I Support World Vision

"World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by our Christian values, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world's most vulnerable people. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender."

My Dad have been asking me to seriously consider contributing for World Vision. From as low as RM50 per month, you can sponsor a child and make a difference. My Dad is currently the proud sponsor of 6 kids and is still counting. :)

Where are these children from?

These children come from poverty stricken countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Mongolia, South Africa, Lebanon, China, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

How does it work?

When you sponsor a child, an annual progress report will be sent to you between July and September with updates on your child's progress, accompanied with a current photograph of him/her. Also, your child would be writing letters to you. It is really something very personal - almost like you are adopting a child from Malawi like Madonna. :p

What do they do with the donation?

The monthly contribution of RM50 is not given to the child directly as pocket money. The contribution is pooled together with other sponsors' to implement long-term, community-wide changes that help breaks the vicious cycle of poverty. And that's the beauty of this program, it empowers the community to better themselves. It is essentially a long-term self sustainable plan! Typically, World Vision's work within a particular community lasts between 10 to 15 years. Once the goal has been reached, they will move on to serve another community.

What if I want to terminate my sponsorship?

That won't be an issue. All you have to do is inform World Vision and they will look for another sponsor to replace you. But look at the children, they are so adorable how could you bring yourself to terminate their sponsorship? Right??? Right??!!!?!

Is this a scam?

No way. World Vision is incorporated under Section 24 of the Companies Act. Its accounts are audited by Baker Tilly Monteiro Heng and an annual report is open for all to view on their website.

So what are you waiting for? I have made the decision to sponsor 2 children and will increase when my capacity allows me to. After all, what have you got to lose? All you have to do is cut down on four vanilla latte grande from Starbucks a month and you are able to make a world of a difference in someone else's life. :)

Let's make this world a better place, shall we?

Love;

Mrs. Lee

WLM - FAILED!!

Plan has been aborted. Just couldn't stand the hunger pangs!! So much for dieting :(

However, I managed to come up with a 'brilliant' plan - that it is more effective if you loose weight after pregnancy with the confinement food, strict protocols, and the traditional urut and bengkung. So henceforth, I shall only start to shed off my pounds AFTER pregnancy. Plus, the effect is so much more noticeable!

Right now, I need to concentrate on keeping my womb healthy by eating. Heh!

Love;

Mrs Lee

Day 1 : Weight Loss Management (WLM)

My Dad have been pointing out that I have gained weight. Bear have been pointing out that I have gained weight. Colleagues have been pointing out that I have gained weight. Friends have been pointing out that I have gained weight. Family and relatives have been pointing out ...

Yeah... you get my drift - I AM FAT FLABBY (won't say I am fat per say la) !!!!! If I don't control my weight, I am sure it will spiral out of control which is a rather frightening ordeal ok! Yes, I am that vain.

I have not been going to the gym simply because I don't have the time due to work. And due to the same reason, I have been eating late dinners (around 9pm) and hence the gain in pounds. :(

So, I refuse to sit around and mopped about it. I took matters into my own hands and am skipping dinners and replacing it with some high protein/fiber drink. You can say it's like a meal replacement drink (something like your Herbal Life). I intend to take it on weekdays only and allow myself to enjoy my normal dinner meals over the weekends.

And mind you, this sachets of Promex Equal Fit (sold in Guardian) are not exactly cheap ok! It comes in a packet of 7 sachets for about RM45. This concoction mixture comprises of Whey Protein, Milk Protein, Milk Powder, Colostrum, Sucrose, Cereal, and Rice Bran. Sounds healthy, yes? Good to say that the drinks doesn't taste yucky - it taste like Nestum 3-in-1 Oats Drink.

The instruction behind further states that in order to loose weight REAL fast, you skip lunch AND dinner and replace it with the drink. Siow wan! I am not that desperate !

Honestly, I don't think this process of dieting is detrimental to your health because I am still eating normally for breakfast and lunch, and am not totally depriving myself from dinner. I am just merely replacing my dinner with something more healthy. I never ever condone to starving yourself in the name of dieting. That's just plain stupid.

A word of caution though, this drink makes you hallucinate quite badly. By the 3rd hour, I was craving for a bowl of maggie mee / any instant noddles.

Must..re..sist.. instant.. har.. meee

And then, that's where the hallucinating began. Anything that resembles a square begins to look like instant noodles.

A book which I am reading

My Blackberry while I was BBM~ing.

Or does it look like salmon sushi?

In the end, I went to bed early. Staying up late poses too much of a temptation for me!

p/s: Wish me luck! Hope this WLM works!

p/p/s: Just realised that today is 1/11/11! woots~

Love;

Mrs Lee

A Tangled Tale

I have had various styles throughout my 26 years of existence. However, I always notice a recurring trend. I tend to keep my hair long and then chop off my locks - usually into a suave bob-cut.

Here is the documented journey of my hair for the past year:

I was trying to grow my hair because I suddenly developed the urge to have long hair again. This was taken at my previous workplace.

At my current workplace, I restyled my hair (I heart this hairstyle!) but it was a real pain to maintain because I need to blow-dry my locks everyday. By now, I was quite gung-ho to refrain from cutting in anticipation for my wedding. Yes, I am those brides who die-die also must have loonnnggggg hair for the wedding.

Would say that my hair hormones are quite healthy cos in no time at all my hair was really long. This was tied-up in a ponytail at shoulder length.

This was taken two months before the wedding at a Malay friend's Raya open house. I have long-layered hair. Gotta say, I kinda like the style and color - albeit it being a chore to wash/dry. And on hot days, it can be real troublesome.

My hair was still long on our honeymoon trip to Korea. By now, I was dying itching to cut my hair short! I can't stand the hassle of keeping my long mane anymore!

And then I snipped it all off! Of course at that time, I was still a bit weary of cutting it too short. So, in the end I opted for a not too short hairstyle.

Needless to say, the hairstyle didn't last even for a month and I cut it into a short-bob. Bear was shell shocked. Anyway I heart the current hairstyle to bits and pieces and the general feedback was I look better, younger, hipper, and fresher. I like! This photo was taken on 7/Jan/2010 in Phuture and yes I managed to attract quite a few attention *ahem*

Of course, I have had my bad hair moments - when I decided to PERM MY HAIR! Oh no! The picture below was from my University Student Card

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TADA!!!!

I look so much more younger now as a working married lady compared to my university student days. Aihh... memalukan betul!

Love;

Mrs Lee

Babies

Lately I have been thinking a lot about babies. Call it maternal instinct or whatever but I couldn’t shake the thought out of my head. Sometimes I have a strong urge to get pregnant and to experience the joys of motherhood.

Sometimes I feel that I am not ready to conceive, that I am not adequately prepared to fend for a child. Sometimes I am adamant to put pregnancy on hold for the next 2 years to further establish my career, hang out with friends, go clubbing, pub-hopping, watch movies, and travel without any commitments to worry about.

I’ve also been googling a lot on babies’ names (I’ve already decided the name for my babies), reading a lot about what pregnant mums go through, reading about painkillers/epidurals, on what to expect during delivery etc. Truth is that, I adore kids.

My colleagues have been telling me to not wait too long before conceiving – they said there is nothing like motherhood, it is an all-together life changing experience which is priceless. Then I have friends who told me to wait because there is no turning back the minute the kids comes into the picture – you can throw your freedom away. Then also there is the part of juggling between work, home, and kids which can be absolutely tiring and frustrating at the same time. Not to mention the finances part yet.

Then there’s the labour pain part that I am not too keen about… but that can be easily addressed with epidural (I don’t even want to think about the injection/poking part ok *shudders*)

What do you think?
Maternal instinct kicked in early?

Love;

Mrs Lee

My Travel Itinerary 2011

My travel itinerary for 2011 has more or less been firmed up!! So far two places have been booked. :) Am very excited!


January 14-16: Romantic Getaway – Pangkor Laut

Am going to Pangkor Laut for our second honeymoon!! *ahem*

Initially, I wanted to book YTL Pangkor Laut Resort, heard fantastic reviews and comments from colleagues, friends, and Trip Advisor. Plus, they have promotion for Malaysian Residence. Of course, luxury doesn’t come cheap (but it was still very much affordable for the both of us).

Common sense got the better of me and hence I’ve decided to lower our budget (so we can travel to more places) and proceeded to book Pangkor Island Beach Resort instead. For the same price we pay for YTL, we get an upgraded room with sea view, two meals a day, and a TWO HOURS SPA! *woots* *woots*

Can’t wait to just relax in the ocean, soak up the sun, and laze around on the beach. Perfect for a romantic short getaway. *heart*


August 21-29: Land of the Hakka – New Zealand

Thank God for Air Asia! The airline had just launched their inaugural trip to NZ and as usual the tickets were up for grabs at an amazingly cheap deal! I have to thank my Dad for waking up early in the morning to help to book. Our return tickets only cost us RM750/person! :) I am extremely happy! (Yes, I noticed I have been over-dosing on exclamation marks!!!!!!)


How are we gonna survive a 13-hour flight on a budget air is now a concern, but we shall worry about that later. :p

I have been hearing from people who have been there that NZ is a beautiful country to visit. And apparently our 7D6N trip (I discount 2 days off for traveling) is NOT ENOUGH! August is at the tail-end of winter (H 12C, L 3C) so it’s going to be nice and cooling. Best!


Our first visit to NZ will be accompanied by my parents and aunt’s family as well. We will be focusing more on the South Islands. Not too sure if we are going free & easy or following a tour but my Mum would be sorting that part out for us.

This trip will be a gift for me to my hubby. *grins*


September 16-18: Fun in the Sun – Pulau Redang

This will be my 3rd time going back to Redang. I just can’t get enough of the pristine beach and clear blue water. Heavenly~! Furthermore, the trip would be relatively cheap because it’s partly subsidized. Best part, we are flying STRAIGHT into the island! Shiok!

We’ve yet to make arrangements for booking but the trip is more or less firmed up.

Love love love beach holidays!!

p/s: Looks like my white Christmas plan for next year has to be postpone.


Love;
Mrs Lee

The BIG DAY (part 2) - Holy Matrimony

Saturday – 9th October 2010, Holy Matrimony.

The day started at 5:45am for me as my make-up artist (“MUA”), Ally was scheduled to arrive at 6-6.15am. Yes, I was the only one awake. Shortly after, my parents were up because my make-up session was to be at my parents’ room – bigger, cleaner, and more spacious. They proceeded to buy breakfast for my relatives and ‘chi muis’.

Ally was on time and simultaneously my photographer-cum-videographer, Jay and Jian from Hanzfoto arrived. Jay stayed behind and Jian headed to Bear’s place. Not too long, another photographer, Wilson from Red Bliss showed up.

Honestly, at that time I was still in a daze from lack of sleep and feeling very surreal that today was THE DAY. After 1 ½ years of planning, after all the talking, after all the waiting, the day has finally arrived! Again I didn’t feel excited or nervous (which I thought I would) – not too sure why. I was calmed and composed the entire time.

Everything happened so fast from there! My relatives and 'chi muis' came and all complemented on the make-up. I didn’t quite like the day make-up as oppose to the dinners’ because I felt I was too heavily made up. Always prefer to go natural. Always.

Walking down the aisle in church holding onto my Dad’s arm felt nostalgic – it was really a passageway to adulthood. It dawned upon me that I am not staying under the same roof with my Dad anymore. At that point, I felt sad that I am leaving home to be with my husband. I miss my Dad. I still do until now.

Reciting the wedding vows was surreal. I couldn’t believe that I was finally uttering the “I Do” words. I was again in a daze – it was almost an out-of-body experience. I was sitting at the side watching the entire process in awe. And then, suddenly it was over when Pastor pronounced us as husband and wife.

I was officially Mrs. Lee.

By now, the adrenaline rush was wearing down and I was really tired from standing in my 3-inch heels and lack of sleep. Photo session and tea ceremony flew by without a hitch.

We were supposed to put up a night in Marriott to relax ourselves before the dinner on the following day. But my dear husband had not keyed-in the guest list into Excel for my coordinators and there were a lot of last minute things that he had not completed yet. To cut the long story short, we only checked into the hotel at 2.00am. I was angry, frustrated, and extremely exhausted that night.

But when we saw the bridal suite, it was so inviting that all of the day's weariness melted away and I tried to let go of the stress. Slept like a pig that night.

Till then.
Mrs. Lee