Ya Made My Day!

Jessie jots...


What a fun chat with an old friend who came online in MSN a few days ago. We laughed, we joked, we gossiped, and we update none others than ourselves. Part of the conversation goes and what makes my day...

@L3X M@ says:
u and ur sister always very gaya (stylish) wan

VenusGal says:
we only wear cheap clothes from target

@L3X M@ says:
stop geh si (pretending)

VenusGal says:
haha really la (really, really)


You probably think that isn't much, but it cheers me up. Didn't realized people would think of me as stylish. For my sister, yes. I think she is. Me, not so much.

But if you're like me, when you wear PJs the whole day and snooze at noon, stylish is the last word to come to mind. And Alex's not aware that I'm not doing well now, so those words has to be sincere... I hope!

Because I felt motivated than ever, I took some of my old clothes and knock my socks off seeing that despite lazying around like a koala bear, I had lost an inch or two of my waist. The skirts that I used to suck my tummy in no longer needed any oxygen to hold in and zip 'em up. In fact, I am not only able to wear my old clothes, but they are a tad larger now. Sometimes I look into the mirror and recognize my old self again... a self once seen 8 years ago. Such a weird feeling!

Now I can't wait to go out shopping and get something that fits, only if there is anything is on sale in Target. If only Charlotte can lend me her 10% employee card. j/k :) Oh wait, I do have a $30 gift card for F21 which Joey didn't get to use. teehehe

Anyway... But since I don't have much energy to be as alert for sales and run amok for cute outfits, I focus on something more feasible, which prompt me to do this.

A girl's got to have smooth, pollutant-free skin, no? And the only way to do that is extract all that gunk out of the pores and slather on some Charcoal mask, right? Which is one mask that does wonders and one that I swear by! Joey loves it too. She wish she could have the whole tube, but sorry, you can use it when you're here.

See? Just because of Alex's wonderful, unintentional way of saying something positive to me, I'm all out to get myself beautified. I love this motivated feeling and I crave for more.

What makes your day?

Green, Green! Yellow, Blue is there?

Jessie jots...

Vacuum here a little bit.

I wasn't away for long, was I? But it's getting a little dusty and my brain is getting rusty :)

My apology for being away. I needed more rest than I thought. The only remedy to healing now is take in more snooze... while combating with the guilt and frustration for being told to rest more, and do less. That's the last thing you want to hear, especially from a doctor so caring and so enthusiastic, even her keychain is a human spine, and especially when you were already seeing results from your weight loss plan, you can only reluctantly put your running shoes to gather dust. Everytime I come back from the one hour chiropractor's visit, I wilt like spinach on heat which takes place 3-4 days a week.

Despite being so tired and less energetic, I'm feeling much, much better than I ever did. I can now sleep through the night without a throbbing headache and shoulder aches, and that I can finally roll my eyeballs at Hushby without pain. Also, because he has to do the laundry and wash the dishes, I think I'm feeling even better. haha

If only this recovering process can be as speedy as Gonzales, I will be on the treadmill in a heartbeat. Ah I can't wait to get out there and jog, the weather is getting so, so nice! But don't worry, I won't break the rule and break my spine with more pushups. I'm obeying every rule the doctor laid out, and every signs my body gives. I'm getting really good at being patient and getting even better at being really, really lazy.

But ya know, you can count me in on this... coz I'm back blogging for sure.

Everything is going to be OK, be OK, Be Ok...

Jessie jots...

Please expect a slowdown in postings. I need my rest for the migrane to be over. Don't worry, doctor's visit were appointed. I hope to be back in action in a few weeks (?) Hopefully! :)

And the Tabby Princess Reports

Jessie jots... what Pipi says...

Hello Mommy's friends! At last! I'm not wearing that stupid cone anymore. I hate that thing... I don't even know why I'm banned from cleaning myself. I'm still bald on my left paw and my tummy. I didn't know what happen but the moment I wake up that one day, everything was bald! I licked and there is no hair! I was dissapointed but my fur is growing back very slowly. I am sure, in no time, I will continue to be regal, just like what I used to be.

Mommy says I must tell her friends that I'm finally back to my good ol' self. I don't feel pain anymore and I can now jump up to the toilet sink like how I used to. I love drinking water from there... only Mom and Dad can control the magic fountain. She said I'm feisty, but I just like to have fun. Mommy bought me two new toys the other day and I wwuuvvvvv it! One is a long tunnel that makes crinkly noise when I go in and the other is a feather that flies on its own.... but funny it only fly when Mom is around.

I meow to Mom a lot lately and she doesn't seem to understand. I misss her SO SO Muchhh... and she only look back and ask if I want water or food. I don't want that! I just want her to look at me and be with me and sleep with me and play with me. I was away for three weeks, I haven't been with Mom and Dad much. Only at night. That makes me sad!

The doctor and the nurses in the animal hospital were very, very kind to me. I think they love me a lot but I don't like them. They talk to me often but I don't understand their language. They sound different from Mom and Dad. I don't like the food and their cage, it made me feel icky. I hate it when they take needles and poke me... those things make me sleepy. I didn't have appetite. Doctor thinks I am being difficult by not eating but I just want to go homeee... When Mom bring me home, I eat like a cow.

I heard doctor told Mommy that it was OK to leave me there during the afternoon for the next few days. I quickly yell NO NO NO... luckily Mom seem to understand me and didn't take me back because I don't like my doctor. She squeeze me and kiss me all the time. She didn't smell like Mommy and I don't like her curly, fluff hair, it always get in the way.

I wuuuuvvvv my home sweet home... When I get home, I check every corner to make sure nothing has change. Even better when Daddy's around. He doesn't know how to play with me but he likes to carry me and scratch my back. I like how Dad carries me coz' I feel precious! Oh did I tell you? I love Daddy's socks too, I finally get to smell them again... they smell so wonderfullll and so relaxxxinngg. Like cat nip!

I know I don't look happy but I'm born with a grumpy face. Blame my real dad! For that sad whiskers too! HMpf... Look close enough, you can see that I am actually really, really happy! MEOW.

Soooooooooo happy to be home with Mom and Dad! Only home sweet home make my cat naps complete! Mom and Dad said I must thank everyone out there who is concern for me. I don't understand why they should be concern, I was only wearing a cone!

Anyway... thank you!

Jessie's Homemade Meals Blog

Jessie jots...

Because some of you have requested recipes from some of my online appetizing food pictures and because I don't want Jessie Jots to turn into an online food blog, and after hours of thinking and whining if I have time to do it, I am now ready to start another blog just for you folks. And that also, at the end of the day, it is also a win-win situation. That way, I don't forget my recipes I've tried, I don't need to print them and place them in the file and I'll feel happier to be able to share with some of you, my lovely friends.

So, finally! It's going to be just another recipe blog with food that I have cook, tried and love it. Take a peek ;)

Click here to the site: Jessie's Homemade Meals
To the Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe and the Rosemary Beer Bread

Love Birds' Dinners

Jessie jots...

Once in a while, we like to spice things up dinner. Other than the usual rice with veggies, pasta with red tomato sauce or porridge with pickles, we love getting our hands on good recipes, whether they're online or from cookbooks we scanned at Barnes and Nobles.

Once in a while, we just like to make it special for the both of us. We would set up the table, have a glass of wine or cocktail just to set the mood of a posh restaurant.

And once in a while, we don't skim on quantity and devour our meals like there's no tomorrow. These are always the nights, I dread to weigh in the next day.

Here are some of the things we did a few nights ago.

Chicken Cordon Bleu stuffed with two piece of ham and provolone cheese.
Served on side was Ginger Carrots with brown rice.
And a loaf of Beer Rosemary Bread.

For dessert, we had this. Hushby got this from some French restaurant that specializes in dessert. It was light and obviously, scrumptious!

*************************************************************************

On another occasion.... on a weekend so free, we had nothing to do, Hushby decided to make Satay. To go with the chicken Satays, I cooked some Peanut Sauce for dipping, Nasi Lemak (rice cooked with coconut milk, pandan and ginger) and then, sliced some sweet red onions and cucumber to get some greens into our meal. Any Malaysian will tell you, that's classic for Satay.

I never enjoy so many sticks of Satay without feeling guilty because we cook it with our own grill and because we know we made them with healthier choice. All my hunger pangs for Malaysian hawker food were gone after that meal!

Looking at these pictures just make me salivate. :X

The Almonds Story

Jessie jots...

Last weekend, Hushby and I went to Newport Beach, 20 mins drive north along the Pacific Coast Highway for a good hiking session in the morning. We had a bagel each on the way and packed two big bottles of water, some almonds in a plastic container and a mosquito repellant for the trip. Oh, not forgetting the camera of course.

We didn't know what to expect honestly, except that we know the place is very scenic and the state park did a really good job maintaining the cleanliness of the trails. I wasn't feeling well that morning, and Hushby knows it. I had a bad migrane on the way there but I waited for this hiking adventure all week long and the weather was too perfect to pass.

So I wasn't particularly strong to start with, and not too enthusiastic needless to say. I walked anyway, with the migrane... and it got worse, and then I got nauseous... felt like throwing up and felt like there was a hurricane in my tummy, on and off. I just kept walking, felt good for a bit and kept walking, hoping it will go away but the migrane persist. By now, we were too far inside the wilderness for us to turn back. So I had no choice but to finish the trail.

When we hopped on the chance to go for the second 8-mile long trail after the first 2-mile trail seemed too short, little did we know it was going to take the next few hours to complete. The hiking up part was easy, surprisingly. It was only the going down part that needed more endurance. The knees, the feet, the toes were slowing wearing down after more than 6 miles into it going downhill.

I told Yew Wai I needed a break. My left butt cheek had a cramp. We were hiking for 2.5 hours now! And that heartless man laughed at me for that butt cramp. Maybe 'cause I was smiling when I said that? But maybe that is cause I can't believe it myself. Wait a minute... so much for the Valentine's Poem right? Hmmm...

So then, to ease the cramp away, I wanted to bend down and stretch the hamstring of my left foot.

With my left foot stretch out, I bent forward and everything in the knapsack also tumbled forward with me. Out a sudden, I heard Hushby squealing "Eeeeee......" and ran away.

He thought I farted.

But I didn't.

He said he heard it.

No, it wasn't me!

"Don't lie!"

Cross my heart and hope to die :P

Try using a plastic container and place it upside down with the almonds inside. It really sounds like fart. He didn't believe me but after he saw me demonstrate, bending forward again and of course, knowing that it is impossible to fart every second between bending up and down, then only was he convinced to come closer.

It couldn't be that bad even if I did, right? hahahaha

Sheesh. -_- What a break.

After another stretch of walk, we found ourselves back to civilization! By the time I saw cars and tar road in front, it was already 3.5 hours!

The hike was more strenuous than we expected. I would have had more fun if the migrane did not attack. We didn't know it was going to take so many hours to finish a 10-mile trail. Thank goodness we had the almonds in the bag though. Other than having my own Hushby make faulty accusation, those nuts really help to keep the energy up during what seem like a never-ending walk.

A Weekend Admiring

Jessie jots...

Feast your eyes to a few random pictures we took while on Balboa Island last weekend. What a beautiful place, so prestigious, so regal.... while other parts can be so humble and artsy. The gallery of small houses is unbelievable, they are so stunning, even the shacks are something to talk about. I'm now so obsess with small houses. We walked around the neighborhood, literally admiring each unique architecture, colors, interiors which we get a chance to peep into whenever somebody left the curtain open and the garden. The garden, ugh!

It sort of reminds us of San Francisco and I know, nobody need to tell me the price of these little cottages. What more, beautiful scenery, yatch and boats parked by the islands, small little wooden harbors and a few feet of sandy beaches surrounds the island, which owns a two-block downtown filled with collector's item, designers' clothes, healthy food, Italian restaurant... SIGH you tell me. SIGH Californians sure know how to enjoy the essence of life.

Unfortunately we lost all the pictures we took of the houses, I kid you not (accidentally deleted them) except the one of our own faces, feet and a frozen banana.

I've been tagged

Jessie jots...

Well, well, well, finally I've been tagged. Have fun reading.

1. Do you think you're hot?
I'm warm blooded... I'd be dead if I'm not.

2. Upload your favourite picture of you...

3. Why do like that picture?

Actually I have a trilion pictures I like and they are not with me. But this one is one of the best I can find in my hard disk. I like this picture because it was the most celebrated birthday party I've ever had. Here I was five years old and remember loving that dress to death. My sister also has one in pink and I always love blue because I hated to be girly. I wanted so bad to be independent but I remember being incapable of doing many things... look that even my Dad has to help me cut the cake! I like how there is so many kind of different food prepared by people who really love and care for me. My beloved grandma is one strong woman and she would cook so much food everytime our family is around. All I care was just the food at that time, I didn't even care about the presents stacked beside me. It was my life as its best, when my only worries was if I get to sleep late and watch cartoon tonight, when I'm light enough that Dad can carry me if I get tired to walk and when the food shove into my mouth was nowhere to making me go fat.

4. When is your last time you ate pizza?

Coincidently, I just had it three days ago (Saturday) at Balboa Island in an Italian restaurant after a long time being in a diet. It was made with sausage, pepperoni and pancetta. It wasn't my order, it was Hushby's. I had pasta but as usual, I usually dig into other people's food just to taste.

5. The last song you listened to...
Maybe it was some song from my blog's playlist.

6. What are you doing right now beside this?
Digging my nose? haha of course not, my fingers are completely occupied typing this post. And I'm thinking if anyone would be interested to read this.

7. What name do you prefer besides yours?
That's tough. I had a bunch and gone through phases. When I was a teenager, I like Gwendolyn, Tina and Jennifer. Then I like Nikki, but it sounded like I am dancer with a size zero. So, I don't know anymore.

People I Tag Randomly:
Lorraine, Shuh Jiuan, Ying San, Charlotte, Wei Ling aka Joei

8. Who is number one?
Lorraine was a childhood friend I knew from Subang Jaya when I was nine years old. We were classmates for about a year and half and during that time, I found out that she live close by. I would cycle to her home almost everyday and we would talk, sing songs, paint and just cycle around somemore to other places. Lorraine is now recently married and will be coming to the US where her husband is based. I'm excited for this great opportunity that we certainly stand a chance to meet again after all these years of not seeing each other.

9. Number three is having relationship with?
With another oyster whom she met in an oyster bar.


10. Say something about number five?
Wei Ling is one determine woman. Never fail to pester me to be her big sister, which I didn't really understood why she wanted it in the first place... and was hopeful that I would marry her then very unattached brother one day, whom she recommended was tall, dark and handsome. It turns out, she was right but I wasn't interested. Wei Ling is a sweet girl with a great personality. Her presence brings cheerful vibe to people surrounding her.

11. How about number four?
Charlotte and I get to know each other the first day we got hired in Target. When we first talk, I thought she was very sweet (still is!), very authentic, reliable, intelligent, witty and extremely caring. We befriended and it felt like she was a long lost friend I never met for many years. An old school at heart, Charlotte is very much like me... a hopeless romantic, frugal but find thrills in splurging on the cutest pair of shoes or purse and hold friends close to our hearts.


12. Who is number two?
Ng Shuh Jiuan is an ex-high school friend who turned out to be a hot diva, owns a high-traffic blog and is transitioning from an engineering background to fashion design. We were never close in high school because she was in another class. Back then, when Shuh Jiuan and I ever converse was when she had to warn me or obstruct my time with food. She was a very discipline school prefect and I was a rebel. I used to take longer time to eat than my peers because of the huge portion and sometimes I go for second. Then our strict prefect would tell me to quickly finish my food when recess time is almost over. And then we have to attend assembly, necessary for us to go back into class. I never understood why we had to do that when we could just walk into class. So I didn't really care what she had to say to me but since she was so nice, I obeyed. She has only warned me but never really took any action. I wore the scrunchie to very last day of school even after Shuh Jiuan has repeatedly told me to not wear it because it was not white. I like her just that, and because of that fun memories and history behind, we stayed in touch after high school. It has been a fun ride since.

The Ring and the Cropped Jeans

Jessie jots...

As promised to Mrs Tuomala-to-be, here's the Anthropologie ring I got for Christmas. :)


And the cropped jeans that I use the leftovers for the pouch. Heels also a Christmas gift, which I exchange because the suede one I wanted were out of size.