last week, i've been to london. my sister thought i would be going back last week, but thankfully my stay was extended (thanks to my company), so she brought me here. we spent 3 days there.
these pictures were taken last tuesday. monday wasn't a good day to take pictures of the park, so thanks to the good weather, now let me share these photos. i couldn't help but stare thinking is this for real? the scenery looks as if were just painted. lovely.
these were taken at St. James Park, near Buckingham Palace at Westminster.
this commercial really got my attention -- if only everyone can see the world this way, then it will be such an interesting and happier place to live at.
2:27am, and i am still awake.
for the past few weeks, i have been having a hard time falling asleep, and today is not an exception...
my ate is currently at work and being alone once in a while is one of the things i truly treasure. i have been playing mafia on facebook, and i felt so hungry. i have no idea what to eat, since i don't want to load myself too much.
i went down and made a cup of hot choco, and some biscuits
the least i have expected to get from this "tiny snacking" is this "wine" taste on my tongue. now another dilemma is to look for something else to eat to get rid of that awful taste.
i guess, i have to end up eating some of this:
i'm so sorry for the amaretti biscuit fans, no offense meant.
hopefully i'll fall asleep after this.
| Category: | Baking | |
| Style: | Other | |
| Special Consideration: | Quick and Easy | |
| Servings: | 12-16 cookies |
Prep time: 30-40 minutes
Baking time: 8 minutes
got this recipe from Yummy magazine, December 2007 issue (page 38)
Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons water
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts
1 cup crushed candy canes
Directions:
1. preheat oven to 375° F
2. cream together butter, sugars, and salt.
3. combine eggs one at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl after every addition.
4. combine flour and baking soda. add this mixture to the creaming batter. then add the chocolate, walnuts, and candy cane bits.
5. with an ice cream scooper, scoop out the batter onto lined (with parchment paper, baking paper, or wax paper) baking sheet pans. bake for 8-12 minutes.
* i reposted this from my multiply site.
just sharing the recipe that made my officemates crave "mint cookies" even though it's not Christmas anymore, lol.
just after our family's advance-happy-birthday dinner for me, i happen to see a kid crying on cnn channel while my dad is watching tv. it was just in time for the news to end, so i just got his name and i googled what happened to him and why he was crying.
his story is about a boy who did not make it (i just did not use the D word, as it might trigger some sad emotions) and his last wish.
meet Brenden Foster, and read his story here.
it's just so ironic to think that while i try to come up with a list of birthday wishes (this time i decided to really make some, not just let the yearly occasion pass), this boy's "last wish" came to me.
Have you ever wondered how celebrities manage to appear so radiant? Or how they exude an indescribable extra something that makes them magnetic? In this article I will share six easy ways to help you cultivate your own charismatic style and presentation by following simple yet timeless fashion tips.
1. Interview friends, family or colleagues who will give you an honest opinion or engage an image consultant to determine what colors & styles best suit you and are in harmony with your natural features like your skin tone, eye and hair color.
2. Colors– A way to test if your colors are harmonious is to look into a mirror in natural daylight while holding a piece of clothing/fabric next to your eyes or directly underneath your chin. Notice which stands out more – the color or your features.
Colors that are “right” put the focus on you and not the garment. For example if you have ocean blue eyes, wearing the same or complimentary blue color will make your eyes stand out and people may comment about how well you look.
A color that is “wrong” often makes you look dull, drains your energy, can be repulsive to you or may even cast a slight shadow on your face. If you are wearing colors that aren’t good for you, people may remark that you look tired or ill even if you feel fine.
If this color testing seems foreign, don’t worry. With practice you will begin to experience the subtlety of how colors can influence your mood and instantly make you look and feel more attractive.
3. Prints should be in proportion to your feature size based on your body’s natural geometry. For example if you have small to medium size features, you should wear small to medium size patterns and jewelry.
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Teenagers are notorious for growing quickly which can cause awkward clothing stages. When teenagers grow too quickly, it can become a challenge for parents to keep their closets full of clothes. Buying new clothes is expensive and often not an option for most families, and teenagers often despise getting hand me downs from their older siblings. What is the solution? The best answer for both affordability and style for your teenagers is to actively shop for used clothing.
When you start searching for used clothing for your teenagers, evaluate all of your available options. You can find quality used clothing items in garage sales, thrift stores, estate sales, online consignment stores and online auction sites. Some of the most popular choices for shoppers today are available online, giving consumers the option to shop from the comfort of their own home.
You may be thinking, I don't think my son or daughter will want to wear used clothing. Most people have this feeling because when they think about used clothing, they think of 'old' or in 'poor condition'. If you think about the situation logically, there have got to be millions of other teenagers who are also outgrowing their clothes. Many parents sell or donate their teenager's used clothing when it no longer fits or when they no longer want the items.
As you begin to search for used clothing retailers, start by searching your local yellow pages or by searching for "Used Clothing", "Thrift Stores" or "Re-Sale Clothing" shops within your area in your search engine. You will also want to search the online classified ads, online auction sites and online consignment shops for availability and store options.
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NEW YORK – New York remained a deep blue state on Election Day, going Barack Obama's way big-time. Still, as Diddy cast his ballot for the Democratic presidential candidate Tuesday, he couldn't help but feel that he had made a difference.
"I felt like my vote was the vote that put him into office. It was down to one vote, and that was going to be my vote. And that may not be true, but that's how much power it felt like I had," the hip-hop mogul said.
After spending much of the campaign using his star wattage to get other people to the polls, Diddy, like other celebrity political boosters, led by example. He arrived at his polling site — a school in midtown Manhattan — in the morning and waited in line as a bevy of media prepared to capture the moment.
Diddy said he believed he was potentially making history by voting for the first black president, and also felt the weight of the past in the voting booth.
"I'm not trying to be dramatic, but I just felt like, Martin Luther King, and I felt the whole civil rights movement, I felt all that energy, and I felt my kids," he said. "It was all there at one time. It was a joyous moment."
Ricky Skaggs felt equally passionate about his choice. He voted early in his home state of Tennessee for Republican John McCain, a decision rooted in his Christian beliefs. He said he couldn't reconcile with Obama on issues ranging from abortion to how strong a supporter he would be of Israel.
"I have really gone to the Scriptures and that's the way I vote. I find a man or woman that to me, their principles, ... lines up with what I believe the word of God says," he said Tuesday. "That's how I vote, and that's the things that I stand on, I would have a hard time voting contrary to that."
In the fashion world of reality have you never noticed how latest trendy fashion designs what clothe boutique shop mannequins - duplicate creations designed decades ago. If your keen eye espied this, then does this not tell you something? Yes that's right, the clothes mum and granny wore in their hey-day could have you after a few minor alterations be the envy of all your friends. A rummage in the closet of the gray haired or blue rinse relative can save you time and money.
Revival of fashion rejuvenates from flower power hippie bell bottoms into flares. The bolero jacket turns box coat, and back on the scene with vengeance the pointed shoe once referred to as the "winkle picker," oh and not forgetting the square toed "chisel". I ask who is responsible for such unappealing names. Mind you back in the days of the Beatles the mention of winkle picker was so desirable it was like music to your ears. In reality chic trendy fashion items are not changing with the times - only the name.
Being fashionable is not about designer labels but the actual design of the outfit itself. The style layout is fashion and not the designer. Think about it, Versace and Gucci have been around for years so nothing fresh or new here, only what they create. The huge demand for fake designer labels is saving the fashion conscious a lot of money. Why pay through the nose for something you can not see or the person you wish to impress. Designer tags are sewn on the inside of most garments. Is there a reason for this? Could it be the shame of charging extortionate prices?
Save pennies today and salvage moms clothing donation for the local jumble sale. Bargain buys come in a multitude of choice from local charity shops and car boot sales. Some folk embarrass easily over wearing another's cast offs (second hand) and this is understandable. If you can swallow your pride then a cycle wash with fabric softener will have the garment smelling fresh and looking like new leaving you with spare coppers in your pocket. Remember not all items for sale in second hand shops, are second hand.
Why not consider designing your own clothes and create a new image for yourself. Set your own trend/style. Fashion is determined by your way of thinking. If you think something is nice you wear it and vice versa. In saying that we have those regardless of how hideous they look in an outfit continues to strut the walk looking like a freak.
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it seems just like yesterday you were here…
i saw you last May struggling,
with all the tubes on your body,
making me feel helpless.
if only i can take your place then,
breathe for you, be strong for you,
i would have.
come November 2,
i won’t be able to visit you
on your grave.
and this is how i want you to be remembered,
eating your favorite ice cream,
wearing your favorite dress,
holding that favorite abaniko...
i'm sorry i failed to visit you frequently before when you're still alive...
i miss you Lula, i really do.
you’ll always be my beloved grandma...
i love you.
