Valentine's Week Homeschooling

Monday, February 24, 2014

So the hubs wasn't in town during Vday. Big deal. I wasn't gonna dwell in my misery whilst he was having a great breakfast on the 54th storey of some hotel in Osaka overlooking some Ferris Wheel. Valentine's Day wasn't quite over for us. I was determined to make it more memorable for the babe of my life. So the below were what we did over the last week base on the Valentine theme.


Our DIY Shichida Material. Blowing activity.

See how focus how Lil K is?



The result -- Paint Resist Art! Was very satisfied with the outcome and Lil K not only gotto get her hands messy with the paint, we were also doing our literacy education!


The lil one was bugging me for more painting the next day. Yes literally bugging and pulling my legs, not allowing me to enjoy my breakfast! So I quickly grabbed what I've cut out with my Cameo the night before and hey presto! Stencilling!
PS: Ops, you've heard me...i've gotten myself a new toy! The Silhouette Cameo. Have yet to totally explore and have no time for scrapbooking though i've been meaning to do one since I got married. But hey, I'm pretty sure this machine will serve me well in our homeschooling exploration.


Tissue paper art. Lil K had to crush pieces of coloured tissue, spread glue on the hearts and paste the little tissue bits. She enjoyed every moment of it and I was very encouraged.


Thereafter, I left her to her own devices and she was happily applying glue on the newspapers! Turns out that this was more fun than the rest! haha

Being a rather right-brained person, I really enjoy creating stuff for my child and allow her to learn through play. Afterall, below the age of 6 is when the right brain thrives. In fact, they peak by the age of 3! Gulp! am running out of time. ok no pressure no pressure. Am actually feeling awfully guilty for not doing enough with Lil K. There are just times when I beg her to simply play with her lego or her puzzles, but she'll end up feeling restless and bugging me for more! That actually render me more breathless. But am feeling like a whale these days and sleeping late to prep materials isn't best for me. Seeing her enjoy the stuff I've prepared for her and getting compliments over FB (ok i'm narcissistic, so what?) really encourages me. However, am very anxious that I've around 3 months to get my homeschooling materials organised. At least half a year's worth? That is amidst other stuff of course. And trust me, I'm not exactly the most organised person around. Ha ambitious/ Kiasu much?


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My special Valentine's Day at A for Arbite

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

The hubs has been travelling a whole lot since the beginning of 2014. Ok, to be fair, since CNY. It has been his 4th trip thus far i think and the most recent one saw him packing up for KL for a week and calling up on Thursday to say he's arriving back on Friday but leaving at midnight again for Japan! I've a stewardess as a husband! Geez!

So he has missed Vday What's new. In fact, even if he's around, he doesn't shower me with extra love or surprises. He doesn't give chocolates (thank goodness I would rather have ba kwa over sweet stuff now). He doesn't buy me flowers. Think to date I've only received 2 or 3 bouquets from him, including the one used for our wedding! Well, in all honesty, I'm not too big on flowers. Though it'd be really nice to receive my favourite blue roses, it's really quite silly to spend that kind of money on a day of commercial exploitation. So i said," My dear, you are DARN LUCKY!"...his reply, " that's what makes our vday so special!". -_-. Indeed, it was really special. This year's Valentine's day coincided with the last day of the Lunar New Year. Thus we went over to his granny's place to have dinner with his extended family. Mind u, there weren't big fish and abalone this time. It was their traditional "thunder tea rice" ie. 雷茶. Essentially, thund.er tea rice is about herbs, vegetables, tofu and more vegetables. Yup, it's vegetarian! It is low fat, low cholesterol thus ideal if you are detoxing or doing some kind of weight management. All of which I was not! In fact, again, I would rather MEAT anytime right now. But the extended family precedes our lovey dovey time, if any. Almost immediately after dinner, we left coz Lil K was tired and restless. Headed home, made her sleep. He packed and left. Yup, that pretty sums up my Vday.

The mood wasn't dampened just because the hubs wasn't in town. In fact, i was determined to make things fun for lil K and I. So we headed to A for Arbite at Aliwah Street. 



"Arbite" is actually "work" in german. In fact, their philosophy is Work Hard, Live Well. Something which I hope to instill in my dictionary as well. I'm still working on it. Anyhoots, the place is creatively decorated with a big chalkboard which features stuff that aren't on the menu and the whole ambiance resembles that of a school. Well almost. It is nicely peppered with lego bricks at its counter and the nicest bit, they provide a jar of Lego and stacker toys for the lil one to play while mommy chills! How nice is that! Only problem, some of the Lego bricks were previously glued together, thus wasn't stacking really well. Nevertheless, Lil K had fun!
This really entertained her for long! hmm wonder why she can't sit still to play whilst at home.


Truffle Fries but can't quite taste quality Truffles
My Egg Benedict

The bff's French Toast. Really pwetty!

Kid's Meal. Quite a good portion but pity Lil K only managed to finish the eggs and sausage and a wee bit of bread. Good by my standards.

There was an Aliwah Arts Centre next door but it wasn't the usual centre filled with exhibitions. instead, there were several dance studios, so nothing interesting.



Between the bff and I, we had French Toast, Egg benedict, Truffle Fries and a kid's meal for Lil K. I wasn't too impressed coz the egg bene was too lemony for my liking and the truffle fries wasn't quite up to standard either. The bff found her French Toast to be pretty nice but after a while she got sick too..coz it was too sweet by her standards. Thereafter, we wanted desserts and ordered Edith Mess. But we waited and waited and probably coz of the lunch crowd, it took an awfully long time and after a 15mins wait, we cancelled the order coz Lil K was restless. Nevertheless, I was really glad how coorporative my lil bub was and how understanding that mommy can't carry her at the moment. She walks 99% of the time and repeats incessantly that mommy can only carry her when sitting. What a darling. I'm truly blessed.

Right after lunch, we headed back home, but alas, her nap didn't last more than half an hour! in other words, I got no rest as well. I was knackered max but somehow, the optimism in me that day kept me going and we managed to do some crafting and I got my mountain of laundry folded! Trust me, that's really a feat coz it has been there for 2 whole weeks! The excuse -- I was sick! Truly i was but since I'm better now, I had better buck up! Coz time is really running out! i didn't realise that I'm already in my 24th week and that we have approximately 3 more mths before things really gets into high gear. I've been taking things as it is, one day at a time and telling myself there's time. But now, i'm really getting a tad anxious. There are tons of stuff I've yet to organise and many friends I've yet to meet up. I really don't know how things are gonna be like with two kids and a travelling husband plus minimal family support. Not forgetting work. I've not even plan for child care -- something we are all assuming that the MIL will help in. I honestly don't wish to bother and rely on family coz lessons have been learnt from no. 1 but family is afterall the best. However, these few months have been excruciatingly painful with the lack of initiatives and lack of concern. It's really different having no. 1 and no. 2 and I'm quite puzzled. In the past, no matter how late I return home, at least once or thrice a week, i'll have a thermos of soup on my dining table waiting for me. And at times, a tupperware of dinner as well. Homecooked no less. However, since the beginning of this pregnancy, there had been none. No special soup for me let alone special delivery of the homecooked tingkat. Something's amiss but i can't quite point a finger to what. Last minute requests and let downs have been one too many and even the hub who is constantly depending on his mom has come to realise that all might not be as rosy. Perhaps it's due to the fact that her DD is not feeling at best with regards to health. N though nothing much she can do about it. Psychologically I suppose she's not up to looking after her DIL. And afterall, blood is thicker than water so which mom wouldn't be anxious over their kid? Oh well, I shall rant and move on! Afterall, I'm a fighter and believe I can do it!! errr Right?


Sniffing and Coughing on CNY

Saturday, February 1, 2014


I don't get it. Whilst everyone else was happily preparing to usher in the year of the Horse, I was and still am taking care of a very whiny and clingy sick 2yo. Since last Sunday, Lil k had had the fever. it's like a roller coaster ride and I'm sure it's every mother's nightmare. Waking up in the middle of the night to sponge her and to take her temperature is the least to say. We went to the PD prior to CNY and were prescribed some antibiotics. Upon completion, her fever was still random and now it's the cough. Great. just great. I thought and was furiously boasting that I'm the strongest in the family. The hubs took ill the week before before Lil K but alas, I'm sniffing furiously and coughing like a broken recorder as I blog. So Why am I not resting when I should? I CAN'T! Being in a sitting up position seems to ease the congestion and I've stopped sneezing. The moment I lie down, the sinus headaches and everything else comes back. 

So here I am, googling on natural remedies on how to rid that. Am so gonna do the following:

Stay clean as much as you can. 
Take care to be as clean as possible while you have the flu; it will help you fight the illness as well as reduce the risk of it spreading.

Take vitamin C.  
Since my daily diet (which at this moment is highly packed with junk food and bah kwa - yes i know, i'm trying to cut down but it's once a year you know!) is terribly un-nutritious, am gonna get myself those 500mg tablets! 

Steam orange with salt. 
Ok was told that i shouldn't be taking oranges due to the cough so am not quite sure if this would work. But many people have sworn by it so I'm gonna try!


Step 1: Wash then soak an orange for 15mins
Step 2: Create a cap and sprinkle some salt on the flesh
Step 3: Prick it and mix the salt
Step 4: Cover and steam for 15minutes
Step 5: Eat and drink the juice

Plenty of rest
This is definitely on my agenda but it's not an easy one to execute. Not when Lil K still wakes up once or twice in the middle of the night for her dream feed and the Daddy has selective hearing towards his daughter's cries. But yeah, i'm gonna try harder to rest whilst I can, even if it means to sleep in an upright position!

Here's wishing everyone a Healthy Horsay 2014!!!
DESIGNED BY ECLAIR DESIGNS