NASSA Bronze Test

My girl started swimming classes when she was 4 or 5 yrs old, can't really remember when for sure. In between, she stopped due to a cough-related allergy. I had to stop her swimming for approximately half a year for the allergy to clear. She picked it up again when she was 6 yrs but stopped for a year when she entered primary school. When we finally went back to swimming, she didn't take to the coach as he did push the kids quite a bit. She wasn't happy there, so I took her out. While checking with friends, I came across her kindy classmate who was learning from a coach who goes to her condo pool. The timing worked out really well for us as I prefer not to let her train under the hot sun. And so began our swimming instruction under Uncle J.

From the first lesson, I was really impressed with him as he walked with the kids (3 of them) through each stroke that they took, through the entire length of the pool. He corrected them every step of the way.

Within a couple of months, he told us mums to sign the girls up for the last and final bronze test. I wasn't too sure if my girl was ready for it but he was very confident that she could do it. By the end of this month, all these NASSA awards will no longer be the standard with which to test swimmers. Thus, it's really good timing that we came to him and have him prepare the girls for it.

Today was a proud day for this mum as I watched my girl complete her test. Watching how she struggled with putting her face in water from the start some 3-4yrs ago, till what she achieved today, she totally deserves it after all these years and it's also an affirmation of her hard work and motivation. I'm so very proud of you, darling. You did great!

The reason I started her on swimming is because I never learned it till I was in my late teens, and even till today I can't swim well and have a fear of water. I used to watch a little girl of about 9yrs old swim like a fish and my sis and I used to admire her. We became friends and her father was the one who taught me to swim.

When I saw how fearful my girl was, to even put her face in the pool, I had to do something about it, to let her face her fears and confront it. I'm glad I did.

Swimmers getting ready at the start of the test.

Here she is treading water.

See, my flotation device is all ready.

Floating to the finish line.

Starting on her 400m.

After this final jump into the pool, the test is over. Hurray!

I made these bentos for the girls.

There is a wassant, kyuri, cherry tomato, grapes, Mocha nutella sandwich, blueberry, dried apricots, gummies, candies.

Do you see the football sausage? How cute. We couldn't resist when we spied them at the supermarket. :)

Two lovely awards

Thanks so much, javapot. I know I took a long time collecting it, but thanks for thinking of me. :D I love them!

the rules for this award are as follows: copy the award image into a post; list 10 things that make you happy; tag 10 bloggers who brighten your day; link to their blogs; and notify the award recipients (who should link back to the sender’s blog).

In no particular order, things that make me happy.....

1. Being able to spend time with my daughter every day.
   
2. Meeting good friends for breakfast or meals and catching up with one another.
3. Trying out new recipes and seeing the end product turn out successfully.
4. Watching my girl dance.
   
5. Play with babies (other people’s babies) – there is something that makes grown adults talk and act like one big child. (This one I got to copy yours, javapot ;P)
   
6. Giving surprises, especially making or baking something for someone special on their birthday. Knowing that the person will be happy makes me happy.
   
7. Shopping!
8. Helping out in school and getting to know princess' classmates.
9. Rain. I love rain.
   
10. Theme parks. I'm so looking forward to visiting Universal Studios, Singapore (and no, I won't be taking the Battlestar Galactica dueling roller coasters - I'm too timid for that ;P)

The other bloggers whom I'm tagging for this double award (unless they are already nominated) are... Jottings of Life, Little Corner of Mine, Bento Fun, Beau Lotus, More than Words, Mochachocolata-Rita, Ganache-Ganache, Hawai`i's Bento Box Cookbook, Bentos and More for Kids, A Teaspoon "N" a pinch.

Happy Mama Blogger Award

Thanks very much to javapot who so kindly handed me this award. Thanks for thinking of me. :) I love straightforward awards like these and it's very pretty too. I'd eyed it in some blogs and finally it's my turn! Yippee!

Do feel free to claim the award for yourself, but just to name a few mamas, here they are -

Jottings of Life
Karlsfoodie
Little Corner of Mine
Easts Meets West
3 Elements
Rojak Rendezvous
Lekker!
Ganache-ganache
Susan Yuen of Hawai'is Bento
Jori

Daily blogger award

I received this Daily Blogger Award from little corner of mine ages ago but never got round to collecting it and distributing. Sorry bout that. :P

"This award is to be given to blogs that have at least 3 posts per week. I appreciate their kindness and generousity of sharing their wonderful recipes with us rain or shine". Quoted jthorge.

Please feel free to help yourself to it as I do not visit that many blogs and those I do have been covered by lcom. ;)

Nice Matters Award

Thanks little corner of mine for another award. I love the look of this one and have been eyeing it. It's so girly and sweet. Sorry for taking such a long time accepting it. ;) Accepting it is one thing. Having to think of who to pass on to is another and that was what the delay was all about. Well, I finally have time to sit down today and do my list.

I would love to pass this award to the following -

1. The artist princess
2. Singapore Housewife
3. Daphne
4. Hut of Cranberry
5. Ohfortheloveoffood!
6. A teaspoon and a pinch
7. The passionate baker

My second award is from The Singapore Housewife

I totally agree with her 'peace above love', but then again you have to love in order to find peace. If everyone can 'love thy neighbour as thyself' ( Leviticus 19:18) as the scripture says, there will not be wars in the world.

I, in turn, would like to pass the peace around to the following -

1. The artist princess
2. Hut of Cranberry
3. Little Corner of Mine
4. East Meets West Kitchen
5. Big Boys Oven
6. Beachlover's Kitchen
7. East Meets West
8. Lekker!
9. Elements
10. Karlsfoodie

Forever Friends

I love this award to celebrate friendship. Friends I've made a few here. Some amazing, some faceless, some really sincere friends. In my world, friends mean a lot. So I do treasure each and every friendship, but there are times when I get hurt, so I try not to get into an in-depth friendship, but of course sincerity often rules the day.

Thanks to little corner of mine for so kindly passing this award on to me. I'm so glad she considers me a friend.

I would like to pass this friendship snow globe to the following. Some have blogs and some do not. Some already have been given it & some might not claim it but still the same, I would like to pass it on :

1. shazz - my dearest sis & friend
2. Princess
3. Missed Young
4. trevshanhann
5. Peony
6. Cranberry
7. East Meets West Kitchen
8. Big Boys Oven
9. Bozo
10. HK Choo
11. The Dutchess
12. Muck-a-muck
13. Karlsfoodie
14. The Singapore Housewife
15. Daphne
16. Oh for the love of food!
17. A teaspoon N a pinch
18. Cooking Momster
19. Wok and Spoon
20. Jori
21. Lilltots - Oops, sorry last one. Forgot about you. :P Maybe cos you haven't visited in quite a while. ;)

I'm too lazy to link them but their links can be found on the list to the left of this page. ;)

The Spreader of Love Award

My very first award of the year from littlecornerofmine. Thanks dearie. Love it.

This blog has been awarded The Spreader of Love Award created by The Love Blog, for an outstanding demonstration of blogging love.

Now, I would like to spread the love by forwarding this award to my fellow blogging friends:

The artist princess
East meets West
Oh for the love of food!
HK Choo's Jottings of Life
A teaspoon N a pinch

'Thank you for being my friend' award

I was given this by littlecornerofmine, so sweet of her. Sorry C, that it took me a while to 'collect' it. ;)

In the months since I started blogging, I have made many many friends. And I dedicate this award to all those who visit me. I know some of you are silent ones, who do not comment, but still visit me all the same. Thank you all.

But I dedicate this especially to my pool of friends, I know some are duplicates.

1. East Meets West Kitchen
2. My Culinary Journal
3. Missed Young
4. The Singapore Housewife
5. More than Words
6. Oh for the love of food!
7. Big Boys Oven
8. HK Choo's Jottings of Life
9. Lekker!
10. East Meets West
11. Muck-a-muck
12. Cooking Momster
13. Karlsfoodie
14. Wok & Spoon
15. Life is full of surprises
16. A teaspoon N a pinch
17. Jori - The Life and Times
18. The artist princess
19. and last but not least, back to you, little corner of mine

I am lazy to link them as the list is rather long, but their links are found on my sidebar.

The World's Best Friend Week

A big thank you to The Singapore Housewife for considering me a very good friend. Our kids brought us together and I hope our friendship can withstand the test of time.

"Do you know the relationship between your 2 eyes? They blink together, move together, cry together, see things together and sleep together. Even though they never see each other, friendship should be just like that! Life is like Hell without FRIENDS. Its ‘World Best Friend Week’. Send this to your best friends to let them know you appreciate them.

Your Love is Ur Heart,
Your heart is Ur Spouse,
Your spouse is Ur Future,
Your future is Ur Destiny,
Your destiny is Ur Ambition,
Your ambition is Ur Aspiration,
Your aspiration is Ur Motivation,
Your motivation is Ur Belief,
Your belief is Ur Peace,
Your peace is Ur Target,
Your target is Heaven,
Heaven is no fun without FRIENDS.

I would like to pass this on to the following friends:

My very best friend - Missed Young (thanks for all your love and friendship throughout the years)

And some friends I met through blogging -

1. East Meets West Kitchen
2. Little Corner of Mine
3. HK Choo's Jottings of Life
4. Life is full of Surprises
5. Lekker!
6. East Meets West
7. Oh for the love of food!

Oops, I left out my super best friend, the one I see day in day out... My Little Gallery - The artist Princess.

Blog of the month award

Thanks to Sue Sue for this award. I have so few friends here, it just always goes to the same people. Haha.

I would like to pass on this award to Daphne, East Meets West Kitchen, The Singapore Housewife, Little Corner of Mine.

The Schmooze Award

Hmmm.... why is it called a Schmooze Award? I don't know what schmooze means really, but the purpose of the award sounds good. Thanks little corner of mine for bestowing upon me this honour.



" The POWER OF SCHMOOZE AWARD is the award for bloggers who effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don't limit their visits only to the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship." and so I would like to pass this award to:

1. East Meets West
2. My Culinary Journal
3. HK Choo's Jottings of Life
4. Wok and Spoon
5. Oh for the love of food

An award!!!

Woah!!! Can you believe it??? An award for me??? My very first one. I am so deeply honoured, thanks to Peony my fellow blogger and forum pal, a super fantastic granny who started me on this journey into blogland. I really do not deserve such an honour, but hehe, I'll gladly accept it with arms outstretched. ;)

Congratulations to my fellow bloggers who also received the award, and many of these have blogs which are 10times better than mine.

Having been conferred this award, I'd like to pass it on to the following:

oh for the love of food - for all the lovely pastries that she prepares

paw paw - for being very chic, looking at her blog

wok and spoon - A fun gal. I love reading the stuff that she writes

taste goblet - a wonderful baker, and very generous in posting recipes and guiding her readers through detailed steps on how to do certain stuff

Su-yin (the journal of a girl who loves to cook) - A most talented baker. I admire her greatly.

The Singapore Housewife - a mum who goes out of her way to make sure her little boy, who has serious allergy problems, gets to eat the same stuff as we do, often substituting with ingredients that he can consume.

Of course there are a few more but I know they have been given the award together with me.

And to celebrate this day, and my creativeness (ahem), I have a new weather pixie. :) Ain't she cute?