Homecooked : Assam Laksa

If you are looking for an Assam Laksa recipe to try out, check out Rasa Malaysia's!

Pretty pansy

Germinating baby succulents

Good Food & Wine Show in Melbourne 2015

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So, last Saturday, Mr. C and I trotted along to the Good Food & Wine Show (GWFS) at Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre. He is forever scouting for deals on OZ Bargain with our fellow colleagues and came across free entrance tickets to the GWFS.

I've been wanting to check out GWFS that occurs every year and throughout the year. We saw a line of people at the booth queuing to pay for entrance tickets. If I am not wrong it was about $30+. Definitely not worth it in my opinion if you had to pay to enter.

Ok. My take on GWFS:

1. Too many people and layout of booth made it harder to maneuver around.

2. Had to pay if you wanted to eat/ drink or attend masterclasses/ classes and it's not necessarily cheap.

3. More or all shops should offer samples or sell at a discounted price from their usual to promote awareness

4. The Aussies were jovial and a happy bunch with their drinking and drink holders around their necks! They sure know how to have a good time!

5. We won't be going back anytime soon unless to bring friends/ family and if entrance tickets are FREE!

Masters Knoxfield Free Sample Pot !!

With Project Paint No.52 underway, a free sample pot is always welcomed! That was why I was giddy with excitement when hubby showed me the above Masters brochure early on in the week. 

Masters was giving out Valspar Diamond 500ml sample pot of paint on Saturday and a Crescent 8m tape measure on Sunday.

The catch - be the first 500 customers to present the voucher!

Despite wanting a sample pot that is free, I wasn't kiasu enough to wake up at 6am and head to Masters although the thought did cross my mind. Only for a second though. But hubby and I decided we wanted to sleep in (it is after all the start of our long weekend holiday, lol, 3 day weekend) and head to Good Food & Wine Show.

After the Show, we had plenty of time on hand with nothing else to do. Guess what? We decided to head on to Masters near home and try our 'luck' to score a sample pot. Suffice to say, we made it just in time as there were only a few more left.

Besides purchasing a vase and two plants, we bought three $30 shelves each to better organise our garden shed! Definitely a bargain. I know because I have been eyeing shelves for the past few months. Also have a few more items on my mind to look out for with the upcoming EOFY (End of Financial Year) sales.

And this is why I love this awesome part of Aussie - the specials!

The only setback - we were told the sample pot was more suited for indoor use AFTER we picked a colour, dark grey! I would have picked a lighter, prettier colour had I known it was for indoor usage.

Anyhow, I am still going to try painting the fence under the carport with our free sampel pot and see how it goes. Fingers crossed!!

Homecooked : Soup for the soul

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Potato, Leek and Bacon Soup

Ever since Mr. C and I bought a Phillips Hand Blender (Phillips Avance 740w), we've been happily utilising it to make Avocado Shakes and soups! 

I had been researching for awhile now on blenders and food processors. Friends recommended Spectablend and even Thermomix, both a bit pricey in my opinion. Hence, the hesitancy and the lag in obtaining a desired appliance. I did not want to buy these appliances (as most ladies who cook in the kitchen do, true life story of a few friends!) only to use them a couple of times in the first few months and subsequently collect dust at the back of my cupboard from neglect. 

When Catch of The Day had this Phillips hand blender on special for about $70, it was a deal I just couldn't say no to and the rest they say is history!

Thus, began a wonderful journey between us, The Clemsters (I know, lame of me to combine our names but oh well... or you rather The Esments) with our Phillipie, the hand blender!

Stay tune for more Phillipie adventures...

Fight of the century : Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao

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So, the fight of the century came and gone on 2nd of May 2015. It was between undefeated five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.

Was the fight really the ultimate fight? Did it live up to the hype? Did spectators felt their money was well spent? Who was the better fighter? Was it rigged? What was up with both boxers?

Loads of testosterone

Best view

Unfortunately, even as a noob about boxing, I could tell the fight certainty fell short of anyone's hyped expectations of a worthy match.

All our efforts to try and secure a spot at Stamford Hotel intersecting between Wellington Road and Stud Road was for naught. Even as the match progressed, I kept asking Mr. C or more like annoying him with my thousand and one questions "Is this it? Is this really what people want to watch? Where got the chikekness? The excitement? The awesome wow fighting? Why did Mayweather keep dodging and dancing away?? and Pacquiao looks short".

And now, there's a lawsuit due to the lackluster fight. Aaahh.. how American. 

The crowd at the sports bar

Did my good deed for the day - saw an elderly lady standing by the railing without a chair and saw an empty seat. Carried the chair to the lady amidst the loitering male bodies!

Goingkookies Bake : Macha Sugee Cake

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Hulk Hogan in Knox Westfield !!

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What a turnout at Knox Westfiled Mall! It seems that everyone wanted their moment with Hulk! Even Mr. C :)

Bouchee at Chadstone

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It's nice to have a shopping buddy especially on Thursday nights when the shops closes late. Yes, in Australia, shops don't close at 9/10pm everyday like what I am accustomed to in Malaysia! They close late usually on Thursdays and Fridays!

Hence, few Thursday ago saw WM and I at Chadstone, affectionately known by the locals as Chaddie.

After walking, shopping and talking, we headed for dinner. Walked past Bouchee and decided to give it a go. The food was simple and flavoursome! If I remember correctly, there's specials, too and that's what we ordered - carbonara and risotto (both yummy!).

Eeyore me

Ok. This is going to be an emotional post. Call it PMSing. Whatever. If you're not in the mood, don't read. If you read it, don't judge.

You have been forewarned!

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It's hard telling myself not to be sensitive, not to take things personally but my mind and heart refuses to cooperate. Inwardly, I hurt and I feel the sadness.

A few friends don't text first. I do. All movies and musical outings with colleagues are initiated by me. I am tired being the first person to always initiate. It would be nice if some one else organises something or invites me first every once in awhile. With another friend, it's her partner and siblings first. So, I am guessing I am the "filler" when they are busy or that's how I am made to feel.

I am not looking to be a person's only friend, only confidante. But it would be SO nice to feel like I matter, that my company is craved and not just be an "afterthought". That I am fun to be with.

Maybe this is my own thoughts and perspective of things and maybe it isn't how the situation really is. Whatever it may be, I am tired. I am weary. I am in my Eeyore phase and I have been for awhile now, if anyone cared enough to notice. I am tired of being nice, of being the bigger person.

I want to be like some people I know and not care so much, or at all. But that's just not how I am wired, unfortunately.

Sometimes I wished I wasn't me and if I wasn't me, who would I be?
Sometimes, I wonder who am I?
Sometimes, I longed to know my destiny, the reason I am here.
Sometimes, I wonder, am I expecting too much?
Sometimes, people shouldn't say, "miss you" or "you're my best friend" but their actions don't measure up.
Sometimes, I can seem cheery and bubbly but inside, I am human, just like you - I feel, I feel and I feel.

November Life Lessons

1. Not everyone aspires to be nice or likes being nice.

2. Haters will always hate, no matter what.

3. And some people can never be contented nor pleased. They will always have to find something to complain or whinge about.

4. Don't give up, don't lose hope, change takes time.

5. I can't change people, only God can.

6. Every 'not-so-nice' person has something good about them. Maybe you just have to dig deep, deep, deep down. But it's there. Somewhere.

7. Sad truth : people are more selfish and inward thinking these days.

8. Or maybe it is just the people around me. Best not to engage nor input such toxin.

8. Don't react, keep cool and stay calm.

9. Inhale and exhale. Count to 10.

10. Plaster a smile on your face and all will be ok because God's on my side.

Emotional Yo-Yo

Something is just not right with me lately. And no, I am not preggers.

Last week, for no particular reason, I felt so low, so down for a couple of days. And on Friday, on my way to work, I realised the gloom lifted and I don't feel the heavy sadness on my chest anymore.

I've been feeling frustrated, sensitive, upset, really sad, naggy (and I hate being naggy and obviously being negative) and the list goes on. Oh ya, and today towards the end of Body Attack, I felt mad and I felt like punching someone. Anyone. Even poor Brandon, the instructor for choreographing a routine that hurts my arch and makes my heart beat so fast it threatens to burst out of my chest.

Maybe my emotional yo-yo-ness is because of the several incidences that have occurred simultaneously around that special time of my month in the past month. Maybe it's because of lack of exercise as I've been skipping gym off and on for the past 6 months. Or maybe, just maybe it's all the chocolates that I unhealthily input because I succumb to my cravings.

All I know is I am not on any medication, never been on contraceptive pills whatsoever and am pretty much sure I am not with child.

So, why all this emotional roller coaster?

The frustrated me

It is frustrating:

#1 - When things have legs and move themselves from where I placed them

#2 - I can't do certain things in the order I had planned to do so

#3 - When I feel pressured to make decisions because of #2

#4 - I want to do things at my pace, my way

#5 - That I feel frustrated especially knowing it was all done with good intentions

#6 - When my head and my heart won't sync

#7 - Because it affects my other relationships

#8 - When people do not choose to communicate

#9 - That people can be selfish and SO inward thinking

#10 - When I miss my family and friends but am so far from them

20 Random Thoughts in October 2014

1. Appliances hunting isn't fun.

2. Sometimes, being limited by one's resources limits one's ability to do great things.

3. Disappointed at Painter #1 but perhaps, it had to happened the way it did so that Painter #2 could come in the picture and do the job for a price we could afford.

4. I have sooooo many brilliant ideas but am limited by myself and the hole in my pocket.

5. I am blessed with lovely in laws whose generosity touched me at a time where certain relatives were being too pushy with their opinions (I acknowledge and know they have the best of intentions but the way they convey their opinions hardly reflects so) about certain decisions Mr. C and I have made about our humble abode.

6. Finally made it to Lifegroup. Mr. C was trying to wrangle his way out the whole day in such an endearing manner that I couldn't be mad. 

7. I think he secretly enjoyed himself. 

8. Too many drafts waiting to be completed and published reminds me that I need to blog more often. And just as I finished typing that, I know my blogging days will never be as frequent as it used to be.

9. Continuing from Point 8, which in a way is a good thing. I blog more when I am emotional. It's my outlet to rant and release my frustrations and dwell on my Eeyoreness. However, I have grown a fair bit in the past 5 years and I think it is safe to say that I am at a relatively happy place. It's not always rosey and sunshine but I learn to lay my worries at God's capable shoulders and trust that He will see me through the storms.

10. And these days, Mr. C and I rarely argue. Don't get me wrong, we are still very much into each other as when we first started out 14 years ago. But the feelings we have has matured into a comfortable relationship filled with affection and understanding of one another (IMO, this is going to sound conceited but I truly believe it's because I had a paradigm shift and was the bigger person to change my expectations among other things first which is probably a story for another day if I remember to tell it).

11. Had a good time out with Miss H over dumplings last night followed by a visit to the cinemas to watch 'This Is Where I Leave You'. The story unfold of each sibling's struggles are very real in the world today where people struggle to conceive, forget the reasons they married in the first place, do despicable things they never thought they would and so on. 

12. Happy for Colleague JW officially saying his 'I dos' to EJ today although Mr. C and I couldn't be there to witness the happy occasion at Old Treasury Building.

13. Should lose 10kg (I know, I have been saying this like forever) but wondering how to do so since I can't (and am unwilling) to swear off all glorious chocolates, chips and ice-cream.

14. Wishes I had more $$$ so I can fulfill friends/families birthday wishes.

15. A bit down I can't ride a hot air balloon to celebrate my 30th as planned (just because I am unwilling to pay full price of $380+ and am waiting for Groupon/Scoopon specials at half price) but am going SkyDiving instead.

16. Initially wanted to start my 30's with a remarkable celebration to commemorate the importance but due to certain situation, I am willing to forgo and just have a nice meal with Mr. C and in laws.

17. So much I want to do, so little time to pursue every single one of them. However, am glad I managed to strike off a couple from my sort of bucket list.

18. Really wish to go to France and/or Greece (and also Taiwan) next year but am wondering if it will eventuate.

19. Not exactly looking forward but reckon next year's the year to start Mr. C junior project. Sounds a bit selfish perhaps but we've been happy with just the two of us despite tying the knot end 2010. It's hard considering when we don't have our parents here in Kangarooland nor do I have my close girl friends. :( And don't forget, the world isn't exactly becoming a better place to bring a child into.

20. November is going to be awesome. I can feel it. I'll be 30 though people keep thinking I am starting out as a student (not sure if this is good for my work reputation) and are surprised when they hear my age, we are moving for the last time (unless we hit the lottery and move somewhere bigger) and well, just because it's my birthday. Lol. And even if November remains normal and not extraordinary, it's ok. Life goes on and I just have nothing major to gripe about. :)