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.