I miss the good ol' days

So over the weekend I was reading an article from the Huffington Post about how social media is making us lazy in terms of our friendships and relationships. Social media accounts really burst onto the scene about 10 years ago and so my childhood and adolescence was relatively unaffected by social media. Yes, I lived in the Stone Age - the days of simple, plain old phone calls. Nowadays, nearly everyone we know has at least a facebook page, twitter account or blog. In a country like Sri Lanka where there are more cell phones than people, future generations will have a different way of communicating. If you think about it, the popularity of smartphones and social media has really changed the ways in which youth communicate. I know a couple who have a twitter account for their newborn baby – yup, the day she was born they setup an account for her and her father ‘tweets’ on her behalf. I’m sure there are more couples like them and that’s a whole other story but my point is, can you imagine when she is 5 or 6 years old? That little girl will be tweeting and facebooking her every move with her tablet or smartphone rather than being out there and actually enjoying and ‘living’ the things she is doing.

We’re now having far less face-to-face interaction and as a result we may not know how to communicate properly. I’m sure you have scrolled through your facebook news feed and seen people arguing on statuses or replying to strangers on twitter using offensive language and imagery that we wouldn’t even dream of using in everyday life. I mean I may put up a tweet professing my love for Taylor Swift’s music and someone in the twitter world could make fun of me for it but if I walk around with a Taylor Swift t-shirt on, I highly doubt a random person on the street will stop and criticize me? Is this the world we are living in now? A world where not only are we physically distanced from each other but emotionally as well? A world, where we cannot look another person in the eye and tell them how we feel in a civilized, adult manner? A world where I cannot love Taylor Swift’s music openly? 

Sunday Brunch Buffet - Cinnamon Grand

Sunday Brunch Buffet - Taprobane
Taprobane - Cinnamon Grand Hotel
77 Galle Rd, Colombo 3
112497377

Service 


Value

Overall Experience 

The Sunday brunch buffet is definitely one for those who LOVE buffets (me!) but also enjoy variety.  The buffet runs from 11am to 3pm each week and is probably one of the most popular hotel buffets in Colombo.  You have the option of the beer or champagne brunch (Rs 2500 for unlimited Lion beer/champagne), or the regular brunch (Rs 2100).  

For starters there is a great range of salads including potato, coleslaw, DIY Caesar, seafood and roast vegetable.  To accompany the salads there is a nice range of cold meats like salami and ham.  Their seafood assortment is fabulous with fresh oysters, mussels, prawns and salmon.  They have also added a very popular sushi section.  In Sri Lanka, it is very difficult to find fresh salads, cured meats, beautiful seafood and sushi so I find the buffet worthwhile just for the starter section!

For mains, they serve a diverse range of international cuisines mainly drawing on Asian influences like rice and curry, noodles and flat breads like naan.  However, they also serve a wonderfully roasted lamb, pork or turkey with boiled vegetables and mash.  The lamb is nicely seasoned and quite moist while the pork is accompanied  by crunchy, perfectly salted crackling.  

They have a generous dessert bar laden with cakes, puddings, mousses and fresh fruits.  Their mousses and tiramisu, in particular are delicious and the fresh pineapple, mango and papaya are just the thing after a heavy meal.  Today, they also large tubs of mango, strawberry, chocolate and vanilla ice cream with a choice of chocolate, strawberry or butterscotch toppings.  

Our bill came to Rs. 4800 however keep in mind there is a 27% tax so our bill went up to Rs. 6090. Having visited the brunch buffet several times in the past six months, I highly recommend it as the food is delicious and there is something for everybody.  Ensure you call and book ahead because they do get very busy! 

Pleated Skirt Tutorial

Pleated Skirt Tutorial

Pleated skirts are a classic, timeless look and accentuates the waist perfect so it suits any body shape.   They can be dressed up or down and I just love the look of them!

What you will need:

• measuring tape
• 1.5metres of fabric
• pins
• sewing machine
• matching thread
• zipper
• matching thread

Pieces

The first thing to do is cut all the pieces required and set aside. 

Waistband : 2 pieces 
Length = waist + seam allowance    

For example - My waist is 31 inches so my each band piece was 33 inches in length.

Width = Preference
I like to have a thick waistband so my waist is accentuated so mine was 2.5 inches.

Front piece 

Length = (waist divided by 2) + seam allowance + 18 inches

For example - my waist of 31/2 + 2 + 18 = 35.5"

Width = Waistline to below the knee + seam allowance 

Back : 2 pieces

Length = (waist divided by 4) + seam allowance + 6 inches

For example - my waist 31 /4 + 2 + 6 = 15.75"

Width = same width as front piece

Waistband

1. Take the two waistband pieces and with right sides together, sew along both lengths.

2. Flip the fabric right side out and press. Place waistband aside.

Front

3.   The first thing to do is mark the centre of the top of your piece. From that centre point, mark 3 inches to the left and 3 inches to the right. These 3 marks will be your centre pleat. (Use a pencil to do your markings, I used tabs so it would be more visible).

4.  Now from your the centre of your piece, mark 7 inches to the right and 7 inches to the left. 

5.  From the mark that is furthest right, make one mark 3 inches away and one 6 inches away.

6.  From the mark that is furthest left, make one mark 3 inches away and one 6 inches away.

Now you have marked your 3 pleats.

7.  Start with the middle pleat. Hold the centre of the pleat up and with right sides together, fold the fabric until you align your 2 markings for that pleat. Place a pin to keep the 2 markings aligned.

8.  Turn your fabric so the right side is facing down and the centre of pleat is kind of loosely hanging.

9.  Gently push the fabric down so it sits neatly and pin the two sides. Note how the centre marking is still in the middle. 

The front of the piece should look like this:

10.  Complete steps 7, 8 and 9 for all three pleats.

Sew along the top of each pleat. I made an 0.5inch marking on mine so my pleat stayed nice and neat.

11.  Press piece and set aside.

Back

Each back piece will have a pleat. I marked where my zipper will be on both pieces before I started marking my pleats. 

12.  Take the first back piece and mark 8 inches from the zip. This will be the centre of your pleat. Then mark 3 inches on either side, pin and stitch. 

Repeat this on the second back piece. 

Press both pieces.

Assembling

13.  With the right side of the skirt facing  up towards you, pin the waistband, with the wrong side facing you just under the pleat stitches.  Sew along the edge of the waistband.   

14. Fold the waistband up and press.

15.  Insert zipper and hem the bottom of the skirt.  I just added some buttons to the front of mine to make it a little different.

Gathered Skirt Tutorial

Gathered Skirt Tutorial

My sister wanted some skirts to wear to church as most of the ones she had were too short and she wanted some that were midi length.  I decided to whip up a few, quick gathered skirts for her using some materials I had laying around at home.  The great thing about gathered skirts is that they look great in any length - short, midi or maxi.

What you will need:

• 1m of fabric
• zipper
• sewing machine
• matching thread
• iron
• scissors 

1. Measure your waist and the length you want your skirt to be. Measure your skirt from your waistline down.  My sister's waistline is 27 inches and she wanted the skirt to sit just below my knees.  This was 24 inches from my waistline.  Cut 2 rectangles with each rectangle L = 28” and W = 25” (hem allowance and the top of the skirt).  
   
   
   
2. Cut out the pieces for the waistband.  You will need to cut two pieces with a length that measures waist + seam allowance and the width you desire (you can have it as thin or thick as you want.)  I decided to have a width of 2 inches so I cut a width of 2.5 inches including seam allowance.  So my two rectangles were L = 28" and W = 2.5".
   
   
   
3. Let's start with the waistband.  With right sides together, stitch along ONE of the lengths of the waistband. Then press the seam well.  Put the waistband aside. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   (*Note - I used a light coloured thread so it would show up)
   
   
4. Now for the skirt.  With right sides together, sew only one of the sides together so you end up with one long rectangle. Press. 
   
   
   
5. At 0.5 inch down from the top, sew a long baste stitch all the way across the top.  Leave a generous amount of thread at both ends and ensure you do not backstitch either ends.
   
   
   
6. Slowly pull the bobbin thread.  
   
7. Pull from both ends until the width of the skirt matches the width of the waistband.  Tie a knot on both ends.
   
8. Mark the middle of your waistband.
   
   
   
9. With the right side of the skirt facing  up towards you, pin the waistband, with the wrong side facing you just under the long baste stitch.  
   
   
   
   
10. Sew along the waistband, ensuring the waistband stitch is under the baste stitch.
    
11. Fold the waistband over and sew a neat stitch along the top and bottom of the waistband.
12. Insert zipper.
13. Hem the bottom and DONE!