183 things I'm thankful for

1. Jamie Oliver
2. tuna pasta
3. being able to cook using leftovers
4. my 32nd birthday present from the cheas
5. Jenson Chea smiling at me, and it making me feel so incredibly light hearted 
6. my husband, who should probably come before Jamie... but he gets it and doesn't mind
7. our comforting home
8. pedicures
9. nail polish
10. uni power tank eco pens (best pens ever!)
11. all the recipe books I have bought myself, and the ones gifted to me
12. miu miu flats
13. tea - hot cold chai green black milk no milk 
14. bees
15. honey
16. flowers
17. trams
18. when my neighbors spend friday or saturday night out
19. when my neighbors are gone for the whole weekend
20. my husband knows when is too often to see his parents and mine
21. my brother 
22. his respectable and admirable thriftiness
23. long weekends of making dumplings and curry puffs
24. my 30th birthday present from really old friends
25. learning to cook from my mum, aunties, grandmother and ah synn
26. my nephew Chi in vegas 
27. every episode of Friends
28. cooking shows that are not about being a chef 
29. clothes that are beautiful and ridiculous all at the same time
30. loving to read
31. the little bit of Cantonese that I can still spout
32. being able to host lunch for about 20 girls and four children on my own
33. our asko washing machine
34. my brother's girlfriend
35. my best friend's honestly
36. noodles, thick, thin, rice, egg, I love it all
37. eggs... chicken, quail, emu, whatever... all good
38. pigs and pork
39. chicken 
40. rice
41. chilli
42. lemon
43. the winning combination of garlic, chilli and ginger
44. hot toddys
45. dumplings - eating making cooking
46. the fact that almost every culture has some sort of dumpling like dish
47. bandaids
48. shoe insoles, petals and heel grips
49. red packets
50. my husband gifting me with a sofia bag
51. my name
52. my nickname
53. moisturizer 
54. the fresh homemade hummus jason brought into the office
55. discovering the undercut
56. umbrellas - good for the sun and the rain
57. amazing food bloggers everywhere
58. thxthxthx
59. sunscreen that isn't greasy
60. knowing which side my bread plate is on, and which side my wine glass is on
61. the enjoyment I have eating with chopsticks
62. all the soups my mum makes 
63. things that taste tangy
64. things that make the dishes I'm cooking tangy 
65. lemons
66. lemongrass
67. all the alternatives to flour
68. yellow and charcoal together
69. peter segal's joke... "the life of steve jobs ended prematurely... much like a call placed on an iphone"... less than a fortnight after steve passed away
70. my poh poh's life and her love for me
71. enjoying fruit as a dessert
72. our wedding
73. receiving unexpected surprises in the mail
74. photos photos photos
75. not being scared of needles
76. memorizing numbers easily, while still being dyslexic with them as well
77. colours
78. sleeping in when it's raining
79. chloe boots
80. teaching myself to make madeleines 
81. the year off I had to teach myself to cook and bake
82. butter
83. the fact that my husband likes to cook and bake
84. ponyo and totoro
85. my sister in law's creativity
86. my brother in law's out going nature
87. my eventually-will-be brother in law's enthusiasm 
88. a trip to tassie
89. MONA
90. cheese
91. coffee from budan, patricia, 7seeds, etc ... 
92. Ed's chai lattes
93. ppl who don't help themselves to my food without asking
94. my husband asking me to start eating when my dish arrives before his - he knows I'm a slow eater
95. walking - its a relaxing, exercise and doesn't fill others with expectation 
96. owning a car
97. being able to manage quite comfortably with one car between two
98. going to see fashion shows with my brother in law
99. songs that are all about heart break, otherwise I would never know the feeling
100. being able to touch type
101. the little bit of Japanese I know

to be continued...

I heart simple pleasures

Yesterday I got my nails painted... and they've made me so happy.  I must remember to do this the next time I'm grumpy or feeling low.  Having this extra spark of colour has made me feel happy and relieved, I really love simple pleasures.

Spring fashion week

Last night I went to my one and only show for spring fashion week this year, and as I waited for the show to start... a thought popped into my head that seems to show up at every fashion show I attend... "hmm, here I sit in my flat boots/shoes and elastic skirt... why am I here again... oh yeah, cos I love fashion... maybe I should start to dress like it..."
It's only when the show starts that I realise, I don't need to dress like it, that's what models are for... and just like Carrie Bradshaw pointed out... “I don’t want people to think I don’t know the difference between a model and me”.  And just like Carrie, I am very aware of the difference, and pretty happy with it as well.

Love a stand out laugh

Today I love Adele, not for her soulful voice, her amazing performance at the vmas or her super sweet style... but for the fabulous cackle in her laugh!

Salty craving

Today I am in serious like with the package of tomato and basil sauce, and cans of ortiz anchovies that were delivered to me.  I am quite happy that I know exactly what to do with them!

Learning to covet what you already have

Today I found out that one of my favourite friends had a scare, and somehow, that scare went from her heart and right into mine.  We were both scared of what we could lose, and so I'm turning my blog into
what I already have and like, instead of what I would like to have.... because you never know, what you could lose and how it would break your heart.

I like to start out small, so for today, what I like is something that I already have, and can do myself... ironed pillowcases.  A freshly washed pillowcase is one thing, however, one that is freshly washed and ironed, is just so lovely.  It deserves freshly washed hair and fresh pjs, and it always provides a bit of that extra something, that leads to a better nights sleep.

It's just telling the time really ...

But how you do this... is sometimes significant... or noteworthy... depending on how materialistic your frame of mind is.  Like if you just use your phone... it's somewhat practical not to need to wear a watch... just another thing to potentially weigh you down.  Then there are those who seem to just look out for clocks... which if you're at the train station, is very easy to do.  Although, if you're anywhere near a casino, it's near impossible.  Ditto with if you're inside a supermarket... and someone like me - who is easily distracted by food and packaging, could waste hours in there. 

Anyway, enough of all that... my eventual point is, that the most elegant way of keeping track of the time... is a watch of course.  And for me, the most desirable has always been the Chanel J12.  I'm not sure what it is about this watch that I've always gravitated to... it's sturdy looking, but elegant, timeless and classic, but available in some very fashion forward* designs.  The latest design is the J12 Chromatic, and it's fabulous.  I love gun metal grey... it'll look very pretty with my Chanel mimosa polish as well!

* this is surely in the running for my fave fashion term ever