P & G for London 2012 Olympic Games

Video description : 

This Procter & Gamble commercial honors everything that all moms do to help their children succeed by showcasing the amazing moms behind Olympic athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The hardest job in the world is truly the best job in the world.
Being a mom is the hardest job in the world. But it's also the best.

吃错药

吃错药
today,in a few hours time, a(nother) major project is starting ...
I'm not that ready and yet I'm not worry.
Given the previous me (that took the correct medication) =p 
I would have been panicking.


Yesterday, while in the pre-project meeting, 
I looked around at the people around me in the meeting room 
- there were about 30+ individuals from various divisions,
I see a reflection of myself, people were totally exhausted from work.
At that spur moment, I just had the urge to get out and leave just like that ...
Well, I did leave the meeting room to take a breather at the ladies, 
Too sad, I still have to go back inside.


吃错药
These days, I tend to not feel guilty over anything that was not done. 
The 错药 is good. 
It gives me the liberty. the freedom. the release from
what I think I should have done
what other think I should have done
there is only so much that can be done (by me). 
I'm no superwoman ..  

Now, I wonder they have any 错药 to bring out the rebellious me. 
I'm in dire need of those.

was I afraid?

For some of you close to me, you might remember that once upon a time I used to be crazy for money that I can spend all my waking hours trying to find ways to earn extra. 
at some point of time in my mid twenties, I had started a business of nutrition breakfast with some partners. 
Not known to anyone except the person I'm living with now (apart from my previous business partners), is that from that business, apart from the experience gained doing business, I had another experience which I had chosen not to remember but couldn't get it deleted from my 'recycle bin'.


Our breakfast shop last time used to be the half front part of a comic shop. Meaning we rent only a quarter of the shop space and we share the toilet which is way at the back of the comic shop.
Those days, I used to leave home around 5.30am - 6.00am and reach the shop before 6.30am. Our operating hour start 6.30am. We need to be there early to do setup. Since I am working full time on weekdays, I'm in charge of the breakfast shop for weekend.


I couldn't remember clearly already whether it was a saturday or sunday.
The day was already bright but I couldn't remember what time. The comic shop was not opened yet. They open at 10am daily.
There were a few customers and we were busy. 
An Indian uncle customer came to ask me where the toilet is. 
I led him to the door that connect to the comic shop and told him to walk straight and the toilet is at the end. He said he cannot see, very dark.
It was indeed dark at the comic shop so I had no choice but to go switch on the light. Unfortunately the light switch is not at where I'm standing. (Remember, our shop is just a made up of a partition of a quarter of the comic shop).


That's when the horror began, after I switched on 1 row of lights, this (later-i-found-out-drunk) uncle grabbed hold of me, attempted to hug and kiss. I remembered pushing him away only to be pulled harder. I know I should have shouted for help as loud as I could but somehow i don't remember being able to shout. I just remembered pushing him away with all my might, bend down and dash to the connecting door as fast as I could. 


I was shaking but relieved when I saw the crowd. At least I know here I'll be safe. 
My legs went jelly, I felt as thought all my energy has been drained from my body and I had difficulty breathing. I squatted down behind the counter. Seeing things are not right, Wai Peng came over. All I managed was just to grab her hand, hold it tight and told her that there's a crazy fella inside.  


I think a few minutes passed, we heard the connecting door opened. I dare not even look and hid behind the counter. The crazy fella just walked off. 
After calm down, I told Wai Peng & Joyce what happened and for our safety, we told our left right shop owners to help keep an eye for us. When the comic shop owner came, we told him and asked for one row of lights to be kept on instead of us having to go and switch it on.


When I think back, even if I shouted, people outside may not even hear with the radio playing, the blender blending and customer chit chatting.


I didn't know at that point of time, what can be done? other than preventing things from happening again to anyone. I didn't know whether we can report or who to report to? Heck, I couldn't even remember that bas**** face.
But one thing for sure ... after that incident, each time I go to the shop, I don't feel comfortable. It just doesn't feel right and I'm scared.


To cut a long story short, 
I'm not sure ... it's strange that at that point of time, I can get so shaken & scared and yet I didn't dare to tell anyone (except wai peng & joyce - my biz partners). Not even my sisters / parents (well, I didn't want them to worry). I only told my other half so so so much later.
Now, it doesn't affect me at all already. It is part of my life experience. Something that has make me braver today (i hope). something i can close / put an end to. something that we can learn ... to prevent women from sexual harassment. 

Apr 2012

from last month list, I only managed to achieve : 

(a) save RM50 for sewing machine

(b) update resume & start looking

(c) kid vaccination

(d) soft biz launch - started acquisition & selling

(e) another mini pillow (completed just yesterday & ah bi is sleeping hugging it now)

the rest I can say 'sudah masuk longkang'

For April,

1. vaccination & checkup

2. do income tax

3. submit claim

4. (at least) 1 book 1 month 

5. 30 chinese words/phrases

6. continue rm50 saving for sewing machine

7. sleep more, rest more, exercise more

8. arrange for free medical check up

9. housework - reduce backlog to less than 1 week.

10. review portfolio & re-strategize.

11. revive cooking kiddie meals. 

奶妈

I'm the little baby 奶妈.
My milk has been consumed (not sure voluntarily or involuntarily though) by my friend's baby while she was away for a week to Taiwan. She's a breastfeeding mother too.
I've never got the opportunity to donate blood but I'm glad I provided food for this little baby. 
Haha...no big deal i know, no breastmilk still got formula milk what...=p

1 loaf bread, 2 person eat, count to 3 就 habis

Bought 1 loaf of bread after work

Open 1 can of tuna

he 2 piece, me 3 piece

then still got big appetite for dinner

For supper,

he 5 piece, me 4 piece 

everything habis

1 loaf of bread habis within 6 hours 

cannot even last for tomorrow's breakfast 

夸张 不夸张 ?

收旧床单..old old bedsheet.. cadar cadar lama ..

If you have any old bedsheet, old pillowcase, old bolstercase which no longer being used or which you may want to discard... please please donate them to me. TQVM!
I'm take in all old bedsheets(any condition, any size, anything) for my recycle project. TQVM! 

pic source : elle deco (google image)

pic source : alibaba.com (google image)

stalled project

Went into my 'stalled little reading room' to retrieve something 
and suddenly I was surge by the urge to clean & tidy the whole room NOW.
I envision myself nesting comfortably, sipping hot chocolate drink and reading a favourite book. (Yes, I'm aware I'm either dreaming or day-dreaming)
As it was intended to be at the moment : 我啊, 真的有心没力

something I picked up along the way

drawing ... something I've never liked 
but somehow it's something that I HAD to pick up ...
Now it seem like a pre-requisite (at least enough for little ones to know what I'm drawing)  

特别的爱给特别的你

Last night, I was sleepy but I feel like giving some love ...
and so I took out my sewing box.
and so I cut out the cute picture from a pre-loved stained little pant.
and so I started filing it with love..
and here's the outcome 
and I absolutely love it
and it will be breakfast suprise for little ones..

Front 

Back

the one flaw in women (in conjunction with international women day)

In conjunction with International Women's Day yesterday,
see 'The one flaw in women'

d-r-oooo-l-i-ng

Drooling is infectious.
Since ah bi know how to drool, mama has also learnt up the new skill.


I was asleep in the LRT yesterday on my way back from work.
I was so tired (read : sleep deprived) that I fell so deeply asleep as soon as the train leave the station I boarded.
At some point of time, I suddenly woke up feeling that my saliva has started drooling towards my office blouse. 
In a haste, I attempted to swallow back my saliva to prevent it dripping on my blouse with a loud 'slurpssss'.
Haha... the lady sitting next to me, the lady and they guy standing in front of me was looking at me in disbelief.
And when I looked up, I find it very funny that the 2 person standing in front of me was trying very hard to pretend as though they are not looking. 
The lady sitting next to me moved further away from me. 
She must be shocked by my disgracefulness and unladylike'ness.
I should be embarassed but I found myself too tired to bother so much...I woke up but continue sleeping. And I got down at my destination.. heading home for my drooling teacher. 

you're doing OK, Mom

Sometimes motherhood pushes us to do something we never knew we could do...something beyond our imagination.
Although our children may not be capable yet of saying this, but I would like to choose to believe that they are telling us : You're doing OK, Mom.
This Johnson & Johnson commercial hit it right. Enjoy =)
it's time for me to head back to dreamland =)

upcoming project (1 of 3)

While saving to buy a basic sewing machine, I'll settle for hand sewing this one.

inspired by 

If you're wondering what are these ... these are taggies handkerchief/blankie...the latest so called 'in' toys for baby development.
the more expensive version popularize by some famous baby toy brands :

i can eat like a cow...no joke

After giving birth, I've got the appetite of a cow...

Even my confinement lady is amazed by the amount of food I can consume. She mentioned that I'm the 1st in her history of confinement.

Judging from my frame & size, it almost never occur to most people that I can have the appetite of a full grown man if not more.

Haha...even ah dear is amazed(shocked to be exact) by the amount of food I can consume when we met initially. 

(Imagine a girl eating a very big plate of mixed economy rice with 3 types of dishes filled to the brim and finished till the plate shine in less than 20 minutes...)

Now, I think he needs and has got used to the idea of needing to allocate/provide a substantial amount of budget for my food supply =p muahahaha

Now I think I need to amend my 1st sentence ...

It should be before giving birth, I've already got the appetite of a cow. 

After giving birth, I've got the appetite of a blue whale. (They can eat up to 4 tons a day)

tax deduction / tax rebate for breastfeeding supplies?

Around this time of the year, the mention of income tax / e-filing / LHDN (Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri) will slowly start surfacing.
As usual, the deadline for employees are 30 April and for business owner/self employed 30 June.


This year beside personally optimising the tax rebate and tax deductible available, i think it's about time for our country to introduce tax deduction / tax rebate for breastfeeding supplies (particular big items like breastpump and milk storage bottles/bags).


In US, this decision was made in 2010 under the pressure from American Academy of Pediatrics and other breastfeeding advocates to define breast pumps and other breastfeeding supplies as medical devices.
source : http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/ask-heidi/tax-deduction-for-breastfeeding-supplies.aspx


I think it's a win-win situation.
The reason:Breastfeeding provides reams of health benefits for baby (fewer infections, reduced risk of asthma and obesity, to name a few) and mom (lower cancer and type 2 diabetes risks) which translate to lower medical expenses. 


However judging from the current 'LYNAS' issue ... i don't think they give a heck to what we say.  It's always only about them, them, them & them. *roll eyes*    

1st Q 的 last month

For Feb
1. bring kid for vaccination & check up - yes
2. Finish cleaning children's cupboard - yes (actually just unloaded about half of content to babysitter's home)
3. Complete projects : (a) baby cubes - yes (b) baby mobile - yes (c) baby comfort pillow in sufficient sets -not yet4. finish at least 1 book - yes (Empress Orchid by Anchee Min - nice read)
5. Learn at least 29 chinese characters - partial (i didn't managed a full 29 characters/phrases)
6. Adapt to 'back to work' routine ... establish nursing schedule, getting ready baby stuff for babysitter... - slowly getting used
7. settle banking & household errands before start work - failed. all not settled yet.
8. review portfolio and make new plans - failed. Need to really find time & capital.
9. introduce new things to kids - yes
10. Adjust sleep pattern & EXERCISE - failed - sleep pattern still eratic and definately no EXERCISE

So for March 2012

1. kid vaccination & check up

2. update resume & start looking

3. to complete (c) baby comfort pillow (d) taggy handkerchief

4. preparation work - setup small business

5. Another book for March

6. Another 31 chinese characters

7. start income tax submission 功夫

8. portfolio review + increase income, reduce expenses plan 

9. spend more time with kids especially elder one

10. Exercise

11. start a RM50 / month saving fund for sewing machine

12. mark off at least 1 item on my home improvement project list 

薛凱琪+方大同 復刻回憶

A new twist to a classic song..

home sweet home

I love the feeling of being able to provide a good & comfortable home environment for my family. 
For this juncture, I've just a few minutes ago put up some posters (with lots of mouth watering fruits, vegetables and colours)...ready to suprise the little ones tomorrow morning =D
ps. fyi, I'm also selling these posters for RM5 each if anyone interested (while stock lasts).

从零开始, 从头开始

Tomorrow, I'll be starting again right from the beginning ..
1st thing 1st, I'll need to adjust my biological time table back to normal.
Although I didn't manage to complete all that I intended to do during the holidays..
I'm glad and thankful that I did reached a few milestones. 
So from here onwards, I'm walking towards a new kilometre.
hope everything work out just fine.