HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIS!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOOOOOOOUUUU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU




Cake and Flowers for youuuuuuuuu.....
Big Girl now!!! Wait. Let me count. WOW! 31 Years Old!!!
For a moment, thought I calculated wrongly!!

Hope you had a wonderful celebration today......

Dance Mat Typing for Kids

NO! This is NOT a Sponsored Post.

I just want to tell mommies out there in blogsphere about this great "Learn to Type" site on BBC. The link is www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing. Found out about this site from S2. The kids in his class are using this site to learn to type.. There are a total of 12 stages, and it's got animation and such. At the end of Stage 12, typing speed will be assessed (errr....think my typing speed is about 56 wpm... I have to say that learning to touch-type is one of the best skills that I've acquired.... so this site can be used for adults too!!!).

As the boys have only joined the British System this school year, S1 has missed out on this Year 2 curriculum. So, he's now just learning to type and is at Stage 2 (S2 did this earlier in school, and thus is in Stage 3).

PAYjr Teen Prepaid Card

{Sponsored Post}

I have recently started giving S1 weekly allowance of approximately USD 5. As he is rather blasé about stuff, I do not physically give him the money. Instead, I make him record in a booklet, which I sign weekly to "indicate" that he has his weekly USD 5. He has to use his allowance to purchase his wants, such as DVDs, PS2 games etc. Oh! Yes. He also has to pay for damages in the house! (The other day, he thought that he was Bruce Lee and somehow damaged my mosquito screen. So, the cost of repair will be borne by him!) These expenditure will be deducted from his booklet.

I guessed the time will come where he no longer accepts this arrangement, and I would have to give him cold hard cash, which would be difficult to monitor what and how he spends it.

Alternatively, I could use PAYjr Teen Prepaid card. S1 would still have the freedom and flexibility of spending his allowance, and I would still be able to monitor the card activity on his spending habits! I can add money or suspend the card whenever I want. In short, I will be in control! Isn't this a great tool for moms and dads???

TAG - Just Desserts

This TAG is from MommyOf2Angels . She has modified the tag to be JUST DESSERTS.

By the way...DID you know that DESSERTS is STRESSED spelled backwards? Ironic yeah??

Waaa...... quite difficult. What do I like? Many things wor...luckily she kept the tag to "in your country"...otherwise worldwide delicacies will be listed too... So, here are some Malaysian favourites that I likey...


ICE CENDOL
Yum Yum...... The green squidgly cendol with thick gooey gula melaka and fresh coconut milk. Mmmmmm.......... yummy. *SLURP* *SLURP*




MANGO SAGO LOU
Ripe Sweet Honey Mango, Sago, finely shaved ice.......I like the ones at KTZ in SS2! Think have one branch in Imbi too...





BLACK SESAME CREAM & PEANUT CREAM
*SLURP*

BANANA FRITTERS WITH VANILLA ICE-CREAM
Simple but heavenly. Have some honey drizzled over them! Oooooo...delicious!!!

Need to TAG people wor... think most done already...but since this one is JUST DESSERTS, can do again, yeah??

Very Vera
Laundryamah

WMD
Mott Island

Oscar's Mommy

*************************************Start Copy****************************
Proposition: What is your favorite food in your state or country?
Requirements: Find some info about the food and show delicious pictures of it?
Quantity: FIVE PEOPLE.
Tag Mode: You leave their blog and post link and add to the list below.

NomadicMom loves Cendol, Mango Sago Loh, Black Sesame and Peanut Creams, Banana Fritters
Mommyof2angels loves crème bulee
Joymontessori loves Hakka Lei Cha
Mybabybay loves Asam Laksa from Penang, Malaysia
JustMyThoughts loves Penang Char Koay Teow
My Lil Venture loves Laksa Sarawak
Monterssorimum loves Teluk Intan Chee Cheong Fun

Math Tutors

{Sponsored Post}

S2 has just completed his Key Stage 1 SATs (Statuatory Assessment Tests) and he said to me "I am better than some of my friends. But it's so difficult to beat EH and N! They are so good in their Maths!". The two boys that S1 mentioned do participate in additional Math tutoring. Perhaps I need to send S2 to Math Tutors too!!! How else are we gonna keep up with the Jones'??

Pet Bunny

S1 came home and announced that he wants a pet bunny. Well, you know me... not really an animal person lah... BUT a friend said that letting kids keep a pet is GOOD wor... apparently brings out the caring and compassionate side of them. S1's pal, T has a pet bunny and so does his two siblings, each caring for their own. Their mom says that it's really wonderful to watch T run out to the bunnies in the morning to make sure that his bunny has food and water, and he'll bring it out, stroke it, play with it, sayang it. S1 goes round to their house quite often (going again tomorrow) and he talks about the bunnies all the time.

So, I guessed I'll have to get him one. But most probably after the Summer break lah since we will be going back to Malaysia soon. The bummer is the cleaning of the shit and stuff. T's family has a full-time gardener/handyman and this guy does the cleaning-up. I don't have a full-time guy (heck! Don't even have a part-timer now!)....so told S1 that he has to be responsible for the cleaning too, with some help from the maid lah.... And he actually said OK!

Previously, S2 wanted pet goldfishes...so off I went to buy a tank, filter and goldfishes. AIYO ...but they poo soooooo much that instead of cleaning once a month, I end up cleaning once every week. So SIEN. So got rid of everything. S2 also "bo-chap" one.... I look at the fishes more than he does! Hopefully, S1 really really will take care of his pet. Can flush the goldfish down the loo but certainly can't flush a bunny...it'll clog my pipes!!!!!

Orlando Fun

{Sponsored Post}

A long long time ago, H and I went on a two-week vacation in Orlando. The return flight tickets from London Gatwick, 2-week accommodation plus car rental worked out to be rather cheap and affordable (but back then, we were still spending our parents' hard-earned dosh!!). The SHOCKER was the astronomical cost of admission tickets to the Orlando Attractions! Disney World! Universal Studios! Plus all the other admission tickets to SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Kennedy Space Center etc were gonna burn a hole in our very shallow pockets! Back then, I saw loads of discount ticket booths along Universal Drive, hawking discount admission tickets. Of course I was very very tempted to purchase from these booths!! BUT had a naggy feeling that doubted the authenticity of these establishments, thus purchased the said-tickets at the theme park entrance. I have to say that it did burn a hole in our pockets! Now, if I were to bring the boys to Orlando, I will definitely get my Cheap Universal Studios Tickets plus other available discount tickets from OrlandoFunTickets, the largest ticket discount store in Florida. What's most important is that they are LICENSED and BONDED and I can be assured that my tickets are GOOD FOR ENTRY!!!

First Golf Lesson

This morning was my first ever golf lesson....

Happily took out my Reebok trainers (which has been in storage for 3 or 4 years???), wore it and discovered that the shoe somehow had shrunk away from the rubber base. See the photo? It's about 6 mm difference! The front of the shoe base was also peeling off. What to do?? Still had to wear it what. Have no other trainers. Can't exactly wear my open-toed sequined sandals to the driving range, right?

Somehow ah..I seem to be able to hit better when taught by a stranger. I remember when H used to teach me....aiyo...sure end up bergaduh one. The golf pro says I not flexible wor... so, have to twist twist the waist with the guide of a basketball as homework!! Next lesson is next Friday...and he says we can practise on the green! Can't wait!

Debt. Can we avoid it?

{Sponsored Post}

Debt. Can we avoid it?

For the majority of us, the answer would be a big fat NO. Unless we happen to call Bill Gates of Richard Branson daddy! Even the simplest most frugal folk would have a debt in the guise of a home mortgage. According to recent reports, last year saw a steep rise in the number of people that had debt problems, and are at risk of bankruptcies and losing their homes. Are these people BIG spenders? The answer may surprise you. These are average, hard-working people who don't over-pay, nor are shopaholics and do not own bigger houses than they could. So why are these debt conscious homeowners going bankrupt? Rising costs of living is a key factor. Read here for more...

In addition, there are these great big mortgage moguls that try to push for 130% mortgages, 40 year mortgages, no down payment mortgages, and anything else they could think of to make a bigger buck (UK). The unsuspecting consumer gets suck into a deeper debt than he can swallow.

This is why all consumers are advised to ask for debt help when in the slightest doubt; as the swing from 'tight' to 'struggling' can happen so fast, even if you've enjoyed a pay raise, found better employment, or reduced your debts.

It's My Turn...

SHIZA!!!!!!

It's my turn to have the fridge go WHACKO on me!! I don't have such a passionate relationship with the fridge like Mott so no goodbye love song here .... neither do I have her Mr.Wonderful Teo. BUT am rrrreeeeaaaallyyyyy upset that stuff in the fridge is gonna go busuk!!! SHIZA! SHIZA! SHIZA!

Last month was my junk food fridge that went WHACKO. I had to throw sooooo much ice-creams, frozen buns, milk and yogurt. This month, it's the proper food fridge where I store my meats and vegetables. AIYOOOOOOO... All my frozen "bak".... *SIGH*

The brand of the fridge? Both fridges are SHARP... provided by the landlord. If I have a choice, I would get a KELVINATOR. I tell ya...My Kelvinator belum pernah die or malfunction or operate below expectations for more than TEN YEARS!!! Really!!! And now, also have not heard my tenant complaining about my Kelvinator... SO, if anyone is out looking for a fridge, I tell you...get a KELVINATOR!!!

Summer Holidays...

{Sponsored Post}

The boys' Summer holidays will be in four weeks time... And then it's a nightmare lasting about 8 weeks!! For me. I mean. How am I going to keep them entertained constructively for that period of time? They will drive me up the wall!! That's a definite! Plus, studies have shown that kids lose an average of one month of learning during the summer break!!!! Perhaps the answer lies in a Summer Program that will help them retain their learning in a fun and interesting way! And not forgetting the fact that they will be out of mommy's hair too!

Lots of Birthdays!!!

Month of June seems like a favourite month for birthdays... For starters, Mom, Sis and H's birthdays are all in June. We have few birthday parties to go to, but I've got to decline onethat falls on a Saturday morning. Can't miss too many Swimming lessons!! Yes. I am KIASU.

Anyway, have to have S1's birthday party one month earlier too! His birthday falls right smack in the middle of Summer holidays where there will not be a soul in town! Errrr.. soul as in his classmates lah. So, most likely will have it on the 7th of July.

We have decided to have a PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN party! Kids can be pirates and fight on inflatable boats in the pool...... Watch "Pirates of Caribbean" Trilogy. Will have to get a few Jolly Rogers to decorate the house. I have about four weeks to get the party organised!

Beading Sessions

{Sponsored Post}

Just as I completed the post on my jewellery stand, I saw an opportunity to blog about beads! What good timing!!

I actually meant to join a group of ladies on their fortnightly beading sessions. These are held on alternate Tuesdays in one of the ladies' homes. But I've been too lazy to go all the way to the specialty mall to purchase the necessary supplies. Plus, the traffic jams are a big turn-off. Well, now there is no more excuse to not get started. With Lallette's online store, all the required tools, beads, charms for any jewellery-making project can be had with just a few clicks on the computer without even getting up from my comfy chair!!

Look at these cute little charms and beads from Lallette's !!! Don't you absolutely LOVE them?

My Jewellery Stand

This is the jewellery stand that I bought on Saturday. Costs about RM 80. Yeah..a tad expensive as it was retail price and not on sale .... But I've seen these stands in a Singapore Magazine and thought that I must have it!! They come in some other designs like shapely bikini gals and other period styles.....some with mou-mou ...

Precious Metals

{Sponsored Post}

I used to work in a petrochemical recycling company; and guess what made the bosses multi-millionaires? Precious Metals!!! Yes. Silver, Platinum, Palladium, Gold, Rhodium etc that are found in the spent catalysts. How does a normal folk like you and I get into precious metals investment, without burning a hole in our pockets?

Now, through Monex Deposit Company (MDC) silver, gold or other precious metals and coins can be purchased for either immediate personal delivery or to be stored at a depository of your choice. With silver offerings from under $14 per ounch , it's easy to start investing. Furthermore, silver price is on it's way up due to a multitude of reasons; primarily due to world demand outstripping annual supply. So there's no better time to start investing than right NOW!

Wife vs. Girlfriend

Friend sent me this...thought that it is funny but very true!!!

Wife is like a TV.
Girlfriend is like HandPhone.
At home watch TV.
Go out bring HP.
No money sell TV.
Got money change HP.
Sometime enjoy TV but most of the time play with HP.
TV free for life but....
HP, if you don't pay, services will be terminated....!

HAHAHHA....

SPACE - The Final Frontier

{Sponsored Post}

SPACE - The Final Frontier...

Well. NOT anymore!!!

Especially NOT when you have the latest and coolest gadgets from OpticsPlanet! It's a real candy store for any discerning astronomy buff!!! There is a whole range of meade telescopes that would cater to any budgets. Check out their latest offering..Meade MySKY

It is definitely one gadget that Captain Kirk would wanna have in his starship!! This little handheld hottie allows you to identify over 30,000 celestial objects instantly. All you have to do is point and click. And VOILA!! The information is shown in a full-colour LCD screen. This cool baby will be a GREAT gift for any gadgets enthusiast!

Our Long Weekend Trip...

Okay, a bit "watt tatt" but still had diarrhoea on Friday morning. H said "think we should just stay at home". Of course I said NO lah... ngeh-ngeh-lai also want to keep to the plan. I have to admit that I was a bit scared on the way there...just in case I needed the toilet and there's a jam. Then die lah. Although we were caught in a little jam, my belly behaved well until we reached the hotel about 3 hours later (normally 2 hours only)... AIYO, then I started to visit the toilet very frequently and then had the chills. ALAMAK Fever some more. What to do?? Slept lah. Felt sooooo much better after the little nap. Then, we took boys to watch Pirates of the Caribbean, World's End.... quite interesting but some parts I don't really understand lah. A bit sad lor the ending I thought... Donwan to say too much in case you haven't watched!

Took boys to the nearby volcano on Saturday morning. Prior to this, boys were asking "What if the volcano erupt? Will we die? etc etc"

The pix here shows the main crater, called Queen's Crater. You can actually hear the sulphurous gas HISSING out from the ground. Think the last eruption was in 1969. YUP! This is a still active volcano. We then hired a guide to take us down to the Domas Crater on the side of the mountain. Hike took us 30 minutes downhill. Luckily, we didn't have to climb all the way up to our starting point. Otherwise sure MATI lah..

Loads of water sprouting out of the ground in the Domas Crater. Of course the water is MEGA hot. See the basket of eggs in there? We bought some eggs to boil in the hot water too. But didn't eat them lah...coz H said cracked liow and water has gone into the eggs. There were many Korean tourists sitting around one of the NOT so hot pools, soaking their feet, sipping their COLD beers and eating the hard boiled eggs that were freshly cooked in the hot pools!!

It started to drizzle as we reached our car... and then pour!!! What a bummer!! Had to cancel the rest of the excursion, i.e. to the Hot Springs and StrawberryFarm, and head back to the hotel. What did we do? Sleep lah... after the long hike, what do you expect??

Woke up refreshed. Left the boys with H, and I headed out on my own to do some shopping. This place is Factory Outlets galore!!! But didn't buy much lah...just bought a cute little jewellery stand, some scrapbooking stuff and a Nike Shorts...

Next day, we left immediately after breakfast to avoid the MAD rush back to the city...

MyFitnessPal

Have you ever wondered how many calories is in that McValue Meal ???

Did you know that a Double Cheeseburger has 460 calories? And do you chomp it down with a Medium Fries that is a whopping 350 calories? What about drinks? A medium coke to wash it all down? It's another 210 calories!! That's a TOTAL of 1,020 calories!!!!

Feeling guilty already??? Want to aware of the number of calories that you are consuming? Hop on over to MyFitnessPal for that free calorie counter. The calorie counter is real easy to use, and is coupled with a search function for all your favourite foods. With this handy tool, you can make informed choices on what you are eating, and work towards that healthy lifestyle that you promised yourself many many New Year Resolutions ago!!!

And it's all FREE!!


This Post is Sponsored by :

Cha-Pa-Lang Post...

Feeling very lazy (and ill) to separate out the topics...So will do a Cha-Pa-Lang Post...

S2's SATs Today will be the final day of the SATs (Statuatory Assessment Tests) for Key Stage 1. When S2 came home from school yesterday, I asked him how it was.

S2: I had to write a letter to welcome a new boy. Use imagination.
Me: So, did you write anything?
S2: YES! I wrote so much. I wrote two pages.
Me: Wow! Two pages. What did you write?
S2: Forgot already! But I made sure the spacing is finger-width but I don't use my finger. I use my eyes.

How typical of S2!!!

Farewell Lunch Relocations, Going Home etc are all part of the expat life.....With the school year ending (American School ends next Friday), there are many GOODBYES at this time of the year. Attended a pot-luck farewell lunch on Tuesday for 5 ladies- 4 going home, and 1 to Shanghai...
Made a Homestyle Fried BeeHoon.......fried with "chue-yau-char" of course... :-)

Feeling ill Have not been feeling well these two days... Diarrhoea and now, also caught the sniffles. Feels like shit oni. Slept till like 10.30 am and then lazed in bed almost whole day. Maybe my immune system not so good these days because have chicken-out on so many of my yoga classes... :-P

New Phone Or rather OLD phone.... Inherited H's discarded N80 Phone. Tried to write a short post on my blog via the phone...but my fat fingers kept on pressing the exit key, and thus out of the internet connection. Fed-up ..donwan to do it liow.. But it's good to read news etc lah... Since mom didn't want my old 6111, I've given it to S1 already.....

Gardener Quit Liow I was gonna give the gardener an ultimatum..."tim-patt-chi", he also donwan to work. Told the maid that his father FORCED him to take up this job. This guy also "mou-samm-kei" to work one lah, that's why always never complete tasks one. Have to look out for a new gardener now. Will find one that looks like Gabriel Solis' Gardener!! Hahahah...

Desford Colliery Band Got dragged by a friend to watch this Brass Band yesterday... Am not musically inclined but FREE ma... plus my friend said cook dinner for me, have a driver pick and drop me off... So, go lor..

They are quite good,...founded in 1898 and have won many awards... wanted to post a picture but somehow it kept on saying "NO connection" etc... donno why leh...

Long Weekend We have a long weekend starting tomorrow... We will be taking the boys up to the mountains..... will post the trip when we get back. Hopefully, I will be feeling better tomorrow...