Leaving Tomorrow

I still can't believe I'll be flying to Indo tomorrow already. It feels like a dream. I think partly I feel that way 'coz I'm flying alone this time and I'll leave dear hubby behind. Oh well...I've prepared some blog posts scheduled to be published during the time I'm away, so don't forget to come and visit me even when I'm away, OK? He he he...

I'll be back to Finland on November 28th, just in time to celebrate my birthday the day after he he he...

I don't have too much time now...just wanna share these two video clips with you...First one: the video clip I took about 2 weeks ago - my BIL was in the video, checking out the surface of the lake.



Another video clip of the squirrel he he he...



Okay, I wish you all a beautiful November filled with hope, joy, health, love, and laughter. I'll be missing you guys and girls A LOT and we'll see if I can visit your blogs while I'm in Indo (my bro has a laptop now, so I can use it - but I don't know how good the internet connection is over there he he...)

See ya when I see ya!!!

3BT: Random Days

1. A wonderful shopping trip with hubby and MIL today. ;-D

2. I've received the magazine in which my article is published. (I'm not going to put the scanned version of the article here 'coz I'm afraid that it may be against the law - esp. 'coz it's supposed to be released only in the beginning of November, but if you want to see it, just let me know by writing a comment for this post and I'll send it to you via email.)

3. Receiving the papers to get my reward for the article HUE HE HE HE HE...tomorrow I have to post it ho ho ho...

4. Spending plenty of quality time with hubby plus another wonderful cabin trip last Saturday.

5. Seeing hubby and MIL "fighting" about who should be paying - each of them insisted on paying for the other party HA HA HA HA HA...

6. Winter Wonderlandddddd again in Sodankylä after two days of snowfall.

7. Finding canned red beans and managing to recreate the kind of beef red bean soup flavour that my Mom usually makes in Indo. WOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!

8. Eating the beef red bean soup while it was still hot and feeling as though I had been at my parents' place in Bandung, eating my Mom's food. Mmmm...

9. Feeling that now I can officially call myself my Mom's daughter - because for years I felt that my brother was the one who was more talented in cooking than me (and I've always been more like my Dad in terms of personality, too). But hey, turns out I'm not THAT bad he he he he...I'm improving myself!!! ;-D

10. Giving MIL some of my beef red bean soup and some of my white egg cake. ;-D

11. Getting a tight hug from MIL and giving one back. ;-D

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Full Weekend

Hi, people!

Can't believe in less than a week I'll fly to Indo!!! *gasp* Anyway, last weekend was quite overloaded for me, 'coz I went to that entrepreneur course on Friday afternoon (5 hours) and Saturday (6 hours). Right after I went back home on Saturday, we went to the cabin to spend the night there. WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

We had loads of fun in the cabin - laughing and being crazy hi hi hi...Didn't take too many nature pics 'coz it wasn't sunny weather. Here are some pics I took:

1st pic: The hole in the ice where we got some water - not to drink, just to go to the toilet or wash our hands with. It was so dark outside that we had to bring a big flashlight.


2nd pic: Inside the cabin.


3rd pic: Me so hungry me could eat R2's foot HA HA HA HA...Actually he thought the pose was gross hi hi...


4th pic: Yep, another squirrel pic. It just stood there like that for a few minutes. I'm uploading the video now and I'll show you later on.


Anyway, I have so many things to do still before I go to Indo. On Wed we'll go to Rovaniemi for one last shopping trip with my MIL. :-D Can't wait to do that. ;-D Now R2 and I can spend our last week together before I leave him for 4 straight weeks. I wonder how it'll be like 'coz we've never been apart for more than one day. Gonna be interesting he he...

So Many Things To Do

Yesterday I started packing so that I'd know how much space I have left. I still haven't bought some stuff yet and I freaked out when I found out my suitcase weighed 18 kg already. OUCH!!! I only have 20 kg baggage allowance and 7 kg of backpack. BUT I do NOT want to lug around a 7-kg backpack (or even heavier than that - my friend says she always carries around a 15-kg backpack when she goes back to Indo) 'coz it's such a LONG journey for me (have to change planes in Helsinki and HK and take a bus to Bandung from Jkt).

So I need to throw some things out and make sure that I bring the more important stuff on board. This evening and tomorrow I'll have the crash course of entrepreneurship and then tomorrow eve we'll probably go to the cabin. Thus it's better for me to write my post today.

---> Almost forgot!!! Ever since we moved here, we've been trying to find where we "hid" the bubble wraps (you know, the kind of bubble wraps for packages?). We searched high and low, but we couldn't find them anywhere. When I took my suitcase yesterday and opened it...voila!!! There they were!!! I was laughing so much and I called R2 right away (he was at work) HA HA HA HA HA HA...SO FUNNY!!!

I still haven't started writing drafts for my blog during the time I'll be in Indo. I also have to start cooking and putting stuff in the freezer sometime next week so that R2 has plenty to eat later on without having to cook.

I've had so many dreams at nights - maybe 'coz my brain is SO active during the day as well, thinking of ideas...brainstorming...thinking of so many things to remember he he he...

Anyway, I wanna show off some more of my latest creations in Zazzle. I think later on I'll create another blog for this purpose, but I haven't got the time yet to do it, so bear with me he he he he he...

The first one ---> the symbols at the back of the shoe was created from the word "Hope". If you click on both, you can view them from different angles.

Purple Flowers by ailema4ever
Create custom sneakers on zazzle

Raindrop Pink by ailema4ever
See more Raindrop Keds Shoes

Okie dokie...I guess I'll be off now to shower and to try to write down some drafts for my blog. See ya when I get back home!!! Enjoy your weekend, people!

Saw this video on Facebook and it's SO touching that I just have to share it here he he...

Birthday + Zazzle Store

Today is Ken's first birthday. I wish him a BEAUTIFUL birthday and I hope God protects him and keeps him safe and healthy wherever he is. Can't believe that he's one year old already. 'Coz I don't get to see him at all, it feels like it was just yesterday that R2 and I waited outside the delivery room he he he...When I told R2 about this, he couldn't believe it, either.

Can't wait until I can get some videos of him later on!!! He's learning to walk now and now he wants to grab a finger (yes, just grabbing one finger is enough) of my Mom's or my bro's or my bro's wife's to walk around the place. He can walk a few steps without help already. ;-D

Anyhow, these past few days I've been tinkering with my Zazzle Store. Do you know that you can create your own "designs" at Zazzle and sell them? If you don't want to create designs, you can register there to be an associate (where you'll get a reference number). As an associate, you can promote any products that you deem beautiful or unique in your blog or FB and if someone click on the links and buys them, you can get a commission! :-D

Here are my latest products:

I Know I'm Cute Apron by ailema4ever
Design aprons at zazzle

I Know I'm Cute Baby by ailema4ever
More Cute T-Shirts

I Know I'm Cute by ailema4ever
See more Cute T-Shirts

Gorgeous Sunrise Mousepad by ailema4ever
View more Gorgeous Mousepads

OK, now I'd better make a cake I was supposed to make yesterday (I've been craving for it!!!) and then perhaps do a little bit of packing he he he he...I'll blog-hop later, OK?

P.S. Here, check out also these products made by my blogger friends:

Tiger T by michellefrost7
Make custom tshirts at zazzle.com

At the Zoo 2010 by julianarw
View other Animals Calendars

3BT: Random Days

1. On Saturday, R2 told me that he'd take a week off before I fly to Indo (I didn't know he was planning to do it and I didn't even ask!). QUALITY TIME, here we go!!!!!!

2. He also said that we could go shopping to Rovaniemi (YIIIIIIIIHHHHHHHAAAAAAAA - might as well buy some Christmas gifts there) and spend another night at the cabin prior to my departure. Double YES!!!

3. Arranged a day to go to Rovaniemi so that my MIL can go with us, which would be next week's Wednesday. YES!!! :-D

4. Taking these pictures:

First pic: BIL tried to check the surface of the frozen lake. It was actually perfect for skating (which is rare for northern Finland).


The other side of the lake:


Another side:


Hung my camera's strap on some tree branches, so the angle is weird ha ha...but I like the pic anyway. :-D


5. Watching hubby scrub the dirt away from the stove and other parts of the kitchen after he finished washing the dishes last Sunday (and he didn't even ask my help HA HA...).

6. Yesterday was the last day of my training. YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!

7. Yesterday night I brainstormed about my online store with a friend and she said she was willing to try to be my supplier (no, she's not a real seller, she just loves shopping HA HA...). We'll see how it goes. ;-D

Crosses to Bear

When I found out that my FIL was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease about 2 years ago, I didn't know how it impacted my MIL. I figured it'd be hard on her (esp. since they've been together for over 45 years), but 'coz whenever we visit them, he always seems so functional and he always looks okay, I thought it was still okay.

Once or twice my MIL told us that she had trouble sleeping at nights 'coz FIL woke up during the night and went out. She also told us once that FIL peed in a bucket instead of in the toilet, so she even made a label on the toilet door. Other than that, though, I didn't know anything about her struggles.

Yesterday MIL asked us what to do to be able to comment on a "blog", 'coz it required registration or something like that. At first I was confused, 'coz usually if you want to comment on a blog, you don't need to register first as a user. When she showed us the webpage, I realized it was a forum for people who take care of their sick family member(s).

She found a thread about Alzheimer's disease and she wanted to comment on that, so we guided her on how to register and how to comment. What struck me the most was when I visited the thread at home after I got back home and read all the stories there, including what my MIL shared with them.

She said she took the diagnosis hard and she went into a depression (that I knew NOTHING about!), but gladly her doctor helped her to get into therapy where she could unload her burdens, so it helped. Now that he's been taking medication for the disease, it's helped somewhat (she said that the mornings are always so hard, but after he eats breakfast and takes his pills, he becomes "a different man" - in a good way). So that's why whenever we visit them he always looks pretty normal to me...except on two or three occasions when I saw him have trouble putting on his clothes (he looked confused on how to put them on).

Anyway, I shed some tears when I kept on reading the thread. One story that struck me was about this 97-year-old guy whose wife has been put in a nursing home 'coz Alzheimer has wiped out so many things from her brain. This guy drives his car and visits his wife regularly. He feeds her (even though she doesn't seem to recognize him anymore). His daughter died when she was 60 years old and his son died in a car accident when he was in his twenties, so he has nobody else in life.

God, I cried! Some people have such tough crosses to bear...My Mom always tells me that different people have different crosses to bear...

I'm GLAD that now my MIL has a support group to help her. As much as I want to help her, it's always MUCH better to find some people who've gone through similar problems who can really give her total understanding, support, comfort and also advice/tips.

This is one reasons I LOVE the internet...you can talk to people all over the world who've been through or who are experiencing what you're experiencing. A burden shared is a burden halved, agree?

Sending prayers for all of those people who struggle to take care of their sick family members...may God give them strength, joy, and serenity to go on...

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Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
- Matthew 5:4

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
- Philippians 4:11b-13

Inappropriate Gratefulness

The other day a friend shared with me about this topic. She has been having problems having a child and she had at least one miscarriage in the past. She's been married for over 4 years. When she told another friend about her gyno's diagnosis, this woman (who's had 2 healthy kids) suddenly burst out, "Oh, I'm SO lucky that I didn't have to experience any morning sickness, bleeding, or miscarriage both times I was pregnant. Now I feel that God loves me SO much!"

Yep...you can imagine what my friend felt when she heard that outburst of gratitude. Of course it was logical for the woman to feel that way, but still it was really inappropriate to say those words, don't you think so?

When a person is hurting and needing comfort and sympathy, that person doesn't need more "knives" stabbing her already painful wounds. The story made me think, though. Have I ever done such a thing to anyone (whether I realize it or not)?

Words have power...to destroy, hurt, encourage, empower, challenge, criticize, praise, give comfort, etc. We may not be able to control what the other person thinks about the words said or written to him/her (because people can take even praise the wrong way), but still we need to be careful with our words.

Anyway, have a FAB weekend, everybody!!! I'll blog-hop a bit later on. Now time to make some baked pancakes I've been wanting to try HE HE HE HE HE...

glitter-graphics.com

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

Parent's Choice Infant Formula

Having friends who have kids already makes me realize the importance of infant formula. After the breastmilk is not produced anymore, if the breastmilk isn't enough to satisfy the baby (I know some babies who can drink A LOT of milk) or after the mother decides to stop breastfeeding, it's time to find the best infant formula.

For those of you who live in USA, have you heard of Parent's Choice Infant Formula? This store brand formula is FDA-approved and they're just as good as other infant formula. They come in different choices, such as: milk formula, soy formula, gentle formula, organic formula, sensitivity formula, immune support formula, added rice formula, and stage 2 formula.

Then what's the good thing about this one, you ask? Well, they cost cheaper. Right now they're having a sale on milk formula and gentle formula where you can get 2 cans for only $10. Pretty good deal, don't you think?

If you still doubt whether or not they're good, you can just fill in an online form to get some samples. All of the products are available in Walmart. In the website you can read much more detailed information on the different types of infant milk. There is even on online savings calculator where you get to compare how much it costs you to buy different kinds of infant milk versus Parent's Choice Infant Formula.

Seminar + 3BT

I've just booked a place for an entrepreneur seminar in this village. Funny thing is that the other day there was a rather slow day at work and during a break I managed to browse through a local newspaper and found the advertisement for this seminar. It's for free and it'll be held for two days on October 23rd and 24th. It's for anyone who's interested in opening their own businesses or who is thinking of opening one.

They will tell us what kind of businesses there are in Finland and all the basic info about opening your own business, funding, pricing, etc. Sounds good, right? :-))) We'll see how it goes then. :-)))) I feel like I'm about to step into another dimension or something, you know? In a way it's good to be able to find out these things before I go to Indo so that I can think of what to bring to Finland to try to sell here (or if they're worth selling here).

And now let me share my 3BT post here too:

1. Finding a generous sum of tips in one bedroom at the hotel HO HO HO HO HO...Remember that guests here don't normally give any tips, so if they give some, it's already more than good. But today I found one who gave a generous sum. WOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!! :-D

2. Used the money to buy salad, tomatoes, cucumber, and a bag of chips (new flavour).

3. Tasted the new-flavoured chips (sour cream and pepper) and LOVED it! ;-D

4. Almost forgot this one: The government has reduced the taxes for food by 5% (it was 17% and now it's 12%) until July 2010. It really helps me A LOT in cutting down my grocery budget. YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!!

5. SUPER delicious chocolate pudding at the hotel. I'm drooling while thinking of the taste...simply superb...wish I could ask for the recipe hi hi...

6. Why, tomorrow is Friday and it's a cause for celebration 'coz then weekend is coming SOON and then I have only one day of work left (Monday) HO HO HO HO HO...

7. Found some CHEAP CHEAP reddish mangoes from Brazil in Lidl (at only €0.99 per kg - usually it's over €2/kg). OH YEAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!

8. The winter boots I bought on a discount last spring (that I only start wearing now) are REALLY REALLY soft and comfy. LOVE 'em!!! ;-D

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Brain Overload

It's not that I don't have things to write, but I think I've been having some brain overload that I don't even know anymore what to write here he he...I've been trying to read a lot of info on opening your own business here in Finland and there were times I felt scared that I thought it'd be best to just give up on the idea. There were other times that I felt, "Okay, this is it. This is your best shot of doing something worthwhile for yourself instead of trying to find a job out there, 'coz you know how hard it's going to be for you to get the kind of job you can enjoy."

Anyway...change of topic then...the other day we saw Talent Suomi show on TV and I was SO impressed with this group. Too bad I couldn't put the video here, but here's the link if you want to watch it:

Will Funk For Food

I'm looking forward to their other performances! Definitely! And they looked like they were having SO MUCH FUN during their performance.

Anyway, I forgot to tell you a funny incident that happened quite some time ago at the hotel. Once when I was working alone, I went to the lift with my cleaning carriage (containing plenty of things) and the rubber end of my floor mop got STUCK in between the lift door (we use the kind of mop that has a long steel handle with a rubber end like the kind of mop you use to clean windows - but to clean the floor, we add a regular floor mop on top of the rubber part).

Panicked, I pushed the "stop" button and tried to yank it, but I couldn't do it. I went up to the other floor, but couldn't do anything about it. So I went down again and this time I really yanked it HAAAARRRRDDD. Finally it worked!!!

Phew!!! I was sweaty at that time already 'coz of the stress ha ha ha ha ha...such a crazy experience, and it happened again the second time - but this time I knew already what to do and how hard I should yank it hi hi hi hi...

I told this story to R2 and he shook his head in disbelief he he he...Anyway, I only have 4 days of work left (until Monday) and then I can start packing and buying the last few items I need before I fly to Indo. Bad thing is that I'm going to miss our wedding anniversary, but I'll be back here for my birthday. Oh well...I guess we can celebrate our anniversary on my birthday too he he he...

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P.S. The other day we watched Ice Age 3 and it was GREAT!!! Ice Age is DEFINITELY my number one fave cartoon of all time he he he...all three of them are HILARIOUS! :-D

3BT: Random Days

1. "Diamonds" glittering on a rooftop (read: when the sun was shining on the rooftop of a building covered by snow, the snow glittered just like diamonds).

2. Making lurrrrrvvvvveeeeeeeee and cuddling, kissing, and tickling each other afterwards.



3. Feeling as if spring had come again due to the amount of snow and sunlight during daytime.

4. Taking these pictures made me happy:






5. Starting to count down to the day of my departure to Indo and feeling both joy and sadness (sadness 'coz I'll have to leave hubby for 4 weeks - we've never been apart for more than one day for the past 2 years and 7 months).

6. Receiving "tempe teri" from an Indo friend who lives in Southern Finland. The day I received it, I cooked rice right away and it felt HEAVENLY to taste tempe teri with hot rice. Mmmm...

7. Feeling hubby's shaved cheek on mine.

8. Having some savings for rainy days and not having debt.

9. Reading a very funny joke (in Finnish), laughing about it, and sharing the laughter with hubby and BIL.

10. Asking hubby: "Is our marriage what you think a marriage is supposed to be?" He said yes and when I asked if he had any complaints about me, he said no. :-D

Snowstorm!!!

Snowstorm happened today. It started at around 10 am and it hadn't stopped yet when I went to take a nap at around 5.30 pm. I hadn't been feeling too well lately (seems like flu wants to strike me, but it hasn't fully developed yet), so today I asked R2 to coin my back and then I went to sleep after taking a Panadol to get rid of my annoying headache (headache started to bother me half of my working day).

When I rode my bike home, it was almost impossible to see the road 'coz the flurry of snow kept on blocking my sight, but I am HAPPY that now everything's SO white again. It feels like December and I just want to sing Christmas songs HA HA HA HA HA HA...

Here let me give you a comparison of photos:

First pic was taken on Monday (the first snow day this year), which came a few weeks earlier than last year. It snowed lightly during the night, but during the day the temp. went up, so it melted fast.


Second pic: I took it today after I got back home from work at around 4 pm.


See the tracks? Yep...I had to ride my bike really slowly so that the tyres wouldn't slip. I was still wearing my summer sports shoes to work today (I wore double socks, though). I guess tomorrow I have to wear my winter shoes he he...


Have I ever told you a dream I had a LONG LONG time ago? I still remember it like it was yesterday. Whenever it snows outside and I'm looking out at the scenery from a big window, I always remember this dream.

I don't remember anymore when I had this dream, but it must've been before I saw snow in real life. I was standing in front of a HUGE HUGE window (bare window without any curtains or blinds), staring at a scenery outside: snow is falling lightly to the ground and there are people outside in a small village walking about in the evening...street lights are already on and I feel so serene...

I hoped that someday I could see snow like that...I mean when the snow is falling every so lightly, it feels all hushed up and serenity engulfs me...that kind of scenery...and that has happened to me already. My dream has COME TRUE!!!!!!!!!!! :-D :-D :-D

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In this post I'd also like to say my DEEPEST condolences for the loss of my friend's beloved dog (she had to be let go), Fluffy.


You're allright now, girl...no more pain!!! You'll be missed dearly, though!!!!!!!

My Cup Runneth Over

Today I woke up at around 10 am and opened the window blinds and voila!!! First snowwwww has come early this year. If I remember correctly, last year it came at the end of October. It felt MAGNIFICENT to see snow, though I know it'll melt away soon as the day temperature is still above 0'C, but still he he he...

Yesterday I had to work, but when I came back home, I realized that hubby had washed all the dishes AND made pancakes. Plus I had called from work and asked him to bake some french fries and hamburger (I was craving for it), so when I arrived home, the smell of hot food and pancakes greeted me...oh, and of course a clean kitchen HO HO HO HO HO HO...

On top of that, the cabin trip was...FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had a chance to see amazing views of nature plus some more squirrels in action from about a metre away from me. Then I guess 'coz we're about to be apart for 4 weeks soon enough, R2 hugged me SO tightly - the kind of hug that he gave me when we met for the first time and we knew we had to be apart again. Yep, that kind of hug. ME LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

Plus I got to give my MIL something and she loved it, too...in return she gave me some flowers HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE...So, can you see why I'm THIS happy? ;-D Besides, I only have 10 days of work left at the hotel and then I'm free to focus on packing and preparing myself to go back to Indo HO HO HO HO HO HO HO...

Ahem...OK OK...let me share the pics with you then he he...

When R2 went to the cabin to warm it up, I went along with him 'coz it was sunset time and I wanted to take pics of the lake. Here they are...




Oh how I wish you could see it yourself...the golden ripples on the lake water...amazing sight!!! At that moment, nothing else seemed to matter. Time seemed to have stopped and all you want to do is cherish the moment that draws you closer to the realization that God has indeed made such magnificent creations...mmmm...

If you look carefully, you'll notice that a part of the lake water has turned to ice. Here's a zoomed in pic of the icy water:


Zooming in on the other side of the lake:


Then when I walked back to my in-laws' place after the sun set, I saw a full moon!!! :-D I took many pics of the moon but I think this one is the best one he he...


After we went to sleep in the cabin, I woke up at around 6.30 am to pee in the toilet outside and then I wanted to take pics of the lake behind the cabin.


Then I realized that the sun was about to rise...and WOWIE...look at these pics!!! I stayed outside for about 10-15 minutes...waiting for the sun to actually rise, but then clouds covered it up, so I went back inside to sleep. But still the time I spent outside in the cold was SO worthwhile!!!!! :-D :-D :-D





Here's a video clip I took so that you can see how vast the lake is...if you have fast internet account, better click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mppXYlNwl8 and choose HD to enjoy a better view.



And on Saturday as we went back to my in-laws', I saw a cute squirrel (or two? I'm not sure if they are the same or not 'coz my BIL said he saw THREE of them outside the yard the other day) and took some pics and a video clip of it.

In this below pic, my MIL tried to give it some bread he he he...



This time the squirrel jumped onto my in-laws' bird feeder and ate from up there hi hi hi...



Here's a video clip of the squirrel on the bird feeder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlRA1M8442w