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Am not gonna lie, it makes mom happy too

Sairah is a HUGE mall rat. She reminds me of myself once a upon a time where I could spend hours, if not days in a mall   You could blind fold me (though I don’t know why you would wanna do that) and I would I literally know the mall’s layout and my way around the mall at the top of my head.  I know right, such a waste of brain space memorizing mall layouts, lol, but those were the days.

These days, I rarely hang out in malls, infact I often get lost and forget where some stores are. And I find it also tiring to spend long hours in a mall. My legs and back (and empty wallet!) tend to cave in after a while. But come weekend, we do put aside at least 2 hours tops and we usually use it as a little treat for Sairah who is mostly cooped up at home for 5 days a week.  We’ll go to a mall to have lunch and mostly to redeem my vouchers and let the little one play in the kiddie centres (if there’s one) because to see a huge smile plastered on her face makes it TOTALLY worth it.

And as always, like mom, she also can remember the routes we use so even before almost pulling into the mall, she’ll go ‘we’re hereeeeee’ and proceed to grin the entire time.

I’m in a mall and got a treat to boot! This calls for a BIG grin on my face.

These photos was taken last Saturday when we went for her checkup. I think we probably spend even longer time in a mall whenever there’s a checkup involved because we have to take a number and wait for a minimum of 3 hours before it’s our turn to see her pead. So what else to do except hit the malls and window-shop

But of course an even longer time at the mall is something the husband is afraid of because that only means a drained wallet by the time we leave the mall, hehe.

After a good shopping session, feeding my growing child a good yummy meal is a must too.

Heh, kids eat for free they say?!

Bring me one chocolate cake and make it stats.

Like a true shopaholic, she actually sat down quietly, ruffled through her shopping bag and started looking and scrutinizing her buys.

Where’s my pizza?! I want pizza!

There, if I grin like this, maybe I’ll get it faster?

It’s been a while since I did some physical shopping for Sairah so here’s our mini haul. I got 2 tops from FOS and if you’re looking for a great cheap buy for the kids, you have to check em out. They do have some gorgeous items from time to time and did I mention how cheap and affordable it is??

Butterfly top (H&M okie!) was only RM15 while the blue stripey top cost us RM25. Manage to get her a nice black leggings from Pumpkin Patch at half price and paid only RM29 for it. Total haul was RM70. Savvy shopper much?

Sairah modelling her cheapo butterfly top. Work it baby! I love how it actually suits the purple leggings she already has on. I remember paying only RM10 for it. Love the color combination seriously.

Back view.

This stripey top is a little loose on her but I love the unique details on the front. Not bad FOS

Still matches her purple leggings!

If that’s not enough I also bought this lovely (and pocket-friendly) Braided orange top on this site and got it for her since it was on sale. Do check em out. A nice white legging ought to go well with it.

Btw I”m also TOTALLY obsessing over Next’s 2013 Summer collection. The collection is SO amazing that it actually got sold out on their website! I’m contemplating getting these (but of course I”d like to buy their ENTIRE collection) for Sairah but they will cost a whole lot than we’re used to paying. Sigh, wish money really does grow on tree. What do you think of these? Why can’t we find such pretty finds in KL, hmpf.

P.s: Do check out this video of Sairah singing to Somebody That I Used To Know (we love the Wote cover better) – all those times of singing it to her has finally paid off She makes me so proud in this video!

Just some random photos of baby girl that I”ve been taking over the past one month.

This was few days before Diwali. We went out to Curve to redeem my Bubba Gump voucher (pls bring this group discount voucher back Groupon!) and as usual, dad and hubby wanted to go into the electrically store to look see, esp the TV. Men and big TVs, I can never understand their obsession. Sairah saw this cartoon on and proceeded to sit on the sofa acting like it was her grandfather’s home.

Oh hai mom, this is Sairah’s new living room, you like? :D

This was taken on Diwali day, excuse the lack of traditional outfit on her, heh. We took her out to lunch at Kim Gary’s in Plaza Damas and went to visit a friend’s place. I love this denim jump-suit on her – been wanting to get one for her but it’s always so expensive in stores here. Then co-incidently the hubby’s cousin from the US gifted her with this and wala – a FREE denim jump suit for Sairah :)  It’s by Osh Kosh and the material is so soft and comfy.

She was a very well behaved lil girl on Diwali. It’s days like this that I love the best and heck even sometimes contemplate on having another one, hah.

So much intensity in scribbling!

By the way, this outfit is meant for a 3 year old. American sizing! But she’s already filling it out well length wise. But I hope she’ll be able to wear this at least for the next few times?

Look dad, perfume, let’s get mom an early X’mas pressie

Back view

Now this is another assemble that I’m very proud of finding. I got the black stripey biker-chic tee from Switchblade in Publika (they’ve since closed down and plan on re-locating elsewhere) and managed to get this on a 50-60% discount. I paid RM20 if I”m not mistaken and I love how edgy this outfit is on her.

The lil ballet-like shoes adds a very feminine touch. It’s a very cute ‘big girl’ outfit, if that makes any sense? No?

But of course, she stuck to that bad-girl persona (and let’s not forget that Terrible TWO phase) by rearranging toilet rolls in Mercato supermarket! That’s how she spent time there while I bought groceries, lol. I briefly heard a kid screaming her lungs off and was wondering who’s kid that was…….I walked over to this aisle and found this in action. And yes that kid was Sairah coz her dad wanted to take her away from there and she insisted on rearranging!

There, grouped them all together according to size…..much better now! And when she saw the guard walking pass the aisle, she ran for her life, LOL. It’s okay baby girl, they have their own help to rearrange stuff and I hope she isn’t banned from going there after her lil toilet-paper arranging stunt.

@ Farenheit. This was her first view of the Christmas tree for this year. Don’t you just love X’mas deco in malls? Something about it that makes you feel so  happy, warm and fuzzy inside even though the stinky weather already is super warm. And let’s not forget the X’mas gift sets just calling out your name at the stores….. mmmm *drools* SALE SALE everywhereee….

Clinging onto the star shaped pillow her grandmother bought her. A star for a star – geddit?! I didn’t say that one, my mom did

Eeeek, X’mas is just around the corner! And that’s how exactly I feel as well…….like man, where did the whole year go to?? Have you achieved half the stuff on your 2012 resolution? I know I didn’t.

And if you look close enough, the jeans are slightly shorter now coz baby girl is getting taller. Guess that gives me a good reason to go shopping for her, like SOON!

Aaah X’mas mood *sips on Starbucks Peppermint Mocha*

I know it’s too early to sniff out Sairah’s sense of style but from what I gather so far, she seems the comfiest in a 2 piece assemble. I find it rather ironic given as a baby, all she ever wore were dresses and seemed good with it.

Now that she has a mind of her own, to go with that motor mouth of hers, I find myself having to struggle to get her into a dress. Even last week when we attended a birthday party (Hi Deepa!), I had to put up with a screaming child  asking me to take off her dress before we even got to the party!! Of course all was forgotten during the party because she was busy running around, but as we were heading home, she suddenly remembered she still had that dress on and yet again we battled another ‘take off my dress!!!’ for a good 20 minutes before getting home. Try telling a 2 year old that it’s NOT OKAY to sit around naked in a moving car.

Dressy dressy baby girl she is not! But I can also sense that she prefers less complicated dresses that are light and airy. This girl’s turning out to be quite the carefree hipster soul if you ask me.

Moving on…

I came across this awesome black polka dot pants when we went to Parade a few weeks back for a Karaoke session with the cousins. I stole some time off and actually went shopping I paid a mere RM25 for this. The lady had an array of polka dot pants in VARIOUS colors and it was nicely set up to capture the eye for suckers like me coz I got this within seconds!

Mommy secretly has the softest spot for polka dots and is guilty of having a few polka dot tops in her cupboard.

And then after our session, I got the husband to check out the top that I spied earlier from the same shop. Also a way of making him pay for it What I adore about this is how quirky and different this top is.

The 2 piece assemble assembled, har har.

So how comfy she is?! I got her to model it as soon as she woke up. Usually it’s no easy task since Ms Grumples needs time to cool off but she immediately obliged.

Loving the front details to it as well. Again, she looks too relaxed.

The lacey back. What do you think? A bit too much or totally effin unique? Le sigh, if only I could work as a buyer in a kiddie store. I think that would bring me so much joy

Oppa Gangnam style! Ini adalah senaman petang bersama Cik Sairah

Anyway, we wanted to go for lunch @ Publika and I remembered the polka dot pants. I teamed it with her black racer back tank top and for a pop of color, I brought out her Barbie pink bag. Not idea why I didn’t go with the red tank top – too much for a Sunday I reckon, lol.

Wala – a cute sunday lunch with my old folks outfit.

If this pic doesn’t scream laid-back then I don’t know what it’s called.

Or should I go for the rich tai-tai look by holding my bag like this?

Nah mom, I’m a cool cat so I’ll just sling it for sling bags are da bomb!

Now I’m just curious to see where can I get the same Polka Dot pants in adult size! There should come up with a store that sells same piece for mommy AND child! Now how brilliant is that idea?! And on a side note, guess who’s going ot get more of that polka dot pants in various colors for her?

What’s the similarities between a fast cooked meal and a quickie? 

It’s quick, mess-free and fills you up (pun pun, har har). Sorry effects of reading 50 Shades Of Grey.

Sairah has been running a bad flu and cough last week so we decided to stay home a lil. Coz sick baby = one cranky fussy pot. She was literally like a walking time bomb – throwing tantrums, crying and heck, even a simple instruction to pick up her toys would send her into a foul frenzy. We were worried that it was the start of her Terrible TERRIBLE Twos. But her pead said it’s expected of sick kids who are on meds – they get easily irritable. OKIE – then how come the parents are getting irritated too??! But am happy to report she’s back to her normal self, which includes being EXTRA clingy!

So on Friday night, after picking her from my parent’s place, we got home and I then realized we didn’t have much in the fridge to cook a fancy meal. Didn’t even have chicken in the fridge okie.

My poor poor pumpkin pie – knocked out from all that medication.  Despite all the fussiness and tantrums earlier – still an angel when she sleeps. She hardly naps late evenings, what more on the sofa like that.

Anyhos, without a fully stocked up fridge, I turned to our trusty old maggi mee – I bet every Malaysian home has one of these stashed in their cupboard :D  This is the curry meletup version, so to make this, get the same flavour!

Directions

1)  Boil 2 packets of maggi. I usually boil it half way, then throw the water while replacing it with new fresh water to cook it. This is to ensure the noodles aren’t being cooked in wax that comes out of it. Twas a tip my dad gave – he can’t cook btw, lol.

2)  Chop half onions and 5 clove garlic with some half chopped carrots. In a pan, fry all 3 ingredients until soft using a lil sesame oil and oil, add in half tablespoon curry powder and coat it (possibly the secret ingredient), and fry again.  Add in some chopped sausages and fry until brown. Throw in your cooked maggi, followed by ONE packet of the maggi seasoning. Stir until noodles are coated with seasoning. Then beat two eggs and throw into the noodles. At this point, your noodle will be very wet, keep stirring and frying until noodles are coated with cooked eggs.

3) Whip out your light soya sauce and eye ball it. Add more if you want it less spicy. Add some salt and pepper should you wish. Then finish off by putting 3 lime leaves and fry it further until noodles are infused with the lime smell.

And wala you’re done. This was SOOO good and especially flavorful that the hubby kept going on about it and bugged me for the recipe but I didn’t want to share.

Not sure what it is – maybe it’s the combination of all spices with the soya sauce and lime leaves. But this will surely be a good substitute for days you crave maggi goreng.

And then the next day, hubby had a ‘boy’s night out’, which really wasn’t as wild as it sounds coz he went go-karting with my cousins and uncle, lol. That meant I was cooking for two since I was in charge of looking after Sairah.

It was then that I remember Rachael Ray simple yet tasty recipe. You can tell the title for this post was inspired by her show

Directions:

Chop up half onions and fry in olive oil until fragrant. Throw in bite size hashbrowns (you may chop it up, and I further defrosted it in the microwave) and let it cook for a while. Hash browns do take a while to cook so be patient. After a while, throw in some chopped sausages and shredded mozzarella cheese. She recommended white sharp cheddar, but we all know how expensive fancy cheeses are here so I opted for mozza. Found a packet of low-fat one lying around – not that it makes a difference to my waist line! Now keep pressing the hash browns and cheese down so it cooks. Add in some black pepper, a lil bit of paprika seasoning and towards the end, I melted a slice of cheddar cheese. Cook until hash browns are well brown la.

Definitely not more than 30 mins – your dinner is ready! A very comforting plate of hot hash browns laced with yummy cheese and sausages. Go slow with the oil yo, I was a lil reckless.

And I’ve noticed my Styling Sairah tag has been rather quiet of late. So here are two outfits that I bought for baby girl recently which I’m TOTALLY in love with.

First up, a gorgeous lilac TOGA dress! Got this for a mere RM38 after 20% discount from  Urban Kids @ Sunway Giza Mall.

We don’t need lotsa moneh to be stylin yo. I hardly see any toga dresses around so when I saw this, I bought it within seconds.

Kawaii neeh. Still can be a poser despite being sick.

Sweet innocent face. Righttttt…..mom knows better!

Playful face

Serious face.

Thinking how to make mom’s Saturday a bad one, lol.

And here’s a very retro-ish polka dot t-shirt dress bought from Isetan Lot 10 for a mere RM23 after discount

Polka dot NEVER goes out of style yo.

My clingy lil baby girl. Yes I shall blog about that separately!

On a side note, I intend to have a little wardrobe clearance to sell of Sairah’s clothes coz let’s face it turning 2 means having new wardrobe. Okay I just made that up - I need to clear stuff! Most of it are brand new and very lightly worn – would any mommies be interested?

*Cue pretty woman baby song*

Pretty baby walking down the street…

Pretty babbyyyy and while the song is still playing in your head…

Top: By BB Luvs Me (yes the top is on SALE!) and I should add, something about the top screams Victorian to me.

White Polka Dot leggings: Courtesy of her aunt, bought from Tesco me think.

Location: Curve, just because we were feeling adventerous that weekend

And then she goes and does thissss…..

*almost want to run away and cover my face* Why baby girl, WHY??

And if that’s not enough, thesedays she insist on ‘picking out’ her own lunch or basically goes through the menu on her own leaving her father and I to share one menu. Of course at the end of the day she can pick whatever she wants but doesn’t get it coz  mommy decides since we both share a meal together Unless of course if we’re in Italiannes where kids eat for free *cough*

What, kids don’t get to eat for free here??! I am SHOCKED! I believe it should be our constitutional right to eat for free for we are the little people with no source of income but who will one day shape the future of Malaysia!

Aight never mind what I said, dad’s paying so I’m thinking of the Pizza.

No wait, make that pasta! Fickle baby is fickle. But it doesn’t matter. Coz end of the day, she had lasagne. And some pizza crust since her dad had that. She LOVES pizza crust.

Anyway, I took these shots which I think are awesome shot depicting a ’sharing’ moment between my toddler and father. Because you see, I don’t indulgence her in drinks when we’re out. She sticks to her normal water. Coz for starters when we’re out I’m afraid of the type of water the restaurant might use (though I realize we’re not really a third world country but still!) plus of course there’s the issue of sweet drinks which I don’t want my little chubby to try.

Since Vivo in Curve sells these awesome juices, I thought what the heck, let her try.

This was the end result.

A lil bit for daddy…

Some for me…

Being a typical toddler by just playing with the straw.

More for Daddy…iz liking the manana juice. See how her mouth is open as he drinks it? Too cute.

Then we did a lil bit of shopping, and guess where she ran off to? YUP, the lingerie section!! I was wondering why a bunch of women were just laughing away when I turned around to see this!!

22 month old baby picked up TWO BLACK LACE panties (I should add they were pretty sexy looking, something mommy would pick out herself, ahem) and she started running around with it. Her dad of course was running behind her, asking her to return it but nopeeee….

Wooo pretty panties

Catch me if you can suckers…

She created quite a scene, a few sales people and aunties were just laughing at the sight of her running around with those sexy panties. Not sure if I should be happy or be embarassed but this scumbag mom joined in and laughed so loud. Then oh so graciously, she puts the panties back (after being nagged at) , waved and said bye bye to everyone and walked out of Robinsons like a BOSS!

Think we’ll be lying low from Robinsons AND the lingerie section for that matter for a while now thank you very much. Though I do foresee an awesome shopping buddy in the making in the near future