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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Shopping in Heaven

After months of reading blogs by mostly women interested in fashion and design, I started
noticing a trend. Especially the blogs written in the US, most of them mention Anthropologie one time or another. Reactions to their latest collections often draw oohs and ahhs. There are entire blogs dedicated to reviewing their merchandise every season and crafters who have their own sites teaching others how to recreate Anthropologie clothes DIY or furniture DIY. The fan club is huge to say the least.

I decided to check out the website myself.

Anthropologie is a shop for women's clothes and household goods. The shop displays look like a scene out of some fairytale and it was hard pressed looking for things I didn't like.

This cascading ruffle cardigan is so pretty and versatile.

Buttoned up, with a big belt and its a dress !


And what fun photos of handbag and shoe combos. I love this pale blue and lime green bag. The shoes have my name all over it.


And this clutch is to die for don't you think ??

The household section is equally tempting. Check out these drawer knobs.




This leaf shaped rug with its forests shade is stunning.


The multi coloured frilly shower curtain made me giggle.


This paisley apron brings you from the kitchen to a picnic.

And this incredible plush cotton bedspread is just what I need.


So Z, that's my wishlist from the US, I am going to visit the shop in Regent Street, London too when I am there. They might have different merchandise. Let's chat !

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Good Clean Fun at the Sevens

We just returned from a weekend in HK and had a blast. This time, there was hardly any time for trawling the hidden streets and we also had just that one lunch at our dumpling lady shop becuase the time was spent at the Rugby Sevens.

20 countries take part in the biggest sporting event on the island every year and the parties surrounding these games get bigger each year. I have never been to one of these and was gobsmacked at every corner.

The games start at on a Friday and the finals are played on Sunday. The stadium is packed with booths selling all sorts of fast foods and booze. You can buy at these booths or wait for them to come you at the stands offering hot dogs, ice cream, beer and jugs of pimms.


Some people go to these games and just stand at the back getting completely hammered with mates not even watching a single game. It has become the social place to be during the last week of March every year.

It is tradition to have people dress up in the most outrageous costumes and be seen on the big screen. Those who are crazy enough to dress up, almost always ends up in the South stand where you see blown up dolls, rubber chickens get tossed around, or beer or sometimes human excrement !

Anyway, we were nowhere near those stands but we did get to see some of the outfits when the camera zoomed in to the crowds during half times.

These I took with my camera.


It was extremely well organized and the kids were free to run everywhere without fear. Truly Entire families came to get their face painted, eat junk food, meet up with friends and spend a great weekend together.

Glad I went.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Bed & Breakfast

So I am thinking of breakfast options for the girls when they come to visit next week. I am going to try and provide a delicious and hopefully luxurious brekkie for them when they are here. It would be fun and nothing nicer to wake up to good company, hot coffee and a nicely cooked breakfast.

So I am trying to think of options and Simply Breakfast blog has provided some ideas.

Fresh fruit and yogurt, with some warm baguette and butter? 

Or homemade multi-nut muesli with fresh fruit?


Or my own home cooked Mc-Egg Muffin. Really irresistible.


Sans eggs for the vegetarian of course.

Monday, March 22, 2010

French Chic

Was in the malls looking for a gift for our godson. He's turned one and we will be seeing him this weekend. Figured toys were too bulky to carry on planes and plus he's one! God only knows what kind of toys he will like and if he will  end up playing with the box it came in instead.

Stepped in Chateau De Sable, a tiny outlet in Pavilion that stocks mainly white clothes for kids. Upon closer inspection, they were actually very unique. For the boys, the clothes were preppy with old school charm, and for the girls, simple cotton dresses with pastel stripes or discreet polka dots. Nothing was jarring in the shop, the displays were all white and they have clothes for newborns up to 12 year olds.

I picked up a sweater for him and wished they had it in my size. I can so see the boy walking onto the set of Gossip Girl with this on. Chuck Bass probably came out from his mother's womb wearing their ensembles.

Here's the sweater and the price was only RM 89 ! I found out that the shop had outlets worldwide including Singapore, Australia and the US.


Might buy something for baby Gabby here next time, here are some of the ones I saw online that were adorable.



The brand means sandcastles and I think the look is simple elegance with casual ease.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Vegan Special

The girls in S introduced me to a unbelievably tasty vegan restaurant and I have to post it. This place serves up Peranakan, thai and get this , halal dishes. Not only are the dishes rich with flavour but healthy as well. I can't wait to go back and try more of their dishes.


Whole Earth, is located at Peck Seah street and Z was kind enough to go buy takeaway for us and we had about 7 dishes among the 4 of us at home.

Here's the Assam "Fish"


The Beef Rendang


And a true winner, Nyonya Curry.


I am now desperately looking for veggie options in KL that will meet the girls' standards. So far Ithe reviews for Blue Boy Vegetarian Food Centre has piqued my interest.

This is a non aircon, regular coffee shop in a quiet street of the BB shopping strip. There are 10 hawkers offering dishes like nasi lemak, char kway teow, curry puff, laksa, chee cheong fun, yong tau foo, economy rice etc but they are all working for a single owner. Everything is vegetarian though you can ask for eggs in your char kway teow, which apparently is very good.

Babe in the City had photos of Blue Boy. 




And even provided a map, how thoughtful. Thanks !


Masak-masak blogger provided these mouth watering photos of the food available there.
I already know what I am going to have.....

Or maybe we have to go back there more than once.




Monday, March 15, 2010

House of Spades

This post is for Z who is a fan of brand Kate Spade. I found a write up and photos of the Spades home. Andy and Kate live in a really cool vintage apartment and though I find the space slightly cluttered, the primary colours and different prints and textures work so well. It looks homely and elegant with a touch of quirkiness.

This is my favourite, I think the painting of the man with the yellow dot is genius.


This study nook is so cute.


The New York times also did a piece on the power couple which was so interesting to read. Click here to discover the real brains behind the brand.

Granny bag

I have too many bags. Switching bags becomes a chore because I have to organise everything again and usually something gets lost in the process, my diary or a pen or lip gloss. So I got myself a bag organizer or bag caddy. Everything from keys, diary, camera, diary, shades, lip gloss goes into this caddy and I simply transfer this caddy to the new bag. Easy peasy.

Gin & Jacqie a homegrown brand has these in stock.


This design is not new and it has been sold as the pursesitter , pursetogo, purse underwear but they are all the same.

Online, I found other options that are not stocked here though. They are pursekets and come in 3 different sizes.


I like mine.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Friday Baking

Having  bought bananas that are threatening to go bad, I mashed them up to bake a banana bread. Joy the Baker had a really simple and delicious looking recipe, the banana cranberry bread which I tried.

Mine turned out a bit burnt but it was very moist on the inside. The sharp sour taste of the cranberries clashed magnificently with the sweetness of bananas.


For those interested, her's her recipe. No need for any kitchen appliance, just stir to mix gently and pour into tin. Fuss free !

3 to 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted salted butter
3/4-1 cup light brown sugar, depending on the level of sweetness you prefer
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon bourbon
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Pinch of ground cloves
1 1/2 cup of flour
1 cup fresh cranberries

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, vanilla and bourbon, then the spices. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour, mix. Add the cranberries, and stir until just incorporated. Pour mixture into a buttered 4×8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.


 The smell from the oven was divine, I ate half the loaf already. Have to make another soon. 
Can't wait to have it with breakfast tomorrow......Happy weekend people !

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Great sense of humour or insensitive?

This was an ad by Air New Zealand that provoked many protests. Have you seen it ? It's really quite funny.



I dug up an old "naked" ad also by the airline.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Sunday dinner

Last night our mates invited us over to partake in the gorg fest.  A stunning rack of lamb had landed in A's possession and he wasted no time firing up the barbeque. With the chops, we had a side of chicken breasts and beef steaks, there was so much meat around, I thought I was in a brazilian churrascaria.

A's marinade was so good, I practically inhaled the meat and only politely plucked at my salad only to have seconds of more protein. One of the girls invited her school mates around and the poor girl was vegetarian, well more food for us then I say !

In the afternoon leading up to the cannibalistic affair, I was fumbling around my kitchen looking for a spoon when I had a lightbulb moment.

I thought it would be nice to end the meal with a sweet treat and I was in the mood to bake so I tried my hand for the first time, to make pavlova. Scrambling into my fridge, I found 4 eggs, some chocolate, brown sugar and that's basically all that is needed to make the dessert.

 

After an hour in a low temperature oven, the pavlovas were ready, all golden on the outside and I hope, marshmellowy on the inside.

To accompany the pavlova, we needed something fruity and after digging into my deep freezer, I found frozed raspberries and made a simple compote. 

After dinner, I used A's kitchen to whip up some fresh cream and served up dessert which went down like a treat with everyone. Success !

Now what else should I bake ???

Taking inspiration from a fav baker of mine, Joy the baker - here are some of her creations.

Cranberry banana cake ?


Mocha coffee cake ?

 

Or the brown sugar apple cheesecake?
 
 
I am hungry now.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Happily Sunburnt

Just returned from 4 days of sunning on the beach of Krabi, Thailand.

In spite of my 20in wide rimmed hat, I still got sunburnt on my face. The sun was brutal and we spent all possible time in the sea playing frisbee it was great.

The food on this island is not the best I have tasted but the pancake man deserves a mention.

 

We found him in a alleyway, swarmed by tourists so he must be good.  And he was ! The pancake was like roti canai and slathered with butter as it hits his hot plate. We ordered a banana and nutella version and it was divine !

Crispy, hot and delish.


We went back for more and the lemon sugar pancake is also another must try.