BWUAHAHAHAHAhaha...

Now isn't that just one of the cutest things you've ever seen. *Bwuuhahahahahahaah*

Yummy Yam Me!

I LOVE YAM.

I love it fried. I love it boiled. I loved it mashed. I love it cooked in coconut milk with chicken. I love yam dumplings from Yum Cha as taken above *slurp*... I love yam paste with gingko nuts aka Orr Neee. I love Yam ice-cream *esp. CREMO - which is a malaysian brand which has the most heavenly yam icecream... its like they baked the yam before they mashed it into icecream!!* *Drools..*

But 2 yam dishes come to mind when you say yam to me... the 2nd runner up is this...

Yam Cake from Aunty Foo... you'll NEVER get to buy this outside anywhere because its HOMEMADE! My ex collegue *Aunty Foo = her mom lah* bought a portion to work one day for me and I totally fell in love with it.. OW KUAY!! with so much LIAO *filling*. FWAHHH!!!

This aunty really can cook. Really really Can Cook.

So one day, I asked if she can make me one. I was expecting A PORTION but she made me a whole cake for my birthday last year. It was SO BLOODY BIG.. around 35cm in diameter and SOOOO heavy and thick with all that minced meat, fresh prawns, hae bee, fresh red chilies, mushrooms, fried lard *pork fat*, and chives...

Wah lau... so I couldn't resist it and ordered it again... and this time, I ordered 2. She's particular about having good yams and only makes it when the yams are good.. *thinking.. got GOOD & BAD yam meh?*

I delivered one over to Moley once I got my hands on them. Good things must share share right? And went home to muse at the one I had at home.. *kicking myself - I couldn't eat it because I'm carb free for the next 3 months so only can sniff and drool while everyone else eats it and go.. yuuuuummm!!!*

Molemole gave the comment "freakingly delicious" which I take as she liked it too.

Its just so GOOD.

With good comments all around.. and best compliments to the Chef. My brother in law gawked when I told him how much they cost and you may be wondering too.. they're $30 per cake. BUT ITS SO WORTH IT!!!

Tastes so good, so much fresh ingredients and those supporting ingredients aren't cheap either and she takes practically the whole day to prepare and make it and put it in a specially ordered box which she buys from the bakery. CJ says its worth it because its really good.

So if anyone wants to order a yam cake from Aunty Foo, I'll put you in touch with her daughter and be prepared to wait till she "feels there are good yams that day". Hahhaa..

Go on... hahah sniff the screen, you know you want to... yuummmm..... *drools*

The WINNER however is the yam cakes aka OW Kuays from Stall 89 Carrot Cake at the Circuit Road market over at MacPherson.

The hubster, CJ grew up eating this ow kuay and introduced it to me early on in our relationship... hey we've been together for more than 12 years already ok! Thats alot of yam in my system.. hhehhe... Its just so good and brings back so much memories of many a morning where we'd bump into family members at the market queing for some of these and the very early in the morning strolls together just to buy them fresh incase they sell out and THEY SELL OUT! Must go early before 9am or say bye bye to freshly fried yam cakes.

Drizzled with black sweet sauce, these minced yam cakes are covered in a gelatinous skin and wok fried till the tops are crispy, sides are chewy and the insides just heavenly.... *drool* So gooood... *kicking myself again.. I'm carb free so this is FIRST on my list once I break carb next in 3 months time, or maybe for CNY!*

The only thing about this yam cake is that its ONLY AVAILABLE on TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS only so any other days, you will only see him frying carrot cake.

Each of these cakes cost about $0.60 cents each and we NEVER leave with at least 15 pieces to bring home and savour... they also sell rice cakes aka png kuay, chive cake aka gu chai kuay and turnip cake aka soon kuays which are just as tasty and worth ordering if you like those kinds.

This uncle and aunty has practically seen my hubby grow up from a mischivious boy to a teen to a man and father of 2. Needless to say, they hold alot of sentimental value in our lives.

Another must buy from this stall is their CARROT CAKE. Either in black or white, with or without chili. He fries them with a special fish sauce and it tastes SO GOOD! Apart from being really oily which isn't really such a bad thing for this because it makes it taste better, the portions are small but this is where quality reigns over quantity. You only need so much of a good thing to feel satisfied.

Our favourite order still stands at white with chili... soft tasty chunks of carrot cake fried to a perfect crisp with a good smattering of egg. *Drool*

So this is a die die must try one day kind of stall...5 chopstick out of 5 chopstick rating. :)

Here's the hubster CJ just feeling happy that we're on our way on our morning stroll to get them ow kuays with Lauren... Happy Happy!!

Say Cheese!! (Aiyahh!!! Put down those fingers lah!! *pam rolls eyes*)

What to do? We all get a little euphoric when we know we'll be yamming ourselves silly soon...

Yummy Yam Me!!

New Hair in 2008

Presenting 2008's new look! I cut my hair! After swearing that I'd never cut my hair this short from the last time I cut it because I looked like an EGG with HAIR! And there I go doing it again. I never learn.

But with a change of stylist to Bonafides at Centrepoint. Off went the wavy long & dry locks and replaced it with a short crop with chestnut highlights... :) Not a bad cut this time and the colour is not too bad... now all I need are chestnut coloured contacts to complete the look. Y'think?

Jane Doe 91.3FM

Presenting Jane Doe, up and coming Deejay as heard over 91.3FM, ex collegue and one of my favourite gal pals. Also lovingly known as Pree... or formally... Preetha D.

And yes.. that's Eirian.. looking a little impatient because she wants to turn around to see the fish behind her! *quick mommy quick!! take the picture already!!*

She's Singapore's ONLY female indian DJ on an English station and that's gotta count for something! Cool!! Thats an achievement by itself. *I'm so proud of you!*

From some years ago where we sat side by side at work, weaving daydreams together on what we wanted to do... from running my business to her being a DJ and time passed.. and here we all are today. Exactly where we said we would be and doing what we want to do. Amazing...

If you're a 91.3FM fan, you would have heard her over the past couple of months on first on Saturday night request fests with Elliott Danker to moving to SOLO weekday afternoon tunes from 2pm-5pm and boy! Weren't the afternoons just that more entertaining with her on air!

While she's not on these timeslots anymore, she's now audibly available on SATURDAYs and SUNDAYs from 12 noon to 6pm so listen in, call in and give her some luuuurrrveee!

Click here to listen online.

This is one amazing gal that's heading somewhere up there in the radio industry whether locally or internationally and I'm proud to note that you've heard first news on her here on this blog... this is now a piece of history of one of Singapore's future celebs. :)

Oh and those who were walking around Suntec's fountain of Wealth and heard that LOVELY voice booming over the loud speakers reading out all those mushy song dedications... well who do you think reads all those to entertain you when you're pondering what to eat or trying to "turn your fortune around" while strolling around the fountain of Wealth..

It's none other than. Preetha aka Miss Jane Doe herself. Whoaaa!! So now u know.. next time.. Say hi and be nice. :)

I know that there are fans out there who have been wondering why looking for this chick online has been so hard but hey.. she finally has a facebook here too! Check that out!

So here's coming from one of Jane Doe's biggest fans... me... *muaks*

The Secret to Tofu Skin....

Apart from washing my face with face wash every day, here's the secret to tofu smooth, zit free skin. No more big ass pimples bursting out from the weirdest places once you know what a pimple actually is and how to kill it. It is after all, an inflammation and by disinfecting it and keeping the area clean.. they disappear with a snap of the fingers.

The secret is....

Listerine. No kidding.

Just soak a cotton bud undiluted and dab the liquid directly on the pimple after u wash your face, perhaps twice a day or 3 times if the zit is red, big and hot and u'll see it deswell and dissappear really quick and doesn't leave a mark!! But of course itchy fingers like me would squeeze all the pus out first before I attempt this. *not recommended bc it gives u big pores*

I've turned many a disbeliever to this method and I know it works for me. But like what Moley said, it may work for my skin and hers too. She calls her skin - smooth like Chwee Kuay because of it... BUT it may not be suitable for yours so please.. test test first.. and if u end up looking like Igor.. errr... then u should not continue this treatment. :) Any how ... no harm trying if you don't have ultra sensitive skin... :)

Ahh... zit today! Gone tomorrow!

Where do you go?

This is one of my favourite songs that never fails to get my head bopping, shoulders swaying to the beat and put that little grin on my face. The hubster and I love this song and the latin guitar in it is just SO APPEALING. How can you NOT like latin guitar!!! *gawk*

It must be the spanish blood in me that just draws me to latin/spanish/salsa type of songs. When I youtubed for this video after listening and dancing to this song FOR YEARS NOW, I never really bothered to really check out who No Mercy was and boy was I suprised...

HolyMommaofGod, he *main singer* is hot! And I squealed like a school girl when I saw the music video come on and the hubster gave me the "green evil eye" and a very loud "HHMMMFF!" and those other 2... they're TWINS! whahaha.. *awww, he's jealous... does that means he still loves me like crazy? hehehee*

For starters, thats just the type of built that I looove... broad strong shoulders, strong arms, big body and legs, big hands, not too tall... "tua jia tua jia" *big built* kinda guy... just like ma hubby... *siiigh dreamily... wipe drool*

And I'm a boxers girl so wah lau eh!! Put a guy like that who can sing, on a bed, IN BOXERS and a guitar stumming a good latin tune... WAH LAU ... *breathing hard, trying hard not to hyperventilate & fall off my chair*

May not be everyone's cup of tea but this is certainly mine... bwuhahahaa... *smirk*

Enjoy.. because I am... whooooooo.......

Cupcake Monster

Oh so beautiful Christmas tree cupcakes....*ahem... my photo taking skill not bad eh! hahahah* that I ordered for Christmas parties from Cupcake Momma... It was such a hit EVERYWHERE we brought it to...

It was only ONE of many as seen below... (image here taken from cupcake momma's website - didn't have time to take the ones we had because they were snapped up so quickly!)

Trish, owner of Cupcake momma is so amazingly talented and the cupcakes are just breathless... I'm always amazed each time I order from her and boy.. have we ordered from her.. again and again... :)

... always greatly appreciated by Eirian the Cupcake Monster... yummy!!

Gareth... First shots in 08.

From time to time, I manage to catch some really nice moments *with my miserable camera skills* and these are a rare few... my only nephew one afternoon early in 2008... he's growing o so fast.. and such a handsome one too.:)

A Real Glam Ride...

Just 2 days ago when I was down at Chinatown again doing some early CNY shopping with the hubs and my in laws.. we came across the most Glam Ride ever... Have u seen a trishaw so pretty?!?

I was so amused that I immediately whipped out my camera and stepped right in front of this trishaw and squealed "Stopp!! Take picture?!"

I was enthralled at how much intricate details he created on his trishaw! Rhinestones EVERYWHERE... feather boas, cushy cushions, a masquerade mask, FURRY PINK SEAT and even carpeted "grass" for your feet! And Butterflies!! Everywhere!!! Sooo nice!!! Even behind can! What a nice entrance this will make if u can get him to ferry u to a dinner date that needs a roadside entrance... Wahhh!!!

Its ever so Glam! He graciously obliged to the photo and then offered to take me up and down the street for SGD$2!... hahha I didn't take the ride but I should have and pretended to put on some giant sunnies and pretended to be "someone". Paiseh lah.. but if the hubster jeered me on to do so, I would have embarassingly sat into it and silently enjoyed it too! Hahahaha maybe I'll bring my girls down one of these days for this "Glam" ride along Chinatown.. and I know they'd be thrilled and ... *ahem* me too..

Short of a horse and carriage in Singapore, a uncle ridden trishaw will do but oh! so glam! I like!

OH my GOD - We're Kutu-ed!

My daughter...

Plus this

= Equals =

A VERY FREAKED OUT MOMMY!!

Albeit being a common problem amongst children and especially Primary school going children. Any parent would dread a call to hear that their child has head lice. Read up more about it here if u have kids because u really never know when this will come in handy.

Anyway...... Lice!! Kutu u know!! *faints while hair standing*

Fresh from a morning workout at the gym and on the way into the studio, I recieved a msg from my sister in law informing me that Lauren has lice!!! and it got me exclaiming in the most horrendous fashion in the middle of Bugis Junction: " Whaa daaa faaaaarrrk!!!" Lice?!?!? How can? Huh? Arrrrrrrghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!" *thud*

Immediately that followed with a flurry of phone calls to cancel playdate appointments, movie dates, calling the school and childcare centres to pull my children out of school with immediate effect all while rushing down from Bugis back home.

Lice!!! Argh! My SIL brought Lauren to meet me at the school gate and I peered into her head. ARHGHGHGH!!!! Confirmed. Its lice. *faints again* I saw the nits so I proceeded to withdraw her from school for the day, rushed down to the childcare centre and pulled Eirian out too and inspected her. With much relief, Eirian was and is still lice free.

We huffed our way down to the hair dressers and lopped Lauren's hair to a crop which she *and I'm so proud of her for being so obedient - or was it freaked out bc I kept on saying. Lau! U have BUGS growing on ur head!!!! ok.. so I wasn't very tactful but still! They're bugs!!!* quietly agreed to sit still to chop her locks off. Thank god she didn't burst out crying.

From this...

To this...

We then headed to purchase a lice comb and 4 boxes *costs about SGD$4.50 each from the chinese medical hall* of anti-lice shampoo *kiasu heheh but they're such small bottles!! Like sample shampoo size can?!?!? They must have parent size aka BIG anti kutu shampoo bottles for parents like me * and headed home where the freaked out mommy in me proceeded to treat EVERYONE'S HEAD including mine with kutu shampoo. I proceeded to cut everyone's nails as short as humanly possible too.

I then literally tore off all bedsheets, towels and stuffed toys,dolls and blankets that I could see and shoved them all in the washing machine with a heavy dose of clorox and detergent.

Disintefected their bedroom and washed their fans and cleaned the floors. Used a bleach solution and wiped down my sofas and anything near the head areas and soaked the hairbrushes. My washing machine never worked so hard in just one day. It literally didn't stop working till I fell asleep.

All in all, I treated her hair with the shampoo 3 times on the first day *was getting a little obsessed with killing the damned lice* - shampoo and leave in for 15 mins before washing off and spent about 2-3 hours sitting in the bathroom doing the monkey thing and sieving through her hair and pulling out the nits.

The hubster decided that he'd sleep with his big baby since she didn't want to sleep alone, after all, he CAN shave his head bald in event that he does get it. I inspected him before he went to bed and in the morning when he woke up. All clear.

Day 2 - Nit removal was pretty successful the day before and after another treatment in the morning and another 1.5 hours of sieving through her hair, the most I found was 5 nits. *phew* I blew dried her hair while she sat there complaining all while playing games on my hp. *roll eyes & shake head - kids these days* just so that I could evenly separate the strands and also in hope to heat up her hair enough so that the nits would get too uncomfortable to continue to live on her head.

It would be time for another treatment in a couple of hours time and another monkey mommy session and cross my fingers that I'm getting as many nits as I can *but really so far so good, I'm proud to say that that eye crossing, arm aching session the day before was quite effective* and no one else at home gets infected and clear her up by Monday for school. AND HOPE THAT HER CLASSMATES *suay suay* don't re-infect her if they have lice too.

Apparently, not all parents as as kancheong as me to completely pull their child out of school till they have as best they could, treated something like head lice. Arrrghhh!!!

I remember having kutu when I was young too, it even got to a point where they grew and I could FEEL them moving about -GROSSS!!! My mother soaked my head in vinegar, lopped my hair to a boy's crop and I was REALLY miserable for some time.

The hubster said his mom soaked his head in KEROSENE... well... to each his own.. as long as they die.. I think a parent will do ANYTHING to get rid of them.

*scratch scratch* Praying so hard that lice will find me unappealing....Arrrghhhhh!!!!!!!! Wish me luck!! Die Kutu dieeee!!!!!! *evil glint in my eye*

Update: Just did this evenings', wash & monkey sieve and we're proud to say that she's NIT FREE!! Yayyy!!!! DIE KUTU DIE!!! BWHAHAHAHAHa..

2 more times tomorrow and we're safe for school on Monday.. *Fingers crossed!!*

Lauren Signing out... Muaks!! *Happy Happy!*