Category Archives: Good Things

A new asset to liability ratio

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Recently, my ASB Surrender Value money has been credited into my account. I used all of it and topped it up with a bit of my own money to pay part of the principal of my housing loan. Alhamdulilah, now my new asset-to-liability percentage is 81% to 19%. That’s a huge dip from the previous liability percentage of 34%.

Having been really focused on settling and reducing my debts for the past year, I realised that I don’t need a lot of things anyway. Not to the extent of becoming a minimalist, but more of being comfortable and enough. This puts me in a positive direction to carve my way towards an early retirement. With Allah’s will.

Husband’s 40th birthday at GSK (pizza parang)

Posted in Food and Drinks, Good Things, Parenting, Family and Relationships, Places to Eat by

People say life starts at 40 and that every habit that you’ve moulded yourself into will become your way of life. Well, he is a health enthusiast at the moment. He has his morning jog before 6am and another one in the evening after coming back from work. Over the weekend, he is in his running shoes 3 times a day. I guess that means he is off to a good start at 40.

Since his birthday falls on a weekday this year, a staycation is not an option. Hence, I racked my brain to figure out what is best to be done for a milestone birthday. Since he seems to like Pizza Hut a lot, I thought of spending some money on really good pizza. Something fancy like wagyu. However, there were not many recommendations I could read about. Until I came across ‘pizza parang’ on Instagram. It’s a family-friendly place that serves Western dishes and, most importantly, delicious hand-tossed pizza.

Easy parking. Slight walk up the hill to the restaurant.

Grass Stream Kitchen (GSK)

GSK is located at Paya Rumput and opens at 6pm. I made it clear to Mr Husband that we are to leave early from home and beat the office traffic so that we could reach the place before the crowd comes. Indeed, we did.

We ordered a meaty pizza (RM60), a tiramisu (RM15), a mocktail (RM10) and sirap bandung (RM5). The server would cut the pizza in style with his parang once it is ready. Not bad for a 40-year-old party show. No clowns or fire-eating stunt, just pizza cutting. Personally, I would go there again and try other versions of the pizza because the crust was crunchy and nice, whereas the toppings were full and superb. The ambience is nice too. It does not open every day, thus, one should check their site first.

Huge pizza portion
Iced water is available for free. Nice to know that they have healthy choices
ordered the mocktail – a mix of coke and grenadine syrup
Tiramisu – love it
Can also easily tapau our own food as packaging is provided. Even the pizzas are served on paper plates that are easily disposed off.
I muted the sound cause I was too giggly

As for his birthday gift, I got him a Minecraft Limited Edition wallet. It was pretty sleek. I would use it if I were a man. I bought it from Fossil at Sunway Putra Mall during my convocation weekend. The sales rep was a very nice young man who helped me decide what to buy. The wallet was worth at least 5 times more than the birthday dinner. I hope he will treasure it well.

Comes in a nice metal box and a fabric casing

There was also a mini Minecraft indulgence cake I bought from Zowacakes. The size was just enough for me to cut out a few portions for his nieces, who love cakes. I still prefer the cakes from the usual Italy Cake House. Ha ha.

The cake was RM45. Ferrero bouquet RM35. All for love!

Celebrating Mother’s Day 2025 at Ames Hotel

Posted in Good Things, Parenting, Family and Relationships, Reviews by

Celebrating Mother’s Day is a rare occasion on my husband’s side of the family. I honestly do not recall any extravagant gesture for the past few years to mark that day. I do, however, remember that we frequently celebrated it when my mom was still alive. I’m not sure how it will be once my dad marries Tante. The dynamics would feel quite awkward. Maybe we would be more enthusiastic about Father’s Day.

Ames Hotel has a Hi-Tea special for Mother’s Day. I do not know how much it cost, but the food selection was great! I honestly loved it. I had several helpings of the sate and roasted lamb. My carbs were the nasi goreng kimchi, potatoes and penne pasta. The Laksa Nyonya was superb, and the dessert cakes were luscious. I had plenty of iced water to down the dishes and also enjoyed a cup of cappuccino.

My plate

Towards the end, I received a flower and a chocolate cake. I am not sure if it was free from the hotel or if it was something ordered by my husband. A big thank you anyway to our sponsor, who is my husband, who paid for the buffet and the Ames Hotel for the great hospitality.

Cake & flowers from the hotel
Ladies of the family
All of us (almost)

OUM Convocation 2025 (MK29): Part 1 – Getting there

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Open University Malaysia’s 29th graduation ceremony was held at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC). My husband suggested that I stay at my father’s or sister’s place and travel from there. I disagreed because I knew that it is easier to travel from Melaka to PWTC than from their places.

Indeed, it was.

Melaka Sentral >> Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) >> TRX Mall >> PWTC

I booked an 8am bus ticket (Mayang Sari) from Melaka Sentral and reached TBS by 10am. My little adventure began as I looked for the commuting line that could bring me to the new mall, TRX.
I am very thankful for this map.


Armed with my TouchNGo card, I took the LRT Sri Petaling Line heading to Sentul Timur. I made my stop at Station Chan Sow Lin. There, I followed the crowd and went down the escalator many floors below to find MRT Laluan Putrajaya heading to Kwasa Damansara. In just less than 2 minutes, I was already hopping off at Tun Razak Exchange Station.

I spent about 2 hours at TRX. I had kebab for lunch and enjoyed desserts at a muslim-friendly cafe. TRX is like a mini Pavilion. You have the marhaen floor and the posh floors that are home to luxurious brands like Valentino, Bottega, etc. I did see the many famous stores that people have been raving about on social media, a like the expensive tea and chocolate place. However, since I was very focused on my mission to find a birthday present for my husband, I skipped window browsing. I ended up empty-handed and left TRX to PWTC.

I am very thankful that ladies-only coaches exist. Imagine the crowd on a Friday afternoon during lunch hour. Especially when the commuter lines are so well-connected with places like KLCC and HKL. Hence, to be able to sit comfortably in the ladies’ coach is such a blessing.

To get to PWTC, I got onto the same Platform 4 heading to Kwasa Damansara. This time, I stopped at Titiwangsa Station. From Titiwangsa, without leaving the station, I boarded the LRT Ampang Line to PWTC.
Just like that, I am already on the pedestrian bridge that not only connects the station to Sunway Putra Mall but also to PWTC. What a lovely and convenient location for graduates! I walked to PWTC and collected my graduation robe.

OUM robe collection

Before this visit, I made sure to do a few things.

  • Completed my payment of RM400 online – this covers the cost of the graduation ceremony and 3 printed convocation pictures
  • Updated my profile on the alumni portal – I get merchandise in return
  • Completed the Kajian Pengesahan Graduan online

Upon collection, I was given a goodie bag with all the stuff. Since I passed my course with distinction, I received a medal that I could keep. I had 2 guest passes, but since my daughter is less than 12 years old, she couldn’t enter the hall. Thus, my husband stayed with her in the hotel room while watching the LIVE broadcast on YouTube. The next part of this convocation journey is coming soon.

Sahur at Swiss Garden Hotel

Posted in Good Things, Leisure & Travel, Places to Eat, Reviews by

I thought my husband was joking when he said we were going to have Sahur at a hotel. Turns out he wasn’t. Thus, the usual Speedy Gonzales packing method that I despise. I had no time to plan my OOTD and dumped whatever I thought was necessary in the suitcase for our staycation.

Ee couldn’t join us as it was not during his PB weekend. Hence, it was just the 3 of us being enthusiastic about the experience. Thankfully, Anim could wake up for sahur without any tantrum. In fact, she really enjoyed the food choices. As usual, the other Malaysians were in their modest pyjamas, kain pelikat and slipper jamban. In other words, guests made themselves so comfortable eating Sahur at Swiss Garden.

The price is reasonable for the type of food offered. I wish I had taken more pictures. InsyaAllah, we would opt for a similar Sahur experience next year instead of a packed Iftar buffet at hotels. Sahur seems calmer and more appealing to introverts like myself.