Life is a Hotpot

Back to School

2014-09-01T22:33:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is the first day of school and Sushi is having first-day-of-school jitters. I don't blame him. He is going to a new school (Grade 5). And he is riding the school bus for the first time. Meanwhile, Sashimi is going to Grade 1. He proudly says, "first day of Grade 1!" Although unlike Sushi, he will be reunited with old familiar friends.

Come to think of it, I am the one more apprehensive about back-to-school for my boys. It's the start of another school year of bento-making, doing homework/projects, signing endless school forms, picking-up/dropping-off and juggling extra curricular activities with the daily mundane. And this time, with my boys being in separate schools, it will be a whole new circus in our logistics.

I remind my boys everyday to have fun in school. It is supposed to be fun as it is a huge part of their life. At the end of the day, school is not all Language and Mathematics. It is a discipline of routine, a social exercise, a practice of responsibility. Academics is one thing, but it's also life skills.

Have fun, boys!

Mother's Day

2014-05-11T21:19:00.002-04:00

First, Happy Mother’s Day to my Mom. We are half the world apart but there are still moments where I want to run to her – and only her – for approval and guidance. I would not even be finished with my sentence but she already knows my heart. She gave me life and made me the person I am today. And for that I am forever grateful to her.

Also, thank you to my kiddos who gave me this title – Mother. It’s been 10 years I am wearing this badge, sometimes I still have to pinch myself and cringe at being called Mommy. It’s not always a walk in the park raising 2 boys. Three, if you include Mr. Hotpot. Truth is, every now and then there is a need to walk in the park… alone! At the end of the day, I feel luckiest to come home to my boys and feel so honoured to be their mother.

I still look forward to the kids' artwork from school. But what I love most is how the kids explain their work to me.

The misspelled words are the best.

The older one gave me a coupon book. I redeemed one right away.

But he stopped at one pillow. Dang!

Lunch was good, courtesy of Mr. Hotpot! My mom-in-law is visiting, so it was nice to celebrate Mother's Day with her as well.

This is my favourite definition of my title.

A salute to all the mothers! We are saints =]

Little Things Make a Big Difference

2014-04-05T14:03:00.001-04:00

Never stop doing the little things for others. Sometimes, those little things occupy the biggest part of their heart.

The Year of Hotpot

2014-01-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

New Year’s Eve is one of the only two nights I would stay up for (the other is Oscars). We don’t do anything grandiose. Dinner is simple and easy. Kids are tucked to bed on their usual bedtime. The TV is on for the New Year Countdown in Time Square and Nathan Phillips Square. It is one of those moments I want to be awake for - the split second when one year ends, and another begins.

This year is our first full year in our new house (we moved on December 2012). And a full house it has been! Between March and July we have had a revolving door of guests, enough to forego the housewarming. One batch at a time, some overlap, and basement renovation in between. While at it, we are getting on with the daily humdrum and also getting settled-in the new home ourselves. It’s been very hectic but it was my pleasure to open our home to family and friends.

Our office also finds a new home, which cuts my commute by half. Though I miss the airport view, it has now been replaced by the very inviting shopping hub, Heartland Town Centre. I could easily make a quick stop on my way home – grocery shopping, buying dinner or “just looking”. So, pray this danger zone doesn’t scream my name whenever I drive by it, or Sorry, Mr. Hotpot!

I still rise early each morning to make bento for my boys. They are now in the after-school program while I go back to full time hours. Although this has loosen some pressure at work, life took over on the home front. My blog has gone to backburner. I have not taken and shared as much photos as I had, but I have just as much special moments worth capturing, saving and sharing. On the flipside, I have lived and relished in those moments as they are taking place. Check out my Instagram, for snippets of my everyday life.

We took a raincheck on a big trip this year, but we’ve been out and about. We’ve been to Mountsberg Maple Towne for maple syrup making, StonehavenFarm for pumpkins and corn maze, Crystal Beach, High Park and Niagara-on-the-Lake with our guests, Burlington Waterfront with my family, the Shrine Circus, Toronto Centre Island with friends, and Riverwood Conservancy for hike, among others. I have taken Sashimi on his favourite train and subway rides in Toronto to a Jays game, Sugar Beach, ROM, and the new Ripley’s Aquarium. Sushi had a different birthday experience at the Raptors Game with his BFF. Meanwhile, Sashimi's favourite outing was the plane-ride to New Jersey. A nice 5-day break for me from the daily mundane to go eating and shopping with my sisters.

Back home, Dad is battling stage 4 cancer and has gone through 6 rounds of chemotherapy. While this is to us terrifying and depressing, Dad is in good spirits. Thanks to family and friends who are keeping him company regularly. It is a good way of celebrating his life while he is still with us. I am so grateful that he was able to visit me this year with Mom and my brother. And I am going to see him in February in the new year.

This year marks our 10 years in Canada. I am on the same job for 6 years. Sushi turned 9, Sashimi turned 5, and I, another year older. In the winter I tried ice-skating for the very first time. Fearless like I was 5. And in the summer I was biking, with the determination of a 9 year old. One is never too old. And it’s never too late.

I shall carry this on into the new year and there will be no deterent to try to new things. Be bold. Dream big. Believe I can. Do something out of the ordinary. Go places I've never been. Take a different route to work. To the mall. Or to the gas station. Enjoy the drive. The everyday commute. Because it is every day.

I will make new friends. Be something to someone. Build extraordinary relationships. Love unconditionally. Say thank you to the office cleaning lady. Or to the bus driver. Hug my parents. And my kids. Every day. Live everyday like there’s no tomorrow. Because life is short. And unpredictable.

I will not sweat the small stuff. Rather, pick my battles. Take it easy. Appreciate the little things. Look at the sky. Wait for the rainbow. Marvel at the trees. Stop and smell the roses. Value the ever day ordinary.

“Write it in your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Wishing you a good Every Day in 2014!
From the Hotpot Family

What Santa Gives

2013-12-14T16:21:00.001-05:00

The boys often ask me if Santa is real. I tell them Santa is real and anybody can be a Santa. While the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Christ, it is also a celebration of love in giving to others. Giving. Not so much receiving. And what comes with the material things that are given - no matter small or big - is the intangible gift of happiness.

Why I Watch the AMA

2013-12-09T20:15:00.002-05:00

Drumming never looked this cool. Demons & Radioactive by Imagine Dragons

New songs ~~to discover~~ I now have on repeat. Story of My Life by One Direction

Dance Moves. Timber by Pitbull & Kesha

Visual Effects. Unconditionally by Katy Perry

And so I can PVR, and watch it over and over.

Dear Sushi,

2013-11-11T17:09:00.000-05:00

You are turning 9 this month, but most times when I look at you, I still see that little baby that you once were. I still remember your first solids, first laugh, first swim, first steps… all your firsts. I never seemed to have missed any of it.

I was worried when you started talking late, but today you just wouldn’t stop. You can talk about anything from baseball statistics to U.S. Presidents, topics that bore kids. That’s why you love being with grown-ups who know what you’re talking about,

Even if it’s the first time you met them,

And even if you’re the only kid at the table.

You will read anything (that also bores me) - Time magazine and such.

You will read anywhere as long as there’s light - at a concert.

I was afraid you’ll be a nerd (like me), but not after I saw you shoot hoops,

And pitched a baseball at 32mph.

My favourite moments with you are when you are being silly with me,

Chatting in our hikes,

Sharing our birthday ice cream,

Sitting at the back row of the car, even if we both feel carsick, guessing if Roar or Royals made it to the Top20.

You thank me if I make sacrifices, and so you would always give me the best part, or the last piece, of anything. This is up on our wall at home because of you.

Your kind words surprise me, and your hugs for no reason. Oh, the privileges of being your Mom.

It makes me proud when I see you hold the door for the kids in your school. I trust that you will take care of Shoti with the same kindness.

Please don’t ever stop wanting to learn.

Keep on being helpful.

Go on with your reading - whether to a crowd

Or alone, and even until you wear glasses.

Don't be too serious.

Keep playing and enjoy being a kid!

I love you to pieces... to infinity... and beyond....

XOXO, Mom

“The most terrifying day of your life is the day the first one is born…. Your life, as you know it... is gone, never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life.”
- Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola

Happy Halloween!

2013-11-01T11:17:00.000-04:00

Since we have more family now here to celebrate Halloween with. I hosted a Halloween party. We have also opened our door to trick-or-treaters. This is our first in our new home.

Roar!

It's Hang Time!

2013-09-30T11:41:00.000-04:00

Sashimi is so into superheroes this year. So for his birthday, we invited his school friends over and a special guest.

I got these balloons from the Dollar Store for $2 each.

I like how these balloons stand on its own. Instant party décor and went with the loot for the kids.

I didn't go big on decorations. The paper plates and cups dressed up the table so easily. I only put out black and red fruits, gummies and chocolates.

Kids are hard to trick these days. They knew right away it isn't the real Spiderman.

Sashimi gets his Spidey cake as well.

Sushi is nowhere near the party. He thinks this is a children's party. What are you, Sushi?

I'll do anything for you, including get Spiderman to be in your party.

Happy Birthday, my little web slinger! Love you lots!

Dear Sashi,

2013-09-15T14:31:00.000-04:00

This summer I had the privilege and pleasure of several days-out with you. Much like me, you have always loved to ride the train, subway, bus, and streetcar. I was able to fulfill your wishes with the help of my eager co-worker - thanks P! It was a joy ride.

You were so easy. You sat through 8 innings of baseball with Mom. I thought you wouldn’t even make it pass the 1^st.

You could spend hours entertaining yourself - with mist,

Or with sand.

That’s why I didn’t mind giving up this daybed for your play area.

You are so full of energy. You could climb this huge rock endlessly.

And do an imitation with your toys.

You would try anything and do every thing - from hammering

to batting.

You're afraid of nothing - deep water,

Even the police officer.

And most recently, you biked with Mom farther than you ever had, longer than I would expect from you. You never gave up. You blew me away.

These moments are my best with you, doing anything or nothing at all.

Love every minute of it. Please don't grow up too fast.

Happy birthday, Sashi! High 5!

XOXO,
Mom

Back to School

2013-09-02T18:56:00.000-04:00

My dear babies,

Each year around this time I get butterflies in my stomach. Another school year begins for you. I would constantly remind myself that I’m not the one heading back to school. It’s you, my two mini-me’s. You are very much an extension of myself, and so I can’t help it. It’s challenging for Mom to release you each new school year, but I am confident that you will thrive well – socially and academically. Enjoy school. If you should come home with ripped pants and worn-out shoes from having way too much fun, that’s okay. In fact, that will make me very happy.

XOXO,
Mom

P.S. Daddy said good luck to me. I asked, what for. He said he knows who's going to cry on the first day of school and it's neither of you. Dang!

What I've Been Up To

2013-09-01T18:02:00.002-04:00

When I was fresh out of high school, I remember telling my Dad that I wanted to learn how to drive. He told me to learn how to bike first. He bought me a bike and I learned how to bike so easily. Biking seemed to be only a prerequisite to driving, so after my driving lessons I got a car and my bike never saw the light of day again.

Fast forward to present, I wanted to bike again. I didn’t have a bike so I would only use my sister's when we visit. It’s true they say, once you learn how to ride a bike you will never forget how to. I decided to get my own bicycle.

I came across Mom vs the Boys, who made a review of the Everyday Traveller bike. By this, the good reviews on Canadian Tire, and my lack of bike knowledge, I was effortlessly swayed. Five CT stores later, a thunderstorm and a pushy Mr. Hotpot, the baby's home.

Since then I’ve been biking after dinner most evenings whenever I could. As long as there’s no restraint in weather, with our routine, and with my boys, I’m out! With my bare bike, I'd ride with just my iTouch, my dependable ride companion. My playlist keeps me going. I would only make occasional stops for quick rest, snap photos. Nothing special, just to mark how far I’ve gone with biking, literally and otherwise.

I would meet this old couple on my bike rides, holding hands while strolling. I don't know them. But I love them already. It's the unexpected and these little things that make me look forward to my next rides.

We Live On Borrowed Time

2013-08-27T19:32:00.002-04:00

You know time is not on your side when...

... The good summer days are over. There was no grand vacation this summer. But most weekends were fun and special.

... We said another goodbye to the daycare. Our nth. We shall be back again - Spring & Summer Break. My office is moving, a stonethrow away, this Fall. I can smell convenience!

... Kids start another school year. Sashimi goes to SK, while Sushi will be Grade 4. And I’m back to early-rising for my bento-making.

... The workweek just started and it's almost the weekend again.

... You want to bike, but it’s already dark out (and raining).

... It’s getting dark inside as well. You realize it's been a while since you had to turn on the lights for supper.

... You get panic attacks with planning your kids’ birthdays when their birthdays are yet a month away, and 3.

...You think of Halloween costumes… and start writing your Christmas list.

... Dad’s battling cancer. And you can’t be home.

Free Smiles

2013-08-27T19:30:00.003-04:00

"Because when you give a smile, lives are changed. And so is the world, one smile at a time."

Do you believe in the power of smiles to transform the world? We do. Coca-Cola sent our people all over the world, from Jamaica to the United Kingdom to Pakistan and more, to simply smile at strangers -- to see who would smile back. As we passed others on the street, on the bus or in the park, we gave a smile, held up smiley face posters or did a silly dance with a grin on our faces, all to prompt a little friendliness in the mundane. When someone smiled back, they received a free Coke or some other fun prize: everything from sunglasses to hats to bicycles. Because when you give a smile, lives are changed. And so is the world, one smile at a time.

Produced and crowd-sourced in association with Victors & Spoils (http://www.victorsandspoils.com) and MOFILM (http://www.mofilm.com). Musicians: Ben Thomas and Max Truphet

What Hidden Cameras Capture

2013-07-31T17:37:00.002-04:00

Everyday acts of kindness and bravery. Coca-Cola makes the most inspiring videos.

Spell Your Cheese

2013-06-20T15:56:00.002-04:00

I have been away from the blogosphere for a while. Life took over. I am still making bento for the kids each morning. I can't wait for summer break. Although the bento-fixing doesn't stop there, it's going to be easier as Sashimi's summer camp will be in his previous daycare. Meals included. Yey!

My brother recently got me alphabet cutters to accesorize the kids' bento. Perfect for shaping the cheese. If lost, please return to...

Picture was taken for instagram. Follow me @mrshotpot

20 Things Every Parent Should Hear

2013-05-22T17:31:00.005-04:00

1. You are a hero for your kids. You are. You're a go-the-distance, fight-the-dragon, face-the-challenges hero for your kids. Taking a beating makes that more true. Not less.

2. We all struggle. Every parent. Everywhere. We all second-guess ourselves. And we all want to quit sometimes. Hold the good times close, and when things are tough, remember, "this, too, shall pass."

3. Finding the funny may not save your soul, but it will save your sanity. Or maybe it's the other way around. Either way, look for the humor and embrace the crazy. Laughter is a lifeline.

4. Every day, you will feel like you have mishandled something. Like you've been impatient. Like you've misjudged. Like you've been too harsh. Like you've been too lenient. You may be right. Apologize if you need to and then, whatever. Seriously. Just whatever. Let it go.

5. The crazy, the crying, the cuddles. The screaming, the sacred, the scared. The minutes, the magic, the mess. It's all part of it. And it's all worth it.

6. Family is the best. Even when it's not perfect. And it's never perfect. Ever.

7. At the end of organization, at the end of patience, at the end of perfection, we die to ourselves. And then love rises from the ashes. It sucks. And then it gets better. And then it sucks again. Still, love rises.

8. You will never regret parenting. Except for the teeny, tiny tons of times when you secretly wonder if you maybe regret it just a little. But, overall, never. And overall is what counts in the end.

9. Parenting is like climbing the big mountain. Look for the base camp. That's where you rest, meet other climbers, take in oxygen and acclimatize. Base camp is what makes summiting possible.

10. You are not alone in this strange, vast, parenting ocean. Even in the dark of night. You are not alone. You're not.

11. Kids know the way to magical and they'll give you a free pass to come along. Breathe in the magic as long as you can, because that same kid is going to poop his pants in just a minute.

12. There's a very fine line between enjoying the chaos and barely surviving. Actually, there's no line at all. It's all mixed up together. That "fine line" thing is a lie.

13. If you pay attention, kids will teach you how to laugh loudly, how to love deeply and how to live fully. They will also ruin all your stuff.

14. Any number of kids is a lot of kids.

15. Look for joy. You'll find it in the middle of the busy. Or under the ridiculous. Or hanging from the overwhelmed in its underpants. Joy's like that. It's in the middle of everything. It's completely unpredictable. And it will surprise you when you're not expecting it. Like vomit and diarrhea, except good.

16. You will fall apart and do it all wrong. Forgive yourself. Ask your kids to forgive you. Set an example of resilient fallibility. Set an example of practicing the art of love -- both loving yourself and loving others. No one does this parenting gig right the first time. Or the last time. Or the times in between. Showing your kids how to keep going after getting it wrong is a wonderful gift to give them.

17. Kids are difficult, gross, confusing and awesome. So are you.

18. Parenting will bring you face-to-face with yourself. It may be terrifying. It may break you. But it will also rebuild you, and you will be stronger than you ever thought possible.

19. Balance is a myth. Parenting isn't a tight-rope walk; it's a dance. Strive for rhythm instead of balance, and trust yourself to move to the ever-changing beat.

20. Yes, you will have days where you wonder where the hell the capable and organized you went. Yes, you will sit on the floor of the main aisle at Target by the check-out area with a child who is thrashing, screaming and calling you names. Yes, you will have to tell your child that the dog is not a napkin and to put down the urinal cake. If you do not do all those things literally, then you will do them figuratively. And yes, you will also hold that child and rock back and forth and tell him you love him and tell him he's safe and tell him you're not leaving even though he will someday leave you. This is parenting. It is tragic and triumphant. Messy and magical. Sacred and spectacular. And it is, always, fiercely worthwhile.

source

Houseguests

2013-05-11T09:44:00.001-04:00

For the last three months, our house has had a revolving door of guests, weekend after weekend, different family members visiting month after month. Which should explain why I am not up to date with my blog roll, as well as updating my own.

I have had the most wonderful 10 days when my parents and brother visited. My Dad just had a procedure done last year that almost did not make their recent trip possible. And so I am relieved when he was pronounced fit to travel. My brother has documented the itinerary in his blog.

It was a constant whirlwind of activities. I had to juggle more balls this time with my same 2 hands. I had to make sure my guests are comfortable at home and are driven to places I had wanted to take them. At the same time, the daily humdrum continues – bento-making, work, kids' activities, grocery runs and domestic duties. It was crazy chaos, but I had the best memories to reminisce now after it was all over.

With my parents outside our home.

Took my brother to see the beauty of !ndigo bookstore.

We had the most awesome brunch at Spencer's at the Waterfront (Burlington).

My brother and sister together with my parents strolled downtown Toronto, on days I had to go to work.

Mom was amazed at the selection we have of Filipino dishes and delicassy.

Had my cousins over for lunch and non-stop chit-chat. Reminds us of the good old days we gather in our parent's house.

My brother jumps on the trampline in my cousin's house.

My niece had her First Communion. It's so nice that my parents and brother got to be part of it.

Typical of our meals. Lots. of. Food.

My family tried Portuguese cuisine and really enjoyed the experience. I have wrote about Bairrada Churrasquiera here.

I personally enjoyed strolling in the mall with my parents, like we did when were still back home.

Before I sent them to the airport, we stopped by sister's office to say goodbye. We purposely took picture with the office sign for our namesake - 雷. This is where we started crying bucket of tears.

It has been my honour and privilege to have welcome and immersed my family into the life we now have here. I had the most wonderful time with them, precious moments I will always look back to with fond memories. I love you guys and I will miss you always.

Happy Mothers' Day!

2013-05-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

Motherhood. A child's perspective.

To My Boys

2013-04-20T16:03:00.001-04:00

Love each other unconditionally. Now and always.

2012 Sports Kids Of the Year: Conner and Cayden Long

What if someone you loved couldn’t play sports? He or she couldn’t feel what it’s like to catch a pop fly, see a shot hit the back of a soccer net, or cross a finish line.

Conner Long is nine years old. His little brother Cayden is seven. But Cayden can’t do a lot of things his big brother can do. At four months old, Cayden was diagnosed with a condition called hypertonic cerebral palsy, which leaves him unable to walk or talk on his own. Playing sports is a great way for brothers to bond, but it seemed to be out of the question for the Longs — until Conner had an idea.

A year and a half ago, he and Cayden started participating in triathlons together. Conner swims while pulling Cayden in a raft, bikes with his little brother towed behind him in a trailer, and pushes that trailer when they run. Over the past 18 months, the pair from White House, Tennessee, traveled up and down the East coast to compete in races. Seeing the brothers working together has inspired onlookers, while bringing Conner and Cayden closer than ever. Their amazing determination and spirit is why the Long brothers are the 2012 Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids of the Year.

[2012 SportsKid Of the Year Finalists]

A Simple Plan
It was spring of 2011, and Conner’s and Cayden’s mom, Jenny, was flipping through an issue of Sumner Parent magazine. As Conner looked over his mom’s shoulder, an advertisement caught his eye. It was for an event for kids that included swimming, biking, and running: the Nashville Kids Triathlon. Conner asked his mom if he could try it. Then he asked if Cayden could do it too. “You never want to tell your kid no,” Jenny remembers, “but . . .”

[Photos from the Sportsman Awards Gala]

Conner insisted, and the Longs decided they would find a way to get it done. They talked to race organizers, and they reached out to Mandy Gildersleeve, a youth triathlon coach from Florida, who helped them get the necessary equipment for the race.

That first race together, in June 2011, started with 100 yards of swimming. (The swimming leg was Cayden’s favorite, as he laughed and smiled the whole way.) Gildersleeve carried Cayden out of the raft and to the trailer for the hilly three-mile biking leg of the race. In this race, Conner would bike alone while Gildersleeve rode alongside him with Cayden hitched to her bike. Conner didn’t like that arrangement one bit. The whole ride he kept telling Gildersleeve to let Cayden ride with him. Finally, after they cleared one last large hill, Cayden’s trailer was hitched to Conner’s bike. “And he just took off,” Gildersleeve remembers.

Then came the half-mile run, and after a total of 43 minutes and 10 seconds, the Long brothers crossed the finish line, with Cayden smiling in his trailer and Conner triumphantly pumping his fists in the air. “That was my favorite moment,” says Conner. “Because I knew we could finish that race.”

Unstoppable
Since then, Conner and Cayden have competed in a total of 14 races, from triathlons to fun runs. When they go to races now, they are celebrities. People approach them for pictures, or simply stop to tell them how inspiring they are. Their Facebook page is filled with encouraging messages from strangers, some of them parents of special needs kids.

Many see Conner as a hero, but he doesn’t quite understand the hype. For him, these races are just a chance for him and his little brother to have some fun. “When we went out for the first race this season,” Conner says, “Cayden [had a look on his face] like ‘I’m so happy to be back out here, I can’t believe we had to wait this long!’”

And Cayden definitely has fun. He smiles and giggles throughout races. He’s even become a bit of a prankster. “We were warming up for a race once, and Cayden was really interested in this bright-colored van across the street,” says Gildersleeve. “He started to wheel himself towards it, so I said ‘Cayden, please stop.’ Instead he just started going faster. I thought I was going to have a heart attack! Right before he got to the curb, he stopped his chair. He turned around and looked at me with this huge smile and started laughing. He knew exactly what he was doing.”

Even if they don’t realize it, the Long brothers are an inspiration to others. Many people would have looked at Cayden and assumed he’d never be able to compete in a race. So when the Long brothers finish a triathlon, it’s a reminder that kids with special needs can participate in many of the same activities that other kids do everyday.

As for the future, the Long brothers have no plans to stop racing. The Long family is trying to start a non-profit organization to inspire more people, help the Longs travel to races, and, as Cayden gets bigger and heavier, upgrade their equipment.

Conner’s ultimate goal is to one day race with Cayden in Kona, Hawaii, at the Ironman World Championships. Kona is where the best in the world compete. It’s a grueling race, a 2.4-mile open water swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and finally a 26.2-mile marathon run. No one has ever finished the course in less than eight hours.

By the time they’re old enough to compete at Kona, Cayden would be a grown man. Is it even possible? Of course. It will take years of hard work and sacrifice. But the Long Brothers each have one good reason to work towards that dream: each other.

[source]

Operation Pantry

2013-04-02T17:09:00.000-04:00

Organizing my kitchen cabinets can be a daunting task. But there's a clause in my Operation Pantry that says, I am allowed to tackle this one shelf at a time. Over the kids' spring break, I took a few days off and I tackled two shelves.

The first shelf (top) houses majority of my baking ingredients, like whole flour, sugar, sprinkles, cupcake liners, choco chips, baking powder, ground cinammon and vanilla extract. I put the extra stocks right behind so everything is in one place.

The lower shelf is taken up mostly by my cooking spices. I have saved the empty jars of babyfood from my kids' wee years knowing that I'll put them to good use someday. They are now home to my spices - basil, thyme, curry, cumin, oregano, cayenne, bay leaves, 5-spice, plum powder, and Italian seasoning. On the lazy susan, I have my soysauce, vinegar, toothpicks, salt & pepper and sesame seeds.

Yes, I have a Hello Kitty obsession in the past. I collected the HK Strawberry edition of mostly kitchen and bathroom supplies. It was crazy, but I have made sure they get used now.

Lunch Bots

2013-04-02T16:47:00.000-04:00

Everyday after work, I would come home to a sink full of dishes to wash from breakfast. Add to that the kids' bento boxes, and mine. I use a lot of silicone muffin cups as dividers for the kids' bento. I wrote about it here.

I'd be washing a lot of items just from our lunches. When I came across Lunch Bots, I know those days would soon be over. I ordered these babies online and soon after they were in the mail =]

These boxes are sectioned. Muffins cups no longer needed. Best of all the stainless steel material makes them dishwasher safe.

See what I mean?

Bacon, grilled veggies & cantalope slices.

Curry beef bun (halved), Goldfish crackers with craisins, grape tomatoes.
The third section can house the spoon/fork separately.

Maple Time

2013-03-31T10:59:00.000-04:00

It's maple time at Mountsberg Maple Towne.

It takes 40 litres of maple sap to make one delicious litre of maple syrup

Sushi reviews the history

Maple candy tastin

Sampling the maple syrup with hot pancakes at the Pancake House

Mountsberg Conservation Area

2259 Millburough Line, Campbellville, Milton

Mountsberg Raptor Centre, Birds of Prey show

At the Barnyard

Playbarn

Easter Egg Hunt

Juggling Jobs

2013-03-25T17:29:00.001-04:00

It’s been exactly 2 years since I was on part time schedule. Full time job squeezed into 5 hours has never been easy. But so far the work-life-balance is working out pretty well on the home front. I have more time to spend with the kids and still keep my job. What's not to love!

Except for standing outside on friggin’ cold weather, I look forward to picking up the boys from school. This is the part where thoughts about work should dissipate. It’s a privilege to be with the boys on their afternoon snacks, homework, and other things.

Motherhood is a tough job by itself. Who would have thought that both jobs would coexist in my world? Not me. Two years doing this. It's been a great ride.

Spring Forward

2013-03-09T08:54:00.001-05:00

I have a new exercise with the kids. Every meal we will talk about "what we are grateful for today." Although there are topics aplenty during meals that this has often gone to the backburner, we would still have bedtime to do this. I find that if we count our blessings, big and small, the small things make a big difference.

This Sunday we start Daylight Saving Time. Although we are losing 1 hour of sleep (TV time for some), I am grateful for the bright mornings I will now wake up to. No more early morning darkness.

But first, Spring Forward means Spring Break. I am on week-long bento break. Weeee!

Cheese sandwich, grape tomatoes, fish balls, strawberry roll, carrots, blueberry muffin within the hotdog ring