March Update

Hi there~!

I am so... so... SO excited this month!!

This year has been awesome so far, I have something to look forward to every month. Last month, it was starting my new work. This month, I am planning to go back to Malaysia for a short break! I know for the short period of time, it's probably not a very economical choice but you can't put a price tag on your loves, right? 

Earlier this month, I was feeling kinda shitty and looked around for a nice book to read and came across a book called 'The Power of Now'. Interestingly enough, it was on how to obtain peace in our lives. It was something I needed especially after I decided to end my research late last year. 

A lot of things happened and I won't recap it here... actually bottom line is a lot of things happened all through my life and sometimes it haunts me. All the would haves, could haves, should haves, if only scenarios played like a broken record in my mind frustrating me. There are times when shitty things people say to me resounded in my head like an undying echo; it made me pull back from future socializing events just so that those voices won't add up in my head. Because truth be told, the worst critic that is ever gonna exist will be myself. A person may hint that my clothes is kinda shabby, but my inner critic is going to emphasize the humongous size of my butt, my fats, or the fact that I just wasn't rich enough. Deep within me is a critic who kept saying 'all this won't have happened if you have been smarter or prettier or faster or even richer'

And I know a lot of people go through their lives transferring that inner critic to somebody external. That is, they blame others for short falling in their lives. I have heard it before, people failed their subjects and they blamed their mother for not teaching them good learning skills (chicken and eggs dilemma) or they blamed their parents for not being through high school (wth?). I think if I wanted to, I can blame a lot of things on a lot of people. I could but it still would not make me any happier, ever. 

If I have learnt something from what I have read so far (which isn't a lot, I haven't finish the book) is to accept and to act. A lot of things in life would have been easier if we accepted it without overthinking it and then act. Stop attaching too much scenario planning and emotions into it. So you want a slim body, stop posting those hate tweets about ppl who are slim, stop hating those people who can eat tons without getting fat, just accept that you can't and lose weight the healthier way. We are most unhappy when we are in contradiction with ourselves. 

But this book isn't all about that. There were parts of it that moved me so much that I teared up but I won't share it here. If you decide to read it, bear in mind that everyone reads the same book but our mind interprets it differently so what may be worthwhile for me might not be the same for you. But if it is, do drop me a comment below. I also found a free online copy here, so feel free to have a read. 

And remember...

'Watch your thoughts, they become words;

 Watch your words, they become actions; 

Watch your actions, they become habits;

Watch your habits, they become character;

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.'

Here's to wishing all of you an awesome week ahead~! 

My Pomeranian Adventure Part 2

This month marks the fourth month Poochy has joined my little family~!

Look at her begging eyes, it would be hard to resist not spoiling her, right?

Can't believe in a short four months time, she has grown from such a small size to a slightly bigger size. Now when I look back at some 'old' pics, I was surprised at how fast she has grown. 

Poochy at 1 - 1.5 months old

Poochy when she just joined our family and suffering from diarrhea and tummy upset

Poochy and her blanket on the first week of arrival

You can see how her fur has changed from that slightly puffy puppy fur to sleek and smoothed our fur and her ears... I don't even know how to describe how much her ears have changed. 

I think for this I should rename this post as 'my puppy adventure' because Poochy is turning out to be less Pomeranian and more Papillon with her huge sharp ears and the mess of hair around her ears. One time during a puppy class, one old lady called her 'big ear monster'. :P

One time, I took her out for a walk and a huge dog came running over. It scared Poochy so much, she peed at the spot. I even took her up into my arms and she slightly poop in my lap. The worst thing was that it was soft poop... yuck...

After that incident, I was slightly worried that she would be scared of other dogs in the future. So, I took initiative to register her into a puppy/dog class. Gosh! I should remind you to look for this earlier on. Some of the nicer ones are very quickly filled and there were limited spaces available, so it was a headache for me! There is always  the typical issue of price, time and location. 

It wasn't easy to find a suitable school for us. A puppy or dog class should be an enjoyable yet educative session for both the owner and the dog although I have come to realize that I learnt more and faster from these sessions than the puppy. That is when patience play such an important part. Different dog breeds and backgrounds play such an important part in how a dog behave and respond to a stimuli and that inevitably describes their learning pattern. That is a just a really draggy way of saying different dogs learn at different pace. So, always just enjoy the moment. Training will get better, I promise you! But what is more important than training is the bond that you will develop with your dog, so take it easy~! :)

How I beat Menstrual Cramps~!

There are many things that I enjoy about being a woman, like the freedom to love all things cute without losing face. :) But there is one thing I hate and that would have to be menstrual cramps. 

Source: www.zerochan.net 

 Ever since I could remember, menstrual always comes with menstrual cramps (as if the hassle of period, bloating and feeling of sluggishness is not troublesome enough). Into my high school, it got even worst. A week before my supposed period, I would easily pick up any illness that has been spreading around be it fever or flu. My attendance then was that of the student who has last position in class who by chance sat next to me and we always joke about who was going to skip school tomorrow. :P 

At that time, I would gobble down pain killers like it was sweets. Don't even bother to tell me the long term side effects because I don't believe in tomorrow when I am hurting like that. And I would sleep with pillows and blankets wrapped around my torso and yet it would still hurt. 

One time, my dad took pity on me and decided to bring me to see a doctor who happened to be his good friend (who also had to be a man). How could a man understand what menstrual cramp felt like? You can read about it but you will not feel it so words can be poured out easily. This doctor happened to only have sons so he did not believe in the severity of menstrual cramps and low immune system a week before period as if it is as silly as believing in easter bunny or tooth fairy. He brushed off these symptoms easily and asked whether I have problems in school and 'menstrual cramps' and 'those illness' were just my excuses to skip school? 

Since that didn't work, I decided to listen to some old wives' tales since woman would understand, right? Well, some suggested evening prime rose and some suggested drinking rose bud tea. Let me tell you, it didn't work for me. My sister later introduced me to try Elken's spirulina because an article once suggested that the reason menstrual cramps can get out of whack is because we lack a certain protein which helps regulate the hormones and spirulina is a type of protein. I tried it, and it works in reducing the pain provided I consume it consistently. Other symptoms like pre-menstrual illness and what-not was also gone.

Other ailments such as ginger soup with rice wine and egg and ginger black sugar soup (Taiwan's famous drink) were also great but it just wasn't good enough. If this was 50% of what being in labor felt like, I want nothing to do with it!! 

An article suggested that lack of exercise was also one of the cause so I tried to exercise more, especially close to the period itself I would play badminton for 2 hours and it works. Not only did I significantly lose weight, but the symptoms and cramps were gone. But have no illusion, intensive sports such as these do come with their sores and aches. What I mainly did was choose a different pain in order to avoid menstrual pain, at least that was what it meant to me.  

So I kinda accepted this as part and parcel of being a woman until recently when I started Lesmills body balance class. I forgot why I decided to try but once I started, I just love it. It is a workout class that combines tai chi, yoga, and pilates moves. The best part according to their main website was:

"Controlled breathing, concentration and a carefully structured series of stretches, moves and poses to music to create a holistic workout that brings the body into a state of harmony and balance." 

And honestly, that was what I felt. Balanced and harmonized after each workout without sores and aches but sometimes when they change moves, some long forgotten muscles may ache a bit the next day but the best thing is the freedom from menstrual pain. I also introduced it to my friend just months ago and she said her menstrual pain also gone. That was like music to our ears~! 

Source: www.doctortipster.com

So if you have been suffering from menstrual pain for so many years now, why not give it a try?  

But to be honest, the PMS mood swing and cravings is still going to go on.... 

Source: www.ffwdweekly.com

February Update

Hi!

I might as well call this Jan to Feb update because I have forgotten to blog for quite some time, I don't know what I have actually blogged in contrast to what I dreamed I blogged. It is a very fine line. I also blogged while I was in the shower, but that has never been published much like those poor songs I composed during shower. Or those awesome ideas that I thought of while doing housework or just lazing around. 

So anyway, I cut my hair short this year because I wanted a fresh new look plus it is pretty hot in summer. 

I have also started my work in a company earlier this month and the short hair do gave a more ready-for-the-job look (for some anyway). Having said that, it has been a month since my haircut and I can't wait to grow it out because winter is just round the corner!!

My this month addiction has been Japanese food! (Ok, I have to admit which month hasn't it been my fave food??). I recently tasted a very nice and humble Japanese place call Marumo in Leeming. It is so nice, I can't wait to go back for more. It featured a 7 course sort of degustation for only $39! But because the place is really quite small, only able to seat about 15 person per night; bookings are essential and sometimes need to be placed months in advance. I have one booking in May followed by another in July. Hehe... 

Well, the other food obsession I had is Alfalfa... those tiny sprouts thingy! lol... I once read it in a Taiwan magazine boasting of its health properties and what not, but I was always scared of its ugliness. But one try in 2009 and I have fallen in love with it. It is such a versatile and yummy vege on the go! 

I included it in my own version of Vietnamese rice paper roll... Instead of rice vermicelli and prawn inside, I wrapped smoked salmon with rocket salad leaves, mint leaves and alfalfa!! Such a refreshing and sumptuous meal!!

By the time I publish this post, it has already been March (rather than February) so some update on Poochy. She is exactly 5 months old today! So I have included some random photos of her.

She still loves to meet new people and new pups/dogs. 

She is quick to learn new tricks, quick to forget 'em too. Sounds exactly like someone I know... :)  But I hope she will get better as she grows older. And I hope her ears would stop growing, or else she would be the next generation of Dumbo. :'( 

I want this banana!! 

Lately, she has also taken to 'singing'. She sings whenever she feels excited or scared or bored or angry. It can get a bit annoying, I am sure I was developing high blood pressure. When she takes a break in her singing, I felt bliss for an instant. So, all is good. 

Still, have a great week ahead~! 

XOXO