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splashing sunday!

2012-08-19T21:48:00.003+08:00

Created with cinemagr.am

weekending

2012-08-17T15:20:00.001+08:00

a few snaps from last weekend.

donned in red and white to celebrate singapore's 47th birthday.

marilah kita bersatu...she's still singing this till now :p

we hardly watch any tv but we make exceptions for special events like the olympics. i guess we watched way too many diving events, huh?

3 months to 3. already?! hold me.

here's looking forward to another long weekend.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all those who celebrate!

zucchini and carrot meatballs

2012-08-07T02:18:00.000+08:00

picky eating toddlers never gets old. i'm at my wits end trying to get veggies into my toddler girl's diet ever since she declared that veggies are "not so yummy anymore."
she would occasionally eat broccoli and cauliflower. but that's it.
she's also developed quite a discriminating palate. however much i hide veggies in her food, she would still know! sigh...
my sister suggested i use zucchini since it doesn't lend much flavour.
here's what i came up with.

Zucchini and Carrot Meatballs

ingredients:
(adapted from this recipe)

1/2 kg minced pork
1 egg
6 pcs jacob cream crackers
3 tablespoons milk
1 carrot grated
salt and pepper, to taste
1 medium zucchini, grated

1. mix all ingredients, except zucchini, in a bowl. set aside.
2. grate zucchini. put in a colander. press or put weight on top to help drain as much liquid as possible.
3. mix zucchini with rest of the mixture. mix well using your hands.
4. roll into balls.
5. deep fry in vegetable oil (since my oven's still not working) or
6. bake - place meat balls on a sprayed baking sheet and bake at 350 degree for 15 minutes
7. enjoy!

the photos don't look much. but these meatballs had a really nice aroma, texture and flavour to it. an unexpected combination. my girl couldn't stop smelling them. of course, she ate more than a couple too!

linking up with a juggling mom for motivational mondays.

wholemeal cinnamon pancakes

2012-07-26T19:36:00.002+08:00

pancakes are a breakfast staple around here but i had never thought of doing one from scratch. i've always relied on good ol betty crocker premade mixes. taking my cue from green living's detox workshops by militza and del, i decided to incorporate healthier food options into what was once a processed sugar-laden staple.

ingredients:
(makes 4-5 pancakes)

3/4 cup stoneground wholemeal flour
1 tbsp. brown sugar
11/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup milk

mix dry ingredients in a bowl. make a well and add eggs and milk. whisk till smooth.
preheat griddle in medium heat. grease with spray oil or butter. add 1/3 cup of batter to the pan for each pancake. cook for 2 minutes before flipping. you should see large bubbles forming on top of the uncooked side. flip & cook for another 1-2 minutes. serve with your favourite fruit topping and maple syrup.

now go and enjoy homemade pancake goodness!

p.s. you may also use half white flour + half wholemeal flour, if you're not too keen on going all out wholemeal.

a snap

2012-07-25T12:44:00.000+08:00

bonding over books

monday.

2012-06-25T08:00:00.000+08:00

it's back to school monday for local singapore schools today.
and the first day of nursery one for the toddler girl in the house.
no biggie really...not!

we're excited for her to meet new friends, learn social skills and
to just enjoy being away from mummy a few hours a day. i hope she enjoys the experience!

salted caramel popcorn

2012-06-15T16:13:00.000+08:00

i came across this popcorn recipe by liz of say yes to hoboken a few days back.

i had most of the ingredients for the salted caramel one in my pantry so, i tried making it

with a few modifications.

ingredients:

raw popcorn, preferably organic

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 stick butter

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

*original recipe called for corn syrup + 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

directions:

1. make 1 batch of stove top pop corn. here's a great method to make sure that all kernels are popped!

2. melt butter in a small pot.

3. add brown sugar and maple syrup. stir until mixed then let sit for a couple of minutes.

4. remove from heat. add salt and baking soda (+ vanilla extract, if desired).

5. let cool for a few minutes then pour mixture over the popcorn. mix.

6. (i skipped the baking part since my oven isn't working) —>

spread popcorn onto baking sheet & bake for 30 mins at 275 degrees. flip occasionally.

let cool on waxed paper.

the proof of the pudding...er... popping!

be still

2012-06-10T16:31:00.002+08:00

...and know that I am God

Psalm 46:10

kani wrap & roll

2012-05-29T00:18:00.001+08:00

One lazy and stuffy sunday morn, the hubs was looking for something "different" to eat.
Luckily I remembered bookmarking this recipe from Mom Friday!

Here goes my simplified version.

Ingredients:
+ Wholemeal wrap (not in photo).

Spread Japanese Mayo on the wrap. Arrange filling on top.

Wrap and Roll! Cut and serve with Wasabi.

Toddler approved!

no cook play dough

2012-05-28T14:48:00.000+08:00

School holidays are here!
Well, in Singapore at least.
Here's an easy peasy, no cook, all natural, playdough recipe to keep the kids entertained.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup water

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons vinegar

Mix ingredients in a bowl.
Knead, roll, mold, create.
Add flour or water as needed to get desired consistency.
Voila! You now have an all natural play dough!
Add colouring (various kool aid flavours, beetroot powder, cocoa powder) if desired.

Looking for more playdough recipes?
Check out Militza's all natural playdough recipe and Natural Parenting's Playdough Ideas here.

A Chorus Line

2012-05-15T15:58:00.000+08:00

"Empty theatre. Bare stage. Seventeen dancers. Eight spots. One dream."

One of the longest running musicals in broadway, A Chorus Line portrays the hardships that dancers go through in their quest for a role. The audition is their chance of a lifetime. To fulfill their lifelong dreams of performing, of becoming a dancer. Though the script was originally written in 1975, the theme is still very much applicable to current times. For stories of aspirations and pursuit of dreams against all odds never get old. The perfect combination of raw emotion and stunning choreography will surely captivate dance enthusiasts. A Chorus Line is also guaranteed to resonate well with someone who has cherished dreams of performing — like moi. Don't miss the chance to watch!

Performance Schedule:
May 4 - 27, 2012
Marina Bay Sands Theater
Showtime: Tue to Fri - 7:30pm
Sat & Sun - 1:30pm & 7:30pm
Duration: 2 hours and 5 minutes (No Intermission)

weekend bits

2012-05-09T19:00:00.000+08:00

this weekend included //

+ laid back saturdate with the hubs

+ watching A Chorus Line which moved me to tears and evoked memories of performing

+ trip to a mall playground where the toddler girl conquered slides, stairs and tunnels with ease. i'm still amazed at how agile and lithe she's become

+ trying on toys at the toystore and resisting the urge to buy

behind the snaps //
- toddler girl with stomach upset and a bout of vomitting. it spontaneously resolved, whew.
- minor pushing incident at the playground. so proud of my girl when she stood up to the kid and said "no push"

positive more than negative? i'll take it.

an hour before bedtime.

2012-05-07T17:06:00.000+08:00

It's been getting harder and harder to get toddler girl to sleep. The hours leading to naps and bedtimes are becoming a constant struggle. She used to fall asleep at 8 pm. Nine at the latest. There are times now that she sleeps at 10-10:30 pm! I don't know what happened. I think I need to tire her more. Or not.

Anyway, this is what usually ensues an hour or so before bedtime.

1. Snuggles and stories with daddy.

2. Pretending to sleep and asking me to take peekchur.

3. I remind her that it's a few more minutes till lights off. She rolls to the other end of her crib. Still pretending to sleep.
4. Big lights switched off, lamp on. They move to the corner to read a book, tell stories, make shadows.
5. Time for milk. She declares, "only daddy hold milk, not mummy."
6. Few minutes before total lights off. Here she is imploring not to switch off the lamp.

7. All lights off save for a small night lamp. She would whine, "I cannot see anything mummy."
8. I distract her with a short story. Then we kneel and pray. Thank you Papa Jesus for the food and the toys, for mummy and daddy and for EVERYTHING!"
9. She asks me to sing her favourite lullaby. Sing Alleluia to the Lord. Twinkle twinkle little star. When I'd hum, she'll say, "No hmmmm mummy, no soft, just sing!"
10. She climbs to our bed. "I want to sleep with you mummy." And I let her... I'm a sleep softie and we still co-sleep, her crib next to our bed.

Do you have a sleep tip for me? Please share =)

Linking up with Stasha and Stacey

port of lost wonder

2012-05-02T19:22:00.001+08:00

Over the long weekend, we paid a visit to the much talked about water park in Singapore today— the Port of Lost Wonder in Palawan Beach, Sentosa.
Our day started damp and dark. Good thing Mr. Sun showed up by the time we reached the port. There weren't too many patrons around since it was a weekday. We even found a nice picnic spot. We had lunch at the port belly restaurant. Food was generally good. We had penne bolognaise, hotdog + mashed potato, cheese fries and bbq chicken wings. I liked the mashed potato that came with the hotdog best. After eating, father and daughter began their water adventure. Toddler girl thoroughly enjoyed splashing and sploshing on the big pirate ship! The water slides, wading pool, water sprays and bucket splashes were more than enough to quench the summer heat and keep the toddler girl's interest. We didn't join the other activities since they were more suitable for older kids. Besides, I probably couldn't drag toddler girl away from the water area even if I wanted to. The port was such a hit! And, all for a measly fee of S$6.80 ! Best part of all? While the water bunnies were frolicking and basking under the glorious sun, I was happily watching them from under the shade of trees. I may not be too fond of summers but I like summer days like this.

Read more fun accounts at the port here and here.
Linking with merry mondays #7

bubbles & dreams.

2012-05-02T10:18:00.000+08:00

forever blowing,
pretty delicate bubbles.
they fly so high,

some nearly reach the sky,

they fall to the ground,

disappear,

or fade into thin air,

chase them,

hope to catch them.

just like my dreams.

screen free

2012-04-28T15:42:00.002+08:00

run. climb. swing. twirl. rock. play.

we decided it was time to do some screen time moderation. we hardly watch any tv, so it's the ipad mostly. i was prepared for a scream-filled week. but she didn't seem to mind its absence. she had fun rediscovering other playthings. spent lots of time at the playground. pretend play was the mainstay. ipad-free for 5 days already. much easier than i thought.

out of sight. out of mind. whew.

update: incidentally, april 30 - may 6, 2012 is screen free week! are you joining? here are 101 screen-free activities should you decide to.

{this moment}

2012-04-28T14:42:00.000+08:00

a friday ritual. a single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment i want to pause, savor and remember.

+++

inspired by soule mama

storytime favourites

2012-04-25T01:14:00.001+08:00

in this day and age, digital media is fast becoming the norm. while reading on computers, tablets, and e-readers is convenient, it cannot replace the experience of reading the printed word. the smell of ink, the feel of leafing through pages, and the satisfaction of snapping a book close is truly an experience like no other. which is why, i am happy that my toddler girl LOVES books. the printed kind. even more so when we read them to her. after several "some mores", she would insist on "read by myself, mummy."she would then flip through the pages and linger at her favourite page or say her favourite line over and over again! it's very cute, really =)

inspired by stasha's listicle this week, i thought i'd share the 10 books that we currently have on rotation and some of her favourite lines from each book.

1. "small feet, big feet, here come pig feet" - the foot book by dr. seuss
2. "stop everybody! i know what i'll do. i'll just be myself, my whole self and not you."- who are you, sue snue? by dr. seuss

3. "to the tiger in the zoo, madeline just said, "pooh-pooh." -madeline by ludwig bemelmans
4. "off he swims to some far lake, feeling that his heart will break. crying great big tears, he glides; behind the reeds and sadly hides."-the ugly duckling
5. "chuckedy-chuckedy-chuck...out pop little yellow rubber ducks, one after the other,
one after the other." - 10 little rubber ducks by eric carle

6. percy the park keeper ABC by nick butterworth
7. "what's a library, daddy?" "what a lot of books!" - peppa goes to the library
8. "splish! splash! splosh! this is goldie the fish! - peppa's first pet
9. "there are many kinds of quiet, first one awake quiet, jelly side down quiet, don't scare the robin quiet..."the quiet book by deborah underwood
10. "oh dear, what a fuss? thanks so much for saving us."-little red riding hood

and you? what are some of your favourite books?
check out what others have on their reading lists here.

toddler tale

2012-04-23T08:19:00.000+08:00

Dear A,

You were already in your freshly laundered PJ's then you rummaged through your closet to look for a more suitable sleep outfit. You settled with this hello kitty tunic. I suggested that you wear leggings with it. You chose this floral skirt instead. Sure. Why not.

beach on my mind

2012-04-21T00:13:00.001+08:00

Summer is not my favourite season. I despise the sun. My hubby? He's the sun-seeking one. So during our short visit to the Philippines last March, he had to have his beach fix. Also, toddler girl hasn't been to an actual beach. So we went on a day trip to Eagle Point in Anilao, Batangas. Twas about an hour's drive from the hubby's hometown. Upon reaching, we had to be "shuttled" down to the resort area itself. The road was steep and winding. Toddler girl kept saying "it's so fast!" She was clinging to daddy for safety the whole time! When we got to the resort, we were a bit a disappointed as we saw rocks instead of fine sand. Largely our fault though because we didn't research properly. Despite that, the daddy and daughter pair enjoyed tremendously! The beach water was pristine and we had the place to ourselves. While the pair was busy collecting rocks and swimming in the pool, I was happily watching them under the shade.

outernet

2012-04-18T23:17:00.001+08:00

look out your windows. get out of your doors.

there's a whole world outside our computers.

via

best job

2012-04-18T17:53:00.001+08:00

Just had to share. Don't forget to bring out the tissue.

the real diaper journey.

2012-04-16T01:27:00.000+08:00

This post is written for the Real Diaper Week Carnival with the theme "Real Simple. Real Diapers." We aim to educate and advocate the use of cloth diapers in the Philippines. Please scroll below to read the other carnival posts about cloth diaper styles, how to's or must haves.

Why Cloth?

I'd never given cloth diapering a second thought until I took hiatus from full-time work. I started reading and learned really interesting things. Modern cloth diapers aren't anything like the "lampins" we grew up with. Now we have modern fabric that is soft, do not crack or keep odour, breathable, water-resistant and super absorbent! Polyurethane laminate fabrics hold up well in the washing machine and dryer too! Good quality cloths are gentle on baby's skin so no worries about getting the irksome diaper rash.

Did you know that having a child on disposable for 3 years means adding over six thousand more diapers to the landfill? And that it takes over 300 years before a disposable fully decomposes?

Oh, poor Mother Earth.

Of course the economical aspect of cloth appealed to me more. Building a stash of modern cloth diapers is an investment that will save you money in the long run. As an example: my stash of 15 pocket cloth diapers ~PHP 1,000 (S$30) each = PHP 15,000 (S$450), plus maybe a few extra inserts a pre-folds, hybrids. Mind you, this stash will last me till the end of my diapering days and I can keep them for my future children's use too! Disposable on the other hand (based on Singapore SRP), 6 pieces per day x S$0.30/diaper x 365 days = S$ 657/year (~22,000 PHP). Not to mention the costly nappy rash creams and anti-fungal creams that we've to use in case of a rash. Do the rest of the math and see how much savings you'll incur!

Which cloth?

There are a LOT of cloth diaper (CD) systems in the market. Deciding on what to get can become overwhelming. Before you start, I recommend you to do your own research and find out factors that are important to you. Cost and sizing are 2 main things to consider.

Among the diaper systems, I like one size pocket diapers best. You can pre-stuff them with inserts so that using it is just like using disposable. Plus you can customise the absorbance by adding more inserts for overnight use. Fuzzibunz and Next 9 one size pocket diapers are brands that I highly recommend. They are made so that the leg and waist elastic are adjustable to grow with your child. Both brands have snap closures which I prefer because they hold up better and do not attract fuzz and lint which can stick to other garments during washing. If you prefer velcro closures, I recommend Bum Genius. They have very generous sizing so it can last you till your child is potty-trained. Velcro is also easily overcome by tiny toddler hands so it doesn't get in the way of potty training. I also used stay-dry fleece liners to keep baby feeling dry and to minimise poo stains since poo doesn't stick to it. For the newborn, flats/pre-folds/inserts plus a diaper cover is probably best because of the frequency of nappy changes.

How many?

To be honest, the initial cost of CD is off-putting. Spending PHP 1,000 (S$30) for one seem like a lot when you know that you have to build a stash of say 20. The best advise I got was build as you go. I started with 3 pockets, 2 covers and 12 pre-folds. Later my stash grew to 15 pockets, 5 covers, 15+ hybrid inserts, 12 pre-folds. This is good for every other day washing. I got all of my CDs from online stores here in Singapore for 30-50% off their regular price. I scoured motherhood forums, online sales (Milagro Trading) for good deals. Then I discovered proudly Philippine made Next9baby CDs. Very affordable nappies (PHP 1000 /S$ 30 for 3 pieces!), with quality comparable to the leading imported brands such as Fuzzibunz & Bum Genius. What a steal! I wish I had discovered them earlier on. For pregnant mums, you can perhaps include CDs in your baby registry.

Make the switch. Go cloth.

After more than a year since I switched, I can now say that choosing cloth is one of the smartest decisions I've ever made as a mum. It takes major commitment to decide to make the switch. But once you do, I guarantee you it's all worth it.

3E's: Easy, Eco-friendly and Economical. That pretty much sums up my cloth diaper experience.

Happy Cloth Diapering! Read more cloth diaper chronicles below:

Buntis' Real Diapers
Claire's Matteo's Diaper Story
Misisagun's We Choose Cloth Diapers
MrsBry's Z Loves Next9
Jen's The CD Revolution
This Mom's Life's Transitiong to Cloth.
Ms.Masungit's Cloth Diapers? Where?
The Odyssey of Dinna's Nurturing Rafael
Chronicles of Nursing Mom's Going out of town with cloth diapers
The Common Mom's Surviving the holidays with cloth
Swept Away's What we love about cloth.
The Articulate Pen's Making the switch to cloth diapers.
Organized Junk's Out and about with cloth diapers.
Tickled Mom Abie's A Quick review of different systems.
Tickled Mom Clarice's Stuff you need for easier CD-ing.

titanic | not only in the movies.

2012-04-15T00:50:00.001+08:00

i saw this on twitter the other day (via). i can only shake my head in disbelief.

i'm aghast and disappointed that there are people out there who are ignorant of the real events behind the deadliest peaceful maritime disasters of all time.

today marks the 100th year since the ill-fated sinking of the rms titanic in the frigid waters of the atlantic ocean. to commemorate, an aritfacts show is ongoing at the singapore art and science museum (29/10/2012 − 29/4/2012). i would have passed up the chance to view the exhibit were it not for my good friend, who came over for a brief visit. thanks che che. now i consider myself lucky to have dured during my lifetime.

surreal and eerie. these feelings were instantly evoked the moment i stepped into the gallery. extensive recreations of the ship's grand staircase, the hull, the boiler room, the first and third class cabins, the promenade brought back visions of jack, rose and their clandestine affair from the movie adaptation. survivor accounts plus the authentic items recovered from the ship's wreckage - stamps, belts, articles of clothing, letters, perfumes, trunks, jewellery, scarves, bank notes, a toothpaste jar, among others - were haunting reminders that real people perished in the catastrophic sinking.

a life-sized ice wall in the iceberg gallery simulated the subzero temperatures that hastened the death of those who were left afloat. as a filipino, it was interesting for me to note that four-inch thick manila ropes were used to tie the ship's bollards (steel posts) to the pier. who knew that manila ropes existed over a century ago?

to me, the artifacts presented was one thing, putting a name and face behind those personal items was another. none of the passengers and crew were left nameless. we were each given boarding passes with real passenger names when we first came in. in the memorial gallery were listed the names of the 705 who lived to tell their stories and the 1,523 who perished. among the survivors was my passenger. elin matilda dolck from the the 3rd class cabin. elin was 24 year old from helsinki, travelling to pennsylvania with her husband, pekka, to flee the economic and political oppression of the russian occupation of finland. i wonder if pekka had survived too. i truly wished he did for that fateful day also marked their 3rd month of marriage.

there were more stories told, all equally poignant and sobering. but much is left for speculation.

a century and numerous expeditions thereafter, the mystery behind the titanic tragedy has been solved.

giant ship vs. iceberg. human vs. nature. a tragic reminder that mindlessness sinks us.

we know now how arrogant complacency, blind faith in technology, and a series of preventable errors claimed the lives of thousands.

may this kind of tragedy never befall human kind again.

easter bits.

2012-04-10T18:15:00.001+08:00

growing up, i wasn't exposed to western easter festivities like egg hunts, brunches, the easter bunny and the like. where i come from, holy week was a family affair. while other families would hie off to the beach, my mother made sure that my siblings and i stayed home and joined in the churches' lenten activities. at home, we would watch reruns of the 10 commandments, benhur and other bible stories on tape and whatever lenten specials were shown on tv. this was pre-cable and pre-internet, mind you. and then there were the superstitions that came with the season. my grandmother (bless her soul) forbid us from laughing and smiling on good friday! we were told to be extra careful not to get wounded as wounds were thought to heal longer than usual. meanwhile, easter celebration started at the break of dawn on easter sunday where we all eagerly awaited the salubong. kids were encouraged to join the choir of angels to serenade the reunion of jesus and mama mary. these are some of my fondest memories of childhood.

this year, we decided to start a tradition of easter brunch with my little family. we'd like for our daughter to have fond memories of this wonderful celebration of hope. so on sunday, we went to hear morning mass, ate a few easter chocolates at home, then off to brunch. i had planned to organize a mini easter egg hunt but the toddler hasn't fully recovered from her recent bout of flu, so pffft. next year. next year.

**
during the homily, the toddler girl wanted to lie on the pew and was louder than usual. i shushed her and told her to behave. the more i shushed, the more she protested and grew loud. "no mummy, i don't want to keep kwawet (quiet)." the hubs brought her out but she managed to let out an eardrum shattering "i-don't-want-to-go-out" scream before they were out the door. all eyes were on me. yes me, the mother who let her toddler misbehave at church. what a shame, i thought. there was nothing else to do but put my best poker face on. oh well.

**
thankfully, brunch at spruce turned everything around. as expected, the place was filled to the brim. we had made reservations so getting seated was not an issue. waiting time for food was longer than expected. but i tell you, the food was worth the wait. the hubs had their big brekkie (eggs, german sausage, roasted tomato, roasted potato, mushrooms and foccacia toast) with sparkling wine. i had their signature burger. it has got to be one of the best beef burgers here in sg. it had just the right amount of "beefiness."my SIL had banana pancakes with honeycomb butter and blueberry syrup. while we don't usually order a separate dish for the toddler girl, we made an exception and got her the mac n cheese side dish as it had good reviews. luckily she loved it and finished half the serving.

all in all, we had a restful and reflective easter weekend. hope yours was as well.