There are a very select few love songs that I classify as the ultimate love songs… and this one by Joshua Kadison is one of them. Here’s a video from youtube of the mtv. It’s corny as hell so just enjoy the song :)

I am disheartened that my vote during the 12GE now counts for nothing. The government that I travelled all the way home to vote for is no more, thanks to underhanded tactics, money politics and elected representatives with zero integrity.

I know who I am not voting for next time.

Merv and I have been trying to go green and practice sustainable living as much as we can for some time now. It has not been easy, but we are getting used to it bit by bit :)

I thought that we’d share with you some of the stuff we’ve been doing (and trying to do), and we can exchange ideas! [Please feel free to leave a comment.]

For starters, I’d already blogged here earlier on in Merv’s blog on reducing our usage of plastic bags.

And here’s a list of some of the lifestyle changes we’ve made:

• We take along our own shopping bags along every time we go shopping - regardless of whether we’re buying groceries or clothes. Earlier on, we bought some handy (and pretty!) lightweight shopping bags that roll up into convenient balls and fit nicely into my handbag, ready to be used whenever I buy anything! We fit as much shopping as we can into these bags. [Let’s say you buy 3 t-shirts on one shopping trip, from 3 different shops in the mall – you definitely don’t need one separate bag for each t-shirt!]
  Tip: Look for empty cardboard boxes at Tesco – you are allowed to fill the box with your groceries and take them home that way! And… the box can then be sent for recycling! And… you get extra green points on your Tesco loyalty card – which will eventually translate into more savings on your groceries! - You earn one point for each plastic bag that you forgo. :)

• We try to remember to bring along our own containers or food carriers whenever we buy back (tapao) food. I’ve also been bringing an empty tupperware to work to tapau food from the canteen downstairs.

• We also try to buy products that come in recyclable containers. We used to buy milk and juices that come in tetrapak packaging, but then realised that tetrapak recycling facilities are not yet available in Malaysia (only in the UK and Europe). This would translate into more non-biodegradable rubbish for our landfills. So we decided to switch to brands that come in plastic bottles instead – so that we can at least send those for recycling.

• Separate all rubbish into recyclable (i.e empty plastic bottles, soft drink cans, paper) and non-recyclable items. All our recyclable trash is put into a big box and sorted out once or twice a month, then sent for recycling. We usually send ours to the local Tzu-Chi association, where they will in turn sell off the items and use the proceeds for charity.

I’ll add more as I think of them and if any of you have ideas to share, please let me know!

After 2.5 years of utilising annual leave to study + monthly salary deductions of RM100 (until i pass) + travelling down to KL countless times for workshops + 4 papers + 2 re-sits (in total) + mountains of handwritten notes…

IT IS FINALLY OVER!!! :D

… to the G-Y-M :D Heh… After many hesitations and procastinations (on my part) - I have finally signed off a portion of my monthly salary to join a gym!

So what finally made me bite the bullet? :D I went home to Ipoh one weekend in December. Dropped by La Salle Centre to say hi. Bumped into Bro. Matt, who none too subtly told me “You have GRROOOWWNNN!!” -_-

Soooo… what else can you do after a Brother (a La Salle Brother from school nonetheless) tells you that you have PUT ON WEIGHT??!! Join gym lo… much to Merv’s delight - haha. Now he got kaki to go gym with. The man’s been at me to join the gym for the past few months but i resisted cos I’ve always been of the why-pay-good-money-to-exercise-when-you-can-run-around-outside-your-home-for-free school of thought.

But… 1 month down the road, I’ve had no regrets so far. We aimed to go everyday but so far are averaging about 3-4 days of the week, which is pretty good anyway methinks :) We’ve even started going for the classes (earning aching muscles the next day, but feels good anyway).

And really, it makes a diff when you have someone to go gym with. If I’d joined it alone I’d probably be too lazy to go even on weekends, much less after work on weekdays :P Plus it is kinda fun and non-boring cos you get to play around with the different exercise machines there (and watch tv while you exercise!)

For now, I’m not even looking at the weight-loss angle first. Just want to get the momentum going (making gym a regular activity) and building up from there. So here’s to leading a healthier and more active lifestyle!

Work’s been crazy lately have had no time to update anything!!! So here’s a quick one:

1. Merry Christmas to everyone!!
2. Merv and I have been dating for one year! (that was on 15-Dec) :D
3. We celebrated by going for a buffet at parkroyal and spa at Danai spa! (more on that later)
4. I have (finally) joined a gym!
5. …to be updated when i think of something else :P…

Ciao!

I’ve been addicted to reading blogs on beauty and makeup for some time now :D Love reading about the gazillion types of beauty products out there, beauty tips (yes, I am vain), and of course, reviews from people who’ve actually tried out the stuff.

One of my favourite blogers is Paris B and she writes a blog called My Women Stuff which I check out almost everyday! She’s got a really fun style of writing and I love reading her posts on makeup and beauty (although most of the time I’m too kiamsiap to get the products and try out myself - haha).

Paris has come up with fabulous christmas giveaways for her readers, and it is really easy to enter! Here’s the link to her post: My Women Stuff Christmas Giveaway. Just follow the instructions there. I’ve been lusting after a Roo-tote for ever so long and am keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll win! :D

Good luck!

Update: I didn’t win the Roo-tote after all! Looks like I’ll have to get it the old-fashioned way then :P But thanks a lot to Paris for running such a yummy givewaway! :)

No… no… hold on to your panties… I’m not getting married… not yet anyway *grin* (i can just hear Merv heaving a sigh of relief)

However, I’ve been invited to no less than FOUR weddings in December!!! o_O

Maybe everyone is trying to get married in 2008 (eight = fatt = prosperity) cos it’s auspicious…? Or maybe it’s just that the people my age are starting to settle down…? *sweat* Pressure… pressure…

Wedding dinners have become such a normal affair these days, and they usually follow quite a ’standard’ formula - nice hotel, gawdawful over-the-top performance by hotel staff during the first course (it’s usually compulsory, unfortunately), speeches, toasts (okla, these two are normal la), entertainment… It’s all so formal… y’know?

Me I want a party! :D I want a wedding dinner party where I can actually have FUN with my close friends and family. I want dancing! I want to be able to actually interact with all my guests. I want an actual celebration!!! :D

Eh, what do you people think about themed weddings? :D Would it even work here in Malaysia? I mean, if you have a retro-themed wedding but everyone turns up in formal dinner clothes - it would be abit… sad, right?

Didnt feel like going out for lunch today so Merv and I rummaged around in the fridge for something we could cook. This was how I used to cook when I was a student - get pot, throw in chicken stock, throw in whatever’s available, and voila! Lunch. Or dinner :)

Today, we had on hand: Egg noodles, frankfurters, choi sam (veggie), carrots and golden needle mushrooms (the stringy ones with little caps on top).

The finished product:

I’m domestically challenge so I’m quite proud of this effort haha. Nothing like the tempura that Merv cooked up of course *wink*.

Wouldn’t that make the title of a great song? :D
To the tune of My Baby Just Cares For Me:

My baby just cooked for me
My baby just cooked for me
My baby chopped carrots for me…
My baby whipped up a bowl’a tempura
My baby fried up some prawns in the batt-ah……

Here’s a video from U-tube with Nat King Cole singing My Baby Just Cares For Me. I prefer this version to the Nina Simone one, although that one’s fun too :)

So yes, we had tempura for dinner. Carrots, prawns, onions and mushrooms. Also slices of fried fish fillet. All dipped in wasabi. Yummy!

A pic of Mervbear tempura-ing :)

… and one of him getting hit by hot oil *grin*

This is why smart gals like me prefer to stand aside, hold camera and look on adoringly as our men labour to feed us kekeke.

Thanks for the dinner hun! :)