FOTD #19

Cheeks in MAC - Tenderling

Lips in Sugar Berry

End Result

Dreamy C

Food...

J & I went to JB last month.

Nasi Istimewa

J said it's nice. I'm beginning to think that ALL fried rice is nice to him. >.<

My Ayam Penyat

It's Bleh... Chicken's dry like nobody's business. Disappointing!

The following photos are taken from a visit to Fish Head Steamboat Keng @ Balestier Road.

Nice

Bitter Gourd with Black Beans

SpongeBob SquarePants ordered this and it turned out well!

I ordered this - Xia Jiang Ji (Prawn Paste Chicken)

Frankly speaking, this is by far THE BEST prawn paste chicken I've tasted!

It taste so good, it haunt my mind for the next few days.

Today, J & I went to Au Petit Salut to celebrate his b'day!

Duck Foie Gras

Nice. I like it.

J & I each chose this as our appetizer.

I forgo my Escargot as it's still served on a bone marrow. Not my kind of thing.

His Main - Lamb Shoulder

The lamb is tender. He likes it.

Me? I'm not a lamb lover. The only lamb I like is Mutton Rendang!

My Main - Bavette Beef

I had this few months back. This time round, the beef is slightly on the salty side.

J & I chose the same dessert!

Farm House cheese and Walnut Bread

If you like cheese, you'll like this. If not, you won't. 

Me? I like my cheese and so I like this.

Feeling full now. I ate all these food @ Au Petit Salut with a glass of Chablis, Year 2010. Good white wine. Full and happy. Where's my bed?

Dreamy C

From Me to You, Lil' One

My cousin's pregnant and the minute I got the news, I went straight to my Art Table. Ha ha... Yes, that study table at home is now officially my Art Table. J laughed whenever I refer that as my Art Table. He said just me saying it makes his heart warm and fuzzy inside. *goosebumps*

Back to my cousin. I don't know the gender but nonetheless, I sat my butt down and made a little card.

I'm going to attach a couple of magnets behind it so she can place this card on the fridge. She can paste her baby's photo in the center of the card.

Look carefully. The border is a load of baby prams!

Dreamy C

28th March 2013

This day marks the day of my beloved Mommy! I'm a good daughter but a forgetful one. I remember her big day every year but this. I bought a cake from Swensen's at the last minute.

Yes, that's my Mom for you, carrying Horlick in her arms.

Horlick? Looking straight at the cake. Ha ha...

Dreamy C

A Public Holiday

Yay!!! A public holiday in Singapore tomorrow! That means I've an entire day to making cards! My church came back with the selection of cards for Christmas this year. You see, I've decided to make cards for the church to sell and the proceeds will go to the church. They want to sell it in a pack of 5 x cards and at $10 per pack. I intend to make at least 20 x packs which comes up to 100 cards in all.

It shall be Labour cum Card Making Day for me tomorrow!

How would YOU be spending YOUR holiday?

Dreamy C

A New Find

Ok not really that new anymore. I found out the meaning behind New Year Day. Yes, there's a meaning behind it like all other festivals.

Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day and on the 8th day, he was circumcised. Counting from Christmas Day (incl. Christmas Day itself), the 8th day would be New Year Day!

True or not, I leave it to you. I heard about this through our Dean in the church I'm attending.

Have a Blessed Day!

Dreamy C

Broken City

J & I went to Vivocity today for movie - Broken City. We went to our usual joint for lunch. Food's good. I had too much as a matter of fact.

Let's carry on with the movie. Broken City's actors are Russell Crowe, Mark Wahlberg and Catherine Zeta-Jones. I hope I got their names right. Pardon me otherwise. The lady still look good for a 44-year old. Not much opportunities for her acting skills here. I do like her very much in Chicago.

My verdict? It's not that bad but not fantastic. I would much prefer Django Unchained to Broken City. Not enough action going on and no suspense. If this were to be reflected on a beeper machine, it would be a straight line with no excitement. With these well known actors, acting is no compromise and it is not bad. Story line isn't impact-ful enough. I had higher hopes initially.

This is not the kind of movie which makes me want to buy the DVD even though I've watched it in the movie theater. Talking about movie, I've yet to utilize the Complimentary tickets from Golden Village and it's expiring end of this month. I shall put it into good use come Saturday. Perhaps 'The Place Beyond the Pines'? There's Eva Mendes, Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper. Let's see...

Dreamy C

The 1-Page Cards...

Mother's day is approaching. What better excuse to make some cards for Mother's Day? ^^ I did managed to squeeze in a couple of non-related cards though. Take a look!

#

I do apologise for my working paper (also in orange) at the back.

#

I made all these cards recently except for those marked with a #. I've been working hard. I think I'm making good progress and I've managed to indicate the website of my blog on the cards. I hope for good business. ^^ At least I can clear some stock and proceed to make more cards. I don't wish to carry on making cards and have them pile up. 

Dreamy C

Feeling the Urge & So I Stayed Up Late...

At this hour, I'm usually asleep. I told J that I felt like creating some cards and so here I am!

A Peter Rabbit B'day Card

A Benjamin Bunny B'day Card

A Cupcake Card

I did some dry embossing of the cupcake. Not sure if you can see it.

Every handmade card takes time no matter how simple it looks. Time taken to think of the design followed by colors then the work itself. Seeing it all done up makes me happy, no matter how much time and effort taken to complete the card. 

I've no choice but to sell the cards at the end of the day. Even if I have a big circle of friends, which I don't in real life, I can't possibly be sending cards everyday. My close friends are not beyond number 5. Pathetic? I doubt it. One doesn't need many friends. A few close ones will do just fine. 

My other blog address is d-c-store.blogspot.com. Most likely, I'll post the photos of my cards in both blog but just in case you missed any, you can always see the complete collection in the new blog i.e. d-c-store.blogspot.com. Why D C? I'm sure you've by now figured that it stands for Dreamy C. Heh heh...

Till next time, this is...

Dreamy C

A 'Just Thinking Of You' Card

Main Page

Inside

Dreamy C

Bellabox - April 2013

Yes, yes, it's that time of the month again. NOT the red but pink! ^^

Recipe for Chocolate Souffle

BFF! Try it!

I never believe in slimming tea. In fact, I detest them. 

I've not tried them but The Granny has and I don't like what it does to her health. 

What this says on the card is that it helps regulate digestion, stop extra water retention, help overall circulation and provide major detox benefits. 

They can be drunk hot or cold and it's made from 100% French herbs.

You know what? I don't care what it claims to do. In the bin it goes!

Ah... Finally I managed to get my hands on this 'famous' thing. 

It claims to be comfortable, doesn't pinch, dig or pull out your hair and don't leave unsightly bumps.

Con? I've short hair so I guess this goes out to BFF. ^^

SaSa Hand Cream

It contains shea butter. Frankly speaking, I've tons of hand cream and I'm thinking of giving this away. BFF?

Bioderma Atoderm Shower Gel

The card says that it's ideal for dry and sensitive skin. It's suitable for kiddies. 

The Granny has been complaining of having skin irritation. I'm not sure if I want to let her try this. 

The other time when I got a shower gel which is so mild and famous for people with sensitive skin, 

she complained and gave it back to me.

The Skin Pharmacy Collagen Building Serum

Hmmm... BFF?

NUXE Creme Fraiche De Beaute Cream

Another cream! *horror*

Vouchers again...

Another month of Bah...

Dreamy C

Something Special for the Little Fella...

Who's the little kiddo? My 3 years plus Ginger White feline who was rescued from Kaki Bukit Industrial area.

I got him some tidbits, LOADS in fact. His Granny complained that it's too hard for him. She said he don't even bite them and that he swallowed them whole. I almost want to faint on the spot. So hard up for tidbits meh? Didn't I treat you well enough? There's no shortage of tidbits for this little fella.

I went to Pet Lovers Centre for an exchange. I thought I'll exchange it for the usual crab and prawn strips that Ah Lick likes so much and in a way, wouldn't spend as much on tidbits for him. Mind you, I spend more than $50 each month on tidbits alone. This Ah Lick... Tsk tsk tsk...

Then, my eyes did me no good. I saw something which seemed delicious from the package.

Beef & Blueberry Delight

Finally! Ah Lick can have some 'steak'!

NZ Wild Fish

Honestly, I only got this for him to try. Doesn't sound fascinating so I only got 1 packet. 

The rest, I got 2 packets each.

NZ Manuka Glazed Lamb

Wah... Even the human doesn't get to eat such stuff often...

NZ King Salmon

This is no biggie but since Ah Lick's a Salmon Lover, I don't mind getting extras.

I'm going to hand them to the Granny this Saturday and see which are his favourites. Total of 6 packets cost me 63 bucks by the way. This is after deducting the hard tidbits I brought for exchange. The hard tidbits cost close to 8 bucks so technically speaking, these 6 packets of tidbits would have cost me 71 bucks.

Now let me go take a breather... Don't judge me now. I LOVE my Ah Lick!

Dreamy C

12 Cupcakes

It's my 1st time. You can say it's my virgin visit to Twelve Cupcakes yesterday evening. I know, I know... they've been around for a couple of years and you probably have tried most if not all of their flavors. Well, there's always the 1st time. Opened by Jamie Teo and Daniel Ong. 1 a Ms. Singapore in the 90's I think and the other, a radio DJ. Husband and wife with a young daughter. I was both shocked and delighted when I saw their shop in lo and behold, Bishan Junction 8! Price is pretty steep for a cupcake. I got the trio set for 9 bucks, giving me $3 for each cupcake. What's the hype about? I try...

From Left to Right

Oreo, Red Velvet and 'I can no longer remember the name'

I've tried the Oreo and Red Velvet. I had them for breakfast this morning. The Red Velvet is not bad but not something which makes me go - WOW! The Oreo is shit... I can't taste no oreo except for the pathetic piece of cookie. All I taste is sugar. Yukes! I shall try the chocolate one tomorrow. Not pinning my hopes high... Perhaps you've fared better ones. Do tell me which flavors are good!

A piece of information: These 3 cupcakes are supposed to be their best sellers. I wonder why...

Dreamy C

Pondering

I'm just wondering... What are stay home Mommies busy with? Perhaps when their kid(s) are still young, they are busy with educating them not just academically but also building their foundation, setting their character right etc. It's a never ending job in my opinion. Stay home Mommies are on call, within reach, 24/7. That's a tough job. I'd rather work for people and go home after work and relax. That is IF I don't have any kid. Well, technically speaking, I'm doing that now. Would I want a kid? Honestly, I've mixed feelings.

I want a kid so I've a companion when I get older but I wonder if my child (who will be an adult by then) will spend time with me when I'm old and frail. Most youngsters don't even want to go out with their parents during the weekends in their teens. When they grow up to be young adults, they have friends, gaming, entertainment, partner etc. to attend to. Who cares for the Mommy at home??? My child might even kick me out of the house or try to bullshit me with my money. Very depressing...

I guess having a kid is a joy but is that joy everlasting? No. At the end of the day, I'll most probably end up alone with or without kid. I'm not all optimistic when it comes to having kids yet at the same time, there's a desire within me. I guess it's my womanhood acting up when one reaches a certain age. It's now or never so why not give it a gamble? If it all turns out good, brilliant for me! If it turns out otherwise, can one bear enough courage to pack and leave their child behind? I mean, when your child (now an adult) comes to you saying, "Mommy, I made a girl pregnant and you've to help me as I've barely any savings for myself let alone raising a family. That means, we have to stay with you, not give you rent and you've to help care for our baby and you've to provide accommodation and food for us." Well, the wordings might change but I'm sure you get my drift. By then, I'm just done raising up my child to be a working adult and now, I'm laid with another burden - raising up my grandchild.

Not to forget, all the sacrifices women make for their kids even before they're born! The body change, breasts start to sag, face sag, hair loss, extra tummy bulge, bigger waistline, bigger butt, pain, agony, weird cravings, vomit, huge weight to be carried around for months, cramps, frequent toilet visits, bigger nipples etc. Bearing a kid? HUGE sacrifice!!! All the kiddos out there, APPRECIATE YOUR MOMMIES MORE THAN YOUR DADDIES!!! I'm serious!

Alright... enough scaring you. Ha ha... To all the women who are preggy now, CONGRATS! I've a few preggy women now and I'm very, very happy for them. Me? Preggy? I leave it to God. I'm done being hopeful every month only to be dampened and feeling disappointed and sorry for myself. Yes, despite all the negatives, I still would like a kid of my own but if it ain't coming in my life, I'm be alright.

Dreamy C

The Emperor Penguin

Little one, today we're going to talk about the Emperor Penguin. Let's begin...

1. Emperor penguins are the largest penguins, standing about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall.
2. These flightless animals live on the Antarctic ice and in the frigid surrounding waters.
3. Penguins employ physiological adaptations and cooperative behaviors in order to deal with an incredibly harsh environment, where wind chills can reach -76°F (-60°C).
4. They huddle together to escape wind and conserve warmth.Individuals take turns moving to the group's protected and relatively toasty interior.Once a penguin has warmed a bit it will move to the perimeter of the group so that others can enjoy protection from the icy elements. 
5. Emperor penguins spend the long winter on the open ice—and even breed during this harsh season.They have small bills and flippers, which helps to conserve heat, and special nasal chambers that minimize the heat normally emitted through exhalation.
   Because their arteries and veins are situated close together, emperor penguins have the ability to recycle their own body heat.
   With this system, blood is cooled down on the way to the penguins’ extremities and warmed up on the way back to the heart.
6. Females lay a single egg and then promptly leave it behind.They undertake an extended hunting trip that lasts some two months!Depending on the extent of the ice pack, females may need to travel some 50 miles (80 kilometers) just to reach the open ocean, where they will feed on fish, squid, and krill. What's a krill?

1. At sea, emperor penguins can dive to 1,850 feet (565 meters)—deeper than any other bird—and stay under for more than 20 minutes.
2. Male emperors keep the newly laid eggs warm, but they do not sit on them, as many other birds do.Males stand and protect their eggs from the elements by balancing them on their feet and covering them with feathered skin known as a brood pouch.During this two-month bout of babysitting the males eat nothing and are at the mercy of the Antarctic elements.
3. When female penguins return to the breeding site, they bring a belly full of food that they regurgitate for the newly hatched chicks.Meanwhile, their duty done, male emperors take to the sea in search of food for themselves.
4. Mothers care for their young chicks and protect them with the warmth of their own brood pouches.
5. Outside of this warm cocoon, a chick could die in just a few minutes.
6. In December, Antarctic summer, the pack ice begins to break up and open water appears near the breeding site, just as young emperor penguins are ready to swim and fish on their own.
7. Emperor penguins are also specially adapted to traveling in this extreme habitat.
   On the ice masses, they use strong claws on their feet to help grip the surface as they shuffle along. They also slide on their sleek bellies while pushing with their feet.
   
   
   
   Life Cycle of the Emperor Penguin
   
   
   
   
   Every winter (which begins in March in Antarctica), emperor penguins traverse up 80 km (50 mi.) across the ice to reach stable breeding grounds.
   Males arrive shortly before females, ready to attract a mate with displays and courtship calls.
   Emperor penguins are monogamous during each breeding season, choosing only one mate.
   Most will find a new mate the next year, but some pairs choose to reform a bond again.
   Once the egg is hatched, in May or June, the female will pass the egg to the male to incubate.
   She will make the long voyage back to the sea to feed on krill, squid, and fish.
   
   
   As there are no nesting supplies available on the ice mass, emperor penguins must create a safe, warm environment for the eggs using their own bodies.
   Careful to keep the egg sheltered, the male will balance the egg on his feet and cover it with a warm layer of feathered skin called a brood pouch.
   
   
   In the next couple months, the male emperor penguins must cope with the worst weather conditions on earth, all the while eating nothing.
   To withstand the harsh winds and blizzards, the penguins huddle together in groups. They take turns moving towards the inside of the pack, where it is warmer, thereby sustaining the entire group.
   
   
   Once the females arrive back at the colony, they regurgitate food for the hatchings to eat.
   At this time, the males can finally return to sea to fish, and the females will continue care for the chicks. After a few months, the juveniles leave the shelter of their mothers’ brood pouches and stay in chick groups called crèches.
   This allows the females to go fish.
   
   
   In December, the weather warms in Antarctica, breaking up the outer ice and bringing the sea closer to the nesting sites.
   When the young penguins reach the water, they are nearly done with their moult, and they’re ready to swim and fish on their own.
   Adult penguins begin their yearly moult once separated from their offspring.
   They store up body fat beforehand because it takes a lot of energy to replace all their feathers, and they are unable to fish because they lack waterproof protection.
   By January, the new plumage has grown in, and the hungry penguins take to the waters in groups to forage for the summer.
   
   
   Although emperor penguins are effective hunters, they are also prey to a few Antarctic animals as well. Only a third of the juvenile penguins will make it to their first birthday, falling prey to seabirds like giant petrels or skuas. In the water, both juveniles and adults are eaten by leopard seals and killer whales.
   
   
   Emperor penguins never developed a fear of humans due to Antarctic isolation.
   
   
   
   
   What You Can Do to Help 
   If you would like to help emperor penguins, you can reduce carbon emissions which lead to global warming. Some measures include walking, biking or taking public transportation instead of driving, using energy saver appliances and light bulbs, buying locally grown produce, reducing your consumption of manufactured goods and packaging, recycling, and more. 
   
   
   Click on this link. It's interesting. Towards the end, it shows how penguins leap out of sea to the edge of the ice. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Emperor_Penguin#p00dhllc
   
   
   
   A Chick
   
   
   
   Chick with Mother
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   I hope you've enjoyed this read on the Emperor Penguin little one. Let Aunty C take a rest now. Till next time...
   
   
   Dreamy C