I am grateful for all I have

Leaving footprints in the sand

The view that greeted me every morning :)

Lovely garden

Kiddos loved the pool ... everyday



Tea-time



Well-wishes after I took a big tumble in the bedroom

The last 3 weeks have been trying. What was supposed to be a soul-searching trip ended with me taking off with kiddos in tow. Gege and Meimei, thank you for your love and kisses. LJTKJ ♥

Escape !

Kiddos and I took off on another road trip with the Grumps last week. We went up north and into the highlands. Well, when you live near the equator and are in a blistering oven (literally) ... nothing beats fluffy clouds and icecream ... EVERYDAY !

I ♥ blue skies !

We indulged in icecream several times - daily :)

Gege found a new sport

Meimei was awed by the indoor theme park

Big Thanks to Uncle Bobby! It was a beautiful suite ♥

Thumbs up! for a jolly good trip !

Time flies ! The new school term starts next Monday and No! we are certainly not looking forward *chuckle**

ahem ... Kung Fu Panda 3

Overdose of Kung Fu Panda ... Yikes !!!

Kookie Moi

I am obviously suffering a bad case of cookie-madness.

FB pals are very naughty ! ~ fueling my current craze with requests of Cookie Dough in Cafe World ... YIKES !

You will know that YOU too are cookie-mad if you spend your waking hours dreaming up cookie fillings like I did ... and feeling quite hungry in the process ... hehehe ... if only these lovelies are edible as well  *sigh**

Buttercreme Chocolate Kookie Cookie Soap

Spicy Gingersnap Sandwich Cookie Soap



Berry Velvet Kookie Cookie Soap

Orange Ginger Molasses Kookie Cookie Soap

Buttercreme Vanilla Kookie Cookie Soap

Strawberry-Berry Macaron Cookie Soap

Pineapple-CocoLoco Macaron Cookie Soap

Merlion Butter Cookie Soap

Now, if you are thinking that I am in the wrong trade and that I should be earning some serious dough with my baking skills ... these kookie cookies are really all handcrafted and are seriously soapy !

Soap Swap Goodies

YEAH !! My 10 kg Fedex box has made a round trip and returned home on Saturday afternoon with soapy goodies from Bramble Berry's Soap Swap 2011. (see It's a S-W-A-P ! )

Apolok ( kiddo's petname for their beloved grandmummy ) was so excited and was the first to dig her hands into the packing peanuts to grope for the soaps ! haha ... we received 12 soaps from the pool of participating soap swappers ... let's see what we got !



Mr. Darcy Soap by Blushing Rose Handmade Soap



The first soapy goodie was a "Mr Darcy Soap". This is a goat's milk glycerin bar with a gorgeous soft creamy scent. It's a pity the name of fragrance oil used was not stated. 



Runner's Relief by The Paper Mermaid

This was THE scent that had me sniffing around the box when it first arrived :) I have not been able to run since I busted my knee-cap 20 years ago ... but I can't wait to run into the shower with this one !





Garden of Eden by Brooke LaFevre



Garden of Eden is my favourite from the entire lot. I so love the handpainted muslin bag ! I've yet to try soap-making the cold process method, mainly due to the lack of access to sodium hydroxide (lye) in Singapore; and I'm intrigued by the apple embedded in the soap ! ohh ... and ... mmm ... 'Red Apple' fragrance is yummilicious !

This 'apple of my eye' is now sitting proudly on Gege's shelf. Well, Gege is a jolly-good apple too ♥

Grass Stain Handmade Soap by mile high body care

This soap smells seriously of freshly cut grass ! ha ... wow for the 'Grass Stain' fragrance oil used. 

"I Love Flip Flops" by Christy's Creations

Did you know that Singaporeans LOVE their flip flops ? Seriously. We wear them everywhere :) I know that Apolok likes this piece of Raspberry 'n Violet glycerin soap ... how do I know that ? well, she was sniffing it deliriously ! LOL !! 



Fubble Bath is coming soon !

aawww ... when in need of a good drink ... SNIFF THIS ! I would consider using this 'Berrywine' fragrance in my soaps.

Passionfruit Rose glycerin soap by Soap and Suds

Island Coconut glyceirn soap by Soap and Suds

Buttercream and Snickerdoodle glycerin soap by Soap and Suds

I received 3 soaps from Soap and Suds :)  Lisa and Kim Burton are a mother and daughter team. So sweet !  These are good sized soaps, the pinkish one is scented with 'Passionfruit Rose' fragrance and the green one with 'Island Coconut'. I love the use of different textured materials in their packaging. The third one is scented with one of my favourite Bramble Berry fragrance oil - Buttercream and Snickerdoodle ! YUMMY !!

Inspired ♥ I promised Meimei ( she is all of 5+ ) that mummy will start teaching her how to make soaps during the coming school holidays ... looking forward !

Summer Splash By Nana's Artisan Soaps

If you are one of those who have a tough time getting up and ready in the morning, this could be your remedy. A truely wonderful blend of 'Rise and Shine' fragrance oil with Orange and Grapefruit essential oils.

Spring Time Shea Soap

Lovely pastel coloured shea butter glycerin soap with 'Grass & Lilac' fragrance oil. This piece of soap is really quite small -- nice things come in smaller sizes ! *giggle** There is no indication of the handcrafter or business name. Oops !

HaldeSoap by HaldeCraft

I ♥ dragonflies. Simple but elegant packaging; if only our weather in Singapore is not THAT humid. This beautiful goat's milk soap, scented with 'Kentish Rain' fragrance oil, almost soaked through the paper it was wrapped in. Hmm ... I wrapped my swap soaps in paper as well, I wonder how they are doing with their new owners ?

Okie dokie ... that's 12 ... but wait a moment ! Guess what surprise Meimei pulled out from the box ? She came to me with a package and said," there's a message for you mummy " ... and then her eyes went wide like a goldfish's LOL ! Thank you Amber ! Meimei insisted on taking her shower rite away ... with her new pet goldfish of course  *wink**

WAH ... this soap swap has truely been a learning experience. I am already thinking of the next one ... 



Things-on-a-Stick

As a kid, I loved things on sticks. Literally. Even better if they are yummilicious and I can gnaw and nibble off the sticks! haha ... so when I chanced upon cake pops several months back, the idea totally blew me mind away ! Ingenious !

Recently I became almost predictable. Everything and anything that I lay my hands on would result in Meimei asking, " Mummy ... are you thinking of making THAT in soap ?"

Well, I seriously think I have a thing for soaps on sticks !

... overflowing with ideas really ... made a few and showed them to my kiddos and the expression on their faces was priceless ! Gege is usually alittle more reserved with his compliments. Approval from this young man comes in the form of - "gee mummy ... can i eat them ?" ; whilst Meimei simply declares "I want them in my goodie bags on my birthday !"

Introducing my "Things-on-a-Stick" collection ...





lil Kitty-on-a-Stick -- handcrafted soap





pokeAball-on-a-Stick -- handcrafted soap


gee ... if only I can eat them ...

Cyber-Shot !

I am so blessed. I received an SMS one day (about 2 weeks ago.. i think) from my bf asking if I had a camera ? er ... yes ? the one that comes with my handy I replied in short message.

"Okie ... I'm gona give you a good one" bf texted. WAHHH ... so good leh ! My heart was fluttering ok!

A week later, bf popped by after work and presented me with THIS ...

YIPPEEE !!!!

F-I-N-A-L-L-Y I have a proper camera to take all my product shots. I am so touched ♥  *melts**

Thank you for your friendship, love, honesty ... thank you for your unwavering support - all these years. Thank you for not giving up on me when the rest of the world seemed to fade away. Thank you for being YOU and for accepting me for who I am.

I cannot say this any other way ... I love you BEST FRIEND !!!  XOXOXO