Shelf, by Ikea

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If someone read the title again, it sounds like a perfume. A brand new perfume - fresh, intoxicating, alluring. Sniff it, and the only smell you can smell is the pages off new books.

And they are my new books which I bought from MPH Warehouse Sale last week (Omigod! I MUST visit the sale next year, because even well-known titles are incredibly cheap!):

From fiction, to lifestyle, to brain food - pick your choice.

Can't believe meh?
I'm a die-hard of Tintin and I collect almost if not all of Tintin series. At normal price, the comic sells at RM40-ish. During MPH Warehouse Sale, I got it at RM16. Plus, none of the books above are priced more than RM30. Altogether, I only spent RM120+ for those 5 books (they are also tax-deductible!)

Now that I have grown my books collection, the bookshelves at home are practically overflowed with books. There are books stacked on the computer table, strewn by the bedside (my side of the bed, to be precise), and on the side table beside the sofa in the living room.

It became too much that my hubby decided that we definitely have to add a bookself pulak. One day, he just woke up and told me, 'I'm thinking of going to IKEA.' And I had to straddle him and demand identification to know whether he's an impostor. It's just not his nature to initiate the plan to raid IKEA (usually, I'll be the one dragging him to that part of Damansara!).

He had a budget of RM100 to buy a decent-looking shelf but then we returned home with a shelf that saves us RM45. That's why I love IKEA! For letting me have a bookshelf which is both gorgeous and cheap:

The bookshelf, RM55. From Ikea.

At first glance, I'd mistaken this shelf as a ladder, used to retrieve books from one of those 10-ft build-in bookshelves. It is made of light metal, but very much sturdy and stable. Its narrow frame allows us to be parked in a small space. It certainly adds character to my living room now as it doesn't resemble a traditional bookshelf too much. If we decided to get a bigger bookshelf later, we can put this shelf in the kitchen to stack all those ketchup bottles, containers, etc.

Another plus note: It complements our TV rack most wonderfully, they are practically old chums by now. Tonight after we go to bed, they might even plan to go to mamak stall and watch football together.

The Truth, Truthfully, & Nothing But The Truth.

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Tonight is a hot night.

Phew! Not only because we did something hot, but because it is really hot, literally. That is why I have to get up and guzzle more water, another process I have to endure under my food change regime. While I'm struggling to down 2 litres of water at one sitting, I might as well update my blog.

Remember my posting about how I am diagnosed with PCOS?

The good news is, now I can stop blaming myself for weight gain over the past years! *pumps fist in the air!

It is all because of this PCOS, bad PCOS! It sorts of messed up with my hormones and somehow, my body can't seem to handle stress as well as other normal persons which then led to lower metabolic rate, resistance to insulin, increase in appetite, yada2x...

The not so good news is, PCOS sufferers also have more male hormones in their body! Like, hmm.... (garu chin as if I had beard) excess hair growth, acne problems, etc.? (Although I assure you, that I have yet the need to shave my legs)

Why can't I have more of the good male hormones, like their metabolism and stamina?

Is that why I am so ambitious, so competitive and aggressive when it comes to delivering my objectives, like a sportsman on steroid?

Anyway, PCOS alone is my number 1 reason to combat weight problem. Although, the whole thing is actually chicken-and-egg issue... which comes first? The weight, or the symptoms? Somehow, the blame game has to stop and mind has to take control over body.

Gambate!

Read more on PCOS here.

Ex-Straw-bana-ry Blended Shake

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I have been enjoying fruit-based drinks lately as part of my food change regime. One of my fav is strawberry & banana shake. It is not only easy to prepare, but cheap too if you make it yourself! So who says you can't enjoy a little luxury in this difficult time? :)

Introducing my 'Ex-straw-bana-ry Shake', made from wholesome ingredients!

Ex-Straw-bana-ry Blended Shake Recipe

Ingredients:
  • Crushed ice
  • Strawberries - cut
  • Banana - cubed
  • Unsweetened soy milk (my choice: Homesoy) - 200ml
  • Fruit yogurt (my choice: Nestle Extra Creamy & Fruity mixed berries yogurt) - 2 spoonfuls
  • Nestum / instant oat / muesli - 3 spoonfuls to provide fibres to keep you full for hours
  • Honey - for those who wants to sweeten their drinks, but the fruits are already sweet enough to me!

How to make it:
  1. Add in crushed ice and strawberry followed by banana and yogurt.
  2. Pour in the soy milk. Blend until smooth.
  3. Lastly, blend in the fibre-packed nestum / oat / muesli. For weight watchers, 2 scoops of Herbalife F1 French Vanilla powder & 1 scoop of F3 for extra flavor (and benefits. Ngeh3x!)

Try this recipe today!

I heart one of these...

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Recently I have been such a hardworking worker got a slight increment and suddenly, all sorts of unreasonable temptations came to mind! I certainly have been thinking to buy a brand new BMW PDA phone because it's a hassle to bring both PDA & phone around (I certainly need a PDA because I have to attend a lot of meeting / training / deadline in my current job).

I have zeroed down my dream phone to these two of which I was hoping to buy... erm, as my birthday gift next year? (have to start saving RM200 per month exclusively to afford one of these gadgets!):


Samsung Omnia... powered by Windows Mobile 6.1Professional, WiFi, Bluetooth-enabled, 16GB memory, 5MP camera. Current market price: RM2.8K


HTC Touch Diamond... powered by Windows Mobile 6.1Professional, WiFi, Bluetooth-enabled, 8GB memory, 3.2MP camera. Last checked price: RM2799

So, which one should I burn my hard-earned cash for, huh?