No Time Like The Present and Reading For Knowledge

My 4-year-old son, Hariz is an excellent example of someone who makes full use of his waking hours. Some days he is awake 12 hours and sleeps another 12. Most days he sleeps less than that (8 - 10 hours) and is awake, the rest of the time. What does he do? He plays, explores, learns, interacts.. The world is his playground! Ofcourse, whatever he does is always under supervision (be it my own, husband's or his grandparents'). What I love about this part of him is his zest for life. He looks forward to every new day. When he opens his eyes in the morning, he won't just lie around in bed daydreaming (nor does he sneaks in a few more hours of sleep). He just sits up, gets up and is on the move! We adults sure can learn from this kind of zesty attitude!

So why is it important to make full use of our waking hours? Because we don't know how long we'll live! And if you have your life goals mapped out, I am sure you would want to have them realised during your lifetime, God-willing. So there is no time to waste!

I have been spending the last few weeks buying discounted books at the MPH sale in Alamanda. Mostly books on personal finance, parenting and writing. I have also been spending last weekend devouring these books. As you can see, I am in the reading mood and nothing, nobody can stop me from reading book after book! Right now I am reading 'Smart Parents Richer Kids' by Azizi Ali and Zaid Mohamad. Although I have read many other Personal Finance books (by Robert Kiyosaki, Azizi Ali, Dave Ramsey etc.) this particular book shares how we could get the whole family and especially the kids involved in financial planning, instilling good financial habits in kids from young and securing a better future for them. Some tips mentioned in this book are familiar. But it's being conveyed in such a delightful manner with Zaid, who's very much a family man sharing delightful anecdotes based on his real day-to-day life experience. I love it!

I feel like starting a Total Money Makeover again! Yes, I've been slacking these past few years. The problem is, the more I earn, the more my desire to buy increases. So now is no better time than ever to put a stop to these useless desires! Time for me to think rationally and get back on track to my goal of becoming financially free (and not to have to work for others but to make money work for me). Due to my spending fury these past couple of years (I have vague memories of what I've spent on, except one expensive hair treatment programme), I have alot of catching up to do. Damage control: credit card bills to pay up, monthly budget to scrutinize (items to be divided into categories: essentials, nice, crap), 20% of income to be put aside each month (the pay- yourself- first concept which actually should top the list), to teach my son to save (he spends like his mom these days and he uses other people's hard earned money - which just drives my mom up the walls) and ofcourse to set out our family's Objectives, Goals, Strategies and Measures (OGSM). Like Zaid mentioned in his book, (in my own words now) you won't know which path to take unless you have it all mapped out. So yes, we shall be doing that. Infact, I've been making drafts of it while going through the book. Now all I need is to go through the OGSM with hubby and son before we get to the implementing stage. Phew! Some work needed there!

Now the next book on my reading list is, 'Bear Hunt: Earn Your Living By Doing What You Love' by Malcolm McClean. I am also in the midst of reading 'Rumahku, Ofisku' (My Home, My Office) by Mazneera Zainal which is also pretty inspirational for a woman like me who is yearning, wanting, trying and is in the process of realising my dream of becoming a WAHM. Another mind blowing book I read last week was 'The One Minute Entrepreneur' by Ken Blanchard, Don Hutson and Ethan Willis. They share their secrets to Creating and Sustaining a Successful Business. Yes, yes, that is one of my long term goal - to become a successful entrepreneur. Before that I must have solid foundations which is what I am working at right now - good financial planning and then I'll need a sound business plan.

More books on my reading list (books I've bought and have yet to read):

English:

1. How They Started In Tough Times by David Lester and Beth Bishop ( I got this book at 50% discount! and it's just been published this year!! Thanks MPH - my fave bookstore!)

2. Writing Fiction For Children by Judy K. Morris (70% discount - yay!)

3. The Power of a Positive No by William Ury (among the first books I bought when the year 2010 opened its curtain)

4. The 48 Laws of Power by Robbert Greene (bought July 2009 - hmm wonder why I didn't get around to reading it - I guess I'm not so crazy about being controlling and being in power over others. But then again it is actually necessary to be in power over your own self - having self-control.

Bahasa Malaysia:

1. Jejak Bisnes Rasul by Mohamed Sulaiman and Aisuddinur Zakaria

2. 7 Formula Individu Cemerlang by Dr. Danial Zainal Abidin

3.Rahsia Bisnes Isteri Nabi: Khatijah by Shadi Zain

4. Jana RM Dari Rumah by Masayu Ahmad

5. Rahsia Bisnes Orang Cina by Ann Wan Seng (fantastic!!)

6. Mudahnya Bisnes dengan Blogshop by Zamri Mohamad

7. Rancang Wang Dari Sekarang by Pakdi (founder of bicarajutawan.com community)

(All these Bahasa Malaysia books I've started but have yet to finish reading  - these are mostly on business, personal development and personal finance)

8. Satu Rasa Dua Hati by Pahrol Mohd Juoi (on marriage)

9. Teknik Memotivasikan Anak Cara Positif (on parenting)

Wow, I just realised I have loads of reading to do. Actually, there's probably about 5-10 other books (including fiction) which are still left untouched (mostly because I bought them on sale especially the novels and over time I felt too adult to be reading them tsk...tsk..I also would rather be filling my brain with more useful knowledge than fantasy - better excuse!).

Ok guys, all these listing is actually to serve as a reminder to myself, a way to keep track of my reading materials. And if you're looking for interesting books to read, feel free to pick one from my list. If I am not mistaken, the MPH sale at Alamanda is still on! See you there!!

Melissa & Doug

It's the weekends again! Time flies so fast. It's time for house cleaning, marketing and shopping again;p We headed for MidValley yesterday at noon after picking up Hariz's stuff at IJN. As usual the parking area is congested and i bet nearly everyone was scowling if not swearing/complaining about the lack of parking spaces. i mean, i don't get it, we always manage to find good parking spaces at KLCC no matter how crowded the place is. But not MidValley. Each time we go there, we vow not to ever return, however there is this weak spot in us which tempts us back.. and yesterday was no different. hubby wanted to redempt items from RealRewards but to his disappointment discovered that they've relocated. I wanted to buy Hariz an educational toy using the RM25 Toys r Us voucher i received earlier, and i did succeed in getting him something wonderful. It's Melissa & Doug music set which has 10 pieces of instrument - made to last a life time..so it says..or am i wrongly quoting it.. regardless, it's a lovely, charming box of instruments even my hubby and i could play with - as was demonstrated by hubby while driving. so now we have a tamborine, a triangle, a shaker, a cymbal? and another piece which i shall call the scratcher:D

Natural Parenting

Wouldn't it be fantastic if i could practise natural parenting?! it would start from pregnancy and childbirth using hypnobirthing method, then when the child's out in the world, breastfeeding and cloth diapering..when he's ready for solids, home cooked baby puree it is.. then comes home schooling... aahh..if a mother can do that and the mother is me, i would definitely be the happiest. ofcourse, it would not all be plain sailing.. especially when it comes to implementing it on your first born.. and especialy when ur a working mom. oh how i wish i could become a WAHM!!

if u must know, i have done a few of the above.. tried hypnobirthing successfully until right before birth.. breastfed fully until intervention from the people who ate salt first.. bought a cookbook with recipes for babies but end up too tired (or plain lazy) to cook (cook occasionally for now).. now am trying to cloth diaper my son with what looks to be a good beginning.. next, homeschoolong? must get more inspiration from mamafiza;)

Cloth Diapers!!

Yay!! I've finally hopped on board! not that my son is fully cloth diapered yet.. i hve yet to convince my mom on how easy it is these days with all the innovative designs available in the market. one of my fave cloth diaper site is mia bambina run by sandra from KK. love her site and blog as they are filled with pics of her daughter wearing assorted line of cloth diapers. i can't believe the variety available in the market. and to think that i was unaware of it until now. must thank the mommies at susibu.com too for leading me to the link.

last week, i bought a trial pack of freshbots cloth diapers (CD). i chose freshbots cuz i found out that a distributor/retailer (really, what's the correct term?) lives near by. i asked to see the samples first and i was instantly hooked!! the material is so lovely and soft.

just yesterday, my son had nappy rash from wearing a new brand of disposables. so i changed him to a CD for the night and in the morning, the rash is gone! so voila!! and no leakage whatsoever! for now i'll be wearing CD on my son for night time only.. until my next pay ofcourse.. then, i'll order some gorgeous looking ones from sandra's miabambina site. i can't wait!!

Inspired!

I'm adding MamaFiza to my list of blogs to read. Hers is a very interesting one and on a topic which i myself dream of pursuing - home schooling. Yup, get this, MamaFiza, mother to 3 young children at the tender age of 22, home-schools her children!! i personally think she's a courageous genius!apart from devoting her time to her kids, she still manages to work from home doing web designs and even have time allocated for herself and her hubby. talk about fantastic time management!! i really do admire her, i do. and what's great is that she loves doing what she does. the next time i get impatient with my son, i'm going to think of mamafiza and how loving and patient she is with her kids. from now on, i'll be the patient, understanding, even loving mother i had planned to be no matter what the situation was at work. home is home and i shouldn't bring back unwanted emotions nor gear my frustration at work towards home.

i felt so inspired that this morning i'd create a new wish list! the one i made 2 years ago have mysteriously disappeared. thank goodness i've crossed off alot from that previous list. my new wish list cum to do list is even more focused. and 'tis i learned from reading 'how to get from where u are to where u want to be'. fabulous book!! i must thank Allah for all the ideas and inspirations i've been blessed with. Alhamdulillah..

Puku Petit Wanted!!

I visited the Parenthood Expo at MidValley last Saturday. Crowded as usual and extra tiring when you have to drag your baby and ever so reluctant hubby along (actually hubby was a good sport and i love him for that- hehehe;)). However, we managed to find some very useful products at delightful prices. I bought my son an edible toothpaste which comes with a toothbrush where parents can put their finger in; a Puku Petit milk bottle with nipple and straw which my son loves cuz he can drink it sitting down (he breastfeeds and usually hates bottles and latex nipples so I am absolutely raving about this product!!); and lastly a baby jogger (which we bought due to the timely break down of our anakku stroller and which is our most pricey buy of the day!!). and the reason why this entry is entitled puku petit is because i am frantically trying to find a shop that sells this product since i received no brochures during the expo.. can anybody help?