My Vogue Forum KK

I was walking around - killing time in transit - and looking at cosmetic and skincare. As usual, I bought nothing as I had everything. Anyway, this is one girl that goes to Sephora and does NOT buy anything. Who does that?! Sephora!

So I remembered my Vogue Forum Kris Kringle sender. She sent me a bronzer and I promised that I will let her know how I go with her lovely gifts. But I am a failure... and didn't. The truth is I do not have much time for posting blogs, vogue forums or any forums anymore. I am trying to stay off the computer during my home time with the family. So I decided to dedicate this post to her...

To my Vogue KK, I wanted to let you know that I thought of you when I was combing the aisles of Sephora and at the airport. I wanted to buy you something to say thanks! I have eaten the yummy chutneys and jams, actually Mick ate more of it than me. Plus I have been using the bronzer. It is hard to get used to being BROWN and having brown powder on myself. It felt weird lol... maybe I truly do not belong to VF. I have not baked anything from the book yet but I will. The reason is I have been banned from doing desserts as I do not eat them and make everyone else eat it. They are complaining that I am a feeder.

If my Vogue KK can contact me, I really want to send you something to say thanks!

My boys!

I have not blogged about this.. Heck I have not blogged much since forever. I participated in the Vogue forum Secret KK this year. This is the first time I have participated and I am not sure what prompted me to enter. Anyway, I hope that my KK liked what she received. She wanted an umbrella loves nail polish. Voila, Epi Nail polish and a handbag sized umbrella with butterfly prints.

Anyway in my mail, I received a lovely package from Tasmania! I had a dessert cookbook, bronzer and a little food pack with chutneys etc. In the letter - doh I forgot to even include one - was an explanation of each gift. In the letter, the voguette said that she hoped to see more posts... and pictures of the boys. And it occured to me that I have no written much or posted his picture. He is the most gorgeous little thing ever. He really has the face that lights up when he smiles and this smiles is through his eyes. Just look at the boys together.

Sometimes it had been incredibly hard having them so close together especially when D had not even started walking yet. But when I see them hug each other, I just melt and think how wonderful it is to have the two of them so close.

Heart Attack on a Tray

You know that feeling of, omg I must have some heart attack on a plate?

That yummy, too rich and I can only eat one small square of that? So where do you turn to? American recipes collections of course!!

Who is more American than Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree. Her rich and fancy Mac n Cheese is to die for. Not to be confused with that blue box of Kraft stuff, this thing packs the punch.

Before using her recipe, I had not heard of adding egg yolks to a white sauce. I can pack pasta away like you won't believe but not this fancy mac n cheese! A little square was all that I could take. There was so much cheese in it, caramelised onions and crispy bacon. As Ree would say I will weep now. Dig into it as did Pork Chop (D). D's fav is pasta and man did he lap it up.

Creative Odyssey My Love for Sewing Books

I have this crazy thing of buying and browsing sewing books.

And I must admit that I am ashamed to say that I have not made used of them. I have bought and sold an Amy Butler book... wahhhh... and I have in my hot little hands this one which I think is a gem. I just took a picture live from my bed, with blogger screen behind the book. This is because I sleep next to the book. It is a constant reminder that I have done NOTHING with it.

I have no valid excuses either, I have not one but TWO sewing machines. I think my friend has used my Janome more than I have. :( And I have owned my brand new Janome for about 19 months now.

This book is brilliant because it uses One Yard of fabric in all the projects. Of course it only has clothes for little girls and luck would have it that I would have two boys and there is nothing in there for them. In my cupboard is a box of fabric just mocking me as well. So on this creative odyssey, I have decided to make it a mission to do at least one project from this book.

Something small that does not require much in terms of haberdashery. Otherwise it would result in yet another reason to procrastinate. Also the excuse of I have two babies under the age of 2 might be a more valid excuse. Watch this space and I shall return!!

On another note, it is possible to go on holiday with 2 under 2. It was both wonderful and horrific at the same time. Never again until they are at least 6!!

Phone call this afternoon!!

And it was my gorgeous high school friend Meilinda... by the way this LA fashion writer is a star alright! She had a speaking role in Lost. LOST!!

Anyhoos, Meilinda calls me Hwei Ling... and I'm like erm.. who could this be? Her American accent is gloriously excited and rattling off her Thanksgiving menu to me. It includes Wolfgang Puck, Jamie Oliver, Rachel Ray ... And I asked ooh what are you making? Wolfgang Puck -> fancyyyyy. She said she was making Baked Apple Pouches.

Oh this could be good, I tried to google and it sounds interesting. Apple in egg roll skins and baked. I had to admit that I had to google "what is egg roll skins". The shame of not identifying a Chinese cooking ingredient. But it is the American name that threw me off. The recipe is on Wolfgang Puck's website how eggciting! I want to make this and it is a shame that I cannot find a picture of it. I hope to get a good picture before we wolf it down.

She rang me to ask if my little L still fits in 3months sized clothing. I said it's ok, it's American sizing, I will squeeze him in it!! I'm feeling lots of love from my friends lately. So many overseas and old friends have been visiting, calling and communicating. Loves it.

Hate these bits of cooking!

I love cooking.. well I don't mind it. I love eating more so someone's gotta cook.
That someone has been me recently since Mick's new working hours suck eggs. Things I hate doing when cooking ...

1) Cutting pumpkins, is there anything worse than fighting with a big chunk of pumpkin? I have decent knives too, so I am not sure what I did before getting said decent knives. I think I was hacking them apart with a big cleaver!

2) Deep frying, I love fried food. Hello fried chicken soaked in buttermilk mmmmm... but I hate doing it. It's always so gross, so tedious and so annoying. Then what the heck do you do with that pot of oil after???

3) Washing up afterwards, I am not sure what I did before I had a dishwasher. Pray tell!? What did I do?!? I remember our little one bedroom flat, tiniest kitchen sink and I had the biggest pots!

4) Stirring risotto, my arms.. they hurt. I love risotto, hate stirring it.

What are some of the stuff you hate when cooking?

Wedding Gowns - What do you do with them??

A friend of mine who is recently engaged said that she wants to buy her gown instead of doing what Singaporeans usually do and hire one. So I told her to take mine instead. She looked all excited and held the dress against herself and kept looking in the mirror. I felt so happy looking at the dress again. I have not taken her out of the bag since the wedding. She said she is Sz 8/10 and will not fit in the dress but I told her to alter it to fit. I mean it's been hanging in the wardrobe since the wedding. Surely if it makes someone else happy, they should take it!

So here's the challenge, who wants to bet that after two kids, I can still fit in my corset wedding gown? Please leave bets and challenge in comments. I have bought the images from my wedding photographer. I should really upload the full res images as the ones he originally gave us do not do it justice.

And back to the subject, what have you done with your wedding gown?