A Mother's Monologue

Our Simple Chinese New Year in Kota Bharu

Posted on January 28, 2012January 27, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

CNY for us in KB is an extremely simple and tight affair. On the eve of CNY, we had sea cucumber, abalone and brocolli mushrooms....... . Crab cutlets.......... . Steamed Fish....... . Abalone and God only knows what else Soup........ . Amah's famous Pumpkin Soup for my Pumpkins.......click to learn what next.

Street Art

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

One of the really FUN things my girls did in Kota Bharu was floor graffiti! Street Art! They both LOVE doodling.......so Kong-Kong's vast concrete driveway became the perfect canvas for T1 to show off her fun as she knew we were expecting guests for CNY. She spent a.......click to learn what next.

Improving fine motor skills in toddlers

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

T2 was a natural when it came to motor skills - both gross and fine. Very early on, she could climb playground slides and held a pencil perfectly from the start. Her speech was slightly delayed comparatively to T1 as T1 started speaking in sentences at 16 months.......click to learn what next.

Entertaining kids without toys

Posted on January 26, 2012January 26, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Whenever we go back to Kota Bharu, it's R&R time for everyone. We don't bring any toys, no ipads, not even books as if anyone wanted to read, Amah's book case has tons of English classics from the Hubs childhood. So how do the kids entertain themselves everyday.......click to learn what next.

Kota Bharu treats and tricks

Posted on January 25, 2012January 22, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

I cannot stress how MUCH food there is to eat in my in-laws house in Kota Bharu and really, the fact that it's Chinese New Year, the gate has not stopped opening and closing since we got here because people keep delivering goodies and more goodies and yet.......click to learn what next.

Our New Year’s Eve 2011, 9pm – midnight

Posted on January 24, 2012January 22, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

After dinner, we went to the lounge where the New Year's Eve Party was being held. I told T1 that those balloons up there were all going to fall at the strike of midnight and she kept asking what time it was all night. Mannnn............. And because of.......click to learn what next.

Our New Year’s Eve 2011, 6pm-9pm

Posted on January 23, 2012January 21, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Our New Year Celebrations are always different each year. It all depends on which way the wind blows and what we feel like doing that year. Some years, we keep with within the family, just the four of us. Some years, we spend it with Nana and Tok-Tok.......click to learn what next.

The Kota Bharu Amazing Race!

Posted on January 21, 2012January 21, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Our lives are full of adventure. The night before we left for Kota Bharu (thursday night), we had a great dinner with Tok-Tok, Nana and the rest of the family till about 10pm then went home to pack. Why pack so last minute? Because I hadn't had a.......click to learn what next.

The Best Macarons in the world

Posted on January 20, 2012January 20, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

OK, I'm a simple girl and although I've read of macarons in story books, I'd never actually tasted one before. Not even when I lived in London and visited Paris. So when macarons started getting trendy in KL, awareness got the better of me and I finally tried.......click to learn what next.

Home Birthday Celebration

Posted on January 17, 2012January 17, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Now THIS, is the epitome of a true birthday celebration. Not some big fancy-schmancy party with lots of people whom half the time you don't even know are your friends or not. Actually, why do people do that? Anyway, for T1's birthday last year, we invited ONE real.......click to learn what next.

Learning to play the drums

Posted on January 17, 2012August 29, 2013 by Mamapumpkin

It's what I've always wanted to do but it's so hard!!! I just cannot get my hands and legs coordinated!!! But if there is a will, there is a way. The girls have a mini drum set from ToysRus that they love and I've been wanting to get.......click to learn what next.

My Girl turned 7 – Oh. My. God.

Posted on January 15, 2012January 16, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Out of all my pre-written posts, I thought I'd better put this one up before T1's birthday again in September this year. Because you know, that is very possible once things get busy and crazy around here. Last year, because I'd just started working, I told T1 -.......click to learn what next.

T1’s School Assembly

Posted on January 14, 2012January 14, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

T1's school is really about good values, playing hard and working hard. Every week, they have an assembly whereby I assume some brainwashing happens. Last week, it was about this video that they played but in it's edited form since they train their students to be movie-makers too..............click to learn what next.

Merdeka-Hari Raya Updates

Posted on January 13, 2012January 10, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Hey, I'm only 4 months behind now. Not bad, OK??? So what did we get up to last year during the Hari Raya week? We had to buy shoes for Raya, of course. Actually, we don't. T2 just casually walked into this shoe shop and decided she wanted.......click to learn what next.

The Smell of Chinese New Year

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Today, I was reminded that CNY was just a blink away and I started panicking! I haven't even thought that far ahead yet we were catching a plane already next week! *hyperventilates* New clothes! Ang Pow packets! Cash to Withdraw! Packing! Shopping for in-laws! Clearing the fridge before.......click to learn what next.

Young Explorer Gym at 1 Mont Kiara Mall

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Those of you who live in Mont Kiara have probably already visited 1MK Shopping Mall and then noticed that there is a new kid gym upstairs, but if you haven't, here's another option for you to bring your kids to release ENERGY!!! The adventure gym is built from.......click to learn what next.

Entering the world of photography

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

I have always wanted to be able to have enough time to indulge in my passion for photography but alas, I not only have kids but a string of responsibilities that has disabled this right now. One day, that day will come. And I have also always wanted.......click to learn what next.

Kids with a sense of Entitlement

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

A good proportion of the kids that I see today are very lucky kids. Lucky that they have all the food that they like eating, lucky that they have a lot of toys and gadgets, lucky that they have nice clothes, lucky that they get to go to.......click to learn what next.

Fishes as Door Gifts or Party Gifts

Posted on January 6, 2012January 4, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

This must be the 3rd or 4th time that we've received real live fishes as party packs or door gifts at parties and whilst the first time was all thrills for T1, now she's beginning to discover that having a pet (or pets) is hard work. Of course,.......click to learn what next.

Entertaining Kids at eateries

Posted on January 4, 2012January 4, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

How many of you have kids who will sit still for at least 30 minutes whilst waiting for food to arrive whenever you eat out? If you do, what is your secret??!!! For us, it's either we talk to them (which we already do a whole damn lot!.......click to learn what next.

Happy New Year!

Posted on December 31, 2011September 13, 2019 by Mamapumpkin

Oh My God! It's really here - the end of the year!!! Has this been a good year? It has been a more than GREAT year. No hospital stays, yo! We did it! Next year, we strive for no Doctor's visits even. Bring out the health manual and.......click to learn what next.

Opening Christmas Presents

Posted on December 27, 2011December 26, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Well, of course they had Christmas presents..........lots of them. In fact, there were two tables with a mountain load of presents! The point is, they could have done without them just as perfectly. Yes, really. In fact, in line with Project De-Clutter, we are going to give away.......click to learn what next.

Merry Christmas!!!

Posted on December 26, 2011December 26, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Hello everybody, how was your Christmas? Our Christmas was a close family affair in a cool garden where we barbeque-ed under the stars. This year, there was no turkey for us, not even our traditional Portuguese fare but instead barbequed crabs, prawns, steak, chicken, sausages, you name it,.......click to learn what next.

Pusat Maritime Putrajaya – Maritime Centre

Posted on December 26, 2011December 26, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Did you even know such a thing existed??? We have a Maritime Centre, yo! Err.....what's that exactly? This is it! But what is this building for??? . To get a great view from a shaded area? Sorry, I know my photography skills (or rather my lousy camera) makes.......click to learn what next.

Copenhagen Delights in Malaysia!

Posted on December 26, 2011December 26, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

One weekend, T2 and I went shopping at Dish Deli where Copenhagen Delights were having a show of their fashion and we picked up more than we planned *gulp* - Everything was so nice! My little T2 strutting her own style..... .   Part of our loot......after we.......click to learn what next.

Single and Eligible Boys

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

I don't say men because let's face it, men will always be boys as far as I'm concerned.......but where do you find single and eligible boys these days? All the good ones are taken and the balance of the good ones are all gay. So what is a.......click to learn what next.

Pullman Hotel at Putrajaya – Cuti-Cuti Malaysia

Posted on December 26, 2011December 22, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

As you may already know, I spend a lot of time in Putrajaya. One fine day, whilst running another errand over the weekend, the Hubs and I decided to check out The Pullman, supposedly a 7 star hotel that chased all other ranks of hotels away from opening.......click to learn what next.

Riding the Carousel at Pavilion Mall

Posted on December 25, 2011December 22, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

A couple of weeks ago, we had our first Carousel ride at The Pavilion. And ever since then, we have been avoiding the Pavilion because the kids loved the ride so much that they want to go again and again. I keep reminding T1 that her father does.......click to learn what next.

Lim Tayar in Taman Tun DR Ismail

Posted on December 24, 2011December 22, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Our regular tyre shop happens to be Lim Tayar in Taman Tun. We like it because it is clean with a comfortable area for waiting, equipped with reading material and coffee. With people like us without maids, we practically need to lug our kids everywhere we go so.......click to learn what next.

Packing for winter

Posted on December 22, 2011December 22, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

It is hardly winter as you would imagine where I'm headed to but it is winter enough for me! Yup, 10 degrees Celsius is definitely TOO COLD for me. Plus we are all down with the nastiest of viruses and have been in bed ALL DAY for the.......click to learn what next.