Life Love and Me » Friends

Graffiti Fun!

celine — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:56:32 +0000

When I saw Ashley’s Graffiti Shoes Tutorial, I couldn’t wait to make one for myself. I did, yesterday, while the kids were swimming with their friends.

I had a fantastic time playing with paints. I didn’t realise that I miss painting and creating a mess so much. It was therapeutic turning a MYR5 plain-looking black canvas shoes, into cool graffiti art. Thanks, Ashley!

My girls were jealous when they got home. They made me promise that I will paint them each a pair while they are at school tomorrow. I was stunned when David told me subtly that he wouldn’t mind having a pair too! *shaking my head in disbelief*

I was wearing them all of today, everywhere I went. I felt so cool in them.

I wanted to add more words to the back of the shoes but my fabric pen ran out of ink. Will need to do an Art Friend run first thing tomorrow morning! It will look even more cool after that. *giggling in excitement*

Dinner Helpers

celine — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:05:06 +0000

When it comes to cooking, I have accepted the fact that I am destined to be a noob forever. Noob not in the same category as this ironchef-in-disguise-noob, but noob in the true sense, know very little and have no will to learn. I no longer live in denial, buying cookbooks after cookbooks dreaming of being my Mister’s Domestic Goddess. After trying at the most two recipes from the salad/entree section, I would be demoralised. Mine would never ever look and taste anywhere near that described by the book, even though I put in twice the amount of time in the kitchen. Nothing wrong with those cookbooks, it’s just me … poor execution due to “no-interest” subject matter. If I could transfer some of my enthusiasm from baking and crafting to cooking, I am positive my family’s tummies would be much happier.

Things changed (a while back) for the better when I stumbled upon these amazing food bloggers They “hand-held” me all the way from buying the ingredients to plating (is there such a word?) the meal. Most of their recipes have very few ingredients, they do not involve any deep frying (my no.1 fear), they have very few simple cooking steps and most important of all their recipes are idiot-proof.

Please put your hands together for a round of applause to these amazing ladies. Here they are in no particular order;

Don’t think Ree aka PW needs any introduction, right? I have been a “stalker” of hers way before she bacame “royalty” of the food blogging world. Initially I followed her blog mainly for Black Heels to Tractor Wheels – her love story with Marlboro Man. Slowly I became attracted to her cooking posts (sub-consciously?) too. Me, cooking? Nah! Maybe its because she provides pictures and detailed explanation for each and every cooking step . Or could it be due to her wicked sense of humour? Possibly its her down-to-earth, hilarious constant self mockery …. Oh, I don’t know. I became her faithful fan, even more faithful than having dinner daily!

I had tried many of her recipes and had lots of success with them. I can never forget cooking my first pan-fried steak ala PW, can never forget having her Asian Noodle Salad for lunch and dinner two days straight, can never forget keeping the Mister happy with a never done before homecooked meat feast.

Seriously I am so grateful to PW for making cooking less scary for me, with her awesome tutorials and how-tos series. Soon, I hope cooking will no longer be a responsibility for me. Maybe, just maybe, I might, will actually enjoy (eeeks) doing it.

She is the Ironchef in disguise that I mentioned earlier. This is Wiffy’s claim of herself, “I’m a girl who likes to cook though I don’t think I’m very good at it”. Not good at cooking? Bluff! Hop over to her blog and you will be amazed with her simple yet delicious recipes. Go on do it now.

Was it her Chicken and Mushroom Baked Rice, or Baked Sardines and Potatoes? I can’t remember. Its one of these guys (both equally yummy) that started my “relationship” with Wiffy. Since then I have been relying on her to figure out dinner. She has a 15- minutes Shorts Series (cooking under 15 minutes) which I particularly like. It is a life saver during my 4pm weekday scramble, wondering what to put on the dinner table.

The Little Teochew is another of my favourite. Ju writes beautifully. She is very generous in teaching and sharing. She comes across as a very down-to-earth person, I like her! Coupled with her fantastic shots, she keeps me captivated. Daily visits to her a blog is a must for me.

Even though alot of her recipes a little difficult for me, I enjoy reading and learning from them. One day I hope to tackle them. For now, I have tried a number of the easier ones with lots of success. We especially love her Carrot and Tuna Salad, Salmon Cakes, Pineapple Fried Rice and Sesame Prawn Toast.

Babe is the first Malaysian blogger on my google reader and she is still there after a couple of “spring cleaning”. Not sure why, but her comments on my blog seemed to encourage and comfort me in an uncanny way. I can never forget her encouragements during the height of my health problems. I have long considered her a good friend even though we have never met.

If you have not visited blog, which is unlikely, you should. She does food review on all types of food in Malaysia from street food to super fine dining. I like it that her reviews are not the typical regurgitating the menu and providing the address and opening hours type. I find them to be insightful and objective. Maybe I am biased because she likes La Bodega and Nerovivo too.

The lady is an awesome cook too. Her recipes are simple, very forgiving (hehe) and super tasty – I know, I have tried a number of them. Our current favourites are – Steamed Chicken with Chinese Sausages (hubby’s), Homemade Yogurt (Mine) and Butter, Kaya and Peanut Butter Toast (my girls would love to have this everyday).

Valentine’s Topiary for Chinese New Year

celine — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:23:00 +0000

I have never been one good with traditions, frankly I suck at them. Since young I never saw the significance of Chinese New Year. To me it was (and is still is) merely another flipping of the calendar day. I only enjoyed the extended days of holidays that came with it. Before marriage it would mean holidays overseas with friends, but after marriage everything changed. I needed to be a responsible daughter-in-law and mother ……. certain chinese new year must-dos needed to be done even though I do not believe in them.

During Chinese New Year it is customary to prepare “goodie bags” for family and friends. I enjoy putting together personalised gifts each year. I find store bought hampers expensive and boring! This year I made Valentine’s Topiary filled with traditional CNY cookies and nuts.

I spent a week cutting circles from 5 yards of velvet plus many, many hours assembling them. It was fun but my biceps were aching by the time I completed all nine of them. This was the most time consuming part. The rest was quite a breeze.

I painted and decorated metal pots from Ikea, planted the topiary with a thin layer of cement, filled it up with the cookies and nuts, then covered it with dried moss.

My girls had a lot of fun in the entire “planting” process. They would work through their homework (from school) in record breaking speed so that they could help out. We had some awesome time bonding ……

I included this tea set as part of the gift too. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it at the mall. It is SO PRETTY. I hope my friends feel the same too. *keeping my fingers crossed*.

Craft Passion

celine — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:32:57 +0000

A couple of months back, I was asked by Lai Kuan, of the very popular Food-4-Tots to check out Craft Passion. I did, and I was glad. Since then I have been a huge fan of this very talented lady (Joanne), who has been churning-out lots of amazingly creative stuff that never fails to blow my mind off. Do check out her blog. You will not be disappointed. Here are some of my favourites;

“The Dazzled” – I am still waiting for her to make me one.

This is one of Joanne’s earlier projects. She did this for a charity auction to aid a home for abandoned kids. On the night of the auction, her sister got her the bag (by being the highest bidder) because she knows that Joanne has problems parting with the bag. (I think) So sweet, huh? Two sisters with a big-heart!

A re-cycled tote

A very chic tote (in my opinion) which do not look re-cycled at all. This is made using fused Esprit-plastic-bag, an old pair of denim, unused curtain and rice sack. Simple stunning ……. simple yet not simplistic! If this was for sale, I will buy it without any hesitation.

A fish-y purse

My girls (and I) absolutely adore this cute-sy. She is proportionately shaped and the colour coordinates are spot-on, whimsical yet not childish.

He infamous “Pom-Pom Scarf”

I like this scarf so much that I wrote to Joanne, asking her to help me get the yarn. I knitted not just one but three in total. Once again, thanks for helping me to get the yarn and your detailed tutorial.

Her daughter the “Queen”

Her first attempt at drafting a pattern, a gown for her daughter’s stage performance as the “Queen”. Unbelievable talent, don’t you think?

Kanzashi Christmas Tree

Her latest project which I absolutely adore. She has generously given them (all three!) as part of her November giveaway. I was in no luck again ….. hopefully she will come up with the tutorial. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Now, hop over and drool over her projects and let me know what you think of this super-amazing lady who holds a full-time day job, handles two young children and yet able to produce such awesome crafty stuff.