There is just something relaxing about DIY projects..

Painting Ayden's little book shelf

Trypophobia... or however people really spell it

Trypophobia.. an irrational fear and disgust of a cluster of holes. If you don't know what I'm talking about, type trypophobia on google images and voila. An animalistic reaction that affects the senses, most likely to protect oneself from danger, as they resemble dangerous images seen in nature, like a beehive. Well I stupidly have this phobia, and the sick and twisted thing about it is, I actually make an effort to google these images and videos and look at them over and over again. Bizarre! A bit masochistic, with minor OCD tendencies? It makes me itch just thinking about them. Antoine has the same phobia. So why do some people have it and some people don't? What does it psychologically mean? And more importantly, can anyone recommend a real cure?! Pfft!!

New addition to my bucket list!

Hunting down the best cakes in the world, just to say if I agreed with CNN's article (or not):

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/22/travel/world-national-cakes/

View on the way to work

Alan Walker - Faded

I am loving this song right now...!

Latest Update

So it has been a busy few months for us, hence the lack of updates on this blog.

Adamian was born on Hari Raya Haji 24 Sept 2015 at 5.43pm weighing 3.99kg and 51cm. Alhamdullillah all went well.

This is Adamian's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ1A7FrA8_5FBpANT89kwzQ

And this is Ayden's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ7yNZyXiBT_UBU3yemCEcQ

We moved to a new house, Ayden moved to a new school, I got a job and the boys have a new nanny. My parents were here from October to early January (too short!) and I'm still trying to balance work and family life.

Hopefully this blog will be updated more so now that we're more settled. :)

BRF

There are two kinds of females. Those that have a neutral resting face. And those that have a... bitchy resting face. BRF in short. Sadly this is a real phenomenon. I just read this article on CNN (http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/03/health/resting-bitch-face-research-irpt/) and it reported that scientists can now use a face-reading software to detect underlying emotions. Apparently, those who have the BRF would find it more difficult to hide these emotions, compared to those who have a neutral resting face.

I HAVE THIS BRF. All my life I've been asked to smile more by teachers, relatives, etc. People tell me I look pissed or something when I'm driving on the road when really I'm just listening to some music and minding my own business. People always ask me, 'What's wrong?' but honestly in my mind at those points in time, I'm in an ok mood. Not mad. Not sad. Just neutral. LOL. And this is the classic all time favourite saying 'OMG when I first met you I thought you were a total bitch. But actually, you're cool.'.

So now, when I see people who have a BRF (male or female), I just figure now that it's just their face. Nothing personal. LOL. Dear girls who have the BRFs - I feel ya!

If you have a BRF, you would find these points so TRUE:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinlarosa/problems-all-people-with-resting-bitchface-will-understand#.anzjgee48

and

http://www.buzzfeed.com/laraparker/things-that-only-happen-to-people-who-have-resting-bitch#.kxgMzgg3e


A funny video on YouTube on this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v98CPXNiSk

Enjoy!

New crib.. home sweet home.. Alhamdullillah

 

Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on!

Best. cover. ever.

Gore.

I just found out something interesting from a friend about our neighbourhood. More than 20 years ago (in 1993), a French man by the name of Jean-Claude Romand lived in a house just 2 minutes from where we live. I go past it everyday without knowing the history of the people who used to live there. Romand pretended to work for an international organization WHO and lied about being a doctor and his career to his own wife, family and friends for more than 18 years. He lived on money he got from his wife and friends' investments on hedge funds he pretended to manage. Full story short: one day he decided to buy a handgun. He killed his wife with a rolling pin. Left his wife on the bed, slept like normal. Next morning woke up his kids, fed them breakfast, watched cartoons. That night killed them in their beds with shots in the head using the handgun. The next day, he went to his parents' house, shared a meal and shot them both and the dog with the same handgun right after. That night he met his mistress, tried to strangle her with a cord but she fought back. He apologized and made her promise not to tell anyone about the attempted murder. He went back home where the bodies of his family were still there. He watched some TV before attempting to burn down the house. Someone saw the fire and called for help. He was caught but too traumatized to speak to the police. He was in jail since but apparently he's out on parole this year. This story is probably not accurate detail-wise but it is said that this more or less happened.

This is how the house looks like today.

How Mona Lisa would look like today LOL

Damn GURLLLL..!!!

I love this article. Made me laugh and cry at the same time cos most of it is true!

Forty-two things that change when you have a baby

by Rebecca Woolf

What changes when you have a baby? A better question may be what doesn't change?

Here, you can read writer and mom Rebecca Woolf's most notable post-baby observations. Then scroll down to read our favorite comments from readers about how their babies changed their lives.

1. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.

2. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid. [See a reader's perspective in #37, below.]

3. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.

4. You respect your body ... finally.

5. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.

6. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.

7. You believe once again in things you believed in as a child.

8. You lose touch with people in your life you should have banished years ago.

9. Your heart breaks much more easily.

10. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.

11. Every day is a surprise.

12. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)

13. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.

14. You become a morning person.

15. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

And from our readers:
16. "You discover how much there is to say about one tooth." — Ashley's mom

17. "You finally realize that true joy doesn't come from material wealth." — Anonymous

18. "You now know where the sun comes from." — Charlotte

19. "You'd rather buy a plastic tricycle than those shoes that you've been dying to have." — Sophie's mom

20. "You realize that although sticky, lollipops have magical powers." — Roxanne

21. "You don't mind going to bed at 9 o'clock on Friday night." — Kellye

22. "Silence? What's that?" — Anonymous

23. "You realize that the 15 pounds you can't seem to get rid of are totally worth having." — Brenda

24. "You discover an inner strength you never thought you had." — Ronin and Brookie's mom

25. "You no longer rely on a clock — your baby now sets your schedule." — Thomas' mom

26. "You give parents with a screaming child an 'I-know-the-feeling' look instead of a 'Can't-they-shut-him-up?' one." — Jaidyn's mom

27. "Your dog — who used to be your 'baby' — becomes just a dog." — Kara

[Many readers begged to differ, saying things like, " I disagree with number 27. My dogs are my additional children," "Nothing about previous babies, whether two- or four-legged, changes when a new miracle comes along," "My dog will never be 'just a dog," and "This is sad to me. My dog is still my baby too."]

28. "You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you'll be late." — Tracey

29. "You learn that taking a shower is a luxury." — Jayden's mom

30. "You realize that you can love a complete stranger." — Dezarae's mom

31. "You find yourself wanting to make this world a better place." — Arizona

32. "If you didn’t believe in love at first sight before, now you do!" — Ciara

33. "You start to appreciate Sesame Street for its intellectual contribution." — Anonymous

34. "You have to quit watching the news because you see every story from a mother's perspective and it breaks your heart." — Brooke&Boys

35. "You just plain love life more — everything comes together and becomes better because of one tiny person and your love for them." — Anonymous

36. "You finally find out the real reason you have those breasts." — Anonymous

37. "In response to #2 [above], I'd say that where you were once afraid, you're now fearless. I was always very timid and shy and let myself get walked all over … but now where my kid's concerned, I'll speak my mind and really connect with my inner 'b'!" — gummismom

38. "The support you get from other people surprises you, because the people giving it are not always the ones you'd expect." — japanese_macaque

39. "Nothing is just yours any longer. You share EVERYTHING!" — DylanLsMom

40. "No matter what you've accomplished in life, you look at your child and think, 'I've done a GREAT job!' " — Anonymous

41. "You want to take better care of yourself for your child." — Treasor

42. "You can have the most wonderful conversation using only vowel sounds like 'ahhh' and 'oooo.' " — littlehulk2008
 

Hahaha!

Vacation in Lacanau

 

 

 

We found an Australian restaurant. It had Kangaroo in its menu.

Les sources de l'Allondon

Missing home..

Feeling homesick these past few weeks... mostly due to the Eid celebrations after Ramadhan is over. So I decided to bake some bananabread cupcakes and pig out while listening to hari raya songs on YouTube...

Kurma galore!

And this is only the top layer. Thank you!

Happy fasting to my Muslim family and friends!

Glières Plateau

This plateau was an important operation base for the French resistance during World War II. The site was chosen in January 1944 to accept British parachute drops of arms. A large drop on 10 March was said to have brought some 45 tonnes of weapons. The site was strategically chosen as the mountain was poorly accessible by road (and therefore by the enemy) but identifiable by allied aircraft through its proximity to Lake Annecy. The "battle of Glières" (March 1944) left 121 dead against almost 5000 soldiers from the Wehrmacht and the Vichy milice. French Presidents often visit this place to pay their respects.

We walked for about 6 kms and had a yummy lunch half way.

A monument dedicated to those who died, a V for victory, the circle for the sun.

Mashed potatoes fritters