The Last Stretch

It's amazing how it's already December. As always, around this time of the year, I ask, where did all that time go?

Well the better half of the year was spent in a happy couply bliss with +3. The more time we spend together, the more we realise how aligned we are. From the silly to the serious, it all seems to be falling into place. And I like how we find random things to dk together. Like the detox foot patch thing. Lol.

The detox thing seems to be working well. Better sleep at night and +3's exzema on his foot seems to be improving too. It's not very expensive but over the long term costs do add up ($2/day), and with the idea of the $5/day challenge at the back of our minds, it does seem like a bit of a splurge.

We talked about doing the $5/day challenge over the weekend but we had thanksgiving dinner at FashionJeannie's place on Saturday, and Marc was over for dinner at the parent's place on Sunday. So I adapted the challenge somewhat, and said that we should just try to be more mindful of how much we spend in December.

It's tough though. I've already received my Christmas present from +3. We were walking around GWC and there was a sale for WMF cookware, so he got a set for me. Oh be still, my heart!

And I've been cracking my brain trying to figure out what to get him too. Hmmmmm.

The rest of the month looks like it's going to be quite busy. There are a couple of Christmas parties coming up, my brother and his family will be in town, the parents will be heading to visit my sister in the US, and it's a busy period at work for me as my event is in early Jan.

All in all, 2013 has been a good year and I have a feeling 2014 is going to be better. Met up with Mama Yvonne (yes she's expecting!) when she was in town, and she said 2013 was a good year for roosters and 2014 will be even better. Yay!

Anyway in this final stretch and over this Christmas period, I wish everyone an adundance of blessings of love, happiness, good health, wealth, peace and joy.

Happy December!

The One Week Foot Detox

+3 and I are going to do a one week foot detox. We came across one of those foot detox sticker things, where you stick a herbal patch to the soles of your feet, and leave it overnight. The herbal patch is supposed to draw out toxins, and the next morning the patch turns brown.

We bought one to try, and sure enough, the patch on the soles of our feet did turn brown after. Seemed to have a rested sleep as well, so we thought we would try doing this for a week.

Day one and the patch is on and I'm going to sleep. I'm going to try to document this so here's to a good night's rest and toxins exiting my body.

On My To Do List

- Sleep early. I'm trying to do that sleep early, wake early thing, but it's hard when you're pulling late nights in the office. Left work relatively early today, so I'm quite pleased that I'm already in bed and it's not even 10.30pm. Will need to try to keep this up.

- Ride. It's been months since I last rode and I finally got me a pump so I can pump my tires. Bike is all ready (albeit a tad dusty) and the plan is to take it for a spin tomorrow morning. Need to get used to being on the saddle again!

- Make almond butter. Just because it's so yum and it's been a while. Might try to make nutella too if I can find cheap hazelnuts.

Random thoughts. :)

2 More Months!

Oh my, 2 more months till the end of the year. How time flies!

It's been a good year so far. Things at work are getting hectic and my health isn't in tip top shape, but I'm still counting my blessings.

The recent spate of gushing about +3 is an indication of how good things have been between us, I guess. It's an odd combination of early days and the sense that we have been together for a longer time than it actually has been.

The parents like him, and just today my mom asked if he was out of town because she hadn't seen him in a while (2 weeks). Hehehe.

Two more months till 2014 and all I can say is that I am thankful for the way things are now and I hope that my family and loved ones will have good health, happiness, love, prosperity and peace. :)

Cracked

The name of one of my favourite online sites, and also what the chiropractor did today.

It was a good appointment. The chiropractor explained that tense / tight muscles are shorter and pull the bones closer, leaving little gap in between and squishing the nerves and what have you.

She felt around my spine and head, identified the tight areas, and got me to lie down. A poke and prod on my spine, and crack! A twist of my neck to the left, and craaaaack! A twist of my neck to the right, and craaaaack!

Wooot. It felt good. And she explained that I'll be feeling a little sore tonight and tomorrow. Supposed to ice it but I'm already in bed. Heehee.

She also gave me some sesame oil to rub to prevent inflammation. Which I guess I should use huh.

Anyway the session today reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend a while back. He said that people should see a chiropractor as a preventive measure rather than as a cure. Which makes sense if you think about it, because you might as well get realigned before anything gets too serious.

What a welcome to my 30s. Lol.

Poked

I went for my first acupuncture session over the weekend! The muscles around the neck and shoulder have been really tight, and I've been suffering from really bad headaches for the past couple of months. It was getting even frequent in the past week, so I decided to see a TCM to get it sorted out.

No surprises, I'm full of "re qi". The TCM doctor did a bit of gua sha and cupping, and then (I imagine) she whipped out the needles. I expected her to poke needles all over my neck like a porcupine, and was surprised when she started removing my socks.

Me: Erm, you are going to poke my ankle?

TCM: Yep!

Me: Mine is neck pain leh.

TCM: *something about meridian points*

Ok la. Since she is the TCM doctor, and she comes recommended, I guess I should trust that she knows what she is doing. Hehehe. Interestingly, the moment the needle went in, I felt an almost immediate sense of relief. Nothing very life shattering or what, but it definitely felt better.

She prodded my neck after that, and lo and behold, the pain was less!

Wheee!

She did another spot somewhere on my shoulder, and it's been 2 days and (touch wood) no headaches. Heehee. Happiness is having my qi flow all over, baby.

Of course, in the spirit of true kiasu and kiasi-ness, I also made an appointment to get my back alignment checked at the chiropractor this afternoon. Hopefully they will be able to sort out any lingering issues, and relieve the stiff shoulders and neck mucles that I constantly seem to have.

Wish me luck!

Birthday Blessings

Oh I've been showered with so much love over my birthday, I really am so blessed.

Most of them came from "expected" sources- Dinners with close girlfriends. Weekend getaways with +3. Birthday celebrations with +3 and the parents. Facebook well wishes from people on my friends list.

But what I never expected was to receive birthday presents from my colleagues. Sure, I get along with them well and fine, and I'd even buy lunch for a few closer ones on their special day. However, I received gifts from 3 colleagues (4 if you include the tiramisu that was made, but for the office, not me lol).

It's a pleasant surprise, even if one of the gifts was a lollipop and outdated CD (which will probably get regifted haha).

And it's a nice reminder that even though I may complain about work and the tonnes of red tape and the sheer amount of paperwork that I need to do, that the people who I work with do make that difference.

:)