Boyce Avenue: Apologize

These guys rock! I accidentally discovered them on (where else?) Youtube, and WOW! They're good. I especially like their rendition of Apologize. Enjoy!

P.S. They were in Manila lst Feb. 14 and had a concert, I didn't get to watch them, though.

Bye-Bye Blackheads!

If you've ever been plagued by stubborn blackheads on your nose then I am sure you can appreciate the value of a good pore de-clogger. Unfortunately, I have never found any product in the market that could do this effectively and satisfactorily. That is, until I discovered baking soda and Cetaphil.

How To Make:

1. Mix equal parts Cetaphil and baking soda on the palm of your hand. (About 1/4 tsp. each.)

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2. Using your fingers rub the baking soda until you get a grainy, paste like consistency. There should not be any big lumps of baking soda left. If there are, just pick them off.

3. Now apply this mixture to your slightly damp face. Using your middle and ring finger, lightly and gently massage your face. Do not apply pressure. The baking soda will do all the srcubbing for you.

4. Wash face and pat dry. Follow with toner and moisturizer.

Get a mirror and look at the pore on your nose. Amazing isn't it?

In the past, I've used this once a day (usually at night) everyday and have had no adverse reactions. If you plan to try this, please listen to your skin. If your face gets red, burns, or shows other signs of irritation, please stop using it. Listen to your skin. I hope this woks for you, too!

Lois Battle: War Brides

My sister and I were strolling in the mall yesterday and I saw my local bookstore was selling 2 books for a very cheap price. I couldn't resist. I bought a book about France that was supposed to be hilarious but instead I found annoying and tiresome. Didn't bother to read after a few pages. I'm seriously considering burnig that book. Now, on to the book that I want to review.

War Brides is the story of three Australian women who married American men during the first world war. The book tells about theiry indivudual stories: the struggles and challenges, joy, pain, adjustments to married life in a foreign country and the general plot of women. We meet Dawn Mueller, loving mother of two, wife to a vaguely enstranged husband, practical, efficient but never receving the love she deserves. Gaynor Cunningham, truly lives up to her name for she is as cunning as she is clever. Manipulative, neurotic, the kind of person you wouldn't want living next to you. Sheila Hickock, sweet, naive, stubborn. Out of the three I think the had the happiest ending the book. If you can call it an ending.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

I honestly think that this book would have been a good read if not for the horrible ending. Actually it had no ending. That's why it's horrible. I feel like the author just kept on writing and writing until one day she realized that she had reached the ultimate maximum number of pages she's allowed to write but she hadn't written the ending part yet so she decided to just leave the story as is. No closure. I mean, you are left with a burning question in your mind, "Well, what in the world happened to them?!" After finishing the book (yes, I finished it) I was left dissatisfied, confused and a little angry at the author. I threw the book away.

It's also a little confusing when you read the book because every shapter is about one of the three women. It's like reading three books in one. Also, the point of view/speaker in the book keeps changing without warning. There were several times when I had absolutly no idea whose train of thought or observation I was reading.

I wouldn't recommend anyone to read this. Sorry Lois Battle.

Sophie Kinsella: Can You Keep A Secret?

First, a short backgound.

Emma Corrigan. Twenty-five years old, Junior Marketing Executive in Panther Cola, flatmates Lissy (whom she's had a very lesbian dream about once) and Jemima (whose expensive clothes, shoes, bags, you name it!, she "borrows" all the time), hates G-strings but wears them anyway, boyfriend Connor who thinks she's a size 8 when she's really a 12, never been in love, has a Barbie bedspread, and absolutely terrified of flying. Which is why she blabbered on for an hour to the man sitting beside her basically every single secret of hers. Which wouldn't have been so bad if he didn't turn out to be the founder of the company she works for. Her life turns into a chaotic mess, with lots of ups and downs and in the end she learns (hopefully) a valuable lesson: Telling a lie while you keep your fingers crossed behind your back is not the same as telling the truth.

RATING: 1.5 out of 5

Why?

The story was funny and interesting enough when it started, however, it failed to develop depth and substance. The first half was funny enough. Emma was hilarious and entertaining but later on she just became annoying. For one, she starts many of her sentences with "ehr, um, er...". She lies a lot and lets other people walk all over herthen she feels all sorry for herself. I could not feel sorry for her. Jack does not seem like a real person, the story is predictable and the big secret in the end? Ridiculous. My recommendation? Read the first half and skim the rest.

Daring Bakers August 2008 Challenge -- Diary

Tuesday, August 12

9.30 am - I’ll be making the pastry cream first then the cream puff dough and then the chocolate glaze. I think I’ll make some caramel, too.

10.10 am - Pastry cream is finished. I just remembered how good it tastes!

10.28 am - Getting ready to make the dough.

10.41 am - Measured out the ingredients and it’s ready to go only I have not prepared any of the tools I’ll need.

Boiling the mixture before adding the flour.

10.55 am - Incorporating the eggs by hand. A Kitchenaid would be really nice right now.

The different stages of the dough while adding the eggs.

11.03 am - Arm exercise is finished, piping the dough.

11.16 am - Finished piping. It made 18 pieces total. Hmmm, I thought it would make a lot. Good thing I didn’t halve the recipe. Only 14 pieces could fit so I’m freezing the other four.

11.19 am - In the oven they go ― 7 minutes.

11.27 am - Inserting the wooden spoon. My oven is making a strange clicking sound it’s never made before. Goodness! I hope my cream puffs won’t explode.

11.30 am - Looking at the puffs ― they’re puffing! Yipee!

11.32 am - Flipping the pans now. I noticed that the tops are broken, not smooth. Is that normal? I don’t think so. Uh-oh, I hope they don’t fall apart.

11.35 am - SHRIEEEKKKK! I was just reading the recipe again and it says to bake the puffs at 375! I only set my oven to 350!!! Grrr, I don’t know how to read anymore.

11.40 am - Puffs are still pale and they do not look like they’re done. I’m giving them a few more minutes. Corrected the temperature, maybe it’s not yet too late.

11.43 am - Looking at the puffs again. About half of them caved in.

11.45 am - Not good.

11.50 am - Took the puffs out of the oven. They’re lightly browned. A lot of them caved in and have cracked on top.

The only one theat turned out well was the one in the botterm right corner. The round cream puffs look a little odd.

12.07 pm - Now for the chocolate sauce and glaze.

12.26 pm - Chocolate glaze covers a multitude of sins!

These puffs are ready to be filled!

1.07 pm - Cream puffs are done, am eating my second one now. They don’t look too good. The puffs did not rise very well. However, it tastes good. The pastry cream is too soft and the glaze could have been thicker. Overall, it’s not soo bad. Anyway my family does not know I messed it up. And I’m not telling!

Maybe I should have dipped the tops on the chocolate instead of pouring it over the puffs.

Things I Would Do Differently Next Time:

1. Read the recipe carefully and take note of the correct oven temperature.
2. Use 4 eggs instead of 3 for the pastry cream.
3. Use parchment paper to line the pans.
4. Allow the glaze to cool a little more to thicken, that way I could spread it on top of the cream puffs.
5. Practice piping!