I love postal packages

When the goodies are these:

After a crazy sewing day

Tried a second attempt at making a metal frame purse yesterday.  Got everything right except that I can't secure it to the frame!  I gave up and decided to make the carrier for P Momo.  Here's how it turned out:

I must say that I'm quite happy with the piping effect and how easy it is to use the magnetic snap!  Just 2 slits, bend and it's done.  So much better than trying to sew the velcro tape and risk breaking the sewing machine needle or my fingers.
And 4 more pouches.  I finally started using the precious fabric bought from Japan 2 years ago :)

Hubs said that I'll be better off at work.  The mess was quite a sight!  This time the cleanup just too about 10 mins as everything has somewhere to go.  Importance of those Daiso containers as organisers!

I'm going to take a break today and clear up more space on the shelves for more organisers.

First visit at Ecoparadise

My sis mentioned this place before as she tried it awhile back but as since it is located in Tampines, I've been quite reluctant to go.  Since I'm on long hospitalisation leave now, why not?  I've been having problem sleeping through the night ever since I'm on leave and will do good with some detoxification.  No matter that I don't take naps, tired myself out, I always wake up at 4 am. Sometimes, it's exactly on the dot, like 4.14 am for consecutive nights. 
  The Ecoparadise centre is located at the Tampines sport complex. We were briefed by one of the staff (sorry I forgot her name!!) and she was very thorough and was even able to convey the principles and instructions in Hokkien to my parents.  They offer deoxidation therapy in heated ceramic-tiled rooms.  The deoxidation is based on the negative ions being released and helps in detoxifying the body.   This is explain much better than I can. The temperature is set to 45 Deg C which is similar to hot yoga room but it feels much more comfortable as it's not drying on the skin and I'm not contorting myself :P
   Before going into the room, you're to drink 1 glass of ionised water and you are also advised to drink while relaxing in the room.  It was kind of hard to relax as my mum keeps talking to us. Hahaha. Had to tell her to concentrate on the breathing to keep her relaxed for the 40 mins.  After the session, we're treated to their homemade enzymes drink and more ionized water.
  The place is well-equipped with shower facilities and everything is very clean! I like!  For the shower lotion, it's made from this Pirikare powder made from soy wastes.  It's eco-friendly and gentle on the skin.  I got 1 kg which will last very very long as you will only need like 1 teaspoon for 1 L of water.  I even used it to try and get rid of the burned marks in my pot and I must say that I'm impressed.  It got rid of most of marks with a little scrubbing.  For something non-caustic and gentle on hands, it's very effective. 
  After the shower, the staff checked our state of health by looking at the blood circulation at the cuticle.  My father and sis did pretty well. Mum and I not so.  She commented that I'm lacking in rest which is true as I'm not getting quality sleep these days. 
  All in all, it's a nice experience and I'm signed up for another 4 sessions.  And guess what, I did get a good night sleep last night :))
 

Look at what came in the mail!

My first serious cook book!  I've got quite a number of cookbooks before this but wasn't too impress yet.  I've been eyeing this book for some time already but it never seems to go on sale at Borders.  When I discovered that Book Depository offers free worldwide shipping, I just had to get it.  And guess what got my attention in the first place?  The whole chapter on how to cook eggs!  I think a well-prepared egg beats anything and I've been trying to find new ways to improve my limited techniques.  I've got a book on just cooking eggs but since it is in Chinese and I ashamedly have to admit that I'm very slow in reading in Chinese, I hardly use the book after getting it except initially. Unfortunately, I'm having a bout of ezcema again and eggs seems to worsen it, so I can just savour the the pages instead.  If you're coming over to visit, I'll be happy to make you my guinea pigs.

Soba with tomato sauceand tuna

This is my second attempt at using soba in place of pasta. The texture is almost fitting, i think. I used to make my own pasta sauce but you know, fast food is the key so I used canned tomato paste or stew. Not bad at all and much much cheaper than those pasta sauce you get off the shelf.
Added:

• Baby spinach, raw
  
• sauteed garlic and tiny dried japanese shrimps
• tuna (usually, I'll skip it but hubs needs meat)
  
• lots of chinese parsley
• sprinkling of the yummy truffle salt
• green tea soba (but any will do)
• dashes of balsamic vinegar ( I like my sauce a little tart)
• Of course, EVOO

Another easy and fast food for brunch or dinner...

New Toy

I've always wanted to try my hands on the toy cameras like lomo and holgas but never got down to it. Got this from Ms Bo and the sleepy carebear's from hub (cos I've never had 1 when I was a kid)! I went trigger-happy but still has a few frames left. So more patience until I develop them. I also loaded up the vintage Yashica electro. Hopefully it will work as I can't get any batteries to power the shutter (no more mercury batteries!). So fast speed film for both and no indoor shoots.

Stole projects

Got these 2 stoles from Kyoto last year and I've started on the black floral maybe about 6 months ago. Now it's still in progress. All that I needed to do is to make those little tassels at the 2 ends by taking out the weave up to about 10 cm and hem the edges. Easy peasy? hahaha, I'm not even halfway through. I just took it out of the storage box and worked on it for all of 5 mins and gave up :P Maybe it's something to do when I'm relaxing in Phuket a few months later...

Skinny Pizza

We're fans of fast comfort food but trying not to succumb to fast food or expensive pizzas. So I created my own version with Ikea's soft bread and whatever I can find in the fridge:

• Ham
• Mini portobello mushrooms
• Anchovies
• capers
• onions
• Ikea soft bread (turns to a biscuity crisp once you heat up in the oven and burns easily too, so be careful!)
• dashes of EVOO
  

We're lucky to have any mushrooms left in the fridge as we cook and gobble any up as soon as they're back from the mart. Hobbits, we are!