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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The Whole Truth about whole-grains

This is an article from the
(HPB)
from DigiTools
entitled

Some examples of whole-grains are brown rice or brown rice bee hoon, long rice white rice etc.

There are also some online whole-grain recipes available.

Research shows the different foods components in whole grains
(eg. antioxidants, phytoestrogens and fibre)
work together to protect our health.

A diet rich in whole-grains helps lower the risk of coronary
heart disease and diabetes.
The high fibre content also makes for a more filling meal,
so we won't feel hungry again so quickly.
This helps us to manage our weight while allowing us to enjoy food with carbohydrates!

I've made the switch. Have you?

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

52nd week Dearest Bb TK

30aug - 5sep'11

358 days' old, you celebrated your first Hari Raya Puasa;
359 days' old, you tried to stand up (from sitting then squatting position) without support;
360 days' old, you celebrated your first Teachers' Day at infant care; Marmy sent you to Granddad's place while she attended to a dinner (won a 46th out of 50 lucky draw for TK which is a household appliance - a thermal flask and a warmer)
361 days' old, you stayed at Granddad's home as infant care centre is closed; Grannies took you to the doc as you're feeling feverish;
362 days' old, you coughed so badly till Grannies brought you to see doc again;
363 days' old, you played with yourself (moving head from left to right while Marmy carried you) and laughed;
364 days' old, you are turning 1 year old (angmoh) in 2 days; Marmy made birthday bash invitation to your 'classmates' (as usual teachers celebrating for infants who turn 1 year old)

Monday, August 29, 2011

52nd week of motherhood

29aug -4sep

- planned to staying at mum's place with TK for another night after visiting Uncle at his house
- went to buy the safety door with Dardy after dinner
- Dardy made delicious bee tai mak soup with cabbage, carrot, mushroom, dau ghee, kidney beans..
- updated my profile, checked emails and tweeted
-

-
- celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival in advance with colleagues (left at 8plus in the evening)
- had a small box of mooncakes to be given to the department from the stake-holders
-

- won a lucky draw in company dinner for the first time
- the food was so-so but I heard the seafood was good (fresh)
-

- stayed at home to bbsit TK to tidy as infant care centre is closed
- Dardy came with more milk powder for TK before we left for Dharma class
- Sis LC sent us home in her 3-week old car
-

- took a light brunch and went for a swim before we continued to do more Dardy's packing
- stayed up late to discuss with Dardy our Project
-

- Ma came to drop by in the morning with a box of vegetarian mooncakes from Uncle
- fetched TK after dinner at Mum's
-

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Coral seaweed jelly

This organic seaweed is rich in enzyme nutrients, minerals, calcium, iron ,multitude fibers and jelly form proteins. It is especially good for skin care, vegetarian diet and daily fiber diet intake. It grows naturally and contains no artificial fertilizer or chemical.  

How to cook/ prepare seaweed:
1. Seaweed salad
- take appropriate portion (depends on how many serving you are preparing) of dry seaweed and wash with clean water.
- soak the seaweed in clean water until it turns transparent and moderate brittle, this takes about 8~12 hours depending on water temperature
- it is then edible (or you may leave it in refrigerator for later consumption)

2. Juice
- take appropriate portion of cleaned seaweed from step 1 above (seaweed salad preparation)
- add your favorite fruit or choice, red jujube and honey into fruit blender
- blend them together for healthy drinkable juice

3. Cold dish
- take appropriate portion of cleaned seaweed from step 1 above (seaweed salad preparation)
- add shredded ginger, garlic, vinegar, salt, soy sauce and sesame oil (omit garlic for vegetarians)
- after mixing them together and leave it in the refrigerator, wait for flavor percolation, then add sliced red carrot, white sesame seeds

4. Energy drink
- Add soybean milk, apple and juice from step 2
- this energy drink is especially good for teenagers and menopause women

5. Rock-sugar "sea bird-nest" soup
- blend appropriate amount of soaked and clean seaweed from step 1
- add red jujube, Lyciun chinensis miller, astragalus membranaceus, right amount of rock sugar. Add water to boil them all together
- you may filter the boiled soup
 
6. Jelly: boil in hot water until sticky, add dark/rock sugar and stir continuously till dissolved. Let it cool down before putting it in the refrigerator.You may like to add 桂花学名:Osmanthus fragrans,英文Sweet Olive)for taste and medicinal benefits.
 
7. It can be served as sashimi, salad and "kalabu".

桂花Osmanthus fragrans or Sweet Olive

中医认为,桂花有很好的药用价值(medicinal value)。古人说桂为百药之长,所以用桂花酿制的酒能达到“饮之寿千岁”的功效。桂花性温、味辛,入肺、大肠经,煎汤、泡茶或浸酒内服,有温中散寒、暖胃止痛、化痰散淤的作用,对食欲不振、痰饮咳喘、痔疮、痢疾、经闭腹痛有一定疗效

红茶性温,有暖脾胃、助消化的功能(improves appetite),可以促进食欲;红糖具有益气养血,健脾暖胃,驱风散寒,活血化淤之效,特别适于产妇(women after delivery)、儿童及贫血者(children & people with anemia) 食用。因此,脾胃虚寒及脾胃功能较弱的人可以适当喝桂花茶温胃。但表现为胃脘灼热疼痛,口干(dryness of the mouth),饥饿却不想吃东西(poor appetite),小便色黄(yellowish stools),大便粘腻等症状的脾胃湿热的人不适合饮用。

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Sabbe satta sukhi hontu

Pronunciation notes:

  • a is pronounced as u in cut
  • ā (or aa) is pronounced as a in father
Sabbe satta sukhi hontu is the key of the development of lovingkindness and compassion. Although most religions teach us to love our neighbors and even our enemies, it’s often hard to know exactly how to do that.

Buddhism, being a very practical tradition, offers a number of practices, including the development of lovingkindness (metta bhavana), and the development of compassion (karuna bhavana) meditations. Each of these practices helps us to develop a healthier and more loving relationship to oneself and others.

Metta is often translated as love as well as lovingkindness, and the essence of love in this sense is that we recognize that all beings, just like us, wish to experience happiness and do not wish to experience suffering. Metta is an empathetic sense of caring for others’ well-being. It’s for that reason that sabbe satta sukhi hontu (“may all beings be happy”) is considered to express the heart of the lovingkindness practice.


In cultivating lovingkindness, we commonly repeat phrases such as “May all beings be well; May all beings be happy; May all beings be free from suffering.” The accumulated effect of those words, when they are mindfully repeated, is to create a genuine sense of caring.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

51st week Dearest Bb TK

23aug - 29aug'11

351 days' old, you still feel discomfort as your 5th, 6th & 7th teeth are 'forcing' their way out; you 'blinked' and smiled at Tr E; Grandma came to visit you; have been pointing with you finger telling us 'Look! I know this one.' or 'I'm turning 1 year old soon.'; heard Mr. Tan JS PE Rally 'live'
352 days' old, you napped after you had 5oz of milk and pooed at 710a; Marmy & Dardy sent you to 'school'; you played w the toy car and stood in front of the TV console holding the edge;
353 days' old, you waved goodbye with flying kiss to Tr T; Grandma came to visit you;
354 days' old, you stayed home as Dardy & Marmy have no Dharma class; you bit off (scratched) the paint on the TV console while you stood there holding the edge;
355 days' old, you went for your 1st Presidential Election with Dardy and Marmy; lunch with Grandpa & Grandma to celebrate your first birthday; went to Lil' Grandaunt's place but  to only meet met your cousins cousin BC with your birthday cake; you received presents from 3rd Granduncle and angbaos from a few Grandaunts
356 days' old, you are gg to Grandmum's place to celebrate again; didn't go went for Sunday banking; you pat your head after you fell face down while crawling when Dardy asked you where pain pain;
357 days' old, you were feverish in the morning & Granddad carried you to see doc w Grandmum; you didn't poo

Monday, August 22, 2011

TK's coming to 1 yr old

Photo taken on 16 Aug 2011 at Infant Care
when TK is 11m 1w 2d old.
Front row: Trivona and Eli
2nd row: Tr Eunice with Angel, Marcus, Chloe, Aahil and Tr Devi with TK
Back row: Tr Zena with Ning and Tr Thila with Chang

51st week of motherhood

22aug - 28aug

- woke up at 7a and took a slice of multigrain bread, did some chores before leaving for work
- handed a few jars of DIY coral seaweed jelly to neighbours
- had brunch at 1040a, worked for a few hours non-stop and had late lunch at 345p
-


- Aunt L and mum is coming to visit
- no Dharma class tonight
-

- first time to cast vote for Presidential Election (PE)
- TK went along in baby stroller
- lunch with family to celebrate for TK's first birthday

- went to mum's place to celebrate again
- went for Sunday banking

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

TK's first visit to Asian Civilisation Musuem at 1 day to 11m old

TK went to the musuem with Dardy and Marmy
to see the Terracotta Warriors
It was sunny and
both Dardy and Marmy
is feeling hungry.

We found out that there's no vegetarian food
at Raffles Place MRT station.
We pushed TK (sleeping) in the baby stroller to Komala's near City Hall MRT station.

TK woke up inside the musuem.

There're some works by local artist Justin Lee
placed at the entrance to the galleries
of the ACM,
which transports visitors into a dream-like night scene.

The dramatic new setting
sees Justin's stylish Terracotta Army flanked by graceful fairy-like maidens
armed with modern technologies.

 Graphic symbols of contemporary Singapore emblazon flags that rise above the quirky army.

Each flag is bordered with Justin's signature motif, the Chinese Character Double Happiness.
This too represents the successful marriage of East and West.
This work blends Western pop art with traditional Eastern imagery,
and gives rise to a new reading of a work that is a mix of many cultures,
and thus decidedly Singaporean.

Although the Terracotta Warriors are tomb figures,
Justin's playful use of colour and light suggests that life after death
might not be so bad after all.

His miniature warriors sport chic, red scarves and black headphones.
Theres's even a lady holding a laptop.

Once inside the gallery,
there're alot of exhibits on different religions in SEA.

There's a sandstone figure of Buddha protected by Naga Muchalinda
(11th - 12th Centuries, Cambodia)



Lord Buddha’s footprint (Buddhapada) in bronze
is an imprint of Gautama Buddha's foot.
The Buddhapada is the earliest symbolic representation of the Buddha.
The footprint is a magical objects which enables one to act at a distance on people related to it.
It has become the central focus in mandala created with the ancient Buddhist Pali Yantras.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

50th week Dearest Bb TK

16aug - 22aug'11

344 days' old, you cried for milk at 3plus in the morning; only drank 4.5oz at 655a; poo at 705a; finish the remaining 1.25oz at 8a;
345 days' old, you are teething and the right lower tooth #5 is visible; drank alot of water and skipped milk as you're feeling sleepy;
346 days' old, you had milk before Dardy took you to school; still say '爹爹('die-die') to Dardy and everything else;
347 days' old, you are attending Tr HL last class at SBF with Dardy & Marmy; you'd give her a e-photo collage as pre-gift for X'mas; poo alot in the morning when Dardy took you to toilet;
348 days' old, you still feel discomfort as your 5th, 6th & 7th teeth are 'forcing' their way out but much better appetite after more than 9 days; Dardy bbsat you in the morning, fed you, and took you for 'Rally walk' in the wet market where you shook hands with the aunties, waved at them, 'pointed' here and there as you moved; went to Lil' Grandaunt's place and played with your bb cousins and had honeydew instead of cereals
349 days' old, you turn 11.5m old; Grandpa came to visit you and you had cereals before you fell asleep on Grandpa's shoulder;
350 days' old, you

Monday, August 15, 2011

50th week of motherhood

15aug - 21aug

- hubby is fetching TK as he's no OT
- had 2 slices of bread as breakfast but ate it only at past noon

- went to the groceries to get
-

-
- took TK to Dharma class to attend Tr HL last lesson as she's got a gift for TK

- TK is not gg to visit/stay at Grandparents' this weekend
- attending a workshop on business etiquette and communications
-

- our first time to cast our votes for the Presidential Election (PE)
- PE is scheduled next Saturday and we'd still bring TK along in his baby stroller and take our queue to vote as there's no one at home to look after TK

- TK is celebrating his lunar 1st birthday next week
- took TK for Sunday banking

Sunday, August 14, 2011

My First Buddha's Joyful Day Celebration 2011

or Ghost Day
as most Chinese called it
is the 15th day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar.

This day falls on the 14 Aug 2011, Sunday.
We're going for lunch with Dharma friends at the Eight Treasures Vegetarian Restaurant,
next to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Chinatown.

 I don't like to sit in a high chair,
so Dardy had to carry me (sit on his laps while Marmy fed me)
and I got to travel from one Uncle/Auntie to another
It's so fun playing merry-go-round!

and Uncle Ven CG even chanted Heart Sutra for me..

Dardy & Marmy took me to the nearby Buddha Tooth Relic Temple


This is the first time I visited this temple.


I kept looking around me and I knew it's the 7th month of the lunar calendar. Look at my fingers!
 an angmoh jiejie even took photos of me


Dardy and TK (that's me) looking up in the sky


there're so beautiful deco hanging from the temple


I'm entering the inside of the temple up the ramp.

where there's praying and chanting

I love to hear the chanting

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Training cups for infants

1. Pigeon
- Magmag Training cup system Nipple top 3mth+ Step 1  BPA free $5.50
- Magmag Training cup system Nipple top 5mth+ Step 2  BPA free $5.50
- Magmag Training cup system Straw top 8mth+ Step 3 BPA free $5.50
- available at AMK Hub Fairprice Xtra (correct as at 19 Jun 2010)

*2. Avent
- Magic cup 200ml non-spill easy-sip soft spout 6m+ BPA free $13.90
- 200ml toddler spout with handles 12m+ BPA free $14.90
- 200ml toddler spout with handles 12m+ BPA free $18.50
- available at AMK Hub Fairprice Xtra (correct as at 19 Jun 2010)

3. Tollyjoy
- 6oz Training cup w straw BPA free UP$6.90 SP$5.52 (20% discount till 21 Jul 2010)

*my choice

My observation: Initially, infant baby will take some time before he/she will suck/drink from the cup. He/She needs to suck with alot of strength. After a while, he/she doesn't even want to drink from the soft spout before he/she turns 9m.

A reflection on the class by Sis HL on 12 Aug 2011

Debate motion:
It is possible to be a bodhisattva in all social context (in our daily lives).

For..
1. It is possible so long we practice bodhisattva and take baby steps -- start from small. Eg. begin with family members, and slowly extend out to friends, neighbours, etc.
2. Everyone can be a bodhisattva in his/her own ways, be it big or small.
3. Having bodhisattva thoughts first by taking/revising the precepts to begin with. You don't need to be perfect to take the precepts. It is a good reminder to us.
4. We can begin with bearing one kind thought and showing lovingkindness to one person a day.
5. Do unto others what you want others to do unto you. -- At all times, practice putting yourself in other people's shoes. He/She may be wishing for someone to help him/her.


Against..
1. It is not possible as there're too many people in your work place who will 'eat' you if you don't do the same to them.
2. Everyday is a challenge as you may need to come out with 'reasons' to be understanding towards your counterparts so as not to affect the corporate image/relations.
3. Having to constantly keep all the 'nonsense' out daily is very challenging. Afterall, we're still human and if we raise our voice/lose our cool, others may ask, "What have we learnt in Dharma classes? What's the point of 'praying'?"
4. We are nice to others and they assume you can be 'bullied' and you may get to do all the 'dirty job'.
5. Lives nowadays are unlike the past which are much simplier, including the monastic. People then are much simplier and much easier to practice bodhisattva in daily lives.
6. Young people are very much 'attached' to the virtual world (Eg. Facebook, Twitter, iPac, iPhone, online games, blogging etc) and less concern about the world around them/they live in. They have less (opportunity to practice) social skills/bodhisattva.

Correct me if wrong ;)


As I was taking my shower last evening (the place and personal 'space' I have, but sometimes have to 'share' it with my son as he needs to sit on our bed and still keep me within his sight), I recalled what are the possible challenges for a young parent to practise bodhisattva in a typical day scenario:

From the moment you open your eyes in the morning..
1. You wake up earlier to use the common toilet as you need to 'queue up' and wait for the toilet.
2. It's getting late and you urgently need to use the toilet and get ready for work.

Friday, August 12, 2011

A touching song 'Mother In The Dream' by a 12-year-old Mongolian boy

A teacher-friend sent me this clip from China's Got Talent performance by Uudam who lost his mother at 8 years old. When asked, he said he wished to invent an ink, which one drop of ink can make the whole place filled with grass.

He would sing this song whenever he misses his mother.
Sometimes
he even dreamt of his mother
sitting next to him.
His mother had wanted very much to see him sing. 

His eyes swelled up when he was asked to say something to his mother in Heaven, and he paused, before saying, 'Mama, I love you.'
All the mothers in the audience shed tears for this boy.

Goodbye to my Good Friend

Inspirational words from the Great Master Thich Nhat Hanh when you feel angry
Below is a beautiful poem written with great wisdom
from the poet Papa Lam

Goodbye to my Good Friend

I have a good friend called Anger;
It is suffering and yet I crave.
It has claimed my marriage but I was saved.
It has claimed my life but yet I was saved.
It has claimed my job but I was saved.

With wisdom and compassion I shall
proclaim upon all Bodhisattvas

"Thank you for walking the journey with me path
in the past with me,
but my dear old friend, Anger
You are no longer needed (in the present)
for crossing the seas of suffering
whose shores are clear to you and me.
Please leave and bid goodbye.
Please leave and don't bid goodbye."

From Papa Lam to Mama Lee Lam

Baby Natura Organic Baby Meal (Brown rice porridge with pumpkin)

 
Ingredient:
Organic Brown Rice 75%, Organic Pumpkin 25%

Just add milk or water
  • No cow milk, No nut and No egg
  • Gluten-free from wheat
  • Grown without chemicals
  • No added preservatives
Suitable for vegetarians
Supplementary food for baby and kids from 6 months to 3 years
Made in Thailand from natural produce of Thailand's fertile soil
Go to Baby Natura for more information.

TK tasted it for the first time and liked it very much.
I learnt that organic cereals like this kind requires more water compared to non-organic ones when preparing.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

49th week of motherhood

8aug - 14aug

- went to Mum's for dinner w TK and hubby
- spent fruitful time w hubby working on new project ESS-X
- TK said 'woo-woo'and we've yet to 'decode' it
-

- packed TK's necessities and got ready to return home after shopping for groceries (Elderly discount 2%) w Mum, Dad & bro (spent a total of $94) and was entitled to a Spin-the-Wheel (additional 1 chance with a red/white top) for every purchase of min $25 in a single receipt
- won 2 small table trash bins and a few water bottles after queuing for almost 1h
- took MRT home w TK and fed porridge in stuffy cabin (TK was perspiring and feeling sleepy)
- celebrated Pa's birthday in advance
- suggested for family dine-in on National Day and watched the fireworks together (celebrated Pa's coming birthday w homecooked food for the first time)
- Ma volunteered to cook fried Hokkien Mee and vegetarian curry (hubby added dou gua and warmed up the food)
- had dessert of grass jelly+ adap zee

- sent TK to infant care and did some work at the lounge
- had lunch w hubby shared a plate of brown rice +2 vegetables +1 vegetarian meat
- checked email and updated blog
- went to the Stadium for a walk-workout w hubby and TK
- asked hubby if it's prenatal simulation that TK starts to say 'woo-woo' with his lips curled upwards and outwards (as if ready to be kissed)
-

- woke up at around 7a when the alarm sounded
- went for massage chair at the lounge after lunch
- did some laundry and checked emails, blogged and attempt to complete the presentation for this coming Dharma class
- TK turns 1 year old (lunar birthday) in about 2 weeks' time
-

49th week Dearest Bb TK

9aug - 15aug'11

337 days' old, you had dinner w Grannies and celebrated Singapore's 46th Birthday at home; Lil' Grandaunt came to visit you; said 'bom-bom' when you saw the fireworks;
338 days' old, you are gg to the stadium for evening jog w Dardy & Marmy for the first time;
339 days' old, you waved Goodbye to Marmy with flying kiss while Tr Z carried you for the first time; you did the Red Indian 'ooh-ooh' with your hand covering your mouth repeatedly w Grandma
340 days' old, you went to stay with Grandmum after 'school' while Dardy & Marmy went for Dharma class; you did the Red Indian 'ooh-ooh' repeatedly w Granddad; felt discomfort as your 5th tooth is forcing it's way out;
341 days' old, you woke up at 130p for milk;
342 days' old, you are gg for lunch w Venerable CG at the Eight Treasures Vegetarian Restaurant next to the Buddha Tooth Relic; celebrated Buddha Happy Day for the first time;
343 days' old, you

Monday, August 1, 2011

48th week Dearest Bb TK

2aug - 8aug'11

330 days' old, you poo at 740a;
331 days' old, you had mango purree+tofu as dessert at 8p and had 3oz of milk +puff at 925p for dinner;
332 days' old, you had 4oz of milk +puff at 740p and cereals+puree at 845p for dinner;
333 days' old, you are staying home with Grandma & Grandaunt gg to Grandmum place to stay for the weekend while Dardy & Marmy went for Dharma class; had cereals at 830p and 2.5oz at 1030p;
334 days' old, you are gg to ACM for the first time to visit the exhibition Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor and His Legacy; went to Lil' Grandaunt's place to meet your Lil' cousins; sang, laughed and clapped hands when Grandaunts and Grandma sang to you; held your first mini-concert and received applause and Encore;
335 days' old, you went to stay at Granddad's place; woke up a few times in the night and found the place unfamiliar;
336 days' old, you are going to celebrate Singapore's 46th birthday; had kiwi and organic vanilla bean custard for the first time; took long naps and nap almost 4h in all;

48th week of motherhood

1aug - 7aug

- reached office at 11a after sending TK to infant care with hubby
- was too engrossed with reading a book 心境 and alighted at Queen's close at Blk 19 (second time I overshot the bus stop for being too engrossed with something)
- walked back a few bus stops (walked about 20min) to transfer a bus to work
- the SMRT officer refuse to let infant son come into the station (does he need to tap the Ez-link card as well?)
- hubby has OT
- Grandma & Grandpa came to visit TK
-

- reached office by 10a
-