(En)Lightened-Up

2 0 1 2 - catching up -

2012-01-04T12:41:00.001+08:00

It's been a while since I've posted..time to play catch up!

The holiday season has come and gone, and there's finally time to take a breath. I feel like new years resolutions never really work out, but it's better to try and fail rather than failing and never trying :) Haha hopefully I can fail better this year!

Most of my resolutions are pretty standard, so here goes!

1. Less Sugar

2. Less Coffee

3. Less Plastic #1 - reducing plastic waste

4. Less Plastic #2 - no credit card purchases

5. Work out

6. Stop biting my nails!

For the last resolution, I've been using a tip I got from Ms. FF, she said to apply nail oil around the cuticles which not only prevents awful finger biting, but also moisturizes your nails.

Love the versatile solutions! Currently using LCN Nail Oil, and it's working beautifully.

Here are some pictures that sum up the last few weeks and a simple recipe at the end. Enjoy!

Pre-Chaos: Max, Maya, Caitlyn & Adelyn

Free for all, come and get it!

Addy & Uncle KR

My Christmas present from Mr. KR! I was hesitant about using a Kindle but now I'm a believer :) He got me Brandwashed: Tricks Companies Use to Manipulate Our Minds and Persuade Us to Buy, such a great read and I'm only on the first chapter still!

My sister got us a this chip making gizmo you use in the microwave, and the lotus chips turned out tasty! Keep scrolling down for a simple lotus root recipe...

Delicious cupcakes from Sift, my fav is the red velvet cupcake.

Party on the tram! Happy birthday Char :)

Holiday snuggle time with Uncle KR

Happy Holidays from Chanel

Kelly's NYE Vodka & Tea Concotion

Chef Caitlyn's Onigiri Creations

Brunch over the holidays:

Lotus Root Hash Brown, Over Easy Eggs, Mini Sausages, Mr. KR's Smoothie, and English Breakfast Tea.

Lotus Root Hash Brown

I love lotus root, and decided to experiment over the break and substituted it for the typical potato hash brown. The root vegetable is rich in fiber, vitamin C & B6, Potassium among many other things! It's really versatile and can be stir-fried, boiled, braised, steamed, deep fried, and it has a lovely crisp but tender texture similar to other starchy veggies like potato or taro.

For another quick and easy stir fry recipe, you can dice up the lotus root, and stir fry it with butter, dried chili flakes, a bit of soy sauce, and pepper! Super easy & deliciously nutritious :)

Ingredients:

1 large section of a lotus root, about 5-7 oz

2 tbsp flour

1 tsp salt & pepper

1 egg

Vegetable oil for pan frying

Optional: Chili powder, Cumin powder to taste

Directions:
Peel & slice the lotus root into match stick sizes, about 1 inch long.

Mix in the flour and seasonings to the lotus root, add in egg and mix thoroughly.

Add and heat the oil so that your fry pan is well-coated. Form small patties about the size of your palm and pan fry for about 3 mins per side till it's golden brown!

The Black Keys - El Camino

2011-12-13T15:30:00.005+08:00

Work is absolutely insane right now, loaded up on coffee, canto milk tea and listening to The Black Keys to get me pumped up and survive this week! Check it out, it's a great album :)

お誕生日おめでとう~~

2011-12-09T16:43:00.001+08:00

So many celebrations and cakes this month! A very happy birthday to our dear Adelyn,we celebrated her 6 months birthday since we missed her 100 day celebration, which is a Chinese tradition :) Caitlyn is a very happy camper with all the yummy cakes..

Also, coming up is Mr. KR's big THREE-OH! We had a lovely family dinner for early celebrations~

Lulu Power's Cauliflower Soup

2011-12-09T16:22:00.001+08:00

I've been so busy lately with work, friends and family visiting, and generally wrapping up the year! Feeling so frazzled and have been making a lot of soup lately, since its so easy and comforting.

I got this reciepe from Lulu Powers, chef & entertainer extraordinaire. It's decadent and simple to make, perfect for lazy weekends!

Cauliflower Soup

1 head cauliflower
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp Tabasco
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)
1 tablespoon truffle oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1 quart low-sodium chicken stock
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
Salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste

Remove the leaves and thick core from the cauliflower, coarsely chop, and reserve.
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat and add the onion and garlic. Cook until softened, but not browned, about 5 minutes.
Add the cauliflowers and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until the cauliflower is very soft and falling apart. About 15 to 18 minutes.
Remove from heat, puree using a hand held immersion blender or puree the soup in small batches in a blender and return it to the pot.
Stir in the cream, Parmesan, truffle oil, honey, allspice and Tabasco.
Season to taste with salt and white pepper.
Garnish with pomegranate seeds, Brussels sprout leaves brushed with olive oil and Stackhouse Bros. Cajun Spice Almonds (available at Santa Monica’s Farmers market)

Miniatur Wunderland

2011-12-09T15:35:00.001+08:00

I have this unshakable obsession with anything miniature, which my dear friend Ms. E could relate to, which is a great relief since it somehow justifies my obsession ;) My large collection of Re-Ment toys is quite disturbing, but it's just so hard to resist when you can get microscopic sushi platters, hello kitty baking kits, japanese bento themed toys..!

To fuel my obsession, my sister sent me a link to Miniatur Wunderland in Germany, the word's largest model railroad! It covers over 12,000 sq ft in Hamburg.. and is slated to be double the size by 2020. Woah!

I've taken a short description from Huffington Post:

With over 890 trains, 300,000 lights, 215,000 trees, over 3,000 buildings and over 200,000 human figurines, Miniatur Wunderland is (on tiny scale) bigger than some major cities. Over 500,000 hours have been spent working on the project, which includes representations of the Harz, Knuffingen (a fake city), Austria, Hamburg, America, Scandinavia, Switzerland, and an Airport, with France, England, parts of Africa, and Italy to come. One day lasts 15 minutes in this fantastical land, as a computerized controls it.

Each of these cities has its own attractions, built in crazily meticulous detail. Knuffingen has fake firemen and policemen, with working engines and sirens. America, while smaller than Hamburg, contains a tiny Las Vegas (which has 30,000 lights), Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Yosemite Park and Cape Canaveral. Over in Scandinavia, the northern Baltic Sea is filled with 33,000 liters of running water, with low and high tide simulated every 30 minutes. A little fleet of 25 ships (soon to be operated on autopilot) float on its surface. Switzerland has a chocolate plant, and an open-air concert with 20,000 concert-goers.

You need to watch the video below.. the miniature world is truly comprehensive, it even includes a red light district and a CSI crime scene among many other things!

B a n a n a s

2011-11-30T11:54:00.001+08:00

For our wedding favors, we wanted to add a personal touch by giving a practical yet meaningful gift. We decided upon pot mats and a recipe book to reflect our love for cooking! Our friend Yoko Furusho created a beautiful illustration in lieu of the Japan disaster earlier this year, and she was kind enough to let us use it for the design and we found a vendor in China to produce the sturdy pot mats! Definitely one of the aspects I love about living in China - everything is so convenient and cheap to get made!

We each put our favourite recipe into the booklet, and I wanted to share Mr. KR's famous banana bread recipe below:

Karim's Banana Bread:

Ingredients:

2 cups (280g) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (133g, hf stick) butter

3/4 (170g) cup brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

1/4 teaspoon of Vanilla essence

1 teaspoon of Cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F 175 degrees C (160 degrees C for stand alone oven without fan) Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture, vanilla, and cinnamon into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Possible extras:

Apple sauce (instead of butter!)

Walnuts

Raisins

Enjoying Life

2011-11-28T14:57:00.001+08:00

Mr. KR sent me this article today. Take a minute to read it... really touching.

This is by Michael Gartner, editor of newspapers large and small and president of NBC News. In 1997, he won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.

My father never drove a car. Well, that's not quite right. I should say I never saw him drive a car.

He quit driving in 1927, when he was 25 years old, and the last car he drove was a 1926 Whippet.

"In those days," he told me when he was in his 90s, "to drive a car you had to do things with your hands, and do things with your feet, and look every which way, and I decided you could walk through life and enjoy it or drive through life and miss it."

At which point my mother, a sometimes salty Irishwoman, chimed in: "Oh, bullshit!" she said. "He hit a horse."

"Well," my father said, "there was that, too."

So my brother and I grew up in a household without a car. The neighbors all had cars -- the Kollingses next door had a green 1941 Dodge, the VanLaninghams across the street a gray 1936 Plymouth, the Hopsons two doors down a black 1941 Ford -- but we had none.

My father, a newspaperman in Des Moines , would take the streetcar to work and, often as not, walk the 3 miles home. If he took the streetcar home, my mother and brother and I would walk the three blocks to the streetcar stop, meet him and walk home together.

My brother, David, was born in 1935, and I was born in 1938, and sometimes, at dinner, we'd ask how come all the neighbors had cars but we had none. "No one in the family drives," my mother would explain, and that was that.

But, sometimes, my father would say, "But as soon as one of you boys turns 16, we'll get one." It was as if he wasn't sure which one of us would turn 16 first.

But, sure enough, my brother turned 16 before I did, so in 1951 my parents bought a used 1950 Chevrolet from a friend who ran the parts department at a Chevy dealership downtown.

It was a four-door, white model, stick shift, fender skirts, loaded with everything, and, since my parents didn't drive, it more or less became my brother's car.

Having a car but not being able to drive didn't bother my father, but it didn't make sense to my mother.

So in 1952, when she was 43 years old, she asked a friend to teach her to drive. She learned in a nearby cemetery, the place where I learned to drive the following year and where, a generation later, I took my two sons to practice driving. The cemetery probably was my father's idea. "Who can your mother hurt in the cemetery?" I remember him saying more than once.

For the next 45 years or so, until she was 90, my mother was the driver in the family. Neither she nor my father had any sense of direction, but he loaded up on maps -- though they seldom left the city limits -- and appointed himself navigator. It seemed to work.

Still, they both continued to walk a lot. My mother was a devout Catholic, and my father an equally devout agnostic, an arrangement that didn't seem to bother either of them through their 75 years of marriage.

(Yes, 75 years, and they were deeply in love the entire time.)

He retired when he was 70, and nearly every morning for the next 20 years or so, he would walk with her the mile to St. Augustin's Church. She would walk down and sit in the front pew, and he would wait in the back until he saw which of the parish's two priests was on duty that morning. If it was the pastor, my father then would go out and take a 2-mile walk, meeting my mother at the end of the service and walking her home.

If it was the assistant pastor, he'd take just a 1-mile walk and then head back to the church. He called the priests "Father Fast" and "Father Slow."

After he retired, my father almost always accompanied my mother whenever she drove anywhere, even if he had no reason to go along. If she were going to the beauty parlor, he'd sit in the car and read, or go take a stroll or, if it was summer, have her keep the engine running so he could listen to the Cubs game on the radio. In the evening, then, when I'd stop by, he'd explain: "The Cubs lost again. The millionaire on second base made a bad throw to the millionaire on first base, so the multimillionaire on third base scored."

If she were going to the grocery store, he would go along to carry the bags out -- and to make sure she loaded up on ice cream. As I said, he was always the navigator, and once, when he was 95 and she was 88 and still driving, he said to me, "Do you want to know the secret of a long life?"

"I guess so," I said, knowing it probably would be something bizarre.

"No left turns," he said.

"What?" I asked.

"No left turns," he repeated. "Several years ago, your mother and I read an article that said most accidents that old people are in happen when they turn left in front of oncoming traffic.

As you get older, your eyesight worsens, and you can lose your depth perception, it said. So your mother and I decided never again to make a left turn."

"What?" I said again.

"No left turns," he said. "Think about it. Three rights are the same as a left, and that's a lot safer. So we always make three rights."

"You're kidding!" I said, and I turned to my mother for support.

"No," she said, "your father is right. We make three rights. It works."

But then she added: "Except when your father loses count."

I was driving at the time, and I almost drove off the road as I started laughing.

"Loses count?" I asked.

"Yes," my father admitted, "that sometimes happens. But it's not a problem. You just make seven rights, and you're okay again."

I couldn't resist. "Do you ever go for 11?" I asked.

"No," he said " If we miss it at seven, we just come home and call it a bad day. Besides, nothing in life is so important it can't be put off another day or another week."

My mother was never in an accident, but one evening she handed me her car keys and said she had decided to quit driving. That was in 1999, when she was 90.

She lived four more years, until 2003. My father died the next year, at 102.

They both died in the bungalow they had moved into in 1937 and bought a few years later for $3,000. (Sixty years later, my brother and I paid $8,000 to have a shower put in the tiny bathroom -- the house had never had one. My father would have died then and there if he knew the shower cost nearly three times what he paid for the house.)

He continued to walk daily -- he had me get him a treadmill when he was 101 because he was afraid he'd fall on the icy sidewalks but wanted to keep exercising -- and he was of sound mind and sound body until the moment he died.

One September afternoon in 2004, he and my son went with me when I had to give a talk in a neighboring town, and it was clear to all three of us that he was wearing out, though we had the usual wide-ranging conversation about politics and newspapers and things in the news.

A few weeks earlier, he had told my son, "You know, Mike, the first hundred years are a lot easier than the second hundred." At one point in our drive that Saturday, he said, "You know, I'm probably not going to live much longer."

"You're probably right," I said.

"Why would you say that?" He countered, somewhat irritated.

"Because you're 102 years old," I said..

"Yes," he said, "you're right." He stayed in bed all the next day.

That night, I suggested to my son and daughter that we sit up with him through the night.

He appreciated it, he said, though at one point, apparently seeing us look gloomy, he said: "I would like to make an announcement. No one in this room is dead yet."

An hour or so later, he spoke his last words:

"I want you to know," he said, clearly and lucidly, "that I am in no pain. I am very comfortable. And I have had as happy a life as anyone on this earth could ever have."

A short time later, he died.

I miss him a lot, and I think about him a lot. I've wondered now and then how it was that my family and I were so lucky that he lived so long.

I can't figure out if it was because he walked through life, or because he quit taking left turns.

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.

So love the people who treat you right.

Forget about the one's who don't.

Believe everything happens for a reason.

If you get a chance, take it; and if it changes your life, let it.

Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it."

Enjoy life - it has an expiration date.

ACV: Miracle Acne Treatment?

2011-11-25T16:49:00.001+08:00

My dear friend Mrs. C recommended this natural acne treatment using Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) after it's worked wonders on her! I did a bit of research and planning to try it tonight. She's so happy with the results that she is going to also try the other route of drinking small doses of ACV. The claims are it helps with digestion as well as gives your skin a rosy glow..!

ACV has been used as a folk remedy for centuries, and as an alternative medicine, it's claimed to treat a number of diseases and health conditions. Aside from being packed with minerals and vitamins A, C, E and B, below are some examples of what it claims it can help cure:

Acne
Allergies
Arthritis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Diabetes
Dandruff
Flu
Gout
Heartburn
High Cholesterol
Sore Throat

People also use it for weight loss as well and you can also buy it in pill forms as well. From the studies that have been conducted, there are preliminary findings that ACV may benefit diabetics, decrease blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as show weight loss as the acetic acid may help the build up of body fat and certain liver fats. If you want to know more about the weight loss studies, here is a helpful link.

I don't think I will start drinking ACV yet, as I want to first try out the home remedies particularly for spots!

On top of all this, you can also use this natural remedy on pets such as cats, dogs and horses as well! According to Earth Clinic, it aids with arthritic conditions, controls fleas & barn flies, and gives your furry pets a shiny coat. I've taken the recipes from their website below. Hope it helps!

Apple Cider Vinegar Acne Treatment

To use it as a topical treatment follow these steps:

Dilute 1 part A.C.V. to 3 or 4 parts water
Using a clean cotton ball, pat the solution onto the skin. Leave it on the skin for about 10
minutes
Repeat the above process 2-3 times a day until the acne clears up

For stubborn acne, this solution may need to be left on overnight and rinsed off in the morning. Don't apply vinegar directly onto your skin as it may cause burns and scarring.

Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

(For daily maintenance, weight loss and pH balancing)

2 teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar
16 ounces of water
Sip, don't chug!

We suggest 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in 16 ounces of water that you'll sip throughout the day, rather than drinking the whole concoction at once 3 times a day. You will be keeping your pH in a constant, alkalized state by sipping this highly diluted dosage. Usually 1-2 tall glasses of the concoction are all you'll need each day.

If you drink a lot of water throughout the day, consider adding just a splash of apple cider vinegar to your glass/container each time you fill it up, rather than drinking the one, 16 oz glass of acv and water mentioned above.

Happy Thanxgiving + Carrot Ginger Coconut Cream Soup Recipe

2011-11-24T15:02:00.001+08:00

via

I'm so looking forward to the thanksgiving gathering at Mrs. H's tonight!! We made 2 huge pots of my carrot ginger coconut cream soup... Originally I wanted to order pies from Tai Tai Pies, but ah i tried to order too late. boohoo!

Anyways, in a last minute scramble I decided to make the soup and it worked out since it's bright orange and so festive :) The soup is really creamy, but without dairy so it's perfect for the vegans in your life as well! It freezes well and for up to 6 months since there is no meat in it.

Honestly, this soup is quite possibly the easiest soup ever, and you should invest in an immersion blender if you don't have it already, it is seriously such an awesome and must-have kitchen tool! It's really affordable and I got mine for under HK$400. It comes with different attachments for processing food and a whisk as well. It's also great to use for other recipes such as guacamole dips!

Carrot Ginger Coconut Cream Soup

Ingredients:

· 2-3 large carrots, chopped

· 1 onion, chopped

· Few cloves of garlic, chopped

· 2 inch piece of fresh ginger, chopped

· 1 1/2 tsp paprika powder

· 1 3/4 cup vegetable broth

· 1 can of coconut milk

· sea salt & pepper, to taste

Preparation:

Heat some oil in the pot and pan-fry the garlic, ginger and onion. Add in the carrots and stir fry for a few minutes. If you like your soup to have a kick, add more ginger!

Add the broth and coconut milk and simmer for 20-25 minutes, until carrots are soft. The broth should just cover the vegetables. If you like a lighter soup consistency, add more broth.

Using an immersion blender, blend the soup in the pot until it is all mixed.

Season generously with paprika, sea salt and pepper to taste.

This soup can be served hot or cold!

It's getting a little nippy...

2011-11-24T14:36:00.001+08:00

As the weather is getting a tad bit colder I wanted to share a lovely scarf tutorial video that Ms. A sent to me! Some of them are quite basic, but I really like the creativity of the editing :)

Despite loving the mild winter of HK (currently still 20-23C), I'm itching to wear my furry boots!! But then I remind myself of the death defying cold months I endured in NYC and Shanghai... and it makes me so grateful for the coat-less winter I have here hehe hope everyone is keeping toasty~

DIY: Chevron Patterned Nails

2011-11-24T10:49:00.001+08:00

Looks a bit complicated, but the result is so chic!

Check out the tutorial over at Shrimp Salad Circus

Review: Clarisonic Mia

2011-11-23T11:04:00.001+08:00

I finally jumped on the clarisonic band wagon after hearing about it for years...!! I bought the Mia which is the travel-friendly version and have been using it for about a week now. My skin has cleared up and I actually really look forward to washing my face :)

I love using my electric toothbrush so it seems like a no brainer to use an electric face washer right? You feel sooo clean and it's hard to go back to the traditional way of washing your face after using it!

Here are some of the benefits:

- Removes makeup six times better than traditional methods.
- Clears pores and reduces the appearance of pore size.
- Cleanses so thoroughly that skincare products absorb better.
- Creates noticeably healthier looking skin.

I love the leopard print one pictured above, but I ended up getting the turquoise one off of Taobao. For those of you unfamiliar with Taobao.. it is an online shopping platform similar to eBay but with an AMAZING selection... seriously you can find anything on it. My friend has even bought organic chicken and shanghai hairy crabs on it!!! I'll write more about my obsession with taobao in another post and share some tips ;) I got the mini cleanser for HK$877 which is slightly lower than Sephora. Also, i did a quick price check and the Clarisonic PRO version is sold on Taobao for HK$1420, compared to $2100 at Lane Crawford.

It's a mini splurge but so worth it.

Results from Round 2 - Liver & Gallstone Cleanse

2011-11-14T15:52:00.001+08:00

via

Just finished my second round of the cleanse over the weekend! This time was a bit stressful since I started to get sick during the middle of the week and you can't take medication during the cleanse... I decided to just power through and convince myself that I wasn't sick and that it was merely "allergies" hahaha mind over matter right?

Anyways, it worked and survived drinking the potions as well as the 1 day of fasting. Seriously, I was so hungry that as soon as I was able to eat, I inhaled a bowl of miso soup!! The results this time were so-so though. No stones! But I definitely feel like I got rid of toxins, feel more energetic and overall lost 1KG.

My friend Ms. J decided to move up the cleanse by one day since the original days didn't fit into her weekend schedule so it was one day shorter than planned. Basically I've been doing the 7 day cleanse cuz that is the most effective, but I've read about people who do the short cut route, in which they don't do the 5 days preparation of eating vegan & apple juice and go straight into the cleanse day routine. If you want maximum results you should just follow it all the way though!

Ms. J called me up on Saturday after her cleanse to tell me "BABE, I'M A BELIEVER!!" The biggest stone she got rid of was the size of a 50cent, and overall her feedback is that she is much more aware of she eats now and heightened sense of clarity. She also dropped down to her ideal weight and will continue with colonic sessions since it really helps with her indigestion problems.

I would say that Ms. J was the person I was most worried about since she has a *long* history of gastrointestinal problems, and I honestly didn't expect her to see any stones the first round! I was especially worried on Friday night, after she drank her grapefruit & olive oil juice, she woke up from extreme nausea and acid reflux around 2AM. Luckily I was awake when she texted me so I could tell her what the book said and make her at ease. According to the author it's really common for people who have clogged up intestines, and if you do vomit the potion, it will not have the full results. I told her to just lie down more elevated and to try to hold it down if she could and she did it! So proud of her!

Her persistence and dedication definitely paid off and I'm sure the 6 colonic sessions prior to the cleanse also played a major part in getting rid of stones.

Unfortunately my other friend Ms. D wasn't able to complete the cleanse this time as her work schedule was insane, and the combination of crazy work hours and stress snowballed into getting sick on Friday. It's a pity since she was so close to completion but I really have to stress that if you are planning on doing this cleanse, don't do it when you are sick. It takes a lot of energy out you as you are getting rid of toxins and everyone has different reactions to it. Some people might feel fine after the cleanse, and some others might feel like they are getting flu-like symptoms.

Going for my post-cleanse colonic session later tonight! I started doing the coffee enema, which you pay an extra $20 for, and I have to say it is really amazing in getting rid of even more junk in your body.. and I get a crazy caffeine high from it as well hahaha which is great since I can't drink coffee in the first place due to acid reflux, but i love the buzz from it. I did one last friday... when I got home and was cleaning and organizing like a mad woman!! So I'm anticipating being super efficient tonight, and will FINALLY post up the wedding pictures hehe.

For the next cleanse, I'm going to go for Round 3 in Feb, after the holiday season!!

Review: B.Liv by Cellnique - Off With Those Heads!

2011-11-08T11:44:00.001+08:00

I've been searching for a solution for black/whiteheads FOREVER. I'm not even exaggerating when I'm saying it, I've tried literally everything under the sun, and a month ago I stopped by Sasa and randomly picked up a B.Liv's Off With Those Heads sebum gel.

I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical at first since I totally judge by the packaging. It looks like teeny bopper skincare, but I did my research and decided to give it a shot. Cellnique is a Singaporean company, but they market the product as made in the USA and with 2 weeks money back guarantee. It was around HK$350 for the bottle.

Essentially, the gel helps to soften the clogging blocking your pores, and allows effortless extraction. It also keeps oily skin under check and over time you'll definitely see your white & blackheads reduced dramatically.

My problem area is definitely my T-zone as well as my chin. I'm not going to post up pictures, but for those of you who wants to see before & after pics, you can check out this person's testimonial here. Essentially I applied it morning and night after washing my face, you pump 2-3 pea-sized drops of the transparent runny gel onto your fingers and apply it onto the problem areas. You get a cool tingly sensation from the peppermint oil and it pretty much dries matte.

Within the first week or so, I could already notice that it was so much easier to do the extractions! I also picked up a bottle of Shrink & Tighten gel from the same company, and have been applying that as well to get rid of big pores... so far I feel as though it's gotten smaller, but I want to try for a few weeks more before recommending it :) The black & whitehead gel is definitely working so give it a try if you want to get rid of unsightly bumps!

Food Porn - Day 1

2011-11-07T11:20:00.000+08:00

First day of cleanse!

Didn't really get off on a good start today, I got to yoga 5 mins late and my spot was taken.. GRR! Anyways, it's karma for always being tardy and it worked out perfectly since I got to stop by threesixty to stock up on AJ. I got a really cute brand called Eager cloudy pressed apple juice for only $20.5 each! Love a good deal and it's pretty tart & tasty.

My lovely sister sent me a link today to Tai Tai Pies, looks so delicious and I've been staring at it all morning. They have a plethora of goodies.. from sweet to savory pies, quiches, chocolate cakes, carrot cakes, coconut cheesecakes and cookies to top it all off... my gosh where to start!

I'm definitely ordering one next week as a treat.. I'm eyeing up the Wholly Heaves Pecan Pie bites (48 pcs for $550)...and the Spinach Pignoli Nut Quiche or Asparagus Cheddary Quiche... and the Pizza Rustiscrumptious sounds so interesting, made up of prosciutto, mozzarella, ricotta, parmesean, sausage, mortadella and provolone... sinfully delicious :) Depending on what you get, for a 9" pie its around $375 - $700. Love how the chef's name is Chef RJ aka The Ultimate Pie Guy. I already feel like we're kindred spirits haha

With Thanksgiving coming up, it'll be perfect to bring to a pot luck... also look at the cute birthday pie they did below!

interestingly enough you'd think that looking at all the delicious pies will make me cranky and hungry, but I'm not hungry at all! The apple juice is so filling...

Liver & Gallstone Cleanse - Round 2

2011-11-06T21:32:00.000+08:00

Can't believe 3 weeks has passed since the cleanse! Felt great at the start, but a combination of long journeys, lack of sleep and pms in the past few weeks has made me cranky and gluttonous. Despite feeling a bit nervous since Mr. KR isn't here this time around, I got a small group of people who are going to try it with me so I think it'll help me motivate :) I'm so ready to get off my lazy ass and feel healthy again.

I wanted to share another simple cleanse as well, which is the Bentonite & Psyllium Bowel Cleanse. It's super easy and you just mix 1 Tbsp of the liquid Bentonite Clay and 1 Tbsp of Psyllium Husk powder into a glass of water. It'll look like watery oatmeal and tastes like flavorless oatmeal. Drink it quickly before it turns into a congealed mess.

The oatmeal potion basically scrapes the inside of your intestines gently, to remove the build up. I try to drink this once a week, since if you have waste build up in your colon, toxins will get recycled back into your body. Once your bowel is clean again, your body will be able to absorb nutrients :)

Interesting fact I found.. apparently 90% of the body's supply of seratonin (happy juice) is created in the gastrointestinal tract... so if you clean out the toxins and years of gunk out of that tract, you'll be able to synthesize seratonin more efficiently!

If you're interested in the cleanse as well, here are all the previous posts on the cleanse :)

In the mood for pumpkin pie...

2011-11-02T17:18:00.005+08:00

Ok, so I had an epic fail moment over the weekend when I tried to make the Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies... I made such an amateur mistake, I screwed up and didn't convert the Fahrenheit to Celsius!! I was totally wallowing in my burnt misery, even Mr. KR couldn't cheer me up. On a positive note, at least the non-burnt part was amazing... so I will go for a Round 2 this weekend ;)

I love it when it's fall (especially now in HK where it's cooling down) and all the flavors that come with it! My roomie in college used to always make apple crisps and pumpkin pie during this time of year - I'm actually drooling thinking about it.

Saw this adorably festive pie crust cutter on Williams-Sonoma, I know - absolutely useless, but I have an affinity towards useless miniature trinkets and miniature elderly folks (I just want to put them in my pocket when I see them). So tempted to get it...! Now it's got me thinking about turkey and thanksgiving...

On a side note, I'm starting Round 2 of Liver/Gallstone Cleanse on Monday with some buddies! I rounded up 4 girls to do it with me :) Sad that Mr. KR won't be joining us as he's away, and a wee bit sad that I have to prepare the potions myself! I'm really stoked about the next round and it's one step closer to having a cleaned out system...

What I'm Making This Weekend

2011-10-28T17:21:00.003+08:00

Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies from the Momofuku Milk Bar Recipe book...!!

Doesn't it look divine and gooey? I got the recipe from my Daily Candy.. totally inspired and can't wait to make it! I'll post up the pics after it's baked...Such a busy weekend ahead, have my two BFF's in town!

Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
Makes fifteen to twenty

Ingredients
16 tbsp. (2 sticks) room-temperature butter
1¼ c. granulated sugar
2/3 c. light brown sugar, tightly packed
1 egg
½ tsp. vanilla extract
1½ c. flour
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
1½ tsp. kosher salt
3 c. Cornflake Crunch (Scroll down for recipe)
2/3 c. mini chocolate chips
1¼ c. mini marshmallows

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and sugars; cream together on medium-high 2-3 minutes. With a spatula, scrape down sides of bowl, then add egg and vanilla and beat 7-8 minutes.

2. Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking powder and soda, and salt. Mix just until dough comes together, no longer than 1 minute. (Do not walk away from the machine during this step or risk overmixing.) Scrape down sides of bowl.

3. Still on low speed, paddle in cornflakes and chips until just incorporated, about 30-45 seconds. Paddle in marshmallows.

4. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Using a 2-oz. ice cream scoop, portion 1/3 c. dough at a time onto pan. Pat tops of dough domes flat. Wrap pan tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 1 week. (Do not bake room-temperature disks — they will not hold their shape.)

5. Heat oven to 375°. On a parchment- or Silpat-lined sheet pan, arrange chilled disks a minimum of 4 inches apart. Bake 18 minutes, until cookies are browned on edges and just beginning to brown toward the center. Cookies will puff, crackle, and spread. Leave them in oven for another minute or so if they still seem pale and doughy on the surface.

6. Cool cookies completely on pan before moving them to a plate or an airtight container for storage. At room temperature, cookies will keep fresh for 5 days; in the freezer, they will keep for 1 month.

Cornflake Crunch
Yields about four cups

Ingredients
5 c. cornflakes
½ c. milk powder
3 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. kosher salt
9 tbsp. butter, melted

1. Heat oven to 275°.

2. In a medium bowl, with your hands, crush cornflakes to ¼ of their original size. Add milk powder, sugar, and salt; toss to mix. Add butter; toss to coat. (As you toss, the butter will act as glue, binding the dry ingredients to the cereal, creating small clusters.)

3. On a parchment- or Silpat-lined sheet pan, spread clusters and bake for 20 minutes, at which point they should look toasted, smell buttery, and crunch gently when cooled slightly and chewed.

4. Cool the cornflake crunch completely before storing or using in a recipe. Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, the crunch will keep fresh for one week; in the fridge or freezer, it will keep with one month.

Momofuku Milk Bar is available online at amazon.com, $20. For more information, go to momofukustore.com or tosiontour.com.

Halloween Inspirations

2011-10-26T11:32:00.001+08:00

Stumbled across some Halloween inspiration from Mr. KR while we were in Ireland...

~~Gangsta!~~ Mr. KR made me take off the picture :(

fuzzy caveman

perhaps a cute candy cane?

A sea lion trainer?

And in the spirit of blood & guts, I couldn't resist!

Loving this carafe from Cuore

An Irish Egyptian Wedding

2011-10-26T10:35:00.001+08:00

Just got back from my sis in law's beautiful wedding in Ireland! It was an epic 2.5 day trip, and I'm still reeling from it all.. Got to meet all the extended Irish & Egyptian family, everyone was so incredibly lovely, I can't wait to see them all again. Samia & Fionn are so perfect for each other and truly a match made in heaven. I love the fact that they've known each other since they were wee little kids, so sweet! :)

Despite the awful route we took to get there, I was so happy to see my grandma Lao Lao during our SH layover. She's looking pretty incredible for 88 yrs young!

Still feeling a bit wrecked and delirious... but it was so worth it!

Post-cleanse: observations

2011-10-22T16:22:00.000+08:00

A week has almost passed since the cleanse, and I wanted to share some observations:

Heightened mood. The biggest impact on me from my first cleanse was that I feel less angry, and could rise above things that normally irks me in ways I can't let go.
Increased clarity and concentration. I noticed that I was more efficient at work and could focus with more ease, when I'm usally a bit ADD and get side tracked easily. Since I took off a few days to attend my sis-in-law's wedding, I had to cram and complete all the work in 3 days. A bit stressful, but no angry emotions.
Weight loss. After my weight stabilized, I lost 2KG in total from the first cleanse.
Improved eating habits. Along with my mood, this is an area that has changed dramatically for me. Ms. C and I both noticed how our appetites have shrunk as a result of the cleanse and we've begun to eat much healthier. I mean... literally seeing all the years of crap you accumulate in your body will make you think twice before eating junk again. I know that a lot of people are interested in doing this for weight loss purposes, and it's definitely different from traditional diets in the sense that the cleanse helps you understand how your body works and how to optimize the performance of it. A big factor for me at least is that I don't like to feel restricted (as my sister would say it's called Youngest Child Syndrome) so the learning process helped me to make smarter choices in what I do to my body.

I'm going to do the cleanse again next month, I got 5 friends who are going to do it as well so it should be fun and I definitely need the support system since Mr. KR is not available to join! I want to try to do this cleanse at least 3 times... to be continued..!

Solar Power Sunnies

2011-10-18T11:12:00.002+08:00

How gorgeous are these sunnies? I absolutely love Stella McCartney and her eco brand principle. The new eco-friendly sunglasses line will be launched in spring, and comprised of more than 50% natural & renewable materials.

Via WWD:
The collection, which features three acetate models and two metal models, features bio-injected plastic, which is made from 54 percent castor oil seeds, a renewable resource that helps limit petroleum use with the seeds grown using little water and pesticides. The other eco element is a new acetate plastic — also made of 54 percent natural sources — with a formula that combines cellulose with “natural plasticizers” that are derived from citric acid. The collection is produced through a license with Luxottica.

So eco-chic! Can't wait to get my hands on a pair since I just lost TWO sunglasses...

Post-cleanse

2011-10-17T13:27:00.000+08:00

via I Love Dust

I stumbled across this crazy animation created by a graphic design company called I Love Dust. It's a collaboration between MTV & 55DSL and i thought it was soooo fitting, this is totally how i imagine the toxins in my body hanging out!! Check out the video below.

So far, I have two friends who are convinced to try the cleanse with me next month, so excited! I feel really clear minded and in a great mood today, feeling the effects of the cleanse :) It definitely takes commitment, but it's only for one week... no pain no gain right?

The main question that people have is about the colonic, and I totally understand the hesitation from it but it's highly recommended since there is a chance the gallstone may get stuck in the bile ducts. My thoughts are if you're going to do the cleanse, you should do it right so you can optimize the results! I used to be really scared too, but once I did it, I don't even know what I was scared for haha.

So the reason why i did the colonic in the middle of the cleanse was cuz its my first time to do the cleanse, and they also recommend for you to do an enema DIY at home during that night when you're drinking the potions. We didn't want to do it at home, so we opted to do it the night before at the hydrotherapy center.

After that I think its fine just to do it twice - once before and once after the cleanse to help clean out your system and minimize the risk of getting stones stuck in your bile ducts! We're going to do our post-cleanse colonic tomorrow (even though its recommended to do it the day after, but since we have scheduling conflicts, oh well!)

One of my friends who's going to do the cleanse is starting one or two colonic sessions now, a few weeks before the actual liver/gallstone cleanse since she feels like it will be more effective to start cleaning out her system.

Regarding where to get it done in Hong Kong, we went to this hippie colonic centre called Natural Healing in CWB which is a health centre, and its $400/session, but less with a package. There's also a great health food store next door, and the prices are really reasonable! The one my friend went to is called Zenana in TST. That one's more of a spa, and with the 5 time package, its about $400-450/session.

Both places are recommended, and the staff are really friendly and professional. They'll let you into your private room, and give you some time to undress and put on the hospital gown. They'll also give you instructions on how to lay down and lower your butt onto the disposable tube.

There's a call button right next to you as well, so you can holler if you need any help. Once the machine gets started, they massage your belly, and the key is not to be embarrassed that you're crapping and/or farting in front of somebody!! They've seen it all haha. The hydrotherapist comes in and out of your room, and will massage your belly and also the pressure points on your legs to help things move along. It'll take about 30-45 mins for the session and after that they''ll give you a supplement, which is to re-introduce the good bacteria into your body. They'll also give you time to go to the bathroom before and after the session, and that's pretty much it!

MTV Sight from ilovedust on Vimeo

day 7 - the outcome

2011-10-16T13:20:00.002+08:00

Woohoo! We just completed the cleanse and are feeling great. Sure you have to go to the bathroom 10+ times, but like the author says, it's just one day compared to having to surgically remove the gallstones and recovering for weeks. It might seem complicated, but it's a pretty simple maintenance procedure compared to waiting till you get an illness and taking a lifetime of medication.

More than anything, it's amazing to understand how your body functions and preforms. I became really conscious of what I was putting into my body, and how it affects it. At the end, Mr. KR & I both lost 3KG, and it's half from the colonic.

We had a smoothie to slowly start eating again 2 hours after the last serving of epsom salt water. I made some hearty veggie soup yesterday, and we just had a small bowl of it. Fasting for a day makes you appreciate yummy & nutritious food so much more :) Overall, even though the day of cleanse/fasting is not very pleasant, there's so many health benefits so it's totally worth it... I'll try again next month.

Hearty Japanese Veggie Soup

2011-10-16T12:59:00.001+08:00

Perfect for the upcoming chilly months, I love making this hearty soup, which can easily be tailored for meat-lovers as well :) The recipe I put down below is the carnivore version, feel free to omit it if you want! Depending on what I have in the kitchen, I tweak the recipe from time to time, such as using dried mushrooms re-hydrated instead of fresh shrooms.

Dashi, mirin, soy sauce & sugar are the core ingredients used throughout Japanese cooking in different proportions. You can use these in different combinations to get udon soup, tempura sauce, teriyaki sauce and lots more.

I made this soup yesterday to keep myself busy during the day of fast, and also because by leaving it overnight, the flavors are really absorbed into the veggies!

Hearty Japanese Veggie Soup

Serves 4 as first course, or 2 as main course

Ingredients:

[6 slices of thick cut bacon, cut into 2 inch pieces - For the meat lovers]
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 small russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
6 inch piece of daikon (japanese white radish) peeled, halved lengthwise, and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick half moons. OR 10 red radishes, trimmed and cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 carrot peeled & cut in half lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick half moons
1 parsnip peeled cut in half lengthwise and then cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick half moons
5 or 6 fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps sliced 1/4 inch thick
3 cups of water
1 tbsp dashi powder (a traditional japanese stock base)
1/4 cup soy sauce, and more as needed
2 1/2 tbsp Mirin (sweet cooking sake, a common base for japanese cooking)
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 block of tofu, any kind soft or firm
salt (optional)
2 tbsp minced green scallions
Shichimi Togarashi (Japanese spice mix) for garnish and flavor

[In a frying pan, fry the bacon over medium high heat until some of the fat starts to render but the bacon does not start to crisp, about 4 mins. using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to stockpot or large sauce pan and discard the bacon fat.]

Add canola oil to pot, and place over medium high heat. When the oil is hot, add the potatoes, daikon, carrot, parsnip, and mushrooms and cook, for about 2 mins, stirring often.

Add water, dashi powder, 1/4 cup soy sauce, mirin, and sugar and stir well, the liquid should cover the veggies. Bring to a rapid simmer and reduce the heat to medium low. Add tofu chunks. Continue cooking uncovered until veggies are soft, 30-40 min.

If too much liquid seems to be evaporating before the vegetables are ready, cover the pot. You can always replenish the water and add more of the soy sauce, mirin and sugar for more flavor.

Ladle into bowls and garnish with scallion and shichimi togarashi.