Fried Udon

My MIL gave us some udon a few weeks back. I've never cooked udon before so didn't really know what to do with it. But it seemed like a good idea to take it out of the fridge today for some easy cooking. I need a break from Christmas food. Decided to fry it and it turned out pretty tasty.

INGREDIENTS

• Udon noodles
• Prawns
• Fishball - quartered (or halved)
  
• Vege - sawi
• Crabstick - cut to bite size
  
• Garlic - minced
  
• Teriyaki sauce
• Soy sauce
• Black soy sauce

HOW TO COOK
Fry garlic until slightly golden, then throw in the prawns, fishball, crabstick and vege. Stir fry for a while. Add the udon noodles, then put in the sauces - teriyaki, soy sauce and black soy sauce.

Christmas Gift For Busy Moms To Make

It's been a while since I made Honey Snaps. My daughter has been pestering me to make them, so I thought why not make them as Christmas gifts this year too. But instead of putting them in plastic bags, I bought plastic containers. That way, the recipients can use the containers after they finish eating the gift.

If you're looking for a baking project that you can do with your children, this would be it. It's easy and won't take that much of your time (unless you're doing lots and lots of it). Click here for the recipe: Honey Snaps

Simple Box Pinata

Once again I made a pinata for my Church Christmas party. However, it has been raining and so making a paper mache pinata was out of the question. My clothes has been taking days to dry, what more paper mache. I remember reading how someone made a box pinata. So I decided to give that a try. It seemed fairly easy and less of a hassle than the paper mache one. So, here it is:

This is my Santa Claus pinata

Made another one for the Single Adults Christmas party. Just used crepe paper on this one.

Making this pinata was really easy. Just recycle a cereal box and decorate it however you like. For the Santa pinata, I first wrapped the box with some black paper I had handy. Then I took a piece of white paper and drew some eyes. I wanted a 3D effect so I wrapped some cotton with paper to make the nose. Then glued on some cotton to make the moustache. Cut out circles to make Santa's beard. Used some more cotton and red paper for his hat. Poked 2 holes on the sides and inserted a string so the pinata could hang. Children may find it difficult to break open this kind of pinata. So, here is a tip:

• When you make the pinata, turn the cereal box upside down. That means the top of the cereal box is at the bottom. Don't cover it with paper. Don't put too much celophane tape either. You want it sealed enough to hold the candy but not so strong that the children can't whack it open.
  

This is my daughter having a good whack at the Santa pinata.

I didn't do much with my box pinata. I was looking for something easy and fast. You can always be creative and make the pinata look like a horse, star, castle or something interesting. It's a fun project to do with children and they'll love it during a party.

Note: Click here to see how I made a Snowman paper mache pinata.
Lazy to make one, you can click on these affiliate links to buy one.

Black Dragon Shaped 22in x 10 1/2in Pinata

Rainbow Shaped Donkey 16 1/2in x 10in Pinata

T-Rex Shaped 22in x 7 1/2in Pinata

SpongeBob Buddies Pinata (String Pull Style)

Pinata Fillers Party Supplies

Christmas Ornaments

My Christmas tree is so boring. The ornaments are so "common". The Christmas ornaments in the shops are also so "blah". Not much choice and nothing interesting. I like the idea of having a collection of personalized Christmas ornaments. For example, wouldn't it be special to get something like this to commemorate baby's first Christmas?

Baby's First Christmas Ornament Pink Bootie

The Christmas tree then becomes more than just a decoration but a treasure trove of memories. Talking about Christmas trees, I think I'll try to get a nice fiber optic one in the next few years. I don't like to deal with strings of Christmas lights that don't last long. Plus, my children are asking why our Christmas tree is so small. This is what my son said "Last time the tree looked big to me. Now that I'm taller, the tree looks small."

Note: The picture is an affiliate link. Click on it for more details.
You'll find more of such ornaments at this affiliate link:

russellrhodes.com special Christmas ornaments,gifts and plates

Online Shop Malaysia For Babies And Children

Do you do much online shopping? I know some of you are still apprehensive about it. I too think many times before I decide to purchase something online. However, with 4 kids it is the better option for me. It can be madness and highly stressful trying to shop with that many kids in tow. I found it especially helpful when I was in confinement and wanted to get a car seat for baby. Thank goodness Little Whiz was having a car seat sale at that time. Even then, I was in 2 minds about it: "Buy? Don't buy?" I was afraid I would not choose a good one because I couldn't physically inspect it. I spent some time doing a little research, scouting the net to hear what people were recommending. Then I also had to think about my budget restraints. Also wanted to know if it really was a good deal or not.

In the end, I decided to go ahead and made the purchase. Was really glad to know that shipping was free. Item arrived not many days after in good condition. Baby loves the car seat, thank goodness. It acts as a rocker too. I just wish it could be reclined.

This is 2 week old baby in the car seat. It's a Halford. It wasn't inclined enough so I put a lampin behind her neck for more support.

This is 2 month old baby. She's grown into the seat, so it fits her better now. She sleeps longer in the car seat then if I were to put her lying down on a mattress.

Little Whiz is a good place to shop if you're looking for baby and children stuff. They've got lots of stuff like baby furniture and bedding, baby slings, books, cds, dvds, toys, strollers, car seats, breast pumps, nursing accessories, toilet training and diapering stuff, skin care for baby and home safety products. They've also got stuff for pregnant mothers. Check them out to see their vast collection.

I notice they've got regular promotions. Their prices are not too bad. If you need to get baby stuff or want to get a gift for someone's children, do give this retailer a try. Click on the banner below and rate them yourself.

Note: The links on this post are affiliate links.

Christmas Gifts For Kids

Image by minifig via Flickr

Getting Christmas gifts for my kids is always a breeze. They make sure I know what they want. Of course they don't always get everything they ask for. Their first choice is usually off our budget. For example, kokoD wants a Transformer toy. A good one is quite costly. There's always the cheaper ones but they look really cheapo and probably won't last very long.

There's really not much surprise when it comes to my kids Christmas gifts. When I go shopping, they are usually there with me pointing out what they want. They see what I put in the cart. This year, my daughter wrapped the presents, including her own. So much for surprise. Hahah. She chose a train set, KokoD1 selected a Ninja set and KokoD2 got a car garage set. To them these are cool kids toys. We don't buy a lot of toys for them throughout the year. So we don't mind giving them a "treat" during Christmas. However, we normally don't go over RM50 per toy.

Even though my kids already know what their Christmas gifts are, they are still enthusiastic about it. The big problem now is they can't wait to play with them.

I still like the idea of giving them a surprise, so I find opportunities to get little gifts they don't know about. These are less expensive stuff but things they enjoy and like nonetheless, such as wallets, pencil cases, girly accessories, pocket games etc....

The last few years we've bought candy for their Christmas stockings. This year we are staying clear of candy. They've been having a bit too much these days. Even if we don't buy for them, they will get it from aunties, grandma and grandpa. So, NO CANDIES this year. Instead we are putting stationary like colored pens, erasers, rulers etc....

2 Month Old Baby On The Move

She's only 2 months old and she is already moving around herself. When I'm on the computer, I will put her down on a mattress next to me. I was so surprised the other day when my younger son yelled "mommy, baby on the floor". I looked and there she was, off the mattress. I put her back on and she started kicking herself off again. By the time I got the camera, she was already half way off the mattress.

Even at night when we sleep, I will wake up to find that she's moved from vertical to horizontal position. I guess this is a sign of what I can expect from this baby. Another one to keep me on my toes.

MAMAS PARENTING TIP
Never underestimate what babies can do.

Baby is 2 Months Old

 

This baby is getting big too fast. She's no longer the tiny baby I brought home from the hospital 2 1/2 months ago. I remember when I had my first baby, time seemed to pass by so slowly.  But with this baby, time seems to be flying by like a jet plane.

Baby's last weigh in was at 5.3kg. She's put on 1kg every month. She's not a ferocious eater, unlike her brother kokoD2. Still has a bit of reflux but I believe the condition is improving. She doesn't throw up milk as often. But she does get  painful attacks once in a while. She would be calm as a summer breeze one minute and then suddenly break out into frightening screams. Her face will turn red and she cries until her breath runs out. Thank goodness it doesn't go on for hours. To calm her down I have to carry her upright. I still have the Sleepy Wrap and it's been very helpful. It makes carrying her upright less strenuous and she falls asleep fairly quick when I use it. Sucking on the breast doesn't help when she's feeling uncomfortable. You'd think that "nen-nen" was the answer to everything. Not with this baby. Sometimes I give her the breast, thinking it would help calm her down. What I get is "scolding" from the baby. Yes, this 2 month old baby knows how to "scold". And if I still insist, she bites me. Ouch!

We're still doing our "fart exercises". She enjoys it when we move her legs up to her stomach and down. I  laugh every time she farts coz' she'll give a smile of satisfaction. It's like she's saying "Aaaaah, all is well now."

Even after 3 kids, it's still amazing to me how babies learn. I can see conditioning taking place. For example, when I place her on the changing mat before her bath, she calms down. It's like she knows we are getting ready to bathe, so she just waits there. Also, one night she was a bit fidgety. I tried carrying her to put her to sleep but it wasn't really working. I put her on the mattress next to my computer. She was still fidgety. I then took her to the bedroom and put her on the bed. She fell asleep by herself. She's learned that that particular bed means sleep time. 

Her hair is getting longer and standing up more. Her full head of black hair grabs people's attention wherever we go: restaurants, hawker stalls, the market, shops. The standard comment we get is "wah, she got a lot of hair ah?"

At 2 months, she's started to coo. She likes people to talk to her and now, she kinda talks balk. She's got lots of expression now, unlike last month. No more expression-less face. Her smile brightens everyone's day and can melt away her father's bad mood.

MAMA'S PARENTING TIP:

Babywearing is awesome. To me, investing in a good sling is better than getting a stroller. Most of the time, I see parents pushing the stroller while carrying the baby. The baby stroller ends up like a cart to store bags and stuff. A sling takes up less place. A stroller takes up almost the whole car boot (trunk). Plus, I think when baby keeps sitting in a stroller, they become lazy to walk. I don't know, that is just my opinion.

Chance To Win A Baby Massage Book

Everybody loves a good massage, even baby. Baby massage can soothe a restless baby. It can help baby sleep better. It can be helpful for colicky babies too. There are a lot of benefits to baby massage. Babies strive on human touch.

I found a website that shares some baby massage tips. You have a chance to win a free baby massage book too. Click here (ends 29 Nov 2009)

Here is a brief video on baby massage.



For a list of things you can do to help a colicky baby, click here: How To Stop Baby Crying

Fried Rice Alternative

Got this recipe idea from a friend. It is something like fried rice but you don't have to fry the rice. It has become my DH's special dish. I have him cook it on Sunday for us to take to church. It is a very versatile dish as you can add in different ingredients each time you cook; it's up to your taste buds or whatever you have available in the fridge. My kids love it. They don't like to eat fried rice but they will eat this.

INGREDIENTS:

• Cooked rice
• Chicken nuggets
• Sausages (Americans call it hot dogs)
• Crab sticks
• Mixed vegetables (peas, carrots and corn that you normally find in the frozen section of the supermarkets).  Sometimes instead of using mixed vegetables, I use long beans. You can substitute with other vegetables of your choice.

HOW TO COOK:

• Fry chicken nuggets. Then cut into strips. Put aside.
  
• Cook the sausages. Cut into slices. (Or you can cut them first before frying). Put aside.
  
• Boil the crab sticks until cooked. Cut into smaller bites. Put aside.
• Saute the mixed vegetables with garlic. Add some soy sauce, sugar and chicken stock. Put aside. 
• Now mix all the cooked ingredients above with your cooked rice. Mix it up nice and good. Add more soy sauce and salt to taste.

Easy and good to eat. A Bon Appetit!
For more help in planning family meals, click my affiliate links below.

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How To Make Meal Planning Easier This Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving my fellow American friends! I'm sure you are all looking forward to the lovely dinner and family gathering. Lots of effort is required to make the event an enjoyable one.

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Have a Happy Thanksgiving!


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Teaching Wrong English

Last week was the prize giving event at my children's school. At the end of the school year, they will reward those who:

• achieve top 3 in the class
• achieve top 10 in the whole standard
• top 2 in a certain subject

Anyway, the picture above is a sign written above the school hall: THANKS YOUR TEACHER IF YOU CAN READ THIS.

I was thinking to myself, "Thanks for what? For teaching bad english?" Guess I have to be more diligent in teaching my children at home.

Image by Lance McCord via Flickr

NICE CLOTH DIAPER IS HAVING A CHRISTMAS MEGA SALES!

Purchase up to RM 100 : 10% discount
Purchase up to RM 200 : 15 % discount
Purchase more than RM 300 : 20 % discount

This is good news if you want to purchase some cloth diapers for baby. Other stuff they have available at their site are cloth diaper accessories, cotton menstrual pad, environmental friendly laundry ball, educational flash cards, baby sling and mattress protector.Check it out. Click on my affiliate link now:Nice Cloth Diaper 

Paula Deen's Free Holiday Guide

Image via Wikipedia

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Christmas is not too far away either. I found this free guide by Paula Deen and she shares recipes, tips and things to do for the upcoming holidays. Check out her guide:
Paula Deen’s Holiday Hosting Guide. It's in PDF format.

And how is the Christmas shopping coming along? Click here to get Christmas gifts ideas.

Have You Started Thinking About Christmas?

When do you start getting ready for Christmas? Yes, November is already here and it's time to start thinking about Christmas. If you wait till December, you will stress yourself out rushing to prepare. The 3 things you should start doing now are:

• Get your Christmas list ready - Who do you need to get gifts for? What is your budget? Start brainstorming for Christmas gifts ideas.
  
• Christmas shopping - Start looking around for good deals and offers. If you are going to shop online, you have to start early to allow for delivery time. Also, shop early to avoid disappointment. Certain hot items may sell out fast. 
• Christmas greetings - This is a good time to reconnect with old friends and family. Send them Christmas photo greeting cards. We don't do that here in Malaysia but I wish we did. Maybe I should start the trend. I used to get these unique holiday photo cards from my American friends and thought they were simply beautiful. The family photos made the card personal and special. Definitely better than those generic Christmas cards. So, start snapping pictures of you and your family. Select your best ones and make a Christmas photo greeting card. Easiest way to do this is use an online service like Tiny Prints. Click my affiliate link below to see the many hip card designs at Tiny Prints:
  Tiny Prints 2009 Holiday Cards
  

Jingle Bells everyone!

Free Recipe Booklet For Raisin Fans

I love raisins. And if you do too, you will love this free recipe booklet by Sun-Maid and Gooseberry Patch. Some of the recipes include Raisin Crumb Bars, Oat, Apple & Raisin Muffins, Raisin-Walnut Bars, Fruity Coleslaw and Confetti Snack Mix. Now with the holidays coming, maybe you can try out some of these recipes.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR BOOKLET

Hope you like this discovery of mine today.

p.s. :  If you want to learn more about how to get your kids to eat healthy, click this link to check out my review of Yummy Healthy Tummy.

Elevator or Stairs?

As parents, we are always trying to change our kids behavior for the better. This website called The Fun Theory, believes the easiest way to change people's behavior is to make it fun. This video shows how they use the concept of "fun" to get people to use the staircase more than the elevator. Really cute idea. I would definitely take the stairs!

MAMA'S PARENTING TIP
If your child doesn't like to do homework, study, clean up, eat vegetables or whatever, maybe "fun" is the answer.

Thanksgiving Recipes

Image via Wikipedia

Thanksgiving is not too far away. When I was studying in US, one or two of my friends would take pity on me and  invite me over to their family thanksgiving dinner. What a feast it would be.

 Well, it doesn't matter where you are in the world. If you want to celebrate Thanksgiving, just go ahead. If you need ideas for a scrumptious western meal, click the link below.
THANKSGIVING RECIPES AND VIDEOS

It has Thanksgiving recipes and videos. Not all the videos are free. Some are for members only. Just click on those that are under the "FREE" column. I definitely want to try the Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake and Warm Apple Cobbler. Yeah, I'm a desert nut.

Another cooking resource, if you want to dazzle your family and friends, is this site that offers secret recipes from favorite top restaurants such as Chili's, Applebees, Hard Rock Cafe and Olive Garden. You can cook restaurant food like a pro and leave your guests and family wondering where you learned your skills. Click my affiliate link below to discover America's Secret Recipes.
TOP SECRET RESTAURANT RECIPES

Child Abuser?

Apparently, I've cause an "outrage" among some parents at minti.com regarding how I stop my son from screaming the house down during his "terrible two" sessions. The blog post is here: "Save Me From The Terrible Twos".

Unfortunately, I am unable to find those "outraged" comments. But, I must say that I'm surprised that using a bath dipper to splash my son to cool him off is considered abusive. Is this a cultural misunderstanding? Because I know for sure that non-Asians do not bath this way. They either shower or soak in a bath, but they do not "mandi" with a dipper like we do. Maybe I used the wrong word when I wrote the post. Maybe I should not have used the phrase "Dunk in Water". Probably that gives people the picture of me pushing his head under water or something. To clarify matters, I'm just pouring water over his head.

Anyway, I'm just curious to know how many of you really, really, really think that what I did was abusive. Be honest. I'll try to be humble and if I did wrong, I will repent.

Baby is 6 Weeks Old: Reflux?

Managed to catch her smile. Precious.

I almost have babyK's sleep and wake routine down. She sleeps most of the night and wakes up between 6-7am. She is most alert and wide awake after her evening bath. Her bedtime? You could say she waits for me to go to sleep before she goes to sleep too. It's quite funny really.

I've been wondering if baby is having reflux. She does spit up milk quite a bit. Her sister describes it as "bursting into milk." She hiccups a lot and will sometimes cough when drinking milk, like she's choking. Earlier she had some cranky days. But she seems to be better now. No excessive crying. There's no back arching either. She's not a big drinker. Her feeds are fairly short.

Maybe her case is not so serious. She is growing well. She put on 1 kg in one month.

Went to the doctor for check-up today and I raised some of these concerns to her. Here is a brief rundown of our question-answer session.

Doctor: Does baby poo-poo everyday.

Me: Sometimes she does and sometimes it's once in 2 days.

Doctor: That's not good. Baby must poo-poo everyday.

(Really? I thought it was normal that some babies do "big business" only once every few days.)

Doctor: Does she feed well?

Me: I feed every 2-3 hours but she doesn't drink too long.
(Actually, I don't really keep track of how often I'm feeding baby. I'm feeding on demand. But I think it works out to every 2-3 hours.)

Me: I'm afraid that sometimes she drinks too much, she will vomit more.
Doctor: Oh no, you cannot do like that. If she don't drink, then her stomach will be gassy and she will vomit more.

Doctor's conclusion: My baby not getting enough milk.

My reaction: HUH? NOT ENOUGH MILK?

No lah, I didn't say that to the doctor. That reaction I keep to myself. I think I gave the doctor the wrong impression. She must think that I'm denying my baby of milk because I'm scared that baby will vomit. Actually I'm not. I let her drink as much as she wants and as often as she wants. I don't pull baby away from the breast. Baby is usually the one who decides she has had enough and lets go.

Anyway, I kinda find it hilarious that the doctor said my baby is not drinking enough milk when she is clearly gaining weight and getting chubbier. However, I do hope the "bursting into milk" incidences will get less.