Appreciating your child's teacher

Teacher's Day is around the corner and I am 'celebrating' it in a different way. I take this opportunity to teach my children certain values - talk about teachable moments huh?

For a start, I encouraged them to make their own gifts for their teachers. So I made my way with little Daniyal across the road to to buy bouquet of flowers, a box of Roche and some papers. The total cost for all these is about $20.

When Qila came back from school we started to get busy and make the little bouquet of flower and Roche for the teachers. I actually got the idea from the readily made bouquet of flowers and Roche I saw in the shop. The ones in the shop cost $4 each! We made 8 similar ones - essentially I saved $12. My children also got to experience the joy of making sum thing that they could give their teachers.

When my girl unwittingly exclaim that she would only give the gifts to 4/5 teachers, I was quick to point out that she should not discriminate. Every teacher, I preached deserve the due recognition for the effort they put in. Some may not be as fun and others but they should at least know that their effort is at least remembered. She relented and decided to not discriminate.

I've done my part in protecting my fraternity...to all those who 'teach' (anything at all) happy teacher's day!!

Academic achievement a measure of sucess

My little girl, Qila proclaimed loudly the other day that she scored rather well for her Booklet A Maths and Malay. She was looking for some form of approval from the way she looked at me as she made the annoucement. I nodded and gave her a warm smile exclaiming "Well Done, Qila!". I can't help feeling a little guilty at the fact that I pushed her too hard..sometimes I wonder if it is necessary - but I also do not want her to lose out in the competition for academic excellence!

Of History and Values

I was tasked to attend a story telling seminar today in the Arts House. I initially have no idea where the Arts house was and thus avoided driving there. I arrived early to find that it is located along the Singapore River - the life line of Singapore. The root of its sucessful beginning if you wish. Allow me the pride of being the inhabitant of of this little tiny republic....

My Baby is 6!!

On Thurs night 23 Aug, I recalled how I hurried my husband to send me to the hospital as I was having mild contractions. That was 6 years ago... I recalled praying very hard reciting all the verses that I could think of so that the Almighty would give me strength to pull through. God di not fail me...my beautiful bundle of joy was born on 24 Aug 2001 at 8.30a.m. The pain of the contraction was beyond words and although he is my second, my earlier experience did not prepare me for the worst. I remember asking for epidural but it was administer too late to be effective. My only consolation was that my man was with me through out despite of not getting a good sleep himself.

I remember fondly how I nursed him all the way till h was six. Breastfeeding is a beautiful experienc, really. It completes me ..... I tried breastfeeding with my first one but I did not quite succeed so I merely expressed the milk until she was 1 month old. I had a real breatfeeding experience with my Daniyal... The bonding and the closeness I feel during breastfeeding is simple beautiful.

Now my baby is six and going out to a real school next year! I love him so much!

How important is good primary school education?

I am comforted some what this year at the thought of not having to register my little Daniyal for primary 1 registration. He will be joining his sister in the same primary school. I remember the anxiety of having to ballot for my daughter's place in one of the better schools on the neighbourhood. It was a popular school and as such, balloting was a yearly exercise for that school.

Some parents went one step ahead of me by trying out for elite schools. I admire their determination but really how important is a good primary education for your children? Does putting your children in a good primary school really ensure their success later in their education? What makes a 'good school' anyway? Is it the ability of the school to produce good results? Or do we judge the schools based on its programmes and the ability of the teachers to effectively communicate with the parents? Friends I talked to firmly believe that schools with good results would normally have good teachers and good programmes. I am certainly not in a position to dispute them, really but I also wonder at times does this also necessitates the extra pressure put on the child (and parents) to find a good school 2--30km away from home? I just wonder...really.

I was from a neighbourhood school myself and if I could say so myself, I didn't turn out too bad either. Perhaps, a good home environment is as important as putting your child in a good school as a good home ensures that he/ she would be able to dispel any bad influences. Or is everything taken care of in a "good school"?

Does breastfeeding promote weight loss?

A friend lamented the other day how she seemed to be unable to lose weight even though she has been at it for some time. I offered a listening ear and though I am no expert in health I read that breastfeeding has a lot of benefits for both mothers and babies.

Advocates of breastfeeding state that when practised optimally, breastfeeding is an enjoyable experience, pure and simple and I could not agree more. I remember enjoying the experince - I think 'bonding' with the him : it' really special. I would look forward to curling up with Daniyal the first two and half years of his life to breastfeed. It was a very special time even destressing especially after an insane day at work!

I read that breastfeeding causes the contraction of the uterus. This protects mothers from postpartum hemorrhage. Continued exclusive nursing (ie nursing exclusively on the natural milk without being bottle fed) tends to delay menstruation and ovulation. Studies have also shown that this form of breastfeeding may even be effective in preventing pregnancy in the first six months as long as exclusive nursing is practiced.

Other health benefits include decreased risk of cancer. Mothers who breastfeed for at least 6 months throughout their lifetime have a decreased risk of breast cancer, and similar reduced rates have been shown for ovarian and uterine cancers.

It is also fairly established that the benefit of breastfeeding is more rapid and sustained weight loss. Milk production uses up 200-500 calories a day. To burn off an equivalent number of calories, a bottle-feeding mother would need to swim 30 laps or ride a bicycle for over an hour. It definitely sound like reastfeeding is easier! Due to this perhaps, some breastfeeding mothers always claim that they are hungry and thus, tend to eat more. I am making my own conclusion here but perhaps this couldbe the very cause why some women find it hard to lose weight despite breastfeeding as they eat more! Perhaps it is easier to achieve the pre pregnancy weight if mothers drink more water and eat fruits instead.

The benefits of breastfeeding, in my personal humble opinion, definitely outweigh the 'inconviniences' associated with it. I would not have missed it for the world!

Decorating children's rooms

One of the best way to decorate a kid's room is to align it to certain themes or colours. Be inspired and think creatively. The themes for boys rooms would be as simple as soccer, cars, under the sea or even storyline theme like 'Buzz Lightyear', Spiderman and Superman. While the girls would be more inlcined to choose themes that involves pink colour and disney princesses. Get your child's opinion on how to decorate the room too : you may be pleasantly surprised by what they could come up with! Whatever you decide, remember that there are many accesssories that could be used to spice up the room.

One of the cheaper ways to spruce up any room is the wall decorations. It does not need a full length wall paper to do the trick. Some thing as wall stickers or posters could 'add character'to your children rooms. However, it is good is you could align the fabric, accessories and wall decorations to avaoid your child's roomlooking like a clutter. It may also be useful to select a main print that will set the tone for the whole room.

Having a focalpoint for the room would also reinforce the theme. The focalpoint could be bed or play area or a feature wall. If your child loves cars for instance, you may choose a bedding with car frames and car bed sheets. You may even try to be creative and decorate the couch to look like a car seat! The key to it all is your imagination : the possibilities are limitless!

The feature wall of the room could be a place where your child's artwork, collections, and projects are displayed. Storage is an important consideration when planning for a child's room : children need a lot of room to store clothes, books, toys, games projects, and hobby supplies. The storage area could be designed to fit the theme as well.

Slim chance

I received a call from a slimming centre that has been advertising quite a bit recently in the newspapers. They informed me of a $3++ promotion that they are having and encouraged me to go for a free trial session. Well this is not the first time I've been to one of those free trial sessions but my curiosity got the better of my judgement and off I went today, stealing some time during the lunch hour to go for "Free Trial".

It was not too far from where I worked so time was not a big issue. So, I did the routine stuff of talking to them and finding out more about their promotion but it turned out that the promotion was just a basic package which may not work well on its own. So, they did the additional services talk and explained that results could be better seen if all these 'riders' are taken up. Normally it was pretty easy to brush their appeal to sign up for more programmes but I was defeated today! It was as if I was in a spell and my hand slipped inside my wallet to pull out a credit card. Besides, they made the offer soooooooooo irresistible! It sound so easy you know by breaking it down to mere few hundreds a month for interest free instalment. How could one not succumb? I did but it was soon followed by tinge of regret. I just spent $XXXX on myself?! Is that justified?!!

Tank Tops that make a statement gurl!

LET the t-shirt do the talking

Who says that motherhood has to be unglamourous? Walk down the street and make a statement with the range of tank tops that makes you a sizzles...go on mama, make your own day ...

Work at Home Advice

In view of the ambition to stay at home, I find articles such as the one below inspirational! There's hope!

Make Money At Home: Be a Successful Work At Home Mom with Your Kids! You can! by: Susan Joy Dahl

How can a work at home mom really make money at home? That’s the question. Please don’t tell me about network marketing & affiliate internet marketing programs to run around for hours to make peanuts! What about the 20 year old kid who makes a presence online to make money at home? Doesn’t that just fry your brain? If young kids can learn how to utilize the computer, couldn’t I? For the weary & overworked mom, either alone or married, learning how to make money at home can be overwhelming. However, I knew that if I make money at home, I could still be home with my kids! That’s my desire & reality! I thought: “You see this computer? This is my best hope to make money at home & to be a successful work at home mom!” Would $300 to $1000 a week help the finances? Would that amount of money every few days, or, when I really learn this stuff, once a day, be possible? Sure, with the computer, internet, & web sites, this goal can become your reality over time, if you stick with it.

The work at home mom needs to be able to make money at home in a substantial amount with part time and flexible hours. I only have 5 hours a day to do my magic online! Learn internet marketing secrets as a free Make Mega member from trainers who make millions of dollars with effective & simple techniques that anyone can learn. They are not Bill Gates of Microsoft but they do make millions from their Gateway laptops! The funds… 100% commission at $70, $300, or $1000 a pop… go directly into the bank account of your choice! It doesn’t get much better than that! God comes first, then family, then work. God bless you for having the desire to be a work at home mom & to make money at home. To be a wife and mom is an honor, not a lowly position. Perhaps, you do not want to chase after a career to be away from your family or children for 40 to 60 hours a week. You can choose to be a successful work at home mom & to make money at home.

Now I have an enjoyable & prosperous family life. If I can do it, so can you. Let me help you get there! Sincerely, Susan Dahl Outreach Coordinator of Solid Rock Development http://www.makemegamoneyathome.com/ P.S. Get specialized Make Money At Home training tips by joining our Free Make Mega Newsletter found at the web site link below my signature & opt in to become a free subscriber. On a regular basis, I am creating new Work At Home Mom articles to help all the moms who are subscribers & members to Make Mega!

About The Author
Susan Dahl, a work at home mom, will show you how to make money at home using a laptop computer, web sites, & internet tools. After 14 years in marketing, client & admin support, and real estate, she is the main author of Solid Rock Development's Free Make Mega Newsletter. A writer at heart, she finds sharing her thoughts via the internet a joy. Learn about her story at http://www.MakeMegaMoneyAtHome.com To find out more about Susan Dahl and her family, go to http://www.ReferUs.org Key words: make money at home, work at home mom, work at home moms, make money, work at home

'Staying at home' Ambition

It has always been my ambition to be able to earn some cash and yet be able to stay at home with my children to "just be there" when I need to. I suppose I'm not alone in this. Most working mothers may have felt the same way too. The braver ones would have taken the decision to stay at home with them and explore the alternatives from there. I wish I have that option but being too financially committed that choice is somehow not available for me at the moment!

But I would not stop my search or quest to be stay home mom - I dream of sending the kids to school and then making lunch appointments with my buddies. Fitting in a facial and spa session in a week would be good too. The rest of the week would be spent going to perhaps Amore or gyms to work that body up..sigh. Up till now this would be wishful thinking but hey, a girl can dream right? I'll work towards my dream then and who know's that dream may not be so hard to reach afterall...

How much television is enough?

Title: Children's Television Pros & Cons

There's been talk of the benefits and dangers of children
watching television virtually since the medium's beginnings in
the late 1940s. Parents wishing to allow their children to enjoy
television's virtually limitless power to educate and entertain
just as often find themselves taken aback by mature themes and
subject matter. For decades, public television and certain
child-friendly cable networks offered safe harbor from
conventional television programming, though in recent years the
educational value of some of its programming has fallen under
criticism, too. The accusations stem from a belief that
so-called educational programming has compromised its standards
for the sake of competing with mainstream television
entertainment. If these programs become more commercial, the
argument states, where can parents find trustworthy programming
for their children?

The discussion regarding the quality of children's television in
many ways obscures the larger issues of how much time children
should spend watching television and what kinds of television
should be made available to them. Child development experts
caution that smaller children (aged two and up) be allowed no
more than two hours of television per day. Children younger than
two years old, they say, should be allowed no television at all.

Some studies point to increased language development among
children with access to television, however. The interaction
between characters, these studies suggest, allow children a
firmer grasp of the uses of language and an appreciation for how
conversational skills develop and take shape.

Nevertheless, the dangers of too much television consumption -
obesity from a weakened metabolism, lackluster reading and
comprehension skills, and diminished motor reflexes - would seem
to outweigh the benefits. The individual parent should decide
what's best for their child.

Parents wishing to avoid "television addiction" in their
children should take steps to limit the child's access to the
family's set early on, and maintain the restricted viewing with
both consistency and self-discipline. Experts advise keeping the
television not in the family's main room but in an
out-of-the-way part of the house, such as the basement rec room
or upstairs guest bedroom. While this may put a hamper on
parent's accessibility to enjoy the programming, the time
available for family bonding and interaction will grow
proportionately.

Experts also caution parents to make their child's television
viewing specific to a certain program, and refrain from allowing
the TV to run as "background noise" in the family room or during
family time. Parents should also watch the programs with the
children, to make sure they understand its content and to answer
questions the children might have. Recording programs, so that
parents can pause to discuss, is also a way to increase
understanding.

About the author:
Michael Kabel is senior staff writer for
www.cornerstorkbabygifts.com. Stop by for parenting and
godparenting resources, unique baby gifts, shower favors and
baby shower supplies.

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My little preschooler no more!

My little Daniyal turns six On Aug 24th. He is really like a miniature 'adult'. Gone are the days when he's the screaming little preschooler ....he's going to be in grade 1 next year!

Title: How to Make your Preschooler Smarter

Article:
Nothing promotes development and learning in the first five
years of a child's life like play! Child development specialists
and psychologists recognize this fact and actually use play to
determine a child's level of cognitive functioning- they can
tell how smart your child is by watching her play. This simply
means that if you want your child to be smarter, play with her!
DaycareCanada.com wants your child to be smart too- here are a
couple helpful hints and incentives to make the most of your
parent-preschooler playtime!

Social Role Playing: From Scooby-Doo to Jacob Two-Two

If you are the parent or child care provider of a preschool aged
child there is a good chance that you've engaged in enough
fantasy play or pretend play to last a lifetime. With each new
role assigned to you by your 3-5 year old comes a custom-made
script based on an accumulation of her cultural and social
experiences. The story you play out is usually based on the
things she has seen on TV, read in books, heard in songs, and
gleaned from watching adults interact- all highlighted by her
imagination.

Guided Participation: Wait a Second...Jimmy is Smarter than
Me!

As parents and caregivers guide these playful interactions and
collaborate with children in fun problem-solving activities
children learn to adapt their understanding to new situations,
develop analytical skills, and will eventually achieve mastery.
You will be pleased to know that these simple supported
interactions will enhance developmental change in your child and
your child will be able to do more things better! So maybe it's
not so bad to play doctor when you could very well be laying the
foundation for your child to become one!

So offer suggestions, provide insights, and encourage your
child's mind and abilities to stretch as you play! For more
playful ideas that promote development and learning in your
child's first five years, check out the parenting resource
section at DaycareCanada.com.

About the author:
Lisa Knauf BA, is the CEO for DaycareCanada.com.
DaycareCanada.com is a website dedicated to linking Canadian
parents and families to qualified child care providers within
their home or work postal areas. Check out the website to see
more articles and to view other important child care related
resources.

Skin Care

Title: Dry Skin Care Products Buying Tips

Article:
When buying Dry Skin Care Product, whether for your body or your
face, you should pay close attention to what are in the
products. There are many different types of treatments and
brands to choose from, but do you know exactly what your dry
skin really needs to improve its condition? Most people mistaken
the fact that when your skin is dry, it needs products that
hydrate instead of those that are oily or greasy. Your skin
needs moisture, not oil.

Here are some tips when choosing facial products for your dry
skin:

-When cleansing your face, choose a cleanser that is a soap-
free cream . The best cleanser is the one that contains
chamomile, an ingredients known for its natural skin soothing
properties.

Make sure to use a toner afterward to prevent tightness. There
are trace of mineral in tap water, it makes your skin feel dry
and tight. Choose an oil-free, alcohol free, milky form of toner
to completes the cleansing process and balance out the pH of
your skin, feeling softer. Product that includes a complex of
bilberry, orange, lemon, sugar maple, and sugar cane is known
for its ex foliating properties, skin-soothing chamomile, and
sodium hyaluronate, the natural skin humectant.

As for moisturizer, there are day and night moisturizers During
the day, because sun exposure can damage skin and speeds up the
aging process, choose product that contains sunscreen for both
UVB (B for Burn), UVA (A for Aging). This way you don't have to
take time to put on another layer of sunscreen in the morning
while you are usually in a hurry or short on time. Product that
contains grape seed extract and vitamin E antioxidants, are
known to combat free radicals. Chamomile, and vitamin A, are
known for their soothing properties, and is gentle, non-drying
on your skin.

At night, look for product that repairs and nourishes your skin
while you sleep. Product that help increase skin's collagen and
elastin will improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,
increase your skin smoothness and luminosity, and boost skin
hydration.

Tips for caring for your dry skin: -Do not take long, hot
bath,this can dry out your skin. Take warm short shower if
possible. -Moisturize your body right after bath or shower. -Use
a hydrating mask at least 3 times a week. -Drink plenty of good
quality water, at least 6 to 8 cups a day depending on your
weight and activity during the day. Just like the rest of the
body, our skin needs water too. -Watch your diet. Eat more fruit
and vegetable. Avoid fried and processed food whenever possible.

Your skin is actually your body's largest organ, and one of the
most hardworking. This sturdy stuff comprises 20 square feet in
most adults and weighs anywhere from six to ten pounds. It's
washable,stretchable, tough and waterproof. But it also ages
with time and be affected by the environment, such as sun, wind,
pollution inside and around us. To protect your skin, the first
step is to choose the right formula with the right ingredients
that help promoting skin health for your skin type.

About the author:
Author: Karen Ngo
Looking for the right skin care for your skin? Here's a quick
glance at the skin care products used worldwide for radiant,
glowing, healthy-looking skin, how they work, and which ones are
right for you. http://www.prevent-aging.com/beautyzone.

What Motivates Women's Clothing Choices?

I once read mark twian quote that states "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." Aptly put I thought..the reality of the matter is people judge you on how you wear your clothes. Your personality matters, without a doubt but the first impression people make of you when you walk into the room is what you wear!

It was on that basis that I try to get my children to dress well. My daughter,in her pre teen angsty state professed loudly the other day that she simply would not wear dresses!! Her reason is: It's so uncomfortable compared to the shorts and t-shirt that she is used to wearing at home. I don't deny that but I do wish that she would someday pick up that pretty dress that have been left hanging in the cupboard. Perhaps some day she will.

Title: What Motivates Women's Clothing Choices?

Throughout history, a variety of outside influences and internal
preferences have motivated women across the globe concerning
their choices in clothing. While obvious factors, such as
protection and warmth are some of the reasons why a woman puts
on the attire she chooses in the morning, clothing also serves
as a powerful way to express and communicate identity. Below you
will find some of the reasoning behind today's clothing
selections and fashion pertaining to women.

Modesty
While the concept of modesty is different for each and every
place in time, over the years it has played an important role in
women's fashion. In various parts of the world and time periods,
it was frowned upon or forbidden for a woman to show off her
legs, shoulders, back, and cleavage. While the United States no
longer enforces strict social policies on women and the clothes
they wear, some cultures still uphold the aspect of modesty in
women's fashion.

For instance, Muslim cultures expect women to cover most of
their body while in public. This has created a wide-ranging
market of lengthy and concealing garments in cotton, wool,
polyester, silk, rayon, and denim. Common attire includes Hijab
underscarves, long lycra gloves, abayas (long cloak-like
garments); and jilbabs (outer- and overgarments including long
robes and coats).

Beauty and Seduction

One of the main reasons a woman slips into the sultry black
dress for a cocktail party or chooses a pants suit that matches
her eye color is to create an attractive appearance. Over time,
the ideal of beauty has changed within different cultures, where
cleavage-bearing blouses, tight skirts, and high hems no longer
bind women's fashion. The perception of beauty is different for
all, where an increasing amount of women forego dressing to
impress others, and now choose their clothing according to what
makes them feel attractive and alluring.

Depending on the wearer, a clean black business suit with a
crisp white collared shirt is just as appealing as a full-length
formal gown. Sometimes, just the right accessories add a
seductive finishing touch, such as a pair of dangling earrings
or eye-catching open-toe shoes. Attitude and self-confidence
also helps to heighten a wardrobe, which is very beautiful and
seductive in its own right.

Status
Women's clothing choices are also motivated by their status or
position within a social group, as some pieces call attention to
a specific affiliation. This is seen in the skirts worn by a
college tennis team or the elaborate robes worn by members of
African tribal royalty. In the United States, corporate
executives, lawyers, and other high-income career positions are
often identified by the type of clothes worn.

Ceremonies
Various forms of women's fashion are set aside for specific
ceremonies and occasions that mark significant moments in her
life. This is seen in the common attire for weddings; the gowns
of a debutante ball society; or the quincereana evening dresses
for 15-year-old Latina girls. These dresses are often elaborate,
flashy, classic, or once-in-a-lifetime garments that hold
special meaning.

Current Fashion Trends

In the United States, women often follow the latest fashion
trends, whether it is cutting their hair like a celebrity (ie.
Halle Berry or Jennifer Aniston); choosing a designer purse (ie.
the patchwork Coach bag or the Birken); or selecting clothing
that matches the newest "color of the season."

About the author:

MaryLu
Red Hat Society Members: stop by to see a
wide variety of Unique Red Hat Clothing, and
merchandise, including red hats, pink hats, decor, etc. Be sure
to sign up for free coupons and sale notifications too!

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Magnets for gifts..

These magnets are witty and cheap. Make great gifts for all.

Wall tapestry

Karma Wall Tapestry

Chilli Chicken Recipe

Have you been to a Malay Wedding and taste the chilli chicken? I had the sudden craving for it the other day. Perhaps it was the thought of having to cook it for the Hari Raya that started this craving. Here's my version of chilli chicken - have fun trying.

Ingredients:

- 1 whole chicken (cut to 8 -10 pieces)

- a small packet of cashew nuts (to be grounded)

(to be grinded)

-1 1/2 bowl of dried chillies

- 2 large onions

- 1cm ginger

- 2 garlics

- 3 tablespoons cooking oil

- salt and sugar to taste

- tamarind juice

Fried shallots, green peas for granish

Method:

- wash chicken and marinate with tumeric powder and salt (leave for at least 15 minutes)

- fry chicken parts and set them aside

- heat oil in a pot and add the grinded ingredients

- once paste is dried a little, add a bowl of water

- add the grounded cashew and tamarind juice

- add salt and sugar to taste

- garnish with fried shallots and green peas

Beef Pasta Sauce

I ran out of paste sauce the other day and I had 2 choices: either to ask my maid top up the sauce by rushing to NTUC or I grab whatever I could find at home to cook my sauce - the only problem is : I don't have any experince making pasta sauce! Having my two children pulling my shirt and asking when is lunch going to be ready did not help either. So, I decided : desperate situation calls for desperate measure. I pulled out whetever I could find from the fridge and presto : I made my own pasta sauce! It felt good - and taste not bad either , if I could say so myself!

Here's my accidental pasta recipe:

Ingredients:

(to grind)

- 1 bowl of dried chillies

- 1 1/2 oninons

- 1 garlic

- 1 cm of ginger

(other ingredients)

-150g of beef cut into cubes

- 2 tablespoon of parmesan cheese

- tomato sauce

- 3 fresh tomatoes

- salt

-2 tablespoons of cooking oil

Method:

- boil beef in a pot of water until tender

- Grind the ingredients listed above and mix the paste

- Heat oil in a pot and add grinded paste

- add 1 bowl of water

- once beef is tender, add in with the beef stock

- slice tomatoes and add them in

- leave to boil

- add parmesan cheese and salt to taste

Your sauce is ready!

Preperation time : 30 min

Serves 4-6 plates of pasta

Tom Yam Delight

My 11 year old has a strong affinity for Tom Yam soup eversince we bought her to the coffee shop just outside our humble residence. She would ask for the same spicy 'sourish' Tom Yam. "I could cook that," I remarked after watching her sipping the soup delightfully upteenth time at the same coffeeshop. "Ok, cook then," she remarked in between the slurps . I felt challenged and began ploughing the supermarket to find the right 'instant' paste to improvise.

After a few trial and error, I discovered the following recipe (not 100% home-made but it's good enough, I think).

Tom Yam (Simplyher Syle):

Ingredients

- 1/2 a bottle of FairPrice Tom Yam paste

- 1 stalk of lemon grass

- tamarind juice

- lemon leaves

- tom yam knorr cubes

- boneless chicken

- prawns

- fried oninons and spring oninons for garnishing

- 1 large onion

- 1 garlic

- 1 tablespoon oil

Method:

- blend garlic and oninons

- mix tom yam paste with the blended garlic and oninons

- heat oil in pot and add in the mixed tom yam paste

- stir till mixture

- add 5 bowls of water

- Bring mixture to a boil and add 1-2 cubes of Tom Yam Knorr cubes

- When mixture is boiling, add tamarind juice, lime leaves and lemon grass

- add boneless chicken and prawns

Add granishes when serving. For additional 'spicyness', garnish with chilli padi as well. Serve while soup is hot.

Wall Decals

My Little Daniyal is going to pri 1 next year. So we thought it was time for him to move in into his own room. I was looking for something reasonably priced yet would add value to the room that he would newly owned. I found the wall decals rather interesting and they did not really burn such a large hoe in my pocket. I'm purchasing them to decorate his room this weekend then.

Here's the ship theme wall decal:




Ships A' Hoy
Wall Stickers
Buy at AllPosters.com

Here's the car Wall decal:

City Cars and Trucks
Wall Stickers
Buy at AllPosters.com

No Whining Please

It's Monday tomorrow and I cannot help but hum to the tune of "It's a manic Monday..wish it was Sunday...that's my fun day"..well not really..Sunday evenings like this would normally be the time I settle in, so as to speak, for tommorow. Oh the pain of going to work and commuting and meeting deadlines that often leave me feeling, well, dead..!!! But you know what??!! I've resolve to not whine ...and face the challenges ahead, head on...but first I want to talk to my mommy about my dreaded 'superior'. Mom..Mom..I need to talk..Mom..Mom..where are you??!

No Whining
Tin Sign
Buy at AllPosters.com

Well, there's another way of looking at Monday Blues :


I May Be Going To Hell
Tin Sign
Buy at AllPosters.com

Life is Short..Eat Your Desserts First

There would be, as it has always been, things so abundant to be done especially on weekends that it would almost be impossible to accomplish all. I was browsing through the motivational words and qoutes online - one of my past times..and I thought nothing sums the advice better that the poster below. My interpretation of the quote below would be : there's no waiting, I'm going to the saloon to do my hair now..housework can wait

Life Is Short Magnet
Torres, Jacques
Buy at AllPosters.com

The Order of the Phoenix, anyone?

I got a call from a colleague of mine last week saying that she was at the bookshop waiting for it to open so that she could be the first ones to own the latest Harry Potter book. Hmmm..... the luxury some people have with their time, I thought as I lamented the lack of mine.

I had wished I could joined her but I had to send the children for their Saturday weekly enrichment classes. I made up for that by checking out sites of this new movie.

Though I have not seen the movie myself, I am intrigued by the reviews I got from those who have - they range from "brilliant" to "One of the Worst" or "Disappointing" Harry Potter movies. I guess I just have to go and judge it for myself....

But nevertheless, I thought the posters could be good especially now that my children room look like they have outgrown the cute stickers on the wall.

Click here to buy movie posters!

Yours Naturally

How Natural is it to go Bananas?

Going bananas have taken a new meaning recently when I discovered the rich potential of this tropical fruit. It does wonders for the skin - I tried it myself the other day after watching a short info advert on television on the uses of banana. I used bananas to make my face mask and guess what?!! It felt so soothing!It is known to be able to soothe and firms the skin at the same time! Hang on there - I'm not suggesting that you start putting your SKII products or Clinique moisturiser on ebay for sale, just to go all natural here. What I'm suggesting is that you could also go natural at times. I'll be fun and the skin would benefit from the gift of nature occasinally. A beautician friend of mine once told me that you should not use the same products all the time for a prolonged period.

Try this face mask...

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon Jojoba oil
1 tablespoon Yogurt (plain yogurt)
1 egg white
Method:

Look for a medium size mixing bowl and whisk the egg white in it. Next, blend in the yogurt, Jojoba oil, Honey until it becomes a smooth creamy mixture. Mash up the banana until it is smooth in another bowl. Blend into the first mixture.

A note of caution: The mixture may create some mess and thus, it is best that you used it when you are sitting in the bath. Apply generously to desired areas such as the entire face, neck and shoulder area. Let sit for at least 10-15 minutes and then wash it off. Don't forget to remove any excess product from the skin, then moisturize as usual. Try it and you could leave in some comments!! You could also try the natural recipes in this book

What's your style?

My L'ttle Critic

My 11 year old daughter has begun to form her own opinion and I am secretly proud of this. It shows the coming of an age somehow and I personally feel that there is nothing wrong with forming her opinions. In fact, it shows her ability to critically assess situations and judge based on her little values system of which I have, as a mom, shaped in some ways. However, there is also this nagging feeling in me that she would be too critical of everything and that is what is holding back my pride for her. What if..what if I thought she became too vocal that she even becomes untactful and offends anyone and everyone? I guess I'm just fearing that the bridge will collapse even before getting there...But I'm sure the bridge will be fine....Or I could also build up more support for the bridge as of now to ensure that it will be fit to be crossed when I need to.

Anyways, I read the article below and find some comfort.

The Most Common Parenting Mistake Of All by Andrea Flint

Becoming a parent, especially for the first time, is an exciting but scary experience. You'll be entering a whole new world where different rules apply, and no matter how prepared you think you are, there's usually little you've experienced before which you can draw on when making the choices and snap decisions that will become a major part of your life once the little one arrives.
It's for this reason that there's an abundance of parenting advice available which you can use to inform your decisions. There are print magazines packed with useful advice, web sites with tons of articles to peruse, not to mention the well meaning but sometimes irritating advice and opinions of family and friends. Despite all this information being available, most parents are terrified that they're somehow not up to the job and will do it wrong, and herein lies the most common parenting mistake of all: not trusting in your own judgment and instincts.
However intimidating the prospect is of having ultimate responsibility for the nurture of a new and precious life, you should be in no doubt that you have exactly the skills and capabilities you'll need over the coming years.
Think about it. As human beings, we're all parenting specialists. In evolutionary and genetic terms, our whole existence is geared towards producing and nurturing offspring, and over the millions of years that the human species has been developing we've become generally incredibly good at it. You only need to watch a mother and child together to know that however difficult the process may seem, bringing up a child is the most natural thing in the world, and something for which each and every parent to be has the necessary skills to make a success of it if they make it their number one focus.
Of course, this doesn't mean that you should ignore all advice. After all, the experience handed down from generation to generation is absolutely vital and is how civilization developed in the first place. Not one of us has all the answers, we all need input from others in all kinds of situations.
But trust in your own capabilities as a parent above all else, and trust in your own ability to make the best of all the advice and support that's out there. That way you'll definitely be the best parent your child could ever have.

Andrea writes for Information Warehouse which has more articles on parenting and other family issues.
Article Source: http://www.myarticlemall.com/
Acknowledgement: Picture of girl taken from : AllPosters.Com

It's playtime, baby!

Tales of Origami and Make-Belief Characters ...

My little Daniyal, now six, would always be thrilled at the thought of his mommy staying at home and playing with him. Even when I am at work, I would picture Daniyal looking at me innocently. Apart from checking his bag and making sure that his books are in order and homework done everyday, I look forward to spending sacred time with him and my girl, Qil.

I suppose it has to do with the inner most desire of most working moms to spend good quality time with their little ones before tucking themselves in and bracing for another dreadful working day the day after...with deadline and drop dead boring meetings with directors and other supposed 'superiors'.

Like most parents, I have not been spared of moments when I'm home with my precious and they would run up to me and scream, “Play with me!”. Needless to say, I would be dumbfounded with an emptier than blank look on my face! Smiling at them, I would then calmly seek answers from the all knowing guru - the Internet?! They say Science saves the day again! I must say I have learnt some things myself playing with them.

We started on origami and my children simply love folding the papers! There is also a lot of values that they can learn from origami : like learning to be patient and peservere if you got your papers folded inappropriately! Needless to say, it was also an 'awwwww.....' moment when the little ones made flower origami for me...

We often visit this site as it gives simple techniques of folding which is suitable for the little ones. http://www.origami.com/

At times, we also experimented on face painting. We would at times rope in the children's cousins in the face painting party. It's really endless fun and laughter as we watched how we could turn into butterflies and she-tigers by simple strokes of the brushes!

Mom could also be the princess she had always wanted to be, or even unleash the wolverine in her...all with the magic brush strokes of face painting ....

Of Mothers and Motherhood statements..

Of Motherhood...

She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn't take them along. ~Margaret Culkin Banning (Source: Quotegarden.com)


My Children : The Joy of My Existance

My own blog...finally! My procrastination to start one only resulted in lingering doubt the last days thinking of ways to put this up. But alas..perserverance triumph!


I've decided the feature my little ones first - the pride of my life, they are the reminder that one of the main reasons for my mortal existance here..is to be a mother and to see them through...