The Awesome Project

Far: Hijabi skin care

2012-01-30T19:52:00.000-08:00

Salam girls!

I will be putting up a fashion hijab post very soon! As for now I'm going to share some facial care tips, tailor made for hijabis! This is a gret follow up to Emma's recent post, for more ideas check out her post on nutritional beauty tips.

When I first started wearing the hijab and for the many months after that, I started breaking out near my temples and the sides of my cheeks. This is probably due to the hijab aggravating my skin and bad diet and lifestyle as for the first half of the year of wearing hijab as I was surviving on caffeine, chips, takeaways and adrenalin. Before I get into the how my diet has changed I want to share with you a super easy super cheap facial to nourish and get rid of these pesky little pimples for good!

ps: my skin is far from perfect but even my 6 year old niece can tell you that its wayyy better now.

First off!

Cleanse and wipe your face with CLEAN towel or tissue. Your normal body towel will just expose your skin to more bacteria.

Any cleanser will do.
my favorite?

Lush's Angels on Bare Skin.

Step Two

Exfoliate!

Try a facial peeler if your face can take it. Mine is from Organi, check it out here. http://www.organi.com.au/
Another great and affordable one in Malaysia is Gel Pengelupasan Syahirah

However if your face is sensitive DON'T try this out, go for gentler options. I recommend this tomato and sugar scrub for troubled skin like us. Check out how to make it from the beauty guru herself!

ps: tomatoes are great for those pesky little pimples, it will feel a tad bit itchy, just hold on!

Your face should be feeling a lot better and you can stop you facial step here, but if you plan to really give yourself a treat, move on to..

step Three!

Make a fresh mask to combat your troubled skin, here is what you need.

Pimples be Gone Mask!

2 teaspoon cinnamon powder- cinnamon is good for acne and will lighten up scars n marks!
1 tablespoon good quality honey- antibacterial, nourishing, moisturizing
1 squeeze of lemon or lime- the astringent properties will kill bacteria

Apply this mask for as long as you want, 15-25 minutes. The cinnamon might be a tad heaty and if you put alot it could "burn" you. But rest assured if you can stand the "heat", the redness will go away in a while and your skin will be super smooth! do it at night before sleep is best.

Step 4

Toner, home made organic toner ;)

Organic Cucumber Toner

Blend or grate cucumber and squueeeze!

Cucumber will soothe and calm your face, it will also moisturize without being too heavy. I prefer ogranic cucumbers because otherwise you might just expose your face to pesticides! SCARY! so please try and go organic whenever possible.

Step 5

Go out of your house and purchase some good quality tea tree oil. Mine is from the BodyShop. If you are saying to yourself, "oh yeah, tea tree, it didnt really work for me." That is because you have to get the potent stuff baby, and none of this dab dab conserve my money act either. Apply liberally to all your affected areas. No, it will not dry you out. In the rare case that it does? apply moisturizer. Dead easy!

HIJABI TIP: always wash your underscarves and hijabs. ALWAYS.

Cooking Tip #1

2012-01-30T19:26:00.000-08:00

Dear readers,

This post will be a short one. I've decided to start posting cooking tips that I've discovered along my gastronomic adventures. Here's the first one!

Ran out of salt? Use chili sauce!There are a few substitutes. Most people in Malaysia use soy sauce as a substitute, which is an amazing substitute if it goes well with the dish. Sometimes soy sauce totally kills the taste. In that case, use chili sauce instead! I discovered this by accident. I was trying to create a sauce using cream (because I didn't want that to go to waste), and I made a really good sauce without using any salt at all! So whenever you have no salt, keep the chili sauce in mind :)

Til next time, toodles!
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Emma : Some Healthy Nutritional Tips

2012-01-29T06:07:00.000-08:00

Hello hello awesome girls! it's been a while since my last post..but I'm back with a little something to share :)
and yes I promise, it's beneficial (did I mention 'very'?). A few days ago, I stumbled upon this MSN site which had an article titled "First aid beauty foods".

To summarize, they listed the items which can be used to replace all the health remedies out there that can cost us a fortune! What's more interesting is that these items can be found in our k.i.t.c.h.e.n!! How superbly awesome is that?? Ok ok... So I've read the article and I've summarized it for your convenience. Enjoy!

1) For irritated complexion : Mushrooms with Almond Oil

With a high sodium and potassium content, mushrooms are extremely beneficial for broken capillaries and thread veins,' says Helen Ambrosen, arts and science co-ordinator for Lush.

'They are also packed with zinc, another helpful healing agent to reduce inflammation in skin while their antioxidants fight free radicals to protect against further damage.'

TRY IT: Especially kind to sensitive skin, liquidise mushrooms with almond oil to make a vitamin-packed treatment to soothe an irritated complexion. Rinse off after 10 minutes.

2) For skin repairment : Parsleys

Stand up to angry spots with this fragrant herb which is packed with vitamins, minerals plus impressive anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties.

'It not only stimulates circulation to flush away toxic debris from the affected area but helps to repair and strengthen the skin too,' says holistic skincare expert, Bharti Vyas.

TRY IT: Grind a handful of parsley into a pulp and apply to the affected areas. Leave on for a few minutes then wash off with warm water and moisturise as normal.

3) For puffiness around eyes : Chamomile

'As well as its reliable skin-soothing properties, chamomile also has an impressive anti-inflammatory purpose which can reduce puffiness,' says Susan Curtis, medicines director at Neal's Yard Remedies.

'Used teabags are a handy ready-made mask and because skin under the eyes is extremely thin, the healing herbs can penetrate quickly for fast results.'

TRY IT: Place a used, cooled teabag over each eye and rest for 10 minutes. Or, intensify the effects and refrigerate them first - a chilled compress helps further constrict blood vessels to minimise shadows and calm puffiness.

4) For a natural facelift: Egg whites

Before the days of botox, Hollywood starlets swore-by the skin-toning properties of this retro remedy, says celebrity facialist Sarah Chapman.

'Whisked egg whites are well-known in the industry as a natural facelift,' she says. 'As they dry on skin, their water content evaporates which causes a temporary tightening action after they've been washed off,' Sarah explains. 'As egg whites also contain an enzyme which breaks-down bacteria, they can be used to relieve acne and minimise pores too.'

TRY IT: Whisk an egg white until fluffy and paint all over face and backs of hands with a mask brush. Leave to dry then wash-off with warm water

5) For dehydrated skin & eczema: Oats

Calming, cleansing and softening, oats are used as a key ingredient in many best-selling products to treat dehydrated skin and eczema.

'The starchy nature of oats helps skin absorb and retain moisture. Oat milk moisturiser can also prevent anything from penetrating the skin that could cause further irritation,' says Helen Ambrosen. 'They also gently exfoliate which is still necessary for dry skin conditions to buff away dead cells so skin can breathe,' she adds.

TRY IT: Soak a handful of oats in cold water, after 30 minutes squeeze and sieve the oats to create oat milk. Apply straight away to skin with cotton wool for immediate relief.

6) For healthy cuticles: Olive oil

This Mediterranean superfood is a nutritional powerhouse with inbuilt antioxidants to nurture nails back to health. 'When essential moisture has been lost from the nail plate, bonds between the layers break allowing water to penetrate and cause peeling,' says manicure guru Marian Newman.

'Olive oil essentially waterproofs nails as it is absorbed easily to safeguard against moisture loss.'

TRY IT: Gently file the edge of nails every week and massage a small amount of oil onto nails and the surrounding skin daily to top up moisture levels and nourish cuticles for healthy growth.

7) For brittle hair: Avocado

'Avocado is an excellent beauty food for brittle hair as its oil can penetrate deep into the hair cuticle. It also acts like a moisture magnet which locks-in long lasting hydration to revive condition,' says celebrity tricologist Philip Kingsley.

'Avocado's combination of proteins, essential acids and vitamins A, D and E are all essential agents for healthy hair and manageability.'

TRY IT: Philip is famous for his deep conditioning treatments, so try making your own budget version. Mash half an avocado with two eggs plus a little olive oil and water. Work the emulsion into damp hair with your fingertips and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off thoroughly then shampoo and condition.

8) For discoloured nails: Lemons

As well as making you look old, discoloured nails are a serious fashion no-no,' says Marian Newman.

'Lemon juice is a stain devil for nasty looking nails - its natural fruit acids work like a mild bleach to help remove impurities and stains almost instantly for healthy-looking hands,' she says.

TRY IT: Press affected nails into a fresh slice of lemon or lime for a few seconds. Leave the juice on for a few minutes before washing off then follow with an intensive hand cream if necessary.

-end of article-

P/S: None of the above information and pictures are mine. Pictures were results from Google Image search engine. As for the reference for the information, here's the link: http://lifestyle.malaysia.msn.com/Beauty/photoviewer.aspx?cp-documentid=5771814#image=1

Hope you all find this post beneficial (not forgetting, convenient too).

that'll be all from me today. til next time, stay tuned!

Emma <3.

Review: SimplySiti Makeup Remover & TopShop Eye Brightener

2012-01-26T21:51:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

This is a video of me reviewing two of my favourite items this month: SimplySiti Makeup Remover and TopShop Eye Brightener.

SimplySiti Makeup Remover

I really love this thing! Some makeup remover I used in the past irritates my skin especially my undereyes, but this one doesn't! It's very gentle, suitable for sensitive skin, and bonus points is that it contains natural stuff! It doesn't irritate my skin, doesn't cause any acne. It removes my makeup really well definitely! I really REALLY love it! To me all SimplySiti products have been amazing!!

TopShop Eye Brightener

This is my first eye brightener! I use this after my foundation and concealer, before I put on powder. This is suitable for those with really really dark eye circles. I feel that this is a bonus for me after I put on concealer, but if you feel that concealer is just good enough for you, then good! :) Well if you're curious if this really works or not, can use the tester available at TopShop, duh. To me it works well, I can see the difference. My undereyes are covered better :)

XOXO,

Lina

Happy Chinese New Year!

2012-01-19T03:52:00.000-08:00

We here would like to wish you a very happy chinese new year! happy year of the dragon to all those who celebrate, and happy holidays!

HAPPY 2012!!

2012-01-19T03:50:00.000-08:00

We know we're late, but hey its still January! here are some well wishes from the gang!

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"Hey everyone! Another new year begins; a new chapter commences. A new year is usually the time for resolutions to be made and often times broken! lol. I for one do not believe in them. You can choose to change your life whenever you want to =, and not have to wait for new years to do it :) Whatever your resolutions may be, I hope all you readers out there will stay strong and try to keep them. For this new year, I hope all of you will achieve your goals. I hope that my loved ones will become stronger and be able to overcome all obstacles. I hope that everyone will know themselves better and be comfortable with who they really are. Lastly I hope that the world will learn to be more tolerant of everyone's differences :) Have a wonderful New Year!"

Aiysha
"Happy new year! may all of you have a great year ahead!"

Lina
I would like wish all readers a very Happy New Year! Thank you for supporting us! May 2012 be a year full of achievements and happiness. Stay Fabulous! xoxo"

Farhana
"Dont have long resolutions, have a new year word. Find a word that resounds your thoughts and dreams. Last year my word was WILLINGNESS. and boy was I willing to do lots of things! This year my word is HEALTH. pick your word today, it can be LOVE, HARMONY, FAMILY, SUCCESS, you name it. I wish all of you lovely readers, my friends and family to have a blessed year ahead!"

Emma
"Assalamualaikum and hello to all you awesome girls out there! Happy new year to all of you! I hope 2012 is a better year for some if not all of you and that it brings more blessings, love, sucess and happiness. Love emma :)"

Haneesa
" Hey guys!
Finally, the time is here. 2011 has come to an end, and we make way for newer, better and bigger ambitions. Just like millions of others, I have had resolutions every new year; some successful J and some not so L
But despite that, I have always held on to one principal which is to be
a better person with each coming day. Some resolutions can take a week, a month or a year to accomplish, but having one major principal to hold on to in your life will guide you every single day and ultimately, make you a winner every single day too.

Speaking of resolutions, The Awesome Project also has bigger and better things in store for our readers *JYEAH!* We have recently debuted our very own make-up tutorial video and have a ton of awesome reviews / tips on fashion styles, indulgent foods, calorie bustin’ fitness regimes and not forgetting, DIY projects to fix & tweak your everyday needs.

So this 2012, let’s promise ourselves to stick to our principals, resolutions and ambitions to come out an even better person by 2013! On a side note, thanks a million to all our loyal readers and remember to send those comments and suggestions in. Without you, the blog would not be possible J Here’s to hoping for more success with our blog and to a more beautiful you in the year ahead!

xx, Haneesa

Food Experiment: Nasi Goreng Belacan Meatball!

2012-01-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

Dear readers,

Whazzap? lol I know it's been a while since I've posted any experiments done in the kitchen, and honestly I haven't had that much time to cook but I recently started again. However, I've been very forgetful lately, which means that I tend to forget to take photos! Oh no! I even almost forgot to take photos for this food experiment, but I managed to snap a few shots! Ok, so nasi goreng belacan meatball...where do I begin? Nasi goreng is fried rice and it is a very common local dish. There are many varieties and it can be cooked in many different ways using all sorts of ingredients.

The reason I chose belacan and meatballs for my nasi goreng was because I didn't have much time to do it and I just decided to go with whatever I had in my fridge. Belacan is actually fermented shrimp paste and it is very commonly used in Malay dishes. Ok so to make this dish, you will need the following ingredients:

1. Steamed rice - preferably a day old or rice that has been kept in the refrigerator
2. Half an onion and a few shallots, chopped
3. Garlic - around two cloves (or more if you like), chopped
4. Carrots - around half a carrot or one whole, depending on how much rice you have
5. Long beans (kacang panjang) - one whole long bean, chopped
6. Marina Beef Balls
7. Belacan
8. Egg - one egg
9. Cooking oil
10. Salt & Pepper to taste

You will also need a wok and a spatula!

First, take a pinch of salt and mix it thoroughly into the steamed rice. The reason cold or a day old steamed rice is used is because it is harder than a newly cooked steamed rice. If newly cooked steamed rice is used, then it is more likely to get smooshed up and lose its form.

Ok once the salt has been mixed well with the rice, turn on the stove to low heat and put the wok on the stove. Pour in about two table spoons of cooking oil. I usually use canola or corn oil, but this time I decided to use olive oil. Then, sautee the onions, shallots and garlic.

Next, throw in the Marina beef balls, or any other meatballs that you like :). I chopped mine roughly so that they would cook more thoroughly, but you don't have to do that if you don't want to. Turn the stove up to medium heat and keep tossing them so that they do not burn. Sautee the meatballs until they turn to a brown or slightly golden colour. This is to ensure that the meatballs are properly cooked. Toss in a pinch of salt and pepper into the wok to add some flavour.

Then, add in the vegetables - the long beans and the carrots. You can use whatever veggies you like, but I chose long beans because of their texture. The long beans are crunchy and go very well with fried rice. I used carrots because they are the most commonly used veggies in this sort of cooking. I also chose those two because they add colour to the dish.

After that, add in the belacan and stir well. You can use any kind. I just bought this off the shelf at the nearest supermarket. It is important to allow the belacan to cook thoroughly, especially if it's the chili or sambal belacan kind. Chili that has not been cooked properly can cause terrible stomach ache, so be extra sure that it's cooked!

Once the belacan is cooked, add in the steamed rice and mix everything well. Make sure you stir it well enough so that the colour of the rice is evenly spread. After that, taste the fried rice and add in more salt and pepper until you are satisfied with the taste. When you are finally happy with the taste of your fried rice, use your spatula to make sort of like a whole in the middle of your fried rice so that you can see the surface of the wok right in the middle. Pour in a bit of cooking oil and crack in the egg. Leave it for a few seconds then stir in the fried rice with the egg until it is thoroughly mixed and then you're DONE!

Voila! Now you know how to make fried rice :) Try it. The best part of cooking fried rice is that you can use whatever ingredients you like! Cook it the same way, but change the ingredients :) So, are you read to see the final result? Well here you go!

Don't you love the colour combination? It tasted pretty good too :P But don't take my word for it, try it for yourself and find out!

Have fun in the kitchen! ;)
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Emma: Something to share

2012-01-14T08:08:00.000-08:00

Salam and hello again!

okay okay. I know I just uploaded a post on my segment. But I stumbled upon this video that a friend of mine uploaded on the infamous Facebook.

this video really made me cry. it's about a girl who's had autism since she was around 2. and usually kids with autism somehow will have to grow up with the existing stigma the society has against them. Kids with autism suffer delayed development in 3 areas; namely, Social Skills, Language Development, and Behavioral Repertoire. typically, symptoms appear before the age of three. but they are all different from each other.

A little background of me: I currently work as a therapist for children with autism. when I first started, I thought I wouldn't be able to do it. But I always wanted to keep trying and keep improving my skills. To be frank, I LOVE this job. It makes me happy everyday to go to work and anticipate what kind of sessions will I have with them. I haven't been working for so long (only 4 months so far) and honestly I've seen so much improvements in them. and every single time they are able to accomplish a task in any of the 3 areas, I couldn't help but say my prayers and feel gratitude for all the hard work and effort put forth for them.

if you realized, I don't refer to them as "autistic kids" because by doing so would be an act of 'labeling' them with such a disorder that already had stigma attached to it. these kids are special. and I mean 'special' in a sense that each of them are able to do something that most of us people with normal development cannot do.

I've seen a boy who can build the best train track that I've ever seen. one boy can build airplanes that could blow your mind away. and one can talk about the planets & the outer space with information that could leave you asking for science lessons from him. one possess great knowledge in sea animals, with every species of fish that he can name. and most of them communicate well, with good eye contacts established in conversations.

this video also serves as an eye opener and a reminder to all of us about how these kids are potential geniuses. everyday I go to work, my love for them increases. and often times I feel so motivated to do my very best thinking that my effort contributes to their development. when we come across them, try to not treat them as 'mentally retarded' or 'slow' kids or what not. just remind yourself that they are kids too. and kids are special, every one of them. and they are indeed different compared to one another.

p/s: should any of you wanna ask more about autism or the kind of work that I do, do comment or drop us an email at theawesomeproject@hotmail.com

Love,
Emma.

Emma: Yeap, we did it!

2012-01-14T07:13:00.000-08:00

Salam and Greeting all you awesome girls!

Before I begin, I would like to apologize for the long hiatus in my segment. I've been so occupied with work lately. I'll try my absolute best to not repeat this again, kay?

So now, what is this post about? Well, no videos or tips this time. Instead, I'm writing about the experience Lina & I shared a couple of weeks ago. We managed to do a complete 30-minute aerobics session!! ~wohhooooo!

I met Lina at her house and we had our highly anticipated aerobics session in her room! yes, her Room! of course you can predict the number of times we accidentally hit the table and chair :)

At first, I really thought I wouldn't be able to complete the whole routine (30 mins), but I guess when you have a friend to do it together, you'll be more motivated. and, it's less stressful for you should you have people to accompany you :).

We were, honestly, a bit confused about the transitions between steps. Took us a few missed steps before we actually got back on track. but everything went well! ooooooh I forgot to mention which video we followed. remember the 'Pump it Up - Dance Warm Up' video? Yup, that one!! and i dare say, two thumbs up for us!

Well then, go ahead and try aerobics together with your girlfriends! It's worth the time & joy :)

Til next time,

Emma <3

Food Review: La Gomera Restaurant @ Damansara Perdana

2012-01-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

Hey all! I know it's been a super long time since my last update. Sorry sorry sorry sangat, was way too busy! However, in my absence I, of course, had to eat so I have a couple of food reviews (or more) up my sleeves ;) Just recently, I went to a lunch buffet with my boyfriend at La Gomera Restaurant at NEO Damansara in Damansara Perdana. I had never heard of this restaurant before to be honest, and I only knew about it when I saw it on Groupon. I thought that it was a good deal; only RM21 for a lunch buffet at a Spanish restaurant. Neither of us had tried Spanish food before, nor did we know much about it, so we thought a buffet would be the perfect introduction to the cuisine!

First, let's talk about the location. Location-wise it's awesome in my opinion. Awesome in the sense that it's easy to find! For someone like me, who isn't used to driving in areas that I'm not familiar with, it was still easy to find. I took the Penchala Link to get to Damansara Perdana, and right as I was entering the area, I could see the restaurant's signboard. Thumbs up for that! However, NEO Damansara is a relatively new area, so there is nothing to see there; no other shops were open and there was a lot of construction going on. Still, there was plenty of parking and it was easy to find :)

Next up is the decor. It was simple and pleasant. The decor really gave a warm and cozy vibe. The little details like the wall-mounted flowers gave it a more Mediterranean feel.

The service was efficient and the staff were friendly and helpful too. They worked with smiles on their faces and didn't let the plates pile up on the customers' tables. However, there is one thing they can improve on. They should have someone waiting at the entrance; when we entered the restaurant, we were lost and had no idea where to go or what to do. Other than that, the service was good though.

And finally, let's talk about the FOOD! There was a wide selection of food. Tapas, pasta, pizza, grills, stews, salads...you name it! It was a lunch buffet, so we had from noon to 3pm to eat to our hearts' content. Our goal was to try a little bit of everything (keyword: try) and to eat as slowly as possible so that we wouldn't feel too full too quickly.

The Salad Bar

Left: Baked sausages; Right: Sauteed potatoes

Beef Tripe

Grill Selection

We started off with some paella, baked chicken, different types of salads, baked sausages, and tapas. The paella accompanied with the baked chicken was just...a lethal combination. They tasted so good! We wanted to get more but by the time we tried everything else, there were none left :( The different salads were good, though we did not had a chance to try them all. We did not like the mushroom salad though. They used oyster mushrooms for that particular dish and the taste was overwhelming; but, both of us are not big fans of mushrooms, so maybe others may like it. The baked sausages were good too; they were baked with cheese and cream. Yum! As for the tapas, they were great too, depending on which ones you take. Most of them were really nice. I think they would have tasted much better if they were hot.

Baked Chicken

Paella

Then, we tried more tapas and salad along with pasta and mushroom soup. The pasta we tried were spaghetti La Gomera and creamy mushroom pasta. The tapas were great and I really loved the spaghetti. It was a tomato-based seafood pasta. It was rich in flavour and mostly had clams, (lala) squid and prawns. I did not like the creamy pasta because it was rather bland. Perhaps a dash of salt may improve its taste, but still, it was bland. The soup was unfortunately not nice. It tasted exactly like the one from Shakey's Pizza & Chicken, so maybe it was from a can. Wherever it came from, it was disappointing. I could barely taste the mushroom. The restaurant also served pumpkin soup but we did not get to try it.

Spaghetti La Gomera

Then, we tried the stews, the grilled selection, pizza, onion rings and some cheese balls. For the stews, we tried the beef tripe, lamb and meatballs. The beef tripe had rather unusual taste to it - perhaps there were too many herbs and spices from what we are used to. The meatballs were delicious; they were soft, juicy, had a hint of spices and the sauce was great too. But, I must say, the lamb stole the show this time. The lamb was soft, juicy and succulent. It wasn't the melt-in-your-mouth soft as is usually the case especially for lamb shanks, but it was just right. Perfect. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed that mouth-watering dish. The grilled food included chicken, beef, lamb, cod, salmon, squid and prawn. We were spoilt for choice! We had the chicken, beef, lamb and cod. They were all amazing. Everything was grilled to perfection; the chicken and lamb were juicy and oozed with so much flavour, the beef was tender and the cod was cooked just right. Can you imagine having a free flow of cod fish?! Of course the cod was the first from the grilled selection to finish. No surprise there lol. The pizza did not look great, and we really did not expect much from it, but oh we were so wrong, and glad to be wrong too. The sauce on the pizza was responsible for its great taste, along with the choices of topping. Loved them. The onion rings were ok but the onions themselves were a little too sweet. However, my review may be bias because I initially thought they were calamari rings! Imagine my disappointment when I had my first bite hahah. Anyway, the cheese balls were pretty good. Luckily they were made small. Cheese to me should be enjoyed in small portions because it is easy to get sick of it. Still, we loved those fried cheese balls.

Lamb

Finally, it was time for dessert. We didn't have much room left in our stomachs, but there wasn't much anyway. There were danish pastry, cake, mango pudding, ice cream and fruits. We tried them all except for the cake. The danish pastry was terrible. I think it was probably the most horrible thing we had there. It was hard, thick, chewy and barely had any taste. I don't know if the chefs made a mistake only on that day, but we certainly were not fans of it. The pudding was alright, not fantastic, but still good. The ice-cream was ok too. It was probably store-bought but we didn't mind. There were nicely-arranged fruits next to the beverage section. We had some papaya and honey dew.

Mango Pudding

The beverages served were like other buffets'. There were soft drinks, cordial orange juice and iced lemon and peach tea. There was also cold and hot water, and a selection of hot drinks like milo, nescafe, teh tarik (milk tea) and so on.

Oh and before I conclude this review, I would just like to share some photos of the tapas selection.

Yes, this was in the Tapas section too

I also loved the open kitchen concept where we can see the chefs preparing the food.

Okay so overall, we really enjoyed the food at La Gomera. There were just sooo much food to choose from and most of them were really delicious. My favourites were definitely the lamb stew, paella, baked chicken, grilled lamb, grilled chicken, grilled cod and the tapas (I know, I know..a lot of favourites right?) Even though the dessert wasn't great, but they were still ok excluding the danish pastry or whatever it was. Anyway, I definitely did not come to the buffet for the desserts, so I really wasn't bothered much by them. The atmosphere is good too. I would definitely love to go there again. RM21 per person was definitely a steal on this buffet; I'm so glad we bought this groupon lol. The regular price for the lunch buffet is around RM37.50 per head. Currently there is a promotion going on where the second person gets to dine at RM17.90. I would be more than happy to pay the full price for this buffet, no doubt. I would definitely come back! Recommended to all :)

Verdict: 4 out of 5

Operating hours: 12pm to 11pm
Halal certified.

P.S.

Here's the view from our table!

Hope you readers are drooling by now! ;)

Cheers,

All these photos belong to me unless otherwise stated.

Far: my engagement Hijab

2012-01-04T00:15:00.000-08:00

Hello ladies! I just want to share with you some pics of my hijab and make up done for my engagement recently :). I love the style, all my friends said it was very "me". hehe. Both hijab and make up was done by Dina Rahim from Seri Ermessa. http://suri-ermesa.com/ Please check her out! You'll be drooling in ten seconds at her work. I wont talk much, so please scroll down for more pics!

me n my hantaran ladies.. :)

I love this pic n I love you! pretty girl in blue!

view from the side

I know you can't see very well of anything, the hijab details and stuff, but this post was just teaser/intro/sort of. More pics ill be available to me in a few weeks time, and I will definitely share with you!

I would also like to thank my wonderful friends and cousins who helped me in the preparation and on the day itself. I love you guys very much. :,) I also love you Farhan Hafetz!

ps: I will share a post with you some tips I learned about my engagement soon!

Far: A year of Hijab Styles 2011

2011-12-30T02:27:00.000-08:00

Hello ladies! I have a few posts just waiting to rip for you lovely ladies, but thought is best to share with you this one first. I have had a lot of fun playing with my hijab and layering and would like to share with you some pics over the year! enjoy!

May you have a wonderful year ahead! xoxo

Lina: Colours on New Years Eve!

2011-12-29T00:38:00.000-08:00

This is my New Years Eve look! Instead of common black and gold smokey, why not try something more fun and colourful! I will do a tutorial on this soon! :)

Lina: Everyday Easy Makeup Tutorial

2011-12-28T09:10:00.000-08:00

Hello my darlings!

My internet has been acting up the past few days and I had a hard time trying to upload a video on Youtube. Finally, I managed to do it just now! YAY! So here's what I promised you, a makeup tutorial on my everyday look. I put this on almost everyday when I want to hang out with my friends at the mall, casual dinner or lunch,etc. It's very simple and basic. May be beneficial for those who are beginners in makeup. All of the products are still available in drugstores and the brand's stores. No discontinued products used. Bear in mind that this is my first tutorial video. I don't have a good camera, I have very little knowledge in video editing, but this is what I managed to do. Hope it's fine! Enjoy :)

Don't forget to follow my Youtube channel and to follow this blog! :)

Thank you!

XOXO,

Lina

Emma: Here's the anticipated video!

2011-12-28T04:57:00.000-08:00

Assalamualaikum and good day awesome girls!

As promised, here's the work out video I mentioned last week. Unfortunately, we Pumpkins did not have the chance to try it out together; but fret not, I managed to do so with my sisters.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

I apologize in advance for the outfits worn by the people in the video :)

here's my review: phewwwwwwww! The title of the vid "high energy" says it all! I could barely breathe! Nonetheless, I had so much fun trying! If I could do this everyday, I think I'll gain more stamina, flexibility, cardio strength. Not to mention well-toned legs, buttocks, arms and abs.

NOTE TO REMEMBER: Please do warm up and stretching before attempting to try the work out. THIS IS CRUCIAL. I'd advise you to do according to their warm-up as well just to ensure that the level of intensity is on par with the real work out.

Warm-up Part 1

Part 2

and Part 3

Don't push yourself if you're not used to such high energy work out. Stop whenever you can't continue okay. If you don't like the work out, you can do the warm up everyday (of course with the intensity gradually increasing).

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the videos above. And, I'm not an expert. Nor am I a physician, trainer, and what not. Take extra cautions about your health when doing any of the above work outs. and Have fun!

Yours truly,
Emma <3

Haneesa: The Michelle Phan Experience..

2011-12-26T18:00:00.000-08:00

Hey guys J

So this is gonna be a really short post on a small, but sweet experience of mine. It's not going to be on something crafty or DIY - it's actually a beauty related post, which is actually Lina's specialty.. Check her out at this link ;)

Anyway, I’m actually a big Michelle Phan fan, and a few nights ago she had an impromptu live chat session with her fans for a whole hour.

Lucky for me, I had been leaving her website lingering on my browser so when I refreshed it again at about 1 am she had just posted this:

And it was only an hour away - No way was I gonna miss this!

So I stayed on, and when I finally got to the chat, it was mayhem! There was this non-stop clicking noise indicating a new message and I immediately started posting my question. I think I asked three times before, to my absolute surprise and delight….

she answered me.

My question...

...and her answer!

I’m happy beyond words, seriously! If I may never be able to see her in life, this opportunity was just awesome enough for me! >.< I think there were like 20 questions going at her at once, so she could only answer a one or two in one go..

And yes, I know it's a pretty simple answer, but like I said before it's a small but special experience ;P

Imagine how crazy I would be if I actually met her o__o

So, besides that, I thought I should share some other tips that I found helpful too like

Nevertheless, there were all those doubters who were all like "Is this the real Michelle?" or "I think this is just her representative".. well to you guys I say: PFFFT! She sure sounded like Michelle! Plus there were many personal questions about her too like which games or food she liked. So there you go. Seriously, you guys should’ve gotten answered by her. You would’ve gone nuts. J

And that's it, my short and sweet experience. If you had the same conversation that night or have some other beauty tips you've learnt from her, just leave a comment below~

Take care guys!

Haneesa

Lina: My Everyday Products

2011-12-19T09:26:00.000-08:00

Hello my darlings! Finally, a proper blog post from me! Here I would like to share with you the products that I use everyday and which are also my favourites, of course! These products give me the natural look and flawless baby!

Prep + Foundation + Concealer

*Top left to bottom*

1)This is definitely A MUST for me after I put on my moisturizer. I realise that moisturizer only helps me to soften and hydrates my skin, but does not help my makeup to stay on for long hours,especially since I have oily skin. So my makeup fades easily if I do not use a primer. My favourite primer is Sephora's Smoothing & Mattifying Primer. This primer prevents my face from becoming oily or greasy!! So my makeup stays on for a whole day! AWESOME!

2) I like to use liquid foundation mainly at night. But if I have really awful acne during the day (you know when), then I will dab on some liquid foundation to have full coverage. I've tried many types of liquid foundation throughout the years and most of them are too thick or heavy (my face would start to sweat) but oh my gosh, I feel like MaxFactor is a gift from up above! Max Factor introduced its awesome-est liquid foundation ever (I think about few months back), MaxFactor's Experience Weightless Foundation! It's TOTALLY weightless, and it feels as though Im not wearing any liquid foundation at all! I really don't feel it, but it's there, making my face looking flawless!! If Im not mistaken, we don't have MaxFactor stores in Malaysia, but we do have their counters in Metrojaya. If you're looking for a liquid foundation right now, just get this one. No questions asked! :)

-Im using Dark Gypsum 80.

3) I've been using this concealer for so many years. It's been my friend for a really long time: Maybelline's Angelfit Perfect Concealer. It covers up any of my blemishes, dark spots, and dark under-eye circles really well! I like to use a concealer brush instead of my fingers because I tend to be so harsh with my face if I use my fingers. I don't want any form of fine lines or wrinkles to appear due to my 'aggresiveness', so I need to use brushes.

-Im using Natural Beige 02.

4) I can't leave my house without wearing this: Bare Minerals Foundation. It is by far the best powder foundation to me. It gives me that smooth and flawless coverage, without any clumping or caking my face later on. I know some powder foundation cakes your face but this one doesn't, regardless of your skin type. It's weightless and feels like you're not wearing any makeup at all, yet giving you the best coverage! And the best thing is that you only need to use just a little bit to have that full coverage. Saves your money and time too! After that, sometimes I put on Bare Minerals Mineral Veil to set my make up, especially if I have any liquid foundation on, to have that matte look.

-Im using Medium Beige.

Blusher

1) My favourite blusher is Elianto Touch On Blusher. Some blushers that I used last time did not stay on after a few hours and I don't know why I tend to forget to bring my blusher in my makeup pouch. This one stays on a for long hours! hooray! Sadly I always have problems with the sponge, mine just won't come out properly so when I put it on my face, I cannot see the blusher! So what I have to do is to take off the sponge, and use a blush brush, VOILA! :)

-Im using Tea Rose 02.

Eye Makeup

*Top to bottom

1) I have super oily/greasy eyelids, so an eyeshadow primer is important to me! Before putting any sorts of eye makeup, I put on Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion so my eyeshadow and eyeliner don't crease at all! Really, this eyeshadow primer helps my eye makeup to stay for a really really really long time! REALLY!! :)

2) I have no idea why I can't use pencil eyeliner for my upper eyelids. I need to work on it! Hands tend to shake. :( Im a fan of pen eyeliners, it works great for me and I apply it better! My hands don't shake if I use pen eyeliner! Weird, I know. Oh well, whatever works well for you, just go for it! I love this Maybelline HyperSharp Liner. It's so 'thin' and sharp, 0.05mm baby! It gives you the precision you want! Perfect for those who love face art too!

3) As for lower eyelids, it's definitely best to use pencil eyeliner. I like to use MaxFactor Kohl Pencil in Black. It's good for those who have watery eyes, like me, it won't fade away eventhough your eyes get watery later!

4) Another MaxFactor superb invention: MaxFactor's False Lash Effect Mascara. Oh.My.Gosh. It gives you double the size of your lashes!! It voluminizes, thickens, everything! It's waterproof too! So if you feel like you're tired of putting on falsies, give yourself a break, and try this incredible mascara!! I've recommended this to many of my friends and family, and none of them are disappointed with it! :)

5) Before mascara, don't forget to curl your lashes. My favourite pick is Shu Uemura's Eye Lach Curler. It's one of the best lash curlers in the world. It curls just so perfectly, and you only need to curl one time!

Lips

1) Im a huge fan of pink tones when it comes to lip items! Most of my lipstick collection are of pink shades. My fav lipliner is from Stage in Pretty Peony 03. It is soft pink with a hint of peach.

2) Next up is my number one pink lipstick: NYX Lip Smacking Fun Colours in PARIS. It is super pink, like Barbie pink!! The best pink shade I have in my collection is this!

3) Lastly, to have that glossy look and sexier looking lips, I like to dab on a little bit of gloss. I use NYX Lip Gloss in PEACH. You can see that it's almost empty already, shows that I really LOVE IT! The colour is just perfect and goes so well with any of my pink lipsticks!

So there you go, my favourite products that I use everyday! Next post will be a makeup tutorial video, using all of the products mentioned above :)

XOXO,

Lina

Emma: Something's up my sleeves

2011-12-17T21:34:00.000-08:00

Hello awesome chicas! guess what? Emma's back!
i'm terribly sorry for the long hiatus. i've been very much occupied with assignments, debate, and final exam. Now that i'm done with ALL that, i have so many to share with all of you!

first, i'm in the midst of trying this particular aerobics routine. it's quite intense but definitely do-able. if you're up for it, you can definitely perform it too! instead of posting a dance routine, i thought of posting an exercise routine that can be done in a large group. the more, the merrier. and you'll have lots and lots of fun too!

but here's the catch, i'm not gonna post this particular video yet :). give me some time to try it out before finally deciding to upload it. we, the writers, might wanna give it a shot first. woohooo!!

also, as part of my segment, i will also be sharing my knowledge and information on various topics like self-esteem, relationships, parenting (not that i have any experience in it), and the list goes on. these are just some of the info i've obtained through research. since i have them in my tiny brain, why not share it with all of you. that way we can all learn together right?

so, stay tuned to our blog for more info! and keep checking it out for the video that you might anticipate :)

yours truly,
emma.

Far: Four different ways to wear the jumpsuit with hijab

2011-12-17T06:07:00.000-08:00

Salam girls!

I have been wanting to do this post, but haven't gotten round to take artsy awesome pictures of my outfits, and I still havent!! but Im hoping you girls wont mind seeing my plain old pics, hehe, at least you can get some tips and ideas for inspiration so as to not shy away from this trend.

All of the pics below sported this jumpsuit from Valley Girl.
I bought one in black and one neutral khaki color as shown below:

As you can see, its really form fitting on top, and really sexy. Our job is to unsexify it without cutting out on style!

First look:

Here I wore a black jumpsuit, and gave it some kind of definition with two thin belts. The pink belt is actually a long beaded necklace! if you have a short waist like me, opt for thing delicate belts, if you have a long torso go ahead and rock a thick belt!

Wearing a belt underneath your jacket or cardi adds dimension without showing off too much of your curves.

My pink lacey "jacket" is from old blossom box. Check her wonderful things here. http://oldblossombox.blogspot.com/

Second look:

You can even wear a jumpsuit for work! if you wear it as pants!Here I wore a vintage printed shirt with a loose vest for some shape.

Third look:

Please excuse the horrible self cam whore picture. But this is my favorite look with the jumpsuit. With a long printed cardi, it covers most of your curves and is a fun enough piece to wear as a statement. Im also wearing a long pendant chain to draw the eye downwards for a slimmer look. It also subtly adds a little something to the bare middle.

My hijab style was fashioned out of two hijabs and a belt that came with the cardi.

Last look!

This I must admit lends all of its style factor to the gorgeous matador style bolero. This one is also a vintage piece from melbourne and was a great steal! most of the ALL of my outer layers in this post were bought at vintage stores, markets and bazaars. So please scout around your area for great one of a kind pieces!

Breaking it down:

1) break a simple jumpsuit with belts (thin belts for curvy girls, thick for skinny) and long pendant necklaces. You can wear beaded necklaces if you have a slim upper body.

2) play around with lots of jackets, cardis. Both plain solids and prints are great to keep and go with jumpsuits, maxi dresses and lots of other things!

3) Don't look at the jumpsuit as something that is only reserved for special events! you can always dress it up or down for a casual day. Be Brave and play lots of dress up!

hope to see you girls soon!
xoxo

Pssst.. see what Haneesa is up to..

2011-12-13T05:10:00.000-08:00

Check out the fabric glue, really handy!

Edges were cut really easily with pinking shears

Glue gun is a handy must for all crafters!

Et voila!

These pretty jars will soon be filled with yummy candy pillows! You can give them as door gifts or little Christmas presents!

Our girl Lina turns 22! in pink :)

2011-12-06T04:26:00.000-08:00

Our dear beauty expert and friend of many many years turned 22 on November 17th in style! An intimate party for close family and friends but done up in a big and bold way, check out these pictures and be inspired!

And the Birthday Girl!

Look out for our writers!

This is the photo booth!

Hope you girls enjoyed these photos! we will be back soon for more awesome posts!

Haneesa: Blog Promo for 'Le Beau Monde'

2011-11-27T00:11:00.001-08:00

Hi guys!

Today I won't be posting a tutorial or any DIY projects, but I will be introducing to you a friend of mine :) who runs an awesome blog shop called

Le Beau Monde
or as I like to call it
my accessories heaven *_*

Rozana Razali (or more famously known as Zana) is a course mate of mine, and not only is she super nice and soft spoken, she is also the owner of this adorable shop which has tons of amazing accessories & beauty products. Honestly speaking, her blog shop is pretty unique.. and this is coming from a person who browses blog shops, like, 5 hours a day ok. (yes, I can get pretty carried away)

Screen prints of www.lebeaumonde.co.cc ♥

Her blog has so many different accessories to choose from which will make you go nuts, especially if you are into Korean fashion.
I'm going to let you in a small secret; I once found a picture of ring that I really wanted but was so hard to find so I requested it from Zana, and guess what? She got it for me! I really didn't mind paying for it more, but I was given the normal price which, let me tell you, is pretty cheap. This also brings me to another best selling point about her shop.

All the accessories are super affordable.

I've seen some shops selling the same accessories for like, five times the price. Let me ask you: why should you pay more for the exact same item? All I know is I'm in for the best deals in town. Plus, I'm super satisfied with the stuff I've bought. So far I have three rings and a necklace, and I have this one ring that people always compliment me on :) Here's a photo of it:

My ring is the one on the far right. A white rose on a pink bow is just too adorable to resist >.<

Hold on. I just remembered, I got a pair of earrings and an owl ring from her too. LOL. I can't keep track anymore. All of our friends know about her shop and its about the only place we go for Korean accessories.

So...if you are looking for an alternative website for accessories, beauty products and even some pretty clothes, you must visit www.lebeaumonde.co.cc. Like I mentioned, its got a super massive amount of stuff you can choose from with the best prices. Before I sign off, let me show you the stuff I'm eyeing for at the moment...

You can also visit her facebook page here ♥

Aren't the pink and light blue rings absolutely gorgeous? *_*
Have fun shopping guys! Don't forget to like her on Facebook too!

All images on this post are credited to the Zana'z website http://www.lebeaumonde.co.cc/

Far: Hijab tutorial! Neat Arab ghutra look! Great with glasses too!

2011-11-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

Salam ladies! Here's another tutorial for you girls:)

Note: this look is short and it does not cover the chest. I'm wearing a top with with a sort of add on vest that already covers the chest. So keep in mind that this style has to be worn with a loose top or vest that covers the chest.

This is also good for girls who wear glasses and hate the fact that the sides of their hijab stick out. I am wearing big frame glasses and no worries here!

Ok, here we go!

As usual one side long and one side short.

Take the two sides like so, don't forget to slightly fold it in.

Bring it to the side and pin!

The other side!

Take the long side...

Bring it under the shorter side...

and around to the other side and hide under the fold. Pin to secure!

Tada! Easy peasy! Hope you girls love it! If you have any request, please feel free to comment! And I will come up with something, if you have any questions or style tips let us know!

Celebrating 1212 with a bang! and giveaways!

2011-11-21T06:47:00.000-08:00

There was big huha for this years' 11.11.11. And I'm pretty sure it will be a greater huha for 12.12.12 of next year! so we here at theawesomeproject would like to welcome the upcoming new year by celebrating our 1212 views with a competition and giveaways! The competition will be held on twitter starting today! whoever creates the best new slogan for our blog wins! You can try out as many as you like, but don't forget to #theawesomeproject! (see terms and conditions below). Our prize is an uber exclusive TheAwesomeProject kit, complete with each writer's favorite things to welcome a new you in 2012! The chosen slogan will replace our current slogan : Everything an awesome girls needs. If you can come up with a catchy phrase that is totally unique and totally US, you might just win!

Contest ends in one week's time, winner will be contacted via twitter and published in this blog! stay tuned:)

Here's a sneak peak at what could pop up in mail box,

Far's fave hijabs!

I'm giving away these fabulous hijabs by thehijabstory.blogspot.com! This is my favourite place for one of a kind hijabs. I am never disappointed with the design and quality. And these could be yours! Yours truly is giving away this wonderfully luxe pashmina:

Beautiful Izzah, owner of thehijabstory has so kindly sponsored us TWO of these pretty chiffon scarves! We are greatly indebted to you and your beautiful hijabs!

Please check more of her fantastic designs here at http://thehijabstory.blogspot.com

Aiysha's Mini Macaron Kit!

Wilton’s Decorating Tip No. 10

(Used to pipe the macaron batter on baking paper. Can also be used to make swirls on cupcakes and cakes like in the picture here! ps blue cupcake;))

Disposable Piping Bag

(Easier to use since there’s no cleaning needed afterwards)

Macaron Templete

(Place a sheet of baking paper on top of the templete and pipe the batter over it like this)

(To hopefully help you ensure your macarons are the same size. Read about it in a book J)

Happy trying!

Lina's Beauty Secret;)

Beauty isn't all about make up, so put down that mascara and give your rough spots some love! This is great to get rid of rough skin at those negleted spots like elbows, knees, and heels. Remember to moisturize after for baby soft skin.

Ad's super cute basics!

For any cook, a beginner or a pro, salt and pepper are two ingredients that are crucial to any dish. this salt and pepper shaker is a reminder that even the simplest and smallest things can be the most important.

Haneesa's uber exclusive suprise!

Its so exclusive I'm not even done with it yet! This handcrafted lovely could just be yours! It is a pouch that can double as a make up bag or a pencil case. Find even more exclusive merchandise prezzies inside;)

Emma's exericse bff!

Drink up! its what your body needs! Fitness is fun, but keeping yourself hydrated is serious business. Your body needs water to repair itself, so let this waterbottle be your bff too!

(ps: image of water bottle not shown in this post, its also a suprise!)

The following are the Terms & Conditions of the twitter contest:

1. Create a unique slogan. Keyword here is create. Please do not take it from somewhere else.
2. The slogan AND the hashtag must be within the 140 characters twitter limit!

3. You may enter as many times as you want. We don't want to limit your creativity, so keep trying! Don't stop at one entry!

4. For all your entries, you MUST include the hashtag #TheAwesomeProject

5. The winner will be chosen from the public timeline of the hashtag. If your account is on private, we won't be able to see your tweets; therefore, they won't be considered as entries.

6. This contest runs for ONE WEEK. It starts today Monday 21st November 2011 and will end on 11.59pm on Monday 28th November 2011.

So what are you waiting for? Get your creative juices flowing and start tweeting!

Haneesa: Fabric Book Cover

2011-11-18T04:48:00.000-08:00

I’m going to let you in on a secret of mine.

I hated my school

and although I never understand why there are people who love going and afterwards want to go back to school,
I'm just going to say that that's OK too.

Image courtesy of ewhogan.edu.au

I don't mean to be all emotional but it really isn't my fault that I didn't like school so much :( Why did it have to be so systematic, rigid and most of all, biased? And it was so confusing because I liked my subjects and I liked learning new stuff but I couldn't stand the lessons! They were so.... controlled. Plus here in Malaysia everyone only looks at your grades, and never your skills. Back in school, I never felt like my thoughts and ideas (basically my own brain) were important- the only way to learn was through books.

Don't get me wrong though; I love books... and I still miss some of my teachers and friends. However school was still torturous, so I expressed my thoughts and feelings through stuff like arts & crafts, writing and music. Thankfully as I got older I also found that religion gave me a lot of room to expand and express my ideas.
So for this post, I'm going to show you a way you can make your school life a little more ~~endurable~~ enjoyable or if you already like school, something to get your creativity going J.

First things first; you will need several materials and tools for this fabric book cover. They are:

♥ Notebook
For this project, I am using a spiral bound notebook, but I think any kind of notebook works just as fine
♥ Fabric
I got mine at Daiso, which was precut to 70cm x 100 cm. They have two kinds of materials; polyester and cotton, which comes in many pretty patterns :)
♥ Scissors
♥ Fabric Ribbon
♥ Needle, thread, pins
♥ Long ruler and pencil

Step 1

⚝ Take your notebook and lay it out open. Measure the full length and width in inches. Also, measure the length of the front cover - this should be about half the full length of the notebook.

Full Length

Width

⚝ Take these measurements, and follow this formula to start cutting out your fabric:

(a) Full length + 1 ¼ inches

(b) Front cover length- ½ inch

This is an example of the measurements from my notebook

(a) 12 inches + 1 ¼ inches =
13 ¼ inches

(b) 6 inches - ½ inch =
5 ½ inches

Step 2

Now, you will be cutting three pieces from your fabric.

First, take measurements (a) and (c) and draw them out on the wrong side of your fabric. This will be your outer piece.
Next, take measurements (b) and (c) and draw them out also. Remember to make two of these pieces. These two will be your inner pieces.
Cut them all out.

Top: Outer piece. Bottom: Inner pieces.

You can use a measuring tape for this step... though a ruler makes life much so easier!

Step 3
Take the two inner pieces and turn them wrong side up. Fold in one side over ¼ inch and pin them down. Press/iron to keep in place. Do this on both pieces of fabric.

Fold one side inwards, then pin to secure...

...and for a closer look :)

Step 4

Take the outer piece and lay it right side up. Take the two previous pieces, lay them on each ends of the outer piece, pin to hold, then sew them on. Remember not to sew the side that you folded earlier!
In this step, I used a back stitch, instead of a regular running stitch, for extra strength.

Back stitching; at the front here the stitching looks like dashes. At the back, it looks like one single line.

Wrong sides to stitch!

Correcto mondo!

End product :)

Step 5

Turn your book cover right side out. Pin the top and bottom edges of the outer cover, then press to hold them down. Sew these edges to keep them in place.
For this step, I used a zigzag stitch to create nicer patterned look.

Pinning them together

More pins..

Zigzag stitching from behind

Zigzag stitching from the front

Looks like this after its all done

Step 6

At this point your fabric book cover is already finished J
However, you can also add a ribbon to secure your book. To do so, open up your book cover and measure the middle of the full length and the middle of the width. This will give you the centre point of your book cover.

To measure the length of the ribbon, take the measurement of the full length of your book and add another 16 inches. This will ensure that your ribbon can be tied. Cut the ribbon.
Now, measure the width of your ribbon. Mark this width on the centre point of your book cover.

Ribbon with a 1cm width

Stitch an ‘X’ about the size of your ribbon width.

Mark the 1cm width on this centre point

How it looks like on the front

Turn your book cover around and insert the ribbon.

And now your fabric book cover is finished! You can adjust the ribbon so that it sits either on the spine, opening or front of your book. If you guys face any problems, you can have a look at this tutorial . This book cover can even be used for personal stuff like diaries, journals and the like. It not only makes a good protection for your book, it looks absolutely gorgeous too! I hope it makes your school days more enjoyable J Take care everyone!

Happy 11.11.11!

2011-11-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

Hi all!

We here at The Awesome Project want to wish you a happy 11.11.11! This year has been a great year for all of us, and we are so happy that after all this time we finally managed to collaborate on this project. It wouldn't have been a great start without all of you lovely readers!!! And because we love you guys so much we have a little suprise coming up! Keep checking us out here for details very soon..
hehe.. Here's a hint:

Giveaways and 12 ;)

Bon Weekend!

Aiysha: Cupcake rose bouquet

2011-11-10T05:04:00.000-08:00

Hi! A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine had asked for a bouqet of rose cupcakes! (Similar to the ones you'll see in my first post). She needs them for her hantaran (part of a traditional wedding gift). So what you will be seeing here is a trial run for her! These bouqets are great as gifts or is just another pretty alternative.

Seeing that her theme is soft pink and green, I came up with these uber sweet colours.

With long kebab/satay sticks, I arranged my cupcakes as seen below. They are fixed into a styrofoam cube which is covered with Ritz cracker crumbs.

Then from the middle, move outwards in a circular motion. You will have some difficulty at first, but you will get the hang of it :)

I went on with the other cupcakes with other colour icing like so..

Here's the overall look!

Hope you guys like it! Will be posting on new creations soon!

Far: My Hijab Story

2011-11-06T04:13:00.000-08:00

Salam and hello all!

I wanted to take this time to post something a little special. Today marks the day I have been wearing the hijab for a whole year! I know the hijab is a wajib (compulsory) act of faith for all women as they come of age, but I only had the courage to don one a year ago. It is the best decision I have made in my life! I would like to tell you my hijab story.

For many years, wanting to wear the hijab had been gnawing at my heart, but I had brushed it away with many excuses. I was afraid that I would be ridiculed by my family, abused by strangers in Melbourne. I was particularly afraid of the prejudice I would face in my classes and those around me who have had only media skewed images of Islam and the hijab. However my perceptions were far from the truth.

Though I faced some opposition at first primarily from those close around me, I realized that my friends, especially my non muslim friends were supportive, understanding and thrilled! My classes went on as normal, and though I had to work twice as hard to overcome prejudice, it only benefited me in the end! My grades are testimony to that :) I also realized that men stared at me less and I felt more comfortable in my own skin. I no longer felt the need to be skinny or sexy, or to push myself to be someone I was not.

These are all the superficial pros to wearing the hijab. The primary goal of me wearing the hijab was to please God. Wearing the hijab did not make me feel more religious, neither did it make me feel that I understood my religion better. It did not give me a 'head's up' to non hijabi sisters. I was still the same ol' crazy Far. However it gives me peace of mind that I am doing something that pleases God. I may not be perfect in my dress, but I am still learning and will do better each day insyaallah..

So what is you story? and how does your hijab make you feel? leave me a comment!

ps: My hijab do for Hari Raya Haji

Aiysha: upcoming post!

2011-10-31T05:26:00.000-07:00

Hi all! Stay tuned and keep checking for a very special post by moi :)
Here's a clue: roses!

Far: Hijab and graduation tips!

2011-10-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

Salam all!

I just sort of came back from melbourne after my graduation and can't wait to share you hijabi girls some tips on how to make your day go smoothly!

First of all let me share some pics of my outfit and graduation!

And what i wore under the gown:

Tips for the hijabi graduate:

1) keep your hijab sleek n fuss free, I personally prefer lots of volume n drapes, however, because you will be wearing a long loose gown, n cameras will be shooting at you from every angle, you want to be able to catch that proud smile whenever possible! Heavy drapes will hide yr face n add bulk.

2) as hijabis we will be covered head to toe, so don't ever wear open toe shoes, you will look awkward on stage. Trust me.

3) most capes n gowns will need to be fastened to a button in front! So if u r not wearing a button down shirt or dress, please keep in mind to being extra pins. They will be very handy to pin yr sash n gown in place.

4) If you are wearing a dress or skirt. Pls make sure the length is perfect, n not trailing the floor. you don't want to be stuck with something else to worry about while on stage.

This is what happened to me, and I had to result to a last minute do:

ps: My sister had pin the sides of my dress, creating a ruched effect. You can opt to do this, however you will still be worried about your whole dress unravelling on stage!

5) smile smile smile! This is your moment, you have slaved over books, hours in the library, and have written the best papers in your life (so far!) be grateful to God for this opportunity and how much you have gone through. Be proud of your self n your achievements. You deserve it:)

Lina: Hi! Teaser. :)

2011-10-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hello dolls! This (points to myself) wannabe makeup guru apologizes for her absence. I have not done a tutorial video yet because well, Im still thinking of ways to make good use of this awful and ancient camera I have. Im still learning how to edit videos. But fret not, I will upload a tutorial video SOON! hehe. But here's a teaser for you :) I just tried putting this on like few minutes ago. Let me know what you think and I will try to upload a tutorial on this soon! It's actually a mixture of A LOT of colours (mind you, I don't follow rules when it comes to eye makeup. I like to hentam everything and TADAAAA!). I don't know what this is called. Maybe dark bronze and cocoa smokey eye? It's suitable for a night occassion, clubbing, parties, etc. :)

XOXO
Lina

Haneesa: Tell me what YOU want :)

2011-10-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

Hey gals. Please answer the poll below for the subject of my next DIY post :) Choose one answer from the drop down list; there are 4 to choose from so go nuts! Hehe~

x,
Haneesa

Emma: Girls, we are beautiful.

2011-10-24T02:27:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely ladies! My segment today does not include any dance moves or work out routines, rather my effort in trying to reach out to all the sisters out there who might have lost hope on life (ie you feel like you’re not beautiful, you just flunked an exam, you just had a major break-up with your bf/partner, you had a big argument with your parents/siblings/best friends, etc) in whatever issues you’re dealing with.

I was inspired to write this piece of note due to the recent events through which I heard of girls inflicting pain on themselves as a form of punishment for something that did not work out according to what they desired. Pen knives happen to be a very famous tool for them to start hurting themselves. Teenagers and young adults are the groups with high tendencies of committing self-injurious behaviours. But that does not mean adults do not have any tendencies at all.

Females (especially Girls) tend to think that they are overweight when their body is in need of more nutrients to stay fit for them to perform daily activities. Females tend to think that it’s the end of the world when they have a minor fight or a major break up with their bf/partner. The question to ask in such cases is, “Like, Seriously?” Are we really that low? In the latter case, sure we might feel sad about it, but the despair should not be prolonged until you ‘lose your mind’. Inner peace, happiness, and sense of self can be found through finding our way to God and through our own efforts to be able to stand independently without depending on anyone Just to experience an inch of happiness.

As for the issues of our perceptions on body image, whatever your weight is, be healthy. Don’t starve yourself of food, that’ll just make your body worse! Eat! But eat healthily. Once in a while, indulge in a cup of ice-cream, or a bag of chocolates, or cookies. There’s no harm in doing so! Just make sure that you eat healthy food. If you need guidance in nutrition intake, Google has a lot of answers (guaranteed!). Grab a magazine or a book on healthy diets to gain your knowledge on food consumption. You need your body, and your body needs You. Don’t forget: no matter how you look like, you’re Beautiful in God’s eyes. Talk to your family members or friends (girlfriends, especially) and both sides can share information on living a healthy lifestyle. Once in a week, grab a friend or a group of them and go for a brisk walk/jog at the park or exercise together. Going to the gym and paying the monthly bills is not the Only option we have. Save some $$ while simultaneously give your body the ‘rewards’ it deserves.

Remember, there are more to life than meets the eye. You are beautiful the way you were created. Just remember to always try to live a healthy life. Oh, you know those cigarettes, alcohol drinks, and drugs? Stay away from them! They don’t do you any good. Those things that people say about them providing the route to release stress, guess what? That’s not the case! The only thing they provide is temporary relief while at the same time punishing your body with harmful contents. Cigarettes give diseases; alcohol increases the chances for memory loss and possible rape cases, and drugs might just end life in the most unpleasant way. So before you ‘befriend’ any of them, tell yourself, “I know better. I am better than this.”

No matter what happens, keep your faith and remain strong. Talk to your family or friends or even lecturers who are willing to listen to you. You are beautiful. Don’t let insignificant life issues take you away from achieving your other goals.
Before i end my segment, here's a good article I'd like to share with all you gorgeous ladies!

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/6/24/nation/17817717&sec=nation

what's it about? well, let's just say that according to a study conducted by a famous psychologist here in Malaysia, 1 in 10 young girls are prone to eating disorders.

I, for one, am here to listen to you should any of you need to share some of your stories with me. i won't be judgmental, no worries about that :)

til next time,

Emma.

Emma: Dear fats, go away!

2011-10-20T06:57:00.000-07:00

Hello my awesome darlings! it's time for an update on my segment :)

as for today, my post won't be about any dance routines, but it'll be on simple body work out. of course my excellent video source, YouTube, managed to help me find simple videos for my segment. these videos are about 2 very very easy work out moves that can help us (girls *wink*) to lose some fats and build up on muscles.

as females, most of us tend to focus on shaping our lower body parts. so i figured, i can help look through YouTube for work out videos to share with all of you.

here's the first video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWvJ14cwwKU

This video provides a good demonstration on how to strengthen those butt muscles :)) one point to remember: the moves shouldn't be done with any weights as they are meant to be performed at a quick pace. so why don't you grab a chair (or you can use the edge of your bed) and try out! believe me, it's fun! the instructor even explained about how to accurately perform the moves so you don't do anything wrong that might cause minor injuries. have fun trying out!

and here's the second video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kRoWS-afdM&feature=relmfu

you're happy with the way you look but figured you can tone up the muscles around your thighs? here's how you can do it! in this video, the instructor demonstrated how to work out strengthening your muscles through an exercise called side squats, which includes knee lifts. this particular set involves quite intricate body coordination, so be careful (especially when you twist your foot, one side at a time). with this light exercise, you can work on your inner & outer thighs, quadriceps, and glutes :)

have fun trying out these fantastic moves! and while you're at it, don't forget to always think positive and practice consistency. one set of each move a day (8 repetitions each should be fine). if you're not used to exercising, fret not, try not to push yourself too much. try doing 4 repetitions for each move first. then, when your body's used to it ( *ehem ehem* consistency!), then you can gradually increase the number of repetitions. remember: Beyonce's not the only female who can have such strong thighs! :))

p/s: i don't own any of these videos.

have fun trying!

Love,
Emma.

Emma: A simple work out for the stubborn ones :)

2011-10-11T04:10:00.000-07:00

hey chicas! anxious to know a set of simple body work-out? stay tuned.
it's coming soon.

<3
Emma.

Far: Flowey hijab style with faux earing

2011-10-05T04:10:00.000-07:00

Hi Girls! I have been saving this hijab post for a long time! Im totally loving this style, however it does take more effort than usual to create, but totally worth it. I'm heading back to melbourne for two weeks, (Aussie aussie aussie! oi! oi! oi!) will post up some outfits from my trip when I come back! till then enjoy this hijab tutorial :)

So first step have a long and short side like so...

Bring the short piece to the other side and just leave it there for awhile, it helps if the piece is not too short.

Take the long side and take the middle and pin it as below..

You should now look something like this! If you like it as it is feel free to stop here and secure with pins! :)

Take the short side that you left on your shoulder before..

And just pin it on your opposite shoulder for chest coverage

Take a long hijab pin, pick ones that look like earrings, or any that you like!

and pin here! inside the fold of yr hijab.

And you are done! it should look something like this!

Hope you girls enjoyed this tutorial! see you soon!

Ad: Food Review: Meatworks at Solaris Mont Kiara

2011-10-03T19:03:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone :) I got bored so I thought why not write a blog entry? Today's entry isn't going to be very long (I think). I'm doing a review of Meatworks, a western restaurant that goes by the motto "For all your meaty cravings. And more". This restaurant is located at Solaris Mont Kiara. Basically if you love a good steak, this is the place to be. I've been there a few times now, so yes I would say it's pretty darn good. Now, where should I start? Ok, let's go for the decor. Love the look of the place; most of the furniture is white and made of wood. Everything looks simple, but neat and well-organised. It reminds you of home in a way.

One thing that they can improve on is the air conditioning. In certain parts of the restaurant, you can't feel it at all but in other parts it's just freezing cold. It's something they should work on, but it doesn't bother me too much...unless I'm on a date haha. I don't think I'd appreciate sweat forming on my forehead, nor would my date :P Anyway, on to the menu! They have quite an extensive menu. From steaks (sirloin, ribeye, t-bone, etc) to burgers & sandwiches, to fish, chicken, lamb and even pasta. They have a selection of appertisers and desserts too, but we normally skip the appertisers so I can't really comment on them. The only starter we occasionally have is soup! We've tried their mushroom soup and oxtail soup. Both were mmm-mmm good. Not the best that I've had, but still really yummy. If I'm not mistaken, the soup portion is quite generous. When I go there with my family, two of us usually share one bowl :) Soups there cost between RM15-RM19. A little pricey, but I suppose most restaurants of the same standard charge similar prices.

Ok so on this particular day that I went to Meatworks, I had the drool-worthy medium-well sirloin steak (RM50). Let me tell you, it was heavenly. I loved it. It was so juicy and tender, and it was cooked to perfection. The thing that I love most about their sirloin is that the cut of meat is served together with a little fat. I know it sounds super unhealthy but seriously, you MUST eat the fat. I don't know how they did it, I usually don't really like the fat the comes with the steak but I LOVE the fat that comes with the sirloin here. They put some sort of brown sauce on top of the steak. Some people may not like that, but I just loved everything about the dish. If you like your steak without any sauce on it, just tell the waiter when you order. The people working there are super friendly and provide excellent service :) The steak comes with a side of mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables. Both were good too. Seriously, I have absolutely no complaints about this dish. One thing to note though, you must order your steak the way you like it. If it's too rare for you, just send it back so that the chefs can cook it a little longer. You will not enjoy your steak unless it is cooked the way you like it :)

My sister ordered the mushroom melt burger (RM32). It looked so delicious, and it certainly tasted amazing too. The burger came with a side of fries. I know from the photo it looks like they're rather stingy on the fries, but honestly, after eating the burger I don't think you'd have much room left for the fries. I liked it, it was meaty and cheesy and mushroomy...mmm :D I would totally order it next time!

Does anyone like ribs? I know I do, but I can't be bothered to order it most of the time because it's just so messy hahah. I would love to order it for take-away and bring it home. Much more enjoyable. However, my mom decided to order some BBQ Spare ribs anyway. You can order 3 (RM50) or 5 (RM70) ribs :) My mom had 3 because she was trying to "watch her weight". hahah kidding kidding, she wasn't sure if she could finish 5, so she went for 3. She enjoyed it very much, I could see it clearly. She offered some to me and I happily accepted. Like the other dishes, their ribs were to-die-for. Very juicy and tender!

I can't remember what my brother and dad had, but I think they also had the sirloin. Ok, so on to the desserts. They have a wide array of desserts to choose from, as you can see from the photos below.

We decided to have the tiramisu (RM13), creme brulee (RM15) and cookie monster (RM18). The tiramisu and creme brulee were pretty good. They were nice, but not as mouth-watering as the main meals. I was disappointed in the cookie moster though. It was basically just normal ice cream (though different flavours) with crushed oreo cookies on top. However, I had their apple pie before and it was really REALLY nice. One of the BEST apple pies I had ever had!

So all in all, Meatworks is a lovely joint for people of all ages. There's great food (and quite reasonably priced for their portions!) and great service. Good atmosphere too. This is my favourite place to have steak so go ahead, give it a try :)

Verdict: 4.5/5

Cheers!

Note: All the photos used in this post belong to me, Adlina Zainudin. Please ask for permission before using them, thanks! :)

Haneesa: Scrumptious Lip Scrub

2011-09-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

“There are three things a girl needs for her lips: lip balm, lip scrub and lip mask”

These were the words of Daniel, a superb promoter at Sephora, whom I and my friend Lina made friends with a few months ago. When we first heard it from him we were the two most surprised girls in that newly opened make up heaven. Honestly speaking, I only cover one out of three of those routines, and even then I only do it once in a while!

So I decided to help my newbie self and complete this routine. I think what Daniel said was important, especially because I have extra dry lips. I looked for online tutorials and found a lip mask tutorial here, but I found out that to scrub you to actually buy the product itself. Since a scrub is either hard to find or overpriced, I decided to try a DIY lip scrub. Guess what?

It works like magic!

All you do is glide the scrub over your upper and lower lips for one minute each, wipe off with a wet towel (remember not to eat the scrub ok!) and you will be left with lips like pillows… You can do this everyday if you think your lips are really dry, but from my own experience, once a week is enough. Remember that this is coming from someone who has dry lips and is fasting, so my lips are doing pretty good even with just a weekly routine.

So enough with the chit chat; here’s how you make your very own Scrumptious Lip Scrub…

1) Collect all items you need for the lip scrub. They are:

Small container
Teaspoon
Bowl
Petroleum jelly
Brown sugar
Olive oil
Lip balm

2) Clean your container. This should be small sized, about the size of a Tiger balm container or round lip balm container.

3) Measure the brown sugar by filling your empty container halfway. After this step, you can either continue in your container, or in a small bowl for more convenience.

4) Take a teaspoon of olive oil and mix it into your brown sugar. If possible use extra virgin olive oil; it has the best effect on your lips.

5) Take your lip balm and add in a small amount to your mixture. Take note that this step is optional. Lip balm is added so that your lips will have a hint of color after you use the lip scrub J

If you are using a lip balm in a tube, use a knife to cut off about 5mm of the balm. As for a lip balm in a container, scoop out about the same amount using a teaspoon.

6) Take a teaspoon of petroleum jelly and add it to your mixture.

7) Mix all ingredients gently with your teaspoon. Make sure you don’t crush the sugar too much!

8) The ingredients of your lip scrub should be well balanced by now. However, just remember to keep your mixture 2 parts sugar to 1 part petroleum jelly. Add the sugar bit by bit if you think your mixture has too much jelly.

9) Scoop all of your mixture into your container. Smoothen it out using the back of your teaspoon.

10) Leave it in the fridge overnight, and voila! You have your very own lip scrub. I must warn you that the smell is extremely tempting, so remember that it is not edible and must not be eaten at all.

Enjoy your Scrumptious Lip Scrub girls!

Sources
I combined a lip scrub recipes from a few YouTube users: makeupmyworldx and xxnaivivxx

The Makeup Addict is HERE!

2011-09-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for my late arrival. I was busy with work when the girls started this blog. Sorry about that :) But here I am, and I am ready to roll my tricks and tips with all of you makeup and beauty freaks out there.
The name is Lina. Im a PR major. Graduating soon and my dream is to be a professional makeup artist/own a spa/ anything related to beauty and fashion.
My love for cosmetics started about end of last year, so bear in mind that Im still new in the cosmetics world. Thank you to my Youtube gurus, friends and family who have helped me all the way in sharing their tips with me!
As for my part in this blog, I will post mainly on makeup tutorials, beauty reviews, and beauty tips! I don't have an awesome video camera, so if my tutorial videos are not of good quality, I apologize in advance. Just so you know, when I apply makeup, I don't follow specific rules on this and that. You'll get me when I start posting videos later :)

Thank you for visiting our blog! Lets get into this beauty adventure together, and learn from each other. Im open to all suggestions and comments!

XOXO

Lina

Emma: Dance the Raya Flab off!

2011-09-05T04:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun way to sweat out the many days of Raya gorging! Have fun!

Hello gorgeous ladies! Time for an update on my segment! I’ve exhausted my search through the infamous YouTube and came across this routine. Fun fact #1 about me is I’m a HUGE fan of Ms Britney Spears. One of the reasons for this is that she’s a great performer and she always gets to perform some of the best dance routines from well-known choreographers like Wade Robson. JEALOUS much! Anyway, this dance routine is a simplified version of the actual dance routine of the pop princess’s top song ‘(I’m A) Slave for You”. If you all remember the awesomely choreographed dance video, you might also recall some of the parts of the video performed similar to the original one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GHj5rQ6YWc

One of the reasons why I chose to write about this video as my first post is the simplicity of the supposedly intricate original choreography. I don’t know who these people are, but kudos to them for this video! Truth be told, I actually managed to perform this piece as exact as how they did (yeay me!). So, why don’t you give it a shot! It’s very short and simple! Grab you sister or bff to learn it with you and perform together! It’ll be fun! And of course, it is indeed an alternative to staying fit. Once you’ve managed to learn the entire routine, try performing it 4 rounds before taking a short break (2 minutes) and do another set of 4 rounds. It can also help increase your stamina and flexibility. But word of CAUTION: please stretch your body muscles before performing J

This video also highlights the phrase “everybody can dance”. To perform this routine, you don’t necessary have to be trained in ballet, gymnastics, or hip hop, or any other classes. Better yet, you don’t need any training of any sorts to perform this dance. I remember the many moments I had in which I almost gave up dancing or performing for the fun of it. I was so sad with myself not having any professional training ever that it made me feel very inferior towards those people who did. But then again, looking back, I remember pulling off some of the craziest dance moves that I thought I could never do! As time went by, I took on the rather positive perspective: Don’t bother about what other people say or think about you. You’re unique in your own way.

Below is the video of Ms Spears herself performing (I’m A) Slave for You. This is one of the Best (capital B, mind you) performances to this song she ever performed. The choreography in this video has a slightly faster pace. But, fret not! When the whole routine becomes automatic to you, add your own spice, flavour, and style to it. Then, you too can gradually increase the pace to match hers.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MIXb3b16Oc

Key to performing any Britney routine: Hair, Hips, and Lips J

Aiysha: Cornflake cookies! remember Raya is for a month ;)

2011-09-05T03:57:00.000-07:00

Hi! I finally found the time to start on my first actual blog entry! This is suitable for those of you who are not used to baking yet. It’s uncomplicated and tasty too! I dunno why I never tried to do it sooner. In the spirit of Hari Raya, I asked my grandmother to teach me how to make her cornflakes treat. I’m not sure what the actual name is but I always referred to it as ‘kuih cornflake’. It’s all crispy and golden-y and definitely buttery. So for those of you who are a bit health conscious, this treat is definitely NOT for you! It might offend you with the amount of butter it contains.

Things I needed for this recipe is:

A box of cornflakes (a big one if you’re greedy like me)

A block of butter

Icing sugar

Honey

Paper cups to put it in

Pot or pan

The first thing that needed to be done was to melt the butter over a stove.

When it was all fully melted, I added some icing sugar and honey. It’s up to you how much you wanna put it. My mom likes to complain that there’s too much sugar in WHATEVER I bake so I’ve already trained myself to reduce it whenever I can L.

Although I guess I could drizzle some honey a little bit later… hmm…

Anyway! What you should wait for is to let all the sugar and honey dissolve and you’ll get this liquid-y buttery, yumminess! I had to stir it constantly to check. Don’t worry if it’s a bit watery. It will harden when it cools down.

Later, just add in the amount of cornflakes you want (I practically used up the whole box. Hehe!) Make sure it coats the flakes. Leave none behind! The stove was turned off the minute the flakes turned all golden-y and shiny. Don’t wanna burn them before placing it in the oven right?

After that, I used a spoon to scoop it up and place it in the paper cups I mentioned earlier. It resembled an itty-bitty mountain when I was done J.

The oven was set to a temperature of 200-250ish Celsius and was baked for around 5 minutes or more. It had to be crispy in the end. The amount I made filled up an entire big container! So you’d have to make adjustments if wanna try and make less (but I dunno why you would make it any less because you’re gonna devour it before the week is over!)

Finally, I’d recommend that you go to your special place where you can sit there and eat your treats for hours. Mine is in front of the T.V.

See! Told you it was easy! Now, I’ll see you next time for my next entry. The next treat I’ll be making are chocolate fridge bars where you don’t even need an oven! Happy Trying and Selamat Hari Raya!

Ad: My Lempeng Adventure

2011-08-26T02:38:00.000-07:00

So last week, I was having this psycho craving for lempeng. Lempeng is basically the Malaysian version of pancakes. It can be eaten sweet or savoury. The most common accompaniment to the lempeng is honey, sugar, curry and sambal (dried chili sauce). I satisfy all my lempeng cravings at Restoran D'Cengkih in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI). I'm telling you, the lempeng there is sooo soft and is salted perfectly. If you're lucky and got it fresh from the pan, it even has that added crisp to it - a bite of heaven I tell you. Plus, the sambal at D'Cengkih is definitely one of the best I've had! Couple the two and you just can't help but ask for more!

Ok so yeah, last week I was craving for those awesome lempengs but how on earth was I supposed to satisfy my cravings then? For those of you who do not know, we are almost at the end of the fasting month, Ramadhan. Thus, last week we were all fasting. Since lempeng is typically served for breakfast, there was no way that D'Cengkih would be making them this month. I was extremely upset and I started wondering if any other restaurants served lempeng. Of course I couldn't think of any restaurants. I was about to give up and try to ignore my cravings when I remembered my dad saying "It's so easy to make" every time I sulked when D'Cengkih ran out of lempengs.

That was when I decided to go on Youtube and see if there were any lempeng tutorials available. To my luck, there were a few, but not many. I had to tweak the recipes a little because they were a little different from what I wanted, but don't worry, this was an easy peasy experiment! So all you have to do to get the recipe is to go to www.youtube.com and type "lempeng" or "Malaysian lempeng" in the search box.

First, let's go over the things you need.

i. 2 cups of wheat flour

ii. 2 eggs

iii. a pinch of salt

iv. 2 cups of water

The measurements are just a rough guide. Basically you just have to mix all the ingredients together and whisk until they are well combined. Here's how I did it:

Step 1: Put the flour in a mixing bowl (or any bowl big enough) and then add the salt. Then, stir for about a minute or until you think the salt has been spread evenly. I added the salt first because I wasn't sure how thick the batter would be after adding in the water and eggs; if it was too thick and sticky then it may be harder to mix the salt evenly.

Step 2: Add in the water to the mixture a little bit at a time while stirring. This makes it easier to stir and helps the mixture combine better.

Step 3: Add in one egg and mix well. After this step, the mixture will thicken slightly. If the batter is still rather watery, then add in another egg. At this stage it is up to you to decide if any more flour needs to be added to the batter. Basically you want your mixture to be thick, but not too thick. Kind of like a well blended juice, but slightly diluted. LOL sorry if this doesn't make sense, but there really isn't any other way to explain it and if it doesn't turn out right, well try it again another time. You just have to use your judgement this time!

After mixing all the ingredients, the batter should look something like this:

Ok so now you're ready to fry it! It's better to use a non-stick wok or pan, but if you don't have one, just added more oil. Ok so pour in about a table spoon or so of cooking oil into the wok. Use a spatula to spread the oil over the wok so that it covers a larger area. By the way, put the stove on medium heat. Now take a spoon or ladle and pour some of the better onto the wok. It will look something like this:

Now you have to act quickly. Use the spatula to spread the batter out. When you pour the batter into the wok, most of batter will form a pool in the middle. Because we want the lempeng to be rather thin and light, we have to spread the batter out and make it cover a wider area of the wok. Once it has cooked and is no longer runny, either add more batter to the wok and repeat the process (if you think it isn't big enough) or flip it on the other side. But remember, you must not move the batter at all while it is cooking or it will affect the texture of the lempeng and it might tear.

Once it is cooked, it will look something like this:

Now flipping the lempeng is a little tricky, especially because it's so slippery lol. But don't panic, just try it again and again, very gently, until you manage to do it. It's ok if it does not flip over completely, just make sure you correct it so that the lempeng doesn't fold or overlap. Basically you wait for the other side to cook as well, and flip it over a few more times and you're done when the lempeng turns to a slight golden brown.

Once it's done, fold the lempeng into half and remove it from the wok, onto a plate. The reason for folding it in half BEFORE shifting it to a plate is so that it doesn't tear. It should look like this when it's done:

As you can see, there are some visible tears on my lempeng. That happened when I moved the lempeng from the wok to the plate without folding it in half first. The lempeng is very thin so it tears easily. So remember, don't make the same mistake that I did! Fold your lempeng first! So you keep repeating the steps until you finish all your batter. I folded my lempeng to a quarter of its original size. I did this because that's how D'Cengkih serves them and also because I think it looks more presentable that way. In the end this was how my end result looked like:

I was really happy with how they looked but I had to wait til Maghrib (the time for the sunset prayer) when it's time to break fast to try it. When finally it was time to break fast, I was soo excited! I had it with sardines but I really wished I had it with either sambal or curry. But oh well, it was nice but I didn't put in enough salt. I could never tell how much 'a pinch of salt' is anyway. I prefer it to be slightly thinner too, but I have to say that it was a good attempt for a first timer! So what are you waiting for? Give it a try!

Have a great lempeng adventure! ;)

Far: first hijab tutorial! Turban style

2011-08-17T03:54:00.000-07:00

Salam all!

seeing that this Raya is looming towards us, its better to get ready now before its too late!
here, I would like to share with you a very simple way to wear your scarf with this Raya season's hot kaftans. Bejewelled kaftans are in girls! and be ready to flaunt them!

ps: Though this is a great way to show off neck and chest details, it is not really covering our aurah as our chest and neck should be covered, however this is great for beginners who are just getting used to the hijab and it is also suitable to wear around our muhrim and girls :)

FIRST STEP!

make sure you have equal length of scarf in both sides, tie a knot to secure it.

Then, swing one side over your head, imagine criss crossing both sides as you do the other side of the scarf.

Do the other side (remember: crisscross!)

Then scrunch up the ends behind, and neatly fold it in.

It will look something like this:

And your done! to jazz it up, pick a brooch, and secure it anywhere you like! This beautiful number is one of miss Haneesa's gorgeous designs!

Hope you girls enjoyed my very first tutorial!

Another Awesome Girl and Writer!

2011-08-17T03:28:00.000-07:00

Hey you! Yes YOU dear reader! I'm glad you've stumbled upon my section of this blog! I'm Adlina, or better known as Ad. I think the best word to describe me is unpredictable. Sometimes I'm all crazy and loud, and then suddenly I'm all quiet and zoned out and so on. Oh and I'm also an Accounting major (let's see if you can guess what contributed to my craziness :P). I love love love writing and experimenting in the kitchen! My section is mostly dedicated to food and cooking..or well, learning to cook. Frying eggs were the only cooking skills that I used to have (for a very long part of my life). Now..well I can boil eggs too! Kidding, kidding hahah. I'm honestly not great at cooking, but I can't help but love playing around with all the different elements involved in it. I love just throwing in different spices and ingredients and then finding out how the dish will look and taste. Of course this whole experimenting thing is fun; however, it can also be frustrating and messy (like super duper messy). It may not be everyone's cup of tea. In my opinion, if you don't have the passion for it, then you most probably won't have the patience for it. I love all kinds of food, so can you just imagine the whole world of possibilities that I have on my hands? From pasta, steaks and quesadillas to mee bandung, dim sum and nasi biryani. You name it! My section also includes food reviews. Dining out is always on the agenda for me and my family; we're always on the hunt for delicious, drool-worthy, omg-it's-so-nice-I-want-to-sew-my-ass-shut (yes, I got this from How I Met Your Mother) food. So tag along as I go on my gastronomic adventures. My experiments don't always turn out right, but at least you will know what to avoid right? ;)

Here are just some of my experiments!

Custard Pudding

Cheesy Beef Lasgna

Mini Cupcakes (baked these with Haneesa, couldn't have done this without her!)

Cupcakes (again, epic failure)

Donashi! (tried to copy Big Apple Donuts')

Lempeng (Malaysia pancakes)

lol. yes, we are still introducing the Girls

2011-08-16T05:57:00.000-07:00

Emma

Hi there! I go by the name Emma. Yes, I’m a student of a local private university here in Malaysia. My segment in this awesome blog of ours is related to dance or fitness. Here are a few things you need to know about me:

I’m not a fitness expert nor am I a ‘dancer’. I’m just a normal girl with an interest in dancing since the day I learned how to walk. Yes, I’ve danced and performed for school, college, and university events, but I am not an expert. I don’t have professional training nor do I take dance classes regularly. But that doesn’t mean that I have Never went for dance classes :). As for the fitness part, I am not the one with the best body shape in the world, but I really want to share information or tips in fitness, the simplest work out to a bunch of drinks or food for all of you to savour through consumption.
I’m still young. 22, to be exact. They say that age is just a number, isn’t it? Anyway, my point is, being at this age, doesn’t make me that knowledgable in fitness. So much so that I don’t guarantee that every post will cater to everyone of both sexes and of all ages. For every post, I will definitely write my review and will try my very best to identify groups of people who could benefit most. But you can still read, watch, or experiment them yourselves nevertheless.
I’ll try to eliminate potential biases. Since I love dance so much, I tend to have biases towards certain dance genres, choreographers, or anything at all pertaining to the routine. So, I will try to post routines that can be beneficial to a larger population despite them either choreographed by those I’m not a fan of, or of dance genres that I don’t really like. My favourite dance show is of course So You Think You Can Dance. The only season that I managed to watch every episode of every week (both performance and results shows) is Season 7 (I happen to be a big fan of Billy Bell, Kent Boyd, Lauren Froderman). However, I did watch a lot of the performances from other seasons with the likes of Travis Wall, Katee Shean, Twitch, and a whole lot of them. Other than SYTYCD, I enjoy watching Got to Dance UK (Ashley Banjo *melts*). I used to watch Live to Dance and America’s Best Dance Crew too.
I study human behaviour. A bit off topic, but an essential ‘about me’ information. As side interest, I like listening to people’s story about their life. From what they did during the day, what happened at work, which boy won a girl’s heart, which woman managed to impress a man with her charm, whose pet went to see the vet for the first time, and the list goes on. I’d like to go into the helping profession, therefore listening and empathy skills are the fundamental elements of self that I need to develop. So, should you need to talk to anyone about anything at all, you are welcome to talk to me. If you need some points or opinions regarding anything at all, I am here to help. With that, you can help me sharpen my skills too. Helping is indeed a beneficial act, isn’t it?

There you go :). Just a quick reminder: I’m not an expert in anything. Well, perhaps in retail therapy and laugh therapy, and with a hunch of interest in dance. Hope you’ll find my segment as educational as much as you find it entertaining. *wink*

We're still Introducing the girls.. :)

2011-08-16T05:50:00.000-07:00

Farhana
Hi! I'm Far! I am a newbie hijabi, trying and sharing with you guys different hijab styles, fashion tips for different body types while keeping modest:) I'm a teacher juggling studies (English Literature and History), responsibilities, fun n my outfits;) I hope through my posts and this blog, I get to inspire people that the hijab is not intimidating, it can be creative, fun and pretty while at the same time achieving its goal as a symbol of modesty and piety.

2011-08-16T05:37:00.000-07:00

Haneesa Z.

Speciality in Arts and Crafts

What started out as a simple interest in paper mache volcanoes turned into a love for all forms of crafty projects; From card-making to crochet, arts and crafts has always tickled my fancy and my interest just keeps growing year after year. There’s always a new project I want to try out! Whether I’ve seen it from YouTube or simply a gentle inspiration from Mother Nature, my yearning is always met as I am allowed a spectrum of craft supplies around KL, all because of the rise of interest in DIY projects.

In this blog, my collection of button pins will be showcased through the other demonstrations, namely the Hijab Tutorial section.. So keep an eye out! Drop an email or comment if you see something nice, unique, or something you simply must, must have! Who knows? You might be the delighted owner of these handmade treasures one day ;)

Introducing the Girls!

2011-08-16T05:19:00.000-07:00

Hi there! let's get to know each other. We here at The Awesome Project are all vivacious, intellegent girls who like nothing more than fun and working hard to fulfil our dreams. scroll down to meet us!

Aiysha

Hi! My name is Aiysha. I'm in my 2nd year of degree and I LOVE to bake! Since my grandmother passed away I'm even more determined to perfecting my baking skills since she was my biggest fan. I'd like to turn this into a business someday. I've already even started a bit with the help of my family and friends. I hope you will join me in my baking adventures where we will learn together! See you soon :)

Here are just some of the delicious treats I have done in this pass year:

Vanilla Macarons

Apple Pie

Chocolate Cupcakes

Scones

Red Velvet with Pink Rosette Icing

Vanilla Cupcakes

flowerpot with Salted Caramel Cupcakes and Banana Split Cupcake

Red Velvet with Mascarpone (My best seller!)

What would you like to see in the next DIY section?


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