of milk, muffins, and kids

The past week had been pretty hectic, running to and fro the local children’s hospital. The second niece got admitted after running a fever, refusing to eat and drink the whole day. It turned out that she had some sort of virus, which left her immensely dehydrated, and reduced the oxygen level in her body. Three days later, the doctors and nurses bade farewell to a screaming 2-year-old, as the drip was removed from her left foot, and she went [quote] “whoopee!” [unquote] off the bed, climbing the sofas around the ward.

She got reunited with her younger sister for a day, only to have the latter being admitted to the same hospital the next day, for showing similar symptoms of the affecting virus. Thankfully though, the 10-month-old fighter regained her appetite soon enough, and the house is once again coloured by her frequent [quote] “mammamm…” [unquote] (a possible derivative of the Malay word ‘makan’, meaning ‘eat”) baby babbles each time she sees someone with food in hand.

Now that they are staying with us for the time being;– we’re helping my worn-out sister with two still-on-medication little kiddos;– I thought what better way to celebrate the return of their appetite than with their favourite chocolate muffins.

It is probably too presumptuous of me to claim that these are their favourite muffins ever, but I think it should suffice to say that these are their favourite muffins when they come over.

brownies: 1 week, 2 ways

Time of indulgence: 16 July, midnight
Excuse for indulgence: chocolate craving while reading comics

Time of indulgence: 18 july, afternoon
Excuse for indulgence: panacea to much-dreaded painkillers

Choice of indulgence: my favouritest fudgey brownie

perfectly unplanned

There are those special days when you wish for everything to be immaculately perfect. You’ve played out the scripted scenes in your mind many months prior, pondered over heartwarming gift ideas for the longest time ever, and sourced for dining inspirations most suited for the occasion. In short, you want the day to be most memorable in your heart.

But sometimes, you just have to learn to let go.

Even if you’re a planning perfectionist like me.

For sometimes, when Fate takes his turn over the reigns of time, he sits alongside Love in their humble chariot, sprinkling beauty and perfection in every stumbling turn of events you could have never planned for.

I worried about the sweltering heat and warm humidity, but the wind accompanied us leaving the park completely dry, with the only warmth beaming from the depths of our hearts.

I feared for the unpredictable afternoon showers leaving us scurrying to abandon our perfectly-laden mat, but the wind whispered his gentle warning, and hurried the rain the moment we sat on a bench, laughing silly under the blue canvas we threw over ourselves, with the promise of a dry picnic experience on the grass the soonest.

I fumbled over the perfect gift for him, being a romantic at heart with a firm believer in surprises, but had a good laugh as I grew all flushed choosing the rings, with the mister sniggering away at my attempt of keeping cool amidst the tackiness of it all;–“It’s not a couple ring; it’s my anniversary gift to you, and I decided to get the same for me too. It’s not a C ring.”

He fretted over the search for my favourite peonies / hydrangeas, but fate knew that the most beautiful flowers are not stifled in coordinating plastic and paper wrappers, but rather, those that lay their souls bare entwined around the fingers of the one you love.

To my dearest mister, thank you for the fried macaroni (you owe me another batch!), the beautiful flowers, the breathtaking gifts, and basically, for the most perfect anniversary celebration. I am grateful for every day of the wonderful 3 years we have had together, and I wish us nothing short of the sweetest love that fate has perfectly planned for us both.