feeling serai (read : sir-ray-ee)

For a person who do not have green fingers, nothing beats the satisfaction of harvesting own fruits roots of labour.

Capturing the mess, the grass and the roots of serai (lemongrass)

The end product which distributed among relatives, neighbours and colleagues

9 years already

Mi,

I've always wonder what it is like if you are still around. 

I know I shouldn't think too much ... but I couldn't help it.

Yesterday, when I told your grandchildren how much I love them, 

I couldn't help to add : I love you very very very much just like how I love popo.

Life for your husband and children has its fair share of ups and downs.

Some we managed to pull through, some we are pulling through.

wherever you are, take care mi,

don't worry about us 

I love you forever

story of cosmetics and personal care products

It's a choice we can make
Just sharing, no offense really

been there?

Many at times, we just need a little more awareness ..

RTHK breastfeeding awareness campaign

http://programme.rthk.hk/rthk/tv/programme.php?name=tv%2Fwomanwithdreams5&d=2016-05-21&p=7174&e=357925&m=episode#

the 'soon-to-be's ...

Off late I tend to appreciate present more 

present as in 'this moment' 

because for the 1st few months of 2016, I've encountered countless occasions where things just changed when I blinked.

*So much so that I dare not sleep much because that means catching 40 winks* =p

there are things that heavily concerned me (which I am feeling burdened but couldn't share)

there are things that partially concerned me 

there are things that doesn't really concern me ... ie. will be relocated to be seated right in front of office door  

(my tolerance level just got better eh)  

all of which I'm trying my best to solve and overcome those 'bumps on the road'

sometimes when I find myself start to ask 'why me?', 'why so many life tests?' 

I pulled myself back and say 'it could be worse' so don't complain and face it like a (wo)man.

One thing for sure, I need to 'love me more'

so that I can go on ...  

 

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..

ironing + listening to radio = not that bad

Let's be honest

Ironing is not something I like to do .. 

• the heat coming from the iron in this hot weather
• the technique of getting the best angle to iron in the least steps / flips
• the traditional chinese medicine theory of not standing with direct contacts of bare feet to the ground and not touching water after ironing (so the dampness / wind cannot go inside body)
• how restricted and repetitive the action of ironing can be
• how thirsty I'll become

Yet, almost every weekend / alternate weekend, the ironing need to be done.

So I derived a way to mellow down my 'not something I like to do'

I choose to see it as 'the time I get to listen to radio without disruption' 

and I found it's not that bad

I'm too busy singing along or listening to what the DJ / lyrics have to say that I iron on an auto pilot mode.

So far the result ok, no attire holed / burnt...hehe =p

ps. now it's time to get outside to cut grass ... enjoy the morning dew and air.

Have a nice day!

洋蔥

(KTV)-洋蔥

Nice song, sharing a male & female version

Grounds for our ground

Gone were the days when I have to be thick-skinned to ask major coffee joints for grounded coffee bean. Read about history here
Cause now they are providing it for free ... and it's so accessible.
Love Starbucks for their corporate responsibility initiative ... at least the waste is put to good use and not wasted

I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you

English song is not something I listen to frequently.
Somehow I just couldn't figure the full lyrics of the song while listening to it (blame it on my half baked English)
However, this song stands out.
I just fall in love with it the 1st moment I heard it.
I never found out the name of the song but when my eldest asked me what song do I want to listen to on youtube.
I told him "I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you"
and I added "This is one of mama's favourite song"
So they will get excited and exclaim that is 'mama's favourite song' each time we heard it played somewhere sometime.

Then today, something got into me that I went searching for the lyrics
and you got it right
It even got better and more meaningful.
Here to share a beautiful song (also to have it archived due to my deteoriating memory) 

Meghan Trainor Ft John Legend Like I'm Gonna Lose You Lyric

separating waste

Despite a tumultous 2015 with all the *bs* from the leaders 

if you asked me is there still a tinge of hope ... 

I would say, for 2015, that 1 thing that I think we somehow got the right direction is 

'separating waste'

I know I know

what's the use of separating waste when we can't even get our education system right?

ps. I suspect I could be environmentalist in my previous lives, else why do I always have a weak spot for the environment?... haha

The absence of presence or is it the presence of absence

I have to admit ...

I'm sometimes having this syndrome @ work 

the syndrome of 'the absence of presence or is it the presence of absence'

(Let's hope my bosses doesn't stumble upon this post)

I'm not sure if you do experience it as well?

In chinese we call it 心不在现

Sometimes I find myself thinking about the other 1001 things I need to do / achieve personally instead of what needs to be done at work.

I do feel guilty but it can't be help.

You can say I'm selfish but I'm just human.

At the end of the day, I just need to ensure I get my work done & deliver accordingly.

Come to think of it, no wonder I'm never on the ''to-be-promoted' list.

I just don't have that 'oomph' 

how safe is our personal care product?

I know this is like a little extreme ... I've been using them for decades
But sometimes it's good to know, at least we have the freedom to choose.

Your skin is your largest organ, and anything you put on it should contain only the best and safest ingredients from nature. So before slathering lotion or body wash on your skin, take a look at this infographic on toxic chemicals found in personal care products. Discover these common yet deadly chemicals and how they can potentially sabotage your health and well-being.

<img src="http://media.mercola.com/assets/images/infographic/personal-care-products.jpg" alt="personal care products" border="0" style="max-width:100%; min-width:300px; margin: 0 auto 20px auto; display:block;"><p style="max-width:800px; min-width:300px; margin:0 auto; text-align:center;">Your skin is your largest organ, and anything you put on it should contain only the best and safest ingredients from nature. So before slathering lotion or body wash on your skin, take a look at this infographic on toxic chemicals found in 

<a href="http://www.mercola.com/infographics/personal-care-products.htm"><strong>personal care products</strong></a>. Discover these common yet deadly chemicals and how they can potentially sabotage your health and well-being. </p>

Hello 2016 Goodbye 2015

Years and again, there will be this loooooong overdue new year post
(despite years of resolutions to overcome procrastination!)

So here we are 18 days after we step into 2016.
Had a few new beginnings this year especially for our children.

this year these will be my objectives : 

• Living the moment 
• Presence as present

For the crossover (and till now), glad we have been doing some great home improvements. 

Nothing major nothing drastic, just some serious decluttering, rearrangements and 

most importantly adding more 'warmth' to our home sweet home.

Most likely to be busy till the lunar new year come. 
Till then, take care & have a good year everyone! =)

source : google image

no time some more want to colour ...

Off late, I'm pretty stressed out. 
And I find myself off-balance, spending more time @ work.
and so, in my limited personal time, i have 1001 things to do.
and as if it's not enough, I wanted to add 1 more thing ... 
adult colouring ...
which I've printed 2 templates but yet to start because I ended up falling asleep instead.
really a case of 自找麻烦

 

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. 

play house *home sweet home*

Last night, I saw this after shower.
I was secretly happy. I love this kind of free creative play in children. 
Everything is possible. 

Arial view of their house

The entrance

Side view ... I forgot to ask them if it's a cornerlot / semiD ... haha

had a fall, know my flaw, many to be thankful for

I had a fall a few Mondays ago at BTR LRT station.

Was too engrossed in thinking that I missed 2 steps of stairs and landed hard on my left leg before plunging leftward.

Funny somehow but true. 

My 1st reaction was, did I just fall down? 

It was so fast, the brain didn't had time to process and the pain hasn't set in yet although I was almost laying sideway on the ground (the break between 2 flights of stairs to be exact)

My 2nd reaction was, 'oh my sweet potatoes (breakfast) is all over the place'

So I was busy picking up sweet potatoes and putting them back into the plastic container which cover opened when it hit the ground.

My 3rd reaction was, did anything show? 

I was wearing knee length skirt.

It was only in my 4th reaction, I realised I have indeed had a bad fall.

I think sprained my ankle because when I try to get up, I couldn't so I sat there massaging my ankle. 

Strange, people see me but I was 'invisible' to them. They just walk pass me as thought I'm some kind of stone statue.

So I managed to wake up holding on to railings and get myself to the LRT bench. 

Sat there for about 15 minutes, took off my sandals and start massaging. The pain was setting in but still manageable.

Message my boss to tell her I'm late. Let 3 train passed before I hopped on train thinking everything shall be alright.

Got a seat as it was after peak period.

Got down @ destination station, found out I couldn't walk already as each step is darn painful. No choice but to call for help while I waited inside LRT platform.

My colleague came but was not allowed in due to she didn't bring her LRT pass / Touch N'Go. So they send the guard up (to the opposite platform) and I have to waive like crazy to get him. The guard then come with a pregnant lady staff who offer to hold me down the stairs. 

I refused to be held by the pregnant lady and say I'm ok to be helped by the security guard (male). My reason : I couldn't walk and we have to go down flight of stairs, I'm afraid of dragging her down as I had difficulty supporting myself on my left leg.

So the security guard took down details and photo (of my leg) say need to report to HQ. 

I was like WTH, I'm in pain, you don't let my colleague in to help and now you're here wasting time doing nothing. 

I was relieved when I saw 2 staff ladies came (I think they are cleaning ladies from their uniform). Both of them let me lean on them left and right while we make our way to the stairs. But I'm having difficulty going down the stairs.

The taller and bigger lady suddenly (literally, swept me off my feet) and carry me all the way down the perhaps 40-50 steps.

For that moment, I forgot momentarily about my pain.

I told God to please bless this kind soul (who scoped me up when I was down).

When met my 2 colleagues who are waiting at the entrance, I was relieved and felt I'm a burden to them at the same time. 

Both of them are about my same height, ladies and 1 in 40s and another in 50s.

So I told them if can help from any male in office or even security guard.

In the end, the taller and bigger LRT lady staff who carried me down just now, piggy back me down to the road (near taxi stand). 
Then my older colleague in her 50s piggy back me as well before another colleague borrowed a wheel chair from the nearby clinic with her IC as collateral.
Somehow along the episode, my eyes got teary not from pain, but from the act of kindness I received. I didn't like being a burden and trouble other people though.

I'm very grateful. Somehow I think I'm lucky to have kind people around me most of the time. So I vowed to myself that I gotta be paying it forward if not backward. God bless these kind selfless souls.

用尽一生的爱

张克帆 - 《用尽一生的爱

Couldn't describe how happy I'm to be able to catch them playing this song on radio this morning (with the song title & singer details).
Love this song to the bits.

Put 2 version here, 
1st more for the lyrics
2nd more for visual

a "thank you so much" (that's long overdue) to all nurses & doctors @ HUKM & Hospital Kajang