Goodbye 2011...

Hello 2012!

Goal for Next Year: Macaroons.

This guy makes it look so easy to make.
Goal for 2012.

moonbeams & bunny kisses,

Rima

Thing I Love Monday, week 50 & 51 (end of year)

Can you believe that we're approaching the end of 2011? We're living the last Monday of the year? Enjoy it, inhale every minute of it as we walk in to 2012. Woo wee.

So I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I don't celebrate Christmas, but I do celebrate the Season of Giving & Love (which should be every day, but oh well, let's make a whole season of it!). I spent my Xmas day being on call for work (thank God, I didn't get called in for cases!) and having our usual Xmas Lunch @ grandma's house (it's been a tradition). Not only I was grateful for that, I'm grateful for finally having Xmas off after 3 years of being a nurse. Yay.

Typical (indo) Food that my Oma prepares for a feast.

I'm pretty sure everyone has a tradition that they do every Christmas season. In my case, some what in the month of December, I usually manage to watch 2 of my Favorite Christmas-themed movies: Bridget Jones's Diary & Love Actually. I did Love Actually on Christmas Eve (always epic) which I purposely waited til that night to watch (by myself, in bed, with a cup of hot Chai Latte), and this time for Christmas day I manage to watch another Christmas-themed movie, The Holiday. Gotta LOVE LOVE LOVE Jack Black & the handsome Jude Law (also, by myself, in bed, with a cup of hot Chai Latte). Yes I am indeed a sappy little girl.

Anyways, it has been a pretty busy 2 weeks, with a Christmas Cookies Exchange Party (that I helped out for my ER people), followed with a Retirement Dinner Bash (LUPE WE MISS YOU), and several after hours cases at work. Not to forget to mention, my Youth's Secret Gift Exchange that was super fun, and meeting the Pillow's Mum for the first time (nerve wracking on my part) & spending a day with the Pillow's sister at Disneyland (fun, but crazy crowded and tiring!) Those 2 weeks went by so fast, it's crazy. At one point, I was afraid I was gonna get sick but I managed to pull it through!

As for Christmas Gifts, I gifted myself an Xbox 360 with Kinect (hohoho... no reason to NOT workout, eh?) and a KitchenAid hand mixer (that I love). Like my previous entry, my beloved Pillowman gave me a Tiffany & Co bracelet that I proudly wear on my right forearm. Love it.

Anyways... This year has been pretty interesting for me. Got to travel again to my favorite city, New York City, at the end of March & watching Lionel Messi played in New Jersey, followed with my shift from my beloved ER to my new department, Interventional Radiology, where I've met cool & new friends & doctors and gaining new sights to a new type of nursing. Pillow went to the Superbowl & witness his team, Green Bay Packers, winning. Got a promise ring (which at the end I sorta broke. Boo) Did several trips to Vegas this year (with one, in the summer, that I will cherish forever and will keep a secret FOREVERRRR), being part in my sister's wedding (with a mini reunion with my 4 sisters)... well having mini reunions with several of my sisters, biking trips with Pillow, beach dates, sleepovers/cuddle sesh, PF San Diego trip, discovering my new love for Chinese Reflexology (hello Happy Feet of Rowland Heights!), finally got to see Coldplay!!! Went to Catalina for the first time & ziplined too!! Watching GB Packers played SD Chargers, FRONT ROW, in the rain! Major Baking Session. Meeting his Mum for the first time. Disneyland trips... Gosh, I'm pretty sure I missed a lot. I know for sure, this year went by like a flash. Insane.

So I hope you all enjoy this last week of 2011. Embrace it with a big hug and welcome 2012 with a huge grin in your face.

moonbeams & bunny kisses,
Rima

Happy Holidays (with a recipe)

First of all I would like to say Happy Holidays & Seasons Greetings :) I hope each one of you have a great holiday week and please eat lots of food for me.

Anyways, I've been very, VERY, busy this week, it's not even funny. It's my last call week for 2011, and it has been insane. Not only busy for me, but also for Mr. Pillow. His family is in town from Indonesia, and I've finally had the pleasure to meet his mum. It went well (I was nervous as heck). I haven't been spending much time with my love but it's ok, I rather have him spend time with his family (according to him, this is the first time in 11 years he reunited with his mum & sister all together). This Christmas weekend they're spending time bonding at Las Vegas (I'm jealous. If only I was not on call, I would go). So before they left, he insisted to meet up with me to give me my Christmas gift from him. And I went giddy when I saw that infamous Tiffany blue bag in his hand. Weeeeee... He gave me this...

It's sooo pretty :) I would say this is the most expensive gift I've ever received from a person. Gotta love my man.

So while everybody is getting busy preparing for tomorrow's festivities, I'm spending my Christmas Eve by myself (and Chimmy). Opening my fridge I found left-overs of my Cream Cheese Custard Frosting, so I had the mood of baking. But this time, I decided to go whoop whoop and made Whoopie Pies. I haven't made these in awhile, so I busted out my new KitchenAid hand mixer and got busy. 

I recommend the Whoopie Pie book by Sarah Billingsley & Amy Treadwell. The book is very fun and cute and makes you want to eat each pages. 

I decided to make Mocha Whoopie Pies, in honor of my new Keurig (thanks to my brother, Austin, and his gf, Kat). The pies were so fluffy, I ate 3 (guilty as charge). Here I will give you the recipe, adapted from the book. As for fillings, you can use any fillings you want. From buttercream to marshmallow fillings, go ahead and whip your own (or if you are lazy, you can even use those store-bought frostings, but what's the fun in that?)