What's The Man For?

Aside for being the head of the family, the man is a free and safe human storage aka keeper to look after all the bags and the jackets, while the rest of his family members are jumping up and down and taking pictures. Thank you for being there!

TANSTAAFL

In a day, we need more hours.... so many of us feel this way. I hate to admit that, I am behind with so many things that I do, I could do more but I just couldn't make myself do more than I can handle. It is hard enough to keep up with the "basic" things that I do on daily basis, moreover to catch up with my neglected and semi-abandoned WIPs. I can't pick up a new hobby, I do not have enough time to work on regular basis because my priority has been and will always be my family first.

I can't remember how I discovered this book by Allison Pearson "I Don't Know How She Does It" about the drama of dilemma of a working mom. A few years back when I found the book for the first time, I quickly read it and passed it to a someone close to me who was in a very similar situation and I thought, was in danger of heading to a broken family, I urged her to read it. I do not know if she ended up reading it although she returned the book a couple of years later, after I got myself another copy.

Her story ended quite differently than the one in the book, unfortunately. Her ex-husband cheated on her for years with at least another woman and had another child with that s&#%. The arrogant man was never remorseful and only interested in his pride. He was begging and begging for forgiveness and was unwilling to proceed with the divorce and the next minute he started delivering insults and punches on his wife's family. This jerk said that he wanted no interference from any family members, then shortly after he asked for help to reconcile from his wife's sister. He bribed the judge so that the divorce case was messed up, he was also not co-operative during the hearings. I have more than enough reasons to call him a jerk, although he is more than qualified to be called a cheater and maybe a lot of other names that I might use some other time, whenever deemed necessary. I still possess some self control!

Remember "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"? This jerk will be paying it, if not now, maybe later. Justice is sweet. Let the nature takes its course....... We do not have to do anything much, yet.

Tough Day

This was how I felt nearly the whole day : . Yes, things went downhill nearly the whole day and my body ached too. I could not get out of the sucking mud, although I tried. The chocolate toffee in the picture was long gone, they were made more than a week ago..... they could have sweetened my day a tiny bit. They were sweet, nice and crunchy. Butter, sugar, chocolate chips and slivered almond that are put together, they brought a heavenly taste to your taste buds.

A Birthday Wish

Here's to you, my best buddy over the past 20 years:

Have a super happy birthday!!!
May the economy recover soon, for you.
May the stock markets rebound shortly, for you.
May your investment funds gain a gazillion % in the next years or 30-40% will do.

More importantly, may God bless you and your family always and may you be given strength to deal with whatever comes your way and solve ALL the problems before you have the time to tell your wife about them. Wishing you good health and all the success in your career and the ability to tolerate your wife's nonsense, in case she has any, but she doesn't have any and take her all around the world in at least business class, preferably first and to stay in all fantastic five star hotels when you travel with her and buy her all the Chanel bags that she likes , and the shoes too . Have a pleasant birthday!!

Chocolate Dipping Madeleines

They are just same old madeleines, except I dipped them into warm chocolate gnache left by big miss baker who baked some chocolate cupcakes last week and still had some gnache left. They are yummy. I kept on dipping for more and licking the mess on my fingers.

I was under the weather yesterday, mainly contributed by lack of sleep for many days and a couple of weeks or so. I had a nap after the kids left for school because my head hurt so much and again after lunch, because I felt so week and tired after doing some works. I made those madeleines in between my napping time, maybe baking madeleines was just a dream? I am getting old.....er.

She Spells Her Name Out!

So, this little miss baker wouldn't stop at me making initials of the three princesses' name with the bread, she outdid me by spelling her own name and decorating the baking pan too, with the bread. I think she had a good time doing it and eating them as well. She used cheese bread dough.

Bready Initials

The initials of my three super good kids, made from cheese bread dough. They will be eaten shortly,......... the breads, not the kids. I really should find a more productive outlet for my "creativity". Maybe I should start looking for some doctorate programs that I have been thinking of?.... But I still do not know what to do when I grow up....

Three Sisters'

Their legs, honest!

Picking Taco

On the fridge door, I put up a list of food that we all want to make or to have them made. Anyone is welcome to write what they want in there. We cross them out after the mission is accomplished. We have around 15 there, some are cookies, some are cakes. Some can be for dinner or lunch. One of which was Taco and we had them last Monday.

One name was crossed out, some others might pop up soon..... It's a nice list to have, it helps when I ran out of ideas while at the same time, I do not really have to prioritize those that are on the list.

Lemon Inspired

What a historical moment it is right now, today. Barack Obama will be the next US President, the first African American President ever. A real intelligent leader has been elected. Racial barriers fell and he proves that anybody, irregardless what race a person is, can be anything they want to be. Such an inspiration!



Talking about inspiration, I was inspired to bake a lemon sponge cake yesterday and I did it. My intention was for DH to take some with him as he was flying overseas, but he took an earlier flight instead and my cake didn't make it in time. The cake turned out just fine, but the next time I make this, I will use more lemon juice, as it was not lemony enough to our liking. While I like it plain, the kids love them with lemon sugar icing drizzled all over it. Either way, they are wonderful.

( Recipe used was adapted from Better Homes & Gardens, New Cook Book, 14th Edition)