home made clock

It all started with the clock forever-showing-10.32 
Then, dear tried to repair the Ikea 2.90 clock for a few times,
Dear found it was because something was stuck and torn the background paper in the process of repair.
He wrote with some marker pen on the transparent plastic cover.

Over the weekend, it's school holiday so I wanted them to have fun project.
I gave them assignment of designing their own clock... but I failed to realized that if that's the case, I need to have 3 clocks.

This one here is the multilingual clock by ah-go. 
So he did the writing and the cutting. Papa did the poking and positioning of the clock needles (plus the erasing of no. written on the plastic transparent cover)

Ta..ra... It's all done and the clock is hanging nicely @ our home wall.

ps. note to self, buy 3 more clocks on next trip to Ikea.

it's fun, it's engaging, it's GCC

I'm definately one who doesn't take own initiative to go exercise.

If only I have the time, I'd rather spend them catching 40 winks if not more.

But about 2-3 weeks ago, when we received an email from HR with the title 

"Are you up for challenges?" 

I know my life is going to change, lifestyle to be exact.

Such a thing actually exist

they call it GCC - Global Corporate Challenge

Many many groups of 7 from many many companies from many many countries is in a race around the world on FEET (well, you can still cycle / swim / row).

You can get to know more about this at https://www.gettheworldmoving.com/

In the email, it says there will be allocation for 10 teams of 7 people from Malaysia.

This was an initiative from HQ in Singapore.

There are many healthy and fit exercisers who will be interested in my organisation. 

So, I didn't waste time. And I was not afraid of the challenges.

I started shooting emails to almost everyone deem 'shall be interested' that I know in the organisation except my bosses.

Well, as usual ....

(a) I got ignored and rejected nicely except for 3 closer colleagues. 

(b) Others have intention of joining, but definately not with me (I'm look sluggish @ work at times due to my sleep debt)

(c) When I try to join their team, I'm sort of not welcomed.

So I took the matter to heart hand. 

it's going to get me to be more physically active, get healthier, lead better lifestyle, and it's free with the endorsement to do from HR. So why not? 

I decided since no one wanted me to join their team, I will form my own team.

When I say I form my own team, means people will expect I'll be the captain.

I'm desperate so just be it.

So I started another round of member-searching.

My team now consist of a very unique blend :

a mom of 3 in 50s

another mom of 2 who's breastfeeding

a very soft spoken, polite and delicate lady

a young intern guy (which later got rejected due to not permanent staff)

a guy who told me he's using the escalator @ LRT station when I approach him to join this ...haha

a jovial girl who was introduced by a season runner who turned me down.

a mom of 1 who loves coffee and whatever bollywood

and me who's the 'most unlikely' captain for such a race ... haha 

So we enrolled, not knowing whether we get in the 1st 10 group.

So we name team 7-UP  

7 of us to get UP and moving

After a few days, I was sad.

Another team that enrolled much later was selected. They received the notification email from HR.

I was unhappy because I didn't like the kind of 'unfairness'.

I had the urge to call and question the coordinator but I didn't.

It was just right before going home, I received email notification (as team captain) that we are in. 

So on the 26/5/15, we had a briefing by the GCC ASIAN representative. 

But our 'pulse' a device to track steps and movement is not here yet. They are giving us 2, 1 as backup.

The GCC start worldwide on 27/5/15. 

There were some delay, so this is our day 3 with missed tracking. 

Those with their own tracking devices can start to input their steps already.

We are spiraling downwards in the race leader board. 

But then, realistically our team, we say just doesn't want to be last in our organisation. 

But then again, if it become a fact that we are the last, we have gained a lot already (this one I didn't tell the team la...)

The 'pulse' supposed to reach us today. 

We are all very excited and looking forward. 

But life is not always so easy 

Even in same organisation, we got clash of team name. Meaning there are 2 team who call themselves 7-UP.

I call the other team captain to negotiate, she say her team refuse to change and my negotiation skill sucks.
So we changed ours to RAINBOW - 7 colours add up do wonders, reaches the end of the world with a pot of gold at the end. sounds like RAMBO too with the courage to take challenge (how my team members put it).

Got the pulse yesterday afternoon.
Clock in a personal best of 6048 steps. Nothing to brag about.
But running up and down the stairs at home as a result of forgot to bring children stuff upstairs does contribute quite a number of steps... LOL

Let's us go around the world (virtually) and get healthier...
1 step at a time ... Cheers 

ps. if you see walking around like a fool, you know what I'm up to... LOL

macro ban on microbeads

I admit, I am guilty of this one.
I like to buy personal care product with so called 'natural microbeads' in it... like facial scrub and body scrub.
(with the misaligned preconception that 'they' help to clean pores, remove blackheads...bla, bla, bla...)

With this video, I'm saying good bye to all my scrubs ...
and if possible I hope everyone of us do too =)
Video for sharing taken from http://storyofstuff.org/movies/

desperation & funny things

Most of us are not born rich ... 
thus we have to accumulate our wealth from scratch.
I used to be and am still am a person with need for sense of security,
I need to accumulate some money to make me feel safe.
However I realised it isn't enough just for me to accumulate passively aka. saving.
I need to put my money to work for me ...
I earned them the hard way, so why should they be resting on their laurel? 
Shouldn't they work harder for me?

My work life journey wasn't smooth 
had a lot of bumps which I crawl and crawl and crawl over while peers sprint to the finishing line. 
I slowly started to believe the problem lies with me. 
I grew up.
I learnt my lesson.
I couldn't control what other people think or do. But I can take charge of what I do.
As part of the learning process, it force something out of me. 
Desperation do funny things to people. 
That 'funny things' could be good or bad.

I was stupid enough to believe

Again and AGAIN, 

I'm being stupid.

I know those are not truth, 

I know those are words play,

I know those are empty promises,

I know and I KNOW

but then who's just JUST so SO stupid enough to believe?

That person is ME

dream box

my dream box 

(although I prefer a cheaper version)

which I stumble across in Kinokuniya.

Perhaps my next project ... developing my own line of dream box like this albeit a more affordable version ....

LOL>>>> keep dreaming

pumping @ federal

I attended a training @ Federal Hotel the other day. 

instead of the usual me who find out about the availability of lactation / baby room, 

I overlooked on this part until the night before.

So I braved myself to ask on the training day itself, and prepared myself on plan B / C in case they don't have any lactation room.

Our training coordinator and hotel staff was fast thinking.

Although they do not specifically have a lactation, the arrangement for another room as temporary lactation room was swift.

I really wish to thank these hotel people who went the extra mile to help me instead of just giving a standard reply "I'm sorry, but we don't have a lactation room. You can try next door / at the shopping mall." 

So I wrote them a compliment letter on the following day. It's one of those time to pay it forward, to thank people for what they have done.

the access to a comfortable pumping room

pumping comfortably with natural light.

lightings for photo taking and memories.

good programme 《我是演说家》

Yesterday I stumbled upon a personally feel 'good programme'
It's reality contest / programme

《我是演说家》where people give talk on certain topic and audience vote. 
The winner is selected via elimination process. 

why I feel this program is good?
1. it helps me to learn mandarin fast ... new vocab, way to use it, helpful with chinese character recognition as well as it has chinese subtitles.
2. it helps me to learn how people talk influentially and different approach used for same topic.
3. it helps me to understand and learn to look at things from different perspectives.

This is something new to me.
Very refreshing way to learn a language, 学会说话, 学做人

very worth to watch

grounded coffee bean

Thank you to a CETDEM booklet about home composting, 
I discovered a whole array of use for grounded coffee bean.
Would like to know too? Here you go...

Since our household doesn't consume much coffee,
So I with the 'thick skin face'' again think of ways to get for my garden especially.
So this was my execution.

1. check with coffee enthusiast / regular colleague, the nearest coffee shop / joint / franchise
2. check with coffee enthusiast / regular colleague, find out more about people working @ the coffee shop / joint / franchise
3. find out about their busy hours and not-so-busy hour (more appropriate to ask for something).
4. So I found the nearest is Starbuck and Gloria Jean Coffee. 
5. Starbuck is bigger franchise, may have protocol to follow. The Gloria Jean is a family owned franchise - easier to make decision.
6. So lunch time I braved (forced) myself to go, waited till all customers are served.
7. I told them I would like to buy grounded coffee bean from them. I honestly told them I am using it as fertilizer.
8. The pakcik asked if I am using for 'pokok bunga ros'? He knew & heard it was very good fertiliser. I told him I'm using more for fruit trees & vegetable compost.
9. The makcik asked if I am using it to make mask & body scrub. I say more for fertiliser, may tried that next time. 
10. I guess I could not be the 1st to ask them.
11. As it is mid-day, and some busy hour, I told them can I come back after work? Uncle told me yes, so he can collect more and stuff the plastic bag full full. 
12. So I went back after work. It was the pakcik's anak saudara on duty.
13. No customer at the moment, so they helped me to pack the grounded coffee bean (compacted into something like a big biscuit) into plastic bags.
14. He asked how frequent do I want the grounded coffee bean? So they can pre-pack for me instead of dispose. 
15. I told them my 1st time do compost use this, so I try out 1st.
16. He volunteer give me contact no. and ask to just call if needed so he can pack.
17. I paid them some money as token of appreciation but he refused to accept saying 'kita pun buang ini, baik kalau ada orang guna daripada bazir'
18. Since it was chinese new year, so I gave both the 'anak saudara' angpows. 

I couldn't thank them enough.
For their good deeds, I'll pay it forward since I doesn't really drink coffee much.
The grounded coffee bean is doing their 'magic' in my compost bin now (hopefully).
Maybe,  next round I will try with the body scrub / mask ...imagine basking in the aroma of coffee .... lol

I found that really if I didn't ask, I wouldn't have gotten the grounded coffee bean
and recycle it.
Sometimes it's this little things in life makes me feel great, makes me feel thankful. 
It could be some thing as disposable as GROUNDED COFFEE BEAN =)

one (wo)man's rubbish is another (wo)man's treasure

I've a secret place that I peek into at work everyday.
That place is no other than the place people dispose off their unwanted items such as cardboxes, papers to be recycled, old newspapers, old files & folders ... basically anything deemed no longer useful to its initial owner.

But I've found dozens and dozens of goodies here : 
(especially towards spring clean time and festive seasons)

1. ABBA folders 

2. Training materials & brochures (in which I learnt great deals of extra knowledge)

3. pretty mooncake boxes, unique metal tea boxes, plastic & rattan baskets

4. stylish document bags / briefcase (which are still new, believe to be sample stock)

5. office accessories / decor (like gold coated chinese hororscope animal figurine, photo frame, vase...)

6. pretty notebooks / diaries (used a few pages only)

7. colourful stickers (for children play)

8. metal document tray

9. air humidifier (which is still working very fine and I googled the brand, voila...definately not a thing to belong to that dump area)

I've got volunteer 'informers' who help me 'look see look see'. 

I don't mind being the 垃圾婆 (rubbish ahma)

Why not? it's disposed stuffs and I'm recycling. 

a simple chinese new year

Happy Chinese New Year to all 
Let us all make an effort to keep our CNY good traditions going

The Reunion Dinner 回家過年 by Anthony Chen 陳哲藝

It has been there all along...

It has been there all along,
just what took me so long...
to realize that healthy hearty breakfast is so within reach,
even on days when I'm not cash rich...
and I actually paid 2 to 3 bucks last time 
at some oldtown kopitiam I am...

Things needed : 
A stainless steel kole
2 eggs (or more)
hot hot water (free flow from office dispenser)
kicap / pepper / herbs flakes (as substitute as I haven't buy pepper yet)
some soft boil egg making tips from colleague
* also comes with free coffee / milo / tea from office vending machine

the little disadvantage : 
have to wash own utensil after eat
and risking people sitting nearby tempted (if they like), or 'boh song' (if they don't like)
or risking boss thinking ... wah, buka kedai makan ah??

but sometimes I just plain lazy to care so much. 
It's kind of tiring for this old soul.

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

about judging (playful reminder)

Sometimes at office, I try not to join in any 'discussions' about people that are non-work related.
If I was inadvertently included, I prefer to keep quiet even if I'm being labelled as 'no own stand'.
Because I realised when I start chipping in, I start to make judgement about others.

This video sort of convey a very important message :
that all of us, no matter what ways we use, are trying to do our best for our loved ones.
So why judge? 
Like in the end of the video, we are all same ... why make life difficult for others?
and who are we to judge?

幸福不难

志在四方 The Dream Makers 

currently I'm watching this singapore series. 
Our neighbour do produce good quality series with good stories.
And with equally good theme song as well.

Killing 2 birds with 1 'series' 
Learn mandarin & learn about life...

Meanwhile, enjoy the song =)

peer influence

Towards the end of last year, new experiments being tried out.
One of my colleague who had high cholesterol started eating healthily.
And I was unconsciously influenced, I find myself on a few occasion yearned to eat salad for lunch. But mine was with much more 'solid' ingredients to ensure tummy full as need to produce milk.
some of my 'twists'
vinaigrette balsamique bioloqique (reduced to clear from Natural Health Farm Tesco)
buttercup lettuce, coral lettuce (reduced to clear from Tesco)
cherry tomatoes (reduced to clear from Tesco)
2 hardboiled eggs
2 slice of cheese
sunflower seed 
mixed herb (Tesco)
as I ran out of above ingredients, I started adding carrot, steamed shitake mushroom, goji berries and whatever I can find in my fridge or the reduced to clear section...LOL

* Hoping Tesco got more reduced to clear lettuce soon. As I find the normal prices a little pricey.

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 

2014 2015

The transition from 2014 to 2015 this time was just like any other day.
Doing things that I would have done on any other rest day.
And as previous years, I think I'm still lagging behind, stranded at 2014.

2014 was a mixed year for me 
a bag filled with 'goodies' and still ok 'goodies'

Among the things worth memories in 2014 (in no particular order though) :

• the blow of no increment & no bonus 
• the transfer that almost didn't happen
• continue breastfeeding
• newphew : new addition to our family
• Sister in law got married
• Passing of ku yeh
• depleted a big portion of my savings
• watching my children grow
• free / almost free vacations
• diversification 
• gone a little more green & eco-friendly 
• more spiritual learning
• learning to let go
• cleared quite some clutters at home

For 2015, I 

• to continue breastfeeding
• To practice 三好 : 存好心, 做好事, 说好话
• catch up pay wise and bonus (although not possible to compensate back loss of a year)
• time to rebuild my savings / emergency funds
• Intensive learning Chinese
• Exercise
• To love myself 1st & take care of myself 1st 
• Learn to drive around independently
• Live in the present & be present
• Be a better 'me' - as mother, as daughter(in law), as wife, as friend, as colleague, as a member of society.

Wishing everyone a wonderful 2015 ahead. 

Go ahead! 

Smell the roses and make your lemonade! 

All i want for christmas is YOU .....

All i want for christmas is YOU ..... being happy

This year, our relatives had a pre-christmas reunion.

Got some gifts for the kids.

Hopefully the children are happy, cause I got a question from a little girl 

"Aunty why you give that present to that jie jie but not me?" 

For colleagues, we didn't have any christmas party but I was thinking of giving them something as gratitude for them helping me throughout the year.

For children

For adults 

cheapskate vacation

When it comes to free things, i can be very thick skinned.

So when I receive a invitation from Palace of Golden Horses for credit card members of certain bank, my 1st reaction was : 

1. Is this for real?

2. Got any hidden catch or charges or not?

3. Grab ah dear and tell him as spouse is required for the hotel stay

ok...this is what the invitation says :

just attend a 1-hour talk session with their health sanctuary service consultant and under no obligation, will receive

(a) free health screen

(b) free buffet dinner for 2

(c) free 1 night stay @ Palace of Golden Horses

So I shifted into kiasu mode.

1. checked with dear on his available after work time

2. checked & arrange my own schedule 

3. arrange for children caretaker after work

4. checked the horse racing day, as to avoid traffic jam

5. call up to find out if any hidden catch

6. book the 1-hour session appointment

So as planned, we went & listen, 

and as we don't look like 'people who can afford their packages'

we finally got the buffet dinner & free 1 night stay voucher.

(all the while thinking what if I'm the person at the other end of the deal)

Thereafter, we plan & plan for the trip even it's just nearby, 

intended to bring all 3 kiddos but couldn't find a day whereby don't have to skip classes.

(the voucher is valid for 60 days & cannot be used during peak season ie. school / public holiday).

Ended we had a honeymoon trip with baby.

We left house only about 5.30pm on Sunday, it was raining that day so no swimming.

We reached, checked in, walked around before heading for buffet dinner.

We were suprised to find the room quite big for a free night stay. 

In fact, can fit all 3 kiddos and they will have plenty of running space.

Even the toilet is big.

The weather was rainy & windy, 

I had a good relaxing rest, despite still need to wake up for feeding.

Thanks to the thick curtain, I had a sleep-in, again missing my pool time.

brought little one to the green green field downstair, wanted to let her move around on the grass (until I see a guy spraying some stuff (which I don't think is water since they already have sprinkler on the field).

Haih... I decided not to have those kind of chemical exposure ... why can't they just leave the green grass field alone?

Nevertheless, thank you very much to Palace of Golden Horses for the buffet dinner & night stay even though we didn't sign up for any package. 

 

vadai

how I know the existence of such nice food is through ERT (Ekonomi Rumah Tangga).
Remember in one of the major assessment, Soon Yeng and me was in the same team and we ended up with making vadai as part of the dishes. 
It was then I learnt to appreciate vadai ...
here after 15 years ... I tried making them again, this time with more daring & healthy combination and fried with less oil. 
My kids love them .... as much as their mama =D

heals without heels

It has been a few years since I last attend company annual dinner,
somehow it always coincides with my maternity leaves or I was too 'occupied' to attend.
This year, just when I decided to attend and looked forward to the good food and glimpse of lucky draw, 
the dinner taught me a lesson.
A lesson that heals a tired heart.

The lesson : 
No matter how well you prepare yourself, 
how good you take care of yourself and your stuff,
some things if meant to happen, 
will happen,
So take it, learn to see 'light' in it
and don't let it stop you from being you.

Here on, will let the picture do the talking.

Theme of the night : Dazzling.
All the colourful dazzling stuffs provided by organising committee.

Tempted : to steal the whole kit home for children to go wild.

left heel came off as soon as I reached.
Never mind the awkwardness of walking with uneven heels,
 contrast a right hand holding a heel with a left hand that hold elegant dinner bag.
I didn't knew what should I do with the heel,
keep it for repair (I've got no plastic bag)
throw it ( I can't find a single dustbin)
hide it under table (dinner hall not open yet)  

I think The One up there got other plan for me.
As I was walking to the ladies, the other heel decided to come off too.
So there I am, a carefree aunty with no worry of tripping over high heels.

Despite of this incident, I was rather suprised to find myself rather unperturbed by the situation. 
I was actually OK, relaxed and found myself laughing at me. 
My team mates were amused, I still enjoyed the good food.
I guess this tired heart is too tired to think too much.

While leaving, one of colleague even commented "wah, you so smart geh, got bring flats some more"
I just smiled and winked. 
I guess 'Ching'derella heels just got turned into flats at the stroke of 10.