The Farrer Side of Life

My babies are half year old!

2011-10-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

Time flies...especially when you are having fun. After the initial steep learning curve, the babies have blossomed into curious, active and absolutely adorable creatures. They still cry and scream now and then, mostly to get our attention. But if we look and listen hard, we'd figure out what they want...

Happy 6 months old babies!

Three months on

2011-10-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

It's nearly three months since I've gone solo, running Cardblanche by myself. It has been a very busy time, juggling jobs and taking care of the babies at home. I try to do whatever I can when they are napping - emails, tying ribbons, folding stuff... And when I go to the studio I work as hard as can be. It's been somewhat fulfilling and gratifying that I can somehow do this on my own and be able to keep going. What makes it so good is when satisfied clients say thank you when they collect their stationery from me. I try my best to make everyone happy, and I do work hard for my money, so your appreciation really counts in motivating me to do what I love to do.

I must thank heaven as well, for guiding me. I'm always thankful for that. :)

Photo Spam

2011-08-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

Photo spam. Just sharing some photos of my babies. :)

End of an 'era', time for a new one

2011-08-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

After 8 years, my business partner and good friend, F, and I parted ways. She found a new job, and I found that life with twin girls is nearly all-consuming. There were ups and downs in these past years, but overall I feel it has been an experience like no other. Most people only dream of starting their own business, but we have been there and done that. It wasn't easy, and we struggled, succeeded, struggled again... Methinks the economic recession was a catalyst to people and companies cutting corners, and trimming their budgets. But all in all, I feel we have had provided good quality design work and attentive service, to the best of our ability. Unfortunately, not every client appreciates this, and we have had our fair share of nasty incidents.

Going forward, I hope I can continue to bring in business, do good work, make clients happy, and go home contented with milk powder and diapers for my children. :)

Here's a shot of my new office. And remember, should you need design work or wedding stationery, you know where to find me!

Trials & Tribulations

2011-07-01T01:07:00.000-07:00

One of the toughest parts of being a new mom is breastfeeding your child. Before I gave birth, I was determined to breastfeed my twins. How hard could it be? Just let them latch on whilst spacing out in the middle of the night. If need be, I could do one on each side. I read lots of websites on feeding twins and was filled with optimism. Alas, when it came around to doing it, my milk supply came in very slowly, and coupled with newborns who fell asleep halfway through their feed, I was awakened every 30-60 minutes on my first night and was exhausted.

The next day, both babies had high levels of jaundice, and the husband discouraged me from breastfeeding, as breastmilk tends to make jaundice worse. Disappointed, I switched to pumping, and realised my milk levels were actually, quite low. Nevertheless, I continued pumping in hope that the supply would go up. A week later, I started latching on again, hoping that my babies insatiable thirst would increase my milk. Alas, it's been 3 months and despite pumping more frequently, longer, and taking medicines and herbs, nothing has improved. Till today I am still struggling to come to terms with this "loss", should I be happy that my babies are growing chubby and cute anyway? Or should I feel sad that there are many mothers who can provide for all their baby's needs, and I can't even provide for one of my twins?

To add to my stress and woes, my elder twin has a hole in her heart, that whilst small at birth, grew bigger when she was 3 months old. There's hope that it may close up in future, or that it may never affect her health in any way, but for a first-time mom, news of such sort can be worrying and upsetting.

Despite all these, being a parent is very rewarding. The feeling of waking up in the morning and seeing your happy and refreshed baby cooing and smiling at you is second to none. And I will not trade that for anything.

I shall persevere...for another 18 years at least...

Another post at long last...

2011-06-19T04:58:00.000-07:00

I haven't had time to add a blog entry, life has been hectic to say the least. The babies are 10 weeks tomorrow and they have grown loads! It is amazing when I look back at their photos from the first few weeks -- so different! From small skinny babies with pointed faces, they are now bigger, plump babies with chubby cheeks! Here are photos of them before and after:

Life wise, thankfully everything has settled a bit, with the babies waking up less in the nights, pooping less and being easier to carry and handle. They even can burp themselves after feeds by sitting up straight, a whole lot more convenient for us! Their heads are more stable now, and they are starting to smile more and interact with us -- I must say, this feeling of your baby (or in my case BABIES) looking at you with adoring eyes is simply magical.

I have also started working again after 2 months, and am learning to juggle work and home. I am grateful to my mother and parents-in-law for helping out many times a week so that I can work 6 hours a day from home or office. I am also highly encouraged by Kimmy, who has been a great moral support, reassuring me that I can be a superwoman, juggling all the duties in my life.

The only thing I haven't done is visit my doggie, who is probably missing me after 11-12 weeks of not seeing her. I think she might scream her head off when she sees me, and I know I owe her an apology and loads of kisses and hugs when I finally see her.

The big op: my account of my delivery

2011-05-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

Before I had my c-section, I would imagine the worse, the scariest sensations, and the most excruciating pain. However, because so many friends had done this before me, I imagined that despite all the suffering, everything will be ok in the end. And indeed it was good, but it wasn't even as scary as I thought it was. Here is my account.

On the morning of my c-section, I arrived at the hospital hungry and parched. There was a strict 12 hour fast required and all I could do to quench myself was swallow saliva. I felt a bit like Aron Ralston when he was trapped for 127 hours in the desert, and I pleaded with every nurse to let me have sips of water. But besides the little I was allowed for some tablets, I had to wait.

After a procedure of paperwork, urine tests, and having a nurse shave my nether regions, I proceeded to change into a hospital gown, and all those disposable things they can give you for your hair, body, feet... A bunch of nice nurses made me fill in more paperwork, and then a very wonderful nurse called Narindar Kaur took me to the operating theatre. It wasn't my first time in an OT, but this one was bigger and had more equipment. I was strapped to blood pressure and heartbeat monitors, and the anaethesiologist Dr Sandeep injected a series of numbing chemicals into the sides of my spine. Narindar was fantastic, covering me with a blanket and warm air-blower, talking to me and giving me advice, and making me feel at home (if that made any sense to have an OT as 'home"!) I was asked to curl my back into a "C" shape, but how I could do that with a huge belly, I dunno! I tried my best with a pillow I was hugging. I think there were 3 injections to the back, one of which hit a nerve and was actually a tad bit painful. I was sprayed with icy water on the back as well, which I suppose was to further numb my back to the injections.

There was a long wait after that for my gynae to arrive. Narindar amicably indulged me in chatter, telling me about her children and breastfeeding. I was visibly nervous, and my blood pressure was in the 180 range. It was apparently normal to have it this high with nervousness although I was alarmed. Around me were other nurses and doctors texting on their iPhones and waiting for the operation to start. It was all very casual. When the gynae arrived, everyone snapped into action. Dr Sandeep administered the epidural, which was completely painless due to the numbing injections earlier. I was pleased, I had expected a huge-ass needle to hurt, but it didn't! The epidural was quick to work, and I was moved into a lying position. Dr Sandeep kept touching me with an ice-pack to check if I was suitably numb...I'd say I was numb to my collarbone. A cloth screen was erected in front of me and my legs were strapped to the blood pressure monitors. Kimmy was then ushered in to sit with me at the head of the table, and in 5 minutes, the incision on my bikini line was made. It was all a bit strange to feel pushing and tugging sensations but without any pain. I felt anxious and the blood pressure monitor was skyrocketing, with a loud disturbing beep. Thank goodness Dr Sandeep was reassuring, with a soft calming voice in my ear.

What's next was one of the doctors/nurses pressing hard on my belly, kinda like doing a massage, and then a squawk was heard - Amelie was out! Before I knew it, more belly jiggling and Astelle came out crying as well. They and Kimmy were whisked away in seconds, and I was alone again. More pushing and tugging. I was groggy and it felt so comfortable, like a body massage. I presume the doctors were removing the placenta and other unwanted stuff, and then stitching me up. This part took quite a long while, and I was happy to close my eyes and nap. I felt very tired suddenly. When it was over, they moved me to a recovery room where I was monitored for an hour before bringing me up to the ward. My temperature and blood pressure was taken at (what felt like) 5 minute intervals. I was also attached to a catheter so I need not get up to go to the toilet.

After some time, I was brought up to the ward, which was really cosy and nice (A-class wards at KKH - worth your money!). I then found out that Astelle had been checked into Special Care Nursery for low blood sugar, and Amelie was fine but they brought her for scans on her heart. My parents and in laws were there, and Kimmy, who was a fabulous help in doing everything I could not.

I had a great 4 day stay at KKH, except for the extreme itch I had as an after-effect of the epidural. The nurses were friendly, polite and nice, the lactation consultant Sharon was a tremendous help, and the food was good too! The most painful part was getting up on the second day though. I cannot describe how painful my belly felt when I had to sit up from bed. I forced myself with sheer willpower, and was rewarded because sitting up and even walking felt so much better than lying on the bed and being unable to move. Peeing for the first time was tough too but the nurses were very reassuring and helpful. I shan't describe the contents in the toilet...shall spare you the gruesome details. :)

I am not sure if I would dare to go through a c-section again, but if I had to, I guess I should be heartened that it would heal and everything will eventually be fine.

It's all so surreal...

2011-05-02T00:42:00.000-07:00

It's been 3 weeks since I gave birth and it still seems rather surreal. In my home are two adorable little girls (currently having their nap and looking like angels) – my children. I have to pinch myself sometimes to see if I am dreaming...that I finally have the children I've always been praying for. On the other hand, looking after babies is challenging, and I get so tired sometimes I just want to run away, go back to work, back to my previous life.

Again I say, if I didn't have God, I'd be a wreck. I have to constantly remind myself to relax, take a deep breath, and ask Him to guide me and bless me with wisdom and perseverance. Perhaps I should say "we" because Kimmy is going through the same challenges I am. Thank God that he took the whole month off to help me out, together with mother-in-law who has been a wonderful help around the house (she helps us cook and clean and do laundry – yay!).

Moving forward, I hope I will be a good mom, and be able to meet the different challenges children pose. I am grateful for all the help and advice everyone has given me, and I look forward to exciting times with the little ones.

As for now, it's time to get ready for another feed. :)

Time flies...

2011-04-09T23:29:00.000-07:00

I've had a swell time these past nine months. Sure, there were ups and downs, but things were mostly smooth and easy-going for me. With the exception of the difficulty in sleeping at night these past few weeks, and having to wake up every two hours for the bathroom, I've had little morning sickness, not many aches and pains, no painful swollen limbs...I've even managed to continue going to work until last Tuesday. Hurrah for me!

Friends have asked if I am excited to give birth. Sure, I am excited to see the little ones, but also a little worried. What if they don't turn out like how I imagine them to be? Will I be disappointed? Or will I love them anyway...our flesh and blood after all, created from the love Kimmy and I have for each other. I am also a little scared of the operation. It sounds so major, cutting through layers of flesh. I take heart in knowing that many friends have gone through this before me and they are fine. I shall occupy my mind in that time praying, God gives the best comfort. Kimmy will be there too, but I suspect he might make me laugh to calm (his own) nerves, but I wonder if there are side effects to one laughing while going through surgery...

I have spent this weekend eating everything I've been missing for awhile, starting with Bedok Blk 85 Bak Chor Mee soup on Friday night, sausages for lunch on Saturday, and Jumbo Chilli Crab with mantou for dinner. I would probably have a huge rice dish, Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee, and coconut juice tonight at Whampoa Food Centre as well...and then it's a month of boring confinement food. It's not that I am complaining about eating good nutritious food in the month ahead, but the thought of adhering to a planned diet, and little room for spontaneity, it dulls my mind and makes me bored. I should be grateful that Mother-in-law cares for me enough to cook good food, I just hope she makes delicious pork soups and steamed cod fish - yummy - and steers clear of Chicken Essence and Fish Essence (!).

I am also anticipating a month of fatigue looking after babies, with nothing much to do in between but sleep and eat. My mother is going to be staying over and I hope Kimmy doesn't complain too much about that. Everyone is generously offering their help for free so I hope he sees that!

The weather - I am praying it stays cool and fairly windy. Less sun will be good, the house can be like a furnace, and turning on the aircon 24/7 is not the best plan. The heat doesn't help to dry cloth diapers either, what I need is wind.

In the meantime, I am resting at home, enjoying the babies' squirming in my belly, and appreciating everything I have. Tomorrow will be a new day, a new and exciting world awaits...

A cosy little nursery for two

2011-03-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

On a more cheerful note, here are some photos of the nursery. It looks perfect to sleep and play in. =)

Maybe I'd wake up happy and refreshed, and very much more optimistic tomorrow. Although that could be impossible as well – it is getting difficult to sleep comfortably at night, there is no position that's right, either giving me tightness in my belly, pins and needles, swollen joints, or leg cramps. I also have to wake up every two hours to go to the toilet.

Am I a worrywart?

2011-03-26T06:23:00.000-07:00

I seem to be worrying all the time these days. Will I be predisposing my children to being easily-depressed, unhappy individuals because they are experiencing my emotions whilst they are inside me? I try to cheer up and look at the positive side of things, but sometimes, life really does weigh me down.

Recently, I have had to deal with the passing of my grandmother, the only one I knew. I was sad but I know this is the cycle of life, and she was weak and well in her years. I now worry about my grandfather, whether he will be lonely and sad, and I worry if he will lose his love of life and go too. I feel bad I cannot visit him more often in my state, but I hope to do so in the months to come.

I worry for my father. He spent 3 weeks in the hospital 2 months ago, and came out weak and disoriented. He has recovered his strength and is able to go about his daily chores now, but he is plagued by strange itchiness on his scalp and sudden swellings in his eyes. He eats less and loses appetite easily, and seems to lose weight at every doctor's visit. I encourage him and chide him into eating more but he refuses. I worry he might still be ill, and that hospital doctors are usually too stupid to figure things out until it's too late. He wants to go back to work but I worry he isn't energetic enough. I worry that he worries he will run out of money, and there's nothing I can do to help him out because I can barely make ends meet myself.

I worry for my mother, I hope she isn't stressed out by these events. I worry my dog will be abandoned by my parents on the streets. I worry if it comes down to the crunch, my husband will not accept my dog as part of my life and send her to the SPCA. I worry for my brother who is having problems with his girlfriend, who is also struggling with problems of her own. I worry for their sanity, their life, and their future (although I know it's none of my business).

I worry for my business, whether I can cope with family and work. I worry if I'd have enough financially to help my husband support the house and home. As it is, food and petrol are getting so expensive it's just ridiculous. I worry if I'd be able to be a good mom. I worry if my in-laws will have problems taking care of two little ones, especially since my father-in-law is quite hard-headed and bigoted in thinking sometimes.

I also worry if my babies will be ok. They are so happy kicking around in my belly now I really hope and pray they will be happy, cheerful babies who are smart, have great eyesight and hearing, natural talents and abilities...and not worry all the time like me. I worry if I can survive the birthing and healing ordeal (although many friends have, and if they have, I will too?).

There's also the extremely depressing event that is the March 11th Sendai earthquake, coupled with a few others in the region, and some volcanoes spewing ash and lava for good measure. Will everything be ok again for the people in the affected zones? Or is this the coming of the end of the world?

So am I a worrywart? I certainly believe that without God, I'd be a wreck now. I have to constantly remind myself of that though...that He will be there for me, to carry me and lead me. I am thankful I still have savings, that I have a roof over my head, the means to buy baby essentials, and the tremendous support I have been receiving from friends and family. Am I just hormonal? After all, a life-changing event is going to happen soon, perhaps I am stressed out by it? And I can't share my feelings with my husband – men just aren't hardwired to understand why some women experience worry for others on such a deep level.

It's my birthday...

2011-03-10T22:55:00.001-08:00

Today's my birthday and traditionally, I'd be filled with mixed emotions, maybe with a dash of depression, some wistful longing...blah blah... But the year that has passed has been filled with many happenings, and the year ahead holds exciting ones. So being in much better spirits, I would like to take this opportunity to make a dedication to some very lovely people in my life.

My husband, for helping me all these many months, for doing the washing of the toilet, for not messing up the house, and for assisting in keeping the home as neat and clean as possible. Many thanks also for painting the nursery and moving furniture, and for building two chest of drawers, and general menial work. He's my strongman around the house, or source of cheap labour. I have been thinking of getting him a Timbuk2 diaper bag as a reward, but I know he wouldn't mind even if I conveniently forgot...

Good friend Awwesome Possum. Without this woman, there will be no one to run errands, walk miles, and carry things, as well as do some heavy-lifting and cutting in office. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and for your lovely baby-related gifts. Must thank you in advance for assisting in producing 50 cute little giftboxes for guests too!

My mother-in-law, for helping out in the housework all these months. Without her, I'd have to do backbreaking tasks like dusting, sweeping, mopping, and get very frustrated by all the dust and hair.

My mother, for sewing me bedsheets, pillow and bolster cases, and some blankets, and for enquiring on my health on a regular basis. Thank you also, for looking after Daddy, so that I wouldn't be stressed out thinking of him.

My brother, who is still the messiest person I know, for his recent attempts at being a filial son, ferrying my parents around and taking care of my father when he was in hospital. (You could do more about the messy bit though...)

Agnes and Maxilline, for taking care of Gong Gong and Po Po all these years. For keeping them company at home, giving comfort to Po Po when she was here, for teaching Gong Gong how to use Facebook (!).

All my friends, relatives, and church members, for their care, concern, and well wishes. For the gifts some of them have blessed me with – grateful thanks!

Everybody on Facebook who has wished me on my wall!

Thank you very much for all your love. It is more than any gift I can receive. =)

PS - birthday pic taken was from 2010. I had a slice of cake last night as birthday cake, but forgot the candle and the wish...oops...

In loving memory...

2011-03-05T07:08:00.000-08:00

Today is one of those days. A strange celebration of life and death. I will be attending a baby shower, a baby full moon, and a wake.

My grandmother passed away last night. I didn't get to see her since Chinese New Year, and even then, she was fine and alert, though weak and tired.

Popo has been relatively inactive for the past ten years. But most of us attributed it to the fact that she became quite lazy to walk around, preferring to rely on the domestic helpers to push her in a wheelchair, or help her to the living room where she sat the whole day watching TV. She did, however, suffer from arthiritis for nearly 40 years and that was perhaps the worst discomfort. A few years ago, she had a ballooning done on her heart artery. Besides that, and her arthiritis, she had few other problems.

In the last two weeks, her blood pressure and heartbeat dropped drastically. I guess she was just too tired to go on. It's sad for me as she could have become a great-grandma in a month's time or so. Alas, this is not to be.

I shall cherish the memories I have of her, her kindness and love.

Jostling

2011-03-03T00:54:00.000-08:00

The babies have been jostling for space in my belly recently. Sometimes, it feels like one of them is pushing the other to make space for herself. And in return, the other one pushes back. It really is quite cute, but the movements are strong and can be shocking.

It's enjoyable to watch them play though... :) Hope my tummy and uterus stretches even more so that they can grow bigger, much bigger.

Birds

2011-02-13T18:07:00.000-08:00

I have a fascination with birds.

This is my bedsheet set.

And my bedside lamp.

I just bought these cute brooches from mein.

And stuck up wall decals for the nursery.

I don't even particularly like birds in real life; only in design silhouettes will I use them over and over again. My personalised stationery comes with a bird too!

Mood Board

2011-01-25T19:27:00.000-08:00

I saw a lovely nursery studio mood board on designmein...and was inspired to create this. Of course, it is a little late to do a mood board when much of the nursery has been decided on. However, it would be nice just to keep some of these photos which I love, and what better way than to create a mood board. Just for memories.

Also found this on partydress.net...lovely vintage girly theme.

Images from
hellosandwich.blogspot.com
gallery.projectnursery.com
www.thepartydress.net

The suffering of the mommy

2011-01-13T23:44:00.000-08:00

This post is a TMI one (too much info). If you think you're going to be bothered by details of bodily fluids, please do continue onto the next post here. :)

Being a mom is never easy. I know this but I have discovered that it starts in the 9 months of pregnancy. In the last one week, I have had a fungal infection resulting in bright-coloured discharge, Braxton Hicks contractions, sharp pains in my pelvic region, hemorrhoids, and leg cramps! Perhaps it's due to stress from my dad being admitted to hospital for a lung ailment, or anxiety in trying to finish a backlog of work...but I have realised that my days of happy pain-free brisk-walking are over!

I have had a relatively good first trimester ― little nausea and morning sickness ― and a great second trimester so far. Third trimesters aren't supposed to be easy and it's probably our body's way of preparing us for the days (and years) to come. Because of this week of pregnancy ailments hitting on consecutive days, I must have emailed my gynae 6 times, surfed a few dozen websites, and called every friend who was pregnant before to ask for advice. Panic strikes, yes. I was terribly worried about preterm labour as well, but it seems so far, I should be fine for now (though it would be hard to think such thoughts when there is pain and discharge!)

Moving on, I have to learn to adjust my diet to include even more wholemeal bread, vegetables, and fruits, and to walk more slowly and climb less stairs. No more long walks or rushing for the bus and train. I think I might even have to buy a pregnancy belt and compression stockings. Heck, I might even have to start paying cab fare.

I hope you aren't put off having kids, if you are a woman and have yet to give birth (and would like to). Being pregnant ain't easy but having the baby kick and punch you from the inside is a truly unique and special experience. Very intimate, and makes you feel very joyful.

Our first purchases for the little ones

2010-12-20T07:25:00.000-08:00

I have been putting off buying anything whatsoever for the babies. Maybe I've been a little wary and cautious, disbelieving even, but I didn't want to rush into buying a whole list of items and have something bad happen. Most pregnant women wouldn't worry about such things, but I am not one of them. After numerous setbacks, the possibility of even holding my children in my arms is something I treasure deeply, and maybe even something I can hardly believe is true.

So, after many months, this is what we have got to show.

The hubs bought a (as in one piece) Babyland reusable diaper just to see how it works.

I bought some cute rompers as a gift for the husband's birthday.

Good friend AwwesomePossum gifted us with a gorgeous baby bag that's huge, functional and waterproof! (Thank you soooo much!)

And our first big ticket item - baby cots and mattresses - only because there was a sale with further discounts!

Men can't listen to instructions

2010-12-15T04:18:00.000-08:00

Men. They have really good intentions when it comes to their home and family. But due to strange hard-wiring in their brain, they just simply can't follow instructions.

The hubs has been hard at work these few days preparing the nursery. He moved the TV, console, and Starhub unit to the study and wired up a new TV cable, complete with covered casing. Highly commendable. However, he failed to notice that his casing had gaping holes at every joint and bend, because he didn't know how to cut the casing at an angle so the edges would meet. I had to come home and show him how to do it.

Yesterday, he painted the room. It was a somber blue colour but now it's a bright cheery pale-yellow. Great work, considering he single-handedly painted it, all day. He, however, ignored my instructions to tape the power points, window sill, and skirting with masking tape. He also did not tape up the door frame. The result is a mess of yellow paint on all the above mentioned items. Being a neurotic perfectionist, I was disheartened to see the shoddy work, especially on the grey door frame, which could not be painted over because we ran out of grey paint.

To add to this, he did not cover the floor with newspapers despite me placing them in the room for his use. Now there are pale-yellow blemishes on my parquet floor and I do not know if it's reversible. (Thank goodness I covered the sofa with a huge old bedsheet. Who knows what it might look like had I not done that!) And just this morning, I discovered he painted onto the ceiling because he thought it wasn't noticeable. So I have an untidy patchy ceiling edge as well.

I really admire his love and perseverance in his little handyman tasks around the home, but dismayed that his laziness and slipshod attitude prevailed. I didn't want to nag, but felt I had to give him my advice and instructions...which obviously fell on deaf ears. In future, I feel compelled to do all the "prep-work" before he embarks on a task.

Update: The husband has cleaned away all the paint marks and smoothed the paint work. The wall's not perfect, and there is a feathering effect way up on the ceiling...but I can live with it. :) Yokatte ne!

Baby rabbits need a new home!

2010-12-01T02:20:00.000-08:00

Four adorable baby rabbits need a new home! Local breed, extremely adorable and loving. All baby rabbits have active and good-natured characters.

They are currently 8 weeks old, still quite small, about the size of a palm.

Must be adopted in pairs.

Please email me if you are interested. :)

Becoming a parent...

2010-11-17T23:11:00.000-08:00

There are so many hurdles to becoming a parent, so many challenges and tests...I wonder if it's even possible to make it there. Having been reproductively challenged for many years, my husband and I sought out fertility treatments and eventually conceived via IVF. As we've never
gotten pregnant before, we wouldn't have known how my womb would 'take' to implanted embryos. Hence we had two put back in, for safe measure.

We spent weeks in a slightly agonizing wait, and then discovered we were going to have twins! We were thrilled and overjoyed, that is, until the doctor told us the extra problems that might arise due to twins. Great, he says this AFTER we had them transferred in. Don't worry we will take care of you, the doctor said. And indeed the centre did, for they put us through a whole host of tests to ensure the babies were progressing well, at the expense of making us panic and
worry.

At every step of the way there were scares. Test this test that. All kinds of abnormalities could arise and the doctors do want to ensure you know your risks before giving birth and perhaps blaming them for mis-information.

Currently, we're in between appointments and waiting for our detailed 20 week scan. We're eager to see the scans again, but in the meantime, trying to relax and enjoy the pregnancy as well. :)

Loving & Cherishing

2010-11-01T03:59:00.001-07:00

A friend who loves and cherishes me (I'd like to think!) sent me this newsletter which was written by a friend of hers. Highly meaningful words in a small space. Do read it and reflect.

Tiring times

2010-09-30T03:32:00.000-07:00

These are tiring times. Work has been tough lately, with many challenges thrown my way every single day. Competition has increased in the wedding stationery industry and customers are again turning to the traditional hotel card (albeit almost free but not as pretty) to fulfill their needs.
Physically I haven't been feeling all perky and energetic as well, and sometimes, life can weigh me down.

On the other hand, I have been very busy (or at least trying to!) with various projects at home and at work, and with many good things to look forward to, this age-old adage popped into my head -- "No pain, no gain".

So very true.

We complain to bond with each other

2010-08-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

Sometime in the last ten years, I don't know when exactly, it suddenly became "cool" to complain about our country, our government, and its policies. Why I say it seems "cool" is because everyone seems to be doing it, from taxi driver uncle, to your neighbour, your friends, relatives, and perhaps a stranger on the road. If you don't "join in", you might be deemed weird and different.

Is this a sign the government is not doing its job as well as it could be, or are citizens becoming better-informed and thus, more unhappy?

I'm not one to dwell on things that irk me, but I do have gripes about my country and the way things are sometimes. However, I must admit that despite all the inconveniences, headaches, and dissension, there have been many good things happening here, and Singapore has never been more exciting.

So are citizens complaining for the sake of it? Are they truly unhappy here? Or as a friend said, every country will have its disgruntled inhabitants, sort of like a characteristic trait of any developing or developed country. I can just imagine political leaders of various countries chatting when they meet, "Are your citizens always complaining?" "Pretty much so!"

I conclude that I think Singaporeans complain to bond, to share their gripes and grievances. In sharing our joys and heartaches (hardly any joys), we draw closer to each other, our fellow countrymen. Ultimately, this is something that will never be changed, whether or not we have more freedom of speech, two political parties, sexual liberation, or even free parking for everyone for life.

Breadtalk celebrates a fantastic 10 years!

2010-07-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Breadtalk and Omy.sg, I finally got to taste Breadtalk's "Fantastic 10" buns. This year is Breadtalk's 10th anniversary and as a special treat, they sold all the special buns they created over the last 10 years. Alas, due to a busy schedule, I was unable to get the buns from 2007-2009. 2001's special bun was also unavailable as it was sold out.

Here are some photos of the Breadtalk "Fantastic 10" buns. I am pleased I got to try these as I never quite made it to buy them over the past 10 years. Whilst I don't often buy buns, I would say Breadtalk is probably the most creative of all the bakeries, and were the ones who ignited Singaporean's love for bread. Nowadays, bakeries are choc-a-block. Many are inferior, although some are pretty good.

2000 Floss Bun
Because of Breadtalk, every bakery from Jurong to Pasir Ris sells buns with floss toppings now. A testament to "copying is the best form of flattery".

2001 O'Sambal
Didn't get to try this as it was sold out. :(

2002 Dinosaur
Super duper cute! I was reluctant to eat this one as his eyes were staring at me adorably. I'm glad I ate him in the end as he had ham and cheese in him. Delish~

2003 Bull Run
A great variation of the floss bread, it looks like a bull indeed!

2004 Luv Bite
Sweet white chocolate and filled with strawberry love, Luv Bite was created as a partnership with Singtel to help underprivileged children.

2005 9.0
Filled with chunks of chicken and topped with bonito flakes. Tasted a bit Japanesey which I liked. This bun was sold to raise funds for victims of the massive tsunami the previous year.

2006 KimCheese
A huge-ass piece of bread infusing kim chi, cheese and bread. Really unique!

Sadly I didn't get to try the rest of the Fantastic 10 buns, except for Merrily, Hairy Crab (2007), Peace Panda (2008), Ferraberri (2009), Leonardo+Merrily (2010)
which I ate this morning. It was nice, with chunks of tuna and onion on the inside.

Herbal Shampoo

2010-07-05T02:36:00.000-07:00

I have been using this shampoo from Melaleuca for the past few months. It smells great and works for my hair. I haven't seen increased hairfall in the shower and actually don't drop as much hair nowadays. (I don't have very thick hair so will probably try one of those treatment shampoos from Phyto in the near future to see if I can improve my locks).

The bottle really didn't seem very big for the price, but after 3-4 months there's still half left so I'd say it's pretty value for money. The shampoo lathers up well so for my short hair I only need a blob about the size of a 20-cent coin.

Let me know if you're interested to try.

Fatty needs a home

2010-06-24T02:51:00.000-07:00

This is Fatty. He was the biggest and fattest of all his siblings. Alas, he has yet to be adopted because two of his siblings were given away and he couldn't have gone with them because he was terrorising them all the time and making them scream. If you noticed that I said "He", it's because my mother, with her years of experience, is guessing that he's male.

So Fatty needs a home. He's really cute, fluffy and round, but still small -- he's only about 8 weeks old. Do be prepared that he might turn out to be female. But that's ok because females are very cute too. :)

Repo Men are coming

2010-06-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

I wonder how it'd feel if Jude Law comes to take back my liver, or heart, or lung, or something. Jude Law is certainly drool-worthy and to die for, but to die literally at his hands? When someone's coming at you with a scalpel it's impossible not to freak out. This is generally the premise of this movie, or so I thought. Two hours later, I was depressed and yet impressed by Repo Men (a new movie coming to cinemas near you). Depressed because the story involves the morality of organ trade and the brutality of yanking it out of humans when they can't pay their bills. Impressed because the movie was well told, well acted-out and well, I had a great time.

Repo Men takes the idea of repossession of your house or car when you don't pay your bills, to another level. Get a new heart, lung, liver, anything, but if you don't pay your monthly installments, someone will be cutting you up to take back the organs you purchased. Remy (Jude Law) is the best repo man in the business, but when he suffers a cardiac arrest and has his own heart replaced, he starts to question the very job that he was once so good at. With no money to pay his hefty bill, he goes on the run, and discovers many like him who live desolate lives.

Set in the future, the movie features loads of fancy city skylines, sort of like NYC but x 100. It also features many action scenes, sequences, and graphic violence. There are some graphic scenes of blood and gore that took my breath away. Yes, very bloody, but wow, I loved it. (Just like how I loved 300, appeals to the art director in me). Don't be turned off when you read this. I feel it's absolutely necessary to paint the picture of a mercenary world which values money over human life. There are some scenes which are unrealistic and far-fetched, but at the end, everything falls into place.

My overall verdict is, this is definitely a film to watch...if you're into futuristic thrillers (think Minority Report). Check out the thriller here, where there's a short clip presented in graphic novel style as well. If you're still not convinced, there's Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, and Liev Schreiber as well, both good actors to watch.

LoveMoon Anion Sanitary Napkins

2010-06-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

Having been a tampon user for quite a few years, I was hesitant to try these regular sanitary pads that my parents' friend was trying to introduce me to. However, with the free sample that I was given, I discovered it wasn't just any ordinary sanitary pad.

Made of pure cotton, with a soft surface feel, these pads pack a punch, and are able to hold a huge amount of fluid. They also feel lighter than an average "heavy day" sanitary pad. Whilst they can't beat some other pad brands for their ultra-thinness, these Love Moon pads definitely "go the extra mile", requiring less change. Being cotton with a breathable bottom layer, you won't feel like a baby getting nappy rash either, as it's not warm and sticky. And I believe most women know how uncomfortable it gets having their period in hot, humid Singapore.

Another benefit is that each pad comes lined with a negative ion strip on the inside. Many believe negative ions promote good health and sentiments, by combating the positive ions in the air and in our bodies. This could potentially eliminate moody and fatigue symptoms one might experience with PMS.

Last but not least, there's an ad running in EzyHealth magazine this month (Available at Guardian and Watsons) that offers a free sample pack. See the last photo for more details. Or email me for more info. :)

Google Generation

2010-06-15T00:12:00.000-07:00

If there was a "Google Generation", I would be in there. I google everything. If there's a word I don't quite understand, a language I want to learn, an old friend I want to find, or a shop's telephone number, I'd go straight to Google. Whilst it may not always be accurate, Google is the fastest and easiest way to get free information. My reliance on Google has gotten so bad that when my father expressed to me his fear that we will be clueless about funeral arrangements should he suddenly go one day, I told him "there's always Google so no worries."

In today's digital age when I can find anything and everything I want online, it sometimes surprises me when I am unable to find relevant and useful information. Maybe it's due to many businesses actually not utilising the online medium to their needs. For me, I am actively trying to increase my online presence by learning every trick in the book (!)...if I can, that is. After years of using Flash to make my website so pretty, I have discovered that it is completely useless in generating traffic on Google. As such, I've been adding html, and using Facebook, Twitter and Blogs to generate interest and garner more "followers". I've also started a free giveaway, because everyone loves a good deal (or do they?).

So if you're interested, do surf by http://card-blanche.blogspot.com/2010/06/win-set-of-couture-notesheets-envelopes.html to take part and win!

Renew Moisturiser

2010-06-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

Renew Moisturiser is touted as a clinically-proven, super duper moisturising lotion for sensitive-skin. It also claims to improve skin conditions like eczema within 2 weeks. I don't have terribly dry skin or any skin condition, so was unable to experience the full potential of this moisturiser. I did however have some dry and scaly patches on my feet and after using for 4 nights, I noticed that they weren't peeling and as dry. Alas, I got lazy and went to bed some nights without applying Renew, and my feet became ugly again. This is probably because I do torture my feet with some bad shoes as well.

I have wanted to try Renew on hubby's really yucky looking feet but have been putting it off. I should try to take before and after shots as well.

As for the texture of Renew, it's not heavy like most oil-based ones, but neither is it light and airy so those of you who are selective about this kind of thing should take note. However, it doesn't have a scent and does provide lasting coverage throughout the day. I put it on this morning and my legs haven't "dried out" yet, even in my air-conditioned office.

Quick update

2010-06-11T07:20:00.000-07:00

There hasn't been much time to write an inspired blog entry these days, with the increased workload and more jobs (Hurrah!), so here's a quick update in point form in case you're wondering what I have been up to.

1. More work, more calls, more enquiries, and more meetings.
2. Made Vongole and Clam Chowder for the first time this week. Success!
3. Helped awwesomepossum do research on cameras and discovered new features on my Leica D-lux 4!
4. Killed all the insects on my plant and helped it to flower again. Alas, it seems to be a little sick still.
5. Baked pandan cake 3 times and it's almost good! Unfortunately, I am unable to buy the Chiffon Bake Tin and my plans for Try #4 will have to wait.
6. Reluctantly drag myself to the gym every week, except this past one.
7. Cooked less lunches this past month, but discovered many cheap and good stalls at the temporary Hong Lim Hawker Centre, and a fantastic authentic Thai eatery that serves cheap lunches!
8. Met up with some old friends for lunch.
9. Helped a friend design a cool invitation for her kids' birthday party.
10. Currently watching World Cup on Ch5. World Cup fever is upon us again!

HK is tiring, but I do miss it!

2010-05-26T23:56:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong. A city that never sleeps. I've been there twice and both times were tired out by the inhabitants' unrelenting passion for shopping, eating and life, generally, outside their homes. I heard Hong Kongers stay out because their homes are small and they prefer to hang out with their friends at restaurants, pubs, malls, etc. Whatever it is, I think I need loads of energy and a good pair of shoes to keep up with the people of this exciting city!

As for discovering Hong Kong, I managed to explore a little bit more of the culture and uniqueness of the place and its people on my second visit. The hubby's friend who works here in Singapore is a HK citizen and happened to be back there for a visit at the same time. He brought us to interesting shopping centres hidden behind big brown buildings with back alleys and entrances, and to eateries frequented by the locals. We got to try quality dim sum and roast goose at budget-friendly prices, and buy fun things like SGD3 iphone cases and SGD7 shoes. We had a great time. :)

More recently, I've had the chance to try this interesting iphone app the HK Tourism Board created for the Dragon Boat Festival. It's really fun and involves using rhythmic skills to help the dragon boats win their race. I'd love to experience the Dragon Boat Festival in HK if I had the opportunity, and eat bak zhang (rice dumplings filled with meat) of course. There's bak zhang in Singapore but we hardly get fancy Dragon Boat races anymore.

If you're interested, you can find out more on Hong Kong and the festival here. http://discoverhongkong.com

Ad: Seeking the prodigal client

2010-05-05T03:38:00.000-07:00

You can always count on me (or us) to give you quality design with great service. However, clients have been rather tight-fisted and unappreciative of late. Not only are my costs too high, I have also been inadequate and insufficient in meeting job briefs. Clients will never see that they never did give a proper brief in the first place. Gone are the days when they actually had to send a written brief, which account servicing will type out nicely into fields like "Target Audience" and "Tone and Manner". Nowadays, many clients pick up the phone and rattle out a list of items they want to do. They also think it's exceptionally easy to think of ideas for marketing/design/advertising materials. There's also the concept that a single quarter page ad is equivalent to a double page spread...after all, it's just a matter of how big it is, it won't take more work would it?

If there are anymore clients out there who appreciate experienced advice and good design work, please do give me a call. I want to do your work!

http://www.morpheuscreative.com/design
http://www.card-blanche.com

A busy month...of baking!

2010-04-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy month since my last post in March. I'm very happy about this of course, but I shan't bore you with the details. Instead, I must highlight how my interest in baking was piqued because of the fabulous sponge cake AwwesomePossum baked me for my birthday.

Here's a slice of the first whole cake I baked in over 10 years:

It's a simple vanilla sponge cake which I garnished with almonds and strawberries. It was not fluffy enough for me, but I was impressed it was easy NOT to make a cake that tasted like a rock (Remember the cake my dog refused to eat?).

I then spent every weekend after that baking, making a set of sponge cakes in cupcake shells for a friend's gym opening.

I made another whole strawberry cake for practice.

And I tried my hand at meringues (since there were leftover egg whites)...

I also baked carrot cake for AwwesomePossum's birthday and I was delighted that it did not taste like cardboard!

The downside to all this (Yes there is a downside!)...my electrical bill was 25% higher last month due to excessive use of the oven!

Big Big Thank You to You

2010-03-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to my best friend who lives on the other side of the planet, LT, who lugged this all the way back to Singapore for me. It's an ancient day art piece of Japan, which is a little ironical because I love modern day Japan to bits (:P), but nevertheless, the gesture touches "the very cockles of my soul" (Phrase courtesy of epitommy).

I have yet to decide where to hang it though...so it's sitting right by my window sill.

A thank you to the Awwesome Possum!

2010-03-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

My birthday passed this year with little fanfare, but that's alright with me. Sometime after the big three-oh, my birthday didn't seem so fun anymore, and I'd like it just fine to have it pass by without anyone remembering. Alas, Facebook sends out messages to everyone when it's my birthday so I got a torrent (Ok, not really a torrent) of nice wishes and blessings, which I accept gratefully. And there was an SMS greeting from a friend in Melbourne which was a very pleasant surprise.

Probably the most memorable thing this birthday would the cake that Awwesome Possum baked for me (Thank You!). It was a first attempt but absolutely delicious. Awwesome Possum is a fabulous baker, bless her soul! I received only one physical present, from her, an uber cool and cute Hello Kitty iphone case, and the rest of the presents were dinner treats from Kimmy, my family and my parents-in-law.

I suppose I could throw a bash (like a good friend of mine did last month, because she suddenly felt inspired), but till then, I'd appreciate simple treats like Awwesome Possum's home-baked cake. Now, how am I going to top what she did for me when it's her birthday? Any ideas?

All things happen for a reason...?

2010-02-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

Being Christian, I believe in God and acknowledge that He knows and sees all things, and that He makes all things for a reason. In my work and life, I have always felt assured that in the grand scheme of things, He will always work it out for me and provide for me. For example, in my years of running my own business, there have been opportunities, and I have thanked Him for success and providence.

However, in the last year or so, business has been slow and opportunities less. I also question my difficulty in starting a family. Is this all for some reason too? Sure, there are trials and tribulations, but how do I overcome these?

Recently, I have been introduced to some really good products from direct marketing companies. One is the No Work Shower Cleaner by Melaleuca, another is the Renew Moisturiser (also by Melaleuca), and there's the Anion Sanitary Pad which is truly innovative. I've never been an active follower nor a fan of direct marketing companies, but these products, I feel, could serve a greater good, so to speak. Were these all happening to me for a reason as well? Perhaps it was to show me an avenue to earn my keep, as well as help the people I care about.

I have also had the opportunity to get to know a new friend from another country. She chanced upon my blog and I have had the honour to chat with her over email. I'm sure this happened for a reason as well. Maybe in time, we can become good friends?

In the grand scheme of things, I guess only He up there will know why things happen. I can only pray for His shower of blessings and opportunities, because like the weather lately, it has been dry, hot and stifling.

PS - Will review the Renew Moisturiser and Anion Pads when I can.

More lessons from the past

2010-02-22T01:58:00.000-08:00

I realise my old posts from multiply were on my blogspot as well. Here are the links:

http://farrer-park.blogspot.com/2008/11/lessons-from-beautiful-wedding.html

http://farrer-park.blogspot.com/2008/11/10-things-you-should-be-aware-of-in.html

Both great reads :)

Binding Contracts

2010-02-22T01:55:00.000-08:00

I found this on my old multiply account, posted on 9 Nov 2008. Thought it made perfect sense.

----------------------Repost------------------------

All around me nowadays are anecdotes of marriage. Strange coincidence? Or is He trying to tell me something?

Today at church, the preacher mentioned that marriage is not a contract but a commitment. The sermon topic today was not one of marriage, but this short note suddenly came in. I might be over-analyzing and being too sensitive, but it is true, marriage is something that two people commit to and then work at for the rest of their lives. It is not a contract they can break and get out of. After all, what God put together, man must not divide.

I guess it's easy for most people nowadays to view marriage as just a piece of paper. After all, if they lived perfectly fine together in the same house, what need is there to go that one step further on the level of commitment they have to each other. Perhaps it can be viewed that if the scenario was like that, then if they were to take the step towards marriage, it should taken with utmost reverence and importance. I always find it funny that in times of anger and frustration, we humans who are married forget the words we said when we got hitched - "...for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part..." Having financial difficulties or dealing with sickness and ailments are both not easy things to do, and many do bail out if they happen.

Also, as with contracts, many do think if the one they are currently in do not fulfill their expectations and level of commitment, it is fair for them to think of contingency plans. After all, the long-term is at stake here, and perhaps there's something more promising elsewhere. This could be likened to the contract the Singapore government has with Las Vegas Sands. With Sands' big boss in financial difficulty at the moment, the Sg government has searched out previous bidders to cushion the shock should the project be stalled or delayed. The long-term is of course the goal, and if Sands' in trouble, maybe there will be someone else more suited to take its place.

Whilst I do not think Sands will give up so easily, I believe married couples facing problems should do likewise. Commitment is key, and working out the issues should be more important than breaking their "binding contract".

Why do I feel happy sometimes and sian other times?

2010-02-04T19:44:00.000-08:00

"Sian". A Hokkien word used to denote a lot of feelings. Singaporeans all get "sian" at one point or another, at one thing or another. In English terms, some adjectives that describe it would be bored, indifferent, mentally-tired, lethargic, disinterested, frustrated, a general sense of fatigue...

This morning I made Avocado Scramble with sausage slices and tomatoes. Sounds pretty yummy. But after I packed it to bring with me for lunch, I felt sian and wanted to eat something else instead. Perhaps it was the colour of the oxidised avocado, or the bland taste that did not seem to awaken my tastebuds despite salt and sausages. I chucked it in the fridge and promptly texted awwesomepossum to buy me a sushi set from Jasons Marketplace. The sushi seemed very exciting although I had to pay $5 and waste a good amount of avocado and egg.

As I made my way to office, I had the usual encounters on my train journey. Dingy Outram Station where I had to change trains, no 3G network on the SMRT line, unable to send and receive emails, having people block the train doors as I try to exit at Tanjong Pagar. And then there was a long queue of people trying to get their hands on calligraphed Chinese New Year wishes. Sian...everything seemed so dreary and dull, including the scenery, and it's a bright sunny day.

Perhaps I'm just suffering from an early PMS, or insufficient sleep. Next week will be different, not sian at all with the great move!

The wonders of dashi and mirin

2010-02-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

My apologies for the slightly blur photo, for this Oyakodon (chicken and onions with egg on rice) was calling out to me to savour it quick, and for its lack of colour, as I did not want to buy spring onions just for garnish (!).

Ah, the wonders of dashi and mirin. Dashi is a soup stock made from kelp and bonito, and it forms the base of many soups like miso soup. Mirin is a sweet rice wine. I used to lament that it was difficult to obtain these two ingredients, unless I went to a Japanese supermarket. And in most Japanese food, dashi and mirin feature strongly on the recipe list. A quote I found on Wikipedia, by Shizuo Tsuji in 1980 said, "Many substitutes for dashi are possible, but without dashi, dishes are merely a la japonaise and lack the authentic flavor."

Thank goodness NTUC actually sells these two ingredients. They were under my nose all this time! And, they weren't very expensive. I was so pleased that with just these two items, my rice bowl transformed from a Chinese one to a Japanese one.

Here's my adapted recipe should you wish to try this out.

Oyakodon
Serves 2.

Ingredients:
Japanese rice (however much you like to eat)
2 chicken thighs
Half an onion
2 eggs
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 tablespoons mirin
3/4 cup dashi stock
1 tablespoon sugar

Let's cook:
1. Steam the rice until it's nice and fluffy.
2. In the meantime, debone the chicken thighs and slice them into bite sized pieces.
3. Thinly slice the onions.
4. In a saucepan, add a little oil and fry the onions until they are slightly translucent.
5. Add the chicken pieces and fry them around a bit.
6. Using 3/4 cup hot water, dissolve half a packet of dashi powder and then add it to the saucepan.
7. Add the mirin, sugar and soy sauce.
8. Let everything simmer until the chicken is cooked and the onions are soft and translucent.
9. Beat the 2 eggs in a bowl and pour them into the saucepan.
10. When the eggs start to curdle and get cooked, turn off the heat.
11. Place the rice into two bowls, and pour the chicken egg mixture equally over both bowls of rice.
12. Add chilli flakes and sliced spring onions. (optional)

Saving money with Liese

2010-01-26T07:10:00.001-08:00

I usually have my hair coloured (or a root touch-up) at the salon. Whilst I think $70 is pretty reasonable considering you get a professional's touch and conscientious service, these are lean times and I'm looking at saving some money. However, colouring one's own hair with store-bought dye kits is never an easy task. It involves great skill and mastery to dye your own hair facing the toilet mirror, whilst struggling with gloves, a comb, and hair dye that threatens to drip and stain your clothes and floor tiles.

And then I saw the TV ad for Liese Bubble Hair Colour. A wonderfully ingenious product that combines shampooing and dyeing, Liese is so easy to use and best of all, effective! I had one inch black roots with the rest of my hair brown, but the result with Liese is an even-coloured brown from root to tip! The only thing you have to take note of is to leave the hair dye on for twice the amount of time the instructions recommend. But if your hair is black like midnight (like Kimmy's), one hour will just render a touch of brown, very subtle if you like it that way.

Overall, a very happy experience for me!

Baking & Gaming

2010-01-24T08:44:00.001-08:00

I spent the day baking. Kimmy spent the day gaming. These two activities are as different as night and day. And both of us were not interested in what the other was doing. However, there was one thing in common -- we wanted to complete what we were doing, and complete it well. Great success! After what seemed like eternity (which in fact was just about 9 hours with breaks in between for teatime and dinner), we have achieved our goals. For me, I have a set of beautifully-baked and deliciously moist cupcakes. For Kimmy, he completed his game, one that he has been going at for a month!

We can now retire to bed with a smile on our faces.

2 white baby rabbits need a good home

2010-01-21T02:33:00.000-08:00

If you're interested, do email me. :)

My baking woes

2010-01-20T08:29:00.000-08:00

I am very bad at baking. In all the times I have attempted baking, most of them have failed. I can even remember the mishaps that happened in every attempt that I have made. There was the one when I baked a cake for my dog, and it was so dry she gave up and walked away after two mouthfuls. And then there was the craze to try to make macarons. I tried twice and both times ended up wasting a lot of money on almond powder. I have also failed in "unbaking" a mousse cake. It ended up in a semi-state of consciousness, not melting to mash, but failing to set hard enough. It was still edible but very strange.

The one time I remember baking something good, was when awwesomepossum and I made gingerbread men-shaped cookies for our clients in 2003. (And they were good only because awwesomepossum has a magical touch for such things!)

Which brings me to my latest "failed" attempt. Inspired by the wonderful photos of all my friends who bake like professionals, I decided to make some cupcakes after dinner today. They turned out delicious, especially since I added bananas. Except...they weren't banana cupcakes. They became banana muffins in the oven. :( They were looking decidedly beautiful halfway through the baking process, but somewhere at 20mins they started cracking and looking like authentic muffins. Sad. My only consolation is that as banana muffins, they were pretty tasty!

Awwesomepossum has encouraged me to practise more, and try again. I can't wait till the weekend, when I can get my hands on flour, butter and sugar, and start all over. Ten fingers crossed this time!

No Work Shower Cleaner

2010-01-18T06:47:00.000-08:00

In the midst of trying to write this blog entry, my Macbook's adaptor gave a loud "piak" sound and breathed its last breath. Surprising to me, as it was only 3 years old. Mac products are famed to last for years, but that said, who knows how they make their products now, when profits override the need for lasting quality.

Speaking about products however, I simply had to write this entry on Melaleuca's No Work Shower Cleaner. If you have a shower stall in your bathroom that has a glass screen or screen door, you'd know that by the end of the week, the entire glass will be covered in hard water stains and soap scum, and the term "glass" wouldn't even begin to describe it. To clean it off, I had to use a mixture of bleach, soap and water, a good scouring pad, and a whole lot of arm strength to scrub off the stains. I accepted this as part of my weekly housekeeping routine, until I chanced upon this product by Melaleuca. All it needs is a few sprays on the glass after showering, and when the glass dries, you can see that it's noticeably cleaner. At the end of the week, it's just a tad bit dirty and my cleaning time in the bathroom is considerably shorter!

I think it's fantastic that I have No Work Shower Cleaner to aid me in my housekeeping, this is one product that will keep me happy for ages to come.

Positive thoughts for 2010

2010-01-10T23:50:00.003-08:00

A recent discussion with friends on Facebook, a friend's post on "superiority" and "judging", as well as a chance encounter with Luke 6:37, made me realise I might be too much of a mean person of late.

" ³⁷Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. "

I'd admit I haven't been actively following Jesus' footsteps in recent years, and although I've always tried to be nice to people, there are some difficult personalities I dismiss with a wave of the hand.

So, with the bits of advice from Friend 1, 2, and 3, and a new fresh look on my blog, I resolve to judge less, condemn less and forgive more.

I dedicate this post...

2010-01-05T06:01:00.001-08:00

I would like to dedicate this post to my grandparents' domestic helpers - Agnes, Lily and Maxilline. They have been a constant source of help and comfort to my grandparents, and I am appreciative that they are there to assist us. I would like to thank them for doing the housework, the cooking, and for all the help they provide to my grandparents in their daily affairs. I'm not one who believes in having a domestic helper at home to do my chores, but I truly am grateful that they are there for my grandparents whilst the rest of the family goes out to work in the day.

I've never seen anyone write a blog post to thank their domestic helpers. The people who pay for their services (I'm not one of them) probably think it's their job so obviously, they do what they get paid for. But I think Agnes, Lily and Maxilline are kind people, who genuinely care about their job and their lives here with my grandparents. It helps also that they come from the same country and have a small "community" of their own. There are too many stories of lonely maids who go mad and start to do crazy things. I know there are times too, when family members get rattled and become impatient when the three of them don't work as fast as they would like them to. It is human to err, and perhaps there are just too many orders barking around them to be able to attend to each quickly enough.

I hope they know they are appreciated in the household. My mother prepares a gift for them every Christmas, and whilst I have not actually verbally thanked them, I do try to help them at dinners when there are 20 hungry mouths to feed and only 6 hands amongst them to do the work. :)

Last Post of the Year

2009-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's time to bid farewell to 2009 and say welcome to 2010. Although I usually abhor the passing of time - it flies too fast - and I yearn for the clock to turn back, I must say 2009 was a very long and somewhat depressing time. It all seems like a blur now but earlier in the year, when business was slow and rent too high, everything was bleak, gloomy and seemingly hopeless. Stock markets were bad, inflation abound, and yup, the office phone hardly rang. Add to that my list of personal problems and an Armageddon would have been merciful.

And so here I am on the last day of the year, feeling pensive. 2010 marks the start of a new decade! It seemed just yesterday that I was flying home from a holiday in UK and partaking in the Countdown to 2000 festivities along Orchard Road. It has been an eventful and fantastic 10 years. I can't say I'm regretting or anything like that, and I'm not one to look back and lament. I firmly believe in looking forward and as apprehensive or reluctant that I am, I can confidently say 2010 couldn't be any worse than 2009 was.

Here are some things I potentially can look forward to:
1. New office premises (?!)
2. A longer holiday, one that requires a longer than 7 hour flight
3. More business (!?)
4. Unexpected surprises, hopefully pleasant ones
5. More people knowing Cardblanche

And I gave up making resolutions a long time ago, but here are some I think I should try to attain:
1. Regular workout and gym sessions (at least 3 times a week)
2. More adventures and experiments in the kitchen
3. Improve my dessert skills
4. Meet and know more people
5. Increase awareness of Cardblanche

Happy New Year! And may all your dreams be fulfilled in the coming months!

Using a percolator

2009-12-30T17:22:00.001-08:00

I've never used a percolator to make coffee before, and decided I should take pictures. Basically, I find it a novel and fun concept to be able to make espresso with a tiny contraption, and whilst it doesn't taste as fantastic as a cuppa brewed from a machine, it beats 3-in-1 coffees hands down.

Here goes:

1. Fill the percolator with water and tightly pack in espresso powder. (I used Illy-yums!) Put it over a small flame.

2. Heat up some milk if you take your espresso milky. I don't have a steamer to make "steamed milk" or froth up cappucino, so this will have to do.

3. Add in a drizzle of honey/maple syrup. I'm trying to find hazelnut syrup but it's very tough.

4. When the water in the percolator starts boiling, switch off the flame and let it stand until all the coffee appears on the top portion. Pour it into the cup, add the milk and syrup and voila, an easy, fuss-free, home-made cuppa espresso.

Ippudo SG

2009-12-23T02:46:00.000-08:00

Ippudo has finally arrived on the shores of Singapore. Braving the long queues and hordes in Orchard Road, I made Kimmy accompany me on an excursion to taste Ippudo Singapore.

Of course I thought we were being smart by reaching the eatery at 1130am. But Singaporeans think alike, and there was a long queue already. That's ok, I was expecting to wait. The wait turned into a 50 minute long torture as I was submitted to incessant chatter by 5 executives in the line behind me complaining about anything and everything, and especially Ippudo. I dunno why they were talking so loudly, and it was so disturbing I couldn't hear my thoughts or write coherent updates on Facebook.

Eventually we got a seat in this ramen joint that's a bit too chi-chi for liking. I don't think a ramen joint needs pretty (and massive) chandeliers and fancy wall decor. They probably just need to add condiments on the table. I was looking for my shoyu, chilli oil, chilli flakes, sesame seeds, garlic, garlic press, ginger slices, pickled vegetables, pepper, etc, etc but it was a big bare table, very utilitarian, shared with other patrons. Kimmy said Ippudo gives or sells this wonderful tao gey (bean sprouts) dish but it wasn't on the menu. What was on it, thankfully, is the gyoza (dumplings), which is quite possibly the best gyoza I've ever eaten. They are miniscule, but full of flavour.

Everything aside, most importantly, the broth lives up to its name. The Shiomaru and Akamaru were both delicious, hearty and full-flavoured. The tamago (egg) was overcooked though. Methinks it was perfect to begin with, but ended up being cooked thoroughly in hot broth. Ippudo should really look into perfecting their onsen-tamago. In the meantime, DO NOT order the egg with your ramen, save that $2!

Final verdict: Delicious but rather expensive at nearly $50 for 2 persons (just for ramen?!). If you love Hakata-style ramen, Ippudo will be worth your wait. Here are some pictures of Ippudo in Singapore and Tokyo.

Delicious gyoza.

Akamaru ramen, pork-flavoured soup with miso paste and garlic oil.

Shiomaru ramen, pork-based soup.

Ippudo SG's fancy decor.

Shiomaru in Tokyo, see any differences?

Ippudo store in Ebisu, Tokyo.

Fa La La Sale - Everything must go!

2009-12-23T02:39:00.000-08:00

Due to the ridiculous cheap prices some stores are selling their accessories now, as well as my waned interest in making little pieces, I have slashed prices on everything at Aglaia Accessories...So please, help me get rid of them, or to put it nicely, please take them off me and put them to good use. And if you take a photo of yourself wearing one of the pieces and email that to me, I might send you a surprise freebie as a gesture of appreciation. :)

Click now and Snap away!

Help the elves clear their shelves!

2009-12-10T01:44:00.001-08:00

FA LA LA Sale!
Tis the season to be jolly! Fa la la la la la la la la.
Deck the halls and stuff the stockings! Fa la la la la la la la la.
50% off everything* and free postage if you buy 5 items or more.
Go to Aglaia Accessories now! Fa la la la la la la la la.

* except name necklaces

I love my family

2009-12-02T07:24:00.001-08:00

I love my family, my extended family with uncles, aunties, cousins, gong gong, po po, and their domestic helpers. When I was younger, I used to grudgingly tag along for Sunday lunches. I loved to eat the food my granddad cooked, but the house was always so noisy, with the TV at top volume, and everyone shouting to get themselves heard. When siblings get together, they try to out-talk each other, so imagine a small 4-room flat with the echoes of loud loud Hainanese!

Years passed and I have grown to understand the relationships and behaviour of everyone in the family. There are still things that irritate me (like pieces of rice on the floor that stick to my socks) but overall, it's the whole fun of enjoying the closeness of the family unit that I appreciate now.

Thank you God for blessing my family all this time.

The holiday that wasn't a holiday

2009-11-25T06:58:00.000-08:00

I was recently in Hong Kong on a 4-day holiday, except it did not feel like a holiday at all. It came and went by so fast I feel like I need another break again. Kimmy and I resolved to have a relaxing time and planned a suitably leisurely itinerary for ourselves. Unfortunately for us, Hong Kong is filled with massive and never-ending streets of shopping and we couldn't help but walk our way through the 4 days. No thanks to my lousy pair of shoes, I was suffering from back pains on the first day and it inadvertently affected my enthusiasm for this city that is a sensory overload (nearly as much as Tokyo!) Everywhere, there were things to see, hear, feel, touch and taste, and even though we didn't rush our way through the city (the way one would do at Bangkok's Chatuchak on a weekend), I think we felt even more tired than when we started out. Even a friend of ours we met who's a Hong Kong native agreed that the city (downtown HK areas) seemed to be lined with shops and people, without breaks in between, and it was extremely overwhelming.

So, whilst I wanted to be inspired by pretty things, cool weather (of which there was none) and take lots of pictures, I have only fun memories and a whole load of good food to show for it.

The beautiful skyline of Hong Kong from the cable car going to Ngong Ping.

Really good and cheap dim sum, heavenly!

Ubiquitous trams, which although cheap, I have never had the chance to take a ride on it.

Streets lined with people on a weekday afternoon.

And here is me, looking refreshed on the last day of my vacation, although inside, I was pretty tired.

A visit to Mint Museum

2009-11-24T06:56:00.000-08:00

It's "cultural" month for me. A friend sent me an invite to her bear exhibition held at MINT Museum, another is staging a play, and yet another friend asked me to go for SSO's Beethoven concert next Friday. It's also a very busy month, the jobs have started coming in, and I've been working my ass off, nursing a cough and neglecting my regular workouts. Nevertheless, I'm trying my best to squeeze in time for some extra-curricular activities, here are some pictures I took at MINT.

Check out the estimated value of this very old Mickey Mouse toy.

I loved this, Batman charm bracelet, how cool is that!

This here is a remote controlled peacock and it's life-sized. I really cannot imagine who would have bought this toy to play.

I'm a fan of Astroboy but he seems rather grouchy here. Must be his "fighting" face.

Beatles toys.

Sean Connery James Bond figurine.

A rather disturbing old China toy of a soldier bashing the head of his enemy into the ground.

Last but not least, my friend's bear, who's travelled the world more than me, and has won numerous awards. He will now be loved and admired by many in MINT.

The baby bunnies go to a new home

2009-11-02T17:42:00.000-08:00

Three baby bunnies were born recently but one died, think he got trampled on by its mom. The other two are strong and well, chubby and cute, and have been adopted by a nice person who I got to know out of the blue. If you've always wanted to bunny and have been waiting fervently, don't fret, there will be more opportunities in future. On a side note, two bunnies who got adopted in the past have given birth too! I can't wait to see what colours they are, I think both the mommy rabbits are white but the daddy rabbits are brown.

I want to know more people

2009-11-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel like, you wished you knew more people? I've been having those thoughts lately, and it's only because of my shyness I've never been able to talk to or know more people. I'm not the type to talk to strangers on the street, although I try to keep myself in a friendly frame of mind. I'm also not very sociable with neighbours but when I moved house I resolved to be more talkative when I can. Then, I realized my neighbours aren't very comfortable with random chit chat as well. Sure we'd all smile or greet each other, but some of the neighbours try to ignore me when I walk by and say good morning. I guess they're even more anti-social than me, or just socially inept!

At this juncture in my life I feel this need to get to know more people, but I don't like clubbing and I don't want to pay for networking, so it seems I'm left with social networking sites like facebook, which really is very useful. Of course we'd never really personally know the people we know on facebook, since everyone is hidden behind a monitor. I guess The only way I can achieve this is to
go out and do what I have to do, and talk. If you want to know more people too, or know me, feel free to drop me an email. A response within 24hr is guaranteed. :)

Wanna free voucher?

2009-10-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

With value of up to 50%, this voucher is great for early Christmas shopping! To snag this freebie, simply send an email to ambienlim@yahoo.com.sg with the subject header "I wanna free voucher!" and you'd get the voucher in your email inbox the very next day!

Get it now!

Customer service battle for last place

2009-10-14T23:07:00.000-07:00

I have been a customer of all three telcos we have here in Singapore - M1, Starhub, and I recently switched to Singtel.

Having experienced all three telcos' customer service, I must say Singtel really takes the lead for having the worst customer service around. Using them as a benchmark, M1 would be top-notch, answering calls to their service line promptly and politely. Starhub has also improved over the years although I must say they seem to favour Starhub users calling from a Starhub mobile line, as opposed to enquiries via email or regular land line. Unfortunately, as of last week, Singtel was the only telco selling the Apple iPhone, and having had waited for that phone for many months already, I decided to sign up with them to buy the phone. If I had been patient, I would be able to buy the phone with M1, or even Starhub in future.

Because of the limited stocks of the iPhone in the past few months, I had been emailing Singtel customer service to request information. It takes about 2 emails to get someone to reply, and then after that it's a fairly long wait for another reply, or you might not get one at all. I sent an email to a customer service officer and left her a message on her answering machine but have had no reply to this day. As for calling 1626, it's perpetually a 45min - 1 hour wait for anybody to get on the line. I know Singtel has the biggest customer base amongst the telcos, but I expect that they should have more officers in their customer service department to handle the high volume of calls, especially when they say they are "committed to providing nothing less than quality products and premium servicing".

I think Singtel should improve their customer service, now with the added customers they would be having with the EPL and ESPN channels they have scored.

A special mention on a special site

2009-10-01T21:26:00.003-07:00

http://porkonyourfork.blogspot.com/

Do surf by this site, written (very well I might add) by a good friend of mine. She loves reading and cooking, and until she develops ambitions to be a world-celebrated chef, she's actually pursuing a career in writing and publishing. Loads of luck to her from me on getting her dream fulfilled!

In the meantime, do "follow" her on her blog (just click on the Followers on the right side of the page) and learn to cook from the recipes she has there.

Sushi Tei is opening at a mall near me!

2009-09-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

I'm excited! As corny as it sounds, i'm pretty pleased that there's going to be a Sushi Tei near me. City Square Mall, which opened today, seemed like it was destined to be a suburban mall (read: not in Orchard Road) with run-of-the-mill boutiques and eateries. Actually, shopping there doesn't seem so great from the tenant list i've seen, but the eateries fare a bit better. I was half expecting substandard restaurants like Sakae Sushi, or worse, Suki Sushi. After all, it's not as shiny and glamourous as ION.

A lot of my favourite fastfood outlets are opening there - Macs, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway - and there's Soup Restaurant, Toast Box and Manhatten Fish Market. Alas, the ubiquitous coffee joint slated to open is Coffee Bean, which serves up some of the worst (and milkiest) teas and coffees around.

Shopping is a bit of a letdown in City Square. There's Metro, argh, and a host of strange boutiques I've never heard of, all very suburban, topped off by Charles and Keith. I guess they will suffice, and there's always Watsons and NTUC for daily neccessities.

Nevertheless, i can't wait for the rest of the mall to be up and running, i can walk there via the underground walkway at the MRT so it's highly convenient. :)

Rabbit Alert

2009-09-09T00:38:00.000-07:00

I think my mom's rabbit is ready to pop again, that means, more cute little baby bunnies. Those of you who have emailed me previously wanting to adopt, you should probably be getting an email from me soon, asking if you're still interested in getting a bunny pet. I actually don't think rabbit mama likes to keep doing this, but alas, she always gets set upon by males who do a high jump out of their fenced area to get to her. Should really think about spaying her. Poor gal.

Some truths and The Ugly Truth

2009-09-07T21:39:00.000-07:00

What do you think is the biggest turn-off (disgust) during a date?
I personally haven't been on a lot of bad dates, and thankfully have been spared anymore of those ever since I got married. But there was one particular incident which left me with a bad taste in the mouth. I had a date grab my hand and insisted he kept it warm for me because the cinema was cold. Of course, on hindsight, it was not a very wise decision to go watch a movie with this fella. I don't relish my hand being grabbed on a first date, moreover on such lame pretext as "keeping it warm". Hah. I actually did not even like my date very much and only decided to go out with him because I was free and it was the school holidays. Oh well, that's behind me now.

Why do you want to watch “The Ugly Truth”.
I absolutely want to catch this movie because Gerard Butler's quite dishy. I can't really stand his accent, that lingering Irish, Scottish or whatever accent that he can't seem to get rid of in America, but he makes up for it with his raw sensual energy, perhaps a carry-over from his 300 days. hehe...

I like Katherine Heigl too so...she's always fun, funny, stylish. I liked her in that bridesmaids movie with James Marsden.

Till the movie arrives, be a fan at the official Facebook page and catch The Ugly Truth when it opens in the cinemas on the 17th September 09!

My brush with H1N1

2009-08-14T01:56:00.000-07:00

Just some days ago, a 27 year old woman died of a heart attack brought on by H1N1 influenza. She had no underlying medical conditions. The frailty of life, it could have been anyone, it could have been me.

Two weekends ago, I woke up with a horrible sore throat and it progressed into a fever and hacking cough. I doused myself in juices, panadol and whatever medicine I could find in the fridge, but after a few days the fever had not subsided.

I made it to the doctor, only to have him diagnose wrongly, giving me antibiotics when clearly H1N1 flu (the most common flu around nowadays) is a virus and antibiotics wouldn't work. I had to visit another doctor a couple of days later, only to just pay to receive peace of mind as my fever had subsided by then. He did mention I will be coughing for 2 weeks and it's nearly about there...and I'm still coughing.

As I look back, I feel blessed my fever hardly went over 38 degrees and I could still spend my days watching movies on the couch and chatting with friends over the internet. If you're reading this and are at home feeling fluish, please get yourself to the doctor straight away to get proper medicine.

Men in Movies

2009-08-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

Being holed up at home on self-imposed quarantine, whilst I'm nursing a flu and very bad throat, I've had to entertain myself with a slew of Hollywood movies. I watched so many in these last few days I can't believe it myself. Most of them were light hearted romantic comedies or stories, but I noticed one similar trait in all of them - the men say the things that women love to hear.

I'm sure this is just the sort of stuff that tinseltown embellishes to endear us to them. In real life, i've never experienced any man being so clear, straightforward and forthcoming in their expressions of love. With the exception of a man blurting out a flurry of mushy sentences when he is asking you to marry him, regular day to day dialogue, or even sweet nothings at the bedside, would barely include the words "I love you".

Perhaps there are such men in the world, who really tell their lovers like they mean it. I'm excluding the casanovas and don juans of our time, whom i'm sure will say anything to get what they want.

Maybe men in real life should take a cue from reel heroes. I'm sure the "words that women want to hear" will be beneficial to them in the long run.

Pets make us happy

2009-07-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

My mother recently remarked that she sometimes feels bored at home, but whenever she sees her rabbits run and play, hopping around the house, it brings such joy to her heart and she feels like squeezing them. Being a pet lover myself, I totally understand these sentiments. The friends I know who aren't into animals, and even Kimmy (who's owned a dog himself), would never be able to experience the type of happiness that an animal lover does.

I guess many people find their lives too meaningful or too busy to be able to include one more creature in it, especially one that seems to take up a lot of time and money, and can never verbally reply them. I've seen families with kids who refuse to let pets in the house because the parents want the kids to concentrate on academic studies instead of learning compassion and responsibility by owning a pet.

As I look back now, I feel that my experiences owning pets has enriched my life and taught me many things. I've had hamsters, dogs, terrapins, fish, chickens, birds, rabbits...and they've all brought me joy and many hours of laughter. For those who do not own pets or have not owned any, I hope you will consider in the near future. I guarantee you'd have years of happiness.

We all become our parents

2009-07-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

As scary as it sounds, we will all inevitably become what most of us were afraid of as a child - our parents. I am slowly coming to terms with this as well. As time goes by and I become a responsible adult, all my fears as a rebellious teenager are realised.

For starters, I take life in the slower lane, no more a speed devil, and I find myself cursing the fancy souped up WRXes when they tail me on the highway. I guess I reached an age where I don't think the thrill of the adrenaline rush is worth the risk.

Secondly, because I am financially independent now, I feel I am unable to tolerate the youth and the masses who spend frivolously. Even my brother's poor control over his finances irk me and it begs for a nag.

Speaking of nagging, somehow I nag more nowadays. I remember I used to dislike my parents for telling me the same thing over and over again, but now I do it subconsciously, to my husband who seems to never listen, and even my parents, who seem to forget everything I say!

Last but not least, I find myself nostalgically wishing for the days when music sounded so good, which is when I was younger. I recall my parents liking all that 60s jive sound and I thought it was so "old-fashioned". Now it seems I too, am old-fashioned. I get these moods where I just want to listen to the good 'ol days of the 80s, with bubblegum love lyrics and simple disco tunes. No rap, no hip hop, no angsty nasal-sounding teenage rocker.

Berry Goodness

2009-06-25T19:10:00.000-07:00

My morning smoothie of celery, strawberries and the new Powerberries drink by Peel Fresh.

Recipe:
1 stalk celery
6 strawberries
Half a cup of Peel Fresh Powerberries
(if only Peel Fresh would pay me for this promotion haha!)

Method:
Blend all together and enjoy!

My window handle broke off

2009-06-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

My window handle broke off when I was trying to close the window. It's made of metal but it just broke into half. I'm posting this photo as a testament to HDB's lousy quality window handles. Thankfully the contractor I called managed to find a replacement.

Peanut Porridge

2009-06-22T23:17:00.000-07:00

photo from sparkyboi

I love peanut porridge, the kind that you find in hawker centres, early in the morning during breakfast hours. This simple and much-overlooked dish is delicious with the smooth watery texture of the porridge and the scent of boiled peanuts -- heavenly! I actually ate this yesterday and today for breakfast. It was comforting and warm, and I enjoyed myself immensely despite my perspiring in the hot and humid hawker centre. The price and portion helps too, it's cheap and it doesn't fill you up too much, leaving room for a snack on the side or a glass of juice.

This is what I would call a "happy bunny experience".

The Pursuit of Happyness #1

2009-06-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

I chanced upon a quiz for married couples and there was a question regarding how happy one was with their partner after a few years of marriage. There were answers to pick from, including "Still as happy as when we first married", "I go my way, my spouse goes his/her own way", and "We do our own things but are happy to get back together once in awhile".

My friend who took the quiz remarked, how can anyhow still be as happy as when they first got married, that's impossible, she exclaimed.

But for me, I can safely say I chose answer #1 on the quiz.

I realise after a few years of marriage that the "happiness" factor is really, all in your mind. By re-aligning your thoughts and viewing things from a different angle, you will find that you can still be happy despite all the chaos around you. For example, despite all of Kimmy's irritating habits, he's generally a great husband who loves me, cares for me and still likes to spend time with me. So I try to think of activities that we both can take part in, and often. This entails effort of both people and it's probably something a lot of people overlook when they lament on the lack of happiness in their life.

So to be happy, the first thing to do is, look at things from a different angle.

Dog Chain

2009-06-15T02:28:00.000-07:00

Strangely, nobody has been interested in this lovely chain with a plastic dog charm. It's simple, chic and cute, with a glossy black dog, diamante collar, black and silver chain. My guess is nobody's taken notice of it, or dogs aren't so trendy nowadays. I see a lot of people wearing butterflies, fairies, birds, what happened to our trusty Man's Best Friend?

I would love to keep this piece for myself but I already have my Doggy in Diamante with the silver dog charm.

Hope someone takes a liking to this puppy one day. =)

Is anybody still getting married?

2009-06-12T03:42:00.000-07:00

Despite the recession, I hear stories of people who just got engaged, but not when they have to do their wedding stationery. Why is that so? Is everyone cutting back on their wedding budget and not wanting to do up nice wedding invitations for this once in a lifetime event?

When I was doing up my own wedding invitation a few years ago, I also fretted spending some hundreds of dollars getting stylish chic invitations done. I tried to ring in some favours with my suppliers, but to no avail, I still had to pay for their materials and labour. However, my cards turned out superbly gorgeous and friends were highly impressed.

I hope to give my couples the same "woo-wah" effect with their invitations but they'd have to take that first step in trusting me with this small but essential part of their big day.

www.card-blanche.com/blanche.html

I do have a promotion going on with free upgrades on paper stock, contact me if you are interested. :)

Achievements and Plans of World Domination

2009-06-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

Last night at dinner with two very dear friends of mine, we were discussing the different paths our secondary school classmates had taken in the last 15 years. Whilst it seemed increasingly common to have many of them becoming academics and attaining their PHD, there were also many who have settled early into a cosy family life with kids in tow.

The friends who studied for further degrees and in high powered jobs, I admire them for their drive and tenacity. And the friends who are happily tuned to a routine family life, I guess they do have found the meaning to their life.

I was never one to have highly ambitious goals, to rise through the ranks and achieve "world domination" so to speak, but I also don't seem very skewed to a laid back family life with screaming kids on a Sunday morning. I do wish to have children of my own, and while it so far hasn't materialised, I wonder if I would be ready if it does happen.

But until things change in my life, I will be spending much of my time and effort keeping my company afloat until the recession turns for the better. Business has been slow and the customers more penny-pinching. *sigh* I hope things will get better, and then I can get my life back on track.

Beary Cheery Breakfast

2009-06-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

I found this bear-shaped saucepan in Giant for $2.99 and decided to get it just for fun. Kimmy made some pancakes with it for me yesterday, here they are, so cute and cheery. Their faces aren't very defined but oh well...they're still sure to bring a smile to your face in the morning :D

Land of the Lost

2009-06-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

A movie remake of a 70s TV series, Land of the Lost revolves around a scientist whose time machine invention sucks him (and two friends) into another dimension/universe. It's no holds barred in this other dimension, with giant crabs, frog-like alien-zombies and dinosaurs, and a loosely built plot about world domination or rather, universe domination.

At first, I thought this was a movie for kids- think Brendan Fraser Journey to the Centre of the Earth kinda thing. However, with one mention of the F word and a host of other dirty joke references (some which involve a prehistoric monkey-man), I reckon the parents who brought their kids to watch this film might be regretting a little.

Will Ferrel was his usual self here, you know his deadpan style of humour. It's fairly passable. I found myself enjoying the "calamities" that befall him and his friends more. I especially like the mosquitoes in this Land of the Lost. They totally freak me out but are enormously funny. I must say the CGI for the movie is pretty damned good as well. The dinosaur that befriended them looked immensely real, or he could have been a loan from the Jurassic Park archive.

Overall, Land of the Lost makes for perfect afternoon entertainment. It's not highly original or ridiculously hilarious, but would probably still give you that warm fuzzy feeling after watching, sorta like peanut butter on the roof of your mouth. Oh and not to forget, the ending credits pay homage to 70s style groove with music, 2D illustrations and stylish typography...nice.

Baby Rabbits up for adoption again

2009-06-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

My mom's rabbit gave birth (again!) about 7 weeks ago and here are the adorable little bunnies, all waiting to be taken home. One or two might be "reserved" but do let me know if you are interested and I will try to get them for you.

What do you do on weekends?

2009-06-07T03:19:00.000-07:00

For many, weekends are a time for family, bringing the kids out to the park, going shopping and running errands. For the busy corporate warrior, it could be spending time whipping their bodies into shape, or out of shape if they go drinking with friends.

For me, I eat. With a tightened belt and satisfactory shopping on my holiday last month, I find myself with nothing to do on a weekend out with the husband. The weather's been scorching lately and we inevitably find ourselves in the mall walking around aimlessly and working up an appetite. And being Singaporean, I do love my food so, and sometimes, searching out the best food around town can be an enjoyable experience.

My theme or motto for food now would be "budget conscious and value for money". I found this in the Famous Sungei Rd Laksa at Kelantan Lane, only $2 with cockles and fishcake (no prawns unfortunately for me as I do not eat cockles). The gravy was delicious, much better than Katong Laksa and its numerous copycats. See photo here.

After that, i went for teabreak at Ramen Ten. Strange place for teabreak I reckon, but it wasn't crowded and had seats, and it had a $4.90 waffle promotion that comes with free hot coffee or tea. Pretty good value as you get a huge scoop of vanilla/choc ice cream and 2 pieces of (skinny) waffles.

In an hour, I was heading for dinner. I wasn't hungry but since kimmy was, we decided to go to Urban Pantry at Novena Square. Urban Pantry is opened by Donut Factory and it serves up simple western and asian meals at low low prices (pictures shown here). Portions are generous too. Kimmy had the UP Burger which is $5.50 with fries and coleslaw. The beef was suitably tasty and did not feel like frozen patties from the supermarket. I had a mushroom soup ($3.50) and potato salad ($3) as I wasn't up for a main. Surprise surprise, the portions were so big I could not finish them, and they were all homemade goodness, no watered down canned soup. To add to all that, they have combo meals where you can have a main and soup at only $7. No taxes too!

A friend's Facebook post about eating her way through Singapore on her holiday here had no less than 10 replies on food, food and more food. Needless to say, I am sure I won't be the only one eating my way through the weekend.

I Love You Man!

2009-06-03T07:13:00.000-07:00

I've never thought much of Paul Rudd. I've seen him in movies ever since he acted as Alicia Silverstone's irritating stepbrother in Clueless, but he was always a part of the supporting cast. In I Love You Man, he gets a meaty starring role as a guy (Peter) who's never had male pals, and goes about finding one to be his best man at his impending wedding.

A ton of laughs follow as he goes on a series of "man-dates", and things get funnier when he meets Jason Segel (Sydney), who plays this really strange laid back guy who goes to the beach with his dog - a beagle/pug mix - in ugg boots, and embarrasses Peter with questions about his sex life. I think I laughed so hard I got a slight headache. It was good too as I was a bit miffed that my popcorn had no salty ones inside even though I told the guy I wanted "mixed". Perhaps it was the combination of sugar, coke and the movie, because I had a great time!

I'd love to tell you my favourite parts, like the one about the 89 year old uncle, and the masturbation station, but I'd leave you to catch the movie. Overall it's a pretty hilarious movie with great witty dialogue, especially from Jason Segel. I loved him in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and I love him here too, and let's not forget Paul Rudd, whose scenes with Jason Segel are a hoot!

Oh for the graciousness of our society!

2009-05-26T02:58:00.001-07:00

Having just returned from a holiday in Japan, Kimmy and I had a lengthy discussion today on why it seemed impossible for our society here to emulate theirs in terms of graciousness and civic mindedness. I know we have an influx of foreigners, some from (dare I say) less developed countries than Singapore, but the locals here aren't pushing the envelope in terms of being caring for their neighbours or just having manners.

A few gripes we have:

1. Nobody ever clears their tray at the food courts which have initiated the "Tray Return" station. Everyone's too used to having uncle and auntie clear up after they have eaten. Nobody clears their trays at the fast food joints too. I wonder why nobody remembers that ever since the creation of fast food restaurants, one has always been expected to clear their tray after dining at Macdonalds, KFC, or Mos Burger.

2. Nobody queues up or gives way at the entrances to the MRT Trains. Everyone rushes to get in, and some do it "unobtrusively", trying to squeeze in at the side, thinking they won't block anyone's way.

3. Nobody ever moves to the center of the train carriage. They just get past the train doors and then heave a sigh of relief that they were able to get onto the train, and just stand there. What? You mean there are people behind trying to get on? I don't think the thought ever even crossed their minds.

4. After so many years, there are still people standing on the right side of the escalator, especially at the MRT stations. Kim thinks this was shortsightedness on the government's part for not actually implementing this system when the MRT was started. As a result, everyone is too used to their "old ways" and cannot change. I usually like to say "excuse me" loudly in their ear and then try to squeeze past them. Miraculously, they look at me like I was the most uncouth and rude girl they have ever seen. Sometimes they couple it with a few "tsk tsks".

5. Drivers in Singapore don't ever stop at zebra crossings to let pedestrians cross. Somehow they seemed to have forgotten their basic theory, and the concept of a zebra crossing.

Will Singapore ever achieve a gracious, polite and civic-minded society? Does it take generations, to change mindsets and perhaps weed out the uneducated older bunch of inhabitants who don't see the need for a "first world" type of culture and mentality? In the meantime, I'd need to check my tolerance levels, up it a few more notches.

I love you but You love meat

2009-05-21T00:44:00.001-07:00

A friend passed me an article to read, regarding the strain of relationships between people who have different dietary habits. Until now, it never dawned on me why I got so upset with hubby whenever he didn't want to eat something, and I've resigned myself to be learn to be more accepting. Then I read this:

"Food has a strong subconscious link to love, said Kathryn Zerbe, a psychiatrist who specializes in eating disorders at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. That is why refusing a partner’s food “can feel like rejection,” she said."

No wonder. Somehow we're hardwired to behave like that. I still firmly believe that hubby is more a picky eater than having dietary restrictions. But whilst I do think that there's a lot of bad food out there, food bad for the body, I feel a twinge of pity if we didn't explore the options available to us on this earth. There are many cultures, gifted chefs and a whole lot of cuisines to try.

Read whole article here.

a better lunch for better times

2009-05-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

It's been fun that F and I have been making lunches in office. We get to have lots of home-cooked goodness and sometimes, saving money in the process.

Alas, today's baked eggplant wasn't as good as it looks here. Sure, the cheese on top is all crusty and delicious but the eggplants inside were undercooked, resulting in some purple stained mozarella and a slightly bitter taste. Boo hoo, I feel bad about it as F was hankering for it for days and it didn't turn out nicely. Hope I do a better job next time!

Baby Blues

2009-05-05T23:32:00.000-07:00

Baby cards haven't been doing too well ever since I started the collection last year. Perhaps the moms have switched to recessionista mode, or they thought they could diy cards themselves. Whichever it is, I see lots of women ready to pop so it would be lovely if they could swing by my site to see if there's anything they fancy.

www.card-blanche.com/baby.html

These cards can also be used as party invitations as well for the young and young-at-heart.

Chocolate Research Facility

2009-05-04T23:20:00.000-07:00

I feel so out of touch. With the world. With Singapore. With Orchard road.

Yesterday I found out NYDC at Suntec has closed down, and today I realised Orchard Central is up and ready to go. I think I should get out more.

Just minutes ago, I stumbled on this new and fabulous store created and conceived by the avant garde (as always) Asylum. I felt so envious. Why is it they have the money to do such things but not me :( sob sob... Aside from envy, I also feel inspired, motivated and I feel I can work harder to achieve more, and not forgetting the feelings of being out of touch again, as the Chocolate Research Facility has been open for 6 months and I didn't know about it.

Have a peek at the wonderful brand identity here.

I'm in pain!!

2009-04-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

I’m in pain! Excruciating pain! Yet again I had forgotten the terrible after-effects of cutting chilli padi without gloves, and now I am suffering.

Dinner tonight was a nicely baked/grilled sutchi fillet with dill and butter for me, and tomatoes, paprika and chilli for Kimmy. It was pretty tasty until the end when it started to become a bit fishy. And strangely enough, the sting of the chilli padi only came after one hour, and despite bathing, washing and moisturising, it still feels like hell.

I wish I had aloe vera to soothe the pain, I should get myself a tube. Am trying to numb the pain with ice cubes now, but it works only momentarily. ☹

Happy to see the bags

2009-04-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

It’s such joy to actually see a mass of bags at my office door. This month, I’ve had more orders completed than in the past few months combined, so it has been heartening. Funnily enough, the revenue and balance sheets turned out the same as previous months. I’ve had to cut my salary but pay more to the suppliers, ending up with the same low figures as before. Oh well, hope it gets better soon!

Bento Sarada

2009-04-29T02:00:00.000-07:00

Bento lunch for me and F in office today. Rocket salad with olives, pine nuts, tomatoes, garlic prawns and Hokkaido okaki (rice crackers).

Fried Rice unlike any other

2009-04-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

This fried rice doesn't taste or look like any I've ever eaten, but I was quite happy with the outcome. I've never fried rice before, thinking it might be difficult, troublesome, messy....but I was pleasantly surprised by this non-oily (although a bit dry), version with bacon, fishcake, cabbage and egg. I won't bother with a "recipe" here, since it was cooked based on estimation!

Whilst on the topic of food, check out these garlic prawns I made for salad lunch tomorrow. They smell great hot, but alas, packing lunch to office means having to chill the food or reheat in the morning, and I think these prawns might shrink to inedible sizes in the microwave. :P

Why do we always make the same mistakes?

2009-04-22T10:53:00.001-07:00

Why is it that we humans sometimes keep making the same mistakes?

A friend of mine insists her recent breakup was due to her high demands of attention and affection, and it's something that she has been grappling with for some time. She knows that this is something she has to work on to ensure smoother relationships in future but nevertheless, she falls into the same pattern every time.

Another friend asks why she always falls for the "bad boys" when she knows they won't work out, and then she dates the "good guys" only to end up feeling frustrated because they aren't up to "par" with her standards.

As for me, why do I cook things that Kimmy obviously doesn't like to eat. Why do I resort to hysterics whenever we have an argument instead of speaking calmly like a sane person. And why do I always throw away the bread packaging when there's obviously a freebie promotion that I know of?

A google on the question above brought up an interesting page from wikihow.com. (I never knew there was a wiki to how-tos) Here's an excerpt on how to avoid repeating mistakes:

Make sure that the mistakes you are making are all that bad in the first place. It might be that you just think poorly of yourself.
Write it down. Physically making a note of things and leaving it where you can see it will make a difference. It is like making a contract with yourself.
Find a replacement. When you feel like you are about to do something stupid find something else to do instead.
Think things out. Always think "why am I doing this?", or "what is my purpose?".
Come to acceptance. Some people will just never change and you might be one of them. Sorry about your luck.
YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE!!!
"SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LET GO OF WHO YOU WERE TO BECOME WHO YOU WILL BE"

Read full article here.

Perhaps it's in our DNA to fail, fail and fail again, or that God created us so weak so that we can rely on Him. In any case, if you are one who suffers from this syndrome as well, the best thing to do is probably to post stickies everywhere around you to remind yourself to not make the same mistakes again. I think I should start now, with one that reminds me not to go to bed so late and end up not being able to wake up early for a jog. :\

I love my fried ebi!

2009-04-22T10:50:00.001-07:00

Kawaii! My colleague got me an ebi fry a few days ago. Non-edible, it's fluffy, furry and useful. It's currently used as a wrist rest for the mouse in office, and can also be used as a monitor cleaner, but I think I'd skip that so it won't get grey and become a chao-ta (charred) prawn.

Cheeky Chocolates

2009-04-13T01:03:00.002-07:00

I finally made it down to Cheeky Chocolates, a whole year after my cousin opened his first outlet at Thomson. Because that was a little out of way, I was pleased that he expanded his stores to one at the new Illuma mall, on the 4th level.

Great location, I thought, when I first saw the shop. I brought boss Aaron a card too, handmade by yours truly. I then proceeded to indulge in some decadent desserts with Kimmy, my bro and his girlfriend. In my haste and hunger, I didn't get a photo of the chocolate waffles I was eating. :( But here are some shots of the caramalised banana waffles and chocolate pralines.

Caramalised banana crepes were really worth its value at $8.90. Delish~

Chocolates (from front to back) - lemon, passionfruit, hazelnut and mint. I really like the passionfruit one, it's unique.

Cheeky Chocolates
Illuma 4th floor
Bugis area, Victoria Street

Grapefruit Smoothie

2009-04-09T00:52:00.000-07:00

I am embarrassed to say that I am such a "suaku" (local speak for country bumpkin or ill-informed) that I did not know ruby (or pink) grapefruits are delightfully red on the inside whilst being bright yellow on the outside. I found that out today when I made a grapefruit and celery smoothie. It wasn't as sweet as pineapples or oranges, but its wonderful fresh tangy taste, filled with the goodness of Vitamin C, was refreshing and enjoyable.

Enjoy pink grapefruits now whilst it's in season! =)

Bakerzin: a less than satisfactory experience

2009-04-02T00:23:00.000-07:00

I thought I was going to have a good time last Tuesday night. Alas, bad service left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. Not literally, since I still had fairly delicious tiramisu and chocolate cake.

I haven't been to Bakerzin for at least a year. Being a Lee Hwa privilege card holder, I was given a free warm chocolate cake for my birthday. So Kimmy and I trotted down to the United Square outlet for dessert.

We arrived at about 8pm and after some ten minutes of trying to get a server's attention, we made our order for a slice of cake, a drink and the free chocolate cake. The outlet was not crowded, with a smattering of couples and families. There was ample staff but all seemed to be very busy walking up and down. Nobody actually sat us down at a table, nobody handed us the menu, instead I had to find a seat myself and grab the menu off the rack. Also, I must mention that the long sofa seats had crumbs and the floor was in fact, a little dirty.

After 5mins, the waiter brought over my Lee Hwa voucher and requested I write my name and IC number on the back of it. It took some effort on his part to search for a marker that could write on laminated card. However, even as my tiramisu and drink were served rather quickly, my warm chocolate cake was nowhere in sight in the next 20mins.

At around 835pm, i noticed a warm chocolate cake on its way out of the kitchen and it headed straight to an adjacent table. Eh? I was surprised it would take so long for a simple dish, I'm sure the cakes were all done and just needed to be heated up in a microwave or oven and then plated nicely. I asked a waitress named Serene to check on my order.

Off she went, hollering loudly about the warm chocolate cake for table xx, whether it was ready or not. It felt a bit hawker centre style. Needless to say I overhead the staff saying that my order was missed and there wasn't anymore warm chocolate cake orders in the kitchen. I gathered most of my info from there, because dear Serene did not come back to me to tell me what happened. I guess she presumed I overheard her talking loudly.

I had to wait another 20mins after that and I "bugged" the wait staff 3 times for them to hurry. Kimmy was suitably pissed and so was I. We thought it would be a fun and quick dessert stop before heading home, but it took an hour.

I will not be visiting Bakerzin anytime soon, especially the United Square outlet.

Earth Hour

2009-03-28T08:43:00.001-07:00

Did you turn off your lights for Earth Hour just now?

As for me, I unwittingly took part in Earth Hour because I was out for dinner nearby from 830 to 930pm and thus, everything in my house was off! :P

I find it slightly contradicting that the marketing for Earth Hour focused on "turning off our lights" to "do our part" for the environment. Many excited individuals (and companies) around the world set about with ideas on candlelight dinners and parties in the dark. Funny thing is, the candles they were using were probably letting out a lot of soot and releasing lots of damaging gases into the air. Of course, there are the candles made out of palm oil which are more eco-friendly, but Imagine if the whole world lit lousy candles at the same time. We'd probably would have made a bigger dent on the ozone instead of saving it.

Another funny thing was the fact that many people would have left their air-conditioning and tv sets on whilst having the lights off. Hehe...it's quite an oxymoron.

waste not want not

2009-03-26T05:56:00.000-07:00

Look how wasteful kimmy is with his dinner. I really don't want a wasteful fella in the house but I can't change him, can I?

His reason for dumping this whole load of spaghetti bolognaise - he's very full.

The reason I thought was more accurate - he hates beef.

Granted, there was quite a lot of beef - the smallest amount I could possibly buy was $1.95 worth and it was still a whole load of meat - and the carrots weren't softened enough. However, everything else was as delicious as I could make it, lots of onions, herbs and tomato puree, but maybe not simmered to perfection.

Although not recommended, I think I would do chicken bolognaise from now on. Or, not as all. Why waste perfectly good ingredients because my husband has a freakin fussy palate?

Mood: Bad.

can't sleep

2009-03-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

It's 1am in the Lion City, I'm upset and I can't sleep. The reason for this is rather silly, but it's still affecting me in ways I can't really describe.

Hubby spent the whole of last weekend working. He works really long shifts so at the end of the day I don't really get to see him much. The few waking hours he has left is divided between me, dinner and his beloved computer.

Thus, I got really upset when he told me he was working the whole of this weekend too. Is this something I have to get used to?! He reasoned that it was difficult to get extra days to work with the current economic climate, so he was grabbing everything he could.

I've never had to deal with this. All along, our pact was that he avoid weekend overtime work since he already had to work one day of the weekend and he has been doing so for the last 5 years. As a result, I cherish that one day of the weekend that I get to see him and spend time with him. All the other off days he has are on weekdays and I have to work so...

Oh well, it's just nice that I have to work this weekend too. But my work only takes up 2-3 hours. It pains me to think that after I manage to get through a Saturday by myself, I have to wake up and do it all over again on Sunday. Thank goodness my parents and pets are always on hand to keep me company, when he doesn't. But I can't believe I have to do it two weeks in a row. :'(

I know I'm taking this too personally, but I just find it so depressing I only see him a few hours everyday and most of the time we're facing the telly or the monitor, not each other. Does he not like to engage in conversation with me anymore?

And that's why I'm still up and fretting about it.

My very own fruit/vege smoothie

2009-03-20T22:36:00.000-07:00

Talking to BB gal everyday has its advantages. She keeps me updated on the latest health and beauty tips, and imparts the secrets of her super shiny skin as well.

She recently adopted the healthy diet of a raw foodist. Being raw means not cooking any of your foods and avoiding meats and carbs, relying on alternative sources of energy and protein instead. Whilst I think I am not ready to try mayonnaise, cakes and eggs that taste revolutionarily different, I reckon I could incorporate more raw vegetables into my diet.

I mentioned in a previous post that I started drinking celery juice regularly. Alas, this was only the juice and I was deprived of the much needed pulp as a good source of roughage. The fruit stall lady wouldn't let me pulp the celery (she was afraid the taste would permeate other drinks in her blender and some customers hate that) and thus, I had to take matters into my own hands! :P

Out came the blender that only got used once the whole of last year, and this morning I made a nice pineapple celery smoothie. It wasn't as cold as I expected despite lots of ice cubes and some iced water, and the 3 slices of pineapple I used were so sweet I couldn't taste the celery. It was a whole different feeling with this smoothie as compared to the juice I usually had. The smoothie comes with fibres, pulp and is thick and creamy, making me very full indeed.

I'm addicted. This experience was tanoshii(very fun!) and I will definitely be trying other fruits and vegetable mixes, like leafy vegetables or the strong tasting cucumber.

Saizeriya - cheap Italian eatery from Japan

2009-03-20T02:54:00.000-07:00

In light of economic times, I've had to search out good deals - plenty nowadays in town - and cheap eateries to dine out in. Saizeriya's not that new, but I only had a go at it a couple of weeks back when I discovered it wasn't just cheap, it was VERY cheap.

Saizeriya sells Japanese styled Italian dishes. Their variety pales in comparison with Pasta de Waraku's colourful offerings, but their prices are only at half the amount! (Gasp!) You can get a bowl of pasta, 9 inch pizza or Hamburg steak for only about $7-8+. The Hamburg steak even comes with some sides of corn nibblets, veges and wedges. Top up a few dollars for rice, soup, salad or dessert, and only $2.80 for their "drink bar" which offers some 10-15 different types of beverages. Understandably, you can imagine school kids hanging out here after their meal, drinking and talking the day away. There are even different varieties of tea, and coffee (espresso, cappucino, latte...) from an automatic coffee machine. I am easily impressed and satisfied, so things like that pretty much knock my socks off.

Lighting is bright here, food-court style, but the retro chic booths will ignite feelings of nostalgia. A great family and children-friendly place as well.

177 River Valley Road,
#02-22 Liang Court Shopping Centre
Open Mon-Sun 11am to 10pm