Part II: Paris Je'taime

im watchin this movie called " Paris Je'taime " and it reminded me about pending entree..Part II...Paris..the city or light...and the city for lovers...:D. Watching the movie made me miss Paris..it is a beautiful city and at nite...Paris is magical..:D

So where to i begin, ok here goes...we advanterously took the bus...Roissy 350 from CDG to Gare du Nord, the trip was..pleasent but was a trip, stopping at almost every stop until we got to the highway, caveman was abit worried coz we had to pass everything single ghetto...from the african quarters to chinatown to french bombay to finally...Gare du nord, and from here...we walked 20 mins to get to out little hotel..Libertel Canal St Martin. The 1st day was great...the 2nd day the lift stop working and Shilme and family had a problem with the room..and from there it was down hill...imagine carrying a 2 yrs old baby, a 5 kg stroller and of course shopping bag up 5 flights of stairs after having walking for hours????..i tell you we build some buns of steel that week..would reccommend it..nope, never..find another hotel please madame.

sampai sampai hotel, letak bags and we are off...i was excited to show my darlings Paris, 1st stop..Champs-Élysées, not the shopping but for Arc de Triomphe, caveman was stunt..having seeing it on telly to see such super monument in front of his eyes...just makes me smiles. I was suprise that i still remember the way to get to Eiffel from thre...and when he finally saw Eiffel Tower..i knew Paris has got him big time!!...we decided to go up to the verry top...and it took us 4 hours from queueing getting upthere and coming down..was it worth it..difinately...will i do it again...phewww maybe not. Once u get up there it was a really chilly nite...cold to be exact but the sight was significant, i wish i had a tripod with me..dang! By the time we got down it was 12:00am...and the last metro was at 12:40am and luckily we got the last train back..

Sigh....just in one day there is alot to write...and to go thru 6 days...i think ill stay up all nite. To cut the story short , the rest of the week was just spent going a round town and we spend one day at Disneyland.With Shilme and family, we had a blast..and i think even bubbles enjoyed it, innit cool for her, to go on holiday with a fren at 2...i think it pretty awesome! theres too much to write about Paris..i could go on and on..but it will never end and it wont be as good as me telling it in person..besides pictures tells a million stories...:D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reenaribena

Paris Je'taime

bedtime story

sleeping time for bubbles..sometimes can be a peice of cake but sometimes can be a nitemare. With bubbles, i kene tido dgn die until she dooze off sebab she has to fiddle with my ears...her little habits since she was a baby.." mummy...nak ears"..kalau tak dapat the rite place pun marah gak..salah telinger pun salah gak...its always the left ear for me.

i salut my frens that can put their kids in bed by 8pm and they go willingly...although bubbles now goes to bed at 9pm max 10pm, im still struggling. I got this newletter from babycenter. I have tried a few off them...but what i think works the best is sticking to the same bedtime!...even on weekends when its the hardest coz u might be out and about..but its worth the try! bubbles was doing very well with this method until...we went on hols and her timing was haywire...well...can really blame it on her...her crazy parents is to blame...so sekarang nie, i kene start all over again with her timing...

bubbles wakes up happy after a 10 hrs sleep.....dont we all :D

Big Story: The best sleep advice you've never heard

Toddlers and preschoolers: Just when you thought it couldn't get worse

It's hard to believe, but by the time your child celebrates his second birthday, he has spent more time asleep than awake. On average, toddlers need 12 to 14 hours of sleep a day, including naps. (Preschoolers do fine on 11 to 13 hours.) Don't be alarmed if your child vetoes the two-nap routine. At around 18 months, it's not unusual for a child to wean himself from two naps to one. But cutting his siestas in half means nighttime sleep gets promoted to highest priority.

Keep the sleep routine short and sweet
An elaborate, multifaceted variety show — a bath, three books, two songs, and a back rub — can stretch on ad nauseam. "Before you know it, your well-intentioned sleep routine turns from transition time to playtime for your child," says Mary Ann LoFrumento, a pediatrician and author of Simply Parenting: Understanding Your Newborn and Infant. If your child fights bedtime, keep the focus on sleep and don't let your child call all the shots.

LoFrumento suggests that parents of troubled sleepers keep the routine no longer than 15 minutes. (Longer is fine if your child falls asleep easily.) Fifteen minutes should be all it takes to put on pajamas, read two short books, and say goodnight, she says.

Connect the dots
"One of the biggest mistakes parents make is not connecting a child's sleep and his daytime behavior," says Pantley. She attributes many of the behaviors labeled as terrible twos to signs of sleep deprivation. "Fussiness, whininess, fighting with siblings — all have their root in the lack of a good night's sleep." Her advice? Move up bedtime. (See our next tip, "Take back the night.")
(bubbles fav bedtime book)
Take back the night
Exert control and set an early bedtime, preferably between 7 and 8 p.m., Pantley says. "These kids aren't looking at the clock to see what time it is. They're simply waiting for someone to tell them it's time for bed." So pick a time and stick to it.

Practice climate control
Sure, 72 degrees Fahrenheit sounds comfy for a bedroom. And that's true — when you're awake. But the ideal sleeping temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. That's because sleep follows on the heels of a sharp drop in body temperature, which is also why a bath before bed helps kids nod off faster. The bath gets your child nice and toasty and then the cool room causes his
So, nudge the thermostat down at least an hour before bedtime. If you're forgetful, install an automatic thermostat. Program it to drop in the evening and rise in the morning, and your child just might follow suit.

Wake kids at the same time every day
A consistent wake-up routine is just as important as a regular bedtime. Children should get up at roughly the same time every day (give or take 30 minutes). Fight the urge to let them sleep in on weekends, says Pantley. "What we are doing is asking our children to live in two different time zones — a weekday zone and a weekend zone," she says. "As a result, they get perpetual jet lag."

Just because kids don't benefit from a little extra shut-eye on the weekends doesn't mean you won't. If weekend mornings are your only time to make up lost sleep, trade morning duty with your partner so that your child stays on track.

binge eating junkies!

i spent the whole day eating junks today!!
i feel bloated!!
i cant believe i finished a whole bar of 100 g Milka chocolate on my own!!
what is wrong with me..
yet i am still hungry..

and i still want my ayam goreng mcd and also big tasty

takkan...!!!
I dont feel soo good in my tummy now...

urghhhhhhh......its PMS im tell ya!!

saya nak makan ayam goreng McD and ribena!

lilmisskechik..have been craving for these yummies...and today she had the nerves to tell me that she ate them again....uwaaa..dah la org puase today...dugaan betul!

I miss ayam goreng McD..esp the pedas one..and of course ribena, tapi ribena dah lepas kan rindu kat london..:D. I wanted to bring back one botol but terforgot.

sigh...if only egypt mcd have em....i will have them rite now!!!...

its that time again..PMS is kicking in..:O! need junks..and need sugar....!!!

sian anak mummy..

poor bubbles has been attacked by the german measles a.k.a rubella despite of the vaccination she was givin. it started off with a fever early saturday morning after coming back from hanna's house,the parents had a crazy game of "Charade". The battle between the wives vs the hubbies.

balik balik rumah..the temp was almost 39degC..kasik her fav cherry panadol and put her to sleep. In the morning she woke up as always..jumping and bouncing around satu hari non-stop. This is our baby, she is like a bottle of fizzy drink...always bubbly! come sundown...suddenly her fever naik sampai 39.5 degC again...alittle panic...we checked her body and ader little tiny tiny red spots,penuh kat her tummy and some around her mouth. hmm..what could it be...isnt she to tiny to have chicken pox or measles...lagi pun she had her vaccination already.Unlike in KL whre u can just pop to a dr anytime of the day...here in cairo....its almost impossible to see adr without an apoointment made in advance...frustating you ask...yes very! esp in times like this. We got an appointment for Sunday at 6pm...the wait was not very pleasent..the whole sunday her temp was like a yo yo...going as high as 40degC, her kepala was constantly soaked in chilled water and damp towel.

got to the dr and he said she has the possibility to have german measles..a milder version of measles..and its pretty common to have it a young as bubbles...phewwww what a relieve alhamdulilah nothing serious...we cant do much with the measles jut have to control the fever and must be quarantine for a week or soo...and no contact with a preggie woman!

So this morning...fever still the same and red spot is more visible esp kat muke die, unfortunately we both had to go to work today,sian anak mummy...i can feel that she is lighter than a few days ago too dah kurus sikit, tried to take pictures of her spots but it was covered by calymyl lotion :D.I just put her to bed awhile and her temp was 37degC..almost normal...i hope it stays that way..insyallah...

next check up : Wednesday.

German Measles ( Rubella )

What is German measles?

If a pregnant woman is infected with German measles there is a risk of damage to the unborn child.


German measles (rubella) is an illness caused by a virus. Epidemics tend to break out every three to four years, although the illness is less contagious than measles and chickenpox.
While most children have measles in their early childhood, a lot do not get German measles until they are quite a bit older: 10 to 20 per cent of 20 to 25-year-olds have never had the disease. In fact, a lot of people have German measles in such a mild form that it is never diagnosed.

Today, only very few children get German measles, as most of them are vaccinated (MMR vaccine).

How do you get German measles?

German measles has a 'droplet spread'. That is, microscopic drops from the breath of an infected person are carried through the air to a healthy person. The droplets carrying the virus reach the mouth, throat and nose, from where they spread to the rest of the body.

What are the signs of German measles?


The patient develops a rash. This typically starts around the ears from where it spreads all over the body in tiny pink spots. The rash changes almost from hour to hour, and will disappear again after about two to three days, requiring no treatment.
Before the rash appears, the patient can suffer a light cold and/or swelling in the neck and base of the skull (due to the enlargement of the lymph nodes).

The period between the time of infection and the actual outbreak of German measles (the incubation period) is usually quite long - between two and three weeks.


How is German measles treated?

German measles does not require any special treatment - except perhaps for a few days' rest in bed. However, you will have to consider the fact that the disease is infectious, and can easily spread to other members of the household.
The infection period usually lasts from a week before the rash starts to one week after it has disappeared, but is at its worst when the rash is at its peak. Because of the risks to pregnant women associated with the disease (see below), it is an advantage for girls to acquire immunity before puberty.

What risks are associated with German measles?

If a pregnant woman is infected with German measles there is a risk of damage to the unborn child. In some cases, the dangers are so high that an abortion is recommended. Fortunately, this is very rare today as most young women have been vaccinated against German measles.

Who should be vaccinated?

All girls should be vaccinated against German measles to prevent problems during an eventual pregnancy. Today, all children between 12 and 15 months are offered the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR II or Priorix) which protects them from rubella.
It is impossible to know for sure if you have had German measles because many people do not even notice the disease. Girls who are vaccinated against German measles are advised not to start a pregnancy until three months after the vaccination.
If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you have had the illness, an examination of antibodies in the blood will provide the answer. If required, your doctor can give you a vaccination.

Part 1: Nice

Yes, we had a great holiday...and now we are back to reality again..I wanted to blogged about our trip before we left but i just didnt have the time and the energy too but im glad everything turns out brilliantly.....So here goes...its gonna be trip on this one :). The pictures are being upload to flickr..it was a clicking frenzy!

Part 1:
nice was nice, it was not what i had expect. Never in my life had i imagine that i would go to nice. The impression i had of the french riviera was for the rich and famous not for regular. With the big yacth, expensive car and beautiful scenery and nice ppl...nice is a place for everyone and im glad we went.

I was abit jakun, got in CDG in the morning and when the lift took us to the boarding area...it opened to the shopping mall...ohh tidak...i havent seens such beautiful things since our last vac in KL...my tahap ker jakunan was unbearable..but still controllable :). It was a 1.15mins flight to Nice...waited for our luggages...annd bubbles bag never came...ohh nooo!!..it was left it Paris! was abit panic..but we werent the only family with missing luggages...one family didnt get any of their bags...dreadful, we were told that it will come tonite and we will have it before tomorrow...alhamdulilah...if not lukcy bubbles will have a brand new set of clothes!

Since i have never booked thru the internet...i was nervous about our hotel..but once we got in town, i was just stunt by the scenery..its like what u see in postcards...everything was soo unreal. :). the hotel turned out to be great and located in the perfect area. We took the hop on and off buss to get around for one day..and it a great way to see nice in whole...then when u know whehre everything is..u can just go on foot and take your time....yes in nice...time seems to pass by really slowly...." times goes by soo slowly".

The weather was ....hot sunny days with chilly winds. The sea water was cold but very refeshing, i wasted one day not going in the waters coz i was chicken of the cool, then the next day i realise how silly of me...i just wanted to be in the water...our beaches are better....coz its sanding..their beaches are pebblly and and not frenly to the bottoms..hehehe.Breakfast was everyday the same...from different shops...croissant, pain au chocolat and pain au raisin..was delis...and yeah we put on 2kg since we have been back....

unfortunately my mission failed...haha what was the mission....to locate brad pitt and the gang. Everyday i tell caveman .."ok today we have to go look for brad pitt" and everyday mission not accomplish!..but i guess this superstars have some special secret hiding place...one week after we left,..she gave birth in Nice.

Recommended Hotel : Hotel Ellington - top notch for reasonable price...and great service and big room..plus point when travelling with todds. 5 mins walk to anywhere...

Top 10 things to do :

1. Cours Saleya Flower MarketNice's famous Flower Market is one of the best attractions in the whole city. The edges are lined with cafés and souvenir shops, and the stands themselves are packed with amazing produce and myriad flowers. It operates six days a week, replaced on Mondays by a flea and antiques market.

2. Matisse MuseumThe lovely and innovative art of Henri Matisse was inspired by the fresh colors and lines of Nice. Just take a look at any of his art peering out of balcony windows, and you will surely see the Riviera shoreline. This vast museum shows Matisse's works from his more traditional early days to the end of his career. There are also some of his personal effects here. The museum gift shop features prints of the artist's works.

3. Vieux Nice, or Old NiceOld Nice is downright dripping with atmosphere. Its narrow streets are a one-stop shop for take-home finds, such as Provençal wares, household items, wine, gourmet gifts, hip clothing and more. There are numerous restaurants in the area, as well as several fun bars and nightclubs. Be sure to stop off for a delicious ice cream in this neighborhood.

4. Le ChateauThe best reason to visit the chateau is for the spectacular panoramic view of the city and sea. You won't actually see much of a castle (only a few sections of it remain). You can take the elevator up for a nominal price or hike up the stairs for free to the park atop the hill. Be sure to bring your camera.

5. Promenade des AnglaisFew spots epitomize Nice -- or, in fact, the joie de vivre of the French Riviera in general -- than the inviting Promenade des Anglais. It is always bustling with humanity.There are tourists relaxing in the royal blue chairs lining the shore. There are locals roller blading, biking or jogging along it. Vendors sell crepes and drinks on it. Best of all, there are delightful (if over-priced) seaside restaurants. Splurge on a chaise lounge, and let waiters bring you cocktails and appetizers.

6. Rue de France Pedestrian ZoneThe Nice pedestrian zone, or "zone pietonne," is a hub of activity. This is the place if you need to load up on souvenirs. Street entertainers frequent this area. There are gourmet shops, clothing shops, news stands, bookstores and more. (Check out the Ducs de Gascogne store for some real finds). Grab a café au lait and watch the world go by, nibble on a crepe, or visit in the evening for a robust meal with an Italian accent. This is just a lively spot!

7. Theatre de la Photographie et de l'ImageThis homage to the photographic arts is housed in a lovely renovated building a couple blocks off the busy Boulevard Jean Medicine thoroughfare. The museum typically hosts exhibits of universal appeal, such as a show dedicated to portraits of Hollywood celebrities over the decades and an exhibition on American Indians. Entry is free.

8. Russian CathedralWhat a juxtaposition: the traditional Russian onion towers in the background, and the tropical palm trees in the foreground. As odd a pairing as the two seem, the Russian Cathedral is just one of many Russian attractions in the city. The Russian aristocracy used Nice as a balmy getaway, and left their indelable mark on the Riviera city. The cathedral is the finest example, and provides a rare opportunity to experience the former U.S.S.R. on the Cote d'Azur.

9. Nice Archaeology Museum and Roman RuinsThe Russians weren't the first to succumb to the allure of Nice. The ancient Romans also called the area home, and to this day visitors can see the ruins of a Roman arena and bathhouses at (or next to) this museum in the Nice Cimiez neighborhood (right next to the Matisse Museum). Inside, the archaeology museum houses an interesting mix of historic and archeological exhibits on the area.

10. Nice PortThe Nice Port area is one frequently overlooked by tourists, but it shouldn't be. Just around the corner from Old Nice and the Quai des Etats Unis, this is a great spot to watch the Corsica ferries lift off. There are also some of the city's hippest nightclubs here.

There is more to do in nice beside the 10 things...but u will need at least 2 weeks...to exlpore the mountains and the country side.

All i can say is that, Nice is a dream and i would go there again anytime....http://www.flickr.com/photos/reenaribena/

a new start to an old beginning

after a bad month and a great 2 weeks break from the chaos. I have decided to change my views alittle.I need to set my new objectives, i know its 1/2 way thru the year...but is thre any time limit for us to set out on objectives?? i dont think soo..i hate setting goals, i prefer to live life as it is..and live it thru day by day, am i being irreponsible maybe but this is me. I cant say life is bad...alhamdulilah so far everything had been great and we are all thankful for that..i feel like its gone abit messy since ive started work..having to juggle work, family, and life was not easy esp with the kind of work i do...its a riot, but somehow i waded thru it. But now i feel like i need to be more organized so that i can do the maximum with mininum time...equals more time with the family. How do i do this????



Plan...organize...execute.

I do not have a 5 yrs plan..i realise this 3 weeks back when my boss asked me what i wanted in 5 yrs? i laughed and he was amazed...it got me thinking was i suppose to have this 5yrs plan...do u have one? what about my 5 yrs plan for life...and family...sigh....i dont have one...and im not sure about caveman either.

hmmm....wondering... Am i organize...i think i do...but not well enuff i suppose..

when it comes to work,despite of getting good feedback from the boss about my work for the last 4 months...he reckons that i need some kind of planning so that i reach my goals. I have thot about it...and i guess he is rite in some point although i dont like the idea of it , i figured, I dont have to do it for 5yrs...but i can at least set some goals for this year...so that i dont go astray.

i have set some goals now its not fun but i had to be done...what are they....its a secret!..but i will try my best to stick to it and get it done one step at a time...lets see how effective it is!

a month of emptiness

when i opened my blog yesterday, i realised that i havent blogged for a month now..thats probbaly the longest i have neglected my lil blog,had alot to say....but somehow it only stayed on my head and it didnt want to be blogged. The last mont was probbaly the busiest for me...working like a donkey...planning for the trip..worrying if we could make it for the trip...missing bestie elise's wedding...it was nuts. I was loosing my mind and just as it was about to happen...we boarded the plane and off we go to the land of crepes de nutella...

It was a hard month for all of us...caveman was depressed...probbaly for the 1st time...poor him...and i got agitated coz of that..then i was loaded with work...which didnt help things...arguements arguement arguements...I woke up everyday..feeling feverish but it was only in my head, but i guess we all have to pull thru one way or another,we both was very close to sending the R letter and packing our bags and ship ourself back to homeland..:D which was not a bad thing but then again..with the recession and inflations news in flying around...with our morgages...i think not..at least not for now.
Then came the big day for my dearest elise..i guess most of you probably knows, my bestest fren had her wedding 3 weeks back...although i was not there to witness it...her pictures tells it all. It was probably the most beautiful wedding...i would have attended. She was a picture perfect, i know now that she cannot complain anything about it coz she just looked amazing...and her smiles makes me happy. I knew then that she got everything she wanted....and im glad that it was Ivan..coz i knew he will treat her like a queen...always and he of course is super! i dont think i was brave enuff to have blogged about them before i left...i was down down down..lil miss knows it...and now i fear that i might miss yet another bestie wedding...it was the 1st time...2nd time...should it easier...i think not. I heard rumours that my lil coz is getting engaged too...sigh...and for me to miss that too...sigh!

I guess..this are the kind of ordeals that we have to deal with when living far from home..missing loved ones..missing special occasions...not being there for pll who needs you...etc. Its actually very lonely....if i didnt have the little family that i have here...and the great bunch for frens that i now call my family...i dont think we would have survived living here...and im grateful for that.

For those who had to bear with with our nonsenseness for the last month....we owe u and thanks alot.