Wishlist

I love...

1. Books! -Mockingjay, Catching Fire, I've Got Your Number, French Children Don't Throw Food (& I love novels, memoirs, chick lits, parenting books, chicken soup)
2. Scrapbooking / Craft Stuffs! Paper, stickers, ribbons
3. Accessories - I'm too lazy for stuff like necklaces or earrings, but hair accessories are fun!  Hairbands, clips, hair ties.
4. Notebooks! I'm a sucker for notebooks, can never have too many!
5. Toiletries - I love using unnecessarily expensive shower gels scrubs creams.

Cupcakes!

So I've wanted to do cupcakes for a loooong time now. The type with fondant icing and it looks so professional. I even bought the cookie cutters, and they have been sitting in my cupboard for awhile now. (Lazy)

My mum decided to "make" cupcakes for mothers day for Sunday School. No we didn't bake the cakes or make the icing. She bought normal cheap kueh neng kou and fondant icing from the bakery. (Shortcut)

Last Saturday night was spent mixing food colouring into the fondant icing and laughing at my mum. It's just like playing play dough! Only this, you are supposed to eat it after fondling touching and squeezing the dough so much. (Kinda repulsive eh?)

Oh and we laughed at my mum cos she doesn't know there's 3 primary colours only. She was like, why you only got 3 food colouring. Enough meh? So we tested her, what colours make orange, and she said, blue and green!!! HAHAHA That just makes turqoisey green =.=

I didn't join the cupcake making in Sunday School cos I was in the baby class. There was leftover so we continued the fun back home.

Cupcakes by my sister.

Cupcakes by yours truly.

Su Yen stabbing icing.

"Photo shoot" for mothers day contest.

Lazy boy didn't bother to help clean up.

Love my family!! 

Highlight of the day - Jin Jin's cupcake!! He was actually enthusiastic about decorating the cupcakes and was trying to be creative by mixing many colours. I told him that it would just become brown and he said he wasn't going to mix it nicely (I guess he was hoping to get paddle pop kind of colours, but no.)

Happy Mothers' Day, Mum!!

Musings

I am ambitious. I make plans. But my plans change.. I don't know what I want.. Actually I do know what I want. I want too many things, I can't decide what I really want...

Hmm..

I want to continue my studies, but I want to work. I want to do both at the same time. Solution: online course. I want to do a degree at a good uni overseas which is not expensive (HAHA Dreaming). I don't want to do a overseas degree cos it's so crazy expensive. Crazy. So I guess I'll do a cheaplak Malaysian degree just to get my "paper".

I learn through work more than I learn through study. I want to work and try different approaches and programs. With my eagerness I doubt I can settle down at a place long term. I have "itchy butt syndrome" - need to get up and try new things. Although I am very comfortable at my current workplace - enough money, happy colleagues, ok working time, bearable workload - I think I won't be here too long.

And then there's the option of going overseas. For my masters perhaps? Work + study, settle down? That, I will have to wait and see. That would be more long term.

I still want to open my center, but I guess that won't be in my 5 year plan..

In all this uncertainties, at least I have one plan that is certain. About one and a half years till my dreams come true! Can't wait for it!! ;p

Habits and Routines

Life is good. Life is laid back. I am actually enjoying the moments before going back to my study + work life. After that will be marriage, children... And I won't have so much free time! So now, I actually hope to inculcate some good habits into my daily routine. 

1. Right brain training

I am currently working in a right brain education center. The right brain is truly amazing. However, most adults have bridged over to the left brain. I am hoping to "activate" my right brain through simple eye exercise and photo eye play. 

This is from www.rightbrainkids.com on the Wink program.

The Wink: Right Brain Education learning program is unique because it breaks Right Brain Education down into seven very unique steps:

1. Step 1: Alpha Wave Relaxation
   Alpha Wave Relaxation is the process of adjusting the thought waves to a relaxed, loving alpha wave frequency. It is a vital preparatory step to right brain learning because once the mind is in an alpha wave state, it can actively work with all the images stored in the vast chambers of the subconscious mind.
2. Step 2: Eye Exercises
   Eye Exercises strengthens the ability to focus, increases the scanning speed, stimulates brain development, accelerates memory retrieval, integrates the right and left hemispheres of the brain and heightens sensitivity.
3. Step 3: PhotoEyeplay
   PhotoEyeplay is a unique visual process which helps develop visualization by allowing the mind to create clear mental images, opening subconscious aspects of the right hemisphere of the brain, which governs memory, intuition and creativity.
4. Step 4: Mental Imaging
   Mental Imaging is the powerful process of creating vivid two- and three- dimensional images in the mind. Through practice, the images become holographic, tangible images that involve all of the senses.
5. Step 5: Observation Training
   Observation Training is a means of training the eye to see more details of every image. The more details you consciously observe, the more vivid the memory.
6. Step 6: Memory Linking
   Memory Linking consists of learning items in order by including a nonsensical story linking system which encourages the brain to visualize each component in a fun, upbeat way!
7. Step 7: Photographic Memory 
   and Speed Reading
   Photographic memory consists of remembering several things at once, in order or at random. We play with picture images (photographic memory), words (speed reading), math quantity and more! This type of instant memory is considered to be more right brain and fosters creativity and intuition in learning.

2. Innertalk 

This is a wonderful and amazing program. Costly, but I think the benefits are worth the investment. It is a thought modification program. Subliminal messages are played beneath songs to subconsciously input positive messages. 

From what I understand, the subconscious mind is powerful, but there is a barrier in getting messages to the subconscious, that is the conscious mind. Let's say you want to lose weight, and you try to tell yourself that you are thin, you are healthy. Your conscious mind might block that because you can consciously see that you are NOT thin or healthy.

So far, I haven't seen any tangible results because the programs I have (maximizing both brains, ultra success power) are, well, not tangible! But I believe that if you believe and keep an open mind, you will reap the results. More info about innertalk here.

3. Studying the Bible

I want to be a better Christian, and how else to do it than by reading God's Word! For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. I aim to read at least an article a day and to listen to church hymns. 

4. Brain Gym

Movements activate the brain.  I have bought the book here but it hasn't arrived yet. I will post more about it when I understand more. You can check out some brain gym exercises from YouTube.

5. Read!

I have bought a huge pile of books online and from Sales and I haven't really caught up on all yet! There's a mixture of fiction, nonfiction, parenting, self-help, relationships and spiritual books. My aim is just a few pages a day as time permits! There's always time to learn! =)

My pile of unread books!

Books books books!

In these 2 months this year, I've finished 9 books! Mind you, I didn't say I started and finished them this year. A couple of those (non fiction stuff) were started yonks ago and I've just finished.

1. Mini Shopaholic
I wasn't supposed to buy this, but I've read the other shopaholic books and it was cheap...so i couldn't resist. Sophie Kinsella is my favourite chick lit author. I used to read others when I was in high school, but I like her best. As usual it was an easy and enjoyable read, but somehow it wasn't my favourite.

2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Cabin Fever
This was not for me. My sis and bro have the entire series so I felt we HAVE to have it. I don't usually count it in  books I've read since it's half pictures. But I like it! A great book especially for those who don't fancy reading and need to have picture books.

3. Chicken Soup for the Girls' Soul
This I bought for my sis, but I LOVE chicken soup. Always heartwarming. =)

4. The Pact - Jodi Picoult
I must confess - I didn't actually finish it. I don't buy Jodi Picoult anymore - I borrowed it from the Shah Alam library (a beautiful gorgeous place but sadly lacking books). Her stories are so long winded and usually the ending leaves me HUH? I just skipped through the chapters and until I reached the last and found out the ending. It's about this young couple who were destined to be together, but she died. The main suspect was the guy and bla bla bla..

5. Blue Water
Also borrowed from library - also an OK read about loss and grief and forgiveness.

6. Love is a Verb - Gary Chapman
It was kind of like Chicken Soup style, with different people sharing their stories in going through tough challenging situations.

7. Bright from the Start
A parent from TW lent this book to me. It is about brain research stuffs in bringing up kids. It is very practical, lots of activities suggested which are explained with lots of evidences from brain research. This took me a looooong time to finish, but I learnt a lot! Lots of ideas for my future.

8. Hothouse Kids - The Dilemma of the Gifted Child
Interesting read, took a long time to finish cos I left it at my office and read when there's free time where I didn't feel like 9gagging. Got it at the Big Bad Wolf for 10 bucks! It is thought provoking, especially since I'm teaching in an accelerated learning program. I believe that in everything there must be a balance. You want to teach them and make them smart? Don't overdo it. They'll be super bored in normal school. Sure you can give your child a headstart (I certainly would!), but follow their pace and let them enjoy their childhood. I do not agree in all the competition nonsense at such a young age.


9. Prisoner of Tehran - Marina Nemat
I finished this in 2 days. A really really good read. A memoir of a girl who was imprisoned in Iran during the political revolution. Makes me feel blessed to be in Malaysia where we do not have these stuff. It might not be the best place on earth, but we have peace. That's enough to make me content. =)

Little Things in Life that Make Me Smile =)

My Awesome Start of 2012

 Family =)

 Ah Tai's Birthday!

 Thank you notes for those who prepared a lovely meal for us to enjoy!

 Cooking my own lunch at work!

 Little Myla "sayang-ing" Littler Arianne!

 My Favourite Boy! 

Crafting!

I am a happy happy girl indeed. =)

Anniversary!

One year!!

I've been here for one year! In Winky, I mean. Time flies, doesn't it? There's so much that I've learnt here. For the record, it's the longest job I've had. Cultilect lasted 6 months, Tumbly 10 months, SJohan 7 months. I guess those jobs just didn't suit me. I'm really picky. Really picky. 

5 reasons why I love my job (in no particular order).

1. My bosses aren't around.

Yeah, they have the "Eye in the Sky" (CCTV), but I like to think that they are too busy with their own lives to be monitoring us all the time. 

2. Great Colleague

Yup, only 1 colleague! The joy. No need to fuss around with "office politics". And the great colleague is just so funny. LOL

3. Cosy environment

Well, it is my second home, and I've practically turned it into a home. Yes, we even have our toothbrush and toothpaste here!

4. Children, children, children!

I love children. And the job is just nice - I don't have to see children the whole day long, only when there are classes. Nice balance.

5. Knowledge

You have no idea how much knowledge I've gained. A really steep learning curve. Thanks to all the training and sharing by Pamela (She's the Best!), and learning from the lessons. Can you imagine repeating the same lessons 20 times a week. I actually learn the most! From learning about countries to elements of the periodic table to frogs. Things I never learnt in school, I actually teach to kids. 

Here's to one more year, and then I'll see how things go =)