Mainly about Elyssa: January 2017

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017

Happy 2017!

Well, it's 3 weeks into the new year but somehow my mind is still stuck in 2016. Didn't we just have Christmas and year end holidays?!
I think I really need to have a "Hello New Year" post to kick start the year.

As usual before I look forward to the new year, I need to reflect back on 2016.

2016, oh 2016. What a year it has been! I've got to admit, 2016 was a little bit of a selfish year for me. Why selfish? Cos after 8+ years of putting the kids way upppp highhhhh on my priority list, I decided to push myself up the list. Yup, ME. Wasn't purely intentional at first. I started my new job in Dec 2015 so naturally the full swing came in 2016. I poured my heart and soul into my job, which proved to be the toughest one in my career. They were times when I felt small, felt incompetent, felt like I wanted to give up, times when I literally broke down and cried, yet.... there were times when I felt on top of the world, that I never even knew I had it in me to do the things I've done and then part curious to see what else I can do. So work wise, it was tough but also amazingly (exhausting) and satisfying!

I started to have a new focus as well which was on my fitness regime. Again, not quite planned but it was a natural flow. New job, so decided it was a good time to change image a bit. Bought new dresses and had to stay fit in order to be able to wear them (and buy more. hehe)

Was contemplating whether to post the photos below. But since I have short term memory, I decided I should just post. Small, small tho. :-)

2015 vs 2016

Not bad eh? Left photo taken around Oct 2015, right photo around Feb 2016.

Woke up at 6.00am most workday mornings to do a 30 minute workout (Body Shred 60 by Jillian Michaels)

Oct 2016

No six-pack but I'm still happy. Haven't been in this form since I got preggie with Elyssa in 2007!

Continued running too. Just checked my FB - I participated in 8 runs in 2016 of which five were 21km. (MWM, UEM, Stand Chart, PJ Half, Putrajaya Night Run). Not too bad!

Ok, so that's a lot about ME for 2016. Girls of course still high on the priority list (if any it's poor hubby that got downgraded a bit. Note to self - need to give him more TLC!). I keep telling myself that I should not be a helicopter parent anyway (ok, or it's just the guilty working mama talking) and that they will be just fine.

Lucky to have loving grandparents

Lucky to have cousins to grow up with

Lucky to have a bunch of friends around the same age within our neighbourhood

So many things to be grateful about! Sometimes I complain about a lot of things. Things do go wrong, but I must take stock and look at the multiple things that are RIGHT. My new word for the year - gratitude.

Other random photos taken in 2016 :

Photo taken during Family trip to Sekinchan

@ Sarang Paloh, Ipoh

@ Potluck Christmas dinner

One of our baking sessions

Thank you 2016 for such an amazing year!
2014 : http://elyssachong.blogspot.my/2014/01/hello-2014.html
2013 : http://elyssachong.blogspot.my/2013/01/happy-new-year-2013-already.html
2012 : http://elyssachong.blogspot.my/2011/12/goodbye-2011-hello-2012.html

And Hello 2017!

First day of school

Snapped Elyssa's photo from the car, when I dropped her off at school on the first day. She couldn't even stop for 2 seconds for me to snap the photo! I didn't even realise it until a friend commented on FB - just look at the determination and confidence in her. Love it, love it, love it!

So far so good for both girls in school. Both settling in well. 2017 is looking good :-)

Bring in on 2017!

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Bangkok Holiday - Day 8 (last day)

So fast and it was Day 8 already. We had one whole week! How come the days flew by with a blink of an eye? I brought my story book, crochet stuff and sports shoes but all remained untouched!

Didn't post photos of our home for 7 nights earlier, so here they are. Only remembered to snap some quick photos on the last night before going for a swim, so they are a tad messy ;-)

Living Room

One-bedroom apartment with pull out sofa in the living room. So comfortably sleeps 4.

Bedroom

Bathroom

The girls had plenty of bathtub fun here.

Kitchen Area

Went to Saladaeng area for our last day. Not a good choice as there was nothing much there. Should have just gone to MBK! Took a cab to the airport around 2pm.

These 2 girls...when both are in a good mood (which is not always the case!) they can play with each other so well. Even in a place like a boring airport terminal, they keep each other company and can have such a good time together.

Jie Jie and Mei Mei. Just oblivious to their surroundings

Last holiday we-fie in the plane

Forgot to check our tickets upon check in. We got 3 seats together and 1 seat pretty far away. Why not altogether? Hmmpphh.. so just like our flight to BKK, I had to manage both girls while hubby slept throughout his.

Studying the inflight brochure carefully

Yes, I still struggle with the questions they ask after seeing this brochure!

Goodbye Bangkok!
We had a blast and will be back soon.

Bangkok Holiday - Day 7

Good Morning Day 7

After 2 days of working, it's now back to the holiday part. Yay! We were a little unsure what to do for Day 7 - visit temples? palace? floating market? Seemed to be the right "touristy" thing to do. But the thought of going out in the heat was a turn off. Plus do we even like the touristy stuff? Not really for us. Girls probably indifferent. So decided to just go take it easy and go with the flow. hehe.

Told hubby I really want to visit the Unicorn Cafe they went the previous day. Ok set! Let that be the first agenda for the day.

Walked there but heck, it was closed! A tad disappointed.... then realised we have 30 minutes till their opening time. No problem then. Spotted a small shop nearby for breakfast.

No proper menu so we just pointed at the food :-)

Pretty good!

Had these 2 snacks too

Bought these 2 banana leaf wrapped kuih from a roadside peddler. Surprisingly one was sweet while the other savoury. Should have bought more varieties to try.