(All) things sweet and beautiful ;)

I don't have much experience in baking, so deciding to make Red Velvet Cupcakes the other day was definitely an ambitious attempt to eliminate my post-exam boredom! I found a cookbook at home which contained a series of sweet recipes in which I saw red velvet! In hope it would taste anything like the ones you get at LOLA's, London.. I tried as hard as possible to stick to the instructions so I don't screw up. Lols. 

And the end result... 

It tasted like salty crap. lol 

Yea... in the cookbook, it said I should add 1 tsp of salt, and instead of interpreting it as teaspoon, I used a tablespoon. *facepalm* MAJOR FAIL! lol Oh wells, I guess I'll learn for next time! On the other hand, it looks like one? xP 

Lola's Cupcakes -- what they should taste like ;P 

Laduree Macaroons -- absolute LUSH! 

My next goal -- some ridiculously expensive Macaroons which you can make under £5 for a batch of at least 10. ;) Watch this space! Haha 

A D R E N A L I N E

Mischievous behaviour, daredevil rides, sinuous queues, having too much fun it was almost criminal were the components that made my Thorpe Park adventures. It has been so long since I've been to Thorpe Park so it was a nice addition to my summer when the family decided to spontaneously go the night before.

It turns out I'm the wuss of the family since I didn't manage to go on every ride they wanted to.. i.e. The Detonator which is one of those mega drop rides, that hangs you in mid-air for a number of terrifying seconds until gravity gives way.. yea not a huge fan! But I was excited about the roller-coasters!! Although I did feel really sick towards the end...  +_+
Since we had so much fun... we didn't really get a chance to eat while we were there! So we headed towards Central London, China Town for some Malaysian food! Not sure whether it was because I was so hungry, but mann, that was some GOOD FOOD!! I can eat some of that right now.... xP

Happy New Year - 2011!

Happy New Yearr! New year, fresh start! =)) 

I've now started a tradition since 2008 to view my new resolutions I made the year prior and make a comment about it. It's always nice to see what you've accomplished and laugh about the stupid ones which you've never kept for more than a day! xP 

Taken from my entry last year:

1) Reduce my time watching Korean Dramas - its taking over my lifeee!!

2) Work hard for A-Levels and get into the Uni I want to get in to! >_<;;

3) Do a lot of travelling, instead of going back to Hong Kong like I do almost every year - the place is starting to really bore me in all honesty..

4) Visit Seoul!! =))

5) Meet amazingly new people at Uni!

6) Update this blog every so often and build some sort of reputation with it! ^^

7).. and finally.. Compose a song with Winnie Leung. - Me on the piano, and her with her amazing vocals...LOL - my biggest anticipation YET. xD 

Hahah, I have to say that was a pretty long list of new year resolutions in comparison to the ones I made for 2009. Anywayss, here are my conclusions.. 

1) To be honest, there has been a significantly cut down on my Korean drama watching. I've watched a few new ones, but I've never managed to finish them! I don't know.. maybe its because I get bored of the story line easily.. but overall it's safe to say, it didn't really take over my life! xD 

Verdict: PASS

2) YES. This is a big fat YES. I worked my BUTT off for my A-levels. Managed to get AAB in the end.. and got into the University of Leeds. Although I was bummed I didn't get accepted into the London ones, but I'm damn happy that I'm in Leeds. =)) I'm just grateful that I even got in! 

Verdict: PASS

3) I have indeed done a bit of travelling in 2010 compared to 2009. I have to say, I did go back to HK again.. but I also went to Macau and China for a bit. And more recently, I went to Berlin for a few days (post on that soon!) Therefore... 

Verdict: PASS

4) I was actually planning to go to South Korea this summer, but I looked into the flights too late, and it was wayy expensive, so I didn't manage to go in the end! T_T 

Verdict: FAIL

5) University life has been nothing but amazing for me! And its all thanks to the people I've met! I've met so many great people its untrue! =)) 

Me and my friend Lea <3

Verdict: PASS

6) Hmm.. I can't say I've updated this blog that much in 2010. I've tried to! But I just didn't really find the time! I'm a person who has to have everything in perfection.. so if an entry is not up to par with my standards.. then it just sits in drafts until I can be bothered to polish it. And by the time I can be bothered to tidy it up.. it gets a bit out of date.. so.. thats why I have like 10 entries in draft mode! haha. 

Verdict: FAIL -- because I don't think I've built much of a reputation of it! But I'm grateful for my new followers! =)) 

7) HAHAHAHAHA. We did get started on it... just we didn't get very far with it!! I made the most amazing piano intro, but Winnie gave up completely on the lyrics.. I guess inspiration just doesn't come to her as easily as it does to me! HAHAHAH (JK if you're reading this! xP) 

If you want to hear my 2 cents of this original composition click here. =)) 

Verdict: FAIL

So final conclusions.. I've managed to accomplish 4 out of 7 of my new resolutions in 2010! At least thats more than a half! haha. I think I'll need to think of some harder ones for 2011!

My New Years Resolutions for 2011! 

1) Go to the London Countdown for 2012 with my other half. (which I have yet to find.. LOL! -- If I don't manage to find one.. then, with friends will still count! xD)

2) Find a significant other. (in other words.. a boyfriend. LOL -- suggested by Lea and Winnie)

3) Tidy my room often.. its always a complete mess. 

4) Lose at least a stone this year! (I've actually lost 10lbs at uni.. but its slowly coming back to me while I've been at home! Uni is doing me some good to me afterall! xD) 

5) Go to the gym at least once a month? lol

6) Go clubbing in Hong Kong, and possibly Korea? (my friend offered to take me to Korea this year!)

7) Survive a day without any technology around me... (since i've been told my Winnie that I'm too engrossed with my technology! haha)

8) Get a haircut more often. haha

9) Be a bit more fluent in Japanese! 

10) Do more to this blog! 

There we go.. ! Can't wait to see what I've done and not done by the end of this year! haha

Wishing everyone the best in everything in 2011! =))

Zoe xx

Christmas

So I've just been reading what I wrote last year about Christmas on my blog.. and depressing enough, this Christmas has just been the same as ANY other day that I've experienced.

Last year.. I wrote about how I had no Christmas tree, wrote not Christmas cards, bought no presents.. pahh, nothing has changed this year except the fact that it has gotten worse... we didn't even have TURKEY for christ sakes.
You're probably thinking oh, maybe you just don't celebrate/believe in christmas. HMM, we DID celebrate it, just not anymore..

If it snowed, it probably would have made it remotely better. But it didn't.

Another reason to add to my list as to why Christmas is not my thing anymore..

I bloody hit a deer when I was driving. 

I don't think I managed to kill it, because when I drove back.. its body wasn't there, and there wasn't any blood. However, just to top things off, it created a massive scratch at the front of my bumper. GREAT. Now I just need to fork out about £200 to get it replaced! T_T

To be honest, I really hope next year is going to be better. SERIOUSLY BETTER. I'm going to re-read this again in the future and think omg... I'm such a "HUT JAI" >_<;;

All that aside.. I wish everyone else had a better Christmas than me! =))

I fell asleep in Starbucks.

DAY 2 

So today was yet another very hectic dayy.. I was meant to renew my HK ID and China visa card but that didn't happen. The booking was full at the HK ID place and this consequently led to the failure attempt in renewing my China visa card (because my HK ID wasn't updated) despite having waited 2 and a half hours in the queue!!

oh ma gaad!

But it all got better after that, because I got to spend the rest of the day eating sushi and shopping at Sha Tin shopping Plaza. =))

Look at all this sushi! HEAVEENN!

During shopping, I was specifically on a hunt for Dollywink products! I always seen them around on the internet, but never in their actual form, so I got really excited when I saw a STASH of them sitting nicely on a promotion shelf in a Japanese department store. =))

I got the liquid eyeliner, pencil eyeliner, eyelash case and eyelashes in 'Natural Girly' No.3. I'll be doing a separate post on this once I've had a test on everything. =))

Other stuff I got included a Majolica Majorca Blush, a trio of Skinfood masks, a KATE green eyeshadow palette and a Japanese ViVi Magazine with Kana Nishino on the cover. =))

You know how I said in my last post that I wasn't suffering too much from jetlag? Well.. I take that back. haha. I was SO tired yesterday.. SO tired that I had to sleep for an hour in Starbucks. How embarassing.. ! But obviously my trip to Starbucks couldn't be without a Green Tea Frapp (first picture). Oh how I wish we had this back in England.

Later on in the day.. I met up with my family again. Brother and Sister both came back with really Hong-Kong haircuts. haha.

So another day awaits meee.. Still have so much to do! See you in my next post! =))

HONG KONG DAY 1

Hurray! I have arrived in Hong Kong anddd.. I have internet! =)) Tough to the person who didn't set a password to access their internet! muahahh!

DAY ONE

I got about 3 hours sleep on a 12 hour journey! >_<;; So obviously I was mega tired as soon as I stepped foot on ground. I arrived at about 1.40pm and didnt get home till about 3 ish?
In most cases, after a long journey with lack of sleep, I would collapse onto something horizontal as soon as I reach home, however on this occasion, my mother decided we both needed a haircut. Random.. but it was a most needed scenario seeing as I'll be taking a photo for my HK ID tomorrow.

So.. haircut can be seen in the photo above. My fringe is now shorter.. and I have more layers in my hair (don't think you can really tell with the bad lighting in my room). Length-wise, its still the same. I'm going back later on during my holiday to dye my hair. Colour is yet undecided. ;)

A meal with the family especially those you don't see often is a must on a first-day-back. In this case.. it was with my Grandma. Bless her, she is the cutest person I know despite having such an impatient nature. But the one thing that gets me really frustrated with asian grandparents is that they ALWAYS try and force you to eat.. even after they know you've just had a massive meal. ah dearr..
but I still love her <3.

Anyways, I'm currently not suffering too much from jetlag, but I am mega tired. So I'm off to bed now! =))

Nighhtt.

Happy New Year!

- wearing GEO Angel Brown

HELLOOO 2010! =))

I remember around this time last year, I was writing the exact post on my xanga.. [post here] and it frightens me to know that time is definitely passing by rather too quickly for my liking!! xP

Comparing to what I wrote about 2008 and the events that happened last year, I have to say again, nothing REALLY stood out for me. Just to be a little more depressing, 2009 probably wasn't my BESTEST year.. but I'm hoping 2010 will be packed with lots events filled with positivity goodness! =))

Resolutions I made for 2009 (pasted from last year xP)

- To keep healthy -; or more bluntly said. Lose Weight. ugh. I really need to get my arse off and do some running on the machine once in a while.

- Only spend enough money, and not more than necessary. --; seriously, I've spent SO much last year.. especially on clothes! Those korean imported clothing were nice, but there were just TOO much!

- PASS MY DRIVING TEST ON MY FIRST GO. --; CRUCIAL one here. I'm in dire need to drive. xD I want my freedom... I've only had 2 lessons, but I feel the neeed for speeed. xD

- This is Winnie's one... "Find a BF" --; one word. HAHAHAH.

SO. I guess. Goodbye 2008... and you. =))

Conclusion:

1) To Keep Healthy: hmmm, I think it was kinda on and off really, it wasn't really consistent healthy eating, nor hardcore excercising. Although I was more conscious of what I ate.. [not all the time] I can't say I've seen results.. therefore to conclude: FAIL 

2) Only spend enough money: At the beginning of the year, I did think twice before buying anything, but as soon it reached summer, I couldn't stop myself -- also being in HK for a month didn't help. xD And since I've just turned 18, I have more flexibility in spending with my card, therefore Internet Shopping has been the way to go really..and plus owning a car is pretty expensive! So to conclude: FAIL

3) Pass my Driving test on first go: I can now finally say that this is the FIRST resolution that I've EVER accomplished. I did indeed pass my driving test on my first go!! =)) To conclude: A BIG FAT PASS

4) "Find a BF" : conclusion: HAHAHHAHAH

So just to make fun of myself next year, here is a list of my New Year Resolutions for 2010:

1) Reduce my time watching Korean Dramas - its taking over my lifeee!!
2) Work hard for A-Levels and get into the Uni I want to get in to! >_<;;
3) Do a lot of travelling, instead of going back to Hong Kong like I do almost every year - the place is starting to really bore me in all honesty..
4) Visit Seoul!! =))
5) Meet amazingly new people at Uni!
6) Update this blog every so often and build some sort of reputation with it! ^^
7).. and finally.. Compose a song with Winnie Leung. - Me on the piano, and her with her amazing vocals...LOL - my biggest anticipation YET. xD

So I guess..  Happy New Year and I hope 2010 will bring you lots of luck and happiness!! =))

Tis the season..

.. to be spending..

.. to be skint..

.. to have arguements..

.. to have an overdose of chocolates and alcohol.. 

.. to get fat.. 

.. to be revising..

.. to just.... waste time..

Am I correct?

For the past several years, Christmas has just lost its festive touch and meaning for me.

I remember when I was little, I used to get really excited for Christmas, to the point where I couldn't go to sleep! On Christmas Day, we would wait until about midday to open presents with the camcorder all set up to record our reactions. [hahah oh the days!]

Now, Christmas has just slowly faded away in our family.. hear this out. you'll be shocked to your very core...

This year:

- We have no Christmas tree, no Christmas decorations

- I haven't written ANY Christmas cards

- Bought no presents for my family

Before you start thinking, "OMG NO PRESENTS FOR YOUR FAMILY?!" the truth is.. our family has agreed not to spend on each other with useless things that are going gather dust in one corner. Honestly speaking, I buy myself stuff I want anyway, so when it comes to Christmas, theres truly nothing I want. I rather just buy from the January sales and save money then. =)).

I swear.. every year gets worse and worse for me..

But on a happier note..

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas  

and got everything they wished for!! =))

Happy [Snowy] Days!

So snow came early this year, and surprisingly, it did not fall in measly quantities, but instead, it came in a huge blizzard that lasted for several hours!! =))

Its definitely something quite unexpected for the UK, because usually, snow falls at around February/March time, but.... I'm thinking.. a White Christmas anybody?? =))

What I LOVE about snow days .. is that whenever it does decide to fall, everything becomes chaotic.
School got cancelled today, but I was rather looking forward to my last day, mainly because..

- I'd only have ONE lesson.
- School Staff Panto!!
- and.. receiving/sending presents for my class stockings.

but everything has been arranged so we can go to school on monday to sort out presents and to grab my folders to do some hardcore revisiong over the holidays. >_<;;

However, snowy conditions are definitely not suitable for driving. I had to drive home on Thursday night--when the blizzard started-- into town to finish buying stuff for my class, then to Tescos and back home! It really was quite scary.. which was why I decided to stay home for the day today and do some photography [although not very good.. ]

My Sister

agh yea. my face. - wearing Geo Nudy Blue circle lens. =))

This photo didn't take quite correctly... xD First of all.. the hair is placed weird, my chin is cut off and the expression is just.. err. yea But I guess the lighting is great!

And just some normal camera pictures taken as soon as I woke up!

Outside my house at 10am

I love fresh snow! <3

my car + my dad's car under snow.

Christmas is nearly here, I'm hoping to do more shopping on Sunday, but I guess I'll just have to see because its forecasted with more snow during the weekend! >_<;;