Hi people, I'm finally back and trying to blog again. I know it's been a while and I'm really a terrible blogger - don't you already know that? Well, anyways, I've restricted this blog to the public and only selected friends/people could view whatever there is in here but I've decided to open up again. Reason why that happen - okay I'll tell now...someone tried to sabotage 'Mama Rock' blog and tried to kill her passion to dream big and unfortunately they didn't succeed somehow cos Mama Rock is a lady dragon (born in the year of the dragon that is) and of course a total rocker, and she will roar to anyone who gets in her way!

So this year of the Dragon is a special year for me and I will make this 2012 year the best absolute year for me! Go Mama!

Lazy Blogger but trying hard not to....

I'm really a one lazy blogger nowadays...it's either I'm too busy at work or trying hard to be productive (duh!) or too tired to blog (despite also being busy as a mommy). So working mama + tired mama = LAZY! But hey..I'm trying to blog now...haha but this is pretty short - just to let anyone who reads this lame personal online journal of my life that I'll be back when I feel like it. Hopefully - soon with a good mind and better mood! Please have patience with Mama Rock ya:)

Anyways, just to post something interesting before I lazed off again...just to let you know I'm currently in love with this kind of music (blame it on my slow and lazy mood this days too) - aha that's JAZZ! But I have always love Jazz music. Because listening to Esperanza Spalding is cool too - so enjoy her lovely jazzy voice and music in this video. And hey, she's a recent Grammy award winner...so if you dislikes Jazz, at least appreciate her music and talent okay people! Check out her other songs too - it's great!



It's about 4am now...need to get back to sleep (just gave Chardon his milk half an hour ago so can't get back to bed) - I know it's crazy but good morning and see you soon in here:P

In the clouds...

When I woke up this morning, I think I was still dreaming that I thought it's Sunday today. I saw my husband dressing up for work and I ask why are you working today, it's Sunday....he just laughed and said you're still dreaming...and then later my sister shouted from her room 'hey you mengigau lah (talking in my sleep). I guess I was still up in the clouds that morning...but I totally forgot what did I dream about till I thought it's the weekend. I think I watch too much Korean drama this week (ahaha) and Chardon keeps waking me up in the wee hours of the morning...either he wants a feed or feeling uncomfortable in his crib or he pee in his diaper or just being manja with his mama and it's the same thing every night. I never get to have a good night sleep since I gave birth to Chardon. And I always continue my sleep in the car while my sister drive us to work and sometimes I mengigau in the car as well.

Anyway....I use to have a Dream Catcher hang in my room before....well, that's long time ago when I was still in college. I think my younger brother must have taken it and keep it in his room - it's a cool thing. I'm always fascinated with the Native Americans (Red Indians) culture and someday visiting their territories in the US is one of my dream list.


The Native Americans believe that DREAM CATCHERS send all good dreams on to the Dreamer but hold the bad dreams in the web until daylight when they are destroyed by the sun's rays.

I have an active brain - I dream almost every night...(seriously). Let's just say my mind is full of imagination!

Go Pixie?

I had a haircut about two weeks ago...but nope not this Emma Watson's (pic above) pixie cut. I got fed up with my hair which was too long...so I had a shoulder length-layered trim. I still have those curly locks though but it's okay - good to give volume to my hair. One day soon - I really would want to go for this Emma Watson (she's the actress who starred as Hermoine in Harry Potter) new pixie do...don't you think she looks lovely with this hair? Perhaps I should slim down a little bit first then this pixie cut will look good on me - ha...we'll just have to wait & see then!

Shucks, if I knew about a public non-profit organization called 'Locks of Love', which I just came across from the net, I would donate my hair to this organisation. (Locks Of Love is an organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the US and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses they provide would help to restore these children's self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.) I will support and donate my hair there one of these days after/if I had a haircut.


Anyway, it's nearly 4 months now since I gave birth to my baby son, Chardon and I'm going through some hormonal change...that is right now my hair has started to fall - lots of hair cos Chardon is also losing lots of his baby birth hair which is actually normal. And I guess I didn't consumed enough calcium during my pregnancy that I didn't lose a tooth but broke a tooth (half of it) which used to be my wisdom tooth - gosh that is so ugly!

What the year of the Tiger holds for me....

I was born in the year of the Dragon, and I read an article from the papers for those who was born in the year of the Dragon - here's what to expect and the things to watch out for in 2010 (year of the Tiger):



Dragon has water, hence will have money. It's a year of challenges but it will be good and smooth if he/she can manage his/her money.

He/she will have to avoid yin places like hospitals and funerals, avoid watching eclipses of the sun and moon.

Tap the energy of the full moon by doing exercises within its view. Wear a jade monkey, jade snake, smooth sailing beads and Ba Gua beads to stay on a smooth path.


About avoiding places like hospitals....being pregnant and giving birth this year, I guess that's not possible...that's the only most visited place I go to these days. And I'm pretty glad my baby will be born in the year of the Tiger (both Carmen and her daddy were born in the year of the Dog). I also read that people born in any specific year are believed to take on the characteristics of the animals.

Tigers are physically strong, independent and bold. People born in the year of the tiger are friendly but they also are short tempered and often take risks in their hunt for excitement. They seek attention and power too and often see themselves as a protector of the weak, so they are not afraid to speak up on any issue that they don't approve of. They are natural leaders who perform their best in positions of power and authority. Tiger people are generally charismatic and are popular but they are most compatible with people born under the signs of the horse, dog and dragons. (Yeah...the four of us - my husby, Carmen, the new baby on the way and myself are compatible and would get along just fine then)

Anyways, let's all have a tigerific year - happy, healthy and prosperous!

Hey 2010!

I hope it's still not too late to wish Mama Rock readers A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!

Finally trying to blog again...been neglecting this space since the new year started. Usually very busy with work at the beginning of the year.

Some lil updates about me...

1) Busy organizing our Chamber's Members New-Year Get Together & Networking Hi-Tea @ Hyatt's Poolside this coming Thursday, 21 Jan;

2) Having water retention on my hands (due to pregnancy I guess) - irritably painful at times - I read eating more bananas can help (ha!) and got to minimise my salt intake (gosh! I just ate KFC's Zinger Tower burger for lunch today);

3) I'm about 5 months plus pregnant now and I can feel my baby's VERY ACTIVE movements - I still don't know if the baby has a tonto*** or tonsi*** (that's what we call the male & female's private parts in 'Dusun' - sorry can't mention in full haha!) So I'm looking forward to do 3D scan at the end of this month; and

4) I'm still looking forward to enroll my myself in taking drum lessons - my long awaited plans.

There's lots of pretty plans for me this 2010...and I'll try my very best to have fun achieving them.

More from Mama Rock later...

At the meantime...enjoy my fav Rain's September 12 vid here..sweet & lovely song!

09/09/09

Why 09/09/09 is so special? This article was on Yahoo! today. I didn't realize today's date looks pretty...in fact it's pretty a special day cos it's my younger brother, Danny's 22nd birthday. Yesterday was my younger sister, Diane Chrissie's 27th birthday. Has wished them both. So we the older siblings already bodek both of them to belanja us a Chocolate Indulgence Cake from Secret Recipe - Yummy! (kekeke).


Anyways, looking forward to a special reunion with my childhood friends and singing group 'Bestfriends' (a singing group we formed in our teens & during high school). We are invited to sing one of our hit songs (aisehman) at our school's homecoming event this weekend. Awesome...will post some picture of us soon (then & now).

By the way, I finally done a make-over on meself...no not on my face but my hair. I tried the 'Meg Ryan's ringlet' - finally. The look is not as what I expected it to be (keriting maggie pulak jadinya) but at least I got rid of my old & boring hairstyle.


There's this 'NEW ME' from now on (aiseh).

Coping Up

It's been more than two weeks now since I started my new job. And I'm coping up but unfortunately feeling a lil d-motivated at first...well I thought I'll be happy but what do you expect...1st day of work in a totally new environment is always not the happiest moment of all. But like I say I'm coping up, being patient, having cool attitude and everything will be okay....(I pray and hope). Talking about enjoying what you do (from my last post)...I'm trying to shoo out those negative thoughts and try to enjoy my work now. I'm doing extreme self-motivation right now! Ya..I do need some moral support from you friends/readers too!

So after this, I'll be feeding my soul with this free art project! Feel free to join me in Feed Your Soul. Remember, art can free your soul!

My last event?

Finally today, our company's major event this year, our Annual Luncheon is over and done with and probably my last event with MICCI. Phew after nearly 9 years I'm leaving MICCI - maybe not for good yet cos they (the bosses) do not want to let me go just yet and they offered to increase my pay but it's still lower than the new offer in my new workplace which I'll be starting my new duty as Administration Manager this coming Thursday. I will miss MICCI tremendously but I will try out this new post first. The good thing is (with this new job) I'm gonna have a secretary of my own to assist me...that's something new and good step to climb up the ladder in the corporate world - so wish me luck people!

Today at the Annual Luncheon, it was chaotic-ly busy as usual but so glad that the Chief Minister (thank goodness the State Assembly Meeting finished early) did turn up but a few Cabinet Ministers did a no show which is so frustrating to those member companies who hosted them. I was too busy to even take photos of the food except the last course - the dessert (Strawberry cheese cake with wild berries sauce - yummy and beautifully presented). We in the Secretariat table sat with a young Japanese businessman who came all the way to Tokyo just to attend the luncheon. Since he called us at the last minute and the VIP table was already filled up, he doesn't mind seating with us. He was so super friendly, humble and speaks good English.

Anyways, since my card reader is not working (shucks!), I'll post some photos later ya.

I'm really, really gonna miss organising/coordinating events after this. Just imagine all the contacts you can get. This difficult decision is for my family and for my own good. I hope things will turn out well.

In a dilemma

Just a quick one....(maybe)

1) My mood is still in its gloomy state. I simply can't write anything here...for now BUT I've to force myself. I know I'm acting silly but just like any MJ's fan, I'm still in deep mourning for him since his death...I still can't get over it. I listens to his music everyday now - especially the Jackson 5. I'm gonna do MY OWN personal tribute to him very soon.

2) This July will be a super duper busy month for me...just can't finish my office to-do list and un-routine workloads...among others are:

- Just done with coordinating a financial clinic with Maybank at the Le Meridien KK today;

- Part of the organising committee & starting to get busy for the Inter-Chamber Golf Tournament - Chief Minister's Challenge Trophy to be held at the end of this month at Nexus Karambunai Resort;

- Preparing for our company's Branch Annual Luncheon to be held in early August at STAR, all invitation to VVIP's are out, RSVP's to do in the next 2 weeks, calling member companies to take tables/seats for the luncheon, food tasting, hope the Chief Minister (our Guest of Honour) do turn up and not tell us at the last minute he can't make it or else it will be total chaos and etc;

3) I've made my decision (finally..after much thinking) to leave my current job after nearly 9 years due to a better offer with better pay for a managerial position near my hometown (which is great - nearer to my family) - with a heavy heart of course but this is a good opportunity to make some difference/changes and improvement in my life. However, my boss won't accept me leaving and willing to keep this job for me, just in case I'm unhappy with the new one and at the same time will negotiate with HQ to raise the pay I WANTED from before (how sweet! but we'll see how things goes). This year will have me do lots of transitions in life - for the better;

4) I finally got a new car of my own - a light blue coloured Proton Saga (the new Saga version) that I might need to drive to my new workplace very soon;

5) I desperately need a new hairdo - we'll see this weekend.

More from me later ya....

Kotobian Tadau Kaamatan (Happy Harvest Festival)

If you didn't hear from me...bla-bla-ing here for a few days that means I'm off for the Kaamatan holidays. It will be a long weekend. It's Harvest Festival for the Kadazandusun and Murut Community here in Sabah on May 30 & 31 (this is an info for the non-Sabahan & you may click here to know more about our 'Tadau Kaamatan' & here on how we dance the Sumazau). I'm a dusun and still thinking what are my plans for the Kaamatan weekend.

Anyways, would like to wish all Sabahans...especially the Kadazandusuns & Murut a BIG KOTOBIAN TADAU KAAMATAN KUMAA DOKOYU TOINSANAN! HAPPY HARVEST FESTIVAL! Remember don't moginum and drive.


Me doing the Unduk Ngadau wannabe pose and in my younger & slimmer days (at 17 & of course still single at that time) with my traditional Kadazandusun costume.

My sister Debbie and I harvesting paddy at the back of our Kampung home in Kg. Rani, Tenghilan.

I'm SO proud of my roots and being a Sabahan is cool! Aramaitiiiiii....

5 facts about me

I'm sharing here 5 secret facts about me (which may sound a lil silly, weird, unusual or anything you name it that can make you wanna say "so what?" or "whateva!") I do have lots of unimportant facts about me but I think 5 will do for now.....

1) I could be a little 'Obsessive Compulsive' at times (something like the 'Monica Geller' character in the comedy series 'Friends' - neat freak but still can be messy). I said 'a little' so that means I'm mild OC (HA!). I liked to see things being arranged in orderly manner, neat and clean but not necessary all the time. Sometimes I can be messy - I have too much things in my room but as long as they are piled up properly in one place and where I can easily finds them, so its okay. My brother used to tell me I'm not normal and I'm like Monica...hahaa..ya right.

2) Since I was a kid, I'm a collector of things aka 'Junk Collector' - I have a huge box of junks and I even keep them under my bed, from all kinds of notebooks, candy wrappers, fashion tags, stamps, stickers, paper bags and etc. I collect things that looks cool and interesting to keep. Who knows these stuffs could be valuable in 20 years time.

3) I used to own a pet turtle named 'Jet Li', a gift given by my then boyfriend and now my husband. It was fun and I thought of buying a turtle again....sometime this year perhaps.

4) Secretly witness the doctor and a few nurses did the C-Sect operation on me when I gave birth to CJ through the operation theater's lights (there's like a mirror surrounding it) cos they forgot to close the cloth over my face and I can't feel anything from the waist down. The operation lasted for 45 minutes and I kept saying 'God please be with me' cos I nearly passed out, could hardly breathe and of course scared. This is crazy...I appologize if this subject might effect you psycologically.

5) Likes eating bread spread with mayonaise and 'kaya' (westerners might think its ridiculous and probably disgusted cos Mayo is only meant for proper sandwiches and salad)

So that's it...whadya think about me now?


And what on earth is this lady doing here?

Happy Weekend & Mother's Day

Time really flies fast and weekend is here again and I've always look forward to do something worthy like painting an abstract art, crafting, scrapbooking, play and sing in the piano & etc at the weekends...unless I'm too tired/stressed up after layaning my little rascal CJ then I've become a lazy bone and my time for the weekend goes wasted...really frustrating when that happens...which usually does.

Okay here's something unrelated - American Idol...yes we now have the top 3 and Adam Lambert is in...of course he's the favorite to be the winner. I'm quite fond of him too, he's handsome but sometimes his looks are quite scary and weird but that's what we called unique and he might be or might not be - GAY. But he looks so convincing that maybe the rumours are true...OH NO! I think after he wins then he'll speak out the truth cos right now he needs or wants to be the next American Idol. See what happened to Clay Aiken.

The Top 3 - Kris Allen, Danny Gokey & Adam Lambert.

The handsome look of Adam Lambert

The scary look of Adam Lambert

Anyways, have a fun-crazy and smiley weekend then. Now I'll leave you to enjoy listening and singing to my all-time favorite song. Here's 'After All', a theme from the movie 'Chances Are' sang by Peter Cetera and Cher (but Kim Keyes sang Cher's part in this video). I think I'm going to revive my vocal and sing this song at the weekend...I used to memorize it by heart. It's truly a love song and best sang at weddings.


AFTER ALL
Well, here we are again
I guess it must be fate
We've tried it on our own
But deep inside we've known
We'd be back to set things straight

I still remember when
Your kiss was so brand new
Every memory repeats
Every step I take retreats
Every journey always brings me back to you

Chorus:
After all the stops and starts
We keep coming back to these two hearts
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall
After all that we've been through
It all comes down to me and you
I guess it's meant to be
Forever you and me
After all

When love is truly right
It lives from year to year
It changes as it goes
And on the way it grows
But it never disappears

Chorus

Bridge:
Always just beyond my touch
You know I needed you so much
After all, what else is living for?

And Happy Mother's Day too - read related post here.

Now a better worker

Glad that everything is over and done with. I've coordinated and handled 'alone' a 2-days training workshop on "Upgrading Skills to Enhance Productivity at the Workplace on 28 & 29 April at the Promenade Hotel, since my boss was away for a personal leave. There were only 10 participants (mostly executives from 3 large & well-established companies) including myself (because I think I too need to improve myself) and that's why its very easy to handle. It was more like an informal training workshop and all of us has become like a 'family' after these memorable 2-days. I could say we all had fun, we laugh alot and freely share our opinions & experiences. I enjoyed and we all promise to keep in touch as friends. So now I think I want to be a better worker...more productive I guess(?).





Well, since it will be a long weekend & tomorrow is Labour Day, I would like to share here 10 Working Tips for you and I:

1) Do not get into trouble
2) Aim for greater heights
3) Stay focussed on your job
4) Exercise to maintain good health
5) Practise team work
6) Rely on your trusted partner to watch your back, take your time trusting others..
7) Save for rainy days
8) Rest and relax
9) Always smile when your boss is around
10) Nothing is impossible

I learned that SUCCESS is a journey....so work towards it. HAPPY SMILEY WEEKEND!

No wasting time for the weekend

Weekend is here again....time passes so fast. I'm gonna do and work on something worth while this weekend...I must not waste my time like last weekend (sigh) so firstly I need to come up with my 'list to do things'.


Happy weekend people! I'll leave you with some important tips to take care of your health.....

1. Answer the phone by LEFT ear.
2. Do not drink coffee TWICE a day.
3. Do not take pills with COOL water.
4. Do not have HUGE meals after 5pm.
5. Reduce the amount of OILY food you consume.
6. Drink more WATER in the morning, less at night.
7. Keep your distance from handphone CHARGERS.
8. Do not use headphones/earphone for LONG period of time.
9. Best sleeping time is from 10pm at night to 6am in the morning.
10. Do not lie down immediately after taking MEDICINE before sleeping.
11. When battery is down to the LAST grid/bar, do not answer the phone as the radiation is 1000 times.

And also you may want to check out Gwyneth Paltrow's website GOOP to make you feel good and energise your soul this weekend. It's really worth while reading it...inspiring and amazing actually, besides those negative controversy from critics that they "do not get it" but I totally get it.

Mmmmmm....listening to Jazon Mraz cool music now...I'm really looking forward to my weekend.

Remember be happy, put lots of smiles on your face, have a good heart and most of all have fun!

XOXOXO from Mama Rock

Blings

I recently purchase these bling-blings from Winnie, friend/colleague from SIE. I know having or buying this stuffs are not really that necessary right now (maklum lah kegawatan ekonomi) cos I want/need to do lots of $$ saving for myself (e.g. go travelling, do business etc) and for my family....but I just can't resist how lovely there are (that's a confession of a shopaholic). It's more for collection actually but I'm already wearing the bracelet to glitter up at work (ha!). I love the fact that Winnie also has a blog "The Baby Jewels" (wow..my Carmen's 2nd name) selling range of jewelleries & accessories to choose and buy...so I'm promoting her now....go BUY cos it's affordable and will make you pretty!

Necklace @ RM12 (on my babygirl's photo), Bracelet @ RM9 (on my dry hand cos forgot to pakai lotion..muahaha) and Ballerina Necklace @ RM26:





Blings makes mama rock happy!

Quite back on track

Felt so dead boring last week...our internet line was down for a few days (not sure if it's because of our very old-fashioned modem or the server was badly affected due to some upgrading works going on?????) After tired of complaining to TM...our office finally decided to change/upgrade our modem & router to the latest brand there is that's in the market right now...going wireless lah konon...it's time for a change...we should have done it before.

I had a very bad cold last Thursday...stuck in bed with high fever and now with a terrible dry cough...just hope my Carmen will not catch this virus bug....thank God right now, she's still ok.


Anyways, I bought Stacy's debut album "Aku Stacy" to get myself back on track...I need to listen to some upbeat music at the moment...to be inspired to write some songs. The album has 7 tracks and I think 'Gagap' is a cool song...I like! Another Sabahan talent to be proud of!

Art Project #3 & some inspiration

I've motivated my mood to be inspired and to work on some creative art projects these past two weeks such as these simple junkies. This is my real passion - I LOVE DOING THIS! Although I did this for fun and it feels great seeing & knowing what you have done after that - either its pretty or ugly...the most important is just being plain creative. Everyone can be creative!

No. 1 project: Handmade Notebooks

The 1st notebook I did is a "Love Urself Mini Book" (haha) (see pics: front, inside and back cover)...a little bit cincai because I memang cincai while doing it (ha)...so i guess it didn't turn out good....but good enough for scribbling and as 'buku rojak' lah.



Later...I did another two notebooks that looks better. I used recycled and leftover blank coloured papers from the office...instead of throwing, recycling is even better.



No. 2 Project: Mini art boxes / candy boxes (made out of matchbox/kotak macis)



I also love this so called tiny 'mint tin' which is very useful to keep little stuffs like paper clips, paper tacks and even staples. What a cutie!




I also adores this colourful paper tacks. I've got to buy more of this and they have few other cool designs. Got them from Mini Toons shop at 1Borneo Hypermall.



For my daily INSPIRATION, I got it from two of my fav creative blogs - decor8 & Creative Comfort. They just lashed out the creativity in me.

Inspired lately and will share some updates......

Been tight up with so much work recently. I've just got over and done with organising a Briefing on Goods & Services Tax by PricewaterhouseCoopers last Thursday and looking forward to our Branch's Committee Meeting followed by lunch hosted by one of Suria Group's company tomorrow. Afterthat...I'll go yeah and phew! Despite the busy-ness, I've been inspired to do a little bit of art projects lately (finally) and I've been working on them during the nights after my Carmen has gone to bed. I'll share something about it soon.

Well, some more later...but right now need to get back to my inspiration.

XoXoXo from Mama Rock

An awesome book

I came across an interesting blog through my fav creative site decor8 that I like...another creative one of a kind named Danielle Thompson. She also owns a shop called Tiny Bazaar selling cool and amazing crafts that I would die for...inspiring! Anything to do with arts and crafts...you name it...I'll just go all out for it...either I buy it (but of course depends on its cuteness and price)or try to do something like it. In one of Danielle's post, she featured about a talented author and illustrator named Dallas Clayton whom just published a children book called "An Awesome Book". I think this is really an awesome book and the author himself is crazy and funny....check out this video of him promoting the book. Funny and I laughed.


An Awesome Book from dallas clayton on Vimeo.
Here's some images about the book taken from Danielle's blog.


I hope this book will land in our local bookstore soon...I'll have to go find it already, if not then order it. It is for my Carmen...I want her to be imaginative and full of dreams.