Our Heaven On Earth: Dry Kitchen

if some of my reader follow my instagram, you probably seen this photo.

and if you been reading this blog you might remember my berangan on my Our Heaven On Earth: Dry Kitchen Planning.

So we did ask few quotations even from the previous kitchen cabinet contractor. But the price way too high...  GST is one the course of it.

We settled with a small malay contractor who give us cheap quot.
Decent Perakians, but takes him long time to finish the projects.

Due to his small business we cannot aspect much. Something we need to compromise on, such as of course the time (warned you it is too long), insufficient workers, and few selection of products (what you tick on the catalog might not be available),  & less tidy.

The pro is, it is very cheap (we select, quartz top and melamine door), what he quote is what you paid. x berkira langsung, good person terlampau sopan santun.

Despite the cons i think we quite satisfied with outcome. Some untidy works is barely seen (it is there but not that irritating or eye sore).

Still it looks nice to me... and of course i love it... it is my birthday gift anyway....

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Our Heaven On Earth:Cleaning Routine

I have follow many tips on cleaning but somehow tips from cleanmama.net is the best for me who has a full time job and do the domestic work by myself. Before, I've printed out list of chores that need to be done in a day. There are 3-4 tasks each day... I do feel overwhelm.

But tips from cleanmama help me much. I am pretty happy with it. It almost the same but she does make things look simple.

I feel the different. Happier when get back to a clean home. And cleaner day by day. I may have did extra task out of it... And I have a long Saturday and Sunday rest.... Instead of dump everything during weekends and feeling tired the whole week...

I wanted to share with everybody... And better if I could get a feedback from working mother... Or if you have better cleaning ritual solution.

Please visit www.cleanmama.net for more

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Our Heaven on Earth: Gardening

I started gardening few months back. I was having my lunch near to a nursery. After lunch i headed to the nursery and have a look at the things they have and i end up bought a premix organic soils, plastic black pots, and spinach and bak choy packet seeds which cost me only a few ringgit.

Once I got home I start plant them as per instruction in the packets.

to my surprise spinach is very easy to grow. Just make sure that they have enough water.
We do experience some yellow leaves due to dry soil but ince we water them they even grew larger and look fresher.

Though we have some hard time to grow the bak choy but i bet we need to give another try. Seems i took longer time before we can enjoy them.

To you all, why not try them. It can save up few Ringgit of the vege... or if im becoming more expert we can have something like this as in B.I.G Groceries in Publika.

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Our Heaven On Earth: Hang frames on the wall (gallery specs)

Up to this point, we still have a lot of wedding gifts in the boxes that just waiting for us to use or display. There are a lot of frames of al-Qur'an verses and other Islamic art wall decor given by family and friends. I always dreaming to have a house that decent to be shared in houzz.com. From what can I see based on my everyday routine to check on the latest newsletter and photos I agreed that the way we decorate our house is different. Especially how we hang a wall decor.

Back to my mom i remember that we just agak-agak on the height that suit by eyes. I have been googled up for informations on what is the best height to place an art frame. Their rules is quite simple, the centre of any frames no matter what size should be 57" in height. 

They claimed that this give a harmonized look to the area. So the best website that give very simple explanation is from Apartment Therapy  . They even give a short video on how to hang a picture. 

A very simple method what we did in calculating the height as below;

57" + (lenghth @ height of the frame)/2 - the distance from the top of the frames to the point to screw or the tighten wire.

you get a better understanding if you watch the video.

I do feel it is a little bit low than the usual I see at my mom's or any other people houses but i started to love it. It is gallery like. 

Looks like I'm getting there to have a curated home when I have a wall like gallery.

I need to find a lot of other artworks for the home.. excited sampai sume rasa nak drill.

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Household review: Sutra Wellness & kitchen tissue paper

I always wanted to have green home (by means back to basic as we could be) I came across by this wellness multipurpose aromatherapy product name Sutra. I read it in one of my neighbour's blog and saw it in one my cousin's house.

I am drawn to know about the product as it claim 100% natural. Best enough for me... (Organic is too expensive). Questions have been raised to my cousin on the product effectiveness. She told me that it does helps avoiding the unwanted guest especially the ants and give a nice smells. She bought with a lemongrass sense. I'm not quite like it though as it reminds me of a harsh sharp smell from the infamous "serai wangi" multipurpose liquid. However the smell of lemongrass sutra is in the low key very mild.

Since my neighbour is one of the agent, I would like to give it a try. I was hopping they bring vanilla tone unfortunately they don't have it. I settled with sweet lavender to be safe. However when group of neighbours discussing it in the whatsapp and place their order, pandan sense was highly requested. 

neighbour

I personnally message Ilyani (the agent/) which one she preferred. She suggested Pandan. I bought both sense. A day before yesterday I went and pick them up and immediately try it sweet lavender on a small section of my mirrored dining table. They claim it safe to use on mirror cleaner. 

My husband notice that the table more shinier. It does not leave any sticky surface but does leave a sweet smells. Just like I like it so. Yesterday after dinner I applied generously on the granite kitchen counter and works wonder in giving me the shine plus a lovely smells of bunga rampai. Yes! I fall in love with Pandan. 

I always very careful with granite as it bit porous. Thus my homemade cleaner (which with vinegar in it) is not a choice. I only clean them with micro mini dollop of dishwashing liquid just because I'm afraid the lemon extract in the dishwashing liquid will make the top damage. 

As of now it is the right choice for me plus for those boycott ( I'm still boycotting) this is definitely a substitute for that ambi pur (I stop using it). 

And for housewives out there, I found a substitute for a quality Scott's kitchen towel/tissue paper (boycott) which is First Choice. Do not buy the cheap Giant brand because the quality is like toilet paper. Seriously. Every time I use giant's I have to do twice or triple job just to cleans the residue of the tissue fibers. Bought them because cheap. This is one cheap product that is not value to the money.

So this is my humble review. 

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Our Heaven On Earth: Currated Home

When we (mean I) decided to have a currated home, I knew the whole house progress will be slow... A terribly slow. People currated good furniture with value. Any decorative items they collected should be a statement and cost a fortune.

My understanding of currated is to ensure what ever we bought is something that value to our hearts. It does not mean it has to be expensive and neither as hoarders. When people start to like something they tends to bought more of it. When it currated it does not just mean rare but useful and definitely has a purpose. 

I try my best to become a curator of my own home instead of hoarder. Yepp, I am normal though I love pretty glasses and crystal and have collection of that. But I ensure whatever I bought have a purpose. Currated life means less spending on unnecessary items thus equivalent to more saving. Still a beginner for having a currated life.

Just my two cents though....

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Our Heaven On Earth: Dry Kitchen Planning

Every time we come back home, my house still have that new house smell. Smell of paint & cement. I believe if you read my post about the painted grill post  you will understand how is my so called wet kitchen looks like. Looking back on the the initial plan by the developer I think they plan this area as a laundry area. That is why they planned it with open grill style.

I like open spaces, but it is definitely not practical if you living in terrace link house. So there goes the louvers and frosted contact paper on the installed window.

Our wet kitchen was built by Everskilldesign. I am definitely a comeback customer. We are planning for the dry kitchen area. Most of the neighbours smashed the wall down just to make the kitchen look larger. I prefer the other way. As my love of open spaces I still want my wet kitchen well hidden from the main area. It is so uncomfortable if guest can peek on how messy you will be in the kitchen (saya x cekap, I took longer time than others when it comes to prepare, cook and cleaning) 

One thing so important for us when we first enter the house and as advice to new homeowner, please put water filter as main priority and must put in your renovation and furniture cost. We bought ours from COWAY. We chose the standing water filter as we lack of kitchen counter and currently located at our so call dry kitchen.

Thus due to this we do have a few conflicts right now on where should we place it. We do have insufficient storage, therefore this is first layout. To have a tall unit next to fridge and the water filter/dispenser next to the door (please assume the heater is water filter/dispenser and half of it height)

Pros;

1. The switches are right where the electronic appliances belong (a plug at the back of fridge and a plug at the back of the water filter)

2. More storage with the tall unit. Can hide many of the small kitchen appliances (juicer toaster and such)

3. There is drainage hole and water pipe at the back of the water filter for water output.

Cons;

1. Shorter counter against the window make it look cramp

2. The water filter can be seen from the main area.

3. A relocation of water filter need to be done by COWAY technician (F.O.C)

Second plan is to forget about the tall unit and let the water filter at the place where it should be.

Pros;

1. No relocation needed.

2. Longer counter area against the window. Suitable for breakfast table.

Cons;

1. Counter and cabinet need to be drill and make a hole for the water inlet and water outlet (yes currently it looks like the blue and orange water pipe from the tap).

2. There is only a plug. Require new plug or additional plug (need to check with technician whether can use the extension plug or otherwise)

I require your comments and idea on this matter which suit best.

Other than wild dream of having white Carrera marble as the counter top (which definitely not going to happen) against the white cabinetry with gold handles. I will come back on my imagination to have a see through glass wall cabinet, frosted wall cabinet or just plain white for upper and lower cabinet.

Long way to go guys because saving will only taken place starting next month.

Wish and pray for all whites kitchen approved by my husband.

P/s: black counter top do keep the spills invisible but watermark and dust can easily be the eye sore. 

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Our Heaven On Earth: The Living Room

After all procrastination, here I am writing again (for second time)I need readers to help me out to decide what shape of our coffee table should be that suit our living hall. Should it be rectangular, circle or a square or ununiform shape perhaps. I am totally have no idea.

As currently susunatursioca.blogspot.com having a contest and as a platform for idea sharing on how people in Malaysia especially, decorate their living hall I would like to take this opportunity to ask things that bother me much. 

We have been living here for a year but there are still so many bare walls and empty spaces and insufficient storage (psst.. We still do not have a wardrobe and not even having a bed frame to make it even worst to describe). 

Apart from budget constraint, I personnally wanted to have a curated home. Where everything we bought have a purpose and something valuable in the future. 

Here some photos that will do the judgement of our house current state. I always wanted a three seater sofa (customized one...dreaming) in grey and decided to combine and blend it with other furniture that I will encounter in the future. As I fond to this grey fabric sofa at Casa Moderno at one of my solo visit to furniture store which cost us quite a chunk of money, I've decided to come back with my husband to take his opinion. 

Yes, it a nice grey fabric with high quality sofa but my husband interested to settle down with the one in the photos. It was a display unit with a price cheaper than the one I fond to and to top it, if I agree to his decision I do not have to fork out any cent to buy them. Yeah for me. They are 3 + 2 seater and with additional hand rest that are very thick make them look even bulkier. Once they arrived and settled in our living room they took up much of the space we have and as I am being racist to them for being white the wide seating make them like a super single bed and they make the comfiest sofa and I started to love them (actually I found out this sofa is almost identical to the one featured on in the House drama series).

Months has gone, as our area here still undergoing a lot more other constructions nearby this sofa did build up a little dust. Good thing about it we can wash the fabric but I myself not trusting neither my husband nor I to separate them to wash the sofa covers and hardly thinking would the cover fit like new without any fabric shrink or what's not. 

As for the carpet we used to have my mom's carpet which much larger in size but not as my like in term of the design. Therefore my husband bought this 3D damask design Turkish carpet in grey which we bought somewhere in Shah Alam near Upin Ipin Studio.

I love how every time I coming down the stairs and this carpet draws so much attention, but please bare in mind with 3D carpet you need to expect some unleveled furniture or some dirt or dust collected in the shallow part. 

And now as raya approach I think I should buy a coffee table that suit this twins and really need your ideas and comments what should and what not. 

I know there are a lot more things that we should do such as a day curtain and some wall features/wall frames need to be pulled in to make this living hall looks more lively. I guess I concentrate on the coffee table first to make more comfortable conversation area. 

If you have some idea on how you decorate your living hall you may enter the contest Here

Mana tau you might win something from:

http://lovelylife369.blogspot.com/

http://miles2urdoor.blogspot.com/

http://www.mamasihatkeluargasihat.com/

http://hidupkurumahkuterurus.blogspot.com/

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Our Heaven On Earth: The Den/The guest Room

On my previous post Our Heaven on Earth: Guest Room I did blogged on the list I need for our den (that earlier I want it to be our Home Office). I am so into the IKEAbedframe. But one afternoon while reading a newspaper I saw Harvey Norman's bedding sale ads.

Hilker bed caught my eyes and we decided to pay a visit to MidValley to have a physical look and make a decision. Since the price within the budget plus it come in Super single size and very thick we very delighted to have it to be fitted nicely in the small room.

I do not want to make it look like a bedroom (as bedroom should have the feeling of belongings to the visitor) I prefer to make it look like a den and bed that look like a short resting place.

After that we went for hunting of the bed covers. Instead of the normal ready made type I prefer it to be customed according to the colour that I want it to be like the one on our prayer mat, dark brown, blue and white.

Apart from that, the colour chosen is to be blend with the carpet a gift from my love MIL. I wanted it to be special and for her to know how we appreciate her gift.

There still lot more things to do on but due to budget restrain we will do it slowly and accordingly to our affordibility.

You may refer to Pn. Rehana on her idea of a special space. She got a very good point on her special space.
Or you may refer to other bloggers who shares their idea or you may share your thoughts on your special space at Susun Atur Sioca


You may win a chance to receive a special gift from http://mylifeconcerto.blogspot.com/

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Our Heaven on Earth: Cleaning a Microwave

Antara peralatan penting yang harus ada di dapur ialah ketuhar gelombang mikro atau lebih sinonim bagi para domestic goddess yang lebih selesa menggunakan istilah bahasa inggeris iaitu microwave. Peralatan moden yang praktikal dan multifungsi ini sebenarnya merupakan aset wajib ada bagi menata sebuah dapur. 

Microwave kami yang kini sudah menjangkau seusia dengan perkahwinan kami (hadiah perkahwinan dari sahabat sang suami) masih dalam keadaan baik walau sebenarnya jarang sekali digunakan. Namun dalam masa yang sama I cannot live without it kerana ia merupakan pemudahcara dan juga kerana kuasa penjimatan masa yang diberikan apabila diperlukan.

Culas akan kebersihannya boleh membuat mesin moden ini sebagai kunci hazard di dapur, dimana sisa makanan yang tertinggal boleh mengakibatkan bakteria dan kulat menggangu kesihatan penggunanya. Bagi yang terlupa kali terakhir menggunakannya, kiranya wajib juga menjalankan 4 langkah mudah membersihkan microwave yang hanya mengambil lebih kurang 10 minit sahaja. 

Taktik ini bukan sahaja selamat digunakan kerana menggunakan agen pembersih yang alami, ia juga berjaya membersihkan dan membangkitkan aroma yang menenangkan. 

Langkah 1:

Buah lemon atau buah citrus lain dipotong dua dan diletakkan kedalam bekas yang microwavable. (Tips: buah-buhan citrus yang dah agak-agak x lalu nak makan boleh digunakan untuk elak pembaziran)

Tambah air

(Saya tambah essen vanilla dan rosemary bagi membangkitkan aroma seakan-akan memberi wangian pada musim luruh)

Anda juga boleh tambahkan essential oil yg lain (pastikan ia natural blend dan bukan chemical)

Langkah 2:

Panaskan bekas berisi air dan lemon tadi selama 5 minit.

Setelah masa tamat padamkan suiz utama dan biarkan sehingga microwave itu agak suam dalam keadaan pintu masih tertutup supaya menggalakkan wap terperangkap menjalankan tugasnya.

Langkah 3: 

Ketika microwave dalam suhu sederhana panas dan selamat untuk dibersihkan, gunakan tisu/span untuk mengeluarkan sisa makanan yg agak berminyak. Setelah itu boleh mengelap interiornya dengan menggunakan sedikit air tadi dan kain pengelap fiber yang bersih. Mulakan dari bahagian atas, tepi, dan bawah kemudian beransur ke muka pintu dalam microwave terbabit. Lap kan sehingga kering. Menggunakan method yang sama iaitu dengan sedikit air suam lemon tadi, bersihkan bahagian luar termasuk butang kendalian. Pastikan air yang digunakan untuk mengelap tidak banyak dan cukup sekadar melembabkan bagi memudahkan proses membersih kerana dikhuatiri merosakkan komponen elektrik dan elektronik mesin terbabit. 

Langkah 4: 

Bergembira dengan hasilnya.

Peringatan: sila rujuk manual sebelum melakukan kerja-kerja pembersihan peralatan elektrik atau elektronic

Tips: Bagi kekotoran yang sukar dibersihkan gunakan bikarbonat soda.

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Our Heaven On Earth: The Living Room

As of today whatever that you see here is actually how our living room look like. The huge comfy sofa was on display when we bought them. They were wide as single bed and have a few kids shoe mark. 

I personnaly did not have an eye on them but then it was on display and my husband said it fit his pocket. 

Sold.

I always wanted a single sofa and not a sofa set. I always thought they will make my house look smaller and heavier. 

I accepted the offer to have this for our living hall as this will be fully paid by my husband instead of the initial plan we have to split into half. 

Without thinking on the size while buying and never knew the size our living hall. When this twins come it took most of the room plus my dining furniture.

I had this thinking to place the two seat sofa upstairs at the family hall and guess what. It does not fit. I hve to see this 2+3 sofa formation from now on.

Despite that, we still need a coffee table but until today i could not decide on whether to have it in square/rectangular or round table.

Any suggestion?

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Surirumah berjaya

I dont think so there are such thing as full time, part time housewives. Personnaly i think once you are a wife there are so many hats that you put on at a time but the housewife is a full time.

Betul x? I myself always wonder how those amazing woman can pull off so many things at a time.

Anak berderet2 kerja lagi masak lagi buat kerja rumah jaga badan jaga husband (i wanted to say laki but my mom said x respectful kpd great man that you love) 

Maka orang macam saya ni kn la buat reference. Luckily I found this great local blog dedicated for managing our home sweet home. Macam focus group gitew. Ada banyak cabaran and info where other bloggers can share their thoughts and idea and definitely ada hadiah. Dan orang macam saya curi idea tu... Hehehe...

This month they are having cabaran untuk family area... My family area only have a box of fan yg x dipasang and lampu yg juga belum dipasang so definitely i thirst for ideas... Kindly check them out at Susun Atur Sioca and the price giveaway is from my friend Puan Rehana yang i tell you too many hats at once (wife, mom, employee, businesswoman, daughter, muslim, and the list goes on)

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Our Heaven On Earth: Guest Room

At first we thought to have a home office right at the room near to our kitchen. So that both of us working and can see each other... kononnya. Though we rarely have guest coming in but once they come we knew we need to create some privacy space for them.

to perform solah

for a changing room

for a proper resting place

for mommy baby breasfeeding moment

to keep our privacy as well upstairs

Currently the room occupied by my things (kitchen equipment and item) and in house ampai... hahahah. Being realistic I am very sure that my dry kitchen will take much longer time to be physically available, therefore i would like to proceed with either guest room or home office. 

Not being selfish, I myself decided (without consulting my hub) to proceed with the guest room. 

Something worth to share before any project start up.

http://interiordec.about.com/od/guestroom2/a/invitingguestrm.htm

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/135035/list/7-Ways-to-Take-a-Guest-Room-from-Good-to-Great

Therefore some of things in mind

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Our Heaven On Earth: Organizing Kitchen Cabinet

I was triggered by my neighbour's blog on her view to organize her kitchen cabinet.

She has such a beautiful home and two adorable daughters and her idea on organizing kitchen cabinet  is somehow is a cheap and quick project. You may click here to see her home projects. I never met her yet but i wish to see her anyday soon...

My aim is to bought a few containers that fits inside my cabinet beside the oven and the cabinet that i place my gas. 

I better not share with you guys the rest of the before photos coz it was not pleasing to the eyes. This is the only decent before photo

My beside oven cabinet is very narrow and deep. It sure easyly things get 'lost', you know the out of sight out of mind... I will definitely totally forgot all about it, i'm still figure out what should i do to ensure that those item will not get expired when i found them. Hehehehe and i am open for any suggestion.

Thus the best i can thought of to combine all together the sauces & condiments in a container. And my milo and nestum at the back. Sort of like a breakfast things in it. Below it i put all my dry goods that are  in packets in a container just to have an organized look. Hope this will stay longer without mess and work with me.

The other side, i place my herbs and to maximized it im using this tier drawer which i bought from groupon/my deal.... My review x payah beli laaa.... It does help in term of spacing but very flimsy anyhooo dah belikan guna jela...

Below it i place my cleaning cloths and tea cloth as well as my blender courtesy of my best friend who understand me best that we are blender zero when we move in.... Hehehe

Baru boleh buat sambal... Hehehe

Next to it is the corner cabinet where gas taken place. Now it fully utilized since gas is place at the corner and next to it is where im going to put my rice and a staking containers of potatoes, garlics, shallots and onions. Our untoughtful wedding gift given by my husband's friend place here and my folded drying rack will be hanged at this door soon and my rice cooker in between with knives.

                     

(Tips: Knives should be hidden to avoid any incidents happens... Based on the true story, my friend's house was intrude by someone from their kitchen and the intruder took her knive which was place on the counter and robbed them.... Minta disimpangkan tetapi sebagai langkah berjaga-jaga better than sorry)

Very compact and the thing that i want actually want to accomplish is.....

Nothing should be on my counter top.

Still trying to working on things and maximized the storage in the compact kitchen. Any suggestion accepted.

 Kitchen Cabinet dari Everskill...

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