What blog title?

I don't know what I plan to write tonight, hence do not know what blog title to put.

Felt really tired last few days and even mum commented that it seemed like I've been going to sleep earlier. I was physically tired actually.

Lately, I felt that I've not been able to draw a clear line between work and personal "life" anymore. It seemed like I've been forever working - after working hour, night time, weekend, public holiday. I don't mean actually going to the office, but doing office stuff. I bet many of us live this kind of life. Is it because of deadlines, or because we are all workaholic? Someone told me recently that it's okay to be a workaholic as long as we enjoy it. Hmm... I have different feelings when I'm in different mood.

This blog is going to be so random...

I used to get sms that cheer me up instantly; used to send sms for no real reason but just for random updates on some unimportant stuff; used to made my heart leap and skip a beat when getting those sms-es. But lately, there seem to be lacking sms of such, till today I realize that this particular sms gave me a strange tinge of excitement. I do miss those chummy sms-es.

I also have this uneasy feel that I'm behind time with some tasks, but I'm feeling a bit like what MC said, drowning but can't swim. I hope my situation doesn't become a messy game of Tetris.

Just made a hundred of mini cupcakes for our orphanage visit tomorrow. I hope the cupcakes bring some joy to the kids. How lucky we are to be sheltered where we really belong to, surrounded by love and care.

Earlier today, MC and I joined Hobbes' pump, it was great, and as MC agreed, this was much much better than the one we attended on Thursday. MC was spotted with some slight weight increment, well done! We felt like we were dead after the class, but hey, we love the torture and felt great with a big sense of achievement!

I think I need sleep. And a dosage from my romance story book.

What's with the "crush"??

I've just checked with one of my best friends - Dictionary.com (Wikepedia and Google are two of my other best friends) - the definition of "crush". And I don't mean "to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition" (with three times your body weight - this is a private joke).

A few of you told me I'm having a "crush", and I suppose you mean (as D.c has suggested) "temporary love of an adolescent [syn: puppy love] " (and "puppy love" means "temporary infatuation of a boy or girl for another person"; And "infatuation" means "foolish or all-absorbing passion or an instance of this: a mere infatuation that will not last") Geezz... so many definitions.

Tonight, MC and BIL unanimously told me "You are NOT having a crush."

Honestly, I do feel strange that my "situation" has been described as a "crush". But I couldn't disagree or put my finger on it, because I don't know why I felt that way. So. Why is it not a "crush"?

"Because you are too rationale."

But I'm always rationale (Best Friend said rationale means "the fundamental reason or reasons serving to account for something"), that's why I'm all analysing, weighing consequences and setting priorities.

After some brainstorming on my character and his, MC and BIL concluded that I'm to be defined as "being attracted to him".

BIL said "You need a strong, silent person, who can be your anchor in the sea".

Thanks bro, a very apt statement. Hit on.

What's with the hair??

MC said she needed a hair cut, a rather dramatic "change" - from her more than shoulder length hair to something as short as mine. Well, I wouldn't say my hair is THAT short, not the boyish short hair, but nonetheless, I am called with short hair.

So there we were last Sunday at Halim's, my hairdresser for the passed 7 years. I like his style, meaning I love my hairstyle. There had been many "trial and error" on my hairstyle and colour, but I can say that finally now I can "confirm" this hairstyle and colour for a while, until perhaps I need a "change".

Arrived at the salon and, wow, my hairdresser changed his hairstyle too. Crop short. He told me he had his hair all shaved the other night when Rafik passed away. He was really upset and had to do "something". So hair it was.

And our dear Carebear had her hair cut too... Needed a "change"?

I do agree, I had been through numerous times of longing for a change, and most of the time, I'll think about the hair first. Perhaps that's the easiest thing to change on us in the shortest possible time.

Me still undergoing my fashion change because I love my hairstyle and don't intend to change it for some time.

Meanwhile, MC is really happy with her "new hair" until she asked me to send the hairdresser a thank you and well done message.

What's with the speed??

I felt like I've dazed through the whole evening and everything happened with fast forward speed...

First was my work day which was very long but felt like I've breezed through, before I realized, it was already 7.30pm. Sorry LGM, I didn't know you were waiting for me purposely, I expect you to be combating while I leisurely take my time to get to gym.

Since I didn't join combat, I did my warm up on the treadmill (just because the cardio wave machines were all taken) and I was only at 12 minutes when I realized that combat was over. By the time I reached the studio, half of the space was taken, luckily I could still stand at my favorite and usual spot.

Did you started the class early today dear?

Once the class started, it was even more unbelievable speedy. I felt like the class was being fast forwarded. What I meant is this, for instance... I was really tired already during the overhead presses during warm-up, was like already aiya-ing and dragging for the track to end. But while I was still dragging, the track ended - OH!! No biceps curls to end the track. Great. And Phew.

Then I felt the same for chest track, that was, if I remember correctly, a tough track (side note: missed a few moves, the cueing can be maybe a beat faster? Just a little bit. Oh, no, that was not Carebear, it was the team-teaching instructor), but while I was controlling not to scream too much too early, the track ended. Phew. Surprisingly, biceps track seem short to me... And so on so on... I must be so dazed like I said. Even the shoulder track which I HATED so much (You were right! It's because of the annoying song and the part when you thought the track was over BUT continue with more overhead presses) ended so quickly.

I'm sure you got the idea. So before I knew, the classes ended. Hmm... Even my journey back home felt quick.

Today had simply whooshed passed to me. It would probably mean I will age faster too.

Banana Cupcake with Dark Chocolate Ganache

To be precise, this is a banana, dates, chocolate chips with walnut topping cupcake with Lindt dark chocolate butter ganache. The name is so long, so used short form for title.

The original cake was a tea-time loaf cake, MC baked this a few months before and I thought it's a good banana cake recipe. So, instead of using my usual butter cake and making them into banana cake, I used this banana cake recipe.

The result, I don't know, because I've not tried eating them yet. But this is a "smaller" recipe, so LGM, sorry, I couldn't give you half dozen of muffins...

The baked cupcakes

The icing is a dark chocolate butter ganache. Actually added a bit of milk, so I suppose this should be called a chocolate milk ganache.

Cupcakes with icing

The decoration for the cupcake, I made some "banana disk", inspired by this blog. It's called the caramelized banana disk, which I might call them "fried" bananas.

The caramelized banana

The decorated cupcakes

Note to Carebear and LGM:

I've actually baked some different banana cupcakes for you gals. This is what you gals are getting...

Carebear - 2 pieces of banana choc chips muffins (no icing) & 2 pieces the above.

LGM - 2 pieces of banana raisins muffins (no icing) & 2 pieces the above.

Sorry to "force" you gals take the ones with the icing. I didn't want to waste the chocolate ganache! So I've put icing to all the cupcakes. Give it to someone else if you can manage to find, BUT give me the feedback! Then I can improve on this recipe or perhaps I can try out some other banana muffin recipe some other time.

Change of theme

I thought of changing the theme of the banana chocolate chips cupcakes to banana, dates and choc chips cupcakes. But there will still be some banana raisins as requested. Was busy baking the cupcakes for SSB last night, and the icing this afternoon, so the special theme cupcakes will be tomorrow (actually today since it's after midnight already).

I'm actually quite surprise to discover that there are quite many anonymous readers in this blog recently. For those who knows me, and those who have a good guessing of who I am, no need to mention my name in here. Thanks...

On the other note. It's actually good to learn so many different point of views. All of them are really refreshing. I'm glad that there is not more "rude" comments in here (Thank you).

On the topic of "analysing" though, I think many of us would never be able to stop ourselves completely from analysing. It's a habit for me. But, one thing I believe we (I) can control is the next course of action. It's best not to act based on what we "guess", to be at the safe side is always, well, safer.

Finally, I think I read too many romance stories... Having said that, I'm retiring from blogging to go finish one.

Milo Cupcakes

SSB aka Milo Baby is back for a few days. How could I not indulge you with cupcakes? Especially after your statement of missing the cupcakes? And the Milo theme is because of your recent story on Milo search in Indonesia. Poor thing. I do hope you like this 2-in-1 indulgence.

Note to the recipe: This is my usual butter cupcakes. The icing was enhanced with the Milo flavour. But I must remember the "procedure" the next time and not got overly excited when adding in the Milo powder. The Milo should be dissolved in warm water first so that there will not be any lumpy Milo powder in the icing, which might block my nozzle when piping.