To the nursery

Today was one of the few that showcased our efficiency. True! Most days, we would just take it easy on weekends. No rush. Even nap when the kiddo naps. Literally lazy weekends except for the evenings where activities around the house begins - at the park actually...

However, not today. We not only woke up earlier than usual and finished our chores by 10 am and was out the front door at half past 10. We didn't head towards the mall if you're wondering. Instead, we went to the nursery instead. Hubby wanted to get some (more) plants for mini back yard. Ash and I went along the crazy ride but she fell asleep in the car as soon as we arrived at the nursery so I stayed in the car with her while the hubs went to get...what he wanted.

After that, we went home, dropped the stuffs and went to a nearby Italian restaurant for lunch as I had this bizzare pasta craving. I gobbled up everything as fast as I could and took a stroll along the nearby shops before heading off to get some groceries at a nearby grocer.

We got all of that done by 2.30pm and went home for our afternoon nap - all 3 of us! Ash and I were zonked out by the time we hit the sheets and faster than you can say Fenphedra!

However, I have a confession to make. The very reason why we were as efficient as we could get today was because there was a water cut at our area for the entire day...hehehhehe...The water is back and the stuff in the kitchen sink needs a washing. So, gotta run! ta..

Mommy instincts

The reason for me starting this blog was so I could share some of my first time mommy experience with you guys. I kind of forgotten that along the way and I realised that I've gone off-tangent as I 'progressed' in blogging. Other things sort of got me side-tracked so to speak but I should start writing about these experiences before I forget them cos time flies real fast. So fast that in less than 2 months, I'd be celebrating my first blog-versary! Crazy huh?

I started blogging when Ash was about 4 months old. Then, it was a lot easier taking care of her so I used to blog on my trusty ol' desktop. I've stopped using it for quite a while now since I've been using the lappie which hubby bought to ease my mobility around the house. Its useful when you are chasing after your toddler and answering emails simultaneously. Yes, somehow, you'd acquire this phenomenal skill once you are a mom. LOL..

Recently, I have started on my desktop again because I started learning how to scrap (and its quite fun by the way) and its a lot easier scraping on my desktop than with the lappie. I was going through the folders which I have bookmarked and came across a blog post which sort of spoke my mind. The post is really about how you shouldn't let other people tell you how to raise your child but that isn't my focus today. The part which struck me the most was that you would develop your mommy instincts as soon as you give birth. Something which I am quite sure a lot of experience moms would agree with.

You know, after giving birth to Ash, I was scared to be alone in the room with her. I constantly needed someone to be there with me. Doesn't matter who, as long as there was someone. I really didn't know what to do.

When I got home from the hospital, my mom was with me for a month. Its our Chinese tradition to have someone accompany us during this post-partum period of what we term as “confinement”. My mom did everything for me. By the third week, I had to learn to bathe her, burp her (I wasn't good at it), change her diaper etc...It was still alright cos my mom was still around but after the fourth week, I was all alone and let me tell you that it was one of the scariest moments of my life. I even wondered if I was actually up for being a SAHM. Can I really do this? I cried a lot, for so many reasons. I couldn't successfully breastfeed, my back hurt when I bend to change her (I didn't have a changing table) and when I bathe her because the tub we used was placed on the bathroom floor. So, when I gave her a bath I had to kneel or squat. I also wasn't good at burping her and that made her colicky. Everything just wasn't right. How could I tell if she is feeling ok or if she falls ill? What do her cries mean? I would cringe every morning when my hubby went to work and prayed for every hour to go by faster.

My hubby continued his encouraging words....“you can do it. If millions of moms out there have done it, then its possible. Just take one step at a time”....I realised then that it was all up to me. I'm the mom and no matter what, I've got to step up. This little girl depends on me now. So I did. I tried. I focused. I listened to the positives, block the negatives. I referred to books and people I trust. This new responsibility didn't seem so overwhelming after all but most importantly, I just “knew”, even for a wuzz like me.

I just need to rant

I'm sorry but this post isn't gonna be anything related to parenting, kids or anything of that sort. This is going to be a post about me! How selfish is that? But I really do need a place to say something, relevant or not.

The one thing that sometimes gets on my nerves when watching my beloved tennis is the dreaded rain delays. This could mean play can be canceled for the entire day or remainder of the day. Just as it is frustrating for the players and possibly, the on-site spectators, it is also frustrating for the folks at home. Maybe not so much for the folks in Paris but for people like me, on the other end of the globe (well, almost) with our popcorn and hot chocolate ready but only to find that play has been suspended! And my hot chocolate hasn't even turned cold yet!

Yeah, you guessed it. It happened yet again. Now what am I going to do? Eat popcorn and drink my hot (still hot!) chocolate while trying to get my check book balanced? Or better yet, why don't I go figure how to reduce my next year's term insurance premium!? Geez...O_O

OK, now that is out of my system, I feel a little better. So, how was your day? :-)

My girl

You know you're in trouble when...

You switch your lappie on and you're lost for words. I am (in trouble) right now. Why? I'll tell ya why. First of all, the French Open has started and I am in no mood for anything...and yes, even for sex LOL...ok, thats probably an exaggeration but really, my butt is virtually glued to my couch and the tv is on 24/7 (the kid's gotta watch her stuff too). And what's worst is I don't have a clue what an ademco is and what is it used for. Well, whatever it is, I won't have time to find out cos in about oh, 2 hours, I'm back on the tube! I am such a slouch! O_o

Ratatouille

Alright, yes, I finally watched the movie. Better late than never. Hey, cut me some slack ok, I am quite the busy mom *snigger*. Really I am and so busy that I actually didn't realize how un-canny looking this picture is. Take a look at the book. Looks ordinary right? Now, take a look (a close up if you must) at the bottom left of the book. See what I mean?? And the best part is, I know who did it...


Meet the traveling rat! Betcha' she don't need no travel guides either. Just gnaw her way through!! LOL



-Sigh- This only means that I have my work cut out for me, a very large chunk!

Since the weekend is here and some are enjoying the summer and some are enjoying the school holidays so have a great weekend. Spend your time wisely i.e don't surf the net..lol...catch ya later. Be good!

My loot

Nope, no long and winding post for today. Mood is definitely better, thanks largely to my stuff which arrived this afternoon *big grin*

I was un-decided initially if I should post this up but....what the heck! What is a blog for if not for a little showing off. "When you have it, flaunt it!" thats what they say...LOL

This arrived in the afternoon, 4 days earlier than estimated...The post-man, fairly burly, got out of his van and handed the package to an already beeming me. I would've invited him in for some tea if he was Brad Pitt..but nope, the last I checked, Brad wasn't doing his rounds this afternoon..*chuckle*

Ain't it pretty? I got it from Babycakesboutique (thought you might like to know). The only thing is that the material is fabric so, once it rains and when I am out, its as good as gone! lol...but I still love it and I only need to check the weather forecast..O_o...I am such a wuz!!

To my sisters : Be nice! I might just let you borrow it...*Medusa's laughter*

Ultimate meal for babies

Milk has always been the main source of food for babies. Of course, the best milk for a child is mother’s milk – breast milk! But, babies need to get weaned off in later stages and most mothers will switch to milk formula. During weaning period that we mothers find it challenging as it is difficult to decide which milk brand to use. (we often grapple with choosing the most suitable type for our child)

I came across this new unique pack from Friso Gold 3. I was quite taken aback when I saw how compact the milk can was. A very comfortable and convenient size indeed.

Let me share with you the review of Friso Gold 3 Growing Up Milk (never know that Friso Gold is a trusted brand of Dutch Lady). I was quite taken aback when I saw how compact the milk can was. A very comfortable and convenient size indeed.

One of the unique packaging features which immediately caught my eye was the fact that this is a "hygiene pack". To preserve the milk with less contamination as possible, Friso Gold has come out with this highly innovative packaging where the cap comes with a scoop holder. No more dipping into the milk powder to retrieve the scoop.

Wait, there is more to this new hygiene pack. Inside the can, you will find a built-in milk powder level bar tucked neatly underneath the cap. Therefore, you can do away with any sort of external device to level your milk powder with every scoop. This is a very convenient and hassle free feature to ensure we give our child a more accurate serving all the time.

As a whole, Friso Gold 3 appears very promising. From the packaging alone, I believe that the research and development team has put a lot of time and effort in alleviating some of the known hassles we mothers face when preparing milk formula for our child.

Now that I am all wowed away with the Friso Gold 3 new "hygiene pack", the next step will be to get my child to have a taste of it. I hope my kid would love the taste of the milk. With this pack, milk preparation will become much easier than before.

Sad news everywhere

When I woke up yesterday morning, I thought that it was just a glorious day. Never mind that the sun was partly covered but by the early evening, it was sun shine all the way. We even took Ashley to the park before heading over to my in laws for dinner. I even had today's activity planned out - we take my in laws to Pavilion KL but as soon as we arrived at my MIL's place, we were told that her sis had passed away that morning. It wasn't a shock really cos it was inevitable with her illness. It was only a matter of time. My MIL was already told of her sister's estimated life-line about 6 months back.

I felt sad too but relieved at the same time. Call me a sadist but I just feel that it is definitely better this way than to have her suffering longer. She had cancer and was already at the terminal stage so everyone was prepared. My MIL wasn't in the mood obviously but she hid her emotions very well but we could tell. In the car, on the way home, my hubby remarked out of the blue "my mom is so sad". I agree. His aunt was a lovely lady. Its a pity we hardly visit because she lived in a another state. In fact, I've only met her 3 times in all the years I've known and been married to hubby. Although they (my MIL and sis) seldom visited each other but they kept in touch regularly on the phone. Funeral is tomorrow and because I am taking care of Ashley, I won't be going, hubby will.

More sad news (although not to the same degree) to add to that would be the fact that my hairdresser has quit her job at the salon we frequent and we have no way of contacting her! I know, its not the end of the world but when you are so used to having your haircut at the same place, by the same person and when everything falls into place, the last you want is having to find someone else. Time to go hair-dresser scouting and my hair is already in a mess..O_o

What's lurking in my backyard

Shopping made easy

Shopping has always beeen a favourite with the majority of the women folk. Lately, some men have been fast becoming somewhat of a shopping freak just like their counter-parts. Trust me, I wouldn't know what would happen if no one was allowed to 'shop' or if 'shopping' didn't exist. We, humans. Probaby would've gone extinct by now..lol

With the convenience of internet, traditional shopping is slowly creeping away. Not entirely though as there are still some things that the internet do not measure up such as the ability for shoppers to taste and feel their products. This is precisely the reason why physical shops or malls are still thriving in their sales.

Having said that, shopping via the internet is also terribly convenient and merchants alike love the idea of setting up a web-store even when they already have a physical store in place. The reason is a simple one - the folks love it! For example, if I am looking for items for team sports, all I virtually (sorry, pun intended) have to do is log on to the internet and check out the massive search engine portal called Google. I will then get a long list of sites where I can find baseballs.

What’s more is that these days, merchants are getting more and more innovative with disseminating information to the masses. ShopWiki.com has revolutionizes online shopping since it finds every store on the internet by crawling like Google. For a consumer, this means they can find anything and everything for sale on the web at ShopWiki.com. More products from more stores means better deals and savings for us consumers. For instance, if I want to find a football, I will get plenty of information and choices available systematically categorized within the page.

Not a very productive day

I had expected better. Not only had Federer lost to Nadal in the only clay court tournament that he has somewhat of a strong-hold on but the manner in which he lost was extremely disappointing. Sorry I have to ramble on about this. Just wanted to voice my frustration a little bit. He had him (Nadal), he really did. It just proves me point really - that it has nothing to do with the coach, his tactic, his playing style. Its all in the mind and he just can't shake off that "ghost" within. Well, he better cos there ain't no more practice sessions since the grand finale starts in less than a week away. Whatever he needs to do to get himself prepared, he had better start cracking and fast too including bathing in mud if he has to!

On another note, we didn't get a chance to speak with the in-laws this week (yet again). Blame it on the internet. Yeah, we chat using the net since we do not have the luxury of the VoIP phone systems. The line has been amazingly slow for the past few days. Honestly, its driving me nuts!

My name in JAPANESE

Konichi-wa... Arigato. Pathetically, these are the only japanese words I know...heheh...

I am again behind on memes and I've been tagged by this lovely mommy to see what my name means in Japanese. Ok, here goes nothing :


TRANSLATION:

A - ka G - ji M - rin S - ari Y - fu

B - tu H - ri N - to T - chi Z - zi

C - mi I - ki O - mo U - do

D - te J - zu P - no V - ru

E - ku K - me Q - ke W - mei

F - lu L - ta R - shi X - na


SHIREEN - ARIRI KISHI KUKUTO

Man! That is a mouthful indeed! I feel all fired up to pack my luggage and head on over to Japan with my new name..heheh...You can call me Ari in short :-D

Since this is such a fun meme, everyone is free to join in the fun. Let me know in the comments section once you've done it and I shall be comin' a visit!

This is what happens when the weekend is looming. I become unusually perky. Have a great weekend people - be good!

The party has begun!

Yikes! I am always late. Call it the 'me' syndrome. I'll do better next time around.

OK, here is the deal - its still not too late (I hope). Mommyfest is on and hop on over to check out some cool mommy blogs and some cool contests and give-aways. You know, its events like these that got me blogging in the first place.

I won't waste anymore of your time. Just check the party out and you can read all about me here. Well, only if you wanna..:-D

Our mini break

I won't even call it a vacation, more like a sleep-over..Lol...Why? Frankly I am glad it was a short (very short) stay cos we would've packed our bags and headed home after one night anyway.

Taking the cue from the public holiday on Thursday, May 1st, I thought it was time we tried going away with Ashley for a change and “going away” means other than to grandma's place. Not knowing what to expect, we just went with the flow, trying not to put pressure on ourselves. Basically, embarrassingly unprepared la. So, as expected, we didn't fare too well. I think the most, I'd give us a 7/10. I'll tell you why in a bit.

We booked ourselves into Shangri-La Putrajaya on Sunday for a night's stay. The reason for such an odd place as compared to say, somewhere further or right smack in the city where all the excitement is, was because, firstly, we didn't want to be around any hustle and bustle of city life but yet near enough just in case (only 45 minutes from where we live..hehehe).

View from the room

Ash and Daddy

It was a really nice place to relax cos the hotel wasn't packed to the brim like most. Quiet and peaceful, our room overlooked the federal city. We also met a very friendly elderly Mauritian couple from England who were here in Malaysia as part of their South East Asian holiday tour. I guess I will always remember them for being the ONLY stranger we've met to have guessed correctly that Ash is a girl..lol...I told them “make no mistake...even in a skirt, Ashley gets mistaken for a boy O_o”..:-D

The royal highness!

Dinner was good and pretty much fuss free. Ashley entertained herself once again by taking everything in sight and throwing her food on the ground. As long as she is seated, it was good enough for us..heheheh...So far so good? Bedtime. We thought we'd have trouble but surprisingly Ashley slept well. Was in bed by 9.30pm. That gave us plenty of time...PLENTY OF TIME!! But unfortunately, we were tired and went to bed too shortly after she slept BUT we couldn't get a decent shut eye.

You see, we made the biggest mistake of not bringing along her portable play-pan cum cot thinking that “no sweat, plenty of room, made sure I asked for a King's size summore”. Instead, she slept between Hubby and I on the bed and since we aren't used to have her sleeping with us, we were afraid we might turn and squash her! We ended up not having a very good night's sleep. Hubby even resorted to putting those huge pillows between her and him resulting in him sleeping on the very edge of the bed. One false move and he would be on the floor! As for me, although I didn't put the pillows as a “fence” but I slept very close to the edge too. So close that my right hand was literally dangling from the bed! There wasn't enough space and I slept in the same position the entire night. I wasn't the only one either.

The next morning, we got up, still groggy and all, went for breakfast. After breakfast, we went out for a short walk around. Tried guiding Ashley to walk on the soft grass but she was more interested in touching and feeling the grass instead.

I'm actually sleepy..

Carry me, PLEASSSSSEEEEEEEEE!!!

Daddy dun wan to carry me oh

We hung around for about 20 minutes, giving the place one last check (to see if we missed any corners heheh..) before we went back up to our room to shower, pack, and head back home. I guess, rule of thumb – always bring more, don't bring less...sigh

American Idol is RIGGED!

Come of it! I thought last night's penultimate show was less than impressive for the occasion. In fact, it was quite a disappointment. The last 3 standing definitely performed a lot better in past performances. I'd give them some credit though - they got rid of Jason Castro who was beginning to look like he needed drug rehab or something with his 'stoned' face every time. The results showed that its no longer a talent contest but a popularity contest and the judges were no help either. What happened to you, Cowell? Gone tone deaf?

Seriously, no disrespect to the Davids but seriously, I think there is a serious need for a re-match. Whilst I agree that Syesha's performance was somewhat below par but her perfomance of “Fever” was a little sexy and not as “cabaret” as Simon puts it. What's worst was David Cook's horrible rendition of one of my all time favourites, Dare You to Move by Switchfoot got better comments from the Judges. I mean, what gives? OK, we can all forget about what Paula thinks alright. She's just so totally “irrelevant” and leaves me wonder why they bother keeping her after ALL.THESE.YEARS!!

And, seriously, Utah's David Archuleta, that SYT. You know, I like him. Honestly I do but his sweetness is getting to me. Seriously, it is. And that perpetual smile on his face. Reminds me of the Joker from Batman Returns..lol..except of course, David isn't evil nor is he crazy or just got out of drug rehab. Still? He is so boring when he sings. He doesn't move and he is short. Definitely not got the whole package. Then again, I guess he is tall enough for most 12 year old screaming girls so it kind of explains why he is still in the competition and in the finals.

Foe me, the choice is pretty obvious. I'd go for the un-pretty one.

Pearls

Pearls are considered nature's most fascinating creations and one of the world's most coveted gemstones. Since the first ancient discovery of pearls, they have been objects of awe and value as unlike other gems, they are the products of living animals. Their biological micro-structures are as much a part of their story as their ornamental usage.

Scientists and queens alike have a long fascination about pearls albeit for different reasons. One of the greatest advantage of pearls is that unlike crystalline gemstones, which usually must be cut and polished to be fully appreciated as ornaments, pearls are a master-piece in itself and need no help from mankind to bring out their allure.

Pearl necklaces have been traditionally considered to be the most common type of necklace given to a girl on her 16^th year old birthday or as a wedding present with corresponding matching earrings and bracelets of course. The type of pearl that fits the bill would be an Akoya Pearl.

An Akoya pearl necklace is known and extremely popular for its versatility and its ability to complement on almost every occasion. Adding a touch of glamor and elegance is extremely easy with an Akoya pearl. Plus, it is often regarded as a first choice piece of jewelery because it radiates a brilliant luster. Also, if you are looking for a unique alternative to the classic white, you may want to try the Akoya black pearl necklace which is equally exquisite.

At Pearl-Necklace-Jewelery.com, a variety of the renowned Akoya pearl jeweleries are being featured and offered for sale at low prices. Another unique feature of Pearl-Necklace-Jewelery.com is their "Money Back Guarantee" concept which simply translates to a full refund if you return an item within the first year of purchase, no questions asked. There probably aren't many or even any sites on the internet willing to offer such a guarantee. A site can only do that if they genuinely believe in their products.

Are you a tad-bit curious now? Hop on over to Pearl-Necklace-Jewelery.com and check them out yourselves!

Happy Mother's Day!!

This is my 2nd year of celebrating Mother's Day, last year being my first. Its' great but I do wish for some pressies though..lol..here I go again with my lame jokes.

Anyway, I'd like to share something with all moms out there. Its not an easy role to play but its indeed a fulfilling one. Thanks to Tina, my dear bloggy friend, I have had the privilege of receiving this tribute. I'd like to dedicate this to all mothers out there "you truly deserve this day and have a great one".

A mother's love determines how
We love ourselves and others.
There is no sky we'll ever see
Not lit by that first love.

Stripped of love, the universe
Would drive us mad with pain;
But we are born into a world
That greets our cries with joy.

How much I owe you for the kiss
That told me who I was!
The greatest gift--a love of life--
Lay laughing in your eyes.

Because of you my world still has
The soft grace of your smile;
And every wind of fortune bears
The scent of your caress.

What am I up to everyday?

This super duper beautiful mama tagged me with this meme. So here goes.

MY DAILY ROUTINE

What time do you usually wake up?
7.30am. When my baby wakes me up. She's my alarm..lol

What’s the first thing you do?
hmm...visit the loo

Breakfast?
Totally boring - coffee (mandatory!), bread and jam (I sound like someone out of Sound of Music..lol) and half-broiled egg.

Do you go to work/school?
Not the last time I checked

Do you like it?
Just like Tina said "It's brilliant".

If you stay at home, what do you do all day?
Eat, sleep and basically, live like a pig! lol...Not really, my kid dictates what I do all day basically and blog.

When’s lunch and what you eatin’?
About 1-ish. Depends on my mood, otherwise, it would be what my kid can't finish..lol

What time do you get home from work/school?
My home is my work place..lol

What do you do?
Mostly pick up after the kid

Dinner: When and what?
8:30pm or 9:00pm. Again, depends on my mood and what my MIL has whipped out (we usually pig out there)

What do you do to unwind?
Good question. It would have to be the telly and blogging and some thrashy magazine..lol

What is your favourite part of the day?
Anytime from 8.30pm. onwards. That's when the kid is sound asleep.

Who’s your favourite person to interact with?
My family

When’s bedtime?
11-ish. It could be later at times when I don't feel like turning in so early.

Who’s bedtime with?
The sleeping hubby..hehhee...

I kind of like this part most...the I-get-to-tag-someone-in-return part...so, without further ado, over to you - Sting!

P.S : Drats! I gotta go get one of them floor mops as the handle on mine broke!

My eye experience

If I am going to put this off any longer, I will not be blogging about it. It has only been a couple of days but I already feel that it has been ages since I've kept up with my bloggy friends' blogs. Plus, I owe a couple of people memes..opps, sorry, shall get it done ASAP. Thanks so much for thinking of me :-)

Last weekend was unusually busy for a low profile family like us. Normally, we would go everywhere together but was quite an exception last weekend as Ash and hubby had to scoot off by themselves. The invites just clashed and we didn't want to disappoint either. All in all, I'd have to say hubby did a fine job. Now, I will have to take the challenge up a notch by going away for a couple of days.*wicked smile*

A friend of mine had this wacky idea of visiting one of our country's latest tourist attraction (courtesy of Visit Malaysia last year). A 60 meter tall portable ferris wheel called “The Eye” located at a city park.

Scenes you'd expect at a park, such as :

couples sitting close by, chatting softly to each other. I had the urge to go up to them and whisper “wait la, until you are married!”...lol...OK, no more lame jokes.

couples taking their wedding pictures.

But I never expected this :

traffic lights out of no where. I just had to snap a photo of it.

We took a break from all the walking and taking photos of people and sipped coffee at...where else but the :

Initially, I had reservations about going on the ride. Actually, I thought we were there to have our pictures taken and that was it. I didn't know I'd be going on one of them. Which, incidentally, we did when our friend arrived and it was one of the longest 20 minutes of my life. No really, walking up towards the payment booth and stepping into one of the 42 gondolas, wouldn't have prepared you for the 'after-math'. We suddenly froze. Hands and feet couldn't move. Breathing was ok but the mind was constantly playing tricks. I had to keep myself busy between playing with my phone and taking some pictures and trying not to look down. Let me tell you, although its an enclosed ride, the feeling is still the same – scared the bollocks out of me!

All in all, we had a good time. We were so glad when we finally, FINALLY got off from the ride and kissed the guard on our way out (the last bit was a joke but you know, if he was Ashton Kutcher, I might even consider it...lol). We then went off to KLCC for a very late dinner.

MBL and I

Midnight post

I am back - from a very exhausting all girls outing this evening. It is fun with a capital "F". I've just downloaded pictures from the memory card and I'll post about it with pictures on another day cos I am tired, my eyelids are drooping and thoroughly spent. Besides, tomorrow, we'll be going for our mini weekend get-away. It was scheduled yesterday but had to make an adjustment due to hubby's work. As usual, what else? :-P

While I was away on my own, Ash and hubby went to a birthday party. From what hubby told me, she enjoyed herself and was curiously observing the older kids. I hope seeing other kids having fun, running around, will spur her on to walk independently. She's still very afraid and will hang on to me, to stuffs but the one thing that she isn't afraid of is climbing the sofa..lol..Totally opposite. OK, time for some really last minute packing. Tata!

There isn't enough time

Busy weekend
Another birthday invite
Presents to buy
Toddler happy, momsie broke
Cracking me head
What to pack for a weekend gettaway
When you are a new mom with
a toddler in tow
Will she sleep soundly?
Will she scream and shout
and kick up a fuss?
So many questions
So many things to do
There isn't enough time
But, then again, when is it "enough"
when you have a highly active toddler?
-sigh-