Ten Thanks to the Daddy!

To the greatest man in our home:

1. Thank you for your sacrifices 

2. Thank you for your wise words  

3. Thank you for your never failing love 

4. Thank you for the moments of crazy fun

5. Thank you  for sprinkling our lives with laughter

6. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom

7. Thank you for spicing up our lives with excitement

 8. Thank you for being the strength and pillar of this household

9. Thank you for being an awesome and wonderful Dad

10. Thank you for the hours you slog out of home to bring food and toys for us

Happy Father's Day!

Love, Jazz

Love, Jare

Love, Us!

We've been disney-fied! Blending ourselves into the Disney family. Crazy idea for the crazy Daddy!

When it's 'Me' time

When kids were in school, I sneaked out to play with acrylic paint. I'm into the third week of art painting, which has been absolutely fun and therapeutic. It ain't really much about talent, all you need is patience, good eyes and ears for instructions following. I was really impressed with what I drew up! If I can do it, anyone else can!

When it comes to arts, they are simply defined as Imperfectly perfect. So don't look too much into the details.

Have you some weekly 'Me' time set aside for things you enjoy? 

We Love where we are

Time flew and we've spent 8 months here, in California. We're loving our light and relaxed routines, life here is just so sweet and simple to go by. No stress, no fuss and no time constraints. Top 5 reasons why we love where we are:

1. Weather

Needless to say, we know how scorching hot our tropical country, Singapore is. A step to the outdoor, makes you feel like melting. The place we're living has a consistent temperature throughout the year, hovering between 10 to 18 Degree Celsius on most days. One of the days, it hit 21 degrees, and we felt so hot! That's just how pampered we got. But be glad, my fellow Singaporeans, though we share the same sun, the rays here are much more piercing than in Singapore. There's less clouds to filter those rays, thus sunscreen is a MUST for all outdoor sunny plays. We get sights of clear blue skies here though.

2. Free Parking

ERP? Parking Coupons? None here! Most places offer free parking. Though limited time given, it's a good enough privilege. Feels good to not worry about topping up that cashcard or running out of parking coupons in the car.

3. Beaches

The meeting of ocean and land is the most perfect existent ever. Ocean view here is truly beautiful and breathtaking. High low, soft loud waves and breezy winds make you fall in love with every part of it. Nature is such a beauty! You just feel like it's smiling at you. For now, I'm glad to be miles away from the East Coast Park and Sentosa. 

4. Shopping

Need I say more? We were very warmly welcomed to the land of online and outlet shopping. With many brand labels much cheaper found here, than in Asia. 

5. Farmers Market

I am so very in love with the Farmers Market here. There are different markets held at different places, different days and time, but we only frequent our favourite every Tuesday. Now that it's summer, every visit is more fruitful than the non-summer days. Fruits and vegetables range gets better in this season. The fruits are amazingly crunchy and sweet, vegetables are fresh and of great variety from non-organic to organic. We also love those fresh popcorns and salsa, pairing perfectly with any tortilla chips! All so good and yummy. The sweetest part is, bringing the kids there for evening stroll, walking and holding their little hands. It gets busy keeping eyes on the produces and kids though.

When our stay expires, the farmers market will definitely be one of my most missed.

I want to be always near you, Farmers Market!

When another set of time flies, it will soon be back to reality... 

Cooking is fun

It has always a pleasure to cook for my family the past months since we're here. A privilege that I could not have, as often as a working mum. I've improved my culinary skills immensely and love exploring recipes much more than before. Of course, still much far off from a good chef.

The number of meals I have cooked here were definitely more than the number of meals I've cooked in the years of my living. I'm amazed at what I can do with raw food now.

Click to enlarge pics

Asian meals

Asian meals

Western  Meals

Companions

Bakes and treats

Don't drool. I know how these pictures can torture a hungry person. 

The Internet has made cooking so much easier in this era. With many great bloggers sharing their mouthwatering recipes, all you need is time and connection to get online for great recipes. I'm also thankful for sweet mummy friends who have shared some good recipes with me. Tried and tested, these recipes are even better keepers. Do share great recipes with me!

Home cooked meals are much more healthy than the food we consume outside. With known ingredients we add into the dishes, minimum or non-processed meats make Mummy's cooked meals much more healthy. Moreover, it's expensive to eat out over here. Every meal cooked is a sum saved.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

It was the Memorial weekend. Needles to say, we zoomed off to Lassen Volcanic National Park for scenic views and strolls. It was still snow covered on sides of the road and volcanoes' peak. The volcanoes are inactive and so the place is open to much viewing from visitors all around the world. All four types of volcanoes found in the entire world are represented in this park. Okay, copied that off their official website, my geography knowledge has been emptied out long ago.

A great sight and exploration trip. Although I thought lava flowing and smoking sights would be more exciting to witness.

Mount Lassen behind us

Viewing rocks differently now

Visiting the National Park is sure a highlight, but the greater part of our trip, or rather my trip, is shopping! We hit the outlet stores again! Did 2.5 days of shopping with very much addition to everyone's wardrobe. Shopping is my uncontrollable addiction, till debt do us apart. This could also be our last few attempts to get summer wears for our ever tropical climate in Singapore.

Mainly clothes!

Understandable huh? We know what are the better deals here than in Singapore. Now we know where the shopping paradise truly is.

Weekend Fun

It wasn't a long weekend, but we did a long drive down to Anaheim for a wild time at Disneyland! Together with Mummies vonne and Bel, the grown ups and little ones had a great time of fellowship and fun.

It was a notable trip, because after several trips to Disneyland, we finally convinced the man to buy Jazz a princess dress! Which he thinks isn't practical. Which toy is practical anyway?!!! She chose a Rapunzel outfit. And Daddy bought Jare a set of 15 vehicles, adding to his cars collection. The buys brought beaming smiles to their faces.

Jumping with joy in the joyful land

Love her smile

Excited about cars!

Mater

Js really enjoyed their time there. With their friends, staying and waiting in line isn't as torturing as before. We also visited the adventure park for the newly added Princess Sophia and Doc Mcstuffin shows! Js had all eyes glued to the characters. 

We must be one of the many families who have contributed much to Disney's profit! Oh well, we'll definitely be back again!

Home cooked meals 'to go'

I've been packing occasional lunches for Js shortly after they started school. Depending on the school's menu, I would pack their lunches on the days when their appetite isn't too open for Mexican food. Their teachers told me they didn't quite like enchiladas. And I didn't opt for home pack lunches for all school days because I thought it would be nice to also try other food options in school. Sometimes, picky eaters can be corrected with peer influence.

Most times, Jazz wouldn't finish what I've packed for her and half her food portion would be still resting in her food jar. As usual, I questioned if she ate well, took the fruits and milk. And yesterday was an upset evening when Jazz told me that school's lunch is more yummy than mummy's, and that she doesn't want home packed lunches anymore. My heart sank. How honest and truthful kids are, and they innocently have no idea that you're hurt.

My efforts of trying to feed her with more home cooked meals seemed unappreciated. Would she know the mornings when I woke up earlier to cook her lunch? Would she know a good amount of protein, vitamins, fibre and carbs have been well balanced in her lunch bag? The less salt and less sweet? My endless education of healthy eating doesn't seem to ring some sense into her. Jare on the other hand has been really nice and encouraging, he said he loves home lunches when we questioned him.

Meals for my man, girl and boy - Rice, chicken, vege and fruits!

Perhaps, when her friends are having yummy school desserts like Jelly, brownies, choco pudding and cookies, she would be salivating at these lack in her lunch bag. 

Intending to disregard her request, I shall continue to try packing her lunch... Home cooked meals will stay, not 'to go.' Tiger mum wants her way too. Haha.