2011 resolution

I read what was my 2010 resolution: discipline. Again, nothing new, I didn't really achieve that, I must say TV play a big part of temptation.
Anyway, I think I need make new year resolution smaller: Making my girl sleep at 9.30pm on weekday. sound small, but I believe it takes lots of discipline on me and the rest of family to achieve that.

second wish, I hope to be a better leader with better time management.
I think those are hard enough for me to achieve.

Taking great photo

I had once thinking of taking up photography as hobby but was back off by the expensive accesories and the film development (those days...) However, inspired by demoments,I feel like to learn photography, at least try. But first I should get myself a gadget : changgih camera. Again I am not that ambitious yet, taking DSLR, a high end compact camera probably good enough for me before I move up further ( who knows I may learn halfway...and drop...my typical style of interest or hobby pattern, always half pail (cantonese)). Anyway, before I gave birth to HX, I have been eyeing on Panasonic LX3 or Canon S90. It seems there is better version now

Canon S95

Panasonic Lumix LX5

It seems LX5 better, but definitely more expensive. Difference by 100 pounds. Anyway, keep my eye watching. 

Registering for Standard 1

My elder is 3 years old. A bit Kiasu to think about registering her to primary school? I think I am not. As I search online, I read some have registered when born! However, no one tell how to do that.
I have read also recently government have started online registration, which I think is good as that would avoid long que, provided the technical support is good as information lost along the way is not new. (Note, for school under Kuala Lumpur or Wilayah Persekutuan, online registration has not been implemented yet as for 2010)

Anyway, it seem the registration normally start in March. This year, they are accepting registration for standard 1 for year 2011 ( born in Jan 2004-Jan2005) and 2012 (Jan2005-Jan2006). Hence likely it will be the intake of 2013 (Jan 2006-Jan2007) and 2014 (Jan 2007-Jan2008).  My girl is born in May 2007, meaning I got wait till 2012 to register her for 2014. I hope this is correct. Just wonder if I will 'rugi' or less chance to get the prefered chinese primary school if I follow the 'official ruling'. hm... There is not exact info that I can find online though. At least I found 2 bloggers that give the info.
Joy or Happiness and the suzette
Generally I need to prepare the following document ( Just to record to save my search in the future)

1. Child Birth Certificate


2. Utility Bill (TNB/ Water/ Telephone Bill) – Proof of address

3. Parent’s Identity Cards

4. Marriage Certificate / Divorce Certificate

5. Proof of guardian (if applicable)

The link to register for schools under Selangor is http://apps.emoe.gov.my/esppsel/pptahun1/

Whereas for Kuala Lumpur is http://www.moe.gov.my/jpwpkl/ (in case online registration will be implemented in futute, which I think likely by year 2012)
Hope the info stills stay correct when its HE turn for registering

Relaxing vacation?

I am thinking of giving my hubby a surprise for his birthday by going to vacation at Pangkor Laut Resort. So I call YTL travel centre and find that they are having promo package for malaysian resident. Th package they quote :

3D/2N Pangkor Laut Resort Resident Package (From Lumut)2 Adult(s)


-Return ferry transfer : Lumut Jetty / Resort / Lumut Jetty

-Meal Plan (A) - Breakfast at Feast Village, Lunch at Royal Bay Beach Club or Chapman's Bar and a Set Dinner at Uncle Lim's Kitchen or Feast Village. Beverage is excluded except coffee, tea and mineral water during dining.

PLR Deluxe 50-minutes Massage Therapy (Pkg)2 Adult(s)
 
Total cost for the package is RM2,058 nett. Without the massage, its RM799 nett per adult.
 
I am not sure if its a good deal. Its average RM1k per person. I read many good review online, and really tempted to confirm the deal as the promo started in April 10 till further notice.
But I wonder I should spend this big sum of money when we are about to start the reno of our new house which can cost a lot. In addition, hubby is so busy that he is not sure if he can take leave on his birthday.
On the other hand, we are so tight down with work and 2 kids, we deserve a relax vacation rite? But RM2k for 3 days 2 nights...
Argh...should I...shouldn't I...

Booster seat for HE

cWhen I am back to work after my maternity leave, I plan to send HE and HX to the same babysitter. Hence I need 2 car seats in my car, one is the existing Britax convertible car seat, another is the infant car seat. As the babysitter need to fetch HE home from preschool in the afternoon, likely she also need the same equipments in her car. Although I have borrowed another infant car seat from my friend as temporary measure, I need to buy one sooner or later.

My husband company has this family friendly allowance for staff who has newborn, not only they provide RM1500 for hospital bill for giving birth, but also RM150 as baby gift allowance. Hence we plan to make use of the money to buy an additional car seat. Since we already have the Britax convertible car seat 0-4 years old, which HX can inherit once she outgrow the infant car seat. The practical choice will be a toddler booster seat for HE.

I have tried to search online and find that Graco brand is the good brand that meet our budget compared to Britax, Maxi-Cosi or Recaro. What I mean as good brand is the one that meet international safety standard. I can't really trust local brand which may have the feature but the quality is not assured since there is no local standard requirement for safety testing.

However I notice that there are so many different model of Graco booster seat with different pricing. Currently the one that I am looking ar is

1. Graco: Logico L X Comfort Booster Car Seat

2. Graco Junior Maxi Comfort

3. Junior Maxi

The seats are listed according higher priced to lower priced, though only by RM50-100 difference. Need to really see and touch them to decide which one to buy.

If I can get a second honeymoon

Read Sin Chew Jit Po Sunday newspaper today and found a page really interesting. Many seaside romantic places are introduced and look really nice. So I put a record here, in case I get a chance for second honeymoon or a trip out for just me and hubby.
1. Boracay, Philipines


First time I hear the name. It is listed as the the world top 10 best seaside, with white sand as long as 7km.







2. Phuket

Read that its filled with unique rocks and waterfall and etc. Many people would have been to this place as its pretty near to Malaysia, but me not yet lo.







3. Maldives

Very popular honeymoon place. If I remember correctly, one of my A-level classmate is from there and he keep promoting his place to be a beautiful place. Seeing the popularity as place for honeymoon, he is right. According to the paper, the island is below sea level, as the global warming is getting worse, these islands could disappear after next century. If to enjoy the scenery, go there as soon as possible and starts being responsible to the environment!
4. Mauritius

Frankly speaking, I am always confused between Mauritius and Maldives ( to me, they sound alike)








5. Fiji
This is listed as one of the Universe top to honeymoon place ( must be real romantic!)













6. Seychelles

Situated in Indian oceans, northeast of Magadasgar, it should be a great place to relax as the nature is still very well preserved.









7. Bali
A pretty familiar name to me ( but I still haven't been there, despite the convenient and the cheap flight from Airasia). Bali is almost a synonym of "Romance" and island of honeymoon





8.Tahiti Islands

Another name that I have not heard of. According to paper, it has been called as 'a place nearest to paradise' (wao!). The common island frequently mentioned for vacation here is Bora-bora. However, I think this is the place that I am least likely to be at as it is situated at South Pacific, about 8 hour flight from.....Not Malaysia but Los Angeles. A bit too far for me la.

My New Year 2010 Resolution

Have been thinking what should be my second post. Since its still January, think its more appropriate to write about new year resolution. I remember once a senior mentioned to me that its pretty hard to be well rounded person with all the positive charaters and good habits. She suggested that we should set one good character or habit each year and work on it, intead of having the whole list and trying to ( or don't even try to ) follow it. I agree, in chinese proverbs, it takes 3 days to make a person bad but it takes 3 years to make person good.

So this year, I wish that I could learn about 'Discipline'. One but a big word, as discipline mean in time management, in learning things..... I like to read but tends to be attracted by new book, and never finish the currrent book, half way through the book will lay somewhere or in the bookshelf for years, unless I am forced to finish it like to prepare for exam. I think one non-academic book that I actually do finish is 'What to expect when you are expecting', during my first pregnancy. Now that there are a few parenting books, I do hope to be discipline enough to really finish them.
Another discipline is in time, not only for my sake but more for my child sake. She used to sleep late, like 11pm-12am, as she can only sleep with daddy and mommy in bed. But daddy and mommy tends to be stucked with the interesting TV programmes so end up sleep late too. Pity her as she gets so sleepy the next morning and her eye can hardly open after the half day preschool session. So I hope I am discipline to be in the bedroom the latest 10pm.
I have many things in my mind that need discipline. But lets start small and then only move on. I think Discipline is the key for things to get done . Lets hope I become a discipline person for my daily life by the end of the year.