Getting comfort from out of comfort zone

This year, I decided to get a little more comfort from being out of my comfort zone. I'm reading 'chicken soup for life' - something which I love in chinese language (which is something out of my comfort zone)

I'm starting with 'a page a day keep the worry away'

I'm starting to love the chinese language...it's a beautiful language full of wisdom and a single character alone can have many meaningful interpretation.

I'm glad I stumbled upon these books @ Popular bookshop .. they are my new treasures.

Finish reading a book for 2022

Today I finish reading a book which I didn't managed to finish reading it last year. Last year for goodreads.com reading challenge, I set myself a target to read 25 books and failed miserably at 5/25 books. So this year I lower my expectation and just set up a challenge of 12 books. January had passed and I just finished 1 book (in the mid of February!)

Hopefully I can rekindle my love for reading and spend more time reading (rather than sleeping and exploring ways to make more money..haha)

Reading calms me down but I could hardly find time to read nowadays ..admists the buzz of life. Still I'm trying to squeeze some time (ie. toilet time) to read. (Please don't look at me like that..haha.. I'm just optimising my time spent in the bathroom) 

Reading challenge 2020

 

24 more days before we come to the end of 2020.

24 more days before I'll know whether I'm able to accomplish my reading challenge of reading 20 books for year 2020.

One would have imagine that with the various variation of MCO this year, I shall be able to complete my 2020 reading challenge ... well, let's keep fingers crossed.

I'm burning midnight oil catching up on reading. Haha, don't get me wrong, I'm not reading for the sake of completing this reading challenge. I'm reading because I want to and because it help me to relax. Reading challenge just give me that extra boost and motivation especially when I'm a little lag.

To those who loves to read, let's celebrate the joy of reading this Christmas ...let's spread the love of reading to our younger generation. A book can really open up a child's world. It can do wonders.

Here, a big thank you to local bookstores (ie. Big Bad Wolf, Popular) for bringing us affordable books and enable this reading hobby to prevail. And to a friend, NDC who introduced us to Z Library which help to fuel this reading hobby.

To my children, mama hope the reading seeds I have planted will continue to grow with you and be your support in time of need. 

Book hoarder

I've got no choice. I think I'll have to admit I'm a book hoarder.
Someone told me I've got 5 years worth of books to read.
At the rate I'm sweeping up books at Viva Popular and Big Bad Wolf Sale(BBWS), and the rate I'm reading nowadays, I think 5 years would have been a conservative estimate.

But but but, allow me to share my side of the story ...
It's has got to do with a complex mixture of feelings 
the greed for reading .. that's one of the evergreen entertainment I get to enjoy.
the need to reward myself (after so much hardwork) .. since I don't really spend much on clothes / shoes / beauty products.
the kiasu'ness that I may not be able to get hold on that 'particular' book .. and at a fraction of it's actual price.
the hope that I've something to look forward to reading / knowing
the need to soothe the soul .. think retail therapy & that reading takes off the mind from fire-fighting situations.
the little secret of hoping to have a mini library @ home .. where my children & me get to spend time together indulging ourselves in books.
the hopeful wish that I'll have more time to read after my children grow up ... now I get to enjoy 2 page max of peaceful reading (scan through) before something crop up that requires immediate attention.

Nevertheless, despite having said all the above.
I think I took it a little too far.
I may be gone way before I get to finish the books I have.
So for the coming BBWS 2015, I take a stand to not go mellow down & limit myself.
*Hit forehead* Bad habits die hard ... sigh

ps. my goodreads.com tells me that I'm currently only reached 50% of my target of reading 12 books for 2015 (with another 1 and a half month to go).
My only consolation : better half than never. 

how the boss see it..

Excerpt from Xin Ran's Ms Chopstick
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the difference between male and female worker in the eyes of the boss : 

when the boss sees a male subordinate with a family photo on the desk, the boss thinks : Hmm..He must be a good, responsible man who takes care of his family.
when the boss sees a female subordinate with a family photo on the desk, the boss thinks : Hmm..work isn't the most important thing in her life, no point in expecting her to put heart into the company.

when the boss sees a male subordinate with an untidy desk, the boss thinks
He is so industrious! Look, he doesn't even have time to tidy his desk.
when the boss sees a female subordinate with an untidy desk, the boss thinks 
Look at that! She's clearly no organisational ability.

when the boss sees a male subordinate talking to his colleagues, the boss thinks
He must be discussing business developments. That's the spirit.
when the boss sees a female subordinate talking to his colleagues, the boss thinks 
Humph, she's gossiping and finding fault again. Oh well, it's in women's nature to have long tongues.

when the boss sees that a male subordinate is about to get promoted by his manager, the boss thinks
This man must have great potential.
when the boss sees a female subordinate is about to get promoted by his manager, the boss thinks
This woman must be having a thing with the director.

when the boss sees a male subordinate arrive late, the boss thinks
Was he burning the midnight oil again last night?
when the boss sees a female subordinate arrive late, the boss thinks 
Did her husband want it again last night? Or have they just ....

when the boss sees a male subordinate hand out wedding invitations, the boss thinks
He'll be more responsible now. Let's give him a big red envelope of lucky money as a bonus to encourage him.
when the boss sees a female subordinate hand out wedding invitations, the boss thinks 
Let's not make her red envelope too big. Soon, she'll get herself pregnant, take 2 month maternity leave and end up quitting her job to look after the kid.

when the boss sees a male subordinate leave for a better job, the boss thinks
He's a man who understand how to make the most of a good opportunity. Too bad the company can't keep him.
when the boss sees a female subordinate leave for a better job, the boss thinks 
That's women for you-untrustworthy!

Now, guess whether the boss is a man or woman? 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

sometimes I do wonder ... how many of the above is true (even in today's society)?

midnight book shopping

1st time experience midnight book shopping towards end of 2012 ...
thanks to a group of friends who asked me along for BBW (big bad wolf) '63-hour frenzy' where they open non-stop for 63 hour @ MIECC
It was a pleasant experience shopping for books at very low prices on a relaxing friday night ... the cool night air seem to make people feel at ease.
Thanks to Keef - for helping us hunt for our 'to-buy-list' when she was there earlier =)
Thanks to CY, FL, NDC for asking me along, helping me to control my spending and maximize my savings,for sacrificing sleep (especially for NDC who's to drive 6.30am the same morning)

my loots for sharing :)

wth...i have a library list?

I have a very bad habit ...
I couldn't stop buying books ... although I've sort of tone down my addiction (thankful to my group of buddies who remind me when I have the urge ...hohoho).
I'm very well aware of the fact that I'm not capable of reading as fast as I replenish my stock but I still went ahead and buy.
I'm unstoppable in that sense.
Somehow there's this voice (the evil side of me) that say 'Go ahead, you'll find time to savour the book. If you don't reward yourself with something you like, when else do you get to enjoy? '

I keep buying so much so that I lost track of the books 
(a) that I want to read but not yet buy (usually due to price)
(b) that I want to read and bought 
(c) that I buy because I think I want to read
(d) that I bought but not yet read

so to avoid buying the same title (same book with different edition / cover), I decided it'll be best to have some indexing of the books I have ... currently I'm using author name for indexing and include details such as 
(a) author name
(b) book title
(c) hard / soft cover
(d) price I paid 
(e) place & year of obtain
(f) status - completed / reading / next in line ...

as for now, I'm determined to stop buying till this year end until I clear a little more from my existing pile. As always, did I mention about exception?? =p 
I really need to go to ONE before the year end ... the one with the WOLF .... lol

XINRAN : Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother

This book - highly recommended.
Like being mentioned in the following review
"One would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by them."

The theme around this book
" Most of Xinran’s mothers submit stoically to the cruelties of “son preference” and the one-child policy. But a few go to extraordinary lengths to have more than one child"


Got a copy of this book from previous BBWS. 
It was indeed a gem. 
Another review for sharing. 
(Sorry, was a little lazy to write my own review plus there are plenty of superb reviews online)

while BF'ing ...

Still remember those picture dictionary we use to have during lower primary school... with those beautiful and colourful pictures.

I got it for RM1.29 (RM12.90 less 90%) with the intention of teaching my kids.

The dictionary published by Longman claimed to cover at least more than 1000 items.

Never did I know I need it more .. for the past 1 week or so, I've been diligently learning item by item while breastfeeding my little one.

Humbly, I underestimated the usefulness of this dictionary, there are still many things I ought to know and learn.

Guess, I found a better way to spend my time while breastfeeding ...

other than falling asleep together with baby

or watching drama (always got not enough time to even on the tv).

At least, by the end of the dictionary, my chinese vocabulary is better by 1000+ items =D hehe

PRECIOUS (from BBWS 2011)

Guess how much this set of 'Brain Quest' would have cost me outside? When I found them ( only a few left) and a 'gentleman' is trying to conveniently grab them from my box, I gave him that 'stare' ...haha
You can take anything that's meant for me...but never anything that's meant for my children...













Omnibuses from some of my fav authors (like Danielle Steel, Dorothy Koomsoon, Nora Roberts, Ken Follett, David Baldacci) ... for RM10 each. Effectively, that's RM5 per story.











Golds ... some books which I've been wanting very much to read & own but didn't willing to part with my $$. The prospect of finding them was estatic ... particularly Nicholas Sparks - The last song & The lucky ones and Anchee Min - Empress Orchid & The last empress. RM8 each even for hardcover.













Some other books which I'm very glad to find ... Felt like hitting jackpot .. albeit a smaller windfall but nevertheless, never failed to bring smile.

















Some asian writings ... which I start to find intriguing and interesting. Perhaps it's due to the rich culture and something we are able to relate to.

Another set of books from parenting, self help and general ... these are treasures =) RM8 each except for Lilian Too feng shui - RM15.

Last but not least - children books ranging from RM3 - RM6. Except for the 300 over pages Disney storybook collection for RM12. Was lucky didn't get the lace & trace motor skill development kit from another bookfair earlier for RM27. Now I got something similar for RM6 (with six different designs inside) ... yippie.

bookfest 2011

the left stack for ah bi while the right stack for mama. Papa don't read paperbook =p

some free bookmark timetable from EPH publishing @ Bookfest 2011. Ah bi likes them.

babybook

Thank you to FL who brave the norm to get a copy of this complimentary book. I've finished reading the book. It is indeed an informative book complete with discount vouchers.

I'll pass this book around (and many other pregnancy & childcare books) for sharing =) do let me know if you need any ..hehe

ps. FL, thank you for the SMURF badge too. Got it!

sapu buku

love ones, friends, water, foods & air aside ... if there's one thing I cannot resist, it has got to be book. I'm captivated by books.

Yes, now we can get almost everything on the WWW and you can read e-book while commuting / in the loo but at times, nothing beats reading a good ol' book.

This month I've gone to 'sapu buku' again @ Times Warehouse Clearance sales @ BSC.

Nevermind the fact that I bravely took public transport to this uptown place without even knowing where the bus stop to get down & bus stop to take a bus home. Not to mention the 'auntish load' I'm carrying..lol

My 'fishes' which I caught from the sea of books...
Mostly are 3 for RM10. Some are RM2 & RM3.


Bring me to warehouse clearance sales...that's all you need to keep me happy for a few months to year.
Bring me to a book one ... I'll be the happiest people around and the happiness will last me as long as the book last =D

my present to me

I took the courage and effort to read this book ... enjoying every page although I took longer than usual to complete one story as compared to english book.

However, I'm amaze I can actually read and understand those short stories... I'm so happy.

I discovered that :

I love chinese books and

I love me more each day! =D

"why men don't have a clue and women always need more shoes"

currently savouring (albeit a very slow speed) :