Another one goes Halal-certified!

Was I late in news or what? Coffee Bean going halal-certified is one of the best news I've heard in a while! *plans for next breakfast outing*.


credit goes to Putri Berendam for the wonderful news.

Switching Gears

Let me first introduce to you these two bands from Indonesia if you haven't already know them.


The Upstairs
I absolutely love their music and image ever since I knew about them. Very original and creative with much credit given to frontman, Jimmy Multhazam.


White Shoes & The Couples Company
Good music too! Plus how honored were we for having the privilege to share the stage with them when Serenaide played Bandung in 2005. Unfortunately we didn't get to mingle as they played right before us. Besides, us being the last band, when the show ended, all I wanted to do was to leave the smokey place as I was 4 months pregnant with Munchkin.

Anyway these two bands had a 'switching gears' session which I found hilarious (check out Jimmy in White Shoes gear. The hair and moustache!)


The Upstairs as White Shoes


White Shoes as The Upstairs

Breakfast Thosai

Photos from last Sunday morning, breakfast at Mister's all-time favorite thosai restaurant along Upper Dickson Rd. He'll go only to Madras New Woodlands Restaurant for thosai.

Hello Kid B!

I think this has been the clearest 3D fetal scan so far.


Looks a bit like Big Sister don't you think?

Diaper Cakes

The trend seems to be picking up real good.

Take a look at www.rocketdarlings.com! Adorable. No more boring hampers.

Surviving The Heat

I managed to brave the heat and go public (to Marina Sq, ok?) and back with Munchkin on my 7-months-pregnant own to meet Pau and Baby D last Sunday. Munchkin was surprisingly cooperative throughout the trip.

Tips on Heat Survival:
1. Keep the make-up minimal and avoid anything smudgesome. But unless you're Angelina Jolie, don't go totally without lah. The last thing you'd want to look like is a very bochap pregnant ahntee.

2. Tie up the hair and keep the fringe tucked at the side. You won't appear sexy anyway with your hair down but perspiration above your upper lip.

3. Keep the outfit sexy and loose - This I wish I've got slender enough arms to go sleeveless. Thing is, they tend to make maternity clothes sleeveless and people like me have to seek help in cardigans but I can't do that with the current weather. So by sexy for me I meant a single layer outfit.

4. Don't rush. Take sheltered routes as much as possible. I gave myself ample time so I could stroll. No sweat.

Tips on Bringing The Kid Out:
1. Comfortable stroller. I found Munchkin being cooperative lately mostly because she's more obliging to stay put in her new Aprica stroller unlike the Maclaren Triumph we lost. Probably because it's cushiony and has back ventilation and reclines much better so she fell asleep at ease in it.

2. Bring only useful items. I only brought along her favorite thin books in case she needed to be entertained during the train ride. And snacks in tiny containers (which I try not to give in the train unless really necessary).

3. Make bag hang-able on the stroller push handle.

Munchkin is probably easier to bring out at this stage because she likes to talk and play pretend. On the train-ride home, she preferred to be seated on the train seat instead of her stroller (which might have earned me cold hard stares from the standing crowd) and we chatted a lot of which, I had to pretend to understand every word she said.

On a separate note, I realised how bad bloggers Pau and I make. We didn't take any photos!
-edited- ok pau, except that one pathetic hotsling demo.

Banana Lemonade - tried and tested

(serves 1)
1 medium ripe banana, peeled and quartered
¼ cup (2 oz.) fresh lemon juice
⅓ cup (scant 3 oz.) chilled water
3 to 4 Tbsp. superfine sugar
3 ice cubes, coarsely crushed
lemon slice for garnish

Combine all ingredients except garnish in a blender.
Cover and process at high speed until smooth.
Pour into a tall glass; add ice cubes.
Garnish with lemon slice.

Variation:
Substitute fresh lime juice for the lemon juice; garnish with lime slice.

extracted from The Ultimate Liquor-Free Drink Guide.

My say: Looking at the recipe, you should know that the amount of sugar is tad too much. So reduce where necessary. Refreshing.

Banavalanche - tried and tested

(serves 1)
1 medium ripe banana, peeled and quartered
¾ to 1 cup (6 to 8 oz.) banana or vanilla yogurt
⅓ cup (scant 3 oz.) fresh orange juice
pinch of ground allspice

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Cover and process at medium speed until smooth. Pour into a tall glass.

extracted from The Ultimate Liquor-Free Drink Guide.

My say: I used vanilla yogurt and ground cinnamon instead of allspice. It's alright lah.. like any other banana smoothie to me.

Have You Seen or Have You Heard?

I'm always so busy at work.

Do You Remember the First Time?

If I were to write a lovey-dovey entry, it would probably only be on these two days every year.

15 May 2005 was when Mister and Missus were seated at Fort Canning showing the guests their story in animation done by me, obviously. I swear the older child being a girl towards the end of animation was purely coincidental.


It's an animation hor. It needs time to load.

This Day

This day three years back, these two got themselves into a fix they couldn't get out of.

Little did they know that three years later, they will be equipped with a screaming toddler and another one on the way.

It's a good fix made for good anyway.

For the Indie Kids

My nesting instinct is finally kicking in and I'm in panic mode. I have to make space for baby. These stuff I brought back from Indo early this year, I haven't been diligently selling them off so now is the time.

Serious Chocolate Shake - tried and tested

¼ cup (2 oz.) milk
⅓ cup (scant 3oz.) Dark Chocolate Syrup, home made (see below for Dark Chocolate Syrup) or store-bought chocolate syrup
3 scoops vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
whipped cream for garnish (optional)
grated chocolate for garnish (optional)

Combine all ingredients except garnishes in a blender. Cover and process at medium speed until smooth. Pour into tall glass. If desired, garnish with a dollop of whipped cream sprinkled with grated chocolate. Serve with straw and iced-tea spoon.

Variations:
Double Chocolate Shake
Substitute chocolate ice cream for the vanilla ice cream.

Black Forest Shake
Add ¼ cup cherry preserves before blending.

My say: Okay I didn't bother making my own syrup so it's Hershey's from the supermarket but I didn't like how the taste overpowered the ice cream. Also I used one scoop chocolate and 2 scoops vanilla ice cream in an attempt to combine it slightly with Double Chocolate Shake. I think amount of milk should be increased slightly.

Dark Chocolate Syrup
(Makes about 1½ cups)
1¼ cups sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
⅛ tsp. salt
½ cup (4 oz.) water
½ cup (4 oz.) dark corn syrup
½ tsp. pure vanilla extract

In a medium, heavy saucepan, stir together syrup, cocoa powder, and salt. Slowly add water, then corn syrup, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened.
Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature, stirring three of four times during that time. Stir in vanilla; cover and refrigerate for up to 1 month.

Mango Swizzle - tried and tested

(serves 6)
2 medium mangoes, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped
2 cups (16oz.) fresh orange juice
1/4 cup (2 oz.) fresh lime or lemon juice
1/4 cup superfine sugar
about 2 cups (16 oz.) chilled seltzer water or club soda
6 orange slices for garnish

Combine all ingredients except seltzer and garnish, in a blender. Cover and process at high speed until smooth. Divide equally between 6 tall glasses; add 2 or 3 ice cubes to each. Top with seltzer, stirring gently; garnish with orange slices.

extracted from The Ultimate Liquor-Free Drink Guide.

My say: I like it fizzy like this because of Schweppes Club Soda again. I used Florida natural pulpless orange juice and reduced the amount of sugar. Other brand of orange juice might even turn out sweeter.

Spokesperson

Spokesperson for Serenaide and Marilyns respectively.

Spree Happiness and Woes

Happiness is when your spree items arrived. Double happiness when you found that the merchant made effort to pack the items as compactly as possible. This is because vPost charges according to either actual weight or volumetric weight, whichever higher so you have to fork out more for shipping if they simply pack up in a huge box leaving a lot of space or if they pack up in multiple boxes.

Alas the happiness was short-lived cos there tend to be packing mistakes and missing items which as a spree organiser, you have to inconveniently go back and forth contacting the merchant and/or bearing the cost.

Turnaround bright eyes,..

.. Every now and then I fall apart



I swear by this thing. The Matriarch had always reminded me how important it is to take care of my complexion but early this year got me so tied up and tired that I only realised it was taking effect after the obvious showed up. Panic-stricken got me this product (something I had used when I was younger and had been effective) which the staff claimed have been improvised and I'm still swearing by it. Pricey but worth it!

Tights Galore

Munchkin in black microfibre tights


Evident in these photos is obviously not Munchkin's but my obsession with tights even before she was born (online spree-ing while she's in the tummy). Since "Tights" has recently been a favourite subject lately with fau and a couple other companions, I shall give a bit of pointers on purchasing them.

I've seen them being sold for $19 a pair, which I find rather unkind to the (or at least my) pocket as I had gotten none of these for more than $USD7. Especially if they're 'microfibre' kinds (a little like pantyhose material). They fur after one wear (you can see closely in the photo above) and are real enemies with velcro, sequins (as according to fau) and anything alike. Pointelle ones below (sorry the photo is not clear) are much better in quality and you can see subtle patterns when worn. Cotton and rib knits also last much longer but a bit too warm for our weather if you're going outdoors a lot. But in any case, if you wish to get them for less than $19, I can help.



black pointelle


pink hearts


argyle


plain pink cotton


plain purple cotton

Kiss O' Citrus Soda - tried and tested

(serves 1)
3 to 4 Tbsp. (1.5 to 2oz.) citrus-flavored syrup
about 1 cup (8oz.) chilled sparkling water
2 scoops vanilla ice cream or fruit-flavored sherbet, slightly softened
mint sprig

In a tall glass, stir together the syrup and 1/3 cup of the sparkling water.
Add ice cream; top with remaining sparkling water.
Stir gently; garnish with mint sprig.
Serve with straw and iced-tea spoon.

extracted from the same book as the previous recipe.

My say: Love! cos I have a penchant for anything citrus. I used Sunquick's Lemon Squash Concentrate for the syrup and Schweppes Club Soda for sparkling water. Author's advice was to use the same flavor sparkling water as the syrup. Will try orange sparkling water with orange concentrate next time.

Funky Monkey - tried and tested

(serves 2)
1/2 cup (4 oz) milk
2 small ripe bananas, peeled and quatered
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 scoops vanilla ice cream, slightly softened

Combine all ingredients except ice-cream in a blender.
Cover and process at high speed until smooth.
Add ice cream; blend at medium speed until smooth.
Pour into tall glasses; seerve with straws and iced-tea spoons.

extracted from The Ultimate Liquor-Free Drink Guide.

My say: A bit too sweet, thick and sticky. I recommend increasing the amount of milk.

Random

A bunch of [p/e//n/i/s] pics from a certain blog just came up when I googled images for "baju melayu". WTF!

Early for Eid

Eid always comes as a shock to me especially since I've got Munchkin. We were often too occupied to realise that we have not gotten our outfits ready, then I would end up doing the way the Matriarch and I never used to practise which is buying a ready outfit off the rack. This, I find inappropriate because the Matriarch herself sells nice fabric to be tailor-made into your own preferred design. This year, I foresee with the coming of a new family member, we'd be even twice as busy so I've decided to begin my quest early for the perfect color and design.

Then comes another problem. Finding that perfect design can be a chore because,

1. I have to rule out the sweet, conventional, roomy, baju kurung pesak because of Mister's opinion.
2. I'm done with layerings, what more with the hot weather. I'm so tired seeing the same see-through/lacy trend that's been going on for years.
3. No more tight, breathless kebayas or bustier inner-wears. The Mister likes his missus hot but sayang, I would need to give allowance to a 3-mths post-natal belly. Plus we'll have 2 kids to deal with this year so as much as you were able to handle one all by yourself the previous years, this year I will have my fair share.

So that leaves me with what?!!!


Tummy-sucking tight, french-lacy, bustier inner-wear kebaya like this cannot make the list anymore.

Evil Like Drugs

Kitschy things like this I cannot resist. One glance you see it priced at 2.50 but before you know it, you've piled up over ten dollars worth of hairclips at the payment counter. I should stay away from accessory shops like Montip. That's Munchkin's head, by the way. She's the one who needs the hairclips.