2012 I'm Back!!!

I'm back!!!! After 1 year + of bouncing around, doing nothing and rotting *kidding of course!* Life has been good after embarking with my new career and a new nest to call my own. My gastronomic adventures has certainly reached a different milestone in life and it will be exciting to share with everyone! It's time to kick start 2012 and wish me luck to be more disciplined in blogging more goodies!!

Drama Mama - Smokey Eyes

Just bought a Mac Greasepaint Stick and had fun trying to create a smokey eye effect. Drama!

Women's Heart...

Homey Foodie Sunday

Sometimes it's nice to have a day at home just by yourself.

Starting off the day with curry style Hong Kong noodle


Stir fry cabbage and sichuan veggie


BBQ Chicken wings from last night


Wash it down with Hoegaarden


Making vanilla sugar


Thai food for dinner!


Tofu with minced chicken


Green mango salad


Stir fry kailan


Yellow chicken curry


Warming up tummy with rose tea before heading to bed

Ferrari on Fire

Ferrari on fire and owner is no where in sight... Ouch....

Digital Imaging Magic - Pink Bubbly

Nicole in lovely pink and warm bubbly personality. Aww......... Don't you feel like cuddling now?

Digital Imaging Magic - Lit Me on Fire

Another great work from Cloudie. Luring expression with great composure. Cloudie, you are on FIRE!

Digital Imaging Magic - Color My Li-fe

Lianne, yes its the bear killer here! (She gave me that nickname after witnessing me strangling a teddy bear with a red scarf)

I hope you enjoy this piece of digital effect I have embedded for you!

Digital Imaging Magic - Reflection

Nicole, a very nice and bubbly lady with beautiful eyes and outstanding features. Deadly sexy too.. Hang on to your seats ladies and gentlemen...

Digital Imaging Magic - Photographer's Power

Aylwin - The man behind the camera lens and my friend who has the guts to allow me to vandalise his images using photoshop. Kuddos!


Now... Who says only the models shines?

PS: Nike, appealing isn't it? Email me! Muahahhaha!

Digital Imaging Magic - Genie

"You better rub me the right way....."

Digital Imaging Magic - Streaming

Welna, a lady with minimalistic flair... Let the synchronizing lines streams around you...

Digital Imaging Magic - Bedazzled

Lets reward ourselves with images of pretty ladies and digital eye candies. =D


Credits to Zee. Super tall and gorgeous lady! Stop drooling guys!

Prevent and Stop iTunes From Updating Your iPhone 3GS Firmware to 3.1.3

Open Cydia and search Firmware 3.1.3 App.

Open Firmware 3.1.3 App and set the followings:

Version : 3.1.3
Build: 7E18

iTunes will now detect your iPhone firmware to be the latest.

7 Beauty Urban Legends—Fact or Fiction?

Whether you first heard them from your mother or at your first slumber party, beauty urban legends cause us to buy promising skin creams and follow off-the-wall regimens. Here, we've listed seven of the most common beauty myths out there—and their answers.

1. Myth: I pluck one gray hair, multiple gray hairs will grow back in it's place.
Fiction. This isn't true — which is good because some of us were starting to worry! While plucking gray hairs won't make more grow back in its place, it's not a good habit to get into since it can damage the root.

2. Myth: Cocoa butter will help get rid of stretch marks.
Fiction. There are plenty of creams and lotions that claim to eliminate or at least minimize stretch marks. While we would love for all of these to work, stretch marks are caused by weight gain or loss, and usually can't be reversed.

3. Myth: Split ends can be reversed.
Fiction. Unfortunately, once split ends happen, the only way to get rid of them is by getting a haircut. The good news is that the right hair products can definitely make them less noticeable. Try a pomade like John Frieda's Frizz-Ease Creme Serum Overnight Repair Formula. Also, try to limit the use of heated tools and appliances (hair dryers, flat irons, etc) for shinier, healthier locks.

4. Myth: Certain cleansers can make your pores smaller.
Fiction. Pore size is genetic, so although there are tons of products out there claiming to shrink the size of your pores, they don't work to minimize pores permanently. What they can do is temporarily make your pores appear smaller. Hey — we'll take what we can get!

5. Myth: Crossing your legs causes varicose veins.
Fiction. There are plenty of ways to potentially develop varicose veins, but none of them are related to crossing your legs (sigh of relief). Some examples of what could causes varicose veins include genetics, obesity, trauma to the skin, etc.

6. Myth: Teeth whiteners can damage tooth enamel.
Fact. Make sure you follow the directions line by line when using teeth whitening products. If these products are used improperly or too frequently, it can result in permanent damage to your teeth.

7. Myth: Sleeping on your back may prevent wrinkles.
Fact. After hearing this, we're never sleeping on our sides again! The American Academy of Dermatology says that sleeping in certain positions may result in "sleep lines." After time, these lines can turn into deep-set wrinkles, so flip over and get your shut-eye on your back.

Reference: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/7-beauty-urban-legends-fact-or-fiction-713003/

Superfoods for Incredible Hair

I’m convinced that if I could bottle the feeling of a good-hair day, its success would rival that of the iPhone. Call me superficial, but when my hair is smooth, shiny and full, I tend to feel a wee bit better about, well, everything. Unfortunately, I’m all thumbs with the blow-dryer, and my rush to walk the dog, work out and get to the office leaves me little time to play around with the latest styling products. So I was thrilled to learn that I can make my hair look better on a daily basis simply by eating certain foods. Feast for better hair? Even I, styling challenged though I am, can handle that! For more bounce, strength and shine, I’ve been mindful to have my fill of the key nutrients below. Put them on your plate, too, for heavenly hair, and a healthy body, too!

Iron
Iron helps bolster hair growth. Find it in meat, shellfish, fortified grains and leafy greens.

Protein
Protein is the building block of every strand, but it can be high in fat. To keep your saturated fat intake low, opt for lean cuts of meat, mix light meat with dark, or choose seafood.

Biotin, B6 and B12
Biotin, B6 and B12 promote new growth within the follicles. Good sources include whole-grain breads, oatmeal, skim milk, lowfat cheese, eggs, salmon, nuts and nut butters.

Zinc
Zinc strengthens natural oils that coat the hair shaft, creating shine. Feast on meat, nuts, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds and yogurt.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps promote cell renewal in the scalp. Get your fill in the form of brightly colored fruits and veggies. Strawberries and kiwis are surprising super sources, as are raspberries, mangoes, oranges and red bell peppers.

Vitamin A
Vitamin A is also a hair helper; look for it in apples, apricots and sweet potatoes.

Antioxidants
Antioxidants found in herbs, dark chocolate and fresh berries promote a healthy scalp by sparking cell turnover.

Want easy ways to weave these superfoods into your diet? Follow this sample menu by Lona Sandon, R.D., a spokeswoman in Dallas for the American Dietetic Association.

Breakfast:
Make your first meal rich in biotin and protein, hair’s primary components.
• Option 1: Whole-grain tortilla [BIOTIN] with 1 slice lowfat cheese [BIOTIN]; 2 scrambled eggs [BIOTIN]; 3 slices mango
• Option 2: 1 cup oatmeal [BIOTIN] with skim milk [BIOTIN] and a small handful of walnuts [BIOTIN] and dried apricots; 1/2 grapefruit

Lunch:
Munch on foods containing growth-promoting iron midday.
• Option 1: 3 oz roast beef [IRON] or turkey [IRON] on whole-wheat toast [IRON] with 1 slice lowfat cheese and 1/2 avocado (instead of mayo)
• Option 2: 3 oz grilled chicken breast; small baked sweet potato; salad of 4 cups romaine [IRON], 1/2 cup each red bell pepper and chickpeas; 1 tbsp olive oil and lemon juice to taste

Snack:
Antioxidant-rich bites between meals make for a healthy scalp.
• Option 1: 1/2 cup unsalted edamame [ANTIOXIDANTS] sprinkled with chili powder
• Option 2: 1 oz dark chocolate [ANTIOXIDANTS]; 1/2 cup raspberries [ANTIOXIDANTS AND BIOTIN]

Dinner:
Protein for your final meal boosts hair and your energy levels.
• Option 1: 2 1/2 cups veggie chili consisting of 1/2 cup each red kidney beans [PROTEIN], carrots, potato, peas [PROTEIN] and tomatoes
• Option 2: 6 oz grilled wild salmon [PROTEIN AND BIOTIN] or steak [PROTEIN]; a salad of 4 cups spinach, 1/2 cup orange slices, 1 oz goat cheese, a handful each of pumpkin seeds and raisins; 1 tbsp olive oil and lemon juice to taste

Source: http://health.yahoo.com/experts/healthieryou/15872/superfoods-for-incredible-hair/

Hoolah!

My sincere apologies for the lack of entries! There has been a few hiccups recently in my family and close ones that has been hogging my brain. I hope they can recover very soon and stay healthy!!! And definitely will keep the entries coming in very soon!

Lots of love,
Novia

Why We Put On Weight During CNY

Love from Mummy! Who cares about weight?

Happy Chinese New Year!

HUAT AH!

Digital Imaging Magic - Rainbow Sparkle

I'm really thrilled to learn advance masking and rendering on this image. Turns out to be really cool! Thanks to Aylwin for allowing me to "mess" around his images! Hope you guys like it! Kaka!