Weekend Retail Therapy

I'm not really start to reward myself yet since after work. Finally, the weekend which just over, I did it - spend a few hundred to shop and shop. I really feel great to do so at the same time to de-stress. Shopping never comes to a tired task for me. Saturday after half day work, I visited 10 boutique outlets in Kuchai Lama area and Sunday shop at Tropicana City Mall.

Good that things are still on sales now and I'm able to grab more. Here are my bags of loots.


Inside there are: -
F block - chiffon flowery long top RM49

top and bottom boutique - chiffon top RM 79 less 15%

Kitschen - blouse RM39.90 less 20% and purple long top/ short dress RM69.90 less 70%

From Aurora Boutique - long top RM49 less 10%

Aurora skinny legging RM55 less 10%, Kitschen skinny jeans RM79.90 less 30% and Aurora legging RM39 less 10%


Also to share with you, something from online shop too.

Cut in High collar blouse - Free blouse, a reward from irenelim.com
Lately also has been keep browsing nice fashion provided by this mummy. Hopefully one day will deal some there. Notice that, the fashion now is still with long top and pair legging which is one of my favorite style! looks like I got to house-keep my wardrobe to fit in this new batch.

Trendy fashion by Irenelim

Shopping is my most favourite past time, I can never get boring to shop for hours at shopping mall even it is just go for window shop. Since become mummy, I don't get to shop that often anymore, but this never stop me from doing any shopping.

With the convenient of www, at anytime and anywhere, I can hook up to those online fashion store like IreneLim Fashion Boutique to update myself on the current fashion trend. Online shopping can really save a lot of time and hassle. Not only that, I can even get cheaper range of clothing and more up to date fashion. I can’t wait to browse on all new arrival range of tops and dresses, the fashion style is simply suit my taste.

Irenelim fashion is the boutique that everyone talking about now. Currently they are giving away free dresses for bloggers who write a review for them. Yes, it is absolutely a free one on your choice. It is just that easy, I got to pens off now to book my free piece.

4th Birthday at kindy

Back dated post @ 20th May 2010, Thursday

This year birthday could be the first extraordinary one for him, I planned the party to be on at school with his classmates and teachers. I was thought that I won’t be able to make it since I just started to work (also try not to take leave if nothing in emergency). Anyway, I'm so glad that I manage to do all the preparation and gave him a party there. This is also his 1st time birthday without us around.

When I asked the boy what birthday cake he wants, need not to guess he wants Thomas cake. I went look into his sticker book to search for an appropriate Thomas picture then sent it to King Confectionery. I choose Chocolate Lady cake (1kg) as it is simply fit kid's taste. I placed the cake order 3 days before the actual day and collect it on the birthday morning itself, then directly sent it to school.

As for the party packs, I prepared 24 sets to be given away for his class only. No hard time in getting the material and ingredients. I got to pack that after the boy sleep at night, else he will ask to open for everything. He was so looking forward for it, as he has been asking where is his Thomas cake since the day placed order and also happy counting the party packs.

The night before birthday, we prepared 2 birthday gifts for him, one from me and another one from hubby. He was so excited too and wanted to open. After some talk to him that to unwrap the presents next day on actual day, I was so surprise that he got convinced and wait till the next day.

That birthday morning, cake, party packs and also camera I pass it to his class teacher and let her settle for me. The party took place during the snack time. So here, let the picture speaks.


The principal is too kind enough, gave him another set of present which he already got it a month ago. At night, he happily unwrap his pressie all by himself and wu-wa there...so excited. Before this he used to ask me to unwrap everything.

Thomas Storybook set from bookdepository and programmable robot.
He so much of a big boy now, no longer want me to feed that much. He can eat all by himself. He able to grab the spoon and fork well and eat in a tidy way. Eating out now is such a bliss moment. Since he can eat on his own, he starts getting picky - dislike any greens. He will pick out and shift aside the green. His all time favourite is meat, egg, fishball, fried food, banana and orange. I'm getting headache to get him eat greens and more fruits. Besides that, he also slowly shows his indepandent since after attending daycare and get to learn a lot better - singing, talking, love to read and write and etc. So far I didn't regret for the decision to come out to work and sending him to daycare.

At night after back home, sometimes he is alright if he not watch TV. But normally I will still switch on his favourite channel. Since kindy no TV and there is only 3 hours left at home before sleep, so it is ok, kids need this daily dose of cartoon time. I give the full freedom to him to watch whatever he wants. During the weekend, he is not that glue to the telly like last time which he can play a same VCD for more than 5 times a day. Finally for my part, the last challenging mission to complete is to train him diaperless at night.

Term 1 school holiday

The term 1 schooling days almost comes to end, yesterday I was on leave to attend the Parent-Teacher Meet. It was a very short section with the teacher to review his overall progress and development at school.


Randomly 2 pages of it
It is basically can read everything from the progress report itself with grade. It breaks down in to many categories - physical development, personal social development, moral & spiritual growth, health, perceptual and cognitive development, language development, reading, computer learning, art and craft, music and movement, personal appearance and safety habits. What I'm being highlighted was on his motor skill, where he is not that flexible on the way to grip the pencil and the strength to press when write, but teacher said need not to worried he is progressing well. Anyway to me he is good enough from unable to write 5 month ago, to now he can write, but just a bit slow it is ok to me, as long as he willing to write.

The 1st Assessment remark dropped on the last page wrote like this

" Terry is very shy and he needs encouragement to voice out his opinion in class. He is able to recognise alphabets, sounds, colours and numbers and able to read books. He shows improvement in his writing and coloring skill. Overall, he progresses steadily in all area development. "

Random writing, 1-20 and some alphabets
The school was actually having Children and Teachers' Party cum Prize-giving ceremony on coming Thursday and Parent-Teacher Meet on Friday (my appointment for this arranged earlier), due to 3 suspected H1N1 cases in the school, they will need to close 3 days early and re-open for full day students on next Monday. The school immediately need to shut down for other children's safe and also to maintain a safe environment. The disinfection work was carry out quite frequent since last week once reported with suspected case. The principal told me that they took 4 hours to do the disinfection work every round, wipe everything with Dettol and spray Dettol to the air. Pray that God's Almighty hand will bless and show mercy to those sick kids and keep others safe and healthy.

Terry was now with my mum in her kindy where she works. It was actually not really allow him to go to other place but to stay at home (chances of spreading is quite high too). Since I'm working now, no choice, worst come to worst, my mum got to take leave from work.

Hello, I’m still around...

So fast, it is almost a month time since I start to work. Weee…few more days is pay day! So far so good, I manage to pull through it on my job and at the same time manage the house well. My role of job started immediately after the training ends.

Every day my job got to be picking up calls, many many calls. The interval time for calls coming is between 5-8 mins after one another. The line was main hunting line and 4 of us in charge to entertain it. If the call was related to support then I got to jot down their problem/ complain and log ticket. Sometime also got scold by customer and rush us for solution delivery. Being in this post I got to be a very good listener to find out their problem encounter and try to get their problems in detail as precisely as possible. Early weeks when start picking up calls getting ppl scold, blame and shout, actually I was kind of depress and stressful. But after my supervisor advice and colleagues support on how to handle those situation and response those calls, I’m getting better now for learn not to take their words in heart and not to bring those emotions and problems back home.

During the working hour, I got to be multi-tasking to handle calls, MSN and Skype, log complain, do remote access and also at the same time to find solution for them. This kind of task, never get us to feel sleepy coz it is fully occupy. Although we facilitate with full usage of Internet, believe me I don’t even have a wee bit of 10 mins of time to go on FB or others, not to say a quick blogging.

After working hour, for the good of 30 minutes I can sit down for dinner, the rest of the hours before bedtime I’m will be occupy on the house chores and accompany Terry. No TV, newspapers time at all. By the time I got the ME time it was about 10pm or 10.30pm and I really totally flat out by then. For the weekend, more or less still occupy with house chores, church, accompany family, shopping and other programs, I still trying hard to find the free time to go online.

See now… I have been deeply missing so much of my blogging time, I got lots want to share, but too little time now, not to say blog hop. Very soon I will not be able to update what happen around with my friends in Facebook and also to my dear blog friends. So, pls don’t leave me if I’m not hop. I will try to my best to keep up in blog and soon if I can manage my time well then only I’ll do more.

As for Terry, he is quite adapt to the daycare life now. The only thing is he do not have enough of sleep time. 2 hours of nap time at school is too short for him and at night I try to speed up my work so that I can accompany him to sleep early at 9.30pm or 10pm (wake up at 7.45am). Daddy has been start involve in helping to fetch him back from school after work and try to back early to help put him to sleep. Since the day he starts daycare I have been very worried and concern on his health. Been forcing him to drink lots of water (1 litre at least) and popping 400mg Vitamin C everyday. As I know the chance to get sick is rather higher for daycare kids. Just recently cases of HMFD and H1N1 is hitting. His kindy got a suspected case of H1N1 recently and the school will be close 1 day (weekend) for disinfection. I'm still looking for any other nutrition food to boost his immune, any recommendation?

The Parent's Day is coming soon I have been taking a day off work to go for that 15 mins short section of discusion on progress and development. OK, thats all for now, if not a holiday today I don't think I'm able to update blog. Think that I got 3 days off in a row, No, I don't have.

Tomorrow got to be a fun fun day. Happy Weekend to you too ~

How do you decide who to marry?

This is sooo true yet funny from kids.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10


WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille, age 10


HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8


WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8


WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure?)

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10 (isn't he ready for the world of dating?)


WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. -- Craig, age 9


WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
-- Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. -- Howard, age 8


IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9 (bless you child)


HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8 (I like this kid)

And the #1 Favorite is ...

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
-- Ricky, age 10 (He'll be married forever)

LeSportsac sling purse & Gathering

Last week, Rachel found a good grab on Lesportsac sling purse. So without thinking much, we asked this mummy help us to get one too, together with Mummy Moon and we got a 20% discount.

It is a Lesportsac Spring & Summer 2010 collection of magazine from Japan comes with the bag. Each book cost RM66.70. The magazine is full in Japanese language and I only able read the pic. It is about the new design and prints of the bag having in this season.

I think this bag is a limited edition and only can get along with the magazine itself. So it is worth getting it and much more cheaper than any regular purse selling in Lesportsac boutique.

Saturday, we met up to collect the bag cum dinner at Station 1 Kuchai, 8pm with Irene family, Moon family and Rachel. I went there myself with Terry only. It is my first time seeing Rachel and her handsome Philip B. As the same with the rest of the first-met mummy, we don’t feel that we are so stranger to each other. It is just like our own mutual friends, seeing them in person make us a step closer to each other. This round snap a few coz miss out when first meeting Irene.

Here are the kids gathering with games occuping them.


Our table was the loudest that night, kids very fast get warm up immediately after their dinner and we adult on another end of the table chatting away.

We call it a night and left at 9.30pm. Again, it was a great time meeting them.

Happy Mother's Day

❤ A mother understands what a child does not say.
- Jewish Proverb

❤ When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.
- Sophia Loren.

❤ A mother who is really a mother is never free.
- Honore de Balzac


Wishing all greatest mum in the world,

❤ Happy Mother's Day ❤
Terry's art work for the week

Officially a working mom

for the first time...

The time now 10:18pm, finally I've done my work of the day and take some ME time before sleep. So far so good, this morning woke up at 7am, get ready the boy and myself then out the house at 8.25am. After send Terry to school then took another 15 min drive to reach office. Just on-time when I'm there, better not to be late.

4 years SAHM life just ended so fast. It was just like started yesterday where I used to hold a knife, the wok, stay at kitchen, the hand and leg gets wet and dry all day long; now I'm back to those working days facing the computer and sit for 8 hours where I'm one during my single days.

Smart office
Recognise with MSC status and Certified from Microsoft
Our Smart Biz products
Actually I was quite sleepy throughout the day, but need to stay put. First day, basically nothing much, after go through orientation, company introduction, understand how the whole company and department flow then read lots of documents and started on internal training.

The front office - waiting area
2010 Objectives
The "Smart" in us
I can say today my mind and brain works very slow in try to digest and get what they try tell me and taught me. A lot of things the head department go through with me…I think I only absorb 50% of it. Aside from that, today I also need to read lots of document regarding my coming training and work stuff. Ahh...so many and I was like stuck there. On my desktop, today need to configure my Outlook, setup MSN and Skype (yes, very much need this in the company and must use this 2 communication tools too) and install many other work related stuff.

POS (Point-Of-Sales) demo bar at front office.
For this week and next week, it will be all training days for me. This is a small company but making big solution in biz to many. We only have 20-22 staffs (including founder, co-founder and partners) and mostly are guys. Our working space also open concept, inside one big room space (behind the orange door at waiting area), no cubicle, no inner wall, from every corner of your seat u can see everybody and your talking volume can almost reach everybody ears too. Not only that, our office attire also very free and easy. Those men wear crocs to work and simply slipper too. They are a bunch of friendly, joker and fun people, no position level of separation and no politics.

Training room/ meeting room (one and only)
Pantry
I should consider myself lucky joining at this year. This is the first year and first time the company giving out company trip to staffs and the trip will be on next month. I thought I won’t be eligible to go coz I’m the newest, but they still invited me to join. It is actually a team building trip to Port Dickson. Well, it doesn’t matter where to go, I very much happy for able to enjoy this benefit. Nothing much I want to complain and compare, it simply good and more than I can ask for.

As for Terry, today another brand new week for him and stay back in daycare. I reach there at 6pm after work and not wanted to go in to pick him up yet, as that time he only starts his dinner. I know once he saw me he won’t be eating anymore. I drag till 6.30pm and went in to peek. He saw me when he went to toilet and that’s it, he not wanted to go in the eating room again to finish his food. For kids finish food they can play, so he proceed to play and don’t want to go home after pursuing many times. I just let him play for another 15 mins more.

He behaves so differently, he end up throws a big tantrum on my last call to go home. When I evantually walk off, he crouch and roll on the floor, cry so badly and loud for not wanted to go home till I need to drag him out the place. The principal said maybe he is trying to manipulate and testing my patience as I don’t get to be with him most of the days now. This is normal on kids she said as they also need to learn and grow when comes to this and get use to the changes around. Later they will get used to it and will be fine. I'm more comfortable after listening that. I think I should buy something to reward him and cheer him up tomorrow.

Back home, he refused to let me hold him, as I walk towards letter box near the lobby, I told him I’m going there to pick up letter, he don’t listen to me and go to the lift area. I thought he won’t be going in without me and will back to letter box place with me. Who knows when I walk to the lobby I don’t find him. I gone so mad at that moment, worrying where he going, stay inside which lift or will he going out at the wrong floor? He knows he stay which floor, but I never let him press on it before. I straight away went up to my floor first, not saw him too at my floor's lobby then I press on all 3 lift bottom for going up and down to let it reach my place. There goes one of the lift coming down first reach my place and open the door. I saw him standing inside there, almost sobbing holding his nappy cloth with a lady who just now also came almost the same time as we enter at G lobby. Thank God she was not walk out the lift yet and the lift is heading down to G again (maybe to bring Terry to look for me). I just couldn’t think anymore and I know I should say Thanks to her for accompany him. Just before I pull him out, I shouted directly to my boy "WHERE ARE YOU GOING!...", really really so mad, speechless.

I continue scold + spank before even walk back to my unit. It is just too dangerous for him to walk off like that. He is one stubborn boy, like to do his way, want means want, don't want means don't want. Sometimes I also don't know how to correct him and teach him.

Way to go mummy and Terry, as we got more things to grow, discover and learn...pray that God is with us and protected us all the time.

Soon to be ....

... Full . Time . Working . Mom ...

After 4 years being SAHM, next week I got to leave out the 'comfort zone' and get back to the working world. It will be another challenge to me to have a brand new routine as a working mom.

I have been thinking so long wanted get back to the work force sometimes ago till hubs give the green light recently. The major pull back also due to Terry's recovery on burn which I can't let go to let someone take care of him after the bad accident. Now he has go to school and I feel some emptiness in me which I think I want back my career too as a mom.

So there go, the whole month of April I was busy hunting for jobs through jobstreet.com and went for 3 job interviews. I have been asking myself a lot a lot of questions during my job search, is it possible to go back to my old line as Programmer (sort of), will company now likely to hired a mummy with kid, what other jobs fit a mummy timing which she needs to leave work on-time everyday, what kind of work environment I want, location and expected salary? Since I've leave the working world for quite some time, I really got no idea where to start like a freshie.

I seek God for guide and ask Him to open His way for me. Thank God He listened to my prayers and He did provide along the way. I kinda forget how a formal interview like, the last I attended one was like 10 years ago. Worried that I don't know how to speak too when being questionned. Admit that, after being SAHM for some time, my speed is slow a bit on thinking and responding. The first thing, I prepared myself is a set of working attire, I got none of that and outgrow of many too. Before attended each interview, I just briefly check through the company background and profile then just go for it. Never think of anything and worried so much, just tell myself go with the flow during interview. I submit all my fear and nervous to God.

Firstly, I back to my ex-company (the department is expanding and need 30+ programmers to fill up) to enquired about the Programmer position on 2/4/10. At the end of the interview, I don't find I fit enough to be in the position anymore as it always need to go on long working hours, very stressful and the job requirement also beyond my qualification and location wise also not an ideal one.

Right after the 1st interview, my search continue from non-executive to executive level job regardless position, job scope and job function. In weighting of importance for the job I apply - can leave work on-time, nearby my house, within my IT profession, experience and qualification and good pay. The main concern is I want a fix (yes, very fix) office working hours job that I can leave work on-time to pick up my son from daycare. About this picking up task, no one can actually help and stand-by for me in frequent like few times a week. That is why my top priority is to leave office on-time.

In that short of 2 weeks time of searching and browsing over many job listing in Jobstreet, I found another 2 potential one which I'm very interested in and think should be able to fit in - Sales Coordinator and Customer Service Helpdesk. After I click on 'Apply' to send my online resume, the response from employers also quite fast and immediately they arrange me to go for interview on 6/4 and 9/4 respectively. It turns out quite fine the minute interview ends. Both employers got good impression on me, that at least makes me relief a bit, for I know that is a chance there.

The waiting time for the week when they supposed to call me for reply is not easy for me too. I keep on thinking who will offer me a job first and what if they both turn down my application, where else to go? Just when these worries cross in, the company I most wanted to join they called me (the only one call back) and offered me the position. What's more they also able to offer my expected salary figure. Thats completely makes me satisfied and happy of all in terms of job profession, position, working location and pay.

I will be officially working starting on next Monday (3/5). Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm and on alternate Saturday. For Terry, he will be stay back in his kindy for daycare till 7pm. Will let him have his dinner there too. The charges is RM650 inclusive of school fee. Since yesterday he already started on daycare for 4 days in this week, just to make sure he is ok and let him get used to it first before I start work. He was ok and happy when I pick him up yesterday evening, but merajuk a bit during meal time and at night refused to sleep on his own bed.

Wish me luck, hopefully I can cope with the busy FTWM life..I will be definitely going to miss the time spending with Terry, cook for him, miss my freedom being at home to do whatever I like, blogging and many more..for sure they are lost and gain.

Fondest pieces

I read about many parents are keeping back many fondest pieces/things for their kids which used during baby time like pacifier, hair, baby tooth, clothes and etc...so what my parents keep for me since born? There were a few baby clothes and blankets.


One of the top


Blankets
Terry was wearing the above top during 3 months old and used the blankets too for a few times. And besides that, something unique and people will normally throw and discard everyday....this -

Calendar date of the day I born (oppss...revealing my age)
It was being save down by my dad on the day I born. He passed this 2 pieces calendar paper to me to keep since many years ago and I still keep it nicely in a file. Although I don't find this paper rather useful, but the value of this calendar paper in history was priceless in many coming years. It was one and only day of this calendar day I belong to.

You know what, my dad did practise this too when Terry was born. He got one too..