Knot anymore

As you can see from the picture above, baby Nyla had very little hair.
And those little fine hairs you see on that head of hers looked super duper ultra straight then.

Then slowly, 'waves' appeared....


And I was convinced that she'll grow up having wavy hair...loose curls just like her mommy. (and her stunning Tok Mummy.)
See my hair when I was about 2 years old last time. Also terjuntai kind..
That's my Yayi carrying me. The most patient and nicest man ever.


And then the waves got a lil tighter.....


And we all said hello to a head of 'springs'!!!
Dari mana ni dapat rambut kerintingz semacams????


Nyla's look every morning.


Now that she has started primary school, Nyla finds it a chore to wash her hair, wait for it to dry, go through a rather rigorous combing process no thanks to her tangled tresses and finally the ikat rambot part. She HATES having her hair tied. Regardless whether it is a simple ponytail/pigtails or fancy schmancy plaits. She doesn't care.

The past week, she pleaded with me, "Mommyyyyy, please cut my hair."
Me: Sooooo sayang seh Nyla. Your hair is long!
Nyla: Hair will grow whaatttttt mommyyyyyyy. Look at yours. Last time you look like a boy. Now you look like a girl again. (Thanks eh Nyla. -_-)

And with that I promised her that her wish is my command.
Heart a bit pain la because all these years, I was managing her hair well but I must allow Nyla to express herself:
choosing books in the library (Never mind that her books will surely be about hamsters/cats!)...choosing what to wear (She's a leggings freak!)....and now, choosing which hairstyle suits her best.

Anyway, Nyla's hair definitely requires a different kind of care.
With her, I used lots of conditioner and detangler cream.
So, she must go to someone who really knows how to cut and style all kinds of hair.

No need to look far for this kind of super hairstylist la ah.
ABANG SAM lor.
He handled my bangs....
And later on, my ultra short hair.
Both times, FTW kind of feel for me!

So last Saturday, Mr E and I brought our girl to GLITZ HAIRWORKZ where Abang Sam is based at.




See that smile on my girl's face?
Can you feel her excitement? She has been looking forward to this moment for quite a long time man!


Mommy pon nak enter frame. Jangan marah haaaa. :p


Tadaaaa!









You want a guranteed nice hair make over babesies/hunkies?
Really don't have to look no further.



Go to GLITZ HAIRWORKZ (TripleOne Somerset #02-19/20)
Look for SAM yo for a guranteed awesome hair makeover.

Abang Sam has done wonders to my hair pre-hijab days and now, he has another satisfied 6 year old customer.
Nyla's review:


For appointment, do call or SMS SAM at 90258774.
He is super friendly/ funny/ approachable, I assure you. :)
Don't forget to mention "NURA J BLOG" so you can enjoy 20% off okay :)

Abang Sam, thank you for letting my gerek readers enjoy this privilege.
And, thank you even more for doing your magic on my daughter's hair.
She's loving it loads!

The Excluzif Twinkle Scarves

Another Saturday very well spent with Tina.
Because I am also tight with my tuition schedule, Tina always tells me to leave the concept of my Excluzif apparels' photoshoot to her.
So, the past photoshoots were all planned by Tina whom you know by now is not only a make up artiste but a choreographer...stylist...etc.

Tina, I am very blessed to have crossed paths with you sister.
Thank you to Jali for this. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have met Tina.

Yesterday, Tina was like a headless chicken running around. So busy.

Tina briefing my photo-brudders Jali, Aza and Franco.

Man, I am bursting with excitement as I'm typing this.

I am very happy to have met with an inspiring young lady by the name of Farah.
She is the Founder of Saffanah (Hijabis.sg) over at Facebook and she just launched a blog meant to inspire ladies out there to make the 'hijrah'. May Allah bless niatnya yang baik. :)
Thank you Farah for your precious time.



Last Saturday, we had a bukan calang calang orang punya model to join us in our shootout.
Her name is Leah Johnson.

Tina: Ok guys, Leah is from Project Runway Australia.
The Boys: We also whaaaaat. We from Project RUNAWAY.

Very lame my brudders, I know but love them anyway.

The moment Leah stepped in, all of us just stared and stared and stared at her.
Ma Shaa Allah, she is so beautiful.
And then we found out that she used to be in Australia's Next Top Model!
SAY WHAT?!

Thank you Tina for styling Leah in The Excluzif Scarves and our navy blue Maxi Toga!
Mwaah Mwaah Mwaaah!
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Ok my namemaster, Nyla has decided to do away with 'Glitter'.
She has renamed them as The Excluzif Twinkle Scarves.

We even came up with a song.
*Do sing along to the tune of 'Twinkle Twinkle Star' okay!




Okay my hijabellas, the moment you all have been waiting for.
I present you The Excluzif Twinkle Scarves yo.























My mom and I discussed and we have mutually agreed that these Excluzif Twinkle Scarves come in 2 'shapes':

-1)the rectangular long shawl type

-2)the square type


So when you email me at nuraesman@gmail.com to place an order, do state whether you want your 'Twinkle' to be a rectangle or a square okay babes! :)
A piece is just $25.



Happy considering which Twinkle to order ladies.
See you at my mailbox. :)

HIJABELLA

There are some people who are born beautiful with a slim face, big eyes with long dark lashes, small sharp nose, flawless skin - the works. The rest of us, however, aren't so lucky. So some of us wallow in self-pity everyday and wonder why life is so unfair. Some resort to paying tons of money for plastic surgery.

Some of us ARE MUCH SMARTER and learn to PUT ON MAKEUP :)

-Noraziana Mohd, Makeup Artist (the hijabella in the middle)
Nama glamer dia Nora Zee. :p


Also Tina's close friend and a former cheecher like me, this woman is so bubbly she lights up the whole room. Great sense of humour aside, when it comes to work, man, she is serious. Tina also looks up to Nora Zee because she is always updated with the latest make up products and techniques. Few weeks back, she tried a few hijab looks on me.


Number 1 (Don't mind the pictures of the food ya. While we were busy, Tina was also cooking up a storm in my kitchen. Damn delish. Those 2 men snapping away are my brudders, Jali and Azhar.)


Number 2


Number 3
Many of you are very interested with the dual inner. This one is Norazee's trademark dears. Do ask her how she does this k!


Number 4
Turban style.
Thanks mom for the pweety pweens Maxi Toga!


Number 5
Favourite look.
So sesuai for those getting engaged or married. :)


Here is a message from Nora Zee:

I am a makeup junkie and not ashamed of it.

I LOVE, more than anything else I do, to help make women more beautiful, in and outside.

I have made many women beautiful and feel SUPER confident on their big day.

YOU, too, can be beautiful and confident. All you gotta do is send me a message!

If you want to learn makeup, YOUR SEARCH ENDS HERE! I can conduct makeup lessons for you AT THE TIME AND PLACE OF YOUR CONVENIENCE :)


Okay girlies, the moment you all have been waiting for.

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THIS FAIRYGODMUDDER WHO CAN TURN ME INTO A HIJABELLA?!

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Add this funny lass HERE on Facebook.
If you require her services, do email her at anajambu@yahoo.com (Email address stop it eh. Last warning.)

Okay, still at the topic of hijabs.
It has only been more than a month and already, my wardrobe is bursting with so many scarves.
Mom: Terok ah dekni. Aku berpuluh puluh tahun pakai tudung, takda sebanyak macam kau Kin.

Heh.
Even though I have aplenty, I find it difficult to find scarves that are age appropriately glamorous. You know what I mean?
The jemputan or dinner functions kind of scarves.
And no, I will not wear the manik manik kind k.

If cannot find, make lor.
Must thank Tina for her input. Mwaaah!
I am scheduled to have a photoshoot with these Excluzif Glitter Scarves this Saturday after tuition with Tina at her friend's studio.
I'll show you one piece k. Since CNY is around the corner, I show you the red one la. :p
This glitter scarf can light up your look (and mine!) instantly.


I have EIGHT colours. (Lucky number tu!)

Nyla has not come up with the names of these scarves yet. She will do it this weekend. Maklomlah, dah start primary school, orang tu busy.

Should you want to wear any of these Excluzif Glitter Scarves this weekend, do let me know.
Can make special arrangements one.
Anything email me at nuraesman@gmail.com

Beautiful Read(s)

Too beautiful a read and to not share it is such a waste.
Misa, thank you for sharing this at Facebook.
People, click HERE.

Since we are at the topic of reading good stuff, for those of you with children, do add Nyla's The Big Good Wolf and Chickchickaboomz to your bookshelf. I assure you that your children will enjoy these 2 books very much.
For those without children, I cannot say this enough but I absolutely love it when people give Nyla books as gifts. So if you have a lil cousin, nephew and niece, gift them books.


The Big Good Wolf is $10.
Chickchickaboomz is $14.

Do email me at nuraesman@gmail.com because last week I have received a few orders, hence will be mailing out the books later in the afternoon.

PS: ALL proceeds will go to 'Nyla's School Pocket Money Fund' :p

Ok this is totally random, but what's up with shopping at the school bookshop man?
Nyla absolutely digs her school bookshop man!!!

Girl Power!

Good Monday morning all.
Typing as fast as I can so that I won't be late for my class later.

As the school term has started, my tuition sessions pon sudah start engine already. Another busy year ahead but Alhamdullilah, busy is good!

My Primary 5 and Primary 6 classes are full and I intend to keep this group small because I really want to focus on each and everyone of my graduating tutees.
Hence if you have emailed me and I didn't reply, my sincerest apologies.

I also have another group of Sec Ones. (Yes, all Bottoms Uppers since last year.) Very nice to have them back with me as I hope to see 5 of them make that switch from Normal Technical Stream to Normal Academic stream and 1 from Normal Academic stream to Express Stream. ALL of them in fact look very hungry to make that switch, I'm real proud.

And then my Primary 1 babies. They are so cute caaaaaannnnnnnnn?! And such a noisy bunch! They really have loads to share.
The reason I open up a Primary 1 class is because I have always enjoyed teaching Nyla at home and why not I extend these lessons to other children who'd love to learn and play at the same time. Nyla too is having a blast because she has new friends.

Still at the topic of education, I'd like to congratulate my dear Jenn for securing a writing workshop programme in a primary school. Yahoo!!!!! This time round, my turn to assist her and be one of the workshop trainers. Anything for you Jenn!


Last Saturday morning, I had a photoshoot for an online shop which was first based in Washington and now spreading its wings to sunny Singapore. How cool is that?! I'll blog about this soon enough. And of course, I tarik Tina along and included her in this assignment. So we both started work real early. She fetched me at 6.50 a.m. By 10.15 a.m we were done and while I rushed home for tuition, Tina rushed for her other make up assignments.






To view Tina's many many make up assignments and the many shoots she has choreographed, please do add her as friend on Facebook.

Happiness I feel is truly infectious and truly, other people's happiness can influence your mood.
I feel very proud of my beauty sponsor, Harnies Beauty!


She has only just released 2 scents!
SEXY and CLASSIC.
Only just released a few days ago and more than 50 bottles have already been sold. Awesome stuff.
One of her Facebook friends described 'CLASSIC' as smell of vanilla and caramel like a sugary sweet cake topped with ice cream.
Yums. Hehe.
Once again, big fat congratulations Harnie!



SAYRAH sisters, thank you also for your wonderful blog entry here.


It has been such a great start to such a marvellous Monday. Ok got to go for my lesson already. Lunching at Geylang later with Shikin who will be fetching me later (WOOOHOOO!) as well as Diana who will be joining us after she has settled her kids in school.


Really, I feel very blessed to be surrounded by such positive forces such as all these wonderwomen I have mentioned in this entry. Girl Power la! Hehehhe!
Great day ahead you alls.

Getaway.. (NOT gateway!)

Short getaways... (Not gateway hor. I've seen so many people spell getaway as gateway la!)

Getaway becomes Gateway.
Congrats becomes Congrates.
Very the wrong.

Ok back to getaway!

Just you and your spouse....Both of you holding hands...Putting arms around each other...Smiling at each other...Sharing conversations...Intimacy.

SO FUN TO FANTASIZE hor?

Ok sorry to burst the bubble but....
In reality, one of you (as in either the wife or the husband) will surely say this one when you ask your partner this question.

"Honey, wanna go for getaway?'

"Aiya, if go, then who to look after the kids? Don't wanna burden Mom and Dad la. Poor thing also la the kids. I'll miss them!" (This one usually I say.)

"How to finish work man if go for getaway?! Time is precious you know oi! No time la!" (Mr E will be guilty of this.)

"Sayang seh. The money we can save leh." (Both of us. But usually Mr E la. lol! :p)

And then it gets hard to do and placed low on our priority list. :(

E and I are entering our 8th year of marriage this year.
We have been on numerous family vacations but the last time we enjoyed a just- the- two- of us vacation was in July 2008. I can't remember the exact date but that Saturday is still very vivid in both our minds.
E's good friend, Zach, invited us to his birthday celebration at Johor Bahru and booked a hotel room for us.
That night was just very amazing.
E and I were so relaxed, our couple-ness renewed by that one night away from the everydayness of 'home' life, that time devoted to total rest and relaxation and focused on just us.

I am going to be very honest here.
The past years, as much as we shared aplenty wonderful moments, menyampah moments pon ada jugak beb.
What to do?
Both of us get burned out on our jobs...parenting duties....get tired...so snapped at each other la.
What?! You all actually think marriage is easy peasy lemon squeazy?!
Marriage is hard work hor.

I am very thankful to be given this opportunity to blog about an upcoming Couples Retreat event organised by PROWISE specially for couples who have been married for 10 years or less. It made both E and I 'wake up' and realise that we have been so immersed in our jobs lately. Time to take a break but instead of a kit kat, we go for a short getaway. :p

Great ain't it?
$155 for a couple. (Your husband pay $77.50, you pay $77.50 la. BOTH must invest! Baru fair and square.)
2 days 1 night at PULAI SPRINGS RESORT (5 star yo!)
Meals included.
Planned activities with the purpose of rekindling your romance.
Totally worth it man!

By the way, the purpose of going for a getaway, in my opinion, is not to save your marriage...to repair your cracks etc.
No, no, no.

Going for getaways must be seen as fun and exciting thing to do! Baru ada uuummmppph!
It is a time for you to re-connect...re-engage NOT, repair.
Should your marriage have cracks, I recommend marriage counseling before you go on a vacation with your spouse. Settle your unresolved issues first.

I wanna share a Chinese proverb:

"He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left."

May you and your spouse come back from Pulai Springs all recharged and re-energised and most importantly, your love more intense.
Have fun!

Who knows on the morning of 4th February, you might see this couple below on the same coach as you? :p

Really at ONLY $155, it’s worth all the hassle, time and expense.
Consider this as an important investment in your marriage.

Do call Haslinda at 9 127 6163 if you're interested or email her at prowise2005@gmail.com.
Limited spaces available people.
Closing date to register is 31 January 2012.