Hello boys and girls! This is just a quick note to let you guys know that I’ve recently created an Amazon Associates Store.

Nothing much to fuss about – friends of mine (and, every once in a while, a lovely commenter here too!) often ask me to recommend books and various kitchen gadgetry, so I thought it might be useful to have a list of all the things I love in one place for your perusal.

I currently have four categories in my little shop: cookbooks (most of which I love to cook from, but others – like Heston Blumenthal’s In Search of Total Perfection – were enjoyed more for the concepts they introduced to me), food literature (which includes reference books and a couple of non-cookbook food books which I’ve found very interesting), kitchen appliances (how could I possibly leave out my beloved sous vide supreme from this store!), and a some smaller kitchen tools, pots, and pans that I turn to 90% of the time when I’m in the kitchen.

You can all also rest assured that I’m not blindly recommending things that I like the idea of, but have no personal experience with – everything on that store is something that is, or once was, part of my kitchen or library, and – if you’ve been to my place recently – is something you’ve probably seen me waving in your face if you gave me even the slightest chance to do so. (So if you’re wondering why I don’t have a digital scale or an instant-read thermometer in my store, it’s ‘cos the ones I’m using at present aren’t available on Amazon.)

Right now, I’m trying to keep the lists pretty concise, so it’s easier for everyone to browse around. It wouldn’t really do for you to head over there and find 2359878923 pages of “stuff I like” and just have to sift through it all on your own, would it? And to make things even clearer, I’m keeping the first page of my Cookbooks category as my Top 9 favourite cookbooks. (The rest of the books are listed alphabetically.)

For easy access, I’ve included a link in the header which will take you directly to the store, so head on over, take a look, and maybe you’ll see something you like in there!

You can probably find most of these items elsewhere, and possibly for cheaper too, especially if you – like me – don’t live in the US and can’t take advantage of Amazon’s Super Saver Shipping offers etc. But in the event that you were going to buy any of these online, or from Amazon, it would be ace if you could consider buying it from my store. It would give me a few cents of commission which I would then probably spend on more books and kitchen paraphernalia, and possibly end up recommending to you too! So, win-win. :)

Anyway, I hope you guys like the shop. If there’s something that you think is missing from my list, or another book you’d like my opinion on, I’d love to hear from you. Likewise, if you’ve got any feedback, do e-mail me, or leave a comment below. If received well enough, I might add a couple more categories (like non-food books), so we’ll see how things go. Thanks for reading w&d, and happy shopping. :)

Disclaimer: I have not been paid or received any sort of compensation for placing any of these products on my store.

To my person, my cat, my best friend: I love you.

My #1: Charlize Theron (#43)
I decided a few years ago that she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever set eyes upon (not that I’ve seen her up close and personal but you know what I mean), and I know it’s a rather strange choice for me, since I don’t really like the fair, blonde look all that much.. but oh well. Yes. Charlize Theron is my number 1.

My #2: Jennifer Beals (#6)
If you’ve watched Season 1 of The L Word, I doubt I’d have to explain this.

My #3: Sarah Shahi (#5)
If you’ve watched Season 3 of The L Word, you’d also understand this. However, your heart will break by Season 4.

My #4: Kate Beckinsale (#28)
Now this is the usual look I like. Haha. Oh well. Also explains my previous fixation with Saint from Sugar Rush, but nehnehmind.

My #5: Rachel Shelley (#27)
It seems like my list is TLW-dominated. Hmm. But this one also damn sexy. Wah, you should see her abs. And listen to her speak! And the killer legs. I love.

Okay, that’s all I’m giving you guys for now. Coming up soon would have been Leisha Hailey, Kate Moennig, Erin Daniels (all from TLW too, and you can read Leisha Hailey’s very cute response to being named #1 here), Olivia Wilde (only her picture there sucks) and a lot more of the first 6 or 7 pages of their list. I kept nodding my head in approval while flipping through that list. It’s a good list. With some weird ones. Oh. And Maggie Gyllenhaal should seriously have been given a better representative picture! SERIOUSLY!

EDIT: OH MY GOD THERE ARE SOME REALLY UGLY PEOPLE ON THE LIST! I finally went through the whole list with nana today. HELLO NANA MY NANA’S HOME! And seeing me type this. haha. Anyway. She wants everyone to know that she’s voting #11 – Eliza Dushku. Iknewit.

Isn’t he handsome? *swoons like a proud mother.

*Ben puffs out chest and looks stern.

Anyway, in my personal arranged-marriage-fantasy, obviously I get to do the picking. I think it would work best if I were invisible (so no danger of being picked), and could just trundle along tapping hot women on the shoulder, collecting a veritable harem for myself.

(PS: Bunny, don’t take me seriously. Weez loves you. Only you! kthxbai.)

What do you do with a B.A. in English?
What is my life going to be?
4 years of college,
And plenty of knowledge,
Have earned me this useless degree!
I can’t pay the bills yet,
‘Cause I have no skills yet,
The world is a big scary place!

Here’s the song for all of you who haven’t managed to watch it/don’t know what I’m talking about. It’s really only the first minute that’s applicable, but it’s a super funny song anyway. :)

Now Playing: What Do You Do With A B.A. In English/It Sucks To Be Me – Avenue Q soundtrack

Next, does everyone FOLD their toilet paper into a square/rectangle/some other quadrilateral, or do you just scrunch the lot up before you er wipe?

In case anyone was interested to know – and also so you don’t feel so self conscious about answering – I’m an over-roller, and I fold. My rectangle’s usually either half or two thirds the size of a normal square of toilet paper.

Haha. I should probably get back to work. Anyway, I look forward to hearing from you.

Edit: HAHA apparently there are plenty of toilet posts around the world of the intarweb. This guy did a survey on how people WIPE. Hilarious. Front to back, back to front, wetting the toilet paper, sitting, standing, squatting, half-half. MAN.