My lesson for the day

Not to accept the responsibility of organizing something until I fully understand what it entails. If it gets too much, learn to say no.

Not to listen to niggling voices. Some people just love to complain. Its THEIR issues, not mine. DO NOT accept the responsibility of helping them. They would need to help themselves, not me.

If they commit to something and offer to pay me first. ACCEPT IT! They may forget to pay me later. Especially since they might change their mind later and I have already paid for them first. I keep on losing money this way. Its time for me to learn this lesson well.

Stay away from toxic people. They wear me down.

I will concentrate on people who can make me into a better person. Life is too short to dwell on the small stuff.

I will learn my lessons well so I don't have to keep on repeating them.

Thank you Allah for the oppurtunities for me to learn.

Chocolate delight

I attended a "chocolate" class with Chef MM For me, these classes are not just about the knowledge about food that I obtained but also the friends I meet and the different cultures I get to learn.



D & B are preparing the chocolate truffles. The three of us took cooking classes at Four seasons about 2 years ago. It was great to catch up with them again.




Peach salad



Chocolate parfait with peach salad



Chocolate Mousse with chilli sauce



Chef MM showed us how to roll the chocolate truffles in our palms before dunking them in cocao powder.



I had so much fun and had a huge chocolate rush that I forgot to take more pictures of the truffles! Since it was a toss up between sampling the food and taking photographs, guess which one I chose to do?


Since then I have made some chocolate mousse and its a hit!

Just for today

I am glad that I have someone to clean and polish the house new again, after it looked like a whirlwind swept through it.

I am thankful that I have a husband who is supportive of my dreams, ideas and hobbies. I cannot thank Allah enough for the love he has given me.

I am grateful that we are in the financial position to afford more than just what we need. A good education for our child is within our means. That its not a toss up between a meal or the child going to school.

I am honoured that we have friends who enjoy our company. Who seek us out even when we don't feel like going out to socialize. Its a gift really to have friends who love you and enjoy your company.

I am happy that I have the freedom to choose. Whether it is the best for my child, the convenience for me or the joy for us.

I will concentrate on the wonderful things I have in my life. And my health will be better in no time at all.

When a door of opportunity closes, another one will open.

Let it be so.

The Best part of my day...

Was when the Little One could express "I love you" to me unsolicited. She even said it with a smile in her sleepy face.

Was when my DH appreciated the simple dishes I cook for dinner today.

I am lucky that I am loved.

Cooking class with Chef Marianne Mussi

Starter

Potato creme soup
Served with spiced sausage, crispy coutons
And Sherry fillet

Main course

Oregano/lemon stuffed chicken
Potato rosti and parsley Fume

Dessert

Vanilla parfait with caramel sauce
And strawberry salad

Chef MM made everything looked so easy and everything we, yes we all had a hand in preparing the food we got to eat, made was amazingly delicious from simple ingredients that can be bought locally.

The potato creme soup was smooth and delicious. the sausage added an extra zing and the fish added another texture for the soup.









The chicken and rosti was amazingly simple to make and she even showed us how to serve the dish gourmet style.

And the parfait is to die for!!! I was so inspired and excited after the class that I made some immediately the same afternoon!

Out of respect to Chef MM I will not be posting the recipes for her dishes here but please email me privately if you are interested. In the meantime I will ask her views about this.

Present for Umi

I know my blog seems a lot more like a mommy blog now rather than the travel blog that it started itself to be. But such is my life now.

My 27 month old daughter is trying it on now. She is testing her limits and her boundaries as far as she can get away with. It does tire me out sometimes. I have to constantly remind myself that she means well.

Just the other day, she insisted in opening the roll of wrapping paper we just bought in IKEA. Gone were the days when wrapping paper just used to cost 20 cents, wrapping paper seem to cost a premium here. I was reluctant to waste the wrapping paper.

When I was not looking she quickly grabbed the roll and started to unroll the cutesy paper. So I obliged, I cut her a piece that she could play with to save the rest of the roll.

And guess what she did? She came to me with a “parcel” of the wrapping paper I gave to her.

“Look Umi! Present!” She handed it to me with great excitement.
[ In my heart I was going.. ohh nooo what a waste!]

“Whats this Am?” I obliged her.

“It’s a present.” She answered.

“Who is it for?” I asked.

“For Umi.” She said with a smile.

So I began to unwrap the present.

“What’s inside?” I asked her.

“Bread,” she said gingerly.

Yes my daughter had wrapped a slice of garlic bread as a present for me.

I had to smile. I gave her a kiss and said thank you for the present. And hugged her.

My darling, I will always remember the first ever present you gave to me. May your life will always be enriched by wonderful gifts that you will receive throughout your life.