The Next Chegu Carol

if I don't control it now....( chegu, jangan marah..) as I know how she adores shoe.

I was cleaning our shoe rack last weekend when I realised that Sona has more than 20 pair of shoes ( that I did not include the sandal/slipper that she wears daily). Her shoe took most of the space in the shoe rack. She is only 2 years old. So, if you do the maths, she has 1 shoe every month.Mengalahkan mummy dia sudah nie..

She just received 2 pairs of Croc shoe from her mama Faye last week and when I showed it to her She said " I like..." Mum, "I see Crocodile"..the whole day she wore that shoe, the red and the pink even in the house.

I have packed most of her shoe to be given away but I leave few especially those quite expensive and hardly used,I will sell in my moving out sale blog. At least I 'll know who will appreciate the shoe or boots after her. Check it out. The croc will be there too in a few months time.If you don't want to miss them, follow that blog.

Secret I just found

This is a good read if you a manager and run your own company. Any of us may one day, Keep dreaming.

The Secret to Having Happy Employees

The New York Times

About 10 years ago I was having my annual holiday party, and my niece had come with her newly minted M.B.A. boyfriend. As he looked around the room, he noted that my employees seemed happy. I told him that I thought they were.

Then, figuring I would take his new degree for a test drive, I asked him how he thought I did that. "I'm sure you treat them well," he replied.

"That's half of it," I said. "Do you know what the other half is?"

He didn't have the answer, and neither have the many other people that I have told this story. So what is the answer? I fired the unhappy people. People usually laugh at this point. I wish I were kidding.

I'm not. I have learned the long, hard and frustrating way that as a manager you cannot make everyone happy. You can try, you can listen, you can solve some problems, you can try some more. Good management requires training, counseling and patience, but there comes a point when you are robbing the business of precious time and energy.

Don't get me wrong. This doesn't happen a lot. There's no joy in the act of firing someone. And it's not always the employee's fault — there are many bad bosses out there. Bad management can make a good employee dysfunctional. On the other hand, good management will not always make a dysfunctional employee good. And sometimes people who would be great employees somewhere else just don't fit your company, whether it is the type of business or the company culture.

In the worst cases, the problem of a bad fit can have a bigger impact than just one employee's performance. Being in charge does not necessarily mean you are in control, and being in control does not necessarily mean being in charge. Have you ever seen a company or department paralyzed by someone who is unhappy and wants to take hostages? It is remarkable how much damage one person can do. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you watch "The Caine Mutiny." Basically, one guy takes apart the ship. He was unhappy. It only takes one.

This is only my opinion. I don't have a Ph.D., an M.B.A., or even an economics degree. What I do have is a happy company. And that makes me happy. Now I know some people argue that business is about making money, and not everyone has to be happy. That is also an opinion. Everyone has a right to his or her opinion. When you own a company, you also have the right to surround yourself with the people you choose.

I have spent the last year and a half focusing on cutting costs, figuring out how the market has changed, and worrying about the economy. Things seem to be getting better, or perhaps I am just getting used to it.

Either way, I had a good day today. Not because I got a big order, great financial reports or even an employee stopping by to tell me what an awesome boss I am. (That generally doesn't happen. You have to tell yourself. It's a boss thing.) I had a great day because I spent most of it walking around the company and appreciating the fact that even after a year and a half of soft sales and cutbacks and furloughs, I have wonderful people working for me. They care. They are committed. They understand the whole customer–staff–company triangle, where all of the legs support each other.

If you read books on great companies, they usually leave out a dirty little secret. It doesn't make for good public relations — like talking about how you "empower people" or how your "greatest assets" are your people. Both of these well–worn clichés are true. What is also true is that it's hard to build a great company with the wrong people.

When you have the right people, business is much easier. I know because I have tried it both ways.

Jay Goltz owns five small businesses in Chicago.

Support 90 days Maternity Leave

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New Blog

I have set a new blog. Check the title and check the blog if you want to know why.

Sona is 2

Sona is 2 years old. And she has grown to be a beautiful girl. Yea, she is always beautiful to me.
Her character has began to show and is learning really fast. I hope I can catch up with her. We had a small family gathering to celebrate her 2nd birthday at Grand Borneo Hotel last saturday. We just book a small corner and participate in their weekend Hi Tea. The Hi Tea was great and the place is great too. They have a special corner for children to sort of spend their time-watching cartoon and colouring. Till your next birthday girl, mummy and daddy love you very much.

My First Step

At last, I sew my first dress.

It's the simplest dress anyone can ever make. I made this last weekend. To challenge myself to take sewing more seriously, I have set up a new blog and with a catchy name too. Pinkapplesdesign was born on the 19th of February. Just hope it will survive at least a year, lol. This is to remind me to do something with my spare time.Well, at least before the little one making his/her debut in my life, I should take this opportunity to learn something. I am currently experimenting with fabrics, needle and thread. I will take up sewing lesson soon. Check my new blog and become my follower. I will have a giveaway for you soon.

Well, how's my first dress? Just too bad, my darling girl is such a fussy 2 years old. I actually plan to dress her for a simple Hi Tea with my family this weekend to celebrate her 2 years old birthday but to my horror, she does't want to wear it. God help me...how to dress her?

American Idol, Who is your Pick?

Casey James

I lost my TV battle with Sona yesterday. She watched her Cartoon and I went online. So, I didn't manage to watch the girls perform their first songs for American Idol. Today, I managed to persuade my liitle girl to play with some bees and ladybirds I bought from Jaja. So, I managed to watch the men performed.

Here are my picks.

Casey James

and

Aaron Kelly.

Yes, both have good looks. They also have wonderful voice. Casey James rendition of heaven by Bryan Adam was fantastic. I am sure both will stay long in the competition...yea..

Aaron Kelly

Sona is super talkative today. I heard her said

" Superman, superman"

"Dad, Surprise!"

"Hey, Guys"

" Mum, where are you"
" Somebody help me"

...must be from the cartoon series..

Sarsaparilla Anyone?

Everyone knows how hot the weather is now. I know cold drinks are selling like hot cakes . Every now and then I feel like gulping a large glass or a picher of cold drinks. I am not a heavy carbonated drink fan but with the condition now, I crave for carbonated, COLD one most of the time. Worse, I crave for sarsaparilla. What is a Sarsaparilla anyway?

The sarsaparilla plant is mostly a vine, found primarily in Mexico, Central America and South America. The most valued portion of the sarsaparilla is the root, which has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, much like ginseng or licorice root. Natural sarsaparilla root is very bitter, so it was a common practice for pharmacists to distill the useful chemicals and mix them with sugar water. Thus a popular beverage called sarsaparilla was born, years before other chemists would invent other medicinal drinks like the original Pepsi and 7-Up.Read more details here .

I think this drink taste very much like A&W root beer ( I wish someone will buy the A& W francise and open it again in KK, I love their root bear and onion rings) but STRONGER. The taste so rich. Try to drink it if you haven't. Just don't be too hooked on it as the price is quite steep. Definitely not an everyday drink.

We have tasted two brands that is available in KK, BUNDABERG and Brickford's. The former is availabe at Tong Hing and Chui Tai Seng Likas and the latter is at Merdeka Supermarket. The price is RM4.60 and RM5.60 respectively.

Our verdict, BUNDABERG taste a lot better...

Soon To Be 2

Yes, my little girl will be 2 years old next month, in about 2 weeks time. She is learning new things and can now communicate in her three favourite languages. Of course, all are mixed.

Some that I can think of:

1) After her bath,

Mummy : "Sona, use powder?"

Sona : " Badak la mummy"

2) While Eating her Dinner

Mummy : " Sona eat the chicken"

Sona : " Odos ( hot/spicy) ba mum"

3) Saw some coins

Sona " Mum, give sona Usin (Money)"

Mummy : " Who teach you to say Usin"

Sona : " Nina ( her grandmonther)"

Mummy : " What Sona wants to do with the usin"

Sona : " Keep in Bank"

Mummy : " After keep in bank, what Sona wants to buy"

Sona : " Buy Small house"

Mummy : " Don't buy small house, buy big house"

Sona : " No.....Buy Small house ba.."

4) Came down to the living room while daddy watch Tamil Chanel

Sona : " Mum, why daddy watch this ( she is refering to the tamil channel"

Mum and Dad :...speechless..

I think I need to send her for a tamil tuition..

CNY & VALENTINE'S DAY

Yes, today is a 2 in 2 celebration. Valentine's day and first day of the Chinese New Year, Let's the tiger roar..

Wishing all of my readers, happy valentine's dan Gong Xi Fa Chai and Enjoy the Long Holidays..( glad if we have this kind of holidays every month lol)..

Going Green, How?

I hope I am not the last person to talk about and to do something about this. I have read so many blogs talking about 'going green' and how 'no plastic bags' has been introduced in Penang and Selangor. When we were in Perth last October, one of the supermarket in Margaret River did not provide us with any plastic bags.

I think it will take some time to change one's mind set, one habits, one routines. We can't blame ourself. We are use to do what we have been doing since our mother's time. When we go to the market, we are handed with plastic bags to put our things, even when we buy only one item. And we, automatically take it. When we have children, we use disposabable diapers. It's easier right? Who wants to spend time washing poops right especially where you are working and there is no maid around. And with better life, better pay, we can afford more things that we think can improve our life. No many want to go back to basic.

Anyway, someone has to do it. If we want to live in a better environment, a greener place to live in, we have to do something about it. You can read many articles related to going green. Some are here,and support EAC program listed here.

I am slowly but surely supporting this campaign or idea of 'going green'. It's easier than done but I will try. I have been using cloth diaper on my daughter and continue to use them on my second baby. Personally this is one greatest 'invention' for mother and babies. I love using cloth diapers. Initial investment no doubt is high but long term, it's cheaper than buying disposable diapers. Then I have bought some re-usable bags. I have it since last year but always forgetting to bring it. In fact few time I still forget but I always rejects plasctic bags given to me provided that I can carry all the things that I bought. The lastest one is using cloth pad. I have tried using it much earlier but have stop for a while until now. Is there anything else one can do? drop your comment.

Let's get to work

On interior decorating..

One of my many interest in life has to do with designing, decorating, name it, i like to see beautiful, decorated house, rooms even bathroom. It's also obvious when I prefer to see beautiful cakes compare to just a plain looking cakes. So, this year as I am taking a break from baking and cake decorating as I needed a rest while being pregnant. Rest? many who knows me can't really believe I can just take a rest. I always have something on my mind, any time of the day. So, this time I do have big projects ( yea..decorating her daughter's room is mum's big project)

I have two major things to do, to decorate our newly bought house and an apartment. The major renovation which is the kicthen, I will give it to dh as I know he has the ability to make my dream kitchen a reality just like what he did with our current house. I will concentrate more on Sona's room and probably her baby brother's room( yet to confirm if my baby is a boy or girl) so till it's confirm, I will check girls' room first..yea.

So, don't be surprise if I am still busy while 'taking a break from baking'. Decorating a room won't take much energy but I think it's just more thinking and I'll let hubby search or buy the things that I want. I just can't sit down and do nothing.

Looking at those nice quilt makes me feeling like taking up sewing..wah, pregnant lady sure has so many wants..hahaha

It's A New Day

Indeed, everyday is a new day and whatever happened yesterday does not matter even when we ever said something stupid like The skin jumps opposite the impersonal convenience. or wear something odd like polka dot pants.

What important it what will happen in the future. Have a New Day Everyday friends.

Hello..

Mid of january...things are going smoothly and work starts to add..

I have no complain so far just..

Pregnancy going is in the 2nd trimester where I should enjoy. Ms is tolerable. no more puking only some gases in the morning and some back ache and heart burn. i don' t want to complain too much. I feel more like myself than previous month.

Going to have to move to new house hopefully by may..and now i m enjoying shopping for new gadget for the new house. lot's of work to be done and i have to do it early before i become too heavy..

This year will go very fast for me I am sure of that as this is a very busy year for me on work and on personal life...still i am not complaining ...yet..hahaha..

Hope 2010 is going well for all you bloggers out there..

2010 Tips on How TO

Save Money,

Check Tips how to save money and you will find this list.

1. Spend Less

2. Have a Personal Budget.

3. Buy In Bulk

4. Buy during SALE

5. Buy USED

6. Don't carry EXCESSIVE debts

7. Save Money

8. Shop Wisely

9. Eat IN rather that dine out

10. Use LESS

Want to know more

Read 25 ways to save money

and 50 ways to save money

After reading all the tips I am sure more will find it even hard to save money and in the end we just don't want to bother.

Basically WE ALL KNOW how to SAVE money but we all have difficulty in DOING what we know. Agree? Think about it.

Here To 2010..

Happy New Year All..May your 2010 bring you all the best it can offer.

I spent end of 2009 and early 2010 just resting at home. I slept for 10 hours last night. I must have really tired with all the baking and decorating of 550 cupcakes a day earlier.

I'm back in the office today but I didnt do much. First day at work is hard. I just did some planning, arranging few files ( aka filing), cleaning my desk, chat with my staffs and in the afternoon, I just went blog hopping to read people's resolutions. I was cracking my head to think what I want to do in 2010. I scrolled down my blog entries and tada...

I noticed I didn't jot down my 2009 Resolutions in my blog as I have written them in 2008. I have actually wrote quite a detailed resolutions in 2008 and it applied up to 2018 hahaha..bijak bijak ( hey, I think it's a good idea to write one resolutions for the next 10 years ha?) You have no idea how it help me not to think too much of my 2010 resolutions.

This is my 2008 Resolutions

and In 2009,

I achieved all four of my Short Term Goals ( 2008)

I achieved no 1 and no 3 of my Medium Term Goals. ( 2008-2011 Goals)

- I decided not to buy a new car yet as I don't want to add my debts. I want to live a debt free life for a while. If I am to buy a new car, there is no way I can achieve my no 1 and no 3 goals. So, needless to say, I made a big sacrifice..( sob sob..)

- We went to Perth in October. My parents has decided not to travel long distance anymore.So in return, I give them a certain amount of cash every month. Will continue to give them as long as I am still working

- I decided not to write this book as there are plenty in the market already. So, why waste my time..(smile).What I did was, I started a class last year.

The no 6,7 and 8 was actually just examples for medium term resolutions and not really my goals but guess what I ACHIEVED no 8. I did applied to further my study, ( no 6) unfortunately it was not approved.( I feel sad in the beginning but I believe there is a blessing in disguise for it 'not to happen'. If I get to further my study, Perth will not be in the picture and there won't be any addition to the family yet..'wink'


What I learn from the process of making resolutions and to see it happen?
( I used to be someone who doesnt really care about making resolutions)

1. Write specific goals.

Don't just write I want to loose weight. Instead write I want to loose 5kg in 2010
Don't just write I want to get rid of my debt. Write I want to get rid of this debt ( write what debt, credit card?) by April 2010.

2. Start Small..simple goal which you are 50% sure you can achieve, then add more goal sthe following year or years..

3. Share it. If you don't mind, blog about it. It gives you a nudge or a reminder of it when you re-read them.Don't worry what people think or say.It's your resolutions, not theirs. It's yours to achieve, not their\s. If you achieve it, it's YOUR VICTORY, not theirs.

4. Believe it or not you will achieve it. If not all, you will get some of it.

All the best!


LONG TERM GOALS ( 5-10 years hmmm will be 2008-2018)

Give me some time to work on this one...

In 2010, I'll add few other resolutions and I am gonna make another sacrifice but will let you know after I have 100% decided.

Success In Weaning

For some breasfeeding is too hard to do and many give up to breast their baby/toddler. For me, I don't really have problem with breastfeeding but I become so good at it and now it's too hard to let go.

Last week, I follower farrah's method with asam jawa ( what is the traslation for this one?). I put it on both nipples. Sona sucks and quickly withdrawn. What she said next made me burst into laughter. She alsmost scream " ASAM!!!) That night everytime she wanted to nurse, she keep on saying, nenen mum asam till she slept. The sour taste may have gone in the morning as she can feed without stopping. The next day, I continue to feed her. I think I just don't have the heart to let her starve for breast milk. The following day, while she is about to nurse, I asked her " Nenem mum asam? , She quickly said " Not yet" and put her mouth in as fast as she could.

I failed in my first attempt.

Now, my mum force me to leave her with her for a week. I have bought her Sustagen and I know my mum always have soya bean for her. We will see if I can succeed in this second attempt. It's hard not to see her. This is our second day apart and I am not sure if both of us ( DH) can stand staying in an empty house without our girl..let's hope.

How did you all do it?

Interesting Christmas Cakes and Cupcakes

This post in meant to be posted in my other blog but somehow it appears here..well, i'll just copy la..

A) MickeyMinnie R ( round)C, B) MikeyMinnieS( square)C or C) MMcupcakes and D)MMCupcake

E) SnowMan R ( round)C, F) SnowMan( square)C or G)Snowman cupcakes H) SnowMan cupcakes

I) santa R ( round)C, J) santa( square)C or K santa cupake and L) santa cupcake

Note : 2 Flavours - 2kg Choc Mud (RM120) or 2.5kg Carrot Cheese Cake ( RM130)
Cupcakes : 9 pieces large 4 oz ( RM45)

Pick Up : Ewest Damai 12noon 24th December 2009 ( tentative)
Delivery- pls enquire early.


Dear Valued Customers,

Thank you for the never ending supports in placing your order as early as last month. I will anticipate some time contraints in preparing cakes for christmas/engagement and birthdays which mostly fall on the christmas week , therefore, I will use edible image as for my christmas cakes and cupcakes this year...

Fret not, they are gorgeous and most important, they can be eaten..

You can order by putting the order as your email title as above

(pls note the choice of decoration is on a first come, first serve basis so order fast)

e.g

if you want a choc mud cake with a santa clause design on a square cake

your email title is J - mud cake

if it's just too confusing, just email me...

take care and have a jolly christmas 2009 and happy new year 2010.

Calling All Bag Addicts

Hey,...am still 'battling morning sickness hence the silence..I should be fine by Christmas..I hope.

Kind of funny, everyone who knows about me having MS said, this baby must be a boy. I wonder what is the relation of gender with morning sickness? Anyone has any advice what to eat? tried cracker but tired of eating them now, have avoided spicy food. even pasta don't taste good in my mouth..anyway, i'll survive, we, mummy always survive rite..

I have recently became bag addicts, I have a few friends who are ( they know who they are hahaha) but I do believe most women can't avoid not to be one. A friends once said to me me (which I think is logic), instead of buying few cheap bags, why not buy one good original ( designer label) and feel good about it. It last longer and it gives you the ' good feeling' when you carry one or two...I l know you can relate to me.

I tried and it works.

Visit this blog and get yourself one...I am so tempted to get another one for Christmas...

More of Perth

Baby Penguins

Seals

Mammoth Cave- one of few caves in Margaret River. Unlike here, the caves there are clean and cool.So it's baby friendly cave. Just be ready to climb up to 261 stairs to go back to the entrance. Not suitable for the elderly.

I am feeling much better today, I mean I feel I am normal today. Previous days were spent sleeping and feeling nauseated all the time. I normally take sweet drinks or some sour food to make my mouth feeling better.

I should continue about my Perth trip otherwise I will forget posting about it for the next few months. I notices most mom bloggers seldom update their blog during the early pregnancy. ( I can understand that. Looking at the computer is not as comfortable as it used to be. Okay, before I bla bla bla, let visit Perth again,

Second day in Perth we packed our things to stay at Margaret River. I imagined seeing a River...In fact I did ask my cousin. What are we going to do there, cruising?. She nicely said, It's just a name, it 's full with Vineyards so there will be wineries, sheep farm. cow farm etc. True to what she told me, Sona enjoyed watching sheeps, cows along the journey to Margaret River. On the way we stop at Rockingham. We spent almost three hours visiting Penguin Island. In fact there are few Island at a near vicinity but we only stop at Penguins Island. It was an enjoyable ride. Sona didnt like the boat ride, she was crying and I alsmost felt that it's a wrong Itenerary for her. But then when we reach a small Island where you can see seals and Pelicans, her eyes brighten and she felt excited. She doesnt really know what seals are until that day. We also saw few Dolphins. We also managed to catch the feeding time of nine baby Pegiuns in the Island.