Penchant for Panache

Happily Home Cooked Italian meals

2012-02-16T02:42:00.001-08:00

I have been on blog hiatus so long that I can't even remember my last post on this blog. While Brain has been keeping readers entertained with mainly photos and travels on our family blog, Pinkythots, I have been busy sorting out our new home which we moved in late last year after a 3years of hectic planning, designing and building. It was relief finally to be able to move into a home we conceptualised with the help of an architect. I thought that day would never come. To be honest, it was gruelling and stressful three years given the details that go into the project, glitches that one encounter when embarking on a project this size and decisions that need to be made. But thanks to a very competent team ( architect and home-builders), our house was finally a home. Yippee!!!

On the home front, while I busied myself furnishing the home to a comfortable and liveable state based on the best of my ability and resources available, I still have to juggle a job on flexible hours and caring for my two tykes who are getting

into all sorts of mischief in the new home.

With the spanking new dry kitchen in place with top of the range appliances, Brain has been pestering me when I would utilise them given the money and time that we have spent on the area. My wet kitchen is fully utilised for sure - it is just that I haven't come around to using the ceramic hobs on the island and the built in oven in the dry kitchen.

Therefore I decided to embark on a culinary adventure on my first attempt in utilising the area and its applicances. My first foray into the coo

king world after 3 years of not fixing a decent meal for Brain and myself took place during the long string of public holidays in early February 2012. Since I absolutely love Italian Food - I decided to try out a few recipes of my favourite food but varied the taste to suit my Asian taste buds.

I prepared a three course meal consisting of Tomato Caprese ( Appertiser), Penne Arrabbiata (Mains) and home-made tiramisu.

ROASTED TOMATO CAPRESE

Ingredients:-

4 large ripe tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick

1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4 inch thick

3 cloves of garlic finely minced

1/3 cup fresh basil leaves

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

fine sea salt to taste

freshly ground black pepper and lemon juice to taste

Directions:

1. Put the sliced tomatoes on the baking tray and sprinkle the minced garlic on each slice. Roast in the oven at 220 c for 10-12 minutes to allow the garlic to permeate the tomatoes with flavour.

2. Once roasted, transfer to a large platter, alternate and overlap the tomato slices, mozzarella cheese slices, and basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil. Season with sea salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste.

Time taken: 15-20 minutes

PENNE ARRABBIATA (SERVES 2)

Ingredients:-

1 can of chopped tomatoes
3 tbsp olive oil
half an onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 tsp chilli flakes
salt and black pepper
pinch of sugar
grated parmesan, to serve

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, gently cook the onion and garlic in the olive oil until the onion has softened. Add the chopped tomatoes, chilli flakes and sugar.
Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 25-30 minutes until thickened.
2. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in plenty of salted water until cooked and then drain the pasta.
3. Add the pasta to the sauce and mix in well. Serve with grated parmesan.

Time taken: 25 minutes

TIRAMISU ( For this I used Giada De Laurentiis's recipe as it was so easy and I have to hand it her for coming up with such a simple recipe that taste really good)

Ingredients

*6 egg yolks (I used pasteurised eggs )
3 tablespoons sugar
1 pound mascarpone cheese
1 1/2 cups strong espresso, cooled
2 teaspoons coffee liquor ( I used this instead of rum)
24 packaged ladyfingers
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate shavings, for garnish

Directions

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Add mascarpone cheese and beat until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon of espresso and mix until thoroughly combined.

In a small shallow dish, add remaining espresso and rum. Dip each ladyfinger into espresso for only 5 seconds. Letting the ladyfingers soak too long will cause them to fall apart. Place the soaked ladyfinger on the bottom of a 13 by 9 inch baking dish, breaking them in half if necessary in order to fit the bottom.

Spread evenly 1/2 of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers. Arrange another layer of soaked ladyfingers and top with remaining mascarpone mixture.

Cover tiramisu with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 8 hours.

Before serving, sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

Time Taken: 25 minutes.

I am no culinary expert or kitchen goddess but the above experiments have certainly ignited my interest in cooking more for the family!

The weasel abides.

2011-05-17T19:33:00.000-07:00

The weasel abides.

Book Review: Battle Hymm of the Tiger Mother

2011-03-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

This must be the "Mother-of-all-books" for 2011, in the sense that the author, Amy Chua has managed not only to ignite controversy and heated debate in the US but in doing so she has help to propel the book onto the best seller list of the New York Times and Amazon.com. I first heard about her from a colleague of mine and read her intriguing but yet controversial "Why Chinese Mothers are superior" article on the Wall Street Journal. The resulting controversy and debate surrounding her comments piqued my interest considerably and I decided to hunt for the book in Malaysia which was unfortunately not available in the major bookstores until mid February 2011. Being somewhat of a bookworm, I was determined to obtain a copy of the book before the Chinese New Year break and decided to order it from bookdepository.com which offered free shipping.

Once I got my hands on the book, I couldn'tput it down. With two young children to care for, the only time I could read it was after they had gone to bed. It took me 7 days to finish the book and while I found the book intriguing however the methods that Amy used to push and prod her daughters to succeed a bit to stiffling for my liking. I do agree that a certain amount of discipline and structure is necessary for young children who rely on their caregivers or parents to point them in the right direction but to control their choices is another thing altogether. However insane her methods might be,it appears on the surface at least that her eldest daughter thrived. She managed to maintain excellent academic results at school and the rigorous practice sessions that her mother put her through to ensure that she maintained a flawless performance as a concert pianist. Of course, her parenting methods and tactics did not work on her second daughter whose rebelliousness spiralled into violence. And this caused Amy to take a step back and let her younger daughter make her own decisions.

Overall, I think nobody should take her book too seriously. After all it is as she has said, a memoir and not intended to be a parenting guide. She is merely poking fun at herself as a parent and not encouraging anybody to emulate any of her methods. So for all the controversy that the book has generated, I think that at the end of the day, the parenting methods that you adopt would depend on what you as a parent think is best for your own childre. No one method works and I think parenting styles will also change as the child grows older and becomes more mature in her/his outlook of life. So there you have it - my 2 cents worth of thoughts on this!

Eat Drink Man Woman - Part 1

2010-10-05T00:21:00.000-07:00

Okay - so this isn't really a post about that movie directed by acclaimed Oscar winning director, Ang Lee but I thought the title was catchy enough to warrant some attention about the new kitchen and bar that we will be installing in the new home.

Since 2009, Brain and myself have criss-crossed the entire Klang Valley looking for that perfect kitchen designer who would be able to design something that would fit in with the modern aesthetic interior of our new home and of course something well within our means. We have not given a single thought to those amazing german kitchens by Alno or Nolte as they cost well above six figures to start with!

After approaching at least 10 kitchen and wardrobe designers with our house plans, we narrowed our decision to three since the rest did not even bother to call back to inform us when the design and quotation would be ready. In the end, the decision was made to engage Keuken, a smallish boutique kitchen and wardrobe design company. The decision was made based on one very important criteria that the designer actually LISTENED to our needs. She proposed practical solutions to maximise storage space ( instead of just merely informing us that nothing can be done about a certain void due to the shape of the kitchen space designed by our architect) and yet managed to design something elegant for our dry and wet kitchen. Additionally, the charges were reasonable as compared to the quotations that we have received from the other well-known local kitchen designers.

Our dry kitchen has the following features:

a) an oven ( a must have as I am keen to experiment my baking skills which has been limited due to the fact that my current kitchen does not have an oven)

b) a standalone microwave

c) a sink

d) a 3"x 10" island ( we decided against having a peninsular) with a 2 burner ceramic hob ( I was told that the magnetic fields originating from the induction hobs pose a health risk)

e) a double door fridge

g) Solid surface counter tops and glass splashbacks

Our wet kitchen features the following:-

a) a single door fridge
b) a steam oven

c) a dishwasher

d) a 3 burner glass hob

e) a cooker hood

f) a 2 bowl sink

While waiting for the design to be finalised, Brain and I went around researching and looking for the kitchen accesories i.e sinks, faucets, ovens, dishwashers, ceramic hobs and etc.

KITCHEN FAUCETS

After much considerations between brands like Teka and Hansgrohe can offer, we finally settled for KWC, a brand which unknown to us until we did research on kitchen faucets a few months back. Apparently, KWC is a Swiss brand dealing in premium kitchen faucets. They have other stuffs like bathroom faucets and so on but they are famous for the former. What attracts us to KWC kitchen faucets is that they have been designed to meet the aesthetic requirements of modern kitchen fittings and offer matchless functionality alongside individual design variations. The selections made are as follows:

DRY KITCHEN

KWC AVA Featuring a harmonious design with efficient functionality, the new KWC AVA kitchen mixer range provides an impressive array of features designed to make life in the kitchen more convenient without compromising on style. Along with revolutionary Swiss engineering, the KWC AVA mixers combine international design with function at an affordable price. An eye-catching feature of this mixer range is its extremely flat lever. The lever is based on an innovative leveller principle with an invisible lifting mechanism, which moves and lifts simultaneously on opening, providing a completely new feel to its operation and minimising water use through precise controlThe pull-out aerator (vegetable spray) offers complete manoeuvrability, extending up to 70cm and making it a practical addition to any modern kitchen. The mixer also has WELS 5-Star rating for water efficiency and incorporate an easy ‘turn and clean’ mechanism, which makes maintenance of these sink mixers simple and trouble-free. Flow rate is 9l/minAll in all, KWC AVA brings a touch of sophistication to standard faucets for the modern kitchen. The graceful, virtually seamless body and the new, strikingly flat lever on this kitchen faucet are aesthetically pleasing and give a whole new operating sensation at the sink.

WET KITCHEN

KWC LUNA The Luna Pull‐out Spray Sink Mixer features a 60cm pull‐out, retractable hose with a spray nozzle, perfect for washing fruit and vegetables at the kitchen sink. The tall mixer creates extra space and allows sufficient room to wash large pans and dishes easily.Ensuring optimal functionality, the Luna Swivel Spout Mixer allows for a 270 degree turn function on the tapware to create enough room for those tricky jobs that require plenty of space around the sink, allowing for freedom of movement.The mixer features a heat shield to protect the hand spray from overheating and provides a safeguard against accidental scalding. The eye‐catching, slender outline of the mixer is truly impressive and adds an elegant touch to the kitchen.Both mixers have a WELS 4‐Star (6 l/min) rating for water efficiency, and feature a solid and lustrous chrome finish for durability, which also gives a stylish yet timeless look to complement both contemporary and traditional kitchens.The mixer comes complete with Jet Clean technology for effective hard water and Limescale protection, and incorporate an easy ‘turn and clean’ cleaning mechanism which makes looking after the Luna Sink Mixer range a breeze

BAR AREA

LIVELLO KWC LIVELLO is KWC’s answer to right-angled faucets. Its elegant proportions are fascinating, while every last detail of its technical and design features makes it stand out from the norm. The design is simple, minimalist, authentic.The balanced proportions, innovative technology and harmonious overall appearance show that this is a new, original and uncompromising design solution – not one that is merely restyled or derived from an existing model.

KITCHEN SINKS

We bought the sleek Blanco Kitchen Sinks during the Homedec Exhibition a one bowl sink for the dry kitchen and a double bowl silgranit sink. We haven't decided on the color yet though which will depend on the colors chosen for the cabinets and solid surface in the respective kitchens.

As for the rest of the items, we haven't really found the right items as our research has reached a roadblock. Firstly is an Electrolux oven better than a Bosch oven or vice-versa? What about ceramic hobs without the ghastly looking knobs? There aren't many in the market with the exception of the newly launched Samsung hobs and Teka which is rather expensive. So what have our research lead us to? Stay tune for Part 2.......

Timber Flooring

2010-09-28T18:50:00.000-07:00

After much research and going back and forth with various timber floor suppliers as well as enginnered wood suppliers, we have finally decided on the type of flooring for our first floor & basement and locked in a deal with Lumbermart on the wood flooring. The chosen timber in this case is Sienna Walnut. I instantly fell head over heels with the wood and its texture after seeing the sample flooring in their showroom. Our entire first floor will be fitted with this type of timber as well as the stepboard for the staircase. The grandparents' room on the ground floor will also feature the same timber flooring as well as the basement which is largely the TV room.

Key features of the wood:

1. Siena Walnut (Scientific name: Terminalia Tomentosa) for floor as well as stepboards at the staircase

2. Bona Mega finishing (helps to reduce the scuff marks and scratches)

3. Chengal batten system

4. Thickness: 18mm, Width: 85mm and Length: Random of 1 to 5ft

Siena Walnut codenamed Terminalia Tomentosa is also known as Indian Laurel or Asian Walnut. It is a large deciduous tree which can attain a height of 20-30 m. Grows in moist soils and is one of the last trees to shed its leaves. The leaves are about 15 cm long, smooth above and woolly beneath; generally they are lopped for fodder.The heart wood varies from light brown with few markings to dark brown with irregular darker streaks or lines. The wood is fairly straight grained to irregular or interlocked. It is coarse textured, very heavy, compact and elastic. A strong hard wood with medium bending strength and stiffness and high crushing strength.The Asian species of Walnut wood flooring also has a distinct grain pattern. Large swirls and a loose grain structure give Siena Walnut one of the most unique looks of any wood species sold today. This unique grain pattern works very well in large rooms and areas. A final note on Siena Walnut properties is that it rates very highly on the Janka Scale coming in around 2,250. The Janka scale is a measurement used to determine the hardness of a hardwood species. The higher the number, the harder the wood.

Bona Mega

Bona Mega revolutionized the world of wooden coatings in 1995 with its pioneering crosslinking technology in a waterborne formula. Today, Bona Mega still holds a unique position on the market due to its innovative formula that reacts with oxygen, giving the benefits of a two component product. Containing vegetable oils, a renewable resource, Bona Mega is a sustainable choice for the future. 8 million kilos of CO2 emissions have been saved through the unique Bona Mega process. Now the range has a further innovation - Bona Mega Extra Matt - giving you that pure matt wooden look.Key features. One component crosslinking technology.• The finish has a very low gloss level which makes it look almost invisible and resemble natural wood.• Excellent flow and levelling.• Proven track record, still unique after 28 million litres and 136 million m2 covered.. Suitable for residential with heavy traffic• Partly made of renewable resources.• NMP-free.• EC1 classification .

I know it is still awhile but pictures will be put up once this is fitted in at the end of the year/beginning of next year.....

Bathrooms: #2 Accessories

2010-09-28T00:43:00.000-07:00

The CHOSEN HANSGROHE FAUCETS

Pura Vida - A pair will be put in the master bathroom. Puravida series will form the backbone of the master bathroom theme. Puravida comes in timely as it was recently launched late last year.The height of the Highriser is a beautiful design feature for freestanding wash bowls. The concentrated jet of water from high above enhances its sculptural effect. Note that it has two colour tone made of two distinctive material-chrome and ceramic. The spray angle of this highriser can be tilted backwards and forwards, for greater ease of use. The flow rate is restricted to 7.8 litres of water per minute. The water consumption is minimised by an extra small spray straightener and an integrated flow limiter.

Axor Massaud - We simply adores this one as per my previous post and got to get this one specially from Singapore. This one is destined for the powder room.The symbiosis between man, nature and space is the central idea from French designer Jean-Marie Massaud, who made a name for himself in product design as well as with architectural projects. Working with Axor, he has redefined the philosophy of the bathroom with Axor Massaud. With the form of the products, you can recognize the gently curved line of a blade of grass and observe water falling as naturally as if from a spring. In between clear, geometrical forms and ingeniously hidden technology lies Axor Massaud. Because of its unique, its difficult to find a matching countertop basin. As we speak, we are still searching for the elusive one.

Metris S - Metris S will be the mainstay of other bathrooms namely in parents and children's rooms. Metris S harnesses the pure minimalist style that so often epitomizes contemporary European designs. With the geometrical transition of curve into smooth planes, the design projects a decidedly clean and versatile persona. This is really well chosen by the architect.

Talis E2 - We thought we should have a different model for the guest bathroom at lower basement.Made in Germany,Hansgrohe’s Talis E2 tapware provides an affordable, quality design option imbued with freshness and vivacity. Designed by Phoenix Design, the Talis E2 is a fusion of ease and harmony. Development of the Elegance design was inspired by organic natural forms echoed in the tapware’s harmonious curves, elegant edges and polished surfaces.As in nature, the combination of flowing forms and high quality surfaces provides exciting contrasts for a warm, welcoming bathroom reflective of its owner’s personality ie ME.

Bathrooms: #1 Accessories

2010-09-27T01:02:00.000-07:00

One of the first and easiest items to decide on for our new home are bathroom fixtures and accessories. We have decided early on that we wanted our new bathrooms to have a modern and funky feel to it. Hence, the hunt for the perfect bathroom accessories to complement the modern contemporary look for the bathrooms began as early as 2009. It wasn't as easy as we thought. Brain and myself scouered the entire Klang Valley looking for perfect fixtures and at one point even considered purchasing them online from Singapore and the UK. After much research and deliberation of the pros and cons ( this includes pricing of course), we narrowed our selection to the following brands : Kohler, Hans Grohe, Grohe and ToTo. Pricing played an important point as well as the design and practicality of the fixtures. Here are some of the faucets and washbasins and showers we deliberated on.Here's the nature inspired Hans Grohe AXOR Massaud Faucet and washbasin which were designed by the acclaimed french designer Jean-Marie Massaud. We thought it would look really good in our new funky powder room and the only thing that was holding us back was $$$$! I wasn't willing to sell my kidney to get this exquisite piece faucet and washbasin. However, we were adamant that this was the look that we wanted for our powder room. In the end, we decided to find if there was anyway we could get hold of these without paying for an arm and a leg. Good thing was GSS ( Great Singapore Sale) was around the corner a couple of months back and Hans Grohe Singapore had a deal which we couldn't resist. In the end we bought the faucet minus the washbasin. It was way much cheaper that what we saw in Malaysia. As for the washbasin, guess what, we found an exact replica during the recent HomeDec Exhibition at the KL Convention centre which was going for RM400! The real washbasin by Duravit was 8 times more expensive! Talk about Bargain!

( Replica of Massaud Washbasin bought at HomeDec)

Apart from the above, we also considered the following for our normal bathrooms:-

(The Newly Launched Pura Vida Range from Hans Grohe) .

(The Raindance Series from Hans Grohe)

ToTo Toilets

So what have we decided on? We will keep you posted once the bathrooms are ready for viewing..... :)

A loooong overdue post.........

2010-09-22T23:54:00.000-07:00

Ever since bubba Alicia came along, Jeremy being in pre-school and me being a PTWM, our previously more laid back schedules had to be overhauled and new routines had to be structured to accomodate everyone's needs especially the children which explains why this blog has taken a backseat. Now that Alicia is almost a toddler and Jeremy has become more independent in more ways then one can imagine, I have decided to resurrect this blog given a new exciting project that we have embarked on since the beginning of this year. In a way, it demands a great deal of our time and attention to detail as well as lots of creativity input since we have to "live" with it for a very long time. You will know what I mean when you see the flurry of stuff that I will posting on. So, stay tuned......

The All New BMW 5 Series F10 Launch Party

2010-05-10T01:16:00.000-07:00

Quite frankly, the only reason I went to the launch was to catch a glimpse of the much hyped F10 model which will be replacing the current E60 model , a best seller in Malaysia for the last 5 years - sales of up to 10,000 units is a pretty impressive figure for a luxury sedan and one that is hard to match especially in a country like Malaysia. While I'm not exactly a Beemer enthusiast, I must admit that given the existing models that have been launched since the E36, it is still the Ultimate Driving Machine of which one would certainly derive Sheer Driving Pleasure. My Ultimate Driving Machine would definitely be the E63 or 6 Series Luxury Couple. Nevermind the fact that I could certainly never own one , Brain thinks that it is an impractical vehicle especially for a family with children... unlesss of course you are a DINKie (Double Income No Kids).

The invitation to the launch was actually extended to Brain (being an all time Beemer aficionado) who had to RSVP quickly and confirm whether he would be bringing a guest. Initially, I was hesitant to attend the event as it would be held in the evening and we had to pick the kids up from my parents' place before they get all restless and cranky. In the end of we decided to go but agreed that we had to execute a plan which would see us out of the place by 9pm, latest! Our plan was have a quick peek at the car and then get outta the place for a quick bite before picking up the kids. Unfortunately or fortunately (it really depends on how you look at it) - the plan fell through and we ended up staying on until close to 10pm without having glimpsed the elusive luxury sedan!

The invitation card merely states that the event which was held at the KL Convention Centre will begin at 7.30pm and we took that to be the time when the much awaited F10 will be unveiled to the public since there was no programme mentioned on the card. Instead 7.30pm came and went, we were still hanging around looking at Beemers of yester years and being served cocktails and finger food for more than an hour. Why, you may ask? Because we were curious to know what was behind a translucent screen which was set on one side of the room. Candle silhouettes were flickering on the screen. It appears that the area (which was condorned off from the public ) was dimly lit with lots and lots of tealight candles. I was getting restless and hungry and the crowd was starting to swell as well. The atmosphere at the event reminded me of the social soirees that leaped off the pages in Malaysian Tatler, men and women dressed in their finest and with loads of bling bling! We, on the other hand, looked somewhat dishevelled in our office attire after a hectic day at the office.

At 8.30pm sharp, the screen was lifted and before our eyes were four long tables each with a long row of tealight candles placed in the middle of the tables. Being a fan of Harry Potter, Brain mentioned that it reminded him of the tables displayed in the Great Hall of Hogwarts during Christmas time! It was perplexing to say the least as nothing was mentioned in the invitation card. Maybe the organisers were worried that by the mere mention of the word "dinner" would attract the wrong crowd - all the foodies who are not potentially serious BMW buyers. We took our seats at one end of one table which was placed closest to the stage and before our eyes laid the dinner menu for the night! The five course gourmet meal designed exquisitely by Chef Chris Bauer ( Frangipani Restaurant & Bar - a French restaurant located at Changkat Bukit Bintang) was paired with 5 carefully selected wines. I was just in awe especially since we started off with Oysters and Caviar which was paired with a 2006 Sauvignon Semillion. Brain and I just could not believe our eyes - this has to be the Ultimate Complimentary Fine Dining Experience that we have ever had! Truly unforgettable - the food and the wine was just perfect and was served most promptly by an array of waiters who executed their tasks most efficiently and were very attentive to the needs of the diners I must say! To liven things up, BMW hired a jazz singer to entertain the crowd. By 10pm, we had no choice but to leave the event for the sake of our children. We missed out on the dessert and of course the car which we were told would only make its appearance at 11pm! I must say that BMW Malaysia has done an excellent job to debut the new 5 series by sponsoring a fabulous gourmet meal which must have costed them at least close to 7 figures. The whole event had a luxury feel to it and it made us felt good to be treated to such a nice dinner even though we didn't manage to catch a glimpse of the car at all. Oh well - we will just have pop over to the nearest showroom to have a look at it then.

Blackberry 8310 versus the iPhone 3GS - A user perspective

2009-09-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

Brain just got me my very very belated birthday present last month - a gadget which has taken the world by storm and something that I have been eyeing since last year even though it wasn't made available in the Malaysian market until this year. Yes, it's the super-cool looking iPhone 3GS ( S for Speed). Maxis made me wait for 5 whole weeks before I could get my hands on the smartphone which according to them was attributable to the fact that stocks were low and they did not anticipate the overwhelming response from the public. So what is my take on a phone which currently is used by 27 million people worldwide and made Apple USD3.4 Billion in revenue alone? Go figure!! And if you have a chance, please do read about the current issue of Fortune Magazine which analyses the pros and cons of the current top smartphones in the expanding global market: The Blackberry by RIM (Research in Motion) vs the iPhone by Apple. I'm definitely all for the iPhone. Why - you may ask? I will list down the pros and cons of each of the gadget from a user perspective although Brain may not necessarily agree with me since he is a heavy Blackberry user!

THE BLACKBERRY

Pros
1. Most Important Feature and its "Killer" Application: Uses Push E-mail which can be integrated into an organization's e-mail system through a software package called "BlackBerry Enterprise Server" (BES). Versions of BES are available for Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise. It allows you to read e-mails as they arrive and respond to emergency messages!

2. The keyboard - makes it easy to type notes, e-mails and etc, contrary to the fancy touch-screen keyboard of the iPhone which may take sometime to get used to or Not used to ( for those with bigger fingers and thumbs, it may be a little hard to manouver a touch screen keyboard!)

3. Blackberry Messenger which allows you to sends and receives instant text messages.

4. You can download and launch attachments and excel spreadsheets from your e-mails.

Cons
1. Only useful for Business applications. Does not offer massive portfolio of applications like the iPhone.

2. You can't download songs and play them like the iPhone which has intergrated the iPod within it.

3. Wow Factor - Hardly!

IPHONE

Pros
1. Big on applications - you can go to the Apple Store and download either free or purchase for the applications available from a wide range of categories i.e Entertainment, Lifestyle and etc. Al you need to do is register an Apple ID and voila, you can then do the above! Facebook and Twitter are their top free applications todate! Also, the new iPhone 3GS features the best mobile map software on a cell phone. Use GPS and a built-in compass to find your location and get directions.

2. It has an iPod which allows you to use it like any other iPod or MP3 player.

3. The iPhone camera features 3.2 megapixel autofocus and video recording capabilities, but no flash is present.

4. You can make calls and play music using Voice Control.

5. Wow Factor - Absolutely! The slick looking interface is certainly alluring!

Cons

1. The Touch Screen Keyboard - can take sometime getting used to. If you have big or fat thumbs and fingers like Brain, it could be a challenging manouver!

2. Although it has a Push Mail system, it cannot be intergrated into your organisation's e-mail system unless they use something like Microsoft Exchange.

3. Battery life is relatively short - last for only a day and needs to be constantly recharged. This is especially so if you use multiple applications in a day.

4. You can't purchase or download music from the iTune store as this is still not available in Malaysia.

So there you have it, my personal take on the two smartphones which have not only taken the world by storm but are also crippling Nokia's stronghold over its share of the world market for cellphones! So whose's side am I on AGAIN? The Iphone of course!

A spot of much needed pampering

2009-08-18T21:41:00.000-07:00

I have been having dull body aches and knots since the 2nd trimester and despite the constant rest and a full 8 hour of beauty sleep each night, they did not dissipate over time. I needed something to relax my muscles and release all the stress that my body has been feeling due to the extra load that I'm now carrying. I happened to chance upon the Aveda (pronounced ah-vay-da) Hair & Beauty Spa in Bangsar Village II one Saturday afternoon during one of my weekend window shopping expeditions and decided to see what sort of pampering services were on offer to the FTWM like me. Their services which are tabled in a menu format ranges from skincare treaments, hair treatments, body massages, makeup services as well as manicures and pedicures. The prices are rather reasonable given the duration of the treatment which was perhaps the factor that enticed me to give them a try.

To be honest I do not use any of Aveda products and have been relying on a range of skincare products obtained from pharmacies to maintain my so-called beauty regime. Almost all their products are made from organic ingredients and the corporation supports many green initiatives. So after 5.30pm yesterday, I hopped over to their salon after making prior booking arrangements on the treatments that I would like to try, namely: the Caribbean Therapy Hand Treatment and the Stress Relieving Scalp, Neck & Shoulder Treatment. They even gave me a full manicure for an extra RM10. I did not or to be exact dare not try any of their full body or leg massages as I was told that this is not recommended due to the fact that massaging certain parts of your body or leg could trigger muscle contractions which in turn could induce labour contractions. However, massages on the upper body would be perfectly safe. As for my verdict, the stress relieving scalp,neck and shoulder treatment could have been better - I felt that although the masseuse wasn't really concentrating on the areas of concern her methods did quickly release muscle tension in certain areas around my neck and shoulder joints. After a full 45 to 50 minutes of relaxing massage, it was onto the hand treatment which involved using a special exfoliating paste and a warm seaweed and ginger masque combined with Caribbean massage techniques to smoothen, soften, relax and renew my tired hands. I was walking on cloud nine. It was such fun having someone work on your hands. The beauty therapist then continued to groom my nails and cuticles, giving a nail buff and applying the polish which I have personally chosen. The entire session for the two treatments lasted 2 hours and set me back only RM120. If you ask me, I thought it was good value for the price you have to pay. I've booked for another session next week - so if you would like to give it a try, you know where to look for Aveda.

Outdo and Outdone

2009-07-16T18:44:00.000-07:00

Brain and I got hold of a stack of DVDs to watch over the weekends and we plan on finishing them before the arrival of the stork... I thought it would be a good idea to let you know what I think of them in case anyone is planning to get hold of these movies to watch. Anyhow, for those who subscribe to the movie package under ASTRO, these will definitely be on either HBO, Cinemax and Star Movies one of these days. In fact, one of the them is to be screened later this month on ASTRO. All I can say is that both movies are kinda dorky but with one similar theme, it is about 2 people trying to outdo and outwit each other with hilarious and disastrous results, of course.

What happens in Vegas

This movie stars the comedic duo Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher (Mr Demi Moore) who accidentally meet each other in Vegas in the same hotel room. Due to a glitch in the hotel booking system, they were both checked into the same room with their respective pals. As they voiced their dissatisfaction with the hotel receptionist who was nonetheless apologetic about the entire error, each of them demanded that the error be compensated in various ways - first class tickets or entrance to the best shows and clubs in Vegas as well as upgrades to the hotel's top suites. All these requests were met and before you know it they and their pals were trapezing around Vegas in a stretched limo and taking in all the sights and sounds that the city has to offer. Diaz and Kutcher began to open up to each other about why they were really in Vegas while getting drunk throughout the night at the various clubs in the city. The next morning when Diaz woke up and found herself staring at a garish looking wedding ring on her ring finger, she realised then that in their drunkard state, they must have gotten hitched at some chapel in Vegas! As she went to meet the rest of them for breakfast, she and Ashton decided that clearly it was a mistake and they would apply for an annulment. In the midst of the discussion, Cameron gave Ashton a quarter as he wanted to try his luck at the slot machine in the casino. As fate would have it, the quarter generated a payout of USD3 million dollars. Ashton claimed that these winnings are his because he pulled the lever while Cameron argued that the quarter belonged to her. As Ashton collected his mock cheque, Cameron reminded him they are still married and she is entitled to half of the winnings. The scene then cuts to the court back in California where the duo applied for a divorce and the right to keep half of the winnings. The judge played by Dennis Miller wasn't too pleased by the fact that they are making a mockery of marriage and decreed that they remain married for at least 6 months and attend marriage counselling every week to try to work out their problems. In the meantime, the court freezes the winnings. Cameron moves in with Ashton and both discovered how different they are. Cameron loves making smoothies for breakfast, is very particular about hygiene and cleanliness and works on the trading floor of the stock exchange. She is considered one of the best employees of the firm she works for and is being considered for a promotion. Ashton on the other hand, just got fired from his father's business and lives in a studio apartment which resemble a pigsty. They disagreed on virtually everything and made each other's life miserable. Soon, they start plotting on ways on how to walk away from the marriage sooner rather than later with the winnings. The movie will be shown on ASTRO this month, so please do catch it if you can.

Bride Wars

A chick flick which tells the story of 2 best friends being proposed by their respective beaus and the subsequent planning of their weddings. Kate Hudson plays a tough but successful legal eagle who always get what she wants in life while Anne Hathaway, her best friend since childhood, is a teacher at an elementary school who can't say no to a colleague who is constantly asking her to relieve her of her various duties and commitments in school. Upon their engagement, they began to plan their respective weddings at the Plaza hotel in the summer. They met up with the hugely esteemed and much sought after wedding planner Marion St Claire (played by Candace Bergen) and began booking their wedding dates and the venue i.e the plaza hotel and how they were going to each other's matron of honor at the weddings. After settling the formalities, they went to a Vera Wang boutique to look at some of the wedding gowns. Anne persuaded Kate to get the one that she likes and not to think too much about it. The next thing you know, Marion has asked to two of them to meet her on an urgent basis. Marion broke the bad news to them - her assistant accidentally booked them on the same date and there were no other booking available until 3 years later. As a result of the mishap, the assistant was fired and the two girls decided that one of them must sacrifice of the other. In the meantime, while they think of the options, nobody is make any decision. As they thought about it the entire week, they didn't call each other until Anne got wind that Kate has started choosing her "save the date" cards and thinks that she is moving ahead with the wedding on that date at the Plaza and thus began a slew of actions by each girl to outdo and outwit and not to mention ruin their respective weddings. Brain and I found the movie a bit too tedious and the comedy slight strained. If you like chick flicks, it is still good to watch nonetheless.

Why I started another blog?

2009-07-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

I will try to make this short and sweet.

1. The last time I tried to start another blog I didn't have the time nor the perseverance to maintain another blog. Given the passage of time and how things are going to change with the newest arrival in November, I have decided to give it another shot.

2. My original blog will be solely about our family activities and our children. Thus, I have decided not to overcrowd Pinky's Tots with too many issues and stuff. Brain will continue to be a contributor to this blog as well since I know that he would love to raise a lot of fairly common topical issues faced by our society these days i.e education, hobbies and etc. Whether these will be deemed controversial is another matter *lol*.

3. Although this is not exactly a forum but I would also like to hear the views from the readers especially when I'm indecisive about the matter. I would like to matters to a rest and get on with the programme thus, inputs from readers are certainly welcomed!