Lalaine's World

Ikea

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:52:00 +0000

I've been wanting to go to Ikea when we were in Malaysia but unfortunately we were not able to go since we didn't have enough time. I'm not planning to shop anything from Ikea but I just love to look at their displays and products. Looking at them somehow inspires me and gives me some ideas on how to decorate our house. And sometimes, they also have some great sale items that would be hard to resist.

I wonder if they have Minka Aire lighting there not that we need to put up additional lights in our house but I'm just curious.

HP Mini Hard Disk Gone?

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:37:00 +0000

I was a bit worried last night when my HP Mini doesn't turn on. Instead, it gives me this message

"Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key"

with a different clicking sound.

I showed my netbook to my HUbby and he also has that worried look in his face. He said, that the sound usually means that the hard disk is gone.

Oh no... my HP Mini just 'turned' one year a month ago and it's such a waste for it to be broken in just a year. :(

But anyways, I tried to google about my HP Mini's condition and thankfully I found some possible solution. It seems that the hard disk cable is loose since it can't be detected when I checked it using the BIOS set up. So, all I have to do now is to send it to the repair shop and have it attached. This will just take a few minutes.

Hmm.. I just hope and pray that this will work.

Writing Tasks

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0000

I have a lot of writing tasks that needs to be done before the weekend. But it seems that my mind is not working very well. I must just be tired from our 9 hour road trip from Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai. I did take some short naps here and there but I guess that wasn't enough rest. As usual, my kids were very excited and energetic during the whole trip. There were even times they bumped their heads and mouths as they got hurt from jumping up and down so much. Yes, these are my ever energetic kids. I can't count how many time I have to literally pull them out from the back seat or front seat so as not to disturb anyone. Now, my body is aching from all that pulling and carrying my li'l boy and I really need to take some rest.

I will have to write my articles on Home Furniture, Dining Tables and Men's active wear later. And so are my posts about diet pills, debt consolidation, colon cleansers and etc. I really have to sleep now.

Back Home

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:56:00 +0000

We're back home in Thailand now. Praise God for a safe journey. It was quite a long and tiring trip since we didn't have to stop over in Taiping this time. Usually, we break our trip to Kuala Lumpur by dropping by Taiping. But since my Mom in law is not in town, we had to go head straight home.

It's good to be back home. I think I will have to sleep after this. I'll think about unpacking and doing my online tasks tomorrow. Good night!

Preparing For Summer Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:04:00 +0000

It will only be less than a month to go before the English summer workshop at the center starts and I haven't started preparing for it yet.

I'm in charge to make the curriculum but since I'm pressed for time, I don't think I will be able to make the curriculum this year. Two years ago, I was the one who made the kid's curriculum but I remember starting it as early as February. Today, we will be going to MPH here in Malaysia and be looking for a book which we can use for this year's program. I fervently hope and pray that we can find a good book to use.

Once we have the curriculum, then we can proceed in preparing the kids' activity bags which includes some worksheets, personalized pens, craft material and shirt. I also pray that we will have lot of kids enrolling for this year's program. We just moved to a new center and it's quite challenge contacting old students and getting new ones to enroll.

Afraid of Bugs

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:34:00 +0000

My li'l boy seems very strong and brave but he has one secret, he's afraid of bugs particularly cockroaches! So, if he goes to areas where we don't want him to go, we would 'scare' him by telling him there are cockroaches in that area.

So, here he is... standing on the chair and table just to avoid the bug he saw in one of the shops we went.

I guess I have to stop letting him be 'scared' of bugs, I don't want him to grow up to be a big, mascular boy but shrieks whenever he sees bugs. LOL!!

Applying for PR

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:30:00 +0000

It has already been my 8th application for Malaysian social visa now. They said that I would be eligible to apply for permanent residency after the 5th year. Though we were interested for me to get a PR but then with our current status where we have travel a lot, we thought our application won't be approve since it seems there's a rule that the applicant must not leave the country for 5 years. But anyways, my Hubby got the application form and the requirements last week.

Then a few days ago, we also met a friend who was originally an Indian citizen but married to a Malaysian. She was telling us that she applied PR three years after she got married and then applied for a citizenship right after that. And amazingly she got her citizenship after another three years! Wow!

That somehow encouraged me to work on my PR here so that we won't have much hassles with the immigration. Our friend advised us to just gather all the necessary documents and well as all our wedding photographs and etc. I wonder if they will also need a sample of our wedding invitations. I remember keeping some of our wedding invitations in one of our boxes, it was not a save the date cards but I would have to say that we had unique wedding invitations. I would have to look for that too just in case.

Tooth Number Four Gone

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:22:00 +0000

I've just posted about my li'l girl's knocked out tooth in my a few days ago. Guess what, she also lost the the other tooth (upper front tooth) today. But this time, it didn't get knocked out. It has already been a wobbly tooth since last week. Then a few days ago, her friend accidentally hit it which made it even more wobbly. And finally, today, it came off!

Now, her smile is more balanced with two front teeth missing. It looks cute but I guess my li'l girl has already grown up that she already feels conscious of her missing front teeth. I hope her adult teeth would soon come out.

On Knocked Out Tooth and Dentist

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:29:00 +0000

My li'l girl's tooth got knocked out last month and until now there are no signs of her adult tooth coming out. Actually, the dentist said that we will have to wait for a year or two before another tooth would replace it. Sigh! That's quite a long time for my li'l girl to be with a missing tooth. Anyways, I've learned quite a few lessons from my li'l girl's 'knocked out' tooth incident and this encourages me to really take good care of her teeth.

We would have to visit the dentist again have have some of her teeth checked. I've already found a good dental clinic here in Hat Yai. The dentists in this clinic are excellent. They are very friendly yet professional. It's quite difficult to find dentists like that. But, if you're from Texas, I've also read that there's a great family Dentist, Cedar Park TX . They are known to be excellent too!

Off For Four Days

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:02:00 +0000

I'll be off in the worldwideweb for about four days. We will be attending a conference in the mountains with no internet connection at the place where we are staying. 'll survive without having internet connection for that long but I guess I will just be always thinking whether I have some new online tasks and when it'll be due.

Anyways, this reminds me to borrow a book or two from our lovely host ( Janet) here in the house where we are staying :) . I'm so used to sleep late already so, I better make my time productive by reading books. I've also been wanting to read books for so long but somehow the internet and my online work distracts me from finishing them. So, I guess this long weekend in the mountains would be my a perfect time to do so. Can't wait!

Help For Those In Need

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:53:00 +0000

I've just watched the film where Sandra Bullock won the Oscar's for best actress award, The Blind Side. It's truly an inspiring and heart warming film about a family who helped a homeless boy, Big Mike and has literally changed his life and as result became a famous football player.

I could just imagine, what could have happened to Big Mike if the school rejected his application and never accepted him. What could have happened if the family never took pity on him and helped him. He could just be one of the boys in the streets and we could have never heard about him at all. But someone did help him enter the private school. Someone did help him and took care of his needs and that's why the 'course' of his life has changed.

It's the same thing with all the other people who needs help with addiction. Someone must help them to find the best drug rehabilitation program for them like that of the Ohio Drug Rehabilitation. Some one must help them get out from their addiction and the best people who can help them would be the expert counselors, nurses, doctors like those from Ohio Drug Rehab. If you're looking for a Drug Rehab in Ohio, you don't have to look further and go to the best.

Friendships

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:40:00 +0000

I'm happy that my li'l girl is happy being with her friends here in Malaysia now. She is actually in the stage where she longs for friends her age to always play with. For the past weeks, she has been quite down as some of her friends in Thailand had left. First, was her Ate Ria whom she has bonded so well even with just 6 days of stay in our house. After she left, she literally cried in her sleep for 3 nights because she said she misses her a lot. Then, last week her Kuya AJ, left to the Philippines too. Her Kuya AJ has been regularly going to our house after his Thai school finishes. Then every Saturday, Tricia also goes to his house to play. But now, he's back in the Philippines which leaves our li'l girl with her brother alone again.

And now, we're here in our friends house and she has been happily playing with Samantha and Schenker boy since the day we arrived ( 2 days ago). But sad to say, we will be leaving again tomorrow and that will be another heart breaking moment for my li'l girl. :( Sigh, I guess this cycle of Hello's and Good bye's will never end.

Win Free Tickets!

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:23:00 +0000

Do you want to win tickets for concerts, cool gear or vegas weekends? Then, sign up now with IAmRouge, an exclusive movie and entertainment community that is always offering new contests, promos and giveaways to their members. Rogue is also doing a talent search for filmmakers, screenwriters, F/X animations, musicians and artists.

Apart from the contests and talent search, Rogue registered members can also get a chance to get access on the latest Rogue Pictures' movie trailers, photos and behind the scenes footage. I've just been to the site and it is indeed filled with entertaining stuff including videos, write ups and promos.

This post is sponsored by IAMROGUE.com/contests

Wordless Wednesday - 1st Entry

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:09:00 +0000

Oh, chocolates.. How I love thee... :)

My hubby gave this to me last month when he went to the Malaysian duty free shop. I'm actually craving for chocolates at 1: 19 AM! This is so not good..

For more Wordless Wednesday ( which is actually now 'open' everyday of the week 24/7) please click the badge below.

To Filmmakers

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:00 +0000

This post is brought to you by www.distribute.com

Attention to all amateur and professional filmmakers. Do you want your work to be licensed, reach potental buyers for your work and establish yourself in mobile? Then register now for free at mDistribute, a site where filmmakers and buyers meet. This site will indeed be a dream come true for you as they offer mobile content licensing and let you reach people who might be interested with your art. Check it this out now!

Watery Wednesday - Gusa

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:52:00 +0000

I took this photo last year from Harbor Lights Hotel in Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines while we were waiting for our friends' wedding to start. Their wedding reception was held near the beach side and it was truly a beautiful wedding.

For more Watery Wednesday entries, please click the badge below.

In Malaysia

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:41:00 +0000

We're here in Malaysia now and staying at our friends house. We traveled from Thailand yesterday at 8:00 in the morning and arrived here at 8:00 at night. It was quite a long trip but it's also because we took a 2 hour break in Taiping and other stops in between. Our trip yesterday wasn't so pleasant. The kids were so restless inside the van and did a lot of 'stunts' running here and there and jumping up and down. I think they just got too excited to have a big 'car' as their playground. I, on the other hand had to reprimand them a lot of times to keep them from getting hurt. I guess the van was just too big for them. I would rather ride a small car with lambo doors and all those great accessories, just to keep them still and quiet than a big van where they become too energetic and active. Sigh! That's how it is to travel with kids, some days are pleasant while some days are just too tiring.

Yummy Sunday - Calamay

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:06:00 +0000

It's sweet, sticky, chewy and oh so yummy!! That's the Calamay from Bohol. Nothing can truly beat this Bohol delicacy..

The Kalamay in the photo above was brought by my brother in law as a pasalubong from Bohol. This photo was taken several months ago, and now I'm drooling seeing this photo.. oh, where o where can I get Kalamay here in Malaysia??

I just found recipe in the net..but I think it's quite impossible for me to make my own. But if you're curious to see the recipe and ingredients , here it is:

KALAMAY INGREDIENTS
10 liters water
10 kilos white sugar
2 gantas malagkit
20 pieces coconut

KALAMAY PROCEDURES

1. Soak the malagkit overnight.
2. Grate the coconuts.
3. Extract the milk from the grated coconut two times: first, with 5 liters of water, then with 3 liters of water.
4. Pour the malagkit into the first coconut milk extract, and grind the mixture.
5. Mix sugar with the second coconut milk extract, and boil to make latik.
6. Pour the ground malagkit into the boiling latik, and stir for 4 hours or until the mixture becomes very sticky.
7 .Put the mixture into half of a coconut shell. Cool for 3 hours. Then cover with the other half of the shell.

Cleaning Day

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:04:00 +0000

It's already quite late now but I thought of finishing my all my online tasks first before going to sleep since I won't have time to do them tomorrow. Tomorrow will be my "folding clothes and cleaning day" and then at night I will have to pack all our things for our trip to Malaysia the following day.

I've actually got a good tip from my Domestic Diva friend, Janet and that is to clean the house before going for a trip. Yes, it's always nice to come back to a squeaky house after long hours on the road. It somehow takes away the tiredness and stress in traveling. So, tomorrow I've committed to fold the mountain of clothes, mop the floors, wash the kitchen and the stone sinks, arrange the rooms and clean the fridge. Will I be able to do all that tomorrow. I sure hope so. :)

March!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:55:00 +0000

It's already the month of March! The new year just seemed like yesterday and I won't be surprise that at the blink of an eye it will be my birthday again, wedding anniversary, Thanksgiving and Black Friday for our American friends and Christmas!!

Time is really going so fast now and I have to catch up with it and do the things I'm supposed to do before I realize that a whole year has already gone by.

Afternoon Naps

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:27:00 +0000

I haven't been very good lately. I've been taking afternoon naps together with my li'l boy. Afternoons ( when my li'l boy is asleep) are supposed to be the time I spend 'homeschooling' my li'l girl or catching up with my household work. But for the past days, I haven't been doing that but instead, I go off to dreamworld. LOL!

This is not good. I have to stop taking my afternoon naps, which means I must not sleep so late at night to keep me from being drowsy and sleepy in the afternoons. Sleeping earlier at night would also be like the best acne treatment for me since I've been having some break outs due to sleeping late.

How Old Are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:20:00 +0000

Age... I always get confused when people ask me about my age. It's either I'm in a denial stage that I'm getting older or I've literally stopped counting the years when I turned 23. Many times when I have to fill up a form or when someone ask me about my age, I would stop for a second, deduct 1976 from the present year and then I'd figure out my age. Sometimes to make it easier, I simply ask my Hubby about my age. Hahah! And I usually blame this symptom of selective amnesia from my previous cesarian operation . Too much anesthesia is it?

But even if I've already stopped counting my age more than a decade ago, nothing seems to stop our physical appearance from showing our real age. With that said, I have to seriously think of using anti ageing creams in the future.

Rock A Bye Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:09:00 +0000

Putting our kids to sleep has always been ( and still is) a struggle for me. I think our kids are night owls like us, so no matter how early we would try to put them to bed, they would still sleep late. So, you can imagine the frustration of putting the kids to sleep with their eyes still wide open and their minds so active. I remember asking my friends in Facebook on some tips on how to put the kids to sleep . I've got some very helpful tips like, singing to them some lullabies or worship songs ( which I normally do), not letting them take afternoon naps, lying down on the bed with them and pretending to be asleep and etc. But one tip that made me chuckle was , 'letting them take sleeping pills'. LOL! Yeah, sometimes when you're tired and frustrated you can't help but wish there are sleeping pills for kids.

Anyways, I hope that my kids could come to a stage where they can sleep easily by themselves so I could get to rest early at night too. :)

Harcombe or Atkins?

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:58:00 +0000

I've been quite "obsessed" on losing my extra weight lately. So, I've been reading a lot of diet plans and strategies to help me lose weight. You see, I'm at my highest weigh now (not counting my pregnancy weight) ever. I was a few pounds lighter a few months after my 2nd child delivery compared to my weight now. So, I can't blame this excess weight to be my post pregnancy weight anymore. I'm also concern that if I don't do anything about my weight now, it might lead to constant increase until it'll be out of control.

I'm currently contemplating of doing either the Harcombe diet or the Atkins diet. I'll have to discuss the differences of these diets in detail in my fitness blog. I wonder which one is the best fat burner for women . Anyways, I'm not yet done with my research yet but I would have to start doing whichever diet once we come back from our Malaysia trip. It would really be very difficult to keep up a diet when you're traveling and attending a conference. Haaayy... extra weight , weight, go away!!

New Online Job

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:48:00 +0000

I've got a new online job! I just got accepted as a contributor from an online company that would allow me to write some articles in their site. I just received my first topic today! But when I looked at my topic and the things that I needed to write, I got a bit hesitant for the job. I realized that I have to spend quite some time researching about my topic and I have to write perfectly. You see, I'm already quite used to spontaneous writing and it would take me some time to shift my brain to do 'serious' writing. In short, I'm not a born writer so, I'll have to make extra effort to do this.

Anyways, I'll have to try writing about my first topic and I'll see whether I can have the time and patience to proceed with this online job.