I haven’t been posting much over the last few weeks mainly due to my spoilt smart phone, spoilt camera and internet connection speed of only 53+ kbps.

It takes almost half hour to upload a photo, reminding me of the time in 1990s when the IT era first evolves. Sometimes, after waiting for such long time, an error popped up, saying the speed is too slow and no photo can be uploaded. Can you imagine how frustrating it is?

I have taken my 7.2Mbps mobile internet for granted and it never occurred that I would experience such slow speed.

Anyway, I thought I could change a service provider and sign on another mobile modem. Guess what the other two providers said? They told me I would face the same problem too!

One of the reasons is that the ongoing installation of the fibre optics may disrupt the connection speed. Another factor could be the area we use it – at residential areas, the speed can slow to a crawl, while if we use it on the go, anywhere else, it will be faster.

And one of them even said that customers (like me) can be demanding. We get what we pay for, hence we should not complain. I retorted and said that we just want to get what we are promised. Why would we sign up otherwise?

Sigh!

Nic has just turned 2! Though I’m really happy that my little one has become older and more independent, I’m a little apprehensive. Twos has been associated with “terrible-twos” or if we view it positively, it might become a “terrific-twos”!

I know for sure it would be an exciting, roller-coaster year ahead as Nic continues to exercise her assertiveness, tries to take control of things, becomes meddlesome, superb moody (mood swings are even faster than the weather!), tests water and does exactly the opposite of what’s being told/expected.

I took some lovely photographs of Nic’ birthday celebration with my new waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, tough Panasonic Lumix camera.

The photographs are much better than all those taken earlier on this blog as I’m using a proper camera now, not with my mobile phone. I’ve sent my mobile phone for repair and my old Fujifilm F30 is also spoilt as they have come into contact with water when I tried to take Nic at the swimming pool on separate occasions and water got into the phone and camera.

I made a fruit tart for her in the evening. She was very excited. (can’t upload it here due to connection lag at the moment).

During noon, we also had mee sua with hard boiled eggs, mushrooms and pork. My mil has reminded me to cook it for Nic. I think it’s an old Chinese tradition, a way of celebrating birthdays. 

I have opted to celebrate quietly for her with just my hubby, me and her. No big parties or repeated celebrations with different groups of people. I hope to continue this way till she is at the next juncture of life- 21 – entry into adulthood.

I have come to this decision as I want her to be able to appreciate simple celebrations and I thought I remember reading somewhere in some buddhism books that we should spend our birth-day to reflect on our lives, from the period we were born. Afterall, we have gone through a lot to become who we are in this life and we should use this opportunity to reflect how we could attain eternal happiness, not momentary happiness.

It won’t be an easy task indeed as she may compare with peers in future that they have got big celebrations or repeated celebrations with many groups of people.

But with the “The going gets tough and the tough gets going” motto, I should think I will be able, through time, to inculcate a reflective mindset.

Happy Birthday, Nic!

Cover page of book

This book introduces some common and popular faces (people) of art such as Mona Lisa, The Scream.

I like it as it is simple -only 1 or 2 adjectives per two-page spread to describe the people on the opposite page.

As one reads the book, you will feel a little arty as every page is informally coloured with paint brush strokes and a painting is embedded in the middle of a two-page spread. (see below).

A sample two-page spread of the book

On the last page, you will also get to know who the artists are, the titles of the paintings and other details.

I thought it is suitable for the very young – babies and young toddlers who are beginning to read some words.

Try borrowing from your local library.

If you wish to buy How is Mona Lisa Feeling? Art from the Start, you may do so at my bookstore (see the top bar) or simply go to bookdepository (click right side bar 2nd button from top).

I will be archiving the pros and summary of this book in my Tots and Baby Books page.

Happy reading!

Hi! Please remember to participate in the Giveaway #2. Don’t miss it. Find out more from the link.

My little girl and I have been busy looking for a school for her next year. During one of our visits to an air-conditioned montessori (only an hour visit), Nic had a runny nose.

I’m not pointing finger that the germs are from there but I will not say the environment is not to be blamed totally.

Anyway, after some deep thoughts, I have decided to throw away the registration form. I will not trade Nic’s health and happiness for the flexible time, air-conditioned environment and the wonderful great-variety of new manipulatives and toys there. Also, the prinicipal isn’t friendly and doesn’t seem to like children very much. She brushed my girl away curtly when she wanted to touch one of her files. She also didn’t know the name of a toddler boy who was leaving when I arrived. She also doesn’t speak English well (how can she be a role model and teach the children there in English?)

Sorry, I’m just thinking aloud. I know it’s not nice to be so critical but when it comes to teaching a language, role-modelling is very important for young impressionable toddlers and young children.

Both Nic and I are drifting in and out of a coming cold. And of course, these few days, I’m desperately loading us all with lots of garlic-related food and ”cooling” soups (lotus root, old cucumber, watercress etc) and beverages (barley, chrysanthemum, herbal tea) to help us.

This was when I discovered a wonderful vegetable – chives! I had actually sent my hubby down to get garlic sprout but he wasn’t sure what it was (vegetables are all the same to him!).

He came back with chives and I went down thereafter to exchange for garlic sprout (I didn’t know how to cook it. On the way, I met my neighbour who told me it is a very delicious vegetable and not to exchange it. He even offered to teach me how to cook it). However, there wasn’t any garlic sprout, hence I decided to bring it home again to try to cook it.

I stumbled upon a recipe website that suggested (there wasn’t any photos whatsoever) that I could cook it with shrimps.

Hence, after washing the chives thoroughly and chopping them into short lengths, I deshelled and deveined some prawns, seasoned them with honey and black pepper. Then, I stir-fried them.

Stir-fried Chives with Honey-Black Pepper Seasoned Prawns

Guess what? It turned out very delicious! Soft, tender chives, fresh prawns. With the honey, black pepper and a dash of sea salt… Wow! It is just great.

Everyone including Nic (eating it for the first time) ate them and swallowed them on her first try (never rejected it).

Chives are similar to garlic sprouts in terms of nutrients but they are smaller and thinner. They are also good in building up our immunity against colds.

Try cooking this. See my page Recipes for Moms and Tots for the Stir-fried Chives with Honey-Black Pepper Seasoned Prawns recipe.

Enjoy!

papa do you love me coverpage

As a continuation of giveaway series, I am onto my 2nd giveaway and intend to give the book “Papa, Do You Love Me?” away over the next few weeks. (I had bought an extra copy of this book by mistake, hence wish to give away-terms and conditions apply – please see eligibility below).

It’s a brand new hardcover book. Like the all-time famous “Mama, Do You Love Me?”, it follows the same concept of a child testing his limits. This time round, it’s a boy asking the father. He creates many scenarios and asks his father what he would do. Every time, his father would give a reply which indicates his love for him.

It is not as direct as the “Mama” version (as we all know fathers are often not as demonstrative and expressive as mothers). Hence, it is through the actions the father does that shows his love for his child.

A page from Papa Do You Love Me

The setting is in Africa and hence, the language and choice of words are native to their country. For example, “calabesh” for “water bottle”, “tenderheart” to name his child etc. It is interesting to learn a little of their culture from the book- their way of life, the language used.

Colourful and vibrant pictures illustrate and accompany the words on every two-spread pages.

The words are slightly more difficult than the “Mama” version but it still tells the story well and will surely suit itself as a bonding reading session between a father and child.

A book not to be missed. What’s more, it’s a giveaway on my blog now. Only 1 copy.

Eligibility:

1) Open to all readers and free shipping

2) From now to 2 week’s time, you must leave appropriate (not spam) comments in any one of my posts on my website

3) Like my website on facebook (go to facebook)

4) Join my google friends connect (at bottom of my webpage)

At the end of 2 weeks, I will use a random generator to determine the lucky qualified reader and check with you for your address.

Happy reading and participate in this giveaway!

Gingerbread family made from Kanten Clay (Papa, Mama and Baby)

Couldn’t upload the two videos on the same post, hence here’s another post to upload the video.

In the video, Nic talks of eating the gingerbread family. She wants to eat the biggest – papa and the smallest – baby.

Then she switched topic and put the mama and the baby together, folding mama’s arms around the baby so that she can hug the baby. After that, she went on to “sing” Rock A-bye Baby”.

So far, as she is under two, she hasn’t developed the tonality to sing with tune.

I got to know about Kanten Clay when I visited one of my friends during a play-date. I was thrilled when she told me it’s a new all-natural modelling clay that is made from agar.

I have actually been looking around for modelling clay for quite a while. I didn’t like play-doh as it is too soft and sticky to handle and sticks to almost all surface, requiring some cleaning up.

And earlier, I bought those colourful plasticine from my local bookstore. It is a little smelly and oily. Hence, again, I did not let Nic play with it after that.

I got a box of Kanten Clay from Mums & Babes. Nic enjoys playing with them a lot and at this age, nearing two, as it’s a developmental phase, she is head over heels with them.

I actually like it too as it is not too soft but soft enough to mould easily. It is also not as sticky or as oily as other brands. With their nice and air-tight containers, it is also easy to store them after play and reuse again for the next use.

Just few days ago, I moulded gingerbread family from the yellow clay and we had a nice role-play with them.

You can see the video and hear our conversations and her self-talk. Quite funny, actually.

With the clay and of different colours, we can make anything we want. Nic’s paternal grandparents even got involved and made “ang ku kueh”, “roti-prata”, “cheese”, bird and eggs” with them. Nic was actually very excited and had a great time “pretending” to eat them and cooking them.

With the four primary colours – red, blue, yellow and white, you could combine a bit of some to make other colours like I did. E.g. blue and red = purple, blue and yellow = green, yellow and red = orange.

Demostrate to your children and they may be surprised (if they haven’t known it yet) that mixing the colours of the clay can actually give another colour too! Just like postel colours, coloured ink, food colourings.

If you haven’t got any modelling clay for your child yet, do consider Kanten Clay.

Taking turns to look, touch and feel the leaf, tree bark and stick

Today, Nic and I went on a last-minute outdoor learning journey at HortPark. We woke up early as the lesson with Mandarina Kids starts at 9.30am.

It was tough getting there punctually as Nic’s sleeping cycle is late in the night (around 10plus to 11pm) to mid morning (around 9am). However, reminding Nic gently about the trip and telling her that her wish of becoming a student is possible, helped a great deal.

She was more cooperative and would try her best to be fast. Within half hour, she gulped down her milk, got dressed, peed and was ready to go.

Transport was a perk as we don’t own a car. Hence, we reached there timely at 9.30am and began lesson thereafter.

The lesson was on textures. There, Nic reinforced her learning of rough, smooth, soft, hard, dry and wet in Mandarin with hands-on natural materials (sticks, tree bark, leaf, stone, wet and dry surfaces).

Nic's turn to learn about textures

The HortiPark is lovely (it is my first trip there, by the way). It is new, spacious and well-maintained.

After some desk-bound formal learning (which Nic found difficult as it lasted half hour!), we went on the second part – a walk around a short trail to parts of the park.

There were beautiful flora (flowers, trees, plants, shrubs) and fauna (hornets, giant beetles, butterflies, caterpillars, millipedes) to look at. We even saw bracket fungi!

We spotted several caterpillars!

There is also a showroom of how to grow indoor plants and how to decorate your house creatively with them.

Touch and feel the "carpet grass" in the plant-integrated playroom for children

Indoor plants on the wall

After that, we were back at the sitting area to take a mini-break and learn a Chinese song (themed-related). I learnt it with Nic and we had a fun time doing the actions with two other mothers and their young children.

There was no direct play contact among the children though they were well aware of one another.

Nic also got to know what it was like to be a student - She had been telling me how she wants to be a student. From time to time, I have always been pointing out that there will come to a age where children go to school. I have wanted to prepare her mentally so that by the time she goes in, she will not be too upset, but rather, enjoy herself and learn social skills.

If you happen to be a parent of a young child who doesn’t speak Mandarin at home) and hasn’t been to school yet, or wish your child to pick up more Mandarin from outdoor learning trips, do give Mandarina Kids a try. 4 lessons cost SGD220 and you could pick up several tips and practise Mandarin with your child on your own at home thereafter.

simple stir-fried choy sum

One of the most common and popular vegetables among Chinese, choy sum is also versatile and can be steamed, eaten in salads, stir-fried or added to soups.

It is also my favourite vegetable and I enjoy eating the young ones (being sweeter and more tender). The old, mature ones are hard and more fibrous.

I often get my supply (2 bundles) of choy sum from my mil. It is something she does so regularly when we shifted out. I told her once that this particular breed was delicious, and since then, she always bought them from the local wet market (only available from wet markets) and pass them to me (even for weeks we could not finish consuming!)

My favourite way of cooking this vegetable is stir-frying it. With oil, corn starch water, some sugar (to help keep the greeness and for a little sweetness) and salt, I stir-fry for several minutes and tada! It’s ready for eating.

Compared to other vegetables, according to my mil, she heard (from whom, I am not too sure) that choy sum is the best – in the sense that it is the most “neutral”. It is not “cooling” (unlike spinach, puay leng, bitter gourd) or cause lots of wind (unlike broccoli, cabbage).

According to a website, it also contains lots of vitamin C, good amount of vitamin A, K and calcium. Check it out for more details.

You may also find the stir-fried choy sum recipe in my Recipes for Moms & Tots page . Enjoy!