Another Milestone for my Blog!

Greetings to all of you... I think I have finally got most of the stuff ready... I have previously blogged about being busy with a project and won't be able to blog as often as I used to... so here it is...

I have finally achieved another milestone for my blog! 

I now have my own blog domain!!

From now on, please redirect your follows, bookmarks and subscriptions (or whatever you use to follow my blog) to the following URL: http://www.imafulltimemummy.com/

FYI, the web design and images you see on my new blog domain are all done by myself. Am not tooting my own horn or saying it's great, I just want to point out that its all done by myself, so please kindly excuse the lousy and substandard designs. Why I did not reuse back the design you see on this blogspot blog is because it doesn't belong to me. I downloaded the template from one of the many great blogspot templates website, I love it of course but it's time to finally give my own blog domain its own identity right?

As a SAHM, I have to think of ways of NOT to simply spend money, although blogging is one of my passions, I still couldn't stomach the thought of forking out a high sum of money to get a web designer to designs all the nice layout and images for me... so, the easiest and most economical way is to do it myself! :D 

Of course, I do get some help when it comes to adding in some scripting into the web page (especially for the Google Friend Connect widget) cos I'm not a web programmer, so I had to rely on my hubby's help on this one.

So anyway, I hope that you would kindly click on the Google Friend Connect widget you see at the top right sidebar on my new blog domain and join in to be my follower. I'll blogged more about my experiences and journey into this new blog domain milestone in my new blog. 

For those of you who have participated in my Artiwood Letter giveaway (ending 30th June 2010), don't worry, I'll definitely honor the giveaway and will announce the winner in my new blog. 

Rest assured, I have a few product reviews and giveaways lining up waiting for their turns to be posted in my new blog, so keep safe and thank you for your continuous support. 

See you guys in my new blog domain (http://www.imafulltimemummy.com/)! :D

★ Today's Awesome Discovery! ★ (Parenting Funnies)

#1 - Daddy's gonna eat your fingers...

This one is for everyone who...
a) has kids
b) had kids
c) was a kid
d) knows a kid
e) is going to have kids.

I guess that means all of us!!

I was packing for my business trip and my three year old daughter was having a wonderful time playing on the bed. At one point she said, 'Daddy, look at this' , and stuck out two of her fingers.

Trying to keep her entertained, I reached out and stuck her tiny fingers in my mouth and said ,
'Daddy's gonna eat your fingers,' pretending to eat them.

I went back to packing, looked up again and my daughter was standing on the bed staring at her fingers with a devastated look on her face.

I said, 'What's wrong, honey?'

She replied, 'What happened to my bogey?'


#2 - Only mum would know

One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me, I was maybe 2 1/2 years old and had just recovered from an accident. Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it was one of my favorite toys.

Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought Daddy a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Mom came home.

My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!' My Mom waited, and sure enough, here I come down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy and she watches him drink it up.

Then she says, (as only a mother would know... :)

'Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?


# 3 - The Middle Wife
The 'Middle Wife' by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself,but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday.'

'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.'

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)

' My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)

'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands mimicking water flowing away. It was too much!)

'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, (placenta) so there must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there.'

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another ' Middle Wife' comes along.

What Kind Of Dad Did You Have?

Came across this article and would like to share with you guys:

What Kind Of Dad Did You Have?

In my experience as a teacher, pastor, foster parent, and parent I realize that many have not had a dad to father them through life – even among those who had fathers there are many who felt they missed out on something important in their relationship.

I was privileged to grow up with a great Father. Even though I came from a family of seven siblings, dad regularly took time to talk to me, teach me about life, and give me fatherly advice. I fondly remember Saturday morning chats during my teenage and college years. It really gave me a great start in life.

A dad’s guidance of right from wrong, faith in God, the importance of family, is so important to the success of a child’s life. Being a Father is so much more than simply having a child with someone. If every dad really thought about the legacy he would leave behind, his life would be lived quite differently.

Proverbs 13:22 reads, "A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children..." (NIV)

I found that the word Father: ‘pater’ (in Greek) is from a root word signifying: "A Nourisher, Protector, and Upholder." The word father is not merely a title but a function.

Notice that the above verse from Proverbs defines who is a good man; it does not focus on the title or the fact that he is a biological father. Instead, the emphasis is on the inheritance. I believe the inheritance mentioned in this verse isn’t about money, I believe it’s talking about the legacy a man leaves in the lives of his children and others he has the privilege of affecting.

When you look back at your childhood, teen years and young adulthood, how do you feel about the legacy your father seeded into your life? If your father was less than ideal, if he was overstressed, worked too much or spent little time with you – do you feel a sense of loss? It’s perfectly normal.

What if your father was abusive, physically or emotionally? If he belittled you and caused you to doubt your value, you probably feel more than loss. There’s a space in your heart that never knew the nourishment and protection you were supposed to receive. It isn’t easy walking through life with a gaping void where a father’s love was meant to dwell.

Here’s some good news. The loving support you missed early on has certainly influenced your life and caused you pain – but there is a way to fill the void. There is a Father who longs to love and protect you – even now as an adult – even now as you may be a mother or father yourself. 

Author Resource:- Steve Scheer is a pastor and life coach. Husband and father to five grown children, he has a heart to reach those who need someone to talk to. Visit him at his blog, ADadToTalkTo.com

I am so glad to have the perfect and best earthly dad in the world and I can never thank our Heavenly Father enough for letting me be his daughter. I wished my dad know that I love him dearly and prayed that he will continue to watch over us with mum from up there...Happy Father's day, Dad!

(*Image taken from http://www.wondercliparts.com/holidays/fathers_day/cliparts-details.html?id=702)

Wordless Wednesday (Finger Licking Good!)

Working on a Project...

Hi folks,

Just want to give an update to you guys (who bothers to visit here every now and then) that I'll be on and off busy and won't be blogging as frequent as I normally did for this 2 weeks. I'll be working on a project and it's targeted to be completed by this month end. Will tell you guys more when everything has been settled. I will still be blog hopping and checking you guys out, don't worry!

Thank you so much for your time in coming here, I really hope you will stay on and support my blog. God bless you all! :D

Don't Ask For A Lighter Load!

Got this via email forward from a friend (*Thanks Suzanna!) and would really want to share it out with you guys. I feel this is such a strong and meaningful message! Here it goes...

Accept the Pain, the Future will be Fruitful. 

Don't feel the work you are doing is pain, because there will be always a reason for that pain or work.
So face the pain, for the pain you face, there will be definitely happiness ahead.
"Don't ask for a lighter load, but pray to God for a stronger back"

 

Get to Know Me!

This week's GTKY questions are:

1. If you could have one of Superman's, powers which one would you want? Superhuman strength.. Flight.. Superhuman speed.. X-Ray vision..etc

I think Superhuman strength would be good! Nowadays, with a very active toddler who spends most of his time running around, getting into mischief and is always curious and snooping around checking out things around the house, I really need superhuman strength to keep up (and hold him down :P) with my toddler... Oh another thing... I just can't resist posting this funny picture of Superman's Super Strength I found off the Internet...

2. The best thing I ever won is....?
A 5D 4N grand prize for trip to one to Gold Coast, Australia during a company trip about 6 years ago (I had just joined the company about half year) to which I converted the prize to a 10D 9N trip for 2 (hubby and myself) to Sydney. Best trip ever!

3. Have you ever skyped with a bloggy friend?
I don't think I have ever Skype before...true story...  although my wonderful hubby used to be an IT head and has his own IT business now, not to mention I used to be in IT line for almost 10 years... but, just want to clarify, I have never even been that technologically advanced so, to not be Skype-ing all this while, is excusable I guess...  :P (awww...give me a break...)

4. What is your favorite Summer month?

Malaysia is hot all year round.. there's no particular month that I like... on the other hand, I prefer rainy seasons during September onwards... and I hate April and somewhere around July-August time cos that is one of the hottest months we have here...

5. Pool, Lake, or Ocean?

Definitely the OCEAN! Something about the waves and the smell of ocean I guess... and also the view of sunset over the ocean...

6. One of my favorite Summer memories is.....?

Ermmm... since it's hot all year round in Malaysia, I guess I'll have to say the first time I let Ben played with the water in our balcony. He loves the water so much and it just makes me so happy everytime I see this picture of Ben splashing the water... :D

7. What's your favorite secret bargain?
No particular favourites actually... if I see something I like, I'd think it over, whether it's a want or a need, then do I need it now or I could hold it off for a while longer, and I'll imagine myself after getting it, will I regret the purchase yada yada yada...

8. Do you plan on or have you been watching the World Cup?
Have never been interested in any type of sports... 

It’s Not Fair!

Thought I'd share with you guys this article from Our Daily Bread:

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. —Psalm 103:10

Not fair!” Whether you’ve said it or at least thought it, you’ve got to admit, it’s hard to see someone get away with something and not get what they deserve. We learn this early in life. Just ask the parent of any teenager. Kids hate to see their siblings get off scot-free for the things they got spanked for. Which is why they so readily tattle on each other. But then, we never really grow out of this. To our way of thinking, fairness means sinners deserve God’s wrath and we, the good people, deserve His applause.

But if God were into being “fair,” we would all be consumed by His judgment! We can be thankful for this: “[God] has not dealt with us according to our sins” (Ps. 103:10). We should be glad, not grumpy, that God chooses mercy over fairness and that He is willing to extend grace even to those who are undeserving and hopelessly lost. And while we are thinking about it, when was the last time we let mercy trump fairness with someone who offended us?

It’s not God’s fairness but His mercy that drives Him to pursue us so that heaven can have a party when we are found (Luke 15:7). Personally, I’m thankful that God has not been “fair” with me! Aren’t you? — Joe Stowell

Favor to the undeserving;
Love, when from God we have turned;
Mercy, when His love we’ve spurned—
That’s God’s grace! —Anon.

We can show mercy to others because God has shown mercy to us.

For me, I used to think that life is not fair and wonder why other people get to have this and that... Until one day I realized well, sometimes you've gotta look at the other person's perspective and you've gotta also look at the bigger picture.

* It's not fair that I don't get to continue my studies... but before I quit my IT job in June 2009, I know I earned more than my friends who went overseas, got degree, got Masters, etc etc...

* It's not fair that I have to work my way up with just 1 year Diploma in IT, but I realized now I get higher pay because I started working at a young age. Those years and years of experience is way much more valuable than a degree...

* It's not fair that my parents passed away but I realized, God works in a mysterious way... I am comforted in knowing my parents accepted Jesus before they passed on.

The grass always look greener on the other side. How am I to know that maybe the other person is also envious and saying that it's not fair I get this and that? Right? 

And, think about it... God gave us another day to live on this planet, no pain, no sickness, with loved ones around, what more could we ask for? What more do you want? Why must we be so greedy and keep wanting more? Why can't we make do and be happy with what we are blessed with and stop saying it's not fair? Look at the bigger picture and be contented and give thanks to what we are blessed with!

Think about it! 

(*Picture of Ben at 5 months old.. thinking?)

Five Question Friday #10

I'll be busy with some personal project this few weeks, but nevertheless, still manage to find some time to participate in this week's 5QF. The questions are:

1. What do you think makes a good friend, or friendship?

Someone who listens to your never-ending repetitious whining and grumbles and complains and keeps it to herself. 

Someone who tells you stuff that comforts and cheers you up. 

Someone who tells you stuff you don't want to hear but in the end, is the right thing to do...

Someone whom you can totally just say "You remember the time I told you about... So, ..." and then you just continue where you left off and they can totally remember all those old stuff?

I am so very privileged to have a few friends like this:

* One whom I have known since high school, and help my husband to court me, and then joined the same company (but supporting different subsidiaries) and still kept in touch with me even though we have changed jobs (both of us), get married (me), got pregnant (me again!) and quit job (yes, it's me again!)

* One whom I have known almost towards the end of my high school as pen pal, and then progressed into a relationship, and almost 10 years on, got married and is my hubby now! :D

* One whom I have known ever since I started working in IT line, who gave and continues to give me good advice and even took the trouble to include a short trip to Kuala Lumpur to pay us a visit and even treat us a very memorable lunch (where Queen E once stayed there!)

2. What is the last thing you bought & later regretted?
Oh wow... I have previously wanted to blog about this but I was like thinking... should I? ... and then this question comes along.. so, oh what the heck.. here it goes... 

You see, few days ago, we were out during a family outing (looking for Ben's front facing car seat) and we saw this DVD on the display. It even has this "New Release" sticker pasted on the front and it costs us RM16.90 (that's about USD5.11)

I was actually pretty excited with this DVD cos I mean, look at the cover!! How cute is that to see Elmo when he is still a baby?!! (Would you just look at Elmo in the cute diaper?!!) And Big Bird too! And Cookie Monster! Oh gosh... I am such a sucker for all this baby / miniature stuff... So, we bought it and put the DVD on when we settled down back at home in the evening.

It lasted for a total of 24 minutes. Which, at the beginning (the first 5 minutes) hubby already mentioned its so lullaby-ish that he can go to sleep... which he did... before the DVD ends! I'm sorry to say this but I kinda regretted buying this DVD.. I was hoping for more songs out of it but sigh... to cut this short, this is by far, my most regretted purchase of baby stuff.... :(

3. Have you ever had a prank played on you?
Hmmm... not that I can recall... either that or I probably suppressed the memories of it hehehe... 

4. What is your favorite theme park?

In Malaysia, there's not many for you to choose, the famous one is 'Genting Highlands'. I know my MIL loves going there! :D

5. Have you ever seen someone else give birth?

Heck, I have not even seen my ownself giving birth but, OK, OK, I saw some videos of women giving birth during the antenatal class but that's about it...

(*Images taken from Google image search)

Writer's Workshop - Before I Was a Mom...

For this week's Writer's Workshop, I'm choosing this prompt:

"2.) Before I was a mom..."

Before I start this off, I just have got to share this picture with you all... this was taken a few days after I got pregnant, of course, I didn't even realized I was pregnant or else I wouldn't even be climbing up so high and doing this daredevil flying fox stunt! Anyway, this picture was taken sometime in early June 2008 when I accompanied hubby to a team building event. Kinda like a daring-nothing-to-lose-bring-it-on person eh...

So, let's continue on to this week's Writer's Workshop...

Before I was a mom... I was working in an IT job, giving my best and most of the times, am so committed and attached to work that I actually look forward to going to work, and when I was working, I'd be sitting and doing programming or preparing project specifications or liaising with vendors and users the whole day that I drank very little water so that I do not have to waste time going to the restroom too many times... (sad huh...) But as a mom now, I'm still giving my best and still very much committed to my 'work' as a SAHM, and yes, although there is no salary for this, like the quote on my blog header said "Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont"

Before I was a mom... I do not have to think twice when I just have to have this particular clothes or shoes or magazines...But as a mom now, I think over and over again whether I really need to get the particular items or I could do away with it, or at least hold off for now... and most of the times, end up walking away and saving up our $ from spending unnecessarily!

Before I was a mom... I never know I could just sacrificed and give up my IT job which I love so much! But as a SAHM now, I am so glad I gave up my job in order to breastfeed and care for my baby which I realized I love so so so so so so so much more than anything! Btw, I am still breastfeeding my boy (he's 15 months old now  :D)

Before I was a mom... I am easily influenced by what people says... if someone tells me this cannot be done, I agree and did not even try. But as a mom now, I trust my own instincts and realized nobody knows better than my own self. If someone tells me this cannot be done, I now asked 'Why?' and I will try to do it and prove them wrong.

Before I was a mom... I dare not carry heavy things... for fear I might break my right arm for the 4th time after 18 years of being super careful and not to over exert my right hand. But as a mom now, I carry my toddler around and is no longer super paranoid about breaking my right arm... (btw, click at the following links if you want to read about how I break my right arm the 1st time, the 2nd time and the 3rd time)

Before I was a mom... I panicked easily when in critical situations... I get really worried and negative thoughts just filled up my head and I'd be spending all of my time thinking and worrying on how to get out of the situation and make things right... But as a mom now,I look at things with a different perspective. I think having a child puts you in a different perspective. You should not take things too seriously. Life is too short to be wasted on worrying about things that have already happened. Instead of worrying and freaking yourself out, we could have used the time to spend with our loved ones... 

Thanks for reading my Writer's Workshop this week! Leave me a comment and your URL so that I can pay you a visit and check your blog out! God bless you and have a nice day ahead! :D

Making Bak Chang... is Harder than Giving Birth...

I had earlier posted on how I was about to learn to make a traditional Chinese food. So, in this post, I will reveal what I'm actually learning to make... As stated in the post title, I'm making what we called 'Bak Chang' or Chinese pork dumplings (pronounced as 'Park Chunk').

I had to bug my MIL into teaching me as well so that I can learn and inherit the recipe and she can pass down the recipe to me (hubby's KPI for me is to learn one of his mum's famous dishes :P) 

Anyway, my MIL has not been making Bak Changs for more than 6 years, ever since her husband passed away, she had stopped making them... so to see her finally be making this is an absolutely good news and a delight to all of us! My hubby is already drooling and posting up updates in his Facebook profile and even dedicated Bryan Adam's "Heaven" song to his Bak Changs... which he will be devouring after we cooked it... hahahaha... yes, you read that right... a song dedication to HIS Bak Changs... :P

Now, a little bit of info on 'Bak Chang'... according to Wikipedia:

"is a traditional Chinese food, made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. They are cooked by steaming or boiling."

MIL was being very sneaky and quiet! She started making and cooking the ingredients without telling me! Arghhh!! Anyway, I managed to snap some shots of it:

Picture above is glutinous rice being fried by MIL. The glutinous rice had been washed, pre-soaked overnight and drained before she lightly fried it so that it tastes better.

Picture above is pork, cut into small cubes about half to 1 inch sizes, and also slices of mushrooms (pre-soaked until soft and cut into slices about 1 inch long). According to my MIL, she cooked the pork and mushroom together, adding this special spices/herbs (Chinese called it 'Em Heong Fun' or '5 spice powder') add a pinch of salt and sugar and a bit of chicken stock.

This is what we need to make Bak Changs. The glutinous rice, banana stem reed to tie, pork and mushrooms, chestnuts, mung beans and not shown in this photo is the bamboo leaves (which has been washed thoroughly and boiled for few minutes to soften them for wrapping)

Here's another shot of the ingredients needed to make Bak Changs. I was so worried that my MIL will chickened out and not teach me how to wrap Bak Changs that I quickly stuff a few more spoons into each pots so that I'm kinda like hinting 'I want to learn! I want to learn!!'  :P 

Anyway, for this round, MIL told me that she will teach me how to wrap a Bak Chang. Once I mastered the skill of wrapping the Bak Chang, then next time I can learn how to make and cook the ingredients. Sigh... I guess, better than nothing right? 

So, she taught me how to fold the bamboo leaves, stuff the fillings, wrap and tie the Bak Chang using the banana stem reed. I had to practice wrapping without fillings for at least 10 times before she allows me to put in the fillings! Sorry no pictures on the process of doing this, maybe next time OK?  ;D

And here it is, ladies and gentlemen... my first work of art!

My FIRST Bak Chang that I WRAPPED!!! 

I could almost cried... it felt like giving birth all over again!! :P 

Noticed how paranoid I am that the rice might spill out... that I actually cross tied it at every possible angle so that the rice doesn't have any chance to even spill out?! Hahaha... While I was happily and proudly snapping picture of my FIRST wrapped Bak Chang, I looked right to my MIL's direction and I saw this...

Oh wow... She had wrapped 6 Bak Changs already! Garrrrhhhhh....!!! Oh well, can't complain, after all she had years of experience in making Bak Changs and this is my first attempt OK?!!!

The outcome... after boiling for about 3 hours plus..

Here's another batch of the bak changs. Altogether we made 43 Bak Changs! Not bad, not bad!! We will be distributing them to MIL's children and relatives these few days. I'm also going to be giving some to some of my ex-colleagues who used to help me a lot when I was working at my previous company.

So yeah, back to the post title on why am I saying making a Bak Chang is harder than giving birth? Well, for one, I don't have a 15 months old toddler disturbing me every few seconds while I'm trying hard to learn how to make it! You have no idea how difficult it is to entertain and keep a 15 months old toddler busy so that he stops disturbing you every now and then... Also I spent 2 hours wrapping 10 smaller sized Bak Changs (while my MIL made over 30 of them) compared to me going from 4cm to 10cm under 2 hours...

So there you go... my first traditional Chinese food... By the way, it was super delicious!!!  :D