Snickerdoodles

I'm in the midst of making snickerdoodles.
I am trying to make bite sized cookies so that they are easier to consume..
good thing I bake fast..
Leah has parked herself in front of my cooling tray and has been helping herself to my cookies..
but its ok.
If the pickiest eater in the family is enjoying my snickerdoodles, I must be doing something right :)
Half of the first batch came out burnt while the other half was just nice..
I have learnt to turn the tray halfway through the baking to even out the heat each cookie is getting.
so far so good :)


yum.

Today wasn't really nice..
I went to church for CG with the kids and then had lunch with the older youths..
sumit was ignoring me for some reason or another..
and the weather is so freaking hot..
it's getting to me and making me very irritated.
then my mom and lyd came home with the hard drive I asked them to get for me...
was pretty excited to transfer all my stuff into it so I could reformat my com and all
BUT THEN it is made for windows ONLY.
not mac compatible.
sigh.
I totally should have gone with them to get it.
now I'm feeling pretty bleh because of that..
ARGH.
time to go for dinner..
before my mom nags and gets on my nerves again.

Home?

Okay.
So I've been back for 2 days :D
I'm still getting used to the time diff..
I mean, I stayed up late back in australia and all that..
but I get SO tired by 9pm here...
blegh.
I want to do a million and one things and yet I have stuff I SHOULD be doing but I'm not.
like finish unpacking..
and calling MOH
and start to learn driving..
and LOSE SOME WEIGHT.
and meet more people.

I HAVENT EATEN PRATA.

Something's different about Singapore..
It doesn't really feel like home anymore..
In the few months that have passed, so much has happened...
Being a little behind just makes me feel like I don't really belong..
and stuff I have learnt to do I now have to unlearn.
Hopefully soon, this will start to feel like home again.

bad night.

I did really badly for one of my assignments and I'm feeling pretty blah tonight.

So yesterday was another day at the markets...
Dogs are EVERYWHERE and lately, we've been seeing HUGE ones... those that are large enough for a child to ride on..
And of course the very cute, lazy ones...

THIS I WILL DO SOON. My eyebrows feel like a jungle.
I'm going to miss this sight..


Then, lyd and I took the bus to the valley to check out the markets there... it was a FREAKING HOT DAY. Can you see that from our faces??
THIS cracked me up.. Vivocity, vivacity...
I know it's not THAT funny.
but I laughed.
This is one of the many stores at the valley markets.. I spent 10 mins just staring at them.. NO ONE PENDANT WAS THE SAME! awesome.
I didn't buy anything though.

Many many clothes stores....
And this was one our way back... we couldn't find the bus stop so we ended up walking about half an hour toward the city.. on a normal day, its ok.. BUT IT WAS SO HOT.
so we had to do stuff to keep ourselves from being cranky.. like take pictures of sandstone buildings such as the cathedral..
Apparently its a landmark of some sort..
I have never been in there though...
Wanted to go in and take pictures (and escape from the sun for a bit)
but lyd was like:"DONT BE SUCH A TOURIST!"
And this isn't yesterday.. this is today..
I'm making snickerdoodles..
they are SUPER FUN TO MAKE!
I will make more when I'm back in spore :)
These are christmas presents for Joanne, Faye and Adeline, whom I will be seeing tmw!! :)

I'm pooped.
I will blog about today, tomorrow.
night.

LAST DAY:)

It was my last day of work tonight!! :D
We had really great tippers again today!! amazing!
they must all know its my last day tts why.. hahaha...
Went out for a bit of shopping with Lyd this afternoon (yes again.)
and then headed to work...
I'm making Banana and Mars Bar cake tonight for tmw's dinner at Aunty Flick's.
Sounds a little strange...
but we'll just have to see how it turns out :)
Making two so that Aunty Flick and Aunty Amanda can each have one...
Isn't it strange how we usually refer to families by the Aunts and not so much the Uncles?
or maybe tts just me...

I cheat by using the Coles' imitation version of mars bars, Caramel Mighty.
heh.
I can now truly let my hair down!
that reminds me..
I need a hair cut..
my hair is getting too long.

Packed to the rafters

I have officially started packing.
Lyd and I spent the last hour squeezing most my clothes and the gifts we were tasked to buy into the largest luggage...
I still have more clothes that have yet to be packed despite already filling the huge bag...
The laundry for the week hasn't been washed and I have a few more pieces in the wardrobe itself that couldn't fit anymore...
AND of course, the stuff I have yet to buy.. heh.
But we still have 3 more smaller bags I can fill...
wheee...
Another day of shopping lies ahead tmw..
and I will be having my VERY LAST DAY OF WORK TMW! :D
the customers have been really generous tippers lately
which is awesome..
it means more money for more stuff.
whee!

Work today was really REALLY tiring...
but the customers were REALLY good tippers today...
If only I get to keep whatever tips I collect and not have to share it with the other waitresses......
I collected a total of $32
ISNT THAT AWESOME
although its also a good thing only 3 ppl were working today...
and today isn't friday where there are 5 waitresses on average... hehe..
Tmw's errands and more shopping day :)
Went to DFO today and we went through the whole DFO in a record time of 3 hours.
Yes, it's that big...
Lyd and I manage to snag a couple of bikinis from seafolly for only 30 bucks!! :D
I'm going to check out indooroopilly's seafolly outlet tmw and see if the sales are as awesome there...
I've been buying alot of studded and sequined stuff lately...
its exciting when your style is slowly evolving...
not that exciting when your size starts to change too though..................

I'm currently spending my time watching a taiwanese drama, Sweet Relationships.
I keep fastforwarding because its TOO EMO.
I cannot watch more than an episode a day..
too Emo for me to take.

Went shopping today at Chermside...
bought a nice little dress :)
Maybe because Christmas is really near...
Shiny, sparkly dresses seem to flood the stores this time of the year..
love love love shiny dresses :)

Sequin Single Strap Dress

Yesterday night was really really strange...
when lyd and I walked to the Three Monkeys Cafe, some homeless guy scared us too by coming up to ask to talk to us..
he was like: I love Asian women because they are quiet, smart, and know where they are going...
AND THEN he introduced himself, and he asked us for our names
and HE TOOK OUR HANDS AND KISSED IT!!!!!!
creepy much.
Also, the streets were STREWN with Cockroaches..
sitting at the cafe, there were cockroaches FLYING EVERYWHERE!
scared us to death.
CAN I SAY THAT EVERYTHING IN AUSTRALIA IS BIGGER!!
The other day, I bought chicken drumsticks and they were DOUBLE the size of those we get in Singapore...
Cockroaches here are HUGE as well.
totally frightening.

this afternoon was BLAZING HOT
then at about 5, it started to RAIN and the temperature dropped drastically.
We always blame erratic weather on global warming but never seem to do anything about it..
we still drive cars, waste electricity, waste water, etc...
I guess we'll only really realize the need to do something when the situation becomes unbearable.
then again, there are air-conditioners and heaters.........

make every moment last forever..

AREN'T THOSE CUPCAKES GORGEOUS??
I'm going to try and make those...
I just need people who will offer to eat them..
hahaha...
Yes I know I haven't been blogging...
Been pretty much bumming around the past few days, and experimenting with flour, eggs and butter quite a bit.
I don't have pictures because those I took are with choobs at the moment....
but the past few days, I have been doing
1. Cornflake cups
2. Steamed Char Siew Bun (From scratch that is.. not the frozen ones you get in the supermarket)
3. Pork Chops with Pear and Onion Chutney
4. Apple tataTA
5. Soy sesame chicken

yep!
that's about it since.... the last time I blogged..
I will upload pictures once I get them from Choobs..
which might take a while :(
Lydia's JUST finished her exams :D
It's the start of SHOPPING!! :)
Tonight we are going to take a walk to the Three Monkeys Cafe to have a cuppa
Can't wait!
It's the last week of work (3 more days)
and the last week of being here in Brisbane till next time (hopefully).
Every moment counts!

WHEEE! FREE!

I can't believe its over.
All of us were JUMPING with overflowing excitement at our freedom today.
I'm just SO glad its over.
Went out with Faye and Joanne to celebrate!! :)


Faye was YAWNING non-stop!
but I can't blame her.
All of us only got about 3 hours of sleep each the previous night.
ITS SO AWESOME TO BE FREE.
I'm so UPSET to find out that the Diva warehouse IS GONE!
WHY!
I was so looking forward to stocking up on rings and bracelets and necklaces!!!
It felt so good just bumming and strolling around aimlessly :D
ok.
now what should I do...

One Down

YAY!!! ONE EXAM IS DONE :D
Two days to freedom!! :D
I can't wait :P
I am eating too many chocolates and celebrating too early..
heh.
focusing is getting really hard.
I feel like going to Hong Kong this dec..
feel like taking a grad trip of sorts.. haha..
see how things go
focus focus.

Strawberry Jam

My first exam happens tmw!!
whee!
I made strawberry jam today using the strawberries we got from the market...

I'm having a tummy ache now..
I don't know why.
argh.
study study.

the baking begins....

went to the market yesterday and bought a whole lot of strawberries.

yum yum..
I'm going to be baking a lot more the next few weeks :)
Yesterday while studying
I got bored
and bit stressed out that even after studying I couldn't do the past exam paper
SO, I decided to make oatmeal cookies.
Problem?
I didn't have cinnamon, nor nutmeg, nor vanilla
nor raisins!!
But I just used whatever I could find.
AND....


yummy melt-in-your-mouth Oatmeal Cookies:)
WHEE!
the second picture makes my oatmeal cookies look like chicken cutlets.
Can't wait to make much much more!! :)
FILL THE ROOM WITH WONDERFUL SMELLS OF LOVE...

I lost my ring...

When I saw this picture, I died a little inside.
I miss my lost ring!
I thought I got over it until I saw it again!!
it's not exactly the same as this picture...
mine had BLACK JEWELS instead of silver knobs
which makes it even more beautiful...
gah.

Time to Rock this life.

I talked to mom yesterday
and I told her about all the things that have been flooding my mind
I really miss the talks we have over a slice of rich cheese cake in the middle of a day of shopping
MSN just doesn't cut it
I miss going out to window shop but ending up just strolling the streets and bearing our hearts to each other
I realize I've never been this sure about what I want and don't want.
I'm not sure about what will happen in the future.
But I know exactly what I don't want in my future.
I don't want to do things just because I'm supposed to
Or things just because of obligation
It's time to be honest to myself
to step out into the unknown
take chances
so what if I fail?
I'm just going to get stronger with each fall
I'm going to have some fun
Do things I actually want to do
do things that I'll never do when I get older and wiser and more inhibited.
I'm going to live each moment like it's my last.
I'm going to take time for the people who matter
Devote my time to things that are deep in my heart
I'm going to let my real self through
and have the time of my life while at it

Is it the bridge that makes this picture beautiful,
or the sun and sky?
Am I pondering more because I'm becoming older?
Haiyo.

Letting go.

These few days have been mentally and emotionally straining.
Not so much exams.
More about my postgrad.
I haven't heard anything from the uni so it's more or less confirmed that I wont be continuing in postgrad next year.
However, its not so much the fact I wont be able to 'realise my dream'
it's more of the constant battle to put all my trust in the Lord.
Talk is cheap and easy.
so many times I can tell my friends to trust God completely
but when it comes to my turn, it really is a test for me.
I have to remind myself every few hours that God knows what He's doing.

I mean,
it's not like I don't have a so called plan B.
I could go out and work and then pursue my postgrad later...
even mom and dad said its better to get some experience before pursuing my postgrad.
It's just not my original plan.
and that worries the human part of me.
but no.
I will not let it get me down.
because I know ultimately that He has everything in control.
Letting go and Letting God is a constant process.
It's also a painful process.
But deep down inside,
I know that it's the best thing to do.

Happy bday Choobs!

It was Choob's bday yesterday :)
Choobs treated us to an international buffet at Thyme2, Sofitel..
Got lost along the way..
I think we circled the place at least 5 times...

Finally found the place...
was SOOOO hungry..

The food was really really good!!
The variety is not as wide as the buffets in Singapore but the quality of the food is way better...
THERE WAS PAO!
The pao was SO good.
I think I had about 5 of that..
Ate until I was about to burst.
Even laughing hurt after that.. hahaha..




Never again will I allow myself to eat till I'm that full.
I had the worst ever dream last night.
I dreamt I took a CHINESE module.
CHINESE.
and the exam was TODAY and I didn't even know about it..
good thing I woke up before I had to sit for the exam.
If not I might have woken up with PTSD.
too much food gives me bad dreams.
But truthfully, I'm craving for the paos a little now..

oh well.
HAPPY 21ST CHOOBS!
1 week to the start of exams!!!