Song Sharing Sunday #255 - People Like Us ~ Kelly Clarkson

This week is a very rewarding week for me......
Not that things happen to me....
Rather it was good news which my 4 friends shared with me.....

A friend who struggled parenting alone in a foreign land, has finally found the power to overcome the odds.
A friend who struggled with a broken marriage, finds confidence in love once again.
A friend who almost lost hope when the doctor sent bad news, is seeing hope now.
A friend who was in great financial difficulty, finally emerged from the heavy burden and could once again feel the breath of stress-free air.

I was there with them when things seemed like they were going down in flames.
It was a treacherous journey.
I was glad they brought me along.
That's what friends are for, isn't?

When they celebrate, my heart is filled with happiness for them too.

As for those of you who are still trying to find that gleam of chance for things to turn-around, I hope this song will give you encouragement for the new year.

Let the sorrows in 2013 be gone when 1st January 2014 comes.
Let the tears shed in 2013 be dried when everyone says "Happy New Year!"

So chin up now!
You are stronger than you think.
You will pull through............

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?

People Like Us ~ Kelly Clarkson

 



Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Song Sharing Sunday #254 - Joy To The World

One of my All Time Favourites song to listen to on my Favourite season in the entire year!

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?

Joy To The World

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Song Sharing Sunday #253 - Story of My Life ~ One Direction

Watched the latest 2 episodes of a Hong Kong drama over the past 2 days and it dawn onto me that there is greater meaning to what Life is.
When I am gone,
how would people remember me as?
what impact did I leave?
..........what was the story of my life.........?

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?

Story of My Life ~ One Direction

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Perspective - What Do You See?

Let's have some fun.

What do you see in the picture above?
An old woman on the left and Two friends smiling and chatting with each other on the right?
Well, you are right.

However........................



How you live your life is all about your perspective.
How you see every situation.

Remember, there is always 2 sides to a coin.
Standing on one side alone, will not help you to see the full picture.
Always need to put yourself on the other side and view from a different angle too.

This is something that I constantly remind myself to do.
It helps me to calm my anger.
Reduces my fears.
And eventually enables me to make wiser decisions.

Alright, let me rotate that SAME PICTURE above.

Now, what do you see?

 Two people quarreling on the left and a young lady on the right?
Yup!

All it takes is a tiny effort and a little more time to look at something differently, yet it makes a world of a difference.
*smile*

Song Sharing Sunday #252 - Let It Go ~ Idina Menzel

Went to watch the movie "Frozen" on 3rd December.
I TOTALLY RECOMMEND this amazing movie to all!
There were so many meaningful messages inside:
Family Love
Siblings Love
What is True Love
What Fear can do to anyone
What Trust and Belief can change all things
and not forgetting....
Positivity, fully displayed by Olaf, the cutest snowman I had seen!
(I shared Olaf's hilarious song on my parenting blog HERE.)


I LOVE ALL THE SONGS in the movie!
Especially........:

• Do you want to build a Snowman
• First Time in Forever
• Love is an Open Door
• Fixer Upper

But my favourite among the FAVOURITES had to be "Let It Go" sung by Idina Menzel.
When Idina Menzel sang it, I felt my heart singing it too.
Some things are just so tightly locked in my heart that really needs to let them go.....only then can I be free and be who I truly am.........

Demi Lovato also sang "Let It Go" for FROZEN, but I prefer Idina Menzel's version.
Listen to both below and tell me if your preference is the same as mine?
*wink*

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?

Let It Go - Idina Menzel

Let It Go - Demi Lovato







"Let It Go" Lyrics

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Fear is NOT Real

"Fear is not real.

The only place that fear can exist

 is in our thoughts of the future.

It is a product of our imagination,

causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist.

That is near insanity Kitai.

Do not misunderstand me,

danger is very real,

but fear is a choice.

We are all telling ourselves a story and that day mine changed"

~Cypher Raige, from the movie "After Earth"

Had been feeling lost in recent months, over several different things.

Watched the DVD of "After Earth" today and his words struck me like a lightning.

It was the story that I had been creating in my own mind, about the future, about what MAY come, that is giving me the sense of lost, the sense of fear.

ITS TIME....TO CHANGE THAT STORY!

This time, it shall be.....

A Story Of HOPE!

Since its all in my head, I should create a story that is worth living for.... than a story that gives me the negative vibes the whole time.

Since we have to live this life anyway.....why not live with happy thoughts in the head, than fearful ones.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Cheers!

 

Your True Aura Colour - Personality Test

I love to do personality tests every now and then, but I hardly post the results.
This is THE ONE test that gives me the big push to login to my blog.
'Cos the result is so So SO ACCURATE!

Oh Well, that's how I feel.
Maybe I should ask the people around me..... 
IS THIS ME (to you)????!!!

Blue

Your Aura is Blue!

Personality: Blue’s are very loyal and can be the truest friend any aura could hope to find. On the inside, blues tend to be emotional and even a bit moody. However, you know that other auras depend on you, so you put on a strong front. 

They tend to live a quiet but enriching life. Blues are very giving of them and is hard to let go of relationships. They believe the key to living a good life is simple: Be as honest with yourselves and others as possible. They value the truth over everything else. Blue will remain loyal to those who are honest with them, even if their honesty hurts. 

Compared to most other auras, blues handle the truth very well. They take every event into stride. Blues are the calm spot in a sea of chaos. They think that the solution to most problems is open communication; they wish that people would be more real with each other. 

A Blue personality uses its five physical senses to access information. An emotionally driven personality, you need to be liked and accepted. It is one of the "needs" that can cause apprehension in your personality. 

You are a polite, cooperative person who seeks to create conflict-free surroundings. You possess highly developed powers of observation. Family is important to you and you sometimes find yourself in the role of being a caretaker.  

You are conservative, reliable and trustworthy - you are quite trusting of others although you are very wary in the beginning until you are sure of the other person. You are not impulsive- you always think before you speak and act and do everything at your own pace in your own time. 

You take time to process and share your feelings. You are genuine and sincere, and you take your responsibilities seriously. You have a deep need for peace and harmony in your everyday life. You appear to be confident and self-controlled, but may be hiding your vulnerable side. 

You are generally fairly even-tempered, unless your emotions take over - then you can become either moody and over-emotional, or cool and indifferent. You are sensitive to the needs of others. 

While you are friendly and sociable, you prefer the company of your own close group of friends. You are a rescuer and love to be needed. You can be rigid - you like to stick to what is familiar to you- you stubbornly do things your way even if there is a better way. 

Untidiness and unpredictability overwhelm you. You don't like to draw attention to yourself. While you don't like to have discord or conflict in your life, you are often the cause of conflict with others; you can be quite manipulative but in a very subtle way.
 

You make a loyal and faithful marriage partner and you are an honest, trustworthy and sincere friend. You are aware of others feelings and sensitive to the moods of others. You are approachable and friendly, always making people feel welcome in your life. 

You have a thirst for knowledge in order to gain wisdom and appear knowledgeable in whatever area interests you. You can be too cautious and worry about every little thing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love Life: Relationships are your top priority, and this includes love. You are most happy when you are serious with someone.

The test was taken from this website : http://www.quotev.com/quiz/1366538/What-is-Your-True-Color-Aura/

Song Sharing Sunday #251 - 《OnCall36小時》主題曲 part I & II

This week is going to be a very special week.
For the first time, unless my memory fails me again, I am sharing a Cantonese song.
Ooops!
Correction, its TWO Cantonese songs!

I am NOT the chase-after-drama kind of person.
Yet, by chance I happened to watch 《OnCall36小時》, a Cantonese Drama, last year and fell in love with it.

Recently, 《OnCall36小時 II》 was launched and hubby managed to find a link whereby we can watch it 'first hand' each time every episode is released in the weekdays.
We watched it whenever we have time to spare.
I called it "Our Little Drama Date"
*giggle* A little romance added to our married life.

Love BOTH the theme songs because I am BIAS!
*LAUGH*
I love songs with Piano Prelude.
Gets me in the Right Mood.....the relax mood to quieten down my ever-so-busy-mind that works like a 24 hour expressway.

Enjoy!

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?




《OnCall36小時》主題曲 ~

容祖兒

=========

《OnCall36小時II》主題曲 ~

容祖兒

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

EASIEST Tummy Slimming Method - Lie down for 5 mins every day!

-->

Though this may SOUND REALLY ABSURD, but it really worked for me!!!! 3cm off in 5mins!!!
Some of you might be saying, "Hey I lie down MORE THAN 5 mins each day, but my waistline increases and NOT decreases."

Well, you need to LIE DOWN with STYLE !!!! 
*wink*

Watch the video below:~
Unfortunately, the video is in Japanese with Chinese subtitles, so for those of you who can only understand English, I tried to do a simple translation of the main part of the video below. However, I do hope that you would WATCH the video first before going to my simple translation.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, 

a video is probably worth a zillion words????

I am sorry that I could not do a full translation of the entire video, but the main idea (which starts at 4:22 of the video) goes like this:~

We need to:

1. Lie down on our back.
2. Use a thick rubber band that is so commonly used for tying hair to tie the two biggest toes together.
3. Stretch out your arms, lay them on the floor, above your head, with fingers/palms touching each other.
4. Place a pillow under your lower back.
5. Make sure your butts touch the floor.
6. Stay in this position for 5mins.

So why does this work?
As we age, our muscles become weaker and/or our intestines become heavier, therefore we are unable to maintain the 'slimmer' figure or proper posture, which we once had when we were younger. Thereafter, our hip bone becomes tilted and our abdominal muscles gets even weaker. Thus, the lower abdomen protrudes.

As the video reaches the end, you can see how this ULTRA SIMPLE 5min regime can do for your tummy.
The results are IMMEDIATE!
No doubt the FASTEST and EASIEST way to slim down that LOWER ABDOMEN!

My question is "Will it last?"
I think so...if its done on a daily basis!
*wink*






-->

Joe's Kitchen - Yummy Thai Food

Ever since we had stopped going to Thailand to get goods for our retail business more than 10 years ago, hubby and I had been missing that country. The people, the culture and more importantly the food.

There are so many places that sells Thai food in Singapore, but few ignite that all too familiar taste in our mouth. I guessed, food just taste different when it flew over oceans and lands to a foreign country. Even if the chef is a Thai, somehow that "Ooopm" feeling is just not there when the Thai chef is not cooking in Thailand.

Could it be the lack of some ingredients which are not found in foreign land?
Could it be the patrons' mind that is actually deceiving their own taste buds?
*shrugged*
I don't know.

However, we found a place opposite Queensway Shopping Centre.
A place which we had drove passed at least a hundred times (literally) but yet to step in to dine.
Joe's Kitchen is the name of the small but popular mini-restaurant in that neighbourhood; there are always people dining there, be it indoor or outdoor seating, whenever I passed by the restaurant,.

I vowed to try the Orange-Green-White Signboard Restaurant - Joe's Kitchen, before I stepped into the coffin. *laugh*
And we did on 10th November 2013.
It was a day whereby the kids had early dinner and the parents wanted a late dinner.
Therefore, our initial intention was to let the children sip on a can of drink while the adults fill their tummies with the taste of Thailand.

So for hubby and I, we ordered :~

Green Curry

A small pot of Green Curry and a plate of Pineapple Rice enough for 2 pax. The picture below shows a small portion from the actual plate of Pineapple Rice served on our table.

Pineapple Rice

Yup! That was our initial plan.

However, my fruit-king, a.k.a my younger son, saw the word 'Mango' on the menu and wanted to order it. Well, its the famous 'Mango Sticky Rice'.
At first he said he just wanted the 'Mango' only and hope that we would eat the 'Sticky Rice'.
In the end, after taking a small bite into the sticky rice, he almost wanted ALL of it to himself!
The rest of us did manage to bite portion of Sticky Rice before all of it ended up inside the little one's tummy.
*laugh*

Mango Sticky Rice

I am not sure if this place is suitable for everyone though.
Hubby and I left the restaurant with a 'heat' in our throat which took many hours to go away.
Those few hours were indeed uncomfortable...kept drowning myself with plain water.

But was the food nice?
100% Yes!
They were really YUMMY!

Was it worth the price?
Oh well, it positioned itself as a restaurant, so expect restaurant type of pricing please.
I am saying this because I am looking at the amount served in the bowl/plate against the amount charged on the bill.

Did it bring back the 'Thai Feel'?
Not exactly though....but very close, very close indeed!
*wink*

Song Sharing Sunday #250 - Unconditionally ~ Katy Perry

Am a huge fan of Katy Perry, not just for her looks, or her voice but more of the lyrics of her songs. Loving this new song of hers as much as 'Firework'.

This is such a great song for all married couples.......don't you think so?
*wink*

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?

Unconditionally - Katy Perry

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Song Sharing Sunday #249 - Take On Me ~ A-Ha

This week's post felt like a continuation from last week's when I asked if anyone knew about the original song of the interlude in "Feel This Moment".
So happy to know that my long time blogger friend, M. managed to solve the mystery for me.
Thank you girl!
*muack*
 

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?

Take On Me ~ A-Ha

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Song Sharing Sunday #248 - Feel This Moment ~ Pitbull

This week is my younger son's choice.
Came back from school one day and said: "Mummy, can you download this song "Feel This Moment" in your phone? I want to hear it when we are in the car (ride)."

Its his first time.
So from this day forth, whenever I hear this song, my cheeky 8 year old's face will appear in my mind.

Here's a question for you, music lovers, that EXTREMELY FAMILIAR tune interlude inside this song...... do you know which song did it originate from?
I cracked my brain for weeks already and still could not recall!!!

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?

Feel This Moment ~ 
Pitbull and Christina Aguilera

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Song Sharing Sunday #247 - Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) ~ Shakira

I love it whenever my children introduce songs to me.
I was coin-tossing, deciding which of my boys' songs should I post for this week.
And the result was......
my elder one's.
Next week, will be my younger one's contribution.

But for now, its the song which my elder one had been singing this entire week!

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?

Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) ~ Shakira

 

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Wordless Wednesday : Feeling Like A Snake ~ "Skin Shedding"

Song Sharing Sunday #246 - Best Friend - Toy Box

Ever since my niece introduced me to a music downloader, I had been busy downloading songs on my mobile phone. Some songs were as classic as Elvis Presley's Jailhouse Rock, others were as current as Applause by Lady Gaga; and many in-between.

We'll play the songs whenever we are in the car and its amazing how some songs remain as appealing even though it has been decades. After hearing a couple of rounds over my list of 98 songs, now, my elder one knows how to sing a song which was once famous during my younger times.

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?

Best Friend ~ Toy Box

 

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Teppanyaki in City Square Johor Bahru, Malaysia

I love shopping in City Square Johor Bahru, Malaysia and ever since the semi-shut down of the mall because of the major renovation, I was missing the place. Sadly, I was the ONLY one in the family who liked shopping at City Square, the rest prefer KSL.

Anyway, after the Big 'Make-Over' of the mall was completed, some of the things which I liked were no longer there, but new things attracted me.
If you want to try eating from a "toilet bowl", you can find a very unique restaurant on the top level of the shopping mall, which serves your food in toilet-bowl-like bowls. We did not try, simply because we do NOT like the idea, though it may appear funky to many youngsters.

Well, we went to the mall for another reason.
The Teppanyaki Stall in the DAPURKITA Food Mall.
The layout and theme of the Food Mall instantly reminded us of the Food Court in JEM.
I wonder if the designer is the same for both, or MAYBE its the SAME BOSS!!!????
Oh well, we are more interested in the food.

 Nothing else attracted us inside the DAPURKITA Food Mall except for the Teppanyaki stall which you can see on the right side of the photo above.

Before you can buy anything from the eatery, you need to get a 'Credit Card' from the Cashier.

 For us, we did NOT choose to get a REFUND after our meal, because we kept going back to savour the yummy Teppanyaki dishes, so we KEPT the card and top up with more money as and when we are there.

I have lost count how many times we had been sitting infront of the Teppanyaki stall.
My boys LOVE to sit there even though its smoky and everyone's hair and shirt will smell like as if we dunk into a tub of oil.
They get to watch how their food or other's are cooked and  its an entertainment to them. I am not sure if it was the cling-clang sound that the chef makes as he cooks away on the big hot 'flat top stove' or the tastiness of the food or both that helped increased their appetite.


It is NOT a must to sit infront of the stall. You can choose to bring your tray of Teppanyaki goodies to other parts of the DAPURKITA Food Mall, find a table and enjoy it there too.

Hubby would go for the Beef Teppanyaki Bento....always.
Elder son is faithful to his Garlic Fried Rice with Chiken (which meant Chicken)
Younger son loves the Prawn Teppanyaki Bento.

And me?
Had tried Beef Teppanyaki Bento and Mix Vegetables Teppanyaki Ala Carte on different occasions.
Please remember that we are in City Square Johor Bahru, Malaysia, so all the prices above are in Ringgit.
I apologise for the lack of price showing on the right side of the menu. I will take another photo and replace this one, the next time we visit again.

However, I must highlight that different chefs (on duty that day) create slight differences to the taste of the same dish, but OVERALL, its still delicious enough to make us somehow addicted to it.

So if you are in for some heaty gourmet the next time you visit Johor Bahru, Malaysia, this just might be the one for you. *smile*


Teppanyaki in City Square Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Watch Your....

Watch Your Thoughts,

For they become Words.

Watch Your Words,

For they become Actions.

Watch Your Actions,

For they become Habits.

Watch Your Habits,

For they become Character.

Watch Your Character,

For it becomes your Destiny.

~ Lao Tzu

So let's start with what's 'UP THERE' first, before we deal with what's 'OUT THERE'.

Are you guarding what your mind is processing?

Don't belittle it.

It IS POWERFUL.

Song Sharing Sunday #245 - Dumb Ways To Die

A friend introduced this video to me last year and I was so surprised to hear my boys singing it this week!
All because they downloaded the GAME APP "Dumb Ways To Die".
Ha!

Warning : The song is REALLY CATCHY!!!

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?

Dumb Ways to Die

 

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Song Sharing Sunday #244 - Hey Soul Sister ~ Train

Today is a very special day for me.
A day which is focused on my 2nd niece.
A day which I was determined to solve her problem(s).
A few hours just to be with her....be there for her....

She took a photo of us while we waited in the clinic to get her 'ear' issue settled.
That photo make me feel so close to her....
Sometimes I feel like I am more like her mother....
And other times, I am more like her friend.....
But in most times, she is like a 'soul sister' to me.... you know, like how soul mates are....but its more of sister's feeling....

*Smile*

I feel so blessed to have a niece so close to me, who will find time almost everyday to update me on her daily life.....
*hugs*

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?

Hey Soul Sister
~ Train

 

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Wordless Wednesday - Gifts from 2nd Niece again....(Little Twin Stars Pouch)

Don't Do.....[Quote]

Don't Do Something 

Permanently Stupid 

Just 

Because 

You Are 

Temporarily Upset.

~ Unknown

Song Sharing Sunday #243 - Lights ~ Ellie Goulding

When I was young,
The feeling of lost...
The feeling of emptiness...
The feeling of fear....
The feeling of being trapped...
were feelings I was once so familiar with....
I had wished for someone to show me the way when I am lost.....
I had wished for someone to shine a light so that I can see the path...
and God sent them to help me....

Today,
I am very happy to be someone else's light....
Showing her the way when she was lost...
Shining the light so that she could see the path...
Removing her sense of lost, emptiness, fear and captivity...
It was my turn to pay it forward......

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?

Lights
~ Ellie Goulding

 

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

Song Sharing Sunday #242 - Burn ~ Ellie Goulding

I cannot remember when was the last time I cried because I was in too much pain.
Was it during the pre-delivery of my younger one, when the contraction started to get really severe?
Was that the last?
Now I can tell you that the last time I cried because the physical pain was too much for me to hold back my tears was yesterday.

My elder son was still not feeling very well and he asked for a soupy lunch.
So I decided to boil a small pot of carrot-corn soup for him to go with his noodles.
After I had transferred the soup over to his bowl, I realised that it was so full, it was almost spilling over.
Thus I put a plate below the bowl so that even if the soup spilled over, it would flow over the edge of the bowl and onto the plate.

Feeling very safe about my plan, I put BOTH of my hands on the left and right side of the plate, with my thumbs on top of the plate and the other fingers on the side of the plate, to bring the bowl of hot noodle soup out to the dining table.

Never did I expect that the soup actually SPLASHED out of the top of the bowl and onto my left hand.
My natural reflex was to tilt the bowl towards the right because of the SHARP PAIN I was feeling on my left fingers.
Wrong Move!
With the sudden tilting action, my right hand was washed with the hot liquid too.

I forced myself to hang on to the plate and not drop it on the floor, or else my elder one will have to wait again for his lunch to be re-cooked.

With the severe BURNING SENSATION that was on my 10 fingers, I forced myself to walk back a few steps and put the bowl of noodle soup down on my kitchen cabinet top.

Reached for the tap.
Turned it on full blast.
With elbows resting on the edge of my sink, I placed my red as lobster hands under the running tap water....

The tap water flowed like waterfall....
...and so did my tears....

It was very VERY Painful.....

Some of my knuckles started to swell...
...and I could not bend them...

My boys were with me in the kitchen and witnessed everything.
Hubby heard the commotion and rushed in; saw the splashes of soup on the kitchen floor and me in my pathetic position infront of the sink, he knew what happened at once.

My heart was pounding fast...
My mind was racing in circles...
I did not know what to do next...
I needed direction.

Hubby: "Go apply toothpaste."
I obeyed.
My whole hand, completely covered with what's supposed to be on my toothbrush......
I started to sob harder as I applied it over my hands, my hands were so SO SORE...a small brush across the skin hurts.

Then Hubby brought me a big bowl of water filled with ice.
"Soak your hands to numb the pain."
I did as I was told once again.

It was FREEZING COLD!!!

I do not know if it was wiser to use the ice water method or not because though the burning sensation was numbed, my hands were shaking like crazy because it was so terribly cold!!!
The chill was moving up to my wrist.
I kept pulling my hands out after soaking them for 10 seconds or so.
Once the cold feeling is gone, the burning feeling came back and my red hands will be submerged again.
I kept doing that repeatedly for countless times....until I could see that the swelling and the redness were showing improvement.

The most painful part was my knuckles, I could not bend them.
The fingers which I had rings on, were also feeling the strain, but I could not remove my rings because of the swollen knuckles....*cry*

I applied cream on every part of my hands and I dare not touch anything because the skin was so sensitive.
As time passes, my 4 rings were removed from my fingers at different times because the swelling of different fingers subsided at different speed.

This morning, my hands felt so much better.
Now, the only parts that still feel some 'leftover' sore are my left middle finger, my left thumb around thumbnail area, my right thumb, my right index finger, my right middle finger and my right ring finger.
Till now, my rings have not returned to their homes...maybe tomorrow...

The word "Burn" came to my mind at that point of time when I scalded my hands and thus the 'reason' behind today's song.....

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?

Burn
~ Ellie Goulding

 

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and I'll hop over for a music treat....

My Birthday 2013

Ever since I left my singlehood status, this year's birthday celebration with my family had been the unhappiest birthday celebration and I hope it will stay as the unhappiest record. I want my HAPPY JOYFUL, FULL OF LAUGHTER birthday celebrations like what I had....in my previous years. There were tears, angry words exchanged and disappointments this year......

Birthday celebration had always been something that I TREASURE ALOT with my family when I was still single, because it is the ONLY day whereby no matter how much quarrels and fights go around daily, on this day, my parents will be at peace with each other and have our usual midnight cake-cutting ceremony.

To many, birthday is just a special day for the birthday person every year.
But to me, birthday is a day I see my parents smile....
Regardless if it was my father's, my mother's, my sister's or my birthday, the other 3 will try their best to make the birthday person happy.

Therefore since young, birthdays hold a very special place in my heart.
Its a day that tells me that no matter how tough life was for the past 364 days, this is THE DAY that everything will be fine.

Very fairy tale?
Maybe.
But to me, its a hope.
A feeling of contentment and gladness.

======

My elder one had been sick few days before my birthday and when its time for the midnight cake cutting session, he was asleep. Though my thoughtful boy did set his alarm to wake him up 10mins before the clock struck 12 midnight, he woke to tell me that he was too tired. I understand and so this is the FIRST YEAR (if I remembered correctly) I did not have my midnight cake cutting session with my current family.

The kids agreed to cut the cake before they go to school the next day, but in the end, they did not. They were unwilling to wake up when I woke them up in the morning. So we decided to cut the cake after my birthday dinner.

Life was as per normal in the afternoon. School work and piles of them....by the time all was completed, it was about time for dinner.

Just before my birthday dinner, siblings verbal fights started, but was under control when we reached Jack's Place.

After a sumptuous meal, we got home and were ready for my cake cutting moment. I like to cut cakes at night, when its really dark, which is why we waited till dinner was over.
Yet, instead of seeing how entusiatic my boys are over how many candles each of them could help me put on my cake, a real fight happened between them. This is VERY RARE!

It is common that they have dreadful verbal exchanges, but to have a REAL fight with fists and legs in action is something that hhhhhmmmmmmm....I could not even recall when was the last time!!!! So this was the first time I watched my boys having a REAL tussle.......and it happened to be on my birthday....
And its JUST BEFORE they were supposed to sing me my happy birthday song!

I was very sad.
I was very disappointed.

Hubby and I broke them up and my younger one was crying uncontrollably. Another very rare sight.

Hubby wanted to just get the cake cutting session over and done with, with his own effort without my boys. Meaning, he will be the only one singing the birthday song for me.
I refused!

If I were to go ahead when my elder one's face was as black as charcoal and my younger one's face red with fiery tears, (I know myself), I will always remember this horrible birthday on every of my future birthdays.

Birthdays = Happiness
Birthdays = Laughters
Birthdays = Hope

That's what birthdays are to me and I will NOT let anything or anyone ruin this little belief I had held on to, for all my life.

So I told the kids how disappointed I was.
Hubby added: "How would you feel if it was YOUR birthday???!!!"
I told them that I will be giving them a few minutes to cool down.
I told them that I want a LOUD JOYFUL Birthday Song, but its unachievable when the two of them have not calmed down.

I waited......
The tears dried.
The colour of their faces went back to normal.

I know they were ready.
And after that, they REALLY MADE ME HAPPY again!!!!
They smiled.
They giggled.
They sang....oh so LOUD!!!
*Super Grin*

If I had not shared the story with you....would you have expected such drama actually happened before the photos below were taken??????

My Favourite FIRE STEAK!

Ssssmmmmokingly Yummy!

No matter how the celebration began, I am glad that it still ended with smiles on faces.

This year, like previous year, I had my birthday celebration with 3 different groups, my own family, my sister and BIL and my closest secondary school friends.

I love to try new things on my birthday or dine at places which I had not been to for a long time, which is why I chose Jack's Place (its been years since my last visit) above and Ambush (first time) with my sister and BIL.

As usual, endless topics to talk about and we chatted till the restaurant started to close for the day! *laugh* Its really not easy to make this group stop talking.......Thank you sis and BIL for the treat! *hugs*

=========

Ever since I visited KISEKI with my own family last year, see post "My Birthday 2012", I vowed to re-visit this awesome restaurant again! Loved the ambience and the food!

 However, one of our 'gang member' could not join us because of health issues, so we decided to meet again on another day. Partly also because my friend forgot to take my birthday present with her when she left her office. So we had to fix this meet-up to pass the present to me.

 This is the first time, ever since I got married, we are meeting up NOT because of any of our birthdays. The feeling was really nice. The best part is, the food at this Pique Nique (below) is REALLY YUMMY! None of us have been there before, its our first time in this cozy restaurant and we were definitely well-fed! YUM!

Presents from my 'Girl Gang'

 Thank you girls!
Looking forward to our next meet up in December!

Yup!
That's it for my birthday for year 2013!

I also want to thank all who wished me on Facebook, Watsapp, Messenger, Skype, SMS.
*Super Hugs*