This is my Note to Self for those days that I think too much and make plans of things to do that just float around in my brain but somehow never quite get done. Now to go out and DO. Time to make things happen.

And by the way, it’s totally a plus that this reminder is so beautifully scripted. Gotta appreciate some good design (:

I hope your week has been amazing so far!

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Every Wednesday, I share a quote + some thoughts that have been especially relevant in my life during the week. Read more Wednesday Words here.

nutella and sea salt stuffed sugar cookies

13 August 2013

Nutella and Sea Salt Stuffed Sugar Cookies by Cookin’ Canuck

My love for Nutella really isn’t a secret. So these sugar cookies were just right up my alley. And they were SO GOOD.

Imagine all the goodness of a sugar cookie combined with the goodness that is Nutella, with a hint of saltiness, oozing from the center when you bite into it. Oh so yummy. Just talking about it makes me crave some Nutella cookies right now.

With the humidity that is typical of Singapore, it helped to leave the Nutella balls in the freezer the whole time and take out a couple of pieces as you go along. Otherwise, they start melting and it gets a little too messy. Also, a cookie scoop, or a mini ice-cream scoop really helps with assembling the cookies – put a little dough at the bottom of the scoop, sprinkle some salt, place the Nutella ball, and scoop up more dough to fill up the scoop. This makes it very easy to release the cookie dough into the sugar to coat.

Once baked, these cookies turned out to be quite big. But hey, the bigger the cookie, the better right? (:

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Adelia Makes is a blog series featuring my very own little sister and all the fun things she makes. Read more about Adelia Makes here.

21 projects // DIY body scrub

12 August 2013

Before we jump into today’s post, just a heads up that the 100 followers giveaway closes tonight at 1159pm so be sure to enter by then if you haven’t already!

DIY Body Scrub by Rad Mom Cool Kid

Slowly but surely, I’m plodding my way through the list of 21 DIY projects. Probably not all of it will happen, but I’m rolling with it and doing what I can.

I used The Body Shop’s body scrub until I ran out and decided to make my own. So I did, with the help of this pin. And I really liked it.

I love that the ingredients are all-natural and things that you already have in your kitchen. It’s extremely easy to assemble and whenever you run out, you can just mix another batch in no time at all!

I just used the basic version from the pin. But really, you can get as creative (or simple) as you like and add other ingredients as you prefer. Maybe I’ll add some lavender, or tea tree oil the next time I make this…

In the original post, the blogger does caution against storing this in the shower and getting any water in the mixture, which will cause bacteria. So it’s just slightly inconvenient that you can’t store it next to you in the bathroom. But I just remember to bring it along with me whenever I want to use it. And it may be helpful to grab a spoon along the way so no water gets into the jar by accident. Just slightly inconvenient, but no biggie.

And just in case you need anymore convincing on why you should make this, check out this article for five benefits of body scrubs.

5 down, 16 to go.

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21 DIY projects are part of my 21 list, a list of 21 things I’m working to accomplish during my twenty-first year. Check out my other 21 DIYs here.

Of home + nationhood

9 August 2013

Taking a break from Friday Favorites today because we’re celebrating 48 years of nationhood!

National Day Parade, circa 2009

This National Day, I’m putting the criticism + imperfections aside, and pausing and reminding myself of how blessed I am to have a place to call home, a place with the people I love, doing the things I love, And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Happy National Day!

I hope you have a good one, remembering freedom + security + the things that matter most.

Right now // Thursday

8 August 2013

image source

Doing as much work as I possibly can so I can enjoy whatever is left of the long weekend.

But feeling a little too sluggish today to be properly productive.

Trying to get motivated despite the mood.

Pressing on with the homestretch of summer school.

Reminding myself to be patient + not stress out.

Learning to trust that God’s going to work everything out.

Anticipating time with family + friends this weekend.

Daydreaming about plans.

Enjoying wearing my hair in topknots these days + having it out of my face.

Craving something sweet + sugary.

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Find joy in the ordinary.

I hope your Thursday’s been fabulous.
xx.

P.S. My celebratory 100 followers blog giveaway is still open so be sure to enter if you haven’t! Check here for details.

Wednesday Words // no. 012

7 August 2013

image source

This is one of those lessons that I’ve really learned this year.

Be open.

Be open to change, to people, to situations + circumstances, to whatever comes next. Be open to whatever God is doing.

Being open certainly isn’t easy. It’s one of those things that makes you feel uncomfortable and vulnerable, and like nothing is within your control.

But once you choose to be open and embrace whatever God sends your way, you’ll be amazed at how much your perspective changes + how many good things come your way. Once you choose to accept them.

I can certainly attest to the truth in that.

It’s a hard lesson, but a necessary one. One that I’m still learning, but so grateful that I’m slowly but surely grasping.

Here’s to Wednesday!

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Every Wednesday, I share a quote + some thoughts that have been especially relevant in my life during the week. Read more Wednesday Words here.

Adelia Makes no. 011 // salted caramel chocolate cupcakes

6 August 2013

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes by Annie’s Eats

As I’ve mentioned before, Adelia can be pretty ambitious. In a totally I-can-do-this-because-I-put-my-mind-to-it sort of way (which is good!). While I, on the other hand, much prefer to well, take things easy sometimes.

So while I’ve made several cupcake recipes in my life, Adelia decided to tackle this salted caramel chocolate cupcake recipe all by herself, for her very first cupcake recipe attempt. For that, I have to give her major props because I most certainly wouldn’t have picked this slightly complex recipe. But because she’s determined like that, she did.

This cupcake has a filled center that oozes caramel when you bite into it. But piping it in takes a little bit of work, especially if you don’t have a pastry bag (which we didn’t). Adelia tried using a regular disposable plastic piping bag. But with hot caramel and all, things got a little messy. So the pastry bag is mucho importante. She eventually settled on just using the cone method – using a knife to cut out some of the cupcake, adding some of the caramel, and then putting the cone back on top. This method was much better and much less time-consuming. Sometimes, you gotta improvise to make things work.

In addition to the caramel filling, this chocolatey cupcake had a Swiss Meringue buttercream, which is more buttery than the usual American buttercream. The butter taste isn’t as strong if you stick it in the refrigerator, but then your caramel filling hardens up. So it’s a little bit of a dilemma. But it’s probably best to store it in the fridge, then take it out to room temperature for a bit before eating.

Adelia made a mini version of these instead of using regular-sized cupcakes. And personally, I think the mini-size was just right – a perfect amount of goodness without making you feel (too) guilty.

Overall, the salty caramel + buttercream + chocolate cake made for a pretty tasty combination.

Until next time!

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Adelia Makes is a blog series featuring my very own little sister and all the fun things she makes. Read more about Adelia Makes here.

21 recipes // cream cheese apple bread

5 August 2013

Cream Cheese Apple Bread by Today’s Creative blog

The day I made these, I was in a hurry to pack and go so I wouldn’t be late for my Bible Study meeting. Hence, the lack of photos. Again. I promise this wasn’t intentional for the last few food posts.

Despite the lack of photos, I assure you that this was yummy indeed. And oh, did I mention that it’s also super simple to make?

Contrary to the name of the recipe, I’m more inclined to call this recipe a cake than a bread because of the texture. But regardless of what you call it, this cake/bread tasted good and I think all the ladies liked it! We enjoyed ourselves in a little circle, with our tiny boxes of apple juice and slice of cake, bonding + talking about life. Good times.

The recipe doesn’t state measurements for your baking tray, so I just used a regular loaf pan for mine (which measured 8x5x3). It turned out that the loaf needed a little more time in the oven than what the recipe stated, but that was fixed in no time. I also used a combination of cinnamon and nutmeg, instead of pumpkin spice seasoning

This one’s going on my list of “Recipes to make again”!

20 down, 1 to go!

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The 21 recipes are part of my 21 list, a list of 21 things I’m working to accomplish during my twenty-first year. Check out my other 21 recipes here.

100 followers + a GIVEAWAY! // CLOSED

3 August 2013

ETA: Congratulations, Marie! You’re the winner of this giveaway! I’ll be in touch with you to get you your prize. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated! (:

It’s kind of hard to believe.

But after more than one year of writing this blog + almost 250 posts later, I’m pleased to say that Amelia Writes Here has more than a HUNDRED followers since this past week!

It might not seem like a big deal to some who have thousands reading their blog daily, and following them on twitter/facebook/instagram/etc. But for this girl who writes in a very small way in the very big world wide web, I daresay it’s something to celebrate!

I am so grateful + thankful to the family, friends, and readers who believe in me and what I’m doing, who visit ever so often, and who stop by to say HI sometimes. So as an expression of my gratefulness, and to thank YOU for being a part of this journey, I am having my first ever giveaway! The winner gets a SURPRISE package of a pretty sweet mix of some of my favorite things. Think washi tapes, notebooks, and other pretty things I use + love! (:

To enter this giveaway, leave me a comment telling me what your favorite post/series from my blog has been so far.

You can also earn extra entries by:

Following my blog via email, WordPress, or bloglovin’.
Tweeting about this giveaway, tag me (@helloameliaaa), and include the hashtag #ameliawrites100giveaway.
Posting the photo above on Instagram, tag me (@helloameliaa), and include the hashtag #ameliawrites100giveaway.

Each time you earn an extra entry, come back and leave a separate comment on this post for each item above that you complete, along with your name and state/country. If you tweet or instagram this, be sure to also include your handle. Internationals welcome.

This giveaway closes on 12 August and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter. So be sure to be entered by then + remember to check back for the winner! I will pick one random reader to win a surprise package of some of my favorite things (:

ALL THE BEST!

I have big dreams for this space. So thank you for being a part of this journey of accomplishing my dreams.