Babyproof my new home!

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog.

I hope all are well so far, as it is for me! This my friends, have been sitting in my draft post for almost a year, I think! So I better work on this and well share with you guys! Your input would be of great help too! Just leave a comment and allow me 3 days to read and approve ya!

Today we shall touch on baby proofing a home. I have been through baby proofing a house over 5 times. Usually much desired when baby has learnt to roll over right till they are walking all over, with curiosity getting into them every second.

Through all my experience, it being not my own house and it was not our own kid per se, we only did the real basics, like getting those drawer locks, the doorway gate, the corner cushions and such.

You can get those drawer locks at any baby store! And the ones I got are pretty good! 

However, as we age, and us getting our very own house pretty soon, the idea of baby proofing the house right from the start dwell on me. This is probably why I keep telling my husband I want a bare or minimalism concept for our house. I don't wish for some decoration glass cupboard or a pretty corner to place a vase of flowers or anything like that. All I want was everything basics, and that was that.

It only occurred to me about to baby proof our soon-to-be house right from the start even when I haven't conceived because it would be much easier when it calls for it. At least I wont be freaking out to find stuff to cover the sharp corners of everything and having to sell away anything and everything glass because baby is on the way. I guess I rather fuss now than fuss later along with a crying baby in my arms.

So I began to somewhat interview some of my friends, and start asking what they do, and what they would recommend for us to consider while renovating our soon-to-be flat. And here, we shall list it all for people like us who would like to baby proof their flat:

Round up all corners

One of the best tips! A lot of us forget about it and end up buying tonnes of corner cushions that doesn't really keep our worries away.

So ya, tell your contractor to round up all the corners, strictly no sharp corners in the house. This would apply to your new dining table, coffee table and chairs too! Look out for those corners. 

Leaking Gas?

Do I smell gas? Have you found a baby standing and reaching up to those gas knobs? I have! And so someone shared with me what her brilliant contractor did for her gas cooker. He added a switch to allow the gas to flow. If that switch is not turned on, the gas won't be let out to light up the stove. 

This is pretty much about the same with what I have at home, just that we don't have a switch, but it detects somehow that if there is no fire (ie. fire got blown off by wind or we accidentally turn the knob) the gas would automatically gets cut off.

Window Grilles

Yes as much as most BTOs now comes with grilled windows, many forget about the service yard, and aircon ledge windows, which doesn't come with any. Mishaps happen when you least expect them to. So better be safe than sorry.

Doorways/Alleyways

Yup, some of us may get driven away with larger doorways and larger alleyways if possible so you won't be hitting each other when two of you wish to enter the kitchen at the same time.. And then when baby comes, it is so hard to find a child gate lock that is wide enough. ;) Oooppsss..

Don't forget the toilet or wet area too! Make sure the floor mat/rug has an anti slip feature, you wouldn't want to fall head down, and definitely wouldn't want your baby to run and slip.

Feature wall?

Oh don't go overboard with wanting textures and such, because when baby comes, you won't want baby to scrap thru that wall or bang his/her head on it.

Furniture

Yup this is very much a part of your renovation plan. Furniture would complete the whole process, so what shall I look out for furniture?

As per our first point, the sharp corners. Eliminate the designs that has them.

Go away from furniture that are made of glass. You wouldn't want to imagine a baby banging something on the glass table and break it on an unlucky day.

Power Sockets

You know, our old house used to have most, if not all the power sockets, at an adult height, but the new house seemed to have lowered them to almost ground level. So be aware, parents of young kids, get those power socket covers and keep them grounded. I don't have much of a solution yet, so if you do, please let me know.

Keep taking down notes, and don't forget to share with me!

Have a great Friday everyone!

With love,
Jun

Wassalam

24 hrs a day, Solat or no Solat?

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. Here is the promised entry from the previous one. 

As mentioned previously, I have personally posted on my FB many of my rants and this is the other one of the many that touched a few of my friends to the point of sharing.:

"You know, we all have 24hrs a day... How is it that someone who never prays seem to be rushing through everyday and those who pray seem to take their time and still be on time?

First and foremost, pls dun feel that I am trying to announce to anyone of my deeds. Subhanallah, that is not my intention. It is however my way to reflect my ways and hope someone else would follow along with me to be better... If in anyway it had offended you, please forgive my sins for I am only human to be in such position.

As I istiqomah towards praying on time, and praying all five fardhus on time, I realize how there is always time for everything albeit running a little late sometimes. I used to reach home just at the nick of time before the azan for maghrib. Even before, when I neglect and not pray my zohor or asar. And I am always rushing through lunch, somehow I'd end up a tad late. Now, when I utilise a bit of my lunchtime to pray zohor, I have a gd 5mins to walk to the office, and now when I spend a bit of time after I end my work for asar, I still somehow reach home at the nick of time for azan maghrib. How? I couldnt explain.

When I used to think there wont be enough time to pray, I am always rushing through my 24hrs, I struggle to be on time. Now, in the span of 5mins, I can somehow make time to pray. I really cannot explain. I still run along, but I dun rush as much as I used to. It has been calmer even though it still seem to be a lot to think abt in my head. I am not even perfect yet. I am not always on time to answer His Calls, but yet, he had bestowed me so much love just by returning to Him. He gave me tests, and people to jump at me, at the same time gave me people who would advice and motivate me.

I hope many relatives and friends would return to Him, to be closer to Him, so we can together be better slaves and together we can see each other walk through that bridge to attain Jannah...

Start smalls steps.. We can do it... Let us fight and ease our struggles.. Don't judge, don't assume, but REMIND us, and GUIDE us. That is what we All need the most."

A few friends shared along their personal experience too, I am so happy we are all gaining from this and is stepping forward to do more, to istiqomah towards being a practicing Muslims.

Sometimes, when I sit down to think about my life, I cry in disappointment. What have I achieved? Only duniawi... What have I got to bring with me when my soul is pulled by Sakaratul Maut? What have I done in my free time? Stuck with my phone, overridden by my sleepy head, too engrossed in dramas? Busy with I-don't-know-what. Sometimes, when I miss my zohor, and do my Asar, and qada' my Zohor after, I sat down to think, how did I miss Zohor earlier? What was I busy with?

Sometimes, I recalled looking at the clock, it is 4pm, I should do my Zohor.. But somehow, something got me distracted and before I knew it, it is the azan for Asar. Sometimes, I can recall, what caused the delay, and plan in my head how to better manage the time. Sometimes, i cannot recall at all, time simply zoomed past.

Why am I always busy, but hardly anytime to pray? Hardly anytime to read the Qur'an, but so much time to fiddle with my phone, so much time to check out my social medias, why?? It doesn't take THAT long to pray, neither does it take THAT long to read a page or two of the Qur'an. Then why?

Why is it so "boring"? Works of Syaitan - of course!! Sometimes, delays are made so you will feel the strain when you have to qada', have you felt that before? It isn't so bad when all fardhus are done on time, I feel at ease and it is easier. It when I have to qada' back to back that I sometimes feel very burdened. I sometimes feel a strong urge to not qada'. Subhanallah. So fine, the work of Syaitan, isn't it?

We need to keep fighting, and praying for protection. Seek forgiveness, seek acceptance, then seek forgiveness for people around you.. Seek guidance, and repeat, keep repeating. Then towards the end, seek for strength to go through all hurdles of this lifetime, and help ease all our duties. Sometimes, I doubt if I still deserve help. I had to reassure myself, that Allah is all forgiving, and all loving, definitely He wont let me be in the dark, if I had come to Him for help and guidance. I keep seeking for my heart to be protected. There is so much influences, and whispers that sometimes, make me delay, that sometimes make me find it hard when it is not, and the most dangerous is when I feel like I am more deserving that others.

I hope I am always made known of this subconscious thinking and be allowed time to seek forgiveness and time to repent. I am not pious, neither am I perfect. All I want to do is to be a good practicing Muslims, all I want is that my fellow sisters and brothers also follow suit, repent, istiqomah and be a better person together.

Please remind me, and correct me. Even if I look like I don't like it, hate it or irritable. Please don't give up on me. I need all the support anyone can give, I need all the reminders anyone can give, and all the corrections that anyone is willing to show me.

The humble imperfect soul,
Jun

Wassalam

My struggles

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know... A lot of catching up to do still.... And here is another personal rant! May Allah forgive us all for complaining this much, but I guess these are lessons worth sharing so others would know that they are not alone struggling to be closer to Him.

Image taken via Google Search for "Susah Nak Solat"

I have personally posted on my FB many of my rants and this is one of the many that touched a few of my friends to the point of sharing.

"Pernah tak korang da pasang niat nak solat, tapi tetiba org tegur dan serkup jarang cakap kita tk solat, kumpul dosa, bla3.. Lepas tu hati rasa sakit dan seakan rajok dan nak betolkan tuduhan dia je? 
Hijrah ni bkn arini ubah trus jadi ustaz/ustazah tau! Hati ni lemah tau! Pls la jgn nk hukum sangat org yg baru nk berjinak, baru nak merangkak istiqomah... Utk kembali dekat dgn Allah. Korang sedap mulut tuduh kita tk solat, tak nk solat semua kenapa eh? Kenapa, nak solat kena announce ke kat radio, tv dan fb supaya semua tahu saya da solat ke belum, saya ada niat nak solat lepas makan ke? Nak kena bilang semua org ke? Saya diam sebab tk nak dijangkit riak. Tapi bila org asik nak tuduh saya tk solat, mcm fed up gitu. Saya pujuk hati dgn berzikir, dan istighfar.. Tapi kadang.. Penat tau dgr org marah saya, caci saya, tuduh saya yg bukan2. Takkan nak announce setiap hari bila balik yg saya dah solat zohor dan asar kat tmpt keje? Salah ke saya nk makan dulu saban hari kt keje, saya dulukan solat, terlepas waktu makan, baru nk solat maghrib? Salah sangat ke aku ni? Hina sangat ke aku ni... Tapi saya cekalkan hati, pujuk sekali lagi.. Mari istighfar... Ambil wuduk. Peduli la ape org nak kata, biarlah org kata, "hah! Kena marah, kena tegur baru nak solat!" biarlah.. Biarlah.. Allah ada... Allah tahu... Ya Allah, maafkan lah hamba2 mu yg khilaf ini..."

In translation along with more rants and details:

Have you ever intended to solat, but suddenly was approached and accused of not performing any solat, that we are accumulating sins, etc? And from that incident, our hearts felt pain and start to sulk, some-what trying to protest and make those assumptions and accusations true? But I consoled the heart to recite praises to Allah and to seek help and guidance from Him. This change I make, the journey I decide to take, is not simply put as, today someone changed, and today itself that someone will be perfect with all knowledge and habits installed, you know that right? This heart is weak.. I beg of you, all of you.. to please... Please, do not judge the people who have decided to turn over a new leaf, these people have just started their baby steps to be better, to be closer to Allah. Why do you or anyone need to accuse us of not performing solat, some even to the extent of accusing us of not performing the solat at all! Why? Must we announce our intentions to the media? Must to publicly tell everyone that we have performed our solat fardhu? I kept quiet because I am afraid to be proud or think I am righteous when I am far from it. I am quiet because I don't want to end up to be too proud. But sometimes... I get tired of having people to scold me, to insult me, and accuse me of plenty of things. You can't expect me to announce everyday upon reaching home that I have performed my zohor and asar at my workplace, can you? Am I too sinful? Too filthy? But I consoled my heart once again, seek forgiveness from Allah, to take ablution. Ignore what they all say, let them say "see, I have to nag at you, scold you, then you want to solat!" Let them say... Let them... Allah is with me, with us. Allah knows, Ya Allah, please forgive us who is naive and not know what goodness of all these tests has for us. 

MasyaAllah, my heart healed as I type that status out. I went ahead and took my ablution and seek forgiveness on behalf of these people and myself. I cried on the praying mat. I told myself it is okay. I reassured again and again, it is okay if people judge, they do not know me or my intentions, but Allah does, and that is all that matters. 

As with these people whom I shall label as the "Correctors", He brought to me the people whom I shall lable as "Motivators". Every community will have these two types of people. And they will both bring out the better out of ourselves, so do not despair. Allah knows best. Have faith and trust Allah. He wont bring challenges to you without bringing you through it with victory. It is His way of communicating to us, His way of showing His love to us. MasyaAllah, isn't that great? 

Yes our hearts are weak, that is why we have these two people, to strengthen us and to build us!

The Correctors

These people actually only has the best intentions and they actually want the best for us. It is their way of doing it that appear a little bit wrong in our eyes. Look past that, and look beyond that. If they don't love us, they wont even bother to remind us. Although they can sometimes make us feel down and undeserving, they actually really just want us to be more perfect, so we can all together attain Jannah, insyaAllah.

I mean it is only the works of Syaitan that loves seeing our hearts weaken and silaturrahim broken, isn't it?

The Motivators

Hold them close. These people would rarely judge, for many reasons. Maybe they have been in our shoes before, maybe they are also struggling like us. Keep them close, and motivate them like they do us. They sometimes need it more than us!

With these people, sometimes, the Syaitan come whispering, "They aren't perfect themselves, why do you need to always praise them for their "fake" concerns?"

Syaitan

Yes, the works of Syaitan. Clear your consciousness. Hey, I wouldn't mind competing to be closer to Allah. Just be careful alright. It is also the works of Syaitan that makes you feel like you have done the best and that you don't need to do extra or feel like you have done a lot, or that authoritative feel inside because Syaitan said you are better than anyone else.

Be wary, look out for the signs, istighfar, recite praises for Allah, and rest assured that Allah is always around you. All these tests, the falls, the rises. It is all for the sake of strengthening us and to build a better us. Be positive, think positive, do positive. InsyaAllah. Most importantly, be sincere. It is not praises from our people that we are seeking for, but for His Forgiveness and Acceptance.  

My next post will be on how Allah SWT has bestowed me with so much love when I istiqomah to answer His Calls on time although I am far from doing it perfectly, but alhamdulillah, all is good when the niat (intention) is all for the better.

Please, I beg of you to forgive me if this write up makes you feel like I am announcing my good deeds because Subhanallah, that is not my intention. I am just sharing in hope that I will re-read and improve myself, and in hope that someone else along the way will benefit from this..

And Jazakallah Khairon everyone for the believe, and do'a. I appreciate it!

I am not pious, I am just an imperfect Muslim who is trying to be a good one. I am sure we can all be one, yes?

Taqabbalallahu minna wa minkum (translates to: May Allah accept it from you and us.)

With much love,
Jun

Wassalam.

I hate sputum test!

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I am still making up for the hiatus... hehe.. So enjoy my posts whilst I can still slot them in. :)

Recently I shared my humble blog to a group of new friends, I was rather prepared to be flooded with comments like "not enough pictures", "lack of visuals" and the likes. Afterall, that is a fact isn't it. Right from the day I start, to date, I have very very few entries that is loaded with pictures.

Well the logic is simple I guess. I am a simple person. I like to enjoy the moment, I take out my phone for information, to browse my social medias, and if I remember, I'd snap a picture or two. With that picture or two, I'd then finally decide it is not a good enough picture to share. LOL! And I am not shy to admit it is just my face, not picture perfect ever. I am far from it la. I guess only my parents, husband, and children thinks I am "antek" (That is how Baby M says Cantik which means beautiful or pretty). I don't wanna spoil a perfect picture, so unless someone calls me to be in a picture, I will never come running to be part of it. I usually decline until someone grabs me into it. Then I go screaming in my head, "Hw do I smile? Where do I look? Oh damn... the picture is taken."

Well, I didnt get any negative feedbacks, but very warm ones. A few of them commented, "It felt like you are chatting with me and I felt like I've known you for years after reading your blog.", "Very friendly and chatty!" and "Your write-ups seemed very close to your heart, and you've expressed it very well" were some of the nicest comments I have ever receive, and it drove me to write more. I guess me being simple, I like to keep it natural and not to drafted out.

Actually.. that is not what I am set out to write about.. I am suppose to rant about how I hated the Sputum test! What is Sputum test? Well much like a stool test, except it is taking samples of your phlegm instead of your poop.

It is really easier for me to give urine samples, poop samples, saliva, nostril swaps, and blood (it is my favorite actually!). However, I hated it when the Dr calls for a Sputum test. If I have trouble spitting my phlegm when I have them, what make is easy and painless when I have to force it?

They have this device to make you cough out phelgm.. I know there are people like me, who can finish two doses and just cough out a tiny weeny bit of phlegm with lots of saliva. Disgusting to say the very least, and irritate the hell out of my throat to be induced to cough out phlegm that doesn't seem to exist.. I hated it. I was held up for quite a long while because I just don't produce enough phlegm. Urgh..

How I hated it. Have you done a Sputum Test before? Do you hate it as much as I do?

The irritated self,
Jun

Wassalam.

Review on Dymo.com's LetraTag LT100-H

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know and well aware that I've been missing in the blogging arena quite often lately.. Oh well, I gotta return one day.. So... here's another review to write! Alhamdulillah..

Dymo.com's LetraTag, Sanford SKU: S0725580 DYMO SKU: 19754

An amazing Label Maker, I must say!

It comes with a roll of 4m of paper to print your label on, then just cut and remove the backing and stick it to whatever you desire. I bought an addition 2m roll of iron on labels to test run on my sewing products.

The paper has stuck well on my frosted rulers, but not so great on my self healing cutting mat, maybe because i fold the sticker, so I'd try again flat on one side to see how it holds.

As for the iron on, the instructions are not very clear, so I wasted about 2 labels wondering what went wrong, it simply says to iron on fabric, and for safety caution place a scrap fabric on sticker before placing the iron on it for 10-15secs. It forgot to ask you to peel the black film like piece!

I have ironed these labels on my tissue pouches and on my bags, holding up well so far. Next test will be the machine wash test. Stay tune!

And so I have tested and run a few washes, whilst some stayed in tact, some didn't survive very well. I didnt have my phone with me when it was out of the machine, so I'd try describe it in words as much as possible...

The sides, the short ends, came off and dangled by the mercy of the middle portion of the tag. I manage to still bring it out and it barely survived, the second time I brought it out, my fingers were itchy and well, it peels the whole tag off. Fabric remains undamaged.

So this iron-on tag in my opinion is awesome for labelling names onto any fabric, but if you intend to brand tag your creations, then this may not be very ideal as consumers might just peel it out and wear it without your brand label.

The paper one was re-tested on my mug and plate.. Just for the fun sake to see how well it can survive despite it being paper. To be honest, it did survive very well. I labelled my mug and plate on 5th June when I got home after being hospitalized. It held on till today except it's ink was washed, and had just started to peel off. That is more than 1 month of frequent washing, at least washed twice a day!

This makes me re-think my review on the iron-on labels.. Perhaps I should iron them a little longer on its short ends... That might help it hold on much longer, I guess...

Anyways, I had ordered my cloth tag, and had just received it yesterday, so it anything, this iron-on labels would be used to just label them and peelable by the owners once they receive it...

I hope this review helps you!

Wassalam,
Jun

Fabric shopping!

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know and well aware that I've been missing in the blogging arena for quite awhile, and so I am back to make up to it! So... here's another post to write! Alhamdulillah..

Following the post sharing my sewing projects, some asked if I will be taking in orders, the options, and above all that, I got asked, "Where do you purchase your fabric?:

There are many nice places that provided a whole lot of range to go to.

Last month, whilst I was still on hospitalization leave, after my follow up, I met a few sewist aka fabric hoarders aka new friends to take a walk-around tour at Chinatown where a lot of our local sewist, crafters and the likes talk about.

We all know I wear slippers for every occassion, BUT I dressed up for that occasion! Look!

I hardly wore shoes, but this occasion calls for it! 

I put faces to three names in a group that I joined not too long ago. I got a lot of information and new knowledge imparted to me from Sis Rahayu. We had fun. Lots of jokes, and more knowledge. :)

Back to where I got my loots from:

Chinatown

I got these on that trip:

Pretty remnants (less than 1m each piece) from Malin Textile

And these notions from Brighton

There is plenty, and to just name a few may seemed unfair.

Clementi Central

Then, there is the nearby local textile shop that I frequent to get my 100% cotton when I couldn't get my lazy bum to head down to Chinatown (oh did I mention the above-mentioned is located at Chinatown?).

The 100% cotton collection

The thing about this shop that I really like is that they always bring in new designs.

Mustaffa Centre

I only attacked their remnant bins, to be honest, because I am taken aback with their prices. $12/m for the cotton range and $18/m up for their softer (suitable for apparels) range. Perhaps it is just me not ready to spend so much knowingly I might just screw up by cutting it wrong or something along those lines.

Joo Chiat Complex

I had always went to this place, but never got a chance to take a photo. However, I am always prone to being cheated so I don't go alone to shop fabric there, ever! If I have to, I really need to drag my mom, or some new friends.

Arab Street

The whole stretch of great apparel fabrics. It is heaven! Here are samples of my loots that I got there! Mostly would attack Arab Street for fabrics like Sildoll, laces, Songket, washable silk, easily put as Apparel fabrics, those thats drapes very nicely on the body, especially.

A large collection of Sildoll and the printed one is Cotton. ;)

These are Washable Silk

Spotlight

The last place I go to unless there are sale (then again, they have sale like ALL the time!). It is heaven nonetheless to "wash" your eyes to the wide range of fabric and pretty prints.

And whilst all these physical shopping and molesting of fabric is awesome, I still succumb to online shopping when I just couldn't find time to get fabric or if I was given two choice - shop or sew. 

So here are my online preferences:

Fabric.com

As we all know, I have been sewing a lot.. And 70% of my loot is ordered online, fabrics mostly coming from Fabric.com

So far, alhamdulillah. I am very satisfied with the service rendered. I like how they come in their box. However not everything can be shipped direct to Singapore. Their licensed fabric such as those patented disney prints can only be shipped within US.

The thing about fabric.com is that I never had to worry about the quality, it is almost 100% guaranteed that all the fabrics they have are of awesome quality, and measurement never go wrong, and if they do, such big organization will usually try their best to damage control and will value their customers. I have read reviews and most of the customers who got their orders wrong, or cut to the wrong dimensions often get their replacement pieces or refunds almost immediately.

Sew Many Knits

If you need to get knits, and not ready to spend a bomb, Sew Many Knits is the place to visit!

Quality is clearly stated and I can say it is really of great quality and definitely value for money kindda buys! I have shopped and returned many times for more knits!

Don't believe? Visit them here and judge the price yourself! Don't blame me if you do end up shopping a lot!

I am sure there are many other sites to shop with, but I am only sticking to these two for the moment. I am skeptical when it comes to shopping online for fabrics as description by sellers sometimes are just not right to the feel.

Until I find another fabric heaven,
Your fabric Godmother,
Jun

PS: Feel free to comment in your favorite shops. Just give me 3days to approve your comment. :)

My Fashion Sense

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog.

I have been busy and thus haven't been updating as much as I would like, and the amount of outstanding posts on draft has grown too.

I was just flipping through my niece's Instagram accounts, watching them grow through pictures made me realize that they have outgrown me in a lot of ways. It was then I realized that these beautiful nieces of mine have such great fashion sense in them, and are very unlike myself when I was their age. When I was between 12-16, I hated the idea of meeting friends after school, the kind of plans such that we all go home, freshen up and change to home clothes kindda thing. I hated them, and I was so glad my parents were strict enough to forbid me from going out to meet friends unless it is really necessary and important, they told me if it is really important, these friends would just stay in school to do it, and go home when it is done.

I hated having to go home to change to home clothes because I don't have much clothes to wear, not that I have anything to complain about, I don't. I know where I stand, it is some rich friends who never understood where I stood. I was in a Christian school, and some of the students are really rich, they have chauffeurs who sent and fetch them from school, they have maids who wash and iron their clothes, a different maid who cooks for them, and if they wished, their parents would give them $50 to eat out. Everything they carried and wear had a brand to it. At that age, I don't know what a brand is, I grew up with Umbro, Lumberjack, and just the many X brands kind of stuff, I don't know Nike, Adidas, Agnes, whatever else there is (although I see them on bags, socks and shoes, I never really know it is a brand, and it is costly). I never knew because noone in my family has them, we don't even look at them, in fact, we never shopped at a shopping mall, much less to shop in a boutique!

With my father's salary of a mere $900, how can we ever afford a $100+ shoes? How can we ever afford $50 note to spend in a day? We couldn't. To say I wasn't jealous of these rich kids, would be a big fat lie. I was. I was just brought up well enough to know that we cannot afford that, and that we should be grateful because they are others who had lesser than us. I was constantly a target because I was so naive. There was one day that I wore my pair of jeans (which is too short), and shirt. A group of girls laughed at me in school the next day. A friend told me it was because I was wearing an imitation Armani Exchange shirt. I had to asked what shirt is Armani Exchange, and my friend had to draw the logo out with A|X. And I was like, "oh"

As much as I may have appeared like it didnt matter to me, it hurts me bad. That shirt I wore.. It was my sister who gave it to me. And everything my sister(s) gave to me is precious to me. I have seen how my sisters went through school days, they don't own any purse like me, all they had was a hankerchief with thier coins neatly tied at on corner. I was just lucky, and Allah bestowed me to my grateful parents 10 years after my second sister for a good reason. It was so I can see how my sister had it worse than me multiple times, so I'd learn to appreciate my childhood even when I don't understand it then.

It was because of this decade gap that my sisters are working when I was still in my teens, and they often helped as much as they can so I can have a Deuter bag when it was in trend, they get me a good sports shoe when I joined my school's Hockey team. They helped me breeze through my teenage peer pressure as much as they can. When I was shy to bring my aged and illiterate parents to school, I drag my sister for the parent-teacher meeting. Everyone in school has parents who can speak English, mine couldn't. When neither my sisters could make it, I spoke to my Cikgu secretly if she can do the translation or simply handled it off my form teacher. Sometimes, it helped. Sometimes, I struggle myself to translate myself, often hiding the not-so-good news.

When the internet was making its quick spread, and everyone in class started talking about it, and computers became a thing to have in the house sort of thing, I was probably the only one without and relied a lot on the school's PC.

My sister bought a PC eventually for us. Subsequently we got internet connection, oh don't you all remember the 56K dial up modem? And then scream when your mom lift up the phone to call someone. Those were the days... And of course I abuse the internet back then, chatting up my friends instead of doing my work, well, no actually I'd do my work for like 15 minutes, and it is actually done but i cheated and said I wasn't so I can chat a little while (like as if I wont see them in school, right? pfft!).

I cannot imagine if my sisters are not around to help. I cannot. As much as we fight, we need each other. To look down on us, so we would soar higher. To cheer us on, when no one else would. To reassure us it is okay, even when we all know it is not.

It is amazing that I have tears swelling in my eyes as I recalled all that my parents, sisters and I went through. Who would have thought that the girl who demanded a new purse from her mother would end up crying because she made her mom spend on a wallet when she was suppose to get us something to cook for dinner?

I was a tough kid to raise, I will not deny. I was not like my goody two sisters. I was not even close. I often go against my parents. I don't study or revise, yet I got an okayish to good results - something God bestowed to me so I won't trouble my parents further, maybe.

I was 11 when I became an Aunty, something noone is school would claim to be at that age, but I was proud to be an Aunty. There is someone to play with, someone to point a finger too if I get in some trouble, someone who would imitate me, someone who I am assigned to take care of. Being the youngest, this was awesome. Before my niece, everyone took care of me, and if anything goes wrong, my sisters point to me, and if I did something wrong under my mom's nose, she'd blame it on my sisters. LOL! So with this niece, I knew my special place has gone to her. I learn a lot with her around. Perhaps the reason why I can babysit so well. My experience starts at 12!

When I was busy preparing for new school, graduating with a good PSLE results, a second niece greeted the world. I was excited, because there will be a baby and toddler to greet me when I return from school. And everyday, every single bad day would be gone the moment I see my nieces at the door. I forget what my friends called me, what my friends taunt me with, the moment I see their smiles.

And everyday, after school, I will be assigned to feed and shower my toddler niece. Everyday, I will look forward to just that. And while she naps, I will do my homework. Sometimes, I do it at the very last minute, late at night, because I was busy playing with them.

I know I promised a photo or two to just show my horrible fashion sense, but I couldn't find any, the only thing I can say is that I never put on make up on a daily basis, I am always wearing something of neutral colors,

Today, as I grow, I become less interested in styling my wear. I choose something that is fuss free 99% of the time. I choose outfits that don't need extra layering. Being a hijabi made it easier for me, because a simple long sleeve cotton top and jeans still look presentable enough to appear in the office. In fact, everything I wear looks more presentable, as compared to back then when I wasnt a hijabi.

Back then, dress down days meant shirt and shorts, and I'd really look like I am going to a picnic instead of to work, Today, shirt and shorts are meant for the bedroom only. Today, I dress the same, with very little need to style. Even to weddings, I still don't find the need to style up, except maybe just a dap of BB cream on my face and a slap of lip balm, ok maybe fill my eyebrows.

I watch people elder than me still hype about styling and make up, and end up not knowing if I should be ashamed for them or for myself. Maybe I am just like my mother. I don't see the need to look pretty for people. For as long as my husband finds me presentable and allow to leave the house looking the way I do, I will be fine.

I guess I am just one of the many who can go out bare faced in PJs and still have fun. And as my fashion sense is taking a back seat, I am beginning to become more lazy fashionless. Even when I sew, I tend to sew baggy, loose tops, and wide legs pants. Even when the pattern calls for darts (to give more body shape), I tend to give it a miss, leaving myself a boxy pattern. I didnt care about what is in trend or what is the in-thing anymore.

I finally managed to find time to dig in old photos to make a comparison of what happened to me over the 5yrs since I hijrah to hijab.

Enjoy..

This was within my 1st year of my hijrah, so I utilized a lot of my existing shirts. 

And that is probably why I always tell my friends who have intentions to make the hijrah to just proceed, even if they don't have much to start with. When you hijrah with good intentions, insyaAllah, your path will be made easier. Don't trust me, trust Allah SWT.

This was taken during my honeymoon, I used a lot of instant hoodies which was attached it its top and instant hijabs.

 I have given most of it away. As I changed my wardrobe to accomodate my need to have more coverage.

This is when I started being very particular, and started donning really wide shawls to achieve maximum coverage.

And then convenience took over, back to instant hoodies but this one is huge, and can transform to a mini telekung.

Now, since Ramadhan, I am falling in love with mini telekungs to wear everyday. Understand, that sometimes you are moved to try something so you get used to something better.

And so that is when my sewing desire took over.. I haven't start sewing my tudung labuh or my whole wardrobe yet, but I hope it happens soon because I can't wait myself!

So my family and friends, if you have intentions to hijrah, don't wait too long. Start small, your current wardrobe can be Muslimah-lize. It can work, and your rezeki will take a turn, then you can slowly build your wardrobe and bless away your not-so-Muslimah-friendly clothes.

Every change begins small. Take baby steps, and never look back. You can do it! Just keep visiting your intentions, cleanse the heart, the mind, and everything will be easier, InsyaAllah..

With much love in Ramadhan,
Jun.

In my absence...

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know and well aware that I've been missing in the blogging arena and this space for a long while now.. My last entry was on 14th May, and now, it is 8th July!!!

There are many reasons why I was deprived of blogging for almost 2months.

Hospitalised

Yup, I was hospitalised. I went to the GP on 27th May as I was feeling very breathless doing something very simple. I took a long 15minute to catch up my breath. I was told to get my chest xray done ASAP, and so I did. GP called me on Friday evening to see him the next morning, and so I did.

"Xray and report is NOT good, this is a letter for the hospital, please bring yourself in through A&E now" was what the GP had to tell me the moment I sat down in his clinic. 

I waited for my husband though. I even had time to complete my sisters' bags. 

The bucket bags for my sister and her daughters

The compliments from my sister

Back to being in the hospital. So my husband drove me down to A&E, and I registered myself. I handed over my Xray and the letter from my GP. They took my vital readings and almost immediately had a wheelchair ready to wheel me away. 

The fastest service I ever received! Obviously, it doesn't sound too good to be given such quick attention when you are in the hospital as it meant something serious.

I was then whisk away into an isolation room, just me, 4 bare walls, the clock and the bed.. The ticking of the time soon lullaby me to sleep.. I awoke to the same room with nothing new. I probably waited like 4 hours before a doctor came in to poke me, took my blood and put me on IV. About an hour or two later, I was told to get an xray done.

And some 3-4 hours later, I was finally given a proper bed in an isolation ward, as they still havent figured out what is wrong with me, all the while mentioning about the xray that reveals something was wrong with my lungs, highly suspecting a lung infection or pneumonia. 

And I stayed in the hospital for 8Days 7Nights. To be honest, I enjoyed my stay day albeit the frequent "I am sorry, need to check your temperature and blood pressure" and the "how are you feeling today, any giddiness, extreme breathlessness?" and "this is your medicine, don't forget to take after food, your food will be in very soon" sort of questions. 

I get to totally rest, I mean when else do I get to just sleep, shower, eat, and sleep all day, right? I was constantly thinking of all my sewing projects whilst I was there. But I totally spend at least 10hrs sleeping everyday due to the drowsy meds and the fact that there is really nothing else to do. 

And so on my 7th day, they finally decide to just diagnose me with some hard to pronounce and spell diagnosis. The only thing I caught was that both my lungs has some permanent damage. I was smiling when the doctor told me this, and she repeated herself and asked if I heard her. 

Oh well, what else can I do but smile, right? 

I was then given a long 14days to rest, before I swing by to see her again for a follow up. I will probably have to do that for a long long time... 

Sewing Projects

Yup, I kept myself busy with sewing projects. I started my own test labels, and did up lots of alpha and beta versions of my creations and let my family and close friends test drive them all. And as usual, I launched my bags. I wasn't too sure of my apparels just as yet, as I wasnt drafting at all, I was merely outlining an existing one and just do what I think is right sort of thing. 

As shameless as can be, I will share all my work here just for the sake of sharing. :p

Enjoy!! 

6 internal pockets and 6 external pockets! Awesome!

Wide Leg Pants made of Linen

Office Set. I love them! 

Camo Sweater made of Thermal Knit

Little Girl Dress and Tunic made of Cotton Knit

Bucket Bag (Beta Version) out for test review!

Bucket Bag (Beta Version) out for test review!

Both has been received and used by our chosen reviewers.. :)

Upcycle Project. A long sleeve crop top upcycled into a dress using 1m of Soft Knit.

Wrap Pants for a lady rider reviewer. Out for test rides, awaiting reviews.

My mom chose to call this Pajama. :(

Another bucket bag for a little girl!

Alpha version of my Green Packet organiser! Wait for the Beta Version!

Carry-it-all Bag! This is huge!! And I LOVE it!

Yup, you've guessed it right, I will be using the labels #sewbasic and #handmadebyJunYusof. 

The bags may look so complex, but trust me, they were all made of straight stitches and nothing fancy! :)

I guess that is all for my updates now.. And oh! This our last few days of Ramadhan so freshen up! Lailatur Qadr could be any day!

Have a great Ramadhan you alls! 

Till I blog again,

Jun