Hop for Joy! A new Magnolia-licious DT sketch challenge

Good morning and happy March 1st....the month that has the first day of spring! YAY! LOL! We have a new DT sketch challenge for you from Magnolia-licious. This month, it's Jacque's turn to choose the challenge and she provided us with an awesome sketch! I wanted to use this adorable Tilda in a bunny suit that I got from Magnolia-licious. And true to my record, I have used yet another stamp that is not in stock in the store. UGH! I'm so sorry. But if you're interested, please be sure and email Diana. I also used #427 flowers from Lazy Summer Days collection. Both are colored with Copic markers and Tilda is cut out and popped up for dimension.

The fun and punny sentiment is from a set of Easter Greetings at The Cutting Cafe' called Happy Easter Inside and Out Greetings. The butterflies are cut using my Cricut, and I added a Prima rose I got from Stamp and Create and some cherry blossoms I got from Wild Orchid Crafts. Please be sure and visit Magnolia-licious Highlites to see the gorgeous cards the rest of my design team sisters have created. They are all so fabulously talented. And we're excited that we've got two new guest designers joining us as well! So a huge welcome to Mindy and Angela!

That's it for today! Thanks so much for stopping by to see me today, and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!!

Card recipe:

images - Magnolia from Magnolia-licious, sentiment from The Cutting Cafe'

Paper: DP - Basic Grey Two Scoops; cardstock - Bazzill; stamped images on cryogen white

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Sketch markers

Tools: Cricut with Tear Drop cart for butterlfies, MS frond and branch punches, Round and scalloped round Nestabilities

Misc: ribbon from Stamp and Create, Kaiser half backed pearls, dimensional tape, stickles

Flavor-of-the-Month . . . Chocolate Raspberry Truffles

Until I was in my 20's, I'd never eaten a truffle. Sure, I'd had chocolate from the box of Russell Stover's, but truffles, no.


Enter my brilliant Aunt Janice who treated me to my first truffle, a Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, at Godiva on a visit to New York City. It was pure heaven...the crisp outer shell, the dark, rich center, the slight tang of raspberry. I believe there were angels singing.

Since I had this raspberry sauce on hand, I decided to try making them myself. You know what? They are pretty delicious.



Chocolate Raspberry Truffles

8 oz. bittersweet chocolate
1/2 c. heavy cream
2 TBSP raspberry sauce
1 bag dark chocolate candy melts
sanding sugar (optional)


Chop the chocolate and place in a bowl. Bring the cream to a simmer on the stove and pour over the chocolate.



Let sit 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Stir in the raspberry sauce.

Let this mixture sit at room temperature for an hour or more until set. (I poured it into a shallow baking dish to help cool it down faster.)


Scoop into balls using a melon baller or a spoon and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. (I watched Ina do this on TV and get perfectly round ball....that didn't happen for me. I got this: )

{not pretty.}

If that happens to you, pop them in the fridge, then remove after 15 minutes and shape into balls. (I had better luck pressing them together, rather than rolling them.)

{much better. }

Refrigerate the truffles until ready to coat.

(You can skip the next step entirely and roll the truffles in cocoa powder, or...)

In the microwave, melt the candy melts with 1 tsp shortening. Melt in 30 second intervals on 50% power, stirring after every cycle until melted.

Dip the truffles into the candy melts and place on the wax paper lined sheet. While the candy melts are still wet, sprinkle with sanding sugar.




Now, I know it is like a sacrilege to use candy melts to coat real chocolate, but I wanted that hard outer shell and haven't been brave enough to try my hand at tempering chocolate. Anyone tried it?



Do you have a chocolate post to link up? I can't wait to see! Link up a the the bottom of the post. Please remember to link to your POST, not the main page of you blog.

Thanks so much for playing along with Flavor-of-the-Month. I've heard from several of you that FOTM sneaks up on you and sends you into a mad panic at the end of each month. You know what, it does to me too, most months. I always meant it to be *fun* not stressful, SOOOOO...this is the last Flavor-of-the-Month. (I think chocolate is a good way to go out, don't you?)

It will be replaced with impromptu linky parties now and again. I might say..."What's the best thing you've baked this month?" and ask you link up. I'll be sure to announce those on twitter, too, so if you're not there, come join the fun!

Alright, ladies & gents....link away!!! {Linky will be open through March 2nd.}

♥ (HELP) which one a better foundation? ♥

I almost ran out of make up foundation & getting a new one soon.
but I wanna try something new~~ but still not sure what brand should I get?
I have been using Liquid MAC Mineralize Satinfinish Foundation foreveeer now.
I like them especially the yellow undertone color on me but I'm still not 100% perfectly satisfied with the results. :(

I have tried Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation.
But I HATE the color on me. It makes my face looks a bit pale & the pinkish undertone is deff not my favorite. :(
I got them in Medium Ivory, it was probably either too fair or too dark for me.

I have also try CLINIQUE Perfectly Real Makeup in True Beige but I also hate the color on me.
It was again, either too fair or too dark for me. :(

I'm looking for my holy grail foundation. 
I have a very dry skin, I don't have many acnes so I don't really need a full coverage but I do have a bit pores & bit of imperfection this and there so I still want the medium coverage with a natural look.
I'd love to get the luminous dewy flawless kind of result. 
It's one of the most important standard for my HG foundation other than finding the perfect color.
I also need to find a perfect color foundation, so far NC35 is the colosest to perfect I've ever got.
I don't like the pinkish color undertone, I like yellow undertone better. But of course not too yellow.

soooo please, anybody, help me to find my HG foundation??


I've been thinking of getting any of this..

Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturizing Foundation

I'm interested because the foundation supposedly gives a luminous glowing result & moisturize my skin in the same time. It also have the anti-aging formula. The color result suppose to look very natural or sheer coverage that won't makes my face looks 'cakey'.

Should I get this??

 

Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation

the 'holy grail' foundation for many people. but is it really worth it? 

It's really expensive though, almost double price more than MAC! :(

but if its really that good, I would buy them for the quality.

this foundation promise to gives a 'dewy' result, that's why I'm interested in it.

Should I get this??

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation

one the most popular foundation out there.

should I get this??

or if you have a more better suggestion. I'd love to know.

thankssss~~ ^^

love.love ♥♥

April Showers bring May Flowers. Peggy Loves Vintage with The Cutting Cafe'

Happy Saturday everyone! Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. We had a rainy day today, which is wonderful. I love rainy days. Now please understand that I also live Reno, which is high altitude desert. So we just don't get rainy days. We get good snowy days, but rain storms are far and few between. So when we get one, I love it. Ok, enough about the weather! :) Let's move on to this adorable duck and baby from Peggy Loves Vintage! This image is actually from the New Baby Volume 2 cd. Be sure and really look at the images on Peggy's CDs with an open mind. They can be used for so many different things. I cut the image from the front of a baby shower card, because I thought they'd make the most adorable card to celebrate Spring.

I printed out two of the images because I wanted to pop up Mama Duck, baby duck, and the top part of the umbrella. I just used some dimensional tape to pop them up. Hopefully you can see the dimension a little better in the picture below. Please visit Peggy's blog too. She's got a couple great images she's giving away right now. Please be sure and leave her some love and let her know which image you like best. She'd also love it if you'd link up your project you made.

I mounted this adorable duck and baby on a FABULOUS scalloped square from The Cutting Cafe'! I don't know if you've seen the new large scalloped square from Spellbinders, and I also know I don't have to tell you how spendy they are. You can get the Assorted Scalloped Set 1 file from The Cutting Cafe', which has quite a few different type of scallops on it, for a grand total of $5.99, and you can make it any size you want with the click of your mouse!!! Easy peasy! You can either use the wpc file to cut it out with a cutting machine, or you can use the pdf file and your scissors. I truly LOVE this file of scallops! I cut mine out with my Pazzle Inspiration which I got from Hallmark Scrapbook! Hallmark is one of my favorite stores to shop at on line. Jody and Brad are the most wonderful people! They have the best prices and service ever! I also used the Rain, Rain, Go Away file for the sentiment. Regina has been releasing lots of new files, so please be sure and check them out over at The Cutting Cafe'!!

Thanks so much for stopping to see me today, and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!

Card Recipe:

Image - Peggy Loves Vintage New Baby Volume 2 cd; Sentiment and scalloped frame - The Cutting Cafe'

DP - DCWV Whimsy stack; cardstock - Bazzill

Tools - Pazzle Inspiration, EK Success flower punch, Circle Nesatabilites for sentiment

Misc: buttons - stash, silk ribbon, Kaiser half backed pearls, dimensional tape

Hannah and Her Sisters

February 25, 2010

For Valentine’s Day, I rented Annie Hall (see entry VD) and it reignited the desire to see Woody Allen films. On recommendation, I rented Hannah and Her Sisters, which turned out to have amazingly rich and complicated characters and wonderful plot. The storyline that I was most fascinated with was that of Eliot, Hannah’s husband, and Lee, her sister. Eliot had become enamoured with Lee and decided that he wanted to have an affair with her - to find out what happens I suggest that you go out and rent it. There is a fabulous scene in the film, where Eliot is first trying to get Lee to notice his affections, which takes place in a bookstore. Eliot tells Lee that he read a poem that reminds him of her and he wanted to buy her an anthology book that contained the poem. The featured line from the poem is “nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands”, which I immediately recognized as e. e. cummings, noting that it is also used as the epigraph from Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie. Today’s question is: what is the name of that e. e. cummings poem?

A: The book that Eliot gives Lee in the bookstore is the Complete Poems 1913 – 1962 by e. e. cummings. Eliot tells her that the poem he wants her to read is on page 112 of the book, yet in actuality the poem entitled “somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond” is on page 366.

somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond
e. e. cummings

somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond
any experience,your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully ,suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility:whose texture
compels me with the color of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands

Sources:
Academy of American Poets
Internet Movie Database: Hannah and Her Sisters

It's the most miserable time of the year

February 26, 2010

My brother and I went to see one of our favourite comedians, Jeremy Hotz, at Massey Hall this evening. We have been to many of the Just for Laughs festivals in the past, which have featured Jeremy a number of times. His quirky and unique stand-up style is what I find hilarious! He tends to find misery in the most everyday tasks and delivers his commentary on the brink of either laughing at himself or on verge of tears. Jeremy got his start in little comedy clubs around Canada, but in 1997, he performed at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and received a standing ovation after his debut performance at the festival’s prestigious television gala. Today’s question is: when did the Just for Laughs comedy festival start?

A: Just for Laughs comedy festival started out as a humble two-night French language comedy show in Montreal in 1983. Twenty- seven years later, it has turned into a powerhouse of comedic film, television, theatre and touring comedy festivals. The company has expanded from Montreal to Toronto, then adding Chicago and most recently Nantes, France.

Sources:
Jeremy Hotz
Just for Laughs: Jeremy Hotz
Just for Laughs Comedy Festival
Travel Lady: Just for Laughs

Anus?

February 23, 2010

My roommate and I subscribe to an organic fruit and vegetable delivery service. The company, called Mama Earth, delivers seasonal, organically grown produce to our home. This week, we had a fennel bulb delivered and my roommate asked me if it was an anus.

Now, let me provide some background… Both her and I worked in family-run grocery stores when we were younger. Both of the stores stocked fennel but labelled it as anise. My roommate always thought that it was pronounced anus.

But back to our organic fennel, I didn’t know how to answer her. So, today’s question is: is there a difference between fennel and anise?

A: There seems to be a common misconception that fennel and anise are the same things. Some cooking websites use the two words interchangeably, as both plants have a subtle liquorice flavour. However, it seems that anise and fennel are actually a different plant. The botanical name of anise is Pimpinella anisum while the botanical name of fennel is Foeniculum vulgare. Both anise and fennel belong to the Apiaceae family.

The whole plant (bulb, stalks, and fronds) of fennel can be consumed, while it is usually just the seeds from the anise plant that are eaten. Star anise or Chinese anise, which is often used as a spice, is not part of the Apiaceae family, which means it is not even related to anise or fennel. Huh.

So, the likelihood is that if you go to the grocery story and you see a plant-like vegetable labelled anise, it’s a good chance that is fennel – and not anus.

Sources:
Jamie Oliver Forum
Yahoo! Answers

Vay-cay

February 24, 2010

For more than 10 years, I have been talking about visiting Belize. I initially wanted to go there on my honeymoon, but with my husband being from another country and not all of his family able to attend the wedding, things didn’t really work out and our honeymoon was spent visiting with those that couldn’t make it to see our nuptials. Then, I wanted to go for my fifth anniversary, but things didn’t really work out in general. So, in the midst of a divorce, I figure I’m going to go on vacation to Belize. Being part Guatemalan, my matriarchal family never lets me forget that Belize used to be a part of Guatemala. My former husband maintained that Belize was a British colony. Now, much like me, Belize is an independent nation. Today’s question is: when did Belize achieve independence?

A:
Belize was initially inhabited by the Mayans between 200 A.D. and 1000 A.D. The culture slowly declined throughout Central and South America with the conquering attempts of the Spanish and British. In preparation for colonization, The British-Guatemala Treaty over Belize was established in 1859 to settle the boundaries of the countries. In 1862 Belize became a colony of British Honduras, making Belize the last British colony on the American mainland.

1933 Guatemala reasserted its claim to Belize stating that the treaty of 1859 was an agreement of cession through which Guatemala would give up its territorial claims. The Guatemalan Governor General, Jorge Ubico, disputed the validity of the treaty under the grounds that Britain did not fulfill the terms and commitments of the document. Britain maintained that Guatemala had never exercised any authority over the area or protested British presence until the 19th century. A series of political negotiations began and continued well into the 1970s, yet the dispute was never resolved. In 1975 Britain allowed the colonial government to internationalize its case for independence, so Belizeans participated in international diplomacy even before the area became a sovereign nation. The stalemate in the protracted negotiations between Britain and Guatemala over the future status of Belize led Belizeans to seek the international community's assistance in resolving issues associated with independence.

In 1981 Belize became an independent nation, through the support of Central American and Caribbean countries who campaigned on Belize’s behalf.

Sources:
BBC News – Belize Country Profile
Belize – Decolonization and the Border Dispute with Guatemala
History of Belize – Chronological Table

Masa

February 22, 2010


This afternoon I got the chance to catch up with an old colleauge and friend. We went to a local sushi place called Masa, which offers an all you can eat lunch special for $10.99. I always enjoy eating here as the selection is quite extensive and the quality is great. I think my favourite roll is the spicy salmon skin roll - I know, it sounds a little off putting, but this definitely gets Mirelle's stamp of approval - it is delicious! Today's question is: what is the difference between sushi and sashimi?


A: Sushi and sashimi are both Japanese dishes consisting of raw fish. Sushi consists of vinegared rice with an overlay of raw fish or is rolled in seaweed with fish and/or vegetables. Sushi does not mean “raw fish,” but “vinegar rice.” While much of the fish used to make sushi is raw, some of the items are blanched, boiled, broiled, marinated or sautéed. Sashimi consists of different species of fish dipped in a mixture of wasabi and soy sauce that are sliced into thin pieces and then served raw.

Interestingly, sushi was originally developed as a snack food to serve at gambling parlours so the gamblers could take quick bites without stopping the action.

Sources:
Difference Between
Food Info Net
The Nibble

Familia

February 21, 2010

Sundays usually consist of going up to the suburbs to visit my parents for Sunday lunch. This has been a long standing tradition, yet I sometimes find it to be quite torturous. My mother is very critical and has an opinion on everything I do. My father, as lovely as he is, tends to lecture about everything and is a little socially inappropriate with his questions. I don’t have any complaints about my brother, who has been supportive and kind, but things can change. I figure that everyone has their issues with their family, be it parents, siblings or extended family, at some point. Today’s question is: where does the word family come from?

A: The word family first referred to the servants of a household and then to both the servants and the descendants of a common ancestor. It comes from the Latin word familia, meaning 'household; household servants', which came from another Latin term famulus, or 'servant'. It was not until 1667 that the term was used specifically for the group of persons consisting of parents and their children. The word daughter is a very old English word, first recorded c. 1000 as dohtor. It descends from Old English and is related to words in many other Indo-European languages, such as Greek thugater. The modern spelling daughter was first used in a 16th century Bible and was popularized by Shakespeare. The word son is quite a bit older, found in Beowulf in 645. It also descends from Old English and is related to words in many other Indo-European languages, such as Greek huios. Mother is one of the surviving words from Anglo-Saxon (starting as modor), which are among the most fundamental words in English. Mother has many cognates in other languages, including Old High German muoter, Dutch moeder, Old Norse mothir, Latin mater, Greek meter, and Sanskrit mat. These words share an Indo-European root. Father is derived from Latin pater and has cognates in many other languages; the word entered Old English as feder and foeder.

Source:
Dictionary.com

Curl Ambassadors

February 20, 2010

Yet another eventful Saturday involving a lot of running around and completing errands! One of the highlights was getting my hair cut. Having naturally curly hair has left me with a number of bad hair cuts in the past including something that made me look like a poodle or constantly leaving the salon with wonderfully stick straight hair, in which I never have the time or inclination to try to reproduce the next morning. However, in the last year or so, I’ve been going to a place called The Curl Ambassadors, who only deal in cutting and styling curly hair. I have not been disappointed! Today’s question is: what causes curly hair?

A: The obvious answer is that genetics plays a major role in whether a person has curly or straight hair. Even if both parents do not have curly hair, they may have the genetic markers that can be passed on to produced curly-haired children.

One of the biological reasons for curly hair is the shape of the hair follicle. Hair follicles are the tiny sacs in the skin of people's scalps. These sacs hold the hair bulb from which hair grows. As the hair grows, it emerges from the top of the hair follicle. People with curly hair have hair follicles that are shaped like an elongated oval. The direction that hair grows out from the scalp also determines if it will be curly. Within the follicle, the hair bulb may lie at a certain angle. This angle will determine in which direction hair will grow when it emerges from the scalp. Curly hair grows out of the scalp at a sharp angle because their bulbs sit to one side within their hair follicles.

Sources:

Understanding genetics

WikiAnswers: What scientifically causes curly hair?

Bit o' Bread

February 18, 2010

Today, I got to put my procurement skills to use. I'm helping to plan a bunch of focus groups and I need to order the all important food. And since I order food, indirectly, with tax payer dollars, it is important for me to schlep around getting quotes on how much food will cost. After nearly a week of calling around, visiting lunch spots and researching online, I went with the Croissant Tree. Mmmmm... croissants.

I like to think of myself as an intermediate level cook, however the only croissants I have ever attempted were these:

I know that it takes a long time and lots of patience to make croissants from scratch - and to be honest, I would rather just buy them from the store. Today's question is: what is the origin of the croissant?

A: The answer for this one fascinated me. Apparently, there is a long standing myth about where the croissant came from. In the 1938 book, Larousse Gastronomique by Alfred Gottschalk, it was detailed that the croissant was created in 1686 in Budapest, Hungary by a courageous and watchful baker, at a time when the city was being attacked by the Turks. Working late one night, he heard odd rumbling noises and alerted the city's military leaders. They found that the Turks were trying to get into the city by tunnelling under the city's walls. The tunnel was destroyed and the baker became a hero. However, the baker asked no reward other than the exclusive right to bake crescent-shaped pastries commemorating the incident, the crescent being the symbol of Islam.

This story has been reproduced and become the accepted history of this delicious, flaky and buttery bread. Unfortunately, it just a myth that has been accepted as truth. The real history of the croissant is less dramatic. The croissant originated in France in the 1830s. It was an adaptation by the Austrian baker, August Zang, of the Austrian bread called the kipfel. The first croissant recipe was published in 1891, but it wasn't the same kind of croissant we are familiar with today, the flakier version was subsequently published in 1905 in France.

Sources:

Food Time

O-Chef

Sitting on an atomic bomb about to go off

February 19, 2010

This evening, my roommate and I went to see the cult classic 'The Room' for the first time. The Royal Cinema in Toronto tends to show it monthly at midnight. 'The Room' was horrifyingly bad, which made it so good. This movie has everything, from terrible acting, editing inconsistencies, a disturbing 1990's slow jam soundtrack, revolting sex scenes and a nonsensical plot. Yet I challenge someone else to attempt something worse and make it just as entertaining. From the screening, it was obvious that there are some really hardcore people who enjoy shouting at the screen and throwing spoons, a la Rocky Horror Picture Show. Today's question is: what is the significance of the spoons in 'The Room'?

A: As a ‘The Room’ virgin, I was completely unaware that there is a framed picture of a spoon inside Johnny and Lisa’s living room. 'The Room' followers have become obsessed with the photo and shout “SPOON!” and hurl plastic picnic spoons at each other or at the screen each time it appears on screen.

So there you have it. If you end up seeing a midnight screening of this amazing display of horribleness, make sure to bring spoons with you!

Sources:
Independent Film Channel: “Everyone betray me!” A Primer on ‘The Room’
The A.V. Club: A Viewer’s Guide to The Room
Times Online: Cult hit The Room is the best worst film

Mom, Pop, Suzy and Little Johnny

February 16, 2010


Today's post is a continuation of yesterday. I had quite an eventful day today - I went to see Editors in concert - but I was left questioning the "made up holiday" of the third Monday of February. In 2008, Dalton McGuinty, the Premier of Ontario, decided that Ontario would observe this as a statutory holiday just as the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan do. Today's question is: when did Alberta begin observing Family Day?

A: Family day was first observed in 1990 in Alberta, it was created to recognize the pioneers who first settled there and to emphasize the importance of the modern day family. Saskatchewan followed suit in 2007, and as mentioned above, Ontario began observing in 2008.

In researching, I came across this line from TimeandDate.com:

On Family Day, many people plan and take part in activities aimed at the whole family. These include visiting art exhibitions, watching movies, skating on outdoor ice rinks, playing board games and taking part in craft activities... As the weather is usually very cold in February, hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies are popular snacks.

Where these people think we live? A Hallmark snow globe?! Admittedly, I went skating with my brother, but had he not suggested it, I would have stayed in bed and been the miserable, antisocial, biotch that I normally am! ;)

Source:
Calendar: Family Day

Poetry

February 17, 2010

Another writing Wednesday and our little class will be moving on from the short story to poetry. I am not looking forward to taking on this section. I don't think I have the eloquence to be a poet. I also have difficulty interpreting the symbolism of poetry, which strips my enjoyment of it. There are a number of different styles of poetry - most of which I am unfamiliar - but my question is really one of definition. Today’s question is: what is a poem?

A:
Edgar Allan Poe said, "Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words."

A poem is identifiable by its literary and musical elements. For example, metaphor and alliteration are common in many poems. Another hallmark of a poem is its brevity, or ability to say much in few words. This requires layered meaning and the use of symbolism. A poem need not rhyme or contain a consistent meter to qualify as such, but those elements are common in many poems. Usually a poem is broken down into lines and stanzas. They can contain full sentences or just fragments, or a combination.

There are many forms of poetry such as:

Sonnet – the sonnet is the most popular form of poem. Sonnets are usually connected with poems about love. Shakespeare produced many well known sonnets, some of which can be found in the Oxford Book of English Verse.

Ode – an ode is a lyrical poem which is structured into three parts (strophe, antistrophe and the epode).

Haiku – Haiku is a form of unrhymed Japanese poetry, the haiku contains three sections totaling 17 onji (phonological units of syllable weighing), structured in a 5-7-5 pattern.

There are also many different genres for poems including epic poetry (narrative literature centered on mythical or heroic people), narrative poetry (poems which tell a story), dramatic poetry (written in verse), lyric poetry (usually describes the poet's feelings and thoughts).

Ugh. I’m not looking forward to it!

Sources:
eHow: What is a poem?
Wikipedia: Poetry

Oh Canada

February 15, 2010


Today is an important day for Canadians - no, it's not that made up "Family Day" holiday - today is flag day. I only know this because of a newspaper article that my roommate pointed out to me. So, an opportunity to research. Today's question is: when was the Canadian flag incepted?

A: Red and white were designated as Canada's official colours in 1921 by His Majesty King George V.

Dr. George Stanley designed the current flag, which is inspired by the Royal Military College of Canada’s flag, and chose to use the single maple leaf because it could clearly be seen from a distance. The multi-party parliamentary committee formed to select a new flag unanimously chose the design on October 29, 1964. The House of Commons passed the design on December 15, 1964. Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the new flag on January 28, 1965, and it was inaugurated on February 15 in the same year.

In 1996, Februrary 15th officially proclaimed National Flag of Canada Day.

Source:
Canadian Heritage: National Flag of Canada Day

Wags 'n Whiskers - Free Style!!

WooHoo!! Happy Friday!! It's time for a new Wags 'n Whiskers challenge, and this week the talented Inge said it's Freestyle week!! I have been just waiting to use this beautiful image of Ansley in prayer. Oh my goodness, she's so pretty! I just think she's amazing for so many things. A first Communion card, a "your in my thoughts and prayers" card, a Sympathy card, a Baptism card, and the list goes on and on. She's colored with Copic markers, cut out, and then popped up with dimensional tape.

Please be sure and visit the Wags 'n Whiskers challenge blog to see the gorgeous creations the rest of the WnW Design Divas came up with! What a talented bunch of ladies! And then we'd love it if you'd join us in the challenge as well. Remember in order to win, you must use a Wags 'n Whiskers image! And if you don't have any yet, then what the heck are you waiting for! Thanks for stopping by to see me today and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!!

card recipe:

image: Wags 'n Whiskers - Say a Prayer

paper - DP - Graphic 45; cardstock - Bazzill; stamped image on Cryogen White

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Sketch markers

Tools - oval nestabilities, MS frond punch, Sewing Machine

misc: silk ribbon, cross charm, Prima flowers, Wild Orchid Crafts brown roses, Stickles (Frosted Lace), dimensional tape

As promised . . . cheesecake

How about a little somethin' to go with that raspberry sauce?

How about Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with a Chocolate Cookie Crust? Oh, yeah.

One really nice part about finally living in the same city as my sister is that when it's her birthday, I get part of the cake. {I mean, that's not the only reason I like having her here.}

She wanted birthday cheesecake and I couldn't have been happier.

Let's start with the crust.

Chocolate Cookie Crust

1 & 3/4 c. crushed chocolate wafers
4 TBSP melted butter
4 tsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. coarse salt

Combine all ingredients. Press into the bottom of a 9" springform pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cool completely.


{I used (chocolate) Oreos...just the cookie part...for the wafers because, well, they're cheaper than chocolate wafers and I knew there would be extras. What you do with the creamy centers is your business.}


Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
{modified version of Classic Cheesecake from The King Arthur Flour Baking Companion}


3 (8 oz) pkgs. cream cheese, room temp.
1 & 1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. coarse salt
4 eggs
3 TBSP freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 TBSP vanilla bean paste
1 c. sour cream, full fat
1/2 c. heavy cream

Preheat the oven to 325.

On low speed, beat the cream cheese until no lumps remain; scraping down the sides as needed. Add the sugar and salt and beat until combined. Add the eggs one at a time until the mixture is smooth before adding the next egg. Scrape the bottom of the bowl after each addition.

Stir in the lemon juice, vanilla bean paste, sour cream and heavy cream until smooth.

Pour onto the cooled crust and bake 50 minutes or so until the edges are set and the cheesecake is a light golden brown. The middle will still jiggle when the pan is shaken.

Turn off the oven, crack the door and let the cheesecake cool in the oven for 1 hour. (This helps prevent cracking.) The center will finish setting in the oven.

After 1 hour, remove the cheesecake from the oven and run a knife around the edge of the pan.

{Doing this allows the cheesecake to contract as it cools without pulling off the side and cracking.}


Refrigerate overnight and serve with raspberry sauce (or plain, or with chocolate sauce).


You might start spooning the raspberry sauce onto the cheesecake,


but I say....go for the pour!

Happy birthday to my beautiful sister, Molly! Thanks for sharing your cake with us! :)



Related posts:

• raspberry sauce
• no-bake cheesecake
• lucky

{Oh...and Flavor-of-the-Month *Chocolate Edition* linky will be up on Sunday!}

Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Tender, delicious gluten-free soda bread.

As with anything in life, you get a little, you lose a little.

I just wish Mother Nature would reverse the getting and losing when it comes to life post-menopause, Darling. I'm losing on top where I've never been particularly gifted, if you know what I mean. I buy bras in the teen section because the only adult bras that fit me are those pull-over-your-head uniboob running bras and Ladies, come on. These tight little torturers (once you squeeze into them, which could take a good seven minutes; I timed it once) are, shall we say, less than inspiring. If you're over a certain age and so is your husband, you know what I'm talking about.

So I'm losing oomph there and I'm gaining in the new mid-section of me I like to call Doris because it somehow seems appropriate. These love handles deserve a name, after all. A retro name like Kitty or Patty or Madge. Because they're evidently not intent upon leaving. They insist they're here to stay.

So since Doris won't go away, I try to coax her to skedaddle by eating lots of lettuce. And a rice cake or two. I tell myself, Bunny food rocks! But I lose even more of my boobs when I eat this way.

And Doris still sticks around.

Which brings me to bread. (What midriff conversation doesn't?) In this case, Irish soda bread. Yep. The classic, yeast-free quick bread. I'm not gonna give up a bread this delicious. Even for Doris. I'll just have to run up and down the block. A lot. In between taking iPhotos with my iPhone. That's my plan anyway.

That should work, right?

Read >>

Beautiful Bread . . . Works For Me Wednesday

I've had so much fun baking bread lately with my sourdough starter, but I was frustrated. Why wasn't my bread *pretty* like at Panera or the bakery?


It tasted good, but it was dull looking. None of the recipes I read said anything about getting a pretty, shiny, crackly crust. What was the secret?

Then I read in a magazine....brush with beaten egg! Now, why hadn't I thought of that?

{See that shiny crust?}

So, if you want a shiny, golden crust on your bread, just brush the top with beaten egg right before popping it in the oven!

Also, tonight I just came across this site with great ideas for glazing bread. I can't wait to try them all!

---

Be sure to scoot on over to Works For Me Wednesday for hundreds of "works for me" tips!


Related posts:

• sourdough starter
• cranberry-pecan rye bread
  

VD

February 14, 2010

Oh, another Valentine's Day. Some people believe that Valentine's Day is nothing more than a commercialized holiday and that couples should show their love for each other every day. I agree. However having been married, I also know that paying the bills, cleaning the toilet, cooking meals and the mundane tasks of daily living usually robs the romance from relationships, so I believe that a day set aside to reignite the love is not such a bad idea. Being single this Valentine's Day stings a little bit, not for lack of gifts or flowers, but a reminder of the lack of romantic love in my life. Regardless, I decided to make the most of it by watching break-up movies with a duo of friends. We indulged in 'Annie Hall', 'Cashback' and 'Lars and the Real Girl' - all wonderfully quirky films about romantic relationships - and a caramel apple upside down cake. Today's question is: what is the most popular Valentine's Day gift?

A: Well, it seems that VD really is a Hallmark holiday! According to the Greeting Card Association (yes, there really is a trade organization devoted to greeting cards and stationary!) 190 million cards are sent each year, that is excluding the ones that school children send.

According to the annual consumer survey, conducted by the National Retail Federation, fifty-five percent of the US consumers were planning to send at least one Valentine's card this year.

Source:

National Geographic: Valentine's Day Facts

♥ TIESTO Kaleidoscope Worldwide Rave ♥

♥

 

I went to Bangkok last week on 'Chinese New Year' break.
I'm not Chinese btw just to be clear, caz people have mistaken me a lot. :(
the purpose of the visit this time is to party live with TIESTO^^ yayy~~
it's the Kaleidoscope World Tour.
I really like this album, it has more melody & lyrics than the previous tiesto stuff. 

the rave itself was pretty cool.. set up in the rooftop. 
not exactly rooftop though because the Premium Ticket holder didn't actually get to chill under any roof outside.
me & friends came very early & & there were only very few of people there. we decided to get in anyway.
& that's how I was able to take some pictures.
but as the time flies, more & moreeeee people came, it was impossible to take pictures anymore.
i'm sorry for that. i didn't even get the chance to take some snap of TIESTO himself! lol.
there were too many people & I was up dancing all night^^
I didn't take any personal pictures of my journey that night caz I was just kinda busy havin' fun & didn't even remember to take some pictures. :(
but I give you some ideas from the pictures I found in Google.

 

(the ads)

so the rave was located @ Central World ZEN Rooftop in the main city of Bangkok.

 

(the huge ZEN logo)

random from Google

(this is how it looks in the daytime)

random from Google

 (the actual mall. the TIESTO rave was located at the rooftop)

random from Google

  

(how it looks like at night time)

random from Google

 

(seems that I was the only one who's eager to take pics in front of this board @ the entrance)

  

(everybody else was just chilling out, seriously, nobody taking pictures. lol)

  

(the DJ set. but that's not TIESTO. hehee)

(posing at the very beginning of the rave, before it's too pack & impossible to take pics)

 (helloo^^)

 

(TIESTO crew in the back)

here are some actual videos on set. TIESTO did a lot of remix this time, which kind of a bad thing caz I always like his original stuff. but overall he was pretty rockin' or (trancin') perhaps if that's even a word xD 

he played good stuff from Kaleidoscope that got me good. :)

escapeee meeeeeeeeeee.....^^ knock you ouuuttt.....^^

I had a lot of funnnnnnnnn.. yayy!!

love.love ♥♥