Beauty Junkie Theraphy: Crabtree's Damask Rose

Finally got my hands on the Damask Rose range by Crabtree & Evelyn. Due to this, I've also become a member of the brand. Good to know that unlike L'occitane or Burts Bees, C & E's membership is for a lifetime. That's the best way to really keep the customers coming back. My expreience with Burts Bees is that your membership needs to be "revived" if you have not used it for 6 months. What a party pooper.

I am the biggest fan of the rose scent -- for as long as I can remember! So when this range was launched, I could not wait to get my hands on them .... literally dipped my face in roe petals -- thats what it felt like.

I got the  -
Cleansinng Balm
Hydrating Day Lotion
Daily SPF 45++ PA lotion

My favourite so far is their star product, the cleansing balm (this has the thickest rose scent) and the Daily SPF.

I've always regard C&E as a "nenek" brand... for the oldies... it is wayyyyy too English for me. But the Damask Rose proved me wrong.

Enjoying it so far!!

A mommy's calling card

I'm not sure why I did this but I was so influenced by mommy's talk on blogs and Etsy saying every mom should have a calling card. 

Maybe I'll use it when I meet other moms at play centers or the school and pass it to them... Teeheeehee... Love my card anyways, looks really cute 😝

The Stomach Flu

My babies has been bitten by the nastiest flu in town -- the stomach flu!

What's the cause? Riaz putting his fingers in his mouth, or toys into his mouth.

So it was two days of vomiting, clingyness and some crying. Worst of all, he passed it on to Ariz right after he got better. So the woes continued... Although Ariz was lss clingy, much more energetic and got cured way faster.

THEN the bombshell dropped. Either they passed it on to both me and Aziz or we both ate something funny, and got the flu bug too.

It was really really really bad. The last time I actually threw up was when I exited the labour room right after my C-Section!

So while recuperating and go the necessary jab and drip from DSH, Aziz and I was having a hungover that the maids had to take over taking care of Ariz and Riaz at night, even though it was only for one night we felt really guilty that one of them was not with us... I actually wanted to just sleep and get some rest but poor Papalove misses his babies.... I'm so glad the maids are really good at what they do and took charge...

I must say that being a mom, as much as health is important, you really don't take a day off. In sickness and in health, your motivation, your priorities has changed.... and for that, I pushed myself to become better quickly.. to stay as positive as ever in my recuperation... so I can get back on track in being the fit and energetic mom I always am.

I miss my babies even though they are right in front of me....

Pre-Spring 2015 of some great "Dreamy" looks by Mimpikita

I love Mimpikita because they understand me.

Local designers, affordable (somewhat, when they have a sale), friendly and pastel colours -- what else could you possibly be asking for?

I am the absolute traditional girl + contemporary simplicity... maybe with a little bit of bling. And Mimpikita is simply that. We understand each other.

They got really popular over the past two years, not just by dressing local artistes which has the 'dreamy' element in them (Lisa Surihani and Liyana Jasmay), but through their many many seasonal launches which I must say ..... you will just go "sighhhhhhhh" for. Too dreamy for words! Too cute, too sweet and definitely Asian.

I'm obsessed with most of their collecttion... it cries me me me. I even got the chance to customized a two piece attire from them last year for my brother's wedding and I was blown away by it's prettiness. 

So their current collection is called Pre-Spring 2015, you can check it out on their website at www.mimpikita.com.my , and here's my favourite from their latest launch --

Their instagram shows latest updates. 

This yellow songket blouse is a stunning combo of tradition and contemporary casual wear

I'm soooooo into fish tail drama and blue scheme. And that songket.

City view

 View as we enter the condo

View of bedroom

View from the balcony. Amazing..

Here's sharing some photos of our newly completed condo which we bought (to rent out) at Setia Sky Residence. Among the condos we bought in KL, I love this one the most. Still can;t imagine myself living in the middle of the city, but the architecture of this one makes me appreciate home ID even more.

The Beach

There's something about the beach that babies and kids love so much. My very own pastime has also always included the beach. Could it be the waves or the wide open space... Maybe the sand and the castles you make out of it...

Hubs and I have been taking our babies to the beach on most of our vacays after realizing they love it so much. We also tried the hills like Cameron Highlands but they didn't quite enjoy that as much as the sun, sand and sea.

Looking forward to more beach vacays this year! We have covered the YTL Surin Phuket, YTL Cameron's and Tanjong Jara. My next aim is Pangkor Laut again, first time for babies and will be the third time for me and hubs. PLR tops any other beach resorts in SEA, like seriously.

Babies also started swimming lessons recently so have gotten really serious about splashing around in the water. Ariz is a lot more brave than Riaz 😃

The best part of these vacays is hearing my babies say, "Yeay, beach!" 😍 So worth it 😃

Enjoy your babies while you can

Ariz at 2 weeks old

I count my blessings everyday for being able to be one of those moms who don't have to worry about long hours at the office, sending kids to the babysitter or childcare or even leaving them home with maids.

I used to not feel this happy or grateful... before this I was actually a lot more selfish. I had a job offer that I couldn't resist, and I did not want to become one of those moms who just stays at home and watch the world pass me by. 

When friends who had older children and more experience dealing with newborns came to visit, they advised me to just "enjoy" my babies while I can. I brushed those advices away and felt like they are only saying it because they had to be married to their jobs. Full time mom is so not for me. I could not utter those words as my profession when everyone asked what was I doing.

Time passes us by and we came to a compromise that I would be hanging around the kids most of the time, besides doing what I love doing. I get a lot of "me" time ... going for a lot of facials and spas, enrolled in a gym and spend a lot of time with my freelance friends besides doing banking errands, taking care of our other investments like properties etc. and most importantly, being with my babies.

It's turning out to be quite a great arrangement actually. I don't know why I was so keen to be away from my kids like those clerical ladies. I got fixated on the very idea that women should work, but forgot to realize that most smart women don't really work the way others do. I finally realized the economics behind the saying 'it's not about the job, it's about the income'. 

I regret deeply the times I left my babies behind to chase over something that was never going to make me any different from all the other working moms. Those moms didn't quite have a choice, not with the financial burden cast upon them... 

With this regret, I am getting flashbacks of my babies when they were 2 months... 4 months ... 6 months... 10 months... I felt like i've lost those time and moments when they were all chubby, bouncy and teething. I am sure I am missing them because time moves too fast and they grow up too quickly... But this guilt and regret is 'blaming' me for wanting to leave them for a desk job. 

To make up for 'such regrets', I found myself spending more quality time with my babies once they turned 1. They were very much a handful before 1, but tamed a little after they started walking... which makes spending good times with them a lot easier. Now is even better now that they are 2, talking, expressing themselves and best of all, wanting me to read to them.

One day, a young friend is going to give birth and feeling awful for missing out on her desk job life, and I will be the one telling her an advice -- enjoy your babies while you can.

To Riaz and Ariz, thanks for always being patient with mommy. So understanding whenever she is out to just be 'her'.