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(top image from the Pier cookbook)

the old lady that I am had to give up at work today after feeling so drowsy I could not even move. I could, however, think. about what makes me super happy right now.

in random order.

basil seeds. I’ve seen them everywhere over the span of a couple of days. in popsicles. on salmon carpaccio. and in my new favourite cookbook (picture above is the amazing honeydew melon soup with coconut sorbet and tapioca. love at the first sight).

books. while I’m at it, I must mention my recent favourite reads. I think I stated it pretty clearly above, but one of them is Pier by Greg Doyle. the second is Made in England by Aiden Byrne.

polaroid. and especially the fact that my polaroid spectra has the loveliest bokeh ever.

matcha bubble tea. before I even tasted one, I knew I was going to love it. and I do. so much that I just got one kg of big rainbow tapioca pearls in china town.

sweet purple yam. I still don’t know what I’m going to make out of it. but I’m pretty excited.

it seems my thoughts have geared towards food lately. I’ve been feeling overly inspired by exotic ingredients. I’m so grateful to be living my dream. being a pastry chef is beyond what I could have imagined. some call it bliss. I simply see it as evident.

what makes you happy right now? or perhaps, what are your latest culinary discoveries?

ps. in case you’re wondering, the food diary is on a break, but everything is going just fine. I think I’ll just post an update weekly so not to bore you with unexciting details about my food consumption.

tags: books, bubble tea, china town, fruit, illustration, list, london, pier, polaroid, vegetable.

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despite feeling like an old lady due to the flu, today has been the best day ever; and also the coldest.

one. I bought everything to recreate my favourite bagel in london. the beef will start its brining tomorrow. and next week, it will be time for some bagel-making action.

two. I took the loveliest polaroid of my rainy window. blurry and all. I’m in love.

three. I finally made that one dessert I had in mind. photographed it. and talked (too much) about it.

since today is my very own sunday I treated myself with some delicious ricotta and spinach ravioli. hmmmm. good night. x

tags: bread, film, food diary, foodbeam, list, london, pentax me super, polaroid, rain, window.

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day one of vanilla extract making. hopefully, I’ll document this on foodbeam.

I had been dreaming of producing my very own vanilla loveliness for a long time. too long in fact. make this my first achievement for Elsie’s simple goals project.

one. make vanilla extract.
two. eat healthily.
three. draw more.
four. find out what I really want to do.

tags: canon 400D, foodbeam, list.

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three new things that make me happy.

one. the fantastic polaroid spectra, or more accurately, a minolta instant pro. this is my (only and) very first shot. I’m in love, already.

two. some illustrations I made for foodbeam. drawing feels like kissing, for hours.

three. the bridge that I cross every night. the view from my bike is just breath-taking. I love riding back and forth to work. such a lovely moment.

any happy list to share?

tags: bike, film, fruit, happiness, illustration, list, london, minolta instant pro, night, pentax me super, polaroid.

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today was my first time with many things.

one. I shared pictures of my work at the Capital Hotel on foodbeam.
two. I heard the thunder and saw lightnings through my window.
three. I took a walk at six pm and the sun was still shining.

I’m now off to make peanut butter fudge. yes, I totally watched the delicious miss Dahl and found her so lovely. I love the vintage feel of it.

as a side note, I’ve really been wanting to turn my too-many-blogs into one. well, it’s just a thought.

ps. London’s weather will never cease to surprise me. storm and then sun?

tags: candy, capital hotel, film, list, london, pentax me super, sophie dahl, tart, window.

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two things that made my day (aside from hanging around with Aïda). both offered by the gigantic Selfridges.

one. a box of Pierre Hermé’s macarons. all twelve flavours.
two. four papermate felt-tip pens. I always feel the need to stock on these.

and if I’m completely honest, I must admit I couldn’t live without both. pâtisserie and scribbling*. not to mention photographing.
* which shall be added to my basics.

do you have such things that acts as reminders of your musts?

tags: fuji instax mini, list, london, macaron, pens, pierre hermé.

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a couple of days ago, Guillaume and I had that discussion about what are the basic needs we both have. he helped a lot with mine, and we found five points.

one. have a boyfriend.
two. be visually inspired.
three. shop for food, then cook and take pictures.
four. explore the world and talk about it on the internet.
five. smoke cigarettes.

if he wants to I could share his five points as well.
what are your basic needs?

ps. I really really like that picture of him. I think it quite defines his very essence. in fact, our very essence.

tags: architecture, cigarettes, film, guillaume, list, london, love, pentax me super, soup.

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it’s still pretty early here in London. too early to quit my duvet cover and open the curtains.

I’m still almost asleep, but can’t stop looking at my film pictures of Entrevaux. the place where time seems to stop. only love and happiness remain.

a bit like how I feel today, listening to outdoors sounds from my very own nest.

three things I will do today.

1. wander around town with my pentax camera.
2. have lunch with a friend.
3. work on the cookbook I want to publish.

three things I wish would happen.

1. spend days off with my boyfriend.
2. work less than twelve to fifteen hours a day.
3. cook more at home.

I also wish I could spend my week ends in Entrevaux, where time always seems to stop.

tags: clouds, entrevaux, film, list, pentax me super, rainbow, weekend.

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(image by Jamie Shaw)

to-do: build a fort and live in it for a month.

what is on your to-do list today? short term list involves a lot of napping, blog reading, and cake making. long term is still a little secret.

tags: fort, list.

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I’ve been thinking about the utter meaning of life lately. a self-imposed dissertation to figure out the ins and outs was even written today.

as a result, I’ve found out that:
1) I should probably refrain my determination to make my life how I want it to be, in order to truly enjoy the things I already have.
2) I should list everything I want.

the first idea that came to my mind was salvation moutain. although my factual mind forbids me to believe in anything bar mathematics and physics, I have the feeling this place might be one of the most inspiring ever.

what do you want to do before it gets too late?

tags: flickr, list, road trip, salvation moutain.