Another perspective of CSR

During my hols over the Chinese New Year, I read this book The Case for Business in Developing Economies. It's a really good read, and it also gives you another side of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) wave that almost everyone is singing praises about. I like the fact that the author, Ann Bernstein, is in the CSR business and that she has used many cases to back her arguments.

Mandarin Orange Peels

In Chinese cooking (and I suspect other Asian cuisines too) we use a lot of ginger, and we also use mandarin orange peels - you can use it in soup, steam fish or even when you shallow fry fish.  The peel gives a sweet bitter taste to the dishes.  I have been trying to dry my mandarin orange peels since the end of Chinese New Year (14 Feb).  It's been a really slow process, which surprised me considering how hot Singapore is..... I need to get the skin to be "burnt" to a golden brown! I've read you can put them in the oven, but I think it's a waste of energy just for orange peel.  

My Mandarin

Yummy!

The peel sunbathing away on my window sill....

Budget yesterday: green vehicle rebate extended!

Green spaces

Having live in public housing in Singapore for more than 10 years, I'm pretty impressed at the way the place is designed. It seems like they have built the area to cater for everyone, from the young ones (playground, daycare, schools) right up to the old (elderly exercise area). But perhaps this shouldn't be the way. I have noticed that these facilities are specific to certain groups of people, and they are not places where the old can interact with the young.

Cadmium in Rice

Oh no, first it was the milk formula, then the oranges, and now we have cadmium tainted rice?  What's happening?  China should really get its act together. Hubby says that when he's stationed in China he makes sure he goes to eateries that charge a bit more, but then I don't think that will mean the food is safe.

Hoooooo am I?

I love this Hoo Are You. I've joined another round.... here goes!
1. What did you get/give for Valentine's Day? I got a paper butterfly with a lollipop from my son (see post below!)
2. Do you have a vacation planned in the next couple of months or in the summer?Yes! We're thinking of either going home, or do a short train trip around Malaysia. This all depends on whether hubs can get leave :-)  Fingers crossed.
3. What is one thing you do to pamper yourself? Put on a facial mask, then go eat some good chocolate and watch a Jane Austen-related drama  on DVD! My favourites are Pride & Prejudice and Persuasion.
4. What sparks your interest to other people's blogs?I love crafts - so anything with crafts! I also like blogs on environmental subjects:-)5. What kind of a mood are you in today?
I'm back from work & have just put my son to bed so I'm in a good mood to do anything now!  

Valentines Day Butterfly

My son surprised me with a Valentines gift that he had made with the teacher's help. It was so sweet, but I later found that he was eyeing the lollipop! :-)

It looks simple to make - cutting a butterfly from a tissue box, dabbing it with paint and then inserting 2 slits in the middle for the pipe cleaners (and the lolly!). These would make a good party pack pressie!

Skirt into a top - finished!

So, after all the cutting in my last post, I have finally finished reconstructing my old skirt into a top! 

Before......

Valentines Day Photoframe

I'm lucky to be in Asia at the moment as we are not, or rather, we are not feeling the effects of the recession in the US and Europe.  However, I do find that we have one thing in common, and that is most of our spouses have to work in other states, or even other countries to support our families.  It's not that we chose this, but it is perhaps the only way to make ends meet. Apart from Skype, we try to see each other twice a month, which I think is a luxury considering I know of someone who doesn't get to see her husband until Christmas each year.  It's tough, so I thought that the best Valentine's Day present would be a nice photo of the family (or just the spouse!) for them to take on the road. Instead of having a small photo crumpled up in a wallet / purse, or taking a bulky photo frame, what about reusing a CD box?  They can be kept flat or opened up on the table or dashboard of a car.  What's more, you can get your children to decorate them anyway they want. I like mine plain and simple as my hubby travels light and I don't think he wants to be seen whipping out a frilly photo frame at the office :-) 


An early Happy Valentines to everyone!!

Crafting it Forward - Update

So, four lovely ladies commented to my earlier post on Crafting it Forward. They are (drum roll....)

a) Kayla (Breaking Free From Old Ways)
b) Amie (Kitty Cats and Airplanes)
c) Gayathri (Jubliantwares)
d) Hosy

I've contacted you all and I really should get started on at least one recycled craft :-)   I won't be making them in the order shown....

Simply Peaceable's craft was so sweet. Here are a few of my shots.....

This bag was made a couple of years ago before I started this blog. 
It's from a pair of jeans. Instead of the bag straps being on the sides, it's in the middle.

Removed the buttons and replaced it with the craft!

The Karanguni Man - potential nuisance?

Aka the rag - a - bone man has sprung into action again. Even my neighbour has decided to become one. I don't mind, but just look at the state of the lobby area on my floor......

L to R: a safe (!), plants, exercise machine, paper, loads of brushes.....

He has even hauled up washing machines, refrigerators, electric fans and rubbish (yes!!) to our floor !!!  I wish he didn't store them in front of the lift landing and near the fire exit. It's good to recycle, but not when you endanger other people's lives or create a nuisance.

Lots of paper all stacked up! This is from another karanguni man.

Even computer monitors!

Gung Hei Fat Choy!!!

Decorations at my son's kindergarten
The dragon is made from a tissue box!

Close up

Our family (me, hubby and my son) had a good reunion dinner last night and we skyped our parents and relatives (they all live overseas) to wish them a happy new year. Most reunion dinners will typically have a chicken that has been blanched in boiling water for 20 minutes, and left to cook (off the stove) for another 40 minutes.  After that, we add salt and Chinese wine to the chicken.  



As there were only 3 of us, we couldn't finish the chicken, so we had left overs for lunch today :-)   This is how my mum taught us to reheat chicken in a microwave without cling wrap - use a leaf of lettuce or cabbage instead.  The leaf will retain the moisture of the chicken.  If you are just reheating the chicken then the veg may not be cooked.  I had to blanche the veg after reheating the chicken. 

My Chinese cabbage (I chopped it up) and left overs

Covering up the chicken with the cabbage.

Chinese New Year Decoration - Completed!

Finished product!!

Here it is! My Chinese New Year decoration. It was finished over the weekend, and it's in time for the celebrations :-)   I started of with 2 old red t-shirts that was cut into strips (see earlier post) .....  

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