13 months & first word

On Joel's 13th month, he said his first word - STAR. ;)

(other than mumbling his usual dadidadidadi, mamamama, bearbearbearbear...

He's still 10.5kg (+/- 500gms).

gong xi fa cai

Thanks to everyone who wrote on the "Guestbook"! We'll be leaving Shanghai tomorrow...and will be in Singapore till 1 Feb. I better get on with my packing now...

Here's wishing everyone a Happy & Pro$perou$ Niu Year!

print me

I wanted so much to blog about this damn cool technology when i first knew about it (more than half a year ago), BUT i didnt know what it's called...and i failed to google it.

It's called Velo. It's like a special card which is strapped onto your cellphone. Something like those ornaments people hang on their phones. After you buy this mini card, you can use it to print coupons from machines at malls, train stations etc...and use the coupons for your shopping, dining & entertainment. You can print as many coupons as you wish. (Please correct me if i'm wrong coz i cant read the text on its only-Chinese website)

I also know that there's various designs for the card and they cost just a few Sing Dollars (S$). Many cute designs not like this Velo card shown on the right.

Every time i pass by the booths, i'm always walking/rushing...or just too lazy to snap it down on my camera. Usually there's a lot of youngsters queuing to print out the coupons. Glad i turned my head to note down the website on Sunday! Due to bad memory, i entered a few wrong URLs before i got the right one lah!)

So now you know it - something cool in Shanghai! I'm not sure if Singapore has this too...coz i might be the outdated one here. Keke! ;p

A quick glance at their website, and i think some are really superb deals! Sisley 60%, Miss Sixty 50%, Nike 40%... Sorry, i can only read the English ones. :(

gotcha

Sneaking up on Joel today...


...and this boy even reads tissue paper packaging! Haha... ;)


Whenever Daddy reads the animal book to Joel, he will go "Wang Wang, Wang Wang". Can you guess what animal that is?
Answer: It's a dog! (???)
O...that person doing the Wang Wang is Elvis, NOT Joel. Hahaha...

guestbook

Hi everyone,

I'm a bit curious who actually reads this "shit"....
Can you please leave your name under the 'Comments'?

Thanks!

Blabbering Jo

new water

This is a new thing in our house! Haha... It may seem a little funny to have a water dispenser at home, but it's actually quite common here in China. Becoz of the hard water.

Our kitchen sink has another smaller tap which is filtered water. You can drink the filtered water directly or boil it if you wish. Although i did have some concerns about the (possible) mineral content, we still continued using the filtered water after Joel came here. Recently, we decided to buy water instead. Besides for obvious reasons that it's cleaner, i felt that our hot water turns cold very fast now that we're into the coldest period of winter.

Sunday, we finally went to the supermarket opposite to lug this big dispenser home! THANKS TO JOEL'S CHEAP & GOOD STROLLER! ;) I had wanted to get a smaller & shorter model (half of this) which i could carry home on my own...but so confused by the different models...i decided to go with Elvis again over the weekends. Fortunately, he went with me coz i really dont know what the Aunty was saying - "zhi re" & "zhi len". Apparently ALL models (tall/short) can "make" hot water BUT not all models can "make" ice-cold water! (NO "zhi len" = only the normal temperature of the water) Headache! Since there wasnt enough space (or rather height) on our kitchen countertop, we'll need to get a stool if we bought the short model. So...we chose this tall model which can make hot & ice-cold water.

There's also a "xiao du gui" compartment at the bottom. It's meant for disinfecting small items. (The people here are also very into disinfecting. Some people have a "disinfecting drawer" built-into their kitchen cabinets.)

I've finally ordered this Nestle water which costs only ¥18. It's delivered to your door when you call the management office to order. Not bad! ;)

into the wild

Here's a nice movie based on a true story.

Into The Wild (2007)
After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life...

eat and shop again

Saturday

Sunday

It must be the cold weather that makes us so lazy! We just kept "delaying" going out...so in the end, we ordered McDonalds delivery lunch on Saturday coz we were too hungry and lazy! Keke...

We finally left the house about 5pm to XuJiaHui/Gateway to meet Ann & Kitty then they brought us to this Japanese BBQ restaurant on the 2nd level of a "weird" building in GuBei. (GuBei is a popular residential estate for the Japanese) It is called Friendly Meat Shop! Apparently, this is a famous meat shop! There were lots of Japanese waiting outside for their table...but we had reservations coz of Joel! If you have a baby, you can get priority too! Haha! So nice! ;)

It's our first time there and we were quite amazed! The entrance looks like any regular Japanese restaurant, but once you get in, it's rows and rows of Japanese-styled seating (on the floor with the "hole" in the middle) with the "exhaust pipe"/hood at every table...and each section is partitioned! There's a small hotplate about A5-size in the middle of each table. We got the table right at the corner. Fortunately, we had brought along Joel's small stroller coz we predicted they wouldnt have baby highchairs. So at least Joel wouldnt be crawling around as we ate.


On the walls, there's lots of recommendation/menu/prices written in #1 Japanese and #2 Chinese. I would say about 80% of the diners were Japanese. The meat are "good meat"...so it's very delicious and tender. We ordered a variety of beef & pork. I ate a few pieces of 1 kind of meat (which i thought that its "texture" did look a bit weird)...and i later found out it's the cow's TONGUE!!! Awww... I was conned! Elvis didnt tell me those are things i dont eat - including the intestines! O and there was the pig's leg which they said is super nice (and has collagen good for skin). I really didnt like it...plus it's disgusting to eat the fatty skin. So i figured i should stick to meat-meat. Overall, it's a good experience at this BBQ meat shop! ;)
(No website for this, but it's under this Group.)

After dinner, we decided to go shopping in XinTianDi coz I.T. is having SALE! Everyone says they're going to see but not buy. In the end, everyone bought something. Elvis bought a Puma by MIHARAYASUHIRO hi-cut shoes and i bought a See by Chloe purse. (If you buy ¥10,000, can get another ¥3000 "FREE" on additional items that you pick. The catch is CANNOT deduct directly. Buy ¥5000, get ¥1200 "free".)

After that, we sat outdoors at CoffeeBean. Actually, it wasnt that cold these few days...but probably still about 5˚c. There's a few of those standing heaters placed outdoors...but it really doesnt help at all. (The temperature is expected to drop again on Thurs to at least -2˚c)

Sunday
We had lunch at Afternoon Tea at XinTianDi (AT & XTD again. Boring people). Maybe i should stop taking pictures since it's always the same food/drinks. Elvis had the risotto and i had my fav Flying Roe Carbonara AGAIN. (Last week at DaMarco, 1 our friend who is American-Japanese told me that it's a popular pasta in Japan now)

We tried a new seasonal dessert Strawberry Mousse Tart. The Caramel Milk Chai was exceptionally good today...coz the marshmallow took longer to melt. Keke...so i finally got a good picture of it...showing what's really inside. Today, they also served the Chai with powdered cinnamon (i hate) and sugar cubes (i like)- 1 brown, 1 white. Hmm... (Usually they will pour the tea into the cup for you and the blob of cream, caramel and marshmallow melts immediately. SO now you know the ingredients...you can try to make your own concoction!)

The headcount for Joel's Gymboree class was full, so we went to alter Elvis' clothes at this very local shop. (Usually we go to Parkson but their prices have increased to almost double and there's always a lot of people. This tailor is also very good...and we realized his prices also increased! Maybe Shanghai's standard of living is just higher now.) I took some pictures of the alley which i thought was quite "unique" and charming in its own way. ;)

After that we walked to another of our favourite street - XingLe Road - where Source and many other small shops were also having SALE! A new Dusty store also opened on that street! Now everywhere also SALE SALE SALE!

Check out at this sweet potato machine! I was attracted to it by the nice smell! Haha! So high-tech...coz usually the sellers will be peddling on the streets in those "big can" (like a huge rubbish can) and they will weigh the sweet potato you pick with a "chen" (Chinese weighing scale). This is ¥5 nett. I didnt buy any...just wanted to show this here. ;)

We left about 5+pm to go home to cook dinner. Coz we still had some leftover meat from last week and we wanted to cook everything before we go back to Singapore. Here's our dinner... Elvis' specialty pork chop, "wa wa" vegetables and luncheon meat/egg (i like!)...and chicken soup. ;)


O i wanna tell you about this Happy Lemon drink stall which we like. Usually, the crowd standing around is at least 5 times more than this... (That's Elvis in the middle while i'm munching on my Beard Papa puff!)

And this is the fireworks & firecrackers makeshift stall set up just opposite our place. It's legal. I'm always tempted to check it out coz i always see/hear all these fireworks from our balcony. Ann said last year, her colleagues chipped-in about ¥2000 and they had a decent fireworks display! Their own! Shiok huh! ;)

MSG

Elvis joined me on Friday for Indomie Mi Goreng supper.

Nice nice but quite spicy! (The onion/oil solidified in my cupboard)

And this is my favourite China noodles by far - 康师傅 "Dong Bo Hong Shao Rou Mian" (the 3-layer pork flavour).

The little pack on the top right is like black bean sauce...so it's super yummy! It's soup based, but i've tried eating it dried...very nice too! Just add less of the powdered MSG.
(I also like Nissin 出前一丁 "Chu Qian Yi Ding" and it costs ¥6 EACH PACK coz it's sold separately & IMPORTED. This 康师傅 "Kang Shi Fu" brand is about the same price for 5 packs!)

finally

Just got Anne's message that my package has arrived in Indonesia! FINALLY!

I dont know why it took sooo looong - 1.5 months! (I mailed it out on 1 Dec 2008) Most of my packages to Singapore/US/Europe reach within 10-14 days...and sometimes even within a week! (I guess it means both post offices work quickly.) Both of us thought that perhaps this got lost in the mail. Glad it's reached her after the long wait.

I wanted to get her more things but it's so difficult coz it's winter over here. Anyway...

Here is what she sent me...and what i sent her.

sinful

Exactly 1 more week and we'll be back in warm & sunny Singapore!

I know that i should be "dieting" since i'm not going to be covered in these jackets... Instead, all i've been doing this week AND last week was munching, munching, munching away! "Heaty" stuffs too that will make me break out! Chocolates (at least 500 grams). Chips (a whole tube of Pringles and a bag of Lays). Cashew nuts (3 small packets). Biscuits (lots of chocolaty ones, big & small). Sugar Roasted Chestnuts AKA "gao lak" (4 bags). 4 Taro Pies. Mashed potatoes (3 small ones at a go, with butter & salt). Fries (that came with my 4 or 5 McDonalds meals). Coke (tonnes of it). Ice lemon tea (4 2L PET bottles). Instant noodles & fried rice are my staples for lunch/dinner/supper. And i'm sooo craving for Del Monte canned corn, microwaved, tossed with butter & salt - which my supermarket opposite doesnt stock! OMG!

chinese pop

This video may be disturbing to some audience.
(Talent not appropriately dressed.)

This was taken some time back in Oct 2008, so we have a sexy talent.

feeding your toddler

Age-to-Age Guide from BabyCenter:

And 'How your toddler can get the nutrients he needs'
Sounds so complicated! I also realized Americans give their kids cow's milk once they're 1 year old (that's what our PD here says too)...but we Asians/Chinese still give them formula milk for many many years huh. Hmm... :/

What's for dinner?
There are a lot of foods you can consider feeding your toddler now that he's 1 and his immune system and digestive system have grown strong and hardy.

If allergies run in your family or you're particularly concerned, however, it's best to consult with your child's doctor and consider holding off on certain foods, including some of those listed below, until age 2 or 3.

Among the things you can consider introducing to your toddler's taste buds:

• Cow's milk
• Corn
• Wheat
• Citrus fruits
• Berries
• Honey
• Eggs
• Shellfish
• Peanuts and tree nuts

in defense

Elvis says i sound very petty and totally hard to please in the post below about the Ahyi...but it's really not true. I'm probably the messiest person around - that is, 2nd to my sister Sandra. (HAHA! She's insanely untidy!)

I just feel pissed off that someone keeps commenting things, questioning me, (doubt me and then) gives me her shitty theories which totally doesnt make any sense at all! Sometimes, i really wonder how she has been working as an "Ahyi" all these years!

She doesnt even know how to hang bigger items like towels & bedsheets using hangers...and i had to show her! My way (a bit common sense): For bath towels, drape it on the hanger as if it were the shoulders and use a clothes peg at the front of the hanger (as in the "neck"). Most people here dont use bamboo rods ("tek-ko")...so to dry clothes, it's just lots of hangers on a metal rod-stand. And once, there was an ice-tea spill on the floor which i wiped off immediately...but i told her the next day so that she could clean it more thoroughly when she mopped the floor. BUT, a few days later, when i dropped something in the same spot...and i bent down to see, i saw this whole patch of sticky gluey brown old ice-tea on the floor around Joel's playmat! So, i really dont know how she mopped the floor for the past few days! If it's just 1 day ago, i would have completely understood that maybe she missed out that spot. Then, a week later, Elvis spilled water at the same spot...and i realized the play yard fence is so sticky! The same place...and she failed to clean the spot properly after so many times/days!!! Okay, i guess that's enough of complaining. And i'm beginning to sound like a mean employer.

Whenever Ahyi doesnt do things "properly", i also dont "say her"...i just clean up after her. I also always wash my own dishes even though Elvis tells me to leave them for her. Coz to me, it's not a lot of things to wash - maybe just a pot and some plates & cups. (The only time she washed the most dishes at our house was this Monday after Elvis cooked dinner.) I sometimes wish i have the guts to "say her"...but i find it so hard to tell her that this/that is not done properly. So i only tells her those things which i absolutely think is super obvious like Example 1 & 2.

Anyway, i'm a nice person lah - most of the time. And i'm nice to the Ahyi too...i gave her 5 year old son skate-scooter, crayons, coloured pencils, snacks, cakes etc... See, i'm nice, right??? Keke... ;)

(I think Ahyi is so young, quite pretty, and has a good figure but she has a rather hard life although she doesnt really earn very little based on China's standards. She works about 12hours/day, and she locks her son up at home till she goes home at 9-10pm. She says she doesnt work on Sats, and works half-days on Suns. FYI, she does Mons-Fris for us. But she dont go out on weekends although she sometimes bring her son out to eat KFC. She says they're both very picky about food, and she doesnt eat KFC. She only eats the KFC pie. She is disgusted when i eat instant noodles, McDonalds and luncheon meat...like it's very horrid food. After a few times of giving me the "disgusted look" which i kinda hate, i finally had the guts to tell her, "Most people also like to eat luncheon meat leh". But she doesnt believe me. She says hasnt bought clothes/things for herself in many years. BUT I think we did bring about some change in her. Keke! Coz she used to alternate between the SAME 3 long-sleeved tops, 2 "grandma vests" & 2 jackets. But recently, she did become more modern! She wears new tops and even has new jackets - modern ones too! She always wear "very office-like" black heels with her "china" ankle stockings all the time in winter/summer. Now, she even bought those furry snow boots! Keke! She looks quite "happening" now!)

horror

Joel murders the bear...the bear comes back to haunt him...and Joel watches the telecast with glee! It's evil! ;p

extra work for me

Okay...I wanna do a bit of complaining. It's a very small matter, mundane stuffs...but i really just wanna complain about my Ahyi. Mostly these things are so small that i also dont wanna "say her" lah. So the frustration just keeps accumulating inside of me...and BOOM!

I just took a picture of something that irks me. Okay, 'irk' is a pretty "strong" word to use here. But this is just 1 example...if you read on...you'll understand that it all adds up...

The Ahyi does keep a clean house and we're happy...but every time after she leaves, i find myself having to do some work which she left "unfinished". The above is just an example. If you're like Elvis who thinks there's nothing wrong with the picture, let me point out that it's the slanting condiment box after Ahyi wiped the countertop. This is an every day thing that i have to adjust - STRAIGHT and against the wall!

I just dont understand why she simply wipes the surfaces (of tables etc) and pushes whatever things to whichever place...and leaves them at the last spot where her rag moved them to. She never bothers to put/stack them into the original position (or at least where they really belong).

Below are other things which i'm trying to recall now which pisses me off - a little:
1. The items on the TV console (a clock, a stack of DVDs & 3 remote controls) will be "pushed around" like the above picture...and it's really a mess after she's wiped the surface. So, i have to arrange them EVERY TIME after she leaves. This, i've told her about it...as i couldnt stand it coz it's in the living room (and i need to look at the clock every day to check on Joel's feedings, so i'm so sick of having to move it facing straight every single time). She did improve.
2. After she wipes/cleans the kitchen sink, she will leave the "drainer/stopper" slanting...maybe it's to show that she's wiped/cleaned it. (???) This i have also told her to put them back properly...coz i'm so sick of adjusting them since i'm at the sink pretty often now to wash Joel's things...so it pisses me off, really. This she did stop doing.
3. The cabinet where the detergents are kept (below the sink) will always be left ajar after she finishes using them. So i always have to close it.
4. After she washes our bathtub, i will have to stack the things that was on top of it properly again in this order: Joel's face tub & Joel's bathtub (on our bathtub).
5. She claims that baby clothes' colours wont run. What sense is that when adults & children clothes could be made from the same fabric. (???)
6. She soaks hand-washed dark & light clothings in the same tub.
7. She scrubs hand-washed items with A LOT of force. SCRUB SCRUB SCRUB SRUB SCRUB...as if we work at construction sites.
8. She always puts the laundry basket "the other way round"...so i always have to adjust it after she leaves.
9. She washed and cracked a small bowl which i used for steaming Joel's fish. When i used it the next day and saw the crack, i asked her why she didnt throw it away...and her answer was she thought i want to use the cracked bowl. She's actually putting the blame on me i.e. the bowl was cracked before she washed it. But it's definitely not cracked up till after i removed the fish bones (in the bowl). I know she cracked it while washing becoz of the sudden hot/cold water.
10. Our Sporean neighbour left a note under the door for us (when we were away), and the Ahyi threw it away coz it's in English...and she says she doesnt understand a word! Isnt it meant for us, not her??
11. When i told her to lay the (woolen) sweaters flat to dry, she says hanging them on a hanger to dry does not make them out of shape. (???)
12. She also says that Joel's woolen sweaters will not be out of shape when hung on a hanger (maybe coz it's smaller???). She also claims that those thin metal hangers (which i hate) will not make clothes go out of shape. (???)
13. She uses the same cloth to wipe the tables etc...then she continues to wipe Joel's toys and highchair (which i kinda dont know why she wipes the toys). The dirty cloth will leave specks of dirt/dust on his white toys/highchair. When i asked her to use a separate cloth OR just wipe Joel's things first, she says the dust will not get onto Joel's things becoz she's wiped them clean. (???)
14. She always asks me, "What are you doing again (on the computer)?"...and it seems i really have to answer to her.
15. She really likes to ask, "How much is this?" - my lunch or whatever things in the house.
16. She asked, "How much is your rental?"
17. She asked, "How much is your husband earning?"...and she has asked a few times coz i replied, "It's not nice to say la". She then tells me, "My husband is earning a lot too!" (???)
18. When Joel shits, she asks, "Is his shit good?"...then she walks over to see. (!!! & ???)
19. She asks, "You are eating KFC again ah?" - when i'm eating McDonalds.
20. She always ask, "Did you go out on weekends?"...then she expects me to tell her where exactly and what we did. (Why do i need to report to her???)
21. When she sees Joel, she goes, "Mama, Mama" (mother in Mandarin). What if he learns to call her Mama???
22. When i'm carrying Joel, and she wanna carry him too, she literally snatches him from me! So far, i've only experienced such force (GIANT STRENGTH) from 2 people i.e. my MIL and her.
23. She asks every Monday without fail, "Did you go out on weekends? What did you do? And where?" (I'm actually very sick of answering to her)
there's actually more...

Aiyo... I dont know why she doesnt "open her eyes" when she's at her job...or uses her brain sometimes. Many are just little things which she could have done properly (just like how she's been keeping our house really clean). She also likes to question me and/or doubt what i tell her (by saying her own theory). I think i treat her nicely and i never boss her around or look at her work. But sometimes, i really feel that i should follow her (like some people here, i've been told) and tell her exactly what needs to be done and how. Of course, i'm "nice" so i'm just complaining here! Haha! :/

homecooked

Today, we had 2 friends over for dinner - Ann & XiongBao. We cant invite more people coz our house is too small. We also had to reduce Joel's play yard (from a square) to an 'L-shape' to accommodate all of us in the living room. Keke...
(XiongBao doesnt like children at all, but he likes Joel. As for Ann, she wanna marry Joel! Haha!)

Elvis cooked his specialty pork chop, steamed pomfret, sambal prawns, cabbage and a herbal chicken soup. Everyone agrees it's really good. (I would say this is the first time that ALL the dishes came out perfectly!) I didnt take pictures of the dishes coz we were all busy eating! Keke... They also brought a chocolate/banana cake from Awfully Chocolate for dessert (i think it's like the "Lana" cake from Singapore. They said Awlfully Chocolate IS from Singapore!). We had a good time and they finished 2 bottles of wine while chatting! Me, i just sticked with cola! Keke... We should do more of these gathering. Haha... Right, chef? ;)

P.S. The last time we cooked at home was more than 1 year ago when Aye's girlfriend Ching Ching came to visit Shanghai. Haha...

smile pasta

We just had a very authentic Italian dinner at Da Marco with some friends. I knew the pasta there was REALLY GOOD coz we've been there before for lunch. When we entered the restaurant, i was pleasantly surprised by their new deco. The old deco was a bit "depressing" coz it looks pretty "retro" (as in old-old...not the hip kind of retro).


There were A LOT of people - 90% angmohs. Many were having drinks at the bar while waiting for their seats. So, it looked like a big party!

We had 6 adults and since their portions were quite big, we ordered appetizers and 5 main courses to share so we could try a bit of everything. (2 seafood pasta, 1 seafood risotto, 1 lasagne, 1 seabass & 4 appetizers) I picked the lasagne since i didnt try it the last time (coz of the waiting time). It didnt disappoint at all. Everything was super delicious!

Inside the seafood risotto/pasta there's LOTS of mussels, clams, prawns, cuttlefish and even a quarter of a crab! So i would say that's a lot of ingredients! 1 portion could feed 1.5-2 adults. ;)

reading

Whenever Joel takes a book, he'll start reading to himself. Elvis is very surprised when he saw it! Keke... ;p

Note: Towards the end, he even looks into the mirror and smiles at himself! Vain pot!

lazy saturday

It's funny how the 2 lads are still sleeping at this hour! It says 2:23PM on my top right hand corner.

Joel did wake up (standing in his bed)... so as usual, i carried him to bed with us. And as usual, he kept talking and talking and talking...and knocking his head against the wall...bang bang bang...

I also remembered making his milk at 10am.

All the time, Elvis was pretending to continue sleeping (so he doesnt have to "entertain" Joel)...and i was really trying to get back into sleep mode AND trying to hold onto Joel's sweater so he wont fall off the bed (as he walks above our heads banging his head on the bed's headboard).

I'm not sure how long this went on for...but when i suddenly opened my eyes (coz Joel chuckled 2x), then i realized BOTH Elvis & Joel were sleeping soundly! I knew i had to wake up to make his porridge since we had plans to go out today. AND then...i realized it's 1:40PM already! Joel should eat at 2pm...and there's no way the porridge will be ready at 2.

Whatever got into all of us! 3 Lazy Pigs.

play dress up

Just something i created for fun at Polyvore... Quite fun. It's better than playing 'Paper Doll'. Keke... ;p

I liked the ensemble. I kinda wanted to create 2 styles with the same basic outfit (the shimmering black/blue dress) - one for a casual day out like shopping (okay, it's not that casual coz the dress is a bit bling bling...but this is make-believe) and another for dinner like maybe a wedding or something since i dont go clubbing. Of course i'm a fiasco at wearing heels too. So this is just what i have in my head at that moment when i picked that dress to match the heels and/or ankle boots (i dont know why i picked these ankle boots to match coz in real life, i do not like ankle boots at all)...just that it's not going to materialize. By the way, the bangle says 'Ripped off by Chanel'! I just wish! Haha... ;)

betty 3

I finished Ugly Betty Season 3 in just half the day! That's real quick - only 5 discs like 10 episodes!

Lindsay Lohan (as Kimmie) is also part of the cast this season. I cant wait for more of Betty... The "bad people" are also becoming good "better"... ;)

rayban

Here's something Elvis took with my cellphone in Bangkok... So cute! ;)

upsized

When we were in Bangkok, it finally struck me quite hard that i'm no longer the S-Size girl. In truth, i knew it long before but i didnt think it was this bad. (Thailand manufacturers mostly do free-sized clothes i.e. Small-size). Now, i just dont fit into this category - not anymore! Damn it! Whenever i try something on, it's always too small, too tight...or even worse...CANNOT FIT. Damn it!

At the Diesel store, i tried on 2 pairs of jeans...
- size 24 (my "pre-baby" size) ...EHH...
- Nevermind, i changed to 25... Impossible!
- Nevermind, i try 26... IMPOSSIBLE!!! Why still a bit tight?! Can button, but need to breathe in then can!
For the other pair, when i asked Elvis to help me get size 25 (coz i still wasnt convinced i need a 26), the guy at the store also said, "25 will be too big for her". Keke... At least i "look" skinny. Thank God, then i also realized that the problem lies with the cutting of the first pair. Coz i could fit the other size 25. Phew... It does makes me a wee bit happier. BUT, both pairs didnt look too good on me. So i gave up on the jeans although they were the best deals at the store.
Most of the jeans are going at 60% off (about +/-S$200) but if it doesnt look good, then might as well save the money, right?

I tried a few other pieces...and ended buying only a winter jacket (which i liked when i saw it at regular price). A jacket which can help cover my fats! Haha! How smart! Besides, i would never have bought it if it wasnt at 50% off. Even at half the price, it's also quite expensive (to me).

There's this other very plain dress i tried which i quite liked...but since it's not cheap either, i decided to 'KIV' it. However, when we went down again with Ann, Elvis asked me to get the dress. So i tried it on again - 2 sizes - and ended up taking the bigger size. Okay, i could fit the smaller size...but the bigger size looks slightly better...not so tight. Damn it! :/

I also realized that i NO LONGER look good in anything. Coz i used to try anything, yes, anything...and it'll look good. At least i think so, and others think so too. Now, there's always some flaws, some unsightly fats here and there. I need to try a bigger size...and i really dont wish to.

Something just isnt right anymore. And i realized now It's ME - be it post-Joel, or staying home, or sitting in front of the Mac all day, or just plain ageing!

It's (E) All of the above.

sedaap

Last night, i decided to have instant noodles for dinner. If you know me, you'll know i simply love anything instant and/or processed. I could eat plain instant noodles i.e. without adding any other ingredients. I LOVE instant noodles with ketchup! ;p

Anne sent me 3 different types of instant noodles from Indonesia. The 2 others were Indomie - a brand i knew. I picked this Sedaap Instant. It says on the pack 'Asli Kriuk Kriuk' - whatever that means. But i liked drumstick, egg and prawns. Being a graphic designer, i was almost sure the bad colours on the pack didnt do the noodles any justice. My expectations of these Indonesian noodles were HIGH!

When i opened the pack (and took this photo), i realized the "oil" had solidified! That's how cold it is here in Shanghai...even my cupboards are like freezers! GREAT, there's English instructions on the back. It says to stir in all the tiny packets AFTER cooking the noodles. Okay...it's not soup-based.

I was a bit hesitant about adding the chilli sauce and the oil...coz i'm not a 'chilli & oil' person. But since it was authentic Indonesian noodles, i should at least TRY to make them as authentic as possible, huh. Ok, i added them...and the 'Kriuk Kriuk' is actually the tiny bits of crackers in the silver foil. I get it...Crunch, Crunch!

And...here's my very yummy almost instant dinner! 3 minutes! I almost forgot to take a photo of the cooked noodles...coz i ate a few mouths (already). I devoured them within the same time it took to cook. SEDAAP!

P.S. I could eat 2 packs of these at a go! No wonder Indonesians girls are skinny!

cry-a-lot

From BabyCenter this week:
If your child gets upset when you leave her now, she's right on schedule. Twelve to 18 months is prime time for separation anxiety — a psychological term that means your toddler can't bear to be without you. The best way to handle painful farewells is to keep them short and sweet: Say goodbye with a quick kiss and head out the door. Your toddler's tears will subside soon after you're out of sight. It's hard not to feel guilty, but in the long run you'll help your child become more independent.

No wonder Joel is crying all the time!
It always sound like "there's a lot of sobbing and lots of tears"...but when i go find him, it isnt what i had imagined. Most of the time, he looks really sad though. So i give him a hug and carry him. ;)

monkeying

Our little pig pretending to be a monkey!

freeze

It was freezing the minute we got back to Shanghai on Saturday. So, we ordered delivery dinner and stayed indoors with the heater on full blast. Sunday, we brought Joel to his Gymboree play class. Maybe coz it was too cold plus the rain, there were only 3 babies at the class (max is 10). After that, we went to the "DVD supermarket". I call it a 'supermarket' coz you really need to grab one of those baskets! I guess the DVD business is pretty "legal" here. Dont buy DVDs from peddlers on the streets coz their quality is really bad (which explains why it's sooo cheap).

Incidentally (BINGO!), they do not have the one movie i was looking for - Little Manhattan - which i saw on board Thai Airways and couldnt finish it. Otherwise, you can almost find anything you're looking for.

Joel at Gymboree...meeting girls...

Before the class at Itoya 依藤家 (japanese food again) and afterwards...

P.S. Bangkok holiday & Joel's bday pix uploaded... ;)

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