how true.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
How To Make Pizza Bread Breakfast Kid, Teens and Tweens love.
Ok. This doesn't look like much but the moment these were ready, my kids rushed to serve the food while I prepared tea. By the time I got to the table with tea, the piranhas had emptied their plates. They looked at me eagerly and asked for seconds.
1. Pour a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil into the grilling tray.
2. Spread the oil over the tray with bread.
3. Arrange the bread on the tray and sprinkle dried organo leaves on the bread.
4. Place slices of ham on the bread and sprinkle more oregano on the ham. Add sliced capsicum and mushrooms and salami if you have these on hand. I ran out of all these so had to make do without them.
5. Arrange smoked cheddar cheese over the ham.
6. Add grated morazella cheese
7. Grill at 180 degrees for 10 minutes.
8. Cut the "pizza" and serve.
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Monday, July 26, 2010
In The Navy - Muppet Show Childhood Memories
As I ran on the treadmill, the music sent me back to the days of my youth. The song went
In the navy. We can sail the seven seas..
In my mind's eye, I saw the macho pigs from the pigs in space segment of muppet show dressed as sailors.
The chorus -
We want you as a new recruit..
had the entire cast of the muppet show chanting in my head, with a ship as part of the back drop, in the grand finale of a typical episode of muppet show.
Was I even a teen back then? Memories of my own childhood flooded me as I was whisked back to those evenings with mom, dad and my little sister in the sitting room in our bedok flat, watching our weekly fix of muppet show.
Life was so simple back then. No worries about paying the bills. Only study, friends.. in a way, I miss those carefree days.
I'd spend an afternoon playing the piano. My dad would whisk my mom off her feet and dance. A waltz, cha cha.. or whatever ballroom dance appropriate for the music I played.
Music.
It played a huge role in my youth. My cousins and I could spend an entire day composing music. Most of the Wee cousins were musical, playing one instrument or other. Kev played the guitar and drums. Angie once sat on the swivel chair with 2 synthesizers, a piano, an organ and a flute for a performance in church. She played all of them in one piece, putting down the flute to play both synthesizers, swivelling over to play the piano.. boy did she look stressed.
Fast forward several decades.
I'm no longer a teen. Now I have two sons - a teen and a tween. Both my kids are musical. I'll be taking them for their piano exams next month. The older also plays the trombone and guitar while the younger mixes music using the computer.
They were musical since small. The elder boy danced to Pacabel while he was still in my womb.
Music runs in their veins.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
My Optimistic Late Grandpa
I was reading a booklet about optimism. One thing that struck me was the optimistic mindset of survivors. In face of adversity, optimists take action while pessimists stand around passively as they give up hope.
My grandpa was an optimist.
His favourite catchphrase, which kept playing on in my head was, "God helps those who help themselves"
During world war 2, when the Japanese troops occupied Singapore, Chinese men were rounded up, lined up in front of their graves and shot. My grandpa was one of those selected for slaughter.
In pitch darkness, he waited with the other victims uncertain of the fate that the Japs had in store for them.
While others waited for his death, he took action.
He prayed to God, whom he had heard about. Then he ran for his life. From the slaughterhouse to Katong. Across half of Singapore from what I understand.
Miraculously, although Japanese soldiers were posted at every gantry, no one stopped him. He made it all the way home, where grandma, dad and my uncles (was my aunt born yet?) were praying desperately for him. Grandma was crying.
Once the fugitive arrived, tears stopped, joy came and the entire family packed minimal belongings, and fled.
My grandpa lived to the ripe old age of 91.
My grandpa was an optimist.
His favourite catchphrase, which kept playing on in my head was, "God helps those who help themselves"
During world war 2, when the Japanese troops occupied Singapore, Chinese men were rounded up, lined up in front of their graves and shot. My grandpa was one of those selected for slaughter.
In pitch darkness, he waited with the other victims uncertain of the fate that the Japs had in store for them.
While others waited for his death, he took action.
He prayed to God, whom he had heard about. Then he ran for his life. From the slaughterhouse to Katong. Across half of Singapore from what I understand.
Miraculously, although Japanese soldiers were posted at every gantry, no one stopped him. He made it all the way home, where grandma, dad and my uncles (was my aunt born yet?) were praying desperately for him. Grandma was crying.
Once the fugitive arrived, tears stopped, joy came and the entire family packed minimal belongings, and fled.
My grandpa lived to the ripe old age of 91.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
My son's favourite birthday gift
Grandma got him a gift he really loved, which my hubby and I fully approve of.
A game catridge for his DS (we aren't too happy with gaming during schooldays).. but waitaminit.. this Pokemon DS game has him walking as many steps as possible. It comes with a pedometer which is totally integrated with the game. 10 steps gives him 1 watt. 10 watts give him a chance to find a special pokemon.
Kids these days rather sit around and play computer games, DS or hand helds all day long.
Gone are the days when kids spend their days running around playing catch, or getting the necessary fresh air and exercise. Today's kids are sedentary.
If we aren't careful,m Gen Z is heading towards obesity.
Well, that game had both kids walking around as much as possible to gain watts. When my son's tired, his brother takes over the pedometer and walks around, trying to get in as many steps, and therefore watts as possible, to give them an advantage in that game.
Game makers out there. If you are reading this, one way to get parents to endorse your game is to include a pedometer or some other means to get kids physically active. With more games like these, hopefully we'd see a fitter and less sedentary gen Z.
A game catridge for his DS (we aren't too happy with gaming during schooldays).. but waitaminit.. this Pokemon DS game has him walking as many steps as possible. It comes with a pedometer which is totally integrated with the game. 10 steps gives him 1 watt. 10 watts give him a chance to find a special pokemon.
Kids these days rather sit around and play computer games, DS or hand helds all day long.
Gone are the days when kids spend their days running around playing catch, or getting the necessary fresh air and exercise. Today's kids are sedentary.
If we aren't careful,m Gen Z is heading towards obesity.
Well, that game had both kids walking around as much as possible to gain watts. When my son's tired, his brother takes over the pedometer and walks around, trying to get in as many steps, and therefore watts as possible, to give them an advantage in that game.
Game makers out there. If you are reading this, one way to get parents to endorse your game is to include a pedometer or some other means to get kids physically active. With more games like these, hopefully we'd see a fitter and less sedentary gen Z.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Birds and The Bees
Have you had that talk with your kids about the facts of life. About the difference between men and women and especially, the changes they will eventually face in puberty?
First questions would probably appear when they are really small.. when the opposite sex goes to the toilet. Boys pee standing up while girls sit to pee.
When exactly do you talk to your kids about such matters?
Differences in anatomy?
Well, you could refer them to a children's science book so that they can read about the differences between the sexes.
To be honest, my husband and I err. and ermm... all the way about where babies came from. Well, the kids learnt about that in Primary school.. from the teacher during their lessons.
While my hubby and I were still figuring out how to tell the kids where they came from, my young kid told me this tale:
A little boy went to his mom and asked "Where did you come from"
Mom said, "A stork brought me to grandma"
He asked his dad where he came from.
Dad said, "Grandpa found me in the rubbish bin."
He went to grandma and said, "Funny, no one here has gone through natural childbirth."
Puberty's around the corner for my sons. The oldest will be thirteen this year.
I tried to bring up the subject about what he would have to expect. The best I could come up with was "If you wet your bet at night, you wash the sheets yourself."
My ten year old answered, "Oh, wet dreams."
You see, several years back, whenever my husband and I went to the bedroom and locked the door, my son would bang on the door and yell "What are you two doing in there!"
One fine day, both my sons approached us, standing side by side with solemn looks on their faces.
"Brother and I talked about this and want you to know that we don't want sisters. We want baby brothers."
Guess it is kind of late to tell them about the birds and the bees. I think they already know.
First questions would probably appear when they are really small.. when the opposite sex goes to the toilet. Boys pee standing up while girls sit to pee.
When exactly do you talk to your kids about such matters?
Differences in anatomy?
Well, you could refer them to a children's science book so that they can read about the differences between the sexes.
To be honest, my husband and I err. and ermm... all the way about where babies came from. Well, the kids learnt about that in Primary school.. from the teacher during their lessons.
While my hubby and I were still figuring out how to tell the kids where they came from, my young kid told me this tale:
A little boy went to his mom and asked "Where did you come from"
Mom said, "A stork brought me to grandma"
He asked his dad where he came from.
Dad said, "Grandpa found me in the rubbish bin."
He went to grandma and said, "Funny, no one here has gone through natural childbirth."
Puberty's around the corner for my sons. The oldest will be thirteen this year.
I tried to bring up the subject about what he would have to expect. The best I could come up with was "If you wet your bet at night, you wash the sheets yourself."
My ten year old answered, "Oh, wet dreams."
You see, several years back, whenever my husband and I went to the bedroom and locked the door, my son would bang on the door and yell "What are you two doing in there!"
One fine day, both my sons approached us, standing side by side with solemn looks on their faces.
"Brother and I talked about this and want you to know that we don't want sisters. We want baby brothers."
Guess it is kind of late to tell them about the birds and the bees. I think they already know.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Milk and honey baths for eczema
When my kids were small, I bathed them in milk, honey, scented with mandarin orange. They loved it!
Here's the recipe
4 cups whole milk powder
1 cup honey
5-7 drops mandarin essential oil
Fill a baby bath with warm water.
Add the milk powder, honey and mandarin essential oil. Mix well with your hand.
Bathe the little child in it, scrubbing with a face towel to clean them up.
As they get older, you can make a bath ball to scrub them in the shower.. or in the bath tub if they prefer.
Fill a clean cotton sock with milk powder and add a few drops of mandarin essential oil. Use that to scrub the kid with.
By the way, after bathing with milk, remember to rinse off all traces of milk as in this weather, that milk will leave the kid smelling like cheese as the day goes on.
You can make that milk bath or shower treat for yourself too. It's great for the skin!
Here's the recipe
4 cups whole milk powder
1 cup honey
5-7 drops mandarin essential oil
Fill a baby bath with warm water.
Add the milk powder, honey and mandarin essential oil. Mix well with your hand.
Bathe the little child in it, scrubbing with a face towel to clean them up.
As they get older, you can make a bath ball to scrub them in the shower.. or in the bath tub if they prefer.
Fill a clean cotton sock with milk powder and add a few drops of mandarin essential oil. Use that to scrub the kid with.
By the way, after bathing with milk, remember to rinse off all traces of milk as in this weather, that milk will leave the kid smelling like cheese as the day goes on.
You can make that milk bath or shower treat for yourself too. It's great for the skin!
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