Not so Wordless Wednesday [10]: Upin & Ipin love Green

Upin dan Ipin versi Hijau
(Rara and her cousin)

Not So Wordless Wednesday [8]: I wish I can fly

A sad girl sits by the window. Wishing she could fly… (We spent almost 3 hours here! Hence the boring face).

  

P/S: No, no… We’re not flying anywhere. We were in KLIA to fetch Rara’s granny. They have safely arrived from performing ‘Haji’ in Mekah. Alhamdulillah...

The Spaghetti Adventure, anyone interested?

Have I told you that Rara is a picky eater? I think I have in one of my post. One day she’ll be eating like a lot (a lot for her mean 7-10 spoons of food) and another day she’ll just eat nothing. I hope when she grew older she’ll get the idea of eating every day. At the moment, I’ll just bear with her appetite and encourage her to eat more. *Sigh*.

Nowadays, spaghetti is one of her favorite food. Previously, she prefers simple, plain, no sauce, no color type of spaghetti dishes. But recently, she started to eat spaghetti with tomato sauce or in Bolognese style. The trick with her is to force her to try the food (same goes to Paparil..). If not she would just happily eat plain rice, plain noodle, and plain everything!

Thus, due to her current appetite, we usually eat at a place with spaghetti serving in their menu (Pizza Hut, Secret Recipe and bla..bla..bla..). After a while we get bored with the choices that we have. So, it’s time to try new thing! Among the ‘new’ that we tried are The Spaghetti Farm at Mid Valley and The Capricciosa at Sunway Pyramid.

The Spaghetti Farm, Mid Valley

The only photo I have from our visit at The Spaghetti Farm.  

 

I read some reviews from other blog on the spaghetti served here. It has a mix review. Some says it’s good and some says it’s the worst spaghetti ever. We had Chicken Bolognese and Black Pepper Chicken. For me both are edible and quite good! Even Rara and Paparil like it too. Maybe it’s not the best spaghetti I ever had but I have no problem coming back here next time we are in Mid Valley craving for spaghetti. 

The Capriciossa, Sunway Pyramid

The Capriciossa, Sunway Pyramid.

It’s supposed to be Lasagna. But it looks and taste different from the lasagna that I ever had. It’s more like a soup? The pasta is too little with a lot of tomato sauce. Is this really lasagna? I start asking myself after half way eating it.

Seafood Spaghetti, Paparil’s choice.

 

I would love to try their other dishes and hopes it turns out better than the lasagna. The price range for a plate of pasta here range approximately from RM15 - RM30. They also serve fresh pasta here! I would like to try those next times.  

Do you have any other suggestion for us?

Not so Wordless Wednesday [5]: Rara and her sunglasses

This is one of her favorite pastime hobby in the car. Playing and posing with sunglasses!

Parenting 101: Nak mandi ke nak baring?

Last night I encounter a miscommunication. With who? Yes, with my little girl Rara. My husband is out for his usual table tennis session with his friends. So, it’s just the two of us at home watching TV. After a while, Rara get bored and become restless. Well, am still glued to the TV watching Nanny 911.

Nanny 911, NTV7, Wednesday (8.30pm - 9.30pm)

She started seeking for my attention. Nak kartun la, nak susu la dan macam-macam lagi la yang dia nak*sigh*. So, I ask her firmly what her actual demand is. Ok, she said she want to take a bath. Then I told her give me 10 minutes because I want to watch the Nanny 911. Silly me. Of course she won’t allow me to do so. It’s either she don’t understand my request or just being stubborn. But I really want to watch the show!

So, I try to distract her with other thing while my eyes on TV. Ok2, I know I’m being a bad mom here. But, can’t she tolerate with me? *dengan anak sendiri pun nak gaduh..hehe..* So as a result of both of us being stubborn, she cried. It’s becoming louder and louder. I gave up and carry her to the bathroom. And guess what? She cried even louder! Tak nak masuk bilik air pulak. Tadi kata nak mandi? 

Then I just put her back on the floor in front of the TV while am going to the kitchen to get some water to cool me down. From the kitchen I can hear she’s crying her lung out “nak mandi, nak mandi”. Haih, this little girl is making me confuse. Then suddenly she came to the kitchen with her pillow. Oooo….dia bukan nak mandi la. Rupa-rupanya, she changed her mind from “nak mandi” to “nak baring”! Patut la tak nak masuk bilik air. It sounded same to me. So, as soon as I put her on my lap with her pillow she stopped crying. As though nothing happen!

Peace Mama! (Yes, that's Rara trying to imitate the "Peace" sign)

So lesson learnt. Listen to your child and don’t assume. It works wonders if you understand what they really want. Children can change mind in split seconds. You never know. But, we should set the limit and not blindly follow their request. Well, lucky me. Her changing request from “nak mandi” to “nak baring” buys me extra time to watch my show! Am I bad? Maybe most of mom out there would say that bringing her straight to the bathroom before she starts crying is the best solution. Ya, maybe. We know ourselves and children best.  

Sharing is Caring: Kidz Sports & Gym at Empire, Subang

New play gym is in town! Check it out :-)

Located at:

Upper floor, Empire Shopping Gallery

Entrance fees:

1. RM10++ for 2 years and below*

2. RM20++ for 2 years and above *

*I can’t remember the exact fee, hence the ++ sign

Good:  
1. It is a new playgym. Thus, everything is in a good condition.  
2. They have ball pit! (Rara’s favorite which is not available at Megakidz Mid Valley)

Not so Good:  
1. Limited space and less variety in younger kids play area. (Kidz Sport One Utama & Megakidz have better play area)

Will we go again?  
Yes, definitely!

Rara’s favorite of all

I have to accompany Rara to climb this. She won’t go alone. (I’m not complaining but I actually enjoy it!)

Rara's experience in other play gym, check this out!

Kid's E World at The Gardens Mall

Kidz Sports & Gym at One Utama

Megakidz at Mid Valley Megamall

 

New babysitter in the house

For the past two weeks Paparil and I have to take turn to take leave and babysit Miss Rara because her babysitter have to take emergency leaves. So, I was left with no choice and have to request emergency leaves from the Bosses too. After a few emails and “interrogation” session, the leaves were approved. Fuhhh! It’s hard to take leave nowadays even for just one day! Come on, I’m not that important rite, no?

Please approve my leave and I awarded you this, "World's Best Boss"

So, the first week (read: 1 day leave only, not the whole weeks) me and Rara just stayed at home and messing the house. We sleep, eat, plays and scolding each other. Hahaha. Oh, wait a second, we did do something meaningful! We made Mahira’s Vanilla Cinnamon Butter Spread!! Click here for the recipe.

The end product, I ate 3.5 pieces and Rara 0.5 piece only! She rather playing with the bread than eating it.

And..and.. after 3 years since my wedding day, I open the unopened gift which is the Mixer. Err, if I’m not mistaken, I think it is from one of my mom’s friend. Lucky it is still functioning. Me and Rara were happily using the mixer to mix the butter. And yes, it is a messy affair. 

Empress Stand Mixer, mine is exactly like this (I think so...)

The 2^nd week, we decided to keep the house clean and organized. So we went out. A mommy + daughter outing at Midvalley, yeay! Our first stop was Baskin Robin Café. We shared 2 scoops of Mint Chocolate ice cream and Cookies n Cream Freeze. 

Rara's focusing on her ice cream

My Cookies n Cream Freeze, I forced myself to order this instead of my normal coffee flavor because I have to share it with Rara

After feeding enough sugar to keep both of us awake, off we go for the next adventure, which is Megakidz Mid Valley. Ya,ya..maybe not so adventurous for me, but Rara was thrilled. She was jumping, climbing, rocking here and there like nobody business. 

Megakidz Midvalley (RM10++ for 2years and below and RM23++ for 2 years and above)

One happy Rara :-)

However, I personally prefer Kids Sport & Gym in One Utama. Remember my last entry, Fun time with Rara at Kidz Sport Gym? Megakidz does not have much to offer for a 2 years old kid. They don’t even have ball pit here. Rara loves ball pit. Oh, but they have this ‘bouncing area’, which is the other play gym don't have. 

Younger kids area

Rara rocking the world

Well, while Rara busy with all those running and climbing, I'm having a 'me' time with my handphone :-) At least it keeps me occupied. Thanks for whoever that invents smart phone and the cool apps!

I think this entry has gone too long than my usual length. So, bye for now!

Simple Chicken Spaghetti for Miss Rara

I don’t know which category of eater Rara falls into. Picky eater? Moody eater? As far as I know, she seldom eats. She can get through a day without eating any food at all! But, she drinks milk, a lot!

However, ever since she turns 2 recently, she kind of started to love foods. I don’t know whether this growing appetite is temporary or permanent. Thus, I made a few effort to keep her excites during meal time. I cook this simple chicken spaghetti and she loves  it!

Wanna try? Here is the recipe:

Simple Chicken Spaghetti  

Spaghetti (Cook in boiling water

Minced chicken (Ayamas)

Sausage

Onion (I use big, yellow onion)

Carrot

Black pepper & salt

Butter

Steps:

1. Sautee onion with butter for a few minutes. 

2. Then, add in carrot. Mixed it for a while. Put aside.

3. Cook the minced chicken with butter. Then, add in sausage.

4. After that, put back the onion and carrot. Mixed well.  

5. Add in the spaghetti. Stir.

6. Lastly, add in black pepper and salt. Done!

Oh, by the way, I love the taste of sautéed onion with butter! The sweetness and the juicy of the onions makes me happy *weird*. Ok, bye peeps! Have fun cooking for your kids!

Miss Rara, the girl who turns 2

Miss Rara, Happy Birthday to you. You are indeed a precious little girl. The miracle and the cure to our family.  

This poem is dedicated to you, my darling Rara 

The newborn Rara says "Hi" to the world

 The now 2 years old Rara, looking forward for a brighter future

Love ya! Hugs & Kisses from Mama.

Mood swing, swing by the river

I know this will happen once I decided to open a blog. Neglecting my blog. My passion to write is not as passionate as my passion to read *sigh* I wonder how blogger out there manage to keep up the momentum. Well, to all my favorite bloggers, keep writing! 

Oh by the way, welcome back to blogger world Still Ida of A lil bit of everything. Ida, I guess my momentum have gone to Siberia for a holiday trip.

Isn't it nice? I mean the shocking pink cardigan Rara's is wearing. Oh I know, I need retail therapy to get back my blogging momentum! :-P

Goodbye to pacifier, says my little Rara

" Goodbye to you my pacifier

  We've known each other since I am a month old

  Together we've climbed hills and tree

  Learned of love and ABC's 
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees "

*Shed tears & head straight*

Hello peeps. This is not a sad entry, don't worry J It should be a happy entry instead. Congratulation to my little Rara for manage to stay out of pacifier for 3 days! This is a big achievement for her. She started as early as 1 month old, which is during my confinement. Since then she stuck with it L

2010

We (Papa Ril & Me) have been trying to stop her from the pacifier since her 1st birthday. Errr...but, we don't really put any effort to make it successful. It's hard you know. Rara will crying endlessly if we refuse to give her the pacifier. So, we gave up. 

2011

Then come 2011, Rara's 2nd birthday is approaching. Again, the urge to separate her from the pacifier came. We use garlic this time. 

1st attempt was a success. She threw away her pacifier. 2nd attempt? Well, kids nowadays are smarter than we can ever imagine. She ask me to wash the pacifier *sigh*. Then, 3rd attempt, she just happily sucking the pacifier. I guess the garlic taste is not bothering her anymore. So, we failed.

Chinese New Year, 2011

Now, we are in my hometown spending 4 days in a row public holiday for CNY. Apart of our normal routine which is "makan-makan the whole day", my mom has another plan. She has been nagging me to stop the pacifier for so long! So, she do the trick. How?

The trick

As soon as we arrive, my mom took out the wheat flour from her kitchen cabinet. She pour it in a bowl and mix it with a little bit of water. Then...she put Rara's pink pacifier in the bowl.

The next time Rara ask for the pacifier, my mom shows the bowl to her with a gross face and screeching voice saying how dirty it is. Wonders happen! Rara actually believe it and refuse to even touch it! Yeay!

But, the actual challenge is during the night. I was nervous. I even preparing myself by taking a lot of coffee, so I can stay awake to entertain Rara's screaming and wailing. She always need her pacifier to sleep. Full stop.

Rara peaceful sleep

So, she did cries early that night, but she never ask for the pacifier. She just cry and cry for 15 minutes. Then, I bring the bowl to the bedroom and show it to her. She cries even louder! But for a minutes only. Then she manage to sleep! Err..but she wakes up again 1 hour later and we do the same thing again. But that's it. She sleeps soundly after that and the 2nd night also *big smile*

Is this the end of it? We do hope so. And we hope her babysitter will be able to continue the separation too this coming Monday. Please, please, please. I believe in you my little girl, you can do it!