Adam Lambert Lost the Idol Crown

No doubt, Adam's final performance wasn't exactly a mind blower but neither was Kris Allen's. I just don't understand how Kris can take the crown.  Take a look at this snapshot - in fact, Kris was shocked that he was the crown winner!

Unlike Adam Lambert, he didn't capture the audiences right from the beginning of the show. Adam was out there to entertain and perform stage after stage. He has style and he gave us something new both in his appearance, presentation and song. Kris was just pretty much flat, strumming guitar and some musical instruments. I'm not saying that Kris ain't good. Just that he can win if Adam was not his opponent! No doubt, Adam's last performances was not exactly outstanding but judging from the past performances leading through to the finale, I'd go for ADAM LAMBERT any time. Adam is more memorable. Simplicity vs showmanship! The voters prefer simplicity?? It doesn't take a lot of effort to be simple. I'm just so very disappointed with the results.

Getting a New Look for my Blog

Finally! Figured out some basics about how to design my blog header and background. It's quite fun really. I downloaded some scrap materials and started to play around with. In fact, I spent so much time in designing that I sorta neglected the writing part. I have got so much to blog about - one of which - HOW THE H*** CAN THE AMERICANS VOTE KRIS ALLEN FOR THE IDOL CROWN!!! Grrr...

It's gonna be a blogging marathon for me this weekend. Looking forward to it :)

Adding Widgets and Cute Stuff for my Blog

I was kinda bored with my blog. So plain, so serious. I started google-ing. Wow! Am I hooked. I found so many interesting things .. widgets, blinkies, signature and stuff. I fixed up my blog quite a bit over the weekend but still I'm not satisfied. I'm thinking of changing my blogger background again.

These are some of the sites that I had visited to get my resources:
http://www.digiscrapdepot.com/
http://www.glitter-graphics.com/
http://www.mylivesignature.com/

I have also signed up for PhotoBucket at http://photobucket.com/ so that I can load images and photos to be posted to my blog later.

Hopefully my blog will look better soon.

I Cut My Children's Hair

I wonder if all moms have the same problem. My sons just refuse to step into a hair saloon to have their hair cut.

When Ryan was much younger, he was ok with the hair dresser but somehow much later, the idea simply terrified him. I really mean 'terrified'. He would start crying when he realized that we were on the way to the hair saloon. And once in the saloon, he would practically bring the whole place down with crying, screaming and struggling. End result, a more horrific hair style and an embarassing moment for us. He was then about 2 years old. Even now, he still refuses to go to a hair stylist to cut his hair. So, along the way, this mommy here became the family hair stylist. It took lots of creativity and patience to coax him to have his hair cut. And I guess kids have more faith in their mommies :)

Later I discovered why! My sons are terrified of the electric shaver - the one that saloons use to crew cut boy's hair. Its the humming sound that they don't like. I suppose they are afraid that it would hurt them. Also they cannot stand the hair that falls on their body and neck - too itchy.

So what I did initially was...

• I took them to the bathroom, switch on the showers (warm water please) and wash the hair away as I cut.


• Distract them by letting them play with water - something that they don't get to play with everyday


• Praise them saying that they look so good after the hair cut and that they have been good clever boys

Actually what works is DISTRACTION!

Ryan is good now but still refuses to go to the hair saloon. Raymund is the more difficult one - he just can't sit still. As for me, I enjoy it :). I love to cut my kids hair.

My Little Princess is Learning How to Sit

My little princess is learning how to sit now. Though not quite steady, she is attempting to sit up on her own using her little hands to support herself. I'm trying not to let her sit up too long as she is still very young and her backbone is still vulnerable. She is already flipping onto her stomach, going on all fours. Very soon, she will be crawling around. I have yet to put her on a walker. I'm in no hurry yet. I will wait for her to grow stronger first. Don't want to risk her backbone.

Time just flies. I don't want her to grow up too quickly. She is my last baby (I'm not gonna have another if I can help it) and how I wish I can freeze these beautiful moments.

Indulgence at Isetan Members PreSale

Last Friday, I was on mission! There was the mother of all sales at Isetan. A lot of items were at least 50%-70% off. Of course, I went for the ones with the best discounts first. My colleagues and I already had our strategy well planned :) ha, ha! For tough items like Enfagrow and things from the supermarket, we go in the morning - took about 10min to grab, pay and dump in the car! Then 2nd round, we went for half an hour early lunch break. And we thought we were smart!! The place was already FLOODED with people at 11:30am! My aim was the children's department and then the Gent's Department. Notice, notice! I mentioned nothing about the Ladies Department! That's what happened to me after marriage and 3 children! But I had fun! I LOVE shopping but really hope I have a bottomless pit when it comes to funds. My taxes just killed me for the next 12 months - sigh!

Here's a slideshow on the items that I grabbed. Indulgence!!

American Idol Grand Finale - Adam vs Kris

If there had been a real bet, I would have won BIG money! The finale is Adam Lambert vs Kris Allen. And of course, my loyalty goes to ADAM! Here's why ADAM LAMBERT should take the Idol Crown.

1. Adam is truly talented. A vocal genius! A magician!


2. He is original and creative - and every week I look forward to see what he would do


3. He didn't just sing to win but he performed and entertained his audiences in every chance he had


4. He is a chameleon. He kept changing before our eyes. In every performance, he showed us a new side of ADAM.


5. He is fearless, he is bold and he believes in himself. Adam has essence! He takes on the world to show and demonstrate his talent despite the social injustice. He seems very genuine to who he is as a person and as a performing artist. Quoting Adam: "I have nothing to hide. I am who I am. And this is about singing … nothing else."


6. Yet he is humble and sweet. He inspired 200 children performers in his home town. He talked about responsibility, giving out 150%, not to be afraid to show creativity and hidden talent, so forth. A true role model!

ADAM is THE PERFECT PACKAGE for American Idol CROWN WINNER!!!

VOTE for ADAM LAMBERT!

Will Adam Lambert be in the American Idol 8 Finals?

The remaining Idols - Kris Allen, Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert - Who will win??

Just watched the American Idol 8 tonight - kinda disappointed. I expected more from these guys but somehow the performances were falling a bit short. The judges seemed to think that everyone of them was good - sorta sitting on the fence. Are they trying not to influence public's vote? 

My personal favourite is still Adam Lambert. Not because of tonight's performance though, but I think that he is very talented. I just so love the way he plays with the different octaves - errr... I think that's what they call it :). Frankly after his 'Mad World' performance, I would like to see him doing 'Emo' songs again. Such a great voice! This is one American Idol season that I'm following just to see ONE contestant perform .. and ONE Judge Simon Cowell. I am truly entertained. But, would the Americans vote for him? After his 2 weeks ago visit to the Bottom 3, is it a sign that he could be voted out? Are the Americans partial to his alleged gay-ism? Or would the American voters for Adam be complacent .. again? I hope Simon Cowell's message gets through to the Adam's voters.

IF American Idol takes International voting, I WILL VOTE FOR ADAM LAMBERT to take the Idol Crown!! Instead, I'm just placing my bet that the finals would be Kris vs Adam! Let's see. I can't wait to catch the results tomorrow. It would be great let down if Adam is voted out.

Last but not least, here's an article about Adam inspiring 200 young performers in Poway. A good read. 

http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-05-11/things-to-do/adam-lambert-returns-to-musical-theater-roots

I just love American Idol 8 - ADAM LAMBERT's Mad World

Adam Lambert's Mad World is just absolutely fantastic!!
Definitely much better than the original singer.

The voice is great. The lyrics are touching. So Emo!!!

I vote for Adam Lambert as the next American Idol.
Unfortunately, they don't open for International voting. Grrr...


Lyrics: Mad World

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very very mad world, mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher, tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very very mad world,
Mad world Mad world Mad world

I'm NOT Ready to Tell My Son About "the Birds and the Bees"

One morning, while I was fetching Ryan to kindergarten, Ryan was playing quietly at the back of the car. All of a sudden, he called me,

"Mummy, see my bird bird. I have got 3 bird bird!"

Huh???

"What are you doing Ryan? Don't play with your bird bird."

"Shame, shame if people see you, ok. And you have only 1 bird bird"

(I wonder what he counted heh heh :))

Innocently, he continued proudly at the top of his voice - thank God, my windows were all up!!

"Mummy, Daddy got big bird bird and hair. "

"Ryan got bird bird and no hair."

"Mummy got hair and tummy."

"How come?"

WHAT?!!!

I was really really trying hard not to laugh.

Another part of me was also thinking - IS IT time to talk to my son about the birds and the bees? Isn't 5 year old a bit too young? What to say to him? Errr...at lost.

Ended up with...

"Ryan, only boys and men have bird bird. Mummy is not a man. So no bird bird. "

Forget about the hair part. I suppose I just chickened out. Wait till he is much older. Let his Science class start first. Ha, ha!

Linda Howard - Death Angel

Synopsis: (from Amazon.com)

A striking beauty with a taste for diamonds and dangerous men, Drea Rousseau was once content to be arm candy for Rafael Salinas, a notorious crime lord. Then, when he loans her to a cold-blooded assassin as payment, Drea makes a fateful decision and a desperate move to escape, stealing a mountain of cash from the malicious killer. Though Drea runs, Salinas knows she can't hide and dispatches the same assassin in hot pursuit. Left for dead, Drea miraculously returns to the realm of the living a changed woman. Both humbled and thrilled with this unexpected second chance, she embraces her new life. But in order to feel safe and sound, and stop nervously looking over her shoulder, she will need to take down the man who marked her for death, even if it means joining forces with the most dangerous but most enticing man she's ever known.


Just finished the book. Linda Howard is one of my favourite authors but I find that she is not exactly consistent with the quality of work. Take this for example, the synopsis was actually interesting enough for me to buy the book but somehow, it is not as good as I expected. The story started off saying that Drea, pretending to be a dumb blond for a druglord, had a night of hot sex with a cold blooded assasin. Then along the lines, she got herself killed in an accident while the same assasin was supposedly tracking her down to do the job. Then the author decided to throw in some paranormal stuff about how she saw the light and raised from the dead ...and brought back some power to sense the future. The killer suddenly felt remorseful about being a assasin, and decided to be a good guy, and of course, fell in love with the lady in question. Hmmm! Then they were running away from the bad guys. That paranormal power stuff somehow became the background. The ending... no kick!! I'm actually quick disappointed.

A Little Encouragement Goes a Long Way

Ryan wants me to post his latest handywork on his favourite character, POWER RANGER.

There is his little finger pointing at his work :)

Actually, I'm also making use of this blog to encourage him to do more.

Something like an achievement board and he's so proud of it.

I have a physical board ALSO above my desktop to show off his latest sketches.

The encouragement works to build up his confidence and interest.

Chopping Baby Food

A very handy item when your baby is ready to take solids.

I got this Moulinex Multitrio Food Chopper when I had my boys.

Very easy to use and easy to clean.

Just about perfect to prepare soft porridge for my baby Rachel now.

I got this for under RM200 then.

... and I'm not a sales agent for Moulinex... haha!

Safe Plastic Scissors for Toddlers & Young Children

One of the best ways to train toddlers on fine motor skills, and as a prelude to writing is to teach them how to cut with scissors. The idea seems frightening. Two kids ago, I would have freaked when anybody even suggested that! Too dangerous! What if my baby cut himself?! Blah, blah. But since Ryan has gone to school, I realized that it is good to teach them how to cut using scissors. A lot of toddlers and young children have problem with finger strength when it comes to learning how to write. Cutting with scissors is good to help them strenghten their finger muscles and exercise finger control. At the same time, my kids are also excited over being able to do something that they are normally 'not allowed'.


Having said this, we have to provide a safe environment for them to do so.


Look for plastic scissors with plastic blades that specially caters for toddlers and young children. I found mine in Isetan KLCC for under RM4.


I have already got Raymund, my 2-and-a-half year old, on it. Both my sons are enjoying their 'cutting' activities. However, we have to make sure that they are seated and constantly supervised by an adult when they are do some cutting. Plastic scissors or not, accidents do happen.

Snow Jelly or 'Suet kap' in cantonese

My kids are so very prone to cough and flu that I'm so very desperately looking for just anything to help boost their immunity. Someone recommended me to try out Snow Jelly or 'suet kap' (in cantonese). If you really want to know what is Snow Jelly, it is actually quite yucky! Snow Jelly also known as Hashima is the dried fallopian tube (oviduct) .. urrgggghhh! ...of a female frog species found in forest of Jiang Baishan mountainous region in Northern China. Exotic .. but still it is hard to stomach that you are eating the fallopian tube of something. But once you get over it, it is actually ok and really quite delicious. Heh, heh!





I bought this promotion pack from a Chinese Medicine Shop for RM199. It that came with 9 squares of Snow Jelly and Korean Ginseng. No idea if it was a good deal or not coz it was my first time buying it. Then I got some sugacane rock sugar as well - and that's cheap - only RM4.


I have already cooked it twice for my family. My sons love it and they call it 'Jelly Soup'. Hopefully, this would help them boost their immunity.






Here's how to prepare Snow Jelly Korean Ginseng Soup (4 pax):


Ingredient:

• 3 squares of Snow Jelly or 'suet kap'
  
• 10-15 slices of Korean Ginseng or 'ko lai sum'
  
• 10 red dates or 'hung jo'
  
• 2 pieces of sugarcane rock sugar (average size)
  
• 3-4 bowls of water
  

Use a slow cooker. Chinese medicine is best cooked with earthern pots and slow cooker is best because of its make as well as the heat is controlled to allow simmering. Metal pots may react with some chinese medicine.

1. Put the Snow Jelly in a bowl and soak it overnight. The Snow Jelly will expand and expand.
2. The next day, clean the Snow Jelly by taking out all black particles and 'hair' from the fluffs. It actually smells a bit like dead fish but don't worry, once cooked with the rest of the items, you wouldn't even notice it.
3. Boil the water in the slow cooker and when it is hot, put in the Snow Jelly, Korean Ginseng, red dates and sugarcane rock sugar in the pot. The red dates and Korean Ginseng will key the fishy smell.
4. Cook on high for about 2 hours, then go on either Low or Auto depending on when you want to serve.

My princess' first solids

My little princess Rachel is 6 months old already. I was hunting for some jarred organic baby food and Rusk biscuits for her 1st solids. Here's a picture of my little darling enjoying her 1st Rusk.


She is still partial to porridge but she loves the jarred baby food. I go for the more popular brands like Heinz and one other Australian organic baby food called Healthy Times .. just in case. Earlier, I spotted Isetan having a promotion on Baby Nat jarred baby food but I was too much in a hurry to get some. When I looked for it the next day, the promotion was over - regret :(

Afternoon Tea

My two boys enjoying afternoon tea together.

They love Hup Seng biscuit dipped with Milo or Coffee :)

Iris Johansen - Killer Dreams

Synopsis (from Amazon.com):

Sophie Dunston is one of the nations best known sleep therapists. Her specialty? Night terrors, the fears that ravage her ten-year-old son Michael. Perhaps rightly so because Michael has witnessed a horror that most of us cannot even imagine. He saw his grandfather kill his grandmother with a single shot in the head and then try to kill him. This behavior, so unlike Sophie's father was due to REM-4, a chemical originally invented by Sophie who had no knowledge that it would turn normal people into zombie-like killers. Now, after all the tragedy she has endured one of these killers is after her. She will do anything to protect Michael, even accepting the help of Matt Royd, a recovered REM-4 victim. It will come as no surprise to Johansen readers that at first Sophie detests Matt but soon has a change of heart. The real question is how to stop the diabolical killer who is after Sophie for her research and her life.

Exciting book but not exactly one of her best. It's a nice read during bedtime :)

Iris Johansen - Pandora's Daughter

Synopsis:

Voices filled Megan Blair's head until a tragic turn of events orphaned her and she somehow managed to silence them. Twelve years after the worst night of her life, Megan is forced to face her heritage when an attempt is made on her life and she finds herself with only two allies in the world. Like her mother before her, she has a rare talent that has made her the object of fear and hatred for a powerful madman, bent on destroying both her and every person in her extended family. It has fallen to her to keep the key to finding a family of psychics safe from destruction.

Interesting synopsis. Another one that made me grab the book and rush to the paying counter. But I guess my expectation was a bit too high - I didn't quite enjoyed the book as much as I thought I could have. A watered down X-men-ish story.

Pasting Flashcards on my cupboard

I've been thinking about how to teach my son English and Chinese; how to get him to be familiar with some common words and Chinese characters.

Flashcards is ok but then again I want something which is a bit more interesting and more physical movements. My son is active and getting him sit down for an hour is not exactly easy. I'd like to make learning a bit more fun - like a game.

One of the mum's blog gave me an idea. I decided to sacrifice my nice spotless cupboard (in our bedroom) and started pasting home-made flashcards on it. I also used mahjong paper to write some Chinese characters on them.

Then I get my son to read and spell them to me. We do some role plays. Sometimes I'm the teacher and and sometimes, I become the student. IT seemed to work :)

I would check up his kindergarten work and put up those phonics words and Chinese characters which coincide with his recent learning. And this become something like a revision for him at home.

Why I chose the cupboard and not a wall?

Simple! 2 reasons:

1. Its easier to clean plastic than a wall. Just use D-40!


2. When he wakes up in the morning, the 1st thing he sees is the cupboard right in front of him.

Teaching my children about saving money

Lately I have been hearing my children say - "Mummy, buy toys for Ryan, ok" , "Mummy, car toys spoil already, buy again ok?" and Raymund was jabbering also ..."mummy buy ok?", "I want, I want"

Things come a bit too easy for them. They know that we have to PAY for toys, or rather Daddy Mummy have to pay them, but just they don't know how difficult it is to save money. So, I thought, it is time for another lesson: 'Save money to buy your own toys' - well not all but some.

Then, I went hunting for coin boxes. The old regular red clay piggy bank wouldn't do. It wouldn't last the day with my sons.

I found this one instead. Plastic, see thru, cute design and just the right size. Not bad! That day, Mummy brought home another present to them. Heh, heh! A coin box for each of my boys. I started explaining to them that they have to save money to buy their own toys and that everyday, Mummy or Daddy will give them some money to put into the box. I guess Raymund is a bit too young for this coz before I could finish explaining, he picked up Daddy's wallet and looked for money ;p

I just had my favourite Chilli Pan Mee

Just the other day, my hubby had a craving ...chilli pan mee. WE love to go to eat the Chilli Pan Mee downtown (they used to be called 'Tai Shu Tao' - translate: 'big tree trunk' - coz they started off as a stall under a big tree). Going during actual lunch time is not a very good idea - have to wait for tables and not to mention, don't know what kind of mood the sellers are going to be in. We arrived around 11am and that was just perfect. Food was served quickly and no sense of being rushed off.

So yum yum ... but warning ... don't overeat or put too much chilli - if you are like my hubby, your tummy just cannot take it :)

My kids waiting for food...

Yummy lunchie at Dragon-i yesterday

1st May - yes! Holiday! My hubby and I decided to take our boys and my mum for window shopping and a good lunchie at Dragon-i. That's my hubby's favourite :)

Their 'siu loong pau' is simply delicious - actually one of the best in KL. Then the mouth watering hot bun with melted egg yolk - slurrrppp! I love their steam rice- the one with chicken, mushroom and chinese sausage. The minced pork steam rice is actually even better but we didn't order what with all the swine flu warnings floating about. Yea, yea! We could have also avoided 'siu loong pau' but sorry-la, we decided to take a risk there ;p. Of course we couldn't also resist the 'wor tip' - so far the only in town with soup inside (can't remember if JW Marriot has the same too).

But, their fried durian pastry is a complete let down. It didn't have much durian and the durian was not exactly better graded ones - or at least it didn't taste like one.

My princess Rachel

I realised that I never talk about my precious little Princess Rachel :) After having 2 active noisy boys, a baby girl is a refreshing change. She is so 'see mun' (cantonese) that I'm still not use to it. I supposed my boys have trained me to get accustomed to noise and havoc! Rachel is a good baby. She 'cat naps' during the day and at night, she sleeps thru the night most of the time. She smiles all the time. The only time she kicks up a fuss is when she is sleepy or hungry. Well, I do that too! Haha!

And I soooo love to dress her up. I simply cannot resist buying her clothes. Afterall, she is my only girl and there are just so many cute beautiful baby girl clothes around. Can't wait when she has long hair and knows how to walk. This Mummy is gonna have fun shopping and dolling her baby up.


My recent shopping spree.