First of all, let me wish all of my Muslims friends and blogger friends :
Selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri! It's a blessed to celebrate the special day with your family and love one. I admire and give my heart to those who can't be with their family during this special day. So for those of you who has the blessing to spend any special holiday with your family , please cherished it to the max!
And another event , is the memory of one of the biggest tragedy of the world. 9.11.2001. 9 years ago, the world has witnessed the brutality and cruelty of evil power that has possessed some individuals. God bless those who has lost their live on that day, and also bless their family .
Another event is our 11th Anniversary ^_^. The date is 11th September 1999. It's fun to remember that day :). Our wedding was simple but I always know that the wedding is just for a day, I prefer to have long lasting marriage rather than an impressive grand wedding ( and maybe a few diamonds rings on the top of the simple wedding hihihihi :P )
And that is the reason to celebrate. We gonna hit the trendiest place in town for drinks, dinner and clubbing!
:) Who said the fun stop after marriage and children! Once in a while we gonna have some fun too!
hugs to all! xoxo
S.R
Friday, September 10, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
No inspiration
I've been not blog much lately... I have no inspiration to write this time , I don't know why :)
Our lives is still going on pretty well , the girls are good, the school has start back, Indy is still being homeschool, And she is joining girls scout, doing some sport and tennis twice a week. In fact her 8th birthday is coming soon.
And I am still as usual juggling between being mom, wife and human being ( with needs of shopping, meeting friends and having fun ). But yet ... I still don't have inspiration to write :)
Oh and guess what... our 11th anniversary is on this weekend. Another year has pass!
Our lives is still going on pretty well , the girls are good, the school has start back, Indy is still being homeschool, And she is joining girls scout, doing some sport and tennis twice a week. In fact her 8th birthday is coming soon.
And I am still as usual juggling between being mom, wife and human being ( with needs of shopping, meeting friends and having fun ). But yet ... I still don't have inspiration to write :)
Oh and guess what... our 11th anniversary is on this weekend. Another year has pass!
Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that's a real treat."
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
She is 4 !
Our baby is 4! And what a handful of characters she has! Of course.. a combo of me and my husband..what do you expect? LOL. She decided to have a soccer ball as her bday cake! So Soccer ball cake it is!
We didn't do any party this year. I asked her , does she want to invite any friends? She said no, I just want to have birthday at school. So that was it ! :) .We had a family lunch in our favorite restaurant and we order a whole pigeon for the b'day girl ( her favorite!)
And these are some for the pics, and some were from her school's party.
We didn't do any party this year. I asked her , does she want to invite any friends? She said no, I just want to have birthday at school. So that was it ! :) .We had a family lunch in our favorite restaurant and we order a whole pigeon for the b'day girl ( her favorite!)
And these are some for the pics, and some were from her school's party.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Education = Gardening
A great article for any parents. We should not just take care of the "plants" but also the soil and the environment. I like the way he said : the organic plants /garden may grow slower but healthier while those who use chemical fertilizer and pesticide the plants could look better, greener , healthier but not good in the long run!
Well ... happy reading, hope this will inspire you! :)
Organic Learning
Billy Greer
Billy Greer
Unschooling is sometimes referred to as an "organic" approach to learning. Some people wonder about this application of the term and may think it refers to a "natural" approach as in organic gardening where artificial fertilizers and pesticides are not used. Actually, I believe the term refers more to a "holistic" approach in which the entire organism is considered and not just individual components. The same can be said for organic gardening; it just happens that this also tends to be a more natural approach. If you are new to unschooling, or have doubts about how it can really work, I can think of no better way to learn more than to try your hand at organic gardening. I find the similarities to be amazing and the results of both to be very rewarding.
Most people think of organic gardening as similar to regular gardening except that you don't use pesticides and you don't use fertilizers. People that try this approach frequently see their plants consumed by insects or wilting from lack of nourishment. They'll tell you that it sounds nice on paper but just doesn't work in real life. These are people who have seen and tried a few techniques from an organic approach but failed because they did not realize that an overall system is needed. You cannot expect success if you only adopt a few of the techniques.
Any experienced organic gardener will tell you that the key to success is to build a strong foundation, which means to take good care of the soil, not just the plants. Before you worry about growing healthy plants, you need to properly prepare the soil. There is no single way to do this because conditions vary from location to location, so first it is important to understand what you have. Go out and work with your soil. As you dig in it and feel it, you get a sense for whether it is hard and compacted or rich and loamy. By observing the types of plants already growing in the area you can also learn about the pH of the soil and mineral content. You can also buy kits that will help you determine what type of soil you have. Once you've done your homework, you can finally start doing some of the real work.
So, now you dig and loosen the soil and work in the compost, manure, limestone and other amendments that you have determined you need. It's not true that organic gardeners do not use fertilizers. They just don't use chemical fertilizers, so most of what you add will be more similar to what nature would add and will be slower to breakdown and slower to be absorbed by the plants than their chemical counterparts.
Now you've gotten your soil off to a good start, and you're ready to start planting. Your plants should be germinated in a very protected environment. The potting soil should be sterile. You carefully control the conditions to allow the plants to get a good, healthy start. Before you transplant them, you gradually expose them to outside conditions, giving them a chance to adapt. When they are ready, you put them in the soil you have prepared.
These plants have been given a good healthy start, and the soil has been well prepared. You will now find that they need less maintenance. They will grow deeper root systems and need less watering or fertilizing. Their health will make them more resistant to insects or weather. Their vigorous growth will crowd out weeds. Every year, as you nourish the soil, the plants will do better as they grow stronger, the roots spread deeper, and the soil continues to improve.
With a more conventional approach to gardening, you might get better results initially but not in the long run. Your neighbor uses a chemical fertilizer, and a few days later the plants are noticeably greener and growing faster. He waters them daily, and they stay green and lush even during the hottest days of summer. At the first sign of bugs, he breaks out the pesticides and sprays everything. That first year he may actually have bragging rights to the biggest and best looking vegetables. He constantly tends to the garden and seems to get great results. But if he continues gardening the same way for many years, he may start having problems. That rapid growth encouraged by his fertilizers may deplete the soil of necessary nutrients. Some are trace elements and things we don't really know about. Chemical fertilizers only provide the major elements required by the plants and do not replace many other nutrients. If overused, they can even leave behind mineral salts that can poison the soil.
The pesticides he has applied have successfully gotten rid of many pests, but have also killed lots of beneficial insects. Bacteria and other beneficial soil organisms may be killed. That means your neighbor has fewer earthworms working to improve his soil. Perhaps there are fewer bees or butterflies to help pollinate the plants. Fertilizer and pesticide runoff may also pollute nearby waters decreasing fish and frogs that would eat insects and their larvae.
Face it. Your neighbor has developed a system that may have gotten faster results initially, but requires constant attention and the application of expensive products. The plants are dependent on that attention and care, and are not capable of surviving well without it. Just look at what happens if he goes on vacation for a while, or moves away and someone with less time and money moves in to his house. The constant watering that produced such lush growth also produced shallow roots. Miss one watering during a hot spell and you can watch everything wither and die. The fertilizers can cause the problems mentioned earlier, but without them the soil cannot support the plants. Miss a couple of applications and the plants start to become sickly. This gardener has concentrated on raising plants instead of a garden.
On the other hand, you invested much more time and did more work initially with your organic garden. You focused on feeding the soil, not the plants. You made decisions based on the overall effect on the garden, not just the plants. Therefore, you did not indiscriminately apply pesticides to get rid of a few pesky insects. As a result, you had healthy soil bacteria and worms working to make your soil even better. Your garden may have gotten off to a slower start, but it improves every year. Since your plants were not artificially fed and watered constantly, they have developed deep root systems that help them find the nourishment they need. They are much more self sufficient and to not require constant care.
Thinking unschoolers do nothing with their kids is equivalent to thinking organic gardeners just throw a handful of seeds into the yard and expect a garden to grow. In actuality, both invest most of their effort into properly preparing the environment to encourage proper growth. If you worry that homeschooled kids are too protected and need to be exposed to the real world, would you also recommend transplanting tender seedlings to the garden before the last frost? Isn't it ironic that the plants that are the most carefully nurtured and protected initially before being gradually exposed to the outdoors tend to become the strongest, healthiest plants, while those that are thrust outdoors too soon often never recover?
Sometimes I see our home environment as the garden and our children as the plants; other times I see our children as the garden and knowledge as the plants. Each perspective has its merits. In either case, one of our goals is to produce self-sufficient learners with deep, strong roots to acquire their own knowledge and to provide a solid base for continued future growth.
Copyright 2003 Billy Greer
Most people think of organic gardening as similar to regular gardening except that you don't use pesticides and you don't use fertilizers. People that try this approach frequently see their plants consumed by insects or wilting from lack of nourishment. They'll tell you that it sounds nice on paper but just doesn't work in real life. These are people who have seen and tried a few techniques from an organic approach but failed because they did not realize that an overall system is needed. You cannot expect success if you only adopt a few of the techniques.
Any experienced organic gardener will tell you that the key to success is to build a strong foundation, which means to take good care of the soil, not just the plants. Before you worry about growing healthy plants, you need to properly prepare the soil. There is no single way to do this because conditions vary from location to location, so first it is important to understand what you have. Go out and work with your soil. As you dig in it and feel it, you get a sense for whether it is hard and compacted or rich and loamy. By observing the types of plants already growing in the area you can also learn about the pH of the soil and mineral content. You can also buy kits that will help you determine what type of soil you have. Once you've done your homework, you can finally start doing some of the real work.
So, now you dig and loosen the soil and work in the compost, manure, limestone and other amendments that you have determined you need. It's not true that organic gardeners do not use fertilizers. They just don't use chemical fertilizers, so most of what you add will be more similar to what nature would add and will be slower to breakdown and slower to be absorbed by the plants than their chemical counterparts.
Now you've gotten your soil off to a good start, and you're ready to start planting. Your plants should be germinated in a very protected environment. The potting soil should be sterile. You carefully control the conditions to allow the plants to get a good, healthy start. Before you transplant them, you gradually expose them to outside conditions, giving them a chance to adapt. When they are ready, you put them in the soil you have prepared.
These plants have been given a good healthy start, and the soil has been well prepared. You will now find that they need less maintenance. They will grow deeper root systems and need less watering or fertilizing. Their health will make them more resistant to insects or weather. Their vigorous growth will crowd out weeds. Every year, as you nourish the soil, the plants will do better as they grow stronger, the roots spread deeper, and the soil continues to improve.
With a more conventional approach to gardening, you might get better results initially but not in the long run. Your neighbor uses a chemical fertilizer, and a few days later the plants are noticeably greener and growing faster. He waters them daily, and they stay green and lush even during the hottest days of summer. At the first sign of bugs, he breaks out the pesticides and sprays everything. That first year he may actually have bragging rights to the biggest and best looking vegetables. He constantly tends to the garden and seems to get great results. But if he continues gardening the same way for many years, he may start having problems. That rapid growth encouraged by his fertilizers may deplete the soil of necessary nutrients. Some are trace elements and things we don't really know about. Chemical fertilizers only provide the major elements required by the plants and do not replace many other nutrients. If overused, they can even leave behind mineral salts that can poison the soil.
The pesticides he has applied have successfully gotten rid of many pests, but have also killed lots of beneficial insects. Bacteria and other beneficial soil organisms may be killed. That means your neighbor has fewer earthworms working to improve his soil. Perhaps there are fewer bees or butterflies to help pollinate the plants. Fertilizer and pesticide runoff may also pollute nearby waters decreasing fish and frogs that would eat insects and their larvae.
Face it. Your neighbor has developed a system that may have gotten faster results initially, but requires constant attention and the application of expensive products. The plants are dependent on that attention and care, and are not capable of surviving well without it. Just look at what happens if he goes on vacation for a while, or moves away and someone with less time and money moves in to his house. The constant watering that produced such lush growth also produced shallow roots. Miss one watering during a hot spell and you can watch everything wither and die. The fertilizers can cause the problems mentioned earlier, but without them the soil cannot support the plants. Miss a couple of applications and the plants start to become sickly. This gardener has concentrated on raising plants instead of a garden.
On the other hand, you invested much more time and did more work initially with your organic garden. You focused on feeding the soil, not the plants. You made decisions based on the overall effect on the garden, not just the plants. Therefore, you did not indiscriminately apply pesticides to get rid of a few pesky insects. As a result, you had healthy soil bacteria and worms working to make your soil even better. Your garden may have gotten off to a slower start, but it improves every year. Since your plants were not artificially fed and watered constantly, they have developed deep root systems that help them find the nourishment they need. They are much more self sufficient and to not require constant care.
Thinking unschoolers do nothing with their kids is equivalent to thinking organic gardeners just throw a handful of seeds into the yard and expect a garden to grow. In actuality, both invest most of their effort into properly preparing the environment to encourage proper growth. If you worry that homeschooled kids are too protected and need to be exposed to the real world, would you also recommend transplanting tender seedlings to the garden before the last frost? Isn't it ironic that the plants that are the most carefully nurtured and protected initially before being gradually exposed to the outdoors tend to become the strongest, healthiest plants, while those that are thrust outdoors too soon often never recover?
Sometimes I see our home environment as the garden and our children as the plants; other times I see our children as the garden and knowledge as the plants. Each perspective has its merits. In either case, one of our goals is to produce self-sufficient learners with deep, strong roots to acquire their own knowledge and to provide a solid base for continued future growth.
Copyright 2003 Billy Greer
Billy Greer and his wife, Nancy, are publishers of the FUN Books Catalog of books, games, and other materials to help parents in their efforts to produce life-long learners.
They also sponsor The Family Unschoolers Network, which provides support for unschooling, homeschooling, and self-directed learning.
They also sponsor The Family Unschoolers Network, which provides support for unschooling, homeschooling, and self-directed learning.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
10 Things Every Woman Must Own - Look Your Best - Fashion - InStyle
10 Things Every Woman Must Own - Look Your Best - Fashion - InStyle
Ladies, I just want to share this article from Instyle.com ( yes that is one of my bookmark link on my browser ^_^). Have fun looking and take a mental note what do you need to look for during next window shopping ! Hah! I almost bought a pair of red flat today ( before I read this article) but it doesn't come in my size! Sigh... And my plan for next month , preparation for Autumn is to have custom made trench coat ( yes I can custom made anything here in Shanghai! LOL, that's the beauty to live here!) My only doubt is in which color should I get? I am thinking of Camel or Nude color , or should I take black for timeless look?
Ok so here you go the 10 things you should own in your wardrobe :
Ladies, I just want to share this article from Instyle.com ( yes that is one of my bookmark link on my browser ^_^). Have fun looking and take a mental note what do you need to look for during next window shopping ! Hah! I almost bought a pair of red flat today ( before I read this article) but it doesn't come in my size! Sigh... And my plan for next month , preparation for Autumn is to have custom made trench coat ( yes I can custom made anything here in Shanghai! LOL, that's the beauty to live here!) My only doubt is in which color should I get? I am thinking of Camel or Nude color , or should I take black for timeless look?
Ok so here you go the 10 things you should own in your wardrobe :
Star stylist Nicole Chavez (inset photo) collaborates with celebrities like Rachel Bilson, Kristen Bell and Scarlett Johansson. We asked her which key pieces every woman should have in her closet.
Black Blazer
NICOLE SAYS "A tailored blazer is classic, feminine and looks great on all body types. Pair it with anything: jeans, little dresses, trousers, skirts. Make sure to find one that fits you well and accentuates your waist—you don't want it to look like it's swallowing you!"
Black Blazer
NICOLE SAYS "A tailored blazer is classic, feminine and looks great on all body types. Pair it with anything: jeans, little dresses, trousers, skirts. Make sure to find one that fits you well and accentuates your waist—you don't want it to look like it's swallowing you!"
Leopard Print Scarf
NICOLE SAYS "Even if you're wearing a basic T-shirt and jeans, use accessories like a printed scarf as the 'bright' piece to complete your look."
Red Flats
NICOLE SAYS "Black is the obvious choice, but red flats provide a pop of color and work for every season. I love to pair them with a striped shirt and a trench coat."
Striped Shirt
NICOLE SAYS "This timeless classic is having a comeback. It looks great paired with brights or prints or peeking out from underneath a blazer."
Statement Necklace
NICOLE SAYS "I believe in having basics in your closet and playing with your accessories. The statement necklace can make a simple outfit look strong and feminine."
Little Black Dress
NICOLE SAYS "Every woman knows she should have a little black dress, but it's important to invest in one that's special. Look for a dress with a detail—an interesting sleeve, an embellished belt—that makes it unique. And remember that finding the right fit is important!"
Black Opaque Tights
NICOLE SAYS "A great pair of tights can make your legs look slimmer and help you get away with wearing a dress that's a little too short. Double them up for a more opaque look—and to keep you warm in the winter!"
Oversize Watch
NICOLE SAYS "A watch is as much an accessory as it is a timepiece. A gold watch is a great way to dress an outfit up—try leaving it loose so it looks like a bracelet."
Classic Trench
NICOLE SAYS "Think of this as an investment piece—you'll wear it forever, even if you fluctuate in size. Look for a classic A-line silhouette that will cinch you in at the waist and wear it over everything from suits to jeans."
Flared Jeans
NICOLE SAYS "This is a flattering shape for most body types. Pair them with platforms or wedges to get extra height while keeping the look casual and comfortable."
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
I am woman!
I heard this song from Sex and the City movie 2! I love this series and the movies and I think this classic song is just so WOMAN!
I dedicated this song for all the women out there, specially those that been treated unfair and those who is abused , not respected and not been heard in the society or even family. And also to any women out there, this song will brighten up your day and spirit!
( the song also on my mixpod on the left panel : ) . Enjoy , girlfriends!!!!!!
XOXO
S.R
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again
CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul
CHORUS
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I dedicated this song for all the women out there, specially those that been treated unfair and those who is abused , not respected and not been heard in the society or even family. And also to any women out there, this song will brighten up your day and spirit!
( the song also on my mixpod on the left panel : ) . Enjoy , girlfriends!!!!!!
XOXO
S.R
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again
CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul
CHORUS
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
Monday, August 2, 2010
Our first vacation since we moved here!
Finally we had our very first vacation since last December ! This time the destination is domestic and it is Hainan Island.
Still located in China. Hainan means : South of the Sea. It is at the South-est point of China
We went to the South part of the Island, Sanya. This was our short holiday just for 5 nights. The girls had so much fun at the beach and pool. We got all tanned, which I prefer! :) And we enjoyed a lot of seafood as well!
It was a great summer break indeed!
These are just some of the pics ! Hope you'll like it :D and could consider Hainan as your next family getaway or even honeymoon? :)
Have a great week !
XOXO
S.R
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