Good bye

It's definitely time to shed my skins.
I'm leaving this chapter and starting off a fresh new one.
Turning over a new leaf.

Thank you for your hospitality all along.
I had my big share of fun with this.
It is now time to grow up and wander to another world!

This is me - pressing my life reset button.
It's time.

Good bye.

It isn't me.

The blog. This blog. Doesn't feel like me. Doesn't look like me.
But then again - maybe I just don't feel like myself.
Maybe it is not the blog. Maybe it is me.

I'm shedding my skin. I feel myself changing. I know I am changing.
I just don't know what am I becoming - which is very unsettling.
Is it for the better? Am I turning bad?

Odd... Out of place.
I want to disappear.

Melancholy

I feel odd.

Here - but not here.
Swimming - but not in the water.
Eating - but not tasting.

What's happening?

I'm observing my surrounding with curiosity.
I'm wondering what I love and what I hate with uncertainty.

Feeling a bit of the melancholia.
Feeling out of place - out of this world.

I feel odd.

Minimalism

I've been attracted to this for a while.

The feeling after a good decluttering session.
The feeling when you're living of just a box of luggage full of USEFUL things when you're on a long holiday.
The feeling that I get from having a clear idea as to where everything is at in the house.
These feelings are very difficult to beat.

I spent about 3 hours cleaning up my big pile of official paperworks yesterday.
Down to only the necessities now and feels very light.

The goal is to work it down to the minimum. :)
Only retain things that are necessary and useful - not clutters.
I've noticed that it is definitely much easier to appreciate and use all that I have when we're down to the minimum.

Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Goals

I read somewhere today that it is much better to work on intrinsic (inwardly) goals than on extrinsic goals, e.g. wealth, power and social acceptance. It makes me realise that I've been working on extrinsic goals all this time. It has come the time for me to work out what my Intrinsic Goals are.

I need to do this quick. So that I can then focus on working on my intrinsic goals...

Photojojo Mania

I stumbled upon the Photojojo Store and they have some super cute items...


Fotoclips


The Super-Secret Spy Lens!


Magnetic Photo Rope


The Doodle Frame

This would probably make a really nice birthday idea *hint hint* :P

September...

I've always liked September.

It's the start of Spring time in Melbourne; hence the great weather.
People starts heading out.
Plus, it's the month of my birthday celebration. ;)

This year, it has been and will be an even more exciting time.

I'm moving on from my current job.
I've just moved in to our first owned home (with Shanon) - nesting heavily and loving it.
I'm feeling healthier than a month ago - though I still need to work on my food intake a bit more.
I'm discovering that life is really what you make of it.
So I'm going to make the most of it! ;)

I really like the following Zen Habits' posts:
- Work as Play
- The Minimalist Principle: Omit Needless Things

Loving September!

My Favorite Shot from Melbourne Open House (19th July 09)

Surprise!

Today - I came home to a lovely surprise!
-- Image taken from ai-junkie: Programming Game AI by Example.

No excuse now. Have to get it started and keep it going. ^.^
Currently reading the first chapter - refresher on Mathematics - really good. Reminds me of how interesting math is and how much fun learning can be. :)

.Mino loves Boris.

I'm on Top of the World!

At yoga today, I have just come into this really really big realisation that I was very scared of losing that I keep having to remind myself throughout the whole class. It's priceless. Seriously!

I am such a whinger. Whinge and don't act. I will change that.

I am extremely lucky and everything around me is great, if not amazing. I have an awesome husband who I love so so so very much, and love me back just as much (maybe a tiny weeny bit less - cause I love more! :P). I have an extraordinary family; kewl, fun, weird at times but just lovely. Plus, the friends and people that I have around me are just super great.

Yep yep - I know none of this is new realisation. I've said this before.
Then, what's new?

Well - today, I realise that... I'm great. Actually, scratch that, I'm AWESOME. Ha-ha. Yes. That's why my life is awesome!

But you know what - I'm going to make it even better. How?
By actively choosing what I want to do and skip those that holds no value for me.
No regrets. Life is too short for regrets.
I'm 26 turning 27. A full grown up with no financial issue or health issue or mental issue (or so I think :P).

The realisation brings me to think that - hey! I can do anything if I do want to do it enough. Why? Becoz - I am one very capable person with substantial intelligence. Better than average! (at least I think so :P) So you know what I'll do next? I will put my focus into learning and doing things related to AI. Why? Cause I can. Cause it's cool and interesting. Cause I can choose to do things that are cool and interesting! :P

Good nite!

Check out Google Wave Preview.

Taking Chances...

Be Brave.
Living The Best Life.
No Regrets.
Stop contemplating.
Just act on it.

The best tool in the world is not going to help anything or anyone if no one uses it.

Wikipedia: Artificial Intelligence

Check out - Google Wave Preview!

Realisation

In general, when I rate myself or how I do things - I compare up. I aim to be better. I wonder why I'm not as good as "X" or "Y". That's the weirdly miniscule competitive side of me. I don't go crazy over trying to win something - but when I do compare - I definitely look up. Some people look down. They look at others who do worse than them and think that they're good for not doing as bad as the others. Which is fine, I suppose. But not as good, I think. I mean - they'll be less likely to improve. Maybe it's just a preference thing.

But - this whole new curly hair thing has definitely taught me something new.

I have to be very careful when I look up or compare up. Who am I comparing myself with? Is this someone that is directly above me or diagonally above me? *LOL* I'll probably lose you soon. It's a bit tricky to explain - or maybe it's just my crazy brain. But, for example, as a straight hair lady who just had her hair permed - I should not go about comparing my hair with a naturally curly hair lady. She has been dealing with her hair since she was a teenager. Just like how well I know my hair and how best to style it. Obviously, her hair will look better.

I'm struggling with this new hairstyle. I should have just stick with my nicely straight hair and learn to curl it with that straightening iron thing (if you're confused - don't be - the new way to curl your hair is with straightening iron, it comes out prettier than with curling iron :P)!!

Anyway - lesson learnt! Next time, I should work and do my best with what I've got before starting at level 0 with something new. I was already at level 60 or 70 with styling my straight hair! Now I have to start at level 0 again! Hmphhh!!!

My New Hair Style

My Hair Before:

Aim: If lucky, or or

My Hair Now:

Hmmm....? *bingung*

The Importance of Treating Yourself Well

After focusing very hard for about a year to lose weight - I find myself slowly gaining it back.
Thankfully - not yet all - but a few days ago I reached an "Oh No" moment.
I've nearly gained back half of the weight I've lost. ARGH!

So - before all my effort goes to waste - I decided to do something about it. AGAIN!
But - this time - I know that I'll do better. Why?
Because I have done this before. I know the drill.
I also know that there are some flaws from what I used to do.
I will have to fix it and keep refining the process.

Since that "Oh No" moment - I've controlled my eating again.
I haven't been as strict as I was - but I'm slowly curbing it.
The idea is doing it slowly so that instead of feeling deprived - I ease myself into the process and make sure this time - I'm going to be altering my eating habit PERMANENTLY.
Not as a temporary diet thing (which causes the weight gain afterwards).

Starting with breakfast. Instead of limiting myself to one choice - I organized a few options with similar amount of calories.
Why? Because different situations calls for different type of food. I also get easily bored with one option. Plus, constraints often calls for big slip ups. I've got Up&Go, Oats, Ultra Slim Milk, and Soy Yogurt lined up. :)

Next, hydration. Water. It's VERY VERY VERY VERY important. It helps with my "regularity" and also kept me from over-eating (eating when I'm thirsty). So I make sure that I fill my 750ml bottle of water as soon as I get to work. Keep drinking it.

On to lunch - as with brekkie - I've lined up a few options. Canned soup with some crackers, Bowl of mixed salad, 2 Sushi rolls, Subway Tuna Sub and this Chicken Avocado Sundried Tomato Tortilla Wrap thing. Yum! I'll probably leave Friday as open planned.

Bought some snack options too - < 100 calorie muesli bar, apples, soy yogurt and ryvita.

Dinner is a bit tricky to restrict - at the end of the day I like to have an enjoyable meal and it also depend on my mood... But - I'll work on cooking at home more. Much healthier and controllable. :)

Will also put more effort in continuing my 3x Yoga a week.

It's funny. I do feel like how come I can't just let go and enjoy.. but the truth is - when I just let go - I don't actually enjoy... Little treats, eating out, muffin breakfast, brunches, are only enjoyable when it's occasional. Not routine. :)
It's true. I'm not making it up. Because since I watch myself more the past few days - I feel so much better. Seriously. I feel in control. I feel great. I deserve to feel great cause I'm doing great.

Good Nite!

Job Satisfaction Can Reduce Excessive Spending, Debt

Job Satisfaction Can Reduce Excessive Spending, Debt

It is true.

It's very difficult to control yourself and be discipline when you're not happy 8 hours a day (or more some days). I have to do something. Soon. Very soon.

I can't keep going on with my stress eating, stress buying, and wait for weekends to arrive. My stress eating makes me happy cause I'm putting on weight. Every time I decide to stop over-eating, I go back to work and all that decision goes to bin. I just got back from a holiday and am already thinking of taking off days. That's just not the way it's supposed to be.

I want my happiness back!

Snapshot of the Day: Ginger Bread Man

Another Couple Snapshots!

Snapshot of the Day: Wall-E

Meet My 2 New Babies!

Picking a D-SLR

It's definitely not like picking an apple! :P

But - if you are lucky enough to be choosing which D-SLR to buy; here's a couple links that I've found very informative...
* Digital SLR Guide: How to pick a digital SLR camera
* Digital Photography Review

Can't wait to get my hands on my very own D-SLR! Will it be Nikon D60, Nikon D5000, Nikon D90, or Canon 450D??? Don't know yet! Will play around with all four of those @ Ted's on Saturday and find out!

Cheerio,
One very excited soon-to-be D-SLR owner. Yay!