Nighties!

Went to Ampang Point alone today to find me some cheapo, but reasonably cute nighties which unbutton at the front so it'll be easier for me to breastfeed. I scouted around at the outlet stores at first, but none of them actually had comfy cotton nighties with buttons at the front! I did come across some pretty cute pyjama pants and t-shirts, but I didn't want to give up on my search for cotton nighties just yet, so I headed to Royel. Jackpot! My eyes lit up as soon as I saw the rack of sleepwear which met the criteria I had in mind. Cotton? Check. Decent length? Check! Buttons at the front for 'easy access'? Check! Cute? Check! Comfy? Hell yeah.

So I grabbed three - yellow polka dots, dark blue and white polka dots (dark colours are better for your stay in the hospital - should you 'stain', after delivery) and a festive floral patterned one. Mission accomplished.

Also bought some disposable undies, I'll be on the lookout for some cheap, comfy cotton ones tomorrow. My old ones are getting pretty tight. Boo.

Oh, came across this jewellry site with custom made pendants. So you can stamp your name, or your kids or hubster's. They've got some pretty cute designs, but I'm liking the simple 'initial' idea:

http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/teenie-tiny-initials-necklace-P100C8.aspx

So I would be wearing a 'Y' for Yasir and 'A' for Ayden around my neck :) Funnily enough, both letters are my initials, though I hardly use my full name.

Hope everyone has a good weekend! Wish me luck for my maternity shoot on Sunday!

Sloppy kisses xxx

Cheesy O's

Yasir and I have a maternity shoot this weekend (I think)because a photographer friend of mine generously offered us the opportunity for a photo session with The Picture Company at One Utama. While I know this is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity, I'm a bit worried because it's going to be in a studio, and I'm nervous the pics might turn out to look like your typical, cheesy maternity shoot, because there's not much to work with. It's definitely nothing against the photographer (I've seen The Picture Company's work and they're really good!), it's just that you can only do so much with a studio backdrop, you know?

A part of me is thinking, just go ahead and do the whole black and white, 'raw' feel sort of shoot, partly because I'm too lazy to think of anything else, but another side of me feels I need to think of a new 'angle' to the shoot so Yasir and I will have our stamp on it. I have a feeling I'll go with a basic studio shoot, but put enough 'twists' on it so it doesn't turn out looking like your average maternity pics. Or at least I hope!

Oh, here's a lil' something to brighten everyone's day - maternity shoots gone baaad. Haha

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/category/photos/pregnancy/

Enjoy!

Sloppy kisses.

Yasir is so cute.

Last night while we were watching tv, the baby proceeded to stretch the right side of my stomach really 'high' (and I mean high!) a couple of times. So my husband put his hand on the 'stretched' area and stared at it in awe. Then after a few seconds of just staring at my belly, he looked up at me with this adorable, concerned look on his face and said, "Maybe dah sempit sangat for him in there. Kesian dia kan?"

You're so annoyingly cute sometimes, sayang.

So they say..

"Talk to her and tell her how you feel."

There is no point because you have no say. Ever.

There is no such thing as two sides to a story. Your story is always wrong. That's how it has always been, and that's how it always will be.

Take it like a soldier.

Who cares if you're almost nine months pregnant? When you're being yelled at with a finger pointing you in the face, you're supposed to "SHUT UP!!" and listen. Ignore your baby who's furiously moving in your stomach as you try your best not to get stressed out. Swallow it whole. Keep it inside.

It's always your fault. You are always at fault, Aainaa. Even when you are quiet and all you want is for the yelling to stop, you are the one at fault. Remember that.

Dearest kakak.

I hate admitting this, but I miss you 'having my back'. Please come home soon, because I think I'm going mental. If you know what I mean.

Love,
Your awesome sister

This just in!

Ladies, Sephora kl is opening next month, AND stocking Nars! While I'm busy being 'confined' at home with my baby, I know where Yasir will be on a fine Saturday morning in April - rushing to Sephora to get me my Nars Highlighter in Albatross! Heh heh heh.

Don't say I didn't warn you sayang!

The wash.

All this while, as I kept on telling myself that I'm going to have a baby, it never completely hit me - I constantly dream about my baby boy here in my arms, finally, and becoming a mom. I've even told my cats that soon they should be expecting a tiny little thing, and to be gentle with him. I read my old childhood books to him (he seems to like Mother Goose's Fairy Tale about The Ugly Duckling - one of my all time faves too) But whenever someone would ask me THE question : "How does it feel knowing you're going to be a mom soon?", I get an out-of-body experience, and feel like I'm leading someone else's life. Because when something is SO major, it takes a while for it to completely sink in.

But today, as I handed Ayden's pile of clothes to my maid so she could handwash them, I swear nothing has felt more real. He's coming. He really is! And I'll be here to welcome him with my arms as wide open as they will ever be.

:)

Aaaaaaack.

Ok, panicking just a tad because there are still a few important stuff we need to get our hands on ASAP (this week!) so I won't feel so unprepared should the baby decide to 'pop' out next week:

- mattress for crib
- bedding
- tub
- breast pump
- nursing cover (so when ppl come to visit me, I don't have to flash them my boobs!)
- sleepsuits! (He seems to only have 2 of these)

By this weeeeeeeeek!

Xxx

Ticking 'timebomb'!

I am feeling a tad bit antsy because in a matter of days I'll be in my 35th week and it's not out the ordinary for a woman to deliver in her 36th week. So by this week I'll need to get as much stuff prepared and ready as possible, just in case. This includes packing the hospital bag. Not exactly sure what I'm supposed to bring, all I can think of for now are these:

- baby's onezies
- swaddle blanket
- booties, mitts
- kain batik (2 at least)
- maternity pads\extra long sanitary pads
- toiletries: soap, my cleanser, toothbrush etc
- surah yaasin
- t-shirt for me to wear with kain batik, or cotton nightie. Possibly nighties which unbutton at the front so I can breastfeed easily
- maternity bra
- a few breast pads just in case
- comfy, granny undies! Haha. Oh and disposable undies
- snacks
- camera!
- ipod (if I can borrow one from someone!) And yasir wants to borrow his friend's handheld game thingy.
- jumper and socks in case I get cold

Hmmmmm..can't really think of anything else at the moment...what else am I missing?

You know you love your man..

...when you spend months and months looking over, scrutinising and trying to decide on the perfect diaper bag for yourself, but after coming across a 'football' diaper bag, you forget about everything else you've seen and decide in a matter of seconds to get that instead, just because you know it will make your man happy :)

My diaper bag can wait. Can't wait to see you bringing our son around, with the bag in tow sayang. I love you.

P\s: Thanks to my lovely cousins Aza (all the way in the states!) And Farah for making this happen! Big hugs and kisses! Xoxo

Doubletree hotel and a weird dream.

I'm typing this from my bb, waiting for 2pm to roll around for our dreaded check out (we requested for a late checkout). While I'm feeling guilty for being cosily tucked away in a lush hotel bed while Japan is going through a devastating situation, I'm trying to enjoy the last few weekends of alone time with Yasir before the little bugger makes his debut appearance. Went for a swim (decided against the bikini for fear of scaring away the children at the pool..and besides, the last thing I want is a kid screeching "Mommy look at the whale!") and have consumed three of the giant Doubletree chocolate chip cookies thus far. Love it so much that Yasir bought a whole tin for us to bring home! Oh, last night I had another weird, I'm-in-labour dream, where an old ex schoolmate of mine said, "Apa susah, just induce and cut lah" as I was walking into the hospital. And then somehow I ended up warded next to a gay couple, where one of them had his legs up in the air and was mimicking pushing a baby out. After 5 minutes of 'pushing', a nurse came in and handed them their baby, which by the way, had a full-on beard. Yep. I have a feeling this dream has something to do with me reading that article on the world's first pregnant 'man' the other day.

I should really stop googling.

Sloppy kisses xx

For Ayden.

I wanna feel this way longer than time,
I wanna know your dreams and make them mine,
I wanna change the world only for you,
All the impossible I wanna do...

I wanna hold you close under the rain,
I wanna kiss your smile and feel your pain,
I know what's beautiful looking at you,
In a world of lies you are the truth...

And baby...
Everytime you touch me I become a hero,
I'll make you safe no matter where you are
And bring you everything you ask for
Nothing is above me...
I'm shining like a candle in the dark
When you tell me that you love me...

I wanna make you see just what I was,
Show you the loneliness and what it does...
You walked into my life to stop my tears,


Everything's easy now- I have you here!

And baby...
Everytime you touch me I become a hero
I'll make you safe no matter where you are
And bring you everything you ask for
Nothing is above me
I'm shining like a candle in the dark
When you tell me that you love me

In a world without you I would always hunger
All I need is your love to make me stronger

Everytime you touch me I become a hero
I'll make you safe no matter where you are
And bring you everything you ask for
Nothing is above me
I'm shining like a candle ïn the dark
When you tell me that you love me...

You love me
When you tell me that you love me.

Life as we know it.

In more or less a month, life as I know it will change.

I'm going to be a mom. Insyaallah. I'm going to be responsible for shaping and moulding someone's life. I have to be more aware of the actions I take and the decisions I make. It's not about me now, it's about my son.

My son.

Me? A mother?

Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and ask myself if I'm ready. The truth is, I'm scared. I might not make the perfect mom. Am I fooling myself into thinking I'm ready to raise a child? Sometimes I can barely take care of myself. I'm scared I'll make mistakes...I'll stumble, this I know.

I don't have it all figured out yet.

But once he wraps his tiny little fingers around my finger, I'll love the little guy so fiercely and I'll be there for him, no matter what, come what may. My world will revolve around this little being. Protecting him, loving him selflessly and watching him grow into the person I've shaped him to be.

Life as we know it will change forever. Because soon, I'll have my son with me.

That glow.

Warning: Girly post!

So as it is, my blog is a mixture of my thoughts, fashion, beauty and pregnancy. It's something we Malays would love to call 'rojak'. Damn, I haven't had rojak in a while.......ANYWAY, today's post is obviously going to be a girly one. Yay.

I've been semi obsessed with highlighters, luminizers bla bla blas lately. Basically anything that promises to give your skin a 'glow'. I have no idea why, it just simply started as a curiosity, and now has become sort of like an obsession. Maybe it's from spending too much time surfing the net. Yasir thinks I should stop with the girly stuff, since I'm carrying a boy. He insists that I read the superhero comic books which are upstairs in the room. Schmeh. But just to shut him up, I will. I WILL SAYANG. Anywhoodle, remember how I bought Benefit's That Gal? Do any of you have rave reviews about it? Because I think it didn't do jack to my skin. It looks like this:



I do kind of like the smell, and the packaging is adorable, but the 'pretty pink glow' the product promises vanished in like, five seconds after slapping it on. I believe that if you have fair, flawless skin and apply some of this primer and leave it at that, it may add a little radiance. But if you're like me and apply this under your powder foundation, you're less likely to see much difference.
One good thing about this product though, is that it does nourish your skin a little bit, so if you have dry skin, this may help make it more supple and soft before you start applying your foundation.

Then I heard about this product from NARS, which isn't really widely known so much, but is apparently getting RAVE reviews front right left and center:

NARS Highlighting Blush Powder in Albatross

I can't remember how I stumbled upon this product, but I've yet to see a bad review on this! Apparently what it does IS give you the J Lo glow. You apply it on your cheekbones, temples, on the bridge of your nose and your cupid's bow for a glow which looks like you've had tonnes of great sleep, or use really expensive skincare. The shimmer particles in this product are very fine, so it won't give you that shiny goldust'y' look - it's just supposed to give you a glow that seems like it's coming from within. A reviewer of this product on Youtube says it gives you 'angel' skin. So of course, because I'm going through this obsession with 'glowy' products, I am ITCHING to get my hands on this. Even asked a friend of mine who was going to Singapore to get it from Sephora. And I now know that Sephora in Singapore does not stock NARS. Damn. Oh well. As soon as Sephora opens up here, I swear this will be the first product I will grab.

Anyway, then I stumbled upon this nifty little product:

Eyeko 3-in-1 Cream with Extra Glow

Not sure if any of you have heard of Eyeko products, but after reading reviews of it online (which are more towards the favourable side), I've decided to give this moisturiser, eye cream and highlighter a go. While the cute 'japanese inspired', cartoon-y packaging looks Asian, this brand is actually created and made in England. If you like your makeup products looking a little quirky girly, you may love the packaging design of this beauty range. The mascara actually comes in what looks like a squeezy tube. Pretty cute. Right, so on to the description of this cream, taken from the website:

Eyeko Cream with Extra Glow is a multitasking highlighter with all the benefits of your favourite cult classic Eyeko Cream. This NEW dreamy pink cream is loaded with micro light reflecting pigments perfect for creating a soft focus sheen. Add a flattering highlights to brow and cheek bones, your cupids bow, even collar bones and shins for a touch of moonlit magic.

Creating the illusion of perfect skin has never been simpler with Eyeko Cream with Extra Glow!

So apparently this is a follow-up to Eyeko's 'cult classic' Cream, which gives you a golden glow, while this limited edition one gives you a more 'silvery' glow. A lot of users claim that the cream is very similar to Benefit's High Beam luminizer, but at a fraction of the price. While the cream promises to be a moisturiser, after conducting thorough research, I think I won't be using it all over my face (too shiny) and use it as a highlighter instead. You can opt to mix it in with your foundation, but remember, a little goes a long way. Still waiting for it to arrive in the mail - fingers crossed it won't be a disappointment! Hopefully when Ayden arrives and I'm getting by on minimal sleep, this will kind of make me look awake and refreshed. We'll see!

Ok I'm done - on to the comic books!

sloppy glowy kisses,
Aainaa

p/s: Anyone got a favourite 'glowy' product? I'm all ears!

.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Enough said.

It must be rubbing off...

Because my husband now wants to get THIS diaper bag from Timi & Leslie:


No prizes for guessing he loves american football! When I saw this bag, I sent him the link and he got all excited straightaway. Hopefully we'll manage to get our hands on it, would be so cute to see him lugging it around! Oh, but this doesn't change me getting a diaper bag of my own, of course :p

xx

p/s: Have I told you guys Ayden has a onezie which actually says "future quarterback"?

Kak Sazzy's Lil Divas baby shower!

Kak Sazzy looked so beautiful and radiant at her shower and all of us enjoyed the really good food and company. So happy for her and Abang Nash - their little twin girls are going to be the cutest things ever. Here's to future playdates and our kids growing up together :)









Love you bebeh! xx

My weekend and animal suits.

Last weekend was quite productive - the hubster and I ran a few errands (if you can call them that), met up with his parents and attended a baby shower. Whew, I am pooped! We went to Sungei Wang on Saturday because Yasir wanted to send his xbox for 'surgery' (don't ask) and I am proud to report that I did not feel like fainting while we were there - for once! Oh, and because I had been craving for a leather jacket, my darling Yasir got me a 'leather' jacket from one of the shops in Sungei Wang. I think that helped my lightheadedness a little bit heh heh. The shop assistant looked at me like I was a crazy pregnant woman trying on a leather jacket. Waittaminute, I was. Anyway, I am already imagining going off to Vevey to visit kakak and Dickie with Ayden in tow, wearing my new jacket. And Ayden would be wearing one of those little hoodie jumpers and jeans. That, or I'd squeeze his pudgy little body into one of these:



Much love and thanks to Ayden's godmums, Zara and Mar :) Twenty years from now, when he brings home his girlfriend he is going to cringe when I whip out the pictures of him in these suits!

*evil laughter*

Oh Ayden, you know mummy loves you ;)

How I'll feel when I look into his eyes and hold his little hand for the first time.

God must have spent a little more time on you

Can this be true?
Tell me, can this be real?
How can I put into words what I feel?
My life was complete
I thought I was whole
Why do I feel like I'm losing control?
I never thought that love could feel like this
and you've changed my world with just one kiss.
How can it be that right here with me
there's an angel?
It's a miracle...

Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent...
A little more time
On you...
(A little more time, yes he did baby)

In all of creation
All things great and small
You are the one that surpasses them all
More precious than
Any diamond or pearl
They broke the mold
When you came in this world
And I'm trying hard to figure out
Just how I ever did without
The warmth of your smile
The heart of a child
That's deep inside
Leaves me purified

Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep (and deep)
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent...
A little more time
On you...

Never thought that love could feel like this
and you changed my world with just one kiss.
How can it be that right here with me
There's an angel?
It's a miracle...

Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep (peaceful and deep)
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent...
A little more time
On you...

Perineal activity.

First off, for those of you who aren't sure where the perineal area is, it's the area between your vagina and your anus (pardon my french), which tends to tear during delivery. Honestly speaking, I had never ever heard about perineal massages for pregnant women before I got pregnant, so when a friend of mine mentioned something about putting oil around that area and massaging it weeks before you're due, I was like, "Heh?". Yeah, actually I think that was my exact response. So after googling it and finding out that it's actually quite an important thing to do if you want to avoid tearing (it doesn't work 100% of the time, but there's no harm in trying!) I went and bought myself the Perineal gel from Mothercare. On 30% discount too. It actually costs around 30 ringgit-ish, so not expensive. This is what it looks like:
Anyway, you're supposed to massage your perineal area for at least 5 minutes, twice a day. here's a how-to vid <--click! What it does is make that area softer and more elasticated in preparation for stretching. Get your honey to do it for you, to make it a fun activity. I suppose that's as fun as it gets, when it comes to the perinial area..

Random thing - I had no idea that we have Smashbox cosmetics now in Parkson Pavillion. Maybe it's because I never really venture into that territory. Spent a good two hours trying to decide on which makeup I should get to give my skin a 'radiant' glow - feeling so darn tired nowadays, so I thought, hey, might as well fake it! After spending what felt like two YEARS going back and forth between makeup counters, I bought Benefit's That Gal. Have it on my face now. Looks....normal. Not exactly J Lo. Oh well.

Going to Kak Sazzy's 'Little Divas' baby shower today! Should be fun!

sloppy kisses!

Beauty Schmeauty.

So ladies, what's the one beauty or makeup product you cannot live without, and why do you love it so much? Thoughts?

From the movie Stepmom.

"Can daddies fall out of love with their kids?" the little boy asks his father.

"That..... is impossible." the father answers. And they both laugh as the man hugs his son.

Movies.

Easy access.

You know you're already a mother when you look at a gorgeous top or a dress and the first thought that comes to mind is "Will I be able to breastfeed my son wearing that?".

Perjalanan Panjang Sang Pemenang - ANAKKU (Vina Panduwinata).flv

This video always makes me weepy. Happy Friday everyone!

love,
Aainaa

Keeping it (subtly) sexy.

I was watching the red carpet at the Oscars, and found myself drooling over this particular celeb. A FEMALE celeb. I don't know if it's because I have a tiny little penis inside my uterus (okay, okay, horrible joke - horrible but true when you think about it) or because I can appreciate a woman's beauty (I sometimes point out hot chicks to Yasir while we're walking), but this gal screamed sex on legs. Not in a wham-bam-in-your-face-boobs-ablazing Pamela Anderson kind of way, but in an I-look-this-hot-even-when-I'm-taking-a-dump kind of way. Meaning, naturally hot. Like it didn't take a whole hair and makeup brigade to get her to look that smokin'. I swear Maybelline was probably thinking of her when they coined the slogan "Maybe she's born with it". Anyway, I found out that this celeb's name is Jennifer Lawrence (I know, I was like "Jennifer who?" too) :





Okay, okay, so maybe her dress kinda looks like what a Baywatch swimsuit would look like as a gown, but in my opinion, girl was rocking it. I don't even mind the hint of side boob. Something about the simplicity of her Calvin Klein Collection dress minus the frills and thrills we're so used to seeing on the red carpet and the casualness of her hair and makeup that made it so darn effective. And paired with just a tiny bracelet as an accessory? Genius.

It got me thinking that the simplest things, when tailored in the right way and coupled with effortless style are volumes sexier than a teeny tiny bikini. A luxe fabric, a slight hint of shoulder, or a glimpse of a toned back go a long way than say, anything Lil' Kim has ever put on her body. Ever. A while ago, I was going through the ASOS website (free shipping WORLDWIDE, people. Proceed with caution) and found a few classic, minimalist but oh-so-subtly-sexy pieces I would love to have in my wardrobe right this instant. Fine, maybe in two months after my confinement period. Also, after I lose the weight...which could be more than two months. And probably if Marie France Bodyline decides to sponsor me:


I don't really like how it's being modeled in this picture because of the hair and the cut out tights, but I was sold on this off shouldered top when I saw the video of it <--click. There's just something about the way the fabric falls off your shoulder in a nonchalant, 'it's not meant to be off shouldered but oops it keeps slipping off by itself, oh well!' way, and exposes just a hint of your back. Hot. Then there's this top too: So simple, yet slinky. There's just something so sexy about it that you can't place your finger on. Imagine pairing this top with a pair of 'geeky' black glasses and messy, wavy hair. Umm, can someone say office hottie?


Then there's THIS little number:



Seriously, what could be sexier than a grown up version of the girly white dress you used to wear as a kid? Still don't think it's sexy? The video (<--click!) will change your mind. God, I want this dress so bad my heart is doing this weird palpitating thing :(



This jersey dress looks like one of those things you would have hanging in the back of your closet, which you would just slip on without giving it a second thought, hair all messy, as you head out the door...and STILL look ridiculously sexy.

So here's my ode to the simple, but classically sexy pieces a woman can never, and SHOULD never have enough of, in her wardrobe. Sometimes we've gotta stop giving that one shouldered abstract print, cutout dress so much credit, and learn to appreciate the beauty of a simple white tank top. Or in Jennifer Lawrence's case, a simple red dress.

sloppy kisses,
'Aainaa

I feel like wearing a black leather jacket.

...the more I look at it, the more I want to wear it. Maybe I should stop looking at it.

Le sigh.