it's been a while since I last baked for orders (since I had closed the brownie business) and recently took an order cos' I was free and I just received an SMS from the customer that she and her family loved the brownie!:) hee! it's a small thing - but it sure made my day! I am so happy that the brownie cake made her husband's birthday celebration that bit nicer and well....we all need that assurance from time to time (read: a nice boost for my ego. haaa....think i needed it!)
also this afternoon - I was on the packed filled bus and a kind elderly lady was looking and nodding to me - to ask if I wanted her seat. I was a little shocked and didn't know how to respond cos' I am young and was perplexed at why she wanted to give her seat to me. pardon the egg head here cos' I had probably ~ 3 hours of restless sleep and probably feeling not so sharp... so i gave a smile and politely declined with a gentle shake of the head. turns out that she was alighting and wanted to give me priority over the other school kids......heh.
these were small events, but the small kind gestures from these ladies made my day and really humbled me. generally I prefer animals over humans cos' they are simpler and not complicated. and these gestures were simple yet they somehow touched me and have more faith in the human race!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Inexpensive ways to decorate and pretty-up your home!
I love my home and I spend a great deal of time in it.
As I spend much time at home, it is important to me to make it as comfortable and cosy as possible - esp since I am also super affected by my environment (certain things just drives me nuts until i get it fixed / tidied / straighten!).
Not much of a surprise, but I LOVE decorating. What I don't love is spending too much on grossly overpriced things. Over the past year or so, I found a few inexpensive yet fairly effective ways to decorate your home - simple touches around the house - not too fussy cos' it will be a pain to clean! So here are some useful and inexpensive tips!:)
1. Pretty photos / pictures from brochures!
okay, my wall ain't exactly the prettiest, but it makes me happy. You would be amazed at how some brochures have the prettiest visuals. The tree in a field of lavender was taken from a brochure from a skin care company 'Enavose'.
The quote (too small to see from the photo) reads "Love what you Do, Put your heart into it and you will be rewarded" - at the back page of Kiehl's brochure, and the trees from a calendar my mum gave me! Practically no cost! heh. :)
2. Free printouts on blogs / internet
I love the blog 'Making It Lovely' - the lady is AMAZING at decorating her home. Seriously, check her blog for yourself if you love as she puts it "living a stylish life and transforming the so-so."
There was this time where she shared with her readers a poster she created. So nice right! So I printed it out , took an existing frame and hung it on my wall.
[caption id="attachment_305" align="alignnone" width="470"]
free printable from the blog "Making It Lovely" and lovely is her blog indeed![/caption]
3. Postcards!
I went to Paris a few years ago, and THE BEST souvenir was not the usual handbags or clothes - but these postcards I got from a street florist (yes, they sold these lovelys!). Okay, I take it back. the 2nd best. The best was a painting. :)
I LOVE the colors, the graphics, the quirkness - and it was less than 2 euros per postcard! Each time I look at the postcard - it just makes me happy! I placed them in some nice Ikea frames that cost about $10 each, and hung it in my vanity area and another on my sink. Don't you love how the colors just brightens up the place?
[caption id="attachment_306" align="alignnone" width="470"]
kekeke....so cute and funny! The one on the left doesn't have a frame cos' I'm not decided if i want to hang it else it starts to look a bit cluttered, so just left it there for now.:)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_307" align="alignnone" width="470"]
the graphics is so pretty aei! reminds me to slow down and pamper myself![/caption]
4. As little clutter as possible!
The next would be to reduce the clutter in your home (and in your life) - I subscribe to the notion our surroundings affect us and that we are reflections of those surroundings. I aim for tranquility and peace in my home - and by that extension, means reducing unnecessary things in my life - so that I can focus on the important.
5. Use what you have - don't store! Things are meant to be used.
[caption id="attachment_309" align="alignnone" width="470"]
stuff in my toilet! and that flower above? taken from a brochure![/caption]
The foot scrub was a gift, and I hardly use it (cos' I'm lazy) - but love the color, so I placed it in the toilet. The scented incense smells wonderful, but the scent was lost when burnt - so I thought - hey - I can leave the wonderful scent in the unburnt form and leave it in the open!
Who says a toilet is to be functional only? It can be functional AND pretty at the same time. All you require is some small touches and you would be amazed at how your living environment becomes that bit better.:)
Anyway, if you have nice gifts that you can't bear to use - I say - take it out and use it cos' everyday is meant to be special. that nice cup, that beautiful pen, that exquisite china, etc. disclaimer - declutter your home first . that way you can more fully appreciate the things you do have out on display.
6. A nice burst of color in something small.
okay - this is a little frivolous, but I couldn't resist buying it and this cheerful soap dispenser does give you that kick of color early in the morning. Small but impactful and less than $15. and pardon the dirty mirror. kee..
7. Move things around!
Another cheap yet fast way to pretty up your house? Move things around! Sometimes we get bored with seeing something in the same place - and you would be amazed that a simple shift of things - somehow makes the space slightly different and more interesting!
As I spend much time at home, it is important to me to make it as comfortable and cosy as possible - esp since I am also super affected by my environment (certain things just drives me nuts until i get it fixed / tidied / straighten!).
Not much of a surprise, but I LOVE decorating. What I don't love is spending too much on grossly overpriced things. Over the past year or so, I found a few inexpensive yet fairly effective ways to decorate your home - simple touches around the house - not too fussy cos' it will be a pain to clean! So here are some useful and inexpensive tips!:)
1. Pretty photos / pictures from brochures!
okay, my wall ain't exactly the prettiest, but it makes me happy. You would be amazed at how some brochures have the prettiest visuals. The tree in a field of lavender was taken from a brochure from a skin care company 'Enavose'.
The quote (too small to see from the photo) reads "Love what you Do, Put your heart into it and you will be rewarded" - at the back page of Kiehl's brochure, and the trees from a calendar my mum gave me! Practically no cost! heh. :)
2. Free printouts on blogs / internet
I love the blog 'Making It Lovely' - the lady is AMAZING at decorating her home. Seriously, check her blog for yourself if you love as she puts it "living a stylish life and transforming the so-so."
There was this time where she shared with her readers a poster she created. So nice right! So I printed it out , took an existing frame and hung it on my wall.
[caption id="attachment_305" align="alignnone" width="470"]
free printable from the blog "Making It Lovely" and lovely is her blog indeed![/caption]3. Postcards!
I went to Paris a few years ago, and THE BEST souvenir was not the usual handbags or clothes - but these postcards I got from a street florist (yes, they sold these lovelys!). Okay, I take it back. the 2nd best. The best was a painting. :)
I LOVE the colors, the graphics, the quirkness - and it was less than 2 euros per postcard! Each time I look at the postcard - it just makes me happy! I placed them in some nice Ikea frames that cost about $10 each, and hung it in my vanity area and another on my sink. Don't you love how the colors just brightens up the place?
[caption id="attachment_306" align="alignnone" width="470"]
kekeke....so cute and funny! The one on the left doesn't have a frame cos' I'm not decided if i want to hang it else it starts to look a bit cluttered, so just left it there for now.:)[/caption][caption id="attachment_307" align="alignnone" width="470"]
the graphics is so pretty aei! reminds me to slow down and pamper myself![/caption]4. As little clutter as possible!
The next would be to reduce the clutter in your home (and in your life) - I subscribe to the notion our surroundings affect us and that we are reflections of those surroundings. I aim for tranquility and peace in my home - and by that extension, means reducing unnecessary things in my life - so that I can focus on the important.
5. Use what you have - don't store! Things are meant to be used.
[caption id="attachment_309" align="alignnone" width="470"]
stuff in my toilet! and that flower above? taken from a brochure![/caption]The foot scrub was a gift, and I hardly use it (cos' I'm lazy) - but love the color, so I placed it in the toilet. The scented incense smells wonderful, but the scent was lost when burnt - so I thought - hey - I can leave the wonderful scent in the unburnt form and leave it in the open!
Who says a toilet is to be functional only? It can be functional AND pretty at the same time. All you require is some small touches and you would be amazed at how your living environment becomes that bit better.:)
Anyway, if you have nice gifts that you can't bear to use - I say - take it out and use it cos' everyday is meant to be special. that nice cup, that beautiful pen, that exquisite china, etc. disclaimer - declutter your home first . that way you can more fully appreciate the things you do have out on display.
6. A nice burst of color in something small.
okay - this is a little frivolous, but I couldn't resist buying it and this cheerful soap dispenser does give you that kick of color early in the morning. Small but impactful and less than $15. and pardon the dirty mirror. kee..
7. Move things around!
Another cheap yet fast way to pretty up your house? Move things around! Sometimes we get bored with seeing something in the same place - and you would be amazed that a simple shift of things - somehow makes the space slightly different and more interesting!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
thankful for everything.
sorry for the lack of posts recently!
was busy settling the kitchen and was pre occuppied with selling the equipment, settling rental stuff, logistics of moving stuff back home, etc. plus being the anal me - once things were back home - i HAD to repack them nicely and neatly. I get really affected by my surroundings - that could explain why I'm a little OCD at times. Although, on convenience, my OCD can be switched off! heh. like my messy desk. and especially paperwork! I will be tackling them soon though! at least i started!
[caption id="attachment_295" align="alignnone" width="470"]
breathing![/caption]
Well now that I have everything settled - I honestly have to admit - I feel a lot happier! perhaps from the immense sense of relief from trying to get enough sales each month to cover operational costs! I love baking - though it's a tad different baking for yourself vs baking for for sale. I am a advocate of using the best ingredients we can. On the other hand, for business, you need profits to survive and continue providing a service. Plus, I'm not so great at business.
I'm decently good at baking simple straight forward desserts though!:) Our brownies got covered on Her World magazine '90 best desserts in Singapore'! woo hoo! it's wonderful to have an external party recognize and appreciate the your love and passion you put in your work! not every one loves my brownies cos' they are really fudgy and chocolaty, but hey - that's exactly the reason why many others love them! haha.
[caption id="attachment_292" align="alignnone" width="470"]
we got mentioned 2 out of 3 - our dark chocolate cranberry and swirled cheese brownie! not bad aei. heh. top right of page under brownies![/caption]
now that I am taking a break until I decide what I'm going to do next - I am grateful for the extra time to spend some time to help my parents tidy and pack their house. Much as they may not be as fussy about their surroundings as me - I helped give parts of the house a good clean! vacuuming, washing, decluttering, rearranging -- allowing more natural light to come into the house and a better energy flow! I would like to think that makes my mum and dad happier.
and....it makes me very happy to do something for them. They have been extremely supportive of me - never questioning or asking me too much - fetching me home on days I had to bake late into the night, and always being there for me.
Being Asian, expressing in words is awkward and uncomfortable....so doing things for them is my way of saying 'I love you and am very grateful for you loving me as unconditionally as you do' - though you will NEVER catch me saying that. Too corny lah. and a tad cheesy. I rather say it through my actions.
Have you done something for your parents recently? It can be your own special way to say 'thank you' and 'i love you' - whatever works for you.:)
was busy settling the kitchen and was pre occuppied with selling the equipment, settling rental stuff, logistics of moving stuff back home, etc. plus being the anal me - once things were back home - i HAD to repack them nicely and neatly. I get really affected by my surroundings - that could explain why I'm a little OCD at times. Although, on convenience, my OCD can be switched off! heh. like my messy desk. and especially paperwork! I will be tackling them soon though! at least i started!
[caption id="attachment_295" align="alignnone" width="470"]
breathing![/caption]Well now that I have everything settled - I honestly have to admit - I feel a lot happier! perhaps from the immense sense of relief from trying to get enough sales each month to cover operational costs! I love baking - though it's a tad different baking for yourself vs baking for for sale. I am a advocate of using the best ingredients we can. On the other hand, for business, you need profits to survive and continue providing a service. Plus, I'm not so great at business.
I'm decently good at baking simple straight forward desserts though!:) Our brownies got covered on Her World magazine '90 best desserts in Singapore'! woo hoo! it's wonderful to have an external party recognize and appreciate the your love and passion you put in your work! not every one loves my brownies cos' they are really fudgy and chocolaty, but hey - that's exactly the reason why many others love them! haha.
[caption id="attachment_292" align="alignnone" width="470"]
we got mentioned 2 out of 3 - our dark chocolate cranberry and swirled cheese brownie! not bad aei. heh. top right of page under brownies![/caption]now that I am taking a break until I decide what I'm going to do next - I am grateful for the extra time to spend some time to help my parents tidy and pack their house. Much as they may not be as fussy about their surroundings as me - I helped give parts of the house a good clean! vacuuming, washing, decluttering, rearranging -- allowing more natural light to come into the house and a better energy flow! I would like to think that makes my mum and dad happier.
and....it makes me very happy to do something for them. They have been extremely supportive of me - never questioning or asking me too much - fetching me home on days I had to bake late into the night, and always being there for me.
Being Asian, expressing in words is awkward and uncomfortable....so doing things for them is my way of saying 'I love you and am very grateful for you loving me as unconditionally as you do' - though you will NEVER catch me saying that. Too corny lah. and a tad cheesy. I rather say it through my actions.
Have you done something for your parents recently? It can be your own special way to say 'thank you' and 'i love you' - whatever works for you.:)
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