When will this end?

𝖨'𝗆 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝗈 𝗌𝗈 𝗌𝗈 𝖾𝗑𝗁𝖺𝗎𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖽. 𝖠𝗅𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝖨'𝗆 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 ex𝖺𝗆𝗌 

That was probably how I felt 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗂 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇t, though the pressure is not as bad as now. I hated 𝖾𝗑𝖺𝗆𝗌, I 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗌 often 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗂𝖽n’t 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗈 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝖾, 𝗎𝗇𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗐. 

During my time, most of us grew up as latchkey child. I don’t think parents were as bothered then to even know what is mental health. They just tell us to study, there was no such thing as tuitions we just study regurgitate everything out. Exams were easier then. Or maybe 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌 are 𝗂𝗀𝗇𝗈𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝗈𝗋 𝗇𝗈 𝗆𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝗂𝗇𝗏𝖾𝗌𝗍 in anything to help us. There was no internet then! All adults could rely was print materials or hearsay from the 三姑六婆 neighbours. The only luxurious thing we can drink is Brand’s Chicken Essence 😂, unlike now … desperate mother like me will resort to 𝖾𝗌𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝗈𝗂𝗅 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗎𝗉𝗉𝗅𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝖾𝗍𝖼... 

I used 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝖽𝗎𝗅𝗍. 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗇! 𝖭OW 𝖨 𝖳𝖤𝖫𝖫 𝖬𝖸 𝖪𝖨𝖣𝖲 𝖳𝖧𝖠𝖳 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 a 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇t 𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝗌𝗍. All a student could ever get is comparison of grades. Working adults get appraisals, backstabbing, toxic working environment etc..

I 𝗐𝗈𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 feel 𝗂𝗇 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾. Will they tell me "𝗆𝗈𝗆. 𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍o 𝖻𝖾 𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝖽𝗎𝗅𝗍." 𝗋𝖾𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖽  𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝗌𝗄 𝗆𝗒 𝗄𝗂𝖽𝗌 𝗇𝖾𝗑𝗍 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗈𝗋 𝗉𝖾𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗌 𝗂𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒’re 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗉𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝖾 𝗀𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗆𝖾 𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝗌𝗐𝖾𝗋. 

Prelims in July to Aug. Main paper in Sep/Oct

Jiayou! Jiayou! Mummy and lil’ one jiayou 

Rose Quartz Guasha

I have a jade face guasha but I wanted another different type for my use. 

To have some questions you may have, I shall post some answers I was looking for.

Is rose quartz or jade better for guasha?

extracted from : https://www.stylist.co.uk/beauty/gua-sha-skincare-benefits-how-to-use/387929

Traditionally, different crystals have different purposes. Jade is used to balance yin and yang energy, whilst rose quartz supports heart energy in particular. It's good to gua sha on the chest with rose quartz because the action tonifies the heart qi.

I’m not sponsored or paid to do this, but do read this : https://www.mountlai.com/blogs/mount-lai-guidebook/a-guide-to-choosing-the-right-stone-for-your-mount-lai-facial-tools

About Rose Quartz Face roller and guasha set

Rose Quartz Face Roller & Gua Sha Set.Gua sha is a form of TCM therapy that uses dermal acupressure and rhythmic strokes to massage acupoints and gently scrape the skin.

• Release blood and fluid stagnation
• Dispels toxins
• Boosts blood circulation
• Improves fine lines and wrinkles
• Boosts collagen & elastin production
• Promotes lymphatic drainage
• Relieves muscle tension
• Relieves stress and aids in relaxation

A comparison between the genuine and fake rose quartz guasha 

I paid S$6.65 for this fake plastic guasha tool. Pls don’t be fooled like me. The moment I touched this, it feels so plastic-y.

 A real rose quartz guasha is cool to the touch, and this is. 

I paid S$53.72 for the roller, S$35.62 for the guasha lifting tool. Got it from iherb. 

Cost S$43 for the Guasha lifting tool in Sephora, and they sell the set at S$80. Argh! They carry it months after I received mine from iherb. 🤨

10 Stress-Busting Techniques For Exam Success

10 Stress-Busting Techniques For Exam Success

extracted from : https://www.euyansang.com.sg/en/10-stress-busting-techniques-for-exam-success/eysstress1.html

Stress is an inevitable part of a student’s life, but dealing with it doesn’t have to be a challenge. In TCM, stress affects the flow of Qi within the body, which may affect internal balance and trigger some health problems.

Therefore, while it’s important to study hard, it’s equally important that we study smart too.

Here are 10 stress-busting techniques to make sure you are well-prepared for the exams. Learn to manage stress, improve your appetite and get better sleep with these simple steps.

1. Sleep

Sleep is essential – not only is it a form of rest, it is also a physiological function that helps your body recharge and perform at its best the next day.

According to the meridian clock, which maps out a specific time for different organs in the body to work or revitalise, the ideal time to get some sleep is between 11pm and 5am. Of course, it is recommended that you get at least 7 or 8 hours of rest, so adjust your sleeping patterns and ensure you get adequate sleep every night.

2. Meditate

When your mind is relaxed, your body will return to its harmonious state. Meditation helps you focus only on your breathing, which is calming and promotes relaxation whenever you feel a little stressed.

To get started, simply sit or lie in a comfortable position. Close your eyes, and concentrate only on breathing in and out for a few minutes. You will feel refreshed and ready to continue with studying.

3. Nourish the Heart

The state of your Heart can affect your mind or spirit. TCM believes that if the Heart is weak, it may lead to emotional imbalances such as insomnia, palpitations or anxiety. Strengthen and nourish your Heart with Chinese herbs such as biota seeds, which replenish blood into the Heart.

4. Take A Break

It’s important to take a break from studying every now and then. For starters, your eyes need a good rest for a few minutes every hour or so.

If you have to, leave your study area and take a walk around the room. Let your mind rest – little distractions such as a snack or a quick phone call to a friend can do wonders to your concentration level for the rest of the day.

5. Eat Smart

Avoid greasy food and foods that can affect your digestive system. Take ‘brain foods’ that provide energy for your brain, including meals that are high in protein (white meat, soybeans, eggs), calcium (milk and other dairy products) and omega-3 (walnuts, salmon and several fruits and vegetables).

Eat healthily and wisely – start your morning with a nutritious breakfast so you can think, learn and concentrate your best for the rest of the day.

6. Exercise

Have a good work out at least 3 times a week to feel the benefits of exercise. Improve Qi and blood circulation while releasing endorphins into your body – these will help minimise the effects of stress when you are studying.

7. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of several ancient Chinese medical procedures. It is believed to help relieve pain and aid in de-stressing the mind. Acupuncture on the right meridian points may even enhance the Heart’s function.

A typical treatment involves the insertion of hair-thin needles into specific points on the body to elicit a healing response. These needles are so thin that most people feel nothing more than a slight tingling sensation when they are inserted.

8. Organise Your Study Area

Have a neat, designated study area and create a study pattern so that you are mentally ready whenever you revise. When a desk is clutter-free, it allows you to better concentrate on your work, and also gives you a peace of mind.

9. Eliminate Internal Heat or Fire

If you’ve been sleeping late and have irregular eating habits due to exam revisions, this may lead to a stagnation of Liver-Qi, and generate internal Fire.

To treat this, take herbs and supplements that help to eliminate this internal heat, such as Foxglove Root (Shengdi, 生地), Asparagus Root (Tiandong, 天冬) and Chinese Magnoliavine Fruit (Wuweizi, 五味子).

10. Set Realistic Expectations

Manage your expectations, and understand your capabilities. Instead of setting one long-term goal for the whole year, set smaller, achievable and realistic ones throughout the months. This can help you keep track of your strengths and weakness and will motivate you even further to achieve your next goal.

HER IGARD JOURNEY (2022)

14th July 2022

Second consultation with Dr Yap, referred to him by Dr Seah

While waiting I came across a EZYHealth Magazine July 2013 published article - How fast can your child read? A paragraph caught my attention : - "Vision is a core component of the process of reading and learning and it involves a wide range of cognitive and visual processing skills."

from his website some other articles : https://www.igard.com.sg/downloadable-articles/

Honestly I didn’t know how serious it was until I sat there. He did the tests with her alone and after that I was brought into the room. Bringing bad news that indeed she has some problems with her eyes. He was even explaining to me that kids with such problem may write slow and she spends more time writing then her peers. Which kindda gave me the eureka moment when I often get complaints that she can’t finish copying the transparency and OF COURSE the MOST HATED TEACHER I HATE IN PRIMARY SCHOOL was not at all a nice teacher to begin with and found fault with lil’ one. 

I happened to have a piece of her social studies paper with me and showed him her handwriting. And he said this is what he expected of kids with such problems with this kindergarten handwriting. 

But hope is not lost as there is way to help her. Therapies and all but we must be committed to help her. I explained to Dr Yap we can’t do anything now as she’s already nearing her prelims and then her final exams. We have no time for 2-3x per week therapy sessions with her ongoing tuitions and school. Not only will she burn out, I will also be burnt out coz I need to chauffeur her around. Money is already locked in there until she’s ready to start her therapies. 

Now we need the most important part to thing from him. A letter that the school’s SEN officer will attach to SEAB for Access Arrangement. Frankly speaking, I never knew there was such a thing in SIN. We need to get this done asap. 

What is AA? 

My other concerns when tutor Mr M said there’ll be an annotation on school certificates. 

Expenses : Total is $4720 ($320 dunno what fees + [20 x $220]) Gasp! Each therapy session is $220

I was feeling so bad, so so bad. I had been so harsh with lil’ one scolding her for writing slow, for taking so long to get her work done. Now I know she’s been finding ways to compensate her flaws by flipping her pages upright, it was her way to make her reading a little easier albeit words still jumping around. I felt so bad coz she has been suffering in silence and all I did was to let my mouth run loose and scold her. 

In the night, I went to her and apologized to her for the years of scolding and nagging. 

Lash Resurrection - 3rd appointment on 13th July

 Right eye

left eye

Other MT clearance

5th July - Chinese listening comprehension 张开你的耳朵！听好好！写好好！

7th July - Chinese oral. First day of oral. Quite scared myself coz was told first day is usually tough. Was suppose to be the first candidate but she says another girl, Kiera, went first coz she was needed for some Drama thing for their BMW. She’s happy coz she was prepared for this topic and she knew what to say. Ok lah! As long as she don’t aunty talk to the examiners can already. 

School hols coming to an end - June 2022

Omg! I’ve never felt so exhausted like this 4 years ago! At least the exam was something I could manage n understand. Secondary school - totally different, topics returned to Teachers, way of answering questions are not like last time which included MCQ and short answer questions. 

Did a 10min planner on iPad. And tried to put in as much as I can, but still not enough. She hasn’t attempted any N’ levels yearly paper yet! And we only have like how many weeks to go? To think that I was so overzealous to photocopy 3 sets of papers for sciences n Geog. My god! I’ll be thankful if we can ever attempt once. 

School hols - Wk 1 : returned to school 3x a week. Made her try to complete all school HOMEWORKS by this week also. 

Wk 2 n 3 : had to fit in x4 appointments at Dynamics for assessments. Dilly dally getting home etc.. if only we had full days.

Wk 4 : went back to school twice. Had to go for eye appointment n KKH for scoliosis on 2 sepearate days. Sigh…..

When school re-opens , her MT LC and oral starts in week 2. She’s the first or second candidate so as what Laoshi said, she’ll have her oral on the first day. Good also, get it over and done with. BUT AIT MEANS she has lesser time for preparation. Darn! Not sure if she remembers anything or not also. TMD! Dunno how the heck she’s been “studying” all these years. 

EL ORAL IN WEEK 3

I’m just so so exhausted. Can we just whisk her off to some non-competitive country to study? 

On This Day - 16th June #Reminders from FB#

 16th June 2013 

Just so borliao

Lil’ one wanted soba for lunch. And since I haven’t touched the cutesy bento stuffs for so long. (I still have them, I can’t bear to part with them coz most items were procured from Japan Rakuten)

She requested for the turtle. Do you know which is the turtle? 

If I clear these, I’ll have a cabinet space free. 

Still have the cute cookie cutters in another cabinet. I even Duffy and Friends bento and cookie cutters. A collection of bento books in Japanese. If I were to organise a garage sale, these items are sure to clear first. 

So cute right? When I wanted to bring my liquid aminos out,  I wanted to use the sauce containers. But alas! Too small lah! 

On this day - 31st may #Reminders from FB#

31st May 2021

This colouring app is so addictive. The colours are so vibrant and I can't put down my phone coz l'm just so curious to see the final product.

My lil' mother aka lil' one told me that I chided her for being addictive to the phone n here I am holding onto my phone.

Yes mummy Aricia! I promise...I promise this is the last one for now.

31st May 2017

I learnt a new word today - incorrupt. (bodies that haven't decompose)

I used to think that the bodies I see in some churches are fake. Apparently they're not. This pic was taken in Geronimos Monastery.

31st May 2017

Both are my kids but they're so different. One choose to read while waiting for food; one choose to do nothing.

31st May 2015

Sad! Help! My lemon balm was like this the last time I saw it on Fri night.

This morning!!! Ok I promise I will not pluck your leaves.

Can't be I missed watering yesterday?

Wendy Low you need to perform CPR on my plants. I need your healing touch. How?

On happier note, my promegranate is thriving. I'm still struggling with my bougainvillea n lantana. Oh man! I do sound quite hopeless when it comes to gardening.

31st May 2015

l've so many things to do but I just want to lay in bed whole day…....so so so tired...

31st May 2014

@ Cedar Girls, che-che’s dream school

31st May 2012

5 sets LM recitation (250 cards) in 1:57mins. A little off her previous records of 1:40mins. Suppose to do in 2:30mins. Rather mouthful words this term.

She expects her kitchen set tmrw. Sigh....and I'm so lazy to go TM. I asked if I can buy it on  Sat morning after her music instead so I don't hv to make extra trip to TM, I throw in 2 packs of MM cards for her. But no...she nagged at me for "breaking your plomise!"

Footnote : I wasn’t trying to break promise, just wanted the rest. Do you know it’s really tiring to do chauffeuring job? 

31st May 2011

Aricia, my little vet. Hey! I can't see her ….

I wonder if she'll hv fun.

On This Day - 30th May #Reminders from FB#

30th May 2015

We are not Carnival Fun-fair people, we gave away tickets prior to this event. Girls don't play games at all. We had $30 worth + $1 Nanette Zehnder gave. Bouncy castle =$5, 3 bubble teas = $9 , Spaghetti = $5, Hotdog = $3, left with $9 which we desperately spent on $1 chocolates, $3 chips, $4 biscuits, $1 cream puffs.

Positive note, che-che enjoyed helping out today. The PV in-charge wanted to put her in bouncy castle at first then changed to Jumble sale. At first I said ok then I declined. "Later she sees her stuffs there." (Lil' one identified her items) Finally put to drink stall, assisting the PV whom I see every Fridays at the pool.

30th May 2015

She walked away from me. Looks like I'll get a "lost n found" announcement soon. I hope my girls don't go "jumble sale" tho! 3 boxes from me...their treasures are in there 😱

This PV must have a lot of enemies. So many adults trying to dunk him

A great huge turnout. The new students; newly graduated students ; the old students like me and the ....even 3rd generation sibei old old students. 

Bumped into ex-classmates here. And ...I did say I wanted to dump them here n go library for some me time right?? What the heck am I still here?

It was really sweet to see che-Che's 2014 graduating class came wearing their class T-shirts. Saw one teacher wearing hers too. If only we could get a class photo

给我们一点希望吧！

Very serious man! Her hands was jittery...said she wanted the prize.

Girl, you win n lose some. Most importantly is you enjoy yourself today...

30th May 2015

This was in the pack of croissant I bought. What came into your mind?

At first I thought it was the baker being funny..but then I realized it's the top part dough that wasn't rolled in properly n flipped out?

Then again, the packers packed them in??

30th May 2014

Tim sum for lunch. Yums!

30th May 2014

Girl n me listening to this.

I'm feeling so instrumental today. From piano to guitar to violin to duets n now this.

And crazy me had the crazy idea of picking up violin.

Haha! I think l'm under undue stress.

30th May 2013

Oh my! That older girl is irritating me with the Cat Song that the Choir sang in the concert recently. It's the M.E.O.Wwwwwww and the lil' one with her high pitch voice mimicking the meow sound. Argh! Give my ears a break

Footnote : and the comments that follows 

 

30th May 2012

Lil' one is so persistent, asked me to get her a kitchen set for a very long time. Now at ToysRus, she ran to find one was so disappointed when I said no. She kept yakking she wants blah blah, until I told her "u keep quiet for the rest of the time I may consider buying it for u." immediately she kept quiet. Can see she's trying really hard to compress all her words inside her n doing all the funny sign language. Haha! Poor girl! But at least I get my peace.

********

She's practicing extra hard on her own in her Shichida Linking Memory with no complaints. Now who's the idiot who told her she could hv her Kitchen Set tmrw? The earliest she could get it is on Friday. 

Oh man! She really love to own one. Sometimes I forget she's only 5 not 6.

 

Footnote : Yes, while I do agree I had to keep to my promise. Yet at the same time, I had to tell her the situation I was in and I can’t fulfill it the next day but on Friday. She has to learn to wait; and luckily she’s quite understanding and reasonable lah! She didn’t cry foul or throw tantrum when I explained to her.

 the comments left by friends

*******

30th May 2012

Lil' one has been bugging me for ballet class.

30th May 2011

I *silenced* Aricia when doing Maths addition today. Yay! Everytime she sees a sum, she'll yak " 7 + 3, 7 is bigger than 3, so I must add 3 (brings out finger) after 7 is 8,9,10." how much time is wasted?? N I told her she told the whole world all the answers.

Footnote : Years down the road then did I know that she has to verbally speaks out what she’s reading as well, she says she needs to do that. 

the comments left by friends 

30th May 2011

Yay! My blog's new design. Will need to figure out the rests of the htmls n dunno what nots.