Sketches of Life

…even though you are not a guest there (sort of).

Below is my experience…

Since we stayed quite far from the church and the hotel where the wedding ceremony and dinner was held, we brought a long our change. Evening gown and high heel. Before the wedding ceremony we did a lil shopping. More shopping bags to carry. After the wedding ceremony, we hopped in someone’s car to bring us to the hotel in Batu Ferringhi. We were 2 hours earlier for the dinner.

So we planned to take a walk around that area. What about our bags right? She got hold of a bellboy and told him that we are the wedding guest, which is true and got our bags kept by the bellboy. Our hands are free to roam around that area.

After much walking, we got sticky. Instead of just using the washroom to change, she managed to get a key to the sauna room for us to take our shower. Everything is there in the sauna room; towels, soap, shower gel, shampoo, lotion, shower cap & hairdryer!

After taking our shower, she managed to get our stuff kept at the receptionist area. Again telling them we are the wedding guests. This time we were asked for the room number! We just told him that we forgotten and he kept our things under the reception table!

So, next time when you need to take a shower and get your shopping bags kept, find a hotel that has a wedding function on that day.

I wonder whether we can get the same treatment in other hotels.

I am a lil bit disappointed with the food that I ate during my recent trip to Penang. I managed to eat the Ikan Bakar (Grilled Fish) at Teluk Tempoyak. The price has doubled up since the last time I went there, which was 8 years ago. Well, that is expected. They are very generous with the chili and the fish is still very fresh but the dipping sauce which is what I craved for is diluted! For the first timer, my friends, that was their best meal in Penang.

Then I wanted to eat the Belacan Fried Rice and Char Hor Fun from Telok Bayan Hawker Stall but both stalls closed on Sunday, the day that I went. So I settled for Teluk Kumbar Prawn Mee. I called it Penang Spaghetti.
No taste of the typical Penang Prawn Mee. The portion is way too little for RM4.00. So I ordered a Claypot Chicken Rice! When I eat 2 servings, it really shows that it is too little. For the guys, I think you will need 4 servings!

I also get to eat the Tomyam Noodle from Sunshine Square Food Court. The price is still the same put the portion has been reduced to half! Thank God I got my daughter’s chicken rice to finish. My friend ordered Bee Hoon and myself, Maggi Noodle but was sent both Bee Hoon. I did not want it and was told it if I wanna change it will take a very long time. I am okay with it. My friend was smart not to pay hers. So that they have to send mine soonest possible in order to get their money. In less than 5 mins, I got my Tomyam Noodle. My friend paid for it but did not get her change until she went to the stall personally to collect it.

Oh ya, I also get to eat the dim sum some where near Gurney Drive. The taste is nothing to shout about. It is just dim sum. Very expensive too. Never eat at Gurney Drive unless someone treats you there.

So, that’s what I had in Penang beside the 8 course wedding dinner.

I just came home attending a beautiful wedding ceremony in Penang. Due to the advanced in technology, we do not have to “fight” over their wedding photo album. They placed a few digital picture frame at the reception area. So while waiting, each of us get the chance to view their wedding album.

To use it is so simple since most of our pictures are in digital form, we just need to transfer the pictures from our memory card to the Digital Photo Frame and use the remote control to select your favorite slide show.

It comes with a standard Five-in-one Card Reader supports CF/XD/MS/SD/MMC cards. All frames are compatible with JPEG, MP4, DivX, AVI, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, MP3, WMA, WAV formats. This means, you can also view movie clips and even play music in the background. No speaker additional speaker needed as they come with built-in stereo speakers and 1/8” headphone out for more private use.

If you are interested to get one or more, check them out at DigitalFramez.com. The photo frames come in 7″, 8″, 9″ & 10″. I might want to get one for a wedding gift for my youngest sister.

I got double tagged by GiddyTigers and SweetyPea on 10 Ways How My Hubby Annoys Me.

I tried to collect them coz I can’t remember of hand what are the things that he does that annoys me. The next day, I forgotten about it until it repeats and the next day I forget again! I am very forgetful when it comes to keeping wrongs of other people. Small small things I easily forget. I will only remember major wrongs. That also after a few months or years, I can’t remember what went wrong or what happened!

I see this as a blessing. Don’t you think so?

You got your discount tickets to all the attraction in Orlando, Florida. Where are you gonna stay? How are you going to move about? Which restaurant serves the best food in town? I found a website that will answer the above question. Orlando.com offers the most comprehensive travel and vacation arrangements in Orlando, with a travel guide offering tips on entertainment, dining, nightlife and more! Just click Hotels Orlando in this post and you will be directed to their website. If you have questions about making and changing reservations; requirements of lodging suppliers, car rental companies and airlines, cruise liners, and more, don’t ask me. Check out their FAQ. Have a great holiday ya.

I finally found his clothing! He has been naked since the day I got him.

It only cost me MYR13.00. The price stated on the price tag was MYR19.90. I asked for discount, telling the salesgirl whether MYR15.00 is okay with her. She gave me MYR13.00 instead! Maybe ah, the price was marked-up way too high and that is why she can give me at much lower price.

Maybe also it is a free gift that the boss got from buying a VAIO laptop! Whatever it is, I save so much than buying an actual camera casing that would easily cost me MYR40-60.

Blue Clitoris Flower is Bunga Telang in Malay. You judge whether it look like the peanut or not.

And to answer to Mark’s question,

I’m afraid to ask what it tastes like.

Honestly, I do not know. Never eat the flower before.

The flower is used to get the blue coloring for food. It will be sun dried and kept. When it is needed, it will be soak in water and squeezed to get the blue color out. Normally is it used in the Nyonya dumpling (Chang), Kuih Kochi, Pulut Tekan, and Taibak (a Nyonya dessert made from rice flour) plus whatever delicacy that require the blue coloring. It is natural and no preservative or chemical added.

In my office, we are not allowed to use our shoe indoor. We have to change to flip flop. Reason being, the boss do not want his beautiful tiles to be stained with oil. You see, my company produces lubricating oil for vehicle and machinery.

I think it is a good idea to have flip flop as Corporate Logo Gift. Then visitors that come to our company will remember that no shoes are allowed in XYZ company coz not many company practice what we are doing. Something to make them remember my company. Then if got business opportunity, they will immediately remember us.

I read in Mumgather’s blog to Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it! This is so very true.

Sometime ago, I wished that hubby will come home early from work. He left home around 9.30pm and by 9.45pm, he’s back home with injured leg. He met with an accident on the way to the shop.

I didn’t learn my lesson and wished that he won’t come back home so late everyday. On Monday, he came home at 11pm! That is very early. Internet down which is not a good thing if you run an internet cafe!

Now, I am VERY careful of what I wish for. It might just come true. And be sure if you need to wish for something, be precise and very detail.

I was first introduced to Linky from Msau’s post about the Mini Alexa Project where we need to open all the links in that post once a day. Said to help reduce our Alexa rankings. Besides that it is very convenient to use Linky to open multiple links at one time, especially when reading news and blogs. Don’t have to click on the title one at a time. Just highlight all the links, right click and select whether to open it in the same window or a new window. Go download it now if you have not. Save ample time.

If you are thinking of having your next vacation in Venuzuela, please check out Aruba All Inclusive Resort vacation package. If you love the sea and also the hills, this is one of a popular vacation spot in the Caribbean. Maybe you will meet the Pirates of the Caribbean there! hehehe.

In the heart of the southern Caribbean, you can enjoy all the activities that has to do with water such as swimming, snorkeling diving, sailing, fishing, or try Snuba or Seatrek, and take a ride on a parasail or a banana boat.

After that you can dry yourself by taking a Jeep safari tour; hike the national park; mountain bike; ride horses; rent a scooter, a bicycle or even a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and go cruising for a day.

Feel like taking one month leave from work and be there.

I blog about Bunga Telang before and how the relative stole it every morning. Recently I found out the English term for it.

As I was flipping thru the recipe book my colleague bought from the Healthy Organic restaurant, one recipe caught my attention, Blue Clitoris with Brown Rice. I look closely at the picture; lo and behold it’s Bunga Telang. I LOL in my heart. The flower got look like clitoris meh???

Every Sunday without fail my eldest daughter will ask me for noodle. Even though there is other food on the table, she insisted, “I want Mommy’s Noodle!”

Below is the recipe for Mommy’s Noodle.

300g Rice Vermicelli (Bee Hoon)
1 can of Stew Pork
1 thinly sliced Onion
1 thinly sliced Carrot
100g thinly sliced Cabbage
4 finely chopped Garlic
Dark Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon of Oil
1 mug of water
Salt to taste

This is how I prepare it:

1. Soak the Bee Hoon
2. Slice those that needs to be sliced
3. Open the can of Stew Pork. Throw away the lard. If not your Bee Hoon will be very oily.
4. Heat the wok, heat the oil.
5. Fry the Garlic and Onion.
6. Pour in the Stew Pork. Let it boil.
7. Add 1 mug of water.
8. Put in the Vege. Add in some salt. Normally I use 1 teaspoon.
9. Add in some dark soy sauce (I prefer Cap Lembu). How much depends on you. You want your Bee Hoon to be dark, then put more.
10. Bring it to boil then add in the Bee Hoon.
11. Stir, stir, stir until everything is mixed up nicely and the Bee Hoon is dry. That’s all. You are done.

The above can be prepared in half and hour time, from the preparation to the cooking.

Father’s Day is coming soon. Hmmm…maybe I should get a men’s lingerie for hubby this time around! kekekekeke…

On a serious note, when it comes to food, I can never go wrong with hubby. He wallops almost every food offered to him. So, the best Father’s Day Gift for him will be gourmet basket. Stuff with the finest chocolates, nuts, wines, cheeses and fruits. Where to get them? From GourmetGiftBaskets.com of course. Hey, you guys send to Malaysia or not?

Oh well, you lucky Americans. You know where to get the best Father’s Day Gifts now.

Just to remind you that Father’s Day is on June 17. Don’t forget ya, pamper your dad on this day.

Hubby just informed me that church camp is postponed to September. It was supposed to be in July. Haiya…like that no family vacation until then. Second thought, good also lar…by then my son is able to walk steadily and I don’t really have to carry him around. My hands will be free to help other mother’s take care of their infant! I just like babies. But I do not want anymore for myself.

I bought my Canon Powershot A550 at USD169.00, just the camera. Recently I discovered that Pakard is having promotion and they are selling the same plus a 1GB SD card, Mini Tripod, Casing and Discount Voucher for only RM588.00…way cheaper than mine!

I felt cheated but not the seller’s fault, I itchy hand, go an bid for it before checking around the market price.

I saw the seller online, a few days back, and I told him how I felt. He told me that my camera is made for Australian market and the quality is much better than Malaysian market. He told me to ask Pakard whether the camera that they are selling is for local market or oversea. To me, it looks the same and has the same function. He told me that in long run, I will see the difference.

So, I asked my colleague who worked in a electronic company before. It is true that products that are made for Australian market has better quality and better spec. We Malaysian wants everything cheap, so have to built using cheaper material lor or slightly lower spec. I am working in a manufacturing company, I can understand this.

For example, the spec range of a product is from 10 to 15…10 the minimum and 15 the maximum. Company A wants a cheaper product, so we manufacture meeting the minimum spec at 10. Meaning using lesser additive (for lubricants) which means, lesser cost (additives very expensive).

So I just hope what the seller say is true.

This is my education planning for children. They will only go to public school in their primary years. Once their reach their teenage year, I plan to bring them out of public school and home school them. Get them register to an online Christian school.

For Christian family, you don’t have much choice to educate them the biblical way in this country. Online education is an alternative to Christian education. I understand that Liberty University® is the world’s largest evangelical university with over 20,000 students from around the world, studying both on- and off-campus and there is a few other Christian University that is featured in the DirectoryofSchools.com.

Gonna leave their link in this blog for my future reference.

After dinner we went to look for jacket for Belle for our soon Penang trip. We will be taking the bus home at night and it is sure gonna be very cold in the bus. We went to F.O.S. I love to shop there coz their clothings are cheap and branded too plus with good quality. We found a pretty pink jacket for Belle for RM19.90 and a pink legging for the same price too. And if you pay using HSBC credit card, you will get another 10% which I did not have! Actually I have HSBC credit card but they are some where in my drawer at home coz they “forced” me to sign up for it! Free for 2 years only.

We went to Mahkota Parade to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary with the children recently. With children around, we went for Kenny Roger’s. Most of the food there are “children friendly”. They have roasted chicken with mushroom soup for Belle, baked rice for Clarissa and mash potatoes, macaroni and cheese for Barnabas, Black pepper chicken for hubby plus extra gravy for free, leftover’s from my children’s for me and their delicious muffins for us. hehe. I love the ambiance too.

***

New nutrition vitamins may make up for the deficiency of micronutrients like molybdenum, but they are however, unable to make up for the macronutrients. Children should make sure they cover this with their diet as growing age requires high sodium, calcium and potassium.

Go for surgery. Let the surgeon cut you up! No, no, no they are not going to take out the fat from your body. That’s liposuction. And the surgeon is not really gonna cut you up! I am just pulling your leg.

In this procedure, the surgeon inserts an inflatable adjustable gastric band through small (laparoscopic) incisions and positions the band around the upper portion of your stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch and passageway into the lower part of the stomach. This procedure will allow you to feel full and satisfied while you actually eat less and lose excess weight.

If you have tried dieting and exercising and it still does not make you loose weight coz you do not have the discipline not to eat, eat, eat, then this procedure is for you. This can be done at Tampa lapband surgery as an outpatient. It does not require cutting, stapling or rerouting of the stomach or intestines that is why it can be done in an outpatient (day surgery) setting and offers a shortened recovery period.

Have you ever wonder why when you want to look your best for certain occasion and pray hard that you won’t have pimples on that day, at least one huge pimple will emerge? I have and I experienced it so many times. The worst, it happened on my wedding day!

I noticed that whenever I am stress out, I will sure have pimple. Exams, work, child minding and trying to look my best for special occasion. This is because, stress triggers the release of chemicals into the brain that can make oil glands release more oil onto the skin. So you will notice that you face will be extra oily on a stressful day.

So how? Try to relax and take things easily. De-stress.

My throat is not sore anymore after a mug of ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) with honey. Besides being a cure to sore throat, ACV also helps to cleanse the toxin in our body and make you loose weight. When I first started drinking ACV, I loose 2 kg in a month! One thing that I do not like about ACV is, it has the “basi” smell. If you wanna try, I would recommend Bragg’s. It has more pleasant smell than other brand. You can get it in most pharmacies. Try it.

Meeska Mooska Mickey Mouse!

That’s the password word for the Mickey Mouse Club house to appear. I’ve seen it on Playhouse Disney Channel on Astro & on the internet. My girls are so obsessed with Disney characters.

“Mommy, one day when you have a lot of money, you bring me there ok?”
“Ok, Ok, leave Mommy alone and let Mommy blog and make money, then Mommy can have a lot a lot of money to bring you to Disney World.”

To those who already have “a lot a lot” of money, get your Disney Tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com. No matter how “a lot a lot” of money you have, some saving really helps to make the trip more fun coz you have extras to spend of to buy those cute Disney souvenirs to bring back home. Besides getting discounts for Disney World, you can also get discount tickets for Orlando theme parks, dinner shows and other attractions in Orlando, Florida.

I got a few paid post to write today but I was not in a mood to write so I went blog hopping and I discovered that someone envy me!!! So happy! Got people envy me leh…and I am not an actress neither am I famous.

Here is what she wrote…

I was surfing Miche’s blog yesterday, she post about the mystery gift her hubby bought to her. Oh my. What a sweet husband she has! He bought Miche sexy lingerie online and gave her as a Mother Days gift! My husband never do this to me, he just not that kind of sweet man.

I know my hubby is shy person, but he can do like what Miche’s husband does too… Just shop online! This doesn’t need to be shy, doesn’t he? I don’t need any expensive lingerie, I will be very happy even he just buy me some casual clothing (Although I prefer special wear like G-strings and hipsters :p) But too bad, my hubby is a computer idiot! He doesn’t even know how to surf online! Seem like I have no hope to get those romantic and sexy gift from him already.

And here’s my comment…

miche said…

hahahaha…it was my wedding anniversary gift which was one day b4 mother’s day.

u can go get those men lingerie for him instead hahahaha

And here is what he said…

David Bong said…

haiyoo…. don’tlah like that. Envy is never a good thing. Your husband might be good in other way/areas so take delight in the good things he has done for you.

if most of the blogger husbands knows about this… I sure kena kutuk by them lah. Make their wives demand hot lingerie every year…lol.

So, don’t envy, envy lar…your husband is special in his own way. If not you won’t be married to him now.

Btw, I was wondering, “How come she didn’t link me, like what she always does?” Rupa-rupanya, cari makan post! Cheh…

I want to be there. I need to be there! I really need to get away from work and blogging and de-stress. My colleague (a guy) asked me 2 days ago, “What’s your weight?” I was like, “Huh?” You see, guys don’t ask your weight unless something really bothers them. And that was the first time, a guy asks for my weight! I asked, “Why?” “You look thinner and the same clothes your wore last time look very loose now.” he replied. I am not so sure of my weight now but stress do burns my fat away! He told me that I need to go for a vacation and get away from work for a while.

Someone told me, if you go to Hawaii, don’t stay in a hotel, look for villa from Maui condo rentals. Firstly, villas can be found in a secluded part of the island whereas, hotels are in the mainstream areas, in which when you go for a getaway holiday, you do not want to be stuck in the hustle bustle of a city. Secondly, staying at a vacation villa is also quite economical when traveling in a group. With the same amount of price for a hotel room, we can find a private big island condo or villa. We can also save money by buying our own food and cook our own meals.

Furthermore, most breathtaking natural wonders such as the majestic Na Pali coast can be found just steps away from many Kauai vacation rentals. Save money again for transportation. Well, going for a vacation is not all about spending money. We can save a lot if we plan it well and know where to stay.

The above are Gasing (top) Pangkah (sorry, I dunno the English term for it) made by my dad for my girls. Yes, he make gasing and played gasing.

When he was younger, he even represented the Malacca state. I remembered that he flew to Kuching for a competition and got the opportunity to visit the Chief Minister home. Now, he is being paid by the state government to make the gasing pangkah.

Even though my dad is a pro in that game, until today, I still have not manage to spin the gasing!

“This blog post is based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.”

Once I stepped my foot in university, I hope to study all the way. Meaning after the bachelor degree, continue with MBA and then PhD. I wanted to be a lecturer. But having a boyfriend that did not step foot into Form 6, you don’t get must encouragement from him. All he wanted was for you to get your degree and head home to marry him. That is what I did except the marrying part. I did not marry him. I kinda regretted not continuing MBA in that university.

Well, the world has not come to an end yet, I can still do it thru online learning. I read that Capella University is an accredited, fully online university that offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, and psychology. Maybe I should dig further to see whether I can afford to take up e-learning.

The ISO 9001:2000 audit is over and now it the time I can fall sick and I fell sick. I really drink less water lately coz I was very busy at work. When you are busy, you got no time to pause and grab that water bottle of yours and gulp down some water. When you got nothing to do, and do not know what to do, you will grab that water bottle and drink and drink and drink. Then to the loo, to the loo and to the loo. Just to pass the time. That’s me! *big grin*

From this month onward, we are going to start living our life based on a single income. That is only RM1500.00 a month. Just enough for all the compulsory expenses like kindy fee, milk, diapers, insurance, petrol, utility bills and simple food.

For extras I need to blog for money and maybe start babysitting service once I resign from this present job. Yes, I am going to resign by end of this year. 2008 will be a NEW beginning for all of us.

God is pulling me (us) from my comfort zone.

I am too dependent and secure in my current job that I don’t put my security in Him. I don’t depend on Him.

I am too dependent and secure in my mother helping to babysit my children that when problem comes I do not know where to turn.

I am going to mind my own children and start depending on Him again for EVERYTHING.

Life will be lived in simplicity and trust upon Jehovah Jireh, God the Provider.

When I was studying in Penang, I have a huge collection silver jewelry. Anklets, bracelets, pendants, rings and earrings. It is so cheap there. Half the price of what I am getting back home. Since it was so cheap, I took it for granted and now, they are all gone. I can’t remember where it went or whether I did give it away!

I didn’t know that silver has an investment value until I read about it in Monex. I think jewelry, the 92.5% silver has not much value compared to silver bullion. Here’s a picture of it.

It seems that now, world demand for silver now exceeds annual production, and has every year since 1990. Maybe I should start collecting silver bullion instead of silver jewelry! hehe.