candies and chocolate

Who would’ve thought this candy taste so good?

I was overjoyed when I got it because it looks so pretty. I thought it would be one of those candies that looks pretty but taste like you just swallow a bottle of artificial flavouring. Boy was I wrong! It is definitely one of the best hard candies I ever had. There I was thinking I would keep it as a memorabilia of a very special occasion. No chance! I’m sucking on one right now.

These Suga candies are hand-made. Isn’t it amazing that the candies are moulded and rolled to form a heart shape in the middle? They come in different flavours as well. The Heart Rocks one are strawberry flavoured and they are amazing. Not to mention the quaint designs.

 

The Bald Man – Max Brenner

Max Brenner, a chocolate lover’s haven, sinful indulgence. The latte was ordinary, but my cappuccino was a pleasant surprise. What generous amount of chocolate syrup on top of the foam, plus two small chunks of chocolate at the side. I could not resist licking the chocolate syrup that overflowed. On top of that, I added two packets of sugar. Yes, I love my coffee SWEET.

 

Tutti-Frutti Waffle

Waffle, banana, strawberries, vanilla ice-cream and a whole lot of chocolate syrup. What more can you ask for?

 

Chocolate Souffle

I reckon Max Brenner should make this their signature dish. Nothing compares to eating mouthfuls of warm, velvety chocolate. As usual, I could not resist licking the plate after I ravaged through the souffle.

After souffle and chocolatey cappuccino, I experienced sugar high. I was very animated and my hands were a little shaky. I felt GOOD.

 

Can’t wait to stuff his face with waffle and chocolate.

Our anniversary falls on Halloween. Halloween 2010 was our first anniversary. I never had an anniversary experience and he, being the darling he is, tried to make it perfect. We did not go out on the actual day due to work and assignments, so we went out the next day, in between work and uni as well. What’s better than good company, with lollies, strawberries and chocolate – foods of love.

Social convention makes it an obligation for couples to get gifts for each other as a remembrance and token of appreciation for each other. We could not escape such convention. So, in addition to the lollies, Steven got me this:

 

 

The picture does not do the pendant justice. It is a beautiful and intricate silver pendant. I had to restrain myself from jumping up and down in joy or tearing from knowing the effort he put in to make the day perfect because we were in the mall.

A relationship goes both ways:

 

 

A light coloured shirt for summer, a belt for his work placement and a hand-drawn and hand-written card. He look just as I imagine he would be in the blue shirt. Everything fitted him perfectly.

The gifts did not matter, it was the effort and thought put into making each other happy that moved me. It was indeed a memorable day, and one of my happiest moment being spoilt like a princess ❤

Ahoy!

I now have a love-hate relationship with theme parties. They are fun and I enjoy searching for costume inspiration. But they also take a lot of effort and sometimes $$$ as well.

I am fortunate and honoured to be invited to two such parties. One is a nautical/ from the sea theme, which we can dress up as anything that has to do with the sea. The other one is Moulin Rouge/ Chicago theme.

The nautical theme party is this coming Friday. Invitations were sent out ages ago so we have a lot of time to prepare. But being tied down with cash and time, I only started shopping for costumes last week. It is great that Spring/ Summer collections in retails are out. So it’s all red/ blue and white stripes.

After comparing prices and shopping everywhere (Chadstone, Southland, Melbourne Central, DFO South Wharf, Bourke Street Mall), I bought the key item to my costume in Supre: A cute  navy blue mini skirt with gold buttons in front for $30.

My initial plan was to pair it with a white shirt, make a name tag and pass off as a cruise staff:

But I found a cute top that goes really well with the skirt as well and now I prefer this combination:

But I don’t look like a cruise staff anymore 😦 I am going to try and pass off as a 50s navy pin-up. But that might require a sailor hat, curls, red lipstick and lots of make-up.

Nevertheless, I am still happy with my purchase because I can see myself wearing the skirt for other occasions. Not to mention there will be an after-party in a club on Friday and the skirt is suitable for clubbing as well.

While I was ransacking my closet for the perfect top, I found the maxi dress I bought in Malaysia. This is the perfect outfit for a 21st birthday party I have a week after the nautical theme one:

The party will be held at a football club (function hall) so I would love to wear something more classy. I reckon it will be perfect for Melbourne Cup Day too. My only concern is there will be a dance floor and maxi dress is not tailored for flexible movement.

Anyway, I am still wondering what am I going to be for the nautical theme party. First combo or second combo? My last-minute solution will be to explain myself as facing a case of identity confusion.

Disappointment

I hate being disappointed. It is undoubtedly the worst feeling ever. As disappointed as I am that the Tom Yum above was a failure, I am disappointed that I did not get the Zoos Victoria internship offer. They said it was a close call and they would had me if they had the logistic to accommodate two interns. Meh. The fact remains that the other person got the offer and I did not. Not only did I lose out on an internship with a prestigious organisation that promotes good cause (which will do me good in the near future should I decide to apply for jobs in Australia), I will be missing out on a glorious summer in Australia.

… and now everyone is talking about Good Vibes 2011, the ultimate summer music festival, featuring Nas and DJ Rusko. Last year they had Kid Cudi while I was stuck in my bedroom at home. Truth is, I am not a super fan of dubstep (Rusko) and HipHop/Rap (Nas). But, it’s the summer, the atmosphere, the freedom, the abandonment, the spirit and the energy that only carefree youth exudes that attracts me. I’ll be missing out on that.

Think about it, next year will be my final year studying abroad. I have no idea what comes after. I will most probably return home, start working and never have the chance to be free again. Maybe I should take advantage of my youth and be carefree. Then again, being carefree now will pay in the future, in the form of debt and unemployment. On the other hand, in an increasing competitive environment, it is vital to get a head start as soon as possible, but that means losing out on many other things.

I am influenced by a laid-back Western culture that is oh-so-enticing. Yet, my Asian upbringing and influences back at home constantly pulls me back. It can get pretty confusing and frustrating.

I don’t know. I guess it is a wake-up call. I need to start thinking again. About everything and…everyone.

p.s.Tom Yum was made for Steven and I. It was too bland 😦

Update:
The late Dame Joan Sutherland, a world renowned Australian opera singer once said: “You can listen to what everybody says, but the fact remains that you’ve got to get out there and do the thing yourself.” I’m inspired.

Reminiscing

I am a very lucky girl to be surrounded by great individuals who are supportive and provides me with comfort and companion when I need them. I am always thankful for their presence in my life. Even though some of us are miles apart from each other, separated by work/ studies, knowing that they are safe, healthy and doing well is enough comfort for me. They are a constant inspiration and motivation for me to be a better person.

My Girls (From top left) – Anne, Abby, Carolyn

From 1 Amanah SMK Seafield, we stuck together through thick and thin, break-ups and make-ups. I remember how we skipped classes by abusing our “power” and innocent facade; helped each other to check out our crushes when they walked past; encouraged each other during down times. These girls taught me Cantonese and never ceased to make fun of my pronunciation. Anne is the perfectionist and a high achiever completing her final year in NTU, Singapore. Abby is the quirky one doing well in graphic designing. Finally, Carolyn, the smart and truly innocent one is studying Pharmacy at Monash University, Melbourne. I love them and I hope for nothing but the best for them.

Bhakti

I know this guy for as long as I know the girls. I was the prefect in charge of “supervising” his class and he teased me about my crush. Bhakti is the funniest, most animated kid around. At 21, he is still a child at heart. Always have a funny story to tell, this guy has the ability to turn the most boring conversation into a skit on Saturday Night Live. He is probably the only Mauritian who can’t swim. Ask him about me and he will tell you how he had a hard time keeping track of my dating life. He is a budding engineer at UNSW and drops by Melbourne occasionally. I am excited to catch up with him when I drop by in Sydney next month.

Girl from Taylor College – Sara, Xiao, Sharon

You girls look stunning in this picture, especially Xiao – just like a character out of an Austen novel 🙂 I know Sara from our Seafield days. We work well as a team. I met Xiao and Sharon in A Level English Literature class. We cracked Shakespeare, that-crazy-feminist-drama and Geoffrey Chaucer together. I can never forget our breaks and revision sessions at the long table in Starbucks SS15. Sharon does not like the sun, Xiao is the artistic one and Sara is feisty, despite being small in stature. The girls are all around the world too, with Sara recently departed for Reading, UK to complete her law degree. Xiao is at Emerson College, Boston doing a creative writing degree and Sharon is in her 2nd year of BA degree at Melbourne University. They are intellectuals and I have no doubt they will have great achievements in the near future. p.s. Xiao I still keep the bookmarks you made and the card you got me from Japan.

My Friday 9am Asia Cafe mates (from top left) – Dominic, Kuhan, Debbie

We are the non-math people. So while our other classmates were in Math class, we had breakfast at Asia Cafe. Such good times. Dominic is the quiet guy with a unique accent who joined the rest of us in A Level after completing his high school studies abroad UK. Kuhan is the guy who loves horses, cars and girls. He is protective over me like a big brother. Deborah is the little devil, despite her goody-two-shoes appearance. Kuhan hated my ex’s guts and teased him endlessly during our breaks. It was so funny I laughed till I cried. All three of them are in UK now. Dear Debbie recently departed for Reading as well, Dominic is at Warwick and Kuhan…I think he is at Glasgow or London? p.s. Debbie, I don’t think I can complete our little “mission”. He is graduating soon.

Nicholas

The last of his breed, Nicholas is everything a girl can wish for: Patient, understanding, kind and generous. I know this guy through Xiao and through common breaks and lunches. He is a fun-loving guy and so patient when it comes to accompanying Sara and I to shop. This guy is usually soft-spoken, but his inner Sasha emerges when he is on stage debating with his moot opponents. He is charismatic and I wish the future lawyer all the best in Reading 🙂

Alex and Marcus

They are my close mates in Melbourne, like a surrogate family. Alex was my housemate and lives 5 minutes away from my house back in Malaysia. I know Marcus through Alex. They’re good people who provide me with comfort and company when I need. They are also my lab rats (especially Alex) when I decide to concoct a cooking experiment. Memories of them revolve around clubbing, going on road trips and midnight hang outs at the weirdest places chatting. Marcus taught me poker and helped me win my first (and only) $10 in casino. Both RMIT engineering students, they lament essays and would come to me for proofread. Alex is the most neat and tidy guy I ever met while Marcus is…a little messy. But they both make my days in Melbourne more bearable.

Thao (Jasmine)

She is like the big sister I never had. Having seen more than I have seen, she gives some pretty good advice. I only known her for a bit more than a year, but she is warm and open from the moment I met her. Call it fate, perhaps. She taught me to let down my hair a little and have some fun. One of the nicest and generous person I ever met with a good nature, I have learnt a lot from her. She got me to stop swearing (in my defence, I was going through a phase :P) and took care of me when I needed her. My shopping mate, she also taught me how to find bargains 😉

Steven

My boyfriend. I know him through Jasmine and we hit it off instantly. He is very supportive and brings out the best in me. Despite coming from different cultures, we get along really well. He showed me a different side of the world and makes me appreciate what I have. He is also the inspiration for me to get my first paid job and internship. Life in Melbourne is more colourful now with him around. He is more mature than I am, so he guides me and encourages me when I am at the point of giving up. He is not perfect, nor am I. He always tries his best to give me the best he can and I appreciate everything he has done for me. He makes me happy and I hope we will always be happy.

I have saved the most important people for the last…

My family

I love them, and I know they love me. If everyone turn their back on me, I know I can turn to my family. Anytime. Unconditional love. We are a close unit and we are a happy family. I have such good times with them and I miss them all the time. They are most supportive of my decisions but they are also very honest with their criticisms. My family have my best interest at heart and my parents, especially, always make sure I am in line. Thanks to them, I am who I am today. My siblings are the best. They get on my nerves, but they are the only ones who put up with my occasional burst of weird doings. For that, I love them.

These people made me the person I am today. Without them, I won’t be who I am today. I am grateful for having such positive influences in my life. Best wishes to each and every one of you! xoxo

Free Food

Nothing makes me more excited than free food because I’m a cheap arse.

Anyway, Magnum is having a promotion where you can “unlock” a free Magnum ice-cream, driven of course by its Magnum Gold advertising campaign. The promotion states that 1 in every 6 magnums win  a free ice-cream. So, I decided to conduct an experiment to see how accurate it is.

$12, four Magnum ice-creams and possibly 12 toilet runs to clear the high sugar content in my urine, I won a free Magnum ice-cream!!

p.s. I might redeem my free ice-cream tonight 🙂