Love & Hope for Mother's Day 2011

My eldest son Esfahan loves origami. I don't quite remember when it started, but it was quite earlier on, when he was about 4 I think. His favourite is the crane; he told me that if he made 1000 cranes, then he could make a wish and it would come true!

So when I told him that I've decided to showcase the ancient Japanese art in my 2011 Mother's Day gift, to pay homage to the victims and survivors of the recent Fukushima tsunami and to show our greatest support in their rebuilding efforts, he couldn't be more thrilled. He quickly took out his great big book of origami and started showing me all the objects he could make for me.




The Fukushima tsunami was one of the greatest natural devastations the world had ever seen, and it impacted not only the people of Japan, but also the entire world. And it wasn't just about another tsunami, it was also about how a nation stood strong, unified and composed in dealing with adversity.

As a mother, I want my children to make an example of the valour and optimism shown by the Japanese people, that they (my sons) must learn to address life's great challenges with courage and dignity, always keeping their faith in the Almighty. As a daughter, this is a chance for me to express gratitude to my beloved mother who has selflessly given me love and hope, with courage and dignity throughout my whole 41 years.

So I told Esfahan, let's make it sweet and simple, let's just make the heart and the crane, and our gift concept for this year's Mother's Day shall be "Ai To Nozomi" (pronounced Ai Tok Nozomi), or "Love and Hope" ... :)






Handmade journal/album ~ the perfect gift for Mum, to immortalise her most cherished thoughts and memories, @RM50.00. Upon confirmation of order, I will personalise the journal/album with recipient's name and simple deco that best suits the recipient.





Petra canister ~ a therapeutic eye mask to help Mum refresh and rejuvenate, @RM28.00.






Jordan canister ~ a wonderful eye cushion to help Mum sleep better, @RM25.00.






I use Japanese origami paper to cover the journal/album, while my Petra and Jordan canisters are altered using wrapping paper with a Japanese feel. All the origami hearts and cranes are made by Esfahan using Japanese origami paper. And since it's basically about Japan and our support towards its rebuilding efforts, what better than to complete the whole packaging with dainty plastic bags and ribbon I found at my favourite Japanese store, Daiso. Last but not least, a signature Jules gift card, with a little touch of Japan and a brief writeup about Jules' "Love & Hope".





I hope you will like "Love & Hope" and share them with the special people in your lives. Mothers, Aunts, Sisters, Friends...a Mother need not be biological to be the best Mum, it's all about the fab Love & Hope that she pours unto us all. And, it's always the simple things that make life most meaningful, insyaAllah... :)


Note : Please email to julesmdaud2@gmail.com, preferably before 10am 2 May 2011, to order your Jules' "Love & Hope" Mother's Day gift/s. Available while stock lasts.

It's All About The Kids...

Last Saturday, 16 April 2011, Han and her team successfully organised their annual party for the kids ~ super fab patients and ex-patients of P6 ward of the Pediatric Oncology Ward, University Malaya Medical Centre. Jules was blessed to have had the opportunity to do her little teeny weeny micro mini nano bit for the kids... Alhamdulillah :)




JulesDelighfulness gift boxes, containing mango chocolate, coconut chocolate, pineapple chocolate and Jules handmade journals/album

Thank you Han for the opportunity, you know how I feel...It's all about the kids :)

3 pushes for Damascus!

I will never forget that Friday, 15 April 2005, when Damascus came into this world. I was 100kg and seriously could no longer fit behind the wheels of our kancil and kembara. And that Friday I was ngam-ngam 38 weeks, which was why I had made the appointment for induction.

Carrying Damascus was fun. The first few weeks I was binging on buah kedondong, 2-3kgs at a time and I just wanted salad, salad and more salad. But in the following weeks, I was gulping down 1-2lits of fresh milk everyday, spending my afternoons watching Sanay Wala Nang Wakas! And I loved cheese, meat, cakes and all good things. So, I really couldn't blame anyone or anything for my 100kg at fullterm! My vitals were all good, alhamdulillah, no sugar, no high blood, so I carried on happily.

I was nervous and anxious and scared that Friday, everytime thinking of the baby I'm about to deliver and about Esfahan, who was at home waiting for mommy. I remember telling darling husband, that if anything should happen to me during chidlbirth, he must take good care of Esfahan and this new baby, and tell them I love them. I wasn't scared for my life, but for the lives I wouldn't be able to care for...

I was induced at 7.30am and my contractions started within an hour or so. About 1.55pm Dr Jean Woo walked happily into the labour room in her scrubs and casually said, "Okay, it's time to push now." Oh sweet angel, Damascus was a huge one; we had known this from the ultra sounds, and though I was nervous, I just kept the faith. And true enough, drug free and gas free, pushing him was wuuuuuheeeeeee!!! At 2pm sharp, his head finally came out, phewh! Alhamdulillah... Then Dr Woo said, "Erm, please push again, coz his shoulders are stuck." Huh? What? Oh no! But yes, I went on again, with all the might I had... And voilah! Damascus was completely out, all 4kgs of him and all was well, alhamdulillah...

The nurse put him in my arms and I looked at my bluish, purplish, gooey baby and I saw his big beautiful eyes, looking at me with pure innocence, and all the pain was gone and I was in love all over again... :)

Dr Woo continued to work on me, to get the placenta out. Then she said, "Hmmm, I think you'll have to give me one last push dear, coz the placenta needs some help coming out." OMG!!! At that point I was numb, and starting to be disoriented, but oh heck! I had to do it, I didn't have any choice. So, I pushed again, leaving everything to the Almighty, in my mind were visions of Esfahan and my new baby Damascus, I had to do this for them, I want to be home with them, I want to love and care for them... Finally the placenta was out, about half the size of my baby who had just come out! Aaaahhhh... After that I just fell into slumber and didn't realise anything much anymore...

When I awoke in the ward, I felt like a cement truck had fallen on me. I searched for my hands and legs and phewh, I still had them. I couldn't really get up, it was just the bed moving up, down, up, down. Then my mum came, and my sister and of course darling husband. They were all happy, but somehow they were all looking at me one kind. As exhausted as I was, I couldn't help wondering what was wrong? Then I had to go to the bathroom and that was when I saw my face in the mirror. ..............AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! There were red spots on my face and neck!!! I had spots! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

My mum casually said it was nothing, just "pecah kedarah" coz I had been pushing so hard during labour just now. U think?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! No wonder everyone was giving me the look! I must have looked like a clown! Hehehehe... It's so funny when I think of it now!

It took a good 3 weeks for me to recover from Damascus's labour. Before that I had felt so week, braving myself to get up to feed him, and to feed myself. I couldn't eat, I was basically consuming only Milo, and it was hard to even bite into some cream crackers. My baby had taken all my energy out of me. But luckily he didn't have any trouble feeding and sleeping. God is great, alhamdulillah... :)

So, that's how I had Damascus, 3 pushes and red spots all over my face! And now my darling big eyes is 6 and I am yet again 6 years "older". Alhamdulillah... :)

Damascus's "Party At The Fair" birthday brownie, which we brought to his kindy, to celebrate with his friends...

He packed the goody bags and placed all the stickers himself, mommy helped a bit only... :)

Mother's Day is coming...

...and I hope to share my ideas on special gifts for the most wonderful person in the world with everyone soon, insyaAllah.

In the meantime, there are some days in April that I personally feel are worth sharing and celebrating :
April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day, recognized by the UN
April 7 - World Health Day, recognized by the UN
April 16 - World Entrepreneurship Day (WED)
April 22 - Earth Day
April 23 - World Book and Copyright Day, recognized by the UN
April 26 - World Intellectual Property Day, recognized by the UN

As we enter the 2nd quarter of 2011, I wish to express my deepest and most sincere gratitude to all my family, friends, patrons and the fabulous people out there who have continually supported everything Jules, Alhamdulillah...may you all continue to be blessed with good health, good fortune, good love and loads and loads of good chocolate! InsyaAllah... :)


...A special glam brownie for a glamourous lady... :)