learning to surf

How do you organise your SHOES?

2009-09-18T12:43:00.010+10:00

Don't we all just love shoes?

How do you organise them? By design? By colour?

Do you keep them in shoe boxes?

Before organising

Taddaa! After organising and cleaning.

Why are my shoes not in boxes? I had to throw the boxes away and pack my shoes in plastic bags when I moved here.
Then again it is a hassle to keep shoes in their boxes. When you wanna look for a pair of shoes which goes with your outfit, you will have to lift the box covers. I know of people who takes Polaroid pictures and paste it on the shoe boxes.
And then I read about this very clever idea. Benjibox Clear Shoe Boxes.
You can stack the boxes up to save space. You can see your shoes clearly. And it's so clever because the boxes are designed with a slide-out drawer!

The downside? It is a bit pricey. Should I invest in them?

How to turn $10 into $100!!!

2009-08-25T14:55:00.042+10:00

You must be thinking this is one of those investment strategies where you invest a little and gain a lot more. No it's not.

This is a fun campaign from Nuffnang where Nuffies are given $10 Coles Group & Myer Gift Card to spend. There are two challenges to take part in:

Challenge 1:

Spend the $10 Coles Group & Myer Gift Card in the most creative, interesting or fun way.

Challenge 2:

Most frugal Nuffie award. How far can you stretch the $10 Coles Group & Myer Gift Card and what can you make it do?

The winner of each challenge will win a Coles Group & Myer Gifts Card worth $100.

So I accepted the challenge and finally received the $10 Gift Card yesterday.

First I decided on the challenge. I chose Challenge 2 because I hope that my accounting background will be able to help me in this competition.

Then I decided which store to go to. The Gift Card can be used in a number of stores, Myer, Target, Kmart, Coles, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars, 1st Choice Liquor Superstore and Officeworks.

I entered Coles with a mission to stretch $10 and then this caught my eyes :

With the price cuts going on in Coles, I knew I am able to get more for less. So I walked around, shopped and snapped pictures.

Kiwifruit 4 for $0.99

Kiwifruits are small but they are mighty with lots of Vitamin C. This will be nice with chocolate fondue. Will have this for desert with sayang (darling in malay). And someone once told me that kiwifruit can also help prevent prostate cancer =)

Sweet Corn 2 for $0.99. This will be for our tea time. Ahhh...so healthy and cheap. No more potato chips! =p

Lemon $0.33 each. Sayang complained having sorethroat this morning. Will make him honey and lemon to soothe his throat. Oh...I have been told that the best way to remove pesticide from vegetables is by soaking vegies with lemon, salt and water for 2 minutes.

Carrots 1kg $0.99. I can use this for soups, congee, salads and even juices. Yay! Very important ingredient that I must have in my fridge.

Sweet potatoes 1kg $1.99. I love baked sweet potatoes. It's great when you have hunger pangs. I will be using this for congee today. Remember my post on Sweet Gingery Soup?

Broccoli 1kg $1.97. Will be frying this with ginger and garlic tonight. Mhmm..will be adding carrot as well.

So far its all healhty food. I know this is not healthy but it is convenient. Especially when you are in a hurry. Once in awhile wont kill right? =p
Bowl Noodles $1.00.

Trying to snap a picture of us having fun while we're out shopping. It's not easy to self snap with iPhone. =(
Me: Yay, we can stretch $10. This is fun!
Sayang: OMG! I married a crazy woman. @_@

Arnotts Biscuits 2 for $3.00. I got a packet of Marie and a packet of Shredded Wheatmeal. Great for tea time and also baking. Might try out the non-bake cheesecake recipe soon where the biscuits will be the base of the cake. =)

Finally..these are what I got.

I got 13 items for $10.35. Overspent $0.35.

One thing's for sure. When your tummy is full, you will be feeling happy and contented. I have spent and stretched $10 on food. =)

Didn't you hear the saying before? The way to your man's heart is through his tummy! ;p

MasterChef : The Musical

2009-07-25T12:56:00.003+10:00

I might be the only person who's not watching MasterChef. The winner has already been crowned. And here I am only beginning to catch up. I'm so so outdated!
Anyways, I was driving last night and I heard this over the radio. I couldn't help but turn up the volume and laugh as I listen to the lyrics. Other drivers may think that I'm under the influence of alcohol.

It is interesting how they changed the lyrics of the song from The Sound of Music, Do Re Mi. Very creative and definitely a good marketing/advertising strategy.

Check the song out here.

Source

After 11 months

2009-07-22T15:13:00.003+10:00

It's 11 months now since I moved to Australia. Is it normal for me to still feel lost? I'm still learning the roads, the culture and everything else.

Before my move, I have always wanted to stay as far away as possible from my family. I can't deny that I was chasing after the freedom that every teenager/young adult were dreaming of. Now that I'm thousand miles apart from my family members, I miss those moments when I was living with my parents, where I know I am safe, where everything is taken care off. Probably this is home sick.

Every now and then I get people asking me how am I liking it here? Or how am I adapting here? My answer remains the same from the 1st month till the 11th month; I am still adapting!

There are so much more to learn and know. Today, I am scratching my head reading and filling up forms for my Superannuation. In Malaysia we have EPF (Employees Provident Fund) also known as KWSP.
Here, there are so many Superannuation Funds.

There's something to learn everyday. =)

What say you?

2009-07-06T21:49:00.002+10:00

People blog for numerous reasons. Majority of the bloggers I know blog to update friends and family. Some blog to share information. Some even blog to gain popularity.

Everyone is free to blog on anything they like. Anything at all.

The other day a dear friend of mine asked me about blogging.
Do you think you are revealing a lot through blogging? Blogging about everyday life, blogging about love life, family life, is that too much information?

So do you think blogging reveals too much and there is not much privacy left in one's life?

Another warm desert

2009-06-30T14:39:00.004+10:00

Sweet Gingery Soup

2009-06-20T22:36:00.004+10:00

This is perfect during winter.
Sweet potato and sago 'tong sui' (desert).
It is sweet, gingery and warm. Slrppp.......

Tacos

2009-05-26T13:25:00.008+10:00

When we are sick of rice and noodles.

Lay the taco shells on a tray.

Bake the taco shells for 5 minutes.

Cook the minced meat together with taco seasoning.

Serve with diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and cheese.

Music Is The Key

2009-05-24T20:19:00.008+10:00

Artist: Sarah Connor feat. Naturally 7

Lyrics

…listen people…
…Sarah Connor…
…Naturally Seven…
…Music Is The Key…

1. verse:
People - have always been singing
To wipe away tears
To ease all their pain

Music - has always been healing
Some people just sometimes
And others again and again and again

bridge:
So we hope that today you are ready
To understand

chorus:
Whenever you're falling down
Hopeless and pushed around
Find your own melody
Trust me that music is the key

It makes you feel proud and strong
Helps you to carry on
If you are down on your knees
You should sing it with me
Music is the key - sets you free

2. verse:
Stories – we've always been telling
It's part of our nature
To speak with a friend

bridge:
So we hope that today you are ready
To understand

2. chorus:
Whenever you're falling down
Hopeless and pushed around
Find your own melody
Trust me that music is the key

It makes you feel proud and strong
Helps you to carry on
If you are down on your knees
You should sing it with me
Music is the key

c-part:
It's the key to the heart of all people
It can open the door to your soul
It's the key to a world
Where the flower of love
Always grows – don't you know...

3. chorus:
Whenever you're falling down
Hopeless and pushed around
Find your own melody
Trust me that music is the key

Whenever you're losing faith
Just wanna leave your place
Come sing along with me
Trust me that music is the key

Just sing with me loud and strong
Help us to carry on
If you are down on your knees
You should sing it with me
Music is the key - sets you free

... Music is the key…

Something for us and the environment

2009-05-21T13:36:00.003+10:00

We have heard so much about saving the environment. People are becoming more conscious about what they do and how their actions would impact the environment. Instead of using plastic bags, supermarkets are encouraging shoppers to use shopping bags; also known as "Green Bags"
Electrical goods, electricity itself, water, even pots and pans are going green.

Have you thought about going green when it comes to your closet? Check this out. Green is the new black

Purchase clothing at a lower price. Clothings are in good condition. Most of them are brand new and some are only worn once.

For more info. E-mail to : greenthenewblack@gmail.com

Yummy Banana Muffins

2009-05-18T17:40:00.004+10:00

I have been searching for an easy and good muffin recipe. Then I found this on BigOven. I was excited over the taste and texture that I forgot to take pictures of the muffins. Try this recipe and let me hear your thoughts.

Ingredients:
3 large bananas
3/4 cup sugar (I used brown sugar)
1 large egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour (I used self-raising flour and omitted baking powder and baking soda)
1/3 cup melted butter

Method:
Preheat oven to 375F/190C/Gas Mark 5

Mash bananas. Add sugar and slightly beaten egg and mix well. Add the melted butter. Make a well in the middle and add the dry ingredients.

Bake for 20 minutes.

**If you want the top of your muffins to be crunchy, you can add brown sugar to the tops of the muffins before baking. (I did not want the muffins to be too sweet, I sprinkled chocolate chips on top instead)

no big deal?

2009-05-16T22:55:00.002+10:00

What will you do if you found gifts and letters given to your husband/fiance/partner by their previous partner? Will you get jealous? Will you read them? Will you throw them out?

ALLERGY!!!

2009-05-14T21:48:00.007+10:00

I remember when I was a kid, I could not consume peanuts and seafood except for fish. I had very bad allergy. I had severe rashes. It itched so badly that I would scratch really hard until my skin breaks. There were scars all over my legs and arms. Chinese would say a lot of 5 cents and 10 cents mark. I remember getting stares from strangers and comments from relatives saying they look horrible. My parents took me to the family's GP for consultation and medication. My mum applied the cream for me every day hoping the scars will go off.
As I got older, somehow the allergy went away. I was able to enjoy peanuts and seafood, crabs especially.
I was enjoying my food so much until recently....
The allergy is back. Can you believe it? The allergy got worse. I had calamari the other day and the rashes went straight up to my face. I felt my ears burning. My body started to itch. I have been relying on Antihistamine for relieve. I think this is the 10th box already.

I am allergic to more food now. But I do not know what other food. The GP has advised me to go for skin prick testing to find out more. I have no idea what skin prick testing is. But according to what I read, it looks scary. Prick the skin to allow allergen to enter the skin? Sigh. How? To do or not to do? Apparently it is not cheap as well.

Dates

2009-04-24T21:42:00.010+10:00

So here I am wondering what special occasion is tomorrow. Since moving here, I realised Australia has got many special dates. Okay...you may argue that Malaysia has got a lot of special dates too; for example Sultan's birthday (which is celebrated on different dates for different states), King's birthday, National day, and Labour's day. The thing is the celebration/public holiday is so specific that it is easily understood. Unlike in Australia. Probably I am not here long enough to understand or I did not pay attention during my History lessons. Then again in Malaysia we were taught Malaysian History not World's History.

Anyways! I have been walking around these past few days and cannot help but notice the posters/signs printed "We are open from 12pm - 10pm on ANZAC's Day".
I came home and started googling about it. According to the source that I have found, ANZAC's Day is on the 25th of April. ANZAC stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. This is the day where Australians remember the sacrifice of those who died in war. Apparently ANZAC's Day is Australia's most important national occasion.
The history is quite long. I have summarized what I understood.

source: ANZAC Day

Hubby and I went for a walk after dinner and we walked pass a number of night clubs. Youngsters queing up to enter the clubs. Then it hit me. Do people really know what the occasion is all about? Or are they merely taking the opportunity to party, have fun, get drunk and get into trouble? Police were patrolling everywhere. Do they know for sure that something's going to happen?

A Fairytale

2009-03-21T02:05:00.004+10:00

It was July 17th, 2007. Last day of tour. It was time to board the plane. Qantas, QF51: BNE-SIN. I was seated in the middle aisle. Few hours before we touch down, conversations were made. Photo taken, contacts exchanged.
Few days later I heard from him. He pursued and I responded.
We exchanged vows 17 months later.
Some say it's fate and some say it's a fairytale.

one thing leads to another

2009-03-03T19:40:00.004+10:00

So we are all aware of the current economic condition. The question is when is this situation going to end? Every day businesses are closing down or businesses trying to look for alternatives to save. Anyhow people will still lose their jobs. People who are already in the work force are finding it difficult to retain their employment, what about fresh graduates? Cutting down staff also means no job openings. I suppose fresh graduates will opt to further their education. But then again,education is also expensive. The higher you wanna go, the higher the fees are going to cost. No job openings = no income = no education. Life is already tough when we were earning to support our living what more now when people are falling out of job? No doubt we can try to save as much as posssible but we can't run away from commitments like loans, bills, food and other neccessities. Every household needs money to go on. With financial strain, anger is easily provoked which leads to argument, therefore affecting relationships.
Money is like food and water. We need them to survive. No wonder the popular Chinese saying, "kong chin seong kam ching" (talk about money affects relationship).
This financial turmoil is causing a lot of stress to everyone.

A FREAK!!! He calls.

2009-02-27T23:08:00.004+10:00

Do you ever feel stressed, not at peace, restless, unhappy, worried when it comes to cleaning?
I know of few people who have set a day for their house chores like mopping the floor and cleaning the bathroom. However, I am unsure if they are flexible with the days that they have choosen. As for me, it is actually quite bad. I am inflexible when it comes to cleaning. I wouldn't categorise myself as the cleanest person on earth but I would like to be clean. Squeeky clean.
I have to make sure that all cleaning of the house must be carried out on the exact same day every week. Say for example if I have something on for that day, I am willing to wake up early to get it done instead of postponing it to the next day. Call me sick, call me crazy. He calls me a freak.
When the house chores are done and the house is clean then I will feel a sense of relieve.
I am sure there are people out there who feels the same as I do.
But the question is are we really a freak? or are we just someone who sticks to the timetable?

something new

2009-02-24T15:43:00.007+10:00

I am a loyal reader of a number of blogs.
Every now and then I do get the inspiration to write about what's happening in my life, be it cooking, baking, or even something small that amazes me.
Now that I am away from home gives me more reason to start a blog. It can be difficult to share or update each other. When I was back in Malaysia it was difficult to catch up with friends and family due to commitments of work and also family. What more now? Different countries, different time zones. Take my family for instance, parents and eldest sis are in the same country but different states, youngest sis and I are both in different countries. So why not use the wonder of technology to update family and friends?
I have always wanted to start a blog and when I read blogs of others I do wonder if I will ever get there.
Why did it take me so long to start a blog? Well, I guess I am afraid of being judged. Afraid what others may say about me. Then again, it is impossible to please everyone and we can never stop oneself from talking or thinking. I guess I have to train myself to be more confident and to worry less. If I do receive comments, that is if I am able to have readers of my blog or my boring life, I will take it positively. Room for improvement, growing to be mature and hey, not forgetting I have people reading my blog, thus creating traffic. =)
Sounds good hey?