A new year

...Now what?

The clock just striked 12 midnight 30 mins ago...

Am I suppose to turn into a pumpkin now? Or is the morning going to be any sweeter than any other mornings???

I guess with all the anticipation and excitement towards a new year....and once it unfolds, it makes you think whether is it actually just an ordinary day...just like any other day throughout the year OR its a day where we start afresh...a clean slate with new aspirations and goals?

As for me, I always look forward to a new year as a form of a reminder to me .... that things would always get better as we enter a new year. Leave whatever negative things behind and look towards better and brighter things in the future.

Do I sound like I am talking rubbish? Probably.My brain is half asleep. Everyone is asleep upstairs already. And hubby has to wake up at 5am for a marathon.

Ok Ok...let's get down to business. I normally don't have any new year resolutions. I would just say I have goals.And of course, I want to see a better ME this year.

1. Told myself I have to reignite my reading habits. And it is just not limited to cookery books!!! In 2011, I didn't read a single novel...and its pretty bad. Would definitely check out BookExcess soon...and stocking up on some feel good novels!

2. Start my project for the kids scrapbooking.I have abandoned it like years ago.And need to start developing all the family photos.

3. Live more healthily. Gotta gotta gotta find time to exercise. I read about this Jazzexercise program...sounds fun.

4.I must learn to try NEW things. Maybe start with breaking from the habit of always buying the same food stuff each time I go grocery shopping. Maybe try a different brand of biscuits, try a new recipe, eating at a different restaurant that I have never eaten before...

5. Enjoy the kids more.Give the kids more of a childhood. Laugh. Play. Fun.

6. Intend to attempt to teach Ryan piano. Not sure that would be possible. Probably would give up teaching him after one lesson!

2012...Year of the Dragon! I am a dragon baby. Let's make this a 'special' year!!!

The Chosen One

Of all the hundreds of cars in Empire Shopping Gallery car park yesterday night...

...this spiny hungry kitten chose MY car to go and hide. And some more, he/she managed to find its way to under the bonnet while I was shopping away. How it managed to do that...I have no idea!

When I got to my car to leave the car park, I heard meowing sounds. Very loud. Just thought that might be a stray kitten hiding somewhere. As I drove up the ramp, the sound was still there! S***! How could that be????

Stopped the car...looked under my tyres. Silly of me not to open my bonnet at that time. When I knocked the hub caps of the tyres...the meowing stopped. So I thought...Good! The cat ran away!

I drove off and left the building...and damn! The meowing started again! The silly kitten couldn't possibly under my bonnet right????

I stopped again outside Carrefour in the dark...(that was about 9:30pm already!)...and opened my bonnet...and lo and behold...two beady eyes looked back at me at the side of the engine. I was like...OMG! How did you get in there..silly kitten?? And why my car??? I tried to take it out...but as I reached to grab it,the kitten went and hid further into the engine. S*** again! I panicked! How am I gonna get it out? If i drive on...the heat of the engine would definitely kill the kitten and I would be having a dead kitten in my engine?????!!!! That would be a NIGHTMARE!

Called hubby who was at home with the kids....and he suggested to go to the nearest petrol station to ask for help. Perhaps flush it out or something. So I went to Shell ...got the help of the attendants there. They were rather helpful and tried to get it out...but there was nothing much they could do. The kitten probably had fallen to the side of the engine...and hopefully it wasn't stuck! I was rather panicking at that stage already. It was late. I had to go home. I am not gonna go home with a dead cat in my engine! While I was attempting to call the Honda 24Hour hotline....to ask for help....the kitten managed to get out of the entwined jungle of the engine...and stuck its head out. The attendant quickly grabbed its neck and took it out!!! You don't know how relieved I was...to see the kitten and safely removed from my engine! I was already having all visions in my head of the kitten decomposing in my engine...and maggots multiplying and the foul stench as I drove my car!!!! And getting to the workshop to open up the car frame just to get the kitten out!

Anyway...thank God that did not happen!

So Kitten...why my car???

Empire Shopping Gallery Explosion

Oh shucks! Where would I get a good selection of reasonably priced and fresh groceries now?

I would go to Jaya Grocer almost weekly. I liked their selection of vegetables and some of the food stuff were slightly cheaper than the hypermarkets.And for imported stuff...also quite reasonably priced.

According to the news, the shops would be closed to business until the source of the leak is finalised and the premise would be safe to be reopened.

I love going to the Toys R Us there too. And was even planning to bring Ally to the play gym soon. I know, I did complain once about the lifts there. But now, I don't take them anymore.

Hhhmmm...so have to look in other directions now temporarily. I guess have to settle for Carrefour for the moment.

Worrywart

I am definitely a worrywart.

I worry about everything lately. Actually I don't remember being like this a couple of years ago.

I wished I could control my thoughts and worries.

Worry worry worry...not good. May lead to hypertension next time.

Maybe reaching the mid thirties makes people more neurotic and sensitive.

I worry about how to be a better parent.

I worry about how to control my 2 year old tantrums.

I worry about my eye bags.

I worry about my job.

I worry about the safety of the food we consume.

I worry about my retirement finances

I worry that I am not being a good example to my kids.

I worry about my dad.

I worry about the health of my loved ones and myself.

I worry that I do not exercise.

I worry about how to be less insecure.

I worry that life is so unexpected and that I should live happy every day.

...and the list goes on...


And I MUST stop to be a people pleaser. Come on...I am an Adult! I must learn to say NO! And stand up to my opinions! But then again, I am afraid of getting people crossed. People like me just get easily bullied!!! I remember watching an Oprah episode many yonks ago and she was talking about people like me...and how she was like that last time! And how she just learnt to let go and say NO to people. Well, if I one of the most powerful and richest woman in the world ...who would dare to say anything to the big O, right?

Wide eyed

It is 5am now.

Went to the toilet...and now I can't go back to sleep.

Tossing and rolling on the bed.

Might as well write my blog.

Can't normally write a post when the little ones are awake.

But my brain still a bit sleepy.

Today will be a long day.

Failed cupcake

Oh...i just made cupcakes and it is a failure!!! It is still cooling on the rack...but when I take a whiff of it...it smells too strong of the vanilla essence!

Gee...cupcakes also I can fail! This is BAD!

Actually, trying out a cupcake recipe for Ally's birthday elmo cupcakes...but looking at this, I think I may just call off the whole idea! Easier and less stress to get a cake from the bakery.

My to-do list

As @ 10/6/2011,
I have a couple of things to accomplish...

1. Thinking of starting on a pilates class

2. Ipad2 please!

3. Itching to get a waffle maker. Waffles for breakfast and tea. Sounds nice?

4. Elmo cupcakes for Ally's birthday next month. I don't even know how to use a piping bag. Dream on , Leona!

5. Getting some new baking utensils

American Idol Season 10...is over!

Kind of hated the finals. Not that I didn't like the finalists...it was just such a teenage showdown that they should have changed it to Teenage Idol! But now that it is over, kind of miss it. Well, after 5 months following this every year, it tends to be an anti-climax after the finals.

Am I happy with the winner Scotty?

Well what is there to say about a goodie All American boy with strong Christian values and loves his family to bits? I guess he represents what America wants to represent to the world.

Anyway I wish him all the best in his singing career. County genre isn't my cup of tea but if Carrie Underwood can sell millions after winning this title, I am sure Scotty can!

Crumpets and tea, anyone?

At approximately 5pm local time today...the whole world would be watching.

Whether we are fans of the royal family or not, somehow I guess we have all been roped into the media hype on the royal wedding today.

I switched on the radio this morning...the deejays were talking about weddings. I was watching ntv7 Breakfast show and the highlight was just on William and Kate. Yawn!

But still, I will still be clicking my remote to 712 E! Channel to see the wedding of the century. How not to miss it right? It is history. And we were part of it. Witnessing it I mean. I guess I will be looking forward more to see any celebrities who would be attending the historical event. And maybe a royalty here and there. And oh oh..the hats!

What I would love though is to get a hold on some memorabilia with the two love birds on it. Was thinking of asking my cousin in England to get maybe just a keychain or tissue holder or something. But then again, if the marriage turns sour ten years from now...what would I do with it??? Sell it on eBay? I just hope that Prince William would be the total opposite of his dad.

So, better toast my crumpets early...(I really miss those!) and get a cuppa of Tetley's tea ready and say...Long live the royal couple!

Those good ol' days

What painted your childhood when you were growing up???

Growing up in the 80s...there were lots of interesting memories when I actually sit down and think about it.

Let's see...

A-ha
My first pop group that I loved after listening to their hit song 'Take on me'. Got my first cassette of their album. Their lead singer Morten Harket was quite a hunk too.

Punky Brewster
My grandfather would tape for me the series every week and I would watch it after I came back from school. We kept those episodes and I would watch over and over again. Which kid wouldn't be attracted to the colorful wardrobe that Soleil Moon Frye wore on that show?

Jelly Bears from Metrojaya
Every year during Christmas time, Metrojaya would produce these bears that they would sell during Christmas time. I really loved them and I had one for Christmas when I was a little girl. I also loved the decorations that Metrojaya did during the yuletide season. Made it really christmassy and all.

Stickers magazine
My mum used to buy this magazine called Stickers magazine which was a US publication. We used to collect a few of them and me and my sister would go crazy just looking at all the stickers published in there. From Lisa Frank to Mello Smello and BJ stickers. There were lots of brands of stickers that were never sold here. I was so crazy over those magazines that I created my own stickers magazine of my own from an empty exercise book.

Los Angeles Summer Olympics 1984
I used to follow this Olympics with my grandfather. My sister and I would go ga-ga over the gymnastics and that was where I knew about Mary Lou Retton. We would pretend to be the gymnasts and prance around the carpet doing the floor exercises.

He Man and the Masters of the Universe
There were so many cartoons that I watched in the evening in those days. There wasn't any Astro...so I remember every evening on TV3 there was a cartoon on. I think it was 5pm or 5.30pm. Besides He Man, there was Dungeons and Dragons which was absolutely my favorite. I also loved Jem, Rainbow Brite and Transformers too. They don't make cartoons like they used to now.

Kimisawa and Yaohan
Those were the department stores long before Jusco took over our shores. I would follow my parents on weekends to these places and it was such a treat.

Mannequin- The movie (1987)
This was the movie that made me love Hollywood and its actors. I would watch this show over and over again. Countless times. Andrew McCarthy was a dream and Kim Catrall was really pretty there too.

Nintendo Game and Watch
I just recalled how I LOVED these when I was a kid. But I think me and my sisters just had one or two. The rest that we played with belonged to other children. Manhole and Chef were my favorite. I just googled these predecessors of Game Boy and really jogged me down memory lane when seeing the whole collection. Among them were Mickey Mouse, Octopus, Donkey Kong and Parachute.

Sitcoms
Honestly, I don't think they make sitcoms like they used to anymore. Sitcoms are situational comedies which normally follow the lives of a family or a group of people. I was a true sitcom 'nut'. Followed almost all that was showing at that time. It's funny that even now its 20 years down the road and I can still remember the names of the characters in those sitcoms. Among my favs were Three's Company, Who's the Boss, Facts of Life, The Cosby show, Growing Pains, Family Ties...and the list goes on. Sometimes I think I picked up a lot of words from watching all these shows since I totally not a fan of reading books.

The cast of Family Ties (1982-1989)

My thoughts...

12.38am.

Long time no update here.

Can see my mind is fully occupied with the kids. Juggling them, the daily routine, the house chores, meeting their needs and hubby and going to work twice a week.

Been trying to update their blog every other day if possible. If there is something to write about.

The kids health hasn't been too 'pink' since the start of the year. Prolonged cough...occasional fever...sore throat...sore eye. Hubby too. The year has just started. So I am being optimistic. Lots more to plan and look forward to.

Right now...my worries just points to Ally's speech development. At almost 20 months old...still no sign of talking or speaking singular words. She may understand the words..but her oral speech is totally nil. She doesn't even say 'Mummy'. Hubs and I are concerned at this point. Not even other simple words from her...for e.g dog, cat, star, car, open, milk. Everyday I am trying to find new ways to make her speak. Even summoning Ryan's help since she absolutely adores her brother and follows what ever he does. Came across this website too about speech therapy in children. But no time to go through it yet. Will read later.

Still no time for couple outing...as planned in my new year resolution. Seems that hubs needs to take his leave for something important so far...so couple day has to be put on hold.

American Idol Season 10 is interesting and not interesting at the same time. Up to now...it is getting rather disappointing. But let's see how it goes on. Still will watch. For entertainment.

My close and old friend who came back to Malaysia for CNY.

Her daughter E is as cute as a button!

My 2 darlings

Rantings

...My heart is heavy.

Another lazy day

Was suppose to update my blog.

Little girl sleeping in my room.

Quietness at last.

Won't be for long.

Got side tracked by looking at other food blogs.

So many out there. Tempting. Nice photos. Interesting recipes. But do they all turn out well?

Hungry.

Nothing to eat as I have a sore throat now.

Everyone at home is sick. Hubs has cold and throat infection. the 2 kids have noses running like a tap. The boy is better now.

Rummage the fridge now to see what to eat.

Bye.