Woohoo! I still can't believe that tomorrow is Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Gosh! Just how quick can time pass us by? Very "freaky", I must say! Oh wells. I just hope we are all blessed by the Almighty, this Ramadhan. Insya'allah, Amin. :) This year, strangely, I am super duper excited and eager to celebrate Hari Raya! In fact, I wish I can celebrate Hari Raya today, just like our fellow Muslim friends in the Middle East & part of Indonesia. Haha!

Then again, what's the difference if it's today or tomorrow? So long as the celebration mood is still going strong, nothing else matters to me! :P Hehe. Now, won't U agree that the typical Malay families are the most busy when Hari Raya draws near? I seriously think so coz I know other Races don't really bother preparing much for Hari Raya (especially the Arabs). Till date, I still have no clue as to why Hari Raya Aidilfitri is celebrated in such a big scale by the Malays but what I do know is that, I am not spared from the preparation. In fact, I actually enjoy doing so but year after year, I just don't get the term "busy preparing for others". Shouldn't it be a form of "self-pleasure"? I feel so. Hehe.

Anywho, speaking of preparation, guess what? I'm totally done preparing my house for Hari Raya! First up, I've finished arranging the "Kuih Raya" into the containers so that it will look more presentable when served to guests. This year, I decided to "offer" a few varieties of Kuih. Still, I only bought a few pieces of each type. As such, be quick to arrive at my doorstep if U want to taste any. I can guarantee no more refills once everything is gone (except for some)! Hehe. ;) Here are the different varieties. Click on the picture to view their name.







Next, I'm also done with hanging the curtains. Well, at least for the living room and my bedroom. Haha! I'm pretty happy with my "altered" IKEA curtain. Thanx to my "creative" mom, the once long curtain (two panels), now become a 3 piece curtain. Sounds like a 3 piece suit, eh? Haha! In anyways, I'm just impressed with the end product. Weeee! But, please don't question about the choice of colour/design. Mom still have that old-fashioned thinking. She still wants modern to blend in with the "traditional", thus the result of my "new" curtain. ARGH! To think it's MY room...! -_-"


Soon, it's time to prepare the outfit for tomorrow and then reminisce the past Hari Raya after break fast, while listening to the "Takbir" on WARNA 94.2FM. I believe, everything from now on will be smooth sailing for me and family. I just pray for the best. :D

(: !!!SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI!!! :)

Regards,
Niz

Monday, September 29, 2008
Another BIG Change!

My, just how many BIG changes can my house go through in such a short period of time? It's real insane! Haha. Thank god, the changing process is all smooth and most importantly, didn't cost a gigantic hole in mom's wallet. Hehe. Me & mom are just euphoric that finally, our house look "different"! :) Anyways, another furniture delivery was made to my home early in the morning, today. Guess what they are? The new dining table set & computer table from IKEA, of course! Woohoo! :D

Selling off the old dining table set was completely out of the agenda but somehow, mom just got bored of it. After all, most of the chairs were already "loose" and the design is getting "off beat". That particular set was bought more than 10 years ago at a hefty SGD900. We only got SGD60 from the sale to a 2nd hand furniture company. Gosh! Well, being sad is one thing, but getting rid of the "past" is another. So yeah... :)

Sorry for the poor quality! It was an old picture... Haha!

I personally objected the idea of buying another "traditional" dining table set. Mom can't seem to accept a modern concept but finally, I managed to coax her into buying a mix & match set from IKEA. U have no clue how much she was reluctant in the first place. Haha! Even till now, she thinks that the set at Courts or Nova Furnitures are way better. Well, I can't deny that but please, it's just too old fashioned! Don't even talk about their retail price! Why fork out so much when we can save a whole lot @ IKEA? Most of those common dinner table set cost more than SGD400! Sheesh.

INGO Dining Table - SGD69

SIXTEN Chair Black/Silver (suede-like material) - SGD59 each (4s)

Next, getting rid of my old computer table was also not in the agenda. In fact, I don't feel there's a need to change but mom said it's too bulky and what nots. I was like, where does the issue arise from? Oh wells. Since there's a major change, why not change the computer table as well, right? Haha. It's not exactly tough to get a suitable computer table from IKEA. I've loved their designs all along so I'm glad to have finally purchased one. Weeee! ;)

This piece was bought at a neighbourhood store for approximately SGD100, more than 8 years ago

GOLIAT Computer Table - SGD98

It's a miracle how I managed to put everything together perfectly on the new computer table. Despite being small, it definitely have a lot of storage space to offer. The best feature must be the "keyboard drawer". Instead of putting a keyboard, I put my laptop on it. Whenever I want to use the lappie, I will just pull the drawer out. Else not, I will draw it back in and it "automatically" store the lappie nicely. This saves space and make it look much neater. What do U think? To me, it's complete yayness! Haha. :D



P/S: The colour of the dining chair may be off but mom already have some plans on how to "dress it up". Also, she may keep my old computer table and then convert it as her sewing table. Well, we'll see how it all goes, aite? Hehe. ;)

Regards,
Niz

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Pissed Off!!!

ARGH!!!

Thursday, September 25, 2008
The BIG Change!

My oh my! Today must be the most tiring yet happiest day for both me and mom. :) Why? Well, firstly, we finally found the time to do a major cleanup of our house. It has been what, a year since we had this "overhaul" plan? Haha! I love changes and am glad that it finally took place in my house. Of course, changes also means sacrifices. There were many odd furnitures and thus, we just had to learn how to let go. Thanx to the Bangladeshi workers, the furnitures were gone from our sight in no time. Haha. I swear I'm not missing any piece. :P

Next, we felt extremely euphoric when the sofa set mom bought from Nova Furnitures, was delivered promptly to us as promised! The set consists of a two seater sofa and two armchairs. Well, it surely is larger than we expected! I remember seeing a "smaller" set in the showroom! Haha. Anywho, I really felt that the SGD999 price tag (before tax) is very much ridiculous but after seeing the actual product, I instantly changed my mind. It is worth every single cent, okay! The workmanship is just impeccable. Nova Furnitures is definitely recommended to all! :D


So yeah, after a few hours of arranging and moving things around, the "overhaul" was finally done by 3pm (we started from 10am). Now, everything is already in place and my house is more than ready to receive guests for Hari Raya visits. Do U want to drop by? :P Alrighty, here are the pictures of my current living room and bedroom (yes, I sleep on the floor). I totally forgot to take a picture of mom's bedroom but that can wait. Afterall, her room is only like 50% done. There are still some furnitures to be transferred to her room from the other "spare" room. Haha! ;)





Overall, I'm truly satisfied. What do U think of the layout? I think it's just fine. Still, it may not be surprising at all if at the last minute, I decided to change the arrangement. We'll see. Haha! :)

P/S: I can't wait for Monday! More new furnitures arriving! ;) Mom just bought a new dining set and a new computer table from IKEA. Get this, everything only cost less than SGD400! What a saving! Even so, mom had already splurged a whole lot this month. Pity her. Still, I believe it's all worthit. She is actually treating the major change as an investment. Everything must at the very least, last for the next 5 years. Haha. Weeee! :D

Regards,
Niz

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Louis Vuitton Sues City Chain

Read on! I really find the lawsuit ridiculous! What do U think?

Credits: FASHIONPHILE on Louis Vuitton

City Chain's watch features a floral design which LV says is similar to its trademarked motif.

"LEADING luxury and fashion goods company Louis Vuitton has sued watch retailer City Chain in the High Court for trademark infringement.

Louis Vuitton, known popularly as LV, is taking issue with a series of watches being sold by City Chain under its Solvil brand.

LV says the watches have a floral design similar to its trademarked motif - a flower with four pointed petals. Not only does this create confusion for the consumer, selling lookalike watches in the mass market will also damage LV's image of exclusivity and dilute its market, it says.

City Chain is contesting LV's suit, which seeks a court order for the retail chain to stop selling the watches.

In his opening statement yesterday, LV lawyer Wong Siew Hong delved into the history of the brand, founded in 1856, to show that it enjoys 'tremendous and valuable goodwill and reputation' in its name and products. That goodwill rests in its trademarks, he said.

Apart from the famous 'LV' monogram, its three other graphical motifs are registered as trademarks in Singapore and around the world.

Launched in 2002, LV watches have been sold here since 2004.

Last year, LV obtained search warrants and raided four City Chain outlets in Singapore to seize the watches. The same watches are sold in China and Malaysia.

Mr Wong argued that the prominent floral designs on the Solvil watches are similar, if not identical, to those on LV watches. Unwary members of the public may think the watches come from LV, especially with the small typeface of the 'Solvil' name on them.

He said that LV products are intended to be exclusive. Selling in the mass market, as City Chain does, would damage its image of exclusivity, causing LV's existing customers to turn away, he said.

But City Chain, represented by Lee and Lee, argues that the floral designs on its watches are not similar to LV's marks.

It says it is using the designs not as trademarks, but merely as decorative elements; the trademark 'Solvil' is clearly indicated on its watches.

Moreover, the prices of Solvil watches are different from LV's watches; its customer base is also different from LV's.

LV has also launched criminal proceedings against City Chain, which has applied to quash the search warrants and effectively dismiss the criminal charges.

This will be heard after the civil suit."

Source: The Straits Times

Regards,
Niz

Monday, September 22, 2008
Samsung L60 Digital Camera

Weeee! After months of wanting a new camera, I finally got one! It may not be brand new but it still snaps good quality pictures. ;) Why 2nd hand camera, U ask? Well, blame it on my mom! She is always "stingy" when it comes to purchasing something that she will not get to use that often. As such, she gave me a budget of ONLY SGD150 and expect me to get a brand new camera. It's just ridiculous, right? Well, that was what I thought initially but eBay just had to prove me wrong. Sheesh!

Apparently, for SGD150, one can actually get countless of brand new cameras (2MP to 8MP). Some are even branded! Gee, nothing is impossible, no? :P Even so, it's tough bidding for these items. The demand is extremely high! I lost count of how many auctions I got outbidded. Sigh. Still, I love the "thrill" of bidding. Hehe. Anyways, since it is THAT tough to get a brand new camera at such low prices, I had to resort to a 2nd hand one instead. Of course I have to carefully "analyse" the condition of each camera first before bidding for it. Eventually, after such careful selection, I chose to purchase the Samsung L60 (6MP) at a mere SGD120.

The camera was purchased less than a year ago by the owner and is still in a mint condition (normal wear & tear is of course expected). Since the camera was rarely used, the battery life is still beyond good and everything still functions properly. Overall, the camera is just perfect and hopefully, it will have a longer lifespan with me. :) Gosh, I'm so happy that I've made a correct choice. There's absolutely no regrets! Hehe. Below is a brief description of the camera:

"Samsung introduces a 6 Megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical SHD lens to strengthen its digital success in the crowded 6 Megapixel digital camera sector. The Samsung L60, introduced by Samsung, is a portable compact digital camera (94 x 52 x 20 mm) that delivers an image resolution of 2816 x 2112 pixels. The Samsung Digimax L60's SHD optical lens has a focal length of 39-117 mm, f/2.8-4.9 (equivalent of 35mm film camera). Even though the Samsung Digimax L60 is small, the engineers managed to ensure that it has a 2.4-inch color TFT LCD display with a resolution of 112K pixels. The Samsung Digimax L60 digital camera is packed in a 2cm flat black or silver coloured housing with a variety of features."

Regards,
Niz

Sunday, September 21, 2008
Ex Damaians Part 2

WEEEE! Here are the much awaited pictures from the recent Ex Damaians meet up. Credit goes to Nur Liyana Bte Pasali. Mucho Gracias! ;)
























P/S: Of all colours, I wonder why I chose to wear pink?! LMAO!

Regards,
Niz