exponent inspira

heimess rattles

2012-02-07T18:06:00.003+08:00

i can't help but love these. eco-friendly and baby safe.

{Heimess, at the better toy store}

2012-01-31T18:07:00.004+08:00

i almost couldn't believe it but am beginning to accept it...
we might be re-modelling once again.

this time, the floors. in the hope that we'll soundproof the apt.

i'm hoping for herringbone wood floors.

or herringbone tiles where the kitchen is concerned (*sob* i do like my faux-limestone flooring)

{those indigo tiles are so gorgeous, i feel like ripping my kitchen apart. good thing they are not available in singapore. tiles from Made a Mano}

Menagerie

2011-10-02T14:40:00.001+08:00

I am in love with this child's furniture set by Paloma's Nest available here:-

Baby Honey

2011-10-01T23:49:00.003+08:00

I don't normally like honey.

Nor I normally use it in cooking or baking.

But the packaging for this particular brand designed by Ah&Oh (what a cute name!) is too adorable at first glance - I just can't simply ignore it. :-)

(Images courtesy of Packaging of the World)

black and white

2011-09-28T14:59:00.003+08:00

from skona hem

dreamy alphabets

2011-09-21T22:10:00.002+08:00

i really want this.

from holli via papier mache

coyuchi

2011-09-21T22:08:00.001+08:00

so lovely...from coyuchi

the city breeds devils

2011-09-09T22:30:00.000+08:00

sometimes, the complaints this city makes cause the most unpleasant heartburn and makes my skin crawl...stroller-haters<--so.not.cool.

very hungry caterpillar

2011-09-01T16:42:00.001+08:00

so want to make this... by pure talent via this

paul smith's ark

2011-08-31T14:35:00.002+08:00

i've always been intrigued by tapestry and when E and i were at Bayeux some years ago we were indeed quite blown away.

i'm inspired by this paul smith ark needlepoint not only by its beauty but its price tag has me seriously wanting to make my own version of it... as usual martha to the rescue...

yo gabba gabba!

2011-08-31T12:58:00.004+08:00

we listen to the yo gabba gabba! soundtrack in the car. i always like this song by the roots and now there's a print to go with it...as my son would say "schwwwweeet!"

C likes this dance track a little too much...

and Anthony Bourdain looks so fish-out-of-water in this one, it's hilarious...

chez parnisse

2011-08-30T14:21:00.003+08:00

love this menu.

blabla

2011-08-29T16:16:00.003+08:00

so, i'm still thinking about this suitcase... think i found the perfect doll for both the boy and the girl. Blabla's dolls and mobiles are designed by Florence Wetterwald and handmade by Peruvian artisans. i love how cuddly they look.

i heart taro gomi

2011-08-20T18:32:00.005+08:00

i was at a day care facility the other day. the purpose of the visit was part of the domestic-affairs-contingency-plan that i had mapped out for my own peace of mind. and ever the alert mom, besides NOT paying attention to what the principal (who, curiously plays the role of a tour guide) was saying, i was scanning the day care center's library to see what books they stock. i have to say that i'm pretty impressed with what they were reading to the children, but this book, "My friends" by Taro Gomi (五味太郎), caught my eye. the author's name sounded mightily familiar and as soon as i got back to my office, i googled it. aha! we have one of his books, "Everyone Poops" but little did I know he's Japanese... I can't wait to get hold of his books in Japanese now... dreaming of that vacation to Japan...

living in a suitcase

2011-08-19T16:41:00.003+08:00

guess what this is... it's a little doll who lives in a suitcase!
i'm not a doll person (i'm not only not a doll person but i'm kinda ermmm... afraid of it) but with the introduction of a little girl into my life, i can't help but want to NOT deprive her of a doll experience. this one's sorta cute... it's actually VERY cute but I still have this background phobia humming in the back of my brain to totally embrace it... still, it's created by a genius (!)
found it via here...

Porn

2011-08-12T09:34:00.000+08:00

It's been eeriely quiet in blogsphere.

Exp has been busy with new bebe. And I'm nesting feverishly (on paper though) I still have not completed painting the chairs in some kind of gloss colours. But hey . . . at least I have got the carpenter coming in 2 weeks to build our crazy monstrous telly/media console. The poor carpenter must think we're his 2 worst nightmares.

Anyways, my porn magazine came in the mail yesterday - I was lusting over it in bed and promptly (and aptly) fell asleep with it.

What a wonderful day!

Green over Orange

2011-06-09T23:16:00.000+08:00

I am nesting. Feverishly.

Thoughts of green and orange.

(Images courtesy of The Knot)

swaddle lust

2011-04-20T16:09:00.004+08:00

aww, i really really love this... see how cute it is here?

but i already have swaddles for little babe

wanderlust, why do you have to find me at this time???

{from pinzon baby at amazon}

my kind of bling

2011-04-20T13:31:00.003+08:00

love all of them

{from emma cassi}

Assessment

2011-04-20T10:33:00.000+08:00

It's been weeks, okay, months since I last posted.

I have had to take a bit of time for myself to reassess myself. My life. Our lives. Where we are headed to. Our future.

As most of you would have known by now, we are pregnant with our second child. 19 weeks along today and quite a few more weeks to go before we welcome the lil' one.

This pregnancy has been a rather different experience from the one I experienced when I was pregnant with the girl. For one, I fell rather ill very early in the pregnancy and with that came the unnecessary worry and anxiety. And then the amniocentesis we opted to take. And although by the time I underwent the procedure (alone, mind you with M away in Sydney) I was pretty much calm and accepting of what HE had in store for me (us), it still was something different and foreign.

Fast track to the present, lil' bubs is doing pretty well and has been kind to me.

And with that (in between battling the on-off pukey feeling at odd hours of the day), the resolution to keep on doing that I have been before the "silence".

So in time, my posts to come will be more visually enticing (than this particular one).

softies

2011-04-18T14:18:00.003+08:00

thinking about softies... {from contemori and fine little day}

glam thoughts

2011-04-13T22:17:00.001+08:00

totally over-styled but something i aspire to... looking glam while surrounded by the aftermath of a toy-tornado. {from vogue}

wildlife pegs

2011-04-07T21:12:00.002+08:00

they will look so good on laundry lines and favor bags {from wildlife garden}

brita sweden

2011-04-01T19:39:00.005+08:00

{pretties from brita sweden}

the nesting...

2011-03-28T12:28:00.008+08:00

an art room for the kids from ikea blog - this will file away as a wishlist item unless the real estate market crashes and we could move into a 2000sqft apartment/house.

dwellstudio bookshelf... i prefer the bus for practical reason and the elephant for aesthetics plus the fact that my little boy now sings the nursery rhyme "大象，大象，你的鼻子怎么那么长？" whenever he sees one in his book or on tv. anyway, both the child's adorable-ness and the bookshelves cuteness melt my heart.

spotted this on piroutte blog and was assured that my decision to go for ikea's mammut was spot on in the stylish department. except, ikea now only offers pretty awful colors (why do they have to discontinue the red?) but the green of the mammut stool is fab and they do have the kritter chair in red (but, the silhouette is not as disney-landish like the mammut...

i'm probably obsessing too much about the home, doc said i'm exerting myself, and E couldn't agree more. how could it be? i'm born a multi-tasking octopus.

repurpose

2011-03-21T11:59:00.002+08:00

i have a Marimekko Pepe fabric which was affixed to an artist canvas to be hung in the little boy's room. Alas! My mom dislikes it so much that it's been put away behind a dresser. I'm thinking of repurposing it as a quilted playmat for the kids - that way, we can put it away whenever the sight irks my mom - hee!

p.s. the mom seems to dislike all marimekko fabric in my home - gray Unikko and orange Hurmio... oh well...

{from purl bee}

Purple Love

2011-03-17T21:36:00.000+08:00

I am not usually a "rose person" per se. But I do occasionally love the unexpected indulgence.

This beautiful arrangement is from my friends (one of whom arranged to have the bouquet delivered to the office before she flew to Europe for her holidays!).

A wonderful floral surprise for my 36th. :-)

canary forest

2011-03-11T14:26:00.001+08:00

so in love with this print from ferm living

{images from family living and ferm living}

chartruese and pink

2011-03-10T14:06:00.002+08:00

sometimes i wish i was more gutsy with colors... chartreuse, mustard, hot pink.

{from elle interior and family living}

lanky

2011-03-02T17:39:00.000+08:00

loving extra tall flora and fauna indoors

{from formations}

miniature

2011-03-01T16:25:00.002+08:00

thinking about little babe ... i adore the little bloomers :)

{from noa noa miniature}

A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far Away . . .

2011-02-28T21:18:00.001+08:00

Caught up with one of my favourite families over brunch here.

I love the mocha and the brioche french toast (with mascarpone and apricot jam). M loved his crab cakes (the best he had ever in Singapore, he happily proclaimed). And Nad actually ate quite a bit of the macaroni and cheese.

The best bit though - the early birthday pressie I received from Exp and family:

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

It's a DREAM!!!

Thank you Exp and family! I can't believe you remembered my "dream". I'll be sure to send some over when I bake some using the cutters. :-)

BHLDN

2011-02-20T22:00:00.001+08:00

I'm barely out of the woods - I'm still feeling a bit under the weather but am getting there. 'Eck, if I spent half an hour in the bathroom cleaning - that ought to be a sign that I am getting better, no?

Anthropologie's new bridal collection - BHLDN:

au naturale

2011-02-18T12:36:00.003+08:00

ever since the research i'd done on fabrics and the types of weave when i was selecting one for my wedding dress, i'd realized why synthetics have always felt scratchy against my skin. i've tried to steer clear of them ever since and in all earnesty, try to have silks, linens and cottons in my family wardrobe and our soft furnishings. these videos are so beautiful and do the natural fabric much justice, in my opinion.

BE LINEN MOVIE from Benoit MILLOT on Vimeo.

via here and here.

thinking pink

2011-02-17T22:04:00.002+08:00

buying for a baby girl is sooo hard. it wasn't hard to buy for the little boy, the selections are usually quite understated and that suits my taste better, i'm having a hard time buying pink stuff since most of the time, it's creepily "princessy-pink". (please, do we need to start the princess-complex at this young age?) but yesterday, while having a crabby day, i sought out the foolproof retail therapy and came across this set from petit bateau...sets my heart aflutter.

sophie

2011-02-17T16:37:00.004+08:00

good thing i didn't see this when i was in Nordstrom in Seattle. Otherwise...i just might have to lug a mini suitcase home.

things we love

2011-02-11T14:14:00.001+08:00

things we love book from kate spade

canvas

2011-02-10T13:27:00.005+08:00

back to home improvements... having recently succeeded in a sewing project, i could beat my chest and go on to scale greater molehills... a little less-than-two-year-old tot in my household has turned a little playcorner to a mish-mash of books, easels, puzzles, toy-cars garages. i have my eye on this, my experience with this ikea series has been wonderful and i firmly believe in getting solid wood furniture because it lasts and is therefore an eco-friendlier choice than plastics (in my opinion anyways). so my molehill is to create a tufted seat for the toy box so that its destiny as a dual-function piece of furnture could be fulfilled. choice of fabric, silk velvet. color, undecided, but i'm leaning toward dove-grey-hint-of-mauve. i'm hoping to get the technique of piping right from the get-go. did i mention i'm extraordinarily capable of creating molehills out of mountains?

these pictures from canvas are giving rush of inspiration on color choices...

black, white and fuschia

2011-02-07T16:43:00.002+08:00

{from brides mag}

alphabet dreams

2011-02-07T11:34:00.002+08:00

my boy and i went to shop for yarn on sat. to make a lacy blanket for his little sister. alas, all the colors were a little froufrou for me (pinks! purples!) and i gravitated toward browns and greys. apprehensive about my own drab choices, i wimped out and chose a wool-alpaca mix in cream. the little boy is recognizing alphabets now... what about a creamy pillow for fluffy dreams of abc-land?

{beauties from pilosale}

nature and rain

2011-01-31T13:42:00.003+08:00

still inspired by nature via remodelista. i'm loving the rainy season we are having here...

feeling a little rustic

2011-01-25T16:00:00.002+08:00

bamboo, jute and kraft
{pictures from livebeautiful and pipii}

bathing beauty

2011-01-24T14:39:00.004+08:00

a colleague had kindly lent me discontinued issues of martha stewart baby magazines when i was pregnant with C and i'm re-reading them and still finding the articles thoroughly engaging. the very clever team at ms has tons of pictures from these old issues on their website. i love this collage on bathing baby. from here.

awash

2011-01-23T21:15:00.006+08:00

my little babe in utero is giving me watercolor dreams. i think i might not be able to resist the idea of buying these fabrics from Nani Iro (available from fabric tales) and making her supersoft sheets.

postscript: there are some concerns about sewing double gauze. these instructions seem very helpful. here and here.

p.p.s. bought my nani iro fabrics (on sale!) from miss matatabi. can't wait!

earthy blush with robin's egg

2011-01-22T02:38:00.003+08:00

warm neutrals, blush and teal
{pictures from lonny mag jan.feb.2011}

about stripes

2011-01-21T12:16:00.004+08:00

and... adorable dots

{pictures from kate spade, studio kudos, good on paper and ikea sofia, elisabet and tott }

orange sky

2011-01-20T22:25:00.002+08:00

orange, red and sky.
{cheree berry from martha stewart weddings}

a kate spade girl

2011-01-19T14:09:00.001+08:00

this isn't new news, but i still think about it once in a while.
{cheree berry for kate spade}

watercolors

2011-01-19T13:32:00.001+08:00

i'm constantly in awe of geniuses' who could whip up tactile beauty with ease and grace.
{from jordan ferney}

baby brain

2011-01-18T22:30:00.002+08:00

with a new baby coming, i know how handy it is to have changing mats within reach. these make excellent portable ones. wipe-clean laminated cotton on one side, soft terry cloth on the other.

{from boqinana}

rustic earthy orange

2011-01-18T14:06:00.002+08:00

orange, slate gray, dark brown, taupe and de Gournay... how i love thee!
{pictures from Massucco Warner Miller via coco+kelly}

chartreuse

2011-01-17T21:36:00.003+08:00

these images are pure genius of color. i've been thinking about them since i saw them over the weekend. {pictures from Rebecca Thuss}

Golden Rule

2011-01-16T21:30:00.000+08:00

I am sorting out the artwork to be put up in the girl's room once it is done.

I am loving this father and son marker-pen and letterpress collaboration:

(Image courtesy of Studio of Fire via Best Pieces)

transient ways

2011-01-15T21:16:00.003+08:00

plotting my wallpapering adventure from this lonny mag tip ...{background from nama rococo}

spring comes to mind

2011-01-15T11:48:00.002+08:00

spring party {pictures from rebecca thuss}

2011-01-15T07:18:00.002+08:00

aye, i thought i was over christmas... not! this is simply brilliant...from dottie angel via the style files

making dreamland sweeter

2011-01-15T02:37:00.005+08:00

i saw inspira's post and i had to laugh. i was thinking about crib sheets all day. amongst other baby/toddler things. i'm eyeing organic cotton fabrics from cloud 9 and whimsical designs from free spirit. and yes, who can forget instructions. see here and here.

{cloud9 fabrics; parisville by tula pink; kumari gardens by dena designs; circus by felicity miller}

postscript: found more instructions: here and here.

Quarter-back

2011-01-14T11:51:00.000+08:00

I've been hovering around home. For the most part.

Recuperating from an incredulous (is that a word?) year past.

And plotting what's ahead.

Nesting.

This quarter, the girl's room will be worked on. I have it all figured out and planned. Sketches made (remember that I am crazy and obsessive compulsive) and finally, the crib sheet I sewed some time ago with this fabric can finally be used (I'm crazy - again. I have this thing that if the room is not completely done, no using of sheets or anything for that matter, meant for that room. I am crazy. Again.)

I'm looking forward to working on the room.

First, to the paint shop.

i love long candles

2011-01-05T14:40:00.001+08:00

so tempted to get these prismera candles...

spice rack

2011-01-05T14:29:00.003+08:00

it is more of my dream to have a children's library in the home than my son's. so i'm delighted to find that my son enjoys "reading" and will quietly look at his picture books on his own. his collection swells up pretty quickly thanks to my mom-in-law and lots of hand me downs. i've been racking my brains over how to store his books, until i saw this brilliant idea by Domestic Simplicity (via Ohdeedoh)using modest BEKVÄM spice rack. sounds like we are headed for another Ikea trip...

{pictures of kelly weastler's home library and from domestic simplicity}

shimmer

2011-01-04T01:50:00.005+08:00

we were giddy with excitement. imagine, celebrating your wedding anniversary sans the crowd, with exceedingly good food, with people you love: my mom, my son and my mom's friend who's known me since i was a munchkin. my mom treated us to a buffet spread at Rise. thanks mom! bubbly as i was, i took in the poshness of the hotel/mall/casino. amidst muted palettes of taupes, deep greys and camel were shimmery crystals and abundant natural light (we went for lunch). shimmer, time to introduce that to the home, which reminds me of this - the owner used mirrors as picture mats and the effect was --- sparkly! {from freunde von freunden}.

knobs and frames

2011-01-03T11:43:00.003+08:00

the previous owner had a built-in closet in my son's room in the fashion of late 80's-early 90's laminate style. i had wanted to get rid of it but husband and mom outvoted me. so it stayed and remained an eyesore (to me). as a consolation prize, i could do "stuff" to it. so i removed all the mismatched knobs (for some reason, each door has two knobs in it) and replaced them with michael aram's pebbled knobs (he was offering them at a 2-for-1 sale and was giving free shipping). alas, for some reason, i messed up and bought 2 fewer knobs than was needed. now that i'm headed for seattle soon, it gives me a chance to cosy up to Anthropologie and buy some pretty hardware. A pair of this calico owl will jazz things up a bit.

And this frames wallpaper will go up to change the facade of that eyesore.

she likes it

2011-01-02T23:03:00.003+08:00

pillow's done, dog's pretty happy with it. problem is, my son likes it too. the dog always lets him win.

i didn't follow the instructions entirely, i only used one bed pillow and i left one side open.

This Is The New Year

2011-01-02T20:44:00.001+08:00

Another year you made a promise

Another chance to turn it all around

And do not save this for tomorrow

Embrace the past and you can live for now

And I will give the world to you.

- Ian Axel

(Video courtesy of Ian Axel vide here)

toasty versus minty

2010-12-30T16:56:00.003+08:00

still dreaming... my christmas to-do list for next year includes making reindeer garlands, shimmery buntings and paper flowers, and gingerly attempt a toasty crochet throw, not forgetting, streamers of turquoise silk moire ribbons down from the tree.

{pictures from toast and house and home}

the do-list

2010-12-29T13:58:00.002+08:00

number one: always have dark doors and have fun with them

number two: always have chinoiserie in a neutral backgroud framed with raw, grained wood

number three: have special candlesticks so that your home has a reason to glow

{pictures from marie claire maison, hall instanbul, ted muehling}

ideas and to-dos

2010-12-28T11:43:00.003+08:00

christmas has come and gone but i'm still romanticizing it. this is the best time to gather ideas for what to do the next year, since the whole town has quietened down in anticipation of the countdown.

i realize i like my tree simple. we used the ikea kallt spruce lights (they were heavily discounted) and they are so cute. i wish i could find these snowflakes to adorn the rest of the home ...

on to next project, cinnamon desperately needs a living room pillow to chill out ... these rug pillows seem to nail it. this calls for making a trip to ikea to get the signe rugs - we need to bring our tree back to ikea for recycling anyway...

{pictures from kjerstis lykke via remodelista, lena corwin and martha stewart }

meri meri

2010-12-10T23:36:00.004+08:00

having party brain...but i don't bake cupcakes...boo...

{fun stuff from meri meri store}

postscript: motherswork at tanglin mall carries the entire range of meri meri party goodies.

Christmas Tree, Fairy Lights

2010-12-10T11:41:00.000+08:00

This post is dedicated to Exp and E.

They are (probably?) still debating the good and bad points about a Christmas tree (to put things in perspective, the debate in the Huda household will be something like this:-

Me : Shall we get a christmas tree?

M : Not now. When everything is done.

Me : But . . . but . . . it'll look soo pretty. Please.

M : No. Later.

Me : (exasperated look on). Now. Please.

M : WTH! Why do you still ask me if you want it now anyway with my opinion given? Go get it then.

Me : :-( (But secretly happy and pulling or lugging M to the store)

(Image courtesy of A Merry Mishap)

So, this gem of a christmas tree from A Merry Mishap could be the merry, happy compromise between Exp and E. It's so do-able within an hour..(?) and budget friendly and packs easily into a storage box at the end of the festivities. :-)

oh the garlands!

2010-12-10T01:31:00.002+08:00

are you feeling the holiday spirit yet?

handmade paper bunting and flower garland from toast.

Fee Fi Fo Fum

2010-12-07T12:06:00.001+08:00

My daughter - the ever posing 18 month old.

With Fifi Lapin (or at least the lookalike life-sized cardboard version of the bunny).

Kooky Love

2010-11-28T21:30:00.000+08:00

It's the last weekend of November.

I've been in a nesting mode.

Dreaming. Plotting of homely stuff to do and get myself into.

I'm done with the Christmas shopping(!) Crazy I know since it's not even the end of the November but hey, I am planning to avoid the crazy crowd in the city nearing Christmas. I rather spend the days I have chilling at home, wrapping the gifts (oh, how I love having brown kraft paper, red and white wrapping papers, ribbons, baker's twin, tags etc all strewn on the floor of our study room as I dream up ways to package the little gifts I purchased for my friends).

Today, M indulged my crazy nesting mode and hoover-ed (or vacuumed, in local language) the entire apartment (upstairs and downstairs, thank you very much). Then I mopped the floors, and washed the kitchen washroom.

And I baked. Cookies. Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies.

30 pieces. 30 minutes.

Mmmm . . . .

Park-ing my Love

2010-11-19T23:07:00.000+08:00

I finally found the best reason to drag M out of bed at 8.00am on a rainy Saturday morning to hang out at the Singapore Botanic Gardens - photography session courtesy of Oh, Dear! Photography --> thanks Melody!

Classical Beauties

2010-11-17T22:10:00.001+08:00

I am contemplating getting these Penguin classics available at Anthropologie for myself and for Nadine to ~~read~~ reread and experience when she is older.

(Images courtesy of Anthropologie)

Lace & Rubbish

2010-11-07T20:45:00.000+08:00

When I laid eyes on this cake topper by Lace and Rubbish, I think of Exp and E:

Beautiful customised toppers. All handmade with something recycled in each creation.

Tres chic!

I Want To Hold Your Hand

2010-11-01T13:51:00.007+08:00

WARNING for Locals: Stop. Do not read any further if you do not want to know anything about Season 2 of Glee.

I've been lunching in the office the last week or so. Surfing the silicon world. Flickr-ing. YouTube-ing.

And rather absent-mindedly, I stumbled (ok, I purposely did a search but I was dying to know!) upon an old upbeat song by The Beatles sung by Chris Colfer's Kurt Hummel in an entirely slow and heart-wrenching arrangement.

I had good food for lunch (I cooked and brought for lunch, by the way) and there I was bawling as I slowly chewed on my eggplant and basmati rice.

Don't believe how heart-wrenching the arrangement is? Listen for yourself:

(Video courtesy of GummyBearGleeks2 via here)

And for The Beatles' virgins, here's the original:

(Video courtesy of bucket0steaz via here)

LEG-O-M-G!

2010-10-23T23:24:00.000+08:00

OMG!

For those who know me - they know I hyperventilate at the mere sight of LEGO.

And storage boxes under licence from LEGO that look and work (read: stack) like the actual LEGO we play when we were kids - I was gobsmacked to say the least. This is way better than porn.

I wonder if my brother in law is going to think I just lost my mind if I ordered a whole load and deliver them to his pad.

(Images courtesy of Store)

Fifi

2010-10-18T14:56:00.000+08:00

When I was in London mid-September, the world's most stylish bunny had her book out.

I saw it first in Foyles.

I instantly thought of Exp.

(Image courtesy of Amazon)

Let's Eat (More) Cake

2010-10-15T00:43:00.000+08:00

I'm sorry.

I can't have enough of 'em cakes:

(Images courtesy of Sweet & Saucy Shop)

Let Us Eat Cake

2010-10-15T00:33:00.002+08:00

M's cousin is getting married early next year in Seattle and we're going for their 1st wedding reception in Delhi in October, and then hopefully to their 2nd one in Seattle the year after.

My friend and unofficial official dressmaker may also be getting married. Soon-ish. Well, I think they may get married. 'Eck - blame the boyfriend who suggested that my friend join him to look for an apartment together. Does that count as a proposal?

Anyways, I am dreaming again. It's a good thing - dreaming.

. . . Of cakes.

Beautiful, sculptural, whimsical wedding cakes, no less.

(All images courtesy of Maggie Ausin Cake)

Pen Love

2010-10-14T11:25:00.001+08:00

I.so.want.this:

(Image courtesy of DBA)

Crimson Goodbyes

2010-10-11T23:12:00.001+08:00

(Image courtesy of Martha Stewart)

M, Nadine and I are safely back home on the sunny island.

We are all doing fine and better than I initially thought upon learning of my mother-in-law's death.

I'm glad though that the funeral organised for my mother-in-law had an atmosphere akin to that of an autumn afternoon soiree. Everyone wore red of some sort - her favourite colour. Her coffin was draped in red. Did I tell you that the leaves even turned crimson red? We stayed up late that night and just yakked away - it was amazing.

Thank you to those who sent us emails and text-messages. They kept us sane and grounded and strong - thank you. We could not have been where we are now without your support.

Time

2010-10-01T08:22:00.000+08:00

We just did a u-turn and returned to London.

Whilst I am still grieving over a life lost - my mom in law - I am proud that I have a story to tell Nadine about her fiercely independent, very proud and strong grandmother. The same one after whom she is named.

The past few days, I have "lived" on Powderfinger and at odd hours of the day when I do manage to have a quiet time for myself, I hear The Byrds' Turn! Turn! Turn! playing in my head:

(Video courtesy of Salesavalar vide Youtube)

petit thoughts

2010-09-20T16:50:00.001+08:00

loving french nursery songs... time to learn the language seriously...

and the bizarre Alouette appeals to me immensly too ....

Heath

2010-09-19T04:13:00.001+08:00

M and I walked with Nadine to Hampstead Heath after visiting my mom-in-law at the hospital.

The sun was shining bright in the somewhat chilly autumn weather.

Pryors Fields and Hampstead Pond are a beautiful sight.

I can see why the houses in the area are amongst the most expensive in this ctity.

Red Roses

2010-09-10T23:38:00.003+08:00

It's Eid ul-Fitr today.

It's bittersweet for me - my mother-in-law is currently in the ICU and M has flown back to London a few nights ago to be with her. Whilst I am keeping to a routine with Nadine, my mind sometimes drifts to thoughts of my mother-in-law.

I bought a bunch of red roses today. My mother-in-law's favourite flowers - red roses.

The roses are just what our home needs today.

Ps. I will be away for a while from blog-land the next couple of weeks trying to organise packing, travel schedules and hospital visits.

Cruz-ing

2010-09-03T09:00:00.001+08:00

Eid ul-Fitr is exactly a week from today.

We still have loads to do in terms of spring-cleaning and what nots. Our CDs and DVDs are arranged on the floor alphabetically waiting to go into the white Kassett boxes we lugged from Ikea last weekend. These will be done and completed this weekend. I am sure.

I need to clean out the fridge, the master-bedroom bathroom's vanity, shoe cabinet, Nadine's changing table. The list is long. Thankfully, it's simple "can-be-done-in-an-hour" kind of job which I can do after I get home from my usual day job.

So, whilst spring cleaning, I realise that our collection of bedspreads have dwindled. You see, when we started using M's Australian mattress (their Queen sized mattress is longer than the local Queen), shopping for sheets on this island is a nightmare. So we had to rely on the few sheets M have had since his Aussie days (yikes!) and my foresight to purchase a few whilst in Sydney last year. Thankfully, our duvet is a "universal" king-sized one which means, I can get a hold ofa decent one without having to fly 3,925 kilometres to Sydney to purchase a couple of duvet covers.

So I traipsed to Robinsons yesterday at lunch.

Duvet covers are frigging expensive in Singapore! I mean, these things cost over $150.00!

So after walking around for 10 minutes, looking at somewhat similar looking designed and coloured duvet covers, I decided to get a Kas-designed duvet. Perfect - Australian. M will be happy.

So, I settled on this to compromise on the masculinity and feminity in the master-bedroom.

Ps. Sorry folks - no pictures today. I will be better in the next post - promise!

Drawing a Cook

2010-08-23T00:38:00.001+08:00

I have been having a ball this weekend (in between cleaning out our home in preparation for Eid ul-Fitr, popping into Ikea and spending time with Nad) going through all the illustrated recipes submitted by artists from around the globe.

They Draw and Cook even have a kids' (16 and under) version. Check it out here.

(All images are courtesy of (from top): Kaitlyn McCane; Wendy Edelson; Kajetana Fidler; James Gulliver Hancock all via They Draw and Cook)

IKEA, I heart you

2010-08-20T13:19:00.001+08:00

I hyperventilated and went weak in the knees as I stood in front of the mailbox on early Thursday morning on the way to work.

My Ikea catalog arrived. Yes. MY Ikea catalog. All mine!

I promptly brought it to work. Careful not to crease the corners. This is after all, going to last me a whole year. The same one that I will find myself perusing even in bed, trying to lull myself to sleep, thinking of the beauty of affordable-for-the- masses Scandinavian design.

You betcha I am still hugging my Ikea catalog. :-P

And it's already Friday!

Ps. M has not rolled his eyes and started his "sermon" about how the magazine is contributing to global warning. But if he is listening (or reading), he'll be pleased to know that Ikea uses pulp from certified forests and totally free chlorine paper. It's a step forward.

OOOOreOOO

2010-08-17T17:27:00.001+08:00

Staying home on a lovely Tuesday (it's pouring outside now), looking after a sick toddler is a full-time job.

I didn't manage to clean the study (which I had mentally prepared for) or cleaned the kitchen (which I had hoped) or even do anything remotely home-ly or wife-ly.

To save myself, I think I will do a quick bread and butter pudding later for after-dinner. It'll be simple chinese seafood (by seafood, I mean only prawns) fried rice later for dinner if you must know.

Anyways, whilst silicon exploring earlier for lemon cookies recipe, I came across this:

(Amazing delectable photo of One Girl Cookies "cake" courtesy of stylishy fab Camille Styles)

Just give me a glass of cold milk and an oreo - I'll sit in the corner. Happy.

poketo for target

2010-08-11T15:55:00.003+08:00

poketo for target lookbook is up and i'm loving the designs of leah chun as well as spotting the adorable pooch in the video jeana sohn made.

ikea ps sinka

2010-08-11T00:09:00.006+08:00

on the prowl for a neat little cabinet to store knick-knacks and accessories, i told my husband i would go the budget route. one day, i chanced upon an ikea cabinet that i thought would go for a song. wrong (!) the PS Sinka costs a pretty penny (of SGD599). very pretty but i don't have the budget for it. i'm sobbing and prowling (again) ...

{image from Lo Bjurulf/Agent Bauer}

Spice Girl

2010-08-09T18:03:00.000+08:00

It's the long National Day weekend here on this sunny isle.

Happy 45th Singapore!

You've come a long way from that that tiny fishing village island in the Straits or as what most people would know from maps - that little red dot.

The long weekend has seen me painting the new side and coffee storage tables we purchased from Ikea; Cleaning out the spice rack - threw out the old ones and am now starting to build a new one. We only have the basic spices we need for our daily cooking and baking and grilling needs at the moment but I am sure that in time, our precious cupboard real estate will be filled with more jars of spices.

(Nadine's repurposed food jars)

kimura

2010-08-06T17:18:00.001+08:00

loving romo's kimura in turmeric
{images from m.design and apartment therapy}

by your side

2010-08-04T14:46:00.003+08:00

curiously, all these images remind me of snugs, daybreak, rainy days and sade

{images from ashley meaders and mav}

baleine

2010-08-02T10:40:00.002+08:00

baleine sounds nicer than whale

{nautical nostalgia by Caitlin Hinshelwood}

blue bell gray

2010-07-30T11:12:00.001+08:00

colors to perk up a rainy day
{from Bluebellgray}

corrugated goodness

2010-07-29T12:08:00.002+08:00

i love its whimsy-ness, reminds me of this

{images from The Selby - Herve Pierre's pad}

Blessings in a Bag

2010-07-29T10:32:00.002+08:00

So I have been cleaning out Nadine's things in the hopes of starting the wall works (ie. stenciling silhouettes of birds) and working towards completing the nursery. Finally. Maybe in time for Eid ul-Fitr this year. Hopefully.

So, Nadine apparently has a gazillion number of too-small-for-her-bodysuits and separates (a few of which are unworn at all!) stashed in storage boxes.

Because I was (and still am) against buying stuff blatantly pink and frilly and frou frou, most of Nad's clothing are gender-neutral (think white, yellow, green and a couple of reds and purples). And yes, in case you want to know, I do want to have another child sometime not too long down the road to pass these down but I don't think s/hewill need like 50 pieces of body suits in his/her first 6 months of life.

So the hunt began for needy families and organisations who may find a few baby's clothes and toys useful. And thanks to a friend who pointed me to the right direction, I am probably going to get in touch with Blessings in a Bag.

Better still, we're all headed to Phuket at the end of the year, we may yet lug a couple of bags over for the kiddos in Phuket! I'm excited at this possibility.

So this Sunday, happy from the trip to Ikea I will be I am sure, M, Nadine and I will delve deep into the storage boxes and sort out what can be given away. And since we're at it, a trip to Popular to get some school stuff all bagged up at the same time to donate.

sand under my feet

2010-07-28T15:39:00.002+08:00

saving up for this rug