Instagramming

It’s been a while…

Went to my very first Singapore Air Show. Apart from the insane heat, it was pretty damn cool. The air display (is that what its called?!) was incredibly awesome, and I got to hang with my cousin’s hubby who’s part of the Smokey Bandits aka the Malaysian Royal Air Force’s fighter jet team.

Went on my first shoot of the year! Once again it was for Cbeebies, and we shot at a Ukulele shop in Little India and at Republic Polytechnic.

Watermelon ukulele anyone?

Portrait of my by one of the kids, who was only 6. Too cute!

Yummy Wan Ton noodle soup from Kopi Tiam at Swissotel. So good!

HEAVENLY tandoori chicken platter from Zaffron Kitchen in Katong. Need to head back there soon for more noms.

Garlic naan that became part of the best leftover work lunch (along with butter chicken) I’ve ever had.

My sneaky supper companion, Frankie.

Hiiiii.

Friendly Fires live at Avalon.

The view from just behind the sound crew.

Love the packaging.

Questionable toiletries. Only in Singapore…. and maybe Japan.

Weekend cooking adventures with Mama Monkman. This was us experimenting with seafood Zuppa.

Made couscous with olives, tomatoes and mushrooms for work lunch and coupled it with the best chicken wing I’ve ever had (from Golden Mile Complex).

Carrot cake cupcake!

The shortest pair of hot pants ever.

Ha! Love this so much.

My good friend Mia got married on Sunday. First one to go! I wonder who’s next….

Just checking in

HIYA. No I haven’t died, just been way too busy for a proper update.

Nothing big happened recently apart from the fact that:
1. Attended my very first Laneway Festival and it was Amazeballs. Awesomesauce. Insert-own-omgthisisawesome-comment-here.
2. I GOT PROMOTED! *does the victory dance* I am now officially Assistant Producer at the Beeb. Dead chuffed! Can’t wait to start on bigger projects.

Run run run

I’ve decided to be fit again (ha!)

I used to gym at my office, and then signed up for kick-boxing classes. I even had a personal trainer for a couple of months, but I unfortunately jumped off the fitness wagon about 4 months ago.

I went for my first run yesterday. It was terrible! Only managed to do about 2km, and I almost got hit by a car. My stamina was incredibly bad, I got breathless really fast. I felt like someone had strapped a belt around my lungs and made it super tight. Not the best feeling in the world, I can tell you that.

Can’t wait to make night runs more of a common thing in my life… hoping to run at least twice a week!

Time to reply

Aww… Charlie, you are too adorable.

First saw Charlieissocoollike on a SORTED video – he was in the amazing cheese-stuffed burger which you can watch HERE. He posted this song a few days ago, and it’s really something quite special. Has a lot of meaning for me I guess.

Charlie McDonnell, you can serenade me anytime.

Mexican Rice recipe

This recipe upload is specially for my favourite gym bunny Angelina. She’s one heck of an inspiring woman let me tell you! She’s the reason behind me signing up for my very first marathon. You can check out her fitness blog Fit Bunney over HERE.

Okay… So. Part of my new super-saver lifestyle means that I’ve started cooking a lot more at home for work lunch. I’m also looking for super easy and fast recipes, cos I hate being stuck in a hot and humid kitchen for long periods of time.

I pretty much made this recipe up by myself, and called it Mexican Rice. Excellent for leftover rice!

Ingredients you will need:
1 x can of Kidney beans
Half a jar of Napoletana pasta sauce (I like the Barilla brand best. Actually you can use any tomato-based pasta sauce, I just really love Napoletana)
2 x tomatoes, finely chopped (this is optional!)
Tabasco Sauce
Nando’s Hot sauce (once again… optional)
1 x chilli padi
4 x garlic cloves, diced/finely chopped (amount can change, I love my garlic so I put in 4 but it can be less)
1 x onion, diced/finely chopped (didn’t have onion when I made this, but would be a great addition!)
3-4 cups of Cooked white/brown rice (this is a guesstimate, I don’t remember how much rice I used)
Cooking oil

Le Steps:
1. Heat your pan, pour in oil
2. Once oil is heated, add in chilli padi and onion
3. Once onion is soft, add in garlic, let it simmer for a few mins. Make sure the garlic doesn’t burn, yo!
4. Open can of Kidney beans, rinse and drain. Add to pan along with chopped tomatoes.
5. Let it cook for about 5ish minutes.
6. Add in Napoletana sauce, stir through well
7. While simmering, add in Tabasco and Nando’s sauce according to taste
8. After about 10 mins of simmering, add in cooked rice. Stir through well.
9. Let it cook for about 3-5 mins, and the Voila, done!
10. SERVE AND EAT.

You can actually add lots more to this… I think next time I make it I’m gonna add in some capsicums and mushroom. Nom.

January

I can’t believe January is already ending next week… It’s insane how fast time flies! Geez. Anyway, January was an alright month. Big ups and big downs.
- Going on a super-saver lifestyle from January onwards. Really need to start saving for my Euro trip in May, and I need actual savings. Working full-time for 2.5 years and having no savings is absolutely terrible!
- Quitting smoking. Except for the occassional party. It was incredibly tough at first (I’m on week 3 now) but I’ve cut down from 15 a day to 1 a day, and now I’ve gone cold turkey. Fell sick, and now that I’m recovering the cravings are going away slowly.
- Bought tickets to see Foo Fighters in March!!!! Gah, can’t believe they’re coming here. Super duper stoked.
- Saw SBTRKT live at Homeclub! It was also Dan’s (aka Now / Live SG’s) first gig here, and it was an absolute corker. SBTRKT and Sampha live were… incredible to say the least. Sampha has such a great voice, hopefully I’ll be able to see them perform again sometime soon.
- And last but not least…. I HAVE A NEW JOB!!! I got promoted to Assistant Producer. Can’t wait to officially start my new role… I’m still waiting for my new contract and my department still needs to find someone to replace me. So, uh, anyone wanna work for the Beeb as a Production Co-ordinator? Hit me up. x

2011 in photos

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Bye bye 2011, hello 2012

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Run a 5km marathon.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I honestly don’t remember my resolutions for 2011. Resolutions for 2012…
- Eat more spicy food (need to improve tolerance for chilli)
- Go out and MEET MORE PEOPLE
- Be more serious about healthier diet and health in general
- Enrol in a part-time degree
- Keep in contact with people better

3. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?

I spent New Year’s Eve at Butterworth with Jacky, Shila and Dan. Cooked up a Mexican feast and rang in the new year with homemade burritos. No alcohol involved! (to be fair we were all terribly hungover)

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, a childhood friend’s father passed away.

5. What countries did you visit?

I DIDN’T GET OUT OF SINGAPORE. Big sadface.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

A boyfriend. Ha! No… I guess I’d like to meet some decent guys for once.

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

October 21st. Saw Jamie Woon live… what a beautiful night. Got to meet him after along with Royce Wood jr. Absolute pleasure.

8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?

Running a 5km marathon. I never run, never exercise, I’m lazy as hell but this year I managed to actually sign up for one AND I completed it.

9. What was your biggest failure?

The fact that I didn’t continue my driving lessons.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Had an allergy flare-up in February, and I had to be admitted to hospital. Warded for 4 days and on medical leave for about 2 -3weeks.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My beautiful Macbook Pro.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Food, transport, drinkies…

13. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Its a toss-up between the following:
Jamie Woon – Lady Luck
M83 – Midnight City
SBTRKT – Wildfire

14. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Saving money, exercising.

15. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Drinking perhaps?

16. What was your favorite TV program?

True Blood Season 4. SO GOOD.

17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Don’t think so?

18. What was the best book you read?

Didn’t read a single book this year. Terrible, I know. I did attempt a couple of pages of Everything Is Illuminated tho.

19. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Lana Del Rey, SBTRKT, Jamie XX

20. What was your favorite film of this year?

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Pt 2. Bawled my eyes out in the cinema.

21. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 22. Had dinner with my closest friends and colleagues, followed by drinkies at Homeclub.

22. What kept you sane?

Certain colleagues and my best friends.

23. Who did you miss?

My dad. Friends and family overseas.

24. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned.

Everything that shines ain’t always gonna be gold.

25. What does 2012 hold for me?

Love, happiness… and a bit more money. Please? Oh, and less stress. Yes.

Happy new year all xxxxx

Ho ho ho

Almost a month has gone past without an update… but Christmas is nearly here!

I’ve got my office party on Thursday which should be lots of fun. Bring on the festive season! It’s going to be a humid Christmas.

Oooh… I love u so

I am up early this Sunday morning (time on my laptop reads: 7.40am) and I’ve been spending a good part of the last hour cleaning up my Macbook Pro. And while cleaning I came across a silly video I did while fooling around with the Cassius – I Love U So app I used to have on my iPhone.

it’s actually very addictive….

(PSST don’t mind the messy hair and PJs)

…And here’s the ORIGINAL video in all it’s glory:

Sorry, this is quite a useless blog post. Anyway, Fish N Chips later for me! *rubs belly*