{ Freebie } Blue Monday print

Hey guys, how's your weekend? Andrew and I went boat diving and it was absolutely amazing. We didn't make it to Magic Point due to the horrible current but we were lucky enough to spot one shark-wobbegong, and this one is huge as well. It was not just diving trip but also a cruise around Sydney Harbour, it's certainly another unforgettable memory. It was just mind blowing.

Enough talking about my weekend, have you all have a little bit more colours than the blue mood this Monday? I have an intensive gym session for a kick start and I am loving it! I have done so many things more than I expected, and I think I should do this more often!! No matter you have a great Monday or suck Monday, I am sharing you a print that I did today which I hope would be cheering. You can simply press the image to download the original size. It's not very small because I want to keep it as flexible it can be so that you can use it as decor, wrapping paper, desktop picture and so on. Tell me what do you do about it if you like it!


Wish you all have a nice week


xxxAka

{ Mix Tape } Chill Out Friday

I love slightly fast beat but with gentle notes, especially I am running or trying to focus on something. On the other hands, I also find this kind of music make me relax and uplifting. Hope you will like them, enjoy!!!

1. I spy - Mikhael Paskalev

2. Riptide - Vance Joy

3. Green garden - Laura Mvula

4. Sweet darling - She and Him

5. Happy - Pharrell Williams

6. Little talks - Of Monsters and Men

7. Corner of heart - Ingrid Michaelson

8. Shake it - Metro Station

Wish you all have a fantastic weekend and I will talk to you next week!!

xxxAka

{ DIY } Mini Cupid Arrows For Valentine's Ideas

Hello my friend,

How is every one's Australia Day? Summer is definitely the busiest time in Australia, all the big holidays all squeeze in this time frame and we just can't get enough! Coming soon will be the notorious Valentine's Day and summer certainly adds some more heat to it.( The ideas burn out as well and it gets harder every year if you do it yourself...) So after a bit of brainstorming, I went back to simplicity and had this super simple yet lovely idea: mini heart-shaped arrows.  It's soooooo simple and the materials are very easy to find or to be replaced. I actually don't think I really need to post the instruction because you know I just glued paper on the sticks. So what I am going to share is how I modify the materials and uses.


Here is what you need:

*A lover/ a few lovers. (just kidding, you can share your love to anyone.)
*Paper- if you have coloured paper then you don't really need the paints.
*Paints- I use watercolour this time because I like the soft touch it gives.
*Skewer sticks/ tooth picks- I couldn't find any toothpicks so I cut the sticks instead.
*Scissors
*Glue

p.s 1: You can also use washi tape to make it, I think washi tape would probably save more time but my washi tapes are not really fit the Valentine's vibe.

p.s 2: I also used some rose pot pourri to decorate the macarons. You also can use them on everything for this event. They make everything smell great and romantic. I bought these raspberry flavoured macarons and they smell like roses after the photo shoots. Ohh, I really love this kind of surprise.

The other reason I like these mini arrows is they are so versatile. You can play them around on every thing you can think of. I have a few ways to use this cute little arrows:

1. Desert toppers. So go make anything sweet and place them in each piece. Make them heart shapes to step up to another level.
2. Make a card. Who can resist a handmade card says " be my valentine" with little arrows and hearts.
3. Plant decors. It will look great with your pot plants and if your gift is a tiny succulent pot, they will look cute together.
4. Ornaments. You can tie/ stick them to the windows, fridge, branches, backdrops...etc.
5. A cocktail/ mocktail stirrer. I made a jar of sangria and poured them into some chubby glasses. Make some long arrows and stab a couple watermelon pieces then put them into the drinks. What a good party topic as well!!


And most importantly, let's celebrate!!




xxx Aka

{ Freestyle Recipe } Schnitzel Stack with Basil and Ricotta

Hello my friend, have you got out of always-feel-like-eating mood since December? Andrew and I always find hard to say no to a descent dinner. Now we really need to tie up the larger appetite from nonstop eating and drinking since Christmas and replace something tasty and low-carb.

We love cooking and we hate repeating. We do look for some inspirations here and there, however, it is not always easy to get the dream ingredients or we often underestimate the process is not exactly like its look. Anyway, I came cross a low-carb recipe "Layer grilled vegetables with veal for a restaurant-quality meal" from this amazing recipe site Taste and the tasted was sensational. BUT! Sometimes stories come with a "but", that is: I only have a small grill pan...Thus, it took me a bit longer to finish cooking than the actual time due to the original recipe. Today, I am going to show you how I modify this dish and make it an easier version yet healthy. Because this is a freestyle version, so you can replace any element your choice outside of the key ingredients. So, let's do this!

Firstly, here are the key ingredients that you need and I sincerely wish you don't change this magical team:

Some pitted kalamata olives, chopped.
Chopped/ full-leafed fresh basil.
1 punnet cherry tomatoes, halved.
250-300g ricotta.

Then, these ones you can simply replace or just so as mine:

Any kind of Schnitzel, about 1 pack and today I used pork and 2 packs( boys love meat...).
1 avocado, chopped or sliced.
1 zucchini, sliced.
Balsamic vinegar to serve.

How to do:

1. Pour a little bit oil( I don't use teaspoon measurement because this is a freestyle version) into a high heat pan and place the halved tomatoes with cut site up then cook it till you see the shapes change a bit. Do not flip because you don't want the juice made the pan burn. You can chop the olives and other vegetables while waiting.
2. Take the tomatoes into a big/ deep bowl and mix with ricotta, olives and basil. If you want a better plating, save some basil and put it on top in the end.
3. Pan-fried zucchini till they look a little bit transparent.
4. Cut the schnitzel into smaller pieces. I did mine about 3cm wide. Place them into the pan and cook them around 1-2minutes both sides. I used the same pan after tomatoes, it's always good to recycle.
5. Layer up the schnitzel, zucchini and avocado on a plate then top up the mixture of ricotta and olives, etc. Drizzle balsamic vinegar with your preference. Voila!!! Here comes a fresh summery dish with beautiful flavours.

You can add some rockets, walnuts and even capsicums. It is so easy to create your own style and every one will love it. Tell me what you think if you try this recipe, I would love to hear different free styles!!!

Stay fresh


xxx Aka