Sew the better of me...

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. Apart of rambling my personal stuff, and writing random review, I also enjoy reading blogs of everyday people as much as those who are pretty famous in the blogging world.

With that said, I came across an entry that was widely shared among the sewing community that I am in. It was written by Melissa Lin based in San Francisco, titled "How Sewing Made me a Better Person".

I read that entry and instantly felt better that it kicked start my sewing mojo! Indeed, picking up sewing on and off had taught me a lot of valuable lessons that I probably won't get elsewhere.

Quoted "To me, sewing is more than just the construction of garments. Sewing is a skill that takes dedication, practice and persistence to master it". I smiled reading that. This sewing skill is definitely not obtained overnight. No one can sew straight on without any guide lines marked the first time, if you do, well good on you.

I can go on and on quoting her, here's another one, "There's quite a bit of thought and planning that goes into a sewing project" Oh yes oh yes oh yes!! So many thinking parts! It is not always that easy... We all wish it is.. Sometimes you have this perfect fabric but cant find the complimenting patterns to sew it into. In that paragraph, she mentions about proper planning, as in to actually plan from start to finish the sequence. It does cut down time.

Reading patterns is not as easy as reading a novel. There's a lot of understanding and breaking it into smaller parts to understand better, and sometimes, a lot of trials with paper or cheap fabric to test first. A lot of effort goes into it.

On a personal note.. Sewing has taught me plenty of lessons as I had mentioned earlier, and here's my list.

Patience

Seriously, and very honestly, it takes a whole lot of patience. Sewing is not an overnight thing. A lot of practice is required to achieve that simplest stitch. It also teaches to take things step by step. When sewing, there is never a short cut to nice end product without going through and not missing a single step.

Meticulous

Every stitch counts, when sewing I tend to put on my meticulous hat a lot more than usual. I keep checking if all my fabrics lines edge to edge, I haven't got into the habit of ensuring the patterns matches at seams, but I do get some kind of a happy orgasm when I see all my stitches line so straight and consistent. And I will grin ear to ear if the patterns matches perfectly.

Appreciative

One will never know the work required to make a simple thing like mending the length until one learns to sew herself. I mean seriously, I used to be one of those who thinks it is simply a straight line stitched. Right until I decide to do it myself. Oh boy oh boy oh boy.. My legs did not coordinate with my eyes and brain. My hands are all over. And my simple straight stitched ended by being an ultimate zig zag. So today, when I see any apparel, I begin to imagine the kind of work required and I appreciate all the efforts.

I also figured that sewing from scratch is easier than altering a finished apparel.. oh the horror of unpicking and re-sewing..

OCD

Yup, it awakens the OCD in me in some of the things I do while sewing. I needed some things to be placed in such a way, and fabric laid a certain way and having everything I need within reach before I can settle to work on it. If something is amiss, the mood can just jolly well be gone. And sewing without that mood is hazardous.

Creative

Yes, I get to be more creative than usual. When something don't look right, a little fabric sets my imagination to work and I get to upcycle something simple into something better! And it makes me happy. Here's my latest upcycle project:

Emotionally stable

When I am down, or stressed, or upset.. I tend to take out all the fabrics I have and rearranged them. At the end of it, when I looked at my neatly arranged fabric, I smiled again. When I am too full of energy, I set myself to sew and find myself more calm. Sewing makes me feel okay, and it definitely make me feel very useful.

If anything else fail, sewing makes me productive in making what I like, the way I want it, and exactly what I would need.

What about you? What does sewing makes you?

Sewing away,
Jun

Wassalam

Review: Muslimah Palace Hair Studio

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I am back! Yeay! Another review to write! Alhamdulillah..

Since I found out about Muslimah Palace Hair Salon, I quickly pm-ed them to make an appointment. I seriously need to have henna on my hair to cool my head, and I seriously need some load off it as well!

Location

Muslimah Palace Hair Salon is located at Blk 603A Senja Road (it is a carpark, with shops at ground floor)

It being in the west is definite PLUS point. It is also just 2 stations away from my BTO flat, so yeay!
I always look for something that is nearby somewhere so my husband and children can be entertained, and this one fits the bill!

Next to it is a small shop, so husbands/kids can grab a bottle of soda and some crackers and snack away. There is also a playground nearby, so a definite palace for kids!

Convenience

Yup, it is just a few minutes walk from Senja LRT. So definitely plus if you are taking public.

Friendly & Timely Service 

I was 15minutes late, so I sort of hog the seat for the next appointment, bad on my end. But Fiza Apit (the owner) is composed to handle it on her toes. Thumbs up!

And she is a good marriage between Liza & Nora. She is very alive, friendly and bubbly. She is keen and listens to find out how we come to know about her salon. She asks if I am comfortable, and despite knowing that I am always doing henna treatment, she still lets me know what she will be doing. The 30mins steam, and 30 mins leisure, and such. I feel comfortable. And she caught my humour. heh.

Space

Her salon is small, and can only fit 2 customers at a time, so if you are early, you will have to wait outside, if you are late, you will hog the space. So be on time. She has an assistant who is just as friendly and smiley, so it was rather full, yet it is comfortable to move around. So, because of the space, she is very precisely timely.

Rates

Her rates are pretty fixed, and very clear. Henna treatment for shoulder length or shorter is $50, for bra length, $60 and any longer is $80. Haircut is typically $20. And she always refer to her price list, so I find that she is very consistent with her pricing,

And she only accepts cash, so bring enough. :)

Conclusion

I will come back, definitely. I give a 4 out of 5 rating. And when I come back, I will try ask more questions. :) Now, I have more reasons to look forward to shifting over to my new flat eh..

Do continue to share other Muslimah Hair Salon ya, if it is in the west, I would love to try them out. ;)

The better, lighter head,
Jun

Wassalam.

I am going insane...

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. Well, lets take a bit of break from reviews...

I am going through the worst post holiday blues right now.. It has been a month, and I still feel like holiday-ing. I still drag myself to work, I still feel I deserve to still be on a holiday. I usually get this feel just over the week that I return work, but this time, it has been like 4 weeks since I returned and I am feeling so horribly upset that I have to get up and go to work. Such a brat, am I?

I really wake up everyday and beat myself up for having to still go to work. I keep asking myself if it is really necessary, I keep justifying that we can survive with one income. And then it hits me, maybe not. Maybe I will still need to work for the next 3years, and then I would scream and seriously feel like hitting my head against the wall. I just feel soooo overwhelmed that I have to go out and work.

I don't know if it is the age, if it is a phase, or if I am just driving myself and my husband crazy. I really don't know what is going on with me.

Truth is, I do need to still work la.. Medication for my dad is not cheap, even after the flexi medi and contributions from my sisters, it will still be a few blinks of the eye to look at the amount. And besides, my BTO flat is almost ready, which means we will be zero-ing our savings for the reno and furniture shopping and what not.

So perhaps, I just need to hang on for the next 3years or so to rebuild my savings so I can convince my husband that I NEED the break to just stay home and see how that works.. I mean seriously, it is not that I don't wanna work at ALL. I do, just that, maybe not like this, everyday, morning to evening kindda job, I want a job that don't require me everyday, the kindda job that I can probably schedule around my happy days. And perhaps one that starts at 10 instead of 8 or 9. I dun mind staying till 7 or 8pm for the late start. BUT if given a choice, really.. my happy hours would really be 10am - 2pm then 3-5pm. and my happy days would be Tuesdays and Thursdays. Outside those days/hours, all I wanna do is sit between my parents and be the annoying little kid. And to spend my time with my weekend baby.

I seriously, seriously don't know why I have this huge overwhelming feeling that makes me feel like I am seriously made to stay home instead of facing any colleagues, computers and what nots. I am made to like organize the whole house, to clean and to cook. Or maybe just sleep. Oh who cares! I just wanna be home and do whatever at home.

I better end this before I turn into some kind of a monster..

So until I become sane again,
Jun

Wassalam

Insurance Agents and me

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know and well aware that I've been blogging reviews after reviews.. So now, time for another personal update of my personal emotions, opinions and random rantings...

This is random really. First off, Insurance Agents and me don't really synchronize together, except for one (and now maybe two, or maybe still back to one). Most insurance agents hard sell, and this turn me off.

I stayed loyal with AIA for the relationship I build with my agents. Alamak, feeling macam Charlie pulak, my agents sey.. LOL!

The first time I met my first AIA agent, Mr Seah Soh, I was skeptical. In fact I was very ready to reject and say no. However, his relaxed self, and his patience made me consider. One week later, I meet up with him again to sign up one of the plans. My memory is bad, I dunno what it was! Hahahaha..

And some years later, my policy lapse because I was retrenched and I didn't pay for a few months. He called me to ask how I am, get to know my situations, and talk to me before even touching on my policy status. He wasn't even angry that I decide to close it because I cannot afford it. He told me to ring him up when I am stable again.

Which I did probably 1 or 2 years later. We catch up and he updated me with latest policies, and what may suit my finance affordability. We had a relationship kept well established that I invited him to my wedding, and he attended with his wife and son. I was happy when I see his picture and proudly tell my family that he is my insurance agent. Heh!

I guess it was last year or the year before that I received a letter that says he is leaving AIA and had placed another agent in replacement. I was unhappy, upset.. I don't know if the new agent would be as cool as him, as laid back as him, and if she would be as understanding as him..

I received New Year card and Happy Bday cards from the new agent, but it is only last month that I decide to text her a Thank You message.

And it is only today that I finally met her. THANK GOD she took over, because she is sooo sweet, funny and very laid back. Just the way I like it. We chatted like old friends for the first half hour while munching lunch away, and then go through the "formal" bits of the take over and such.

I felt like she is so much of a friend than she is an insurance agent. Hello Jessica Tan! I am just so honoured and happy that you will be my agent taking care of all my insurance needs.

If any of you need some insurance queries answered, please do not hesitate to call either one of them.

Sean Soh : +65 97636980
or
Jessica Tan : +65 98182515

Feel free to mention my name. No special discount la, but I am sure they will give you a warm friendship, before serving as your insurance agent.

Thank you AIA for training your agents to be friends before agents.

Your happy customer,
Jun

Wassalam

Food Review : Butterscotch Cafe

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know and well aware that I've been blogging reviews after reviews.. Well, here's another review to write! Not exactly a new one, but to add on to this actually!

We went Butterscotch Cafe again over the weekend because they posted about the weekend specials, the Salted Egg Waffles.. Like helllloooooo!!

Of course I had to go, I dragged the husband, made myself very hungry and went. Heh..

So the husband picked this:

And so I requested a weekend treat at #butterscotchcafe today. Husband pick "When Ramly meets Wendy Burger" for his main. Smell oh sooooo yummmyyyyyy!! Looks like I gotta add on to my review writeup on my blog sometime soon!

A photo posted by Jun Yusof (@njunaidah) on Jan 16, 2016 at 1:36am PST

I picked my favourite Aglio Olio, of course, and we ended with this!

Obviously i tasted awesome to have a clean plate aftermath!

I finally got my hands on the Butterscotch Sueffle!

Super Yummy, I tell you!

And of course, the weekend special...

Salted Egg Waflles!

Just one thing though, they are not observant enough to notice that we have finished our mains. and when they do, they clean up fast but not automatic enough to let the chef know that we are ready for desserts. After some 10-15 minutes of idling on our tables scrambling through our phones, the waitress asks me if I want desserts.. Eh no la, I am looking for Baymax. I don't know why anyone would wait 30minutes after finishing their mains before wanting dessert served. Maybe in Europe or somewhere very relaxed.. but in Singapore? Everything gotta be fast, baby.. 

I am not complaining though. I know service line is tough as is. Just perhaps, hoping it will only improve hereon. Don't be too complacent, okay guys.. You have great menu, awesome cakes, I know people will keep coming, but your service is also some considering factor.. We have just 2 days of a weekend, and an hour of lunch on weekdays, if you would step up and serve us fast, I think we wont mind popping by everyday, win-win right? 

Looking forward to more Butterscotch,

The always Hungry petite lady.

Wassalam.

Nora Hair Salon is closed

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. This entry is going to be short. It just came to my attention that a lot has read of my review on Nora Hair Salon (here), and many have asked me for her contact details, and such.

First of all, I am just a customer like any other. I am not her personal friend or relative. I know very little of her, just as a customer and owner of a salon sort of relationship. All I have heard is that she isn't well, health and mental wise, I was last contacted by her husband in November 2015, and haven't heard of her since.

I don't know if there will be any other arrangements, refunds or any kind for those who had paid for the packages. I am also one of those who had paid for a 10 sessions package, and have only been for two of them.

I don't know how to help, and I have no idea how else to reach her. If any of you know, maybe we can all share the information, and get some answers and closure. Otherwise, in the meantime, I guess we can only pray that she gets better and would get in touch with all her customers somehow.

Muslimah Hair Salon seemed to be on a rising trend, and we can all help each other look out for more outlets and options to try.

I haven't got the time to treat my hair yet, and haven't done so in the last 6 months - I think. I truly, and perhaps desperately, in need for some hair spa of some kind. And to those who reside in the West, I am dying to find one other Muslimah Hair Salon if there is any! We are so in need, right?

There are so many in the East it seems, and I really really hope one of the Salons would open a branch in the West for us. I really do!

You may continue to leave your comments to suggest other Muslimah Salons to try and their details so I can review them when I find the time, InsyaAllah.

So until I get some hair spa...

the one with messy hair beneath her tudung,
Jun

Wassalam

Add: Check out the review of Muslimah Palace Hair Studio here!

Game Review: Guitar Heroes Live

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I am back with another review to write! Alhamdulillah..

Guitar Heroes - Again! This time, I am reviewing the game with 2 players.

As with previous review (here), I have now advanced pretty comfortably with difficulty "regular". Serious guys, it just takes practice to get used to the fast pace and the up and down movement. I have tried "advanced" briefly, but it was too crazy! Heh!

Now I got all my nieces and nephews down to my place to test this stuff on 2 players mode. I tell you, it is addictive and so much more FUN!

Just one thing though, I just wondered how these kids play lying down, I mean it.. How?

Forgive the messy bed, just focus on how relaxed they looked!

I can't even play sitting down, I just have to stand. Anyways, I had fun jamming with these kids! One of my nephew have upgraded to "regular" and I dunno why I feel good about it. Just the competitive side of me I guess.

The rest are still finding comfort in "casual". I love how they can all quickly grasp the rhythm and strum to the beat getting a good 100 streaks or so. And we found a few comfort songs that we can almost play on memory. 

My comfort song is "Girls", "Ho Hey" & "Here's to Not Growing Up". 

I would say "DO BUY!" It is seriously worth the $129.90 spent! I got the addn't guitar at $75. I have searched in Carousell for second hand and there are a few out there going from $70 - $100. I say, why not? 

And since husband have created an account for me, signing in via my FB, I guess I can just built my "career" now eh. One song each morning before work, maybe? 

Let's strum along and chase the Monday Blues, people!

Layan anak² main guitar heroes. . . . . . . . . . . . .. (Ps: actually bibik dia yg kemarok) Hee #ps4 #guitarheroeslive

A video posted by Jun Yusof (@njunaidah) on Jan 10, 2016 at 1:13am PST

Until I blog again,

Jun

Wassalam

The loss of a child

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know and well aware that I've been blogging reviews after reviews.. So now, time for a personal touch...

Yesterday, my child would have turned 12.. He is in heaven right now, in heaven even before he sees the light on Earth. He was due on 7th Jan 2004, but he left me in May 2003. He flushed himself out leaving me to bleed, he has no coffin, no burial, nothing. All that he has left me with is a short memory of his heartbeat, and the outline of his figure just one week before he left for Heaven.

Sadly that printed scan is not in my hands. There is really, no physical evidence to his existence. Noone would have understood my loss, unless, she is a mother who has lost her child like me. I rarely speak of my past, and this specific incident is no different. Not many knew how painful it is to me. The regret I hold for not protecting him enough, the what ifs, the should haves, I just can't. I can't bring myself to forget it and pretend nothing happened. I just can't.

This child would be from my first marriage. Yes I married young, at 17. I was to be his mom before I turn 20.I guess Allah SWT knows, I won't manage, or perhaps this child resembles his father too much, and I may inflict unintentional pain on this child. Who knows... Who knows...

This feeling, I just cant describe in words.. It is pain, but it is filled with joy. It is with happy memories of my outgrown feet and fuller "pau"s, but filled with so much pain of a special kind of loss. I just don't know what to feel. I miss him, I love him. The child I never met before. The child I never knew, and yet love and miss him so much.

I guess it is more painful when I have been married for 3years and still without a child to fill up the void. Baby M was my healing theraphy, but the fact that I still haven't had my own hurts me nonetheless. I have accepted my fate, accepted that perhaps I am not ready yet, but it still hurts, no matter how I consoled myself.

I guess such feelings, noone would understand unless they too are going through it. Perhaps, Allah SWT just want me to focus on caring for my aging parents. Perhaps I need to devote my time more properly. I don't know..

They say time will heal.. It has been 12 years, and I still feel the pain, perhaps I need another 12 years.. I really don't know.. I guess it kindda hit me hard this year because I bled on his birthday, like a timely reminder that once upon a time he was inside me growing.

It is only 9 weeks, but it seemed to me the best and the most special of my life... May I experience it again, and hopefully, if I do get the chance, it will be full term and may I be blessed to cuddle a full term healthy little baby in my arms for many years.. InsyaAllah.. Ammeeenn.

Until I find something more interesting to write,
Jun

Wassalam

Game Review : Guitar Heroes Live

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

Once again, another review to write! Alhamdulillah..

I finally took the plunge to buy us a PS4 as our anniversary gift (shared though as he will have lots of games to play, while I will be stuck with just 1 or 2 games. So ya..

I had always wanted to have my hands on GH for the longest time. I am not musically inclined, but I like the idea of being a "rock star", you know.. for fun sake.

So on New Year's Eve, we went to GameWerks, the plan really, is to just recce, do same calculations and sleep on it before deciding to buy it. Sony now have a few promotions going on so their licensed distributors have awesome packages too. There are GTA set, Monopoly set and FIFA set. Mostly below $600 at this shop.

In case you don't know, GameWerks is located at Blk 443, Clementi Ave 3 #01-79 S120443. Their service is always top notch, there is no hard selling. They are not stingy with their knowledge, and they (all the staff) are gamers as well, and have played most of the games and can educate you with the pros and cons of any game. They are awesome people and we just keep coming. You should give them a shot as well.

We bought the GTA set at S$555, bought extra controllers at S$79.90, and we are good to go! We wanted to get the GH but it was out of stock and would only arrive the following week.

We got hype and watch youtube of GH. Oh boy, we got hooked alright, so we decide to visit GAMEXTREME at JEM to get the Guitar Heroes. We initially thought it would limit us to just a few songs, and oh boy, we did struggle in just the tutorial itself. Just suddenly my fingers had their own world!

It was real fun! We are just at difficulty level Casual, and I tried Regular briefly but I struggled like mad coping with the up and down chord. I went from AWESOME (in casual mode) to HORRIBLE (in regular mode). haha..

But fun nonetheless. I admire those who are at the the regular level and beyond. My fingers keep getting lost while trying to keep up with the up and down and the double and the strumming. Gosh..

We might just get another set of guitar so we can play tag team and challenge.

So this, we got it at S$129.90 

If you play "LIVE" you will be on stage with audience who will cheer if you do it well, and would boo if you play badly. My best is having 215 streaks. Most likely because it was a more relaxed song. Hehe.. My worse is probably just 10streaks or so. It takes practice! 

If you play "TV" they will put on random songs and you play along competing with other online players. Which is also cool!

I just hope they can slow-mo the "regular" difficulty to probably slow down a little until we get a good grasp, like go on the normal speed once we achieve 25 streaks, because from "casual" with just the bottom chords, it suddenly goes both upper and bottom chord and both at the same time. We were so drowned! 

Otherwise, it is an awesome and very worthy to buy! May I just warn you that it is addictive, because we kept on going till 2.15am claiming it is the last song but kept going because the next song is a good song, and on we dragged. LOL! 

Until we stop playing,

Jun

Wassalam

Food Review - Butterscotch

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. HAPPY 2016 everyone!!

Once again, another review to write! Alhamdulillah..

Butterscotch Cafe (Muslim Owned Cafe - guaranteed Halal)

I guess many have been there before, since its opening it has been mentioned thousands of times, in fact if you go to instagram and search #butterscotchcafe, you find people tagging them EVERY single DAY!

The best part is that they acknowledge the tags and sometimes repost it on their instagram. That is such a good return benefit if you ask me! Not many big names in instagram would bother acknowledging and reposting your amateur handphone photography, right?

Their food is awesome, the service is THUMBS UP! Even on their full house days, they would still smile and talk to those in line about their situation and if there is a better slot to return, or if it is really beyond them. That my friend, is being realistic and honest.

The first time we went, we hit on their signature desserts straight away!

Ondeh-Ondeh Waffles, people!

Yup! I hit on their Ondeh-Ondeh waffles which came with Gula Melaka Icecream, a sizzle of Gula Melaka and fine crates of coconut. Oh awesome!!!!

Which made us keep returning for more! On some days we didn't even take out our phones! The milo cheesecake is WOW - and it is not on the menu everyday, so if you see it, grab it!

Yes, I got my husband involved, again! That is Chick on Fire Burger

He was impressed but he said the cafe made him feel like he is in Liverpool's territory - whatever that means.. I am loving it because of the FOOD, hellooooo... hehe..

Pavlova oh so yummy!

I then dragged my BFF for another round of Butterscotch Cafe. I had wanted to try their Butterscotch Sueefle but it was not available so I settled for their Pavlova and boy I was smitten! It was yummy!!! And I wondered why I never tried it any sooner..

Aglio Olio

See the chili padi? I tell you this must have been the yummiest Aglio Olio I have ever tasted in my life!! It was just oooohhhmmmm! So 15 out of 10 kindda rating!

It is no wonder they received the "Singapore Outstanding Enterprise Award 2015"! They excel in all aspects, the unique selling point, the awesome taste that lingers in the mouth, and excellent front service! Keep it up guys!! We will keep coming! And a second review is here.

Butterscotch Cafe is located at:
Blk 164 Bukit Merah Central #01-3625
For Reservations, you may call 62711164.

Wassalam,

Jun