Pat on the back

I've FINALLY finished one of the projects I did, using the leftover plywood from the cabinet and bookcase we had made. Funnily, it was the most difficult one but the bookshelves for Bea and the hanging rack for behind the bathroom door are still waiting to be completed.

We keep the gas tank between the counter and the oven, and it's a bit of an eye sore. So I came up with a solution - a cover for the gas tank (and trash can) and an extension for our counter.

I'm so proud of myself. I did this all on my own! Measured the space, cut the wood, nailed it together, painted it. Who knew I had it in me? My husband just sat back and watched. I did ask him for help at one point, to screw and L-bar in. But other than that, that's all me. It's very simple, absolutely no frills - I wouldn't be able to handle it otherwise.

Now, my problem is how to waterproof the top! I need to protect it from oil splatters and liquid spills. I bought polyurethane earlier today. I hope brushing it on helps.

Pat on the back

I've FINALLY finished one of the projects I did, using the leftover plywood from the cabinet and bookcase we had made. Funnily, it was the most difficult one but the bookshelves for Bea and the hanging rack for behind the bathroom door are still waiting to be completed.

We keep the gas tank between the counter and the oven, and it's a bit of an eye sore. So I came up with a solution - a cover for the gas tank (and trash can) and an extension for our counter.

I'm so proud of myself. I did this all on my own! Measured the space, cut the wood, nailed it together, painted it. Who knew I had it in me? My husband just sat back and watched. I did ask him for help at one point, to screw and L-bar in. But other than that, that's all me. It's very simple, absolutely no frills - I wouldn't be able to handle it otherwise.

Now, my problem is how to waterproof the top! I need to protect it from oil splatters and liquid spills. I bought polyurethane earlier today. I hope brushing it on helps.

THAT Baby

Have you ever been in a place where there's always this one kid who screams the house down? Where you stare icily at the mother thinking, "Control your child, woman!" Well, last Saturday that kid was Little B. 

She and I attended our first La Leche League meeting. We were the first ones there, aside from the 2 moderators. Women trickled in - some alone and some with their husbands, but always with their child in tow. The meeting started and Little B sat quietly on my lap, picking rice puffs from my hand. I peeked into the container - uh oh. Just a few pieces left! Thinking that maybe she would keep quiet longer, I gave her everything in it. A few minutes later, when she realized nothing more was coming, she began to squirm. Started to grunt and wriggle. Let out a couple of ear-piercing shrieks. So I put her on the floor. She crawled this way and that, trying to go under the chair. I kept picking her up to keep her close to me but she protested quite loudly. I gave her a water bottle to play with. Big mistake. She spied the water bottle of the woman sitting to my right, and went straight for that. I picked her up and she screamed. Oh lordy. This went on the entire time. Thank god the meeting was just an hour! I couldn't keep track of what the group was discussing, as I was busy trying to keep Little B from crawling between the legs of other people. 

I couldn't help noticing how the other babies were well-behaved and quiet. I suppose maybe because she was the oldest of the bunch (well, there was one who was older but her dad whisked her away) and the others were less than 6 months old. The woman sitting next to my right had her daughter, who was a month younger than Little B, with her. I was pretty happy that Little B was finally able to interact with another baby. I gave her a spoon to chew on and she would promptly hand it over to the other baby. Then the mother would take it from her and give it back to me, and I would give it back to Little B to play with. Then the whole pass-the-spoon thing would start all over again. I got the impression that maybe the woman might have been a bit wary about cleanliness because Little B had been crawling on the floor and put the spoon in her mouth.

I guess I won't be attending another meeting any time soon, not unless Little B learns how to behave in public!

THAT Baby

Have you ever been in a place where there's always this one kid who screams the house down? Where you stare icily at the mother thinking, "Control your child, woman!" Well, last Saturday that kid was Little B. 

She and I attended our first La Leche League meeting. We were the first ones there, aside from the 2 moderators. Women trickled in - some alone and some with their husbands, but always with their child in tow. The meeting started and Little B sat quietly on my lap, picking rice puffs from my hand. I peeked into the container - uh oh. Just a few pieces left! Thinking that maybe she would keep quiet longer, I gave her everything in it. A few minutes later, when she realized nothing more was coming, she began to squirm. Started to grunt and wriggle. Let out a couple of ear-piercing shrieks. So I put her on the floor. She crawled this way and that, trying to go under the chair. I kept picking her up to keep her close to me but she protested quite loudly. I gave her a water bottle to play with. Big mistake. She spied the water bottle of the woman sitting to my right, and went straight for that. I picked her up and she screamed. Oh lordy. This went on the entire time. Thank god the meeting was just an hour! I couldn't keep track of what the group was discussing, as I was busy trying to keep Little B from crawling between the legs of other people. 

I couldn't help noticing how the other babies were well-behaved and quiet. I suppose maybe because she was the oldest of the bunch (well, there was one who was older but her dad whisked her away) and the others were less than 6 months old. The woman sitting next to my right had her daughter, who was a month younger than Little B, with her. I was pretty happy that Little B was finally able to interact with another baby. I gave her a spoon to chew on and she would promptly hand it over to the other baby. Then the mother would take it from her and give it back to me, and I would give it back to Little B to play with. Then the whole pass-the-spoon thing would start all over again. I got the impression that maybe the woman might have been a bit wary about cleanliness because Little B had been crawling on the floor and put the spoon in her mouth.

I guess I won't be attending another meeting any time soon, not unless Little B learns how to behave in public!

Sewing Skillz

Little B ran through her cloth diaper supply this afternoon. I bring about 5 extra inserts and diapers from home, and she used them all up by 3pm. To top it off, she soiled her last remaining change of clothes. So what was a Mama to do? Thank goodness I work in my parents' house, so I still have a bunch of clothes in my old room. I grabbed an old shirt and cut it Little B size.

Using a pen, I outlined the shirt for Little B. I cut on the lines and cut off about 4 inches from the hem. Then using the sewing techniques I learned in high school (14 years ago!), I sewed up the sides, making sure not to sew up the armholes. 

You'll see the stitches are nothing great, and terribly loose, but they seem to have done the job.

Here's the finished product, as modeled by Little B herself:

Not bad, eh? Of course the neckline is way too loose but I didn't know how to make it smaller. I'll try and fix up the stitches - maybe use a sewing machine this time.

Sewing Skillz

Little B ran through her cloth diaper supply this afternoon. I bring about 5 extra inserts and diapers from home, and she used them all up by 3pm. To top it off, she soiled her last remaining change of clothes. So what was a Mama to do? Thank goodness I work in my parents' house, so I still have a bunch of clothes in my old room. I grabbed an old shirt and cut it Little B size.

Using a pen, I outlined the shirt for Little B. I cut on the lines and cut off about 4 inches from the hem. Then using the sewing techniques I learned in high school (14 years ago!), I sewed up the sides, making sure not to sew up the armholes. 

You'll see the stitches are nothing great, and terribly loose, but they seem to have done the job.

Here's the finished product, as modeled by Little B herself:

Not bad, eh? Of course the neckline is way too loose but I didn't know how to make it smaller. I'll try and fix up the stitches - maybe use a sewing machine this time.

Sunday Afternoon Baking

After working on Little B's bookshelves, I had my head in the refrigerator looking for something to munch on. Nothing. In the pantry? No such luck. J asked me to bake cookies over the weekend but I didn't have the time yesterday (okay, fine, I was too lazy to move). I decided I'd hit two birds with one stone - bake him the cookies and make something for me to eat as well.

Enter slutty brownies. I've made it once before (I got the recipe from The Londoner) and J pronounced it to be the best brownies he's ever had. It's extremely easy to make, as the recipe calls for chocolate chip cookie mix and brownie mix. I'm sure one can make the chocolate chip cookies and brownies from scratch but I couldn't be bothered.

Slutty Brownies

One package chocolate chip cookie mix

One package brownie mix

1-1/2 packs Double Stuf Oreos (you can use the regular Oreos but these are much better!)

Preheat your over to 180 degrees Celsius/360 degrees Fahrenheit/gas mark 4. Grease a 8x8 pan. Make the chocolate chip cookie dough and brownie batter as directed. 

Spread the cookie dough on the bottom of the pan. Make sure the pan is greased, so the cookie layer doesn't stick! 

Slightly press the Oreos into the cookie dough, then pour the brownie batter over it. 

Bake for 30 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. It's going to take lot of willpower but let it cool before cutting into it and taking a piece out! I had to watch Little B and do some other things so the wait was bearable.

Doesn't that look like something you'd want to sink your teeth into?