Is there life before coffee?

Nope. I had a huge mug of my nescafe o kosong kow punya... Now, though the flesh is still weak, but the spirit is pumping!

This was the best whole family pix we managed, plus our 2 nephews in the striped rugger shirts, Faiz and Raziq. You can't see Damascus's face coz he's busy poking me and Esfahan with his plastic cake knife!

...well, perhaps, this pix isn't too bad either...

...thanks wiz, for the wondrous cakes, and the pix :)


JulesAddiction : Tins
O, o, o...I must share this! At the Hospis Charity Bazaar, I met a fellow booth owner, who bought one of my tins. And she told me that she actually loves tins, and boxes and paperbags, and that she collects all those that she falls in love with! Yay! I found a kindred soul!

JulesAddiction : Handbags
...my picks this round...

Jules Cup Cake

...as in, "cake in a cup"...as in, "fudgy in a cup"! :)

Specially for Mother's Day 2009, which will be on Sunday 10 May, Jules presents a petite serving of her JulesFudgyliciousness in a ultra feminine cup and saucer ensemble, plus a pretty teaspoon to match. Mom can delight in the fudgy wudgy, and afterwards treasure the lovely teacup set as she enjoys her favourite tea or coffee in the days and years to come. The words "I appreciate memories of all the good times we've shared" (available for Luxury Fine China Collection only), on the cup and saucer makes this set the perfect gift this Mother's Day...And, also specially for Jules Mother's Day Collection 2009, Jules Gift Tins will be decorated in an assortment of floral motifs and embellishments.

This special gift package comes in a wide range, from the Luxury Fine China Collection to Wedgwood Fine China, and is priced from RM50.00 to RM300.00.

Jules becomes 4 years older today...

...as Damascus celebrates his 4th birthday...Alhamdulillah...





Wiz the wiz made the fab Ultraman cake; she wasn't too thrilled with her freehand this time though, saying her Ultraman face looks distorted, disfigured. Well, I think it's fab, coz not only can I not produce the same myself, I feel like it's Ultraman himself looking right at me! In my understanding of art, art is perfect when it lets you feel or sense that feeling you seek, and in this case, Damascus and I wanted it to be Ultraman, and that's what we got. But most importantly, the birthday boy himself loves that Ultraman face, and he specifically instructed that that part remains untouched, while the rest of the cuppies were fair game to be gobbled up by his kindy friends at his little party in school this morning.

Each child enriches me differently, each with their own unique ways. Last November when Esfahan turned 7, I became 7 years wiser. Today, as Damascus turns 4, I am yet enriched by 4 years. Esfahan at 4 wasn't like how Damascus is today, so, it is always a different experience. In August, insyaAllah, I shall experience becoming 3 years older, again, in yet another unique way, through my youngest son, Marrakesh. I can't wait... :)

...my 3 most precious treasures...

Jules Made Pancakes...

...but not all turned out round, some were honey coloured while some were more brown... but to her darling goons those things didn't really matter, 'twas the syrups and the ice cream that they were actually after...!


And, I must confess, even after viewing many episodes of Sugar and Nigella, it's still good ole Betty Crocker that I turn to for breakfast! Hee hee... It really bewilders me, how some fab women out there not only efficiently manage more than 3 children, a husband, (and some, parents and/or in-laws too), an entire household and still make wonderful pancakes (and/or other foods as well) from scratch, while keeping their kitchens spick and span, without any help (maid)! Aaaaa! And come festive seasons, they actually MAKE their own cookies/goodies, instead of buying them! Aaaaa! I know two of these women personally, and they are indeed an extraordinary bunch!

This morning, as I read my Facebook updates, many filled my heart with joy, ie birthdays, new babies, accomplishments... but one stood out and really touched my heart : Perhimpunan Sosial Pediatrik Onkologi ke 7, 2009, UH. It was an event that my fab new friend, Han Ghazi, and her many fab friends helped to organise yesterday. Naturally, children amaze me. But children with challenging circumstances? There are no words, nor gestures, that can truly express the admiration I feel towards their courage and tenacity for life. Sometimes I feel that in such situations, it is the children who actually give us, the healthy adults, strength to face life. Well, I do believe that this is all part of the divine power that keeps this world in balance, and that helps us to truly appreciate what we have. And, Jules feels ever so blessed to have been given yet another opportunity to be part of a good cause...Alhamdulillah...



Thanks Matt Marzuki, for sharing these photos...


...JulesPreciousness, to add cheer to the Perhimpunan Sosial Pediatrik Onkologi ke 7, 2009, UH

Jules Fed Koalas...

...named Damascus and Marrakesh...! During lunch today, Damascus clung on to my hips and thighs, while Marrakesh glued his arms round my neck. If you didn't know better, you'd think it was some great circus act! :)! But, this is the normal way in which I, often, not always, tend to my two younger offsprings...


2 koalas & a kangaroo, a.k.a. Thing 2, Thing 1 & Cat In The Hat, a.k.a. Marrakesh, Damascus & Esfahan


Phewh, today was really hectic! I'm finally sitting down properly now to type. Though one koala sticks ever so comfortably on my lap as I work, at least I know I don't have to jump up the next minute to run out on errands again. :)
I'm finishing up on the gifts I'm giving to some very special children this Saturday, then there's my Easter delivery, my corporate gifts, and I must start making goody bags for Damascus's birthday do at his kindy next Wednesday, and my translations still require my close attention...


Thanks Carmen for thinking of JulesFudgyliciousness for your precious Enya.


Okay, now I just need some sinful ultra black coffee, and perhaps my fudgy, to recharge...

Meantime, my Vintage Garden pan in yellow and blue...starts next week....

Jules Gets Busy!

I read in the newspaper yesterday that some of the journalists covering the F1 this year do not wear makeup because the weather here is just too hot, and that any makeup would end up looking messy. I'm glad to hear this, because that's also the same reason why I don't wear makeup, when I go out, unless I know very well I'm gonna be in a comfortable airconditioned room all day long. I honestly admire women who can keep their makeup intact and look gorgeously presentable the whole day of running here and there. I can only get away with a little dab of my compact and lipstick or lip balm...

Anyway, I have a long list of activities coming up...helping out with a party for cancer kids at a hospital, helping friends add cheer to Easter, working with Giftmagique on some corporate gifts, contributing to Hospis Malaysia, and organising fun events for next month... I'll definitely share these with all Jules family, friends and patrons as closely and quickly as possible... :) !

...Beauty is skin deep...

...beauty is in the eye of the beholder...beauty is subjective...... I must admit that I don't quite comprehend all of the above. One thing I know for sure is that, growing up, I was never a candidate for any beauty related matter, mainly because my skin is dark... It was always like...Julie? Oh, she's....erm...cute...!...? And, there was the constant comparison to my much fairer, in all the senses of "fair", sister. Perhaps, it was a more polite manner of asking, "so, what went wrong with Julie?"

Then, there were also the "hitam manis", "black is beautiful", and the presumably more humourous "oh, this one stayed longer in the oven!"...to further justify my "darkness"... Sigh... Well, just my luck, I suppose. It's really darn hard surviving in my own homeland, where I have to endure all these nonsense, just because I have dark skin. And, have you ever heard someone shriek out in histerical fear, "Eek! It's so hot, I'm gonna get so dark! Darn!".Yeah, like being dark is the end of the world! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! It's like a long sharp knife piercing directly through my heart and my core... Well...that's how things are...story of my life...

In my whole 39 years of living, I was never truly appreciated, by Malaysia's general public at large, as someone worth "watching"...yup, the dark skin thing. But, when I lived in Rome, Italy, woohoo! My "value" was raised many notches, as the hip and happening Italians persistently commended my "glorious skin", saying, they wished they had my skin, they wished they could look like me all year round, they wished they didn't just look glorious in summer and then turn to dead white in winter! Ah, yess! Finally, it was strangers in a strange land who could appreciate me as I am...

I always ask my very fair skinned husband, why he married me? I ask him sometimes, "aren't you embarrassed to walk by my side, don't you feel ashamed?" My eldest boy has my skin, my 2nd a little bit toned down, while my 3rd is fair like ayah. I have had to, so many times, face with the typical Malay/sian remark, "Eh, this 3rd one is very fair ya...he's so cute... Abang Ngah (Middle Brother) is fairer a bit and have big eyes...handsome...(fyi, apart from being dark skinned, i have small eyes, behind big glasses, not pretty...!) Why is Abang Long (Eldest Brother) so dark...oh, but it's okay, he's smart in school...

Well, I can't stop how and what people think, it is their human right. And, they will continue to think this way for a long, long time... I tell my boys that people who don't think much of you, are people who are not worth your time. And for myself, I rejoice with the likes of Beyonce Knowles, Rihanna, Vannessa Williams, Jennifer Lopez, Kimora, Tina Turner, Oprah Winfrey and my forever idol, Ella Fitzgerald... dark skinned women who made good...yess!

To my darling Lulu Guinness, thank you, at least I know you wouldn't come up with your range of "whitening" cream...

Jules is recharged...

...After coming to terms with a great loss and such sadness, I am back to running my life, at full speed, yet again... :)

There are a few things that I've been up to these past few days, in my own quietness...on top of my mind boggling translation work... (yup, I've been toying with some new things) but, mmmm..., they're not quite ready just yet for me to share with you.... So, in the meantime, I'll share with you my offering for Easter. I hope you like, coz I liiiiiiike... :)! I'm just a real sucker for cute plates with cute colours...:)