Your Blog is Lovely and so are "YOU"

Recently, a sweet and beautiful Parveen of Handbags and Fashion Rags kindly gave me a Cute Blog award - Thank "YOU". I know I have to share and pass the love to a few more fellow bloggers to let them know how much I appreciate what they do by sharing bits and pieces of their lives/passion and how much I like their channel of thoughts and expressions.



For this award you:


1. Link back to the person who awarded you.
2. Answer the award questions.
3. Tell something about yourself that you haven't told anyone on your blog yet.
4. Award as many blogs as you think worthy of this award
5. Make sure to let those you gave this award to know that you awarded them.

The Award Questions:

1. What is your go to make-up brand?
I am not a make-up junkie and I don't use much makeup during the week but MAC has to be my most favorite one as of late. I LOVE..LOVE..LOVE their foundation. I just couldn't find a shade that match my skintone in any other brands. Recently I went out to try Chanel and Dior but didn't have any luck with neither ones so I am returning to MAC.


2. What was your favourite fashion trend of 2011?
Okay what was the 2011 trend anyway? Did that say much about me? I am not a trend follower and I pretty much buy what I like. I am not someone who read the magazine or watch fashion show so I don't normally know the trend. If I like what I see, then I will buy.
3. What is your favourite dessert?
I am a cupcake fanatic as of late.
4. Favourite colour?
Red
5. What is your middle name?
I don't have one. Weired or what?
6. What's the last song you listened to?
"Like I do now" by Chris Botti
7. Cats or dogs?
Cats, simply becuase I have two.

Random fact I haven't told anyone: I am a (partial) potato couch in the evening. Okay let's admit it. What else is more relaxing than sitting in front of TV after a day at work.

Award As Many People Who You Think Are Worthy Of This Award: these are blogs I regularly read so don't you dare stop blogging!
Handbags and Fashion Rags
Squeeze the Pugs
A Very Sweet Blog
Jo's Jumbled Jardinière
Statements in Fashion
Simplyvonne
CocoBella Ballerina
Chocolate, Cookies and CandiesStyle of Sam On another note, Kat of Katattack2000 featured me at her blog {over here}

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This week I spent WAY far too many hours in the kitchen, it felt like an eternity. Gosh I hate cooking!! I wish I am passionate about cooking like some people who spent countless of hours experimenting and having fun with new recipes but unfortunately I am not THAT passionate. I think if I had more free time, I may enjoy cooking more. It is challenging when you feel too tired by the end of the day, the fun just goes out the window. One of my goals this year is to try to bring back the "fun" in the kitchen, try new recipes and eat more at home. I can't tell you how much money we could have saved if we didn't eat at the restaurants so often. This weekend I made a major change and decided to do something different that hopefully will work in a long run. I implemented a weekly menu planning, cook and prep ahead of the game so that there will be less work during weekdays.

{Clockwise: Turkey meatballs before dumping them into pasta sauce, Turkey meatballs in pasta sauch, Turkey Chill and Chicken Noodle Soup}

Don't ask me how many times I failed at doing weekly menu planning in the past. Way too many. I think part of it is that I picked out dishes that were way too many steps, too complicated, the results were not too impressive and too time consuming...thus not practical, thus no motivation, thus I failed accordingly. I HATE..HATE...HATE those recipes which requires a long list of ingredients. I usually lose motivation if the list goes beyond 5 lines, really. So my new game plan is to stick with something that our family will like, guarantee to be tasty, quick, and can be prepared in advance. One day in a distant future, I would love to make a family cookbook that consists of the our favorite dishes/recipes and pass on to my daugther. On a surprising note (that is not too surprising to my husband), I ALWAYS maange to tweak the recipes even when I make it the first time. Call me a weirdo but I don't normally follow the recipes for some crazy reason. At times, I feel some ingredients are not an absolute necessites or it has too much salt or seem too unhealthy or this or that. Of course my food is not always edible because I am not a pro but hey 98% of the time it comes out pretty darn good.