Better Days with Daddy Around

The hubs came back this morning and the kids get a reprieve from their boring spell with me. Since it's very difficult for me to bring both kids out on my own, we usually only go out with sis and mum and I'm sure the kids don't enjoy themselves most of the time (read: boring!!!). Whenever the hubs is around, the kids enjoy themselves more and experience more joy. Playing with them and entertaining them are not my forte and definitely not up my alley. 

So this morning, I brought Dallen to the airport with me while I deposited Dayen with my parents so he can nap and I can drive (can't drive a manual car with Dayen not having a car seat). Thereafter, we went shopping and Dallen gets to eat at one of his favoured restaurants instead of the usual hawker fare that I always get him when daddy's not around. The kids certainly had more fun today than any other days this week. And I get to play with Faith! With the hubs around, I get more free time and my hands are not so tightly tied.

And since I was taking care of the kids alone when the hubs was not around, skin care in the form of nightly mask took a back seat. I couldn't indulge in that in case any of the kids wakes up and needed comforting. No way am I going in with the mask on! They'll get more frightened than comforted and I don't like wasting my stuff so I loathe to throw the mask away before time's up. And the week before, we were so busy getting the apartment ready I didn't go through my nightly ritual as I was dog tired! The result: Blotchy skin with marks all over. Major irritation! Now that the hubs is around to play the supporting role, I started taking care of my skin again. And what better day to start than today since I managed to get good masks at discounted prices! :)

Horse!

The ID gave us this as a housewarming gift and the baby likes it! He was initially scared of it but once the fear was conquered, he rides it like a horse. I like it too. It looks classy and blends in with the decor of the room. 

Thank you, Kenneth!

The Infamous N95

Ok, so we got the N95 after putting up with a long queue and when we stepped out of the mall, the sky has cleared. Hmph! Still, it doesn't hurt to be more cautious and I do feel more at ease about breathing with one on. Call it peace of mind or psychology effect, whichever makes your day. But I must say, it's really quite uncomfortable to wear one. 

The Big Q!

We left the house early this morning (kiasu!) to get to Tampines to help a couple of friends buy the air purifiers we managed to get yesterday. Enroute, we went to the pharmacies to get the N95 masks and they were still out of stock! 

So we headed towards Tampines 1 and saw a long queue outside Unity. It was just past 10am and the queue was already way long! And I thought we were already early enough to avoid having to queue for a long time. Apparently I was wrong and the hubs ended up waiting for more than an hour on an empty stomach (we skipped breakfast to make it out early!!) and managed to get 10. 

Oh haze! Can you please go away!!! 

Haze 社会

Today saw the hubs and I making a mad rush to find masks as well as air purifier with the sis and bro-in-law. The PSI hit an all-time high and crossed the 400 mark. 

We've passed the sit-back-and-hope-for-the-better stage and decided that something has to be done. 

Since we can't control what our neighbour chooses to do about the situation, we did something to protect ourselves: buy masks and air purifier. 

We went to several places and masks were sold out all over. But we managed to get air purifier, after an hour's queue (by the BIL who had to take leave), and running (literally!!) to another outlet where there's still stocks. 

The nation's gone wild trying to lay its hands on these 2 items. Even though the government said there are sufficient masks for the nation, most pharmacies and hospitals have ran out of them, presumably cos people snap them up as soon as they hit the streets (I dun think they managed to make their way onto the shelves). We have no idea to what extent these will help but it does serve to alleviate our anxiety for our children's health. I, myself already suffered from headache and irritated eyes. I'm disturbed to think how my babies are affected. 

Ironically, after all that rush, the PSI dipped and we can now see the blue sky! Whether the situation will improve or not, we wouldn't know. It's always better to be prepared. 

I sure feel better knowing that we have these little technologies to make the air at home slightly cleaner.

Have you gotten yours?

A Secret of Love

I came across this post in FB and think it's absolutely beautiful. It's an awesome way of resolving conflicts and he took it upon himself, be the man and made things better. Afterall, men like fixing things, dun they? So why not relationship too? 

Brad Pitt about His Wife: A Secret of Love

" My wife got sick. She was constantly nervous because of problems at work, personal life, her failures and problems with children. She has lost 30 pounds and weighted about 90 pounds in her 35 years. She got very skinny, and was constantly crying. She was not a happy woman. She had suffered from continuing headaches, heart pain and jammed nerves in her back and ribs. She did not sleep well, falling asleep only in the morning and got tired very quickly during the day. Our relationship was on the verge of break up. Her beauty was leaving her somewhere, she had bags under her eyes, she was poking her head, and stopped taking care of herself. She refused to shoot the films and rejected any role. I lost hope and thought that we’ll get divorced soon… But then I decided to act on it. After all I’ve got the most beautiful woman on the earth. She is the ideal of more than half of men and women on earth, and I was the one allowed to fall asleep next to her and to hug her shoulders. I began to pepper her with flowers, kisses and complements. I surprised her and pleased every minute. I gave her lots of gifts and lived just for her. I spoke in public only about her. I incorporated all themes in her direction. I praised her in front of her own and our mutual friends. You won’t believe, but she has blossomed. She became even better than before. She gained weight, was no longer nervous and she loved me even more than ever. I had no clue that she CAN love that much. And then I realized one thing:"

"The woman is the reflection of her man" ~Brad Pitt

Tired Die Us

Ever since we touched down yesterday morning, it's been cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning. The hubs and I are rushing to get the house ready so we can move in proper. I dun remember shifting house to be so tiring! My whole body is aching and there're bruises from knocks here and there, especially when we move stuff from the warehouse. 

Today saw us spending the day at Ikea and Courts and burning a big whole in the pocket. But at least we've stocked up the house and got the major stuff in. 

Well, the kids are finally asleep now. Time to start cleaning again. Till later! 

Get It From Nature!

Had some pandan leaves left and so I thought I'll make some sweet potato dessert (Cantonese style) for the family. So off to Carrefour we go and bought a packet of sweet potato. And since the children are gonna have a share, I naturally bought the best there was: Japanese organic ones (pesticide & chemical free).

So it went into the pot and in a minute, lo and behold, the whole pot of water turned blue! So, I've bought the wrong type of sweet potato. In all good intent (it's organic!), I forgot to consider the colour of the sweet potato! This type of sweet potato is very sweet, yes. But it also discolours the water it's in. 

So now I have a pot of exotic-looking sweet potato dessert. I hope the neighbours won't be put off by the colour. 

But this also makes me realise something. If you bake, certain recipes require food coloring so as to make the finished product look better. So instead of using food coloring (which is processed), why not use the Japanese sweet potato? It's natural, and you get 2 different types of dessert: one oriental, one western. 

Happy experimenting! 

Our Humble Abode

Our new place is almost done and I can't wait to go back and start setting everything in its respective places and settle in! 

I've been envisioning our lives after Jogja and I really can't wait to go back. Everything is in transition now and there's this feeling of hanging in mid-air, being neither here nor there and frankly, Jogja is not my favourite place to be in. So I really can't wait to be back. I know being back brings with it it's own set of challenges. But I'd much rather be there than here. Can't wait till December!