Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Mr. and Mrs. Mazlan

Thursday, May 25, 2006

I bought myself SAJI-a cooking magazine yesterday.Cost me RM10 because this month issue is a special super bumper issue..as usual rambang mata tengok resepi . It features Siti Nurhaliza on the front page talking about how we need to have basic knowledge about cooking before we enter married life. Is it a hint that she is ready to get married? Apa2lah Siti.. since she said..Biarlah rahsia....so let it be..Anyway...back to my SAJI... i love buying magazines especially cooking magazines..in fact i love everything about cooking. I can spend hours watching the cooking programs eventhough i've seen them so many times. I love Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver ( believe it even Hazziq recognizes Jamie's show) and many more. Back in UK i love watching Ready Steady Cook program. I just enjoyed watching them. But honestly..i've never tried any of the recipes except one from Jamie Oliver. Its called Sheila's Pudding. Hubby always tease me about this...how i spend time and money over all this cooking stuffs but at the end of the day..i will cook almost the same thing over and over again. I dont blame him for that because it is true. I donno why i never tried all those recipes..maybe because of i had bad experience with it or simply because the ingredients are so well explained but yet so complicated. I remembered trying to bake cookies for last hari raya. I followed exactly according to the recipe but i tossed nearly half of it into the bin! Failed! People said..dont follow the recipes too much you have to improvise it...hmm what's the point of having the recipe if you cant follow it right! Nowadays i only follow recipes i get from my mom, friends. Why ? Because i 've seen them cook it and taste it therefore..boleh di percayai. Others are just for my entertainment only...well maybe i will try one or two recipes ...trying to be more adventureos la konon hahah.. infact i did find some interesting recipes that i want to try in my new SAJI.. Wish me luck!

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I remembered watching ER, the episode where Anthony Edwards a.k.a Dr. Mark Greene died because of brain cancer. The episode was so touching that i cried upon hearing the song they played.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg

Flawed & Fabulous moms

A good mother… What does it really mean? This phrase itself sparks enthusiasm, hope, the glow of positive intentions. After all, we moms by our very nature are driven to do right by our kids.

So what is a "good mother" — how much flexibility have we got in there? Is there an official scorecard? Am I "the best mom I can be"? Raising kids isn't like trying to make a 4.0 or win a race. Unfortunately, in too many minds "good mother" means "perfect mother”. There's a lot of pressure to have your child be exposed to as many learning and growth opportunities as possible — make them a good child by being a good parent. It is unrealistic to think that you can work full time and at the same time spend lots of quality time with your kid, birthday parties, and sports games, cook healthy dinners and help them with homework. Whatever you're doing, it feels like it is still not enough.

As our society becomes more child-centred, parents feel more and more in the service of their children — and more pressured to do everything right. There's a pervasive sense of blame that tells us, no matter how your kid turns out, all his flaws point back to you: The wrong kind of discipline, the wrong foods, and the wrong reading materials, even what you eat during pregnancy will affect your child. Is it any wonder why we want to be "perfect"? We want to stay off the firing range. There's also a sense that modern life is competitive, expensive, and more difficult and we have to give our kids every advantage to succeed. So is it any wonder that more and more experts are weighing in on exactly the right way to parenting — and yupp..we're eating it up.

It's not just external forces putting pressure on moms, though. Unfortunately, we also constantly criticized and judge each other. Moms who work look down on moms who don't and vice versa. I heard people saying, “Why didn't you breastfeed longer?” “Why is he in day care already?” These kinds of questions will never stop. Why this, why that! As hard as it looks, we actually need to appreciate people's different ways of raising their kids. You have to do what is true to your heart, and that is good parenting. Everyone will have opinions on what is right and wrong, and there's nothing to say what you're doing is right or wrong, but we're all giving it our best. We've got to lighten up on ourselves.

Many moms feel guilty about taking time for themselves. But moms do need breaks! We need to nurture ourselves so that we can be better moms. Being a good mother also means taking care of yourself so you can give more of yourself to your children. Indeed, it won't actually do your kids any good if you're stressed about being the perfect parent.

Just remember:
-We all have guilt — just don't let it take hold.
-Sharing makes you realize you're not alone. Seek out support whenever needed.
-Your instincts are just fine. Good parenting comes from the heart and gut.
- Parenting is a learning process.
-Taking care of yourself is important. "Do one thing each day that nurtures you, even if it's only for a few minutes.
- You are doing your best and God willing, your kids will be okay too!

Happy Mother’s Day!

P.S.: Parenting advice books can be a wonderful resource — if you don't take them too seriously ;o)

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Children Tots

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands
- Anne Frank

Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction - Annie Sullivan

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance
- Franklin P. Jones

Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

May is Here

Pejam Celik Pejam Celik...May is here. Time flies! Am turning 31 in a few more days. Do i feel old or slightly matured? Is my body getting too much "fat" nowadays? Although hubby said he does not mind all those extra "tyres", but..ada juga but if i lose all those "tyres" i definitely will look much better. Trying to deny it by putting the blame on the shrinking pants/jeans duhhh.. but reality bites! As i look at myself in the mirror, i know that am not as young as 10 yrs ago. Aqeelah sometimes ask me to put on my make up whenever we go out because she said i look old without it! hmmm even my own daughter complaint now :o( I definitely will have to make some improvement about it. And it will be one of my birthday wish list. Speaking of birthday..happy birthday to Amy (3 may) , Elin (9 may), my niece Ayin and Safwa, maksu (22 may)

Your Birth Month is May

Unique and creative, you seek your own path in life.You love change and are able to adapt to any situation.
Your soul reflects: Sweetness, joy, and a complete life.
Your gemstone: Emerald
Your flower: Lily of the Valley
Your colors: Yellow, red, and green

What Does Your Birth Month Mean?