilet very well that even though he was wandering outside the house (illegally by permission of course), he would definitely get inside the house to do his unfinished toilet business. I was like whoa, why didn't he just pee on the yard like any other normal cats who always get the impression that everywhere they step is a mobile toilet?

'Puteh the-smarty-pant with his only cat buddy, Baby. They were gay, anyway. Like seriously'

When I was having problem or crying, he would sleep at my feet and never left me all through the night. Sometimes we shared food and drinks, which Mom really against it (sorry Mom). Teehee. He was very closed to me that he answered to only my voice. When I got married later, we had to put him to sleep outside our bedroom but guess what? He kept scratching the bedroom's door and disturbed our nights relentlessly.

Luckily The Hubster understood the situation so later we took him back to sleep with us in the same room for a few months before he finally got used to sleep separately. What a weird cat. No? Sometimes The Hubster and I would have the suspicious thought that maybe my cat was thinking he was a human too, like us. Hence it explained why he acted like one and not like the usual pet.

Sadly he is no longer with us, but I knew I would never get such a loyal and devoted companion like him. He was by far the smartest cat I had ever met. Unlike the other cats, he recognized me so well that when he was gone, I missed him terribly like one of my best friends had died. Farewell and R.I.P Puteh.

Now that I am allergy to felines, I had stopped adopting any. Unfortunately, The Hubster has been growing his fondness to cats despite of the fact that he was not a cat person before he married me. So every time I tried to clear the house off felines, he would took in one kitten for himself. Now the kitten turned adult, she gave birth to few kittens. Instead of clearing one, now we have more cats in the house. Pfft.

Cats were very dear to our Prophet Muhammad SAW, people! So treat them nicely.

Penned Down #8: Tangy Madness

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

I always have weird madness on certain foods in certain period. Usually it does not last longer so The Hubster should be really grateful for he would be the one to do the food hunts. My weird food madness could be from anything. It can be a simple snack but most of the times, it is difficult to find. To add to the worst, my lunatic food craving goes for everyday until it stops naturally.

Once I was really salivating for Keropok Lekor and we had to hunt for more than 10 places from Sitiawan to Lumut only to search for it. That's why I called this a sheer madness. For if I really want it, then off we should find it straight away. No delays, no excuses and no such things like 'maybe we should find it tomorrow or later'. Nooo.

Again, I thank God for a husband who always understand the lunacy in every wife. He never said no to everything I ask from him. Be it anything, he always makes sure to fulfill what I want as long as he can afford it. He is the kind of person that never reluctant any second to buy anything for me; even though he would be left with only a penny later. Now I know why I married him. Teehee.

Back to the main issue, my latest madness with foods now is getting more weirder than ever. I think I have developed some kind of extra tongue sensor on my sour part. Lately I have been putting everything I eat with juices from one lime or two every time I have my meals! When I said everything, that ranges from savory to desserts. And drinks, too.

No, I still have no fond of eating citrus fruits all by themselves. They are too tangy for me. It is either to be put into the rice dish, meal or drinks. The Hubster was speechless when he saw a bowl of lime that he plucked off the tree has turned empty on the second night. I, myself feel amazed with my sour sensor capability. Has it turned mad?

'This is how I see citrus fruits now. Too yummy. Courtesy of Atosa.es'

It is just that I really love the zesty taste in my foods now. They are just irresistibly good! The more sour it is, the more appetizing it will be. Well I hope this crazy habit will go away sooner because I truly understand my foods now are highly acidic (no need to tell me that). I also read that sour foods set off our digestive juices into overdrive. So I might get a double whammy.

 To anyone who is having the same dilemma like me, tangy madness or any other food madness is still cool unless we are overdoing it. You might catch the drawbacks later, so to speak. I just hope my next lunatic food cravings will be varied to more safer options. As for now, I should try to limit it to an occasional splurge and pray that my madness won't cause me harm.

Indulge in normal food habits, people!

Anyone Can Bake #1: Chocolate Almond Cake

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

Who doesn't love a good slice of chocolate cake? I always have problems in searching for heavenly chocolate cake recipe. Be it from baking method or steaming recipe; most of my attempts did not come out to my exact liking. They might be too dense that I would have trouble swallowing it. Or they might be too dry that I could have just bought one from a nearest store. Pfft.

Browsing using keywords of featherlight chocolate cake recipe, the famous Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking popped out on the result. This recipe calls for an extremely good chocolate cake for its creamy and rich yet fluffy and light at the same time. Too good to be true? Try it so you may do the judging yourselves.

'Courtesy of ApronStringsBlog.com'

Reine de Saba avec Glaçage au Chocolat

(Chocolate and Almond Cake with Chocolate Icing)

What You'll Need:

(For the Cake)

8 tbsp of semisweet chocolate melted with 2 tbsp of instant coffee
8 tbsp of softened butter
2/3 cup of castor sugar
3 egg yolks
3 egg whites
A pinch of salt
1 tbsp of granulated sugar
2/3 cup of pulverized almonds (almonds finely blended with 1 tsp of granulated sugar)
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup of cake flour

(For the Icing)

4 tbsp of semisweet baking chocolate
2 tbsp of instant coffee
6 tbsp of unsalted butter

Now Let's Get Baking:

(For the Cake)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Butter and flour the cake pan. Double boil the chocolate and instant coffee in a small pan.

3. Cream the butter and sugar together for several minutes until they form a pale yellow, fluffy mixture. Beat in the egg yolks until well blended.

4. Beat the egg whites and salt in a separate bowl until soft peaks are formed; sprinkle on the sugar and beat until stiff peaks are formed.

5. With a rubber spatula, blend the melted chocolate into the butter and sugar mixture, then stir in almonds, and almond extract. Immediately stir one fourth of the beaten egg whites to lighten the batter.

6. Delicately fold in a third of the remaining whites and when partially blended, sift on one third of the flour and continue folding. Alternate rapidly with more egg whites and more flour until all egg whites and flour are incorporated.

7. Turn the batter into the cake pan. Bake in middle level of preheated oven for about 25 minutes.

8. Cake is done when it has puffed, and 2-1/2 to 3 inches around the circumference are set so that a needle plunged into that area comes out clean; the center should move slightly if the pan is shaken, and a needle comes out oily.

9. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Run knife around the edge of the pan, and reverse cake on the rack. Allow it to cool for an hour or two; it must be thoroughly cold if it is to be iced.

(For the Icing)

Double boil the chocolate and instant coffee in the small pan until perfectly smooth. Lift chocolate pan out of the hot water and beat in the butter a tablespoon at a time. Then beat over the ice and water until chocolate mixture has cooled to spreading consistency. At once spread it over your cake with spatula or knife, and press a design of almonds over the icing.

Baked with much loves, people!

Penned Down #7: The Better Half

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

Often that I came across some text article or situations where husbands proudly exhibit the dominant side of them to families in public. Once I was in Tesco with The Hubster and overheard (not eavesdropping) a husband bawled out his wife for grabbing unnecessary thing although the wife was only taking a bar of chocolate from a confectionery shelf.

He was so loud that everyone was looking and I could see the wife's face turned red. Surprisingly she was not arguing back but shied away after returning the chocolate bar to the shelf. There I stood still with chocolate in both hands; started to wonder if I too did take the unnecessary things off list. The Hubster then popped out of no where and upon seeing the bars that I was holding, he grinned.

"Do you want only these? Are they enough?" He asked but curiously.

I let out a longgg sigh of relieve. That's my husband, I thought.

I am amazed for how these women could keep their sanity in unhappy marriages; where husbands showing off the dominant personality all the times and wives suffering in agony. Eventually some of them would finally realize the useless point of leading melancholy marriage and ended it after quite a term. How unfortunate, for these women had actually wasted their ages to undeserving persons.

Taken from 'Making Marriage Work for Dummies', a marriage will be best if we debunk common marital myths, fight fairly, reduce marital stress, maintain a good sex life, and work together to resolve money issues that affect the marriage. Very true, indeed. After all, the main reason of why people get married at first place is actually to complete the flaw and strength of one another. To accept the ugliness and to cherish the beauty in the partner. No?

Almost getting to the fourth year, The Hubster has done nothing but good things ever since. No, this is not a husband-praising-activity blog post. I know most women would always put in all the good words when it comes to their partners (indeed you should) but that's not how I roll. It is true The Hubster is not one of those rich husbands with topnotch profession and fancy cars. But I am lucky for he adheres to every core of making a marriage works.

"To have and to hold

For better or for worse

For richer or for poorer

In sickness and in health

To love and to cherish

As long as we both shall live,"

 We did fight like serious adults. We did kick and punch like a bunch of kids. But one thing we always keep in mind is that never take your arguments to bed. It is the bed that soothes all your anger and resentment in one night. Believe me for you will laugh at how immature your fights have been when you wake up in the morning. I am thankful for both of us have finally understood the right way to fill in the gap between our flaw and strengths. He is my better half.

Always have respect for your spouses, people!

'The Young Hubster'

Anyone Can Fry #1: Nasi Goreng Nenas

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

Another post of recipe, it seems. Gagaga. No, no. This is not a food blog anyway. I just enjoy sharing recipes which are closed to my heart. Hence the recipe selection is purely based from what I love to cook and eat only. Please don't judge. Teehee.

Well there's a huge different between cook-and-eat or cook-and-not-eating it, you know? Sometimes cooking could just be another duty like anything else. But if you are lucky, it could be an interesting task when it comes to something favorite of yours.

 Today's recipe will be Nasi Goreng Nenas or Fried Rice with Pineapple. We call it one-complete-meal so it does have carb, protein and veges in it. Please pardon the pineapple prop in the picture below. After all a courtesy picture is merely created to stimulate your taste buds. No? Please use a normal, nice plate instead. Bahaha.

'Courtesy of RasaMalaysia.com. Spicy level: 2/5'

Nasi Goreng Nenas
(Fried Rice with Pineapples)

What You'll Need:

(A)

2 cups of rice

3 cups of water

(B)

2 shallots (bawang merah)

4 garlic cloves (bawang putih)

1+1/2 tbsp of water

(C)

1 cup of shrimps (udang) - cleaned & peeled

1/2 cup of pineapple cube cuts

1/4 cup of green capsicum cube cuts (lada benggala hijau)

1 egg size A

1 tsp of shrimp paste (belacan) - *optional

1 chicken stock cube (kiub pati ayam)

1 tbsp of salt

1 tsp of sugar

1 tsp of black pepper

3 tbsp of margarine/ vegetable oil

Now Let's Get Frying:

1. Cook everything in (A) in a rice cooker and leave it overnight.

2. Blend everything in (B). If you prefer to lesung batu them, please omit the water.

3. Heat your pan with margarine. Stir-fry blended ingredient in (B) with shrimp paste until it turns aromatic. Add in the shrimps until half-cooked.

4. Add in pineapple and green capsicum. Do some quick stirs before add in chicken stock, salt, sugar and black pepper.

5. Crack egg into a pan's side and scramble it to half-cooked. Add rice and mix everything well together. Stir-fry for another three minutes on low heat. Ready to serve.

 Fried with much loves, people!

Anyone Can Cook #1: Sambal Ayam

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

Out of sudden, I thought of giving something useful to this blog apart from self-updating stories. So I have decided to share some home-cooked recipes starting from today. Well this might be quite useful to some newly-weds whose kitchen's experience was maybe to cook instant noodles using the boiled water (aha!).

So today's recipe will be Sambal Ayam or Fried Chicken with Chillies. Some people called it Ayam Goreng Bercili/Berlada but it is a same thing. Please do take note for this Sambal Ayam is not similar to Ayam Masak Merah. It is a side dish so it shall be served with rice or Nasi Lemak.

Some optional ingredients marked * below are listed to enhance the flavors but you may skip them anyway for a still delicious, simple recipe. I prefer my cooking to be simple yet tasty. However if you are not rushing and most optional ingredients are ready-in-stock, then you could twist the usual recipe for a brand new taste.

'Courtesy of Rasa.com. Spicy level: 3/5'

Sambal Ayam
(Fried Chicken with Chillies)

What You'll Need:

(A)

1/2 from a whole chicken

1+1/2 tbsp of turmeric powder (serbuk kunyit)

1/2 tbsp of salt

2 cups of vegetable oil

(B)

1/2 from an onion (bawang besar)

4 garlic cloves (bawang putih)

2 candlenuts (buah keras) - *optional

1 small lemongrass (serai) - *optional

1 cup of water

(C)

1/2 from an onion - sliced

6 tbsp of blended dried chillies (cili kering)

1+1/2 tbsp of sugar

1/2 tbsp of salt

1 chicken stock cube (kiub pati ayam)
Juices from 4 small limes (limau nipis)
4 Kaffir lime leaves (daun limau purut) - *optional

Now Let's Get Cooking:

1. Cut chicken into small pieces. Rub them with turmeric powder and salt in (A) before frying them in vegetable oil until half-cooked in a cooking pan. Set them aside.

2. Blend everything in (B).

3. Take out half of the oil used for chicken frying and set it aside. Using the other half of oil left in the same pan, saute the sliced onion and blended dried chillies in (C) on medium heat for five minutes.

4. Add in the blended ingredients in (B). It should be sauteed for another five minutes on slow heat. Make sure you keep stirring it to avoid it burns on the bottom of pan.

5. Add in the Kaffir lime leaves, sugar, salt, chicken stock cube and lime juice. Mix them well before add in the fried chicken pieces. Stir for another five minutes on low heat. Ready to serve.

Cooked with much loves, people!

Penned Down #6: Unanswered Prayers

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

Have you ever felt too frustrating that you might actually think you have became kaput? Or in easier way to explain it is to feel useless and utterly defeated. Well lately I have been feeling all of that for I might have thought I am doomed forever to an unfortunate life.

I know there are always reasons not to feel good enough and whatnot, but at the end of the day it will be me still doing all the self-questioning about the life I am currently living. Sometimes I still did question through my prayers; why is that I am not leading a normal life like the others? Why do I still have unanswered prayers? Do all my prayers have been listened, then?

I asked The Hubster on one night.

"I have a few friends who have been negligent in solats. They are not even proper in covering their aurahs. But why do they still live a way better life than me?"

"I don't know," The Hubster shrugged.

"Maybe they have done other good deeds in life despite of their lacking in ibadahs. No?"

"Hmm maybe," He replied in short.

"So does it mean I am a bad person?"

"Now that's absurd," He ended the topic.

We both then got idled for quite some times. Maybe he was thinking the possibilities like I did, too. Is it because I have sinned so much that my prayers got delayed to be granted? Astaghfirullahaladzim. I ask forgiveness from Allah the Almighty.

I suddenly remember about a reminder given by Nyah the-second-sis a few years back. She said to always repent for our sins every single day and ask as much as you need from Allah SWT without doubts. Not to forget to work on full amount of efforts beside repent and doas'.

'Yours Truly was bottle-fed by Nyah. God, she looked real skinny back then'

Well she was right. I am doubting my Creator and I am ashamed with it. If any of our prayers have yet to be answered, it means we have not done good enough on other part of repenting, asking doas and making efforts. If we are sure enough that we have done all the three parts, it must be a matter of time. In sya Allah.

It will either be sooner or later, people!

Penned Down #5: The Ramadan & Eid Story (Part III)

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

I feel some kind of awkward when I was typing the 'Part III' on the post title just now. Seems like I am trying to be cheeky, cool and whatnot. Well, let me rummage the final part now before everyone really think I am that saucy for flirting with post delays. It is not me, it is the story which is too much to be stuffed into only one post. Moreover I prefer my blog posts to be lite and easy, not crowded. You too, right?

Continued from this post and this another post.

The next day after we got home, The Hubster and I were heading to Bota where one of The Hubster's relatives got married. Most of my in-laws were also there so we met again including my PILs. One interesting thing at the wedding was that, they provided an ice-cream corner for the guests. Being a sweet-tooth myself, I settled for three cones at a time. Phew!

So after the wedding and goodbye kisses blown to the in-laws, we joined Mom and Annie the-youngest-sis for an Eid visit to relatives' places from my family side at Parit, Seri Iskandar and Batu Gajah. I guess those were the only and last places we paid for Eid visits this year before we went to Ipoh for my cousin's wedding on the next weekend.

'The Love Birds. Izzat & Kak Yah'

The wedding was beautiful and my cousin had never been looking so pretty like she did on that day. She is two years older than me and I still recalled her words on my wedding day in 2009.

"I guess your kids will be older than my kids that you are now getting married earlier than me, though," She joked.

I guess she worried too much because even after she is now married, I am still yet to be blessed with my own heaven-on-earth. I am sure she would definitely race me on this baby matter very soon.

To Kak Yah deary (if you ever read this), I wish both of you a never ending happiness of being a spouse to each other. May Allah's blessing be with both of you forever and be granted with beautiful kids ever. Enjoy the upcoming years full of fun and surprises. Behold (like seriously). Teehee.

So we don't have a family photo this year. Luckily a complete family photo was taken during last year's Eid so we don't feel much regrets about it. To sum everything up, my Ramadan & Eid had been well celebrated although the excitement was never the same anymore.

Still I am thankful to be given another chances for celebrating Ramadan and Eid this year. Ahh wait, wait. I think I finally come to my last words; I don't have anymore story to pour on. Yeah! Thanks for keeping your sanity with my ridiculous posts. I am freed, finally!

Happy Belated Eid, people!

'The only picture of this year's Eid with Mom and Sister. (L-R) Yours Truly, Mom, Aunt Mak Na, Mimie, Wanie & Annie the-youngest-sis'

'Last year's one complete Eid family photo. (L-R) BR: Abang Wan the-eldest-BIL, Yong the-eldest-sis, Gjat the-eldest-nephew, Annie the-youngest-sis, Yours Truly, The Hubster, Abang Sepul the-second-BIL. FR: Mikail the-second-nephew, Dad, Mom, Nyah the-second-sis & Sofia the-eldest-niece'

Penned Down #4: The Ramadan & Eid Story (Part II)

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

Well, well and well here. Is it really me who is trying to update my blog only a day after yesterday's post? I, myself are having a hard time to believe. I guess I finally hold on to my words after all. Teehee. So now what? Maybe I should just stop the nonsense and keep my pace still like yesterday's.

Continued from this post.

I was not celebrating the Eid at home this year as I was going back to The Hubster's place at Klang until the third Eid. Besides, Yong the-eldest-sis could not also coming home so unfortunately that left Mom and Dad with only Nyah the-second-sis and Annie the-youngest-sis for this year's Eid. However it was not a problem because Mom had a great time with her much beloved grandkids.

'The Cheeky & The Naughty. (L-R) Mikail, Mom & Sofia'

The day before Ramadan, The Hubster & I were heading to my PIL's place. I was quite nervous even though it was the third time of us having celebrated Eid at Klang since we got married. Maybe because we seldom had the chance to visit them so I was having some idiotic pressure through the car ride. Luckily my PIL looked very pleasant when we came home that night so all my absurd thoughts were quickly gone. Teehee.

As usual, my MIL would always prepared her signature Mee Rebus for every Eid (so did this year) along with some other must have Eid dishes with such Ketupat Nasi, Nasi Impit with Kuah Kacang and Rendang Ayam. I brought Rendang Daging and Japanese Cotton Cheese Cake which I made at the morning before we headed to PIL's place. 

While Mom back at home had been preparing Curry Mee for the guests (I heard it became a hit among them) with Ketupat Pulut, Nasi Impit with Kuah Kacang, Rendang Ayam/ Daging and Daging Masak Kicap Pedas. I did bake another batch of Japanese Cotton Cheese Cake for Mom. God, typing all those saliva-drenched foods is quite mental torturing here.

Well nothing much was going on at Klang rather than the typical Eid activities. Apart from visiting The Hubster's relatives, the most activity we did was only eat, eat and eat. I swear I gained more than I could lose for every Eid I had, which also happened this year. No surprise, though.

'Successfully persuaded The Husbter to wear jubah this Eid. He looked pios, though. Teehee. (L-R) The Hubster, DIL, MIL & Yours Truly'

'The Pak Ya's clan. (L-R) BR: Ais the-youngest-BIL, The Hubster, Alang the-second-SIL, Nyah the-eldest-SIL. FR: DIL & MIL'

So on the third Eid, The Husbter & I made a drop at Yong the-eldest-sis' place for an Eid visit before we headed back to Sitiawan. Being Yong as ever, we were waited with Chicken Rice, Pandan Wrapped Chicken and the heavenly Chocolate Brownies. Well, my eldest sister is running an online bakery so all her desserts are something to die for. Check out her Facebook for interesting dessert order.

We then reached home by night. Surprisingly, we found Domino's boxes on the dining table were much intriguing than those Eid dishes. Maybe we were so caught up with Eid foods for the consequent three days at Klang, so upon seeing other normal foods had put me into a great relieve. I guess it is the same situation with anyone else during a festive season. No?

God, I need a break. This post is too long which I am afraid people will just scroll down for pictures instead of reading it. Will continue updating later. I swear the incoming Part III will be the last post about Eid before anyone throw up.

Please bear with me, people!

Penned Down #3: The Ramadan & Eid Story

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

Okay so now I am a little warmed up to update some stories of my Ramadan and Eid. I can assure you it will be very common and boring but that's what all bloggers do; updating a story even though we know it is one irksome task. Teehee. So bear with me so I can at least do the very basic part of being a blogger.

This year's Ramadan was almost as same as previous ones except Mom was here with us from first day to the rest of it. Usually Mom would be at Nyah the-second-sis' place every Ramadan in order to help taking care of her post maternity time. From what I can recall, she always gave birth just before Ramadan so Mom would stay with her for the first two weeks of the Holy month.

The best thing when Mom happened to be at home all through Ramadan was that I no longer had to wake up for Sahur. Teehee. I am so used for only having a glass of water just a few minutes before Imsa' and continue my sweet sleep since I was a kid. No, I was not lazy. I was just enjoying the sweetness of my undisturbed sleep even though when everyone was having scrumptious meals at the same time. Yeah, that's me.

The first year I got married, Mom was not much around during Ramadan so preparing for Sahur duty was passed on to me every other Ramadan until this very lucky year. Woohoo! It is not that I did not like Sahur but sometimes I preferred sleeping rather than having meals in between my sleep. So no longer Sahur wake up call when Mom was at home.

An interesting fact, my second sister actually gets pregnant almost every year (even this year too!) after eight years of trying to conceive. Seeing her luck, I definitely believe there will be rainbow after rainfall which made me decide to stop worrying of not having one yet. Well to sum up the fun part, she is on her third (fourth by official) pregnancy now. Go to her blog now for some useful pregnancy tips!

'The first day of Eid family photo which I was not featured, of course. (L-R) Nyah the-second-sis, Annie the-youngest-sis, Mom, Sofia the-eldest-niece, Dad, Mikail the-second-nephew & Abang Sepul the-second-BIL'

On different story, I still baked Eid cookies for sale with Annie the-youngest-sis this Ramadan. I guess this was the fourth time of us baking Eid cookies for sale and it was always a hit. Even though it was just among the regular customers of family, relative and family's friends. Yeah, right. What a hit! Bahaha.

We sell Eid cookies for some Eid pocket bucks especially on the condition that we both are unfortunately unemployed yet. My deepest hope is that we will be no longer baking cookies for bucks anymore for the next next Eids and only bake them for the sake of fun time. Amen.

By the way the Eid story will be continued later as I don't feel like summing everything up in one post. With a bit of luck, I might be updating tomorrow so please bear with me yeah? Well I really don't understand how those famous bloggers keep their paces of online journalism. How do they have the gut and wills so strong that they have been updating on daily basis?

Mine? Might be a hard luck, people!

Penned Down #2: The Lost Eid

Dear Earthlings (and disguised Spacelings),

I am so lazy I have just realized it took me almost two months to update this blog. My last post was to welcome the first day of Ramadan and here I am dragging my lazy bump with much hardness to update my Eid story on its very last day. What a way to keep a journal. Pfft.

Truth to be told, I had not feel the same excitement of celebrating Eid during my childhood ever since I got married. The last time I was so warmed up to festive mood was during my final year in university. Thanks to the longgg distance between Perak and Pahang (where my university was), the joy of home rides before Eid was undeniable fun! 

It was one of the rare times where we could see everyone on the road was rushing home for family gatherings on the first day of Eid. You could actually feel the festive season in the air during those good old days. It was the same magical feeling often said in so-called Eid song and cards. It was actually the warmness feeling of a festive season, which unfortunately is missing from my life at present.

'Happily celebrated Eid at late grandparents' place. (L-R) Kak Yah, Annie the-youngest-sis, Kak Tie, Wanie, Mimie, Faiz & Yours Truly'

Somehow I just think the fun part of me is gradually lacking each year I had my birthdays. Being one of the grown-ups is never easy; although I wanted to be an adult so bad when I was a kid. The fun, spontaneous and free spirit of childhood would be hard to apply for my adulthood stage. It is getting clear especially during the festive season.

All I ever do now is to prioritize things of which come first and its importance. I do still have home rides every Eid either to my in laws' place and relatives of both sides of the family, but it is never a same thing. I barely think of my Eid new attires and I am no longer minding of getting into previous years' clothes. From a positive perspective, it is a heck of savings for clothing budget. No?

Maybe the temporary-housewife-status-holder has made me more cautious to everything I do in life. I would have to carefully spend the bucks especially when only The Hubster is working for us. The frustration of still being unemployed has made me forget the fun part of living a life. I am being unfair to myself and I realize it's a no-no, although there is little I can do to change it for now.

Every year I sure do pray for a better Eid compared to previous ones. I wish for an Eid where I would no longer being unemployed, slimmed down to an almost Jennifer Love Hewitt's body figure (yeah I know, I know) and stand independently on own feet. I longed for a little more excitement as everyone in a happy-republic does. I know it will be, as for God will never upset His servants. In sya Allah.

Ask and you shall receive, people!