My New Cup

I got this gift from a vendor.  Cute not??

I like it alot!! I think my morning coffee is gonna taste so much sweeter from now on!! *beam* I’m gonna bring it to office so that whenever i need a break I’ll have my kids to accompany me, how nice!

Since I am clearing my leave, I made myself breakkie this morning.  I just go for some simple french toast since I got leftover bread in the kitchen.

I used the recipe from the same book which I got for the scrambled eggs.  I didn’t really like it cos the french toast tasted soggy and too milky to me.  I like my french toast more eggy rather than milky.  I’ve got some more bread slices in the kitchen expiring soon..probably I’ll try making some again tomorrow.  I’ll omit the milk and see whether the whole thing will be less soggy and more eggy.

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Our Saturday

Though it’s a long weekend this week, unfortunately we do not have any plans for the boys… Thus we stayed in on yesterday and spend our time on books bakes toys and games. 

The elder boy got my genes when it comes to playing games.  He simply love computer and handheld games.  Since he do not have “I Can Read” class today, I allow him to play some disney online games yesterday morning as he need not do any homework.

I’m glad that at this stage, Kenji is happy with just watching his korkor play.  He is intrigued by mickey and gang hopping around on the screen.  He thought he was watching cartoon. hahah. 

 

I hope the fight to use the comp won’t come so soon.  As it is, I already have Dec fighting with me to use the desktop, DS and Wii… if the little one join in the fight it will be a 3 way competition and I will appear to be a lousy mum for fighting with the boys.  But hey!! Games are my main hobby other than reading!!  Since the 2 little ones are occupied and as usual the dad is snoring away, I’ve got some time to myself so I started reading  my newly acquired book – Management Lessons from Mayo Clinic.  I only managed to cover 1 chapter but it’s a pretty interesting read and it’s not just for people from healthcare industry.  It is suitable for people working in the service industry on the whole.  Do pick up this book if you have the time.

In the evening, I finally got the courage to try my hands out at making some snowskin mooncakes.  The recipe looked simple enough, no bake.  I love to eat mooncakes but I actually prefered the bake ones.  Since I am a newbie at such things, I decided not to be too adventurous and stick to the no bake snowskin mooncakes.  End result as follows :

ehhh i didn’t really handle the moulding too well.. u can see break lines across the patterns :p  I’ll need more practice… Taste wise not sure yet as all of them are still sitting in the fridge and I’ve not touch them yet.  will probably try later and eat them as tea break.  Those who are keen to try can access the recipe here .  I am hoping I will have enough courage to attempt the baked ones next week.   Give me courage!!!

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Cupcake decor class

Me and fannie went for cupcake decor class last Sunday.  We initially thought it was a baking class, but turn out it is a decor class.  Nevertheless I think we all enjoyed the class.  It was fun squeezing icing and seeing the decor takes shape.

We get pratice sheet to try out before going on to the real cupcakes.  These are my “grass”. 

 To me, the grass is the most difficult to handle.  Mine either ends up in globs or the grass starts falling sideways..

The mess that we created on the teacher’s dinning table :

After 1-2hours these are my “outcomes” :

The happiest person is none other than Declan.  He loves eating cakes, any kind of cakes.

 

The teacher commented that I was a “messy” student :p  She gotta help me clean up my smudges.  I doubt I’ll be doing cupcake decor at home much cos the thought of preparing multi color icing just puts me off… I’m lazy… I want to learn how to make fondant figurine though!!  Should be pretty fun! Like clay modelling like that! But classes are fully book till next year… We’ll see how next year then…

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What is the value of a mother?

Of  late this question keeps popping into my brain. 

Is mum just a channel for you to arrive in this cold heartless world? 

Is mum just a milk cow giving you the much needed nutrients during the early months of your life? 

Is mum just another pair of hands to keep you clean when you dirty yourself?

Is mum just an ATM when you need cash for all wants and needs?

Is mum just a dummy for you to vent your anger and frustration?

I’ve seen closely knitted mums and children who bring a tingling warm feeling to my heart when I see how close they are… but, I’ve seen more mums and children who are at loggerheads with each other… this is the cold truth that I believe many refuse to face..

In my life, there appear a mum that in the bid of trying to grab her kids attention, she ended up messing the whole family up, sowing discord unintentionally and at times naively.  She is the cause to many disputes among her own kids.  She has got 5 children, but none are staying with her.  If you ask me, it is not that they don’t love her.  Some do, some don’t and I suspect 1 even hates her. Most of her kids can’t afford to maintain her, not that she is a big spender, but the fact that they are doing odd jobs with low income and have their own family to care for, they are left with not much to support her.  But still, she gets by.  She is not starving, except for a little more attention from each of her kid and maybe even grandkids…

It’s a sad state, why does a 80 yo needs to drama before her kids can give her some attention.  On the other hand, why must the 80 yo perform adverse drama and add stress to the already stressful lifes of her kids.  Unknowingly, she is actually pushing them away rather than drawing them back to her.  Along the way, someone gets caught in the middle.  She thinks she has a clear picture but sometimes she thinks she has a clouded mind.  All the kids starts pushing their mother to this person not knowing or refuse to acknowledge that what their mum need is not this person but their each and individual love and concern.  There is only this much this person can do, physically, emotionally and financially.  The mum just want her 5 kids to be united and behave as 1 and appear before her. 

This mum needs to go for an op.  The first reaction of 2 of the kids is : I can’t decide for her whether she can go for op, I cannot take the responsibilty if something goes wrong, the rest will blame me.  Why this kind of mentality?  Why always talk about blame?  Where has the heart gone to?  Can someone feel the pain that this mum is going through,  both the physical and the emotional pain. 

I am really heartbroken to see things coming to this dire state.  I thought to myself, will I ever put my 2 sons in such a situation? I hope not.  I am not in the best position to criticise these 5, cos I myself, is not in harmony with my own mum.

Is it really so difficult to be a caring, loving and forgiving mum?  or should we look at things from the other perspective?  Is it really so difficult to be a caring, loving and forgiving child?  Can’t the child/children be more accomodating towards their parents for having gone through so much to bring them to this world, by providing them all the needs and wants till their wings are strong enough to take off on their own?  I’m sure the parents would have showered lots of love on their children when they are young, just like how I love my 2 kids and just like how I put in certain efforts to do things for my 2 kids now?  Will there be 1 day, my 2 kids starts to hate me and try to stay away from me?  I can’t tell as my own are still very young.

Aside from asking myself what’s the value of a mum, I guess I should also ponder what’s the value of the kids to the parents?  Relationships are getting more transactional nowadays.  Aren’t you guilty of soliciting for love and results from your own kid?  Especially those who have really young ones at home?  e.g  Give mummy a kiss and mummy will give u a candy?  Can I have a hug?  You wanna watch cartoon? Ok, do this first?  I’ll put up both my hands high and admit I’m guilty.  I know this method is not quite right, but seriously, at this time, when everyone are spoilt for choices, everything seems to become transactional, even parental love… Sad state but it’s cold hard truth….

So what’s my value? As a mum, a daughter and a grandchild?  I’m ashame to say I got no definite, strong and objective answer to my own question…

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Teacher’s Day Pressies

It’s teacher’s day tomorrow but Dec’s centre will be closed, so we prepared the pressies yesterday for him to give it out to the teachers today.  This year, I decied to bake milo doggie cookies for the teachers. 

While I prep in the kitchen to make the dough, Dec did 8 little cards with the help of the dad.

He was very eager to help me make the cookies but I didn’t want him to get all oily and start smearing his oily hands everywhere.  So I assigned him to plant the choco noses for the doggies.  Look at how carefully he handled them :

At times, he pressed a little too hard and the doggie ended up with a flat face. -_-  As he helped, he also helped himself to the koko crunch and choco chips…. as if sending them into his mouth…

The doggies before going for  “sauna” in the oven :

The doggies after coming out of the oven :

I packed 8 packs of 6s and stapled the cards on and they are ready to be given out.

I packed some into the lunchbox for Dec to snack in school. 

 I’m happy that this boy like my bakes.  Though they are full of flaws but he still tells me they are yummy (some of which is really not yummy :p).  Very kind hearted boy.

The next bake for the teachers will be on X’mas.  hmmmm what should i bake for them next?

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Meddling in the Kitchen

It’s good to be back at our own place!  I can mess up the kitchen for all I care and there will be no one breathing down my neck ha!  Suddenly felt like being a good mother on Sunday so I woke up slightly earlier wanting to make Pancakes for my kids!  I surfed the web before I hopped into bed the previous night and manage to find a simple enough pancake recipe.

TADAHHHHHH!! My equipment and ingredients for making the pancakes.  There are 2 eggs hiding in the mixing bowl.

I was stupid enough to think that I should beat the egg white till stiff manually!!  I was thinking, aiyah just 2 egg white, no need to use the mixer… BIG MISTAKE!  Beating the egg whites nearly killed me….. I was huffing and puffing after the whites looks like it is stiff enough…. effect not perfect but I’m already half dead.. so I made do with what I achieved….  The end product :

First time I am able to achieve fluffy pancakes!! So happy!! It tasted like Mac’s hotcakes albeit a tad dry, wonder is it becos I didn’t handle the egg whites well enough….  I love the recipe! 

 

I spreaded on blueberry jam on one and butter on the other for Dec :

He just got well so I forbidded him to pile Smucker’s Globber Peanut Butter nor Nutella on his pancakes.  Didi went marketing with the dad and ah ma and upon his return, he ate 2 plain ones.

The elder boy wanted to go swimming but weather was bad, thus I had to confine both boys at home.  To help them drive away their boredom, I decided to let them paint in the kitchen.

I can’t let them paint in the living room cos the paint will stained the homo tiles.  The kitchen tiles are hardy so they can mess up the kitchen floor and I got no qualms about it.  It was didi’s first contact with paint brush and colours and he is more interested in tasting the “coloured water”… our heart skipped a few beats when we witnessed him sending the paintbrush to test taste….

In the evening, I decided to mess up the kitchen once again by baking Oatmeal and Raisins Cookies.

Again I got an easy recipe off the net.  I forgot to take pics of the end product though.

I enjoy messing around in the kitchen so far but I hate the washing up……..  I efficiently delegated some of the washing to the dad after I’m done baking :p

I love my new kitchen!!!

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Full Time Mum for A Day

I was made an “unwilling” full time mum for a day yesterday…  Usually during my very precious weekday off, I prefer to enjoy some me time…  For the past months.. all my weekday offs are being spent trapped at home, waiting for various contractors to come and do up their businesses…. This week is the last week that I will get a week day off till 2 months later…. AND I still couldn’t get my much anticipated me time!!

Mil wasn’t free to look after Kenji as she had to prepare for prayers… Dec fell ill and thus couldn’t go to school… so I was kept at home with the 2 boys…  The younger one refused to let me sleep in… he practically dug me out of bed at 9am…..  I was hoping that I could snooze till 11am… sigh….

Pacified him and managed to get another 1+hr lazing in bed.  Woke up at 10+ to cook in my brand new kitchen for the very first time!!  Before this, the operating manual was still stuck on my cooker hood lor… Actually I didn’t really cook lah :p  I just made some grilled cheese sandwich over the fire. hahahha  I know that’s cheating :p

Big one for me, the halves for Declan and the bite sizes for Kenji.  I gave the boys strawberry milk to go with breakkie.  These boys really kept me busy throughout their breakfast with spills overall the place… Kenji dripped his milk all over the living and dining room… i didn’t notice till ants started accumulating around the milk spots and i was wondering how come got black polkadots on my floor…. *faint*..  I cleaned the floor at least 4-5 times to clean up their dropped bits and spilled milk… didn’t really enjoy my breakfast…. not with little Kenji trying to fight with me for my much prized 3-in-1 coffee….

After breakkie (which ended near lunch time!!), I let the boys watched Leap Frog VCD and gave them their toys, while I took some “time off” to go online…Shortly.. Kenji came in to act a drama for me :

Not quite sure what he wanted until I detected a pungent smelll accompanying him…. arghhhhh time to clean up poo…. and so I did…  Following the cleaning up I let him watch Thomas the Tank cartoon while kor kor played with his trains… and not long after this happened:

The drama king was knocked out!  yahooooooo finally me time but it’s time to cook lunch for the boys lor… and the naggy Dec is hounding me at my back to take over my computer for his games…….

No choice but to give in to my first born…. while I mess around the kitchen to make lunch…

*Simmer simmer simmer* what’s cooking?  As if I am cooking up a storm but chey! It’s just some simple tasteless macaroni with prawn balls and mixed vege only lah.

Poor thing leh my kids… cos the mummy can’t really cook…. simple food like the above also turn out too bland :p but never mind… I console myself that it is a healtier choice.  Kenji down the whole bowl while Dec only ate the prawn balls… never give me face one….  The rest I settled them myself…

Fortunately after our late lunch (around 3+pm) my sis and bro in law came over to help entertain the kids.  Yippeeeeeeeeeee  time off for me again.  I forget to add that the boys created a war zone in my living room with their toys slew all over the place… I didn’t bother to pick them up….. How did u full time mums survive???  I can hardly live pass a day being a full time mum………  You gals are really good!  Respect!

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I am 33

I’m older, yet again, but hmmm have I grown wiser??  I turned 33 last Friday.  This year’s birthday was much more pleasant then the past few.  I’m not sure why but that’s how I felt.

My day started with a peanut butter waffle and kopi-o breakfast, which Kiat bought.  Colleagues gave me a b-day cake surprise.  I took half a day to go straighten my hair and my hairdresser pampered me with a free hair treatment.

Throughout the day, smses from Kiat kept coming in with the below photos attached :

Though this is already a “recycled” trick (he did this few years back too) but I really liked it.  The pics of the kids really made me smile the whole day.

My very sweet financial adviser sent a cake to my house.  The cake was yummy! From Cake Avenue.

We went Sentosa Sand Bar at around 9+pm for a chillout session with the boys.  The boys enjoyed the trip.  It was pretty relaxing to just sit by the beach, eat, listen to music, enjoy the sea breeze and watch the boys play.

Our Food

Our Drinks

My boys trying to groom me

Can’t you tell I really appeciate their effort.  I do! I swear!

The 3 happy men

My B-day Kisses

Lastly, my cool kids who really knows how to enjoy themselves.  The both of them were actually dancing to the music from the pub lor!! SEE?? started clubbing at such a young age!!

The whole thing wasn’t extravagant, wasn’t dramatic but I was really really happy that day and I truely enjoyed myself  🙂

Happy 33 to me!! May I stay as happy for the rest of the year till my next b-day!!

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Today is Pamper Myself Day

Today, I woke up about 45mins later than usual, sent Dec to school and off I went to enjoy my “Me” day.

I drove to Jurong Point and settled down in Subway for a yummy breakfast with a book to accompany me.

That’s my 6″ ham and egg plus a coffee.  I took my own sweet time to finish my food.  I reached there about 9.10a.m and was waiting for the shops to open so that I can do my shopping.  I thought the shops there will open at 10am but they open at 11am wor!!!  #*%)!*!*!_ waste my time….

Below are my loot from both Jurong Point and West Coast Plaza

When u see me buying a number of items for myself within 1 shopping trip, it can only mean either one of the below :

1) I am doing CNY shopping.

2) I am in a bad mood.

So this time obviously it is no. 2.  Have been feeling rather tired and moody lately.  Maybe I overestimated myself by multi taksing on too many things at one goal.  I am learning to invest, negotiating/discussing/meeting with some people on some business idea, reading up on how to start a business, planning reno, sourcing furnitures, researching for ID ideas, sewing cross stitches for my sons and of cource busy renotalking and “facebooking” too :p

I think I should slow down and do them progressively, 1 to 2 things at a time.. but time is not on my side.. I’m stepping into mid 30s real soon.. I need to buck up…

Ok just a random thought, I am into purple and grey colour for now, maybe I can paint my house in these 2 colours? ?  oh another random thingy, the nike shoe is acutally dark purple not black, somehow in the picture it looks like it’s black.

See what I mean when I say I am always multi-tasking?  I am blogging and still thinking about my reno and also plannign to go back to Nike to hunt for running shorts this weekend all at the same time……….

I didn’t disappoint you right yl?? *wink wink*

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Busy Busy Busy

Apologies on the lack of post lately.  As the title denotes, I am busy busy busy.  Busy with what?  Busy with relocation.  I had reported to my new work place.  The pace here is really rea..ll..lyyy sloooo…www ….  *yawn*

Couple with a change in work environment, I’ve been busy doing research on interior design in prep for our resale unit renovation.  My weekends are spent prowling thru the web for tips, dos and don’ts.  I also read up a little on fengshui.  I had received 4 quotes thus far, only manage to compare 2 quotes in detail.  Gonna meet up another 2 IDs this sunday. aiyoh… busy busy busy….

Now there is another thing for me to settle.  That is Declan’s school.  He is currently in Cherie Hearts, there is a Kinderland right at my workplace and staffs get subsidized rates!!  I only need to pay $200+ for a full day programme.  That’s a real steal!!!  I’ve paid the centre a visit and the environment is pretty pleasant.  I will be arranging for Declan to visit the centre as well and this little master will have the last say.  Afterall he has been at Cherie hearts for 3 years.  Don’t wanna force him to leave his comfort zone if he doesn’t want to.  If he is ok with shifting, I’ll have some savings each month.  Kinderland is also providing keyboard lessons within the cirriculum.  In that case, it means I can withdraw him from Yamaha Junior Course which I had enrolled Dec and lesson will commence only in April 2009.  Shall update again on his decision.

Back to the house.  we did fengshui house audit last thursday afterwhich I self planned the below layout plan.

Of course the above is not cast in stone.  It’s all subject to the Master final advise and of course whether it’s within my budget.  Need quite alot of carpentry work and I am sure it’s gonna cost me a bomb to materialise.  Will definitely have to cut down some carpentry work.

I manage to get permission from current owner to allow me to take some pictures of current condition of the flat. 

Actually the current condition of the place is pretty good.  But I’ll need to replace the flooring as the laminate is already 9 years old.  Also the kitchen cabinet colours is really not my cup of tea…  but condition is very well maintained.  Plus I want to remove the passe cornices and do L box instead.

Wish me luck in my ID hunt!

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