Blog surfing

Have been blog surfing lately... seeing what was out there. I am always interested in what other people have to say...

It got me wondering, what makes a blog interesting? What makes us look, stop and read a blog?

Is it the title? the post? or the pictures?

I sometimes see the heading, read the last post and if I find that interesting, read some more...

I have wondered..... is my blog (at first glance) interesting enough to stop and read? or maybe the first part.. with the picture, the quote and the comic a bit much and uninteresting.....hmmmm...

OK, so I said I write for myself... but I would love to have more people read what I write... thank goodness someone finally commented for once! (well... that was because I commented on his blog first), but still... a comment is a comment and it very much appreciated.

Easter is coming up and it will be awhile in between posts. Long holiday and a busy first monday for me next week. Will be racking up reading some of my TO-READ books and my take home work load... *sign*...

Writing Furor

Ok, two posts in one day... what can I say? I am in  the mood..... hahahaa

I have been writing again. Journaling so to speak... AND...I have joined a writing workshop this April (I hope I can attend though). They also have a writing contest there where you can win a scholarship for that workshop. Although I can pay for my own tuition, I would like to try to submit an entry and find out if i could win. (narcissistic of me yeah?)
I joined www.writersblockphilippines.com

My writing fever is also evident when we went to Hk. I chanced upon a new stationary shop selling pens. It was new and they were setting up the display. My mouth was watering from the array of journals and pens on display.. and the guy selling it was from Italy. He approached me and asked if I was familiar with their brand. I said no... I was just browsing.... (well.... actually, I was salivating at their merchandise)-- they didn't have the glass pens pictured above (these are murano pens from venice-- note to self: get one of those when I go back to venice)

They had feather pen sets (the one's you imagine Shakespeare used to write down his works). they had ink in a bottle and you had to dip the feather in it to write. (The feather had a metal tip)

The sell also different colors of inks in bottles  and fountain pens. I just have this desire to start practicing my calligraphy.... hahaha

The only thing was, I didn't have a place to keep these when I do buy them, so I have to wait for the new house to finish before I can buy anything new.

They also had wax stamp sets... (I still have the one I bought when I was in oxford... the one with my inital...) where you heat up the wax and seal letter with the stamp...

Yeah, I know, in the age of wireless letters, when will I get the chance to send a letter? -- I SAY, WHO CARES???
I think precious are the ones who receive letters nowadays. It means the one who sent it took the time to write AND send it. Just imagine how a letter (snail mail) travelled to it's destination. It took a truck, a ship or plane and got sorted and handled and then got delivered. The mail itself has a story to tell.

Come to think of it.. I think I will send my friend Jasmine a "glad you are my friend" note.. complete with wax stamp and ribbon... hahaha (me , finding reasons to use my stationary)...

For the love of.....CHEESECAKE!

I haven't done any baking for awhile, one of the things I love making is cheesecake. I have tried so many recipes and this is the one I really liked. It is originally from Tyler Florence. I tweaked it a little to suit the taste of my kids. (the original was a bit tart from too much lemon zest and sour cream). My daughter was bugging me to make her a cheesecake (she tasted one when we went on vacation) and I dusted off my apron and went to work......

THE ULTIMATE CHEESECAKE

Ingredients

Crust:

• 2 cups finely ground graham crackers (about 30 squares)-- use a food processor to make it easier
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

• 1 pound cream cheese, 2 (8-ounce) blocks, softened
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups cream (or if you want it more tart, 2 cups sour cream)
• 1 lemon, zested (careful with the zest.... )
• 1 dash vanilla extract
• Warm Lemon Blueberry Topping, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Pour the crumbs into the pan and, using the bottom of a measuring cup or the smooth bottom of a glass, press the crumbs down into the base and 1-inch up the sides. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.

For the Filling:

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute until smooth and free of any lumps. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined. Gradually add sugar and beat until creamy, for 1 to 2 minutes.

Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. The batter should be well-mixed but not overbeaten. Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

Set the cheesecake pan on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides around it. Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake. Bake for 50 minutes. The cheesecake should still jiggle (it will firm up after chilling), so be careful not to overcook. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Unmold and transfer to a cake plate. Using a spatula spread a layer of Warm Lemon Blueberry topping over the surface.

Slice the cheesecake with a thin, non-serrated knife that has been dipped in hot water. Wipe dry after each cut.

Warm Lemon Blueberries:-- (you can use canned pie topping)

• 1 pint blueberries
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 tablespoons sugar

In a small saucepan add all the ingredients and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes or so until the fruit begins to break down slightly. Leave to cool before spreading on cheesecake.

Yield: 6 servings

This is the result... it was fresh from the oven when this picture was taken. The kids loved it. (at last).. I didn't have any topping at hand, and the kids prefer it plain. This is definitely a successful cake, if I should say so myself. (YUM YUM said my TUM TUM)-- hahaha

Its a..... Surprise???

Yesterday started like any other day... considering it was my birthday. I still went to work and attended meetings. Birthdays used to have some thrill to them, especially when you are young. You can't wait to get gifts and turn another year older. When you get to where I am, every day seems the same.- even birthdays.

For once though, my mom threw me a advance birthday lunch the day before my birthday. Surprisingly, my brother, who flew in from the US also remembered to give me a gift. (perfume)..

My sister also gave me a towering cake... just don't count the candles.... hahahaaaa

So.. back to my birthday, DAY. My hubby gave me (I actually found them while getting dressed) a tiffany necklace (silver) which looked like pearls and a pair of earrings (these looked like black pearls but were onyx). Seeing the tiffany box was quite exciting... and opening and finding those items were doubly rewarding too. They were both beautiful......I could wear them everyday.

He had planned a dinner for us and we went out of the house at past seven. He seemed quite different. He kept saying to me... "Take your time..."- which  made my ears stand up.. hmm... is something up???

Reaching the area where we were supposed to have dinner, he kept looking around, as if he was watching for something. I was beginning to suspect. I finally asked him... "What's the matter?" and he kept smiling. The jig was up. He was throwing me a surprise party..

However.....

He asked my friends to come at 7:30pm. Knowing them though, they were late.... and we were the first to arrive at the restaurant. - SURPRISE! -- no guests...! hahaha... I pity my husband.. having to invite my delinquent friends!!!
 I didn't mind though because I really appreciated him doing this for me. By this time, I was really extremely hungry. I didn't eat a proper lunch and just had a slice of pizza to tide me over. My loving husband took me the adjacent restaurant to eat something ( it was kind of embarrassing to eat first on the same restaurant).

My loving friends finally arrived at 8pm (late late late) but no matter.. we had so much fun and even if they didn't know each other, my friends hit it off. On one side is the girls and on the other were the boys.

These I think are the closest friends I have in the present..... Vivian- my customer/friend who always kids around with me. Jasmine - my psychiatrist/legal counsel/mother figure. Arlene - adventure buddy. Frances- supermom/ superfriend/ doctor reference.
I also got another birthday cake... how lucky can you get? two cakes for one birthday.

Also, good old Vivian, knowing how I love paper, gave me two beautiful journals!... ooooohhh.. they are soo beautiful and I love them... ! Gonna use them.. SOON!

I finally ended the day at 12 midnight... the waiters at the restaurant were giving us dagger looks because we refused to leave... hahaha.. It was a wonderful surprise. A day that exceeded my expectations. The icing on the cake was the card I got from my daughter, something she made for me. It just goes to show, the most precious gift is not the most expensive one.

The MIRA

Stayed in THE MIRA HK last weekend. This hotel was formerly Miramar Hotel. It was renovated late last year and now sports a sleek new look...

I expected it to be great but wow... It surpassed all my expectations. The check in was very smooth and surprisingly, they ask you what COLOR room you would like to have (silver, green or red).. The lobby itself is a study in silver and glass.

The room itself is a adventure. It has free wifi internet and aside from which, you don't even have to bring a computer. The 32 inch flat screen TV is connected to a sony Vaios where you can browse via a wireless keyboard and it even has a USB, SD card, memory card dock. You even have a Bosh soundsystem where you can dock your ipod and have your own music piped in the bathroom.

The room itself is very sleek and boast of modern furniture. The bed features a tufted leather headboard. The desk also features a nokia cellphone, which at first I though was odd. until I read the welcome note. The cellphone is actually an add on of the room. YOu can bring it with you when you go out and if anyone calls your room, the cellphone will ring. You can also use it to call the hotel (in case you need anything or get lost)- in the screen is some feature like : My mira, room service, and room to room calls.

The room has a mood lighting features where you can adjust the light with a dimmer. ( cool).

The bathroom has a shower and a separate bathtub (they also have rooms without tubs so if you like a good soak, tell them you'd rather have a room with one).

The shower features a "rain" shower head aside from the separate hand held shower. The vanity is a sleek lighted mirror . The window shades are remotely controlled thru a switch - the privacy feature...
I think the MIRA hotel is the best hotel I have stayed in (so far). 5 stars (or pillows)

WRITERS NEED TO WRITE

I love this blog. I think this is serving as some kind of notebook for me. -- Also, I think it is a bit theraputic writing here....Although I don't think anyone is reading this blog except for my husband-- (HI)...

I love notebooks. I love seeing the words I write in them. I should try and write in one again. -- I hope... still having a kind of phobia...

I really need to start my creative juices again.. writing some kind of story.  I think my brain is a bit overtasked. Been thinking about house colors, design, furniture for the past week.

IDEA..

Maybe I should write about how my journey to interior design is going... HMMM...

Anyone out there?? (echo.. echo... echo..)... hahaha.. OK, so no one is reading this blog.... who cares? I WILL keep writing. maybe one day I might get discovered by someone who is interested in reading.... CIAO.

Is it March already???

What very mysterious things days were. Sometimes they fly by, and other times they seem to last forever, yet they are all exactly twenty-four hours. There's quite a lot we don't know about them.

Melanie Benjamin, Alice I Have Been, 2010

When did March happen?? I felt as though everything went fast forward. Can you believe a quarter of the year has already passed? Hmm... tic tock... as if I can't feel myself growing older everyday... 

My mom asked me what we are going to do on my birthday. I just sat there in the car thinking.... "another birthday?" -- I said, "nothing". I think she was expecting me to treat her out to lunch. -- don't want to spend the money to celebrate getting older.... hahahaa

She volunteered to treat ME instead... (good ol' mom). I said I would think about it. 

Been stressed about decision making for the house. As I said, everything suddenly went fast forward and I had to decide on tiles quite soon. After which, I need to meet with kitchen counter suppliers and such. Decisions! Decisions! Building a house makes you grow older 2x as fast...!!

My friend gave ma a copy of pictures she took of us when we went on the Pinatubo trip. They have an awesome DLSR camera and they took amazing pictures. (see banner picture above) I wanna go to other parts of the country and explore... but I guess we have to balance the "need to" do stuff and the "want to" do stuff because I only have so much time to do everything. -- aside from work, kids, house etc.---