Author: Layla

My Tuesday playtime: A trial and error account of prettifying myself for absolutely no reason at all

Published by Layla

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you are well and safe wherever you are. A few days ago, I promised myself a treat after handing in the first part of my coursework. No, it has nothing to do with food, but a lot to do with making my soul happy by dressing up and putting on makeup. It’s been a long time since I put on work clothes and makeup on my face. It’s been two months already. I missed prettifying myself and getting dressed for work!  So, a little playtime was in order. I looked at my wardrobe a few days ago and checked if there’s anything in it that I haven’t worn. Or if there’s an outfit I haven’t tried doing. So here I am, wearing black, with a pop of nude and red here and there.

Quarantine Diaries 2: Attempting to live in the “new normal”.

Published by Layla

In which I attempt to make cottage pie that isn’t even a real cottage pie, and an apple tart. Hola amigos and amigas! I’m back. Looks like our cherished dream of going back to normal isn’t going to happen anytime soon. We’re still cooped up inside our homes, trying not to get crazy, trying not to get sick. But hey! We all make our own good times. Yes, cooking now counts as a “good time”. Why not? Who doesn’t like to eat healthy, nutritious tasty food that’s not processed food? Yeah, that’s my family! For the past few weeks, we’ve been donning our imaginary chef’s toque, whipping up dishes we’ve never eaten in a long, long time, or yes, for the first time, even. But more on that, later.

Why Anne with an E is good for your soul

Published by Layla

Main cast: Amybeth McNulty, Geraldine James, RF Thompson, Lucas Jade Zumann, Dalmar Abuzeid, Dalila Bela, Joanna Douglas, Corinne Koslo Yes, I grew up reading the books, and I also watched the 1985 Kevin Sullivan production, and I loved it (well, only up to the sequel–sorry, not sorry). Every single bit of it. Anne Shirley stole my heart the moment she arrived in the Cuthbert home. A few years ago, when I read that there would be another reproduction of an Anne of Green Gables TV series, I WAS SO EXCITED, I could burst. Could they tell the story more accurately this time? Would we see Anne and Gilbert have a family, and see their children grow? Either way, I AM ALL FOR IT. Enter 2017, and I saw Anne with an E being fleshed out–initially, I found the beginning bleak as Anne’s future in Green Gables. A slightly grey landscape, a plainly furnished farmhouse made me wonder if my excitement was premature. But boy, I was wrong to be disappointed.