Useful mini oven

Got this precious useful oven around Chinese New Year (CNY 2025) for less than 100. It's a great great deal from Lotus. 

We've got a smaller one before we upgraded to this, at least we can now make potato wedges in 2 batch, rather than 3-4 batch previously.

Prefer this conventional oven as compared to microwave oven...somehow it makes the food tastier .... haha I feel lah

Now that it is more than 6 months old...my vow is to use it to make more tasty stuff for family to at. Time to explore and try out new dishes

buying plants online

Rewind to maybe 3 years back, who would have thought that we can buy plants (real plants) online without having to go to the nursery? Last year I bought 2 kedondong (some call it amla) saplings online. Blame it on my craving to eat and drink amla sour plum juice..haha.

I went to the nursery near home however found that the kedondong sapling sold there was expensive. Basically I can buy 3 saplings online for the price of 1 from the nursery. So like it or not I'm willing to take the chance and after much survey, I ordered 2. Voila, they came in perfect condition ... protected and neat and currently the plants are thriving in my backyard .. just yet to bear fruits.

Sharing here how the plants were wrapped with so much care that I could literally feel how much effort the sender has put in to safely deliver the plants to me. And this business is doing a good job because it took opportunity of the pandemic to explore alternative of doing business and make lemonade out of lemons.

Thank you to the seller that made it possible for me to plant kedondong at reasonable price and for the effort to deliver value to customers.

why i like buying clothes for children?

why i like buying clothes for children?

I think subconsciously it has to be the guilt of not being able to be with them most of the time, if not all the time.

So to make up, I got them something that would able to

hug them

touch them

protect them all the time

Did I also mentioned that I also especially like to buy pyjama?

that's because it's the most comfortable piece of clothes and worn during the most relaxing time of the day.

talking about quirky habits..

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. 

my little new toys

here are my little new toys
which I bought online just few weeks shy before I go back to work
and didn't regret getting them 
for I start to like preparing foods 
me definately not a good cook but I'm willing to learn and improve
but 'someone' say I like to buy things that consume a lot of electricity wo...

here my little new toys and some of their end products

(a) little toaster oven & simple coconut cookies

(b) little electric steamer & steam herbal chicken & steam egg

(c) little juicer & a glass of refreshing juice

(d) little ceramic coating frying pan & banana pancake

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 :)

splurging again

I lied. I said I was not going to buy anymore clothes this year.
The year has not ended but I've bought 5 new ones at one go (yes, you read right 5 at one go).
And I stupidly paid about RM116 so willingly..
This has got to be my most impulsive purchase so far this year. 
My weakness is when they are on 70% and 80% row.
I bought it while ah dear was overseas .. 
didn't want to let him know initially but I ended up telling him that
'I've spent money again buying clothes' which according to him I seldom wear.

Really this time, no more buying clothes till a year later.
This time it's going to take whatever I have to stop myself.

the thing about online shopping

Talking about the kind of relationship I have with online shopping, I feel rather silly.

It's the love-hate-hate-love type.

I go head over heels at times and within seconds I loathe it.

You see the thing is : 

(a) Online shopping is so so convenient, I do not have to even leave my home to get the stuff I want. Reason for saying this : I had once got myself something as intimate as nursing breast pump online ... just like that' without even trying. Mind you, it wasn't even cheap, cost a few hundred bucks.

(b) I can compare prices and check out the best deals.

(c) I can get much more varieties as compared to physical store.

(c) I can see what other people have to say about the retailers and get to research about each product.

(d) I get things delivered to my doorstep. Anticipating the arrival of goodies is exciting.

(e) You don't get salesperson following around or pretending like they are not paying attention / looking at you when they are trying very hard to 'eye' you.

BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT (there's always but, isn't it)

those things that I love is those thing that I loathe 

(A) the fact that I can (fill up with answers from (a) to (e) above) is really killing me. 

It make spending hard-earned so easy, so irresistible, so 'at the snap of finger'.

Oh, btw, did I mention this year I'm even getting CNY clothes online. See what I mean?! LOL

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.

my RM1 happiness

when I feel like I'm living 1 day at a time,

even a RM1 happiness is worth it...

(RM1 for 12 design pencils from tesco)

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.

my loots for the day

my loots for the day :

(a) a bag I really like for myself (have been known as 'recycle bag aunty' for too long)

(b) some recipe books (because this mama seriously want to learn to cook proper edible food)

(c) pregnancy nutrition & confinement recipe (she suddenly realised the importance of health)

(d) sand play & 2 folders (to keep 'pink booklet' dry)

(e) 2 mini back pack (for training kiddies to carry their own stuff)

(f) 4 water proof paper bag (for carrying kiddies' stuff)

(g) 2 boxes of puzzles

(h) glow in the dark playset (ah bi's favourite night time activity)

(i) 4 pair of children scissors (for training kiddies to use scissors, 4 colours because I can't decide what colour to choose)

(j) hairbands

(k) some bird-motives clips (for 骗小孩子...haha)

If you are interested to get stuffs like these, can go for Mr DIY shop ... I must say they sell almost everything ranging from kitchenware to hardware to women's items to children toys.

ABC...123

the other day, I went on a shopping spree again ... after attending a 2 day training about positive attitude@work.

These are among the many things I bought (some useful, some not-so-useful)

Since the fridge is one of my little one's favourite place while waiting for me to prepare food/drink, cut fruit, do washing, so I decided to make full use of the space.

Moreover, both the sets together doesn't even cost me more than 8 bucks (and it's made of wood).

Previously, what he has is just some smileys and some advertising magnets ... now he has very colourful play set =D

we ---> getting old

Yesterday, on a Valentine day..
It dawned upon me that we both are getting old.
Off late, both of us have been feeling a little off weather.
I was always feeling faint & weak ... like having all my blood & energy being drained out of me. Sometimes I dare not even squat down because when I stand up again, I feel like fainting.
He on the other hand, have been having upset tummy on & off and told me he's having joint pain when it rains.

So yesterday, on a Valentine day..
We walked together like the day we 1st met each other after leaving school ..
But this time we headed to 'Guardian' pharmacy ..
Perhaps we both know to continue this journey together, we really need a 'guardian' to our health.
So there we are choosing for something that we hope is able to help us regain our health. Actually more like ah dear selecting what's best for me because he says I need it more wo.
That's how I got my Valentine's day present .. 2 bottles of health supplement - practical & thoughtful =p
To sweeten the deal, we receive RM10 voucher for every RM40 spent.

I felt guilty because ah dear gave me so much, yet I've given him nothing in return .. that's how bad a lover I can be =p

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

goodies from Bookfest '10

Goodies from Bookfest '10 ... suprisingly there isn't anything for myself.

Total damage RM107.70