Day 5: rode so hard I ripped my snowpants

Day 2: Fun on the Slopes

My Vacation Palette

I picked up this gorgeous eyeshadow palette called Twilight Rays awhile back to match the purple/silver color theme of B's best friend's wedding, but never actually used it...

 

Swatches on my bare arm:

I figured this would be the perfect on-the-go palette to fit in my makeup bag as my snowboarding wardrobe revolves around greys and blues.

Day 1: Toronto -- Calgary -- Panorama

Yumm

Had to fast before a medical appointment this morning so I only got to try the radish cakes now - they are SO good I'm seriously considering keeping more for ourselves!

Radish Cakes

After five hours of labour and a few burns on my hands, we went through over 20 pounds of daikon radish and finally came up with 16 radish cakes for our family and friends.   I am So happy that this big batch cooking experiment turned out to be a success even though only Alan and James could make it!!  Now we are one step closer to being ready for Chinese New Year :)

Shoe Therapy

I was wandering in Marshalls (a Winners-type department store) just killing time before a dinner party and unexpectedly came across these absolutely gorgeous leather pumps with a metal-studded bow - I don't really need another pair of shoes (I should really be looking for replacements for my black winter boots that are falling apart) but I decided that these shoes would be my consolation prize - for seeing others getting what I really really want but never getting it for myself.

ECKO online sale

blondies

These pecan blondies are crunchy on the outside while soft and chewy on the inside.  They are almost candy-like - the resemblance to Chiu-Chow style sweets mostly made with peanuts is quite useful in coaxing my dad to try them.  After they've had a taste, the box disappeared within days.


Let's backtrack - we start with melting butter in a pot.

After the butter has melted, stir in packed brown sugar until smooth.
 

Beat in eggs - supposedly one at a time but patience is not a virtue of mine.

 After the eggs had been incorporated, mix in flour, baking soda and a pinch of salt.

Stir in toasted coarsely-chopped pecans.
 

Line two 13x9 pans with parchment paper

Pour batter into prepared pans.

 Bake in preheated oven 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

I find it easier to cut when warm - and the original recipe called for bigger pieces to be cut, but since it's a little on the sweet side I cut them into smaller squares.

 Ta-Da!

blessed

This past week has been filled with so much fun with my dear friends (from school, from work, from random fated meetings through other wonderful friends) that just went to remind me how blessed I am to have so many people who I love and care about (and evidently they feel the same too - otherwise I can't really explain why they'd put up with me for all these times...)

I've got this song stuck in my head and it reminds me of my dear friends every time - especially the part where the singer insists to be there to lift your spirits, just like how my friends always manage to help me re-adjust my thinking so that I can see the silver linings!  So I'd like to dedicate it to you, my dear friends, especially Michelle and Diana :)

My heart's a stereo - it beats for you so listen close

Hear my thoughts in every note, oh-oh~

Make me your radio, turn me up when you feel low

'cause this melody is meant for you - to sing along to my stereo!

  - stereo hearts by gym class heroes

Thanks Michelle :)

i just got my best orgasm ever...

guess what ended up as a gift to myself...

When Michelle and I were at Lisa's cosmetic warehouse sale, I picked up this really pretty palette from Cargo in a hot pink cardboard box that I had every intention to use as a gift this past holiday season.

Well, Christmas came and gone and somehow I still had this palette with me - so on my birthday, I decided that it could be a gift to myself!

I just couldn't resist the beautiful colors but what's more, I love how the palette makes it so much easier to play with them!

Absolutely loving it!

Byron's wound

...from play beach volleyball on the XBOX Kinect a few days back (apparently 9' ceilings aren't high enough to accommodate his height)

tell me...

...is it wrong to get even the tiniest bit upset, when I find myself being bitter, because what I want so badly and have worked so hard on seems to be such an easy thing to attain for others?

I know it's ugly.  I know I'm supposed to be content.  It's not like I'm not appreciative - I am immensely grateful for what I've got.  But sometimes - just sometimes -I would wonder, "why am I not the one to get that first - even though I've been going at it for longer?"

B always calls me out on it - maybe I do have a secretly competitive side; and being a Capricorn, it's not surprising that I am ambitious in a practical way.  I know you can never compare what you have with another's unless you have walked a mile in their shoes, yet I just can't help but to feel the burn of  jealousy sometimes when I see others getting what I've been desiring before I do, or getting seemingly more than what I've got.

I am upset that it does vex me; and doubly so because I can't deny the fact that I am still yearning for what I have yet to get...

my birthday brunch at O&B

Thank you B!