Trying to play Jazz

Lately i have been borrowing jazz scores from the library. Playing Bill Evans is harder then then playing classical music.

Jazz seems so impossible to master. I feel quite lost when i need to improvise, even trying to catch the tune is a challenge. Most of the time it's almost like a feeling rather then a tune, so it's really hard when you don't really know what to feel. Or if you are feeling nervous and clueless.

But this is a really beautiful piece.

16 weeks: Pregnancy and our home

I am feeling a little bloated at the moment, there is a slight lower backache (actually i think it's due to sitting on the floor rather then the pregnancy, but i am not sure). Overall, i feel alright just more constipated then i was yesterday.

Recently, i visited punggol's forum and was glad to see that the foundation of my flat is almost complete. Next year we will probably see paint on the walls and other interior works being done. At this rate we will be able to get our keys by Oct 2010 and move in by Christmas 2010.

I have not started to source for contractors but have a good mind to start sometime in March 2010. With the baby on the way it's best to plan everything earlier so that we can move in without complications.

Hubby and i were shopping at Harvey Norman last weekend, planning on our furnishing budget when he offered to buy me a lazyboy. I told him it's crazy to buy me a lazyboy that costs up to 2000 dollars when i can use the same amount to buy a living room set. It's nice of him to offer though, but no matter how comfortable a lazyboy is, it's very overpriced for a young couple with a kid on the way. And mind you, it only sits one, hubby will have to sit on the floor with the kid. :p

I am really excited about the house, it's like i finally have my own place. Nice!

Splurge happy

I recently took part in an online competition to sample Laneige's Prefect Renew series for a month. I have been using this series for the past 3 weeks and have been very pleased with the results. In fact when i went for facial the lady commented that my skin condition improved and was less oily. Happy skin :). Apparently it had something to do with ceramaids or lipids in the products...

Despite having free beauty products, i am still heading down the path of being super broke this month. Going nuts with Christmas shopping. Not a clever thing to do considering the extra medical cost for my monthly Gyn checkups.

Just splurged on another secret item for myself... It's going to remain a secret until i feel less guilty about it. Sigh~ Although i must admit that splurging is not something that i do often, but the thought of less savings can be quite daunting. But what am i going to do during Christmas season but Christmas shopping... Oh well.

Threadless: Noah Express for bb

Saw this super cute design on threadless's 9 dollar sale and had to get the blue one for the baby (baby tees are 12 dollars). Not so sure if i should start stocking up on baby stuff but i guess its not too early to start?

Some other things on my baby essential list:
1) Stroller
2) Bathing items (shower bucket, wash cloth, shampoo, soap, baby powder, rash cream, baby wipes)
4) Food items (Bottles, steamer, bottle scrubs, milk powder, breast pump... etc)
5) Mum items (Nursing bra, tops... etc)
6) Baby stuff (Rags, cloth/disposable diapers, bib...etc)

Stuff that i already have
1) high chair
2) cot, mattress pad
4) Diaper bag

Seems like a super long list but i guess i will figure it out eventually.
(I am open to pre-loved items if anyone wants to pass me their used baby stuff!!)

There should most definitely be a baby starter kit + manual, life would be so much easier that way.

Also since we are probably going to hire a maid, maybe i can choose to use cloth diapers (such as the gdiapers) instead of disposables...

Kalencom Diaper Bag for Christmas

Saw this on amazon.com and loved it. The print is so beautiful, told Roy to get it for me for Christmas. It's prettier in person, and it's big so i can fit everything i want inside. I can even use it for a short holiday!

I am such a sucker for cute, pretty things, especially those with exotic animal designs!

Some thoughts on pregnancy

So far it's been a pretty easy pregnancy, but since i am only at the start of my 2nd trimester, things may start to rough up as i approach my expected due date, i have 180 days to go.

Sil emailed me and offered to fly in so that she can be there for the delivery to share the joy in my first born. i am soo touched i cannot express how much that means to me. Best friends rock. Even my in-laws are happy and excited for me, they bought cute baby socks while holidaying in Australia.




Physically, other then putting on weight in my mid section, i have been experiencing mild constipation, gas, increased need to pee and diarrhea. It sounds worse than it is because it's really just indigestion caused by the pressure of the growing baby.

I am hoping to breeze through the next couple of months so that when the baby arrives i will be in tip top condition, both physically and emotionally. Counting down!

Stop cruelty to cats

Last week i witnessed a guy's attempt to kick a cat in the belly. Although i did not see the impact i saw the his foot in midair and the cat landing in the opposite direction.

He was standing beside his car with his wife and little girl. I noticed that he was trying to see if the cat had scratched his Volvo, while his little girl voiced out "Daddy kicked the cat".

I am very upset, that this resident cat doesn't appear around our block anymore. I am hoping that the cat had been scared off rather then injured.

I don't understand cruelty to cats, especially since they are relatively harmless unless provoked. Most of the time, they scurry away from strangers to avoid any contact. For the record, i am unconvinced that a cat would scratch a metal surface. And even if they do, it doesn't making kicking them right.