My Spring Tulips

Am I Ready?

2011-01-10T22:09:00.003+08:00

Ready for what? Ans : Ready to update my blog again?

I'm not sure as I have been stop doing so for few months and I'm sooooo lazy nowadays. I wish that I could keep it up again so that I will not miss any precise moment to be jotted down there. And I knew this is one of the way to "keep in touch" with my friends too.

CNY is around the corner. Everyone now could be busy for all kind of preparation. I'll make it pretty simple this year. No homemade cookie, only new clothes, new vases, new bracelet ..... and new job after CNY.

More updates coming up next.

Fullhouse, Oh Yes!

2010-09-18T09:00:00.001+08:00

I found a very lovely restaurant located at Sunway Pyramid. The name of this restaurant is FULLHOUSE. This is a special place where you could dine in as well as doing a little shopping inside. The color theme of this restaurant is white. We are just like sitting inside a white castle, having a sip of coffee with some delicious cake. You may have visited this restaurant but I would like to recommend it to those haven't. It was a thumb up for our first visit.

Try it out if you think the following photo impressed you.

This is one of the deco corner inside Fullhouse, very English style.

We ordered chicken wings, yummylicious. And the box standing beside was to pack some leftover cake. The box still with me even the cakes have gone.

Our tea break, taste good.

Cakes are not bad too especially green tea cheese cake.

Last but not least, our two little princess busy shooting photo with those cartoon statute.

We pay less than RM50 for all the above.

Japanese Ice-Cream

2010-09-15T21:04:00.000+08:00

We went to Sunway Pyramid last weekend and I was attracted by this food corner serving Japanese Ice-Cream. You know, my hubby is kind of people who will never pay for "imported food" as he claimed that we are paying for the expensive freight instead of the quality food. However I insisted of trying this as the bill will be paid from the RM50 cash given by the company for my birthday (even I just join them for 2 months.....hehe).

We bought 1 cup of cranberry + strawberry ice cream and 1 cone of strawberry for Audrey, cost us nearly RM20 for both.

We were not eating ice cream but fruits blended with ice indeed. Pretty disappointed... huh. However people on diet may like it as it's contain natural sweet from the fruits and with very little cream. Too bad, we got a sour strawberry that day..... :(

It's definitely not my cup of tea.

Pray For Her

2010-08-04T21:34:00.004+08:00

I was shocked and depressed when I was told by a friend of mine that another friend in our group is confirmed having breast cancer, stage 2. So a lunch has been organized last weekend just to get together again for some updates, main purpose was to raise our concern to our friend who will be undergoing operation to remove the cancer cell next week. In another words, one of her breast will be removed.

We were sad to hear her story on how she discovered her illness and besides giving her little advice; we also expressed our full support to her. To my surprise, she doesn’t looks depressed. In fact she is brave, accepted the fact what the God has arranged for her, optimistic (as she is still planning oversea trip when recover) and get her self prepared (look around for wig hair….she told us for those made by real hair cost more than RM1k). Perhaps her strong spirit is to believe appeared due to her supportive hubby.

Operation is just a process to remove the cancer cell, following up after that is chemotherapy which to most of them the toughest treatment for the cancer patient. No appetite, vomit, weak, drowsy, lost hair, etc. I pray for her to lessen her pain.

Until now she is still worrying her work as nobody could back her up during her medical leave. Ya…. she is “one leg kick” kind of employee to her company. I raised a little of my voice when I knew about her concern. The most important things for her to do now are to rest, rest and rest. Her worried will not help her to get rid of the bad cell and somehow may make things worst. This is what the company has given her after so many years of service (stressful working environment) despite no increment for past 4 years.

As a mother, her greatest concern is her only son. She is the tutor, mentor, inspector and reminder for her 10 years old son especially guiding him for school work. Her son is depending too much on her. We told her to let go the responsibility and it’s time for her son to be independent.

Women oh women, why we have so much of worries but none of it is for our health?

In Silent Mode

2010-07-31T16:58:00.003+08:00

Sorry for not updating my blog for more than 1 month. Thanks for your patience to revisit here again. Ya ya..... I'm still alive here and struggling my working life too.

I'm in low battery mode after coming back from work everyday. So I will knock off in less than 3 minutes while the kids still actively playing on the bed with their soft toys.

And when come weekend, I like to charge myself with a long afternoon nap. Feel fresh after that, that's how I spend my weekend nowadays. Pretty boring but I like it as I can cut down outing which usually ended up at shopping mall. Save my hard earn money too .... ha ha! But mega sales is out there now.... "leg itch liaw".

Really looking forward for next month end for long holidays. Employee is like that mah.... hoping month end for salary and looking forward for holidays, yahoo!

Will try to update my blog more often.....hopefully! Don't worry, fore sure I'm following your blog even I hardly leave my comment here.

I'm A Lazy Staff

2010-06-28T21:03:00.004+08:00

Working at a far distance from home wasn't easy, what's more for a women with family (especially with 2 demanding girls). Actually I was prepared for that after spoken to hubby before we agreed to accept the job. I'm grateful as he is fully supporting me to take up the challenge by voluntarily sending Audrey to kinder garden and Shannen to babysitter on his way to work. Therefore he has been late to work for the past week. Maybe start next week, I shall be sending Shannen early morning to babysitter so that it could save some time for him.

Working in a big company wasn't easy. It may takes you years to know every colleagues even though we are under the same roof for 9 hours per day. My department colleagues work very late almost everyday, they work until 8-9pm and some of them even come back on Saturday. I feel like an 'alien' while walking out from the office after working hours. Ha ha ha..... But I don't care, I also need my personal time for myself and my family. What a bad discipline employee am I, ..... don't let my boss know I'm a lazy staff!

My New Working Life Starts Today

2010-06-21T08:30:00.001+08:00

Not working for almost 4 months, I truly enjoyed being a full time housewife so far. Fully understood now why some of my friends could stay away from work but still find their life full of excitement.

Today marks the 1st day of another working journey in my life. I'm nervous but excited and happy as finally I was being hired again.... yahoo!

This is my 3rd company I'll be working for after graduated 11 years ago. Don't you think I'm a loyal employee? Hem hem....actually I'm lazy to find new job and don't really like to start all over again in a new environment.

I never ever think that I could travel so far from home to work at this new place which takes at least 40 minutes to reach by paying expensive toll fares and sometime it could take me 1.5 hours one way during bad traffic time.

I told hubby for so many years we were lucky as my previous company was not very far from home and due to advantages of reverse traffic that have saved my traveling time, I was the one responsible to send and pick up our daughters without him rushing back home from work. Stress release for him.

It's time to change the job routine since my new working place is far as compared to his office now. Hopefully we could manage to adjust our timing and reach home in time to fetch our daughters by either one of us. Another headache will be our dinner. No more home cook meals by then. Maybe need to cater or just 'ta pau' (take away) from food stall, at least for the first month.

Who dare say it's not difficult to be a working housewife, a working mother of 2 kids, a working women for a family....... Don't you think you guys are the luckiest man at home?

"Dumpling" Foot

2010-06-16T17:36:00.006+08:00

In the event of "Dumpling Day" celebration, my left foot also wanna looks like 'dumpling' ..... ha ha! Actually we fell down from staircase on our way to swimming pool yesterday. Ya...we, myself and Audrey, both fell down together. Luckily no injury for Audrey but for myself, I wrenched my foot.

In fact I fell when I tried to pull her up when she missed her final step before reaching the floor. It happened in just a second, so I'm still scratching my head how it could happen.

I was suffering from the pain yesterday night .... *sob sob*. Couldn't walk.

I feel much better now after visiting the traditional massage doctor this morning. And my foot ended up being wrapped like a "dumpling". Thank god the sprained foot is not so serious as commented by the traditional doctor. Less walk will make the sprained foot recover faster.

Let me help you...k?

2010-06-09T23:20:00.001+08:00

I don't understand how my little gal could give her hand in helping her sister to brush her teeth yet she is the one always need help from us..... *head shaking*. And strange enough that Shannen let her sister to help her this time whereby this stubborn girl of mine doesn't even let me to brush her teeth, she wants to do it by her own.

I was surprised to see both of them brushing teeth that night, che che helping mei mei with full cooperation from mei mei . I stood outside the washroom to witnessed this "night in history".

Che che :''ok, now open your mouth big big. Yes....good"
Without much fussy, mei mei opened her mouth and let che che brushed her teeth.
Che che :"good, now say eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" while brushing her front teeth.

Ha ha ..... Sometimes they could just click to each other nicely and peacefully without me acting like a referee to put up my whistle when any of them screaming for help.

Some Updates

2010-06-08T10:47:00.004+08:00

I'm feeling lazy to update blog these few days..... when you stop doing something for too long, it's hard to start the engine again, just like a car getting hard to start after not driving for sometimes. Ouch... I need to keep the momentum up.

Still no updates for my interview thus far ...... fingers still crossing tightly.

We enrolled Audrey to the holidays programme organized by My Montessori during this school holidays. We paid RM75 for one week activities which includes 2 outings, 1 baking, handcraft for father's day (oh...father's day around the corner), art painting, music and dance. And yesterday was their first outing to Fruits-land located at Semenyih. She came home with an exhausted face and complaint that both her legs were painful. Perhaps she walked too much and played too hard over there. However she was very happy and excited about the outing. Kept on telling me this and that, she nearly fall asleep inside her teacher's car on the way back.

As for Shannen, not sure whether I shall send her to the holidays programme for 2-3 years group this time. Pity her not getting chance to mix with other kids for play and fun. I only worried that she will be tagging along her sister and refuse to join her group. Em.... maybe shall give her a try next holidays.

Interview Week

2010-05-29T12:15:00.000+08:00

I've been busy lately due to a fully scheduled job interviews last few days, one more scheduled next week. I'm so stressed and tired. I've got to prepare myself for each interview. First, need to googled the destination as I'm not familiar with the road direction in KL, always get confused. Secondly, got to check the company profile and background. Thirdly, need to arrange someone to pick up Audrey from kinder garden.

No doubt I felt tension this whole week, but I'm also happy because at least this busy week gave me some hope of being hired (after sitting at home for months). Not sure whether I will get any offer from any of these companies, updates only by next week. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Bird's Nest

2010-05-21T09:51:00.001+08:00

This was the first time Audrey seeing bird nest in close up (first time for mummy as well) after she was told and shown by my friend while paying visit to her house the other day. It was amazed how bird could build their nest so neat with just using dry leave. Not only that, it's also durable to hold bird's egg inside before it churn out as baby bird.

This is something rare that we don't see it so often. So I considered that we were lucky to have seen it that day.

Mummy bird was away to find food or perhaps building another bigger nest for the new member.

Bangkok Trip Cancelled

2010-05-19T14:19:00.003+08:00

By right (if following our planned schedule), we are supposed to arrived Bangkok yesterday for shopping and sight seeing, perhaps having some fresh coconut in such a hot weather now. Ai.... too bad, I'm still here at home as we got to hold on our trips due to demonstration performed by the anti-government protesters at the central of Bangkok (heart of shopping heaven).

We are lucky that we could change our flight without any 'change fee' that usually air asia will imposed, that itself cost us few hundred RM. However we are still struggling to decide on a new date as we need to consider the different on the air fare that we need to top up. Or shall we just change to other destination since Bangkok's politic is not stable and war ending in no date. Headache.... headache......

Due to the AirAsia Free Seats promotion just kick off, overwhelming response has slower down their site many many many times. What a disappointment? No choice, got to keep on trying and trying........ wish me luck.

A Beautiful Day!

2010-05-15T09:54:00.000+08:00

What will you see first thing in the morning after you wake up from your bed? Beside seeing your lovely husband/wife's face, beside seeing your baby who is still sleeping soundly, will you get to see the nature of earth with so much of green surrounding you? I do.

I could smell the fresh air when I open the window, see the birds swiftly and hear them chirruping. I often forecast the weather by looking at the sky, em....it's a sunny day again. I like to see the clouds covering part of the mountain far on the other side.

I always starts my day with a beautiful scene, how about you?

I Like Flower

2010-05-13T09:44:00.001+08:00

I like flower to the max. Guess you already know which type of flower that I like the most. Ar...? Don't know ar? Ai yo yo...... just look at my blog header you will get the answer.

I need to buy flowers for prayer twice a month, hence I got a little excited to go to the flower stall at market and choose the most fresh and beautiful flower each time. I bought this 2 weeks ago, I quite like the color of this flower. Upon replacing water inside the vase, I just can't resist to snap this eye catching flower, it's so beautiful!

Phiew! It's done.

2010-05-06T15:32:00.006+08:00

I'm scratching my head since last month as I don't know what to give as his birthday present. Yes, it's my home minister's birthday. Really headache to think of something he like and affordable by me at this moment. Ai yo yo........ Unlike ladies, we already have a wish list containing hundred of things that we don't need. You name it, we are happy to have it. Ha ha.....

So finally, I decided to make a cheese cake for him. A homemade cheese cake from a 'half' skillful wife, and with a little help from his beloved daughter too.

And after about 2 hours sweating in the kitchen, finally the cheese cake is ready for the birthday man. Hope he likes it and we (mummy and the 2 angels) would like to wish you 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY'.

Housekeeping Habit

2010-05-05T08:23:00.001+08:00

I must praised my 5 years old girl this time for having a good habit to house keep her bookshelf on and off. Her daddy always claimed that her good habit is inherited from her mummy, er hem.... adjusting my shirt's collar :P .

Ever since I was young (primary schooling age), I already helped out my mum on daily house chores. Floor sweeping & mopping, window glass cleaning, hang washed clothes, clean up dishes and etc. But I'm lucky to have 3 elder sisters whom will take up most of the tough house chores and left some simple one for me. But I got to absorb the work slowly when they get married one by one ..... sob* sob*

Audrey even said I'm like 'Cinderella', not that I will be granted a nice evening gown nor glass shoes from a fairy. It's simply because she saw me doing so many house work while herself and mei mei are like step sister to Cinderella, relaxing on sofa for cartoon. Ha ha......

However I find it quite important to train our children to 'love' doing house chores when they are young. At what age do you think it's a good start to train them? To me, I think as soon as they start messing up our living room with their toys, they should be taught to keep the toys for next play. Audrey does a good job most of the time after each play unlike her mei mei who hardly keep her toys. In fact we got headache to train Shannen to keep her toys.

Audrey also starts helping me to fold her own clothes (upon my request), wash non greasiness dishes when I'm busy cooking or baking and keep empty containers inside cabinet. She is my good helper sometimes.

Audrey snapped this photo of her 'after house keep bookshelf' and proudly show it to me. I gave her a thumb up sign and praised her good girl.

Shannen could sense that I'm complaining her in this blog. When I'm done with this post, she took out the floor mop and told me that she wants to mop the floor. Ha ha .... look at her... *head shaking*!

"Nanny 911" on Ntv7

2010-04-28T08:26:00.000+08:00

We have been watching Nanny 911 twice (2 different series) and we love watching it together, yes with my two little girls. Of course Shannen will not pay full concentration to the show but Audrey does. She even put up her questions to us along the show.

In summary, this is all about the show :
Nanny 911 is a new unscripted series that follows a team of nannies armed with the dos and don'ts of child-rearing. Each nanny has a specific area of expertise (both series that we watched were handling by Nanny Deb, she is super), ranging from proper etiquette to controlling temper tantrums, and all are ready to help exhausted parents tackle the issues creating chaos in their home and whip their families into tip-top shape.

Looking at those family with more than 4 siblings, daddy working and leave all of them to mummy during day time, no maid, no helper. I'm kind of relief to compare myself with them. You can't imagine how bad was the situation until you watch the reality show. I told hubby if I were the mummy, probably I'll be holding 'rotan' all day long or I'll get mad, heart attack and die finally. But I think most of you are aware that physical punishment towards kids is illegal in overseas. Parents can only explain, consult and advise them to the "don'ts". How lucky are kids staying overseas..... he he!

Watch the show and you will know what I'm talking here. If you are interested, you may turn to Ntv7 channel every Monday 8.30pm.

Child Abuse.....?

2010-04-22T10:30:00.002+08:00

I received call from my baby sitter yesterday morning saying that my little gal fell down in the toilet. I was panic as I thought it must be serious that made her to called me immediately. After talking to her asking how she fell and how serious was her injury, I was kind of relief when she told me the edge of her left eye was a little bruised. No cut, no bleeding. Phiew......

How she could fell inside toilet? Auntie told me Shannen purged her milk therefore she carried her to the toilet and she went out to fetch some hot water to shower her. So most probably she fell due to the floor slippery when she walked inside the toilet by herself. She knocked on the edge of the water pail. So immediately auntie used hot towel to soothe her pain and swollen.

I got a shocked to see my gal's eye got swollen and red. Just like being punched by someone. Do you think it looks like those child abuse photo publish in the newspaper. Oh... my poor little gal.

To really make sure that she fell down by her own and to stop my imagination of her being abused, I interviewed her how she got injured. She told me (in Cantonese) , "em siu sam lor (careless lor) ...... hang hang hang (walk walk walk), tit tou (fell down), kok tou lor (and knocked). Daddy got a big shocked too when he saw his dearest gal with swollen eye. He took out OSIM's instant heat compress soothing gel to remove the bruised.

I don't know why this gal of mine suffered so much of pain from falling down. She have fallen from our bed when she was just 4 months old. In her aged of 7 months, she already had 5 times fallen down from our bed record. We took preventive action from one fell to another, but somehow we failed to stop her from falling.

We named her 'big sweet potato'. She easily fell when she runs, maybe due to her careless and weak stamina. You know, she fell and injured her teeth and lips twice last month, bleeding of course. Ai yo.... we thought of wrapping her with some protective cloth or put helmet on her at home to safe guard.

Mummy will pray for you and hope you will become healthy and free from pain from now on.

Job Fair (16 - 18 Apr'2010)

2010-04-21T08:50:00.001+08:00

We went to Job Fair last Friday, 1st day of the fair. Thought of avoiding crowd during weekend and also thought early bird like us will definitely catch a 'fat' worm. Mana tau the moment we reached (sharped at 10am), we saw people everywhere at the convention hall. A long queue already being formed for those who already registered online. And those who are yet to register, they got to fill up the form at another counter before checking in.

I'm not sure the purpose of 'checking in' to the fair which had created human jammed at the entrance. So I asked one of the event organizer crew who were helping to view the sms confirmation code and gave a sticker to paste on before entering the hall. But too bad, I still don't get him.

There were over 100 companies participated and set up their booth at the fair. I was happily going through booth by booth, checking with the staff for job opportunities. Hmmmm...... I would say the vacancies are mostly for field like engineering, finance & accounting, HR, sales & marketing. Oh no, I hardly find a company that are looking for procurement/purchasing, planning position &#@%. What a disappointment fair to me! Haizzzzz.......

However I just dropped in my CV to those company that I wish to work for, hoping they will still remember to call me when their are suitable vacancy in the future.

Finally early birds like us brought back some free gifts like bag, notepad, high quality ball pen, post it note, kiwi shoes polisher & disposable hand glove too .... ha ha.

What's So Smelly?

2010-04-20T13:21:00.003+08:00

One of the morning, I walked out from the study room and saw both of my girls were closing their nose using one hand and the other hand holding colour pencil and scissor respectively. Both of them looked funny........ Ei, wondering what and where the disgusting odour from?

Ooooo.......... he was polishing his leather shoes. That's explained where the bad smell from.

Showing Angry?

2010-04-15T11:45:00.000+08:00

Really "bo-lat" to see my little gal acting this way recently. Whenever she felt angry of not getting what she want either from me or her che che, she will be sitting one corner with her faced down (refer photo). She is trying to tell us that she is angry now. Sometimes she even muttering "I don't want to friend with you all, hung!". Could you believe a 2 years old girl already acting like that to show her anger ..... *slapping my forehead*.

But after I snapped photo of her angry look, immediately with a smiling face, she will move forward and request to preview the photo. Ha ha ha ..... turning her mood with just a click.

Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake

2010-04-08T11:26:00.003+08:00

Since I'm not doing marketing neither having breakfast with my gang this morning, I decided to make a cheesecake. This is the first time I'm trying this new recipe. Not very difficult, you may want to try it out too.

Ingredients A :
250g softened unsalted butter
150g caster sugar
1/8 tsp salt

Ingredients B :
2 eggs
1 egg yolk

Ingredients C (sifted together) :
120g plain flour
20g cocoa powder
1/4 tsp double action baking powder

Cheese Batter (mixed well) :
250g softened cream cheese
70g caster sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1 egg

Method :
1. Beat ingredient A until creamy. Add ingredients B (one egg at a time) and mix well.
2. Add ingredients C slowly until well mix.
3. Line your baking pan with greaseproof paper. Spoon cocoa batter and cheese batter alternately onto the pan and swirl it with a small knife for marbled effect.
4. Heat up your oven at 180 degree celsius for 5 minutes.
5. Then bake at 150 degree celsius for 50-60 minutes or until cooked. (if you are using big oven, you may turn to 180 degree celsius for 45 minutes).

Fresh from oven.

And this is my homemade Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake for tea break, anyone?

Her Reward

2010-04-07T10:26:00.002+08:00

She was so happy to get her reward after so many attempt on trying to get full mark of her mathematics test (question done by her mummy). I came out this idea as one of the way to encourage her to learn counting (only plus and subtract for her age) as we found she is quite poor in counting. And I'm happy that it works on her. The reward has made her to follow the formula of plus and subtract and also how to double check her answer before submitting.

Every kids like ice-cream to the max. What a useful and all time works tool to make them do something that we want... ha ha ha!

Enjoying her Mini-Cornetto.

In order to get her reward, she must answer all the 5 questions correctly. And after trying so many set of questions (in total 35 questions she has done), finally she got her reward! Bingo!

Sushi Zanmai, The Garden

2010-04-05T10:56:00.004+08:00

We came here for dinner last Saturday. Audrey kept on saying that she wanted to eat sushi for dinner. And since we were at The Garden, so hubby suggested we tried this out. We passed by this Japanese restaurant twice last time and there were a long queue outside the shop. We are wondering why the restaurant got so many customers who are willing to wait to be seated. So we tried our luck hoping there wasn't long queue since it's only 6pm.

Finally we got our seat after waiting for 5 minutes. Too bad their air-cond were malfunction on that day, we could felt the 'warm' inside the restaurant. Audrey and Shannen were sweating during the dinner. Overall the foods were yummy, price also reasonable. I didn't snap any photo of the foods because of the atmosphere and I was busy using the menu to fan my gals beside filling up my stomach .... hungry ma.

However I would like to share with you this super yummy sushi that I ate for the first time and I think you could only find it from here. Crispy salmon sushi, the name of it. It serves with gravy at the bottom that tasted a little salty with light sour cream. There are mayonnaise and black sesame spread on the top of the sushi. Thumb up! It only cost RM12.80 per plate (6 pieces of sushi/plate).

After we finished our dinner, we found a long queue outside the restaurant. Now only we know why there is a crowd especially during weekend.

Alice In Wonderland

2010-03-31T15:39:00.006+08:00

We just came back from movie "Alice In Wonderland", not bad. I quite like the Red Queen especially her big round head and her heart shape lips.... ha ha ha, cute! Audrey enjoyed watching the movie, at least she never request for either tidbits, food, sweet, drink, etc during the show. She will demand all sort of food when she doesn't like certain movie, just to pass her time in cinema. She only requested a small piece of cake right after the show started, perhaps she was hungry.

Next coming up will be Toy's Story 3, but need to wait a bit longer. It will be released in June 2010.

How To Keep Your Valuable Things

2010-03-29T14:34:00.004+08:00

How do you keep your valuable things at home, for instance your gold jewelry, diamond ring, cash, antique watches, etc? Here are some tips that I wish to share with you. If you have a better one, do let us know. Believe it or not, thieves are smarter than anyone of us. Only those stupid thieves will get caught and jailed.

Or do you prefer to use safety box? How safe can a safety box be? My former company safety box was no longer safe when it was burglarized, all the foreign currency notes gone.

I think the safer way of avoiding lost is don't keep too much of valuable things at home, am I right?

Do You Read Magazine?

2010-03-26T08:52:00.001+08:00

I like to read magazine especially those feminine magazine so much. I don't mind reading past month magazine as long as it's new to me which I'm yet to read. My only request is that the magazine must in good condition.

I'm not sure whether you have such feeling like me. After reading those feminine magazine it does encourage me to love my body, to care about my skin, to treat my hair even better, to enjoy life and many more. I'm not only being revealed with the new fashion design, latest trend of handbag, new launch of skin product, customer review or feedback of current beauty product, more importantly I will also get their beauty advice and tips which I think its all time useful.

I truly enjoy the moment of reading a magazine without any disturb or interruption. Em.... if it comes with a cup of iced blended mocha, it makes my day perfect!

2nd International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

2010-03-25T08:58:00.002+08:00

It was our first time to join the crowd at International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta at Putrajaya on 20 March 10. We were supposed to meet up SIL and BIL there but due to the poor networking and too many people over there, we didn't catch up each other.

We thought we were late as we only reached there around 7.30pm, but we find it was the best timing as they were just setting up and bringing up balloon by balloon. Amazing view especially when they shoot the fire to keep the balloon floating. At 9.00pm, there was grand firework and we clapped our hand of the excellent played.

They were putting up another balloon.

And finally....... I like this "lion" hot air balloon from France, cute!

Giant orange balloon, from Belgium!

This was my favorite hot air balloon for 2010, from Netherlands.

Another cutie bird balloon.

Attractive and colorful balloons.

Plaster Moulding & Painting

2010-03-24T08:39:00.002+08:00

I bought this last weekend from Popular Bookstore. Since I have so much of free time staying home with Audrey after her school, I plan some activities for her and myself to pass our time meaningfully. This set of painting kit contained 6 assorted designs of plaster mould, plaster powder, magnet, pins, glitter, 5 colours of paint & 1 paint brush.

First we have to make the mould using the plaster powder. Leave it for at least 30 mins to dry it up before start coloring it. Audrey enjoyed doing it as much as mummy did.

Jeng Jeng Jeng.... these are our final pieces of plaster painting. Which is nicer? Audrey did 3 plasters painting while one of them was done by me..... he he, can guess?

We celebrated this last month

2010-03-23T09:27:00.001+08:00

(Back back back ..... dated post)

Pai seh, I missed this out last month. I'm a pure Hokkien therefore on the eve of the 8th day of CNY, we will celebrate 'Pai Tien Kong'. It is the biggest event and a very important celebration for us during CNY. No doubt hubby is not a Hokkien but we do celebrate this special day each year at my mum house. We just pray for a better year for us each time.

This year was rather special as my brother has invited 2 lions dance to perform on that night, right after prayer ceremony. We were so excited waiting for that as all of us are lion dance's fans. Both my girls like to watch lion dance even though both of them feel frightened of it. They watched with both hand closing their ears.

Shannen & Audrey playing the firecrackers happily. 2 full tables of foods for prayer. All prepared by mum except the 'roasted pig'.

Before the dance started, my girls were brave enough to stand beside the lion head for photo.

The whole dance show took more than 30 minutes. Excellent dance!

After the prayer, as usual we will gather to enjoy the fresh roasted pig.... it's really yummy, the meat still warm and juicy! We reached home around 2am and both the girls already slept soundly inside the car. They were too tired. This was how we celebrated our/Hokkien new year 2010.

Our All Time Favorite Lunch

2010-03-20T13:54:00.005+08:00

Since I'm not satisfied with the spaghetti that we had last weekend, I decided to cook it myself for today lunch. I used Campbell's Alfredo Portobello, fettuccine, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, prawns, whipping scream, garlic & onion to cook my version of spaghetti. It was a thumb's up! Em.... my stomach is full now.

This is our simple yet delicious lunch for today!

Luckily both my girls and hubby also like to eat spaghetti.

Sunday Outing

2010-03-18T14:58:00.001+08:00

We went 'jalan-jalan' last weekend since it was Shannen birthday. But I think mummy was happier than anyone....he he!

We had our lunch at a newly open restaurant, The Spaghetti Farm at Mid Valley. I'm a spaghetti lover, so I put high hope on their food since they are so specialized in selling just "spaghetti". Em....*shaking my head*, left right not up down, k! They served lousy spaghetti. My version of spaghetti sure will beat them anytime. We ordered 2 bowls of spaghetti, Pomodoro & Carbonara and we top up some money to get 2 soups and drinks. The soups (mushroom & asparagus) were too salty.

This was the Carbonara spaghetti, only pasta, ham & sauce, RM9.80. Can eat with one eye close.

This was the Pomodoro spaghetti, only pasta and sauce..... teruknya! I asked hubby why the sauce tasted like the tomato sauce we use to dip with french fries? RM5.80 per bowl. Luckily it was only RM5.80, but even that also not worth. The worst spaghetti in my life!

Wondering how long can this shop sustains in the street that occupy many others nice and delicious food restaurant. I'll never visit them again....:(

Happy Anniversary, Mama Patch!

2010-03-17T09:45:00.007+08:00

To run an online business not as easy as I thought, what's more with 3 kids tagging along. My salute to this friend of mine who has did it so well. Today is her 1st online business anniversary, I would like to take this opportunity to wish her more success in her Mama Patch business. Happy Anniversary! What are you waiting? Come join us to grab the giveaway prizes from Mama Patch....... *Good one*

“It’s Mama Patch 1st Anniversary!
Check out their finest handmade at http://www.mamapatch.com
Join as a FAN at http://www.facebook.com/mamapatch "

Grand Draw: ONE FREE Pastel Silk Baby Ring Sling worth Rm168 (design fully custom made to your wish) or Cloth Pads (combination of your choice) worth Rm128
Everyone stand a fair chance. Blog or share on facebook starting from now. Each announcement will entitle one draw so you can post or share as frequent (even daily or hourly!) as you like. Our grand prize will goes the winner fairly and randomly pick by our little model in the pic above when he gets up in the morning on 31 March, 2010 (drawn dateline).

Token for everyone: 28% Discount Voucher for ALL
And that’s not all. We want to thank everyone too, for walking down the one journey with us. Please help us to invite all your friends to join us as a Mama Patch FAN in FACEBOOK. Once we reach 1280 Fans, we will be announcing a Super 28% Discount Voucher (applicable all handmade on Mama Patch website) to everyone, through Facebook (do make sure you join us to be find out ya!)

2YO Shannen

2010-03-16T10:34:00.003+08:00

We celebrated Shannen's 2 yo birthday last weekend at 2 different places, my in law and my mum house. She was lucky to have 2 times of simple celebration as she got 2 different team singing birthday song for her this year. Adult version of birthday song at my in law place whereas a group of kids version of birthday song at my mum place.

When we asked her, "Who happy birthday?" She will replied in a singing tone "Happy birthday to Audrey"..... ha ha, this is because her che che's birthday was last month and she thought we celebrate her che che birthday again.

New signature pose by Shannen with party hat.

Photo with grandma, little Thomas, che che & grandpa.

Another round of celebration with all the cousin sisters & brothers at my mum house. Her 'Pooh' jelly cake. Not bad.

SAHM, Me?

2010-03-12T14:30:00.004+08:00

Never ever thought of being a SAHM after so many years of study as people always claimed it a waste to just staying at home, looking after kids, spending every half day in kitchen. What say you?

I will not quote it as a 'waste' because I see that as a way of showing how financially stable or rich a husband is, that allow you not to work forever. I'm referring this to SAHM out there but not for my case ya.... I'm still eagerly looking for new job, be it part time or permanent job.....:P
A few of my friends were not working but taking care of their own kids at home. One of them told me, "can survive, as long as you are not a big spender". "Really?" thinking in my heart. I'm not a big spender but also not small, so how? He he he....

Many possibility & concerned came across my mind before and after I stopped working. Where can I be after this? How long it takes me to get a new job? Do I want to be a SAHM in long term? Can I run some online business (this is the most headache question that I keep on asking myself as I got no idea what to sell)? Anyone can recommend a good fortune teller so that I know what to do and where to head on?

My Home Tutor

2010-03-07T15:43:00.003+08:00

Home tutor available now! Only teaching A to E, as she is still under learning stage but would like to be a part time tutor. Interested party could contact her personal assistant (Audrey) at 012-245 58510 (*this phone no was given by Audrey, she even wrote on a small piece of paper for her friend at school. Wondering her friend could reach her with so many digits h/p no.... ha ha).

See how my "half pail water" Shannen in teaching action.

True story : We assigned Audrey to become Shannen "teacher" since she like to be a teacher so much. As and when she is free, she will catch hold of Shannen to teach her A~Z. However my little Shannen always disappoint her sister by not paying full attention. So the teacher will make complaint to parent..... which is me.

Meeting Up With Old Friends

2010-03-02T13:08:00.002+08:00

We had a very tight schedule during CNY festive as we wish to catch up with our old friends that we hardly see even though we are staying in the same town, city, state and country. So we fully utilized this holidays to meet them up, all of us were so exhausted especially my 2 little kids.

Sometimes, they got to sacrifice their afternoon nap to just a few minutes short nap inside the car. Really pity them as we tend to come back home late too.

How time flies! We still looks the same beside some minor wrinkles you could spot from our face (at least for myself la... ). But our kids have grown up a lot and you could see the differences from below photo.

From left : Audrey, Wei Qi & Li Qi (Photo taken in 2007)

Do you think they have changed a lot?

Our group's next generation getting bigger ......

Decors for CNY & Valentine's

2010-02-23T14:37:00.006+08:00

Since the first day of CNY was also Valentine's Day, I have made this simple yet very lovely Valentine's deco at home. My gals like it so much. I got the idea from here.

And this is how my home CNY corner looks like.

"Jin Yuan Pao" bowl bought from morning market, cost me RM3.50 only.

Ang Pow lantern, my first and only hand craft for CNY.

Last but not least, I have these 2 beautiful models to pose for photo session.

*Happy Happy CNY, Happy Happy You & I*

Reunion Meals For CNY

2010-02-13T09:00:00.001+08:00

Have you ever face difficulty or headache when making decision on having reunion meals with your family or your hubby's family? I'm lucky as the reunion meal of my family side is all the while being arranged in lunch and my in law always in dinner. Not sure whether this was planned by my mum long long time ago, ever since she realized that she has 4 daughters that when all get married, we will need to go back to in law house for reunion dinner. Well plan, mum. Otherwise we will not having any chance to sit together for such important meal every year.

So, for many many years (past and for future), we will gather at mum house for reunion lunch follow by giving away ang pow from my parents to us, then from elder siblings to younger siblings (ya, we practise this even all of us already married. I'm the second younger sibling in the family, lucky ler, still able to get ang pow every year), then it's our turn to present any pow to our nieces and nephews.

The situation can be quite mess up and you will see all the any pow flying here and there, from one corner to another, shouting here and there looking for owner of the misplace ang pow..... ha ha, this is our CNY but it's full of fun.

Guess your CNY reunion meals also as greats as ours. Enjoy this precious moment with your loved one and family members.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Sin Nian Kuai Le

Sheng Ti Jian Kang

*Happy Chinese New Year*

Cute & Special Ang Pow

2010-02-12T10:00:00.001+08:00

Received these cute and special ang pow packets from my colleague (bought from Taiwan). Ai yo so nice, how to give away to kids as most of them will not keep the ang pow after taking out the money. Are you willing to spend on those ang pow packet or just use free ang pow from bank?

First time seeing any pow in cutie bag design.

Open up the bag cover to insert your money.

Another creative ang pow design. All with Disney's characters.

How I wish I could receive such a nice and beautiful ang pow from elderly when I was young ...... :P

Simple Teochew Porridge

2010-02-09T11:51:00.006+08:00

I purposely set my alarm clock to wake up like normal working day to do my grocery marketing early morning last Saturday as I wished to keep some stock for CNY. I like to go morning market by myself, you know how tedious it could be with 2 kids tagging along, what's more under the hot sun. I try not to wake them up too early during weekend.

Since I was going to the market, might as well buy some thing to cook for lunch as we will be staying home. I was out of idea on what to cook and eat nowadays so I just cook a simple lunch for them. I got no time especially when tonne of house chores need to be done before CNY and we only have last weekend to get it done.

My version of Teochew Porridge - the simplest one but I like it so much.

No doubt its just a simple lunch, it did full up our stomach with satisfaction. (ai ya, after taking the photo only realized the porridge is missing in action.....he he)

Affairs Jokes......Part 3

2010-02-08T13:51:00.000+08:00

A man walked into a cafe, went to the bar and ordered a beer.
'Certainly, Sir, that'll be one cent.'
'One Cent?' the man exclaimed.

He glanced at the menu and asked:'How much for a nice juicy steak
and a bottle of wine?'
'A nickel,' the barman replied.
'A nickel?' exclaimed the man.

'Where's the guy who owns this place?'
The bartender replied:'Upstairs, with my wife.'
The man asked: 'What's he doing upstairs with your wife?'

The bartender replied:'The same thing I'm doing to his business down here.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jake was dying. His wife sat at the bedside.
He looked up and said weakly:'I have something I must confess.'

'There's no need to, 'his wife replied.
'No,' he insisted, 'I want to die in peace. I slept with your sister,
your best friend, her best 20 friends, and your mother!'

'I know,' she replied.
'Now just rest and let the poison work.'

Affairs Jokes......Part 2

2010-02-05T13:45:00.001+08:00

A mortician was working late one night.
He examined the body of Mr. Schwartz, about to be cremated,

and made a startling discovery.
Schwartz had the largest private part he had ever seen!

'I'm sorry Mr. Schwartz,' the mortician commented,
'I can't allow you to be cremated with such an impressive private part.
It must be saved for posterity.'

So, he removed it, stuffed it into his briefcase, and took it home.
'I have something to show you won't believe,' he said to his wife, opening his briefcase.
'My God!' the wife exclaimed, 'Schwartz is dead!'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A woman was in bed with her lover when she heard her husband opening the front door.
'Hurry,' she said, 'stand in the corner.'

She rubbed baby oil all over him, then dusted him with talcum powder.
'Don't move until I tell you,' she said. 'Pretend you're a statue.'
'What's this?' the husband inquired as he entered the room.

'Oh it's a statue,' she replied.
'The Smiths bought one and I liked it so I got one for us, too.'
No more was said, not even when they went to bed.

Around 2 AM the husband got up, went to the kitchen and returned with a sandwich and a beer.
'Here,' he said to the statue, have this.
I stood like that for two days at the Smiths and nobody offered me a damned thing.'

Affairs Jokes....Part 1

2010-02-04T16:23:00.006+08:00

I was housekeeping my mailbox just now and found this joke forwarded by a colleague was damn funny which I would like to share with you. Hope it could cheer up your dull day and for those who already read before, guess you won't mind to enjoy it again :)

(There are 6 jokes in total, I'll release 2 jokes at one time)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A married man was having an affair with his secretary..
One day they went to her place and made love all afternoon.
Exhausted, they fell asleep and woke up at 8 PM.

The man hurriedly dressed and told his lover to take his shoes
outside and rub them in the grass and dirt.
He put on his shoes and drove home.

'Where have you been?' his wife demanded.
'I can't lie to you,' he replied,
'I'm having an affair with my secretary.
We had sex all afternoon.

She looked down at his shoes and said: 'You lying bastard!
You've been playing golf!'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A middle-aged couple had two beautiful daughters but always talked about having a son.
They decided to try one last time for the son they always wanted.

The wife got pregnant and delivered a healthy baby boy.
The joyful father rushed to the nursery to see his new son.
He was horrified at the ugliest child he had ever seen.

He told his wife: 'There's no way I can be the father of this baby.
Look at the two beautiful daughters I fathered!
Have you been fooling around behind my back?'

The wife smiled sweetly and replied: 'No, not this time!'

Her Dream 'Cart'

2010-02-02T10:54:00.002+08:00

Do you know how much my gal likes to ride this "yoyo cart"? My niece has one at my mum's house, every kids in the house like to ride including my gals. They always fight to ride and when we sounded Audrey to let the younger kids to ride, her face will turn long. So sometimes she will request me to go mum house earlier so that she got the chance to ride "puas-puas" before her cousins arrive.

Since she likes it so much, we decided to buy her a yoyo cart as her birthday present. I bought it last 2 week from a toy shop at Tesco Semenyih. It cost me RM89. Initially we thought of giving her this present on her birthday but hubby can't wait to see her gal's happy face. So we give it to her last weekend. Before that we make it clear that this is her present for coming birthday and she can't request for pressie anymore.

She was so surprised with some weird expression on her face. Finger pointing her daddy like "ar..how do you know this is my dream cart?"

Daddy dismantling the plastic bag (no suitable plastic bag or carton to keep it, so I used rubbish bag and placed it on top of the cabinet).

"Yeah.... finally I can ride my own yoyo cart as and when I like". Too early to say so, Audrey. True enough, she just got the pride to ride for a while, her mei mei already chase her out from the cart..... ha ha.

2 more weeks!

2010-01-29T11:55:00.003+08:00

We went to The Curve & Ikea last weekend. Quite crowded, in fact every where is crowded now as most of us were having the same purpose of being there. Yeah, CNY shopping!

No doubt I told you that we are done with CNY clothes but ‘we’ referring to only the 3 ladies at home. Yes, the only man of us still yet to get his CNY clothes, at least not up to the quantity that we all have....he he. I think all the men are like that, stingy to spend money for their garment. Unlike us (women), spending like no body business especially taking this big festival as an excuses to help to boost up the economics growth index. Luckily he never stops me from buying things either for myself or his 'little gals', :P. But I got to control, control & control myself as I tend to be over excited for coming CNY which could give my pocket a big hole later on.

I already bought 3 pairs of new shoes but this has not stopped me from entering shoes shop .... calm down! calm down!

2 more weeks, 2 more weeks to wish everyone “Gong Xi Fa Cai”….. crazy me!

Ring Sling For Pooh

2010-01-21T09:18:00.000+08:00

Since last few weeks, I noticed Audrey likes to play with her Pooh which she never show much of interest before. And she was playing ‘mummy & baby’ with Pooh, Audrey become 'mummy' while ‘baby’ is Pooh.

I saw her carrying Pooh walking here and there, pretending milk feeding sometimes. Until yesterday night, I was too curious to see her carrying Pooh again in that way (covered Pooh with her blanket, holding Pooh one side and place part of her blanket onto her shoulder like below photo), so I asked her.

Me : Audrey, why are you carrying Pooh like that?

Audrey : Like aunty Chin Nee mah…..

(I was speechless with eyes rolling)

Now only I realized that she was using her pink blanket as 'ring sling' to carry Pooh. Ha ha ha….. like that also can. Perhaps I shall check whether mamapatch offers any mini ring sling for kids to carry their soft toy.

Another Month To Go.....

2010-01-15T10:45:00.003+08:00

Today is the 1st day of the last month in Ox year, meaning to say we have exactly another month to go before Chinese New Year.

Both my gals already started to create the CNY atmosphere at home by watching CNY song DVD. They got so excited about it and requested me to play the DVD / CD for them almost every night. They love watching it so much especially Audrey who likes to sing and dance. They even watch the same DVD at baby sitter house everyday without fail.

Although only one month left, I'm still yet to start my "to-do list" which are quite long. Hai.... from cleaning, cookie baking, housekeeping (to throw old and unwanted stuff), shopping for CNY, perm my hair (yet to decide), etc. Not sure I will be able to complete all tasks within these 4 weekends. However, the only thing I'm done for CNY was the new clothes for all of us. He he..... all the new clothes already washed, iron and hang inside the cupboard.

How's your preparation for coming CNY?

Ageless Beauty

2010-01-12T14:10:00.000+08:00

I came across below quote from a beauty magazine that I wish to share with you. I find it so true and hope those who depending so much on beauty skin product to repair/maintain their skin will also consider point no.2 for a better skin improvement result.

At any ages, there are 3 elements that control a beautiful skin:
1) Genetics
2) Lifestyle
3) Prevention
You can’t change your genetics but you can modify your lifestyle and take steps to prevent damage to your skin.

What are those prevention steps? Skin beauty product that you trust it could repair or improve your skin texture and complexion like most of us rely on it?

However, external application (using skin beauty product) will only provide 20% result to achieve a healthy and smooth skin (advised by professional beauty specialist). Whereas balance 80% result comes from your "lifestyle" for example food intake including food supplement to prevent age skin.

Finally, always wear sunscreen, especially on your face, whether it’s sunny or cloudy. Buy a face moisturizer that contains at least 15 SPF. Or wear a hat that provides shade.

10 Food For Better Skin

I Feed You la.....

2010-01-08T17:32:00.003+08:00

Being a che che (at least for Audrey) not an easy job, what’s more a che che to a very demanding and cranky mei mei all the time. Last few days, Audrey felt like wanted to be a good che che to Shannen and a good helper to mummy. She voluntarily feeds Shannen for her dinner meal. She scooped little by little (about half tea spoon for each scoop) to Shannen with lot of patience. I was impressed.

But this doesn’t last long, Shannen refused to be fed by her after few meals. She just wanted to do it by her own. You know what her che che did? She teased Shannen by giving her a nice and new hair band in exchange to have the feeding chance. Ha ha….

Shannen just acting like a 'queen' sitting there waiting her che che to feed her. Audrey starts nagging (like mummy) when Shannen takes time to chew and swallow her rice.

Girls' Gang

2010-01-05T17:18:00.005+08:00

Girls like to gang with girls?

They like to play together without interfering by boys because boys are rough.

They like to play all girly games but sometimes join the boy group when they get bored with what they are playing.

When they join in, they will not play it tenderly, acting rough too.

In a way to protect themselves, so that they will not get hurt.

You can hear their voices from far when they "roar".....

Daddy always complaint they transform their nutrition intake into voice energy, therefore hardly grow in term of weight..... now I believe it.

As long as you girls are happy with all the playing, we too feel happy.

Enjoy your childhood, you gonna miss it one day.....

My 1st Day

2010-01-04T17:01:00.003+08:00

Today marks the first day of Audrey enrolling to kindergarten with her new uniform (she doesn't has any uniform previously to My Montessori). She was quite excited as she has been waiting to wear the uniform hanging inside the wardrobe since last month. So today her long waiting wish comes true.

Since there was orientation held on the last day of the year 2009, I just dropped her off my car without accompanying her into her class. I already told her everything about the kinder, teacher, breakfast, her belongings, toilet, etc. Not only that she will be meeting her transporter for the first time after class (mummy also not yet meet the uncle, only talked over the phone, don't worry he was recommended by the kinder's principal).

My 5 years old gal is very independent, most of the time. I'm quite proud of her but on the other hand also quite worry that she might not need daddy & mummy to be around her at her early age .... :(

Another 50 mins .....

2009-12-31T23:03:00.003+08:00

Another 50 minutes to reach year 2010. With kids tagging along, no new year party, no celebration, can't join the crowd for count down and I missed the year whereby hubby and I watched fireworks at KLCC many many years back.

However, we did enjoyed our count down at home all this while simply because we still able to watch fireworks from our condo together with our kids. Isn't it greats!

So where are you now and how do you celebrate tonight?

Wish you and your family a wonderful and a blessed new year 2010........ :)

Bedtime Story Telling

2009-12-30T12:23:00.001+08:00

We used to have story telling before Audrey goes to bed when she was 2 yo but nowadays this has not being carried out as frequent as last time. Audrey did complain about our laziness. So sorry my gal. With Shannen tagging along now, we gave up sometimes. She just can't be patience for a complete story telling session even I already speed up when I sensed that her concentration was low. She will then start disturbing by grabbing story book from our hand, not letting us to continue. Audrey will shout loudly towards her behaviour.

Of course once a while, we did tell story to both of them but I don't allow Audrey to pause my story telling when she got something to add on. I will only let her speak out after I've finished my task. But usually I will ended my story with "ok, the end. Time to sleep. Good night". Ha ha.... she got no chance to talk, sorry to be rude as mummy has pile of works waiting me out there.

When I'm not in the mood for story telling, we will have a role play then. Asking Audrey to do the story telling and of course her only audience will be Shannen. At the beginning you can hear Audrey was telling the story from page to page. After few pages, a loud shout will be heard from the bedroom "stop, che che not yet finish the story", next "mummy, meh meh take my book and don't allow me to continue"...... Ai yo, when only you (Shannen) will appreciate the story telling by che che, my little 'bulat'?

The Bells Are Jingle-Jangling .....

2009-12-24T10:57:00.009+08:00

My best wishes to all of you.

Have a Blessed Christmas & Happy Holidays!
A song from me to you

Jingle Bell.............

X'mas Party

2009-12-23T08:11:00.001+08:00

I nearly got a heart attack when Audrey told me that her school is organizing X'mas party on the night before the party. "No present, how?" I asked her. She told me to wrap anything available outside (the bedroom). "Cannot, gal", then she asked me to stop at any shop to buy present on my way home tomorrow. Finally I sneak off after lunch to Tesco to buy a present and wrapped it in my office.

In the evening, it was heavy rain out there when I picked them from baby sitter. She insisted of going to the party as I told her we might cancel the plan if the rain never stop. Just to tease her.

See how happy was my gal to mingle around her friends. Mei Mei joined them too.

Singing x'mas songs in group.

She was so happy to get a gift. Can't wait to open it and see what's inside.

It's story books, how nice! But......

We noticed the story books were old with folder mark on the edge. Worst is one of the book was being tore off (my head shaking while looking at it). Obviously Audrey has received some used story book as her x'mas present that she was looking forward the whole night. Audrey asked me why the spoilt book was given as her x'mas present?

I'm speechless.... beside having this *#%$&* feeling, from my heart I have something to say to the parents out there who prepared this gift. Hey, please be more considerate and sincere in preparing x'mas gift to the kids as we didn't ask for something expensive, 2 new pencils will keep my gal happy the whole night ........

However Audrey still want me to read her that story books before going to bed. I made a promise to her that I'll buy her new story book in our next shopping.

Happy Tong Zhi

2009-12-22T11:30:00.005+08:00

I would like to wish all my friends, blog readers and families member, Happy Tong Zhi.

Like all previous year, I never made any tong yuan dough but will get some ready made dough either from market or from my all time supplier, my mum.

This year I make it even more simple by buying those ready made tong yuan packet from Carrefour. 10 pcs per packet, I bought 2 packets. One with peanut filling and the other with black sesame (my favorite). I don't like tong yuan that are without filling however plain tong yuan dip with crush peanut is acceptable for me.

Mum used to tell me that we must eat the tong yuan according to our age. Wow.... then I got to buy 7 packets to be shared by hubby and myself, another packet for Audrey and Shannen. Huh.... can't imagine if my stomach was full of 30++ tong yuan inside, worst case the size of tong yuan is as big as those fish ball.... :P

Exhausted Weeks Gone...

2009-12-21T13:36:00.005+08:00

Finally our exhausted weeks have ended yesterday. Shannen was down with cough 2 months ago then runny nose and high fever last 2 weeks. I was so much worried that the fever might be caused by lungs infection. Luckily it was not.

She was so much cranky and crying so often for just a little thing. Both of us surrendered and kept on reminding each other to be patience as we almost smack her due to her unbearable demand. We have few sleepless night as she was crying middle of the night for no reason..... tension!

Feeding her medicine was another nightmare and challenge for us. How I wish in the near future, with human intelligence and technologies, oral medicine can be transformed into vapor form of medicine especially medicine meant for toddler. Just inhale the medicine for few seconds will be good enough like having 3 x 3.5ml of liquid medicine. No headache, no yelling, no screaming, no crying, I think both mummy and sick baby need this new invention.

Right after the high fever gone, her body was full with red rashes now. At first I thought it was an allergic reaction due to antibiotic but doctor confirmed its kind of virus infection named Measles. And the funny part was he told me the measles was 'fake' type, in Chinese we called it 假麻疹. Since the virus has to run its full course thus no oral medication will be given. However he gave us some liquid medicine to apply on her body to soothe her itchiness. Poor gal, she has been suffering a lot.

She still gave full cooperation for photo taking.

Hopefully we can have a blessed Christmas and New Year celebrations after all this.

A Visit To Choc Factory - Beryl's

2009-12-17T09:00:00.000+08:00

Audrey had got the chance to pay a visit to a famous chocolate factory, Beryl's located at Sri Kembangan last week. It was actually part of her holidays programme activities. When I knew that, I was so envy as I like 'factory visit' very much. I like to see and get to know how a product is being produced.

So I asked her teacher whether I could join them and finally we were there acting like small kids, happily enjoyed the factory tour. The factory tour only took about half an hour. We were guided by a staff explaining the whole choc making process while walking through a walk way of the production section. We could see their process through a big window from each section.

From right : some of the old packing materials being kept nicely inside the cupboard. Stamping process, to make those coin choc.

From right: Packing section. Finishing section, label and ribbon wrapping before packing into small box. I saw one of the staff was performing quality check on the packaging materials as well as the packing method.

After the factory tour, we went to their choc shop. Here is where all the kids lost their control after seeing their all time favorite snack stacking in front of them. They were pretty lucky as their parents already passed some money to teacher in order for them to buy some choc back from factory. So all of them were so excited and busy hunting around.

To make my gal happy too, I let her choose what she likes but restricted to only one pcs. She has chosen a blueberry choc bar and after I get my tiramisu choc (part of the purpose of visiting this time....he he), we went out to shot some photos.

This coco statue's hole was too high for Audrey to show her face. So mummy got to bend down, held and pushed her buttock up...... ha ha!

Tjg Sepat - Morib - Jenjarom

2009-12-16T13:31:00.000+08:00

We drove another 40 mins to Morib from Tjg. Sepat. Hubby asked me, “What is so special about Morib and what can we do over there?” “Em….. Catch baby crab, I think” with eyes rolling thinking what else can we do. We stopped there for almost half an hour only. Shannen was sleeping half way in our drive, so I just brought Audrey down to have some sightseeing while hubby stayed back in the car. After snapped few photos, we walked back to the car with a :( sign on my face. Hubby showed me his victory smile as he did told me it’s “nothing” in Morib and refused to drop by at first. But I told him since we were closed to the place already, why not just pay a visit.

Hubby bought a beautiful kite for Audrey. He was shocked when I told him I have never play kite before :P.

Hubby told me a joke when he came back into the car. After he explanined to Audrey on how to fly a kite, he told Audrey to hold the string/thread holder and stood opposite him and when he counted to 3, she must start running. Probably hubby didn't explain in full detail, guess how my little gal react after she heard her dad counted to 3? She threw the string holder on the floor and run away as fast as she could...... waa ha ha, can you imagine the scene? When I was laughing inside the car, Audrey's face turned red.

We moved on to our next stop, Dong Chan Shi (Buddhist Temple) at Jenjarom after that. I’ve been hoping all this while to visit this famous temple but again hubby said it’s quite far to just visit there from KL…..huh! So this time, I’ll never let go this golden opportunity to go there on our way back to KL.

The place is big. We spent about an hour there. I was told the temple looks gorgeous at night time with tang lung (lantern) & lighting decoration during Chinese New Year. So dear, are we coming again at that time?

Half Day Trip - Tanjung Sepat

2009-12-15T10:26:00.008+08:00

We went to Tanjung Sepat last 2 weeks. Hubby had appointment with friend for a short meeting. So we planned a day trip there. I’ve visited there once but never have chance to taste their local food as well as sightseeing. I was down with diarrhea at that time, so do nothing but searching high and low for their clinic…. :(

I told husband we must make it a fruitful trip this round. First, must go to the recommended restaurant (by most blogger out there) for lunch then seek his friend's advice for places to go around there. After 1 ½ hour of drive, we reached Tjg Sepat and after meeting up with his friend, we headed to the restaurant that many used to go, Ocen Restaurant. Foods were not bad. I wish to highlight one of their signature dish - fried oyster, which is slightly different from ours in town, not the cooking style but the main ingredient "oyster". Their oysters are small, I think its like baby oysters and you could see they put a lot in the serving. Unlike those selling here, no doubt the oyster is big but the amount of oyster they put just within 5 fingers of counting. Flour + egg become the main ingredient in most of the stall in town ….. :P. Sorry for not showing picture as I was too shy to shoot any in front of them.

After filling up our stomach, we went for a walk to the jetty next to it. It’s half cement and half wooden jetty. The weather on that day was extremely fine, no hot sun but windy. It was just perfect day for any outing.

Later on, we went to mushroom farm which is just 5 minutes drive from Ocen Restaurant (recommended by hubby's friend). This is the place where you could see how the mushroom being planted. As usual, there is a shop in it selling all kind of product made by mushroom.

They also provide homestay to those outstation tourist.

From right : All kind of mushroom on the poster. Planting until harvesting process.

From right : Black jelly fungus and Lingzhi mushroom.

Form right : Oyster mushroom (pink) & Monkey head mushroom (like monkey head meh?)

From right : Oyster mushroom (grey & white type)

Of course we will not leave the place with empty hand. Bought some oyster mushroom (RM10 for 3 pack) + dried mushroom tidbits.

Then, we moved on to another attraction, Morib.

What is this fruit? Anyone?

2009-12-12T11:00:00.001+08:00

Any idea what is the name of the above fruit? It looks like a mangosteen but brown in color. The rind is hard, need to use knife to open it. Size wise is slightly smaller than mangosteen. The flesh tastes something like longan but not that sweet, a little sour. Any idea? This was given by a colleague and I didn't get the name correctly.

Luk Mei Tong Shui

2009-12-10T09:46:00.001+08:00

I cooked this last Sunday. Zero preparation as you just need to dump in all the ingredient into slow cooker with the water and turn on the switch. Then you and your family could enjoy it after 4 to 5 hours.

We took it as our dessert after dinner. But hubby complaining my tong shui (water) was too less as compare to the filing containing dried longan, pak hap, lin ci, nut, jelly mushroom and this black stuff (unknown name, refer photo below). Ok ok ok, will balance up the portion in the next cook.

This 'magic nut' is something that I was trying to explained to the shopkeeper the other day. Luckily the shop was not many customer so they could entertain me well. They only get what I mean after 15 mins of explanation using all sort of language, words and examples. I remember seeing this inside the luk mei tong shui but not all the time I got this. Sorry, I can't recall the name of this so I called it magic nut. This nut looks so hard but when you soak it with water for few minutes, the outer layer starts to turn soft and its become like the black soft jelly. Amazing right? It's tasteless so I don't understand why people putting this into luk mei tong shui..... :P

My little "Ai Ku Pao"

2009-12-09T10:00:00.000+08:00

Shannen was acting so cranky nowadays. She will simply throw her tantrum whenever she like, most of the time she will use it as 'weapon' to get things reach her without any negotiation. Both of us feel so headache and even her che che was complaining that she is too much!

We have to think of way to distract her from crying as we need to rescue our ears from torturing by her! Her cries was loud and could last for hours.

I think this piece of orange color shirt need to be kept away as I noticed both set of the crying photos that taken in difference date, Shannen was wearing the same shirt....... coincident?

Look at her ugly crying faces. She was so concentrate in crying. Her tears coming out like those water dripping from tap.

Holidays Programme for Audrey

2009-12-08T10:22:00.000+08:00

We have enrolled Audrey to the Holidays Programme organized by My Montessori started last week. It cost us additional of RM150 for 2 weeks programme, expensive or not? Yes, on top of her normal fees, we need to pay the extra amount for the programme. Usually I will check through the programme with her teacher first before agree on that. Just for formality, no doubt most of the time we got no choice but let her join the crowd.

And I find the programme this time is much more interesting. Last week, she has visited to Domino Pizza at Sg.Long, participated in fashion designing & mini marathon, went for a picnic nearby, made a craft for Christmas. Whereas this week, beside doing spray painting, she will be visiting batik and chocolate factory (Beryls) at Serdang. Mummy might be joining them too ..... hoping to get some cheap choc (tried tiramisu choc from Beryls, thumbs up).

See, she has painted herself and mei mei on a t-shirt after teacher's help to draw on it.

Craft - simple X'mas wreath

Farewell Dinner - Updates

2009-12-07T11:02:00.000+08:00

(This is a back dated post). Just wish to jot down how we celebrated our last farewell dinner on 20 Nov 2009 at Royal Bintang, Seremban.

Before that, let me share with you some preparation hiccups we were facing that night. I don't put high hope on the arrangement and food that the hotel is going to provide. This was through my observation and 'female sense' especially after the discussion we had with the hotel resp few days ago. We have prepared for the worst scenario and ever ready to make complaint either on that night or after the dinner. True enough, we were so disappointed and upset with final arrangement and excuses they gave for not able to provide what they have promised earlier.

The so called Marketing Manager, is the worst Manager that I've ever met. Not decisive, no power, can't give solid reason, tried to turn his promises the other way round.

It's already 2pm and we were still struggling and urging with him to get a proper stage that he promised as we will not sacrifice our self with just a 5 inches platform for the night performance. Not only that, off colour and cheap quality of table cloth has been set up for the tables? Oh no, must do something, must do something. Finally we called the Senior Marketing Manager and put in a big complaint about the poor arrangement.

The Senior Manager came in our function room after an hour later and instructed his crews to do this, change that, replace all the table cloth, etc.... Wow, like those HK movie "big brother" giving instruction to get things done in just an eye clip. Applause to him. Phiew! Finally we get what we want.

Dinner started in time. After we have past events photos presentation, MD made a good news announcement to all of us. Dinner being served after that. Overall the buffet spread was not bad. We organized 2 games in total, "Search the Newspaper" and "Bollywood Dancer". It's was so much of fun on that night.

Besides having lucky dips for all the employees, we also brought to them a contest named, Hamper's Value Guessing. Nizam, our production supervisor won the prize with the closer value guessed.

Some of the FD'09 Committee, posing at the reception before dinner started.

Me with our MD.

Committee photo at the end of the function. We almost missed out this important photo session for the past years. We make it finally.

Yeah! I got a Kenwood thermos + RM100 JJ voucher from my lucky dip. A Timex watch as an appreciation token to all employee.

Walnut from Australia

2009-12-03T10:40:00.005+08:00

Found these 2 raw walnut on my kitchen rack when I was doing some cleaning and checking expiry date of all the eatable items. I got to do it once a month just to make sure we consume foods before the expiry date..... what am I talking? Don't you think we shall consume fresh food and not when it's one week before we throw it out? :P

We brought back these walnut all the way from Australia just to show it to our little girls how the raw walnut with shell looks like. Don't laugh if you think we were stupid to bring this back as we can get it easily here in Malaysia too. I'm not sure.

It's hard and we can't open it using our bare hand. But surprisingly when Audrey throw it on floor thinking that it will bounce back, the nut's shell split into half. She was stunned and looked at me as she thought she has damaged the nut. Poor gal, you did a good job accidentally this time.

Star cruising again!

2009-12-02T11:38:00.009+08:00

Around this time last year, we went for star cruise named Gemini. The experiences of cruising was greats until we went another round of it but this time, we took cruise Libra. Cruise Libra is slightly bigger than cruise Gemini.

Some of you might be wondering what is so nice about cruising which has made me adventure it twice.... he he. Well, I personally feel relax to go cruise and have few good points in mind to share with you.

a) Cruise will embark at few places depends on the route you join. You could enjoy few hours of local trip at each destination.

b) No hassle of room checking in and out when you travel from one place to another. For instance, we departure from PK to Phuket and then to S’pore, but we still sleep in the same room.

c) They sail while you sleep, so you could save some traveling time. When you wake up the next day, you probably reach another destination. Amazing right?

d) They provide foods to all passengers. You don’t need to worry about your meals thus no headache to search for food. What you need to do is just walk in the restaurant after glance through their menu of the day. We were given 3 choices of venue to have our meal in the past 5D 4N cruise. From international buffet to Chinese and Western restaurant, go to any of the restaurant, your stomach will feel satisfy. Besides the 3 normal meals, we were also being served 2 tea breaks and 1 supper daily. So all of us just makan (eat), minum (drink) and tidur (sleep) there. What a relax life!
e) There are a lot of free activities being organizing from morning till night. You won’t feel bore. Standard facilities are also available for you to explore.

Feel interesting? Ha ha ha….. you may want to plan the same for your family. Here I posted some photos taken inside the cruise, don’t be surprised most of it were food. Tell you what, I’m truly madly and deeply missing the pasta. It’s sooooooooo yummy!

From right : Our room with a porthole (additional charges). 3 happy kids. Shannen was enjoying cake.

From right : Both my gals like to play on the upper deck bed. They were making a lot of "whoa...." when they saw big ships passing by.

From left : this is the best pasta in town.

Now only I realized I didn't snap any food served by Chinese Restaurant :( , perhaps I was too hungry that time.

When we were at Harbourfront Terminal, S'pore, Virgo Star Cruise was parked beside us. We got the chance to view it for the first time. Comparing with Libra, Virgo is huge, awesome and astonishing. I told hubby this will be our target next year.

I'm Back .....

2009-11-30T11:04:00.005+08:00

Halo, wondering why I'm so quiet since last week? He he... I was away for vacation. Will catch up with you all soon after fully recharge. Don't worry, will definitely post photos on places I've been. Stay tune!

Farewell Dinner

2009-11-19T10:36:00.003+08:00

I’m busy these few days for our Farewell Dinner preparation. Yup, this will be the last dinner held by company even though they have postponed the official closure to end of Feb next year. As people will start leaving company end of next month, management decided to held it tomorrow night.

The budget for this dinner is only 1/3 of previous years allocation, we are so disappointed but still wish to make it as great as it could. No lucky draw but a good value of lucky dips will be organized this time. We used to have lucky draw and lucky dips concurrently last time, but since I never have chance to be the luckiest one all these while, it makes no different for me ..... :P

My colleague passed me a copy of Auld Lang Syne lyrics yesterday and asked all committee to practise singing it. I remember singing this song twice in my whole life. First time during my primary school (Std Six) graduation ceremony and second time during secondary school (Form 5) graduation ceremony. And tomorrow night will be my third time singing this song, haiiiiiii........ I don't actually like this song, it makes me feel so hard to say goodbye to everyone.

Will post more after tomorrow night dinner.

Naughty Faces

2009-11-13T11:11:00.003+08:00

Audrey purposely made a few naughty faces to me when I asked her to pose nicely for my photo shooting. As I told you earlier, she likes to take photo. She will never reject when we required her to stand still with a smiling face since toddler.

As she grows up now, she will creatively do some posing when facing camera. She told me that she learnt it from tv (must be from the advertisement). After each snap, she will come to me to check the outcome. Acting like those adult for quality check. If ko, she will ask to take one more. Sometimes she even commented the photo looks so nice and pretty. I pretends fainted when heard this ....... end up with laugh!

Yahoo! Grabbed 4 free tickets!

2009-11-12T13:19:00.004+08:00

I knew the internet connection to Air Asia website will be hundred time slower or even stay tuned once the news of free one million air ticket being released 2 days ago. But I was still lured to join the crowd as I wish to get some sponsor for my dream destination, Bangkok.

I've being trying to search for date to Bangkok ever since yesterday morning (working while surfing or the other way round... :P), but don't even got chance to go further after choosing the destination. A bit disappointed. So after reached home, I immediately sat in front of hubby's computer to try my luck again.

With my patience, finally I managed to grabbed 4 free air tickets to Bangkok next year. We paid total RM572 for 4 tickets and the cost includes airport tax, charges for luggage up to 15kg, goinsure premium and something call 'convenience fee' which is new to me. Air Asia is introducing new cost to the customer in order to compensate the admin fee and fuel charges they had waived some months back???

Ok, back to this 'convenience fee', what does it mean actually? If not mistaken, it was explained that it is the fee incurred due to the conveniences that you get when you book and pay air ticket online. But I still don't understand nor agree why we need to pay for "conveniences".

However, the total cost is still very much lower. We could save up to nearly RM700 if compare to normal low fare tickets. Yahooooo! :)

Ops, let me tell you, all these 4 tickets are not going to fly 4 of us for a holidays next year. They are for my parents, my sister and myself. Ha ha..... we are going to explore Bangkok with two old folks. Hubby doesn't like to go Bangkok. He is still thinking that Bangkok is a place for "shopping kaki" only. I'm gonna prove him wrong after my trip there. He he!

SOS Rescue Cream

2009-11-12T10:05:00.002+08:00

I came to know about this cream from my sister in law. She recommended it to us when Shannen got a few mosquitoes bites around her body. After two to three times applying it, the red mosquitoes spot get healed.

This is what I'm looking for, a 100% bio actives and essential oil that will not harm our body skin (especially for toddler) yet effectively heal the affected area without leaving any marks/scar. Besides, I also apply it to heal some unknown scratches or rashes on my girls's skin (even Shannen was only 4 months old). I just simply like and trust the cream as it always give me satisfaction after each use.

This is what written on the outer box.

"Esmeria skin rescue cream is a handy first aid cream for minor cuts, burns, insect bites, acne spots, inflamed or infected rashes. It features a potent blend of Australia Tea Tree and New Zealand Manuka oils for protection against bacteria and acting as an excellent antiseptic."

For more info, you may visit Esmeria website.

Wedding Gift To Guest

2009-11-06T22:50:00.002+08:00

Do you notice that nowadays there are trend on giving away small gift from wedding host to their guests as a token of appreciation during wedding dinner? The gifts are usually being pre-placed on the table for each guest. I personally like the idea so much. Too bad that we didn't organize anything for our guest during our wedding dinner :( emm... I think only a small choc bar from the restaurant on that night, :P

So now whenever attending wedding dinner, I'm looking forward to bring back something nice (wow.... sounds bad and greedy hor) and to keep it nicely in my drawer. I even unwrap it so that it will always in its perfect condition.

From left : Key chain (red and white) from my cousin brother (Kenny). Another key chain (wedding couple) from hubby's cousin brother (Seng).

From left : Spoon with ribbon and thank you note from hubby's colleague. Half egg shape of candles in a small box from my ex-colleague (Cecilia). I've been keeping this for 4 years.

From left : Mum gave these 2 nice saucers to me. She got it from my cousin brother's wedding dinner in S'pore. I like these so much! Isn't it cute? Another unique wedding gift from a friend (TC & Mevis).

Any couple out there scratching head thinking of gift for your guest, you may visit here for some ideas.

Wedding Month

2009-11-04T09:29:00.000+08:00

We were tight up with wedding dinners since beginning of Oct. For four consecutive weeks, we have been busy attending wedding dinner invited by friend, colleagues and relatives. This is not the end yet, 2 more dinners to go before end of this year. Huh.... goodbye my hard earn money....... Hubby claimed it's time for us to pay back ever since our wedding 6 years ago.

I like to attend wedding dinner especially when I have chance to meet up with friends and relatives. Our life is so busy that we hardly gather to talk and update each other news, so this is one of the way to pull us together again.

My 2 little angels has become the youngest 'chi mui' for their aunty's wedding last 2 weeks. They looks so lovely with the beautiful corsage on hand. At night, we went for dinner at Kepong. First time taking photo with their great grandma whom 'sayang' (love in English) both of them so much especially Shannen who always melt and win her heart.

Marble Cheesecake

2009-10-29T13:59:00.006+08:00

As requested by you (SL & Jo-N), here I attached the recipe for making cheese cake. This recipe was taken from a baking book.

Ingredient (A) :
350g digestive biscuit
60g butter

Ingredient (B) :
500g cream cheese
70g butter
1 egg
4 tbsp water
130g icing sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice & zest

Topping:
50g choc bar

Preparation for the base (ingredient A):
1. Hand crush the disgestive biscuit into smaller piece. Then blend it using blender until it turn to soft powder form.
2. Add in melted butter and mix well.
3. Pour the mixture into a baking pan (8" or 9") and press it firmly. If it's too loose, the biscuit base tend to crush after you cut it. So make sure you press it really firm. After that, set it aside.

Preparation for the cream cheese (ingredient B):
1. Put all ingredient B into a mixer bowl and mix it until smooth (use medium speed for about 12 mins).
2. Pour 90% of the mixure onto the crust. Add the melted choc bar into the leftover mixure and mix well. Pour the choc mixure in a circle manner on the top. You may swirl it to form marble pattern before putting it into oven. I guess my marble cheesecake doesn't look like those in the bakery, it has my very own "marble" style....:D
4. Preheat the oven and bake it for 30 mins at 180 degree celcius.
5. Cool completely and put it into fridge if you like to serve in cold.

Happy baking!

No more tears....

2009-10-27T09:46:00.005+08:00

We felt relieved yesterday as my little Shannen was not crying when I dropped her to baby sitter in the morning. She even said goodbye to me...... huh! No more tears from now on? Ha ha.... too early to say so.

As for Audrey, she "reported" that aunty scolded her almost everyday for taking hours to finish her meal. Aiiii...... poor gal. She even asked me to teach her how to "eat faster". She thought there is other express way as sometimes she feels tired chewing it by her own, ha ha!

Planning for a short break?

2009-10-23T11:21:00.002+08:00

Are you planning for a short break during coming school holidays?

Let me know if you are interested for a break to Kenyir Lake Resort before end of this year. My sister intends to sell her voucher that she purchased during last Matta Fair. This voucher is valid until end of this year with no restriction on booking whether during public or school holidays.

This voucher is a package for 1 superior chalet with 2 nights stay at Kenyir Lake Resort which includes 2 breakfast for 2 pax. Normal price is RM576. But now the voucher is only selling at RM396 (no mark-up), you can save up to RM180. So please let me know if any of you or your relatives, friends are interested to buy over the voucher by 30 Oct 2009.

First Day to Baby Sitter

2009-10-19T15:56:00.003+08:00

Today is the first day I sent Shannen to her baby sitter together with Audrey. She slept in her car seat half way towards aunty's house. I carried her down and put her on the sofa, she continue her sleep. My dear baby, she was just too tired. Good also, at least I can leave without any screaming and shouting that will make me feel so sad and heart pain. I told Audrey not to disturb mei mei and must try to soothe her when she's crying. Hope my little girl will get use to it with the least cry.

Car Parking Headache

2009-10-13T17:24:00.003+08:00

For those who has been living in Condo/Apartment, will understand my headache to search for car park when we are given only one car park per unit. I think most of families now are more affordable to have more than one car as compared to last time. Mainly due to our poor public transport infrastructure in this country which not able to bring 100% conveniences to us.

We have been enjoying 2 car parks since we moved in as my next door unit is not occupied until now. Yesterday night, we were unofficially informed by our security guard that the next unit owner has rented his car park to a resident staying ground floor who own 3 cars. Alamak..... that means we can't park our car side by side anymore and from now on, I got to search an illegal parking space which mustn't block others way..... :(

Me baking?

2009-10-09T10:58:00.006+08:00

Lately, I was influenced by some blogger who are so capable until I got to name them as "super women". They are multitasker, they work (some from home) yet can do cooking daily. They need to take care kids yet can manage house chores. They do blogging yet can do baking (perhaps one hand on the keyboard and the other hand holding mixer...ha ha). Agree with me that they are all "super women"?

How I was being influenced? I cook more nowadays but during weekend only. I started to learn making cheese cake. It becomes my habit now to hop to their blog daily, as I need cooking and baking ideas from them.

So far, I had tried to make 3 cheese cakes. Blueberry cheese, marble cheese and Japanese cotton cheese. 2 out of 3 turned out "ok", only failed in baking Japanese cheese cake. Will try again this weekend.

My first homemade cheese cake - Blueberry topping

Second homemade Marble cheese cake.

I simply love anything with cheese especially cheese cake. Hubby and Audrey not crazy for cheese but can accept it well. They kept on saying my cheese cake was yummy while filling up their mouth with it..... I'm of course moving my tail left right like a happy doggy after hearing that :D.

"Zhong Qiu" 2009

2009-10-06T10:26:00.006+08:00

Zhong Qiu's eve :
This was the 2nd time we were being invited to "Yue Kuang" party organized by My Montessori to celebrate Mid Autumn Festival. Audrey was counting down to the day since last Monday. She was so excited and finally able to play lantern with her friends all the night last Friday. They prepared quite a lot of food for those attendee and party started at 7pm. This year they even organized "guessing lantern" games. You know what, for the first time I participated and won 2 choc bar for my gals. Ha ha....

Last but no least, all the parents were entertained with a song performed by a group of kids aged 4 and 5. I forgotten the song title but something related to Zhong Qiu. The lyric was something like ..... yue liang yuan, yue liang yuan, yue liang chao zai wo de jia.....

Zhong Qiu Day :

We went back to MIL house for celebration this year as my parents were attending a wedding dinner that night. Despite my mother side with more kids running around, we only have my 2 gals and BIL's daughter at my MIL side. So less hassle from them and we were more relax sitting outside for food and chit chatting. Half way we noticed one important thing missing for the night, a sky luminous with a round moon.

~The End~

How about your celebration?

Which is scarier?

2009-09-30T10:30:00.004+08:00

Can you recall the latest no. of death recorded due to pandemic of H1N1? We were keeping our eyes on the no of death daily for the past few months. Everyone started to pay attention and took precaution steps to prevent from this scary virus infection even when the no of death still at zero stage in our country.

I was so impressed for the prevention awareness that government has created so far. Or should I say it was the attitude that the entire civilian has in heart. However, I was so much in doubt why our people only care about themselves from being affected by new viruses and neglected their life when traveling on the road.

H1N1 is scarier than death caused by road accident? Referring to the Ops Sikap 20 which kicked off for our Raya Holidays, the no. of death was recorded to 261 cases until 28 Sept 2009. In average 17.4 life were taken away daily. Wow…. It’s very much higher than H1N1 death toll? So, why our people never realize that actually the risk of loosing their life is higher when traveling on the road. Driver or motorcyclist with their mask on shall also be careful to keep their life safe, isn't?

Fruitful Raya Holidays

2009-09-23T10:26:00.010+08:00

I was enjoying my holidays and lazy to do blogging until today. No holidays trip but just stayed around KL to enjoy the Raya Holidays. Summarized on what we have done for the past 4 days.

Day 1 (19 Sept)

Cooked lunch at home. After afternoon nap, had dinner at mum place. Celebrated Jack's 7th years old birthday.

Day 2 (20 Sept)

Picnic at KLCC Park with few good friends (thank God no raining on that morning, in fact the weather was good, no hot sun). It was actually a reunion organized for a friend from Melbourne. Around 11am, we went to SS2 for lunch with parents and sister in law. Hubby recommended this restaurant (New Paris) of its famous and delicious food. Not bad, not bad.

After lunch, went to Tropicana Mall for shopping. Reached home around 4.30pm. Both my girls were sleeping soundly. Thought of cooking simple dishes for dinner but then hubby felt like going to Look Out Point for dinner. So we left home around 6.15pm to the place together with my sister family.

We reached there around 7.15pm and it's was so crowded. Due to parking on top hill were full, hubby got no choice but made U turn to park his car down the hill. So we (mummy with 2 gals) get down from the car and walked up. It was so exhausted even it's just a short distance (the road was very steep). Huh.... me got to carry little Shannen while one hand holding Audrey.

We already made reservation at Look Out Point Western Restaurant but no seats for us as it was so packed. I think they just simply took down our call for reservation but never reserve for us seriously. Em.... services was a thumbs down. Few other customers standing out there also making noise for the same incident. Without wasting time, I walked down to another restaurant, Gasoline to survey for empty table. Luckily they have a bigger space that can cater us immediately.

It was around 8pm, children started making noise for food. We quickly ordered something without spending much time to survey the menu. To my surprise, the food came quite fast even with the amount of people around. We wallop everything to fill up our empty stomach. Food is so so ..... I think it can be better if we come on normal day.

Oh ya, forget to report on the main attraction : night scenery. It's worth to travel 23km from my house for an excellent night view there. If you like to enjoy KL city night view with a cup of coffee or red wine, this is absolutely the right and romantic place for couples. We plan to come again next round for a better food (hopefully the other restaurant serve good food) as well as the scenery.

Day 3 (21 Sept)

We paid a visit to a recommended baby sitter's house at Sunnyvale (Bandar Sri Sg.Long). Most likely will send Shannen to her for baby sitting middle next month. We are quite satisfy with the cleanliness and environment of the house (not messy). Hope my little girl will cope with the baby sitter after one or two days cry.

We had tuna sandwiches for lunch as I planned to make Japanese Soft Cotton Cheese Cake in the afternoon. I had Audrey as my assistant this time. She helped to do the pouring of the weighted ingredient into the mixture bowl and did some washing for me too. The cake didn't turn out perfectly as it was too hard and not soft. I'm still figuring the root cause, anyone can help?

Dinner with my family members at a restaurant located right beside a Chinese temple, opposite Jusco Cheras Selatan. Another crowded place for dine in, almost full house even at 6pm. Foods are nice and cheap. Highly recommended.

Day 4 (22 Sept)

Home cook lunch for kids and hubby. After that requested hubby to send us (me and Audrey) to KLCC mall while on the way back to MIL place. Poor Shannen cried inside the car for not coming with us. I kept on teasing Audrey that she was lucky to come with me and insisted she must behave during the 2 hours shopping. And she did, good girl. We took LRT back to Wangsamaju and asked hubby to pick us up from the station. Audrey was excited to take LRT for the first time. Overall, it was an enjoyable times spent for both "kaki shopping" ladies.

Speechless.....

2009-09-18T09:53:00.004+08:00

Remember I did tell you our kids are the mirror for us. They follow the way we talk, we act and sometimes try to imitate our behaviour.

One night, I heard Audrey talking on her own in the living room while I was doing some clean up in the kitchen. Nothing to my surprise since I knew she likes to talk to her friends using her pink handset. But when I entered the living room, I was speechless to see her using daddy's hand free to plug into her toy mobile phone and talking using hand free! Like that also can, really beh tahan!

Jumbo Designer Set

2009-09-16T14:21:00.003+08:00

The moment Audrey jumped into my car yesterday evening, she already spotted a colourful box inside an Air Asia plastic bag sitting nicely at the front passenger seat. "Wow..... mummy, you got surprise for me ar?". I told her, "Yes, but not from mummy. Guess who give you this surprise?". Immediately she gave the correct answer. Ha ha, smart girl.

Ya, our "surprise" uncle make another day for our little girl. This time, she was given a box of Jumbo Designer. What's inside the box was a full drawing set that I find it very useful for her. It contains 7 pcs of different design stencils, 5 pcs markers, 10 pcs drawing paper, 1 HB pencils, 1 storage caddy and 8 crayons. Wow.... it's just a complete set of drawing utensil for small kids.

I felt excited like I'm the one having the surprise gift. "We" started to draw some shapes from the stencils.

We like the colourful stencils.

A message from Audrey to you, uncle Steve. "Thank you!"

My Photo Book

2009-09-15T17:21:00.003+08:00

Every single life here carries own stories behind ….. not only one story I mean. It will be greats if we are given chance to record it either in a movie form (perhaps too much of “A little Nyonya” drama), blogging (what I’m doing now but only after 30++ years), book writing (if only I’m famous) or perhaps photo book could help to do some story telling to our grand and great grand children one day in future.

I like listening to my mum’s story telling about her life in the past but sometime I got to do my own imagination as photos are just so limited for me to understand more.

Came to this commercial introduction from yesterday Sin Chew newspaper about a shop name Storybook in Tropicana Shopping Mall. The deco of the shop attracted me to pay a visit to their web page. No doubt their product concept is nothing new to me as I’ve heard this kind of services from my friend long time ago. But the ways they present it through a well decorated shop as well as their well organized web pages have actually impressed me a lot.

I like their unique design theme that leave you choices to choose for printing onto the photo book. And you even can make your own calendar, diary, greeting cards, framed story photo and etc. How I wish I could turn some of our photos into a memorable and nice photo book.

Poor Gal.....

2009-09-11T17:11:00.004+08:00

I wish to jot this down here for remembrance one day ....... Let's the photos below tell you how my little poor Audrey tried to wake her daddy up as he promised to teach her story reading after 20 mins nap. However, this tired daddy never response to her after many waking approached...... :(

Audrey is so keen to study and learn new things at her age of 4+ now. Not sure whether she will pursue the same attitude when she grows up. So in case she loss her initiative to learn, I will show her this post and tell her how impressed were daddy and mummy during that time.

Look at her pity face! Ha ha.....

Aiiii..... what happened to my camera, wrong mode setting caused the photos quality become so blur???

Crocs Footwear, like it?

2009-09-08T11:27:00.003+08:00

When you hear someone mentioned "rubber shoes", what appears in your mind? Pua Chu Kang's type of yellow rubber boots? Those black rubber shoes people used to wear in wet market? Or Japanese sander? Will the trendy Crocs brand footwear appears in your mind? Ha ha ..... all of us must be surprised to see the popularity of Crocs footwear in the market even though they are selling at such high price for a pair of shoes make from simple materials, croslite.

Have you ever try the quality and feel the comfy of the footwear from Crocs shop? It's soft and very light that you can hardly feel the weight carried by your feet. I like their innovative designs that have transformed from the traditional concept of "rubber shoes" to something trendy and stylish that everyone is enjoy wearing now.

2 days ago, someone were selling Crocs footwear at Sg.Long wet market. Due to curiosity, we hopped on the stall to check on the quality of the shoes. I asked the seller, "Is this real Crocs?" He answered me "Crocs is made in China and this is also from China". They are selling at price range of RM25-RM28/pair. I checked on the quality, it's lousy and the Crocs logo is so blur. The footwear designs were exactly the same like those selling at Crocs shop. So for those who really really like Crocs footwear but not affordable to get a genuine pair may consider to get one now, ha ha!

Two Different Faces

2009-08-26T21:58:00.000+08:00

Looking at both my daughters, I always mumbling to myself why both of them are having different looks? I mean you will hardly find any matching features from them. Will you tell they are sisters if they are not being introduced? Audrey's face is oval shape while Shannen's face is round type. Obviously Shannen's eyes are bigger as compared to Audrey. And Shannen looks more chubby then Audrey who is still so skinny.

Not only faces are different, they also carrying their very own personalities and characteristic. For example, Shannen is very stubborn and never tolerate. Audrey is on the opposite side not because she could understand us more now but during her age like Shannen, I find it easier to negotiate with her. As a parents, we got to fine tune our ways in handling both of them in most of the occasion.

Me and hubby always teasing each other for having a same characters daughter respectively. Usually conversation will end like this, "ya lah, like the father" or "see, behave like mummy"..... ha ha. However, what can I demand more as even for twins, they will have tendency to pursue different or opposite characteristic too. No matter how, they are still our lovely girls forever.

Sunglasses Spoilt By ......

2009-08-24T10:21:00.003+08:00

Can you make a guess how could this sunglasses being damaged? Ok ok , give you some tips. It was due to the contact of a form of liquid. Almost every car will have one in it. Em.... my last tip will definitely lead you straight to the answer.... it release aroma smell.... yeah, it's car perfume.

We came out a very smart (agreed it's smart at least before this happened) way of handling car perfume as we don't really like a very thick smell of aroma inside our car. So instead of open up the cover of the perfume and plug into the air-cond window, hubby made a small hole on the cover and "made" it stand inside one of the car compartment where we put our sunglasses there. Don't know how the perfume lost it's balancing, overturned and the liquid spilled out.

We were shocked to see the sunglasses in such damaged look. Chemistry contact between both items resulted in such a way. So don't ever put both item together just in case, unless you plan to change to a new sunglasses.

Need Any Massage?

2009-08-21T20:00:00.001+08:00

Do you like massage? You like to be massaged by hand or massage chair like OSIM and OGAWA? For me, I prefer massage chair than others. Reason being I don’t feel comfortable and find it quite ‘geli’ when being touch by a stranger especially when you go for full body massage at those SPA lounge. I experienced that once in Bali and never ever try it after that.

However, I prefer shoulder message done by hubby or even Audrey, don’t under estimate a 4 years old girl’s strength, you will be surprised. Sometimes I even requests hubby to do ‘kua sa’ for me. It really helps to release my stressed shoulder muscle.

During my post maternity, I didn’t go for any traditional massage which most of my friend did. There are many reasons to go for it afterbirth, for example to speed up shrinkage of womb, help to remove remaining blood clots, to improve recovery therefore to return your body shape like before even faster. Some says it will also help to release ‘gas’ captured in the stomach.

Having difficultly to get an experienced massage lady that offer good home services? No problem at all. Now you may enjoy the services at home from Rustic Nirvana. They offer many types of home-based spa package beside the therapy for post maternity. And even if you are lazy to drive all the way to SPA lounge, you can ‘take away’ the services now.

SaLeS! sAlEs ! SALES!

2009-08-18T13:54:00.004+08:00

I like month of August, not only my birthday falls on this month (another 2 of my best friends birthday just few days after mine) but Mega Sales Carnival happen to be in the same month as well. Ha ha..... women and shopping, don't ever think of separating them!

Our annual mega sales begins from 4 July until 31 Aug. Another 2 more weeks for you to shop before the sales ended. Initially I have a long shopping list on what to buy during this greats period but had discarded to only a few which I think are necessary. As I don't wish to waste any penny on unnecessary stuff due to job insecurity. Second, don't wish to add another rubbish to the earth as for sure I will throw it away one day. Third reason, no mood to go shopping nowadays with H1N1 pandemic badly hitting around. Last but no least, wish to keep more money for my trip to either Bangkok or Bandung when H1N1 gone. Heard many of them saying both places are shopping heaven.

I think we went shopping almost every weekend during sales carnival last year but have been cutting down to only 2 or 3 times this year. Em.... let me think whether worth to go another round of shopping without bringing kids but wearing mask.... ha ha, crazy me!

Here are some photos taken at Pavillion when the sales carnival just started. Last week, little Shannen was requesting to go for "kai-kai", she gave us a shock.

Busy Weeks Are Ended

2009-08-17T22:43:00.004+08:00

Hooray... my colleague finally came back after 2 weeks MC due to chicken pox. I was so tightened up with most of her works. We got to share the workload of 4 persons among 2 pairs of hands now. Because initially we already shorthanded since beginning of the year due to economic down turn and now add another one due to medical leave. Phiew...... for quite some times never been that busy, not really used to it.

Some of you might be thinking why busy since the company is closing down end of the year? Orders are just bumping in like nobody business. Maybe customers would like to keep stock and some was due to project starts rolling again. Symptom of world economics recovering? But why the jobless rate still that high?

Another Surprise Gift?

2009-08-12T08:45:00.005+08:00

Audrey got another surprise gift from my colleague's hubby, uncle Steve. She was so happy holding the tigers and telling me that she wants the yellow/black stripes tiger while orange/brown stripes tiger is for mei mei. She always has the priority to be the first one to choose for anything, simply because mei mei still small and not so choosy. I asked her whether she wants to call uncle Steve and says thank you, she answered me 'no'. Forcing her to call someone she is not close to might be quite difficult as she will end up keeping silent on the phone. Ok, let's mummy helps you to say 'THANK YOU' by posting this on the blog (Uncle Steve, hope you will read this here one day).

P/S : Audrey's was holding the tiger and sleep soundly yesterday night.

Her New Watch

2009-08-09T09:51:00.000+08:00

Not sure whether you will be facing problem from your kids demanding you to buy this and buy that for the reason 'my friend also having it'. What will you do to their request? Grab it for them if they don't have or explain to them when you think it's unnecessary to own it?

Sometime Audrey can very quite demanding. One day she came back and told me to buy a Barbies doll wrist watch for her as she likes the watch that her friend's own. I asked her why she needs a watch when she doesn't know how to read the time. She told me she will know how to read the time when she own a watch..... haizzzz. But her daddy negotiated with her and promised to get her one only when she is able to tell the time correctly. So she learns very hard from her dad and finally, she managed to tell the time (sometime can tell wrongly). You know what will happen next, she wanted to redeem her new watch now..... and required to have Barbie's logo on it.

Therefore, we brought her to JJ to get her a Barbies doll watch (cheap cheap one, only RM10 but working until today... ha ha). Now she is busy reporting time to us and checking whether her watch time is same as ours......phiew! One of the morning, she even yelled at me while pointing to her watch, "mummy, faster, I got no time liaw.... it's 7.30am now.

MST Blog Already 1 Year Old

2009-07-30T13:12:00.006+08:00

Wow...... how times fly without us realising it. Today, My Spring Tulips already 1 year old. I have been writing on this blog for 1 year already, never believe that I could make it until today.

In the past 365 days, I've been jotting down all the ups and downs happening around me, especially things that are related to my two angels. It's just like writing diary which I used to do during my teenage years but stopped for many years due to inconvenience of keeping tonnes of handwritten paper. Today, with the new technology, it has changed the way and life of those who like or dislike in writing diary to blogging.

I think many people own a blog nowadays. It's free (for blogspot) and quite easy to maintain it, so no harm creating one in order to connect with the world. I like blogging for the reasons of paperless concept, you could make it more interesting in the sense that can have picture or photos attached along every story, easily accessible and can share with friends from any corner of the world.

No doubt I've been blogging for 1 year, but I'm still lack of computer literature as well as knowledge about blogging (hosting own blog, how to do it? cost?). Forget about making money from blog, I'm not there yet. I just feel so envy to those who can really make their blog so organize, beautiful and attractive. My salute to them. How I wish I could improve My Spring Tulips to become a more professional and "my style" of blog that people enjoy reading it.

Happy 1 Year Old! MST

Birthday Gift, Redeemed!

2009-07-25T10:09:00.001+08:00

Never think of redeeming my birthday gift today as hubby just said that we will do some window shopping only to survey the gift that I want. Furthermore my birthday only falls on next month. Actually he already predetermined the type of gift that I should go for it, I'll need to confirm the brand and model that I like. Guess what he bought as my present? It's a wrist watch. All the watches that I have now were gifts from hubby. So do you think I shall hand the responsibility in buying me new watches to him in future?

We went to Pavillion, KL and entered almost all the watch shops, finding high and low for a simple and nice yet matching my request watch. Finally at the last watch shop that we stepped into, I found it. I would say it's like 'love at first sight'. I've chosen a watch from Victorinox Swiss Army, model Vivante. I find the watch matching me so much, be it the size, the design or the color. Emm....., perfect! Since I like it so much, hubby gave green signal that I can redeem it that day. So I made up my mind without further comparison. Thank you so much, my dear.

Tell you what, hubby birthday already past and I didn't buy him anything (I got no idea what to buy for him and when I asked him, he will always said 'no need la', so end up only a birthday meal). After I redeemed my gift today, he intended to redeem his overdue gift as well...... ha ha, like that also can ar?

My Lovely Gal

2009-07-22T21:37:00.000+08:00

What can a 16 months old gal does now?

1. Walk faster but not running, sometime can even falls down when imbalance.

2. Request food with a more precise word like "peng peng"- biscuit, "pao pao" - bread, "nien nien" - milk (Now, she even mentions "tang" means wait in Cantonese automatically after requesting for milk, just like how I responsed to her request) and a common word you can hear from her most of the time, "mum mum"....

3. When asking her simple questions in Mandarin like "zhi bu zhi tao", "hao bu hao" and "ok or not", she will always give her positive reply like "zhi tao", "hao" and "k". I like to tease her with all those questions again and again.

4. She can now pronouns single or two words especially when using food to tease her to follow what we say.

5. Show face and walk away when she is not happy...... ya, at this age.

6. Refuse to be carried and enjoys walking by her own regardless whether she is with her shoes.

7. Never feel nervous when walking alone and will be looking around to find us steadily when notice we are out of her eye sight.

(left photo) She knew I'm waiting her to face the camera but she just pretended nothing.

See how she makes her funny faces when we requested her to do so. Look at her big teeth.