28.7.10

a basketball story


My mum will be 60 next year but she definitely hasn't lost her basketball moves!! Mum, James and I enjoyed a few games of basketball during our stay in Michigan. Mum played for her school team many years ago; however she wasn't exactly thrilled when I joined a basketball team. She would rather have me excel academically but basketball was an essential part of my life and I was good at it. I used to come up with some lame excuses that I had to stay late after school so I could joined the team practice. I don't know when was the last time mum picked up a basketball but this recent encounter certainly reminded her some good old times.

banana + raspberry smoothie


I am a big fan of yummy cold treats during the Summer and smoothie is definitely on top of the list. Every time I do my food shopping, I always make sure there are plenty of fruits and vegetables in my basket. They come in handy on a day like today when I am fighting the heat. Here's one that I made today and the recipe to share:

    + 1 semi ripened banana
    + a small handful of raspberries
    + 2 tablespoon of natural yoghurt
    + ½ cup pineapple juice

E N J O Y !!!

23.7.10

P is 1


Our precious little girl turned 1 today! I still remember the very first time when we took Princess home and she has since brought us so much joy and love. She can be very cheeky at times and has a bit of a fetish for chewing tissue, otherwise she is a little angel and a patient model. 

Name:                      Princess
Pedigree Name:         Angelica Honey
Breed:                      Shih Tzu
D.O.B.:                     22.07.2009
Favourite Food:          Mama's home cooked Chicken Drumsticks, Carrot and Brown Rice
Favourite Toy:           A lion soft toy
Specialty:                 Fetching frisbees, shaking hands and giving cuddles

21.7.10

don't eat to live but live to eat!


I am a self-proclaimed foodaholic and my motto is don't eat to live but live to eat! My food dream is to try other cuisines whenever possible and it doesn't just stop right there. I also have a passion for cooking and baking; the pictures are often share on my Flickr.

For those who haven't stumbled upon Aran Goyoaga's blog, you should definitely check it out. She is such a talented photographer and food stylist; I have been a fan for quite sometime. You can find the above Chocolate Crinkles recipe here.

So if you love your food as much as I do, I would love to hear some of your food dreams! Happy Cooking! Happy Baking!!


PS: Sis, thanks for getting me those baker's twine. It's going to last me for a life time!!

19.7.10

gorgeous lil fin is 1



James' nephew, Finlay turned 1 on 10 July and he is cuter than ever! His proud parents had organised a picnic at the Chorleywood common to celebrate this special day with family and friends. I always jumped at any opportunities to go to events where there will be children around so I can take endless pictures of the cute tiny wee persons.

It was also the Chorleywood Village Fete so there were plenty of stalls, displays, funfairs and food. Isabelle  was very pleased with her new tattoo that she got from a stall and posing like a pro in front of the camera.

The picnic was set up under a tree but it was still a very hot day with no breeze. That's probably why Fin's big sister, Evie jumped at the chance to put on her new swimming cossie that we got her. It looked so cute on her! She was so occupied in playing hide and seek with our dog, Princess that I was able to snap a few pictures of her.

I always like to bake when there is a family birthday. This time I used the vanilla cupcake recipe from the Hummingbird bakery cookbook. Here's the recipe if you are interested in making some yourself.

     + 1 cup all-purpose flour                                                             
     + ¾ cup sugar                                                            
     + 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
     + a pinch of salt
     + 3 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
     + ½ cup whole milk
     + 1 egg
     + ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
     
     + a 12-hole cupcake pan lined with paper cases






Preheat the oven to 325 °F. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a bowl and beat on slow speed until everything is combined. Slowly pour in half the milk and beat until the milk is incorporated. Whisk the egg, vanilla and remaining milk together in a separate bowl, then pour into the flour mixture. Do not overmix. Spoon the batter into the paper cases until two thirds full and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until light golden and the cake bounces back when touched. I used a 24 mini cupcake pan and it was ready in under 20 minutes. 




13.7.10

qunnie + eric 27.05.10


So, this is it! The small collection of pictures that I took with my phone during the reception. They may not be the best quality but it is the fabulous memory that I will treasure forever.

12.7.10

the inn at serenbe



My sister, Qunnie and Eric got married on 27 May at this gorgeous venue, The Inn at Serenbe in Palmetto, Georgia. They exchanged vows under a beautiful old apple tree, which had been made romantic with some beautiful streamers. It just looked picture perfect! 

It took over a year to plan her wedding, no details were too small for her. Her hard work finally paid off, everyone had such a wonderful time on the day and left with nothing but fond memories. Their wedding was even featured on Wedding Unveiled Summer 2010 magazine and Style Me Pretty wedding blog, as you could imagine we were all over the moon. 

I was so delighted to be the Maid of Honour, however that meant MOH duties and couldn't be behind the camera as mush as I wanted to be. The day after the wedding, I managed to spend sometime walking around the ground and enjoyed taking pictures of the stunning environment.