Mooncake festival

Most people get excited when I share that part of my long weekend celebrations involve celebrating Mooncake festival. "What do you do?" They ask. Perhaps disappointingly (or not) I answer, "In Sydney, we just eat". The Chinese seem to have preserved a lot of traditions that revolve around food. Or perhaps it is my perception of these festivals given that I gave up pagan idolising when I converted to Christianity when I was twelve. From then onwards, the prayer rituals my grandmother went through no longer held any awe. It was more, when will the praying be over, so that we can get cracking on all that food?

This is my first year celebrating with my new family. They might not quite get the festival, and I have a feeling that they are merely putting on a banquet at home because they thought it was a momentous occasion for me. But my mother-in-law wanted to make a lasagna, and all her other famous dishes, that don't hold any meaning at all for Mooncake festival. Grrreat...
I don't really know though, what would be a Mooncake festival banquet dish. I find myself getting a little annoyed at how fancy Asian cooking always looks brown. Check out my collage of the substitute Mooncake festival celebratory dinner I had with my Malaysian mates last weekend:




Top: XO Scallops w/ glass vermicelli, and steamed coral trout
Middle: Heart clogging goodness, aka deep fried eggplant with salted egg yolk
Bottom: Yam duck, and XO Mud Crab with glass vermicelli pot



Not very interesting to photograph but oh so delicious. I am attempting a roast pork today, but am not doing much else because my Mother- in- law doesn't agree with making dishes you can readily buy. There appears to be no joy in her mind to spend time slaving away on the kitchen making something that you may just as we'll buy from Hurstville or Coles.

Trying very hard not to correct her opinions... But I could barely concentrate on my recipe last night as she regaled me with her opinions as to why Sara Lee desserts are the best way to go whilst I was making my mini Pavlovas. They ended up being over baked and too chewy, but I am certain it is my own fault for losing interest in them as soon as I had slapped them in the oven.



Meh, the pastry cream helped soften them a little but mostly I was too sickened by how sweet the pavs were. Even the tart strawberries didn't cut through the sweetness.

Anyways, after the awesome AFL grand finals game yesterday, I am really hoping that the Rugby game tonight will favor Sydney too, you know to make up for our drought in State of Origins. Anyhow, I will be eating Mooncakes with my in-laws and intermittently checking on the game, so keep tweeting the action folks!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

30 days of fashion & beauty

September has been a month of fashion and shopping, just as much as Octobers are for good dining in Sydney. Here's a rundown of my $500 spent in September 2012.

Carvela Stripy Snake Print Low Heel Booties - $219.58

Dolan Midi Cardigan in Navy Stripes (similar) - $53.90

Marc by Marc Jacobs Eno Colorblock Dress - $63.20

ASOS PETITE Fit and Flare Belted Coat - $87.83

ASOS STATUS Pointed Wedges with Metal Toe Cap - $48.80

And these gorgeous neck parties, $35 for both necklaces from the Galleries Victoria, the @ccesories kiosk in the food court area. All necklaces for only $19, but discounted if you buy more of course. And they are of gorgeous quality.

(OK, it was $8 more than $500, but what's a little rounding).

 These pictures were created using InstaCollage, but the pics don't end up being of high resolution do they? Ah well, they were a novel idea to trial, but I might stick to Diptic for the time being and pass on the funky frames, filters and cutesy icons.

(Still really loving the new tools I am exploring with the iPhone5).

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Spring is in the air

Loving Cinemagram. The only thing missing to give you the full experience is to transmit the lovely scents that you'd get in this garden. You can download the app too if you own an iphone.

iGeek

Never thought I would ever turn into one of those that just have to have their hands on the latest gizmo and be amongst the first of them too. But yesterday when the iPhone5 gor released, I was amongst the lucky ones at 8am knowing that I had my iPhone5 safely received.



I had to wait for ages for the nano sim to kick into action which also meant I was out of action in the cyber world, but heck it was worth it just waiting for this phone to come to life. It is so much faster than my iPhone3 as a first improvement. Then all those features that I had missed without iOS5, such as the latest Instagram with all its features, using blog press, battery usage indicator, multitasking, iMessage, FaceTime they all came back with a vengeance.



Disappointment in not having any designer covers released yet for the phone. I had to order a clear gel case off eBay. Nothing too stylish on offer yet. But the kiosk near town hall yesterday was flogging cases for $20 and screen guards for $10. What a rort! I managed to get mine for only $6.45 in total. I just have to wait for it to arrive. Until then the plastic stays on.

But ultimately, I got bored of my restored apps and functionality very quickly and hopped onto the AppStore in search for new playthings to satiate my appetite.

And I think I have found one that I just can't wait to play with. It's called Cinemagram. An app that allows you to animate instagrams. I can't wait to go outside to trial it out.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

50 Shades of Wellbeing

Hello  my lovely readers,

I don't think any of you have ever expected me to be a source of inspiration for keeping fit. I am just one of those people who lounge around and complain that I am fat when my collarbones are still showing. I take my body for granted I do. But whilst you aren't seeking inspiration from me, I have been observing these two girls on their wellbeing journey and I am thrilled for them because I see the results that they have been able to achieve.

Source

I find Alina's posture has improved significantly and she has centred her core well so that she doesn't need to be constantly shifting her weight when standing still. Do you realise how much more better one comes across just by having better posture? Astounding change.

And Penny? She looks so much more radiant and I cannot beleive how much more energy she seriously has now because she has so much conviction in achieving her personal health goals, and she has so many effective tips and tricks for how she makes it all work and fit into her lifestyle which she would love to share with other women aspiring for the same thing.

Now these aren't fad diets, there weren't drastic changes to their work commitments, they haven't stopped having fun with their friends. Behind their desk jobs, amidst their active social lives, they have created a healthier lifestyle that now sees them as two normal, vibrant and most importantly, healthy individuals. I beleive the whole commitment began over a year ago now, it was 1st October when they had that last cigarette, and we kept thinking they would quit, but they haven't and they just keep achieving new health goals.

So, if you seek inspiration, please do like their FB page, and stay tuned as they share their effective methods and prove how you can still be fit whilst holding on to a desk job.

A bob, a manicure and a new set of lips

This body hasn't had much pampering in a while, so inspired by @Sultrabeauty's tweet earlier this week on this do from Elizabeth & James's
Runway, I brought this picture to the hairdresser's to cut off my locks for what was coined 'the new bob'.





The hairdresser argued at first that this is not a bob, and then proceeded to readjust my head a million times whilst snipping away at my chest-length tresses. She was infuriated that I was so tense and constantly watching her in the mirror. I was nervous that she might have misinterpreted what I wanted. Ta Da!





The fringe was already short and so cannot be made to be as long as the one in the picture. Whilst it is a little shorter than what I'd anticipated, I am actually really welcoming the new bob!




Nothing like freshly manicured nails on a weekend morning, all raring to go.



On another note, I experimented with a little Lipliner and lip gloss today and really liked the results: a lasting yet light, casual glossy look. I used Chanel's Precision Lip Definer in Tulip as a base, coloring in the lips, then glossed over it with the fuschia colored Lancôme Juicy Tubes in Awakening of Love ( The tube's design is by Yayoi Kusama, über cute and way before she collaborated with Marc Jacobs in his latest dot craze).





Wearing this knee length, navy striped Dolan Jersey cardigan and it is so comfortable, they dare you to sleep in it. I answered the door for an aunt visiting my in-laws and because I was wearing that, she thought I had only just gotten up. I don't care, am off for a coffee now with some single friends I've reunited with since Mr.HEA skipped town. Enjoy the rest of your weekend folks!


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Out with the old, in with the new

I bought this Pomme vernis key pouch way back when I lived in a unit and had a swipe card to carry around. But nowadays, living in a house, I don't really need a pouch very much anymore. It was time to move on.

 It's served me well, but this Fuschia number has my attention now. My very first Prada. What have I begun?

After all, we all know the Devil wears Prada.

What's on my mind at this moment

On WOMMATM, ignoring the stressful work and relationship stuff, is really a load of sweet treats and fashion. Something to do with the opening of a little pastel green kiosk in front of Mulberry at Westfield's?

I sacrificed my lunch hour to go buy these little babies...

How pretty is the box?!!

The colours, the perfect feet, the yield when you bite into the french almond biscuit. Le Sigh...

Of course, the hottest couple in Hollywood secretly married, which probably means steaming hot babies, if they make babies, if they last that long. But What obsessed me was the Marchesa Gown she wore at her wedding. Which made me have a 'I wonder if I got married all over again, would I wear this?' moment.

From Marchesa's New York Spring Fashion Week 2012

Marchesa from Shopbop

Marchesa from Shopbop; This one's on Sale ladies!

The Efflorescence of Barossa Valley

 Barossa was in full bloom when we were there last weekend. Plum and almond blossoms greeted us everywhere and it was just gorgeous whenever the petals fell softly from the branches in the gentle wind.

 Tip for any travellers renting a hire car. Before you drive off, no matter how tired, hungry, cold, excited you are for the trip about to begin, always inspect the condition of the car you have been handed thoroughly and check it off with the rental company. Europcar rorted us big time earlier this year when we rented from them and they never ended up sending us an invoice for the damages they claimed. They only reverted us to a quote. Super dodge....

 PSA aside, Barossa was all green and blue and welcoming for us last weekend. We of course went wine tasting galore, visitng both the commercial ones (we had some novices on board) such as Jacob's Creek, Wolf Blass and Penfolds, where we consoled ourselves with trying the cellar door releases, and then the more well knowned boutique wines, such as Rockford, Torbreck, Grant Burge, Henschke and Turkey Flat.

 We of course could not miss out on the farmer's market, especially being in the state of all these famous cookshow contestants that have made it to the finals, Poh, Adam Liaw, Marion Grasby, Callum Hanh of Masterchef ilk and my favourite finals of all MKR time: Nic & Rocco vs. Jen & Leigh. Something about the produce in this place must be the secret behind why they churn out so many fine chefs.

These were our spoils from 'pillaging' the market and vineyards in the one day.



 I am certainly a wine snob and wouldn't step foot in here if it wasn't for the bright sunny restaurant and the lure of the freshly shucked oysters. Picking a light moscato to accompany our equally light lunch, we tore into the baked-on-premises mushroom and blue cheese bread, Marinara pizza, pork belly and side of potatoes after slurping up greedily our slivers of oysters resting on beds of rock salt. Absolute divinity that makes one almost forgive the commerciality of the wine label.

This meal at the end of the day however was quite the one to cheer me up. We had great accompaniments to the gourmet produce and reservedly polished off only four and a half bottles amongst seven adults (of course one musn't count the ones consumed at the vineyards throughout the day).

Our starters were paired with Turkey Flat's; Fresh Olive bread dipped in Turkey Flat Olive Oil, Spiced Salami, Udder Delights Heysen Blue cheese, Adelaide Hills musky brie and Aged Barossa Port & Duck Pate, matched perfectly with Turkey Flat's Pedro Ximenez, a mellow classice sherry that took away the savoury tinge every time it got just a bit much. A brilliant aperitif if I've ever had one.

 Our delicious Saskia Beer roasted chicken was so juicy and tender, I dreamt of it that night when in bed. The tomatoes tossed in the mustard and lettuce greens were divine and the Pewsey Vale beef so awesome when paired with the Jacob's Creek Negro Amaro, we feasted like it was Thanksgiving dinner.

My favourite wine of the trip was from Torbreck. Money well spent I declare.

My favourite vineyard was Henschke Cellars, a famous brand albeit the humble, family-run production it is. And how cute is their cellar daschund - Lotte? They offered free freight for a case, so our purchases were shipped directly to Sydney instead of us having to worry about carrying the bottles onto the plane with us. This is also why you did not see those bottles on display in our array above.
A truly wonderful region to visit if you love Reislings and full-bodied Shirazs and GSMs. Our other great find from this region was the Frontignac, a floral and fruity light wine, which I coin, Cognac for the ladies. I may not have gone crazy with wine purchases due to the new living arrangements I have currently, but oh my, I would have run and hid in the valley to never come home just so that the weekend can repeat it self all over again.

Vogue fashion's night out 2012

This is my favorite annual city event. I have gone every year from when they first begun in the height of the GFC, and each year, the buzz just increases and more retailers and shoppers get involved each year.




This was my #vfno outfit, having decided on wearing nothing that was e-tail bought except for my Carvela booties from ASOS (well it completed the outfit), the Collette necklace,the Cue top, the Ally tweed jacket and the Zara petal print skirt were all items where I had touched, tried, pondered over, and lovingly exchanged for over a real cash counter. The real deal in shopping.

And so our night begun at Martin Place where the Vogue stage was all set up for a night of fashion, dance and fun.




We chanced upon the Palmolive freebies amongst these gorgeous flowers and fruit.




David Jones held catwalks with Rachel Finch as one of the hosts.




Retailers went all out with sweets galore: Lolly bars at Mimco, Ghermez Cupcakes at Ferragamo, pastel cake pops at T&Co, there were sparkling waters, wines and fizzy lemonades free flow too.




Every now and then we would chance upon a dressed up model/ immaculately dressed staff asking if we'd like to have our Polaroid taken. I collected from Forever New, Mimco, Mulberry and my favorite one at Gucci, where you get to try on Gucci's gorgeous merchandise for the Polaroid shoot and the lady that went after me politely asked if she could try on my necklace too for the shoot. lol! As if my cheapie necklace could ever compare with Gucci's luxury.

 
Peter Philips, Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup, created a new makeup collection exclusively for Vogue Fashion's Night Out. The Les Twin-Sets de Chanel is a collection of three beautiful matching lip and nail duos available exclusively on the night from the Chanel Makeup Studio in Myer Sydney.

The swatches from left to right:
Rouge Allure Velvet 'La Provocante' with Le Vernis 'Provocation' - the perfect Autumn plum colour combination.

Rouge Allure Velvet 'L'Infidèle' with Le Vernis 'Infidèle' - intense pink shades bursting with energy.

Rouge Allure Velvet 'La Délicate' with Le Vernis 'Délicatesse' - embodies sophistication and refinement in variations of beige.

Guess which one I bought? I was intrigued by the Provocation, as most the girls in there wore that, but I decided to go safe in the end, I chose the Delicate, my only purchase for the night.

Well, it might not be the last of it, I scored 20% off both ASOS and Shopbop. With the Ultimate Closet items, Shopbop managed to quench my longstanding desire to hold the Phillip Lim Pashli Satchel in real life and tried it before I go home to buy it. I am still swooning over the bag, but am choosing my priorities wisely and so have not immediately popped on and gone crazy on Shopbop. Don't worry, I will let you all know when I decide.

*Please excuse the crappity of the picture resolution. I have downgraded to the iphone 3 since Mr.HEA moved to London with my iphone 4. The plan is for me to await the iphone 5 release here and pounce on it then I will. Until then my dears, I am so sorry. *