Tear tape, where art thou?

I know, I know. This is so #firstworldproblems. However, two incidents affected me so strongly that I just had to put this down in words.

Tear Tape is that (usually) red line that runs on the inside of packaging. It helps you open the packet with ease, ensuring there’s no fuss or frustration. What frustration you may ask.

Why, frustration like these…

I know of some people who have no faith in how manufacturers seal their items, that their default go-to method is to use their teeth. Even if there’s a pair of scissors at an arm’s length away, this person will *still* rip open a bag of chips like a rabid dog. (I use to be that person, don’t judge)

Personally these tear strips make my life so much easier to the point that I am dependent on them (serves you right for depending on something so stupid). I realized the importance of these during my maternity leave.

Having food around the house was vitally important to me because I was hungry all the time. It was probably due to breastfeeding and burning all those calories worrying about the little human that I was in charge of keeping alive. Since I wasn’t allowed to go outside (curse you, stupid old-fashioned, not scientifically proven beliefs) visitors would bring me food. Apart from the meals that I would get, I would also receive Kit Kat chocolates. I was never a fan of Kit Kat, not because I didn’t like them, it’s just that I’m not a chocolate girl. Ice-cream yes, chocolate not so much (chocolate ice-cream? yuck!)

However, when I was peckish and felt the need to munch on something, I realized I just couldn’t stop at one Kit Kat

I could eat a least 10 without even thinking twice.

This progressed to sneaking away from a snoozing baby to quickly pop two fingers of Kit Kat in my mouth. It was starting to be an addiction.

Now imagine my surprise when one bag of Kit Kat had no tear tape. Not one Kit Kat had a tear tape. I know this, because I ate them all obviously. Oh the horrific effects!

I would try to tear it open, expecting a clean break but instead, I’d just tear of an inconsequential corner. I’d keep going until, completely frustrated, I’d have to get my trusty scissors. This wouldn’t be a problem but having a baby and a pair of scissors nearby is not ideal.

Here’s the second incident that traumatized me and made me a slave to tear tape.

I was on a diet and really wanted a Kit Kat. So I made a dash to the refrigerator (I know, I was desperate) and tore open a two-fingered Kit Kat bar. Guess what? No tear tape. The condensation, clumsy fingers, blunt teeth and overall mission-impossible mode made it the least enjoyable piece of chocolate I’ve ever consumed.

Why yes, I got busted by my husband who happened to wonder what was all the cursing coming from the kitchen. How’s your new year’s resolution going, huh? Huh? HUH?

So, the next time you see a tear tape that helped you achieve that clean, sleek, plastic breakaway, be grateful. Be grateful that you don’t have a picture of yourself hunched over a red rectangular piece of candy, looking like the creature from Henry Fuseli’s The Nightmare.

Ice-cream, RM30 or RM7?

I came from a family that wasn't wealthy in terms of money. Sure, we weren't poor but we difinately watched our ringgit and didn't splurge a lot.

I was taught that it's better to spend RMX on detergent, rather than RMXX on another detergent. They both essentially do the same thing. Right?

However, I recently discovered the difference between RMX and RMXX ice-cream.

Oh-la-la! Cream....milk....egg...

Milk solids...and err....stuff...


So, essentially it's ice-cream.

Right?

2016/2017

This post comes very late but is inspired by a facebook post I read. It made me want to spill out my hopes and dreams not for just 2017 but for the future.

Yes, 2016 was not the best year. Personally, it was a Year of Deprivation. I was working towards bigger goals and some things needed to be sacrificed in order to achieve those goals. On paper, these sacrifices seem simple and minute. However, after going through 12 months of it, I can honestly say I was exhausted and drained. Perhaps I pushed myself too far, perhaps I didn’t need to be so extreme. Perhaps my goal was too big, setting me up for disappointment.

I had made it my goal to reduce my credit card debt and while that was reasonable, the full mortgage payment for an apartment I bought kicked in. Juggling payments while trying to save money was very, very difficult. There were a lot of roadblocks. The apartment needed to be rented out as soon as possible but work needed to be done. I had to fix the place up a bit, we’re talking basic necessities like light. On top of that there were sudden unplanned expenses like getting our air-conditioning fixed because it was leaking water and the lever wasn’t working. The list just kept growing as the months went by. Each week brought new financial challenges.

At one point, I never saw a cent from my paycheck. For months. It was depressing and very, very stressful. It took a toll on my relationships, my mental and emotional health and while I tried very hard not to let my family feel it, I knew they were affected somehow. That was not cool. I sometimes wonder if the sacrifice was worth it.

However, 2017 is going to be much better. I’ve decided that 2017 is going to be a Year of ‘More’.

More yes, and less no (yes I’ll get that RM2 worth of Skittles even though it’s not in the budget) More happiness, less depression (house payments are due, but hey, at least I’ve got a renter) More love, less hate (I’m going to stop spending time with negative people. If they want to gossip during lunch, I’m going to suddenly get a fake call)

So this year is going to be a year of more, a year of abundance. I may not necessarily have more money (did I forget to mention that I didn’t get any salary increment or bonus last year?) I *will* have more positive, worthwhile experiences. I’ve only got this one life.