Erwan Heussaff's DIY Barbecue Party

How to Throw a Barbecue Party from erwan heussaff on Vimeo.

grabbed from his Vimeo account

...inspired much!

Check out his blog post here.

I really, really want this!

Errr, maybe I should plan a mini one for July (as early as now, you kiddin' me???)

Anyhow my BFF told me the other day: Pakain ka naman! Hahaha parang feeding program lang.

Yeah, I am sipag to cook like that it's just that, now, I have to be more disciplined (read: frugal) with my cooking escapades because of some other plans.

Whew!

But really, this one by Erwan is just COOOOOOOOOL!

Birthday distress

Its almost my boyfriends birthday, we are celebrating his birthday according to the lunar calender this year, because apparently his family always celebrated that way and he was working on the day of his actual birthday and i didn't even get to see him :( but never mind.

To be honest my gifts for him have always been a bit hit and miss. The first year we were together I bought him a wallet while I was on holidays. But he didn't like it >.< it was a bit too fat... it couldn't fit in his pocket properly

Then for his birthday last year i gave him some Aftershave and shaving lotion, I thought it was a nice set. He uses it sometimes but I still think it was a bit soso.

Then for Christmas I gave him a Tshirt.

Then when I was in Italy this summer I brought him back a tshirt and a camera bag holder. I think the camera holder was the most sucessful gift as it was something practical that he actually needed. However it was black. so it was still a bit soso.

so basically all the gifts I have given him have been soso. So for his birthday I want to buy something a bit more special. But I don't know what to get.

If I think practically we need a mop and bucket, which would make a really horrible gift lol. lets spend your birthday cleaning lol. Another practical thing we need is a clothes horse, nothing says a great birthday gift like lets get washing lol. Another thing we need is a bookshelf, a shoe horse, a desk, a maid.

Even better a baby mop lol

I know he would really like a touch screen phone,because his phone is ancient.. an Ipad, a gameboy 3DSI would also be ideal, but my funds are lacking.

So whats left? new pyjamas, meh, shoes? maybe,

If you have any suggestions please leave it in the comments!!!

Birthday fun!

I know I kept this on the down low, but yesterday was in fact my birthday!

Happy Birthday to me!!

Basically I woke up yesterday morning and my boyfriend made me some pancakes and some hot chocolate for Breakfast.

Then we went out for a walk and decided we would try climbing Bray Head again but go a different route this time, but unfortunately... As we were nearing the sea front a big huge black cloud appeared

so then we decided to call in and visit some friends. We had some Chinese Jelly there. It's weird it comes in a tube like a cool pop. Actually it comes in all different shapes, like Cats, Sea horses, mice fruit. Etc and they come in all different flavours such as Strawberry, Mango, Lychee, Pineapple & Banana

If you want to see more check this website Zuozuo Jelly

 My friends son Yi Bing

Here is me and my friends daughter Yi Han

Then we went for a walk down the sea front and walked around the harbour looked at the incredibly noisy swans,

We went back to the apartment and freshened up then my boyfriend said he wanted to find the best Chinese restaurant in Bray for us to go to. We went into about 4 different ones. The first one was incredibly overpriced.  we would be better off going to an Irish restaurant, if we had to pay that much, Then we looked in a Chinese restaurant that we had never been in and they didn't have a "Chinese" menu. It was purely take away style.

Then we looked in another restaurant the food was reasonably priced but all the tables were on top of each other my boyfriend said he didn't want us eating in a canteen. Then finally we found the perfect one. Ying Yang Chinese Restaurant.

Most people will know this already but it your finding trying to find a good Chinese restaurant outside of China of course, A key indicator of a restaurant being good is if they have a Chinese version of the menu (written in Chinese)

Secondly if there are actually Chinese or even Asian people eating in the restaurant.

Thirdly this is not always true, but if the restaurant looks quite shabby with quite old mismatched furniture, its likely to be family run and will have quite traditional food. and traditional food is always better than Chinese Take away style food.

Sweet and sour chicken is not traditional, The best place to find traditional Chinese food in Ireland is in Parnell street and Capell street  in Dublin, City centre, Some restaurants in my hometown Bray have traditional food if you inquire such as China Kitchen.

Anyway back to the dinner, I let my boyfriend order because sadly most restaurants don't translate the Chinese version of the menu into English and a lot of dishes are left out in the English menu what a pity!

We had Prawn Wonton Soup.

Crispy Ribs 

Sweet and Sour Sea bass

Yummy!!! My favourite was the Sea Bass, Most Irish people don't like fish but I usually love it!

and my Birthday Celebrations are continuing today. Its a tradition in my family that the Birthday Girl or Boy gets to choose which restaurant they want to go to for their Birthday dinner. So we are having my Birthday dinner today because.... Its mothers day and my dad wanted to include my Grandma, which I was fine with. So I am thinking Italian today!!

 

Grandma's Birthday

Today is my Grandma's Birthday. Happy Birthday Grandma!!! Here is a compilation of photos of her from various Family events etc

My Grandma & My moms dad AKA Grandad

My mom & Grandma

 My sister, My mom, My auntie Valerie & Grandma

 My Grandma, Me and Michael out for dinner celebrating the new appartment

My Grandma and My dad

My Grandma & Guo Zhi Bai

Me, Grandma & Guo Zhi Bai

In October 2010  she moved into a brand spanking new apartment in my town (Bray) Which is probably the best thing she ever did because before she used to live in Dalkey in a big house,  close to no one.  However she did have one hobby Gardening which she had to give up because obviously in an appartment you have no land of your own unless you buy a plot..

Anyway around Valentines day I saw a post about the meaning behind the number of Flowers sent and wanted to share it..Ask a chinese guy

1 Flower: "I love you and only you", "You are the only one for me"

2 Flowers: "I just think of you and me", "Its just you and me"

3 Flowers: A simple "I love you"

4 Flowers: "I promise you love" As I said before, 4 is an unlucky number for Chinese, so clarify in a card or avoid using this amount.

5 Flowers: "I have no regrets being with you"

6 Flowers: "I hope everything goes well for you"

 7 Flowers: "I feel happy with you"

8 Flowers: "Im sorry, please forgive me" Used for saying you're sorry.

9 Flowers: "I will love you forever without regret"

10 Flowers: "You are the perfect lover"

 11 Flowers: "I will love you for the rest of my life", "Your happiness is my only priority"

12 Flowers: "Our souls are forever connected"

13 Flowers: "You have a secret admirer"

15 Flowers: "Im sorry" Same as 8.

17 Flowers: "Lets leave each other on good terms" Used for breaking up.

18 Flowers: "I have a sincere heart"

19 Flowers: "Im looking forward to spending time with you"

20 Flowers: "Forever loving you with an unchanging heart"

21 Flowers: "You are my love"

22 Flowers: "Lets be in love to no end"

24 Flowers: "I miss you, I am always thinking about you"

25 Flowers: "Good Luck"

30 Flowers: "Our love goes beyond words"

33 Flowers: "I will love you for many years to come"

36 Flowers: "My heart belongs to you"

44 Flowers: "I promise you my steady love"

50 Flowers: Same as 5.

55 Flowers: Also the same as 5.

56 Flowers: "My love"

60 Flowers: "May our love be strong and stable"

66 Flowers: "Our love is true and steady"

77 Flowers: "Destiny brought us together"

88 Flowers: "I want to make it up to you" Used to say sorry.

99 Flowers: "I want to be with you forever"

100 Flowers: "Im in love with you 100%"

101 Flowers: "You are my only love"

108 Flowers: "Will you marry me?"

123 Flowers: "Let us enjoy freedom and love"

144 Flowers: "I love you every day, of every month, of every year, of every century"

365 Flowers: " I think of you every day", "I love you everyday of the year"

999 Flowers: "Our love is infinite"

1001 Flowers: "Faithful love forever"

10,000 Flowers: "May our love last for 10,000 years" 10,000 essentially means forever in East Asian cultures. 

Happy Birthday Grandma!!