Me-Time

How are you? I'm fine thank you. Still surviving and syukur with what I have till today.

How's your day today? Mine is fine. Like other day, there's peak and non-peak time, like highway! Hahaha. Right now I'm enjoying my 'own time'. Aaron and Maleec are having 'evening' nap while Juma is still at work though it is 7.35 pm now. Well, everyday I have to have my 'me-time'.

As other mothers consider their me-time as shopping, relaxing in spa or a long lunch with a bunch of friends. That's 'me-time' to me too. But I would like to have a time on my own everyday without leaving the house. It is as simple as letting me be in my thought.

Baking is a 'me-time' as well. While mixing the ingredient, I'll imagine when I have my own bakery and the customers are asking for more from me. While bathing (usually when Maleec is playing with Aaron. Aaron is a boy who loves water and want to be under water at most of the time. Maybe he is a fish. Maybe he isn't a mammal.), I'll love to visualize of me in few years time. How successful would I be!) Or while driving and listening to the music, I love to let my thought flow, to everywhere. That's what I consider as my 'me-time'.

Some women whining that they don't have time for themselves. In my opinion, the time wouldn't come to you. But you have to find it. You have to figure it out how to get it. I think you have to find way how to earn it. Since I becoming a housewife, to a bungalow that to me is quite big for a tiny person like myself to manage; I did a schedule. A work schedule. By doing this, I know when should I change the bed sheet, sweep and mop the floor, scrub the toilet and to do others. I also have my weekend, like other workers too! On Monday, I didn't schedule any house chores because I might run my errand on that day or I can adjust the working schedule if any emergency happens in that week! I also didn't cramps the schedule, as I rwalize I'm a human and not a robot!

I also learn how to say enough! I just recently learned how to say it so. If before, I'll work non-stop around the clock and it didn't benefit anybody. I'm tired, my kids get upset as I easily get angry and the quality of the work is not at the best.

So good luck in finding your 'me-time' and let me know if you have any tips that it might be useful!

Scrubbing, ONLY!

It's evening now and finally I have time for myself. The whole today had been about the house and the kids.

Before I moved in, I've hired people to clean up the house. The house that we bought is not a brand new. It is 12 years old and it had been quite sometimes that the owner didn't live in the house. The husband is a surgeon and he is working in the Middle East. The wife was a banker and now a housewife, had returned home several times with the kids but didn't stay long. So the house isn't that clean.

I've tackled the wardrobe, built in cabinets and the toilet since we got the house keys. But not then the floor. As I was working when we were moving in, I didn't have good time to monitor the cleaning work. I put the responsibility 100% on the cleaners. It turned out not as I expected. Since I haven't pay her yet, I called her to come back and settle the rest before the payment. She did.

However, after a month staying in this house and after many times mopping the floor, but the dirt still stuck at my feet. I feel so unclean whenever I walk in the house. So today, I made decision to SCRUB the floor of the ENTIRE house! Seriously, I'm done!

The upstairs' floor is a laminated floor. I know laminated floor doesn't go well with water, but I just care less. I need to make it clean, by today! The downstairs' floor is covered with tiles. It's a whole lot easier. I switched of the tv, thus Maleec had no choice but to play with Aaron. First, the played in the toys room. Later they approached the garden. I saw Maleec put on sand on his brother's head, but I just need to focus on my work.

As today is Thursday, there is a night market nearby our house. I need to get there for chicken. Let me tell you, bringing kids to the night market is a night mare! Maleec was crying, shouting and showing his tantrum from the moment we put our foot at the market till we left as he wan't the Ultraman toys. Not that I don't want to attend his needs, but he has plenty of it at home.

With all the busi-ness, I still found time to make bubur gandum (wheat sweet porridge). It was the first attempt but it tasted great! Should do for Juma one fine day! You should try and let me know how does it turn out!

Recipe: Bubur gandum 

Ingredient

1 cup of wheat pearls
2 cups of coconut milk
1 cup of sugar
Water (as you like)
Salt
2 Pandan leaves (tie into knot)

Method

1. Wash wheat pearls in several change of water till water runs clear. Soak for half an hour.
2. In a pot, bring water and pandan leaves to boil. Add the wheat pearls. Lower the heat of the simmer until the wheat pearls are soft.
3. Add in the coconut milk, sugar and salt. Let it get thicker.
4. Serve warm in a bowl.

Too much sweeping, mopping and Aaron!

*I'm writing while frying chicken for lunch. Aaron is taking his afternoon nap. Maleec is upstairs, watching etooon (cartoon).

I stated yesterday in my Facebook status that doing housework is tiring. It is not that I'm complaining. I'm just expressing my thought about it as I was so exhausted yesterday. Doing the housework is one issue, taking care of the small kids is another. Imagine doing it together!!

Maleec is a big boy already and is quite independent. He knows how to entertain himself. Plus, he is the first child, so he is used of being alone and try to cheer himself without bugging the adults.

On the other hand, Aaron is in the phase where he has to tag to his mummy all day long. Maleec had been at that phase and it bothers me a lot. I felt so uncomfortable and irritated. And now it is Aaron's turn. His toys are what I use for cooking, cleaning and gardening. He wouldn't be amuse with the 'normal' toys that kids play with.

And wherever I clean-up, he will make the mess. For example, when I'm sweeping the floor, he will pick up the dust pan and carry it all over the places, spreading the dirt that I just collected.

*Maleec is screaming for lunch! Need to pause awhile!

Where am I? Btw, I had my lunch with the kids. Maleec loves the marinated fried chicken and finish it all, without leaving some for dinner. Have to cook again, tonight!

Ok, let's continue! Doing the housework is a never ending work.

* Distracted by Aaron. He opened the cutlery's drawer and pull out all the spoon, fork and knives. Sigh!

See! Now you understand why it is a never ending work. Sweeping and mopping the floor, clean the window, attend your garden, wash the dishes, and the list goes on and on. It is tiring when you don't have a plan or schedule. So I made one schedule that will leave me relax on weekend (yippee!)

Oh yeah! I just ironed all my husband clothes. Before, when I was still working, I sent his to the laundry as I couldn't find time to attend his clothes. Now, I shouldn't have problem to iron his clothes.

Please find below on how to iron man shirt. *Don't laugh, be nice! I want my husband to wear a crisp shirt everyday and looks smart!

I'm happy doing the house chores. After all, it is my house and my family. No complaint, I appreciate what I have. Alhamdullillah!

I believe every housewife face the same. I just posted the statement at the Facebook and I found many people comments on the same fate they have on cleaning up the house. Well, I think I should work hard to keep the house as lively as it should be as my husband works so hard to pay for it.

Ok, no complain. Have a nice weekend all!!