My first car - Perodua Bezza

Yes, Alhamdulillah, I managed to own me myself a car. A local one which I am so proud of to own one. But there is a story behind my purchase (well it was more of mummy and abah purchasing it) of my car.

Assalammualaikum, here how it goes.

I really wasn’t planning on buying a new car as I was still using Chevy & Rush at the time and alternate between both of it depending where am I going for that day. As Chevy has been with me from my diploma years, and before that was with my mum and before that originally it was my Aunt’s car. 

By the time Chevy is in my hand, it was already almost 10 years of usage, and one by one need to be repaired and change. It really slightly burnt a hole in my parents pocket. Yes, I’ve noticed it but just couldn’t help much back then as I was still studying.

So, Chevy is only use for short distance only and if I ever need to do some delivery I will switch to my mum’s Rush. 

After a while been switching and Abah’s Innove at that time was having slightly difficulty too, mummy feels that I need to atleast have my own car and a decent one atleast. When mummy said that, all I can think of was, “Can I even managed to pay monthly for the car? How about the services? The insurans? The roadrax?” So many things coming through my mind that time.

I might be underestimating myself, but that is just me being me. So after a few discussion and arguments (small arguments, haha, let’s not mention it), the car is signed, sealed, delivered. 

The only thing that I managed to choose was the colour of the car, as Mummy choose the type of the car which is Bezza, and the extra parts and accessories. I wanted MyVi at first because of the compact size but knowing mummy knows best, She chooses Bezza for me so that I can bring all my baking supplies, my big boxes of baking easily in big-ass boot.

So here I am, being grateful for the car that already has been with me for at least 5 months now and Alhamdulillah, I have enough rezeki, more actually, as I can pay monthly and services for my car, and also being grateful to Mummy and Abah for the support. 

May the car stay with me long enough till I am rich and able to pay more for the monthly commitments. Aminn aminn.

Much love,

A

So Gusto ran away

Assalammualaikum,

I have a total of 20 cats with me. Big and small cats. Some had already met The Maker and some still living breathing healthily here.

Recently, one of my big cat named Gusto, has always have a bulging below her stomach at the belly area. Since it was still a kitten, I did bring him to the vet and they said that nothing is need to worry about the bulging and it turns out suddenly two days ago, my dad noticed that the bulging seems to be like it been tore open or maybe he hit on something sharp that may have been cut him at the bulging area.

So, I wanted to bring him to the vet for a check-up. Didn't know that he was THAT nervous for going to the vet, that I didn't managed to properly secure the carrier. Didn't notice that the door of the carrier was malfunction and he managed to escape as I have just reached the Vet. Imagine had to run to catch him, crossing the roads and into a drain. The first attempt of him running away was a failure, as I managed to catch him back.

As I reached the Vet's door, he managed to escape again! I was already holding him so tight! Locking all his four legs but he still managed to escape! I am starting to piss off already, so I ran again and this time he went under a car and inside the engine parts. After all the running and now I have to, how to say, lay down on the hot tar road just to get him and yup, I scratch my knee. Both my knees. I pray and pray that things will be better in handling him and alhamdulillah I managed to get him with the help of a nearby brother, who happens to know the owner of the car.

Waited in the vet for almost 1 hour for our turn to be called, and Gusto was bleeding heavily due to the cut. After being examined by the vet, he said that, he also don't know what is the thing bulging at his tummy and suggested that I went for an x-ray at an another Vet near Subang Jaya. So that they may know what is inside Gusto's bulging.

I was carrying him in a small cage because my carrier was malfunction before, and as soon as I get to my car, he escaped AGAIN !!! Now the cage is malfunction too. Urgh. And this time, I couldn't see where he went, and I'm already tired of catching, that I finally had it. I won't be looking for him and just pray that Allah will take care of him, wherever he may be.

I went home, after a tiring morning session of catch and run, explain to my dad and he responded with, "We will look for him later at the vet's area." but my mom was the other way around, she responded with, "How can you be so careless of not checking the carrier if it has a malfunction door?! How can you not hold him by the neck to paralyzed him from running away?"

And this is why I rarely tell stories to my mum, because she always assume that I was the cause for everything. Not even listening to the stories till the end, she already had assumptions and knowing why it happened. I am tired, my legs hurt and got scolded for the things that I didn't even wanted for in the first place. She assumed that I willingly let Gusto ran away. And, why would I want that?

It did really kill the mood.

Baking Class with Nurul Desserts

Assalammualaikum,

This story was about a class I had a few months back. Located at Gombak, near my grandparent's house. I was so in love with how she made her square cakes, and the way she decorates it. And by chance, she's having a class on a certain dates, and it turns out I'm available and have an extra cash to join in the class.

I learnt about 5 recipes in total - 

Nutella Fudge Chocolate cake

Lemon Coconut cake

Pandan Gula Melaka cake

Banana Salted Caramel cake

Carrot Walnut cake

The ingredients shares was easy enough to learn and the cream recipes were altered to make it just enough for one cake. No balance to keep in the fridge. 

A lot of tips and tricks that I've gathered through out the learning process, for example making the perfect consistency of caramel sauce. I am so grateful to have had the chance to learn on making it. As, by the past few years, my caramel sauce has never been good to me. Haha. 

The class took about roughly 5 hours and we also had lunch prepared by them. We get to bring back 15 slices consists of each flavours and luckily, Mr K is living nearby, so he had the chance to taste it first with me!

If you guys are looking for some affordable and delicious desserts, do give your girl a holla aite !

Whatsapp 0126714589

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Much Love,

A

Cakes That I Should Decline

Assalammualaikum,

Wow, the headline sounds like something wrong right? Don't worry. Nothing is ever wrong but it's more of like a quick note for my future references. I was browsing through Pinterest this morning on finding some ideas on everything that comes through my mind, and I came upon a pin called "Avoid This Cake Orders In Your Business". It sounds intriguing so I click.

 A blog post by Cake & Success stating that, we as baker should consider some guidelines or rules in our businesses, don't just go for the money without knowing a thing or two or because of money, everything can maaa. Nope, not like that.

She said that there are some orders that we should really decline in order to gain some stress-free environment and a well-succeed business. As I go through her post, I noticed that some of it really does relates to me. Here are the cakes that I, or maybe we, should decline:-

1. ALLERGY AND DIETARY REQUESTS.

I once saw a post from one of the baker that I followed on Instagram, and noticed that she caters for vegetarian/allergy/dietary desserts, that somehow makes me things "Eyy, it would be cool if I can make it too. As those niche market can also be good sales target."

Then, I had a customer DMed me if I ever make these kind of cakes. But then again, would I really want to jeopardize my business for the sake of chasing the sales? It's better to say NO than messing with other people's lives while pretending that you MIGHT know what you are doing.

If Allergy/Dietary isn't something you familiar with, it's best to put that spatula down and step away from the mixing bowl. Plus, I wouldn't want to be held liable and go all viral and what not.

Do yourself a favour, and don't go there.

2. CAKES YOU AREN'T SKILL AT...YET

I hate it when customers requested cakes that I'm not skill enough to make, it's just makes me feel like I'm a total failure. Haha okay exaggerate much.

But, by telling customers you can make it, seriously putting a lot pressure into it. I remembered a cake that I accept, I had just finished a class on making flower buttercream, and this customer immediately order a cake from me. Deep down, I know I am not yet capable of doing it, but I was so happy that there is someone out there that would order from me.

She gave me a picture to follow, but I don't know why I didn't focus on it and by the time the cake had finished being decorated, then I've noticed it doesn't look the same at all! I am panicking and all I can say was, I never heard from that customer again. Haha.

In another case, fondant cakes. Nope, not yet in that line of business.

3. REPLICA CAKES

It's the same as above. It is surely kinda of hard to replicate cakes done by other professionals. I mean, I can make it as an inspirations but not 100% the same. I need to considered the tools used, the ingredients, the humidity all in all, there are just too many differences between my works and the other.

Plus, what if the cake doesn't resemble at all like the picture given? Yup, you guess it. If a customer do requests something like this or that, I would totally said that, I might able to make it, but it will be my own imaginations and creativity. A more originality from my line of work.

4. PAIN IN THE ASS CUSTOMERS

Haha. I think I have encounter some of it. It might not be as crazy as bridezillas, but some sure do give me some temper.

If a customer is a pain in the butt, it is surely not worth the money. Your energy is being drained, you are annoyed at the customer, and trust me it really affects your sales.

Simply tells the customers that you aren't the best fit and decline the request. You will be 100% glad you did!

Instead of trying to avoid budget clients and cakes you don't want to make, choose to build your cake business with having a clear, defined strategy to double your cake orders and attract clients who WANT the cakes you want to book!

Want to order some desserts or maybe cakes?
Whatsapp me at 0126714589 :)
Facebook - Bakes by AB
Instagram - @bakesbyab
Twitter - Bakes by AB

Much Love,
A

My 4 years as a baker

Assalammualaikum,

For those who have known me for the past few years know that I am in a baking business which just turn 4 years on March 2017. But I bet not many knew how do I turn out as a baker when I'm a Mass communication student for at least 5 years. Yup I did both diploma and degree, and proud of it. Just maybe there aren't any rezeki (yet) in that department. But, I do implement some of what I learnt into my baking business.

From what I remembered, it all started in March 2013 when one of my neighbor's son is getting married. My mom has always been the baker and home-cooker at home and all of our relatives, friends and office mates knew that my mum loves to cook. So apparently, my neighbor, Aunt Juridah, asked my mum to bake some cupcakes for the guests. At that time, we weren't into business yet, it is more of like, we helped to bake the goods as a friendly neighbor and my mom just charge the costing price to bake all the desserts.

When I helped my mum, trust me it wasn't easy to bake and juggling all the recipes and measuring and baking, it was a mess! With our small kitchen and to bake around 100+ cupcakes, it was really a challenged. But we managed to bake it and delivered it on time. As soon as the payment is received, I felt something in me, as in, when you received your first hard work payment. All I can think of was, "so this is how it feels to earn some money huh?" And it got me hook!

It's not that I'm saying, working 9-5 didn't earn much, it's more of the feelings that I couldn't explain why I may have prefer working on my own than working 9-5 jobs.

Starting small with mini cupcakes that I sold to every potential customers through online, festivals and bazaars, and now have more varieties to choose from. I sold more on social media including closed friends and families, I was really enjoying the process of making my own money at that time. It was all part-time work for me as I am still studying at that moment and balancing through working and internships. I can only cater orders on weekends. But, the payment were good enough for me that I managed to travel here and there and bought things that I want. Haha.

But, not many knew that, when u start your own business, it as the same as when you work with a company. You have your boss, I have mine. My mum. I didn't know how to managed my financial back then and always having mummy to chip in every time, sometimes it stresses me out and my mum is kinda picky and very keen on details. Being a rebellious and hot-headed me, we always fight. For the first 3 years, we always fight. Wait, not 3 years, but till now also. Haha. But now, it lessen a bit than before. The fighting can be huge, from just a small matter can turn big. Well, we both have our own egos.

Some of the misscommunications that can be shared here are I tend to be very messy, and very hogging all the table space. So whenever I'm in the kitchen baking, nobody can be in the kitchen. As simple as that. But as time goes by, honestly, I'm tired of fighting but I guess my mum wouldn't know about it as I prefer to just silent myself rather than arguing with her. For her, my silent is being rude to her for not answering back. Haha. Trust me mummy, I rather not argue.

One day, we had a huge fight while I was baking and got me an idea to find a proper place to bake, as how people say, a peaceful place to work, to do my own thing, without anyone interrupting or downgrading my ideas and creativity. I asked my dad if I can rent his small office back then but the location was not safe enough and the toilet/washroom was quite far plus the building is a little bit quiet.

A few weeks goes by, it turns out there's a space for rent close enough to home and my parents thought it was a good idea for me to have my own space as well as abah's office and mummy's kitchen. We rented out the third level from a 3-storey shoplot. Surprisingly it was large enough for me to put all my big appliances like oven and fridges. Am right now, trying to save up some money to spice up on decorations and storage.

Though, it might not look like how I wanted it to be, since mummy had already bought everything without even asking me, and managed to organize everything. Haha. Never mind, I can always change a little here and there. IKEA is always there right?

So, to this 4th year, I finally have my own space to expand my baking business. Yeay! I always pray that my rezeki will always be there for me so that I might help my family and myself a little bit. It may not be much, but hey, am still here :) Insya Allah everything will be fine.

So, if let say you guys are looking for some affordable and delicious desserts, give your girl a holla at 0126714589, I'll be replying soon or you can just like my Facebook page, follow my Instagram and my Twitter account too!

Much love,
A

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha

First of all, if you guys read this today and wondering why my entry is like today is Raya Haji? It's because I was drafting it back then and forgot that I had this story. Haha, oh well, just enjoy reading it yah :)

Assalammualaikum semuanya! How ya'll been doing so far? How is your raya? Doing any sacrifices lately? Hehe.

Well, here I am in Terengganu going back to my hometown for Aidil Adha celebration. Not really fancy celebration just more of going to visits some relatives and also the beaches. Yes, beaches and the food atalss by the beach are what I'm always look for whenever I'm in Terengganu.

As of Aidil Adha falls after our National Day, the traffic jammed was the worst! Imagine we had to depart at 4.30 in the morning just to avoid tha traffic but luck is not on our side, by the time we reached Tol Gombak, the jammed had already built up.

Crawling like turtle in the car, the traffic was hella slow. Luckily, I had my trusty waze app woth me and we managed to avoid the jam at Bentong by using the old road and it saves us a lot of time and fuel.

Before reaching our hometown, we always took a quick turn to enjoy some beach scenery and looking out for some local dishes like satar, otak-otak and keropok lekor. We did found one restaurant but you know what, it doesn't interest us at all. The food was not good and even the staffs were rude! You better buy these foods by the road. I bet they appreciate customers better.

Around after Maghrib we reached my aunt's house and stay the night. By next morning, the Aidil Adha celebration was celebrated with a bucket pail full of daging korban ready to be distributed among family and friends. And also some for lunch and dinner, and mummy is cooking Sup Tulang and the smell is so good! 

So how is your raya holiday so far?

Festival Makanan Antarabangsa Thailand 2017 - Thai Food Fest

For those who know me, knows that I'm really into food though maybe not that adventurous but still curious enough to try on some.

So recently, I went to this Thailand Food Fest or as they call Festival Makanan Antarabangsa Thailand 2017 located at the Bus Station Precint 14. Driving there was already a problem for me. Search through waze and it ended in front of Alamanda shopping mall.

Make another u-turn and had me gone round and round and after about one hour, I managed to reach the specified place after having to park aside the road and google again about the details of this place. Sigh.

My first thought of when I heard about this event was, a huge market place with all sorts of Thailand's foods. But upon reach, only a few booth were there. Hoping on some creepy, crawly foods stall (nahh, just kidding!) but still I was hoping for local Thailand foods and not the normal foods that you can have it here, in Malaysia.

The only foods that closest to the Thailand dishes that I was hoping for were Pad Thai, Banana Nutella Pancake, Tomyam and Thai Ice Tea. And luckily, there were sold there and though it might not that similar to the original in Thailand, but it was enough for me.

The Pad Thai is similar to a kuey teow dish but served with peanut sauce and sadly, only two booths were selling them. I even had the dancing Thai Ice Tea, yes, the bartender (acewah) literally dance like the Teh Tarik crew (not the b-boys) but the pulling tea competition you seen on the TV way way back in years. Something that actually entertains the customers.

Me and my sister did bought a few of the foods sold - Pad Thai, Kebab, Chicken Pau, Kuey Teow Tomyam, Dimsum and Fish Sate. Yes, I know some of them doesn't really represent Thailand at all, but I'm hungry. In hoping that next year it would be much better.

AIRBNB REVIEW : Cybersquare Vertex, Cyberjaya - Atul's Birthday

On early of February last month, it was Cik Atul's birthday. So instead of just celebrating her birthday with cakes on a choices of hipster cafes, I tend to choose something different for her birthday this year.

A simple question to her was, "are you free on the 2nd and 3rd of February?" And she answered that she had one week off from work and surprisingly it was a coincidence for me to bring her for a short birthday getaway.

The place that I had choose was Cybersquare Vertex through Airbnb. It is one of the website that provides not just hotel or resorts but even homes for those who make it as a homestay.

A different way of spending a night rather than the normal hotel/resort getaway. This place has all the amenities closes to a hotel minus the breakfast buffet.

At RM100 per night, it was affordable enough for us. A soho-like home complete with queen sized bed, flat screen tv, wireless internet, kitchen, fridge and washing machine.

Attached with a small balcony, and a view of the pool was good enough for a short getaway. Located on a higher floor, the windy breeze through our window is just what we need on our break.

As we reached there for check in, the first thing we did were swimming in their enormous pool with an infinity end. And I even brought homemade sandwiches to save some money. Haha.

By night, we celebrated Cik Atul's birthday with not a cake but with Bread Pudding as what she requested. Plus a tiny small candle just to complete "the birthday cake" 😂 And also five regular-sized pizzas.

By tomorrow morning, we made a pitstop to Jasslyn Cakes near Bangsar, as Cik Atul wanted to try on their cakes and desserts. Since we were to full on cakes, we didn't have the chance to eat banana leaf rice. Maybe next time. Happy birthday Cik Atul !

Baking class with Dinda Delights

Recently, I went for another flower buttercream class at Dinda Delights, section 23, Shah Alam. Just at the back of my house.

*A quick note - I am selling these babies at 16pcs for RM100 only and you may follow my baking social media for more information :)*

Instagram
Facebook

I was browsing through my instagram timeline that I found a post stating in a discounted class from RM250 to RM180. As it looked bargain to me, I ping the owner. Just my luck, they can still squeeze me in despite they had already reached their quota.

The chef of the day was Chef Syahril from the tv show, Chef Hero/Chef Oven, though I have never watch it.

A small vendor boutique cafe was the place of learning and with 15 participants it might get a little cramp but as people say, for knowledge you might need to sacrifice some. Haha.

We learned on making 5-6 types of flowers using just 3 types of nozzles - 104, 81 and 125. It includes - closed rose, open rose, carnations, hydrangeas, daisy and some I don't know what it's name.

The chef was friendly, quirky and really loves to make lame jokes but still makes us all laugh. Haha. He shared on buttercream recipes and tips and tricks to get along with the buttercream texture.

If you read my last post, you might just say, didn't I went already on one flower buttercream class? Yes, yes I did. I guess I just need more info or exposure. As when I tried back home, it doesn't look like the one I made in class and I don't know why. Hoping that after this class and practice, I can achieved more.

After almost 4 hourse learning, starting from 10am, finally we finished making all the flowers on 11 cupcakes. Playing with pink and purple colored flowers. I am surely loving it!