Gratitude Challenge Day 5

Day 5: 13 Oct 2014, Monday

I am grateful that:

1) My husband is faithful. He just came back from Shanghai and told me about a girl who asked for his contact and sent him sexy photos, which after a while he told her he's married. 

2) My husband and I still go out on dates together. He said he's not working on Tuesday and so I took leave so we can go out for a day together. 

3) I have a mentor, Chew Meng, who has taught me that not everything has to be ruthless in the corporate world. I have a colleague who is not doing so well and at times I get frustrated, but because of Chew Meng I remind myself to be respectful and not be condescending. Many things define a person, working ability is just one, and a very small one. 

Gratitude Challenge Day 4

Day 4: 12 Oct 2014, Sunday

I am grateful that:

1) I have nice and friendly neighbours. Our next door neighbour, Mike, invited us to his birthday bbq tonight. Met Lucas' friend's mummy, Betty, downstairs and we sat by the pool for a nice chatter. 

2) I found someone I can click with very well in Kevan's (Lucas' swimming friend) mummy. Carrie is so nice to talk to, no airs and can talk about anything. And she gave me two bottles of eucalyptus oil and refused that I pay her. This is someone whom I can totally relax and bitch with. 

3) My neighbour invited us to his bbq. I know it sounds like a repeat point, but really it's not. Because the reason I am grateful this time is he saved me from cooking dinner tonight!

Gratitude Challenge Day 3

Day 3: 11 Oct 2014, Saturday

I am grateful that:

1) I have good and close relationship with my family. Family relationship is not to be taken granted for. My husband is away and I could just at the last minute pop by my brother's place for a morning with the kids and feel so welcome at their house. 

2) My mother is in good health. She almost died this year and I have many times felt thankful that she didn't, and is in considerably good health and spirits after that scary fit episode. I am happy to send her to play mahjong after lunch!

3) Lucas is improving in his number memory at Heguru class. Today he got 2 whole rows correct! This is the first time he wrote down so many numbers and so many were correct. Even though his plate puzzles were not as good but the number memory is a huge improvement and encouragement!

Gratitude Challenge Day 2

Day 2:  10 Oct 2014, Friday

1) I have a good helper whom I can rely on to take care of Luis, for instance tonight my husband is on business trip and I can't put Luis to bed. 

2) The childcare teachers are patient and kind. Lucas shitted in his shorts again and the teacher helped to clean him up and wash his shorts and did not grumble when telling me about it. 

3) I have a job that allows me to leave work at 6 plus on most days so I can spend time with my family and have time to do other things (or mostly chores!). 

Gratitude Challenge Day 1

Day 1: 9 Oct 2014, Thursday

I am grateful that:

1) I have matured and not as afraid to speak up in meetings now. I was surprised myself during this category visit. 

2) I have a husband who can support me when I am busy. This week he ungrudgingly (most of the time) helped to prepare, send and pick up Lucas to and from school while I leave home early and come back late. 

3) I have supportive in laws who help us with our children so unconditionally. I do not need to worry about my children at all during the day when I work, and when I come home I have dinner spread out on the dining table. 

Random reflection

I have been busy and did not have much time for reflection and writing. After being busy with the case study from a company I was applying for for a week, I felt relief and not so stressed after I submitted it yesterday.

This morning as I was walking to work I was reflecting. I have been losing my patience and been rude to Lucas recently. I have also been using my phone more and more in front of the children. So I tell myself not to do that.

Also my friend, Cindy, has taken up the Gratitude Challenge. The first time I saw it I thought it was cheesy and dismissed it. Then recently I read her posts and I find that I quite like reading them. So this time I did not dismiss it, I gave it some thought. There is no harm in trying it out. At worst you write crap for 21 days. At best you learn to appreciate what you have in life and become happier. I acknowledge, I'm not always a joy to be around. I am strict with myself and others around me, have high double standards, that it's no fun to be with me.

So I shall try the Gratitude Challenge too. I will not write it on Facebook, I don't need everyone to know what I am grateful for. I shall write it in my yellow notebook, which is more accessible anywhere. And truly, I don't want to spend so much time on my phone.

Edit 19 Dec 2014:

After my declaration to start the gratitude challenge three days ago, I have written a total of zero!

I guess I really need to write it via my phone. Will write it on this blog then!

Easy eggless alcohol-free Tiramisu

My mom's 79th birthday was approaching and we were going to celebrate it at my brother's house. And this time she requested a homemade instead of store-bought cake! What a surprise, considering my mum is the most fussy food critic I have ever met. She must have been impressed by my chocolate banana cake!

Anyhow I was lazy yet I didn't want to disappoint my mum, so I thought of Tiramisu. As usual The Baking Biatch came to my rescue (or rather I went to her blog for help). Her recipe is so simple and delicious. I made some tweaks cos' I really wanted an easy way out, also made a chocolate version for the kids. Both were good.

 

 

Recipe adapted from: http://www.thebakingbiatch.com/2013/06/eggless-tiramisu.html

Makes 2 tins, each tin has 4 layers of 6 fingers/layer.

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

Coffee: 1.5 cups of coffee, I used 2 Dolce Gusto espresso and 2 Lungo capsules.

5 teaspoons sugar

 

For chocolate version, make hot chocolate:
3 slightly heaped unsweetened Hershey's cocoa powder

3 tablespoons sugar

Dash of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 small scoop of milk powder (because I had no milk)

Roughly 1.25 cup water (or replace 1/3 of it with milk) 

 

Cream mixture:
500g mascarpone cheese

4 tablespoons whipping cream

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons vanilla paste

 

Others:
48 Savoiardi lady finger biscuits
Roughly 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

 

HOW:

 

1) Brew the coffee using the Dolce Gusto machine. Add sugar. Pour into plate that is big enough for dipping.

2) Put all ingredients of the cream mixture into a bowl. Mix with spatula till well combined.

3) Line your tin with cling wrap with excess on each side if you want to remove it later. If not then use a cake ring (with no base).

4) Dip a biscuit into the coffee and turn to the other side then remove swiftly to put into tin. Repeat till you complete one layer.

5) Spread one layer of cream mixture. Not too thick as this amount of cream is not sufficient for thick layers. Else settle for just 3 layers of biscuits.

6) Sift cocoa powder on top of the cream.

7) Repeat steps 4-6 three times.

8) Cover the top with cling wrap and chill in fridge for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.

9) Before serving, remove by holding the cling wrap excess or remove cake ring.