Chinese New Year Preparations - Nursery Visit

The Lunar New Year is THE event of the year in the chinese calendar.  Prior to the arrival of the big day, many chinese families will be busy with home spring cleaning, purchasing of chinese new year goodie items, preparations for the BIG chinese new year eve dinner and not to forget, brighten the house up with lots of chinees new year plants, flowers and decorations.

A visit to the nursery is a MUST for my family as we pick some auspicious chinese new year flowers/plants to welcome in the year.  The 4 seasons lime; a chinese new year potted plant sold once a year is a MUST BUY for my family.  This signifies abundant luck and wealth.

Ricco's happy with the purchase

4 seasons lime safely in the trolley :)

The 4 seasons lime inside my living room

On top of the 4 seasons lime, there are always many many various interesting flowers and plants on sale just for the Chinese New Year.  This year, we bought the carrot plant too.  Carrot is known as "cai tou" in chinese.  And the chinese phrase "hao cai tou' actually means good start!  And since rabbits are so closely linked with carrots (rabbits love carrots), this cute little carrot plant became popular too!

cute aint it?

Wanton Noodles in Hong Kong

Whats your MUST EAT food in Hong Kong?  Why is this your must have item?  How different is this from the ones served in Singapore?

Whenever I think of Hong Kong, I think of Wanton noodles.  YES, its just this simple dish that can be found in almost every eating corners of Hong Kong! Wanton noodles is a very simple dish of chinese noodles al dente coupled with dumplings wrapped in prawns/meat.  The very distinct differentiation which makes Hong Kong Wanton noodles irresistable to myself is that almost all Hong Kong wanton noodles that I ate before serve 100% prawn dumplings with no meat!  In many shops, 2 big prawns was actually wrapped inside.  This makes the wanton really big and yummy.  This actually makes the bowl of noodles especially huge and filling!  To top this, al dente chinese noodles in Hong Kong seems to be cooked just till the right degree such that the noodles is firm, chewy and cooked.  In my last recent Hong Kong trip, I was totally surprised when I was served with an extremely small bowl of wanton when I head to a Hong Kong cafe for lunch.  The portion is even smaller than those served in Singapore.  I was totally surprised.  usually I can only finsih 3/4 of a bowl of Hong Kong wanton noodles.  But this round, I finished the entire bowl and still felt that its not enough.

The smallest bowl of wanton noodles I had in Hong Kong.  Small but equally YUMMY!

Exercise. How to Motivate yourself?

Do you find yourself procrastinating when its time to exercise?  Do you tell yourself that tomorrow or next week is a better time to exercise?  Do you tell yourself that you can do it after the completion of your big project on hand? Do you realised that theres always 1 good reason why not to exercise now/today? 

We all know the great benefits of exercising and yet some of us are finding it so difficult to reach out to these benefits.  At times, I too find myself getting trapped in this trap of procrastination.  For me however, most times, I will be able to get out of this trap.  This is what I do to re-motivate and re-energise myself to exercise today!

1) Be aware that you can fall into this procrastination trap.  Being aware is really important as once you are aware, you will then be able to catch yourself procrastinating and tell yourself to get out of it.  I had not exercise for the entire month of Dec with my so-call good reason being - I was helper-less for that month, I was busy handling work, my son, household chores ect, so easy excuse - no time!  However when my new helper came late last month, I did not see myself exercising too! reason being - I cant leave her alone with my son at home, I dont feel safe since she is still so new.  And now, yet another 2 weeks passed, I still have not exercise! YES, I caught myself... I am just procrastinating! There were many times when I could have just walked down to use the gym for 45min when my hubby is around, there were many times when I could have just hit the gym when my son is asleep.  So being aware, I caught myself doing this and henceforth last week told myself that I cannot procrastinate anymore. I hit the gym 3times last week consecutively Fri, Sat, Sun :)

2) Remind yourself the many benefits of exercising.  Topmost being staying young!  Don't you want to always look like you are in your 20s?  I do believe that consistent exercises can at least take 5 years off your actual age

3) Think about your kids! You need to be healthy to run after them, to care for them.  You will also need to set a good example for them to follow.  Chances are that kids with active parents will usually follow parents in these activities. 

4) Exercises helps you stay slim.  In theory, so long output > input, you should lose weights! Remember, if there is this special pill/drink which you take which proclaims that it will make you slim, can you imagine yourself taking it for life?  And if you think you just need to take it temporarily to lose the weights and from then on to continue to maintain the slim you, the chances are you are most likely to balloon back to your old weights.  Reason being, if your lifestyle remains the same like before, how can there be a different result.  eg : if you want to see different results, you need to do things differently!  1+1 is always 2. 

5) Imagine the good feel after you exercise.  You will be able to tell yourself (and others) that yes, you had done your share of exercises for the day/week.  You know you will feel good.  Compare this to feeling lousy when you think about yourself not exercising and procrastinating.  Create chances for yourself to feel good for the day!

And the list goes on.  Usually when you start exercising, you will slowly get into the hang of exercising, get into the hang of the good and healthy feel and will also slowly see your body transform to a healthy, tone and slim one.  And when this happens, it will surely spur you on to continue with your exercise journey.  So, start now, continue with it and the chances is it will stay with you!

Mushrooms - Quick, Easy and Healthy

Are you looking on the look for easy to cook, delicious, non-complicated and healthy dishes?  Do you always crack your mind on where to get certain 'complicated' ingredients which you know you will rarely use yet you need to purchase the entire bottle?  Are you looking for a receipe that provides many health benefits? 

Mushrooms is one such vegeable (or herb) which provides many health benefits.  In chinese cooking, most times the "Black Mushroom" (Fragrant Shitake or Premium Shitake) mushroom is used to compliment dishes eg : with sea cucumber, with different vegetables, with meats.  They are known to stimulate appetite, clear colds, benefits the digestive system and expel phlegm.  In Asian culture, they are also thought to have medicinal properties including treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stomach ulcers, diabetes, obesity etc.  The Premium Shitake mushroom are almost the same as the normal shitake mushroom.  They however have a thicker flesh than the usual ones. They are high in protein, low in fat and contains vitamin B2 - which helps healing dry skin.  I heard of a receipe which involves boiling 10 premium shitake mushrooms in 10 bowls of water and continue boiling in low heat, till it evaporates to 2 bowls of water.  This mushroom soup is said to burn fat and reduce cholestoral.  Drinking this on empty stomach is said to assist in weight loss. (I have yet to try it though).  No harm trying since this is really just mushroom + water.

I especially love this simple mushroom dish :

Ingredients :
Whole packet of Shitake mushroom, Garlic, Oyster Sauce and water (yes thats it!)

How to :
Soak mushrooms in luke warm water for 1/2hr before cooking.  Cut off the stem.  Cut garlic in small pieces. and YES, we are ready to cook! Ain't this easy?
Saute garlic till they turn light brown.  Add in all the mushroom, add in 3 tablespoons of oyster sauce.  Add 2 bowls of water.  Simmer for 30-45mins till mushroom turn extremely soft and we are left with just 1/2bowl of mushroom sauce.  You can eat this with anything- noodles, rice or even on its own.  The best part about this dish is that you can refregerate it and keep for up to a week. Use this to add flavour to your food as and when needed!  I love this and can gobble up 1/2 a dozen on its own!

Yummy Mushroom Pot

Relaxing the body, Relaxing the mind

What is relaxation?  Are there times when you were engaged in some relaxing activities but had came out even more tired? Are there times when you were supposed to be on a holiday but cant help worrying about that email that has not been sent, thinking about your child at home who might not have been fed?

I was in the midst of having a massage.  Before the massage I was happy and looking forward to a 'relaxing' sesion.  I was hoping to rest the body and mind and best to fall asleep.  However, in the midst of the massage, I caught myself thinking about "what should I write about in my next few blogs?", "have I sent out that cheque that was due to the school?", "Had I updated the attendance list with the hotel?", "When can I confirm the speaker for the dinner function?".  I am not at all relaxed! This sets me thinking...what should I do to totally relax the mind and body?

This is what I intend to do the next time I plan to relax :

1) find the best time to totally relax.  by the end of a work day or over the weekends will be good choices since the mind is already accustomed to understand that these are not work hours

2) make time to relax.  leave at least an hour gap between work and relaxation. So that the mind will not still be active, thinking about work.

3) Do not plan for anything that requires much concentration/focus straight after relaxation

4) Go a varied relaxation activities eg massages, facials, reflexologies

5) Do not play with your phones while engaging in relaxation activities

6) close your eyes and lead your mind to feel the relaxation activity eg : if you are having a massage, lead your mind to feel the deep tissue rub down your back, or feel the therapists exerting pressure on the soles of your feet during reflexology, feel the circular movement of therapists hands on your face during a facial treat.  go with the flow of the feel... relax....

I need a massage!

Powder Mix-It Mask - Are they worth the effort?

What type of facial mask works best for you?  Should they be all convenient and easy?  Are you willing to do the extras for masks that produces beautiful skin? 

I first used the faceshop powder mix-it mask about a year back.  It comes in the form of powder and you are supposed to mix it with small amount of warm water.  This is a little more inconvenient compared to the sheet mask or even the apply-on mask.  The right water temperature needs to be used so that the mask do not turn hard or become too soft.  The right amount of water needs to be added so that mask do not get to watery.  I was not able to gage what temperature water to use and for the 1st round, my mask turned out too hard.  Meaning, water is not hot enough.  I did not make myself a good facial mask then but was not disheartened.  The 2nd time I used the mask, I added luke warm water (about 35deg) and it works perfect!  the powder gels together well and application is easy.  Leave it on for 30-40mins as it slowly hardens.  Peeling off is extremely easy.

Verdict : The skin feels relatively smoother and looks slightly brighter.  Psychologically, I felt that its effects should be better too as much more effort is used to apply on this mask compared to the usual sheet mask.  This is also an affordable mask.  I will use it on a once weekly basis alternating with the sheet mask. 



In powder form before adding water



Art + Design + Architecture

Is it important for children to take up art?  What skills will children learn from art? Should we allow our kids to have a free will in doing their art pieces or should we be guiding them along?

Ricco started structured art learning since a young age of 2+.  The only reason I enrolled him in art class then is really to allow him to have something to do while cultivating social skills; playing alongside other children and also to fine tune his motor skills.  There is no expectation for him to perform.  For me, its really another avenue for play.  In class, he is engaged in guided drawing/painting/craft and at home, I allow him to doddle/draw/paint on his own, at his own freewill.  There is no expectation for him to draw a train that looks like train; a car which looks like a car.  Its really the explanation and how he see the art piece that he had created thats important.  I believe this had helped cultivate his interest for drawing/painting and even writing.  He now associate drawing and painting to fun and play.

In the year that Ricco take art lessons, I realised that art greatly helps to improve a young kid's motor skills.  It taps into children's creativity and imagination. It helps children make sense of the world and it is certainly an avenue for kids to bring out their loves; be it dinosaurs or cars.  Having said this, I highly encourage art to be one of the 1st learning ground for children

I was searching for a new class to send Ricco to as he grows out of his current junior art class and there are really no slots suitable for him in the current school at a higher level.  I came across something which caught my attention : art + design + architecture.  I like this concept for I think that art, design and architecture are all really about creativity, spacial awareness and also imagination. 

He attended his 1st lesson today and I find it extremely interesting.  The teacher gave the very young kids a 10mins slide show of different art pieces. explaining to the kids what some art pieces may represent, what the artists' thoughts were at the time of concocting those pieces etc.  This is a good first level introduction to visual and design literacy.  The kids were then asked to use different stencils and paint their own art piece.  There are stencils of dinosaurs, fairies, robot, flowers etc.  Be it overlap, side-by-side, above one another, the kids are given the freewill to design their own piece while discussing with the instructor. 

Ricco came up with the below after a long 2 hours painting and discussing.  He refused to use any other stencils other than dinosaur.  His only request throughout the entire session is to paint 1 more dinosaur.  He asked for 1 more again after 1 more is drawn.  He ended up with 15 dinosaurs (so he says).  He entitled his painting : Dinosaur Land.  And the explanation behind this painting : moving dinosaurs running towards the left... in dinosaur land.

Art Piece entitled : Dinosaur Land

He is so happy and takes so much pride in this painting that he simply refused to leave it in school for it to dry up to bring home the next week.  I ended up carrying this painting (right side up) throughout dinner and shopping the entire evening!

Phonics for Kids

Is phonics all important?  When should we start our kids on phonics?  How should we start?  Should we be investing in classes or cards that costs up to hundreds?  When will my kid learn how to place words together and start reading?

I have some experience to share now that my son is turning 4.

Phonics is very important due to the simple reason that words are made up and sounded through phonics.  Once a child knows the sound of the alphabets, placing them together and sounding a word should be easy.  I started Ricco with 'zoophonics' class whereby he learnt the sound of the 26 alphabets via a connection between action, animals and sound.  This methodology of teaching phonics works especially well on very young kids as they are still at the exploratory stage of learning.  Parents might not be able to know how kids at very young ages learn best.  Are they 'active' learners (learning through actions), 'sight' learners (learning through seeing), or auditory learners (learning through sounds)?  This methodology combines all 3 and works on kids memory and association. eg : 1 action is associated with each alphabet and animals.  Children are fast learners and before you even know it, they are able to sound the 26 alphabets. 

Attending class is a headstart but this must be accompanied with consistent home learning and individual teaching.  This acts as a reinforcement to what they learnt in school.  Yes, this means parents and kids alike, need to practice and practice at home.  There is really no need to invest in flashcards that costs hundreds of dollars.  A home made set is good enough. 

I recycled old name cards and used crayons to simply write the alphabets.  I try to go through these alphabets on a daily basis.  It takes nothing more than 3minutes.

alphabets

Once the child is able to sound the alphabets, the next step is really about placing the alphabets together and getting them to read it as a word. As in "c", "a", "t" forms cat.  I am currently at this stage of piecing together words ending with "at" as in "cat", "fat", "bat", "hat", "mat", "pat", "rat", "sat".  This is working well and I am happy with progress.

Scrubs Scrubs...scrub those dead cells away

Do you use facial scrubs at all?  Are scrubs all that important for a facial routine?  How often do you use your scrub?  How to choose a scrub suitable for your skin type?

I swear by facial scrubs.  Facial scrubs serves the main function of dead surface skincell removal; thereby creating a brighter, healthier and younger looking skin.  With this, the facial skin will be able to absorb skincare products and even cosmetics much easier.  This said, scrubs should not be used on a too frequent basis.  We do not want to rip our skin of all its natural oil.  Facial scrubs can be used on a once or twice weekly basis dependent on type of scrub and dependent on skin condition.  Most scrubs have drying effect.  People with dry surface skin texture like mine should take extra care to invest in a gentle moisturising scrub and take care not to over-scrub.

I chanced upon faceshop's water in promegranate scrub some 2-3 years back and till now have been using this scrub on a regular basis.  I like that this is a superbly gentle scrub which promotes hydration.  exfoliant particles are so tiny that you do not even know that its a scrub you are using.  Skin do feel a very slight bit dry after usage but give it 5-10 minutes and the drying feel disappears.  You are supposed to only slightly wet your face prior to usage, spreading small amounts all over the face.  On scrubbing, somehow the slightly wet surface will slowly start to dry up, leaving behind small amout of residue.  Psychologically I feel good with this as I imagine the residue left behind to be dirt and deadskin.  I certainly do see my skin after scrubbing slightly brighter and feels alot cleaner.  On top of all these goodness, this scrub is really affordable.
Very good value for money!

Faceshop's Water in Promegranate Scrub

Bye Bye 2010 and Hello 2011

2010 passes by way too fast.  How has the year been for you?  Did you manage to achieve what you had set out to?  Are you ready to welcome 2011 with lots more fervour and zeal?

Emotions on the last day of the year has always been mixed.  I am sad that the year had passed and it will never again show up.  I am concerned that I will need more creams to keep aging process at length. On the other hand, I do feel a huge sense of excitment in 2011.   My son has grown into a fine young boy and I am all ready to go about fulfilling my resolutions for this year!

This is how the year ended for us : Chilli Crab Steamboat Dinner!

Kitchen invaded by the boys

and crabs..

yes right! the main chef for the day!

Yummy Yummy! goodie.....

Marinated and placed into the oven by ME

The end product - food, glorious food

more food

The eating gang

The crabs are yummy.  The oven roasted chicken wings are great.  The steamboat ingredients are healthy.  We had a fantastic time eating and chatting the night away.

Bye bye 2010! and Hello 2011!!