Apologising With the Right Mindset

Everyone has done wrong intentionally or unintentionally to someone.
Be it parents, spouse, children, colleagues, friends, strangers...

Apologising is not an act of weakness.

To me, its an act of strong will and courage.
Lots of determination must be in the heart of the person seeking for forgiveness, before the word, "Sorry" comes out.

Apologising with the right mindset is very important.
To me, an apology is a commitment to the relationship, which I want to cherish.

Have you done something really wrong to someone and wished you could make some kind of amendments?
Have you wronged someone and the thought of that is still weighing in your heart?

Its time to say that word, 

"Sorry".

Ralph Marston - Appreciate What You Already Have

What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it

- would you be likely to give them another? 

Life is the same way. 

In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, 

you must truly appreciate what you already have.

~ Ralph Marston

Song Sharing Sunday - 123 [We No Speak Americano - Yolanda Be Cool]

Some find this disturbing.
Some find this irritating.
But my boys and I can't help but dance to it....

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Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

We No Speak Americano - Yolanda Be Cool







Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

My Happy Purchases ~ At Philips Carnival Sale

Going for the Philips Carnival Sale for the very first time. As if the heavens heard my wish of starting my baking hobby, the pamphlet was in my letterbox after failing to find a mixer of my choice (both price and features), after shopping the whole day.

There are only 3 words to describe the Philips Carnival Sale:

1. Hot (both weather and discounts)
2. Fast (transaction was really smooth for such a huge crowd)
3. Organised (every staff knows what they need to do and it does not take long before your questions are answered)

So what did I buy?

• A 'mouse' $10.00 (usual price $40.00)
• A Pair of Light Bulbs at $16.00 (usual price $14.70 each)
• My Dream mixer at $55 (usual price $75.00)

*Huge Grin*

American Idol Finale - Results

There you have it! 

Scotty McCreery, your American Idol for Season 10!

American Idol Finale - Performance

Finally!!!
This season which consists of the most talents on the same stage ever has come down to this!
If you had missed the American Idol Finale Performances by Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery, here is it:














I am crossing every part of my body in the hope that Scotty McCreery would win!

Seafood in Johor Bahru

Although we had a disappointing Wedding Anniversary Lunch at Friends Restaurant @Jelita, the celebration was well compensated by our sumptuous Seafood Dinner at Johor Bahru.

First time driving in on our own without anyone guiding us and able to get home safely after being lost for more than 2 hours, is simply fascinating! The sense of satisfaction we felt is beyond words can describe.

Read about our Adventure in my parenting blog under the blog post "Anniventure"

We are so determined to go back again and we believe, this time we have finally figured out the right way there and will not get lost again, but yet to be tested. So once the route-in-our-heads has been proven, I will share the route with all of you. *smile*

After parking the car on the sand-cum-stone open space, we were greeted by a tree with beautiful flashing lights and lovely night view of the sea.

Picture of the eating area was taken while we were walking across the long wooden bridge towards the restaurant.

Picture of the tree was taken from our seats. The row of orange-y lights is a reflection of the wooden bridge which separated the parking space and the restaurant.

We could see the 'very vacant' competing restaurant from our seats.

If you are hoping to get food standard like what Jumbo Seafood restaurant serves, then you would be disappointed with Restoran Todak. In my opinion, the food is tasty but not super shiok, except for the Black Pepper Crab. We intend to try their Chilli Crab on our next visit.

Ordering the fish was hilarious. 

The nice waitress in her early 40s were telling us all types of fish available. 

Then she asked, "Do you want fish reared by us or from the sea."

We gave her the 'blank' face.

Then she continued to explain that there are different categories of fish-from-the-sea.

We gave her 'blank' face again!

*laugh*

In the end, we simply said, "Deep fry the shi-ban without any spice or chili, because the fish is meant for the kids."

She smiled and jot down without hesitation.

 

Deep Fried Fish in soya sauce.

Cereal Prawn

Mayonnaise YouTiao

Black Pepper Crab

I love the Prices more than anything else. But it has been said that they would raise the price during Weekends. Luckily, our Wedding Anniversary this year fell on a Weekday.

We were very lucky to be seating right next to the mini washing basin. The kids find it amusing that the 'dirty' water from their hands goes straight down to the sea.

When we were there, it was still low tide. We could see the sand or sea bed very very clearly. In fact, you could walk on it (if you dare).

While we enjoyed our dinner, we witnessed the disappearance of the seabed. By the end of our meal, the sea bed was totally buried under water. It was easily 1 to 2 meters deep. Our 'Kelong Seafood' restaurant sits on a wooden platform, which is about 3 to 4 meters from the sea bed.

Our first visit cost us approximately SGD$50+ for the food and drinks.

Restoran Todak, we will be back real soon! Cheers!

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Friends Restaurant @ Jelita - Will I Recommend?

Let me put this statement upfront first:

Everything recorded here is based on my experience and my opinion, your experience and thoughts might be different. 

Friends Restaurant @ Jelita had received a number of Awards and appeared in the Press a few times too with raved reviews. But seriously, in my opinion, its over-rated.

Let's Talk About Service:

Unless the food is horrendous, I would normally patronise a restaurant again if the service is great! Nothing feels better than to dine in a place filled with smiling and willing-to-serve waiters and waitresses.
I seriously cannot find a better word to describe the service at Friends Restaurant @ Jelita than this word: Abysmal
*Eyes Rolled*

There were only two waitresses in the restaurant when we went there for our Wedding Anniversary lunch at about 1.45pm. We were served concurrently by two waitresses, who were in their late 30s or early 40s. I am fine with age. Nothing against age. But maybe because of tiredness, they seemed really unwilling to hear what we have to say or ask. Then I was proven wrong when they served a table with one Eurasian and two other gentlemen who were very well dressed. They smiled as they served the men and were particularly attentive to that table. Why double-standard to such an extreme extend?!


We were Not the only one who went there with a Deal.com.sg voucher. There was another uncle there dining with that "privilege" too. And its obvious that they treated us like we were in for a free meal. I think I do not need to elaborate on how unlikeable those expression on their faces were. *double eyes rolled* As for others who paid full price for their lunch there were not given smiles at all either. Same sort of uninviting attitude was presented.Very bias indeed.

As if a second class treatment was not bad enough, both waitresses talked so softly. Yes, I understand that you are trying to mimic that of a posh French restaurant. But the volume of your speech should At Least be loud enough to be heard!!! I had to keep repeating what she had said so as to make sure that there is no misunderstanding of any sort.

A couple before us reached the place just few seconds earlier than us, but our appetizers came first, which was horribly pathetically little, unlike that couple's, which was served to them few minutes after ours. Their portion was much much more.

Our appetizers plates were wiped clean in three mouths and we were waiting for our main course to arrive. But it did not. Instead the couple, which we had been watching like a hawk, had gobbled down their big portion of appetizer AND big portion of main course and our MAIN COURSEs were NO WHERE NEAR MY TABLE yet!!! Can you imagine how long we waited?!

That's it for service.
Totally Unacceptable in my opinion!

Let's Talk About The Management:

I had purchased OTHER dining vouchers from Deal.com.sg and the dining experiences in THOSE RESTAURANTS were NOT discounted in any way. A discount voucher used in THOSE restaurants meant we get the same type of food, with the same portion and at the same quality.

But not for Friends Restaurant @ Jelita. In Friends Restaurant @ Jelita, we get the same type of food, with the discounted portion!

The portion served was worse than a kids meal in my opinion! Even my children's kids set lunch, which we paid FULL PRICE for, looks better!

Thank goodness there were others who ordered the same food as us, but they were paying full price, so I could see a BIG difference between these other diners and ours. Which makes me feel that the Friends Restaurant management is MORE CALCULATIVE than other restaurants who gave discounts on the price and not on the portion of the meal.

Please allow me to elaborate on how pathetic the servings were on every dish we had.

Appetizer: Angelhair

Our twirl was the size of a RockingHam hotdog.
Others who paid full price had a twirl at least 2.5 to 3 times more than ours.

Soup: Allan had Mushroom Soup and I had Clam Borsch

Our soup was served in a cup like that of Ya Kun's coffee cup, it was THAT mini.
Others who paid full price had the same type of soup in a 'real' bowl!


Main Course: Allan had Chicken and I had Ribeye.
To add to the 'Stinginess' of the restaurant management, we were required to pay $5.00 extra for the Ribeye and that did not mean we were given the same portion as those who paid full price. Which makes it that much more ridiculous! *Super eyes rolled*
Allan's Chicken had 3 pieces of breast meat. The size of the 3 slices of breast meat were the size of one drumstick.
Others who paid full price had TWO drumsticks AND ONE wing!


My Ribeye is one medium slice.
Others who paid full price had TWO big slices.

Dessert: Cake

Ours were one slice each.
Others who paid full price had TWO slices each.


At the end of this, I only have these to say to the management of Friends "If you want to give a discount, make sure that it IS a discount. If the portion of the food is reduced, then, its NOT called a discount on the price, its called a food sampling session. Don't do such a thing when other big and famous restaurants are giving discounts on price WITHOUT compensating on the portion of the food served. That is TRUE discount! Your actions made me feel really disgusted."

Let's Talk About Food:

Appetizer: Angelhair

It was a very refreshing taste. It does open up your senses, makes you feel hungry and leave you wanting to eat more. So can you imagine how horrible we felt? We were feeling hungry and we had to wait so damn long (remember the story above?) before our main course came. *eyes rolled*

Soup: Mushroom Soup and Clam Borsch

My boys are fans of Mushroom Soup, but even they did not show much interest in Friends Restaurant's mushroom soup. To us, adults, its just ok.
As for the Clam Borsch, its our first try, Allan disliked it. I am ok with it.

Main Course: Chicken and Ribeye.
Allan felt that because it was Chicken breast meat, it made the dish really dry, even with the gravy. But I loved the Chicken because it 'melted' in my mouth.
I had serious problem chewing the medium rare Ribeye. I strongly believe its my problem. But the tough chewing spoiled my appetite. I gave the remainder to Allan.

Dessert: Cake

One word : Delicious!

Verdict:

Will I go back again?
I doubt so.
At least NOT out of my own free will, that is.
Because the Original price is harder to swallow than the service of the staff and the standard of the food they serve.

Will I recommend?
I'm sorry.
NO!

293 Holland Road, #02-04 Jelita Shopping Centre, Singapore
Opening Hours
Daily: 12noon – 10pm
friendsfoodandwine.com

Song Sharing Sunday - 122 [Firework - Katy Perry]

One of the Best Lyrics EVER!

Maybe because I am too emotional or maybe because every word pierce through my heart like a sword, I always tear whenever I hear this song.

It reminded me of how much I wanted to break free from my dark past, my sadness, my loneliness and my helplessness in the past.
Then it reminded me of the Breakthrough I had when I picked up the Robert Kiyosaki's "Cashflow Quadrant" book for the very first time.
And the Ultimate Freedom from 'my darkness' came when I went for Anthony Robbins seminar more than 3 years ago with Allan and again with my friend just 2 years ago.

I believe everyone has a moment (or more) in our life whereby we feel really horrible about ourselves and feel that we are cornered in every way.
May the lyrics of this song fly you up in a kite-ride and leads you to the sky of possibilities...

Remember,
Do you know that there's still a chance for you
Cause there's a spark in you
It's always been inside of you
You just got to ignite the light
Cause baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow
Come on show them what you're worth

Cheers!

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Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

Firework - Katy Perry (Original Version)




Firework - Katy Perry (Country Version)



Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind
Wanting to start again

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards
One blow from caving in

Do you ever feel already buried deep
Six feet under scream
But no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that there's still a chance for you
Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gonna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow


Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gonna leave 'em all in awe-awe-awe"


Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gonna leave 'em all in awe-awe-awe

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon




Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

American Idol Top 3 - Performance and Results

Somehow without James Durbin, I lost interest in this year's American Idol. Neither Haley Reinhart, Scotty McCreery or Lauren Alaina made me swayed or danced or even clapped at the end of their 9 performances, 3 performances each.

However, because I love Country Music more than Rock or Pop, I found myself singing to Lonestar's "Amazed." and "She Believes In Me" by Kenny Rogers performed by Scotty.





And the results?
Who got eliminated?
Which two would we see in the grand finale?
Watch it to find out.



Yes.
So its a girl and a boy in the grand finale, which makes it more 'balanced' in a way, isn't?

Well,
Somehow I saw it coming, more or less, when I watched the return home visits.
Looking at the number of crowd, which was there to welcome each of them, it seemed pretty obvious which two had more fans.

So its goodbye Haley Reinhart.

My Happy Purchases ~ Little Twin Stars Plush

My latest Addition to my Little Twin Stars collection:

Happy 11th Anniversary, Dearie!

As Apple celebrates its 10th Anniversary today, Allan and I celebrate our 11th Wedding Anniversary. *Smile*

Ever since I started blogging, I would always blog about how blessed I am to be Allan's wife. About how little we quarrel and about how often we spend our time in laughter.

Looking through the photos, I remembered how we were sabotaged.

1. Allan had to scoop up 3 'something which I can't remember', one at a time, from that bowl of tea. Transfered to me through mouth and I had to spit it out on another empty bowl.
2. Next, the 'sabotaging team' told me to roll a raw egg, from the left side of Allan's pants, to the right side of the pants. By the way, the egg is IN the pants! The cloth was so slippery, I was so close to loosing grip of it so many times. *nervous* Well, 'the naughty team' were cheering as the egg reached the 'peak' of the pants... *eyes rolled* (This had my MIL fuming!!! I remembered hearing her scolding the leader of the team)
3. Then we had to drink this big glass of hard liquor. A teeny weeny bit of liquor or even wine will cause Allan to feel really uncomfortable to the extend of breathing discomfort. Since everyone was in such a high spirit, he did not want to be the spoilsport and so he had one mouthful of that and I SLURPED the rest of the liquor in the cup empty. *wink* I remembered drinking lots of liquor that wedding night as more friends sabotaged me (alone), after witnessing the my liquor 'endurance'. *giggle* Well, I have to thank my grandpa for this though. *wink*

Looking at the photos at such wee hours (2.30am) brought smiles as well as tears to my eyes.

I remembered the guests who came.
Some couples got married.
Others have kids to play with now.
Yet,
there are so many who have separated,
who have divorced,
who have gone through counselling for depression due to failed relationships.

Is relationship that difficult to maintain?
I can sense many nods.
But I choose to differ.

We were approached by the owner of the noodle stall which we patronise often, approached us just two days ago. She asked, "Does the two of you EVER quarrel?! You two are always chatting and laughing with each other."

I admit that I still feel very much in love with Allan. Seriously, it does not feel like 13 years at all! We are still learning new things about each other. New talents. New aspirations. Its like falling in love again every time.

Like all couples, we do have our differences too, but we used these differences to complement each other and not to condemn each other.

My heart is in a swirl now as I looked at these photos.
This year, I want to take this opportunity to remind all couples that relationship does not stop after marriage, or after your child(ren) is(are) born.

The strength of your relationship depends on how much the two of you Grow Together as a couple. In terms of Personality, Thoughts, Mannerism and Aspiration.

Dearie, cheers to our 13 years of love and many more years to come. 

Happy 11th Anniversary, Dearie! *muack*

Discounts at NTUC FoodFare

Some of you may know and some might not.
Hence posting for the sake of the latter.

NTUC FoodFare outlest are giving discounts to every Singaporean, regardless if you are a NTUC member or not.

It was on the News before its launch date: 1st April.  Its definitely not an April Fools Day joke but a nice way to please non-NTUC members.

As for normal NTUC members, you can simply flash your NTUC card, as usual, to enjoy the same discount at any foodstall for a designated discounted food item.

Here's how its done for the NON-NTUC members:
 Simply visit any NTUC FoodFare outlets listed below....

Find the machine that provides you with the discount coupon and do the following steps:

In my opinion, the downside of this offer is the restriction on the food you can buy. Every stall chooses only one item to be part of this promotion. So if your taste buds tell you otherwise, then you would need to pay the full price for the food of your choice.

Well, for that few cents discounts and with such restrictions, many discarded their coupons after ordering. How did I know? Well, I was in the queue. *wink*