Weekend Links

Drawing inspiration from another very experienced Mummy blogger, I will be sharing interesting links that I come across :) Some are serious, mostly interesting, inspirational or innovative and some are just for fun!

 

1) Will your hubby notice the switch? Some pretty hilarious reactions but it does underline a fact that most women know - the MEN JUST DON'T GET IT!

http://sg.theasianparent.com/husbands-notice-wives/

 

2) If babies could be so, we mommies will not be so sleep deprived!

http://lovemeow.com/2014/08/kitten-falls-asleep-kisses/

 

3) We were there a few years ago and the view is simply breathtaking. I felt as if I was halfway in the skies! My gal asked if she could touch the "clouds" which were actually mist as the weather were quite cooling then. I also remembered each heartstopping steps that I take. It doesn't help that both my gals have no sense of fear at their age then and were running around like usual! It took me quite awhile to find my voice as my heart was in my mouth, both out of awe and fear so they were finally firmly latched to me courtesy of my deadlock grips on them :P 
http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/07/the-langkawi-sky-bridge-in-malaysia.html?m=1

 

4)  Absolutely, totally head-over-heels in love with their orang chiffon cake! Its light, fluffy and totally delicious! Now don't take my word for it, try it!  Baked by a 22 years old - great baker with great love for what she is doing!http://www.fiveonedegrees.com

 

5) Nice! Loved the interesting twist on the shoulder and the intricacies of the design. Very tempted to try... hmmm... shall I?

https://m.facebook.com/little.missycloset/photos/pr.495196920577729/610795602351193/?type=1&source=42&refid=17

 

6) Another drool worthy piece, the shirt, not the model :P Its simple yet it shows off the strength in a man, in my humble opinion. Hmmm perhaps hubby will be willing to try? *plotting... plotting.... plotting*

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=613809838716436&id=495196920577729

Have an AWESOME weekend!

Thursday Thots of a Mommy - "Mommy, Grow Up!"

Right, first of all I must qualify that my gal did not ACTUALLY say those words to me otherwise I will be nursing a Mount Everest heartbreak now. But I can bet you, if she knew what was going through my head as I send her off to camp, THIS will be what she'll be saying!

 

 

The story starts when my firstborn had a school camp a few weeks ago. Now, there is a very important word in that previous sentence - FIRSTBORN. I bet by now you know where I am heading towards... my firstborn, my baby and she is going away on camp, staying away from home for the first time! Geez! The amount of uncertainties and worries I have in my brain, un-uttered, could easily rivaled the vehicles on Bangkok roads at peak hours. One worry built on an uncertainty, one uncertainty feeding on yet another worry and the lists goes on. She was excited, I was quietly worried.

 

 

As the days got nearer to her camp, I got more worried. As I helped her prep her camp bag, I get more anxious. My worries? Many!...

I worry if she would be cold at night sleeping on the floor with no comfort of mattress.

(never mind the fact that hubby gave her the thickest possible sleeping bag which will probably make her steam instead of cold!

I worry about mosquitoes, insects and creepy crawlies.

(never mind the fact that I undulated her with repellant spray, repellant cream, mosquito repellant patches, long sleeves, long pants)

I worry if she would feel hungry in the middle of the night.

(never mind that I gave her enough secret biscuits stash to feed an army!)

I worry if she dares to wake up and go toilet in the middle of the night.

(never mind the fact that she is such a deep sleeper she sleeps through the night 200% of the time!)

I worry if she can get used to sleeping in the open.

(never mind that the so called "open" is actually sleeping in a dormitory with a sleeping bag)

You see what I mean?

We attended her campfire night performance and I was glad to have this chance to see her. I NEED to see her for myself that she is ok. Hubby patience was definitely tested and he ultimately said "she needs to learn how to take care of herself. There are teachers around too." Yeah, easy for you to say that! Its her first time away from home, first time she sleeps out in the open, first time she is alone at bedtime, first time she.... I am sure you get the drift.

She rushed to hug me when she saw me that night and I could see her fighting to control her tears. Friends were all around her and I know how important it is for her not to cry. A quick hug and a quick visual check to ensure no physical injuries that set my heart 50% at ease. Asked her if everything is ok and she answered in the affirmative saying that she was scared stiff by the zipline activity though but that she will tell me more when she is home tomorrow :) She quickly hugged me bye, going back to her queue line for supper and waved at me happily. I went home and yes, I could sleep.

When she was back the next day, she gave me an unexpected confession. She confessed that she was fighting to hold back her tears when she saw me. That she was so glad to see me and that she cannot cry in front of her friends even when she wanted to. Welcome to the world of peer pressure my dear. But I must say she did a good job, of controlling her tears cos as I walk out from the compound, I was reaching for my tissues!

 

So, on hindsight, she probably would not ask me to grow up :P but we both grew up that night. She with the confidence of being on her own while me, grew up as a mommy, learning that my baby had grown up (to a certain extent) and could be depended upon to take care of herself. Much as I dread, I know that my baby has indeed grown up. She could cook a decent meal, make coffee, bathe her younger sister, carry her baby brother, change his diaper and more! My baby has grown into a young lady...a VERY FINE YOUNG LADY!

 

I am so very proud of her!

 

Tuesday Thots on Quote - 26 August

"Expects Nothing, Appreciates Everything"

 

I recently came across this quote rather unexpectedly, I must say. It was while I was searching for inspiration on Pinterest and this quote came up, engraved on a pendant. It resonated with me, very much so.
 

My first encounter with appreciation came when I started scrapbooking. It gave me a chance to express my feelings and my thoughts, in creative ways that I never thought I could. When that waned due to lack of time (3 kids do that to you), I was glad to have found Project Life. It allowed even daily small thoughts to recorded and appreciated. Nothing is too small, too insignificant or too trivial to be recorded. And I. Love. It.
 

I may not be current, in fact I am a year behind. Yet I strives on, having my moments recorded on a daily basis using an app on my mobile before transferring these thoughts along with the photos into the album.
 

Appreciating everything takes training, yes, TRAINING. I need to consciously be aware and take a photo, make a note etc. It was tiring at the start, and it feels, you know, trivial. Like I am doing something unimportant, something stupid even, like recording how my gal love to blow bubbles when brushing teeth. (Note: don't ask me how she does it but she did so, many times!), like recording my firstborn's first high score on a game etc. It was all worth it though and I got my validation very recently only.
 

My gals were looking through last year's Project Life album and they commented on things like "yeah hor, we went here for dinner and this happened" and "hey I have forgotten about that!" It was cute, adorable, heartwarming and gratified all rolled into one very very satisfying moment. Another unexpected validation came from my strong-but-silent hubby when we were talking to a common friend on snapping photos and he said "oh she takes everything and then puts in an album for daily record" That may not mean much to most people, but having come from my mostly silent hubby, it was support, in its purest form.
 

 

 

I actively look for things/moments to appreciate. Like the freshly brewed cup of tea left by my hubby on the kitchen top this morning. The insistent long hugs and good nights from my gals, the giggles from my baby, the sound and smell of rain, the light from turning dusk to dawn streaming into my bedroom this morning. It is all treasured, my treasured moments.
 

 

 

Going back to the quote, how about expecting nothing? Isn't that ridiculous?

Actually no :) I have always said I try to expect nothing. Not that I am foolish, more I want to be surprised, contented and happy. When I expects nothing, anything good that happens becomes a treat, a surprise. It was not taken for granted, not a given, not a must. Just like the cup of tea from my hubby. Yes, it is small, most people will say its just a cup of tea, so? Yet, as easily so, he could have just left for work, just don't remember that I always like something hot in the morning. But he did not. He took the time to brew a cup, kept it warm and left it where he knew I will be sure to see it. I totally absolutely appreciates that :)
 

 

 

Just like I appreciate the big moments in life, delivering a child, my baby's first step, my first kiss and many more. I want to pay attention to small things like these. Things that I would have missed if I did not pay attention, things that warms my heart from inside out.
 

So have you started your "training" yet? To train your heart, eyes and mind to little  things around you that will and should be appreciated. And in the long run, we will be a happier and more contended person :)

 

 

New Status, New Direction, New Motivation

Yes, I am back with to blogging :) albeit with a different blog and bound with new direction & new motivation befitting my new status!

In the past, I had mainly posted on my creative outbursts which of course waned as I get busier and busier with work. I stopped previously when I had No. 3. I stopped as the demands of being a mommy to 3 overtook me, swallowed me whole even before I could take a deep breath.

This one year hiatus did me good though. It forces me to look at it again, to acknowledge that no matter how much I love to, I can't keep my blog going just based on my creative work as these automatically takes a backseat when you have a crying infant and when you are fighting to get some ANY form of shuteye after a nonexistent sleep night yet again.

It also made me see that mommyhood is more than just mothering my kids. There were emotions of growing up (mine, not my kids), letting go (again my issue) and many others that I have to come to terms with, take it by its horns and face it like all mommies have done so before me.

I also embarked on a new twist, working at home, working as owner & creator of N Studio, using my way to earn a small "salary" that allows me to stay home with my kids and yet still maintain some *mini* form of independence and self dignity (???!!!) And so this brings me to my new blog title - WAH Mommy :)

 

WAH as not in the expression "Wah!". It stands for Work At Home. So together it means - Work At Home Mummy :) A new status that I embraced with relish. A "career" dream come true. A role that I had forever wanted. It did not come easy. It did not come without conditions. BUT to sacrifice my financial freedom to see my kiddos so much more than a mere few hours daily, to be much more than a weekend parent, I am oh-so-willing! 

All these culminated in a new me, someone who always had but just recently realized that I do want to share more besides my creative outbursts. I have thoughts on issues that I want to share, lobangs or good deals that I want all to know. Reviews on things I have tried and much much more!

I want to try again....

 

So indulge me, as I search for a new direction, in both my real life and my blog life. Some things to look forward to...

 

There will be staple posts that I hope to host:
a) Tuesday Thoughts on a Quote
b) Thursday Thoughts of a Mommy
c) Creative Outbursts (as & when)
d) Inspirational Links (on weekends)
e) Others (work in progress)

 

Any thoughts? I welcome any suggestions or sharing.

 

In the meantime, stay well and live a good life :)