my spin on mug cake!

So I decided to try making mug cake! I'm not a fan of using microwave...and it seems a little weird to "bake cake" in a mug, in a microwave...but it's just SO EASY AND DELICIOUS!!!


I stumbled upon this Nutella Mug Cake Recipe and decided to give it a go...it sounded just too tempting!


I used olive oil instead of vegetable oil, and replaced 3 tablespoons of nutella with 3 pieces of crushed Ferrero Rocher! It actually turned out really well! I'm eating it right now...and because I used Ferrero Rocher, I have crushed hazelnuts mixed throughout the cake. The cake itself is pretty moist, and resembles a spongecake. Not bad at all for a microwaved mug cake!

Cosmic Love

A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes I screamed aloud, as it tore through them, and now it's left me blind The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out You left me in the dark No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight In the shadow of your heart And in the dark, I can hear your heartbeat I tried to find the sound But then it stopped, and I was in the darkness, So darkness I became.... [Florence & The Machine] - - - Everything comes with a price.... SC

No matter what...

In every moment of our lives, we can choose to love, to forgive, and to help make the world a better place.

<3

SC

Life is good.

Yesterday, I saw that my Old English professor's sweater said "Life is good"...and today, I really feel that life is so good! I must admit that I feel very guilty blogging about this right now...or even feeling it, when numerous are suffering from the earthquake tsunami disaster that hit Japan. It's the first time in my life, that threats of nuclear meltdown are headlines in the news. Though it's supposedly not nearly as devastating as Chernobyl, I still can't imagine what it would be like to be in Japan right now. Today, my dad made a good point - why donate to charities, unless you know exactly where your money will be going. And if you want to help, go in person to the country, and volunteer. I wish that someday, I'll be able to be so brave as to do so.

Despite current events, I can say, for the first time in many months, that I am truly happy...and that I feel good. Today's weather was absolutely gorgeous. It seems pretty mundane to talk about weather, but I hadn't realized how much time we had spent in the dark for the past 6 months. It was so nice to see people playing soccer and basketball outside, having lunch outside on picnic tables, and to simply feel the sun shining on you. Today was also the big day I've (and 4 other friends) have been waiting for. It is amazing to be able to say that I can soon consider myself as a published author....during my undergrad career! Simply amazing! I have never worked so hard in my life, and although it all seems so surreal now, it was worthwhile. In general, things have been going well in my life....I've been doing really well in school this year (finally! my last year!), I'm about to graduate, I'm going to 4 different countries this summer, I'm exercising every week (salsa and yoga!!!), eating healthily, and finally losing some weight! I just feel great.

I'm so happy that I've finally found hobbies! I love doing hatha yoga...it's not as torturous as hot yoga, and I actually feel focused and am able to do the poses. Salsa has been keeping me happy - it just has been so fun. And I'm actually doing something that I could never imagine myself doing. I've been stepping out of my comfort zone a lot lately...and I like it!

It seems as though after four years of hard work, good things are finally happening...not to say that last summer wasn't absolutely amazing!...

It's crazy how I can finally feel so good about myself when I have 5 papers to write within 2 weeks, then final exams, then graduation, then piano exams!

....I should probably get back to writing my paper now....

;)

SC.

seeing the world through these eyes...

In the midst of all the pain, suffering, injustices, inequalities, poverty, greed, and selfishness in the world, there is still a glimpse of hope and of humanity....

...such fragile beauty.

- - -

I have been thinking...about how privileged I am to have been born and raised in Canada. It's easy to think that we're lucky to live in a democratic country that respects human rights. Over breakfast the other day, my friend and I were talking about how we've never had to see a dead body, or run away from dropping bombs, or live in fear for what would happen from one moment to the next. We never had to fight for our rights, or our freedom. We never heard any gun shots, and we've never experienced a natural disaster. I guess you can say that comparatively, we're one of the few people in the world who have grown up and lived in peace all our lives.

In light of what has happened in Egypt, all the protest and violence that has taken place to fight for democracy, we can consider ourselves lucky. We sit back and watch the news about what's happening - we hear about the violence, the cries for freedom...yet we have never had to go through anything like that. Although many in my Chinese family still remember and mourn the loss of all those soldiers who were killed in Tiannamen, the year I was born, I have never had to experience something like this first-hand. What does it feel like to believe in something so much, that you would fight for it, rally for it, and risk your life for it?

But even though I live in Canada - can I say that I live in complete freedom? My country is consumed in capitalism and commercialism...those who govern the country - though democratic - tip the scale with their decisions on social, economic, and political issues. We have prescribed societal norms and roles to fill - and we are expected to fit into these molds.

We are expected to grow up in functional families, attend school, graduate from university (maybe earn a post-grad degree), find a job, get married, raise a family..... in any world where acquiring the basic necessities are an everyday struggle - this prescribed role, this society, this country - seems more than ideal.

...But what if I don't want to fit into this mold?...


We're in the 21st century now...we can fly to space, we can connect with people halfway across the world in an instant, we can buy all the food we ever need in a store down the road, we can fly anywhere in the world within a day. We pretty much live like the Jetson's Family...we have clothes, food, a home, toiletries, electronics - all the basic necessities, conveniences, and luxuries we could ever dream of....Yet there are people in the world TODAY being discriminated for their race, religion, and sex. Millions of people still live without proper flushing toilets in their homes. Many countries are still fighting for freedom of expression, fighting for their rights....How did this disparity come to be?

We have come so far and have used our intellectual abilities and resources like never before. But how can we still be lacking in the fundamental principles of humanity? How come we still have to learn how to share? How to be loving? Kind? Generous? Compassionate? and Self-less?

...

xx
SC.

like a dream...

Yesterday was my third salsa lesson with the OLAS at York. I don't even know how to express how much fun this is for me. I really feel like I'm stepping out of the box, doing something that the normal 'Simone' would not do. Who knew that I'd be taking salsa lessons? Going to a salsa club? Trying out new steps with strangers? Accepting invitations to dance? Haha...who knew I had the courage.

I think I have slowly started to creep out of my shell, and I'm happy about it. Sometimes, it's really intimidating - like when you have established with your dancing partner that you're a beginner, and after that, all these complicated moves have you stumbling all over your own feet. I guess it's all part of the experience.

Yesterday, we learned some new moves which I was happy to get the hang of fairly quickly. But when it came to dancing on a real dance floor, I got all confused. After lessons, we went to the Cozzy Corner near Yonge & Sheppard. Although I only danced a few times, it was quite fun. Dancing the Bachata for the first time, and being dipped! was also something I never thought that I was able to do.

This morning, when I woke up, I felt like none of this had happened, and that it was all a dream. Even though I still have such a long way to go, I'm happy that I started these lessons...and I hope one day, I'll be able to dance like that girl with the bouncy curls yesterday - she was so light on her feet, held an elegant posture, and looked so amazing while she was dancing.

Thank you Lisa and Samantha :)

- - -

Though it is Reading Week, I have only done one reading. There is so much ahead of me. March will be a crazy month, full of assignments, presentations, papers, and exams.

I started my reading week with my best friends, Sarah, Hanford, and Titus...we went to the Tim Burton Exhibition at Bell's TIFF Lightbox. I didn't know what to expect, and it was quite a spontaneous decision to go - but I thoroughly enjoyed it. He is so talented, and his work is so unique. I brought them to FRESH, but vegetarian food did not fare well with them. Afterwards, we went to Snakes & Lattes, a board game cafe, and had lots of playing Othello, Battle of the Sexes, and Pictionary flashcards.

Tuesday was the day I designated to all my lovely friends. I had breakfast with Daphne - finally! - at Cora's and shared our travel stories. I spent the afternoon with Tenzing (whom I am going to India and Nepal with), showing her Pacific Mall and the crazy Japanese cosmetics one could buy there without travelling halfway across the world. Then, we went to a cozy Korean restaurant by Yonge & Finch. I spent the night with Katrina and Jo, my two lovelies, just hanging out and watching TV (eating icing, candy, and drinking Jo's delicious Caesar!) :)

Last night was Salsa Night, and tonight, I'm looking forward to my Hatha Yoga class! I'm glad that I'm fitting in two nights of exercise...no matter how busy I am, it's nice to take a break and get those endorphins up and pumping.

I'm also happy to spend this week with my lovely bf :) I realize that after this week, it'll be pretty rare to be able to spend such free time together, since I'm almost graduating, and he'll be busy with his co-op job...then summer will come - and I'll be off to adventures in Europe and Asia.

Post later -

xx.

Yo no se manana....

Yesterday, Lisa and I finally made it out to the salsa classes at Keele!! I had so much fun and now I'm practicing the steps every morning in front of the mirror in my bathroom hahahah....it's so much fun, and I can't believe I missed out on this before!! Finally learning the steps made me wish I had known them while I was in Cuba! Even when our Cuban friends tried to teach us, it seemed so hard! They could dance flawlessly, it was in their blood. Us Canadians, with our stiff hips always made a fool out of ourselves...but it was fun nonetheless. Now I can't wait until I actually use these steps on a dancefloor!

Lisa posted this song up - and now I can't stop listening!

I'm feeling so blissful today - I just had a really stressful week with a test, a seminar, an exam, and a paper due in the same 2 days...but I managed to stick in a class of salsa and crossfit (which by the way, is a class I won't do again!!) At first, I was really hesitant about going to salsa class, since I hadn't even studied half of the material for my exam...but now I'm so happy I did. You know what? If I didn't go, I would have missed out on so much. I feel that although it is my responsibility to do well in my studies, work to save money, etc... I would miss out on a lot of good things in life if I didn't let go once in awhile. Afterall, I don't want to spend my whole life buried in books! Somehow, this tiny inspiration from a dance class has made me realize again that I need to live my life, and not just sit back and watch it pass me by.

xx