Dry Shampoo

Honestly, this wonderful option didn't work out for me because I have to have my hair washed and blown dry once daily, even during confinement. In fact, I washed my hair 17 hours after Bean was born, with quick blow dry after.

During pregnancy, I bought this dry shampoo, tried to fool myself into not washing my hair and trying to further fool myself into following the traditional practice *what was I thinking?* as long as you keep your scalp clean and dry, you'd be fine.

Anyways, this dry shampoo was about the only type I could find in the local pharmacy...hope you have better chance of locating nicer ones.

I'd probably keep this for long haul flights.

Do share the name of dry shampoo that you like, I am willing to try!

Confinement Recipe: Basil Chicken

Confinement Basil Chicken is my go-to dish when I feel like having some chicken drumsticks that are not fried.

Being partly Thai, I am only too happy to have some Thai basil with my meal.

Ingredients:

300g chicken drumsticks, cut to pieces

20g fresh thai basil (do not use English sweet basil) - omit basil if not available

4pcs garlic cloves, sliced

5 pieces shallots, sliced

20g ginger, sliced

250ml chicken or vegetarian stock

50ml pure sesame oil

Steps:

Saute chicken pieces in pure sesame oil with garlic, shallots and ginger until sealed.

Add stock and bring to boil.

Lower heat to simmer for 15 minutes.

Add torn fresh thai basil leaves as garnish.

Serve hot with rice.

*chicken may be replaced with beef slices after stitches have completely healed.

Tefal Food Steamer

One of the kitchen toys I play with very often is the steamer. 

Chocolate lava muffins.

Yoghurt muffins.

Berry compote.

Salmon with wolfberries, tofu and broccoli - the breastmilk-producing meal I eat quite often. Have to re-think salmon now following Fukushima.

I have not captured the many other foods I have been making in the steamer, maybe I will the next time they come up on the menu rotation.

Easy to wash steam baskets, dishwasher friendly, tried and tested recipe cards, adjustable timer, auto timer for regular recipes (fish, vegetables, cakes etc), and affordable. Definitely strikes all the right cords with a busy mother like myself!

I just have to remind myself to be more careful when handling hot steam!

Do you steam your food too? Do share your delicious recipes!

How We Pulled Through

"Daddy Duties During Confinement Checklist" was made because our intended confinement helper could not show up due to her personal reasons.

By then, our weekend cleaner was beginning to slack in her duties and we hung on to her until confinement period was over, not that we had any choice. Closed one eye, smiled and kept our cool. 

Therefore, on days when we were "hazy" and speaking slurred speech from broken sleep, the checklist proved to be handy.

Here's what The Other Half did:

Prepared The Little Girl for school - breakfast, change, school run.

Bought lunch and dinner fresh ingredients, general groceries. Lugged them home. Received goods for online shopping.

Laundry.

Ironing.

Rainbow.

Afternoon school run.

Bathed Bean.

Diaper change for Bean whenever needed.

Took The Little Girl to potty and shower whenever needed.

Played with and read to both kids.

Other activities with The Little Girl such as tricycle riding, scootering, bookshops and toys shop hopping, cup cake eating...

Results: one happy wife! Two happy kids! 

The best part is that he lost a few kilograms in 44 days just by doing all that. Awesome work, wouldn't you agree?

Thank you so much, love! Couldn't have done it without you.

Confinement Helper Checklist

This is my Confinement Helper Checklist which I had drafted and agreed upon by the intended helper. 

I like expectations clearly worded so as to avoid misunderstandings, especially with the early days following childbirth (hormones, adjustment to broken sleep, unexpected visitors, etc).

Unfortunately, we didn't use the checklist as our intended helper flew the kite on us (expression for no show) due to her personal reasons. Allah is The Ultimate Decision Maker, so I wasn't disappointed at all.

The Other Half and I ended up having to do everything by ourselves after The Grandparents left. Exactly as we would have to if we were not in Malaysia.

Here goes:

Prepare breakfast.

Prepare late morning snack or warm drink.

Prepare lunch.

Prepare afternoon snack or warm drink.

Prepare dinner.

Wash up utensils and cutlery, dishes and pots.

Clean up island and wet kitchen counter top.

Clean up induction cooker top.

Wipe down table after meals.

Assist with snacks or milk for The Little Girl.

Assist with playing or reading to The Little Girl in Mandarin when Mummy is nursing Bean.

Feel free to adopt this template! Let me just say that it can quite tiring so if you are blessed with a helper, be especially kind and generous!

Air Zam Zam

I believe in miracles. I believe in Allah's power to heal and cure.

I drink air zam zam so that Bean can benefit from it. The Little Girl gets hers via a cup with her meals. The Other Half drinks it for overall well-being. We share them with the needy, especially.

A very kind cousin sister in law got me a bottle in my third trimester to drink and alhamdulillah the labour and delivery went smoothly. In fact, in between pushes during delivery my obgyn had asked me to drink some. 

We are very blessed that we have found a booth at the SACC Mall that sells every 500ml bottle for RM10 (the price is to cover the cost of transportation only). You may find the booth on the first floor near the concourse air well.

If we can pay for Evian, why not pay for air zam zam? The benefits are endless!

Do you practice this too? How often should we drink it? Do you know of any specific supplications before drinking air zam zam?

Do share!

Midnight Drinks

I have BP of 110/70 and quite often after a marathon feed, I feel giddy. Thirsty giddy. Too pening and lazy to saunter to the kitchen to help myself to a warm drink.

 

The Other Half is very sweet. He makes me a warm drink and serves it half-asleep!

 

The recipe is simple.

 

You will need:

3 level tbsp of Horlicks

100 ml of hot water

100 ml of fresh milk

 

Dilute Horlicks with hot water and stir well with a spoon. Add fresh milk. Stir well. Serve warm.

 

Bon appetite!

End of Confinement

44 days served!

Celebrated by buying nursing tops (yay!) and feeding Bean directly instead of pumping (double yay!)

Reality Check

When The Grandparents return to The House this Friday, we will:

1. Have to care for The Little Girl after school; and

2.  Cook our own meals for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. Plus all the snacks in between.

In conclusion, our reality as a family of four will start.

I am slightly petrified.

Will I be able to handle it all?

Will my two adorable but high maintenance munchkins not demand my attention at the same time?

Why on earth does this transitional phase have to clash with The Little Girl's potty training? 

Keep me in your prayers. I will be needing them!

In the meantime, the weekly pre-planned meals and chores roster will return to ease our transition period between now and end of confinement.

Looking forward to 3 August 2013 - end of 44 days, return to normalcy, in sha Allah. What is even more exciting would be the arrival of The Lloyds from Yorkshire for Eid!

Urut Lady

One of the recovery and healing process that I enjoyed during confinement is the traditional massage, tungku hot stones and bengkung/binding.

 

Preferably in silence so that I can drift off to nap during those precious moments after being awake all night long.

 

However, my urut lady had to spoil it all with her non-stop chatter. Honestly, her urut skills were pretty good but for the gift of her gab.

 

I had to endure 10 sessions of traditional massage that comes with endless  gossiping about other customers. 

One day, I decided enough was enough.

 

If someone could speak (ill) about others that way, I always believe that the same person would speak in the same negative fashion about me to others.

 

So I told her to stop coming over.

 

Puasa gossip, puasa mengumpat, alright?

 

Hear no evil (for me), and hopefully speak no evil (for her). Bad enough that I now have to vent it out here.

Maybe I do have to specify and request for silent traditional massage in future. Hopefully Tanamera has one...

 

Let this Ramadhan be filled with kind speech and good thoughts.

 

Caveat:

Not to potong her rezeki but I will not be posting her telephone number here (she did ask me to Facebook it, and I won't). If you, like me, enjoy silent massage, send me an email so that I can tell you who not to hire...

Full Moon Package

Preamble: This is NOT a paid post.

In fact, none of my reviews are sponsored, as I believe in writing independently and honestly so that I am able to share reliable information after testing or using the products and services first hand.

Today's post is about a catering company (with an online presence) that comes with a reliable team of customer, kitchen and delivery service.

I found them via Google and could not be more impressed by its delivery of promise.

I rang Citarasa Uniq customer service number given on its web site. Unfortunately, no one answered it the first time so my mobile service provider cut me off after x number of rings.

However, within seconds, a mobile number rang my number. Hesitantly, I answered (thinking that it is one of those pesky insurance or credit card companies). Luckily, it wasn't!

It was Citarasa Uniq customer service staff who returned my missed call. She was concise, polite. Good product knowledge and quick with best option available. A dream customer service staff *applaud!*

From then on, it was all so simple.

In a gist, here is what I did:
1. Discuss full moon package items - all their food are certified halal.
2. Finalise booking and sum payable.
3. Provide name(s) of child(ren) and parents; delivery address/date/time.
4. Pay online and SMS them the receipt number.
5. Citarasa Uniq staff delivered the items to the address provided at the time and date specified, complete with complimentary card bearing the birth announcement.

For slightly more than RM300 purchase, I was given a complimentary delivery to one address within Klang Valley at no additional cost.

Now that is a breezy, easy peasy full moon party pack a mother in confinement can organise in less than an hour without leaving the house!

Reviews from my ex-colleagues on the food: YUMMY! They were especially grateful that food arrived on the dot, for lunch. Bliss!

Full Moon Celebrations

Cannot believe how quickly light and dark merge into 28 days in just a few naps and seemingly endless diaper changes and feeds.

Bean is coming of age in 2 days!

I have placed the order for halal full moon party pack (luncheon) with Citarasa Uniq. They also have package for aqiqah parties, if you are looking for one.

Bet you can guess by now that I am culturally and genetically Chinese, and Muslim by faith?

Truth be told, I am also making up for my tardiness back when I had The Little Girl in 2010. 

This time, the full moon party pack will be  for both Bean and his elder sister...like a mini ratification/repentance to redeem myself *erase guilt for good*

Why didn't I do it last time?

My main excuses is that I served my confinement days at The House back then, had limited online access and a much tighter budget as a new stay at home mother. No rezeki?

By the time I wanted to and could place an order, it was a bit too late as the deadline for order came to pass too quickly. Again, no rezeki?

My bad. Totally.

So this time, opportunity has presented itself to make good the double joyous occasion, and alhamdulillah I am able to share both the food and good tidings with those close and dear to us.

Here's to Bean: Blessed Full Moon, son! I love you more than I can ever express in words and action. May you grow healthily , wisely and handsomely! 

Last but not least to The Little Girl: happy belated full moon, darling! You are and will always be loved dearly. No one can ever replace you. Every time you smile my heart grows that much bigger (the reverse is true when you act up or throw a tantrum, I feel like my heart had broken to smithereens).

Oh syukur alhamdulillah for these two amanah...and I pray that both The Other Half and I will be showered with more grace and patience in raising these two beautiful souls on the Right Path for His Glory and Purpose. 

Amin!

Salam Ramadhan

Blessed Ramadhan to all my Muslim friends and readers! May Allah accept our fast, prayers and ibadah, forgive us our sins and bless us with more goodness, Amin!

 

I have paid my fidyah online, and so can you if you had forgotten/been too busy. It is never too late as long as your niat/intention is steadfast.

 

As for my non-Muslim friends and readers, enjoy the buffet spread (Groupon deals aplenty!) and be patient on the road.

 

Kindly note that some offices downtown KLCC start at 7.30 am and shut at 4.30 pm to allow for normal transactions to continue alongside adjusted prayer and meal times. Plan your day/month wisely.

 

Note: I am serving out my nifas, and breastfeeding so I am "excused" from fasting during this period. I will have to make up for the missed fasts and pay fidyah to feed the poor for every single day that I miss my fast. In sha Allah.

B.R.O.K.E.N. S.L.E.E.P.

Alhamdulillah Bean is home safely and is fully recovered from newborn jaundice (no hospital admission required, just lots of breast milk as advocated by his paed).

 

Alhamdulillah I am recovering, relaxing and rejuvenating as much as I possibly can.

 

The Other Half and I are sleep deprived at the moment and are taking turns to manage the household, caring for a newborn and a pre-schooler.

 

He does the school run in the morning.
 

Groceries.
 

Comes home.
 

Cares for Bean while I shower, express breast milk, get ready for my post-natal massage and binding.
 

Picks up lunch tray/tiffin cans/flasks of red date tea from The Grandparents from The Flat Upstairs.
 

Eats gobbles his lunch.
 

School run in the afternoon.
 

Sends The Little Girl to The Grandparents at The Flat Upstairs.
 

Comes home.
 

Cares for Bean while I befriend my Avent Breastpump and VIA cups.
 

We bathe Bean.
 

Naps (if possible).
 

Picks up dinner tray/tiffin cans/flasks of red date tea from The Grandparents from The Flat Upstairs.
 

Eats chomps his dinner.
 

Loads the dishwasher.
 

Return lunch trays/tiffin cans/flasks to The Grandparents at The Flat Upstairs in exchange for The Little Girl.
 

Cares for Bean while I keep the bedtime routine with The Little Girl.
 

I befriend my Avent Breastpump and VIA cups again before "sleeping".
 

Does the night feeds and diaper changes (I sometimes wake up too from the cries and letdown, and end up either breastfeeding or pumping).
 

Subuh again! Subuh already? But we haven't "slept"!
 

Breakfast time!  

 

(It is alright for you to have a headache/feel dizzy/see stars after reading the above list as we are fatigued from carrying out all these tasks!)

 

Now insert : put dirty laundry into the washer and transfer washed but still damp laundry to the dryer in between almost every single task.

 

Don't forget all the self care routines too (as mundane as teeth brushing sounds, one can sometimes miss out when both kids require attention at the same time!).

 

Solat. Don't miss that from his list of things to do. I am excused as I am still in nifas.

 

Then insert ironing some clothing randomly in between. We have started sending a small (but increasingly larger by the day) laundry basket to The Grandparents at The Flat Upstairs so that we can get some decent shut eye (read: nerve preservation). Oh, how my shoulders and neck ache from all that ironing...and the appearance of ugly varicose veins from standing on my feet a lot. Ugh!

 

Finally, do not leave out vital tasks such as renewing car road tax, car insurance, household and fire insurance, school concert rehearsals, school summer programme, 1001 other fun activities to keep the 39 month old pre-schooler entertained, engaged, learning and happy. Some we can complete online, but some require eye to eye contact and actual conversation, get what I mean?

 

Phew!

 

Things are about to get more interesting challenging as we embark on the Holy Month of Ramadhan next week. May Allah bless us with Strength to carry on and fulfil our obligations as Muslims.

When the first 44 days are over, with no help from The Grandparents or Confinement Helper (who is only helping out for the last 9 days), our reality of a family of 4 members will commence. This is the "honeymoon" period so let me just kick back and relax in the smallest way that I can.

 

Guess that birth story will have to wait for now until I gather my composure as posting a summary would not be fair *hehe*

 

Till then

 

<pause>

 

see you soon!

 

It won't be too long, I sincerely hope.

 

P/S: Yes, the fact that we are parents of 2 kids have finally sunk in. It did the moment we took Bean home!

Confinement Recipe: Pumpkin Rice

Pumpkin provides much needed nutrients and fibres. Delicious nutty taste makes a great accompaniment to soups and vegetables dishes, especially when one is already tired of consuming plain brown rice or mashed potatoes...

 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown rice, washed and drained

100g pumpkin, cubed

3/4 cup water

Steps:

Place brown rice and pumpkin with water into an electrical/automatic rice pot.

Press cook.

Voila!

*increase amount of rice and pumpkin to water ratio accordingly if cooking for more than 1 person.

Bon appetit!

Confinement Recipe: Vegetarian Stock

44 days x 2 main meals per day = 88 meals.

Surely you will not want every meal to taste the same, with the predictable chicken stock becoming staple and boring. As a breastfeeding mum, I like exposing my new bub to new tastes as well just like I did with The Little Girl previously. When we introduced her to solids, she took to fruits and vegetables like duck to water.

Here is an alternative stock to prepare ahead, freeze and thaw as needed.

Ingredients:

Group A

200g dried mushroom stems, washed and drained (keep mushrooms for cooking other dishes)

2kg carrots, cut into chunks

1kg soya beans, soaked for 1 hour and drained

120g red dates, pitted and rinsed

20g ginger, smashed

1 tsp white pepper powder

Group B

5 litres of water

Steps:

Bring 5 litres of water to boil.

Pour all Group A ingredients into pot and bring to boil.

Turn heat to low and boil for 3 hours.

Storing:

Cool stock and sieve well.

Pour 250ml equivalent to one cup of stock per portion into each container and freeze (I freeze mine at -18C).

Usage:

Thaw in the fridge overnight before using. 

Heat thoroughly to boiling point when put through vegetables.

Stock can be used for cooking with vegetables instead of using water, salt, soya sauce and oyster sauce. 

 

Keeps well frozen for up to a month.

 

Bon appetit!

Confinement Recipe: Chicken Stock

I love my food freshly prepared but since I may not be able to cook every single meal myself, I may have to delegate the task to The Other Half, MIL or a confinement helper.

 

Since I do not consume soya sauce, oyster sauce and the likes of MSG laden stocks, this is one staple that can be prepared ahead to time, frozen per portion and thawed as needed (to reduce the trouble/inconvenience I cause to delegatee). 

 

 

 

Hope you will find this useful:

Ingredients:

Group A

5kg chicken, washed and cut into pieces

Water

Group B

50g dried scallops, soaked and drained

20g ginger, smashed

1 tsp white pepper powder

Group C

5 litres water

Steps:

Briefly boil Group A in water.

Water amount: sufficient to cover all chicken pieces.

Scoop out all boiled chicken and rinse with cool boiled water.

Set aside boiled chicken.

Bring Group C to boil.

Add in Group B and previously boiled Group A ingredients.

Bring to boil.

Lower heat and simmer for 3 hours.

Skim oil at top layer.

Cool stock.

Sieve well.

 

Storing:

Pour 250ml into container for each portion.

Freeze at -18C.

Thaw overnight in fridge before use.

Bring to boil when cooking with vegetables.

Keeps frozen for up to one month.

Usage:

Replaces water, salt, soya sauce and oyster sauce.

 

Tip:

Replace chicken with beef ribs for variety. Add 1 piece of bay leaf.

 

Bon appetit!

Confinement Recipe: Baked Salmon

This is so simple that The Other Half can make for me without turning our kitchen into a post tornado scene...all he does is omit the marinade for The Little Girl's portion.

Ingredients:

200g salmon slice, washed and pat dry

1 pc aluminium foil

Marinade:

2 tbsp pure sesame oil

1/2 tbsp black pepper

1tsp ginger, chopped

1tsp garlic, chopped

Steps:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celcius (180C if fan assisted).

Marinade salmon for 30 minutes.

Place marinated salmon into foil and cover well. 

Poke a  few small holes for steam to escape.

Bake for 8 minutes or until salmon is cooked.

Bon appetit!

Confinement Recipe: Banana Snack

In between feeding, burping and changing a newborn, I sometimes get frazzled from all that buzz and lack of sleep. This is one snack I can make in a jiffy and consume within a short time without losing much sleep, nerves or nutrients...

Ingredients:

2 wholemeal bread slices

1 fresh banana

Some peanut butter or Manuka honey or butter

Dash of cinnamon powder

Steps:

Spread peanut butter or Manuka honey or butter onto wholemeal bread slices.

Slice freshly peeled bananas onto wholemeal bread.

Sprinkle some cinnamon powder onto banana slices.

Press or grill for a few minutes until brown.

Serve with dusting of cinnamon powder.

*avoid bananas if newborn is being breastfed and has colic. Replace with red apple slices/dates/raisins.

Bon appetit!

Confinement Recipe: Papaya Milk Dessert

Confinement is a rest, relax and rejuvenate period for me. Sometimes after breastfeeding and feeling both peckish and thirsty in the late afternoon before meal time, I love a healthy dessert to tie me over without piling on the pounds.

This simple and tasty dessert is also a cure for constipation and helps in increasing breast milk supply.

Ingredients:

1 whole ripe papaya

1tbsp rock sugar

250ml milk

Small slice of ginger, if baby has no jaundice.

Steps:

Wash papaya and pat dry.

Cut off top part of papaya to use as a "pot lid".

Decore papaya to remove seeds, empty papaya will look like a "pot".

Cut the bottom of papaya so that the "pot" can "stand" on its own.

Pour ginger, rock sugar and milk into the "papaya pot" and close "pot lid".

Place onto a plate or bowl to fit steamer.

Steam for 45 minutes.

Serve hot.

Tip: If in a rush, skin and cube the papaya then place all ingredients into a bowl that can fit into steamer.

Bon appetit!