Chocolate, Cookies & Candies

Obsession with Chanel Bouclé Tweed Jackets

2012-02-13T00:01:00.001Z

I can't sew even if you put a gun to my head BUT that doesn't mean I can't recognize exquisite workmanship or material on a garment. I was rendered speechless the first time I clapped my eyes on a Chanel jacket. I'm no clotheshorse. I prefer a handbag over clothes most days. However, I have a weakness for jackets. Any well executed and beautifully tailored jacket will bring me to my knees.

Chanel jackets transcend time. The timeless factor won me over. Who wouldn't like a classic jacket that will still be relevant in a decade's time? In fact, a tweed bouclé jacket that I fell in love at a Chanel exhibition was well over 45 years old.Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could pass my Chanel jackets to Lil L when she's old enough to appreciate them?

More than a decade ago, I used to see Chanel jackets at my local consignment stores going for ridiculously low prices. They were always a couple of sizes too big. At the time, I didn't know that a Chanel jacket is made up of multiple panels which you could easily alter 2 to 3 sizes up or down. A word of advice here. If you don't have an excellent tailor who can tackle a job like this, go to a Chanel boutique. I had a tailor who bungled an alteration. Argh.

Did you realize that Coco Chanel used tweed in 1930s because it was cheap? That said, they're anything but cheap these days with a jacket running in the £2500 - £3500 mark on average. The brass chain that runs along the seam weighs the jacket down for a better drape and fit. I have been obsessing over a contrasting ivory and black Chanel bouclé jacket for many years now. Imagine my delight (okay, that was an understatement. I was whooping for joy. How unladylike of me.) when I finally located one in near new condition in my size. It fits perfectly as if the jacket was made for me. I guess the saying patience is a virtue rings true here.

Product Review: Burt's Bees Shampoo, Conditioner & Argan Oil

2012-02-10T00:00:00.002Z

Burt's Bees Grapefruit Sugar Beet Super Shiny Shampoo £8.50

Burt's Bees Grapefreuit Sugar Beet Super Shiny Conditioner £9.99

Primavera Organic Pure Argan Oil £14.50

Remember that week when I purged my entire bathroom of chemically laden products and replaced them with natural alternatives? I was blown away by the amount interest this has generated as well as the outpouring of information being shared. Thank you. After obsessively reading the reviews on Makeup Alley, I decided to try Burt's Bees Super Shiny Shampoo and conditioner. Instead of using my usual Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer, I've now turned to pure organic Argan oil. Truthfully, I was a little apprehensive. My first attempt at using a so called natural hair shampoo was a disaster. The residue build up was awful after using it twice. My scalp was unbearably itchy and my hair was greasy.

Here's a little lowdown on the Shiny shampoo and conditioner. They contain no sulfates, silicone and paraben amongst a long of list of no-no chemicals. It's made of predominantly citrus, sunflower and coconut oil as well as sugar beet extract and soy protein to nourish the hair. My Asian hair is really thick and coarse. It has a tendency to frizz and is slightly dehydrated. Yuck. After using both products for 2 weeks, I can safely say that I'm impressed. So, what do I think of the shampoo and conditioner?

1) the shampoo lathers well. Sorry. I still love seeing plenty of bubbles. I'm conditioned to think that plenty of lather equals clean.
2) despite the fact that my hair doesn't feel silky soft probably due to the lack of silicone, it's shiny. The first couple of days were spent in front of the mirror tossing my hair from side to side just to see the shine. You would too if you haven't seen your hair looking this good in a while.
3) I was a little worried when I rubbed the conditioner in. I guess I wasn't used to the lack of "creaminess" if you get my drift. However, my hair is remarkably manageable and so easy to style after a quick 5 minute blowdry.
4) I've got really long hair so I massaged 2 drops (instead of 1) of organic 100% pure Argan oil into my hair (not the scalp). My 3 step haircare - shampoo, conditioner and oil seems to work very well for now.
5) The fruity fragrance can be a little overpowering at times but I'll tolerate it as long as I have my shiny hair.

I purchased my Burt's Bees shampoo and conditioner from echemist.co.uk. I haven't been particularly impressed with the company. The service is slow. None of the bottles were bubble wrapped. The cap on the shampoo bottle was smashed during shipment and liquid spilled everywhere. Not cool. When I called their customer services, I had to take photos to provide evidence. The replacement shampoo they shipped out did not arrive as promised nor the day after. In future, I'll just buy from my favorite online store feelunique.com. P.S. I'm not affiliated with Feel Unique. I've been their loyal customer for the past 2 years.

Wearing Sweatpants

2012-02-08T11:57:00.001Z

Outfit: MNG leather jacket, Zadig & Voltaire sweater, Alexander Wang sweatpants and ankle boots

Since a number of you have requested for pairing shots of the sweatpants, here it is. A number of my friends were rather effusive with their compliments about my sweatpants outfit last week so I decided that it's safe to share them here. After much trial and error in front of the mirror, I've come to the conclusion (for me anyway) that the baggier your sweats (or trackpants) are, the more fitted your tops should be or else you'll end up looking like you've gained 10 pounds. So no tunics or oversized tops unless you're very slim (in that case, I'm extremely jealous). Mine are slightly higher rise so to keep the balance, I choose to pair them with cropped tops for the same reason as above.

I'm a fan of accessories. To elevate the look to the next level, throw on a shawl, hat, sunnies and a badass bracelet.

Accessories: Louis Vuitton leopard stole, Christy hat, Chanel sunglasses and Hermes Kelly Dog bracelet

So far I haven't had any success wearing these with a pair of sneakers. They make me look like I've just stepped out of the gym. The thing is they're so comfortable that one shouldn't get sucked into the trap of thinking of dressing them down. Jazzing them up with ankle boots, preferably ones with wider shaft, wedges, booties or heels work wonders.

Lazy Cook's Baked Camembert with garlic and rosemary

2012-02-07T00:15:00.027Z

Thank you for the wonderful comments and encouraging words. I may not be able to respond to all of them but I read every single comment. The support from the blogging community never cease to astound me. Thank you!

Some of the best meals I've ever had were the simplest and cheapest to make. It's cold and dreary outside and you need comfort food. Or you're having a few friends over and you'd much rather spend the time to catch-up than slaving in the kitchen. Perhaps you've had a long hard slog at work and the last thing you want to do is cook but frozen TV dinners just doesn't cut it anymore. A simple classic dish like baked camembert is easy enough to do even if you're not a fan of cooking. This will impress even your most hardcore gourmand friends.

The gooey melted camembert infused with garlic and rosemary tastes absolutely divine with crusty bread and a glass of wine. For an even healthier option, cut up strips of carrots and celery. Just make sure you cut them chunky enough to scoop up the cheese. Why bother going out to eat when you can cook a "gourmet" meal for under £5?

All you need is a 250g wheel of camembert in a wooden box, a few sprigs of rosemary, 3 cloves of garlic and extra virgin of olive oil. Slice off the top rind and insert cloves of garlic into the camembert. Add the sprigs of rosemary and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Bake in a preheated oven for 10-15 minutes at 180 - 200 degree Celcius and voila, you've got yourself a meal. Simple, isn't it? The best thing of all.....practically no washing up. That in my mind makes this dish a winner every time.

Tête-à-tête with Ingrid of The Bag Hag Diaries

2012-02-06T00:00:00.023Z

I've been following Ingrid's blog, The BagHag Diaries for 4.5 years now. How time flies. In fact, hers was one of the first I discovered when I was introduced to this strange internet phenomenon called "blogging". She has been a very busy lady ever since she was invited to Luisa Via Roma's Bloggers event in 2010 which culminated in a flurry of requests to attend major fashion shows in Milan and Paris. Years ago, I asked if she could recommend a few restaurants and shopping places for an upcoming trip to Hong Kong. Thanks to her, I had some of my best meals there. Boy, I still have major drool issue whenever I think of that amazing roast goose. Ingrid has a killer model like figure despite being a major foodie (NOT fair!) as well as being incredibly down to earth and gracious.

You're a blogger, mom, wife, business owner and journalist. How do you juggle all these different aspects of your life?

It's really not easy to be all that, to be honest. And I don't think I can juggle all those aspects well! At the end of the day it's all about being a good mother to my kids and being able to spend time with family as well as have a sustainable form of income to ensure the future of my kids-- and to afford our occasional vacations!

Ingrid's "Blue" Collection

What did you use to do before becoming a blogger?

I was actually a managing editor for the #1 weddings magazine in the Philippines!

Attending 2012 S/S Dolce & Gabbana Show

You opened a store not too long ago. Can you tell me more about it? What gave you the idea to start your own business?

I was actually inspired by Natalie Massenet. She put up net-a-porter and couture lab, and I got inspired to put up a site called Accessory Lab which featured accessories made by local artisans.

In the process of putting that site together, we were offered a nice spot in one of the best malls in the Philippines, and we decided to make Accessory Lab a real boutique instead.

You've been blogging since 2006 before the massive explosion of blogs everywhere. You've been going from strength to strength. What got you started? What are the memorable highlights?

Haha thanks for thinking that I've been going “from strength to strength” – that's a big boost of confidence right there :) At that time I began blogging, I just gave birth to my 2^nd child. I had ceased to be managing editor of the weddings magazine but continued to freelance for magazines within the publishing company I wrote for. It was an adjustment to become a full time mom although I was loving being around both my children at all times.

During the times my children were asleep, I would go online-- surf shopping! One day I found a bag I fell in love with-- it was the LV Denim Speedy with Crocodile handles. I balked at the price but realized this was the one time I should reward myself-- a birthing gift if you will. I couldn't decide. I also needed a couch for our house at that time. So it was between a couch and the bag. I went online, decided to put up a blog to ask for help with my decision. The bag won in the end! And no I still don't have a couch to this day :)

Memorable highlights include being invited to the Luisa Via Roma 10^th anniversary party in Florence, getting invited to shows during Paris and Milan Fashion Week and subsequently meeting designers and the industry heavyweights themselves-- it was all just a dream back then for me to even see these people in the flesh, and now it has all happened!

Dress Me Up at Dolce & Gabbana with Bryanboy, Anna Della Russo, Denni (ChicMuse) and Kristin (The Clothes Whisperer)

What challenges did you face as a blogger? Have there been any discouraging moments?

Everything had been pretty rosy up until the latter part of 2010, shortly after I attended shows during Paris Fashion Week. While I ended up meeting new and very interesting people abroad (away from my home country), I also earned some detractors in my own home country. At the end of the day, it's all about how much you value the opinion of others. As in everything in life, you can't win them all. I realized that as long as I am conscious of my actions and words and do not step on other people's toes, I am fine. As long as I don't speak ill of others, I am good. And as long as my family and loved ones think I am grounded and am on the right track, then I am happy and will continue doing what I do :)

Attending 2011 S/S Hermes Fashion Show

Has blogging changed much since you started?

On my end, it hasn't changed as much although I now have more content to write about! It's not just about the personal stories (my embarrassing moments) I share anymore.

I'm sure these questions are on every blogger's lips. The road to success must've been a steep climb. What helped you along the way? Any advice for bloggers? What are the pitfalls to look out for?

I think being true to myself helped me a lot. Being positive also helped me a lot. The worst thing that a blogger can do is to fabricate stories and spin lies on the blog to get readership. That's really not the way to go to get credibility. Advice? Always stay passionate! Pitfalls: once you express your opinion out there, don't expect everyone to agree :)

Meeting Karl Lagerfeld

Describe a day in the life Ingrid.....

I start my day pretty late because I end my day early (in the morning)! I wake up quickly to say goodbye to my kids before they go off to school and wake up at 10am. So my day officially begins at 10am. I do my household “chores”, get changed, and leave by noon for lunch meetings. Otherwise I do a lot of my work from the home. Afternoons are spent in our boutique where I meet up with my very hardworking business partner. Of late though I have blog- related meetings in the afternoon, but still make sure to pop over our boutique. I spend most of my dinners and after- dinners with the children until about 9p.

Quality time with husband begins after the kids are off to bed. We catch up on tv shows and movies. And at 12 midnight, that's when I begin my writing and research. I also go through at least 50 emails (yikes, I know, it can be a nightmare if I had to answer each one of them haha) daily, so that keeps me pretty tied up too. I usually sleep anywhere between 3am- 4am, depending on the amount of work I have.

Photo credit: Saskia Lawaks for Vogue.fr

Ok, fess up. How many bags do you own? If you have to absolutely positively choose ONLY 3 bags, what would they be? And why?

LOL I don't answer that question but all I can share with you is this-- I don't have a lot, but I have enough :) The key to my bag collection is constant editing! Once a new bag comes into my collection, I make sure to let another bag I no longer use go. This way I don't neglect the other bags. I think that's not just practical, it's also very economical! Money doesn't grow on trees for this bag hag, so I have to work extra hard to buy a new bag :)

ONLY THREE??!?!?! Morbid thought! Hahaha but it would be the Hermes Kelly, the Tod's D Bag, and the LV watersnake speedy frame bag. Why? Because they are really the bags that have never given me problems when I use them :)

Making Tod's bags at the Tod's factory, Italy

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?

It came from my parents: ALWAYS BE HUMBLE!!! :)

Sweatpants Chic

2012-02-03T00:00:00.000Z

Photo credit: Net-a-porter

Photo credit: Garance Dore

Photo credit: Isabel Marant S/S 2009

Ever thought of wearing sweatpants in public? My answer would've been a resounding no if you'd asked me last year. Well, ok, I'm not talking about the days when I was sucked into the Juicy Couture craze thanks to the photos of celebrities wearing them in every color under the sun. I never forgot the day when I bumped into a few friends who saw me in my pink JCs. One choked on his drink. The rest (who said men don't gossip) set up an email trail with the words "I saw the Pink Bunny today".

It has been well over a decade since my embarrassing encounter. Lately, I've been intrigued with the likes of IRO, Alexander Wang and Isabel Marant, to name a few. They know how to turn boring old sweats into something really chic. What's not to like about them? They're so comfortable, soft and no matter how much you stuff yourself, you can still fit into the sweats. ? They feel like sweatpants but are more tapered and have a slimmer fit.

I caved in and bought a pair of Alexander Wang sweatpants which came with lambskin trim along the pockets. How posh. I travel a lot but I detest wearing my jeans on long haul flights. No matter how comfortable they are, the waistband digs into my tummy. I don't particularly want to turn up in my tattered and baggy sweatpants. These are the perfect solution to my travel dilemma. I've been wearing them for a couple of weeks now and I'm in love. I wore them out yesterday and many of my friends loved them but had no idea they were sweatpants until I fessed up.

My Coveted Stuart Weitzman Jean Wedges

2012-02-01T00:00:00.004Z

Ever wondered what man flu feels like? After seeing this virulent disease struck down the men-folk in my family many times, I too succumbed to it over the weekend. Real nasty stuff, this man flu. I mean I was really really sick. So ill that I had hubby and Lil L running to and fro like little minions at my beck and call. In fact,I might try to get sick more often just to get the satisfaction of acting like an Empress after all, turn about is fair. One of the symptoms of man flu is the slow shuffling gait with a smidgeon of limps thrown in even though your legs might not be afflicted by the infection. It's also called the voluntary and psychologically controlled muscle spasm. The deathly pale and wide eyed look worked brilliantly too. If your tan is showing, just use the lightest shade of foundation you could find in your bathroom. Sorry, I got carried away..... now let's talk about my new shoes.

The postie arrived today with my long awaited Stuart Weitzman "Jean" Wedges. I was so thrilled that the poor man looked, well....frankly, rather alarmed to get such an exuberant welcome at the door. I have been coveting this pair of nude wedges for more than a year. I think it's far easier to get a Hermes Birkin than a pair of nude wedges in MY size. I've hunted, emailed and trawled through numerous websites and the only company that stocks these in size 34 or 34.5 will only ship within the US. Enter my US based shopping buddy of 10 years, Lauraloo. My chief enabler. Partners in crime. Our husbands probably wish we didn't know each other.

Thanks to the cork heels, these wedges are light and have a nice cushion. Although I'm still on a waiting list for a pair of Christian Louboutin Simple 70 pumps in nude but these wedges are far more suited to my casual lifestyle and cobbled streets. The toe box is a little tight at the moment but I'm just happy that I can finally walk in a pair of heels without crippling myself. My legs look miles looooong for a change, thanks to the platform and nude color. Now I can't wait for spring so that I can take these babies out for a spin.

New Year resolution

2012-01-31T00:01:00.002Z

I know we're zooming right into the end of January but it's never too late to list out my New Year resolution. Or should I say, my sartorial resolution.

1. I'm not a zebra.
Enough stripes already. I stopped counting after 10 so I won't scare myself silly. Those were just tops. I haven't even started on the sweaters.

2. No more flats.
I mean it. 1 pair of feet = 8 pairs of flats. The ones in the deep ravine of my wardrobe do not count. Oh okay, perhaps just a pair of leopard print ones. After all, I don't have any yet. I'm done with being a zebra. I'm into leopards these days. ROOOAR. I swear, that'll be my last pair. Cross my heart.

3. Overcome logo phobia.
I used to think those Fs sprayed all over Fendi bags stood for f***. I was deeply offended when hubby surprised me with one so I offload it on eBay. It has been 11 years and hubby is still insulted. Ooops. I guess the letters L and V seem pretty tame after those Fs.

4. Time to lose those love handles.
Those Yummie Tummie vests that kind of snap the extra layer of lard in place also managed to squeeze the life out of my intestines. I think I understand how Marie Antoinette must've felt in her whalebone corset.

5. Just because my Kelly 28 slouches
There's no excuse I should do the same. Posture, posture, posture. My physiotherapists, acupuncturist and beautician kept harping on about it. Stand up straight, suck that gut in, look up and s m i l e. A grimace is not a smile. Apparently, those High School boys I used to teach still have nightmares about me. Nearly 20 years later.

Natural Bodycare £10 and under

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000Z

1. Bentley Organic Body Wash £3.49

2. Avalon Organics Bath Shower Gel £6.49 (US buyers: here)
3. Lavera Body Spa Coconut Dream Body Oil £7.95
4. Yes to Carrots C Through The Dry Spell Rich Body Butter £8.99
5. Caudalie Vinotherapie Peach Shower Gel £7.65
6. Weleda Lavender Creamy Body Wash £7.13
7. A'kin Jasmine Body Wash £9.50
8. Fushi Organic Body Hands Feet Massage Oil £10.05
9. Lovea Argan Protective Care Oil £7.99

1. JASON Natural Deodorant Stick £4.99

2. Green People Organic Base Deodorant £7.15

3. Green People Organic Children's Spearmint and Aloe Vera Toothpaste £3.50 (unavailable in the US)

4. Jason Sea Fresh All Natural Toothpaste £5.99 (contains fluoride)

5. AloeDent Triple Action Toothpaste £3.93

Before I launch into my zealous monologue about natural bodycare products, I want to thank Nelah of 52 New Days, Meggy of Haus of Gala and Lindsay of A Walk in the Closet for the awards. Wow, I'm still reeling from the shock of having 3 awards in a single week. What an honor. I'm humbled and touched by the support of fellow bloggers and readers. Thank you.

It was brought to my attention that a number of you wanted to order some of the products I've featured but having trouble locating them in your country. Since most of my readers are based in the US and Asia, I've decided to only link the products to either online stores that offer free worldwide shipping or charge a minimal amount.

So far I've tried on a handful of products. I've purchased Bentley Organics hand-washing liquid and I'm pretty impressed by it so far. The consistency is more gel-liquid like but doesn't dry the skin, thanks to the lavender oil. I've used the Yes to Carrots body butter for a year and it is by far, the best and creamiest moisturizer I've tried. It absorbs into the skin quickly leaving no residue. My only problem with the Yes To range is that they continue to put sulfates in their shower gels.

I bought a no-brand bottle of organic Argan oil for Lil L a few months ago. Ever since I found out that both Moroccanoil and Macadamia Healing Oil contain silicone, I've switched to using a drop of the pure Argan oil on my hair. The result was exactly the same. Soft silky hair. It goes to show you really don't need all the extra chemicals. While the oil works a treat on Lil L's body (I'm a believer of not putting tons of products on a child's delicate skin), I still need to top up with a lotion. After hearing friends waxing lyrical about Ren products, I caved in and ordered Ren Neroli Body Duo (body wash and lotion) today. This is far more than I've ever spent on bodycare products so hopefully they live up to their reputation.

For the first time in my life, I'm not using a Colgate or Sensodyne toothpaste. I bought Lil L the Green People children's Mandarin toothpaste. She tried it for the first time and was utterly disgusted. I also purchased an additional tube of minty flavored Green People for hubby and I which she prefers to her own. My only regret is that with Lil L being 5 (soon to be 6 as she keeps reminding me), there's really no need to buy a separate toothpaste for her since the ingredients are all natural. I've been so used to a paste like consistency that it has taken me a few days to get used to the slightly more liquid-like consistency.

I'm still on a steep learning curve so please keep the recommendations and tips rolling in. I've learned so much from reading your comments.

Natural Skincare Under £20

2012-01-27T00:09:00.000Z

1. A'Kin Pure Cleansing Gel £14.40

2. Butter London Nail Polish £9.60 (not technically skincare but I just had to add it in)

3. Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish £12.25

4. Caudalie Beauty Elixir 30ml £8.80

5. Burt's Bees Radiance Cleanser £8.99

6. Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil £14.00

7. A'kin Rose de Mai Antioxidant Day creme £19.20

8. Sukin Moisture Restoring Night Cream £16.28

Thank you for all your suggestions. Please keep them coming as there's much I need to learn from all of you. I've been on a warpath to purge every toxic item from my bathroom. I just discovered that my favorite Eve Lom cleanser contains 5 different types of paraben. I guess one's not enough. Are you horrified yet? I am! Even Colgate toothpaste has sodium laureth sulfate. That gorgeous Phillip Kingsley elasticizer that makes my hair silky soft? Paraben and silicone. The "natural" Macadamia oil treatment my hairdresser recommended in place of Moroccanoil contains different types of silicone.

Since I've adopted a minimalist approach to my wardrobe, naturally I want to do the same with my skincare. These days, we're bombarded with advertisements and clever marketing everywhere we turn. It's little wonder why we end up with piles of skincare and cosmetics, not to mention bodycare. At one point, I had multiple sunscreen lotions along with day and night moisturizers as well as cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, various masks and treatment oils. Whew! It was a pain slathering them all on in the morning and then the drudgery process began again at night. My skin was still dehydrated. A beautician I visited more than a year ago bluntly told me that my facial skin is 10 years older than my actual age. It has taken me this hefty kick to my rear end to change my skincare routine.

Thanks to my mom who introduced me to this little bottle of liquid gold - Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil, I've done away with the rest of my skincare products. I blogged about it here last year. My fine lines are barely visible these days. For the first time, I can safely say my oily but equally dehydrated skin is now normal and luminous (never thought I'd say this!). All you need is 2 to 3 drops of the oil along with your favorite moisturizer (I'm using Sukin natural moisturizer, a gift from my mother) and massage it into your face. For those of you with kids, the rosehip oil is perfectly safe to use on babies too.

I might be in a minority but I really really hate having to use the toner. My friend, Lauraloo suggested I try Caudalie Beauty Elixir. I'm hooked! I travel a lot so this helps to hydrate my skin and adds a temporary glow. I've just ordered Burt's Bees Radiance cleanser to replace my current cleanser. *sob*...I'm so going to miss you, Eve Lom.

Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask £30

Forgive me for sneaking one last product in. At £30 a bottle, Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask doesn't meet my £20 and under criteria but I can't ignore the glowing reviews that I've read from various websites. This will be on my list of products to try. By the way, can anyone recommend your favorite websites that stock natural products in the US?

Non toxic Shampoos

2012-01-25T00:00:00.002Z

1. Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo £8

2. Louise Galvin Natural Locks Nourishing Shampoo £8.98

3. Sukin Moisture Restoring Shampoo £7.95

4. A'kin Unscented Shampoo for Sensitive Scalp £8.40

5. Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo £8

6. Weleda Calendula and Camomile Shampoo £6.95

Ever since I watched a TV documentary on the use preservatives in our food and their effects on children 6 years ago, I've been more vigilant checking the labels on the back of everything I purchase. I'm just gobsmacked at some of the ingredients of the pre-packaged food in the supermarket. I can barely pronounce nor comprehend the words which seem very similar to a science experiment.

Take sausages as an example. With the exception of organic sausages, most contain sodium nitrite, used as an additive to prevent bacteria growth and extend the shelf life of the food. If one digests a mere 4.6g of sodium nitrite, it will result in death. I know I'm giving the worst case scenario but it's an indication of how much additives we're exposed to these days.

Now that I've switched to fresh and more often than not, organic produce, it's time I do the same for my toiletries and skincare. Paraben, sulfate and silicone are three common ingredients used in shampoos, skincare, cosmetics and practically any kind of items you see in your bathroom. Paraben is sometimes known as E214, E216 and E218, along with sulfate have been linked with breast cancer although experts are quick to point out that the findings are inconclusive. I've got a child who needs me so I'm not taking my chances in having more dangerous chemicals leaking into my body. Thus, began my quest to find hair and bath products that are free of these 3 chemicals.

Sodium laureth sulfate or commonly known as SLES found in most soaps, showergels and shampoos is also used to dissolve grease on car engines. That's what we're rubbing into our skin everyday. It is absorbed into our skin and mimics the activity of oestrogen. In short, cancer. I.

I went around my bathroom recently and read the label of every product there. Sure enough, 8 out of 10 contains all 3 chemicals. Don't be fooled by the promises some of these purportedly "natural" companies make. Body Shop and Apivita are two companies that profess to be "natural" and in the case of the latter, "holistic" but both use paraben and sulfates in their products. The same goes for a few companies that use the term "organic" which may only apply to a percentage of ingredients used. I would strongly suggest you check the label of every product before you purchase.

I've compiled a list of inexpensive products that do not contain paraben, sulfates and silicone. I've broken the post into two parts with shower gels and skincare featuring in the next post. I'd love to hear any recommendations that work for you.

Gong Xi Fa Cai (Happy New Year)

2012-01-24T10:09:00.001Z

I took this photo of Lil L and her cousins in early 2011. They've grown so much since then. Looking at it makes me miss my family back in New Zealand even more. Thank God for Skpye! The 11 hour time difference is a pain but technology has allowed us to "see" each other more often than not. The whole family gathered at my youngest brother's house to call us. Miss you all!

To all my readers who celebrate Chinese New Year - Xin Nian Kuai Le! It's the year of the Dragon and I'm surrounded by pregnant friends. I guess there will be plenty of dragon babies crawling about this year.

A big thank you to Nelah of 52 New Days for the lovely award! What a lovely thing to wake up to. By the way, you'll notice that I've only just started tweeting. I'm still light years from being proficient at it. Thank goodness for Kim of A Very Sweet Blog who patiently talked me through it. I had no idea what all those hashtags # are for. Nor those puzzling and cryptic #FF tweets! So come on over and follow me on Twitter. Just click on the Twitter button on the right side of the blog.

Do hop over to Malou of 33 Avenue who'd interviewed me about my travels. It was fun reminiscing about my wild adventures in the past. I'm a lot saner these days. Well, at least my parents hope I am.

Capsule Wardrobe

2012-01-23T00:00:00.003Z

While we're on the topic of the minimalist approach to editing a wardrobe, I decided to play around with Polyvore and create an entire capsule wardrobe from scratch. It took me a couple of weeks to do this without straying from these 5 rules (remember my last post?) - Figure, lifestyle, affordability, versatility and personality. This is a great exercise to see what I've got and the gaps I need to fill. Be warned, this is a very photo heavy post. I already own some of the pieces shown here and am hoping to pick up the rest over time.

I'm one of those individuals that can't operate without a list. Especially when it comes to shopping. It's that insect-like attention span that I have. That's why I love internet shopping. Looking for sweaters? No problem. Just look for that drop down box and click on knitwear and voila, a whole spectrum of sweaters in every shape, design and price. The first time I visited South Coast Plaza in California, I was so overwhelmed by the sheer number and size of the shops that I promptly parked my fanny on a comfy armchair at Barnes & Noble until closing time.

I've learned to figure out which designers or brands suit me best. For jackets, I go to Banana Republic and Isabel Marant. Uniqlo for sweaters, denim and pants. Petit Bateau for basic tops. Zadig & Voltaire and Comptoir des Cotonniers for sweaters, dresses and fancier tops. Karen Walker for feminine dresses. I'm not one to go through racks and try on multiple pieces. The only fitting room I like after 2 decades of shopping for myself is the one at Harvey Nichols. Spacious, queue free and perfect lighting. Who likes to be squeezed into a doll sized room with only one hook for your clothes and harsh lighting that shows every zit, pore and wrinkle?

Creating a wardrobe

2012-01-18T00:15:00.000Z

Photo of Koko boutique in Paris. An example of a carefully edited collection which I hope I'll do the same with my closet.

It has taken 25 years of experimenting to understand my sartorial needs. After spending hours culling my biggish wardrobe 4 years ago, I have no desire to return to the enormous clutter that drove me crazy. I think I only ever wore no more than 25% of my wardrobe. Ditto for the handbags and shoes. What an absolute waste of money and closet space. I've come to the realization that I need to consider these 5 factors before I part with my cash. As I've said before, it only took me a quarter of a century to gain this teeny weeny bit of wisdom. Who knows what I can achieve in another 25 years at the rate I'm going?

1) Figure
I don't follow trends per se. I dress to the beat of my own drum. Or in this case, the shape of my body. I have an apple shaped figure. Mid to high rise creates a smooth silhouette which also allows me to tuck in my jiggly bits. I've learned to hide the flaw by tucking a little of the hem of my tops into the waistband and letting the rest hang naturally.

Well, my only consolation for an apple figured person is that I have slim legs. However, I'm no spring chicken so there's no way I will wear super short mini dress. I've learned to raise my arm to see how far the hem goes up. I'd rather not get slapped with an indecent exposure charge by the police. Unless I look like Kate Moss. In that case, shorter, baby!

2) Lifestyle
I've made enough mistakes with buying clothes because they're 1) cheap 2) heavily discounted 3) gorgeous. I'm a work from home mom with nary a glamorous party invitation in sight. Fancy dresses with super high heels are not part of my lifestyle. So I invest (I use the word loosely because most clothes do not ever appreciate in price) in beautifully cut jackets and coats to jazz up my otherwise basic wardrobe of simple tees, sweaters and dresses. I deal with kids all day so my outfits have to be unfussy, comfortable, hopefully chic and easy to wash and dry.

3) Affordability
I have a budget which I stick to. I'd much rather have savings in my bank account than thousands of pounds in clothes and shoes. However, I would sooner have one good quality jacket than 6 badly fitted ones which I inevitably will chuck out. Unless it's a rare piece which will never ever go on sale, I stalk the item until hopefully, the price drops to a satisfactory digit.

4) Versatility
I detest clutter. I prefer to have a small wardrobe with clothes that I can easily mix and match without much effort. I'm a busy working mom. I don't have the luxury to try on infinite outfits before settling on one after the alarm bells go off. I have 5 minutes to put my clothes on. Each new item has to work with the existing wardrobe to create multiple outfits.

5. Personality
I can't be what I'm not. I've never been a girly girl. I mean this is a girl that HER male Taekwon-Do instructor had to give an hour long lesson on how to walk like a girl. Lesson two: A pat on the shoulder does not require force. So, yeah, I don't do florals very well. I feel most comfortable in pants. I've only started to wear dresses 3 years ago but anything that requires more than 2 minutes to slip on is considered a waste of time.

Etoile Isabel Marant Leopard Print tops

2012-01-17T00:15:00.002Z


Etoile Isabel Marant Jemet Silk Shirt

Etoile Isabel Marant Warick Leopard Sweatshirt

Photo credit: Net-a-porter.com

My dress sense can be pretty conservative. Every now and then I fall into a rut and wear the same thing over and over again. I decided to take it up a notch and just have a little bit of fun. After all, I'm not getting any younger......

Annnyway, I had my eye on two of Isabel Marant's leopard print tops for the past few months. The first is the Jemet, a silk shirt which I adore and the Warick, a sweatshirt that probably suit my casual lifestyle more. I stalked both items throughout the sale. Much as I love the Jemet, I'm of two minds about hand-washing the fabric and ironing. Does anyone hate ironing as much as I do? The deciding factor was when the sweatshirt was reduced by 70%.

Verdict
I'd ordered the Warick sweatshirt in medium which was loose enough to layer and hide the bulge but still maintain a nice and narrow fit so that I don't look like a puffer fish. The sleeves are cut slightly more narrow than the ordinary sweatshirt in the market. LOVE this feature. Far more flattering that the standard sweatshirt you get from the likes of Adidas or Nike etc etc.

The interior lining is thick enough for the colder months but it can be worn in spring as well, thanks to its 100% cotton material. The French just know how to turn the ordinary comfy but bleh sportswear into something really chic and edgy. Just look at what they'd done to the regular track pants. I've worn it out on numerous occasions now. I'm totally digging my newly acquired spots. Even hubby, a steadfast preppy kind of guy was impressed by it. That's saying a lot.

Hermessorize the Office outfit

2012-01-16T00:15:00.004Z

Outfit: Isabel Marant Lexy jacket, Alexander Wang t-shirt, Karen Walker skirt, Salvatore Ferragamo heels (thrifted), Chanel Timeless clutch and Hermes Kelly Dog

After suffering in the name of vanity for a couple of decades, I've decided that looking good equates to feeling comfortable. I can't see why my current favorite t-shirt can't be worn to a more dressed up event or the office (well, that is if I pretend that I'm back working in a more corporate environment) if paired with a well fitted jacket and of course, a Hermes accessory as well as a Chanel clutch. I tend to invest in a few accessories to jazz up my outfits but I don't like to follow rules. A Hermes Kelly Dog bracelet is a more contemporary and edgy piece of costume jewelry. It adds a certain va-va-voom to the normally staid and tailored office wear.

Interview with Hermes Kelly 28

2012-01-13T00:00:00.001Z

Out of all the bags I've ever owned, Kelly 28 holds a special place in my heart. She's not a stunning beauty but she has that special somethin' that kind of grows on you and wham! Before you know it, you're in love. It took me a long time to find her. I was beyond thrilled when I saw her sitting there at a local consignment store 4.5 years ago. I could barely contain my excitement but my heart dropped when I saw the exorbitant price tag. It was crazy expensive. Well above retail. I was obsessed but not crazy so I handed Ms Kelly 28 back and slunk out of the store. A few weeks later, I called to check if Ms Kelly is still available. Whaddaya know, the owner was desperate to sell. How would you like it at 50% off? If they'd held a Grand Prix in Auckland, I would've won the race at the speed I drove to the store.

So, tell me about yourself?
I'm Ms Kelly 28cm. I'm made of togo. It's that fancy schmancy name Hermes calls baby calf. I'm scratchproof but not bulletproof and I smell better than Chanel No.5.

What's this about 28?
It just means that my ass measures 28cm. I don't have a big butt. You jealous?

In the world of supermodels, who do you think you look most similar to?
Kate Moss all the way. I'm smaller than others. I don't have those 4 corners sticking out like those Sellier ladies. Big show off all of them. I don't need Gisele's boobs to make it to the top of my profession. I've got a few veins, you humans call them wrinkles but perfect ain't beautiful.

What are those letters and numbers on your strap?
In my world, they're called tattoos. That letter F meant I was made in 2002 by artisan N20. He was such a hot dude. Man, you should've check out his strong arms.

You're a spacious little thing, aren't you?
Just cos I'm small doesn't mean I can't do my job. That owner of mine sure carries around a whole load of junk. You should've seen the size of her wallet.

I read that togo is a soft leather. Is that true?
I slouch. Just like my owner even though ALL her physiotherapists have told her to stand up straight. It's our DNA, man. We just can't stand up straight.

Comfortable & Chic Wedges

2012-01-11T13:11:00.000Z

Clockwise: Prada Leather & Cork wedges £517, Stuart Weitzman Exhale £251.65, Kork-ease Ava $135, Jimmy Choo Polaris Espadrille $385, Jimmy Choo Front Zip caged espadrille $625 and Christian Louboutin Carteron Wedges £520.54

Men are mystified by our obsession for shoes. We have access to infinite styles in every shape and form unlike the options available to men. Pumps, peep toes, wedges, loafers, flats, sandals and the list goes on. It is futile to resist the temptation.

I've narrowed the list to these 6 which I'm dying to try out. My search for comfortable and chic wedges started 2 years ago. After purchasing a few duds last year, I now realize that
1) I still can't walk in heels higher than 2 inches
2) vertically challenged women should stick to shades closer to their skin color in order to create a leg-lengthening illusion
3) wedges that are too high push the foot forward and cause slippage of the back heel
4) wedges must have proper support with adequate straps.
5) cork is lighter than wood.

Iconic Chanel Quilted Reissue 227 Flap

2012-01-10T15:44:00.000Z

This stunning iconic Chanel reissue flap just came in from a client. Oh, how I wish I can keep her if I didn't have to replace my dying camera. I think Chanel had another increase in December which takes the price of a brand new Reissue to approximately £3100. Anyone has the exact figure? This gorgeous lady is in near pristine condition without the price tag of a brand new one. Click here to see the listing on my eBay store. Price: £2250 plus shipping.

The price of the pink Hermes ostrich Kelly Dog has been reduced to £599 plus shipping. Click here to see more photos.

Petit Bateau Basic Nude Vest

2012-01-10T09:43:00.000Z

I've been on the hunt for a plain cotton nude vest to wear under sheer tops. Bear with me while I list out my requirements. 1) inexpensive. 2) made of 100% cotton 3) thin and light material 4)low cut on either side so that it's not visible under tops or dresses. I don't think I'm asking a lot *wink* I've trawled through High St stores but the ones I've seen are uncomfortable or made of inferior quality which I'm pretty sure will fall apart after a few cycles in the washing machine.

Enter my favorite store - Petit Bateau. Lil L's entire wardrobe give or take a few items came from Petit Bateau. Well, including mine for that matter. The quality is incredible for the price you pay. I'd like to add that none of my Petit Bateau clothes nor Lil L's have shrunk in the dryer. I only shop during the sales which makes the clothes even more affordable. This nude vest ticks all the boxes. They're 40% off at the store which brings the price down to £12.

Petit Bateau Nude Vest £20

Hermessorize the Casual outfit

2012-01-09T00:14:00.000Z

Outfit: Alexander Wang t-shirt, Uniqlo jeans and ankle boots

In the past, I collected inexpensive costume jewelry like a magpie and most laid languishing in whatever container I happened to shove them into. And then I bought my first Hermes piece - the Lena. My lovely Hermes sales associate in Hong Kong could see the desperation on this new mother's face. She scoured all the Hermes shops in the country to no avail. She persisted and trawled through the warehouse and found one last piece just before the store closed. I cried happy tears and gave her a hug. I know, I know, I was pretty hormonal at the time. She was such a sweetheart. I wished I had remembered her name and sent her a thank you card.

Add a leather jacket, Hermes Lift GM pendant, Hermes belt and Hermes Kelly Dog. I like to tuck a little of the hem into the belt while letting the rest hang haphazardly. It's my way of disguising the bulge while trying to look nonchalantly chic. In other words, I'm trying to channel Kate Moss :) The sleeves of the leather jacket are pushed up to the elbow to give it a more current look.

Outfit: Alexander Wang t-shirt, Uniqlo jeans, ankle boots, Ted Baker leather jacket, Hermes Lift, Hermes belt and Hermes Kelly Dog.

I've learned to never second guess the weather in the UK. I almost always get it wrong so I'd much rather carry a Hermes shawl for those "just in case" moments.

Outfit: Alexander Wang t-shirt, Uniqlo jeans, ankle boots, Ted Baker leather jacket, Hermes Lift, Hermes belt, Hermes Kelly en Caleche cashmere shawl and Hermes Kelly Dog.

Over the years, I picked up bits and bobs from Hermes and duly discarded those that fell out of favor. While I don't have a huge stash of Hermes jewelry, I like to use what I've got. I like unfussy and comfortable clothes but I try to hermessorize the outfit at every opportunity. By the way, I figured "accessorizing with Hermes jewelry" is such a mouthful and a pain to type out so I decided to coin the term, hermessorize. How do you like it?

Isabel Marant Dicker Boots lookalike?

2012-01-06T11:28:00.001Z

Back in September 2011, after months of mooning after a pair of these cult status Isabel Marant Dicker boots which I can't wear, thanks to my child-like sized feet, I had a pair custom made at Pretty Small Shoes. They were one of my best purchases last year. I've worn them to death and am thinking of stockpiling a few pairs, just in case the company stops making them. I'm afraid mine no longer look as pristine as the photo below.

While strolling around Mayfair area in London, I caught a glimpse of these Dicker boots in the window display of Russell & Bromley. Turned out these are copies. The quality is no better than my £139 custom made ones but at £275, I'd much rather buy the real deal which are only £55 more. While as a consumer, I'm pleased to have cheaper options but I don't think Ms Marant will be too happy to see these.

I can't resist including this shot of Roosevelt and Churchill having a chat, right on Bond St.

Inside Fortnum & Mason

2012-01-05T12:20:00.000Z

I want to thank my readers for their kind and compassionate comments as well as support regarding my previous post.

After my altercation with Fortnum & Mason customer services a few days before Christmas, I refused to use their online services. I was devastated when they only delivered one of 2 boxes of fudge I'd ordered. Hell hath no fury like a woman without her much needed fudge. Let's just say that my refund was processed within 3 hours which is unheard of within Fortnum & Mason. Mwahahahaha..... Sorry. I couldn't resist.

The minute the train strike was over, I rushed to Fortnum & Mason store at Piccadilly Circus. It was an 1.5 hour journey which cost more than the actual fudge itself. There's alcohol addiction, drug addiction and now you have, fudge addiction. I believe hubby was tempted to enroll me into FA program (Fudge Anonymous). My name is Marlene. It has been 2 days since my last fudge and I'm dyiiiiiing.

Fortnum & Mason fudge is not only handmade, there are only 4 ingredients used - butter, sugar, syrup and milk. I wasn't sure if photography was allowed so I took hubby's nondescript Panasonic Lumix and hid it under my coat as if I'm on a cloak and dagger operation. There were more tourists than locals in the store. The boxes of fudge were piled sky high and largely ignored. Gosh, these guys just do not know what they're missing. I grabbed a few after much contemplation (do I want to add more of jiggly bits on my body?) and promptly dashed off to the counter. I was served by a smartly dressed but dour faced and constipated looking older "gentleman" who could barely tolerate the presence of customers. Who cares? It's all about the fudge.

Abortion

2012-01-04T00:23:00.000Z

As you probably know by now that I initially started this blog for my mom so that she could keep track of her granddaughter's adventures on the other side of the world. As the blog gained more readership, I started branching out to cover my travels, outfits and musings. There lies the dilemma to either to write only popular lighthearted topics or to include more heavyweight and thought provoking issues that I care about. In the end I decided to stay true to myself. After all, this blog is an extension of myself. I am what I am though this is not an excuse for me to be tactless nor rude. I know there have been many requests for my modeling shots. Until I've perfected a serene and photogenic pose instead of the current utterly fake and cheesy grins, I'm afraid you're likely to continue to see more editorial type shots.

When I was a student at a convent school, we were shown an upsetting video by the nuns. We saw how the fetus slowly splintered during suction which is an abortive procedure. I used to believe that a fetus was an it, a thing that felt no pain but the video clearly showed how he/she tried to move away from the vacuum suction. Fast forward more than a decade later, a friend begged me to accompany her to an abortion clinic. Her pregnancy, she said, was a product of a bad relationship and she wanted it removed. Nothing I said could dissuade her from her decision. I begged, cajoled and pleaded to no avail.

While I waited for her, I heard a gut-wrenching cry, the type you want to forget and never ever want to hear again. I saw a young girl with her mom clutching her as they staggered to the nearest bed. Another patient was in shock. She stared in horrified silence at the wall. Meanwhile, my friend bounced out from the operating theater with an announcement that she felt so much better after the abortion. A part of me understood her predicament but I couldn't forget that a life has just been snuffed out. The unborn child would've been 15 years old now. Many years passed before we saw each other again. She desperately wanted a child this time and could not stop touching Lil L who was only a few months old then.

Here's a song titled "Kingdom of Heaven"written by a Christian composer, John Bonaduce dedicated to all the unborn children in the world. The music sung by a choir accompanied simply by piano and at times, organ is touching and gut-wrenching. Please support them by buying their album.

"Let the little ones, come to me...
do not take them away
For it's to such as these that I have come
For the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs
Yes, the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs" - Shantigarh Requiem for the Unborn.

What's inside my Hermes Evelyne ?

2012-01-03T00:20:00.015Z

A Happy New Year to all my readers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, loyalty and the wonderful heartfelt comments that you've left on my blog. I've made wonderful friends, many of whom I've yet have the chance to meet face to face but each and every one of you have made an impact in my life. Thank you!.

I love my Hermes Evelyne. I can safely say it is one of my most used bag next to the Kelly 28cm. The Evelyne is schmooshy like a pillow and an under the radar type of bag yet garners a second look because of its workmanship. I've traveled to Europe and Asia in it. It molds to the body when worn, weighs next to nothing but holds a ton. Just in case you're curious to see how much one can stuff in it, here's a glimpse of the contents of my Evelyne. By the way, this is the petit modele with an exterior pocket, otherwise known as PM2. The Evelyne comes in 4 sizes - TGM, GM, PM and Mini.

The new Evelyne PM 3 which comes with an adjustable strap, an improvement from mine currently retails for £1570. I consider it much better value for money if compared to a Chanel 2.55 Jumbo which I believe costs £3100 or thereabouts. Shameless plug - I've got an Evelyne GM in my store for a mere £499 including shipping. A bargain for those who do not want to pay retail price for the same thing.

The PM sized Evelyne measures 29cm length x 30cm height and 10cm depth. This is what my Evelyne looks like when I'm with Lil L. I've managed to put all these things inside it with room to spare.
- Bottega Veneta wallet/organizer (I've got a massive wallet)
- Chanel sunglasses
- Lil L's water bottle
- Hermes cashmere shawl
- Kleenex
- iPhone
- hubby's Panasonic Lumix compact camera
- MAC lipstick
- Mints
- business cards
- keys (not shown)
- inhaler
- snacks for Lil L

Shopping Uniform

2011-12-30T20:00:00.019Z

Whenever the mood for shopping strikes, I head to London to get a dose of retail therapy. I don my what-I-call "shopping uniform" because 1) if I'm uncomfortable, it shows on my face. Just ask the hubby 2) trying to remove and put on multiple layers plus tights each time I try on a garment snuffs out my motivation to shop within a nanosecond. 3) I have the attention span of a gnat so it's important that I remove any obstacle to a successful shopping expedition. Ask my girlfriends who are often forced to go on a coffee break every hour.

So here I have, thin layers of stretchy material that I can remove and put on with ease without smearing my make up or hair. Or, I can try on clothes without having to remove the layers. This is particularly helpful during the manic sale season when finding an available fitting room without having to queue for half an hour is more difficult than locating a Hermes Birkin.

Oh, and my trusted pair of kick ass Stuart Weitzman boots that I can walk all day without a smidgeon of pain. You're probably sick of seeing the same separates again and again. They're no brainer to mix and match which is also the reason why I'm wearing them to death.

Speaking of this Isabel Marant Bator coat from a couple of seasons ago, I don't understand why she stopped lining her current coats. The 100% cotton lining makes it one of my most comfortable coat. I'm dying to find out what everyone else has scored during the Boxing Day sale. What bargains have you picked up?

Outfit: Isabel Marant Bator coat, Zadig et Voltaire jumper, James Jeans skinnies, Stuart Weitzman boots and Hermes Ex Libris shawl

Sales Loot

2011-12-29T20:00:00.017Z

I've been pretty restrained during the current winter sale. After spending the last few years maintaining some semblance of order in my wardrobe, I refuse to succumb to clutter. Unless it's on my list and ticks all the right boxes, I'm not going to shell out any money. I've come to the realization that it's easy to buy but a pain in the rear end to discard unwanted items. It pained me to see how much money I'd doled out for things that didn't fit, unflattering and purchased because they were heavily discounted. I doubt I'd put on/lose enough weight within days nor would my diminutive feet miraculously grow an extra inch or two.

I've been on a hunt for white t-shirts for quite sometime now. I found these T by Alexander Wang hanging on the rack at Harvey Nichols. The normal retail price for this particular t-shirt is an eye-watering £70. Good grief. Even at £35, my hands trembled when I handed over my hard earned cash. I've yet to find slouchy and long tees that have longer sleeves (I like to cover my bat wing arms) and a more flattering scooped neckline. The off white long sleeved tee from COS was a mere £8.50, certainly more palatable in comparison to the likes of Splendid, Vince, Isabel Marant or Alexander Wang. I take the opportunity to stock up on basics during the sale, particularly my favorite breton sweaters from Petit Bateau.

How can I resist these beautiful handmade notelets and envelopes from Smythson. The matching gold tissue inside the envelopes are painstakingly glued by hand at their factory in Wiltshire. I now have developed a full blown appreciation for these beautiful stationery.

These are inexpensive but inexplicably English products. I'm addicted to Fortnum & Mason fudge but these ones from Farrah's will suffice for now until I get a chance to go to their store. I wouldn't attempt to order online from F & M after the recent muck-up of a job they made with my order. Cath Kidston merchandise are largely made in China but what the heck, they're overly kitschy that they're almost adorable. I wouldn't pay £5 for a 5 meter roll but £2.50 is a bargain. Lil L has a social calendar that rival that of most socialites featured in the fashion magazines. I've come to dread the words birthday party so an extra roll of wrapping paper always come in handy.

Boxing Day sales

2011-12-28T20:52:00.000Z

Two years ago, I attended my first ever Boxing Day sale in London. It was absolutely freezing with temperature hovering around 0 degree Celcius. The streets were heaving with shoppers with maniacal gleam in their eyes which scared the hell out of me. Lil L was 3 at the time and had to be strapped in her stroller at all times to avoid being crushed by the pandemonium that descended upon Oxford St. 10 hours and a lousy top from Gap (don't ask) later which I promptly discarded a few months later, I never attempted to join the crowd on Boxing Day ever again. By the way, this is not to be mistaken with my yearly pilgrimage to the insane Hermes sales in Paris which I thoroughly enjoy when I'm accompanied by my girlfriends who were brave enough to be dragged into the fanfare.

Just as well the trains and tube were on strike this year so I happily waited till the 27th before trying my luck. I avoided Selfridges during the day which I was informed by friends that it was pretty chaotic and utter mayhem but was far more pleasant after 6pm. There was a couple of stabbings which resulted in death just minutes from the departmental store on Boxing Day. Harrods was a no go territory for me. Packed to the gills and claustrophobic.

I went in search of discounted Isabel Marant clothes. There were plenty of stock at Liberty's with printed jeans including navajo (Renells) ones reduced by 50%. At Selfridges, the jumper which has enough holes to rival that of Swiss cheese was heavily reduced along transparent lurex dresses.

Can you imagine this is Sloane St where all the top designers reside? There were hardly anyone on the pavement.

I enjoy gazing at the ostentatious window displays and admire the architecture more than the act of shopping itself. I adore these Tiffany & Co props.

You're absolutely right. I'm still rather obsessed with wreaths.

I've never truly appreciated quality stationery until recently. You can't get any better than Smythson.

I would love to see anyone attempt to wear AND walk in these Zanotti heels.

The only queues I saw were outside Prada and Gucci.

I adore these candles made in the shape of Bottega Veneta Intrecciato bags.

The lights at Foot Locker adjacent to Boots were dimmed as the store is shut for police investigation after a youth was stabbed to death on Boxing Day.

Christmas Gift giving

2011-12-22T21:57:00.000Z

My family isn't very big on gift giving. I guess we're the stereotypical stoic and pragmatic Asian family where unless something is practical, it ain't worth giving. When I delved into my rather murky memories of Christmases spent in Sarawak (Borneo), I remembered it was more of a religious event. I went caroling with fellow Joyful Vanguard members (a Christian organization similar to Girls Guide), going to midnight mass at the local cathedral and visiting friends and family. Our Christmas tree was a rather sad looking spindly plant and the presents were empty boxes. My most exciting Christmas was spent with my then unmarried aunts where they whipped up cake after cake through the night with Christmas songs blasting in the background. An aunt took me to a shop just before midnight because we ran out of a vital ingredient for the cake she was baking. Their friends dropped by and I spent the night trying to stay awake so that I can eavesdrop on the grown ups' conversations.

On the other hand, Christmas in New Zealand is such a laidback festival that one could easily think that it was just another ordinary day if it wasn't for the incessant ringing of the cash registers. We would make the yearly pilgrimage to Ponsonby (a suburb in Auckland) to see the houses decorated with lights. Many years ago, we decided to succumb to the commercialization of Christmas and join in the buying frenzy. Well, when in Rome..... or in this case, when in New Zealand.... Boy, we were exhausted. The stress of buying presents for people who may or may not care for them. The practice was duly shelved until the arrival of the little ones. Whose parents were more excited than they were about the presents under the tree.

Fast forward to the present. I'm still somewhat pragmatic about presents. Lil L is beyond excited and spend the days counting the number of presents under the tree. She's at an age where she's happy with little Sylvanian toys, a book and a bag of sweets. We bought her a gigantic doll house last year (I was soooo excited!) but she preferred the cheapo presents instead. pfffft..... I came up with a list of gift ideas that are neither expensive nor precious. I've finally discovered at a ripe age of 38 that the best presents in the world do not need to be expensive. What's important is the time we spend with our loved ones.

1. Fortnum & Mason fudge £10
I've spoken about them previously. I adore their fudge. These are laden with gazillion calories but heck, you only live once. A word of warning, do NOT order from their website as their customer services is one of the worst I've ever encountered. Missing items, late orders.... BUT do check out their store.

2. Neom organic candles £37
Neom candles are completely natural and organic. None of those synthetic and poisonous nasties. I find them just as good as Diptyque if not better but far better value for money. Sold at Selfridges and their own website. Their 3 wick candles burn for up to 55 hours.

3. Potted Herbs
I'm a plant killer. What I'd love is to find potted herbs so I can leave them on the window sill and use them whenever I need to. Perfect for those who love to cook.

4. Smythson cards and envelopes £30
I've always found it really handy to have a card or two lying around. Just in case when you have to pen a thank you note or include a birthday card. Smythson is the ultimate place to shop for stationery.

5. Michael Buble Christmas CD £4.99
What's not to like about this dashing old soul crooner who reminds me of Frank Sinatra? It's the perfect music to play during Christmas. I don't know about you but I find it hard to think straight with loud pumping music but a beautiful vocal with a back up orchestra will do me just fine.

6. Bobble £10.95
I don't like buying bottled water unless I'm in a bind. £1.50 for water? Seriously. I don't care if it came from some magical spring where unicorns reside but water is water. I don't like limescale in my water so these reusable filter in a recyclable bottle is perfect.

Layering

2011-12-21T00:15:00.002Z

It has been freezing lately. I had to remind myself to stop moaning about it because the weather has been relatively mild in southern England compared to the other parts of the country. The same time last year, we were already knee deep in snow. Regardless I've been piling on the layers (and weight for extra insulation!). To avoid looking like the Michelin man, I've been keeping the layers relatively thin. I don't particularly enjoy feeling the duck that's currently roasting in my oven. Um...that's a rather bad analogy but you get my drift.

This is my indispensable Icebreaker vest that keeps me toasty and warm

Followed by a thin merino wool jumper. In this case, it's my new Zadig et Voltaire striped Madori sweater.

I love a structured jacket which makes me look and feel smart. This one's by Rag & Bone. I've paired it with my James Jeans skinny pants.

The accessories are just as important to keeping myself dry and warm. Here's my Hermes Kelly en Caleche which is fast becoming a favorite and well worn over the knee Stuart Weitzman boots.

Last but not least, the thick Gloverall coat to finish off the look

Zadig & Voltaire Sweater

2011-12-20T00:15:00.000Z

My stash of Zadig et Voltaire clothes is growing albeit slowly as I tend to pick up a sweater here and a top there at their sales or outlet store. Yesterday, UPS came knocking to deliver the Madori sweater I'd ordered from their website. That'll teach me to be too hasty as the price came down again and this time they're offering free shipping (code: XMASGIFT). Pfffft....

On the flip side, the 100% merino wool is so soft even for someone like me who's usually allergic to wool. The narrower arm holes and the fit is fantastic for someone like me who has a petite frame. I've ordered the medium size as I prefer a more oversized fit.

I modeled for the hubby and Lil L. Hubby liked it but inquired, "haven't you got enough stripes?". Meanwhile, Lil L said, "mommy, is it new?". "Of course!" "mommy, it has holes everywhere!" "That's the design". Lil L listened with disbelief. "What?! They make new things look old?" *sigh*

25 minute Pizza

2011-12-19T00:15:00.001Z

This is a quick and easy "recipe" for pizzas that require very little work and washing up. It was such a hit so I thought I'd share it on my blog.

A few days ago, I had Lil L and her 2 buddies from school came over for a playdate and dinner. All 3 are fairly opinionated. One wanted olives, another hated it and the third wouldn't even try it. Lil L would only eat green veggies, one wouldn't touch the darn thing unless you bribe her and the third's veggie repertoire extends only to spinach. I decided that the best way to deal with these picky eaters was to get them to make their own dinner.

I found these amazing hand stretched and doused with extra virgin olive oil garlic pizza base from Sainsbury's which contains absolutely no preservatives nor chemicals. These are by far, the best I'd ever eaten and cost only £1.70. I made my own tomato base by sautee-ing a couple of garlic cloves and then chuck in the passata and a squeeze of tomato puree. Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. A quick simmer and it was all done within 10 minutes.

Before you do anything, preheat the oven to 220 C or maximum on grill.The preparation took only minutes as it was a case of opening packets. You can have an array of different ingredients and the kids can just pick and choose what they want to go on their pizza. Cut up some cherry tomatoes, rocket leaves, red peppers, olives, salami, pepperoni, tear up balls of mozzarella. I sliced up some leftover sausages. Voila, it's over to the kids. By the way, I refuse to use those disgusting processed mozzarella.

The kids chowed down the pizza within minutes. Even Lil L's friend who is by far, the pickiest eater I've ever met had seconds. Dessert was satsumas and golden kiwi fruit. All in all, it was a balanced meal and very little washing up to do. I'm a firm believer that pizzas are meant to be eaten with your hands. This is perfect for parties or entertaining a large group of people without spending tons of money. Furthermore, these pizzas taste far better than the ones from restaurants.

Leftover ingredients can be made into a simple salad. If you use the freshest vegetables you can get your hands on, the dressing should be kept simple. Just enough to bring out the taste of the vegetables. All it requires is a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a sprinkling of sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Ready in minutes meal ideas

2011-12-16T00:15:00.001Z

The great thing about working from home is the proximity to the kitchen. The downside to working from home is the proximity to the kitchen. While I'm pounding away on the keyboard, it's oh so easy to get tempted by the pantry and fridge. In fact, it's probably the only exercise I get now that it's constantly cold and wet outside. One consolation though. I sometimes jog to my kitchen which takes me all of 3 seconds.

Lately, I haven't been all that impressed with the local cafes and restaurants. They charge far too much for rather average meals. In fact, a local self professed French type cafe served me a single slice of stale bread dipped in oil with a few soggy strawberries on the side that my god-daughter stole from my plate and promptly spat out. That was the worst French toast I'd ever had in my life.

The other day, I was starving (a common occurrence in winter) and only had leftovers in the pantry. There was a bit of stale baguette, week old lemons, bacon and eggs. I decided to make my own version of french toast. Heat up the oven and grill the bacon. Beat an egg, pour in 3-4 tablespoons of semi-skimmed milk, grate half a lemon (be sure not to grate into the white rind as it's very bitter) and a teensy bit of vanilla extract. Soak slices of baguette in egg mixture for a few minutes.

Heat up a pan and melt a knob of butter on low to medium heat. Be careful not to burn the butter. Fry both sides of the bread. Keep your eyes on the bread as they cook rather quickly. Silly ol' me went off and did something. I barely had seconds to save my lunch. Open a can of peaches and toss a few slices on top of the french toast. Now drench it with maple syrup (the real stuff). Mmmmmmmmm................ Note the crowded plate. I was ravenous.

This was yesterday's lunch. It was a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I'd bought these yummy olives from the market the day before. The cherry tomatoes were super crunchy and sweet. Perfect for reminding me of summer. Slice up a ball of mozzarella, season with Maldon sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I found these really delicious pizza garlic bread and they were just as good as the ones I'd tasted in Italy. I toasted them quickly and voila, I've got myself a meal. That was a pretty massive plate which I managed to devour within minutes. I think I might start jogging from my desk to the bedroom and back again to burn a few calories.

Fortnum & Mason Fudge

2011-12-15T00:15:00.002Z

I had Mandi of Find Me a Muse come round for lunch at my place for our weekly catch up session. It's more a case of giggling and laughing non-stop while stuffing ourselves silly. It was also an excuse for me to molest her new Isabel Marant Willow sneakers and ogle at her amazing sweaters, also by Isabel Marant.

Photo credit: Find Me a Muse

She brought along a present for me. A bad bad idea. She was incredulous to discover that I, a foodie who visits London like it's my second home have never ever walked into Fortnum & Mason. Sure, I'd ordered from them before but I was too much of a coward to attempt a visit to the famed store in the weekends. Unless I'm armed with pepper spray, spikes on my elbows and helmet to brave the crowds, I wouldn't dare to take a step inside. Mandi insisted I had to try their handmade fudge. Resistance was futile after the first bite. A single slab probably has more than a million calories. Apparently, it was made using a traditional recipe where the mixture is still boiled in copper pans to this day. Whatever. Hubby, Lil L and I ravaged the box and nearly started World War 3 fighting for the last piece. I've just placed an order for more. As gifts. If I managed not to gobble them up before wrapping them up.

Fortnum & Mason Traditional Fudge, price starting at £5.75

A glimpse of Christmas in a little English town

2011-12-14T00:15:00.015Z

Forgive me if I sound like a little kid on sugar high. Celebrating Christmas in winter is still a fairly new thing for me. I'm going all out this year with the wreath, Christmas stocking, roast turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffings, mulled wine, mince pie etc. It's usually too darn hot to think about roast anything and no one I know drinks mulled wine back in New Zealand.

The town centre is packed and heaving in the weekends with many out of town visitors converging there for Christmas shopping. The weekend and Christmas markets are in full force. The ATM machines ran out of cash. Yup. I'm not kidding. The buskers are taking advantage of festivities hoping to earn big bucks from the crowds. We went out for a walk to check out the beautiful wreaths hanging on the doors and Christmas decorations. There's a long queue by the ice skating rink.

It always amazes me that despite the hustle and bustle, one only needs to walk down a lane parallel to the main street and suddenly, it's so quiet one can hear a pin drop. That's the advantage of living in town. One is close to all the amenities yet you get the serenity of a suburb.

4 Basic Winter Necessities

2011-12-13T00:15:00.001Z

It's cold, wet and gloomy outside every single day. Just in case I'm making you feel rather depressed with my rather lackadaisical comment, sorry. Looking chic is the farthest thing on my mind at the moment. All I can think about is staying warm and dry. Lately, my daily outfits are looking like a uniform because I'm wearing the same 4 articles every single day. Here are my 4 basic ingredients to staying dry.

1. A hat with wide brim
Here's the thing about hats. With the right one on your head, you'll look chic. It will also add a certain pizazz to your ensemble. Umbrellas are pretty useless here because a strong gust of wind would break it in an instant. They keep my glasses dry and stop me from catching a head cold. Most importantly, there's no need to lug or hold an umbrella, an activity which I detest.

Christy's Chepstow hat

2. Shawl
I can't live without a shawl. The weather in the UK is so unpredictable. It can be hot one minute and freezing the next. I always get it wrong anyway so now I just carry a shawl in my bag. My meagre collection of Hermes shawls have kept me warm for the last 3.5 years.

Hermes Kelly en Caleche Cashmere shawl

3. Long coat
Hubby bought me an indestructible Gloverall duffle coat. I believe it was a limited edition and sold in small quantities at selected retailers. It was originally designed for the navy. Mine's a deadweight but it's wind and water resistant. I prefer winter coats to be just above my knee to keep me cosy and dry.

4. Over the Knee Boots
I'm sick of being splashed by idiotic drivers who screech down narrow lanes as if they're competing for the Grand Prix. I pair them with skinnies and long winter coats so that I'm virtually waterproof.

Stuart Weitzman Over the Knee boots

Hat Affair

2011-12-12T00:25:00.000Z

I have a tiny head which makes buying a hat that fits a rather frustrating experience. However, after months of searching, I managed to find THE one. Since then my love affair with hats raged unabatedly. I wanted another and another and another. It's like my Hermes shawls addiction or Isabel Marant addiction. My rationale is that these things are far cheaper than cars. So there!

It didn't help looking at fellow blogger, Fashion and Frank's amazing hat collection which made me turn green with envy. I've been eyeing on two of hers which will remain on my splurge list for now. Since my budget doesn't go beyond £100 a hat, the chosen ones on my steal list will do.

I'm amazed at how many compliments I get from friends and acquaintances when I'm out and about in my normal attire but the difference is I plonked a hat on my head. I went from bleh to chic in a nanosecond.

SPLURGE

Maison Michel Virginie Hat £288, available at Matches

Gucci Wide Brim rabbit Fedora £305, available at Net-A-Porter

STEAL

Pachacuti Feather embellished Wool felt Fedora £40, available at Net-A-Porter

Christy's Brix Fedora, £90 made to measure at Christy's

Christy's Chepstow Trilby £30.45, available from Cotswold Country Hat

Hermes Cashmere Shawls

2011-12-08T10:58:00.000Z

Lately, I've been stuck in a fashion rut. It's cold and wet practically everyday. I'd much rather stay indoors in my warm and cosy flat listening to Christmas songs on repeat and lighting scented candles while entertaining friends who drop by for a coffee or a meal. On the fashion front, I'm too lazy to think of new ways to dress myself.

My daily outfit consist of one of my many V neck merino jumpers from Uniqlo which I stock up when they're discounted to £14.99 including shipping paired with my new James Jeans Twiggy skinnies and my indispensable Hermes shawls. I love that my friends have no idea that they're designer shawls. They just think that designs and colors are awesome. I'm sure most of them would collapse in shock and horror if they ever found out that these Hermes shawls cost £730 a pop.

The way I see it, these shawls get worn 8 months of the year and have an amazing resale value. The problem with running an online consignment store is that you see everything in resale value terms. I calculate that after 3.5 years, my Hermes Tohu Bohu shawl (burgundy) cost barely 80 pence per wear (calculation based on previous price of £675 worn for 8 months per year). In case you're wondering, yes, I'm trying to justify my rather expensive Hermes shawl addiction.

Outfit: Uniqlo V neck jumper, James Jeans Twiggy skinny jeans, Comptoir des Cotonniers cardigan, Hermes boots and Hermes Ex Libris cashmere shawl.

Outfit: Uniqlo V neck jumper, James Jeans Twiggy skinny jeans, Uniqlo cardigan, MNG leather jacket, Hermes boots and Hermes Ex Libris cashmere shawl.

Outfit: Uniqlo V neck jumper, James Jeans Twiggy skinny jeans, Isabel Marant Fred jacket, ankle boots and Hermes Tohu Bohu shawl

Interview with Kylie Malcolm Part 2

2011-12-07T10:00:00.002Z

6. I for one, am dying to find out about the photo shoots and fashion shows you've worked on. Who did you used to work with? What was the highlight of your career?

I have been a session hairdresser for 8 years and have worked on so many jobs. So I guess some whos that I'd done are Prada, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Hussein Chalayan and many many more. Vogue, ID etc. The list goes on.

I was assisting Eugene Souleiman who is a true artist and gentleman on shoots with Steven Meisel, the photographer. I lived in NY for a month while working with both men. Everyday, we would work with someone was was incredible and talented like Richard Burbridge, Inez Van Lamsweerde (photographer) and Vinoodh Matadin (art director).

Gisele Bunchen

Claudia Schiffer at Louis Vuitton

Alek Wek

Partying with Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana

7. Can you give a piece of advice to those who want to work as a hairstylist on fashion shows and photo shoots?

They really need to assist a session hairdresser. Expect to work really hard and don't complain about the long hours. Contact hair agencies such as Naked Artists, Streeters, Premier, One or Julian Watson.

Kylie worked on this shoot with Jade Jagger

Worked on Guy Ritchie hair for an article when he was still married to Madonna

Liberty Ross

8. You went from a hairstylist to a fashion designer. Why the career change?
After having children, I felt I wanted to change my career. I have always loved making clothes. After watching my mum and grandmother sew for years, I think it was a natural change for me to become a designer.

Spring/Summer Collection

Using vintage lace

Spring/Summer Collection

9. How would you describe your style?
Granny chic. I love mixing vintage with new. Old family photos of my grandmothers and when my mum was young. Growing up in rural and moving to the UK, I have taken my inspiration from the British countryside. Eclectic. I don't spend hours putting together my outfits. They kind of work but clash at the same time.

Autumn/Winter collection

10. Do you have any style icons?
Yes, I think Alexa Chung's look is quirky. She has a certain innocence about her. I also love Margo from The Good Life. It's all about the fabulous 70s.

Interview with Kylie Malcolm

2011-12-06T11:21:00.001Z

I'd like to introduce all of you to my friend, Kylie Malcolm. Our kids are schoolmates so inevitably the moms get to know one another as well. There's a small pool of foreigners here in our little town and words get passed around pretty fast when a newbie arrives. She was a hairstylist to all the top models in her previous life and is now an up and coming fashion designer. She has kindly allowed me to access her private photo collections which I'm sure will make you all squeal with delight. Kylie can also be contacted on kylie@kyliemalcolm.co.uk regarding any inquiries about her designs.

Kylie Malcolm

1. Who are you and where are you from?

I'm Kylie Malcolm. I grew up in Australia and now live in the beautiful English countryside.

2. You had an amazing career as a hairstylist. What would say your normal work day was like?

I did Kylie Minogue's hair at the Aveda salon before I became a freelance hairstylist. I used to catch the first Eurostar to Paris from Waterloo and arrive very early and go straight to a studio for a French magazine. Everyday was exciting and so different.

Sometimes I'll do a music video shoot. I've done Rachel Steven's hair. Towards the end, I did more celebrities' hair as well as male actors such as Dougray Scott, Guy Ritchie, Richard Ashcroft. I went Iceland with Tatler magazine. I've been to Mexico with Evening Standard magazine. With M&S, I went to Texas and Miami. I went to Spain for NY Times. No two days are the same.

Working with Pat McGrath, make up artist extraordinaire.

Working on Esther Canadas hair at the Cerrutti fashion show

3. Who were the biggest name models you worked with?

Mainly Gisele Bunchen, Eva Herzigova and Carolyn Murphy (so beautiful and a sweetheart! She gave me a beautiful D&G earrings which I'm still wearing to this day).

Amber Valetta

Naomi Campbell

4. What was your most memorable shoot?

The shoot with Eva Herzigova in Paris in 2001/2002 who's a real sweetheart. She's very kind and really easy to work with. Doing Gisele Bundchen's hair for the front cover and beauty story of Nova January-2001

Eva Herzigova

Gisele Bunchen

5. How did you get into that line of work?

I worked for Aveda in Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge as a hairdresser and meet Eugene Souleiman. I started to assist him on photo shoots, shows ect and before I know it I was his first assistant for 4 years and loved it. I worked very hard but it was thoroughly rewarding.

Audrey Marnay

I hope you've enjoyed the interview. Part 2 will be posted tomorrow!

James Jeans Twiggy

2011-12-05T00:15:00.000Z

I've worn James Jeans for years before discovering Uniqlo denim which cost a fraction of their American counterpart. I've made my fair share of mistakes when buying denim. In fact, I've tried on most brands but I keep coming back to these James Jeans and Uniqlo. Why fix something if it ain't broken?

After countless trial and error, I find that the mid to high rise jeans seem to suit my apple figure the best. This Twiggy model by James Jeans has been around for years. I'm not one for tight skinny jeans as I'm not tall nor have legs up to my armpits but these are amazingly soft, comfortable and stretchy. Funnily enough, they make my legs look a million miles long with a nice lift to the bum. There's no evidence of my usual muffin top and they tuck into my riding boots beautifully without additional fabric bunching on the kneecap. I'm loving my new high rise Twiggy skinny jeans and have been wearing them non stop for the past couple of weeks. I refuse to pay retail unless I absolutely have to. These cost £85 and are discounted by 50% at Asos. I managed to nab an additional 10% discount code so the total came up to £76.50.

Gift Wrapping

2011-12-02T13:14:00.000Z

My dad is good with his hands. He can fix just about anything. He sews beautifully. The plants in his garden flourish and grow in abundance. When we were younger, he made all our bedroom furniture including a slide and see-saw which we played for years.

You'd think he'd be kind enough to pass that gene to me. I can't sew. I once tried to repair a button on my jacket but soon realized I couldn't lift it up as it was attached to my jeans. Yup, I somehow managed to sew the jacket to my jeans. I'm a serial plant murderer. I've killed numerous pots of herbs. I even managed an impossible feat of killing an orchid and cactus plant. The one and only Ikea chest of drawers I'd put together and proudly boasted to every friend that walked into my place is falling apart piece by piece.

I remembered dropping off a Christmas present to my goddaughter years ago and my usually very tactful best friend looked horrified at the appalling state of the wrapping. I'm renowned amongst friends for my *ahem* unique gift wrapping ability. Yesterday, I came across this amazing set of gift wrapping set at Marks and Spencers for a mere £6. The set contains 3 rolls of thick wrapping paper with gridded lines on the back so you don't have to get out a ruler to out a straight line. Instead of sellotape, they have cute snowflake stickers as well as thick ribbons and cards. They've thought of everything.

Getting into the Christmas spirit

2011-11-30T22:53:00.001Z

I've always celebrated Christmas in the summer where Kiwis tend to take it reeeeeal easy with the festivities unless you count the frantic shopping at the malls. Most of the time you'll have to remind yourself it's almost Christmas by checking the calendar because the decorations are pffffft and carols are non existent. You just get the regular pop songs over the speakers and radio. So imagine my delight when I see Christmas is celebrated with such gusto here that one can't help but get drawn into it.

I'm ashamed to say that I took the easy way out by getting an artificial tree. I mean, you just scrunch the branches back into a pole like thing and store away till the next year. I've never had a wreath nor Christmas stocking. How sad is that! So Lil L and I went out shopping at our local Christmas market. We came home with a proper wreath (it's the Catholic guilt so we stuck to a real living wreath) and an angel tree topper. I'm still searching for a small sized stocking, not one of those that's taller than Lil L which you could literally fit a dog in it. I'm not talking about those yappity yap Chihuahuas either.

Let's not forget those who died fighting for our country and remember those in need.

Don't mind me. I'm a regular nosy parker. I'd love to know how you decorate your place. How's your Christmas preparation so far?

Lantern Procession

2011-11-29T00:15:00.000Z

There are so many events in town in the weeks leading up to Christmas. To be honest with you, it made me feel like a kid again. Everywhere I turn, there's the beautiful Christmas lights all over the town centre, Christmas carols on the street and now the Christmas market with an ice skating rink attached. There's a palpable sense of excitement here which makes Christmas feel so magical.

Every year the lantern procession leads the way for the opening of the Christmas market.

Rather than surrender to the commercialism of Christmas which is not what this day is all about, I thought I'll concentrate more about the Christmas spirit this year. Our kids do not need dozens of presents that can barely fit on their full-to-bursting shelves. Perhaps a small handful in total should suffice. Instead, it'll be great to give to those in need and show a bit of kindness. Buy a bag of much needed grocery for a family or offering a cup of hot coffee and a blanket to a homeless person. I'd love to hear your suggestions. What do you think? What will you do differently this year?

Images of New Zealand

2011-11-28T00:05:00.001Z

To my readers in the US, I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Continuing with my decade old photos, I thought it'd be neat to take you on an armchair tour of New Zealand. It feels slightly nostalgic seeing these pictures again, some of them were taken in the days of slides and negatives. Furthermore, I saw a few that I took of Christchurch, forever frozen in time when the reality is so different these days after the massive damage caused by the deadly earthquake recently.

We often joke that Christchurch, NZ is more English than the English. I guess it's the case where the immigrants desperately wanting to hold on to traditions even though most of these customs are no longer practised in their country of origin. The Avon river meanders through the city centre Avon and is a tourist attraction in its own right. The punters can be seen ferrying tourists back and forth in the summer. Here's a bit of historical facts for you. The Avon is derived from the Welsh word, afon which in fact, means river.

The NZ landscape is diverse. One minute you could be in a glacier and the next, a dessert. We were on a long drive back to Auckland from Palmerston North when we caught sight of the angry clouds above snowy peaks.

Christchurch is famous for its parks and gardens. The best time to see all the flowers in full bloom would be springtime. The grounds are filled with a carpet daffodils and bluebells.

The Catlins, a region in the South Island filled with unspoilt and rustic landscape where one can explore the waterfalls, forests, lakes, rivers and caves. This is the Purakaunui Falls which has a nice and easily walkable track.

Lake Mapourika lies to the north of Franz Josef, a glacier located near Mt Cook. It's usually very quiet and serene here at the lake. Few visitors ever stop by to take a look.

This is the house where approximately 500 Maori chiefs and representatives of the British sovereignty signed the controversial Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 which is still in dispute to this day. The Waitangi house is located in the Bay of Islands, North Island.

Well, I hope you've all enjoyed a quick tour of New Zealand!

Images of Asia

2011-11-23T15:58:00.002Z

You probably notice by now that I ping pong between various diverse topics but never settling on one. I hope you guys don't mind me doing this. I have trouble talking about fashion all day long because even I get bored of the never ending fashion trends.

I love food but I have to draw a line somewhere or else I'll end up looking like a porker. My aunts and grandmother who live in Borneo never fail to make a comment about my weight gain whenever I visit them. I'm no longer 17 and my metabolic rate ain't what it used to be so of course, I'm chubbier. I've found out that reverse psychology works beautifully here. "Auntie! So nice to see you. I know I'm so FAT these days". Immediately, I get the "Aiyah, no-laaah. You look fine. Too skinny no good. Makes you look old".

Traveling is a passion of mine. I must be getting on in age because I miss my own bed if I'm away for more than 2 weeks. I was digging around in an external hard drive when I found these old photos. Some of them would've been more than 16 years old. Looking at these images brought back fond memories of my crazy adventures. If Lil L attempts to do the same when she's older, I'm going to chain her to her bed until she's 30. Okay, maybe 40.

Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Sepilok. 1999

I was determined to visit the Orang-utan Rehabilitation centre at Sepilok, Sabah (North Borneo). I nearly peed in my pants when an entire troupe of massive Macaques got really aggressive towards visitors. One of the staff had to run off to get a gun. Apparently, one attacked a staff the week before and injured him badly. The macaques also bully the gentle orang-utans by pushing them around and stealing their food.

Tambunan, Sabah 1999

The staff at a local hotel couldn't understand why I wanted to visit a small laid-back town in Sabah. I was obsessed with taking photos of paddy fields. I grew up seeing them whenever my family went on long distance drives but the fields seemed so exotic to me now that I've lived abroad. A really nice bloke felt sorry for me and came by in his car at 5am just to make sure I got to see sunrise! Poor guy, he was barely coherent since he'd gone out with his buddies all night and hadn't slept.

Birds, Tiong Bahru 1999
I must've been the youngest person at Tiong Bahru. The average age was 50. The old gentlemen would meet at a cafe, hang their bird cages up while chatting and admiring each other's birds.

Forbidden City, China 2000
The lion guarding the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Portrait of Mao, near Forbidden City 2000
I don't know what it's like these days in Beijing but there were tons of local tourists from the villages visiting Beijing, all gawking in amazement at the sights. We got chatting to a German couple. Suddenly, there were flashes everywhere and people clamoring over hubby and I to get photographed next to the blonde couple. It was a rather surreal experience.

Forbidden City, Beijing 2000
It was pandemonium at the Forbidden City. The local tourists would clamor all over you. One nearly strangled me with his camera strap in a hurry to take a photo despite the fact that he was behind me. I had enough of the madness and ruthless crowd and decided to wander off.

Bidayuh lady at Anna Rais, Kuching, Borneo 1999
A few old classmates and I decided to check out a Bidayuh longhouse at Anna Rais, approximately an hour's drive from Kuching except that it took us far longer than that. The 3 of us have NO sense of direction whatsoever despite being locals. Sad but true. This amazing 90 year old (at the time) was still tending the fields in her advanced age.

Remnants of old Colonial times, Malacca 2008
Malacca or otherwise known as Melaka by Malaysians is an old commerce port centuries ago where important trade took place. The signs of colonialism is evident in the architecture as the town was once ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch and finally, the British.

Easy Peasy Dumplings

2011-11-22T14:41:00.000Z

I'm not a fan of boiled dumplings (otherwise known as shui jiao = water dumpling) but I can easily inhale a dozen guo tie (pot stickers). They're great as snacks or a main meal. My English friends would gobble these down and often request pot stickers if they were coming around for a meal. I love biting into the crispy base and slurping a bowl of chicken broth with watercress. They look complicated but in reality, are so easy make.

Dumplings have been part of the Chinese cuisine for more than 500 years. They were predominantly eaten on Chinese New Year Eve by the Northern Chinese. I'd never tasted the boiled version, shui jiao until a friend of mine from North-East China took me to a dumpling restaurant. The Japanese have their gyoza, the Koreans call theirs mandu and of course, the well known ravioli.

The shape of the dumplings look very similar to the golden ingots used during the Ming Dynasty. Knowing most Chinese symbolisms are to do with money, I'm assuming that eating these dumplings will bring prosperity. This brings back to mind my very first job at a telecommunications call center. All the Chinese customers (including my own dad!) always demanded numbers like 1388 or 1688. I once unknowingly gave a Cantonese customer the number 348 4444 which I thought was such an easy to remember telephone number. She was beside herself with rage, "you want me to DIE DIE DIE and to make sure that I'm truly dead, I DIE again?!"

Now I'm a bit of cheat and I take plenty of shortcuts. Terri of Hunger Hunger is an incredible cook who is also the crowned the queen of Jellyrific contest held by Royal Selangor a few weeks ago. I suggest you check out her made-from-scratch dumplings which are far more authentic than mine.

I tend to stick to store bought dumpling skins. I am pretty pedantic and will only buy ones that do not contain any preservatives or color. There are so many variations of fillings you could make. I make it up as I go along. In this case, I've included finely chopped carrots for the extra crunch. Besides, this is one way of getting Lil L to eat cooked carrots. She is "allergic" to veggies that aren't green.

On a side note, I'm usually pretty good at multi-tasking. Or so I thought. While I'm fiddling around with my camera and trying to fry the dumplings as well as boiling a kettle of water, I managed to burn the dumplings and my hand. Argh. I fail miserably in arts and craft so doing beautiful pleats on the dumplings is an impossible task for me. They don't have to look perfect. As long as the filling is sealed tightly inside the dumpling skin is good enough.

Ingredients

Makes approximately 75 guotie

600g lean pork mince
2 medium sized carrots, chopped finely (or blitz them in processor or blender)
1 heap tablespoon of grated ginger
4 tbps light soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. I prefer using my hand because I can do it faster this way.

2. Scoop a dollop of the mince filling into the middle of the dumpling skin. The rule is not to overstuff your dumplings or else you won't be able to seal them without the filling spilling out. If the store bought skins are a little dry, just smear some water over them.

3. Wet one corner with water in order to seal the skin.

4. Press both sides in the middle so that they're sealed tight.

5. And do a a pleat on either side.

6. Get a non stick frying pan and drizzle a little sunflower oil (or vegetable oil but do not use olive oil as they burn fast) under medium heat. Lined the uncooked dumplings around the pan. Brown the base.

7. Once the base is brown, pour 1/4 glass of water (more if you're using a bigger pan). Turn up the heat to high.

8. Cover the pan so that the steam will cook the fillings thoroughly. Remove the lid once the water has been reduced. Turn down the heat to low. Continue cooking under low heat until the base is crispy. A decade ago, a friend suggested that I pour in a cornflour mixture to get a crispy base but it never worked. I noticed that the starch from the dumpling skin will do the same job easily.

Turning on the Lights

2011-11-21T12:04:00.000Z

Christmas is a HUGE event here. On the first week of November, the council guys start putting up the Christmas lights and trees all around the city centre. It has been 3.5 years since we arrived in the UK but each time when Christmas comes around, we feel like we've stepped into a magic winter wonderland.

Last Thursday was the official "turning on the Christmas light" event where thousands converge on High St for the countdown. There was a band whose singer announced that they made it through "the house" on X Factor. Judging by the screaming teeny bopper girls, they must be a) cute and b) pretty good singers.

There was a Santa flouncing around with a winged Panda. The candy floss machine whirled non stop. I'm sure the balloon man made a fortune with the number of kids begging their parents for one. I've been told that there's a lantern procession to mark the first day of the Christmas market complete with an ice skating rink! I can't wait!

Milk and Straw

2011-11-18T14:57:00.000Z

Call me crazy but I fell head over heels when I saw these mini milk bottles at a local store. They're a replica of the traditional milk bottles. The striped straws from Kikkerland are made entirely out of paper. If you're worried about the red ink, they're purportedly made of food safe ink. I get so many kids trudging in and out of my place. I thought it'd be a neat idea to have these around so that they can stop fighting over the same pink cups!

Village Fayre

2011-11-17T12:32:00.000Z

Being a foreigner here in the UK, my only experience of village fairs is what little information I gleaned from Enid Blyton's books. So when my friend Sara urged me to check it out, I thought why not? I figured it's all part of the UK experience. Speaking of being a foreigner, I've been told off by Lil L and her friends for saying to-may-toes and ba-neh-nas. Every time I ask them if they wanted a glass of waa-terrrr, it sent them into peals of laughter. I've got myself a bunch of smarta$$ 5 year olds trying to give me elocution lessons. Geez.

So here we have two foreigners, an American and a Malaysian-Kiwi entering into a village fayre (note the pseudoarchaic spelling) and the first thing we saw was ferret racing. Yup, you didn't misread the fine print. It's actually a charity group that is similar to RSPCA but looks after ferrets. Unfortunately, I didn't think of bringing my DSLR and had to resort to my ancient iPhone camera.

To raise funds for the charity organization, you're allowed to bet on one of these ferrets. It was pretty hilarious race because it took them an awfully long time to figure out that they were supposed to run through the tunnel right to the very end and back again.

This is an AWESOME stall. Your boss pissed you off and you need to blow off some steam? Go smash some plates!

This is rather tame after smashing a few plates.

This spinning wheel reminds me of Sleeping Beauty. I later found out that the spinning wheel was custom made in New Zealand. Go Kiwis! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Doesn't this owl remind you of Harry Potter's pet?

There's also cake, pumpkin, organic vegetable, cookie etc etc competition on a rather small scale compared to the ones held in the US.

A poem about Simon Cowell from a budding poet.

Biker Jackets

2011-11-16T10:00:00.002Z

I did a short stint at an all boy's high school where the resident rugrats would place a small mirror on the stairway hoping to catch a glimpse of a female teacher's underwear. Thanks to my darling brothers who were studying there at the time and were no better than their mischievous counterparts, I was clued in on all their tricks. If you showed one hint of vulnerability, these testosterone ridden apes otherwise disguised as boys would tear you down and fed you to the vultures.

One day, one of the new teachers ran crying back to the staff room, sobbing inconsolably after lasting barely 20 minutes in the classroom. It turned out that my dear brother (note the sarcasm) and his buddies were running a daily countdown to see how long it took to make her cry. Apparently, 20 minutes was the new record. "Why??!", I asked my brother seething and trying to restrain from strangling him. "Because she dresses weird".

Fast forward many years later. A number of my former students were shipped off to New Zealand where I had been living for a while to finish their tertiary education. Two inadvertently saw me at a mutual friend's house and ran screaming into the street. Another time, I happened to be seated next to the ringmaster of the troublemakers. He was busy picking up a girl and hadn't notice me. He turned around, eyes widened in horror and promptly toppled backwards. "Miss Marlene, what are you doing here?, " he stammered. "Watching you". I adore biker jackets because they remind me that I can be a badass especially when I got them on.

Isabel Marant Fred Jacket, Zadig et Voltaire sweater, Uniqlo jeans, Hermes riding boots and Hermes Kelly 28cm

Ted Baker leather jacket, Zadig et Voltaire sweater dress, Hermes riding boots and Hermes Birkin 30cm

Lazy Cook's Braised Pork in Soy Sauce

2011-11-15T14:42:00.001Z

I grew up eating braised pork in soy sauce. It's a dish that can be found in every Malaysian Chinese household. It's hearty, flavorful and so darn easy to make. A few slices of pork and boiled egg smothered in sweet and salty sauce goes a long way with rice. My first memory of eating this was in Sibu. During long holiday breaks, mom would send us back to Sibu on our own where the rest of her family live. We would be tagged at the airport and were considered "special passengers". Goodness, were we spoiled rotten by the flight attendants. My aunt is an incredible cook. She often single-handedly cook for 50 people. We're talking about an 8 course meal here. Grandma has always been an extrovert and thought nothing of holding grand dinners in her living room. Round tables and stools were brought in, often spilling out into the small driveway. My aunt would be in the massive kitchen boiling, frying, stirring at such speed that I was often amazed how she did it all.

Breakfast was always a grand affair whenever we were back in Sibu. In fact, the Foochows are well known for over-stuffing their guests. We're talking about 6 meals a day. I felt like a goose being force fed for my livers. When I was little, my aunt used to wake up really early to prepare this dish. She then waited for the bread man to arrive in his trishaw who would shout and blow his little horn as he rode past our street. The white steamed bread is almost triangular in shape. You then peel open the bread in the middle, scoop a spoonful of the braised pork into it and eat. I used to stuff myself silly and then feel truly sick when morning tea came around.

Braising the pork in soy sauce is ridiculously easy. The sweet, salty and spiced sauce will seep into the pieces of pork. What you get is an utterly delicious dish which requires little skill and preparation. I've had many requests for this recipe from friends. My apologies for taking so long to churn this into a proper post. Gary, a good friend of hubby and mine had pleaded with such sad puppy dog eyes for this recipe on Sunday. How can I refuse?! So Gary, this is for you.

The original recipe came from House of Annie but I've adapted it to suit me. I've reduced the steps too as I rarely have time to spend hours in the kitchen.

Ingredients:

1kg pork belly, cut into cubes
1/4 cup light soy sauce
2-3 thumb sized pieces of rock sugar
5 cloves of garlic
3-4 slices of ginger
1/8-1/4 cup water
1 stick cinnamon
2 star anise
6 hard boiled eggs (add more or less or completely disregard it)

Method:
1. Chuck all the ingredients into a pot with the exception of eggs. Add enough water to just about cover the ingredients.
2. Put to boil on high heat. Reduce to medium heat and simmer for 20 minutes or so. Add the boiled eggs and continue simmering for another 30 minutes. If the sauce is looking a little dry, add a tad of water but not too much that the meat is swimming in liquid.

Leopard Print

2011-11-14T16:20:00.000Z

I've had a few wild adventures in my younger days such as going down a crocodile infested river in a little sampan, sleeping in a wooden shack smack in the middle of the jungle and trekking into the mountainous regions of China to find an obscure ethnic tribe but when it comes to my clothes, I'm a bore. I stick to tried and true classics. I've been dipping my toes in leopard print accessories but somewhat reluctant to plunge headlong into similar patterned garments thinking that they're far too "loud" for my taste.

Meanwhile, I've spent many hours gazing in admiration at photos of fellow bloggers who seem to wear leopard print clothes with such aplomb. After wearing my Louis Vuitton stole and Zara belt to death, I think it might be time for me I invest in leopard clothes and shoes seeing that they're so versatile and go with most things in my closet.

1. Isabel Marant Belinda Silk top £345
2. Isabel Marant Jemet Silk Shirt £310
3. Isabel Marant Babeth Silk Dress £610

Moving abroad

2011-11-11T00:05:00.000Z

My cousin has been awarded a PhD scholarship here in the UK with very little notice. He had to scramble to make travel arrangements and sort out all the odds and ends in Borneo before taking the long flight here with a very heavily pregnant wife and young daughter. As you can probably imagine, this week has been super hectic trying to complete masses of paperwork with the university, rental flat, school, bank and doctor.

It has been 3 days non-stop of running around like headless chooks and there's still plenty to do. They certainly don't make things easy with various levels of bureaucracy. Complete this application and go to Building 46. When you've done that, go to Building 59 to register. AND go to Student Services to register God knows what AGAIN. Oh sorry, we've made a mistake so can you come back again tomorrow. Making a school admission application? Why, let's make that difficult for you. Call up the city council and you'll get told that "unfortunately, we're unable to provide more information as we're not allowed to". Please don't bother asking why because the representative will repeat the same line over and over again like a tape recording.

All 3 of them are looking rather shell-shocked from the incredible amount of information they have to process including having to adjust to a completely different culture, language and lifestyle. They will have to get accustomed to the various supermarkets, phone companies and so forth, all very different to the ones they're used to in Borneo.

This brought back memories of my earlier life in New Zealand when my sister and I were pretty much on our own from the time I was 17. Heck, the name Woolworths, Foodtown nor Countdown meant nothing to me (they're the local supermarkets in NZ). I remember turning up to class yet not understanding a word the teacher was saying. Pen was pronounced peen. Check account was chick account. Hair was hear. Bear sounded like beer. The Kiwi accent was akin to a completely different language even though we were all speaking English.

Malaysians are, in my humble opinion, jack of many languages and dialects but master of none. Most of us can speak several languages and a dialect or two. However, here's the thing. They're all mixed up like a bowl of coleslaw. It's a bit of this and a bit of that and voila, you get yourself a sentence made up of 3 different languages. To a native English speaker, Minglish (Malaysian English) is not only baffling, it's unintelligible. These days, my problems are the reverse of what they used to be. I struggle to understand the local lingo when I'm back in the country. Let me give you an example. Today, my cousin's little girl told Lil L as they were tidying up the coloring pens "aiyah, why you do like this. All terbalik already." The look on Lil L's face was priceless. Completely mystified. Here's the translation "Why did you put the caps this way. They're all upside down."

I'd love to hear your experience of moving to another country. What was it like for you?

Lazy Cook's Chicken Sandwich

2011-11-10T00:23:00.000Z

Most days I just dread having to prepare Lil L's packed school lunch in the morning. The girl's a very demanding customer so I have to come up with delicious alternatives other than the standard ham and cheese sandwich which I personally loathe. I've heard many complaints about her cooked lunch in school. The cook forgot to add milk to the mashed potatoes. The veggies are overcooked. The cakes are too sweet. She's turned into a food critic. I thought I'd try making a baguette with chicken filling. It's far healthier than using store bought ham which contains a lot of sodium and packed with preservatives. I'm hopeless at writing recipes as I tend to add a little bit of this and a little bit of that and voila, something that Lil L approved and promptly inhaled during her lunch break. In this case, I'd cut up a few sticks of carrots and included her favorite biscuits, Kuih Momo.

Ingredients

Leftover chicken
a dollop of garlic mayonnaise or aioli
a smidgeon of dijon mustard to taste
a squeeze of lemon
baguette (I buy ones that can be kept in the pantry and reheated in the oven when required)
watercress, washed
salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Mix the above ingredients all together. Taste and increase seasoning if required.
2. Slice the baguette. Slather both sides with a thin layer of butter so that the filling does not soak into the bread.
3. Dump a dollop of the chicken filling and watercress into the baguette.
4. Eat

Father John Lee Tae Sok: A selfless man

2011-11-09T00:10:00.002Z

Father John Lee was a South Korean Salesian priest who was the 9th of 10 children. His father died when he was young leaving a widow to carve out a living by running a small sewing business to feed her large family. Father John was not only musically gifted, he was also bright enough to be accepted into the medical school. However, he chose to give up a comfortable life to become a priest and practicing physician in Tonj, South Sudan, a poverty stricken area torn apart by inter-tribal war. Food is scarce and there were no doctors nor hospitals until the arrival of Father John.

I got a little teary eyed when the reporter interviewed a little boy who had nothing to eat save an unripe mango. That was his meal for the entire day. Due to lack of nutrition, his mother had no milk to feed her little baby. This South Korean priest often saw up to 300 patients a day. In fact, he was also the math and music teacher, a doctor and architect. Within a few short years, he'd built a school and hospital with solar powered generators. On a visit back to South Korea, he was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer and subsequently died soon after at 48. I strongly urge you to watch the video.

Though few of us have the medical training nor capable of giving up our lives to volunteer but we can do a little by helping those in need in our own neighborhood. It could be a kind gesture, a smile or perhaps make a meal for someone who's sick.

Bonfire

2011-11-08T00:10:00.000Z

My friend, a fellow emigrant was aghast when I inquired about the Bonfire Night signboard posted all around town. I probably have my head buried in the sand like an ostrich and am completely oblivious to any major celebrations here in the UK. I've never been one to celebrate occasions. In fact, when I was living in Auckland, a colleague of mine who incidentally is English used to remind me whenever Chinese New Year was round the corner. I've even managed to accomplish the incredible feat of forgetting my own birthday a few times.

The school kids have been practicing their Bonfire song for weeks. Which means all the moms have been listening to that darn song sung repeatedly throughout the day that none of us can get the horrible tune out of our heads. The 5 year olds could recite the Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes' role in the attempted assassination of King James the First. I felt decidedly British after my first Bonfire Night :P

The fanfare began at 7.30pm with the mayor and brass band leading the procession followed by numerous TV crews and the rest of us. Here he is being interviewed by a reporter.

I hadn't realize that we were supposed to get a torch.

I suppose the firemen are there to ensure no one accidentally torches the buildings.

And whooooosh! The Mayor got the ball rolling by starting the bonfire.

An incredible fireworks display. They burnt £8K worth of fireworks in 15 minutes.

Winter Uniform

2011-11-07T00:10:00.001Z

Normally, I have 10 minutes, maybe 15 minutes tops to get ready in the morning. I'm usually barely coherent while racing around trying to get Lil L changed and breakfast and packed lunch ready as well as getting myself dressed before my first cup of coffee. I've resorted to wearing my uniform aka a V neck woolen sweater which I bought in various colors from Uniqlo, skinny jeans and a pair of boots. All I need is a jacket to complete my outfit. At least I'm confident that this will make me look half decent when I step out of my front door.

Isabel Marant Atika jacket, Uniqlo sweater, Uniqlo jeans and ankle boots

Isabel Marant Fred jacket, Uniqlo sweater, Uniqlo jeans, Hermes Kelly en Caleche shawl and ankle boots

Isabel Marant Bator coat, Uniqlo sweater, Uniqlo jeans and ankle boots

Easy Peasy Braised Lamb

2011-11-04T21:06:00.001Z

Thank you for the wonderful comments that all of you have left. I'm sorry I haven't had the chance to reply but trust me, I've read them all. Twice. Thrice. And they never fail to bring a smile to my face. Thank you!

I'm not a fan of red meat. I do like the odd steak as long as it's cooked to perfection. Despite growing up in Canterbury, New Zealand where there are more sheep per capita than humans, I rarely eat lamb or mutton. Speaking of sheep farming, I was once coerced by a friend of mine to help him out during lambing season. Pulling a lamb out from its mama's womb with my bare hands is not something I'm in a hurry to do again.

The recipe's from Angela Hartnett's latest cookbook A Taste of Home. This particular dish was apparently a great seller at the Connaught, the luxury hotel in Mayfair when she was the chef at the Michelin starred restaurant there. I can see why. Lamb has a distinctive smell which I find rather off putting. However, this dish is not only incredibly easy to put together, the braised lamb is super tender and tastes divine. As usual, I took a few shortcuts because 1) I'm a busy working mom 2) I can't be arsed. Remember I'm the ultimate Lazy Cook? I rarely have time to make chicken stock from scratch so I just use cubed ones. I also did away with parchment paper because I'm hopeless with cutting shapes including round ones.

Serves 4
Ingredients:

2 tbsp groundnut oil (I use sunflower oil)
4 necks of lamb
2 carrots, chopped
1 celery stick, chopped
1 head of garlic, cut in half
2 medium onions, chopped
5 white peppercorns, crushed (I don't have any so I used Szechuan peppercorns instead)
1 thyme sprig
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp tomato puree
150ml white wine
1 - 1.5 litres chicken stock
1 tbsp chopped flatleaf parsley
salt and freshly ground pepper

1. You need an ovenproof or casserole dish large enough to hold the necks and all the vegetables. Heat the oil in the pan and color the lamb necks until golden brown. Remove them, then add the vegetables, spices and herbs and brown gently.

2. Preheat the oven to 160 degree Celsius/ Fan 140 degree Celsius/ Gas Mark 3.

3. Put the lamb necks back into the pan, add the tomato puree and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in the white wine and stir to scrape up all the sticky bits from the bottom of the pan, then add enough stock to cover.

4. Bring the stock back to the boil. Season and cover with a circle of parchment paper. Cook in the preheated oven for 2.5 hours (mine was done in a little under 1.5 hours). Check the seasoning and add chopped parsley just before serving.

5. I served mine with crusty bread but mash will go really well too.

iPanda

2011-11-03T00:15:00.002Z

Parenting 101: If all fails, resort to bribery. You've cajoled, begged, screamed till the windows rattled, threatened them with the naughty corner and gave them the evil eye but nothing worked. So you dig deep into your memory bank to find out what motivates these creatures, otherwise known as your children. You know those moms who tell you that their kids are soooo well behaved and had slept through the night by the time they were 2 months old? They LIED! How do I know this? Because babies are selfish and self centered. They scream when they're hungry. They scream when they're tired. Hell, they just scream all the time. Now, if you have one of those kids that has never ever done any of the above and you want to experience a little pain, please contact me so we can swap kids.

Lil L has the unfortunate habit of sleeping with the music on. ALL night. She picked up the habit from me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm to blame but annnnnyway. We tried using my iPhone for a while but since I have my entire life in that phone, I'm forever in and out of her room to check on it. To top it all, she was starting to pick up the habit of waking up in the middle of the night and sneaking into our bedroom like a thief hoping she would go unnoticed.

Since hubby has an iPod lying around unused, we decided to get a speaker for it? Lil L and I made an agreement. To get an iPanda, she would have to prove that she was able to sleep through the night for 7 nights. She got into action and made a chart. It's amazing how well one does with a little reward. The problem disappeared the very next night. And the night after that. And the night after that too. I think I've been scammed by a 5 year old.

This little cutie pie has incredible sound quality. In fact, it's just as good as hubby's expensive B & W Zeppelin speakers. To increase or decrease the volume, lightly touch its ears. Pretty cool, huh?

Lazy Cook's Raspberry Bakewell Cake

2011-11-02T00:15:00.001Z

For those of you who are wondering why I call myself the Lazy Cook. Just because I enjoy eating and cooking doesn't mean I want to live in my kitchen. I take shortcuts whenever possible. Who cares if you spent 6 hours slaving away or 6 minutes as long as it tastes good. Right?

I normally entertain a friend and her kids on Fridays. While the 3 kids run amok at my place, the moms sit down and catch up over a leisure dinner. However, I ran out of time last Friday due to a hectic schedule and decided to bake a simple Raspberry Bakewell cake for dessert instead. It's foolproof and requires little work. You chuck all the ingredients into a processor and blitz. If you're like me and do not own a processor, use a normal mixer.

By the time I managed to take a photo of it, more than half the cake had disappeared. Since I've had such rave reviews, I decided to share the recipe here too. Normally, I find myself having to reduce the amount of sugar but in this case, I didn't have to. The cake has just the right amount of sweetness juxtaposed with the tart raspberries. The ground almond keeps the cake moist and fresh for 3 to 4 days. So if you want to impress your friends with your amazing baking skills and let them think you've spent hours making a cake, try this recipe. Trust me, you'll definitely get a "wow, I can't believe you baked this" response.

Ingredients:

140g ground almonds
140g butter , softened
140g golden caster sugar
140g self-raising flour
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
250g raspberries
2 tbsp flaked almonds
icing sugar , to serve

Method:

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and base-line and grease a deep 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin. Blitz the ground almonds, butter, sugar, flour, eggs and vanilla extract in a food processor until well combined.
Spread half the mix over the cake tin and smooth over the top. Scatter the raspberries over, then dollop the remaining cake mixture on top and roughly spread - you might find this easier to do with your fingers. Scatter with flaked almonds and bake for 50 mins until golden. Cool, remove from the tin and dust with icing sugar to serve.

A Date with my Daughter to Chinatown

2011-11-01T00:05:00.000Z

I've been forewarned that the Natural History Museum was going to be packed seeing that it was the half term break after all. Yup, it sure was. The line snaked around the garden with a waiting time of 45 minutes. We took the time to admire the stunning Waterhouse building and count the number of snarling wolves and proud lions staring down at us from the rooftops.

This coelacanth was caught in 1960s and preserved. As a result, it has lost its natural coloring. What's remarkable is that the coelacanth was thought to be extinct 85 million years ago until one was caught off the coast of South Africa in 1938. Since then, they'd found a colony of these fish living in deep water off the coast of the Comoro Islands, north-west of Madagascar.

Lil L was goggle-eyed when she saw fossils and skeletons of dinosaurs. This 5 year old taskmaster made me read every single exhibit until I was too hoarse to talk.

How could we miss the monstrous T-Rex?

Here's the obligatory photo of Lil L as requested by Heather taken on the grounds of the museum. Since mom's enamored with all things French, she's wearing a Petit Bateau dress and the infamous Catimini trenchcoat.

Despite speaking with a proper English accent, she's a typical Asian when it comes to food. Her favorite snack is the fried dough stick which she would eat day and night if I don't put a stop to it. We decided to go to Chinatown to get some.

This is my favorite Chinese bakery in Chinatown. It's where I pick up tofu jelly, fried dough stick, roast pork bun and the like at very reasonable prices.

We passed through seedy parts of Chinatown. A lady spoke so sweetly to Lil L and then proceeded to herd passerby into her massage parlor.

We thought we'd check out a Taiwanese place. The spicy Taiwanese beef noodles have been on my mind since my friend Kat of Feather Factor talked about it. It was a bad BAD mistake. The noodles were overcooked and looked nothing like the original version. The big pieces of beef were tough and inedible. The soup was tasteless. We were also entertained by the waitress who proceeded to describe in detail about her stomachache and diarrhoea. Furthermore, she had a bit of a bad cough so we were all sprayed by her germs because she didn't think it was all that important to cover her mouth. Lovely. The toilet hasn't been cleaned since the Ice Age. The only saving grace was their Xiao Long Bao (little dragon buns).

There was a long queue for these steaming hot meat paos (buns). We were too full to contemplate eating anything.

We took a stroll around Chinatown to check out the shops and lights. The place is brimming with tourists and locals. The supermarkets were all open for business with all kinds of vegetables and fruit for sale.

The Lucky Cat which can be found at nearly all Chinese establishments.

The Hong Kong version of the Nutella crepe.

The yummy roast duck and crackling pork which can be found in every Cantonese restaurant.

I'm not a fan of durians but the rest of my family are. Euw. Sorry. Can't help it.

Hope you've enjoyed our little trip as much as we had!

A Date with my Daughter

2011-10-31T00:11:00.001Z

Lil L had to amuse herself during the half term break which she has it down to a fine art being an only child while mommy has to work. She has many friends who live within a mere 5-10 minute walk from our place so the moms took turns to organize playdates so each of us could have a couple hours respite to get a few things done without any distractions.

I promised Lil L a trip to London for a mommy and daughter date on Saturday. We got up early, changed into our slightly more dressy "London attire" and (as usual) managed to hop on the train just in time before it left the platform. Lil L and I plastered our faces to the windows to see the rolling hills, autumn leaves, villages and livestock as the train sped past. I often wonder why my English friends would speak about the scenery in New Zealand with such reverence when the countryside in their own backyard looks just as beautiful. Perhaps it's the case of the grass being greener on the other side. Pun intended.

After a quick spot of shopping for Lil L's tights and winter coat, we headed straight for Aubaine, my favorite cafe at Chelsea. While we munched on our lunch, Lil L and I chatted and people watched. I've seen my fair share of stunning bags with their equally gorgeous owners at the cafe. Once I was so awestruck at the sight of a crocodile Kelly, I nearly walked into their glass display.

Delicious freshly baked bread with French butter.

Pumpkin soup with truffle oil and parmesan cheese

Eggs Florentine. The poached eggs, delicate hollandaise sauce and blanched spinach were delicious but the thick bread slice was a little out of the ordinary. In fact, I thought it was a little stale which was surprisingly considering I've had this dish many times.

We took a short stroll to the Natural History Museum. On the way, we saw the famous Hummingbird bakery has a long queue but I'm all cupcaked out. The thick and saccharine frosting has put me off cupcakes for a while now.

Imposing Georgian terraced houses, a few belonged to the French Embassy

The Natural History Museum is housed in Waterhouse building designed in German Romanesque style by a young architect called Alfred Waterhouse. There are elaborate sculptures of animals both on the interior and exterior of the building, purportedly to represent the biological diversity. I could only gasp in wonder at the intricate design of the building. What's incredible is that the museum houses more than 1 million exhibits from fossils to dinosaurs to almost every animal that has ever lived on this planet.

Autumn is a beautiful time of the year with the changing colors of the leaves.

Wolves and lions perched on the rooftop.

The striking entrance was an inspiration Alfred Waterhouse drew from the basalt columns at Fingal's cave in western Scotland.

Seeing that there are too many photos to count, I decided to split it into two posts instead. Next up, what's inside the Natural History Museum and Chinatown tomorrow.

Shopping with Kids

2011-10-27T21:24:00.000+01:00

Don't be fooled by these angelic faces. We were going to put them up for adoption, preferably at the London zoo after today's experience. Why the zoo, you ask? Because that's where wild animals are locked up. The 3 monkeys, I mean kids serenaded us with their tuneless songs at the top of their lungs while my darling goddaughter Baby P howled all the way down the motorway nearly causing my friend and I to lose our hearing. We went to Bicester, a high end outlet mall which boasts stores such as Prada, Gucci, Tods etc with 3 young kids. An hour into our "shopping" (I use the term lightly), N turned to me and said, "we must've been insane to think this was going to be an enjoyable experience". Four hours, 2 cafes, several toilet stops and copious amount of coffee later, the two weary moms staggered back to the carpark promising ourselves never to embark on another torturous expedition again. What did I get from Bicester? A spatula and teapot from Le Creuset which I could have easily purchased online.

How to streamline your closet

2011-10-26T15:40:00.001+01:00

A reader asked if I could give a few tips on how to streamline her wardrobe. I don't claim to be an expert but these are some suggestions that have worked for me. I often find that the more clothes I have, the more I think I have nothing to wear. I'm not the best person to ask about organizing a wardrobe but after years of making enough expensive mistakes, I've learned to cull it down and work with a small closet. It's a sense of relief that I can actually find my things and not to haul clothes into storage whenever there's a change in the season. The less clutter I have around me, the more organized my life is and the quicker I get dressed each morning.

1. One in One out rule

I've talked about this rule at length here so I'll keep it brief. I decided to purchase a small cupboard so that I'd force myself to keep my clothes to a more manageable size. I'm pretty brutal with myself. If I purchase something, another item from my closet will have to go. This made me think more carefully about each purchase that I make which brings us to the next tip.

2. Be ruthless

If you haven't worn a top or look at it for more than a year, chances are you will never wear it. There's no point keeping a pair of jeans two sizes too small hoping your weight would miraculously plummet. I had to be honest with myself. My hips appeared to have sashayed upwards after giving birth. My pre-baby low rise jeans look more like crotch-rise when I tried to put them on. It really wasn't a good look. I think I may have shocked a few friends into speechlessness when I wore them out once.

3. Understand your lifestyle

Ever since I left the corporate world, I rarely wear suits but I still adore jackets. I tend to pair them with jeans. My lifestyle is rather casual these days so I eschew tailored shirts which require ironing. I prefer clothes that are comfortable and easy to maintain without compromising my style. I'm constantly around children which means I can't wear anything that's too delicate or expensive.

4. Find out what flatters your skin tone and figure

I will never ever look like Elle MacPherson. Not even remotely. I have a jelly belly which wobbles whenever I break into a run. Any thought of squeezing myself into a Herve Leger bandage dress is laughable. So I tend to wear loose fitting tops. Unfortunately, I also have a tendency to expand like the shape of an apple so I look for dresses which give me an illusion of a waist. Orange, mustardy, gold or similar tones make me look ill. I had a color analysis done on me more than a decade ago and it was one of the best thing I've ever spent my money on. Once I understood which colors suit my skin tone, shopping became a breeze.

5. Only buy what you need during the sales

Well, who am I to preach. Oooooh.... 80% off. Never mind that it was a size too big. It's 80% off! I came to the realization that I've frittered away my hard earned money on things that I'd never ever wear just because they were on sale. These days, I'm armed with a list which I'd carefully thought about. If it ain't on my list, I won't buy it no matter how tempting the price may be.

6. Purchase pieces that will work with the rest of your wardrobe

I like the fact that I can get multiple ensembles from a single jacket by pairing it with various clothes from my existing wardrobe. There's no point in buying a top that looks good on you but you'll have to buy another skirt or shoes because it just doesn't go with the rest of your wardrobe. You'll just end up with lots of clothes and nothing to wear.

If you have any tips about editing your wardrobe, please share as I'd love to hear about it.

Old Alresford, Hampshire

2011-10-25T13:12:00.000+01:00

I just want to give a shout out to my favorite cousin, Ping who's like the older sister that I never have. I used to trail behind her like a shadow, generally being the pesky little cousin but she never minded. We used to sneak into her room and chat all day. She would come up with crazy ideas and got us into trouble with her mom. She was obsessed with hairstyles and unfortunately, I was the only available "model" to experiment on. Thirty years on, I found out that she has now taken to plaiting her students' hair if they'd done particularly well during their piano lessons! I guess some things will never change. When I was 12, my aunt decided I was to be a flower girl at her wedding. Ping appointed herself to be my personal make up artist. All I remembered was the cute hairstyle and plenty of white shimmer powder on my nose to highlight my already rather pointed nose. She is wise, has a heart of gold and is one of the most generous person I've ever had the privilege to know. I love her to bits. Happy belated birthday, Ping!

It's every mother's nightmare - the half term break. Or any holidays for that matter. I've promised Lil L that I'd take her to Old Alresford, a quaint and picturesque Georgian village in Hampshire. It is also the home of the Watercress Railway line which runs Thomas trains twice a year. In fact Alresford is also UK's capital of Watercress farming. The town centre has many upmarket and unique shops. There's the millennium trail that takes you down a country trail along the Itchen and into the reservoir. The colorful Georgian terraced houses were built after the great fires in the 17th century. You've got the Pink House, Donkey House, Old Post Office House etc etc. Old Alresford is not to be confused with New Alresford despite its proximity. The latter is a rather dull place with residential estates and nothing else of interest.

Houses were built to accommodate horse carriages with stables built behind the entrance.

They have a town butcher that supplies the usual as well as game meat such as mallard duck, venison, pheasant and rabbit.

These days cafes are all the rage but no English town is complete without its very own pub.

Broomsticks. In preparation for Halloween.

I've been to Caracoli cafe previously. It's a cafe cum deli. It's also a great place to rest your weary legs and have a cup of coffee to go with a slice of cake.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the effects of sugar on children. Let me show you a few photos to prove it. This is what happens when you give a precocious little girl a massive cup of hot chocolate with gazillions of marshmallows along with a piece gingerbread pumpkin.

By the time Lil L had finished all the marshmallows as well as half her cookie, she started displaying rather strange behavior - Miming.

Deranged (think Jack Nicholson's Joker)

crestfallen

ecstatic otherwise disguised as a Colgate commercial

A failed attempt to look mournful

Since having Lil L, I have developed skin thicker than the buffalo hide. One has to. Let's just say we got plenty of odd stares thanks to Lil L who'd insisted that she needed to protect her hair from a slight drizzle.

And this one's for the grandparents.

Winter staple: 4 Ways to wear a Sweater Dress

2011-10-24T00:30:00.003+01:00

Sweater dresses are a staple in my winter wardrobe. You can dress them up or down. They're easy to put on, require very little maintenance, comfortable and keep you warm in the colder months. I've got about 8 in my closet which I'd acquired during the sales though Uniqlo makes fabulous ones in merino wool for less than £20. Mine are rather inexpensive from Uniqlo, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Zadig et Voltaire and Ekyog, all purchased for less than £60. Personally, I tend to go for natural fibers such as merino wool or cotton because they last longer and cost just as much as acrylic. With the ongoing recession, it makes sense to buy versatile pieces that work with the rest of the wardrobe to create multiple looks.

Here's my trusted old and well used sweater dress from Comptoir des Cotonniers that I picked up from their sale for a son.g You'll notice that 1) it's dark. I'm accident prone so any light colored clothes just scream to be stained in a nanosecond. 2) it nips in slightly at the waist which helps as I have a tendency towards an apple figure particularly when I'm in a good mood. When I'm happy, I EAT. So I guess that the only way for me to stay slim is to be constantly stressed and unhappy. 3) it's not too short. I don't mind showing my legs as they're the one place that does not become *ahem* well padded when I'm in a happy mood BUT I'd rather not flash my knickers to the world when I bend down to pick something. 4) fitted but not tight. Empire line dresses make me look like I'm pregnant. Bleh. I can't pull off super tight dresses (if you've got the body for it, I say flaunt it!) unless I wear spanx underneath. However, it has a tendency to cut off any circulation to my upper body. That can be a problem because I *gasp* talk *gasp* like *gasp *this*.

You'll notice my ever present Wolford tights. I figure it'll work out far cheaper in the long run if I buy a few good pairs of woolen tights. The ones by Tabio, Wolford and Falke seem to last forever unlike the cheaper ones that fall apart after a few wears or are so uncomfortable that I felt like I've got a few cactus plants stuck on my legs.

Comptoir des Cotonniers sweater dress

Casual

Outfit: Comptoir des Cotonniers sweater dress, Zara Kids faux fur gilet, Hermes belt, Stuart Weitzman boots, Wolford tights and Hermes Feu Kelly Dog bracelet (for sale, available here)

Smart Casual

Outfit: Comptoir des Cotonniers sweater dress, Hermes cashmere Kelly en Caleche shawl, Ted Baker leather jacket, Wolford tights, Stuart Weitzman boots, Hermes Mini Constance 18cm (for sale, available here)

Work

Outfit: Comptoir des Cotonniers sweater dress, Isabel Marant Fred Jacket, Wolford tights and Salvatore Ferragamo pumps.

Evening

Outfit: Comptoir des Cotonniers sweater dress, Hermes belt, Wolford tights and Salvatore Ferragamo pumps.

Take a walk with me

2011-10-20T11:05:00.000+01:00

Perhaps I'm still in a honeymoon phase as a friend's husband called it but you'll have to forgive this emigrant from a "new" country for gawking at the amazing buildings, some of which had been there before the birth of Jesus. A huge thank you to a client who pointed it out to me, I had no idea that there's the remains of an old palace an easy 5 minute stroll from my place. It was built by no less than Sir Christopher Wren for King Charles II who was also the architect behind St Paul's Cathedral and Hamptons Court. It has been completely renovated in the late 1980s and converted into military museums and stately townhouses. All that's left of the original feature is the structure and imposing pillars. Apparently, it was modeled after Versailles Palace but they ran out of money and the project was abandoned soon after.

While waiting for a friend, I looked up and saw workmen climbing up the spire of a medieval church. One was hauling another ladder up which I thought was incredibly brave of him. I don't know about you but I felt dizzy and sick to the stomach just looking at them.

I was thrilled to catch up with a good friend of mine who has decided to abandon the warm and sunny beaches of California to live in the UK. What better way to assimilate into the English culture than to eat at a pub. I've never stepped foot in one until very recently. Pubs are practically an English institution particularly on Friday nights when many would stumble out of their respective workplaces and gather for a drink, standing outside amidst cigarette smoke and freezing cold weather. Now, this little pub is different. First of all, the interior is so eclectic and eye catching. It's more of a cafe with old cinema chairs and vintage collectibles placed strategically but the total effect is warm and cosy. The food is outstanding. I can't fault my medium rare steak sandwiched between ciabatta slices with caramelized onions, dijon mustard and delicious salad.

1 Isabel Marant Fred Jacket - 4 Looks

2011-10-19T00:30:00.004+01:00

Before I delve into today's post, I want to say a HUGE thank you to 3 AWESOME gals. My apologies if my "speech" is reminiscent of Gwyneth Paltrow's at the Oscars.

Kim of Sassy Uptown Chic for bestowing the Sweet Award to me alongside some of my favorite bloggers. In fact, I should be the one doing the honors because this lady has such a BIG heart. Her kindness and thoughtful nature truly shines through every comment she has ever made here.

If I could reach out of my MacBook to hug my pal lauraloo, I would. I met her on an eBay discussion forum 10 years ago and we still keep in touch to this day. She helped direct a long lost friend of ours to my blog, the one whom I'd been searching for many years.

I have to thank Lindsay of A Walk in the Closet for her suggestion to create 4 looks for different occasions. Thank you, Lindsay!

The temperature has been dropping rapidly every week. Yup, winter's coming whether I like it or not. Speaking of winter, I was enthralled by the idea of having a white Christmas, mulled wine, snowman, minced pie, turkey etc etc. By the time my 3rd winter came around, the novelty soon wore off and we escaped back to New Zealand to have a HOT Christmas in shorts and t-shirt. Bliss. I was spoiled rotten by my family and friends. To cut a long story short, I was fed like a goose plumped up for foie gras except that my livers are still intact.

The only reason I'm looking forward to the cold weather this time is because I get to wear my new Isabel Marant jackets. Who knew I could this shallow and vain? *ahem* Anyhoo, here are the 4 looks I'd created from my closet. I had trouble with work clothes seeing that I left pretty much all of them back in New Zealand. I know I sound like an advertisement for Isabel Marant but I'm amazed at how versatile the "Fred" jacket is. It can look rather corporate-y and rocker chic depending on what you pair it with. Most importantly, it's super duper warm!

School Run

Outfit: Isabel Marant Fred jacket, Uniqlo v neck merino wool sweater, Uniqlo skinny cargo pants, Louis Vuitton leopard shawl, Repetto ballet flats and Hermes Kelly Dog bracelet (for sale, available here)

Smart Casual

Outfit: Isabel Marant Fred jacket, Equipment silk shirt, Hermes belt, Uniqlo +J jeans, Hermes Kelly Dog bracelet, ankle boots and Balenciaga First bag (for sale, available here)

Work

Outfit: Isabel Marant Fred jacket, Karen Walker dress, Salvatore Ferragamo heels and vintage Hermes Kelly 32cm sellier (for sale, available here)

Evening

Isabel Marant Fred jacket, Comptoir des Cotonniers dress, Zara leopard print belt, Salvatore Ferragamo heels and Celine Box medium bag (for sale, available here)

The Lazy Cook's Quick and Easy Pea & Potato Soup

2011-10-18T00:30:00.001+01:00

You've got The Naked Chef aka Jamie Oliver and now you've got The Lazy Chef aka moi. I love to eat. I love to cook. What I don't love is slaving for hours in the kitchen to produce a meal which was exactly what I did yesterday for a subpar mushroom lasagne. I won't be cooking that dish again. EVER. I believe it should take no more than 30 minutes to create tasty dishes with simple and fresh ingredients. Better still, I love recipes that call for chucking all the ingredients into a pot and simmer for an hour or so while I get on with work.

Any recipe that lists ingredients as long as my arm is instantly ignored. Who wants to race around to every grocery store to find some obscure herb or vegetable? Not to mention the chopping, mincing, saute-ing followed by a long simmer and then baked for an hour, remove foil and bake again. Whew! I feel like I've just ran a marathon in the kitchen just reading what I wrote. This is my version of the pea and potato soup which was what I put together from whatever I've got in the pantry and freezer. It's a delicious and nutritious meal which can be whipped up within minutes and require very little work.

Ingredients

50g unsalted butter
1 onion, chopped
2 large cloves of garlic or 4 small ones, crushed
a sprig of thyme
3 small floury potatoes (I like King Edward), diced
300g frozen petit pois
fresh ground pepper
a pinch of sea salt

1. Melt the butter in a pot. If you're worried about your muffin top but love the taste of butter, chuck it in. Worry about the love handles tomorrow. Next, add the onion and potatoes. Cook till both have softened. It takes about 5-6 minutes.
2. Now toss the thyme and garlic into the pot. Saute for a few minutes and remove thyme.
3. Pour in 100ml of water and cook for another 3 minutes or so. Add the frozen petit pois and fill the pot with enough water to cover the peas.
4. Bring it to boil and blitz into a puree. Tada! Simple, eh?