Pseudo getaway

My original idea of hubby-baby-maintenance was to take a short trip to Phuket before work starts to peak again. Alas, bb S was down with bronchitis a week earlier so we had to call off the idea and hang around in Singapore. So what have we been doing over the past few days? We tried new things everyday, or rather, new food, just like a tourist in a new place :)

1) Simply Bread at Cluny Court. The decor was simple with pure white tables and some wooden stools. The place smelled “fresh” but the food was so so only. I’m sold on the decor.

2) Udders – Mao Shang Wang durian ice cream. It was beyond description, as good as eating the real thing.

3) Gurney Drive at Jubilee Entertainment Complex, Ang Mo Kio. I thought maybe I could redeem myself from proclaiming my new love, and ordered a takeaway Penang Laksa from this joint. A total waste of money. Don’t even bother trying.

4) Itachio Sushi at Ion- It was M’s first time and I think he may be a new convert. Must tries: aburi fatty salmon, aburi wagyu beef, scallop sashimi to name a few. We also discovered Okono Matsu Tokubetsu Junmai- which we stocked up in the fridge now.

5) Fish Mart SAKURAYA at Parkway Parade. Now that we have Okono Matsu Tokubetsu Junmai in the fridge, it’s incomplete without some sashimi…

It’s been a good break.

My favourite PJ

Self explanatory.

If I could only choose one…

If I could only choose ONE dish to cheer me up, it would be this fatty and succulent aburi flounder from Inagiku. Although part of me feels like I’ve cheated on my life-long favourite Penang Laksa but I supposed Inagiku is more practical and accessible over flying back to Penang! Long distance just doesn’t work for me…

Alternative Singapore

On a drizzly Sunday afternoon, MSKS gathered at Spruce, celebrating M’s maiden photo exhibition, together with a few other ‘non professional’ photographers. The theme was Singapore Tourism. Forget about cheesy Singapore Zoo or Merlion, the photographers took the unorthodox ways to introduce Singapore with titles like alternative shopping at Arab Street, love for Laksa, colours of little India and Changi Point jetty. It was rewarding to see M’s hard work for the past few weeks on display.   We’re proud of you daddy M!

The exhibition will be on till end of July. So if you want to enjoy a cuppa in the midst of serene greenery, hop by Spruce and check out the photos.

Jetset blues

One of the common pains of working mothers with infants – business  travel (long or short-haul).  I’ll be in Hong Kong for 2 nights this week and an overnight trip to Vietnam next week. It’s not a happy thought. In the past I enjoyed the occasional business short trips for some sight seeing and shopping. Not now, obviously. 

So how do I cope with baby blues?

1) Blackberry with messenger function to keep myself informed of what’s happening at home.

2)A friend of mine has kindly lent me her netbook to skype in the evening. Yippeee!

3) Taking some time off pre and post travelling for bb –husband maintenance.

Jesus and The Little Girl

This book captures bb S’s attention at all times, without fail. We tried to read other titles from the King Solomon Children Bible Series but only Jesus and The Little Girl fascinates her. I think I may have read this story 500 times to distract her from flipping during diaper change, medicine feed or just to cheer her up. 

Heavenly mashed potatoes

I am not a big fan of mashed potatoes  BUT this homemade recipe is awesome! It came out perfect! The texture was smooth yet rich. The flavourful Basil pesto topping also added a hint of colour to the usual mash!

What you need:-

• 6-7 baby potatoes
• 1 medium potatoe
• Half a cup of warm milk (microwaved)
• 20g melted butter
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Readily-made Basil pesto (or other preferred flavour) from supermarket

How:-

• Add water until potatoes are covered. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, 15-20 minutes.
• Drain water from potatoes. Pour cooked potatoes back to pot and cook for 2 minutes to ensure no excess water.
• Remove potates into a bowl. Add milk and melted butter. Use a potato masher or hand-held blender to mash potatoes until it’s fluffy or creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Before serving, garnish with a teaspoon of Basil pesto.  

PS: It’s a yummy comfort food for post- wisdom tooth surgery. This recipe was inspired by M who had just gone through a dental surgery and 2 teeth less wiser :)

Happy 6+1 mo

We believe in celebrating every milestone. Bb S is 7 months today. So what’s new?

1) She’s able to sit with little assistance

2) She knows how to give you five if you show her your palm

3) She crawls by leaping from her chest

4) She loves cereals, pumpkin and sweet potato

5) She loves to chew on labels

6) Jesus loves me is her favourite song

7) She is able to carry out a proper conversation with us, the usual topic goes like this:-

Bb: AH!!

We: ah….

Bb: AH!!

We: mmmmm…

Bb: AH AH!

We: Ah Ah..

Bb: mmmmm!!mmmmm!!

This will continue for another few minutes. (Note the exclamation marks.)

Stop and smell the roses

 

I wish I can do this more often. Yesterday I decided to leave work earlier to follow M to East Coast Park for photo shoot of some extreme skate boarding and cycling. It's eye opening for me to see young boys doing somersaults with their skate boards and bicycles (gasp).

While M was snapping away in the midst of these dangerous stunts, I sat by the sea and people watch. It was totally therapeutic to see elderly couple walking hand in hand, parents guiding toddlers in their first few steps, people walking dogs.. Ah such simple joys of life. As I was relaxing to the gentle breeze and waves with bb S softly resting her head on my chest, I felt in peace and there was a sigh of relief within me... And I thought to myself -This is Life...

It was a good break out of my normal routine of home-office-baby-office. It was long-overdue.

I will do this more often.

Seasons of change

Parenthood has taught me to accept changes, more than ever. Sometimes these changes caught me off guard. A few months back when bb S first refused to latch for no reason, I cried, secretly feeling a sense of loss. Then there was when she started going to school which I had to fight against my own separation anxiety, trying to let go. Today as i looked at my decreasing milk supply, i know that the days of breastfeeding are numbered, and i suddenly felt sad. Unlike some, I do enjoy breastfeeding, perhaps largely due to my "Provider" personality*.

I know changes are part and parcel of life and practical mothers probably snigger at me for having time to feel the change, but I guess I am just sentimental at heart .

*According to the Keirsey's Four Temperaments, Providers (a sub-category of Guardian) take it upon themselves to insure the health and welfare of those in their care, but they are also the most sociable of all the Guardians, and thus are the great nurturers of social institutions such as schools, churches, social clubs, and civic groups. Wherever they go, Providers happily give their time and energy to make sure that the needs of others are met, and that social functions are a success.

Confident parenting?

Our mini kitchen garden

I’m proud to have a kitchen garden. A mini kitchen garden. Thanks to Selly (landscaper in the making), we recently planted some key ingredients for our daily cooking outside the house - chilli padi, yellow chilli, basil and lime. We probably consume 10kg of chilli in our cooking  per annum. This mini garden is only sufficient for one week's supply in full harvest.