Goodbye 2012 and thanks for your lessons...

Another year has just passed on like that. And time to take account. I did not try hard or focus at work this year. I wasted too much time idling away. And this pattern is gonna repeat if I dont set goals for myself and to work my way to spend time well. I need to have an objective and goal! And this year i also come to realise there are some things in me i need to work on to have better relationship with my children, spouse, family and friends. And I should not take relationship for granted. This year also reminded me again that storms passes on and the sun shines brightly again, and during stormy weather to have faith. And I want to be thankful for having so much and being blessed with the wisdom to choose and to see the mistakes and to be thankful for blessings. And I so look forward to 2013 and to to make it a better year, God willing.

There is sun and there is rain and then there is the occasional storms

Life sometimes throw you unexpected challenges, and rocks your boat a little harder and you are thrown out of bearing...and lose yourself a bit. But I think it's God's way to say, hey you have been too complacent or hey wake up I am here. So recently this happened to us. There were some work challenge which left us a little scarred not broken but scarred and we are still at the tail end of it. Relying on prayers to guide us, good friends who are there and on our side no matter what helps in the journey. And as any journey it must go on and we will find ourselves in better land soon. We have much to be thankful for and that we must never lose sight. We have been given much...

Rhythm of Life

Life has its rhythm for each season, and sometimes I just let the rhythm rock me slowly and I take it all in one day at time. Hubby has started his Master's, at last. We have been talking about it for so many years. Gonna need sacrifice, time with family, free time, rest time and gonna involve serious work. But he seems excited starting schooling again, and I feel excited seeing him being excited. But it's gonna change our rhythm, as he is always there for the kids running around for them, so I am gonna take in more with them, from going to the park to just being there to put them to bed...and this is the rhythm for the next 2 years. Kids have been going to the park at least 3 times a week and they have made friends to look forward to at the park which is so nice, ah nothing beats having friends at any age. Garden is thriving, have gotten the trellis which I have been thinking for so long.  I am so thankful for all that I have and feel truly blessed. Am looking forward to what the next phase of life is gonna bring!

House, Garden and Family

I was neglecting my garden for about 2 months, just cant bring myself to do anything about it. Each time I walk by I try to ignore how it looks, how shabby it has become, and it looks wthered, sad and totally neglected. The rose plants which have been flowering this last 2 years has completely stopped flowering for the first time. And then one Sunday I started clearing, repotting, fertilising, rearranging, and in 2 weeks the garden looked completely different. Everything looked greener, cleaner, and the roses started flowering. Which remeinded me of life, when we ignore the problems we have they dont go away but becomes worst and starts rotting at the roots...I am in a happier place now, as always I find the happy spot and try to linger in it as long as possible...till something comes up and shakes  its core, but I always get there:) Children are growing so fine...two days ago my oldest one told me that just before his test he said a prayer and that made me totally happy...My husband is starting his Masters program and seems excited about it...and my younger one..oh he is just growing up fast and happy, and I am totally grateful...for all the family and friends that I have.

I turned 40

I turned 40 last Thursday. I mean how did it happen. I was this young girl cycling around everywhere and being crazy and all. I feel 33, I am stuck at 33...I  don't mind being 40, but I used to think 40 is a ripe old age where people were serious and had enough of life and tired and old. But I feel energetic, I feel life has just really started I feel 33!:) I turned 40. And I feel good about it, I feel I am at good part of 40. What's my resolution, I am never one to be good at sticking to any resolutions, but I am gonna make some anyway.

1. To have a mood chart up, did one and gonna put it up.
2. To take care of health, juicing more.
3. To try to let go of the small stuff that I so often get annoyed and worry about...this is a tough one for me.
4. To have some time with hubby alone.
5. To try not to scream at kids so much and to use virtues way...constantly trying.

Getting up and making it happen

Running own business and managing own time has many advantages. You manage your time, you have the flexibility and you have a much better balance of work like. It can also get vague, no direction and no target at times. So sometimes I find myself in a rut or staring into space, which can be scary and gives a feeling of insecurity at times. So I need to set some goals and target. And the same happens at home some times I deal with things as they come along, and I see paper, bills, mails gathering, kids papers books and all the rooms getting piled up with stuff, and it's time for another cleaning and decluttering. I managed to declutter wardrobe and kids closet and gave away many stuffs and realize there is space there now, just cleared kids study and more space there too! Now I need to tackle the living room, with all the mails and bills gathering. The biggest challenge is hubby's computer space and stuff and that's a sensitive subject with him, so I will tackle that the last:). This school holiday will focus on decluttering, and catching up on children's studies. Arjoonha needs to improve on his Bahasa Malaysia and also Chinese Science. So am getting to do workbook and hope he will do much better in the next exam. Also gonna take them to park daily if possible, and spend much time with them. At the end of the day that's what matters, So gonna get uo and make it happen!

School Holidays : Penang Island and Taiping

School holidays just started and we actually started it a little early to beat the jam and the holiday crowd, and truly it's a great decision. We left to Penang on Thursday... Looks like Bayview Beach Penang is gonna be our Hotel of choice. Good rates, clean, nice pools and gardens, food and beach is okay. The beach in Penang is nothing like how it used to be, the water is not very clean and also the beach is very small and not a big deal. But in the West Coast this is a better beach compared to that of Port Dickson and Morib. And there is something about holidaying by the beach, just the sound of the waters and the wind makes it somehow more of a holiday:)  This time we went to Suffolk House for high tea. It was a truly nice experience, being served tea and dainty cakes, sandwiches and scones on tiers...The garden is beautiful and also the mansion itself. The kids truly enjoyed the experience. Then we also had dinner at the place called China House, our friends EK and his wife took us there. Apparently owned by a rich Australian lady,  I thought it was a charming place. It's a very long narrow place, and it's like walking through different worlds...okay may seem to be an exaggeration but what I mean is as we walk in there is the bar, then the courtyard, then the fine dining, family room, reading room, casual dining, and the upstairs is an art gallery for young artist. Such a cleverly combined place. Love it!  Then we have to have a mean at Happy Garden, which has been operating for 28 years, a small shack like place amidst a pretty garden. They serve home made bread and marmalades, American breakfast and local food. Kids had plenty of pool and beach time and I sneaked in a  massage and some needed discussion with hubby. We then went to Taiping for a day. We took the kids to the Taiping Night Safari. Frankly this is not worth the trip as the tram we were on was super noise and the animals are kind of hard to see in the dark. If you really want one go to the Singapore Night Safari. But the Taiping Lake Gardens is worth a visit. First of all it's Malaysia first public park and it's green, lush, serene and beautiful. Kids were happily playing in it for more then an hour. It was a good holiday for the kids, and for the adults too. 

Bhaarata turned 6 and Mother's day

Bhaarata turned 6. My little cheeky, persistent, strong willed child who came into my life 5 years ago (yes he is 6 now:). Everthing about him is so special. He is like a burst of sunshine. Love him so very much.  Bhaarata's birthday is also mothers day this year. A party at Kids sports and gym was arranged for him, and he had all his friends around him and had a blast. It was made more special as 2 of his cousins stayed the night, and the next day was mothers day, so both my sisters and I took my mother out for lunch, and we chatted and laughed forgetting the usual stresses of life for a few hours.

Death is a Messenger of Joy

We believe death is a messenger of joy to those who dies, but those left behind have to learn to cope with living without their loved ones.  I just received news of someone we know in the community passing away due to cancer. Cancer, this illness robs so many families of loved ones, both young and old.  I have my own regrets that I did not visit as I intended to. Thinking there will be another time another chance, and more often then not another time and another chance does not come.  I pray that dear Kasthuri's family will slowly heal and her husband will find solace.

Time Heals All...they say

I have heard that time eventually heals all. Maybe it doesnt heal but the pain becomes lesser...maybe for some things. My cousin lost her child and can something like that heal, maybe she does not feel the intense pain and grief as she once did, but the pain of losing a child cannot be healed. But yes time heals many things else, and I want to believe that eventually all becomes less painful, and less intense and less...

Child

Last 1 week all of us have been praying for the safe return of a child who was kidnapped outside his school around here. The thought of it was devastating and I could not bring myself to even look at the pictures of the parents in the facebook being a mother myself. The kids and I have been praying daily for his safe return, like thousands of other out there. Today at 730am we read the news that he has been found and safely united with his family. What a happy news this is, one that is indesceribable! Thank you God!

We need to be reminded...

Sometimes we need to be reminded that we have much to be thankful for. Yes I may have wanted it differently even had it differently, and then I am reminded to be thankful. This last week when we were at my sisters house she brought us to a home for prayers. This family of 3 lived in a small low cost apartment with no lights at the staircase, rubbish strewn all over a tiny place. Both my sons were with me and I can see my oldest one observing the surrounding and taking it all in. And I felt humbled,  they were so gracious in welcoming us and serving us with whatever they have. And I also used that moment to teach my children to be thankful for what we have and to realise that not all out there has much. Today we were at a morning devotional when a parents brought their daughter who is severely ill with cancer for the devotional and although the young lady's eyesight is failing she insisted to read a prayer. And it made me feel that sometimes how we let our sleepiness and a little tiredness stop us from attending prayers, when we can never know that  we may not be able to do it one day. Sometimes I need to be reminded..And I am truly grateful for all that I have.

Someone else's life

I love reading blog. If I have my own time, other then watching tv, I read blogs, in fact I read more blogs then I do read books, and books are suppose to be my first love. I just love to know how people live their lives and what they do, right from the everyday stuff to the not so everyday ones. This is how I am, listening and finding out about lives around me, and picking up the good ones, wishing sometimes I live their lives..I was feeling a little low yesterday as I really idled the time away and felt guilty and useless. My friend called and I told her how I felt and she said, that is so far from true. That she loves my life and what I do, and how I make people happy. I wasnt totally convinced it did make me feel a little better. Which makes me feel I need to embrace the life I have and make it a little better everyday, as someone out there thinks I have a better life then them...

Incorporating Fruits in every meal

I was watching River Cottage about incorporating fruits in our meals. I have been trying to do this. my oldest boy have been drinking fruit juices for breakfast before school a few times week, need to make this a daily routine. So what better day then to indulge on breakfast then weekends!  I followed the recipe for drop scones from the show and it was great. It's really like American pancakes, smaller in shape and what I do was to smear them,\ with honey and a squeeze of lemon juice and topped them with strawberries and banana slices. My son had 7 of them! Truly yummy! I really didnt follow the measurements I used:

200gm of self raising flour
2 tablespoon of brown castor sugar
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 eggs
Whisked them all with enough milk to make a smooth better with the consistency to scoop and drop into a pan

 

Arjoonha turned 9

My dearest arjoonha, my eldest son just turned 9 on the 9th of April. My sweet gentle boy. I am so super blessed to have him. He was a wonderful good baby and growing up to be a good natured boy. He loves watching tv, being read a book and told stories, he loves to be with his friends and cousins and love having visitors at home. He is kind and sympathetic and so mature for for his age. And I love him so very much. My wish for him is to grow up being a just person, generous and kind and love what he is and what he choose to do and to be a God fearing person. I love you arjoonha with all my heart.

Iphone 4s

Arjoonha

Bhaarata and Arjoonha

Got my Iphone 4s! Been using the Iphone 3Gs for almost 3 years now and starting to have some problems with the speaker activating so just changed into 4s. Loving it. Love the new apps instagram and the many choices of hues it comes with. The old phone have been passed to hubby who willingly took it as he does not use the phone as often as I do, due to work:). Technology never fails to amaze me. Have been playing OMGPOP with friends whom I have not met for so many years, and who are in different parts of the world. What more will I see in my lifetime I wonder.

School Meals

Arjoonha is 9 and gets hungry during  break times in school. And we have to always figure what to give him to eat and try to balance it up with something nutritious and filling. I got this 3 separator rubbermaid box. And its perfect for taking to school.  Here he has some good quality sausages(am still trying to see how I can make this at home, some grapes and some chocolates which he happily  shares with his friends! Sometimes he takes butter sandwiches, and bananas. I have to really make a list of what he can take to school on a daily basis!  Here are some ideas for you: Pancakes(with jam, and butter in separate cubes, the one you buy individually,  Peanut butter sandwiches and bananas, banana fritters(too happy with this as its deep fried), mandarin oranges, and cheese sandwiches, mini burgers and an apple...

Fun Dinner - Homemade hamburger

Some times my family crave for fun dinners like hamburgers and hotdogs. There are times I end up buying them outside, but I do know that it comes with colorings and processed meat and stuff which cant be good for our health. So I do try as much as possible to make meals fun but home made. These home made burgers are really quick and simple to make. And the kids more then willingly eat them all up.

Recipe:

To make four large patties.

350gm of minced beef(chicken, lamb, or beef...or almost any meat)

1 large minced onion

1 cup of breadcrumbs, I prefer japanese breadcrumbs

1/2 cup of shredded carrots (injecting some vegetables, you can also use spinach)

1 egg

salt

pepper

worcertershire sauce 1 tablespoon

Olive oil for frying

4 burger buns for assembling

lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber for assembling

How to:

Mix them all together and then make them into patties.

Heat up a pan or grill, oil it with some olive oil

fry the patties for about 5 mins..or untill well done

Then assemble them. For assembling I use a little mayo, tomato ketchup or mustard and you can add more vegetables like, lettuces, cherry tomatoes or cucumbers.

You can serve this as a meal for dinner or serve with a side salad!

Health and Minimising Regrets....2012

2012 has been a good year ...so far..we are only 2 months into the year. I have been pretty regular with my morning exercise, which is an 45mins - 1 hour of brisk walk. And I actually feel good doing it! I also think it's gonna be a more fitter me. With this I actually went for a medical test after so many years of not doing one, and all results came out good which is a relief...Can't afford to die now as my boys are still very young. So I hope to continue the walks...and so contemplating of getting a treadmill! yes a treadmill! What's stopping me, thingking if it will be something of a fad where I use it and then set it aside...! Many tells me walking out there is much better, yes...I dont live in Utah with clear air and beautiful landscape, I scurry in the morning to the nearest park to walk my rounds...And sometimes I dont feel like going out but I do feel like exercising, so shall I get a treadmill?? Or is it gonna be a purchase that I will regret?

We gave my mum for the first time a surprise birthday party. She is 75 years old. Reason why I shared this idea with my siblings because, I dont want her funeral to be the only first gathering where all our friends and neighbour will gather around for her. I want her while still alive and well to be able to see a show of love for her. It turned out very well indeed, and after the intial shock and drama(yes drama), she enjoyed it, And I really feel good about it as she has happy memories now, and I dont a day when I think back and wished, if only we did for her this...or that..

Next in line, is a weekend get away with 2 of my dearest friends...that have to wait till June...

2012, calmer and better

Love, love, love how 2012 has started! My boys are 9 and 6! And morning school is great! More time, to go playground, to have fun, to do my morning walks, and it has been a blessing. 2012 is going to be about focusing on getting into better shape, more family time and catching up with friends.!