Big-mealed-weekender

Saturday May 17th, 2008 - @ Tony Roma's: Khair's surprise birthday dinner

"HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY KHAIR!"

Birthday girl

Food was good...

The ambience was fine...

The company were the best...

and there you have it...a great birthday!

The after dinner plan was to watch a movie, but I was so tired, I just couldn't say no to the thought of slamming myself on my bed at home. I couldn't resist it so much that I got all cranky when I wasn't home by 10.30 pm.

Monday May 19th, 2008 - @ TGIF: Family Lunch

I Know I Know I Know by Tegan & Sara

From hundreds of miles, yeah, you cry like a baby.
You plead with me, shout, scream, tell me I'm staying.
I know I know I know, I'm still your love.
Back from the last place that I wanted to fake,
You laugh with me, shout, scream, now tell me you're staying.
I know I know I know, you're still my love.
The same as I love you, you'll always love me too.
This love isn't good unless it's me and you.

Box after box and you're still by my side.
The weather is changing and breaking my stride.
Oh well I know I know I know, it's just this day.
House after house, just like car after car,
You see club after club, and it all seems so far.
I know I know I know, what else are we here for?
The same as I love you, you'll always love me too.
This love isn't good unless it's me and you.

Stick your hands inside of my pockets,
Keep them warm while I'm still here.
Tell them this love hasn't changed me, hasn't changed me at all.

Last night I was writing about you,
I know my screaming and shouting won't keep you.
I know I know I know, you're still my love.
I wake up to the sound of you working,
In one room right over, you're stressing and loving me.
I know I know I know, be still my love.
The same as I love you, you'll always love me too.
This love isn't good unless it's me and you.

Stick your hands inside of my pockets,
Keep them warm while I'm still here.
Tell them this love hasn't changed me, hasn't changed me at all.
Stick your heart inside of my chest,
Keep it warm here while we rest.
Tell them this love hasn't changed me, hasn't changed me at all.

The same as I love you, you'll always love me too.
This love isn't good unless it's me and you.
The same as I love you, you'll always love me too.
This love isn't good unless it's me and you.

Latest Enthrallment - He's a HOTTIE!

Ahh....my dearly fascination since FOREVER!! and it keeps on going...okay...I'll say no more...here he is, I present, the the Apple Of My Eye.

Takeshi Kaneshiro

The bottom image is still displayed enormously on the outer-wall of One Utama. No one will ever miss it. I just can't resist to turn my head whenever I drive past it.

Oh..why do they have to put hotties on billboards by highways or roads. It's just....dangerous! So...cruel....for making people like me can't focus on the road because I just can't help to not look! Hehe. Okay, my heart's melting now even talking about him.

A Fatigue Weekend

Saturday...

Still have loads of work to be finished, told myself that I wouldn't mind staying in office for a bit more just so I can finish my work. I didn't.

Reached home, saw Mom for a bit, took my shower, did what I was supposed to do, and BAM! I slammed my head flat on the pillow, with body, so tired and weak. I managed to recharge myself til' late afternoon. It wasn't as bad as other days when I failed to wake up before 3 p.m. I stretched my sleep through the "precious" day til' 5 p.m. Without fail!! Everytime I woke up, I would mumble to myself about the loss time I've planned for my lunch, my jog on the treadmill, my date with Mr. TV. But can I be blamed? Like all working people, I get tired too!

Dear Mom interrupted my sleep halfway. She asked if I wanted to join the family to Pavillion for breakfast and some shopping. I declined her kind invitation, shook my head, not even listening right to what she was saying. Her words only make sense later when they came back home and told me. And the "best!" part, my Dad got my sister a new high-heel pumps!!!! And it is Gorgeous! Shoot!! If only I knew...(I wouldn't mind sleeping through the journey as long as I get a new shoes too :( hmm...). Nevermind, just not my luck.

Had a scrumptious dinner at a Seafood restaurant in Shah Alam. I pushed the bowl of rice away, only eating the side dishes. Bear in mind that I had a "heavy-calorie" of burger from Carl's Jr. for my "supposed-to-be-lunch" in the evening. Promised myself to lose those calories later at night, but I didn't keep to that promise.

(Notice I am being "obsessed" with "weight-losing" and exercising?? I am!!! Well, obsessed? Not quite. But determine? Most definitely! Hey, I'm a girl, single, and young. It's a normal thing, y' know!!) Ok ok. I can have other better "mission" besides this, but it keeps me healthy and fit.

Tried my best again to sleep early like everyone, but I just couldn't. Didn't stress myself up by getting upset, so I watched the movie, "P.S. I Love You". Loved it!! I ended up retiring myself to bed at 5 a.m.

Ahh...Sunday!

It seems to be my only weekend. But still, it's swamped with weekly routine activities. Since my bedtime hours are now a total opposite as the way it was before, I can't keep my eyes open this afternoon when I was on the way to dance class (hoped that my sister would slap or smack me in the head to keep me awake). Grabbed ourselves a drink at Coffee Bean, assuming that it would boost my energy level up. But nahh, didn't help much. In class, tried my best to keep up the pace with the new steps and fellow dance mates. I puffed for air desperately.

I've realized that I've gained a few weight ever since I started working, so I increased my usual jog on the treadmill period to almost an hour. Once done, I was soaked with sweat.

Searching for the right song to dance to for my dance exam in June. It's not a fast beat song, but not a slow one either. Changed, set and played the song in a faster speed, and I've finally found the right fast speed for the dance steps. Woo~hoo! I hope my dance teacher can consent to the song.

Anyways, I am listening to a song called "The Guy Who Said Goodbye To You Is Out Of His Mind", sang by Griffin House. A lovely song, with the right words.

The Lyrics:
Come on

You don't need to change
A thing about you, babe
I'm telling you from where I sit
You're one of a kind

Relationships I don't know why
They never work out and they make you cry
But the guy that says goodbye to you
Is out of his mind

Well, I've been down and I need your help
I've been feelin' sorry for myself
Don't hesitate to boost my confidence

Well, I've been lost and I need direction
I could use a little love protection
What do you say, honey? Come to my defense

I stand up for you if it's what you need
And I can take a punch, I don't mind to bleed
As long as afterwards you feel bad for me

And you give me all of your attention
I've got deep desire and it needs quenching
I think that's pretty lame for you to see

Well, enough about me and more about you
Because that'd be the gentlemanly thing to do
I hope you like your men sweet and polite

I thought I was done with telling you
But I ain't nearly halfway through
I've got a few more things
I'd like to say to you tonight
Get ready

You don't need to change
A thing about you, babe
I'm telling you from where I sit
You're one of a kind

Relationships I don't know why
They never work out and they make you cry
But the guy that says goodbye to you
Is out of his mind, mind

You always did kinda drive me crazy
And it **** me off 'cause I let it phase me
But I never wanted my time with you to end

Now I'm back in town for a day or two
Well, mostly I came back just to see you
And even now but I don't want to go

You don't need to change
A thing about you, babe
I'm telling you from where I sit
You're one of a kind

Relationships I don't know why
They never work out, they make you cry
But the guy that says goodbye to you
Is out of his mind

My New Enthrallment

Hey guys, check out my new fascination in the aspect of music at the moment. The endowed, melodious sensation Sara Bareilles sure got my ears all tuneful now. Love her hit "Love Song" much to my heart. Ye'know, there was this song called "Gravity" by John Mayer, which was one of my favorite songs of all time. Sara has her own "Gravity" as well, and it is such a lovely song.

I don't know why I like it so much, but it's so harmonious to my ears, and it's more or less reflect...ME! Yaa whatever.

GRAVITY

Something always brings me back to you.
It never takes too long.
No matter what I say or do,
I'll still feel you here 'til the moment I'm gone.

You hold me without touch.
You keep me without chains.
I never wanted anything so much,
Than to drown in your love and not feel your rain.

Set me free, leave me be.
I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity.
Here I am and I stand so tall,
Just the way I'm supposed to be.
But you're on to me and all over me.
You loved me 'cause I'm fragile,
When I thought that I was strong.
But you touch me for a little while,
And all my fragile strength is gone.

Set me free, leave me be.
I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity.
Here I am and I stand so tall,
Just the way I'm supposed to be.
But you're on to me and all over me.

I live here on my knees,
As I try to make you see,
That you're everything I think,
I need here on the ground.
But you're neither friend nor foe,
Though I can't seem to let you go.
The one thing that I still know is that,
You're keeping me down... oooh.

Keeping me down...yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

You're on to me, you’re on to me and all over...

Something always brings me back to you.
It never takes too long.

Melodramatic me during boredom

Being personally obsessed with the internet, I am constantly surfing to find many things to share or blog about. However, I seldom post around in blogs. I’d rather write long and more substantive stories of my life or health tips and advices, even blabberings that you both won’t and will be seeing elsewhere. Ironic..

However, today, unusually, I’ve written and posted 3 already. This shall be my 4th. What I’m saying is that I always felt that it’s just a waste of time to post or blog around, especially about unnecessary issues or stories, which won’t do any good or beneficial to readers (like there’ll ever be a reader). Yupp, me being cynical again.

But above all my feeling about this, yet I still really want to share all those little, unnecessary things, either I found or I’ve put into a story, throughout my day with readers.

Well, today’s many writings is due to the boredom I'm facing now at work. Only if I had known of the cancelled training, I wouldn’t have come. But being perpetuate enough, work is still work. Hey, I’m getting paid to come to work, that’s why its called work. Well at least I still have my sense of responsible-ness.

Anyways, it’s the last day of work for the week. The week had gone lithely. It had been filled with miscellany endeavors and sessions of training on numerous manifestos of the job scope. But this boredom robbing the moment is being astringent as it can be. I’m saying that time is my new enemy now, for its being playful with me quite recently. When I needed it more than anything, its playing a role as scarcity. And in times like this, its lingering around invading in and evolving around me when I'm doing the best thing in the world – nothing! Ok, I am being melodramatic about everything now, aren’t I? But seriously, it’s draining and hackneying everyone out.

Ok guys, I’m being deliberately making a big fuss out of everything, just so I could fill my “plenty” of time today. Ok then, I’m gone. Time’s up. Time to go home. Later.

Cheerios~

Destiny in Life

Ever wonder what you have done in your life, so far, past and present? Have you ever have thoughts and wonders if they were and are all worth, consuming most of your time and energy? Let me tell you a story which you might have heard of before.

Long time ago, there was an Emperor who told his horsemen that if he could ride on his horse and cover as much land areas as he likes, then the Emperor would give him the area of land he has covered. Sure enough, the horsemen quickly jumped onto his horse and rode as fast as possible to cover as much land area as he could. He kept on riding on and riding, whipping the horse to go as fast as possible. When he was hungry or tired, he did not stop because he wanted to cover as much area as possible.

Came to a point when he had covered a substantial area and he was exhausted and was dying. Then he asked himself, “Why did I push myself so hard to cover so much land area? Now I am dying and I only need a very small area to bury myself”.

The above story is similar with the journey of our life. We push very hard everyday to make more money, to gain power and recognition. We neglect our health, time with our family and to appreciate the surrounding beauty and the hobbies we love.

One day when we look back, we will realize we don’t need that much, but then, we cannot turn back time for what we have missed. Life is not about making money, acquiring power or recognition. Life is definitely not about work! However, work is only necessary to keep us living so as to enjoy the beauty and pleasures of life. Life is a balance of work and play, family and personal time.

You have to decide how you want to balance your life. Define your priorities, realize what you are able to compromise but always let some of your decisions be based on your instincts. Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim of human existence. So, take it easy, do what you want to do and appreciate nature. Life is fragile, life is short. Do not take life for granted. Live a balanced lifestyle and most importantly, enjoy your life!

Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

So, enjoy everyday as yours??

Crossing the bridge to a strange world - A Newborn!

Oh, I've never mentioned (can't I be any ruder?), I started my new job on April Fool's day. If previously I was in a banking industry, this time I'm in an IT industry, doing publishing - editorial to be precise. Nothing to do with the honours discipline I took for my degree, I am going through a major, new and strange environment, for I have not even a clue in what I get myself into. But hey, It's only the 4th day of training (keeping my fingers crossed, hoping it would not be so bad).

I am in a team called something like this : "Pioneer Align Team", for the U.S. market, Chicago to be exact. We are a team of 12 people, its structure consisting of 2 production managers, 2 trainers from Chicago, 2 team leaders, 2 senior production editors, and 4 production editors. And the "coolest" thing about this team is that our working hours starts from 10 p.m. and ends at 6 a.m. Yeap! We are the nightingales, night birdies/hawks, whatever you want to call us.

Anyways, we had a photo session last night. So here we are:

The New Family

Generosity of a Former Insomniac - Keeping the Pounds Off While You Are Sleeping

I am an insomniac. Well, was one. I suffered a major sleeping disorder few years ago. While I was supposed to be blooming gracefully as a teenager, I underwent this bad habit. I went through 5 days straight with only 2 hours of sleep. And the next time I snored, even if I snore – oh yes, I know I do snore, was in 144 hours. No kidding. I used to wish of having dreams, even bad ones because I didn’t get the chance to dream. And I ended up vomiting and having headaches, feeling nausea most of the time. I blacked out one sunny afternoon after 4 days and nights of none sleep. It was terrible. The only prescription from doctors was medicines and supplements which were supposed to make me drowsy, but it wasn’t helpful most of the time. Anyways, I chose to write about this health-affecting habit, or more precisely, disease, for my essay for a test I had to do last night at work. For documentum purpose they say, right. I chose to write about this issue was because it had made huge changes in my life, both with and without it.

Did you know that if you aren’t getting adequate sleep, you may find yourself hungry even after consuming a sufficient amount of food? In addition to affecting our control in appetite, sleep loss interferes with the process of breaking down carbs – that is our carb metabolism; I always hate using scientific terms. Anyways, this effect leads to an increase in our blood glucose levels, causing insulin to be released, which can lead to weight gain and increase fat storage.

However, I shall not bore you more with how my life was affected with insomnia because I would rather write about the preventions of insomnia. It will be more helpful. Truly, I got to know about a few tips by reading from numerous articles, but I shall stand out the few facts which I had newly known of.

Reserve your bed for sleeping and sex only. Paying bills, watching TV, and other “sleep-robbing” activities which we always do should be conducted elsewhere. The next precaution which I am about to write is rather difficult to follow, but whatever it is, don’t go to bed hungry. Seriously, I would never want to do this ever before, thinking that it’s unhealthy to eat before you sleep. I always thought I’ll see an increase in the waistline or a swell in the bump of my stomach the next morning. However, a light snack like a reduced-fat cheese stick or a slice of lean deli meat can be enjoyably consuming before bedtime. And for those sweat-out fanatics, whatever you exercise, you have to refrain from exercising three hours before bedtime since exercise releases the hormone called epinephrine, which can boost up your level of alertness. Log some exercise time during the day can improve your ability to sleep. Caffeine lovers, this might hurt you a little bit. But drinking a stimulant of caffeine several hours of retiring to bed can cause early awakening. Same goes with alcohols. Smokers on the other hand, if you still, you must. And if you must, quit!

Other precautions I have no doubt is stagnant somewhere by your fingertips. But it’s just a matter of whether you want to oblige to it or not. If you typically have trouble sleeping at night, avoid napping during the day. If you’ve been trying to fall asleep for more than 30 minutes, get your butt out of bed and do something relaxing; for instance, take a bath, read a magazine, record your thoughts in a journal (like people still do this) until you feel sleepy. Truly, to me, making sure my environmental is conducive enough for sleeping is enough. Comfortable light, sound, and temperature seems to be an easy pathway to getting sleepy, but as for me, dark and shut the hell of noises are what I call as my way. A good tip is to be consistent about the time we go to be and what time you wake up each day, and by all means, this also means on weekends!

If you are making plans to stay in perfect shape, a lack of sleep is the last thing you need because it may be affecting your ability to lose weight. I tried some of the “safety measures”, and truthfully, some worked but some didn’t. I strongly believe that it depends on the individual itself. If you think you fall in this “insomniac” category, start practicing the tips I have mentioned above. It might be helpful. No harm trying it. It could, in fact, give you a healthier life indeed.

Health Alarm #3 - Quenching Your Thirst

Making improvements to your current lifestyle involves a multipronged approach: For instance, selecting the right fats and carbs over trans fats and highly processed carbs; choosing beverages without added sugar and other unhealthy fillers; and getting enough physical activities.

Ahh..,even the water you drink to quench your thirst plays a bog role in affecting your health. Here are some tips:

• Water
• 1 percent low-fat or fat-free milk or buttermilk
• Low-fat (4 grams of fat or less) plain soy milk or sucralose-containing flavored soy milk
• Coffee and tea (limit caffeine-containing beverages to 1-2 servings per day)
• Decaffeinated coffee and tea
• Herbal tea without added sugars (Avoid any teas that promise to help you lose weight or boast any other unrealistic health claim.)
• Sugar-free flavored waters (check labels carefully, as flavored waters often contain hidden sugars), soda, iced teas, powdered drinks, etc.
• Club soda or seltzer
• Tomato or vegetable juice cocktail (eyuk!)

You should avoid the following:

• Fruit juices
• Sodas with added sugar
• Whole or 2 percent reduced-fat milk
• Alcohol (On the occasions that you do drink, you may have up to two glasses of wine. If you prefer another alcoholic beverage, you can choose from vodka, gin, whiskey, scotch, bourbon, tequila, or rum instead.)
• Flavored waters with added sugar

Health Alarm #2 - Breakfast On the Go

Often, it seems easier to grab a bagel or donut on the way to the office or skip breakfast altogether. But neither of these practices will help you reach your goals of losing weight and becoming healthier. Eating refined carbs may cause cravings to return, and skipping breakfast may encourage you to overeat throughout the day, which leads to unhealthy weight gain.(Yikes, that's a no-no).

Worry not..here are some breakfast options that are perfect for eating on the go:

• Pre-cooked deviled or hard-boiled eggs
• Celery sticks with natural, no-added-sugar peanut butter
• Single-serve nonfat or 1-percent cottage cheese cups
• Pre-cooked turkey bacon
• Individual low-fat cheese slices or low-fat cheese sticks
• Sliced turkey or other low-fat meats
• Tomato or vegetable juice cocktail in single-serving cans
• Low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt
• Low-fat or nonfat artificially sweetened, flavored yogurt (Limit to 6 ounces daily and make sure to avoid yogurts with added sugars.)
• Whole-wheat sliced bread or whole-wheat English muffin topped with low-fat cheese or part-skim ricotta cheese.
• Fresh berries or other seasonal fruit
• Steel-cut or slow-cooking oatmeal (Season with cinnamon and artificial sweetener to perk up the taste)

However, preparation is always a hassle. Prepare it at night then, that's why it is called "pre"pare.

Our Return

So I'm back from Birmie. Ohh, it had been so fast, but I'm glad that I'm home. The holiday was great, fabulous, anything I could've asked for a great year-end holiday.

Upon arrival in Birmingham International Airport, the temperature gave me a cold shiver. The pilot had announced it was -2 degree. Figured it wouldn't be so bad. Yah.., I took back my figurations when I was about to leave the building. Anyways, the flat rented by my friend, Haniyyah, where my sister and I was staying was just great. It was the coziest place I could say.

Anyways, I wouldn't want to be long-winded about everything, therefore I shall post pictures of my stay there, followed by the places we've visited and events we've celebrated there. Believe me, I didn't want to leave unblogged for a very long time, but the amount of pictures are just..loads!! And I can't be uploading "all" of 'em in here. It'll be massive. And readers will go, "Awhh man! Isn't this more than enough already??!!"

So the first 2 pictures are views taken in Whitby. We were climbing up the 199 stairs leading toan old church. Believe me, I was puffing and poofing and gasping for air desperately, especially after a big meal of fish n' chips. Oh I'll show you the Haddock fish I had after a long journey on the train and bus.

Aww...would you just take a look at that happy face. Was about to gobble away the fish impolitely when I was forced to wait and pose for the picture. Mind you, it took more than one shot, okay. Oh, the food, was Marvellous!

Okay! Moving on to our London trip.

London Bridge

While strollin' down Thames Past East

Walking down the grass at 'Queen's Walk'

Hey, a girl's got to sit and rest too after a long walk

The Scoop

London Eye

Now I am the 'Eye'

Big Ben Babyy!

And these are several pictures of our miscellaneous activities:


~Party @ Roshini's~



Jessy's birthday dinner @ Estilo Bar

Happy New Year!

New Year's night @ Rococo's Bar

Okay- there are, of course, more pictures, but I can't be posting everything here. There might be more on my next posts, (probably) - no promises. But these are a few of 'em. I've been putting this post on hold for a very long time already, I might as well get done with it.

So til' then - cheerios~