My Weekend Flower Bed Project

Where the idea comes from:

A few weeks ago, Moy See posted photos of her mum's beautiful garden, and subsequently, almost the whole world is uploading spring flowers photos on Facebook. I decided that I need a flower bed too! 

I got seeds from Moy See's mum, and I started to draw a flower bed schematic diagram (haha, typical engineer). I also decided to up-cycle the wine bottles as divider. (I read that the energy that could be saved from recycling one glass bottle could provide 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution. One glass wine bottle takes 4,000 years or more to decompose.)

So, after moving into this house for a decade, finally, I am converting this little corner into a flower bed!

The Weekend Project: 

Last Sunday, the project officially started!

I knew I need a proper hoe for this purpose, but I couldn't wait!! The weather was nice, and I was in the mood. I was not going to waste my time asking around to borrow a hoe, so I decided to use this tiny little hoe instead. For a person that seldom performing labor work, this almost killed me. Those muscles that I haven't used for years started to shout and cry. I ignored them and working hard under the hot morning sun. After almost 2 hours, the area was ready. I was exhausted, and decided to rest for a while before I begin the second phase. 

After my afternoon nap and lunch, I started phase 2. I dug holes and planted the wine bottles upside down. In less than an hour, before I could complete second phase, it started to rain, and rain, and rain! Non-stop! I gave up, and decided that I could continue during Labor Day.

The day before Labor Day, I saw this when I reached home after work:

My dad cannot stand the sight of wine bottles scattered in the garden so he decided to help me to complete Phase 2.

So, the first thing I did after my Labor Day breakfast was to add gardening soil for the raised flower bed.  

What I planted: 
I replanted my 3-weeks-old Asteraceae (sorry, still haven't figured out the species name) from their original pot to the flower bed.

I use Snake Plant as divider, hiding the bricks.

I also planted 2 rain lilies (葱兰及韭兰) that I bought from taobao mid of March. They don't seems to grow well, but I saw healthy roots so i guess they are doing well, just waiting for their season to bloom.

Rain lilies - Day 0 when I received

Rain lilies 1.5 months later

I planted lantana in the first row, and Asteraceae at the back. Hopefully adding enough texture and colours to this flower bed.

The corner divided by bricks is the special corner for my succulent plants. Since I have another batch of purchase this weekend, I'll complete this 25% next week.

Helping them to survive tropical sun and rain while they are still weak

Zakka

GST 前最后一次淘宝，是到“全新全艺”买了一批摆设品，用来装饰我的宝贝空凤和多肉植物们。我个人对这家的产品非常满意，手工好细腻，非常温馨可爱的。

买了十多只的小动物，给同事们一人一只，让办公室增添一点活力：

买了一个农村小屋门面、一个英式邮筒、一个Mini、一辆怀旧三轮电单车和一个树桐，为家里入门角落增添一点二外国风味：

怀旧三轮电单车还可以载送我的小小空凤。农村小屋摆上空凤也很有家的味道：

两棵空凤就这样在树桐上争妍斗丽：

而最萌的，要数那爬缸小熊们。空凤、多肉都顿时亮眼起来：

桌面花卉绿植

总觉得办工桌上必须有些青葱蓊绿点缀，让每日三分之一的时间都生气勃勃。

最近，以这理由，我又买了尾巴吸水小盆栽。我们有人买动物喝水的造型的，也有尾巴吸水的，但只有尾巴吸水的有送小杯子一个。

收到的货品开封后的模样

我个人觉得压缩泥土好神奇，小小一片药丸似的，泡水后分量正好放进小动物的背篓中。把泥土放好后，撒上种子，就可以静静地等它们长大啦~

“药丸”泥饼

我懒惰，直接把泥饼放在背篓里泡水

几分钟后泥土膨胀灌满背篓，可以播种咯~

我在上个星期三播种，星期五傍晚就看见幼苗破土而出。兴奋死了！

看见幼苗了吧？

星期一回到办公室，幼苗都已经茁壮成长！

近看，还可以看见依旧破土而出后的幼苗叶片依旧沾满泥土呢！

就这样子，我的桌面又多了一小片绿油油的喜悦。

从摹画开始

对我而言，人生，说穿了，就是一连串无止尽的自我挑战、学习、成长。

小时候对美术节的抗拒和恐惧，我决定一一面对、克服。我去年挑战了数字油画、克服了对女红的束手无策，这一次我想把我对旅游的热爱，融合于艺术当中。今年要学习素描和色铅笔手绘，希望可以在心情沉淀下来时，画一些心情、一些小趣味……

所以，在我那一堆淘宝网购当中，有这么几本朴素无华的素描本、基础教程本，和一个帆布笔帘，静静地呆在一旁，等我有机会静下心来……

今天早上，睡醒后我心血来潮，终于到弟弟房间翻箱倒柜地把我们姐弟仨用剩的铅笔、颜色笔一一找出（后来发觉颜色笔都没了，去取眼镜时还顺便买了一小盒）。然后很庄重地一支支插入笔帘中。今天，也就从摹画开始……

早上没有颜色笔，所以先学铅笔素描，看了一些基础技巧，然后对着教程一步步学画了一幅《从墙角探出的花朵》。虽然成果不怎么满意，但人生第一幅，还是要拍照记录下来公告天下的。:)

我最新旅游必备品：折叠衣架

不是说我最近爱上淘宝逛吗？这一回我买了好多旅游用品。重点都是折叠式、方便携带的。

这几个色彩缤纷的玩意儿便是其中之一。

这究竟是什么呢？打开来是个小型衣架，女生们自然知道这个size的衣架有多实用。

再打开，就成了我们普通衣架的尺寸。

我为什么要买这个呢？
第一、我常选择住青年旅舍，未必供衣架。洗衣后晾衣总是晾到“国旗处处”、“降落伞飘飘”
第二、即使住酒店，近年来酒店都爱用那种防盗木衣架，总不可能晾在衣橱内，所以仍然是晾到“国旗处处”、“降落伞飘飘”

背囊内塞进两三个折叠衣架，我的问题就解决啦~

我最新旅游必备品：折叠水盆

你会不会也和我一样，自助游时总是走得脚板酸痛，回到住宿的地方总希望有个泡脚的所在让我们可以松弛一下？然而，不是每家酒店都有浴缸，更多时候，我是住在青年旅舍。泡脚，只是个奢侈的愿望，直到我在淘宝上看见这个。


今天终于收到货品啦～这就来让大家瞧瞧我这新玩意儿：

长度和iPad差不多，轻盈，不占位子

从套里头拿出来，颜色没有太大差异：

这究竟是什么？？这是我的神奇折叠泡脚水盆！以后去旅行想在哪儿泡就在哪儿泡。我先在这一篇还是一面用它泡脚，一面写的。哈哈！

没盛水也可以站得挺好的

盛水绝对没有问题。不需要任何外物支撑。

水盛满后很方便提携，我就这样把它从我的浴室带到我的电脑桌前。

就这样子泡脚啦～　、

当然，可能脚板太大的男生会觉得稍微小了一些，但女士小姐们肯定没问题。

当然，既然是折叠水盆，除了泡脚（这只是我个人梦想），你当然也可以出门在外时用作婴儿专用洗涤器皿、露营野餐时用以清洗食物、特别爱清洁的人士可以用这作为随身携带的洗脸、抹身水盆。反正平时你用水桶做的事它都可以代劳，重点在于它轻盈、不占位置、方便随身携带。


对我而言这实在是物超所值。人民币二十五元就圆了我一直以来自助游时的梦想。以后必然成了我的旅游必备品啦～

小乳牛出场啦~

有个淘宝agent朋友，实在是一件令人“悲喜交集”的事情。喜的是买东西没烦恼，悲的是真的太没烦恼了，时常一不小心就买了一箩。

周末没事儿，自然是要把那些掏了仍在一边的小玩意儿拿出来晾晾，这就完成了“炎暑树下纳凉小乳牛”的微景观啦~ 我的小小空凤们最近常常上镜哦！

这一对小乳牛还可以和我之前做好的小绵羊们在这早餐桌上遥遥相对。

（备注：除了白色小白石是今天妈妈光顾plant nursery给我找来的，其他的一律是淘宝上掏来的宝贝）

My Aunt's 'Pseudo' Online Shopping Experience

I'll say I am a good customer. I compare quality and price, always go for the best value, and always give feedback. So if you are those companies that wish to receive honest feedbacks and have continuous improvement, I AM a good customer :)

Besides, if I have good experience, I tend to return, and I love to introduce to others. That's how my aunt ended up buying CNY clothing with me and my mum at Gurney Plaza Zalora.

Wei and I went to shop for her "Ji-Mui dress" at Gurney Plaza a few weeks ago. We shopped everey fashion stores we know and still empty handed. The colour code given was not in trend. Before we call it a day, we decidede to give Zalora a try (why would a online shopping brand want to open a store here in Gurney? We asked ourselves then)

Men fashion at the first floor and women fashion at ground floor. Seem small from the outside, but we were surprised by the collections. Apparently, this shop is a huge "trying area". All the clothes / shoes / handbags / accessories in the shop are not for sale. They are here so that you can try them on before you do your online purchase.

I LOVE this idea. I never purchase any clothing online (except t-shirts with known quality). I cannot accept the fact that I have to pay money to someone else beforer I know the quality of the material, cutting, and the workmanship. For example, buying a cotton bed sheet online, would you buy a 150 thread count at the price of RM30 or a 450 thread count at the price of RM50? I can't decide. I need to feel it. The weave and fiber still important to me. The thcikness, smoothness and softness still important to me, The actual colour (photos lie! By now everyone must accept this fact!) still important to me. So now you get my points, buying clothes definitely got more things to consider :)

So we had fun trying piles of clothes in the fitting room and Wei finally bought a few dresses, and I got a top for CNY.

Our purchase delivered to our house within 3 working days, come with Pos Laju form just in case you need to return (30 days return policy). Oh, and a 15% discount code for your next purchase too.


I brought my aunt to this shop on her birthday, and she had fun tried on piles of clothes too. Her order also delivered within 3 working days and here I am, telling you my wonderful new online shopping experience :)

北行MOHAT车载手机支架

最近网购上瘾了，友人们每次看我兴奋地口沫横飞，总会禁不住说“下次你再买些什么东西的时候一定要告诉我”，所以我写评语也上瘾了。

话说友人在我车上看见这玩意儿，觉得有趣，大家都说下次必须帮他们多买一份。

这玩意儿究竟是什么呢？这是北行MOHAT车载手机支架。我贪它简便易用，手机可以横置、直置，再加上我不喜欢其他的吸盘设计、或挡住空调出口的设计，这设计简单精美，而且只不过RMB36,买的时候倒没有丝毫犹豫。

至今用了近一个月了，不曾遇上什么问题（大山脚到居林的道路这么颠簸都不曾掉呢！）。

我喜欢它设计小巧，不占位置。而且旋转臂设计确保家里人各款手机都用得上。座架底的PU粘性很好，挪动重粘却又不留下痕迹。

中国本土设计确实不错。

挪动几寸以迁就我弟弟手机，不留痕迹哦！

LIEQI telephoto lens

I ordered 2 sets of LIEQI telephoto lens from Lazada Malaysia on 13th January around 8:30pm, and I received them on 15th January afternoon. I'll say their service is pretty impressive for Malaysia standard.

The packing design is simple and nice for a RM49 zoom lens :)

This is how the lens look like after mounted on the clip:

The clip-on telephoto lens look so cute when paired with my iPhone 3GS:

The left photos show the picture I took with my phone. The right photos show the picture I took with the 8X optical zoom lens, standing / sitting on the same spot.

Is it fun to play with? Of course!! However, the photo quality may not be as good as I wish because my hands tend to shake a lot when holding my phone with the relatively heavy 8x lens. Besides, to clip this lens on the phone, the alignment is slightly difficult to get correctly as compare to my previous 3-in-1 clip-on-lens.

Still, I will not complain about these images quality of a RM49 (with 5% discount some more!) 8x optical lens. I'll say it's a great toy, especially now I have a telephoto, a macro, a wide angle and a fish eye. Better range of lens than my DSLR now. Haha!