Happy New Year 2014! ( No, this is not a resolution post)

Well hello there, it most certainly has been awhile since my last post. Let's just say that the workload became rather insane but then again that is part of being a school of education student. We always joke that it's one of the best weight (and hair) loss programs in the world! Exaggerated? No, we kid you not!

Anyway, enough griping. I just want to wish all you bloggers and readers out there a Happy New Year 2013a for the superstitious and 2014 for those who are not :)

Wooly Wednesdays - Sad termination

Unfortunately Uni life has taken its toll on me and I now have to reduce my posting. I also don't really have time to make stuff anymore so Wooly Wednesdays will be posted only when I have time to post.

I know you feel sad because I am partly devastated! I say partly because I actually really enjoy my lesson even if it does take a lot of time and energy from me. I feel that it's totally worth it and I'm willing to invest all this time and effort into it!

Don't miss me too much! I will still be posting on Monday's and Friday's as usual. In fact I have some cool stuff lined up for Friday! Wait for it, people!! Really sorry about having to stop posting on Wednesday's!

Yes, I'm sad too but may this picture of a cute baby from the web make up for it.

Asia Colion

Munching Mondays - Lotus root soup!

Hello everyone! Getting into the groove of uni life. It's been hectic but I am loving it! My excitement cannot be contained!

In celebration of my first day of class and many more to come, I shall cook up some lotus root soup for dinner.

I love all kinds of clear soups. I think one of my favorite is pinto bean soup(the clear one) Other than chinese soups I love 'tong sui' which is usually warm sweet soup. As weird as that sounds, I promise that its not weird. It's really nice and it's my form of comfort food.

Okay, I've gotta nerd it out! Let me know what's your favorite comfort food!

See you next time!

Asia Colion

Funtastic Fridays - Nerdy fun!

Okay you'll think I'm mad for trying to make studying into a 'fun' post but I must say that working on this project is tough and I may or may not have shed unseen tears because of it. HOWEVER!!

It is pretty fun if  I don't think of it as work. I really need to change my mindset planning a four day English program should be fun by right? Right?!?

So I will force my brain to make it fun. Mind over matter! For now, this is my situation:

So much  fun!

See you on Monday!

Asia Colion

Wooly Wednesday - Shoes at last?

Another late post again! Sorry! Classes started and then everything went downhill. I am planning to make the shoes sometime this week end hopefully. Planning to do some Mary Jane skimmer like these or something!

will post pictures soon!

Asia Colion

Munching Mondays - Soya beans and meat replacing

I'm not a vegetarian but I do go vegetarian for one week in a month (sometimes I eat meat during that week  because I'm not that disciplined but mostly veggies are eaten)

I don't do this for health reasons. I'm healthy-ish and have no allergies to dairy or gluten product. It's just an excuse for me to eat more veggies because, have I ever mentioned that I love veggies? I LOVE THEM!

However, vegetarian food available in Malaysia has imitation meat which contains a lot of flavoring and additives to give it a similar taste of meat.Not to mention can sometime be very overpriced.

 No offense to vegetarians, but I'm honestly and sincerely confused as to why you eat imitation meat? Could someone please enlighten this poor uncultured soul?

Moving on, so I usually eat tofu and eggs to sub proteins but recently, I came across a bag of dried soya beans. I bought it thinking I would make soya milk (which I will) but it's really rather a lot of soya beans.

And then it hit me! I could use soya beans as a protein substitute as well! Thus this blog post was born (fanfares and grand music!)

To use dry soya beans, you need to re-hydrate them by soaking them for 8 hours at least. I just soaked them overnight. Pop them into a bowl with enough water to cover two times the amount of soya beans and say goodnight.

 The next day, your soya beans should look like the one on the right (double the size). The one on the left is a dry bean.

 I wanted to use these beans as minced meat so i gave them a little roast in the over for about 10 minutes to get that chewy meat texture

Pop them into a grinder and.....

Voila! soya bean pulp. Now go and do what ever you want with it. Search for recipe's using soy bean pulp or okara.

I think I'll use this to make okara cookies next time!

Asia Colion

Funtastic Fridays - Of culture and tradition!

If you've noticed, yesterday, Google's logo changed because it was mid autumn festival! Being a Malaysian Chinese, I feel that I have probably lost huge chunks of my Chinese culture.

In fact, I always tell my mother that I'm very Westernized from my speech (mah Chinese is so broken ya can't fix it back together! Yo mama jokes) to my dressing.

Mainly for practicality, Malaysian Chinese don't wear cheongsam's and samfoo's. It's too hot here.
Also, My lecturer insists that it was the Manchurian's who wore them. But aren't they a Chinese tribe too!?!?

Not to mention, I originate from a big-ish city (Petaling Jaya) where you don't greet your neighbors because the uncles and aunties just stare at you grumpily in response when you do, talk about extinguishing a behavior! Let's just say, our community life is rather non-existent.

However, during the mid-autumn festival, we do send mooncakes to our relatives and friends. I'm so un-Chinese, I don't know why we do it but we do...I think its kind of like an Chinese thanksgiving where we give it to people to say thanks for being around! or something...feel free to correct me if I'm wrong because I most probably am. Haha!

Mooncake.

Just in case you get the feeling that I'm completely smug about the fact that I don't know much about my culture. I am not! In fact I'm super embarrassed about it and I'm working on it! I promise!

Anyway, enough chatter about me and on to the exciting(or at least I thought it was exciting)  part!

I went out with two lovely girls for dinner/supper last night at a shop in a small town called Broga and people of Broga town just congregated at this community hall and were celebrating mid-autumn festival with flair!

It was seriously amazing!I mean the whole town, everyone chatting together and having fun...its just blows my puny little big city person mind (I'm not contradicting myself, read that again if you must :P) 

Here are some not so good quality pictures that I somehow managed to catch with my phone. I'm apologize about that but they were walking on the streets together and I was just too amazed and surprised.

Dragon dance walking down the streets!

Followed by lion dancers complete with percussion!

Practically the whole town with their grandparents and kids walking with lanterns after the dragon and lions

There was this awesome feeling of community which I probably never or hardly experienced before and it just makes me feel all warm, fuzzy, and happy inside. I really hope that, one day, I too will be able to find and live in such a harmonious community.

Over and out!

Asia Colion

Wooly Wednesdays - Lacy doorknob cover

Hello everyone! I know I said I wanted to do footwear last Wednesday but I recently moved back to the jungle where I learn how to be a special educator A.K.A University and....

I saw these really cute doorknob covers which are actually to stop children from opening doors and hurting themselves (or something to that effect)

But they were so cute and I thought to myself I could use it for aesthetic reasons (I love pretty things a lot!)

Thus, I made my own! Tada!

I had to modify it so that I could still fit my key into the lock haha!

This is what it looks like opened. makes a good doily if you don't want to cover your doorknobs.

Just some feminine, lacy, ribbony, goodness! 

If you live in a cold country and hate touching cold doorknobs you could probably do this in a less lacy pattern to give you something warm and soft to touch when opening doors. Just a suggestion. :)

Asia Colion

Munching Mondays- Garlic smelling hands

I really have an insane craving for mac and cheese now but I only have healthy food with me. Hence, I will have a healthy dinner TOMORROW! (Procrastinators unite!)

So, my hands smell like garlic and I find that rather yucky but at least I won't have to cut garlic for a long time. Why ?

The trick for cooking which I use to reduce my cooking time is to pre-chop my garlic and store them in cooking oil then put it in the fridge.

It's completely safe! I have been doing this for the whole of my previous semester and I did not have any stomach discomfort nor did Sienna. (My ex-roomie and the person with the lacy purple scarf)

After all you only need two things: Garlic and oil (prefably not olive because you can't heat olive oil  too much or it will be bad for your health.) I used vegetable oil(Palm oil, I think.)

How I did it?

1. Crush and peel garlic
2.  Chop garlic finely
3. Put in an air tight glass jar (or clean old pasta sauce bottles)
4. Fill jar with oil till you cover the garlic
5. Put in fridge

As you can see the oil solidifies. This is completely normal and a good thing! Reason?

You can  now control the amount of oil you use without accidentally pouring out too much into the pan while cooking.

You also get Garlic infuse oil. How do we use it now that we have a jar full of garlic in oil? (and garlic smelling hands)

1. Grab a spoon
2. Scoop out the amount of oil garlic mixture
3. Drop into warm pan 
4. Fry garlic till golden brown
5. Stir fry vegetable/meat
   or
6. Put the oil  and fried garlic into a bowl and add in some soy sauce for a simple dressing

Hope you found this tip useful :)

Asia Colion

Funtastic Fridays - Movie!

It's Friday, I'm in love.

So I decided to do something mainstream today. Purely because I have run out of hipster ideas but the hipster in me lives still! 

I'm one of those people who are never current with movies. Honestly, I'm not really bothered about it unless I'm hanging out with movie buffs ( Half of the time I feel like I am.) So I watched Mary Poppins today.

 

If you have never watched it in your entire life, you SHOULD. I know  it's old but you know old is gold. In addition to Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews, you're in for a good feel good time.

Spoilers if you haven't watched but it's still a pretty cool video

That's all for today. I'm totally out of ideas on what next to blog on Fridays and I'm open to suggestions! Do let me know what you'd like to read about on Fridays. :)

Asia Colion

Wooly Wednesdays - Crochet shoes?

Now that Andy's scarf is done my next project seems rather ambitious but oh so pretty! I can't help myself.
I think, like most girls I have a weakness for pretty feminine things.

Super pretty and feminine!

Really excited about this. I hope to be able to come up with an outdoor version. I mean come on! These are waaaay too pretty to be worn around the house. Any normal  crochet-er/knitter would wanna show off this handy work! Honestly, it deserves to be shown off!

Or perhaps something less ambitious like barefoot sandals although I have no use for them other than for aesthetic reasons

Aren't these just gorgeous?! I don't know who made these but they are so talented!

Choices, choices. I can't decide. Which one do you think I should attempt?

Asia Colion

Munching Mondays! - Wanton Wontons

This is what I have for lunch today!

Homemade wonton soup noodles!

Me wrapping the wontons (Mother dearest prepared everything, I just wrapped the wontons)

The funny story starts here.

Before I was requested to wrap wontons, I was chatting with a friend  when I told him:

Me: Hey I have to go wrap some WANTONS. brb
Friend: Wrap wantons? What?
           Noun: A sexually immodest or promiscuous woman
           ???

And of course when I came back I had  the laugh of my life although I'm not really sure he found it funny.

Anyway, I explained to him what i meant and that in Cantonese we pronounce is as "wan tan" like "Wan tan mee." 

Gosh! Imagine what he must have been thinking while I was wrapping wontons clueless-ly!!

Asia running around the red-light district like a maniac and wrapping clothes around immodest women while screaming at them: REPENT AND DRESS MODESTLY!!

Then dashing on to the next woman and leaving a trail of havoc in my wake! So much fun and excitement!

Haha! I wish for adventure and excitement in my life so I can only dream about it for now. I hope you had a good laugh with this post! :D

Do let me know if you've ever encountered funny moments from a misunderstanding. Spread the laughter ;)

Asia Colion

  

Funtastic Fridays - Tea time therapy

Hello everyone! It's Friday again! This week has been rather hectic for me and here's why:

Yup that's my closet and practically all my clothes left. Give me a ":)" for arranging it according to the colours of the rainbow.  

The other half belongs to my sister. Some people may think that's so little clothes other would think it's a lot of clothes. Well I think it's TOO MUCH clothes! It's been  a nightmare. So this Friday, I'm gonna have myself  some tea time therapy!

What's tea time therapy? Guys probably won't understand this but if you ever want to make a girl happy, this might (all girls are different after all) help.

Felt Asian today.

Some girls enjoy going to really cute (probably pricey) tea places. Why? Because it's cute and it make us feel happy and pampered. But if you're on a tight budget, putting in the effort to make  your own tea time set up a little prettier would be even better!

Don't feel Asian? By all means go Western!

FromFalling leaves 25th/afternoon tea party. If you like artsy stuff you'll love her!

All you need is some tea and pastries. If you have cute tablecloth, cups and teapots WHY NOT?! Just go for it!

There is something just charming about having tea time by yourself if you set it up nicely. It doesn't have to be elaborate. I don't know how others feel about it but to me, it's like having a tea party without having to go through the small talk (I'm not very good at it that's why) and major preparation and clean up. All in all, I find this fun and therapeutic (very relaxing to just sit down and drink tea for no reason). 

That's all for my funtastic Friday, gotta get back to packing those clothes! :'(

Asia Colion

Wooly Wednesdays - Andy's scarf

Still working on Andy's scarf this week. This one is probably going to be the last post about it because I have to finish and present it to him before he leaves.

Okay, I'll be honest, I have been slacking off on the scarf (Andy, if you're reading this, I'm sorry!) coupled with work from my internship, packing up things for the beginning of my semester in Unicorn and preparing to move things from house to house, falling sick (I sound like a very sexy frog, if frogs talk) and blogging preparing for my first time ever worship leading. It's been pretty hard to keep up with the scarf.

Has grown twice it's  length since last Wednesday!

Enough of my groaning and moaning. I was thinking of sewing an extra felt lining to cover up the back of the scarf this will make it nice and toasty for cold weathers since acrylic yarn isn't the warmest thing for making a scarf with. It's going to look so fabulous!

See how the back has those tiny running lines along the top right diagonal? Gonna hide those!

People will spot Andy from miles away and they will call him, the guy with the checkered scarf and everybody will know that the guy with the checkered scarf is Andy. 

My mission would then be accomplished. What's my mission? Well, it's to make conversational pieces of work (scarf in this case) which people will talk about and recognize from miles away.

Well, Andy, better be prepared for all the attention the girls gonna give ya, I hope you like it! ;)

 Asia Colion

Munching Mondays - Meal planning (mp) week 1 execution!

This is going to be my first meal plan ever. Join in my quest to healthier and convenient eating. If you're too busy to do it yourself you could use mine but I eat a lot of food (especially veggies) that people dislike.

Tada! So this is my meal plan for lunches

Avocado Tuna pasta salad with grapes!

And an up close

It probably doesn't look particularly nice now but I can assure you, it was really tasty. What's more, it was so easy to make! What's not to love? :)

The only hard part was waiting for lunch time to come (I prepared this before going to work) :D

Leave me a comment on how you like your pasta. See next post!

Asia Colion

Funtastic Fridays - No bake cake ( batik cake/ hedgehog slice)

Warning! This post is ultra long. Warning! This post is ultra long. Warning!

Everybody loves Friday except for everyone else who doesn't (me included). Why would anyone n dislike Fridays? Well in Malaysia, Friday is the day of terrible traffic because of several factors. 

Malaysian traffic often looks like this or worse.

Going chronologically: 

• 'Overly happy because it's the last day  of work for the week' workers heading off to work in the morning. ( Fine, this occurs every day minus the happy part.)
• Our Muslim friends have prayers in the afternoon = traffic jam. (You guys face the worst of it because you have to go out to pray. Sorry bout the jams :/ )
• Friday night fever people (All you crazy happening people who go out after work to partay the night away)

So obviously for all us spoil sport people who don't like Friday jams, we need a little Friday fun! What better way to have fun than to eat a deliciously rich  and fudgy chocolate cake and decline into obesity?

This is Wendyinkk's batik cake! So pretty! You have to check out Wendyinkk's blog tutorial, it's much clearer!

 I am fully aware that some people dislike chocolate but this one's for the rest of us who do.

Making cakes = The hassle of  baking a cake and the clean up that comes with it and let's admit it, there are those cakes which turn out like an alien baby from Uranus or something. 

I've probably convincingly discouraged you from trying by now. But fear not!! This no bake batik cake/hedgehog slice  is so SIMPLE and FAIL PROOF. You will NOT end up with an alien baby from Uranus. I promise!

Okay  enough chatter and down to getting this cake in our tummies! (There are a lot of different versions of this recipe on the web, mine is reduced sweetness so it's quite bitter)

Things you need:

1. Measuring cups (if you don't have these, using a small glass cup might work)
2. Baking paper ( or you can grease your container with butter/margarine)
3. Container of any shape to house your cake (usually square ones are good)
4. Pot and stove (if you don't have this, you probably can't make this cake...)

Ingredients ( My recipe is reduced sugar ):

1. 1 cup of water (250 ml)
2. 1 cup of cocoa powder
3. 1/2 to 1 cup of Milo/ drinking chocolate powder
4. 1/2 cups of brown sugar (if you like things sweet you can use 1 cup)
5. 125 g of butter/ margarine ( Roughly half a stick. Salted/ unsalted? Up to you.)
6. 3 eggs
7. 1 pkt of Marie Biscuits

Method (read to the end before doing anything):

1. Put ingredients 1,2,3,4 in a pot on low heat. Mix until combined.
2. Add in ingredients 5 and 6 in the same pot and stir until chocolate sauce coats your spoon. Turn heat off
   
   For people who want a nice even pattern or if you just have OCD and need things to be neat:
3. Arrange a layer of Marie biscuit to cover the base of your container
4. Pour chocolate sauce to cover the biscuits. Now add another layer of biscuits and repeat this process till you finish your chocolate sauce. 
5. Now proceed to step 8
   
   Alternately, if doing step 3 and 4 is too much of a hassle for you non-OCD folks:
6. Simply break the Marie biscuits into halves or quarters (or just break those buggers anyhow) and chuck it all into the chocolate sauce.
7. Stir to coat the biscuit pieces and pour into container.
8. Push the whole mixture down with a spoon to compress it. If you used baking paper, you can fold that on top and press down WITH A SPOON because we don't want hot chocolate sauce burning your hands.

   

   The mess on the right is what happens when you press it down
                        

   (The biscuits may shift about when you do this so please don't panic if something pops out of place, just keep pressing them back down)
9. Now chuck the container in the fridge and give yourself a pat on the shoulder.
10. Do the chicken dance.
11. Take a shower with your clothes on.
12.  Change out of your wet clothes
13. Do a twirl
14. Now, ONLY do step 1 to 9
15. Take cake out of the fridge when you're sure it's set (It usually takes 3-5 hours but if it doesn't seem to be setting,which usually happens to me, put it in the freezer in fact leave it over night in the fridge.)
16. Impress yourself , enjoy your cake and gain some weight. (Weight gaining may be optional if you don't eat it that is...) 
17. Wash up your saucepan, measuring cups and everything you used.
    DO NOT NEGLECT THIS STEP OR YOUR PARENT'S/HOUSEMATES/PEOPLE YOU LIVE WITH ARE GOING TO BE SO ANNOYED!!!

I hope you had fun :)

Asia Colion

Wooly Wednesdays - Gifts for flighty friends

This is one of my favorite things to do to past time other than reading. But in Malaysia, it's just too hot to wear any of these thick and warm scarves. Fortunately, I have friends who go overseas to cooler climes.

The perfect invitation to try out  those scarf patterns which I thought I'd never make! PLUS, handmade gifts are always well received. :)

But you say "Asia, this is Malaysia, the weather is ALWAYS hot and humid!"

My response to that is this:

A lacy decorative scarf I made for Sienna Newton Ho

Picture of the scarf courtesy of the owner, my friend, Sienna. Thanks for the pictures!

The next one up is Andy's scarf. The thing I love about making scaves is that both men and women can use it. (I've always found it easier to get gifts for girls :P )

My friend, Miemie told me that the colour scheme for this one reminds her of a Disney villain theme colour.

Andy,if you're reading this, people always make jokes about your future occupation being somewhat villainous. It must be a sign! 

Still in progress. I apologise for the bad lighting.

What do you think makes good gifts for friends who are leaving the country to further their studies? Let me know in the comments sections! :D

Asia Colion

Munching Mondays- Meal planning?

Choices, choices.

Remember those times when your friend asks you "What do you want to eat?" And you immediately hate them for asking you something which you yourself haven't the foggiest idea? 

When I mention "meal planning", you're probably thinking of housewife duties (no sandwich jokes please). In fact, meal planning, will help you answering that dreaded question. 

Man, go make your own sandwich.

Even more so  if you plan to prepare your own meals because if you're anything like me, you'll find yourself standing by the stove for 30 minutes and still unsure of what to cook.

So why meal planning? 

3 Benefits of meal planning

·        Saves time

o   No more standing in front of that stove for 30 minutes thinking of what to cook for dinner.

o   No more walking around the food aisle wondering which ingredient to buy

·        Saves money

o   No more finding you have to run out to Tesco/Coldstorage/Ben's/etc..)

o   No more buying ingredients which you will find in your fridge weeks later in the process of decomposing

·        Need to shed some pounds/kg?

o   Planning out what you’re going to eat within the week can help you count and cut unnecessary calories

o   Easily monitor what kinds of food we eat to maintain a balanced diet.

Still think meal planning is for sissy people? Then join me for the next blog post on my weekly meal plans to have a glimpse of the benefits without having to do the actual work yourself :D

See you next time ~

Asia Colion

An Insomniacnight's dream - Party rock, Granny!

Yes, even insomniacs have dreams. It's kind of like daydreaming only at night and the dream is so captivating that it keeps me awake.

I used to try to write stories using 10 random words but I've never succeeded. So this time I chanced upon a writing prompt generator which seems to be primary school level.

Here it is!-->http://www.jc-schools.net/write/create.htm

I guess my writing level permanently stuck there. Oh, the nostalgia! You're probably thinking: Good Lord! No! She's going to write one. And right you are!

My prompt was:

"You awake from a nap only to discover you are 80 years old.  Describe what happens next."

   Upon waking, everything felt stiff. Immediately, I had a sense of certain doom, something obviously wasn't right. Swinging my legs off the bed like usual was something I would regret, for from that single action an orchestra of "cracks" and "pops" ensued. I could feel my panic(and pain) rising as I hurried, or tried to hurry, to my mirror. 

   The mirror had become my enemy during my short nap for what I saw within was a grandmother who was wearing my clothes. Try imagining granny in really short shorts and a tank top. On second thought, don't. It took me almost a minute to come to realization that the dazed looking granny in the mirror was me.

   Horrified at this outcome, I ran/hobbled as quickly as a could to my parents room to find my mother serenely painting her nails.She looked up at me and said: 

"My goodness! I told you to sleep early and take proper care of your skin. You should used all those face products I bought for you ."

"Mother, I am quite sure what you're see-ing is much more than just a skin deep issue." I retorted. Stunned with my mother's comment and half impressed with my own ability to respond coherently to her statement.

"Anyway, there is some supper in the kitchen if you're hungry and remember to take your supplements." My mother replied.

Still reeling from my mother's response, I shuffled to the kitchen(e-e-everyday I'm shufflin')  with my eyes to the ground. I spotted a trail of supplement pills leading to the back door, looking out into the back yard I found an 'x' mark at the end of the trail. Mother obviously wanted me to find this, it was really suspicious. Over come by my curiousity, I poked the 'x' mark with my toes and the next thing I knew, I was fell through a dug pit landed on a waterbed.

   At the botttom of the pit I found a bottle labeled "youthfulness". Finally, something to end this nightmare! I downed it without a second thought and suddenly all the aches and pains were gone, I could move like I used to when I was 17! I must be healed! Suddenly my mother pop-ed her head over the pit and pulled me out. She took a glance at me and sighed. "Well, at least only your outside appearance looks like an 80 year old. I guess my eternal youth potion failed again." She said.

   And the it all came rushing back to me. My mother accidentally turned me into an 80 year old woman in her quest for a potion of eternal youth and has been trying to undo the effect of the potion ever since. The only consistant effect of her potions was to make people forget after they remembered what happened or maybe my self defence was to erase the traumatizing memory. I spent the rest of my days shufflin' (cue party rock song)

I'm not on drugs, just lack of sleep. Sorry for party rockin'~

Asia Colion

Introdution for the re-vamped blog

I've had this blog for 6 years now and I have wiped all my previous posts. Reasons?

1. It was embarrassingly immature and bratty

Probably don't have to give any more reasons than that. In hopes of starting something less immature and bratty I have decided to turn over a new blog! 

What will this blog be about?

Random topics of a Malaysian female university student trying to grow up right and not mess up too much in life because, let's admit it, we can't live perfect lives. What better way to live down the embarrassment than to poke fun at myself and laugh if off. 

Have fun laughing at with me.

Asia Colion