Ain't No Arms Built For It

I think I greatly overestimated my arm strength.
Either that or it’s just impossible to be done.

How do ‘ya whisk ‘em eggs into fluffy and stand consistency for sponge cake anyway?

The house ran out of snacks and I was thinking of baking something simple such as butter cake for Samuel’s tea the other day.
But then of course, what are the chances that I’ve already soften the butter beforehand?

I couldn’t possibly be using a frozen piece, could I?

So I cleverly thought of baking sponge cake.
And since I only plan to bake a small cake, I thought I could save myself some trouble of taking out, setting up and cleaning the electric mixer by using a whisk to whisk the eggs; 3 eggs altogether.

So there I was; whisking and whisking with my arm twisting like a mad road runner…
for a good few minutes no less. At some point, I could almost swear I couldn’t feel my arms :O

But the eggs refused to stand, not even close.

So yeah. I was forced to concede that without an electric mixer, I’m just hopeless!

It took only 5 mins top. Job done!

And cakes baked in less than 15 mins
This is for Samuel.

As for us, we baked it in bigger tray.

Sport 'em

I don’t know if I’m the minority but I would advise myself against indulging in costly and branded brassiere. At least not again for another long while after this hunt. Of the 3 that I've bought, I truly only love one.
My fault actually, I should not have rushed into buying them. After putting ‘em on, I should have loiter longer in the shop to assess my lung breath-ability.

Of course when I try ‘em on; they look nice,
Of course they do their part of the job; pushing and tucking and err…. defying the gravity
And of course they are all what they claim to be; provide me with inner prettiness : )

What they did not spell out loud for me is that; fabulousness comes with a price. I ain’t allow to breath :O
I really salute those that can hold their lungs and endure ‘em pain in the butt….errr chest I mean : p

I like underwired, don’t get me wrong. I have tons of them. I like ‘em lace and ‘em padding too.
I try to settle somewhere between vanity and comfort; bending towards comfort of course. So I went back to basic.
And for the longest time I’m contented… until recently.

I begin to question my choice of brassiere again. This breathless problem that I’ve to deal with is already bad enough on its own. And I really do not need some restricting garment to exaggerate it.
But I can’t do away with ‘em inner wear either ..
I don’t recall having this problem last round with Samuel, perhaps my tolerance level then bended towards vanity :p.

I took me a while to figure it out..

A couple of weeks ago, when I was out looking for some nursing bras…
And I promptly got myself a few of these.

Problem solved.
I love them.
And I don't care if the straps are peeking out from my top.

They are as comfortable as comfort gets!

Dear Bread

Remember last time we use to say….

Well…. Lets just save some money on food today
and take bread and water for lunch or dinner?

‘Ya still think it’s true?
I mean saving money by eating bread?

I wish I’m wrong but ain’t it seems that bread today is ridiculously priced?

We are not talking about high end confectioneries from high end bakery. We are talking about kopitiam butter and sugar toast.

We have been patronizing this café almost weekly since more than 2 years ago… for our weekend breakfast fix.
If we are not mistaken, the toast price tag had been just increased then.
This café is supposing-ly famous for its half boiled eggs and toast… and well deserving so we’ve to say. Their toasts have this unique ‘ol time flavor though sometimes their half boiled eggs are a tad too raw for our taste. So we don’t mind paying a lil extra for the toast.
But recently, they increase the prices again by 25% :O
For RM1 per slice, way too steep don’t ‘ya think?

We don’t encourage ourselves to go for food that’s ridiculously priced. Especially for simple food such as nasi lemak or roti bakar.
That’s why we try to steer away from those chain cafes and support small time kopitiam.

We also try to go for economy rice as oppose to the pricey nasi kandar … mostly due to the pricing.

But then again, now we see no difference in pricing between a plate of economy rice and a plate of nasi kandar with one meat and 2 vege selection.

Well, perhaps that’s our cue to re-evaluate how we budget for our food ….

Or perhaps human as a whole need to start cultivating new crops to replace grain!

This Movie About A Kid Wizard

The last time we went to the cinema, I gotta bring a U shape pillow to support my back. Yup, I’m pushing it but couldn’t let our boy down ‘ya see. We promise to bring him to watch Transformers 3 the Movie - DoTM……

Ok, ok…. It was for me too. I hate to miss it :p.

And I thought that would be my last movie stint for a while. Until Harry Potter …. the final installment (lost count of the # as not keeping tab) premiered last week. Funny that I’d still braved the cinema with my condition even though I’m not a fan.

Well, I am very sure now that, that would be my last for a long while before I frequent the cinema again. Definitely no more until … … actually we are not sure when it’ll be!

Same like last time, I equipped myself with a pillow.

A bigger one in fact.

But still, it was not a very comfortable 2 hours. I kept on shifting to my position and I’m quite sure if we were seated in any mid row, patrons behind us would be annoyed. Fortunately, hubby managed to get some very good seats at the last row.

So, does the show worth all the discomfort?

I actually don’t have much recollection of the previous shows. I did not catch all in the cinema and we don’t own the DVDs for all the previous episodes.
So frankly, I have no idea what I was watching. I just watch it as I’m watching a brand new show. Which I think coulda and shoulda been….

The CGI is much much… far more impressive than years back when all I could remember was a half head toy snake in a dungeon…
or was it in a secret room?
or was it by the sink? …..

The locale and costume, all of the sudden looks so much more realistic

The fighting scenes carry a bit of the LoTF flavor. I don’t know. They seem awfully familiar.

Still a good movie as compare to the previous 6 or 7…. a grand closure!

A wonder how we adults could be so caught up with a show about a kid eh?

Lil Droplets of Heaven

I’ve been trying to stay away from caffeine for a few months now… well, I tried.
I still indulge in tea and occasionally decaf and kopitiam coffee ……

But those creamy and dark and rich and smoky and caffeine loaded coffee?
Yesterday marked my first in many-many months.

I’ve not forgotten what coffee taste like. I‘m not a coffee fanatic, not even close to a lover, yet when I took the first sip I could almost swear that’s the best drink in the world …..

I’m so easy to please : p

FEVER, A Feverish Night of Pop, Cabaret, Jazz and Rock

Perhaps it’s the selling or perhaps it’s just good timing, we notice that of recent, more and more musical events are collaborating with the Penang Georgetown Festival.
Charity events and concert that are previously held later in the year are brought forward to July in conjunction with the festival. Which not to say it’s a bad thing, the more the merrier! It’s just that, we find some of these events carry neither the heritage nor the celebration flavor…..

We attended a charity concert last weekend, Fever; A Feverish Night of Pop, Cabaret, Jazz and Rock. It’s a concert organized by the Jammin’ Senzation School in collaboration with the festival. There are a few other musical events that interest us too but since I oughta minimize my night outings now, we chose to attend one that’s more convenient to us.
The concert was held at a nearby venue, at Dewan Budaya USM and it’s at the beginning of the month when my mobility is still relatively good : )

Our last Saturday was packed with activities but we made it on time for the concert; the main performances were scheduled to start at 7.30pm only. The Prelude however started as early as 6.30pm with performances by the School Junior Ensemble while waiting for guests’ arrival. We think this is a very good move by the school; they cease the perfect opportunity to showcase their students’ talents : )
Well, actually the junior performances were far from perfect but that’s not the point. Parents and guests alike were all very pleased with them : )

The Guest of Honor, Y.B Tuan Phee Boon Poh arrived ahead of schedule (Yup, he was early. No waiting time for VIP :O). After a short officiate speech, the concert was opened with a welcoming song by guest artists Melanie Maslin and Moses Chuah.

The concert was divided into 3 acts. Starting with Pop the Musical; David Story, a guitarist hailed from Ohio opened the concert well. He was all charming and friendly with good vocal control.
The same cannot be said for the rest of the pop vocalists and performers though. Some were above average but most were … errr novice? Their singing was border-lined painful…. literally to our ears….. if that’s not too harsh a word if I may.
It’s cheeky or rather clever that the organizer sneaked some professional act in-between to drive the guests’ interest :p.

The concert got better after the first act though. But then perhaps there’re just too many performances, the concert ran until past eleven in the night. It’s an almost 5 hours concert including an hour of Prelude. A bit overkill, don’t ‘ya think?
Adult guests could barely stayed focus, not to mention that there’re many child guests in the house too.

The second act, Cabaret; The Misty Nite was opened by another professional artist, an opera singer from Australia, Melanie Maslin. We were feasted with a romance story at the background accompanied with Cabaret dancing. Student performers were aplenty but they were not the lead act.
This section of the concert was good but we were glad when it’s time for intermission. Our legs could use some stretching and our tummies were screaming hunger.

Yup, in my new Coach Leather Duffle (thanks Hubby!), lies some egg sandwiches and water.

We came prepared as we were not sure if food and beverages would be available on-sale then. There was none : (

It was past 10 pm after the intermission and half the guests of this sold out concert had left. It’s understandable since a lot of the guests came with kids.
The third act; All About Jazz was led by an experienced vocalist originating from the States, Denise Mininfield and Jens Bunge, a harmonist from Germany. The accompanied band was good too, led by Moses Chuah and Sons. We like how they improvised the music. Experienced musicians do that : )
This section of the concert was the best, too bad the time and stage arrangement were off. There were special performances by an invited rock band and Dasha Logan too.

The concert featured a wide variety and impressive music; we enjoyed most of the pieces a lot.
I don’t mind going for more of these Georgetown Festival events. Now, if only my back agrees with me …..
>

32 Weeks

I couldn’t remember what my weight was when I was carrying Samuel at this stage, but I would think that my weight gain this round is more or less the same.
I’m at a healthy 53.3 kg now, a very fitting number I’ll say!

I’m pretty sure my old age has something to do with it and could probably blame my whole recent forgetfulness on it,
but I would like to think that my slackness is caused by my lack of rest too.

I could be thinking of doing the laundry at one point and forget about it next.
I could be happily shopping to replenish our supply today and forget that I’ve a fridge full of food.
Heh, I could even be eating my lunch now and forget that I’ve just taken it 5 mins ago :p.

I also have started to doubt my fashion sense. I’ve refrained myself from wardrobe shopping since a few months ago but of course saved for a few occasions where I failed miserably : (
Now I found myself left with pieces which I would never wear again. Nope, they are not maternity wear. I did not buy any this time round, in fact I’ve so far don only one of my old maternity dresses. Most of the time I made do with loose clothing.

I’ve bought a flare pants without trying and now regretting it. The fabric is too thin for my liking… or rather age :p
I’ve bought 2 tees that’s not my style… now they are lying at the bottom of my don’t-know-what-to-do-with pile.
I’ve bought a shirt dress that I rather like but a size too big, even for now.

Wonder if I still can carry it after my delivery.

Anyway I’ve decided that if I absolutely need to shop, it’s best I go shopping for baby stuff!
Hubby absolute agrees :p

Our new baby is growing well and healthy. We are making some space adjustment in the house with old stuff finding their way out of the window and new stuff taking over their territories. The way we see it, we are on track in preparing for our second bundle of joy arrival.
Mom has been helping a lot around the house especially during Hubby’s absence. Everyone in the family has been helping!
We are so blessed!

Oven Roasted Mushroom

Since the Oven Roasted Vegetables dish is such a hit; back by popular demand, I’m proud to present the new addition

Oven Roasted Mushroom
This is a pre- roast shot btw.
The baked mushroom is wiped clean before I remember to snap a photo

I use the fresh Shitake mushroom which in my opinion might not be the best choice though some recipes recommend it.
I find it too milky for my liking. Too watery, perhaps my OCB on insisting to wash the mushroom several times before cooking it has something to do with it … :p

Bro suggested a longer baking time to dry and crisp ‘em up, but then it might shrink the mushroom further.
Since the mushroom is not too huge to begin with, then we might be left with nothing to chew on :p.

I’ve tried some sauté style mushroom from some posh restaurants before and they were good. If I’m not mistaken those were Portobello.
Wonder how they fare if I oven roast them eh?

In Love with Hatchback

Some time ago, I’ve blogged about how much I love driving. In love with the driving, not the automobile :p
I ain’t no car lover
When I let go of my Kancil a few years ago, the main reason was to get a bigger carriage. I was not thinking much about what type of car I should be getting. I was thinking about what type of car I could get.

Affordable type that is!

I’ve been and still very contented with my car. It’s a small, basic and manual car. It’s only lately that I notice how much I actually love her.

Perhaps it’s because we always have been driving roomy cars…. Or perhaps that I’m just petite for any type of cars :p
I don’t have a problem getting into a car, running out of a car or stretching my legs…. Until I drive this relatively-new car recently. But only recently though.
‘Ya see, I’m currently big in the middle.
Low-seating seat is not really my good friend now.
Bending and stressing my tummy is not my preferred exercise either.
And tilting my neck from side to side also is a form of torture to me.

It’s so happen that this car has a lower front; better-aerodynamics-sporty-something-that-I-cannot-understand.
I gotta squat down, bend my tummy and tilt my head just to get into the car. The very 3 foes that I'm trying to avoid right now.

It’s a different story altogether when I drive my car. I hop in and I drive.
Simple!
Yeah, my car looks like she has a big bump on her head but I likey!

Apple Pie

Tempted by how simple it was to bake the Apple Crumble baking last time, I tried my hand on Apple Pie the other day.

I’m still far from having perfect baking fingers but improving I think. The apple pie turns out great. I would prefer a sweeter and more caramelized filling but my faithful critics said the they're OK. The pie is nice as it is.

I made the pie crust myself, not the frozen store bought version.
I’ve never try baking with one of those before.
Perhaps will do one day just for the feel of it.
Also cinnamon and nutmeg were left out from the recipe.
We are not big on nutmeg.

I made the pie on a whim and did not time myself properly for my dinner appointment.
Since I was running short of time, I forgo weaving lattice or any sort of pattern for the top.

The edge is covered with aluminum foil to prevent excessive burning

Apple Pie baked to perfection

Serve Hot!