Happy New Year 2013! We make it through 2012! Yay! Always can't help but wonder, generations after us will look back to 2012 and say "wow these folks are old fashioned!" and we will be referred to as "early century people!" like how we look at early 1900 folks! Ha! Ha! Nonetheless live the best we can so that in-spite it all, we still can be a fashionable happening lot!
Well been sick for almost a week! What a great way to ring in the new year! Been down and out since the day after Christmas! Aiks! Cancelled all my plans and didnt get to meet all our friends (hubby's included!), no steamboat and all the food I make a list to eat! Only half of it chomped before my health decided to slack on me! And no KARAOKE! (Arrggh! That is the worst part of the holiday!) Well please treat me better ya 2013! Hope that this sick sick girl will be better and less sickness this new year! I am still sick and fever returned to visit yesterday! So a lot of prayers needed as I am better today! I am gearing to becoming better and not going to reflect on being sick! Did all my laundry and household chores purposely yesterday to "sweat it out" instead of laying in bed and swear it out! Ha! Ha! One thing for sure coming home to our own home has already make me feel a lot better! Eventhough I was sick the second half of the holiday I have a lot to be thankful for! Family times that we spend together was great! Love it! All the makan sana and makan sini and also gifts exchanged with family members! (Oh bummer! Now received gifts as one unit TO: MR & MRS Chan... All household goodies! Thankful!) Being sick also make me thankful to have hubby in my life! How he took care of me! Bringing me food and carrying me around to see doctors and blood test, patiently sitting next to me as I try to catch some sleep, changing and cleaning after me! It is a blessing indeed! Thank God!
Here in 2012, I have learned, gained, lost and found a lot of things!
I have learned to be a wife, ways of doing business and to forgive is the best way to live including people who deliberately hurt me!
I have gained weight! Yeap! & also my relationship with God is so much rewarding and closer! Amen!
I had also lost someone that called himself close to me but after having a girlfriend he seems to pull away and never was to be seen for anymore!
I have found out who my true friends are only a few (sadly! But enough to get by!) and also found out that being thankful counts for 90% of happiness in life!
Happy 2013!
A Happy New Year Indeed!
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X-Factor Fever
Never a fan of reality tv shows! Maybe back in college time I was very excited about Survivor 1 - Sabah or maybe America Next Top Model Season 1, or maybe American Idol 1 (I watched it half way and didnt follow through Kelly Clarkson's crowning!) That's about it! In fact I never had affiliation towards TV! Everytime someone turns on the TV, I will be like oh well! I am going into the room! So practically the 50 inch at home here is just a redundant mighty piece of furniture until hubby turns it on! I don't watch every show but just two, Private Practice and Bones and now X-Factor USA 2. (Makes 3)
Initially when my auntie got so excited over X-Factor USA 1, I couldn't understand it! Now I do, maybe a little! Still alright it was quite addictive! Today is the crowning of X-Factor Champion and I am glad the family man WON! Here is what I think about each Top 13 contestants.
13. Jason Brock (Mentor: L.A. Reid)
Well sorry mate! I do not get it when L.A. Reid choose to keep him over Travie Mccoy lookalike David Correy. I think David is a better choice and his slow rendition of Kelly Clarkson's - Since you been gone was nicely done! Anyway it doesn't matter coz Jason doesn't last long enough and was send home! Honestly I expected this elimination, oh well no need to explain! America sees it the same way as me!
12. Lyric 145 (Mentor: Simon Cowell)
This group being eliminated came as a shocking result for me and hubby! We both find this group really entertaining! In fact I was rooting that they will stay around for a bit longer as there are far more worst contestants than them! One thing I find annoying is that, they kept changing their songs at last minutes! It was so the week before and then the same again the week they got eliminated! But none-the-less they were really of entertainment value and I would love to see them come back or maybe sign on to an independent record! They were really creative with their song especially the one where they do a crossover between Katy Perry's E.T. & Queen's We will Rock You
11. Jennel Garcia (Mentor: Demi Lovato)
Well I never find this one impressive! Like Simon repeated gazillion times! This is a 5 Million dollar competition! For me is not worth 5 million! Another thing that I find annoying about Jennel is that although she said she is a dance teacher?! But her dancing on stage just doesn't sit with me too well! Demi shouldn't approve of her prancing around the stage doing "Club Dirty Dancing" all the time! She kept doing that "twirl her hips, put her hands up and shake her hair crazy" dance routine on every single song! But one credit that I would like to give to her is indeed she has one of the best singing vocals around!!
10. Arin Ray (Mentor: Britney Spears)
This guy is the returning act from previous session! I like his smooth voice, he has got the style and he has got the voice BUT sorry to say he lost his focus! He forgotten what he is here for! His goal shifted from the 5 million prize to one of Fifth Harmony Girl Group's member! Plus I believe that Britney did a very lousy job with all her contestants! She only focuses on one maybe 2 of her contestants and letting the rest go to waste! Plus she tends to "over-furnish" her acts with way too many decorative backgrounds from dancers to hanging ropes to rise high and low stages! Which I find it a bit distracting! Thus costing her one of her good contestant Arin Ray! This young man reminds me of Usher! But if he is going to join for the 3rd time, he better keep his focus on the prize and not something else! (One example would be: Theme of the week : Giving Thanks! And he choose Hero by Enrique Iglesias, he said it was dedicated to his brother but yet its obvious he is de-railed! But then what is the mentor doing!!!)
9. Beatrice Miller (Mentor: Britney Spears)
Well I would blame her initial elimination reason to Britney Spears! Britney did not put a full heart into nurturing this really talented girl! She neglected her talents in fact and failed to dress her for the occasion. Instead of choosing a worthy song for her, she was made to sing songs that is obviously not suitable for her husky voice! Her mentor chose "man/guy" songs like Iris by Goo Goo Dolls, Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol for her to attempt! (Lousy choice) and not to say her costumes! Well why do you let a 13 years old wear frumpy clothes and colorful hats while performing! It is a far cry from the way Britney dress and train Carly! (That is another story ya!) Her voice is very special and she has this very adorable look! I like her a lot BUT by the end of the sing-off when she is at the bottom two along with Cece Frey (The one character that I dislike!) I am ready to send her off and retain Cece! When she performed her "Final Showdown" song "White Flag" (So obvious! She given up) she is sobbing and perform without hope and fire! If she wants it she has got to fight for it but she didn't and for a moment there i admire Cece (always the bottom dweller) for her fire to continue fighting even though this is the million times she is at that position!
8. Paige Thomas (Mentor: Demi Lovato)
I love this girl. She very strong and indeed she has the power in her vocal! I hate to see her eliminated as she is the other act that I am rooting for other than Lyric 145! I was very disappointed to see her go although I know she is good but NOT good enough! Sadly! I was relieved when she was safe when she goes against Jennel but like I said that wasn't enough to keep her in the competition! A competition where 5 million is at stake! A lot of people were saying she is Rihanna wannabe! But I do not care because through the entire competition she has shown her determination to win and she kept on fighting till the end! I wish her well in everything that she is doing now!
7. Vino Alan (Mentor: L.A. Reid)
This is yet another shocking elimination. One that I was disappointed to see go! Because he has kept a constant run at number 3 all this while! But then his tantrum throwing and complacency has booted him home! The moment he got number 3 for the third time he remarked "Number 3 is very good indeed! I think America feel what I am doing!" At this point of competition complacency kills (ok in any point in life as well! We gotta keep on fighting to progress) L.A. Reid rebutted him, in which I agree "There is only one place! Number 1, there is no place for Number 3! Number 3 is not Number 1! You gotta progress, gotta do something that is different! I can see L.A. genuinely wanted all his acts to win and that resorted him to do a drastic move to pick songs like You've lost that lovin' feeling, a very far cry from Vino excellent performance of previous week "God Bless USA!" With that song I can almost see him winning but "Lost that lovin' feeling" really made your contestant "lost" L.A! (Kudos to him for his effort even though he was at a tantrum throwing mood when he was told he is going to mentor the over 25s! He was professional! - In fact I didn't know he is such a big shot because he has always appear humble in the show)
6. Cece Frey (Mentor: Demi Lovato)
From the last of the young adults! I am waiting for her to be eliminated! Been hoping everyday! She is still around till now is not because she can sing but because she has this sobby story to tell! Everybody has been through hard times but she complaining again and again about how she hated going back to work at the post office is getting very boring! I didnt get her leopard spots painting although I think similar ones on Jadzia Dax (Star Trek - Deep Space Nine) looked very sexy! But then for Cece it is week after week of poor performance and criticism from the judges and yet she stayed around! For one time I had to agree with Britney when she remarked toward Cece's performance by saying "I just don't get it!!" As she continued to stay in the competition she became cockier! I already hated her but she makes me hate her more by saying this when the judges criticized her performance as usual by saying "If they are not going to write that cheque someone will!" and when L.A. Reid told her that her performance wasn't worth 5 million she replied "But I am still here!" so bye bye and you are lucky you stayed till number 6! Actually to be honest I don't get her "Eye of the Tiger"performance, trying so hard to be Ke$ha and also her almost out of tune worst than karaoke session "All by myself" and her poorly performed out of all notes and failed to hit the ending high note of "Wind beneath my wings" she covered her poor performance by simply shedding tears! Well played but not good enough! As it is time to go when we watched for the final time she slaughtered Katy's Part of Me! Ouuch! I was happy to see her go!
5. Diamond White (Mentor: Britney Spears)
Diamond is such a talent! She reminded me of the late Whitney Houston! But her mentor wasted her talent, utterly destroying her by leading her the wrong direction! That is not counting Britney lopsided decision to eliminate her and keep Arin Ray instead! Later Simon Cowell step in and bring Diamond back because they decided it was a mistake to eliminate Diamond! So ever since then Britney has never invested into Diamond! The songs that Britney picked for Diamond are songs from huge octaves divas! I wonder Britney herself could carry any of those tunes! (Shame!) Time and again Diamond was put to challenge from songs like I have nothing by Whitney Houston to Halo by Beyonce to Because you loved me - Celine Dion to I wanna Dance with somebody - Whitney again! (Now you see what I am saying) Diamond has shown her ability to sing and live up to these legendary tunes and I love the way everytime she goes on stage, she hit those notes wonderfully! I believe that she could stay longer or maybe win the show if her mentor put a little bit more effort on this one instead of heavily investing on her number 2!
4. Emblem 3 (Mentor: Simon Cowell)
Maybe America finally saw that they do not need another One Direction! They are at number 4 thanks to so many screaming teens out there! Usually they scream louder than what was being performed by the boys blinded them to their votes! Well we all are young once and my time was the Backstreet Boys (Well indeed they are talented! Ha! Ha! See younger days!) This is the same as that! This one I have to agree with Demi, they are becoming so predictable, they came out, stand together and sing a verse, then start to come forward and jump around the stage, they rap and then they end the song! Actually they are ok but vocally still a little bit short of breath! As I watched them performed "No one - Alicia Keys", "Secrets - One Republic", "I am a Believer - Monkees", "Just the way you are - Bruno Mars" and poorly singed "Hey Jude - Beatles" all the songs are lack of emotions although I would say they are interesting to watch but still not good enough and Simon was rooting for them to win this or at least go on to the final!
3. Fifth Harmony (Mentor: Simon Cowell) - Previously known as Lylas then 1432
Indeed like their song "Anything Could Happen" they stayed on till the final! Well to be honest I find their song "Anything Could Happen" very entertaining! I love it! I love the song after I heard Fifth Harmony performed it! In fact it is better than the original and everybody knows I am sucker for pinkish stuff and beautiful fairytale dreams and their backdrop had me loving it! I love how they hit the final high note for the song Anything! It is impressive! But as this is a race to find someone with the talent, only one song that impressed doesn't do the work! Although these girls are just adorable and very lovely but its not enough to win them the grand price. In fact only 2 out of 5 girls could sing and could really carry tunes well. Overall they were really nice to have around although I cannot remember half of what they sang because it didn't "WOW" me!
2. Carly Rose Sonenclar (Mentor: Britney Spears)
This girl could sing! And she could sing VERY WELL! That is thanks to Britney for putting all her effort into this act alone! At least all the other teens in the category that sacrificed has brought Carly to this stage! We knew the moment Britney saw her she exclaimed "I saw myself in you when I first started!" So obvious and from then on Britney has invested in her entirely, from songs choice to costumes to choreography but I am well to say that Carly has not disappoint in any of her performances. But there is one thing that I think she need to work on, her facial expression at times can be a little over-done when singing! So maybe that is required for hitting big notes?!? (I don't know because I am just a humble karaoke singer! Maybe I should try that, it might make me hit higher notes! Ha! Ha!) But overall I enjoy how she was always on top of her game interchanging number 1 with the X-factor winner! The song that I find most entertaining is "My heart will go on - Celine Dion" & "Over the Rainbow" that got her the number one spot on week 4 & 5 of the competition! This girl has definitely make an impression in the music industry and I believe her life can never be normal again as she has proven herself to be far more talented than Britney herself!
1. Tate Stevens (Winner) (Mentor: L.A.Reid)
I am glad to see him win! Like hubby always said "America needs someone like Tate! A man committed to his marriage and love his family in the entertainment industry!" We were praying that he will win this competition and I am happy to see him crown winner! I am never a fan of country music! Never Ever! Accept for Carrie Underwood, other than that nope! Don't know any country song! I used to think country music is boring! But then everytime Tate took the X-Factor Stage I will be very entertained and I will be very attentive towards the songs he sang. He became better and better throughout the competition. His final few weeks' performances were the best! I personally like Bonfire & Fall & yeah also Anything Goes! Most importantly he dedicates all his songs to his wife, that is really a good man! And he deserved to win this as his reason to win is to give his family a good life! Kudos man! And praying for your many success! Buy a country album from Tate?! Maybe my hubby will! As he is already showing great support for him!
My-wannabe-smart-QUOTE OF THE DAY #7
No! No! Stop first! When I said be a man - build on a stable career and gather up assets for yourself! I didn't mean house & flat that your parents bought and money that your dad made! I mean YOU! Do you even have an income on your own! Yeah that 2.5k and your little "cute" car! That is what I am talking about! Grow these and stop telling me money and assets I already have! No you don't have them until your parents passed on! Understand? Yeah? Finally we are talking!
Presenting : Chan (CareBears) Family Christmas Tree
Enjoying the Chan (Carebears) Family Tree
Yeap! I have finished my Christmas Pressie Shopping.... Counting down the days to go back to KL for Christmas! Joy of giving and being around with families and close friends
♥♥ God Bless & Merry Christmas 2012♥♥
Spaghetti Seafood Aglio Olio
Been hibernating from this blog for some time. I am still here but been a bit busy! (What's so busy?!? You are a stay home wife! Don't life gets boring?! - I still get this but lesser!) Well instead of sitting around and doing nothing at all, I have been trying a lot of new recipes and this is one of them. Many a times I forgotten to take a picture until we are digging half way through the dish! So last week I made sure that I remind myself to take a pic before chomping down.
This is my latest success - Spaghetti Seafood Aglio Olio. This is just so simple to do and you do not have to sweat figuring how it is done. Good for Simple Christmas Dinner.. (Note: Recipe is for 2 person)
Half packet of Spaghetti
Handful of Parmesan Cheese
1 Tablespoon of Butter
8 Pieces Prawn - Peel and de-vein
1 Piece White Squid - Clean and cut into small cubes
8 Pieces Mussel - Scrub the shell & soak in warm water to remove sand and other residues
10 Cherry Tomatoes - Half them
10 Pieces of White Tuscon Mushroom
Garlic
Olive Oil
Red Pepper Flakes
Balsamic Vinegar
Garlic Powder
Oregano
Salt & Sugar for taste
Directions:
- Cook Spaghetti for 15 minutes add in some salt for taste (Through my experience that is the best time for bouncy crispy spaghetti any more than that time, it will be soggy and too soft any lesser will be too raw)
- Take out spaghetti from hot water and straight into normal water and set aside on colander
- Heat up pan with butter and olive oil, put in garlic and stir until translucent, put in white squid, prawn, mussel and mushroom stir for 1 minute
- After prawn shows sign of done (the color will turn reddish and the tail curl up) put in cherry tomatoes and stir fry for another 30 seconds
- Mix in 3 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, some water, salt & sugar and "fine tune" the taste according to your taste
- Pour in spaghetti and toss, drizzle some olive oil and serve on plate
- Sprinkle onto each plates individually according to preference - garlic powder, oregano and red pepper flakes.
- Top of with yummy Parmesan cheese and we have really yummy spaghetti ;)
See! Its easy peasy! No sweat at all recipe ;) OoO Yummy! Enjoyzzzz
♥♥ Life's Little Enjoyment #4
Christmas! Always the best time of the year ;) Its about family, close friends and of course PRESSIEs..... Love it! Especially if the Christmas Tree is up @home!
What does't kills you ONLY makes you STRONGER
This might be some song Kelly Clarkson make famous BUT these famous words does really has it punch to it! It really proven true..... I do not know about others BUT for me it is true! Life has been a learning experience and I truly felt that what we are is not define by the moments of hardship we been through but by how we take those moment and make our life better!
Hubby and I both have been through hardships in life. For him, he grew up from a family who has not much, he doesn't have much toys and all the luxuries that I enjoyed when I was younger. I used to share with him about what I have and how this toys were played and how this stationery were the coolest in school at that time & his answer is always the same "I know they are the coolest at that time BUT my parents couldn't afford them when I was younger! I love to have them like other classmates and schoolmates but we just couldn't" That is the past for a man who has brought me around the world and back! Brought me luxury items and keep me grounded! ;)
For myself when my parents went their separate ways, mommy, sister and I were left to fend for our lives and tomorrow seems to be like a storm that hits us and everything were so unclear. Remember those days when we would have to worry when tuition fee is due, what should we have for tomorrow as breakfast, lunch and dinner? We will survived, how are we going to? That was my past! Just like the song goes "That was then! This is my now!" Looking back - Each of those moments are the ones that mold me, shaped me to be the person I am today! Did I ever dream of today? NO! At that moment, a life like now is just a dream BUT keep holding on and never let go!
What I wanted to say is the past doesn't define us, how we made of it and add to our life is the one that defines us! Don't ever give up! Don't hate those moments, if we did not go through those moment of molding how will the Lord knows that we are big enough to hold his blessing when He pours it out upon us?
One person that I would like to thank is my Lord Jesus! He is the one that has brought me to this moment! If I don't have Him, I wouldn't have the things I have today! Never! But in the meantime, Marry a good husband, a Lord destined husband... It helps a lot to make life better ;) Trust me!
So at the end of the day "What doesn't kills you only makes you stronger! And it is true!"
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