Air New Zealand Safety Video

Just New Zealand winning at safety videos...

Chanel No5 The One That I Want

Chanel's short films are worth your undying love.
And what could possibly be more beautiful and glamorous than a Baz Lurhmann vision starring Giselle? 

Thursday Thought

Thursday Thought

Thursday Thought

Thursday Thought

Tuesday Tune: Sam Smith "I'm not the only one"

Oh the Sam Smith love affair continues.
Each song I've heard from his album feels like it's own movie moment, so I absolutely adore this short film as his music video

Thursday Thought

Thursday Thought

Tuesday Tune:Taylor Swift 'Shake It off'

Because. Yes.

Spicy Fish Tacos with Lime Crema

We have found our quick go-to meal. Our weekly. Our pressed for time but still want deliciousness.

I guess the thanks should first go to our former housemate who, being American, ate Mexican food alllll the time. And if she got to have Taco Tuesdays, then I also wanted to have my own version of Taco Tuesdays. Since Blue Eyes loved a good fish taco when we were hanging out in California, this recipe sounded like it would deliver the goods. Oh yes it did indeedy.

Pinterest led me to foodess.com and this taco of happiness. Simplest dinner you could want. The result is really fresh and happy making a great summer food choice. 

Spicy Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw + Lime Crema

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Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

25 mins

Author: Jennifer Hill Pallian

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 2 lbs snapper fillets
• salt and pepper
• 2 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp cayenne
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tbsp canola oil

For cabbage slaw

• 4 cups (loosely packed) shredded cabbage
• ⅓ cup chopped cilantro
• 2 green onions, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp distilled white vinegar
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp white sugar

For lime crema

• ⅓ cup sour cream
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• juice and zest of 1 lime
• salt, to taste
• warmed tortillas (corn or wheat), for serving

Instructions

1. Season fish on both sides with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine paprika, cayenne, garlic powder and cumin. Sprinkle over fish on both sides. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a grill pan on medium-high heat. Add half of the fish and cook until the edges are opaque, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until fish flakes easily with fork, and is just ever-so-slightly translucent (it will finish cooking with the residual heat). Transfer fish to a plate and repeat with remaining fish.
2. To make cabbage slaw, toss all ingredients together in a large bowl.
3. To make crema, whisk all ingredients together and season to taste with salt.
4. Serve fish in warmed tortillas with cabbage slaw and a drizzle of crema.

Thanks foodess.com!

Thursday Thought

Thursday Thought

Nevada wins Miss USA 2014!

Congratulations to Nia Sanchez who was crowned Miss USA 2014 in Baton Rouge on Sunday night. The 24yr old from Las Vegas is a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo and rumour has it worked as a princess at Hong Kong Disneyland (which obviously I love). I wish the best for her reign; beauty pageants can easily seem outdated and irrelevant, but with the right strong woman at the helm, can be a platform for great social change and importance.

Thursday Thought

Tuesday Tune: Tiesto 'Wasted'

A friend of mine sent me this link because he thought I look just like one of the girls; but it's today's Tuesday Tune because I just adore the 1950s housewife vibe, it's a beautifully styled video and makes me wanna host a "tea" just like this

Thursday Thought

Tuesday Tune: 'Chandelier' - Sia

I never remember what this song sounds like as every time I watch the video I'm utterly transfixed by the dance performance, and especially impressed by the artistic maturity from such a young performer. I've read that the piece is commentary on the child sex-slave industry; I first read it as an expression of the expectations we put on young girls and women in general. Have a view for yourself, it's a masterpiece.

Coca Cola Germany FIFA World Cup Commercial

If you concentrate, you will see me for a brief moment in time being my best German Football fan self. You'll see this at 0:21sec to be exact, and maybe for a bit at 0:22sec but only then ;)

Wine Time Cape Town

I lovvvvve me a good glass of wine at the end of a busy day.
Or a bad day.
Or a really good day.

I love some icy Sav Blanc in the Cape Town summer sun, and some luscious shiraz on a stormy evening.
To feel flirty with some silly rose, or super grown up when it's paired properly with dinner.
I like to cook with some good tunes and a great glass in hand.
And most of all I like the bubbly, ahh beautiful bubbly.

Anyhoo, if you even just vaguely like a drop of vino, you will adore this company...
They get great deals on South African wines, you order said bargains online and then *ding dong* there's wine at your door. Perfection.

I'm particularly excited that at the moment they're selling Graham Beck Brut MCC and Brut Rose MCC for R90/bottle! *grabs credit card*

Check out their website here 

Thursday Thought

Backroom Online Store

Shot some looks for this awesome online store here in Hong Kong - and the best part, they have FREE shipping worldwide! They stock some really awesome brands from all over the world, from the reasonable priced to the high end designer. Take a little gander here to see for yourself.

Thursday Thought

Thursday Thought

Thursday Thought

Thursday Thought

Tuesday Tune: Sam Smith - "Not In That Way"

Just happened upon this incredibly beautiful piece. Quiet sorrow.

And I hate to say I love you

When it's so hard for me

And I hate to say I want you

When you make it so clear

You don't want me

I'd never ask you 'cause deep down

I'm certain I know what you'd say

You'd say I'm sorry, believe me,

I love you but not in that way

And I hate to say I need you

I'm so reliant

I'm so dependent

I'm such a fool

When you're not there

I find myself singing the blues

Can't bear

Can't face the truth

You will never know that feeling

You will never see through these eyes

I'd never ask you

Cause deep down I'm certain what you'd say

You'd say I'm sorry

Believe me

I love you

But not in that way

You say sorry

Believe me

I love you

But not in that way

Thursday Thought

Maid of Honour gots some swag

LOVE this. Doubt I'll ever be able to pull it off :P

Creamy Tomato-Basil & Cauliflower Soup

Back in Hong Kong, and back onto Housewife Training :P

Previously "making soup" has consisted of me decanting Woolies store-bought into a bowl and microwaving it... but with the serious thunderstorms on the go here (and after some major Pinteresting ) I thought I'd put on my big girl panties and make a soup from scratch. Eek. Not really though, since it's actually ridiculously easy.

I went with the "Creamy Tomato-Basil & Cauliflower" recipe I found via Pinterest from a blog called iheartnaptime.net - very cool site. They made it for Halloween and added "spider-webs". 

Ingredients

• 1/2 of a head of cauliflower, chopped
• 2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes
• 32 oz chicken stock
• 1 cup greek yogurt (or cream if you're being naughty)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1/3 cup chopped basil
• 5 oz shredded asiago cheese (I couldn't find, and used Parmesan)
• Reduced fat sour cream (if you want the spiderwebs)

Instructions

1. 1. In a large soup pot, melt butter. Add onions and garlic and saute 3-5 minutes or until translucent.
2. 2. Add chopped cauliflower and saute another 2-3 minutes. Add chicken stock (should cover cauliflower). Let simmer for 15-20 minutes or until cauliflower is tender.
3. 3. Add cans of diced tomatoes, chopped basil basil, and greek yogurt. Let simmer for 5 minutes.
4. 4. Using an immersion blender, blend soup until creamy and there are no lumps. (You can also pour the soup into a blender in two batches, and blend until smooth. Then pour back into the pot.)
5. 5. Once blended add 5 ounces asiago cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer for another 15-20 minutes, stir to combine melted cheese.
6. 
   
7. For the spider webs
8. Fill a plastic bag or piping bag, or a squeezable bottle, with the sour cream. Place a dot of sour cream in the center of the bowl of soup. Then create two or three circles around the center dot. Using a knife or toothpick start from the center dot of sour cream and drag it to the outer circle of sour cream. Do this all the way around the center dot, creating a web.

(This is apparently what the spiderwebs should look like according to iheartnaptime.net )

Thursday Thought

Tuesday Tune: Frozen's 'Let It Go'

This is beyond epic.
Y'all know how I dig a good cover, well here's the smash-hit from Frozen being sung by a whole bunch of Disney characters, but really just one guy...

Thursday Thought

First of many a Thursday in Asia. 6 months away from home, but 6 months of being right next to he who feels like home

Tuesday Tune: Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Off to Hong Kong to be with Blue Eyes x x x

Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my ma and pa

But not the way I do love you

Well, holy moly, me-oh-my, you're the apple of my eye

Girl, I never loved one like you

Man, oh, man, you're my best friend, I'll scream it to the nothingness

There ain't nothin' that I need

Well, hot and heavy, pumpkin pie, chocolate cake and Jesus Christ

Ain't nothin' please me more than you

Home, let me come home

Home is wherever I'm with you

Home, let me come home

Home is wherever I'm with you

La, la, la, la, take me home

Mother, I'm comin' home

I'll follow you into the park, through the jungle, through the dark

Girl, I never loved one like you

Moats and boats and waterfalls, alley ways and pay-phone calls

I've been everywhere with you, that's true

Laugh until we think we'll die, barefoot on a summer night

Never could be sweeter than with you

And in the streets we're runnin' free like it's only you and me

Jeez, you're somethin' to see

Home, let me come home

Home is wherever I'm with you

Oh home, yes, I am home

Home is when I'm alone with you

La, la, la, la, take me home

Daddy, I'm comin' home

Jade, Alexander

Do you remember that day you fell out of my window?

I sure do, you came jumpin' out after me

Well, you fell on the concrete and nearly broke your ass

And you were bleedin' all over the place and I rushed you off to the hospital

You remember that?

Yes, I do

Well, there's somthin' I never told you about that night

Why didn't you tell me?

While you were sittin' there in the backseat smokin' a cigarette

That you thought was gonna be your last

I was fallin' deep, deeply in love with you and I never told you 'til just now

Home, let me come home

Home is wherever I'm with you

Oh home, yes, I am home

Home is when I'm alone with you

Home, let me come home

Home is wherever I'm with you

Oh home, yes, I am home

Home is when I'm alone with you

Alabama, Arkansas

I do love my ma and pa

Moats and boats and waterfalls

Lay awake 'til break of dawn

Home is wherever I'm with you

Home is when I'm alone with you

Sunday Punday!!

Thursday Thought

Tuesday Tune: The Head and the Heart 'Let's Be Still'

I find it paramount in the midst of busy existence, to take a moment and be still in your life.

The Head and the Heart is an indie-rock folk band from Seattle, Washington who have been together since the summer of 2009. This is the title track from their second album released October last year. 

You can get lost in the music for hours, honey,

You can get lost in a room.

We can play music for hours and hours

But the sun'll still be coming up soon

The world's just spinning

A little too fast

If things don't slow down soon we might not last.

So just for the moment, let's be still.

You can get lost in the music for hours, honey,

You can get lost in a room.

We can play music for hours and hours

But the sun'll still be coming up soon.

The world's not forgiving

Of everyone's fears.

The days turn into months, the months turn into years.

So just for the moment, let's be still

There tearing down

So we can rebuild

And all this time

Is just circles in my mind

So just for a moment,

Just one moment,

Just for a moment let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still.

The world's just spinning

A little too fast

If things don't slow down soon we might not last.

The world's not forgiving

Of everyone's fears.

The days turn into months the months turn into years.

So just for a moment, let's be still

Just for a moment let's be still.

Just for a moment let's be still.

Just for a moment let's be still.

Just for a moment let's be still.

Just for a moment let's be still.

Just for a moment let's be still.

Amazing 'lesser known' places in the RSA

*resisting the temptation to make a 'lesser-spotted joke*

This is a great post up on Travelstart's blog, SA has so many awesome little spots and many are not a far travel from bigger cities (although you may need a 4x4 for some). Take a gander if you're a local looking for a getaway or a tourist trying not to be so touristy...

10-lesser-known-places-youve-never-south-africa-probably

Thursday Thought

First Kiss

This is a beautiful short film of people being asked to kiss strangers on camera. I was amused at the beginning since I relate in that sometimes I do have to kiss strangers in a casting, but that's still me playing a part and not really just being me. The beauty of this piece is in the vulnerability and stripped truth that appears. Afterwards I sat wondering, in my completely hopeless romantic way, if any of these people found themselves at the beginning of a love story after their unexpected kiss...

Cape Town, Design Capital 2014

Absolutely loving the attention my city is getting as World Design Capital 2014. This is an article from the British paper The Guardian highlighting some of Cape Town's creative bests.
A Tour of Cape Town, World Design Capital

Tuesday Tune: Michel Velo 'Ai Se Eu Te Pego'

This is not a new song. But it continues to amuse me. It's probably the only Portuguese song I know. And it has official dance moves!! The best part, is that Michel Telo seems a little creepy and his concerts are all hot girls fanning themselves doing the sexy routine to (ok quite a sexy) song.

There's an English translation, but as expected is quite lame.
Here's a video of a live performance with the English lyrics and at the bottom a video teaching the moves ;)

Wow, wow, this way you gonna kill me

Oh, if I catch you

Oh, my God if I catch you

Delicious, delicious

This way you gonna kill me

Oh, if I catch you

Oh, my God if I catch you

Saturday at the party

Everybody started to dance

Then the prettiest girl past in front of me

I get closer and started to say:

Wow, wow, this way you gonna kill me

Oh, if I catch you

Oh, my God if I catch you

Delicious, delicious

This way you gonna kill me

Oh, if I catch you

Oh, my God if I catch you

Sean Bovim's Queen At The Ballet

This is one of my absolute favourites, and now one of my besties is in it! Bovim Ballet is an incredible Cape Town based contemporary ballet company, and they're bringing Queen At The Ballet to Jozi this month! So if you're up in the Big Smoke don't forget to book your tickets. It runs from 26 March 2014 at The Mandela at Joburg Theatre.