Lil’ Drummer Boy

He was already very much in love with the guitar previously. Whenever he joins me for cell group; he hogs the front seat - the seat right in front of the guitarist. I guess in a way or another, most church-going kids get exposed to these instruments at a real young age.

Of late, he became much obsessed even with drums; and it started because of this…

How not to be when he had the opportunity to play ‘da thing that the big guys play? He was overjoyed by that one experience. :)

Check out a video clip below of his first drumming rendition! He ended it well by saying, ‘No more’!

This 19-month-old can now “sing” a few songs – not in full sentences of course, just mostly the first and last word of each line, but tempo and timing perfect to a T! And... one of his very first songs – the National Anthem! True blue Singaporean indeed.

Shopping; The Easier Way!

Before I enter motherhood, I already took to online shopping. I love it, in fact. Those days, my loots were mainly clothes. No prizes for guessing it right. There would be parcels in the mail every week. The minute I say I gotta check the mailbox, the Husband will know for sure what’s up my sleeves – yeah, anticipating the arrival of my shopping loots.

When I was expecting Aaric, I stopped shopping for clothes for myself (as I couldn’t foretell what I could wear and what I couldn’t). From then till now, my attention took a turn for other stuffs, and I must say, online shopping is not just easier, but many a times, more economical!

Some of the stuffs I vividly remember:

- Got a Safety-1st bathtub (with netting) for $5

- A never-used before breastpump at a discounted price like $150++

- A large bumper playmat for $120 (local retail stores - selling at $200+)

- Thermos foogo food jar for $26 from Amazon (local retail stores - selling between $35 – 50)

- Beco carrier for $180 (local retail stores - selling at $250+)

Big items aside, for the smaller, daily necessities kind-of-items:

- Gaia products for almost 50% cheaper than local retail stores; or a good 40% at least (!!!)

- Multi-vitamins (I bought a jumbo bottle for $38; local retail stores are selling at $55)

I was out shopping with the Husband on Sunday and saw a so-called promotion for ‘Really Raw Honey’ (something which I’ve been wanting to get but kept forgetting) at $22 for 223g – a really small bottle of honey. The salesgirl went on to say why getting the big 5 lbs jar is more worth it – $131.

OMGoodness, I knew I can get a better deal.

So, I turned to my online means that very night. And… bought my jar of ‘Really Raw Honey’ at only $15.85 for 1 lb (453g). Do the math and know which is really more worth it.

Now, tell me how not to love online-shopping? ;)

Dessert Time: Mango Float

Well, I was surfing the usual food blogs and chanced upon this yummy dessert. Caught my eye almost immediately since it’s a non-baked one and the ingredients needed are kinda easy to get off the shelves in the supermart.

Posted this on my Instagram…

You get the idea, layers of mangoes, cream, crust and freeze it overnight! Tadah, you’ll get this!

So now, here’s how to go about doing it.

What you will need:

- 2 mixing bowls

- 1 medium-sized square baking tin / or other substitutes (will elaborate on this later on, refer to side note)

Ingredients:

- 4 mangoes (ripe ones, please!)

- 1 packet of cream crackers / skyflakes / graham crackers (brand used: good ol’ Hup Seng)

- 1 can of condensed milk (brand used: Milkmaid)

- 200ml whipping cream

- 1 can of Nestle cream (found in baking section in supermarts)

- 1 bottle of thickened cream (brand used: Bulla)

1. Diced / sliced the mangoes; set it aside.

2. Whip the whipping cream till thick and frothy in a mixing bowl.

(I didn’t get the desired texture, but still went well…)

3. In another mixing bowl, pour in the condensed milk, thickened cream and Nestle cream. Mix well.

4. Combine the 2 mixture and mix well.

And now, layering starts!

1. Lay the cream crackers in the square tin as a base.

2. Put in the mangoes. I put a lot till it covers the entire layer.

3. Add the cream mixture you’ve prepared till mangoes are well-drizzled with the mixture.

4. Repeat the layering steps 1 – 3 till the you reach the top of the tin.

5. Cover with foil and freeze it overnight. (freezer compartment, ok?)

I managed a total of 3 layers.

Note:

Do not worry if your mixture feels a little ‘runny’.

The cream crackers may ‘soak up’ the mixture. Everything will be a-ok when you freeze it.

Side Note:

If you are sharing this with your family and friends, and can finish it in 1 setting, fantastic! Just defrost it 30 minutes before you wanna serve, so that it’s easy to slice it.

If not, you may wish to use smaller containers / tins when preparing it for freezing. Just defrost one and it’s ready for consumption.

The slicing-and-taking-that-one-slice out of the tin is challenging.

Didn’t managed any step-by-step pictures as it's my first time trying this out and the above picture doesn't give full credit to the taste!

But nonetheless, try this yourself and have fun in your kitchen!