Magic Box

Happiness doesn't always come easy.

Sometimes, you have to earn happiness. You sacrifice and gain it through.

When I just started dating Mr D, I was on semester break and had a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.

I had the privilege of preparing his first ever lunch box! :)

Photo credit: Mr D's FB

So happiness does come in a box too!

Today, I prepared something in a bag.

See this very cute Media Prima Screening 2010 bag?

It had some goodies inside Darling brought home for me.




But I prepared another lunch box today! After so so long :P

Stir fry pork + vege with belacan + rice

Mr. D had an appointment today. Thus, the lunch box was for me :)

p/s: I'm off for a day trip to Melaka tomorrow. Photos when I come back!




XOXO,
theRascal

There are a lot of philosophies in life. A lot of reactions. A lot of sarcasm. Tonnes of opinions. Guidelines given by your predecessor. Books for reference. A religion to follow.

Then, we have our parents and teachers to look up to. Some of us have bosses to answer. Boyfriends/girlfriends to listen. Friends to gang up with.

When I wanted to study Media/Communication/Advertising, a lot of people from various relations told my mom to not let me do so. Reasons being that I will either end up rebellious like most advertising people in the industry, end up being weird and the aristocrat behavior of wanting to be different.

Creative is the word.

But people do not understand what is it like to be creative. So they think tattoos equal gangsterism, guys wearing pink suede jeans reads weird and people with big ideas only have a head too big for little dreams.

But I am happy I made it a point to study what I love and lucky to have my mom nodding in approval. If not, it will be one of my biggest regret not exploring something I have passion in.

Then, my sister got an offer to be an air-stewardess with Singapore Airlines. Some people are happy for her. The rest of the people, aunties and uncles had the same idea that it would be so stupid of her to leave University for a job which equals to waitressing.


"Tell your sister, and don't even encourage her OK? Air-stewardess is not a permanent job...you'll be expired and it is just like a waitress. Just that you're one class higher because you're waitressing on air."


But I sat down with my sister and asked if she really wants it. She said she is serious about it, so I asked her to give it a try. It's better to try and know it for herself. If life is just about a pre-planned route... it'll be such a bore. You'll grow old thinking what would it be like if you have accepted the offer by Singapore Airlines.

What if you fail trying? Then learn from the lesson and that's how people mature and become wiser. Because you go through things and learn from them.

There are so many people questioning and telling you thing along the way. All you need to have is faith and passion.

I still remember how my mom told me about people being successful in life. Like Michael Jackson, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Nicole David and the famous Char Koay Tiaw seller. They are successful because they did something they really love. Something they feel strong about.

With that strong passion and a lot of faith, that fire in you would push you further. And that is how some people do something extraordinary yet fantastic. But some people don't. All because of that strong passion.


Yes, it is so difficult trying to be a good human being.


All we need is being humble. Put your ego aside. Stop being ignorant.

Take one step back, listen, absorb, digest and learn.




Listen. Because it is part of learning.
Absorb. Think if whatever you listen is what you think right.
Digest. Put yourself in and see if it applies to you.
Learn. If what you listen should be taken as part of your life.





To you, I may be the weirdest person you have ever met. But hey, I am doing my part and my very best. Sorry to make you feel that way. I would have God to answer to if I did something really wrong.

To you, thank you for backing me up with very much love and positive support. I am thankful for having you in my life. For that it makes things easier and possible for me.



XOXO,
theRascal

PowerScreen Anniversary @ KL Tower

It was going to be an event. So I got myself ready way before Darling was about to arrive. Just in case I take more time than needed.


But I only took a while. :)


Then with the rest of the time, I did the usual routine in front of the mirror with my camera.


Hehe.


Check if I still look like myself and not overdo my makeup. You know, I don't want to look like a clown or maybe uglier ... :X



Darling arrived shortly after he left KLCC. Oh, how I wished I was at Media Prima's screening because some of the Hong Kong artists were there!!!

But it's OK, I had a lecture class to conduct and I wouldn't want to leave them. So I did the job.


We arrived at KL Tower's ballroom just in time before they announce the lucky draws. The highlight of most events, sad to say.



And when someone actually said "Oh, nahhh.... I don't have luck with all these things. It'll never be me..."

THEN, the MC called for her name!


Wendy Tan...


Hahahaha, she was so happy that she just dashed to the stage from where we were standing :)


And look so happy and excited!

She got a really nice watch :)


Looks expensive, eh?


It was a night full of warmth with just friends, girl talk and laughters.


I had photo sessions with the girls. :)

Wendy & I, we knew each other wayyy back then.

Mae & I, we knew each other through Darling

Sam & I, met each other through an event

The highlight was meeting Rufina, my long time friend and ex-colleague... our story start way back when I was doing my internship. She is a very nice friend and someone you would always want to keep by your side. Because she always makes you smile. She lights up the room wherever she goes. :)

We were so happy to meet each other that we hugged for so soo sooooo long. :)

After KL Tower, we decided to have supprt at Bukit Bintang.



I love sitting at cafe, just drinking... chit-chatting about anything in the world, listening to live music while feeling the breeze by the sea or maybe just embracing the environment. Like observing people around you, the lights and the busy streets...


Loving life... and looking forward to another great start.



XOXO,
theRascal

It's A Good Day

Darling came and pass me a long-delivered parcel and I was feeling very excited.


Now, most of you would think that "Oh man.... she bought something online again!"


Well sorry to disappoint you. Yes, I bought something again.

But I can assure you that it is for a very very VERY good cause.

No, it's not to fight cancer, HIV or for UNICEF.

It is not donating money to the poor.

Not even to help the animals through WWF.

....

...

My best friend and I bought a ring to celebrate our friendship after so many years.

Don't you think it is for a very good cause!!!!!

Look how bright it shines!


Oh, I am beginning to love it so much. Although my fingers look a little shorter but heck, I just love how it fits and blings on my finger. Even Darling thinks it is pretty :)


So, it is a good day to celebrate friendship ... with Miss Pei :)




...and the day got better when the paper gave me a little space for my blog :)




Some of you would know that I was a 2000 Terengganu-camp BRATs. I love the camp and will always be grateful of the exposure we had through this program. I learnt a lot and my passion towards writing just grew stronger and it never stopped.


Even though I wasn't one of the featured bloggers with the posts on the Ole BRATs issue on Saturday, I was glad that I am among one of their 10 bloggers they have published.


Thank you, The Star... the writing goes on :)



XOXO,
theRascal

Food Galore

This is no ordinary school exercise book.


It doesn't contain maths or formulas to be memorised. *grumbles*

It is full of love. :)

With this trusty book, my sisters and I jot down recipe of dishes from my grandmother's kitchen. Something she never reveals to the world. *wow sound very exclusive*

OK OK, the revealing-to-the-world part was added by me.... but yes, I'm going to show it to the world that I am trying it out for the first time.

Nyek Nyek Nyek *cheeky laugh*


So, I seasoned the chicken with salt, soy sauce and pepper for about 1 hour because I just bought the chicken earlier this afternoon. It would be a lot better to season them for at least 2 hours.

Then, I blended some dried chilly + little red onions and candlenut (Buah Keras)

I used my mother's trusty Smart Lady she bought months ago for the first time. I love it because it is powerful and easy to wash.



To its name... the Smart Lady. Smart indeed, eh? =.="


After blending the above said ingredients, fry them until it is fragrant before adding the chicken.

Continue sizzling the chicken + ingredients until the chicken is golden brown before adding a little bit of coconut milk.



I didn't have time to go to the market to get fresh coconut milk, thus I used Kara Coconut Extract, which works the same. But, have to mix with a little bit of water before pouring them into the pan.

Be careful not to add too much coconut milk. Note that I didn't use the whole box of Kara Coconut Extract. Only 1/4 of the amount in the packet above.

Stir fry the chicken for a while.


and

Tadaa!!!!

I tasted the chicken and I love it!

Easy to prepare and only use very minimal ingredients.

Plus, if you do not have much time, this is like the best dish you could prepare because it only took me about 45 minutes to blend, cook and dish it out to the kitchen. :)



Oh oH OH!!!

I also prepared my own yogurt for the first time.

It is not fattening.

High in calcium.

Low fat.

Loads of vitamin C because I added tonnes of fruits.

Let me show you... because it is so easy to prepare too!!!!!!



See me smiling?



Ya, because I only had to squeeze it out from that machine.

Ya, only squeezing it out from the machine.


Then off to the fruit station for toppings and fruits.

Wahahahahahahaahhaahaha


No, I didn't prepare the yogurt from scratch. I was at this so called DIY Yogurt shop at Sunway Pyramid.


Nyek Nyek Nyek *cheeky laugh*



XOXO,
chefRascal

Keyword: Akon

It was one of the greatest nights. We felt like we were clubbing on a big open area, with live music... only better!

Because Akon was there to sing for us in person!!!!!

I wasn't a HUGE Akon fan. Like you know a few of his songs... but not all of his songs. You know what I mean?

But yet, he was such a great mixer of music, everybody just danced and danced is all we did.

Below: Joey, Me & JC

Me and my cupcake :)

All you hear is Akon's beautiful music and people cheering I love you like he/she is declaring love like never before. Like it would be one of the last chances you could propose and say I love you. wtf.

And when he threw his various "upper body items" like jacket, singlet and cap... everybody cheered so loud. I think those in the front zone must be fighting among themselves... or maybe they already had a systematic order of tearing them into pieces so everybody can have one bit? Wahahahahahahahaha




The night just got better and better. By the second half of the concert, Akon's DJ was mixing his greatest hits. It is like one huge clubbing scene in open air. Everybody was singing, dancing... the only difference is that those not in the VIP zone (or called Pitt Zone) have no alchohol. Damn it people in the Pitt Zone get free flow of Chivas. Anyway, not that I drink a lot.

Everyone was just dancing and singing. Really.





Then, Akon got crazier too. He jumped into the audience.

YES, he got down the stage or literally just jumped down and God knows what happen next, because there were too many people crowding around feeling his meat wth or whatever that I could not see!!!! *grumbles*

Those in the Beach Zone in front of the stage must be having a hell of a time, trying to squeeze to the front to be near to Akon.

And man... he didn't do it only once. But a lot of times! Everyone just got more excited!

After that, he announced on the microphone that his songs are about unity and having concerts to have everyone together represents the idea of being united as well. Thus, he wanted everybody to support and carry him... and then passed him around so "I could get to the other zones separated by the gates at the back!"

This is when everyone started to cheer SO LOUD and waited for him to be passed to the correct direction.

Darling shot a few videos but my iPhone just couldn't export those clips!!!! Please help me.

But here's one clip my cupcake manage to take using his digital camera, which I am in love with right now.

Here's another delayed clip from Black Eye Peas' concert which I took during Arthur's Day. BEP is just fab as well. :)

Oh, how much I love being at concerts. Only good artists could sing really good live. Some really suck and only sound good on CD records and mp3. Yuck.





XOXO,
theRascal

Being Chic

Last Friday, when we were at Pavilion for dinner, I asked if I could try one of the most expensive cupcakes I will eat for once. He said yes. :)


So after looking at their variations at CuppacakeChic, I decided to choose the chocolate flavoured.

See the little one? I was so stupid to go and buy the cupcake when there is this nice cute little sample on the counter for us to try! Even the ang moh went to get the cute cupcake and just left.

But trying not to be a cheapo, I just continued with paying at the counter.

The cupcake was a little tad too sweet to my liking. Sorry.

And this Mr. D started to take a picture of me munching away my cupcake...


Sorry... but it just got uglier....


and uglier.................


So there you go, one of the few uglier pictures of myself doing something ugly like having chocolates on my lips and all over my mouth.

wth. who cares anyway?

I am me. Take it or leave it.

XOXO,
theRascal