Swamped - literally!!!

I haven't blogged let alone think about any refashioning! I've been inundated at work (zillions of slides to do). I've been bringing work home to do even though I don't want to (who does?) and it seems like I'm more responsible at work than at home (Mummy, I thought you said you would do this for me!). Need to recuperate - can't live like a washing machine - spin, spin, spin! I feel burnt out so I'll be taking a short break and come back in the 2nd week of June. For the Greeny Crafters who've signed up, I haven't forgotten you, and I'll still respond to my emails :-)

But before I go off, I just wanted to share some of the things I found:



I found this at Metro. It was selling at SGD10
and I was very tempted. Would be good
if you're into making paper beads!

Blip and happenings!

Sorry everyone, I've not been able to get a Greeny Crafter on this week. I was going to get the interview done but then it fell through! But I hope you all had a great weekend :-)  Anyway, here's some happenings over the weekend....

I managed to find a fish monger who sold sustainable fish!! But it was only one kind - emerald fish. The label says "Eco-friendly farmed in pristine rainforest-fed lake in Malaysia. Enjoy its freshness and great taste!"  Not exactly sure where in Malaysia though - I mean it is a BIG country!! Perhaps it's referring to this place . Anyway, when I asked the fish monger where it came from she just said "Malaysia!"  Hey, but I don't see it on the WWF Sustainable Seafood list - going to drop them an email!

Spotted this HUGE no smoking sign at my local market. This is new! Probably, people have been seen puffing away on these premises. 

Summery Salad

We missed the picnic on May Day because of my son's illness.  He missed out on meeting friends and the fun of having a picnic itself. So we decided to have a picnic at home on the same day (minus the friends, just in case his illness spread to the other kids).  So, we sat on the floor and had a lovely lunch of salads, fruit and cheese sandwiches.  Usually when we're sick, we try not to eat too much meat. Not sure if it's a Chinese thing. We would have lots of fruit, veggies, sandwiches, congee (rice porridge) and soups.

This time round I made a salad from:


a) Cherry tomatoes (halved) - the Sakura brand sources theirs from Malaysia but their produce is pesticide free (or so it says on the label)
b) Broccoli (chopped and boiled, or you can steam it) - bought it at NTUC. I had no choice, they only had broccoli from China.
c) Black sesame - from the Indian store at the wet market - no label.
d) Toasted kelp for garnishing - from Japan.


For the sauce - 3 part soya sauce, 2 part water, vinegar (optional), sesame oil, pinch sugar.  The vinegar and sesame oil make up 1 part. Add a bit of black pepper to taste.


Toss everything together except for d) which you add later for garnishing. Yummy yummy in my tummy!!

Where's the nearest drinking fountain?

Have you ever finished your water bottle and wondered where you could get it refilled? I carry 3 in my bag, one for me, one for my hubby and another for my son, but if we're out all day or going to the park, it's not enough, especially in this sweltering heat we have in Singapore.

Pic: hortongrou

Then I came across this post Thirsty? Ditch the Plastic Bottle With This Drinking Fountain App.  This is just what I need, but unfortunately it's only available in the US and UK. According to the post, the app "allows users to bookmark drinking fountains using GPS and Google Maps, rate the quality of the faucets, and share the news with other users." I would love to have this in Singapore because (1) hopefully more people will know where to get a refill and be encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottle, which means less waste; and (2) our kids would be weaned off the sickly sweet drinks, but my hubby (being the techie & pragmatist that he is) said "so, what's your business model going to be?"  and then added "I don't think the government here is going to allow you to have free drinking water!!!"  :-(

Greeny Crafter 17 - EcoDidier

I don't know what's happening! Been taking lots of vitamin C but I still fell sick - down with flu or some variant of it!




Made from tires!

It's Fair Trade Day Today!

Start your day with a Fairtrade brekkie with these recipes!

The winner of the pendant is.....plus tutorial!

OK, it's not the 10 May, but I'd thought I'd post the winner straight away - why wait, right? I have to admit I wasn't expecting so many wonderful ladies to respond to my giveaway post - thank you to everyone who participated, and everyone answered along the same lines!  The answer I was looking for was the lenses of glasses/spectacles. So the first person who gave this is Jen from Living in Annie's Room.  I'll contact you to see which pendant you would like me to send over !  Congrats! 

Because so many of you responded with the correct answer, I thought it would be good to share the happiness!!!  So, using the Random.org,  katyfroglady  was randomly chosen.  So, katyfroglady   I'll be mailing you the pendant that Jen does not choose !  Yay! 

Click below for the tutorial:

Getting rid of that nagging cough

Luo han guo and ginger tea

My son skipped a few days off school last week. He started off with a fever and then he started to cough and cough and cough and cough.....   He refused to admit that he was poorly ("But I really want to go into school, mummy!")  and even tried to prevent himself from hacking away or would run into his room when he needed to clear his throat. The doctor said he'd have to take the antibiotics and cough mixture to bring down the fever.  So, 5 days later, the fever is down but he's still got that phlegmy cough, and I don't want him to be on incessantly cough mixture.  

So I have been making him Luo Han Guo (罗汉果) Chinese herbal tea with ginger everyday. You can buy the luo han guo at any Chinese provision shop or medicinal hall. All you need is half of one ball. Give it a quick rinse but don't clean the seeds as that's where all the goodness is.  Cut a slice of fresh ginger (with skin), about half an inch thick and smash it like Martin Yan on Yan Can Cook - if you can't then just use the back of a heavy knife and whack the ginger a few times. Throw both ingredients into 2 litres of water and simmer for about an hour.  All the goodness will come out. Cool and serve warm!  If you don't have a cough, this is good for soothing the throat - good for teachers!!

And if you're recovering from flu, the mint and ginger tea would do good! 

Greeny Crafter 16 - MeiJo's Joy

It's Monday again and that means it's Greeny Crafters time!!  This week we have the delightful and creative PC from MeiJo's Joy. PC lives just across the border from me, in Malaysia. She is a SAHM after having quit her very well paid job as a Quality Assurance Manager 3 years ago - " I suddenly have the feeling that invest my love and time on my 2 little princesses...is a more rewarding job" says PC. " Then, I realize... being a mom and a housewife is the toughest job of all...a 24 hours job!  Molding 'human' that is part of your flesh and blood...ensuring all their needs to grow and able to adapt to the big world out there...the pressure is unmeasured. That why I blog and craft... it help me to distress and get more closer to my kids."  

Have you made your guess?

Remember to post your comment to the pendant giveaway before Wednesday!!!!


I've made a new one to the family - it's so addictive yet very therapeutic :-)

Found me a thrifty store!!

This is the thrift store that I tweeted about a couple of days back.  What amazed me was that it was in my neighbourhood and I didn't know it existed!!  Minds stands for Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore. You can donate your preloved items to the Minds Shop too.  I popped in to have a look (no buying!) and they have a variety of clothes, books, bags, shoes and even furniture.  The prices were very reasonable for the clothes ranging from a few dollars to $20.  The lady at the counter said that they offered free delivery for the large furniture items.  Helping out at the shop on that day were a few intellectually disabled - they were learning the ropes and how to interact with customers.  This will definitely be a regular haunt for me :-)

Pendant Giveaway!!

I've never done a giveaway before but there's always the first time, so here goes!!  I upcycled something this week, and I was inspired by Mich L. in L.A.  - she makes lovely jewelry from absolutely anything and everything! 


Update - tutorial is now up!! 


Apart from using wire, can you guess the other "ingredient" I used to make these pendants ?  The first person to have the correct answer and put it in the comments below will get to choose the pendant they would like me to send over - it's open to the whole world!!  If no one answers correctly, then I will randomly choose one answer from the comments using Random.org.  Good luck!

Rules:

• a) Put your answer in the comments section below. 
• b) Remember to include your email so that I can contact you :-)
• c) Entries close on 9 May (2300hrs, Singapore time, that's 4pm UK time) and I'll reveal all on 10 May (Singapore time) together with the tutorial!!

Labour Day

Happy Labour Day (or May Day)!! Labour Day is all about celebrating workers and their contribution to the country's economic success.  To many it means getting another public holiday marked on their calendars so they can start planning for a holiday, but if you read the history behind it, it recognises those who fought for the 8-hour working day - 8 hours of work, 8 hours of play, 8 hours of rest a day.  Unfortunately, many of us don't have this right.  I'm not talking about over-worked professionals who don't get over-time pay, I'm referring to the low-wage foreign workers (~1mil in Singapore) and foreign domestic workers who come to Singapore to work.  They remit a huge portion of their salaries home to support their families, yet work long hours for us sweeping the streets, cleaning our tables, serving our meals, some without a rest day either.  Let's respect them and acknowledge their contribution, give them the rights that they deserve. More importantly, make them feel at home - isn't this what being an inclusive society is all about? :-)

Contribute to their cause at the following groups -  be a volunteer or donate!

a) aidha - educates foreign domestic workers with IT, finance and marketing skills equipping them for a better life when they return home. 

b) Transient Workers Count Too - assists low-wage migrant workers when they are in difficulty.