It's All About The Puff

My son has always been conscious of his appearance, especially his hair. From a young age, he'd finish getting ready by spending a good portion of the time in front of the mirror, making sure his hair was just right.

I know I've had a role to play in this. Since he was able to walk and talk, I've always ingrained the value of cleanliness and being responsible for his belongings and his person. Just as how he was taught to care for his toys, he was taught to care about his hygiene and appearance.

He always wears his hair in a certain way. Short at the back, but a little longer in the front. Parted at the side, its swept up with a little layered puff in the front. How high and dramatic that puff was depended on the occasion. There's the weekday puff and one for the weekend. There's a puff for social outings and one for school. You could almost figure out where he was going just by his puff.

I have always accompanied my son to get his hair cut, as I know exactly what to say to the barber. He knows that I'll ensure he'd get exactly the cut he wants. Today, however, he has gone with his dad. With a look of trepidation, he'd agreed to give his dad a chance to advice the barber. It will all come down to his puff.

I am waiting anxiously for his return. Oh, did I mention he's eight?

HM Book Review: Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart

Here's what I thought of Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart: I gave it 4/5 stars. I am not really a fan of romance, but once in awhile I'll indulge in one. This book had an endearing storyline about love, friendship and family. I loved every character in the story. A pleasant read indeed. http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Homespun-Bride/book-B6zxQvBW3UuadJxo8Vt1kA/page1.html

31 Days To 40

It's exactly 31 days until my 40th birthday. I am excited, nervous, cluless......just a jumble of mixed emotions. I believe I am looking forward to it.

I belatedly realised that I have been waiting to turn 40 ever since I turned 39. What I mean is, I never really spent the year thinking as if I was 39, but instead used it to prepare myself mentally and physically to turning 40.

I referred to my age as "turning 40", as opposed to saying "I am 39". I consciously took stock of my lifestyle choices and how it affected my health and emotional state of mind. I took being healthy more seriously and even dabbled in some form of exercise. Eating healthy has become not so much an after thought, but more a conscious choice. I made changes to be more in control of my life and made no excuse for having an opinion, no matter how it differed from others. After all, I was turning 40!

As I move closer toward reaching that dateline of turning 40, perhaps I do regret a little for not having enjoyed being 39. Nevertheless, I look forward to the next chapter of my life.

My Next "Project"

I have been reading a ton of books lately. Well, more like a new book every ten days or so. I have always wanted to write about it and share my experience and emotions reading a particular book but, it has never materialised.

As you may have read in my previous blog, I literally have about a hundred books with me at my home. Unread. Waiting to be read. I am excited just thinking about craking open a new book. I also have about ten books on my desk right now that I have already read, but wanted to comment on. So I will take this on as my next little "project" and get cracking on it.

The other thing I have been doing is downloading e-books onto my Samsung Galaxy Note. I have read a couple of pretty interesting ones. Some are from websites that encourage budding writers to share their 'book' online and get feedback and reviews on what they have written so far. Pretty interesting, isn't it. So I will share that here too. Soon.

Quick Meals: Fish And Vegetable Kurma Curry

This is a one pot dish. I used Sting Ray as my son adores the fish. He loves the texture and that it flakes off in layers. It is also a hardy fish that absorbs the flavours in the curry. Of course, you can substitute it with any other kind of hardy fish. The other thing about the dish that I like is that, I can add any combination of vegetables that I have in hand. Or non at all. Here is how I cooked the dish today:
200g - String Ray, cut into cubes
1 - medium sized white onion, cut into 1 inch pieces
4 - cloves garlic, left whole
2 inchs - ginger, quartered
2 stalks - curry leaves
1 carrot - large size, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cauliflower - medium sized bouquet, cut into bite sized florets
2 tsps - tumeric powder
3 tbs - kurma curry powder 
1/4 - 1/2 tsp - kurma curry powder to add into dish towards the end of cooking *
* Note: I added the last teaspoon of kurma curry powder 5 minutes before turning off the fire to give the dish a fresh hit of the kurma spices in the kurma curry powder mixture. Of course this step is optional.

Suicidal Vegetables

I often find myself staring intently into my fridge trying to pick and choose the ingredients that would make a wonderful meal for my family for that particular day. I like to have the option of picking whichever ingredient, be it fish, meat, vegetable, etc. that would work best for the dish.

This time, my problem was that I had a head of broccoli, chinese cabbage, oyster mushrooms and green peas which were all threatening to wilt and expire that very night. There was no way I could choose to use any of it the next day. Making a mix vegetable dish was the obvious option, but I couldn't put my boys on another vegetarian meal two days in a row. I knew I'd have a mutiny in my hands and dinner would be a failure. So to save the vegetables and at the same time not incur the wrath of my family, I decided to incorporate fish.

I used three pieces of medium sized dory fillets and cut them into bite sized cubes. After giving it a light dusting of salt and pepper, I lightly fried it in olive oil to give it texture and color. Next, I did justice to all the above vegetables that insisted on being cooked this very night. After removing the nearly cooked fish, I stir fried a medium sized white onion (roughly chopped), a thumb sized garlic (thinly sliced) and grated three cloves of garlic right into the pan. Before adding the vegetables one by one, starting with the most hardy, I added a drizzle of saseme seed oil for added flavour. I also added some fish sauce, sweet soy sauce and a tablespoon of oyster sauce. I wanted a bit more soup in the dish so that my son could wet his rice with it and so, added half a  up of water.

I love my vegetables crunchy and so, in minutes the dish was done. I returned the fish to the pan, gave it a chance to mix with the vegetables and the sauce and turned off the heat within a couple of minutes. Walla. I saved the suicidal vegetables and made a delicious and healthy dinner.
 

I'm reading "Twice Born" - http://www.wattpad.com/story/1829976 - on the Wattpad app http://www.wattpad.com/download

PHASE THREE THROUGH HIS JOURNEY OF EDUCATION

We are in the process of transfering my son into the Cambridge programme at school. The decision to move was made within the last three weeks. You can imagine the stressful time I've had in ensuring that I got the right information and process all the paper work and everything that needed to be done. Between having various meetings with the Vice Principal, programme coordinator, administrative staff and the accounts department, it all finally came together. Of course, I have to give the biggest credit to my son who passed the Cambridge entrance exams.

He starts this third phase in this exciting journey of his education on Monday, 25th March 2013. The first phase was when he went to preschool at the age of three and a half. It was the hardest day of....my life. I remember standing outside his classroom window and watch him take in his new surroundings like a champion. He sat between a little boy and girl and with ease they started chatting away like old friends.

When it was time for us parents to leave, I waved to signal him that I was leaving and blew him a kiss. He returned it with a big smile and an enthusiastic wave and I knew he was going to be alright. I remember getting back to my car and bawling my eyes out with mixed emotions running through me. My baby was growing up. I was feeling proud and fearful among many other emotions. I remember being a wreck for awhile during that first couple of weeks.

The second phase was when he joined primary school at age five. The next three years saw him attending the CBSE-I programme. He completed Year One through Three without any incident that sticks out. Oh yes, there was one. In Year One he was unfortunately picked on by a bully. This may have gone on for a few days but luckily, he told me about it. We managed to settle it with the school and it was definitely a learning experience for my son and I. Since then, he has learnt that there should be zero tolerance of any sort of bullying and what had to be done in the event. I am relieved to say it has never happened again.

So come Monday, we will begin phase three. An exciting chapter as he begins Year Four in the secondary campus, in the Cambridge programme. I know he is excited, especially since his best buddy will be transfering with him. With a partner to share all his firsts during this transition, his mind is at ease. I can't say the same for myself, as it's natural for a mother to worry about literally everything. I can, however, promise not to cry.

I Have Missed You

I have not blogged for a long time but those who know me from twitter have seen me around. I just haven't had the time for a long entry as I have been extreamly busy with this and that. School is in full swing with exams around every corner. Projects have to be completed. Games have to be attended. Then our family members have had birthdays, anniversaries and visitors from overseas. I can go on and on about why I have not blogged, but I believe you get the general idea. But I have missed blogging. I will get back here soon and share with you things that I have been up to.

2013: A Promise To Myself

I am not making any New Year resolutions for 2013. I have made resolutions over the past years, but this time, I don't feel like I want to. Instead, I've decided to make myself a New Year promise.

Firstly, after my recent success with my 28 Day Diet, I am confident that I have figured out what I should do to have my weight under control. My biggest challenge is carbs. Therefore, this would be my main focus in managing my diet. As I find it easy to skip rice during my main meals, I have decided to only have it a couple of times a week, if I must. Other carbs like bread, pasta, etc. will be managed by controlling it's portions. Basically, I will manage my diet better this 2013.

Secondly, I am thankful for whom I have in my life. I am who I am today because of my son. Being his mother has been the greatest gift he has given me. He is my life, my soul. I have cherished him from the moment he was conceived and he will always be my precious baby.

My hubby and I have shared a lifetime together. We have been in each others lives for 23 years and we will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary this year. You can imagine the many, many things we have gone through together, both wonderful and difficult. I am grateful to him for everything so far, and look forward to many more years to come. I love my precious little family and thank God each and everyday for them. On a slightly broader circle, I love and cherish my parents, siblings, darling neice and others who make up my wider beloved family.

Finally, 2013 would be a milestone for me, as I would be turning 40. I simply can' t wrap my mind around it yet. The big 40! I somehow don't feel as if 40 years of my life has gone by. All my memories feel like it just happened yesterday. Maybe I should be glad I feel this way, as it could indicate that I am still young at heart. Whatever it is, in 2013, it would be even more important for me to focus on my mind (reading, learning and exploring new things, discovering something new to enrich myself), body (exercise, diet, general well-being), and soul (peace of mind, faith).

Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013 everyone!