Mind Your Own Business

So many friends have been launching their own online businesses!

First, is Cakexperience.

They've got an excellent gift/activity for celebrations. Their name says it all - if you can't figure it out, let their website explain :)

Second, Elysieme (The name is so purty).

Elysieme sells jeweleries from collections by various designers. All of them are uniquely designed quality products made of sterling silver, Swarovski crystals, and pearls, to name a few. Not your average flea market trinket! and they provide free shipping now! Check it out!


Personally, I've never thought of having my own business, ever. There are many possible reasons why, but I think I've always been a talent/service based person rather than product based. One of the goods I can deliver are custom made cards. I made a whole bunch before I launched my Christmas card project. Here are a few I kept a record of:


Guitar shaped farewell card to a guitar freak. (Dude, do you still have it?!)
(Heavy weight paper, tape, marker)





Popup birthday card based on friends' favourite cartoon series - Happy Tree Friends. The character here is Giggles!
(Construction paper, marker, pencil crayons)

Let me know if you need some custom cards made, maybe I can start up my own business! :D

Can't think of a clever title

Overheard on the TTC bus:

Dude 1: Look *points* we can check out that pet shop.
Dude 2: It's right next to a Chinese Restaurant!!
- Both laugh -



Obviously that Chinese man at table three.

Macarons and Japanese cakes

La Bamboche - A chef combines Eastern flavours with Western desserts

Lemon Macaron. I love citrusy stuff - it was sooooo good. Not too sweet, and still fresh from a 30 min commute.


Half eaten Lemon Macaron, with its travel companion Vanilla Macaron. I usually don't have a preference for vanilla or regular cream pastries, but this was really good too. The vanilla scent was very rich and not artificial at all.

Inside the box...

Three pieces of cake!


Actually, 2 pieces of cake and one half eaten eclair, lol. The eclair was heavenly. This was the best eclair filling I've ever had. The chocolate flavour was rich, and not too sweet nor fatty.

Next to it is the Green Tea and Sesame mousse cake with crunchy base. Again, key word -- rich. You can taste the matcha and black sesame flavours individually. The base was a graham cracker like base, only crunchier. I wonder what exactly it is!


Last of all, the Strawberry Lavendar mousse cake. This was quite special. I've only tried lavendar teas and Taiwanese lavender milk-tea drinks before, never a cake. The top layer was slightly sour & tarty, but in the good way. There were actually chunks of mushy strawberries , which I guess are preserved ones, like the type you find in jam. The lavendar layer tasted very unique. The two flavours accompanied each other really well. My sister speculated that the piece of twig on top is thyme, and that it was probably mixed into the lavendar mousse. The base was made of fluffy brown cake.

I would like to try the red wine and sake macarons if I get the chance!

Conclusion: La Bamboche - Pricey at $4-$5 per piece (around the size of a ring box), but you are paying for quality organic ingredients, culinary school technique and presentation, and rich flavours in special combinations. Go there when you deserve a treat :)

omg shoes

Shoes: This, this, or this?
Here are some sneaky pics:

Candidate #1:


Candidate #2:


Candidate #3

Leaning towards 3 b/c : versatile, comfortable for its height, and easy to slip on w/o annoying unbuckling/rebuckling. I already have a pair of flat gold/metallic sandals that can substitute for gladiators, thus eliminating #1. #2 doesn't seem very versatile; cork + wedge seem a bit too casual. I don't own many heels that feel comfortable enough to walk around in. I think I've made up my mind?

Shopping for me involves so many considerations! That's why I've got so little stuff to switch around in. So I've decided to buy a pair of "seasonal" shoes, instead of only buying things I'm sure I'll wear for 10 years. Later, Miss Granny Chan showed me this:

Watermelon Vans. As Granny said, "I would pay for these shoes if you dare to wear them out." Seems like something Mr. Cow would appreciate. Ridiculous shoes remind me of Mr. Hedgehog's "Bumblebee" sneakers back in high school. Reeboks or Nikes or whatever. Meh guy sneakers. Gonna shop more after my exam!! Got some DIY in mind. Now, have to continue not procrastinating and finish that thesis crap.

Spring eating!

Old post, forgot to publish!

What's this?Assorted egg based tarts custard tarts and egg based chocolate tarts; topped with pecans, almonds, banana slices, apple wedges, and semi sweet chocolate chunks.

Of course, I didn't do a thing. My sis made it for her dinner party and I got the leftovers :P

Healthy brunch. Going into fish addiction!!

Grilled/pan seared salmon fillet strip on blanched baby spinach. Poached egg on buttered wheat toast.

The salmon was delicious - required absolutely no seasoning. The leftover oil in the pan can be used to sautee mushrooms so they can absorb all the flavour. Mmm fishy fungus. hahaa
I bought a strip of salmon fillet the size of a small keyboard, only having portions the width of a ruler each time. Still, I managed to finish half in 2-3 days before my sis got to it. She resorted to putting a post it on the ziploc box containing last remaining strip, with MINE written in Sharpie.

Also, I planned on making my usual Eggs Benedict but didn't have English muffins. (Tip to yummier muffins: smear butter as usual, but pan fry instead of toasting. Mmmmmm.) I also had to make hollandaise sauce from scratch:

LOL. It works! Hollandaise sauce is based on fat, which you can get from mayo. Just add a dot of mustard and a dash of lemon juice, mix it all together, then you get what I consider "frat boy's" version of hollandaise sauce. It is much more appealing than watching yourself put a fist size amount of butter to mix with the powder form.

Sigh to poor lighting in kitchen + lack of photography knowledge with digital camera. Must ask le BF.
Next: I want to try make fish tacos!

Harvest!

Today is a day of harvest!!

Downtown - went to Urban Outfitter's to wait for my friend, then met her up there instead. I wanted to go on Friday with another friend but forgot and bought a shirt dress at F21. Anyway, bought a loose fit varsity cardigan on sale for twenty dollahs and the famous origami/ geometric dress. You know which I'm talking about?

Considering to return it... a) if I see other people on the street with it. I've seen it on that "bikini girl" from American Idol -_- b) if my friend retrieves a cheaper version across the border next week! Stilllll craving for the watercolour silk skirt and Jefferey Campbell sandals... I need a trip to Buffalo!!

Secondly, while having dinner in Chinatown I bought a whole bunch of Chinese bakery pastries due to lack of opportunity to catch a ride for major grocery shopping... (deep fried curry beef bun, pineapple bun with red bean filling... mmm).

Then later that night my dearest neighbour across the street gave me a whole bunch of mini cakes! Food overload. Then an hour later, le BF happened to be free and needed to go grocery shopping too. So much fooooood! I just stacked everything into the fridge, and 10 minutes later, which is just 2 seconds ago, my sis returned from her neighbour friend with our chairs, and brought cinnamon buns back!! Okay, I'm stocked up for last 2 weeks of school eveeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

PS. tempted to have one of the many pastries for midnight snack...

WTF

me: i want fries
i want food from thisiswhyyourefat.com
i had lots of bread but kinda wana eat

PL: what do u want to eeaaattttttt

me: i said frrieess
cheese, bacon, potato skin potato wedges
too bad Milestone's offer isnt today =/

PL: what the faaatt
:((((((

me: LOOOOLLL

Seriously, this is me inside:

Shit, I need to claim whatthefat.com. Um... check out WTF on blogger if you wanaa....

In the jungle... all the way to London

My aunt just came back from the jungle. Literally. Like, totally. Like, can't make this up- okay I'll stop.

Email in its original form, typos grammar mistakes and all. I can just imagine anyone texting while watching TV with a message like this:

HIHI, I am back from the jungle in North Bonero (Sabah). This 8 days we stayted with the forest rangers and walked through the trail. This is not open for tourists yet so we are the first group. (they used to just open for scientists, nature group, international Raleigh volunteer for some parts of the jungle). It called Imbak Canyon in the heart of Sabah.

each day we walked around 5-6 hours and overnight at a very basic camp. back to the nature and basic with no facilities. we took bath in the river, slept in a open tent with only the sound of insects and leeches. kayake down to the river, got lost in a jungle and walked from 10 hours until it got dark and arrived a camp found out no fuel for the generator (no electricity)...

Previously she volunteered for 3 months in Puerto Rico living in similar hut conditions, collecting sea turtle eggs, teaching local children English, living off yams, corn, and rice, getting attacked by leeches (right on her belly button!), having a fellow traveler pee next to the bunk beds, jumping down waterfalls... She also ventured straight up north during the huge snowstorm of 2007 to picturesque walkways of icy trees in New York and a blackout in our Toronto home.

I couldn't even decide on a place to go for grad trip. I have to consider:
1. I want the best bang for my buck
2. Who do I go with?
3. What do I want out of it?

My aunt had all those solved. She went with her boyfriend/life partner (? She just doesn't want to get married). He paid for everything. Because he's white and he works in Hong Kong... figures. (Why don't foreigners get paid higher in North America?! Why do Caucasians - dammit, I'll be politically incorrect - whites get paid higher everywhere?? They're not that much better!! They can't speak complex Asian languages!! Lai ji mm ji or gong meh ah, bak yun? Meanwhile, many Asians are multilingual. China's gonna own your ass, America. You're going bankrupt and all without healthcare. Even Canada's gonna own your ass!! We're "boring like mashed potatoes", we got healthcare and fucking poutine! Even our potato dishes own your ass!! I digress...). Then she went to England country side to visit the "in-laws" and experience strange western mom customs (de-core-d strawberries stored in a glass jar for her 40 y/o children to eat from?) The point of her travels is because she detests commercialism, materialism, etc., so she/they wanted to find a suitable city to call home. Basically, she got the who, what, and how covered, and where and when are unlimited because she doesn't need to work. What a life.

If I wasn't so mightily afraid of tiny critters crawling on me (just thinking of it makes me hunch my shoulders to protect my neck. I need a scarf now!!) I may have decided on a nature oriented journey. I don't mind sleeping on rocks and in tropical forests; just give me a second layer of skin that completely covers all crevices on my body. So basically, I want to operate like this car (via; which I think has two letters missing from its name - you can tell when you see how the hood opens).

Right now, I have a tentative plan for a Euro trip. I have a friend in the UK, and we can visit Scotland, France, and if budget allows, Portugal and Spain. This is before all budget concerns, time limits, and any planning. So it's not really a plan, but a dream. Although The Great Financer has approved of such a project, budget still needs approval. If it works, date of departure will be June 11th and must return by June 25th. That's all I know for now.

Wherever the dart lands...

Oh yes, I am graduating on June 28th (typing this from the computer lab at 1am...). Then will be going for a few days to New York with The Great Authority and Financer of all things. So I'll be going somewhere for sure. Except I have visioned my grad trip would involve backpacking and sleeping at train stations. I would if I weren't a 5'2 sedentary klutz with no means of self defence.

Some people asked why I'm not going to Europe with le BF. "Oh, it'll be so romantic!" Right now, that's a pretty repulsive idea. I don't want all the memories in my life, especially all travels, to involve him. Is that cruel?

PS. Any recommendations for must-go places in Europe? Cheap airlines, hostels, discounts?

Note: I've been to France & Italy as a 12 year old so I don' need to see the Eiffel Tower or Leaning tower of Pisa, etc. I am willing to sacrifice photo ops for an authentic European experience! I speak a basic, basic level of French.

Proper Meals

Idea for brunch or snack: scrambled eggs and cheese wrapped with whole wheat toast, fried in parsley and breadcrumbs. Serve immediately!

A Chinese meal.

Clockwise from top left: Shanghai milk-based veggies, stir fried veggies with smoked tofu, meatballs with diced carrots, homemade mildly spicy dipping sauce, crispy fried fish fillet and zucchini with homemade sweet & sour sauce.

Lately I've been on a diet....

KIDDING!!! I will never go on a diet. I have been trying to have less meat and processed foods for dinner just so I can sleep earlier. Naturally, I started having more fiber and lighter meals. I think I've been eating too lightly like a salad eating homosexual, so I started craving for fries...

... so I made some! Problem solved!


Salad with spring mix, tomato, avocado, cucumber with balsalmic vinegar & olive oil dressing, garlic baked potato wedges, and ripe strawberries for dessert.


..... I want a Dufflet cake so badly now. -_-


PS: While searching for Dufflet cake, I stumbled upon this. I have always wanted a ceremony like this:
... complete with groomsmen reenacting Matrix and dancing little girls! Ontario - truly, Yours to Discover.

OM NOM NOM

The food entry I promised...
I didn't realize how much I loved food until my school had a retarded strike and gave me so much spare time to cook. I've always left that specialty to my chef-wannabe sister, so I didn't have to develop skills in that. I actually follow some food blogs... wait, who am I talking to?? Tangent: Being a Communication Studies major makes me overanalyze these crap. (If you're interested, many forms of texts [any form of media] is directed to an imaginary audience. So if you're reading this, you're a part of my imagination. You don't necessarily exist. MUAHAHAHAHAA). Anywhoooo, FOOD!!!

Snacks

Real chocolate chips!!!

So I was venturing downtown Toronto on Queen St, and came upon a Fine Foods store. Thought the seester would be interested so we took a look. There was a whole giant stack of different flavoured chips. I don't even remember what the flavours were, because the chocolate chips caught my eye, mind, soul, my complete being. On the package it says "TORTILLA CHIPS (it's a dessert, too!) MADE WITH Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Dutch Cocoa, Sea Salt". It was moderately pricey for a pack of chips, but this is friggin' bitter sweet chocolate chips!!! I bought a pack and started eating it on the subway.

Um yeah I took a bite...

The chips were dusted with fine salt, and the bittersweet chocolate flavour lingered as an aftertaste. It wasn't too salty or too sweet. So perfect. So delicious. It's all natural too, so it's a snack that's good for me! :D Dude, I need to go back soon.

It's on the south side of Queen Street, somewhere West of Bathurst.
>> Product site


Walnut cake
I live in a Korean dominated area where Chinese, Japanese, and Korean restaurants can all be owned by Koreans. Too bad I can't take spicy food, or else I would be quite lucky. Anyway, I was having lunch with my super old great-great-granny friend (hi SC mah mah :P) at - guess what! - a Korean owned Japanese restaurant. Sakura has super good lunch/dinner specials, def recommended.
So, after we were super full from lunch, we peeked into this little store next door which had Korean writing all over the store front. I've always only been around there at night and the store was closed. We saw that the store had machinese making these little things:

SC was very familiar with walnut cakes - having photos of them in a facebook album. She hasn't had them in a long time, so we bought 2 bags, 1 of sweet red bean paste filling and the other with custard. I wondered out loud that they'll probably taste good toasted. She agreed and was up for going back to my place to toast them!! Oh, the things we do for food.

We toasted them in the oven... and they were warm and slightly crispy on the outside, while still a little bit chilled from the cold inside. There were actual pieces of chopped walnut in the batter. Heavenly. There were 20 in each bag; by the end of the afternoon, we finished 1/2 of each already, and with great constraint saved the rest for later. Mmmmm.

>> 11 Spring Garden Ave, North York, Toronto.

Meals

I do eat proper meals. But is this entry too wordy? Too much reading for the short attention spanned generation? "Yes," chimed my imaginary audience. Okay, I'll save it for next entry.