an Attitude for Gratitude...always!

As November approaches, my heart is filled with gratitute to our Almighty God for the many many reasons for celebration.

 

Last Saturday, Pastor Sidney Mohede spoke on having an attitude of gratitude all the time, regardless of the circumstances.

 

Often we look back and thank God for the good things that we have received. Or when we receive what we want.

 

But we forget to look ahead to thank God for the things that have yet to come. He cited the example when Jesus did the miracle of feeding the 5000. He gave thanks.....before the miracle happened!

 

I was reminded of this song that has been lingering at the back of my mind.... Be blessed!

 

 

High tea at Chatz Brasserie@Parkroyal Hotel KL

We've had to do a few 'customary buy-you-dinner/lunch" in conjunction with Daaling's promotion. Actually it's just and excuse for me to eat.

 

Last month we went back to Seremban to take AhKong and AhMah out for dinner. It was a very nice dinner in the private dining room at RSUC.

 

Last Sunday, it was Nana and KongKong's turn. We had high tea at Chatz Brasserie in Parkroyal Hotel.

 

of course I had to start off with some salad...

Isabel fell out of the high chair while I momentarily turned my head to take the knives out of her reach.

 

So the staff brought some helium balloons to cheer her up. And my older kids (who had just heard the weekend's sermon about being grateful in ALL circumstances) said, "see...thank God Isabel fell down...otherwise we won't get balloons!"

Nana really liked the Calamansi gelato.

gelato and HaagenDazs (strawberry flavour only) included.

Desserts were decent enough. The marble cheese cake was pretty good. I had 2 pieces.

I really liked the bread and butter pudding topped with Vanilla custard and I added a scoop of Vanilla gelato then sprinkled with white chocolate shavings. Heavenly!

I only realized too late that I had forgotten to take photos of most of the food I ate. This is just a modest last round.

clockwise from top : Roast Lamb with mint sauce, char siew, seafood (Huge mussels) in butter sauce, lamb stew

The roast lamb and lamb stew were really good. Did I mention I like lamb? I think I ate my month's quota of meat. Burp!

 

Last thing I ate was ice kacang with lots of evaporated milk.

 

 

For RM38 per person (livingsocial vouchers), I would say it's a worthwhile meal. They also had yong tau foo, rojak buah, char koay teow (live action stall), curry mee, cendol and satay. No sushi, salmon or oysters which explains the lower price. But that's good because KongKong and kim kim doesn't eat these stuff so it would be a waste.

We'll be having another round of makan in a few days....I'm so excited!!!

Greeco Venture

I was googling around for some online store to print some photos and stumbled across Greeco Venture.

 

Greeco Venture promises quality prints on FujiColor Crystal Archive Photographic Paper. Fujifilm is consistently a leader in the imaging world, and now the Digital Minilab Frontier represents a crystallization of Fujifilm's imaging technology. Used in conjunction with Fujifilm processing chemicals and original color paper, Frontier processing ensures beautiful prints.

FDI (Fuji Digital Imaging) is a system that allows FDI photo shop that have invested in fuji film digital technology to produce amazing photographs from any digital media or conventional film. FDI retail shops are equiped with the latest digital picture printing technology allowing you to produce outstanding quality prints from almost any form of digital media.

Because Fujifilm knows pictures, it is able to offer sophisticated digital image-processing technology. Image Intelligence ™ is Fujifilm's original digital image processing and correction technology. It automatically analyzes scenes and subjects and performs optimum image correction.

Greeco Venture offers prints in various sizes including the usual 4R (4"x6") as well as 4D photos.

Now what are 4D photos?

Digital cameras take photos in a 4:3 ratio. Because of this, some parts of the photo will not get printed when you opt for 4R size.

So you may get some headless pictures...

 

If those parts are of vital importance to the picture, then you may choose to print with a white border on the right and left which would then look like this.

 

Not very nice, right?

 

This is where 4D photos come in. It matches the size ration perfectly so you don't lose anything from the original picture.

You can upload photos offline (which is to bring a CD/DVD/thumbdrive to their physical store or online using their easy-to-use software. Uploading photos online is easy with their photoprint software. They have a step by step guide on their website.

 

After downloading their software (it's really quick!), browse the folder where your photos are stored. Select what you want to print using 'drag and drop' or the 'add' button.

 

If your pictures have insufficient pixel you get a 'low quality image' warning.

Once your selected photos been added, your photos will be shown in the 3rd column for order processing.

The 'REMOVE' button shows RED when your photo do not have sufficient resolution, which already been warn at the time when you drag/add the photos.

The 'CROP' button become 'RED' when your photo do not match with the selected print size.

You can double check the pricing right there without having to browse the entire website again.

Payment is either by Maybank2U or via credit card.

As for shipping, they can have it shipped to your doorstep or you can opt to pick up from their store in Penang.

Greeco Venture is currently having a print promotion of only RM0.29 per 4R print. That's certainly a lot of savings when you don't have to drive out to a shop, look for parking, pay for parking etc etc etc.

You can also sign up for free membership to get 20 free prints (10x4R and 10x4D).

I've yet to find another company offering 4D prints and at such value-for-money prices. 
For more information, hop on over to their website! 

What's happening?

We're really drawing to the end of 2012. November is almost here and then all the glitzy lights of Christmas will abound in malls (my absolute favourite time of the year!) And before you know it....2013 will be here!

I've been keeping really busy. Kids keep you busy!

Jewellery organizer I made for Joy.

 Exciting times are ahead....

I'm almost ONE!

We're thankful for all that has been happening...

My Darling got his promotion.... he will be Associate Professor as of 1st January 2013.

Joseph - he's had a great year in primary one. While he didn't emerge top student (and I had no such expectations), his exam results showed much improvement from semester 1 to semester 2. He did not have any tuition and was coached mostly by his banana-mother. I have to give him a big pat on the shoulder.

Joy-Anne - we've registered her for kindy in 2013.

Isabel is not quite walking yet - slower than Joy who walked at 10.5 months. But she sure is happy with the toys and slide in my play area at home.

We will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary in 2 weeks time. To commemorate this....we recently did a photoshoot with Stories.my.

I managed to fit into my original gown. Daaling of course had no problems getting into his suit. If I may say so, I sure think we look as good as we did on our wedding day!

Challenging days are ahead. Nana will move out of our home and into Ah Ku's home. It has been seven good years with her. The children are going to miss her, I'm sure. But God has been good and I know he will continue to not just sustain us, but bless us beyond our wildest dreams and bring us to greater heights!

time out with princess no.1

I had another mother-daughter time with my princess no.1 today. After sending Joe to school, and with Isabel at home with Nana, Joy and I headed to Ikea.

 

First we went to get some nail polish top coat to apply over the nail art stickers that I bought for RM1.45 a pack. She's got flowers and butterflies on her nails now.

 

On the way, we checked out some bling bling. This girl is really into costume jewellery. But she understands when I tell her it's expensive and I can't buy everything.

Did you know Ikea is really quiet on a weekday? I left her in Smaland for an hour and came back to see her engrossed in her craft work with the Ikea aunty.

She didn't even look up at me so I left her and came back 5 minutes later. This time, she looked up and saw me, then quickly looked down again pretending that she didn't see me! And I thought she would cry because she went in without her kor kor.

Ikea Kura bed.... to buy or not to buy?

We then went to get the stuff I wanted to buy.....which was our main reason for going to Ikea. Shh....secret stuff. Can't tell.