Personalisation to it's Finest

You know how I'm a tad free and not up to my usual routine? Well, I've been twiddling my thumbs and came up with this ingenius idea! Really!! Since I haven't got any of my scrapbooking stuff here, I thought I'd embrace another craft altogether- sewing. Well, it started off with that idea anyway- which then lead me into a craft shop - which meant me spending a lo-o-ong time in there - and then lead to this idea. (Amoungst others!)


I got sick of plain baby bodysuits. They're kind of generic unless you pay a hefty amount- and not like they're not good, just that they're plain, boring and same old looking. 

So err..I transferred a plain yellow bodysuit into this. I don't know why, but seeing H's surname on this tiny thing just cracked me up. I think it's his surname- but lets not go there. I nearly appliqued it onto the butt area, but if you've got any Chinese inheritance in you, you'd know that sound isn't quite acoustically pleasing especially when it comes to the rear end. 

Ok, not a super-genius idea- but atleast when my kid gets lost others can help me look for him/her?!?! Or I can start my baby league. Now I'm just wondering whether I should applique something on the butt. What do you think?

Blend @ Marmion Street

This blog has featured eats predominantly from Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. In Malaysia, I generally love the casual hawker style and authentic kopitiam foods that most probably haven't changed since the yesteryears. In Singapore, I look for a modern twist to Asian/Western foods and in Australia, I most probably love it's food diversity and alfresco culture.

I have a soft spot for eclectic cafes. They spell character and rid the typical franchises seen all over the world. So when my sister took me to Blend on a lazy Sunday morning, I quickly warmed to its atmosphere and array of people - I wasn't disappointed by its coffee and food either, that was equally pleasing.

Mocha, just right.

My breakfast- forgot it's name, but love the bacon + caramelized onion + spinach combo.

H's Scrambo Special.


I've been told they're famed for their all day dining and wood fired pizzas. I'll definitely do the pizza some day.

Blend

356 Marmion Street

Melville 6156

Perth Australia

Semi-Retired

I figured that's the word I'll use for now! 


Seriously, telling people I'm currently unemployed just doesn't strike my chord. It's like saying I'm a useless blob right now. Not fun. I also figured another term which sounds slighty better- Home Engineer, but then the bank asked for my company name and I went blank. Genius.


So after all the moving and technicalities, I've now got a.l.o.t. of spare time on my hands. I mean ..A.L.O.T. What do semi-retired people do? Ok, what do unemployed people do? I feel so lost and .. weird. It's like my life has gone haywire. 


Guess what I've filled my days with?

I started a puzzle. Went from nothing to this..

..then this in two days. It was my job. I felt so satisfied.

Oh... then I decided I missed my house and made my husband take random pictures of what it looks like now, checking if H was up to his manly duties. I think the lawn looks randomly green enough don't you? Oh H, you're the best!! On a separate note, H and I are currently planets apart. Boo. Unfortunately it will be like this for a while. 

And after all that, I do what really smart unemployed people go and do- spend more money and buy funny stuff. In my defense, it's for the bun. It's a necessity. 


Ahh... what next?

About time...

I haven't posted much have I? That's cos life has been a whirlwind of events. Things have happened so fast and thankfully, all is good. We've haven't quite striked the lottery but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for that one!

Between my last post and this one... I've moved from one country to another and err....how do a say this? ..I've got a bun in the oven. Well, technically I didn't get the bun in the last few weeks..just that I've been waiting for a better time to announce it here. And for the same reason, it's why I've been lacking in my food posts. Food has not been a great friend of mine- I've lost nearly all interest in it and sadly haven't cooked for 5-6 months. Even more frustrating is that I don't crave for any food and never know what to eat. My mind has gone blank and it's all on the hormones I tell you!

Although my waist has been expanding exponentially, sometimes despite all the raging signals- there is a little bun baking, it's still quite unbelievable. It's quite amazing actually- the first ultrasounds to the first flutters that feel like gas bubbles..I'm sure there's more to come.

So 'till then...

There's a bear in there..

I have a soft-spot for nicely packed lunch-boxes. They add a hop in my walk and and skip in my step. I go gaa-gaa over Japanese Bentos, so maybe that explains my fascination with cute lunch stuff.


As lovely of a wife I am, I packed H his snack box complete with a yellow bear.

..A yellow bear complete with a smile forked on a piece of sponge! I didn't care what his work mates said or whether it was too childish or girly for him. I just wanted to place the bear in the box. It's cute and that's that. So somebody stop me!


I'll continue to put unexpected objects into his lunch or snack boxes...atleast until one day I can go embarrass my kid. My kid will think he/she has the best mum in the world!!.. until they go into high-school and their mum still insists on doing so. 


Meanwhile, long live the bears!!

Drawings Updated

I have to admit, marriage hasn't changed my competitive streak. H and I make up bizarre games just to out-run one another - for the sake of it. Because we're bored, because we're childish, because we lack entertainment in our lives and in that sense, can still entertain ourselves.


Previously, we drew on napkins and any kind of paper we could get hold of. Now we've upgraded ourselves- that sounds kind of cool! We draw on our iPads on some blackboard application- we're very tech savvy like that.


I still say I'm better- just incase my clients read my blog. 


Round 1: Keys

I say his looks more like a key from the local locksmith and mine's from Tiffany- Hands down!


Round 2: Car

Mine's the Beetle version..and his is from the 1970's? See the cool app chalks? They're so good for freehand scribbling!


Round 3: Ragdoll

The one in pink is waaay cuter!?! Ps. that's drawn by me.


Round 4: Chair

Ok, so my pink chair looks like it needs some mending but its more designerish k?


Round 5: Pair of shoes

What? His isn't a pair?!?!...

Ok, so his shoes are nicer...but it it still isn't a pair..and writing x2 doesn't qualify. That's cheating.


I say I win. Shall we cast a vote?

When Cupid's Arrow goes Haywire..

Just three days ago I thought H was the sweetest man on earth! 


I accidentally found a box of heart shaped chocolates in his car to which I pretended I didn't see. I happily thought that 5 years down the road my man was still a romantic at heart. I pondered how he was going to surprise me and what sweet-nothings would he say. I smiled to myself, thinking of all possible romantic scenarios just for the sake of it. You know..it's what girls do. 


So guess what?!?...


Yesterday morning he took the box of nicely-wrapped-heart-shape chocolates out of the car...and it went a little like this:


" For you!!"


"Ooh..what is this for?"...


..........


With not much expression on his face, H said, "Oh nothing. A client gave it to me as a gift of thanks and if I don't take them out out of my car they're gonna melt."


=_=" Pffftttt.


So there I stood, speechless, dumbfounded and thinking I was the biggest idiot on planet earth. 


Just incase you'd like to know, the nicely-wrapped-heart-shape chocolates are now sitting on my kitchen bench and I have no intention of eating them.

Faux Jesters

Just the other day I willingly paid precisely $11.70 for a pie. Why? Because I felt like I needed to contribute to the economy and encourage foreign goods being imported to this tiny place. Yes, I was doing something major- well, that and the fact that I succumbed to the temptation of Australian pies. Don't ask.


But yesterday I didn't feel that I needed to support that import industry anymore. I also felt like I was ripped off (about time) and so I decided to make my own. 


Here's my equation:

-About a year ago my sister bought me a pie maker. Kinda like this one, but housing two pies at once rather than four. Obviously it never got out of the box, was stored in my pantry and only made its debut yesterday.


-A few months ago I bought puff pastry and it's been in my freezer ever since.


-I had middle bacon. Also in the fridge for a substantial amount of time.


-I had eggs..well, I always have eggs. I mean chicken eggs.


-I was reminiscing Jesters Pies.


So, I put everything together and tadaa!!... my version of Jester's Morning Glory. Mind you, it tasted exactly like it..just that I omitted the cheese. 

If you want a fast and easy faux Jesters Pie, all you need is (to make 2 pies):


Ready made puff pastry (I used Pampas), cut into 2x large, 2x small circle pie templates.
2 pieces of middle bacon, fried and cut into small pieces.
2 eggs


1. Heat up the pie maker as per instructions.
2. Place large circle puff pastry into the bottom mould.
3. Place bacon in each pie dish.
4. Pour one egg over each pie.
5. Place small circle puff pastry over the top.
6. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until pastry is cooked.


Voila. I felt like a genius. 

Chocoholic

Lets take a trip down memory lane- because I feel like a hot chocolate right about now- and because I can't get one- I'll just stare. You are welcome to stare with me. 

You can gaze into my hug mug, think of the hot yummy-ness. Then you can remind yourself that you need a manicure too.

You can drool over what use to be H's caramel-banana-chocolate-crepe thing..

Then you can salivate again over my overdosed chocolate goodness complete with cocoa everything..

Even having tiny-weeny crunchy chocolate balls for the heck of it...


Then we return back to work- and stop dreaming- but crave for chocolate for the rest of the day. 


Yes, you have a good day too. 


*If you have the pleasure of being near such choco-goodness, the photos were taken at Max Brenner.

5 Years On

This is my Humpy Dumpty cake. Aptly named by H because it has a ribbon around the middle much like how Humpty wears his pants to his stomach - more commonly known as Chilled Lemon Cheesecake. The one H always craves and asks for.

And you know what? It's so hard to keep surprises once you're married. I came straight out and told H not to open the fridge when he got home. So what does he do? He scavenges through the rubbish bin and figures out what I've been up to. His detective work told him that Philly cheese, Digestive biscuits and the sudden emergence of lemons in the house meant I made him a lemon cheesecake. ..I guess it really sums up how far we've come within five years of knowing one another. 

But look here. I mean, look beyond my chubby toes and gaze at the pampering tray. 

Look beyond the cute cucumber eye-pads rested on H's cheeks..- I'm sure he'd appreciate this photo...one day..

Drift into the sweetest dreams and ease away from reality.

Sip on fresh cold juice in balmy weather..and just enjoy each other's company.

Yes, I still get pampered and spoilt too- thats the perk. I love where we are now. I love how H and I can balance the realities of life amongst romance, where a simple hug can make the day so much more worthwhile. Awww..I wurve himmm wotsss..

So I made him this card [ a surprise I could keep!]. ..Complete with lots of hearts as if it was my first love letter..

And he in return treated me to this honeycomb choco craving I had..

..before we went to dinner at our very first date place. Where many years ago, we were both nervous and possibly looking for conversations..

..and in between you just might like to know, he cleaned the house, cleaned the porch and watered the plants. 

Told you we're balanced. -Happy 5th Anniversary hubs!

Let's Wrap

When I was young and dreamy, amongst all my weird ambitions, my ideal job was to be a gift wrapper. I'd wrap presents everyday and be in sheer delight when people received nicely wrapped gifts. Then I got older and realized I wouldn't make much money out of it, so I decided to be a architect- who still doesn't make much money but figured I wouldn't get as many raised eyebrows when people asked me what I did for a living.


So here I am, older, not necessarily wiser, but still hearting well wrapped gifts. And though I admit, there's been a handful of presents where I just chuck into a commercial bag before handing it to the receiver, I put just as much thought into it- just that I didn't have time to wrap it. -I promise.


This was a very belated birthday gift done up for Michelle. I remember her calling me from Sydney a few years ago, asking what are the basic tools she should get for scrapbooking/cardmaking. Today, I think she's got waaaay more things than me and has definitely made more things than I have! 

It's stressful giving something to a talented crafter. So this was just simple wrap and card set, playing on cute stamps and organic colours in line with her gift.


Ps. Today I want to own a scrapbook store, make my own cards. As you can see, I'm still not grasping the idea of earning truckloads of money.

You know what I've been craving?

My relationship with food was somewhat disturbed in the last few months. It annoyed me, but I couldn't help it. But now I think we're friends again..maybe even lovers once more.

You know what I have been craving? Dim Sum. D.i.m.s.u.m.!! It's hard to find good dim sum, or shall I say..there's no good dim sum around my place. I've previously been spoilt with dim sum made by Hong Kong and Guang Dong chefs. So much so, that the ones found here are just not suffice. 

I want my Wu kok. Yam puffs delicately crispy on the outside and filled with gravy insides.

I want my Dan tat. Egg tarts soft in the centers with puffy skins.

I want my Foong Jau. Braised chicken feet y'all!! Sounds grose but I assure you its good!

I want my Har gao. Fresh prawns please!

I want my Nai Wong Bau. Custard buns that ooze out.


And just incase you're wondering, the above photos were taken a few months ago in Taste Paradise, where the lighting ain't great but who cares when there's yummy food.


Gimme my food!!!


Taste Paradise (Ion Orchard)
#04-07 Ion Orchard
Singapore
Tel: 6509 9660

He's Three!

Remember my Two-Ernie nephew? The one that introduced me to blue and green trains? He turned 3 not too long ago and I still turn all gooey all over him. Especially now that he says 'Bai' to me on the phone and dances when I send him nudges on MSN. 


Doing what virtually all Chinese do some time or another..I gave him a 'red' packet. So it wasn't red and had nursery rhymes featuring Old Macdonald...but it served the purpose. 


I'm going nuts over baby scrap booking materials! They are just too cute. 

7am Calls

I've learnt that when you get early morning calls or late midnight calls, its usually not a good thing. It normally spells 'emergency' without even answering. 

So yesterday's 7am call was when a truck ransacked into my parents home. Literally. It knocked off a traffic light and crashed through the fence. Luckily no one was injured but guess who made headlines today in the local newspaper? 

My dad got some donated wood chips I suppose...

Ps. Life has been a whirlwind lately- but when I can, I promise I'll blog more. Meanwhile, please miss me. Thank you.

Colour Me In

Remember how I wrote a letter to Steve Jobs? Well, he obviously didn't do anything about it. How rude. He made matters worse by introducing the world to iPads. I would of written another letter to him, except I've also now got a Mr iPhone AND Mr iPad too. So that kind of makes me a hypocrite.


But let me explain. a) I didn't buy the iPhone myself, and b) I also didnt buy the iPad. Infact, without sounding like a arrogant brat, my husband forced me to open both objects when I had every intention of delaying it (seriously, I've got better things to do)!


So what does the colouring on top have to do with this whole Apple-takes-over-the-world thing? My husband coloured it..on his iPad with some weird colouring program. Ok, not that weird 'cos i tried it too and then my fingers went sore and I got sick of it. But I do admit at one point I was totally obsessed with Plants vs Zombies.

Don't ask me why. The plants have to shoot the zombies before they eat your brains. Yes, it really makes sense. There's even corn throwers and seaweed monsters.


Anyhow...the point is...I think Steve Jobs is trying to take over the world. He's got all the ages covered! From colouring, to anti-techno-gamers like me to even my mother-in-law who Facebooks on it. We're doomed. They might just use these things to teach kids in school next time!


We're being dominated people! And I hate the idea that I've somehow succumbed to this tech-savy world. 


Ps. H now stares at his iPad and iPhone more than he stares at me. Just get married why dont you?!

Nephew's Ernie

My nephew has two Ernies. For some odd reason the three year old favours one and not the other. He brings it to play-school and logs it around with him everywhere. He also stuffs it up my nose for me to smell his 'loved' Ernie- and trust me its a smell that only his own parents wouldn't mind!!

Fact is, my nephew dirtied his Loved Ernie so much his parents felt sorry for him and bought a new one. Only to realize the new one..well..stayed...forever new.

Loved Ernie gets baths too. But he still looks more like Oscar the Grouch.

Not-loved Ernie sits lonely somewhere in the house and is as new as toys at Toys-R-Us.

For some weird reason his mum decided to share this fact with me today..and I decided to share it with you.

No prizes for who's loved.