Happy Mid Autumn Festival

中秋快樂! The Moon was exceptionally bright and beautiful today <3  🌙

 月見

🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕 I like how the emojis have the completed moon phases :D

McD's cheeseburger

 

I didn't realize just how tiny McD's cheeseburgers are... the serving size is great for kids... not so much for adults.

oh deer....

 

Who came up with it first – The Alley or Deer Garden? Or is the deer motif just exceptionally popular in Taiwan?

Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits

 

I started baking again! That's the best way to welcome in Autumn! :D (I know this might be cheating since this wasn't from scratch... but we got to start somewhere 😉 )

The secret to making them taste like those at the restaurant is by adding 3 times the amount of cheddar cheese than what they call for :D

Double Big Mac

The Double Big Mac is a huge burger/sandwich! Look at how big it is compared to the McCrispy box (which is already a big box!)

It was such a good burger 🍔  there were 4 meat patties <3

I'm still surprised as to how the McCrispy box is so much smaller than the Double Big Mac box :)

 

Mini Wheats

This isn't one of my favourites but I do enjoy having these once in a while, I like it more as a dry snack than as a traditional cereal (with milk).

 This is how they look with milk...

Laksa from Singapore

 

This Laksa noodle kit from Singapore is soOOOOoo good 😋 

half portion

recycle your makeup skincare containers

 

yeah! I'm glad there is a place to recycle used makeup and skincare containers!! I wonder if they will accept containers from other brands, too?

Berry Bad...

 

I have finally found a lipstick colour/shade that doesn't work for me :(... I have never come across something that is this unflattering. 👀 But now I know... avoid all berries, black honey, and the like... types of colours! 🙅🏻‍♀️

I can't even bring myself to post a selfie with this on my lips 😅 

iOS 17

 

night mode

This standby mode is so cool <3 I like this view the most. I have only started using it for a day and I already like it :).

Many people online complained about how iOS 17 slowed their devices, but it wasn't the case for me (my iPhone 14 Pro). My device (iPhone software) feels lighter and works faster :) My battery seems to last longer too!

I also like the new notification haptics and sounds! :)

seared beef tongue

 

I had one of the best beef tongues... (and I'm not exaggerating) this beef tongue was crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside. It was cooked just right <3 The chef used only a bit of salt to season and enhance its taste.

Despite their unappetizing appearance on the plate, the dining experience was quite the opposite. My taste buds were in for a delightful surprise.

These beef tongues were expertly pan-seared with just the right amount of salt, achieving a perfect medium-rare doneness.

Today I Learned: Garlic intensity

 

Today I Learned on Japanese TV, I learned a valuable culinary tip: how to control the intensity of garlic flavour in your dishes. On the chart they presented, the most intense garlic flavour which is positioned on the left, with the least intense on the right.

To see all the things I have learned on Japanese TV, please click and follow this label: http://cutiepiestephanie.blogspot.com/search/label/thingslearnedJapaneseTV

French chocolates... chocolates from France

 

these are so cute... and they were very rich (especially the black ones that are dark chocolate). THey have a creamy centre infused with an intense cocoa taste :D

if you are curious, here is the brand and info

info of each chocolate :)

It's my Birthday! 🎂

 

It's my Birthday! 

Every year I try to reflect on things I learned and have accomplished. These are the things I have learned:

1. Those who matter won't mind, and those who mind won't matter. 

I can't stress enough how true this is. When I reflect on my friendships from years ago compared to those I have now, a clear pattern emerges. The friends who have stayed through thick and thin, regardless of how I may have stumbled along our journey, are the ones who remain steadfast and our friendship has only grown stronger. On the other hand, those individuals I once believed held great significance in my life often vanished at the first sign of a misstep or when they perceived that I no longer held the same importance in their eyes.

2. Don't take things for granted. Appreciate what you have.

I can't emphasize the importance of this. We don't realize how much something matters to us until we lose them. For example, when I lost my trees... yes, they were always there for me, but I never realized how important and how much they would affect me with their presence. 

I try to cherish each relationship and everything I have.

3. Be Positive.

I wasn't aware of the effects of being negative till I met a very negative person. She actually "had it all" a job, a house, a family and friends, yet she will complain that God did her bad because of a few inconveniences. God definitely spoke to me while I tried to convince her that she should be focusing on the good she has. 

Her negativity resulted in her family leaving her and her friends ignoring her calls. 

I learned through her that it is okay to complain but at the same time, look for the good.

4. Trust God

This has been tough for me, but I have learned to trust God in all circumstances. I also learned that He is the only one who cares about me more than anyone or anything in the world. 

5. It is okay to Lament.

Throughout the past year, God has shown me that I can lament and complain to Him because He cares (there is a WHOLE book in the bible called Lamentations!). A lot of times, I have considered complaining to friends... (who care about me) but there is only so much they can do, BUT God is different, He cares and He can do something about our circumstances and suffering, so why not run the best source.

The media doesn't talk about this enough, but when the premier of Nova Scotia cried out to God (regarding the horrifying wildfires engulfing the province in May/June) God answered and He extinguished them.

I take these lessons to me as I move on to next year. filled with hope and living through God's promises for me. May I grow another year wiser :)

Thanks for your support for this blog and for me this year <3

Walmart

 

The Walmart Smilies are all wear caps :D

It was such a beautiful day to be at Walmart <3

Popeyes Fried Chicken

 

popeyes fried chicken never disappoints <3... They look better in real life AND much crispier 😋 

My Mentos mints case photobombed the fried chicken... oops 😅 

last pic of them

the chicken leg was almost the same size as the chicken thigh :O

My Birthday Colour

 

Since my birthday is coming up... I'm posting my birthday colour...  :)

mooncake season begins

my family has started feasting on mooncakes :P... 🥮  these were from Costco and they are good :D

our target

I rewatched this sermon from last week and I was reminded that as Christians, our job is not only to spread the gospel to non-Christians (of course, this is important) but it is also to love other Christians. 

in Pastor Takeshi's words:

Our target is not only non-Christians but also our Brothers and Sisters.

My goal is Your glory.

Halls minis

I spent 5th grade with my classmates exchanging different Hall lozenges, so Halls are nostalgic. I like their iconic cherry and original tastes. These caught my eye at my local grocery store, and I couldn't help but pick them up, these are the latest version of these lozenges.

These are incredibly tiny! When they labelled them as "minis," they weren't kidding. While I appreciated the portion size, I found the shape somewhat impractical. The round form of these lozenges makes it all too easy for them to accidentally slip down your throat or fall out of your mouth inadvertently. Although they are small enough to not pose a choking risk, I couldn't help but feel uneasy, fearing that I might accidentally swallow them.

R.I.P. trees: a tribute to two trees

see how beautiful and magnificent they were 😢 

One cannot fully understand the extent of pain felt over losing a tree. Yes, I said "tree". And over the summer, thanks to a heartless neighbour, I lost at least 2 magnificent trees. 

the magnificent trees they chopped down

it was with us during the smokey fire season

These towering giants were at least 100 years old and have been part of my landscape for almost 20 years. They have been integrated into my life.

the landscape feels very different without these trees

it isn't very obvious now, but it will be when winter comes :(...

this picture was taken in February 🌲 

Before losing them, I always perceived trees were just as, well, trees... but they aren't... it is similar to losing a pet. Trees are living objects, and although we don't interact with them like animals, they impact us, and their absence leaves a lasting void in our surroundings.

a typical summer with our trees

in the break of dawn

the landscape of my backyard feels empty

goodbye, trees 😢 

🌲 🌲 😢 😢 😢 

Postcard

 

児島虎次郎 (1881–1929), Morning Glories 朝顔

The painting titled "Morning Glory," created by Japanese artist Kojima Torajiro in 1920, showcases his skillful integration of Western training with his artistic style. This artwork exemplifies a harmonious blend of Japanese elements influenced by Western techniques, resulting in a captivating fusion of artistic traditions.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a postcard in the mail from my best friend, who had the wonderful opportunity to see the actual painting at the Okayama Art Museum. Thank you for sharing your adventures with me, Jem ❤️.

Dreaming

photo credits: @Designical (on youtube)

Dreams are extraordinary things; they transport us to places and let us explore the impossible. I'm not referring to daydreams, where you consciously direct your thoughts, but rather the dreams that unfold when you drift into a slumber, allowing your mind to venture into realms of fantasy and the unknown.

This morning, I woke up from a particularly strange dream. It was a nice dream, filled with just enough challenges to convince me it was real, sprinkled with delightful surprises that kept my excitement alive.

As I opened my eyes, a sense of disappointment washed over me, and I realized it had all been a dream. It felt incredibly real at the time — the people, the experiences, the connections, the efforts, forged within the dream. Yet, upon awakening, those relationships and bonds evaporated into the ether, forever lost.

photo credits: @Designical (on youtube)

It is unfair, isn't it?  To have lived such a vivid experience within a dream, only to see it dissipate the moment I wake up.

The most perplexing aspect of this experience is when I encounter these people, especially strangers in real life, I can't share the profound encounters we shared in the dream, as it will be extremely odd and even, eccentric. 

In the realm of reality, these strangers remain just that — strangers. Our paths haven't crossed before, and the connections or relationships we had in the dream have made no progress since our last real-life encounter. Yet, in the dream, we had grown so intimately close, sharing experiences that felt as genuine as any waking moment. It's a disconcerting paradox of the dream world, where the most vivid connections often remain confined to the realm of slumber at a particular moment.

photo credits: @Designical (on youtube)

There's no way to revisit or relive those dream experiences, no tangible mementos to serve as reminders that these moments did indeed occur. There's nothing to provide concrete proof that these profound encounters happened. With each passing day, the memories of the dream's intricate details gradually fade, like the wisps of a fleeting fantasy.

In the end, all we're left with is a helpless explanation: "It was just a dream."

mini chocolate chip cookies

 

Back to school means there are school snacks available again :) I shamelessly buy these as snacks for myself :P (each contains 7 small chocolate chip cookies 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪 )

Cheese Gimbap

 

Cheese Gimbap*

Cheese Gimbap is my favourite one... I tried the other ones, which were a bit bland for my taste (sorry!). The more cheese the better! 

*This picture is only for reference only... I took this picture a while back (please ignore the expiry date)