Beauty

Yes, this is very true!

Cook for kids

Spaghetti in fresh tomato gravy, kids' liking. "I'll be the first one to finish this spaghetti!" - exclaimed Russell upon seeing his lunch. Just cook for kids, happy holidaying!

Mango mango

It happened to be the mango season right now and I have plenty of this fruit from my parents' mango tree. Besides from giving away to friends, we have a way to preserve it, to be enjoyed when watching TV or movies. An old doctor friend of mine says this: "Oh, we love mangoes. Especially my daughter. My whole family love mangoes!" And I decided to share this recipe if you want to try it out when you have plenty of this fruit.

This is apple mango 萍果芒 type, you have to skinned it, then sliced into small pieces as I did. Pour over some store bought sour plum powder 酸梅粉 and castor sugar over it. Gently stir and mix the mixture evenly over the mango. Keep in the fridge, eat the next day. You may savor this dessert at your convenient. Refreshing! Loved by old and young!

Happy food

I baked this for my friend Eannee - Walnut Banana Crumble Chocolate Cake.
Good things are meant to be shared, and no GST imposed. Happy food. Cheers!
Happy School Holidays!

Randomness

 Crepe seller in Shanghai, China

 Bloodbean soup in coconut milk and butter. Yum yum...

A gift from a student

Hope you are doing fine. 

A few random pictures of what I managed to take once in a while. 

Happy teacher's day to all my teacher-friends. Oppss... my Teacher's Day bake still not materialize. Maybe due to the high cost after GST, everything must cut cut cut further. Lesser gifts, lesser treats while we are adapting to it : P

A beginning of a new year

Please excuse my absent here for some time, but in real life I was overwhelming with eight to six classes to attend on every weekend, a whole week of practical training in school and the classes I have to conduct and teach. oh, it was a really full and busy year ending prior to a new beginning of a new year. But what I can be sure of is these are the things that I love, would like to do, still doing and will keep doing.

I get to meet and make many new friends, ideas are shared, and pass on what we want the learners to learn in new ways. The kids were asking :"Cikgu, boleh kami ambil benda dalam kotak tu?" ("Teacher can we take the things in the box?") I said: "Of course, ambillah, tapi, lepas guna kena letak dalam kotak balik, boleh?" ("Of course, please take it, but you have to put it back into the box after use, can?") Oh my gosh, I love to see children play and learn on their own using my teaching material in a non classroom setting. It's a very good habit for the learners and at the same time very motivating for me. This is what I want to see! It's a beautiful sight.

We have an extended of a week of school holidays due to the massive flood in some other states. Thus, it provides an extra time for me to sew new bags and cases for the kids right for them to use when school starts. I have one done, and intend to make a few more. I hope all of us would have a good start towards this new year and everything is a smooth sail, healthy and happy 2015!

Tootsy Blouse

Making craft is such a soothing therapy after weeks after weeks of busy schedule between weekend learning class, giving class to students and dealing with very demanding parent. Oh, no other words to describe my state of mind except, tiring.
I enjoy looking at what I've sewn, from scratch to something, from idea into realization. I stumbled upon 'Tootsy' which means darling, rose, sweet-heart. I think that is the word that couldn't fit it better. I decided to put Tootsy in vintage Japanese cotton fabric in Etsy. Please get it fast before I change my mind.

Hunky Dory

Hunky Dory in Japanese light weight cotton.

Taiping trees and a story to tell

These are the hundred years old tree along the street in near Taiping Lake.

Here's one unrelated incident I stumbled upon at the morning market a few days ago. In that drizzling morning, I went to the market as usual minus the umbrella still! As I ordered two packets of noodles to take away, a woman in her sixties standing just two person away from me was falling tumbling down to her side. We were shocked at the moment, and a few passerby were trying to help her get up spontaneously without a second thought. But she obviously is struggling to stand even though that's with help. Then a middle age man walked to them and asked the old lady to be sit on the floor first instead of standing up. Not long later, she confessed that it is the extra long umbrella held by a nearby woman in that crowded market that went on between her legs which caused her to drop. After more than five minutes or so after I've got my noodle packed, the poor old lady was still not able to stand up, I left to my car despite there are still crowds gathered in the place. I hope she is all well by now.

So, sometimes it's comfortable to use big umbrellas so as we're not getting wet at all, but please be mindful on the length of it. Perhaps it's length is really posing danger to other people around you. I always use those foldable umbrellas, when not in used, just chucked it in the green/shopping bag. No lengthy problem, to hooking problem ^_^

At the same time, there's a lesson learned - it's not necessarily right to get a person to stand up immediately, after falling down. horr...

Hann and Vienna

 Hann

It has been a long time ago since I shop, made a quick run over the weekend which is not intentionally for me. Bought a favorite grey sweater for my youngest brother, a new singlet for me which was on sale. That white singlet is too plain on the look, need to have an overcoat or cardigan for it. But soon after, some brooches have turn into a new made right from the craft room. Pin it over a blouse, an overcoat, on the shopping bag, a craft bag, and so on...
If you're interested, look for it at Etsy - Little Tea House.