On This Day - (3rd Dec) Reminders from FB

3rd Dec 2021

Leila Fagaly have you seen this?

Btw, is that Angeles or San Bernardino behind?

Answer from Leila : Angeles.. San Bernardino is further East (a little bit more to the right of the pic! Hopefully by the time you get here .. there will be white tip on the mountain top.. It’s not cold enough though

*photo taken from Historical Pics FB page

3rd Dec 2021

Tried this keto friendly jelly Wilma Cheng recommended knowing I have sweet 🦷 (and I think she was commenting on the amt of chocs I bought before? Heehee…) I bought this in May from AmazonUS in May as I made a lot of purchases from AmazonUS again, so combined shipment. I think can get it from iHerb too. My 2ć review after trying this 7mths later

2nd Dec (Thu)

Makes 4 servings. So ehh….. I didn’t bother to portion out in cups so just dumped into this container.

3rd Dec (Fri).

Took out slightly less than a serving (cal 6, fat 0g, carbs 4g)

Too sweet! Lucky I took this small portion out. Then I looked at the remaining boxes of jellies I have. Gasp! Stevia extract! No wonder it’s so sweet + erythritol. Makes me wonder why didn’t I look at the box ystd. Hmm……doesn’t matter. I need to try right? I wont buy anymore, maybe can save the money for chocs instead 😜, more tsk tsk from Wilma dearie

3rd Dec 2021

While I was lim kopi n relaxing, lil’ one left this cup infront of me coz she was drinking her Caramel Machiatto from it. It’s the cup the 2 girls bought one each 2yrs ago in Seattle. For the 2 Starbucks fans, it was a must stop place. They gladly join the queue to go in, and left the shop with cups and even drinks from the very first shop. Then I thought, shouldn’t we be buying cups from all the countries n places we go? 😳 gasp! More things to collect, and to think I was always complaining on the number of cups they both have in the dry rack. I think it’s not a good idea after all😜. To be fair, I think that cheapo machine worked hard, money worth it, so I don’t regret telling lil’ one about it. She’s made so many cups of caramel macchiato already. S$8+ per cup x ynumber of times she made kopi = that amt saved from going Starbucks.

3rd Dec 2021

Their lunch vs mine First time cooking this for them.

For the man. Plate is too shallow already, gravy spilling over 😬

For the no-veggies and no-fruits girls. Sigh….

vs mine. I was smart to marinade my chicken like ….last week? So for days when I’m too tired to cook for self, I’ll just pop it into the oven.

My kopi o which lil’ one used the machine to make for me in the morning. I added the frothed cream

Ahh….not really a kopi fan but I think can do. otherwise I’m always stuck with black teh,chamomile tea,kombucha,unsweetened grass jelly,soda with lemon, lots of ice water.

#willifeelmoreenergeticlater#

#thinkingofwhattocookfordinneralsosianjikpua#

#butyetiwanttomakemychocolatesnack#

#tryingtofonishthechocsoihaveexcusetobuymore#

3rd Dec 2021

Ahhh…. I will always rmbr my first Xmas in 1995 was in NY and it was 🌨 snowing. #memorable#

Footnote written in 2023 : I'm dreaming of a white christmas

3rd Dec 2020

Can’t wait to eat. 3 famished ppl after exercise #caneatacow#

Spent some time in the mall after meal. 

An expensive way to make them go class with me. Heehee....

And it was really nice to bump into Jess at the mall too. Had nice chat with her, she gave worldly advice to che-che

I’ve put off getting her a solitaire since she had her ears pierced. We didn’t hv time to look around with school n busy weekends. And after 3 jewellers, we settled for this half  solitaire with a whooping price tag.
Dad says ban her from buying anything for 1yr.
#howcomeherisbiggerthanmine#
At least I can strike off this off my to-do list. Ahe finally has her own real diamond, unlike her lil’ sister who had hers at a very young age (few months after she pierced her ear). And then she lost one side this year  n I passed her my smaller solitaire.

Then it’s to ToysRUs.

They looked at the things they used to play. Che-che always loved crafts.

They can’t play badminton coz it’s raining, so it’s Monopoly time!

3rd Dec 2019

This little puppy is showing me how she’s been sleeping for the past 2 nights in che-che’s room. Heehee!

She has definitely grown taller coz she used to curl up comfortably, that’s why I teased her being the guard dog.

这样也爽??

Footnote written in 2020 : Dog

Incidentally, this is also the time when che-che will burn her BBW candle in her room. And she was looking for this chair a day ago. She would usually sit on this chair reading and night time, her sister will go in n sleep with her.

Eh....it’s somewhere in the bomb shelter lah! Go n find, stop disturbing me!

Footnote written in 2023 : Aww..... and she can't sleep in her sister's room this year unless she wants to sleep like this in our room. Haha!

I won't smell that strong BBW fragrance.

3rd Dec 2018

Had a great meeting with our dear friends, Richard Lee and Irenea Flora Lee who flew down to meet up with us.

This is our last minute trip to BKK with a last minute meet up with our longtime friends

#canwelastminutechoosenottoleavethisplace#

3rd Dec 2018

Mummy Irene Ma, I’m going to sell 卖 these antiques to you! Heehee! #noteasytofindthisanymore# #趁机会赚你的钱#

3rd Dec 2017

20th Nov 2017 - TKGS Limelight.

Two cutie pies 10 yrs ago, in same kindy and music class.

Footnote written in 2020 : They were so cute. No longer cute now.

Susanna Ee, Jachelle still has the same smile

3rd Dec 2017

Athena Ting your special tree in your room

3rd Dec 2017

It’s simple katsu curry (without miso soup, pickles - they don’t eat!)

But this girl had to eat with ketchup for her chix n curry on her rice!!

3rd Dec 2017

Like a pharmacist like that. Need to re-check the travel FA/Medicine Box, might as well do my biannual check on home’s medicine box earlier.

When lil’ one was little, I have to make sure I pack oral and suppository Panadol (onboard)- coz when she has fever, tends to shoot up real fast. Now I’m glad I don’t have to. When I told her about the suppository some time back. Her reaction was “you mean u stick it into my butt! How can u? It’s painful u know! (Pause) Did I cry?”

3rd Dec 2013

* in Andalusia

Interesting books to read.

Another strike off my "must visit before I die places" list. Yah hoo!!

每天吃这些。

我很想念我的 laksa, mee rebus, mee pok, rojak, popiah....

跟鸭讲话，不知道什么汤。服务员介绍，还特地拿过来。

不懂喝了什么... 哎不管了。挺好喝。喝了睡个觉，做梦吃 laksa

Footnote written 2021 : 吃了就算！

3rd Dec 2011

The crazy crowd in Fengjia, Taichung

What was I thinking? Ice-cream in the cold. Obviously my brain's frozen

3rd Dec 2010

Aricia so thick-skin to tell SA "I am pretty" when trying clothes today. Just few days ago, she shouted "I am very cute!" in the mall. Ppl turned to look at her, she shamelessness jumping around while mummy's embarassed.

3rd Dec 2009

* added 13 photos into ''Athena's 7th Birthday'' album

On This Day - (2nd Dec) Reminders from FB

2nd Dec 2022

Can’t be I’m so che-meh (blind) right? 3 malls in Tampines and no DIY shops? Apparently, they want to fix ppl’s stomachs more than the home? 

Think just go back to my au-gan lak kok jiok

2nd Dec 2020

2nd Dec 2020

Was checking thru the notes in my phone calendar and I forgot to clear this.

Sad... at this time our itinery booklet and lil' one's activity booklet would be ready (printed n bound). Getting ready to pack bags. This would have been another geography trip for her but alas....

Footnote written in 2023 : For many years, it was usually around this time we would be getting ready to jet off. Sadly not this year. As the kids grow older their school schedule is a little off from one another. When one starts work is another thing. Last year was (probably) the last time we could have a longer holiday.

Che-che's exams end late this year and will have to wait for her to return back, lil' one school hols officially start on the 11th (no such thing as more than a month year-end school hols now) and need to cram in the eye therapies until che-che's is back for her break.

2nd Dec 2018

Chillaxing on a recliner. We’re early coz we left for airport at the same time, meanwhile the man is already in the air while we’re Scooting behind him.

#nothingtobuy# #bettertosnooze# #somanylatenightsbusydoingsomething#

2nd Dec 2016

Blessed with fine weather. The kiddos out to play

Che-Che's fruit pebbles and marshmallow

Started out really enthusiastic since yesterday, but this morning - got up with a headache!! End up I'm the one doing it while she's sleeping.

Suppose to be a macaron bakeout day. Now the two young ones want to look like bulldogs (wrinkled skin), having more fun in the baby pool playing. Sigh.....wait and see

This is the kids' idea of baking!!! I do the job, they sit down their with their individual screen?!?!?

Footnote written in 2021 : Now? Nobody is interested in baking. Not even che-che, she hardly has the time.

My pokeball looking more like a mushroom 🍄

😅

Failure pokeball. My macronage isn't that good, so it tends to flatten out

So you know who did this? The Harry Potter fan.

And she was really fed up with me when I asked about 9 3/4

2nd Dec 2013

*tagged in che-che's photo

On our way to Granada

2nd Dec 2010

My normal Thursdays .. even on school holidays. Only exception is that today we park in East Coast Park and they have their home-cook lunch in the car and off to Shichida and Berries later.

All the goodness in each capsule

Filling up 泡参虫草 into capsules is not an easy task. It's messy when I have powder getting stuck beneath my nails and on fingers, which is solved by licking them up once my job is done for the day, but I would still prefer a cleaner way to do it. 

Saw a few capsule filling kit and decided to get the smallest one - 24 ct as I do not have storage space.

(28th Nov) Finally putting down to action after receiving this few days ago.

The instruction was to put the smaller part of the capsule in another tray and flip it over to this big one and push (there's spring) to lock the capsules. I tried 3 times and everytime I have the small parts scattered all over the tray except where it should be. I think I'm quite dumb! 

In the end, I put the smaller parts into each slot manually 

 

I must admit the "production" is relatively fast. I'm able to churn out 24 capsules in less the usual time.

But because I couldn't fill the smaller part with powder, the capacity in each capsule filled up by the kit is lesser than when I fill manually - I put in alot in both parts and close them together. Heehee! 

Now che-che will have to take 3 capsules instead of 2. Lil' one prefers to have the powder mixed with a tiny drop of water and drink it. I always make her lick the saucer, must eat everything! 

Left for this little bit and decided to call it a day. Ah nia is tired.  

Then I saw this bottle that dropped behind the birds nest box. Why do I only have grinded cordeyceps? How can I miss out american ginseng? I know I always grind them together into a bottle. 

Anyway, I decided to drop by the medical hall in PP and ask boss coz I think that's his handwriting.

I put it side by side to compare the colour. It's darker than the packed ones.

30th Nov 

Boss confirmed that it's his handwriting. I think his wife kindda misunderstood me when she asked me what help I needed when boss was busy with another customer. She thought I was going to complain him shortchanging me. Haha! I  asked him how much of american ginseng should I get to mix the two together? One liang of american ginseng is enough. 

1 liang = 50g = $320/-. OMG! There's another expensive one at $360 and $400+. Ehh...... 

So I came back home and was about to scoop the 2nd spoon cordeyceps into the ginseng when I suddenly recalled why I had this bottle of cordeyceps! 我的天啊！为什么两天的时间想不出？I specifically had this grinded so that everything is eaten when I brew the herbs. Usually the family don't eat the ginseng (it's really yummy)  and it's strange coz che-che says she likes the paoshen drink which I just added hot water to the slices. I'm the only person who eats the ginseng, but I hesitate when I look at the wormy resemblance cordyceps. Cordyceps are not cheap at all. It used to sell at $180 in a small box then it increase price to .> $250 or possibly more now. I bought 6 boxes last time so can stretch usage.   

About Cordyceps 

Do not be mistaken when you see the word cordyceps in 1 or 2 types of pre-pack herbal packs to make soup in the supermarkets. Those are cordyceps militaris. This packet of herbs only costs $5.80

When one box of this cordyceps sinensis with only has 7.5g inside and already costs $250 (from Tibet) the last time I bought and the price keeps rising. 

This is cordyceps sinensis. They either come from Qinghai, Sichuan or Tibet. There's even better ones,  which are even fatter than the ones I have. And if one uses that, they can just use a few lesser ''worms'' in the brew. Ah-nia not that rich lah!   

From Hockhua website : The price of cordyceps depends on its place of origin. The higher the altitude, the pricier the cordyceps due to the difficulty in obtaining the herb. Hence cordyceps from Tibet and Qinghai are highest in quality and price.

Tibet Cordyceps is dark in colour and bigger in size; it also exudes a strong smell of ghee. Qinghai Cordyceps tend towards golden yellow in colour; it is firmer and has a fragrant smell liken to mushrooms. Sichuan produces smaller cordyceps than Tibet and Qinghai. Sichuan Cordyceps has longer stroma, is darker in colour and harder in texture.

Ahh.... came across this while I was searching for the above picture

When I asked lady boss what they use to fill up the capsules, she showed me the 100ct kit. She asked me how much I paid for mine from Taobao. Only less than $15 inc shipping. She paid $200+ to the seller in SIN, I didn't want to rub salt into her and tell her I saw it in Taobao for less than $20. When I asked if it's easy for her to flip the small part of the capsule into the tray, she said it's not easy it doesn't hold so she usually cap the capsules manually. Ok so that means I'm not dumb afterall. Maybe the people who did the demo edited their video.  

I was asked a few times by friends why do I have to pack the capsules myself. Can't I just buy them off the shelf in medical halls or Shoppee? 

1) 60 capsules for $50

2) 30 capsules for $12

3) Cordyceps capsules 60 capsules for $79

4) 100 capsules for $40

5) EuYanSang 90 capsules for $117

Makes me wonder since they need to make profit, what is the base cost? When I pack the capsules myself, I choose the better quality american ginseng and better cordyceps. I know and pay $$$ for what I want to feed my family. 

Since I'm on the topic on TCM, I do boil herbal drinks for the family too and these are what I use 

1) Chrysanthemum : prefer 杭州胎菊  

2）石斛 ： use the premium dendrobrium 霍山 which can easily cost $150 or more

3) Honeysuckle 金银花  : Fengqiu is the best with its high quality

End of the day, 健康就是财富，I'm usually more willing to splurge on our health.