Bejeweled blitz

It has been a while since I last posted. The mother and sister-in-law and her super duper cute toddler have been visiting. Thus we have been busy.

However the main reason for this void, very sadly, was not really that. It is our addiction to Bejeweled Blitz. Yes. I am hopelessly and shamelessly hooked.

It is awful. The soonest we got the kids to bed. Out comes our iPad. And that addictive "bling bling" begins.

This game is not new to us. In fact, this love affair started about 3 years ago. Before Annabel was born. And it has seen me through sleepless nights when I had to stay up to feed Annie. But it was mainly to pass time and some light entertainment.

But now. With the easy accessibility of the iPad. And the option to compete with friends over cyberspace. It has become irresistible! I simply cannot stay away. I think I need to join some AA club for finger tapping addicts or something.

Anyhoo. I will be posting pictures of what we had been up to soon. The "bling bling" awaits.

Couch art

We were doing our usual sing and dance routine of dinner rituals. Feeding the kids. Feeding ourselves. Washing the dishes. Catching up on each other's day.

The whole time through. The kids would hang around the living room playing with whatever toys left over from the day. Nothing unusual. But we did notice Annabel running busily through and fro from the kitchen to the living area.

Than we saw this on our couch.

Now. We have absolutely no artistic fibre in our bodies. Back at school. I strive to just pass in arts. My best art projects were 3 dice made from clay. And perhaps a pencil sketch of some office buildings.

So naturally I never did have any idea in helping the kids develop. Artistically.
Seeing this tonight made me realise I should do something. We may have a little artist on our hands.

(Almost) kids free weekend!

Hubby's good mate and his girlfriend are visiting over the weekend. We have the friday off and will be dropping the kids off at mum's before heading down to Hunter Valley for the day. Dinner has been organised for Saturday, without the kids.

I simply cannot wait!!

Our new pad

It was such a whirlwind experience searching for a new place to live. We had loved our first home very much and have grown very attached to it. We had so many happy times there.

The many gatherings with family and friends. The meticulous assembly of furniture. Memories of Salem. Of bringing Annabel home from the hospital. The tears and laughter that made hubby and me a stronger unit.

All the wonderful memories condense into that little space. Our familiar surroundings and neighbours who have become friends.

But alas. We need more room for our growing family. A backyard so the kids could roam and discover the world of worms and spiders. We knew it was time to move on.

The search was exhausting and many a times, out right frustrating. Needless to say, we weren't the only ones looking. Which meant, the good ones are usually very quickly snapped out, or are bought at a much higher value.

But we finally found the one. And it was within our asking price. So it was a huge relief as I was than so heavily pregnant. The whole packing, moving and unpacking took us almost 3 months. Thankfully all we needed to do was to give the house a fresh coat of paint. So we managed to just settle in before Rachel arrived.

It has been just over a year now and we are loving our new pad. The extra room was definitely worth the while. And we love our backyard with the huge gum tree. They say pictures speak a thousand words. So I'd better share some I took a year ago.

Happy New Year!

Another start of a new year with new hopes and dreams. I cannot wait.

May the new year be a safe and fulfilling year filled with lots of laughter, joy, peace and just the right amount of tears to you all.

Food Food and more Food

We have such a packed week ahead! The family and some close friends are coming over for lunch on Christmas Day. The rest of the family will be over the day after. And we have a barbeque at a friend's the following day!

I lurve this time of the year.

Merry Christmas every one!

Hunter Valley & Alicia Keys Weekend Updates

As there are quite a few pictures taken over the weekend, I will leave this entry with mainly pictorial updates.

Wine tasting @ Tower Estate on a crowd free Friday.

If you squint really hard, you will find a tiny fly perched on her noise. Thus the face.Arrowfield Estate Nightingale Estate. Love their ports. Annabel and her favourite man.

Mel cooking breakfast. A Day on the Greens @ Bimbadgen Estate

Me and GenThere were 3 opening acts. Jordin Sparks (below), Lo Rider and some American dude we do not know. Finally. The main act Alicia Keys! If you look really really hard, you may just make her out! No luck? Try this one.Alright than. Shots of the big screen. I have always thought Alicia is beautiful but she is a lot more stunning real life. It is almost unfair how one could embody SO much talent! She is so musically gifted. Her supporting singers are amazing as well. It was an awesome night.

Annabel looking bright and alert just 5 mins before she comatose for the rest of the drive home.

Hunter Valley and Alicia Keys!!

We are off to the hunter this weekend. We will be dining at a 2 chefs hat restaurant, wine tasting, visiting cheese factorys and attending the Alicia Keys concert. My toes are just wiggling with joy as I type! Pictures when I get back.

Have a great weekend!

A week past

My first week at work has come and gone without much fuss. Annabel seems to be adjusting well to the new routine and I am actually enjoying my 3 days away from playing mummy. I am back on a part time basis till next year and I think this arrangment is a good transition for me. I had been off work for 9 months, which really is not a long time at all. But it will be interesting to see how I adept to working life again. I used to be pretty ambitious though not over the top, but I am always ready to push myself over my comfort zone and I don't mind changes nor would I shy away from challenges. I don't think I had lost the drive, but something inside of me is whispering something that seems to be sending me in the opposite direction. I do not know what that is yet, or where it will lead me, but I am excited.

It's over!

The final exam has finally come and gone! I left feeling like I did alright. Probably not distinction quality but still I am glad it is over.

This afternnon, I am one happy lady.

Singapore. Here I come!!

Another long night

Looks like it's going to be another oil burner night. The assignment has been handed in and I aced my last test. Just one last hurdle to jump, the final exam come Monday. Than it's home run from there on end!

I could just smell the sweet sweet humid air of Singapore.

Excited.

Alicia Keys

I cannot believe it. Alicia Keys is touring Australia come December.

And I HAVE TICKETS!!! WOOHOO!

Thanks Gen!

Click here for more details.
Bimbadgen Estate
Ticketek.com Alicia Keys 08

Hanging on

It's now past 2am and I am 80% to completing our group assignment.

I am so past tired and my bums are starting to numb out from sitting in front of the lab top for way too long. But despite the aching bones and drooping eye bags, I am starting to feel a tiny bubble of excitement brewing deep inside me.

The end is near and yes I can feel it.

Not far now

About 3 months ago, I enrolled myself into a post graduate accounting course. It was a decision spurred on by half wanting to enhance my overall marketability (in terms of job prospects) and the other half, to make full use of my maternity leave to accomplish something other than caring for my baby.

The whole experience of going back to uni has been great thus far. I enjoy the lectures, the interaction with the other students, and the forming of new friendships. Above all, I enjoy the little breaks I get from my daily routine of baby diaper and endless washings.

But there were also the long nights I had stayed up to catch up on the studying. The Saturdays at campus working on the group assignments. And the frustration of not having enough time to do just about anything else.

It is now fast approaching the end of the course and though I am still enjoying it. I am happy the end is near. It has been somewhat exhausting and I miss spending time with my husband. I have one more test to sit, the completion of the assignment, and than the final exam to go. And waiting for me at the end of the tunnel, is my trip to Singapore. Just 3 and a bit more weeks to go now.

Singapore

For about 3 months, the husband and I have been discussing about making a trip to Singapore to attend a wedding in September. We had gone back and forth for the whole 3 months and finally this week, we decided we are going to make the trip. I am so excited! It has been over 2 years since I had set foot on my motherland and I miss her terribly. Making the trip with us are also my folks and the in laws. And I could just tell, it will be an incredible reunion.

Above all the anticipation. I am most excited to introduce to my daughter the country of my birth. I cannot wait for her to breathe in the hot humid air. To smell all the different culinary delights from my multi-cultural land. And for her to meet the family and my friends. Even if she is too young to comprehend it all. It will still be such a special moment for me.

So the countdown begins. Just over a month now.

Back to Uni

I had signed up for an accounting post grad course about a month ago and next week is my first week back on campus. I simply cannot wait to get my brain muscles working again. Not to mention all the new people I will get to meet and a time once a week I can truly call my own!!

Can't wait! WWWeeeeEEee!!

Plush Splash

A week ago I, together with 7 other friends from mother’s group, signed our little offsprings up for a swim class for bubs over 3 months. The class commences next week and we are all simply trembling with childlike excitement.

If you have a bub and are thinking of joining a swimming class or simply a splash in a pool. You could get yourself a free "Huggies Little Swimmers” sample here.

I can’t wait! Wweee!!!

Mid Year Resolutions & a very long post.

You have been warned...

I have never been a fan of making New Year resolutions. Many years of failed attempts has taught me that it's simply not worth the guilt trip. So for the past 3 years, instead of greeting New Years with ambitious unachievable set goals, I reflect back on the year past and congratulate myself for surviving through yet another one unscathed. It has worked well for me thus far,until recently.

Since the start of this year, I have been on maternity leave and am currently mid way through my 9 months break off paid work. It was a shift in gear for me as I got used to being a stay at home mum. It was not easy at first, but I have since adjusted and have been fairly happy. However of late, for some unexplainable reason, I have been bugged with an unshakable feeling of under achievement.

Please don’t get me wrong. I know that motherhood is a huge responsibility that one should be proud of. And I am! It is a tough job. And nurturing a baby is by no means an easy task. However, I just cannot help but feel like I am allowing time to slip me by without me having to account for much besides nursing my baby.

So. Despite my better judgment and conviction of not setting resolutions. I have decided I will do so after all, albeit it being mid year. The objective being that I may come out of these remaining 4 months knowing I have accomplished something, other than playing mum, which again I stress, is a very enriching and important role that I am enjoying tremendously.

Alias, my mid year resolutions.

- Exercise more. At least an hour, twice a week. This could either be a walk round the block, a run in the park or simply a nice stroll to the shops.

- Experimenting more with my camera. I had taken a photography course late 06 and have since been playing around with my SLR. But I haven’t really given “taking pictures” much thought. I would like to compose my shots better. To frame it better. And to pay more attention to lighting, shadows, viewpoints & perspectives, and to incorporate “good lining” into my picture composition.

- Take up a course. You may have read about my decision to do a post grad certificate. I have submitted my application and have since been accepted. The course commences late June. I can’t wait!

- Getting to know my neighborhood better. I know it sounds weird but for some unexplainable reason, we often find ourselves venturing out to other suburbs more so than staying put and discovering our own back yard!?

- Have more fun with bub. This is a given. Annabel is not going to stay a baby for long. I intend to enjoy it as much as I can while it last.

And I too intend to post updates on my new goals from time to time. You know, just to hold myself accountable. *Smiles*

Back to Uni???

For the past few weeks, I had been toying with the idea of going back to uni. Well, not exactly going back to uni, but doing a post-graduate course. In fact, it has been an idea I had been toying with for almost a year now. I felt the need to upgrade myself. To see if my brain still has the capacity to learn, in an academic way.

So one fine day a couple of weeks back, I finally got myself down to campus to speak with a student consultant. We talked through what I wanted (which was to complement my engineering degree with something that would help me move into project or general management), the courses available, the facilities, and study time required. I was a little relief to learn that the consultant herself is also a mum (of 2!) and had done several courses with ease. The course will also allow me to gain credit points for their post-grad certificate, diploma and MBA programs, which is a bonus. The meeting ended with me feeling absolutely encouraged and looking forward to being labeled student again.

So yes, I have filed in my application for "Accounting for Management" and am now awaiting acceptance from the university. I am going to be a broke, however this time round, time poor student again. I simply can’t wait!!

*Glee*

Missy Higgins

I have to admit to something quite embarrassing, especially coming from a concert craze generation. Yes. I am a concert virgin. Have never been or even come close to a real life sweat hysteria concert.

This is partly due to the fact that I really do not have a band that I’ve followed more than a couple of years. Nor a love for any particular artist that I would willingly part hundreds of dollars for (I can be a tight ass when it comes to things I do not fall heads over heels for..).

However, as of last night. I am officially a concert virgin no more. Yes, I have sold my virginity to a local artist that had taken Australia by storm since her first professional debut in 2001. Missy Higgins.

I had a ball and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Despite feeling a little agitated I bought seats tickets rather than standing space on the dance floor where I could boggie my head off.

Here are some blurry pictures I took of the night.














ps: Notice how bald Mel looks!! hehe.. He shaved his head for a charity fund raiser for Prostate Cancer.