splashing sunday!

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weekending

a few snaps from last weekend.

donned in red and white to celebrate singapore's 47th birthday.

marilah kita bersatu...she's still singing this till now :p

we hardly watch any tv but we make exceptions for special events like the olympics. i guess we watched way too many diving events, huh? 

3 months to 3. already?! hold me. 

here's looking forward to another long weekend.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all those who celebrate!

zucchini and carrot meatballs

picky eating toddlers never gets old. i'm at my wits end trying to get veggies into my toddler girl's diet ever since she declared that veggies are "not so yummy anymore."
she would occasionally eat broccoli and cauliflower. but that's it.
she's also developed quite a discriminating palate. however much i hide veggies in her food, she would still know! sigh...
my sister suggested i use zucchini since it doesn't lend much flavour.
here's what i came up with.

Zucchini and Carrot Meatballs 

ingredients:
(adapted from this recipe)

1/2 kg minced pork
1 egg
6 pcs jacob cream crackers
3 tablespoons milk
1 carrot grated
salt and pepper, to taste
1 medium zucchini, grated

1. mix all ingredients, except zucchini, in a bowl. set aside.
2. grate zucchini. put in a colander. press or put weight on top to help drain as much liquid as possible.
3. mix zucchini with rest of the mixture. mix well using your hands.
4. roll into balls.
5. deep fry in vegetable oil (since my oven's still not working) or
6. bake - place meat balls on a sprayed baking sheet and bake at 350 degree for 15 minutes
7. enjoy!

 the photos don't look much. but these meatballs had a really nice aroma, texture and flavour to it. an unexpected combination. my girl couldn't stop smelling them. of course, she ate more than a couple too!

linking up with a juggling mom for motivational mondays.

wholemeal cinnamon pancakes

pancakes are a breakfast staple around here but i had never thought of doing one from scratch. i've always relied on good ol betty crocker premade mixes. taking my cue from green living's detox workshops by militza and del, i decided to incorporate healthier food options into what was once a processed sugar-laden staple.

ingredients:
(makes 4-5 pancakes)

3/4 cup stoneground wholemeal flour
1 tbsp. brown sugar
11/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup milk

mix dry ingredients in a bowl. make a well and add eggs and milk. whisk till smooth.
preheat griddle in medium heat. grease with spray oil or butter. add 1/3 cup of batter to the pan for each pancake. cook for 2 minutes  before flipping. you should see large bubbles forming on top of the uncooked side. flip & cook for another 1-2 minutes. serve with your favourite fruit topping and maple syrup.

now go and enjoy homemade pancake goodness!

p.s. you may also use half white flour + half wholemeal flour, if you're not too keen on going all out wholemeal.

a snap

bonding over books

monday.

it's back to school monday for local singapore schools today.
and the first day of nursery one for the toddler girl in the house.
no biggie really...not!

we're excited for her to meet new friends, learn social skills and
to just enjoy being away from mummy a few hours a day. i hope she enjoys the experience! 

salted caramel popcorn

i came across this popcorn recipe by liz of say yes to hoboken a few days back. 

i had most of the ingredients for the salted caramel one in my pantry so, i tried making it 

with a few modifications. 

ingredients:

raw popcorn, preferably organic

3/4 cup brown sugar 

1/2 stick butter

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

*original recipe called for corn syrup + 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

directions:

1. make 1 batch of stove top pop corn. here's a great method to make sure that all kernels are popped!

2. melt butter in a small pot.

3. add brown sugar and maple syrup. stir until mixed then let sit for a couple of minutes. 

4. remove from heat. add salt and baking soda (+ vanilla extract, if desired).

5. let cool for a few minutes then pour mixture over the popcorn. mix. 

6. (i skipped the baking part since my oven isn't working) —> 

spread popcorn onto baking sheet & bake for 30 mins at 275 degrees. flip occasionally. 

let cool on waxed paper.

the proof of the pudding...er... popping!

be still

...and know that I am God 

Psalm 46:10

kani wrap & roll

One lazy and stuffy sunday morn, the hubs was looking for something "different" to eat.
Luckily I remembered bookmarking  this recipe from Mom Friday!

Here goes my simplified version.

Ingredients:
+ Wholemeal wrap (not in photo).


Spread Japanese Mayo on the wrap. Arrange filling on top.


Wrap and Roll! Cut and serve with Wasabi.


Toddler approved!

no cook play dough

School holidays are here!
Well, in Singapore at least.
Here's an easy peasy, no cook, all natural, playdough recipe to keep the kids entertained.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup water

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons vinegar

Mix ingredients in a bowl.
Knead, roll, mold, create.
Add flour or water as needed to get desired consistency.
Voila! You now have an all natural play dough!
Add colouring (various kool aid flavours, beetroot powder, cocoa powder) if desired.

Looking for more playdough recipes?
Check out Militza's all natural playdough recipe and Natural Parenting's Playdough Ideas here.

A Chorus Line

"Empty theatre. Bare stage. Seventeen dancers. Eight spots. One dream."

One of the longest running musicals in broadway, A Chorus Line portrays the hardships that dancers go through in their quest for a role. The audition is their chance of a lifetime. To fulfill their lifelong dreams of performing, of becoming a dancer. Though the script was originally written in 1975,  the theme is still very much applicable to current times. For stories of aspirations and pursuit of dreams against all odds never get old.  The perfect combination of raw emotion and stunning choreography will surely captivate dance enthusiasts. A Chorus Line is also guaranteed to resonate well with someone who has cherished dreams of performing — like moi. Don't miss the chance to watch!


Performance Schedule:
May 4 - 27, 2012
Marina Bay Sands Theater
Showtime: Tue to Fri - 7:30pm
                  Sat & Sun - 1:30pm & 7:30pm
Duration: 2 hours and 5 minutes (No Intermission)

weekend bits

this weekend included //

+ laid back saturdate with the hubs

+ watching A Chorus Line which moved me to tears and evoked memories of performing 

+ trip to a mall playground where the toddler girl conquered slides, stairs and tunnels with ease. i'm still amazed at how agile and lithe she's become

+ trying on toys at the toystore and resisting the urge to buy

behind the snaps //
- toddler girl with stomach upset and a bout of vomitting. it spontaneously resolved, whew.
- minor pushing incident at the playground. so proud of my girl when she stood up to the kid and said "no push"

positive more than negative? i'll take it.

an hour before bedtime.

It's been getting harder and harder to get toddler girl to sleep. The hours leading to naps and bedtimes are becoming a constant struggle. She used to fall asleep at 8 pm. Nine at the latest. There are times now that she sleeps at 10-10:30 pm! I don't know what happened. I think I need to tire her more. Or not.

Anyway, this is what usually ensues an hour or so before bedtime.

1. Snuggles and stories with daddy.

2. Pretending to sleep and asking me to take peekchur.

port of lost wonder

Over the long weekend, we paid a visit to the much talked about water park in Singapore today— the Port of Lost Wonder in Palawan Beach, Sentosa.
Our day started damp and dark. Good thing Mr. Sun showed up by the time we reached the port. There weren't too many patrons around since it was a weekday. We even found a nice picnic spot. We had lunch at the port belly restaurant. Food was generally good. We had penne bolognaise, hotdog + mashed potato, cheese fries and bbq chicken wings. I liked the mashed potato that came with the hotdog best. After eating, father and daughter began their water adventure. Toddler girl thoroughly enjoyed splashing and sploshing on the big pirate ship! The water slides, wading pool, water sprays and bucket splashes were more than enough to quench the summer heat and keep the toddler girl's interest. We didn't join the other activities since they were more suitable for older kids. Besides, I probably couldn't drag toddler girl away from the water area even if I wanted to. The port was such a hit! And, all for a measly fee of S$6.80 ! Best part of all? While the water bunnies were frolicking and basking under the glorious sun, I was happily watching them from under the shade of trees. I may not be too fond of summers but I like summer days like this.

Read more fun accounts at the port here and here.
Linking with merry mondays #7

bubbles & dreams.

forever blowing,
pretty delicate bubbles.
they fly so high,

some nearly reach the sky,

they fall to the ground,

disappear,

or fade into thin air,

chase them,

hope to catch them.

just like my dreams.

screen free

run. climb. swing. twirl. rock. play.

we decided it was time to do some screen time moderation. we hardly watch any tv, so it's the ipad mostly. i was prepared for a scream-filled week. but she didn't seem to mind its absence. she had fun rediscovering other playthings. spent lots of time at the playground. pretend play was the mainstay. ipad-free for 5 days already. much easier than i thought.

out of sight. out of mind. whew.


update: incidentally, april 30 - may 6, 2012 is screen free week! are you joining? here are 101  screen-free activities should you decide to.

{this moment}

          

 a friday ritual. a single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. 

a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment i want to pause, savor and remember. 

+++

 inspired by soule mama