Satay Chicken

I always want to make this but I do not have most important ingredient Lee Kum Kee Satay Sauce so I put this recipe aside until lately.

In the my hubby's recent trip back Singapore, I asked him to get the long waited sauce and of course I couldn't wait long to try this out. I followed the instructions from cooking.storyofbing.com. I omitted the roasted peanuts and used worcestershire sauce instead of maggi seasoning sauce. I also let the chicken simmer long than the mentioned time.

I am pretty happy with the taste of this dish. Very tasty and go very well with white rice. I will definitely make this again but I will put some chilli powder next time to give a spicy taste.

Beauty Regimen - Royal Jelly

I got this quite some time back but didn't take them diligently. When I came Bahamas, I took them along as I do not want waste them by leaving them in the fridge and expired as they are not cheap.

I wouldn't say they benefit skin or contribute to anti-aging although these benefits are briefly mentioned on their benefits description. The key benefits include boost immune system and promote stress-tolerance and increase energy levels. I have been taking for a couple of months but not everyday. It does boost my immune system and make me less tired. I seldom get sick (at least so far) and I don't need coffee to stay me awake. I would get them again if there is special promotion. I got them at buy one get one free. So each bottle cost me around SGD$30. Each bottle contains 60 gels and I am taking them one in the morning before food.

Beauty Regimen - Fancl HTC

With age catching up and fine lines showing on my face and hand (the latter could be due to frequent washing of milk bottles and dishes), I started to research on anti-aging face serum and also collagen supplement. 

Since last year, I wanted to try Meji Amino Collagen Powder but I hold back due to personal reason. Recently when my hubby went back Singapore, I asked him to get it from DFS but it is not available. It just happened that Didi (girlfriend of my hubby's colleague) has extra pack of Fancl HTC and I wanted to start my collagen supplement regimen, I got Fancl HTC from her. 

 

Many years back during my early twenties, I tried Fancl tense up for a couple of months. But as I didn't see any result and soon felt that I don't really need them and with the fact that they are pretty costly, I stopped taking. Now I going to give Fancl collagen supplement another chance and I will be taking this from tonight onwards. I hope I will see some good effect on my skin this time round.

Beauty Regimen - Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_Ex

My love to hydrating mask started since I first used Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque. I feel that my skin is less oily and well hydrated after each use. I get so obsessed that I could use it every day even the instruction stated use twice weekly. 

I get to know this mask from Didi (girlfriend of my hubby's colleague). I was totally sold when I heard this hydrating mask could leave overnight without washing away. I then did research online and get more excited after seeing fantasic feedback on this mask. I couldn't wait to try them but sad that I couldn't get them in Bahamas.

When my hubby went back recently, this became my top buying item. I was delighted when he told me DFS is selling duo pack at SGD$ 61.50. I felt that it is a great buy since it is selling at SGD$ 42-45 per bottle when without promotion. Of course, it is still cheapest to get from Korea.

 I hope it work better than Dermalogica skin hydrating masque as this is cheaper to get in Singapore.

Love is in the air...

The hubby is on his way back to Bahamas from Singapore. Only away trips like this will make us realize we miss each other very much and can't do without each other. Faith misses her daddy too. Luckily, she is not as fussy as previous time. Perhaps this is because she is older now and she is not sick (she was during her daddy's previous trip). We are not sure whether this will be the last time we will be away from each other but I know we should treasure every moment together and not taking things for granted.

Hope to see him very soon and I am preparing a feast for him now.

Faith and her local playmate

Summer holiday has just started. Our housekeeper, Pauline, brought her younger son, Rolando, to our house and play since there is no school. Faith loves to play with him. (She always like to play with kids that are older than her.) She will share her toys, school stuffs and snacks with him. Rolando will take care of her and always give in to her. They seldom fight since Rolando always give in. And Faith loves to talk to him where he likes to talk to me. Haha..

Today I have prepared mouse puppet arts & craft for them to work on. Faith was too excited with the painting and finished before Rolando was here. When Rolando was here, he wasn't too keen about working on the puppet. Perhaps he is too big for this. (He is 5 years plus.) So I passed him my iphone to play since Faith was playing with his PSP.

They then played at the pool and Rolando got himself totally wet. After water play, they had waffle ice cream together before Rolando went back home.

Although Faith was pretty grouchy today, she definitely had a lot of fun with this playmate.

Fun at Jaws Beach, Nassau, Bahamas

This weekend, Daddy E went back Singapore and will only be back next Saturday. So we went out with one of his collegues (AK) to get our weekly groceries. AKwanted to go Goodfellow Farms for lunch first and then have a short chill at nearby Jaws Beach since DD has not been there before.
This is not my first time to Jaws Beach but is my first time get wet in this beach. We are lucky to get a gloomy weather (so it is not too hot) and saw many small fishes swimming around us. Water is pretty shallow and stretched quite a distance so it is good for kiddos to enjoy the water play. Faith definitely has a great time and didn't want to go back.

Faith was trying to splash water at me.

Faith was playing waterfall with DD.

Home activities during weekday

My morning is extremely busy. While Faith is taking her morning milk, I will wash up and prepare to go downstairs. I will start cooking Faith lunch as the brown rice takes quite a while to be fully cooked. I will then prepare our breakfast and we will have breakfast together. Then we will start our home schooling. I have come out with this curriculum for my 3 years old. They are categorized into six different areas:

1. Glenn Doman. So far, I have only stick to three sets and show them at nine separate sessions.

2. Shichida. I would cover speed flashing and Shichida worksheets and memory games.

3. English workbox. A letter is been introduced weekly. During the same week, Faith will get to practice how to write the letter. Learn what words start with the letter. And the phonics. Read storybook together.

4. Chinese. Recite numbers. Write Chinese characters. Read Chinese storybook together.

5. Mathematics. Number tracing. Read numbers. Equation.

6. Concepts. Calendar. Read time. Lacing. Patterns. Shapes.

7. Fun stuffs. Cut & paste. Painting. Collage artwork.

It might look overwhelming. Preparation takes some effort. But the duration took in each activity is pretty short. Whole program took around 3 hours daily. Try not to do all in one go. I give my girl some breaks in between and she will play by herself and ask for fruits or snack if she feel like munching.

Cordyceps Herbal Chicken Soup

This soup is extremely simple to prepare. My hubby got the concentrate from Singapore. You could get it from Eu Yan Sang or big supermarkets. They are not cheap, I can't remember the exact price. I feel that it is worthwhile since we don't drink it everyday and specially they tasted really yummy unlike traditional herbal soup. You would like it if you don't like the strong herbal smell. 

I use the whole bottle of concentrate for three bowls of soup. I added three chicken drumsticks and generous amount of wolfberries and simmer them under medium-low fire for around 1 hour. I didn't use slow cooker since this is not traditional herbal soup.

Have fun in cooking and enjoy every drop.

Cherry fruit & tree in Bahamas

Today, our housekeeper plucked these fruits from a tree behind my neighbour's house. She told me these are cherries and brought me to the tree where she plucked in from. I was very excited and took out my trusty camera and shoot these pictures. I have tasted these cherries before when the another neighbour's housekeeper brought and asked me to try. They tasted pretty sour and I don't really like it. These cherries look and taste very different from the dark red cherry we saw and ate in Singapore. I don't see these sold in local food store too. Hmm... I wonder why.

More on Faith's first stage performance

Tickets to our girl's show.

We are going to 5:30 show. There is another show at 2:30. 

I am part of mommies voluteer group to help up in backstage.

This is my tag.

This is my girl's tag.

Let the Dancing Begin...

 

Faith will be performing for two dances (Puppet on a string and Ocean floor) at both shows.

Pepperidge Farm - Milano

I like this cookie. It is light and you could finish three pieces in one go. I got this in Bahamas's City Market Food Store. Not sure I could get them in Singapore. I hope so.

Crunch 'n Munch - Popcorn with Peanuts

Buttery Toffee Flavour

Caramel Flavour

I got these from Bahamas's Phils Food Store at USD$1.59 (4oz.) each. There is another flavour Chocolate 'n Caramel. I will get it next time I go to Phils. These popcorns are more fluffy and tasty and crunchy (since it contains peanuts) as compared with those self-microwave. Definitely worth a try if you are popcorn lover and not allegric to peanuts.

Doritos - 3rd degree burn tortilla chips

I got this from Bahamas's Phils Food Store at USD$5.99 (11oz.) . Try it if you love spicy food. Do prepare some water to extinguish the fire.

Deeply hurt and disappointed...

Today seems to be a long day. Several incidents had happened. Now all I feel is drained and totally disappointed and of coz deeply hurt.
Incident One
Early this morning, we sent our girl to Atlantis for her stage rehersal. When we are about to leave, my girl sobbed badly. She thought that we could stay with her but we couldn't as no parents are allowed to stay on for the rehersal. We tried to stay longer than allowed and we saw Ms Debbie leaded all children to do their warm up. To our shock, we saw Faith is not doing her warm up at all while all other children are following Ms Debbie's instructions. We then left the theatre and waited for her outside. When the rehersal finished, her dad went to pick her as I was in the restroom. Her dad told me that she did not involved in the rehersal at all. She was sitting at a corner of stage with her teacher and looking at rest of children dancing. Wah... I was shocked when I heard this. What is happening. .. I wonder has she been practising during her weekly classes. Tomorrow is her performance. How...

Incident Two
We then went back home after her rehersal. She asked dad for milk. I helped up by making milk. She then yelled at me of touching the milk bottle. This is not the first time of her shouting at me. Most of the time I will not shout at her back and tried to tell her not to do it again softly. We tried fierce approach before but we realise that this approach does not go anywhere. She picked up what we said very fast and use it back on us. Since then, we decided to use soft approach and hope this might work on her. I just wanted to help.. And what I get is been shouted by my 3 years old. Deep in my heart is really heart breaking. I don't know what to do what to say. I should be blamed for her misbehave and rudeness since I take care of her most of the time for past 5-6 months. Sigh... Maybe I should not take care of her.

Incident Three
After her milk intake, we went to shopping at Kelly's. She was alright initially. We then went for our lunch and a local young boy spoke to her while she was playing at the fountain. She then get very angry. Since then she was rude to me again and get very cranky. On our way from Kelly's to Phils's for groceries shopping, she refuse to sit on car seat. She sat on edge of my lap. She don't let me touch her at all. I was worried as she was resting with her eyes closed and her head on her arms where her hands on driver's seat. She was dozing off. When I wanted to bring her closer to me, she shouted NO and sobbed again. My intention is good but was taken in this way... Sigh..

Incident Four
After our groceries shopping, we went back home. Her dad then went to pick up the bottled water from the car. She get very upset when knowing her dad is not around in the house. She kept telling me not to make her milk. I told her I was not and she then accused me that she saw me making her milk. I was speechless. She then said she going out to look for her dad. She then walked out of house herself. Her dad then came back when she was going out.

By now, I was furious and made a few remarks. Her dad then made her to say sorry to me and made me to say sorry to her. Was I wrong? Sigh... I do not want to think... So what if she said sorry to me. I am very sure that she will do the same to me again.

Incident Five
I went upstair to change myself. She was upstair. She told me not to go into the room. I then told her that I am just going to change myself. She then commanded me to change and go down and don't go up again. She said "promise? ... ok you promise". I didn't said anything and she made the promise for me. I left the room speechless.

At the end of this whole episode, it left me drained and wonder what I gained from taking care of her for the whole last 5-6 months. I felt that our relationship get worst as time goes by. Perhaps I just don't know how to teach her and I shouldn't take care of her. 

Whatever I have done.. It seems to be wrong from her eyes. And it doesn't get me anywhere. I am really tired. I am...

Dinner at Thai Lotus Restaurant

This is only Thai food restaurant we could find in Nassau, Bahamas. We love this restaurant and this is our third visit. They serve nice thai food, their service is great and the restaurant ambience is quiet. You could look at their menu at their website.

You could choose the spicyness level for all dishes.

Level choices include low, medium, hot. thai hot, firehouse. Go for firehouse if you love spicy food.

Duck Noodle Soup (Spicyness level: Firehouse)

 I love this most.

With added slices of jalapeno in hot soup, it made this dish most spicy of all.

Panang Prawns (Spicyness level : Firehouse)

Triple Taste Fish (Spicyness level: Firehouse)

I forgot to take a photo of the last dish triple taste fish. It is sweet and sour sauce over crispy fish. Not spicy unless you bite the jalapeno garnish on top of the fish.

We will definitely go back again!

Lunch at Go Green Cafe

This is my first visit to Go Green Cafe located at downtown Nassau, Bahamas. Before I go in to this cafe, I thought they serve only green vegetables. To my surprise, they serve very tasty and healthy sandwiches.

You could look at their menu at their website.

Go Green Iced Tea

Wow... this is the brillant mix of green tea and kiwi. It gave a very refreshing feeling.

We love this drink.

Chicken Jalapeno Sandwich 

I choose to have wrap instead of sandwich. This is not spicy at all. But I like it still.

Egyptian Spiced Lamb Wrap

My hubby had this.

m&m - Peanut Butter

Addictive m&m.

Remember to drink plenty of water after this as it is pretty heaty.

Orville Redenbacher's Microwave Popcorn

There are a lot of choices available. My hubby chose Movie Theater Butter flavour.

Before microwave

After microwave

Eat this immediately while it is hot as it gets soft when is cool.

I still prefer Crunch 'n Munch's popcorn although they are much more expensive.

Pepperidge Farm - Nantucket Chocolate Chunk Crispy Cookies

I share this with our neighbour DD. Both of us feel that there is nothing great about this expensive cookie. I will not get this again.

"Sorry also no use"

Just now I said sorry to Faith as she was upset. I then went downstairs and she slammed the bedroom door behind me. Yes. This is from my 3 years old girl. I was shocked. But I didn't go back the room and told her off as I know she will not listen at this moment.

After a while, she came out of the room and shouted... "Say sorry also no use... Remember I was rude and I said sorry to papa. .. papa said Sorry also no use... ". While I was trying to explain to her that the true meaning behind what her dad has said. She went back the room and slammed the door again...

I went through the above a few rounds...  still didn't manage to talk her through.

Now she is in the room by herself.