Words Count

Ever Wonder Why?

Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal? 
Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed? 
Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'? 
Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word? 
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavour, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons? 
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Adapted from forwarded e-mail.

A Team's Motto

Initially I've decided on "Time Not Enough" as today's post title - it was inspired by a Singapore's movie "Money Not Enough" which depicts on middle-income group living in today's Singapore who have to juggle everyday between "many bills to pay" and "how to be rich".

I've changed the title on second thought, because I don't think the source of my argument is exactly on insufficient time.

Well, my family and friends who know me extremely well, knew that I have different variables to quantify my "richness". Money has never been my major worry, primarily is because I am not after a luxury life, I just need a comfortable life.

Time, however, is a challenging component in my life. Despite my efficiency at tasks I am doing and my good time-management skills, 24 hours is just not enough for me to complete every task I aim to do. I am still reading Rhonda Bryne's "The Secret", and last night in the midst of reading and reflecting, I did a "mid-term review" on things I have done as well as haven't done, and I found that if there was one thing I haven't done enough and that would be I haven't had enough time to sit down and listen to my younger siblings - listening to their successful stories, giving them guidances and advice, sharing jokes, and discussing on future.

Thinking back to the time when we poured baby powder on the floor and pretending it was snowing in Brunei, and we took out my mother's clothings from her wardrobe because we wanted to play cashier and shoppers games, thinking to the time I grabbed their hands to run with me .. time indeed passes by too swiftly. Although I haven't been playing an active sister role, I want my siblings to know that for every decision I make and every step I do, I will never leave any of them behind.

My Principle

1) Anything good in our life comes from our ability to achieve and be free.

2) The best way for us to forget a destructive, negative criticism is to let go of it.

3) Anything bad in life comes from sinking to the level of those small minded around us.

4) Remember to refuse to participate in anything petty and not constructive.

Stomachtop

Patience

How To impose Limits On Your Inner Shopper

Is impulse buying taking a toll on your budget? The Wall Street Journal discussed six ways to get a handle on your spending. 

1. Identify your triggers: Many people use shopping as an emotional outlet;
   
2. Be a cautious consumer: Even the savviest shoppers fall prey to marketing tactics;
   
3. Avoid temptation: Consider a ban on unnecessary shopping trips;
   
4. Take a time-out: If you stumble on a "must have" item, don't get caught up in the excitement;
   
5. Remember long-term goals: Ask yourself if you'll get more satisfaction out of owning this item or paying down your debt; and
   
6. Check your balance: Once you've viewed your bank balance, the purchase may appear far less enticing.
   

source: Marshall Loeb, The Wall street Journal, October 25 2007. 

Which City Are You?

I Am New York

Cosmopolitan and sophisticated, you enjoy the best in food, art, and culture.

You also appreciate a good amount of grit - and very little shocks you.

You're competitive, driven, and very likely to succeed.

Want to know which American city are you? Click on the link below, or alternatively click on the title of today's post: 

http://www.blogthings.com/whatamericancityareyouquiz/

Growing Up

Strange, I have insomnia twice this month. It may be due to the coffee. 

I dreamt about Kampung Ayer (Water Village, one of the important tourist spots in my country) a while ago, and I dreamt about I proposed for a new "Space U Structure" to re-model the current Kampung Ayer. I have been thinking too much. When I was younger, my grandparents used to advise me when I had nightmares - don't think too much during the day, these thoughts might continue in your dreams if you keep thinking. It's true of what they have told me. 

A while ago, I thought about my childhood, how I stood up to protect my younger siblings. I still laugh at how silly I was - those were the days I shouted at whoever attempted to raise voices at my younger siblings, I warned them, "Bully my family and me, I'll make sure your feet will never touch that floor again". HaHa ..

I thought about my teenage years, my punk hairstyle, and how silly I was at 18 - my greatest ambition was to be a housewife. 

I thought about my 20s, how lonely it was the first time I suffered jetlag in UK without family and friends by my side. Autumn was grey and dull to me all of a sudden that morning. I looked at the clock which I brought with me from Brunei. It tick-tock, tick-tock at 2.30am and I wondered what my family were doing in Brunei - were they having breakfast? Did they miss me? What was the weather like in Brunei? I bet it won't be as boring and lonely and grey as in Keele at that time. 

I thought about my early 30s which I madly in love with a guy whom I believed for the first time in my life, the feeling was reciprocal. Well, the guy might be Mr Right, but timing was just not right. So, I saw him walked down the slopes with a gift that he wanted to give me for my birthday. I saw disappointment on his face when I showed annoyance. Then, distance grew wider. Eventually, we went separate ways. He got married several years later. I cried  for several weeks. I thought through and recovered well. 

Now that I am sober again, I believe if I were to be less indecisive and made that phone call, our fate would be different today. I may be happily/or unhappily married by now. I may be a mother with two children. 

My mother always tells us, think before you act or speak because no point crying over spilled milk. I am no more angry with myself, nor do I annoy with the fate anymore. My past was like bumper car experiences. I lost direction, and I didn't know what to do. But at present, I know deep down, may be it was my sober mind that has arranged my life that way.

I've grown more mature these days, and know what I want in my life. I still don't believe in destiny, I still believe in we could change our fate if we want to. But one thing I still believe in, now and perhaps for the future too, is: No one could put you down unless you give them the rights. 

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival

We bought two different types of mooncakes to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival this year: baked mooncakes and crystal mooncakes. It's difficult to choose which is better; crystal's looks good but baked's tastes better. 

To teach Baby K some knowledge on traditional festives celebrations, we bought him lanterns and we had steamboat (which Hokkien dialect called Wei Lo, meaning get together around the stove to celebrate) for dinner. 

Natural Critic

Ruthie really reminds me of my childhood. 

Baby K Fashion

Should I register the copyright for the nick "Baby K"?? Haha, since my sister and I started to call our nephew Baby K, we seem to notice many of our friends giving Baby K nick to their children too - coincidence?? Unsure. I was even more surprised to see the coincidence when I saw MotherK (Care) is going to launch the Baby K fashion range on 26th September 2008, interesting-coincidence!!

Parental Guidance Needed

Like How I Dreamt Part 1

Last night I dreamt about I've gone back to university to pursue another degree. It was a very relaxing feeling to stroll past an on- campus apartment. In my dream, I stayed in a small unit where time schedule for my lectures was pinned on the kitchen pin-up board. My fridge door was full with fridge magnets, just like those days when I was in Brisbane. It was autumn, and everywhere was orange and calm. 

These days I constantly have a picture flashing on my mind: I live in a big city. On a rainy day afternoon, I sit near my big window sipping coffee looking at busy passers-by who try to rush home from work. At the background, Don McLean and Suzzane Vega music playing non-stop. 

Sometimes I feel I don't belong to the world where I am living now, but who doesn't think like that most of the time. 

Don't Give Up, You're Loved: Josh Groban

Like How I Dreamt Part 2

Vincent (Starry Starry Night): Don McLean

Heriditary

I had my loudest laugh when I saw this particular comic for the first time ;-p

Food Critics For A Day

On the way back from groceries shopping, my mother asked if we would like to have some lemang. We bought one stick each together with small container of beef rendang from separate vendors. How's our critics went? Everyone has different taste and taste is subjective, generally we prefer Lemang Temburong's lemang (rating scale: 3/5 stars) but we like Lemang Alif's beef rendang (rating scale: 3.5/5 stars). 

Lemang is a traditional food which is cooked in a hollowed bamboo stick lined with banana leaf to prevent the rice from sticking to the bamboo. Used to be, it was usually prepared for festivities such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, but in the past 5 years you can see them all year round at certain regular spots by the roadside. Lemang is made of glutinous rice and coconut milk, with salt added for taste, and it is commonly eaten with beef rendang.

This Is So Complex!

Dieticians and doctors must be shocked by the starchy complex carbohydrates my family and myself are taking, haha!!

For Information Only: Complex carbohydrates are chains of three or more single sugar molecules linked together. Long chains of sugar molecules are called starches and they serve as the storage form of energy in plants. Branched complex carbohydrates called cellulose form the structural components that give plants their shape. Starches are fairly easy to digest. However, your body doesn't digest cellulose, which is an important component of dietary fibre.

Complex carbohydrates are found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains. Some examples of foods high in starchy complex carbohydrates include bread, cereal, rice, pasta, potatoes, dry beans, carrots and corn. Green vegetables like green beans, broccoli and spinach contain less starch and more fibre. All grains include starchy carbohydrates. However, whole grains - such as whole wheat pasta - are better for you because they also have more fibre.

Complex carbohydrates should be a major part of your diet; about half of your daily calories should come from carbohydrates - mostly from grains, cereals, fruits and vegetables. 

Simple carbohydrates are made up of one or two sugar molecules linked together. Examples of simple carbohydrates include glucose, fructose (fruit sugar), sucrose (table sugar) and galactose (the sugar found in milk). Simple sugars are used as ingredients in candy, ice cream, cookies and other sweets. Also, they occur naturally in fruits and lesser amounts are found in vegetables.

Source:
Gropper, S.S., et.al. "Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism." Fourth Edition. Belmont, CA. Wadsworth Pub Co. 2005.

Oesteoporo What?

To cut down on the risk of oesteoporotic fractures later in life, I have started to take Anlene sporadically ie. whenever I remember. Well, it is still better than I didn't take any previously, haha!

Everyday Is A Learning Day

Sunday now is our Family Day. We don't want Baby K to grow up in an inactive environment looking only at the two square boxes ie. tv and pc. So, every Sunday now, we will wake up early, show him around seeing and learning new things. Two weekends ago, we had Japanese meal and we went shopping for his new shirts. Last weekend, we took him to Empire Hotel and Country Club again, because he really loves the water fountain there. We noticed that Baby K really enjoys seeing water fountain at this stage. Baby K is learning new concepts and new things every day. 

Wellevation: 小人物的心声

"Empty pocket is not as bad as empty heart and empty mind" 

- Anonymous

也许我一个人
不能成就一番大事业
让我尽力贡献一份微薄的力量

也许我自己
不能发出万丈光和亮
但我能为斗室带来足够的光芒

我从来就不在乎
自己不是个大人物
因为平凡也是一种幸福

看到名人总是忙忙碌碌
我的时间由我控制
平凡日子一样会充实

Stubborn Or Persistent

Traits I Just Discovered

1) At my best, I am: low maintenance, friendly and adaptable.
1) At my worst, I am: angsty, angsty, angsty.
1) I tend to dream big, but I also worry that my dreams are not attainable.
1) I'll do rational things for relationship, but I won't fall for it easily these days.
1) I enjoy intellectual conversation, but not a conversation which the over-confident individual talks all time about herself/himself and makes sarcastic comments on the rest of the world.
1) I act and think like a 49 these days.
1) I am fearless when I am angry. My favourite line when I was 7: "If you dare bully my family and me, I will make sure your feet will never touch that floor again".

The Recipe to be Pancakeism: 

3 parts Bravery

2 parts Fearlessness

1 part Devilry

Splash of Humor (notice all the 1s in my list above, haha ..)

Chug!

My Elf Name

My Elf Name Is ..

Pixie Mc Mini (HaHa, what an AWESOME nick) ..

What's Your Elf Name?

Stepping Out

To wake us up from a very boring History lesson, my primary five History teacher told us a very lousy joke. She said the subject is called History, because we are studying "His-Story". What a crappy joke, but she did wake all of us up with a good sigh. 

But without History, where are we supposed to be now?

This video shares with us life in South East Asia during my grandparents' time. My grandmother used to tell us, life back then was tough where even sweet potatoes were the staple food but scarce. They dug for sweet potatoes, boiled them for the consumption of the elders and children at home. She and other grown ups at home only drank the boiled sweet potatoes soup and ate potato leaves. Life was really very tough at that time, worse with war. The war has destroyed my grandfather's family business and the wealth my great-grandfather has accumulated. It eventually separated my paternal grandparents, and resulted in my father and his siblings grew up without a proper family environment. 

When I was little, I once asked my grandmother, how did she survive during those tough time. She replied in her usual patient manner and her words said: When the goings gets tough, the tough gets going. 

A Woman Of Strength

"Life is a series of problem-solving opportunities. The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you depending on how you respond to them" 

- Rick Warren

A Strong Woman

Vs 

A Woman Of Strength

A strong woman wears a look of confidence on her face ..

But a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future ..

A woman of strength realises life's mistakes can also be unexpected blessings, and capitalises on them to develop herself into a stronger woman of strength.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey ..

But a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong. 

- Copyright © 2005 Dee Cheeks -

Source from: http://www.motivateus.com

A Toast To A Healthy Throat

I woke up with a mild sore throat. Hate this feeling, I hope I won't get a cold. I can't afford to get ill this week, my work schedule is full. Sighz. 

It's Not About Who You Are, It's About Who You know

I began to think Ruthie reasons like me when I was 7. Yes, we are very sober kids, haha ..

Yes, My Teeth Are Tired

The Beauty Of Work

Many asked about the (small) scar on my nose. In fact, some thought it was dirt at first glance. Others took it as marks left by poorly skilled beautician who might have exerted too much pressure on my nose while extracting the blackheads. 

Well, all wrong answers. I was over-worked two weeks ago, and I carelessly hit the bridge of  my button nose with the flap of my MacBook, haha ..

19 Years Later

Impact Of Globalisation

Wonderful Meal

A day before the beginning of Fasting Month, me and a friend tried a new restaurant Le Stadium. My starter was MUSHROOM CAPPUCINNO (excellent soup for a coffee lover, I really could taste cappu in the soup ;-p) and main course was Ceasar Salad. Wonderful meal!! 

I might go back to try the soup and salad again if it gives 10% to regulars - I found it too pricey to pay B$7.50 for the small plate of salad.