31 December 2020

Goodbye 2020.

Last day of the Year 2020 - the year no one is actually celebrating 100% because of the pandemic and lockdowns and the fear that looms in the air because Covid-19 is so spreadable. Hah. 

Never thought that I would experience a legit country/city lockdown in my life because of a virus. I remembered feeling anxious when it first happened but after that, it sort of became the new norm and we went to flow with it. 

Now, we are pro in the new norm although, to be honest, I still hate every part of it. Having to split tables when we go out to dine sucks big time - like I super hate it la okay. 

Anyway, since it is the last day of the craziest year, I thought I would like just say something here - but now my mind is quite blank. Heh. 

One thing that I am sure about is I want to bid farewell to the Year 2020 with the biggest gratefulness I have in me. It was not pretty and it was all messy and sad and scary - but I want to be thankful for everything that has happened. 

I feel like emotions were everywhere and I struggled on the second part of the year trying to figure out our moving forward plans and while I actually did resign from my job, I was given an offer to stay but with a more flexible role (with major salary adjustment of course) so I can actually focus on my two kids. 

I realized that if I don't give up my job to spend this precious time with them, I will regret it when they grow up. I can always go back to work once they are all grown up but I can never have them at this age anymore. So, I choose them - always will. 

Also thankful that Adrian is supportive of this decision because, without him, I would never be able to do it. I mean hello - he must be able to support me mentally and financially what. Hah. If not, where am I gonna find the money to feed myself heh. 

But on a serious note, this new flexible role also gives me time and space to focus on my Shop.com business and I am loving it. I realized that I love selling things - that work of course. 

We recently launched and started selling Momzay's Chocolate Chip Khoo-Kies and we managed to sell a total of 156 bottles - mom was surely busy and happy. So, thank you all for supporting our Khoo-Kies! More to come next time! 

We are currently working on our next item (hint: they are not Khoo-Kies!) heh - so stay tuned! 

Anyway, I am still in a place where I am trying to find the right "schedule" that works for me and my kids - in terms of our 8AM-6PM daily routine. I still have to go to the office twice a week for half-day and I have been trying to add "gym-time" too because I have lost weight with TLS 30-Days Program and I want to maintain a lifestyle that works in long term for myself. 

I will be posting on the before and after soon - after completing the 30 Days TLS Program and I'm so happy to say that I didn't think I would see the result but photos never lie okay. 

I hope by mid-January, I will sort of get everything in place and get a hang of the new schedule and stuff. 

So, I guess this is it for twenty-twenty. 

See you in 2021. 

20 December 2020

What Kind of Couples Are We?


Adrian and I became an official couple on 20 January 2012, got engaged on 20 September 2015, and then finally sealing the deal on 20 September 2016. 

I just realized (as I typed all this) that 20 is such a special number for us. So ngam eh hah. 

It is not love at first sight but it is definitely love blossoming from best friend-ship. So all you out there, who is secretly in love with your best friend (and denying it) - let us just tell you that because you both know each other so well already, it is such a fun and amazing thing to be together because you guys already are best friends! 

Anyways, here are the FAQs that we have gathered from you guys so enjoy reading them because we (mostly me) had fun answering them. 

WHO PIKAT WHO?

This is one very famous question, please. It just seems like everyone who asked this question (respectively) to Adrian and me always get different answers. 

The truth will set you free so here is the truth. 

Adrian pikat Sarah first. 

There you go. 

It's really the truth. He started to realize that he has feelings for me but I think he tried to deny them because we were like best buddies, sort of. I mean - I was helping (assisting) him to chase girls okay. But I guess he could not deny them for long hah because I am very irresistible. Hah. 

HOW LONG DID YOU BOTH DATED BEFORE HE PROPOSED?

I think about 3-years. Our anniversary date was 20 January 2012 - he asked me to be his girlfriend right after our last exam paper. We were on our way to watch a movie with our collegemates. Not very romantic kan? Heh. 

HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT HE WAS THE ONE THAT YOU WANT TO MARRY?

Well, in the middle of our dating-years, we talked about moving forward and about the future - like where do we see ourselves in a few years and all. One thing that really attracted me to him is the fact that he is such a family man, and when I know that his intention is to have a family together in the future, it all just became clearer. 

I remember asking him if I am just another girl that he dates because if that was the case, then we definitely need to talk more in terms of if he sees himself marrying me. If not, then the best option is for both of us to move on with our respective lives and find 'the one'. 

I wanted to know because I was not going to waste any more time with a man who does not have the intention to marry me. I mean - age is catching up okay. Heh. Sure I am in love with him, but if he really cannot see himself marrying me, then what is the point right. 

I am of course thankful that he wants to marry me. Heh. 

As for him, someone once asked him this question and his answer to the person was:- "Because I cannot imagine myself living without her."

Sweet sial. 

DO YOU REMEMBER THE VERY FIRST TIME YOU MET EACH OTHER?

Yes - it was at a Floorball tournament at Dalat International School. It was my first time there and my first time watching the game live. I was there on duty as a secretariat because our club needed volunteers and I volunteered. 

He was also on duty for the secretariat and was in charge of time-keeping. I was in charge of keeping score. I remembered poking his shoulder to either ask for the time or to ask him to stop the timer and that was that. 

We only got to know each other's names during the post-game talk where we introduced ourselves. 

YOU BOTH STUDIES THE SAME THING IN COLLEGE?

Yes, we did - Business & Finance but we were not from the same batch. I enrolled first and he joined one semester later. We have had a few classes together because the lecturers combined them. So, I guess can say we were course-mates at one point. Hah. 

WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIAL CALLINGS TO EACH OTHER?

Promise you won't laugh. 

Honey - Because his last names are Hun Yi. 
Honey Bu-Bu - No idea why but it felt very satisfying to add the bu-bu behind. 
Babe.
Baby.
Noob.
Weirdo.

WHO IS THE MORE PATIENT ONE?

This one must go into detail a bit because generally, Adrian seems to be the one with more patience but in reality, I am quite patient myself (especially after the kids came). 

Adrian is very impatient when it comes to food - now you know where Sofia gets her impatience from). It's like Adrian cannot get hungry at all, if not he would be so anxious and he will lose his cool. If we go for meals with friends or family, and people are late and he has to wait longer to eat, then cannot liau. He cannot wait when it comes to food. 

This explains why our food-blog is dead now because when the food reaches our table, he will not wait for me to take photos all. Lagi no need to say since we have children to handle hence, a dead food-blog. Heh. 

I am impatient when it comes to.. nothing really! I am quite a patient person now - I am a changed person. Hah. 

WHO PAYS FOR MEALS WHEN YOU GO OUT TOGETHER?

Before marriage - we split the bills, always. 
After marriage - Adrian because he is such a gentleman and because he earns more money than me. 

HOW DO YOU BOTH ARGUE?

Interesting question this one. 

Not sure if you can tell by knowing us personally (or through social media) but I am the silent one and he is the one who needs to bleh everything out there and then. 

I prefer to let the situation cools down first before 'discussing'. Not for him and it drives him even more upset because he just need to say whatever he wants to say - oftentimes, he has to apologize for the things he say in the heat of the moment because they may be hurtful and meaningless. 

But we are good. We don't argue that much anymore. Even when we do, he also will cool down first and talk later. 

We used to shout at each other to finish off an argument, and I remembered there was once when Jack was in the car, and he was legit scared of the entire moment when we were going back at each other. 

Good times. Heh. 

ARE YOU PLANNING TO RENOVATE YOUR CURRENT HOUSE?

It is in our discussion but we are still not really sure - because renovation is costly and we also need to find a place to stay for a few weeks. So we just sitting on this topic for now.

WHO WEARS THE PANTS?

What kind of question is this?

Of course, Adrian wears the pants - but I decide what kind of pants he wears. 

I AM KIDDING. 

He is the head of the family and what he says - goes. But really, usually, we will be in agreement in most of our decision-making. If cannot agree, then discuss till agree. 

IS ADRIAN REALLY YOUNGER THAN YOU?

Yes - by two years.

But he looks older so I win. 

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF FAMILY'S CULTURES?

I don't know if this is the biggest one but it is on top of my head right now. 

The way our families communicate is so different. As for my family, we are quite loud and noisy (and crazy) and dramatic (Adrian used to comment that my family is like Keeping Up with the Kardashians so he labeled us Keeping Up with the Khoos). 

For his side of the family, they are relatively softer in terms of sound and noise level and not as dramatic. They are however very funny (his relatives) and very generous with dirty jokes. Hah. 

Also, fun fact - Adrian and his sisters were not allowed to say the word, "Syiok" growing up because for them, it is a very harsh word. Not for my family of course. The only words not allowed in my family are those cuss words. 

ARE YOU BOTH PLANNING TO BUY A HOUSE?

To be honest, I am very open to the idea of buying a house that I can co-design and decorate and do according to how I want it. We are not there yet I guess but one day we will definitely buy a house where we will live for the long term. 

Adrian has been living in this current place for all his life and I can totally understand that it is so hard to leave this place and move to another house so really, this is a project nobody knows when is the maturity date. Hah. When will he be really ready to move to a new place? 

There is a difference between - "I live with my in-laws" & "My in-laws live with us"

Even when the house is legally ours, the statement will still be, "I live with my in-laws" because the fact is that that house is (and will always be) Adrian's family house. 

But yeah, we know that sometime in the future, we will get a new place of our own where I can freely design heh. 

We like high-rise buildings with great views, indoor car parks, and to have facilities, that will be great but Adrian is not a big fan of high maintenance fees, so I guess facilities are not super important. So we shall see. Heh. 

I would prefer a brand new house (scared old house haunted and all heh) but very open to any good deals la. Hit us up if you know of any house for sale and all okay. 

IS ADRIAN OPEN TO HAVING MORE THAN 4 CHILDREN?

If I am being very honest, I think no. I think his maximum is four (sadly). 

But we will never know. I can only answer you when we get there. 

WHO IS MORE PICKY IN FOOD?

Definitely me. 

Extra taugeh and extra chilli in all my noodles' order, and no 'ti-chiau' (sweet sauce) in my Genting's chee cheong fan. 

WILL YOU GO BACK TO PLAYING FLOORBALL?

You know what - I have thought about this so often and I know for sure that I would love to go back to playing this sport because I remembered having so much fun. Maybe not now though. 

I do see myself (and Adrian) going for floorball practices with all our children and all of us owning our own floorball stick. That is a future that I do see heh. 

WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT ADRIAN HAS TAUGHT YOU?

Floorball. He used to teach me how to shoot goals, please.

Okay - but really the answer to this question is the act of giving. 

I have never seen someone who is so kind and thoughtful - and I am not talking about being all that to people that you love because that would be easy. 

But the fact that he is kind and giving to people that he does not know or people who have ill-treated him... You know what I mean?

I only realized this part of him after being married to him because then I am with him most of the time. 

For example - every time we go to the Green House Kopitiam, he will only order either wan tan mee or chicken rice although most of the time, he actually wants to eat curry mee or tailok mee. 

The reason being that he thinks that the uncle and aunty of the wan tan mee and chicken rice stall need business more than the other stalls who are doing well. So, he forgoes what he wants to eat just so he can help the elderly couple. ALL THE TIME. 

Really very thoughtful. And from there, I learned to be like him in that sense. 

DO YOU BOTH HAVE CURFEW IF YOU GO OUT WITHOUT EACH OTHER?

We don't put like a curfew for each other when one goes out with friends but we always say things like, "Don't come home too late okay". 

For me, the moment Adrian leaves the house to hang out with his friends or meet clients, I will get into prayer mode and occasionally stops what I do and pray that he comes home safely. 

I mean - this "worry" is legit because anything can happen to anyone at any time - so all I can do is pray. I obviously cannot stop him from going out when he wants to. 

We still prefer for people to come to hang out at our house cos then can hang till late. Heh. Can do sleepovers also no problem. 

WHO GETS ANGRY FASTER?

Well, depends! 

He has a higher temper compared to me for sure. 

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS PEOPLE HAVE ON YOU TWO?

The first one will definitely be in terms of spending money via online shopping. People always think that I spend more money on online shopping but the reality is that Adrian spends more money (and time) doing online shopping! He may deny it if you ask him but it's the truth!

Also, I feel that people think I am a messier person as compared to Adrian but please, I am more OCD than him - I got it from my dad for sure. 

WHO SAID THE FIRST 'I LOVE YOU'?

Adrian Koay. 

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FOOD BLOG?

Err - kids happened. Hah. 

We just didn't have the time (and patience) to manage it anymore because our hands are really full at this moment and although I really love blogging, I simply cannot handle managing so many blogs la. 

I got a Youtube channel that I just started some more. Heh. Go subscribe, please. Thank you. 

IS THERE A MOMENT IN YOUR MARRIAGE THAT YOU FEAR ADRIAN IS NOT ATTRACTED TO YOU?

Of course yes - twice only though. 

The first 6-months after giving birth to Alex and Sofia were the moments I felt so unattractive and had that 'fear' that Adrian may not be as attracted to me (physically) but he never says or does anything to make me feel like that. 

I think it is just how I cope with my physical body and how it changes after birth and obviously, I struggled with it but with Adrian still being so in love with me (perasan right?), I was able to come out of it. Also, believe it or not, I prayed a lot! 

WILL YOU BOTH EVER ADOPT/GET A PET?

I've always wanted to have a puppy (Yorkshire Terrier) but Adrian is super against that idea. 

So, we just never sort of bringing it up again - unless I see another super heartwarming video on Facebook, and then I will ask him again. His answer is always no. 

But if anyone has like extra puppies to give away, my home (and heart) is always open okay! I would love to have a pet in my lifetime. I feel I will be super loving wan okay. 

But if the dog can grow big then not a good idea because our house no space for the dog to run around. I would love a very small puppy. 

WHO IS THE ONE ALWAYS SUGGEST TO GO HOLIDAY/STAYCATION?

Really need to ask this question?

Most of the time - me. 

But there are times where Adrian would get random and suggest a quick holiday/staycation and I will jump on that train immediately! Like every chance I get. 

IF YOU EARN MORE THAN HIM,  WILL HE EVER CONSIDER BEING STAY-HOME DAD?

I think yes. 

Or maybe no. 

You have to ask him. 

DO THE BOTH OF YOU GET ANNOYED WITH EACH OTHER?

Yes - rarely though - but yes. 

So, I guess that is it for the questions and answers. 

It has been such a road trip with this man ever since we decided to get tangled with each other and in our every day's mundane life, we somehow can find the little joyful things with each other and I especially love it when we both get to have real couple conversations after the kids sleep and just talk about everything that revolves our lives. 

Sometimes, we share real-life drama with each other la - gossip session with my husband. Hah. 

This year is our fourth and really, when you enjoy doing life with a person, time just passes you by so quickly. We are beyond thankful everyday that we've got each other to lean on and we never take that for granted.