Experience has taught me well

Setting up my Salon

2019-01-31T14:18:00.000+00:00

The whole process of taking up the course, renovating my salon, applying for a proper license from the Ministry of Health to operate the salon, attending hygiene courses and ordering all the furniture and different types of equipment have taken me quite a while before I can actually be up and running.

The original look of how the place looks like before the renovation.

Took away the entrance as it looks so cramp.

Preparing the outdoor walkway and laying out bricks.

It is finally ready.

Now it is finally ready ! So what is my next step

How do I end up in becoming a Permanent Make Up Artist

2018-12-18T14:27:00.000+00:00

I guess everyone has similar reasons for ending up with thinning eyebrows due to the hit trend in the '90s where the thin eyebrow is considered so amazingly beautiful. Over the years I have struggled to fill up and took so much time in fixing my eyebrows whenever we wanted to go out. Vainly as I can be just like most women, I love to take good care of myself.

One day I came across advertising about Microblading and I am so impressed with how natural and beautiful it looks. I googled and read all about it. I wanted to do Microblading on my eyebrow so much after that. I could see how easy it is after and there is no need to draw every day. After watching so many videos from youtube, I decided to take the next step. I did my research in different places to take up the course. Finally December 2018, I registered for the course.

The course only took 2 full days of hands-on training and during the second day, we get to work on a model. I was very nervous to have my practice on a real model for the first time and it was my daughter which I did my practice on with the help of my PMU master.

The after result.

It was first time and I was so inexperienced. so I was not prepared to take proper before and after.

When I am finally done with the real model, I was handed with the certificate.

Even after the course was over, I never stop practicing and learning with other professionals for months after the course ended.

Valentine's Dinner

2018-02-19T11:29:00.002+00:00

Valentines Home Cook 3 course Dinner

We usually never celebrate any Valentines Day. As for me it is just another normal day in which mainly shops and restaurants are making more money as people are spending their money on presents, flowers and dinning out. I prepared dinner everyday for my boyfriend, my son and also for a friend of ours Anna Karin who is living here with us. That day I decided to decorate the table with nice table clothe and set up to a fine dinning and 3 course dinner.

Since I have always been bad in doing any kind dessert due to my impatient and details that may required in baking, I have asked my sister in law to contribute a recipe which is very simple and easy so I will manage to get the dessert on the table. It turn to be very successful and everyone loves it.

Starter Shrimp with Mango

Ingredients

Shrimp

Chopped red onion

Mango

Thinly slice cucumber

Sweet Chili Sauce

Sesame oil

Lime juice

Sprinkle with Chopped Fresh Coriander Leaves and chopped Almond nuts

Main Course

Chicken Stuffed with Spinach and dried Tomatoes with Pepper Sauce

Ingredients

Chicken Fillet grind them in blender

Add Spinach, thinly slice dried tomatoes

Light soy sauce

Salt and Pepper

Mixed all together and shape them again into any shapes of your preferences

Sprinkle olive oil and into oven for 30 mins at 200 degree.

Potato

Ingredients

Peel potatoes and cook till its soft done

Pressed the potato with folk but not too smash

sprinkle on top of the potatoes with salt and Pepper

Cheese of your choice

Chopped Almond nuts

Into oven 200 degree 20 mins or until cheese melted

Pepper sauce

Ingredients

Heat pan and melt a spoonful of butter

Crushed Mixed peppercorn

Double cream

Meat bujlong

Red Wine

Dessert Croissant Chocolate Almond Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

Ingredients

Croissants cut into half

Egg

Milk

Double Cream

Vanilla Essence

Mixed together all the ingredients above and pour in on top of the croissants

Let the mixture soak well onto the bread before baking them.

I spread generous amount of Nutella chocolate and chopped almond above and a dash of cinnamon before putting them in the oven for 30 mins.

Pour over Vanilla Sauce before serving.

Rock the boat Cruise with Baltic Queen

2018-02-15T16:01:00.000+00:00

15th February 2018 was our friend Anders Nilsson Birthday. He called me a week before asking if Lars and I would be interested to join them on Rock the Boat Cruise with his Sambo Åsa. First and foremost I am totally not a big fan of Rock Concert. Somehow Åsa was not either and we then said we could hang around together while the boys went to see the concert.

They picked up at 10:15 in the morning and we drove to town where the bus will pick us up to the cruise ship in Stockholm. Upon arrival we checked in and we invited them to our room for some wine.

Later we head off to a buffet dinner with free flow of wine and beer. The food spread was amazing.

Even though I may not be with the boys most of the time during the concert, I had a great time on the cruise.

Anders turning 49, Thursday 15th February 2018.

Macaroni Cheese Burger

2018-02-14T06:20:00.003+00:00

Lately I have been trying to create different types of dishes for the family in which I have never done before. Today I decided to try macaroni and cheese to replace the burger bread.

Preparing of macaroni cheese. ( 6 person)

Ingredients

5 cups of Macaroni
Cream Cheese
Texas shredded cheese
Prast Cheese
Gouda Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Cream
Milk
Butter
Flour

Spices Salt and Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, White Pepper and Chili Powder

Cook Macaroni first in a pan of boiling water.

Melt butter in a pan and once it is melted add in flour. Stir well till it mixed well.
Sprinkle in Salt, Pepper.
Pour in milk for few mins and add in cream cheese and other cheeses of your choice (excluded the shredded cheese which will be sprinkle in the very last part)
Once all the cheeses are melted you can add in Cream.

Add cooked Macaroni and stir in well. You can add in Cayenne pepper, White pepper and Chili Power at this point and stir again.

Once they are done, lay a baking paper and pour them on the baking tray. Making sure that they are press together so they are compact and tight. Sprinkle shredded cheese all over. Bake in the oven 200 deg 20 mins.

Once they are done take them out from the oven and let it cool off for 20 minutes before putting them in the fridge for 45 mins to an hour.

After 45 mins to an hour in fridge, cut them in square.

Dip in flour, followed by egg and bread crumbs.

Fry them in a pan with oil.

Preparing of burger

Minced meat

Chopped onion

Tomato ketchup

Worcester sauce

Salt

Pepper

Cayenne Pepper

Mixed well and round them into burger

Add 1 tbs oil and pan fry the burger 3 mins on each side on a medium high heat.

Additional layer of slice cheese, salad, tomatoes, cucumber, sweet chilies and sprinkle of fried onion. Macaroni cheese burger is ready to be serve.

Gado Gado

2018-02-05T16:24:00.000+00:00

Gado Gado is a rather typical Indonesian vegetarian dish serves with peanut sauce. Somehow it is also a popular dish in Singapore and Malaysia.

Vegetables Ingredients

Bean curd and Tempe cut into small pieces and fry them till golden brown on all side

Long bean, Beansprouts, Cabbage blenched them in boiling water for few mins but not too long as it will be too soft and soggy.

Hard boiled egg, cut into four pieces

Boiled potato cut them into small bite pieces.

Cucumber slice

Shrimp Crackers

Peanut sauce

One cup peanut roasted or fried them first then pounded them till smooth paste using mortar.

3 garlic pounded to paste

1/2 cup Coconut milk

5 red chilies discard the seeds blended to paste

1 tsp dried shrimp paste

I add few table spoon of Sweet chili sauce since my family do not eat too spicy and sweet chili helps to make it milder and sweeter.

In a sauce pan, combine all the mixture with the coconut milk. Stir occasionally on a low medium heat.

Place all blenched vegetables, bean curd, Tempe, hard boiled egg, potato on a plate and pour the peanut sauce. Garnished with fried shallots and Shrimp crackers.

you can either eat this on it own or with rice.

Home made Large Burger

2018-02-05T16:13:00.002+00:00

I am sure everyone can do a burger home on their own. I am not practically a big fan of burgers but I did it from time to time as my partner seems to enjoy it. At times. I would skip the bread and even cheese which is the most important best part in the burger.

Preparing the burger meat

Minced meat

Chopped Onion

Chili powder

Garlic powder

Cumin Powder

BBQ sauce and if you don't have any BBQ sauce you can substitute with ketchup, light soy sauce, and if you like it little sweet add in sweet chilli sauce

bread crumbs

Mixed the meat together.

I fry them on a pan with melted butter and you can grill them in the oven too if you prefer. Since our family like it more moist and not too dry burger, I fry them between 3 to 4 mins on medium high on each side for roughly 200 gram size of burger meat.

You could also spread butter on both sides of the bread and put them face down on the pan till it turn little color. That will bring little taste to the bread before adding your own mayonnaise, cheese, salad, tomatoes, cucumber, meat, bacon, sauces of your preference and top of with sunny side up egg ( individual preference)

Slow cook Beef in Crock pot

2018-02-05T15:46:00.001+00:00

Preparation time 15 mins

Cook Time : 5 hours low heat

3 hours medium heat

Ingredients

1 large Onion thinly slice

3 Garlic chopped finely

1 cm fresh Ginger thinly slice

Carrots and Potato cut them into small pieces

Cut the meat into chunky pieces

2 fresh tomatoes chopped finely

One cube of Beef Fond

Handful chopped Parsley

Thinly slice cucumber

Fried shallot

Thinly slice piri piri (only if you like extra hot)

In a crock pot add little oil and stir in onion, garlic and ginger.

Followed by chunky beef, turning them from time to time until the beef looks done on all side.

Put in the chopped tomatoes, beef fond and water filling up to cover the meat.

Let it cook on a slow heat for 5 hrs, turning them every 45 mins.

Add more water if the water reduce.

An hour before it is ready add in the carrots, potatoes and parsley.

Once the meat are tender. Serves them on a bowl with thinly slice cucumber, fried shallots and piri piri.

Recommended serving with nice warm garlic bread.

I did my garlic bread with spreading butter, Garlic powder, thyme and white pepper.
Into the oven for 10 to 15 mins at 140 deg Celsius.

Bargedil

2018-02-05T15:28:00.000+00:00

Bargedil (Minced Meat and Potato)

Ingredients

Onion (Finely chopped)

Garlic (Finely chopped)

Coriander leaves (Finely chopped)

Spring onion (Fine chopped)

Nutmeg

Mined meat

Potato

Egg

Instructions:
Slice potato and deep fry
Once it is done, start pounding them.
Then set aside

Add little oil in a frying pan and when it is hot,

Add in chopped onion and garlic and stir fry for few minute

Add in minced meat and mixed.

Add a 1/2 tps of nutmeg

Salt and pepper

Once they are ready pour over a strainer to remove access oil

Combined the mashed potato, chopped coriander leave and chopped Spring onion.

Mixed well the minced meat and potato.

Round them into a small flat ball.

Once they are all ready for frying

Prepare one egg and beat them with little salt

Dip the meat ball into egg and fry them quickly on both side till it turns brown.

Once it is done, they are ready for serve!

Getting around in Vietnam

2018-01-24T22:58:00.003+00:00

Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City)

We traveled to Vietnam on the 21st December 2017. Since none of us have been there before, we decided to venture into the new country. Vietnam is a very fascinating country. I have the combination of mixed love and hate about that place just like when I used to live in Egypt. Somehow people in Vietnam are very polite and welcoming. They have many beautiful amazing rooftop bars.

This trip was not plan to be ending up in a big group which it does eventually. My daughter Ellie had booked the tickets with her boyfriend, Emil together with Emil's cousins and friend. So coincident when we said we have booked our tickets to Vietnam on this particular date and this flight. We end up laughing as not only had we travel on the same datebut we end up on the same flight to Vietnam. The next coincident thing was when I booked my hotel and told her, we end up laughing again as we booked the same hotel in Vietnam. So which mean we are going to be in a big group. Somehow it was fun. We spent hours by the pool after breakfast and went out together at night.

We trying to take photo together but Emil is just appearing behind us.

This is the rooftop terrace in the hotel that we staying in Sunland Vietnam. Amazing I felt more in Sweden than in Vietnam as most of the guests we met either by the pool, restaurants and elevators are speaking Swedish.

They are having the competition of who can go from one end to another fastest.

We booked a tour guide who picked us up from the hotel to see the life back during the Vietnam war. It is so amazing just to see how they survive in the small tiny dark tunnel months after months.

We are missing two guys in our group who end up sick that day.

Every single one of us get the experience to shot with AK47. It was an experience and I totally enjoyed it.

below is my darling taking his shot.

Few days in Hanoi is enough for us since it is such a busy streets with thousands of cars, motorcycles and the honking of cars and bikes makes it more fascinating knowing and seeing how they can manage to go so smoothly on the road. There are no proper walking pavement which makes me feel so stress when walking out in the city.

We then moved on to Phu Quoc island in Vietnam. The flight was smooth and Phu Quoc was much quieter on the road and bearable to walk on the pavement. There are so many tourist there and plenty of restaurants by the beach.

Us enjoying our day walks sight seeing and nights together in different places.

This is an amazing experience, we both had. We decided to booked a couple massage nearby the hotel and was recommended to this hotel which has a nice spa to use after. After our massage, we got the whole spa bath to our self.

Our next fun experience was to visit the pepper farm. We had a guide who does not speak so good English but he is really trying. We came to a place where he showed us just one small area where he pointed to us, there are all the red pepper, black pepper, green pepper and white pepper where it are grown. That about it about the pepper farm tour guide we got from our tour guide. It is a big joke :)

Coming back to Hanoi after our Phu Quoc we stayed at a very nice hotel with we got our own roof top private Jacuzzi.

We spent a night in this famour roof top bar one night. This place is happening and full of people.

Istanbul 2017

2017-06-10T21:03:00.000+01:00

When I told people that we will be going to Istanbul, everyone told us to be careful especially after the terrorists attacks and bombing. I was a bit sceptical at first but I know if it is dangerous, I am sure the Swedish government will stop us from travelling there. So we decided to take that chances. Furthermore in Stockholm Sweden itself there have been attacked twice by terrorists. I am not sure where in the world is safe right now.

Anyway our trip to Istanbul turn out to be a very nice one. It was not as I expected. People are friendly and we have so much to see and do while we were there. The only thing which irritate us was the carpets dealers. They are everywhere and really bothering us. I can guarantee that with their approach on tourist into luring them into their shops will not help them in any sales. At least not from us. Tourist will just get irritated and will try to avoid them as far as possible.

My partner turns 55 this year in June and I have decided to give him a nice treats to Istanbul instead. Since we both have not been there before, we decided that Istanbul would be a great place to see.

We visited many popular and famous places there. Such as the mosque and the castles. Since we stayed in the European side of Istanbul and right in the center of the town, it is just walking distance to all different attractions. There are also plenty of good restaurants and bars around the area itself.

Travelling by tram is so convenient there. It is not expensive at all either. I strongly would recommend anyone visiting Istanbul to take the tram. It goes to the Asian side too. We met a very lady with her 2 children from the States there. I regretted not taking her contact number so we could keep in touch. She helped us one night when we were stranded after the train and tram are closed. Taxi tried to cheat us and she helped us to alternative shorter ways and send us back to the hotel that night. There was a guy who have lived there who negotiate the taxi fare for us. We are blessed to have met nice people along the way.

A beautiful park where the popular Touristic Mosque on the European side of Istanbul.

I would strongly recommended this hotel should you visit Istanbul. Sura Haga Sophia Hotel on the European side. The location is one of the best as it surrounded by plenty of restaurants, bars, park, and all the tourist attraction all in that area.

My young darling turn 55 that day and we had a Turkish birthday dinner just next to our hotel.

My new life begin when I move to this little city... after my separation.

2016-06-19T11:54:00.000+01:00

After almost one year of completely away from blogging , I finally decided to come back again today. This time, I have a whole new set of life ahead of me. My marriage for 18 years has reached the point where we both finally decided to walk our separate ways. In the beginning, I was unsure, unsecured, scared, sad, angry and all of those mixed feelings that I could not somehow describe in words. Part of me would like to start afresh and move on as it is useless to continue what we had before since we have tried and it never seems to solves but the other part of me are telling me to keep trying again. I was very unhappy in this marriage and I have end up being quiet, staring quietly in the empty space most of the time and not expressing myself so much to him anymore. That was where I know I have drifted apart more and more. He still plays a very important part of my life at that time. He is still the father to our children and even the separation was sad but we know deep down inside we still care for each other. We never express exactly what we feel but we moved on. The pain goes on but I know it will go away someday.

Now that we shared the custody of our son, we remain friends which was easy. I never thought that being open and stay connected after a divorce was even possible but it has been so far. We talked whenever it's necessary and socially we still meet casually on a friendly terms.

After my separations in June 2015, I moved to a very small city in Örebro. The reason I moved here was to sort things out in my life and stay with my eldest daughter Ellie and her boyfriend for the time being until I know where to move to when I had my mind clear. My intention was never to stay in this small city for long. I started applying for jobs outside of this small city and also different jobs abroad. I was also offered an International Sales Manager job in Asia through a friend of mine who had recommended me to join their organisation. Part of me felt very excited as I will be independent again and be able to move on with my life abroad and start afresh. I started the process of doing my research and documentation of living abroad and I talked to my ex about our son. I wanted to bring him along as he is only 12 years old and I cannot leave him behind and not being able to see him months after months. I felt at that time, I just wanted to leave Sweden and never come back again as there is no reason to be here anymore. I thought even if my son decided to stay here with his father, he could come and visit me wherever I am when by then when he is free form school.I know and was certain that his father will take very good care of him with or without me around.

Somehow in between the career searching and trying to sort my life in order again, I have met a man whom I cannot believe that I can be truly and deeply in love again. I was not looking to start any relationship at that time especially after my separation with the man I have been together with for 18 years have just ended. The first time when we met casually, I was not even least interested in him. I even thought of running away and pretending that I am not Ainy the girl that he was supposed to meet that day. On the day of our date, he walked towards me with a big smile on his face and was limping. The thoughts came rushing through my head with hundreds of questions and uncertainty.

Is he handicap?

Why is he limping?

What happened if he is mentally sick and psycho?

What an ugly t shirt he's wearing?

I even ask myself the question, "what was I thinking to even agree to meet this guy when he had this long hair with a very small tiny pony tail which looks like a hamster tail.

While questions were rushing in my head, he drew nearer and nearer. I decided to stay still and be polite instead. I convinced myself to stay calm and just go for a drink and if he is actually sick or psycho, I will politely excuse myself and leave.

We sat and talk and he is in fact a nice person whom have ended up in an accident and is still in his recovery process. I do felt sorry for him, and I can never judge a person by their look. Anyway at that time, I still wasn't attracted to him at all but that does not make him a bad person.

After that date, I thought it was over as I have never plan to meet him again. Somehow he keep asking me out day after day even when I gave so many reasons for not being able to see him. I think his persistent of inviting me out and not giving up the rejection each time, have made him a winner. He kept asking if I would like to see him again, and invited me out for short lunch instead since I always decline the dinner. I finally agreed to meet him again for a short lunch.. Then our second lunch date become a third lunch date and the third lunch date became fourth lunch date and so on....

My daughter suspected I have started seeing someone now but I kept telling her that I am only meeting a friend for lunch. It was actually a friend at that time. One day, while I was walking to town to meet up with this guy for a short coffee, I met my daughter and her be knew that I do not know anyone in this little town and the daily lunches that I go to made her smile. Then boyfriend who was just walking towards their car. She walked towards me and asking me what and where I was going. As usual, I told her that I am meeting a friend for coffee. I never wanted her to see this man anyway because at that time " Nothing about him that actually have attracted me" or neither have I wanted to introduce him to my children.Somehow they drove slowly and pass by exactly beside me just as I am approaching my date. I pretended not knowing my date and walk straight pass by him. It was a weird situation. I felt like "a child hiding my date from their parents". Somehow this was the other way round and I am mother hiding my date from my daughter.

One day my son decided to take the train to Stockholm and stay at his dad over the weekend. That was where he invited me over to his home so we could somehow probably cook together and have some nice home cook dinner and some drink together. I agreed upon that after seeing him and he had shown me his gentleman side. We went out to buy food together and head to his house straight. Everything went well until, he just left me sitting alone and went to sleep when he got tired that night. He had shown me the room on the upper floor which he had prepared for me to sleep in before that. I felt that this must be a weirdo guy as how can a person just go to sleep and left a guest sitting all alone. I was so pissed off at first. The next day, I got up, showered and left back home. He apologized for what happened. I never thought I ever want to meet this weird guy ever again. Again he never stop writing to me lunches for couples of weeks, I started to have a very little feelings for him. He is such a nice guy after all. Wand insisted that we meet for lunch again and again. I decided to give him a second chance. After that few e both never even initiate to start kissing or sleep together all these while and with that, I respected him more and more. One day we decided to meet for a short coffee and he told me a little secret and that he thought I would have run away after hearing it but instead I stayed on and says it's fine and I understand as everyone has their past. That's probably how our feelings develop further for each other.

Again he arranged another week of sleep over and I agreed upon it since my son is away at his father. That night was beautiful. Everything went well. I liked him more and more and we kiss for the very first time. I never felt closer to him and could've been feeling that I would someday be falling in love again. We woke up in the morning and he prepared nice tasty BBQ ribs for our late brunch. We sat under the sun and we just hold hands and talk all afternoon. That night, we slept together and we know we are starting our relationship as a couple with the mutual feeling that we both had with each other finally.

This is a small little things that he would do to surprise me every now and then. I woke up and head to the balcony for my first cigarette and saw a small note on it.

He also bought me bouquet of flowers every now and then. In fact it became too often that I have to asked him to stop.

My summer 2015

2015-06-15T13:45:00.002+01:00

My summer this year is to spend so much time I could with my children. That is my first top priority. There have been so many things going on but around this year but hopefully things will change for the better.

My daughter and her boyfriend have prepared a fantastic 3-course lovely nice dinner for me and Anna, Emil's mom on mother's day. Anna and I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers from our children that day. Since I was at Elrener's during mother's day, my daughter Veldiner, gave me an advance presents before I left on Friday to her sister.

We had BBQ on one sunny day. BBQ seems to be a thing among Swedish people to do during the summer. Each time when it is sunny we do plan for a nice sit out with BBQ.

Gabriel in love with this sporty BMW when we went to see one of our friends in the car dealer shop.

Again another day spent with my son, Gabriel and 2nd daughter Veldiner and her boyfriend on Swedish National day at a park watching some concert.

BBQ on a park opposite the home one Saturday evening when it was a lovely sunny day with nice Swedish summer.

Salon in Stockholm Hår 3000

2015-05-19T13:09:00.000+01:00

Never been to a hair salon for the last few years. I remember when I was young in my early 20s, I went to a hair salon every 2 days to wash and blow dry and also once a month to trim or cut, doing hair treatment, perm or colouring. Then as I get older, with tonnes of white hair, I gave up going to a salon. I don't know why but I am so lazy to maintained my hair anymore. I just kept long, colour myself once every few months.

Then I came back to Stockholm for a visit this summer. This time my daughter booked me into her school for a haircut last week. Her teacher told me that they don't charge mothers. So I get a free haircut in her school. Then this week, she booked me again to her work salon for a hair colouring. I am so pampered. Usually for staff working there, they will be charging for the amount of hair colour that are used but this time her boss said he will not charge for her mother. So I get another free service in her work salon.

I have two different colour on my hair as my original hair have grown from the roots about 7 cm. So the first step, she did a hair colour for the outgrown hair from the roots to match the lower colour.

Then after 20 mins under the heat, she wash and blow dry. The second step was to do highlight with an aluminium folio. this took the longest time. As it is too detail work with a small strand of hair being pick up in every one cm. After whole head are done. Wash again and then she applied more hair lotion again which will help to maintained the colour and be seen clearly. Then my head was wrap in a plastic for another 20 mins before it is wash again and blow dry.

I love the end result, it was well worth sitting for 6 hours but I can never do it often as I am so fidgeting when I am asked to sit so long. My next step when she have learnt to cut short, I am ready for a really short hair called the Posh bob.

Short hairstyle for 2015

2015-05-15T12:28:00.002+01:00

Every since my daughter took her hairdresser course, she has been successfully doing my hair which I really appreciate it very much. It has been years since I actually care about going to a salon to cut or coloured my hair. I usually trim or colour the hair myself for the past few years.

After I get back to Sweden this summer, she had booked time for me to go to her school where she took her course and have my hair nicely trimmed to the short length I have always wanted to.

This is where the classroom where the course is conducted every day. It is is Nacka, Sweden. Very nice classroom and very well equipt. Recommended anyone who wanted to take up the hairstyling course to apply there. Some days, they had mannequin head to work with and someday they will bring in a model who will come in to work on the hairstyle. So that day it was me, she had to work with.

I have requested for a short bob hairstyle. Her teacher a young and cool trendy lady was guiding her throughout the way of how it is supposed to be done. She is lucky to have such a nice teacher.

I really like the end result. It is simple, short and so much easy to handle now. Before I had a long hair for several years and I felt that the changes made me feel fresh and different.

The 3rd time of cutting shorter in one month. I take stages to cut my hair short this time round. The 4th time of trimming more will be in 2 weeks, even shorter :)

It is quite a lot of hair has been cut away but I am very happy. Next Monday I will go into her work salon where she works every day after her school to have my hair coloured by her. Cool, when my daughter can now do my hair and the best part is, everyone have to pay for the service or products used but I get it for free as I am her mother and mother don't pay. It is such a privilege.

Will update after the colour on Monday :)

Weekend in Örebro, Sweden

2015-05-12T15:28:00.000+01:00

After coming back to Sweden this summer and staying with my younger daughter Vel, my eldest daughter, El invited us to stay a few days in Örebro with her. Since Ellie's boyfriend is staying in Stockholm weekdays, he offered us to go back with him to Örebro in his car.

The weekend in örebro was indeed very nice, fun and relaxing.

We were lucky on Saturday as the weather was very sunny and nice. We woke up have breakfast and decided to take a walk.

Ellie and her boyfriend are living right in the middle of the city with nice surrounding.

Right in front of her house there is a big park wth several outdoor restaurants, cafes, and plenty of beautiful growing colourful spring flowers.

While walking along the water, I spotted several big beautiful houses.

Gabriel and sis El :)

Those colourful flowers just blooming.

I love these nicely shaped sculpture trees. They are so beautiful.

In the evening, we decided to barbeque since the weather is shining and its a clear blue sky.

This sweet couple went to get all the meat, etc and we invited Emil's mom and brother to join us.

This is Emil's mom. Really like her and we click the first time we met. She is very friendly, easy to be with and we laugh a lot that night.

As the evening gets, it was a little bit chill to be sitting long outdoor. Emil's took his winter jacket for Gabriel as it started to be a bit cold.

We went inside the house after our dinner and Emil's younger brother Denise, who had a fantastic voice of a solid strong vocal, sang for us some songs of his choice. It was amazing to hear his voice.

Then came the 2 brothers showing off their golf movement.

It was a lovely weekend in Örebro and we will go there again next time together with Vel and her boyfriend too.

Summer in Stockholm

2015-05-04T21:27:00.000+01:00

The past few weeks staying at my daughter's and her sambo apartment was nice. It has been lesser stressful after being here. Love the surrounding area of this place too. Peter and I took our walk an hour or more a day,depending on the weather. I am waiting for a nice sunny weather one day before we could do some bbq.

Did Lasagne one day for the family. We had a nice simple lifestyle and being home doing simple things like this would be more than happy.

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon in Stockholm.

2015-04-28T14:22:00.000+01:00

I always feel so much alive when it comes to the spring and summer in Europe. The sky will be clear and blue with the sun shining throughout the day. The air is fresh and everyone just seems to be happy. The day is longer and I can just stay out the whole day.
Unlike when you live in a country who is 24 hrs warm and sometimes occasionally you get the rain to cool down, it is never the same. You don't appreciate the sun that much as we people do in Europe.

People will be out more in the spring and summer. Obviously more people will spend more of their time outdoor much more. Outdoor restaurants will be the first to be fill up with people. Suddenly everything became much more alive.

These are the first thing which makes a lot of changes in the spring and summer. The flowers will start blooming everywhere. Unlike in the autumn and winter, all trees will be totally ripped off and there will be nothing left. So when we start to see the first small bud creeping out of the tip of the branches, we know that the spring is here.

Then this is next where you will start doing, tanning :) You will find any place to sit in a park, or benches in the estate area where you lived and start gathering friends or family. People will bbq, play games, drinks and enjoy so much of the outdoor while they still can.

This is why I really love the summer in Europe. I appreciate the sun much more than when I was living in the warm countries before.

Bone Steak or Soup Tulang Merah Singaporean style

2015-04-27T20:59:00.001+01:00

Soup tulang merah is one of the popular dishes in Singapore. Usually, it can be found in most the Indian stalls but I am not so sure nowadays if they even sell it in other stalls.

Recipe
2kg bone steak boiled with star anise, cardamom, cinnamon stick, salt and 2 slice of pandan leave for 2 hrs.

Ingredients for gravy
1 large onion
4 garlic
10 pcs of dried chillies
3 cm of ginger
fresh corainder
1 stalk of lemon grass
Blend together all the ingredients above.

1 lemon grass smash
2 chopped tomatoes
10 tbs tomato sauce
1 tbs corainder powder
1 tbs cumin powder
1 tbs curry powder
1 tsp tumeric powder
5 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
3 cardamon pot
2 egg
1 meat bullion

Seperate the boiling water from the bone steak. Keep the water aside for later.

Add little oil in a pan and put in the lemon grass and the blended ingredients. Stir it for few minutes. Then adding in slowly each and every ingredients above except the egg.

Once it started to boil, put back the bone steak inside. Break in two egg ans stir. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Samsung S4 latest update destroy everything

2015-04-20T10:09:00.000+01:00

I am sure that this is not going to be good for samsung reputation. You better get it sort out with another update quickly to get rid of all the mess you did with the phone after the latest update was introduced.
Problems:
1.Phone shutting down by itself constantly even on full battery.
2.The volume became so low that you could hardly hear it at all on speaker.
3.Getting missed call. (Frustrated)

These three are my main concern but there are many other problem which Samsung are aware of from the complaint they received after the update.

The important keys to live a happier life

2015-04-13T20:43:00.000+01:00

The one thing I know is that my life have been constantly coming back to hit me really hard over and over again. People are chasing for wealth, beauty, fame and even politician getting louder in term of words for their matters and the growing economy. Not knowing, we have created the stressful and unhappy group of people.. All these around us, does it bring lasting happiness? I am not so sure now.

A huge certain of variation in us come from our own choices. We absolutely have the power to change how happy we are and how we can approach our lives. I sometimes do question myself why do I still accept the same suffering in my life over and over again? Have I not overcome it and learnt from it? Obviously not if I have been going through it over and over again.

When you fall and hit the ground hard and asking for help... sometimes people will help if you are lucky but most of the time, people would not want to get involved. They would either end up totally invisible and disappeared into the thin air.
For the extremely rich ones, who may live in a big house just like a castle with thousand of square meter fully designer decorated with 40 to 50 servant, unfortunately and sadly, they can be very cold and heartless. I said this because I experience it personally. It is sad, but it is true. I can come begging, but they can just neglect and ignore. Even thought I may felt shamed and shattered... but I will still pray and wish for his good health and wealth to continue.

A Happier Healthier You

Some certain action which I will put into my thought and identified in action.

Caring for others

I know personally, I am a very caring and sympathetic person. I always care for others and how people would feel as I know part of it would bring happiness. Caring for others does not have to involve financial all the time. I know the society are mostly below average in income. Most people are tight financially, so if you are one of the lucky humans with no financial issues then helping out financially to someone in need is always good. Otherwise pay a compliment to someone would make that person smile. Even offer to help in any possible way you could. Small little things make a lot of difference. Whenever you start saying or think, "I don't give a shit about him/her" Rewire that thought. I have decided to forgive everyone who have done something bad to me and will not hold any grudges anymore. I would not be their best friend, but I would not hate them from now onwards. If I ever do hear that they have a problem, I would send my offer to help.
Put aside what people had done towards you and learned to forgive and forget as people make a mistake.

Take good care of our body

Our body is very important to us. It's a part of happiness which we always seem to forget and have been taking things for granted. We humans abused ourselves by putting in lots of alcohol, smoking, taking drugs, eating lots of crappy food in our body. I will not go into details of the result, but we all should be aware of the consequences. Eventually, some may catch up with the over weight problem and ending up being unhappy.

The more you love yourself and take care of your health, mentally you will be prepared to do more good things to your body. You will have enough sleep daily and enjoying a nice long walk in fresh air.

Have a goal in Life

A goal is part of happiness. Setting goals will motivate you and challenge you as a whole person. Try not to set something which is beyond reach. Realistic goals will lead to happiness and sense of accomplishment. Sometimes we put too high hope and dreams that when it fail, we get disappointed and stress. Who doesn't want to set a goal to be a millionaire? BUT can you achieve that :)

Try to find a way to come back

Realistic all of us have gone through trauma, the sadness of losing someone, the failure which we have least expected and how should we respond to such situation. Drown yourself in sorrow and lots of smoking and drinking? That is what most of the people will do as we cannot handle such despair in life. I know it is easy to say but in a real life situation like this, it is not that easy to just bounce back to life again. It takes a lot of skills and probably we have to go through a lot of disappointment, despair, failure, sadness or trauma for us to be able to learn.

My list could go on and on, but I stop here at the moment.....

Outdoor Living with amazing outdoor kitchen

2015-04-12T15:14:00.000+01:00

For years, I have always dreamt of having a proper outdoor living with an outdoor kitchen in my house. When we were living in Egypt, we had an outdoor pool in our garden and we were also talking about building an outdoor kitchen but we never made it come true as we left the place not long after just before the revolution started.
I know having a proper cosy outdoor can be very relaxing. Life has already been so stressful these days. Honestly relaxing outdoor at the back of your garden with proper outdoor kitchen and proper living would and could take the stress away.

An amazing jacuzzi with the ocean view. Unwind your stress day in the jacuzzi and relax with the view of the ocean. My wildest dream.

This is my dream relaxing outdoor. The sight of owning this one day would be unspeakable.

I love the cosy wooden style. Seeing the sight of a living area with fireplace and view of the pool. I have to share it with you.

Countryside view. Cosy little garden with Jacuzzi and a set of cosy sitting area.

This is the type of outdoor kitchen I have always dreamt about. It is an absolute grand design. I can also be very happy with only half of the design.

Surrounded by greenery and concept of jungle living, hearing the bird cheeping, and the nature wild and free life.

Golf Humor

2015-04-11T19:30:00.002+01:00

I have been doing a lot of research on golf and lately I came across a lot of golf humor which I personally found it very interesting. Enjoy...:)

My Daily Workout

2015-04-10T17:36:00.000+01:00

The gym uses to be my second home. I love going to the gym every day until I hurt both my tennis elbow and was unable to lift anything heavy. I love this workout as it targets your back, shoulders and also your stomach.

Sugar Body scrub

2015-04-09T19:15:00.001+01:00

I have never been a fan of shaving especially the man type of shaving with razor shaver. In fact, I am considered lucky as I was not born hairy either. I do shave my armpit and legs every now and then, probably once a month using the electric epilator but never the razor. I had my electric epilator which pulls from the roots which I prefer as when the hair grows back it is not as rough as you shave. Plus the hair is much finer and eventually after pulling it for many years, it became so much lesser.

I have been using the normal body scrub, but I read about homemade sugar body scrub one day and decided to give it a try. It works fantastic.

So I recommend that you give it a try.

Please take note that if you shave using the razor, you can repeat by using the sugar scrub - shave - and sugar scrub again after soaking in warm bath for 5 mins.

Sugar Scrub
2tbs of normal white sugar
2tbs of coconut oil
5 tbs of freshly squeezed citrus juice.

Soak for about 5 minutes in a warm bath
Take the homemade sugar scrub and scrub your body thoroughly with it.
Repeat until you feel it is smooth as you will be removing any dead skin.
Finish with a bath, pat dry and if you like to you can apply any body cream or I prefer a coconut oil.

This is the virgin coconut oil which I brought it from a health shop here in London, Holland and Barrett. I used this to apply all over my body after the sugar body scrub and it will feel so smooth.

I do not use this coconut oil to make the sugar body scrub.

I bought a cheaper version (as shown below)where you can find it in the supermarket which cost only £2.