Back!

I'm now here!

Yeah, i'm back :)

I miss blogging lah, bo pian. Grin.

Details

ON

1. Girls Split-Stripe Hoodies

Cute cap sleeves and ultra-comfy cotton pique place this hoodie at the top of the fashion pyramid! A rib-knit v-neck and trendy long length complete the look.

2. Girls Tie-Front Tops

Jersey knit makes this top as comfortable as her favorite tee, but the cut gives it style to spare. Fashion-forward details include a square neckline, front tie, and trapeze style silhouette, all designed to flatter.

fabric & care

• 95% cotton, 5% spandex.

3. Girls Convertible Color-Block Tube Tops

Cool color-blocking and soft cotton pique with a touch of stretch make it sporty, but it's also just fine for those lazy days of summer that will be here before you know it.

4. Girls Flutter-Sleeve Tee Dresses

A sweet silhouette perfectly offsets sporty stripes for a pretty sunny-day look that's fun and comfortable. Pair with metallic sandals to make the colors really pop.

fabric & care

• 95% cotton, 5% spandex.
• Machine wash.
• Imported.

details

• Scoop neck
• Flutter sleeves
• Smocked drop waist with lettuce edges
• Gathered skirt
• Hits below knee

5. Women's Low-Rise Cuffed Bermudas (12")

Once you try Bermudas, you'll want to wear them with everything! This pair features scoop pockets, cuffed hems and a zip fly with button tab closure.

6. Men's Rugby-Stripe Sueded Jersey Polos

Wide rugby stripes punch up a polo, lending it sportsmanly style that's sure to suit you -- whether you're hitting the links or flipping burgers in your backyard.

details

• Rib-knit spread collar and trim
• Two-button placket
• Drop-tail hem

7. Men's Multi-Stripe V-Neck Tees

Thin multicolored stripes and a rib-knit V-neck give the classic cotton tee a trendy upgrade.

8. Girls Fold-Over Jersey Capris

She's a girl-on-the-go and she needs activewear that will keep up with her. These stretchy capris fit the bill, and have cute contrast piping down the legs for added style. 95% cotton, 5% jersey.

9. Men's Twill Bermuda Shorts (11 3/4")

Classic shorts in solid colors create a clean backdrop for bold printed shirts, graphic tees, patterned slip-ons and more. You're sure to rely on them all through the sunny season.

details

• Slant pockets in front
• Welt pockets in back
• 11 3/4" inseam
• Hits below knee

VS

1.

Foldover yoga pant

Gym. Street. Or just relaxing at home. Our yogawear goes anywhere, and is a great way to add some flexibility to your wardrobe. Contrast waistband. Imported cotton/Lycra® spandex.

2. Strapless bra top tube dress

The essence of simply sexy style. Built-in shelf bra for support with no show-through. Ruching on one side. Slim fit. Imported cotton/spandex.
25" from waist.

3. Breezy boatneck dress

Swing on the bright side this season, in a fit-and-flare shape. Open back. Cap sleeves. Button placket at back. Imported cotton/spandex.
17" from waist

4. Strapless smocked dress

A sweet choice for spring. Imprint your style with fun patterns and basic colors. Fit-and-flare empire-waist shape with ruffle hem. Smocked dress: imported cotton. Smocked dress in plaid: imported linen.

5.

The Miracle Bra®

Faux python-trim push-up triangle top

Maximum push-up in a sleek, sexy shape that sizzles with exotic charm. Pick your top and bottom sizes separately.
• Removable push-up padding
• Underwire cups
• Decorative bow detail at center front
• Ties at neck

6.

Beach Sexy®

Adjustable triangle top

Meet your match...or get into the mix. Our bikini matchmaker lets you create the perfect duo. Pick your top and bottom sizes separately.
• Light removable padding
• Ties at neck and back
• Cinched front
• Lined cups
• Imported nylon/spandex
• Adjustable back closure
• Imported nylon/Lycra® spandex

Soccer cake!

For Shuoze, who celebrated his 6th birthday in school.



Initially, he wanted a 3D bus cake which i agreed.

But after following me to Phoon Huat the other day, he insisted to change his bus cake to a soccer theme cake instead. Of course, i gladly obliged. It means less work and super easy for me :P

So basically, the boy picked the deco, and i planned the rest eg; the green grass, the flags and also the sandy soil.


Though easy, the boy loves it!!

He thinks a world of it. And most importantly, he thinks his mama rocks big time. Grin.

As for the cake, i did the norm. Moist chocolate cake which all kiddos like. One can never go wrong with chocolate cake with the kids.

Some pictures taken in school during the celebration.

Boys and i :)

Sz and his classmates

Sz and his class teacher, Mrs Vijay

Sz and his didi

Last but not least, little beep waiting for his 2 korkor at school :D

It was a happy day for all of us :)

First step

Beep took his many first step yesterday!!

Finally.....................................

:D

Yesterday, didi performed during the morning assembly in school as one of the 6 ducklings. There were 14 students in class and he's one of the 6 who got picked :)

Anyway, i must say.. didi is the best!

Honest!

He was the best dancer and best performer. He remembered all the steps and did them all adorably!

He was so cute that his former teacher, Mrs Cheong couldn't resist but to pat his head and cupped his face after they were done.

The rest of the kids didn't do as well as him :P

I am so proud of didi. He made my eyes 'flood'. Grin.

Then today, Mrs Vijay, Sz's school teacher told me that Sz will be the farmer for the class play for the coming Friday. It seems that he is doing a fantastic job at it!

I simply can't wait. This time, i'm so not gonna forget the camera!

I miss blogging..

I really do!

I miss the connection and interaction with people.

I miss writing.

I miss reading comments.

I miss spending time on the computer.

I miss photographing food pictures [no blogging, no motivation to bake liao :P ]

I miss having my work being read and appreciated.

I miss having to do research on certain phrases/ words that i need to use before posting my entry up.

My very last photograph after closing my blog. I don't even take photos anymore since then. Part of it because of no-more-blogging but the main reason is that i have really lousy cameras which i have totally given up on >.<

I feel lost from the outside world.

I am having withdrawal symptoms from no blogging.

I feel lonely.

I feel not so clever anymore since blogging does improve one's intellectual, eg ; improve one's english, keep the brain working coz blogging is like having an assignment, having to read up, do research on certain facts.

Sigh.

I MISS BLOGGING!

Eeeek!

The Capsule Hotel Asakusa Riverside :


Great location but me no fancy at all.

I can never imagine sleeping in a capsule as such. It does not only look like an oven, it looks like the place where they store the body before being cremated!

And i. i. i am claustrophobic!

But the best part is, it's only a stone throw away from the subway and it only costs a little as $26 - $52, in Tokyo!!!

Still, i am claustrophobic!

Yeah, i am still here. Didn't leave again. Because the husband loves me, or so he claims =_=

Dear readers,

I have decided to close down this blog finally.

Nope, there isn't any nasty comment nor nasty folk stalking me.

In fact, it has been very enjoyable for me, to blog.

Through this blog, i've got to know her, the beautiful stranger who has been treating me like an old friend. She was there for me when she thought i was having problems but i wasn't. She was also the first or rather, the only one who actually sent me birthday present through mail even though we've never met! (have u sent any birthday pressie to someone you've not met before?) And she was also almost the first person who would say 'I'd buy!' whenever i wanna sell something.

Babe, u have no idea how touched and how happy you made me y'know!

To this day, i have only met her once, for a brief 3-4 minutes? :)

But really, getting to know this girl is one of the most wonderful thing that has happened because of my blog. I am truly blessed for she took interest in me upon chancing my blog accidentally on a one fine day. Haha.

Anyway, thank you for reading and to those who sometimes leave a comment or 2, i honestly do love reading all your lovely comments.

Me like interactions [cos social skill is not needed] :P and i'm sure i will miss blogging for you. Blogging knowing that u have someone reading it and blogging knowing that no one is reading it are so totally different..

So yupyup, when u finally cannot access my blog anymore, that would mean i have already shut it down yea?

Last but not least, Happy Chinese New Year! May the year of rat will bring you much joy, happiness, health and good fortune :)

Love,
Sherie

Old vainpot

Am referring to the husband!

Hb has been pumping himself up these days. Could it be because of me woohing and waahing over the nice springy square chests and those countable 6 packs on the models/actors? :P

Anyhow, it's a good thing i say.

Because..

. that means the husband is getting fitter and healthier definitely. Chances of me dying before him is there now! Hahaha :P
. hb will look good in fitting tops
. hb will look bigger and broader than me for once! [i hope]
. i will have a nice teddy bear to hug whilst sleeping instead of a bony one :P

Last but not least, now i can squeeze squeeze hb's D cup already before going to sleep or just to irritate hb whenever i feel like it especially if he were to do anything to me which he always does!

Or when hb is halfway taking his shirt off! *squeeze*squeeze*

Nice.

Ho ho ho!

Gf's wedding

Another overdue post! *hide*

The gf's wedding was on Dec 15th!

Anyway, for the very first time, i was asked to be one of ji muis [sisters] for the morning tea ceremony as my other married gfs didn't have one.

The gorgeous bride and i. Gosh.. i practically had to hide my giant arms away because the bride's arms were like THAT! Nope, i won't wanna show or tell u how big mine is! 'giant' would do. I'm too embarrassed!

And then, THE wedding dinner.

All my life, i have not been to one this grand.



Sure, i have been to many many in 5/6 stars hotel but somehow, this gf's wedding tops the cake.

With the very awesome deco and theme, not to mention.. the food.



Sounds like any normal Chinese wedding dinner menu aye?

Then u are so so wrong!

Because that was what i thought too.

The .food. fits fine dining bill perfectly.

And it's not Cheena. It's fusion with the fine dining very artistic deco style which we were served exactly that for every each of us individually.

The quality?

I wasn't expecting much initially as i'd been to the exact hotel for another gf's wedding dinner 1.5 years ago. You know, the normal standard..

Until i had my first bite for dish no.1.

I was completely blown away.

There after, i kept looking forward to the next dish, and the next and the next, not only for the food but also for the presentation as well ;)

Just for you to get a rough idea of what i'm blabbering about, here's my dessert..

Mango Galangal soup - vanilla milk ice cream + almond twirl. Oh, the choc cake behind it? It's the wedding cake which the beautiful couple cut on stage! How cool is that?

I finished every drop of it needless to say though i felt like a stuffed turkey!

Unfortunately, this is the only food photo i managed to capture because i was too busy looking forward to the food and savouring them! :P

Last but not least, my ex schoolmates and i.


I don't remember telling anyone but this is my ugliest hair style ever!!!!!!!

I will be kind and spare you the details. But seriously, i had never felt so ugly in my entire life before. [right after facial not included!]

My hair was ironed to stick straight and totally flat! Like flat's FLAT. No kidding. I specifically told her stylist to just blow dry for the Pantene effect but die die also tried to persuade me to straighten it using the iron.

As a nice girl, i didn't have the heart to say no so many times.

By the time i got home, i had only 5 minutes [no thanks to the 'ironing'! which took more than an hour to do - she told me it'd be done in 15 mins and i stupidly believed her. Ugh. Simple blow dry would be just 10-15 mins max? which was what i had estimated that fits my schedule perfectly] to change and do my make up - which i didn't of course - take ang pow [i forgot about the money and had to borrow from friends!], clutch and visiting the loo before another gf came to pick me up.

Throughout the whole night, i was consciously messing up the hair [so it won't be so flat] or covered half my face with the hair because i was totally unpresentable :(

It was really a disaster -> me.

Thank God for the food and incredible companions whom somehow made me felt a little normal. Yeah, i thought i looked pretty abnormal. Haha :P

And the bride, whoaaaaaaa.. she was breathtakingly beautiful and she's my girlfriend! ^.^


The beautiful couple and our chocolate cake! ^.^



So beautifully captured


p.s : i also happened to have the worst break out ever on the gf's wedding day which started a week before that and lasted all the way to January due to switch in products. Ugh!

Peanut cookies

This is another cookie i did for Chinese New Year which happens to be just around the corner!

Time really does fly!



I dare say this has to be one of the yummiest peanut cookies i've ever had.

Crispy on the outside but melt in the mouth once it's in. Very nutty and the sweetness is just right.

I love it!!

Credits : Jo, the IK Admin - xie xie nie .. if u are reading this Jo :D

As i had mentioned before, this is my first year to bake cny goodies. Usually i get them from my mil - who usually buys for me as well - but this year is an exception.

So far, i've done 3 batches [including today] of pineapple tarts and 2 batches of the peanut cookies for family, friends and relatives. The feedbacks i got is very positive [i only gave to 5 friends who live nearby mostly] even though the packaging was terrible! *hide* [everything was too last minute!]

So good that i actually earned myself a customer already, whom already 'booked' my 1st order for my next year's bake since i am not selling any this year. Grin.

Thank you Davis!! :*

In fact, i sort of know what kind of packaging i'll do too! Something not ordinary but very nice :P

OOooooo, i cannot wait.

Of course, i will be selling to friends only as i am closing this blog soon ;)

She so spoils me!

I was supposed to surprise her but i got surprised instead! ^.^

This girl ah.. really knows how to spoil me!

First, it was an unexpected birthday pressie, followed by Xmas pressie [i also got her one early early luckily but sent out late though *oopps*!] and now, this!



Think the babe knows we like pork floss! Heh.

And also me liking make up palettes!



For the past half a year, i've been learning how to do eye make up especially when i have some special date [mostly with the girls since the gong gong husband doesn't know how to appreciate it. Lol - hb likes me without make up best.. men, say only right? :P] going on and so far, all attempts have been pretty successful!

So this palette really came in handy! :D



Nice colours, aye?

Even my not-into-eye-make-up-mil thinks the colours are very pretty! She even told me that she's been looking for such colours for a long long time already [and i thought she wasn't even into eye make up?!] ..

*ahem* I am definitely not giving her mine! *scowl*

Me like the leopard print many many oki! :P

Earrings madness!

I love beautiful earrings!

That's the only accessories i wear actually. I don't really do bracelets [got watch and the jade already on both hands], necklaces [i think i've got short neck!] or anklets [er.. simply lor].

So, it all boils down to wearing earrings only.

My only accessory to dress me up :)

Usually, i get the nice but affordable ones because me money not enough to buy Katriel's or the earrings at Tangs' Level 2. Far too expensive for me even though i loveee them to bits. I only go to admire but never to buy.

However.

Recently i couldn't resist the temptation to not buy the slightly more expensive earrings. They are simply too pretty!! ^.^

But of course, they are not so that expensive lah but expensive enough for my $20 budget. Grin. Nevertheless, still within my 2nd budget.. $50 :P

So yup yup, may i present you.. my very gorgeous earrings [in my opinion lah! :P]

1st pair :

I'm currently searching for a gold hoop, same size as my silver one so that i can have more variety! :)

This is what i couldn't resist. The butterfly!

2nd pair :

Bought this because i needed a black pair of earring and i find it quite special too. Me like the stone in the middle ;)

Forgot what stone it is though. I was told by the lady boss. For these 2 pairs, i had a total of $10 discount because the lady boss liked me! She said we got 'yuan' worr. Grin. Yay for me definitely :P

3rd pair :

Lovely isn't it? I couldn't take my eyes of it! Plus the auntie oh.. wah, really know how to talk man.. i was resisting hard initially. Then, she talked and talked and talked and finally, i relented. As she said, for Chinese New Year mah! Oki lor... i also got discount [15%!] for this pair. Tee hee hee...

Aihss.. how to say no?!?!

I loveeeee my new earrings!! :P

Why do i need an OK camera?

because i need one.

Not a good enough answer?

Fine.

Here's why :

i - i love and enjoy photography tremendously though my standard is not there yet definitely
ii - lucky beautiful shots make me happy
iii - the 1 years and 4 months old pocket size camera $599 (or was it $699) cannot make it. the quality is worst than a $200 Canon
iv - the 7 years old $1.6k camera also cannot make it. Because ~

• it can only take at most 10 shots at 1 go before the batteries die even though i fully charged it beforehand
• even after charging the batteries but leaving it there for 1 day unused, i couldn't use it again the next day to take photos
• the problem doesn't lie in the batteries. i tried many different sets already but with same result
  
• if i were to use normal disposable AA batteries, it will only last me for less than 30 shots. Worth it?
• oh, the best part is.. sometimes just right after baking when i'm all excited with the goodies and really wanna snap a couple of photos, the camera refuses to work at all due to low batt or worst, just right after getting 1-2 shots or 3-4, it goes 'diiiiiiiiiiiit' and shut down by itself. Wah seh.. the reaction/expression of me is totally priceless man..
  
• it has ugly camera bag which stains my white bag or my not-black tops

v - last but not least, because i say I WANT ONE!

The thing is.. i am not sure which one i wanna buy first.

Buy headache, don't buy headache.

Ugh!

Best is to buy 2 together lorr :P

On the Christmas afternoon...

Yeah, it has been that overdue!

It happened on the Christmas afternoon of 2007.. when hb was at home [which is pretty rare, especially in the afternoons] and i decided to bake everyone something mainly because hb loveeeess freshly baked goodies and he cannot resist it :P

I picked something chocolate-y as it is everyone's favourite.

An almost flourless warm and dark chocolate cake, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream of course! :)



It's pretty nutty actually as the almond meal replaces most of the flour.

I like!


It was just too bad that i couldn't find any Christmas-related cake decoration to put on top of the cake, especially after the layer of snow white layer of snow i shook on top.

Otherwise, it would be perfect for a nice lazy Christmas afternoon tea.

Pistachio cake

I was mesmerised by the simplicity of the ingredients and of course, the nuts.

It uses olive oil instead of the butter.



However, because of that.. the cake isn't that fragrance.

Me no like.

I still like butter better :P



Next time if i were to bake this again, i would substitute the olive oil with the butter for sure.. and also, be less generous with the nuts too.

Heh.

Beep's 1st birthday party

It was my 1st time organizing a party for the kids.

The 2 elder boys never had one before. Usually, it'd be celebration with the in laws and that's it. But for beep's 1st birthday, i itchy backside went on to organize one and i'm sure glad i did :)

As the party started around 2.30pm, it meant tea party. No real food. Just finger food and all.

The kids

I like having not too many people in parties. Nice, cozy and comfortable. I'm not so much of a social butterfly. In fact, i don't really know how to socialize. In some ways, i think i'm very much of an introvert :P

Beep and i :D

For the party, i only invited 2 close gfs over + their brood.

It may sound very few but when they were all here, gosh... it was worst than pasar malam! Lol.

But i like.

The gang :)

The food that i prepared with 2 helpers :

Fish ball, cherry tomato, ham, cucumber + fish ball skewers

Sausage roll - the shortcut way :P

Fondue!

The cube cake that went into the chocolate sauce, marble cake which the gfs ta pao back - everyone loves it!

Besides the food above, we also have the boring ham and cheese sandwich :P

Last but not least, pressies for the birthday boy!

Simply lovely ...

And the gfs didn't only gave pressie to the birthday boy, the mommy also have! *yay*. So nice of them. Heh.



2 of the items were lugged back all the way from the UK ;)

Thank you Angels *muaks*

All in all, it was a happy happy day for all. It was a blast =)

It's hard not to love him!

He may be the middle child but i don't think he would get that middle child syndrome.

Because i love him to bits and pieces.

He is really my sticker.

Video-ed by the husband. Do turn on your speakers ;)

Among the 3 boys, he is the stickiest to me. Not sure about the baby though.. coz he's still so little.

People love him because he is he.

Mature [when his classmates are sitting down on the floor for story time, he actually paced around them with his hands behind like a principal!] yet naive [that silly boy.. he actually hides back the same place his brother hides just because he couldn't find his brother there! lol].

Adorable and cheeky at the same time.

And he doesn't give a damn if you don't like him when he says he doesn't like you. He only cares if the mommy dislikes him. But he says it in such a way that it is hard for you not to like him further! :P

p.s : see what i mean? He is so Shin Chan! Bottomless as usual.. :D

My 1st attempt at pineapple tarts :)

I have never wanna attempt making pineapple tarts because of the tedious process.

But mainly, because i'm not a fan :P

However, this year.. for no apparent reason, i just wanna try making them. You could say it's for the CNY spirit. Or probably i just wanna bring back my childhood memories and also for the boys' memories too.

I remember my mom used to make the bee hive [not sure what u call it in chinese] and all sorts of keropok whenever CNY nears. I also remember going into the kitchen, stole them and ran into the bedroom to eat. Heh.

So for the boys.. i would love them to remember me as the mommy who bakes near CNY... all kinda goodies and yummy goodies too to be exact. Goodies that they will always remember fondly till old. Goodies with the distinct taste and texture that no money can buy.

As if! Me and my wishful thinking as always :P

Anyway, the tarts....



Bone breaking hardwork for more than half a day!

The tedious part is rolling the dough into thin small lengths, which explains why you don't see this 'design' outside. Only homebakers would attempt this as far as i can tell.

If not for the 'X', we could have wrapped up 2 hours early.



As for the filling, i loveeeeeeeeee it!

For a non-pineapple-tart-lover, it's quite amusing that i could like it. Heh.

I think it has a lot to do with the sourish taste. I used a non-ripe pineapple + a ripe one. Also, it's moist and not too sweet, unlike the ones they sell outside.. which are pretty sweet, not sourish and can be quite drying too.

Because of the successful filling that i did, i couldn't wait to make the tarts.. i was so excited you know! Lol.

In total, i managed to churn almost 6 tubs of pineapple tarts.

1 for myself, 1 for in laws and 4 for my mommy. Yupyup.. we'll be hitting the road again in a while, after much persuasion from the sisters :)

AND THEN.

This morning..

sobs..

sobs..

SOBS!!!




The beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep threw all of them to the floor!

He climbed onto the table top and threw them 1 by 1 onto the ground with much strength. 99% have broken 'X'.

The tarts break very very easily. Because the texture i made is those melt-in-the-mouth sort. So, it's extremely fragile.

Helper re-arranging them again but discarding the X bits and the bad ones [mostly into our own mouths. Heh]

Then we decided we would make do without the X top since most it are broken. What a waste since the tough part lies right there :(

Oh well.. mil told me to look at the bright side. At least, the baby didn't fall down from the table and hurt himself which is true. That would be infinite times worse than having broken-ugly pineapple tarts..

And hence, from 4 tubs, it's down to 3 tubs for mommy. Thank goodness i gave mil hers last night *phew*.

As for now, no more pineapple tarts for the notti beep! :P

Hb's special birthday cake

I have quite many overdue posts that i have yet to post and this is one of them :P

Hb's birthday cake which i baked a day after beep beep boop's birthday.

I actually brainstormed quite a bit to make something special for the husband. As the hb likes chocolate cake a lot and he loves my chocolate truffle cake, i decided to do a little adaption to the truffle cake.

This is what i came up with :)



I also made the chocolate '#' myself!

Not too bad aye?

Because i didn't have the normal chocolate that is meant for chocolate moulding/shaping, i used my ValRhona 55% chocolate to do it. Yes, it is possible b.u.t it will melt very quickly in our tropical weather.

Right after i took an exact 4 shots, the # started to bend foward. Heh. Good for me though, coz it went straight into my mouth there and then :P



What i did to the truffle cake :

. add a layer of feuilletine on top of the bottom sponge for the added crunch
. add whole roasted hazelnuts in between the 2 sponges in the chocolate truffle layer
. last but not least, lots of roasted almond bits to my top chocolate truffle layer

Sliced [psstt : i made the diamond shape chocolate myself too! ;)]

Side view. See the whole hazelnut at the bottom? *drool*:P~

Up close : fr bottom - chocolate sponge, feuilletine layer, chocolate truffle with hazelnuts, chocolate sponge again, chocolate truffle with almond bits.

Guess you can tell i'm a total nuts freak by now aye? :P

So how do we like the cake?

Let's just say.. i didn't even wanna share it with my in laws! Heeee.. we had the whole cake ourselves, 3 adults + 2 children but consumed mostly by adults. Very greedy me >.<

Edited to add : 2 tbsp of rum were added to the chocolate truffle too!