Meal Plan

One of the greatest challenges that I face in the land of maple syrup, aside from dealing with the cold and avoiding goose poop, is planning my meals. I was warned by family and friends that when living alone, the temptation to order a pizza every night or alternatively, skip every other meal, is lurking around every corner. Therefore, I was determined to not let laziness get the better of me and to eat healthy.
Of course, it involves a certain amount of planning (I even drew up an Excel sheet!!) to ensure I get a well-balanced meal, three times a day. This was, at first, a daunting task considering that this is the first time I'm living on my own and that I have courses, TA work, cleaning and laundry to take care of! However, I have come to enjoy the process of deciding what to eat and preparing the food itself. I resolved not to succumb to the enticing print of the takeout menu, and instead cook nutritious meals at home. This does mean overcoming some hurdles such as the lack of cooking equipment and ingredients, but that's where the miracle of the Internet comes in - just type 'simple recipes' into Google and you're good to go!
I especially relish the task of being creative with my breakfast; I'm churning out smoothies, fruity crepes and yummy breakfast bowls, though I do occasionally resort to oats when I'm pressed for time. Here's a simple recipe that's packed with flavor - mix an egg, milk, sausages, spinach and cheese in a bowl and microwave on high for 45 seconds, take it out and push the edges in and put it back in for another minute et voila:

The other day, I decided to experiment with shrimp and I can say with some certainty that I was quite successful in satisfying my taste buds. However, when it comes to cooking traditional dishes, I feel my results leave room for desire, but I blame it on the dearth of the requisite ingredients in this dear town of Waterloo. I also like to dabble in putting together desserts to indulge my sweet tooth and these include bread puddings and homemade ice cream. It's as easy as blending frozen banana coins and some almond butter (you can substitute peanut butter if you wish) to produce an iced treat!

Something else I have learnt while in  Canada is to be self-sufficient - when it comes to lattes! I can never be sure when the closest coffee shops are open, so I have some supplies on hand that are very handy when I need to make a white chocolate, berry mocha or a mint chocolate latte! Here is one of my recent creations of refreshing minty, chocolatey and coffee goodness:

Despite these culinary adventures that I am savoring, I cannot deny the fact that I'm counting down the days till I can eat a home cooked meal by mother dearest - nothing beats the added flavor that a little mummy's TLC can bring!

Happy cooking!!

The Canadian Experience

This is a post that has been loooong overdue, but it's here at last, and I finally have the inspiration to put pen to paper - or finger to keyboard in this virtual case. I have spent two months here, and I am proud to say that I have survived thus far without too many predicaments. I have experienced snow (a very moderate amount though) and the joys of lugging heavy groceries, along with the tricky situation of sorting laundry into lights and darks. These have all helped me grow (well, not literally - I am still my original height of under 5 feet since 5th grade), and taught me how to be independent.
On August 26th, 2013, I bawled my eyes out at the Dubai International Airport - to which photographs will testify - and boarded a 14 hour flight to Toronto. I would say we (Mum and I) were off to a good start when a kind soul agreed to switch seats with me so that I could sit next to my mother. From that moment onward, everything was a learning experience and as difficult and emotionally draining as it is to be separated from my family, friends and home, I am thankful that I got this opportunity to try something new. I really do believe that God is strengthening me and giving me courage while building my character.
One thing that I had to program into my brain (which it was very unwilling to accept) is the 13% tax that you have to pay on everything, but I do love how you can return and exchange your purchases at any store! Also, Tim Horton's: enough said!! Another thing that amazed me was the beauty of the fall colors, and I am blessed to have a beautiful view from my apartment window. As the leaves fall and we turn the clock back, it's time to bring out all the fun winter clothes - colorful scarves, cute hats and warm booties (who says you can't be fashionable and functional at the same time?). This is definitely one of the plus sides to the cold.
Making new friends is also a wonderful experience - meeting people from different parts of the world with interesting cultures and backgrounds to share is opening up my world. It's interesting to find out how much we have in common despite living thousands of miles apart. For instance, I found out that my Jamaican friend also loves jack fruit, just like me! Of course, there are times when I terribly miss home, and in fact, the other day I even threatened to get on the next flight home, but thank goodness for Skype and smartphones! While I am most certainly looking forward to going back to Dubai for the Christmas break, I feel quite at ease in my quaint little apartment room I call home. I put my creative streak to good use in decorating my room so that it feels cosy and welcoming. I have to admit, having a Michaels store just fifteen minutes away is an added bonus (while simultaneously being a strain on the wallet :P).
Those are all my random ramblings from my scrambled brain for the moment. Hopefully, there'll be more (organized thoughts) following soon.
Here are some snapshots of "The Canadian Experience".

The view from my window

The mesmerizing jellyfish at the new aquarium in Downtown Toronto

Just a little something to remind me of home

Two of my favorite things: fashion and art

New book, New York

My love affair with New York has been rekindled thanks to my latest read, The Charm Bracelet by Melissa Hill. Having ticked off Paris from my must-visit-places list, New York is next and hopefully, I'll soon be able to spend a vacation (preferably Christmas) there. The hustle and bustle of the Big Apple combined with all the skyscrapers and lights has a certain appeal that has had me itching to pay it a visit. It is a city that is full of energy and this aspect is brought to life in Melissa Hill's novel. Set in NYC at Christmas time, it tells the story of single mother Holly O'Neill and the journeys she is taken on by a charm bracelet that she finds at the store where she works. The book had me at the words 'vintage clothes' and I've been hooked on it ever since.

Being the owner of a charm bracelet herself, Holly knows its value and the sentimentality associated with each charm, and so she resolves to track down the owner and return the bracelet - not an easy task considering the size of New York and the sheer volume of people residing in this remarkable city. Taking into account the fact that she has a ten year old son, Danny, a job and a Christmas dinner to juggle, Holly has her work cut out for her. The new and peculiar personalities she meets along the way make for a very interesting tale. Even though she hits certain road blocks as she progresses, her determination pushes her forward and over the hurdles.

Running alongside Holly's story is that of Greg Matthews. Initially, his connection to Holly and the bracelet is not very clear, but as we read on, we start figuring out the relationship. It's amazing how two totally different people who were never even aware of each other's presence can be brought together by a piece of jewelry. Greg is experiencing a liberation that comes from quitting his job as a stock broker to pursue his dream of photography. Unfortunately, this emotion is not shared by his girlfriend, which puts him in some hot water. To me, it's clear that they aren't meant to be together, and we see how their relationship develops (well, more like deteriorates) through the chapters.

I enjoy the way the author describes some of the key New York sights and locales, which keeps my mind's eye quite busy. Every time I pick up the book, I feel like I'm hopping on a jet plane and zipping off to the City of Lights! And I'm glad that this kind of trip doesn't need a passport or a ticket ;) Melissa Hill incorporates flashbacks into the story line so that we can understand the significance of some of the charms on both the bracelets. It amazes me how small pieces of gold or silver act as storytellers and offer vivid glimpses into a person's life.The story does end with a slight surprise and a cliffhanger because it leaves the readers wondering what happens to Holly and Greg. However, I see this as an opportunity for the audience to take the reins of imagination into their hands and paint a pretty picture of what could happen next.

Happy reading!

Shopping with the Enemy

Don't let the title of the post scare you - it's the name of one of the books I read recently. And how could I resist a book about shopping? This one is for those times when you want a light read without having to concentrate too much. The book chronicles the fashiontastic adventures of two mothers and their daughters, taking you through the roads of Europe and across the pond to New York.

The central characters are Annie Valentine and her daughter Lana, and Svetlana and her daughter Elena. Svetlana owns a fashion company based in NYC for which Elena and Lana work. However, the mothers and daughters don't always see eye to eye in business matters and this leads to quite some drama. Add to that an Italian spa vacation turned kidnapping rescue mission, and you've got yourselves a thickening plot.

Annie, who is a TV fashion presenter, has lately lost her mojo and feels out of touch with the world of style, and so Svetlana proposes a spa vacation in Italy to soothe frazzled nerves and revive inspiration. However, things don't exactly go as planned when Svetlana's sons are kidnapped by her ex-husband, and Annie is enlisted to be the chauffeur/bodyguard on the assignment to recover the boys! What follows is a dangerous and sometimes funny road trip to Austria. Though I have to mention, kudos to Annie for putting up with the overbearing Svetlana.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Elena and Lana, together with their designer Gracie, are working behind their mothers' backs to rejuvenate their failing fashion label, Perfect Dress, by revamping the designs and making them more current. A tight budget and boy trouble make this an equally bumpy ride as their mothers'.

One of the unique features of the book is that each chapter starts with a detailed description of a character's outfit along with its estimated cost, which can serve as inspiration for aspiring fashionistas. It has the prefect combination of family drama and adventurous thrill to guarantee you a fun-filled time.

Lone Wolf - the ending

I finally inched my way to the end of Jodi Picoult's Lone Wolf. The secrets that emerge, the bonds that are re-forged and the surprise ending all contributed to the confirmation of my gut feeling that the Lone Wolf would be a good read. It is a story that is rife with drama and high on emotions, and so sometimes, it's difficult to take it in all at once - hence, the staggered reading pattern I adopted.

It wasn't necessarily a happy ending, but that depends on the perspective from which you view it. Usually, when one door is closed another one is opened, so tragedy can somehow be turned into  joy. When the truth is revealed bit by bit, the puzzle is completed. The final picture goes to show that everything isn't always what it seems to be. Several of the choices that the characters make are with good intentions but have devastating results, which lead to the Warren family slowly being torn apart. Jodi Picoult shows how, through a disastrous car accident, the family is painstakingly knit back together.

When reading this book, you can't help but join in with the characters in pondering on the value of a human life and whether anyone has the right to take a person off life support. It's such a sensitive matter that never has a black and white solution. The arguments on both sides seem valid, but unfortunately, there is no answer that can please both parties. The case in the book is rather unusual because two siblings are fighting against each other to gain custody of their comatose father, each wanting a different outcome for him. The motivations behind their desires are not as obvious as they seem at the beginning. At the end of book, the brother and sister are able to overcome their differences (and six years of separation) to see eye-to-eye and make the inevitable decision regarding their father's life.

My conclusion on the book is that it is very interesting and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who isn't necessarily looking for a light read. I enjoyed my journey through the book and look forward to more work from Jodi Picoult. The next book on my reading list takes me across the seas to America and my bags are all packed!!

Happy reading!

Strawberry mania

My all-time FAVORITE fruit is the strawberry. There's something about the berry goodness of this red, scrumptious fruit that has my mouth watering, so it's no surprise that I take every opportunity possible to try a new recipe with strawberries. Even if the recipe calls for another fruit, I substitute it with my favorite berry.

The first recipe I tried out was a white chocolate strawberry parfait. I simply layered yogurt (with vanilla essence and some sugar), roasted almonds, white chocolate shavings and strawberries to create this delish dish.

My next venture was a strawberry jelly pudding of sorts. The bottom layer comprises strawberries suspended in strawberry flavored jelly. Once that was set, I added some vanilla/chocolate ice cream mixed with yogurt on top.

My final recipe is a strawberry fool. Don't be 'fooled' by the name - it's a light, fluffy dessert that leaves the tummy quite satisfied. I combined mashed up strawberries, orange juice, custard and whipped cream and that was all it took. The natural sweetness from the strawberries ensured that I didn't have to add any sugar.

These desserts taste as good as they look. I hope they inspire you to add some sweetness to your life too :)

Happy cooking!

Playing dress up...in real life

Like most girls, I love to dress up, but some of us don't get the opportunity often. I mean, heels aren't really appropriate for grocery shopping across the street are they? But that doesn't mean giving up on being fashionable. I like to incorporate some stylish element into each of my outfits, such as a pop of color, a cute accessory or a new hairdo (even parting your hair in a different way can make a world of difference!). While some outfits take careful planning to turn out right, others may be thrown together in a matter of minutes and still look just as good. Either way, there comes a certain satisfaction in paying attention to how you look. It shouldn't become an obsession but can be kept to a healthy limit.

Sometimes, I like to just pull out all the clothes in my cupboard and mix and match the items for future reference. That way, when a last minute occasion comes up, I don't have to be fumbling through my closet and tearing my hair out exclaiming the ever-famous phrase, "I have nothing to wear!!!". It also helps me to rediscover pieces that have got lost in the piles of clothing (because face it, we are all guilty of going for the t-shirt or jeans that's on top of the lot, a lot of the time). I also use this as an opportunity to discard clothes that I know I will not wear and which make me wonder what I was thinking when I bought them!

Like I mentioned before, hair plays a very important role in the entire look. Being a curly girlie, I can tell you that curly hair is both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because you can keep it curly and then straighten it when necessary, but it's a nightmare when you try to tame it and keep 'frizzasters' at bay! With that being said, I LOVE having curls (despite numerous comments that I should straighten my hair) and I probably take to a hair iron 4 times a year, the last time being 9 months ago ( it's such a rare occurrence that it's hard to forget :P). Even though my hair is short, I try to play around with it and do different styles. My go-to hairdo is the simple twist back and (tiny) bun at the nape of the neck. Sometimes, adding a headband can instantly spruce up an outfit. I also like pulling one side of my hair back with a cute clip that complements my outfit.

One of my biggest style inspirations is Rachel Bilson of O.C. fame. Her wardrobe in her latest series, Hart of Dixie, is absolutely perfect ( and I love the fact that we have very similar body structures!!). All the pieces she dons are cute and comfy, and ooze style in every aspect. They complement her petite physique and highlight the best parts of her figure. Below are two of my all-time favorites of Dr. Zoe Hart's ensembles.

Here are some of my recent ensembles:

For the women's meeting, I decided to go with pink, pearls and curls :)

I chose this fun, cute outfit for a day of gallivanting in Dubai. The jumpsuit(American Eagle Outfitters) and leggings were gifts, the black lace pumps are from New Look and the bag is from Accessorize.

I incorporated an arm party to add pizzazz to the whole look.

This traditional look was what I opted for when we attended church in Dubai. I love having my shalwars tailor-made because they fit so perfectly!

I put together this outfit of black culottes, a pink tee and belt for our day stay at Al Barsha.

Happy styling!

Sonamu - a Korean dining experience

This culinary adventure started when I visited the Korean stall at Global Day in AUS about two months ago. My expert throwing skills won me a gift certificate for the chef's special set menu for two at Sonamu in Asiana Hotel, Deira. With the expiry date drawing near (precisely in two days :P), I decided to put the voucher to good use and I took my mum along for the ride. We got all dressed up and prepped our tummies for the lunch.

The restaurant was very pretty (unfortunately, I did not get any pictures of it) with a pleasant ambiance and it was tastefully decorated in shades of brown and orange. Though I liked the wooden floors at the entrance, they made my heels sound VERY noisy! The staff were courteous and helpful. As we started tucking into the courses, little did we know that there would be eight of them!! Note that we are people who eat very little, so we weren't quite prepared for the quantity. As for the taste, I was quite impressed and I enjoyed the meal (what I ate of it, that is).

I apologize in advance for the poor picture quality - we were seated in a rather dark corner.

The first course was tuna with lotus chips, and after that came Korean crepes with mustard sauce. There was a bite to the crepes that I think came from horseradish in the filling.

The third course almost caused me to puke though. It was RAW fish on ice. I don't even do cooked fish (except for the canned variety), so I won't even THINK about uncooked fish. Hence, we had to politely asked the waiters to take it away.

Next came some chicken and scallop satay that were quite delish. This was followed by a seafood noodle dish with mushrooms, which we enjoyed. We actually thought that this was the last course before dessert, but we were wrong!

The sixth course was snow fish, which I politely declined because, as I mentioned before, I am not a fan of fish.

After ALL of this came the main course, finally. It was a beef dish with rice and horseradish soup. My mum even asked if there was anything more to come because we were already stuffed. The waiter seemed quite surprised that we were full!!

The dessert was the dish with which I was least impressed. It was some chewy dough with a brown filling. Nothing much to it.

All in all, the whole experience was quite satisfactory, but if you were to ask me if I would go back there, I would probably say, "Only if I get to choose what I eat!"

This is the outfit I picked for the lunch: a blue waterfall skirt, black blouse and black heels with some gold accessories.

Happy eating!

P.S. If the food in the pictures looks half eaten, it probably is - I usually forget to take photos of it before I start eating :P

Mini Shoe Haul

"They had a sale!!!" Isn't that always a valid excuse for stocking up on a few pairs of shoes? So that's exactly what I did last Saturday. I got myself 4 pairs of brand spanking new shoes :D

This first pair isn't part of my recent haul, but I just had to include them. They are so dainty and girly yet have a take charge kind of look. At four inches, they are the highest heels I own.

Every girl needs a pair of white ballet flats and since my old pairs were getting worn out, I grabbed this simple design that will go with any outfit.

Here are my reasons for buying the following pair: Shoe express was having an amazing sale and I don't have pink shoes! Quite simple isn't it?

I think these boots are just fab! And I'm totally loving the floral design on the inside and the versatility of the boots; you can wear them pulled up or folded down :)

The last pair I snagged was these lovely, lace boots in a beige color. They are girly, but the cut makes it edgy.

Of course, this leaves me with the dilemma of how I'm going to carry all my shoes to Canada and if I'll have space to keep them, but it's worth the doing a bit of planning for!

Happy styling!

BreakFAST

Since I haven't done a cooking post in a while, I decided to take to the kitchen for some b'fast. One thing you must know about me, however, is that my breakfast recipes need to be super quick because my stomach does not have the patience to endure a half an hour of cooking. Hence, these almond pancakes were the perfect recipe with which to start the day.

All I used was half a cup of almond flour, about a half teaspoon of cinnamon, some stevia and four eggs (you can add only the egg whites if you wish). The original recipe called for some nutmeg too, but since I'm not a fan  of the spice, I eliminated it. The next step is to put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk away with a fork.

Then, pour the batter in a pan (add some oil beforehand) and cook till you've got beautiful almond pancakes!!

I added some pancake syrup and strawberry sauce for some added sweetness (and yes, sadly, one of them got messed up when I flipped it over). The entire process took me all of ten minutes, so I had a satisfied tummy :) The pancakes taste like nutty omelettes and I'm loving it the new flavor!!

Happy cooking!