*** Scarlet Picturesque***

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Imma Shoe-natic!

Today after lunch, I passed by a shop that reminds me of Perth, Payless Shoes. Without much thoughts, I walked in with my colleague and two pairs of shoes caught my eyes - suede wedges and platform closed toe strapped heels.

I love them both equally at first sight. After trying on and compared both, I felt the love for the pair of wedges.

So I took pictures of both pairs and did an opinion seeking session with ladies around me and on Facebook.

What are my findings? Most of the people I sought opinion with preferred the wedges compared to two not liking them. This actually assured and firmed up my decision making and needless to say, I bought the brown suede wedges! I'm loving it so much I think my old habits of buying shoes are kicking in!

Here are some pictures to share =)

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Ishmael Beah

This would be the third post for today. I was thinking of writing down all the things I wanted to share before they vanish from the top of my head.

Recently, I've been reading a book recommended by my colleague. It's called a long way gone: memoirs of a boy soldier. It's a book written by Ishmael Beah, depicting his early life as a boy soldier during the wartime in Sierra Leone. I am 2/3 through the book and no doubt, it's getting interesting. I am never a fan of non-fiction books as I have the passion and love to divulge in romance, crime and everything fiction.

This book has been an eye-opener to me. It showed how environment can force change in someone, regardless of your age. I have thought a lot about it and I am still counting my blessings each passing day. I promise I'd dedicate a post specially for this book after I'm done with it. Maybe some thoughts and reflections I have been pondering all these while.

I did a Google search on Ishmael and I found this piece, The Lord is My Shepard, written by him on the website of Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Ishmael also wrote a piece, When Good Comes from Bad, which reflected his early life as a child soldier. I am very happy for who he is today and his work to help his people in Africa, especially war-torn Sierra Leone. Here's the excerpt to share:

The Lord Is My Shepard
by Ishmael Beah
I give thanks to God for always helping me to see the brighter side of everything. Even in the darkest time of my life when I almost gave up and thought life was over. God made me realize and see that I have a reason to live a life guided by him. The following are a number of verses which I have written from a longer song:

The lord is my Shepard
I can never be lost
Even when this daily life
comes to the worst
I keep his trust in my heart
Through all the darkest hours
I am protected by his powers
God bless me everyday
even when I fail
in this day to day struggle
he helps me pave my way
out of the troubles I face
making my fears less
so when I am stressed
I take it as another temptation
to test my motivation
But I fight this competition
between evil and good
every day and every night
I sometimes am deceived
intense struggles I perceived
raising my praises
cause my beliefs get stronger
so I no longer
live like the Pharisees, you heard
The God’s marvelous display
keeps me safe
even when I am lost in this place
do not feel disgrace
Because his grace is always with me
once blind, now I see.

Ishmael Beah was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa. At the age of thirteen, his life was interrupted by a civil war that claimed his family. He was forced to become a child solider for three years. In 1996, he was disarmed and taken out of the army by a United Nations sponsored program. He now resides in the United States where he is a senior at the United Nations high school in New York.

Recipes to entice...

As always, I'm into all kinds of recipes. Here are a few to share and no doubt the idea of making them is running on my head. =)

Homemade Cadbury Creme Eggs

Apple Cake

And yes, I have been an avid browser cum reader of Reader's Digest Asia for some time. The recipes are great and their health tips are unbelievably helpful!

Missing in action?!

Hello! It's been a while since I last wrote. Pardon me for being missing in action, I've been through some transitions in life and it's true that 24 hours a days ain't enough for me. So many things had happened in between my diet regime.

I fell sick a few days after I started my health kick. Oh yeah, the good ol' viral flu that's going around. I was sick for a week or so and upon recovering, it was time to shift house. Needless to say, I was excited yet unhappy. Some kind of dilemma I have there, isn't it? We have to move a whole lot of things from the previous place and things from JB prepared by my parents and grandma. We took an arvo to get things shifted and two days to clean up and arrange furniture in the house! I have to admit it's a lot of work but the comfort level I have now is all worth the work.

As a result from all the cleaning and moving, I have been sleep deprived for a whole week! My left ear decide to prompt me of the "heat" I have in my body that is quite over-exhausted, and that's when I felt piercing pain coming from it. The backflow from my nasal passageway and the pain from my left middle ear had left me uncomfortable and unwell for three days. Luckily I was quick to react and became my own doctor, taken all the medicines for anti-inflammation, nasal and ear infections. At least my knowledge of medicine did help a little and I'm feeling so much better today!

Thank God for the speedy recovery. I can now focus on getting on the right track of being healthy and looking better, and also discovering the best food on earth - the healthy way! =)

More pictures of our new pad would be posted soon!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Have I been THAT good?

The title for today's post has been the centre of my soul-searching session. Day in day out, I've been talking about how I want to keep a healthy lifestyle in order to look good. Have I been practicing what I preached? Here comes the analysis...

I fasted from meat on Day #1 and yesterday, Day #2, wasn't that fantastic. We had group lunch at work and we had duck rice and kway chap! It wasn't all that bad at first, considering how I fasted on Day #1. Then came more food and not wanting to waste food, I actually helped to finish up the remaining on the plates! Needless to say, my colleagues prompted me of my "diet" plan and how I should refrain from second servings. Without much thinking, I told them I'd skip dessert (oh well, it should make up from not having dinner, isn't it?). What happens next should be pretty predictable. I tagged along for dessert! It was almond tofu with longans over shaved ice and evaporated milk. Bear in mind, those are pretty sinful! I finished it anyhow, with the idea of how we shouldn't waste food (yeah, I know, that was very smart of me). Whatever I practiced wasn't all that bad because it was proven as one of the methods to lost weight as we have heavy lunches.

So I've been having light dinners since Day #1 of my healthy diet plan. Light dinner as in - a bunch of broccoli and one/two passion fruit(s). All after my 100 sit-ups and 5 rounds of jogging around our place.

I still feel the layer of fat around my tummy but I guess I'm starting to feel good each passing day. I have a good night's sleep but still feeling the pains from my exercise plans.

I guess it should be alright if I persist with my exercise. I have been praying about it and I know God has already planned ahead of me. Hopefully I could look much better in pictures next time! Gotta get back to work now. Have a beautiful day!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Jimmy Needham - Yours to Take

Thank God for this beautiful day!
Yes, I got up all refreshed this morning. Thinking about some really cool Christian songs from US.
Sometimes you don't need to praise the Lord with the typical gospel songs. Try some pop music. It'll change your perspective =)

Here's one for you, Yours to Take by Jimmy Needham

Enjoy and have a blessed day ahead! =)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Healthy Start

Hello all!

I'm back to blog again! I'm going to make this a habit from today. It has been something I've been talking about over and over again but this time I'm blogging for a purpose: A better diet, a better looking body.

Yes, I'm going on a healthy kick! Why not? I'm not going for the old school dieting methods. Yes, maybe I'll just incorporate a little of those but I'm making sure this is something that will persist for the rest of my life.

From today onwards, I'll document my healthy journey and make sure I look good in my bikini and hot pants very soon! =)

For the past 3 nights, I've been feasting on different sorts of buffets! I have to admit I fell in love with chocolate fountains (as always) and the endless free flow of delicious delicacies! I reckon it'd be a while I'd ever have a buffet meal again. Sometimes I do agree with the saying "Life is short, why not go for it?". To me, God has paved my way and all I have to do is roll out His plans for me. Be it good or bad, everything does happen for a reason. So I'm not worrying much.

I know going after a healthy diet is going to be difficult but I want to look good, or better still, great! Thus, I'm embarking on this journey that would completely change my life.

So what's on the list for today?

I'm having cheese sandwiches I packed for lunch, two oranges for tea and a lotus bun if I'm terribly hungry. I know they are full or carbs but I hope that would ease my very fragile system after days of feasting. I'm leaving work on the dot. Do 100 sit-ups and jog five rounds around our place. Then have a serving and a half of boiled broccoli for dinner. This shall persists for the next two weeks until we moved into our new place. Then there comes the twist, I'd have to plan for my new routine but I guess it's not going to be much of a different if I persist! =)

Alright, it's time to get back to work. More posts are on the way!