Sweet signs

Created by Publicis Mojo and @RadicalMedia Director: Patrick Hughes

Something sweet for you to watch. Reminds me of my mundane life before I noticed his existance. The story has similarity with my own experience of how I met "my-not-yet-bf". Except none of us were brave enough to say "Hi" to each other, until one day on my Birthday… (read my old post, here).

Cuppa tea and forestberry muffin

It's a long weekend here in Brisbane. Today is a labour day! I was so looking forward for it. Me and "my-not-ye-bf" was planning to go to Gold Coast again. And then… he told me he had to attend a wedding for the whole weekend 0_0. Of course, I was very very dissapointed… and yet, today this last free day, he had to make an emergency excuse not to see me T_T sigh…



To redeem my self, I turn my self into baking, retail therapy and redecorating the house during the long weekend :P I am feeling much much happier after sucessfully made the right muffin. People say it's easy to make muffin. But I am so inexperience in baking. My first experience was an apple muffin. I couldn't make the texture right. Somehow, it was too dry.



But finally, my forestberry muffin is near perfect!!! I read couple few different recipes to make muffin. One tricks that helping me is by filling the paper cups with water before baking, to keep the paper moist. I tried this recipe from RasaMalaysia. I enjoy eating them with a cuppa of taiwanese green tea (All San High Mountain tea). My lovely teaset shown above was a Christmas present from "my-not-yet-bf" ^^It's such a sweet teapot.



So I spent my last Monday, relaxing… drinking tea… muching my delicious muffin :P The weather has been so nice. It's been so calming just staying at home (since I've got the whole house for my self and I've tidy up the house yesterday). There's nowhere else better to be rather then just stay at home^^

Bulgogi stew

I cooked bulgogi stew the other night. It's quite a hearty meals to have during this autumn seasons. It has been quite chilly lately.

People always think when it comes to bulgogi, as such a meaty meal. But it's really up to you, depends what do you want to put in. The beef is necessary for the broth but you could balance everything with lot's of veges and mushrooms. That's what the right bulgogi stew all about! Not just purely meat like normal bulgogi.

I love eating more of the mushrooms and usually leave all the meat behind for my sister to finish :P (well, I am always towards more to vegetarian, just incase you don't know). With the beef, there's two type you can use… the big chunk of tenderloins meat chopped or just the bulgogi beef that you could buy at Korean's shop. With the chunk of meat, long marinating is necessary (a day would be perfect). when it comes to cook it, you just boiled them in long hours, it will produce so much better broth. Since I am not a big fan of meat, I just use the thin strips bulgogi beef. With this type of meat, an hour marinate will do. However, when it comes cooking this meat. You don't want to really over cooked them (it'll become hard). You have to have your broth ready first (drained the marinate sauce from the beef, put them in. Add in chicken stock, soy sauce and sugar for taste). Put the potato noodle (needs about 20 min to be soft) and mushrooms into the stew before you put the meat in. When everything boiled and the noodle is quite soft put in the bulgogi beef (serve portions only). It will cook pretty fast since it's very thin (2 minutes will do). Have the soups straight away. You could just add in the beef everytime you want to eat.

One other thing to note, if you are using enoki (golden) mushrooms. Just blanch this mushroom with hot water for few sec then top it up in your bowl (you could see in the picture, the enoki just placed in the corner by it self :p). Don't put in enoki mushrooms together with the stew. This mushroom is just as nice to eat it raw. I just knew this recently btw ;)

For the recipe, please visit here. It's slightly differents steps since it used the big chunk of meat. It's really up to you. But remember, in order to have soft chewy potato noodles you need to boil it for awhile. Hope you'll like it.

Sicky week

I've been having a sore throat since last week. It's progressing to chesty cough now >_< But comparing with my previous cold sickness, I think this is quite moderate. I've taken precautions quite early. Except, one stupid mistake… I drank wine twice!!! It kinda made my throat feels more itchy :P

I've been so busy taking Salsa class too. Sorry, after arrived home I have no more energy to blog. Well, I kinda got really hook into dancing at the moment. Rehearse the steps every now and then. It has been so much fun. I am not saying that it's easy. That's why I keep on practicing. At least, I've made a progress^^ I recieved a very good praised from "my-not-yet-bf". It feels nice to hear it from him while he spinned me around and kissed my forehead. He is apparently a very good Salsa dancer ;) He teaches me from time to time. I feel very lucky by having my personal private instructor… hehehe…

I am so happy that I finally learning Salsa. I've been wanting to learn it since at High School!!! It's been a long waiting. Talking about waiting. I really can't wait to get my $900 incentive from the government. (Yup, here at Aussie, the government giving away $900 for any people who have done their tax return last year. Jealous?!!) It's not like that money gonna last long. Pretty much going to be gone to pay my dancing tuition >_< arghhh…

Teal blue outfit

Admittedly, I am completely a pink person. Everything that I am wearing has a tinge of pink. You just need to go out with me for couple of times to find out my favourite colour. But I don't know why I've always been attracted with this kind of blue. Especially when I am heading out in nice breazy weather (and yellow if it's summery). Let me tell you another secret, I keep wearing this same outfit for EKKA festival o_0! Can you believe?! same outfit for same event, every year. I just realised I have tendency to do that.…

Don't you love Saturday morning?

Saturday is the most relaxing day of the week. The day when you can do whatever you like and not worrying what to do tomorrow (since it still Sunday!!!). You can wake up late and snooze all day.

But no! I definitely won't let my Saturday morning passed away like that. You know, it's a very rewarding feelings to have a relaxing morning through out your busy week. You wake up early… (not too early, around 8 am) then you just relax, make a coffee for your self or just have a sip of tea, listen to birds chipping around. No rushing preparing sandwich for lunch, showering, having breakfast, make up, etc.




On previous weekend, me and my girls decided to grab breakfast together. It was such a lovely weather. I went out with my teal blue outfit and my flowly skirts. We had breakfast at New Farm. The caffee called Cirque. I went there for the first time with my ex. I couldn't believe it has been a year since I've been there. This would be my second visit. I've been looking forward to go back and have breakfast there. But never made it 'till now since all my friends are not really a morning person. (so dissapointing isn't…)


That would be my sister muching her big breakfast called Chowdown, complete with 2 sausages, bacons, 2 poached eggs, sour dough toast, hash brown, caramillised onions, wilted spinach and tomato. For my self, I prefer to have the Vegodown, same like my sister without the meat and as exchange I've got half sliced of avocado (only!!!, no wonder I was the first one who got hungry). The atmosphere on the caffee were just so lovely. We were just chatting and gossipping and had a sip of mocha.



Well, it wouldn't be a perfect Saturday morning without getting any macaroons. Unless you don't know, I am a macaroons lover. But macaroons at Chouquette Patiesserie is the best at Brisbane. You definitely don't want to miss it if you go to New Farm in the morning. Since you can only able to buy them before 12pm, otherwise at most time it will be sold out! unless you're very lucky.

We visited the lovely French Patisserie and bought our macaroons. I was a happy girl on that Saturday, very happy girl. Check Cirque review by other blogger here. More details about Chouquette here.

What do you usually do on Saturday morning? Hope you guys had a great easter break.

Happily cruising together

After listened to my friend's hardship, I thought back and looked over my own "relationship" (with "my-not-yet-bf"). Honestly, sometimes I am actually worried. From time to time, I wonder what if things just not moving forward… In a sense, he might just hold me back for his own selfish reasons… Especially, when most of my close friends keep asking me about the clarity of my relatiohship between him. It tires me for telling the same reasons again and again. And yet, it doesn't sound like it progressing anywhere…

But I quickly realised that it's just a foolish tought. I'm quite certain all my friends just overly worries about me. Only me and him know for sure how things goes between us. So far, he has been trying not to keeping me down and not leaving me in a doubt. He has showed me such a genuine affections. He is simply a wonderful guy.

If we weren't meant for each other in the end. I will still be thankful for the chances given to be able to know him until that moment. We've been having such a great time together. He has trully brighten my life.

I am really happy where I am now. We neither friends or lovers. We're just happily cruising together. So please, stop worrying and stop asking me about me and him. I'll be okay.

It's better to have loved and lost then to never have loved… I am taking my chances ;)

Image above called Boat ride – Nihonhon from HyperAsian Flickr.

Gravity

It's true. It just happens… you have no control of it. But what if… the person you like always keeping you down or don't feel the same way as you do. How would you fight your own feelings… and decided to stop.

My friend took the courage to walk away. I am so touched with her brave decision. She seems so much stronger now.

She shared me this video clip music from Sara Bareilles Gravity. It tells perfectly her stories. (or could be mine in the future. I hope not.) It's quite a touchy song… sobs… I like it! might sing it for karaoke :P

Image above from letterpress card printed by Blush publishing, typography by Jim Williams. I found it during my Friday stroll at Folio bookstore. This gem really cost me a fortune for just a card >_< Ohhh, where's my money gone?!!!

I love CanCam

I’ve been so addicted reading this girl’s Japanese Magazine. You know what I like so much about them?! They’re so big and chunky filled with plenty of pretty and handy stuffs!!! I can really read them over and over again. There’re always new things that I pick up from that magazine. Their make-up, hairstyle and nails art tutorials is very very handy!!! I guess that’s what makes it stands out than any other mag.

CanCam is in my top list. But I found some other mag that are pretty good too. I like JJ, Jelly, More (the April issues has really handy quick bento recipes), Vivi (I think this one is HK), and Mina (quite casual and teenish). The only thing is I wish I could really read them!!!!

You could always get all this mag from Kinokuniya (but yea, the price is quite dear… maybe some of you prefer to spend it on other things). Pssst… since there’s no Kinokuniya at Brisbane. I’ve been getting all the latest issues from here. It’s a secret between us, okay.

Hope it will give you something to read during the weekend. I wish you have a lovely one. Happy reading!

I just wanted to be loved, how selfish could I be

I dunno why I suddenly have my break down moment. It has been such a great day. I could be such a difficult and impatients person to deal with really… sigh… such a troublesome…

Geeshhh… I dunno if someone could ever accept me for who I am… I'm so imperfect and have so many high expectations…

Yes, my sister thinks I'm quite a weirdo. I think I am -_-" hrhhhh… I am who I am. compromising can reach each toll…

Duck! Rabbit!

Something fun to watch. It's short animation from a book called Duck! Rabbit! by By Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld. It teaches your kids about optical illusion. It's definitely a compulsory reading for my kids (My kids!!!!… Oh my, I'm thinking too far) well, just incase they want to follow my foot step become a graphic designer :P (ck ck ck… yes, i'm being ridiculous) You could get the book from here.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!!! Hope you enjoy the short clip^^ …and Happy Birthday to Kanimaki^^ I wish you have a great birthday

I heart New York

Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today
I want to be a part of it — New York, New York
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it — New York, New York!!!

Excerpts lyrics from Frank Sinatra New York New York

Remember that song… so much energy! My colleague just came back from her around the world trip. She showed us all her trips photo. Geeshhh, New York really is a big city!!! No wonder that there's so much diversity over there.

My friend and her partner traveled from New Zealand, New York, Vancouver, Boston, Rome and Bangkok -_-" I envy her so much, I can't wait to have my own trip. Let's put New York on the list. I am planning to go to Korea and Japan first, hopefully this year!!!

Where would you like to visit this year for getaway?

Image from New York magazine. I really like the magazine it self. It tells all the hip stuff happening over there. I love the typeface used as the masthead too. I wonder what is it. Anyone can guess?

Autumn is coming

Perfect weather during the weekend. I must say it's now entering to autumn season. It was bright and sunny with slightly cool breeze.

Attended my friend birthday BBQ at New Farm park on Sunday. It was so lovely to be there. I really enjoy spending time in the park and having laid back time. Some people would enjoy having a date in nice fancy restaurant, for me, a picnic would be my perfect date :P plus with a glass of wine, sigh… that would be really nice^^

Saturday was ok… was catching up with my beauty sleeps. Oh, I got new phone too. It's Samsung F480 in PINK!!! But seriously… I still need to get used to with the touch screen -_-" I feel so old… it's getting hard to keep up with technology. It's about time I changed my phone. My cap plan doesn't suits me anymore anyway. Couples of my last month bill just keep sky rocketting -_-" sighhhh…

Sighhh… I can't stop thinking about him (arghhhhh… the agony… why… why…)

Psst… let's fall in love

Dear my friends that have been having dilemma over love. Let's not worries so much… stop worrying what may come… stop recalling your past… stop thinking whatever he/she feels about you. When you have somewhat warm feelings for someone, just let it be. Don’t be shy and scared to show it… most importantly, show it with actions not just words or a confession. Do things whatever you feel comfortable with. Enjoy the moment of being in love!

To be or not be, let our heart discover… Let’s fall in love

originally uploaded by nijunana

I have a feeling, it's a feeling…
I'm concealing, I don't know why
It's just a mental, sentimental alibi

But I adore you…
So strong… for you…
Why go on stalling
I am falling
Our love is calling
Why be shy?

Let's fall in love
Why shouldn't we fall in love?
Our hearts are made of it
Let's take a chance
Why be afraid of it

Let's close our eyes and make our own paradise
Little we know of it, still we can try
To make a go of it

We might have been meant for each other
To be or not be
Let our hearts… discover…

Let's fall in love
Why shouldn't we fall in love?
Now is the time for it, while we are young
Let's fall in love

Excerpts lyrics from Diana Krall Let's Fall in Love

Nagahama Ramen Gold Coast

I used to dislike ramen. I had given my self many chance to like them. I tried ramen at the famous Wagamama that seems to be everyone favourite, then again at Top Noodles, and few other places as well. Unfortunately, from all different types of ramen, none of them suits my taste bud.



Then, he (my-not-yet-bf) took me to this ramen shop at Gold Coast. He said it is the BEST! I was being honest and told him that I don’t like ramen. But, I was willing to give it a try. (I must noted about his knowledge about Japanese Culture and his taste in food is really good. I completely trust him on this two. Although, he rated Top Noodles really low which I thought was not bad -_-“ He completely bans me to eat at Top Noodles anymore!!!).



Now, I grew my affection with Nagahama Ramen. It's a tonkatsu (pork bones) based soup. Seriously, there is so much richness with the broth. It will taste even better if you added some benishoga (red pickled ginger), crushed sesame seeds and the most important is TAKANA (spicy pickled vege)! I really can’t get enough of takana. Recently, they charge $1 for one small container of takana (shown in second photo). It is rather a bad news T_T

Remember to visit the Ramen shop when you’re down at the Coast! The whole shop is in orange colour. It won’t be hard to find. The Address: Shop 25, Center Arcade, Surfers Paradise, Queensland. If you are interested to know a bit more history about Nagahama Ramen, please visit here.

Perfect Saturday

We went down to the Gold Coast on Saturday. It was a perfect sunny day to spend time at the beach. I like him for being spontaneous. He asked me out to go to the beach all of sudden in the morning. I was quite surprise to my self that I actually agreed. Since I’ve always been quite a planner.



It was unexpectedly fun. We were having such a great time together. It was very relaxing day.

What is your ideal day like to spend one sunny weekend?

Happy Monday

Yesterday, it was one hot Sunday. The heat was very sleep-inducing -_-“ It was a very unproductive day. It was too hot to do anything. Well, except doing your laundry. So I washed up all my linens and changed my quilts. My auntie made this for me.

I’m so glad to be back at work with the air conditioning :P

Hope you all have a great week ahead!!!

Superbly pretty birthday card

I was very excited when found this card while I was randomly browsing at Christians book store next to my Church on Sunday. I’m amazed with the beautification of the handwriting. It’s very very sweet and it looks yummylicious too! It’s a perfect birthday card for my friend. Hers coming up at April :P She loves dessert just as much as I do.



There were couple more at the store. But this one is my favourite! Maybe because I am a tea person. I might keep this one for my self (hehehe…)

Too bad I can’t find who’s the illustrator. Btw, the card was such a bargain, only $1.50 each!!! I will definitely keep an eye on that store.

Happy Friday

It’s been quite a tough week for me, especially towards the end of the week. Things get pretty hectic at work. Busy is good, I’m enjoying it. Except the design process mainly for one project, have been really tiring. I need to redesign the whole book for the second time!!! Even though, the design already met the brief and it wasn’t bad design! It always makes me wonder why am I still working here. My design contributions seem worthless. They should just hire some high school graduate.

The design meeting will be arranged next week. I really can’t predict what’s going to happen. I keep imagining that I would walk out in the middle of the meeting!!! Seriously, I could write my resignation letter out of my head, right now. This wasn’t the first time, I’ve been thinking about it many times. I think about the pros why I should stay too, but it’s not good enough. It simply doesn’t lead into my goal or fulfil my objective as designer.

So one more time, please be still my heart!!! I really wish I could be happier and just enjoy doing what I love which is designing.

Hope all of you will have a nice weekend.

Feeling weary

He has been being inconsiderate lately. It really makes me feel so upset. But most of all, I think I feel disappointed because of how he’s not yet take me in as part of his life. It really ache every times I think of that in my head. It’s getting difficult. I really don’t know how long I could bear this. I start to feel weary. Or am I the one who’s being unreasonable and not patience enough… sigh… maybe I am…

I really care for him. And he still think of me. I really should be glad with this. I guess I just need more patience…