I read this n thot will share it with all....


To date to successfully and manage your relationships effectively, you must have a clear vision of yourself and others. One popular method to define that vision is to create a list of the qualities you want in a soul mate — a list that gives you a perfect guideline to use for your own self-inventory.

1. Values. You want someone you can believe in, someone you can trust. Can you count on him to do what he says? Can you trust her to do what’s right and always be there? What about you? These shared values form the basis of a lasting relationship.

2. Emotional health and maturity. To have a lasting relationship, it’s important for both people to be emotionally healthy and mature. Does he have a positive attitude? Does she like herself? What about you? When you and your mate are at peace with yourselves, you won’t need others to make you happy.

3. Financial responsibility. No, money can’t buy love, but you’d be amazed how much trouble financial irresponsibility can cause. Does his career provide a lifestyle you’re comfortable with? Does she handle her money wisely? What about you? Think about this one carefully.

4. Physical appearance and fitness. We all want someone to whom we’re physically attracted, and we want someone to be physically attracted in return. Does she take time to care for her appearance? Does he eat and exercise to stay fit? What about you? Remember that first impressions count!

5. Communication skills. Lasting partnerships depend on open communication that allows both people to share their thoughts, concerns and dreams. Is she assertive in communicating her thoughts? Does he shrink from confrontation? What about you? You want someone who’s willing to develop good listening and communication skills.

6. Confidence. Confident people radiate a glow that inevitably attracts us. Does he have strong self-esteem? Has she taken responsibility for her own life? Even the most tender of partners should bring strength to a relationship.

One of the quickest and surest ways to find your match is to become your own best friend and soul mate. Mirror, mirror on the wall… When the image clears, shouldn’t the reflection be yours?

I want to add on Forgiveness to the List as suggested by a friend. In a true relationship, forgiveness should be an ideal characteristics to adopt. Without forgiveness one starts to build bitterness towards the other and as years goes by, the relationship slowly and surely gets destroyed. So forgive and be happy but take the lesson learnt to develop a stronger and lasting loving relationship....

leave comments ....

Huggies,
M

Jamie Oliver Banana Bread

Ingredients
Recipe:

1 cup (115 grams) walnuts or pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped (optional)

1 3/4 cups (245 grams) all-purpose flour

3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar

1 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

3 ripe large bananas (approximately 1 pound or 454 grams), mashed well (about 1-1/2 cups)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Garnish: (Optional)

1 large banana, sliced or dried banana chips


Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place oven rack to middle position. Butter and flour (or spray with a non stick vegetable/flour spray) the bottom and sides of loaf pan. Set aside.

Place the nuts on a baking sheet and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Let cool and then chop coarsely.

In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nuts. Set aside.

In a medium-sized bowl combine the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, lightly fold the wet ingredients (banana mixture) into the dry ingredients just until combined and the batter is thick and chunky. (The important thing is not to over mix the batter. You do not want it smooth. Over mixing the batter will yield tough, rubbery bread.) Scrape batter into prepared pan and place the slices of banana on top of the batter for garnish. Bake until bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 to 60 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool and then remove the bread from the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature. This bread can be frozen.

Recipe Exchange Project - Irish Guinness Stew

Hi there everyone...How have you been? How was the week? I hope all was good despite a few low moments...

For today, I want to talk a bit about Recipe Exchange Project that was started by a few Uni friends. Well, after Uni, most of us started working and living away from college. This definitely inspired a few of us to explore the diverse array of delicious food. The smell, taste and texture inspired most of us. Overall, this Project that was just recently started has been a great source of rich and often tried recipes.

It is also a great way for me to keep in touch with friends in Australia & the US.

Here is one of the recipe that a dear friend of mine shared. Tried it out and it was awesome. I cooked mine with lamb cos I can't eat beef...

If u have a slow cooker, good, else your regular stove pan will do but have the flames on very low.

1kg of lean beef OR lamb chunks (tell butcher to cut for stewing)

2 Whole Onion cut into 6.

4-6 cloves of garlic

2 bay leaves

1 tin of Campbells select Harvest Tomato and Capsicum Herb Soup

3/4 cup of Guinness Stout (not the strong brew kind ah)

500-750ml beef OR chicken broth

4 carrots cut to desired length, not too small else will break...

4 Red skin potatoes, skin on but scrubbed, cut to quarters

2 tbsp plain flour

Olive oil for browning meat

Salt and course ground black pepper

Chopped parsley



Method:

Wash and clean the meat, pat dry and season with salt and pepper. Dust with plain flour nd brown in oilve oil on both sides, 5-8 mins. remove from pan.

In preheated crockpot or PAN stove pots, pour in the oil and brown bits. Add the oinions, garlic and bay leaves.

Add the meat.

Pour in the canned coup, stout and broth.

Top the cut carrot & potatoes.

Cover the crockpot, cooking time abt 10-12 hrs, on LOW! if on HIGH, half that time taken to cook.

Add salt to taste and peper too..

If stove pot, 4-5 hrs can I think..

Garnish with Parsley Serve with buttered rice or warm french loaf bread!

Enjoy =)

My 2cents worth...product & service review :-)

Hola everyone :-) Missed me? I sure did miss all of you....


I apologise for being MIA since April. I will update my life's happenings since then on the next post. Need to sort out the events...bear with me...But till then, I leave you to read this post. It will all be about my 2 cents worth of products and services that I have come across since the beginning of this year. So enjoy....


Disclaimer: I am an independent freelance reviewer. My review is based on the products & service that I had encountered. I am in no way writing this in anger or to defame anyone or any brand. Just a frank opinion/feedback.




Nail Palace  at AMKHub


In Februray 2011, I went to this Nail & Spa at AMKHub, called Nail Palace (http://shopping.insing.com/business/nail-palace/ang-mo-kio/id-090e0000)


My 1st impression was the very bright pink décor that was glaring at me and how big and open the Nail Palace was. I was stood at the entrance for a staff to attend to me. Obviously, I must be transparent! I saw many of the staff chatting away, laughing and a few did glance at my direction.It took a staff to come by 5mins later to attend to me. I asked her the price for a simple pedicure and she said it will be $25. Wow! That's a great price as the prices elsewhere were $35-$45. I really needed this pedicure, so I agreed. I was ushered in. The place was quite empty. only about 5 patrons sitting. The staff kept looking out to the front while walking me down to my seat. Suddenly she excused herself and ran over (there were at least 6 other staff around doing nothing but chatting and applying make up to this old lady, who I think is the Boss Lady) to attend to a customer. I am assuming she is a regular there and the staff quickly brought her over and sat her down, while I was just standing right there!!!!


After chatting with her in Chinese, this staff turned around and without a blink of her eye or apologising, pointed to the seat which was like 4 feet away and asked me help myself to my seat. Nice...I was a bit upset by all this and I should have walked away for such rude service but I was enticed by the $25 offer so I clinched my anger and sat myself down.


It was a whole 5 mins before a staff came by to attend to me. She did a quick pedicure and said all done in less than 10mins!!!!! What? She said, if I wanted more, like scrub and nail paint, it is $45!!!! Gasp!!! Are you serious? I looked at her and said , this is insane. For the waiting time, I should be given the full service. No one told me that $25 means an express pedicure when the menu outside clearly states $15. So I told the staff I will pay the $15 as mentioned in the menu and she was not happy saying I agreed to the $25. I asked to speak with the manager and she said she is busy and pointed to the old lady who had like 6 staff attending to her face, hair and make up. I was very disgusted and told her that this was the worst experience ever. I insisted I pay $15 as indicated in the menu. I even asked her, why than state $15 for an express pedicure service? She called a senior staff and ranted in Chinese to her. She turned and said that the menu was outdated and it is $25.  So I told her if that was the case, I will have to bring this up to CASE ( Singapore's small claim and complaint on the services/products by unsatisfied customers) & mention their names & the place for deceiving a customer with an outdated menu. the senior staff showed some uneasiness. I paid the $25 and walked away before taking a snapshot of the menu and the place. The staff ran after me and apologised and gave me $10 back and asked me not to mention the incident to CASE. Well too bad,You lost a customer and I hope those reading this blog will take note.


Rating: 0.5 stars out of 5




Massage Today Spa @ Vivocity




On the other hand, I recently went to Massage Today Spa and was overwhelmed by the service. Here is the website : http://www.massagetodaytm.com/


ViVoCity Playcourt, #02-97, [Harbourfront MRT]  TEL:  6376 8158


They do have other outlets. Check their website.


It is a big place but kind of hard to find. I came across by accident. It is just opposite the Pasta Mania at VivoCity. First of all, this place does not look like a spa. It has this Chinese massage oil smell lingering from the entrance. It has large wide yellow menu stand and the display unit has heaps of colourful scented candles. I actually thought that this place was some Chinese prayer hall or something. The inside of this place is quite bear. the ceiling exposes the pipes. Staff have a mini kitchen to the end of the store which is clearly visible. There are 2 beds for massages and have this brown blankets thrown on them. there are only 2 huge chairs ( which are comfortable). There are a total of 4 staff who are very courteous and friendly. they do not sell packages to you. In stead they ask you what you want. Which is good as I hate packages.


They immediately start on my pedicure and they did a good job. My feet was baby soft and I felt so good after that. I also had a 30mins feet massage which was awesome. I totally felt at ease. There were several other customers coming by. some of them seem to be returning customers as they were greeted by their names. I also saw a few foreigners coming by and booking for a later appointment. So don't be deceived by the looks. This is a great place to have that wonderful pampering.


Rating: 4 stars out of 5






Margaret Cookies & Cupcakes


My next review is about food....Yay!


On my birthday a lovely friend sent me a surprise Birthday pressie... cupcakes ...my favourites. I was overwhelmed and totally surprised. The packaging was a simple white box with a printed Birthday greetings.


The box had 12 cupcakes, large ones. 6 of them were Red Velvet with cream cheese toppings and the other 6 were chocolate cupcakes and with hazelnut cream topping. They were the most delicious and moist cupcakes that I had ever eaten. OMG! I think I had like 4 of them and my excuse was, it was my Birthday...LOL...


Everyone in my family loved it too.


I checked it out and found that they do not have a store. You have to call them 3 days in advance to place an order. They do home delivery and you have to email them to check how much that will cost you.


This is the website: http://www.margaretcookies.com/cookies.html or follow them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Margaret-Cookies-Cupcakes/163021213718267


This is a definitely something you should try.


Rating: 4 stars out of 5




Cupcakes by Crystal Jade Bakery


This is a bakery at Compasspoint @ Sengkang. They do have other outlets.


I love cupcakes and one day I was just craving for one. remembering seeing cupcakes at this bakery. I went purchase it. It was utter disappointment. The cupcake was very dry. So dry, that I almost choked on the cake when I was swallowing. The fondant icing on the cake just fell off when I bite onto it. It was hard as a cardboard. I couldn't eat the cupcakes after 2 mouthfuls. My whole throat felt dry and I kept drinking water after that. It was the worst cupcake I ever tasted. The cupcakes are sold for $1.50. 


Unless you like dried up cupcakes, I would actually not buy them again.


Rating: 0.5 stars out of 5




Swensons @ Plaza Singapura


I went there with my friend. I always liked Swensons @ Plaza Singapura, this was my 1st try since coming back from Sydney. It was an utter disappointment, both with Service and the food.


Service was bad. The restaurant was not fully occupied. My friend and I had to call out to a waiter who was just standing there and was trying hard not to look at us. Once we had got the attention of the staff, we managed to get a seat quickly. We ordered a Cesar's salad, a chicken curry baked rice for myself and a Crayfish Pasta for my friend. Waited like 20mins before being served. My friend got hers first and mine came like 10mins later. thank goodness for the Cesar's Salad, which was served in a huge bowl came in at the same time as my friend's order. I was very hungry by the time I got my food. It was piping hot so it took awhile longer to cool down.


My friend's pasta was stiff and dry. The crayfish had a funny feel to it. My friend told me that it was rubbery and she guesses that it might be they cooked it for too long. In addition, the inside of the crayfish was slightly cold. We assume they use frozen food and cooked in a hot pan. That was why the middle of the crayfish was kind of cold.


As for my baked rice, it was still grainy. After chewing on the rice, I can actually taste the grind powder like after taste. The curry was so so. Not that fantastic. 


My friend loves fries, so she ordered some. She was so disappointed. It was obvious these were frozen fries. They were soaked in oil and some of them were dry and powdery. tasted horrible. The manager passed by and asked if the food was ok. We did explain the flaws and she just smiled and said, that at times the food may not be up to par as they are busy to meet the orders. We were like, What!? Orders..there were only like 10 people in the whole restaurant at that time...if 10 was a huge number for them, think how bad the food will be if there were more than 10. We were there at off peak hours!!!


Cutleries needs serious overhaul. They had little cracks on them and scratches. The spoons & forks were not clean. they had little spots on them. The glasses were scratched and were not clean either.


Rating: 1 star out of 5




Swensons @ Sengkang


This Swenson outlet was direct opposite. The staff were friendly. Waiting time was less than 5mins before I and my niece got our seats. Staff took our orders immediately and even suggested kids meal for my niece. My niece's food was served in less than 10mins and the staff apologised for making us wait.  I guess they know that kids do not handle hunger as well as adults. My niece loved her kids menu. Mine came 5mins later and the fries were good. Even the mushroom omelette was delicious. Moist and the cheese in the mushroom was just nice. The atmosphere was great. Staff came by 10mins later to check if everything was alright. they even acknowledged my niece and asked her if she liked her lunch. I felt that was a good customer service, taking in all customers feedback regardless of their age. My niece being frank said that the hash-browns were too small and she ate it really quickly. the staff laughed and brought in another set of hash-browns  compliments from Swensons. My niece was beaming widely. I really thought that was a real nice gesture. I sat and completed the feedback form, praising the staff's initiative and good manner. We both left the place satisfied and very happy.


Rating: 4 stars out of 5






So that's all folks. There are many more but I guess this enough for today. I hope you liked it. State your comments or your experience as well, so others can either enjoy the good service and products or they can be saved from a bad service/products.


take care and Love u all...


Huggies,
M