My First Baked Pasta

... was a success :-)

Here's the recipe:

1. Cook the Pasta (elbow macaroni). Undercook it for 5 minutes.

2. Prepare the Sauce.

Heat 3tbsp. butter, add 3tbsp olive oil. Add 1/4kg minced lean beef. Add 3 or more cloves of garlic.

Add 1/4kg of ham, thinly sliced, 1 small can of button mushrooms, sliced, 1 diced red bell pepper. 1tsp of chopped basil leaves. Add 1 1/2 - 2 cups of pasta sauce (i used prego's mushroom and garlic). Add 2-3 tbsp brown sugar. Boil and simmer.

3. Prepare the Topping.

Melt 1/3 cup of butter (anchor), add 3 tbsp flour. Stir in 2c water. Stir in 1c evaporated milk (carnation). Add half a block of kraft cheddar cheese, half a block of philadelphia cream cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Toss the pasta and sauce. Pour in baking dish. Pour topping, make sure to cover all the pasta and seal the edges. Bake at 180deg. 20-25 minutes.

5. Enjoy with your favorite bread and ice cold Coke! :-)

How to Celebrate an Auspicious Lunar New Year

I got this from a flyer on Chinese New Year Festivities. Btw, the Lunar Year of the Tiger starts on 14 February 2010.


DO'S

• Stock up with plenty of food
• Have new, fashionable clothes ----> I like this :-)
• Celebrate with sumptuous feasts
• Put away all brooms, brushes, dusters and dustpans
• Have new furnishings
• All rooms must be brightly lit and cheerful

DON'TS

• Do not wear black
• No crying. Unless they are tears of joy.
• Do not stop shopping. ----> As in? hahhaa
• No trashing of rubbish during the first 5 days of the new year
• Do not eat congee or porridge
• Do not wash your hair on 1st day

The world is flat...

..and so are my shoes. I want them flat, comfy yet chic and stylish. I haven't been using heels since we moved to Singapore except for special occasions .. and whenever we go out the little girl is with us and puro lakaran so it is really very convenient to wear flats.

Black ballet flats has always been a staple in my wardrobe. My favorite pair from Zara has become my daily uniform 'cause its super comfy and it goes with almost everything in my closet ... its really a favorite so I have to save it and find reinforcement :-)

When hubby and I went for a stroll in the mall after our "first-ever movie-date" here in Singapore...we stopped by at Tod's (Sale!) just to take a look and "appreciate" the merchandise ... no budget eh so window-shopping lang talaga :-)

Saw these flats on sale @ around SGD 400-600. Not exactly the colors and styles that I wanted and saw at the shop but very close ---

Then, I ended up buying this one from Charles and Keith at 50% off :-)

These, on the other hand, are nice to have too ...

Miu Miu Flats

Tory Burch Reva

more miu miu's

and this, i think is the shoe, also a miu miu, which "inspired" the one i got from Charles & Keith. This miu miu used to be priced at around $400 something and i got my version for only sgd 27 (even at its original price sgd 55)...quite a steal!

This year ...

Want to 'generate' your own new year's resolution? try this - http://moninavelarde.com/newyears/

Prada's "eye-candy" Collection

Since I came to Singapore, I have never entered a Prada store nor looked closely into it's display windows, until I saw this bag -

...love the color, the material and the hip design :-)

But since, there's no way I can afford to buy any expensive item at this time :-( I just browsed through the rest of the collection over the web and here are some numbers which I liked ...

and, i love this black dress! --

A Prayer for Haiti

"Heavenly Father,

It is with a heavy heart that we come to you, not necessarily knowing what we should ask for because many of us are wondering, 'Why did this happen? Why has tragedy struck Haiti again and why do so many lives have to be lost again? Why has this beautiful island been struck by a catastrophic earthquake and ruined?' But as many questions as we have regarding the situation, we still humble ourselves before you to ask for your mercy to be upon Haiti and its people. Extend your hand upon the land and restore all that has been lost, destroyed and damaged to be better than it was before. As rescue teams search for casualties, give them foresight. May they be led by your wisdom, and encouraged by your strength and advised by your discernment. There are yet people who are surviving and I pray that the rescue workers would find them in time and revive them. For the lives that will be lost, we pray for immediate comfort to come to the family and friends of the deceased. For those of us who are watching this unfold from the outside, I pray that you would give us hearts of compassion so that we can give out of our surplus to fill the deficit that is widening in Haiti. May we all extend ourselves in any way possible to secure our brothers and sisters in Haiti. And may every prayer regarding this tragedy be heard and responded to in your good time.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen"

Blued

Play Kitchen

I really like to have this play kitchen as a Christmas present for my daughter. I'm absolutely sure she will love it!


So cute, isn't it?

It's got a pretend induction hob (they call hot plate) that has light diodes that can be switched on and off, plenty of storage space for pretend food, a sink and a top section with 'microwave'. It's got height adjustable legs so it can grow with the child :-) One thing that sets it apart from most play kitchens in the market is that it's made from fibreboard and birch plywood, making it a safe and sturdy buy.

What's even great is that you can accessorize this with play utensils, cutlery, pots and pans, dinnerware & tea and coffee set...all from IKEA.

All of these are miniatures and made of stainless steel. Tested and approved for food contact :-)

I might just have to pass on the dinnerware and teaset, though it's made of tough stoneware, still it is breakable and thus not very safe for my fragile little one.

And by the way, i also thought this would go well with the kiddie chair & table we bought for her earlier this year, now we have to convert it to a dining set once we get this kitchen set :-) I just love IKEA!

Shoulderbrella

We've all been in that situation at least once....it's raining and you are lugging some shopping bags or bags of groceries or whatever.. you're hands are full that makes it impossible for you to hold an umbrella.

As usual, someone from Japan came up with an ingenious solution, the Shoulderbrella ---

It really looks practical and useful but I'm not sure if I would actually use one, hehe, maybe if a lot are already using it , it looks kinda weird :-) But, for a mommy like me who usually goes out with a toddler in tow, this is definitely a great 'invention'. Whether I am carrying her or seated on her stroller, both my hands would be full to hold an umbrella. It always rains or drizzles in Singapore pa :-)

Happy Nose?

Patawa to. We went to Raffles Place last night and as I was looking around some stalls full of novelty stuff, this caught my attention --

Read the caption:

In order to make your little nose clearer, more beautiful and full of happiness, this product is necessary for your nose!

hahahaha, funny!

Kiddie Chair and Table

My little girl loves to 'read' and write and color ...and to sit on chairs (big or small) that's why I've been searching for the perfect table and chair for her for few months now. It's just hard to find the one with all the features I want -- cute (nice color and material), safe for a toddler to use, and NOT expensive. All the ones I saw are either nice and expensive or cheap but not safe .


I was just so delighted when I saw this on display at IKEA -

I really find it cute. My girl could use it both for her "art" activities and mealtimes as well. Just the right size and height, think it would work well for her age. The table and chairs seems very sturdy. The base material is solid beech and the table/seat is fibreboard with acrylic paint. Amara is a climber, so I know that as soon as my back is turned, she'll be on top of almost anything. But even though I won't allow her to climb on it, I know if she happens to get up there, it'll be fine. And, the BIG PLUS is, the price is very reasonable!



The only problem I have with it is , the table top is white. I am pretty sure she will mess this up they way she did with our white walls hehe. I guess, my next challenge would be to find something which I can use to color&mess-proof it with.



One more thing I liked about this set is that it won't really be an eyesore i fyou have to you place it in your bedroom, living room or even in the kitchen (if you have a big one). Think it could blend-in nicely in rooms like these-

The bad news news is....it's out of stock!!! hayyy. Still have to wait. Hope we would get it in time for my daughter's 2nd birthday, would definitely be a nice present for her :-)

Ikea Annual Clearance Sale

Ferragamo's Sofia Bag

I was never a fan of Ferragamo bags but im seriously liking this one --

Very simple yet functional. Seems perfect for everyday use and not-so-formal office-wear. The leather seems nice, plus the bag features both a top handle and a removable shoulder strap, making it a good choice if you're always on the run.

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

One great talent...

Thank you for your music. May you rest in peace.

Zara Sale Starts Today!

Yehey! I've been waiting for this since the start of the GSS, thats why i've been holding off "non-essential" purchases ...Except for some good buys i got from this --

So far, after going to three MNG outlets, i just got two pieces of white tops and a mini-dress, buti na lang....still have some budget left for Zara hehe :-)