IKEA Ringgit Malaysia vs Singapore Dollar (RM vs SGD)

If you are one of those working in Singapore and living in JB, and a crazy IKEA fan like me, you probably have compared the prices of the products in RM and SGD. Or am I the only one? I would've lugged back the entire warehouse in Singapore if it weren't for the customs.

Recently, I planned a makeover of my 8yr old boy's bedroom, and some other rooms, and I made a list of cool things to get from IKEA Singapore. While I was compiling the list, I wondered how much they would cost in both countries. Some may shock you!

Here are just some of the items. Bold=the lower price. Current conversion=2.45. All prices are from IKEA websites.

IKEA PS 2012 Quilt cover and 2 pillowcases SDG129 (RM316.05) vs RM 199 Diff: A whopping RM117.05

EMMIE KNOPP 1 pair of curtains SGD29.90 (RM73.26) vs RM49.90 Diff: RM23.36

LATT Children's table with 2 chairs SGD39.90 (RM97.76) vs RM99 Diff: RM1.25 only

NYTTJA picture frame in assorted colours, price per frame SGD3.90 (RM9.56) vs RM7.90 Diff: RM1.66

LJUSAS YSBY Table lamp SGD149 (RM365.05) vs RM399 Diff: RM33.95

KOPPANG Chest of 3 drawers SGD199 (RM487.55) vs RM449 Diff: RM38.55

LAPPLJUNG rug SGD49.90 (RM122.26) vs RM79 Diff:RM43.26

Now I feel like embarking on a mission to list every single price differences! Has anyone done that I wonder.

Prettiest Deck I Have Ever Seen

Loveliest Kampung House I Have Ever Seen

This is the middle part of the house compound, which opens up to a little cozy shaded space.

Vintage wooden coffeeshop chairs.

I was enchanted!

My Home Garden

In Malaysia, terrace houses comes with a small plot of garden, usually wild unsightly grass. Most people cement it off to make parking spaces for another car. I would fight to keep the garden. And it is worth it. A garden is a stress reliever!

NEW carpet grass! NEW Podocarpus tree (or Japanese Yew/Buddhist Pine)!

Actually, now the garden is making me a little stressed because I don't how long I can maintain it! The tree has dried brown leaves already, and some patches of the grass have dried. HELP!

The only way I know how to prettify my garden, is this pair of 'accessories'.

Hmm, the leaves are not very dense like the others I saw.

Every evening when I get home, I'd stroke the tree and talk to it. I'm a tree whisperer wannabe! I hope I don't have bad breath.

Here's more improvements!

Bitches Get Stuff Done...

YEEAAAAH!

Being A Parent Is Like Being A Rockstar

R.I.P. William Yau Zhen Zhong

I know this is late, but we must not stop trying. Dear God, please keep him safe and alive, and may he be reunited with his family very very soon, please dear God, please.

UPDATE: I hope it's not him, but a severely decomposed body was found in Klang river. Read it here.

LATEST UPDATE: This is heartbreaking. The entire nation is mourning.
Read it here, and here.

FINAL UPDATE: DNA test confirms it's him.

William's body cremated.

This is the first time I've been following a missing child's case so closely to my heart. Largely due to social media Facebook, and online news, I would check for updates every hour, and the first thing in the morning. I have never felt so attached to a case and the moment I saw the update on the findings of his body, I broke down. After seeing his happy photo everyday, I felt like I knew him already. Most of all, I cannot imagine what his mother had went through. This is a very very unfortunate event. May his soul rest in peace.

Sunday Mornings

Every Sunday mornings, if I had finished making cards or bags the night before, I would spring out of bed to take pictures of my work. ONLY if the sun is bright and the sky is clear. Bonus if birds are chirping outside my window. Photography gurus always say, "Natural light is the best source of light".

And ma boys would be hovering around me aka kepo-ing. And then they would go play with each other or by themselves though just next to each other. Like this.

Colouring contest.

And I'd be taking photos of these..

Vintage Style Tricycle

It's one of those things which you believe you will never find it IN Johor Bahru. And even if you did, it will be very expensive like Radio Flyer. This gem costs USD77 plus on Amazon, excluding shipping.

Then one day, the Gods of Vintage Tricycle answered my prayers. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you , also to the folks who manufactured this, and to Giant Hypermarket for selling it for RM60.

Baby Room

IF I have another baby, SHE will sleep here...

How OMG is this.

How To Make A Drawstring Bag or Pouch

Drawstring bags make awesome lunch bags or a quick to-go bags but I don't see a lot of nice ones around. And they aren't very hard to make! The bag I made here measures about 20cm wide and 17cm tall when flat.

Here's how:

Cut these panels of fabric. Top panel is the lining, and measures 44cm x 23cm.
Bottom panels; the smaller sides measure 9cm x 23cm, and the middle panel measures 26cm x 23cm.

Now, sew the sides of the small and middle panel (indicated by the small arrows). Place the panels facing the right sides of each other.

This is what it looks like after the sides are sewn and the small panels are flipped out.

Adorn the panel with cotton lace if you like.

Place the 'strawberry side' on top of the lining with the right sides facing each other.

Sew the ends indicated by the purple dash lines.

Now, fold the joined panels in a way that the ends meet in the middle.

Sew according to the purple lines, leaving 3 gaps. 3cm gaps on both sides (for the cord) and a 6cm approximate gap to turn your bag inside out later.

Now, to sew the bottom gusset, open up the bag, and fold in a way that the sides meet in the middle again.

Flatten it. Sew the sharp corner according to the purple line. There are 4 corners to sew. Two on the strawberry fabric, two on the lining.

Cut away the corners.

Turn the bag inside out.

Stitch the gap to close the bag up. You can use blind stitch.

Push the lining into the bag. Now the bag looks more real! But we are not done yet!
Sew two lines across the top part. The first line is less than a cm from the top edge (about 7-8mm doesn't matter), and the second line must be 2cm from the first line.

The 2cm gap is for the cord.

Use a safety pin to thread in the cord. Enter from any sides first.

Come out from the other side and thread through that side again...

...to emerge on the same side you entered.

Cut the cord and tie a knot.

To do the other cord, enter the side opposite the knotted cord. Do the same thing.

Ta da!!

Make another :)

I reckon this is like intermediate level, so don't give up, newbies!