Wednesday, June 25, 2008

salsa chalet 2 + summer splash!

Saturday
It was a stroke of luck that i managed to attend Attitude Dance Studio's Summer Splash event! I wasn't supposed to be able to attend it, but i did!!!
The event was planned in conjuction with Spin City - The studio that Sharon Pakir founded, and they were passing by Singapore for the Malaysian Salsa Festival!
As the hosting studio, my dearest salsara Dalena was performing, and i managed to catch 2 of her performance!
My little sister's improved so much over the years! *dabs glistening eyes with a tissue*
Awwww.. (besides she's not so little anymore hmpf... taller than me somemore! >:( )
So here's some pictures that she's taken for the event...
I was too hot and sweaty from the malfunctioning aircon at Upper Club to remember to cam whore!
Her camera was misty/sweaty from the heat as well!

Pictures of Adi and i, and the entire place was soooooo hot, Adi had to steal a glass of ice from the bar to shut me from whining! There you go, a happy ice crunching Daphne with her glass of ice!

Monday
Went for Salsa Chalet, and the chicken kebabs that i did were decent, but could be alot tastier!
Cherri's mom did some Durian crepe dessert that were to die for! Then there's also Charmaine's walnut muffin with chocolate chips sprinkled on it + fried bee hoon that her mom made! Yums! Ricky brought his infamous chicken fried rice along, and we now know why his dog - Rocky is shedding fur! Hahahah! John brought along some finger food, and Audrey contributed her blue cheese with water cracker - which i think i ate the bulk of it!
We also had a good time playing with the prawns that i brought.... bringing varieties like vodka apeach prawns - cheese blanketing the prawns and *blinks* normal prawns loh.

The guys - mainly John and Adi finished the 5Litres Heineken Draught Keg that i contributed, and went on to finish nearly the entire bottle of Vodka Apeach + 1/4 remnants of Vodka Mandarin. We kept taking retarded picture with the likes of this!
Since i like this best.... i shall post it up! :D
I came home from the chalet with a sore throat, cough, and lost track of time with all the lost sleep that i tried to recover!

Well i think i should be sleeping normal by tonight!
Heading over to studio for dance training soon... ZzzzZZ..

Monday, June 23, 2008

Mangled Chicken!

I'm due to head over to the east for a chalet.... and since the chalet organiser had a surprise paper to sit for at the very last minute, i've decided to take over the reign and deal with the food!

I've chosen to potluck caramelised pineapples, stuffed mushrooms, chicken and vegetable kebab for the barbeque, not forgetting 1 kg worth of prawns! Yums!
Well mommy was nice enough to help me clean up those smelly prawns, but i'm not quite sure why she didnt offer assistance for the chicken fillet!
Deboning 2 pieces of foreign bone that's embedded in the fillet x 3 is such tough work, that i spent a total of 2 hours in the kitchen hacking and sawing away at the wishbone looking thing, and the cartiledge tailbone looking thing of the chicken!

I swear it's nature's way of telling me that i definitely lack the necessary talent in kitchen affairs la! I used 3 different methods to hackle at that bone thingies in the fillet, in hope that i'll find a one good method to use for future references, but alas! My right arm's sore and i've yet to get any conclusion!

My hands stinks, despite using a plastic bag as a make shift glove! Gah! How I hate to handle raw meat! I think i might just stick to vegetarian dishes in future!
I'm not stingy, i'm just not talented!

I ransacked the entire kitchen for spices, sauces and miscellaneous herbs to marinate my chicken, and now as i sit and blog, i sure do hope that the chicken would turn out fine... :S
I think i should go to bed, and wake up early to skew the meat, mushrooms and fruits onto the sticks!


*ok, i just related my sad kitchen experience to mommy and aside from being horrified that her kitchen's been ransacked, she just reckoned that she should have left the prawns for me to deal with too, so that i would appreciate her more! *frowns*

Well at least my kitchen endeavour seem amusing to the brother, as he listened to the conversation while getting ready for school. Well, Yay! At least i'm done with school! Woots!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Mahogany brown and sashimi

Apart from working my ass off, i have also been busy making the most out of my spare time (not much actually)! There's movies, food, food, and more food, and pool sessions and dance sessions... *yawn*
Picture updates of my whatever ventures..
A random shot of Quacks and i some time back before heading out... think we were going to catch Narnia~ Prince Caspian. Meet the new super model posing for a lippy shot!
Hahahha! Here we have Quacks posing gamely, after testing out my newly bought lipgloss!
Hurhurhur! Nice!
Next in line would be my new obsession - the sashimi phrase that i'm currently into.
Kept lugging Adi for various sashimi feast.
Looking at that picture platter is making me salivate!
Well we went for this japanese buffet that is located somewhere near studio, and my, my! I love fishes, and we ate at least 3 of that platter, along with a huge pot of Shabu Shabu, and many whatnots like the normal chawanmushi, california handrolls, agedashi tofu etc... but the hightlight of the meal was really the Sashimi la!

Sashimi again! This came along with my Sukiyaki Set that i ordered.
Japanese restaurant #2! This one's just right smack at the ground floor of Union/Amara Shopping center. I took a bite at the pretty daisy looking chrysanthemum and it's bitter! Urgh!
Pretty things never taste good?

That's about all the exciting food that i've ventured with Adi for now... and Quacks was supposed to accompany me to En. Must announce here, so that he'll remember to bring me there soon! *salivates more*
*

Was working at Clark Quay on Saturday night, and i decided to stop by Nectarie after work to get myself breakfast for Sunday morning, since i had to wake up early to attend dance training at 10am, i should make my day a happy one!

Guess what i bought for breakfast?
Say Hello to my little pretty square of Caramelised Banana Cake! The cake sat in my tummy and made me happy for the entire morning, while i danced away!

Sunday was definitely one of the most gruelling day i've ever lived through for the past 25years! 10am - 5pm worth of dancing, in preparation for the coming Clap! Performance! I swear my hands and legs turned into jelly!

After training, a handful of us decided to drop by the Botanical Gardens to watch the Tango Concert that John, Lynn, and Zie performed in!
Making my way in and out of the place was such hard work, as garden navigation is leg power heavy, as we have to walk up winding paths and roads. Luckily the performance was good! Way to go!!! Leaving the place was the worst as Adi, Ricky, Audrey and i walked out from #51 Nassim Hill, and emerged from #1 Nassim Hill 15 mins later. It took me 2 Timeout Chocolate bars to keep up with the walking, coz i was on the verge of collapsing from the lack of sugar/carbohydrates!

If i ever have the money, i'll buy myself an apartment at #3 Nassim Hill, this little establishment called Jade. It's the closest to civilisation, and the place has got pretty window shutters, and the peace that i like without being too far away from town! yippers!

I was ravenous by the time i sat down to eat my dinner!
Thinking of all that walking, makes me shudder!
*
Looking at this picture, my hair made me look like a dirty little monkey! Disheveled and unkempt hair! My root color was starkingly obvious against my old caramel blonde highlights, it grew by at least 3 inches la! No good! Meet my new haircut and color! Gabriel gave me bangs and Mahogany brown! Wanted to be a brunette, but brown with a yellow tinge never looks good on me, as it does not really flatter asian skin. :( So warm brown it shall be :D
And before i end off, here's my little pix!e darling! Still cute and dainty like always! Woots!
Byebye for now!

Silence is comfortable.

silence is comfortable.
That's my new favourite thing to say recently!
After like a million and one topics, i somehow manage to steer the conversation and make it end at that.
I am amused.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

grumbles of an unemployed/shopaholic.

Now that i'm done with school, i get annoyed with all the job naggings that i get from various individuals.
Freaking irritating la!

Short of the fact that there might be a job that you think would be suitable for me or mayb i might have an inkling of an interest, it's wise just to leave me out of the crappy nagging, for i am a big believer of getting a job that i enjoy or like, rather than to get a job for the sake of getting a job, and just so that i'll be able ot chuck a name card at people's face. WTF!

and for christ sake, a job is a personal thing, so quit sticking your face into my personal life!

However, i do appreciate the well wishers who've been more than encouraging, giving me leads on jobs that i might find fulfilling in life.. Thank you. Muah!
*
I've been working my ass off this week, and i'd say that i haven't really gotten much of a life, nor time to meet up with anyone in particular, but it sure beats being bored to death! In fact, i miss the days when i get to slack, bum around and sew a piece of something up! :D

Working at Harry's got me started on the song Constant Cravings by K.D Lang.
The band there sang it, and next thing you know, i kept humming it everywhere i go.
The last time i did such persistent humming would be Mindcircus by Way out West after i was done with a Zouk event by some Guest DJ.
I think it's time that i lay my hands on the song... tsk tsk tsk.
*
It's the Great Singapore Sale and the loots for grabs are lacklustre! I cannot understand how anyone can be remotely excited about the sale, because it's yawningly (if there's even such a word) boring. What ought to be bought has already been bought, so what is there to look forward to during the sale?

Firstly, half the time, things that i lust for at the sale only comes in insanely large sizes, of which only the bigger sized girls can whoop with joy seriously. By bigger size, i'm referring to not only the L and XL but shoe sizes as well?

But must definitely stress the fact that i am thankful for being the average sized girl, and i am merely whining for the sake of whining, and i'd better be able to find a damn good way to earn more money to pay for all that full price shopping that i highly covet.

Secondly how many of the same dress shape can a girl bring herself to buy? Take the baby doll and trapeze dress for example, It's driving me insane with their variety of colorblocks, eyelets, and ugly prints, the whole of Bugis village and Far East is ridding them by pricing them for less than $10 a piece! Hahaha about time they cleared those away anyway.

Those high waist pants and skirts are next. Not that they are ugly but the smockings added behind to create a good fit is appalling! Somehow smockings is added into just about every thing, and somehow makes the outfit look damn cheap. Gah! All that countless dress that look so promising in the front, ends up disappointing me at the back! Which reminds me alot about human as well! Hahahah!

I think i should just leave the grumbling to another day and use the time to do something more constructive, and I think i might sew myself a belt today!
Lala!

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Woots! Hello Miss Graduate

Yay!!! Check this out!
I passed! Woots!!!! Hahahahha
Not the best and most fantastic results on earth, but it's definitley a good achievement!
I've been waiting for like FOREVER to graduate la!!!
WootS!
Cant help grinning from ear to ear.
Hello Miss Graduate, here i come!

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Shucks! It's judgement day tomorrow!

It's barely a blink ago when i last cleared off my papers, and in yet another blink of the eye, it's my judgement day tomorrow - the day when i'll know if i'd graduate or stay back in school for another grueling semester of repeated subjects. I hate post exams jitters - it creates too much stress for me. :(

I dont want to be a student anymore! So please please, let me pass all my subjects this semester!
Worries aside, I'm not done enjoying my holidays yet!!!
*
The month of May, is a special month!

It is the birthday month of a few individuals who are rather important to me..
In accordance to the dates,

Quack Quack!
Happy Birdday!
Thank you for being there for me rain or shine, and all the shirts that i've ruined when i cry. You mean more than words could justify.
and i sure hope that you like your present! I spent lots of time, dilema and leg muscles getting you your present despite exams. *makes angry face*
Hahhahaha

Next in line we have Ben!
Dude! Finally a decade of friendship! Awww we sound so old.
For all the countless time you bailed me out when i crashed and burned! *hugs*

For the occassion, we headed over to Waraku as i was going through my japanese food phrase/craze to gorge ourselves silly as usual.I look more pleased with my food...

than he does... oh well.I ordered some paper pot soup set, and he ordered some udon i think?
There was the additional yakitori thing that wasnt too good though.. and i think someone got high on the drinks... and it definitely wasn't me!

On a seperate account, we visited Nectarie Le' Dessert Patisserie after i finished work one dandy night... The cakes there is to die for!
I chose a white and dark chocolate mousse cake coated with chocolate fudged topped with a pretty gold leaf!


and a caramelised banana cake!
Ooooh! Delicious! I personally prefer the caramlised banana cake better, because there was crunchy bits added into the base of the cake to create texture, while the other reason is because i'm not much of a dark chocolate eater - have always preferred white chocolate alone.
After i was done with the chocolate cakes, i couldnt taste my iced tea anymore. :S

The nectarie also serves savoury food, and being ravaneous as usual, i ordered a mushroom quiche, and the soup of the day - cream of mushroom, and also a roast beef sandwich! ( Since i was the hungry one, i walloped most of the food, while Ben mostly tasted. )

In short, it's a must visit place, the food there is made with tender loving care!
The soup of the day served, was not your typical commercialised "tin can" soup from campbells!
I heart soup that doesnt come out from tin cans! After all, why should i pay money for tinned cans soup while eating out, when i can achieve the same quality standard when i'm starving and stranded at home?

The quiche and roast beef sandwich were decent too, but in Ben's words, "you could tell that effort in the food from the way the onions were caramelised." Well i would not know (seeing that i am never one who spends much time in the kitchen, lest to even attempt to create caramelised onions?).

It was just a little disappointing that i did not get to taste their Tiramisu. *pouts*
Tiramisu is like my staple dessert la!
*
Audrey's turn!
Adi came up with this bright idea to bake Audrey a flower pot birthday cake!
Hahaha i must agree that it sounds like fun!
He was incharge of the cake bits, while i, became incharge of the decorating/flower bit!


My initial plan was to make a marzipan flower, which then evolved into a caramel flower, and lastly a paper flower.
What can i say? That I've always been more talented with paper mediums than cooking materials? Spending hours in the kitchen left me screaming in anguish, pain, cursing with impatience, and ending with lots of burned pots and scrubbing to do!

and the 2 paper flower ( Noo it's NOT an origami paper, mind you) took me 15mins to complete. -_-"
*
On a whim and fancy, Quacks and i ventured to a fish spa and got our legs nibbled..... by Fishes!
Eek!
I was ticklish, and squirmish at the start, and the fishes attacked my foot like there's no food tomorrow!

When i calmed down and started to relax, i had a ball of fish on each foot, but it was an interesting but expensive experience. $18 for 15mins of being fish food, because i refused to sign up the package! The stupid sales lady kept hackling on and on and on about the joys and perks of taking up the package. It was such an annoying experience (the lady, not the fishes), and it definitely killed the joys off being fish food. Gah! A second step of rebelling, i refuse to link up to their website, or recommend their store to anyone. However, if you MUST know, EMAIL ME and i shall let on.

Hot floral tea served at the fish spa place...

That's all for now.... geeky daph bades everyone farewell and continues to worry about her results....and continues to iron her never ending pile of clothes...
there's more in the store room - that pile captured is just 1/8 of what i intend to wear soon... :(