St John's School, Kuala Belait held a veriety show last night at Dewan Bandaran in the Belait District. Students from KG to Form 4 performed various dances. There was also a singing contest. The show ended around 10.00pm.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
THE DAY OF THE CONFERENCE
Yesterday, my daughter and I attended the National Environment Conference 2008, held at The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Jerudong. Speakers came in from different countries to give presentation on the different ways to keep the environment greener and friendlier. There were also booths by HSBC, Ministry Of Energy, Brunei LNG and ALCOA. Each participants were given a green bag which holds the materials for the conference. The conference was held at the ballroom and Luncheon Keynote Address, at the Empire Amphitheatre. 
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
NUR'S BIRTHDAY CAKE
I didn't like the way it was done. It should have been :
I was so disappointed when I saw this cake. Ughhh, if only there was ample time, I would have asked the shop to redo the wordings!
HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY
NUR
LOVE : IBU, KAKAK & ADIK2
I was so disappointed when I saw this cake. Ughhh, if only there was ample time, I would have asked the shop to redo the wordings!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NUR
My daughter is 15 today. And I haven't decided what to do; either a family gathering or invite some of her close friends over for dinner. Nur has not decided, too. Anyway, I wish Nur all the best for her future and semoga menjadi anak yang solehah, bertambah rezeki dan mendapat rahmat dari Illaahi..
LIFE QUOTE
"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can".
BE CHOOSY ABOUT CHOCOLATE (FINAL PART)
The Dark Side of Chocolate
When choosing a chocolate product, consider looking for an organic certification. Over 30 different pesticides are used when growing cocoa beans, which are one of the world's most heavily sprayed crops. Certified Organic chocolate is made from cocoa plants that were not sprayed with chemical pesticides or herbicides, which could leave behind a residue in your chocolate.
Although your choice in chocolate bars can’t change the world, and should not replace other healthy foods, it can be a healthy treat if you choose wisely. Refer the following cheat sheet before your next trip to the chocolate shop:
Good for Your Health
"70% Dark Chocolate"
Cocoa butter
Cocoa liquor
Sugar or cane juice
Dairy-free
Cocoa powder
Thick, tight wrapper
Glossy, dark or smooth texture
Organic
Leave it on the Shelf
"Milk Chocolate"
Partially hydrogenated oil
Natural or artificial colour
Corn syrup
Milk, milk fat, or lactose
Dutch processed or Alkalized
Thin wrapper or exposed to light
Blotchy, streaky or rough texture
Conventional (no distinction)
When choosing a chocolate product, consider looking for an organic certification. Over 30 different pesticides are used when growing cocoa beans, which are one of the world's most heavily sprayed crops. Certified Organic chocolate is made from cocoa plants that were not sprayed with chemical pesticides or herbicides, which could leave behind a residue in your chocolate.
Although your choice in chocolate bars can’t change the world, and should not replace other healthy foods, it can be a healthy treat if you choose wisely. Refer the following cheat sheet before your next trip to the chocolate shop:
Good for Your Health
"70% Dark Chocolate"
Cocoa butter
Cocoa liquor
Sugar or cane juice
Dairy-free
Cocoa powder
Thick, tight wrapper
Glossy, dark or smooth texture
Organic
Leave it on the Shelf
"Milk Chocolate"
Partially hydrogenated oil
Natural or artificial colour
Corn syrup
Milk, milk fat, or lactose
Dutch processed or Alkalized
Thin wrapper or exposed to light
Blotchy, streaky or rough texture
Conventional (no distinction)
Monday, October 20, 2008
BE CHOOSY ABOUT CHOCOLATE (PART 3)
All Natural
A high-quality chocolate bar is fresh and naturally tastes good. Artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives aren’t necessary unless a bar falls short of these standards. Choose a chocolate that is free of unnecessary additives for a better, healthier product.
Look for Freshness
Make sure the chocolate bar you’re eating is fresh. Upon inspecting the bar, you should find a glossy surface and a dark color with reddish-black undertones. Chocolate that is stored improperly will have a visible “bloom,” which either looks like grayish-white blotches and streaks on the chocolate or causes the chocolate to feel rough. Exchange it for a fresh bar.
Beyond Bars
There are other ways to consume chocolate besides bars. In fact, a 2005 USDA study found that unsweetened cocoa powder contained the highest concentration of beneficial compounds of all chocolate products. However, as with chocolate bars, not all cocoa powder is created equal. Many cocoa powders are “Dutch processed” or “alkalized” to reduce their acidity, but this processing also reduces their antioxidants and phenols. Natural cocoa powder provides the most benefits.
But what is one to do with this bitter powder, bearing in mind that mixing it with milk will take away its health-enhancing properties? If you’re brave, you could make an unsweetened chocolate beverage by stirring a heaping teaspoon of the stuff into 8 ounces of boiling water. Drink it much like you drink coffee—or even mix it with your coffee, which provides its own set of antioxidants!
A high-quality chocolate bar is fresh and naturally tastes good. Artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives aren’t necessary unless a bar falls short of these standards. Choose a chocolate that is free of unnecessary additives for a better, healthier product.
Look for Freshness
Make sure the chocolate bar you’re eating is fresh. Upon inspecting the bar, you should find a glossy surface and a dark color with reddish-black undertones. Chocolate that is stored improperly will have a visible “bloom,” which either looks like grayish-white blotches and streaks on the chocolate or causes the chocolate to feel rough. Exchange it for a fresh bar.
Beyond Bars
There are other ways to consume chocolate besides bars. In fact, a 2005 USDA study found that unsweetened cocoa powder contained the highest concentration of beneficial compounds of all chocolate products. However, as with chocolate bars, not all cocoa powder is created equal. Many cocoa powders are “Dutch processed” or “alkalized” to reduce their acidity, but this processing also reduces their antioxidants and phenols. Natural cocoa powder provides the most benefits.
But what is one to do with this bitter powder, bearing in mind that mixing it with milk will take away its health-enhancing properties? If you’re brave, you could make an unsweetened chocolate beverage by stirring a heaping teaspoon of the stuff into 8 ounces of boiling water. Drink it much like you drink coffee—or even mix it with your coffee, which provides its own set of antioxidants!
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE 2008
Asia Inc Forum will be hosting the above on the 23rd of October 2008, to be held at the Empire Hotel & Country Club. The theme of this conference is "Bulding a Cleaner, Brighter Future". The conference seeks to outline key strategies, policies and initiatives that will help sustain a clean and healthy environment for Brunei today and into the future. There will be four key foreign speakers.
For further information, please contact Ms Nanette Ramos at 2226555.
For further information, please contact Ms Nanette Ramos at 2226555.
A STRAY CAT
Last week, my son, Hakeem, and daughter, Maryam, found this cat. They gave her milk and decided to name her "Cocoaboo". Then it came to my two elder daughters, 'Aisyah and Farah. So all four of them decided to keep it as a 'pet'. I objected because I do not want to go through the trouble cleaning their poos and pees. The whole house will smell. She is a stray cat and pregnant. So, I told my children that they can feed her but that's it. She is not allowed inside the house at any time.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
BE CHOOSY ABOUT CHOCOLATE (PART 2)
Concentration Counts
To get the health benefits of chocolate, choose dark varieties. The compounds that benefit your health (antioxidants and phenols) are in the cocoa solids. The more cocoa solids your chocolate has, the darker the chocolate will appear. But you can't rely on looks or marketing alone since any chocolate can be labeled "dark," even if it doesn't contain a high concentration of cocoa. The first ingredient on the label should be cocoa, chocolate, or cocoa liquor. Choose a product that contains at least 70 percent cocoa. This percentage should be listed on the label.
Avoid the Milky Way
Most varieties of mass-marketed chocolate bars are made with milk, which gives the chocolate a creamy texture that most people enjoy. Unfortunately, this combination inhibits the absorption of the beneficial compounds in cocoa (as does drinking milk along with chocolate). In other words, if it contains milk (milk fat, lactose, whey and other milk derivatives), the chocolate no longer has health-enhancing benefits.
Cocoa Butter is Better
During processing, cocoa butter, the natural fat of the cocoa bean, is removed. When a high-quality chocolate bar is made from this processed cocoa, the manufacturer will add cocoa butter back in to the recipe. However, commercial manufacturing giants save money and extend the shelf life of their products by adding unhealthy partially hydrogenated vegetable oil to chocolate instead of cocoa butter. These companies save money at the expense of your health. Read labels and choose a chocolate that contains cocoa butter, not partially hydrogenated oils.
To get the health benefits of chocolate, choose dark varieties. The compounds that benefit your health (antioxidants and phenols) are in the cocoa solids. The more cocoa solids your chocolate has, the darker the chocolate will appear. But you can't rely on looks or marketing alone since any chocolate can be labeled "dark," even if it doesn't contain a high concentration of cocoa. The first ingredient on the label should be cocoa, chocolate, or cocoa liquor. Choose a product that contains at least 70 percent cocoa. This percentage should be listed on the label.
Avoid the Milky Way
Most varieties of mass-marketed chocolate bars are made with milk, which gives the chocolate a creamy texture that most people enjoy. Unfortunately, this combination inhibits the absorption of the beneficial compounds in cocoa (as does drinking milk along with chocolate). In other words, if it contains milk (milk fat, lactose, whey and other milk derivatives), the chocolate no longer has health-enhancing benefits.
Cocoa Butter is Better
During processing, cocoa butter, the natural fat of the cocoa bean, is removed. When a high-quality chocolate bar is made from this processed cocoa, the manufacturer will add cocoa butter back in to the recipe. However, commercial manufacturing giants save money and extend the shelf life of their products by adding unhealthy partially hydrogenated vegetable oil to chocolate instead of cocoa butter. These companies save money at the expense of your health. Read labels and choose a chocolate that contains cocoa butter, not partially hydrogenated oils.
Friday, October 17, 2008
BE CHOOSY ABOUT CHOCOLATE (PART 1)
Not All Chocolate is Created Equal
A dessert. An antidepressant. A favorite indulgence. Since its discovery thousands of years ago, chocolate has become many things to many people. The Mayan people crushed the seeds of the chocolate (cacao) tree and mixed them with spices to make a frothy beverage, which was consumed at social events and religious ceremonies. Chocolate was woven into many aspects of their culture—it appeared in much of their artwork and was even used as a method of currency. Today, chocolate is used to satisfy a sweet tooth more than anything else. But recent research about the health benefits of chocolate may persuade you to explore the world of chocolate a little more. The findings suggest that the consumption of chocolate may help prevent high blood pressure, improve heart health, and provide a bounty of antioxidants. But all chocolate is not created equal, and not all types of chocolate offer these health benefits. Here’s how to make sure you’re getting your currency’s worth when you shop for a chocolate bar.
A dessert. An antidepressant. A favorite indulgence. Since its discovery thousands of years ago, chocolate has become many things to many people. The Mayan people crushed the seeds of the chocolate (cacao) tree and mixed them with spices to make a frothy beverage, which was consumed at social events and religious ceremonies. Chocolate was woven into many aspects of their culture—it appeared in much of their artwork and was even used as a method of currency. Today, chocolate is used to satisfy a sweet tooth more than anything else. But recent research about the health benefits of chocolate may persuade you to explore the world of chocolate a little more. The findings suggest that the consumption of chocolate may help prevent high blood pressure, improve heart health, and provide a bounty of antioxidants. But all chocolate is not created equal, and not all types of chocolate offer these health benefits. Here’s how to make sure you’re getting your currency’s worth when you shop for a chocolate bar.
It was raining heavily last night, with thunder and lightning. The Pandan 6, 7 and 8 area were in total darkness (black out) for about half an hour or so. I was driving from my parents' house in Jalan Singa Menteri to my house in Pandan 7. It was very scary and I imagined myself in a movie whereby you're driving along a dark area and someone (or something) just appear infront of your car suddenly and you had to stop. Uggh, what an experience.. I hope last night will be my first and last experience.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
SNAKE AS A PET?
Yesterday, we (my sisiter-in-law,my mother and I) visited 3 more houses for Hari Raya. The last house we visited had this young girl holding a snake. Apparently, the snake belongs to her brother, who is away in the UK (I think), studying. She held the snake so dearly, and played with it. I had to take her pictures to show to my children..
Saturday, October 11, 2008
MY SON PLANTED THIS..
My nine year old son was so excited when he saw that the watermelon seeds he planted a couple of months ago, have grown into this.. There are already a few flowers blooming. Hopefully there will be watermelons after sometime..
Friday, October 10, 2008
HARI RAYA VISITS
We managed to cover two houses this evening. That'all. We have to go back early so that my daughter can rest and sleep early. Tomorrow is the big day, PSR exam. First paper, Mathematics. uh oh...
Thursday, October 9, 2008
BREAST CANCER MONTH
I've read in one of the blogs that October is internationally known as Breast Cancer Month. Women are encouraged to "think pink", i.e. shop pink and dress pink, to promote the cause. Pink ribbon is chosen to represent the Breast Cancer awareness.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
SUNYI...
My husband has left for Clark this afternoon, and will go to Cebu tomorrow morning. He will be staying there for a couple of months. I would have loved to go with him but can't leave my children who will be sitting for their PSR and 'O' Level exam next week.
And Abang, if you happen to visit my blog, kami doakan Abang sentiasa dalam lindungan Allah..
Mingaw man.. :(
HARI RAYA AT AS26
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It was on Sunday, 4th of October 2008, that we gathered at Dato Hamid's residence for Hari Raya. That day was meant for family only, but other guests were also there doing their Hari Raya visits. We were served with lontong, lasagna, briyani kambing. For desserts, we had tiramisu, pavlova and other cakes from Bakerlyn and Saffron.
Monday, October 6, 2008
HARI RAYA 2008
Today is the 5th day of Hari Raya. So far, we have only visited 6 houses; uncles, sisters and relatives. They all had open house and food ranges from middle-eastern cuisine to local and Indonesian dishes. There are still more houses to visit but my children will be sitting for their PSR and 'O' Level exams next week, so we have to cut the visits.
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