Asparagus & Crab Linguine

Whether eating in or out, seafood has always been my top choice. There is just something about seafood that I can't get enough of. It's light, delicate and packed with flavors. It also seems like that when the weather gets hotter and my craving grows stronger too. What else can beat a bowl of delicious seafood linguine with nicely chilled Chardonnay on a beautiful summer day?

This time I splurged a little bit on really good pasta from the "fancy" organic grocery store in our neighborhood. Maybe next time I should try to make some fresh pasta from scratch.

I never realized peeling asparagus into thin ribbons can be this hard and time consuming. I wonder if there is any tricks out there that I'm unawared of.

Inspirational Room

pictures are from House&Home September 2011 issue

I fell in love with this beautiful kitchen the first time I saw the picture on the cover of House&Home. It's not only because how open and bright the kitchen is, the killer fireplace oven, interesting herringbone floor, but more importantly......how cool are those awesome brass hardware!

Happy Prints

art print from Tad Carpenter's online store

I came across this cute little print the other day on Apartment Therapy and I have to share with you all. Illustrator Tad Carpenter's works are all cute and happy like something come right out from a happy kid's imaginary world.

Caprese Salad

It's been the most brutal dog days of summer in Toronto I have ever experienced. It's hot and humid to a certain level. I don't know about you, to me venturing outside is like going into a sauna and I feel my whole body start melting a little bit by every step I take. However, I am well understood that how short a summer can be. One minute I am complaining and the next minute I will be whining about cold weather and how much I miss the summer. So I won't complain. Instead I made this refreshing Caprese salad using the freshest ingredients to enjoy this hot summer that I've been craving for.

Brick Works Farmer's Market

It's an understatement to say I feel really bad that it took me a good two years to notice there's a farmers' market in the neighborhood I've been living in for almost two years. First it's only 5 minutes' walk from my apartment and just off the trail I jog sometimes in the summer on which there's huge sign saying "Brick Works". More embarrassingly is that I would probably never find out this place if it's not featured in the Toronto Life.

Be Tough and Be Strong

pictures are taken by Tommy Ton at Paris couture shows

I've been in love with all the soft nude color, flowy and feminine tops and dresses for the past few seasons.  Just like most of women, when something gets too comfortable I want to break the pattern and change it up a little bit. What about add a little bit of attitude playing tough? Step up being strong and tough...why not?

My Weekend

outdoor black&white movie at the harbor front

BBQ by the lake

Last weekend was a really good one as we spent most of our time by the lake. We watched an outdoor b&w movie by the lake on a warm summer night under the stars and we had a BBQ feast by the lake again at the Hanlan's point (aka. the clothing-optional beach part of the Toronto island). We did go checked out the beach after BBQ fully clothed and...... no, there was so much people walking around naked...and no, that is not a disappointment in my tone that you just sensed.

China Part IV - Hong Kong

{Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. This corner is not even the busiest corner in Hong Kong}

{I know there's a vending machine for everything in Asia. But a charity vending machine(4 dollars for a Pantene hair mask or a mystery high-end hair mask)  for Red Cross?!! Hello Canada, why can't we have something like this here?}

China Part III - Sanya ("Hawaii" of Asia)

 {A delicious local beer}

 {Some exotic flower at the ethnic minorities' reserve on the island} 

 {Old fashioned barns} 

 {Ethnic minority's traditional weaving style} 

 {Some ritual?}

 {The tropical jungle on the island}

{Ancient smoker! looks good to me}

China Part II - Heaven Temple, Summer Palace & Traditional Chinese Neighborhood

{Heaven Temple. Love the shade of blue)

 {Summer Palace}

{The Summer Palace is so massive that we got too exhausted to make it to the other side of the palace}

{The canal around the Forbidden City}

 {Traditional Chinese neighborhood}

China Part I - Forbbiden City

 {The most iconic landmark of China - Tian'an Gate of the Forbidden City)

 { A western influenced architecture inside the Forbidden City) 

 So you probably have already guessed that I went somewhere east and foreign for my trip from the picture I posted yesterday. The answer is China! We went from north to south and visited 4 cities in three weeks. Each city are so different from each other landscape wise and culture wise. Our first stop was Beijing, the capital of China. This is my second visit to the city as a tourist, however I am still in awe of all the grand palace buildings, vibrant color palette and extremely exquisite architectural details. Anyways, by looking at these pictures again reminds me that I really need to get myself a new camera :)