✿ My Manggo Touch Quilted Bowling Bag ✿

  

Mango bags are to die for. A bit pricey but it's definitely worth it. The elegant & simple design goes with every outfit I have. This is my first Bag from Mango, this bag is perfect. I bought it online at dealmon.net & I am totally in love. its very well made & capacious ;) I think it is one of my favorites.!

It's fab!!!!

xoxo,

Seri.

✿ 7 Things to Do for a New House ✿

  

My hubby just purchased our first home. It's in Tawau, Sabah, where my hubby works, & is just a few towns away from my parents home, Lahad Datu. Me & hubby plan to renovate the kitchen & the comfort room too,& also the master bedroom to make it more spacious. One of the things that really important is how to prioritize tasks, cleaning the siding, touching up the paint etc. What really needed to be done is the inside, really can't wait. huhu..

                                               The house. It's just a small house..hehe

                                                   Look at that. what a view!!..hehe

                Me with My lil bro Azmeer, Sisters Bie & Fenny, My precious Ziqry

                                       (Spent sometime to visit the house)

here's a list of tasks that needed doing. It'd be great to hear from you what your list of tasks would be.

1. Change the locks on the exterior doors. As soon as the closing is over and you've gotten the keys to your house, buy and install new lock sets. Let's face it, the previous maintenance folks & who knows who else are all likely to have keys to your place. For some peace of mind & as a necessary step in making this house yours, get new locks installed immediately.

2. Get the house cleaned up. While many folks will leave the house clean for you, some won't. Even if they do, you'll want to clean everything for yourself. If you do it yourself, set up an area with all of the supplies and tools you'll need to get the job done: buckets, brooms, mops, a vacuum, cleaners for each type of surface etc. Washing down cabinets, counters and plumbing fixtures and cleaning the carpeting etc. will make you feel good about the house. And don't forget a healthy supply of rubber gloves.

3. Paint all the walls and ceilings. This can be really time consuming, There's no point in just slapping up a coat of paint if the walls and ceilings are damaged — if they have cracks, holes and other defects. Prepping these surfaces can be a real chore. So unless you have a relative or two who can help, save yourself a lot of time & just hire someone.

Also, if you're short on time & the house is in dire straits & every surface needs painting, consider one neutral color for every room. This will just make it easier & limit the number of decisions you'll have to make now. You can always go back & repaint rooms the colors you want as time permits.

4. Get some organizers. Many older houses suffer from closets that have a simple pole & shelf (if that). Look at where you'll store what & get the closets outfitted to accommodate everything, to make moving in less stressful and your life in the new house more enjoyable. 

And don't just look at the closets. Think about where you'll put everything, will go a long way toward making the house that much easier to live in.

5. Install window treatments. Whether you have these custom made or you go for some inexpensive and temporary shades, you'll want to get some something on your windows — both for privacy and that finishing touch. 

There will be time later, as you live in the house and get to know it better, to choose a more personalized option.

xoxo,

Seri.

✿ SK-II Products ✿

  I read a lot of reviews before deciding to spend so much money for this item. I am on the hunt for something to help uneven skin tone. I have been using this product for six months now & I do not feel that it did anything special for my face :'( I used this twice a day but after six month my uneven skin tone is the same. I won't be purchasing again, too expensive for the results I got :'(

  I bought those tiny sample bottles from DeDancelion.com, because the regular bottle was quite expensive. I'm one of those people that if a product works really well for me, I will spend some money to keep in my lifestyle. Before investing RM500-600 on it, I wanted to try a mini version only RM200. Thank God, I did. It took me 6 months to maintain a consistent skincare routine & find out it's not working well on my face :'(

                              Now, I'm trying to make my skin normal again. (I'm in red)

  I'd like to brighten my skin. I have an uneven skin tone & want to know if anyone has tried a product that works. Any brand(s) as long as Halal. would be helpful. Thanks.

xoxo,

Seri.

✿ Ziqry, First day of Kindegarten ✿

  My son's first day of kindergarten at PASTI AL-HIDAYAH starts today, 15 January 2015 (Thursday). Deep breath. It seems like he came into my life just a week ago. Now it’s time for kindergarten. My little toddler is turning into a big boy right before my eyes. I just swallowed the lump in my throat to keep from crying.. As Muslim parents, we have an obligation to bring up our children in the best manner to teach them right from wrong and to show them what we and society expect from them.

Photo taken at our Boutique.

 Inside his classroom..

With his teacher..

  Your abah & I, We want what is best for you.. especially where your education is concerned so we thought a lot about what kind of school to send you to. I just hope you continue to feel comfortable & confident.. this is the beginning of bigger things for you. You are so smart and so charismatic. Mwahh..Iloveu baby.. Eat your snacks & lunch & participate during circle time. Say hello to people when they say hello to you, & do your best to make a new friend. Know that your Abah & I are thinking about you..The first day of Kindergarten is a big deal for me too you know. You’re my little boy.. this is the beginning of your big boy life. I'm so proud of you baby.. semoga Allah permudahkan segalanya..Amin

..very interesting parenting tips..

The following principles should be useful in establishing a childrearing method which is not too extreme.

Start early

Although many parents believe that very small children are too young to understand, their early years are probably the most important opportunity for parents to start them in the right direction. Once good patterns are established, they will be easy to maintain. Once bad patterns are established, they will be difficult to change.

Have your Emotions under Control while Instructing Children

Don't discipline your child because you are angry with him, but rather because you want to teach him. Motive is important here. As a Muslim parent, your motive should be to help your child.

Present should Present a United Front

Parents should discuss their strategy for training and disciplining their children and agree to work together as a team. If children realize that one parent is strict and the other is easy, they will play the parents against each other. When the strict parent stops them from doing something, they will go ask the easy parent for permission. Both parents need to tell the child the same thing. If parents sometimes disagree on how to discipline the child, they should discuss it privately, not in front of the children.

Be consistent

Most experts on children agree that parents should be consistent. Constantly changing the rules and expectations will only confuse your child. If you stop him from writing on the walls today, and you allow him to write on the walls tomorrow, he will not understand when you get angry the next time he writes on the walls. If you inconsistently apply the rules, he will also test you at times to see whether you are going to be tough this time or easy. If, however, he knows from experience that you always stop him the first time, he will quickly learn it does no good to try to get away with something. Although consistency is essential, it does not mean that parents cannot change their minds about the rules. If you do change the rules, however, you must inform your child in advance so that he will know what to expect. This failure to be consistent is at the root of many parents' inability to control their children.

Never lie to your children

If you lie to them "every now and then," they may not believe you when you tell them the truth. This also applies to those situations when you tell your child to stop doing something, or you will put him in his room, spank him, or take away his toys. If you make that kind of a threat, you must stick with it. Otherwise, you have lied, and your child will not know when you are serious and when you are not. He will then be forced to test you again and again to see.

Don't reward crying

If children realize that everytime they cry, they get what they want, crying will become like money for them. Everytime they want something, they will cry. On the other hand, if you teach them that crying doesn't get them anything, they will stop crying for things. Let them cry and cry and cry, but don't give in. In the beginning, it will be difficult, but be patient. Once they learn the lesson and stop crying for everything, you will be happy that you were firm. You can either listen to crying for a few days or for the rest of your life. It's your choice.

Teach your child to apologize when he does something wrong

This is important so that he will learn what is expected of him from others and from Allah (SWT). If he does something wrong, he should ask forgiveness from Allah (SWT) and apologize to any people who were hurt by his words or actions. This will be useful in developing his conscience.

Accept Chids's Apology

Be quick to excuse your child when he apologizes and shows that he is sorry for his disobedience or bad actions. When we do wrong, we seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT) and want to be excused. Likewise, we should excuse others. This will develop in your child a sense of mercy and prepare him for an understanding of the forgiveness of Allah (SWT). Always make it clear to the child that you love him, especially after he has been in trouble and apologized. Let him understand that no bad feelings remain.

Apologize For Your Mistakes

Don't be too proud to apologize to your child when you make mistakes. This will establish in him a belief in your sense of justice and prevent him from viewing you as nothing but a tyrant.

Teach Islam From an Early Age

Teach your child from an early age about Allah, the Prophets, the Sahaba, and the great heroes of Islam. If we develop in them a love for Islam and provide them with righteous examples for their heroes, they will be much less likely to go astray. A person wants to be like his heroes. If he admires Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr, and Ali, he will try to follow their example. If he admires a rock star or a gang leader, he will want to be like them. If we inspire our children with good examples, when they are tempted to do wrong, they will, InshaAllah, remember these examples and remain steadfast.

Instruct in Good Morals

Teach your child good morals and good manners. An excellent book for this is Islamic Tahdhib and Akhlaq: Theory and Practice, by B. Aisha Lemu.

Discipline Your Child

Discipline should not become the domain of one parent. Mothers and fathers should both participate in the disciplining of their children. Although mothers often threaten their children by telling them that they will get into trouble when their father gets home, this method is not very useful for three reasons. First, discipline should be carried out immediately after the disobedience occurs so that the child will connect the disobedience with its consequences. If parents wait until later, the child may have forgotten why he got into trouble, and feel that the parents are not justified in disciplining him.

Second, sometimes the child must be stopped immediately, and the mother cannot wait until the father gets home. The child must be taught to respond immediately to her commands as well as his father's. Third, making one parent responsible for disciplining the child may turn that parent into the "bad guy" in the child's eyes. The child should recognize that both parents agree on their methods of disciplining him. Although the degree to which various parents use them will vary, the following five methods might be used for disciplining your children.

xoxo,
Seri.

❀ My sister's birthday ❀

  

Another dish I did for my sister’s birthday is the Macaroni fruit salad. I didn’t follow any recipe.. This is one of the tastiest, most flavorful salads we’ve had in a long time. There’s a bit of everything in here…creamy, sweet, salty, sour, crunchy and chewy, and it all comes together in perfect balance.. So yummy..hehe

We keep the party for just us. That doesn’t mean we never meet up with friends or avoid other people all together, but we keep the special party just for our family. dinner, dessert, and presents..

Look at the cute Pink Kitty Cake..hehe

Presents for her on her birthday..

Three sister's Poem

Sister, we've been there through life's sorrow and pain

But together we have always endured the strain

We've argued and bickered and made each other mad

But if you weren't my sister, life would be so sad

We've cried till we laughed and laughed till we cried

Sometimes for no reason we didn't even know why

When we're not together our bond is just as strong

Because we are sisters we know when something is wrong

We've whispered our deepest secrets only sisters could share

I love my sister dearly because she really cares

So whether we are together or we are far apart

Bie & Fen, you guys are my sisters, my friends and forever in my heart.

Ikhlas,
Kakak.

✿ 3F3A Fashion Centre ✿

   

It is with the greatest of joy that today we've launched our 3F3A Fashion Centre. The shop officially opened to the general public a few hours ago & now 100% live & ready for business. Alhamdulillah. The shop is a beautiful space.. located at Perdana Square, Bandar Sri Perdana, Lahad Datu, Sabah..

                    "3F3A Fashion Centre" the right blend of style. Comfort. Modest !

  Fashion & quality at the best price. We offer collections that are wide-ranging and varied for women, men & teenagers. To us, design, quality & sustainability are not a question of price. we should always offer inspiring fashion with unbeatable value for money. Quality is a central topic, from initial idea to final product. It is our aim to always exceed our customers’ expectations on quality

  Sometimes what helps us to be successful in our professional lives is not such a great idea in our personal lives competition is a quality that comes to mind. At the same time, we all have a limited amount of time each day to do the things that we want to do.So for the sake of saving time & energy, I’m sharing a list of TIPS that will help you be successful in both life and in business.

Credit Source

1. Add Value

No matter what you do and where you go, you can’t go wrong with adding value. Simply put value is anything that people are willing to pay for. In your professional life, the more value you can offer the more money you can make. In your personal life, more value translates to closer relationships and strong personal growth. The best way to add value is to find the intersection between what people are willing to pay for and what service or product you can offer that is aligned with your values, strengths and goals.

How are you adding value to your employers and loved ones today? What can you do to increase your ability to add value?

2. Follow Your Passion

Reading numerous biographies on great people & from my own personal observations & encounters, I’ve realized that those who achieve greatness professional and personally follow their passion. The reason why great people are few and far in-between is because most people don’t even know what their passion is. For those that do figure out their passion, most of them don’t follow their passion consistently. This is one of the main reasons why people don’t reach their goals.

Do you know what your passion is? If not, what are you going to do to find out? If you do know what you passion is, are you following it?

3. Be Extraordinary

If you do the same thing as everyone else, it’s hard to be successful. It is important to find the edge and then push past it. That is how you become noticed and get what you want. Whether it is money, meaningful relationships and/or a sense of personal accomplishment, the extraordinary person attracts them all.

How are you extraordinary? If you feel just ordinary, what are you going to do to become extraordinary? For those who don’t know, you may want to check out articles on my blog and also How to go from Ordinary to Extraordinary.

4. Start Now

There are many factors that go into become a success in both your professional and personal life but the one factor that is required is taking action. Most people miss out on reaching their full potential because they never start. They are always preparing, planning and waiting for the best time to start. If I waited until I was ready, I would not have a coaching practice, a website, a blog, a workshop, etc. The stars rarely align and you will never be completely ready so just start now and adjust along the way.

Are you waiting for something before you start? What is your planning to doing ratio? What’s really the worse thing that can happen if you got started right now? If you are someone that’s just been waiting, stop reading this post and get started on what you have been wanting to do. This article will still be here when you get back.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       5. Hunt for Good Mentors

People who “make it” usually credit their success to a mentor or a group of mentors who really helped guide them to get to where they are. Mentors have gone down the road that you want to travel and can guide you to get to your destination faster than if you went at it alone. If you want to be healthy, you would find a mentor who is already healthy. If you want to be rich, then you have to find someone who is already rich. What surprises me is how rarely people engage in mentoring relationships and those who do usually find mentors in only one aspect of their lives. If you want to be successful, be active about finding mentors that will help you achieve what you want. Jeff Goins has a nice short article on finding mentors.

Do you have a mentor in your life now? If not, ask yourself what barriers are preventing you from finding or establishing a mentoring relationship? If you do have a mentor, do you have one for the different aspects of your life (financial, health, professional, personal, spiritual, relationships, parenting etc.)?        

6. Build a Support Group

While mentors serve as a guide with whom you review your past actions and plan your next steps, a support group are your companions that help you with during the actual execution of your plan. This may be in the form of a mastermind group or accountability partner where you keep each other accountable for your goals and to help each other deal with situations that may arise while you are on your journeys. It is extremely helpful to have someone you know that is willing to listen to your frustrations and self doubt and to encourage you and remind you of how far you’ve already come.

Who is in your support group?   

7. Personally Know Your Finances

Numbers scare a lot of people. Start talking about assets, liabilities and net worth and people’s eyes just glaze over. If you are one of these people who run away from numbers, please stop running because you are hurting yourself. If you want to be financially independent, you need to know how to keep score. If you have your own business or want to successfully invest, finances tell you how well you are doing and reveal the health of a business. If you don’t understand finances, you have to learn. It’s easy once you get over the limiting belief that you are no good at numbers. 

Do you know you net worth? If you are bad at numbers, what specifically makes you believe that? How can you improve your financial intelligence?                                

8. Get Help

I have a tendency to try to do everything myself and in some ways it is good and in many ways it is bad. It is important to know and understand all aspects of your life and business but that does not mean having to do all the tasks involved in maximizing your potential in those areas. It is true that we can always learn new things and become competent in them but what is also true is that we are only given 24 hours each day and to live full lives, it is more effective to do what we do best and to outsource tasks that we’re not good at to people who excel at them. Delegating effectively takes trust and the ability to clearly communicate what you want. For those that want to outsource, Elance is a nice way to find some quality freelancers.

How are you spending your time? Is it doing things you are awesome at? If not, what are you doing that you can outsource or delegate so you can devote more time doing what you’re great at? What’s stopping you from outsourcing or delegating?

9. Learn Sales

Many people cringe when they hear the word sales. “I would never be in sales, that’s a sleazy job.” It is exactly this type of thinking that stops people from being their best. Sales is nothing more than persuading someone of something. When you are looking to get a date, you are selling. When you are interviewing for a job, you are selling. When you are trying to persuade your spouse or kids to go to Europe for your family vacation, you are selling. In a professional setting, sales is paramount and the lifeline for any business. If you want to get the most out of life and business, learn the skills for effective selling. I am beginning a series of blog posts on How to Sell on my blog and you can learn from other successful sales trainers by reading material from Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracey and Og Mandino.

When you hear “sales”, what associations come to mind? Are they positive or negative? Do you know the how to sell effectively? If not, how do you plan to learn?

10. Be Resilient

Things rarely work out the way you planned and there will always be distractions and stumbling blocks that you have to deal with when you are on your road to success. The key point to remember is to persist and to develop the courage to move on even when everyone around you is telling you it is ok to give up. This does not mean stubbornly holding on to your original plan but rather continuing to pursue your goal as long as the reasons for doing so is still valid (Make sure you know the “Why” of what you want). When everything seems to be going wrong, keep in mind that “the road to success is paved with a thousand failures” so each failure actually brings you closer to where you want to be. If you have trouble being resilient, check out the 6 Effective Ways to Be Persistent.

How often to you quit because things got tough? Would you descrive yourself as an unshakeable optimist? Do you view problems as opportunities or warning signs? How do you view failure and are you making sure that you don’t make the one mistake people make when learning from their mistakes?

This is not an exhaustive list, but it does provide a good starting point. I would love to hear what tips you have found especially useful in both life and business in the comments section.

        

Love,
Seri.

✿ I Miss You Mom ✿

The day I lost my Mom till now I could never muster the courage to put my grief into words :'( It is so painful to go down the memory lane & recollect the dreadful memories. The pain is still there & sometimes unbearable. Life is changed, definitely..no more the same. No dreams, no aspirations, no excitements & no will to do anything :'( I know & knew for a long time..the facts of life. However..we always wish otherwise :'(

  I was never away from my mom. My Son, Ziqry was brought up at my parents place. The only home I ever had was my parents's place. I used to talk to her on phone almost everyday. Anything & everything we could discuss. We did have our agreements and disagreements & now I always regret being rude to her sometimes :'( Maafkan aku ma..sesungguhnya aku amat menyayangi mu.. :'( I hope wherever she is, she forgives me. Now there is nobody who can show such affection for me, Ma…I miss you so much :'( You are gone & I don’t know what to do with my life.. it is so empty.. utterly incomplete. I had no idea that whatever I was doing in my life, I was doing it for you :'( 

  On September 22, 2014 at 9pm my mom passed away. I just can’t explain how I felt at that point of time, everything was gone, my whole world fell apart. I just couldn’t believe that the most loved person of mine was no more. It was so painful to realize that I wouldn’t be able to see or talk to the person I loved the most :'( I kept sitting near my mom’s body the whole night.. wishing she would get up any time or a miracle might happen :'( There is not a single day when I don’t miss her and till now I haven’t stopped crying. The pain is too much.. don’t know what to do now. I know time is the big healer. However, I have realized that mother is the only person in this world who keeps giving everything to her children selflessly. Now I tell everybody to take good care of her or his beloved mother as life doesn’t remain the same when she is no more there..I always had a strong trust in Allah & I used to say that whatever happens in life.. happened for the best.

  Allah has been very graceful to me & if He ever gave me tough times.. He gave me enough of strength to face those adverse circumstances. But this time i wasn't prepared & He knew about it. Now i pray to Him to give me courage to deal with this terrible lose. Life definitely changes after your parents are gone.. Al-fatihah for you Ma.. :'(

Miss you,
Kakak.