A bit of Dim Sum Cookery

So I saw this event that was happening at this Ming Ai Institute based up in North London's Bounds Green; 1hour mission for me from the other end of London.... But I was quite surprised that it's quite a place. Not only they have classes of computing, languages and arts, perfect for those willing to learn. There was even quite a big kitchen for cookery classes, which is what I decided to attend!!

So we were being taught how to make 3 appetiser/dumping things, Sui Mai, Dumplings and Spring Rolls (originally was going to be tofu rolls but they ran out of tofu skin -.-")

I was actually not surprised in knowing quite a few of the people who attended the event, I knew 3other people excluding my friends I already knew who were coming! The organiser knew me from a past Chinese event.... I didn't remember, as it was in a bar, dark loud music & happy hour = me getting a bit merry.

Over to the cooking, i was quite surprised there was quite a big turn out; the organiser said I got lucky being the last one selected for the event (yay me!) also admired my passion for cooking ^.^

1st up was the sui mai made out of prawns and chicken, which was interesting as usually it's with pork; I think we were even the loudest table as we kept joking about whilst attempting to chop the meats, Alan blamed the blunt knife & wanted the pro chef's cleaver! (health and safety!) When Kuan was mixing the filling together was quite funny as he used both hands in a small bowl. Looked like he was more like massaging the filling! We ended up making some pretty big sui mai dumplings, tasted pretty good but lacked shitake mushrooms for that extra something!

Next up was dumpling.... I already know how to make this.... but one thing was good was seeing the head Chef show how to roll out the individual skins which I felt was a very handy tip, saving keeping the centre a bit thicker so the filling doesn't split, I even taught someone how to wrap the dumpling a bit neater (yay pro me! ^.^ )

Last was Spring rolls quite easy, I always felt it was difficult to wrap it, but its because I usually do Vietnamese summer rolls and over load the filling (-.-")

Overall I enjoyed this class had good company & good food; though I already knew how to make 2/3 of the dishes - next I want to know how to make Chinese desserts!!!!

Designer X High Street Collaboration

It's seriously crazy! Online Lanvin X H&M was sold out @ 10am! in stores, people were Queuing since 10pm last night to get their mitts on it. A friend's colllegue spent £600 on the stuff..... Sucks for me working East, envious of those who work in Central >.< I would of joined the crazy crowd!

What's going to be even crazier is Saturday's Release; Valentino X Gap. Only a few stores are selling it, Milan, DSM and only London's Flagship store on Ox Street with only 4000 units which is pretty much nothing.

I will admit the capsule collection looks quite interesting, femine with an urban twist.... I would join this crazy crowd, but I'm goin to a Dim Sum making class instead! HAAHHHAAA

The Humour of Work

Usually the office needs to be serious and kept professional; but days there has to be jokes, Hayley our office jnr/ Fit model saying very niave & blonde comments to lighten up the mood, and the occasional swearing and threats to factories; pretty normal. I would say the foul language has been influeced by my boss who constantly F*s and Jeff at the factories pretty often.

One of the designers cracked me up with an e-mail for one of our Merchandisers in China to keep an eye on one of the factories we're working with; to stand over the workers with a big stick until they get the sampling correct, So I decided to share this fun pic!

Make your own Shoes!!

As I was reading this week's Stylist Magazine, I stumbled across this interesting article of making your own bespoke shoes for £180!

It's quite an interesting online website, DIY your own heels in colour style & details! Something very fun to play with ^.^

 www.upperstreet.com

Fashionista Doggy

Oh my god I've just seen this blog about the Fashionista Dog called Butters

Pretty cute dog, pretty luck too access all areas to many fashion events!

http://buttersthefashiondog.blogspot.com

Something fishy

Ok from the sound of the title I've given this post may sound very bizarre, but I decided to try out this new beauty treatment that's become the latest trend; the fish pedicure!

I first read about it in an article in the newspaper and I actually saw the tanks in a demo over in Selfridges a few months ago. I then saw the offer on livingsocial so I thought why not give it a try!

So over to Camden I went. As I was looking around in the Camden Lock Market for the unit, I finally found it and outside it was a small crowd of people fascinated by the tanks of small fish! Well in I went in popped my feet in the tank and the school of fish just came at my feet!

These fish in the wild usually are used as a cleaning station for larger fish in the wild eating the dead skin. In the wild I found out that these fish can grow up to 10cm!

The sensation felt very weird at first but was quite a nice comforting sensation. After 30min of my session feet out and they felt pretty soft! Overall I felt 30min was a good session but I did get a bit bored with nothing to do apart from watching the fish do their work! hehe!

But I think a proper pedicure is better, the Fish Pedi I think is more a novelty, compared to a proper pedicure feet done, nails filed & painted at the nail Salon

Measuring things

Whoops, busy me has been pretty busy as per usual doing something...... Really should invest in a smartphone however finding the one I like is more of the challenge

So, I've been driven absolute bonkers this month by one of the customers in Canada we've taken at work, they work in inches only..... this is the 21st Century now, surely people have moved on from Imperial measurments!!

I will admit I do use inches and cm for things but all things like the measurments I do for garments, it's pretty ridiculous! check the example I had to deal with:-

One big ass headache for me, especially when I had to get it converted to cms for the Graded spec >.<" (graded spec is a technical term for creating patterns in the full size range i.e size 8-14)

The biggest throw offs for this were some crazy inch measurments like 34 13/16.... I'm like what the hell?!

To be honest measuring in cm for garments are way more accurate! Only time I do inches are for things like inner legs of trousers, body measurements and height of heels

When I struggled measuring the production samples and looking at their spec.... to many numbers, as we had measurments of both inches and cm. I'm just hoping the customers aren't going to reject our production samples

It's coming...

The press Look book & promo vid for Lanvin X H&M comes to us in a few weeks! I must say, it's very pretty girly stuff