Sunday, 31 May 2015

100 Happy Days Challenge - Day 72

I made some Japanese style pickled cucumber, Japanese style pickled cucumber, pickled cucumber, Japanese style pickled cucumber slices, pickled cucumber slices, Japanese style pickled cucumber in a mason jar, pickled cucumber in a mason jar, Japanese style pickled cucumber slices in a mason jar, pickled cucumber slices in a mason jar,100 Happy Days Challenge, Another Random Thought of a Procrastinator, Random Thought, Another Random Thought, Random Thoughts, Another Random Thoughts, Procrastinator

Following one of my Japanese friends' instructions,  I made some Japanese style pickled cucumber.

My dad used to cut cucumber in paper-thin slices when he made salad.  Instead of using a vegetable slicer, dad was the human cucumber slicer in our family.  I tried to cut cucumber in paper-thin slices but some of them were 2 mm thick.

Why didn't I use a vegetable slicer?  Hey, I'm my dad's daughter.  If my dad can do it, I can do it too.  It's in the genes, my friends.  Well, just need to practice doing it more often.

My Japanese friends won't cut cucumber into very thin slices when they pickle the cucumber, though.


My other Happy Moments → 100 Happy Days Challenge 

Why do I want to do 100 Happy Days Challenge?  This is the reason → The International Day of Happiness - 100 Happy Days Challenge


Next blog post:
Canada celebrates Healthy Me Week from June 1 to June 7


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100 Happy Days Challenge - Day 44 (May 3)

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Backdating the Happy Days Challenge I missed.

Loblaws and Independent started to bake T and T Supermarket style "Asian" buns several months ago.  I'm so happy that, on May 3, my mum bought some custard buns for everyone to try.

Inside look of T and T custard bun bought at Independent, T and T custard bun bought at Independent, T and T bread, T and T bun, Asian style bread, Asian style bun, T and T custard bun, custard bun, Independent, Independent Supermarket, Your Independent Grocer, 100 Happy Days Challenge, Another Random Thought of a Procrastinator, Random Thought, Another Random Thought, Random Thoughts, Another Random Thoughts, Procrastinator

Well, if you like "Asian" bread, you need to go to Toronto or Vancouver.  Hong Kong style bakeries, Korean style bakeries and Japanese style bakeries have better "Asian" bread.


100 Happy Days Challenge - Day 43 (May 2)

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Backdating the Happy Days Challenge I missed.  On May 2, finally, I bought a box of coconut water from Shoppers.  Looks like everyone drinks coconut water now.  But my sis only tried coconut milk.  For me, I only use coconut oil.  Coconut water is a healthy drink nowadays, so, I could use it to make smoothies.

Today is May 31, the box of coconut water is still in my pantry, unopened.  Ooops!   

Did I tell you I'm a procrastinator ?



According to Wikipedia, coconut water is not as healthy as marketing experts have led us to believe.

Dr. Oz said unsweetened coconut water is a good replacement for sports drinks.

Is coconut water another "superfood" marketing strategy ?  Do you drink coconut water ?  How do you drink it ?


My other Happy Moments → 100 Happy Days Challenge 

Why do I want to do 100 Happy Days Challenge?  This is the reason → The International Day of Happiness - 100 Happy Days Challenge


Next blog post:
100 Happy Days Challenge - Day 44 (May 3) 


Previous blog post: 

Saturday, 30 May 2015

100 Happy Days Challenge - Day 71

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Tried my new Aveeno shampoo and conditioner.  Well, it is better than the Dove one I have been using.  My hair is softer.  But it is not as good as the shampoo and conditioner I used to use.

Years ago, I received a sample of Kracie Ichikami at one of the local Asian supermarkets and kept it for travelling.  I used the sample in Hawaii and loved it very much.


   


Making ice cream sandwiches - how-to video and recipe from Sobeys

Hope you’re enjoying your weekend, my friends.  I found another how-to video to make ice cream dessert - ice cream sandwiches.

Ice cream cakes are easy to make, right?  If you watch the how-to videos in my blog post Making ice cream cakes - how-to videos from Loblaws, you will agree with me.

Ice cream sandwiches are even easier to make.  Just put one scoop of ice cream between two soft cookies!  Here is a short how-to video from Sobeys TV.

Friday, 29 May 2015

100 Happy Days Challenge - Day 70

Helped someone do her ESL homework again.

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When was the other time I help someone with her ESL homework?  March 30, 2015 (100 Happy Days Challenge - Day 10).  I wrote a blog post about it.

Today's homework made me feel like I was one of the contestants of an American quiz game show Are YOU Smarter than a 5th Grader? (Fox / GSN).  Am I smarter than a 5th Grader?  Certainly not.

Please answer this question.

Theme: World Record Quiz

Which person invented the most objects during his lifetime?
a) Thomas Edison
b) Alexander Graham Bell
c) Leonardo da Vinci

Do you know the answer?

Thursday, 28 May 2015

Is your car affected by Takata recall?

According to CTV News, a worldwide Takata recall affects more than 1.5 million cars in Canada.  Transport Canada updated new information today (May 28) on the recall list.

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Airbags - photo copyright @ Jon Seidman / Flickr

Why auto manufacturers announced the recalls?
Airbags supplied by Japan's Takata Corp. may have abnormal deployments. 

If you are impacted by this Takata recall, please contact your car dealer or manufacturer.

Affected manufacturers are:

BMW
Chrysler
Ford
General Motors
Honda
Mazda
Mitsubishi
Nissan
SAAB
Subaru
Toyota

Affected cars were manufactured between 2000 - 2015 depend on the made / model.

To find out detailed and / or any updated information about this Takata recall, please visit website of Transport Canada.



Next blog post: 
100 Happy Days Challenge - Day 70


Previous blog post: 

100 Happy Days Challenge - Day 69

Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide 2015 version, Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide, Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide 2015, Canada's Food Guide 2015 version, Canada's Food Guide 2015, Eating Well, Canada's Food Guide, Food Guide, 100 Happy Days Challenge, Another Random Thought of a Procrastinator, Random Thought, Another Random Thought, Random Thoughts, Another Random Thoughts, Procrastinator

Downloaded the new and improved 2015 Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide.

Compared with the hardcopy of the older version I have, the new one
  • emphasizes importance of vegetables and fruits over grain products
  • has more detailed info on portion sizes and servings for various age groups and both genders
  • provides nutritious foods advice to various age groups
  • has more info on how to choose proper oils, fats and beverages
  • has more detailed info on serving size including serving size of culture-specific foods
  • gives advice on how much and how often we should exercise

So the new Food Guide is not only about food, it's also a healthy lifestyle guide.

Wednesday, 27 May 2015

100 Happy Days Challenge - Day 68

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Redeemed one Shoppers Drug Mart's new personalized coupon.  Shoppers has a new coupon system to have us load our coupons to our Shoppers Optimum cards instead of printing the coupons out.


I was very skeptical at first.  Especially

  1. it is not user-friendly to load the coupons
  2. their system was downed for the whole weekend last week - nobody could log in

So, when I paid for my purchase, I asked the cashier if I need to do anything special to redeem my coupon.  She looked at the monitor and told me the coupon is redeemed.  Sweet!

Yes, go paperless!

Oh, we can still print out the coupons if we choose not to load the coupons to our Optimum cards.


My other Happy Moments → 100 Happy Days Challenge 

Why do I want to do 100 Happy Days Challenge?  This is the reason → The International Day of Happiness - 100 Happy Days Challenge


Next blog post:
100 Happy Days Challenge - Day 69 


Previous blog post: 

Weekly special from 27 May 2015 Wednesday

It's getting hotter now.  Hopefully I can find some green plums and make umeboshi (Japanese salty pickled plums).  One of my Japanese friends taught me how to make umeboshi last year.  Now, I would like to try making some.

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Weekly Special; Weekly Shopping - Photo source Pixabay