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!!