16 December 2009

It is Aver's birthday and Superpig had taken the day off so we went off to the zoo.
There is the new children's playground in the zoo and we decided to let the gals go enjoy themselves.
Before we set off to the zoo, it was time to open the birthday presents.

Thank you for the gifts.

We went to the new children's playground in the zoo with the intention of letting the gals enjoy the waterplay there.
They did, eventhough there were the dark clouds hovering above.

After a wet and fun afternoon in the zoo, we went to the airport because I don't want to waste the rest of the day.

There were crayon rubbings...

Mickey Mouse and friends to be merry with... Indoor playground to explore...

There is dinner at Swensons and a free slice of ice cream cake for the birthday girl...

(We ran into Superpig's cousins and we ate dinner together.)

Which Ash got to finish it up.

Then, there was a gingerbread house which has candies inside.

Ash and her cousins got to go in and fill up a tumbler with candies for free... (because we did some shopping there and were given two tickets)
By the time we end the day, we were all extremely tired but happy.

13, 14 and 15 December 2008

I missed the weekend again and that is because it was my princesses birthday celebration.

On Saturday, I was busy making the cupcakes and marinated the chicken for Sunday's birthday barbecue.

On Sunday, I spent the morning baking the sponge cake and icing the cupcakes. By noon time, the rain did not seems to stop and we had to find an alternative to the barbecue.

I tried to "write" their names on the cupcakes but it is not very visible here and I totally do not know why I had my camera hanging off my neck but I did not take much photos. (Weird...) As I mentioned we had to cancel barbecue and have a indoor celebration at my mother-in-law's place, so I spent the remaining afternoon, grilling these yakitori sticks and cooking the prawns and squids.

My birthday princess number 1, Ash... She turned 7 yesterday.

My birthday princess number 2, Aver... she will turn 2 tomorrow.

Since their birthdays are two days apart, we decided to celebrate together (unlike last year). Well, the little one will not know the difference untill she is much older. So we can have this arrangement for a few more years.

As this year, Ash requested for her school friends to be invited, we allowed that. She gave out the invitations but only 4 responded and came. The house was running full of children, the 4 classmates and a few siblings of theirs, Ash and Aver's cousins, our friends kids... and there were adults ... and I do not have pictures to show as I did not take many... (what had gotton into me?)

But I do have these two... a newest friend (ok... not so new actually ... a year plus coming to two liao) and an oldest friend. Honeymeow (the lady on the right) was given specific instructions not to come to he venue looking pretty and no fake eyelashes too as I will be very jealous... but a beauty without purposely made up is still a beauty.

As for my oldest friend, she gets invited to most of my celebrations. She cannot run away from them. Still love her to bits despite the fact that we hardly talk over the years... busy busy busy... and why would a single lady want to spent her time talking to a mother (boring!)

I will stop rambling for now... the next post will the a photo slide of the day's event.

12 December 2008

Today's post is still on homemade christmas tree ornaments.
Today, I feature Ash's work.

It was kind of hard work for her as she does not have the patience to do any sewing.

Hence, she did not manage to do many.

Still, whatever that she had done, were nice enough.

(She cut out the felt pieces and sewn on the beads while I do the rest.)

How about you? Do you do your own christmas ornaments?

11 December 2008

Own made christmas tree ornaments...
Today, I will show Aver's handiwork.

How's your preparation for the Christmas?

Lucia Buns

If you have been to Ikea (Singapore) recently, you will have seen the staff setting up baking counters in the showroom.

Aver tasted the Lucia Buns and fell in love with it. Why we know she likes it? After finishing a little portion of it, she kept asking for more. On top of that, when we return two days later for an item refund, she pointed into the showroom and demanded for bread.

There were also recipe sheets given out to customers and Superpig got one for me.

I tried the Ikea's recipe and totally failed ... that was last night ... and I went to bed feeling angry with myself.

This morning, I did a search online and found a simple enough recipe and tried it... it worked!!!

Yippeeee yeh yeh yeh...

(But I still need to twit the temperature of my oven so the buns doesn't look burnt.)

I did not use saffron, which is actually the main item in this bun, as cheapo Superpig refused to spend S$9 for a small bush of saffron. (Actually, I will not spend that money too... it is incredibly expensive!) He bought mixed spices for me instead and so I used that ... and it still taste as NICE!

Yippeee yipeee yeh yeh!!!

The dough separated into balls waiting for to be shaped.

The shaped doughs waiting to rise... (I need to add a little more yeast to let it rise more so that it will be fluffier.)

In the oven....

The end result.... a little too burnt looking.

The inside of the bun... Yummy...

Aver have not tasted this batch yet so I do not know whether she will like it. However, Ash tasted and she said she likes it.

10 December 2008

The days are coming closer to Christmas and I have not finalised Christmas gifts for my friends and their children... ha... so much for planning early. (Next year then!)

Now, let's look into my photograph folders and find something related to the festival...

Finally, our christmas tree...

It is the same tree since 5 years ago and I still like it very much.

To make is special, I had the girls made their own ornaments.

9 December 2008

First and foremost...
Thanks Ah-Fat for your birthday blessing.

We are still in the mood of snowman...
Here we have Superpig giving this fellow a kiss.
Have you kissed a snowman? Will your lips be stuck to him as he is very cold?

6, 7 and 8 December 2008

I missed a few days...

Anyway, it was my birthday yesterday.

I had planned to do a give-away but due to dipping mood decided not to.

Maybe, I will have a belated one ...

As for birthday celebration... nothing much.

Since last year, I suddenly do not like to celebrate my birthday anymore. I do not want to look forward to it and simply hope that it will skip past theis very day on the calendar.

If only I can sleep through from the 6th and wake up on the 8th...

My wish is to one day I will be able to set up a small stall to sell my handmade stuffs. Eversince a little girl, with little or no money, I make my own gifts for my friends or teachers and I treasure this feeling of handmade stuffs...but before that is able to be fulfilled, I must brush up my handmade skills.

Don't worry... I am feeling quite okay actually.

And thank you, friends, for the comments on the previous post. It was a sudden dip in the mood with regard to my crafting skills.

I am in no mood to say anything...

Except ...

these may be my last craft or sewing project...I see no point to forcing people to "like" the things I made.

Trying to up the Christmas spirit is also not doing any good ...

And I am not trying to get any sympathy here... simply not in the mood.

5 December 2008

Gingerbread man cookies seems to also be a traditional item when it comes to Christmas. However, I do not know why this is so.

Seeing this figurine reminds me that it is time to get my cookie cutters, flour, mixer out and also to get my oven heated up.

Christmas baking... soon!

4 December 2008

Christmas decorations around town also helps to heighten the Christmas spirit.

However, with economic slowdown the decorations in town is kind of toned down. Well, toned down is better than none.

Here is one of the Precious Moment Chirstmas figurines we saw last weekend. Still on one of my favourite item ... snowman.

3 December 2008

We have no snow in this little island and I have yet to see snow real life. I always love the autumn and winter seasons and would really love to go experience it when I can.

And during the period of Christmas, snowmen will also be seen constantly. Hence, I will associate snowmen with Christmas.

So go enjoy sculpting your own snowman, or like me, draw one.

2 December 2008

So we are now on the second day of December and we have another 23 days to Christmas.

I will present you with my Christmas tree.

When I was a little girl, we never ever celebrate Christmas. As my father passed away when I was three, my mother had to single-handedly took care of three of us. Hence, there is usually no festival celebrations around the house.

In order to have a little feel of the Christmas spirit, I would always draw some Christmas trees. And I love to see the beautifully decorated Christmas trees on those American Christmas shows which aired during that period of time. I always tell myself that once I have my own house and my own family, I will get my own Christmas tree and celebrate the time together as a family.

I am blessed by Heavenly Father for a wonderful husband and two little princesses... as for our own Christmas tree... I am still patiently waiting for Ash to finish working on the ornaments.

December

It is finally the month of December... the last month of 2008... a super hectic month in our household too.

There are three birthdays to celebrate and a Christmas to enjoy too.

With the economic downtown and the gloominess of an oncoming recession, we have to really tie our pockets up. I have and is rather determined to stop buying fabric for the moment till all, if not most, of my fabric stash is used up. I will try to craft around whatever resources I have before I hit the craft stores again.

Also with such unstable economy at the moment, Christmas spirit in this little country seems kind of low. We were at the mall on Saturday and it was kind of quiet with little christms atmosphere. So I decided to do a post a day in the theme of Christmas till the end of the month.

Today's post...

Hanging Christmas Trees

When you ran out of space on the ground, simply hang them up. You can also be sure that tiny hands will not try to reach out for the lights and the ornaments. However, you may have to find another innovative way to place your presents.