Wordless Wednesday (Advice Column)

★ Today's Awesome Discovery! ★ (Coffee Art!)

I'm not a fan of coffee (they make me sleepy - I am NOT kidding...) but after stumbling into this article about a coffee artist, I just can't help but share it out in my blog with you guys.

So, Today's Awesome Discovery is about Karen Eland, who according to her website:
"has been a creator since childhood, but a portrait class at age 14 unexpectedly propelled her into an art career. Her love for coffee was born in the late Kaldi’s Coffeehouse in New Orleans, where she would go everyday to sketch her fellow French Quarter locals while sipping a black coffee with a dash of nutmeg on top.

After moving back home to Tulsa, Oklahoma, she was introduced to the joys of top-quality espresso at Nordaggio’s Coffee, and finally the link between coffee and art connected when she began painting with it. Soon she learned the art of espresso itself by becoming a barista, though art is now her full-time job. Painting in coffee is a refreshing break from Karen’s work in oils, watercolor, and pencil."

Below are some of her coffee arts and description taken from her website:

Mona Latte

This was the very first painting in espresso. I wanted to see if espresso would work for a classic work of art, and Mona Latte was the result! This is the painting that launched it all. The image is printed on gorgeous water color paper with hand-torn edges, and each print is sealed in a protective plastic sleeve.

The Last Supper

The original 8 foot mural in espresso resides at Nordaggios Coffee in Tulsa, OK. The image is printed on gorgeous water color paper with hand-torn edges, and each print is sealed in a protective plastic sleeve.

Starry Night

The image is printed on gorgeous water color paper with hand-torn edges, and each print is sealed in a protective plastic sleeve.

Ballet Class
The image is printed on gorgeous water color paper with hand-torn edges, and each print is sealed in a protective plastic sleeve.

Venice
Original design painted in Venice on my travels. The image is printed on gorgeous water color paper with hand-torn edges, and each print is sealed in a protective plastic sleeve.

(*Images taken from http://coffee-art.com/store/)

Please Do Not Assume...

"WHAT??!!!" That was my reaction an hour ago when hubby told me that a friend of ours thought we are rich. I asked hubby what made our friend think that we are rich?' And hubby said he asked our friend the same thing. Our friend said because we can live comfortably even though I quit my job to be a SAHM and hubby is running his IT business without any problems.

Uh-huh... how I wish people could really see what's happening in our lives instead of just looking from outside and assume easily... You know what they said about simply assuming things...

Yep! Do not ASSUME cos'
When you assume, it makes an ASS out of U and ME!

So please, for those of you out there who think we are rich... please... we're not. Just because I can quit my IT job (a very high paying job mind you!) to be a SAHM doesn't mean we can afford to go on our daily routines as if it doesn't cause a dent to our pockets. It take a lot of planning and sacrifice and deep thoughts and agreements and discipline for us to choose this road. Of course, we're not dirt poor that we have to beg for anything and I'm going to spare you guys the details of our sacrifices, the point is I'm just trying to point out that we are not rich, that we are surviving and is just doing OK.

Doing OK, but not rich. Get that into your head.

Until today, yes, I still think about my high paying salary. How could I not when I am constantly being reminded of that, thanks to my brother who regularly calls me via video call (to see his nephew aka my son) and then proceeded to show and tell whoever at his end (colleagues, friends, in laws etc) that I quit my X amount of salary job just to stay home and take care of Ben...

That aside, like I said earlier, it takes a lot of planning and sacrifice and deep thoughts and agreements and discipline for us to choose to go down this road.

* Planning as in how are we going to survive with 1 less income now, how we have to work together to build up hubby's IT business (it's a sole proprietor business and currently doing well), how we have to plan every thing we need to buy in future.
* Sacrifice as in how I had to forget about my high paying job and stay home 24/7 to take care of a growing baby now, how hubby had to work extra hard so that we can live comfortably at the end of the day, how each of us have our own part to play in this family and that we need to work together to make this works!
* Deep thoughts and agreements as in whether we are doing the right thing... lots and lots of prayers and discussions happened before we finally decided that I will quit my job.
* Discipline as in no longer being able to simply buy things without really really thinking whether we really really need it... every time we go out and we see something nice, we had to go over the "Do I need it? Or is it just that I want it? If I need it, do I need it NOW or I can do without it for NOW?"

Previously, while I was still working I do not have to think twice before buying something I like. Of course, I'm not the type of person who splurge on expensive things anyway. Let me give you some examples:

Last time: I go out, I see this magazine, I like the contents, I see the price is affordable, I buy it.
But now: I go out, I see this magazine, I like the contents, I see the price is affordable, I take note of the contents, I go home and search the Net for the similar info.

Last time: I go out, I see a nice top/skirt/whatever clothing/shoes that I like, I see the price is affordable, I buy it.
But now: I go out, I see a nice top/skirt/whatever clothing/shoes that I like, I see the price is affordable, I think 'How often will I go out anyway? Nah... and walk away...'

In a way, I've become calculative and stingy in the sense that I no longer simply buy things now... every cents and dollars are important! And God plays a part as well! Every thing we have and own, are all from Him. We do not ask for a lot, just sufficient to get us through the day.

Anyway, to cut it short, please,
Do not assume we are rich just because I can quit my job and stay home with my baby all the time.
Do not assume we are rich just because hubby has his own IT business (thank God it is doing well every day!) A business will only grows if someone is running it. It doesn't bring in any profits by itself.
Do not assume we are rich just because we seem to have everything. Look further and find out more before simply assuming we are rich.. because we are not.

I do would like to say:
* We are so thankful that God is watching over us and that we are still alive every single moment.
* We are so thankful that we are blessed with a very healthy and perfect child, one that saves us tons of money - when I delivered him at a semi private hospital via natural birth, breastfeeding him (and is still! :D), takes on home made solids (no jarred/processed food except the during the 1st month when we started Ben on rice cereal). Also, most of the clothing, playpen, walkers, toys are all given and handed down to us by relatives and my ex-colleagues.
* We are so thankful that God continues to bless and watch over us, giving us good health (I've only been down twice with stomach flu and fever since I gave birth last year in March), opening up new doors and connections to hubby's IT business which helps him expands his clientele network, taking care of MIL's healthy so that she is still strong enough to help out with the housework and baby care when I need to help hubby in his business (admin stuff)
* I am hopeful that God will be pleased with the road we chose and that Benjamin will grow up to be a God fearing and God loving child and that everything he does please Him and is according to His will.
* I am hopeful that Benjamin will grow up in a loving family with good childhood memories to cherish when he gets older.
* I am hopeful that we will be rich with God's blessing and protection.

My 1st Five Question Friday!

Oh wow! Stumbled upon this blog meme called 'Five Question Friday' (or 5QF) by Mama M. at http://fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/. Looks fun so I decided to participate even though its already Saturday here in Malaysia... :P So here it goes:

1. Did you pass your driver's test on the first try?
Err... nope... here in Malaysia, we have a few tests to go through during the driver's test. If I can recall correctly, they are road test, up the hill test and the parking test.

The road test is where you actually drive out the roads and just follow the instructions given by the tester on where you should drive to (points given based on how you drive and react to surrounding and whether you follow the traffic and driving rules) If you disobey any rules, you fail.

Up the hill test is where you drive the car up to this mini hill, pull up your hand brake, set your gear to neutral, then upon signal, to switch back to drive gear, release the hand brake and drive on. If you reverse your car instead of driving on, you fail.

The parking test is where you will drive your car to a designated parking spot where all the 4 corners are marked with the plastic cones. If you knocked any of it down while parking, you fail.

So anyway, I failed the hill test :( I forgot to put my gear into drive mode before releasing the hand brake... as my car gently reversed back, I look in horror at the face of the tester as he sees me reversing back... arghhhhhh... And the worst thing is to retake this test, I had to retake all the other tests which I passed with flying colors!

2. What is your most embarrassing moment?
I would have to say breaking my right arm when I was 12. Didn't do any warm-up exercise and went straight to play volleyball in school. Broke my right arm while I was bending down trying to retrieve the ball.

3. What TV show would you like to be on- Oprah, Biggest Loser, or What Not to Wear?
I love Oprah! She has just a huge personality and power! I'd like to be in her position cos everything she does influence something!

4. Would you ever get plastic surgery and what kind?
Nope.. natural beauty is the best! I don't even wear make up!

5. What are your favorite jeans to wear?
I used to have this jeans I love since high school... the fit is just nice and the color is awesome... I don't wear it anymore after I torn it... and I couldn't find the similar type anymore now... :(

What's Wrong with Oats?!

I often get asked the following when it comes to topics of Ben's solids:
* So he's eating rice porridge now?
* Why didn't you give him rice porridge?!
* He's Asian! He must eat RICE!
* Err... don't eat rice, can ar? (for those of you who are not familiar with Manglish aka Malaysian English, this actually means "How can he eat without rice?")
* When are you going to let him eat rice?

Like ermm... what is wrong with me giving Ben oats?

If he likes it, so be it.

Why is it a must to feed him rice when oats is so much better than rice?! I have lost count of how many times I had to tell these well-meaning people that oats has much more benefits than plain old carbo rice...

And the funniest thing is these questions mostly come from younger generations! I would've thought that we are now more educated compared to the old folks but yet... even my hubby's mother and his grandma said "Good! If he likes oat, let him eat! Don't need to bother to feed him rice." Good ol' MIL and grandma! :D

I would normally cook oats for Ben's dinner. My typical oat porridge recipe for Ben is:
* About 12-13 teaspoon of baby rolled oats
* Add a piece of steamed fish which I will further mashed into smaller bits using my fingers (so that I can be sure there's no bones) - will skip this ingredient if there's no more fish.
* Add in carrots which I had previously steamed and grated thinly or mashed pumpkin or pureed green peas (depending on what vege I had made and stock up earlier)...
* And if there are any bananas or apples or whatever fruits I can find, I'd mashed it up and mixed into the oats as well.

Maybe for western countries it is common that you guys cook oat porridge but for us Asian, (especially CHINESE people) rice is a MUST in our daily meals.

But I don't believe that just because everyone says we must cook and feed our baby with rice porridge then we have to follow blindly!

According to Home Made Baby Food Recipe website:
Oats - usually known as oatmeal or porridge once prepared - are one of the most nutritious grain cereals you can buy. Unlike many other grains, which undergo extensive and damaging processing before they reach store shelves, oats are always whole, irrespective of whether they are steel cut, rolled, quick cooking or instant. This means they retain all the goodness contained in the germ, endosperm and bran... and that's a lot of goodness!

Oats are an excellent source of soluble fibre, protein and the B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and B6. They also provide iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium and phosphorus. It's a good idea to get your children to enjoy oats from an early age, as they play a very important role in good health throughout adulthood too.

Regularly eating oats...
* Lowers the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes
* Helps guard against cancer
* Reduces the symptoms of asthma
* Lowers cholesterol and aids in the prevention of heart disease
* Boosts the body's immune system

Now do you get it? We did tried once, feeding Ben with rice porridge (cooked rice boiled until soft and mushy with anchovy soup base with a pinch of carrot slices)... but it's a failure. After a few spoons of it, Ben turned away and that's it... Maybe you think I should try rice porridge again but why do that when he can take and love oats?

Anyway, I would just like to share my opinion on oats and I hope new parents (especially those from Asian countries) will also consider oats as well...

My 7th Friday Follow!

This is my 7th week of participating in the Friday Follow event! Come join in the fun if you want to get more followers for your blog!

Here's how YOU can join the celebration:
* Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky on all three of their pages. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.
* Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots. They will follow you back.
* Follow as many blogs as you like.
* Comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.
* Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

Great fun! As usual, I hope to meet more and more bloggy friends from this fun celebration! So what are you waiting for?! Go and link yourself up! Go, go, go!!! :D

★ Today's Awesome Discovery! ★ (Miniature Babies!)

Would you believe this if I tell you the following pictures are all clay sculpted miniatures babies?! I found this awesome article and checked out the artist website. What got me hooked was the details of the miniatures... I'm such a sucker big fan of miniatures stuff... and miniature babies?! I'm totally in lurve with it!!!

According to the artist, Camille Allen bio page (excerpts):
"I live in Powell River, in British Columbia, Canada. I am 28, married to a wonderful husband with no children yet. I work in a large studio in a bright and cheerful heritage building built in 1916. I have filled it with dolls, doll parts, dolls-in-progress and sculpting supplies! This is a great place to work, with the ocean out of the window and mountains in the background.

I use various kinds of professional doll sculptors' clay to make the babies. The babies have soft English mohair to imitate fine baby hair and are blushed with paints for realism to enhance their tiny wrinkles and creases. Starting from detailed photographs and a lump of clay, sculpting a life size or miniature baby begins.

It takes many, many hours of patient concentration to form a realistic baby and finish with fine details - including wrinkles and fingernails. I am privileged to have learned the art of doll making from my husband's grandmother just over 8 years ago. She taught me how to sculpt large life size dolls in polymer clay.

A year later when I had some bits of leftover clay from a larger doll, I formed the bit of clay into a miniature baby. When I held the tiny baby in my hand I had the feeling of protectiveness and fascination. I loved it instantly! The first miniature baby I made was curled in a fetal position, and I even gave it an umbilical cord, as if it was still in the womb. The shape and size of the baby seemed similar to that of an egg shell. I tried this, and the baby fit perfectly inside an egg!

This was how the idea of "Egg Babies" was born. I think the fragile newborn baby is complimented by the egg shell, reminding us of how fragile new life is and how gently they must be treated and cared for. "

Please note that I only post out those pictures which I love from the website. There are many many more of the awesome pictures from the website which you can go and check out and drool over with later. Ok, ok, without further ado, here you go... enjoy!

(*Images are taken from http://www.camilleallen.com/)

Personally, I kinda like this picture below cos it reminded me of the time when Ben was 4 days old...

And this is Ben at day 4...

Wordless Wednesday (Ben's Teeth)

I am so pissed off right now...

Yeah... I feel so pissed off now cos I broke my glasses.

And it's less than a year old... :(

I was trying to carry Ben up and felt my glasses abit loose, so decided mid trying to carry Ben, to pull out my glasses and put it on again... and then snap....!

One of the side where you hook to the ear (sorry don't know what its called) just broke.

ArghhhhH!!!

I could still wear the glasses (with one less support to the ear) but its only for a few minutes cos' it's not even and the pressure from the frame is not even, so it's giving me headaches if I use the glasses too long.

Tried looking for my old glasses but its broken as well and that adds on to my pissy-ness...

Arghhhhhhhhhhh!!

SMSed hubby (he's out at client's place now) to tell him what's pissing me off and he said he'll bring me to the shop to get a new one tomorrow.

Until then... I've gotta bear the headaches cos I really need to use the glasses since Ben is around and don't want any accidents to happen just because my eye sights are a blur... What a day! :(

★ Today's Awesome Discovery! ★ (Willard Wigan part 2)

I have previously posted about Willard Wigan's eye of the needle art and recently stumbled upon more pictures of his fabulous craft works. Here you go:

A miniature sculpture of the US President Barack Obama and his family.
Marilyn Monroe in a classic pose on a diamond
The prestigious Oscar statuette
Homer strangles Bart in a classic scene from the The Simpsons
Soccer player scoring
Yellow submarine
Owl
Curiousity Cat (compared its size with the eye of flyer)

(*Images above taken from http://www.nuffy.net/cool/pics/awesome-micro-sculptures-that-fit-in-the-eye-of-a-needle.html)

You can also check out his personal website at http://www.willard-wigan.com/

For those of you who is wondering what is ★Today's Awesome Discovery!★, please read it in my previous post entitled "★ Today's Awesome Discovery! ★".

I Always Dreamt Of...

Toilets... Yes, I am not kidding you...

It's either I dreamt of being in one... or searching for a clean cubicle in one... or being peeped at in one... or being scared sh*tless while searching for a clean cubicle as I pushed open each cubicle doors, hoping I do not see any clogged ones or dirtied ones or haunted ones...

Seriously... I have no idea but I have seen so many designs of toilets and public restrooms in my dreams than I will ever do in real life.

(*Image taken from Microsoft Office Clipart collection)

So when I came across a fellow blogger's post on dream's interpretation, I went and checked out the website to find out what might my weird toilet dreams mean...

According to the Dream Moods website:
"To see a toilet in your dream, symbolizes a release of emotions or getting rid of something in your life that is useless. The dream may also be brought about by your full bladder and is attempting to get you up and go to the bathroom. If you are cleaning the toilet, then it means that you are starting to shed your shell or lose your inhibitions."
Wow! Toilet symbolises a release of emotions or getting rid of useless things in my life? Hmmmm... I don't think its full bladder cos I tried not to drink much before going to sleep (do not want to be interrupted by having to wake up in the middle of my sleep just to pee... :P)

"To see a clogged toilet in your dream, signifies that you are holding and keeping your feelings to yourself. Your emotions have been pent up too long and you need to let go of the negative feelings."
Yes, there are times when I dreamt of seeing clogged toilets while I was frantically searching for a clean cubicle to use. And yes, I do tend to hold and keep my feelings to myself. I'm kinda like a sponge, just soak and soak but I do have my limits... which is pretty high cos I don't flare up or burst into anger so easily.

And then there are times that I dreamt of being in a public restrooms where there is no stalls... or that the stalls are all very low... kinda like the squat type which you can clearly see what the person next to your stall is doing... and yes, I have dreamt of being forced to squat in one as well... :(

So what does that mean? "To dream that you are in a public restroom with no stalls, signifies your frustrations about getting enough privacy. It may also indicate that you are having difficulties letting go of old emotions. If you reveal these feelings, you are afraid that others around you will judge and criticize you."

Oh true true! I am a very private person, more to being afraid of being stalked or that people know too much about me. Hmm... at least now I understand the interpretation of these toilet dreams...

What about you? Go and check out the website and find out whether the interpretations are accurate or not! :D

My 6th Friday Follow!

This is my 6th week of participating in the Friday Follow event! Come join in the fun if you want to get more followers for your blog!

Here's how YOU can join the celebration:
* Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky on all three of their pages. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.
* Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots. They will follow you back.
* Follow as many blogs as you like.
* Comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.
* Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

Great fun! As usual, I hope to meet more and more bloggy friends from this fun celebration! So what are you waiting for?! Go and link yourself up (I'm at #174 this week... was busy before I could link up my blog)! Go, go, go!!! :D

★ Today's Awesome Discovery! ★ (Pregnancy Jokes)

I got this from a joke website... enjoy! :D

Am I more likely to get pregnant if my husband wears boxers rather than briefs?
~Yes, but you’ll have an even better chance if he doesn’t wear anything at all.

Should I have a baby after 35?
~No, 35 children are enough.

I’m two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
~With any luck, right after he finishes high school/college.

How will I know if my vomiting is morning sickness or the flu?
~If it’s the flu, you’ll get better.

Since I became pregnant, my breasts, rear-end, and even my feet have grown. Is there anything that gets smaller during pregnancy?
~Yes, your bladder.

What is the most common pregnancy craving?
~For men to be the ones who get pregnant.

What is the most reliable method to determine a baby’s sex?
~Childbirth.

The more pregnant I get, the more often strangers smile at me. Why?
~‘Cause you’re fatter than they are.

What’s the difference between a nine-month pregnant woman and a model?
~Nothing, if the pregnant woman’s husband knows what’s good for him.

Ever since I’ve been pregnant, I haven’t been able to go to bed at night without onion rings. Is this a normal craving?
~Depends on what you’re doing with them.

Under what circumstances can sex at the end of pregnancy bring on labor?
~When the sex is between your husband and another woman.

My childbirth instructor says it’s not pain I’ll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
~Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

How long is the average woman in labor?
~Whatever she says, divided by two.

What does it mean when the baby’s head is crowning?
~It means you feel as though not only a crown but the entire throne is trying to make its way out of you.

Does labor cause hemorrhoids?
~Labor causes anything you want to blame it for.

Where is the best place to store breast milk?
~In your breasts.

Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
~When the kids are in college.

★ Today's Awesome Discovery! ★ (Beautiful Tuscany!)

For those of you who is wondering what is the button above for, please read it in my previous post entitled "★ Today's Awesome Discovery! ★".

I have been wanting to share with you some of the most beautiful pictures I saw on one of my bloggy friend's blog. Before that, let me share a little bit about her to you guys...

Her name is Elvira Pajarola, her blog URL is http://www.tuscanysmagicalplaces.com/. She takes and posts some of the most oh-so-beautiful-I'm-speechless-right-now-don't-disturb-me-go-away-let-me-sit-here-and-be-soaked-in-her-magical-pictures-for-like-ever kind of pictures...phew... that was a mouthful, but really... if you spare some time and go through her posts (I did check out ALL her posts) you will not regret it and thank me for recommending her blog to check out!

I had earlier asked for her permission to allow me to post up some of the pictures that I love from her blog and she has generously allow me to do so. So here it goes guys, take a deep breath and enjoy!

Awesome right?

Now hop on over to her blog and share some bloggy love! Tell her that I sent you over to say how awesome her photos are! :D