立春 (Lap Chun)

Today is 立春 Lap Chun, the first day of spring. Happy Chinese New Year!!

From google, I found that today we should wear red to bring good luck and try to bank in some money to have money keep pouring in. Oh, and today is also an excellent day for Loh Sang 捞生so we can be Sang Sang Mang Mang 生生猛猛.

On a separate note…

Whilst shopping for CNY flowers, I came across this plant which looks rather odd. So I did some googling.

This plant is named Solanum Mammosum, from South America. It is a very auspicious plant which Chinese use as offering on the altar or as decorations during CNY. Its chinese name is 五代同堂 which means Five Generations Under One Roof. This is the wish of all elders in Chinese culture. To have all children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren live together under one roof means longevity for the elders as they are able to see their grand and great-grand children grow up. 

This plant does have some more common names which are Nipple Plant, Cow’s Udder, Titty Fruit and even Fox Face (to the Japanese only). Hence the popularity during the year of Ox.

Although this fruit is from the same family as potato and tomato plant, it is not edible. The entire plant is poisonous.

Now, should I get some for my house? But then again, I wouldn’t want to encourage any elders asking me about having children, do I?

xoxo

ToyGirl

Baking frenzy

For the past week, I’ve been doing quite a bit of baking. Baked three types of biscuits. Well, more like, baked two types, the last one’s still in the refrigerator chilling. Coz I’ve run out of containers to keep the biscuits.

When it comes to baking, I love baking biscuits coz I LOVE eating biscuits and ONLY the imported kinds. Which is becoming a bit of an expensive ‘addiction’. So baking’s the best way to go. I get more for every ringgit spent. Must be frugal a bit lah, so that I can spend more on…erm…clothes? hahaha

First bake was a dog biscuit which I’ve sold to my first customer (woo hoo!!).

Chicken & Rosemary Biscuit – 200gm for RM10.

Ingredients are fresh chicken breast, flax seed, rye flour, olive oil and chicken broth

I use rye flour, which is a wheat free and gluten free flour coz my dog has skin allergies. Last year, when I started baking dog treats for him using plain flour or wholemeal flour, his skin turned red with rashes! Had to bring him to the vet to get it treated. The poor thing. So now I’m a lot more careful with what I feed my dog.

I’ve been dabbling in baking my own dog treats. Kinda like a new hobby that hopefully can become a money earner for me. However, I’ve also been rather inconsistent. Sometimes bake. Often times, too lazy. Hence, nothing’s come of it. :p

Second bake was a White Cheddar Shortbread.

This is a recipe that I got from a blog called Vegetable Matter . These turned out rather good. VERY RICH. So rich that every piece I munch on makes me feel like I’m putting on kilos!! And unfortunately, ToyBoy isn’t too keen on all that cheese. So I’ve been eating them alone.

Third bake was chocholate chocolate chip cookies. I love chocolate. Especially chocolate chip cookies made with quality chocolate that are rich and not too sweet. Will post this up once I’ve baked them. Which is after I buy some new containers. ^0^

Have a good weekend everyone.

xoxo

ToyGirl

New Year (after 10 days)

People usually do a new year post right after new year. Stands to reason, really. But I thought I’ll do mine after a week. Just to let the new year festivities settle. More importantly, the party-goer in me settle.

December has been a month of whirlwind activities with almost non-stop partying and drinking. A lot of merry-making. Like a good friend says, once all that is over, we comedown with post-party blues/depression. Kinda sad if you think about it.

I haven’t been blogging very much since I came back from Bangkok. Truth be told, haven’t been very inspired to blog. And also haven’t had much to blog about. And also been kinda lazy to upload photographs. Etc Etc Etc…

In case you haven’t noticed, I like to blog about things I come across online, or my random rambling thoughts. These don’t need any photos.

But I do admit photos makes a blog  ‘oh so nice’ . Or much nicer to read. Anyway….

Back to my topic, the new year so far.

Its been 10 days into the new year. I find myself sitting and wondering the following:

1. Do I feel one year older? Do I look one year older?

2. Has there been any significant changes in my life so far? Or is my life still running on the same wheel?

3.  What are my goals for this year?

4. How do I want this year to be different?

It feels, this year, last year, the year before…Every year has been the same. The same worries, the same nagging feeling that I’m not doing enough, the same fear that I’ll fall sick and not be able to afford treatment (this came from watching too much of Grey’s Anatomy), the same ….. the list goes on and on. Some too private to mention. shhh…

And so, begins the new year, where we all try our best. Where I will try my best.

Cheers!

ToyGirl

Amazing Thailand

Sawasdee Kaa!!!

We were in Bangkok recently for my 31st birthday. This is a short post of our transportation which I found absolutely amazing!

We started off trying to hail2 tuk-tuks from our hotel, but only managed to come across one. The tuk-tuk driver very generously offered to take ALL 6 OF US into his tiny 3 wheeled vehicle. So since, he seemed so confident, we hopped on. Anything to save that few bahts right? Every 10 baht saved is another 10 baht for shopping I say.

All 6 of us squeezed into a tuk-tuk for 40 Baht. No mishaps. Everyone survived.

The tuk-tuk experience made us feel kinda brave. So we did the same stunt with a cab. And again, the driver said ok. So, before he could change his mind, we hopped into the cab. Can’t remember how much we paid for this ride. In case you were counting, Vick was our camera man in the shot sitting in the front seat.

Gotta love Bangkok/Thailand. Amazing!! 

Of course, stay tuned for more posts on the rest of our Bangkok trip.

XOXO

I’m sing….ing in the rain…

TGIF!! Here’s a funny post on funny umbrellas!!

Received an email about some funny looking umbrellas which promted me to write this post. I’m not an umbrella person. I’d rather walk in the rain or wait till it stops. Coz I can’t quite figure out how to open or close it from within the car.

Now, this would be PERFECT for me!!

This umbrella would be purr-fect for my dog. He hates to be out in the rain. All I need now is to get him to wear shoes!! Then he’ll be dry as a bone. No worries of water splattering everywhere!

I can’t imagine any kid that’d want to use this!!! LOL.!!! Almost like an alien invasion.

Imagine walking in the rain with your love ones. I remember watching black and white movies. Many a love scene was based on two people walking in the rain and this was usually how their love blossomed *butterflies fluttering*, or how they managed to get the courage to declare their love to each other. Walk in rain, must do for every couple.

Have a good weekend everyone!!

xoxo

The Lonely Traveller Series: Kirishima Shuzou

It’s been ages since me a.k.a ToyBoy logged into the blog and I have been getting an earful from ToyGirl on how she is the only one doing anything.  Technically la.

Every now and then, I drive to various states in Malaysia for my work and it is always a lonely drive. The amount of time I spent on the road, I probably could drive to ChiangMai and back. And for all these long drives, I probably spent less than hour with my clients hence the lonely traveller series. With clients, it is all work and on the road, it is the 6 CDs changer for my companion. But sometimes, I do enjoy these lonely periods of solitude where your mind peaked in thoughts, ideas, memories and nothingness. I reckon I solved half my problems during these periods not to mention half the world problems except that I can never memorise it so till another drive then. The only consolation on the road are the ignorant insects which splattered across my windscreen making me think I am making the world a better place to live in. MUAHAHAHAHAHA. I am not evil.

Well, there is always the meal at the end of the drive to think about. I always tell myself to treat myself well after every long drive. And I always do. This time round my last stop is in Johor Baru and this time round, the drive has been really really long. At least 6 hours long. That deserves my comfort food and drink, Japanese.

Into Kirishima Shuzou, the only Chinese Speaking Japanese restaurant I know. This time round, a young part time Chinese waitress greeted me and me being me, I sometimes plead ignorance to the Chinese language for the fear of anyone engaging me on a long lengthy I-Don’t-Really-Care conversation after my long drives. So being abrupt, I sat down at my favourite corner hidden from the main floor, I mouthed my favourites without looking at the menu. “Bring the Hot Sake first, then a Teppan Gyu Tan and a Chawan Mushi. For the Main, give me a TenZaru Soba and also some ToriKawa”. All these are spoken in a carefully viled Chinese accent as not to give myself away. I thought I did good. Then waitress looked at me and asked, “Do you know GyuTan is Cow Tongue and ToriKawa is Chicken Skin?”. And this she is asking a customer that just recited everything without the menu. I should have acted suprise and go “Eeeerrr, how can you all serve such things???”.

Back to the food.

Chawan Mushi (RM 8 ) Hot Sake (RM 28)

For all the nonsense I spouted, the food here is really good and reasonably priced. Nothing relaxes you better than a good bottle of hot Sake after a long day. And starting off with the Chawan Mushi, a relaxing dish to swallow with almost no effort yet every spoonful is a delight.

Teppanyaki Gyu Tan - RM 18

Another favourite of mine, the thinly sliced GyuTan with Teppan Sauce requires a bit of chewing, just a bit. Tender and it satisfied the meat craving in me. Felt a bit savage after a long drive and demanding clients.

Ten Zaru Soba (RM 16)

To me, a Japanese restaurant in Malaysia must be able to serve a mean bowl of Cold Soba before expecting my patronage as it is one of my favourite Comfort Food. Soba must be ice cold and slightly chewy. And also with Tempura on the side. The sauce must include wasabi, chopped spring onions, a quail egg and tempura bits.

And this completes my journey.

Kirishima Shuzou Japanese Restaurant

117 Jalan Tebrau,

80250 Johor Baru, Johor.

Tel: 07-2762838

Fax: 07-2761665

ToyBoy

p.s: All stated in this post are based on my personal experiences, knowledges, ignorances and thoughts. All grammar mistakes are based on a period of misspent youth thinking English is easy. All can be forgiven.  

New favorite drink

Toyboy and I have a new fave drink. COFFEE!!

Up till now, we have not been fans of coffee because:

1. Toyboy gets nauseous from the caffeine

2. Toygirl feels agitated and excited from the caffeine

But recently, we tried the espressos at Espressamente and we have been hooked!! Of course, it helped that they serve coffee with alcohol. *Double happiness*

Pictures below are some of the drinks we had for breakfast one morning.

We highly recommend this espresso shot. Boys and girls, forget about the essence of chicken in the morning. ToyBoy felt an instant boost after downing this espresso and grappa shot.

Can’t remember what these were. Will update the post after we revisit.  

There are two Espressamente  outlets, Bangsar Village and Pavilion.  However, if you enjoy people watching the way we do, I strongly suggest the Pavilion outlet.

Till our next coffee outing…

xoxo

Car crazy

Car drives past us. Toy Boy points at it and asks:

ToyBoy: “What do you think of that car?”

Toy Girl: “Huh? What car?”

ToyBoy:”That BMW Z4 that just past us? Didn’t you see it?”

ToyGirl:”Which one is that?”

Or

ToyBoy:”That 911 Carrera that just drove past us?”

ToyGirl:”What carrera?”

Of course, by now, I know what’s a carrera and Z4. Z4 just happens to be

ToyBoy’s favorite car. But don’t ask me to tell between a Z4 and a Z3. Or even

new generation carrera and old genertion carrera. I just know, as long as

they’re nice and curvy, I like. Like the one below.

 

And the one below.

My dream car.

The perfect shade of pink.

I must say, I prefer the pink on the Nissan Micra than the Audi TT.

What do you think?

XOXO

ToyGirl

Take me home

I love all things vintage and retro.

Saw this kitchen scale by Typhoon at Robinson’s department store last night.

As I was caressing it, feeling its smooth steel surface and salivating over the vintage design, I could practically hear it whisper to me “take me home…”.  

Oh, how I had to resist the temptation.

Be Inspired…^o^

I love reading about ’before & after’ projects on Design Sponge. So inspiring! Makes me start imagining (and also wishing I’m not that lazy) all the things I can do to give my home that personal touch.

Before

After

Doesn’t this table look like something you’d pay a few hundred bucks for?

xoxo