Tada.. the painting is done

I am pretty excited when i know that the painting is done. So went to check out the place in the evening and i am very happy with the colours. hehehehe

** Feature pillar **

** Feature wall **

** pink bedroom **

** Lime green room for Jon **

** our room **

What is Nyatoh Wood

Solid Nyatoh Wood
Nyatoh and Ramin wood are tropical hardwood that is grown mainly in the humid tropical area in Indonesia. Furnitures manufactured with Nyatoh and Ramin Wood are extremely strong and durable. They are a good alternative to teak as the price is much more competitive. Nyatoh and Ramin Wood looks nice in either natural matt or oiled gloss finish or stained. All coating serves protection purpose to make the furniture more long lasting. They are weather resistant, excellent for indoor or outdoor use.

Nyatoh versus Teak in one area of wood measurement :

Durability. Nyatoh wood is generally rated as Class 3, nondurable to moderately durable, and has a low resistance to termite attack.

Its sapwood is liable to powder-post beetle attack.

Other woods more familiar to us with this similar durability rating are: American Cherry: African mahogany: Japanese Oak: Southern Pine: American Walnut: and Western Red Cedar, just to name a few.

Teak woods durability is classified as Class 1, Very Durable. Woods in this class include Ebony: Iroka: Makore: and Opepe to name a few. And this is just one area of measurement we are looking at, (just as a side note, class 2, which is Durable, contains familiar woods like American Oak: Balau: Sweet Chestnut: Cedar: Ekki: and Karri woods to name a few).

Pick & Choose

We have spent our last 3 weekends doing window shopping for furnitures. Went to a few places namely IMM, Furniture Mall @Beach road, Furniture Mall @Upper Thomson, @Kallang, King's Furniture Warehouse @Jalan peminpin, AMK & Bishan neighbourhood stores, Scanteak & Ikea.

On Neighbourhood Stores :
We were shown catalog and their prices are quite on-par. So we cant see and feel the actual product.

On Scanteck :
Really have some good buys during the weekend sales.

On Furniture Mall & Furniture Warehouse :
Under 1 roof comparision. Lots of varieties to choose as it is under 1 roof. Can see and feel the actual product and weekend sales

On Ikea :
Cheap but not lasting (you pay what you get). Ability to customise your wardrobe but comes with a price.

Our final purchases :
TV console --> bought from Zen traditional
Dining Table & chairs --> Furniture Mall @Beach road
Shoes cabinet --> Furniture Mall @Beach road
King size bedframe --> Furniture Mall @Beach road
Book Shelf --> Furniture Mall @Beach road
Chest of drawers --> Ikea
Mirrors --> Ikea
Misc --> Ikea

** TV console from Zen **

** Rectangle with round corners (for child-proof) Solid Nyatoh Wood dining table set to be set in walnut colour **

** Solid Nyatoh wood shoe cabinet to be set in walnut colour **

** Solid Nyatoh Wood Book shelf **

We wanted a round marble-top dining table but gave in to rectangle with round corners (for child-proof) Solid Nyatoh Wood dining table set.

Reasons :
Lower maintainance compared to marble-top

It is 50% cheaper than marble-top

Overall, its a fun but tiring experience.

Renovation Day 10

Wiring and cornices task are completed and next task will be painting.

** Hanging wires at the Living Room **

** Hanging wires for the ceiling fan **

** hanging wires for the kitchen **

** Cornices completed **

Wyeth milk formula recalled

Wyeth milk formula recalled

BABY formula brand Wyeth has been recalled from shelves here 'as a precautionary measure'. The Singapore manufactured milk formula, which is exported to foreign markets but re-imported here independently, contains lutein, a type of food colouring.
But a spokesman for the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said there is no immediate cause for alarm.

Read the full report in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.

Thinking thru instant water heater or storage water heater

Storage Water heater :
Pro - the whole water system got hot and cold water, flat already fitted with pipes so just add it to the pipes.
Con - need to on for a while before water is ready.

Instant water heater :
Pro - demand only. there is existing electrical point.
Con only limited to the shower.

Hence we decided to keep the storage water heater for both the toilets and install additional Instant water heater for the MBR. We will install a rain shower unit in the MBR toilet and put the on/off switch in the kitchen. Abit more troublesome but with the switch in the kitchen, we will use lesser. so we will save more. *hehehe*

Shopping for the house

Below are just some of the items we have bought over the last 2 weekends :

WC, sink, taps, rain shower, toilet accessories (stainless steel aka S/S mirror cabinet, s/s soap dish-holder, glass shelving) & kitchen sink - Hoe Kee @IMM Building No. 2 Jurong East St 21 #03-08 Tel: 6563 5088

S/s dish rack, kitchen racks, towel bar, heavy duty bar rod, corner pieces for the toilets - Song Cho @IMM Building No. 2 Jurong East St 2 #L3-27 Tel: 6563 1815

L-Shape 4 seater Sofa, King size mattress, Single size mattress + frame - Seahorse @Tiong Bahru Plaza

707 Instant water heater - IMM Building No. 2 Jurong East St 21

Fridge, washing machine, wall-mount fans - Paris Silk @Holland Village

Rice cooker, toaster oven, tap filter, portable vacuum cleaner, ambience lightings, sound system - Philips

Turbo hod & turbo built-in mirror oven - Meng Kee & Co 55 Jln Besar Tel/Hp:62941938

Rewiring Process

The contractor said we are very kiasu when it comes to rewiring.

Reasons :
- All bedrooms will have their own scv points.
- All bedrooms will be installed with a wall-mount fan.
- Common bedrooms will have 2 x 2 sockets at each opposite facing walls
- MBR will have even more sockets - 5.
- All the walls in the living room will have 2 sockets except for TV side which will have 4. 2 SCV & telephone points for the living room.
- Kitchen - a total of 9 sockets

Renovation Day 8

I must say the renovation is pretty fast. It takes 3 days to complete a task. The house should be ready by March.

Whats done :
Re-wiring
Planning for built-in kitchen cabinet
Fix up new store room door

On-Going :
Cornices for the hall
Painting
Floor Polishing

Renovation Day 7

It has been a week since renovation started.

What have been done :

• Hacking of existing built-in cabinets
• Wall plastering of the whole unit
• Retiling of Master Toilet floor
• Make good of the Kitchen floor tiles after hacking
• Rebuilt Fridge & WM area

On-going :

• Re-wiring
• Planning for built-in kitchen cabinet
• Fix up new store room door

** The Living Room at day 7 **

** The Living Room at day 7 **

** The Kitchen at day 7 **

** The original Kitchen **

** The original Kitchen **

** The original Kitchen **

** The original Kitchen **

** The original Kitchen **

** The orignal Kitchen door **

What is your perfect dream house?

Everybody's perfect dream house is different. Kenneth & I have the option to make it real.. But everything comes with a price. *hahaha* So we decided to be more realistic and stick to budget. So our new home will be a mixture of dreams vs reality.. but I have my dream kitchen come true. *hehehe*

Dream Kitchen :

• Built-in Oven
• A big Fridge
• We will have heavy duty racks system that behaves like just drawers. So goodbye to bending to search for plates or pots.
• A custom oil & sauces rack beside the stove
• A Aluminium plate to be placed behind the stove area to prevent oily wall

Shopping for Electrical Appliances

Some said go to BEST for the 5years warranty, others said go to neighbourhood stores due to prices. We did our homework and found out that despite being BEST members, the neighbourhood stores prices are still more attractive. So we bought our fridge, washing machine and wall-mount fans there. Is it Smart Shopping? I am not sure.. but every cents counts to keep the cost down.

With the help of NEA, I managed to decide what fridge I am getting.

My new fridge will be : Mitsubishi Electric - MR-F62U

• No of green ticks : 3
• Volume : 505L
• Annual Energy Consumption (kWh) : 661
• Estimated Energy Cost ($) : 162

Yes, I have selected the RoseWood. Delivery will be end of Feb 09.

Primary (baby) teeth Eruption Sequence

Its been a while since his last teeth eruption. He has been drooling non-stop for the last 2 months and suddenly 6 new teeth spotted.

Hello from BabyCenter ------> Your 16-month-old: Week 4

Toddlers live large, play hard, and love big. When they get upset, they can start acting irrationally, just like adults do. And they often use emotional outbursts to clear out the bad feelings — which may feel good to them but isn't always easy for you. ** so very true for Jon**

Before losing your cool, remember that your child's lack of self-control is normal and that he'll eventually learn what's socially acceptable by the way you and others react to his antics. Try to respond calmly and enforce the limits you've set so things don't escalate.

>> This Week: Coping with outbursts, and learning "the magic words"

Goodbye 260ml.. Hello 330 ML

Jon's appetide is getting better as he grows older. His 260ML milk bottel is not big enough for his milk now. We always make 180-200ml milk for him.. but it is not enough. Jon will cry for more but the bottle cant hold the contents. So its time to say goodbye to 260ML and Hello to 330ML

Renovation Woes

After days of quotations from contractors, we finally decided to use back our old contractor who did our last place. Why we pick him was his quotes was reasonable and he gave us good advice. Some money-minded (no names to be mentioned) even have the cheek to quote us 50k and commented "Your place is 5rm, even if you give me 30k, I also cant do for you!"

It will be a simple renovation - No hacking of walls or floors. Just redo built-in cabinet for kitchen, plastering for the walls, re-wire, tiling for master bedroom toilet, painting & polishing of floor. Total estimated cost will be around 20k.

Renovation officially started 9 Feb 09. Will take estimated 1 month to be completed. Cant wait to see the end product... will not be lots of difference cos it is just a simple renovation.

Our advice to our friends --> Always do your homework and compare the prices, do not just commit based on what 1 guy's remarks.

CNY Reunion Dinner 2009

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is often called the Lunar New Year, especially by people in mainland China and Taiwan. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as Chúxī. It literally means "Year-pass Eve".

A reunion dinner is held on New Year's Eve where members of the family, near and far away, get together for the celebration. The venue will usually be in or near the home of the most senior member of the family. The New Year's Eve dinner is very sumptuous and traditionally includes chicken and fish.

Our simple CNY Reunion Dinner at my mum's place.

** Jon's Food **

** Hmm.. can I eat now **


** Dishes for Reunion Dinner **

** Tray of food - consists of pork shabu shabu, fish tofu, crabstick,
sliced fish, sotong, sauages.

In some areas, fish (simplified Chinese: 鱼; traditional Chinese: 魚; pinyin: yú) is included, but not eaten completely (and the remainder is stored overnight), as the Chinese phrase "may there be surpluses every year" (traditional Chinese: 年年有餘; simplified Chinese: 年年有余; pinyin: nián nián yǒu yú) sounds the same as "may there be fish every year."

** Normally prawns will be the last to cook as everybody is lazy to peel them, so I pre-cooked them and de-shelled it and put on the plate.. and it became 1st to finished **

** CP Dumplings **

** Baby Abalone **

** Not forgetting Waggy, we prepared for him too **

No more pictures after preparation cos everybody was busy cooking and eating at the table.. hehehe

Gong Gong's Birthday

It was my dad's birthday and we decided to have steamboat cos my sis will not be in SG during CNY. She will be going for her diving trip at Manado.

** Jon is getting hungry **

** Plain water as stock for soup **

** Stuff mushroom with minced pork **


** Tray of Seafood **

** 3 types of veg - Chinese parsley, Chinese Lettuce & Golden Mushroom **

** A table for 9 people including Jon **

** Can I eat now ? **

** The Golden couple --> Dad & Mum **

** Up close n personal **

** So loving **

** Fruit cake from DINO Cake shop **

** Jon was so happy cos he thought we are celebrating for him!! And he clapped hands as we sang the birthday song **

** Jon clapping his hands again **