My Reno Journey Week 3

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know and well aware that I've been blogging about my new flat, but oh well, I can't help it... This is a continuation from this entry.

And so here is the continuation of Week 3 (yes too excited to wait and blog together with Week 4!):

Week 3:

We dropped by a few times and not much has changed except these few, for relocation of the power, and gas pipe installation..

We scheduled to meet Uncle Heng, so we can put a deposit to his work (because paying tens of thousands in lump sum kindda scare us). We decided to just paint the house while reno is ongoing, well at least paint those areas where built-in will go on first.

We went on to choose what colour to paint our house and somewhat agree on Green, so husband went about testing is the ladder at home could fit in the car so we can but the right size, and we set off to shop for paint and everything necessary.

We flipped straight to the greens....

And we chose Lime Frizz.

I was kind of worried if it will be too dark or too bright because I have only lived in white walls all my life, and just got accustomed to blue walls, and now green.. Oh let's see when we roll the first coat on our first wall..

And so, Saturday came and we were getting ready to paint the house, I head down to the new place by public meeting husband there, we set the appt with Uncle Heng at 4pm.

So I set myself to sweep and mop the place clean, and stuff... And we set ourselves to paint..

Uncle Heng arrived shortly while we were starting to paint, and so we asked him when the carpentry works will start coming in. He said it will come by Monday or Tuesday and thereafter take about 1 week for everything else to fall in place.

Yes, it shocked us too.. SO FAST?? And so our first deposit is paid and we continued painting the house Green... Here comes..

Actually, I am starting to love Green now!

 We didnt get much done that day with Baby M awake and the sun setting down quick, as you would have known my husband has night blindness, so ya.. we just got the first coat in our room, and set off to head home.

Painting continue on Sunday, 24th April. And I am still in love with this Green.

Yup. Bright and lively! 

Oh we had company that weekend.

Baby M behaved really well through the many hours of us painting the house. Well the first 2-3 hours she was asleep, but it helped us move along quicker and just in time for us to rest when she woke up.

We then took turns, me painting the bottom half, and husband painting the top half, then switched so he can rest and I can do the second coat of bottom half, and then I rest and he do the second coat of top half. It kindda worked well with us and we move relatively quick to finish all the rooms with built-in and mind you, my sewing room has a good 2.5 walls to paint! The rest with 1.5 walls to paint and the living room has 2.5 walls as well. And we managed!

We couldnt wait for the carpentry to come by so we decided to just walk around malls to see if there is any good deals to grab, particularly, husband is looking for a 32" TV for the game corner. And we walked and walked and saw a lot of $319-$350 deals, and were discussing if we should get it now or later or what.. And then we walked in Courts and guess what? A Sharp Aquos 32" for just $299, and sale is ending soon, and we sort of counted about 15 units unnamed, so husband made a quick decision to just grab it home. Haha..

When we got to our new place, there was no changes, and so we doubted for a bit, but I said maybe it was raining so delivery didnt take place today, perhaps tomorrow.

Well tomorrow was too tired, So we dropped by on Wednesday 27th April and were greeted by these! I screamed alright!

Yeay! Even the hob and sink is installed!

Yup no solid top yet.. 

Oh I am in love!!!

Definitely love the classic wood touch

Yup. Classical wood touch!

Our Main Living Room TV Console

Our Game Corner TV Console

So I was asked why I took the full console instead of the hanging one which is suppose to give a bigger space illusion. Well, first, it is my house, so I picked what I like. Second, my household is not made of majority healthy clean freaks and I hate clutters! And if you give that space beneath the console, it is very likely to be filled with I-dunno-what and made cleaning hard for me! So NO thank you unless you are coming by everyday to clean my house for me. So THANK YOU!

Ah.. Now.. Let's see what Week 4 will greet us with... I hope the sewing ACTIVITY room will take shape along with the two built-in wardrobes and the chest of drawers, then the lights and the fans.. OOOooo I am excited..

My Reno Journey Week 1 & 2

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know and well aware that I've been blogging abt my new flat, but oh well, I can't help it.

So since the handover of 2nd April 2016, we pretty much drop by anytime we feel like it. And so we decided to just document the journey while at it.

So, the husband was the one who pretty much visit the house often as he is currently within the area for his on-site job, so with any spare time he have in his hands, he will just drop by.

Few days after, cement was brought over to the kitchen along with some tiles. This is for the kitchen base, washing machine base and fridge base which we requested.

Week 1:

On Friday, 8th April, we decided to get a mirror and behind the door hanger for the house and drop by to put them in the flat so they can put it up for us. And we found that all our windows had mid grills installed already. Yeay! And oh! The service yard have got 3 panel sliding windows and full grills installed too! Yeay yeay yeay!

Pictures don't really do justice as we arrived at night, as so it is pretty dark...

The Living Room

In Room 1

In Room 2

In Room 3

The Aircon Ledge Window

The Service Yard

The Service Yard

And since we were there, we might just as well go to the playground/park to take a picture of the opposite block, and looks like one unit is working through the night.

The Opposite Block

Week 2:

My husband dropped by on 11th April and said there was a guy who was doing up our kitchen base. Friendly uncle, he had his helmet camera on so I saw the man behind the work. Hehe..

We dropped by on Saturday, 16th April as there was a Block Party organised by the Town Council and HDB. And here are the picture updates of the house:

Kitchen Base Part 1

Kitchen Base Part 2

Kitchen Base Part 3

Kitchen Base 1 will be where all my appliances will be - the hot pot, the toaster, the oven (if we decided to get one).. Kitchen Base 2 is where my shelf for dry food would be, the bread stock, the jams, the syrup bottles, the soy sauce, the chilli sauce, that sort.. And finally, the Kitchen Base 3 is where my sink and stove will be.

Base for the Refrigerator

Base for the Washing Machine

 And so we utilize the service yard to put our washing machine and fridge. And therefore, limited to a 650x650mm base of both appliances.

And so the elders are well seated in my living room while we got some measuring done on-site.

And here is Baby M who is very confident abt this room being hers. 

We got the Storation LLP down for an on-site measurement and quotation on the spot, and we opted for full steel shelving to 2.1m height. Curtain On also came down for an on-site measurement for curtain rod and curtain trail supply and installation. We decided on Curtain Wooden Rod for the living room and have all three rooms with Curtain Trails/Tracks. And all end to end installation. We will be meeting again on Monday for the actual curtain fabrics and quotation for them, good thing there are located at Queensway Shopping Centre, so convenient for us to meet.

Review for both services will be up after the actual installation, InsyaAllah.

I had intended to only post after the reno is fully completed but it is taking too long and we don't wanna keep you guys waiting.. So we will break it up to 2 weeks' process each entry.

So please return the next two weeks for the next update on our Reno Journey.

A happy owner,
Jun

Wassalam

Continuation of Week 3, here.

Marriage is not a cookie cutter

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. While my renovation journey is on a stagnant (we will only start shopping tomorrow), but I have a strong urge to write, so here goes...

Marriage is not made from a Cookie Cutter, so do what works!

Again, please allow me to remind you that it is purely my opinions from my own observations, share if you find it beneficial, and comment if you would like to add, I will respect you if you disagree too.

Respect

No marriage is the same, it is not a cookie cutter. So, respect all marriages. Not all marriages will be the same, nor will they go through the same thing.

We cannot judge any marriages for that matter. Doesn't mean Marriage A lasted for over 50 years because his wife is a stay at home wife, it will work well with all marriages. Doesnt mean Marraige B lasted over 30 years because they share all the bills right to the eat-outs, all marriages should be the same.

However, both marriage A & B are right. It worked for them, yeay! Yes it worked, but it doesnt mean yours should follow theirs. At the same time, it doesnt mean you are doing it all wrong. You are right, it makes both of you happy, keep your marriage happy and sane, then you are doing something right.

You have rights to make a different choice. the key is to DO what is RIGHT for you, and your household.

RESPECT all marriages and their household, insya Allah, people will respect yours.

Comparing

Seriously? NO. Don't compare. Don't burn yourself telling that you are a bad wife because you can't cook like Pretty Z, don't punish your husband because he can't upcycle the stool into your drawer set like Macho G. Don't. You will be damaging your marriage more than fixing anything.

No two lives are the same, so what works for them may not work for you. In fact it might kill you.

Look, you gotta look at each other and find that thing that made you pull towards each other. Is it the way they clean? You can't get everything nice in one person, there is only so much one can do.

Comparing must be no 1 killer in marriages.

When you want to be respected, you have to respect the household you visit. Don't tell them their house is dirty and question if they had done anything. Don't ever! Likewise don't ask how they manage to keep their house clean. Don't give that dirty look when you see your lady friend pay for her husband, you don't know his finances like she would. Don't ask your brother how he made his wife stay home, it is really her choice, and it is probably for the best. You don't know how their life is like, so don't act like you know everything.

Pray

Keep your faith, and your heart with love by praying together. It helps the Ummah, and it helps you both connect by talking to God. Allah SWT hears you, and He will gladly grant you peace, love, and happiness, if you both work hard to be together, to do what works for each other, and do erase the flaws by focusing the good.

Not everyone is like you. You like cleanliness, you teach your partner, tell your partner that you like it this way. It is okay if he can't do it. You are better at it, then do it. :)

Perhaps he is better at finding a good deal, it might help you too. Maybe he is better at negotiating, maybe he is better at making you laugh, I don't know him like you do. But you do, go find that strength in him and love him for that.

Likewise for the men, if she can't cook, then cook with her, learn with her. If she still can't, perhaps she is a better cleaner, maybe she is better at organizing mess, maybe she is a better banker. I don't know her better than you, so go figure!

When you pray, it sets your priorities straight. Can't cook, there are plenty take-outs and eateries, an excuse to even visit your parents or in-laws and eat delicious homecook perhaps. Can't clean, get a part time maid to clean it if you can't do it either, or turn it into a game. Whatever works. You wont die, you just need a bit more work. But when you don't pray, you go astray.. You start thinking ah maybe this marriage is not for me, it wont work. And then what?

Devil

Yup, of course! The Devil loves and calls for a party when marriage don't work, when a marriage break apart. Do you really want the Devil to win? More than your partner?

I mean if it gets abusive, and all, by all means.. But if is nothing like physical or emotional abuse, then work on it. Perhaps try listing up the things that are bothering you, maybe it is not your spouse.. So breathe, reconsider, make a list.

Different is ok

Just remember, what works for others, may not be for you.

Marriage is not made from a cookie cutter.. Not all women wants to be a stay at home wife, similarly, not all women wants a career driven life. Not all men wants a submissive wife, and not all women likes to wear the pants. Consider doing what works for you and your marriage, and stick with it.

Stop worrying about what others had to say, if your conscience is clear and no one is abused, no one is upset, and that both of you are happy with the arrangements, then go for it.

Like you know, in some marriages, the husband stays home. Don't  judge, it works for them. If it doesn't work for you, then don't. Do something else, keep both working till the household is good to be on one income, ya okay. If it works for you. Do it!

I just hope people will stop comparing and forcing things into a marriage that they are not into. Like for example forcing a couple to have children insisting that children would make the marriage happier and what not, hey, I have known someone who got out of marriage because they had kids. So, don't judge. And don't force it down. It worked for you, but it may backfire for others. Would you like to be the cause of a breakdown?

They are of course instances in which they do become better and happier in the marriage after having kids too. And hey! I am not implying that I do not want kids okay, we are dying to have our own kids. Just that I guess Allah SWT has underlying reasons for delaying it for us. And we trust Him.

Do what works

Do whatever works. If your husband is a better housekeeper, and you are not very good at it, it is okay. If he is happy to do it, what right has others to say he is not man enough? You god damn know he is a man. Better if he can cook, bake and everything nice. Hey.. Desserts are good for everyone to de-stress, right?

And if she is better at carpentry, fixing broken furniture and assembling stuff, and you are not so good at it, or don't enjoy doing so,then let her do it if she is happy with it, what right has others to say she is dominating the house by doing that? You god damn knows she loves you and is very much a little girl inside!

I mean seriously. do what works for you. You really don't have to follow anyone's style to make a marriage last...


I shall end it here, insyaAllah if there are more points to cover, I will add on.

Keep the marriage strong and happy,
Jun

Wassalam