From all of us to all you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uylohNYMPI4&feature=youtu.be

Slow down, stop and savour!

I have recently been privileged to see unconditional love in action. And maybe it is the season or maybe, maybe there is something about watching the unconditional giving and receiving love.

I am enjoying watching this exchange and I always have to remind myself to slow down, stop and savour the moments.

Together through it all

my boys make me proud always!

Lashing out - Part 2

Alright! I am ready with part two of the video on my review of Sephora's Lash Stash Box. These are more of honourable mentions.

Enjoy and I would love to hear what your thoughts are. http://www.youtube.com/user/ayishaq?feature=mhee#p/a/u/1/ngRQXjvpR5A

Thank you to all of you who had so many nice things to say.

Until next time!

Lashing out!!

Don't worry, I am not going to rant or complain or even lash out!! I recently went shopping crazy at Sephora and bougt this amazing box filled with all kinds of wonderful mascaras. http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P295701&categoryId=C17602&shouldPaginate=true
I have been wanting to try some different ones and boy, was I in for a treat!

I made a little video, thinking I would talk a little about favourite ones. But 20 minutes LATER...I realized that this may be too long for someone to sit through. So I have now made it into a two-part video. Here is part one, enjoy and don't forget to tell me what you thought!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EUNkIYB7tc


P.S: I should tell you that I may look like I am about to drop dead. I had a nasty cold and got quite sick afterwards. I honestly didn't realize that I looked and sounded as sick as I do in the video. I would redo it but why bother...it's the same information by the same person. And what is it they say "Those who care don't matter and those who matter, don't care!"...:-)

My idea of a "perfect" love story

I recently caught up with a friend and we were talking about life. How things had turned out differently than we had thought when we were growing up. How happiness isn't what we thought it would be. And then we started talking about happiness and defining it for ourselves, our children and perhaps what our parents thought it was. From happiness we went on to love. Now that was an interesting turn of conversation.

It got me thinking about what a good love story is. I have read so many books over the years. It is funny how what used to make me swoon and giggle, now comes across as childish and unrealistic. 

Classic Bollywood and Hollywood movies with a  good love story were the thing to make my heart race and daydream about my future love life. Boy meets girl, girl flirts, boy pursues and girl finally relents and then they live happily ever after. Sure some stories had some twists but at the end of the day; all is well! 

With time, wisdom and a little maturity, my definition of love and a good love story has changed. 

"Wiser" definition of a good love story:

• A good love story has flaws. The characters are not perfect though, they may come across as such initially. But we soon learn the characters are dealing with some internal struggles too ugly to express. I am watching a really wonderful Urdu drama serial these days called "Humsafar" (Companion) and this story started very innocently and had all the makings of a sweet story. A story about two people who reluctantly entered into a relationship and though they tried not to like each other, they realized with time that they had more in common than previously thought. And after a few episodes of romance galore(which  I relished and ate it all up), the story is now taking a turn for worse and bot parties are now showing their flaws and their ugliness. I kind of know how the story ends up (don't worry NO SPOILERS HERE), but I am really enjoying the ugliness of their love story. because they both still love each other and they both are hanging on to their flaws. Love it! (For updates and more on this really good love story check out their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/HumsafarHumTV)

• A good love story is imperfect. There are nasty trials and turbulations. nothing is easy and nothing has a solution. But despite that they are together. Even if they can't be with each other physically in the same space, they are together. "The Gargoyle" by Andrew Davidson is such story. I won't go into great details about this book. It is DEFINITELY a must-read. (Here is a short synopsis of the book, http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Gargoyle-Andrew-Davidson/9780307356789-item.html?ikwid=gargoyle&ikwsec=Home) In this book, there is a story of a love which comes from respect and is experienced from afar. Though, they know they can never be together, the one character is content with the fact that he has enough love for them both.

• A good story is about being content. It isn't about being "blissfully" happy all the time. That pink fluffy ever-eluding "happiness" cloud is sappy and unrealistic. No one lives happily ever after but we all find a place of contentment and peace where we can live with out our imperfect love stories. Case in point " The Time Traveller's Wife". She knows what she has and it is beautiful even with all its flaws. http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Time-Travelers-Wife-Audrey-Niffenegger/9780676976335-item.html?ikwid=time+travellers+wife&ikwsec=Home 

I would love to hear what your thoughts are on this. Do you enjoy a perfect love story? Do you like a tragic love story? what rocks your boat???

Thanks again for reading my ranting and raving.

This is how I am stylin' it

I know I haven't been present or accounted for lately! I have had such a nasty cold and things have been going on at home. I have so much to share; just not enough time to get everything to work out.

I did a tiny video on one of my favourite Stella & Dot pieces, the Riviera Mixed Coin Necklace. I love the look and feel of this piece and most of how it sounds...:-) 

Take a look and let me know what your thoughts are. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBxMt1GLZXw

I have so much more to tell and watch this space!

Fantastic Final Thursday Thoughts!

I know I haven't been good about posting recently. I honestly have so much I want to share and talk about. I even have videos lined up. It's just a matter of finding the time t get everything to fall into its right place. I don't want to stress about this blog either, I want it to be a pleasure to read and an absolute pleasure to write.

My Thursday today was like most Thursdays in my life. Fairly routine and fairly calm. But Calm and Routine don't get any mentions or medals. So I am dedicating this post to Calm and Routine.

Here are my Fantastic Thursday Thoughts:

1. Seat warmers are God's gift to all mankind!! It was cold tonight and those seat warmers were a life saver!




2. A pin-drop-silent home was nice today. I got a few things done before running around.

3. Getting some things accomplished and projects finished that had been waiting for a while. FANTASTIC!

4. A really great BodyFlow class at GoodLife Fitness! My goodness, I love it when I can bend to touch my toes.

(here is a great link to what BodyFlow is exactly and honestly it is GREAT! http://blog.goodlifefitness.com/?p=1674)

5. And as always my boys! They are truly a blessing and a blast. I have so much fun with them and I some times forget to stop and really enjoy them and take them in. Life is too short not to enjoy the little things.

Some of my past reads

I have already shared with you my love for books. I can talk for hours about books; good books, bad books, funny books, ALL books!

I happened to be standing at my favourite book place (Costco - not quaint but cheap) and there were some ladies there talking about books. I have this horrible habit; if I have read a good book I have to tell people! (Consider yourselves warned!). Anyways, these ladies were debating whether to get "Girl with the dragon tatoo" or not...(FYI...GET IT!!) and we started talking. 45 minutes later we are still going on and on about recent reads, best reads, reading habits.

This conversation got me thinking about my next blog post. I have been wanting to share some of my best reads here but just not sure about the format. So I figured the best way to do that, was to just start typing and hope that you catch on how deeply I felt about these books and how much they have moved me.

The first one I want to tell you about is "Room" by Emma Donoghue. http://www.amazon.ca/Room-Emma-Donoghue/dp/1554688310 (make sure to watch the video) . I read this over the summer in one sitting! It is a beautiful story that takes place in the most awful of situations. It reminded me again of how innocent children truly are and how it doesn't really take much to take that innocence away.
"Room" is about a boy who has just turned 5. He lives in Room, sleeps in Wardrobe and Lamp is his friend. Ma is in Room with him and has been here for 7 years. Ma wants to leave Room and live in the Outside but he knows that all he needs is Ma. Do what you have to do...but read this one. It is a beautiful story!!

The next book I want to tell you about is "The Time Traveller's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger http://www.amazon.ca/Time-Travelers-Wife-Audrey-Niffenegger/dp/0676976336 . I read this one a few years ago and honestly it appealed to my inner romantic. It is such a beautiful love story about a man and how he does what he has to, to be with the woman he loves. The story stretches across time and we catch glimpses of this couple over time.
I know it was made as a movie as well but didn't get the best of reviews so I never did watch it. The book was so beautiful that I don't need it to be visual. It's all in my head. :-)




The last book I want to recommend today is  my favourite "easy reads". It's the Shopaholic series! These are amazing! The books are funny, sweet, endearing and pretty much shopping logic 101 for most women out there. They are written by Sophie Kinsella and "Confessions of a Shopaholic" is the first one out of six. It is about Rebecca Bloomwood who has a problem and it is that no one seems to understand how her shopping is not a problem at all. Her logic is gravity defying and honestly doesn't make sense...really...well, it does make sense to any woman who has EVER justified those shoes she has been dreaming about..that go with the bracelet that she she has wished for ALL her life...that obviously ties in with the decor in her kitchen...which was justified by the new frame she bought! (true story!) . The six books span over major events in Rebecca's life. She goes to Manhattan Book two) and gets a dream job as a personal shopper at a major department store and meets the love of her life. She later plans a wedding (book three) and all the shopping that brings along. She meets her diametrical opposite who happens to be her sister (book four) and finds out that pregnancy does not have to get in the way of a good sale (book five). And latest addition is about Rebecca's addition, her daughter who needs to curb some budding shopping ordeals.

Honestly, she is endearing and though we may not always be able to justify our own purchases, we can always justify hers!

 I am reading a really good one right and I can't wait to share all the details of this one as soon as I am done!

Happy Reading!

Stella & Dot'ing it!

I know!! two posts in one day...must be everyone's lucky day!! :-)

As I said, I had made different videos, just didn't have time to edit them.

Here is another one that I did on which Stella & Dot pieces I wore to the grocery store. You can shop for these beauties and many more on www.stelladot.com/ayisha. Also I have a Facebook page where I post what I am into on a particular day or what I am obsessing over, www.facebook.com/stelladot.ayisha

Take a look at the video and as always looking forward to hearing what your thoughts are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-yllHigIN4



Have a great rest-of-the-week!

Impromptu recipe inspired by good old times.

I know it's been a while but with the regular routines and Halloween, I have been swamped with pumpkins and paperwork.

I made this video a while back just didn't have a chance to put it together until now. It has been one my favourite recipes for years. My friend Fauzia used to put it together at a moment's notice and I love the convenience of it. There is no specific recipe for it. But if you have any questions please do let me know.

Click here to watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP_W5rZUE7c

Thanks as always for watching and listening. I promise to be more regular on the blog. I have plenty to tell but just not plenty of time. :-)

One of my early "adores" was photography. My love for cameras and photographs started very early on when my mother would share her old photographs of her childhood and then later our childhood. Pictures were a way for us to be in touch with our family overseas. We could be a part of their special moments without being there.

I remember saving up for my first camera just before a trip back to Pakistan. I took so many pictures and loved each and everyone of them, even the dark ones. Till this day I have a hard time getting rid of pictures, even "dud" ones. I am always sure I can use them one way or another.

With technological advances and photography having a complete make-over, things have become easier and more instant. It took me a while but I have really grown to enjoy photo editing.
What I miss, is the surprise element! When I would get a roll of film developed and go through the pictures there was a nervous anticipation of what would be next and how a specific moment was captured. The new advances take that away but in return have given me an instant gratification instead! I can now instantly see what I am doing and how I can correct the mistakes.

Also I took a course with Josie Chu, my go-to photographer who does all our family portraits, http://jchuphotography.com/, to get to know my camera better. What a difference that made!! I went from a snap taker to an amateur photographer. Actually knowing why an image turns out the way it does, is mindblowing!

Having kids has been the best thing for my photography skills to get a whole new level. When my boys were younger, it was easier to catch them at their best, worst and their cutest. I got to refine certain skills and learned how to use different angles. And boy! do angles ever make a difference.

I will share some of my favorite snapsof my boys. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them!

I have mentioned before one of my favourite blogs is Beauty and The Boutique, http://www.beautyandtheboutique.com/ . I love the tips and tricks she gives and also she is so adorable!!

The other blog I enjoy a lot of by Jillian Harris, from the show "The Bachelorette". She is an interior decorator and I love her eye for detail and quirky. I am not sure I would want to decorate the way she does in my home but I love how she finds these pieces and makes them work in  a room. Also she seems like a super sweet girl!
http://www.jillianharris.com/

Today Jillian had her "Wonderful Wednesday" finds and I was so inspired by the post that I wanted to do my own.

Fall is one of my favourite seasons. I love how I am saying good-bye to a wonderful summer and yet I can see and feel that things are changing. The colours around me, the brisk air and all the things that I cozy up with at the end of the day. So here are some of my favourite Fall things in my home:

COLOUR INSPIRATION

COFFEE INSPIRATION

COZY INSPIRATION

 

CAKE INSPIRATION

CIRCUS INSPIRATION

These are some things on my wish list and some things that I am in adore with!! What caught your eye?

Have a great week!!

This is how I Rice it...

Sometimes the supposedly "simple" things are the hardest thing to perfect. Over the years I have tried and failed to make Basmati rice. Through this process, I have found what works for me and what does not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChNG3CaH0SY

I took some tips from here and there and combined them to find a process what works for me. My process may not work for you but maybe parts of it will work for you.

If you have any questions or some tips to add, please feel free to do so.

Stack 'Em High!

I was reading this month's InStyle Magazine and they had this great feature on bracelets and the many ways you can wear them. They went as far as saying that"bracelets should be like casino chips - stacked high!". I love that! It's a page right out of my style book.

Beauty and the Boutique also recently did a blog about the very same topic and she inspired me to do my own version of how I stack them high! http://beautyandtheboutique.tumblr.com/post/11014939097/shake-your-wrists

Take a look and let me know how you stack' em high! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEunKpPhpPk

The tip I would give is definitely to play with different textures and have fun!!


Here are links to all the different products I spoke about:
http://www.fossil.com/
http://www.dyrbergkern.com/
http://www.pandora.net/en-ca
http://www.stelladot.com/sites/ayisha

Have a great weekend!!

Easy Peasy Way To Make Gajjar Ka Halwa

Fun fact about me - I love to collect recipes! I have so many recipe books, journals I have filled over the years and scraps of paper every where with tips and so much more. I have to reveal though, that I don't actually get around to making too many of these. As a rule, I only write the recipes that I have tries and tested into my journals. I like the thought of leaving a bunch of them for my kids to use later in life.

So during the search for the next best recipe, I was referred to "Ramadan Recipes" on Facebook. I fell in love with the format and the way she explains the recipes. Makes everything seem to simple and easy to make. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ramadan-recipes/112629995501296

I have since tried quite a few the recipes and can honestly say that they are all quite good. I made the Gajjar Ka Halwa for the first time this past weekend and I really enjoyed it. This is one of those dishes that my mum used to make so well. But I always felt that it was one of those time consuming desserts. Though, this recipe is neither difficult nor time consuming. I think it took all of 40 minutes to make!!

So check out the video of me making Gajjar Ka Halwa for the first time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sca6m2YIRFg

RECIPE:

1 1/2 cup milk

1 can evaporated milk
3 cardamoms
2 tbsp. nuts
2 tbsp. coconut
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp. butter


Short and sweet!!

TIPS: Evaporated milk is milk with most of the water content taken out. It is great in dessert and unlike fresh milk had a long shelf life. You could make it yourself as well (lucky you for having so much time on your hands!).  Simmer, DON'T  BOIL, milk until it has been reduced to half.
You can substitute evaporated milk with Half-Half (ie. milk with 18% cream), if you are out. Though, with the evaporated milk you have to watch the heat as obsessively as you would with milk products.

Whenever you try this recipe, I would love to hear what you thought and what you would change about it.

With a little help from my friends

Over the years I have gotten so much more from my friends than I have given back. They have given me their trust, their love, their concern, their tears and best of all they have given me their support, unconditional support. Not enough can be said about this!

One of the things that I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed over the years have been the make up tips I have gotten from various friends. I have also started watching online tutorials and some of them were HORRIBLE! But some of them were really good and really educational.

So I put together this little video blog about what I have learned over the years from my internet friends and my REAL LIVE friends...:-)

Check out my video here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-qHfeJcLvk

I have posted links to the products I mention in the blog. If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Thanks and have a great weekend!


http://www.beautyandtheboutique.com/

http://www.makeupgeek.com/

http://www.clinique.com/product/4034/9287/Skincare/Serums/Even-Better-Clinical-Dark-Spot-Corrector/index.tmpl

http://www.boots.com/en/No7-Protect-Perfect-Beauty-Serum-30ml_44577/

http://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/Beauty-And-Body.aspx - No.7 products are available at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada.

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/167/340/Lip-Pencil/index.tmpl

http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/home.tmpl?ngextredir=1

http://www.urbandecay.com/eyeshadow-primer-potion/296,default,pd.html

Reflection

I had a video blog all ready to go to post here today but instead I want to STOP and reflect for a little while.

A family friend passed away today after a long struggle with cancer. She leaves behind a legacy, a family of daughters and grandchildren; all who are going to honour her everyday for the rest of their lives.

I always found it strange that we never think about how fragile life is until someone loses their's. Maybe it's human nature to take things for granted? I am not sure. All I know for sure is:

Make every moment count, even it is folding laundry.
Spend time with people who make you happy, make you smile.
Surround yourself with people who you make happy and smile.
Smile.
Rejoice in every happy moment and pause in moments that are not-so-happy to remember the happy moments.
Things may bring us momentary joy but it's the memories and moments spent around these things that bring us endless joy.

Today we will mourn the loss of a life lost, a life with memories that we shall hold close forever. Tomorrow we will think back about the life and smile and thank her for lessons taught and life lived.

Lunatic moves....

Nothing ...NOTHING...beats a GOOD song. A song that you want to dance to over and over again. A song you know all the words to!!

Here is the one that has me acting like a raging lunatic!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKjep3xvCOQ&feature=related

Go ahead...go crazy!!!

Happy Tuesday everyone...:-)

This is how we Crepe it

Just finished Saturday morning breakfast and wanted to share with you one of our favourite weekend breakfasts. Check out the video of how I make my crepes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__qYnQfc7bs

Crepes:
1 1/4 cup (3 dl.) flour
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
2 1/4 cups (4.5 dl)  milk

Mix all ingredients together until there are no lumps. Whisk is recommended. Melt butter on warm pan and pour batter onto the pan. Flip when done on one side and slip off pan when the other side is done.

SIMPLE and so yummy!!

Another thing off my Bucket List

Do you have a Bucket List? For those of you who don't know what a Bucket List is, here goes:


It is a list you make where you write down and later catalog all the things you want to do before you die.
In 2007 a movie by the same name with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman came out where these two dying men make the most of life before the "kick the bucket". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825232/


Well, honestly I don't really have a Bucket List. I find it slightly macabre! I would rather take every experience for what it is as opposed to something planned and foreseeable.


But I did do something yesterday with my friends that I didn't think I would be doing ever. And it may come as a shock for some people or maybe not...but up until yesterday, I was a SUSHI VIRGIN!! That's right! Up until yesterday I had never had sushi. I am not sure what the reluctance was. I think it may have something to do with "raw". 


My friends who were the experts would not let me take it slow, ie. start off with California rolls. We started off with all kinds of complicated things. I took pictures that you can see below. But here is a 101 sushi lesson for the rest of you novices out there:


Sushi: Japanese cuisine consisting of cooked rice combined with various forms of seafood. Some cooked and some not so much.

Nigiri : consists of an oblong mound of rice that the chef presses into a small rectangular box between the palms of the hands, usually with a bit of wasabi, and a topping draped over it. Typically fish such as salmon, tuna or other seafood.

 
























Sushi is usually eaten with condiments, such as soy sauce. We had sweet soy and salty soy. Depending on the roll, I preferred one over the other. I think this is a preference thing for sure.  The soy may be flavoured with wasabi, an innocent looking green paste made from the grated root of the Wasabia japonica plant (I know because I checked it out on WIKIPEDIA). Now this VERY green looking paste is NOT AT ALL (Thank you Curtis!) innocent and a is good to eat raw if you have blocked sinus issues or your horizon is slightly tilted. Wasabi will clear all this up in an INSTANT! Proved fact!!!! However, when mixed with the soy sauce or added to the sushi roll, it isn't as potent. 

And here are images of my escapade. We went to this really nice place in Calgary called Kinjo, located in Dalhousie NW. I would recommend for the atmosphere, the food and definitely the candy sticks at the end of the meal...:-)

  

Bon Appetit!!!

And a new week begins!!  Some times it can really boggle my mind how fast time flies. We get so wrapped up in our daily run-around that we forget that time is slipping through our fingers.

Last week I shared some of my favourite books that I read over the summer. One of them was "The book of Awsome" by Neil Pasricha. I love this book! I can pick it up and feel better ANY TIME!!
Well, this morning I got this email with things that can make ANYONE fell good and I would love to share them all with you. So here goes;


1. Falling in love. 

2. Laughing so hard your face hurts. 

3. A hot shower. 

4. No lines at the supermarket. 

5. A special glance. 

6. Getting mail. 

7. Taking a drive on a pretty road. 

8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio. 

9. Lying in bed listening to the rain                        outside. 

10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer. 

11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry). 

12. A bubble bath. 

13. Giggling. 

15. The beach. 

16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter. 

17. Laughing at yourself. 

18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you 

19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours. 

20. Running through sprinklers. 

21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all. 

22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful. 

23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS 

24. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you. 

25. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep. 

26. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner). 

27. Making new friends or spending time with old ones. 

28. Playing with a new puppy. 

29. Having someone play with your hair. 

30. Sweet dreams. 

31. Hot chocolate. 

32. Road trips with friends. 

33. Swinging on swings. 

34. Making eye contact with a cute                        stranger. 

35. Making chocolate chip cookies. 

36. Having your friends send you homemade cookies. 

37. Holding hands with someone you care about. 

38. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change. 

39. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you. 

40. Watching the sunrise. 

41. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day. 

42. Knowing that somebody misses you. 

43. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply. 

44. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I really like the last one. It has happened to me once or twice, believe it or not....:-)
Have a great Tuesday everyone!

TGIF

Hello everyone!

So after all the encouragement and sweet response I got from my first video blog, I went out on a limb and did it again.

One of my many loves include BOOKS! They have mesmerized me for years and their magic have had a lingering effect. They have saved my sanity on more than one occasion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_WaRfOmci8

I realize that the video gets blurry or adjusts itself to the light at times. It's because we are having some BEAUTIFUL weather and the sun is shinning in from the back. Once it is dark and dungee again that shouldn't be happening.

Here are some of the links for the things I spoke about today:

http://1000awesomethings.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Guernsey-Literary-Potato-Peel-Society/dp/0739368435
http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/eatpraylove.htm

Have a  great weekend!!

My Favourite Fall Thing

Happy Monday everyone!!

I usually start my Monday mornings with Monday Morning Yoga at my local gym. Unfortunately, I woke up with a head full of snot and a pounding headache. So the first thing I did was pop my vitamins and wrap myself up in my favourite scarf. Since I had no yoga to do, it got me thinking about my all-time favourite thing about fall - SCARVES!!

I love scarves in any shape and form. I love how they can complete any look, sweater or fancy dress alike. I love the functional fashion statement that it is. You look fabulous and you are kept warm and cozy at the same time.

I made up a collage of some of the ones that I am in-adore with these days. The only one I couldn't add was the one that joined my collection most recently. My friend, Darla gave me a really pretty one that is just wow. It's a knitted one  in grey and brown tones. It's a cowl scarf and I am itching to wear it out soon. I love how it layers around my neck! I will post pics when I wear it the first time.

Here is a link to a video from Sweet Life on how to wear your scarf in 3 unique ways.3 Unique Ways To Tie a Scarf

Anyway, I hope I feel better soon and that you all have a wonderful week.

TGIF....

So I made a trip to Sephora  a while back and as a thank you for my purchase, I was gifted something I am not sure what to do with.

So it comes all nicely zipped up and looks all professional and then you can unzip it and fold out to be ...SURPRISE!!!!....a shopper.

Now am I supposed to carry this thing around for that one moment that I may desperately need a shopper?? The thing is that it is kind of flimsy. It won't carry the milk, eggs, fruits, frozen peas etc that I usually get from the grocery store. And if I am carrying a shopper to Sephora for my "monthly" loot, then please it is time to have serious talk with me. And if you are that one shopper who needs a shopper for your monthly Sephora loot, please call me and this brand new zippy shopper is YOURS! :-)

This is how I spent my Friday...TGIF!

:-)

P.S: take with a pinch of salt...I am the mother of not ONE..not TWO but THREE boys...Sometimes I just don't get plain and simple girly things...:-)

what's for dinner?

Do you all struggle with this question..."WHAT'S FOR DINNER???" I am seriously in-hate with this question. It is something I struggle with everyday. Maybe I put too much pressure  on our meals too. I want a meal that is nutritious, the kids will eat, is yummy and easy to make! No pressure, right?!

Well, I do have one recipe that I like a lot and that the kids will eat and the man will eat too. It is healthy and easy to make. My most favourite Aunty in the world gave it to me and I always send her a little prayer when I have this meal.

I call it:

AUNTY LADO'S YUMMY-IN-MY-TUMMY CHICKEN DISH
3 lbs. (1.5 kgs) Chicken breast/ thighs, boneless and skinless
Salt, as needed
Chilli powder, as needed
Black pepper, as needed
4-5 tbsp. Soy sauce
4-5  tbsp. Lemon juice
Garlic, as needed
2-3 tbsp.Vegetable oil

4-5 mixed belle peppers, diced
1 tray mushrooms, sliced
3-4 tomatoes, sliced
2-3 onions, sliced
pineapple, optional


Marinate the chicken in the salt, chilli, black pepper, soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic and oil. Refrigerate overnight for best result. You could do it in the morning and cook in the evening too.
Take chicken out and pout into large baking dish. Bake in the oven at 425F/250C until it is slightly brown.







 Saute veggies in a large frying pan or wok.

Once done, put them on top of the browned chicken and place the tomatoes on top and put it back in the oven.  Broil for 10-15 minutes.

Serve it with boiled rice, noodles or buns.
So easy and so yummy!!













I would love to hear what you like to make on a day when you don't feel like standing in the kitchen for hours...