lunch at darling harbour

I often hear people complain about my uni's lack of ~real~ campus. Never understood them. Who really cares about campus coherence when I can medicate myself with retail therapy and cheap Asian food? Today, however I realised another lovely thing.





Can't believe it took me so long to lunch at Darling Harbour. Okay, so it was only a $3 banh mi, and I couldn't be bothered further than the Chinese gardens, but hey ignoring the occasional sounds of traffic it was still a pretty lovely view with the lovely sounds of the water feature going, and it was a pretty tasty banh mi! There were even birds to keep me company.

Oh, the sweet smell of freedom. I may not be quite there yet, but damn I am trying as hard as I can to help myself get there as painless and fast as possible.

This isn't procrastinating...

This is showing you my assignment. If you're able to talk about something that means you know it inside out, right? Well, that's what I'm going to go with. A warm up since I'm writing a critical analysis essay of it tomorrow. FUN.



Now picture this, all recording sound booths are booked solid given all first year Communications students need them for this assignment, and we get stuck with the broken booth. Greeeat.



We didn't actually see the sign at first since the door was open against the wall, hiding the sign, and we were trying to work out why we couldn't hear sound even though it was recording when we were testing. I suggested a google-fu, and BAM! We were the ones eating cake (proof coming soon!). ~Skillz~

Anyway, this is what it looked like.





Aaaaaand Action!



Churning out them sweet beats.



Hahaha not! :P

Biiig thanks to D for helping us out with the sound recording! It was a radio play with three characters, and a thank you to my group partner who will probably never see this, but I owe him a thank you for putting up with my stupidity :P

chhh chhh chhh chip-cake?

At the moment, I feel more like I have hayfever than a cold, but whatever that's not really important. What's important?

1. Country Road are apparently bringing back their super popular OTK suede boots in April! Now to attempt to save $300 before then... with no real job. To quote D, "GG".
2. Okay, so there's no number two. There probably was a number two, but I got distracted.
3. New quest this year? To find where I can buy matcha powder in Sydney! I did a google-fu that *gasp* failed! The places in which I'll be exploring (or sending my minions ie. my wonderful parents — don't tell them I called them minions!) are Hurstville and Chinatown 'coz c'monnnnn! (This was probably meant to be number two...)

Today was spent playing around with video cameras at uni, as we're preparing for our assessment where we create a video interview with someone. Wish I had some of our footage as it was hilarious!

For my parents today was spent waiting for our long awaited guests who have again been delayed. They're coming now on Friday. What this means is that there's a huge Japanese style soft cheesecake waiting to be eaten now! And more baking plans for tomorrow! Here's some of the adventures from last night...

I greedily made a double batch, so first out came a dozen in cupcake form, which unfortunately sunk...



Only eleven pictured as my bro snagged one straight away!



A sad, sunken, close-up. I've read bloggers comments that have said it's best to leave it to sit in the oven after it's finished baking with the heat turned off, but as I baked these and the cake at the same time and the cake needed longer, it was an option...



Woe is me!! T^T



The cake!

Whilst this was going on, my brother was experimenting with homemade potato chips.



Here he is arranging them.



Here he is attempting to hide...



He tried the microwave...



The fanforced oven...



The deep fryer... Oh, the perks of being a restaurant baby!

And the results?



Ta da! Okay, a little disappointed? That's because we kept eating the results progressively. I'm a fan of the oven ones, personally. My brother was insistent with the microwave ones, but they were difficult in my opinion. Disappointed because you didn't get to see any fail?



Here you go! Potato chips cooked to perfection, but welded on to baking paper. Good job, microwave man.

glass cookies tower

Today instead of my planned forage into the art of making chocolate mousse, and perfecting Japanese soft cheesecake, I took a detour into the world of construction.

Towers are wonderful things. Despite my initial impressions of my uni (I recall on my Orientation two years ago that I found it reminiscent of a car park...), I now find myself defending its (deliciously) ugly architectural exterior as a matter of patriotism(?) and pride. We're currently in the process of expanding our campus and there have been many design applications for the new buildings, so here is my little contribution...



Sugared Walnut Cookie Tower

The foundations of this cookie tower remind me strongly of these wonderful boots I came across today.



Glass Wedge Heels by Queens Wardrobe

I imagine these as a gorgeous twist on Cinderella's glass slippers, only less delicate, more modern and edgy. If only I had the money for these beauties. They're leather and handmade to order! New crush? I think yes, despite what my brother says about them looking like ice skates, and jokingly suggesting I could keep fish in them à la The Simpsons.



Sprinkle Cookie Tower

Not only am I attempting to master cookies as a form in general, but I'm also (not-so-)secretly trying to find/recreate this wonderful sugar cookie recipe from preschool. I don't think they ever gave us a copy of the recipe, and nor do I remember it, being a preschooler and all, but what I do remember is that they were perfect! Buttery, sugary, and easy enough for preschoolers to handle. My favourite part was cutting them into shapes and smothering them in sprinkles (note: hundreds and thousands are not sprinkles!). They smelt so good in the oven and well, in general. We'd only get a few to take home to share as there were quite a few of us at the preschool, but I remember treasuring the them. Summing up: they were sooooooo good!



Chocolate Chip Cookies — guest starring chunks of Snickers, Toblerone and Lindt Dark Chocolate — Tower

Smaller in size than last time, as even though my brother thinks bigger is better, he soon discovered I was right (mini is cuter and cuter is better!) when we struggled to pack some of the last batch into his lunch box... I made about 50, I think, so the boy will be happy with his portion.

See the heart? Yeah, that's a little hint. I'm preparing a post full of Valentines ideas, although I'm no means an expert as this is technically my first 'real' one. Never thought I'd be an advocate...