The Silver LiningBeloved
Posted on February 19, 2014
Attending a wedding of someone precious to you is always an absolute delight. I particularly love to study the faces of family members, almost living vicariously and feeling lifted by the emotions so clearly written in their expressions.
Noted here. A mother’s tender but intensely proud and protective stance, beaming with happiness over her daughter, the bride. The bride, a grown woman but forever a daughter, bowed in love and ultimate respect.
The hands and richly embroidered garments of three women. Mother-in-law, bride and her mother. White, universally symbolic of pureness of heart and devotion. Hands dipped and decorated to reflect the deep religious and cultural traditions that ceremonialise this marriage. They are dyed with the runes of blessings.
A groom, finally allowed to see his beloved on this special day. He bends down to kiss her gently on the forehead, face cupped exquisitely in his hands.
Excitement barely contained behind her veil.
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Marina Bay
Posted on February 14, 2014
Wearing – Cameo top, Marcs shorts (similar), Senso sandals (in black), Naomi Murrell earrings and bracelet, Le Specs sunglasses, Clover backpack
This outfit is pretty atypical for me. I mean, if you hadn’t already noticed, I’ve pretty much launched myself headfirst into the latest 90s fashion revival and embraced crop tops, denim denim denim, and little flippy dresses with daisies printed on them. Soon, I’ll be getting one of those hats a la Blossom.
This look started with the shoes. I went into Zomp looking for black flatform sandals but came out with these killer Senso ones. I mean, a silver heel? Who wouldn’t!?!? But they just stuck out of my existing wardrobe like a sore thumb. Interestingly, all the other components of this outfit are also complete impulse buys that are out of keeping with my usual aesthetic, but somehow they match each other perfectly! This look may grown on me yet.
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Henna
Posted on February 12, 2014
The intricate markings adorning the hands and feet of the beaming bride-to-be trace back to a tradition centuries old in its origin.
Other ladies belonging to the bride’s family are also decorated as such, but none as complex or beautiful as those that grace the bride.
She is the most blessed, the most joyous, the beloved.
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Singapore Travel Diary {Happy Chinese New Year!}
Posted on February 10, 2014
Chinese New Year 2014 was an entirely new experience for me! Being born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Chinese New Year never quite features on the list of publicly celebrated holidays! Oh, we do celebrate it with much eating of steamboat and handing out of ang pao (red money packets) but it’s all very much a family affair.
Walking around Singapore during the week before Chinese New Year, there is no denying the excitement and festive feeling in the air – literally! Everywhere you go your senses are bombarded. Rows upon rows of bright red decorations promise prosperity and good luck for the year to come. Shopping centre stereos blare “Dong dong dong chiang! Gong xi ni! Gong xi fa cai!” (Congratulations, happy new year!). People rush around making sure that their houses are filled to overflowing with food and special symbolic items such as oranges and mandarins for abundance and good fortune, and gourds for good health and prosperity. Preparations must all be made ready in time for the first day of New Year as it is believed that the state of your household at the start of the year reflects your fortunes to be in the upcoming year. And Chinese people wholeheartedly believe that more is more!
Singapore goes into a heady and happy furore in the lead up to Chinese New Year Eve and celebrates the big night with a citywide party! Then, the city that never slows down becomes peculiarly quiet as people spend the following days visiting their family and neighbours, a time where there is no greater priority than connecting with each other. If only there were more days like these.
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Featured on ONA blog
Posted on February 8, 2014
Come check out our feature on the ONA blog! We were absolutely thrilled to be approached by ONA as we are already super mega fans of their amazing camera bags. The article showcases some of our all-time favourite photos and a bit about us and our little blog.
To find out more about their products, head over to their site and be sure to watch our review about the lovely Palma bag I’m carrying.
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Oven Baked Tomato Sauce
Posted on January 29, 2014
Many many years from now, I’d like to retire and have a small backyard orchard, full of productive fruit and vegetable crops. We would have far too much of everything to know what to do with, and we’d give it all away to family, friends, and neighbours. With all the extra tomatoes we’d grow, we would make litres of tomato sauce and bottle it up, becoming slightly famous as a result (because it tastes so damn good). It would be idyllic.
Well, the other day, I could scarcely believe it when my parents gave me 2kg of tomatoes. Here was my chance to have a head-start on retirement and make some homemade pasta sauce!
– Jinn
Oven Baked Tomato Sauce
This is a great base sauce that can be enjoyed by itself on pasta, served with fresh basil and parmesan, or in a casserole, stew or with meatballs. It can be left on its own in the oven for hours, allowing you to get on and do other things!
Ingredients:
- 1kg tomatoes – cored with seeds removed and roughly chopped
- 2 carrots, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves of garlic finely chopped
- 2/3 cup of olive oil
- 2/3 cup of red wine or red wine vinegar
- 15 basil leaves – torn up
- Salt and pepper to taste at the end
- Preheat oven to 150C
Method:
- Mix all ingredients together in a 2L casserole or dutch oven, even a roasting pan will do. Cover and bake for at least 2 hrs – baking for longer will result in a more concentrated sauce.
- Allow to cool.
- Blend the sauce until smooth with a food processor.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Bottle it up and give to your family and friends.
- Easy as!
Adapted and altered recipe for pasta sauce from Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Companion.
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Joy
Posted on January 24, 2014
We recently hosted the surprise birthday party of one of my absolute best of friends. I can barely remember a time that I didn’t know Dan, she always lived just a few streets away from me when we were growing up. We did many a sleepover, were choir nerds together, threw smoke bombs at Chinese school together, survived private girls’ schooling together, and then survived most of med school together. Our lives have essentially been the amalgamation of Glee, Ja’mie: Private School Girl (we weren’t Ja’mie), and Grey’s Anatomy with a splash of Karate Kid. (C’mon, you know you wanna watch that crane kick scene.)
Things have led me of late to pull apart and really evaluate the things I truly value. And it really boils down to one thing. Relationships.
More than ever, I appreciate and treasure these lifelong and genuine friendships. I could shave my head, pick my nose, share the highest of highs and most recently, the lowest of lows, and these girls will never desert me. Some friends come and go, but these ones stay a while. A long, long while. And I love them for it.
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Push th’ little daisies
Posted on January 20, 2014
Wearing – Topshop dress, The Horse shoes, Robert Marc sunglasses (similar), vintage handbag
You guys remember that song, right? Well, okay, if you’re a child of my generation growing up in Australia and you can actually remember what people dressed like in the 90s, you too would have been plagued by the psychedelic, positively deranged chorus of this song. If you need a refresher, are less than 20 years old or would like to do some insane karaoke sing-along, watch the music video here. If you’re too impatient to wait until the song finally reaches its insane-in-the-membrane peak, click along to 1:50 and dance along (read: bizarre hand-flapping movements and willy nilly throwing of one’s self onto the grass).
P.S. Fun fact: This song was voted 40th in Triple J’s Annual Hottest 100 music poll in 1993. Say whaaaat?
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Down South
Posted on January 17, 2014
Heading “Down South” is a common turn of phrase in this part of the world. Invariably it means going on a road trip to one of the beautiful towns south of Perth, getting away from city life, relaxing on the beach and taking it easy. Late last year when Steve visited us from Scotland, I took the chance to show him how beautiful this part of the world is. We ate cheese, drank wine, sat on the beach, took photos, mountain biked and spotted some whales, kangaroos and possums. Poor Sarah couldn’t join as due to work commitments but happily we both have some leave and are scheduled to make a return visit very soon!
– Jinn
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Palma bag by ONA – a review
Posted on January 15, 2014
The Palma by ONA Bags is one of the sexiest camera bags around. Perfect for serious bloggers, photographers or anyone who wants to look good whilst still being able to carry the goods.
Most camera bags look exactly like that – camera bags. Utilitarian and unstylish. This bag is the complete opposite.
Amazing craftsmanship, gorgeous leather and texture cleverly house a fully-padded interior with room enough for a full-frame DSLR and up to two extra lenses. On top of that, you’ll find space for your handbag essentials, such as your phone, wallet and keys plus a lippie and a hairbrush. Yes, this is actually Mary Poppins’ bag! The design also includes a slim front pocket, which is where I choose to slip my phone, but an iPad mini or notebook could probably fit here. You’ll find if your wallet is large (like me) there will only be room for one extra lens but a more streamline wallet would easily fix that issue.
Agreed, it can get a little heavy if you really pack it full of stuff, but ONA have thought of that too! The shoulder strap has an added piece that is slightly padded and broader than the rest of the strap, preventing that horrible “digging in” phenomenon. Plus, for ease of use and as an alternative if your shoulder gets sore, there’s also a nifty and uber cute handle located on the top of the bag.
At $319, it’s not the cheapest bag on the market, but you certainly get what you pay for. And as an investment item, you can’t go wrong. The quality of the Palma will ensure it will last for years to come and its classy appearance will make it a constantly stylish companion by your side, whatever your look.
Check out the video below to see the Palma in action.
The Silver Lining 