My Humble Life

GONG XI FA CHAI!!

2010-02-21T02:14:00.000-08:00

Gong Xi Fa Chai, everyone.
In this TIGER YEAR:
May you and your family enjoy peace and good health throughout this new year
May this new year flood your home with joy, happiness and laughter
May this new year bring you fulfillment and success in your life
and most important,
May you be bestow with good fortune in this new year.
Happy Chinese New Year, Happy Spring Festival....

Happy New Year!!! (ehmm..belated)

2010-01-13T23:11:00.000-08:00

Well, as wise man said before, it's better late then never (ehmm..ehmm..)so, Happy Belated New Year , everyone!!!
May the Tiger roar away all the bad spirits and bring us all good luck, health and proprieties.

Well, I've been absent for a while because so busy. With new 2 prospective projects to chase and tender also Megan's more demanding now.

My Megan has been sicked last year on Dec '09 for 2 weeks. Infected by German Measles. She was cranky of discomfort and lost appetite. So clingy and cengeng.

After that (she's healed), I brought her to my sister house at Rumbai, Pekan Baru to let her breathed some fresh air, greener environment and to celebrate Christmas and New Year with my sister's family.
She gained back her lost weight plus some more but..... 2 week later, after Megan and I went back to Medan, my nephew, richard, my sister's son and Megan play mate were sick, infected by same German Measles.. Arghhh I'm so phai seee.
He's OK now.

But after all, we really have fun there, at Rumbai, really looking forward to spend my next holiday there.

Ahhh ... Find one at last

2009-11-09T23:09:00.000-08:00

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.

Excessive!

2009-10-08T02:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

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

Bagage !

2009-10-08T01:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-08T01:54:00.000-07:00

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

Ahhh..

2009-09-18T01:55:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-18T01:47:00.000-07:00

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.

Visitor

2009-09-06T01:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-06T01:10:00.000-07:00

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????

Weekend

2009-08-30T01:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-30T00:43:00.000-07:00

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

Lunch at Trattoria

2009-08-22T23:23:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-22T23:12:00.000-07:00

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.

Recipe: Scramble Kidney bean with tomato cheese sauce

2009-08-19T03:08:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

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....

Fettuccine Bolognese

2009-08-18T03:13:00.000-07:00

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

Megan-inflammation toe

2009-08-18T03:08:00.001-07:00

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.

Recipe: Quick Whole Grain Banana Pancake

2009-08-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-15T20:41:00.003-07:00

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

2009-08-15T20:41:00.001-07:00

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

2009-08-15T02:21:00.000-07:00

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

Megan and Alphabet

2009-08-15T02:12:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-15T01:54:00.003-07:00

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

2009-08-15T01:54:00.001-07:00

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

Hurrayyy

2009-08-11T23:28:00.001-07:00

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

The Right One

2009-08-11T23:23:00.001-07:00

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

2009-08-11T22:55:00.000-07:00

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.

Is this right?

2009-08-09T01:13:00.000-07:00

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.....

Recipe: Healthy Tofu-Seaweed-Mushroom Soup

2009-08-07T02:35:00.001-07:00

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!

Megan's imporovement

2009-08-06T02:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-06T02:40:00.000-07:00

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

Potato Frittata

2009-07-25T02:15:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-25T01:50:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-25T01:35:00.000-07:00

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 :)

I had a dream

2009-07-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

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.

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

2009-07-21T23:54:00.000-07:00

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........

Psssttt....

2009-07-19T23:27:00.000-07:00

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......

Maid...which one to fired?

2009-07-17T02:04:00.000-07:00

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???

2009-07-17T01:58:00.000-07:00

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

Allergy

2009-07-17T01:45:00.000-07:00

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

URGHHHh

2009-07-09T01:14:00.001-07:00

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.

Down with cold

2009-07-08T01:09:00.000-07:00

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

I Burnt IT, Lemon Whole Wheat Bread

2009-07-04T00:33:00.000-07:00

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????

Busy Weekend

2009-07-01T02:58:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, I tried to bake my first potato-tuna-cheese patties. The recipe which I got from Women Weekly seemed so easy. The result are ugly looking patties and thank you my mum to come to rescue when frying the patties because I have no idea how :)
But..the kids liked them, including some of my nephew and niece (very picky eater)

At night, I baked low fat whole wheat banana bread for my nearly diabetic dad and turned out my dad dislike them, too chewy and nutty for his taste because I've latered all the flour with whole wheat flour and it didn't rise well.
Still there's no worries because my heavily pregnant cousin loved it so it's all gone now.

Sunday, I cooked fucilli with spinach and tomato sauce, turn out not to well because, the spinach is a bit old and turned out a bit tough, Megan ate them anyway (after I re chopped and mashed the spinach)

Wuihhh.. for a non cooking mum like me, cooking really A BIG TOLL!!!]

World grieve for losing his King

2009-06-26T01:09:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it when I turned on the radio this morning, Michael Jackson, King of pop, dies!
I'm so sad. I'm his big fan, I always love his song. From Ben to Beat it, and who can ever forget Thriller or Black or White. Gosh....
I can't believe it when he decided to came back, he just dies!
May He rest in Peace, I'll always miss your music.

Books

2009-06-24T01:52:00.000-07:00

I tried to buy more books for Megan, to develop her interest in reading, but most book I'm able to find in local book store are Indonesia language a.k.a been translated. Blahhhh...I don't want to buy them :(

Candies and snacks

2009-06-23T22:22:00.000-07:00

I try hard not to introduce any sweets or candies to Megan too early on her childhood. Candies are bad for her teeth and ruin her appetite and also any kind of snacks such as crackers, chips etc.
I don't want her to be like her mummy who turn to fatty snacks when feeling distress (I fought hard to curb these, you know....).

I feed her store bought whole wheat bread (to introduce her the chewy texture of breads)or my own home made bread.
For her afternoon snack she eat barley soup or green peas soup, puddings and fruits. Some times she got a small pieces of 75%- 85% dark chocolate or some unsalted peanut to chew on.

Several times in her kinddies, there would be mummies who gave her some chips or candies to share, I politely asked Megan to return them and told them Megan's not allowed to eat them (I bet they must thought that I'm a strict mum)

But instead of all my effort, you know what she brought home from her food party which are provided from school?
All junks....school must give a good examples to parents right? about what to give or not to young children, school must nurture children good habit, not the other wise.

Pants

2009-06-23T21:23:00.001-07:00

Megan love this pants from the first time she set her eye on it.
She said : Cin Cin yau, cantik cantik (mean pretty) and pointed on the pants.
Actually the pants is too fitting tight and she can't wear it in a few months ahead but she insisted to wear it and pee in it ( pingsan )
So mummy have no choice but to pay for it...

Spaghetti

2009-06-15T00:18:00.001-07:00

I cooked this bolognase spaghetti for Megan this Sunday. Since coming back from Pekan, I felt I'm obligate to cooked for her to alternate her meal every week.

My Mum already in her early 70, and she's lazy to alternate the menus. I don't complain, because, thanks to my mum, I'm able to have time to do my work instead of full time taking care of Megan.

Well this is my first try out and a huge success, I used fusilli instead of spaghetti and she like it, I like it, my daddy also like it :)

Cheese Bread

2009-06-15T00:18:00.000-07:00

From my past experience, mostly mommies bring sweet stuff for school food party such as cakes, roll cake, brownies or pudding.

For Megan, I want to bring something different, in taste and texture but also healthy.
I don't want my toddler turn into a sweet tooth girl, until now, she never eat a single candy and I only give her 75%-85% dark chocolate sometimes and she like it.

So I search for something make with cheese cause cheese is healthy, chock full with vitamin, essential fat and load of calcium.

After browsing, I found this cheese bread recipe at kraft. It seem very yummy and the review were OK also the ingredients are simple and the recipe is do able so I decide to give it a try.

The result is yummy and pretty with festive chocolate flakes that I generously spread on the top of it. Even my non-cheese-eater-mum were temped to give it a try.
But for my taste, it's a bit greasy,next time I'll cut down on butter and cheese.

Here, indulge yourself with the pic.. enjoy.. *wink*
(the only alternation I gave on this recipe is not to shredded all the cheese but diced some and spread festive chocolate flakes on the top of it)

Stuck....

2009-06-14T23:57:00.000-07:00

Argh... since Megan was born, I never go a abroad for holiday. All plan has been canceled, even plan to Beijing this year with whole family seem to be in jeopardize.
And yet I'm ached from head to toe still struggling with all the problems and chores.

I really need a holiday..badly...even my friends who haven't see me for sometime, said that I looked so tensed. Well, who didn't?

But I think that's a price all parents would have, with a toddle, who can be really relax, right?
But have no regrets here, times flies fast, soon our kid will grow up and we can have our own private time ...:)

School Food Party

2009-06-11T22:35:00.000-07:00

Megan's going to have food party this Monday. Parents are asked to bring foods to school so children can share their foods.
I still not know what to bring to this party. Maybe I'll baked cheese bread or maybe chocolate bread.
Which one do you think children'll like best?
I think, other mums will bring something such as cakes or cup cake or fried noodle.
Or do you think I should make pudding instead? but i don't have so many pudding molds and pudding tend to be messy

Ohhhh So Greeeeennnn

2009-06-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

Green, isn't it?

Speedy down!

2009-06-10T01:12:00.000-07:00

ARgh.. the speedy line is so slooowwww these days.What happened to telkom? Corrupted as always?

Banana raisin and chocolate chips bread

2009-06-10T00:52:00.000-07:00

When I was in Ds house, I baked banana raisin chocolate chips bread using what ever ingredient available at the moment.
I used margarine instead of butter because I bought cream cheese instead of butter and tried to melt it (what a mess and a waste)and also I put a cup of strawberry yogurt into the batter because we forgotten to buy vanilla, I also substituted chocolate rice for chocolate chips and luckily the result were OK.
Just in a few days, whole pan (I used pasty pan instead) were polished off.

Aiyoo...jorok..

2009-06-10T00:31:00.000-07:00

Ds has new maid, a pulang pergi maid. Her job is to hand wash several clothes (most of the clothes and wiping clothes are wash by machine) and iron them and also moping floor (with moping stick).
She work only trice a week. She's so lazy, BILs' shirt collar was still yellowish uncleaned and even pants were smelly.
When she mopped the floor, she never changed the water or even rinsed the mop, just mopped mindlessly from front house to the back. No wonder after she mopped the floor, it felt still so sticky and I can't stand it. I mopped the whole house again myself and the result it I have to change my bucket again and again because the water got dirty very quickly. HUH... to tell the truth, my Ds housing complex is near the jungle. The air is clean and not too dusty as in city, but this maid is really helpless. Before she came, I also vacuumed and mopped the floor twice a week but because she's no brainer, she use the same mop to mopped the terrace floor which is of cause more dirty and the inner house and transferred all the dirt into the house.

It's hard to find a good maid with brain intact now days, if they're smart, they tend to uncontrollable and cunning. If they're dumb..well really make your blood pressure rocket high. Also both types are ignorant and greedy.

Where're our mummies old days good maids all gone?

Father Figure

2009-06-01T02:32:00.000-07:00

Staying in DS house making me more and more realize how Megan miss her daddy and craving for a father figure.
Whenever SF called his daddy 'pa pa', she'll looked at her yie-chang with yearning eyes.
Whenever BIL was teaching or playing with SF, she'll go to them and joined them. She tried her best , the best as 2 years old baby could, to catch the attention of BIL. She smiled a lot to him, followed him everywhere he went and do what ever he told him to do, no a single word 'mai' came out from her mouth ( which is her favorite word whenever we, ds and i or even kong-kong and phor phor ordered her to do something)
When BI taught her number puzzle, she listened tentatively and mastered them immediately .
DS also noticed and this really break my heart.
Well, I realized that she's the victim of the situation, and this make me felt guilty and soft when ever she demand something.
I know i shouldn't pampered her but sometimes seeing her angelic face, i just could not resisted and just heading her demand.

What should i do......

Spending Whole Week at Pekan Baru

2009-05-30T02:59:00.000-07:00

I've spend my whole last week at my sis house in Pekan baru. Now, extended for another week.
Why? Pekan is so Hot. The air is so still that leaves barely move at all.

The reason is MEGAN. She loved spending her 'moved forward' holiday here because of her cousin, SF. They are not exactly playing together (errr only sometime) but his present mean a lot to her.
Her speaking skill is improving and with 'ko-ko' as her competitor, she's more eagerly to learn new things. And SF also happy to have friends to play wiith him, he even let 'mei-mei' use his favorite bolster and play with his favorite toys.

DS house is in Chevron Housing Complex because my BIO work there. The houses are big, huge... with even bigger garden/courtyard (will post the pics to share with you later)
Children can play and run as they like. Here, because the complex is near the forest, occasionally, you can see wild boar, monkeys, snakes. But usually, just variety of birds.
Living here, we're usually listen various sounds of birds and insects. Really... very peaceful here.

The only set back is WE DON"T HAVE MAID HERE!!! a.k.a DS doesn't has maid, so we must do all the house chores... tiring ... and also cooking. And there're so many CECAK!!!!!

Maid, usually can't stand working in this complex because the area are very quiet and they don't have gossiping friends, and my sis only want 1 maid to help her, so usually, sooner or later, the maid would felt lonely (although she slept on Spring Bed and has own TV in her room) and quit.
Really, I don't understand their minds( maids) these days (if they have any). My sis is very kind to them, not fussy and grumpy but of cause she demand honesty and diligent (who didn't??) and the salary is quite high also the food are good, if you, as maid, really want to work, isn't those are what you're looking for?

OK, back to reality, because I can't really cook and children still depend most of their nutrition from foods, DS handle the cooking department. I only help on cleaning department.
Spending another week here, meaning I must handle all my work from here, quite troublesome, and stressful but worth!

Naomi

2009-05-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

My mum decided to give Naomi, our 10 years old Maltese, hair cut (a.k.a fur cut)and it turned out the pet shop (pet salon) not only cut her hair..ups fur but also her skin.
Luckily, it wasn't deep wound, they accidentally cut only skin not the muscle beneath and they acted very fast and effective, the called their regular vet to give her stitches (she got 5 stitches...yeah...big cut for such small dog) and contacted us.
The pet shop apologized and covered all the medical bills and even gave her free salon treatment. Now, this is the reason why we better bring out pet to reputable pet salon.

After two weeks, she's happy chi hua hua again (transformed lah... without fur hehehe)

Megan's skin

2009-05-19T02:45:00.000-07:00

Why every time my baby's bitten my naughty mosquitoes...her skin will develop allergy and the wounds will turn out like this??????
Very ugly and she can't stop herself to scratch it, make it even worse.

Various doctors from general practitioner, pediatrician and even a dermatologist prescribed various of skin med for her but they just didn't worked.
Ahhhhhh....adding my headache lah... she's a girl lah...suppose to have beautiful silky skin like her mum (ehm...ehmmm) not full of dents.

Mummies...any suggestion?????

Sweet Car

2009-05-19T02:33:00.000-07:00

I noticed this morning at the car park that the window frame of a car, a toyota innova, which was parked beside me was full of ants!!!
I was in hurried so in spite of feeling curious, I just storm out to do my errands and when finished got back to my car, I noticed that the same car was still there. The ants somehow was subside and I hurriedly snapped the pic of bits of ants on this car but the pic's blur so can't post it.
This car must be very sweet horrr loved by ants..

Another Stupid Mistake

2009-05-19T02:09:00.000-07:00

Well, this is another blur mistake for laugh.
Megan's birthday is next month but somehow in my blur overly used brain, I remembered it was this month.
So, I ordered the cake and invited families to come, to enjoy the cake because it's expensive but very nice.
Just 1 night before the day, I suddenly remembered... this is May.. not June...how come I made so stupid mistake?
Too late to canceled and this cheapskate mum don't want to spend more for the cake so.. the party continued anyway, Megan celebrated her birthday 1 month ahead
Happy birthday baby girl.....

Milk bottle updated

2009-05-14T21:47:00.000-07:00

I hunted avent BPA free bottle around Indonesia few months ago (online and offline) and found that all were out of stocks although very expensive.

Because I'm too paranoid after learning the bad effect of PC, I decide quickly to switched to BFree bottle which is BPA free (you can peeped into my previous post)when my cousin who was looking for bottles also suggested me.

And you know what....After months, I really lost patient with these bottle because It LEAKS!!!!
When ever Megan took the milk and you screwed the cover too tight.. it leaked..big drops of milk onto Megan Shirt.
If Megan played with bottle nipple, it also leaked..Why, because the nipple is too soft and the cover...I dunno how they can construct a milk bottle like this.

So I decided to dump the bottles into the dustbin and bought tommee tippee instead. Cheaper and less fussy.....

This is Funny!!

2009-05-14T21:12:00.000-07:00

My cousin's wife has just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy this Monday.

When she was breastfeeding her baby, her 3 years old chatty daughter, JS, came into mummy's room and ask:

JS: Mummy...what are you doing?
Mummy: I'm feeding di di nen nen

JS: Mummy...no....don't let di di drink nen nen this way.
Mummy: Nah.. Js, you also drink nen nen like this when you're baby la...

Js (after thinking a while): Js also want to drink nen nen like this..mummy, you hold js like di di (hehehe she's jealous)
she approached her mummy and flipped up her mummy shirt and staring at another nipple.

Js: ihhhhh Jorok (dirty)when she saw the color of her mummy nipple
She tugged the shirt down again and pretending sucking the nipple and said
Js: Js drink nen nen like di di

When di di finished, Mummy pressed out a bit of milk and asked JS
Mummy: you still want nen nen mah?
Js took a lick on her mummy nipple and ran way.

Later, when she was playing with her dolls, she flipped up her shirt and put her doll mouth on her nipple

Grandma: Js...what are you doing?
Js: wa-wa is hungry, wa wa drinking nen nen la....

Funny, isin't it? hehehhe

Picking Up Pieces

2009-05-12T00:28:00.000-07:00

of my life...I has no more turning point. Although it seem so dank, I must go on and walk through it.
I'm sure it'll all passed away someday...SOON.

I must strong for my baby girl.I can't just lack down and stop. I bring her to this world, this mean, her life is my responsibilities, so, I just always put her at the top of my list, always try to give her the best of life although this mean sacrificing my own.

I'm not that good mum thought, I have my flaws, sometimes, when my bones aches of tiredness, I felt i just wanted to snapped out at her, but she is still small and innocent. She is the victims of the situation.

I'm very very very grateful to have my close tight families around me to keep me strong through all these turbulence, Really, i can't imagine who're in my shoes and don't have anyone to cry on....pity....
Well, just a few words to describe then: Life must move on..And Be Positive.

Blur..

2009-04-29T02:21:00.000-07:00

I'd severe migraine this past Monday. My head's thumping badly inside my skull. Specially under the unbearable heat these past few days.
But I can't stay home and rest. I have to make a living, earn money to support my life and Megan's.
So, I dragged my butt and lousy head to meet customer whose house is so far away and the traffic was jammed along the way. It took 11/2 hour to reached her house. And at there I found out that the wife's not exactly sure what her hubby want (the concept of design, etc) and her hubby was out of town for a few days. (Hay...why not just called me and canceled the meeting, right?)
SO, that meant my trip was almost useless accept taking some pics and measurement.

I have to drive back to town, after 30 minutes later,through Oh My God traffic Jam to buying and ordering stuffs for my furniture workshop then suddenly I remembered that I've forgotten to pay one of my credit card and the due date is 27 April. It was almost 17.00 pm which the traffic begin to jam again. So I hurriedly grabbed my bag and rushed to ATM which located in very crowded and jammed area and find out that I've forgotten to bring my payment slip. I'm so mad with my stupid self and I don't remember my CC's number.

I rushed home and because it's almost 18.00 I decide to bring just my small purse, put in my cards and driving licence and rushed to the ATM again, tried to pay the bill.
The transaction was not doable, the machine rejected my card, I'm so confused and then I found out that I MISTAKEN MY ATM CARD WITH MY CC AND INSERT MY CC INTO THE MACHINE INSTEAD AND I FORGOT TO BRING MY ATM CARD!!!! OMG.....and my head's thumping badly (although I've swallowed Panadol EXTRA)I'm on the edge to tear.
I rushed home again, grab my ATM card and back to the ATM machine again to finished the transaction at last.
Can you imagine how blur I'm?......hicks..hicks....

OHHHH...GODIVA!!!

2009-04-29T02:15:00.000-07:00

In these dark time of my life, these are my juiciest escapade :)

Megan sick again

2009-04-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

Since Megan joined her playgroup, she got sick a lot. Whether just common cold, flu, cough or some common infection.
Last Sunday, she woke up cried, holding her stomach and said pooo, I thought she want to poo, but no poo came out, but she farted a lot. she refused to drink milk, seem very uncomfortable and worse,she can't poo. Every times her tummy ache, she tense all over and cried. My poor little Megan.
My aunt, a general practitioner, came over and suggested me to gave her a quarter of Mylanta. she said she was ok, accept some indigestion. Yes, it helped a lot. She become more relax and eager to eat a bit.
But on Monday, she got fever. She became cranky and clingy to me. I can't do my work and my design just nursing her. I thought maybe she's teething, so I just gave her Panadol for kids. But I was wrong. Her temperature up every time the med wear off and on Thursday, I took her to her pediatrician.
Doctor said she got some infection, nothing to worried about and precribed her some antibiotic.
Well, I'm glad she's OK now but I hate the idea of giving my baby antibiotic every time she got sick. It's chemical and I don't like too much chemical ....and why seem that now the disease is so stubborn and only antibiotic can get rid of them? Or maybe you can share with me some natural remedies that I can use next time Megan got sick? TQ...

I like this poem

2009-04-21T21:17:00.000-07:00

Love this poem, since I love coffe, it suit my thought.

EPO for PMS

2009-04-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

Did you familiar with monthly back ache, feeling breathless, tired, MOODY, breakout, stomach cramp and sometimes you can do nothing but lying in your bad dare less to move at all?
I'd through it all before I consume daily EPO.
I've been consuming EPO for years, and my PMS eased a lot every month. I've stopped taking it when I was pregnant and breastfeeding and started taking it again under my sister suggestion after I complaining about my PMS, hehehe pregnant and breast feed seem to make men forget a lot of things.
For you who experience the same monthly discomfort like me, I strongly suggest you to take daily dose of EPO. It help a lot, really....

Lazy weekend...

2009-04-11T21:15:00.000-07:00

I spent my looooonng weekend lazily. Not actually lazy in doing nothing because I was so diligently learning new CAD software. But I didn't do any house work.
Since Megan has 3 bibik to look after, Mum and Dad went out kai-kai, I just ate instant noodle for lunch. Hehehe

Stone Massage

2009-03-31T23:38:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh.... I escape to a spa this Monday, the Spa got nice ethnic style for the interior a mix of Kampung and Balinese style.
Luckily, I found out I can get 30% disc and decided to try the stone massage instead of cheaper relaxing massage. The procedure take 2 hour!
I have heard and read many benefit of hot stones massage but never have time to tried them before.
Well, to cut the story short, my masseur was very good, gave pressure massage on the certain points of my body and use hot stone to massage from back to toe. She said my body was tense all over and "masuk angin", so it become red where ever she massage. Advised me to take bath after 2 hours and not drinking any cold water to avoid masuk angin again. She did gave me a nice cup of hot bandrex though to help me ease out the wind.

I felt sooooo sleepyyyyy and relax afterward and farting a lot on my way driving home.

BakSos By Dr's Koffie Foundation with Navy at Kampung Nelayan

2009-03-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

We arrived at Kampung Nelayan around 9.00 am by boat sponsored by navy.
The village is small and remote. The sanitation and facilities are bad. Minimal fresh and clean water supply.
The filthy water as shown on the pictures below are the children's 'Swimming Pool' that's the main reason many of them got major skin problems and diarrhea even just a few months old babies.
I volunteer at pharmacy and as seen on the picture below, all are busy (I take a break to snap some pics hehehe)
The plastic bags below are prescription medicines ready to give out to each patients depend on their disease.

Second Chance

2009-03-27T03:44:00.000-07:00

I never believe in writing therapy before until I decided to write down about my dark and empty feeling. Although the post may sound pathetic but somehow, afterward, that night, I slept better and able to see things in a newer perspective and a bit different angles.

The next day, the more I read my own post, the more I realize how it’ll eat me slowly. I still want to claim my own life and do the best of it. I believe my rule in this life still not over yet. I believe in Karma though when bad times come, you’ll tend to usher all the thought about your believe to the small corner of your brain and choose to pity yourself instead. It’s easier that way….

Yesterday, instead of kept blaming myself, I make a decision to volunteer at Dr’s Koffie Foundation. It’s a non profit foundation based at Dr’s koffie café which all of its profit will be 100% donated to Dr’s Koffie Foundation.
Dr’s Koffie café was established by dr. IP and Mrs. AW. Both are very special people with good spirit and their mission is to provide health care for all poor and remote ones.

We went to a little kampong nelayan by boat sponsored by navy and gave free medical care. The villager are so poor that they don’t have money to seek doctors and get any proper medical care.
I was asked to help the pharmacy section which my job was ticketing (writing down doctor prescription for each patient’s medicines)
We’re so busy that we didn’t have time to drink or pee. In just a few hours (4-5 hours) we gave out around -/+ 400 recipes.

Truly…I enjoyed it, able to channeling out some of all my dark thought for something good indeed.

We all went back to Dr’s koffie café later. At the time, all my dark mood start to sneak in my ungrateful brain again but then, dr. I and Mrs. A asked me to joined them on their table which was full with doctors (maybe my face shown out my bitterness somehow?)
Well, then, I ‘m grateful to have chance to sharing with dr. Maria, spkk. She’s very wise lady with broad perspectives about life and how to live and be alive and her willingness to share out her own life experiences was really a mind opener.

Actually, we all know about it theoretically, but, it’s different with someone told you directly. The ways the tricky mind works and digest the information gave you different understanding about how to live and how to be alive.
Happiness is not something we can seek or chase. Either do fulfillment. It’s how we do for the others how we concur ourselves, our egos.
She’s able to make me realize we just a tiny dust in this universe. What we can do for the others is more meaningful. How we create a history of our life of our deed. Held no grudge and always be positive in mind and to the others then the live will glides smoothly for us.

Well, it’s hard because we all have needs, wants and egos. We want success and achievements. We want social status and respects. Can we put them all aside to reach the true happiness and peace of mind?
Can I? Can you?...........................................

DARK

2009-03-24T01:54:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt that your world is spiraling down around you to bottomless darkness but...... still you have to force yourself up every morning with blurring mind of sleepless night because no matter what had happened, you still have your life to live, obligation in this life to fulfill.

You feel like a ghost, so dead inside you, it's aching..... it's bleeding.... still you have to keep your performance, forcing false smile and laugh and look strong to face the world and move forward.

You are not a child anymore, but you're not wiser then a child. You work but you can't concentrate, you look edgy and tired.

You felt confidence and comfortable of yourself before, until one wrong calculation, one wrong decision that stirred your life out of it course.

The impact's great, involving your surrounding.....

You still feeling grateful though, to have your own parent and family as your barrier, as your foundation but sometimes even their understanding and unspoken pitiness from their eyes pricked your already bleeding heart.

Feeling quilt for all the foolishness and stubbornness , feeling quilt not able to give your parents a peace of minds, feeling quilt still so depend on them.

Still.......you have to move on....

I'm so Soi ( bad luck )

2009-03-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt like you're in the bottom of a pit?
I'm...After all the internal problems and troubles and still I must face more steep and tricky road ahead.
Maybe, as a person, I'm too naive (inherited), I always think that if you didn't mean bad, it'll be ok.

But it didn't work that way, specially if you're dealing with rich and famous ones.
Examples: There's a mummy who I adored much, very smooth and silky complexion (she is older then me) and WOW body.
One day, when we're in the gym, weight lifting, I asked her how to get such hmmmm skin and without hesitated, she told me.
Then when my other friends who happen to admire her skin talking about her, I just told them the truth. But it turned out I was doing something wrong. I should have kept my big mouth shut because she's angry with me because I've told the others about her skin care products and her undergo treatment.
I'm shocked, I mean, If she wanted it to be a secret,why she told me in the first place? She even gave me the detail of all. If she want me to kept it secret, why not asked me to? why she got angry when found out others already knew and many follow her foot steps? It's not shameful, she just went under some fraxel laser to rejuvenate her skin, not face lift or something...I will also fraxeling my face if i have budget. But there....she just mad at me and refused to talked to me, even avoiding me....
Until now... after nights of lost sleep...I still can't figured out why..

Then I just informed by my cousin to delete one of my post because it has made someone very important felt uncomfortable, I was shocked, I meant no harm, I just very admired their successful and adored them. He told me the important one was offended and accused me to have no right to post it.

Yes, I didn't asked their permission but I didn't specify anything either. It can be anything, anyone, anywhere and also I wrote it : AS RUMOR(...).

If you take a pic of nice dinner you're having in restaurant, and post them in your blog, do you asking any permission?

Or there's a very fancy car past by and you snap the pic and post it, but you dabbed out the license number but you also noted down such as that the car maybe cost a few M rupiah, did you did anything wrong?

Also maybe you saw a very very WOW and beautiful house, you snapped the pic and post in your blog and also wrote down some opinion such as this beautiful house maybe cost some M but you dabbed out the house number and you didn't gave any specific information, did the owner of the house have the right to be so MAD at you and accused you spreading false info about their houses price?

From my point of view, it's just a mare opinion or gossips or rumors, harmless....

But,what happened is otherwise, because some of their friends have somewhat stumbled to my blog and told them about it. And they're angry about it.

I can't stop thinking....I never knew there are Indonesian reading my blog because from my visitor chat, all foreigner.

Maybe my Visitor chat/log is miss function?

I dunno, but I surely will apologized to all that felt uncomfortable because of me because I don't need more troubles in my life.

AS REMINDER, once again, this is online era, everything is so expose and open, anyone can post about anything. If you want something to be a secrecy, just keep it secret, don't exposed it, don't show off, if needed, maybe temporary confiscated all your visitors / guests cellphone just in case they snapped some pics because now, even a cheap one have camera built in it.

This blog is only a media for me to share my experiences, feelings, news, even gossips and rumors. If some of my post are offended someone, please contact me directly, so I can delete them, no need to pull any channels because basically I'm really a very understanding and negotiable person.

Megan and her best friend

2009-03-18T00:31:00.000-07:00

Is so inseparable... always together, when sleeping or playing or even when pooing. It seem her best pal gave her strength to push out nasty big poo. She even want to bring him to her kiddie but not allowed, of cause, other wise maybe will fall down to the ground and get dirty.

Model in The Making???

2009-03-18T00:28:00.000-07:00

Megan learn to write

2009-03-18T00:21:00.000-07:00

Not really writing hehehe but just scribble or sketch here and there when ever she get hold on pencil or ballpoint. Her favorite is scribble either on a piece of paper or her own palm ...

Bit of my dissapointment

2009-03-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

I'm at my facial clinic to have a routine monthly facial which currently have moved to new hip building recently.
Well, inside it, the interior actually look more like cafe then facial clinic, but no WIFI!!!!
Building as chick as this, with all modern interior and exterior but no WIFI!
And I have to wait for 1.5 hours for my turn.
sigh..............what a time wasting....

Water broke on full term still lost the baby

2009-03-06T18:13:00.000-08:00

Another sad things had happened. My distance cousin has lost his baby girl. So unexpected and shocked to all of us. I met the couple on chinese new year, the mummy's happily and glowing pregnant.
This time is nearly her due time when all sad things happened.
On 2 march, she felt uncomfortable, feeling a bit shiver and dizzy. So she called her doctor/gynecologic and he put her on V said she got some infection and assured her everything is ok.
On 3 march, around 9.00 am, her water broke. Her husband rushed her to hospital right away. The nurse examined her and found that she just 1cm open.
The doctor/gynea arrived at hospital on 13.00, examined her and said everything is OK, she just need to wait till her door open fully.
On 17.00, ordered from doctor by phone, she was induced by nurse and then started to have her painfully contraction.
My aunt visited her on 20.00 , she's all in pain and have regular contraction. My aunt for the doctor, the nurses assured my aunt that the doctor will arrived shortly.
But he didn't, untill the next morning, on 4 march, 7.00 the doctor arrived and after a quick examination, ordered to gave her cesarean right away.
But.....the baby was born already blue and gray, her heart is still beating though, but not able to cry and breath on her own.
Maybe because of infection, maybe because of oxygen depletion, we don't know, the doctor won't tell. But we're sad of losing a beautiful baby girl.

Killer maid updated

2009-03-05T20:31:00.000-08:00

Sri was arrested anew days ago at her hometown , jawa. As predictedm she pledge insanity and irresponsible of all her deed.
She even claimed that she heard screamed and cried for help that dawn but she hate them specially her working partner, hartini, she choosed to ignored them and run away.
She said it was not her intention to killed the children, only hartini, but why she locked the children bedroom from the outside? why she even out the fire under the X-Trail car that caused explosion?
Hah....Cruel...I really dunno what to write.

Kefir III

2009-02-28T22:55:00.001-08:00

I've been drinking a cup of kefir first thing in the morning for about 2 weeks. It taste a bit thicker and creamier then regular milk and a bit sour, but ok for my adventurous taste buds.*chuckles*
Now I've mastered the way to make them (I think), to make a perfect kefir, specially at warm tropical climate, just put 1 TB of kefir grain for 500ml of fresh milk (low fat milk, powder milk work fine) into a glass or plastic (non-PC) container or jar.
Cover the container with a lid (just lightly close it because the fermentation proses produce CO2 gas: you don't want your container suddenly explode, right?)
Place jar or bottle or container onto a slightly dark and cool place a.k.a onto the corner of cupboard for 12-18 hours (max).
Your kefir is ready when you see on the bottom of the container that the milk is clearly separated into whey and curds.
Shake it to mix the whey and curds into homogeneous liquid. Then is time for first milking!
Strain the milk to separate kefir grain from the milk curd (the slightly yellow things in the strainer are your kefir grains) put the grain back into a clean container with fresh milk for next fermentation, DONE.
You may enjoy your kefir right away (I like mine slightly cool) or store your kefir in a glass container in the refrigerator and you can add each newly make batches in it. Just shake it slowly to mix it.
Easy and simple.
Note:
If you let them sit too long, as suggested 24 hours, it will become cheese and whey and uneatable, this maybe because of tropical climate which is usually between 28-31' make the grain become active.
To slow them down, after 18 hours fermentation, just put the bottle and all into the fridge. They will still continue to fermentation but much slower.
If you wish to suspend the fermentation for a few weeks, just put them (kefir grain + milk)into the refrigerator.
NEVER PUT THEM INTO THE FRIDGE, THE GRAIN WILL DIE AT 0'

OMG

2009-02-28T22:15:00.000-08:00

I baked banana bread this morning, and after I poured the batter into a loaf pan, put them in the oven, and re-read the recipe, OMG, I found out that I forgot to mix in sugar.
Gosh, luckily it turn out Ok, and sweet enough, maybe because some of extra raisins and cranberries that I added into the batter.

BPA Free MIlk Bottle

2009-02-28T21:58:00.000-08:00

At last! After weeks of searching and waiting (a bit exaggerate hehe), my BPA free milk bottle arrived today. My very nice cousin in Jakarta, Ling, a general practitioner, bought them for me. Her Edward, 18 months, also uses this kind of bottle.

Megan still drinks from bottle twice a day and since been informed by my sister, Dewi, news about BPA, I took them very seriously.
I always count on my sister for all the important news about babies and health. I don’t have too much spare time to browse or read magazines. If I time in my hand, I better use them to read all the books and novels that I keep stacking or downloading but no time to read.

Because Megan was breast feeding baby, she only accept milk bottle with wide neck nipple and because breast feeding still not ‘in trend’ in Medan, it’s very hard to find them only 2-3 brands and none BPA free.
Thinking of spoon feeding Megan her daily milk, twice a day, made me headache already.
I don't buy any PC made water bottle for Megan. For school or drinking cups, I used Richell 'Mugtre' and Pigeon 'Mug Mug' which are made from PP and still safe (until now).

Luckily, Ling kindly bought them and sent them over for me, thank you a lot.
For those mummies out there who have no clue about what’s BPA, please check on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.
Because it's very important for your love ones and even your own health.

Killer Maid

2009-02-23T23:12:00.000-08:00

This weekend, people was shocked by the incident that took place on 20 Feb, 03.15 Wib in Medan.
Two children, aged 12 and 13, brother and sister, were burned to die by their own house maid.
The maid, Sri, who only has been working 3.5 months for this family has fled away and now under police DPO
The parents has been out of town, to HongKong, for business left the children under the care of 2 maid (Hartini, who is pregnant and has been working for this family for 7 years and Sri)and also the children Nainai who lives only few blocks away.
Nainai came visited her grandchildren daily, and on the incident night,she even left their house around 22.30 after dropped a few loaves of bread for children breakfast.
But, who will knew that's the last time she will met them.
On nearly dawn, Nainai received called from her grandchilden asking for help. They told her that their house was on fire and the room was dark because the electricity was cut out due to fire and their room was locked from outside. The panic stricken nainai told the children tried to escape by themselves and she drove frantically to her son house ASAP, only find that she's not able to help, just despairingly and hopelessly stared on the children room window which was on the 3th fl and iron barred.
The window was high enough for 13 and 12 years old children and the glass panes was too thick for them to break down. The broken heart Nainai cried, screaming for help but the fireman can only do a little. The fire was too big and the room was too high.
Nainai saw her beloved one head boobing in and out behind the window glass for a few minutes, then...none....
Hartini, she was too locked from outside of her room but her room was on 2nd fl and she was strong enough to break down the glass (but not to pull out the iron bar) and tried to breath from outside. When the fireman able to break thought the second fl, she was saved.
Sri was nowhere to find. She shared the same room with Hartini.
The report from CSI concluded that the fire started on the 1 ft floor,was burned under the X-trail car, that caused the explosion later, and from kitchen (the arsoner even turned on the generator and gas stove)
Sri, only 16 years old, from further investigation revealed that she also killed a baby under her care at Jawa 2 years ago by baking him in the oven.
So scary!!!! The yayasan's very irresponsible. Because the law in Indonesia is very unfair, specially if the victims are Chinese, so, mummies out there, beware! Even if she was cought, her jail time will be short and she'll release in no time. Here, I uploaded her picture, just be careful, specially if you're hiring maid from Indonesia.

Money and Friend

2009-02-14T01:41:00.001-08:00

I met an ex- gym friend in the mall just now. We used to be very closed friend back then. We cried on each other shoulder and pour our heart out.
Then, she moved to another gym because of some reasons, but still we're closed. We smses almost daily and able to smses until midnight.
Then one day she called me because her hubby was caught by government for being accused of corruption (her hubby has some government project)and asked my uncle help. My uncle did made some call and pulled some strings but then told me he could not help him because it was full of political complication. My uncle did gave her some advices and told her not to trusted outsider too much because they tend to get advantage from her.
I was sad for her for not able to help her and kept pushing my uncle to help him. That time my uncle told me: 'don't be so stupid, we already did our best to help them so take easy and by the time, it will alright'
She was advised another way by someone and she decided to follow them. But still I tried to be her pal and always be there for her.
Then, to cut it short, her hubby was released, as my uncle said.
But for all of sudden, I lost a pal, she put distance between us. And we barely communicated with each other.
Her hubby's now very rich and they moved to a luxury house.
When we met just now, I felt a 'pang' of sadness, she's so snob, just said 'hi' and seem eager to fled away, I approached her but she stepped back, so I just stay put and smile, chatted a bit and said 'goodbye'.
Well, money , a lot of money can really change people, even the one closed to you.

ARGH!!! SO HOT

2009-02-13T00:59:00.000-08:00

The weather is so hot, the heat is unbearable these days. It's 33'c today. But compare to our Aussie friends, I count myself still lucky.
Since Sunday, the daily news about Aussie bushfire catastrophe always put my eyes in tears. Imagined all the humans, animals, koalas, kangaroos, wombats burn to death were so sad.
I really want to do something for them, for all the victims but, what can I do? I pray for them, may their souls are in peace.

kefir II

2009-02-09T00:48:00.000-08:00

Well, my first and second batch kefir milk turned out to be matured too fast. First batch matured in 14 hours and instead of putting the kefir milk container in the cool box with ice cubes (to controlled the temperature around 15'as the seller suggested me to) ,I put it in my easiyo yoghurt maker container with some ice cubes plus ice water in it. And turned out, again too active, matured in 20 hours.
For the third batch, I , again put it into easyo container, but with alot ice cubes plus cold water and adding more ice cubes every 6 hours. The result: too de-active grain( slap fore head ) not even any curdling after 24 hours. *sight* I store it now in the cupboard, already showing some coagulation, hah!!!!really I think i must invested freezer thermometer for the future batches.
For anyone interested or curious about kefir, you can browse to http://www.kefir.org/kefir_manual.htm

Kefir

2009-02-05T19:20:00.000-08:00

Have you heard all the miraculous benefit of kefir? I've been searching for the grains ages ago :(
Well, at last on a lucky stoke, I found a seller in Jakarta. Just received the grain still in it's container yesterday evening. Dunno if the grain is still alive or not. Because the seller asked me to self collect them from DHL but I was so busy yesterday and the weather is cloudy, so I let Dhl to do their job: to door delivery.( note:
Kefir grain is living organisms, must strongly avoid from direct sunlight)
Anyhow, I'll try to make my first batch and see what the result will be.

The last slice of cranberries nuts bread

2009-01-29T21:56:00.000-08:00

Oh.. I took a bite before remember to take the pic

Chinese New Year

2009-01-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

GONG XI FA CHAI AND HAPPY MOOO MOOO YEAR FOR ALL , MAY GOD BLESS U ALL WITH HEALTH, WEALTH AND HAPPINESS DURING THIS OXPICIOUS NEW YEAR!!!

So busy to prepare for this special time every year and as usual, I have no time to blog at all.
I baked peanut butter cookies and classic cranberries bread for this kuo nien. I put many 'good meaning' food/ ingredient into my baking such as: orange,peanut,pistachio nuts, cashew nuts, dates, cranberries etc.
I haven't find any recipes using lychee or longan yet hehehe, mum will be so glad if I bake such as lychee cake.

Okay, anyway, let's sneak peek around my kuo-nien activities, shall we....
On new year eve, this year, we just have some simple meal at night but already busy whole day, preparing offering for our ancestor (forget to take pics). Then at mid night, we 'bai-Thien-Gong'(also forget to take pics) because too tired already, longing to sleep.
Chu It morning, after giving and receiving hung-pau, mum and my sister went to temples, I joined them in the afternoon for tjhai lunch then we bai nien at my elderly aunt from my daddy side at her house.
As every kuo nien Chu It tradition, we went to my uncle's house for dinner at night. He's the leader of Chinese society in Medan so you can imagine, how crowded his house that night. You can met the new elected Governor, Mayor, Police Chief, etc.. almost all important people in Medan (again.. forget to take pics because busy helping my aunts greeting visitors)
The most favorite is Chu Er, we, all family reunited and take turn to pai nien to each other houses, from elder one to youngest one. So fun so crowded, making a huge mess in each other houses. Not to mention when changing ang -pau, all children scream and jumping around to get ang pau me included, hehe, cause Megan is still small, so mummy has to fight for her right, right?)
At night, dinner at Taipan Restaurant. No shark fin this year, for my uncles have been enlighten about the endangered sharks. :)
Chu San and the others, we just pai nien to friends house or serving guests in our house.

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Megan Hau Suii

2009-01-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

Megan now really hou sui... Although she still only able to speak few words such as mama, papa, nenek, mimik, ini, and only has 8 teeth, but she know fashion!
Just need to say : 'Megan wear pretty dress, OK?' she will gladly help you to undress herself and after wearing her pretty dress ( which she has pointed, if not the one she wanted, she will scurried away) she will standing in front of dressing mirror, smiling....
Then ....refused to change back to her daily lousy T-shirt.
Surprise, my little baby has grown up.....

Classic Cranberry Nut Bread

2009-01-04T19:11:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I did it again...I bake bread again yesterday. Cranberry nut Bread. I got the recipes from www.allrecipes.com.
I substitute some of the ingredient thought:
I cut down the sugar from 1 cup to 1/2 cup , substitute 1/2 cup of cranberries with raisin (because I's out of it, add 2 very ripe mashed bananas, used salted 'kacang monyet' instead of pecan and used 'kim kiet' peel instead of orange peel.
The result is "Yummy!!!"
Some maybe wander, why I start and eager to learn to bake? Well to tell the truth, that's all because my parent who just have their yearly blood check up, found out their cholesterol and blood pressure quite high, even they always watch their diet. But they have daily snack bought from market such as kueh nyonya or various bread from bread-talk, Cholesterol must sneakily came from there.
So I thought, homemade baking are much more healthy and nutritious. We can control amount of salt and sugar intake in our cooking, and also kind of oil we used. And now Megan is having her snack once a day, so..... here we go, Baking for family health.

New Year Eve

2009-01-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

Sang Wo at my youngest aunt's house. Not very crowded this year. My eldest uncle , second aunt and third aunties all are abroad vising their kids.
Here are some pics which, as usual, I forgot to take the pictures untill half finshed.
Shrimps and noodles
some baby abalone, sea mushroom, homemade and market bought fish balls( you tell the difference)
Hu phio, squids, slices fishes,and tu-tor and chickens meats
Fishes bones, marinated porks, teripang, shrimps balls
VEGETABLES!!!
Markisah with sprite!!! so refreshing....

Happy New Year!!!!

2009-01-01T00:34:00.000-08:00

Send this eCard !

End of 2008

2008-12-29T19:39:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the end of this year, usually on moment like this, people will be wrapped up in Holiday spirit, Glowing and happy , full of joys and plan for tomorrow night.
But .... not me....Actually I've plan for tomorrow night, "Families gathering : Sang Wo Dinner" at my aunt house.
My mum is so lucky to have such tight bond brothers and sisters, we always have gathering like this, some time with no reason at all, just to gather, make noises oh... so crowded, changing gossips.
Any way, back to topic. this year, I'm not smitten by any holiday spirit or feeling any joys instead I feel so gloom, tired, burn out.
For me, Me , this year is not 'as planned ahead' year. Everything is so under count. Well ,my architecture and furniture manufacturing business is not bad, also Elling Bra ones, but I just wish I could do more. Of course impossible with a naughty baby (ehmmm toddler already) and without any baby sitter help.
My time to do my work is so limited, just a few hours here and there... Not to mention have to finished my design until midnight that mean sacrificed my sleeping time. And when Megan is sick, like catching bad cough these days meaning just fitful sleep for me.
I'm not complaining before, because I have already braced myself the consequences of being part time mum, but these days I can't help myself for feeling so burnout, so tired, I just want to complain ... complain...and complaining...
Every morning, I felt sore on my spine and my shoulder (Oh, I'm sleeping on Lady American mattress and doing yoga 3 times a week) but seem won't help.
I just wish I can have a couple days off so I can recharge myself ... but it's impossible, who'll take care Megan? How about my clients? Who will supervised the worker?
Well, I don't have any solution for myself, I'm so stuck out. But, everything I did, and my scarified surely lately will be well pay off... I wish...

Kindy Concert

2008-12-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

I forgot to post these. Taken a week ago. Megan's playgroup held kid's concert on 13 Dec. It's fun to see all the playgroup children performed on stage.
The show's successful enough. Many parent come to watched their children which all of them were dressed in cute costumes.

Some of the children were fright of stage and cried, some just froze on spot, but some were natural, they performed according to teacher instruction below the stage.

There's one particular boy who caught my attention. He cried when his group're queuing up to the stage and when they get down but when the show began , he performed well. Funny, isn't he?

Nah, the little boy in red T shirt is Megan's class mate. Actually, he's no part of the show, but because he sat near the performers and his shirt is similar color with the boy performer, the teacher mistaken him. But he performed well, better then the others kids on the stage. What a brave boy and his parent must be so proud of him.

What I dislike is the way the headmistress behave. She forbid parents to take picture of the show (but all ignore her, of course)and then she said "if parents can't heed order, how to expect your children to listen to you?" It's rude, right?
Every parents must be proud of their children and want to record their children special moment, right? Why not allowed them leh?