Xo Xo...Sweet Success!

Tantie Version 2.0

2012-02-11T19:39:00.000+10:30

Hello Darlings,

It's day 3 of the Tantrum Monster Files. Someone was getting shitty towards the afternoon and I decided to take him to the courtyard while I took down the washing. He was happy with his rake and cleaning up the dried leaves...running around like a nut case and laughing.

Suddenly he became shitty and angry that I wasn't sweeping with him.

Woah Nelly, I need to get the clothes down so you can have CLOTHES TO WEAR NEXT WEEK. As a result, he decided that rolling all over the ground was the most appropriate course of action to get my attention.

Shame it didn't work. I let him roll around for a while too.

When Mr. Man saw the video, all he could do with his Singaporean-germ-a-phobe-ness was say, "Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, that's disgusting, he's rolling on the ground!" Yeah, so? Guess what? This Aussie un-Tiger mother couldn't care less. He even had the Aussie childcare snot dripping out.

I can see all you Asians freaking out.

Calm down.

It's just a little dirt. I don't like to cotton ball my child. He eats sand at childcare for goodness sake.

This tantie went on until I finished my task, I took him inside, stripped him down and showered him. He still kept up with the yelling and screaming when I remembered the article I read the other day about Why French Parents are Superior. It's about how the French bring up their kids to be independent little humans from the time they are infants. The way you say "NO" to your child needs to be convincing to them, you need to be able to let them know that you are the authority figure and you call the shots.

While I was taking him into the bathroom for a shower, he was still going on with his tantrum. I was just being my normal self, pissed off because I can't deal with a child trying to plank while standing up. I decided that I'd give the stern and convincing voice, "RAIHAN, STOP IT." He looked at me shocked and cried then did the tantrum again in the shower. It took about 3 times before he got his shit together and stopped crying, he knew I was serious.

So it does work.

It's not about screaming at them, it's about being stern so they listen to you.

The reality is, they still shit their nappies. Someone who still shits their nappy, runs around, knowing he's shat his nappy and has free flowing snot from his face holes does not mean that he can start to run our lives. We're the toilet trained adults who get the bills paid in this house, so he must listen to us!

WE WIN THIS ROUND RAIHAN!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Tantie

2012-02-10T22:17:00.004+10:30

Hello Darlings!

Ohhhh, guess who's decided that throwing a tantie (tantrum) is cool?

No, despite what you think, it's not me throwing those fits. It's the darling nearly 18 month old child of mine who has started to do the "ironing board" and the "hands up in the air like I just don't care, on the floor" move. Let me explain what an "ironing board" is...it's when they get so upset that they tense up their bodies and look like they're planking. Nice work child.

He only started it yesterday evening. Having his fun bath was a nightmare and getting his clothes on...ohhhh, don't even GO THERE. Turns out he was thirsty and hungry, but really, we were getting to that point in the evening, it wasn't like we weren't going to feed him! Children, they're so unreasonable. If I could shove you back into my belly at that moment in time, I would little Mister!

We usually do the ignore-the-child-and-hope-he-calms-the-hell-down technique, somehow, it wasn't working, so we had to do the WHATEVER technique to shut him up for a little while because MUMMY WAS GOING DEAF AND CRAZY. Don't worry, we were at home while this fun was happening. After reading up on how other parents have dealt with temper tantrum babies, it's clear that we either have an issue with our parenting skills or he's TOTALLY taking advantage of the situation and making us look like dicks trying to calm him down with our retarded renditions of Twinkle Twinkle FREAKIN' Little Star.

Time to harden the hell up and stop being a pussy.

I spent 2 (work)nights this week with my child's foot in my ribs or his nose in my boobs. It's been a while since I shared a bed with him (after halting the boobie milk at 14 months or so), I do enjoy my "quiet time" in my bed. ALONE. Yeah, you read right. I like to sleep ALONE. That way, I can actually GET SOME SLEEP, rather than having a small child trying to touch my body in some way or a big child (i.e. Mr. Man) snoring so loud that it drives my blood pressure to a point where I can feel my head heating up because I'm so pissed off I can't sleep.

Ladies, y'all know what I'm talking about!

Ahhhh, children. We love them dearly, but they do test us to our limits. He's not even talking yet, I'm pretty sure he's going to be a motor mouth once he can talk. I'm afraid.

I wonder what this weekend will bring. More tanties? Or will I HARDEN THE HELL UP and let him roll around in the sand, leaves and dust until he's done with his dummy spit?

Stay tuned!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Ahahaha, Funnnnny!

2012-02-07T22:37:00.001+10:30

I totally love www.bluntcard.com. It puts a smile on my face just reading such hilarious rubbish!

You know you feel like this some mornings!

All you attached men, YOU KNOW IT!

I tell my sisters that all the time (in my head) haha!

By far, this is my most favourite Blunt Card!

xoxo,

Sweet Success

So, It Was My Birthday

2012-02-06T22:10:00.000+10:30

Hello Darlings!

So, on the 28th of January, it was my birthday (note that shit down for next year, I'm not joking either). Rather than posting the usual, "Thank you for all the BILLIONS of birthday wishes" on my Facebook account, I decided that I'd post something different this time. 5 years on Facebook and all I've done was say "Thank you" for all the wishes. BORING.

Apart from the wishes, it was certainly nice to see that everyone has goals and dreams to achieve. By encouraging people to write up their goal on my status update, I've subconsciously made them COMMIT to that goal. Oh yes I did!

Don't you guys think that I will forget what your goal was for 2012, I NOW HAVE PROOF! You better achieve it or it's the wall of shame for you in January 2013. BAHAHAHAHA.

Ok, I'm kidding. I'm really proud of my friends for making a commitment to better themselves this year. If we can't put our best foot forward, what can we really offer the world?

It's about what you put out to the world. I believe that if you say it enough, you're subconsciously working towards your goals. So if you put shit out to the world, are you really surprised that you're getting shit back?

Keep telling yourself you're awesome and eventually you will be awesome (I didn't have to tell myself I was awesome, clearly I was ALREADY awesome, shhhh. Calm that laughter.) Give it a try, pick something you want to work on, just ONE THING and work on it this year. In fact, forget about doing it for a year, just do it for 30 days.

How about losing weight (popular goal for the ladies!)? What are YOU doing to make the change on a daily basis? Trust me, weight doesn't just melt off while you're sleeping (wishful thinking). It's about exercise and your food intake. Are you making any changes to those two elements in your daily life? Why not pick one and work on it for 30 days. Make yourself accountable, post it on a blog or tell everyone you're going to do it, so you HAVE to do it. Nothing like a little pressure in your life. If you can do it for 30 days...you can do it for more. It takes 30 days to form a habit, so do or die, you HAVE to stick to it for 30 days.

I challenge you to do it! Tell me what your goals are? I'd love to hear!

Wow, is it really 10pm now? I think it's bed time!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Run Number 2

2012-02-05T14:07:00.003+10:30

Hello Darlings,

So I did another run today. It's part of my plan to get to my first half marathon this year. I plan to to run short distance races and then build up to a half marathon. I've been sick for the past week so I haven't really put any effort into working out this week due to the snot monster attack. Thanks child.

This run was 5km, so it wasn't too bad, considering I can do that in one training session. The only issue was...IT WAS RAINING and it was WINDY! Running to the half way mark was easy peasy...we had a tail wind. Running back...WAS BULLSHIT. We were running straight into the wind. To make matters worse, it was at the beach. So the wind felt a billion times stronger.

WAH WAHHHHHHHHH WAHHHHHHHHH...bahaha, I'm such a whinger. SORRY!

No point in me bitching and complaining here, allow me to just tell you the story by video.

Oh my, that's a huge picture of my face.

How are your fitness goals going this year?

xoxo,
Sweet Success

The Reality of Motherhood

2012-02-01T21:57:00.000+10:30

We can totally thank all those Huggies and Johnson and Johnson ads out there to make us look like fugly mothers who have major issues with looking damn sexy after having a child (oh, and we can also thank women like Miranda Kerr and Victoria Beckham too).

After giving birth to my child, I realized that I was lumpier than before and I had more stretch marks then I bargained for. Seriously Miranda Kerr...WHY IS YOUR BODY SO AWESOMELY PERFECT AFTER GIVING BIRTH?! Where are YOUR STRETCH MARKS?

link

Sigh.

Frumpy, fat and all that jazz. You know what? I remember that I really didn't have time to think about all of that. In fact, when he was sick the other day, I was busy getting kicked, slapped and having his feet in my face all night.

Yes, this really does happen. They would rather smell your armpit and then do the 180 degree turn so you can have their toes up your nose just because they're "comfortable" in that position (what about MY comfort?!). In fact, I'd more than likely let those little toes stay in my nose so I could get at least SOME sleep. When the world is quiet at home, I refuse to awake the little giant so I can "get a little more comfortable". I'd forgo the comfort for some quiet sleep time.

As soon as the child drifts off to la la land, I also slowly follow suit. Then it hits you...

The snore monster starts his motor and you're on a mission to cover your ears, hoping that the snore monster won't wake the baby up and the whole bed shuffling, the crying, the whinging, the body turning, the snot being wiped on your perfectly clean pyjamas act...starts ALL OVER AGAIN.

A vicious cycle.

Now I know why I had massive bags under my eyes. No caffeine could do my eye bags any justice. Just suck it up and hope to God it won't happen again the next night.

Just another crazy day in my house hold!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Run FORREST, RUN!

2012-01-15T21:52:00.000+10:30

Hello Darrrrrrrrlings,

2012 is here, couldn't really avoid that but my brain has been avoiding it like a plague. Still trying to PRETEND it's 2011. Get your shit together brain.

In a weeks time, my mother in law will be leaving us. *sob sob sob* She's been here for 3 months, taking care of the Little Bean while we worked our asses off. We needed her to be here while I settled into my new job. Mission accomplished, I have settled in and the Little Bean has been looked after without getting majorly sick in the time that my mother in law was here. Maybe the odd sniffle, but that was it. It's time to say good bye to her next Saturday and I'm pretty sure he's going to feel a little lost without Nenek (grandma) around. He'll be peeping into her room in the mornings and night time, waiting to see and play with her. :(

Sad. But life goes on. He'll be back to full time EXPENSIVE CHILDCARE.

**Hello Australian Government, why am I paying $65 a day in childcare, WHY? You asked me to go back to work and this is how you repay me? Childcare costs more than my RENT!!! What the HELL?!**

Oh, that felt better. That was the passive aggressive in me popping up. Sorry.

In less than a week, my house will be crazy town. I need to plan ahead. Meal plans and exercise plans. Less TV and more organizing. I need to start living more simply and less cluttered. It will take time, but it will happen.

Everyone makes new year resolutions. This year, like I mentioned in my new years post, I wasn't going to make any. Any sucker who says that, they STILL make new year resolutions at the back of their mind. Every year, I want to get more fit and get moving more...perhaps get that Miranda Kerr body I deserve (we all know that won't happen, she's tiny and I'm a gigantor). I clearly didn't inherit my mother's tiny Asian figure. As I will demonstrate with the pictures from my....wait for it...FIRST RUN FOR 2012. Chillaxxxxxx, it was only 4km!

Excuse the writing on the pictures, clearly not my pictures to claim, they were the official pictures from the photographers on the day. (Not stealing, giving credit where it's due, no?) Consider it free advertising for them, ok? :)

Ohhhh, finish line!

Damn stop watch on the phone. I need to get my
Polar watch fixed ASAP.

I started the run with my hijab tucked in. The mofo
came out while I was running. So I looked like a douche bag
while I ran the race. Hijab all over the place. Sigh.

Yeahhhhhhhh...I'm getting back into running. Honestly, I've never been a runner. My family would LAUGH at the thought of me running. "You, RUN? BWAHAHAHAHAHA! The earth's going to move a little." No kidding, they are the most awesome and supportive family EVER.

Here's my vLog from the day. I apologize for my makeup-less face, looking like shit and my mouth moving in funny ways. WTF was I doing? Seriously retarded. It was taken after the run which was on a Friday after work.

Yeah, I know, it wasn't a marathon, I don't think I could survive one, just yet. But God willing, one day. I'm totally getting into it. Getting moving is one thing, which I didn't just start in January. I started the "moving" late in 2011 so I could roll into 2012 with ease. My body shape hasn't changed much because I haven't focused on the dieting part of the program. Soon, soonnnnnnnnnn...!! I promise! But the moving has helped me cope with any exercise I've been putting myself through so it won't be so painful the following day.

I've been doing yoga once a week and I found that if I missed a Yoga session, I'd be a total wreck after a bootcamp session. My body can't recover as well and I feel like a 90 year old the following day.

I was watching the US Today Show anniversary edition and they asked Star Jones (who looks stunning now might I add!) what advice she would give her younger self now and she replied with, "Heart disease is one of the biggest killers of women now, so I would tell the younger me to EAT LESS AND MOVE MORE." and I thought, wow, profound but yet, so true.

That's my problem, I EAT MORE AND MOVE LESS. Hahahahaha! Thanks for the SLAP IN THE FACE STAR JONES. So it's time to be more conscious about what food I put in my mouth. Think before I eat. Wow, this WILL BE HARD.

So, yeah, I already had a resolution, but it wasn't based on the 1st of January. It started way before that.

Watch this space...for updates on my runs! I will be working towards a marathon and I have a trainer who has planned out my runs for me to build up to longer runs. I can't wait! Yeeeeeeeeeeharrrrrrrr!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

P.S. I've also bought a bike...I'm riding now too, to break the boredom of running!

I Wet Myself Laughing

2012-01-10T06:16:00.003+10:30

Another Day, Another Year

2012-01-01T10:34:00.002+10:30

Hello Darlings,

I hope you guys had a splendid new years eve partayyyyy. I was sleeping, because that's what mothers do, SLEEP at MIDNIGHT.

Mr. Man stayed up, as usual. I used to stay up for new years eve, but this time around, I was like, meh, can't be bothered. Mr. Man insisted on watching Glee 3D in Concert. Oh God, I was DYING watching that shit. I kept on looking at my phone and trying to find something to do. He's a closet Gleek, well, NOT ANY MORE. BAHAHAHAHAHA.

I thought I heard fireworks while I was sleeping, I woke up with my head under my pillow (I do it to muffle the TV and the snoring) and said, "Oh, it's new years, happy new year." Only to realize it wasn't 12am yet. Fail. So I went back to sleep.

As I was drifting in and out of sleep, it finally reached 12am. Mr Man leaned over, I got a shock (awkward moment, not very romantic), "huh? What?" and got a peck on the cheek with a happy new year wish. I do remember looking at Mr. Man in the dark while he was giving me a peck and going, wtf. Still sleepy.

I've spent my last 6 new years at home, just the way I like it. Not into the whole public place celebrating shite. I'd rather watch the fireworks on telly, enjoy the fact that I feel comfortable and not hot and sweaty. a also feel comforted that I have a CLEAN toilet a few meters away, a fridge and a pantry with food in it. Can't get that shit sitting around, waiting until midnight in the city by the river.

Once the fireworks are over, I just need to flick the off button on my remote control and go to bed. I don't do traffic jams. And when people are out partying, there's a higher risk of drink driving, so, how about I just count my lucky stars and STAY HOME.

What did you say? I'm not fun? I'm anti-social? Bahhhhhhhh, tell someone who cares!

So, for 2012, I'm not going to have any resolutions, because they never work out. So all the diets and exercise resolutions can go shove themselves, I'm going to be fat! (here's to hoping that if I wish to be fat, the opposite will happen!)

Happy new year bitches!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Danger Zone!

2011-12-29T21:55:00.000+10:30

Hello Darlings!

You know you're in trouble when your child can start to say "no" and associate the head shaking with the word. We are in the DANGER ZONE.

I need to remind myself not to use the word "no" as often as I do. I need to learn to divert the attention and use other words. Damn it, he's growing up too quickly!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Kitchen Appliance Porn

2011-12-28T08:41:00.002+10:30

Hello Darlings!

There's one thing that really gets me going, no, I'm not talking about my husband. Every time I go to the shops, I'm always stopping by the kitchen appliance section so I can go, "OoooHhhhHhh! AhhhHHHhhhh!". Yeah, I'm gay like that.

It runs in the family.

My mother has the same problem.

Kitchen Appliance Porn Addiction

We are in love with pretty kitchen things. We like looking at them and touching them. Lets look at some PORN! These pictures are from the a wonderful website in Australia that I like to visit, Kitchen Warehouse Direct.

Boiling water hasn't looked so SEXY!

I tweeted about this a while ago and I'm STILL in love with this baby!

I've been eyeing this baby pink ice cream maker for a while. Delicious!

This is just purely sexy.

Is it only us that's addicted to kitchen appliances?

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T08:01:00.003+10:30

Hello Darlings!

Merry Christmas to you and your family if you are celebrating it!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

It Was Cute Until...

2011-12-22T19:42:00.001+10:30

He pissed everywhere.

Because That's What Baking Bitches Do

2011-12-21T11:16:00.001+10:30

Hello Darlings!

This year I decided that baking was the way to go with office Christmas presents.

No, I don't celebrate Christmas, but I want to make a point that I respect their religion, culture and traditions. With respect comes understanding.

There's no need to be up tight about giving a gift. It's about living together happily and breaking the typical "Fox News" mould. You know, the whole Muzzies are all extremists mould.

Show you care these holidays... :)

Xoxo,
Sweet Success

I Knew It Before It Happened

2011-12-19T09:00:00.000+10:30

Hello Darlings,

Facebook has this new thing they're launching on Chrismas Day and it lets you go back and see your highlights form the past. All those old pictures and posts on a timeline...IT'S SO AWESOME.

One of the highlight posts I had on Facebook was one written on the 11th of December 2008. It was when Mr. Man and I officially decided that it was BABY MAKING SEASON.

I'm just going to be honest here, married or not, this is part of life, so stop frikkin' cringing. Geez. Yes, babies are not an immaculate conception, hanky spanky needs to happen for babies to be created.

It's just a reminder about the journey we had trying to get pregnant. It took us one year to get pregnant. Because I found out I was pregnant on the 3rd of December 2009 (you can read the post here) after many months of failure. Some people try for years, so we should be thankful that we did get pregnant.

It's just a reminder for those trying to get pregnant that it's a journey. The unknown is the hardest part, the monthly waits and hoping that your menstruation doesn't arrive and that you see those magical positive signs on your pregnancy tests.

It's a heart breaking journey of hope, desperation, worry and eventually happiness.

So, ladies, please be patient, give it time and talk to God, He listens to everything. The right time may not be right now, it maybe later down the track.

Keep positive!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

I'm FREEEEEE!

2011-12-18T22:12:00.000+10:30

Hello Darlings,

Guess what? I just handed in my LAST assignment for my Diploma in HR. Seriously...WHAT A RELIEF!

No more procrastination blog updates on assignments! Yay yay yay yay!

Talk about losing my brain cells. I'm not even doing uni! I'll just have to wait for the results I guess. Anyways, there's so much to update y'all with, now that I'm so FREEEEEE and all.

I just wanted to do one update about a forum I was invited to be a panel member at back in Singapore last weekend (via video link).

*side note: despite my ridiculous blogging style (speaking my mind and saying bad words!), the professional and motivational side of me does exist in real life. This blog is just me being me. I have a separate professional life ya know? :)*

Back in 2009, a group of volunteers at the Muslim Converts Association of Singapore (also known as Darul Arqam) decided that we're needed a youth group. Not like any other youth group in Singapore, one that was separate to a mosque so that it would be on "neutral" ground. We wanted to empower and create new leaders within the Muslim Converts Association. We wanted to launch it and then pass it on to the younger generation. Unfortunately, right before their first forum in 2009, I escaped to Adelaide and missed out on watching this group grow to what it is today.

We had so many ideas when we started and one of the ideas was to connect with people across the globe to take part in the annual forums...well...2 years later...and here we are...it was actually ME that became the first live forum attendees via the internet. I'm so pleased and thankful for the team who have created this wonderful group with a lot of Singaporean Muslim youths getting together to learn more about Islam. Learning about Islam, the intelligent way, by discussing and asking questions. It should always be a two way street when you're learning.

Anyway, last weekends live hook up was done with Google Plus Hangout...OMG....so cool!! Yeah, I was the awesome one with my BIG HEAD on the screen. hahaha!

So, the topic was kinda cool, it was about Change, Confidence and Compassion and there were various speakers for each topic. I got to speak after each of their official speakers with my comments. I loved the topics and I believe a lot of young Muslim girls need a little push to go into the big bad world, be it as a wife or as an employee (or boss!). I only speak on my own life experiences, I'm no scholar and I live my life as I see fit. I live it logically and I find reason in everything I do. Islam isn't hard, it's people who make Islam hard.

People get offended when others ask them about Islam or when others don't know about Islam. I live in a western society and I work in a blue and white collar environment, people will ask and I will answer as honestly and logically as I can and they appreciate that. If they are becoming a bit rude, don't freak out, they probably don't know any better. Give them the excuse of ignorance and your life will be a lot easier! I read about Muslims complaining about their non-Muslim colleagues about the misunderstanding about Islam, seriously, you see it as a negative, I see it as an opportunity to explain and shed some light! It's just the way you see a situation, really.

Stop being so cynical and start being a little optimistic! Not that hard to look on the bright side of life and give people excuses if they don't meet YOUR expectation (and who says that your expectation is the norm anyway, ey?). Don't worry, I become a cynic once in a while but I snap out of it quickly. So, yes, I talked about being positive and how to change, maintain that change, how to be confident in everything you do and how to be compassionate with others around you. Giving them a chance and not pre-judging them (even though every bone in our body wants to judge them, it's hard work to shut that voice up, isn't it? haha!)

Here are some pictures from the event, just some screen shots I took. :) I hope there will be many more to come, I really enjoyed myself and hope it can happen more often! God Willing.

Big head on screen.

Look, my audience!

Ok, this was BEFORE we started, while we were testing the connection. Hafidz was trying to tempt me with a teh tarik, yeah, not working!

Until next time.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

My Abs Feel Like They Have Abs

2011-12-07T22:18:00.001+10:30

The reality is, they don't and I feel like I just got ownnnnnnnnned in bootcamp today. A 31 degree Celsius (87 degrees Fahrenheit for all you Ameriiiiiiicans!) day and we were out running and jumping around for 90 MINUTES.

I am so shagged and The Little Bean thought it would be an AWESOME idea to wake up at 4am in the morning and PLAY! ~~Hurray!~~

%(*^#($FML(#*%(*@^%

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Noooooooooooooooo.

Sleep time bitches. (Bootcamp brings the ass out in me)

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Mummy Mummy!

2011-12-02T22:14:00.000+10:30

Hello Daaaaaaaaaaarlings,

I'm supposed to be doing my readings for my assignment but I'm blogging instead. Shhhhh.

Procrastination. I'll deal with it later. ahaha

So, I was thinking about this whole working mum gig. I'm actually loving the fact that I work and my child goes to child care (down side, he gets sick and when he does, we get jack shit sleep). But for now and until the end of January, my mother in law is here to take care of him, hurray!

My child is a happy and out going kid. We drop him off at childcare and he's off to play with his bestie Harrison. Totally forgets about us! The staff always update us on his antics during the day and they love his happy and bubbly personality (a bit like someone I know, ahem. *cough cough* me). Despite getting sick every other week, putting him into childcare was the best thing I could do for him. He's good with other kids (apart from the recent biting craze he started...ermm...that's clearly not from me. Daddy? hahaha) and he enjoys all the activities he gets to do at childcare.

By the time we come and pick him up, he's pretty much done and dusted...ready to go home. He sees us and he comes over, puts his arms up, wants a cuddle and wants to just walk out the door to go home!

I seriously don't know if I could do the whole "stay at home Mum" thing. All my life I wanted to be a SAHM but I've been earning money since I was 15 and have been independent for many years. When my usual daily activities suddenly come to a halt, it's a bit hard to adjust. I felt a bit of depression after giving birth and I think I felt a little useless at home with the child when I could be going out and giving back to the world while my child could be socializing with other kids...(rather than see my face all day long). I'd be bored hanging out with me all day too, I'd rather rub my eyes out with chilli powder than hang out with boring old me for 24 hours a day.

So, at the time (pre-child days), the stay at home mum gig was a "good" idea but in reality...I couldn't handle it.

I thought that it was a noble job, bringing up the family and looking after the house. I soon found out that I sucked at being a housewife. I was depressed and I felt like I couldn't get my shit together.

Don't get me wrong, being a Stay at home mum is a cool thing if you can do it, I just can't do it (right now, perhaps in the future?). I admire the Mum's who even home school their kids, awesome shit ladies, hats off! Sometimes I feel like a failure in the mother and wife department because I can't seem to get my shit together in terms of my home life. At work, I'm awesome (if I do say so myself!), I have time management things in place and I get STUFF DONE! The moment I get home, I'm like...mehhhh.....too much effort.

So I spend the weekends shopping, cooking and cleaning and I say that loosely because I don't always do those on the weekends! I must be sounding like an outstanding human being right now...bahaha!

Am I the only one like this?!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Familia in Perth

2011-11-27T20:32:00.001+10:30

Hello Darlings!

It's been a hectic week, I'm at the tail end of my Diploma in Human Resource Management at the moment...3 more assignments to pass up and I've graduated! Hurrah! Speaking of which, I have 2 assignments due this Thursday, eek.

I can't wait until the 16th of December...that's when my last assignment is due and I also have my work end of year event on....time to let the ~~hair~~ hijab down! Until then it's head's down, arse up...WORK WORK WORK WORK.

In the mean time, let me decorate my blog with pictures. BECAUSE I CAN.

This is us at my Dad's house. Yeahhhhhhh, that's my Dad on the right. Whaatttttttt....my dad is white? Yes, he is, I'm not Arab (for the millionth time!). That's his lovely wife and their darling dog, Bella.

My mum and the child. I love this picture, it's like they're telling each other secrets!

Yep, HILARIOUS.

Enjoy your Sunday....because, tomorrow is the dreaded MONDAY! ahhhhhhhhhhh....

xoxo,
Sweet Success

The Handover

2011-11-20T22:48:00.001+10:30

Handing her over

The Bride and the Groom

The more I look at these pictures, the harder it gets to look at. It was a lovely day. We love them very much. God knows best, He always does. It's never about turning our backs on our family, but to be there and to show love and compassion.

The Bridesmaids

2011-11-19T17:04:00.001+10:30

So, I decided that I will release a picture when I feel like it. :)

This was taken before leaving the hotel.

Sisters for life.

Sigh.

*sniff sniff*

AGAIN.

My Sister Got Married

2011-11-18T20:41:00.001+10:30

*sniff*

That is all.

The Rules of Effortless Parenting

2011-10-28T08:36:00.002+10:30

Hello Darlings!
I get the Zenhabits RSS Feed straight into my work inbox for a read in the mornings to set me up for the day. I thought this post by Leo Babauta was an excellent one that we can all learn from!

Happy Friday!
xoxo,
Sweet Success

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Post written by Leo Babauta.

I often get asked how I can do so much while having six kids.

My short answer, and all you really need to know, is my wife Eva is awesome. I couldn’t do half what I do without her.

She is the reason Zen Habits is able to exist. And so if you want parenting advice, you’d be smart to ask her.

She doesn’t, however, have a blog. And so I’ll share some things that we both do that make our jobs as parents easier.

These are Very Important Rules that must never be broken by any Serious Parent … until, of course, you want to break them. The first rule of Rules of Effortless Parenting is that you should always break rules.

Rules of Effortless Parenting

There is really only one rule: Love Them. But you already knew that one, so let’s get into details:

1. Teach kids to be self-sufficient. Our kids started by learning how to pick up after themselves (as 1 and 2 year olds), and later learned how to feed themselves breakfast, brush their teeth and shower and dress themselves, wash dishes and clean up in the kitchen, clean their rooms, do laundry, etc. Our jobs as parents became tons easier, but it does take a little patient teaching in the beginning of each skill.
2. Teach older kids to help with the younger kids. If you have multiple kids, this rule is golden. Our teens can help the little kids with anything. That makes our jobs a lot easier, and the older kids learn responsibility.

3. Teach them to solve problems. This is really the main job of unschooling, which is the philosophy we follow as homeschoolers. Our kids don’t learn facts or even skills. They learn to solve problems on their own. If they know how to do this, they can learn any facts or skills they need to solve their problems. Want to learn how to write a computer program? That’s just another problem that you need to learn how to solve. Want to cook Thai food, or write a blog, or start a business, or build something? Problems that you can solve.

4. Show them how to be passionate. The other main thing you teach unschoolers, besides solving their own problems, is how to be passionate about something. If they know this, they will do work they’re passionate about as adults. How do you teach them this? By modeling it yourself. By doing projects with them where you’re passionate about something. Kids learn an amazing amount by watching and mimicking.

5. Play with them outside, and be active. Spending time with your kids is one of the best ways to show them you love them. Playing with them is one of the best ways to spend time with them. Playing outside shows them how to be active and have fun being active. I also stay active on my own, but I make sure they know what I’m doing, why, and how much fun it is. They have a role model who is healthy and fit, and that will help them for the rest of their lives.

6. Don’t overschedule. Most parents schedule too many classes, sports, parties, activities. We give our kids lots of unstructured, unscheduled time. They have to figure out what to do with that time. That’s an important skill to learn. It also means their lives are less stressed out, as are ours, and they learn a slower pace of life.

7. Don’t dote. I’ve seen lots of parents that dote on everything their kids do, who are worried about every little thing their kid might touch or that might cause a fall. Back off, and give them some space. They need attention, but they also need some time alone to explore, to fall and get back up, to scrape their knees, to figure stuff out on their own. Go do something on your own, and leave your kids alone sometimes.

8. Dance. Because life without dance is dull and not worth living. Play loud music. Go crazy.

9. Read with them, and read in front of them. Kids love books, especially if you read them with them. Here are some of my favorites. If you are a reader yourself, and they see that, this will teach them to love reading too. Reading is one of the best loves you can instill in kids.

10. Be inquisitive. Ask questions about everything, and encourage them to do the same. Kids are naturally inquisitive … they can ask a million questions, because everything is new to them. Learn to see the world through their eyes — it’s amazing. Why the hell IS the sky blue? Why do leaves change color? How does a bird fly? These are brilliant questions, and you should explore them with the kids — don’t just give them answers, but show them how to find out.

Oh, He Can Walk

2011-10-18T21:52:00.001+10:30

Hello Darlings,

As promised. My fat child can now walk. He doesn't topple over because of his big head and big stomach. My child is growing way too quick. Sigh.

Then he ripped the camera out of my hands.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

P.S. I - AM - SO - FREAKIN' - TIRED! And it's only Tuesday. HELP!

Loving It

2011-10-15T17:42:00.000+10:30

Hello Darlings!

Yeahhhhhhh, new job, new headaches but I'm loving every minute of it (early days yet). I feel like I'm finally using my brain for something and I'm challenged a bit more. Sometimes I feel like I'm not worthy of getting this job, it just happened to land into my lap, just like that. After years of trying to get into the industry...I get it through the back door (ummm, yeah, don't be dirty!).

Not my child (wish it was!)

The first week back at childcare and the Little Bean caught the same old thing...a snotty nose and a cough. Joyful times. Ok, this wasn't just little clear snot, this was FULL ON YELLOW GUNKY SHIT. It was feral. And, as the story goes, both Mr. Man and I got what he had, hurray!

My mother in law will be coming down to Adelaide in a weeks time for 3 months to help watch the Little Bean until we both settle back into work and get into a routine. Then it's back to reality again, the three of us against the world!

So, my child has finally started walking. He's been practicing at childcare and when he gets home, he shows off his walking skills in the kitchen. He walks with his arms up in front of him, like a zombie. I'll record it soon enough and post it on here. It's quite hilarious really! His stomach is large and that throws him off balance quite a lot. hahaha!

I've got this new obsession now...I'm now searching the net for copy cat recipes for famous big branded food...my next test run will be Garrett's popcorn. Loved it when I had some in Singapore, there's none of it here, so I'm going to be testing it out...usually I'll try to cook something until I perfect it....it can entail several attempts...it's called: DESPERATION.

And...after 5 attempts to make those DAMN almond macarons, I still haven't mastered them. Talk about pissing me off. I WILL MAKE MACARONS ONE DAY...Just not right now. I'm taking a break from making them. Today, I just made a batch of chocolate chip cookies...just for fun. Towards the end of the week, I'll be starting to bake a lot because I said I will be donating baked goods for the pink ribbon day fundraiser at work on the 24th of October...ohhh....can't wait!

Such a baking bitch.

Ok, I'm off to think about what to cook for Dinner....or not cook at all. aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. I'd rather bake a cake!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Back Into The Swing Of Things

2011-10-03T15:37:00.001+10:30

Hello Darlings!

I'm getting over the guilt of not posting often enough on this blog. It comes in waves, so deal with it.

My holiday is officially over as of today. I'm back at work tomorrow...and guess what...I'm actually working in HR. Like finally. Working in something I actually studied for. Hurrah!

I'm nervous but also very excited to get my paws into the job. In fact, the part that I love most about HR is all the statistics from the data collected and projecting the workforce needs...blah blah blah...shut up.

I had to stop mid-sentence, most people would have stopped reading at the word "statistics".

This means...the Little Bean goes back to childcare tomorrow (after 5 weeks away, I'm slightly scared at what will happen when we say goodbye at the door!) but he won't be going for long. My mother in law will be coming at the end of the month for a few months to take care of him. We just need to wing it until the end of the month and hope to God he doesn't get sick.

Because this is a new job for me, I can't be taking many days off and Mr. Man doesn't have much sick days left either. I also have 2 subjects to finish off for my Diploma....trust me to leave the most difficult subject till last. I actually have to attend class for one of them because it's so hard. DARN. So, having my mother in law here will be a God send...I don't have to worry about the Little Bean if he's sick and I don't have to stress about who will take care of him while I'm at class. I can finish this shit off after 8 years (ok, I had a 5 year break in between!).

Don't think I can be bothered to go to Uni though. Mr Man has encouraged me to do so...and I'm more like...errr....yuck, no. Maybe later on. But I just want to get over this diploma and getting on with life already.

On another note, the Little Bean is growing fantastically well. He only takes steps when we put him in front of us and then he'll kind of run towards us. You'd think he'd want to go slow and walk first. Errr...no. So we have to catch him because he walks those 5 steps so fast he falls forward. hahahaha. Typical child of mine, impatient. He likes his little toy walker thingy, helps him to "pretend" to walk. When I have my little metal shopping trolley that I use for shopping at the markets, he'll have a go and push that around the kitchen. He's just a fat and chunky baby, takes time for him to walk!

So, here's to hoping for an easy few weeks...easing back into work and childcare....how exciting!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

And The Fascination Has Begun

2011-09-22T14:43:00.000+09:30

Damn you Thomas The Train, why are you so likable?

WHY?

Yeah yeah, ignore the mess he made. I'm mastering that song..."Everybody's cleaning up, cleaning up, cleaning up....Everybody's cleaning up, just like this!"

Best SONG EVER.

I foresee many Thomas toys and train sets. I shudder at the thought. Help.

I'm Aliveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

2011-09-21T10:13:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings,

Back in Australia now. What a crazy ass visit to Singapore. Three weeks of GO, GO, GO! Talk about exhausting.

Remind me to reconsider going back for Eid again...It was hard enough trying to find time for ourselves while we were there. I had to create a schedule for both Mr. Man and myself and book ourselves in to meet people. I had an excel spreadsheet that I would update on a daily basis, I kid you not. But it was a great trip, we got to meet a lot of of relatives and old friends...however, we did miss a lot of people (3 weeks was not enough!!). So, we are sorry if we didn't get to see you while we were there.

The Little Bean was spoilt by his his grandparents and everyone else there. They grabbed him, squeezed him and made fun on how fat he was. ahahaha!

It was good to meet up with friends and continue our friendship from where we left off at. Even though we don't see each other often, when we do, it's like we only met each other yesterday and that's what I love about friendship. Real friendship can be picked up from where you left off without missing a beat. Eid always brings out tears...when people ask for forgiveness from each other and hope that we will meet another Eid the following year. What an emo time.

Anywhos, an update on the flight back from Singapore which was via KL and then to Adelaide...a night flight....a NIGHTMARE flight more like it. The Little Bean got over exhausted and did the hyperactive thing and wouldn't sleep. I wanted to just crawl under a rock and hide foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..........! He was screaming and the seat belt sign was switched on most of the flight so we couldn't walk around...so for 6 hours...we were confined to our seats with an occasionally screaming kid. I was so exhausted that I just passed him to Mr. Man to deal with...and he kept quiet and fell asleep for a little while then he was back at it again with his screaming.

NEVER...WILL...I...DO...A...NIGHT...FLIGHT...WITH...A...BABY...AGAIN!!!!!

Perhaps when he's bigger and can listen to instructions...but seriously...no. Not at this age. I was hoping for some sleeping syrup magic..but alas, I didn't prepare for it because he was such a good flyer on the way there that I was confident he was going to be awesome on the way back. Nope. So I kept telling myself about all the notes I read up on flying with kids...,"Don't worry about the other people on the plane, you will probably NEVER see them again." True...but we knew someone on the flight. Just wonderful, luckily he was sitting right at the back of the plane.

So...I'll update with some of the highlights of our trip. Some pictures today...some pictures another day...not in chronological order though...because it's just not, ok? So these are from Universal Studios Singapore. Mr Man and I went without The Little Bean, only because we wanted to go on all the rides, well, Mr. Man piked out after 2 rides (The Mummy and Battle Star Galactica)...so I went on the rest of the rides alone while he was having a nap at Coffee Bean and holding onto my stuff. That Battle Star Galactica roller coaster is FREAKING SCARY. I screamed so loud! There's two roller coasters intertwined together, a red line and a blue line. One where you're sitting upright with a bottom to your roller coaster cart and the other with your legs dangling down (that was a SCARY ONE).

Before the Ride.

After the ride. AAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA

Us just hanging with our friends

Universal Studios Singapore is much smaller than then one in LA. LA has more attractions, but never the less, it was fun and we loved it. I wish we could have explored Sentosa more but, like I said, we didn't have much time at all!

It's totally different going to Singapore while you're on holidays compared to living there. We're a bit more chilled out this time around.

Anyway, home duties call...I need to hang out the washing from washing load number #54927220. We arrived back in Adelaide on Monday morning...with little sleep...got home, dumped the bags, had a shower, did our prayers, tended to the child...and we all went to bed for another 5 hours. ahhhh....bliss. I think we're back onto Adelaide time now.

Have an awesome humpday!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Kay Elle

2011-09-11T23:50:00.002+09:30

I am in Kuala Lumpur.

Eating like a pig.

That is all.

Xoxo,
Sweet Success

One Month of Eid

2011-09-04T11:58:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

Usually Eid is a one day affair back in Australia. At most, a one week affair, just so you can visit some friends there, eat cake and lontong then go on your merry way. In Singapore, it's an affair that lasts one whole month and the visiting never stops because there's family all over...we visit distant relatives too and visit the elderly and sick.

It's very tiring. In fact, it's 10 times more tiring with a child in tow. I wanted to just sleep when I got home but duty calls, the child needs to be fed, showered and given milk.

I've had a persistent sore throat and cough for the last week and it won't go away. I've finally given in to taking some cough syrup and some flu meds to keep that biatch at bay, I've got a holiday to take care of, ok?

Once again, I'm too lazy to write a long entry, so I'm going to post pictures and videos! Don't you just love my laziness?

We went to the COMEX IT fair at Suntec, NEVER AGAIN WITH A CHILD. He screamed because of the loud speakers. Story on that another time! We caught the bus back from Suntec to Tampines.

5 minutes later, he was asleep!

He's getting a massage from his uncle. Ohhh Yeah.

Family Photo!

My child is so grumpy when he's not in an aircon room.

While everyone was going eeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeee....my child was happily sticking his fingers into the cage and feeling the little rabbits. NO FEAR. ahaha, too cute!

My cousin and I, we always take a picture in this same spot when we come and visit!

Child abuse? My niece and I trying to get the child to look at the camera and smile. FAIL.

Is it home time yet?

How has your Eid been so far?

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Eid!

2011-09-01T14:40:00.001+09:30

Hello Darlings,

Yep, it was Eid 2 days ago and I've been busy (what's new?).

Busy EATING.

Oh yeah. I got a food baby in me right now.

**read...FOOD BABY...not a real baby in me, give me time to get over the first one, sheesh.**

We've been eating our way through Singapore and I don't know how many different types of Lontong (rice cakes) and Kueh Tart (Pineapple tarts) I've consumed, but I don't think it's anywhere near a healthy amount. SORRY BODY. :(

We have been visiting relatives for the past two days I'm I'm totally tired as hell. Today is a "nothing" day and we're just gonna chill at home...ermmm...well, everyone else is, I've got an assignment due tomorrow. SAD SAD SAD!

So here are some pictures from the day. Sorry about the quality, try handling a grumpy ass baby in humid weather. Yeah, no.

Mr Man and The Little Bean

Me and the Little Bean...trust this picture to look like he's ripping off his clothes!

The Little Bean started to get hot at this point. We ended up taking off his Eid clothes and changed him into his little jumpsuit.

Funniest shot ever. Check out my child. bahahaha!

We ended up figuring out that the Little Bean liked his little biscuit treats. Whenever it was photo time, we whipped out his treats to bribe him. We are awesome parents.

At my uncle's house that he eclectically put together himself! I love the little bits and bobs he's added to the place!

My cousins and her kids trying to entertain the Little Bean who was being a little grumpy bum, he only wanted girls with hijab on. aaaaaaahahaha, good boy!

The Little Bean with my 2nd mum. :)

Ok, go away now, I have an assignment due tomorrow. *cries*

Assignments on holidays is BALLS.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

P.S. I lugged 2 heavy textbooks to Singapore with me. Sob sob sob

P.P.S. EID MUBARAK!

Hungry Ghost Month

2011-08-30T00:09:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

One of the amazing things about Singapore is the fact that the majority of the Singaporean population can get along and respect each others' festivities. Our Eid is coming up but it has been the Hungry Ghost Month for a lot of the Chinese folks here.

Food offerings are scattered around and candles lit too. I find it interesting to see and observe!

I captured this below my housing unit before entering the lift. I've seen it many times before and I loved how it was a family affair for some with the young ones getting involved too.

They also burn offerings too.

So, here's to multiculturalism!

Xoxo,
Sweet Success

First Day In Singapore

2011-08-28T08:58:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

I haven't been to Singapore with a child in tow. What a tiring feat! Usually you just have to take care of yourself, this time around...you have to worry about a little person, you need to make sure he's fed and is kept cool. Hard job! Keeping clean is optional for me, hahaha! I do the Aussie thing. Snot? Mehhh....it'll dry up and fall off. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh.....I joke. :p

All the children here in Singapore are so pristine, just a little speck of dirt on his clothes or snot on his face makes me feel like a shitty parent. Handling a child and trying to socialize is uber hard when your child is not used to the heat. So my pictures are, well...pretty much zero! So I've ~~stolen~~ borrowed some pictures from a dear friend who works at Darul Arqam Singapore (Muslim Converts Association in Singapore). Thanks Bro Amin :)

I wanted to catch up with friends from my volunteering days a few years ago. Every Saturday, Darul has an open iftar to the public where they feed over 200 people (or was it more?). I used to volunteer with them for the iftars, the befriending (for new Muslims) and financial aid (assessing financial aid applications and doing home visits). I loved it and made life long friends. I miss hanging out with them, many of us have moved on, got married and have babies. Such is life, yes?

So anyways, The Little Bean was being a little grumpy bum because it was way past his bed time. Me, being the most excellent parent, I made him stay up for as long as possible so he could start to sleep in Singapore time. I'm awesome like that. hahaha! Point is, it's working. Yesterday, he woke up at 4am and wanted to be tended to and given his brekkie...this morning....BOOYAH....he woke up at 5:45. I rock. Mummy wins this one.

On with the photos from the Iftar ey....

Check out Mr. Grumble Bumbles

Bro Jo with his princess, she's smiling in this one!

Everyone spent the night trying to make him smile. ahaha

Volunteers, the people who make it all happen!

Today's theme for the ladies was purple, awesome or what? :)

Hello!

Ok. that's really it (clearly I can't be bothered much with more pictures. hah!) Thanks Bro Amin for always taking the Iftar photos, it reminds me that I'm there.

I will eventually venture out to the Geylang Bazaar to get our outfits for the first day of Eid. I can't stand the crowds, ew!

Ok, over and out, I need a nap!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Did you miss me?

2011-08-27T10:55:00.001+09:30

Hello Darlings!

Yeah, do you know how hard it is to pack for 3 people? Seriously...! ARGH!

Best thing ever!

In the mean time, admire me and my baby after a full day of flying, I'm exhausted and, well, him? PRETTY DAMN TIRED TOO!

I will update you guys on our flight. Now that I'm on holidays, I may just have time to blog like I used to. aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhahahaha....Don't want to speak too soon!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

P.S. We're in Singpore now!

P.P.S. Dude, flying with kids....ohhh....I'll tell you guys all about that soon enough!

Creating Memories

2011-08-14T20:16:00.000+09:30

WTF is Big Bird doing?

Hello Darlings,

Once again, I've disappeared into oblivion. Apart from last night's post which was what I've wanted to post for a while but watching those poor children on TV is just so heart wrenching. I feel like shit when I want to post something else up but then think about the poor children...I could not even imagine my child going through that. I thank God for making him a fat and healthy child.

On to my daily grind and a catch up for y'all.

So, I'm sorry. It's called life and work, sigh. Trying to find the time to blog these days is pretty hard. I wake up early in the morning and sleep early in the evening. I've not had a full 8 hour sleep in more than a year. In fact, I haven't have a full 3 hour sleep in over a year. Yesssssss....he's still in my bed. Stop your "tsk-ing" with me, he's cuddly and he doesn't snore as loud as Mr. Man. I think it's a pretty good deal, cuddly baby who isn't loud and only wants boobies every few hours. Sorry Mr. Man, what little sleep I actually get is quite precious to me! So enjoy your nice full night sleep while I wake up and tend to the baby.

Being a mother has made me a stronger person. I believe I don't take that much crap from other people these days. My priority is my family and without extended family back up here in Adelaide for us, I just have to get my shit together and get into survival mode. No one else will pick up the slack for me. Day off for Mummy? HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH...fat chance.

But speaking of which, we will be having a 3 week break soon. Hurray!

So....it's the Little Bean's birthday on the 16th of August yo. He turns...ONE. OMG WTF.

When did this happen?

Seriously child, why do you have to grow so frikkin' fast?

I can still clearly remember the day you were born, it hurt like a mofo.

I've always grown up with a big family and we always celebrated birthdays together and it was usually just us celebrating together. We would attempt to "surprise" the birthday boy/girl by hiding the cake in the fridge (the box was usually dodgily wrapped up in newspaper, aaaaaahaha, not so obvious?) and the gifts were hidden away somewhere in the house until the MAGIC moment! The moment the lights went out and the cake with candles appeared and we all sang "Happy Birthday". Ahhhh....memories.

Every child should grow up with family traditions that are laced with wonderful memories.

Even though my child is only turning one next week, I intend to make new memories for him with a video camera and pictures. I'm not into those big ass over the top birthdays that I see people doing for little babies...seriously, they won't remember it, why bother with hiring a hall and catering? I could get my child some awesome present with that money! Family celebrations are always fun and exciting and I'm always reluctant to let other people in to celebrate a family tradition. I know my mother would rather have just the immediate family, have a cook up, have a nice feed, make the magic cake appear from thin air, blow out the candles and then lounge around the tv room, talk crap and laugh our asses off all night.

The stuff you did with your family back in the day...I'm pretty sure everyone remembers sweet things from their childhood. :)

Oh how I wish I could celebrate the Little Bean's birthday with the family back in Perth, they know how to make things feel a little special. Trying to teach Mr. Man to REMEMBER dates is probably the hardest task, EVER. So it's really up to me to get it organized and teach him to get into the spirit of a bit of fun!

I had already purchased The Little Bean's presents about 2 months ago. Mr. Man, on the other hand....

Me: So, have you got your presents for him yet?
Him: Can I pay you some money so it's from me too?
Me: No.

Dude, these are my presents for him, get creative and find your own presents! Men....always trying to find the easy way out. The birthday is in 3 days, he hasn't got him anything yet. Not my problem!

In fact, I've already wrapped and assembled his presents. They all have bows on them. Yeah, it'll just be the 3 of us, but it'll be fun! I'm baking the cake for his birthday now too! Yay!

So stay tuned for the Little Bean's birthday videos. It may be a while before I load them up, if it takes me this long to post, imagine how long it will take me to make a video? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Dear God, Please Listen to Me Tonight

2011-08-13T23:31:00.000+09:30

Dear God,

My heart hurts.

It's so heavy.

I have a lump in my throat.

I can feel my face heat up.

My eyes are welling up.

Why are we so caught up in our lives to achieve the best when the reality of hardship is facing other people in this world? Why are we worried about what other people think of us and if we have the most advanced phone or laptop? Why are we throwing money away on useless crap and wasting food?

Why? Why? Why?

I can't even bring myself to look or post a picture of a starving child in Africa. It makes me think of my own child and how I would feel if I had to watch my child die a slow death.

Oh God, please feed our babies, keep them alive and survive this devastating drought. I feel so helpless and hopeless when I see their weak bodies, sunken eyes and boney bodies...We are lucky to be blessed with a roof over our head and food on the table, yet we still complain.

I urge all Muslims to think about giving their zakat to East Africa this year. They are suffering more than you can imagine. If you don't know what to do with your money and you want to help, there are many reputable organisations that will accept donations.

Please go to the news.com.au site here. There is a list of reputable aid agencies that you can donate to, even Muslim ones too.

Just give. Please.

It doesn't have to be much.

Just something.

Xoxo,
Sweet Success

P.S. Here's the link again: http://www.news.com.au/world/alarming-child-toll-in-somali-famine/story-e6frfkyi-1226112818723

Neglect

2011-07-26T22:49:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

Damn it, I really didn't want to do this again...I'm neglecting my blog. Sigh.

I'm so sorry. You see, life has taken over my life (shit, does that even make sense?) and I find myself falling asleep at granny friendly hours. I'm having a late night right now, it's 10pm on a work night...woah!

Ahhh, I'm already rubbing my eyes already. Tired.

I know in my last post I talked about just chilling out and doing my own thing...I have applied for 1 job, no high hopes on it turning out, I thought I'd just give it a go and if I get it, that's fine...if I don't, that's also fine too! I see a positive in each possible situation.

I really do like the company I'm working at. I like the people I work with. Every day comes with a lot of fun and laughter and I really love their company on a daily basis. I go to work to relax. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

I'm just sitting here, trying to think of what to tell you guys...the truth is, I haven't got much to update you guys on at all! It's just, work, home, sleep and repeat for 5 days and then it's 2 days of cleaning and washing clothes...then the whole cycle repeats again! Boring!

I do have a video update of the Little Bean though.

We went to the Toy Factory the other day and they had a little animal enclosure. I couldn't help but bring the boy in...but the only one who was scared was his father! I won't show you the first video, you may piss yourself laughing at Mr. Man's antics...hilarious. It just shows how "Singaporean" he is..."eeeeeeeeee....wash his face, eeeeeeeeeeeee wash his hands!"

Chill man.

Never hold your kids back from exploring the world. Let them hurt themselves but always be there to wipe off the graze on their left knee. I always hated the fact that my parents wouldn't let me do things when I was younger because they were "protecting" me. I know they were just looking out for me, but that was totally dampening my spirit, big time! So set your kids free! Get out there and enjoy what the world has to offer...TOGETHER!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

I'm Busy, OK? DAMN YOU MACARONS!

2011-07-10T23:04:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings,

Yeah yeah yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........I knowwwwwww.....shut up. I haven't been posting often enough. It's called work and running a household at the same time. By 8pm at night, I'm pretty shagged and just stare at the TV, it's the only thing that doesn't talk back to me and I like it that way. Unless my mother is on Skype that's on my TV....then I'd talk to the TV. I digress.

I've been so annoyed with myself these past few weeks. I've been trying to make those delicate French macarons and I'm failing! I hate failing. I've tried two times. Seriously....whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?!

The first batch turned out like rocks.

The second batch turned into cracked little craps. WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

Sigh.

I want to make these:

Oh Adriano Zumbo, king of the Macaron, why can't you just turn up at my door step and make them with me?

Double sigh.

I will make it happen. I WILL. I WILL.

On other news...I've had a post, waiting to be finished and posted about my previous boss. He's just been given a few weeks to live with stage 4 cancer of the brain and lungs (incurable) and was sent home to "get his house in order". He's a man with a brilliant mind and I adore him. He was my mentor for a long time. Read his "Living wake" (yep, he's got a living wake going on...people from all over the world have come to see him in Perth to say their goodbyes) on www.tolivebychoice.com and watch his video blog...make sure you read his life list. You will be amazed at his life achievements.

If you flick through his pictures...you will find some of me on there. I'm the only Muslim girl that's ever worked for him. Don't worry, you won't miss me in the pictures. He's an avid photographer...amazing indeed and has taken some wonderful portrait pictures...even of me.

He makes me re-think my purpose in life. What the hell am I doing with what God has given me? Why am I not helping people who are less fortunate? What if I died tomorrow, what have I got to show for myself before my lord? I am only a mere human being with many flaws and far from perfect (as much as I want to sing and dance how perfect I am *cough cough*).

What if you only had a few weeks left on this earth, what would you do? Have you done enough?

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Go The WHAT To Sleep?

2011-07-03T22:29:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings,

Where has the week gone? I've been so busy and super tired that I haven't had time to really blog. Sorry!

The Little Bean has decided that sleeping in the cot isn't for him so we've had to RE-TRAIN him to sleep again. HOMG...and he's WAILING super loud now too. Now that he's learnt to stand up in his cot (and wherever he's got the chance to pull his fat ass up), we've had to lower the bed on his cot because we've found him hanging off the side of his cot railings (on the inside of the cot, not outside, derrrr) and he doesn't know how to put himself back down again. So he gets stuck. ahahaha.

Now that the cot has been put down, he can't get stuck. He can just GO TO SLEEP ALREADY!

Which Reminds me, there's this book that's doing it's rounds on the parent circuit and it's seriously the biggest crack up ever! It's a children's book for adults and I found a clip of it on you tube, Samual L. Jackson is narrating.

**WARNING - If you don't like the F BOMB then DON'T WATCH THE VIDEO**

But, Mum, seriously, watch this shit, you will LAUGH SO HARD! (yes, my mother has a sense of humor!)

Back to the grind again tomorrow, I promise I will make more time for blogging soon, God willing.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Bath Time!

2011-06-26T11:58:00.002+09:30

Man Flu

2011-06-20T15:07:00.001+09:30

Hello Darlings!

Well, I'm home today. Off work.

After spending the last two weeks suffering with the flu, I'm at the end of it now. Where I sound slightly congested but other than that, I'm fine. I spent 2 weeks blowing out a crap load of snot, having sinus migraines and basically feeling like shit.

I was sick the whole of the long weekend and struggled through work last week (even though it was just a 4 day week), only taking 1 day off. I had to take snot blowing breaks during the day. I couldn't do it at my desk, I had to do it in the bathroom where I could really give it a real hard honk. It was so satisfying to see all that snot come out.

Oh come on, you know it's satisfying to see all that yellow goober come out. Stop acting like your shit don't stink, ok? We all have SNOT!

So, now I'm at home. Not really for me, but for the boys. They're both sleeping right now. The Little Bean has the shits (read: watery poop) and Mr. Man is suffering from...what I like to call...The MAN FLU (where the flu comes with lots of moans, groans, holding on to things when they walk and occasional crawling - usually to bed or to food). A lot of wives and mothers know this kind of flu very well. In his defense, he does look after me superbly well when I'm sick.

The funniest thing happened last night, Mr. Man asked me to get his some flu tablets, so I got him some day and night Panadol tablets. When I got home, I made him his sandwich dinner (that's all his wanted) and told him that he can only take his Panadol tablets just before he goes to bed. I told him to wait and I'll give it to him later on. He then whinged and asked if he could take it now, I said, no, the packet says to take it just before you go to sleep. I was dealing with the baby, feeding him and bathing him...preparing him for bed and all that jazz and when I had my eyes off Mr. Man, he downed some of the Panadol.

Mr. Man went to stand up and then he suddenly fell back down into the chair. Call me heartless, but I was like, "Are you ok?" He was still alive and breathing, so I was like, just wait there and then I said, "Crawl to your bed then." hahahaha. In hindsight, that was a pretty shitty thing to say but I had a crying and grumpy child on my hip who has bad nappy rash and wants his milk and sleep ASAP. I ended up putting him on the kitchen floor (the child, not the man) and opening the cookie cutter drawer...I let him loose in there while I went to tend to Mr. Man and his Man Flu ways.

Mr. Man grabbed my shoulders and walked to his room.

Come on everyone, show some sympathy, he's sick. Coz he doesn't get any from me, ahahaha!

So, after tucking him into bed (the man), I went to grab the Little Bean, only to find a lovely little mess on the floor.

Changed him, gave him his bottle...and off to bed he went.

Then back to Mr. Man I went. He was complaining that his heart was beating so fast and that he couldn't sleep. I couldn't figure it out...usually night time Panadol knocks you right out. I sat there counting his pulse, it was much faster then it should be. So I got him to do some deep breathing. He couldn't last a minute, he'd totally fail a yoga class.

After I finally got him to lay still for more than 5 minutes, getting him to do some deep breathing, his pulse went down a little. Then I asked him which Panadol he took? He said he took the middle ones...at the last check...the middle ones in the packet were DAY TABLETS.

Nice work Mr. Man.

His heart was racing because he took the wrong tablets. Day instead of night. Sigh. Men.

We went to the doctors just now and got a hilarious Malaysian doctor. Mr. Man needed to get some blood tests done tomorrow morning and to do that, he will need to fast from 12am at night until the blood test time at 8am in the morning. The doctor said to him, "Food, no. Sex, yes." I was like WTF? ahahaha!

Generally prudes would be so offended and freaked out...I found it hilarious!

Anyways, so, because the Little Bean has the shits, we all know what comes with that...massive nappy rash! I do what my mother would have done. NUDIE TIME!

We then grew a brain. We put him on the picnic rug! (it's lined with plastic)

I know...smart ey? He loves nudie time. Boys, nothing new.

Totally random...but when I was searching for pictures on "man flu", this image came up:

I laughed so hard it caused a headache...ok, I lie, I already had a headache from my left over sinus flu thing...urgh. But it's frikkkkkin' funnnnny!

Here's to better weeks, God willing.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

P.S. Sorry to my mothers for the F bomb. heeeeeeeeeeeeeheeeeeeeeeeeeee

A Story

2011-06-18T08:33:00.001+09:30

A man came home from work and found his 3 kids outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.

Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a Cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?' She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world do I do all day?' 'Yes,' was his incredulous reply. She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

-Author unknown

This was one of the reasons why I went back to work. The assumption that I did jack all day drove me back to work! Haha!

Xoxo,
Sweet Success

Secret Ninja Mission - Post 4

2011-06-14T20:19:00.001+09:30

So, this 30 day challenge thing had me messaging many people but not getting replies. But never the less, it allowed me to let people know how I feel about them. After all, it was an exercise to let the ladies in my life know how special they are, not how special I am! hah!

This one, I can reveal was actually to my mother. :)

===============================================================

I just wanted to let you know that you are a special lady in my life. You are my mother and I love you very much.

I love how you are a true friend to the people closest to you.

I love how you will help without asking for help back.

I love how you stay true to yourself.

I love how you are creative.

I love your sense of humor.

I love that you shower all of us kids with food when we're all together.

I admire how you persevere and achieve the best.

I admire that you can speak several languages and have traveled the globe!

I admire your strength and courage to get through the hardest situations.

I love how you love us.

Most of all, I love our relationship Mum.

May Allah guide all of us to the right path, Inshaallah. Amin!

xoxo,
Me

===============================================================

Arrrr~

2011-06-12T11:14:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

It was Pirate Day at childcare last week...the over achieving parents that we are, dressed him up like one...with the funniest results ever!

Note: When I say "over achieving", I really mean, "Oh shit, it's Pirate day tomorrow, what are we going to dress him up in?! Lets draw a skull and bones on his bib and put one of my scarves on his head, tadaaaaaaaaaaa!"

You can tell he's impressed.

Yes, we even whipped out my eye liner and drew a goatee for him.

We are AWESOME parents.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Secret Ninja Mission - Post 3

2011-06-09T22:04:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

This person is a friend who is very special to me, she's like a little sister to me and she always thinks of me. I love her to bits. She's a very talented and intelligent individual. She's so beautiful inside and out. I pray that she will find an equally awesome husband one day, god willing. (I'll be interviewing for those interested. hahaha!)

Enjoy the sweet read...

==============================================

Special Girl!

Assalamualaikum,

I have set myself a task this month and you are part of my personal project to better myself!

I just wanted to let you know that you are a special girl in my life and I am blessed to have you in my life as a friend. Your drive to succeed in life is infectious and I am truly happy that you are able to reach your professional goals, alhumdulillah. May Allah give you guidance to achieve your other goals, inshaallah, Amin.

Don't change a thing my love, be who you are and the right man will come waltzing into your life, inshaallah!

If you ever think that no one appreciates you, remember me, I will be the one that will always be here for you and appreciate you for being a wonderful human being.

hugs and kisses

=============================================

Her Reply

Waalaikumsalam,

Sis, thank you for your wonderful message. How can I be a part of your personal project to better yourself?

Hahaha...I really dont know what to say. But yes, you are also a very special girl in my life. You are my big sister!! And I miss you terribly...especially in times like these. I am greatful to Allah to have someone like you.

I admire you because I think you are a good role model housewife. You pandai masak (you can cook), pandai bake (you can bake)!! ,......My goodness. If only I can be like that as well. But I MALAS (I'm lazy!). LOL....=p)

Thank you for your sweet message. I was shocked to have received your wonderful message.

I miss you so much dear sister.

hugs and kisses back

=====================================================

My Reply

You don't need to do anything, you just have to receive the good vibes and doa.

Alhumdulillah we have each other. I'm no role model, I talk a lot and pet pot pet pot too much to my husband, lol! I masak (cook) and bake because I nak makan (want to eat it) and tak nak bayar mahal2 (don't want fork out the money) to eat a small piece of cake...so really, I kedekot (stingy) lah! haha!

Come and enjoy the nothingness of Adelaide, hang out with me! We can spend a week masak masak (cooking) and become Nigella Lawson wannabes, k? hehehe!

Inshaallah, I will see you for Eid!

=====================================================

Her Reply

You know, I have been feeling very down. I have made friends with more sisters but NONE of them feels like a hommie like you. Your message really cheers me up !! =p)

====================================================

My Reply

A hommie? Looool! Best, I feel like a hommie too! It's about keepin' it real (do I sound like a rapper? hahaha!) and forgetting social statuses and speaking from the heart. You do that and that's what I love about you sweetie. Keep being true to yourself!

====================================================

When I went back for a visit to Singapore last year, I was 5 months pregnant. We went to visit a friend for lunch and she took the bus back home with me and she sat next to me, held my hand and put her head on my shoulder and said, "I miss you soooo much! Why did you have to move?" Yep, 2 grown women, sitting on the bus, holding hands, when we cross the road together, she grabs my hands. She probably doesn't realize it, but she does it all the time with me! :)

If only I could pack her into my suitcase and bring her to Adelaide with me!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Secret Ninja Mission - Post 2

2011-06-07T22:30:00.002+09:30

This has to be my most favourite one out of all of the messages I sent. I will reveal that this was one of my sisters who recieved this (if not, you won't really get the letter!) In fact, all my sisters got one but only one replied with lots of love. Hahaha!

My 3 younger sisters are nearly a decade younger than me,so I spent many of my teenage years parenting them. Good to know they remember the chilli. Heeeheeeeheeeee!

===============================

I just wanted to let you know that you are a special girl in my life. You are my sister and I love you very much. I love how you love life and know how to have a good time. I love how I always know when you're telling me fibs (you're a pretty bad liar!). I love how you are concerned about your family and your friends and are always there for them.

Thank you for being a good sissy poos!

xoxo

===============================

Her Reply

Awwwww, that was sweet. You're never sweet. Who are you and what have you done to the Kakak Yaya (kakak means big sister in Malay and Yaya is my family nickname) that twisted our ears and made us eat chilli!!

Well I would like to tell you that even though as kids we thought you were the mean one, we all appreciate every single thing you said and did because we now realise the situation you were in back then.

You sacrificed so much for us and you are a big part of how we all turned out. I know that I speak for all of us girls when we say that we love and appreciate you. I look to you for guidence (especially with how to deal with certain people :S) and you always know what needs to be said (whether I want to hear it or not). You help EVERYONE and you are the rock that holds this family together and and without you god knows what would have happened to us!

I am soo soo sooo happy that you finally have the life you deserve with the perfect husband and the perfect lil buddah.

Thank you for your listening ears, stern but fair kindness and your love for us.

================================
My Reply

nawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, kiss kiss!

================================
Her Reply

xxxx :)

================================
My Reply

ok, stop kissing me you lesbian

================================
Her Reply

waat u dun like the lesbians??? lol

================================

Yep,only douche bags like us can turn a touching moment into something hilarious!

Go on, share the love with the ladies close to you!

Xoxo,
Sweet Success

Secret Ninja Mission - Post 1

2011-06-06T12:00:00.001+09:30

Remember, this is in no particular order...!

This one went to a friend of mine I've known since I was a teenager. I go to her for "Mummy advice" and I usually get a dose of cold hard reality from her. hahaha! If you know who this lady is, shhhhh.... :)

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Yo!

I just wanted to let you know that you're a special ladyyyyyy in my life (if you call yourself a lady, bwahahaha!).

I love the way you put your family first.

I love how you keep a strong outlook, even when your family is causing you grief.

I love how you are honest and helpful.

I love how you're a friend to me in happy times and sad, that's what friendship is all about.

I love how we can joke about anything without being offended. In fact, taking the piss seems to be our favorite past time!

I love how you love food. It's borderline obsessive!

I love the way you are, just you, don't change who you are!

:)

Me
P.S. Yes yes...this is my secret mission I've been on about!

===============================================

Her Reply

Awwww, your secret mission of making people cry has been accomplished!! Haahahahahha that is way to sweet of you! Thank you very much for your kind words-muchly appreciated! :-) Thank you very much for our friendship. I really wish you were here and not Adelaide, but you gotta do what ya gotta do! :-) I hope ur mission continues to make people feel as special (in a non retard way) like I do right now!

==============================================

My Reply

But you ARE special in a RETARDED way. hahaha, kidding kidding!

Everyone needs to feel special. Tonight, I have rainbows and unicorns coming out of my arse, lucky you!

==============================================

She never fails to put a smile on my dial or reassures me that I'm not a frikkin' failure when I feel like crap about the whole family balance thing, she should know, she's way ahead of me on the children count!

The Secret Ninja Challenge!

2011-06-05T17:26:00.001+09:30

Hello Darlings!

This whole secret ninja business I've been going on about for a while has been a great success and it's brought many smiles to a whole bunch of awesome women in my life.

I set out to make the women closest to me and the ones that mean a lot to me feel special in one way or another. I wanted to let them know why I thought they were special and how much I love them for being in my life. We've shared great memories and some bad ones too.

I've changed the names of the people in these letters and they don't go in any particular order. I love them very much and pray that they do well in this life and the next, God willing (yes, some are non-Muslims too). Excuse the language, it's really just me being who I am with the people I'm comfortable with.

Each lady got a message starting with something similar to this:

I'm doing a personal 30 day challenge and you're part of it. No one knows about it except the people I message each day, surprise, you're number #! :) It's not one of those things you ask people to do and stuff, it's something I made up to better myself and my relationship with the ladies around me! Gee, this actually DOES sound like those forward-copy-and-paste things, damn it! I assure you, it is not!

So here goes....!

As days went on, I changed the approach a bit. I didn't get to do the full 30 days because each one took time for me to do and I really enjoyed reminiscing the past and letting them know what kind of awesome individual they are.

So enjoy my journey. I will post some of my letters in the next few weeks. I loved writing each word.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

A Love Measured In Memories

2011-06-01T06:35:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

I've always known that a child needs both parents to grow into a better human being. Sometimes, we can't help some circumstances, i.e. when a parent passes away or divorce occurs. But when you can make a difference in a child's life, you should make every effort to do so. This article is a wake up call for me as fathers too. We are so caught up in our lives that we forget that we're building the lives of our precious little sprouts.

May God guide us to be better parents, God willing!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

A Love Measured In Memories

Available here.

by Jason Wong Updated 09:02 AM May 29, 2011

A large part of my working life was spent behind bars - as a prison officer. For 17 years, I was surrounded by inmates from different backgrounds; drug addicts and hardcore criminals, among others. I saw first-hand what bad or absent parenting, especially fathering, could do to children and adults.

I knew early on in my own family life (picture), from watching these men and their lives, what kind of father I wanted to be. In recent years, I have been working with at-risk children and youths and multi-problem families, and have been struck by the absence of a father-figure in their lives.

My professional life has taught me a simple principle I hold very dear: It is easier to build boys and children than to fix men and adults.

A few years ago, I did what an article suggested: Close my eyes and recall scenes of my dad and myself.

What I "saw" was me waiting eagerly outside my house for dad to return (he worked in a shipyard) because I missed him; him holding my right hand and teaching me to write Chinese characters - he was educated only up to Primary 4 in China; me snuggling up to his side at night to hear stories of his childhood and how he came to Singapore; his constant advice to me to study hard, not to smoke and drink.

I think about what I would want my daughter and son to recall if they were put through a similar exercise years from now. I hope they would be images of lasting memories we have created for ourselves, of time spent together, playing board games and bedtime routines.

I am reminded of a saying that "if you want to be in your children's memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today".

My commitment to family life was not a natural occurrence. Some years ago, I had a terrible day at work. And what do fathers do after a bad day? We come home and sit in front of our favourite "box" - the Xbox, the computer, the television.

Mine was the TV. This was how I de-stressed. That night, I was watching an early episode of American Idol where contestants made fools of themselves.

My wife asked why I was not helping her with the kids. I didn't want to bother her with my work problems, so I kept quiet. That night, we didn't talk to each other.

The next day I received a long email from her in which she expressed her unhappiness. In the last paragraph, she shared that, while everyone else looked up to me, at work or within my other circles, no one knew what I was like at home.

This was my wake-up call - no point being a hero outside and a zero at home!

I stopped watching TV (I've since resumed watching a bit as my kids are older now). I read to my children, play board games with them and tuck my son into bed at night.

A couple of years ago, I received the best Father's Day gift ever. My son gave me a hand-drawn card. Each page had a picture and a sentence like "Thank you for reading books to me" or "Thank you for telling me ghost stories". When I held that card in my hand, I knew it was all worth the sacrifice.

My dad has been my hero. I am what I am because of the sacrifices he made for his family. I spent a fair bit of time with him at the hospital early this year when he was being treated for cancer. Once, while I was following him closely on a trip to the bathroom to make sure I'd be there to catch him if he fell, it dawned upon me that that was what my dad did for me when I was a little toddler - walking behind me, watching me carefully, ready to dive forward to catch me.

On another occasion, when he was staying with me after his discharge from hospital, I took him downstairs for a walk.

All of a sudden, my dad turned to me and, with a twinkle in his eyes, said: "When you were young, I took you out for walks. Now, you take me out for walks."

As we rested on a bench, my 10-year-old son came up to sit with us. My dad looked at my son and said in dialect: "Your dad looks after you now. Make sure you look after your dad when he is old, just like what he is doing for me now."

My son smiled and nodded, and flew off to play again.

The richness of a father's love is best measured in the lasting memories we leave for our children.

These memories will one day guide them and comfort them as they comfort me.

Jason Wong is part of the team involved in setting up the Dads for Life movement.

Sleep Training, Half Done

2011-05-29T22:38:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

So, this sleep training thing Mr. Man and I are doing is going well. Well, until midnight that is.

The Little Bean's bed time routine is usually a book in bed (with us losers reading to him with full gusto and hand gestures - well, me any way!) and then he has his bottle in a dimmed room...then at 8pm, in the cot he goes, we kiss him good night...and that's the end of the story.

The first night he cried for about 40 minutes, then on the second night he cried for 20 minutes, the third down to 10 minutes and then to now, just a little whimper, squirm, cry for about a minute or two...he gives up, and sleeps. AHAHAHA.

WE WIN!

So going to bed is easy for him now. Hurrah.

It's when he wakes up at 11-12ish that he cries and cries and CRIES. When I'm tired and shitfaced, there's no patience for a crying baby, especially when I have work the next day. So, I grab him from his cot, put him on my bed and shove a boobie in his mouth. Bliss. He sleeps and I sleep (with a boob exposed, when you're tired, it's no big deal, but when it's winter, it IS a big deal. Brrr!)

So this will go on for the whole night every few hours. He'll make a whimper and if I don't entertain that whimper, it escalates into a full blown UGLY CRY. I.e. GIVE ME BOOBIES NOW OR I WILL KICK YOUR ASS.

I'm trying to get my head around sleep training through the night, but it's freakin' hard. I need to do it soon because my work week is affected. I go to work on about 4 hours of broken sleep, the wonders of make up...it covers up the most beautiful dark rings under ones' eyes. Once I get to work, I lace my Milo with full strength coffee (eek, what a no-no!), I don't do it often because I know that it can affect the Little Bean when he is breastfed. But desperate times, call for desperate measures, ok?

I can't be sitting at work going, "Uhhhhhhhh......hmmmmmmmmmmm, WHO DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO AGAIN?" Not the brightest sounding human at work sometimes.

You'd think Mr. Man would drive me to work and give me the wonderful opportunity to have a nap in the car on the way to work...haaaaaaaaaa....sure. I end up driving myself to work with him beside me snoring away. I get up a whole hour before him to prepare for the day and get up all hours of the night...and he gets to have the nap on the way to work? How awesome is that?

Men can fall asleep within minutes of talking to you. I could probably hold a more interesting conversation with the wall then speaking to Mr. Man in a comfortable setting.

I spent the weekend doing 4 loads of washing. Two which I went to the laundromat to dry with all the bogans and another 2 are currently hanging in my kitchen. As my friend would say, "It's looking a bit like a Chinese laundry!"

Sad.

He's something random from the week before.

That's me kidnapping my own baby.

Nah, he was coughing and I didn't want the other mothers at the swimming lesson to think I was a shit mum for bringing him to lessons because he had a slight cough. Then another kid coughed like him and I was like, pfft, get over it!

We had Australia's Biggest Morning Tea thing this week at work, it was a fund raiser for cancer. Me, being the over achiever, made cookies and cheesymites.

Chewy Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies yo!

Cheesymites!

Needless to say, they went in a flash. I went and only ate my own food. ahaha! That reminds me of a time in primary school when they had a cake raffle and it was my mum's turn to make a cake for the raffle with a bunch of other mums, she made her famous apple pie. My brother won the raffle, he didn't pick another cake to take home, he picked Mum's Apple Pie! Mum was like, "Umm, why have we got the apple pie back again?" Yeah, it was THAT good!

Anywhos...it's 10:30pm and guess who's doing the ugly cry right now? (WAY BEFORE SCHEDULE TOO!)

Superwoman duty calls.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Persian?

2011-05-27T15:25:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings,

The other day at work, some woman came in...not an Aussie, that's for sure. Maybe Pakistani or Persian...not sure, I'm pretty shitty at picking up some accents. She was probably around 60. Comes in and gives me a business card of a gentleman that works there and I call for him. While she waits, she stands at the front counter and asks...

"Persian?"

And I'm like...ok, here we go, this happens ALL THE TIME. I didn't really have time to entertain her.

So I shook my head.

"Arabia?"

I shook my head again and she looked at me with a blank look as if to say, "Then WTF are you?!"

(Side note: I was just about to put in a generic picture here from Google and looked up "Arab Girl" and....HELLO...HOT ARAB CHICKS IN BIKINIS. So I won't be posting that on here! Go on, do a Google Image search on that...hahaha...all I see is boobies and loads of hair....hot chicks!)

Anywhos.

Without getting into the whole of my life story and background...because every time I tell someone my background, I can guarantee the story will take a few minutes to explain and lots of "AHHHHHHHHH!"

I like to be undercover, but I also dislike lying.

I took the lazy route this time. Instead of saying, "I'm half Swiss and half Malay," I just say the half truth and omit the other information. I'm only omitting, not lying, big difference!

So I just told her, "I'm Malay."

"Ohhhh....Malayyyyyseeeaaaaahhhh"

I smiled at her, she smiled at me and then my work colleague arrived, just in time to take care of her.

I really couldn't be bothered to actually explain that it was Singaporean Malay and not Malaysian Malay (even though some of my uncles were born there).

There has been a couple of times when I'm feeling like I want a bit of fun, I'll just agree with them and say, "Yes, I'm Arab." Or, "Yes, I'm Egyptian"...or the best ones..."Yes, I'm Indian" and "Yes, I'm a Kiwi."

Half casts get the short end of the stick, we never fit in anywhere. We go to one side of the family and we're the fairest skinned ones there...we go to the other side of the family and we're the darkest skinned ones there! We have to be strong enough to build our own identity and be comfortable with it. It's taken me years to do that!

Love should be blind, but remember, when you have a white dad and a brown mum, you have a chocolate kid. So make kids wisely, remember that the world isn't kind on chocolate kids.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

P.S. I'm just pulling your leg, chill, make as many chocolate babies as you want coz they are so CUTE! *cough cough* (like you know who!)

I Live for the Weekends

2011-05-23T06:53:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

As a working mum, the five days of the week are dedicated to survival (of the ~~fattest~~fittest). We spend the week waking up at the crack of dawn and get our shit ready for the day and hope to God everyone is fit and well for the week. One person down (including the baby) will create havoc in the household.

Trying to fit in exercise is like trying to schedule in a haircut...it doesn't happen often enough! I've figured out that the only time I can actually exercise is that one hour window I get after work. Exercising in the morning is a load of crap for me, I need to prepare for the day and it's usually a massive rush job! So, after work, I will walk to the main road, which is about 3.7km away (2.3 miles) and Mr Man will pick me up where ever I am as he drives past. I've also started to wear a pedometer, to keep track of how many steps I do in a day. The minimum is 10,000 steps for me. On the first day, I blew myself out of the water and did 18,000 steps. Woah Nelly! But I think I was a bit eager. On Saturday, I did a tiny 4,000. Boring. But then again, it WAS Saturday and I wanted to just lay down and do NOTHING. It's IS the weekend after all, no?

I'll blog about this as time goes by.

I would rather not do anything that involves the family being apart on the weekends. I enjoy hanging out with my boys. Saturday mornings are reserved for The Little Bean's swimming lessons which he loves to bits! The look on his face when he's in the pool is priceless. He's splashing and kicking around. I'm pretty sure he thinks it's a massive bath tub! He's always been a water baby, loves his baths.

On Sunday we went out to the Farmer's Market at the Adelaide Show Grounds to pick up some free range eggs (super cheap there!) and some mushrooms for some risotto I'll cook this week!

Had way too much fun. Loved it!

Mona Raihan

He was loving the fallen leaves, wouldn't look at the camera at all!

The grass was so awesome, he wanted to sit on the damp grass!

Hahahaha, look at is face!

I wonder what next week's adventures will bring us?

I hope you guys had a great weekend!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Hey Rubber Duckie!

2011-05-21T10:58:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

If you can't get a man to do the photo taking, you throw them both in the pool and do it yourself!

The Little Bean's 2nd Swimming Lesson!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Mums heading to work to share the load | News.com.au

2011-05-20T06:38:00.000+09:30

Mums heading to work to share the load | News.com.au

That's just the way it is now. We work to pay the bills and to survive. Guilt must be put aside. I realize we only live once and our child only has one set of milestones as they grow up. But seriously, when they get home from childcare, they can share those milestones with us, no biggie if you weren't the first to see it!

The Little Bean has started Commando Crawling now (thanks to the awesome toys all over the place in childcare) and the day before, as he was having his dinner, he said...MA MA MA MA MA MA MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Yep, after 9 months of be sleeping next to him every night and feeding him at all hours of the night, he decides to make the sound MAMAMAMAMAMA...despite saying DADADADADA several months ago (we shall ignore that attempt at saying Daddy, ok? Daddy did NOT wake up at all hours of the night to tend to him, he has no boobies anyways!).

So, yeah, I'm happy with my messy house, busy work and happy child. Couldn't care less what other people think of my lifestyle. I live for the weekends so I can hang out with my boys. Speaking of which...It's Friday, Friday, Friday...weeehoooo!

I hope you guys have an awesome weekend planned. Mr. Man and I will be taking the Little Bean for his swimming lessons again...I will be taking the camera out this time and there's an education expo on....it's never to early to check out what's out there!

xoxo,

Sweet Success

Shooooo!

2011-05-17T22:27:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

A bit more up beat today. It's a Tuesday, we tried to sleep train The Little Bean, failed big time...he spewed all over his cot. Joy!

He's sleeping in my bed right now.

We will try again tomorrow! (I've left Mr. Man to do the sleep training coz I clearly suck at it)

Work's been pretty awesome, well, as awesome as any Office Bitch's job is...coffee, tea...listen to peoples' problems over the phone, putting people on hold....you know the deal....! It just gets interesting with the office politics, makes me giggle and laugh sometimes. heehheeeehheeee...I sit at the front and I get to hear all sorts of stuff. Women have this ability to multi-task and listen to different conversations at one time. I do it all the time!

Wrong?

That's why I know the goss because I can hear someone's conversation...even behind the office dividers...it's a talent I can't get rid of, sometimes I have to put my hand over my other ear when I'm on the phone so I can concentrate on the phone call and block out my goss seeking ears. bwahahahaha!

So anyways, things are looking up at work and I may be there for longer than my initial contract...i.e. permanent. OMG.

But more about that when or even...IF....I get the job. Not sure if I want to be the office bitch forever...which I don't think I will be.

Ahhh....it's 10:25pm....1.5hours after my bed time...my head hurts and I need sleep.

xoxo,

Sweet Success

P.S. Your emails and messages from the last post were over whelming and I'm deeply touched at your support. Especially to the Mummies of more than one kid. How I'm feeling is pretty normal and it's ok to cry it out, it helps us get the shit out of our system.

Failure

2011-05-15T08:52:00.001+09:30

Hello Darlings,

I'm feeling like a failure right now. Just plain and simple, failure. No, no, I don't want your sympathy, I just want to let it all out so I feel a lot better.

By the way, The Little Bean had his first swimming lesson and he loved it, the down side, someone couldn't find the camera in my bag and didn't take pictures of it. :( I'll take pictures MYSELF next week, ok?

Anywhos, ya know, this whole working mum thing...we all know it's a hard gig, especially when you don't have family back up. Some will say, "Well, you moved back to Australia to another state to where your mother and friends are!" But the reality is, we moved to Adelaide, rather than Perth was because house prices weren't through the roof because of the mining boom and it was affordable for us. On top of that...I didn't know I was pregnant when I moved here. So, this is my bed, I shall lay in it, it doesn't matter how messy it is or if I don't make it up in the morning, it's my bed yo! (go tend to your own bed, eh? :)

Because I'm working, I have very little time at home, I can't seem to get my shit together most days.

I feel like I'm a horrible wife for being grumpy with Mr. Man at times and a horrible Mum because I can't get my head around sleep training The Little Bean. His cot is still a white elephant in his room.

My friends have given me advice on how to get him to his own cot, but I suck at hearing him cry, I just pick him up.

I NEED to sleep train him because I'm losing a good night sleep. I spend the weekdays trying to survive and during the weekends I try to clean up whatever has been waiting to be cleaned up.

It's exhausting to say the least.

I've been going to bed at 8:30-9pm every night because I've been getting only 4-5 hours of broken sleep a night (when I say broken, I mean that I get woken up every hour or half an hour by The Little Bean). It's all fine and dandy for Mr. Man, he sleeps in the other room. What annoys me is that he will sleep late, watching TV and is tired the next day or falls asleep while I'm driving the car to my work (I do the first half of the journey to my work then he takes over when he goes to his work).

Yo man, hello, I've been up with a child at night and you've been up with a TV, you can switch off a TV, you can't switch off a child.

How do men do it, really? How can they fall asleep within 1 minute of finishing off a conversation with you? We're still staring into space and they're already fast asleep. GIVE ME SOME OF THAT SHIT PLEASE! We women over think too many things. "Got to wash the dishes, running out of knickers, I need to do the washing, the cat needs to be fed, his kitty litter needs to be changed, the milk bottles need to be sterilized, the shower needs to be scrubbed, the carpets need cleaning, the kitchen floor is a freakin' mess...blah blah blahhhhhhhhhhhhhh blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." I swear, Mr. Man doesn't even think about HALF that crap. I'm sure his thoughts are, "What's for dinner tonight? I wonder who's turn it is to wash the baby tonight, I hope I don't get a poopy nappy!" No kidding, I'm sure that's what he's thinking.

Just for your entertainment:

I'm annoyed with myself because I act like a total bitch when I've had little sleep. I had a good 3 hours of sleep the night before because The Little Bean had a cough but I was up and at it the next day, as if I had a full night's sleep (I even went into the pool for the swimming lesson with the Little Bean ok? Can anyone say, "SUPERWOMAN?"). If I had it my way, I'd have Red Bull on an IV drip, but alas, I can't, I'm still breastfeeding. So, suggesting lots of coffee will not work for me, because if I do, guess who stays up all night because of the coffee? Nope, not me, The Little Bean will!

** On another note: I think my breast milk is running out and I feel stressed about that too! Poor Little Bean. :( **

Becoming a mother, a wife, a full time employee and a part time student has been the hardest gig I've even done in my whole entire life. I thought my last job stressed me out. I've never been so exhausted in so many days in a row than I am now and I only have 1 child! I want to go and exercise but I'm too exhausted to do that too! It's like this never ending cycle of failures. Gah!

When one thing goes wrong earlier on in the day when I'm exhausted, the rest of my day is ruined. I feel like I need constant reminders that I'm doing "ok" as a mother, wife and employee. I don't get that much at all so I have to tell myself that and try to convince myself I'm awesome. There's nothing like convincing yourself, especially when you're a woman...hello self doubt!

I feel like crap when I give attitude to Mr. Man or The Little Bean when I'm tired and annoyed. The Little Bean has been having a bad time sleeping lately and I wake up at night, extremely tired and saying to him, "sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeep, please sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep." And Mr. Man gets all the snappy and annoyed comments from me, I'm pretty sure he always questions himself, "WTF did I do this time?" Most of the time it's my own frustrations that I take out on him and other times it's small things he does that should be shrugged off but it happens so often that it annoys me to the point of getting snappy remarks from me. How I wish men were mind readers, then they'd understand the shit we think and worry about!

Mr. Man has been going ON and ON about buying some old Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 (or some shit like that) car from the 80's for $6-8k as our 2nd car. Every time he talks about it, I nag about it. Seriously, for $6-8k, I can get a 2nd hand car that's a lot newer, probably no rust to the body either.

Who wants to drive this bucket of shit, really? I don't care if it's a classic, it's a 2 door, we have a kid and we all know classic and old cars need tender loving care and A LOT MORE MONEY TO MAINTAIN. Just get a newer 2nd hand car and get on with it. He's been researching this car for weeks now. It took me 1 day to buy the car that I have now. I took the Uncle with me to the 2nd hand car yards, we inspected a few, by the end of the day, we decided on one that had a good engine, body was good, interior was good and I paid $3k cash for it the next day. Done and dusted, and we still have that car and it's still running.

Just give me the money and I'll find a 2nd car!

You can tell I don't care so much about cars, right? I mean, my Dad bought me a 1991 Toyota Corolla for my 18th birthday for $4k and that lasted me 5 years, until I left to go to Singapore to get married. IT WAS FINEEEEEEEEEEE...!

Yes, it's frustrating sharing a car.

I've been doing it for 5 years now.

Now that I'm working, I need to be independent and not wait for Mr. Man to come and pick me up 1 hour after I finish work. I can do so much more at home with that 1 hour after work, i.e. get dinner ready and clean the house a bit. Right now it's like a massive rush at night time which makes me even MORE tired after a tiring day in the office. Since I'm at the bottom of the food chain in the office, I do all the awesome work, like cleaning up the coffee room, filling up coffee, getting the milk, delivering the paper to the big boss, doing the mail, answering the phones....yep, it's a step down from what I did before, but it's still money in the bank and that's all that matters for me.

Which brings me to another point.

I've been so good at work (despite being shit at home), that they might offer me a permanent job there. Why do I do so well outside of the house and not inside the house? Hence the feeling of being a failure.

I'm sure this whole failure thing will blow over (as everything else does) but it bites my ass sometimes and brings me down. I was so annoyed last night that I left The Little Bean in the play pen with Mr. Man in the lounge room while I went in the room and covered myself with the blanket and cried! The flood gates opened, I prayed and asked God to give me strength to get through this overwhelming feeling of failure. I know I've gone over the top when I shut down, huddle up and have a cry. But we all need a cry now and again, it helps balance things out. Being Superwoman isn't always the best thing to do, sometimes we need to give up that title and just be us. It tears us down to who we really are and when I'm under the blanket in the dark having a cry, that's who I REALLY am. Me, feeling like I'm not good enough to get my shit together. It took me 45 minutes to have a cry and then feel a bit better to face the world again to battle more fires.

I was logged onto Facebook this morning and the light at the end of the tunnel shone when a friend of mine, M, posted this as her status:

"Am off to bed.... Dishes on the sink, toys everywhere & floors need a good wash but not to worry.... All signs of a home that is lived in. Toys = happy healthy beautiful little boy. Dishes = food in our plates. Messy floors = we all sat together at the dinner table and ate that food together. One happy little family for which I am very grateful :)"

Thank you for that post. I finally feel human.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Granny Alert

2011-05-11T21:21:00.001+09:30

It's 9:15pm.

I'm in bed.

Defeated.

I can't fight the tiredness.

It's only Thursday tomorrow, help!

On a more exciting note, the little bean has his first swimming lesson this Saturday. Time to dust off my sexeh burkini. Can't wait to see what the other mum's will be staring at, me or....hmmm....me? Hahahahaha

Nothing like sticking out like a sore thumb!

I promise to take a million photos, he's gonna loveeeeee the big "bath tub"!

Ahhhh, seeing double, night night kids!

Xoxo,
sweet Success

Mummy!

2011-05-08T23:50:00.002+09:30

Hello Darlings!

Ahhhh, what a weekend! Usually by the end of the week I'm so exhausted, I'm pretty much a walking zombie. Sharing a bed with a nearly 9 month old baby that wakes me up 2-3 times a night isn't my idea of a rest. I don't reallllllly get up....I just shove my boobie in his mouth and he's off to lala-land...doesn't matter how long it takes, because I'm fast asleep a few seconds after flopping out the boob for him. (sorry for the visual. Sharing is caring!)

I haven't had an 8 hour uninterupted sleep...since....errr....6 month BEFORE he was born (night pees, you know them well ladies!). My body is adjusting to the lack of sleep....but it's just so exhausting being a Mum! And a working one at that too. (Speaking of being a working Mum, thanks for the encouraging emails and comments on it. Love you ladies loads, go working mums!)

So anywhooooosssss....since I work all week, the weekend is solely for my family.

The boys and I.

We decided to venture out to my local pancake shop...Pancakes on the Port! Yay!

On Saturday morning, we sat by the port for some awesomeness pancakes...nothing fancy, just a stake with maple syrup and butter.

Oh, wait, you need to see my little eskimo a little closer...

Hahaha! It was cold but he was all rugged up in his pram. He enjoyed himself, fed him some pancakes and what do you know, he can chew. Hurrah! He now has 8 teeth, sheesh....too quick....just too quick!

Jealous? Bwahahaha...it was awesome!

There was also a local handicafts market in Port Adelaide...bought The Little Bean a hand knitted beanie...soooo cute!

Loving the ear flaps. He didn't mind it at all. Never took it off either. Kept his baldy head warm!

Well, that was Saturday gone with my boys. We also bought some furniture for Mr Man's mancave. Yeah yeah, he thinks he can build a room for himself, his telly and his playstation...hahaha....this house only has 2 bedrooms, I'll be joining him soon, once the Little Bean is sleep trained...(whenever that will be!)

This is officially my first Mother's Day and I think I enjoyed it throughly! Mr Man was cleaning up around...heeeeeheeeeeheeeee....only on Mother's Day! The boys took me out for a delicious dinner and it was so good we got a parking fine too. Hahaha! Whops!

My Little Big Bird

Peak-a-boo!

Even though it was Mother's Day, I did cook Mr Man's long awaited New York Cheesecake.

I hate cheesecake...so I didn't eat any, lucky for Mr. Man! Time to find willing eaters.

He said it tasted just like the ones at the shop. He's probably just being nice (It issssss Mother's Day after all!)

Being my first Mother's Day and all...the childcare centre the Little Bean is at (aka Raihan), made the cutest thing for me. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

I wanted to cry because it was so sweet of them to make something special for me (there was a hand painting of a sun flower on the back too!) but seriously, Mr. Man and I tried not to piss ourselves laughing when we saw the pictures, especially the one on the right. It's like, "How YOU doin'?" ahahahaha! We call it the "real estate/model pose".

Each of our mothers got their morning phonecalls/Skype to wish them a happy mother's day.

It was a lovely day!

I hope all of you mothers out there were spoilt rotten and you spoilt your mums too!

Xoxo,
Sweet Success

Sick Baby, Work, Sister, Birthday and Cake. YUM!

2011-05-04T22:09:00.000+09:30

Hello Darlings!

There's so much to update you on since the start of April. That 30 Day Challenge took up precious blog space and you kids have been totally left out of the happenings of my life (unless you're on Facebook or Twitter...then you would REALLY know the crap I get up to!).

I started full time work and the Little Bean has also started full time childcare. My heard and heart was torn between my child and my sanity. After a few days of starting this new job (which is a temp admin job anyways, so it's not really something long term), The Little Bean started to get a high fever. We thought it was him teething, but it got so high that we ended up bringing him to the local hospital. When we checked his temperature, it was around 38 Degrees Celsius (100.4 F), the local hospital emergency room was full of people, I wheeled the Little Bean's pram in, told them the problem and they took his temperature and it had risen to 39 Degrees Celsius (102.2 F) and that FREAKED THE SHIT OUT OF ME.

At the Woman's and Children's Hospital. His fever was so high his cheeks became extremely red.

They then said that they were so busy and it was better if we went to the Woman's and Children's Hospital in the city...We were so freaked out at his temperature that we rushed there, luckily it wasn't so busy and they tended to us straight away. His temperature went up to 40 Degrees Celsius (104 F) The Little Bean kept on vomiting out his medication...didn't have an appetite either. So they gave him panadol...nope, not in the mouth....UP THE BUTT!

That worked a charm!

His temperature went down. I'm starting to like these suppositories...He can't cough up any medication...and it works twice as fast! Yep, I have latex gloves in my house...a bit of lubricant...and up the butt it goes!

So anyways, they sent us home after his temperature went down to a normal level and he was a bit more responsive. The doctors told me to come back if his temperature went up again and if he had a rash.

Well....what do you know...4am and his temperature shot up...6am arrived...and the rashes turned up on his chest. HOMG. I had work that day and Mr. Man was flying to Melbourne for a meeting (but coming back in the evening). I made the executive decision to not work that day, and let Mr. Man go to his meeting while I tended to the Little Bean. Work had to become 2nd fiddle, my child came first. I called around while we were on the way to the hospital, thinking that we'd only be there for a short time, like we were the night before.

Turns out they thought it was CHICKEN POX and gave us our own room in the emergency department just in case. ARGH...nooooooooooooo.

The Little Bean was so weak and he cried a lot. His temperature was going up and down, he had a rash on his chest and back...and his heart was racing at 180-200 beats per minute (The norm is around 140-160). CRAZY! The doctors didn't know what it was.

The doctors needed a urine test...and do you know how they do that on babies? First they ultra sound the bladder to see if it's full...then they use a LONG syringe on their lower tummy to extract the urine. *cries* HORRIBLE. After they did an ultrasound on his bladder...took off his nappy...and were just about to put the syringe in....I started to walk out the room as they were holding him down.

I couldn't watch.

Just before I touched the door handle, the Little Bean let out a fountain of urine all over and the nurse caught some of the urine in the little canister...HURRAH!

:)

Seriously...the thought of it scares the shit out of me...big syringe...on a baby's tummy? :( :(

My baby on a drip :(

They also needed to take his blood for some tests and put him on a drip to keep him hydrated. My poor darling.

I've never seen him this still in my life. He just lifted his arm up for the drip and took his milk (that he vomited up later on again)

So, there he was, lying down, so deflated, not like his usual fun and happy self. I was battling with my head, work or child...work or child....WORK...OR...CHILD?! (I didn't want to go back to work right there and then, my child was my first priority).

The doctors still didn't know what was wrong with him after the tests. They told us that we'd be staying over night for observations and more tests.

The last test was the meningitis test. They explained the whole procedure to me and it sounded like a horrible exercise but it was important they did the test, just in case it was meningitis and they could catch it before it became too advanced and caused long term damage. To do the test...they had to extract fluid from his spine.

OMG...

WTF...

:/

How do you do that shit on a baby?!

So they explained it to me in GREAT detail. They have to hold him in a ball (have you tried to hold an active child in a ball?) When I say ball, I mean having the child crunch down...head into his chest and knees up to his shoulders. Sounds easy enough for us, but for a baby...several people have to hold him down while they iodine his back, put the hospital greens on it and use a HUGE ASS SYRINGE on his lower back to extract the fluids.

:(

This time I left the room while they were prepping him. He was HOWLING. I walked through the emergency ward, feeling lost without him for the whole 10-15 minutes. Wasn't sure if I wanted to cry or not. So I decided that going to the toilet was the best bet, my bladder was so full I thought I was going to BURST! Oh, you didn't need to know that? Well, it's my blog, read it and suck it. It's my story! :)

After they were done, I went into the room and he was quietly sobbing. How sad. :(

The good news was that it wasn't Meningitis.

Not happy

But his temperature was still going up and down. They ended up giving him antibiotics and that worked wonders. His fever was gone and the rash on his body started to go away. Hurrah! And he started to become his cheeky self again.

Back to being cheeky...sitting up and playing with his rattle!

He started to get back at it again the day after he was admitted. PHEW! Thank god!

I thank God for listening to my prayers and the prayers of others while he was not well. He got discharged on the next day. I was EXHAUSTED. No words can explain how tired I was. Not only that, I had to sleep on a horrible fold out bed at the hospital...and the Little Bean usually sleeps with his nose in my armpit...don't ask, he just does. He doesn't sleep in the cot much at home...so towards the end of the night, the Little Bean was squished in with me on the single fold out bed...being breastfed. When the nurse came in (they came every 2 hours to check his temperature and heart beat) I think she just left after she saw him sleeping next to me, squished in the corner. Hahahaha! She's probably thinking that we're weird.

In fact, the nurse came in before bed time and asked me, "So, can Mum speak English?"

o.O

No crap, "I'm Australian."

"Oh, ok!"

I should have told her about the crap I got up to when I was a teenager...yes? I did grow up in the most bogan suburb in Western Australia...come on...stop using stereotypes woman! Sheesh!

Anywhos...so after we got discharged, we went home and we both had a BIG BIG BIG sleep! Ahhhh....then we slept early that night again. LOADS of sleep.

I really did not want to quit work, I called my boss and explained the situation to her. I said I would be back the following week, after the long Easter break. The Little Bean would have recovered and then he would be back to childcare again.

Ok, that's a pretty crap picture, can't even see their faces but that's the amazing Adelaide city scape behind them!

Mr. Man was away for the whole Easter break, he went back to Singapore. But it was ok, my Sissy poos came to visit me with her future husband. I wasn't alone the WHOLE weekend!

Sorry for the blur face D...haha! Am ready to eat!

Mmmmmm, guess who made a Roast Chicken for dinner yo!

I finally decided that I needed work to keep me sane. I love my child, but I also love my sanity. Don't call me selfish, we all have to do what we have to do to survive. A working mother is no better than a stay at home mother and vice versa. Lets not start this debate, ok?

Mr. Man came back a day after my sister left...so it left me to do the whole childcare and work thing on single Mum mode...I survived...and was able to clean up the house AND pick up Mr. Man that night too...it was his 30th birthday. What an oldie!

Not only did I clean up the house, I made his bed for him and and and...get this...I MADE A CAKE TOO!

Chocolate mousse peanut butter ganache cake with flake chocolate and shaved white chocolate topping.

I am awesome, yes?

That's the bulk of last month's update....Stay tuned to hear about the story about my socially retarded cat. :/

xoxo,
Sweet Success

I'm On a Secret Mission!

2011-05-03T22:01:00.000+09:30

I got so inspired by the last 30 Day Photo Challenge that I started my OWN challenge! Wheeehooo!

However, I can't publish this challenge just yet. Only a few people know about it. In fact, only 3 people know about it, because it's only day 3 of my challenge. They know who they are, they are special people in my life.

OhhHhHHhh....how exciting! More details when things progress!

Such excitement!

Pancakes for Brekkie!

2011-05-01T14:52:00.000+09:30

It was worth a try!

Someone is learning to feed himself. Hilarious at times...but patience is the key. Be ready to clean up the mess!

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

2011-04-30T11:45:00.000+09:30

We are finally here, HURRAH!

OMG...30 days of boring the shit out of you guys. SORRY!

I miss the days when us siblings were cute and cuddly...and mostly innocent!

N, A and Am

N has fallen asleep in her bowl of food! haha!!

My bro M in his cute little Malay Eid outfit. nawwwwwwwwwwwwww!

My bro and I just hangin' out.

Seriously, if I was Mum, I would have yelled at me by now, "WHY ARE YOU PLAYING ON THE GRASS WITH WHITE STOCKINGS AND NO SHOES ON?!" And yes, I am still as bossy today as I was standing the way I did in this picture, hands on hips and all!

Yeah, this would be me. Not sure where my leg ends and my where my ankles begin. FAT.

Just fitting in.

N, A and Am in their Malay Eid outfits.

I'm so over this 30 day challenge! I hope you enjoyed my silly pictures and stories, back to normal next month!

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

2011-04-29T06:41:00.000+09:30

Bwahahahahahahaha!

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

2011-04-28T07:56:00.001+09:30

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.....EEEEEELSSSS.....Sooooo GROSS!

Ok, shut up...I have this thing about tofu (or tahu for us Malays)...I'd eat tempeh, but tofu has this gross consistency. Makes me want to gag!

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

2011-04-27T08:00:00.000+09:30

My Pussy!

Getting a bit bored doing this 30 day challenge, HURRY UP AND END ALREADY! There's so many pictures of my and my family that I can put up! So, for today, it's Nacho, my cat! Stay tuned for a STUPIDO post about my cat after this challenge is over!

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

2011-04-26T08:21:00.001+09:30

Family :)

Day 25 - A picture of your day

2011-04-25T08:55:00.000+09:30

What I love most about my days is hanging out with my little man and getting my life into gear (even though I totally suck at doing that!)

This is him with all of his toys. Yes, that's all of his toys. There are no other toys in the house. I've contained them in his play pen. When he falls over to the "lying down position", he gets all cranky because he's too fat to pull himself back up. haha!

This was lunch today. He got it all over himself and got it all over me. He swiped the spoon full of food several times. His shirt is wet because he thinks he can drink himself from his sippy cup. More water ends up on his clothes and the floor than his mouth!

Apart from hanging with the little man, I do loads of washing. Today, my backyard resembles a wash house.

And cooking, yes, I made a roast chicken. It was alright. Not that spectacular. But we have food in our tummy.

Now that I'm working...this only happens on the weekends! :(

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

2011-04-24T09:23:00.000+09:30

The world?

Is that too much to ask? hahaha!

Seriously, I think I'd like to change my attitude on life. I'm a killer procrastinator and I leave things to the last minute...A LOT! :(

I freak out with my assignments and even when I travel, I pack an hour or two before I leave the house. Impressive, yes?

I need to get my ass into gear and start prioritizing things in life. I need to get my head sorted out, what I want to do, get my house sorted out, make sure everyone is fed every night and my child sorted out, make sure he's healthy and well.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, I'll get around to it one day. ;)

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

2011-04-23T09:16:00.000+09:30

Apart from the Quran, the next best book that helped me through the first few months after the birth of The Little Bean was Baby Love by Robin Barker.

It has EVERYTHING in there and you're not meant to read it from cover to cover, just look up what you need. But, me, being the geek I am, read it from front to back. haha!

Best book EVER. Every question you may have...she gives you the advice, the alternatives and she's NEVER judgmental. I.e. It's ok to bottle feed, it's your choice. and you can co-sleep if you like, some cultures do it, it's no big deal.

How awesome is she?

Best investment ever!

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at

2011-04-22T05:52:00.001+09:30

I wish I could be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend!

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget

2011-04-21T07:13:00.000+09:30

Oh my lord....there are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many things, but I won't bore you with the details!

However...there is one thing that comes to mind that I would RATHER forget.

CHILD BIRTH

I would like to forget the whole labour, birthing and after pains...SO I WON'T BE SO AFRAID TO TRY AGAIN!

Seriously, they just don't tell you the extent of pain you will be in afterwards. Talk about a shock to the system.

Yes, Yes, for those who are new, here is the birthing story. Enjoy every gory detail of it!

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

2011-04-20T08:06:00.000+09:30

I've posted about Mecca already, this is the next best thing for me!

No, I don't want to go to George Bush's crotch.

I want to go to Turkey!

Mr Man and I had planned to go there several years ago but that didn't pan out. But I've always wanted to go there for all of the awesome history, mosques, museums and food!

I've done parts of Europe before and my favorite city was Paris because it felt so...magical! (might not be for Muslims anymore though with the burqa ban and all).

I've always had the travel bug in me. I can't wait till the little bean is old enough to appreciate other cultures!

Day 19 - A picture and a letter

2011-04-19T08:00:00.002+09:30

C is for cake
Did you think I was going to write some soppy letter?

P.S. Yes, I made this cake for a cousin's wedding. It was supposed to be part of a topsy turvy cake, because of the humidity, the bottom layers of the cake DIED. Lucky the top survived...This cake has caused me anxiety attacks every time I think about decorating a cake. OMG. I posted this here so that I can look at it and get the hell over the fact that it didn't turn out. My poor cousin must have been devastated that the cake didn't turn out...I was crying most of the morning before the wedding set up. I wanted to crawl under a rock and cry alllll dayyyyy long! So, here's to getting my mind over it and MOVING ON ALREADY! (Mr. Man would be so proud of me right now!)

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

2011-04-18T08:00:00.000+09:30

My Ass

Yep, I'm afraid if I don't get my crap together, my ass will grow HUGE. Time to EXERCISE!

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

2011-04-17T08:00:00.000+09:30

Bubu!

I've never been so over come with love for another person than I have with my Fatty McFatFat. I've been blessed with an exceptionally happy baby, thank God. He smiles ALL the time and every time he laughs, he gets so tickled with laughter that he bows his head down into his chest and lets off a big GRIN! (but then again, he does that while he's farting, hmmm!)

Life will never be the same for me again. I thought that becoming a Mummy was going to be impossible for me....being selfish and self centred...but when he arrived, I flipped a switch...it just came to me...best thing ever. :)

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

2011-04-16T08:00:00.001+09:30

Mummy!

I don't need to explain this, ok? :)

P.S. If you know my mum, tell her how much you love her here!

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

2011-04-15T07:00:00.010+09:30

What every Muslim wishes to achieve before they die. To fulfill a life long dream to do my Hajj with my mother and husband. It makes me tear up to think that I can't get my act together to achieve this goal yet. God willing.

Every time I think about Hajj, it makes me want to cry. Especially when I see pictures like this. In a world where we think that everyone is losing their religion (Don't sing the song now, ok?), you see every year, without fail, people making the sacrifice to do take the long journey to the Holy Land. The last count was 1.8 million people in 2010. Let that be me one of these days, god willing!

How I wish I could go there tomorrow.

In due time.

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

2011-04-14T07:00:00.001+09:30

I bet this is getting boring for you and it's becoming clear that I just hang out with my family more than anything else...hahaha!

Clearly it would be my family! I'm not going to pick favourites, ok? And once again, I'm going to rebel against the cause...and POST MORE PICTURES THAN I SHOULD! Suckaaaaa!

Left to Right: Sis 3, Sis 2, Sis 1, Mum (Holding little J), Me, Mr. Man and Bro

Sis 2 with little J (Little J is Sis 1's son)

My birthday with bro. Yeahhhh

Mum with the Little Bean

My In Laws

Break the rules, because I said so.

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

2011-04-13T06:00:00.000+09:30

I don't REALLLLLLLY have one. It all depends on the mood I'm in. But spiritually wise, I love Maher Zain.

Because I'm a rebel, I'm not going to post a picture today, but a video. Yes....a videoooooo oooo oooooo ooooooh!

Inshallah

Don't cryyyyyy when you listen to this like me. :)

Freedom

Such a beautiful song. :)

For The Rest of my Life

For the loversssss out there!

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

2011-04-12T02:30:00.000+09:30

Ahhhhh, you thought I was going to post a picture of my favourite food!

As mentioned in my last post, I do love my religion...I love God more than words can express for giving me everything I have and teaching me lessons in the most gentlest and obscurest way possible! I put religion first, even though I sound like a loose cannon on this blog (it's the inner Bogan in me speaking yo), I'm a reserved but practical Muslim (if I do say so myself!)

So, yes, today...(and every other day for the rest of my life)...I loveeeee my religion, more than a fat kid loves cake.

P.S. These posts will pick up again soon, I just completed a hugeeeee assignment...slightly brain dead. Time to rest my pretty little head!

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

2011-04-11T02:00:00.008+09:30

I could totally have a field day with this day...! I could post pictures of many things...sadly, it doesn't say people, so, to those who pissed me off in the past, lucky you, you are safe...for today!

Despite my bullshit blogging style, I am quite attached to my religion. I used to blog on religious content and used to run Hadith of the Day a few years ago but stopped because people kept on asking me for advice which I didn't really have answers too and on top of that, people (other Muslims) were getting all up in mah grill about stuff! I was like, "Dude, get out of my face!"...ok, not really, but they got all high and mighty on me. Lucky for me, I monitored the comments and a lot of them didn't make it on the site...in fact, I ended up deleting ALL COMMENTS towards the end. I still get a crap load of hits to that site, even though I stopped posting in 2007. It was a daily reminder for me to pull my finger out and get on with life!

Anywhos, I digress.

What pisses me off is when innovations are introduced into Islam that go completely against the whole basis of Islam. There's a difference between religion and culture and being a person who does have a culture (the lovely Malay-ness in me), I am highly aware of some of the bull crap we pedal as Malays.

The good ol' Bomoh (some guy that tries to cure you with "magic" and asks you to get a piece of armpit hair from your partner to them so they can do some hocus pocus and ensure that he doesn't cheat on you ever) is still a normal practice for older Malays as well as some younger ones (who don't know better).

Ok. that's got nothing to do with innovation, that's (black) magic really. But the other thing that pisses me off is when they go and pray at a so-called "religious person's" grave in hope they can get whatever they pray for. Errr...the person is DEAD and did you forget that God is the one who gives you everything...yes? What is the dead person who is 6 feet down going do for you?

Hmmm...yeah.

And another thing...

AHHHHHHHHHHH...I'm on a roll...(I should really be doing my assignment though!)....

I don't go to kenduri(s) for people who have passed on after the 1st day (get togethers to pray for the dead of a loved one). It happens on the 3rd day (I think?), 7th day, 40th day and 100th day...correct me if I'm wrong, I clearly don't do these things, so I don't know the full details of it. I go on the day they have passed and the burial (same day)...do the prayer for the dead and move along...they have passed on, nothing much you can do after that. You can recite and dedicate prayers to them from home, on your prayer mat.

And ONE MORE THING...what some Shia sects do to themselves on Ashoora Day scares the CRAP out of me. (Warning, the link has graphic pictures, I choose not to have them on my blog, looking at them every day will piss me off).

There is a fine line, especially when you have cultural baggages, but I always refer to the Quran, autentic hadiths and my OWN COMMON SENSE as to why I do things. God did give us a brain, so USE IT! If it is clearly going against Islam, then DON'T do it.

Oh my, I just let out a sigh of relief.

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with

2011-04-10T01:00:00.013+09:30

This is a hard one...also a censored post too, because my mother reads my blog. But then again, she's also on my Facebook and is friends with some of my friends...I have let it slip before what we used to do...!

I wouldn't say this is applied to now, but I have fond memories of my high school friends. Some of the things we got up to...I'm pretty sure my grandma would be rolling in her grave if she heard what we did.

Shall I name a few things? HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Let's see...

- Making flame throwers in my bedroom with my perfumes and deodorants (That's why my room smelt so nice after my friends went back Mum.)

- Stalking the boys we liked.

- Going up to Secret Harbour and stealing the flag from the 18th hole at the golf course (It's ok, none of the girls were involved in that little naughty game...I did that with boys! haha!)

- Going to a road construction site and stealing the safety cones. (once again, the girls were not involved in this!)

- Taking the flag and the cones to our friend's house and putting it around his car and driving off, leaving him a surprise for the next morning. (Pissing myself laughing right now!)

- Truth or dare...drink some toilet water? (hurrrp!)

This is at M's wedding a few years back. The group of friends here is not complete, there are a few missing!

Hard to believe I have changed so much now *cough*

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

2011-04-09T01:00:00.000+09:30

It's got to be Mr. Man. My bestie since teenhood. Ups and downs, fights, breakups and get togethers again. We've been through it all. Marriage, family divorce, a child, moving country, buying cars and houses...ahhh, living life with him can be hilarious at times. But most of the time he really has to put up with me and my antics. I've become a nagging wife. Whopsies. (but then again, 99% of wives are, right? DON'T LIE!)

"Oi, pick up your socks off the floor!"

"Ehhhh, I'm not your slave ok!"

"WTF is up with your driving?"

"Seriously, JUST EAT THE VEGIES ALREADY!"

Don't let the demure look of me fool you, I do believe I can be a bit of a tyrant (poor Mr. Man and Little Bean).

My wedding party day. (I was in hospital the night before with gall bladder pains.) I nearly didn't make it to my own wedding party. How awesome of me to be hospitalized while everyone was busy cooking up a feast for 1500 guests?
Yep, I like to live on the edge. They could of had a party without the bride.

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh

2011-04-08T01:00:00.000+09:30

Ok, not so funny at the time, but now that I think about it, it's quite hilarious! You see, the Little Bean kept getting sick every time he went to childcare. He came back with gastro twice and the flu twice too. With gastro, his poops didn't smell so much, they were just super watery and they happened often. So he ended up getting a nappy rash too.

So our solution was to air his ass out. Yep, Nuddie time. Mr Man is watching over him in the picture below, he's on a blanket that's on top of a piece of huge cardboard (just in case...ya know?) So he was playing with his toys, rolling around while I was doing my prayers.

Then suddenly I heard this YELP!

"OMG Honey! He crapped everywhere! HELP HELP! HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

How could I not laugh while I prayed? I think I had to stop and re-start my prayer again because of it! It's ok, my mother in law came to the rescue, she was like, "What's going on?!"

After I came out from doing my prayers, Mr. Man wanted to explain to me EXACTLY what happened and what came out of the Little Bean's butt.

Mr. Man is so afraid of shit. Every time I ask him to change a shitty nappy, he's like, "Next one. I'll get the next one."

Good try, I won't fall for that one!

P.S. I was laughing as I typed this out...it's one of those things that you have to be here for...seriously...Mr. Man's reaction to shit is hilarious and makes me laugh SO SO SO SOOOOOOOOO HARD! Especially when he starts to dry reach. bwahahaha!

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item

2011-04-07T01:00:00.033+09:30

Have a look at the following pictures and tell me what you see in all of them, except for the last two.

:)

18 weeks

21 weeks

22 weeks

29 weeks

30 weeks

31 weeks

35 weeks

37 weeks

39 weeks

40 weeks with mum, she's trying to say that I used to be in her belly...haha!

The Little Bean at the laundromat

My prized possession is NOT my expanding waistline...but my iPhone! It holds all my contacts in there and many priceless photos for my family and friends. It keeps me in contact with the world and the ones that I love.

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

2011-04-06T01:00:00.013+09:30

I really wanted to put God, but then again, He's no ordinary being, he is greater than that! (and as Huda has kindly pointed out, where would I get a picture of God anyway?!)

So I'll scratch that idea.

You'd think I'd want to be trade places with the richest person in the world so I would know how it would be like to life a life of luxury. Meh, doesn't really bother me to do such things.

Instead, I'd like to be Nigella Lawson for the day. Why? Because I LOVE her cooking and LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE her kitchen and kitchen machinery.

And coz she's hot too!

I'm a kitchen whore, what can I say?

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

2011-04-05T01:00:00.016+09:30

When D and T fooled me BIG time for my baby shower. Read the story here. You WILL laugh at how stupid I was!

Thanks b***hes!

Day 04 - A picture of your night

2011-04-04T01:00:00.000+09:30

This is pretty much my nights...Every night. It's me and the Little Bean. Him in my arms, Mr. Man in the other room...aaaaaaahahaha! I like it like this. He used to smell so good but now...pfft, he has bad breath at night time, hurp.

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show

2011-04-03T13:00:00.005+09:30

JUST KIDDING!

(I'm pretty sure it will be my most hated cast in years to come)

Coz they are hot, sexy and HILARIOUS.

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

2011-04-02T01:00:00.016+10:30

It's actually a tie between my Mum and my husband! I'll tell you why:

My Mum - Coz she's crazy ass (Take note in the picture above from my birthday this year) but she's a strong woman and if I have any problems, I know I can tell her and vice versa.

My Husband - Coz he's been there since I was...errrr....14? Needless to say, we're married now! He cracks me up, we make a good team, even though we occasionally squabble but it's over within 24 hours (most of the time, depending if I'm PMS-ing or not. bwahaha!)

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts

2011-04-01T15:15:00.000+10:30

At Universal Studios - Los Angeles

Fact 1 - I am awesome (If it was up to me, I'd times that by 10 and those are the 10 facts all done!)

Fact 2 - I have a disgusting little toe. My youngest sister shares the same toe too. It's gross and small and the toenail is pretty much non-existent. Thank you Mum for the funky little toe.

Fact 3 - I have a motorbike licence as well as a forklift license (apart from my car license). Yes, you read right, I can drive a forklift.

Fact 4 - I can ride horses. Not just sitting on the house and walking, I can go galloping in the bushes! I took lessons for nearly 3 years when I was a kid. I did show jumping and all.

Fact 5 - When I gave birth to the Little Bean, my vag teared, but I didn't get stitches. (I know you really wanted to know that fact, right?)

Fact 6 - I'm completing my Diploma in Human Resource Management (externally) and I have 4 subjects to go. I started doing it in 2003...errr....yes...I took a 5 year break in between. I hate school, but you do what you gotta do.

Fact 7 - I got married in January 2006 and had my first child in August 2010. We took our time.

Fact 8 - I am not an Arab, despite my looks.

Fact 9 - My father is Swiss and my mother is Malay. (how clever am I? I made 1 fact into two! Woo!)

Fact 10 - I was baptized. (Bet you didn't see that coming!)

That 30 Day Photo Challenge

2011-04-01T14:57:00.001+10:30

Hello Darlings!

Coz everyone else is doing it. I'll start today! (Only coz April has 30 days) I dare you to do it too.

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
Day 04 - A picture of your night
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory
Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate
Day 12 - A picture of something you love
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity
Day 19 - A picture and a letter
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change
Day 25 - A picture of your day
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

See you on the other side of 30!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Ahhhh, Shit.

2011-04-01T12:17:00.001+10:30

Hello Darlings!

Have you had a moment where you do something you're not supposed to do and then you're like, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....Shit."

Well, I had one of those moments today.

I was washing the Little Bean's butt after he did a little poop (yeah, Asians wash baby's asses after poops) and I was wiping it down with a wet wipe first with my right hand, I got a bit of it on my finger, hurrrrppp....yeah, when you're a mother, it's no big deal, when you're not, it's the BIGGEST DEAL EVER.

So anyways, I proceeded to wash the Little Bean's ass in the laundry basin with my left hand and holding him with my right hand. Even used a little soap on his bottom. Then I wiped him down and went to put his clothes on and put him into his walker while I sorted out the dirty nappy.

So, I go to the drawers to get a little plastic bag to put the nappy in so it won't stink out the rubbish bin.

I went to open the stubborn freezer bag and as I usually do, I licked my right finger to open the plastic bag...yep...

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH............SHIT.

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Daily Thankfuls

2011-03-31T22:40:00.001+10:30

Today, I'm thankful for my iPad, coz it's awesomeness rolled into a magazine sized black box. I heart you. You keep me company in the middle of the night when I can't sleep and your games are endless entertainment!

Best use for it: to keep the baby occupied while he flaps and slaps the screen on the baby piano. He loves all the sounds!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

(yes, that's right, I posted this from my iPad yo!)

Daily Thankfuls

2011-03-30T13:27:00.000+10:30

Today, I'm thankful for a sense of humor.

LAUGH OUT LOUD because that helps relieve tension.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

:D

I'm Done With The Notion of Working

2011-03-29T14:32:00.001+10:30

Hi Darlings!

As you know, I have been looking for work for the past few months. I got into temp work for a few days and I just couldn't bring myself to do it everyday, leaving the Little Bean behind at day care and all.

I felt torn.

I know many mothers HAVE to go out to work but I am fortunate enough that Mr. Man earns enough for us to survive. A roof over our head and food on the table is all we really want, everything else is just a lovely little extra...the cherry on top!

But by committing to be a Stay At Home Mum, I have to realize that this IS my job. The unpaid job that every woman (who has transitioned from being financially independent to being a SAHM) whinges about. I need to make sure I have the house clean, the baby happy and most importantly, food on the table at night for Mr. Man. (If he doesn't get his food, he turns into a purple dinosaur - not a scary one, maybe a bit like Barney). I've always said that I'll get bored staying at home all day with a baby and doing housework, but seriously, I have Dr. Phil on telly and Oprah, who's gonna get bored?

Nah, really, I still have my diploma to complete this year, I might as well get that done and dusted so that I have that up my sleeve, ready for when I want to get back into the workforce later on.

And anyway, I have several things happening this year, we're all going back to Singapore for Eid and my sister is getting married in November...so really, this is a pretty bad time to start working. Just suck it up, we will have to live simply and try to save as much as we can on Mr. Man's salary.

I've vacuumed and mopped the house, it feels nice and clean. I'm happy. The baby is sleeping and I'm blogging, just getting a little rest from it all. I've already done a load of washing. I had little sleep last night, woke up early this morning, before it was time for prayers and I suspect my boobies aren't producing as much milk as they used to, the Little Bean was getting shitty because he couldn't get the milk out.

Note to self: Drink more fluids! Pump some milk!

Seriously, without the boob to give him at night, I'd have a hard time putting him back to sleep. When he cries with his eyes closed and mouth open (also known as his UGLY CRY), he wants boobs. So by just giving him a boob in bed, I can get more sleep at night, everyone wins. I don't want to get up at night and make him a bottle. Yucks. I only do that in the day time, but I still give him boob in the day.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, don't judge me because he sleeps on the boob, he loves it and it allows me to rest to. There's no law that says I can't do that, he's happy and well fed. This whole sleep training thing, I'll give it a go, I'll keep y'all posted!

Ok, that was a super long and boring post, my bad!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Just A Fraud?

2011-03-27T07:43:00.000+10:30

Hello Darlings!

Sometimes I feel like a fraud in this life. Like someone is going to find out the real "me".

That I'm not that caring, well thought of and lovable me.

I question my ability to succeed in this life and the next life. It's like I'm not good enough and I'm putting up this face for other's to see but once I'm at home, on my bed, it's me, just plain ol' me. My public face is left at the door and I'm really a horrible, horrible person in real life.

I don't think it's low self esteem, I don't think I have that (or perhaps I do?).

It stems from just not being an organized person, fickle minded and, well, never being happy with myself.

When I think about it, what the hell have I really got to complain about in the scheme of things? I have a roof over my head, food on the table and a loving family. But why, why, whyyyyyyyy do I feel like this?! I just can't make up my mind about life, one thing I know for sure is that my religion is in tact and that's what I fall back on every time when I feel fickle minded and ungrateful.

Poor Mr. Man has to put up with me coming up with new ideas every week about what I want to do with my life.

A BAKER!
A CORPORATE LIFE!
A HOUSEWIFE!
A STUDENT!
A BUSINESS OWNER!

OMG...seriously.

Can't get my crap together.

Do all Mums feel like they HAVE to go back to work? I know I will have to if we are going to buy our own house and stop renting, but truly, I can't bring myself to commit to work right now. I've been applying for work, going for interviews, putting my best foot forward but I haven't been hired for any permanent position as yet. Perhaps it's a sign that I'm not meant to be working right now, my baby needs me?

My mother in law will be leaving next weekend and it will be me and the Little Bean at home, alone. If he goes to childcare and gets sick, I don't have a back up, I have to take leave to take care of him. That is my dilemma. I don't want to be one of those asses who sends their kids to childcare when they're sick...in fact, the Little Bean becomes the victim, he comes back with all the sicknesses! But that's ok, that builds his immune system, so I'm cool with that. Just not cool with cleaning diarrhea nappies and him power chucking on my expensive bedspread. I take the brunt when he starts to dry reach, I grab him close to my body and he chucks all over me.

Mmmmmmm, delicious!

That's what you call dedication, yes? (I love my bedsheets, ok?)

So, yeah, my head and heart is heavy. If I go out and work, I'll have to give up hope of getting my own house anytime soon and holidays will be very scarce. We will be living on Mr. Man's salary only.

And this is where religion comes prancing back and reminds me that...hello...these are all worldly loves, we don't reaaaaaaaaaaally need them. It's nice to have, but not essential.

Major disruption in my head because of being fickle minded and not focused on trying to achieve more for the afterlife and just surviving in this life.

Perhaps once the in laws have left (yes, my father in law has just arrived here as well), I will be a bit more level headed, have a routine and know what I really want. I will be better to myself and not feel like such a fraud in this life!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

P.S. I'm now on Facebook as a "page" how cool am I? SO LIKE ME or I WILL GET THE LITTLE BEAN TO POWER CHUCK ON YOU!

My Style of Parenting

2011-03-24T11:04:00.000+10:30

Hello Darlings!

Before giving birth to the Little Bean, I had so many ideas on parenting. From wanting to use those cloth diapers (pfft - being a hippie can wait, I have no time to keep cleaning all the clothes and bedsheets he pisses on because of leakage!) to making sure he was on a rigid schedule.

It didn't quite happen that way.

I read and heard stories from other Mummies for the whole 9 months of my pregnancy, trying to pick up on good routines and habits for my child. The moment he arrived, it was a little different than I had imagined it to be.

My vag and lower back hurt so much after birth that I had a crappy time recovering for the first few weeks after his arrival. I was in survival mode.

I had the blessing of having my mother and mother in law with me for several weeks before I was alone at home with the baby while Mr. Man was back at work. I found myself just going with the flow and getting on with the day. He would only sleep for 30 minutes at a time and if I was lucky, 1 hour!

When I was pregnant and all those years before I got pregnant, I didn't want to go out and work, I wanted to stay home and look after my baby and be a housewife. Bwahaha...fat joke that was for me!

As of today, I have stepped back into the workforce (only because I felt like my brain was rotting at home) and the Little Bean has been put into childcare. Well, to tell you the truth, I only did a temp office job and I did 3 days last week. It was easy to adjust back into an office position, but I found myself feeling unsure if I really wanted to get back to the corporate world. It was only a short stint and I felt like I had a heavy heart, leaving my child behind for a few days.

For the last few weeks, I've been sending him to childcare once a week, to get him used to alternative care and he's been loving it. He comes home beaming, laughing and giggling all the time! But the down side of putting your baby in childcare is that they will catch all sorts of bugs from the other kids. In the 5 weeks we've put him in childcare, he's come home with gastro twice and the flu twice too. Fun times indeed!

But this is part and parcel of building their immune system. They need to be exposed to these bugs so that they can grow to be stronger.

So, I'm rethinking the whole "going back to work" situation. I might as well just work from home, but still send him to childcare once a week (so he can socialize with other snotty nosed kids).

Anywhos, back to my parenting style...so I thought I could do the whole sleep training thing...you know, the cry it out method. It's not quite working and as for a schedule...hahhhhaaaaaaaaaa....my schedule is NOT rigid, nor does it always go to plan. It's a flexible schedule that can change from day to day. It's been nearly a year since I've had a good 8 hour sleep at night (don't forget, when I was pregnant, I had to get up to pee several times a night!).

I'm going to shamelessly admit that the Little Bean sleeps in the bed with me and his cot is currently a place for dumping all the folded laundry. Don't judge me, please. I'm a mother who does not have much sleep at night. Here's how his schedule goes...(err...give or take an hour here or there).

5-6am ish - wake up for some boobie action then SLEEP.
7-7:30am - wake up and get ready for brekkie (earlier if he's going to childcare)
7:30-8am - breakfast time!
8:30 - bath time!
8:30-9am - bottle time!
9-11am - SLEEP
11-11:30 - wakes up, has a grumble, needs a cuddle, has a play
12-12:30 - lunch time!
12:30-1:30- play time!
1:30-2pm - bottle time!
2pm-4pm - SLEEP
4pm-5:30 - wakes up grumpy, needs cuddles then has a play.
5:30-6 - Dinner time!
6:30pm - bath time!
7pm - bottle time!
7:30pm - SLEEP (get this, he naps for about 30-45 minutes here)
8pm - Cuddles and plays a bit
8:30pm - BOOBIE and SLEEP
11-12am - MORE BOOBIE and then SLEEP(he does this ugly cry when he's hungry and tired)
3-4am - MORE BOOBIE and then SLEEP

And then the day starts all over again.

HOLY CRAP, how friggin' tiring is that? I've only got one kid and typing that out made me feel super exhausted.

I know parents who are awesome with the sleep training and are strong enough to see it through...I don't have the heart or mind for it. The Little Bean has a super high pitched scream that sounds like someone is abusing him. Not exactly the best sound when you're sharing a wall with a neighbour with no kids.

All the power to the Mums who can get their act together, I'm just not one of them. I seem to parent the way my mother did, boobie to shut them up and sleep under our armpits at night. No kidding...the Little Bean turns his whole body and his face to my armpits for a nice little whiff at night time. Mmmm....delicious! (Stop judging me, ok?)

Mr. Man...errr....he sleeps in the lounge room, suits us all right now.

I don't do rigid right now, I like cuddling my baby at night time but there will come a time where sleep training will actually happen and all hell WILL break loose. Eek, I'm totally NOT looking forward to it.

So, until that time, he can smell my armpits for as long as he likes!

xoxo,
Sweet Success

Japan Needs Your Help!

2011-03-13T23:31:00.000+10:30

Hello Darlings!

If you're like me, you're wondering what in the world you can do to help the Japanese victims...now is the time to forget the past, what they did to who, what religion they are and help them based on human compassion.

Watching the devastation was hard enough...now that I'm a mother, I can feel my heart being ripped out of my chest when I saw the small boat full of children from a fallen childcare and their teacher being rescued. What if one of those children was mine? What if I had perished in the earthquake and tsunami? Who will look after my child?

As I write this blog post, the vision of the children and their teacher keep playing in my head.

Alia is a Muslim fashion blogger living in Japan that I have been following for a while and she had a 30km hike home in the cold after the earthquake hit. Read her story here.

She is calling for help in the form of donations, please read her post below:

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Relief Aide

We have a friend, another English teacher, who has been evacuated from Sendai, currently living in an elementary school with around 200 children and other adults. We got an email from her asking for help, they can't get water, food, and clothes. We want to send money to them via bank transfer (which is instant from a Japanese bank). Our goal is to send her $2,000 for her to support the community living in the area. If you can help, we ask you to please donate even $10 to my Paypal. I will be collecting the donations, then transfer the money to her once we have a good amount, but of course as soon as possible. My Paypal is connected to this email: thisvelvet_glove@yahoo.com

100% of your donation goes to this community. Please help if you can.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So if you're wondering what you can do to help without the money going to paying admin fees, etc...Please help this small group of people who need help NOW. God willing they will be ok, please remember, it is still cold there, they are coming out of winter. Any small amount will help. Think of the kids.

God Bless.

Sweet Success

Give Them Strength

2011-03-11T21:53:00.001+10:30

Dear God,

Please give Japan strength in the hard times. Please keep my friends in Japan safe. Miss Y., who I wrote about a few posts ago is currently in Japan.

I know that these are signs of the end of the days, please show mercy God.

Keep all of us safe from your signs and reminders, God willing. Amin.

Xoxo,
Sweet Success

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Xo Xo...Sweet Success!

Tantie Version 2.0

Tantie

Ahahaha, Funnnnny!

So, It Was My Birthday

Run Number 2

The Reality of Motherhood

Run FORREST, RUN!

I Wet Myself Laughing

Another Day, Another Year

Danger Zone!

Kitchen Appliance Porn

Merry Christmas 2011

It Was Cute Until...

Because That's What Baking Bitches Do

I Knew It Before It Happened

I'm FREEEEEE!

My Abs Feel Like They Have Abs

Mummy Mummy!

Familia in Perth

The Handover

The Bridesmaids

My Sister Got Married

The Rules of Effortless Parenting

Post written by Leo Babauta.

Oh, He Can Walk

Loving It

Back Into The Swing Of Things

And The Fascination Has Begun

I'm Aliveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Kay Elle

One Month of Eid

Eid!

Hungry Ghost Month

First Day In Singapore

Did you miss me?

Creating Memories

Dear God, Please Listen to Me Tonight

Neglect

I'm Busy, OK? *DAMN YOU MACARONS!*

Go The WHAT To Sleep?

Bath Time!

Man Flu

A Story

Secret Ninja Mission - Post 4

Arrrr~

Secret Ninja Mission - Post 3

Secret Ninja Mission - Post 2

Secret Ninja Mission - Post 1

The Secret Ninja Challenge!

A Love Measured In Memories

Sleep Training, Half Done

Persian?

I Live for the Weekends

Hey Rubber Duckie!

Mums heading to work to share the load | News.com.au

Shooooo!

Failure

Granny Alert

Mummy!

Sick Baby, Work, Sister, Birthday and Cake. YUM!

I'm On a Secret Mission!

Pancakes for Brekkie!

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

Day 25 - A picture of your day

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Day 19 - A picture and a letter

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

I'm Busy, OK? DAMN YOU MACARONS!