Monday, November 9, 2009

Ahhh ... Find one at last

Maybe some of you, who know my Megan personally or who have follow my previous posts know how sensitive is Megan's skin.
If she was bitten by 3 or more mosquitoes at almost the same time (meaning found a few mosquitoes bites on her skin), she 'll start to show allergic symptoms such as swelling eyes, swelling skin, runny nose, and some time, fever.
I try to keep mosquitoes away from her but... true love is hard to be separated. she wear long pants everywhere, school or even at home, still the mozzie will kiss her palm, toes, ears and worse, face.

It's hard to create mosquitoes free zone in my house since we have two pet dogs and we have garden on our front yard.

I have tried a lot of patches and oil to ward off mosquitoes such as MOSOUT patches, lavender oil, lemongrass oil but still, now and then,we still found mozzis bitten on her skin.

Then, we tried a lot of ointments to ease the allergic reaction and itchiness such as Mopiko, Zam buk,Oronineh Oinment, True herbs vine salve, Moz-Bite cream, Buds super soothing and rescue lotion even some docter's prescription cram such as such as Dextacream, Apolar, Elopro , she still cried in pain of her swelling toes or fingers or palm or ankle.

One night, when i flipped to re read my old prevention magazines, i just accidentally found out this simple yet miraculous oil: peppermint oil.

I bought it from whooppieskiddies online store from Singapore.
just a dab of the oil on the bitten wound, it naturalize the toxin and ease the swelling almost miraculously.
The redness from bites are still there but no longer itching (most important, ehh) and the swelling is eased.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Excessive!

I read a success story of a woman who has drop 50 pounds in 2 years by exercise and calories counting. After 3 years, she still able to maintain her weight. She now wearing size 1 jeans and yes, from the picture included, she look very slim.
She's an avid exerciser, she indulges only on weekend but she makes sure she compensates every single calorie she ate specially on weekend. If she craving for a good piece of pie, she must exercise longer to make sure she’d burn the pie calorie. I really wonder, how long she can hang on lifestyle like that and how long until her body will give up.

I knew that cause I'd through that part before, exercise like mad such as 3 hours in gym, daily, for cardio and weight training and every time i ate, my brain would started to whirl to count the calories i was consuming.
Am I fat? No! But I was a bit flabby on my belly and I wanted more defined waistline. That time, I made friend with a mum of two with six pack abs and superb body. I was really admiring her. I, not yet married got so ugly abs :(

For 6 years I’ve been living that way, and still, I didn't get or near six pack abs plus I always felt tired and cranky. Worse were my joints starting to ache due to strenuous and excessive exercise but I choose to ignore the entire symptom and kept exercising.
My dear best friend, ET, warned me about it but I just smile and not listened.
I's so sure I was right. I subscribed all health magazine that I laid my hands on such as shape, fitness, self, prevention directly from USA. To learn about healthy aka low or non fat food, exercise regime, etc.
The result of long self deprivation was, my body started to burn muscles instead of building them. I looked skinny but flabby with unhealthy skin tone and always felt discomfort gassy stomach.

Now, I’ve learnt to slow down and listen to my body. I eat everything I want even high fat, high carb food aka comfort food such as Mac and cheese, pasta, cakes, chocolate, nuts, fusion breads, nasi padang but in moderation. To my surprise, I still skinny but more energy and more FLAT ABS also more define waistline.
Keep balance in everything. Take care your own body cause your body is your temple. Never go to extreme and you'll be fine.

Retreat


Hmmmm...yummy and relaxing. I enjoyed it with my eye closed, absorbing and enjoying all the flavor

Bagage !

I was lugging up all his remaining stuffs, knick knack, shirts from my closet. I felt like I was floating, dizzy and likely to throw up. Sad how my dream had shattered, and by throwing all in suitcase brought back all unwanted memories and tore open my still scabbing wound.
But after almost all tucked away in giant suitcase, somehow, I felt relieved, eager to face the future and buried away all painful past.

Only 1 problem remains, how to send all to him if I didn't know his address? Maybe I will call his brother to find out?

Megan, 27 months


My baby, errr toddler, is very chatting and full of curiosity. She now keeps asking you everything her eyes laid on: she asked mummy zhi se mok? Mummy, cincin yau zhi ge.
She knows alphabet from A-Z, numbers 1-20 and basic shapes, but still, can't grasp the concept of color. Any idea how to teach a 2,4 years old color?
She speaks mandarins, English, some hok kian and bahasa.
When it was raining yesterday, I said cin cin looked, raining: xia yie and she immediately said lok-ho, hujan. Hahaha

Friday, September 18, 2009

Ahhh..

These two days, my craving of sweet stuff was so strong that I just plan to go for it.
Yesterday, I had Floating Island and Strawberry Cheese Cake and today go for strawberry almond yogurt. :)


Thai Peanut Noodle

This noodle is so easy to make and yummy. No meat but very nutritious and protein packed too.
I got this recipe from prevention health magazine and modify some of it to my family taste.

Ingredient:
•1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
•1/2 cup of evaporated milk (i used regular milk)
•1 cup shredded carrots
•1 cup thinly sliced peeled cucumber
•18 sugar snap peas
•2 cup of broccoli floret cut to small pieces
•12 oz spaghetti
•2 tsp sesame oil
•1-2 tbsp soy sauce
•pinch of salt

Method:
•omitting salt and cook spaghetti as package direction put in broccoli and peas at the last 5 minutes. Strain, separate veggies from spaghetti. Reserve the water about 1/2 cup and put spaghetti back into hot pan.
•In another large pan, put in a bit olive oil, saute carrot, cucumber, for 2-3 min,add in steamed broccoli and peas, add in 1tsp of sesame oil and salt to taste. Set aside.
•combine peanut butter, 1 tsp sesame oil,milk and soy sauce (by 1 tbsp, cause each brand has different level of saltiness), using hand mixer, blend until smooth (add some reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick)
•toss pasta with peanut butter sauce until evenly coated
•top with stir fry veggies.
•Bon apetite

for 6 serving.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Visitor

We got a visitor today, an ex-driver of my uncle. He's Chinese man and has been working for family more than 30 years.
He's in his 70ies and looks healthy and strong. Straight back and glowing face.

He's a lucky man, although his previous wife had died of cancer and left him a daughter and a son but his second wife love his children dearly so no cruel step mum stories here.

His daughter married to a married man, this marriage was against by both sides of families but love concured all.
This man, since married to suk suk’s daughter, slowly but steadily become very successful (must be the luck or element that she bring for him complete his circle), he held no grudge to his second wife’s family, he treat his in law very respectfully.
He brought them around the Asia every year and even bought a vast land and built two story duplex for his in law to live in.

He give job to his bro in law who's not educated (had been joined gangster, thrown in jail, influenced by bad environment where he grown up) and now able to dependent and have good life.

Oh, it’s my dream to bring my parents around the world and able to bought big house for them so they don’t have to climb up and down so many stories such now.

I really wish I can find a man that’s so mature and full of kindness and most important has empathic and abilities to love.
I’m really happy for Suk suk that now he can enjoy his days without worried and spend the rest of his life securely and most important, full of blessing.

Megan cough

These few days, I nearly tore my hairs off, frustrated! Megan has cough, phlegm and bit fever; doctor prescribed her a cough syrup and. The problem is, she dislike the strong vanilla smell and refused to drink it then, not only the meds, every morning, she also refuses to eat her breakfast, oatmeal with grated fruits.

I beg her, sing to her, tease her, bribe her, even drastic ways such as slap or pinch her hand even, threaten her not want her any more, no use.
I'm fighting losing battle here, because in the end usually she cried and screams till puke or being rescue by phor phor and I’m not able to make her eat.

I gave doctor another visit (meant another bill) told him the problem and he prescribed her another cough syrup with cherry flavor. Thanks God she want to drink it now.
But she still lost her appetite and already lost 1kg, it’s really a brain storming time to get her eat he meals even with watching her favorite Barney (used to work)

And now, I’m also infected. I got sore and irritating throat, cold and cough, ahhhh when smooth sailing hah????

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Weekend

I took Megan to Mall after school last Friday, to have good time and play.
We ate some thick toast at Ta Ya Kun, then PLAY!!!!



Past, Present and Future

I got message from my best friend, which said: ' it's amazing that we think we're smart but end up like this.'

yeah....I used to think that I'm smart. I'm educated, quite up dated with almost everything: current news, political, economical, fashion, technology, health, etc, have good income and have many friends. I'm trustworthy and I don't do drug. My schedule full of social events and tea invitations, so full of life.

At some point, I became a bit snob and felling superior. I enjoyed myself so much and consider myself on right path, make right choice.
But I was wrong,ignoring my instinct, my marriage end up like this, broken to pieces and most of my friends choose to fled away.

I'm a fool actually, since I was pregnant, I already saw how those would happened. I just tried to fool myself that everything will end up okay, he'll change with the arrival of the baby.I felt into my own 'hope' trap just as many cliche stories that i heard and consulted before.

I learn hard lesson from my mistake.
I'm feeling blessed ,still, cause God still love me, even all my saving was gone, cheated by my trusted one and I worked still my bone ache and break my back just to pay the still debt and groceries, I have my little girl.
Also I still have home to live, to stay, have healthy and hearty meal everyday, have car to drive and most important having parents and families (sisters, cousins uncles and aunties) who care for me and Megan, love us very much.

Thank you GOD.

Sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Lunch at Trattoria

My cousin and I decide to have some relax time and lunch together without kids together. We choose Trattoria Italian Restaurant cause it's quiet and the foods are good.
We ordered Lasagna, grilled pork stuff with mozzarella cheese - mushroom and Ravioli with bolognase sauce.
All are sinfully delicious.



Megan toe inflammation-3

Megan's bug bitten toe is healed, no more swelling only a few red scars left and also some itchy.
But....there are 3 more new red dots on her leg. Mum said my baby look like chau-kar-phor.... now we're positive it's mosquitoes bites cause we open n close the front door too often and we've small garden. Have to plant mosquitoes ward-off plants
Thanks you Esperson.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Recipe: Scramble Kidney bean with tomato cheese sauce

This recipe is very easy to make,suitable for busy mum who practical recipes like me :) need. Almost all kids love it including my very picky niece.
I got this recipe from my sister and I want to share with all of you.
It's healthy and nutritious. Try them!

Ingredient:

* 150 g kidney bean
* 3 large eggs, beaten
* 3 cloves garlic
* 5 Tbsp tomato ketchup
* 150ml water
* 1/2 Tsp each salt and pepper
* 1/2 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
* 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
* 1 Tbsp vegetable oil (we use olive oil but you can use melted margarine too)

Method:

* boil beans in water for 15 mins until soft but still firm, drain (preserve 150ml of water)
* add half of cheese into beaten egg, mix well
*heat half of oil or margarine in medium sauce pan, add in eggs and scramble into small pieces, put aside
* in the same pan, put in remaining oil and saute garlic until fragrant, add in cooked kidney bean and scrambled egg, tomato sauce, water, salt, pepper, and oyster sauce.
* simmer until the sauce thicken and absorbed
* add in remaining cheese, stir until mix and melt (better off fire).
* bon appetite

Megan-inflammation toe 2

Megan toes still inflame but the swelling already reduce and not as painful as last night. She can walk tip toeing on left leg.
Urghhhh can't slept well last night cause each time her toe touched something such as pillow or bolster she cried :(

I brought her to mall, and lift her spirit. She's happy and even able to run a few step before complaining her foot was pain.
Poor baby....

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Fettuccine Bolognese

How did mommy ate her fettuccine bolognese? With alot of veggies, please :)

Megan-inflammation toe


Megan toes was inflamed because of allergic reaction of bugs bite. Don't know what kind of bug.

She scratched it and said itchy in the morning. I've applied some ointment on it which was then a small red dot.

But it was getting worse, it was enlarging and swelling.

My poor baby cried and said her foot was pain, she even can't walk because each time her left foot touched the floor, she cried of pain

If you know my Megan, she usually has a very high pain tolerance, and seeing her in pain like that, make all of us stress.

My doctor aunt ask me to apply so corticosteroid on the wound to reduce the inflammation, the best was hydrocortisone but I only have Esperson, have to apply it tonight and hope the inflammation will reduce tomorrow.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Recipe: Quick Whole Grain Banana Pancake

I tried this recipe this morning, I downloaded them from web. They were delicious! Megan devoured them with a smear of peanut butter and a glass of fresh grated apple juice.

• 1 large overripe banana
• 2 egg
• ½ cup (4oz) skim milk sweetened with 2 tb of honey
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¾ cup (90g) whole wheat flour
• 2 tb all purpose flour mix with 2 TB of cocoa powder

Mash the banana in a medium bowl. Add the egg and milk. Whisk until frothy.
In a smaller bowl, add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and nutmeg. Sift into the banana mixture. Mix until just blended.
Melt some margarine on non-stick skillet or griddle. Pour batter in over medium heat. Cook about 1-2 minutes a side, small bubbles will form but not as many as traditional pancakes. I just peaked underneath for a light brown color, then flipped.
Smear some peanut butter or jelly as you wish or even chocolate syrup. Serve warm.

Ps. I prepared the batter night before, covered and put them into the fridge. In the morning, just let it sit a few minutes on the counter and stir a bit then ready to fry. I used ¼ cup measure cup

Megan’s New School Schedule

I've change Megan's class from 10.30 to 8.30 for a week now. All because after 1.5 semesters at school, mum and I found out that every time she's back from school, she's already very tired and sleepy because it'll be after 12.30. She would throw tantrum when we feed her lunch and bathed.

Her new schedule work well, she wake up on 6.30 with me (as usual), have 80ml of milk then I hurriedly fix her breakfast and mine (usually will be oatmeal and grated fruits) while mum look after her.
Bi Mis will arrive around 7.30 and feed her and I zoom like flash Gordon to prepare myself to work in 30 mins.

We'll leave house on 8.00, arrive at Megan school around 8.15-8.25 (depend on the traffic), play with her on playground for a while and left her on 8.30

At her school, I'm famous as being a late mum, what can I do, I've works to do, usually I'll arrive school on 10.20 to fetch her home (err…. sometime even 10.30) because too many works to do in so limited time and traffic jam.
But Megan's a darling, she's good and sweet (around teachers only) and she get all attention from them and having good time at school.

The only set back of this new schedule is I have no time to do my daily 15 minutes morning prayer anymore ….should think out how to add more time in the morning.

Megan-Shape and Color


Megan ability to recognize shape and color improved a lot. Now she can do the shape puzzles all by herself (with a lot of encouragement and cheering of cause)

But I don't know why, she can pair the color (that mean she isn't color blind) but she can't name the difference between each colors such this is red or blue or yellow. But she knows half of red circle must pair with another half of red and so does the other color of shapes.

Wonder why? How to teach 2 years old color? Kindly share, please....

Naomi

How did Naomi slept on hot weather these days?
Like this

Megan and Alphabet

Megan now able to arrange all the character of her alphabet puzzle and recognize most of the alphabet.
But, she seem can't memorize the word A,J,K,L (except we stick out our tongue and make el-el sound)M,N,S (unless we make ssss sound)and T.
Others are OK, known by heart.

On numbers, she always forgot number 2,5 and 7. Oh, she can spell them out, but if you showed her, those number and asked what was it, she would went ga..ga.. and asked you back, "what?"

Recipe: Very Easy Tuna Fish Patties

I've very picky eater niece, who is very challenging to feed her. But this tuna patties is one of her favorite * until now, knock the wood*

I got the original recipe from Women's Weekly magazine years ago and modify some of it.

It's tasty and very easy to make.

Ingredients:

  • 1 can tuna fish chuck blended in olive oil (180g)
  • 4-5 big potatoes
  • 2 finely chopped garlic
  • 2 tsp fried shallots
  • 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 egg beaten

Method:

  • Boil potatoes until soft , then mash
  • Mix with tuna ( omitted oil ) , garlic, shallot and cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste (remember, cheddar cheese is salty)
  • Mix all the ingredients well
  • Scoop a spoonful of mixture and roll it into 5cm balls
  • Flatten them up into patties
  • Heat the non- stick pan with olive oil
  • Coat both sides of patties with egg and put gently into the pan
  • Fry until golden brown

Recipe: Beautiful Beetroot Soup

This soup is so easy to make and with little ingredients, suitable for busy days and most important is very healthy and delicious especially if you're Anemic like me.

Remember, we're using 3ltr deep casserole pot. \

Ingredients:

  • 2-3 gloves of garlic, crushed
  • 1-2 ripe tomatoes, quartered
  • A few chicken or pork to taste
  • 1-2 stalk of Sweet corn, cut into 5cm pieces
  • 2-3 Beetroot, cleaned, peeled and cubed ( 2 cm)
  • 2 liter of water

Method:

  • Bring water to boil
  • Put it crushed garlic and boiled
  • Put in chicken, boiled
  • Put in beetroot and corn and tomato, boiled
  • Simmer on low fire for 1.5-2 hours
  • Done

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Hurrayyy


Hip Hip Hurray.... They are in season again!

The Right One

A friend asked me if I've found new boy friend yet and I said nope. Well, because of having my hands full all of times also I don't have any spare time for social outing. Thinking about it, I have really few men surround me.
Well, She kindly offered to matchmaking me with one of her single friends, oh yes…she is a very pleasing girl with a lot of friends, and asking for my basic criteria.
I quickly said, without thinking, no more in thirties please, because mostly, they're still boyish and my tummy already full of emotional roller coaster that I've been going through which gladly has passed.

I long for a mature man, who can provide me a balance and security life and emotional, A man who's also willing to be father of Megan. She needs a father figure in her life and I just hope I can give her that.
My friend said, ahhhh mature one, it's hard to find, and mostly they already be father of someone.
Being a family man, force a man to grow up and be a real man because all of responsibilities and tolerance he must faced daily.

Well, then I must look for widower then :)

Love This

I could have never enough of this. Really in love with it's crunchy texture outside mix with cold and creamy ice cream blend with red bean inside.
Japanese ice cream are very sinfully yummy.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Is this right?

My nephew, 25 month, was in the same class, book 1 playgroup class, with Megan in their school before. They learn simple phases such as: I love my mummy, I can jump, etc which the main point is to help children to understand the meaning of pictures and words such as drink, bath, jump, etc.

But start from this semester while Megan are learning alphabet and continue the book 2, he was move to book 3 class, this poor boy has to learn sentences and simple math such as 1+1=2. His classmate are range from 2.5-3.5 years old and he's youngest but not the smallest cause he's tall.
The most irritating was, they didn't even discussed this with the parents, they just decide it by themselves so my cousin just accidentally knew about this a few days ago.

When she phoned school and asked about it, they said he is already 29 month so he need to mingle with kids that already able to talk well to influence him to talk and they said he's tall and big so will fit up better (of cause la with 3 years old kids).
They also added that if he is not able to catch up, they'll moved him to book 2 class later.

For me, the reason is quite stupid because, in class room, children not only learn to talk but many others skill. Also the school didn't considered the psychological effect on the boy now he refuse to go to school which was never a problem before.
I always thought that if a child is exquisitely smart, he can be moved to a higher grade depend on his/her brain ability so he/she will be continuously challenge and learn a lot.
But this concept seem does not apply in this school.
My nephew is not one if them, he still can't speak in age of 25 month (although he understood almost every words) and he has concentration problem.

Maybe because of administrative works, they refused to move him to book 2 class right when my cousin asked for it. But isn't they caused all this by themselves for being arrogant and ignorance?

Is this normal in preschooler? please advice.....

Friday, August 7, 2009

Recipe: Healthy Tofu-Seaweed-Mushroom Soup

This is my family favorite weekly soup from my mum, not only healthy and yummy, but also chock full of nutrition.

Megan also loves it and keeps asking for more soup, tofu or seaweed.

We always are using Pyrex 3.5l deep casserole for cooking soup.

Ingredients:

  • Chicken with bones to taste, cut to small 5 cm pieces
  • Seaweed, cut to 3-4cm stripes
  • 1-2 Shiitake mushroom, sliced thinly
  • 4-5 Ear mushroom, cut to 3-4 cm stripes
  • A few Shi Chuan preserved vegetables from Can
  • 2 Carrots, julienne
  • 3 garlic, crushed
  • 3-4cm ginger, crushed
  • 1 block of Tofu, cubed 3-4 cm
  • Celery, chopped

Direction:

  • Bring half pot of water to boiled
  • Put in garlic, ginger, boiled
  • Add mushrooms, vegetables, carrots and seaweed, boiled ( you can skip this step by adding them with onion and ginger at once)
  • Add chicken and boiled then simmer with low fire until chicken and all are tender around 1-2 hours
  • Add 1-1.5l of cold water into the soup, add celery and tofu at once to get silken and soft tofu
  • Boiled and add salt to taste
  • Done!

Easy peasy and Yummy!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Megan's imporovement

Megan now able to force herself or maybe will herself to concentrate for 5-10 mins to lace lots of beads all by herself and able to arrange the puzzle of shapes which are quite difficult (with a bit help)and a lot of cheer leading form mummy or kong-kong :)

Ching Wan Hung: magical ointment for burnt

A few days ago, my fingers were burnt but just boiled hot water when I was making yogurt. Oh my...it hurt so bad specially my thumb was tomato red, almost cooked, I thought.
I was not able to think out the first aid for burnt but I remembered that do not put tooth paste or oil on the wound cause it'd 'fried it' so I just immersed my fingers in ice cold water for 15 minutes.
It soothed a bit, but when I took them out, oh hurt so bad (pssssst. my pain tolerance is very low)
So, with teary eyes, I ran to my mum, asked for help and she wisely brought me this Magical Ointment : CHING WAN HUNG

I apply them on my finger, thickly and in 30 minutes, phewwww, the burnt really healed and the redness and pain gone!
Mum said the effect would be quicker if I applied them right away instead of repeating immersed my burnt finger into cold water

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Potato Frittata

I baked potato frittata with tomatoes, tomato paste, string beans (the original recipes required spinach), eggs, milk and of course... 1 cup of shredded Cheddar Cheese.
The result is quite yummy and most important is Megan love it.
And... I love it... yummy but... fatty... it's OK, I'm trying to put on some weight here :)

Ohhhh Heaven is the place on Earth

I always think of this song from Amy Grant when ever I eat Chocolate : Heaven is a place on earth.
This Monday, my aunt just back from singapore and she brought for my mum Chocolate Charbonnel, The chocolate drink. Oh my... they are delicious. Really Chocolaty and really creamy.
The Charbonnel Chocolate contain chocolate flakes, not chocolate powder, you can just melt them to make a glass of hot chocolate, which is really creamy or just spread the flakes on your ice cream, yogurt , cereal, oatmeal, what ever you're craving.
Really a piece of heaven on earth.

For you who have taste the delicious of Chocolate Charbonnel before, Lucky you! For you who're not yet, Well...what are you waiting for????????

Megan's imporovement

Megan on 25 month are able to arrange simple puzzles (thanks to a tio who's more patiently tough her back in Pekan Baru), able to building blocks with Lego, recognize and able to read numbers 1-10 in English, Mandarin and Bahasa, number 11-15 in English.

No patient in coloring and still can't grasp the concept of color.

A few days ago, she's showing interested in lacing beads and tried to lacing some all by herself. Took her ages to try to balance the beads and shoe lace and made mummy throat sore for the cheering and supporting to lift up her spirit.
Today, she succeed to lace 3 beads and the ran away :)

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

I had a dream

I had a weird dream last night. I dreamed that I made love with a man I knew but hardly met(and honestly, never thought of him). He hold me tight and asked me to Come.
Well before I Came, I woke up, my skin tingled and I can felt his warm body against mine at that time.
That make me pondered, and realized that I haven't have sex for more then a year.
Yeah...since before the separation, my ex and I rarely make love cause we just couldn't stand of each other anymore.
I thought that I didn't missed it (not missing him, mind you) but it turned out that my brain and my body missed the sensation and the chemistry of it.

I'm very old fashioned girl in mind. I'm not the type that hang out at local bar or pub, has fling and one night stand just to satisfy my desire, my needs.

I just wish some day, I'll find myself a good husband who will give me a fulfill and happy life (Fu Man) so I can spend the rest of my life hand in hand with him.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Books, Where to buy??? Help!!!

I tried to buy some Kumon preschooler Workbooks for Megan , very interesting books to train her basic skill. Actually they're not expensive books, just around $5.9 to $6.9 per book but the shipping fee is really a bummer. For 5 books will cost around $29.94 send from Amazon USA so, I thought, hay there're many online book store in Indonesia, why not tried them.... and the result is None sell them.
Bummer....

I tried Kinokuniya Jakarta and also Not available.

Then, my sister introduce me to this website, an Indonesia online bookstore : www.bookopedia.com. The good news is, they have the books but the price will be not cheaper but more expensive!

If I bought directly from Amazon.com, the total fee including shipping(standard mail)cost around $55.74 (With Currency exchange now 1$= Rp 10.350) but if I bought from bookopedia.com,they will charge me around Rp. 704.000.
Even if I assume 1$ for Rp.11.000, it's still cheaper buying directly from Amazon.com. HuH!!!!
So, I patiently browse... seeking another reasonable option, I found them at Kinokuniya Malaysia, 1 book around RM 24-25.
I have already email them, asked if they do international delivery and gladly they did, but still haven't give me the detail of shipping fee yet (I asked for using Malaysia Surface mail, aka, cheaper)

Hope to get good news from them.....other wise I have to spent $29.94 for shipping only........

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Psssttt....

I'm not supposed to do any workout yet. Strictly forbidden by my GP specially after last Saturday, when i was rolling tuna potato patties for Megan, suddenly, I sweat profusely , feeling dizzy, lightheaded and breathless and I felt that I was going to faint.
My face was so pale white that my maid hurriedly sit me down and bring me hot water. After 15 mins I was OK. My family GP a.k.a my aunt, hurriedly came to check my condition and said I was hypoglycemic, my blood pressure was too low and ordered me to rest.
What a lame...I rested enough la...

So, today, this morning, when my mum went to beauty salon and my dad busy carpentering some cupboard, I did my 45 mins TaeBo.
Breathless yes... sweat a lot, no doubt, but I felt strong and healthy..yipeeee .
Now i think i really need my nap cause my whole body is aching :)
Sweet......

Friday, July 17, 2009

Maid...which one to fired?

We have 3 maids who help us to tend the house.
The older one is Bi Mis, who has been with the family for 17 years. Now she's in her fifties. Her job is to do laundries (no machine wash)and trice a week wiping all the cabinets. Also go to wet market to do shopping for my mum and help to look after Megan.
She used to do all the mopping and wiping floor on 2nd and 3thd floor until she complained that the toll was too much and she's too tired so it was reduced to cleaned my mum's bathroom only. She works from 8.00- 14.00

The second one is Ima, she's already 7 years with family, now she's pregnant and will due around hari raya but still she want to continue to work with us and asked mum permission for 3 month leaves.
She used to be stay at home maid until married last year. Her job is on 1st floor, mostly kitchen jobs. she also mopped the floor daily and cleaned the bathroom on 1st floor. Twice a week, she cleaned all the windows on her level floor and trice a week, wiping all the cabinets. She work from 8.00- 15.30

The third one is Ac, She only with us for 1.5 year. Her job is to clean 2 and 3 floor including floors, cabinets, 2 bathrooms and look after Megan. She is quick witted and smart..too smart actually that she become bit lau chua. she work from 8.15-17.00

Now, the problem is none are stay at home maid and we need stay at home maid. Which one to fired? from logic thinking, it should be bi Mis, but since she's been around for so long, mum tend to like her as family and she has gentle heart and very obedient.
The second option is Ima, but she got my mum soft heart because she's good maid, she's clean and smart and she can ward off all the preman2 if they come to ask money and also she's the poorest one, her hubby is only a driver and his salary will not enough to support her and the coming baby.
The only option is Ac, but Ac is smart.. you just point one thing and she'll remember...And the most important is she really adore Megan, since she's childless, and she can play with Megan. Headache arrrrrr.

Yummy???



Here is what I cooked weeks before: potato cheese frittata and fusilli with tuna sauce.
Good or not?

Allergy

Here is my beautiful spotted skin because of my allergy. Got to get some allergy tested done soon after I totally healed.
The problem of being allergic is that i cannot eat high protein foods such as seafood, cheese even durian..arghhhhh what a sucker and I love durian specially the bitter ones...though not too much appetite on anything these days
I've lost around 2kg which is not good because I'm too skinny already and my taste buds feel awful... you see.. even plain water tasted very sweet for my weird taste buds now and I can't stand salty food even on peanut butter.

Ahhh I hope to heal soon, cause i can't stand the weak feeling. Because of the meds I have too take, it make me breathless and dizzy, even just braving through the traffic jam or standing too much.

But the plus point is now, all i have to do is nurture my self back to health again, meaning a lot of sleeping and eating (selected foods only) even doesn't need to lift a finger to do anything, my mum just order all maids to be at my services anytime of the day hehehe

Thursday, July 9, 2009

URGHHHh

Just felt a bit ok, nut now getting worse. Can not sleep last night because kept running to closet to puke but instead, nothing came out.
I'm really tired and My poor Megan, she kept waking up with me and cried want to follow me to toilet.

My mum and auntie suspected that i was some how di guna guna (I don't remember the English word for this)
After consultation with monk, she assured mum that I'm not. A relieved, now my tempt rocket high again (38,2')
Tomorrow I'll have my blood test, I maybe got blood infection or something which I really hope, NOT!!!! CROSS MY FIMGER.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Down with cold

Since Sunday evening, something wrong with my body. I felt sudden chill all over my body, my whole body trembling, so i decide to take panadol cold and flue and take 1 hour nap.
Woke up feeling a bit refreshed, I prepared Megan dinner which is Fusilli with Tuna Sauce, but then feeling just not right.. seem like my body was going to sweat but somehow not able to pour out a drop. I got only fitful slept that night.
The stupid mistake was on Monday morning, I decided to take the matter myself and went to sauna instead consult with doctor and yes, I felt great when I was in Sauna but when I went out from the heated room, OMG I trembled all over even my lips become blue and my finger were white, I forced my self to take quick hot bath and rushed home, nearly fainted and swallowed more panadol and went bed.
My aunt, a GP, said, I's infected with some kind of virus and prescribed antibiotic for me, Blahhhh my tongue and my mouth still tasted bitter until now,I'm so powerless and weak.
I'm bit ok now but here and then, still need a lay down, I'm feeling drowsy but can't sleep to well.
Luckily, I don't have sore throat or very high fever, or I'll be quarantine with H1N1

Saturday, July 4, 2009

I Burnt IT, Lemon Whole Wheat Bread

Argh,... I tried my new mini loaves pan, the idea was to bake them and gave them to my cousins (my new bread fans)and the original recipes was single large loaf pan.
Well, u can see from the pics, the result was ebony black bread but I'm so cheapskate and the ingredient were quite pricey (whole wheat flour, kiwis, honey, lemons)and the inside were still ok (my point of view), So, I , myself finished them all in two days rows...


Wonder why I didn't gained any weight yet????