Marsha Maung: Write. Cook. Read. Watch. Try. Innovate.

We found a steal-of-a-deal at the frozen seafood section of a nearby mall. The deals were, not even kidding about it, damn affordable. As with most kids, we love fish but hate bones so, ever since they were young, I've fed them these easy/cheaper dory fish fillets.  The question was whether I want to steam them (easy), air-fry them (mid-difficult), or pan-fry (difficult and long and tedious). But I decided to go with the hard difficulty route because I want the soft white fish to be firm enough. There are hard white fish, and there's soft white fish. Go research them and you will find out more about the texture and temperature management.  Chinese communities are hard stuck on big, fresh fishes and prawns but they're not ingredients we can cheaply get in Malaysia. They're reserved for celebrations. So, we don't usually have them in this house. We're poor so, we usually make just chicken in as many ways as we can.  But since I found the fish fillet, I...

c Happy birthday to me,  Happy birthday to me,  Happy birthday to meeeeee..., Happy birthday to me! Technically, it’s past 12am and it’s my birthday now and I’ve crossed a major milestone in my life, age-wise. Le sigh....there’s no stopping time. The more birthdays you celebrate, the more depressing and desperate you get . Did not do anything much. We ate lunch at the nearby restaurant, a simple meal; then splurged like mad at Daorae , a Korean BBQ restaurant. Spent an insane amount of money on the good food but it was crazy good and we almost exploded.   Been watching past Running Man episodes like a mad person these few days but only the ones with Gary in it. For some reason, I have a strange liking for his honest but weird behavior. Nothing to do with the Monday Couple gimmick. Anyway, as far as birthdays go, I’ve said before that today, my XXth birthday, might turn out to be my turning point . No, I want it to be so . Honestly, I have been on sabbatical because I felt...

Gratefulness and thankfulness is a work in progress in everyone's life. I try to do it everyday, to be thankful that I am given another chance to do what I am doing today.  But there was a time that I tried really hard to be thankful for the roof over my head.  Despite being in a dire situation, I kept telling myself to be thankful, be grateful, don't be a brat, and enjoy it. It took some months after that for me to admit to myself the fact that it was a particularly rubbish part of my life.  Every single day was a struggle. I tried to keep things real without losing the positive outlook that I usually look for. That glimmer, even if it is a tiny glisten off in the distance, that might keep me hanging onto the rope.  But I've come to realize that it is just as important to realize that we're struggling and be thankful when we come out of it alive.  "I am thankful for my struggle because without it, I would not have stumbled upon my strength"...

Some people tell me that I am a very kind and sweet girl (woman...lol) but sometimes, I wonder if being nice is really worth it at all. I am not the kind of person to look for trouble unless trouble comes looking for me. If it does, it's in for a surprise. I am kind of the underdog with a hidden card. I don't push it but if you push me, I'll push back hard. Let's get that out of the way. People tell me that I don't have boundaries, I am stupid, I should be more assertive, and I should draw the line. You think  I don't know all of that? Really? #lol There's something wrong with me. I am wired wrongly from birth, that's what I think. I've been shown the middle finger a lot these past few months. Some left me gawking and others made me want to fit my fist into your pie holes. That's not really my style, actually. Walking away is more my style but still. However, things like these makes me see the tiny slivers of hope, rays of possible ...

I am going to be either a philosopher today, or I’m just going to sound a little whimsical. So, if you’re not into that kind of thing, click away from this article right now. 1…2…too late. =) OK. You’re still here. I was just reading a friend’s account of what he did to start his own business, the mistakes that he’s made along the way, and how he barreled on to find his footing in an industry he was deeply passionate about. He recounted all the times he had less funding that he needed, the wrong investments, the times of busted trust, disbelief of family members, and his lonely night with a bottle of Jack Daniels where he poured liquor over cubes of ice and his heart out to the stars. He vowed never to make the same mistakes again. It was the kind of ruminating that made those of us with similar insider experiences cringe. To newbies, his message of despair and hopelessness served as a balm that inspired them and kept them pumped. Instead of reminding ourselves of all the wron...

It's been a long time coming but, it's time to let go. We're walking away but we're gonna be alright. It's going to hurt a little while longer but we're stronger than we think we are. Don't look back. That's not where you're going. Be Alright - Dean Lewis I look up from the ground To see your sad and teary eyes You look away from me And I see there's something you're trying to hide And I reach for your hand but it's cold You pull away again And I wonder what's on your mind And then you say to me you made a dumb mistake You start to tremble and your voice begins to break You say the cigarettes on the counter weren't your friend's They were my mate's And I feel the colour draining from my face [Chorus] And my friend said "I know you love her, but it's over, mate It doesn't matter, put the phone away It's never easy to walk away, let her go It'll be alright" [Verse 2] S...

It's cliche and said a whole lot, but sometimes, I wonder if we are really aware of the real deep impact it has on our everyday lives. Time flies, and it waits for no one.  Yet, for those who are hurt, who are waiting, who feel helpless, who are trying to get by every day trudging through muddy piles of emotional messes, time stands still. Time has a mind of its own . It is its own entity. It is the speed skater when we are young and having fun, and a sloth when we're in pain. Nobody tells you about enduring the pain of waiting for something to happen or a negative to change. When someone you love is in pain, someone you love has been mindlessly taken away from you, when you've just been dumped by your so-you-thought soul mate. It crawls when you're healing physically and emotionally . There's no magic spell to cast to urge Time to do it your way. The saccharine sweetness of life is often short and every single test of the bitter, long and arduous. Flipp...

Being sensitive is a flaw...that's what I have always thought about myself as I was growing up. After all, that's what been fed to me every time something got to me. And things easily got to me...hey, I was a teenager and a growing adult. Yet, people applaud when I sing, act or write. My question is this - how do you think people are able to perform well on stage, whether they sing, dance, act or speak? It is when they open themselves up to whatever it is out there, whether praise or attack, be vulnerable and showcase what's in their heart. That, my friends, is also sensitive. Because of this part of us that we are able to connect with people easily. I feel whatever others feel the moment I meet their eyes and when they tell me something. I don't know what you call it but I absorb the fun, the excitement, the wildness, the unknown, the sadness, the fear and the bewilderment all the same way...with wide open acceptance. So, when people are not genuine, I know tha...

Sometimes I need a reminder of this because you, nor I, have the capacity to control the Universe. There was one advice, I can't remember from who, that I will always remember and keep close to my heart at all times. We are not here to control the Universe but we are each given a small piece of the Universe to handle. Handle that well and let the rest go. That's what I need to remind myself sometimes whenever I stress over the smallest to the biggest things life throws at me. I know you and everyone else have the same problem too, sometimes, so, this could be a good reminder for you too. Let it go (and in the least Frozen way possible). lol Love, Marsha

Some days, you sigh at the number of cups in the sink, no matter how many times you think you've cleared them, they appear and appear seemingly out of nowhere. The moment you think you've done all the laundry there is to be done, there's more. There are crumbs under the table after you've vacuumed the floor as thoroughly as you could. There's clutter where you previously cleaned out, there's dust on the fan, dinner to think about. The cycle is endless. We can't help but complain about it, can we? I don't do it online much or to friends because I prefer to look at things on the bright side (on most days and when I catch myself frowning at dirty carpets and tables). Think about it, maybe you've complained about it in your head instead? Anyway, whoever came out with this list is brilliant and it can serve as a good reminder to all of us who are caught in the daily conundrum and complaining about things. Have a splendid and productive Monday, ...

The Asian mentality is as such. So is the 'entertainer' culture. We say sorry way too much. We say sorry, sometimes, not because it was our fault. In fact, we say sorry when we should be saying 'Excuse me, I didn't quite catch what you said. Can you please repeat that?' Granted, sorry is an incredibly important word to use but there are things that we should not be sorry for:- Who we are Our sexual orientation Our feelings Our situation Our problems Our emotions Our tears Our regrets (we shouldn't have too many of this evil thing, anyway) Our dreams ....I can go on so, feel free to add your thoughts if you want to Sometimes I am sick of feeling sorry for making others feel the way they do, which I can't help them with because it is their feeling after all. It's like a huge cycle. So, at the end of the day, we should just acknowledge our feelings and say 'sorry, I am making you feel that way. I am sorry but not all that sorry be...

The end of the year is approaching again...but hey, we got past End of the World 2012! Yippee? And it is also during this time that people start making that drastic life-changing, direction-altering, lifestyle-enhancing list of things we will do in the upcoming new year. But I am not going to do that. I want to spend the rest of 2013 reminding me of one single moment that changed my life. A couple of years ago, having woke up late and being late sending my kids to school, I was vehemently adamant that everything in life was wrong. My kids were wrong. My car was wrong. My house was wrong. The school was wrong. I was wrong....basically, everything needed to change. Great morning that was. After barking stuff I don't remember I barked anymore at my kids and dropping them off at their school, two of my friends called. We needed to get prescription from the in-house Doctor for a home for mentally challenged children because we have agreed to contribute some of the medicine to ...

If I could rewind time, I mean REALLY am permitted to go back in time and find my 10-years-younger self, what would I say to her...me...her. Well, turns out, I have a lot to say to this person and the things that i tell her might change a thing or two. For instance, I would tell her that too much coffee, like five cups of coffee without a drop of plain water, in the system is not good for health. I would tell her that dust mites do exist. That drinking herself blind thinking that she looked better and felt better is an illusion. That she is good enough. Or too good for that man. That she should just build some bloody self-esteem. That nobody can give it to her on a plate. That she should stick to singing. And then write. That her music and songs are great the way they are. That the purple dress looks horrible. That she can cook. Try it. That she should listen to her parents and other people's advice when it is dished out. They are gems and she should use them to her a...

Share Dear Marsha, I see that you did good today - sleeping before the clock strikes twelve and waking before the clock chimes seven. Good for you. But I feel like I have to tell you something. I hate it when you are all snotty about people woh dun speel english poperli. I know you are snotty because I can feel it. And what's with all this obsessions of yours. First of all, you are obsessed with books. What's with all those books...you think you run a library or something??!! Jeezuz. Get a life. And you are obsessed, too, with crystals like amethyst. It's a rock, for crissakes, and all that jabbering about it having a life, kissing it for good luck. I think it's loony. You have amethyst beside your computer, you hang one around your neck, you wear it around your wrist. And what would your friends think when they find out that you have amethyst in your pillow case??? Buy Original Amethyst Image Here I mean, come on, Marsh. This is getting out of hand, don...