Sibling Rivalry - Rules of Combat

I am having a terrible writer's block.... it seems that I simply do not know what to write here anymore. Eventhough a good friend had highlighted recently that I have been doing a lot of interesting and "bloggable" things with my life. It's just that I seem not able to write anything about it. Help is indeed needed here......

Anyways, that same cannot be said about my sister angah... creative juices seem to flow through here vein rather smoothly... She came out with this idea that all 4 of us sisters should have a weight loss contest for the next six or seven months. There are some monetary gain / loss that could be associated with it... and lo and behold.. she came up with the rules for the said competition. My sis Tina and me had good laugh about it.. see for yourself...

The Contest

Rules and regulations:

1.The fee is RM50 per month (except for November 2008). This amount must be paid by the 3rd day of each month throughout the contest.
The fee for November 2008 is pro-rated to RM25.

2. Half of the collected monthly fee will be awarded to the monthly winner, while the rest will be designated as the prize money at the end of the contest (June 30th, 2009). The estimated monthly winning is RM75 (from December 2008 until June 2009), and the estimated final prize is $525 (minimum).

3. This contest will commence on November 15th, 2008 and end on June 30th, 2009.

4. The weigh in dates are:

a. November 15th, 2008 (initial weight)
b. November 30th, 2008 (November winner)
c. December 31st, 2008 (December winner)
d. January 31st, 2009 (January winner)
e. February 28th, 2009 (February winner)
f. March 31st, 2009 (March winner)
g. April 30th, 2009 (April winner)
h. May 31st, 2009 (May winner)
i. June 30th, 2009 (June winner)

5. Clothes to be worn during the weigh in dates are swimsuit or shorts and t-shirt, and no shoes. No loading up or stripping down!

6. The monthly winner is the person who lost the most weight during a particular month. The final winner is the person who lost the most throughout the contest (i.e., difference between initial weight and weight for June 30th, 2009).

7. A penalty of RM5 per pound (equivalent to 0.5 kg) is imposed for weight increase. This penalty is imposed on a monthly basis. For example, person A’s weight increased by 2 lbs in April, so the fine is $10. The penalty fee is added to the final prize.
Weight increase below 1 pound is excused (but frowned upon).

8. If a participant decides to withdraw from the contest, she will forfeit the fees from previous month(s). A refund of the money for that particular month is only given if the withdrawal date is before the 3rd. For example, person A choose to withdraw:
a. On January 2nd, a refund of her RM50 fee for January is given, but person A forfeits the fees from November 2008 until December 2008.
b. On January 17th, no refund given at all.

9. All contest participants must report their weekly progress via email on Sundays. This information is shared to all participants.

10. All contest participants must also report the following before the contest commence: (i) supplements/drugs (prescribed and non-prescribed) taken weight loss (ii) professional help (e.g., trainer, nutritionist), and (iii) herbal medications taken for weight loss.

11. This contest is based on the honour system. Contestants are expected to be honest in reporting their actual weights.

12. Any form of sabotage between contestants is acceptable.

Selamat Hari Raya.....

Wishing All Selamat Hari Raya & Maaf Zahir Batin

Go Team Ida & Tania

I just finished watching the TARA 3. Wow it was really a fun show today.

Ida & Tania were so funny....

Thus I have decided to root for them.. hope they reach the final.

Should I, Should I Not

The question is should I forgive you, should I not...

My heart says yes forgive him but my mind said no. For what you made me go through over the summer...I really should not... maybe I should make you work for my forgiveness. But then again you only need to smile, and I turn clay in your hands...

Your silky skills.... my oh my... should I, should I not.....

Break Fast Gathering II @ Cik Ju’s

September 13, 2008

Just like last week, we had another gathering for break fast on Saturday. This time it is at Cik Ju’s. Yes Dada, there were loads and loads of home cooked food. Har – har

Here are some pictures…

And as requested I bought my big giant lasagna again. And again it was finished by the end of the day.

Big giant lasagna

And as before, we gather to catch up with what’s happening, though this time round, there were a couple of hot topics being discussed being our annual family day, the grocery list for Raya and what color should we pick for Dada’s wedding. I think we sort of agreed with green and purple.

The ladies

The man

Me in the “Jubah” my brother bought from Qatar

Hmm maybe I should run a poll here as to what color should it be, as soon as I figure out how to put it in my blog that it.

The Art of Eating Buffet

One of the many things that happen during Ramadhan is the introduction of Ramadhan Buffet at most of the hotels and restaurants around KL.

Like always I am one of those who would at least go to one or two of them to try the food and over the years it has become almost an annual event for my good friend Muzi and me to go to one of them. This year we choose the one served at One World Hotel.

Yippee my friend Muzi agreed to accompany me

Me so happy

It was rather pricey (RM98+++) compared to other places. It appears that this year the price for buffets has gone down a little bit. Only a little!!!!!!

The spread was rather good. They had a couple stations with different type of food. They had the lamb station where they had one whole BBQ lamb served with Baryani Rice and roasted vegetables. There was the salad station where they served a variety of salads, Thai salads, Malaysian Rojak, Ceaser Salads, and many others.

They had a Japanese Station, some noodle and lok lok station, Italian station, dessert station which includes a chocolate fountain.

The hotels gave us some sweet to bring back as well

Aren't these gifts pretty?

Over the years we have developed an art of eating buffet. You got to make your money’s worth right????

The secret is actually rather simple. Just go for the most expensive food you may find for example oysters (the more the better), sushi, salmon sashimi, lamb, prawns, crabs... you get the idea. It’s the most obvious right? it was not a secret at all.

Oyster & Lamb & Baryani

Prawns & more prawns

After you finished with the main course, you simply cannot miss the dessert. Here are some that I had….

The tarik anyone?

Sweets

Cats Galore at Cik Ji's

My mum and I went to my Auntie’s house last weekend to discuss some catering arrangement for my sis’s engagement party.

Whilst waiting for her to get ready, I sat at the living room surrounded my many fat cats.

Could not help myself, took some pictures, they were so cute.

According to my Uncle each of the 13 or 14 cats they have, have their own name. Unfortunately I do not know all…….

Fattest Cat

Stretch baby stretch

Lasagna, lasagna, big giant lasagna

Hmm I am so in love with the fasting month. Amongst other because this is the month when I get to gather and meet up with my extended family almost every weekend.

It has been a tradition of ours to gather on the weekend for to break fast together. After that we will hold the “Maghrib”. “Terawih” & “Ishyak” Prayers together. Then we will continue eating, well some of us anyways. Whilst others would just chit chat, some to catch up with gossips ehmm updates I mean, whilst others probably hatching up some devious plans.

Mum on her 3rd round

Gossips gossips and more gossips and add a devious plan or two

The uncles would not want to be left out would they, so they decide to have one of their own as well

Usually as it is a customs here, when we go to someone’s house we will not go empty handed. Usually we would try to bring something. For many many years, I would be bringing fruits and things that I bought from any of the many stalls mushrooming up during the fasting month

But of late, most of the time I will try to bring something which I made. Today I decided to make lasagna. It was really a huge lasagna. It took 4 people to turn it in the oven.

It turns out to be a hit that I was asked by my aunt to make the same lasagna for her house next week. Yeay me so happy.

Here’s the picture or what’s left of it and as informed by a little bird, an hour after the picture was taken, it was all finished.

Some of the other offering we had during the break fast

At home and sick

I am at home now... sick... Me no likey!!!!!

Golden Class Experience

Went to watch The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor with Tina some time ago. I prefer the first 2 edition of this movie. This 3rd series…well lets just say that I would be watching it over and over again like I do with the first 2 mummies. Thought Brandon Frasier is cute as ever, Evie is not Evie when they changed the actress. Give me back my Rachel Weisz waaaa…waa…!!!!!! Although it was not really a total lost, I enjoyed my first time experience of watching the movie in the Golden Class so much so that I would not want to watch a movie unless it is in the Golden Class. I have to be selective then as to what movie to watch I supposed!!!! No worries though as I hardly watch movies nowadays.

Wow, so much space

A table and plenty of drinks in Golden Class

When Jill finally gets her prezzies........

Finally after more than 2 months, I get to give Jill her prezzies. I bought her a memento from my trip to Vancouver. I gave Anne hers already and Anne had taken pictures of Jill’s and her own prezzies. It is just I did not get to see Jill to give it to her. Busy women, my friends they are.

Jill posing while pretending to read the menu

Jill acting surprise whilst opening her prezzies.. hah.. you knew what it was my dear….

Jill with her prezzies

Helping Cik Y Move...at least we tried......

Of late I lack the aspiration to write anything on this blog. Not that I don’t want to, it just that life has been a bore off late. Some how, I do feel compel to write interesting stuff in this blog and nothing of note has happened lately. (Oh well you can’t really go globe trotting around the world everyday neither can you have birthdays everyday). However, I had taken some nice pictures of some gathering and outings I went. Sometimes, they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

We were supposed to help my uncle (Cik Y) move into a temporary house since he is renovating his house. I said we were, but then again most of the move were done by hired professionals and we were there mostly watching and chit chatting. Then going out for lunch instead, as you can see from the pictures, there was not a drop of sweat there.

My cousin Najwa

My sis Tina & Me

My aunties waiting for their lunch

That is one of the things I love about my extended family, uncles, aunties, cousins and all, we are pretty close and jump at every opportunity to gather. I most look forward to the fasting month when we have our breaking fast gathering where there will be loads of eating and chit chatting. I usually use these gathering to learn from my uncles and aunties as well as my cousins. Well you have to get aspiration and get inspired from somewhere, since I definitely cannot get it from those at my work place….

Birthday, birthday, happy birthday….

It is true, if you think you want to be happy, you will somehow be happy...

Today 14 August is my birthday. Surprise, surprise I actually had a nice day today. I think it is true what people say, if you decide to have fun and be happy, sometimes you will. In actual fact, today is the culmination of a week long celebration that I declared for myself. I started my birthday week by deciding to wear new clothing for everyday of my birthday week.

My celebration began with the purchase of a Pink iPod Nano. This is a present from my brother Arif. I name it Pink Nano due to the colour, don’t ask me why I bought pink…maybe it is the girl in me. Reminds me of Melur as well. It is also known as the iPod with a thousand songs since to date I have downloaded 1084 songs in it. Thank you dear brother…… love the prezzy. Just in case you are wondering I have put it to good use as well. I have successfully gone to the gym nowadays….long may it continue.

The Pinky of A thousand Songs

Then Muzi gave me her present as well. These are all given way way way before my birthday….Now I have to figure out when and where to wear the prezzy so that it will be shown in its best light.

I think this will look nice with the new coat I made at Sandra. Only thing is the coat is still at Sandra's..

Then today I decided that I will look the nicest… purple baju kurung and contrasting green accessories. Purple and green actually works, I was inspired. Here are the proofs, nice or not? Check out the green handbag… the source of much envy of many people.

Purple and Green?????? I was inspired

This was the shoes that I was to wear but when put together the colour scheme did not go.. oh well you win some you loose some

Just before I went of to work Angah called and sang happy birthday to me. Little that I know that a bigger surprise is in store for me courtesy of them, so let’s leave this story for later.

When I arrived at work a couple of my staffs greeted me happy birthday and there was a present waiting on my chair. Nice one guys!!!! Then I got a further 2 cards and some vouchers. Yeah… this looks promising and I know already that we will be having a birthday lunch.

The whole world knows my love for shopping, so they gave me vouchers to shop..

After lunch off to an insignificant meeting (insignificant if put in context of my birthday celebration that is..) After I came back, they were calling for a cake cutting ceremony.

Go ahead madam, cut that cake

Celebrate, celebrate and celebrate some more

When I got to the balcony I saw this huge bouquet of flowers. I knew it was mine but I am absolutely ecstatic when I saw from whom it was… the senders came all the way from Vancouver. Thanks Roy, Angah, Melur & Maman for the flowers. It was really icing on the cake to my fantastic birthday so far. And Maman, yes Mak Long also wishes that she can be in Vancouver in 4 sleeps.

Big big big bouquet bring an even bigger pleasant surprise

Now if only I can get him to remember my birthday and wrap himself as a birthday gift…now that would top it all

All in all, this year is the best birthday for a while now. I blew my birthday candles twice today and my wishes are the same… may at the same time next year I will be writing my Annus Mirabilis