Suzette's Parenting and Breastfeeding Blog

This never happened to our first child, Ian, perhaps because he is a boy. Girl is really different. Isabel is only 2 years old and already know what is ‘mei-mei’ (beautiful) and would request us to dress her up and to make her looks good.

For example, after watching Barbie in Rappunzel animation, every morning she would request us to make her Rappunzel, i.e. to tie her hair nicely!

2 weeks ago, she was supposed to go into the room to get her bike out… As I was wondering what took her so long, she came out happily shouting to her dad: “DADDY! You see, I mei-mei (beautiful)”

Guess what? She took my lipliner and drew on her face!

Can’t believe it! 2 years old only, and already wants cosmetics! LOL! I can foresee more to come. Have to watch out my eye shadows, lipsticks, perfumes, etc.

Here is where you can get the most updated press release from official Food Safety and Quality Division of Ministry of Health Malaysia, with regards to the recent milk issues. There, you can find most updated list of products safe for consumption.

However, I have an issue interpreting the 3rd list, which is said to be ‘suspected but tested to have conformed the melamine standard’. So, does it mean it is free of melamine, or does it mean it contains melamine but within the allowed threshold? As I am currently away, will probably call the hotline to find out tomorrow. But if you have any answer, please share.

In the first list, it is a list of products that is safe, based on claim and their source of milk(?).

And the second list, is just number of products suspected with melamine, no detail.

The 3rd appendix is a list of products suspected, tested and passed the test. If so, why it is not included in first list? Anny difference between 1st and 3rd list?

The reason I am concerned is, on the first list, I am assured these products are safe:
- all our kids’ milk (Dutch Lady 123 and 345 any variants)
- all the yoghurt we bought
- all the cultured milk we bought (vitagen, nutrigen, etc)

But in the same 1st list, under Cornetto it says ‘Cornetto series’, not sure of Mini Cornetto, which we still have a few sticks in the freezer. And then in the 3rd list, there are 2 items sounds contradicting with 1st list:
- Dutch Lady 123 Honey, which should be included in the 1st list, under Dutch Lady 123 any variants, so why duplicated?
- Mini Cornetto Peppermint and Tiramisu. What is the difference between this and the one in 1st list (Any Cornetto)? Also, what about Mini Cornetto Chocolate and Vanilla (which we have a few sticks in our freezer)?

Geez! Still worried…

But generally I am so, so, so glad that our government have banned milk from China since long time ago, due to risks of foot & mouth decease (China’s cows still have this risk).

It is my mistake this time, for not bringing my reusable grocery bags to Beijing. My last trip to Jakarta, I remembered to bring my Rootote, maybe because I knew I would buy something. :p

And this trip to Beijing, I’ve completely forgotten about it, maybe deep in my heart I do not feel like buying anything. :p (excuse!)

On my third day (Saturday), I was so sick of the snack served in the focus group observation room, so I went to a supermarket to buy my own snacks. Upon checking out, I was asked whether I need a plastic bag or not.

Looking at the number of items in the basket, I nodded. There goes –> they charged me 30 cents for a plastic bag.

But I am not angry! Indeed, I praised them for doing this. The cashier told me that most of the locals would bring their own bags.

This is a very good move, not sure if it is encouraged by the government, or is it just the supermarket’s own initiative. It is definitely a very good and effective way to encourage (force?) us to reduce plastic bag consumption.

I can imagine if we start this in Malaysia, people would probably boycott the supermarket. Is it because the awareness in our society is not that good, or is it lack of government’s involvement in this?

I remember back in April, when I went to Yunnan for holiday, the local town councils actually fines the outlets if they give out plastic bags. Every where, there are reminders to be environmental, to care for the animals and other resources, etc. I have to say I am extremely impressed with the effort and the results of the China government in this.

In the focus groups that I have attended in this trip, there were a lot of mentions on environmental (not our research subject). And my agency contact, an American from LA, told me that compared with other countries that we researched the same subject, China is the only country that environmental was brought in to the discussion.

BTW, this supermarket that charged me 30 cents for a plastic bag, only offered the plastic bags to customers who buy more than they can carry without a bag. For example, I returned today, to buy 2 books. The cashier didn’t even ask me whether I need a bag or not, maybe because if I don’t have one I could carry the 2 bags with my hands!

This trip teach me a lesson – keep at least one of my Envirosax/Rootote in my handbag all the time! I used to do that back home, but changed my handbag for this trip, and there I forgot to slip it in. :p

After my failed attempt early this year on homemade pizza, I have finally given it a second trial few weeks ago.

The difference in the 2 attempts:
- used the correct measuring cup for the ‘warm water’
- let the dough sit for an hour to allow it to double in size
- toppings (forgot to buy my favourite pineapples)

The result is… dadadada!

I think it is probably 85% there. Somewhat, it still feels very ‘flourish’ when bitten. I think it is already well cooked. Any longer will be burnt.

That will be my final attempt on pizza. I have no more ready-mixed flour. So, next time will be either too difficult, or just buy the ready base. Hahaha!

Anyway, with the left over cheese & sauces, I baked some macaroni cheese during the weekend when DH was in HK. I baked only 2 bowls, but ended up we only consumed 1 bowl. The rest became my lunch on Mon & Tue. I am getting sick with macaroni cheese now. LOL!

But seriously, I have to admit the macaroni cheese this round is not as good as last time. The only difference is the cheese. I used low fat mozarella cheese this time. The texture is very different. It tastes very much rubbery than the full cream type. I will not use it any more ler…

I went to Jakarta last week to run 3 workshops. I arrived earlier on Wed and then followed my colleague to Bandung to do ‘market visit’ (that is to check out local stores and talk to our outlets’ owners etc, like a mini in-depth-interview cum observation study without any research objectives, LOL!).

Well, actually our main agenda is the factory outlets there. I have long heard about the factory outlets and this is only the first time I was brought there to shop. In preparation for that, but not to be seen too eagle (ahem!), I brought just 1 medium ROOTOTE shopping bag that I bought from TinyTapir.

The first shop was glad with my request not to use their plastic bag. However, the second shop rejected it. They said I MUST use their plastic bag. There goes, 2 plastic bags wasted, straight away thrown away the moment I reached my hotel room!

They just don’t understand the concept!

Anyway, my colleague said my bag very nice looking & fashionable ler – at first she thought the first shop gave me that bag and she was so excited wanted to go back to buy from that outlet. LOL!

This is the print of my medium ROO (but pic took from a small size ROO). Rootote is a Japanese brand and made in Japanese, so it is more expensive than Envirosax.

Talking about shopping in Bandung, the things there is not like China, where products are fake. Here, they are genuine branded goods, but being sold there cheaply due to various reasons: out of seasons, limited size, limited quantity, etc.

I bought a sweater for Isabel since she needed one just the next day after I return (we went to Genting Highland!). It costs around RM30, but very VERY nice. I am happy!

And when Isabel saw her sweater, she was so, so, so happy. She walked to me and said, “Mama, this is for me? THANK YOU MAMA!”

Then, I found a set of Disney shirt & jeans, and another set of 3-pcs dress, only RM15 per set! It was on sales, and each has only 1 pc (no wonder on sales). Bought those for Isabel too.

I couldn’t find things for Ian though, coz the boys’ are only T-shirts, which I don’t get excited at all (like what happened in Manila and Bangkok previously). To avoid conflicts, I bought him a set of 3 briefs – with Transformer prints. Wow! He was so excited! We have a habit of washing the clothes before using. He kept on checking the briefs and asked if they are dry enough for him to wear immediately. So cute!

The most happy moment after returning is to see our kids happy face. Isabel is not used to me buying things for her from overseas trips yet, but I think Ian is a bit immuned to it. :p

p/s: The cutest part about Isabel, is her disbelieve look!