a balinese musical instrument

I'm not 100% sure if this instrument is originally from Bali....but I think it's called a coconut karimbu.  The Misfits got this from their grandparents today...they just got back from Bali and bought it at Ubud Market.  It has a very soothing sound :) and it looks pretty...It's made from half a coconut shell.

Balinese coconut karimbu

xoxo,
www.liaspace.com

clay baskets

I went to the misfits' art lesson last Saturday and found these clay baskets they made :).  I think my kids got talent! *says the doting mommy :D*

Big M - happily holding her creation :D

Flower basket by Big M and Butterfly basket by Lil M

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they made these

and I am SO VERY HAPPY and PROUD when they came home and bring these to show, but they had to return these for their end of term exhibition.  I've been sending them to art class every week and each week they do different activities...clay, paint, etc.  So far they love the classes and they seem to enjoy it :).

Little Misfit's clay creation

Big Misfit's clay creation

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www.liaspace.com

they were princesses

for a day, at least...and they had so much fun!!!!  I'm so glad I did the make up package for them...after all, they're not going to be little princesses forever and I hope this will give them very fond childhood memories :).  

Princess Belle cried in the beginning, but enjoyed the whole session in the end.  Princess Aurora has always been happy from the beginning.  They were stars for a day...all eyes were on them...there were quite a few people asking to get pictures with them! There was even one incident when I've positioned them nicely at Tinker Bell's flowers and was ready to take some shots...when suddenly a bunch of Malaysian strangers took their positions and posed away....once they were gone...the princesses refused to be photographed :(....all my little hard work went to waste :D...

Princesses in the making :D

My two little Princesses

Top: people asking to take pictures with them. Bottom: The Malaysian group I was telling
you about hahahahahahha :) so funny

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www.liaspace.com

bananaramas

I put the misfits at this small art class nearby their school.  Yesterday they brought home their banana creations :) so cute :)...They ate half the bananas...now Mr. Bananas have gone to the bin :p

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www.liaspace.com

tip: homework pleaser

I have to admit, there's no way I'm a patient Mum...for the past few days, I've been teaching big M how to read and write alphabets (in phonics-I learned it through youtube) and letters...but my temper towards her had been very very fowl and her not concentrating did not help improve anything.  Basically, am not a patient Mum :( .... so, I was figuring out a way to make her study!  I've tried giving stickers but that didn't last long...finally, I thought stamps would take her fancy and they actually did work...for a day, at least :)...it is still very hard to make her concentrate even now :@, so I've been taking her to the office after school when she has no extra lessons :)...any tips would be much appreciated 

I made some stamps of her favorite characters to keep her motivated

I guess more stamps are needed :D

xoxo, www.liaspace.com

a day at taman safari

This week is the children's term break, so they're having a week off from school.  They've been swimming for the past two days and I took a day off yesterday to take them to Safari Zoo.  The drive there was quite long, it took us almost 3 hours to get there (we stopped at Cimory for a quick break).  We finally arrived there a little before noon...We bought some carrots and bananas before entering the zoo and we fed them to the animals.  One time, we forgot to close the window and when the zebra/llamas came, big M just jumped off her seat and cried...which made lil M scared and jumped off my lap hahahahahhahaha...

A little word of advice...PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN FOOD!!! IF POSSIBLE, DON'T BUY ANY FOODS FROM THERE...not only are they expensive, they're not really clean...my peanut salad (gado-gado) came with worm!!!! arghghghgh...extra protein T_T .... but everything tasted horrible there.

The happiest moment was when we've finally arrived at its recreational area, we met Big M's school buddy, Big D!!! What are the chances!!! So we ended up spending the times together there :).  All and all it was a very good day and the children had a blast :).

The Orang Utan was so cute..once he heard the zoo keeper's car, he ran all the way across
the field and gave his hand (as pictured) for food and started clapping

D and M went Pony riding :)...while lil M chose the train ride (beware of those with kids...
the train ride was kinda scary because of some caves we had to pass..and on the last cave,
there were crappy dinosaurs with scary sounds and it was very dark)

Posing in front of Baby Zoo entrance

Big M and a toddler Orang Utan :) I'm so happy she was willing to do this

D and his Auntie and cousin :) on a camel ride!

Big M on elephant show...we paid for the elephant painted tee and M was garland by the
elephant while I snapped away :)

xoxo,
www.liaspace.com

short trip

Last week I had to attend International Furniture Fair in Singapore with my Dad, in the end we decided to bring along my mom and the 2 little misfits and since hubby can't come along, I took the nanny with us.  We went to Singapore zoo and the kids had a blast!  It was so much fun and big M was so excited, when she arrived, she said "O my Gosh...O my Gosh...!!!".  Too bad it was raining the other half of the day.  Little Misfit was too scared playing at the pool.  

lil Misfit was a bit stressed out with the kangaroo

Sneaking a little swim before leaving for the airport

xoxo,
www.liaspace.com

a very special valentine

Today, lil misfit is down with hand foot and mouth disease (hfmd) and I'm not even sure how she got it :(.  She can't eat anything because her mouth is filled with ulcers :'(...I'm just hoping and praying big M won't get it.  Then, as I was putting lil M to nap, big M came home from school, all excited.  She gave me a valentine's card and a heart stick.  She was all smiles and I was really touched :).  She said I made you a valentine's card, Mommy...you're so beautiful...do you like it, Mommy?? She totally melted my heart :D...I love you too, baby :)...you sure put a smile on my face today :)

xoxo,
www.liaspace.com

tutorial: with love on val's day

Chia was kind to share her idea and took pictures for me :).  It's a valentine's gift little missy E made lovingly for her friends at school.  Maybe...just maybe, Misfits should do the same...or maybe not...coz mommy is too lazy :p

xoxo,
www.liaspace.com

activity book

This was my last minute project before I left Melbourne...I know my hubby hates it when I do last minute sewing, instead of packing :p...To my defense, these activity books kept the misfits entertained for quite awhile (then it was the Ipod Touch hahhahhaa).  Emma's book was wrong but she likes it.  I'm just glad they like them...because I used to looooove empty drawing books when I was a kid...and I remember drawing a lot of princess' dresses hehehehe

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the tree is finally up

and Christmas Eve is 10 days away from today :)...I'm quite surprised the kids can patiently wait opening their pressies...even I can't wait to open them :).  They were sooooo happy decorating the tree.  I love decorating Christmas Tree as well...each year we would decorate it as a family with Christmas songs playing in the background.  This year is truly special, because Big M and Li'l M can finally enjoy and participated decorating the tree.

xoxo,
www.liaspace.com

we're back...

from a long slumber of coughs, sneezes and fevers :)...but we're almost on our feet now :) and yes, more sewing done...a little at a time...I have a lot of projects going on right now.  I need to sew Tarzan and Jane's costume for li'l misfit's class and I also need to sew Knight and Warriors for Big Misfit and the other parents are going to make the costumes together :) should be fun!  For now, I'll post their swimming pics ;)

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we're sick...

just when I thought Big Misfit is about to get well, on Wednesday night she suddenly got another fever!!!  She's been sick since early last week :'( and hasn't been going to school....So yesterday, The Misfits and I went to the doctor...I myself got the flu from Big M so I went to see a doctor for some prescribed antibiotics...took Big M to a doctor and Li'l M for a vaccine shot.  This morning, Li'l M got the fever as well arghghghghghghghghggh....So, yes...3 of us are sick :'(...My lovely parents are kind enough to take them to the Mountain Villa....hopefully with the cleaner air there, they'll get well soon :'(...I miss my hectic and noisy house...though it's kinda nice having the house to ourselves too :)...Thank you Dad...Mom...

On a happier note...last Wednesday I took the children Bowling :).  Big M has been nagging to go to the bowling alley.  So, while I gossiped with my close friends, we let the children play two games :D...they had a blast...they basically just pushed the ball from the "stage" :).  At first, li'l M was reluctant and refused to play (typical of her...shy in the beginning) but after seeing her sister, she decided to play along, specially after we put the stage there :D...and in the end they had a bit of a fight (typical of them).   I do miss bowling, though...When I was still freshman in college, I used to play almost every single night during my first summer session at Purdue...ahhh memories...bowling, anyone???

xoxo, www.liaspace.com

misfit's homemade ice cream

Yesterday I've decided to make a strawberry ice cream with Misfit :).  You see..I have this ice cream maker that's been lying on the corner of my house, collecting dust...and since I went to Magic Pantry last weekend, I've decided to rekindle my romance with my "cooking" hobby.  Misfit looooves the ice cream :) and now she's asking to make a chocolate ice cream :).  Oooo I wish I have a big kitchen with a big island...it will happen...one day...hopefully in 1-2 yrs ;)

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www.liaspace.com

books...books...books

I got these last week from amazon...and my hubby brought these back for me :D heheheh...thank you! :)...I love Ed Emberley's books...lots of inspirations for my gocco cards :) and even activities with the misfits :) (I bought the thumb print books).  Can't wait to find the time to do the drawings :).

xoxo,
www.liaspace.com

tutorial: finger paint bag

I was also asked to organize little misfit's teachers day celebration.  I was totally at lost...I didn't know what those toddlers can do.  Then my friends suggested me making some finger paints painting.  Light bulb.  I did exactly that, only on canvas fabric :).  I then turned it into a bag.  It's a basic idea/tutorial.  I don't even have any steps to show.  You just need some fabric paints and cute hands :)....then go crazy :D.  You then just have to set the paints using hot iron (see your paint's suggested setting) and sew it into a reversible bag :D.  

xoxo, www.liaspace.com