Just some new photos...

This is my husband and niece.












Sophie and I.

Feni

First, to answer a question from a previous post - Oct 2007 issue of Women's Weekly Magazine. Your friendly neighbourhood hair salon will probably have it. On another note, the February 2008 issue of Her World will have my unphotogenic mug in it somewhere, so do keep a look out. Heh.

If you're wondering what I'm having for dinner tonight, I'll tell you. I'm having a bit of rice with some ayam-kentang thingamajiggy my NEW maid came up with. It's quite tasty. I think it's ayam masak kicap but it's a rather exotic version of the one I'm used to. No veg, as I couldn't be bothered - my husband is a tad wee bit late tonight and I never eat well when he's not around. I actually amaze myself at how much of an effort I put into dinner when I know it's not just me eating. Left to my own devices, I'd have a yogurt (or McDelivery!!!) and call it a night!

Actually, I've been really depressed lately. You see, I've been let down. Feni broke my heart. My ex maid. The one I favoured. The one I had so much trust, respect and reliance on. I put her on a freekin' pedestal and she jumped on my head and danced on it.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I truly am. While I didn't 'spoil' her, she had fiscal bonuses, perks and a heck of a lot of respect and genuine affection from us. What amazes me is that she didn't seem to appreciate all or any of it. She could still steal from me and lie to my face. My dissapointment, well, if it ever happened to you, then you'll know lah. Who I feel for are my children, because they miss her and ask for her every day.

You know, what with her bonuses and such we gave her for taking great care of Milo and Sophie, she could have gone home even now with a fair bit in her pocket. Now, because of the various deductions, she's only going home with her basic pay. She insisted that she wanted to go back to the agent - probably thinking she would somehow work out a way to become a 'freelance' maid, but they will definitely send her back and they won't give her anything beyond what she officially earned. Even if I insisted, the money won't get to her. They'd take it. I'm sad for her because I feel despite the stealing and duplicity, she earned it by caring so well for my children, but now I'll have no way of 'rewarding' her for that service.

My friends ask me why I even bother agonising over it. She made her bed and is lying in it. Padan dengan muka dia. But it bothers me. Just like it bother me when I'm changing my son's nappy and he asks me in a sad, quiet little voice where his Kak Feni is and why she left. It bothers me when Sophie refuses to eat the food she normally relishes.

It fucking bothers me why she threw it all away.

Shazmin the weight loss guru

Ok, so everyone wants to know how I lost 10 kg, but no one seems to realise that it took me almost a year to slowly and quietly do it, and the one person (cough!) I really have to thank, isn't actually a person, but the mutt, Bugly.

Bugly made me walk him twice a day, EVERY DAY. Considering I've been sedentary on the point of catatonia, the result of our daily endeavours were quick to be seen. Once I started seeing a looser waistband, I felt increasingly motivated to watch what I ate, and consciously stayed away from the evil Big Apple Donuts!!! (evilevilevil!!!)

I stopped licking my kids' plates clean. I've stopped buying junk food. I drink more water. I eat more salad and meat. As much as it kills Daniel and I, we've stopped going to Devi's Corner and Raju's every Saturday morning.

I've stopped adding sugar to things; I might add the occasional Equal, but only if it's handy and I'm up for it.

Do I consider this a diet? Not really - I wanted to heal my chronic foot pain. Losing the weight did that. Do I consider it a sacrifice? No, because I have other vices I will not give up that I enjoy more than food. Have I stopped eating carbs? No, I'll have the odd cake, croissant, toast and nasi kandar, but not in the heaping mounds of yore. Do I lapse? All the time, but I've stopped beating myself up over it. Tomorrow is another day. Do I feel good? YES.

I feel good because I have more energy. I can buy clothes off the rack again (yaaayayayaaaay!). I feel good cause I'm looking good! Damn! Peeeeweeeet! LOL

If you've been trying to desperately lose some weight, take this advice: be mentally positive. Be strong. Visualise the healthy, trim You. Eat better. Get off your arse. Be mentally strong. Have a sense of humour and good luck!

Xox, Shaz- who went from sz 20 to 14 in less than a year. Slowly does it lah!

It's been a fun, hectic week!

My God, last week was a NIGHTMARE - my favourite maid proved to be a 'talam dua muka' so we had to sack her (trust me, it's a looooong story and I just don't want to go there), and I was just embarking on a new career at RedFM, so yes, last week was FRANTIC. This week, however, was a breeze and lots of fun in the mornings on the Red Breakfast with fellow host, Will Quah, who's been absolutely lovely and welcoming, as has the rest of the team at RedFM. Thank you, guys.

I haven't updated this blog for ages, sorry about that. Not much happened when I was at home raising the kids (for 2 months - haha); it was just the usual tedious everyday stuff you all probably know and love, so there's no need to bore you with the gory details of attempted potty training, toddler tantrums, nocturnal wanderings around the house and refusals to eat. In a way, I'm kind of glad to be back at work, but I'll miss the chaos as well as the leisurely strolls down the supermarket aisles (sp?) in the morning and my solitary coffee mornings at Starbucks where I can actually READ the paper in peace.

I've GOT to tell you about my mad scramble getting to work et al, but as you know, at the mo, I've got a pair of rowdy kids tearing up the sofa to make a fort! I'll see you all later!

Check out the RedFM group on Facebook! Go to www.facebook.com now!

Sorry, dah lama sepi tanpa berita...but, finally, I'm baaaaaack!

My God! What a weekend I had! We had to sack the maid and I was shitting bricks the whole weekend agonizing over how we'd all cope what with me going back to work and all....

Yes, you heard right. My days as a bonbon eating tai tai are OVER.

It was fun while it lasted (till the maid buat hal and I had to do some actual parenting - haha!), but now I gotta go out there and make some money coz...coz...mama always needs a new pair of shoes...? (smirk)

So, if you want to catch the latest (aherm!) mix on red fm, catch Will and I, bright and early, starting Nov 5th, on 104.9 in the Klang Valley. Other valleys, check out the Red website for details!

Love yaaaaaas!

ps: I've lost 10 kg since August! Yaaaay me!

hi all!

Sorry lah for the long absence....been busy with Hari Raya and organizing Milo and Sophie's party.
Just dropping a line here to say....I'm still ALIVE!

Take care and have a great week!

(got to run, Milo's not wearing nappies at the mo...I'm on standby...)

Errr, saudari pengacara....atau...puan?....by the way, are you PREGNANT?????

Hooooooh yoh, I tell you. Amir Muhammad was right; politicians DO say the darnest things.

This morning I was at The Equatorial Hotel KL, to emcee the AI Grand Prix 2007 media press conference and launch. The whole thing was going splendidly, when out of the blue, our Minister of Tourism, turns around, looks at me (in the middle of his speech) and asks me point blank if I was pregnant.

What the-???!

There I was, standing leftish to the podium, calculating the timing of the various VIP speeches yet to come and wondering if I'd have time enough later to go to Marks And Spencer's after this gig, when this gem of a question hit me in the face from out of the blue. Like a two ton truck.

Needless to say, it was the last thing I expected. Usually at these things, the press asks questions of the VIPs and ignores the emcee, not the VIP asking the emcee on her marital and fertility status!

Anyway, it's bloody funny now, but at the time I was so shocked I just nodded and gave him the thumbs up.

Thanks for thinking out loud how fat I am, dude. You rock.