The Daily Drop Cap

The Daily Drop Cap is an ongoing project by typographer and illustrator Jessica Hische. Each day, a new hand-crafted decorative initial cap will be posted for your enjoyment and for the beautification of blog posts everywhere. You could really use that nice decorative letter as your drop cap in your own post! Visit The Daily Drop Cap to grab them.

OMG, it's a giant rubber duckie

Can't wait till it reach Brisbane river. I should have this giant rubber duckie for The Great Brisbane duck race… hrhrhhrhr… I shall be the winner!!!!

The race is on this Saturday, 26 September, thousands of rubber ducks will flock to the Brisbane River to battle it out in a race to fight cancer and to WIN one lucky owner a brand new car - a Sci-Fleet Toyota Yaris! All the the purchase of ducks will go to cancer research at the PA Hospital. Join me adopting a duck/duck family here.

This cute but superbly huge duck hatched by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, this 9.5m tall by 11m long rubber duck has been spotted in Europe, Japan, and Brazil. See more photos here. (sorry to dissapoint but this giant duck will not show up this Saturday at the race.)

via cute overload.

Therapeutic baking

Well, in general I’m fine. But emo-moment absolutely unavoidable for a girl like me. I told you I haven’t meet up with him for a while. I was really really looking forward to see him… Until, I got the news that he couldn’t make it. My heart didn’t break into pieces at that time. He had disappoint me the day before… the day before that… before that…

So my heart was quite numb to it. But I just couldn’t stop thinking about him since… I really hate my self for that. After all the effort of being Miss. Independent and leaving the insecure girl behind, with no complaining … all back to cycle one -_-“ But mostly I hate my self that I couldn’t hate him! Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all. (the agony of ‘love?!!’)

Day after day… hoping that we’ll meet again… (LOL, like a Disney princess story). Until, at the end of weekend, I was lying in bed realising he might never come back. I was filled with tears, trying to accept what’s coming. I deleted about 200 text messages from him.

After, I had enough sobbing moment, I went out and decided to bake. It’s a new hobby of mine. I found it’s rather therapeutic, same reason why I enjoy cooking. I was planning to make pineapple tarts (It was Hari Raya/Lebaran on Sunday. Even though, I don’t celebrate it. I just want to be part of it).

Unexpectedly, my mobile rang and it was him! ^^

My pineapple tarts or should I say pineapple cookies :P turns out quite nice (LOL). It took me half of my day making them. I just slouched in the sofa after baking them. Get the recipe from My Kitchen Snippets.

Big update

I got distracted… didn't bother to spare time to retrospect about anything… been busy, tired, angry, confused and annoyed.

My life so far, it's been fine. Many people been asking how's it? nothing really exciting been happening, nothing particularly to share about. I have been tangled with my sister enourmous project which is her wedding next year and her big mansion house soon to be built 0_0 Seriously, giving me a massive headache everyday that I have lost interest to be involved. Seriously, I screamed at her one time, 'I don't even have a BF yet!! why should I bother about wedding?!!' She laughed at me… -_- sigh…

At one point, I got really dissapointed and upset with my-not-yet-bf. He bugged out on the day when we supposed to do our big catch up. It was something really emergency, that I can't really be angry at which leave me with more frustration. Seriously, the last time I met him was 4th of August! I don't blame him for not being able to meet each other. Both of us just got things to do (we had small phone catch up and txt messages).

Well, that's why we aren't in relationship yet. I trully respect his decision, I think he's being fair. Now, meeting up has become something obligatory for both of us (of course… -_-) and even though, I have already about to give up… but yet, he try to reach me back :) Something that I don't quite understand why he does…

Although, there is still one thing that I can't quite accept from his act (it's not my rights to share). I went to church on Sunday. The second reading from James 3:13-17 about Wisdom from Above, somehow clear my head. All the bad thoughts just gone…

I feel lucky that I have faith. I feel thankful that I have a loving family and friends that I always be with me.

Free hugs to everyone XOXO… :P

Welcome spring

Today is the first day of spring. It had been drizzling over the night at Brisbane. But blue sky is up in the air now. Everything feels a little slow this monday… sigh… even though I'm still busy.

I bought the mustard yellow dress over the weekend. The fabrics is so lovely, it's a sparkly sheen satin. I just can't wait to wear it. :)

Happy Friday everyone

This is made me laugh (LOL)

New Math by Craig Damraurer via FFFOUND

Eek… I'm falling apart

Well, I hope not yet. If I will, hopefully someone will catch me ;)

My parents are at Brisbane living with me till end of this week. It's getting hard to find a spare time for them with my enormous project at work. Taking annual leave means shorter deadline to finish the project. And honestly, I don't think I've ever designed a main key list title book (one of the biggest seller book that makes lots of profits internationally 0_0) and not to forget it has a quite complicated content.

Working late is unavoidable. I have been working nearly around from 7 am to 7 pm everyday. Luckily, with one short break on Friday, it brings back my sanity. Went down to the beach and the mall at Gold Coast and spent a very relaxing time while my parent enjoying playing golf.

Wish me luck! Hope everyone well :)

Arghhhhh…

I know it's kinda lame. But it illustrated my situation perfectly (LOL).

I need new ideas. When i'm being asked to design a new cover that I can do whatever (just use no photos and no purple) I really should say YEHAAA… but honestly, i am petrified. I haven't use my creative brain hard enough these days. It has took me a week and still nothing. I am really excited for being busy but why it took me so long to get ideas… sigh

My relationship with my-not-yet-bf (seriously, I feel akward saying this. But i can't find another words to describe it). I had a proper date with him on Sunday to the Art Gallery to see the American Impressionism and Realism. I was glad that he enjoy art as much as I do. It was a full day spending time with him. Not entirely pleasant since things doesn't go according to the plan but it was okay.

He brought up this conversation that I've been trying to avoid. He asked me why do I still like him since he hasn't been giving enough or being around. I was being honest and told him that I've been thinking to end of whatever we have. Since sometimes it really tires me and bring only pain. I've been wodering whether I'll be happier if he doesn't exist in my life. He gives me the chance to choose but it seems that he can't simply let me go either (but i know it will be easier for him to do). However, it is certain for the time being he won't be interested in having relationship due to his comittment and things that he wants to achieve. It sounds quite hurtful to know that he hasn't changed his mind yet (even though I already know). Yes, i did take my moment and silently let my tears pours in the darkness of the cinema.

Enough to said, I am okay. I've been down that road many times. It gives me a mental note that in the end of the day, you really need to dependable on your self. Others might be there for you but you shouldn't have that expectations. And have lots of friends so there's more chance you are not end up feeling lonely (sigh… and listen to your mom, most likely she's always right or you might end up learn on the hard way).

Sigh, I still can't decide whether I should live by my own and shared my house with other people or just move in with my sister again and stay far on the west, at Moggill. I need to get my driving license soon. Arghhh… So many things to think about and do.

I would really appreciate any kindly emotional support, leave a message people :)

Looking forward for a sleep in and a cuddle

It's has been a very stressful week.

But Monday dinner with my-not-yet-bf was a delight.

Finally, we catch up after nearly 2 weeks off. He has been so busy and not letting me know anything. I had builts this big frustration toward him. Really can't wait till it explode. But everything evaporates once we met.

I still remember when he paused him self and looked deeply to me :) I asked him what was he's doing when he just there staring at me.
He said 'I haven't seen you for awhile.'
I said 'Yes, we haven't. Sometimes, I feel like having long distance relationship' and I laugh.

During the dinner, he admits that he always enjoy having a meals with me :) I was slightly blushed (apart blushing from the heat of korean charcoal bbq). I'm flattered that he mentioned it to me. And yes, I always enjoy all the attention that he gave me when he do all the cooking :P he even remember to cut the meat in my small bite sizes.

It was a very nice monday night.

Other updates:

Need to postpone posting the other photos up. Somehow can't transfer the photos from the camera to the mac :(

Been busy browsing display houses and giving house plan ideas to my sister. Since they decided to buy 930 meter square of land. 0_0!

MY SISTER GOT ENGAGED!!! didn't see that coming :) but very happy for both of them.

I am swamp with work trying to manage to finish everything within the deadline. Even have to rejected a dinner offer with my-not-yet-bf :(

Professor Layton and Pandora's Box

No, I haven't forgotten about it yet. One of the main reason, I still hold onto my nintendo-ds and not selling it. Professor Layton and the curious village (the first sequal) is one of the game that I enjoy playing the most. It was really challenging and fun. The artwork is really beautiful.

Some people don't like playing it since it could be quite irritating not being able to solve the puzzle. For me, it's a great way to distract my self from thinking things that I shouldn't think about. It has help my self during my post-break up period and I think it will help me through again.



Finally, it will be official to be released this mid-August. I can't wait to get hold of it! It's been such a long waiting.

Grill’d. Saturday trip part 1

Seriously, I couldn’t believe my self that I was actually craving for a Burger. Not just a Burger but a BEEF Burger!! There this image kept running in my head just exactly like a Hungry Jacks ads. I asked my friend to join me to try on Grill’d burger — Healty Burger at New Farm

The trip to get the burger was so daunting. We drove into the wrong lane that caused us have to drive around again. It was too much hassle that I was about to give up the idea of getting the burger. (Seriously, remember Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. It was so stupid idea, right?)

Arrived there, I ordered my self ‘HOT MAMA’ (LOL). It is with 100% lean beef, roasted peppers, dill pickled, tzatziki, salad, tasty cheese and harissa. It was still so unbelievable that I got my self a beef burger!

We’re checking on the burger. It was huge! We weren’t so sure what is the easiest way to eat our burger. It was definitely fresh! I was so sure that I would love it.

The first bite. … … … my taste bud reaction was: it is a BEEF!!! Why did I order this?!!! Arggghhh… I don't like BEEF >_< (Big chunky piece of meat usually make me feel sick. I prefer to be vegetarian now and then). It was so far away, from my first perception. I thought I would change and become more normal like other people who love steak. Turn out, I was wrong. I still don’t like steak -_-“

I think the beef definitely needs to be marinated longer or have more herbs. It lack in its taste (I can only taste beef). My friend has the same opinion. Nothing special about it. Maybe other people would enjoy it since they won’t mind the strong taste of Beef. (okay, you might thing I am a weirdo).

But their hot chips were so so good. I would definitely go back to buy just the chips. It was covered with rosemary. It was tasty and crisp.

In the end, I pretty much finished everything since I was so hungry. The trip continue…

Mondayne update

Hello everyone! I have been so slack to update anything about my social life. Apologise for this and also not been able to reply any messages at Facebook.

Been so busy. If I have some spare time, I would end up just curling up on the corner of sofa and holding my warm mug. I did some exciting things on the past few weeks. I had taken some nice photo, but not much. I will surely posted soon, so sorry.

On my mind, I've been feeling slightly blue since my-not-yet-bf been quite distant. He hasn't been up at his stamina since he caught a cold. We haven't spend enough time together… sigh… phone calls are getting rare… less date… less communication. This is probably another reasons I haven't been feeling like blogging.

For quick recap, these what I have been doing:

1. Last night, been so busy preparing for dinner date for tonight!!! Hopefully, me and him could have a big catch up. This is the second week, I prepared Indonesian dinner which always consume lots of preparation time! I was completely tired cooking for 3-4 hours

2. I am thinking to get a reflexology. Has anyone ever get one? My feet aching more and more often.

3. I went to Coffee and Chocolate Affairs at Portside Wharf. It was awesome. Very very posh place. Surprisingly, at the same venue, there was a Boutique Market. Its basically designer/craft markets which I completely love.

4. I also went to Greek Festival, in the week before that. I bought so many greek pasteries, so sugarly high but so yummy. Sorry, no docummentation taken. But, I did bumped into this very cute greek, who looks like Enrique Iglesias :P xoxoxxo…

5. The weather has been so lovely every weekend this month. I am loving it, out in the sun :) Don't forget that it is currently winter at Australia.

I'll post more stuff soon in details. Cya… !!! (check out my bling flats)

On my mind: wedding and engagement

One of the reasons I haven't been posted anything yet is because I don't have time to find the right image to go along with my story. Sigh… so, to keep my blog alive… the least that I can do for now, I'm gonna post without any images (I'll add in later on) -_-". Pardon me, if my blog won't look that attractive anymore (please just keep your criticsm in your mind).

For a start, I don't want to give a big shock or anything. But, sorry to dissapoint, I am not going to get engage or married anytime soon. But my friends are!!! I spotted over facebook, their pre-wedding photos, their status update into engaged, and yes, even their wedding photos. It's quite a surprise at first, since they are all my high school friends which are all still in early 20's (okay mid 2o's). This engagement–wedding news is just spring like chicken pox in summer. Sorry if it sounds quite harsh but seriously?!!! is it the time already?!!!

Please I really wanted to know, what age is acceptable/normal for a girl to get married? what age are you planning to get settle down your self?

Not just that, my sister seems going pretty solid with her current bf. They intend to buy a house together. And all of these, has brought my parents asking me questions about the future… which I really have no definite answer. I still have no idea where am I going to be and whom to be with. I still have no plan or definite expectations and I am not worried at all.

On the other hand, looking at my potential bf, he seems very free sprited and young at heart as a person. It is really hard to imagine a person like him to settle down. (LOL) You would get what I mean, it has been more than 6 months and we are not even in relationship yet. I just don't bother to ask him again :P when the time come, it will come… lalallaa…

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.