The longer you wait for something, the more you appreciate it when you get it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

GOOD VIBES to everyone!

Hello 2013!!! Every year Japanese have this tradition to watch the first sunrise of the year. They are very dedicated to it that they have to wake up early even though it is too damn cold.

Last year was a failure because the sun was covered by the clouds and we didn't have the chance to see it. But fortunately, I guess the odds are in our favor this time, the sun showed up and it was breath taking.

At the parking lot. *hurry! Mr. Sun is showing up!!!

first photo... still using my primary lens 18-55mm

when we got closer. I love the silhouette effect. 

a group of young Japanese people raise their hands with peace sign, welcoming year 2013.

Busy taking pictures... I love it because most of them is a Canon user like me. :D

People pray and wish to have good luck and fortune this year.
Then everyone exchanges some hugs with their family and friends.
Oh the joy. ;)


And when we got home I immediately go to bed and slept the entire day.

I wish everyone a very prosperous and productive new year.

Ciao!

-Steph♥

Finally! A bag that makes my camera cozy.

It was yesterday that Mama bought this. I really love going to Japan's "second hand shop" or as we call it "ukay ukay" because you can really see good stuff in a very low price. :D

I searched for a new bag and I thought about buying one for my camera. A bag that is not too bulky nor obvious that there's a camera in it.

And I saw this and I fell inlove with it. It's chic and classy. ☆

And it costs me about 800 yen. ;D

I'm going back there and I'll search every aisle for some good stuff! :)

Let them.

There are times when we are suppose to know our limits. If someone wants to do something, then let them do it. It doesn't mean that what they did is making them worse as an individual.

White&Blue Christmas!!! :D

Me and my sister decorated our tree and we're having a Christmas tree outside the house.

It's not that much but we still feel the essence of Christmas. 

Well, back to our reality... hello exams!

"May the odds be ever in our favor"

:)

-Steph♥

Baking is definitely not my forte

I'm an avid fan of Master Chef US especially this season...

 To make this story short, there is an episode that I watched when they made this Choco Molten Lava Cake, the outcome is so mouth watering, so I immediately google its recipe and to my surprise there's only 5 ingredients.

• 100g butter
• 20ml flour
• 2 egss
• 50ml sugar
• 100g chocolate

 Well, about the chocolate... It should be a chocolate bar but because it is too expensive, I use a chocolate powder instead. So instead of melting the chocolate, I just add water to the powdered one and made it look like this:

Then add the butter and gradually mix them both together. :D

On a separate bowl, crack the eggs and add the sugar then start whisking! But it is best to use an electronic one so it will be quick and easy. And it should look like this:

it should be frothy... or whatever they call it. :)

The next step is to add the chocolate and mix:

 

When everything is set and done, put the batter on a ramekin it is a small rounded shaped like a cup but its microwave safe but since we don't have those stuff, I used mugs (make sure they're microwave safe though, just to avoid damage)

Bake it for 10-15mins. under 180 degree Celsius :)

THE RESULT!!!

                                 When I was trying to flip the mug so that the cake will come right off it, it was a total mess. I don't know what happened but I guess I measured the ingredients wrong... or something. :))

                                 I made another one and this time I didn't remove them on the mug, I embedded vanilla ice cream because that's what I saw on some youtube tutorial and let my two cousins dig in.

                                They said it is too sweet and the butter is overpowering the chocolate taste... I made another one and this time, again, I didn't use the whole 100g of butter but I just use 3/4. Then since I'm not using dark-bitter-chocolate, instead of using 4 sachets of powdered choco I only used three. And I also reduce the sugar to 40ml. :)

                                I put the batter on a baking tray and baked it for 20mins., and Voila! MOIST CAKE! :D

I don't even think it is a moist cake... haha. I don't care, I guess I'm not that really good at baking. Then my tito and tita tasted it, I was expecting for their negative reactions (because they are very good at cooking or making everything taste so delicious!!!)... They loved it! The sweetness of the cake balanced the taste of the vanilla ice cream on top (I'm really thankful for the vanilla ice cream. haha)

Oh well, at least I did something productive that day. :D

But this fail experience will not stop me from learning. 

So I'm begging you to give me a complete set of baking materials this Christmas or introduce me to a baking teacher. ha ha, just kidding. :))

-Steph♥

 

SM Lanang Premier

It opened a month ago but I didn't grab the chance to go there even though we just live nearby. I just don't want to make "siksikan" into a huge crowd and besides the mall is not going anywhere, right? Might as well wait 'till 3/4 of Davao's population has already gone there. :)

On our way to the entrance

It has the "MOA feel"

 

 

oooh! National Book Store is at 2nd floor! :O It's not usually on 2nd floor. he he. *igno*

It is so SPACEY!!! It made me feel smaller. haha.

Starbucks at the center of the Mall, it reminds me the Starbucks at Shinagawa Station at Japan. ;)

So that's it, the mall is just big... too BIG or should I say SPACEY. :)

-Steph♥