Beautiful Colors of the Trees

Yesterday, due to my car getting its oil change, I had to explore the world by foot and my bike. And I am so glad I that I did. I didn't realize how much I miss the slow windy breeze blowing my hair when I was biking or when a car is passing by while I was walking. I haven't realized how pretty the blue skies above my head was on that nice Southern California afternoon. I was outdoors around noon time, and the weather couldn't be perfect. The weather was around the 70s, and it was amazing. 

I gotta do this more often. Walking around my neighborhood, or biking down the Pacific Electric Trail with my iPod on... with Adele & Coldplay playing. Ah, can't wait for my day off again.

My Christmas Project

I am going very DIY this Xmas on gifts, because I am saving up for my mission trip in March. And this is what I came up with!

I went mad crazy today on mailing boxes at Target and now my room looks like a mess!! I will probably ship these babies in the next couple of weeks. A week or two? We'll see...

Who knew Powdered Soy is expensive??

moonbeams and bunny kisses,

Rima

Food Time: Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Such a mouthful name.

So this is it. My first Recipe entry. I had so much fun making this, to the point that I forgot to get my camera and used my iPhone 4 instead. So forgive for my picture taking skills.

Anyways, it was during the Halloween-going-to-Thanksgiving weeks where I decided to browse around like a maniac (for about 2 weeks!) to find some Pumpkin Cupcake recipes and incorporated to my version of it. I always have fun in the kitchen by myself, I felt like I was in my Zen Mode. I love Yoga, but screw that, the Kitchen is my Zen. I probably will need a Bonsai Tree in my Kitchen.

The smell of all the spices as the cupcakes were in the making was so awesomely delicious, I kept on staring at my oven window like a hungry cat waiting for the mouse to come out (mkay, Tom & Jerry?). After I got the cakes out of the oven, I was literally like Homer Simpson when he thinks about beer and donuts.

The cupcake was pretty dense, but the combination of the frosting and cake in your mouth, yum-fest.

First of all, as a novice baker, I recommend a good & solid mixer. Mine is the KitchenAid 5 qt one. It's my mum's but lately I've been using it a lot. For this kick, I used the Paddle attachement.

Things I Love Monday, week 46-47

A Super Stuffed Mr. Pillow, taking a nap on my Oma's Couch

For those who have been following my TiLM from my facebook notes or my TiLM tumblr (it will be discontinued and will be open as an archive), welcome to TiLM on Bolu! This will be the new permanent home for it... So I hope you will continue to read it, comment it and support it. All supports mean a lot to me. 

For those who are new, WELCOME! I hope you enjoy each entries and find it inspiring. 

So this past 2 weeks has been pretty... I don't know how to describe it... Blurry? Week 46 is really a blur because it felt like I've been working hard and the week felt like forever. It may be caused by me being on call that week. And probably knowing the fact that The Pillow has been in the East Coast since the prior week. It's not like I've never been apart from him over a week or two (I live in Rancho Cucamonga & he lives near Newport Beach, and we only see each other during the weekend due to work), but I just felt this uneasiness in me knowing that he is far, far, far away from me (and being in my Favorite city in the world, New York!!) and at one point driving on snowy roads (we don't get that in SoCal). Gah. But he's been very cute and great by sending me postcards from every city he was in during the week. 

Pretty cool, huh? Also, I got called back to work during that weekend 3 times, and the last 2 were Trauma cases and I didn't leave the hospital til 1 AM! The next day at work, I felt like a zombie, yet thank God, I survived. Oh, and I made Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting for the people at work. The cupcake was pretty dense, but so yummy from the frosting. 

Week 47 was better because of Thanksgiving Holiday!! Who is not happy for a holiday weekend? I know I was. I was glad for this week because I get to see Mr. Pillow again. I missed him terribly. Seeing him when I opened my door on Thanksgiving day, was worth being thankful for. Gave him a major bear hug... so did Chimmy. I know he misses him. For Thanksgiving, my family went to my Oma's house for our annual Lunch. This was my first for the past 3 years, so it was nice to be surrounded by family and enjoyed an American-Indonesian Thanksgiving. Too bad some of my cousins couldn't make it, but at least it was nice to see Oma smiling. As you can see from the first picture, Mr. Pillow was so stuffed, he passed out for a moment. Turkey gets you.

After Oma's, we both head on to one of our friends's house from church and joined our Youth Group's BBQ Dinner & Game Night. Cranium & Guesstures were a hit, but the biggest hit was our favorite Poor Man's Taboo. Never gets old!

I didn't do Black Friday Shopping because I picked up a shift in the ER (my old Department). It was busy but twas nice to be with the Boys again (Scott, Josiah & Jr). I got stuck in a code, which was pretty cool, since it's been 8 months I've seen a code. Good thing we were able to resuscitate the patient. Hopefully she's doing well.

Spent time again with Mr. Pillow on Saturday night. We went to West Covina to get some of his favorite dessert, Martabak. We went to Hollywood & Highland, just roaming around, people watching. 

Xmas Tree at the Hollywood & Highland Shopping Center

Then of course, the delicious dinner at Roscoe's. Man, I'm still drooling for their waffles. Nom nom nom. One of the highlights of the night was when we drove down the 5 South heading to OC with the windows down and doing weird dance moves while listening to Ricky Martin. Oh yes. Ricky Martin. Epic moment. 

Sunday was fun day, because it was one of my cousin's birthday, Jordan, and also Sports Day for my Youth Group. I didn't play because I was lazy (I'm not a big sport person). One of the highlight of the day was when Raisa, who lost her ring (RIP RING!), went and came back with a METAL DETECTOR! Epic! That thing is awesome. Sadly, she didn't find her ring :( May the ring rest peacefully at Old Town Park. 

All in all, Thanksgiving has been great. I've been blessed with great people in my life, and I couldn't ask for more than that... (ok, maybe more? hehe).

Hope yours was great :)

moonbeams and bunny kisses,

Rima

when a girl wants it, she will have it...

In my case, Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles.

Yes, last night after roaming around Hollywood & Highland, and acting like tourists with the Pillow, that grumble in the stomach couldn't help anymore, so when the Pillow asked, "So, where do you want to eat? Simpang Asia (it's this Indonesian restaurant by Century City) or Roscoe's?" We had a discussion earlier when we were on the way to HWood, and my mind (and belly) was set for Roscoe's.

This was my second time having Roscoe's, being the first time was about 2 years ago. And to tell you the truth, the long wait and despite smelling like fried oil when you exit the place, it was all worth it (I am drooling at right now).

In the words of our very own Obama, "Outstanding Chicken! Outstanding." To my surprised (I just found out right now) that I had ordered the same order Pres. Obama had, the Country Boy, that consist 3 Wings & Waffles. The Pillow ordered the same thing, and I added a side of Mashed Potatoes & Gravy.

Before my first visit to this restaurant, I've heard raves about it, but I was just so confused about the whole concept of mixing fried chicken with waffles AND syrup AND butter. It was just the weirdest combo I've ever heard. My brother at the time even made his own version of it by making his own waffles, store-bought syrup and some KFC. I just stare at him with disgust. 

Until I walked in, smelled the grease, sat down, ordered myself a Country Boy (yes same order like last night), stared at my plate, started mixing the syrup and butter, took a bite of my chicken and forked the waffles in to my mouth. Next thing you know, I had a PARTAY in my mouth. The combination of sweetness of the syrup, softness of the waffles, that buttery butter and the crunch & saltiness of the chicken was orgasmic. Such simple comfort foods, but amazing flavor. Their waffles may look plain, but oh my, they are delicious in the mouth. And there's just that something about the syrup. I don't know if they make their own, but it is so yummy. 

The place may look old, but being me, I love the vintage feeling of it. It was opened in the 70s, so you do get that 70s vibe. Yet, I don't care about it, I care more of the yumminess of the food. Probably next time when I go, I want to try their Mac & Cheese (another guilt food for me) and their Corn Bread. OMG, Corn Bread. 

I went home last night with the Pillow full and happy. Two of the important things in my life, being full and happy... Especially when it happened to be with my love and some awesome comfort food.

If you're in Los Angeles, please DO visit this place. It may be packed during weekend nights, but trust me, it's worth it. C'mon, even Obama made a pit-stop!!

Moonbeams & Bunny Kisses,

Rima

Thank You!

Thanks to my friends that supported me for the birth of this blog (I may call this Chimmy's godchild).

Stay tune, I will post a foodie entry soon.

I am blessed to have great friends in life.

Meanwhile in my bed, I see this...

The Beginning.

... like any other "first times," setting up and writing your first post is never an easy task to do. Why? Because I have NO idea what to write about, especially after a hard day at work (and now it's currently 11 PM at night).

I guess I can call this my first baby step for a project that I have been having in mind... for awhile. Thanks to a couple of friends that inspired and kind of pushed me in to doing this, so here it is.

I've been blogging for quite some time now (oh yes, back in the Xanga days), but this blog will be a different one than the current one I have (thenatzie.tumblr.com). This would be a more serious partake in my so-called blogging life.

I will be blogging more about things that I'm passionate about. One of them is my adventures that I do in the kitchen. Back in the past, I really, really, hate being in the kitchen because for me it was one thing: Washing the Dishes. Hated it with passion. But yet Mom always force me to do it anyways. Oh well. But then one day in the year 2009, out of pure boredom and probably with some PMS-ing involved, I wanted to baked some brownies, I believe. Asking some baking questions from my expert Mum, there I was, spilling milk on the floor, having flour all over my face, going crazy in the kitchen.

The result? Amazing.

Ever since then, slowly but surely, I worked my way in to the world of Baking, and until now, that's my escapism. When I am bored and have nothing to do at home, I would open my cookbooks, browse my favorite Tastespotting website, go hustle between the fridge & pantry cupboards, hit the market, and do some magic in the kitchen. Next thing I know, I'm posting pictures of my baked goods on Facebook and making people drool. There's that instant gratification that I get every time someone bites in to my goods and says, "Oh wow, this is good." One of the best comments I got was from a co-worker saying, "Man, you're are like a man's best dream: you cook, you make awesome cupcakes, you're down to earth, AND you like sports." Done! I am sold. I love baking.

Another passion of mine is taking pictures. I have a crazy collection of cameras, up to the point I really want to make a shrine of it. That will be another goal someday. I currently use my Nikon D5000 with a short lens and of course the infamous iPhone 4S (for super quick Facebook uploads). Another goal of mine is to focus more on learning to take better pictures, especially food pictures. That's a goal slowly in process/progress.

So pretty much this blog will be food related with pictures, and also things that inspire me and move me to the core (it better be that seriously good), things that I love (and maybe lust), and once in a while I will gush about the man who I adore & love (or maybe often, too? He doesn't like it when I blog about him... oh you shy man you). Oh also to mention, you will probably see lots of pictures of the other man that has been ruling my life since 2008, Chimichanga aka Chimmy, my crazy Pomeranian.

moonbeam & bunny kisses,

rima