Sorry for the lack of updates recently. It’s been a tough past couple of weeks. Will update more on that another time. My mother reminiscing over good old says with her sister and her childhood friend I always enjoy hearing the stories of my parents from their days of long, long ago. When I was little I remember cuddling down in bed and listening to my mother or father telling stories from their childhood. Now I find myself prompting them to tell those stories again. Maybe because I realise that one day they will no longer be around to remember. Unfortunately due to distance, there is limited opportunity for me to sit down next to them to hear those stories. But I was recently struck with a sudden inspiration. Why not collaborate with my parents to tell those stories right here? Someday I will be telling them to me children, and what better way to keep a record of them in written word. So every first week of the month, I shall be recounting stories I remember my mother and father tel...

Just sharing a thought on this Monday that came out of a conversation with my friend Pegs on Facebook following this photo post. When the toddler helps with hanging up laundry A post shared by Serenely (@livingserenely) on Nov 13, 2012 at 6:13pm PST Photo Caption: “When the toddler helps with hanging up laundry” Pegs : very enthusiastic!! Me : I hope the enthusiam to help me keeps up all the way to when he is able to REALLY help LOL Pegs : he will! you just have to believe in him!

With just a bucket of water, an old paintbrush and a blank concrete canvas = Water Painting! Which can occupy a toddler… …Or two for a solid thirty minutes or more! Some of our creations No muss, no fuss. Just leave the sunshine to clear the canvas before starting all over again. More play ideas ~~~ Linking up to

There's nothing like having a grandchild to restore faith to heredity -Doug Larsen The Round of Life With each passing year, there have been increasingly more announcements of engagements, weddings and babies in the circle of people I know. I suppose it’s just the natural season of life we’re all going through at this time. So many happy occasions and celebrations… The Dark Visitor But in the midst of all the fanfare, lurks a darker-faced visitor – the grim reaper . Through the years, the happy announcements are also interjected with tearful news of sickness and death, especially of the older generation. Just this past week alone, very good friends of ours received news of their ailing father’s turn for the worse who is now sitting on his deathbed. It’s a thought that’s rarely said out loud, and even so only in a whisper . The clock never stops ticking. Time is precious. Doting Grandparents Last month we had the privilege of having my parents over to visit,. I found tremendou...

Our photo moment of the week Christmas season is in the air… and the Christmas tree is now up in our house. This is the first year Nathan was able to actively participate in the setting up and decoration of the tree. We’re planning to play Christmas music all weekend and also check out a friend’s new restaurant . Some linky treasures for your weekend Why children cover their eyes when they hide Learning how to be a gentleman on date night with mom How to raise children while disciplining less A cardboard box Christmas tree ~~~ Have a lovely weekend!

I enjoy the smell of bread baking in my home and eating it warm and fresh straight out of the oven. However I don’t always have the time to go through the whole process of mixing and kneading the dough (although it can be therapeutic at times). But what would you say to a recipe for a crusty French-style loaf which requires no kneading, rolling or thumping on the kitchen counter at all? This recipe is so simple, it will blow your mind away! I discovered this amazing recipe on Simply So Good and tried it out for myself. I have to say this is the easiest bread recipe I’ve ever made. Ingredients 3 cups all purpose flour 1 3/4 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon yeast 1 1/2 cups water In a large bowl, just mix all the ingredients together. Start with with the dry ingredients first, whisking it all together to ensure it’s all evenly distributed. Then pour in the water and mix everything thoroughly together. You will end up with sticky wet dough that looks something like this… I know things...

This post is a Product Talk by Nuffnang . I received this product in exchange for a review but my opinions are completely genuine and honest. Insisting on no harsh chemicals I don’t really buy a lot of expensive cleaning products. But the one thing I do insist on is to avoid using harsh chemicals . This is especially so because I have a super active and curious toddler who gets into everything… sometimes even picking up stuff from the floor or mystery corners to mouth or taste them.   Cleaning with water and oxygen So when I heard about the new Dettol Power & Pure range, I was intrigued to try it out for myself. Especially since it emphasises the fact that it uses an active oxygen formula which breaks down into water and oxygen, leaving no harsh chemical residue, whilst killing all those nasty germs. The range comes in two versions in line with the two areas of the house which require the most cleaning: The Bathroom and The Kitchen . For general maintaining and clea...

I recently watched the latest Wong Fu Productions video: The Last . It’s really good. If you haven’t already watched it, you should. The video takes the viewers through the story of five different aspects of love . Who we love. What we love. When we love. Where we love. Why we love. The aspect that gripped my heart the most was the one about Why we love … Why I loved was a close friend of mine who passed away. She told me after she was diagnosed that death was not what saddened her the most, but the fact that she never really felt like she had fallen in love. She wouldn’t get to have them emotions, good and bad, of being hurt and of being held. After she passed, those words stuck with me the most, teaching me to see that one of the great gifts we have of being alive is the ability to give and receive and even lose love. There are so many like her, whose lives end before having any of those experiences. What a waste if we don’t strive to love in our lives. She made me understand wh...

Our photo moment of the week So DIY and Gardening season is pretty much in full swing now. Our local Bunnings store has now become almost a weekly stop to pick up various bits for doing up things around the house. Nathan absolutely loves their kiddie size shopping trolleys and extra wide aisles for running up and down. Some linky treasures for your weekend Gorgeous gift wrapping ideas Don’t buy cream of chicken soup anymore The secret to breaking in new shoes How not to blow your marriage ~~~ Have a fantastic weekend!

If you liked the lemon & thyme steak recipe I shared a few weeks back, I guarantee you are going to love this one even more. Inspired by this Jamie Oliver recipe, this is a super easy but super awesome tasting dish that is bound to get you a standing ovation at the dinner table. Ingredients Two good sized steaks 2 teaspoons Szechuan peppercorn 1 teaspoon five spice powder 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper 1 thumb-size piece of ginger 2-3 cloves of garlic 1 chilli (optional) Juice of 1 lime Olive oil Pound the Szechuan peppercorns with the five spice, salt and pepper with a pestle and mortar. Drizzle some olive oil over the steaks then sprinkle the Szechuan five spice mix over and rub it in. Heat a griddle or pan, then cook the steaks for 2-3 minutes per side, depending on how well or rare you like them done. Rest the steaks 5-10 minutes after cooking, then slice them up thinly. Grate the ginger, garlic and ginger and sprinkle over the steak slices and toss gently with the mea...