Make your cake and eat it too

Here's what I made for my final project!
I baked the Moist Yellow Cake from Bakerella, my newfound baking website!
The cake did really turned out moist and spongy.

I baked the night before my class...



and here's what I decided to do for my project:

Lanvin for h&m

Lanvin is collaborating with H&M!
I went in last week and was searching and searching but I didn't find anything Lanvin!
I know was a little eager... it's not coming until November 23rd, the same day they will have their organic cotton bags to raise money for UNICEF.
Mark your calendars!

The collection is full of looks including tiered girly dresses, lots of textures and prints. My eyes are growing wider just thinking about it!
I know it's hard to wait, but in the meantime, check out their video on youtube.

Cake Decorating 101

Lately, I've been taking Cake Decorating 101 classes at Michaels.
They finally opened in Vancouver this fall!

Here's what I've learned so far...

Day 2:


Day 3:









One more class to go!

DIY

I have time for things like this lately.
I ordered a cute kit from PurlSoho and it is so cute!

As soon as I opened the kit, I cut, sewed, and glued,
and... voila! I was like a machine.







Happy sewing!

First day of summer

Today is the first day of summer! I'm looking forward to sunny days on Granville Island and bravely tanning on the beach in my swimsuit :) And... in August, I will be off to South Africa!

Family Meals

I have been in great need for food inspirations! It feels like it's been awhile since I actually spent more than 10 minutes in the kitchen. So, I decided to buy this book that I've been eyeing for a few weeks now. Family Meals is not only a collection of recipes but it has detailed description about where the ingredients come from and how to find, store, and prepare them. Mmm~ I can't wait to start cooking again!

Does anyone have any good recipe inspirations??

the Drive

this reminds me of the fair or a circus :)






so, it's really not easy to notice this little gem off the Drive. You can only find it if you know the address and have someone point it out to you. But! when you find this charming place, Little Nest, you'll be able to try their delicious menu, whether it is for breakfast or lunch. Don't get me wrong though. If you are looking for a quiet place to go and you don't like babies, this is not the place for you. This spacious room accommodates moms and locals who want a comfortable place to go to catch up with friends, enjoy delicious simple meals, and even to breastfeed their babies! The first time can be overwhelming but also addicting! You'll want to go back and try the rest of the menu.


is it just me or does my hair look like i just woke up?? heh


yikes! i ate all of that huge bowl of soup! oh but it was sooo goooood


what i recommend: any of their daily soups
Slow-roasted Free Range Chicken Baguette with guacamole, chipotle mayo and cilantro

so this is Bowen Island

Even though I've lived in Vancouver most of my life, I realized that I haven't been to many places nearby! So, here's Bowen Island, only a short 20 minute ferry ride away from Horseshoe Bay. The day was supposed to be full of rain but it turned out without a single drop! Yay

D.E.A.R

What are you reading these days? I've been reading Julia Child's book, My Life In France, because I loved the movie and I want to go back to Paris to eat yummy food and walk around everywhere for hours and hours, admiring the architecture and the culture of people and art.

Obsession

I must have one of those wicker basket bags...is that what they're called?
Well, I must have one. The other day, I saw a light olive green one with a brown leather strap.
How practical!

Inspiration

thank you, Alexander!

Croque-en-bouche, anyone?

Last week, I discovered Croque-en-bouche! Not only are they delicious, they are fun to pronounce because it's French. It has a cream inside of a puffy pastry outside. Wait, you might think it's just a plain old cream puff, but no, they are much more complicated and delectable than any old cream puff! The pastry is golden because on top of it, there's this glistening, almost burnt to the taste sugar, that's been drizzled on top and hardened after it's cooled. Mmmm....I think I need to go back for more. They just might be the best accompaniment to the Creamy Earl Grey Tea at Secret Garden. Where do you get this treasure, you ask? You can go to La Baguette et L'echalote in Granville Island.

Pierrot le fou (1965)

Marianne: What are you doing?
Ferdinard: [looking at the mirror] Looking at myself.
Marianne: And what do you see?
Ferdinard: The face of a man who's driving towards a cliff at 100 km/h.
Marianne: [turns the mirror towards herself] I see a woman who is in love with the man who's driving towards a cliff at 100 km/h.
Ferdinard: So let's kiss.

D.E.A.R (Drop Everything And Read)

The Quiet Book is written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by
Renata Liwska and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

John Patrick

John Patrick...sigh :)


http://www.vogue.com/voguedaily/2010/04/eco-icon-john-patrick-of-organic-gets-the-green-light-on-his-own-tv-show/

goodbye winter, hello spring

what about...?

It's inspiring and it's wonderful to see people step up and help Haiti. The government, celebrities, local businesses...

But there is one thing that I wonder: Why is it that we are ready and willing to get our wallets out and help donate money or do something when we see big tragedies that happen in the world and yet we are so reluctant to help those that are in need right here, right now and right in our communities? What about the people who are on the streets, who needs food to eat and a place to sleep each day...



I know it is not easy. It's not about just giving people money to those that are sitting on the sidewalk and it's not even about giving them one meal. But can't we do something?

What can I do? How can I help? I want to learn about the people, their stories, what their real needs are...

pretty in pink

please help save the dolphins

please go to www.takepart.com/thecove to see what you can do to help.

is it still winter?

Lately it hasn't been very cold. It's January and the weather is warm enough that we can just walk out in a light jacket, unlike last year, when I remember bundling up in layers and layers. It's 9 degrees Celsius! It's just raining now...
I can't complain though. I finally got an umbrella, mine had little holes in it.

feist is coming!!!

feist is coming again and I need to get tickets. sigh* i hope they are not all sold out already!
Here's a cute clip of Feist on Sesame Street. She changed the lyrics for the little fans.

there's a first time for everything

This is it. My very first blog. My sister said that since I don't do facebook and twitter and all those other things that people are doing nowadays, I should create a blog just to have something for myself...something of my own.