What's all the excitement about? Bah! humbug..

Some choose to believe; the beginning of a new year marks a fresh start... with promises of brighter days and bigger dreams. I used to share the same belief; it is this first year of 2010 that I've thought otherwise. Of course it is good to have resolutions and a time for reflection... but my whirlwind of incidents and experiences of 2009 does not come to an end; just because the calendar flips an unfamiliar number or two.
365 days later; I'm still struggling with the same worries and similar daily routines adding up to the day I succeed to overcome them.
There will definitely be days better than the others... and there will also be days where I wish never existed. The significance of celebrating them at the end of each year is just silly. I want to be able to learn to celebrate each day as it comes.

I'm sure it's a closing of a chapter we like to remember as "2009" but what's with the ridiculous haul of traffic, expensive sparkles in the sky and reluctance to work. *ducks for cover*- in anticipation of flying punches from all sides. :P LOL

I'm sorry "Happy New Year-ers"; forgive my negativity; I have a problem wrapping my head around what the commotion is about. Sulky-Su didn't get a celebration this year; just like last year; she's making a cake... but this year; she's making it alone in quiet space with echoing sounds of cheer and fireworks out the window. All she can think of is... "damn; I'm tired...can't it just be morning already!"
I'll be waking up tomorrow morning feeling exactly the way I did this morning; all resolutions or promises I should be making to myself for self betterment isn't going to be done tonight but shall be done impromptu where appropriate.....
i don't need new years day to signify turning points in my life. ... :S
....... ....
...... oh no...what am i saying?!
Why IN THE WORLD am I being so negative!
We aren't celebrating closure or turning points; we are celebrating opportunities. :(
I take it back.
Happy New Year everyone! HAPPY NEW YEAR because we are WELCOMING a new and better year filled with luck; love and joyous moments ahead!


.... sorry it took me a couple of full paragraphs before i latched my head back on straight.
I blame my brain. It's overworked, exhausted and thinking ridiculous thoughts.. *tsk tsk* shame on me.

My Grown up Christmas List

I've never made a Christmas list. I'm one of those flexible gift receivers! haha. I love the surprise! Gifts should be filled with thought; wrapped with love and a presented with a magical moment of surprise! I like hiding my presents and doing the classic ‘TADAH!’ to the unsuspecting.

Now that I have a shop filled to the brim with baked goodies and decorated cakes; it’s hard to amuse people with such gifts from me anymore; it’s easy to assume how I have the convenient luxury of picking a couple items off the shelves.

I’m not the best at memorizing carol lyrics, I don’t remember much from the one Christmas morning I spent at church a long time ago and all I gather is everyone around the world of any culture celebrate this Christian holiday! Being brought up Buddhist; dad bought sis and I a fun character booklet bible for kids so we could learn more about other religions. I remember reading the many inspiring stories and having fun with the adorable sheep cartoons.

So how have I been warming up to the season? well...

• We’ve been full force at production closing into Christmas week.

• Last weekend I sang Christmas carols and had a yule log with a truly warm and fun crowd of food lovers from a myriad of different cultures and religions. Just an afternoon of wholesome good fun!
  

• On the eve of Christmas; I was presented thoughtful presents and holiday hugs at an impromptu lunch celebration at one of our regular Malaysian haunts.

• I exchanged gifts with those I had the opportunity to…and am still making a good effort shopping for loved ones I had not found the perfect gift for yet. I rarely have the time to shop; but now I've got a good reason to!

I’m not going to attempt to explain or describe Christmas as something I am well versed with; but what I do know is; it is the time of year when everyone is filled with well wishes, hugs, love, forgiveness and a silly holiday smile plastered on!

I suppose, commercialization of the whole religious holiday was a good thing after all! *teehee.

Christmas isn’t over yet though… I continue to hunt for xmas pressies; and snowmen cupcakes are still being asked for in our store. I guess this is a brief brief breather we’re getting before the New Years wave hits us in less than a week!

HAPPY HOLIDAY EVERYONE! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!

Just in case you’d like to get Su a pressie too;… here’s my grown up Christmas list *wink

......

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself, but for a world in need

No more lives torn apart

That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?

Maybe only in that blind belief can we ever find the truth

......

Raindrops on Roses.

A person dear to me once said; Life is a never ending pursuit for happiness. Do you believe it? I do. Being human comes with a natural sense of greed for more than you have or deserve.

Many a time; when I was stubborn; he would then say; You can’t always have what you want, you have to do what’s right. I hate how he’s often right too. It’s the larger dreams and happiness, which we pursue, forgetting the sparks of happiness that fill our lives everyday.

I had a conversation with someone who fully understands and accepts balance and equality in each person’s life; and I was taken aback. It isn’t about the many material things we have; it isn’t fame or fortune, it isn’t power or love either… happiness is in acceptance. It shouldn't be about the prada or the chanel? or the make up or dress size.. but unfortunately for us in this society; it is about all that.

In freeing yourself from this natural greed we have to have more, to be better or to exceed others; only then can we truly appreciate the things that make us happy. He listened to my rants and taught me humility through his perspective of happiness.

I’m the type to constantly jump ahead of myself to be the best that I can be; I believe in continuous improvement; of growth and achievement. I wondered; how someone like me was going to find balance and acceptance! Haha. I’m a pretty ordinary person; I don’t stand out in crowds but what I am, is competitive… not for the crave of praise but purely for the thrill of challenge. It’s when it’s for other motives or purposes is when I find myself falling short of driving myself forward.

I’m just a kid; I may not listen well, and I may not be obedient in any way; but I crave the need to free myself to be everything that I naturally am. It’s wise friends who understand and kind beings who stop me in my tracks just as I’m about to do something ridiculously stupid. Then again; what’s stupid to them; may not be to me…and that’s what makes life so interesting. It’s a these choices that I make which have made me everything that I am today; but not for a second have a regretted any of them. They could be bizarre or disrespectful or even wrong in general; but remember that balance? I’ve made good choices too no? No one likes to be judged and no one likes to be labeled a ‘goody-two-shoes’ or a ‘bad-boy’. Either way; I’d take it as an insult. We are all equal and we are all special from our differences.

I’ve had people tell me my cakes are ugly. What do I say to that? I’m not going to say what I do is every person’s cup of tea; neither to I try to disprove their judgement. I wouldn’t doubt how hurtful it is; but I then have to learn to accept that every person is different and that I will not win the heart of every person on this planet.

I woke up this morning finding more happiness than I could handle. I almost had to calm myself from laughing excessively. Despite the worries which hover my life and the unhappiness I could foresee before me; I was going to enjoy myself with these little things right here.. right now.

The world would be much kinder if people can just stop pushing their believes on others. If everyone can stop manipulating ‘society’ for their benefit, power or confidence. It’s not going to make you any happier; you're not going to find what you need; you’ve got to start from within.

There's a ringing in my head.

It's the joyous tunes of christmas cheer. .... thrilling? Haha
I have a love-hate relationship with these tunes. *gARGhhH!

From parking lots, basements, food chains, retail outlets to even toilets play familiar holiday tunes! *sigh* Unlucky-ly for Su; she can't help but to bob her head and sing along to each line she finds melodiously addictive! *gasp* I've been a walking musical greeting card all month now! Embarrassing... it's beyond control! hehehe
I hadn't found it difficult coming up with our christmas inspired goodies in the store considering the excessive holiday vibe from everywhere! hehe.
I'll post a link up; do click to get more details like prices and content.

LINK!

Our onshelf items have also be spruced up! so.. yay! come see come see!

Are smurfs like elves?

Su's been finally free-ing some time to be herself again.
Unfortunately; that meant it was going to mean sacrificing blogging hours; organizing photos, photographing cakes and answering emails. It's a trade off I've recently took to get my life back on track; i still rush to my pc, log on and watch my fingers fly each time I'm inspired to write; but most of the time... little interruptions from work in between hours makes it hard for me to finish up; or pick up from where I left off! :(
I've moved from a recipe blog to a baking one...to then travels and a documentation of my business set up... it has definitely evolved with me and all that I've become; which in essence is the title over the top. It's my Journal. about... my life?In the past month; much has happened... and I can fully justify my online absence! *giggle* I was in Europe for a brief hop; I came up with our 2009 Xmas pre-order goodies and have been photographing them. I guess everyone will get to see them on our December Delectable newsletter. I'll post one up here when I'm done.
The cakes and orders have been consistently increasing; and of course working on bettering my+our-selves is what I strive to do everyday. I personally have definitely improved in terms of professionalism, speed and efficiency technically with my sugar work.
Mom and dad always seem to come up with brilliant new suggestions to better our working space to make the best out of our products. I'm sure Aida can relate to her bosses need to 'better'-things every second of the day! haha; she's a gem, I love her so!
There are a unusually large number of sticky situations that we encounter at the store nearing the holiday busy periods... and this really is just the beginning of it. It's going to be our first end-of-year for my 2009 team of elves and the schedule has gotten us crossing our fingers and shaking in the knees!
We're still looking for more and more elves everyone! Non-baker elves preferably! just passionate, lively and fun ones who want nothing more than to be around dessert loving customers all day!

Hmm... are smurfs similar to elves?
....blue little people. hee...





.... these were fun to make. They brought back many fond memories of watching TV after school. *sings a happy smurf tune*

Listening to those who love us.

For these initial months that Delectable has opened it's doors to cake and dessert lovers, I've been getting an increasing number of requests and suggestions to add favourite things of many onto our shelves! From orange poppy seed cakes, to strudels, popcorn, puddings and even a fondue fountain. I try my best to accommodate all we can in terms of our production and available oven space; but even when I do deem them not possible in this point in time, I've got em' stowed away safely for bigger and better days when I am confident to do us proud with these new additions to our store items.
I just want to make sure what we bring out really is a solid product backed up with deliciously unbeatable recipes and inspiring new twists!
These 3 brand new babies have been harped on since the very first weeks!
It took me much thought and many attempts at several different techniques; but I'm pretty sure I finally found a winner!
Souffle style cheesecakes are pretty common here in Malaysia but I wanted to come up with something in miniature sizes packed with flavourful and rich cheesey goodness instead!
Indeed these havn't exactly got a layer of 'cake' within its decadent layers; but It's a cheesecake alright! A Delectable one for sure! :P
Definitely a lovely addition to our chiller shelves to satisfy those cravings for a fruity yet creamy cheesecake dessert. The cookie crusts at the bottom are thick and yummy! Perfect for buttery crust lovers like me!
They come in 3 flavour options which are sure to have you coming back for more.

Lulu's Strawberry cheesecake
A good choice for berry lovers and those who love classic tangy fruits atop their cheesecake. Adorable, pretty and very much delicious! Girls would go Ga-ga for this little baby!

Teddy's Caramel & Banana cheesecake
Just a little touch of caramel makes the creamy bits of cheese so irresistible! Layered in between thick chunky slices of fresh banana! OH! how can you possibly say no!


Jo's Lime & Coconut cheesecake
Freshly made lime curd hides beneath this mountainous swirl of cheese topped with lovely shreds of coconut-y crisps! Perfect for those who love a touch of sour punch to their desserts. And how cute is that little white chocolate lime button over the top!? hehe; this one's my favourite *wink*


They've been moving so quickly off the shelves each time we put em out! I hope it'd give our best selling 7 sins of Chocolate dessert a run for the top spot in the coming months! *grin*

If life's race were on a treadmill

...and your best friends and family ran by your side.
You could pace yourself with a push of a couple buttons and you know exactly where you were headed;... how.... when and how you would feel by merely reading the blinking red LEDs right in front of you.
If you needed to know how your heart was feeling; touch the metal bars and an exact number gauges for you to need to push harder or take a breather.
It would definitely keep life steady with precision; but oh so boring it would be! *laughs*
Why this sudden thought about treadmills you ask?
Well.. i've been on the little hamster track for humans lots the past couple of weeks. I've gotten way out of shape in the last year and have probably neglected my health and fitness more than I should as a girl in her early 20's. This is when I should be looking my best no? *sigh* I thought to myself; if this is my 'best' i better be fixing it up a little while i still can!
I often choose to debate in my head that my working hours and cake lugging job gives me all the exercise I need; but it isn't long before I admit to myself that it's a different form of activity all together. It's taken a while and many low times to bring me back to the realization that priorities; just like life, is ever changing...and I suppose i didn't get the memo to have mine updated the past few years! *tsk tsk*
I hadn't actually made a physical list of the things which should be readjusted; and they've naturally fallen into place after a fair number of harsh lessons I had learnt. Right now; it really should be about me, adventure and a good understanding of strong basics in life. That would mean; physical health, happy relationships with family + friends, opportunities and lots of new exciting explorations! I had misunderstood all that for W.O.R.K. Well... work and career are two words which are often intertwined and incorrectly assumed. I've learnt that in order to achieve your dream career; work is inevitable, but by no means does that equate to : by merely doing the work; a dream career will lay itself on my doorstep. I often have so much to do; it's easy to forget to dream. I dreamt alot. I used to. It fed my passion.
I'll let you in on a funny secret. During my brisk walks and jogs on the treadmill; i'm focused. I've got my favourite music in my ears; i'm running to no where! but my mind is running to bigger things; to bigger dreams and to the many places my passion for life brings me. It's my 'me' time.... i can't say it doesn't get addictive! LOL i'm on that running belt path to no where every single day! *face ->palm*

*image by fifoto.com

Close to a month back (I know...i know..; it took me THIS long >.< ) a pleasant surprise popped up in my Inbox.
The very sweet and renown Amri Rahim from DDB pr. wrote to us about the launch of Noemia; the latest ladies' range by Raymond Weil. It was named after and inspired by the daughter of the brand's CEO, Olivier Berheim. He mentioned how they were wanting to celebrate 6 young ladies who the brand feels are successful in their own fields - exemplary stories of independent spirits that at the same time epitomizes the characters of Noemia.
His email read:

"We are proud to select you as one of the six individuals, a true inspiration to other young ladies out there."

*WEE!!~~ Su gets excited*


The beautifully crafted collection represents beauty, femininity, modesty, independence and the optimistic nature of the modern woman. I was incredibly honoured to be picked as one of the 6!
There was going to be a meet and greet with the CEO himself; a photoshoot, a fun launch night and exciting new people to get acquainted with.
Being amongst these other beautiful young ladies who have excelled in their fields respectively was incredibly humbling and nerve wrecking! *laughs*

The 6 of us were comprised of; talented jazz singer Atilia, fun and bubbly photographer Fiona from FIFOTO, elegant and charming fashion designer Izrin of Innai, movie director Mui of Da Huang pictures, Moana a passionate female pilot and me.

*image by fifoto.com

I had fun. Family; friends and my Delectable girls came with to celebrate! It was definitely a night to remember.

It's UP! It's UP!!

Browse the beautiful new gallery;
Poke about to find out more about what we've been up to;
Subscribe to our newsletter;
Drop us a line;
Pick up some mail-friendly goodies!
It's UP everybody!!

www.delectable.com.my

Kudos to David Wang; and help from my beautiful Delectable elves!
We're going to keep this one on track! right girls?! *giggle*

You won't believe what I did this morning!

FUNNYness!
I had been up all night working on some text and ideas for the coming festive seasons....

Naturally Su eventually dozed off in front of her computer. The sun rose and got her in the eye.
She pounces back up digging right back into editing photos for the website.
It's not a good day.
She makes an attempt to better it. She claws at her phone and begin texting in search of lunch companions. "I need to get out!"
Lunch was in 3 hours. She ran through her morning and afternoon errands and responsibilities; determined to free a couple of hours of fun and frolic. Her phone rings. IT'S BEEN 3 hours already!? Oh no! Aida's waiting and she's hungry!!
Su dashes into the bathroom with the first piece of clothing she finds in her closet. Brushes her teeth whilst wondering if she had remembered todays schedule correctly, what she was going to say at her 2pm appointment, who she was meeting this evening, if all the items for the photoshoot are ready as planned for tonight and why she hadn't changed out of her pyjamas since the morning.
She jumps into the shower and turns the water up. WAIT! CRAP! i still have clothes on!!
*face -> palm* Hahaha

I don't think anything like this has ever happened to me before. In the midst of my thoughts and
multitasking abilities...attempting a shower in full clothing really wasn't ever part of the to-do's. I got just a tiny bit wet; before i realized OH! hey! wait a minute!! *laughs*

In just the past couple of months I've been making sound attempts to self groom and appear professional at work; which meant more minutes wasted blow drying my hair; putting on make up; belting my frocks, wearing socks with my shoes... that sorta thing. Each time I realize it's time to have a shower and get changed; i change into "Hustle"-mode and I suppose I mostly mess up along the way. I get too used to taking less than 15 minutes to get myself outta there!~

I used to think it was unnecessary hassle; that everyone should just look 'natural'; but I now understand how your personal hygiene and proper grooming affects the perception of others towards your maturity and professionalism at work.
Hitting the 24 mark in September had definitely come to me as a nasty big wallop on my eagerness to be youthful forever; but now i've finally learnt to embrace this as a learning curve in the highest point of my 20's.


The days have been getting more and more hectic as I venture in deeper into my business plans with Delectable. Truth be told; I'm almost afraid to look at what's coming straight at me, but if my eye's are shut; they're going to hit me right in the face! haha consequences and responsibilities that come hand in hand with business growth show no mercy. Especially to unsuspecting little lamb-first timers like me. I'm going to be okay.. I know it.
Soldiering on as best I can; as fearless as my heart deems possible... my family in my hands and dear friends on my back, it's solid ground i'm standing on.

My sillyness taught me a very important lesson this morning.

As busy as my professional life may be; I have to find time to focus on doing the little things that make me a complete person. Because at the end of the day; the pursuit of a successful career isn't an entity I can rely on for happiness; my life is.

It's been a full day since;

.. and i still can't help but to tell everyone I meet about this most amazingly fun Indian fairytale wedding I delivered my cake to!
The bride and groom were both of mixed culture backgrounds but both shared Indian roots in common. The beautiful bride had carefully conceptualized her fun elephant themed party with vivid colours and fun ideas! It was just Out of THIS wORLD! *jumps around in excitement*

I walked in almost speechless... not knowing where to begin swooning or prancing about in celebration and joy! From the moment my trusty Delectable delivery car pulled up to the drive way; my eyes were drawn to the incredibly colourful streamers and lanterns adorning this perfectly manicured garden. I literally pounced out of my car (forgetting the cake inside of it) and ran towards the walkway to take a peek from up close. It was like WOW! the festive colours; the traditional touches and the unique mix of flowers.... just every little detail the couple, their planners; and decorators had done was sending me spinning around in circles trying to absorb all of it. Funny thing is.. they hadn't even completed their masterpiece assemblage!! *laughs* they had 2 hours to finish up the decor before the engagement party guests arrived. 4 steps up the oil lamp adorned garden steps; i spot an adorable little elephant friend on my right. Wait a minute; it isn't little! it's huge!!! and Oh mY! It's made of a montage of tiny flowers!!! That just absolutely took the cake!
I was tempted indeed to touch it on the trunk...
....but then i thought about the inconsiderate few who strut into my Delectable store; touching away at the cakes and destroying them with their fingers. I quickly withdrew my itchy fingers.. NO! no touching... too pretty! *smiles*The charming couple were incredibly excited to see what the cake would turn out to look like the day before; and I can see why! The place is picture perfect!
But the girls reassured them to fret not! "You've got Su from Delectable!"
and she's no heartbreaker!~ *wink* haha

After a good oohhh ahh run about the place; I finally found our busy wedding planner who was glad to see I had made it fuss free and on time. I was a little afraid initially my pink, orange, gold and silver cake might be a little out of place with it's vibrant colours.. but when I saw the place; I was convinced... my 2 little elephant masterpieces are going to fit right in! We worked out a quick stand and placed the modest 3 tiered cake in the center of it.


That's when it hit me.
This is outdoors..
There is a pool.....
It had just rained a little drizzle...
My poor baby is going to have to sit here for 5 hours at least... was it going to be okay?!
....
and that's when i saw a little crack begin to form.
GAAAAHHhhh!!!!***
I began freaking out in my mind in silence! >.<
I had to maintain my professionalism and resolve this in calm...
Several sugar pieces from the cake were already beginning to fall off a little and I re-glued them on and prayed they'd stay stubborn for me for just awhile more!
My heart was heavy when I had to finally step away and allow it to stand alone. My job here is done; the wedding planners; decorators and I all begin whispering hopeful "It's going to be okay"-s in our minds. *Sigh*
The cake cutting ceremony was still a ways worth; but i'm sure eventually the deliciousness of it all will blow everyone away! The cake had decadently matching indian themed flavours like ginger; vanilla and coconut buttercream throughout! There was a full tier of just chocolate on chocolate as well! MmmMmm.... yumm-ness!

I'll wait till tomorrow before I give the couple a call to see how it all went. I bet they must be really exhausted today. I'm sure the party was more than a blast!
I told dad on the way out that I might have to marry an Indian man so I can have an Indian wedding just like this one! *giggle*