Saturday, 30 January 2021

For weeks I've been bugging Sherilyn to cook Indonesian yellow fish soup and even got her all the ingredients needed to make this flavorful and healthy soup. She finally made a big pot yesterday and I mean a really big pot  that's enough to last us for at least 3 or 4 meals!  We added fresh fish to the soup today and will probably add something else like fish balls or meat balls to go with noodles tomorrow.

Our lunch and dinner yesterday ~ Nasi Ulam and Indonesian yellow fish soup.

The fresh torch ginger flower elevates the Nasi Ulam and gives it more depth of flavor.  Sherilyn even made the Kerisik (toasted grated coconut) herself. 

We added fresh fish into the soup for our dinner today -

Sherilyn is a terrific cook who preps her food with a lot of passion. Many of my friends asked if she's going to pursue a course in culinary arts but no. I got a shock when Sherilyn told me recently that she'd like to study something related to Science and Medicine, in particular heart and brain. But she's only concerned about the cost and whether she has the perseverance to complete the entire course.  She recently registered herself in a X-Culture Collaborative Project online course to improve herself.  I do think that Sherilyn can become a doctor if she puts 200% effort into her dreams. We have two doctors in our family (from hubby's side) - a renowned heart surgeon in the UK (hubby's uncle - google Dr John Yap) and a doctor also in the UK (hubby's cousin).  Anyway, I think a teenager's ambition keeps changing. Once upon a time, she wanted to be a professional dancer.  For now, I hope that the girls can go back to school to attend physical classes.  My radar is now on Alycia who'll be sitting for her SPM in 3 weeks.  I'll just settle her in college first.

Cancellation of Doctor's Appointment

I cancelled my appointment to see the head of Urologist at HKL last Friday after hubs told me that there's an active Covid19 cluster at HKL (Jalan Pahang Cluster). Actually I wanted to go ahead with the doctor's appointment as it's not easy to get an appointment for Cass and I to see Dr S during the MCO. Dr S will only see patients on a case by cases basis.  And only emergency surgeries will be carried out during the MCO.   But hubs was very insistent that I postponed the appointment due to the surge in Covid cases for the past few days.  

I called the nurse in charged of Cass' case and asked her if I could instead speak to the doctor over the phone.  She then helped me to get Dr S to speak to me via phone the next morning.   Dr S discussed with me what she intends to do - which is to have a repeat Urodynamics test done and from the result, she will determine if it's viable to do a Endourethral injection of bulking agents into Cass' bladder neck.  Cass did a Urodynamics test more than six years ago, when she was six years old.  

As to the MAG3 scan that Cass did last December, I'm thankful and relieved to hear that Cass' kidney function is good on both kidneys. 

It's going to be a long and tedious journey ahead for Cass and me, her primary caregiver.  But Cass and I will soldier on no matter how tough the journey will be.  We know that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.   

Update On The Stray Baby Kittens

I've been checking on the baby kittens every other day while hubs feeds the mother cat everyday.  Last week mommy cat freaked out when hubs and his staff were moving some tables and chairs. The loud sounds and movement of heavy objects must have scared her and she transferred her babies to another hiding place, a hardware shop just two doors away.  But she's now quite comfortable seeing us and would not run away whenever she sees us.  She even allows me to go near her babies, though I try hard to resist stroking the cute fluff balls lest mommy cat thinks I'm going to take her babies away. 

And guess what? Hubs' heart was so moved by the kittens that he is going to adopt one BUT the kitten will be placed in his office.  He bought a cat carrier last Sunday, all ready to bring the kitten to the vet for vaccination! I'm not sure how he's going to do it as we have zilch experience with cats and kittens. And how are we going to take the kitten away when mommy cat is always around? She's going to get very upset and hostile if she saw us taking her baby away.  A cat lover friend of ours will be going to the shop tomorrow with a cat litter to litter train the cats.  The hardware shop owner is cat lover and he previously adopted a stray kitten when the mother cat gave birth outside his shop.

Today I finally got a better glimpse of the kittens and I'm so glad that all 6 babies are still alive.  Get ready for some heart melting photos of the adorable kittens with stormy blue eyes!  And if you're looking to adopt these kitties, do drop me a comment.  As advised by friends, we will not separate the kittens from their mother for at least 8 weeks.  I think it will be another 4-5 weeks before the kittens are ready for adoption.  

Mommy cat - she has green eyes.

MCO Day 224 ~ Tuesday, 19 January 2021

This morning I received a call from the nurse at the Urology Department of HKL. My request for an earlier date to see Dr S, the head of Urology has been approved and instead of waiting until February, she's given us an appointment to see Dr S this Friday.  Bless this nurse's heart. She always tries to help me whenever I tell her my reasons and concerns.  

I truly wish and pray that Dr S will be able to tell me how she intends to fix Cass' urinary tract issues. And I pray that the MAG3 scan report is favourable.  This issue has been dragging for too long and it's a real pain for both Cass and me.  And it's affecting Cass emotionally; when she's affected emotionally I'm affected just as badly.  

The past one year has been really tough on everyone that's affected by the pandemic, whether physically, financially or emotionally.  Though we're not infected (hopefully we'll be spared), we're not spared from the financial and emotional aspects the pandemic has on us.  Like I'd mentioned before, I always wish that this pandemic is just a nightmare and we could all wake up to our usual busy, hectic and normal lives once again.

Please pray for Cass. She needs lots of prayers for a complete healing from her health issues. Thank you 💓

Finding The Perfect Prom Dress

Prom night is a custom where high school juniors and seniors dress in formal attire and participate in activities surrounding a dance. Prom was born in the United States more than 100 years ago and has spread to other parts of the world. Prom involves dates, elegant prom dresses, tuxedos, dinner and dancing.

Prom is one of the most important events in high school which is normally held in the beginning of spring and the end of the school year.  Girls typically wear floor length gowns and high heels while boys are required to wear either suits or tuxedos. Students, especially the girls usually prepare for the event many months ahead because prom is often the highlight of a girl’s school life.

A prom dress is often considered the most significant part of the entire prom experience, so you should choose a dress that expresses your individuality! Prom dresses come in various styles, length, size, color and price. Every girl wants to look her best in a jaw-dropping, flattering prom dress and be treated like a queen.  Get started early and follow this guide to be the belle of the ball:

1. Plan In Advance It takes time to do your research and choose the perfect gown. Plan to make a choice and your purchase about four to six weeks (or even earlier) before your prom night. You may need alterations on a dress and purchasing it in advance gives you ample time for you to have the alterations done.  Decide if you'd like to purchase the gown online, from a boutique, bridal shop or tailor-make it.

2. Do Your Research Take cues from what you saw on the red carpet, catwalk, magazines, and what you are seeing in the stores now to find some of the most sought after styles of the season.

3. Plan Your Budget And Stick To It One of the worst feelings in the world is trying on a beautiful dress and then finding out that the price is way out of your budget. So before you even begin to look, let the salesperson know what your budget is, and if you’re doing your shopping online, filter the results so you can only see the dresses you can afford. One place to get affordable prom dresses is My Chic Dress.

4. Look For Precious Fabrics

For your prom dress, look for precious, fine and luxurious fabrics such as satin, tulle, silk, chiffon, organza, lace and velvet.

5. Follow the School Rules 

Many schools have instituted prom night dress codes. Strapless styles, spaghetti straps, plunging necklines or other sexy details may not be permitted. Additionally, the school may institute a theme for prom night and request that students’ outfits reflect the theme. Be sure that you fully understand all of the school rules and guidelines before you begin shopping.

When choosing a prom dress, you have to know that trends change with every season. If you want to know the 2021 prom dresses trends, or wondering which prom dress style comes out on top, My Chic Dress has plenty of classic styles that are elegant and timeless for you to choose from.  Remember to look for a great fit, a beautiful color that plays up your best features, a dress with embellishments if you want that extra special quality, and remember to go for a dress that you feel your best in!

MCO Day 220 ~ Friday, 15 January 2021 (Kittens For Adoption)

A mother cat gave birth to a litter of 6 super cute kitties right outside hubby's office recently. Hubs and I are not exactly cat lovers but we will not turn these cute little fluff balls away if they were left at our door step.  Hubs and I have been trying to get cat lovers to take these kitties to their forever homes.  

Yesterday I took Cass to her dad's office to get our dose of pet therapy.  I bought a packet of tuna cat food for mummy cat. For the first time, Cass got a taste of handling these fragile kitties. We don't know how old they are, though. According to hubs, they're about 1-2 weeks old.  One day, hubs discovered faint cries under an industrial stove outside his office and he was shocked to see a litter of baby cats.   He dared not touch the kitties for fear that the mother cat would attack him. He thought there were 4 of them but yesterday we discovered 6! 

What a heartwarming sight when the industrial stove was pushed aside:

Hubs placed the kittens in an unused tray.

Waiting for their mom to come back to feed them. They were so weak that I could hardly hear their cries.

Love at first sight ~ my favorite kitty.

This orange kitty reminds me of Simba from the Lion King.

If anyone of you would like to adopt these kittens, please email me at shireenyong@gmail.com or Whatsapp me at 019-2627 887.  We're located at Old Klang Road, KL.

Makeup Style During The Pandemic

Before Covid19 struck the world early last year, I had purchased quite a bit of makeup (both expensive brands and cheap makeup brands)  as I was all geared up to doll up myself for the wedding dinners lined up last year. I had bought a concealer, eye shadow, mascara, loose powder and mineral powder. And what did I know?  When Covid19 swept the world fast and furiously unannounced, the world turned upside down. The weddings that we were supposed to attend were cancelled. And the makeup that I bought? I've not touched them except for the mascara which I only used twice during the RMCO.  The only makeup that I use everyday is my eyebrow pencil.

Oh, did I tell you that I went for an eyebrow embroidery a few weeks before the MCO was announced on 18 March last year and the ink on my eyebrows faded about 3 months later? Thus, I now have to draw my eyebrows everyday, else I'll look like a sickly woman 😑.  Sometimes when my vanity mode is switched on, I will put on some fun eyeshadow colors similar to the ones from Anastasia eyeshadow palette because when your life is so monotonous for an entire  year and probably even longer, you just want to do something to glamorize yourself even if it's just to make a trip to the nearby supermarket to grab some milk and bread 😁. 

It does not matter whether you're a SAHM, WFHM or FTWM who is now working from home during the lockdown.  My motto is no matter your age and your profession or a lack of one, you have to put a little effort on your appearance. I do feel women are under too much pressure to look like the images of perfect beautiful women the social media bombards us with every day. But I don't agree with the philosophy that I should love what I see in the mirror especially when I see almost balding eyebrows, tired eyes and a dull face.  I think every woman should care about how she looks if she wants to realize a comfortable level of self satisfaction, success and self-sufficiency. 

I'm not implying plastic surgery and extreme diets so that you look like Barbie. I do advocate for presenting an attractive, updated, professional image that represents how you want the world to judge you. You don't need to break the bank to spend on your wardrobe and makeup.  You can scour the internet for affordable clothes and cheap wholesale makeup that won't cause an arm and a leg and still look good.

I'm not one who would splurge on branded clothes and makeup but I do make lots of effort to buy affordable stylish clothes and affordable makeup. Though I don't meet anyone now or go out often because of the lockdown, I still make sure that I look good even when I'm at home. I draw my eyebrows everyday and pamper my face with what it needs. I still powder up my face with organic arrowroot powder everyday, even when I am indoors the whole day because I like looking at  a face with porcelain smooth and fair skin. You can call me vain but I want to love what I see in the mirror every time 😚

CMCO Day 217 ~ Tuesday, 12 January 2021

Yesterday our PM announced that our country will be placed under another lockdown ~ MCO 2.0 effective Wednesday, 13 January through 26 January 2021.  Many of us had expected this as the number of cases is not going down. We are even prepared for the MCO to be extended as we know that it's impossible to bring the number of cases down from over 3k a day to a single digit within 2 weeks.  We're now all experts with the numbers and what it takes for the numbers to go down.

Today at 11am while I was working at my desk and listening to the radio, all of a sudden, the music stopped and I heard our PM giving a speech - our country will be put in a state of 'Darurat' (Emergency) with immediate effect until 1 August 2021.  In this Emergency context, no election or by-election will be held until the Emergency ends. And if the pandemic situation is still grave, the Emergency will be extended.

With the MCO invoked again, here we go again of being locked up at home.  Sherilyn is very happy that she doesn't have to go to school yet while Alycia has to grudgingly accept the fact that it's back to school for 5th formers under strict SOPs. She's supposed to be in Form 6 or college this year but because of the seemingly never-ending pandemic, she will only sit for her SPM this year.  Her high school hasn't even announced when the SPM Trials will be held.

Many times, I really wished that the past one year was just a bad dream and I would wake up and be relieved that there's no Covid19, no lockdown, hubby's business is still as good as ever and our lives were not impacted by any pandemic and threats. 

But I'll keep my chin up, look ahead and take the bull by its horns. We're not the only ones affected and impacted. There are thousands who are in a more unpropitious situation than us - our friends in the tourism, aviation and hotel sectors, our girls' school bus drivers and even Maria, our part-time helper.  This shall one day be history and we shall all look back and be awed and amazed with our grit and perseverance. Our girls are learning something new everyday - that life is not a bed of roses everyday. From the day they were born until Covid19 struck, they've never really gone through hardship nor have to learn to be really careful with how they spend every Ringgit that they have.  This pandemic has taught them some of life's valuable lessons. I'm amazed by how matured and sensible our girls are in handling this pandemic. Sometimes they remind me to watch my spending and to cut down on unnecessary purchases.  The girls told me that they don't need any new clothes for CNY this year.  

Sherilyn today: "actually why do we need new clothes for CNY? I can cut short my old red shirts and I'll have new red cropped shirts!"

Cass: "please don't force me to buy anymore clothes. I don't need any new clothes"

Alycia today: "why do we have so much food on the table everyday huh? We DON'T need so much food.  Can you keep the salmon fish for tomorrow? We're poor folks  now you know"  

😁😂😆

My girls really crack me up sometimes.

Yesterday Sherilyn cooked Mille-Feuille Nabe again, at my request. I just love every aspect of this dish - from the taste to the nutrition content, the mood-lifting vibrant colors to how easy it is to cook it.  This is truly my kind of dish - healthy, one-pot and no oil spills.

10 Things You Can Learn From Children This Quarantine

Some psychology and mindfulness experts have claimed that observing and living with children helps to see the current pandemic situation from another perspective.

Do you remember how you were as a boy or a girl? How did you get excited about inventing games? Do you miss that feeling of not seeing problems around?

As one physician recruiter who specializes in career development for psychology professionals explained. At this time plagued with COVID-19, children have many lessons to teach. Children have great virtues, they show us that they know how to adapt to situations, have flexibility, and the ability to value what they have.

They are important virtues, so we must not forget the child in us.

These are 10 things we can adopt from children:

1. Have Fun And Play

Children are happy, they are always playing and having fun. During the day, try to look for something that each member of the family enjoys, to generate an emotion that counteracts the negative things that are happening in the world.

2. Express Your Emotions

Children can be spontaneous and honest when talking about how they feel.

Let us learn from them to share and express how we are, without so many filters of “I always have to be well” or “I must not express this”; they are simply judgments that we generate as adults.

3. Be Empathic 

Boys and girls are sensitive. They approach others without any problem and most of the time they share.

Children in the parks approach other children when they see that they are playing something that interests them and they start with curiosity, which is another ability that we should have.

There is also the emotion of loving others and supporting each other, like when they see someone who falls and gets hurt, they approach worried to ask how they are.

4. Turn Simple Into Extraordinary

With creativity and imagination, children transform the situations that happen to them or their games into something memorable. During this troubling time, this quality of children can be beneficial.

When watching a movie, for example, live the experience as if you were in the cinema. Decorate, make numbered tickets, have sweets and snacks as in the store at the moves.

5. Live Today

For children, the world is constantly changing, as they move up the grade level, develop new knowledge and talents; it is an uncertainty of not knowing what they will learn tomorrow.

It's part of being able to focus on today. Be in the present, focus on strengths, things that are enjoyed, develop talents, and know that there is something to be thankful for and rejoice about.

They are factors that help to ensure that the blow of uncertainty is not devastating, but rather an opportunity to grow and develop resilience.

6. Take Challenges As An Adventure

Children see any challenge in life as a story or an adventure, something that to overcome they will first have to navigate a path with ups and downs.

This mindset also allows us to be in contact with our emotions and know that not every day is going to be good, but not every day is going to be bad.

7. Learn And Take Advantage of The Experience

Every experience children have, good or bad, becomes learning. 

You have to take advantage of situations so that you are not only left with the taste of uncertainty about negative or difficult things.

It is having the ability to recognize personal aspects that are positive, valuable, and which help us to give our lives a different meaning.

8. Appreciate What You Have And Enjoy It!

What is available to children is always enough to have fun or learn, they explore what is around them and take advantage of it.

This quarantine has been a challenging experience; this period helps us to turn to see areas of our life that perhaps we had neglected or that are worth paying attention to.

For example, family life, prayer spaces, allowing oneself to do exercise routines at home, rest, all are aspects that are worth valuing after this difficult period is finally over.

9. Be Generous And Supportive

Children are good at sharing and caring, and we would do well to copy their example.

There are things that we can actively do today for others, we have to overcome the negative to generate that sense of how to help others and be in solidarity.

There can be new ways of sharing in society; there is always something we can share, not everything is economic or food, it can be time or some skill we share, to help others.

10. View The Future With Hope

Optimism and hope characterize children, the hope that something good will come in the future.

It is also valid for adults to have this mindset, knowing that the pandemic will end at some point. We should all have learned by now that nothing in life is permanent, the only constant is change.

So we can generate a sense of hope if we all contribute the best we have then this will be an opportunity to develop a new way of doing things.

After Dinner Walks

It's been more than a week ever since Cass and I started our post-dinner routine to have a 30-minute brisk walk outside our condo. She seems to enjoy walking under the street lights and moonlight in the current 'Winter Monsoon' evening weather with crisp air.  I'm glad that I've finally succeeded in getting this couch potato to leave her seat to exercise after almost a year of being discombobulated from being locked up at home and away from her friends. 

This evening we walked to our neighborhood supermarket to get some green vegetables and on our walk back home, we saw an ambulance with the sirens lights flashing (sound muted); the driver and the assistant were donned on full PPE suits with face shields!  Cass and I were stunned. She told me to make a detour and not walk towards the ambulance.  These days whenever we see an ambulance with sirens muted and hospital staff donned in PPE suits, everyone talks about it and wonders which house or building is affected.  The ambulance must have been on the way to whisk away another Covid19 positive patient.  

With the number of positive cases rising not only in our neighborhood but in almost every neighborhood  in our country, I'm now beginning to worry if it's safe for schools to reopen on 20th January.  We've also decided that we will not be going back to Ipoh to celebrate CNY.  It's too risky for us to do that as my parents are high risk folks. Many cases caused by inter-state travels and holidays were reported the past one week.  The only way to flatten the curve is to revert to a lockdown (MCO) for at least 2 weeks, just like how it was in the beginning and it was a success. Much as I'm dying for the CMCO to end and for our lives to return to normal, however, the most effective way to stop the spread of infection is through a total lockdown 😥  We're now waiting for the government to make a decision on this matter.

Our breezy moonlight brisk walking yesterday with a beautiful backdrop ahead of us - KL Towers illuminated in neon purple, The Exchange 106 in the middle and a huge moon on the right.

Our walk to the supermarket today.

The photos are blur and shaky coz I took them whilst brisk walking and I did it stealthily to avoid being noticed.  Cass would give me a killer stare if she found out that I stole pix of her!

 

CMCO Day 206 ~ Dinner on 1st Day of 2021

Our first dinner of the year was a lavish one. Hubs had bought some pre-marinated beef ribs and steak to support a friend's frozen meat business. 

Our chef Sherilyn pan seared + oven grilled the beef ribs and seasoned it with compound butter and celery + egg plant + onion puree. The puree can also be eaten as a healthy soup. No oil was used to sear and grill the ribs.  The compound butter and puree were handled by our new TMX6, which is a gift to us by Santarina!

Happy 2021 everyone!

Pan seared for about 5 minutes first before being transferred to the oven and grilled at 190C for 10 minutes. The result: meat that falls off the bone.  

One of the juiciest, most tender and yummiest beef ribs we've tasted. Superb meat texture and taste and excellent cooking skill by our teenage chef!

CMCO Day 202 ~ Monday, 28 December 2020

Post dinner time is always busy with cleaning up. But the littlest one asked me to go for a walk with her at our condo compound and then to bring her to the gym. How can I say no when this couch potato asked to exercise? This MCO (and now school holidays) is not doing her any good with almost all-day sitting in front of the PC. I take every opportunity to make her leave her seat to walk or exercise. 

So we spent over half an hour walking around the jogging trek and then to the gym - she on the treadmill and me on the air walker 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️

Cass now gets the hang of walking at our condo's jogging trek or walking / running on the treadmill after dinner. I've finally succeeded in transforming this couch potato after almost a year of sitting in front of the PC throughout the MCO this year! 💪  And don't worry about her getting appendicitis. She rests for at least half an hour after dinner before exercising and she will never get one as her appendix was removed during her 2nd surgery 12 years ago.