Working Class Citizen

Yup! Friend has gone back to full-time work. 😁

It's been a little over 2 months since I've returned to working full time – albeit in a mostly WFH setting – but I'm really quite enjoying this new-old phase of my life. 

Overall, it's been good! Working and having a life outside of mommy-hood is very psychologically and emotionally rewarding for me. I feel purposeful and empowered. I feel "useful" – for lack of a better word. Like I'm finally utilising my brain, talents and skills in a meaningful and contributive way. 

I know, I know. Raising humans is purposeful work that requires brain, talent and skill, as well. (Not to mention immense love, dedication and patience! 😆) Especially so if you want to raise good, godly human beings who will contribute positively to society in time to come. 

BUT BUT BUT... it's just not the same. FTWM projects are sprinkled with deadlines that come and go swiftly. Raising kids, on the other hand, is a lifelong process with no checklist in sight. #ilovemychecklist (Yes, even when they're 55 and retired, I'm sure there will still be some measure of mothering to be done. 🤭) 

The SAHM life is really not for me lah.

Even though I kept myself busy semi-freelancing, selling YLEO, undergoing chemo to save my life and running GiftAGift.my all through my years of SAHM-ness, I mostly still felt... lost. Purposeless. Stifled and suffocated. Like I'm always in a rut, living each day on my hamster wheel – running endlessly while getting nowhere. Just doing unseen things for others and not being recognised and rewarded for my efforts.

So, going back to work has

been welcomed change for me!

Of course, I initially worried about not being able to keep up after being away from the industry for so long. But now, after being back for awhile, I feel like I've found my stride and I'm doing alright la. HAHA. #shameless I wake up each morning with purpose, ready to face the day and start ticking off the to-dos on my list. #todolistsrock


Naturally, juggling work and family is no easy feat that's exceedingly demanding at times. There are days when I feel frazzled and stretched thin from meeting deadlines whilst still ensuring that dinner is on the table by 7pm. But I've come to realise that it's worth it. Because at the end of a busy day, I always feel tired... but accomplished. 💪

It's not about the paycheque (bluffing you la, of course earn money syok also la 🤭), it's not about seeking external validation (but also happy when proposals fly and jobs cepat-cepat get approved, too 🤣) but rather, it's about feeling valued and appreciated for what I bring to the table. #truth

And at the end of the day, I strongly believe that being a happy and fulfilled individual makes me a better person... and a better mom. Don't get me wrong. I have no regrets putting my career on hold to raise my children this past decade. But now that they're a little more grown up, and especially after having survived cancer (twice!) I think it's time I start investing a bit more in Me once again.

To the next chapter! 🥂

Living In A World Where You Can Buy RM2,000 Cars You Can't Gift-Wrap 🎁

Ethan's turning 7 next month. This boy never wastes an opportunity to ask for a gift so, as per his usual pre-birthday MO, Ethan put on his biggest, brightest, most-charming smile and asked:


Ethan: Papa. what are you getting me for my birthday? 😁

The Husband: What you want?

Ethan: A car!

The Husband: What kind of car?

Ethan: This car!! *points to The Husband’s car*

Caden: Are you crazy??

Pam Song: 🤨 You can’t even drive yet.

Caden: Yeah!! Plus, it costs like, RM2,000 or something!! (LOL. If only. 😅)

Ethan: Oh ya... Plus, they can’t wrap it. 🎁

😂😂😂

#kidlogic #8yowisdom

Oh, Hello There!

Dear Gleneagles patient file,

We meet again. Please bagi chan

and don't grow so much this round, ok? 😅

XOXO,

Me.

This file contains pretty much every detail of my medical history since my birth on 21 November 1984. Yup, it has all the details of my birth in it, too, cos I was born in this hospital! 36 years of history all lumped together in a paper pile. Haha. Just look at that, man. Can you imagine how much I've spent on medical bills??? 💸💸💸 Can go ciak hong in Japan for a year liao lor... 😅

The Hunt For A Double Scooter

A little over a week ago, the boys went to their friend's house for a playdate. There, one tried skateboarding for the first time, while the other tried double-scootering. After that one afternoon, there was nothing else I heard about for days. Skateboard-scooter fever was ON!

Decathlon was the suggested place for us to get a good quality skateboard. Unfortunately, it's sold out online and there ain't no Decathlon brick-and-mortar store on the island. 😩 #smalltownwoes So, it looks like JZ's gotta wait till Ah Ma and Ah Kong head down to KL. 

So, all I needed to get was a double scooter. And I have to get it ASAP cos I've got surgery coming! How to go scooter-hunting if I'm all bandaged up, right?? 🤕  Plus, I want the boys to be happily and adequately occupied while I'm in the hospital so they don't feel my absence. 😔 

The first place we went to had some double scooters but they were really old, faded and dusty. I wasn't going to spend a good hundred ringgit on that. The shop lady also said she didn't want to sell those scooters to us cos she said that they were old stock. 😅😂  #tautakpe

The second stop... BINGO!

*choir of angels sing*

Trying out the double scooter to decide if he wanted it.

After a few rounds of butt-shaking in-store,

JJ finally made his decision – "I want!"

After discount less than RM100. Not bad la. Can tekan brake summore. Plus, it was totally worth it after I saw how happy and excited he was. 😍 #happysonhappymom

It fit in the boot so I put it there.

But all the way home,

he occupied himself by playing

with the handles and brakes quietly.

 

And then, it got quieter...

I turned around to check on him and discovered that he had fallen asleep! 😴 Guess the excitement of the day wore him out. But even in sleep, he hung on to his new toy all the way home.

Keith Kee "Lady in Pink" Limited Edition Masks From MODA "Pink Merchandise" 2020

#PinkOctober has taken on more meaning now that I'm a survivor. Last year, I lusted after the pretty pink broaches they were selling to raise funds and bring awareness to breast cancer through #BAZAARPinkProject2019 but didn't end up getting one because... well, I just couldn't be bothered to try while undergoing chemo. Tired la. 😪 

This year, however, is a different story.

Malaysian Official Designers Association (MODA) has partnered with Estée Lauder for its Breast Cancer Awareness 2020 project and 20 "Pink Merchandise" by 16 local designers have been launched. 

The designers involved in this project are Ashley@kapas, Brian Khoo, Celest Thoi, Chee of GOCHEEKS, Double U by Jimmy Wong, Ellie Lim, Keith Kee, Key Ng, Kit Woo, Leslie Variyan, Lue Syn, Melinda Looi, Melson Kuala Lumpur, Stephanie van Dalen, Styled by Peter Lum and YULEZA by YouSheng. 

The concept is really interesting this time around as these items are sold in Campells Soup cans in eight vending machines that are located in five shopping malls – namely, Pavilion KL, MidValley Megamall, Sunway Pyramid, Avenue K, and MidValley Southkey in JB.

Why no Penang malls??? 😩 

Penang got survivors, too, maaaa...

Thank goodness last year, I happened to get to know Keith Kee through a mutual friend. 🥳😏🤓 So I got in touch with him and he so very kindly got his team to help me buy me his "Lady in Pink" masks! Collected them from Keith Kee Couture today. You see, you see... 🤩

Such pretty shades of pink! 😍

Based on what I can see on their FB page, it looks like "Pink Merchandise" sales via vending machines in those aforementioned malls have been extended until 15 November 2020 so, it's not too late to get your hands on these designer items that Breast Cancer Awareness, too! 

Prices are RM30 or RM50 per item and a whopping 80% of all sales will be donated to four organisations, namely the Breast Cancer Welfare Association of Malaysia, Cancer Research Malaysia, College of Radiology Malaysia and National Cancer Society of Malaysia. Go support, kays!

Things That Matter More

If I were to hold up a piece of paper that had a single dot on it and asked you what you saw, you'd probably say – a dot. Why? Because our perspective is usually skewed towards noticing the bad and not the good. The blemish, stain and speck on the otherwise flawless environment it rests on. Because it's easier zooming in on a single, teeny-tiny, dark spot on a white piece of paper, instead of focusing on that entire white paper itself. Easier to bemoan the cloud than to appreciate the silver lining. Abhor a pimple than admire a pretty face.

Now, here's the reason to that analogy...

We've pretty much given up on live-in helpers. We've had them on and off ever since JZ came along but after a few crazies and a handful of bad apples, we've decided that enough is enough. 🙅‍♀️ Enough agency fees spent; enough frustrations endured. The kids are older... I was just two shots shy of being done with Herceptin (at the time)... It was time to go it alone. We were ready. All the best, good riddance, bye-bye. 👋

Well, I'm happy to say that in the past 2 months since we started playing house, our home is majorly neater but marginally dustier, the kids are doing more and grumbling less, I'm happy to not have to deal with any drama while The Husband is happy to not have to spend RM1960 a month, and I'm usually so tired by the end of the day that I sleep better now than ever before. LOL. All in all, it's been good. Really good. This step towards independence has worked out quite well for us, if you ask me.

But of course, there are days when things just. don't. work. out. the way they should. Those one-off black-dot kind of days when there's just too much laundry to be done, too many toys on the floor and too little time to do it all. On days such as those, I tend to internally groan and grouch the situation that has befallen me. BUT... there's always one thing that never fails to return a smile to my face:

When I see my boys quietly enjoying

each others' company and entertaining themselves

(as they steer clear of their monster mom).

My house may be messy, but my heart is full. ❤️ 

And if you ask me, I think the latter matters more.

Check Out My New YouTube Channel!

So, like, urm... this happened. 👇

Desktop view.

I know, I know. This is totally out of character. The kids are usually censored kau-kau and the online world doesn't even know their real names. 😂 BUT BUT BUT... it was The Husband who's actually been bugging me to start a YouTube channel featuring the kids for awhile now – 2-3 months at the very least. Ever since he started watching YouTube every night before bed. But hey, I'm not complaining cos, to be honest, it's been difficult blogging without involving the kids because my life is pretty much all about them at this juncture.


But this particular story truly began two afternoons ago. The Husband and I were sitting down in the living room with YouTube travel videos playing in the background, wondering if MCO will be extended a second time. Suddenly, he turned to me and said, "Eh... Start your YouTube la... What you waiting for?? Let's make some money la!" And proceeded to school me on travel YouTubers who earn USD just traveling and videoing themselves eating. 🙄🤑

In actual fact, it's me who's been putting this off all this while cos... you know... tired la... sien la... not feeling well la... busy la... next time la... Those every-day excuses somehow always got in the way of any productivity and action in this arena while I tried to keep our home life running as seamlessly as possible in spite of the hospital visits and treatment downtime. #cancersucks

And then out of nowhere, COVID-19 forced us indoors and

MCO stopped all social / outdoor / extracurricular activity.

Mobile view.

So, yeah. Fun With Sons is what you get when you put a business-minded husband, two bored kids, and a creativity-deprived mom at home for extended periods of time. Everybody needs an outlet and this is it. Sekian.

Big Crustacean, Little Satisfaction, Minor Inconvenience, Major Frustration

Suddenly felt like eating baked crab tonight so I quickly called upon my crab kaki – Mee and Dee – and before I knew it, we were standing in front of an extremely bubbly aquarium at Northam Beach Cafe, picking a big, fat mud crab for dinner. Haha. 🦀


I know, I know. The Chinese believe that shellfish are "tok" (Hokkien for "toxic" or "poisonous") and that one with cancer shouldn't eat "tok" food yada, yada, yada. 🙄 But heck it la, no doctor of mine has said that shellfish is off the menu; only red meat and processed foods. So if crab is what I want, crab is what I'll hunt! (Hey, another rhyme! ✌️)

And boy, did I get a big one!

Big, right??? Mind you, this bad boy wasn't the biggest mud crab in the aquarium. There were a few others that were significantly bigger! But bigger = more expensive. So, no thank you. We decided to stick to a reasonably-sized crab with a price tag we could swallow. LOL. 😅😂

BUT... I so, so sad in the end!

The crab somehow didn't taste like I expected it to. Damn these blasted chemo tastebuds!! 😡😩 I mean, it was ok la. But it wasn't great. And for the price we were paying, I was expecting greatness. Argh! I only managed to down it when I drowned it with the leftover sauce from the Sweet & Sour Fish we ordered earlier. (Wah, I am on a roll with the rhyming tonight! 🤪)

Halfway through the crab, I pula felt like I maybe kinda wanted to eat Kin Chi Bee Hoon. So after crabbing, The Husband and I went off in search of some good, old-fashioned Kin Chi Bee Hoon at Kimberly Street. Balik balik... guess what?

Tak sedap also. 🤦‍♀️

It was just bland and tasteless.

What the heck is going on!?

Testimony: Room Decor & Poncho Delivery, Straight From Heaven

I've kinda moved into a separate room in the house with its own ensuite bathroom for the duration of my chemo treatment for the safety of the kids and everyone else at home. (Apparently, the toxins leach from my body in various ways through body fluids, especially during the first 24-48 hours after.) 

The first few nights were lonely, I must admit. Quite natural considering I've not had a single night alone since the kids came along, I suppose. (I birthed cuddle monsters. 👩‍👦‍👦) But after awhile, I started to appreciate the quiet. I could blog in peace... Leave the lights on... Make as much noise as I wanted... Not have to use earphones... It wasn't all bad. 🙂

Still, a mom's a mom. When it came to the actual bedtime, I always felt like something was missing. No tiny, warm body with its limbs wrapped around me – something's wrong with this picture! So a day or two into this new sleeping arrangement, I put up some framed photos of me and the kids in an effort to feel less like an empty nester. That was all the decor there was. 

Until EJ's care-pack arrived last night.

Now my temporary room has decor! Wheee!

Now, about that poncho...

Every time I my eyes fall upon it, my heart warms, for I am reminded of just how much God cares for me, and how He's taking care of me. Here's why:

Over dinner, Melsong and I were just talking about what to wear during my next chemo session that's coming up. You see, it's pretty cold in the chemo department. And you kinda get colder when the treatment starts cos cold liquid is going through your veins. So, the last time I was there, she lent me her pashmina that happened to be with her. 

This time around, she thought I should wear a jacket siap siap before I start, to keep warm. Me, I thought I'd go with a pashmina again cos a jacket means I'll have to wear the jacket ALL THE TIME – even if it gets hot – because I'd have an IV line in my hand and I won't be able to remove my hand through my sleeve. 

Well, little did we know that while we were intensely discussing chemotherapy outfit options 💃 #priorities 😂, God had already provided me a poncho – the perfect keep-me-warm piece for one with an unusable hand – and it was right there sitting in a delivery box in the car, just waiting for me to open it up!! Coincidence?? I think not! 

So yes, every time I see that poncho, I am reminded:

------------------
Philippians 4:19
------------------
19 And my God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

--------------------
Matthew 6:26-32
--------------------
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

I went to bed feeling happy and grateful for friends and for a God who supplies all my needs and knows what I want and need before I even ask it or know it myself. Then this morning, I realised...

The decor even matches the room!

Trivial? Not to me. #fussypot Another coincidence? No way. And if you were wondering, EJ wouldn't have known either. She's never seen this room. Heck, even I didn't realise the room was this white and lilac until now that I'm paying attention. 😅

So, if something as simple as a warm poncho and some matching furniture, my God has already taken care of for me... would He not then take care of me? 🙆‍♀️

The Unfortunate Truth

I'm two episodes into Her Private Life (2019) and so far, it's been pretty entertaining. The lovely Park Min Young is as funny, pretty and charming as ever. The male lead – Kim Jae Wook who previously acted as a supporting cast in Coffee Prince (2007) – makes for an interesting character. Definitely worth a watch! Anyhoo, this was my takeaway from tonight's episode:

"If you’re going to stay at home and act all pathetic,

come to my cafe and work part time. People can

always betray you but money never does." 

– Lee Seon-Joo (played by Park Jin-Joo)

in Episode 2, Her Private Life (2019)

That's one (very sad) way to put it. I'm not sure if it's because of the translation or the cultural differences at play, but this is why I like Korean dramas:

They say funny things that can be

pretty meaningful if you bother

to put some thought into it. 

It's not really money that will never betray you la. If you really think about it, the bottom line is that YOU and your EFFORTS will never betray you. If you're down in the dumps because someone has hurt you or has betrayed you or has let you down, just stop moping around, stop crying your heart out, and get up and DO something. Do something for yourself. Because you can only really count on yourself to make you happy. 

Mother's Day Musings

It's Mother's Day weekend and I'm feeling extra "motherly" and "homely" because we're currently doing life without a helper at home and have been for a little while now. 💪👌👍


The kids have had their breakfast – JJ woke first and had Ningxia Red, mango yoghurt and pancakes with honey; JZ woke later and had Ningxia Red, aloe vera yoghurt and peanut butter in wholemeal bread. JJ then did some window art, which we've left out to dry. And they're all squeaky clean now after their morning shower. The Husband, on the other hand, has left for his daily fix of favourite Pork Noodles, and I'm officially giving myself a guilt-free break while the kids watch some morning TV. It's been a good morning.


I sit myself down on my unmade bed and start scrolling through Facebook and I notice that I have an increasing number of friends in their 30s who've got feeds filled with never-ending travel updates. One place after another; one check-in at a time. And while I enjoy living vicariously through their holiday photos and travel tales, I can't help but think:

Wow.

It must be nice being 30-something

and not have dependents to think of

and/or school and tuition to pay for. 

I mean, seriously. If you're hovering around your mid-thirties, you're probably already earning wages that match the expertise and experience of someone working in upper management (or you're at least getting there anyway). That's a pretty fat pay-check in the bank each month if you're keeping it all to yourself! 🤑


Let's be realistic. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't think twice and would travel loads, too! To not have to worry about coinciding vacations with school holidays, with the wonderful knowledge that money isn't scarce. That's the magic combo of Time and Money – both, on your side. You're living the dream, my friends!

But then I hear Disney Channel

and kids' laughter in the background

and I remember...

Pic taken one lazy Sunday morning on February 2019.

... I'm living the dream, too. 🙋🏻👩‍👦‍👦☺️


--------


Have a Blessed Mother's Day, Mommies. ❤️

XOXO,
Pam Song

Beginning My Invisalign Journey

Sitting in the dentists' chair waiting to try on my first set of Invisalign aligners. 😬 I'll be receiving 24 sets altogether and this is #1! 👇 #babysteps

Really praying that this will be the end of my dental woes. I started noticing tooth movement during my second to third year in college. That's waaaay back circa 2003/2004. But I couldn't do anything about it. Problems were:

1. I didn't want to wear traditional metal braces.
2. The dentist I was going to refused to prescribe retainers for me to at least stop the movement.
3. No money anyway since college student only ma. 

And then when I started working, Invisalign came into the picture. Or rather that's when I first heard about it. What? Invisible braces? You gotta be kidding me. Haha.

*cue chorus of heavenly angels singing*

I was so tempted! But then I took a peek that way, totally balked at the price tag and slapped myself for even looking. 😑 What!? RM13K JUST TO ALIGN MY TEETH!? When regular braces only cost RM2-4K at the time? Siao liao. How to afford on a fresh grad salary?? So... no go lor. 💔

But now, a grand 15 years later – and after Lasik 👀 – I've finally saved enough to get. things. done. Woohoo! 💪 The cost has gone up significantly, though – woe is me! 😩 I'm paying RM25K flat rate to my orthodontist for the whole set of aligners; not including whatever dental work that may come into play later on. Sigh. But I guess the longer I wait, the worse it'll become la so I might as well just do it now and be done with it. #Ihateinflation

May this be the beginning
of the end of said dental woes!

From Here To Infinity... And Beyond!

Just sent off my first invoice

in 2 years and 10 months

and I feel GRRRRREEAAT!

So funny though. Job was sent off for printing last Friday and today's already Thursday the week after – meaning, 6 days past job completion. Didn't follow up on payment and had to be chased for the invoice lagi. 😳😅 So out of it, man. Just happy to work and glad to be writing again. Really siao liao this time. HAHA. 😂 Thank goodness the GM is a kawan so tak kena makan. 🙏

Anyway... yay! Here's to the start of a new era!

(Or is the the continuation of a great one? 😏)

Thundercloud Love

JJ has a thing for stickers.

As in, he likes to stick them everywhere and on everyone. I think it's a real waste of stickers and honestly, I'm not too fond of this habit of his. I mean, back in my day, stickers were precious! So expensive and so difficult to come by! Where got simply just stick everywhere wan?? But this generation of kids ah... tsk tsk tsk. Sticker macam no need money liddat. Just stick, stick, stick everywhere. So, this happened today...


Pam Song: JJ, why did you put a thundercloud on my iPad??

JJ: *big innocent eyes* Because I love you.

 😳 AWWWW... Okay.

The thundercloud stays. ⛈

Stick la, stick. 🤗

Wise Young One

Garden Crispy Seaweed Snack (Original). Comes in a pack of 3.

The kids and I have been totally addicted to these little packets of Korean seaweed. So much so that I started buying straight from the local importer at distributor price cos... hey, when can save money, save lah! In stores, they're sold for RM5.90 each. I get about a ringgit and a half off a pack of three when I buy them in cartons 📦📦 so... WIN! 💪💪💪


I gorge on it quite a bit myself but I try to refrain from letting the kids eat too much of it. #doublestandards #doasIsaynotasIdo So this happened today:


JZ: Mama, can we have seaweed? (Yeah, he started calling me Mama a few months back when his Mandarin started picking up. 😅)

Pam Song: Can. But I only have two packets and there are three of us in the car. How?

JZ: Then we share lo, Mama. We share.

At this point, I was pretty impressed

with his maturity and thought process.

But Mommy's smarter 😎💃🏻💁🏻 so... 

Pam Song: Okayyy. Here's what we'll do. I'll give you one box, and give Didi one box... *continues in a sad voice* ...and then... *sighs* ...I'll just take half from you and half from him lah. *cue sad face* #momconinaction #mommytricks #parentingtricks 😏

JZ: *without skipping a beat* NO!

Pam Song: *feigns innocence* What??! Why???

JZ: Then you'll have more than us!

😳😵😱

He said "NO" so quickly ok! What is this??
WHEN DID MY SON WISE UP TO MY TRICKS???

5 years old and he's not to be outsmarted already.

Die la, die. I fear the day he turns 16. 😁😅😂

p/s: A little scared but actually secretly so proud la. Hahahaha.

Say Wha-?!

JZ is a real sticky barnacle when it comes to bedtime. So sticky like you wouldn't believe! He like snuggling and cuddling and hugging. A lot. Like, A LOT. A lot, a lot, a lot. Super a lot. 😅

Tonight was no different. He started climbing all over me at bedtime and trying to lie down on top of me. I, of course, pushed him off repeatedly. No more! Big boy already! Sleep on your own! And then this happened...

JZ: I want to sleep on you. 

Pam Song: No. 

JZ: Yessss... 

Pam Song: No! You're so heavy! 

JZ: Noooo... I want to sleep on you. 

Pam Song: NO. 

This goes on for quite a bit and I

continue to ignore him. Then suddenly...

JZ: Ok, I give you one dollar. 

Pam Song: 😳😳😳

😅😂😂😂

Ok, I wasn't expecting that. Hahaha. I can't believe that 4y9m1w old son is trying to bribe me! LOL. What is the world coming to?? #kidsthesedays man... BUT! I gotta give him points for the idea la. #whateverworks right? Haha. Nice try, Son. But NO. Bribery doesn't work with me. Try flattery next time. HAHA! 😝

1, 2, 3,... JZ's Diaper-Free!

Last night was JZ's first night sleeping without a diaper. And... he didn't wet the bed! Woohoo! My firstborn #bigboyalready! 👏👏👏 #proudmom #growingupmilestone


But truth be told, he's been waking up with dry diapers for awhile now la. And he's been going to the toilet to wee by himself in the middle of the night every now and then before this anyway. #goodboy


Just that Mommy no guts to go diaper-free nia cos the thought of cleaning up wee at 3am is just not that motivating lah. Hahaha. So... Mommy deserves a pat on the back also for gathering her guts! Woohoo! 💁🏻🙆🏻🙋🏻 #tumpangglamour 😂


And and and... Papa deserves a super loud 'woohoo' cos no need to spend money on diaper anymore! So... big WOOHOO for him!!! LOL. 💰💰💰

Now, here's hoping these three woohoos don't turn

into Mommy boohoos anytime soon. 😅😅😅

Making A House A Home

The Husband and I have been living in KL for about 5.5 years now. (I moved back down to be with him a few months after we got married.) In these 5.5 years, I've moved a total of 4 times. Yes, FOUR. FREAKING. TIMES. 😅 Crazy, right?


The first move was from Penang down to Mont Kiara in KL. 4 months later, we moved to Subang cos ugh, don't get me started on the MK jam. We lived in Subang for about 2 years then moved to our current condo. A year later, we moved down the hall to another unit in the same block of the same condo. LOL. #gila


Anyway, I've kinda unintentionally resisted setting up home in these houses cos... well, we've somewhat always talked about moving back to Penang someday. So, at the back of my mind, I thought – why put in any effort or throw in any money into a place we won't stay very long at? Doesn't make sense, right? At least that was what I thought at the time.

But now, I'm beginning to think differently. 

Mainly cos my dream of moving into our own home back in Penang is very quickly becoming a reality that is always just beyond my reach. 🙁 That one dream that still eludes me and escapes my grasp each and every time. 😔 It always seems like we're making plans to head back this year. But "this year" always turns into "next year" and then "not now" and "see how". 😢 Still, it's a dream that I hope never becomes "never". 🙏

So yes, it looks like we're here to stay for now.

It's a little of a "yay" and a little of a "nay" for me, to be honest. I've always loved being in KL because my church, my friends and my work are all here. But there's just something about having your own home, decorated with your own stuff, in your own style, with everything placed, set and done your way, that's just so deeply fulfilling and satisfying for a woman. Plus, the feeling of permanence that comes with living in your own home just makes a big difference.


Thing is, although the store room in our Penang house is filled with boxes upon boxes of MYSALE steals, Daiso buys, random decorative stuff and other kitchen knick-knacks from everywhere possible by now 📦📦📦 – household hoarding is my secret joy and financial Achilles heel 😅 – I've not unpacked any of it. Why? Cos I've always wanted to unpack it all in my own space. Very idealistic, I know. So I've waited. And waited. And waited. ⏱

Until now. Cos... screw it lah!

I'm tired of waiting to be happy. 😤

Some of my latest buys are still in KL so I've decided to just unpack and use them NOW rather than later. It's time to make this house our home. #determined

Side table and geometric tea light holder

from MYSALE. Potted plant from SSF.

Kids organising bins from MYSALE.

I really love how easy and convenient preparing the kids for school is now that I've started using these bins. JZ's stuff are on the left half and JJ's stuff are on the right half. This includes school bags, library books, uniforms, PE attires, socks, underwear and diapers – everything in one place without me having to run in and out of the bedroom for anything before rushing them off to school. A winning buy that's totally worth the money! #score

Serving tray, wooden brain teasers and wooden tissue box

from MYSALE. Table from IKEA.

Some brain teasers in the middle of the hall to entertain the guests we're looking forward to having over now that we've integrated ourselves into our cell at SIBKL. (We ended up hosting hangout night with some cellmates 2 weeks ago.) God has really been good to us. He brought us to the perfect cell with all right dynamics, the same maturity, and the perfect psychographics for us to thrive and feel comfortable in. Yay! 

Anyhoo, I digress. 

Back to the subject at hand.

Tray table from MYSALE.

 Glass vases from MYSALE. Photo frames from IKEA.

Lavender potted plant from SSF.

This is a difficult wall to address cos it's right next to my bedroom door. Put anything too big there and it blocks the entryway. Anything too small, and it seems odd and out of place. I can't decide if I want this setup here permanently cos it's a little low but, it'll do for now. I think the pictures help breathe a little more life into this little corner of the house, though. I'm kinda glad I decided to remove them from our bedroom bookshelf and put them out here. 

Table and colourful kiddie bookshelf from MYSALE.

Table lamp from IKEA. Diffuser from Young Living.

Put these in one corner of our bedroom. (That wall was left empty before and the diffuser was diffusing from the floor.) They help make the room feel more organised, personalised and lived-in. I plan to get a 2-seater sofa and/or a work table to effectively use up the rest of the space in front of our bed. Hopefully I find something nice and cheap! Haha. SSF, maybe?

Aiya, there's more ID and sprucing up to be done once I get my stuff from Penang back to KL la. I can't wait to get to it! 🤗 But bringing all back down is going to take a whole lotta trips up and down the North-South. Not an easy feat considering we always travel back to Penang with the kids and a helper so there's hardly any empty space in the car to begin with.

Also, filling in the little gaps around the house will require spending more money at SSF, MYSALE, IKEA and Daiso. 💸💸💸 (These seem to be the only places I shop at, eh?) You'd be surprised how much the miscellaneous things can cost! So, Imma really have to pace myself on that one lest I go broke trying. 😁

Oh well, at least I'll be a happy woman

eating white bread and plain porridge

in my very pretty home. 😝

LOLOLOL! 

The Gift Of Sight

...from myself to myself. LOL.

Yours truly in bug-eyed eye covers – compulsory bedtime routine

for the next 1 month 😂 – just 6 hours after having undergone

Customised IntraLase Lasik at Vista, The Curve

under the care of Dr Aloysius Low.

Thank God for His provision and blessing. If not for my monthly Young Living cheques, I would never have been able to afford the luxury of waking up to clear sight. Tomorrow, that is. 😅

"Mozzie Off' Takes Flight!

OMG, I did it. I finally did it! =D

Ladies and gentlemen, my personal blend of mosquito repellents, made only with 100% pure Young Living Essential Oils is now on sale on Facebook! This is the full excerpt of the post I wrote:

--------

Mozzie Off Mosquito Repellent, made with Young Living Essential Oils
RM50
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Hi Mommies!

I started using this blend of Young Living Essential Oils for mosquito repellents to use on my kids about a year ago. I trust the #YLEO promise of purity and decided to use only the best and most natural for my kids, especially since this is something we apply directly on their skin, numerous times a week, and sometimes, even numerous times a day!  

So far, it's worked like a charm on my family and we can really see the difference whenever we use it and when we don't. The plus point? It smells amaaaazingggg and my son never fails to remind me to give him a spritz before school even if I forget! Even my friends' kids prefer the smell of this blend to other family favourites like Badger Balm and Buds Baby!  

Recently, with the rise of Zika, a friend of mine who saw my mosquito repellent recipe wanted the convenience of a pre-mix so I decided to start selling these Mozzie Repellants about a month back, but only as a courtesy to friends I personally knew. Somehow, business grew through word of mouth and I started wondering if I could start selling this mosquito repellent on a larger scale. =p  

Anyway, to cut the long story short... with the support and encouragement of my husband, family and friends, I've decided to just go for it! My personal blend of #YoungLiving #essentialoil mosquito repellent, called "MOZZIE OFF", is now on sale! More details below!  

WHAT IS THIS? A homemade, spray-on mosquito repellent using only 100% pure Young Living Essential Oils. 

WHAT YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS DOES IT CONTAIN?
Citronella, Lemongrass, Purification (and exclusive YL blend), Lavender and Peppermint.  

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
RM50 for 50ml in an amber spray bottle.  

HOW QUICKLY CAN I GET IT?
I can Poslaju (add RM7 for WM / RM10 for EM) within 24 hours, Mondays to Thursdays after payment is received.  

HOW DO I GET ME SOME OF THIS AMAZING MOSQUITO REPELLENT??
Reply to this post and I'll PM you! =)

Thank you in advance for your support!

--------


Now, to sit back and wait to see
if business jalan ke tak jalan.
And wait. And wait. And wait...

*twiddles thumbs impatiently*