Saturday, September 20, 2008

Week 6








Restaurant Ember
50 Keong Siak Road
http://www.hotel1929.com

Review The overall experience at Ember was simply delightful. The ambience, the main course, the desserts and the appetizers! Ooooh so delicious. We finished every bit of the food.Set lunches are at $38++.

A word of caution. Do not bother trying to order ala carte dishes. The price difference between the set lunch and the ala carte main courses are only a few dollars.The service would have been a bit better if the menu card had prices printed on them or if the staff at the very least had informed us about the price differences.















Lamb shilion
















Coconut Panna Cotta















Banana tart with Lavender ice cream











5 Fashion Myths Exposed
When you were growing up, your mother or your friends probably gave you fashion advice about certain things you should NEVER wear, like stripes, plaids, or prints. "They don't look good on anyone, so avoid them at all costs," you were told.

But should you? Do those old "rules" still hold true for every woman on the planet? Of course not. Like so many things in fashion, it all depends on you: your body shape, your weight, and your personal image goals.

Let's take a moment to look at five of these myths in detail:

1. Never Wear White from the Waist Down



















Because light colors make what they're on appear larger, many women with a large lower half tend to shy away from wearing white from the waist down. But there are some easy ways around this:

Dress in white from head to toe. Monochromatic colors make you look thinner and taller.

Use a vertical line to distract. Add a duster, a long scarf, or a long chain to focus attention up-and-down instead of from side-to-side.

2. Never Wear Horizontal Stripes



















If you wear horizontal stripes, the lines will visually widen whatever body part they're on.

GOOD: If you have narrow shoulders, small breasts, or slender hips, wearing horizontal stripes will visually widen those areas. Want to offset a large chest or large hips to look a little more curvaceous? Wear horizontals on the smaller body part.

BAD: If you have large breasts, waist, or hips, wearing horizontal lines on those parts will make them appear larger. Try solids or vertical stripes instead to de-emphasize.


3. Never Wear Large Prints



















Large prints can look great - or ghastly - depending on your height and weight. It's one of those rules of proportion:

If you're small and wear something large, you'll appear smaller.

If you're large and wear something small, you'll appear larger.

So wear small prints if you're small, large prints if you're large, and in-between prints if you're in-between. Scale the prints to your size and you're "good to go."


4. Never Mix Patterns or Prints













Yes, this CAN be tricky, which is why most people throw their hands up in defeat and say "never do it." But it can look amazing if done correctly, so if you're game, the key to success is in creating harmony with the same color or design.

If the colors are different, the design should be the same.

If the designs are different, the colors should be the same.

Vary the scale. If one print has large shapes, the second print should be smaller.

Men do this all the time with their shirts, suits, and ties, as do interior designers with their wallpapers, borders, and textiles. Just study different combinations and try a few of your own.

5. Never Wear Bulky Textures



















Like horizontal stripes, bulky textures tend to make whatever they're on look bigger. Sequins, fur, cable knit sweaters and the like all add mass to the body. This may be okay if you're tiny and want to add a little substance to your silhouette, but maybe not so great if you're trying to hide those pesky pounds you picked up during your last pregnancy. Be careful how and where you wear them.

There you have it! Our five fashion myths exposed!! As with just about everything in fashion, the key to dressing well is in understanding your body.

Once you figure out - and ACCEPT -- what you have to work with, buying and wearing clothes simply becomes a matter of elimination: either something works on you, or it doesn't. In other words, you need to create your own "Nevers" list; don't rely on your mother's.





fusuma
n. sliding paper screen separating rooms in Japanese house.

funambulist
n. tight-rope walker











The Duchess
Genre: Period Drama
Director: Saul Dibb
Cast: Keira Knightley, Dominic Cooper, Ralph Fiennes, Hayley Atwell, Charlotte Rampling



















Synopsis

Long before the concept existed, the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightley), was the original "It Girl". Like her direct ancestor Princess Diana, she was ravishing, glamorous and adored by an entire country. Determined to be a player in the wider affairs of the world, she proved that she could out-gamble, out-drink, and outwit most of the forward-thinking Whig Party.














But even as her power and popularity grew, she was haunted by the fact that the only man in England she seemingly could not seduce was her very own husband, the Duke (Ralph Fiennes). And when she tried to find her own way to be true to her heart and loyal to her duty, the resulting controversies and convoluted liaisons pushed her to the brink of risking banishment by her husband, family and all of London society.







The Duchess is the story of an extraordinary woman who rose to fame by staying true to her passions in a world of protocol, gossip and social rules - and paid the price.

“When she appeared, every eye was turned towards her; when absent, she was the subject of universal conversation.”

~French Diplomat Louis Duten on the Duchess of Devonshire

Friday, September 12, 2008

Week 5

This week the mishmash crew bring you the following....










1. Fastuous
arrogant, showy

2. Fossick
search for by turning or picking over, especially for gold; rummage.













This week we brought back something we loved so much from last season. What else if not dissing? Celebrities from Hollywood do make mistakes you know..



Shannen Doherty. Remember her? The one from 90210 the old season. Yea. She's back in the new one. But it seems she's still stuck in the 90s era where sacks are cool and fans are acceptable patterns. Shannen Shannen, please get on with the time.



Keira Knightley. I've always loved her. But in the premiere of her latest movie, The Duchess, she's got a tube dress with dusty spots fabric on top and below. Though it helps that she has such a gorgeous body.



Lily Allen. Her life is really spiralling down. So does her fashion style. Not sure what she was trying to do but she's really off. Could it be that she's the next Britney?



Christina Aguilera. She got back her sexy body after pregnancy pretty fast. But she still has those things hanging and I supposed she's trying to put them to good use while she still can, by exposing them. But seriously, the sloppy lifeless hair, too short a dress and weird prints on it are just turning us off.


Beyonce. The queen. What happened? The new hairdo, blonde bob is seriously wrong. And the somehow, this yellow/ gold dress doesn't quite cut it. I'm surprised, she's usually in the most hated list cos we all envy her. Not this time. Did marriage really make her slack about her fashion style?



Last but not least Rihanna. The beautiful trend-setter got it all wrong tonight. Ironically at the same event where Beyonce got kicked out of our must-watch list, FASHION ROCKS 2008. The classy beauty that Rihanna is has been lost to too tiny a (can we call it a dress?) frock and the gigantic headpiece which looks heavy even if they are made of feathers (Call it the bird on her head?) And is it just me or does this dress make Rihanna look f**? At least maybe the thighs. The stars are not aligned for these girls.










Have you heard the one about the fat-forming carbohydrate? Food & Nutrition is continually faced with the challenge of dispelling common myths about calories and weight management, 5 such myths have been covered below:

1. Myth: Eating most of your calories in the evening promotes weight gain.

Fact: No matter when you eat them, you gain weight when you eat more calories than you burn off. However, mindless munching in front of the TV at night can push calorie intake over the top.

2. Myth: Fat free is calorie free.

Fact: Some people indulge in extra-large servings of fat-free foods, such as cookies, cakes and crackers, without realizing that these foods may contain the same amount or even more calories than regular versions. Get the facts on fat-free foods by checking food labels for the serving size and number of calories per serving. Fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories. However, other low fat or no fat foods may still contain a lot of calories. To make such foods taste better, extra sugar, flour, or starch thickeners are usually added. These ingredients are high in calories and may lead to weight gain.

3. Myth: Carbohydrates (or sugars) cause weight gain.

Fact: Carbohydrates do not cause weight gain unless they contribute to excess calorie intake. The same holds true for protein and fat. Findings from the National Weight Control Registry show that people who successfully maintain weight loss tend to eat diets that are higher in carbohydrates and lower in fat, in addition to watching their total calorie intake. However, some people who eat a diet that is extremely high in carbohydrates and low in protein and fat get hungry sooner, which may trigger overeating.

4. Myth: Yoghurt is the perfect diet food. Many dieters swear by it, but some yoghurt can be as fattening as ice cream. Greek yoghurt has 10 pc fat.

Fact: Yoghurt is good for people of all ages. Yoghurt is also important for those wanting to lose weight. As a milk product, yoghurt is naturally rich in calcium. Research shows that calcium helps reduce weight gain. Even small changes in the calcium levels of fat cells can change signals within the cell that control the making and burning of fat. What needs to be remembered is no one food is going to prove magic, it is a combination of effective diet and exercise plan that will really work. Avoid yoghurt that contains added sugars or sweetened fruit, as these upset the delicate chemical balance that allow the cultures to thrive. Sugars also feed the growth on unwanted yeasts, so you’re better off without it!

5. Myth: Exercise makes you eat more. Often people shy away from doing exercise using this excuse.

Fact: However, research has shown that after 20 minutes of exercise people ate no more than those who had done nothing. The only difference was that those who had exercised thought the food tasted better






























Mamma Mia
Cast: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Genre:Romantic Comedy
Language: English
Release Date:18 September 2008





















An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna (Streep) is about to let go of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), the spirited daughter shes raised alone. For Sophies wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriendspractical and no-nonsense Rosie (Julie Walters) and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya (Christine Baranski)from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.
















On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donnas past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.















Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBAs songs from Dancing Queen and S.O.S. to Money, Money, Money and Take a Chance on Me, Mamma Mia! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.





Saturday, September 6, 2008

Week 4


This week, we have Bangkok Dangerous



Starring: Nicolas Cage, Shahkrit Yamnarm, Charlie Yeung




Synopsis:
The life of an anonymous assassin takes an unexpected turn when he travels to Thailand to complete a series of contract killings. Joe (Nicolas Cage), a remorseless hitman, is in Bangkok to execute four enemies of a ruthless crime boss named Surat. He hires Kong (Shahkrit Yamnarm), a street punk and pickpocket, to run errands for him with the intention of covering his tracks by killing him at the end of the assignment.




Strangely, Joe, the ultimate lone wolf, instead finds himself mentoring the young man while simultaneously being drawn into a tentative romance with a local shop girl. As he falls further under the sway of Bangkok’s intoxicating beauty, Joe begins to question his isolated existence and let down his guard …just as Surat decides it’s time to clean house.






Romance, Action, Cute Asian Guy, What's there not to like? Coming out in a cinema near you on 11 September 2008



1. fanfaronade [fan·fa·ron·ade]
n. boasting; bragging; bluster; blast on trumpets.

2. faux pas [foh pahz]
n. 'false step'; social solecism; a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.
eg. Fashion Faux Pas



We're no longer in the league of bringing you which online shops you all should check out. We might, but this week, we give you..



It's not just a store, it's one whole street full of shops selling beautiful vintage dresses, shoes, bags and accessories. This place got famous in 2003. We just missed it last season. =p

Price range: Depending on the store it can be anywhere between $30 to $200. Curios? Check them out for yourselves.


In a bid to find something which starts with F, and is oh so fabulous, we decided to give you the recipe of a cocktail, which of course starts with the letter F. Presenting:


Ingredients:

Amount Ingredient
1.5 Shots

De Kuyper Cherry Brandy
2 ShotsOrange Juice
1 ShotLime Juice
Top upLemonade
0.5 ShotSugar Syrup

Liquid volume = 224.99ml*
Alcohol by volume (ABV) = 4.0%*

Method:

Shake first four ingredients listed with ice and strain into a glass half filled with cubed ice. Top up with lemonade and gently stir. Garnish with a wedge of orange or lime.

Garnish:

Orange or lime wedge

Type/Flavour:

Fruity

Glass:


Highball

Difficulty:

Easy




It's been so long since we last had a good musical (Does Hairspray count?), so next week, in an attempt to bring back the musicals, we have one in store for you, coming to the cinemas soon.

Also, let's increase your vocabulary for the f-words. We can actually find some unusual but definitely useful f-words which have been neglected far too long in the literature books and the dictionaries.

Craving for some does of fashion police? what the holywood creatures are wearing wrong and right? stay tune cause next week is the time for FASHION FAUX PAS.

Week 3

This week is special because FINALLY, we have real proper guests on our show!! This is the defining moment and milestone in our DJ career, our first ever guests!! Happening in our 3rd season.. and Let's introduce the honoured guests..


The Pie Sorority Sisterhood

That's really how we looked like on the day of recording.. On better days (more glam days), this is how we look like..


Honestly, if you ask me, more often than not, we look like the first picture.. however we do have some style and therefore we can be considered quite glam too..

You must be wondering why I've been saying 'we' for all these, well you probably figured it out anyway.. Tina and I are part of the sisterhood..

So why The Pie Sorority Sisterhood?
Apurva: Because you love pies?
Yanice: Because we love to eat.. Definitely..

But on their website (which according to them is secret because of certain reasons which cannot be disclosed either), this is what's written:

Basically this is a sorority of sisters who adores food. Started off as old jokes, it developed into a common passion which was so influential, that people are attracted by the simple love and joy obtained from indulging one’s self.

Honestly, this sisterhood transpired in the hippest coffee hangout in town, which cannot be named to protect the guilty. Over 1 cup of hot Caffe Latte, 1 Venti-sized Dulce de Leche Frappuccino and 1 steaming hot but warm Chocolate Cake, and 1 helluva orgasmic sensation, the Pi Sorority sisters were formed.

Pi because, sororities usually involve greek letters, and out of all those, the alphabet which seems to inspire most about food is Pi. Sorority because, we’re females in a university who feels close enough to each other to be called sisters. And hence, the sisterhood.


Each of us have our own style, none of us can define the style, mostly just what we like to wear and what seems nice on us, we'll mix and match them, not forgetting the confidence and we're set to go.

And of course, we love to watch movies, some of us may be louder in the movies than others such that the rest will be a little embarrassed to be seen with some of us.

But let's introduce them one by one:


“Serla” - The Busy Innocent Entertainer

Female, 19

The new addition to the sisterhood did not need any form of validation that she indeed belong to the sisterhood. Her love for food is usually followed by enthusiasms to any suggestion of choice of meal to be consumed. Whatever it is, she’s game for it. And added with her quirky cute tendencies and innocent disposition, she is indeed an entertaining asset to the sisterhood.





“Yanice” - The ‘Glam’ Model

Female, 21

Matches the love for food of her “cousin”, or may even surpass others. However, due to high metabolism rate, induced through her dance trainings, her body shape is maintained in super shape. Added to her petite figure, nobody would dream of her enormous appetite. When in cahoots with her “cousin”, always manages to bully, advice and influence the President to a satisfactory level. A different kind of satisfaction which both enjoys other than the satisfaction derived from their common love interest, food.




“Apurva” - The Matured Critical Almost Food Lover

Female, 19

She is one who is more matured beyond her age, knows more things than the older sisters and loves to tease the President about her"lack of knowledge". She usually goes with the other sister's suggestions on where to eat, but usually makes the other sisters regret what they ordered cause she usually orders something which looks and smells the nicest.






“Tina” - The President

Female, 20

The newly converted species, who is learning to banish her inhibitions when it comes to food. Seems to be loving the journey and though she hyper-ventilates during some orgasmic food moments, she still manages to down her food without losing any enjoyment. This marathon runner manages to keep fit despite her food intake and has tried to influence others who are more laterally challenged to follow in her footsteps. Indeed a worthy leader, setting good examples.




“Michelle” - Chief Editor and Consumer

Female, 20

Loves food so much, that she would rather grow fat than miss out on good food. Fortunately the people around her taunts her to exercise to the extend of using brutal force. At least it keeps her in shape, though honestly her body shape has seen better days. The “cousin” which was mentioned in earlier parts of the introduction.



1. When first created, Coca-Cola was originally:
a. Red
b. Brown
c. Yellow
d. Green

2. Which of these foods actually contains negative calories?
a. Apples
b. Chicken wings, extra hot, extra sauce, extra blue cheese
c. Celery
d. Plain grilled chicken

3. True/False: Drinking ice water burns more Calories than un-chilled water.

a. True
b. False

4. Men crave food high in fat; women crave:
a. Foods high in sugar
b. Spicy foods
c. Foods high in fat, too
d. Chocolate

5. The U.S. has the largest fast food market in the world. Which country comes in second?
a. Mexico
b. Britain
c. India
d. China


ANSWERS

1. d. Green! Ew... Nothing like a slime-colored, carbonated drink to quench your thirst. (Editor's note: All right... they got us! Coca-Cola was originally packaged in green bottles, but the actual drink was still brown. Thanks to everyone who pointed this out.)

2. c. Celery -- Celery actual contains zero calories, so you actually use more calories simply chewing it than you take in! If you ask us, there should be more foods like this...

3. a. True -- You use about 17.5 Calories just bring a cup of ice water up to body temperature. So if you drink the recommended 8 glasses a day iced, you could burn an extra 70 calories!

4. d. Chocolate --Shocking, we know. We're guessing "that time of the month" probably skews the results...

5.d. China -- Obviously, if you have 1 billion in your country, it's no wonder you have the second largest market. Not just fastfood, but any food.



French sleeve
In Europe and the USA the French sleeve is the same as a kimono sleeve, but in Japan it indicates a slightly longer sleeve. Also called a Chinese sleeve.



Fourth wall
Refers to the imaginary, illusory invisible plane through which the film viewer or audience is thought to look through toward the action; the fourth wall that separates the audience from the characters is 'broken through' when the barrier between the fictional world of the film's story and the "real world" of the audience is shattered - when an actor speaks directly to the viewers by making an aside


Oh time flies by too fast when you are enjoying what you're doing with the people you love. So see you next week!!


The section we've been neglecting: Films!! of course we won't forget Food and Fashion!

Week 2

This week we're just back in our studio and warming the seats. Testing the waters with our new show. And here's what we've come up with so far..


True or False?

When you eat lobster or shrimp "tails," you're not actually eating the tail. You're eating the abdomen.


Ans: TRUE!
The real "tail" is actually the inedible fins at the end. Also, that "vein" that runs down the back of shrimp tails isn't really a vein -- its intestine! EWWWW!!


Here on the F-Words we strive for the weirdest most obscure F-words to be peeled on air.

farfel - [FAHR-fuhl]
1. An egg-noodle dough that is grated or minced and used in soups.
2. In Jewish cookery, farfel refers to food — such as dried noodles — broken into small pieces.



Frog toggle
Decorative cording attached to front of garment. One side forms loop button
hole.



Featurette
a term often used before the 1970s to refer to a 20 to 45 minute film (longer than a short subject but shorter than a feature film), usually a "making of" or "behind the scenes" mini-documentary, or an extended trailer, which was usually displayed by theater owners to "sell" a film for exhibition in their movie house -- nowadays, featurettes are commonly run on premium cable stations, or offered as a 'bonus feature' as part of a DVD's extras.


What's next in our agenda? Only our favourite things..



Tartan Tights

Seen on the catwalk at D&G, these tights marry two of autumn/winter's key trends on the print and accessories front: tartan and hosiery.



Teamed with yet more tartan (as they are done here), makes for a particularly fetching look while giving a suitably substantial nod to this season's trend for all things heritage-inspired.
Cute yet quirky, we like them a whole lot.

Do guys wear these? Maybe not yet, but looking at how the fashion industry is evolving, we seriously think they might!


Sharks, that's all the time we have for this week's show.


A secret sorority will join us in our show, to talk about their passion. A passion which is not so far from ours. Stay tune!