Facelift

I did it! Yes, a facelift for my blog! You didn't think it was for me, did you? Spent some hours fiddling here and there last night and managed to pull one off albeit just a simple one! Thanks to a few excellent blogging secrets offered on The Cutest Blog on the Block (TCBOTB)! I managed to change the header and the background with the clear instructions given!

To design the header and the background, I downloaded a free digital scrapbooking kit from Just So Scrappy Too. Got to know this site when I participated in the Makeover Offer on HuiWearn Kids Store. Just So Scrappy Too offer some excellent looking free kits to start with. However, I couldn't open the file with my Mac. So I had to cut and paste some of the items in Photoshop which made the whole process a little (or rather a lot) longer than anticipated. Anyhow, at least I get an idea of how it's all done now!

I've always loved scrapbooking since I was young. I would collect every single scrap material I see as potential scrap kit because I didn't want to spend the money on the nice fancy-schmancy ones. Only problem is we have moved so many times that I have not managed to set aside a place and time to do up my scrapbooks. Not to mention I have to throw most scraps out before each move. With digital scrapbooking now, it's so much easier! I can save all the scraps up on my hard drive and bring them wherever I go! Another life's pleasure made easier! Aahh.. Now to find some time while Baby O naps to scrap!

Spongebrain Babies

Don't you wish you can learn as fast as babies do at their young and tender age? I do! While I'm still in the process of figuring out how to beautify this blog and put things where they belong, Baby O has already learnt how to sign "book" and 'sing' "Hickory Dickory Dock" in a day! - goes something like this: Hickory Dickory... "Dah!"; the mouse went up the... "Dah!"; the clock struck one, the mouse ran down, Hickory Dickory... "Dah!"

Bah.. blogging can wait.. let's bring out Mother Goose instead!

Btw, if you're interested in Baby Signing, this seems like a cool place to start!

Cooking Therapy

Recently I've been feeling a little bored of what I've been feeding Baby O. She has been given either cereal with milk, toast with milk or yogurt and fruits for breakfast. So I decided to make some pancakes for her 11-month birthday. She didn't like the sugarless ones. I had to spread a very thin layer of jam before she tore them up into pieces and devoured them! These pancakes are so easy to make! They'll definitely be another breakfast option from now on!

Funny how I manage to find more time to cook now that dearest hubby has 're-'started work in another state. Some routines are also back into our lives. Yay! In the past week or so, I've managed to bake some brownies, a banana cake and even cooked prawn mee last night for dinner! Will have to find some time to upload the recipes and pictures soon.

Actually I'm loving my current role of being a housewife and mom now compared to my previous professional one. At least there's less customer complains! Just need more time to do everything!!!

Gasp! 11 months!??

That's how long I have been a mom! On one hand it feels like I have been one forever! On the other, how could 11 months have flown by so quickly!? On one hand, my poor back is perpetually screaming 'Be kind to me!'. On the other, I still love staring at Baby O asleep in my arms (she probably weighs about 10kgs now??). And since it's time to plan for her 1st birthday - should we make it a big do, rent a private function room and invite everyone or should we just do it at home with a few balloons, family and 1 or 2 close friends since she won't appreciate it yet?

Honestly, I don't know how I survived taking care of Baby O all on our own since Day 1 the past 11 months (no confinement ladies, no maids, no parents/in-laws... yes, you read it right!) but I do know that given a chance, I would do it all over again as being Mama to Baby O has been one of the best-est thing in my life! Love you to bits, baby girl!!

Relocation, Relocation, Relocation

Other half has started work in Penang this week and we'll move up once we find a suitable place to house the three of us. I can't wait to finally settle down since our return from the UK. Things have been haphazard the last couple of months being nomads and having some routine back in our lives will do us some good. The only boring thought now is to have to pack all our belongings again. We got rid of most things before moving to the UK and back so probably 80% of what we have now belongs to Baby O! And she has relocated more times in her almost 11 months of life than some adults!! Anyway, I'm hoping that once we settle, I'll be able to squeeze in some time to do more - cook, crafts, etc. so that I can fill this blog with more inputs!

p.s. Any moms in Penang out there wanting to form a baby group? Or any recommendations on baby friendly places, baby groups, nice affordable place to let, etc? Give me a shout!

Mom of many interests

Looking inside this blog (well, maybe when there are more posts later on), you'll probably be able to tell that I'm someone who has a lot of interests. I love to (the basic) cook & learn a new dish, eat & discover a great place to dine, shop & grab a bargain. I also love DIYs, crafts and even computer games! To pamper myself, there's also massage sessions and swirling a glass of wine with the company of Oscar Peterson in the background. I must say, most of these indulgence is a thing of the past especially now that I have a 10-month old in tow.

While surfing around some scrapbooking sites to search for some nifty little DIY templates for my new blog, I came across some blogs that really opened my eyes to how some owners take great pains in the aesthetic aspect, one thing that matters a lot to me. It's common sense - a blog that's pleasing to the eye will attract more readers. So I'd like to congratulate my first featured blogshop(s) for their effort in revamping their sites! These blogshops (Little Red Reading Nook, Hui Wearn Kids Store and Cupcake Chic Children's Boutique) belong to Hui-Wearn. I especially like Little Red Reading Nook, and online children's book shop because of the quality books they offer and at affordable prices. I recognise a lot of these books from being based in the UK previously before returning back to Malaysia a few months ago. I will definitely keep Little Red Reading Nook in mind the next time I go book-hunting for Baby O!

This Is It!

My very first blog! I'm officially on board. I can now tell the world that 'I have a blog!'. What spurred me you may ask. Probably pregnancy hormones, I would say. I know, baby O is already 10 months old and all but what better excuse can I have for being forgetful nowadays and needing a place to 'store' my memory? Well, let's hope this 'memory' doesn't fail me!

Other than that, guess there's no harm sharing with other moms (& dads) out there which char kuay teow stall or blogshop that I like out there! Who wouldn't like a money saving tip now and again huh?

So, armed with my limited vocab and broken English, let's toast to a bold start! Cheers!