The (Sad) Story Of A Lazy Baker

OK, so by now you should know that I'm a lazy cook and a lazy baker; I love recipes that are hardly recipes, a bonus when the result turns out amazing, that recipe will get lots of loving and raving, like duh, obviously. z.

And so the story goes like this, I've been dying and craving to bake and eat baked goodies of late, but it's a little impossible (mostly out of sheer laziness) for me right now with my two precious tornadoes locked out behind bars constantly standing at the baby gate whining and wanting hugs and attention all the time.

And so the craving shot up to its max one day and I just HAD TO BAKE AND EAT NOW!

And so. I took out my mug, anyhowly spoon in some flour, sugar, salt, oil, cocoa powder, nutella, gave it a good stir and in it went into a saucepan of boiling water, to be steamed to its perfection, of course! Erm, because I'm... creative like that? 

I thought nutella mug cake is a foolproof recipe, I mean, 9 out of 10 persons who perused the method often came back with rave reviews, but yeah lah, maybe because I so smart go and steam it, not that the thing turned out awful, it just came out... funny. Like eating a mat salleh kuih. HAHA!

Ah well, the Frap took a bite and gave me the thumbs up. Heck, I took the first bite and gave her the thumbs up too. And then she refused it by covering her mouth tightly with one hand, and waving the other left and right vigorously to say no AND running the opposite direction by the third bite. Erm, maybe she's on a diet gua... /shifty eyes.

p/s ok fine, for reals, the texture was seriously like eating some kinda kuih, the taste was a little weird but I conclude that was because my cocoa powder has been kept for quite sometime, and really, by the third bite all my craving for baked goods are gone. For good.

Behold! Steamed Mat Salleh Kuih Nutella Brownies

Grace

When I brought Frappy's lunch out from the kitchen today, she quickly got herself up at the table, put her hands together, slightly bowed her head, and said:

"Ah ehka. AHH BAYBEE, ah oish ko, ah MUM MUM! NGAMI!"

O_O

Did she just said grace? I just sat there, watching in amazement, and for awhile there I didn't know how to respond nor remember how to laugh. Although it was really funny, I must say!

My baby just said grace! And "ngami" is amen; usually we would say grace and frap would end with ngami. The reason she mentioned baby was because normally I would feed her and Oli at the same time.

AND after saying her ngami, she called out to Oli,

BAYBEEE!!!! MUM MUM!!!!! 

To which Oli would scoot over in her speediest crawl with the widest smile on her face, eyes on the food. Eyes always on the food.

HAHAHAHA!

Ahh! I guess we stay at home parents live (and suffer the down times!) for moments like this, don't we? Is it worth it? I don't know, but it's pretty darn priceless. :)

Sleepless Nights (And Days) In ZeeZeeLand

My picture folder is piling up with more and more photos, my to-blog list is getting longer and longer, yet I just can't find the time (and uh, inspiration... or rather willpower haha!) to sit down and write!

But before I get to those pics and stories (including one angry-fying story about Charles & Keith! Hmph!), here's a quick one for the Hari Ini Dalam Sejarah chapter.

You see, we lost Oli's pacifier on Sunday //downcast// when we were out lunching at Subang Parade's Manhattan Fish Market; we paid, we walked out, we realized, we turned back, and these guys there say there's no such thing on the table. !!! I mean, how can it be?! To be honest, I was really mad, mainly with myself - for one how can I be so careless! For another I was really afraid the monster baby Oli would turn into comes Zzz time, but mainly for yet another, the pacifier was attached to a silver pacifier clip, couriered all the way from erm, somewhere, and a gift from my bro! //wail!!!!/// I was determined to keep it for good! //stabs self//

So anyway, we thought, fine, let's just take this opportunity to wean her off the paci. And the first day without it was surprisingly... normal! Oli didn't look for it! She slept through! So obviously I was very, very pleased! And very, very proud!

BUT dear everyone, let me tell you this, there is of course no such thing as normal, as smooth sailing in everything, and I do mean EHVERRAYTHANG! T____T The next day, Oli was looking for her paci high and low wailing for her paci because she couldn't sleep without it! OH MY EARS! And the same happened came night time. She didn't want to hold my pinky as how she'd always want to, she didn't want to be held, she didn't want to be sung to, she just kept pushing us away demanding for her pacifier! And then because it was 3 in the morning, because Jason needs to go to work in the morning and was tired and couldn't sleep, because she woke Frappy up too (technically the entire taman lah) and she too demanded that I pat her butt, and because I got fed up calming her down AND trying to make Frappy sleep, going back and forth between the cot and the bed, tempers flared, tear ducts broke, and so, Oli got a good scolding from the father. And in the dark, she just sat there and sobbed. And sobbed. And sobbed to her sleep. How heartbreaking is that!!!!! :(((((

This is the face from awhile ago...

All tired out, wiggling in discomfort, losing her voice, crying to her sleep, hoping to see her paci again. I read somewhere that for a child/baby to break a habit, it takes only 3 days. Just be patient for 3 days. 3 freaking days leishia (and jason!!!)! How difficult is 3 days right? No of course not! It's only 3 freaking days! 3 long days that can drive me to insanity.T_____T

Baby mommy's so sorry! :(

My First Pre-Loved Closet Sale Party @ TTDI

So I'm finally done talking the walk and am walking the talk! Imma gonna throw a PRE-LOVED CLOSET SALE/PARTY this coming 1st September @ TTDI!

pls click for the fine print.
try saving it on to your computer to read. :)

How exciting is that??? Date, time, venue as stated in the promo poster. My aunt, who's a beautician and runs a beauty salon, is kind enough to lend me her space to hold the sale! /gamdong So. Yup. Here we are!

Organizing this "event" is truly exhilarating yet nerve wrecking! I mean, knowing me, the things I'd worry about is none other than, what if no body comes and not will people buy my junk gems, they are gems ok! T___T *chill chill* but it's ok, at least I try. Huhu

Ok , sob promos aside, please come! Even just to say hello! That'd be a heck load of motivation for me!

Anyway, just briefly - the sale will be held, as mentioned, in my aunt's thalgo salon @ taman tun dr. ismail (address @ the attached pic), from 10am to 4pm. I'm digging deep into my closet (and my sisters', my mom's, and my aunts') and basically took out everything that we are not wearing anymore, and hopefully find them some real loving in new homes. There are some really good brands (brand new and preloved but lightly worn!) here! No worn-out, pariah stuff on sale. Don't worry.

The objective is to clear my wardrobe, which I don't have one, actually, a physical wardrobe I mean. So my clothes are all hung out in a room - a sort of walk in... wardrobe? But it's not working! The dust and the mozzies are bugging me nuts! Besides, I'm just not wearing them anymore, but sayang want to throw out because they are in good condition and are pretty! Really, just for one reason or another, I've grown out of the erm, teen/college girl styles (I mean, a mother? Hello? I can't be donning that H&M mini skirt and I Luv NKOTB BSB band tee anymore right. It's just... off. Age-wise T_T)?

ANYWAYS!!! Giving clothes a second life instead of sending it to the dumpster is good for the earth. So!

I'm also going to donate 10% of the proceeds to Malaysia Independent Animal Rescue (MIAR) - a non profit volunteer group dedicated to saving the strays (receipt will be shown here upon making the donation). I've read a few of their rescue efforts and I'm really touched by it; I can't be on the ground with them, so I just want to do what I can. So, I appeal for your support too! You can check them out on their facebook page.

So yes, feel free to get in touch if you have any questions, I'd be glad to furnish you with as much info as I can. But yeah, it's not a complicated event, just make time and come say hello. And re-home my darling BSB tee. Please? /hopeful

Meanwhile, here's google map's link to the said location. So come! Don't make me wait from 10-4 and cry from 4-cows come home ok please.

p/s do bring along your own bag/recycle bag to keep your purchases. Save the earth! Use not plastic! 

p/p/s OH YES HOW CAN I FORGET! DO HELP ME TO SHARE THIS OUT, I'D REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT! THANK YOU PEEPLES!!!!! :)

Here's some of the pieces that will be on sale that day posted on facebook

Weekend Thoughts + FriendlyFashion.my Contest

Concrete Safari by leishia26 featuring statement necklaces

Off the shoulder top, 71 MYR / J Brand short shorts, 1,220 MYR / Green shoes, 595 MYR / FOSSIL messenger bag, 705 MYR / Statement necklace, 200 MYR

I'm obsessed with the colour mint/turquoise! It's so refreshing! Ah, heart! It's the weekend again! We were at Genting last weekend, and it was super cold and foggy! But we are headed for Melaka this week, my fingers all crossed the weather down there won't kill us! :(

Anyway, happy weekending!

p/s Since I joined friendlyfashion.my's Become Our Official Bloggers contest last week, I have been eating the humble pie, everyday - the girls out there contesting are super talented and awesome, just plain style blogger material if you will, while I, out of no where emerged the first place (at the moment la; the contest ends 15th of August) out of sheer love and support by you guys, I'm just speechless!

So yeah, please, go check out other girls' profile (my personal favs are Cute Granny Vintage, Colour Bites, and Evienereal!), you can vote for each contestant once. Or if you still love me so, you can vote for me too haha /shameless much!

This humble pie has taught me to buck up and learn to blog like a pro, even if I don't win a place in the top 15; also, winning is not everything, friendship is. I'm so, so, so happy, really, really happy that these girls are super friendly and nice, even if we are sort of competing each other to get on top, yet they are really nice to me! Such a humbling journey! Thank YOUs! Here's wishing you girls all the very best! :)

OK, as usual, my p/s's are getting too long to be p/s's. -_- Signing off then! Hehe

Hands-On Makeup Course @ MALswisse

Some months back, a girlfriend asked a few of us girls if we’d like to buy a groupon voucher for a makeup course! Now given the me from 3 years ago, I’d have shrugged you off and asked, rather rudely, for what? But since this year I’ve made a resolution to try NEW things, so I thought, heck, there’s no reason to say no. I mean, it’s high time I be a girl already! So after a few exchanged of giggly words, we bought the voucher and waited breathlessly for the day(s) to come. OK, it was just me being all breathless and jakun-ish. Zzz.

A little background - the course was conducted by MALswisse at Empire, and was divided into 2 lessons (dates of our choice) and all three of us chose Saturday afternoons; each lesson was about 3 hours long. The first lesson talked about skincare, you know, from makeup removal to double cleansing (very important!), and all that. I counted, a total of 9 steps, and that should equate to about plus minus 9 products per routine? Like, seriously? So that confirms what people say about being a girl is not cheap. 

The second lesson taught us the basic makeup technique and this, confirms what people say something about there’s no ugly girls but lazy ones. 

And that’s the grand summary of my experience! Haha! Oh I forgot to mention that the promotion cost around RM45 per pax through groupon, if my memory serves me well.

The lessons were pretty fun; there were less than 10 of us in both lessons, so it was cozy and that made me feel less shy to talk back ask questions. The trainer, Sharmaine, was friendly too, which made the whole experience very enjoyable, even more so when I went with friends!

Now, I’m not a full-makeup-on-everyday kinda girl, but at the end of the course, I was more confident with applying makeup on my own, especially applying liquid/cream foundation and eyeliner - the 2 steps that I'd avoid at all cost because did I tell you before? That once, I got a complimentary full face makeup at Stila's counter, and I was to attend a wedding after that. Half way into the wedding, where I've greeted like a gazillion people, I decided to pay the loo a visit, and by golly when I saw myself in the mirror I almost died! My lower eye lines "dropped" and I literally looked like a Red Indian ready for war with all the under-eye war paint. What truly killed me that night, was that when I asked Jason why didn't he tell me that I looked like some crazy woman?! His answer, was as epic as epic could ever be - "well, I thought it's supposed to be like that!". Man, srsly? -___- I died a million times that night, till this day, the thought of it is enough to kill me another million times T____T Since then, I avoided eyeliners like... like... you would a terrible ex from a bad romance. Ah. Those young, ignorant days! We shall reminisce in another post now, shall we not?

SO ANYWAYS! I’m also diligently practicing double cleansing now and I remind myself everyday to moisturize; seriously, the lack of moisturizing is the downfall of your skin. Hello flakiness!!! I think if we do the cleansing and moisturizing steps well, good skin is achievable, no matter how terrible your skin is currently! 

So yeah, coming back to the course, personally it does feel good to be back in a learning setting, given a chance, I’d do this kinda short courses again! Whether to learn, to update ourselves, or simply to network, they are all pretty good reasons to go out and just have fun! :)

MALswisse conducts various beauty courses, do check them out! 

p/s thanks for the fun girls! :)

Kuhrayzee Joolai!

I typed a one-page essay on how crazy things were in this household and decided truly, I’ve gone crazy to give such detailed report on the happenings, chronologically for that matter, down to the colour of oli’s poop. So I deleted everything and decompose recompose. 

So, in a nutshell, oli came down with chicken pox, recovered, and then, together with frappy, came down again with the flu and high fever bug. That day when all these flu and fever thing was happening at the same time - was hell for me T_T. Thankfully, both recovered overnight after medication (the doc made me insert suppository for them both T____T), but the antibiotic caused oli to purge. She’s coming out of it, though, as of now.  On top of that, jason’s been away a lot this month, like, half a week, every week kinda a lot. So whenever he's around he’s all stressed out from work and I’m all stressed out from weathering this… whole crazy month thing with no break. So yeah. There. More or less (definitely less! Haha!)

My plans to blog regularly is hence, upset. And picking up from where I left off is, so difficult. But I try. 

So please excuse my ayat-ayat tergantung with no apparent writing style nor class. And to make it even more painful for you, Imma just gonna vomit a truckload of some photos to get things started. Erm, yeah. I promise the next post when I come back, I shall attempt to be more regal and elegant. With chanel, blings, louboutin's and all that. Attempt to ok.

So erm, bye?

pre-chicken pox. and silly sisters

Melted chocolates left in the bag. Trust me to do this sorta things. #1

on coffee bean's sofa

life as a city toddler is boring

Hit by the pox!

don't we all love sleeping babies?

cuppa cherries by the AC staff for frappy to snack on. how sweet!

Went for a business meeting and had to borrow a notebook with jack black's face
to scribble on. Trust me to do this sorta things #2.

In sickness and in health

that happy smile :)

posers much?

college. this way. went for an ossum play at sunway college!

epic meal to commemorate epic month

Easy Recipes For Kids: Beetroot, Pumpkin, Carrot Soup

I’m so excited to share this, once again, super-simple-hardly-a-recipe beetroot recipe! Now I was never a fan of beets. I don’t like the earthly taste. So when my mom gave me one and asked me to eat it, it’s good for you, I cringed loudly inside. 

I rummaged the net for cool recipes, but they all call for spices and herbs and time and patience, which I have not. So I decided to anyhowly make a soup out of it with what little ingredients I have in the fridge – carrots and pumpkin! 

And it turned out nice! The fact that I’m feeding my family beetroot makes me feel pretty good about myself too. So I hope you’ll like it!

Beetroot, Pumpkin, Carrot Soup

Ingredients:

1 pc chicken breast, chunk-cut
1 stick carrot, cubed
1 big slice of pumpkin, cubed
1 small beetroot, cubed

1. While boiling water in a medium sized saucepan, prep and clean up the chicken breast. When the water boils, put the chicken in the saucepan and bring to boil.

2. Add in the carrot and pumpkin, bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 60 minutes. Season with a little salt for taste.

And we are done! 

Frap, Oli, and I shared a big bowl of rice flooded with the soup and it was glorious! If you do try this recipe, let me know how it turns out! 

p/s you can also add corn and/or potatoes, if that’s what rocks your socks. Happy eating!

Yes. What About Boys?

So I was having a conversation with the frap, that goes something like this. And for the record, I did not dream this up ok!

Frap: Mommyyy, schatat bee me guys. Guys.
Me: Wha...? Did you say guys?
Frap: *smiles* Guys chu ba gai gao car ya ba eh yu bao cook!
Me: What? Are we gonna talk about guys now? Seriously?
Frap: Schatat mommy beeyo papa yuuba kabir da *sighs*
Me: I'm not sure you are ready for them boys, at least for now, you know.
Frap: Har? Guys car!
Me: Yeah, cars are nice, but they are not everything you know. I mean, you're so young! And, and fragile and naive! And boys being boys, you know. And the commitment! Oh, let's not even go there. Ugh.
Frap: Mommy.
Me: Yes darling?
Frap: Stay cool.

FOR REALS! PEOPLE! FOR. REALS.

The little lady actually said stay cool! STAY COOL! She's asking me, HER MOTHER, to freaking STAY COOL because, oh you know, it's only boys, mom and I can so handle them! *rolls eyes* oh won't you just kill me now? !!!

Exclamation marks. That's all I have for you now.  -_-

Oh and some pictures from the week. /continue dying in exclamation marks

Stay cool, she says. Pfft!

brekkie

virgin beer

a whole new world from up that height

spot the red!

hope

yes, i'm afraid you can't choose your parents, oli

prisoned

icky!

obsessed about colours

rotterdam! it's like, wearing ten tiny pieces of starry night skies on you!

lazing around. everyday.

smelly bunnies

I'm sure the hubs and I would need helmets to face them boys head on. Sigh.
We will definitely make you wear helmet from now on. To fend off the guys.

Easy Recipes For Kids: Pasta In Potato & Carrot Soup

Whenever I’m out of idea on what to cook for the frap, carrots and potatoes are always my go-to ingredients. Always. Maybe because that's what my grandma used to cook for us as children. Ah, comfort food. 

Here’s a super simple recipe, erm, it’s hardly a recipe! But it tastes great, Frappy finished her first bowl and requested a second!

Pasta in Potato & Carrot Soup

Ingredients:

1 stick carrot, cubed
2 potatoes, cubed
1 tomato, cubed OR a spoon of tomato paste
1 piece of skinless chicken thigh, cut
1 cup of shell pasta
3/4 saucepan of water

1. While boiling water in a medium sized saucepan, prep and clean up the chicken thigh. When the water boils, put the chicken in the saucepan and bring to boil.

2. Add in the carrots and the potatoes. Reduce the heat to low, and let simmer for 60 to 90 minutes. I didn’t have tomatoes, so I added a spoonful of tomato paste. Season with a little salt.

3. Come meal time, add in the pasta and let cook until al dente. Serve. (The Chinese in me like to add a dash of soy sauce in my clear soups, it gives it a sweet boost, somehow!)

What did I say? Is it simple or simple? Haha! You can always add celery, cabbage, peas, onion, and bacon (I'd sweat the diced onion and cook the bacon for a coupla minutes before adding the chicken and other root veges, and then water/stock), or whatever ticks your interest, to make it more flavourful and wholesome. I think this soup is somewhat like minestrone? Tis a chinese version! Haha. Anyway it goes wonderful with baguette and toasts, too! Or rice!!! YUM! Bon appétit!

Stolen Moments

I received an sms from a dear friend last evening, wishing me happy mother's day. Now throughout the day, friends' have been coming up to me wishing me the same and for lame-joking sake, I'd reply oh dear please don't remind me! I know. Don't ask me why I always, ALWAYS like to say lame things and embarrass myself like that! Ugh. Anyway, so when I was replying this particular sms, saying thank you, suddenly it hit me. I realized that, yes, I am actually, happy. Happy!

Not oh-boy-i'm-alive-everyday-cracking-head-what-to-cook-do-laundry-clean-up-shit-yay-i'm-loving-it kinda happy; but I am just, happy. Happy being where I am now, this moment. A wife, not a terribly good one at that, but a wife nonetheless, a mother (!), that fact that I am figuring things out (and the big picture's getting clearer) finally on how to move on and achieve goals socially, financially, personally, and uh, career-ly and I'm ready for that! And that caught me by surprise, because I've always thought I'm in such a rut, that I'm forever in that much dreaded waiting phase, waiting for that big break, only I didn't realize that that big break is now.

Now. I mean, every moment at home with my two girls is a milestone that says something big about their growth and I get to be part of it! Every decision made (and quarrel!) with the hubs about petty or important stuff says something big about a relationship shared for x amount of years. Every meltdown I experience says something big about the maturity process of my womanhood.

And one more big break? That in that split second, I'm finally coming to terms with myself, my family, my life. And I like it. I feel assured that, slowly but surely, things are falling into its rightful places, that I should really cut myself some slack and just at times, go with the flow, albeit patiently. So yeah. Happy. I am.

look who's peeking out and over the cot!

Jenny from the block

Breton stripe top from Azorias. Love it!