Atkins Update!

I haven't been taking picture updates of myself recently so instead, I'll amuse you with a picture of my baby girl, Eirian which I took on Saturday evening when we were out for our estate's Hari Raya/Deepavali Get-together Concert.

For the record, I constantly put in my weight loss updates to keep track of my progress. I'm another 2kg down to 82kg. *see my Eirian giving me the 2 finger action*

Thats a total of 13kg so far... phew! Now... another 27kg to go.. *alot of Jeans getting relegated to the gifting bag and out of my cupboard.. anyone size 18 needs some comfy pairs of jeans?*

Somehow 27kg doesn't seem so daunting as my original aim of 40kg when I was much bigger some 7+ weeks ago..

Now just... to go on till I reach 55kg..We can do it! Right Lao Gong? hehehe *muaks* ...

Bee Movie

Check out this event coming up on the 11th of November 2007! You can go to www.berriwerks.com for further details! Ticket costs $12 and includes a whole host of activities, lucky draw, a goodybag and a screening of BEE MOVIE! Hope to see you there!!!

Registration is needed and can be emailed to pamela@berriwerks.com

Fathers...

This video made me start sobbing almost immediately. In our hearts.. a parent's heart. Our children will always be loved. Always our little girl. Some parents show their love in different ways, the most puzzling at times are Fathers.

When I watched this, I wonder if my father looked at me the same way when I was born and when I was growing up? Was I a disappointment? Did I make him proud at any time?

I was my grandfather's little girl, My Ah Gong. He died in 1988. I still miss him. His name was Charlie. I always smile when I hear that name. I have fond memories of him which I will leave to another time and another blogpost.

My dad on the other hand.. is also one character who's too much of a man & too proud to show his emotions. I did see him cry once during my turbulent teen years. It almost broke my heart then to realise that I made him cry. He tried to hide it as he walked away from me but I saw it.

My own father shows me his love in the wierdest ways. Perhaps its because its the best way he knows how. He doesn't talk to me much. Actually, he doesn't talk to me at all other than the usual commentary and small talk when we meet. IF we meet.

Sometimes, I reach out for help and albeit being the grump he usually is, he hears me out and when he can or maybe when he wants to, he helps in his quiet ways.

He buys little cartoon DVDs and packs them up for his only grand daughters... my girls. He cuts them strawberries and puts them on little platters when I bring them over. He loads them with ice-cream when I'm not looking because he can give up to 3 popcicles at one go. I find it amusing

When I was younger, the only time I hear him speak is all about my studies. Asking how my results where and giving me lectures on how I have to try harder. *I can now empathise with the frustration of a child who's obviously not trying her best!* I couldn't see it then.

He calls the guys who call me on the phone, GAYS... I think he thought he was trying to be funny. *Ha ha (rolls eyes)* I'd ask "who called?" he'd reply "a gay". Alamak... he was in denial.

He has this thick moustache and when I was small, he'd kiss me and I'd cringe and yell because his hairs would poke into my face... EEEEEEEEEeeeeeee DUWAN u to kiss me lah!! *run away*

He'd spend time with me bringing me to music concerts. He'd never tell me in advance but 1 hour before the show starts at 6pm. He'd ask me to go get changed and we'd drive out, only for me to realise we're heading to Kallang Stadium for a concert. He's buy tickets on the spot over the sistic counter. We'd spend the night watching people who are just too old for me then.. ie Kenny G... or Simply Red ... and then he's drive us both home and I'd crash at the back of the car listening to the radio as he drove home.

So many times then, I wanted to throw my arms over him and thank him for the pleasant evening but I always stopped and just said it in my head. Hoping that he could hear it. Obviously not. Kinda like I was embarrassed. I don't know why. He'd hold my hand out of the car and brought me to my room while I stumbled from the driveway into the house. We'd do the same for movies too. It was a very quiet affair where we just spent time together. Quietly in a very noisy environment. We'd just get something to eat. Watch something. In silence together and then go home. I still enjoyed it though.

I guess thats just how we did those dad - daughter bonding thing then. The way he knew how.

We never talked so it was hard for me to tell him that I loved him as my daddy too. He's still almost a stranger now.. with the exception that I know that he's still arnd.

Its hard for him to tell me he loves me because of his ego perhaps or maybe he's just too proud to say it but I can feel it. I know that he does and I'll take that. I love u D. I know I don't say it much. I do.

Nomin Seafood Steamboat

With recommendation from my favourite galpal, Diana who went on TV earlier this month on Ch. 8, on that food show with Bryan Wong. We made plans to head down to Nomin Seafood to check out the "famous" seafood steamboat.

Being on Atkins, a seafood steamboat is just perfect! Without the rice of course! I've taken some pictures off moley's blog to feature here... (moley.. u dun mind right?.. right?)..

Where to find this place:

Nomin Seafood

31/33 Teck Chye Terrace

For Reservations (Highly Recommended) = 6286 3291.

(Occupying a couple of the shophouses along Teck Chye Terrace,Opposite Paya Lebar Methodist Church,beneath the Upper Paya Lebar Flyover, Off Upper Serangoon Road, 5-10 mins from Serangoon MRT exit B/C)

We had the Seafood Herbal Wine Steamboat which costs $30 (enough for 2 people). When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised that everything was layed out nicely in a platter. I was a little disappointed at the portions though.. I can definitely eat more than that. But still, I'm on a diet and it was still good.

We (when I say we, meaning CJ and Eirian came too) didn't realise that it was going to be so intoxicating.. When they say Herbal wine, they really mean WINE. The soup stock had a base of 6 types of wine! You couldn't tell that they had so many inside but it tasted good!

At first taste, CJ *the connoisseur of good chinese food* went OOOHH! gOOOD SOUP!... I tasted some too.. not bad!.. so we continued eating and dunking the seafood pieces into the soup to boil up. There were Prawns *which Diana says that when they did the review on TV, they were huge THEN... this one we had were SMALL!!.. how can!!! haha*, a Small Crab *fresh!!*, Straw Golden Mushrooms *something I know my SIL loves*,Fresh Scallops, Fish slices, Frog legs *eww.. I dun like. I like froggies! How to eat them!!*, Sea Cucumber, Slices of Squid and 6 Balls balls of something.. mushroom ball maybe? all which lay on a bed of vegetables.

To order additional ingredients, it costs an additional $18 for another platter.. *I might consider this if I'm really hungry* The soup however is free flow and can be refillled upon request.

Before long.. we looked up from our meal and stared across the table at Diana and Michael (her lao gong) and exclaimed "ehh!! ur faces r damn red loor!! FLUSHED!" only to have them say "urs too lah!!".

Straight away, we denied it just thinking that it was because the place wasn't airconditioned and we were just feeling warm. We whipped out our cameras and promptly took our own pictures and voila! Flushed and Blushed.. compliments of the Seafood Wine Soup! *see first picture* Wah lau... but it was so good.. everything was eaten and all the soup all the way down to the base of the crockpot was drunk.

Definitely must give this place a try again.. and must bring my MIL to try too... they have a "special lime juice" there that I'm thinking that my MIL will absolutely LOVE.

There's not only steamboat there.. even normal cooked food aka Zhi Char style can be found there and they also look very good and reasonably priced lor! *just that I can't eat them now...*

And of course, whats an outing with Shervon without Eirian. These two are even wearing the same coloured shirt and always look foward to meeting each other to play. Eirian loves the fact that she's the big sister for once and that she has a friend in Shervon. They both obediently wallopped down their fried rice and immediately started jabbering with each other with their kiddy language... :)
General review for this place: Good. Must go back and try again one day soon.

Blogskins & Facebook again...

I've been reading alot of new blogs recently and I've noticed that many of them have a really pretty blogskin and I come to mine and I see it and go URGH! boring.. Half considering approaching CJ who is the technical brain on our side to help me find a new one crossed my mind. But I know I'd just be waived away with a glance of an evil eye and a swish of his hand whilst giving me the "u're asking me to waste my time doing what??!" sigh.

Anyone want to create a new blogskin for me? This one just makes me want to rant more and the standard ones on blogger is just so not me. Anyone?

Whilst I am sometimes the graphic designer by trade, thats only using photoshop and freehand for me. Somehow... webpages still escape me and worst still... blogskins?

On another note, Facebook is becoming quite boring after a while. I've added here n there, gave some gifts, re-acquainted myself with really old american school friends from decades ago (just some of the benefits of a widely popular social networking online program)... changed my mood, beautified my page and updated its little bits from time to time.

For some reason, the "social networking" just gets boring after people stop talking to you there. I've seen a couple of galfriends even delete their account on the basis that it seems that in Facebook, somehow 6 degrees of separation doesn't apply. It almost becomes 2-3 degrees apart. How scary to note that the world is now one global village with no boundaries with the internet. For me.. I'm fine.. I'm always amazed at how a program like that can attract so many people and link me randomly to someone I actually know. *Most of them though, who don't really recognise me so I have alot of email asking, Pam! Is that you?* I'm pretty sure that I don't look THAT different or maybe everyone was expecting a really FAT me?

I guess all that hype over facebook is pretty much fizzling out for me unless my contacts decide to revive the place up with some ACTUAL communication. Even a note in my inbox is nice.. I look forward to that ALOT more than checking my profile.

It also annoys me that I've had people add me to their list just to FILL up their profile and never made the attempt to introduce themselves or even get to know a little more about me than wat was written on profile. I'm not on facebook to be a groupie where I turn to my left and go "oh! do I know you?". I want to know each and everyone on my facebook personally and not have them there JUST so that we are part of a group group thing..

Just like actual friends. I'm happy with less than a handful of really good friends that care about me. People who like me for who I am and care about me more than 75% of the time when they think about me. People who are genuinely interested in what happens to me and perhaps join me in facebook to interact on a fun level. I don't need tens or even hundreds of friends to feel accepted and loved, just the few special ones.

I hate getting bitten by Vampires.. I never added this function..and I hate throwing hot potatoes.. so if you have me on your profile. STOP IT.
Send me anything but these 2 because they go almost immediately into my IGNORE list. Í don't have the time to sit there and help you convert ur vampiric persona to become more dead. *rolls eyes*

I like actual communication where I meet up with actual people and just talk about anything we can think about. Where we can spend hours just whining, laughing, emphathising or just talking rubbish. Where I actually give and recieve ACTUAL gifts that I can touch, hold and smell or even eat. (Don't try to attempt to send me a carb laden food gift now, I'll hate u hahaha).

I think Facebook is still a nice place.. I was just hoping that it would have been interesting enough to keep me interested for a longer period of time.. I'll give it a little longer before I give it a boot.

GRO SHOES

Pre-order offer ending at the end of this month! Order your pair of GROwing shoes today! ... more details can be found at www.munsterwerks.com. Check it out! *Click on the image above to enlarge and read up!

A review was done over at molemole.sg over here.

I love the little bits of good news...

Albeit Sunday saw some bits of ups and downs. Downs where I TOTALLY SMASHED and lost miserably at our usual Family weekend Mahjong session.. left oni $2 in coins leh from $40!!

Wah lau eh! I didn't even win a single game can. *grumble* I'm not such a bad player ok hahah I just learnt how to play this year only too.. not bad liao lah..

Downs where I ate too much.. I get grumpy now when I eat too much bc it becomes extra to work off during my diet. I'm currently in a state that I'm just happy that I've lost 11kg. Hubby lost 18kg already.. How different I would look with another 7kg more at 18kg down.. well we'll see how it goes on. I'm still envious.. kua kua kua.

Downs where I feel my tummy still feeling amazingly spongey and squishy.. NOT that I ever had a hard firm tummy but its hard to be on this diet and still have a tummy that feels like jello.

Good news came in the form of 2 emails. Firstly, I finally have my first Nuffnang Ad (look up!! look up!!) and its from NIKE! Fwah!!! Hey people.. support support leh.. Click on the banner when it finally appears. It's only on for a week from 27th Oct - 3rd Nov 07. haha I need the money to buy food and new pants. Protein Food is really expensive compared to carbs filled ones.. ie just chicken costs alot more than buying chicken rice. And my pants don't fit well anymore.. -.-''

Another email came in the form of a progress update from the marketing manager of that wellness/slimming centre that has proposed to perform a "before/after" transformation on me. YYYAAAAYYYY!!!! I'm that much closer to them confirming this deal.

I know I've released this info to only a handful of my close friends but I'm just so excited! Help me keep your fingers crossed~!

As you've noticed, I haven't named which one it is and once its confirmed, IF they confirm it. I will surely link them up here on my blog. A couple of days ago, she called to ask if I can commit a 5 day a week treatment for 3 months straight, 2 photoshoots and a TV appearance.

Of course I said Yes! Like I mentioned, this is a once in a lifetime chance and this is the 2nd time this was offered to me. The last time was with Cenosis, I can name this centre now because I already had to reject it then due to work commitments some years back. This time, hubby had given me his blessings to hold the fort at the studio whilst I'm off for my treatments at this other place... *love love*

Another one of my galfriends offered to pass me a couple of her Kitz leaf Humidifiers plus 8 bottles of room esssence for a very minimal token sum. Wahhhh!! Good news leh those room essences are damn ex.. I love those leafy room deodorizers.. they make each room smell SOOO good. And knowing the very "yau gui" (hungry ghost = greedy) me, I'd like to snap up her offer up soon as soon as hubby agrees. Thank you Janet!!! *muaks*

Another week to come soon, I hope business picks up soon.. anyone need creative services for design & print? Event management? Gifting? We do that you know! If you know anyone who might need these services.. call me!!

Also, my GRO shoes need more exclusive distributors, so if you're a stay at home mom, or even a working mom and keen on a sideline. Drop me a note with your email address and I'll send you details. Rest assured that our incentive can be quite attractive in the long run.

Finally 84kg!

Its been days to finally break out of this plateau! 12 days to be more exact. Wow! Sooo long!
Finally did my run again today and weighed in at 84kg.. I hope this is another break and it will continue to drop more till my next plateau and I hope that doesn't come soon! It has been pretty frustrating!

On another note, my pants are finally lose enough not to unbutton when I need to pull them off and thats a GOOD SIGN! Soon, I'll either have to buy suspenders to wear them or I'll have to donate it to someone who wears a size 16-18. Anyone? They're well loved jeans... :)

More updates soon! And Hubby decided to check out my blog finally one day when I was out and he complained that I have alot to complain about! Wah!! Isn't that what this blog is for? To keep me sane lah! ...... kua kua kua...

Hari Raya Weekend coming up! Selamat Hari Raya to any of my readers who is celebrating! Bless u! *hugs*

Point to note: I've noticed an increased in readership on my blog lately, most of you I noticed don't leave me a comment or note in the chatbox to let me know who you are! I would really like to know.. so lurkers.. come out and say hi... :) And welcome to my world.

I have another child.

No. I'm not pregnant.

But I realise that I have another child. No. Its not Lauren Sim. Its not Eirian Sim.

Her name is NOTME Sim. It must be my 3rd child because she is always around when I get worked up. I take it that its probably a girl because my girls play very girly games like masak masak (cooking) and dolls and dress up alot and they play really messy!

This little girl, NOTME is quite a pitiful one. Everytime I come roaring into the room where I see milo spilled into the toy box and say "who did this!" - Both my girls will turn on an innocent face and retort "NOT ME!".

I walk into a play area and see tiny bits of shredded paper like snow and I realise that they shredded some important office documents and I roar: "Who did this! Better own up! NOOOW!"

And as expected, my 3rd little one gets it again. Both Lauren and Eirian shouts "Not Me!"

I will look around with my pulse throbbing at my neck and my face turning red with fury.
Notme! Notme again!

I walk around the room looking under pillows to "search" for this child named Notme and count down from 10.

When I reach Zero, I expect that someone owns up to the offense that I found or BOTH gets it from me. "Gets it" ranges from the simple smack to serious disciplining depending on the offense.

Perhaps one day I'll find my 3rd child, Notme. Esp since my girls have been so confidently giving the blame to her.

Is Notme in your house?

85kg and going..

Just a little HELLO from an 85kg me. *as you can tell, pictures from my hp doesn't come out too clear... perhaps I'll have to consider looking for a proper camera*

30kg to go.. I've been at this weight for about a week again but it'll break soon. 10kg is nothing spectacular, perhaps 20kg down would look better but I'm not giving up.

Don't let the face decieve you that I'm smaller than I really am.. those who know me in real life know that I'm still a really HUGE lady.. but just getting better as the weeks pass by.

Thank you to all who have been encouraging me so far! *love love* You all are precious.