Morning Ladies!
Overwhelmed! That’s how I’ve been feeling of late. Things get hairy at work, in life and when you have the blog and an insatiable audience that keeps you on your toes (thank you, I love all of you nonetheless) I am once again, taking a step back. Not going away, but keeping things light and easy for a while until we get back on even keel 🙂
So what say you to an MWS Open Cafe session? 😀 We had the last one in April so its quite overdue now.
For those who are new, this is basically open discussion over in the comments. We sit around and chat about anything and everything and hopefully get some of your questions answered. If I can’t help, there will be other lovely helpful ladies who can! So hop along now, don’t be a stranger!
Although you all know me here for my love of beauty and everything beauty-ful, my other love is food. Ok my other, other love perhaps. I have a lot of loves 😛 And I love taking pictures of food! So here are some random pictures just to whet the appetite 🙂
Steamed coconut herbal soup – its supposed to be good for you and is really tasty if done well!
Hands up if you have seen or tried this Lay’s potato crisps in Blueberry Flavour? I saw this in China and I couldn’t help picking it up. It tastes really weird. Like blueberry flavoured potato crisps! Sweet and salty at the same time and you know where it says “Cool and Refreshing”? It really does leave a cooling flavour in the mouth. Very weird 😛
I’ve been thinking about going for ramen again. This one’s from Marutama Ramen in Fahrenheit 88. Very delicious.
Now, let’s get to the comments. Ask a question. Make a suggestions. Be random. Talk about food (I always love talking about food!) or perhaps rant if you like. If you have never left a comment, what’s stopping you? Just do it! 😉
I’ll be around to chat with you for most of the day, and it’ll be fun so take it away! To the comments!
Paris B
p/s The chocolate cake is from Dubrovnik Croatian Restaurant here in KL 🙂
Thanks for chatting everyone! Until the next Open Cafe date!
Hi there! I eat more when I am stressed to finish work. Like now. Hahaha…
However, I have been trying to lose weight by exercising for a whole year but eating normal. No results. My eating habits are not unhealthy and similar to my slimmer friends. Sigh. I wonder what I should do.
HI Shay,
Cut out sugar! It’s the worst culprits there are and it’s all hidden in your: coffee, tea, coke and in my case, wine and beer!
When I’m stressed I go either way – I either snack a lot or I lose my appetite and I never know which its going to be! 😛 I found one way of losing the weight more quickly is to eat smaller portions, even if I eat more often and to stop eating before 8pm. That one REALLY helps!
I tried to eat smaller portions. Besides the 3 main meals…I don’t know which snacks are healthy besides fruits. I heard that fruits with natural sugar won’t really help lose weight also. And I don’t like eating when I am working. So, I never managed to stick to this method.
I am trying to cut out sugar and not eat when its late. But its quite difficult to do that when I am stressed due to the need for sugar boost and have meals at regular times. But I shall try hard to do that! 🙂
I know what you mean Shay. I used to think fruits were healthy snacks and then you realise they have sugar too! I hear nuts are good or erm… cucumber and carrot sticks? 😛 LOL Unsatisfying right? I was eating late too the past few weeks and its definitely telling. So now I try to schedule a proper meal time, even if I have to work late so at least I have a little breather and get some proper food but when you have to focus on two things – healthy eating and work – one has to give
Yeah, cucumbers and carrot sticks are fine. Peppers are ok too. Just that I am really not a snacker and I find it a chore to keep eating, not that I don’t enjoy food. Sigh…there really is no ugly women, only lazy ones. 😛
LOL!! I’m a true blue snacker. Put me under stress and out comes the bag of crisps. Nothing else will do and I may say it, but I’d never snack on raw veges. It just makes me think of rabbits 😛
Hi Shay! What is working quite well for me is counting calories, since losing weight is as simple as burn more calories than you consume. Especially beware of ‘hidden’ that we usually add on to our meals, in the form of milk (for drinks), oil-based condiments, alcohol, mayo and sugar like LeeGeeque mentioned. You don’t have to cut them out completely but can maybe try going for the low-calorie alternative (e.g. skimmed milk, ‘skinny’ lattes, low-fat cheese, water instead of sodas etc). When I couldn’t exercise as regularly I could cut out up to 100-200 calories from my diet each day using this method, and approximately 7700 calories = 1 kg, so the effects will be a little slow but definitely obvious if you do it over the long term.
Blueberry chips? How awesome!!!
That’s what I thought too but it tasted too weird 😛 I also bought a pack in Ice Lemon Tea flavour but I think I left it behind without trying it.
Working on a document today and struggling to keep it in neutral non-tech tones to cater to my audience with no tech background. And I need caffeine. 🙂
First, get the caffeine 😛 And I find it hard to explain technicals to non techs too. It can get terribly frustrating 😛
I can’t mess this up. It’s a doc to be sent to the high-ups to get $$$$ for my project. I’m sprinkling it with management buzzwords. Aiya, I’m really crap at this 🙁
And I got caffeine! Now I want juice. Hard to please 😛
Get both 😛 I always have a cup of coffee and a cup of water on my table at the same time. I don’t take a lot of juices these days unless its the freshly squeezed kind. My tongue has become sensitive to the taste of artificial sugars and chemicals! *high class* LOL! And I’m sure you’ll do well with your doc – what the higher ups don’t understand may sometimes be good for them 😛
That’s a very good point.
Hey, re: images for your blog, do you take your pics outdoors in the full bright sunlight? I know Tine likes a sort of overcast day. Also, do you use Photoshop to touch up on your pictures?
I take pix indoors. Staying in a high rise doesn’t allow me to go outdoors (no balcony) but I prefer a bright day. I like taking pictures in the afternoon when the light is more mellow. In the morning its too harsh but I live with what I can get!
I don’t use Photoshop but I do retouch lighting in photos. I don’t know how to do all those skin smoothing, blemish disappearing tricks so its blemishes galore!
I hope things get better for you soon!! 😀
Err… I prefer my chips salty, so no sweet and “cool” blueberry chips for me! The weirdest flavour i’ve tried is Char Siew Pao flavoured ones though, in Thailand. That was really weird! >.<
I’m a salt and vinegar chips girl! 😀 So yes, this was weird. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the char siew pao flavoured crisps but weird as it is, I would probably try it anyway… just to see how weird it can be! 😀
Hehehe… do lemme know how you find it if you try it! It’s by Lays! 😀
I’m a cheddar girl, but I love the plain ol’ “classic” potato chips too, as long as they’re crunchy and SALTY! 😛 😛
Lays is weird 😛 But I”ll most definitely keep an eye out for it if I’m in BKK. I’m overdue for a visit this year! 😀
You and I both! I didn’t get to visit BKK this year, so sad!!! T_T But hey, i have tickets booked for next March, so i’m reaaaaaaaally looking forward to it! 😀
Day has just turned sh!tty. Grrrrr I just hate people who’re difficult because they do not have the guts to say no!
Oho! You book ahead! 😀 I didn’t book many holidays ahead this year. Things were all over the place and I just never got round to it 🙁 I did book a short one next March too LOL! 😀 Hope your day gets a bit better after this. If there’s any consolation its already 4pm and its almost time to go home! 😀
blueberry chips? that’s weird.
i think i have eaten too much last night – suritsi then followed by half of a juicy beef burger, with a bird’s dropping landed on my arm while waiting for the burger.
oh things we do for food =/
Yes blueberry chips was super weird! I can’t believe you went for a burger after having Thai 😛 Although, how was the Thai? It was good right? And where on earth did you go for your burger and why did you choose to stand under a tree at night 😛
thai was good but just thought that it was on a pricey side considering the location and the style 😛
the burger stall is at ampang jaya, not easy to find..and always have to wait around 20 mins for the burger. i wasn’t standing under the tree, in fact i was standing under the roof while i stretched my hand out, then i just felt a poop!
I have to agree the Thai’s a bit pricey but I thought it was quite good esp the clear tomyam 🙂 would be hard to feed many people. I tried 😛 no wonder you went for burgers!! I miss eating a good Ramly burger. Haven’t had one in ages
I’m doing a lot of product photography today. It’s slightly overcast, which is a great time for me to get some shots outdoors.
PS: Looking at all the food you posted reminds me. LUNCHTIME! 😀
That sounds like perfect photography weather! I love the amount of sun we get here but the blowout it causes in photos is insane. That said, I haven’t been taking enough product photos. I have all this text in my head and then I realise I don’t have photos… and then I get burnt out just thinking about taking photos. That’s truly the hardest part about blogging. It would be nice to have someone take them for me… if I didn’t enjoy it so much myself! 😀
What’s for lunch? 😀
Yeah I know right? It would be nice if someone takes the pictures for me, and edit them as well 😛
Lunch was yesterday’s leftover bulgogi. Yum yum! 😛
Ooh yums bulgogi! I’m having siew ngap 😀 taking photos is part of the fun really. Gotta have the blood sweat and tears to fully appreciate the blogging experience 😛
Eeyerr I prefer siew ngap 😛
Eh I’ll be back on Nov 28 – Dec 27. Will be in KL on the 3rd week I think. Catch up? It’s been too long!
Definitely have to meet up! 😀 Bee’s supposed to be arranging things so lets see how it goes 😀
Monday started off not on the good side – didn’t really sleep last night and woke up feeling cranky as a result… but it’s steadily gotten better!
I managed to book my tix to come home for CNY next year so I’m set all the way thru till Feb’12! Yay! 😀
Wow CNY tix booked! I’ve heard of the CNY exodus so that’s efficient having all your tickets booked and in hand 😀 I didn’t have a great night either. I had an awful dream and couldn’t wake up. The night before, I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep. Sigh.
I #kiasuauntie mah. 😛
But it is such a relief to know that no matter what, I already have all my tix booked and no need to panic or pay exorbitant prices the nearer the date comes. 🙂
Indeed! I can’t imaging having to do the travelling thing for CNY. At least the only travelling I do now is on the roads which is manageable because I’m a #kiasuauntie too and leave in the early morning before the traffic clogs up the roads for the balik kampung jam! 😀
Gonna be my first year ever where I have to travel for CNY. Always something new to experience, kan? 🙂
Yay for being #kiasuaunties! 😛
The travelling home brings new meaning to the Reunion dinner 😀 I love it especially when I arrive home with goodies and the ‘rents look so pleased 😀
Oooh, I did that for Mid Autumn festival this year with mooncakes. Me mom was happy, but happier to have me home. 😛
Haha of course she was! What’s mooncakes compared to you being there 😀
you may want to try some double boiled coconut soup at tmn oug, just near the market. I think is rm7.50. Nice! from 6pm on
I think I’ve heard there’s one there! Where exactly is it, do you know? Its so hard to find good authentic double boiled soups that do not use MSG – I only ever go to the one in KL near Shaw Parade, Pudu 😀
If you know the market at TMN OUG, it is just at the shop at the market area. The shop is facing the market, with huge coconut soup bunting. You won’t miss it. But I feel only the coconut is nice. Other soup just so-so.
Hmm I’m not too familiar with that place, but I know someone who is, so I can always find it 😀 Thanks for the rec 😀 Oh and it is a night or day sort of place?
Night. In daytime it is a kopitiam selling other food. If you are going on weekend, try to reach before 7pm, else there is crowd. And we may bump too.. hehe
Awesome! I’m going to try this soon 😀 thanks again and who knows if we bump into each other! 😀
That ramen is definitely something I must try! Looks awesome! Love Japanese snacks and even their cup noodles are so tasty…when I have a bowl of Nissin in the office on the days that I am not in the mood to go out (yes, I have a stash under my table, purchased at that floor with all things Japanese in Pavilion) my colleagues will salivate at the yummy smells! Delicious!!
Oh you will love the ramen at Marutama Ramen then! Its got a pork soup base I believe (if you eat pork and if you don’t, sorry!). I only recently went to that Tokyo Street in Pavilion and I love it! I love the Raisin Brioche at Ginza Cafe… but only when it goes on sale after 9pm 😛
Lovely food! Blueberry chips, nah….I still prefer something contemporary….like BBQ or Tomatoh! 😉
just wondering ,do you still put on makeup on weekends when you go kia-kia (jalan-jalan) ?
Hiya Lemon! I much prefer a regular savoury chip too – salt and vinegar gets me every time 😛
As for makeup on weekends, it depends. If I know I’m meeting people, I usually put on something light – a tinted moisturizer/light bb cream, powder, touch of liner and blush and gloss/lipstick. If I’m feeling lazy then no. I go out barefaced, blemishes, facial marks and all LOL! I’m brave that way 😉
i think more often that not you see my barefaced whenever the #evurl girls meet! 😛
Ah well if you don’t need makeup… 😉
not that i don’t need, more like i’m just lazy. 😛
One of my favourite foods is the shoyu pork soup ramen in Hokkaido Santouka Ramen in Tokyo Street, Pavilion. I’m not really a fan of soup noodles (Though ramen is usually an exception) but the ramen there makes me drink about half a bowl of the soup! I also love The Last Polka ice cream, especially in Salted Gula Melaka and Malt And Peanut Butter flavours 😀
Am doing some product shots and still considering what to write about for my next review… 😛
Hope things start to look up for you soon 🙂
I remember the Last Polka ice cream. They aren’t bad and have very unique flavours. I remember liking Guiness! But I’m not into ice creams so have never gone back 🙂
I haven’t tried Santouka though. Heard its pretty good.
Good luck on the blogging!
Am flat out with food poisoning and I think the yummy-licious fish noodles over the weekend are to blame. On the bright side, I get to settle all the paperwork for my Masters next year and stock up on blog posts.
Rinnah just reminded that I should book my CNY tickets for KL but aiyo, am flat out broke from booking my Xmas and Sydney tickets. Have to wait for gaji to masuk first.
Food poisoning? Oh dear! Make sure you replenish those fluids! I wish I’d booked some holiday tix too. Seems like forever since I was on one!
I am looking forward to Xmas in KL! It is more like a family recharge period with lots of sleeping, gossiping and yoga (my family is super wa-wa) while my grandmother chokes us all with food.
In 2 minds about moving back to Australia. Looking forward to being with my other half and starting uni again but hate leaving my parents behind. Gack, I hate growing up.
And Christmas is a long weekend this year too! So that would be even better eh? Oh I didn’t catch on your previous mention of your Masters – so you’re planning to go back to school and to Australia? That’s great – but I know what you mean about leaving family behind. There comes a stage when I don’t consider moving anywhere else simply because everyone’s here and really, here’s home 🙂
OMG I just woke up! Damn that flu pill!!! (at least my holiday has officially started!)
Oh, anyone allergic to alcohol? Methinks I had one glass too many during my cousin’s wedding dinner. Am now having a bad sore throat…
Ahhh I miss those long lazy days of long long holidays. Enjoy it. It’ll never come again once you start working 😛 I’m not allergic to alcohol but I know people who are – it gives them rashes.
Yikes. Am now suffering from blocked nose. >.< Will now go to sleep after le flu pill.
Bye Ladies!!
Are you sure its the alcohol and not the stresses of uni exams and the like? 🙂 Either way, take care and rest up!
Talking about alcohol and allergies… I have a friend who get really bad rashes. We were all at Langkawi for holiday and cheap booze is aplenty. That friend of mine ignored the rashes for a few hours and continued drinking. Then suddenly, drunk as skunk, he announced, “Hey, my rashes are gone!! The excessive alcohol killed it!!”
We checked his body and it’s true, we can’t spot his patchy rashes… because his body is completely covered in it like second skin. LOL!! He was ok the next day though, save the hangover. Hahaha!!
That was funny! Well not as funny if the reaction had been worse but since it didn’t that’s funny 😀 A relative breaks out in hives the minute alcohol touches her skin. She needs to go to the hospital to get jabs for that which is a pity – there’s alcohol in so many things!
It all looks delish! I had lunch with Stephanie Wang from Hong Kong yesterday at Selfridges. It was fab!!
Oho your Selfridges trip! Was it a credit card meltdown situation? 😀
i want that piece of cake! and I was at Santouka yesterday, i think the ramen’s nice but not sure if i’d go back again, but their service is good. They actually gave the bf n i a plate of chicken gyoza for free because the cook messed up the a bit. i think i am getting high on resignation and i feel so blessed that so many people are happy for me (not my soon-to-be-ex bosses though)
it’s so #surreal to be leaving but #bion, i am! and actually i hate doing the handing over, poor colleague has so much on her plate, that i am releasing my work on her it’s not fair. like the chinese saying goes you build your happiness on top of other people’s misery. i really like her as a friend so it’s rather sad to see her working through my pile of work.
other than that, i’m feeling the need to revamp my wardrobe. and i’m shifting in a bit, so much to do right till end of the year!
I don’t eat chocolate cake as a rule (am not a fan of chocolate) but I really like this one – it might be because of the crunchy praline base. Absolutely delicious! I haven’t been to Santouka but I know someone who has and was told it was expensive and only so -so. They are people whose opinions I trust so I probably wont go either. I did enjoy the shabu shabu buffet next door though 😀
Great to know about the new job and that you’re finally leaving the place you dislike! Onto new chapters and its only natural you should feel like a change – you’re changing jobs and moving so naturally you feel like a big change! Now, next on your list maybe a haircut LOL When I want a big change, I usually go for a drastic cut although i’m not sure how much more drastic I can be without going bald 😛
santouka’s ok la cuz the bf brought me there to eat their special ramen, pork cheek something. he said it’s delish when he tried in Singapore. lol. i think me n him both are horrible food tasters. got shabu shabu next door ke? i didn’t notice. maybe next time i go try but i shudder to think of the traffic and crowd in pavillion.
i don’t dare to get a drastic haircut, as i know i’m horrible in maintaining it. i thought of colouring it, but again, maintenance is always a problem, and never too friendly on the pocket!
There’s an all you can eat shabu shabu next to Santouka. I’ve been there once and its quite good because there’s lots of meat! 😀 I stopped colouring my hair for economic reasons. I figured if my original hair colour isn’t all that dark anyway then why bother. I might change my mind when I start greying 😛
my hair’s pretty dark and i’m greying. everyday i see new strand of grey hair peeking through and it’s annoying. >.<
probably a good thing you’re changing jobs then – less stress perhaps 🙂
haha we’ll see how the next job fares! it’s not quite the job that’s stressing me out, more like the bosses I deal with 🙂
Ah well people is harder then cos you never know the sort of people you will meet. But all the best anyway. At least it’s a start 🙂
Which cuisine does the coconut herbal soup belong to? My favorite part of Chinese cuisine are the soups, especially the ones with totally clear broth, usually herbal. Mmm.
And geez, I thought Japan had funky flavors, but I’ve never seen blueberry potato chips! My mind is blown.
The soup is Chinese 🙂 its chicken and herbs double boiled inside a coconut with coconut water. Its not very common though and not that easy to find a good one but I’ve been lucky so far 🙂 if you’re ever in town I know where to take you 😉
The blueberry crisps are super weird. I wouldn’t have put it past Japan to come up with something similar lol!
The best ramen I had in Msia is the one near jusco midvalley- gokuramen or sthing like that. Can’t wait to try Marutama. Had the best ramen of my life in New York recently and I really need to find sthing that comes close to Ippudo ramen.
My favorite topics tend to be where the best coffee places and breakfast places are in KL. I find that we don’t have much choices in terms of where to have a good hearty western breakfast. I suppose that’s coz we have so much variety but I’ve been longing for sthing outside of la bodega/ antipodean/ chinoz.
I’ve been to Gokuramen too. I know the one you mean and I like that too. The soup is delicious. The one at Marutama is good too. Different but nice 🙂 I’ve only tried the Ippudo at Singapore. I enjoyed it but I did think the one at Marutama does come quite close 🙂
I don’t usually do big breakfasts/ brunches so I tend to agree about the scarcity of good breakfast joints. There aren’t many places you can go locally barring the ones you mentioned. I think the locals just prefer their regular roti canai stall 😀