Sunday, November 20, 2011

Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho

My rundown:
Paulo Coelho's Eleven Minutes novel is the story of Maria, a girl from a distant town of Brazil who explores an unusual relationship with herself. Maria's persistent attempts to have her dream fortune landed her to work as a prostitute in Switzerland. But each duration will only make her find out the many brilliant facets to her personality more than sexuality, and discovering what it is exactly she wants for herself. 

Filipino curiosity:
One of the characters in the novel is Nyah, a prostitute from the Philippines who is the only real female friend of Maria .

My favorite quotes:
"Dreaming is pleasant as long as you are not forced to put your dreams into practice."

"She would find it easier to admit that her husband had betrayed her than to reveal the real state of her wardrobe."

"Freedom only exist when love is present."

"Love is not to be found in someone else, but in ourselves; we simply awaken it. But in order to do that. We need the other person. The universe only make sense when we have someone to share our feelings with."

I'm not gonna confess the thorough details of the novel to keep the thrill to those who didn't read it yet.
I still continue the tradition of reading, which I firmly believe the most effective habit to foster one's knowledge. A book is my entryway to another world. They bring me to places that I may not have the chance to visit.
I borrowed this novel from a friend a few days back right after she finished reading. I use to purchase books but after the deluge I was wondering how I'm going to fit all of them in my case. I do still purchase some of them, but having friends who gloriously collects books has its happy advantages, I am able to borrow them. Why I must spend and keep something that I might read only once, when I know I can still devour them for free.


happy reading!
greetings, aileen

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

November Comfort Buys

The other night, I've canceled my evening plans and rush over with my group of friends to haunt the mall.
Look what I bought for myself and for my girl.


For me!
Belted quilted pouch bag from Jane Norman
Coat from Costa Blanca
Orange top from Forever 21
Studded men's belt from Dep / Animal print belt and orange bangle from AandM

For my girl!
Dress from Red Tag
Swimsuit from City Max
Jacket from Osh Kosh
Bag from Lifestyle
Accessories/Jewelry set from Claire's Club
Dinner at La Pasta Fresca. I had my favorite classic pasta with garlic bread. 


I believe in retail therapy. I often indulge it but am always well within my limits. I think there is nothing like retail therapy for a woman after a tough day at work.

greetings, aileen

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Duran Duran & The Supermodels radiates in Girl Panic!

I hardly had an extreme doubt if I should post this, in view of the fact that this topic is already gone viral all over the net, but I can't put an end to my excitement, it was a shock to my system that Duran Duran brought together five of the 80s and 90s Supermodel legends to cast as actual bands by responding interviews/acting a scene/lip-synching in their new music video "Girl Panic" directed by Jonas Akerlund (who directed Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video and Kate Moss Dior Addict commercial) .
I am still filled with wonder on how they successfully come up together, but my excitement won't stop there, the Supermodels are also on the cover of Harper's Bazaar UK with Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana who are also both present on the set with a brief cameo on the video.

Helena Christensen, Danish (born December 25, 1968)
as drummer Roger Taylor
Naomi Campbell, British (born May 22, 1970)
as frontman Simon Le Bon
Eva Herzigova, Czech (born March 10, 1973)
as keyboardist Nick Rhodes
Yasmin Le Bon, British Iranian (born October 29, 1964), married to Simon Le Bon
as their unnamed Guitarist.
Cindy Crawford, American (born February 20, 1966)
as bassist John Taylor


The video already hit Youtube on November 8, 2011 and the total views hastily soared within 6 days.
Though I like better Duran Duran's "Ordinary World", yet somehow I had been profoundly impressed with this new video's drenching up of pretty models in rock-and-roll glitz and glamour, and the amazingly wrapped of fashion where in every place sparkles with camera flashes, leather, champagne, mascara and etc. And I would care to add up that the real Duran Duran members played the supporting role such as waiter, bellboy, media and chauffeur. 


But you know what the Supers have in common? They are still fashionable with enviable size figures at their age! Hands down to the supers! yey!

images via starpulse.com, photobucket.com, yasminlebon.net, pinterest.com l video via youtube.com


Friday, November 11, 2011

French Toast : The Hidden Fairy Way

French toast is one delicious way to start my breakfast meal. I am aware that there are numerous ways on this popular morning-time food, but here is my recipe from a scratch that delightfully appeals to my taste.
It is quick and easy. And the good thing - some ingredients are completely optional.

Main Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/3 cup low fat milk
butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 slices of two-day-old bread
maple syrup but I also use sugar free pancake syrup
Optional Ingredients:
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon sugar
strawberry jam
honey
Method:
Break the eggs into a shallow bowl and add the milk.
Using the whisk beat together until eggs are thoroughly well incorporated. 
Add and whisk in the sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
Dip each bread into the bowl and flip it to ensure that both sides are coated by the egg and milk mixture.
Place the frying pan onto the stove top and melt some butter on medium heat. 
Place the bread into the surface of the hot frying pan.
Flip the bread over a few times.
Fry until golden brown or according to the desired level.
Remove to a warmed platter and serve hot.
Serve with maple/pancake syrup or honey.
And if available, a strawberry jam with a lot of passion.


Delicious goodness.
This Friday morning, I enjoyed a cinnamon sweet treat with regulated amount of calories (hope I'm nutritionally right) to fuel the start of my day!


greetings, aileen



Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The Art of Apart

My grandma and grandpa used to get up very early. That time I never could understand that because I am a night person.
I usually woke up late particularly in weekends.
Today, the whiff of the early morning cheered me up again when I spotted a pair of pigeon who occasionally visits outside my window. They were nestled apart and loudly singing one another. Both creatures freely allowed me to ascertain their beauty. My camera is always within reach now and I'm so happy of the unmatched scenery that I had succeeded to snap just before the below one flew away. I was convinced that it is all right to wake up early in a morning like this.

"Hey mate!"
The Art of Being Apart
"Where is fairy hiding anyway?"
"Gotcha!"
Oh my! those expressive eyes caught me and he/she seem like to be photographed.
I love the varying colors of his/her feather underneath his/her neck when reflected by the sun.

It was the fourth day of our holiday (Day 1, Day 2). I found a healthy time to relax, have some coffee with a snack bar. I continued flipping some pages of John Grisham's book (photo here) and it is entertaining to lose myself in someone else's story and getaway my own dramas for a while.
After that, I had high spirits seeing and talking with my love ones via Skype. I also burn off some nervous energy as I cease down a number of my chore list the whole afternoon.



The other one is still there hanging out all alone until sunset when I checked, I guess trying to build and defend his/her (failed to foretell the gender) own little territory until his/her mate comes back to once and for all woo each other.
I'll go figure that out functioning as their personal pigeo-rrazi.haha.



I truly had a very fascinating moment to see their freedom and beauty at a free cost.
Not before long I am now singing Elton John's Skyline Pigeon over... over... over and over again.
♬ For just a Skyline Pigeon, Dreaming of the open, Waiting for the day, He can spread his wings, and fly away again ♬ 


Wait...excuse me for being so melodic, I just can't stop the harmony inside my head.


Have a nice day everyone.
greetings, aileen



Monday, November 7, 2011

Sunday Holiday

Our landlady circulated a memo earlier this week stating that all the residents in our flat have to move out due to further renovation and we have to transfer to the upper floor of the same building. Ugh, how I hate packing my things and the laborious task of moving from one place to another. 

At any rate, I went to our housing mother (commonly called landlady) yesterday morning and I took the key of my new room. I really wanted to check and prepare things beforehand - like if I need to clean, mop, arrange the furniture and etc. okay, okay, I admit I have all the slightest excitement to see the room too.

Although every room and furniture are alike in this building, I don't know but the atmosphere is brighter here. During the day, the window beside my desk is enough to enlighten while I am reading. They also place a number of closed wall cupboards in the mini kitchen. The entire room is clean while the furniture are all in good state. The space is sufficient enough for a catastrophic resident like me. I freeze in a moment and visualizing how can I put all my mess here. The remaining days are not enough to fix all my crap.



At noon, the temperature started to drop even if the sun is still up and skies are clear. Cold air is blowing across the building.
I can feel the launch of the short winter season.
 In a desert it doesn't rain that much but last night, it downpours in partnership with a strong thunderstorms and fearful lightning. It never slows and calms until midnight. People including me were captivated because rain is the most anticipated weather period here. We get to experience it at least 3 to 4 times in a year (yes - I really mean in a Year) and as far as my observation it occurs mostly between November and January.


greetings, aileen

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Saturday Holiday

The Eid Al-Adha* holidays started this Saturday**. As likely to happen I thought a boring week would draw me but I have the wrong impression. I just realized I will be fully occupied. And I presume that my set of activities would only be going out with friends, malling, blogging, reading, skype-ing with my love ones, but the much needed effort of moving out from my flat is far-fetched.

Either way, I was in for a treat with friends!
A tortoise-like walk around the Corniche Avenue had slowly bore us, luckily we were seem to be in the same wavelength - to eat!

We had our dinner at The Pizza Company.
Sadly, the Chicken and Vigi Chicken Italian Baked Rice failed to fulfill our taste buds, the taste is awful and negatively perceivable while the smell would leave us choking with nausea. As soon as we conveyed this to the manager, he spoke to the Chef, he explained that the rice was not properly cooked and so on and so forth, he was remorseful but apologetic.
The manager asserted us that they will exclude the unconsumed dishes into our bill to shut our mouth to bring relief to our discontentment.
In spite of that, I personally love the seafood pasta, but it was the toss between the Deluxe pizza and Hawaiian pizza that everyone loves. Nonetheless, their oven produces something that does not disappoint.

In conclusion, their prices were reasonable. The place is bright, airy and clean. This is an easy atmosphere to spend a few hours of chitchat.





According to Wikipedia