Panduan Untuk Bakal Ibu Bapa! $$$

First thing first, I nak congratulate my only one younger sis Najihah Abas for her pregnancy!!!
That means Faatih ada cousin untuk dibuli....walaupon sebaya :P


Since this is her 1st pregnancy, why don't I guide her in preparing her arrival. Tak tau lagi la baby boy ke girl kan. And kepada bakal ibu bapa yang lain bole jadikan entry ni sebagai panduan untuk menyambut si kecil :)


Kebanyakan kita confuse dan tertanya-tanya, apa la barang yang perlu dibeli untuk baby...baju berapa pasanga, mitten and booties nak berapa helai, blom masuk stroller, katil, baby bath accessories, breastfeeding items lagi...


uuuffff.......pening kan???? Ni la yang I alami dulu. Mungkin ada yang cakap..."ala..beli ala kadar jer. Mak ayah kita takda pon list yang panjang macam ni...ok jer." Tapi zaman sekarang dah lain ok!


Meh kita "terjah dan bongkar" barang apa yang diperlukan untuk baby.

Maternity

Bila dah mengandung, bentuk badan pon berubah. Mana yang dulu pinggang anak dara,nah....dari 26" melebar ko sampai 29"-30". Issk......jadi haruslah beli baju or seluar barukan. During my pregnancy, I tak beli baju maternity. I just bought loose sleeveless and pakai ngan cardigan. Senang. Bottom pon pakai legging. If you mom-to-be opt for pants, I suggest Topshop or lagi murah brand Scarlet at JJ.

The most important is the bra. Yes, please say bye bye to your old size of La Senza coz its gonna be bigger than you thought! Of cos, your boobs contain milk lah! I tak beli maternity bra during pregnant but I bought nursing bra je. The best and affordable nursing bra can be found at Fabulous Mom. Murah dan cantik! Material pon not bad. It'll only cost you from RM39.90!

Nursery

Most excited parents akan beli baby cot for their 1st child. *2nd child pakai abang/kakak dia punya jer LOL* I rasa cheapest baby cot bole dapat kat Ikea. And I think Ikea has the best yet economical baby furniture. Yang terlebih mampu bole la beli set bagai.....tapi bagi I basic baby furniture, baby cot and wardrobe jer.

Snuggle wrap from Pumpkin Patch

Adalah penting untuk "membedung" baby yang baru lahir. Kalau di awal kelahiran bole la bedung guna kain napkin jer tapi bila dah 2-3 bulan, kain bedung pon dah tak muat. For solution, sekarang dah banyak snuggle wrap or swaddle wrap jual kat pasaran. Dulu, Pumpkin Patch jer yang jual tapi sekarang I tengok local store dah banyak. Harga dalam RM 39.90 tak silap.

Untuk 6 months ke atas, bola pakai sleeping bag. Sleeping ni mengelakkan terjadinya SIDS (Sudden Death Infant Syndrome) sebab kalau kita pakai selimut biasa tu, baby ni kuar "jerking" time tido. So selimut tu kadang-kadang leh tertutup muka dia.

Playtime

Untuk playtime, I rasa semua dalam list tu perlu. Unless kalau tak nak bouncer tu tak payah pon takpe. Alhamdulillah Faatih dapat bouncer free orang bagi. Yang I memang dah aim plak tuh. Tips??? sila la buat baby shower! Time tu korang bole la request kat member-member list barang yang korang perlukan.

Feeding

Avent Starter Set

List feeding ni la yang mengundang dilema especially those sterilising and warmer equipment. I memula dulu pikir, perlu ker benda alah ni. Ye la...mak kita dulu-dulu kalau nak sterilise rendam sajer ngan air panas. Nak warm EBM (Express Breast Milk) pon pakai air panas. Tapi haritu I dah terbeli Avent Set siap ngan steriliser and warmer skali. Senang ok! Untuk ibu-ibu yang bekerja, then balik umah nak kena masak lagi, basuh baju, kemas umah, layan suami..opsss.....letak jer EBM dalam bottle warmer, tak sampai 2 minit, susu dah bole diminum. same goes with steriliser, letak dalam steriliser, tunggu 11 minit, siap dah!

For bottle, please choose the one with BPA FREE. Walaupon tak da study yang specific mengatakan effect  BPA (Bisphenol A - bahan pembuat plastik) kepada bayi tapi sesetengah negara dah mengharamkan bahan ini dalm botol baby.

Breastpump! Yes, this is the most important "gadget" that mommy should have. Ye la...kita kalau bole, nak bagi anak menyusu badan macam sunnah nabi, sampai umur 2 tahun. Tapi kalau susu dah takda nak buat camner. I rasa pemilihan breastpump penting untuk mendapatakan stock susu yang cukup. I beli Medela Swing (single pumping) tapi penat la...sebab dapat pump once at a time. Pastu Swing ni "bising" and annoying gak bunyi dia. Patut I beli Freestyle jer tapi mahal la sangat. Sampai RM1600!! Kalau nak yang harga sederhana, haritu I tengok best brand untuk breastpump ialah Ameda and Spectra. Harus lepas ni buat tabung breastpump plak. :P

Baby Clothes

Haaa.....bab ni la yang bakal parents excited especially bila anak 1st. *termasuk la I* Lagi-lagi zaman sekarang baju baby macam-macam fesyen. Best tips ialah beli romper set. Masa kat Oz, I dah terbeli Mothercare punya. Harga dalam RM 100 = 7 pcs = RM 15/pc. Tapi bila balik Malaysia I tengok banyak online blogshop jual Carter Romper RM 45 = 5 pcs = RM 9/pc. Murah bukan? 

Tapi tu la..memang tak perlu berlebih-lebih beli baju baby on the 1st 3 months sebab baby ni memang cepat membesar *speaking of my own boy* unless kalau baby tu lahir bawah 3 kg so lama la sket pakai.

Here my suggestion list :

5 pcs short sleeves romper (0-3 months)

3 pcs sleeveless romper (0-3 months)

2 pcs baju lubang-lubang (you know which one)

5 pcs sleepsuit

3 pair socks

5 pairs mittens and booties

3 pcs hats/beanies

So terpulang la nak ikut ke tak. Ini suggestion jer. I pon rasa macam membazir sebab bila balik sini, ramai plak yang pemurah bagi baju time melawat I aritu. yes, Malaysian sangat pemurah and baik hati....sure u guys akan dapat banyak barang baby bila bersalin.

Untuk baby bathtime tu I rasa all the items perlu tapi bath termometer to optional. Nak mandi air panas bole rasa ngan jari sajer. :)

Travel

Stokke Xplory

Stroller or pram menjadi "hot" topic jugak bila nak dapat baby. Ada pasangan bole sampai bergaduh nak belikan anak stroller tak lupa yang confuse. Every parents of course nak yang the best untuk anak diaorg tapi haruslah memadai dengan budget yang sedia ada. bagi I, stroller ni biarlah "alah membeli, menang memakai". Biar mahal sket tapi tahan lama. If jemu pakai pon, sekarang bole jual 2nd hand and still ada value :) betul tak?

There're lots of stroller in market right now. Range stroller as low as RM 90 - RM4000. As I said, depends on your budget. Antara brand bawah RM 1000 : MacLaren, Peg Prego, Mothercare or Sweet Cherry. RM 1000-RM2000 : Quinny, Maxi Cosi, Baby Jogger. RM 2000 and above : Quinny Buzz, Stokke, Bugaboo, Phil and Teds.

On car seat........hurrmm is it important? Kalau kat Oz dah kena perintah berwajib ok! Nampak jer baby naik kete takda carseat, sure kena saman. Kat Malaysia nasib baik belum diperketatkan lagi. Jadi terpulang pada ibu bapa nak beli ke tak nak on car seat. I sendiri pon belum beli tapi akan beli la kot sebab dah tak larat nak pegang Faatih bila travel. dia makin berat...huhuhuh

I hope entry ni bola la dijadikan panduan pada bakal ibu bapa...takda la pening kepala or confuse kan bila nak menyambut kelahiran orang baru.

Untuk ibu-ibu dan bakal ibu, Selamat Hari Ibu! :)

Bagaimana Untuk Menge"paw" Suami Secara Berhemah

Whhoaa...seminggu tidak update. Al-maklumlah, orang beranak kecik *alasan sesaje* siang dia berjaga, tunggu malam dia dah lelap baru bole nak update bog. Tu pon kalau dia btol-btol "sleeping beauty" tanpa rengekan kedengan dek kerana jejari ibunya menekan keyboard. :D

Anyway, ini entry saje suka-suka. Kalau entry serius memanjang nak bebel masalah negara nanti ramai kondem blog mak u'ols.

Korang kalau nak mintak duit shopping kat husband macam mana eh???

Tunggu husband bagi? Mintak kat meja makan dengan memasak makanan sedap-sedap *kot la dengar jumlah kita mintak, terus tersembur nasi husband* or mintak kat bilik tidur dengan memberi layanan istimewa *ehem..ehem (18SX)*


Me? I jarang mintak direct...selalu tunggu dia bagi nafkah bulanan je. I ni pemalu orangnya *woho! masuk dalam paperbag pastu angkat sendiri* Tu pon tunggu agak seminggu dua duit dalam bank baru berani nak guna *nak menunjukkan mak takda la gelojoh kan...hehhe* lagipon saya tidak bergaji, jadi tunggulah duit "mengalir ke dalam akaun bank" baru tersipu-sipu cakap "Thank you abang..." walaupon husband akan notify jam tu jugak.

So hari tu I dapat la idea camner nak "request" duit husband secara berhemah untuk shopping since masa tu I kat Malaysia, dia kat Aussie *akibat tak dapat gi Boxing Day, so kira claim la...hehehe*

Perlu diingatkan, ini memain jer tau. Bahasa Melayu tunggang-langgang jadi tak perlu la sesiapa nak memperbetulkan kesalahan tatabahasa I. I pon tulis surat rasmi ni last masa sekolah menengah kot, time agak-agak nak balik kampung, nak kuar outing cepat ke....so apa-apa salah ayat, tak kira k....

Well, sesekali nak buat kelainan apa salahnya kan. Lagipon benda-benda macam ni bagi I, secara tak langsung dapat mengeratkan hubungan husband and wife. Bergurau senda sambil tak sedar husband keluar duit..... :P mana la tau certain husband ada yang complain pressure kat tempat kerja. Dengan ayat dalam surat macam ni, takda la kepala husband kita "keluar tanduk" if kita mintak duit nak shopping. Kan? kan???

Trust me, these thing works. I dapat reply approval tak sampai 2 minit lepas I hantar email siapa dengan details "kad plastik" skali.


P/S : Cara ni agak-agak cuba 2 kali bole la kot......kali ke-3 if tak approve sendiri tanggung. Weeeeeee........

Fashion or Charity??

What do you think when you saw picture above? (Re : LV,Paris Hilton) Illustrated by Nadia Plesner (a Danish student artist and designer), this "Simple Living" campaign picture has dragged her into a court case as Louis Vuitton is now suing her for voilated their intellectual property.

This Simple Living Campaign is to support Divest For Darfur and 100% profit from selling the t-shirts and posters *Yes..its a front of t-shirt and a poster* are donated to Darfur people. Even one Malaysia's TV station having the "Dapur untuk Darfur" campaign*ala..yg iklan Mawi tu*.

But since the image drew by her represents one young Darfur child holding a Tinkerbell-like dog and one of LV's Multicolor handbag look-alike , she's got the lawsuit letter from LV's appointed law firm.*look at the picture, have you seen the "LV" logo there?*

Fashionistas might point out their fingers to Plesner but national voluteers or activist might want to support her.

From Nadia Plesner mind :

" My illustration Simple Living is an idea inspired by the medias constant cover of completely meaningless things. My thought was: Since doing nothing but wearing designerbags and small ugly dogs appearantly is enough to get you on a magasine cover, maybe it is worth a try for people who actually deserves and needs attention.

When we’re presented with the same images in the media over and over again, we might start to believe that they’re important. As I was reading the book ”Not on our watch” by Don Cheadle and John Prendergast last summer, I felt horrified by the fact that even with the genocide and other ongoing atrocities in Darfur, Paris Hilton was the one getting all the attention. Is it possible that show business have outruled common sense? If you can’t beat them, join them. This is why I have chosen to mix the cruel reality with showbiz elements in my drawing. "

So guys, Fashion or Charity??

****Due to Myanmar Nargis tragedy and Sichuan Earthquake in China, let us give our little RM1 to them for their foods/medicine/shelter. There're too many channels to mentioned. One could be better from us, Malaysians who knownly kind hearted and caring.

I had already show my support. What say you?

Picture taken from Nadia Plesner

Related topic from The Purse Blog

Financial - Part II

I had mentioned about "growing up your money" in the previous entry rite?

Do you know that if you start saving from now (taking an average age of 25), you'll be in heaven for the next 35 years or on your retirement?

How?

Here I show you...

Considering your age is 25 (now)

Your annual saving (per year) : RM 1200 (1 month = RM100)

You put your money into one Trust Fund

By the end of year u'll get : RM 1320 *(assuming that growth rate of interest is 10%)

You just have to save your money for the next 10 years, by mean after 1o years, NO MORE SAVING! You just let the money growing for you! and for the future...mayb you'll travel around the world! Believe it or not?

This is on how to calculated it......

Age : 25
Annual Saving : RM1200
End of Year Value : RM1320 *(assuming that growth rate of interest is 10%)

Age : 26
Annual Saving : RM1200
End of Year value : RM2772

.........
.........

After 10 years of saving, you''ll get :

Age : 34
End of Year Value : RM21,035

........
........

Wanna know what you'll get at the age of 65?

You'll get : RM 367,006 *(assuming that constantly 10% growth rate ; depends on the economic growth for the year)

You see...it's a big $$$ after all!!. You just have to saved for the 1st 10 years.

****Please be remind that the money will not growing if you just put it in a saving / current account.

So..the question is.....which one is the right Trust Fund for you?

Wait for the next entry.....*nanti pjg plak entry yg nih.*

The Project M Result - Financial Part I

Everybody seems to asked what the real thing behind The Project M by Defoo.
Ok...a lil bit revised :

It's bout the money you'd saved for every single cent you'd spent.

e.g : a) 1 tin of Coke at Kedai A = RM1.40 but since you knew that Kedai B = RM1.50 so you'll saved RM 0.10 if you buy at Kedai A.

b) from Defoo himself : He should bought a hp charger for RM70 but instead Lynn did lend her charger to Defoo so Defoo saved RM70.*tp dia blanjer K.Lynn which is less than RM70...hehe*

c) You're estimated a daily breakfast/lunch/dinner with RM20 but you just spent RM15 from budget. So you'll get RM5 for Project M.

d) Usual price for watching movie at cinema is RM11 per movie but you prefer to watch in in Wednesday (TGV) as they're giving RM6 for the day. So you'll save RM5 aite?

Ok...and here's mine *1 week estimation*

Thursday

Case : Budget for daily eating habit : RM 15
Result : Im fasting so i just bought Mc D at RM10 *include tax*
Saved : RM5

Friday

Case : Budget for daily eating : RM15
Result : Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner : RM 9
Saved : RM6

Case : Cutting my new pants : usually at RM 5
Result: Cutting at Port Klang : RM3
Saved : RM2

Saturday

Case : Budget for daily eating : RM15
Result : Spent RM6
Saved : RM9

Sunday

Case : Budget for daily eating : RM15
Result : Starbucks : RM 15.60
Mc D Nugget : RM 3.50
Spent : RM18.10
Saved : -RM3.10

Monday

Case : Budget for daily eating : RM15
Result : Im fasting and I spent RM5
Saved : RM10

Tuesday

Case : Budget for daily eating : RM15
Result : Pizza hut for lunch RM8.20
no dinner
Saved : RM6.80

Wednesday

Case : Budget for daily eating : RM15
Result : Someone paid for my lunch and dinner :)
Saved : RM 15 *yehaa!*

Sum of saving = RM 53.80 - 3.10
= RM 50.70

and I just got an idea in how we "implement" this Project M into something useful to us? We do have our wishlists rite? read : those who are having wishlists. A jeans mayb...or a top or a shoes or even an iPOD! you could put this Project M to that "Tabung for Jeans" for example. At least you saved something for something rite? =P *talks as shopaholic*

This "Tabung for Wishlists" are apply for those who did estimated certain amount for another saving money. If you didn't estimated an amount for saving then put the Project M saving to your piggy bank :). Easy isn't it?

p/s: I'll explain where you can "grow up your money" in the next entry :)


"It's easy to spent the money but it's not easy to keep it!"