WHO-SAID-WHAT? - If Only You Could Find Out From Google...

Do you know that the internet is full of wonderful things?

Gone are the days when you have to buy printed publications to get up-to-date news or info. 

Want to catch up with last week's episode of Dr. Who?

You can stream it online.

How about movies?

You can download it.

Now, please imagine this... 

Someone close to me said that they are going on a tour to Turkey, and didn't know what to expect in regards to the destinations during the tour or the hotel where they are going to stay at.

I wasn't entirely surprised when I was asked if I could find out from Google about the trip.

First and foremost, internet connection isn't a problem for them. And they do own a laptop for the purpose of internet research.

It is just that they do not know where to start their research.

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So off I went, punching strings of relevant words.

Less than 5 minutes later, I found maps, reviews, articles and pictures of what they were asking me to find.

You see people, do not fear the internet.

You could find almost anything just by typing a few simple key words into any search engine of your liking.

I learned how to cook foreign recipes from Mr. Google.

I also get to see how other people cook from Miss YouTube.

And it is never restricted.

In other words, the internet is your oyster.

So, go ahead and use more of the internet to increase your knowledge.

Even if it means you could follow / stalk someone like a detective would. 

I know I did :) . But I can assure you that it was for a good cause.

Just remember to do good with what you got from the internet.

x

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Tree of apps.

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References

History of the Internet. (2014, July 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:26, July 28, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_the_Internet&oldid=615619807

BLOG-OLAN: The Beginning

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I started to blog many years ago and back then it was mostly about random stuff.

I had a couple of blog sites. I would maintain one site for a couple of months, only to deactivate it later due to lack of time to keep the posts coming.

I also think that I wasn't focused on writing. There was no sense of direction or a goal to achieve. Blogging was just an activity for the days when I had nothing else to do. 

There was no concerted effort.

I used to follow other blogs written by friends or just random people, talking in minute detail about their daily life and experiences.

I tried to go in that direction but I felt a lack of passion in documenting my daily life.

I am not against people who document their days in their blog like writing in a diary or journal. 

I just think that direction isn't for me.

This time around, I have put in more effort into my writing and a focus for my blog.

And I am more passionate about my blog this time around!

I hope you'll enjoy reading my blog, as much as I enjoy writing them ;)

Determined look

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x

Alvina

MOMMY-MUST-HAVES: Online Shopping

Do you know that shopping is an activity that has it's own health benefits?

Apart from lifting up your mood and lowering your stress levels, shopping is also a form of exercise and it could also improve your mental acuity, thus helping you to live longer.

Now, what type of a shopper are you?

Loyal?

Discount?

Impulse?

Need-based?

Wandering?

The next question is, where do you shop?

Do you shop from home (which consists of mail-ordering, telephone-ordering and online shopping)?

Or from the neighbourhood shop?

Or are you a party shopper?

For Mommy-Must-Haves issue today, I highly recommend online shopping.

I never fancy myself as someone who would enjoy buying things online. What comes to your mind when someone mentions buying things without looking or touching them first? 

But after having kids, I can't imagine myself without online shopping! From clothes, electronics to groceries, shopping has never been this easy. 

No more dragging the kids and carrying them while browsing for stuff. 

Ahhh....a lot less stress.

If you do love online shopping, what type of a shopper are you?

Newbie? Reluctant? Bargain? Surgical? Enthusiast? Power?

But I still do the occasional mortar-and-brick shopping. In fact I miss the feeling of going through stuff and touching, or even trying on clothes from time to time. 

But for the time being, procuring goods from the comfort of my home is the way to go.

x


References

Mina,Kang. "Memorial Day Sales 5:Health Benefits of Shopping" 23 May 2013. Medical Daily. Retrieved from http://www.medicaldaily.com/memorial-day-sales-5-health-benefits-shopping-246157

Mark Hunter. "The Five Types of Shoppers". The Sales Hunter. Retrieved from http://thesaleshunter.com/resources/articles/retail-sales-trends/the-five-types-of-shoppers/

Shopping. (2014, July 19). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 07:04, July 24, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shopping&oldid=617539523

Melinda Cuthbert. "The Six Basic Types of E-Shoppers" 29 September 2000. E-Commerce Times. Retrieved from http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/4430.html

Happy Merdaka Day Sarawak!

As I have mentioned in my first post, I come from Kuching which is the capital city of the state of Sarawak. 

22nd July is an important date for Sarawak as it is the date when Sarawak was given independence by the administration of the last governor of the crown colony, Alexander Waddell.

Later on the 16th September of the same year, Sarawak together with North Borneo, Singapore and Malaya formed Malaysia.

During that almost 2 months before forming Malaysia, Sarawak was a truly sovereign, independent nation. I could only imagine what it would be like if Sarawak is still a nation of its own today.

Flag of the Kingdom of Sarawak

Happy Merdeka Day Sarawak!

Ibu Pertiwiku

Sarawak Tanah Airku

Negeriku Tanah Airku Sarawak

Engkaulah tanah pusakaku

Tanah tumpah darahku

Ibu pertiwiku

Rakyat hidup mesra dan bahagia

Damai muhibah sentiasa

Bersatu, Berusaha, Berbakti

Untuk Sarawak kucintai

Sarawak dalam Malaysia

Aman makmur Rahmat Tuhan Maha Esa

Kekallah Sarawak bertuah

Teras perjuangan rakyat

Berjaya berdaulat

English Literal Translation

Sarawak, my Motherland

My state, my homeland, O Sarawak

You are my native land

My dear birthplace

My Motherland.

The citizens live in safety and harmony

Peaceful, cooperative (with each other) always

For there's Unity, Effort, Devotion

For my beloved Sarawak.

Sarawak, a part of Malaysia

Peace and serenity, the gift of The Only One

Sarawak, be lucky forever

The core of the citizen's effort

Your success and sovereignty be maintained.

Flag of Sarawak

x


Reference

Flag of Sarawak. In Wikimedia Commons.Retrieved 15:54, 22 July, 2014, from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Sarawak.svg&oldid=117319811

Flag of the Kingdom of Sarawak. In Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 15:56, 22 July, 2014, from http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_Kingdom_of_Sarawak_(1870).svg&oldid=67094929

Ibu Pertiwiku. (2014, May 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 05:57, July 22, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ibu_Pertiwiku&oldid=610741562

Sarawak Independence Day. (2014, July 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 06:07, July 22, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sarawak_Independence_Day&oldid=617823179

School Holiday Mania

I have been away from blogging for 2 weeks and I have the perfect reason for it.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

At first I thought I could do more writing and planning on my topics during the school holidays because:

• since the kinder-going-kid is at home and I don't have to be out and about so I will have more time at home and do my planning
• kids can entertain each other and can play with each other thus leaving me alone to do my thinking and planning
• kids won't bug me as much because it is the school holidays (I know,very naive thought!)

How wrong was I! Not only did they bug me all the time, I couldn't keep up with my daily chores because they bug me much much more compared to non-school holidays time.

I have to entertain them all the time. Even with all the toys and crafting supplies that I have stashed in my drawer, they would complain (more whining and whinging actually) about their daily activities.

Oh yes, I appreciate that I don't have to wake up early and make the lunch box (I still have to wake up early and prepare lunch for the hubby!),but I do feel that I have more things to do when the kinder-going-kid was at home.

The first few days of the school holidays were mostly spent indoors because the weather was horrendous. We managed to make a trip to the Carribbean Gardens for their monthly baby,kids and maternity market. We managed to buy a couple of things and also the much needed play time at the playground.

Not wanting a repeat of the dreadful first week, I decided that I would look for free school holidays activities nearby. 

Monday: Charlie and Lola, Stud Park

Kids love these two characters. I think they are all right. Show ran for about 25 minutes. Children well behaved for the first 10 minutes. After that, some were distracted by all sorts of things going on around them and in the end they were unruly.

Tuesday: Peppa Pig, The Glen

Much much beloved characters among the kids (and parents!). I confess, I did sing to their songs as well! We actually came for the first show of the day, came 30 minutes early and when we reached the stage, it was jam packed!! So we went to the shops first, and came back for the second show,which was also jam packed but as least we got front row seat. Kids (and parents) well behaved for the first 10 minutes, and yes after that they were just unruly.

Wednesday : Beanie Crafting, Springvale Homemaker Centre

I did not take any pictures because there were none to take. We arrived, seated and started to decorate winter benies with stickers and markers. We were there for less than 30 minutes,but it entertained my daughter.

Thursday : Mad Hatter (Illusion and tricks show), Dandenong Library

I enjoyed the show,but the daughter wasn't too impressed. She was enjoying it for the first 15 minutes, then she was just deeply distracted by the people coming and going so we left before the show ended. Nevertheless, it was a very good show organised by the library. Yes, it went unruly by the time we left but it was mostly done by parent/s who shoved themself/ves and their kids to the front or middle of already seated audience. 

By friday, I was exhausted with all the activities, so I decided to just stay home. It was mostly motivated by how much chores had piled up, urghhh.

So I hope you had a wonderful 2 weeks as well.

Cheers!

x

 

Organic Food

I do most of my grocery shopping online. 

I do top up shopping in the supermarket on a regular basis as well. 

On both occasions, I always find myself wondering about the quality of fruits and vegetables being sold in the supermarkets.

Before I go any further, let me just clarify that I buy fruits and vegetables from different types of shops. 

Regular or common types of vegetables such as cucumber, broccoli and carrots are readily available from the big supermarkets.

The less common or region-specific vegetables are usually available from smaller, specialty supermarkets.

I would visit these supermarkets at least once in a fortnight and it is where I get vegetables such as okras, bean sprouts, long/snake beans etc.

In all my visits to the supermarkets to get fresh food supplies, I would ponder if what I'm buying will be good or safe enough to be consumed by my family, especially with little kids at home. Are the fruits and veggies free from chemicals?

Source: Pixabay

I've come across fruits, vegetables and dairy products labeled as organic and I have read and heard many opinions and views about it. Across the board, there is only one thing that I know of organic food; they are definitely more expensive!

Is it really worth the extra money to pay for these organic products? Do they offer better nutrient content?

I always think that it is just a marketing term used to sell more stuff to the health conscious people. I don't consider myself as being a health junkie because I do eat junk food at times.  The reason why organic food is more expensive is because it costs more to produce it in the first place. 

Organic food by definition from Soil Association is food which is produced using environmentally and animal friendly farming methods on organic farms. So no chemicals used to control the pests and weeds, means more farm hands needed to care for the plants or animals, which in turn requires wages to be paid.

So why do people buy (and eat) organic food if it does cost more that the regular produce?

Growing up, I would follow my mum to the vegetable market on a regular basis. She would always say 'get the vegetables with holes on the leaves,you know if the pests have eaten them,then it should be safe for humans too'. 

I guess if you do decide to go organic it should be because you've done your research into the pros and cons. 

For the time being, I strongly believe that moderation is key.

If you eat three bowls of fat free/gluten free/sugar free etc of x type of food when you only need one bowl to nourish your body, that is not healthy eating at all.

Stay healthy everyone!

X

Citation:
Organic food. (2014, June 28). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 09:25, July 4, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Organic_food&oldid=614476461

What is Organic. In Soil Association. Retrieved 19:30, July 4, 2014, from http://www.soilassociation.org/whatisorganic