Juice Time!

The beauty of not working is you have all this time on your hands. Downside also means that you can get bored.

I've been lazy. My usual work routine sees me on my feet quite a bit but when at home, I tend to veg out quite a bit which is not good when I am trying lot minimize the weight gain.

As it IS summer, I've been doing quite a bit of juicing instead of going for the caffeine filled carbonated drinks. I tend to have quite a bit of fresh fruit around anyways so anything that looks old-we tends to go into the juicer (hey, it's either that or throw it away).

Generally - its oranges, celery, green apples, carrots, pineapple, strawberries (if I have excess) and a smidgen of ginger.

On a separate none related note - my sis in law by marriage (BF's side) gave birth on Boxing Day to their 2nd child - a lil girl. :)

Tummy pics @37 weeks.

I haven't been sharing tummy pics for a while so here I am at 37 weeks.

Nearly there ....

Weight gained so far 7 kg's.

A Christmas cheer

Today (or yesterday to be exact) has come and gone.

Smaller gathering from last yr with just 2 friends instead of 7 or 8 of years pass.

Nice, intimate and full of love and laughter.

Blessed Christmas and Happy holidays everyone. x

Our Christmast tree 2012

A bigger glimpse of our tree this yr.

No color scheme or theme - just went for colorful compared to last year where it was red and gold.

It is a bit weird having our Christmas for the first time in a long while being in a rental, we don't know have where our things are but that's ok.

Next yr - will be different. :)

15 days till Christmas ..

Tree up - check
Decorations on - check
Lights on trees - check
Presents - no

Plenty to do!!

Baby bump - 32 weeks

Oops - haven't updated in a while even though I have been taking pics!

This was taken last week - bump has grown since :)

Spring Racing Carnival - Stakes Day 2012

One last spring racing carnival before we become a threesome.

We've made an annual trip to the races for the past 4 yrs. From Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Derby Day and Stakes - it has always been a good day of dressing up and making an occasion out of spring.

Seeing that I am now 30 weeks and 4 weeks - orange juice was my drink of choice but it was still a great catch up seeing that it was to also celebrate a mate's last week in Melbourne before he heads overseas to Canada for at least 2 years.

Stakes Day is also considered family day at the races so plenty of kids around which makes me think perhaps, I won't be a completely cut off from social occasions with impeding motherhood.

Kitchen Stories - apple and rhubarb crumble

Well, I still have a sweet tooth but have decided to ditch the cookies and muffins aside and go for something with fruit to make it 'healthier'.

As rhubarb is in season - apple and rhubarb crumble was on the menu this week. Didn't realize how simple it was to make until now!

From start to end - 45 mins :)

Baby bump - week 28

Weight gain diff between pre pregnancy and now : + 6 kg's.

Love is ....

You have to love a man who is able to read or cheer you up when you are feeling low.

So Thursday last week was a low point for me, it involves some work issues which I can't quite discuss here but basically someone was trying to boss me around and I wasn't up for it (unlike my usual feisty self) so I kept professional but it annoyed the hell out of me.

I did vent to BF, and the next day to my mentor at work but it still gets to me.

Anyways, I come back home and BF has got my flowers to cheer me up.
I am a lucky girl indeed to have someone to support me indeed.

Baby bump - week 27

Baby bump - week 26

Yep - I am growing!!!

Annoyed

Soo...BF has this cousin who recently put up a message on my FB page about "Congratulations on your little miracle".

All I could think off was - "Huh, lil miracle"? Bump wasn't conceived via IVF - it was/is all natural! What do you mean lil miracle?

I replied as such too - and she hasn't responded back .. the cheek of her..

The last thing I want ppl to think was that we were reproductively challenged. I mean, just because you got married and got knocked up in your early twenties doesn't mean we all want kids! I am happy we have Bump but in the meantime, don't assume and put us in a basket that anyone in their 30's cannot conceive without help.

Rant over.

Baby bump - week 25

I forgot to take pic for week 24 - oops!

Weight and Pregnancy

I shouldn't really be this selfish but I am rather worried that I'll grow really big as part of being pregnant and then will never get to loose the weight. I really don't want to be one of those typical Asian women who are ever so skinny before and then turn to old 'Marmies' once they have a man and start springing out kids.

At this point at 24 weeks and 4 days, I have gained 4.5kg's or so which I think isn't that bad seeing that I am midway in the pregnancy. The weight chart says that at my height and weight, I should have gained minimum 5.78kg's so slightly under is ok by me. Max weight is 8.79kg's which is huge!

Have to be careful, after all - once its on, it's hard to get off.

Happy 3 yr anniversary BF.

It has been 3 yrs and I still get butterflies when I am with BF.

3 yrs today, we said ' I do'.
3 yrs today, we made a pact that we'll be together for better or for worse, till death do us part.
3 yrs today, I officially became a we.

This will be the last yr for us as a twosome as from next yr, there will be 3. As for now, the 2 of us will enjoy married life.

Happy anniversary sweetheart!

Ps - my favorite tulip blooms :)

Baby bump - 23 weeks

Baby bump - 22 weeks

Baby bump - 21 weeks

Kitchen stories - Cottage Pie

Here's the deal, my taste buds has changes tremendously and eating spicy food is now a no no in my books. This out goes hot curries, chilies or jalapeños and I now have to resort to having more western based meals at home.

This is the reason why we've been having pastas, home made pizzas etc. Even grilled sandwiches at time when I really could not be stuffed!

Felt a bit better yday so opted to make cottage pie for dinner with a small side salad for dinner. I've forgotten how good cottage pies are. BF doesn't enjoy the traditional pies saying its too fatty (too much buttery crust or something like that) - but then again, I've made lasagna and he likes those.

Hope my lil one isn't a fussy eater :)

Kitchen stories/Pregnancy cravings -cucur udang

Ever since I've been pregnant, my food wants have decreased to a point where BF complains that he doesn't get fed anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I still cook but my appetite has gone down so much that I can't even spicy food anymore, leaving BF to eat what I've cooked - leftovers that could last days. I have been fortunate not to get any morning sickness at all, it's just that I don't feel like eating anymore.

Now that I am in my 2nd trimester, I find my appetite slowly making a comeback but it's more towards my mum's cooking. Unfortunately, living a whole continent away doesn't help which means I have no option but try to replicate her dishes, with her recipes. My mum however has never been one to stick to recipes - preferring to dabble with a lil bit of this and a lil bit of that. Never a good thing for a novice like yours truly.

I have been pretty successful in my attempts tho - apparently I am also quite handy with adjusting recipes on the fly so the kitchen stories has grown.

Today's attempt was cucur udang :)

I am - in the family way!

I have been keeping this news quiet for some time. Perhaps because it is still something am getting my head around but also because it it's going to impact how things fare for the rest of my/our lives. 

It was a bit of shall I or shall I not blog about this but it will be good to have a diary of sorts to jot down my up and downs as I get used to the fact that I have something growing in me for the next 5 months - yes - I am 4 months pregnant!

(see full image)

 

Exhausted.

So freaking tired. Am now in Adelaide for the day after 4 days in Brisbane this week. Then back home for the weekend where I am still working both days before I fly to Adelaide again on Monday.

No rest for the wicked they say!

Reminiscing the years

When I first started blogging a fair few years ago, I wanted to use it as a diary of sorts. After all, I was fresh of the plane living in another country far away from family and friends.

It was an adventure - a fresh start even as the move coincided very closely with a breakdown of a 3 1/2 yr relationship so to be honest, it allowed to me not to mull over the loss.

Years have past now, my initial 4 yr stint now looks like it will be a permanent thing. I have moved cities, been promoted, taken on new responsibilities, I bought a house, sold a house, met a wonderful guy who asked me to be his forever after (which I accepted and it has been 2 1/2 yrs being a Mrs) and now we are building a home - all this in 8 yrs.

How time flies.

But I digress. I've summarized my 8 yrs above but I have not really jotted it all down, this journey of mine. I have actually shut down a blog before. Perhaps it is time to be more active or even start doing random snippets more often. Perhaps, mayhaps.

Travel smart!

Been a while since I last blogged.....



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I travel like Jane Goodall !
You are well known for traveling around and dealing with wild primates, but the people you share the hostel dorm rooms with can sometimes have a human-like charm anyway. Try to resist using them for slave labor.
What type of traveler are you? Take BootsnAll's Travel Quiz to find out.

The hunt for the perfect burger

I have been on a crusade of sorts since around last year. You see, I tend to cook a lot of Asian style food at home so on occasion, I do tend to like going out for something different and it always inevitably ends up being something Western. As I am not a steak lover and BF is, we came to a compromise and ended up going for burgers instead.

Thus started out hunt for the perfect burger.

BF is quite fussy with food as it is, so on our recent US trip, we tried the local fast food place called 'Jack in the Box' and he has been hooked ever since. When we got back home - every burger was being compared to JiTB but it looks like he has found a good replacement at Andrew's Burgers in Albert Park.

The menu wasn't extensive, and there are limited places to eat in so most patrons end up eating at a small grass plot across the burger joint (us included). Also be prepared for a wait - we were told ours would be 20 mins so we nipped across the road for a drink to kill time.

All in all though - worth the wait. :)

Andrew's Burgers
144 Bridport St
Albert Park VIC

Gluttons Galore - Malaysia

I am and have been a big piggy.
One of the downsides of being back home is the copious amount of food that you miss when you are away from home.
Yes - there are things that you can find but it never the same. After all, it is always toned down to suit the local palate or even worst, a bastardized version which is past off as the real thing - bleh!
Some of the things I have had so far - let's see
- Nasi lemak bungkus
- Pappa Roti
- Appam balik ( both biasa and garing)
- Cendol
- Chee Cheong Fan
- Vadde
And not to forget
Mum's home cooking!!!!
Indeed - will struggle to get into the saree at this rate. ;)

Sometimes - it is the lil things that makes things nicer for the week:
- having someone appreciate you at work or home
- being able to wake up and be greeted by a fresh mug of coffee
- coming home and being greeted by flowers at the door
- being able to shut the laptop at 5pm instead of having to work till later
- having a lil bit of indulgence like chocolate biscuits when you know you should not!
- having a lie in on a weekend

I want to ride my bicycle ...Queen

In my quest to lead a somewhat healthy lifestyle in between the work, and the travel and the what's-so-not, I have started doing some evening routine.
It is still a WIP at this point - power walking or cycling. Quite pleased with myself today 11km's.
If only it actually becomes more of a habit rather than a chore. :)

Am loving my ....

Tory Burch pony hair ballet flats 

Sunset over Santa Monica, CA

It has been 3 days since I've been back from break and my mind and body feels like it hasn't been away.
Seriously, I am exhausted at the end of the day ( I was back to work on Monday and we got back to Mel on Sunday evening ) and I feel fat! Blame it on over indulging over the holidays.
I miss not thinking about anything. I went away with friends (BF, P and S) and if I am really honest with myself, there were moments where I wished it was just BF and I. Traveling with other ppl can and is quite stressful and the group dynamics change when it is a foursome as opposed to a duo or threesome.
Lesson learnt I suppose.
I do miss certain parts of things tho. I doubt we will go on a snow break for a bit. We've been going for 5 consecutive yrs so trying something different will be a welcome change.
LA was not as glitzy as it makes itself to be. Sad to say - even sleazy at times.
I left my heart in San Diego and Santa Monica. x

Hollywood ... Baby!

A sneak peek of more to come.

Snowboard injury ouches

Well, I haven't actually have much bruises to boast about this yr. Most probably due to I am falling a lot better this yr ( if there is such a thing) so apart from whiplash and face splats, no black and blues much.

However, I did fall rather badly yday and today, note the size difference between the right and left thumb.

(forgive the ugly fingernails tho - fashion was the least of my concerns here :))

Bruises, bumps and aches

Day 3 and am still surviving. It has been good weather wise with sun shining and not too much wind chill factors but down side is, no snow thus icy conditions in some areas and man made snow at the base.

All in all tho - am having a blast !

ps- am back in Whistler, BC after a mere 11 months :)

6 days too long ....

It is a public holiday here today and have plenty to do. Instead, am watching old movies and basically doing nothing while BF is out playing golf.

Well - I lied, am doing research on places to stay in San Diego and have just booked our luggage storage at LAX after our skiing trip at Whistler.

6 days more ...6 days more ....till I am back to white paradise.

Things I see ...

I always had an admiration for things that are quirky - which could explain why I prefer hanging out at places on Brunswick Street or Abbotsford/Fitzroy etc rather than Prahran or St Kilda.

This interesting poster caught my eye at Carlton - was even tempted to try peeling it out of it wasn't for the fact that it was glued on!

Perhaps next time. :)

Friday night

"Nothing wrong with staying in on a Friday night. "

Travel essentials 101

Off I go again after a few weeks of inactivity. An interstate trip to Sydney - no biggee - it's more like a bus ride these past few yrs heading there compared to say when I was still based in KL and it was ' oh so exotic'

It's funny how jaded one can get over the yrs.

Sunday stories

T'was a lovely brunch at a new pseudo Australian/Thai cafe in Carlton introduced by a mate.

So over some interesting collection of food ( we had a pork belly basil stir fry dish, spicy apple salad, some crab meat mixed curry dish and some sweet roti ), I ended the meal with a refreshing chrysanthemum tea to cleanse the palate.

Love the aesthetic of the drink.

The company simply added to the relaxed Sunday arvo.

Love hearts

So it is the first day back to work for me after 2.5 weeks off. The lie-in's and relaxation time was great and so was being able to catch up with friends.

Well, the morning routine started with making breaky for BF and as I was chopping up the strawberries - the shapes were gorgeous and I couldn't resist taking a quick snap.

New Year resolution - final post

Sounds about right ....

New Year resolution #4

Eat and drink healthily. Cut out toxic stuff from the body. Health starts from within.

New Year resolution #3

Travel less.

2011 was a lovely and as always, we did quite a few trips.

**Vanuatu, Canada (Whistler, Vancouver), NYC, England, Madrid, Singapore, Fiji and not forgetting the short trip back home to visit the folks and all the work trips around Australia and NZ.**

However, there are always more adventures to experience, more places to see and as long as there is this wanderlust feeling, setting roots down never is an option hence the resolution.

New Year resolution #2

Go easy on the sweet stuff.

New Year resolution #1

Drink less coffee, start looking after oneself.

Brand chirper start - hey, it's 2012!

Out with the old, in with the New.

Ushered in 2012 by enjoying the array of fireworks let off in the CBD - we had a spot behind Fed Square so it wasn't as packed as being on Fed Square or the Art Centre itself but if was good enough.

Like most things, getting home was delayed even with the free public transport till 6am - for some reason the powers that be decided to shut down all train stations in the city - so no loop access and only ones open were Flinders Station and Southern Cross (Spencer Street). So imagine the bottleneck created by commuters wanting to head home after the show.

We opted to grab a cuppa or two before heading home so it was around 3am that we reached home, via a slight detour at a mates.

All in all, not to shabby. We did have plenty of food and schnapps at the Haufbrahaus before hand so we were well sated belly wise.

At the end of the day, Happy New Year!

2012 will be a year for self improvement, just as 2011 had been the year for self enlightenment.

Resolution post to come. x