久的不去，新的不来。。。

^^It means: If you don't get rid of the old, the new will not arrive.

I think being a stepford wife has made me quite bored shitless, especially after Mountain Boy sleeps. After 730pm, ebay, taobao, and The Purse Forum are my regular companions. I have now sold 3 bags on ebay and bought 2 items at great discounts!

So without further ado, here it is. I present the third member of my Chanel family, the Beige Vintage Medium Flap.

It's not the usual flap u see people carry. And I somehow love Chanel Vintage more than the new bags. The less polished hardware gives it a classic and edgy feel that i think is quite ME. I can also knock it around without fearing too much "damage".

Like it?

Excuses are for the weak

At the start of this entry, i wrote a very long illustrious demeaning entry on China Post, but i deleted everything cos it got to convoluted and too long. My point is actually short and sweet.

I know i complain a whole lot, but bad service really tops my Pet Peeves chart. I've had a package mis-delivered from USA and it took me close to 3 days to investigate before finally retrieving it, no thanks to the wonderfully dumb staff of China Post.

They are really not stupid, just really lazy to use their brains most of the time. Because i was so upset with the whole process, i lodged a complaint and the icing on the cake was that i also want to complain about the complaint officer. He made nothing but excuses- system limitations, US counterparts made a mistake etc etc. All BS. I told him bluntly that "excuses are for the weak, China can never improve by making excuses." And it's true. Excuses are made when you don't want to change, when you fear consequences. China obviously still has a long way to go...

Through 8 month...

Mountain boy is really turning out to be quite a rascal at home. Climb here and there, knock himself silly all over the place. He'll use anything he can get his foot on as a stepping stone and he'll not care if it's ur face! He hates his own toys and would rather play with an empty water bottle or a cardboard paper. He does the 100m dash when he sees something he likes (like slippers or camera) and we sometimes can't outrun him!

After dinner, he would crawl voluntarily to the bathroom when he hears the water running. It started with him just sitting there and watching his bath tub get filled up, he then progressed to testing the water by dipping his fingers in the tub, the last few days he decided to put his hand under the strong gushing tap and water would spray all over his face choking him. It's just funny to watch.

AND, he is finally teething! Just one tooth but better than nothing.

Mountain Boy also knows who he can "bully" and "manipulate". The nanny claims that he whines more when i'm at home. He will cry at the smallest thing and wait for my reaction. I don't even know what i did, i never condoned this behaviour at all! I usually just watch him cry and try not to rush to his aid unless i know it's really really painful.

Anyway this evening i made a huge mistake of THINKING that i can leave him on the sofa bed for just 1 second to throw the sleeping bag on the bed. Literally 1 second later i turned around and he was already on the floor. I didn't see the fall but given the position i left him and how he landed, i can't even imagine how it happened. Bad mommie, but I'm glad Mountain boy won't know it's my fault till he's much older. And he is fine, i think.

Here's some pics of him today. His apple cheeks so cute!!!

Can u see a bruise on my left cheek?

The Stepford Wife: Couture Cake

I tried baking my own birthday cake when i was 15. I got as far as buying the ingredients before quitting and deciding that i'll never be able to bake my own cake.

I proved myself wrong today. A friend presented me with the opportunity to join a baking class at The Fig Tree. After having watched Julie and Julia last month, I was enticed by the idea of a culinary school like the Cordon Bleu.

Anyway the cake of the day: Blackforest. Perfect. It ranks second to cheesecake in my books.

The kitchen is well-stocked with the best ingredients and baking utensils, from different sizes spatulas (which apparently makes a difference) to different qualities of whiskers (which apparently also makes a difference).

We were not allowed to use mixers for this exercise, so everything was hand-whisked.

Check this out, the oven is as tall as me.

Lesson number 1: Use the best ingredients available. The key to a delicious Blackforest Cake- Griottines Cherry. Essentially high quality cherries soaked in alcohol.

Lesson Number 2: Always use a baking tray versus a rack because it evens out the heat distribution.

There are many more lessons learnt but it's too many and too long. So let's just get to the good part. TADA! the "sponge cake"! It's actually very hard and dry at this point so we had to make a syrup to drench the cake.

This was the most fun part. The cream and the decoration.

I think we have a winner.

My very first successful Blackforest cake. "U are pretty, oh so pretty...."

This was the head chef's cake. Its overly sweet but dont tell her that. For our cake, we reduced the sugar and amped up the kirch alcohol so it was divine. The BEST Blackforest cake i've ever had.
An additional icing on the cake, today's lesson was photographed by a lifestyle magazine in Chang Chun. So I am going to be famous in Chang Chun!

PS: I've started a new label for the blog called "The Stepford Wife" to mark events related to being a stay-home mom.

Chinese cows

Recent conversation with the nanny.

Nanny: Mer..... (while playing with mountain boy)

Me: What's "mer"?

Nanny: That's the sound the cows make.

Me: Issit? Don't they go "moooo"?

Nanny: that's how the china cows do it.

Me: Uhm....

Another conversation on a different day.

Nanny: ker ker ker... (While pointing at the rooster)

Me: The english rosters go "cockadoodledoo....."

Nanny: really? they do that? u mean the ones in ur country make that sound?

Me: Errr.... YAaaaahhh......

Commune by the Great Wall

Over the weekend, i took Mountain Boy on a road trip to Commune By the Great Wall, a restaurant/resort hotel about 1.5 hrs away from Beijing. I was abit apprehensive about the long drive and me being alone because Mountain Man went on business trip, but it really turned out better than i expected. The resort was really beautiful and secluded, perfect for a quick family getaway. The food is decent and relatively reasonable.

This is a view of the cafe we went to.

This is Mountain Boy's future wife and mother-in-law.

James the Engine being left behind by the bigger boys...

Picture with mama.

Evil-bay

Pardon my long long long absence. I've recently discovered ebay so the blog has been kinda neglected. It's very addictive and destressing, especially when i'm all alone after Mountain boy sleeps. I'm buying, i'm selling, i'm hunting for good bargains. It's more thrilling than the usual shopping cos there is a bidding element. It's all about the timing. Don't bother about creating bidding wars and driving up the price, just get a fast internet connection and bid at the final 5 seconds.

Anyway, stay tuned for my first ebay win! It's a good one i promise.

PS: I've also sold an old bag at a profit, so i love love love ebay.

My "Playboy"

Mountain boy is beginning to appreciate his playtime more and more. I've started bringing him to montessori playgroups and indoor/outdoor playgrounds just so he can soak in the experience. It's evident that he enjoys being amongst other kids. He is always happy to follow the teachers' actions and is quite game to try everything that is age appropriate.

Before you start calling me a kiasu parent, i must say that all these activities are purely for play. It doesn't give him any head start or anything, it's just a good way to while away time and improve mother/child bonding. On top of that, i get to meet other mothers with children around the same age so it's great for me.

Today we attended a photoshoot by Kindermusik, they needed baby models for an upcoming promotion and Mountain boy really had a blast! He was the youngest (and the only pure chinese boy) but he didn't disappoint. He played along with the older kids and the photographer actually took quite alot of pictures of him! I shamelessly say that i hope they use his pictures so i can feel yaya (arrogant).

Anyway, until those pictures come out, here's some we took ourselves at the playground next to our place. Not bad also...

Letter to Mountain Boy: Happy 8 months...

Dear Mountain Boy,

Can't believe you are 8 months already!! Time really flies. Do you know that you are exactly how i imagined you to be? You are cheerful, playful and very fun-loving. On top of that you are also quite problem free- u eat and sleep relatively well, and developmentally you are normal if not slightly quicker in some aspects. I really have God to thank for giving me such a wonderful son.

Since becoming a crawler, you have become a lot more independent and you show no signs of separation anxiety. But i know you still love me because you will always crawl back and snuggle up.

Today you've attended your first baby gym class and you did exceptionally well. One of the baby girls was actually very forthcoming and wanted to hug you but you rejected her outright. Instead you crawled to another girl across the room who had long curly hair. Maybe she reminds you of mommy?? (i have long curly hair now). In the future, you need to learn some courting skills from your dad ok? He is quite smooth, that's how he got mommy. tsk tsk.

By the time you read this letter you will probably be quite grown-up and who knows maybe rebellious, but i hope my entries about you will remind you of how much i love you.

Always remember that mommy made you from scratch, so love yourself too.

xoxo,

mom

Happiest mother's day

I can honestly say that it' s the happiest mother's day i've ever had. haha.

I watched 2 sappy movies back to back last night. The Time Traveller's Wife and My Sister's Keeper. I never used to cry when i watch movies cos I know it's fictional and sensationalised, but ever since i got pregnant and became a mommy, i cry at everything (even when i watched a whale give birth on Discovery Channel).

Becoming a mother has made me a softie....

Celebrating thirdmay

Can't believe how time flies, it's been a year since we basked in the Phuket sun while i was 6 months pregnant with Mountain boy.

This year we chose to spend our anniversary in Macau, the land of vices and everything Stanley Ho. It's my first visit here and i can't believe i never came here earlier. It's only my 3rd day and this city already ranks higher than Paris in my books. The streets are decked in gawdy buildings and ornate statues, yet somehow it feels right, it feels like there is an identity.

My first casino experience was a disappointment though. My beginner's luck pretty much ran out at the first hand. I won 50HKD at BIG SMALL and it was downhill after that. Gambling at casino is not my thing, i rather "throw away money" on a handbag or a pair of shoes. That's why i think Macau is the perfect place for couples because the men and women have different stuff to do.

Anyway, Mountain Boy has been a trooper. I am amazed at how adaptable he is. He has been eating, drinking, sleeping and pooing well. Getting him to sit long in his stroller is becoming a challenge though. We found out that empty water bottles are the best distraction.

On a crowded street in Macau.

Mountain Man and Boy taking a chill pill.

Getting some grub to go.

Mountain Boy waiting for Mountain Man outside the casino. "Win me some milk money Dad!"