You have proven time and time again what hard work and dedication can produce. I wish you the best of luck and am sure you will continue to do what it is you always have: Put your heart and soul into everything you do. We are so proud of you...
Today i decided to go with instant food but i added masala filling in the plain Rava Dosa that i made. It turned out pretty well =) a quick snap of piping hot Rava Masala Dosa before it got gobbled up...
Friday, June 27, 2008
Whats going on?
I've never actually sat down and thought about this until now...My life is about to change and i am so happy!
Ladiessss there's only 18 more weeks left!!!but thats not alot at all....wooow i cant believe how far I've come by now...only a few more weeks and I'll be in the home stretch: my third and final trimester! haha i sound like i am going to complete my last semseter at school and graduate!
Whats goin on with my baby Our baby should weigh about 15 ounces, measures just under 11 inches head to heel, and is growing eyelashes and eyebrows. Little taste buds are forming on his or her tongue
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Inspired
Yeah for once i actually got off from being a couch potato and invested a "lil" time in jelly making.It was a quick process and i managed to get it done like "chotki bua" does.This aunt of mine from SG, shes an expert at agar agar. I had long wanted to try making the 2 layer ones she makes A transparent layer and a coconuty layer. Last night i got down to it and today i sow the fruits of my labour! Here's how!
Ingredients:
The Transparent Layer:
2 tbsp agar agar powder 1200 ml water 200 gm castor sugar Colorings - green is a must and i use pandan paste, it not only gives the green, it fragrants the whole jelly.
The Coconut Milk Layer:
2 tbsp agar agar powder 400 ml concentrated coconut milk 800 ml water 200 gm of castor sugar 1/2 tsp salt
Method:
1. Boil above ingredients for the transparent layer except colourings till dissolved. Sieve mixture and return to pot. Leave it on the stove on the lowest heat or doubleboil to keep the mixture warm until the coconut layer is ready for assembling.
2. Boil the agar agar, sugar and water for the coconut layer till dissolved, then add in coconut milk and salt. Sieve mixture and return to pot. Leave it on very low heat .
Assembling:
1. Measure about 250 ml of transparent agar agar and colour it in the colour you like. Leave it to harden slightly(not too hard if not the jelly will not stick together. If too hard, just use a fork to lightly scratch the surface before adding the next layer.)
2. The second layer will be 250 ml of the coconut milk agar agar. Leave to harden slightly Do the same alternating between the transparent layer and the coconut milk layer until all the agar agar have been used up.
3. Leave the whole jelly to cool down before refrigerating it for at least a few hours.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Baby signs
I came across this site www.babystrology.com it teaches you sign languages you can teach ur child before he/she is able to talk I think its great...to be able to communicate instead of wondering whats wrong when the child cries.
Alvin can feel baby's movements now...and its nice to see his palms on my tummy and he's adorable when he sings and reads to our child! We are so excited... i cant wait for the 9 months to be up!
My appetite has increased.I can eat more than the small portions i used to.Craving spicy and sweet foods but cant seem to stand chicken all of a sudden. I can eat them but if given a choice i would rather not.
Serene's Bakes
Now that i can have dairy products, Serene has already started sending me her bakes! Boy i missed them the past few months! Black forest and choc peach cream swiss rolls in the past 2 days. Shes a great baker... I'd love to show u her professional looking and great tasting cakes but i couldnt take pics of them cuz i finished them off as soon as i laid my hands on them. Shes the sweetest and how can i not mention hard working and energetic not only does she bake, she takes great effort in decorating it and presenting it as well! Kudos to her.Someday i wish i can bake as well as her...I think when i leave Annebovagen or Sweden for that matter, i will miss a caring and great neighbour like her
Malmo, Kalmar & Våxjo
Thursday thru Sunday were the Midsummer's break. Thursday we went to Vaxjo... for a lil shopping spree but unfortunately i didnt like anything besides the beautiful scenery during our hour long drive... We had dinner at Nivo with birthday boy Bob, Emily, her hubby, Kok Poh. It was a nice evening, they were having a flea market in Centrum and the place was packed. We had no prior reservations at Nivo but were lucky enough to get ourselves a cozy corner where we could see the bypassers and the band playing. it was a nice cool eve and the food was great too!
Friday we had decided to go to Kalmar but our friend informed us that most shops were closed so we changed our plans and stayed in town instead...drove around Karlskrona, did grocery shopping at the new City Gross utlet. went to the Lango beach in the evening spent some quality time with hubby
Saturday we drove to Malmo...two and a half hours away..Alvin wanted to buy a remote control car...those that run n gas. He had enquired if the shops will be open during the break and was told they will be... our disappointemnt started when we reached...it was a dead town... no shops, no eatery nothing was open. So we made the most out of it and visited the parks in Malmo and the St Petri's Church Lilla torg etc... Finally got Macdonalds before we drove out of Malmo. We stopped by at Eko, somesort of a super mart like NTUc back home... i was so happy i found the scrabble board game butwhen i got home and tore open the packaging i realised it was the swedish version...which didnt have a "W" but å, ä, ö instead... But we will play sumhow ;)
Sunday we spent driving around town, flying model planes. It was fun... overall i had a great time these 4 days and good quality time with Alvin... to me thats what matters
Monday, June 23, 2008
Pregnancy Updates
I'm in the 21st week of my pregnancy and thankfully, have started to gain some weight. Been wanting to be out of the house so often now which is so unlike me. but it feels good to be in the sun, to enjoy the cool breeze and to be able to smell nature. Alvin is so glad i am the way i am...more lively and cheerful. But the sleepiness is still there. I tend to sleep alot in the day most likely because i cant get proper sleep at night... the frequent visits to the loo can be pretty taxing and now that there is a lil bit of pelvin muscle pain involved, even turning in bed is a chore... but I aint complaining... I'm glad that things took a turn for the better. Almost 19 more weeks to go...
We're still searching for an apartment. Hopefully we get one as soon as possible and can move in by September! :)
Midsummer's
In 2008 Midsummer Day falls on Saturday June 21, but the festivities start the day before, on Midsummer Eve. Swedes celebrate Midsummer with equal gusto to how most parts of the world celebrate Christmas. Midsummer's Eve is celebrated all over Sweden, with dancing and singing around the Maypole. Maypoles are part of an ancient fertility rite that would ensure good harvests. (The MayPole) The May pole is still risen in all parts of Sweden and people dance around it and sing old songs. In many parts of the country, people like to dress up in national costumes, play folk music and dance old dances.
Family and friends get together, eat pickled herring ('sill'), the first fresh potatoes of the season, sour cream, crisp bread and drink snaps (vodka) and beer. Fresh Swedish strawberries are also an important feature (for dessert) Yummy!!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Simply Indian Food
Last night Alvin and I ended up watching a movie til 1am... and by the time we managed to go to bed, it was almost 2.I slept thru til 11am and when i woke up i had a quick serving of Cereal and milk. I was feeling energetic so i decided to cook Jeera Rice, Tadka Dhal, Spicy Aloo and fry some Papadums ;) Simple, Spicy and Satisfying
Hamnkrogen
Did i mention that finally there is a good Indian Eatery here! The food tastes great and I couldnt ask for more! We always order take away food from there on days that i dont feel like cooking or simply crave their "paneer(cottage cheese) dishes" The last time i dined there was with Emily and her hubby. We ordered a fish dish, Palak Paneer, Chana Masala, Chicken Tikka and Papadums.Though there were 4 of us...we didnt quite finish the food...not that it didnt taste as nice but because we were really filled to the brim.
Last weekend Alvin and i went there for dinner...we ordered the usual, choley, palak paneer, chicken lassuni and rogan josh. Despite the same number of dishes as the other time, this round we wiped out every bit! lol even when we were ordering the owner said.."u must be really hungry"
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Indian Chai
After dinner, we decided to sip on some indian tea... and after a 10 minute wait when the tea arrived, i was so engrossed in capturing the aroma it was emitting. Alvin who isnt a big fan of such beverages thoroughly enjoyed his cuppa tea too. (sometimes, tea is served this way in Indian restaurants) Milk tea, or the "tea latte," has moved from India to East Asia to America, and now joins with the European tradition of tea with milk, Indian tea, or masala chai as we call it it prepared with spices, tea leaves n fresh milk. It took me back to india...the street side vendors who serve tea in clay cups.It tasted and smelt exactly like that... Heavenly! If you have ever been to india's suburban area you would know exactly what i am talking about.Indian chai sold by chai wallahs at train stations is usually made this way, and is very strong, milky, and sweet. The unglazed clay cup used for serving is then tossed from the train as you travel down the line.
Father's Day
All i could think of was dad at that time... Dad is a tea fanatic.. Tea is a must at least twice a day in his diet! :)When i was back in Singapore, i would prepare milk tea for him in the evening or suppers. 15th June was Fathers Day. I was missing home and dad. If i was back in Singapore, i would have single handedly cooked a scrumptious meal for him and pampered him. I used to do manicure and pedicures for him followed by facials. Its a great feeling you know, for someone who doesnt indulge in all these. I used to do it for my parents ocassionally. Soak their feet in warm water with bath salts then give their feet a good massage and scrub, dry them then remove any built up callous... Do a mud facial for them...it used to be so much fun! and it still will be when i return! Thankfully Chandini went on with our long tradition for Fathers Day and cooked dad a meal. I am so proud of her! :) it was her first time and i heard she did a great job! WEll done babe!
For my Daddy! Daddy, for years and years you've been around to pick me up when I was down. You encouraged me to do my best, to meet the challenge, to pass the test, to hold my head up very high and tell me it's okay to cry, to answer my questions the best you can, to try and help me understand the little things a child should know, to choose the path that I should go, and even if the choice is bad, you're there to hold me when I'm sad. I'll love you forever until the end of time, because you're my daddy, a friend of mine.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Our New Ride
The Audi A6 2.4 170hk Avant
Alot of changes are taking place..not only with my body but with our living style too. We're looking for a 3 room apartment now... and recently changed to a bigger, more spacious car, which will be able to comfortably accomodate me, my growing tummy and a future baby seat =) Alvin isnt taking any chances when it comes to my comfort... ;) (You should see the smirk i have on my face now)
During our first test drive or Audi-tion as we might call it ;) we were impressed with the performance beyond words.Not only did it deliver what it boasted our ride was impeccably smooth.
Although you can buy cars that look a good deal more modern, the A6 Avant is still a class - and very desirable.The 2.4-litre V6 offers a good deal more torque. we'd like to describe the car as a 'five-door coupe'. It's better-proportioned than its awkward-looking German rivals. The roofline's higher too, giving more headroom at the rear.The A6 Avant is certainly a lighter, more agile car than its predecessor.
I went for my 20th week appointment today and by god's grace, everything is going smoothly :) I'm really confused with the "how many months pregnant i am?" so i asked my midwife; Susan and she said i'm in the mid of my 5th month! june 14 will mark the beginning of my 6th month...alas! time really flies and before i know it i will have delivered =) I weigh a mere 57.2 kgs, Susan said the appropriate weight gain for me would be about 7kgs and i will grow gradually she said i shouldnt worry about it and just carry on the way i am doing.
I requested to hear the baby's heartbeat via a doppler because though i can feel baby's movement everyday, I wanted Alvin to be able to hear Baby's heartbeat too =) Here's the most recent Ultrasound scan of our child.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Baby Updates
i hope i ain't too quick in concluding that my nausea has eased. I've been feeling great and more energetic than before :) Appetite wise, i have been able to take larger portions than i previously could and i have more regular meals. It sure does feel great!Indeed the 2nd trimester is the honeymoon period of the pregnancy :)I've almost reached the halfway mark of my 40 week pregnancy... looking forward to the arrival of our child =)
Friday, June 06, 2008
Sweden's Independence Day
This is only the third year Sweden has marked its national day as a bank holiday, yet from Lapland in the north to the shores of the Baltic in the south, the country is getting into the swing of celebrating.
The 6th of June has been a red letter day in Sweden's history for centuries - marking the day Gustav Vasa was proclaimed king in 1523 and the agreement of its constitution in 1809. It was deemed the Swedish Flag Day in 1916 and in 1983 officially became the National Day.
You'd be surprised to know that Sweden has not taken part in any of the wars of the modern era.Sweden stayed neutral during two World Wars. This enabled Sweden to change from one of the poorest countries in Europe, into a modern welfare state Today, the focus of Sweden's festivities is an open-air museum in the capital Stockholm, where, according to the official website, activities will include stilt walking, sack races, "animal songs" for toddlers and theatre performances. The whole occasion is topped off by a concert in the presence of Swedish King, Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Pizza
I wasnt in the mood for anythin spicy today... so i decided to spend some time and energy baking my own pizzas with the help of my hubby of cuz :) I know i m intolerant to dairy products but though pizza requires cheese i was willing to taste it and spill it out...
I kneaded the dough and was hoping it would rise and give me a fluffy crust... it did but very little... and the pizza crust didnt turn out as i expected it but the toppings made me finish everythin i made.. There is always a next time to perfect the crust :)
It is fun and helps one improve their vocabulary, they provide you with a word and 4 definitions and on choosing the right one, you donate 20 grains of rice to a starving soul somewhere in the world... it only requires you to use a few clicks on your mouse, a little time to spare and a giving heart.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Knitting my New past time
Recently I picked up knitting from a fellow spouse; Emily... She taught me how to cast on and do both the knit stitch and the purl stiches. Initially i though i would never be able to get it...
But its true that peserverence pays off... now i got the hang of both stiches and am really comfortable doing them...still in practise mode but I'll be doing sumthing useful out of it soon :)
Who would have thought? Knitting in this era when everythin is available off the shelves.When you do it yourself, the sense of satisfaction is truly immense :)
"Isnt it a pretty colour? I decided to make a scarf for my lil sister;Chandini so she can use it when she's here in Winter ;) yeah i know i am the "thoooo tweet
Monday, June 02, 2008
Just For Laughs
Deep In the back woods of Tennessee, a hillbilly's wife went into labor in the middle of the night, and the doctor was called out to assist in the delivery. Since there was no electricity, the doctor handed the father-to-be a lantern and said, "Here. You hold this high so I can see what I am doing." Soon, a baby boy was brought into the world.
Whoa there, said the doctor, "Don't be in such a rush to put that lantern down. I think there's another one coming." Sure enough, within minutes he had delivered a baby girl. "Hold that lantern up, don't set it down there's another one!" said the doctor.
Within a few minutes he had delivered a third baby.
"No, don't be in a hurry to put down that lantern, it seems there's yet another one coming!" cried the doctor.
The redneck scratched his head in bewilderment, and asked the doctor, "You reckon it might be the light that's attractin' 'em
Detailing life- getting hitched, marriage and motherhood...Just random rants and ramblings of everyday life:)Kindly tag before leaving! Chaand Alvin Logesh
First cry * 25th Jan 82
First love * 19th Sep 03
R.O.M * 04th May 05
Wedding * 06th July 07
Aditya's DOB * 14th Oct 08
Aditri's EDD * 09th June 19
(The MayPole)
(sometimes, tea is served this way in Indian restaurants)
Thats's me in my 5th month! 
Isnt it a pretty colour? I decided to make a scarf for my lil sister;Chandini so she can use it when she's here in Winter ;) yeah i know i am the "thoooo tweet
