Online shopping in KL

Posted on November 17, 2009November 17, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

So whilst I'm dreaming of my Christmas wish list, I found something else I'd like to add. Guess who's come online, guys? The first plus sized retailer in Malaysia has finally done it - welcome Ms Read!!! Honestly, I am so grateful to Ms Read for stocking clothes.......click to learn what next.

Helper with a good life

Posted on November 15, 2009November 15, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

Did I not tell you that the Hubs said our helper had a better life than us? She went to Cameron Highlands with her agent 2 weeks ago for holiday. We gave her some advance salary to go. And I told her that when our family couldn’t afford.......click to learn what next.

Teaching Stay at Home Moms how to start a profitable blog

Posted on November 10, 2009November 10, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

For the longest time, I've wanted to start a blog to do just this. I know that there are many Moms out there who would like to earn an income stream from home yet haven't a clue about the first things they need to do in order to.......click to learn what next.

Blog crossroads

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

For the longest time this year, I have spent hours deliberating on the direction of this blog. It's readership is increasing by leaps and bounds, my Adsense income doubled from last month so I'm looking forward to more checks. Local advertisers have begun contacting me. It's been a.......click to learn what next.

Taking responsibility for yourself

Posted on October 30, 2009October 30, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

I find that there is a particular group of people in this world and rampantly so in Malaysia, who are what I call the BLAME IT people. These are people who always or more often than not put the blame on others for whatever reason whenever there is.......click to learn what next.

Just Curious

Posted on October 26, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

If someone made you a recommendation or an introduction, would you report back to them once you've tried their recommendation or met up with the person they introduced you to? What if it was a really bad recommendation or you had a really bad experience? I'm curious...... I.......click to learn what next.

Losing my head

Posted on October 24, 2009October 21, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

Anyone seen it? Because I lost it yesterday. After a stressful trip to the hospital and a continuously stressful day, what I did not need was to discover that T2 did not have any spare clothes to wear to sleep and I did not have any breast pads.......click to learn what next.

Interior Design in Malaysia

Posted on October 22, 2009October 19, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

In being trained as an architect, of course, I could also be an interior designer. I worked a few years in a corporate interior design firm and have more than enough skills to start an interior design firm. It would be much more fun than architecture as architecture.......click to learn what next.

Learning the octopus dance

Posted on October 22, 2009October 22, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

It finally dawned upon me today that in order to bring two young children up graciously, keep a happy husband from philandering, remain on friendly talking terms with your friends and family AND run a successful business, I would have to learn the octopus dance. And not sleep........click to learn what next.

First female architect in Malaysia

Posted on October 21, 2009October 19, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

In wondering what I would be doing as an escape from the banal and very difficult job as a stay-at-home-mom, I have been pondering as to what I would be doing as next steps. Every night, I would think about my skill sets, what I am qualified to.......click to learn what next.

Doing things differently

Posted on October 12, 2009October 7, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

Tee, my daughter of five years old, ever since she was 18 months old and possibly even earlier except that my memory doesn't stretch that far, has always done things differently. She is a little rebel that will do just the opposite of what you tell her to.......click to learn what next.

Stupid Malaysian roads

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

I'll say this because I live on this road that is made up of TWO roads of the same name with dead ends on each. It is damn bloody annoying because people ALWAYS get lost coming to my place. It used to be one long road and then.......click to learn what next.

Duties of a Home Affairs Director

Posted on October 11, 2009October 11, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

For a good part of my weekend, I have to sit and utilise what little I have left of my brain to think up 7 days of meals that comprise breakfast, snack, lunch, tea and dinner; just so my helper knows what to feed us, what to prepare.......click to learn what next.

Thoughts on having a helper

Posted on October 8, 2009October 6, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

Having a helper is a constant job of reminding and reminding and reminding.....so much so that it becomes tiring. I keep telling myself that she is just here to perform the task and not to expect any brain power in remembering things *sigh* Yet, a big part of.......click to learn what next.

Maid Syndicate

Posted on September 28, 2009September 28, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

I sat down with 3 old ladies (all more than 60 years old) last week who gave me some advice on managing helpers. 2 of them had a few Indonesian helpers each and the other, who was Singaporean, had a Filipino helper. The ladies with the Indonesian helpers.......click to learn what next.

Compatibility in friends

Posted on September 19, 2009September 18, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

I generally get along well with many people as I'm very easy going and worldly, ahem, but this particular Italian friend of mine from London brings such joy into my life and I am so happy that she is my friend. Just to give you an example of.......click to learn what next.

Proving your love to your mother

Posted on September 11, 2009September 8, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

Something to think about. Is it necessary? Yesterday, and on some other days too, Tee completely defies me. This always happens in Nana's presence. I'll tell her not to have a 3rd donut and she would have that 3rd donut. I cannot reprimand her there and then, because.......click to learn what next.

What is your hygiene level?

Posted on September 10, 2009September 8, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

The above (sharing a bath with friends) is something I would never, ever attempt. But Tee and her friends seemed to have a blast. I just think it is so 'geli' *shivers*. Who knows what germs gets passes around in the water..... Whenever Tee comes home from school,.......click to learn what next.

A Hundred Red Roses

Posted on September 7, 2009September 2, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

I really can’t remember when the last time was that I received flowers. Seriously…..if the Hubs bought me any flowers, he’d be scolded for wasting money. I always tell him that I want cold hard cash or I’m very happy just swiping his credit card to buy my.......click to learn what next.

Tiffany & Co for children

Posted on September 5, 2009September 2, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

My first Tiffany gem was a gift on my wedding day. I was 28 years old. That is TWENTY EIGHT years old, not sweet sixteen, not twenty one and certainly not one day old. It was from the Hubs’s best man from New York. Tee’s first Tiffany gem.......click to learn what next.

What’s worse than a Confinement Lady Monster???

Posted on September 4, 2009September 2, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

I was so sure that this time round, there was no sign of post-natal blues as I felt extremely in control despite all the minor irritations that the CLM had caused. I was able to look beyond and take deep breathes, tell myself this too shall pass.....On hindsight,.......click to learn what next.

Tee’s assesment exam

Posted on August 28, 2009August 28, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

Last week, Tee went by herself without me to sit for her assessment exam to big school. My little almost 5 year old (yes, she's still little to me) braved it without her Mama and I am so proud of her. Remember she was supposed to sit for.......click to learn what next.

Buying books from Amazon

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

Because we are such voracious readers although honestly, time is really tough finding to read these days apart from the news, a lot of money from our household budget is spent on books. Unfortunately, we have a limited selection of books in KL and I have been meaning.......click to learn what next.

Filming kids without permission

Posted on August 18, 2009August 8, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

You know, I really don’t mind Tee being filmed for valid reasons because after all, I publish her face publicly on this blog, but seriously, don’t you think it would be nice if you at least ASKED me first, out of sheer courtesy? At Tee’s art class one.......click to learn what next.

Feelings of Inadequacy with some Datins

Posted on August 17, 2009August 9, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

No, not me. I hardly ever feel inadequate, muahahaha..... Whilst I was savouring some cupcakes whilst my daughter was enjoying her art class, a Datin came to sit for a chat and very soon, another Datin joined us as she had a few minutes to spare whilst passing.......click to learn what next.

Children below 5 who boast and show off

Posted on August 16, 2009August 8, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

That’s what Tee does and it used to drive me ballistic because I absolutely hate braggers but since then, I’ve learnt from the experts that children below 5 (and thereabouts depending on individual maturity) actually do not realise that they are showing off and in fact, it is.......click to learn what next.

Teaching Music Creatively

Posted on August 15, 2009August 8, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

Tee’s music school has been very creative all this while in teaching toddlers the basics of music and movement but now that she’s advanced onto piano lessons, she is forgetful when it comes to learning her notes. The school feels that from statistics, a better approach is for.......click to learn what next.

Many of the rich are the least charitable

Posted on August 14, 2009August 8, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

This is so true. Honestly. There are so many materially wealthy people in KL, yet majority of them are the least charitable. I know this for a fact. Many of them tycoons, preach such goodness and publicly offer donations and offerings to charitable organisations, but I often suspect.......click to learn what next.

Do you ever feel bad being richer than others?

Posted on August 12, 2009August 8, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

And I mean it in every sense of the word, whether you are materially richer or however you want to define rich. I could be a pauper but I could still have a richer life than you. I just wondered…… I’ve noticed that there are so many insecure.......click to learn what next.

The Feistiness of Eurasians

Posted on August 10, 2009August 8, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

Those of you who know some Eurasians well will attest that these species of people have some concoction of blood that make them a kind of their own. I should know, I have that blood. And so does Tee. And so we all suffer together…… Of all those.......click to learn what next.