Christmas gifts

Tues, Nov 3rd, 2009

Woke up bright and early. No more jet-lag.. yeh!!!

Had to start planning my annual Christmas gift purchases.

Before I embarked on this annual ritual, I had to get myself mentally prepared.

A good breakfast, eggs, ham and bagel with tons of cream cheese...hm...yummy! 

Now,  to make a list... names, sex, ages, likes, dislikes. This was the best method, this way I won't get wrong gifts. Gifts had to be useful, something that the receiver can use, not something they put away in a dark corner and never see daylight again.

A friend once said that Christmas gifts are the least useful, nice to receive that is all.

I had a list of 50 people ranging from age 2 months to infinite. As i was working down the list, there was this one person whom I can't think of what to get. What can you get for a person who doesn't need anything? He has everything that I can possibly think of. Now, I was talking about things within my budget means, not some Ferrari, or Lamborghini. Skipped this and work on it later.

My excel sheets are filling up fast, yeh! I am almost there. Will plan where to go shop for these next. It is like a war zone out there. I am planning my route carefully, must strategise.....I come I see I buy!! Hahaha.....

Jet-Lag

The trip to the States was good and enjoyable. Will talk abt it later.

1 October, 2.40am
Hubby crashed into the bedroom like a big clumsy baboon. The ruckus he created was enough to wake even the dead.

3.00am
8 year old daughter whispered ;"Mummy did you hear that noise? It is coming from my tummy."
"No honey, try to sleep..." I mumbled.
1 minute later, "Mummy, it is really loud, here put your hand here on my tummy... hear that?"
" Oh alright, I 'll fix you something to eat"
I stumbled out of bed with her scrambling after me.....

3.35am
"Let us try to get some sleep now ok?" I said.
We dragged ourselves back to bed, but she can't sleep.
"I think I am suffering from jet-lag mum." she announced very brightly.
I rubbed some essential oils on her and after 20mins she was fast asleep. Jet-lag? No she didn't have it.
Me??? Ya, I, saya, me, tossed around for the next few hours. So, was this jet-lag?  I, the sleep anywhere and everywhere type of person, for the first time in my entire 40+ years can't sleep!!!! Scream!!!

4.20am
Peeped at the clock.....oh my...blanked my mind.... did slow deep breathing....

5.00am
Still deep breathing away....

5.30am
In.... 1...2...3.... alamak!

5.45am
I think I finally doze off...

6.00am
"Mummy!!! I am very hot, can make air-con colder?"
....Ah....!!!!! Scream!!

9.00am
Writing this blog after I have been up and about since, doing hundred and one things... take her to school, read the papers, breakfast on the table for the in-laws.....

Will try to stay awake the whole day and go to bed at 9.00pm... good luck to me!!!

Cup Cakes decoration

Attended 2 cupcake decorating sessions.

Good eh?







Well, you tube has lots of decoration tips. Learned quite abit there as well.

Cups Cakes baking with the gals

The gals loved it. It was fun, I had fun, they had fun, our tummies had fun.

Yummy!

Finally all done.

Food Galore in Ipoh

Flew to Ipoh last week. Spent one "fulfilling" week there.

Now that there is a direct flight to Ipoh, traveling there is not so tedious and draining. One hour of flight time.... two and half hours ...zoom... reach Ipoh!! (laughing)

Ipoh, although a small and quite town has lots to offer. My daughter loves horses, hence, she was enrolled in the equestrian school there. We were there every morning for her lessons. She loved those lessons. 

Afternoons were spent looking for foods. The famous "Kai Si Hor Fun" - the coffee shop hasn't change for years. I was in Ipoh 20 years ago, went to the exact coffeeshop, now 20 years later... shop is still there, still selling the same "Hor Fun". Time has changed many cities and towns, but not Ipoh. I love it!

My daughter loves the "hor fun" there. She said; " I love eating hor fun, it gives me an over-whelming sense of satisfaction and happiness!" Smile:)

Must go back again!!! Will go to the caves next.

What a wonderful day!

My kid doesn't have to go to school today as it is Teachers' day. What a lazy morning I had with her.

Didn't get out of bed till 9am, what luxury! So nice to smell hair (she slept in our bed last night). Hubby went to work at 8 or was it 8.30? I was semi-conscious.

Back to my morning...

The wonders of motherhood... looking at her sleeping, those little hands, little fingers and toes. I can see a shadow of my image in her, she has my lips, my face shape, yet her father's nose, eyes...a perfect combination of hubby and I.

A good breakfast together. We talked and chatted about all and nothingness. I know she enjoys such mornings. Mother and daughter bonding. Oh what a wonderful morning!

Contemplating to eat or not to eat a slice of chocolate cake

Humm... yummy... big slices of chocolate cakes staring at me..."pick me up...choose me!!!"...with chocolate shavings and thick frosting, topped with lots of brandied cherries...Oh dear how tempting. Spongy layers with chocolate wafer bottoms... oh heavenly.

200 calories at least. Looking at my love handles, I better have some self control.

My mum use to say, if you past it by, you will think about it for the next few days, torture yourself and then back to the shop to get not only 1 but a few extra slices.

Come to think of it, she is right. It happened a few times, which is why I am still fighting a loosing battle. Half an hour of exercise on the machine every other day is not helping.....think I will go get a low fat snack from the kitchen now... LOL

Searching the net for a pet gate

Try to confine my dogs to only my balcony and living hall. Currently they are let loose, everywhere the run, kitchen, bedrooms, toilets, study, shedding their hair everywhere.... vaccum and mop the floors 3 times a day, very tiring...sigh.

Searching the net for a pet gate as the common child gate in the shops are not long enough to fit. Came across a site with beautiful gates on wheels, but from US and I have to fix it myself. i will call around to c if any local carpenter can fix me a gate.

Searching for steam chainese pumpkin cake recipe

Bought an electric pressure cooker the other day . The promo lady in Tangs was demonstrating how easy it is to make pumpkin cake. "It takes only 20mins." she said.

Me I am a gadget person. Love all things electrical:- cake mixer, steamer, slow cooker... etc. You name it I have it. hence, happily I lugged home the pressure cooker.

Now, here am I searching for the recipe. I have forgotten what flour to use. As usual, did not listen carefully. Hahaha...