Last day of 2009!

Ok....I'm starting to freak out here! It's the last day of 2009 and I'm just not ready to step in 2010 tomorrow. First time ever I feel so freaked out about stepping in the new year. Usually it doesn't effect me that much. Not sure why it does so much this time around. Probably it's because I feel like there's just so many things I fail to achieve this year. Need more time to achieve them somehow but it's not going to happen because today is the last day! haha! Time's up!!! So I have to move the unfinished business to next year and do my best this time around to make it all happen. With God on my side, hopefully it all will.

Hmmm.....let's see what were the things that made me happy this year. There were plenty of things that put a big smile on my face. Small things....big things......But what I love the most and remember the most right now would be the thing that happened during the month of Ramadhan. I think that was the most memorable one of all. The one that really really touched my heart. Why? Because whatever happened on that day and the days that followed, changed me a lot. It made me think about my future too. I can't really share here what it was, because it's kinda personal. I think somehow God answered my prayer on that day because I did asked God for it the day before and He gave it to me on the next day. It was something that I wanted so much in a long time but only to find out much much later that it was something I can't have right now or maybe ever. I was only able to borrow that happiness for a short period of time. And I figured it was just too good to be true for me anyways. No matter what, it was the happiest few weeks of my life, in a long long time. I wonder if I will be happy like that again next year.....I guess, I'll keep hoping that it will come my way again someday......

The second most memorable moment in 2009 would be when I got featured in the newspaper.....yup, TWICE!! hehe...It was something that I never expected in a million years to happen to me. It was surreal. Suddenly all the pain, all the frustrations just went down the drain. Came the rainbow and sunshine. It was beautiful......such a beautiful moment in my life. I shall treasure it always.

I also received a lot of gifts this year from friends and family. Gosh.....those gifts were so meaningful to me. I can't tell you how blessed I feel about them. And it makes me want to give back to others. There are a lot of things I want to do for 2010 and most of them involves helping people in anyway I can and also my own way of doing charity. I always thought that I'm too poor to give.....boy was I wrong!! Nobody is too poor to give out anything.....there is always something that we can do or give to others. I believe it so! Actually, we all should believe that. The world would be a better place if we all share and care about each other....right? :)

No doubt there were plenty of bad times.....but this time around I don't want to mention them here. It will only make me sad. I will just write them down elsewhere probably on a piece of paper and throw it away. Am letting it all go......far far away......

My new year resolutions are quite simple really.....nothing that's impossible to achieve. I got them listed down already and am determined to make it all happen. I want to concentrate on my health, career and family......and of course I also want to be a better Muslim.... :)))

So here I am......gonna say goodbye to 2009.....one of the most memorable year of my life. A year that has taught me so much about love and life. Year after year, there will always be something that I learn and gain from. Hopefully 2010 will be filled with loads of good things that will keep coming my way. Whatever challenges that I have to face next year, hopefully I can deal with them wisely. Peace of mind is also what I am after too. I am training myself to be calmer and less temperamental.....eheheheh.....whatever it is, I am aiming to be a better person....so help me God....I remember a friend once told me...."there is no perfect action, only perfect intention". :)))

Happy New Year 2010!!!!!! All the best of luck to all!!!

Barbie dolls....

During my recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, me and my family had the chance to go to the Pavillion. Right before we went to watch Avatar the movie, we looked around the Christmas decorations there and we bumped into this cool exhibition. BARBIE DOLLS!!!! Lots of them!

Gosh, if I was 10 years old, I would be so excited looking at those beautifully dressed up Barbie dolls. What I would do to own one of these dolls back then.....but of course I don't feel the same way about them now. They are pretty, YES.....but, I'm a bit phobic when it comes to having dolls in the house......don't know why it just scares me having them around. Like as if there is some evil spirit trapped inside them waiting to be awaken hahahaha.......me and my imagination!!!! LOL!

Act like a lady, think like a man....

Started reading this book today. What an interesting and enlightening book indeed. There were so many questions I wanted answered and I got them answered today from this book. It's written by Steve Harvey who is also a comedian. I first heard of this book when I saw him in the Oprah show. I think its a good read. :))) Finished reading it in one day.....coz once I start reading it, I just can't stop!! It's so interesting!! I love the way he writes or tell the story....simple, easy to understand, and has examples too. So it's so easy to get what he is trying to say or convey. I wish I knew all this when I was younger.....it could have saved me the trouble I went through dealing with men!! hahahaha.....

AVATAR

This is one movie that I would love to watch again! I went to see it today for the first time at GSC Pavillion, Kuala Lumpur, with my family and it was so AWESOME!!! This action adventure science fiction movie is breathtakingly beautiful in it's storytelling and special effects. The special effects is just stunning! The flora and fauna looks so magical, it's like being in another world. I even believed it too. Feels like they were so real. If only...LOL :).

The actors played their parts well, and I have no complaints whatsoever. And I love the ending too. It's not always that I get to see a movie where the ending is great. But this one really delivers. I was really satisfied :) It's definitely a feel good movie. One that might get you teary eyed too in some parts....I know I was!! hehehe.....can't help it. :) All I know is that this movie is worth every penny you spend on the ticket! So for those who have not watch it yet....GO GO GO!!!!!! :D You definitely want to watch it on the big screen! Yup!!

Christmas presents from Sandi!

Wooohooo!! Got my Christmas gifts this year from my dear friend Sandi in Maine......she is such a darling! Even though I don't celebrate Christmas, I would be getting gifts and a handmade card too. I got some for her as well except that it might be arriving a little late this year hehehe...... :). I'm always behind schedule but only because I want to make sure that I get all the things I prepared for my loved ones in good order. I don't like to rush things hehehe....*excuses, excuses for being late again* LOL!

The vase that you see there in the photo is actually plant base. It's not ceramic. It's made from a fruit called gourd that has been treated and dried and then painted. Decorated too at the top part of it to make it look extra special. I love the color.....the green metallic color looks gorgeous!! The balsam fir aromatherapy bag is so fragrant. Something from Maine that I will remember by. :)

Thank you Sandi for these lovely gifts....I'm so blessed indeed. :)

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! :)