Spring Onion Planting

I bought too many onions over the weekends and ooppss..some of them are budding! So, I'm taking this opportunity to let the kids plant some spring onions! All we need is soil and pot. The kids took care of their plants very well, watering and letting in the sunlight. After a few days, they grow real well and the kids are excited. In this activity, the kids learn to be patient, be responsibility and the way of growing the spring onion; at least they come to know that the plants need water, air, sunlight, soil and fertilizer to grow well.

Multi-Bubbles with just One Blow!

Okay! So, we are really hooked up with bubbles! This time we tried this, multi-bubbles with just one blow! What makes this activity more attractive is that we are doing recycling at the same time. Cut it short, this is the ingredient we need;
          Bottles (according to the amount that you want to make)
          Straws (a few, cut into 4 same length)
          Rubber bands

Method:
1.) Cut the upper and lower part of the bottles. The upper part will be the bubbles blower. We save the lower part of the bottle for putting bubbles solution.
2.) Tie the straws together with a rubber band. The amount of straws has to adjust according to the mouth of the bottle.
3.) Then, stuff the straws into the mouth of the bottle. The rubber band functioned as a stopper too.

This is very easy. All we need to do is dip it into the bubbles solution and blow it! This is also a very excellent bubbles blower for toddlers because there's no chances for the toddler's mouth to get in contact with the bubbles solution. Have Fun!

 

Giant Bubbles

This is our favourite activity just before the haze, probably two months ago. Kind of busy lately, sorry for this very late post. My girls love to play with bubbles, coincidently found a webpage teaching us to make giant bubble! This caught our attention. So, here we are!

 

The ingredient that we need;

For the bubbles solution:

          250ml dish washer

          4tbsp tapioca flour

          1.5liter water 

Just mix all the ingredient in a big basin.

 

For the bubbles sticks:

          2 strings (one is shorter and the other is longer)

          2 bamboo sticks

Tie one end of the shorter string at the upper part of a bamboo stick and repeat the other end of the shorter string attached to another upper part of the bamboo stick. Repeat the same for the longer string but tie it at the middle of the bamboo sticks.

 

You can blow it or just run and just let the wind do the trick!

 

Map of Malaysia

I like to travel a lot, either in the country or overseas. And I never missed the opportunity to bring along my children. I think children learn better through experience and I strongly believe that through travelling, my children will become a better man. We get to know each other better, it improves our relationship. For better understanding of the places that we went before including the distance, the significant of each states, the foods and cultures; I decide that we draw a map! A HUGE MAP of MALAYSIA!

We drew it on the mah-jong paper which is big enough for us. Different coloured paper indicated different states. We have the children writing the name of the states and drawing the significant of each states (according to their memory and experience of each trip). I didn't stressed on the amount of the significant things that they can remember. As long as what they can think of, they can just draw it on the map.

When we move on to Sabah, the children seem to have difficulty in remembering any significant of Sabah. All they said is "earthquake"! Okay, so they draw Mount. Kinabalu and that's all! After a few days, out of a sudden, Li Syuen told me, "Mum, Sabah produces lots of tea..it's called Teh Sabah!" Well done, Li Syuen! I guess it is all worthwhile though we spent a day and a night to complete this GIANT map of Malaysia!

 

Fraction Concept Activity

When teaching my children especially in Mathematics, I will take some efforts to set their mind with the right concept. With the right concept of it, it will be easier for the children to tackle any questions that they come across; easy or difficult.

Fraction might sounds easy but I still insist on carrying out this activity. The children have fun too! So, this is what we need; pencil, scissors, strips of coloured paper and a piece of paper.

The children have to fold the strips of colour paper according to the fraction given. Then, cut it and paste it on a piece of paper. Having the children to write down the fraction numbers makes them understand more about the fraction. This is our Fraction Wall.

Then, we move on to intermediate level. We prepared some coloured paper shapes this time.

Again, we fold, cut and paste. This is our outcome.

Children understand more after doing this activity rather than just doing exercise from the book. Have a try and have a nice day!

把姐姐给卖了吧！

姐姐总爱抱着妹妹睡觉但是妹妹却不喜欢，她喜欢自在地睡觉。姐姐想通过抱抱来表达爱意，妹妹不领情还很生气地向我投诉“妈咪，你看姐姐。。我很讨厌她。。我不喜欢她抱我！” 唉。。。我就说“那。。好吧。。我们就把姐姐给卖了吧，就卖25仙吧！” 我这么地一说，妹妹立刻回应”不。。不。。我不要卖掉姐姐。。我只不过想要她乖乖而已。。”
孩子就是孩子，他们不像大人，思想思维是多么地简单单纯，有话直说，不勾心斗角。大人复查多了，思想思维复查，话中有话，勾心斗角，你争我夺，没完没了。
在这一次的小插曲，我看到的是孩子比我这个做妈妈的还要优秀！她们勇于表达爱意，勇于表达自己内心的思想和情感，敢爱敢恨。喜欢就是喜欢，不喜欢就是不喜欢，就是那么地简单。
我想学习我的女儿们那样，勇敢地表达自己，不再让别人牵着鼻子走，活得漂亮，活得自在，活得精彩！祝福我吧！

亲子分享区之为什么我们要读书？

我们和孩子第一个亲子分享尽然是“为什么我们要读书？” 在看到孩子一早就去上学，心想孩子了解到为什么我们要读书吗？灵机一动，就在我们的亲子分享区问一问吧！
这是我们连续几天的脑筋急转弯。。内容如图：

可见，妈妈是一位很长气的人，长篇大论。而爸爸比较果断，话不必多说，三言两语就行了。女儿嘛。。是大女儿写的。。有她自己的领悟力，自己的想法。。也有她那单纯的思维！
在这儿，好无自私地分享我们的点滴是希望你们也和孩子们一起脑筋急转，不分孩子有多年幼或有多年长，这是一个很好的课题。在孩子和父母的分享当中，能够更加了解彼此，也能解答孩子对于读书的迷思。我和丈夫在如图的解说纯粹是自己的想法和家庭观念，并非答案，只供参考。您和孩子可以有自己的解答。在此，希望孩子们能够快乐地学习，快乐地成长，能走更远的道路！记得，我和爸爸会一直陪伴着你们！

*此文的内容只供参考。须知每个小孩都来之不同的生活环境和家庭背景所以教导的方式也肯定因人而异。

感恩的心

这些菜园蛋看起来很普通，和菜市场里卖的没什么两样。。但是，对我来说勿轻情义重。那是带着爱心关心细心的菜园蛋。为何我会这样说呢？？那是因为给我这些蛋的人和我是没有血缘关系但是且把他辛辛苦苦饲养的鸡孵出的蛋给了我，一毛也不收。曾经和他太太帮我照顾女儿们的保姆保爸如今已年长，满头白发的他们天天唯有种种菜种种果树再也无法帮我照顾孩子。虽然如此，我们一得空就会到他们家去深望他们。和他们终是有说不完的话，他们也终是有给不完我们的东西例如食物，食材等等。他们每次下厨煮他们的拿手菜肴都会叫我们到他们家用餐，辛辛苦苦耕种的蔬果菜都会分享一些给我们。这种的恩惠是无价的，是珍贵的，是难得的。。所以，我们很珍惜他们，非常地感恩他们那种无私的爱，很真诚的爱。我希望孩子们和他们一样懂得付出懂得什么是真诚的爱，无私的爱。也同时和我们一样懂得感恩。懂得感恩的孩子最幸福！

Wholemeal Bread

I have been experimenting baking a few types of bread using the Tesco breadmaker and this is the most satisfying bread that I have baked so far, it's the wholemeal bread. It tastes simply delicious and the most important of all, it is a very healthy bread!

Here, I would like to thank Joanne's Kitchen for this recipe. Thanks for sharing!

Bread Flour     200g
Wholemeal Flour     150g
Egg     1
Milk     200ml
Granulated Sugar     50g
Salt     5g
Yeast     5g
Butter     40g

Method:
1.) Put all the ingredient in except the butter. I put in according to this sequence; (milk+egg+sugar+wholemeal flour+bread flour+salt+yeast). Remember to "bury" the salt and yeast at the different side of the flour. Do not mix the salt and yeast together or else the bread won't rise.
2.) Select Menu No.3 (Wholemeal) then, select 1.5lb, light colour.
3.) After the beep sound, you can add in the butter.
4.) At the time of 1:30, you can take out the blade or you can omit this step.
5.) When it is done, take the bread out and let it cool. When it is cool, you can cut it.

It's as easy as ABC. Everyone can bake it. Enjoy your healthy bread! ^^

Paper Bag Puppet

We bought some sandwiches from the café. Very delicious sandwiches with very good quality of paper bag. Syuen and Ning asked me whether we could make something out from the paper bags. So, we googled and decided to make this Paper Bag Puppet. Coincidence, we had our very short trip to the Taiping Zoo and this is what they come out with; a lion and a peacock!

Vegetable That You Can Regrow : Carrot Leaf & Scallion

This is easy. And yes, we fully use every parts of the vegetable. No wastage! We can regrow the carrot's top to have carrot leaf as an add-on to our salad! We can have scallion from the scallion's top that we regrow so, we do not need to buy anymore scallion from the market. All we need is a container and some water to make this regrow project as shown on the photos below.

Beansprout Haircut Activity

This is done a few years ago. And I think that it's kinda fun as the kids were able to exert their creativity on the other hand practising their hand-and-eye coordination.

So, the material that we need: egg shell, marker pen, scissors, green bean and cotton. It's simple and easy but do require some times to complete this activity.

First, I let the kids to draw some facial expression on the egg shell then all we need to do is putting the cotton into the egg shell followed by the green beans and pour a little water into it. Now, all we have to do is wait for 3-4 days for the beansprout to grow!

When the beansprout has grown to the height that you desire then, you may cut it any hairstyle that you like.

如何选择适合孩子的学校？

除了家庭教育，排在第二给以孩子规范教育应该是学校吧！大部分家长都没有认真考虑就把孩子直接送入名校。现今社会的错误观念；名校就是最好的学校，选择名校绝对不会出差错的。这是很不正确的观念。在选择学校时，父母应该选择一所适合孩子的学校而不是一所最好的名校。以下这几点值得父母做为参考：

1.）办学理念
       办学理念和家庭教育理念应该要有共识。

2.）学校环境
       学校必须干净，整齐及安全。

3.）学校设施
       学校设施应要完善及安全。

4.）师资力量
       老师人数足够并且拥有相应的教育文凭及经验。

5.）学校风气
       学校风气很重要，在一个书香的环境之下才能培养孩子爱书的品行。

6.）家庭条件
       一些学校需要支付一些额外的收费；例如杂费，补习费等等。

7.）孩子情况
       特别的孩子需要特别的学校来教育他以便达到最理想的教育效果。

8.）学校路途
       学校离你的家不要太远。孩子在不舒服的情况之下，家长可第一时间抵达学校。

9.）家长与学校的互动
       选择家长与学校互动较多的学校。一个封闭的学校不能让你更加了解孩子在学校里的点点滴滴。

*此文的内容只供参考。须知每个小孩都来之不同的生活环境和家庭背景所以教导的方式也肯定因人而异。

低糖日式芝士蛋糕

材料A
Cream Cheese     200克
低筋面粉（过筛）    30克
粟粉（过筛）    20克
鲜奶油    120克
无盐牛油（溶解）    30克
柠檬汁    少许
蛋黄    4
幼糖    20克

材料B
蛋白   4
塔塔粉    2茶匙
幼糖    50克

做法

1. 把20克糖和cream cheese 打至混合。
2. 加入蛋黄，打至软身。
3. 加入鲜奶和牛油，轻轻搅拌至均匀。
4. 将面粉分2次拌入，拌至无粉粒，备用。
5. 把蛋白打至起泡，加入塔塔粉，把糖分二至三次加入，打蛋白至硬性发泡。
6. 把打发的蛋白加入芝士面糊，轻轻搅拌至混合。
7. 把混合好的芝士面糊倒入已经涂油铺纸的模里。
8. 放入已经预热160度的烤箱里，用蒸烘法烘40分钟或至熟。
9. 完成待冷后，放入冰箱隔夜吃更美味。
    

温馨提示：以自家烤箱为标准。

Healthy Oat Bun

I tried to make the pumpkin bun last year and I failed..way too hard..Today, I try to make this, Oat Bun and thank God, it is soft and taste yummy!

Ingrediant
Bun Flour     500g
Castor Sugar     100g
Baking Powder     2 tsp
Instant Yeast     7g
Oat     150g
Shortening     25g
Water     1 cup

Method

1. Pour in the instant yeast into the water, let it "rest" for 20-30 minutes.
2. Sieve the bun flour together with the baking powder.
3. Add in the sugar, oat and shortening into the flour mixture, mix well.
4. Add in the instant yeast water into the mixture and knead it until soft and smooth.
5. Let it "rest" for 2 hours or until it is doubled the size.
6. After 2 hours, divide and knead into any shapes you want.
7. Again let it "rest" for 45 minutes or until it is doubled the size.
8. Steam for 10 minutes at medium heat.

Eggless Sponge Cake (The Easiest Cake)

18th April 2014 is YengYeng's 1st birthday. We didn't have a grand celebration as we are going away to Betong for holidays the next day.

As YengYeng is allergic to egg, I decided to bake an eggless sponge cake for her. Searched high and low for the recipe and it was hard to find! In the end, decided to try this recipe out of a few recipes found. It is the easiest cake that I have baked so far. And it turned out just nice..pheeww..

Ingrediant
Sweetened Condensed Milk     200g
Self-raising Flour     140g
Baking Powder    1 tsp
Baking Soda     1/2 tsp
Melted Butter     60ml
Vanilla Essence     1 tsp
Water     75ml

Method

1. Sieve the flour, baking powder and baking soda together.\
2. Mix the flour mixture, condensed milk, melted butter, vanilla essence and water and beat well.
3. Pour the mixture into a greased and dusted 6 inch diametre round tin.
4. Bake in a hot oven at 200 degree C for 10 minutes.
5. Then, reduce the temperature to 150 degree C and bake for a further 10 minutes.
6. The cake is ready when it leaves the sides of the tin and is springy to touch.
7. Leave cool for 1 minute, invert the tin over a rack and cool the cake on a wire rack.

P/S: As it is a birthday cake, I make the chocolate ganache on top of it. And the children love it! ^^

Easy Oreo Cupcake

Saw a few recipes on this oreo cupcake, wanted so much to give it a try. So, here we go!

Ingrediant
Unsalted Butter     125g
Caster Sugar     80g
Egg     2
Low Protein Flour     125g
Baking Powder     1/4 tsp
Oreo Biscuit (Crusted)     6

Method

1. Preheat oven at 170 degree C.
2. Sieve low protein flour and baking powder together.
3. Put in butter, sugar and eggs into the flour mixture.
4. Beat the mixture with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes or until smooth white.
5. Put in the crusted oreo and mix well.
6. Bake at 170 degree C for 20 minutes.

女人，30岁以后

女人活到30岁以经历过岁月和智慧的鉴定。30岁以后，可说是另一端的新旅程。一些选择了穿上便服在家相夫教子变成了黄脸婆，担任全职妈妈。一些则选择了把家事及育儿委托以别人，全程投入创业变成了女强人。不管选择如何，大家渴望在事业，家庭以及生活上达到一个平衡点。我们，女人，当然要活得更精彩，更漂亮成为更有身价，更有魅力，优雅从容的女人。而我，很简单。。选择了做好自己，做好以下事项。

• 坚持天天喝1~2升水

       可保持身体活力又能滋润皮肤。

• 吃好食物

       所谓好食物指的是全天然，无加工食品。饮食必须多样化。不吃重口味的饮食，不吃垃圾食品，不吃隔夜饭菜。坚持吃新鲜食品。

• 每晚按时入眠，起床不必急

       定时入睡7~8个小时，养好精神面对明天。

• 抽时间做有气运动

       每天步行或做大运动，出出汗，增加心肺血管活力。

• 保持稳定的理想体重

       因年龄增长，新陈代谢缓慢，必须慢速和持久的减肥。健康式减肥法为本，不服用任何减肥药或产品。

• 保养不可懒

       每天做好保湿和防晒的程序。

• 重视外表，不求时尚但求品味

       要懂得挑选适合自己的衣物，不一定要名牌但要让自己看上去优雅动人。学习一些搭配小窍门，颜色搭配的技巧，关注自己的身材可利益充分展示自己的优点，遮盖自己的缺点。维持外表不一定是为了男人，也是为了自己变得更有自信，更有人缘。

• 每年都做一次妇科检验

       没病心安，有病早治。

• 穿好的内衣，穿好的平底鞋

       不可亏待自己的身体结构，不只要穿好的内衣及鞋，也要穿得对。

• 经济独立，想买什么就买

       不管老公有多少钱，养不养得起你，再辛苦都要有自己的事业，都必须经济独立。

• 考个驾照，买一辆车

       自己驾车，想去哪里就去，方便别人也方便自己。记得要为自己和爱车买保险。

• 经营好家庭

       女人最大的成就是经营好家庭。把家事处理得井井有条，懂得煮几道功夫菜加上甜点，这是为人妻，为人母亲最基本条件。

• 每年至少旅行一次

       地点不重要，和谁都可以。好好地放松心情，充充电。

• 读好书，写写文章

       女人真正的美来自于内涵。一本好书不只是传达知识和讯息，它也能让我们过一种心智生活。从写文章来表达自己的想法是一种锻炼自己的心智，坦然面对人生。

• 言行举止要优雅

       不粗语粗俗，不大吼大叫。姿态要优雅，说话要得体。

• 最少有俩位无话不谈的知心朋友

       要和密友保持联络。

• 不断提升自己

       不管在什么领域，不断地突破自己的极限。

• 定期给自己独处的时间

       做一些喜欢的事，让自己独自静下心来，好好地放松自己。这有助于减轻生活的压力，重新认知自己。

• 抛弃不懂得珍惜你的男人

       无论一个男人条件有多好，无论你有多爱他，不懂得珍惜你的男人是绝对不能带给你幸福！

Easy Molten Chocolate Lava (Volcano) Cake

It has been months since my last blog. I was busy moving both house and office and now, still adapting the new environment, the new daily routine and the new working environment. So much to adapt and we had a very "rushing" Chinese New Year this year so, hopefully we can really enjoy the Chinese New Year next year.

As it was a very special Valentine's Day this you (Chinese Valentine's Day and Western Valentine's Day fall on the same day), I decided to make Molten Chocolate Lava Cake for my love ones in spite of my injured hands.

So, here we go..

The Ingrediant: (For 4 person)

20g     plain flour
100g   chocolate (I buy good quality chocolate to have a smoother texture)
100g   butter (unsalted)
2         egg
2         egg yolk
20g     sugar
2tsp    vanilla essence (I skipped this)
a little icing sugar (for decoration)

1.) Melt the chocolate and butter, using double-boiled method.
2.) Beat sugar, egg, egg yolk and vanilla essence using a mixer.
3.) Then, mix 1.) and 2.) together.
4.) Add in the flour, mix a little by little slowly (as we don't want any lumps).
5.) Brush a little butter in the "tall" tin. (you could use tart tin too but a taller tin creates better lava effect).
6.) Pour the mixture into the tin.
7.) Bake at 180 degree in 8 minutes.

Hope you like this recipe! ^^

善心从同理心开始

从小都一直看着爸爸妈妈做善事，很自然地也养成我们四个兄弟姐妹的善心。在组织了自己的家庭也想把爸爸妈妈的信念代代相传。

做善事是发出与内心，是一件很自然的事。所以，在教养孩子关于慈悲，我们并没有很刻意地教导。其实，父母只要善用机会教育，在日常生活中引导孩子，那已经很足够了。

我本身认为要引导孩子的慈悲心首先要培养他们的同理心。那是因为如果孩子能够站在别人的立场感受，用他人的角度看事，懂得同理别人后，慈悲心就很自然地被启发。

现今的孩子不但聪明伶俐而且才艺超群但是人缘且不佳。我觉得这是以同理心有很大的关系。打个比方，有些小孩会这样说“我不喜欢你，你好臭。”这样的一句话，孩子很显然地没有同理心。孩子懂得做自己是好事，但是父母应该教导孩子在展现自我的同时，也要对他人多一份的体贴，这样才不会伤害到他人的感受！

培养孩子的同理心，我们首先能带领孩子观察他人的情绪。通过观察他人的情绪可了解到自己的反应，可能对他人所造成的影响而顾及到他人感受。

再来，要求孩子参与家事。这可让孩子更了解到父母身心状况，孩子也会发现自己有能力照顾他人便给予付出及关怀。

最后，在慈悲心的培养，我们要给予孩子正确的观念 【行善并非要做伟大的事，慈悲必须行有余力，要从生活中的小事做起】记得，父母也须要给予鼓励因为当孩子得到善的回应，他的慈悲心更为滋长而会持续行善！

*此文的内容只供参考。须知每个小孩都来之不同的生活环境和家庭背景所以教导的方式也肯定因人而异。