dezine's Profile

Hong Kong is an extreme case. Yes it is VERY crowded. Apartments are TINY. You shower on top of the toilet seat. There are probably households of 5 living in each of these units.
But you know what, most people there don't mind living that way. They actually might not care for a single family house that is 20 miles away from the hustle and bustle of city life either. They might freak seeing how dead a town center is in America after 8pm. People in cities like this extend their homes beyond the boundaries of 4 walls. They go outside, enjoy life in public spaces. Totally different lifestyle and perspective than those of ours here in the US.
I've been to HK and would not necessarily go back. But I understand people who might find HK attractive. It's the energy, the resourcefulness of residents there, and the social life that many people still flocks to that city for.

It's Steinway & Sons, of course....

I agree. These are really pretty but not at that price.
I did a 18x24 version of San Francisco myself. It was very simple to do, just very time consuming. All it took were an exacto knife, map printout, and 5 nights.

Gosh where should I start?!

I just painted my fireplace last night. Been wanting to replace the ugly dirty old wood finish from the 70s since we moved into the house. Took me THREE whole years to conjure up the energy to actually do it. Took me three hours to paint it!! I felt so anticlimactic!

My major pet peeve is the decor style you find in Bed, Bath & Beyond and the likes. Such as those signs of "Peace, Love, and Faith" on an ugly brass frame, or the mass-produced abstract painting of nothing in ugly shades of red and brown. Yet the other day while I was browsing through Ross, I caught myself looking at these things. And for a few seconds, was actually considering if they will fit the house.......

Every year my bf and I would host a Thanksgiving dinner, a friends-only Christmas party and a family-only Christmas gathering. It's tiring, but totally worth it. I always look forward to these 2 months of the year.
I usually pull everything off myself, with very little help from my bf or family. The first year, I was in total panic mode. But it has gotten a lot easier each year since.

I think the most important thing is to realize that you're not Martha Steward and you don't need to be. Just do what you have time for. Make sure to include some relaxation for yourself and your family. Nothing needs to be 'perfect'. Stick with what have worked in the past.

We're traveling to Korea during Thanksgiving, so I will miss out on the feast this year. I'm actually sad that I don't get to cook a full meal this year...

Soy sauce and fish sauce do not need refrigeration. Growing up in an Asian household, most of our condiments are left on the counter perfectly fine.

Ahhh Venice! Hope you'll enjoy it. It's absolutely enchanting.

I second (or third) Murano glass. I regret not buying one when I was there. It could have been a lovely centerpiece. They do cost an arm and a leg, but in hindsight, totally worth it.

Last time I went, I brought back huge bags of Italian spices, truffle oil, and sundried tomatoes. They don't take up much space and not heavy at all. I cook with them often and always remind me of Italy.

Elderflower and orange marmalade. I keep it in my fridge at all times. Pair them with a strong cheese and a slice of bread. Divine!!!

Since there are only my boyfriend and I in the house, it's hard for me to try new recipes that yield more than 4 servings. I don't want to end up eating leftover for the rest of the week.
Because of that, I find myself making brand new recipes more often when we have guest over than is advised. If I don't have guests over, I just can't justify spending the time and money making something that only 2 people can enjoy, and eventually get tire of as the week goes on.
Like other posters said, generally non-baking recipes are forgiving. An experienced cook can usually make adjustments when things don't turn out right. Baking is harder, so I don't try new baking recipes when I have guest over.

In Asia, most people shower at night. Being fully cleansed before going to bed, it eliminates the need to wash your duvet once a week (2 weeks even). We only use duvet. Never heard of top sheets until I moved to America.