Monthly Archives: January 2016

For a smarter 2016 …

Posted in Everyday Life, Good Things, Reviews by

R.I.P Samsung Mini Galaxy.I value our two years of being together but not its time to give way to the new girl in town. And so all my photos and videos will be powered by Samsung J5.

The idea of choosing a smartphone is for me to kind of be smarter in managing the many different aspects of my life. Be it as a wife and mother. Or an MD. And now a mini entrepreneur?? #2kerja

I downloaded my usual Apps from GooglePlay and it includes;

  • Quran for Android
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Medscape
  • Notes
  • WhatsApp
  • Youtube
  • Waze
  • WordPress (of course)

Only this time since I’m already on U Mobile – and using a DATA plan, I thought of exploring more on the App side. I stumbled upon 2 useful Apps so far.. I am open to suggestions… and my pick for this month are;

  1. ANDROMONEY
  2. GOOGLE PLAYBOOKS

ANDROMONEY

Although I don’t keep a tab on what I spend. And although I keep receipts for things which are tax-exempted … I have so far yet to spend more than what my monthly budget. However, this year I felt it is appropriate to have an eye on the mini details of my spending. Just so I could first, satisfy the increasing OCD trait in me and secondly to just gauge if I have a lot of extras for future blog or family related projects.

I find this app easy and cute to use.

Screenshot_2016-01-24-11-09-38
Screenshot_2016-01-24-11-10-26
Screenshot_2016-01-24-11-11-54

I could key in the amount of money and categorise not only my expenditures but also my income. The emoji used are kawaii (so thats a bonus) and it gives you a warning if you spend more than 50% of your budget. It also gives you a nice, accurate monthly summary of your money flow. Smarter still, you can choose to ‘analyse the data’ using the pie chart or graphs in the app. Cool, rite?

GOOGLE PLAYBOOKS

Previously I was not convinced with this app. I thought the book selections were horrible and picisan to start with – like buku tak laku di pasaran so you decide to sell online plak. To my astonishment I saw a very popular book listed in the app. It was in fact the first book I bought on the app.

Saiful Nang  – Kisah orang Menang. 

Screenshot_2016-01-24-11-21-37

Minus his controversial ideas and sometimes egocentric tendencies, I feel there is still a lot one can emulate from his success. I mean for instance, the famous FB EP Physician, just because he is really into BN – it doesn’t mean that we should disregard his sound posts concerning the health issues in our country, right?

One must learn what to follow or listen and read. Decide for yourself and justify on your own accord when people asks of it.

Buying the book online was a breeze. It was cheaper from what they sell physically in stores. In less than 5 minutes (with good internet speed) I was able to download the book in my app and read it on the go. I think this is phenomenal. At least people don’t think I’m a nerd when I choose to read a book on my phone and they’d probably think I’m checking on my Whatsapp messages or something. Furthermore, it saves me from judging eyes – just because I read about saiful Nang it doesn’t mean I support everything that he writes and share on his FB wall.

This app has many cool features too. You can bookmark your page. Highlight interesting passages, make notes on certain points and best of all you can sync these thoughts with your Google Drive for keepsake.

I saw Mat Luthfi’s books on Google Play Books too . I’m hoping Diana Rikasari would consider putting her #88 Love Life book online as well. I would be a very happy nerd on the go.

 

Malacca Premium Outlet, Cendol Bakar & Rojak

Posted in Everyday Life, Places to Eat by

Perhaps a valuable lesson to teach your young uns is of how to do window shopping – and that was exactly what we did at Malacca’s newest shopping attraction  – Freeport Malacca (Premium) Outlet.

10606390_10208044487780358_1734597302690142124_n

It has the usual things  – the windmill was pretty. My boy loved it a lot. We tried on shoes and clothes but we did not buy anything. Ntahlah .. tkde nafsu nak beli apa2. After all we are saving our mullah for our ‘delayed honeymoon trip’ next month.

12509823_10208044465659805_9019675667019906570_n

This also means skilfully distracting our boy from going into Toy World and making up creative excuses for him to not go on the carousel or indulge in money related activities. kedekut.

993856_10208044483340247_4728874573069274443_n

10307409_10208044487100341_4710827132632547253_n

We did have lunch at the foodcourt though. Expensive. Whadya expect? But since Ee finished his spaghetti meal – it was worth every penny. Despite not buying anything, we spent nearly 2 hours day strolling and checking out every store – comparing prices from what it should be outside the outlet. I’d say it’s quite  a bargain for the quality of things one could get from there. Perhaps they’d be even greater discounts during festive seasons. At least I know now where to get a nice pair of Santa Barbara Polo Racquet shoes …

I loved the open concept. I wish there were more trees or shady areas. Perhaps it will be in many years to come.

Our adventure did not stop there. We also made a pit stop at Cendol Bakar Drive thru. Ordered 2 VIP cendol before heading off to Alor Gajah to buy its famous rojak. A day well spent.

An unfavourable outcome

Posted in All in a days work, Ponderings & Personal Development by

I started my new year with a business trip to Lombok. Neh.. I wish.

Instead it started with me being oncall.

Assisting people in diagnosing their medical illness and while at it, solving their social issues. Honestly, if one decides to step their foot in the emergency unit – it must be for a very serious and urgent matter. Hence, they must be prepared for the outcome of the visit such as

  • for admission to stabilise the condition or observation
  • for a follow up consultation in the respective specialised clinic
  • transfer to a tertiary centre with relevant expertise, should they need one

Therefore, it is heartbreaking and at times frustrating when after the length of procedures and test we do prior to the above 3 solutions, you suddenly say

  • I want to be admitted at a private hospital – do they not realize that a similar battery of tests and investigations will be repeated at the private centre.. membazirlah test yg dibuat earlier from the RM1 payment.
  • I can’t be admitted to the hospital now – my birds at home needs to be taken care of or someone needs to cook dinner for my 25 year old son ..
  • or you did not honour the follow-up appointment we got for you the week after and make a return visit to the emergency unit – saying the previous ER doc that saw you did NOTHING and yet we found a referral letter folded neatly in between you BP trend notebook dated a year ago!
  • you refuse transfer to the best hospital (which is conveniently only 45 minutes away) because it would be difficult for your relatives to visit you – like hellooo.. if your distant relatives want to visit you, do it when you are well or during festive seasons..

So yes – nak sembuh pun I kena merayu masuk wad. 

And I haven’t even listed the grandiose, bongkak statements some patients make regarding the health that Allah bestowed upon them. Perhaps I shall leave you with one ..

“Tak payahlah nak cuci2 darah doctor, tengok saya nih umur masih panjang dan sihat”

(there’s no need for a dialysis doc, look at me, look at how I am still very much alive”

Yet your Urea is a freaking 51, Creatinine a horrifying >900, potassium of 6.2 and an acidotic blood gas? And you came to the emergency unit for being lethargic. *sigh*

the blind faith by paperdorable

Posted in Good Things, Online Store, Reviews by

First of all, please click play on the video and listen on …

Last week I decided to purchase The Blind Faith (silver) Bundle from Paperdorable after seeing Perempuan Jomblo got hers on Instagram. This package was supposed to be filled with little surprises from the stationary and kawaii department. You don’t get to choose what goes in the bag. All you can do is wait for it to arrive and act surprised!!

myr 50.00

I received a lot of cute pens – that was the whole idea right? I was more thrilled to receive the paper products and masking tape though. Perhaps I should explore more of the planner and stationery scene here in Malaysia and find the more suitable retailer to satisfy my needs for a variety of sticky notes, memo pad and such.

blind faith pens

That capsule like pill is a pen – one of my favourites I have to say. of course I loved the sticky notes more.

blind faith washi

I was delighted when they included the masking tape in the bundle.

faith bundle collage

The elephant pencil case was adorable. I intend to use it tomorrow. I think these pens should be able to last for the next 6 months. Rasa sayang mok guna pun ada.. but hey, you can always get another bundle afterwards. Perhaps you could try the Gold Bundle next.

Thank you paperdorable…

Preschool Days

Posted in Everyday Life, Parenting, Family and Relationships by

I find it hard to believe that my flesh and blood is going to kindergarten today. I finally got to meet the lovely Teacher Zara who was Mr Husbands kindie teacher as well. Imagine the experience she accumulated over the years!!

ee tadika

I still remember part of my preschool days and it was awesome. I went to Tadika Sri Keria in Kuching – I sometimes wonder if it was supposed to be Ceria instead of Keria. It was a lovely preschool on top of a small hill at the roundabout. Back then, popular pre-schools were montessori based. Mine was I think, normal. 

My teachers were called Mrs Hamid Bugo and a particular Mrs Bakhtiar who we addressed as Mrs B. We had the usual kindy fun activities like playing with water cans, treasure hunting, hide and seek. Then there were things more academic like collecting stars for your homework well done or for good behaviour. We had ‘intensive’ maths class as well, as we sat in a circle with our workbooks and Mrs Bugo would go around the table and tick our answers as we solve the problem. Hence, we felt pressured to complete at least an equation before our turn came once again.

I once had to have my forehead stitched because I played ‘ice skating’ with my friends using socks as blades and talcum powder sprinkled to the parquet floor as ice. It was a lesson well learnt.

The best teachers are the ones who see you as a person, recognise your interest and encourage you to pursue on. I will always be fond of Mrs Bakhtiar. My dad was transferred to Semenanjung due to work commitment hence the whole family followed suit. Knowing that I love books – she gave me a really big book as a gift. It costs her MYR 70++ at the time which was considered to be very expensive.

the book meant more than a gift. It meant ‘I love you and take care!’