When I Am Tired of Meat

Last Saturday I made Indonesian style beef roulade
We bought fried chicken on Sunday
On Monday I cooked oven baked chicken legs
Since I did not have time to cook on Tuesday , we ordered Chinese food for lunch, kids ate at IKEA for dinner, Eddy baked some fish for the adults in the evening.
Today I am tired of meat...
So I cooked ....

braised tofu and mushroom in soy sauce, stir fried egg and cabbage, steamed sweet potatoes

 

 

 

Downton Abbey and the Glass of Time

Laying down in the sofa, being wrapped in a blanket, I love to be transported to the world of Downton Abbey. Meeting the lords and ladies, watching their fancy clothes and important affairs. I also love the servants and their world. The proud and proper butler, smartly dressed valets, efficient lady's-maids, kind housekeepers, and energetic cooks. The upstairs and downstairs juxtaposed nicely in Downton Abbey.

I found an interesting book in the library which setting is rather similar to Downton Abbey. The title is The Glass of Time by Michael Cox. To be honest, it took a lot of effort for me to finish that book. It was full of details and layers . A little bit boring, but still captivating. The good thing is I did not indulge.. I read one or two chapter every night.

The book is about Esperanza Gorst, a orphan young lady who became Lady Tansor's lady's maid. She did that for the sake of a great mission. What is that great mission ? That what made me kept reading.

THE HELP

You probably heard the buzz about the book and the movie.

Good story line, wonderful acting, not to mention hilariously funny too

I just want to say I love the clothes ..(  Wish I lived in the 60s  for fashion's sake...)

I think the blue cardigan is very cute.

The brown print dress is pretty ..but I'd be happier to have it 

as a simple blouse to wear with a jeans or khaki pants

My mom used to have the same style of dress as the red wine one...

 I love the neck of the yellow dress with a brown lining and a cute button as an accent
The pink with a brown line on the neck is also cute...

Sophie will like this dress..if there were a matching one for the doll, will be so much better

Princess Kim and Too Much Truth

By : Maryann Gogga-Leffler

Do you say it to the mom if you think her baby is ugly ?
Do you say it to your friend when you think his drawing is not good ?
Do you say it to your dad when you think his food is not yummy ?

After listening to the teacher talking about truth and honesty,
Kim decided to speak only the truth.
She even refused to be called " princess " by her family,
because she was not a real princess.
Kim created ruckus in her class, by saying everything she thought to others. I
n the end, she learned how to be truthful without hurting others...

I love it.
It's a great help for me
to explain honesty  ( in the matter of subjective opinions ) to my kids...

The Overcoming Life

I found this little book in the used books store at the library. It costs only 25 cents.
It's written by Dwight L. Moody , a famous evangelist during the turn of the century.
I was a little hesitant to buy this book because there is a print " Moody Classics " on the cover.
When I think of classics , sometimes ( and a lot of times ) I think of something serious and boring.
I bought it anyway , since it was very cheap.

After I read it, I considered it a real treasure...It's simple, straightforward , easy to understand.
If it's a meal, it's a delicious, simple, hearty, and healthy meal..that left you satisfied and energized . It's not a fancy schmancy  amuse bouche ..or a yummy high calorie dessert.


And... this is a giveaway for you...
If you want it, just leave a comment in this blog ( not in my facebook ..not in my email ), say you want it.
I'll give it to you...

Botanical Garden

During the cold winter months, the conservatory at botanical garden is a piece of paradise for me....

MAO 'S LAST DANCER

Saya membaca buku ini kira-kira 5 tahun yang lalu. Buku ini adalah autobiografi Li Cunxin, seorang penari balet asal Cina yang terkenal di kancah balet internasional.

Ketika saya melihat filmnya sudah muncul, saya sangat kepingin nonton. Baru 2 minggu lalu kesampaian.

Li Cunxin berasal dari daerah miskin yang sering terlanda kelaparan . Keluarganya pun miskin, namun bahagia. Pada usia 11 tahun, dari jutaan anak di Cina, ia terpilih oleh panitia kebudayaan Madame Mao untuk menuntut ilmu di Beijing Dance Academy. Pergilah Cunxin meninggalkan keluarganya .

Ketika berusia 18 tahun, Cunxin dikirim ke US untuk mengikuti summer ballet program di Houston University. Mulai di sini, kisahnya rame... Ia bertemu dengan gadis yang menjadi istri pertamanya. Karena keputusannya untuk tinggal di US, ia ditahan di Konsul Cina di Houston. Li Cunxin akhirnya bebas, namun ia harus melepaskan kewarganegaraan Cina-nya.

Filmnya berakhir dengan happy ending, Cunxin bertemu kembali dengan orang tuanya..bahkan bisa kembali ke Cina . Namun di buku, kisahnya terus lanjut. Cunxin dan istri keduanya dikaruniai seorang anak yang tuli.
Istrinya yang saat itu mejadi principal dancer , terpaksa melepaskan kariernya yang sedang ada di puncak , demi mendidik anak mereka.

Saya sangat suka buku dan film ini...Kerja keras serta peruntungan Li Cunxin sangat luar biasa. Walaupun berat jalan hidup yang harus ditempuh Li Cunxin, humor tetap mewarnai buku dan filmnya...
Serius tapi tetap menghibur...

HOW STURBUCKS CHANGED MY LIFE, Kisah tentang Orang Kaya yang Jatuh Miskin :

"  A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else " Wah ini menarik, pikir saya...

Michael Gates Gill adalah seorang eksekutif di perusahaan advertising di New York. Ia berasal dari keluarga yang berkecukupan. Tamatan Yale. Ia punya istri dan empat anak... Sukses, kaya dan bahagia.

Ketika memasuki usia 60-an.. hidupnya berubah... karena nasib dan ulahnya sendiri.

Karena perusahaannya downsizing, ia dipecat. Ia berselingkuh dan kehilangan keluarga. Ia kena tumor jinak di otak dan menjadi setengah tuli.

Michael lalu ditawari bekerja sebagai pegawai di kedai kopi STARBUCKS...Perubahan pun terjadi setahap demi setahap... Bersih bersih ..sampai membersihkan toilet.. belajar menjadi kasir...akhirnya belajar membuat kopi . Kehidupan lama yang glamour tidak ia dapatkan kembali namun perubahan dalam karakter terjadi. Ia belajar menjadi rendah hati . Ia belajar menghormati rekan rekan pegawai yang mempunyai latar belakang yang berbeda dengan dirinya...Anak kandung dari perkawinan pertamanya , mulai menghormati dia kembali.

Menarik... lebih afdol kalo dibaca sambil ditemani secangkir latte hangat di dalam STARBUCKS.

John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean

" On our way..we're on our way today...
  To see what we could see...
  on the deep blue sea.. "

We watched John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean last night. Really enjoyed the show. It was full of cute adorable sea creatures, cool fx, nice set, and lot's of BUBBLES...

STORY
Finding a treasure map, Bubble, Dorsel and Tank decided to look for the treasure. In their adventure, they would exercise kindness, imagination and courage to achieve their goal.

Although I can find the same kind of story in any children entertainment , the performance was amazing.
The fish look lively..especially the neurotic Dorsel.. He's always trembling with fear...
I found this show is entertaining both for adults and little kids...Although my three years old was unsettled during the " imagination goes overboard " scene, but some snack calm her down. I heard some little kids screaming as well...

John Tartaglia ( Johnny and the Sprites , aired in Disney Channel, several years ago ) made the book. He didn't appear in the show... With the ticket priced between $ 13-16 ..I should've known better...

BOOKS THAT I READ OVER AND OVER AGAIN

The Little House Series by Laura Inglas Wilder

I am craved to read them during summer road trips and wintertime

 Books by Agatha Christie

Always love the smart and wise yet friendly Miss Marple

very intrigued with the gray cells of Hercule Poirot

I read this one the most....