Mother of all updates

This is going to be an epic update. I've been meaning to update for a while now but had problems uploading photos on the lappy. Here is a summary of the last few weeks of my life.

LA

Yay!! I went to LA  for a couple of days earlier this month. HOW I LOVE LA!!! The sun, shopping, people, food....basically, EVERYTHING! Unfortunately my camera ran out of batteries like a few hours into the trip and I forgot to bring the battery charger, so only managed to take a few photos before my camera died. Story of my life.

Waiting for our 9am flight

First stop after getting out of LAX: IN AND OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Checking into our hotel

Why hello roomie =)

Gorgeous water feature

All that sun hurts my eyes

Our daily morning Starbucks run

Time to bring out the summer dresses.

I must comment on one of the best discoveries ever made. Pink Berry.

The best frozen yoghurt you will ever have.

The only time I will sacrifice dinner so I can fill my tummy up with dairy goodness. The only time I will go back to a frozen yoghurt place TWICE in one day. The only time I will almost miss my flight back home to get one more hit of that creamy deliciousness.

Unlimited toppings baby!

And guess what guys, they use NON fat milk and NON fat yoghurt. So its actually healthy for you (that is what they tell me and that is what I shall believe). Do yourselves a favour, if you are ever in LA, grab some Pinkberry!!!

Wow, that was such a fun but intense trip. In the three days I was there, I had a total of seven hours sleep. Not enough for somebody who needs their regular eight hours a night but it was totally worth it =D

As much as I love LA, I am so glad to be home.

CHEESECAKE TIME

It's been a while since I last baked, and seeing it was my friend's birthday last week, that was the perfect opportunity to whip up something derrricccciousssssssssss.

With the help of KitchenAid

Getting ready the baking utensils

Measuring ingredients, look at all that butter.

...And sugar

Let's double the crust. I love crusts.

KitchenAid to the rescue

Whipping up the creamy goodness

Blueberry compote

Ready to be served

Ingredients

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups frozen blueberries

Directions

1. Combine crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar and butter. Pat mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
2. Mash cream cheese until soft and creamy. Gradually beat in sour cream, 3/4 cup sugar, vanilla and flour. Beat in eggs one at a time.
3. Pour mixture into crumb-lined pan. Bake in a preheated 325 degree F (165 degrees C) oven for 1 hour or until firm to the touch.
4. Cool and then remove cake from pan by loosening edges with a knife
5. Compote is made by mixing sugar and blueberries in a saucepan until the sauce thickens. Amount of sugar is up to you, depending on how sweet you want it.

Its really simple and easy to make. Taste delicious too...and I'm not a fan of cheesecake!

CANUCKS FEVER

I have never blogged about the Canucks before and that's because I just jumped on the bandwagon of Canuck lovers. So who are the Canucks? They are Vancouver's national ice hockey team. Why are they so important? Because they are ONE game away from winning the Stanley Cup. What is the Stanley Cup? It is the trophy awarded to the champions of the National Hockey League.

This is Canada's national sport my friend. I didn't understand their passionate love of the game until I went downtown after one of their wins. And this is what happened.

Watching the game at the bar. We saved seats since 3pm. The game starts at 5pm.

Downtown

People EVERYWHERE

I love my friends

Still walking around

This is a different street

This is like the skyworks in Perth. Minus rowdy, drunk people.

The sport that unites the nation

Check out the time, its 8:30pm and its still SO bright.

Forgot to wear my Canucks gear =(

I should wave an Australian flag =)

People climbing up the lamppost.

This is happy madness.

So what does mad madness look like? Well, I have been told the last time we lost the cup, there were riots downtown. LIKE WOW. REALLY?! I'm talking about police cars being flipped over and torched, shops being broken into and looted...basically imagine the photos I took of happy smiley people and replace it with crazy mad people.

We have the FINAL FINAL game on Wednesday night at 5pm. The outcome of the game will determine what sort of photos will be posted, I am hoping HAPPY pictures. I am not going to sleep if we win =)

GO CANUCKS GO!

Now go watch this.

http://youtu.be/rH0EX0xI36Y

Produced by Jay Imoo, rap by Tpak and vocals by Sean Chiu. Love the talent. Love the people.

Bloated

I am lying on my bed wondering why I ate so much. OHH..my tummy hurts...so not a good feeling. And I'm about to go out for bubble tea. This is after having a red bean slush for lunch today. I feel sick thinking about it.

With no one around to make sure I eat properly (kinda what happens when you move out of home), I have the most randomest things at the most randomest hours. You know, cereal at 3am when I can't sleep or having dessert for dinner. That kinda thing. Seriously, I think I'm doing my body a huge disfavour. Its time to shape up. No more JUNK!

Let's see how long this phase will last for =)

Dream Culture

Does anyone remember the song Learn Chinese by MC Jin? Well, think back to 2001...perhaps this might remind some people:

Ya'll gonna learn Chinese
Ya'll gonna learn Chinese
Ya'll gonna learn Chinese
When the pumps come out, ya'll gon' speak Chinese

Quite the chorus hey...and here is the link to the videoclip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9YYfEFTrgY 

Anyway, I'm sharing this because I was recently at a Dream Culture Conference where MC Jin was a guest speaker. It was inspiring to listen to him share his life story. At the young age of 19, he was at the peak of his career, he had the world in his hands - girls, cars, money, fame. However, shortly after his album was released, the media called it 'a flop' and everything he worked so hard for pretty much vanished right in front of him. His life fell in a downward spiral before hitting rock bottom. He was not a happy chappy.

Fast forward a couple of years later, he went through an amazing journey of transformation and standing in front of me two nights ago was someone who appeared to have everything. Someone so content with his life and his new wife; he could confidently say he found his sweet spot. It was really fun listening to his story along with the other performances during the three day conference.

The one and only MC Jin

Speaking to the crowds

The conference bought a lot more than just inspiring stories and awesome performances. It touched me on a personal level and provided answers on things I have been dwelling on for a while now...this will definitely influence my decision on where I am heading =)

Pizza Party

Oh so yummy.

Its pizza party time at HoA.

Making the dough from scratch

The yeast is starting to activate

Super bubbly

Mixing flour and italian herbs

More flour

Starting to get into form

Time to flex the muscles and knead

Perfect little ball

Doubled in size after just one hour

I just love the set up of our kitchen, really works well in parties

Rolling out the dough

Start making it kids!

Toppings overload

Wow..these tasted amazing

Some delicious looking pizzas

After like 15 pizzas...this is all that is left.

 

Hmmm..So hungry after posting these photos, just gotta wait for dinner now. We're making burgers with the bbq in the backyard. Finally bbq weather baby! The weather has been amazing today so I took the opportunity to explore the neighbourhood further than the few blocks I am familiar with. And no, I didn't get lost and catch the skytrain home this time. True story.

I discovered Central Park which is like a 15 min jog from my place. Its a 90 hectare urban park in the middle of a busy city but once you walk in, it feels like you're miles and miles away from civilization. There are like hiking trails, a lake, a golf course, tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool and so much more. Sounds like I'm advertising the place hey but seriously its so awesome. I am going to go there more often over the summer.

Anyway, burgers are ready now. Dinner looks delicious...thank you Sarah!!

DIY Burgers

Zana's ketchup burgers

My burger

Oh yeah..it taste as good as it looks.

Wow...amazing food all night long. Love it.