Spring Cleaning

After a successful job at getting my shoes in order, I am suddenly overwhelmed with the urge of cleaning and organizing just about everything else in my wardrobe. It must be the after effects of spring cleaning; the sight of everything prettily displayed is ridiculously satisfying!

It was a toss-up between a closet with doors or open shelvings. In the end, I opted for the latter. The idea is to display my everyday necessities so that they are within easy reach. The target? To give my handbags, scarves and accessories a proper home.

The beauty with open shelvings is that they are very practical and versatile. Not only do you get to maximize the space, but you can also adapt it to fit any room of the house. And with the right touch, they can also be a decorative visual element to instantaneously brighten a mundane room.

Nothing adds a little life to a room like a little bit of flora. Just a few plants can wake up an entire space, including a pop of colour to your room.

For my latest project, I decided to use Vetop Storage's steel shelving system. Vetop Storage is a free-standing and fully adjustable shelving system, engineered to be flexible for use in any room and practically any purpose. They offer a wide range of products too - from basic shelves, to functional units and even accessories and storage boxes. After browsing through their online catalogue, my heart was set on a medium + large black shelving set, with a wooden shelf add on. I was impressed to note that not only was the price competitive... but the shipping was free too!

When the shelves arrived, I was stunned by the size and the weight of the package. Each box (there were three!) was packed neatly and weighed quite a bit. But I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the daunting challenge of assembling the racks all by myself (Hubby was away), it turned out to be effortless instead. There were no screws to turn, no hammers to wield. All I needed to do was to snap a couple of clips on the horizontal pole according to the height I desired, lower down the racks until they latch on to the clips, repeat with all other racks, and tadaaaaa I was done. I could even choose the elevation of each storage rack to fit the various sizes of my handbag boxes. Plus, the racks are so durable, they can withstand up to 100kg! (Not that my handbags are ever going to hit a hundred kilograms, but still!) *chuckles*

Anyway, here are a couple of photos from my Vetop Storage project, taken last weekend. Hopefully an inspiration for you to take on some spring cleaning in the near future!

The racks can be set at different elevations to suit your needs.

Don't be fooled by these stylish racks... they are also very strong and durable. You can also use these robust racks for all your commercial and heavy duty needs.

I configured my racks to fit these nifty storage boxes to store my accessories. With these different boxes, I can now segregate my accessories according to use – casual, classy and formal 

Affectionately called the VTNUGKIDBOX, these transparent boxes can also be stacked and they slide out like drawers. They can also be used to store food in the refrigerator, and suitable for dishwashers, microwaves and also freezers.

These awesome clips make assembling a breeze. Simply snap them to your desired height and lower the racks onto them until they lock.

I allocated the lower racks for my scarves. These used to be crushed together in a bin, or tangled together on a top shelf somewhere. But with open shelving, I can easily see my scarves to choose to match my outfit.

Now, all my favourite handbags are displayed neatly and positioned within reach. However, you can also request to customize these racks to fit a certain height. I love the personalization options!

But this is definitely my ultimate favourite. I personalized my shelving combination by adding on a wooden shelf. This opened up a myriad of decorating opportunities – from showing off my favourite accessories to trinkets that I picked up during my holidays.

Showcase the things you love, instead of leaving them gathering dust at the back of a closet. You can mix and match for your own in-home display, and experiment until you get the perfect look.

Vetop’s storage solutions are very functional and they can be used for practically anything. The options for use are endless! Browse their website for ideas and inspirations on how you can use their products in your home. There are also pre-designed kits that you can choose from to fulfill your specific storage needs.

If you're embarking on a spring cleaning journey soon, I have good news! Vetop Storage is currently offering a 10% discount to all my readers. Yes, you! All you need to do is to head to www.vetopstorage.com and enter the code LIZ10 at checkout. Shipping is free to West Malaysia. For more information, visit https://web.facebook.com/wengmingind/. Orders can be made through both Facebook and their official website.

Happy spring cleaning!

Regrets

This is an extremely tough post to write, especially since I have buried these memories for the past 15 years. But I am called to write this in my blog, as I want Aiden and Ian to read a piece of my journey with my mum… caring for her until she passed on due to lung cancer.

Before she was diagnosed, she had a prolonged cough and started losing weight. We were scheduled to head to China to visit the Great Wall of China, so she went to the doctor to get a checkup before our trip. The doctor did a chest x-ray (which showed some congestion) and a biopsy; but told her that a bit of fresh air during our holiday would do her some good.

So off we went and had the time of our lives. Only to come back to the results of the biopsy that showed that she had lung cancer... at stage 3B.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer worldwide; 1 to 5 cancer death is due to lung cancer. Closer to home, 10 people die of lung cancer daily. It is one of the most aggressive cancers, where 60% of those diagnosed die within one year after diagnosis. Patients with advanced lung cancer have a 5-year overall survival rate of only 2%!

Why didn't we detect it earlier? Unlike breast cancer which manifests itself in a lump, there is really no early diagnosis tool for early detection of lung cancer. Most patients do not have symptoms until the cancer is already at an advanced stage. When eventually diagnosed, 9 out of 10 Malaysians are already in the advanced stage (Stage 3 & 4). What makes it more depressing is that the symptoms are generally occurrences that you would typically push away as 'common sickness', for example shortness of breath, lethargy or weight loss with no known causes.

It was rough on us the first few weeks. I was barely 19 then, hence due to my age, the doctors never really considered me as the primary caregiver. I was never really given a clear prognosis and timeline. Looking back, if I had known that my mum was only going to be around for another 8 months, I would have dropped everything to spend every single precious minute with her.

Due to this lack of information, I decided to continue with my university classes, albeit less credit hours. (Cue huge regret here.) In reality, I struggled with my role as primary caregiver in combination with my education. I juggled caring for my mother in between classes. The hospital became my home, and I would commute between hospital and university daily. I learned to drive all by myself, and became independent all on my own.

The doctors recommended chemotherapy at an upcoming private cancer institute, about an hour away from town. Our financial funds depleted significantly due to this. I had to keep digging into my mum's savings every few days or so. Not to mention daily expenses and bills to be paid. She worried about money, especially since she knew that I would need the money to survive if she were to pass on.

Despite all this, my mum was a brave and strong woman. She never really showed me how much pain she was in, despite the fact that she kept asking for stronger doses of morphine. She was an easy patient to care for, and she kept apologizing for asking her own daughter to shower and change her. Oh Mum, if you only knew that deep in my heart, I never minded. I would gladly do it all over again if it meant that I could rewind time to spend more time with you.

Let's take a step back and question why my mum contracted lung cancer. Smoking is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer. But she doesn't smoke, and we don't even have a history of cancer in the family. She worked in an office and was never exposed to harmful substances in the workplace. The simple answer is, we do not know. And if my mum who had zero tobacco use was diagnosed with lung cancer, do you think YOU should take your chances by smoking? Food for thought.

Image from https://visual.ly/community/infographic/health/lung-cancer-causes

As time passed by, her cancer got even more aggressive, which in turn shrunk her veins. Every time the doctors wanted to put in a needle, I would walk away because I just could not bear listening to my mum cry out in pain. Oh if only I could share her pain, I would gladly offer my veins in her place.

Her hair started falling off due to chemotherapy so she would wear a head scarf to cover her imperfections. I never saw them as imperfections though, but she would constantly get so subconscious about herself that she refused to meet with anyone other than immediate family.

As her health got worse, she kept depending on pure oxygen flow and morphine to last her the day. She would wake me up, sleeping on a recliner chair just beside her on the hospital bed and ask for more morphine in the middle of the night. She was in extreme pain, but she did not complain excessively. It was sad to see her withering away. So sad that I actually wished that God would ease her from her pain and take her quickly. Cue huge regret again. After I lost her, I had a hard time accepting the fact that I had actually registered such thoughts. It ate at me so much, that sometimes I would cry myself to sleep apologizing for wishing her away. It took me years before I could actually forgive myself.

Early on in her cancer journey, my mum once told me that she would like to be brought home to pass on. I sincerely do not know whether that was an effort to reduce the hospital bills, or whether she sincerely wanted to be home. Close to the end of my mum's journey on earth, the doctor (now finally comfortable with my role as caregiver) told me that I could bring her home if I wanted to. I remember clearly that morning in my head. She complained that she could not see clearly with her eyes. I responded by telling her that I was making preparations for her to go home. Her eyes widened, and she understood that she was very close to the end. She started saying that she didn't want to go home... lamenting about how would she survive without oxygen flow and such. I coaxed her into the ambulance and I remember her telling me on the way home, "Min... Mama takut nak mati." (Min, I'm scared of dying.) All I could say was "I love you Mama..." Till today, I still feel as if I forced her home when she did not want to. I thought I was honoring her wishes, but what if she had survived another day in the hospital instead of home?

But my biggest regret was to actually agree to chemotherapy. I understand why my mum did it... It was simply the natural thing to do. It was to treat her cancer. If I was in her shoes I would probably do the same. Accepting the decision to not do chemotherapy would be accepting death. But the side effects made her so weak, so quickly, that we did not manage to do anything else other than stay confined in the hospital. After what I've went through with my mum, I sincerely believe now that there is no point in lengthening life if it's not quality of life.

So, what are the other treatment option for cancer? MSD organized a lung cancer and melanoma workshop recently to educate the public about the two types of cancers. Given that this subject is so close to home, I attended the workshop with hopes of learning about other treatment options. In return, l learnt about newer cancer treatment option.

Fellow bloggers and influencers at the MSD Lung Cancer and Melanoma Workshop, listening intently to Dr Tho Lye Mun - Consultant Clinical Oncologist.

Immunotherapy is the newer treatment option that uses certain parts of a person's immune system to fight cancer. Our natural immune system usually destroys foreign substances, but sometimes cancer cells and normal cells do not have distinct differences, allowing these cancer cells to escape detection and destruction.

With immunotherapy, our immune system can be enhanced to recognize and mount a response against cancer cells. The immune system can also be stimulated to work harder and smarter against cancer cells. Through immunotherapy, you can also supplement with man-made immune system proteins which give the immune system an extra boost.

Yours truly asking Dr Tho about the correlation of vaping to lung cancer.

A photo with Dr Tho and Niki Cheong, who shared his experience on how cancer has impacted his family and friends.

Statistics are showing great potential for immunotherapy to increase long term survival, with lesser side effects. A recent study showed a 3-year overall survival rate of 26.4%, a significant increase if compared to prior statistics. This is indeed emerging as a new and exciting breakthrough in treatment against cancer.

The impact of cancer is real, but a new era of cancer treatment is here. If you are struggling with cancer or know of someone who is, reach out to your doctor or oncologist for more information on immunotherapy.

Bento Challenge

And so... It is that time of the year again. When mummies scramble to get everything ready to ease their children into the new school year. I've been busy checking items off my checklist, and I bet you're doing the same too. A trip to the mall for school uniform and shoes, oh... and a visit to the book store for text books. I’ll need to sew badges to school uniforms, plus label school books and stationery. He'll probably need a school bag and a water tumbler too. And the list goes on and on. But, did you realize that you may have forgotten one important thing on the checklist? Well I'm about to tell you what it is: PLAN your child's recess bento-box meals!

FACT: Packing nutritious food for your child to consume at school can ensure your child stays energized to take on the day.

Active children may experience energy deprivation at various intervals during school which may affect their concentration in class. Hence, many working parents (yours truly included), depend heavily on the school canteen to provide meals for our children during the day. It is as simple as giving them a stipulated budget every day, so they can buy anything their heart desires. Of course, we tell them to not buy ice-creams and candy, but instead to splurge on 'proper' food instead such as roti canai or mee goreng. But in reality, do we really know how these meals are prepared? In contrary, when meals are prepared from home, we are in control of the quality of ingredients and the portion of food group servings they consume in a meal. Once they are used to eating nutritious meals daily at school, it ultimately reinforces healthy eating habits that help them make better consumption choices out of home, especially when we are not by their side. Sounds easy enough to say, but is it easy enough to do?

So when Milo Malaysia invited me to join their "Bento Box Workshop for Bloggers", I immediately jumped at the opportunity to learn. The workshop, in collaboration with Kelab Bekal/Bento Malaysia, shared three simple recipes for mothers when packing to school. And all those recipes were assembled in less than ten minutes! *entershockedfacehere* I was definitely impressed!

Cute giraffe baguette sandwich.

And here are my biggest takeaways from the workshop:

1. Start small. Start by planning simple bento meals that you know your child will eat (instead of throwing it into the bin). Who cares if they want to eat nasi goreng with a side of grapes all week! You will feel a sense of accomplishment when they come home bearing empty bento boxes. (Versus you making complicated meals and them coming home with a half-eaten box.)
3. This sense of accomplishment will help you maintain the momentum throughout the year. Many mothers call it quits after the first month or two because they get demotivated after their child refuses to eat their carefully planned meals.
4. Gradually introduce vegetables in their daily bento box. You can assess what they like and what they don't, from what they bring home unfinished from school. Common mummy trick; hide the vegetables in the meal!
5. Invest on a proper sized bento box and an insulated bento bag. One that will preserve your well thought food presentation (despite it rolling around in their school bag) and can keep the meal at an optimum temperature so it will last the day.
6. Plan ahead! No one wants to wake up an hour early just to peel onions and such. Plenty of the preparatory work can be done the weekend before or the night before.
7. Help your creative juices flowing for food presentation. There are plenty of simple inspirations available online for you to copy from.

8. Last but certainly not least, packing MILO® UHT in your child’s daily school bento box is a convenient way of ensuring that your child receives the energy to maximize their potential during the day. Activ-Go™ in MILO® is a unique combination of PROTOMALT®, minerals and vitamins such as Vitamin B, specially blended to provide efficient release of energy from food to help them take on a full day’s challenges. It also contains calcium to maintain stronger bones and teeth and Vitamin C for increased absorption of iron from food.

FACT: Children who consume malted drinks (such as MILO®) reflect greater micronutrient intakes and are more likely to meet the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for total energy intake, protein and other vitamin which suggests that malted drink consumption can be an effective and simple dietary strategy to improve overall diet quality. (Source: MyBreakfast Study)

And what cooking workshop would be complete without a cooking competition? Using the ingredients and tools provided, each blogger and child were tasked with the daunting mission of making the most creative Recess Bento Box! Afterwards, the children were asked to vote for their favourite bento boxes, by placing a flag (vote) on their chosen favourite.

Aiden watching me handle the scissors while he thinks of a creative idea for his bento box.

Our end result! I’m not entirely sure whether we made a cat… or a mouse???

Fantastic bento boxes by other bloggers and influencers. Can you spot ours?

Ian placing a flag on our own bento box! #cheating *giggles*

Amazingly, we were tied for third place. A professional chef was called in to judge the tie-breaker but unfortunately we lost and settled for 4^th position.

It was certainly a fun and educational session for both Aiden and I. Not only did he enjoy deciding what to put into his bento box, but I also discovered how easy it was to assemble a nutritious meal for him to bring to school.

Our cat/mouse received seven flags (votes)!

Back home, Aiden was excited to try out his new found skills. After countless of hours poring over bento box ideas on the internet together, we finally agreed to try making a ‘sheep’ sandwich. Since he was in charge of making the decorations, he agreed for me to include broiled carrots into his bento box, as long as it was shaped into adorable flowers. Here are our end results:

Can you spot the sheep? Aiden has since requested to bring this for his first day of school.

Beef pastrami sandwich, with fresh salad, broiled carrots (with cheese hearts), and grapes. And of course - a packet of MILO® UHT as a rewarding end to the meal.

Aiden and I are definitely looking forward to the new school year! For more information on MILO® UHT and the “Pack in the Energy for Champions” campaign, please visit the following websites:

http://www.nestle.com.my/brands/beverages/milo_uht
https://www.milo.com.my/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtIVyHFUfRY

Digestive Health

Right after Ian weaned off, I scratched my head mercilessly about which formula milk was best for his toddler years. Transitioning Ian to formula milk was no walk in the park. His biggest struggle was constipation, as his body tried to adapt to the more complicated protein structure commonly found in formula milk. Since his bowel movements served as a major clue to how his digestion was going, we became quite worried every time he fails to do number two. I’ll save you from the gross details, but it was definitely not going well.

Several dramatic bowel movements and numerous formula milk brands later, Ian finally settled comfortably with Friso Gold. With Friso Gold, not only does he have a good appetite, but all those previous constipation drama, flatulence and fussiness went out the window! 

So what makes Friso Gold so easy to digest? Scientifically, here is how it works. If you had paid attention during chemistry class, you would be able to imagine how a protein native structure looks like. If you didn’t… *chuckles* the protein structure looks like a spiral molecular arrangement. Friso Gold with LocNutri^TM is designed to protect this spiral structure from being damaged caused by heat from the formula production process. If unprotected, the protein structure will be damaged from high heat, causing its spiral molecular chain to increase. This makes the protein harder for toddlers to absorb, leading to protein indigestion and stomach discomfort.

So did my scientific narrative crash course make sense? *giggles* If not, the video below will probably explain it way better than I ever can. Watch it for yourself:

When your child has good digestive health, they can easily absorb all the nutrients they have taken, which ultimately makes them stronger from the inside. For more information about the importance of good digestion, you can refer to: http://www.friso.com.sg/health-and-digestion/about-tiny-tummies/the-roles-and-functions-of-the-digestive-system.html.

Two years and counting - that’s how long Ian has been with Friso Gold; the brand that finally survived our grueling digestion criteria. The Friso Gold brand is soooo engrained in our family, that every time the familiar Friso Gold advertisement jingle comes on TV, Ian enthusiastically points to it and says “Ian’s milk!” Thanks to Friso Gold, I am confident of his strong digestive system, which in turns allows me to tolerate Ian being adventurous and exploratory with his daily meals.

To be part of the Friso Gold family, request for your free sample at http://www.frisogold.com.my/try-friso-gold.

#FrisoGoldMY #FrisoGoldMalaysia #LocNutri #preservesnutrients #easydigestionforstrongerinside

The School Uniform To Buy That Will Last Throughout the School Year!

Well hello, school holidays!

After months of waiting, it is finally the end of the year and finally time to start preparing Aiden for Primary Two! So why have I been waiting for this moment with bated breath??? For the simple reason... of going shopping.

*sigh* Aiden's Primary One school uniform and shoes did not survive the wear and tear of his active lifestyle. Boys will always will be boys... you can never expect them to sit all prim and proper in school. They run through puddles and play catch and hopscotch during breaks. Then they come barreling home wearing uniforms stained with roti canai dhal and ice-cream streaks.

By mid-year, Aiden’s shoes were so scruffy and worn out; it was barely hanging by its soles. His uniform on the other hand, had been bleached and cleaned so much that they won’t take anymore, and are permanently dingy with no way of bringing them back to life. It was such an eye sore all throughout the year that I vowed to make better choices for the upcoming Primary 2 school year!

So this year, I’ve decided to invest in the Professor Red Label school uniform. In all honesty, I’ve heard of the Professor brand for quite some time. Not only did I grew up wearing Professor school uniforms, but since they have the most comprehensive range of extra curriculum activities uniform and accessories in Malaysia, I find myself visiting them often in my teens, for my Girl Guide needs.

Professor school uniforms have been around since 1982. Professor owns their own uniform factory; hence they guarantee excellent workmanship in every piece of uniform.  I brought home a few sets of school uniforms for Aiden, and upon inspection I noticed that that the stitching is immaculate, the form well-tailored. As for the fabric, not only are they more durable, (bye-bye fading!) but they are cooling and breathable ensuring that the children will feel comfortable even when they wear it the whole day. It was a far cry from those synthetic feeling polyester fabrics so commonly found in the market nowadays.

Aiden wearing the Professor Red Label uniform. Aside from a shorter trim for the pants, it was a perfect fit!

Aiden in the Professor Baju Melayu set. Even after washing, the cooling fabric stays smooth without any excessive ironing. The material also keeps to shape, even after several washings.

Breathable fabric that will keep the kids feeling pleasant even when they wear it the whole day.

Upon closer inspection, I found a key feature that is oh-so important for children who are about Aiden’s age. Hidden within the folds of the pocket, was a zipper! Did you know how many wallets Aiden misplaced throughout his first school year? A grand total of 5!!! Hence, this feature is very much welcomed in preventing the loss of money and coins at school.

A zip is hidden within the folds of the pocket.

What about price, you ask? My advise – don’t select the cheapest in the market. Instead, strike a balance between cost and quality. Good quality school uniforms will guarantee you the run for your money. For this purpose, choose the Professor Green Label school uniform. This range caters to the demands of cheaper uniform without compromising on the workmanship synonymous to the Professor brand. If you are budget conscious, you can opt for this range and be assured that your children will get the quality and durable uniform that they deserve.

So if you’re planning to start on your school year shopping soon, make your life easier by choosing to shop at Professor. Not only are they a one-stop shop for all your school needs all year long, but they also offer a wide selection of extra curriculum activities uniform, outdoor camping equipment and related accessories.

Professor has 12 outlets within the Klang Valley, with their first outlet located in SS2 Petaling Jaya. Check out the links below for more information:

Website: http://www.professoruniforms.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProfessorUniforms

Store Locator: http://www.professoruniforms.com/locations

One Off The Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list?

Well, honestly I don't. But a lot of people tell me, that having your face plastered all over Siakapkeli warrants a tick of the bucket list. *giggles* Remember the green screen interview I wrote about? Well, it is finally up on various social media platforms, but my personal favourite is the one where it went viral for Siakapkeli.

(Oh, how I wish the interview was held after the Samsung Note 7 launch and the entire saga of fire, explosions, and subsequent recalls. My iPhone teammate and I would have a field day poking fun at the Samsung team and their debacle!)

For Siakapkeli.

Thanks Siakapkeli - not exactly my most flattering closeup shots!

Business Insider did a short write-up as well. Here's the excerpt.

Anyway, before you go off and search for the YouTube video, I will have to warn you - take it with a pinch of salt please. For starters, they slashed a lot of materials to produce the final footage, so I think I sounded like I was merely agreeing with everything that my teammate said instead of pulling my own weight on the debate. Secondly, we were all asked to act over the top to make it viral worthy, hence forgive our OTT antics please.

Okay, next bucket list. Get myself on Beautifulnara.... *kidding*

Green Screen

Hello hello hello!

Yesterday was certainly an eventful day for me. It was my first green screen group interview! (Or should I say debate?)

As a blogger, I've been blessed with the experience of being interviewed in front of the camera, interviewed in a press conference, and acted in a video shoot. But this time around, Nuffnang decided to test my limits yet again!

Malaysiakini held a tri-party debate among hard core users of iPhone, Samsung and Huawei, and there was certainly no surprise on which camp I was fighting for. Each smartphone brand was represented by two participants, and we were all provided with some background questions so we could do our own research.

The green screen magically became a blue screen on TV!

Dry run session in the morning.

After hair and make up.

The first time we shot the first few questions, the crew pulled everyone out and told us to stop being so proper and polite. They wanted drama... blood and tears, the whole works. (Ok fine I'm exaggerating but you get the gist). So we were asked to re-shoot the whole thing all over again. Needless to say, it ended with Pokeballs being thrown at each other, mic drops and even a blue wig came out (say what???!!) *giggles*

Anyway, I had a crazy fun time with everyone. I won't get into the details just yet, but stay tuned for the full video, soon to be released on Malaysiakini. (As usual, be kind on the critics! Especially since we had to act outside of our comfort zones, to make it an interesting, dramatic and viral-worthy for everyone. But don't worry, in the end we all remained friends. *chuckles* )

Funny moment during the shoot.

Group shot at the end.

A Future Renovation?

Ever since we moved into our house 5 years ago, we have not embarked on any renovations to our humble home. Sure, we've done minor modifications; new furniture, new tiles, new flooring, new coat of paint, and the most recent - wainscoting. But we've always been living within the same square feet of space.

Call it the five year itch, but Hubby and I are both itching to embark on a revamp to the house. After hosting so many breakfast get-togethers, dinner parties, pot luck rendezvous and such, we've come to realize that our dining hall is a tad too cozy. I love hosting people in our house, so this renovation is quite necessary for me. Hubby on the other hand, has always wanted to make space for a family hall, making the current living hall a bit more formal for receiving guests. So hopefully with this additional space, we may be able to make room (pun intended) for his dreams too.

Anyway, I'm going to keep the details of our renovations hush hush for now. But what I do know is… it's going to be such an existing phase!!! *jiggles and dances in delight* I've done my research on much of what we want, and I really do not want to bore you with all the minute details. But what I do want to highlight is our choice of tiles.

A good tile is just like a fashionable outfit for women. Not only does it have to look stylish, it also needs to be able to withstand the test of time. I’ve had my share of renovation woes – chipped tiles, subpar finishes, or even patterns that become out of date faster than your wallet can afford new ones. Recognize that your choice of tiles are an investment, not a cost; so never compromise on quality and durable tiles which can still be picked up at great prices.

Niro Granite is all that and more. Niro Granite tiles are Swiss quality tiles that have been around the market for more than 30 years. The quality of porcelain tiles is at par with the best European brands, and can be used for wall and floor coverings for both interior and exterior applications. You have to check out their latest series of tiles, namely the I’Pietra, Stockholm and Step series. Inspired by stone, marble and cement design elements, they can make a bland room look so chic and classy. I never knew dressing up a room could be so easy!

This is my favourite for our dining room, the I’Pietra series. Inspired by nature, it mimics the distinct patterns and colour of natural stones. It will go beautifully with my marble dining table! Also available in other ravishing natural shades of white, beige and grey.

This is from the Stockholm series. Inspired by the semblance of raw concrete, these beige tiles are so sleek and modern. This is one color that will surely match any contemporary to modern home! Also available in natural shades of white and grey.

This is from the Step series. Designed exclusively for exterior applications, these dusky tiles mimic the look of natural limestones, evoking a sense of masculinity to the great outdoors. This one is definitely Hubby’s favourite!

Niro Granite tiles can be purchased through their e-commerce website http://www.nirogranite.com.my. But if you’re my type… the type that needs to touch and feel the tiles for yourself to be able to inspire plans for your dream home, then join me at Niro Granite’s booth in in Archidex (International Architecture, Interior Design and Building Exhibition Malaysia) 2016 at Hall 4, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 20th-23rd July 2016, 10am-7pm.

See you there!

Winner of the TRANSFORMER Giveaway by Hasbro Toy Malaysia

Hi everyone!

Aiden was given the royal task of choosing a winner for the TRANSFORMERS Giveaway by Hasbro Toy Malaysia. In case you missed the giveaway, you can read it here.

Anyway, here's a video of how we picked the winner:

So congratulations to lucky #6 - Jade Harun! *clapclapclap* Please email me your contact details at lizyahaya[at]gmail.com by 3rd July 2016, for prize fulfillment and shipment.

Shell Kita

Short post to share my top two Instagram photos from the recent Shell Kita campaign.

I was down with a high fever the night before the event. Tapi demi Fahrin Ahmad, I took a shot in the butt to recover. It was my first time, getting up close and personal with Fahrin Ahmad... all I can say is, the shot on the butt was well worth it, as he is every bit as handsome in real life as his media photos.

He pleasantly agreed for a photo op!

One for my own Instagram. I fueled up and turned my journey into a blessing.

Thanks Shell, not only for the photo opportunity with Fahrin Ahmad, but for allowing me to do my part in improving and transforming the lives of disadvantaged children... all by just fueling up my car. #Shellkita