“Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don’t waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.” ~by Og Mandino

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Bon Odori 2010

This is my 4th consecutive time being to this wonderful Japanese traditional annual festivity. The event took place at another new venue this year, which was somewhere in Danga Bay. Guess what, I was not going to the event with my hubby only this year. I had a new member - Alicia to join us. She is my buddy who I always stick along with. We play badminton, squash, having tea outside and even shopping together most of time. We both seem like two sisters without genetically bonded. *chuckle*



You know what, many people approached us and wanted to take photo with us and the most amusing thing was, they thought we were Japanese and intended to speak in Japanese with us. We only noded and smiled at them. Alicia said we should not speak any word now. Ha-ha, it was really fun!!


The little chubby 1-year-old boy is Matsuo-san’s son. He was the star and the focus of most cameras tonight.


Next, we also bumped into Matsuka-san and other friends later in the event.


Lastly, let’s dance before left! Hey-yo-hey-yo. *sweating*

Friday, September 24, 2010

Vincci Tote Bag

“You can get a free Vincci tote bag when you spend RM60,” the sales girl chimed in when we browsed for the accessories in the Padini store.

Oops, sounds attracting. I was actually helping Alicia to survey her necklace and ear rings to complement her evening gown for Annual Dinner & Dance in October.

“Now, your overall expenses are about RM116, if you can add up another RM4 to reach RM120, you can get two.” Oh my god!! This is indeed an exciting bargain!! Alicia offered to give me one. Oh, she was so generous. We finally both decided to top up the balance.

However, after wandered over in the store again, she still couldn’t decide what to add on. Suddenly, I spotted a charming rhinestone floral crystals double-banded headband hanging high on the hook. There were about 11 pieces of four-petal-glossy-flowers linked together by a thin black glitter metal. It’s absolutely gorgeous.


I could help Alicia. The headband cost RM27 which was more than enough to fill up the balance. I grabbed it from the shelf and handed it over to the sales girl.

We both were so exhilarated to wait for the tote bags. I felt an overwhelming stab of desire. I hoped it’s not some sort of recycled bag which usually being given away freely outside.

“Here you are.” She brought out the tote bags.

Goodness. It’s so cute! I loved the girl in her sleeking look. I meant the picture on the tote bag. She was wearing a chic fedora with two bunches of pink flowers embroidered on a white band, multicoloured bracelet on her wrists and necklace on her slim neck, and she was holding a chained handbag in pink colour too. She looked nonchalantly cool in her get-up!


With this lovely tote bag, I will look all-style-up in a sec too. *giggle*

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Miss Saigon Figurine





I received this souvenir from Kosugi San this afternoon.

Well, I was actually making a joke with him by asking him to bring me a souvenir when he made a business trip to Vietnam this week. Who knows that he had taken in what I said.

Luckily, he didn’t bring me the famous marinated snake wine from Vietnam. That would be really frightening. *Yuck*

Monday, September 20, 2010

Deep Touched

Guess who has called me up tonight? Someone who I had never expected. He-he.

Ta-da!!! She is my dearest MOTHER!! Tonight is my birthday in Chinese calendar. I thought there won’t be anyone remember or know about this except I told my hubby yesterday.

However, when I was doing my cooking in the kitchen tonight, the phone rang. I sprinted to the first floor to get my mobile phone which was vibrating on the table and glimpsed at the display. It’s my home number showed on the screen. I wondered who was calling me, some more using the fixed line. Well, because it was pretty costly.

“Hello?” I said politely.

“Ah Mee! It’s mum!” struck in my mum’s high pitch voice. Wow!! For a moment I was totally gobsmacked. This was the first time ever that my mum called me from the hometown. She had never called me in person except my dad passed the phone to her after the conversation.

“Do you know what the day today is?” she asked eagerly.

“It’s my birthday in Chinese calendar,” I replied nonchalantly. Wait! Something strange hit on my mind. I suddenly discovered that mum was particularly making this call to remind me about my important day. OH-MY-GOD!!

“Dear my girl, I thought you’re not remembering about your Chinese birthday today. That’s the reason I call you.” Every single bit of my mum’s words turned to be so sweet and touched. Tears were suddenly pricking at my eyes and I turn away, fiercely blinking them back.

Isn’t this what I’ve been hankering after ever since? This proves that my mum still LOVES and CARES about me too!!

Yes. Of course she does. She is my MOTHER and I’m her daughter. We are genuinely bonded in blood. I do not mean that my mum did not love me before, not ever. Just that... ehem... she is a bit conservative. Close-minded. A very traditional Eastern woman.

And, she is bloody frugal and over prudent person. She could save up every single penny by not making a call to me all the while. She would rather get my news from my dad or my other siblings. We only managed to talk with each other when I called her.

Anyhow, my mum breaks her record tonight. She has eventually used the fixed line to call me, which means she is no longer a meanie one. Yeah, at least she has made a good start.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Baristas Cafe

I invited Alicia for lunch at Baristas Cafe in Kulai this afternoon. We did some shopping outside. I was accompanying her to browse for the evening gown for Annual Dinner & Dance in next coming month.

“Hi, welcome!!” chimed in familiar voice from a lady in black and mini skirt when I pushed open the cafe door.

“Oops, you?” I was getting shock with whom I saw. She is Mrs. Yee from Ippudou Restaurant where my hubby and I, are usually hanging around.

“Don’t tell me that you are one of the share holders of this cafe,” I joked at her.

“No. I’m not. The shop owners are my friend,” she smiled back at me. “My husband and I are having an afternoon tea break with our friends here.”

Now I’m rather sure that Mr & Mrs Yee are both my type. Many thanks to them for secretly paying off the bill for us. He-he.

Baristas Cafe is another place like Startbucks. Whoever like the pure handmade coffee or tea and craving for a relaxed atmosphere will definitely like here too. So am I.

Another reason that attracted me to visit this lovely place is that Baristas Cafe is just about 10 minutes from my place while Starbucks takes me 30 minutes to reach than that. Nearer. So I like it.

However, I’m not going to abandon Starbucks. Never ever! It’s still my favourite cafe to hang out at while Baristas is my other choice when I want a short break from Starbucks. Cool!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Welcome Home, My New HP Pavilion DV3

It has been almost zillion years for me to not get any chance to online. I mean, blogging and surfing freely around at home.

In case you don't know, my old laptop was crashed since two weeks ago. Reason? Unknown. I suppose it's some sort of common damage to the hard drive as my old laptop is about the age of five since I first bought it over from Harvey Norman Singapore in 2005. Luckily I managed to backup everything before the whole drive was completely condemned.