Friday, 9 January 2009

Chinese New Year

is upon us! There is hardly a break in between the festivities this time round. I have barely recover from the madness that is Christmas and in 2 weeks it is Chinese New Year.

Time flies. The older you get, the faster time seems to pass. I suppose, it is because the older we get, a year becomes a smaller percentage of our entire lives. A year is 100 percent to a one year old, 10 per cent to a 10 year old. Just 3.33 percent to a 30 year old. No wonder 2008 past me so fast!

In the next two weeks, it will be spring cleaning time. Cleaning windows, washing the curtains, getting red packets ready. Get The Husband a new shirt or two. Alter The Husband's 2 pairs of new pants. Buy mandarins. Line the kitchen shelves. Plenty plenty to do! But it is a good kind of busy. I love the rush and madness of festivities. Even the last minute shopping, even when I say how much I hate it, in some ways, I kinda enjoy it too. There is something different during festivities, something very positive. It makes me feel optimistic, like there are plenty of things worthy to look forward to. Times like this, remind me how blessed I am, and how much love I have around me. I look forward to the gambling too. Somehow, it is one of the few chinese traditions that I will observe for the rest of the chinese new years that have yet to come.

Happiness

is finally buying my KitchenAid mixer!

After mulling over the decision to get one for YEARS, I finally bought it!

Elaine has the Pro, but that is Elaine we are taking about. The one who made me swear that I will safe keep her french cookie recipe. The one who we forced to make us biscottis. The one who makes the fantastic chocolate torte. The one who bakes and cooks for the rest of us.

So I am more than happy to settle with an Artisan.

I haven't use it yet, thinking about using it next week. I want to attempt making some pineapple tarts. Yes, I am very excited about it, but the virgin bake cannot be rushed. I will put more thought into it first. I think cakes will have to wait, until I can my digital scale.

Kraftwerk

530

This is what I have left since the start of the 700 budget.

Not too bad eh? This evening, I will go out and buy me me (slightly) pricey cereal to award myself.

Hey, I want to live life, not purely just exist you know.

Tuesday, 6 January 2009

Cool things

Animal chess.

Synchronised fainting dogs.

Mars Attacks!

Fruit Cakes.

Peanut butter.

Pigs.

Piri piri sauce.

Milk pans.

Devon.

Yet Con.

Elaine's biscottis

Calligraphy.

Sewing.

Tea parties.

Theme parties.

Home made hot chocolate with mashmellows.

Dick Bruna.

Victorian sponge cake.

Cocktail sausages with pineapple.

Punch Bowl.

Boston terriers.

My best friends.

My family. (the coolest!)

The Husband.

Saturday, 3 January 2009

700

This is the 3rd day since starting the $700 budget program. Guess what? I have spent over a hundred dollars already. Most of the stuff that I bought were groceries and toiletries. I think I will not survive past January.

Jialat

Thursday, 1 January 2009

2009

Do not Do list for 2009
  • I will not worry too much. Over worrying is exhausting and a big waste of time.

  • I will not tire myself out with doing too much house chores.

  • I will not waste my time on negative people.

  • I will not let other people's problems affect me.

  • I will not sweat the small stuff.
  • I will stop trying to please everyone.
  • I will stop fearing so much.
  • I will not keep my 'nice' clothes for occasions anymore. I will wear them everywhere, all the time.
  • I will not being so critical of myself.
  • I will not be so paranoid.