Say "Yes"

Forty years ago, the average of someone’s first serious depression was almost 30. Now it’s 14. This should be a wake-up call that happiness needs to make an urgent comeback. When your first reaction is to shake your head and think bad thoughts, take a look at this simple little “yes to a better life” ways to put smile back on your face.

Yes, I will get moving. Whether a brisk walk aerobics or badminton for just 20 minutes, 3 times a week -has are remarkable impact on lifting depression.

Yes, I will join. Teaming up is the single most useful thing we can do to increase our stock of happiness. Social clubs, shared hobbies and neighbourhood schemes all serve to bring us together with other like-minded people.

Yes, I will keep busy. Optimists involve themselves more in the world because they think their enthusiastic activity will pay off. The more goal we take on, the greater likelihood of success.

Yes, I will move on. Do not dwell on the past unless its to savour the good times.

Yes, I will turn off the tv. Less tv and more activity is probably the least appreciated yet easiest, difference we can make in our lives. Go out have a picnics.

Yes, I will be more flexible. Remain flexible in how you plan for the future and respond to life. We are at out most vulnerable when we’re stuck in our ways and closed-off to learning and new experience.

Yes, I will laugh more. Humour has been prove to be one of the most important ingredients in a healthy and happy life. Laughter keeps the mind flexible and releases tension

Yes, I will settle for “good enough”. Do not be overwhelmed by the number of petty and irrelevant choices we are asked to make these days. Sometimes, good enough is good enough, Just because there are hundreds of possibilities, sometimes the clever choice is to settle for the first one that fits your minimum criteria

Yes, I will see the bigger picture. Maturity has to be earned and does not always come automatically with age. It’s distinguished by being able to step back and see the bigger picture, rather than getting caught up in the detail – particularly with situations that seem like set-backs or disappointments.

Yes, I will give of myself. A sense of purpose in life – the feeling that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. Giving to ourselves to another person – whether as a life partner, mother or volunteer is one of the most reliable ways to achieve this feeling

Make this the day you realise that today is a gift – that is why it’s called “the present”. Have a lovely week everyone!

Its been raining for the past few days especially in the evening. My flower garden in particular the bougainvillea are not "doing well". The flowers are like hidup segan luruh tak mahu. As we all know, bougainvillea needs lots of sunlight. And maybe some pruning will help too to encourage new growth. A rule of thumb is to prune, once the blooming is over, for example, if the growth where the blooming occurs has grown out 6", prune off the old blooms cluster plus 3" of the stem after blooming. Also pinching the tips of your bougainville encourages new growth and flower. I have been a little bit busy these past few weeks and been neglecting my garden. And am feeling so bad about it.

Last weekend we all went to Ipoh, again. Hubby had to attend the Educamp Program at Tronoh. This time we just stayed at the hotel and enjoyed the pool as hubby had to work until midnight. I did not get a chance to swim since i had to look afterHaaziq. But Aqeelah really enjoyed herself with the pools. By the way, do you know that Ipoh is known as Bougainvillea city? Unfortunately, hubby took the camera with him. Therefore there were neither pics of the kids nor the bougainville taken. Am a little bit frustrated, however,I did snaped some pics with my camera phone but silly me donno how to upload it into the PC 8-( .

So this week i need to spend some quality time with my flowers. Believe it or not, i talk to my plant hahahhaha.

Man vs Woman : Explained

my dear hubby email me this "Man vs Woman" thingy this morning. As much as i want to deny it, after a loooong and very very deep thought..in general..you are right, yang. To all ladies out there..any comment?

Domestic Goddess - Ways to speed through chores

Do you wake up in the morning and thinking about your unfinished chores ...more or less your never-ending-routine-chores? Are you getting tired with the same routine every day? Washing the dishes, cleaning the house, ironing, vacumming, cooking, pick up kids from school ..the lists will go on and on. Who ever said being a housewife is an easy job..are sooo very wrong. In spite of this, there are some tips you can follow ( it works for me) in order to hurry things up (meaning extra free time for you) and turning you into a domestic goddess in no sweat.

Helping Hand – minimise the minutes you spend going to and fro for cleaning supplies by carrying them with you. Put dusters, spray, bleach in a bucket so you have everything to hand.

Double Up – you can't dust and vacuum at the same time, but you can shower and sponging downs tile walls, fold laundry while watching your favourite soap or AF, and dust the phone while chatting to your mum.

Use the right Products – do not waste time scrubbing unnecessarily by using the wrong products. Kitchen cleaning products are acidic to cut through grease, while bathroom ones are alkaline to deal with lime scale.

Button Up – ask your family to undo buttons and zips, and turn jeans inside out before putting their dirty clothes in the laundry basket ( still need to remind my dear hubby to do this every time ..believe me it helps)

Basket Case – save yourself multiple tidying up trips by carrying a large basket from room to room, filing it as you go with everything that isn’t in its correct place.

Play a Game – when it comes to toys, it is better to get your child involvement. It’s better to teach a fisherman to fish rather than giving it to them. Play a tidying game like who can put the bricks faster back in the box. It may takes some time to clear all the toys but in the long run your child will be able to tidy up their toys without your help!

End of the Day Clean Up - as for me this last tip really make my life easier for the next day. Although I feel tired or worn-out at the end of the day, I try not to go to sleep before i finish clearing up the living room and the kitchen. So that when I wake up tomorrow morning, I will have a good start!

Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.

I wish..i wish..i wish...

I found this cartoon in one of the blogs and it captures my eyes on the spot! As a full time housewife and "devoted" mother to 2 wonderful kids, there are times when i do wish i have a wishing well. However...as time goes by i realize that there are reasons why things are just the way they are..and trying to change it will not make any different. We just have to accept it and try to make the best out of it. God Willing , we all will be fine!

April Fool Weekend 2

Sunday, 2nd April was Aqeelah’s sports day. She was looking forward for this day ever since they started practicing. We arrived a little bit late and missed the marching ceremony. Well we’re not the only parents who were late ..seems like other parents had the same thought like us which was “last year we were early but they only started the events after an hour of waiting”.So this year we decided..or more like hubby decided not be among the early birds. Unfortunately this year they actually did start on time. Thank god we were not that late or else Aqeelah will missed her events. Aqeelah went straight away to her Yellow team. She was excited though earlier she kept complaining to me why they put her into the yellow team..instead of red..because yellow is Haaziq's colour not hers. Its true yellow was not her colour but the facts that her best friends were not in her team made all the differences. But kids being kids, they just overcome it in the knick of times.

She was supposed to take part in 2 events; running with ball and running with bean bag on your head but the teachers decided to put her on the reserve list for the second event. Last year she did not win any trophy (they only gave trophy for the winner..others only get “saguhati” like cheap pencil case) so this year she was all into it. And thank god she won! Or else we have to go to the souvenir shop and buy her a trophy instead. She was so excited receiving the trophy and we of course were very proud of her. Although I don’t think she’s going to be a good athlete (neither me nor hubby are sportsman hehe) but seeing her big smile posing with her first trophy was more than enough. We stayed until they finished the lucky draw where we were among the lucky ones and then went home. It’s the end of another sports day and am sure there are many more to comes.

Ps: Later, Aqeelah found herself a piece of cloth and been polishing her trophy every single minutes.

April Fool Weekend 1

Started of the April Fool weekend with the cancellation of my swimming class. I was actually looking forward to practice my swimming (sort of addicted hahaha) ever since I made it to swim the whole laps. Yupp it was such a big deal to someone like me to be able to do that. Am a bit frustrated, after all I drove all the way just to know they cancelled the class and Aqeelah kept asking why and why they need to clean the pool when its already clean etc…but am still in a happy mood because now I don’t have to rush home to get ready for my first outing with my “zebra” face (my sun block don’t really do the work ..berbelang2 muka after swimming).

Yes..my first outing without kids. It has been almost 6 years and am kindda looking forward to it. However Aqeelah really made a big fuss over it. She kept asking me why she wasn’t invited? Why am not going to bring her or Haaziq? When are you coming back? Why this why that. And am like, my dear why you are “concern” of me going out when you never bother when daddy go somewhere? She gave me her long face and went off. Haaziq on the other hand, doesn’t even care since he was too occupied with the Bubble gums. Hubby was supportive though because he knew that I do need some “time out” after many many years. The party was actually a going away party for our dear friend CL. It was the longest lunch ever at Cyberjaya Lodge Restaurant – the Verandah. Though am not really satisfied with the food I ordered, but the company of good old friends makes all the differences. It is nice to catch up with everybody and reminiscence the good times we had back there in Boston. Too bad Ain could not make it because her son, Aqin, was admitted due to asthma and not to forget Minah. Maybe next time..How about during CL’s wedding everyone? God Willing.

Back from left: Angah, Suriyati, Effie, Denn, Me. Front from left:Suriyati's boy-Ammar,KakNiza, CL

Hubby came to pick me up later. Kids were all showered and in their pyjamas. Who said hubby could not look after the kids.. Maybe next time I could have more “time out”? What do you reckon Yang? By the way, thanks again to Denna, Effie and CL for keeping me company. And again thanks for a wonderful day everyone and CL good luck to your new life.