BLACK MAGIC WOMAN - JUSTIN GUSTAINIS

I just finished this book yesterday. It is quite an interesting book, definitely a page turner. Here's the synopsis:

"Supernatural investigator Quincey Morris and his partner, white witch Libby Chastain, are called in to help free desperate family from a deadly curse that appears to date back to the Salem Witch Trials. To release the family from danger they must find the root of the curse, a black witch with a terrible grudge that holds the family in her power.

The pursuit takes them to the mysterious underworlds of Boston, San Francisco, New Orleans & New York, stalking a prey that is determined to stay hidden. After surviving a series of terrifying attempts on their lives, the two find themselves drawn inexorably towards Salem itself - and the very heart of darkness..."

I came across this book at Kinokuniya Taka and seems interesting so I bought it. I usually do not buy from Kino as too ex, I have a better much cheaper source for books but somehow just felt like buying a book that day so decided on this one. Glad that its worth it. Later I found out that this author's very new, only 3 books so far and his drafts are being read by Jim Butcher (one of my fav authors) before being published.

Now I'm desperately trying to get my hands on the author's previous book "Hades Project" ..... checked my usual book source, they don't have it. Looks like i gotta head back to Kino.

CRANBERRY CHEESE CAKE

Finally, I got to leave office early today at 5.30pm after 2 weeks of OTing till 10-11pm consecutively. My excuse; I've got a medical appt at 6.30pm. Its true, I did go for my medical check up but that took only about 1hr and i reached home at abt 7.30pm.

Immediately I got my mixing bowl, sift, measuring cup..... flour, sugar. egg etc out and started whisking away, Above is the end product. I actually took the Lavender Teacake recipe and got creative. Instead of Lavender, I added cranberries. I cut down on the butter and added cream cheese and voila!!! Cranberry Cheesecake.

1st guinea pig is my mom. Mom doesn't like cheese so her immediate response was "will taste better w/o the cheese". Sigh, looks like I gotta find another guinea pig.....

NEW MOON - STEPHANIE MEYER

I just finished reading New Moon today. The movie is coming soon. Hmmm.... I think I'm getting quite irritated by the character Isabella. She is too "Damsel" for my liking. However, I still managed to keep me reading right to the end, the storyline is quite interesting. Alot abt Jacob and very little of Edward not that its a bad thing. Makes me look forward to the movie to see what Jacob would be like in it. Quite a no. of new characters makes it more interesting, at least its not all about Bella, Edward, Bella, Edward, Bella, Edward..............

LAVENDER TEACAKE

Suddenly have the urge to bake a cake so decided on this Lavendar teacake. A friend of mine baked it last week and it looks real good so i decided to try. Took me only abt 45mins. Tastes okay, except for the Lavender, I think I added too much and it tasted abit like soap. Other than that the texture and everything else was good. Goes very very well with a cup of tea.... that's why its called tea cake. The next time I bake this cake I'll probably replace lavender with something else like choc chips, coffee, cranberry etc...

Stefanie Sun

Stefanie Sun shines bright againPosted: 05 June 2009 1810 hrs

"SINGAPORE : While taking breaks from work help you to recharge and in turn perform better, few artistes would dream of doing so. But not Stefanie Sun. This Singapore songbird has a knack for taking breaks. In 2003, just three years after launching her self-titled debut album, Sun announced that she would be taking a year off. This is considered career suicide in an industry where publicity and appearances determine your success. Though on a break, Sun did not remain idle. She worked on her new album and started her own company, Make Music, and returned even stronger in late 2004. If her first break can be considered the 'recharging' period, then the second which she took in 2007, would be labelled the 'rediscovery' period. Said Sun, "I was at a loss because I did not know what to do. I was trying to figure ways to continue my career and bring it to greater heights." During this break, the 31-year-old turned down offers from recording companies which were met with disdain by her parents who told her that "no singer would reject such opportunities". But the determined Sun stood by her decision and till today feels that it was the right move. "We all need to pause at some point in life, and allow ourselves the time to look around us and see what is best for us. There is no point in moving forward continuously without understanding what you truly want in life," she said. Fast forward to May 2009, not only has Sun has found the answers, she is ready to share her experiences with her fans, hence her aptly titled concert tour, "The Answer Is... Stefanie Sun World Tour 2009". Returning not only with a fresh outlook and direction, Sun is also sporting a new image. This sunshine girl with a penchant for short bobs, grew her hair out and is looking more ladylike than ever. "It has been something that I've been talking about but only managed to do so during my long break," said Sun. However, one can't help but think that love has something to do with it. In March this year, Sun was spotted cheering on her Dutch boyfriend who was participating in a triathlon in Singapore but the singer remains coy. When asked about her boyfriend during her Taipei show last month, Sun replied cryptically, "Love is very important." She remained tight-lipped about her relationship and thanked everyone for their concern. Sun's fans may be disappointed with the lack of openness but good news awaits them as she disclosed that preparation for her new album is underway. While the release date has yet to be confirmed, Sun revealed that fans can get a 'sneak preview' of her latest songs at her Singapore concert which will be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on July 11. - CNA/fa"



Isn't this what Sammi Cheng did too? Took a long break...... comeback with new album & a concert... sharing with the audience at her concert reasons for her long break and what she has done during the break. One of the reasons given was also "We all need to pause at some point in life, and allow ourselves the time to look around us and see what is best for us. There is no point in moving forward continuously without understanding what you truly want in life"

Recently, I saw the Poster for Sun's upcoming concert & at a glance I thought it was Sammi. Its not that they look alike (not at all), its just the colours & the make-up etc.




I can't help but think Sun is just following the footsteps of Sammi Cheng or her record co. is trying to make her the next Sammi Cheng.

Shed the Weight

What is the fastest way to shed the fats?

1. Eat Healthily
2. Exercise

I am going to try this for the next 3 months to see if it works.

NO rice/noodles
Wholemeal Bread, white meat, vegetables, fruits & water only.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
A HIIT session consists of a warm up period of exercise, followed by six to ten repetitions of high intensity exercise, separated by medium intensity exercise, and ending with a period of cool down exercise. The high intensity exercise should be done at near maximum intensity. The medium exercise should be about half-maximum intensity. The number of repetitions and length of each depends on the exercise. The goal is to do at least six cycles, and to have the entire HIIT session last at least fifteen minutes and not more than twenty.
HIIT is an excellent way to maximize your workout if you are limited on time. (Wikipedia)

I chosen Burpees for my HIIT. If you do not know what's a burpee, see video below.



I think for a start I'll do 1:4 ie. 30sec workout:2mins rest for 6 cycles. Total workout time ...Voila! Only 15mins and no costs involved!

Currently am 1.68m tall & xxkg, will update on how much wt lost in 3mths time.