How much do I have to spend in order for me to understand the lesson?

 

There was a charity drive at my workplace earlier this year and I donated 3 bags of new (very new) clothes. While I was going through my wardrobe, I came to realisation that I have spent alot buying clothes which I don't really wear. 

Honestly, it's really a total waste of my hard earned money. I know no use crying over spilt milk. That kind of money saved if I hadn't been buying could pay for years of household expenses. I'm as guilty as charged or without even need to be charged.

These few months when i didn't get to go out at all..I discovered the beauty of 'staying home'. When the eyes don't see, the head and heart won't influence me to buy. Now, I'm leaning towards having fewer things and keeping those that matters and those that I will really use / wear. After all I only got 1 body that can wear a set of clothes at a time...so why need so many clothes? My old self wouldn't understand this but my new self is beginning to understand a little more each day.

kitchen say 'organise me'

Everyday when I step into my kitchen, I hear a nagging 'please organise me'. Actually I myself also have the same feeling and the same nagging inside my heart too. So beginning of the year, I looked online and ordered this trolley which cost me less than 40 bucks and start organising some of the items in my kitchen.

It is far from finish and after so many moons, it is still unfinished business...poor kitchen...

but at least 1 small portion of it got sorted ... small win 

green green plants

Nothing beat green green plants as stress relief. It is relaxing to see plants growing and thriving each day. It is resilient and patience and stay rooted no matter what. Gardening and growing plants got to be one of the most fulfilling hobby for me. I've been wanting to cultivate the same in my children but they seem to be more interested in some other things though. 

Nevertheless, I'm thankful dear still allow me to keep our garden at home. Upon my recovery, I'll be making effort to turn it into a wonderful garden haven. Wish me luck! eventhough I've been trying for long time but I will not give up. I'll try and try and try again.

 

my home cook lunch

Mee goreng - I like mine goreng with shrimp and sweet pea and egg..just plain but still delicious.

 Porridge - the way i like it is plain porridge with corn (for sweet tinge) with salted egg and century egg...just bliss

 Nasi goreng - again i like mine with sweet pea, shrimp and egg..the taste just blend beautifully and sumptiously.

 

small blessings

Our family is into avocado lately and avocado family is growing. These cuties are sleep companions every night.

I have been trying to advocate savings to my youngest but she doesn't seem to be able to grasp the concept of delay gratification. So when she showed me this article which she cut out from the newspaper on saving money and start saving her pocket money...no words can clearly describe what I felt. I'm really really thankful. And I learnt that some things is really can't be rushed.

growing more succulent

  Succulents are survivors. I adore them. Somehow they 

  survive and multiply easily. 

And they make me feel relaxed looking at them

especially those that shaped like lotus flower

and showed us how amazing nature is

My intention, grow and multiply them and give them to friends and family

Please grow well 

and I'm grateful to you for bringing me joy and relaxation. Thank you 

 

Growing and improving every day

She is growing and improving each day albeit at her own pace. Today she shared with me a secret how she can remember what she learnt or need to remember. She said : do revision of the thing to remember before sleep. Then before you sleep after you off the light, you say the things that you want to remember out loud. You photostat (copy) the thing that you want to remember in your brain and you go through it again in your brain. You will remember it tomorrow when you wake up in the morning.

I'm grateful she found a way that can help her be better in her learning. I'm grateful that God showed her the way and showed me the way. Thank you

 

It feel good to declutter / give away / throw

Last Saturday, I managed to get rid of 4 boxes of recyclable items .. ie. cardboxes from packaging, old VCDs (if you still remember what they are:) recyclable plastic items, old clothes and some preloved books.

i have to say it feel so good to be able to clear the stuffs that have been sitting at my home for so long because they stop taking recycle stuffs from a few months back. Previously they use to collect recyclable items and garden compost every Thursday.

I feel that my burden are lifted ... perhaps the clutter has been a nagging need-to-do item at the back of my brain giving me invisible stress. I feel at last I managed to do something after promising dear for so long that I'll clear the clutters at home.

With this in mind, I'm looking forward to more clearing and decluttering sessions which actually helps to calm us down. My dream to make our home clutter free although I've been trying for so many years... but still I refused to give up and will even work harder towards my goals.  Till then...wish us luck :)

rediscover mindful activity

Last month we had a long weekend holiday, while others are doing local or overseas travel, we were travelling within our home back to our heart and mind. We started with a jigsaw which i brought online ..

We started our journey on Saturday, 1st day of the holiday

On the 2nd day of holiday, we almost reach our destination

Finally, on day 3 we reached our destination and decided to frame up this memory :)

糖水without the 糖

The long weekend, I boiled 糖水 without the 糖, but happy as everyone like it :D

the yellow, orange & purple sweet potatoes + ginger

all into the pot with lots of pandan leaves...simmer with slow fire

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!

our work in progress

I love gardening since young, 
but I do not know when I really fell in love with growing plants.
having said that, I however does not really have green fingers, 
but I never give up easily ... I will try and try and try.

I've tried to preserve the small piece of green in front of our home and gradually start growing edible things.
At our backyard, there is a piece of vacant land.
Previously it was managed by my neighbour but seeing my passion for growing things, aunty decided to let me grow plants behind. 
I couldn't thank her enough as it had always been my dream to grow my own edibles fruits and vegetables.
I do have dreams that every taman (housing estates) have their own organic farm.
and every city to have fruit forest / park concept. 
Last year, I went to the extend of putting in a feedback to DBKL for them to ponder over planting fruit trees in place of the normal decorative trees.

Although we may be far far away, at least I can do what I can do.
In fact I think we Malaysians are quite a green lot. 
Try walking around your neighbourhood and you'll realised that about 85% of houses will have at least some kind of plants. 
The heart warming thing is that we despite not with many spaces available, make full use of it. I see people planting sugar canes, papaya trees, banana trees, nangka trees, mango trees, pandan leaves, serai, mulberry trees in that little piece of land outside the gate, in between our house & neighbour house.

Here's my work in progress 
hoping my little farm will grow and flourish.

my collection of pandan, lime, mint leave, serai, ladies finger, aloe vera

Newly planted sweet potatoes leave vegetables, and tiny papaya tree

little banana tree inherited from aunty

 

some sugar cane inherited from aunty

the holes are planted with ladies finger & long bean.
Thank you to the uncle & aunty that helps us with the backyard.

 

From far top : newly planted pineapple, aloe vera, pandan leave, lime tree, serai

inherited this nangka / cempedak tree (I dunno which is which)

 

the tree in the middle is custard apple tree ... again inherited from aunty

these are ladies fingers freshly picked from our front garden

new year new responsibilities

New year, everyone at home got new responsibilities.

Besides the 2 elder ones going to school to learn, 

they've got new responsibilities.

Vacuum, vacuum 

and more vacuum

Then they gang up and say their 'lau ye che' need vacuuming too

helping sister with bicycle 

老板娘的妈妈

how nice will it be to be 老板娘的妈妈

my daughter told me this is her ice-cream shop (think Häagen-Dazs, Baskin Robbins)

and her restaurant (where she cook and serve me) 

haha...fat dreams but no harm harbouring such a little hope

itchy hand, itchy mouth

Nowadays, I'm getting itchy hands and itchy mouth over the past few days / weeks.

So trying to get some nourishing soothing food / drink into my system.

started with red bean soup

then lemongrass + ginger + pandan leave slow boiled water

then pork rib chinese herb soup 

and hoping more to come ...