Off & On Air

I was paired with an existing Quickie host, Megan to perform my stint. 

I don't recall the topic I was given but I remember talking about being able to get HUGE shrimps in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (true story).

Hehehehehe. 

Yes, I totally emphasised the word 'huge' with my intonation and body language. That left a [good] impression with the crew, having them laugh at my quirky demeanour. I think that earned me some brownie points. 

All I had to do was, to be MYSELF. Be yourself in order to be comfortable on set, and the ideas will flow in naturally. Hosting Quickie was kinda like talking to a friend in a coffee shop.

With Megan of Quickie

Then, I got THE call. After a period of worries and anticipation.

I remember I was in the car waiting for my husband to run an errand at the bank.

It was Zher (a Quickie host then) on the other line, and she was about to break some good news to me.

I WAS SELECTED TO BE ONE OF THE TOP 9 OF THE QUICKIE SEARCH!!!!

"It's such an honour, that you're the one calling, Zher!" I told to her.

So there I was screaming happily in the car. If you saw me, you would have thought I was crazy. It was definitely unexpected.

An introduction of the Top 9!

With the Top 9 chosen, we were then featured in the upcoming episodes of Quickie for several rounds of challenges that will filter the 9 lucky candidates to only 5. We were divided into three groups, each with an existing Quickie host as our mentor.

Unfortunately, my journey had ended as I did not make the cut to be in the Top 5 ring. I believe what attributed to this failure was when we were given a task for a tech segment. The task was to show and explain viewers at home how to put together a DIY LED torchlight.

Urgh.
Me and gadgets don't mesh well.

The segment wasn't actually aired, but we were put to the test as if it were. I was never really hands-on with tech devices, hence the interest was not there, resulting in my poor performance.

This boys and girls, should not be an excuse. Just because you are not in to something, doesn't mean you can forgo it and move on to another topic. As a host, you are bound to cross the path of the unknown. Don't fake it, but make it fly. The ability to do that must be acquired by a host.

Though, I was so disappointed.

The search continued to the Top 5 where viewers had to cast their votes to choose the final three.

That's part and parcel of going for auditions. There are so many people fighting for the same thing; you do not necessarily always know where you stand in the charts.

Quickie Studio (yes, it's tiny!)

I assured myself, there was a reason I made it to the Top 9. Perhaps they saw something in me? I can improve from there, and try again.

And so I did, but for a different programme...

3R - RESPEK, RELAKS, RESPON
What :: A weekly programme that touches on issues affecting women
Target Audience :: Mainly girls and women of all ages

After a long hiatus, a new season of the popular 3R programme was in the pipeline! Announcements were aired on TV calling those interested to audition for the new season's hosts.



I don't have a picture for this one, but we were put into groups of three (3R has three hosts) and given a topic to introduce in front of a panel of judges.

As opposed to a solo audition I had for the Quickie Search, this one was a little different. What judges look for when auditioning with other hosting hopefuls:

- How you compliment each other
- How you take the lead (if you are given this role)
- How you respond to your co-hosts
- How you are able to jive in the conversation
- Whether there's chemistry between everyone

You get the idea.

You can also kind of tell whether you did OK for an audition. I had a good feeling with this one.

Guess what.

I made it to the Top 35. If I recall correctly, this was when I was called for a meet-up with the programme's previous hosts for an interview.

I pulled through, and made it to the TOP 15 too!!!

The production team had a massive plan rolled out for the Top 15. They were to stay in a bungalow for two weeks together, and be featured in a reality show seeking for the new 3R hosts.

Two weeks.

Two whole weeks. 

With the uncertainty of whether I'll get through or be sent home.

At the time, I was wearing another hat -- a corporate slave executive. I had to choose between gambling for my future in the hosting industry or to continue pursuing my corporate journey.

It was not an easy choice. I loved being on both sides.

Eventually, I turned down the chance to be a 3R host.
Instead, it was time to keep on looking forward in the corporate arena I was in.

I had my reasons. After sitting down with those who had experience, that was the choice I made.

In hindsight, I don't regret letting go of the opportunity. Not that I would if I had followed through, but my point is, you can always make the best out of life no matter which [straight] path you choose.

TV3 NIGHTLINE
What :: National news aired every midnight 
Target Audience :: Corporate Executives, Expats, for those who miss the primetime Buletin Utama, etc. 

The Nightline news is a mirror to TV3's Buletin Utama, but in the English medium.

It's not easy to earn a spot in front of the camera for this channel. I had to go through many, many mock runs before finally being given the contract. The producers really wanted to be sure you're worth hiring.

In a mock run, you're expected to be in the studio in front of the prompter and show what you've got. You even go through hair and make-up but nothing full blown. It's like the actual gig. But instead of being judged by the whole country, you are first judged by industry experts.

I was patient. I worked hard, practiced and listened to their critic and comments. It's not easy reading the news. See my earlier entry - Nak Jadi Pembaca Berita?

In the end, the wait paid off.

I'm currently on maternity leave and cannot wait to get back in the studio!

With fellow TV3 friends

Alongside two others who underwent mock runs as well; both are also reading for TV3 now.

After being booted from daytime television to online TV, I assumed the long hiatus of The Mindy Project after the airing of its Season 4, signified a perpetual end to the series.  

NATALIS BEAUTY

Contact No.: 010-3874718 (Pn. Suzie)

Website: natalisbeauty.blogspot.com

Instagram: @Natalis_Beauty

Selamat Berpantang!

Although breastfeeding was very new to me (of course, being a first-time mother!), Alhamdulillah my will power and adjusting to breastfeeding came fast and naturally. It was stressful because you would be breastfeeding a lot -- day and night. It was mostly stressful in the middle of night, when you need to force yourself to wake up to feed a crying baby. It was also stressful as there were times the baby kept on crying and giving her milk seem to not make the cut. Babies can cry due to other reasons than just wanting milk; it could be that the baby needs a diaper change, needs to be burped or simply feels scared and alone.

Over the course of one month, I learnt how to accustom myself to the changes, day by day.

I learnt how to identify the signs my baby would show when wanting to be fed. Playing with her tongue, reacting to your finger being gently caressed next to her mouth and rapid movements of the mouth are some of the signs. When you know the baby wants milk, you don't need to reach the point of the baby screaming at the top of his/her lungs.

It is also important to make breastfeeding comfortable for you and the baby. This could cut the stress.

.::. Make sure the room temperature is just nice - not too cold or too warm.

.::. Breastfeed in front of the TV so you could watch your favorite show.

.::. Have whatever you need within a hand's reach (eg: muslin cloth for wiping baby's mouth, mobile phone, TV remote control, etc.)

.::. Sit in a comfortable chair that could support your back.

.::. Make sure your baby is swaddled correctly.

I find that I tend to earn brownie points from my baby if I am attentive to her while breastfeeding i.e. not talking to someone else, playing with my phone, etc. She suckles better and longer if I focus on her. Talk about an attention-seeking baby! Hehe, kidding. I have read though, that making eye contact with the baby while breastfeeding enhances the bonding process.

If breastfeeding is too tiring for you, the baby can be bottle-fed alternately and intermittently. My baby's paediatrician said it's fine to have the baby use a bottle after one-week old. I also supplemented feedings with formula milk, during times when I did not have expressed milk in stock. Learning the right time to express (pump) milk was another thing to master, especially with a baby that constantly wants to be fed, causing the tendency for him/her to hijack your pumping sessions (lol).

I resorted to formula milk when I felt too tired to breastfeed (especially in the middle of the night). It does also become sore right where the baby suckles making breastfeeding painful sometimes. Applying nursing butter in the area will help soothe the pain and the good news is, that it does get better!

Recently, I've been able to do without formula milk (which is pretty expensive and can only be consumed within 4 weeks after opening the tin's seal) as my baby's sleeping pattern has started to change, enabling me to catch up on my Z's a tad better during the night. That brings me to my next item on the list...

💗 Sleeping Pattern

During the first month, my baby would sleep a little longer in the morning til afternoon, rather than at night. My husband and I suffered sleeping woes because the baby would be actively crying at night or not wanting to sleep.

But after one month, this started to change. My baby established a new sleeping pattern as she would be more active during the day time (and crying more), and would be sleeping a little longer at night. I really hope this pattern sticks! People do say it gets better after a month.  

💗 Her Eyes, Her Eyes...

The baby will grow and mature into ascending stages right before your eyes. A newborn's vision is blurry at first, being able to make out certain colors only. This will gradually change in a short span of time, where the baby will start to open his/her beautiful eyes wide and the observing begins. A baby's eyes also tend to wander in the direction of any light. And soon, the baby will start looking at YOU! It's such an amazing experience.

What I've noticed with my little one is that she's easily awed by bright lights and the ceiling fan! Sometimes it helps her to stay put temporarily and not cry, when she shifts her focus to these things.

💗 Smile! You're on Candid Camera...

Not only will your baby's eyes start to show progress but her mouth as well. The baby will start showing reflex smiles and grins, although the baby is not actually smiling. But it's absolutely adorable. I notice my baby doing this after getting milk or before going off to sleep. Perhaps this reflex smile does indicate happiness and contentment. ;-)

💗 Sound Effects

Whoever coined the phrase sleeping like a baby did not know how a baby actually sleeps like. If he meant it to mean 'sound asleep' or a deep and long slumber, that is.

A baby makes all sorts of noises as he/she sleeps and is only in a silent slumber for a short period intermittently. These sounds could vary from a tyre screeching to imitations of E.T./Yoda. (The best descriptions I could give!) Sometimes, it seems like the baby is throwing a fit. The sounds make me agitated, ending up in my constantly checking on the baby, fearing that something is wrong. Fortunately, these sounds are totally normal and part of the baby's growth. It's also totally normal to feel worried as a parent. 

💗 Baby's Growing!

In just a matter of 30 days, your baby will grow at a substantial rate. His/her head will get bigger, and her arms and legs will get chunkier (adorable baby fat!). Some of my baby's onesies have even gotten a little tight for her and she's already starting to wear slightly bigger mittens. All this, powered by the milk your body produces.

💗 B-C-G

The baby will get his/her BCG vaccination at the hospital not too long after birth. I have learnt that the scar of the shot will gradually change in appearance, into different stages over time. During the first month, it was not visible at first but then manifested in what looked and felt like a mosquito bite.

After a month, it started to 'grow' and I could see some whitish feature. I was alarmed at first but my in-house medical practitioner (my sister, haha) informed me that it's supposed to change in appearance like that. The changes show that the vaccination is working. Eventually, the scar will turn into a scab and part of it will shed off. Phew!

I can't wait to witness and experience more changes in the coming months. Grow up to be a good girl, Honey!