Homegrown chillies!

The price of chillies these days have gone up!! So my Mom decided that she would grow them and see how it goes. I was so thrilled to see them growing so beautifully and recently they grew so big and turned bright red!! I think over the years we have tried to grow them in our garden but it never really gotten as big as this!! This would be the biggest we ever had. Funny how simple things like this can actually make me so excited sometimes hehehe..... :)

Heavy rain.....

It's been raining quite heavily these days.......it's freezing cold! But what I miss most during these raining days is that I can't cycle in the morning as I used to. It rains every morning here.....throughout the day and sometimes till night time....and continues on raining till the next morning. I miss cycling! Urrrggghhh! :(

The weather has been pretty crazy these past few months.......when it gets hot, it's really really hot and when it rains, it pours!! It really does pour! I wish it would be more balanced but who am I to control these things hehehe......I can only ask God for good weather in future and ask Him to keep us safe from the bad weather. :)

It is rather cozy here.....no need to keep the fan on high volume or switch on the air conditioner.....because the weather is cool and nice....I get to do my work comfortably in my studio. But sometimes it gets too comfortable that I feel like dozing off to sleep! hehehe! I'm just enjoying the rain now no matter what.....I just wish it doesn't rain too much because I don't want the place to get flooded. So far everything is under control and I am happy that the trees in the garden especially the big ones are getting enough water from the rain. Alhamdulillah........

Banana pancakes

This is how I make my banana pancakes or in the Malay language we call it "lempeng pisang" :). Since I can no longer take banana fritters or "pisang goreng" because they are deep fried, so I resort to eating bananas as it is or cook them this way. There is no oil or fat included in this recipe. So it's safe for me to eat it hehehe..... So here is the process of making the banana pancakes....it's very simple and cheap to do at home. Especially if you grow your own bananas at home like my Mom does hehehe.....

First we cut the bananas into small pieces and mash them till they look like the pictures above. If there are any seeds in it, be sure to take them out.

Then you add in a pinch of salt.....some flour....flour is added a spoonful at a time into the mashed bananas and mix them up slowly.....be sure not to put in too much flour otherwise it will harden. I don't even add in any sugar, because if the bananas are already ripe, it is already sweet to the taste.

When the batter is done.....you scoop up one big spoon full of the batter and pour it onto the non stick pan.....no oil or butter is needed here to line the pan... Once one side of the banana pancake is done, you flip it to let the other side cook.

This is the end result!!! Yummy!! Best eaten when it's still hot! :)

Feeling good.....

It's been about two weeks now since I started cycling. It's great! I'm loving it a lot! The best thing about the whole idea is that my heart beat has lowered a bit. It was quite high when I first started to exercise seriously every morning. I'm also trying my level best to cut down my coffee intake everyday. It's been a struggle since I love drinking coffee SO much. Addicted I am to it I must admit hehehe......but I know I will soon be able to decrease the intake as I continue my mission to lead a healthier life. I used to drink coffee before I start exercising hahahaha......but not anymore now.....I take a glass of glucose instead. The caffeine makes my heart palpitate....and it hurts sometimes. The pain makes me more driven to stop drinking it.... :(

I do feel a lot better now......my sensei was right......I do need to exercise more....I have to push myself no matter how lazy I feel in the morning to exercise....I gotta do it for my own good. Nobody can do it for me....it's do or die! I gotta be strong in spirit...gotta be motivated to do it. The bicycle helped a lot.....with it I can go to the park at anytime I like....I can even participate with the free aerobic dancing that's held at the park every morning......plus "poco-poco" and tai chi as well if I wanted to....

For me....it was never entirely about looking good....it was more about feeling good. I guess I was tired of feeling so lousy everyday....I wanted to get better, feel healthier than I was before. I realize that merely taking care of what I eat or drink and taking my medicine alone will not be sufficient in achieving my goals in getting better.....I still have to move it move it and move it I shall everyday. :)

Am thinking of doing skipping too.....hmmmm......I shall get one of those ropes soon! :) I haven't done that in years! That would be a fun thing to do as well.....hehehe.....I read somewhere that skipping has a lot of benefits to our health.....it improves our reflexes, balance and posture. It makes us more vigilant and alert, therefore increases our attention skills. It strengthens the bones and increases our stamina and endurance. It will tone your muscles in the arms, legs and abs too......so that would be good for me. Yup! I will do that! Anything that will make me feel good.....I will give it a go! Wish me well! :)

My blue Raleigh......

Yes! Yes! Yes!!!! Finally! I finally got to buy a new bicycle!! Wooooooohooooooooooo!!!!!

I was trying to find one since I moved back to Alor Setar. There is a park here which is nearby my neighborhood where it's so nice to take bicycle rides. I thought to myself, wouldn't it be lovely to get me a bicycle and ride it there when I'm here. And so I did it this morning....I went to the bicycle shop not far from my house and had a look at the bicycles that was on sale there. There were quite a lot of variety there to choose from but not in the color that I was really looking for. I was hoping to get one in white color. In the end, I got one that is quite close to my heart....the frame was soft blue in color and some black here and there. So, I was quite happy with it since my favorite color is actually blue. So the only thing that was white was the basket! LOL!

The minute I got it home, I tried to ride it......gosh!!! I almost tumbled over! hahaha! Can you imagine how long it has been since I last got a ride on a bicycle???? It was about 17 years ago!!! So I was a little wobbly riding it in the beginning.....but after a few try I was riding it like the wind! hahaha!

I used to ride the bicycle when I was in my teens. Back then I rode it to school everyday. It was an experience I'll never forget. Rain or shine.....I rode my faithful bicycle to school. But those memories was one of the best memories I had when I was in my teens.

One of the reasons why I decided to buy this bicycle in the first place was because I wanted to use it as a form of exercise. I read somewhere online about the goodness of people riding it for health reasons. It's a good workout especially for people with blood type B. So it's perfect for me :). Plus it's fun! I don't like to do workouts at home. I prefer to go to the park and exercise there. Do some brisk walking as well if I can. It's definitely a stress reliever for me. Riding your worries away they say hehehe...... I really hope this new item in my life will bring me loads of joy....in fact I'm sure it will! :)

Action taken!

Alhamdulillah....so thankful to God...yesterday the guys from TM came over to fix my internet connection. The action was only taken after almost two weeks of suffering....hahaha.....I admit...I should have done this earlier. But I was too busy with work and busy as well with the trip to KL which was done twice in a period of two weeks, things just got in the way of it. But I was so relieved that they finally came to help me out with my internet problem. I was beginning to give up on it already...LOL! But alas....it was sorted out and now I can surf the net with no more worries. I think this year alone there has been so many problems with my PC and internet connection.....I have actually lost count of how many times it gave me trouble! LOL! :D But in the end it always gets sorted out.:)

I was thinking......thinking of getting myself a bicycle....hehehehe....been thinking a lot about it for the past few months. I have taken an action on this if I am not mistaken a month ago as I visited a bicycle shop in Jitra. But to my disappointment they didn't quite have what I was looking for. I've always wanted one you know. I used to cycle a lot back in the days when I was younger....and still schooling. I used to cycle to school everyday. It was really wonderful. I love feeling the wind on my face....as I cycle away. It was such a joy. I think anyone who have had the experience can relate to what I've just mentioned...hehehe. And I'll bet you can agree with me on how great a feeling it is to cycle at the park....under rows of big shaded trees.....with the cool wind blowing on your face and hair.....it's magical. I hope I don't sound too exaggerated here....hehehe....but that is how I feel about it especially when it comes to cycling at my neighborhood here in Taman Lumba Kuda. It is just wonderful here. The best place I know so far that I can go to and cycle my worries away hehehe.....if there was any! LOL!

An action will be taken on that matter hopefully by tomorrow.......I can't wait to check out some other bicycle shops here and see if I can find myself a bicycle that I can be comfortable riding on. I hope there is a wide choice of colors I can choose from as well......I was thinking of getting a white bicycle.....or dark blue....or a red one! Lovely!! Yup! But still I am hoping to get it in white color. I wish I wish it will come true! LOL! I sound so silly sometimes hehehe! I guess I let the excitement get to me......oh well....I need it anyways....it's fun!!

Till then....can't wait to see what I will find tomorrow......

2 more months to go....

Gosh....has it been that long???? I haven't blogged much for quite sometime here.....due to the internet connection problem these past few weeks. I'm getting so fed up with my Streamyx broadband....I have gone to TM and called up their customer service....so hopefully things will be running smoothly soon enough. Not being able to get connected everyday is a huge problem for people like me who does business online. I think most people who are in the same shoes as mine can relate to this problem. But luckily for me there is a decent internet cafe nearby my house where I can go to and check my emails there every now and then. But still it doesn't really solve all my problems.....as there are certain things that cannot be done there. Oh well....I am just grateful to be able to do what I can with what I have right now. Just be happy about it :)

Well, these past few weeks have been quite a ride....a challenge.....a mind opener too. I surprise myself everyday with the things I come up with and come to the realization of. Experiences do make a lot of difference in one's life too. They can change you....A LOT!!!! I have been blessed to meet with so many different types of people over the past few months since I moved back to Alor Setar. Most of the interesting ones are friend's of my Mom's. All of them are very fascinating people and their experiences and wisdom have definitely opened my eyes and heart too. I am a different person now then I was a few weeks ago......but I only want the good changes....not bad ones...hehehehe I am only thinking of how to improve myself these days. I wake up in the morning thinking of what are the differences I can make in my life and others too, to make our lives better.....and go to bed wishing for my dreams to come true. It's always great to do that everyday.....something to wish for....even if they don't come true, the thought of those wishes makes a lot of difference. It does make me feel so good inside. Keeps a smile on my face....and that's important!!

Time sure flies fast.......in just a few more days we will be entering the month of November.....then December.....then....jeng jeng jengggggggg.....it will be 2010!!!!!!! Oh my gosh....how time just pass us by so quickly these days. So far I have only accomplished just a few of my 2009 resolutions. Been thinking a lot as well about what my new year resolutions will be like next year. Every year I try my best to fulfill them all.....but alas....not all is possible.....it's the effort that matters.....and that's important to me. To make that effort!!! Making a difference!! What I intend to do next year will definitely be something that will not only surprise others who know me.....but it will also surprise me!!! hahahaha.....I love doing something that will keep me on the edge....things that keep the adrenalin running high......the excitement of trying or doing it is so fascinating! I am a person who gets bored so easily....so in order not to get bored with the usual routine....I will add in something new in my everyday life so that it will add some excitement. It may be small....to small for others to notice perhaps....but I don't care, as long as it is something new and makes me happy. :)

It is always good and beneficial to add something new in our lives every now and then. To be able to learn something new.....or create something new each day is so wonderful for our minds.....it will keep our minds working!

34th Birthday.....

Nothing much happened today.......not much of a celebration.....I turned 34 today....yup, 34!!! Yikes! I'm sooooooooooooooooo not loving it.....feeling so old...

I was really hoping that this year I would be celebrating my birthday with a big big smile....but instead I didn't smile much today.....didn't even get a birthday present from my Mom....or from my close family members.....the only one who gave me something was my Makndak....got a really pretty brooch set from her.....so nice and thoughtful of her.... :)

They say that, it's actually not the gifts that counts....it's the thought....oh ya....did I mentioned I didn't even get a birthday card?????!!!!! Yup....didn't get one at all.....so ironic....maybe next year I should make one for myself.....a really big one and post it! Then when I receive it, I will pretend to be excited! LOL! So pathetic huh?

Hmmmmm........that's all I have to say about my 34th birthday.....I did wished for something good for myself this year......wish it will come true....I wish I wish!!

Is it love or infatuation?

I got this article from the newspaper long time ago, can't remember which newspaper it was though......perhaps it was The Star since I used buy those a lot once upon a time hehehehe...........I would like to share this article with everyone, what Dr. James Dobson wrote about the difference between love and infatuation. :)

I've always used this as a guidance whenever I was in doubt. Sometimes I get confused of what it is that I'm feeling.....was it really love? Or just an infatuation? It can get pretty complicated........but once you know it, you can never go wrong.... We have to know it, believe in it and practice it......not just saying it.... :)

"Is it love or just infatuation? Or, as the joke goes, is it love or just something that I ate? There is a way to tell the difference. Infatuation is based solely on emotions, on how you're feeling, whereas love is an act of the will. Today we'll look at two of the four distinct areas in which love differs from infatuation.

First, love is patient. Love can wait, wholly accepting the character of the other person in the relationship. But infatuation is in a big hurry. Because, infatuation is based only on emotion, there an impatience about it....those wild emotions may not last long. They say love is blind, but it's not true. Infatuation is blind.....you see only the idealized version of the other person, not the real thing, warts and all. When you're in love you have your eyes wide open, wanting to learn all you can about the other person.

Second, love is kind. When you're in love, you give and give and give. One goal of marriage should be to see which person can out-give the other. But when you're infatuated, you let things slip. You remember the major holidays but forget her birthday. You start to grow tired of giving and you demand your own way.

The third difference between love and infatuation is that love is not jealous. When your relationship is based entirely on emotion, you tend to be easily threatened and influenced by many outside variables. Both parties often become possessive and insecure. Because genuine love emphasizes the welfare of the other person, however, it's less jealous and possessive and easily threatened.

The fourth difference is that love does not act rudely and ill mannered. Infatuation soon forgets good manners but love continues to show respect.

How can a woman tell when a man genuinely loves her? When he shows her respect and she feels more like a woman after they've been together. He protects her dignity and she does the same for him.

So love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous and does not act rudely. If your relationship has those four characteristics going for it, you have a solid foundation toward a lasting marriage."

- by Dr. James Dobson

Juno

If there was a movie that I wanted to see over and over again right now, it would probably be JUNO. It's a comedy about growing up and the bumps along the way...hehehe! I know I'm a bit late ...outdated? I got to see this movie this month a few times on Astro and I must say that I fell instantly in love with the characters in it.....it's just such a cool story and the messages in it was what touched my heart. My favourite song in it would be "Anyone Else But You" that was sung at the end of the movie. Michael Cera and Ellen Page sang it, and it was so cute....nicely done!

Watch the video of the song here: