Our Dragon Year

Time flies, infact, it flies too fast!  In just a glimpse, the new year is almost over.

So what if we put on a few kilos munching away the yummy cookies (EXCUSES!) and spending extra money giving away angpows. 

What is more important is we all had a wonderful time reuniting with family and loved ones.

Isabelle with Stephanie (relative from Sydney)

Benjamin, Sydney

The dragon at Pavillion KL

Relatives and nieces on 1st day of CNY

Megan (my good old friend Sarah's daughter)
Isabelle trying to be a grown up girl, putting her hands on Megan's shoulder

Our classmates yearly reunion potluck lunch
This year, I made Kong Pou Chicken Cubes (orange box)

CNY usually falls on one of the hottest month of the year.
So to keep cool, waterplay for Isabelle!

That's about it to recap what we did during the recent CNY.

I'd like to wish you and your lovely family and loved ones, a terrific weekend ahead!!

My Little Photographer Preparing for CNY

Practising to take lots of photos this CNY
"Focus... say cheese for me Mummy."

"Give me a minute. Change setting."

"Ok.  Smile for me please."

To everyone celebrating CNY out there, I wish you a joyful new year and safe journey travelling home to be with family and loved ones.  Cherish the reunions and precious time.  

Those not celebrating CNY, have a happy holidays and safe trip wherever you are heading to! Have lots of fun and happy recharging!!

Our CNY Agenda

*This is a backdated post. I have meant to post and share this earlier but I did not have my camera cable with me during the past 2 weeks, thus, I could not download the photos. And I want my posts to be accompanied by relevant pictures whenever possible*

The first few days of the CNY was spent either visiting relatives or just sit at home waiting for relatives to drop by. Apart from that, yes, we had all the valid reason to be couch potatoes all day long accompanied by all the sinfully delicious cookies and feeling guilty NOT at all.

3rd day of CNY, we did our yearly CNY Penang trip. First stop was lunch at Gurney Drive's Soong River Restaurant. I have been longing and passionately craving for its Oyster Noodles since last year but apparently, when we arrive, all oysters have been sold out and it was only 12.30pm! We had to settle with other dishes which was nevertheless tasty. Thumbs up for northern food.

Picture taken when we were waiting for our lunch at Song River Restaurant

Intrigued

At Penang Queensbay Mall - Isabelle with a little boy at the Customer Service Counter

Visited Dad's friend in Penang and then, another seafood rendezvouz at Bukit Tambun before we head home! Yummy!! This time we patronised Dad's friend's restaurant. I can't remember the name of the restaurant although I have been there couple of times. Ordered 5 seafood dishes for RM99.00 which was reasonable for CNY. DH get to order his favourite fresh oyster at RM4.50 per oyster. Fresh, plump and juicy. He slurped it down happily and is a jolly joyful daddy! I can't imagine how a raw oyster would taste like and would never try it although he tried to convince me to try them. But it makes me happy to see him happy with his oysters!

H'ordeuvres for DH

Come 5th day of the CNY, it was the once a year get-together for me and my 4 classmates. A gathering we all have been waiting for since it was well, only once a year. The 4 of us, scattered around the country and LL hailed home from Singapore. It is heartwarming to get to gather with old friends and to see faces we are all familiar with. It brings back very nostalgic feeling. This year, again, we had potluck party in Grace's home. I was requested to cook my San Pei Ji. Grace, the host, made soup, steamed fish, meat spring roll (bak kien) and fried vegetables. It was fun to see each other and celebrate our friendship of almost 25 years, our spouses get to know each other and our kids play together. I am already looking forward to our gathering next year even before I left Grace's home.

CNY Must Have - Lou Sang

Highlight of the party - Food! (my San Bei Ji in the white Corningware pot)

Besides the tasty cookies, the foodhunt, going places, meeting friends & relatives, giving & receiving angpows, it is an appropriate time to ponder upon God's blessings and to remind ourselves to be grateful for all the things we often take for granted. And most of the time, the best things in life comes free and is always there surrounding us, love. What is there to celebrate if we are without L.O.V.E.?

And with that, here's wishing you and your loved one a year of good health and love. God Bless :)

What Are You Doing For Valentine's Day?

How are you celebrating this Valentine’s Day? A romantic dinner for two? Roses? Chocolates?

This year’s Valentine’s Day spells SOLO for me and my DH. I am filled up with guilt that I caused both of us to spend this day away from each other. The bright side of this is, I am spending it with Isabelle and my beloved parents. Happy Valentine's Day my dear Mummy and Daddy!

*picture sourced from google search

"Thanks DH, for being understanding and forgiving. Valentine’s Day means so much lesser not having to spend it with you but every day is a Valentine’s Day for me. Our love deserved to be celebrated every single day and not just today. Thank you for loving me and I am so very glad we found each other. Happy Valentine’s Day my darling and I LOVE you, each and every day!"

Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your loved ones. Wishing you a day filled with extra love and blissfulness.

*picture sourced from google search

CNY 2011 - The First Day of Rabbit Year

Our new year started with a reunion dinner on the new year's eve evening at my in-laws' home. This year, I cooked 2 dishes (will share the recipe in my future posts) and the rest was ordered from restaurant. With a super active toddler around, we find it more comfortable and definitely less hectic to eat at home than eating out in packed restaurant (current trend for CNY reunion dinners). And I am glad everyone enjoyed the food and specially my dishes, that alone is a good start for a new year.

On the first day of new year, we went to our in-laws' home and then adjourned to DH's aunt's home for vegetarian brunch. Isabelle had a blast collecting angpows. :)

After lunch, we hit the highway to return to my parents' place. And as expected, heavy traffic awaits us. This year, it took us 5 long hours when it usually takes only 3 hours. But Isabelle was very pleasant, cooperative and did not fuss even a bit throughout the journey. It was us who got frustrated with the hot weather and endless traffic.

*picture sourced from google search

We head straight to Grandma's home upon arrival because it was dinner time and our poor stomachs have been starving for a good 5 hours. Dinner was ready when we stepped in. I did not waste a moment to start feasting on the popiah and mee-suah with porkribs & pork stomach soup topped with fresh coriander, spring onion, crispy fried shallots and hard boiled egg (I am drooling just thinking about it now). My Grandma's popiah is the best I have tasted in my whole life. The secret and special condiments we add to our popiah is a type of fried seaweed flown in from China (not available locally). It is sort of like our family's 'secret recipe' and is truly one of a kind.

Popiah

*picture sourced from google search

All my uncles, aunts and nephews were also back from the city for the new year. It is warm to gather under one roof, to catch up with each other's life stories, to feast and put on weight together :). Although we live in the same city but we really only get to meet when we are back in our hometown.

And above all that, it is just really wonderful to be home safely, CNY or no CNY, be it 3 hours or 5 hours drive. Most of all, thank you my dear DH for tolerating the tiring 5 hours drive so that I can be with my family ! :)

Happy Blessed New Year!

Wishing all of you who are celebrating the Lunar New Year, Xin Nian Mong En!

Looking forward to share our new year stories soonest possible!

Meanwhile, here's wishing you and loved ones a happy and healthy new year. May the year of Rabbit bring you lots of joy, blessings and all things beautiful.

CNY Shopping Accomplished!

Although this is not a necessity, but I am very happy that finally, everyone has something new to wear to usher in the new year. Neither are we superstitious because we even wore black outfits for new year which is a taboo to some Chinese tradition. But because DH is a thrifty person when it comes to himself, I made it a point to him that he MUST get at least a shirt a year, for the new year. And for Isabelle, it is only natural we want to doll her up in pretty clothes all year long this new year as she will surely going to be the centre of attention.

We usually start scouting for new clothes about 2-3 weeks prior to new year. But this year, wedid the not-so-norm. We went to The Gardens this evening to finish up our assignment. And it was so relaxing because the usual crowd at the mall was nowhere to be seen. It feels so spacious and free! Probably most of the people from the city have already started the yearly pilgrimage back to their beloved hometowns. I even joked with DH that maybe it would be wiser to do it this way for the years to come, last minute shopping.

As in why I chose The Gardens was because I missed out on Zara’s sales which carries a range of pretty and sophisticated collection of kids’ apparels. And my alternate resort was to head to Isetan in The Gardens which I know I can find something I would like. And thank God, I found Trudy & Teddy. I will share the photos of my little princess in the pretty dresses soon! But I am still thinking dearly of Zara Kids. I must not miss the next sales again.

One of the dresses from Zara kids which got me drooling and still drooling

*Picture sourced from zara.com

DH got himself an shirt in ash grey tone and a pair of classis blue jeans from Marks & Spencer. Handsome!

As for me, I managed to grab a simple top from Dorothy Perkins in dark mocha last 2 weeks (yeah, I am a coward because I dare not wait to hunt for my clothes too near to the new year). Photos coming up soon!

And our last minute shopping rendezvous ended with a ribsy note. We had our dinner at Tony Romas (unfortunately, their famous pork ribs are not in our local menu - for religious reasons). I am not a big fan of the ribs here so I opted for the pacific cod steak, pan seared sesame crusted served with rice and lots of greens. The captain suggested I try their scampi butter so did I. But the butter looked like a bowl of greasy oily heart attack causing cooking oil. I just left it untouched. The fish was juicy and tender. DH had Rib Combo Dinner (2 ribs and a stick of char-grilled giant shrimps). I love the succulent shrimps! Isabelle had her porridge I brought from home and stole some of our food. (Sorry, didn't capture any photos because the food was served very quickly and we gobbled them down very quickly too because we were very hungry)

Well, that was our first time last minute shopping story. And, here is wishing you and loved ones a happy, healthy, joyful and harmonious year of Rabbit!

Gong Xi Gong Xi...

Have you done your CNY shopping? Filled up your pantry with all the goodies? Changed some new notes for the red packets? Most importantly, renew your wardrobe?

We are doing something 'green' this year. No new crispy notes. After all, what is more important is the content in the packet, the sincerity of giving it away and the joy of those who receive it. We will use the cleaner and newer notes we have and will only resort to using new notes only if we run out of cleaner ones.

*Picture sourced from google search

As for clothes, I only have 2 new blouses this year compared to having more pieces previous years. But I have a new bag (my dream bag actually!) that DH bought for me for my New Year gift. Will reveal it soon. Isabelle has 2 new dresses being one from my good friend and one from my Mom. DH is going to buy some more for her. I can't wait to see her parade in them. DH is going to get his within these few days time.

Last CNY, Isabelle only know how to make the Gong Xi Gong Xi gesture. But this year, we have taught her to greet too.

And now what is left is.. count down to the year of Rabbit and celebrate the new year with my beloved family! :)

*Picture sourced from google search