A Very Very Busy Month

Opps... It's a month since my last post. I had a lot of things to blog but I couldn't have a chance. It was totally a very very busy month for me in this November. My family and I took turns to catch a flu and cough. I was so tired as I needed to take extra care to both my boys and my big boy Hubby Jay too!    

Other than this, I involved in the preparation of MMPS yearly event, MMPS celebrated World Breastfeeding Week 2013 - "One Minute Simultaneous Breastfeeding" event. We had very limited time for the preparation. Oh my goodness, I felt like I went through a battlefield!!! I'll talk about this event later.

Another thing that kept me busy was searching preschool for my Little Ze. It was not an easy decision for me as it involved with lots of considerations. Hubby Jay and I surveyed and inquired for different kindergartens. We brought Little Ze to pay a visit to those that we shortlisted. Hmm...luckily Little Ze would tell us which school that he liked or disliked after each visit and why he said so. This made us easier for the decision making.       

Well, I have 5 handmade cards pending on hand and I have not done anything on that yet. My friends need the cards very soon! Oh dear, I just easily fall asleep while I accompany my boys to sleep recently. I keep on missing out my crafty time in the middle of the night. Sigh!!! 

Hope I can catch up everything and wish things going smooth! But I know that life full of challenges :)

Superb Sunday: Halloween Trick-or-Treat Session at Straits Quay

Halloween party? Halloween Trick-or-treating? I have no idea with any of these. I just know that Halloween is all about the ghost,bats, blood, vampires... which I was always scared of since I was small. So, no Halloween celebration for me. One thing that I know, Halloween must have carved pumpkins!

Last Friday, my friend Shu-Yin invited me to participate in a Halloween Trick-or-Treat session on 27th Oct 2013 at Straits Quay. Hmm...I was wonder what's that and a bit reluctant to go. But later I promised to go. Actually, trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, "Trick or treat?" In this event, children go in costume from shop to shop asking for treats. The reason I promised to go because I wanted to let my Little Ze to get to know what is Halloween all about. He just read a book which mentioned about Halloween pumpkin. So, it was a great chance to get him to join the celebration and let him experience the Trick-or-Treat session. It was my first experience too!

There was only 3 more days to go. Oh no! How am I going to get Little Ze dressed in Halloween costume in such a short time?  Furthermore, I had something going on within these 3 days. Well, I opted not to spend money for some special Halloween costume. The fastest way was to make a simple Witch's Hat and to find a special clothe that Little Ze had in his wardrobe. Let's see what I found.

A Bumble Bee with bat wings and a witch's hat! 

Baby Hang became a Bumble Bee too!

I did not manage to register Little Ze for the session in the first place. (Only those who registered could have the treats.) We planned to follow the crowd and just walk around in Halloween costume. Luckily, the organizer opened for extra registration on the spot. Yes, I managed to register for Little Ze and another friend of mine. (Sad that Shu-Yin and her family not manage to join us in the very last minute.)

Look at the crowd.

Lots of fancy Halloween costumes! We managed to snap a few only.

Initially the kids that registered supposed to hold the Halloween rope and followed the line to get the treats. But it was not working and due to the big crowd. It was out of control. Those did not register just jumped the queue and joined in.

The session began.

Oh no! It’s too packed. It was tough when you had a stroller and 2 kids to carry with such a big crowd, up and down on the escalator. They started with Quay One. First stop was the Enhanced Education. Everyone just stopped right in front of the center to get the treats. Can you imagine how dangerous it was when people kept coming up but the crowd stopped just right in front of the escalator! Sweat!!!

Then I realized I should prepare a bowl or basket for Little Ze to collect the treats. Hmm…What to do? I turned the Witch’s Hat that I made for Little Ze to a ‘basket’. Little Ze was tired as we had been in Queensbay Mall before we reached Straits Quay. He had no sign of interest. With the ‘basket’, he slowly picked up and showed the interest. He used the hat to get the treats himself and said “Thank You”. He checked at the treats before he transferred the treats to a tote bag. I helped him to get the treats if the counter was too high for him to reach to.

Little Ze enjoyed and had fun. I enjoyed too but I was a bit tired. One thing that I was not happy with was the parents. They should not grab the treats for their children. They shouldn't jump queue. After all that was just treats like candy and chocolate, and they were meant for the children and for fun. In order to enjoy, we stayed at the back of the queue and walked slowly. We let Little Ze to have his treats at his own pace. The crowd was later split into two groups and that made things easy.  Overall, it was fun! Little Ze had a ‘hat-full’ of treats!

Dinner at Uncle Albert’s Traditional English Fish and Chips

We didn't participate till the end but almost done. My boys were tired and we were hungry. We headed to Uncle Albert’s Traditional English Fish and Chips. It was opened in July this year but we didn't notice this shop. We just spotted it during the ‘tour’ of the trick-or treat session. We decided to give it a try.

The restaurant sets in a conducive, cozy atmosphere. The restaurant has air conditioned as well as al fresco dining areas. The walls of the interiors were plastered with newspaper headings. You will be able to view how your meal is being prepared by the skillful chefs at the theater kitchen.

Little Ze was too tired and fell asleep on Hubby Jay’s arm right after we settled down at our table. I was busy breastfeeding my crying Baby Hang after the long walk. Everybody was busy and hungry. Not many photos taken. We glanced through the menu (except me) and felt that they were pricey. We were then told there would be free homemade soup and Irish brown bread, as well as iced lemon tea with every main course ordered. That sounded better.

The homemade soup and Irish brown bread were nice! Normally, the complimentary soup will be in smaller serving but it was not in Uncle Albert’s. 

Here were what we ordered.

Uncle Albert’s Lemon-Grilled Halibut. Served with Mediterranean vegetables and rocket leaves with a homemade vinaigrette. I loved the dish.

Beef Lasagne. Sirloin minced beef in seasoned tomato sauce with layers of pasta. Topped with a light cheddar cheese. Served with French fries. This dish was salty for me. Of course, I loved the fries.

Spicy Prawn. Dublin Bay Battered Prawn, served with fried rice. On the side comes with homemade spicy sauce and homemade tartar sauce. It was spicy for me but I loved it because the prawns were so aromatic and tasty.

Creamy Salmon pasta. Fresh Salmon in a light and creamy sauce with penne pasta. Served with Parmesan and garlic bread.

I have to say that considering the large servings, where we had trouble finishing them all. The prices were pretty reasonable. Guess what. Surprisingly it was only RM153 for 4 adults and 1 kid. The prices stated in the menu were net price, inclusive of tax and charge. The service quality was good too.

We had a pleasurable dinner, consider as belated birthday treats for lady and gentlemen in purple shown in the photo. (The birthday guy and women wore the same color! Such a coincident!)

Today we almost travelled all over the Penang Island. From Queensbay Mall to Straits Quay, then to Tanjung Bungah then followed by Farlim to send and pickup things from friends. What a tired but superb Sunday! 

***

Uncle Albert’s Traditional Fish and Chips
3A-G-9 Straits Quay, Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, Tanjung Tokong, 10470 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +60 4–890 3407 | Fax: +60 4–890 5506
Opens daily from 11am to 11pm

DIY Project: Halloween Witch's Hat

31st October - It's Halloween! Have you made your Halloween crafts? If so, what have you made?

I have made a simple Halloween Witch's Hat! This is my first attempt to make Halloween project. Actually, I had a very last minute decision to participate in a Halloween event. I had limited time to prepare Halloween costume for Little Ze. Furthermore, I din't want to spend money for special Halloween costume which only use for just once a year. I decided to handmade a one-of-a-kind Witch's Hat from materials available at home. I knew that even if I forgo the costume, a tall and pointy little hat will for instant create the holiday spirit. Am I right?

Here's my version of the Witch's Hat.

Materials:

• Double-sided colored thick paper (Get and reuse from my store room)
• Cardstocks
• Ribbon
• Art glue
• Adhesive tape
• Scissors
• Scroll pattern border punch
• Circle and Oval punch
• Lara grass string

Steps:

Draw and cut out two circles from double-sided colored thick paper. One for the cone and another circle is for the brim. Note: Thick paper will make the hat more steady and nicer but do not to use paper that is too thick or you will have a hard time keeping the cone together.

To make the cone, cut one of the circles into half. Roll the semicircle into a cone; join sides, making sure they line up. Measure the circumference of your wearer's head before adhere the sides. Use the adhesive tape to hold the sides together and apply glue to adhere it.

To make a brim, first measure the diameter of the bottom of the cone; divide this number by two to get the radius. Draw a circle using radius at the center of the pre-cut circle. From same center point, make a hole and cut slits about half inch apart. Bend each resulting flap slightly upward. Tie the ribbons between the slits. Use stapler to hold tight. Apply glue to flaps or slits, place the cone on top of the brim, adhere both cone and brim together.

Done! Now you can decorate your Witch's Hat. 

Initially I want to decorate my hat with real pumpkin leaves and vines that grow in my garden. Unfortunately,  my dad just trimmed the plants and not much young leaves left. Those around are too big for my hat. So, I have to come out something with papers. I had mine in a very simple one. 

Punch a strip of scroll pattern border from orange cardstock. Adhere the strip diagonally to the hat. To make the jack-o'-lantern, punch three ovals from orange cardstocks, adhere them side by side or overlap. Cut a stem from green cardstock and adhere to the top of the pumpkin. Cut two triangles and punch a circle from black cardstock. Trim the circle into semicircle and cut out three squares from the semicircle to make the 'teeth'. Adhere them to the pumpkin. Adhere the jack-o'-lantern to a strip of paper.Fold and adhere the strip to make the jack-o'-lantern 'stand' on the brim. Add lara grass string to the top of the hat.

That's easy! Happy crafting! Happy Halloween!