I decided today was a day to get my act together in the areas of improvement and if anyone out there still comes by here, it’s nice to hear some tips.
Things I struggle with:
Spending lots of money
I am always out of the house. therefore, I always spend a lot of money since in shopping malls, you are always tempted to buy this and that, some are useful, some are not. I am trying very hard to work on this. the solution i have thought of would be :
1 ) do not use any form of cards, be it nets or credit cards. I will do it the envelop cash way.
2) do not visit shopping malls as a form of leisure. seriously, for the past 2 years, since i stopped work, i think i am in a shopping mall at least 5 times a week! —> I will start exploring going to places such as parks, playgrounds, seaside etc as form of leisure instead. these places are generally cheaper (though the last time i went to a beach, i bought like quite a lot of stuff from the little shop beside the beach! i’m a chronic shopaholic!!!)
3) shop ONLY with a shopping list, and think 10 times about buying anything extra.
Considering i am going back to work soon (that’s a story for another day), I wonder if it will just get worse since I will start spending my own money and it’s easier to spend that way!
4) Start a serious saving accounts and take pride in the swelling amount of $$ in it.
The whole point is, I am bored, thus spending money was a form of a leisure activity! ARGH!
Cooking
Ok, I am actually getting somewhere there now. I have started on the right track, I am doing menu planning and I am learning not to waste food by cooking one day and throwing everything away the next day. The presence of my lovely helper (yes! I have a maid now! and it’s wonderful!) has helped in the area of cooking, although she can’t cook to save her life either, but I ‘m fine. I rather to pretend I can cook. Now the plan is to stick with my cooking plan and menu!
Doing meaningful activities with Hannah
Since she became a lot more demanding and constantly wanting me to carry and carry. I have stopped doing meaningful stuff too often with her, resorting to the use of the TV to distract her instead. Apart from Julia Gabriel where she does get some meaningful activities to do, I have been lazy at home. This will change! Simple things I plan to do include:
- water play with bubbles (yes we did it recently! yeah!)
- hand painting –> I will do this today!
- finger printing
- marker play
- crayon play (this I do colouring with her very often)
- play dough (this we have done so much till i and her are both bored)
- flour play (done it too)
- chalk play on the ground (this will be tomorrow!)
- playground ( i try to do this on a daily basis at 530 pm each day. I am trying to work out how to cook and teach my helper how to cook and still have the time to go to the playground)
Will start reading up and plan some interesting for us to do together before I return to work. (yes, i am !)
Packing up my house
Yes, this is a big headache and i always have to tell myself to take it slowly and one step at a time. the house won’t get neatened up overnight and the fact is that for the past 16 months, I have been taking care of hannah by myself, so i need to learn to forgive myself! the truth is, I yearn to be martha stewart… seriously.
Ok, now i feel much better since I have gotten my worries out 
