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broken constellation
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recent addictions : part one
Hello peeps, today is a fine day for bloggers like you and me to blog about anything. So, instead of just rotting in front of the TV, changing the channels every now and then, munching on Chinese New Year leftover cookies, I'm gonna break my torpidity and make an effort to post a proper entry. Here's a blog post dedicated to all the things I have recently been SUPER CRAZY about.
Category 1 : TV / Movies
a. Sugar Dome
'Here is where cake and sugar do things they were never meant to do,' Remarkable artists of all types are gathered beneath the dome to fabricate the most eye-catching, jaw-dropping, heart-stopping food displays the world has ever witnessed. Each week, three teams comprising artists from completely different disciplines - cake designers, sugar artists, fruit carvers, graffiti masters, animatronics experts, or sand sculptors - enter a delicious yet grueling battle filled with seemingly impossible culinary twists to bring cake and sugar to life. Literally.
   
b. Unique Eats
Madly, deeply, and irrevocably in love with this TV series OMAGAWD*. <3 It introduces various restaurants across America and their signature dishes, featuring interviews with food critics and celebrity chefs as they talk about their favorite signature dishes. Trust me, you're gonna drool over every dish they have to offer, and you're gonna get so hungry you'd probably lick your TV screen.
   
c. Frozen
I watched this with Mary one day before our Cambodia experiential trip - we both loved it! We hummed along to 'Do You Want To Build A Snowman', we chortled at Olaf's comical nuances and whimsical antics (laughed so loud that everyone else in the cinema had to look our way and shoooshed* at us), we marveled at the flawless intricacy of Elsa's ice fortress, we shed a few tears when Anna breathed her last mortal breath and turned into solid ice, we squealed like little girls and awwwhed* when Anna and Kristoff kissed.
Meet the cast !
From left to right: Queen Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf (the snowman),
Sven (the reindeer), Princess Anna, Prince Hans
And here are a few of my favorite scenes from the movie. <3
    
Though I love Elsa and her beautiful 'ice queen' gown, Anna and her adorable clumsiness, Kristoff and his umm* reindeer, I have to say, Olaf killed it - he was the bomb of the movie. I'm serious, the movie would've been quite dull if it wasn't for the jubilant snowman.
   
'Winter's a good time to stay in and cuddle! But put me in summer and I'll be a... puddle!' hahahaha* Well, snowmen are supposed to melt in summer, until Olaf defied the law of Mother Nature LOL*. Olaf was created by Elsa, and a part of her had been unknowingly ingrained in the little snowman. He symbolized Elsa's innermost longings and deepest feelings, and maybe that's why we could all tell how much Olaf loved Anna and how much he strove to protect her from harm - the same way Elsa would have if it wasn't for her curse. Olaf taught Anna all she needed to know about love.
           
d. Pirates Of The Caribbean (Trilogy)
I don't know why, all I can say is that I'M HOOKED. Like, seriously. I know there's a fourth installment in the POTC film series (Pirates Of The Caribbean : On Stranger Tides), but I have to admit, I ain't completely crazy about it. Sure, there is Hollywood's brunette bombshell, Penelope Cruz as Blackbeard's daughter, Angelica Teach. And yes, there is a generous amount of romance - sweet young love blossoming between Philip Swift, a devout missionary and a beautiful mermaid whom he named Syrena. Nothing beats the archetypal depiction of love-at-first-sight, especially when Philip's role is played by the handsome + hot + sweet Sam Claflin (yes, he's the one who plays Finnick Odair in Catching Fire girly shrieks*). <3 Despite all that, I still miss seeing Orlando Bloom as swashbuckling buccaneer William Turner; how he always managed to strut into a sword fight with bravado and charisma, how he risked his life countless times to save his one true love, how he and Jack worked together as comrades in the most ludicrous ways, or how they sometimes betrayed one another for selfish desires. It's always fun to watch two men fight over a damsel, but wouldn't it be more fun if three men were fighting over, not a damsel, but the pumping heart of Davy Jones?
Labels: wimpi-ness diary of a wimpy teen ~ chapter twenty-three ~
 Recently, I've been feeling unusually lethargic - laziness has once again conquered my living flesh. There's a list of things that I should be doing right now, however, due to the laziness residing within me, I've chosen to spend the entire morning lying on my couch, watching Adventure Time, and dropping a few lines into the endless sea of cyberspace - the slenderest of lures in the blackest of waters.
Well, I can't wait to get out of this rotten hole of mine, and I soon will.
I'm leaving for Cambodia on the 13th of December, which is next Friday. And, on the 23rd, I'll be heading off to Shanghai, which means I won't be back for Christmas. Oh, talking 'bout Christmas sighs*... time sure flies, doesn't it? In the blink of an eye, Christmas is around the corner, and before you know it, New Year will soon be knocking on our doors. As much as I'm looking forward to the year 2014, I possess a certain amount of fear for it. The year 2014 is unlike any other years for me - it is the year I will be leaving all traces of teenage tantrums and high school dramas behind, the year I will be seeing new faces and meeting new people, the year I will be achieving new heights and accomplishing new things, the year I will be searching for new adventures in whole new places, the year I will be striding towards a fresh new start, the year I will be entering college. The sound of the word college scared me to death when I was a kid, for it held the unknown, the yet-to-be-known; it contained all things that were beyond my feeble, kiddish comprehension. But, now that I'm a fully-grown young woman (girl sounds more appropriate here actually LOL*), college no longer gives me as much jeepers creepers as it used to. Just a little bit. Oh well, no matter how college is gonna be like, no matter how different college can be from the college in my head... I shall embrace it all.
Wish me luck. Labels: no longer secrets, wimpi-ness current obsessions / guilty pleasures : part two
Wassup peeps?! :)
On this rather gloomy, about-to-rain-but-never-gonna-rain afternoon, I'm presenting to y'all the continuation of my current obsessions / guilty pleasures list - categories 2 and 3. Here goes...
Category 2: Music
a. We Own The Night by The Wanted
b. Counting Stars by One Republic
c. Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift & Ed Sheeran (I absolutely LOVE the music video!)
Category 3: Food (FOOD PORN)
a. Sukiya's Gyudon (beef rice bowl)
Who in the world wouldn't love a big bowl of love and warmth? Who in the world wouldn't appreciate the art of melted cheese on Japanese rice? And who in the world wouldn't go gaga over juicy, succulent strips of beef accentuated by the silkiness of a half-boiled egg?
Gyudon (pronounced as gew-don) - that's its name! In case you're wondering why it is called Gyudon... well, in Japanese, Gyu actually means beef, and Don means rice bowl. So, beef + rice bowl = beef rice bowl = Gyudon yum yum yum*. Gyudon is known as one of the simplest \Japanese dishes - anyone can make it, hassle-free. The recipe consists of a few mandatory ingredients such as sliced onion, freshly grated ginger, sake, Japanese soy sauce, and steamed Japanese rice. You can also add a half-boiled egg or sprinkle some chopped scallions on top to elevate the dish.
The only Sukiya franchise I've been to so far is the one at Kota Damansara, just a block away from my church - I always go there with Mary after the first session of our MJYF service and we never have to spend more than RM15. So, if you're looking forward to sharing an affordable yet scrumptious meal with your friends or family - no matter breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, supper - think of Sukiya (すき家)!
Highly recommended:
- Kimchi Gyudon (guilt-free)
- Double Cheese Gyudon (VERY guilty)
b. Loacker
Velvety chocolate spread with a hint of hazelnut sandwiched between two thin, crispy wafers - sheer bliss in the simplest form of simplicity.
Now, to be honest, I had never tried Loacker's chocolate wafers before. NEVER. Until grandpa came back from Israel a week ago with bags stuffed with treats. One of his bags was filled to the brim with Loackers OMAGAWD*. And since that day, my infatuation for this red little devil has grown into an irrevocable addiction.
c. Molten lava cake
If Loacker isn't guilty enough for you, then make way for the Devil of all Devils - molten lava cake, which is technically chocolate cake with a molten chocolate filling. Most people describe the molten chocolate as sex in the mouth, which I totally have to disagree. I mean, how can anyone possibly relate such a glorious food to something so gratuitous like... SEX!? -_-
I'll describe it as a sweet conflagration; a rich, chocolaty volcano eruption that leaves you begging for more.
Here's how I dig in:
- Grab a fork and cut right through the middle, 'cause that's where the bomb lies.
- As soon as the whole plate is flooded with gooey chocolate goodness, scoop up a spoonful of that goo and stuff it right into your mouth.
- Then, start deconstructing the chocolate volcano, one bite after another.
- Allow the hot, gooey, chocolate lava to melt the vanilla ice-cream.
- Mix everything together and turn it into one big mess.
- Scoop everything up, open wide, and uhhh-ummm*.
e. Cheese fries
As if french fries are not guilty enough!?
Trust me, they're not. But french fries drenched in heavy, melted mozzarella and parmesan... that's more than guilty, that's sinful. LOOK AT THAT CHEESE OMAGAWD*
Well, I guess this list of mine ends here. For now. :P I'll probably have another list ready before New Year's Eve. See y'all real soon!
Labels: no longer secrets, wimpi-ness current obsessions / guilty pleasures : part one
 Well, now that SPM is no longer a primary concern of mine (I still have a Chinese paper tomorrow sulks*), I proudly present to you fellow readers, a list of all the things I've gone completely COO-COO over these days. xD So I hope this would be a pleasant read for all of you.
Category 1: TV / Movies
a. Chopped (ESPECIALLY Chopped All Stars)
The Chopped battle arena, where acclaimed chefs of formidable talent (Iron Chefs, Food Network celebrity chefs, and CHOPPED judges) fight to the death, until a lone victor remains. (Gosh, now I'm making it sound like The Hunger Games LOL*)
Okay, so four chefs think they have what it takes to flex their culinary muscles and be the Chopped champion.
 
They open the baskets and look inside. Some stare in disbelief, some nearly drop their jaws, some keep their cool and try not to look intimidated, some smile a little but manage to contain the jolt of elation.
Now, whatever ingredients are inside the basket, they have to integrate each of them into their dish. (E.g: If you're given a whole passion fruit, it's best to make a puree or compote out of it.) There are three rounds - appetizer, entree, and dessert. Each round is timed. In the appetizer round, you're merely given 20 minutes to complete your dish. As for the entree and dessert rounds, a more generous 30 minutes is given. When it's down to the last two minutes, it's most advisable to start plating.
Time's up! Make your way to the Chopping block, where a panel of judges, who are also world-class chefs and renowned restaurateurs themselves, will critique your dish based on presentation, taste and creativity. If your dish is one of the judges' favorites, you will advance to the next round and stand a chance of winning $50,000. But if your dish doesn't cut it, you will be CHOPPED.
b. Adventure Time (LOLOLOL*)
 
Haha... I know what you're about to say. But hey, no one is ever too old for cartoons. So, if you're a die-hard fan of fairy-tales with whimsical twists, adorable villains, kick-ass princesses, vampires that don't drink human blood, candy people, and dogs with magical powers, then Adventure Time is definitely your kinda thing.
  
My favorite character in Adventure Time has to be Marceline the Vampire Queen - the vampire who only drinks the color red, the bad ass rocker chick who always carries a red axe / bass guitar with her and sings with her soulful voice. One of the reasons why I'm so fond of her is because I find her relatable in many ways. Excluding the fact that she's a vampire, she's actually nothing but an average girl. A girl who's desperately looking for a place to fit in, a girl who keeps her deepest thoughts and feelings buried underneath the pages of a journal, a girl who wants to make friends but doesn't know how, a girl who bursts up in fury and throws nasty tantrums when someone sees through her, a girl who hates to reveal her gentle side. Even though she's merely a fictional character, Marceline is as real as any girl can be.
c. Wreck-it Ralph
I didn't get to watch this movie when it was showing in cinemas last year, and so after 11 months of bitter waiting and anticipation, it was finally premiered on Fox Movies Premium! Wreck-it Ralph is one of the few movies I've watched more than 5 times and still haven't got bored of - I kinda went overboard OMAGAWD*. But it really is that GOOD. No exaggeration added, not even the tiniest bit, I swear. 
What's so endearing and engaging about Wreck-it Ralph is that this movie brings you back to the nostalgic world of arcade games - games you grew up playing - and gives it a modern spin. The best thing about this movie is that you actually get to see all those familiar faces gathering in one place, interacting with each other. Thus, the highlight of all highlights in this movie has to be the Bad-Anon Support Group. (If you're an arcade game lover, then it surely won't take you more than a minute to spot Bowser, Kano, Dr. Robotnik, Clyde and a few other recognizable game characters in the support group.)
 
Keep an eye out for:
1. the Diet Cola volcano and its falling Mentos
2. an à la mode (when a huge scoop of ice-cream lands on one of the baked candy carts)
3. King Candy's source code safe (Nintendo ALERT!)
4. the Devil Dogs (which are obviously chocolate eclairs)
5. Satan, or preferably, Satine (in the Bad-Anon Support Group)
6. Cupcake Ralph
Keep an ear out for:
1. Owl City's When Can I See You Again (during the credits)
2.Sugar Rush theme song (during the credits, too)
d. Catching Fire
I watched it last Thursday with a few friends of mine (Jah Yee, Lik Joon, Yoong Seong, Kok Kwan and Richard). Catching Fire is the second book in Suzanne Collins' masterfully plotted trilogy, and I have to admit, it is SO MUCH better than the first one. It has more heart-stopping action, more gruesome bloodlust, more cynical manipulation, more bittersweet romance, more charismatic characters (Finnick Odair ALERT!), more elaborated costumes, and more tantalizing visual treats. It keeps the adrenaline pumping through your veins as it thrusts you to the edge of your seat and whisks you into the deadly arena in the movie itself. Well, despite the endless rants and complaints my friends made, 'Walao... the movie is friggin' boring weyh...', my love for Suzanne Collins' masterpiece remains unchanged. :)
Look at that beautiful, BEAUTIFUL wedding dress OMAGAWD*
Why I love Effie...
  
♥ Why I love Finnick Odair even more...♥
 
I shall continue this list with categories 2 and 3 tomorrow, so stay tuned fellow readers. That's a wrap for today, ta-ta!
Labels: no longer secrets, wimpi-ness |
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