Scrap Vomit: The Bridal Shower Edition

I admit it's quite odd to gift someone something with a name so putrid when you're wishing them well on their upcoming nuptials. BUT I'm quite odd anyway, so I thought it'd be hilarious. 

I made a second scrap vomit quilt (because goodness knows I have enough scraps to make several more...) and halfway through, I decided it'd be a great gift for the hub's cousin Colin and fiance Joanna. They're one of my favourite couples... Always so funny and they make family get-togethers a bit more fun. So I figured they'd appreciate the crazy things that go into a scrap vomit quilt. This particular one had garlic, Twizzlers, teddy bears, Halloween candy, balloons, artichokes etc. I left the clowns out because you just never know if people think they're funny or just plain scary! 

The lovely hubs is holding up the quilt because he has quite an impressive wingspan, and also, it was too damn cold to go outside to take pictures of it. 

Strangely, when I was thinking about colours for block B, I had no idea what colours they liked and I bravely went with Kona Peacock and Crocus. I found out today that those are two of their favourite colours. I am a mind reader, apparently. 

I was so nervous giving them a quilt without finding out their colours first, plus it obviously wasn't on their registry haha! But Joanna loved it, and she told me today that her mother tried to leave with it lol! (That's her mum on the bottom left checking the quilt out.)

In my card to them, I asked if they'd like a wedding quilt made with colours of their choice. She wrote me today and said YES PLEASE. She loves handmade things and it's always so nice to make a quilt for someone who appreciates them :) And today, she sent a picture of her on the sofa under the quilt... and their dog Ziggy trying to steal the quilt. I told her that quilts are basically animal magnets and you just have to keep an eye on them!

Joanna and Colin, we wish you many blessings and years of wedded bliss :) Can't wait for the wedding in May! Love you guys!

Thanksgiving And Tree Trimming

Yesterday was Thanksgiving here and sometimes I feel like my MIL wants to get it over with so that she can get to Christmas haha! Even the dish she put the carrots in screamed Christmas. There aren't any pictures of the turkey because... I forgot. Plain and simple. Yay me.

A few years ago, the hubs and I decided we'd just make a plate and when we finish that plate, we're done. That helps avoid the turkey coma for sure! Plus that gives us plenty of room for dessert hehe This year I made cheesecake -- white chocolate with a chocolate graham crust -- instead of anything pumpkin because 1. I had all the ingredients, and 2. I'm not that huge a fan of pumpkin.

I know, between not liking pumpkin, chocolate + peanut butter, mac and cheese, or bacon, I'm totally going to lose my green card and be asked to leave the country.

We watched a movie (Date Night... 2.5 stars at best even though I love everyone in it) and then trimmed the tree. Every year my MIL shoves the tree in the corner and then realises she needs the ribbon put on, so it's up to the hubs and I do to do some kind of acrobatic dance to get the stupid thing on there. So much swearing every time.

By the way, can you tell my MIL loves snowmen? Heehee!

Carnival Birthday

My niece Ava had her 5th birthday party over the weekend and despite the rain, it was loads of fun! She was running around all day, getting her face painted and tattoos on her arms and legs, having a great time. My friend Shauna made the cupcakes and little carnival cake for her, which she made cotton candy flavour! What?!?! That girl is too amazing for words.

Our friend Sean was the clown, Bonkers... I think dude missed his calling there! His balloon animals need a bit of work though... just saying. His wife's about to have a baby any second now and we were hoping she'd go into labour so he'd show up at the delivery room like that HAHAHAHA!!! How awesome and frightening would that be?!

Memorial Day Weekend

In my years living in the States, I know to expect to attend at least one cookout on Memorial Day weekend. 

We went over to the in-law's for a small cookout yesterday and my MIL requested strawberry rhubarb pie. And I happily obliged, of course. 

I made the crust with the pastry cutter this time because I was lazy to go get the food processor, then have to clean it. I forgot how fun it was to cut pastry, even though it's a little messier. I really love crust... As a kid I used to buy the apple pie from McDonald's, ask for a straw and scrape out the filling so I could just eat the crust. I've always toyed with the idea of just baking crust and eating it with ice-cream. Anyone? No? Just me then?

It's always great hanging out with the in-laws... Hot dogs, burgers, salads and pie. YUM :) Plus their backyard is just lovely. It's shaded enough that I can wander a little without bursting into flame :)

What did everyone get up to this past weekend?

The Weekend

How was everyone's weekend? I hope those of you who have kids had a nice, quiet Mother's Day. My Mum just asks for us to not irritate her for one day. We try, but it's a big ask. 

My MIL's birthday was on Saturday so we went to dinner and gave her a few fun gifts, including a new point-and-shoot camera since she's been saying for ages she wants to get one. We gave her a lesson in using it but it's easy enough to use so I'm not worried. 

She asked for red velvet cupcakes so I baked a batch. It's one of my favourite cupcakes to bake and eat, so I was happy to oblige. I'm terrible at icing things, so I just kind of slap it on and smooth it out, and hope no one notices.

My little sister ordered flowers for our Mum and it wasn't quite as large as we'd have liked. Basically, we just want her to stumble under the weight of it. Also, I'm baffled by those green things on the bottom. I'm told it's hollow and feels very papery. Where the hell do people find weird things like that???

My middle sister took her out to lunch since she's the only one of us in Singapore, and I gave her strict orders to hug Mum. Singapore is hot and humid, so unnecessary human contact is not something Mum enjoys. Clearly I abandoned the no-irritation rule fairly quickly :)

And for Mother's Day here, we went over to my in-laws for a cookout. Those two little pups are Zoey and Daisy. 

My husband's aunt and uncle joined us, and I was so thrilled to see his aunt because she's been undergoing cancer treatments and kicking cancer's ass. She's doing so well and I'm just relieved she'll be with us for many years to come :)

With that, I leave you with pictures of my in-law's neighbour's alpacas. They just got shaved and look absolutely ridiculous. And they seem to know it. And I'm completely in love with the littlest one (scroll to the very last picture) with its giant eyes and skinny everything.

Easter

How was everyone's Easter / Passover? 

We went over to the in-law's for dinner... well when I say dinner I really mean we ate at 3pm so I don't know what you call that. Lunner? Dunch? Weird? I'll never get used to that. Never.

I made Irish soda bread because that's what my MIL asked for. It's got a cross on it... does that count for Easter? Hehe :)

I also made a strawberry trifle as requested. I love to make this. It's simple, it's delicious, and strawberries make me think of my Mum. (I had to cut the sugar on the recipe because it's unbearably sweet otherwise. It could just be me but I figured I'd warn you.)

And I got to try out my new mixer paddle with the scraper and I LOVE IT! It mixes so beautifully! No lumps, very little scraping down on the sides to do... definitely recommend it. (And no, KitchenAid is not paying me to say this! They could if they wanted to... Ahem.)

After dinner we went into the neighbour's yard to visit their alpacas. So. Flippin. Cute. And with the neckerchiefs? Gahhhh cuteness overload!!! It is just me or do alpacas look a little awkward? Their heads don't seem to match their bodies, and their tails look like they have a giant guinea pig stuck to their bums. LOVE!

That white one was front and centre the entire time, and they just follow you around wherever you walk. My MIL was all "Touch them! They're so soft!" and I kept shaking my head. I was the same way as a kid at a petting zoo... always refused to touch animals or ride the ponies. I'm happy to stand back and admire from afar :)

AND LOOK AT THIS LITTLE ONE! I mean, seriously?!?!?! So cute!

But then one of them started pooping and peeing with its bum facing us so we took it as a sign to go. Very talented to do both at once though. Bravo.

The back of my in-law's property. There's a tyre swing on the tree that appeared out of nowhere. W-E-I-R-D.

My in-law's cat Lillie snoozing away :)

And the bestest thing that happened all weekend? The sight of the hubs with the vacuum. PORN FOR WOMEN. Yes? He's all, "I can't believe you're taking a picture of this!" and I'm all, "Uhh it might never happen again so you bet your ass I'm taking a picture". One day, if we have kids, I can show them this picture and tell them the tale of their father and the day he vacuumed.

(He's vacuumed before. I just like to give him shit about it because he so rarely does it hehe)

Valentine Schmalentine

The hubs was buying a new xBox game last week, and before the guy rang him up, he turned to me...

Guy: "Now, seeing as it's Valentine's next week, I have to make sure this is okay with you."
Me: "I really don't give a shit about Valentine's."
Hubs: "It's why I married her."

But he can still buy me chocolate. Every. Single. Day. Of. The. Year.

I did buy him a card though. Because it's hilarious. Just like I think I am.

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Happy Chinese New Year! It's the year of the Dragon, so here's a gloriously frightening dragon to scare the pants off of you :)

Chinese New Year is my favouritest holiday in the world. How Christians in America feel about Christmas is how I feel about Chinese New Year. The reunion dinner, munching (continuously!) on my favourite snacks that only appear once a year, catching up with people you never get to see... so wonderful. Plus it's so great to celebrate my heritage and culture... I may have lived away from family and my homeland for half my life but I'll never forget where I came from.

We were hoping to be in NYC to celebrate but our plans unfortunately fell through. But I got to spend last Chinese New Year in Singapore, so that'll have to keep me cosy this year :)

I wish everyone prosperity and good health. The two things any good Chinese person holds dear to their heart :)

Picture courtesy of Hinson Media.

Through The Fog

Happy New Year! Did everyone party like it was 1999? We went to a party and left early so we could come home, get in our jammies and lay on the couch. I had to wake the hubs up at midnight to demand my New Year's kiss... and then he promptly went right back to sleep. Fun times.

Yesterday was super foggy and grey (driving home in the dark and fog was sooooo much fun...ahem) but I found lovely pops of colour in the yard. One day I'm going to make myself a little terrarium with some of that moss. Maybe. Meh, probably not. 

On The First Day Of Christmas...

How was everyone's holiday? We had a very lovely Christmas at my in-law's, and of course we're still stuffed to the gills. Happily so though :) My family hosted a big Christmas dinner in Singapore, and I wish I could've been there too!

We had a beautiful roast beef for dinner and I was asked to make a red velvet cake for dessert. I always make it with extra icing whenever I make this for my MIL. The love she has for the cream cheese icing is bordering on scary. I mean, she asked for my plate so she could eat the icing I'd scraped off from my slice. Although I'm sure many of you think I'm the odd duck for scraping icing off my cake...

Then we popped in a DVD and snuggled on the couch. May I just suggest you not watch Friends with Benefits with your in-laws? The sex scenes are tres awkward and you sort of don't know where to put your hands.

Seriously, trust me.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a lovely time with family and friends. And happy Boxing Day where applicable! The hubs has today off, so I'm pretending it's because of Boxing Day lol