So I might be...

A stationery addict, unable to resist pretty patterned paper, colorful pens that are like gel, and don't let me start on any cute card sets. These are just a few notebooks and washy tapes on my desk. Just a few.....

I've always wanted to draw believing that I have a tiny minuscule amount of talent. Well practice makes perfect they say. I find that drawing books really help and give such pointers. Everything in life is like a muscle that you need to grow. There is a general assumption that with article things, it just somehow happens without realizing that everything in life requires hard work. 

In the end all we have are things we like doing that can make us happy. I get a tad annoyed when people find things we enjoy as obsessive, and immediately start thinking hoarder tendencies. I've had a few raised eyebrows, but only a few. The people that know me, usually have some or the other quirky passion as well. 

You need to be passionate ( obsessive on the boarder of being called a lunatic) about what you love doing. 

That's my wish for everyone, to do what that love in whichever big or small way they can....

Dreams ...realized. Now what?

For years I had saved up my cash, bonus money, well any money in general and then spent it on things which I "ought to" spend it on. I had registered for courses which I didn't want to do, but thought I ought to do with very little persuasion to finish them. 

The thing about being in your thirties is this, you need to get off your bum, and do the things you spoke of, otherwise you are going to have a real monkey on your bag, growing and aptly whispering in your ear, " regret...regret...regret". 

This is by no means a philosophical piece or opinion one. But while buying the thing I really wanted, I felt something gnaw at me, and not a sexy nibble but more a feeling of discomfort. 

It made me think, of how often, we are not kind to ourselves. We are taught to be kind to everyone else, but to ourselves, we should hide, shy away...Ware afraid to say something nice of ourselves to others because what if others think we think highly of ourselves? It's a female thing and before this turns into a feminist piece, I say, buy things that make you happy. It's your hard earned money so stop feeling you need to validate your purchases. 

Mine was a Iced Rasberry Kitchen Aid (KA)  which is modeling with My Gingerbread Man. Also, is a pic of the cookbook,  of the fabulous deli in Woodstock, the Kitchen. I tested my KA, by making a Ginger and Yoghurt  Loaf, which turned out deliciously. 

I had lamented and fought furiously with myself convincing me that a cheaper and equally good mixer would do the same job. But it's not about just getting the job done, it's the romance,  it's the feeling of awesomeness when I glimpse at my deep metallic pink machine sparking in the distance, whispering, "Turn me on and together we can bake amazing things". She has not disappointed to date:)

The Pink Mermaid

Ajooba

As a child, Sunday mornings were occupied by three kids earnestly watching an outdated Bollywood movie with the utmost concentration and diligence.

A movie that was recorded on a VHS tape, but was watched repeatedly enough to damage the quality so that intermittently it was covered with lines, scratches and snowy effects. The irony was, that none of these kids could even understand Hindi and relied heavily on the inaccurate and poorly translated subtitles.

I won't even bother elaborating on the storyline. It includes an evil advisor who coincidently happens to be a satanist. There is a dapper prince who must save the day, a princess needing saving, and of course flying carpets and lots and lots of songs replacing any potential love scenes.

My 4 year old brother pretended to be Ajooba, a cheap Zoro type masked hero who had the dance moves of Justin Bieber.

My sister chose the fair, straight haired delicate princess.

I chose Rukshana, the unruly haired fiery puppeteer, from the city of Hind, in search of her father who was a magician and falsely accused of murdering the royal family.

We watched the movie till it was so damaged that it eventually went into the pile of VHS tapes, that were half recorded with episodes of Pound Puppies and Mrs Pepperpot, all now obsolete.

Over the weekend, my brother on route to get a chicken tikka at the local Pakistaani chicken stand, sees Ajooba's masked face peek behind the latest Bollywood hits. He had to get a copy.

He had passed it onto me after he had watched it. I had to watch it in batches over the space of three evenings.

It's five hours long, but the memory of Ajooba will linger in my mind, forever.

Ajooba Zindabaad*!

* long live Ajooba

Quick apple and cinnamon muffins on a busy Thursday eve

I tasted a A&C muffin for the first time a few weeks ago and it was soo yummy. So I have been searching the website to get the exact same one. With a soft centre and a crunchy sticky topping.

Firstly, I had no eggs, so I will give you the improvised version which turned out quite fine! Actually, I might even compliment myself and say that they turned out bloody good considering...

I also managed to get three Jamie Oliver magazines for the price of one, CNA has a special one. I love his stuff, so this weekend I will try his tray bake, stay tuned!

Ingredients

2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 tspn cinnamon
1/2 tspn ginger fine ( I just added mixed spice)
2 tspn baking powder

Sift all of the above in a bowl

2 tablespoons oil ( I used olive)
2 tablespoons butter ( I substituted this with olive oil)
1 cup milk ( I had no milk, so used about 1 1/2 cups Greek youghurt
1 tspn vanilla essence

Mix by hand in a separate bowl

4 apples , use 3 peel, core and cut up

Then add bowl 2 to bowl 1. Mix. Add the apples.
Mix again.
Fill a cupcake tin with casings and fill it all up. Fill the batter up about 3/4 up of the cup cake casings
Then slice the remaining apple up, into thin slices.
Place one slice on each muffin.
Take 1/4 cup brown sugar ( treacle) and mix it with some cinnamon(1/2 tspn). Place a bit on each muffin.

Bake in the oven for a 20-25 minutes at 190 degrees cel.

It's yummy warm cause the sugar caramelizes and is gooey!

Savory muffins on a lazy Sunday morning

So I discovered this recipe by accident, not wanting to let a packet of button mushrooms go to waste. It's actually a sort of weigh less recipe, but it really doesn't taste like one. I added some more veggies to make it more breakfasty and substantial.

The recipe

2 cups of cake flour
1tablespoon of baking powder
1tspn salt
Pepper to your liking
1tspn thyme
1/2 tspn chilie powder
1egg
350ml milk
60ml olive oil
1/2 punnet ie125g mushrooms
Cheddar cheese cut in teensy blocks, I used about 70g
1/2 red onion diced into small pieces
1tin sweet corn

Method
1. Sift dry ingredients together.
2. Mix milk and egg and oil
3. Add chopped veggies to dry ingredients, and then add the sweet corn.
4. Mix well. Then dish into muffin trays with cupcake casings.
Bake for 20- 25 minutes, at 200 degrees

When they are warm, the muffin sticks to the cupcake casings, so rather wait for it cool, or better still just eat it with a spoon ( which is what I did).

It's healthy without trying to be. Next time I would make it without the cheese w I hardly taste it unless its hot and the cheese melts.

I find it to be a good savory snack too.

Something you can munch on before dinner time.

Enjoy

The pink mermaid

Chicken/prawn chaat

So lots of friends have been asking me for my chicken chaat recipe. You can make this with prawns if you so wish. Instead of mustard seeds, use methi seeds with the prawn.

And I'm terrible at remembering to do so. On my blog seems to be a more permanent and easier way of actually keeping my promise.

I've replaced my butter chicken with chicken chaat, mostly because its so much easier and takes up a lot less time and less pots and cleaning required. It's just as good if not better.

You need

1kg prawns/chicken
1lemons worth of juice
2tspns garlic

Marinate this for a few hours, the longer the better, I even do it overnight. But you can also do it immediately too.

Quick stir fry the chicken/prawn in some olive oil. Its a not deep fried, you basically coat the pan with a bit of oil. so its like 2 tablespoons of oil. Do it in batches. you don't want to overcrowd the pan. The prawns go pink within minutes. If you doing chicken, I suggest getting the chicken browned a bit, not burned though.

Now for the sauce
1/2 tsp methi (fenureek) seeds ( for prawn) and mustard seeds for chicken
3/4 tspn Koljana
3/4 tspn jeera
1 and a 1/2 tspn chilli powder
1tspn paprika
About 1/2 tsp salt ( depend on you and how much salt you want to use)
1cup double cream Greek youghurt
Small tin tomatoe paste
2tablespoons sugar, but add more or less as per your preference
Dhansay chopped
Curry leaves
Whole chillie
70 ml cream

Once the chicken/ prawn has been fried, take it out of the pan, and keep it in a bowl. The chicken as is, is quite yummy.

Same pot, no need to wash it add your dry spices. It will sizzle, but we are making a vagaries, ie dry spices cooked. This releases the flavors. Takes about a minute. Then add the yougurt, and the tomato paste. It will turn a beautiful orange color. Add your chicken/prawn mixture.

Then add your sugar, curry leaves, and sugar. Let it heat up and bubble a bit. Lastly add the dhanya and then the cream.

You can make this the night before and it tastes better the next day as most curries do. I've also kept this in the fridge for at least 3 to 4 days.

Serve with basmati rice, naan or rotisserie (which I suggest you buy, why make life difficult?)



Tips

Fenugreek seeds have a mustard color, I've attached a picture.

Mustard seeds are little tiny black seeds, I use the black one. Pics attached

I get my spices from Fargos in Salt River but any spice shop will do.



Enjoy!

November purchases Poetry madness!

On payday week this year, I went mental. It might be the sunshine and blue skies that made me want to just embrace all the awesomeness that the world had to offer. Actually, it made me want to embrace all that Poetry had to offer!

I have a similar dress which I purchased last year, it's a strange hue of pastel blue, but with more of a bouncy bottom. I loved the dress and then I saw this pretty pink thing! I just had to have it. But I couldn't decide on the color so I got both. For some reason I just had to have a canary yellow dress this summer.

And then finally I also saw this pretty blue and white Cotten blend dress with a leaf print. It was an absolute essential. I could see myself on a lazy summer eve sipping passion fruit in the yard ( which KD so politely cleaned), with a braai and a group of buddies chatting away. It would be a philosophical chat, And I am convinced that in that dress I will be extra smart and perhaps even an intellectual.

Take That ....and that...and that

I was a huge fan of the british pop band, Take That. Naturally, I had the hugest crush on the hottie who ends up being gay after the band split in the late 90's. Mark Owen then ventured off on some solo albums, which I didn't think was his strongest and most brilliant move. You have to understand my obsession. I was a huge fan, my room at one point was covered with every space on the wall plastered with posters of these five blokes showing way too much skin. But I believed somehow, one day I would meet them. I had every book, magazine, and piece of memorabilia, that I could find. I was obsessed. When my aunt hanifa went to London, I saw her off at the airport and shouted Take That at the top of my lungs ( I know what a nerd). I even put that Take That logo, on my arm, with tat sunblock you put on your lips on my arm, so when I burnt while going to the beach, I would have a Take That tattoo. In 1996, I heard the news, they broke up! I broke down in tears, inconsolable, okay maybe I'm being a little bit dramatic. It was still very sad. Who else would I rely on, who would I fantasize about? ( Brad Pitt hmmm ) I followed dear old Robbie Williams faithfully. When he did come to SA, I was too broke and I was busy with exams to watch his show. And then one day while walking at the old musica in the waterfront I saw Take That reunite, minus Robbie. I was disappointed, I didn't understand why they wanted to give it a shot again, they were a legend, in their time. I had just seen New Kids On The Block, do a sad video, with these old men in their late thirties, run around shirtless, with these young girls. What the fuck? No seriously, it was depressing, it was social suicide on their part! So I was naturally thinking why were Take That doing this? I ignored their re arrival, like the antichrist! And then KD made me listen to a song, as he often does. Mind you he did introduce me to Tori Amos amongst others, and he told me it was Take That I was listening to! And not only did I like it, I loved it. They matured, like Ah Ha. They were not these bare chested boys ( mind you Howard did show his bum in "relight my fire" ) , but it was almost like they grew up with their fans who were no longer 15years old teens hanging on their every word but 30year old women, who were willing do give their childhood sweetheart one more chance! I'm a Robbie fan now, I still think I have a chance....

Breakfast and other food dilemmas

Life is hard enough, without needing to contemplate on what to eat. I wish I was one of those people who could eat peanut butter sandwiches all the time. I am not. Unfortunately, I have been born with the "fussy eater" gene, which I am sure I inherited from my dad. Yesterday, I had the unfortunate experience of eating bad sushi. It's a place we have gone to, quite a few times to already. So I was disappointed, it tasted like cheap pick n pay sushi. I have nothing against pick n pay sushi, I love that they offer budget sushi, there is a time of the month, where the sushi craving is stifling,and the budget allows nothing more than salticracks and there is the then ever so promising budget sushi. And then that just hits the craving. But when you are paying good money, you expect good sushi. I also recently had the rainbow rolls at ocean basket (waterfront and cavendish) and they definitely get three thumbs up( well hritik Roshan can). It was fresh and tasted really wholesome. Sometimes it's all I have, the serving is a generous eight, but you can add something more cause I never find that suffient. And then finally my last foodie post for the day is, tikka chicken. A guy by the name of Sameer has a stall on the corner of Comet road, in Surrey Estate. It is the best chicken tikka you have ever eaten, although its more braaied chicken with a mouthwatering selection of the best spices. It's the best takeout to get on a Saturday even when you know you not dirtying a dish.

nigella or Sophie

I have found happiness in watching hours of snippets of nigella and Sophie, sharing shards of their lives and an intrusive full view of their kitchens. I look at every utensil they use. I notice the brands of their ingredients and google them while pausing my DVD. I have always loved Nigella and most of my cooking and baking is inspired by her confident, english rose style of cooking. Nigella does not opologise for using too much cream, or anything else for that matter. It's refreshing to find woman who do not feel the need to conform to what the masses request. I just read an article of the beautiful Ashwariya Rai. I never was much of a fan, preferring Kajol and a Rani Mukherjee, but I must admit I admire her grace and confidence in not being forced by media, to lose the weight gain after having a baby. And I am alarmed, although in hindsight, I should not be. Such is the thing of fame, one day you are the hero because you tick the boxes that a fickle population prescribes. And then there is my new favorite, Sophie Dahl, who is so calmingly beautiful in her Laissez faire way of cooking and living. It's not just about what she is making, it's in the bowl that she uses and the words she uses to describe making the dishes. It's almost invisible ingredients that has a wonderful effect on the freshly baked product. I have recently purchased her new recipe book, and ache to make her flour less chocolate cake. I am sure on you tube everything looks effortless, but I will attempt to do it Sophie Dahl style. I will wear beautiful clothes, and have beautifully made up eyes using my new Lisa cole body shop range. I will purchase vintage pots, and slightly eccentric bowls. And just for a few minutes I can pretend to be a domestic goddess.

A weekend to remember

There we were five very contrasting personalities in one promising car. Sam had picked me up first from work and I was waiting, ever so long and patiently for the day to arrive. A weekend away, with my best friend, her other best friend, a quiet little girl who organized a superb spa weekend away and my soon to be Bosom buddy. Firstly, there was endless banter, alliances were formed and a pretend war had started. We laughed all the way from pickup points, around scary bends, whilst eating burgers and pitas. We listened to music and intelligently discussed the size of Jessica's Simpsons bum, whether Justin Bieber was hot or not, and not forgetting a very anlalytical approach to deciphering boy sms language and usage of emoticons. On arrival we quickly settled in our quarters which was a cosy room with a double bed and sleeper couch. My best friend Tou is an organizer, and starts unpacking the food. It was enough to feed an army, an army like 300. And then chocolates are being opened and further boy analysing takes place. Sakeena (whom I had dubbed the "quiet one "but really was not) had organized for us to go on a horse ride. Horses who look so elegant and calm like in" Legends of the Fall", where Brad Pitt so effortless rides with his shoulder length hair blowing in the wind. It's all lies I tell you. Firstly you need to put on a hat,and it just makes you look like you have a disproportionate size head. Tou looked funnier with a colorful one clearly aimed at kids. Then when you eventually get on the horse, you need to try and stay on it. I swore I felt for a few moments I was at deaths door. Clearly over dramatic, but I swear. Incidentally that song by "All for One"played while having supper but I am now getting ahead of myself. These cute little boys guided us on the most scenic and calming of trails. Subsequently, getting off of the horse seemed more troublesome and I fell straight off onto my plentiful behind. Extra padding has its advantages. Supper itself was anticlimactic, but the conversation was girl packed with fun. Our other friends arrived later that eve. The day followed with spa treatments and relaxation. The eves ere filled with midnight feasts and pajama parties. My favorite part of most trips are the smaller insignificant parts like driving to a destination. It is filed with hope and anticipation. It's is so true, life is a journey, so enjoy the ride!

It - yes the clown penniwise

I watched "It" the weekend that passed and it really was just as scary and disturbing as I remember it being. I love when what I enjoyed in the past doesn't disappoint what I enjoy as an adult. (like the barbie phenomenon, why?)

For those of you who don't know what 'it ', is about:

There are the lucky seven whom would have been considered the losers, every minority represented, the stutterer, the asthmatic, the girl with daddies issues, the fat boy, the black guy, the Jew , the funny guy and the scary cat.
The is an evil, older than time, well human time at least who hibernates and every twenty seven years feeds on children. It uses it's higher level technology, since it's an alien life source, and eons ahead of us, to project itself in the from of a clown into children's worlds, and tricks them through their fears.

It's brilliant, I didn't quite understand all of it as a child but it's still scared the bajeebers out of me. And now that I know what it's about, it's even more kick ass.

It's disturbing, and I think that is what horror movies now a days lack, the freakishly scary and disturbing images that is considered so wrong even though our movies are less sensored. I mean take that, "paranormal activity" movie, yeah the idea of a documentary type thing is cool, but they rely on scare tactics.

I think something is not scary cause you jump out of your seat and shout and skrik it's more when it infringes on what you believe is true.
Take my favorite movie of all time, "Rosemary's baby" (hold your comments please), but it's not particularly scary, well aside from the rape/Sex scene. But it's just an ordinary girl, who meets these harmless old neighbors. It's about betrayal and trust being broken by people you trust.

The thing is the greatest evil that exists is human beings. It's not some spook and supernatural activity, it's what people are doing and their own selfish agendas.

And that can be seen in " it" as well. Adults see what happens but keep their eyes closed.

I guess it's like that saying, "evil grows when good people do nothing".

The profoundness

I really don't need to be liked you know?
Do you think this is for you when I was ten and needed your approval, well? Sorry to disappoint you but I don't and the thing is up until now when I am nearing a three decade existence do I realize I can actually say it, and action it.


There is like an obsession a need to be liked! What is this need I ask? It feels as if without it, you cannot breath and should not exist. This compulsion to please like an addiction without the judgment. Sometimes, it feels like you have nothing else to teach me. That gets lonely so I try to disguise the space between us with laughter and play things. But even that feels like a guilty pleasure.

It's almost as if feling guilty is what you want me to feel, with this endless , unfulfilled need of trying to fill the emptiness, a void that has been avoided for so long.

The thing is I just don't need to be liked! I dont want to need to do that all the time so much so that its all that I do. That I forget who I am all about, lost in that constant nagging nice train.

The profoundness

I really don't need to be liked you know?
Do you think this is for you when I was ten and needed your approval, well? Sorry to disappoint you but I don't and the thing is up until now when I am nearing a three decade existence do I realize I can actually say it, and action it.


There is like an obsession a need to be liked! What is this need I ask? It feels as if without it, you cannot breath and should not exist. This compulsion to please like an addiction without the judgment. Sometimes, it feels like you have nothing else to teach me. That gets lonely so I try to disguise the space between us with laughter and play things. But even that feels like a guilty pleasure.

It's almost as if feling guilty is what you want me to feel, with this endless , unfulfilled need of trying to fill the emptiness, a void that has been avoided for so long.

The thing is I just don't need to be liked! I dont want to need to do that all the time so much so that its all that I do. That I forget who I am all about, lost in that constant nagging nice train.

Sorry for My absence

It has been months again and I promised to write more often so my apologies for not going that.

I don't really have an excuse, I had a lovely December, and my card making company is up and running. We have a big event coming up in May, so I am kinda excited and need to plan and work hard at it again.

But I promised ten stories for the year...so here we go....

Christmas is coming...

So I went to woolies today and up were the xmas decorations. I love the festivities and can't wait to get a xmas tree. I am a sucker for xmas movies even! I think its just the general feeling of the festivities as almost everyone is haPpy and accomodative to xmas. This morning. I was watching a Jaimie oliver Xmas special see Xmas is everywhere as the song states in the fabulous, Love Actually.

I LOVE YOU TO DEATH

I know I promised to do this a lot earlier in the week, please forgive me. In the mood for Halloween I created this range. Its a bit of horror and a bit of love, hmn pretty much like twilight again.

I am uber excited for the new Breaking Dawn movie to come out!

So back to cards before I jump to my other favorite thing, Twilight.

The first card is a normal I love you card i guess, with a bubble saying, " i could never have found a better man."

The second one is my favourite.The vampire says, " Edward Cullen could never compare to the real thing" . Guys, if you have a gal who is Twilight mad, this will be the perfect card on V day! By V day I mean Valentines day and not Vampire day incase you were so inclined to assume.

And the final on is a good old, "congrats on your wedding card".

These chip boards reminded me so of old classics like "Beetlejuice". I loved that movie growing up. So I guess this is a playful way of handling matters of the heart:)

Have a good weekend!

Next up is a glittering range of Cards for kids:)

The Pink Mermaid launches her Card Range

And by Pink Mermaid i mean me! For the past few months I have been going a little bit card crazy. I have spending endless hours making cards and have totally gotten totally in frukkin crazy love with it. I seem to be spending my weekends, hitting the craft shops and designing and creating words and combinations that work. I am loving it. My proper website will be up soon, but you will definitely be reading lots more from me. Promise. Cross my heart and hope to stop making cards (cause that will be the same as dying). Also, please join my facebook page.

The first three pics are from my Sex n the city Range (unoffcial, please don't sue me), where I am inspired by the sex n the city theme. A modern girl, who preys and parties in the dangerous city. Perfect for girl friends and the party gal!

Stay tuned for the , " I love you to death" range which will follow tomorrow!