For some reason I havent been able to post any entries for the longest time.

Random updates for Aug
1. Went on a roadtrip to KL over the National Day weekend and stayed at the Tune Hotel. (I prob should blog more about my stay there. Quite an experience)

2. Big Apple Donuts and Coffee are the best! (from KL too)


3. Dyed my hair (again while I was in KL)
4. Did eyebrow embroidery ( I have permanent eyebrows!)
5. Cried because I was emo


Work pace has been picking up again. Such a drag knowing that I will not be able to spend more time doing things I rather spend my time on. Like exercise is one of them. Not as if you can tell I have been trying to get more exercise. :P July was some of the best times after my busy period ended. Now another peak period starting...

Well at least I can look forward to Taiwan in 2 weeks time :) Yeah!!

I killed my cupcakes :(

So sad I murdered my 15 cupcakes today. Since I stopped about 3 months, I think I've been losing touch with baking. Even the speed of getting everything ready is so much slower. How??? There goes my cup cakery dream. Wahahaha.



My cupcakes!!!!

My body is also aching...

I'm in pain.

Adrenaline Rush

Running never fails to leave me with an adrenaline rush. But its something that I haven't felt for a long time since I stopped exercising. Blame it on work, the late hours, and then because I have to sleep in on weekends because I worked those long hours on weekdays. Days, weeks and months. I think all these excuses caught up and the result is fairly evident now. So it's back to setting a resolution to not live this way and put on those running shoes again.

Adrenaline rush is such a short spurt of that high feeling and it leaves you wanting more sometimes. Sometimes leaves you feeling unreal, almost like an out of body experience. But sometimes leave you empty as well if that's only what life is about.

Child at heart

Besides baking, I have taken up a new hobby. Making toys!

Oh yes, another thing that gets me very excited during the weekends. It all started when I explored pictures of toys on my now favourite website, flickr.

I know how strange to like surfing on a photo album sharing site. But they've got these tags which allows you to find photos when you type a key word. So at first when I was all hooked on cupcakes, I was looking for inspirations for cupcakes. Now it's toys.

And I absolutely love to get my hands busy with making toys now. Here are a couple of my own creation.

I call this my bakery shop. There is an ice cream, biscuit, bear cookie, bunny cookie, star cookie, gingerbread man who looks more like a voodoo doll and a biscuit stick!

My favourite has got to be the ice cream! tried to make it into my handphone toy but realise that I cant hang it at all =(.

I simply love this new hobby of mine. Baking, making toys.. what else to pick up this year?

What a week!
Having had crazy weeks at work I decided to treat myself better and make an attempt to leave earlier. So on Thursday, I left the office at 6:30 and enjoyed a Swenson's dinner and some shopping. I think Alexis appreciated it as well, after having to spend most eveings on his own. Then again, unlike me, he may enjoy being alone at home. I think if he was the one that had to work late most of the time, I'll prob not be home most nights. I'm just not the sort who enjoys being alone at home. At least not for days on end.

Over the weekends, I caught a play that my cousin was acting in, "On North Diversion Road" at the Arts House in the play den.


It was a cosy set up where the stage was in the middle of the room. The story revolves around ten different couples driving along the same highway, dealing with marriage-on-the-rocks, love and betray issues. SOme end up killing themselves, some end up fighting like cats and dogs, some giving the tit for tat treatment and some just unresolved.

This plus the past few nights of listening to love songs confidential on class 95, makes me wonder how people treat the value of fidelity in their marriage. On love songs confidential, you have people writing in to share their darke secrets. Some whom are married and are havng affairs they know fully well will get them no where, but still refuse to let go of. Them others who are the 3rd party themselves and feel guilty for breaking up families yet also refusing to leave, citing reasons that are just plain sad... *sigh*

It's impossible to expect fireworks in a marriage forever. And who ever said keeping a marriage strong requires no effort or work? Having passed the one year anniversary in my marriage makes me realise how one party's actions, moods, decisions, affects the other so much. Be it for the better or worse. How carefully marriage must be nurtutred, pruned, receiving love, affection, affirmation, praise, encouragement.

Buzi Buzi

Hit the busy period at work again. Makes me lose the will to live as my colleague would say. Spending ungodly hours in the office that makes me look forward to the weekends and wanna just spend them doing absolutely nothing. Not very productive I know.

Tired, drained and just a little more to go...

Random photos

It was Labour Day last tuesday. The day we rest from labour. So we headed to sunny SENTOSA!

The luge is the funnest way to get down the slope. WEEEeeeeEEEEeeeeEEE...

My Hobbies

The other day I asked Alexis if my hobbies were a waste of time.

Me: Do you think I waste time and money on my hobbies?
Alexis: Like what hobbies?
Me: Like baking, scrapbook, handicrafts..
Alexis: You like it what.

I think he didn't say it like he's resigned that his wife is one who squeals with delights at pretty, cutesy ,adorable and "useless "stuffs and insists on buying them for either her baking, scrapbooks and crafts. Rather there is an acceptance in who I am. I'm so grateful that he's so accepting of me even my hobbies that sometime costs quite a bit and doesn't make any sense to him.

Like not too long, I picked up this wire basket from Dasio not knowing what I can do with it. And here I am 3 weeks later turning this into a hamper for my mom for Mother's day. I lurve my creativity too!

And of course not forgetting my new interest in baking with dreams that I can one day turn it into something serious. Like a small humble business.


Mother's Day cupcakes made for Alexis mom

Life's still good

I'm so swamped with work! Want to cry. But instead I'm going to take leave on Monday for a pamper me day. Also do catch up on things that I want to do. Oh yes I mentioned that already. Like a long awaited haircut, maybe facial.. but then I'll just ruin my hair right? Oh well. Maybe another day then.

Just got reminded that my very first wedding anniversary is going to come up in June. 3rd June. Wow how fast a year has passed!

Happy that Tuesday will be a public holiday too. Time to catch the sun, exercise, shed some weight! So many people have hinted that life must be SO GOOD to me. Yah yah I know what they are secretly thinking. Irrating...

But that said, yes Life is good! Still good.

Say Cheese!

My first attempt at cheesecake cupcakes today.

Verdict.
1. Base of the cupcakes did not "stick" well. The crumbs were falling all over the place. The best way is probably to eat it with a spoon. I think it's because I did't mix the butter well into the crumbs.

2. Texture of the cupcakes were still okay, but some of the top cracked. I suppose the oven was too hot. Should have baked them at 180 degress. And I didn't fill up the cupcake liners enough so they didn't look puffed up.

3. But the most disappointing part should be the frosting. I tried to make chocolate ganache but the texture was way too runny to do any piping. I ended up just spreading it all over the cupcake. Well at least it does taste nice.

Cheesecake cupcakes will be a hard one to perfect. I shall stick to easier ones and improve on the decoration instead.

It's Monday again. Back to work...wondering when I can not go to work anymore. But, since I still have to work then I shall be the bestest worker. I'll try :) First, by being on time for work tomorrow and hopefully that means leaving on time too.

Anyway something cute that I saw about cupcakes.

Who says cupcakes must be eaten?

Birthday Wishes

I almost cant believe it, I'm turning 27 this year. Surprised to be where I am at this age. For one, I didn't even think I'll get married at 26, in fact I thought that 27 would be a good age to settle down. That said, the past 9 +months of married life has had it's moments. I cant imagine how life would change when a kid comes along. So that should be on the sideline for the time being while we have more time on our own, for our career, and interest. Yes my new found interest of baking too!

I'm planning for a relaxing birthday. Prob catch up on some long over due things that I need to do but always push to the back of my mind stuffs, like to the dentist, maybe a haircut, and yes a facial... Yeah how exciting right? Suddenly that doesn't sound all that relaxing.

I don't know what I want for my birthday. But what I don't want, is to celebrate it with food. So save your birthday treats and buy me a present! Oh there may just be something I want...

I'm so in love with Gucci's Cruise Monogram Scarf Tote Bag!So nice can. Lusting over it. But boy is the price mad :(

On a more serious note, I would to take baking more seriously so I'll be investing more into it, equipment, books. So you can contribute to my dream and maybe it will turn to a reality soon .

Cupcake Party

Last Saturday was the first cupcake birthday I had with a few of my poly girlfriends. Who can possibly resist cupcakes for birthday cakes?


We all had fun baking our own birthday cake. And in everyone's enthusiasm, not a single cupcake was left unfrosted! What a sugar rush :)

Next occassion for cupcakes would be Mother's Day. I just learnt some new decorating techniques that should give very pretty results. Maybe then I can start taking orders? What an idea.

I wanna try!!

This may sound cruel but I wanna try the prawn noddle from this stall. This was recommended by Leslie from this blog, ieatishootipost.blogspot.com. How the prawns are cooked is really an act of, now you see them in the tank, and now you don't coz they just got boiled alive for my prawn noodle. Muahaha


Feng Yun Live Prawn Noodle
100 Kim Seng Road
#01-04 Kim Seng Plaza
12pm-3pm 6pm - 4am (or until sold out)
Closed on Sundays 81123675

Here are also some of his recommendations from Lavender foodcourt.
1. Prawn Noodle (Again ) from Albert Street Hokkien Big Prawn Mee
2. Beef Noodle from Bugis Street Beef Kway Teow
3. Wan Ton Noodle from Kok Kee Wanton Mee

Horror of horrors he didn't recommend my favourite ba chor mee stall which is so nice can? I may just try each of them starting from this Sunday :)

Baking in Progress

These are the cream cheese cupcakes that I made over the weekend. I think I shameless, but I do think they are tasting nicer and looking more presentable and interesting.

I trust that those who have tasted them, colleagues and church friends will not lie to me (esp the latter grp!). But personally, these cupcakes look nicer than the first time I started baking. They are not as hard, not as burnt and they are decorated with lemon flavour cream cheese frosting. Very yummy, but a tad too sweet for some.

So far, I have tried chocolate chip cupcakes, peanut butter cookies, cream cheese frosted cupcakes. I wanna explore more and do this every weekend. Especially to improve on the appearance to make them "sale worthy". Learn more toppings, frosting and flavours as well. Wondering if I can really take this further as a business opportunity. If I did, would you be my first customer?

Easter Sunday

I'm really quite a idiot to type my post and somehow just close the window. The problems with tyring to multi-task. Tsk tsk. Probably a sign from God not to post what I was typing...

In any case, what I was trying to conclude was that I wanna be able to declare that I can be a history maker. Not to look at the current situations and throw the towel in. Not to look at the situation but to know the greatness of God.

History Maker
Is it true today
that when people pray
Cloudless skies will break
Kings and queens will shake
Yes it's true and I believe it
I'm living for you

Is it true today that when people pray
We'll see dead men rise
And the blind set free
Yes it's true and I believe it
I'm living for you

I'm gonna be a history maker in this land
I'm gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind
I'm gonna stand, I'm gonna run
Into your arms, into your arms again
Into your arms, into your arms again

Well it's true today that when people stand
With the fire of God, and the truth in hand
We'll see miracles, we'll see angels sing
We'll see broken hearts making history
Yes it's true and I believe it
We're living for you

It's the long weekends!

Good Friday came and passed so quickly. Finally the show was over after weeks of practice. Even though it's a lot smaller scale than the usual productions we have back at SP, it was still a ministering drama. Many commented that the script had very real issues that people struggle with. The song and dance ministered in their own special way too.

I think this is really my interest. Maybe not as passionate about it yet, but I really believe this is one of the ways that a church can be relevant to the world. There's still so much we can improve, so much we can convey and communicate and impact through the arts.

Spent the afternoon at hypermarts today, Ikea and Giant at Tampines. Been so long since we went out on dates on a weekend. Just enjoying walking through Ikea, checking out new stuffs and enjoy meatballs and chicken wings.


So excited to resume baking tomorrow! Happy Easter all :)

I'm happy and upset and all mixed up

Why is America still voting to keep Sanjaya around in the American Idol? He obviously cant sing, does not look cute (In fact I think he has a chipmuck look!) ? I'm beginning to find him a joke, a big fat sad joke. *sigh* I though only Singapore suffered from such a fate when the silly school girls voted for their favourite guy in such competition. What has happened to this being a singing contest? I'm disappointed to see the good ones leave the show. (Screams, INJUSTICE!)




Enough about Sanjaya..
I'm happy, H-A-P-P-Y, happy. Check out my latest buy, a Fossil watch :) Pretty eh. My colleague insisted it was a damn nice watch and that I MUST buy it. I think she does a better job at promoting this watch than the promoter. And so I did!
Upset, happy and now mixed feelings..

Easter Bunny Cookies













Aren't they adorable? So the key to making cookies that will fly off the shelf lies in the decoration. I have to admit that these bunny cookies of mine are not that quite ready for sale. But with more icing, with more practice, I can almost see that happening.

So care for some easter bunny cookies anyone?

Cupcake and cookies for sale

Wonder when I can master baking so good that I can start a business of my own. So far, the chocolate chip cupcakes were not bad. And it's on to cookies this weekend. Easter bunny cookies. If they turn out good, I may bake them for breakfast counter for my church building fund.

I'm so impressed by what you can do with baking and what decoration can do to make them look so pretty! I want to bake pretty cupcakes and cookies too.

More shopping this weekend to start baking

List of Kitchen Baking Essentials (As claim by some)
1) Measuring cups (for dry ingredients-plastic or stainless steel)
2) Measuring cups for liquid ingredients (such as pyrex glass or plastic)
3) One set of measuring spoons (plastic or metal)
4)A set of different size mixing bowls (small, medium, large, and extra large)
5) One round and one oblong or rectangular cooling rack
6) Rolling Pin
7) Rubber spatula's (silicone ones are good because they can be used in high temperatures, and may be washed in the dishwasher) Also, metal spatula's for removing baked goods from pans
8) Either a wood or marble pastry board for rolling out your pie, tart or pastry dough
9) An offset spatula for decorating and frosting cakes, pastries and cupcakes, etc
10) Two or three pastry brushes
11) Pastry blender (what's this?)
12) Fluted or plain pastry wheel (not going into pastry yet)
13) Pastry bags, and assorted size and shape pastry tips (do I need them for cupcakes?)
14) Flour sifter
15) Dough or pastry scraper (not going into pastry yet)
16) 9 piece set of glass bowls (graduating sizes of mixing bowls for preparing ingredients for recipe) (9 pieces??)
17) Metal or wood cake testers (don't you test by just trying?)
18) Assorted cookie cutters in different sizes and shapes. 2 and 3 inch round biscuit cutters are good to have for cutting out biscuits, scones, etc. (I love this part :))
19) Cookie press (not the same as cookie cutter? )
20) Variety of food colors for tinting (either liquid or paste food colorings)
21) Pudding mold (Pudding is not my thing)
22) Pie crust shields and Ceramic Pie weights (No pies yet too)
23). A good pair of kitchen scissors and a good set of kitchen knives. (Bread, and cake knives are important to have if you are going to be making cakes and breads) Not advanced to cakes yet
24) Oven mitts (very important) (I have them already)
25) Aluminum foil, Parchment baking paper, waxed paper, and plastic cling wrap
26). A variety of flavorings and extracts (essences)
27). At least one or two whisks, one being a balloon whisk (the balloon whisk shape is especially good for whipping egg whites and heavy cream, when you need the maximum amount of air)
28). A kitchen timer

I'm bring Alexis shopping with me.

Attempt at baking and cooking this weekend

I bought a book titled Japanese women don't get old or fat after personally witnessing the beauty of them in the land of the rising sun. So hopefully this book lets me in on some of the Japanese women secrets. Actually they are some that are already known, how they drink green tea (antioxidants and boosts the metabolic rate!), the small portions they eat, the only eat till you're 80% full rule, etc.

So it's down to some Japanese cuisine this weekend. I intend to cook soba, miso soup and tempura ... Quite an attempt! Hope this will not be the last too.

And after more reading on baking, I shall embark on my first attempt to bake!And the first recipe shall be Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie Cupcakes.

Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie Cupcakes

• 3 3/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup oat bran
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 4 large eggs
  
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Line 3 standard 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners; set aside. Whisk 2 cups oats, the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, bran, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; set aside.

2. Put butter and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Mix in eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Mix in sour cream. Stir in raisins with a rubber spatula.

3. Transfer 2 3/4 cups batter to a small bowl, and stir in remaining 1 3/4 cups oats and the coconut; set aside. Spoon 2 1/2 tablespoons plain batter into each prepared muffin cup; top with 1 1/2 tablespoons oatcoconut batter. Bake until golden and a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to wire racks; let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 3 days.

Hopefully it will turn out like this =)

PS: Why do you need sour cream in a cupcake recipe?

Playing with a thought

Just having time to myself these days makes me wonder what life would be like if I stopped working. You know how the government has projected a population of 6.5m in the next 40- 50 years. That raised questions on how the government is supporting this target. While there have been baby bonuses handed out to lighten the financial costs of raising a family, the more vital question is how to bring up a child without being absent in their growing years. I don't think I'm ready for a child now, because the way I work already leaves me with little time for my family. I really cant imagine how life will be so different when it's a baby who will require attention 24/7. I would consider stop working in my child's most vital years to make sure that I spend time with my child, to pass on values and be the one to hear their first word...

Then I had a crazy creative idea. I could embark on a job that I can work from home, something like baking! I recently got interested in baking though I have not gotten down to trying it out yet. I have came across websites and articles and people who have been ordering customized cakes, cupcakes, etc. so it seems there is a market for this business of customization. So I started my research online and found some options for me to take this to another level. I've a feeling I could do this, yeah like as a job.

So first, I would have to learn to start baking!
Already on my birthday wishlist are these books
1. 500 Cupcakes: The Only Cupcake Compendium You'll Ever Need
2. Cupcakes Year-Round: 50 Recipes for Every Season and Celebration
3. 500 Cookies: The Only Cookie Compendium You'll Ever Need
4. 125 Best Cupcake Recipes
5. Biggest Book of Cookies: 475 All-Time Favorites
6. Crazy About Cupcakes
7. Super-Duper Cupcakes: Kids' Creations from the Cupcake Caboose
8. Cupcakes Galore
9. The Flour Pot Cookie Book: Creating Edible Works of Art
10. The Confetti Cakes Cookbook: Spectacular Cookies, Cakes, and Cupcakes from New York City's Famed Bakery

Another thing to add on my to do list for the weekend- bake cupcakes

Here are some inspirations to keep me inspired.

More food reviews as promised

I'm such a cheat. I didn't even do these reviews, just plucked them from what I've read. Anyway, when you're sick perhaps the only consolation is that food just taste blah and I'm hoping against all hope that it will make me lighter.

But anyway, back to my recommendation...Have you ever heard of the Rabbit brand sharkin? I bet you thought Rabbit brand only sold white milk candies wrapped in the paper like plastic that melts in your mouth. They do.. but more than that they've got sharkin, bird's nest and now seafood! Rabbit Brand Seafood Restaurant is where I wanna go for baked crab with cream sauce.
RABBIT BRAND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
325/327 Joo Chiat Road, Tel: 6348-8772
Open: 6pm to 4am daily
Food:
Service:
Ambience:

Doesn't that make your mouth watering already?

I'm in a "I wanna eat more crab kinda mood". (And I just has chilli crab last week!)

On sick leave

On MC for 3 out of 5 days… On Tues, I had the flu bug and also a sore throat. Then when I got back to the office, I coughed my lungs out. My boss sent me home and ordered me to rest before I start to spread it to my other colleagues. In fact this string of virus have been spreading around from one colleague to another after everyone's back from the CNY. So it's back to the doc I go and I got two days MC.

So I tried to make the best of my day.

• Mom came to accompany me and we had breakfast at the market
• Watched curse of the golden flower (It was an overdose of spilling blossom of other kind)
• Packed aside old newspapers for the garang juni man this weekend
• Cooked dinner
• Sorted old magazines and found good places for food J (more on that in a moment)
• Begin scrapbook on my Japan trip
• Watched花样少年少女 (this is actually very funny)

I have another day of MC tomorrow and I’m wondering what to keep myself busy with, especially when it rains and it keeps you stuck at home. I wanted to pop by the library and borrow some cookbooks to start on my baking. But the rain prevented that from happening. I bought my baking equipment but yet to start on it. It’s quite exciting but just hope that it would not be a disaster! Haha.

Oh and yes some good finds while clearing the papers and magazines...
Care for Western Food? Then lets head to UNO in Toa Payoh.

Tucked away in a HDB block off Toa Payoh Lorong 5 is this western food stall that serves it yummylicious signature black pepper sirloin steak. There are also other just as delicious chicken chop and fish and chips. Choices that you can never go wrong :)

UNO BEEF HOUSE
Block 51 Toa Payoh Lorong 5, 01-60
Open: 12.30 to 11pm, closed on alternate Wednesdays.

More food discovery when I blog again. Stay tuned.

As a married person, one of the things that is vastly different from all the other Chinese New Year is of course giving ang baos. Wasn't as painful as others make it sound. Though it was a little odd giving to my older unwedded cousins. And at such occassions, it's all expected that the other relatives start flooding me and Alexis with questions like, when are you going to have a baby. So predictable right? And as this is the year of the "golden pig" according to the lunar calendar, this makes it a very auspicious time to have a child, since the so-called "Golden Pig" year which happens only once every 60 years. Children born in such a year are thought to be particularly fortunate with money and business. And can you believe it, the Chinese are so obsessed with it that there's apparently a baby boom in China! And my grandma decided that since there is no "dragon" in the family yet, she made an "order" for it in the next 5 years! Faints...

Thank you very much, but I would like to enjoy this phrase of my married life first. I can't imagine being a mom yet. Just not quite yet. That's why I have planned to go for more holidays first before that happens.

Oh by the way, the recent trip to Japan was great!It was a good 9 days away from work and stress.

What I enjoyed the most was no doubt, Tokyo Disneyland! The place where magical dreams come to life with childhood friends, like Mickey, Donald, Pluto and the more recent addition, the Disney Princesses.

We also visited Hakone for their hotspring. What an experience it was, imagine dipping your bare body into the hotspring during winter time. Pretty awkward at first, but to really enjoy it you just gotta do it like the locals and lose the inhibitions. What can I say but that it was really shiok!

We also went to Kyoto for a slower pace of Japan. It was a lot of walking and visits to castles, shrines and the gion area to catch a glimpse of the geishas.

It was winter in Japan, but apparently not a very cold one. The average temperature was only 8 degrees, but I was not really enjoying it as my skin started to get very dry and threatening to crack. And you know how winter is, when everyone is all wrapped one and walking faster than usual to get away from the cold. And of course I complained that it prevented me from enjoying more shopping. Shoes sizes there are really interesting. It comes in S, M, L, XL. So you hardly get shoes that really fit. But that didn’t stop me from bagging a pair of boots, simply because most chic Japanese gals all wear them during winter. And despite what most think, shopping is not that expensive. That is if you’re like me scouting for sale. So my boots cost me S$26 and so did a suede furry jacket (the one I'm wearing below).

I think the next time I go to Japan, I want to wander up to Hokkaido where I can experience snow. I actually did see snow on the way back to Tokyo while travelling back on the shinkasan, but what a pity it was only all on the ground. I would so love to have a white christmas once in my life. Not too long away I hope :)