Sketches of Life|Life Lived in Simplicity

I love to study and I love exams. Hubby thinks I am crazy coz studying and exams are his nightmares. Well, maybe it was because I love my campus life where I got to be independent and manage my own life and I chose to do what I am supposed to do there. I can’t imagine whether I can say the same if I were to take online degree which will be done in the comfort of my own home.

However, many is opting for online degree now coz they are more cost effective, convenient and flexible especially for working adult. One of the most respected online degrees in US comes from Western Governors University. WGU is a fully accredited online university offering online bachelor’s and masters degree online. Since WGU is a non-profit online university, you can expect affordable and lower tuition fees compared to other universities.

I can sleep all day when I fall sick with no worries about the kids.

I don’t have to multitask.

I can have pleasure without getting pregnant and go through childbirth pain.

Children are my toys. I only need to play with them.

When I am hungry, I need only open the food cover on the table. If no food, I go out to eat lor.

Who wants to add to my list above?

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I am ranting here coz I am still having runny nose and I did not get to nap and sleep as much as I need to yesterday because my baby does want to nap and latches for the longest hour when he slept at night (9.30pm-11.30pm) then wake up to poo and stayed wide away after that for another 2 hours.

Hubby was not feeling well either. He naps for 3 hours in the afternoon then slept from 9.30pm till midnight then continue sleeping around 1.30am till this morning 8.30am.

Urrrghhhh!!! I want to switch places with him!!!

After more than a year, it is nice to see the Green Bar again on this blog of mine. Even though the length of the Green Bar has shortened, it is better than no Green Bar at all. Not only for this blog, I have the Green Bar at my Blogspot and my Recipe blog too. Even hubby’s blogspot got a Green Bar now. I think this is Google’s Christmas gift for us. How long will it last? Only the Big G knows. Since I have the Green Bar back, I am now more motivated to submit my blogs to web directory list so that I can get more backlinks and visits which will increase the length of the Green Bar in due time.

I have stopped complaining about managing my household. No point complaining right? I still have to do it by myself. Just pray everyday that God will give me strength to do as much as I could and not make my tummy in pain again.

And, I found something to release my stress and that is sewing. My sister was here 2 days ago and she was commenting “Already have 4 children, still want to learn sewing.” I told her that sewing releases my stress. Doing things that you enjoy releases stress. Don’t you agree with me?

I have always love handwork. I tried crochet, knitting, cross-stitch and now sewing. The first 3 were too expensive for me to continue; their materials are so expensive!

I will find time to sit at the sewing machine and sew something. Now, all my hubby’s pants are mended and my children’s hand-me-down pajamas too. I am blessed that my mom was a seamstress before she got married to my dad (she was busy raising 4 of us up that the only dress that she sewn for us was pajamas). So I am getting her to pass down her knowledge to me.

I was thinking of going for sewing class but by the time I can leave my 4th child behind and attend classes, my girls will not want to wear dresses made by their mommy already. My sewing teacher will be my mom and Youtube for now.

Time check, it is 8.13am now and I have been sitting here since 7.30am. I am not supposed to be here. I am supposed to be in the kitchen preparing lunch and dinner for hubby to pack to work but I can’t do that now. It is because I forgotten to thaw the frozen blended chili.

Another option is to cook Fish Tempra but we just had that yesterday. Ikan Chuan Chuan; I have no ginger. So, wait lar…hopefully in half an hour time I can start cooking coz the blending chili is soaking in hot water now. Meantime, I use this opportunity to update my blogs.

My dad can’t sleep at night due to his asthma. Almost everyday after midnight when the weather is clod, he will cough away. In order not to disturb my mom and get some shut eyes, he will sit at the dining table and sleep upright. That’s the only way he can sleep.

Hubby told me to buy for him the adjustable bed; just like those hospital bed. I check out the price at medical equipment website, they are quite pricey for someone like us. Hubby said he saw once in Mudah someone selling it second-hand. Too bad it has been sold by now.

I took advantage of my mom’s presence yesterday!

My mom came to show me how to sew the sleeve and neck of a dress. After that, I prevented her from going home until I am done washing my dishes, cleaning the kitchen faucet and taking my shower so that she can entertain my 7.5mo baby while I do the above mentioned. If not, I won’t be able to wash the dishes until this morning unless I don’t mind hearing my baby crying his lung out in his walker.

If you frequent visit my kid’s blog then you would notice that my youngest son is very fond of smiling; big wide open mouth kinda smile. I love his smile so much that whenever I am free, I will make him smile and take lots of picture of him smiling away. Even when I am stress up, down or sad, just looking at his smile, I will smile too. Must get his smiling face in digital frame when I can afford to buy one. I am so worried that that smile will fade away as he grows older. I really hope that it will never happen. Pray with me please.

My 5yo has been bugging me to sew her a dress. She must be thinking that if her mommy can sew cloth menstrual pad and panty liner, she can sew anything!

The best place to learn is from Youtube. After a few search, I found this How To Make Summer Doll Top. It looks so simple and easy to sew. After watching twice, I head to the living hall and start cutting and sewing. It took me 3 hours to complete the dress (11pm-2am while all my children are sound asleep)! The toughest part was turning the string inside out; my safety pin got stuck coz my string was too narrow. So, have to sew another bigger one.

This tutorial in Youtube is actually for an adult top but I improvised and make it into a dress for my 5yo girl. Instead of tying around the neck, I sew buttons. It is not perfect but not bad for a first timer! hehehe. This is my first time sewing a dress and never learn sewing before in school (i was in Science class).

What do you think?

My mom is satisfied with my handwork too. I am sure gonna sew more dresses for my girls. This CNY, they will be wearing Mommy’s brand dress. If I can steal time.