Saturday, 31 July 2010

August is here

Yes, it is that time of the year again.

Birthdays and birthdays, a never ending list of birthdays fall this month. For example in my family I have 4 people celebrating their birthday this month.

First would be my SIL, followed by my MIL then myself. Lastly but not least the youngest member of the family, Baby Jay. His 1 year old birthday falls on 25th. We have yet to decide how to celebrate it, but probably something simple, like a dinner with my family and hubby's family.

So, I always love August. *wink*

Thursday, 29 July 2010

Rescue and Recovery


It’s time to bring back my little fire fighter and his rescue pal. This is a collection I started, put aside, and have now recovered due to the interest many of you have shared with me for your love of the little guy.

Right now the collection is just beginning to be fueled, but hopefully it will spark the interest of just the right folks and maybe one day we will be able to see The Little Rescue Crew manufactured into products from fabrics, to paper goods, to bedding for little guys, to pajamas, and even to match boxes. Just the thought of it kind of gets me fired up!

Wednesday, 28 July 2010

Christmas Season’s in the Sun


We had joy, we had fun, we had Christmas in the sun . . . it seems that every time I work on Christmas collections it’s just about the hottest, sunniest time of the year. The snowmen take it the hardest, but the other traditional icons all join in and help give summer Christmas projects a little holiday cheering on.

I have just completed a project with Woodland Christmas that will be out before the winter winds blow. I will keep you updated on when and where to search for it, and I recommend that you do open before Christmas. None of this “do not open ‘til Christmas” nonsense, or you won’t be able to take full advantage of it.


One of the main icons I was wanting to add to the collection is the little maiden’s beau. It just so happens that indeed she did find her beau in that winter wonderland and she’s wanting to show him off.

Here, along with a few additional icons, are some of the latest Woodland Christmas images added to the collection, ready and waiting for the winter chills to arrive.

Tuesday, 27 July 2010

A doctor to be

Just the other day I asked my 4 years-old girl about her ambition when she grows up. I know it sound ridiculous but I just want to ask her what would she wants to be when she grows up. And her answer?? A DOCTOR!

I believe like every other young children we would simply reply "Teacher". Yes. My ambition was to be a teacher when I was around 8 years old. I do not remember what I want to be when I was a 4 year old child. I was simply immature and young to think about that at such age.

So, a doctor is what my girl replied me. Probably she is fascinated by the white lab coats wore by doctors and nurses in Normah Hospital when I brought her and Baby Jay for vaccination the other day.

Hmm, a doctor does sound like a good profession to me. I do not mind to have a doctor in a family. If my girl ever becomes a doctor and opens her own clinic some day, I would like to advise her to design nicer medical uniforms. Make it more trendy instead of plain white like Kara Top. So, if my daugther ever realise her ambition, I will get her to purchase her uniforms from Nursing Uniforms as they have neat and trendy uniforms to choose from.

What Keeps Me Up at Night

Yay for pillow fights!

Most of the time it's just anxiety about everything I need to get done the next day and not feeling like I've gotten enough done the day before.



Pain probably keeps me up way more than I'd like to admit but such is life with chronic illness.

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Monday, 26 July 2010

Music Monday: Hole- Celebrity Skin



I had a dream last night about Courtney. The details are fuzzy but it made me want to watch old Hole videos. Melissa and Courtney are so adorable in this one. I used to listen to this song every morning when I was getting ready for school.

Sunday, 25 July 2010

Happy Bunday! July 25th, 2010


This next week is going to be crazy. I have so much left to do before my boyfriend's poker night. Fingers crossed that everything goes well!

Watch your food

I know it is a Monday, but what a better way to kick off the remaining week with an interesting facts about your health on Monday? Everyone know (or should know) how and what should be done to have an optimum health but do you really follow/do it? So, just to remind you again on what you should and should not do and take. It is hard to follow, being a Malaysian, we love our food! hahaha!.....Happy Monday everyone! :)


CANCEROUS FOODS / PRODUCTS

INSTANT NOODLES
Dear instant noodle lovers,
Make sure you break for at least 3 days after one session of instant noodles before you eat your next packet! Please read the info shared to me by a doctor. My family stopped eating instant noodles more than 5 years ago after hearing about the wax coating the noodles - the wax is not just in the Styrofoam containers but it coats the noodles. This is why the instant noodles do not stick to each other when cooking.

If one were to examine the ordinary Chinese yellow noodles in the market, one will notice that, in their uncooked state the noodles are oily. This layer of oil prevents the noodles from sticking together.

Wanton noodles in their uncooked state have been dusted with flour to prevent them sticking together. When the hawker cooks the noodles, notice he cooks them in hot water and then rinses them in cold water before cooking them in hot water again. This process is repeated several times before the noodles are ready to be served. The cooking and rinsing process prevents noodles from sticking together.

The hawker then 'lowers the noodles in oil and sauce to prevent the noodles from sticking if they are to be served dry. Cooking instructions for spaghetti require oil or butter to be added in the water when boiling the spaghetti to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Otherwise, one gets a big clump of spaghetti!

There was an SBC (now TCS) actor some years ago, who at a busy time of his career had no time to cook, resorted to eating instant noodles everyday. He got cancer later on. His doctor told him about the wax in instant noodles. The doctor told him that our body will need up to 2 days to clear the wax. There was also an SIA steward who after moving out from his mother's house into his own house, did not cook but ate instant noodles almost every meal. He had cancer, and has since died from it.

Nowadays the instant noodles are referred as ' cancer noodles '..

SATAY LOVERS (BARBECUE)
If you all eat Satay, don't ever forget to eat the cucumber, because eating Satay together with carbon after barbequing can cause cancer.
But we have a cure for that... Cucumber should be eaten after we eat the Satay because Satay has carcinogen (a cancer causing element) but cucumber is anti-carcinogenic. So don't forget to eat the cucumber the next time you have Satay's.


PRAWNS (SUGPO) & VIT C
DO NOT eat shrimp / prawn if you have just taken VITAMIN C pills!!
This will cause you to DIE in ARSENIC (As) toxication within HOURS!!


PORK AWARENESS
Try this and see whether the pork you bought has worms. There goes with your 'Bak Kut Teh' for those who love it. Most men love to eat this so watch out before it's too late. If you pours Coke (yes, the soda) on a slab of pork, wait a little while, you will SEE WORMS crawl out of it. A message from the Health Corporation of Singapore about the bad effects of pork consumption.. Pig's bodies contain MANY TOXINS, WORM and LATENT DISEASES.

Although some of these infestations are harboured in other animals, modern veterinarians say that pigs are far MORE PREDISPOSED to these illnesses than other animals. This could be because PIGS like to SCAVENGE and will eat ANY kind of food, INCLUDING dead insects, worms, rotting carcasses, excreta including their own, garbage, and other pigs. INFLUENZA (flu) is one of the MOST famous illnesses which pigs share with humans.. This illness is harboured in the LUNGS of pigs during the summer months and tends to affect pigs and human in the cooler months.

Sausage contains bits of pigs' lungs, so those who EAT pork sausage tend to SUFFER MORE during EPIDEMICS of INFLUENZA. Pig meat contains EXCESSIVE quantities of HISTAMINE and IMIDAZOLE compounds, which can lead to ITCHING and INFLAMMATION; GROWTH HORMONE which PROMOTES INFLAMMATION and growth; sulphur containing mesenchymal mucus which leads to SWELLING and deposits of MUCUS in tendons and cartilage, resulting in ATHRITIS, RHEUMATISM, etc.
Sulphur helps cause FIRM human tendons and ligaments to be replaced by the pig's soft mesenchymal tissues, and degeneration of human cartilage.

Eating pork can also lead to GALLSTONES and OBESITY, probably due to its HIGH CHOLESTEROL and SATURATED FAT content. The pig is the MAIN CARRIER of the TAENIE SOLIUM WORM, which is found in its flesh. These tapeworms are found in human intestines with greater frequency in nations where pigs are eaten. This type of tapeworm can pass through the intestines and affect many other organs, and is incurable once it reaches beyond a certain stage. One in six people in the US and Canada has RICHINOSIS from eating trichina worms, which are found in pork.

Many people have NO SYMPTOMS to warm them of this, and when they do, they resemble symptoms of many other illnesses. These worms are NOT noticed during meat inspections.


SHAMPOO
Cancer-causing substance in shampoos. Go home and check your shampoo. Change before it's too late... Check the ingredients listed on your shampoo bottle, and see they have a substance by the name of Sodium Laureth Sulfate, or simply SLS. This substance is found in most shampoos; manufacturers use it because it produces a lot of foam and it is cheap. BUT the fact is, SLS is used to scrub garage floors, and it is very strong!!! It is also proven that it can cause cancer in the long run, and this is no joke. Shampoos that contains SLS: Vo5, Palmolive, Paul Mitchell, L'Oreal, the new Hemp Shampoo from Body Shop etc. contain this substance.

The first ingredient listed (which means it is the single most prevalent ingredient) in Clairol's Herbal Essences is Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Therefore, I called one company, and I told them their product contains a substance that will cause people to have cancer. They said, Yeah we knew about it but there is nothing we can do about it because we need that substance to produce foam. By the way Colgate toothpaste also contains the same substance to produce the 'bubbles'. They said they are going to send me some information.

Research has shown that in the 1980s, the chance of getting cancer is 1 out of 8000 and now, in the 1990s, the chances of getting cancer is 1 out of 3, which is very serious. Therefore, I hope that you will take this seriously and pass this on to all the people you know, and hopefully, we can stop 'giving' ourselves cancer-causing agents.

Thursday, 22 July 2010

A time to wind down

You can say this is what I do when I get away from the shop! Sweat my ass!! Lol!


Hubby and I went to our community club house yesterday evening. Initial plan was to dip into the pool but judging from the weather, we abandoned the plan and hit the gym instead.



Do you see the dark sky? We reached there around 5pm and it was raining like hell, but after an hour, the sky started to clear up. Hubby managed to swim for 20 minutes but I was damn tired from the work out on the treadmill.


The treadmill I used that overlooking the swimming pool. Nothing to complain about, at least I have good view while did my exercise. Only manage to walk and jog for 30 minutes. Cannot be too hard on myself since it has been months I did not hit the gym.


If you noticed that there is actually no wall in the toilet's sinks? Yes, I guess it is meant to be like that. It is just to show that the community is very safe and nothing to be worry about even in the changing cum toilet area.

Wednesday, 21 July 2010

Happy Thoughts: July 21st, 2010


Things that are making me happy today:
  • My boyfriend and I are going to two concerts in September (Uproar Fest and Alice in Chains). I'm super excited.
  • I'm getting my hair cut (finally!) this week.
  • I've been getting Allure magazine. It's one of my favorite mainstream magazines.
  • I'm having a lot of fun planning food and silly things for my boyfriend's poker night.
  • I'm going to get to hang out with one of my best friends, Emily, that night while the guys play poker. 
  • I'm planning on bringing two of my favorite movies, Tank Girl and Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains, for us to watch.
  • I'm also going to bring out some silly board games for us to play.
  • I bought this really cute new dress that I plan on wearing that night.
  • It was on sale for $8.
  • A Dali exhibit is coming to the High Museum and I'm really excited to go see it.
  • I won a really cool cat scratcher/ bed and my cat absolutely loves it.


What's been making you happy lately?


Would I Survive No Internet for a Whole Month?

A Rainbow Of Books

Yes, of course. It would take a few days to get used to but it would probably be good for me to take a break from the distractions and work on other things. I know I'd end up reading a lot more books.

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Tuesday, 20 July 2010

Poker Party Plans


I've been working on a lot of stuff for my boyfriend's poker night. Even though it's more than most people would do for a small gathering I love planning out little details to make things special. So far I've finished making a menu for the night with all of the the foods named after poker terms (like Poker Chip Cookies and Casino Royale Calzones). I'm working on painting some plain wood boxes for the guys so they have a place to keep their cards and other poker related things. I did some Googling for ideas of party favors I can make fairly simply and I came across these things called card guards. They're basically small disc that you put on top of your cards so they don't accidentally get put with someone else's. I was excited to find out about them because they're something I can easily make out of polymer clay. I'll update with pictures once I've finished them.

Here's a video explaining card guards better than I can:



Monday, 19 July 2010

Music Monday: Betty Blowtorch



If Tank Girl was a band she'd be Betty Blowtorch.

Girls that rock are kind of becoming a theme for Music Monday. What can I say? I really love female musicians. I wish more people knew about this band because they are epic awesome goodness. I always feel a bit silly when I listen to them while doing housework but they can help me power through even on bad days.

Need to pamper myself

Lately I have time to pamper myself. I need to let my 2 staff run the business without me around, so I can catch a break or do some errands. Usually on a weekday afternoon I will take a quick break at home, did some cleaning in the room. I even have time to have a 20 minutes face facial. Lol! Need to use the mask or else it will stay idle and may go expired if I did not use it.

Last week I went to the nearby SCR (yes, it finally opens it doors to customers last week and I do not need to eat the boring food all the times) with few friends. We were talking about shopping, facial, body massage and foot massage. Oooh, make me itchy and want to go with them. Maybe one day; I could use a body massage. My back has been aching lately, must be from sitting too long in front of the pc. Not so much on shopping although I could buy some to update my wardrobe. Facial? A beauty spa just opens a few block away, and they have introduction price of RM48.00 per session. I have yet to check it out. There are more and more outlets and nearby shops open this month, so it is getting merrier every day.

Sunday, 18 July 2010

Happy Bunday! July 18th, 2010


I should be back to posting this week. I was just so worn down from being in the hospital and then taking the antibiotics they gave me that I couldn't really think of much to write about. I'm done with those now though. There are a few posts coming up that I'm excited about.

My boyfriend is having a poker night and I've got some cute ideas for party favors and food. I've been working on place cards and a stencil and when they're done I'll try to scan them and get printable versions together for you guys. I'll also try to take lots of pictures of the things I make.

I'm also working on getting a craft circle of my friends together. I'll try to document the journey here. I've never really organized something like that before but I think it will be really fun if I can make it happen.

I should have a review of my new camera up soon. I haven't been able to use it as much as I'd like to yet. I want to make sure I know all the ins and outs before I write about it.

That's about it for right now. I hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday!

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

Becoming organised

I have to admit I am not a tidy person neither a well organised type. So if you see my room, everything is here and there. It is even hardest to get everything organised especially when you have a baby like my Baby Jay who likes to crawl here and there to discover things.

My dearest hubby has been nagging me about keeping records, filing and book-keeping for my shop. He said everything need to be in proper order for any emergencies. Now that I am in my 2nd month of operation, I feel the pinch of more expenses as I need to pay for the electricity, telephone, staff salaries and other miscellaneous. Thank god that I can pay my bills at nearby supermarket as they have bill collection counter there. At least I do not need to go out to pay my bills.

Besides that I started to jot down my expenses in my payment vouchers as I need to get my account audited for next year's submission of income tax as a sole proprietor. Wow! Everything is new to me. Thank god I have hubby as my adviser, otherwise I would be making a mess in my shop. Lol!

Sunday, 11 July 2010

Great Sunday

It proved to be an exciting morning yesterday as hubby and myself participated in H&L Shopping Sweep. Actually it was not planned as I were not supposed to be participating but last minute, I have been pulled into it.

A friend joined the competition and needed 3 friends in a team. One pulled out last minute so I have to join in. Me, in my heel running around searching for the required items. There was one minute where I thought of taking off my sandals and run bare foot but why making fool of myself in front of spectators? Lol! It was fun as I have never participated in this type of event. It reminded me of this tv game show "Shop Till You Drop" where contestants run around the supermarket and grab what they think is the most expensive items. However this is not the game rules, we have to pick what was given in the list!

We ran like fools looking through shelves, racks and display counters for the listed items. 4 of us managed to get through the final and guess what? We won! Yes! We get all the stuff we picked correctly (over RM600 worth of items) and RM500 cash vouchers. And my girl kept asking me what we were doing and requesting to go to the stage to take photograph with us.... *wink* We split the vouchers and products. And the news is out in newspapers today. Lol!

That is how we started our Sunday. I haven't got the time to download the pictures, but will do so once I am free. So check it out over my other blog this few day.

Thursday, 8 July 2010

Selfish & tired

That is what I feel and have been described lately. What is actually happening here?

Since I operated my shop a month ago, my house is like a hotel to me. In the morning I would go out from the house around 8am and only come back after 10pm at night every day. Send my girl to school then drop Baby Jay at baby sitter's house, do some banking transactions and have breakfast before going to the shop. My time would be in the shop, 12 hours a day. Only when hubby is free, he will take it over from me, and I can do some household chores or take care of the kids. However, I feel I hardly have enough times with the kids and hubby. Sometimes I do not have dinner. Bored of eating the take away food or just could not think of what to eat. Other days peanut butter sandwiches or buns would be good to fill up my empty stomach. Lol!

Food is not my topic today. I feel sad at been called "selfish" by my hubby. He is accusing me of neglecting the kids and forgetting things since I have my shop. Our understanding before this is that he will help in any way and that include looking after the kids at night. Now he is complaining that he does not have times to do his work and meeting friends or customers at night. Sigh!

I know it is hard for him (a man) to look after the kids. He is looking after them during Sunday too. But I have to say he is doing good job although at first, I were little doubtful. The bonding between hubby and Baby Jay is much stronger now as I can see that baby is very much attached to hubby than me. Btw, Baby Jay starts make sound like "dada". I guess he is calling his daddy first instead of mummy?

I am not saying that I have problem with my hubby but lately we hardly talk. By the time I get to bed, I am just too tired to talk. No time to ask about our days. No more huggings and kisses unlike the first year of dating and marriage. Hubby been a sensitive person is complaining that I do not care about him etc. Gosh! I know something must done to improve our relationships and same time, juggle my times between my shop and family. I can only do it once my workers are better trained and I able to leave the shop in their hand. However for time being, still some things to sort out before I can trust them to manage the shop for me without my supervision.

Sorry for the ranting, I just need a place to release my tension. Maybe I should give in some time tonight to have a chat with hubby. I actually miss chatting with him. Ok, I will do it. I need to discuss with him on the time divide between the kids and shop. Counting down to close my shop for the day. Sigh!

Wednesday, 7 July 2010

That Special Book in My Life

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

I can re-read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass a million times. I always notice more things with each read and they always makes me laugh. I can even pick them up and open to a random page and start reading (I tend to re-read the chapter with the Mock Turtle a lot). I can start from the beginning the middle or the end it doesn't really matter, I always enjoy them. I should re-read them both again soon, it's been awhile.

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Gotcha

Never would thought of seeing this, but luck is on me. After have been manipulating our kitchen and dried food for past months, this little rascal was caught at last. Or rather you could say, it trapped itself.



This little rascal has been territorising my kitchen and I never able to catch it irregardless of how many glue traps I put. So I still wonder how it goes into this glass and unable to squeeze itself out. Found it trapped into slightly open glass in the kitchen top, so I conveniently let it trapped there for few days. I guess it did not last long because after 2 days the glass with the "occupant" in it gone. Well, some more rascals to catch.

Sunday, 4 July 2010

Friend's wedding

At our age, most of my friends would either have tied down or have 1 or 2 children of their own. Not many single friends around.

This year I would have 2 good friends getting married and one of them is today. it has been more than 10 years since the last time we met as this friend moved to Singapore to work after graduated from college. It is great to hear she has finally tie down the knot with her long time boyfriend (maybe I should said, hubby since they have registered for years).

Hubby agreed to help me look after the shop tonight while I attend the wedding reception at Grand Margherita Hotel. Since change of name, I never visit this hotel again. Little girl will be coming along since hubby is not joining. It has been a while since I have some time with my 4 years old girl. Maybe it would be good time to talk to her about her school and the upcoming language speaking competition. So I am looking forward to tonight's function and also reunion with long time friends.

A Short Break

I'll probably be taking a short break from posting (hopefully not any longer that a week or so) because I just got back from being in the hospital since Thursday. I am fine now but I'm exhausted and still having a bit of pain. I'll try to get back on my feet and posting again as fast as I can. I'll try to post more about the ordeal when I'm not so tired but until then, I just wanted to explain why I wont be around as much.

If you want to keep up with my day to day progress you are welcome to check my Twitter- http://twitter.com/CassandraB


I hope everyone is having a lovely holiday or non-holiday as the case may be!