Yay!!!

Have a good weekend everyone!!! And thanks to ladyN for the good idea ;)

The pictures looks different from my usual right? :( not my camera.

Tall, taller...

Haiyo...

I was story-ing about my step class and how thrilled I was being able to managed the full advance turn and all you picked up was my short by-the-way type of sentence at the end of my blog last night. Sounds like "guys" is a good topic for the blog. Haha...

Okay, here goes...

I lately realize that there's this guy that is so very likable. Character wise, a gentleman, well spoken, well mannered, patient, generous, considerate, kind, has the "correct" sense of humour (the type who will laugh WITH you and not AT you), doesn't drink, smoke or swear.

In terms of background, older than me, well educated, tech savvy, know Chinese, has own house, has car, impressive job title, stable income (one that is enough to pay for all my meals at least), workout regularly... sounds ok so far?

Looks... not drop dead gorgeous but can pass for be quite charming, not one with the best hair style but has the potential to have one, very well dress (most of the time - and not too much into brands), no V-shape body but quite fit, nice voice (eh, this is not under looks hor).

Yes, I know, I'm leaving out some important details here right?

Okay, NOT married, NO steady girlfriend, NOT "happy" (you know what I mean when I say "happy" right?)

Good news right? Haha...

It's just me... he has little habits which might irritate me. Okay, no one is perfect and habits can be gotten rid of.

But... I'm not sure if I will feel somehow uneasy and uncomfortable - because I'm taller then him - IF I'm going out with him. (and you know what I mean when I say "going out" right?)

Anyways, he's so very likable right? Haha...

Full Turn

I didn't go gym on Monday...

I used to not miss any class when I first joined the gym. Could be because I was really desperate to lose some weights, or FI's classes were really so addictive. Carebear wasn't teaching on Monday, and I was assured that the replacement instructor would be a good one that I made up my mind (then) to join the class. But, come Monday, worked slightly late and no Carebear, BC didn't give me enough pull factor to go to gym.

So, on Tuesday, I'd no choice but to stay firm with my gym plan since I had missed a day of workout but not missed any a chance to feast earlier the day. Besides, step classes are addictive. Glad I didn't miss going to gym, managed to catch up briefly with MB and a super fit mum. To the compliment on my nice hairstyle, it is the same hairstyle, just my hair dresser getting better and better, so much more attention to details now a days. I've been with the same hair dresser for about 6 years, I guess he really knows me well.

I was so sleepy and was worry death that I would be day dreaming in class, but it was okay. Had to really concentrate and held on to my mind to focus on the moves. If anyone pass by, they would see a very grumpy looking TTB jumping around the board. Haha... The class was so satisfying, not only because of the great workout, but I had managed to learn the full turn for around-the-world. Having said that, as the name of the post has suggested, my head was spinning and was seeing stars after going around. But all worth it, you really will feel great having manage the moves and steps. Heee...

I'm really sleepy, should go to bed, wanted to talk about a guy actually. Maybe tomorrow... nite nite darlings.

Double Chocolate Almond Cookies

I made another batch of the cookies...

Everything was the same with the last batch except I had rolled them into balls before I baked them.

So I got some less flattened and rounder looking cookies. The last time when MC baked them, she spooned the cookie mix onto the baking sheet. It was, I'd to say, a quicker way. But if I want a thicker looking cookie, I had to form them into balls before baking. And always refrigerate the cookie mix first, otherwise the cookies will come out from the oven looking like though they were melted (most of the cookie mix lah). Also, wear a plastic glove to facilitate the rolling - so the cookie mix won't be sticking on your fingers, and also more hygienic. :)

Took me a long time to chop up all the almonds though!!!

A Special Cupcake Message

The lady has a special message for her best friend...

Mixed Fruit White Chocolate Cheesecake with Oreo Crust

Made another birthday cake. So many birthdays coming up soon!

The celebration was at office. I suppose they do like the cake since two of them had second helping. I was asked "don't you want to open a shop?". Of course I do! But that means I will be resigning from my job ya.

The baked cheesecake - 1 and half hour of baking and overnight chilling.

I've bought about 2 spring form baking tins. Normally we use spring form baking tins so it's easier to turn the cake out. Okay, okay, you don't really "turn" out the cake if it's say cheesecake, just saying. But I've got bad experience with the quality of those spring form tins and have given up. I normally just use a normal baking tin, lined with aluminium foil before pressing in the crust and pouring in the mixture for baking. What I do is to lift the whole cake out by lifting the foil. Then peel the foil off. This case, I normally get a cake with wrinkly sides.

So need to "repair" that. Use a warm knife (by dipping it into hot water AND wipe dry)

Run the back of the warmed knife over the side of the cake, the cheese will be slightly melted when come in contact with the hot metal. The cake can be smoothed this way.

Not perfectly smooth, but at least better than before, right? Haha...

Then the decoration. If you are decorating with fruits, don't forget to glaze them, otherwise they will look dried up and discoloured after a while.

Final touch - cake lining, ribbon and birthday tag. And it's done. Omitted the cream for health reasons. Haha...

Steps In The Morning

Came to work on time despite having to make a business call at home before I left the house. So, when I was at the lift landing on ground floor, I decided not to squeeze myself into that crowded lift, after all, I've got time to spare. Went into the next available lift which opened up with the whole lift packed with passengers. Hmmm...? Only a few came out. Okay... anyways. Went into the lift and overheard people murmuring about "lets try again lah" and "yeah it might reach this time" then "oh no it's not stopping again".

Alright. The lift was stucked. It kept going to 10th floor then back to ground and so forth. So, everyone decided to get off at 10th floor. They must have tried a few times already. Thinking that it would be a "short-cut" catching another lift half way, I got off too at 10th floor. Waited for the connecting lift and it was something like 3 lifts came and gone, full load. So, I decided to use the staircase instead. It was like doing the warm up track of a BS class early morning (with extra weights of my handbag and laptop!). Walked from 10th floor to 19th floor where my office is. Good exercise. Not sweating yet. Make-up intact. Happy.

Also, I realized that I've got a "situation" today. I've got yoga later today and I've brought a Nike top, those with pockets for padding - I forgot to insert the padding! (I normally take them out so that they won't deform after coming out from the washing machine). After discussing the matter at hand with MC, my options are:

(1) Do without padding - stay calm and hopefully it's not going to be too cold;
(2) Get new padding;
(3) Get new top hehe...

I am a sink

Mum just enlightened me on a group of people called the "DINK" (so she read from the newspaper, I'm sure it's the gossip section!) - Double Income. No Kids. Which are the married couples, hence the double income, who do not have any kid at present. So, I am therefore the SINK? Single Income. No Kids? Or I could be classified LINK - Little Income. No Kids.

I'm going through a "fashion change" for the year. I've been borned into the world of career as a hotelier. So, my standard work attire had always been jackets, suits and court shoes (toes covered type). It is a requirement of the hotel industries. Some hotels might not even allow pant suits. I'm not sure how much the industry has changed now, left the industry some 8 years ago. Anyways, so this CNY, I've decided to add on some different collections to my wardrobe. I'm still working on getting some new sandals though.

Change is good. It gives you a new feeling which may cause a change of the way you deal with things, the way you see things and eventually results in the change in the environment or even people around you. However, changes like fashion change require me to be a MINK - More Income No Kidding!

Someone commented that my posts and stories are always so long. Is this entry reasonably short? Hehe...

Do the multi-tasking

I just had my job performance review and my boss has commended on my multi-tasking skills. Lots of laugh. Imagine if he knows that I can multi-task "further" on top of the stuff that I am multi-tasking already for work.

Yesterday was supposed to be my FSS project day. Traffic to KL was EXTREMELY good, arrived in KLCC within half an hour from TTDI. I could even do some 45 minutes window shopping before heading to the gym.

I actually like this Tuesday arrangement. I was able to catch up (okay, was a 2 minute thingy, but it's considered really good enough already for me) with a few old time gym buddies, one of them my MB. Can also "see" Carebear one more time in the week. PT was there. And Nor's class is great. Hmm... it's time to give my step teacher a nickname for the blog...

Okay... So, there I was all ready for class, and doing my final "touch up" in the locker - tying up my bandanna, suddenly, I heard a scream! Warghhh... of course I screamed too, it was a normal reaction right? I could even feel my heart beat racing after that scream. Really got a shock. And then I found out, it was step teacher screaming, haiya, and she was screaming just because she saw me. Geezz... Did I look like a ghost? Okay, thank you for being surprise. Told her I'm making that my permanent schedule. Besides, I'd rest for a long time for CNY, so it's "time". For expressing that objective of mine out loud, I was asked "puas hati tak??" after the class. YES indeed! Carebear caught me catching my breath outside the studio half way through the class. Haha...

I really am addicted to step. Though this class is called basic step, but trust me, it's satisfying enough. You will get to "spin" a lot, as I quote, spin like a gasing, do all sorts of cool moves and "train" up the mind to be focus (so that we have smooth transitions throughout the choreo). And it's interesting to be doing different stuff every time.

The class last night went something like... "stomp, across the board, stomp front board, switch back, round the world, t-step, stylus (or star... excuse my spelling, it sounded like that), 3 knees (which can be modified to the shuffles), 6-point, leg curl on board, gallop......" ok, can't spell anymore. In short, it's fun, you should try. If you like BS, you will love step.

The parking rate at KLCC now is RM7.00 per entry instead of the RM5.00 last time. A lot of things are more expensive now already. With my "very good" performance review, I am suppose to be getting quite a good increment, hope the increment will take effect soon (was told that money comes in April, back dated) finger cross. I need more money to support my "lifestyle" Haha...

I planned to write a good story, but got sleepy half way through the story telling. I will write more so as to prevent my "readers" becoming miserable for not having updates in here. Haha... this weekend is scheduled for baking cupcakes with special theme. So stay tuned. (do we use "tune" for blogs?)

Story telling...

I have been less active in blogging during the passed one, or two weeks. First was the really hectic baking schedule for CNY, then was CNY, followed by me being sick. Back to work last week and was really busy, no way I can "multi-task" at work.

By the way, there is this thing that I thought is not progressing quite well and I've started to work on plan B. Then, this original plan seems to progress and looking quite good (IF all happens according to plan). So, it's hard to follow through plans sometimes, and not to mention extremely difficult to make certain dicisions at times. Lets see how it goes.

Last night was my first day back at gym after my long break. At office earlier the day, I told Carebear that I was lazy and didn't feel like joining BC, just wanted to do BP. She suggested treadmill before BP and I thought that was a brilliant idea. Later, I stepped into gym early enough for BC, and guess what? Couldn't resist a full hour of workout, so decided to join the class anyways, even though no gym buddies (unless I count those friends of mine who were standing far away from me). By the way, why did I think I saw "Jackson" under the BP timeslot when I walked in? Strange. But of course Carebear was torturing us last night, whoops I mean teaching us.

BC is so much more enjoyable for me lately. No more tests, yay! I thought that's the way classes should be, maintained at that high standard - clear instructions, good cueing and with great encouraging energy. Anyways, the mic was not functioning last night. Or rather say, was not functioning for the combat master (or even the BJ instructor before him) because it was okay when Carebear had it later. But even without the mic, the class actually went very smoothly. I am not the type of member who can remember choreo, at least not for BC since I've never been really into BC, so without verbal instruction, I really had to pay full attention to teacher's physical gestures. Now you can imagine how relieved I was for not having left-right-mixed-up cueing right? Class was great, though I don't remember doing some of the tracks, I think they were all time favorite. I also spotted someone familiar, sorry I had stared at you a few times (I found out that the person WAS who I though she was).

BP was the one I had been worrying about the whole day. Like Carebear said, the strength simply slips away if we stop attending class for just a short while. I started off maintaining my weights for warm up and squat. The overhead presses were already killing me during warm-up. Squat was manageable since I had loads of rest, so energy level quite okay. I started reducing weights from chest track. Reduced 1kg but still was screaming in agony! Phantom of The Opera! Reminded me of PT, was one of his regular tracks when he was still teaching BP. The part that really got into you would normally be the part with numerous non-stop singles (how many exactly?) towards the end. If you watch the theatre, that would be the scene where Phantom actually coaxed Christy to sing, continuously leveling up on her key. So instead of "sing my angle" which was the script of The Phantom, we got "MORE! MORE!" from the instructor who was torturing us. All the same yeah? Haha...

I really tried to convince myself to go back to my usual back track weights, but knowing the instructor in crime, I would be very surprised if there were no either 6 clean and presses, or many many deadrows etc. So, settled with 7kg, ok, just half a kg lesser, and I regretted big time for not reducing to only 6kg. Then later, wanted to really reduce weight for triceps, but teacher said the track was short and we should challenge with ourselves with our weights, okay lah which means (sounded to me) that I could just maintain my normal 5kg. But, OMG!!! So many pull overs! I nearly break my arms! Geeezzz...

And of course my most feared biceps track, regardless what, no matter how, 3.5kg will be my permanent and forever and ever weight. Still, I wished I had reduced it to 2.5kg. Eye of The Tiger. Arghhh...

Luckily I had a delicious banana and choc chips muffin to end my night. Considered a sweet happy ending. Thanks so much for the treat! It was really nice :).

btw, why is my spell check function not functioning? pls escuse mai spellin mestakes becaose i hafe bean relaying on it all tis whaile.

Sticky Chocolate Blueberry Cheesecake

Made this for a belated birthday. Due to the thick layer of sticker chocolate base, we can actually call this a cheesecake for chocolate lover.

Heavily decorated with chocolates, should be able to make a chocohalic quite happy.


Surface of the cake with the marble effect (cream cheese, chocoalte and the blueberry sauce). Made two of this cake. Another one for my ex-boss' birthday.

Double Chocolate Cookies

I'm back! I'm back!!!

Considered recovered I think. Still not enough rest which why I'm not completely recovered. Not going to gym until the next few days. I am supposed to be sleeping early, but take a look at my cookies first. These were the ones MC baked for me, I only did the cookie mix. They are extremely yummilicious, highly addictive, and as good as, if not better, than Famous Amos. :p

I was asked if I'm selling these. But how to sell? The ingredients are expensive. If I sell you F.A. price, might as well you get it from their shops right?

Take a look, it has not only chocolate chips, but also Cadbury milk chocolate, chopped and also chunks, you can see one whole chunk of chocolate on that top piece, right right?

Not to mention having loads of nuts. Whole alomond nuts chopped into these small little crispy indulgences. So how to price leh? I'll think about it after looking at my spreadsheet.

These went into MC's office (one to mine) and were gone in a few blinks. How did BIL do with his?

For my taster...

Meanwhile, MC and BIL are sick too. Poor thing. Get well soon!

Sick...

I'm sick. Blame it on the nonsense CNY diet.

THANKS! MC for baking all the cookies!!!

I made the cookie mix but was too ill to bake, so MC baked them all for me. Took her 2 and a half hours! It's great to have you back, at least I've got someone to lean on now :):).

Will post that soon. They are YUMMY!!!

I hate Final Count Down!!!

It's 3rd day of CNY and one of my pants is just so tight, need to wear my older jeans. What's the relation? I ate too much and hence had grown fat. Fatter.

Since sis and BIL is out with visitation, and mum could do with some time alone at home for her chanting, I decided to head down to the gym in vain hope to burn all the extra fats in one hardcore BS class.

There were no traffic in KL! Such a heaven driving around during this festive. Arrived at SPK in just 20 minutes. Turn up was considered quite good for CNY I thought. Instead of my normal spot (long long time ago when I do SPK regularly) right at the front, I've chosen a second row place. I thought FI will be donned in red for the auspicious festive celebration, but I was wrong, he was in one of his usual outfit. Bumped into some old time gym buddies, and I was asked where was the red. Ermm... Okaaaay... I was in black Nike top (It's a new one!), black shorts, black socks and black shoes (hey but my shoe laces were purple). Complete with black bandanna, but huh! There were spots of red on it! There you go...

We did some rather old tracks, a few would be last few releases which I have missed. I've not been doing BS for a year. I mean I've joined a few on and off, but not really considered doing BS as in like last time. Track 5 was our all (old, very old) time favorite, remember doing that since the first few times I joined FI's classes. Recovery track was a killer, my thighs were burning and had problem keeping my body really upright for the repeaters. The speed track was one I really can't do well - the skipping on the board, a bit phobia, not sure if my feet were still going to land on the board if I do bigger action. Overall, I was quite blur and conscious since I've not done BS for so long.

It was a non-stop class, the FI usual, but of course we can go off to get a quick drink whenever we want. I had to get a drink after the speed track and felt like walking out of the studio when I heard the intro of the final track. THE FINAL COUNT DOWN!!! I was already moving my head left right, no no no no no... Reluctantly, REALLY reluctantly, I walked back to my board. Oh well, after all, I did come aiming to work out to the max, didn't I? I really doubted that I can do all the "skiing" properly.

To make matter worse, FI moved his board from up stage to the floor. OH NO!!! And... WHY was there an empty space beside my board?! Arghhhhh... looked like my final sentence. How was I even able to cheat with FI right beside me? Some more with his constant "not higher than me!" during the skiing. I felt like my feet were giving up, going to trip and fall off the board anytime!

THEN, to my horror, I got confused with my steps! Got so used to the mirror effect of the instructors that I was quite blur when teacher was beside me instead of at front. I got my moves wrong when we changed from the repeaters to over the board. Tsk! How could I missed the very basic of BS?! For that big mistake, I got FI giving up on his own board and over to mine with a stern stare. I'm sorry. I'M SORRY!!! I didn't do any more mistakes after that! Geezzz....

It was an extremely great workout, but I officially (again) hate Final Count Down. Too many shuffles. Felt like throwing up and passing out after that track. Haha... a bit exaggerating eh :p.

But... that particular jeans of mine is still tight! Arghhh...



Btw, went to watched CJ7. NOT recommended, it was not as hilarious as we expected of a Stephen Chow movie. Plus, the story line got a bit confusing towards the end and the ending was hanging and meaningless.

红豆沙汤圆

This was the planned dessert for CNY 年初一dinner. Red bean soup with tong yuen (glutinous rice ball). However, I made another cake last minute because mum was apparently expecting a cake. If I had more time, I would have made the chocolate cake, but since it was really last minute and I only had less than half a day, I only made a butter cake with butter icing and lychee.

The sticky glutinous rice ball

The cooked tong yuen

Tong yuen with sweet red bean soup

BP on CNY eve

Continued with baking when I came back on Tuesday night and woke up late on CNY eve since I was already on holiday. Since mum wanted to clean the house for a final round, I decided to vacate the house for her convenience. Hee... :P So, what other better things to do then going to the gym? Haha...

FI was still doing his usual class at MMX. BP, yes, just what I needed since I missed my Monday slot (and I don't think I'll get to do the second one this week). The class being at lunch time on a weekday was of course not full. I think there were only about 15 of us. Which is such a heaven for me since it's quite hard to be in a not crowded FI class. FI will still be teaching throughout CNY, only going on leave next week.

I guess, since it was quite a relax class, plus FI with his trademark made some part of the tracks really quite funny. Though it was not the perfect mistake-less class, he actually improvised very well, you will really be amazed how the tracks can still flow through smoothly even though it was not conducted with the original moves and choreo. I suppose that's what only an experience instructor is able to do.

Since my waistline has expanded (my pants getting tight!) and I have not been and will not be working out much, I told myself I will have to increase weights, at least for those tracks I could. So, the most possible would be squat (PT once told me women has stronger lower body strength compared with our upper body). Didn't increased much though, only another extra donut to my 10kg, but can really feel the difference, the weights were really bearing down my legs. On top of that, I think there were some extra bottom halves leh! Haiya... (then again, I could be wrong. Just my imagination at dire moments perhaps).

Chest track, still cannot manage my 6kg well, wonder when I can start to increase those weights. So me with the not so heavy weights but usual despair groanings got quite a lot of "I know how you feel" and "stay with me" from teacher. Arghhh... pain.

Back track... I couldn't really remember what track was that when the music started to play, only vaguely remember that tune to be associated with some great pain and moments near to giving up. Then, during clean and press, ah Paradise. Not! It's the one with 5 clean and presses. Luckily I didn't add anymore weights. Or perhaps I should have reduced the weights. It was hard to decide because FI said before the start of that track: "some people think this track is hard, but some feels that this is easy, it's up to you" - so how? Humphh...

Hugged another extra 5kg plate for lunges. It was really satisfying, at least I'd really worked out my lower body. Biceps track was one with loads of bottom halves and top halves (not Car Wash though). Me never do well in biceps tracks, but when it comes to FI's classes, the pain is usually less felt since I will be distracted by FI's "entertainments". Haha...

Since FI doesn't like pineapple tarts, gave him some mini cupcakes with the message "新年进步。心想事成" on them. Was too sleepy the night before, so no pictures taken. FI's parting words were "don't eat too much during CNY, you might get fat!"

Humphh... I desperately need to burn off some calories!!!

For my neighbours

Last weekend was quite hectic, with heavy baking, continued on Monday with the icing of 3 cakes. Though extremely sleepy, but managed to snap some photos of the making. These cakes were my mum's "order" (which I kept forgetting to include in my schedule) and it was her gifts to our neighbours.

I think these cakes are the closest version of the "giant muffins/ cupcakes" as mentioned by the Cupcake Queen Jr. Haha... Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Almond Chocolate Chips Biscotti

This is the "improved" version, and I think final version since so far everyone is happy with it:

Carebear finished hers on her way home (it's a very tiny pack, but at least it was okay to be eaten in one go)

Gave this to my boss as CNY gift and he said it was the best he ever had. Wah... I love this recipe!

Must remember to get feedback from little bro. For sis, her gift pack consist Almond Raisins Biscotti, was too sleepy that night, so didn't take picture of them.

A few notes for myself:

Must fully grease the baking sheet so that I can use the baking sheet to shape the log. If the baking sheet is not greased, the biscotti mixture will be too sticky and will not come off clean from the baking sheet.

This is the improved shape.

Chocolate chips is definately a better idea, the "arrangement" looks more organized.

Must use serrated knife to make life easier.

And for the slicing to look neater.

This thickness should be better, not too thin because the biscuit doesn't contain much if too thin, plus they get burnt easier when baking for the second time.

The chocolate chips when cool, will melt in your mouth when you eat these biscotti.

Pineapple Tart

One of my major "project" for CNY (started last year) is pineapple tart. It was an experiment last year, inspired by SB. I had quite a few inquiries last year after giving them out as CNY gift, but couldn't fulfil those requests due to lack of time. This year, I face shortage again, in fact, there is no pineapple tart in this house. Yeah, the production house has no pineapple tart to feed the member in its own house, on the first day of CNY! Need to produce more soon.

Individually shaped

Ready for the oven

Baked pineapple tarts

Packed

Made some smaller boxes as well - MC ordered some as gift-away for her colleagues. The pineapple tarts were wrapped together with a packet of Almond and Chocolate biscotti. That was also my gift to Little Bro.

At the end of last weekend, I've made 8 large boxes and 5 small boxes of pineapple tarts; 4 butter cakes; 2 batches of biscotti and some mini cupcakes.