Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Finally having the time to sit and blog! It's been a great start to the year of the snake with family bonding being the highlight. The hubs is in town and mil is away thus bunnikins has been hanging around with us! Which explains the lack of blogging. We have been going around visiting relatives (namely mine) and friends and this has taken a toil on BB k's schedule. The poor thing has been napping on the car but this has translated to good nights. In fact, since the start of the Snake year, she has stopped waking up in the middle of the night and I do hope this is here to stay! She has been sleeping at 11pm and waking up at approximately 630am for a dream feed and will pop back to bed all the way till 8/9am if we are lucky. Keeping my fingers crossed! But due to the crazy schedule which we have been doing, it's been quite a pain to get her to nap at certain hours. Hopefully this will change once the intensity mellows.

Here's a pictorial on what has been happening (clearly i've only got 10mins of ME time):

CNY is a time to bond with the family and i'm really glad that dear is able to interact with my side of the family. First time ever we did a KTV session at 3rd uncle's place. Coolbeanz. Had great fun and was quite impressed with everyone's singing prowess. Bunnikins however was not too impressed with daddy's rendition of BEYOND. But when mommy croon to the tune of Sammi Cheng, great applause was given by Baby K. She sure has taste! and i think she's more inclined towards sentimentals than rock.

I'm obsessed with colour coordination. This is taken on Day 8.

Ever since bunnikins started walking (on 初一), she has been exploring new terrains. At times, doing dangerous stunts like climbing of stairs without assistance. I foresee a very back backache looming.

Adoring our new PJs worn on the first day of new year. Baby K is in Carters whilst I'm in Forever 21.

Day one's ensemble. Oriental set from China and Nike Shoes. East meets West. Isn't she a darling?

Nope, we are not on a magazine again. It's just a very interesting app which I'm using called Photofunia. Really cool frames and pictures to superimpose your pix in it!

Another App which i have been playing with called Line Camera

Baby, say ROAR!

Really enjoyed my afternoon with the SIL and CIL at TWG Taka with bunnikins sleeping in my arms mostly. My arms almost broke at the end of the day! But the relaxation it brought together with the sanity away from the hustle and bustle of work life is so serene.

As much as most Feng Shui masters and horoscope prediction says that this Year of the Snake isn't exactly great for my horoscope, I hope they are all bogus and I'll live in denial. I'll take each day as it comes and pray for a better tomorrow. 

Have a HUAT-Y NEW YEAR!!

Blogging on the go

With the advent of technology, iPads iPods iPhones etc I should not take a backseat, not when I've already inherited the iphone3 fm the hubs. So I made it a pt to download blogger app so I'm able to blog on the go.. Haha no excuse for the lack of post now hopefully. Come to think of it, perhaps I can even blog whilst going through labour? A high tech form of epidural?

Moving along, a quick first update using the blogger app. Took sips of coconut water today as many swears tt the bb will come out 'cleaner' however there's another sch of thought which says that it will cause yr legs to weaken n this no strength to push. So what shld I do? Strike a balance

Tender coconut water (elaneer / nariyal pani) is one of the richest sources of electrolytes. It is high in chlorides, potassium, and magnesium and has a moderate amount of sugar, sodium and protein. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure and heart function. Coconut water is also a good source of dietary fibre, manganese, calcium, riboflavin and Vitamin C. Coconut water is a natural diuretic and so increases the flow of urine; this helps prevent urinary tract infections (UTI) as well as reduces the incidence of kidney stones. Coconut water also helps relieve constipation, improves intestinal function and promotes digestive health -– it is often recommended to people suffering from acidity and ulcers. These are the scientific benefits of drinking coconut water. However, there is a myth saying that the baby will come out "cleaner" if the preggie mum drinks coconut water in her last tri. In actual fact, the fetus is cleaner because fernik fat (fat that covers the body of the fetus) decreases. If he was born over 36 weeks of age will be born clean. If less months fernik then there is still fat in the skin, it’s not dirty but fat protecting the fetus in the mother’s stomach.

In addition to fresh coconut, I had my 2wks crave for Bo Bo Cha Cha finally satisfied! YUMZ! it's been a while since i had it!

Check out the cool shoes this dude has!! the people at the next table all don with fashionable clothings and vogue hairstyle. Even the little boy had a lopsided haircut just like his mama. The Japanese sure know how to make a statement!

Distracting myself with Crafts

The rains and floods have dried up (for a short while only I hope!) and today is well, a relatively nice a sunny day. However, somehow, I haven't had it good for the last couple of days. Been feeling nauseous and had two bouts of vomiting spells over the last two days. It feels like I'm in the first trimester all over again. The feeling is all too familiar. Read up about it and apparently nauseousness is a sign of labour!! AHHHHH somebody quick call the ambulance!

Ok, to distract myself, I've been doing heaps of late. Firstly, I'm proud to say that after all the technical glitches and obstacles, the highly anticipated and procrastinated project of mine...it's like a baby to me too...is launched -- JUMPSTART TUTORS!



Jumpstarttutors is dedicated to help parents get the right tutor to bring out the genius potential that lives within the heart of every child so that together we may pave the way to a better tomorrow. Being an educator for so many years, I feel it's time to help more parents cope with the whole education frenzy.

Being a very aesthetic person, the site had to be close to perfection before its launch. I won't deny but I'm no HTML guru or CSS stylesheet reader thus the whole experience was pretty exasperating especially when you know there's help just an arm's length away (the hub) but you can't get it because he's always so preoccupied. So independence worked its way and paid off! I even designed my own business card for the record! Achievement much! With all these creativity mounting, my obsession with crafts started to bloom once again. Checked out several craft sites set up by SAHMs and am inspired! If only i have the time and resources, but most importantly, can be a SAHM!!! I realise how much I can achieve, given time, but yet again, to have time, we need money! It's the hard truth. Very often I envision myself marrying my passion and work but somehow, it's just so hard.

Anyhowz, check out the crafty resources which I've pooled together and hopefully will embark on them one day soon! Afterall, Xmas is round the corner!







This is pretty manageable. I'm sure I can do something like that for my desk before the new year :)...it is also a necessity since memory failure is here to stay for at least 2 more years after pregnancy according to sources.

Jessie J -- Price Tag

I didn't realise my cousin is so talented. God is fair :)

SpreeOholic

It's official! we have launched! F21, Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, Bloomingdales, Victoria Secrets, Steve Madden, Charlotte Russe, Tory Burch, Bath & body works, OPI, Coach etc. Whatever brands you have your eyes on, let us assist you in getting them. Have an eye candy in mind? Ask SpreeOholic today!

W won TOTO! HUAT AH!

Was not quite in the mood to blog honestly, but something inspiring just struck me thus here i am.


So what's the big news? SGD $1,280,233! That's what? Small sum to some, but it's an obscene amount to me! Friend W is one of the lucky 9 winners of tonight's TOTO! (not sure if it's true though) A depressed sweetie had been pinning his hopes on this but as usual, lady luck's not quite smiling at him.

ME: OMG u are one of the 9 lucky winners? SGD $1,280,233?? OMG OMG OMG (totally ecstatic)
W: ya (flaccid response)

It sounds like it's a norm for him! GOSH. With a 7-figure winning, I sure can fulfill most of my dreams! For now, they can only be dreams.

Sigh, wonder when are things gonna start changing? Some divine intervention would really be nice. In Sick and in Health, for poorer or for wealth. How true. Am really trying to cope but it seems so impossible. I'm becoming a nasty piece of wok with a mangled soul despite the "chio" superficial exterior. Last year was the year of the ferocious Tiger. A year which signifies placid pace of growth than in previous years. Prolly that's why things were moving ever so slowly. Dreams seems far and beyond. On the other hand, rabbits move at an unhurried pace and are tranquil and serene, so will that mean a slow year again? Come on! My birthday is nearing, but somewhat I'm having a surreal mix of emotions. A celebration of any kind at this juncture would be good, but this year, I don't foresee Sky on 57 or FiftyThree @ Armenian, or the Triple Three Restaurant. Not that it ever happened, but it doesnt hurt to dream right? Even on Vday, there was nothing but campbell soup cooked with loads of love after much whining and nagging. u can't fault me...the hub kept my hopes high by saying that he'll do some grocery shopping and whip up a steak @ 10pm. But at 915pm when i texted, his reply was: I had dinner. too hungry, go pack your own dinner. Thanks. so much for romance. Not that I'm that into this hallmark occasion, but the bubble of expectation was blown and deflated by him.

When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place

Gosh, didn't I say I wasn't in the mood to blog? What started off as unbelievable news is tapering into the usual ramblings. Ok, I'd better stop and spice this post with photos:

The annual mahjongkahki reunion luncheon this year was held at the Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck Restaurant. Can't their name be a little shorter?? It's so cliche too! It's depressing to see creativity lacking.


Reservations was for 1:30pm but I think it was about 2pm that we had our three tables! Probably having vision problem due to hunger, most of us thought the above was a piece of chocolate! Turned out to be a mat for the tea pot! haha


The Family. Seems like it's growing with several new, young additions.

Service was horrendous. Given that it's CNY, I do understand they may be understaff but that's not excuse for forgetting my cup of hot water after 3 reminders! We were particularly exasperated when after the first or second dish was served, we were told that it was gonna be last order for the tim sum menu and that we had to hurry! Imagine our disappointment and frustration. To add fuel to that, when we queried the quantity of each portion, we were told that there'd be 4 pcs on each plate, thus after some arithmetic, we ordered, only to find out that some items came in 3s. The number of people @ our table was in mutiple of 4. Obviously the sum did not quite equate. We feedbacked to the captain, but she said it's not entirely their fault and that it's actually quite enough as we've ordered a large variety. That's not the point! We wanted everyone to have a pc of everything! It was clear to me the lady wanted the easy way out instead of changing the orders for us. To make matters worse, before everything else, friend X informed me that the cutlery was dirty! No matter how good the food is, if the service sux, customers are unlikely to return.

Playing with the new kid on the block.

Presenting: the old kids on the block!

"If you're going through hell, keep going. "

~Sir Winston Churchill

Hop for the best

Woo, in the blink of an eye, it's Day 5 of Chinese New Year! Good times seem to fly by more quickly, in particular when there is a long wkend. Seems like 2011 doesn't have too many long wkends thus I was really appreciative. Technically, it's Day 1 of work but I'm totally not in the mood. Prolly due to the spill over effects of visitings and overdose of goodies. I'm glad I made it through the festival albeit being bombarded (as usual) by middle-aged aunts with annoying questions like when will I be having children. Typical conversation:

Aunt: So any news?
Me: yeah..there is news on Channel 5 or 8..or do u want China news on Cable?

Aunt: So when am I getting the egg?
Recently married cousin: Go to the supermarket and buy it!

Hahaha..i think my witty cousin is simply hilarious. Seriously, i think such queries are merely to fill up those awkward conversation lulls. Visiting is sometimes a drag, especially when you meet the same ppl at different location. Sweetie's family is more efficient. Meet up @ Granny's on the eve, have the reunion dinner, hang around till midnight and distribute ang baos. No individual visitations. Sweet. On the other hand, my family's visitations are spread over 2 days. But even if the new year rituals are a drag, i guess in some sense we derive a sense of satisfaction from having suffered through the motions. One minor ritual I dislike however, is the the giving of ang bao. I rather be on the receiving end but of coz, I have obligationis to meet as a married person. This isn't an uncharted territory, for I have about 4 yrs of experience now. But somehow, I still have a bit of a dilemma when it comes to HOW MUCH? Ang bao is a gesture of good wishes thus should not be a material yardstick, however, many may think otherwise. I recall this particular student who received a small packet of $4 from me (she had 2 other siblings!!) 2 yrs ago, and when I told her to write a composition on Chinese New Year, she wittily wrote that she was disgusted to receive a pathetic amount ($4) from a certain someone! The audacity! Clearly, her upbringing isn't all that good -- one reason for giving her that SMALL packet! 2 yrs down the road, she has not receive a cent from me! This definitely helps in the capital outflow that I have to contend with.

Now for a peek to what I did for the last few days:

Outfit of the day...nice fitting Cheongsam

One of the places we visited. Gardens @ Bishan. The structure is a reminisce of the condo we stayed at whilst in Guangzhou several years ago. Such architecture is rare in tiny Singapore.

Day 4's shoes. CUTENESS right?

Whipping up a storm for friends. Supervising my Sous Chef :)

Nice to make new friends

Yusheng is a raw fish salad which was popularised in Singapore in 1960s. The ingredients usually include shredded carrot and radish, ginger, orange peel, pomelo bits, golden crackers, slices of raw fisha and a plum sauce dressing.

Dish 1: Spinach with clams

Dish 2: Braised Mushroom with mock abalone

Dish 4: Golden Garlic Prawns
Dish 5: Emperor's Herbal Chicken (I forgot to take a picture of that!)

Soup of the day: Lotus Root & Peanut Soup

To top it off, a good bottle of white & red wine

My satisfied customers
The night ended really well and relatively early with mahjong and chit-chats. Wish everyday can be like this! Now I must really psych myself up for work amidst the festivities and hop for the best in all my endeavors!

Ushering the Wabbit year!

This may come a tad late, but then again, we have 15 days of celebration, so GONG XI FA CAI everyone! Hope it'd be a year full of good cheer and health!

Time really flew by like a speeding bullet. It was officially 2011 just a couple of weeks back and now it's the lunar new year. Frankly, things didn't really sink in till now. This new year is, again, full of repetition, obligation, tradition and duty. It's actually a great time to fly off and escape from it all as this year, CNY falls on a long wkend...however, we (or at least, I) have to stay. It's easier on the pocket too (unless we run off to somewhere near like Malaysia) Unfortunately, at this point in time, Frugal is the keyword. Was speaking to the hubs and we have really polar views on this entire visitation thingy. His family works very simply. Everyone gathers at granny's place, distributes ang baos and calls it a day. Mine, u basically have to visit one aunt to another, but seeing the same visitors over and over again. I would think it does force us a little to make that effort to keep something. Social relations.it's really quite important as mostly we see those relatives once a year and it's this time you find out what they are doing. You'd be surprised what news awaits you! ie. I'm gonna be an aunt (again) this Vday; the little no-longer-innocent cousins are getting weirder; the coming-of-age adolescents have suddenly shot up in height and we are holding more intellectual conversations...and the list goes on. One thing I hate most though, is how the old follies enjoy regaling the young ones with stories of their activities. + pressuring my biological clock. So jaded when I hear of such stuff. Things don't get any easier when you learn that your cousin who got married a year ago is going to be father this Feb. Don't they know, stress doesnt help? I liked though, how a fellow cousin answered when bombarded with such questions:
Old Aunt: So when am I gonna get to carry your baby?
Cousin: ohh u want one? go supermarket and buy one

haha how original.

The year has begun on a rather painful note. Painful due to the onslaught of migraine and ulcers. I seriously should try to be more obedient! Had two deep fried chicken wings the other day and the deluge of headaches and neckaches just poured. But I've been restraining. Keeping to the motto of drinking only warm water. I think I'm doing good in the face of temptation.

The above are gifts from kind souls! I can simply open a cookie shop!
Hopefully they'll vanish soon! The temptation is just so strong!

Reunion luncheon @ Mummy's. Was rather annoyed with her as she waited for me to arrive and slice up all the ingredient and marinate them! So she basically prepared the curry and plain soup! Was nagging the whole time how tiring it is for her to put this together! Sigh

HUAT AH!!
Did not have many representation of the rabbit at home, thus did the next best thing -- DRAW!
and MADE two really adorable origami wabbits!

Reunion over at Sweetie's granny's house. Now this is what I call festivity! the mood is so apparent over there with 4 generations under one roof!

Sweetie luring the happy kid with food!

It's FA CAI time!
Outfit of Day 1. :)
Outfit for day 2: LOVE it max!

Visited godma today and am glad all is well with her. The dog (Lucky) is getting fat, but he's such an adorable member of the family! The moment he misbehaves, all the owner has to do is to say she's gonna get a cane and the little doggie will hide in between the sofa!

It lovessssss being tickeled and caressed!

After a great BBQ with family, it's time to head home for some gambling action.

Wonder if we'd be caught for mass gambling when this gets published?! hhaha...Sweetie really needs to do something about his luck...sigh.

With another year, the past gets left further and further behind. Reflect on this year and manifest what's next!