i've just lost...

...4,000 comments from my blog (in about two years of blogging). it's really really sad, but that's how it is. thanks to haloscan for breaking my heart. if you've been using haloscan for your blog comments, you know what i'm talking about. i have decided to export all comments though, for my own personal file. ♥

anyways, i've successfully removed the haloscan codes from my blog, and reverted to Blogger's default comment system. if you're having problems how to get the codes out of your blog, i've found this brilliant tutorial online which will solve your problem easy peasy. go to I Didn't Know That!!! for a free step-by-step guide on removing your haloscan codes.

thank you for following me in the last two years, thank you for the thousands of comments left on this blog. those comments has connected you and me and us, and started many beautiful friendships for me  from across the world.

it's a fresh start for my blog again, and i hope you'd start commenting because it's too quiet here! ^-^

and of course, it's almost my birthday month, so a giveaway is in order. watch out for that! ♥

Hearts for Haiti

I've received my print from Brid bird today, purchased via HeartsforHaiti.

it's a beautiful print of a whisk and masher, and it's soon hanging on my kitchen wall.

thanks Bridget, it's a lovely print!

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You too can help in your own small way the people of Haiti recover from their tragedy by supporting Hearts of Haiti, which is an:

"...Etsy collective...comprised of donated items from hundreds of Etsy shops. It is dedicated to raise money to rebuild Haiti. 100% of the proceeds from this shop (minus Etsy fees and Paypal fees) go directly to DoctorsWithoutBorders (http://doctorswithoutborders.org/) in bi-monthly increments. This shop has permission to use the DoctorsWithoutBorders name and a separate bank account and Paypal account have been opened to maintain the integrity of this shop.

Items have been donated from many individual shops; each shop has included their particulars ( country, shipping time) in the item listings. All items include seller-donated free shipping (most worldwide, see individual listings). Because the need is SO great, we want you to buy and help support Etsians helping Haiti. The theme for the next few weeks is: heart items--- but we have so more!! Please browse our sections to the right and know that your purchase in this shop not only gets you a great Etsy item, but also helps alleviate the needs in Haiti through donations to DoctorsWithoutBorders (MédeçinsSansFrontières)."

Three Ways to Help:

1. If you're an Etsy seller, donate an item(s) from your shop to HeartsofHaiti. For further information on how to donate, read here.
2. Shop from the HeartsofHaiti at Etsy, and get free shipping.
3. Spread the word!
   

Share some love today! ♥

chicken and veggies risotto

i'm still a bit busy working for my shop, so i'm not really back to blogging yet. in the meantime, let's make some chicken risotto!

Ingredients:
3/4 - 1 c risotto rice (good for 2 persons)
chicken breasts
olive oil
2 c chicken stock
1 onion, diced
mushrooms
carrots, peeled and diced
frozen peas
salt
pepper
paprika

1. Rub salt and pepper on chicken breasts. Fry on olive oil until brown. Set aside.
2. Drain oil from pan except about 2 T.
3. Add risotto rice, onion and season with salt. Cook and stir rice until lightly browned.
4. Add mushrooms, carrots and chicken stock. { I used 2 cups of boiling water + 1 Organic Stock Cube.}
5. Place chicken on top of the rice mixture. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with paprika.
6. Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes until chicken and rice are done. Add frozen peas on the last 15 minutes of cooking time.
7. Serve with fresh cherry tomatoes or cucumbers or a garden salad!

Note : This is very filling and very tasty, if i may so myself. {husband loved it!} ^-^
happy cooking!

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p.s. i hope you all are having a wonderful week!
next week i'm off for my formal Dutch lessons and i'm quite excited! ^-^

shop update

i have new products added on my shop this week!

black & white baker's twine

- baker's twines are very handy for so many crafting needs. you can use it to jazz up your packages, bookmarks, gift tags, garlands/banners, tie up cookie bags - the possibilities are endless. my baker's twines are very reasonably priced, if not the cheapest deal you can find. plus, they arrive nicely packed in brown paper and strings.

Linen Fabric 2010 Calendar

- this is a beautiful calendar printed in high-quality linen that is perfect for your kitchen or craft room. this is huge at about 17.5" x 31", so it's great for recycling next year to a market tote, hand towels, glass coasters, you name it.

i have one linen calendar to spare, so i'm offering it for free when you order at least $10.00 (excluding shipping) from my shop. this is valued at $6.50 in my shop ($7.99 in other shops) so it's a very good deal! first buyer gets the offer!

click this link to the swann&smerlin shop.

thank you, have a great weekend!

inexpensive birthday treats

i'm a girl who loves surprises. especially birthday surprises. (hint...hint!)
but no, i'm not going to talk about my birthday just yet, it's a little early. ^-^

we celebrated the husband's birthday on the first week of january. he used to dislike celebrating his birthday because it's so close to the holidays making it one too many celebrations in a matter of two weeks. that said, i feel it my duty to try to make a little something special for him on his birthday, that wouldn't feel like an extension of the holidays.

it would have been easier if i can just buy him a present and take him out to dinner and be done with it, but no, my husband is a man who doesn't seem to need anything! he's a very simple guy who doesn't get blown away with new clothes or new gadgets. so, since he loves thoughful surprises (as long as it doesn't involve a party with 50 of his relatives ^-^) and handmade presents, there we go!

• i made a paper garland for him, from my paper stash. - this is very simple to make. just cut a triangle pattern, trace it to your favorite prints and cut away. punch two holes on the base of your triangle and thread through whatever twine you have on hand. you can pick a theme for the colors (mine is pastel), and you can use magazine pages, newspapers (which you can paint with your favorite color if you have time), scrapbook paper, even construction paper.
• i printed his own birthday boy banner. - you can design in your computer your own happy birthday banner, play with fonts and graphics, print on a stiff cardstock and cut away. you may layer a colored construction paper behind to jazz it up. punch two holes on top, and thread through your twine. if you are satisfied with your banner, you may laminate it even so you can use it again the next year.
• i used Pritt Sticky Tac to secure my banners on the wall. it's very easy to use and won't damage your wall.

• i picked up these happy birthday candles from the thrift shop for a euro a few months ago. they're like red-violet in color. i bought the birthday boy card for him early last year as well (Paperchase had a closing down sale, so i grabbed a few stuffs) , and it inspired me to make the matching banner for it. it pays to pick up things you like in advance, helps make the preparations easier.
• i baked him a chocolate cake! anything made with lots of love always tastes good.
• and lastly, i made a short movie for him. - there are lots of free programs online which you can use to make a mini-movie/slideshow. i used onetruemedia.com. i scanned Kj's photographs from when he was a baby, along with pictures i took of him (most of which he wasn't aware of) and our wedding pictures too. it played with my favorite music, and lots of texts for my birthday message for him. and he loved it!

the husband is looking forward for the next time he's the birthday boy again. he's absolutely enjoying it!

please add in your favorite birthday ideas, and how you make celebrations more meaningful! ♥

happy weekend!

birthday cake

i made my husband a chocolate cake for his birthday last 3 january. i've never baked a cake in the last 13 years or so, and i was a bit intimidated to try to bake again after so long. i looked for a quick and easy recipe, and chocolate flavored too, because well, you can never go wrong with chocolate. i think. and the place to go? allrecipes.com!

the aftermath in my kitchen was indescribable. flour explosion, splattered batter everywhere, a full sink of dishes to wash, and my apron a yummy palette of chocolate and flour. the reason of the mess was my hand-held mixer of course (not me!!! ^-^), it took a bit of time to get used to it again. i got so close to flinging the mixer out of the kitchen window. anyhow, we survived it. the mixer and i. the cake made it to the oven! and what do you know, it turned out to be scrumptious! the husband and i ate one hot cake straight from the oven!

you just have to try the recipe. we ate our cakes for many days after with a cup of coffee.

this is the link to the original recipe at allrecipes.com : Dark Chocolate I.

i made a few changes though as i had to rely on my cupboard supply. if you want a really quick and easy recipe, this is the one to try. it's very straightforward, and no special skills required. you need to be very patient though, and try not to eat one hot cake straight from the oven (or fling the mixer out the window). if you're a newbie in the baking department, you might find my notes useful:

1. instead of just 2 c boiling water, i added 2 T of my favorite instant coffee. (i've read this tip on one of the comments at allrecipes.com)
2. use self-raising flour if you don't have baking powder.
3. if your cupboard yields only sweetened cocoa, use only 2 c of sugar.
4. you have the license to eat the cake straight from the oven. but it pays to wait a bit more, let it cool down, and get the frosting it deserves.
5. it tastes much better the next few days. the size of the remaining cake is inversely proportional to its taste. the smaller the cake, the tastier it gets. be warned!
Update: 6. be sure to line your pans with parchment paper because this cake is a real sticker. you're more likely to tear your cake without it!

Frosting:
Melt 1 cup of your favorite chocolate (dark chocolate with hazelnut is reallyyyy yummy) with 1 cup butter on a pyrex dish, placed inside a pan with boiling water. takes a bit of time. be patient. stir until smooth then pour over cake. make sure your cake has cooled properly! Add chocolate sprinkles on top. Allow to cool a bit more. Serve with slagroom/creme supreme on top. * i'm in chocolate dreamland now *

Enjoy! ♥♥♥

featured!

hello there!

just a quick post to say Thank you! to the lovely ladies who featured me on their blogs. i am so thrilled!

The Infinite is a shop based in Singapore carrying handmade goodies from all over the world. Founded by two young students, they've come a long way now from where they started early last year. From an online shop, they have now expanded to opening the real thing, named The Blogshop. I feel very fortunate that my lunch cards are making people happy in that part of the world! Thank you Nicolette for the feature, i wish you all the best!

Thanks to Lindy as well, for featuring my baker's twine in her blog! Hop over there for a dose of creative ideas and inspiration! She's an etsy seller too and i'm drooling over her pretty paper goodies!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I'm back blogging soon! ♥