Cheese

My break is almost here. I am excited.

A change in daily routine is most welcomed!

For the past month I have been cooking more times than I have done in the past few years.

Actually when I was younger I remember that I was quite a cook.

I remember how my late father used to enjoy my cooking.

However at a young and rebellious age, I found it irritating that I was being corrected and told to do the dish in a particular way (as though u cannot get it done in any other way).

Then I gave up and did not want to cook.

Living on my own has brought back the pleasures of cooking.

I used to find it wierd that some people devote their whole blog to cooking and recipes.

Now I find that I also like to put up pics of my creations.

Maybe I am just becoming old!

Next on my cooking adventure will be experimentation with using cheese.

Where I am, cheese is not used on a daily basis for cooking.

I dont know many recipes so I get help from JAR.

This morning he sent me a recipe for meat sauce.

Will look for the various cheeses involved.

Why do I want to try cheese now?

When I visited JAR he cooks and takes me out to restaurants

That's where I developed a taste for cheese in cooking.

Of course over here we have pizzas and pasta

Somehow they do not taste the same. Rather bland.

Hopefully I can someday do better.

small stuff

Just one two hour meeting to go.
Thursday and Friday should be work at a more relaxing pace.
Then I am off from work for a week!

There's lots happening next week.
Family gatherings, food galore, festivities.
Many opportunities to wear my new stuff, eh?

Called JAR this morning.
Since he has become a good cook, I asked him about cooking with cheese.
Then the line went bad. Hopeless wireless phones.

Plan to go do my hair today.
Is it too early? Just worried that I might get caught up with other stuff end of week.
Should I get a new haircut?
Actually I have had the same hairstyle for many years with slight variations, more layers or less layers or no layers on hair that reaches below my shoulders.
Geez I am so dull!

Shepherd's pie Ala Real Me!

Had a great weekend!
The siblings had a potluck at second sis' home.
Everybody bought and brought something.
Me? I decided to COOK something and shock everyone.
I made Sherpard's pie. The above pics are the real thing!
Actually I had insufficient potatoes (realizing it only after I started cooking).
Ran down the condo to the solitary small shop that caters to only our condo dwellers and found that it was still closed. (It was after 9 in the morning......I guess when u dont have heavy traffic to your shop you just dont care about opening early?)
Then made and SOS call to second sis who lives down the road.
Sis was just getting out of her car after going to the market. She said dont worry....I'll send u some in 5 minutes.
I got my potatoes almost immediately (thanks sis! U r a gem!)
It turned out quite ok but I have a long way to go before I reach chef's level.
And according to my new resolutions...thats where I will get to before the end of this year!
I'm going to surprise the world (meaning my family) by becoming a good cook!

Fun soon

Its Friday and the weekend promises to be exciting.
Today I have a dinner date with my second sis.
Tomorrow the whole family will be having dinner at second sis'.
Mmmmm I get to go twice cos I live nearby....yeaaaay!

Also tomorrow I invited Mom, Bro, SIL and little nieces to spend the night at my condo since its so near sis's house.
So....I gotta get the condo cleaned up real fast before dinner time with my sis.
I also need to go grocery shopping before that.
The refrigerator is almost empty today.
Gotta get stuff for the kids.

I've asked everyone to bring their swimming suits.
The little girls love to be in water.
We're gonna have fun!

boringly routine

Life is on some sort of plateau right now. Nothing bad nor exciting is happening.
Everyday is almost a routine.
Get up, breakfast, shower, off to work.
Work, meet collegues, work, work
Drive back home, prepare dinner.
Dinner and TV, relax, doze off.

Weekends is a tad more exciting.
There's always some shopping to do.
Visit mom, play with nieces, take everyone out to dinner.

Right now I am in the process of changing my billing address.
Form after form to fill.
I guess there is some sort of security reason for that.

JAR has installed his new 'eastern' based toilet which water cleanses and air drys the user.
He loves it and says that it truly cleans u.

Some days I miss him alot and wish that we could meet up soon.
However, I have no plans to travel this vacation.
So its up to him to fly if a meet is to be possible.

Maybe thats a reason for this 'down' feelings?

Change back to the past

I decided to change yet again my template.

The total white was hurting MY eyes.

So we are back to where we were before.....or almost.

I feel that I am almost ready for festivities.

I've got lots of new outfits (see previous posts).

My skin is starting to look great.......I just noticed it this morning. My beautician has recommended me to use the 'essence' before applying the usual stuff before bed. This was prolly a month back. I did so quite religiously but never bothered about the effectiveness. (It did cost me more than $200 per bottle of essence!) Then this morning as I was doing my work I looked up into the mirror that by the side of my table and I saw a nice tone to my skin color. I looked closer and the remaining pigmentations I still have on my cheek bones have gone so much lighter. Once upon a time the whole right cheek and a smaller portion of my left cheek was darkened. Today as I looked, the left cheek is almost totally cleared whilst just a few spots of stubborn pigments are left on the right!

Yup, I actually feel pretty. Hehehe.

So...not only has my webpage reverted back to it original format, I think so has (in many ways) my skin reverted back to a more beautiful texture, tone and color!

Get in touch!

My page has undergone renovations!
I have always preferred white backgrounds to colored ones.
Tell me what u think. Is it too white now that it hurts the reader's eyes?

I wonder what has happened to Noel Lewis? He used to drop a comment or two every few days. Havent heard from him since his Vegas trip. So Noel.....if u are out there drop in and lemme know whats up! I revisited your page but no developments there either.

As a matter of fact, whoever that drops by this page , PLEASE put in a comment. Every once in a while (actually, every so often!!!!!) I need to feel that I am not alone in this cyber world.
Its enough to be alone in the real one.

weekend happenings

When u own the place u live in, there will be a tremendous difference in the way u look at it.

Nowadays when I go shopping (which is practically every week) I will look out for something either practical or just for esthetic benefits for the condo.

On Saturday Mom, SIL, nieces and I did some shopping. A longish carpet which had a pretty design caught my eye. I think it would look great at the entrance area which currently I have left empty. Thus the carpet came home with me.

O yeah, I got me an ironing board and a circular gadget with rollers. The latter (I hope) will be of use when I mop the floors. I do not like to carry a heavy pail around. so thats where its gonna sit when I decide to mop (THIS will not take place often or soon!). At least it will be there when I actually need it.

I also took Mom to my designer and bought her a beautiful silk soft purple traditional outfit. It had beading works. Just like me, Mom also likes her clothes to fit perfectly so I will have to go pick it up after alterations next week. It was an expensive piece but who better to spend my money on other than my mom!

Brother also got himself a new outfit at the same mall.

Sunday SIL, nieces and I went out for more shopping. SIL got some cute tees for her girls. Looking after the two young ones in a busy mall is starting to be a headache. The little one has a mind of her own and loves to wonder about. I am most afraid of one of them getting lost.

The weekend just seems to fly by. Now I am back at work.

Gave JAR a call this morning. He is also enjoying his new life at the house. Like me, he needs to establish some control on the amounts he spends on it.

He loves houses that are open....literally so that he gets fresh air and breeze on a summer's day into the house. I remember that was one of the things about my family home that fascinated him when he first visited me. His brother only opens the door to his house and leaves the glass windows closed, hoping the aircond is enough to bring freshness to the house.

I am feeling better this week. Not too much boredom or sadness. Having more to look forwards to. Adjusting well.

Being pampered....

The boutique lady called.
I have been her client for about a decade now.
She invited me to her dress shop to see some new clothes that she has designed especially for me in mind.
She knows my taste.
I drove over after work. I loved some but did not like all of them.
I chose a few. One yellow and black number, one brown with yellow designs, a silk emerald colored pair, a chiffon comfortable one.
I like this way of shopping. No hassles.
She knows my body, size and will adjust minor defects for free.
I dont have to bother with mass shoppers.
I get personal attention.
O Yeah, I get good prices too....I am classified under 'special client'
The other fact is I get to see the latest clothes before anyone else.
Hehehe sometimes I am pampared.
And I love it!

today

Tired. Sleepy. Dozing off.
I really need some excitement.
Living on your own intensifies whatever u feel.

I am starting to establish a routine.
Up early in the morning. Switch on the radio.
Brush teeth. Do the bed.
Open the refrigerator, look for leftovers to eat.
Clean up, collect all rubbish, leave it by front door
Back to bedroom, select clothes for day.
Shower, get dressed, make up
Check house, get keys
Pick up rubbish and dispose them into rubbish room
Off to work.

Yup, I do cook some now.
Yesterday I had baked chicken. Quite yummy!
I still have not established a place to get my groceries.
Mostly I pick them at the shops near my mom's.
In reality, its too far to drive 45 minutes to get your stock.
I need to find a place I am comfortable with nearby.

Today I will go back to mom's.
Miss the little nieces.
Maybe they'll help deliver some excitement.

More happenings over the weekend

It was a nice long weekend.

I finally got to meet my cousin's baby who was born on my birthday. She looks so peaceful sleeping in her basket.

My two little nieces were so well behaved during the visit that I believe it prompted the baby's new grandpa to enquire as to which kindy did bigger niece go to.

We all laughed and told him that it will be years more before the baby would need to go to kindy.

Mom's house is being rewired electrically. I hate the work process. They turn off the electricity and you just soak in your sweat. We used the emergency battery operated fan but that gives only minimal comfort.

I'll return for a visit to mom's only after they complete the job.

JAR had his barbeque at the new house over the weekend.

He had mostly family members over. All brothers were present.

A distant cousin and wife.

His massage therapist chose to come at that time. JAR's sis in law got to use her services. Lucky R!

On the happy front, a project that I carried out with a friend is being getting some recognition. We are getting published in foreign publications soon.

Its still hush hush at this time but my smile is bigger.