Hi Friends,
Well, here we are, still in semi-lockdown. You’d think there wouldn’t be much to love about May 2020 would there? It certainly went by in a blur for me.
But as they say, there is always a silver lining, or something to be thankful or grateful for, in every situation. Sometimes, it may just take a little more effort to see the bright side 🙂
By way of an aside, I do hope that you’re all doing well, staying safe, and importantly, have jobs to go back to. I have read of so many people losing their jobs, or of businesses closing. The first half of 2020 has been a very challenging time for many.
This, coupled with the unrest and political issues happening worldwide and locally, it’s quite enough to do your head in. So, keep abreast with the news, but pick your causes. You cannot care for everyone and everything.
Now, onto what I’ve loved about this past month 🙂
WHAT I LOVE: Going on walks
I have never been one for the outdoors, or exercise. I hate sweating, even if I know it’s a necessary evil 😛
But I’ve since grown to enjoy going on walks. I used to brisk walk around a park in the past for exercise, but it felt a bit aimless, so I eventually stopped.
Now that I have a pup who has energy to burn, I have to make sure he gets his daily exercise, or risk him ripping my house apart LOL! So, we go out for a walk every morning, and sometimes in the evenings.
I’ve even dragged myself out early in the mornings for hikes up a hill, and through jungles! Things I never ever thought I’d do, for fun LOL! 😛
It’s good for him, as he gets out, and gets tired, and therefore ends up being a good little doggy the rest of the day.
It’s good for me, as it gets me out in the sunshine and fresh air, and forces me to move and to sweat. It isn’t the highest impact exercise I can do, but it’s something. And that’s 100% better than nothing 😀
WHAT I LOVE: Kawan Frozen Paratha
This is a very specific food item, but one that deserves special mention.
My sister had been telling me about a frozen paratha (a.k.a prata or roti canai locally) that she buys, that her family loves. At the best of times, I’d just pop by the neighbourhood mamak stall or shop to get my roti canai fix, but these are unusual times, and it calls for unusual cravings.
On one of my grocery runs, I picked up a pack of the Kawan Frozen Paratha to try, and I’m a new convert! 😀
It is incredibly easy to cook – just pop it straight from the freezer onto your pan, without oil, and cook till crisp on both sides. It cooks quite quickly, and fluffs up to a flaky, crispy roti, so take care that it doesn’t burn.
I served mine with chicken curry one day, and fish curry the other. I had never cooked curries before this, but I’ve been experimenting a lot during this period of lockdown, and am quite pleased with how they’ve turned out 😀
Am just as pleased now that I can have fluffy paratha with my curries, whenever I want it! I use their frozen puff pastry as well, and I’ve found that they make good quality frozen pastry dough that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
I later found out that Kawan Frozen Paratha is popular overseas too! It’s nice to see a good quality Malaysian-made product make it globally 😀
WHAT I LOVE: Using up my skincare
What is a fact is that I have A LOT of skincare, and a sizeable skincare stash.
What is a fact is also that I have stopped buying skincare. Yup, stopped cold turkey since late last year, to enable me to make a dent in my collection. That makes it almost 6 months since I’ve bought anything new, and that makes me feel good, in a rather perverse way 😛
During this time, when days start to blur into one another, I’ve found that my skincare routine keeps me grounded. I know exactly what I’m using in the mornings and in the evenings. I use the same products in the same order. It is comforting to have a routine.
In the process, I have used up most of the open bottles and tubs on my dresser, and am starting to break into products I bought months ago. I have a ways to go yet, but what’s interesting also, is that I’ve curbed my desire to try many new skincare products and brands.
It’s not that I love skincare any less. It’s that I’ve come to appreciate what I already own, and what works for me. I am still curious, naturally, and if I had the chance to try something new, I wouldn’t say no. But much of my enthusiasm for new things is dampened, while I reuse old favourites, and use up things I might otherwise overlook, while in the quest for the new.
WHAT I LOVE: Keeping Traditions alive
I found some leftover ingredients in my fridge, so I did my annual prep for rice dumplings (bak zhang/zong zi) a little early this year. Didn’t end up with many after distributing it to family, so that means I might have to gear up for another prep later this month 😛
Perhaps it’s because I’m growing older, that I feel the need to keep certain traditions alive. I said once, right here on this blog, that I wouldn’t learn how to make it, because it’s just too much work.
But about 5 years ago, I took it upon myself to learn from my aunt how to do it. Perhaps it was a personal challenge to make a food that requires long, complicated preparation, or perhaps it is about keeping traditions alive.
The older I get, the more I feel that keeping traditions are as important as pursuing modernity – it’s a delicate balance, but one that we should have 🙂
WHAT I LOVE: Life
I like taking a life-check now and again. It helps me keep track of what’s going on, and if I’m where I want to be, if it could be better, or if I might be slipping.
Thus far, to put things in a word, I’d say, I’m COMFORTABLE.
I’m working on a new project that I’m finally pushing to be ready, and it’s exciting and rather intimidating at the same time. But I’m excited as to where it can go, so that’s something that’s taking up a lot of my time now.
I’m also comfortable as far as my personal relationships are concerned. I think, when you don’t place too much pressure or expectations on yourself and on others, you are able to better enjoy being in the moment.
There is much to enjoy about the quiet routine of daily life and, and silly night-time conversations. There is comfort in laughing together over ridiculous things on the internet, and in getting into petty arguments about current issues, thinly disguised as ‘discussions’ 😛
The danger of course, is that you begin to take things for granted, or be complacent. That, I think, is where many relationships begin to falter or stagnate.
Still, for now, I’m comfortable where I am, and at this time, when we’ve been forced indoors and into prolonged confinement with others, I’d like to think that being comfortable enough to survive, and maybe even enjoy being in a pandemic lockdown, is enough 🙂
So tell me, what were 5 things you loved in May 2020?
It’s been a challenging time, I understand. So, it is more important than ever that we look for the bright spots in our lives. What were yours? 🙂
Paris B
Hi Paris! I’m very glad to hear that you are in a better place now where personal relationships are concerned. I have been a long time follower of your blog and can remember a few years back when you were going through darker times. It’s always an achievement to pull through the dark clouds and emerge to a sunnier time ahead.
Perhaps it struck me deeper as I currently find myself at a crossroad, relationship-wise. I can’t go back to how things were, I don’t know how to move forward and I can’t stay stagnant. Perhaps it is fortuitous in a hindsight way that kids are not within your consideration for personal relationships. They are for me, and they make my crossroads even more difficult to choose a direction.
Half a year has passed, and I wish that the next half year will be as comfortable and great for you. xo.
In the king of the hills picture, Sherlock is smiling !! Soooo cute ! I miss dogs ….
5 things that to love in May …5 things for the 5th month of the year 🙂
1) exercise — I went from exercising 10 hours a week for 10years to zero exercise for 5 years since I had my first and second kid. Now that hubby wfh, he helps watch our kids so I get time to exercise. Gosh I am SO out of shape
2) kids are physically healthier — due to being confined indoor instead of catching bugs from school. Touchwood…schools are reopening in sg, with mask on and safe distancing rule, I hope my kid never catch any bug
3) using up ugly lipsticks — in my discovery / learning of make up techniques, a few lipsticks didn’t really suit. Some made my lips disappear; some turned me into a witch/ clown. With the outdoor masking rule in sg, I can just use up these ugly lipsticks under my mask
4) goofing around with kids — this is a rare time when all of us are at home within an extended period. Besides running around singing, dancing, playing zombies…. My 6 yr old joined me in online shopping, choosing her own masks then questioned me why she can’t buy toys….:/
5) exploring nature from our windows — a hornbill and woodpecker on separate occasions, stopped at trees outside our homes to peck on fruits/ woods. The only time I saw hornbill was at bird park more than 30yrs age. Interesting to see it just outside our window moving freely instead of being chained up in bird park. I have never seen woodpecker in reality, what a marvelous sight! (Its feather indeed resembles Woody Woodpecker’s!)
What I love these days:
1) Long bycicle rides
2) throwing out makeup that does not work (instead of keeping it for years…)
3) trying out new receipes!
4) clean makeup
5) enjoying the small things- makes days so much easier
I am in love with frozen prata too. Been serving it ip for breakfast for dear son and have replaced my pancakes with it. Prata with Nutella and bananas is awesome. I love going for walks too. For the first 3 weeks of circuit breaker I was very paranoid and didn’t dare leave the house. But a couple of weeks ago I went to my favourite park connector and resumed my jogging. Just looking at the trees and looking at nature lifted my spirits. I still hate the sweating and humidity though.
Hello Paris, I love your puppy. So adorable.
1. We would like to sell our house here in Florida and move to New Hampshire. We are originally from the north and have been yearning to go home. So, I pack, make piles to throw out, sell or donate. It feels great to declutter.
2. I have an older,13, miniature pinscher. I walk her in the morning and in the afternoon. She’s a little hard of hearing but still very active and playful. I also have a 14 year old cat. And, we have a black headed caique, yellow bellied caique and a pair of canaries.!
3. I set aside time every day to meditate.
4. Declutter my makeup. I’m embarrassed to say I have some palettes that I have never used. (They will be donated). I have been practicing new techniques. Also, like you, using the skincare I have.
5. My least favorite… cooking and baking. I have never enjoyed it but I can and have been cooking
We are very slowly opening up in Florida. But, being older I’m still nervous about going out. Many people are going out now without masks. I still wear a mask, gloves and protective eyewear.
The US is going through a bad, bad time. I pray it will be short lived.