Expansion On My Business

Remember my "business"? I have since expanded my business of just merely trading to now a service provider too.

I have also "hired" people (my classmates) to sell handicrafts work for me and at the end of each week, I will pay them their "commission" based on number of stuffs they sold.

I also provide services like cleaning classmates' desk. If they want my service, I will get one of my "helper" to do it and pay the "helper" for her work done.

When mommy found out, she nearly fainted! But daddy was very excited and sat down and passed on to me more of his knowledge. He told me to take a book and record my income and expenses, so that I will know how much I make after a certain time.

But they both warned me to be careful when doing such "business" as they don't want classmates to complain to teachers that I'm cheating them of their money. I have to make sure that I explained everything clearly to the "buyer".

44th School Swimming Championship

Today, both Charmaine and I went for our School Swimming "competition". However, this time round, its not as stressful as the one I had last week as the event we are participating is for beginners. Its called the Novelty race, similar to the one I had last year.

We waited nearly TWO hours for our event! There are 16 of us in each House (team) and w were split into 2 groups, each station at one end of the pool (breadth). We supposed to swim pass 2 rings from one end to the other swimmer on the other end and she will swim back with it. We were second in the beginning but as the race progress, our team became the last, just like last year.

In any case, all four Houses got their medals and ours is the 4th position.

Bento #71

Bread spread with raspberry jam rolled into sushi style
Cherry tomatoes; almond chocolate and cheese

Mommy overslept today and thus have to make a quick one. Spread the raspberry jam onto the bread and roll it with the sushi mat. Throw in some small bite and off we go!

Bento #70

Heart shaped new style French toast with banana;
Marshmallow and cherry tomatoes

Hee..mommy learnt a new way of making yummy french toast from Asian Food Channel and we had it during the weekend and fell in love with it!

Step 1: spread some hazelnut (mommy used Nutella) on both side of the bread.

Step 2: Sliced some banana and lay in on one side of the bread and then place the other bread on it.

Step 3: Beat 1 egg with chocolate milk and dip the bread into the mixture and pan fried with butter.

Its super yummy...imagine, the hazelnut spread blend with banana..with crispy bread toast! A MUST try for all chocolate lovers!

Bento #69

Another easy bento for mommy today. Just have to dust some icing sugar on the cheesecake and add in marshmallow & almond chocolate to fill in the gap.

Luckily we saw the "art work" while mommy was preparing this in the morning because when we opened it up during recess time, the icing sugar had "dissolved" into the cheese cake.

And before Charmaine can have hers during recess, someone bumped into her and the whole bento fell to the ground! In the end, I shared half my cheese cake and marshmallow with her. And good thing is that my cheese cake portion is bigger than her!

Bento #68 Valentine's day Bento

Cheese + Ham sandwich with Sakura Denbu for the heart

Apples + Grapes

Today is the eve of Valentine's day and mommy decided to make a Valentine's bento for us. Since she had just made a heart sandwich last week, she had to think quite hard how to express her love for us on this special day.

After much thought, the easiest way will be just to "say" it! Thus, using her alphabets cutter, she cut the word "I love you" on the sandwich and "Baby" for the apples. She had sliced the apple a little too thin for some and thus, before she can submerge it in the peach juice, it had turn a little brown...

Charmaine went recess with her classmates and she told mommy that they go "wow" when she open it during recess. This really makes mommy very happy!!

Bento #67

Our favourite food again today! Sushi and strawberry coat with yummy chocolate! Mommy didn't have time to wait for the chocolate to "harden" thus, it looks a little messy.

Since there space in the bento box, mom added some small bites (chocolate and nuts) for us too.

Competitive Swimming

We (the participants) were given early dismissal today so that we can have a full lunch and time for it to digest before we get to the pool. The competition starts at 2.30pm and my event was scheduled around 3.30pm.

I was nervous throughout the waiting and kept asking mommy when is it gonna be my turn. Luckily, I met some of my friends from other class and started chatting, thus temporary forgot about the competition. They told me that it was their first time too. I overheard their mommy commenting that their little ones were as worried as me as to how to jump and how to turn. *phew* so I'm not the only greenhorn there!

Daddy arrived after sending Charmaine to her enrichment class and the first thing he said to mommy was to make this the last competitive swim for me. He pointed out that the figure of those competitive swimmers which we saw there were like boys! (oops! sorry..its just my daddy's opinion..don't feel offended) Its not a good idea to let the girls go into it but he definitely will get Nicholas do it. Boys look nice with such broad shoulder and chest. Mommy assured him that she will never let her girls go into competitive swimming even if we showed interest or talent. She said its just for experience that she signed me up for and asked daddy not to worry.

When its finally my turn, daddy and mommy walked me to my lane (No 6) and they can see how nervous I was and they were just as nervous but put on a calm face and gave me a last minute hug and encouraging words. When the whistle blow, I stepped onto the board and dive in hand first when I heard the horn sounded.

I remembered what mommy said and kept reminding myself to concentrate on my swimming and not care about others. I was slightly behind the last on the first 50m but on the return, even after I tried my best to swim as fast as I can, I'm still a good distant behind the last swimmer. When I finally touch the finishing wall, I was so exhausted! I clocked in at 2:52:45. A big improvement from the "training" session I had with daddy. The girl before me clocked 2:28:06, so I'm not that bad, just 24 seconds behind the last girl. The first girl clocked in at 1:56:70!! That's super fast!!!

And the first thing I lift my head out of the water, I saw my daddy and mommy's face, both giving me a thumbs up. I knew I was the last and felt a little disappointed. But mommy assured me that no one will win on their first race, moreover, I have no formal training in competitive swimming like the rest of the participants in my event, so I actually had did very well!

Daddy and mommy kept reminding me that its for the experience I came and not the placing. They kept reminding me that its more important for me to have put my best and complete the race than anything which they could see I did and they were very happy!

1st Official Swimming Competition

Three weeks ago, I brought back our School Swimming Competition Enrolment form. After looking at it, mommy suddenly asked if I'll be interested to try the competing. She told me that if I'm interested, she will sign me up for the 100m Breast Stroke event. I excitedly told her I want. Of course, mommy didn't expect me to win anything as I do not have any formal competitive swimming training. She just want me to gain some exposure and experience it.

We totally forgot about the whole thing until Friday when my teacher handed me a form informing me that I was selected and will be competing on next Tuesday (10th Feb)! I will be competing with 4 other Primary 2 girls for the event. So mommy told daddy that he better teach me how to jump/dive into the pool and thus, on Saturday and Sunday, we headed to Swimming Club for a last minute Diving session with daddy.

However, instead of teaching me the correct way of diving (Hand first), daddy told me to just dive as far as I can with my legs in first. He told mommy that with no proper training, head first might caused injury. Mommy almost fainted when she saw the way I dived into the pool. She told daddy it would be a joke if I dive this way on Tuesday but daddy said safety first. I told daddy and mommy I want to learn how to dive like those swimmers in the Milo advertisement but daddy said, it doesn't matter as long as I don't hurt myself.

Mommy then timed me on my 100m Breast stroke swim and my best time was 3 minutes and 26 seconds!! This is double the record held by another Primary 2 girls in 2006. She took only 1 minute 40 seconds to swim that distant!

However, mommy didn't want to discourage me and thus didn't tell me that. All she said to me was "Its doesn't matter if you win or lose; if you comes in 1st or last. What matter most is that you have put in your best and complete the race." She said that this does not only apply to this competition but also in everything I do.

And just in case I felt bad swimming so slowly on Tuesday, daddy & mommy told me not to worry where the rest of the competitors are, just concentrate on my own swimming and try my best to swim as fast as I can.

Mommy now can only pray that I won't be too far behind the last competitor. And whatever the outcome, daddy & mommy will be there to give me a well-done hug once I finished.

Bento #66

Marconi with bacon & peas & flower Carrot
Prawn; Kiwi & Peach wrapped in Spring Roll
Sausage with Broccoli

The one on the right is mine as I like Broccoli. Today food is quite a lot for us but we finished it nonetheless as its all our favourite.

Little Business Mind

Today, I bought 3 bangle bracelets from the vendor outside our School canteen for $2.00. I then resold it to my 3 friends. As they comes in 3 different colours, the prettiest one was sold for $2.00 and the other 2 was sold at $1.00 each! However, as one of my friend did not have enough money to pay me, I told her she can have the bangle first and pay me $1.10 on Monday. The extra $0.10 is the "Finance" charge. I'm so proud that I make my FIRST dollar!!

I proudly told mommy about it when she picked us up from school. I told her I can earn money too like daddy by just buying in bulk and selling it loose! Mommy was worried that I will get into trouble with the school rules but was happy that I have a business mind.

She recalled a similar incidents which happened to daddy's brother when he was in Primary School 20+ years ago. He did the same thing too and the parents were called in to see the Principal and he got public canning. But thinking back, wonder why he was punished. Shouldn't school encourage this kind of entrepreneurship??

Anyway, I was so excited of my little business and told daddy and everyone. They all praise me for having such business mind. Grandma even wonder how a little girl like me know such things..even financing charges!?

During family dinner with them, they were discussing what they are gonna do should the teacher or principal finds out. Daddy said he will go and talk to the principal if I be punished for such entrepreneurship.

Mommy is more worried if my friends' parents found out..how is she gonna explain...

What do you think?? Should my business be encouraged?

Bento #65 - Mickey Mouse!

Mickey Mouse shaped Cheese & Ham sandwich;

Mickey Mouse shaped Dragonfruit + cherry tomatoes

Still have some ham in the fridge and mommy decide to try something challenging to her..that is to "decorate" the Mickey Mouse Sandwich.

First she cut the bread, cheese and ham using the Mickey Mouse cookie cutter. Then with the knife, she cut away the ears of the Mickey Mouse on the cheese. Placed raisins on the eyes and nose. And that's it! Quite simple but the cheese part needs a little skill though.

Using the same cutter, she shape the Dragonfruit and add my favourite cherry tomatoes in.

Bento #64

Star/Hello Kitty/ Bunny shaped Jelly;
Heart shaped ham & Cheese Sandwich;
Mandarin Orange + Cherry Tomatoes

Easy Easy! Today bento took mommy less than 10 minutes to prepare and we still get to have all our favourite food - cheese, jelly + cherry tomaotes!

Bento #63

Another easy bento from mommy today.

Slice the Kaya pancake sandwich to fit the small bento container and using the bunny's stencil, she spread some Olive butter on the top to make the picture.

Next, using the Pooh bear cutter, cut the shape for the dragonfruit and added the car shaped agar-agar in and that's it!

Bento #62

Mommy made some agar-agar over the weekend using all the mould she could find. And I have the Hello Kitty Jelly one today.

Mommy quite satisfy with the bear shaped bread but was disappointed with the quail eggs. Its supposed to be hatching eggs (like Allthingspurple) but mommy just doesn't have the skill. So this is her "Art" piece and its left to us to imagine.

I told mommy that the quail eggs are so cute and they look like little girls and I told mommy I like the fringe!

Mommy was happy at least it not such failure and that it at least look like something.