Archive for April, 2012

Avengers

What Do I Have To Say About The Avengers ? Well for starters…

April 29, 2012

The Fab 2 and I are massive movie buffs, if there is a new movie out, we will most likely go watch it given it is age-appropriate and the reviews are decent enough … I suppose it is our ‘thing’ to do as a family and we make it a pretty grand “thing” ,popcorns, choc tops, frozen drinks(throats permitting), lollies et al…So in keeping with tradition and seeing there has been much hype surrounding the movie, so much that the Fab 2 had been counting sleeps to its release date, I figured The Avengers warranted a first weekend viewing , so off we went to the movies yesterday and am I glad we did !

 I will admit , I have never read the comics and the only character I distinctly recognize is Iron Man from the previous movies.I went in to the cinema with not much context except a girly, goo goo eyed crush on Tony Stark aka Iron Man aka Robert Downey Jr but boy was I in for a surprise ? 24 hours later and still reflecting on what is being touted as “the best super-hero” movie ever , here is what I have to say about The Avengers. For those who haven’t seen the movie yet, I will TRY not to give too much away.

First things first, The Avengers confirmed once again what I have already known for a while,  Robert Downey Jr  is an extremely handsome man who just gets better with age….And that’s putting it mildly(this being a family friendly blog and all y’ know ). That confident cockiness he pulls of with his character of Tony Stark, a persona that is simply larger than life and with his almost criminally good looks , RD Jr steals the show and truly deserves no less…. I mean just look at the man…

Sigh

Speaking of larger than life, the Incredible Hulk is truly INCREDIBLE. We have the DVD at home ( of the previous movie ) and it is played often but I don’t think I have ever paid attention to the sheer magnitude of the guy. You know one of those movies your kids love and eventually it just becomes background noise. But seriously, I was quite taken aback with how real he looks , hats off to the director, Joss Whedon and his special effects team.You can tell how much work has been put into making The Hulk look so believable.

And then there is Thor played by Chris Hemsworth, who knew a guy could look so good with long hair…. Umm sorry this post wasn’t meant to be a swoon-fest but I can’t quite help it if The Avengers packs some of the most good looking guys in Hollywood. While we are on the subject of swooning and good looking, I must ask where has Chris Evans (Captain America) been hiding all this time and why doesn’t he do more movies ?

Okay I will stop there !

Now ladies , I am afraid there is some bad news for us in The Avengers, actually really,really bad news. I think we should just all quit dieting/gymming and go back to enjoying life because you know what? No matter what we do, we are never going to look like Agent Romanoff aka Black Widow aka Scarlett Johansson, we just aren’t… so why bother ? Yep I hereby allow you to eat that bar of chocolate you have been hiding in your purse all week…Just eat it before it melts…or rots..spare yourselves the agony because the moment you lay eyes on Scarlett in that catsuit, you will spend the entire next week agonising over your tarnished self-image anyway.

See what I mean ?

But perhaps the biggest clincher of all for me was the fact that along with my 6 and 8 year old sons, I too was laughing my head off at some very well timed comic scenes, a welcome injection to a screenplay that could have been tricky and heavy had it not been treated right. When I wasn’t awe struck with the brilliant technology and special effects, I too, like my sons was on the edge of my seat when we thought we’d lost of one of the characters forever ( doing a pretty bad job of not giving anything away aren’t I ?). Infact at one stage during the climax, I even caught myself muttering a commentary. I greatly appreciate the fact that the movie ( and I may add unexpectedly) manages to create a wider appeal than the usual kids and sci-fi/super hero fan base.Inspite of its grandeur, The Avengers is very human. We left the cinema smiling, knowing it wasn’t just any super-hero story, we had just witnessed a 2012 blockbuster, together .

As for The Avengers , looks like they have a new fan !

So , will you be watching The Avengers ? Have you read the comics ? Do you have a favourite ?

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that-awkward-moment_o_145704

That Awkward Moment.

April 27, 2012

We all have them , moments that make us want to cringe and squirm, when we can’t help but wish the ground would open up and swallow us . Moments we always look back and remember as “That Awkward Moment” .

Well here’s a few that come to mind to add to the awkward moments hall of shame :

1.When you are in the office kitchen toasting something and the new recruit is a metre away using the microwave , you’ve never been introduced and therefore have nothing to say to them. But you feel strangely obliged to atleast smile , simply because :

a.You’re a nice person and know what it feels like to be an outsider and more importantly ;

b.Because as much as you can’t stand the water cooler , toaster small talk…the silence is uncomfortable and deafening.

2.When you are in the window seat during a flight , the person next to you in the aisle seat is snoring and you just HAVE to go … even worse if it’s your child who just HAS to go because children will climb over adults to get wherever they need to be.

3.When you kindly ask a tired , frazzled looking pregnant lady “when’s the baby due?” only for her to turn around and look either sheepish/embarassed/almost apologetic OR  deeply offended and say, “I am not pregnant”…uh-oh

4.You are in a group of friends and there is a heated debate . You are neutral but one of  your friends keeps looking at you after each point for validation and you have no choice but to nod in support even when you don’t want to….safest way to go in such situations.

5.When you meet someone who seems to know you and is being overtly friendly while you can’t even remember their name or where you have seen them before.And you still manage to have a full-blown conversation.

6.When you upload a picture of some decadent dessert on Facebook with a cheeky tagline only to find that Facebook is having a moment , your friends instead end up having an 80 comment long conversation on the picture thread , the picture never appears.Frustrated , you upload the picture 5 more times.Your friends now think you are a lunatic. Your friends are right…partially !

7.When you almost bump into someone and you both try to be polite and give way to the other , again , and again , and again. And eventually you both end up giggling like kids. Many a romances have started this way I hear …

8.When you receive a Facebook invite from someone who’s name sounds like a Spanish exotic dancer’s, closer inspection revealing that this person is a massive upgrade on someone you knew in high school. What’s with the name change girlfriend ?

9.When you are 12 and have yet to learn about women and hair dye abuse – You innocently ask your aunty how her hair was grey yesterday and now it is brown again…Oops !

10.When you are standing behind a haggard, frustrated man in the checkout and he is holding only two items , painkillers and sanitary napkins. There is a sympathetic eye exchange that happens in that moment, you understand what he is going through and he FAILS to understand why he HAS to go through the same s*** every month.

Over to you , what are some of your cringe worthy , awkward moments ? Let’s hear it !

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steve-jobs-quote-i-want-to-put-a-ding-in-the-universe

I want to put a ding in the universe !

April 24, 2012

 I love quotes , I love how so much wisdom can sometimes be condensed in a few sentences. I love how a few words, put articulately can strike a chord with me on so many inexplicable levels.Words that awaken, inspire, enlighten me.

And I love sharing these words with you, with the hope that in some small way, I might have made you think twice, take notice, change something! That I may have inspired you to harbour hope, believe and pluck the courage to pursue your dreams.That I may have encouraged you to Think Different.

Today, as I was researching for a possible future post , I came across a piece of text  so powerful , I wanted to know more about where it originated, which is when I stumbled upon this video and could not believe that I had never seen it before. Released in 1997 ,you may have seen this or like me , you may not have heard of it until today , either way it is worth every second , here have a look :

Narrated by none other than Steve Jobs himself , here is the text to this ad campaign that marked the return of Apple Inc ;

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

How could I not have shared these most inspiring words with you ?

I too , like Steve want to put a ding in the universe , do you ?

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Typo Clock

Time to go Chic !

April 23, 2012

Time to go chic!

Dear Chic-Fans,

The past couple of weeks have been overwhelming for us with over a 100 new Facebook followers and crazy traffic on the blog, you’ve thrown us off guard (in a fabulous way ofcourse)! We have been thinking and in the world of all things chic, a simple thank you note just doesn’t cut it. So we put our best trend benders out there and sent them looking for the perfect first giveaway for our lovely Chic-Fans (bear with us , we are still devising a better name , suggestions are welcome ) and voila ! We found this very chic Typo clock.

Our experts tell us its the perfect accessory for your desk at work or a subtle yet trendy addition to almost any part of the house and what makes it even better is that it is up for grabs!

All you need to do to win this classy retro flip clock is send us a short write up that defines Mumchic and what it means to you in 50 words or less! 

Be creative, imaginative or downright funny, we’d love to hear what you come up with. If you’re feeling extra generous, share the giveaway details with a friend and get cracking on the write-up over a steaming cup of coffee!

The winning entry will receive the Typo clock and will also be featured on the blog.2nd and 3rd runners up will have their entries featured on the blog too.

Send your entries to: mumschic@gmail.com
Competition closes : 10pm AEST , Sunday April29th 2012

Unfortunately,currently only fans from Australia are eligible to participate. For our fans in other parts of the world, you are not forgotten, we are working on some savvy tie-ups and we should be able organise something exciting for you guys soon.

Good Luck !

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Want to ensure marital bliss ? You must learn your Aloo ki Bhujia !

April 23, 2012

Oops we are in trouble ! Looks like we have been having too much fun talking about addictions , coffee and bad food. Rumour has it , a few chic-fans aren’t too impressed with us, what with all those promises of delicious recipes. Now,now my wonderful followers , apologies for the deviation , there were just too many other exciting things happening but I haven’t forgotten our shared love of food , nor have I stopped cooking !  Perhaps I will redeem myself a bit with this scrumptious delight I am about to share.

Aloo ki Bhujia ( spiced potato curry ) is a favourite in every Pakistani home and each home has its own special style of preparing it. Back in the day , it was one of the first few dishes a 14 something girl would be taught by her mother/grandmother/aunts as she forayed into the land of cooking, along with how to roll a chappati and boil rice – the common lead up to finding a suitable match when she became eligible and in some cases , earlier than that .Knowing how to cook and cook well was kind of a big deal , in fact I dare say it still is in an understated sort of way….a fundamental factor in ensuring marital bliss. Good Cook = Happy Hubby. You know what they say , the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. It is an interesting equation to say the least but no where nearly a defining factor in keeping marriages together , not anymore anyway.

Practices have changed as the world evolves and the internet becomes more and more accessible , many Pakistani girls now learn how to cook from aunties sitting across the globe such as the lovely Manjula Aunty who  runs a home cookery channel on Youtube attracting the attention of many young would-be connoisseurs. Some of the comments in these and other recipe videos are rather heart warming , newly marrieds trying to please their husbands with their favourite foods and the like.

Coming back to the quintessential Aloo ki Bhujia , it is a delicious medley of flavours and spices, warm , simple and comforting. Basic yet so wonderful. This dish is perfect on a day when you are short on time but still want to be able to serve up something decent or alternatively when you have an overstock of potatoes that you would rather not waste on a mash . This curry will keep very well refrigerated for 2-3 days but cannot be frozen.

Aloo Ki Bhujia

You will need :

  • 3-4 tbsp cooking oil
  • 5-6 medium potatoes , quartered and then thinly sliced , soaked in cold water
  • 2 onions , thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 1 small piece of ginger , crushed
  • 1 tomato , cubed
  • 1 tsp whole cumin or zeera seeds
  • 1/2 tsp whole nigella or kalonji seeds
  • 1 tsp powdered coriander
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
  • 1/2 tsp powdered turmeric
  • 1 green chilli sliced
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander

Preparation :

  • Heat oil in a medium sized wok .
  • Add nigella and cumin seeds until they splutter.
  • Add sliced onions and let them fry at a medium heat until they turn pink/transluscent ( ensuring that they don’t turn golden- the idea being not to overcook the onions).
  • Add tomatoes, crushed ginger and garlic and all the powdered spices and let this mixture fry until it releases oil .
  • Drain excess water and add the finely sliced potatoes , mix well together with the spices, cover and cook for about 15-20 minutes.
  • Ideally, you may not need to add any water but if the mixture seems too dry, it is okay to add a little water to add moisture bearing in mind the final consistency is not too runny like a proper gravy and not too dry either.
  • Once the potatoes are cooked through , add in the sliced green chillies and mix well .
  • Turn off the stove after two minutes.
  • Garnish generously with fresh coriander .

Serve with lemon wedges ,your favourite pickle, steamed rice or naan . Traditionally, Aloo ki Bhujia is served with a steaming phulka ( a fluffy flat bread ) or  Chapati but it just tastes just as nice with a fresh , toaster damper or a bread roll.

What say , have I made it up to you ?

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Comments: 5 Posted by: Categories: Fabulous Finds, Feeling Peckish, Food, Musings, Pakistani Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
you-only-live-once1

Four Words.

April 22, 2012

This is it , this is the only shot you get .

Learn

Laugh

Live

Love

You Only Live Once !

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The Best Job.

April 21, 2012

Found this touching ode to mothers and simply had to share . Reminds me of a beautiful quote  I heard recently and can resonate so well with :

“There is no place in the world you are likely to go where a mother’s prayer hasn’t already been”

Here’s to Mums , untiring , relentless and overflowing with love .

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morning-after-intro

The Morning After…

April 20, 2012

Oh you filthy minds you !

You came in here to find the scoop on Mumchic’s secret liaisions didn’t you ? You thought I’d be holding my head in shame because of some ludicrous situation I had gotten myself into. See ! I knew it ! Well my dears , sorry to disappoint but nothing even mildly racy to report here .You want racy , there are websites for that sort of thing or magazines ?!

Anyway , after a heavy and passionate night of blogging which resulted in a food rant  , a fair round of appreciation  and the like , I experienced a strange residual feeling this morning. I wanted to compulsively read and reread last night’s post , my brain racing with thoughts on how it could have been better. What sentence construction needed improvement , what part of the story lacked detail , how could the dialogue be more graphic. Did people even want to read about someone else’s sorry toasted sandwich rant ? In an instant , I had become my own highly critical English teacher propelling myself into doubt , such that I considered taking the entire post down.

Have you ever experienced  this syndrome ? Should these “The Morning After Reflective Blogger”  symptoms  be filed in the growing list of the signs of a Blogging Addict ?

And if so , why did I bother writing this post with its enticing title , why didn’t I just update the last one ?

What can I say wonderful people ;

a.I love you all and 

b.I’m a sucker for the extra air time !

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Image Courtesy – Morning After Recap : http://collegecandy.com/author/ccandyanon/page/8/

Image Courtest – Question Marks and a man : Google

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What Happens When You Wreck A Foodie-Blogger’s Sandwich ?

April 20, 2012

Ofcourse the Foodie-Blogger blogs about it and let me tell you , it is not kind !

So lets rewind a little bit , it is autumn here in Canberra , some days are cold , others windy and yet others rainy and cold. Earlier this week ,on one such wet and cold autumn day , I had a craving for a hot bowl of soup and a toastie.Perfect comfort food on days like that.The only problem was I didn’t have bread at work …or tomatoes or cheese ….So off I go, to find myself a sandwich bar that would make me the humble Cheese and Tomato Toasted Sandwich. 

I walk over to the nearest shopping centre food court and choose House Of Vitality. It is a salad , juice and sandwich bar , I have bought something here before but don’t quite recall what it was like. Oh well ! There really is no scope of going wrong with a Cheese and Tomato Toasted Sandwich . I mean all you have to do is butter some bread , throw on a slice of cheese, a few slices of tomatoes , crack in some pepper and chuck into the sandwich press or under a grill if you prefer.

So anyway , I ask the lady at the counter  who by the way looks overeager to serve me , ” Could I please have a Cheese and Tomato Toasted Sandwich ”

She motions me over to the sandwich display shelf and looks at me expectantly , I figure she expects me to choose from the existing array of pre-prepared sandwiches which look extremely unappetizing.I say , in my nicest voice I might add , ” No , no , could you please make me a fresh sandwich ?”  .

The enthusiasm from earlier on has been replaced with deep irritation as she exclaims , ” This is fresh , all fresh !!!”

Exasperated , she now pulls out a chunky bread roll from under the shelf to prepare my sandwich. Equally frustrated but trying to remain calm I blurt , ” No , no I meant Can I please have a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich on wholemeal bread ?”

“Oh, oh okay ! ” She seems to get it , I think ?

Sandwich bar lady is now clearly fuming though I still don’t understand her problem. She somehow manages to put together a sandwich for me and tells me I owe her $6. I am flabbergasted ! $6 for a Cheese and Tomato Toastie ? Was she serious ? Quickly realising given the lead up and the bar lady’s ” I will strangle you if you ask me another question ” demeanor  , I should just hand over the $6 and bolt ! Sometimes walking away from a situation of potential conflict is a wise thing.After paying , I walk back to work to eat my $6 toastie ( yes I really must mention the $6 as often as possible , it seems to help take the edge off a bit , thankyou for understanding), half moping knowing full well I had been ripped off. Hey , I don’t have issues about spending money on food but when you spend $6 on a cheese and tomato toastie , it hurts.Believe me , it does – especially when you are a pretty fabulous cook yourself….. And humble too.

Anyway , back to my sandwich  , I unwrap it at my desk, ready and ravenous …now before we go any further , this is typically what a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich SHOULD look like :

Cheese oozing out , tomatoes lightly softened , right ? everyone agree ? Good !

This is what my $6 sandwich DID look like , brace yourselves , it is not pleasant.

Are you feeling sorry for me yet ?

This is what I paid $6 for ? THIS ? This hastily put together , unappealing , UNTOASTED , toasted sandwich ! And if that wasn’t enough salt rubbed on my wounds, the lady had decided to throw in slices of chicken . When in heaven’s name in the entire painful ,5 minute exchange did I ever ask for chicken ? When ? I bet this is the Sandwich Bar lady’s revenge on me for asking so many questions.

Yes , ofcourse I know I can stop acting all precious,toast the sandwich myself and pull out the chicken  but that is not the point . The point is that I paid $6 to someone to make me something an 8 year old can pull off .This is a full fledged business we are speaking of , not some new starter cafe which should be given a second chance.Surely , they can do better.

I shared the story with my friend and colleague , IY  who said , ” Oh , that House of Vitality , I never buy from there anymore , its no good. It should be called The House of Mortality”

Ha ! IY is great value , what a laugh I had with that name  , to some extent redeemed from my toasted sandwich debacle.

Will I be making my own Cheese and Tomato toasties from now on? Hell yes ! Will I ever go back to The House of Mortality ?

Never Again .

Have you ever paid more than  $3 for a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich ? If so , I’d like to hear from you.

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Comments: 19 Posted by: Categories: Fabulous Finds, Feeling Peckish, Food, Musings Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
big_brother5

Guest Post – Mumchic Vs Big Brother

April 18, 2012

Hello All

I was humbled when fellow blogger and now friend , Kate from Skinny Cap Two Sugars asked me if I would like to be a guest author on her blog . Kate is a published journalist and has written many inspiring stories . Thankyou Kate , for this wonderful opportunity and keep inspiring us with your great work !

Tonight , I take on none other than Big Brother himself , read on to find out how :

http://skinnycapwithtwosugars.com/2012/04/18/guest-post-mumchic-versus-big-brother/

Thankyou for reading :)

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