• Want more variety in your oatmeal? Try this: Savory oatmeal ideas
• Shokufeh reminds me of this pillow idea from MSL. I have some pretty fabric to dress up some plain pillows. Economical way of revamping pillow collection. Thanks, Shokufeh!
• James Oseland recommends Cap Bango Kecap Manis. I’m dreaming of ayam pangang(grilled chicken) and satay.
• It’s almost time to start back gardening. The Australian Yellowleaf Lettuce caught my attention when I was listening to Splendid Table yesterday afternoon. Slow to bolt and quick to harvest.

I saw this project in issue 2 of Blueprint magazine. It called for two Stockholm Project Cases but we decided that one would do the trick for us since we didn’t mind seeing some clutter when the box is opened.

There are other versions of a charging station project if you are interested in making one for your gadgets.

p.s. I have noticed quite a bit of healthy discussion about whether the materials used are fire-safe as well as whether keeping chargers plugged in is a bad habit that wastes electricity. I don’t think much heat is produced with chargers these days but if you are worried, keep the box open when charging. Also get a surge protector strip that has an on/off switch so you can turn it off when not in use.

I can’t remember where I first saw this idea but it took me about 6 months to start using it.

I bought a big sushi mat, hung it up in a clip hanger and then popped my earrings on it. Now, I have full access to all my hanging earrings. It’s also easy for me to remove the ones I’m wearing at the end of each day and hang them back here.

It looks like I have room for quite a few more.

Check out the adorable templates from Letterfu – letter-writing without envelopes or glue. I will have to try it out. I just need to get my color printer working. If not it will have to be a black and white one for me. (via Sheepdog Print Design)

I am working on revamping the pillow collection in my house. Spring brings such a wide variety of pillows and it’s making the buying decision hard. I want something perennial, much like the plants in my garden. I like some seasonal bits in my decorating but mostly, I like items that have staying power. I may have to make some and buy some, that way this project can stay economical.

I love this long pillow in the picture – it really adds to the espresso browns in this teal room.

In other news, Mike hasn’t been feeling too well. He has been coughing so much that we have had to sleep in separate rooms. It’s so odd to sleep alone after having slept with someone for so long now, like something’s missing. I made a home remedy for him tonight from mum: black bean & ginger tonic. Hopefully that and his plethora of meds from the doc will help him sleep.
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I finally tried my hand at the popular No Knead Bread recipe that is spreading like wild fire. I used my 4 qt cast iron pot which did not have a lid so I covered it with aluminum foil. I think that it would be a better result if I had a lid to hold in the heat. I really enjoyed the crust. I used cornmeal as dusting on the cotton towel before the 2 hour rise.

I had my friends J and K over with their kids for a little CNY gathering. I made potstickers and a big pot of fried rice. It was nice to share a little bit of the festivities with my good friends here.

On the first day of the new year, I made lunch for my folks and brother’s family – a nice vegetarian Chap Chye and some Fried Bee Hoon but look what I got in return at dinner time!

Mum and Mike headed out to our local seafood shop and got some fresh dungeness crabs. She made this delicious Black Pepper Crabs. I think I ate most of them.

It was a lovely new year’s day even though we missed our friends and family back home.

We wanted to wish all our family and friends a very prosperous Lunar New Year, filled with blessings, good health and plenty of luck!

This year, the new year happens to fall on a long weekend here so we count ourselves lucky already.

To dearest Mike, because I enjoy every day with you, and you make buying a new vacuum such an interesting experience!

To my folks and loved ones near and far, I love you!

To my friends who always make me smile and to you, my blog friend, I hope you had a wonderful Valentines day.

Stef HEARTS you

It’s not Valentine’s Day yet but Mike and I had our little celebration on Sunday when we could take the time. Our Wednesdays are typically longer so we chose to celebrate early.

I made him brunch, which was the scrummy Dutch Baby but he made me Steak au Poivre (Black Pepper Filet Mignon) with early spring asparagus and half a baked potato. The asparagus were thin and sweet after roasting. Simply delicious. I never thought I would love them this much. I never used to enjoy them. The steaks were succulent and tender; the cream sauce was spiked generously with cracked black pepper and Courvoisier congac.

For libations, we had champagne.


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For brunch this morning, I made dutch baby pancakes, also sometimes known as german pancakes. They are much like Yorkshire pudding but is served with squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkling of icing sugar. It was light and fluffy but buttery at the same time.

Thanks, Molly, for the recipe!