3 Candles

Birthday Cake from Hubby

One day, Fen asked me what is the meaning of life.

She said everyday she is like waiting for something, waiting for the unknown tomorrow, for the future...

This reminds me of myself many years back.

When I had 10 candles on my birthday cake...

I totally had no idea of who I am when I was 10. What other people did, I follow.

Since Anita Mui was everyone's idol, so I comb my hair like her and pretended that I was her; 

When some of my primary school mates started to wear glasses, they told me how cool it was; thinking that it was true, I purposely strained my eyes hoping that one day I will be able to wear glasses like them too; 

When my best friend Ai Sa said we should not befriend or should only "pretend" to befriend some other classmates, because I was one of her "gang member" and I wanted to continue to be in her gang, so we started the culture of "pretend" to befriend those who are not in the gang.

Those were the days when what others said were always right (of course except what my parents said).

Then I had 2 big candles on my cake.

Being the eldest among 4 daughters from a not-so-affluent family, I was a fighter. 

I was constantly fighting - to be better, to achieve something, to find myself, and perhaps to be someone I thought others would want me to be.

I knew what I want, but I was lost and uncertain of who I truely am.

I knew what I was capable of achieving, but I did not know why I want or why I do not want to do it.

I made so many bad decisions in my twenties, that some have permanently changed my life.

After STPM, I thought I wanted to be a doctor. But I was fear of blood, so I scrapped the plan last minute. The truth is, the blood phobia issue was just an excuse, I was just too lost and uncertain to decide for what I want, so I didn't proceed with the plan, and chose something easier instead.

After graduated with fairly good CGPA from local university, I thought I can be a scientist. But life in lab was kinda boring, so I abandoned my PhD plan half way. But actually the main reason was not the job being boring, but me being unsettled & rebellious, and wanting to be adventurous, so I opted for something different.

To the surprise of many, I ended up becoming a sales person, a job which I was totally not proud of in the beginning.

I told myself it's just temporary. It should just be a training ground for me to learn about business, and in the future, I am going to be a successful businesswoman, which actually I was never sure of.

Although I worked very hard in my sales career, I was unhappy and waiting...

So Fen, like you, I was looking forward to something in the future...

Maybe something better, or something great will happen tomorrow, maybe...

This year, I had 3 big candles on my cake. 

I still do not know what is the meaning of life. But I think I have found myself.

Actually the job as a sales person does help in my quest of finding myself. 

I know who I am, I know what makes me happy and what not; I appreciate what I have, and accept what I don't; I have learned to ignore what other people think of me, and concentrate of what I think of myself instead.

Unlike 6 years ago, I have now accepted and started to enjoy my job as a sales person. And I am on my way to becoming a full-blown businesswoman, just like what I told myself many years back.

And if not because of the mistakes that I made which lead me to the path of becoming a sales person, I will not get to know your brother-in-law, my lovely hubby.

Overall, I am a happier person at the age of 30, because I finally come to terms with myself and accept me for who I am.

Other people's things may seem great, but it's still other people's things, not ours; our house may not be big or may be leaking, but at least it's our home, it provides us with shelter and protected us from the sun and rain.

Tomorrow may seem great as there are a lot of maybes and possibilities, but tomorrow is an unknown, only today is within our grasps.

So Fen, perhaps life is a journey for us to find ourselves. As long as you are happy today, why wait for tomorrow?

Be happy always, as we only live once. :)

Happy Birthday to Me

Almond Cake Slice

Birthday Cake from RT Pastry House

Look at my huge hands and round face! I have to wear hubby's T-Shirt to be comfortable nowadays

It's Christmas! And Hubby's Sick

It's Christmas finally! 

But hubby is sick...

First, it was the food poisoning on Friday. After taking an injection on the arm, followed by a 12 hours sleep, he was as strong as a tiger again.

On Saturday, thinking that he has recovered, he proceeded to be the "heng tai"-cum-driver for his friend, Leong's wedding. Then at night, after returned home from Leong's wedding dinner, he started to complain of tiredness and queasiness.

On Christmas day, hubby is officially down with fever, headache, sore throat and cough. 

Sick

He woke up around 11am in the morning - had lunch - Zzzzz from 2-7pm - had Milo and his medicine - Zzzzz again...

When he was up for Milo, he kept worrying about not being able to bring me out for Christmas celebration... what am I going to have for dinner... what I would do alone for the rest of the day...

But dear...to me, the most important thing is for you to get well soon and be your old self again. 

Need not to worry about Christmas, as I believe Santa can wait. As long as you are well and happy, and I am well and happy, everyday is a Christmas day, right?

So please rest more and get well soon. We shall postpone our Christmas celebration until you are recovered. Then we can go for a movie, a nice dinner, or perhaps a date with Cedric boy together. What do you think? :)

Christmas Eve Dinner, By Chef Khai Yee & Khai Fen

My sisters - Khai Yee and Khai Fen started preparing for our Christmas Eve Dinner since afternoon.

Preparation took hours of pure efforts.

By the time of dinner around 9pm, we were all starving. And from hungry to filled and full, it only took us a short 10 minutes of gorging. 

Thanks to my sisters that I got to sit, relax, and enjoy this lovely meal of Christmas Eve.

Baked Salmon & Cod Fish with Lemon

Stuffed Squid

Never mind the odd look, this baked mushroom tastes nice

Baked Prawn

Butter Mushroom

Garden Salad

Fen's Plate

Yee's Plate

My plate? In my stomach...yummy!

Best Present in Life

Hubby was home very late last Thursday, passed midnight.

Earlier that day, he told me he'll be late, but usually his definition of late ≠ midnight. So I waited for him for dinner or supper together, and tried not to call him so that I do not disturb his work. 

I waited until about 10pm, when I patience worn out, I decided to go for dinner by myself, so I texted him. He texted back:"Be back late". Then no more news from him.

After dinner, I watched TV to kill time while waiting for hubby. In my heart, I was wondering why hubby is acting differently today...He is always a very responsible person. He'll let me know where he is going, with whom, and if he needs to be home later than usual, he will inform me roughly what time he'll be back, and make sure I have my dinner first.

Hubby looked exhausted when he finally arrived home. He said he was having dinner with clients, that's why didn't call earlier. Then he complained of being hungry, and the food at the dinner was lousy, so I made him Maggi and Milo. 

Before going to bed that night, we had a chat. 

I said: "How would you feel if I don't call you when I will be home late?" And I made him promise to call every time he were to be back late. Hubby was silent for a while...Then he said sorry, and promised.

Today I received a surprise gift. It was a white iPhone 4S. 

Then I recalled about last Thursday's incident. 16 December 2011, 12:00am was Maxis's launching day for iPhone 4S in Malaysia...

And I found out that hubby queued alone at KLCC from 6pm to midnight, just to get me a surprise iPhone 4S as birthday gift...

This Christmas, this birthday, I received the best present in my life. It's not the phone, but a hubby, the hubby that loves me dearly and deeply...

He told me before that if he only has RM1, he will give it to me and make sure I never go hungry. 

I wish to tell my dear hubby, that If you only have RM1, let's eat together and work hard together...

I believe in you, and I believe everything and anything is possible as long as both hearts are together...

Thank you dear hubby for giving me the best present ever....and Merry Christmas... :)

iPhone 4S - Hubby was talking to the silly SIRI this afternoon. Conclusion - SIRI doesn't speak Malaysian English.

Good bye my old friend - the super durable Sony Ericsson

Spotted hubby in a video from www.mobile88.com. He was #36 in the queue, among the first group of 40 people to enter the event hall.

Hubby on Youtube!

The Maxis iPhone 4S Launching Event on 16 December 2011 @ KLCC covered by

http://www.mobile88.com/ & http://www.smashpop.net/.

Celebrating Winter Solstice 冬至快乐！

In Malaysia, it is summer all year round; perhaps our 2 most distinct seasons are the dry and rainy season.

Notwithstanding the fact that we do not have the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, we celebrate winter solstice (冬至) every year by way of preparing and enjoying Tang Yuan (汤圆）.

Tang Yuan (汤圆)

I always like 冬至 since I was young.

Every year on the eve of 冬至, my mom never fail to prepare glutinous rice doughs dyed in different colours: red and white are the most common colours, sometimes with green (colour from pandan juice) and purple (colour from the extract of dried morning glory) doughs as well. After dinner, the parents and kids would gather and start our hours-long journey of rolling the doughs into small balls.

For the kids, it was more like playing with the dough, than the serious task of preparing an offering to the god.

My sisters and I would compete with each other to see who can roll the most number of rice balls on the palms without the balls sticking to each other.

Sometimes accidents happened, and the balls dropped to the floor. With these rejected balls, we would make them into the shape of snake, mouse, chicken etc and have fun with it. My favourite shape is the coiled snake, which sometimes was mistaken as "poo poo" due to its very artistic and crude finish.

Snake? Poo Poo?

In the morning of 冬至, mom always woke up early. She would prepare the salty version of the Tang Yuan (with pork and dried prawn soup) as our breakfast, and the common sweet version Tang Yuan as offering to god.

Sweet version - Tang Yuan in sugar syrup

Salty version - Tang Yuan in pork & dried prawn soup

Mom said each Tang Yuan represents 1 year of age, only after eating a Tang Yuan that we will be 1 year older. So when I was 12, I need to eat at least 12 rice balls for me to be a "true" 12 year-old; now that I am xx years old, I will have to eat A LOT of Tang Yuan to represent my current age. :)

Those were the time in kampung...

Now that my sisters and I are all grown up and are living in the city, only mom and dad are in kampung this year. Mom called last night, said this year she only made tang yuan with one colour - red, as offering to the god, and it took her more than an hour to finish rolling alone. I guess mom and dad must be feeling lonely during this festive season...I wonder when I can save enough money to buy them a house here and invite them to stay nearer with us...

This morning my sisters followed our old tradition of making the salty Tang Yuan as breakfast, and the sweet version for dessert. Hubby said he only want 1 rice ball, but I forced him to have 18 in the end. For myself, I had A LOT, more than my current age for sure! Thanks to my sisters that this year we can enjoy the yummy tang yuan with old time flavour.

I just love Tang Yuan! Don't you?

Dear Santa: Bad Thing I Have Done

Dear Santa,

Christmas is coming...and it has always been my favorite time of the year! 

The song, the mood, the feel, and the spirit...it is simply a magical season of love, peace, and giving...

This year, I am hoping for a great present from you as I have been a good girl in 2011, or at least I have tried my best to be a good girl this year.

But I have a confession to make before you make up your mind whether to grant me my wish. 

I did something bad today... 

I wrote a terrible and nasty note, and stuck it at someone's windscreen just now...

The note says:

"To whom with NO civil consciousness,

 May you NEVER have a Merry Christmas forever."

It was an incident that happened in Midvalley, one of the busiest shopping centre in town. 

Maybe because it is near X'mas, the car park was full of cars. Cars were everywhere, doing all sorts of dramas: honking, queue cutting, double park, triple park etc etc. All drivers seem frustrated and fed up. But I have a secret location where I never failed to find a parking lot. Where? It's secret. :)

So like usual, I managed to find a parking space within minutes of arrival at the secret location. Unfortunately a Kancil suddenly cut queue and stole my parking. Bad luck...

Then I found another parking lot within seconds. Good luck.

When I was about to reverse park, a white BMW behind me suddenly drove in and stole my parking space! Stolen again??? I was determined to get it back this time. 

So I got down from my car, walked toward the driver side of the BMW, "knock, knock" on the windows. 

The driver was a young brunette lady, heavily made up, blood red lips, sexy tight dress. Obviously she tried to ignore me. She opened the car door despite me standing beside the car. The door pushed hard on my big 37 weeks belly, she got down from the car forcefully, and escaped. Before I could react, she already cabut far...

It's unbelievable what people willing to do for their own selfish reasons...totally unbelievable...I was stunned, then from stunned I became mad. 

The devil in me was growing strong...I actually have a very strong urge to kick the god damn white BMW so hard that her tyre deflate, or scratch her car from front to back with a coin...or smash her wind screen so hard that it shatters into a thousand pieces...

Dear Santa...please forgive me for having those terrible thoughts...I suspect this brunette lady who drives the white car with plate number WKK 6666 must be a devil sent from hell to make me a bad person too, for 666 is a number often associated with devil...

Dear Santa, I thank you for saving me from being a real devil...I am glad that I managed to resist the satanic thoughts, and didn't let my madness consume me completely. No, I didn't kick her tyre, didn't scratch her car, nor did I break her wind screen...but I did one kicik miao nasty thing to help myself feel better...I wrote the 6666 driver a "wish you not merry" christmas note, and stuck it at her wind screen...which is one of the silliest and stupidest thing I have done in 2011.

So Mr.Santa, after I confessed to you honestly about this bad thing that I've done today, I hope you can forgive me for what I did, just like I am ready to forgive the 6666 lady and forget about this incident. 

If you decide that you shall forgive me, and I still deserve a gift, I hope you you can make my wish come true. 

My wish for this year's Christmas is that everyone in the world will be blessed with a kind heart. If everyone can think less about ourselves, and care more about others, I am sure the world will be a better place.

Merry Christmas!

Sleepless Nights...

During the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, many easy tasks that we take for granted in everyday life become more and more difficult. One of it being...to sleep.

First, it is becoming harder to find a comfortable position to lie down nowadays.

Sleep on the back: the back will be painful after a while...

Sleep on the stomach: you can't...not with a basketball-sized belly...

Sleep side, left (which many say is the best position for the baby and mommy) or right: the not so bad options.

But still, my rib cage muscle will become sore and painful after a while. Sleep left, left rib muscle will be aching; sleep right, right rib muscle will be aching. So when one side is aching, I'll need to turn to another side. And because the big belly always gets in the way, turning myself will always wake me up as I need to use both hands to support the belly and turn...like a turtle on its back.

Secondly, the hot flashes and sweating.

Hubby said I have transformed from a sweetie to a sweatie since I got pregnant, that is I sweat a lot.

Even though the air-con is ON all the time and is set at 22°C constantly, my palms and feet are almost always wet. My naughty hubby will sometimes hold my feet and pretends to smell it, then pretends to get choked and fainted. Sigh...It shouldn't be that bad right...? I always try to cheer myself up by thinking that this is only temporary, and it will go away after the BB is born...

There were nights when I was soundly asleep, but suddenly woke up feeling warm, and found myself soaking wet in sweat. After that, I couldn't seem to get back to sleep anymore, but toss and turn on the bed waiting for morning...

Third, baby kicking, and kicking hard.

I enjoy the times when baby is kicking and moving in the stomach. It tells me that he is doing fine in there, and everything is OK.

But if the naughty BB is kicking hard when you are trying to get some sleep, that gives you sleeplessness. Still, sleeplessness is better than worrying whether he's doing ok or not.

So BB, continue kicking, swimming, and dancing whenever you feel like it.

Forth, hyperactive mind and vivid dreams.

I can remember my dreams quite well nowadays. I will try to keep remembering it for a little longer, so that I can tell hubby when he wakes up in the morning. Some dreams are about ordinary daily life events, but many are scary nightmares.

I guess maybe I think too much...or worry too much about the soon-to-arrive BB.

With the due date just around the corner, I can't help but to have a sense of insecurity that many things are still not ready...the preparation, my work, my study, the labor process, the confinement, the parenthood...all these question marks are frequent visitors of my hyperactive mind now...

Fifth, the frequent peeing.

Luckily my frequent peeing "problem" is still at a bearable level. Most of the nights I only need to visit the loo once or twice. The real problem is how to get back to sleep after that with the above mentioned hyperactive mind...another long, cool night...

Some say pregnancy insomnia is nature's way to prepare the mothers for those sleepless nights with the newborns. Perhaps! Few days ago I woke up at 4am then toss and turn. Then it became 3am, and today i was already wide awake at 2am.

Thinking of the many sleepless nights yet to come, I salute all mommies who have successfully gone through the toughest stage, and all mommies who are going through it. To those expectant like me who are awaiting to welcome the babies, gambate!

FREE KFC Double Zinger Burger, Valid Until 15 Jan 2012

UPDATES: 

Due to overwhelming response, KFC has ran out of stocks, and ended the promotion prematurely on 14 Dec 2012.

Promotion ended 14/12/2011.

________________________________________________________________________________________

KFC is giving away FREE Double Zinger Burger Combo Set with any purchase!

KFC E-Voucher: Free Double Zinger Burger Combo

• Promotion until 15 Jan 2012 (not valid during public holidays). 
• Print the E-Voucher for redemption.

KFC for dinner anyone?

I Love Weekend - Yuen Buffet Steamboat, Sunway Mentari

Mr. Amerjit Singh, one of my lecturers suffered from heart attack about 2 months ago, and is recovering from an open heart surgery. I was surprise to know that Mr. Kevin Joshua, another of my lecturer, only in his mid thirties, had heart attack as well last week. I wonder whether it is some kind of work hazard due to the highly stressful and hectic work nature as a lawyer...?

While I am truly concern about their health and recovery, and I truly, really, very much like them as my lecturers...I am kinda "sorrily" happy that this weekend's lectures are cancelled due to shortage of lecturer.

Untung... :p

It's like an early Christmas holidays that falls from the sky! 

Yeah! It will be a long break - 3 days off from Saturday until Monday, time much needed for me to finish up the preparation to welcome BB Cedric and to settle those pending works on hands before the start of my confinement leave.

For the day, it was busy busy busy....tiring tiring tiring....but happy...

For dinner, hubby treated me to Yuen Buffet Steamboat @ Sunway Mentari. It's "Eat All You Can" type of steamboat, where each adult pays only RM24 (exclude drinks) which entitle you to eat as much as you can, and as long as you want. But be prepared to queue for 15 to 30 minutes for a table, especially during peak dinner hours over the weekend.

RM24 for each adult (excluding drinks & tax)

Yuen steamboat was a place I like to go when hubby and I were "pak-tor-ing" (dating). Tonight was the first time we revisited this place since married, and it's sweet that we were coincidently given the same table we used to sit years ago, which reminds me of our old pak tor time...

Overall the taste of food was OK, price was reasonable, variety was good, ingredients were fresh, and cleanliness was acceptable. I especially like the easy and noisy atmosphere, where everyone is relax and casual. This is a place where you can enjoy your food and be yourself. So please feel free to eat using your hands, eat standing up, and eat like a horse, as it is already a common scene there.

 

A good variety of steamboat ingrediants

The seafood

More variety

Soup - chicken and tomyam flavours

One of the must-have food in the restaurant is the Honey BBQ Chicken Wing. I would say it's the signature dish of the restaurant, which everyone fights for when it's served hot and fresh from the kitchen. Usually it will be snapped up clean from the buffet table within minutes after being served, so make sure you keep an alert eye when the waiter brings out the dish from the kitchen, or you will have to wait for another 10-15 minutes for the next round of serving.

Super delicious BBQ chicken wings, coated by a thick sticky layer of caramelized sweet source.

Ice cream to finish off the wonderful day

In conclusion, it was a wonderful dinner, and a wonderful Saturday...

Becoming a Malaysian - Maggi Goreng

Not that I was not a Malaysian before, or I am not Malaysian now, or I will not be a Malaysian in the future; just I find that there are things that I need to learn in order to become "more" Malaysian.

My hubby is quite a "malaysian" Malaysian, and he's always proud to be a Malaysian. 

He loves durian.

Spicy food, especially cili padi is a must everyday.

He likes to show off his fluent Malay language, by teasing my not so good Malay language.

He sometimes tells stories about how he used to be taken care by Malay babysitter when he was a baby (that's where he learned to eat nasi lemak and picked up his habit of washing his buttock after poo poo instead of wiping with tissue paper).

He enjoys our mamak store culture. 

Not to forget, he can cook yummy maggi goreng! 

I notice that I've become more Malaysian after I become Mrs.Siew. And learning to enjoy maggi goreng is one of the things that make me feel more Malaysian.

Maggi Goreng with Bull's Eye Egg, by Chef TS

I was home late tonight. On my way home, I ordered maggi goreng from chef TS for dinner. 

Since the chef has had his dinner earlier, so in my mind I was imagining something simple - instant noodle + egg. 

To my surprise, he added some secret ingredients to the noodle: his love and effort. 

Notwithstanding the wet day and being tired from work, he took the trouble to drive to nearby store to buy vegetables for the supposedly simple dish, then spent 15 mins in the kitchen cooking and washing up...when he can save all the troubles by just "ta pao" dinner for me.

I think that makes him the best maggi goreng chef ever! 

Simply delicious...! Can I have more dear...?

Maxis iPhone 4s is coming to Malaysia !!!

Yes, iPhone 4s will be coming to Malaysia soon !

Most likely Maxis will be the first telco to launch the much anticipated iPhone 4s rumored to be on December 16th 2011.

With the new features such as Siri, A5 Dual Core chip...it would be a perfect Christmas gift !

Click here to REGISTER your interest on the iPhone 4s with Maxis.