drug addict?

save junior save

Some 20 over years ago, I still remember those times when I fill up my piggy banks as soon as I possibly could just because I wanted to have more lines in my passbooks ... I thought the more lines I have, the more money I have (without realising that more lines could mean more withdrawal / debits..haha),

because I wanted to get more freebies when I go to the banks. Banks during that era were generous to their junior savers.

I remember not only getting free piggy banks various edition, quarterly children magazines, some stationeries, some drawstring bags, some other goodies.

Fast forward, we opened junior savings account for our children ... I'm secretly waiting for the day when I can bring them with their filled piggy banks to the bank and teach them the benefits of saving (even a dollar a day ... yes, it has to be at least a dollar a day cause a cent a day doesn't really work anymore).

Although I've introduced ah bi to piggy bank and putting coins inside, but I think this is more of a practice of fine motor skills development rather than inculcate savings...don't think can understand yet.

meanwhile, while waiting for ah bi to grasp the understanding of savings, this mother is adding more lines to ah bi's junior account=p

This mother is parking some of her monthly cashflow (pending to pay bills) in ah bi's account to earn a little more interest. Yes, this mother can be this 'calculative' in this sense ... but like I always say a penny earned is a penny earned.

Note that : a junior savings account can offer interest return as competitive as FD rates (2.5%pa - 3.0%pa) whereas a normal adult savings account offer only (0.1%pa - 1%pa).

Now if you are me, where would you put your money?

freeeeee gifts....

Lately, I feel I'm lucky.

Last Thursday, receive a blue storage box from the milk powder company that ah bi drink.

Last Saturday, receive this cute cuddly bunny rabbit from another milk powder company that mama didn't drink.

Milk powder companies today are good at making us mother & children happy =p

Btw, in malaysia, in effort to encourage breastfeeding, milk powder companies are not allowed to give free gift / gift redemption for infant milk powder & milk powder for babies up to 12 months.

falling in love = 走火入魔? =p

阿信与丁当-走火入魔

i like the way the lyricist put it...

falling in love to me is really like 走火入魔 ... hahaha

what he wanted me to do....

Little boy did something unexpected today. Here's how it goes :

Mama seeing there are some yellow and purple wild flowers growing in our garden decided to let little boy explore something new today.

Mama pluck the flowers and pass the flowers to little boy.

Mama : nah,妈妈 给你, 这是什么？

little boy : fo..wer (his pronunciation of flower)

Mama : mama give you flower, what do you say?

little boy : 谢谢

Mama : What colour is the flower? Yeh.... and Pur...

little boy : ...low....purPAL.

Mama : 喜不喜欢?

little boy laughed cheekily while holding the flowers preciously.

Little boy : fower...fower 美美美美

Little boy : give mama ... give mama (give the purple flower stalk to mama)

Mama : 谢谢你. Thank you.

Little boy : 我爱你

Mama : say 'Mama, 我爱你 again (hearing once is not enough for this mama...haha, so I force him to say again =p) ... I was very happy hearing him say that until the next moment...

Little boy refuse to say it again but instead pass the yellow flower to mama as well.

Little boy then take mama's hand and lead mama to the grass area and ...

Little boy : Mama...'PUT BACK PUT BACK'

Mama almost *PENGSAN*

('PUT BACK' is the key word I always use to teach him to keep his toys / put back the things where they are ... haha, I can see that now it backfired)

Mama started LOL ... 'PUT BACK' the flowers which I pluck??? - that's the only one thing I cannot do and this little fella is asking me to do exactly that.

Mama : Mama pluck pluck the flower already, now cannot put back. We keep keep the flowers ok?

Little boy seeing mama didn't proceed as he said, took the flowers from my hand and try to

STICK BACK THE FLOWERS TO THE BROKEN STEM!

I discover 2 lessons today :

1. Always admire flowers without plucking them. 1st - I don't kill the flowers. 2nd - I won't be asked to do the impossible.

2. to a child - nothing is impossible, really.

and he really make my day today, being so innocence yet funny...LOL

blissful night

enjoying blissful night like this :

just relaxing with some chocolate, listening to music and reading some magazines / good book in the peacefulness of the night.

wondering whether I'll still have nights like this in future?

So I better treasure it while I can

oh...and today I've a big achievement .. I went to Sogo member's day sales and did not spend a single cent. That's kind of unexpected out of me. Even I'm shocked. But a good start for a 'spendaholic'

the nesting instinct? @ passion project?

Is this what they call the nesting instinct?
*typing while munching overnight waffle at 4.45am*

after stumbling upon this blog
http://ilikepapercutting.blogspot.com/
I'm inspired to sew some pillowcase + bolstercase + patchwork blanket + tote
* and now I just thought of one more important thing ... the beanie bag for put on baby chest while sleeping to comfort them*

So I found my passion project for this year (maybe spillover next year..never know)
I've come out with plans on how to get leftover fabrics (用剩的布料)
and out of my sudden surge of 'eagerness' ... I crazily went to Kamdar (which is a few streets away from my office) to source cheap cotton cloth.
Don't know coincidence or lucky, there were having big sales due to Hari Raya coming soon ... so I got some 1m cotton cloth @ RM2.50 - RM3.00.
And I came home smiling to myself for the whole night =)

* to my dear friends, if you have any leftover fabrics (no matter how small piece), please donate to me ya.. please help to contribute to helping me achieving my passion project. Thank you very much =) *

the pictures below are from http://ilikepapercutting.blogspot.com/ . Thank you to the blogger who inspired me

the week I turned 30

I call it the lucky pasta pot - got it free from sending in some forms from Malaysian Women's Weekly =)

Thank you to a bunch of colleagues who celebrated my birthday with me at Pizza Hut plus a 'get a taste of everything' cake =)

A special luncheon meat sandwich from Grace sitting next to me a day before... she definately settled my cravings for luncheon meat ... haha =)

A simple treat for myself, ah bi & dear - one of my favourite - red bean desert =)

My birthday present from ah dear ... plus the assembling work =)

The wallpaper on my workstation that never fail to sort of 'motivate' me every morning (on the reason why I still need to come to office tomorrow) ...hehe =)

The lucky bamboo (some call it Guan Yin bamboo) which I saved from the 'dustbin' outside my office ... originally those CNY lucky bamboo type but I dismantled it to let the plant have more growing room.

Have always wanted to bring some lucky bamboo from home but never got to doing it... finally it came itself to me and a bunch of them some more =)

and of course last but not least, thank you for all those warm birthday wishes that flow in =)

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

weekend nourishment

I realised I've changed a little .. I used to be very lazy and 'tidak apa' when it comes to nourishing (补) my body.

Nowadays, if possible, I take initiative to prepare or eat something nourishing / nutritious for myself. Perhaps age is catching up and 'engine' already start to need maintenance.

Last weekend, out of nowhere, I miraculously prepare this ...

the white fungus - they say it poor people bird nest, so since I could not afford bird nest .. I settled for 2nd best =)

Not bad ya...since after cook can use to 'buy' my mother in law & ku po's heart =p hehe

a day being selfish

This a day ... I don't care about anything except me, me and me.

never mind there's a urgent testing @ work (since we were told no one is indispensable)

never mind that there's my mid year appraisal to submit (it doesn't make a difference anyway)

woke up 6.30am to be among the 1st few @ KKIA (Klinik Ibu & Anak).

Got myself a no.4 and checkup done in almost 1 hour 10 minute ... still very early 8.40am.

Posted parcels for ah dear @ post office and time is still before 9am.

So early that I've no where to go but didn't want to go home ... so I went to Tesco.

So I did a 'survey' of prices @ Tesco and grabbed some stuffs which I was not allowed to buy earlier =p (hint : see pic 1)

Walk until the perishable section, I saw lots of fresh fruits & vegetables.

Suddenly I had crazy thoughts : I'm going to pamper myself...cook some good nutritious food for myself instead of eating tapao'ed food.

Couldn't remember when was the last time I cooked for myself. Not that I can cook anyway.

I had cravings for so many types of foods...look like someone who has not eaten for a week.

Finally I settled for spinach, sweet peas, tomatoes, oyster mushroom and baked bean.

Fruits : bought mango as still have guava, kiwi, orange, apple @ home.

I had the urge to cook everything I bought but only 1 person eating and I can't finish all.

So I only ended up with sweet pea, tomatoes and oyster mushroom (pic 2).

No rice @ home so I ended up cooking some 5 grain rice leftovers and scallop meant for ah bi.

Although everything was just boiled but I felt I had the best lunch ever (ok la I exaggerate abit)..haha

spent the rest of time revamping the store room to 'mini library'

some time catching up on my reading, some time watching movie, some time resting & sleeping, some time thinking about my future and re-organising my plans.

after ah bi slept, cut some mangoes & guavas to cubes for tomorrow cereal breakfast activity@ office.

Although I enjoy today very much but I couldn't seem to get enough of it ...

what can I do to get more 'today'???

something I don't get to buy if I didn't go shopping alone...hahaha

my simple 'no even 1 drop oil' lunch ... which I doubt anyone will eat except me...haha

Not sure whether people aka colleagues put mango / guava into cereal breakfast? Aiya, don't care so much la...since today is being selfish day..so sorry la..

愛愛愛

方大同 - 愛愛愛
currently obsessed with this song

hot soup

I want to drink soup now!!!
simply delicious ... feel like having soup with rice also enough liao.
I'll finish everything in the soup =D


莲藕花生汤 lotus root peanut soup
(pic from food4four)














老黄瓜汤 old cucumber soup
(pic from blessedhomemaker.blogspot.com)


















西洋菜红枣汤 watercress red dates soup
(pic from foodsite.net)














ABC soup
(pic from food4tots)
















中药鸡汤 chinese herbal chicken soup

(pic from myasiankitchenny)

making fun of little fella

mama having fun making fun =p

satu 'style' not enough, more fun making ways...

papa's turn ... nyek nyek nyek =p (and little fella seem still not aware what's happening)

another 'stylo' ... yet little fella still busy pouring drinks for papa mama =D

at last beh tahan liao ... shampoo go inside eyes although the bottle says "No tears" formula.... hehe...

感动

Yesterday night, when I was about to sing lullaby for ah bi to sleep,
many someone came to visit.
They were my father & my sisters and brother in law.
I didn't expect them to come visit me at night after such a tiring day for them.
My father just got to know I was on MC that morning.
I was touched beyond words. I feel like hugging them and tell them I love them (which I didn't).
It's true that when everything else give up on us, our family will be with us no matter what.
I've learnt that work - we can let go. Families - we must always hold ours together.

in case I grow old & forgotful, at least here i can treasure my 感动'ness

my childhood song

only caught this song in radio last time ... don't know who sing, don't know what is the song's name but I remember the lyrics.
there were many version by various singers by I love this original one best.

累

feeling very tired lately ...

physically tired, mentally tired, emotionally tired ... basically a 'everything' tired soul.

tired of having to solve so many other people's problem except my own.

tired of unfair treatment @ work ... after all we all just want to 'find 2 meals eat'

tired of having to be nice to people who gives you sh**

tired of everytime have to find ways to get more money

tired of being tired...

If only I ...

If only I can appreciate my every day with childlike innoncence ...
Sometimes I really marvel how children can be so happy, so appreciative of even the simplest thing ...

And their never give up attitude ..

Like being in some cool water with same cups & bowls & balls.

Like trying to move a huge metal cloth hanger that doesn't budge ... yet they try & try & try & try

Like laughing & carrying a mini recyclable bag for a few hours without letting go as though there were gold inside (the bag was empty, btw)

If someone ask me who makes the best teacher, I'll say children =)