Home-sick for Chicken Rice !

Woo hoo !! Check out my home cooked version of Chicken Rice !!! Not bad eh.....

But of course, couldn't do it without the help of this pre-mix ! But oh well, beggars can't be choosers :)

Nothing much on today. Girls had a largely quiet day indoors playing their pretend games. Seemingly, their pretend play sessions do get quite elaborate - carnival stores, play school, acrobats class, dance lessons, mandarin classes and all sorts ! Of cos' these are always interspersed with lots of squabbles in between, while i just eavesdrop and grin. It's nice to be young and carefree :)

While i... need to sort out my culinary skills so i can function more effectively as homemaker and teacher ! Picked up a cooking mag specialising in Slow-Cooker, casseroles and soup recipes today... heh.. gonna be my bible for a bit :P

Fun in the Sun !

A sunny warm day finally, we decided to hit the outdoors. The beach near us was just an immense span of unmeasurable powdery silver sands (i never realised this phrase to describe beaches actually existed until i walked on them today). With seagulls lurking nearby and SeaHawks (erm... that's the helicopter you see..) flying overhead it was an interesting mesh of the real world and the tranquil.

Living so close to an operational naval base with the sounds of whirring copters, frigate calls, and 'rounds' fired (during drills) almost second nature now, after 3 days here, just serves to remind me how real-life the US navy's work is and how dangerous the world can actually be to demand such intense training and operations.

Took the girls to the playground near our home yesterday. On the background you see the San Diego bridge which links us back to the main city. Guess their faces say it all :P

Hope all's well at home. I want Chicken Rice ! aarggghh...

So jetlagged !

Harro Harro !!

am still sooooo jetlagged. By noon i'm literally falling off my chair ! Today was the worst - i actually caught myself standing in front of the stove while preparing lunch, and waiting for the soup to boil and i was nodding off !!! hahaha !

Yea - have started to settle in and christianed my kitchen with some simple home cooked food. And amazingly EVERYTHING is available here !! There's a chinese supermarket, and i hear even a Jap one. There's even DAISO which i certainly plan on visiting... soon ! So all the Lee Kum Kee sauces and even packet Hainanese Chicken Rice mix is available ! Of cos' all at a price - but then, at least cravings can be satisfied.

House is still very bare but comfortable enough - and girls are just lapping up the experience. Today, I became the proud member of the Public Library too and gosh, you all must hear this.

There is NO LIMIT on the number of books you can borrow !! And R was like .."even up to a hundred, mommy ?" AND the range is just AMAZING ! The girls of cos' had a swell swell time. C couldn't even get past the 'B' shelf cos' there was just so many she wanted to get ! AND DVDs were just 50cents for a week - so really quite spoilt we're gonna be ;p Looks like that's going to be our regular haunt - well, that is once i'm confident enough to start driving !

Well just to show you some shots of how we are living - here's my spartan home.... kids' room is the nicest ;P And we actually have a real live fireplace which is at the moment indispensable cos' still freezing cold in mornings and evenings !

(the 'lame' sofa - in R's words, which we haven't yet got a cover for ;P )the kids' room - which is the nicest part of the entire house - courtesy of hubby's efforts ;P , and their linking vanity and ensuite bathroom.

Hello from San Diego !

It's 10.40pm here on Sunday night (already 1.40pm the next day for Singapore) and the girls are in bed, leaving me finally some respite ! So glad that i'm no single parent any more, and the girls seemed to suddenly remember they had daddy and kept asking for him all the way in the plane ride ! They were really quite well behaved on the flight, i must give due credit, eating and sleeping when they should, and discounting minor winching, were perfect little angels. Even nearby passengers stopped to smile and talk to them commenting on how independent they were. I'm pleased, but no less haressed !! As i struggled with my 3 carry on bags, 2 kids and 6 - 23kg each- luggages, and made my way out of Los Angeles Airport. I am soo sooo sooooooo never doing this alone AGAIN. As a friend had put it - what the hell was i thinking ??!!!

But look at these cheerful faces --- awwww -- made it all worthwhile i suppose.

After driving for 2 hours we finally reached our 'home' :) Lots to do to add the woman's touch and embellish the mundane practicality of a man's ;P but guess i'll have to remind myself to be patient and take my time. Weather was cool - cold really when the wind blew, at about 18 degrees, but nonetheless very pleasant though jackets were a must. Little C didn't even mind the windswept hair all over the face, and i guess it's only when you experience it that you realise just how much difference weather makes in just uplifting your spirits ;)

The promenade you see alongside the waters is just by the development we live in - so yes, we are certainly pampered by the view of San Diego city in the background. Walking to the row of promenade restaurants, we had a 'simple' pizza dinner (but still costing us 50bucks total - sigh... am sooo going to miss hawker centers) and then headed home to settle down.

Am totally pooped having not slept for 36hrs straight. So nightie night ! Gotta get some admin stuff settled - passes etc - tomorrow, and then woohooooo outlet shopping, here i come !!!!! hee hee !!!

Luv
L

goodbye - for now !

It's finally quiet and the girls are asleep after an exhilarating cap to R's maiden 2-night dance performance at Victoria Theatre. Guess we are all set to begin our new adventure tomorrow !

This past month has just been crazy and totally memorable to say the least. I've had to tough it out, and learn to plan, balance, juggle like i've never before. There's been much tears, frustration, anger and anxiety, yet, i'm happy to have lived through the process and cherish the memories - the good and the ugly ;P.

All of you, my dear dear friends, sisters and family - thank you. You can't imagine the role you have played in keeping me afloat. I really would have been in pieces if not for your constant support, reassurances, and company to keep me sane, happy and going :P

This past month, I've been simply overwhelmed and touched by your generosity and love. Thank you so much for all the thoughtful presents, love and and well wishes that you have showered on us. We are indeed so blessed and fortunate to have all of you in our lives. R and C are gonna miss their friends so so much. This is my constant nagging guilt at the moment - that i've wrenched them away to be 24hrs cooped up with me !!! poor things - yeeeks !!!

I'm soooo sad to have to miss out on the milestones happening here too - the new babies, the new homes, and all the 'gossip' !! Cannot leave me out just because i'm physically not here ya ! Must send lots of pix and make sure you keep me virtually posted and in the loop on everything !!! I will certainly do my part to update my blog as often as i can so do drop me comments or email me often k ? Sigh... i'm soo gonna miss you all.

Honestly, this virtual channel may be my only other prime pillar of emotional support to keep my sanity intact - the other being those outlet malls 20mins away from my new home (heh ! Heh !!!). So keep those shopping lists coming ya ... donch pai se - i'll be quite happy to be your personal shopper !

So til' you hear from me from American shores.... take care and love you all !

Hugs
L

Apron Strings March 09 Kit

My first DT work for Apron Strings Designs !! The Apron Strings Mar Kit features Basic Grey's Eva line and Cosmo Cricket's Mr Campy and it is such a lot of fun to play with ! - totally spoilt we are on the DT !

Check out the LOs i created ;P
This is gonna be a pix-loaded post ...

"Give Me Patience"

"Gorgeous"

"Golf Champ"
"All that Matters"

"Sweet Adorable You"

"Two Generations - Sisters"

"Happy Lil' Chums on a Road Trip"

"Where the Wild Things Are"

Would love to hear your comments ! Thanks for dropping by !!

a big move... soon...

Hey Everyone !

I've finally come out from my hole !! LOL !

It's official - we are moving to California in a few weeks and counting down !!
All i've done the last 2 weeks is sort, pack, cry and pack some more !! Yikes !! And all the logistical heartwrenching stuff of informing the schools, talking to teachers, looking for a rental place in the US, and dealing with our 'assets' here ;P I'm already emotionally and physically sapped.

The kids are excited and not at the same time. And it's just so tough pulling them away from their cozy nest, and i feel guilty all the time. Had decided to home-school the girls too while we are there, and in the midst of my anxieties, am beginning to feel quite sorry for them that they'd be stuck with me 24/7 - Seriously, how can i compare with their professionally trained teachers and quirky ultra cute peers ??!!

I'm trying to keep my spirits up, and my friends (u know who u are ;P) have just been wonderful and so supportive as i vascillate between hyper-anxiety, stress, sadness and cold feet as i'm so going to miss everyone ever so much. But guess i must set a good example for the girls and embrace change ! So shall be positive and SMILE ! Guess it's hard for my friends too putting on a smile knowing we are parting soon... but oh well, we'll be back and right in your face! Make sure you keep me updated on what's going on in your life too and COMMENT, not just stalk my blog !! Really that's going to be what's gonna keep me sane, well, at least til i find my footing and hopefully make some new friends ;p

To my overseas pals - woohoo ! Finally, the same time zone soon ! And i can actually participate in crops and chats and more sane hours :)

More updates and hopefully some scrapping soon...