Minggu Saham Amanah Malaysia (MSAM) 2012 at Kota Kinabalu,

It was not our plan to visit the Minggu Saham Amanah Malaysia (MSAM) yesterday, it just happened that we went to our nephew's new house near Kingfisher Park, it was still early when we were headed back.  Our girls were not very pleased that we have to go home so early.  Since Likas Sport Complex where the MSAM is located is on our way, we thought why not have a look.  The place so jam packed that we nearly gave up the idea.  Clet has to drive around to look for a parking while we proceeded to the exhibition hall so as not to waste time.  

There was a long queue at the registration area, I asked my girls whether they really want to go in, Crystal said "Mummy, don't give up so easily", I guess they just want to be out and about on Sunday. After registration, a passport is given to enter the exhibition hall.  We are supposed to get a stamp on the booklet from each and every exhibitors in order to redeem an umbrella, I was not aware of that because I did not take the time to read the requirement, my concentration was more on keeping my 2 girls close to me avoiding them from missing from the crowd.

While waiting for Clet to join us, I took photos of our girls with the latest Range Rover at the UMW booths,   a nice and expensive car, cost near RM400K.  After Clet has joined us, I managed to quickly queue at the Sime Darby Food's counter to get a stamp and a free gift.

A stamp chop from the Sime Darby counter and a free pack of Alif Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi (Spicy Yellow Chicken Curry) seasoning mix.  Don't know when I will be cooking this, because my 2 girls still do not take any curry dishes.

Before exiting from the exhibition hall, there was an investment game for the children, Crystal wanted to play  the game, she brought Pearl along to queue up, they got their chance to play operation surgeons to earn money.  The game aims to let children know the concept of earning, spending and investing.  At the end of the game, there is a redemption centre where children can redeem their presents, I think the presents given is depend on how much money the children have got at the end of the game. I find this kind of investment game is beneficial to children if there is a briefing given on the purpose of the game.  

Here are the goodies that Crystal and Pearl got from the game.

Crystal brought this note pad to school this morning, telling me she treats this as an ipad....very imaginative!

Watch Korean Dramas for FREE at Maaduu.com

I like to watch Korean Dramas.  The first Korean drama that I watched was All About Eve, I watched that twice and bought the whole series too..This was some 10 years ago when I was not a mum yet.

After having Crystal & Pearl, I just haven't got the time to watch any Korean dramas, and most of the time  our TV is on with Barneys, Barbie Princesses, or other cartoons series, which has different kind of fun too :D 

Some time this week, I found out from my colleague that we can watch Korean dramas for free on Maaduu.com.  I got to know it because she always watches the dramas on her computer during her lunch break.  Just have to join as member and we will be able to watch Korean dramas from FREE.  There are so many dramas to choose from at this site.  The signing up is very simple, can be doing within a minute.

If you are a big fan of Korean dramas, look up for Maaduu.com.

Home grown Egg Plant

I can't believe my eyes when Clet told me that my Egg Plant tree is bearing fruits.  Surprise is because we do not give much care to it after it was transplanted to our backyard yet it produces crops. We have harvested 4 eggplants a couple of weeks ago.  It is flowering now, I believe we will be having more eggplants soon.  

The seedling for this plant was given by my colleague who is using worm's fertilizer for her crops. She gave me another seedling yesterday, this time is a tomato plant, it is still in little plastic container waiting to be transplanted.   

This eggplants are truly organic produce as we do not using any form of pesticide and fertilizer

The New Proton Preve

The much anticipated Proton Preve was launched last night.  If you have not seen the newly launched Proton Preve, here are some photos, they look really really nice to me, very elegant yet sporty.  The prices ranging from RM60K - RM73K depending on the model.  At first sight I thought it would priced at near RM90K.  

After sharing my views with my colleague, she would prefer to buy a Toyota Vios which is a foreign brand with a price similar to Proton Preve, simply because the earlier is a Toyota, not Malaysia made.  After so many years of our government's efforts to instill and promote Buy Local Products, it doesn't not seem to change our people's having the mindset of foreign products are much more superior than Malaysia made.  Though she prefers foreign brand, but she is driving Malaysian made cars..hahaha..simply because local made are more affordable.

Looking at the pictures, I really like to have the Elegant Brown one

I am attracted to this one -  The Elegant Brown 

More pictures & features here

The Millionaire Next Door

Not sure whether our next door neighbour is a millionaire or not, they do not seem to be one but we never know they could be a millionaire with their unrealised assets.

It is definitely our dream to become millionaire.  That' why this book "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J, Stanley and William D. Danko, has become the phenomenal #1 bestselling book, more than 1 million copies sold! This book is to unveiled the surprising secrets of America's wealthy.  This is the book I am reading at the moment at a very slow pace; a few pages during my coffee enema time and private business moments.:)  

So far I learnt that the high income earners are not necessary wealthier than the lower income groups.  Budgeting, control spending and investment in assets/stocks are the main fundamental keys to achieving a millionaire dream.  I have only read 1/4 of this book still a lot to discover the secrets of become a millionaire...

This is the cover of the book:

A glimpse of its content page: 

The back cover of the "Millionaire Next Door"

Instant noodles once in a while

I do not know the nutritional value for the instant noodle, if there is any at all.  People has been saying eating instant noodles do more harm than good.  My family's consumption of instant noodle has greatly reduced after reading an article pointing out how unhealthy it is to eat instant noodles.

After reading through the whole article, Crystal has refrained herself from taking instant noodles ever since ( I think it was more than 6 months ago).  Before that she is a big fan of instant noodles.  Now she would discourage her little sister, Pearl, not to eat instant noodles as well. 

I do keep a pack or 2 of my favourite Laksa Maggi mee in the cupboard, that would be my 4-5 months supply.  Just to get them ready in case we need a quick meal just like tonite, we had it as our supper for Clet and myself, we haven't had our proper dinner after bringing our girls to the park for a sweat out.  They had their Spaghetti Carbonara, milk shake and ice cream at the park's eatery.  I had Fish & Chips but the portion is too small for me to treat it as my dinner. And Clet cooked my Laksa Maggi mee, 

and I finished it all, just for once in a while.

Remedy for phlegmy cough

One of my mum's friend gave her this natural remedy for phlegmy cough a couple of months ago. The ingredient is simply Unsalted duck egg, water and rock sugar, a slice of ginger is optional, double boil all the ingredients for one hour. My sister gave it a try last week and it does relieve the phlegmy cough problem for her daughter who has been coughing for months and my dad whom is a asthma suffer, felt the relieve too, and my dad love it and asks for more.

My mum knows that I am having a bad cough since Chinese New Year and not getting any better, she asked me to try it too.

As the ingredients called for the Unsalted duck egg, it is hard to find unlike the salted duck egg which is plentiful in the market.  My sister only managed to buy some at the Inanam tamu.  I got 3 eggs from her.

 The ingredient : Unsalted Duck Egg, Rock Sugar

 I bought this pot especially for this purpose

the ingredients are all in my new pot now

Here you go into a bigger pot with half filled water ready to double boil for an hour

After an hour, the duck egg is now boiled and the rock sugar is all melted, very sweet. 

A small slice of ginger can be added to it if you do not want too much of the cooling effect of taking this.  I have taken it last night and have not feel any obvious improvement on my cough yet, like any other natural remedy, one can not expect to have miracle cure instantly.  I still have got 2 more duck eggs, I shall try them all to see whether this formula will do any good to my sensitive airway problem. 

Need cure for Hives, the allergy

It always very tiring and mind exhausting when our kid is not feeling well, Crystal has been suffering from allergy  since December last year, I believe it is the kind of allergy called hives which usually come after midnight when one is resting, the itchiness is hard to bear and it is burning hot on the areas where the hives attacked, the more you scratched the faster and wider it spreads on the body.  What she is suffering now is exactly what I had experienced when I was a kid till my adulthood.  I am really sadden with the fact that she has inherited the hives from me. It is disturbing me so much every time I see her suffers from it.  She has been having sleepless nights that she has to absent from school the next day.  She is taking a sick leave off from school today because of the nasty hives attacked last night.  She woke me up 3 times after midnight to ask me to help her spray the acid water on her body which she finds has a bit of relieve of the itchiness, but acid water alone can not do much help, the hives covered the whole of her back on the 3rd time she woke me up.  I think she only managed to get some rest just before the alarm clock rings.  While she is weak and lost her appetite, she got diarrhea and has to visit the toilet 3 times today.  She has to take the allergy control herbs and also the diarrhea today.  

We have tried to clean her room, take supplements, change washing powder, shower soap, refrain her from eating certain food, bathe with herbs and so on, nothing seems effective.  The hives come back a few days after medication.  

At the moment she is taking alkaline water and the acid water for skin for the past 1 week. Thanks to our nephew and family for offering the alkaline water. 

I have searched through the internet to find cure for hives, but to no avail so far.  My parents have brought me to Chinese and Western doctors for treatment during the time I suffered from hives but no one treatment can give me a cure.  I had undergone many traditional treatments that aunties, uncles, grandmas have recommended to my parents, some were pretty weird, I tried them any way with the hope that they can get rid of the hives.  The hives attack was serious that I fainted in my bedroom without anyone realising because it was over midnight.  I have to take medicine to control the hives and later of the years I undergone a serial of Chinese medical treatment.  It slowly went disappear when I was in my 20s.  I could not go back to this Chinese doctor because he's no longer around.  He was already in his 90s when he treated me with the help of his daughters. 

I am sharing this here with the hope that anyone whom could share and know the treatment of hives.  There are many of us hives sufferers out there desperately need cure. Suffering from Hives is depressing and disturb our daily lives.       

Largest Room For Rent Website

This is an interesting site that I have come across on room renting advertisement website for the Malaysian. In my opinion, iBilik is some what have more advertisements on room rental than Mudah.com.  There is a whole long list of rooms for rent advertisements to browse through instantly without having to buy a newspaper.  I believe this is by far the largest room for rent website in Malaysia.  At the time of writing this post, the number of room for rent advertisements in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur alone are at 40,209 and 43,504 respectively.  

Sometime end of last year, my colleague, Kathy's home has hit by a bad flood in Lido area.  The flood has left her home in a bad condition that she has to move out in order to make way for major renovation.  Now she is in midst of looking for a room to rent. This would be the right site for her to search for the right accommodate. 

iBilik has fast becoming the largest and No.1 Room For Rent, Home Stay and Short Term Rental Database website in the country. It is FREE to post your advertisement, just register yourself with the site and start placing your advertisement. How I wish there was such a website many years ago. I still can remember I have to go through the trouble of placing a room for rent advertisement on the newspaper, to go to the news office, I had to find a parking at the busy street, at the news office, I have to queue to be served.  A small column of hardly noticeable advertisement  cost pretty expensive for just a day placement, a day gone by and there is no inquiry at all, pretty frustrated. Now, there is this site providing such a convenient service for both advertisers and those who wish to find a room to rent.   It is also a good site to look for a short term place to stay if you plan to travel to any of the major towns within Malaysia.

Chinese New Year 2012

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

GONG XI FA CAI

MAY THE DRAGON YEAR BRINGS GOOD HEALTH, 

SAFETY AND PROSPERITY TO ALL OF US, 

AND PEACE TO ALL MANKIND. 

Not much decorations have been put up at our home this Chinese New Year, have been busy with works and other daily chaos.  We have just put away our Christmas trees on the eve to make way for some Chinese New Year decorations.  Lanterns are up few days earlier but the Dragon figurine is still very much lying on the table.  

The Chinese believe that there should have some food on the dining table to welcome the brand new year, symbolizing the abundance of food throughout the year.  Here are some of the goodies I placed on our dining table to attract the good chi to our family.

Fine Dining venue at the Republic of Texas

The month of December till Chinese New Year is the season to be jolly, thanks giving and to welcome the brand new year. Celebrations would not be complete without good food, and gathering with families and friends. 

During these festive season period, many restaurants are offering special menus to cater for those who prefer to dine out. Many working class mothers are too busy to prepare a set of complete meals for their families. Not to mention the time to shop for the ingredients, time to prepare and cook and clear up the mess after the meals. As a working mother, thinking of all these tasks is enough to make me tired. 

Being a busy business lady, a friend of mine who lives in Texas was telling me that they had a wonderful Christmas meal at the Republic of Texas, its banquet restaurant Dallas with her families and friends, a truly fine dining experience. Its Republic of Texas Company Store also offer over 100 gourmet Texas made products and fine foods. Of the Republic of Texas Foods, the gourmet smoked meat looks particularly delicious to me. It is also a good place to get hold of Texas wine, there are wide varieties of wine to choose from, a toss for a good year ahead. 

Those who love Mexican food, you could try out its Mexican Cuisine too. I also noticed on their website that a 10% discount will be given for all orders till 31st March. If you are thinking of holding parties at home, try find out from them on the catering menu or the party delivery menu, they cater for groups as small as 10 to as big as over 1000 guests. Let them handle the tedious part of any functions, that is, the preparation of food and drinks. 

I have told my friend that if I visit Texas, please bring me to the Banquet Restaurant Dallas for a taste of its gourmet smoked meat dishes!! :D

For the Longans and Tangerines

All because of the fault of a dog chasing after a cat. It is a usual thing that our neighbour's dog chases after their own cat. The cat will jump, run for its life and hides under the car, the dog will keep barking and find its way to get the cat.

This usual dog and cat chasing scene has turned out to be a little disaster when the dog ran on the drying cement in front of our car porch.  The renovation work is in progress to enlarge entrance and fix the gate for our house.  As you can see the naughty dog has left his many foot prints.  

Our neighbour felt bad about what their naughty dog has done.  They sent over some longans and tangerines over to us to apologise despite we told them earlier that it is not a problem we could touch it up again the next day.  

Since they are sincere in sending their apology, it is hard for us to refuse their gift of apology.  I can tell you those longans are sweet and juicy, Crystal loves the mini tangerines, I have to stop her from eating too many for reason being that too many will cause one to cough.

Roasted Turkey for Christmas

Christmas is here in less than a week time. Time flies so fast and so many things to handle that I find myself haven't got time to get things done for Christmas this year. I am still deciding on what presents to get for the kids, Clet is busy with our front gate renovation, so he hasn't got the time to spare on the Christmas presents this year, luckily I have got crystal to help me on getting some girl's accessories done as gifts, yes, she handmade them, I helped her on the beginning and finishing touches (will post it in my next post).

Christmas is not complete without some kind of feast in the celebration. Some may think having turkey is a must in the Christmas menu. If you have no plan to roast your own turkey (which is a lot of work and know hows). Here are 2 places you could order a cooked/ roasted turkey in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Borneo Turkey is where you could order a cheaper organic turkey, the cheapest is RM120.00 for a 3kg roasted organic turkey with free side salads. My colleague has ordered it last year, she is thinking of ordering it again this year.

Christmas Carolling

We have been busy for the last 2 weeks or so. Our girls started their carolling after we had a short trip to Tawau. They were having fun going house to house sending the good news on the second coming of Jesus Christ. This is the first time they joined the Kids of the Kingdom's carolling group. This is the youngest carollers from our church, kid age as young as 3 years to 9 years, parents are advised to accompany them during the 4 days of carolling. Inevitably we as parents join in as part of the carollers as well. The kids are so very excited when receiving goodies, food & drinks at the church members' houses that we visited.

Crystal continues to join the elder group of the Children Liturgy's carolers this week. It's our turn to welcome them to our home on Wednesday. I bought some chocolate biscuits and packet drinks as goodies for them to bring back.

As carollers, our girls brought back bags and bags of goodies. Now our home are filled with goodies, pray and hope that with God's Blessing, our coming new years will be sweeter than previous years. It's truly an experience for Crystal and Pearl this Christmas for joining the carolling.

Lighting Fixtures

I always like the coziness of the hotels' room, of course I mean those with at least 3 stars hotels. I realise that it is because of the effect of the lighting fixtures, and the type of lights that the hotels choose to use in their rooms.

Some of the lights that they used are very simple not those fancy types but yet able to give their guests the welcoming and coziness effect. The lighting fixtures are just at the right place. Usually there is a lamp shade by the bed side, down lights at the door way, small lamp just right on top of the dressing mirror, and of course one in the wash room. I realise that they use dim lamps and bulbs to achieve the warm effect which we can also do the same for our home.

As I do not have bed side lamps yet, to have them would sure lift up the warm and coziness for my bedroom. As for my front porch, I would like to fix an antique outdoor wall light, that will give a total make over look from outside.