Snowed under..

I don't know why I do this to myself.

You would think by now that I would be an expert and self-disciplined enough to not get myself all snowed under. Apparently the skills I learnt through high school and university went out the window when it comes down to post-graduate studies.

Lucky for me this is the last assignment for the unit (unfortunately it is not the last assignment for the course.. that's another 3 units away..).

The other most exciting thing is that I started my new job. -- Another stressor. Upside to this place is that they have nepresso pods. YAY for awesome $1 coffee (contribution to the fund of having these said pods).
Must bring a mug to drink said coffee. They also surprisingly have awesome free hot chocolate.

Downside --- I miss my friends from work... second family all gone.. *cries* ..
-- I will get used to this -- I will make new friends -- sounding rather hopeless... seriously though it's like starting a at whole new school.. and you spend more time at work then you do at home with your family so you need good friends there..

Anyway.. promise posts to come..

here are a few sneak peeks..

I also have a very small surprise as well.. not that it's really anything too exciting...

Until then.. thank you for your support and for reading/looking.. all comments are welcomed and I am more then happy to help out those who would like recommendations on where to dine out in Perth. Just drop me a comment or an email.

Sneak Peek

My life has been a whirlwind of chaos at the moment.

With family dropping by from overseas unexpectedly to grieve and sad news about one of my uncles to celebrations of birthdays, working weekends, not handing in assignment (it was due yesterday! I really need to get it done instead of being on here..) to landing a new job.

Having said all that, I still managed to fit in a visit to The Local Shack along with eating at a restaurant who shares a name with a famous muse; Beethoven and of course my second dining experience at Jamie's Italian, a homemade dinner party/engagement party for friends  and drinks at the Classroom and of course exercising like crazy to not gain wait from all the eating!

So here is a sneak peek into the up and coming exciting posts!

Stay tuned I promise once I finish this bitch (excuse my french) of a unit I will be back with a vengeance.

That is if anyone actually reads this..

Busy

I'm going through yet another busy patch so updates will be patchy despite having about 10 drafts in place at the moment and wanting to talk about my annual weekend getaway down south. OH WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT A TRIP TO MARGARET RIVER??!

Not to mention having seen Nutcracker on Ice.

I have an impending post-grad assignment, which for some strange and unexplainable reason always causes me to dooze, despite the fact that I was energetic as anything before starting it. Study 0 procrastination 1000000. Then there is the stress and worry of family.

So until I get back to calm seas there will be abnormal postings.

I've disappeared because I've been too busy. Along with settlement of house (a place to call my own!), work being chaos and ultra busy, post-grad studies, there is really no time to write about my food adventures at Origins, Amuse, Meeka, Airsuru etcetera... And my other huge excitements. Until the time when I finish my post grad semester this will have to wait.

exhaustion

The combination of ED, AAU and evening shifts, along with the stress of doing post-graduate studies while trying to maintain some resemblance of a life has resulted in the following:

lack of sleep
neglect of this blog
retail therapy (which I am sure I have spent way more than I intend to - I definitely do not need 6 new dresses, but they were ever so pretty!)
and complete and utter lack of creativity when writing this post

The upside to this I guess is that I still managed to go to La Cholita about half a dozen times, enjoyed a lovely date with my bf at P'tite Ardoise, managed to go to the William street Festival, eat yum cha two consecutive weekends and finally had the opportunity to eat Japanese and to top it all of have lots of new dresses to wear!

The downside - I've been unable to go to the gym and keep my exercise routine and unable to save $$.

Always striving for that balance.

At least after an evening shift work on Friday, I'm having a very very late dinner date with M at Modo Mio.

Life can still be great! Even in this sleep deprived state.

Ole friends and a Saturday

Our beautiful neighbours, the family of black swans seems so content swimming along on what was a lovely sunny and somewhat hot first Saturday of March.

While they feast on the fishes in the cove, I caught up with friends I haven't seen for years at The Royal. We spent the whole day talking and after our three hour lunch, moved next door to Toast for a slice of their lemon and poppyseed cake; which might I add is scumpilicious!

A lunch catch up almost turned into dinner if it wasn't for prior commitments getting in the way.

It was just wonderful passing a sunny Saturday by seeing old friends, reminiscing about the good ole times, watching the world go by and taking in all that a sunny, hot Saturday brings.

Draw of memories

I have a drawer filled with memories, diaries filled with teenage angst, letters that were passed in class between girlfriends, birthday wishes and kisses and wishful whimsical tales.

Oh how rose coloured they were! How I wish cynicism didn't creep up on me.

everyday you begin again...

You're young until you're not
You love until you don't
You try until you can't
You laugh until you cry
You cry until you laugh
And everyone must breathe
Until their dying breath

- On the Radio Regina Spektor

Heatwave

The heatwave is killing me... I can't go to the gym... (too hot) and stupid bus drivers not putting on the air con for the bus and just the ridiculous 40+ degree Celsius heat for the whole week!

Argh...
I wish I can migrate to a cooler place while it's summer in Perth!

winter bliss

Sometimes the best ways to spend a chilly winter's afternoon is to get yourself indoors at your favourite chocolatier (or cafe really) and get yourself your favourite drink.

In my case, nothing was better than spending a chilly afternoon with a few girlfriends in Koko Black drinking cinnamon hot chocolate and eating amazing desserts.

Complete winter bliss.


ps. photos were taken by my iphone and playing around with instagram.

*hearts*

“I love how it makes me feel- it’s like my heart is trying to hug my brain!”

-30 Rock Kenneth Parcell (talking about coffee)

Afternoon High Tea

A couple of weekends ago I attended a casual afternoon high tea party at one of my work mate's place. They live close to the city, near the Mount Lawley strip, the craziness of Northbridge in an apartment/villa complex. It was absolutely gorgeous place, cosy place.

She invited a few of us from work and baked us so much goodies! There were scones, rock cakes, nougat, banoffee pies, filo pastry etc. She's absolutely talented, making majority of the dishes, except for the sandwiches, tarts, butterfly cupcake and orange cupcake.

She also bought a huge range of tea from black tea, earl gray, green tea to darjeeling and this "smoky bacon flavoured" twinings tea which I actual surprisingly enjoyed, despite my friends hating it.

It was just a delightful public holiday Monday to spend with work collegues outside of work in a relaxed environment and get to know them.

Good food, good tea, good company what more do you need in life?

Herding Thoughts....

1. My thoughts are currently like a bundle of helium balloons let loose into the sky. Like atoms straying in random directions. All away from my head, away from the intention. Does anyone really know what happens to them balloons anyway? My imagination thinks that it keeps travelling up and in space there are all these multi-coloured balloons drifting aimlessly and astronaunts play with them, that's why they have so much fun up in space. My logical (and one that knows a little too much) tells me that the gases disperse out or expand due to heat/lack of gases in the atmosphere resulting in having to balance the partial pressure of the gases inside the balloon vs. the surrounding resulting in a POP.

2. Focus, dammit. What's wrong with the optics in my brain.

3. Always hoping for the best, always expecting the worst. Am I a fool for always assuming disappointment? But if I did does it not mean that when good things happen it's a nice pleasant surprise?

4. I slipped into another sink hole. Thankfully, not a deep one that I can't crawl out of.

5. I really should be reading my clinical work. Otherwise at least revising Chemistry and Physics. WHY IS IT SO HARD to study?? When did LIFE start to take over? (this is an unusual form of complaining, I've discovered a new LOW!!)

6. Very bad week for losing weight, I've snacked on two packet of Chips over the week, digged into Conniessuer Ice Cream (sometimes drazzled with Margaret River Chocolate factory chocolate sauce), ate buffet at Atrium, a Chinese Banquet and all I done in terms of exercise is 20 minute interval running and yoga.  I still have to attend a dinner with bf's family, another Chinese Banquet. ARGH!!... SOOOOOOOOOO naughty. HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO LOSE WEIGHT IN THESE CONDITIONS?? At least I have two fruits a day. T_T

7. I feel like I am tied to a string. Like a pendulum. Swaying forth and back, back and forth. What is all this? I want to give MD a try and yet I'm so reluctant to study to get into it (and I guess at the back of my head I know the career I'm in, I can try to succeed). The back swing is, I already have this fabulous career I can expand and be awesome at, all it needs is a little bit of committment and passion (which I'm lacking because I'm swinging forth and wanting MD). FML. I need to decide and I really need to stick to wanting one or the other. There is no both. But WHY AM I BEING SUCH A PENDULUM. GOD POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

words to live by..

Take time to think, it is the source of power.

Take time to work, it is the price of success.

Take time to play, it is the secret of being ever young.

Take time to read, it is the foundation of knowledge.

Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.

Take time to love and be loved, it is the privilege of God.

Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.

Take time to pray, it helps to live in Christ and be led by His spirit.

1 bride, 22 dresses and no groom, just wine!

Day 2 of MMXI and I am already loving it. Went all classy today at a hen's day (for the lovely, sweet and beautiful Lulu), wine tasting in the mini-margaret river, that is of course, the Swan Valley. Everyone that was important were there and all the ladies looked oh-so-lovely in their summery dresses.

The girls at Lancaster Winery

 

 

Almost all of us at Edgecombe Winery for lunch

 

Unfortunately these were the only photos I took. Too busy wine tasting and enjoying the moment (the way it should be I believe!).

Congratulations to Lulu for her BIG day on Friday. Although it was a HOT 39 DEGREES CELCIUS it was still a lovely day with some great wines, light lunch and of course a trip to the Swan Valley is NOT complete without heading to the chocolate factory.

So once again...

CONGRATULATIONS 

LULU!! 

The Year that was MMX

I have always found new year's unbelievable. After 23 years of breathing, it amazes me how fast time can fly and it seems to be flying by faster year by year. The year that was MMX (aka 2-0-1-0)..

Achievements:
1. I started my career, the great love/hate affair that it is.
2. Bought an apartment.
3. Have a job I'm currently enjoying.
4. Social life, Love life, Life, all in all ticked.
5. Family - despite the ups and downs I love them.
6. Did a Barista course, am now officially qualified to make coffee (not necessary epic ones but is willing to practise to become epic - must buy an espresso machine).
7. Learnt/still learning to sail.
8. Started going to the gym/exercising
9. Appreciating wines
10. Learning to appreciate my family for everything they do for me.

Down falls:
1. Being a brat to my parents at times
2. Failing to cook or bake more
3. Unable to cut down on food
4. Reducing the number of outings I make to restaurants (epically failed to decrease restaurant eating)
5. Unmotivated to study
6. Not being able to travel overseas
7. Not being able to shop less (although compared to last year I did rather well I thought)
8. Not losing weight

The year of movies: (movies I've seen.. it's keeping the cinemas alive ok!)
1.  Valentine's Day
2. Alice in Wonderland
3. Green Zone
4. How to Train Your Dragon
5. Date Night
6. Kick Ass the movie
7. Iron Man II
8. Robin Hood
9. Inception
10. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
11. Avatar
12. Avatar: THE LAST AIRBENDER
13. Prince of Persia - The Sands of Time
14. Sex and the City II
15. Get Him to the Greek
16. Toy Story 3
17. Despicable Me
18. Salt
19. Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief
20. The Expendables
21. Wall Street II - Money Never Sleeps
22. Red
23. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 1
24. The King's Speech
25. Summer Wars

I think there may have been more. I'm pretty sure I spent most of this year going to the cinemas and watching movies.

Concerts:
1. Big Day Out
2. Lost Prophets
3. On the Bright Side
4. Birds of Tokyo
5. Bon Jovi
6. U2

Theatre:
1. Chicago
2. Mamma Mia
3. West Side Story

Comedians:
1. Will Anderson
2. Frank Woodley
3. Russell Peters
4. A mixture of comedians at Melbourne Comedy Festival

Holidays: 
1. Melbourne trip (10 days)
2. Sydney (4 days)
3. Rottnest (3 days)

Attended weddings, hen's party, housewarming, birthdays, high teas, girls nights, home dinner parties, homemade pizza making, cranium competition, laughed, cried too much, and is still learning to survive and kick my demons.

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Christmas is almost here, and I spent the last Sunday before Christmas with friend's at JJ's place. He made a massive Christmas feast for us. It was absolutely delicious! Everything was cooked and made with love by JJ (including ALL THE DESSERTS AND WELL EVERYTHING REALLY). He's been slaving in the kitchen for three days. So impressed!

Half the table set..

a jug of hot mulled wine with brandy and slices of orange to be placed in each cup..
the perfect Germas Christmas drink to kick start the dinner
and for a toast to good friends and to JJ for making an epic dinner
 

Bread rolls, freshly re-heated in the oven,

can't have dinner without them!

Christmas Ham with pineapple and cloves 

Delicious! 

Fresh Oysters with mangoes and parsley and mango juice

- Totally refreshing and delish!

Beans, red onion and celary salad

Christmas dinner isn't Christmas dinner without prawns!

Or STUFFED turkey - chorizo stuffed turkey..

this was sooooooooo delicious and yummy! and the stuffing was just amazing...

this was then poured with homemade cranberry sauce (that is if you chose to put it on top..

and why wouldn't you? it just made it perfect!)

A touch of German Christmas Markets with the famous bratwurst sausage..

this doesn't really need anything apart from just cooking it!

Have to balance all that protein with salads - 

L: fetta, cherry tomatoes and lettuce

R: baby spinach and pumpkin

Roast potatoes

And of course, dinner isn't complete without desserts!

L: saltanas baked pastry thingo and

R: short bread cookies 

White and dark chocolate truffles... *drools*

Gingerbread HOUSE!

Hazelnuts! Pity we couldn't eat them because there was no nutcrackers

and the highlight of the desserts...

DAMN YUMMY DELICIOUS BEST CHRISTMAS PUDDING EVER!!

and it came out of the oven when we were about to have dessert so it was sooo nice and warm..

and moist and just absolutely yummy..

oh I want more!

It was such a wonderful dinner, with Christmas carols playing in the background (curtoesy of V) and of course nothing is complete without a Christmas tree, and great company.

It was just nice to see everyone and catching up over a nice traditional Christmas dinner. Couldn't ask for more. Homecooked dinner parties are definately the best ever. Should have more of them.

JJ did just a great job organising everything! All he now needs is a dishwasher... poor thing had to wash all the dirty dishes.. T_T feel sooo bad for it..sorry babe, if I wasn't working the next day would have totally stayed back to help clean!!

Next year Christmas dinner has a huge shoe to fill in! massive expectations now.

'tis the season to be silly... to be busy.. and to probably end up negating all your hard work at the gym.......

Christmas season is taking its toll on me.

The parties..

Christmas party every second day/every weekend...

The food... way too much food...

The realisation that I need more dresses/skirts/pretty blouses in my wardrobe.

And of course..

It's taking a toll on my gym sessions. I have NOT been able to go at least TWICE a week. I have only been going once a week, it's horrible.

I WILL be making time to go THREE TIMES A WEEK this week, in hopes of making up for the last few weeks of craziness.

And the craziness is probably not going to be stopping anytime soon..

I'm missing writing on this, but I doubt I'll have time.

So excuse the season hiatus.

when life throws you curveballs... just dodge and head to the nearest salon for a hairdo and footspa... ^_^

I've been trying to catch up with my old workmates, spending time with my cousins, my uni mates (which I have yet to do, I'm such a bad friend!), with my high school friends (i need to also work on seeing everyone, but then again most of them are on exams), and my boyfriend. On top of that booking everything and trying to organise party things for my birthday and anniversary with bf.

I'm so over eating out and running around, this weekend would definately be my last huge continuous eating spree, after that I'm thinking of reducing my carb intake, mixing a bit of Dukan diet with vegetarian like menu and increasing fiber uptake, I swear I never eat cereal and oats, should really start, and of course drink more water at work. But before that I feel like detoxing my bowels, I think it'd need it after this weekend.

Anyway, to just kind of get away from everything for a while and help clear my head (which unforunately didn't really happen), I went to my hairdressers and got my hair coloured. Not only that she gave me an awesome soothing head massage and got out the footspa. I was totally in heaven. Pity it was only 2 hours.

Sometimes, the best thing in life is just taking time out and getting your hair done and then going home and giving yourself a manicure. I couldn't ask for more.

Now i just need to survive this weekend of craziness but a lot of FUN and come out on the other side with no weight gain. Time to amp up the gym time I think.

life's little pleasures..

In between all the chaos, the pump/combat/boxing/yoga classes it's nice to just have little sweet pleasures...

nothing is better than krispy kreme and cookie crumble Connoisseur ice cream (which by the way has the best cookie crumble!.. well according to me anyway)..