Every now and then, we may have an occasion that calls for us to wrap a gift or two. I happened to stumble upon friend's posts on efficient gift wrapping techniques which I found interesting.
I am sharing the gift wrapping techniques in the below reference links which are not only efficient in terms of the amount of wrapping paper used, but also the amount of scotch tape used! By the way, I have arranged them in increasing order of the amount of scotch tape used (Haa~!) The 1st link used only ONE scotch tape to wrap the gift! Amazing right?!
By saying that it is efficient in terms of the amount of wrapping paper used does not mean that you can use an overly small sized wrapping paper. From the YouTube videos, I gathered that the bare minimum you need should at least cover the corners of the gift you are wrapping when you attempt to wrap it up diagonally.
Well, efficient in terms of the amount of resources used also meant that it is cost saving (and saving the Earth;)! So, do take a look and try them out of you are going to be wrapping some gifts not just for the efficiency, because they also look presentable!
Hope you find them useful! Do share if you also have a different and efficient way of wrapping gifts :)
References:
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Vegetarianism: Celebrating Wedding Anniversary
I treated him to spa body massage for our wedding anniversary. What he prepared for us was much more :)
The fun started from lunch onwards, where we met my sister at Nature Cafe[1] because it was near his client's place. Nature Cafe is located in Aperia (Kallang). The nearest MRT station is Lavender, which is about 5 to 10 minutes away. The decor was beautifully done. Together with the soothing background music, the ambience was great to enjoy a meal comfortably. Being there, you might feel as if you are in the Amazon (because of the fauna and flora themed decor, including the menu):
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| Menu cover |
Per her recommendation, we tried the following dishes:
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| Curry fish and braised brinjal |
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| Sotong balls with spicy sauce |
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| Fried bean curd with sauce |
I must say that the sides were deliciously made, but I felt was a tag pricer than usual as some cost $6. As for the mains, the curry fish was done more tastefully than braised brinjal (which I felt was plain and oily).
After finishing up his work at his client's place (which took the same amount of time to nurse QW), we headed for Faber Peak[2] (used to be known as Jewel Box). That was the starting point of our cable car ride to Sentosa, where we will hitch a bus ride to head for our dinner. The last time we were on the cable car was at least 7 years ago. At that time, I had booked the sky dining package to celebrate his birthday. So, with all that good memories which we shared, I really looked forward to be on the cable car again!
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| QW fell asleep! |
Before we got onto the cable car, I checked out the nursing cubicle located in the ladies' restroom while QW napped. The entrance to the restrooms is interestingly named as Peek-a-Loo. That was a funny enough name, but I do hope that nobody really "peek" while I go to the "loo"!
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| View in the ladies |
Seeing that I did not have a baby with me (because QW was asleep!), the janitor tried to stop me from using the nursing cubicle (it really is the size of just A cubicle!). Hence, it is definitely great news to many mothers that she guarded the nursing cubicle pretty fiercely yet professionally. Kudos to her!
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| Nursing cubicle |
We headed for the cable car once QW woke up. At first, I was quite worried that we may not be fast enough in getting onto the cable car (so much so that I started to strategise a way to get onto it!). Then, a sigh of relieve. I was quite glad to see a signboard that the cable cars' speed may be adjusted for those having a stroller like us.
After enjoying the Christmas drinks, we took Bus 1 to the Beach Station. There, I nursed QW at the bus terminal before we got onto Bus 3 to head for our dinner.
We got off at the Singapore Resort and Spa Sentosa where iILiDO Italian[3] is located. This is my second time there. But before that, a photo with the free roaming peacock first!
At iILiDO, you will get to enjoy fantastic sea view if you request to sit outdoor. Do make a reservation first as they were fully booked even on a weekday night when we were there!
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| Pretty sunset view from our table |
Though they did not indicate their vegetarian options on their menu, they noted our booking request and told us that they can pretty much prepare most things on the menu for vegetarian with some obvious exception due to the sauce used, for example Squid Ink Spaghetti.
We started off with mushroom soup. Okay, allow me to correct myself. It was more like we started off with mushroom soup cream foam:
It was not a big portion (actually, it was only a few mouthful), but it was tastefully done. Next up, we had a small ball of hash brown served on some charcoal filled glass bowl (Sorry for the lack of photo because it happened too fast! I was told to pick it up and eat it hot. So, I shove it into my mouth before remembering to take a photo of it!).
Then, we were served our drinks and bread with balsamic vinegar. All these that we had up till the bread was not even our appetizer yet.
All in all, it was a day well spent with the right companies, my hubby and QW. Had I mentioned that it is our 10th year together (and our 1st time with QW)? Thank you for such a heart warming celebration, hubby~ Looking forward for more to come!
References:
Friday, December 5, 2014
Vegetarianism: Fried Bee Hoon
I saw this recipe on a blog by Crystal[1] and decided to experiment with it because it looked simple and easy to make.
The difference between her recipe and mine is I added fried egg and dried shitake mushrooms. A tip on using dried shitake mushroom is to keep the mushroom water for use later after soaking and slicing the dried shitake mushroom. I feel it helps to make the dish more fragrant.
Ingredients:
Rice vermicielle or bee hoon
4 sliced shitake mushroom
1 can of mock abalone
6 sliced carrot
2 eggs
2 tbsp curry powder
2 tbsp tom yum paste
Vegetable cooking oil
Water
Steps:
Here is how it looked like:
Bon appetit!
Reference:
The difference between her recipe and mine is I added fried egg and dried shitake mushrooms. A tip on using dried shitake mushroom is to keep the mushroom water for use later after soaking and slicing the dried shitake mushroom. I feel it helps to make the dish more fragrant.
Ingredients:
Rice vermicielle or bee hoon
4 sliced shitake mushroom
1 can of mock abalone
6 sliced carrot
2 eggs
2 tbsp curry powder
2 tbsp tom yum paste
Vegetable cooking oil
Water
Steps:
- Blanch rice vermicelli in hot water and drain well.
- Mix curry powder and tom yum paste with half bowl water to form curry paste and set aside.
- Heat oil in wok, fry the eggs and set aside.
- Heat oil in wok, fry sliced carrot, mock abalone and shitake mushroom until fragrant.
- Stir in curry tom yum paste and fry over medium heat until fragrant.
- Add in rice vermicelli and mix well. Add mushroom water (and more water per your liking) for easy tossing and to ensure that rice vermicelli is cooked thoroughly.
- Add in fried egg and mix well.
Here is how it looked like:
Reference:
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Motherhood: Nursing Without Nursing Room
Ever nurse in public before? I did using the nursing wear idea which I wrote in another post. Also mentioned in another post, I shared some useful nursing room links. I also use that to help locate the nursing room in many places.
But as many nursing mummies would know, many places (such as office buildings, hotels, spa) are not listed on those links. Hence, these places usually do not have nursing room. So, what should we do next?
There is only one crucial thing to do. That is to ask the right person. Ask the concierge/reception or floor manager, preferably female for better chances, to advise on a suitable place to nurse. Basically, ask someone with good knowledge of the premise you are in and also is or have access to decision makers.
Many a times, they may suggest to use the rest room. Please do not just accept it as a matter of fact that your babies should be fed in toilets! Do share with them nicely that if they do not feel comfortable with the idea of having a meal in the rest rooms for obvious hygiene reasons, you also do not feel comfortable that your baby have to resort to that.
If the above fails, what next? If the premise is connected to or very near a nursing room listed in the useful nursing room links which I shared, I will proceed to the nursing room. If it is not near any nursing room, my personal preference is to then try to find a quiet corner and proceed to nurse using the nursing wear idea which I shared before, or using a nursing cover.
Sharing some of the positive experiences which I had at two places: Mandarin Marina Hotel and Cuppage Terrace Body Contours (Spa).
I was attending a wedding lunch at Mandarin Marina Hotel with QW. About midway through the wedding lunch, she needed a place to nurse. Hence, I seek help from the concierge, who told me that there is no nursing room in the hotel. The concierge suggested that I walk to use the nursing rooms in Marina Square (which was far but I was ready to go). But a very helpful receptionist (I did not ask for her name! I should have!!!) got me to wait while she made a call to her supervisor. I was grateful when they offered the option of nursing QW in their meeting room.
Next, at the Body Contours. I actually was seated at a quiet corner and already nursing QW. Very nicely, the manager (a mother of course) offered me their couple massage room to nurse. She shared that she offered a room in consideration for their male patrons (who may feel awkward). But, I was just glad to be given a better place to nurse.
Do you have similar experiences of nursing at a place without nursing room? What did you do differently? Or, did you also enjoyed those nice gestures which QW and I were given? Do share them!
But as many nursing mummies would know, many places (such as office buildings, hotels, spa) are not listed on those links. Hence, these places usually do not have nursing room. So, what should we do next?
There is only one crucial thing to do. That is to ask the right person. Ask the concierge/reception or floor manager, preferably female for better chances, to advise on a suitable place to nurse. Basically, ask someone with good knowledge of the premise you are in and also is or have access to decision makers.
Many a times, they may suggest to use the rest room. Please do not just accept it as a matter of fact that your babies should be fed in toilets! Do share with them nicely that if they do not feel comfortable with the idea of having a meal in the rest rooms for obvious hygiene reasons, you also do not feel comfortable that your baby have to resort to that.
If the above fails, what next? If the premise is connected to or very near a nursing room listed in the useful nursing room links which I shared, I will proceed to the nursing room. If it is not near any nursing room, my personal preference is to then try to find a quiet corner and proceed to nurse using the nursing wear idea which I shared before, or using a nursing cover.
Sharing some of the positive experiences which I had at two places: Mandarin Marina Hotel and Cuppage Terrace Body Contours (Spa).
I was attending a wedding lunch at Mandarin Marina Hotel with QW. About midway through the wedding lunch, she needed a place to nurse. Hence, I seek help from the concierge, who told me that there is no nursing room in the hotel. The concierge suggested that I walk to use the nursing rooms in Marina Square (which was far but I was ready to go). But a very helpful receptionist (I did not ask for her name! I should have!!!) got me to wait while she made a call to her supervisor. I was grateful when they offered the option of nursing QW in their meeting room.
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| QW attending her 1st wedding lunch QW ootd: Carter |
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| In the conference room. Just changed and going to nurse her next. |
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| Picture with X'mas tree taken at the original quiet nursing corner QW ootd: Uniqlo |
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| Couple room view 1 |
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| Couple room view 2 |
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Crafts: Straw Heart Shape
Do you have those moments whereby you want to pamper your significant other half with handmade gifts? There are many handmade stuff which you can make for such occasions. Most common would be anything in the shape of a heart, for example paper heart[1], straw heart[2], etc. Both are branches of origami: paper origami and straw origami respectively.
Decided to try my hands at both paper heart and straw heart. Materials required are cheap and easy to get: 2 straws for straw heart; a piece of paper for paper heart.
I do not have red or pink coloured straws or paper at home. Hence, the final product in white as shown above. You can choose to make them using red or pink coloured straws or paper to create the loving atmosphere.
By the way, I did not follow the YouTube closely (especially towards the end). Because I intended to use it as a bookmark, I left one strand of straw uncut.
References:
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| Straw heart |
I do not have red or pink coloured straws or paper at home. Hence, the final product in white as shown above. You can choose to make them using red or pink coloured straws or paper to create the loving atmosphere.
By the way, I did not follow the YouTube closely (especially towards the end). Because I intended to use it as a bookmark, I left one strand of straw uncut.
References:
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