ROAR! What will the year of the Tiger beckon?

GONG XI FA CAI!!!

Have embarked on my daily doldrums of my work week but constantly reminisce about the wonderful CNY holidays we had over the last few days. I relish every moment of it and wish it didn't have to end so fast...

Was celebrating the fullness of CNY in its glory albeit being structural as usual. Sweetie is constantly suggesting that we fly off and take a break during this festive season but knowing my family, they'll hit the roof if I do so. (ok no sighing, it's still Lunar New year!)

Heavenly Pineapple tarts baked by P's mommy. Melts in your mouth. Exquisite taste which will leave you in deep craving. The galore of CNY goodies have rendered me helpless in this gastronomical heaven. But in all truth, I haven't been eating all that much. Reason -- ULCER. Damn. Also, new year resolution -- To slim down (an arduous and formidable task no less, with my kind of lifestyle)



Day one : Typically a day to visit my in laws and sweetie's relatives. Am really thankful that sweetie's side operates in an efficient manner. Everyone would gather at granny's place for reunion and thereafter, ang baos will be distributed. Thus, there was absolutely no need to visit each other on subsequent days! Isn't that fantabulous?! Efficiency at its peak! In retrospect, my end isn't that smooth sailing. Every yr we have to make those strategically arranged obligatory visits to relatives whom we see only once a year. Make quick conversations and evade questions like "when are you going to have a baby?" These annual pilgrimage can be a hassle especially if you are the outlier of the pack. I was one at granny-in-law's place. There were simply too many people squeezed in a 5-room flat. Moreover mostly were Mandarin speakers whilst I'm more comfortable with the English language. As such, i found myself pre-occupied with nonsensical shows on television, and pretending to be absorbed in the festive mood.

Day one was also a day when I'd bump into my cousins...n I suddenly realised how time flies! Look at how much they have grown!! It's SCARY! This year, CNY plopped itself on vday's annual fixed date. As such, it gave sweetie an excuse not to have a proper celebration with me. Not that I mind as I think vday's just a commercial event for restaurants and florists to earn the year's keep. When was the last time he gave me a pressie on Vday? hmm....sadly, I can't remember. Seems so far away. I can never reach a consensus on this issue. I'm a hopeless romantic, but he's a practical person. Nevertheless, I gave him a little custom-made present:

Nice much? One for him and one for me! Made specially by Jeanine.

Day 2: More visiting. Had to plough through each venue in vain hopes that it will end real soon. The unconstructive little pockets of time were filled with monstrous binging. In between the obligatory visits, we made a social visit to T's place where all our friends gathered. It was a year of the BANGS....loads of gals had their fringe cut! let's see who can last the longest! In this humid weather, it's actually quite insane to be keeping such a hairdo. The air was thick with excitement as many were engrossed with earning "extra keep".


LOVeeeeeeeeeeee my dress to bits! The lucky colour of the day was Beige but unfortunately, the beige number I planned to wear didn't turn out the way I wanted. Sweetie commented that I looked like a prostitute, thus I had to change. Thankfully, I was still able to match this purple number with my Stella Mccartney heels!

A baby with the most expression I've ever seen! Her brows are so animated!

Day 3: Finally, I ensconced myself in a comfortable armchair at home. Feeling perpetually tired after all the festivities. Managed to put my culinary skills to the test once more. Since it was the new year, I whipped up a tantalising plate of braised mushroom with Fa Choy (moss), Golden garlic prawns, herbal steam chicken and fried egg. I feel indescribably blessed to be sharing this meal with sweetie and must endeavor to keep the feeling up!


After lunch, the minds of many started grappling over cards. Yup, it was a serious session which saw sweetie winning back his loses from yesterday. Phew. Thankfully he recouped, else hundreds would have been gone down the drain. I'm adept at cooking but when it comes to gambling, I yield. HOwever, sweetie wanted to sponsor me $5, thus I took it gladly and joined in the fun. Fun I had and $$ i earned! from $5, it became $52! The returns were good. In a perverse way, I actually miss it.

The big loser -- A looking rather miffed.
The big winner, G, treated us to seafood after winning over a thousand. It was a good deal for me and definitely a welcoming gesture for many.
Faced with such delicacies, everyone was in an ebullient mood. The presentation of the food was pretty exquisite, somewhat fusion. Foodwise was also good. A deserving 4/5 rating should be given. The marmite chicken, egg noodles and egg yolk crab really whet my appetite. The chilli crab however was a tad too spicy for my liking. It's different from the ones we are used to having at Jumbo, it's less sweet and more spicy. We savoured all the dishes till approximately 10pm before heading home. The effect of the dinner was immediate. Upon reaching hm and catching up with my favourite drama serial of the moment " Zhu Guang Bao Qi", the zzzz monster attacked me. Haven't slept this early in the longest time. Sweetie was just glad to have his wife next to him at bedtime. I'd really hope to inculcate better sleeping habits but with so much to do, I don't know when to start or stop. however, at this point, I'm frightfully unmotivated an plain lazy. The new year has brought about contemplations and resolutions. I hope i can keep mine...Can you? :)

HAVE A ROARSOME NEW YEAR!!

Pause, Play, Rewind

I must have amass 24 hours to perfection. Today is probably the busiest day in 2009 (according to the lunar calendar). everyone has only a finite number of hours a day, so how does one allocate or invest the given hours? It's a challenge as the Chinese New Year draws dangerously near!

The spring cleaning jamboree has been going on every night till midnight. Unlike many who would just give the table a wipe or ensure everything's stacked neatly, sweetie and I take pride in keeping our place clean. From a mere chopstick to every nook and cranny, we aim for attainment of perfection. The pain and tiresome feeling was replaced with joy of seeing the house spick and span. It's a bittersweet experience. now we are left with the toilets and floor. Not forgetting I have to make time to go over to MIL's (whom i have not seen in a mth!) place to pass her goodies. This year, mom bought her something too....boy, is that awkward coz the two women have never been close.

Though the day was filled with loads, I was looking fwd to it for unbeknownst to me, I had won 3rd prize in Vday competition organised by Asiaone.com. Woo hoo!! my entry on A & X's wedding won me some dining vouchers. Was hoping for the first prize where there's jewellery and more dining vouchers, but beggars can't be choosers. The fact that I've won is an affirmation of my literary skills -- that in itself is already an invaluable prize! It's timely for God to bless me with such luck for now we can celebrate Vday and my forthcoming birthday without a splurge! It's about time....the last time i won vouchers was 3 years ago! Remember the $8000 Cold Storage voucher fiesta? :) That was HUGE!

Like my new hairdo? Finally found time to visit M @ Orchard Central. Had to make my money's worth thus on came the bangs. Reaction were mixed. My boys hated it, whilst my girls had lukewarm feeling. generally kids gave me mediocre response whilst adults had nothing but praises :) One little boy had a violent reaction coz he said I reminded him of his mother who had recently cut her fringe too!! hahaha...

DIY time. Product -- LIESE; Verdict: GREAT! Been plagued with phobia since young due to an unsuccessful DIY attempt. However with technological advancement, LIESE has revolutionized the colouring process. It's so simple! Just creat foams and lather it on yr head. Keep it for 20-30mins (i was kiasu..kept it for 45mins to achieve a deeper tone) and VIOLA!

Sitting in my orange swan chair, oblivious to my snoring husband, I now have to find a reason to inspire me to get up in a few hours time. Need to get the car and toilet washed; send goodies to MIL's place and have reunion lunch at mom's. Chores are daunting, for that matter, so is CNY. The only thing I look fwd to is cladding on my new clothes! Two of which just arrived in the mail today! YEEPEE!

Anyway, this is probably gonna be the last post for the lunar year as I foresee myself being utterly busy the next couple of days. I leave you with some taboo on Chinese New Year:

• Since everybody is in a festival mood under a joyful and hilarious atmosphere, people shouldn't argue each other. Also parents shouldn't scold or punish the children. Otherwise, you will have more argument in the new year.
• Women shouldn't use knife or shear in the kitchen, which indicates evil, anger, danger and cutting out the luck. As a result, women don't cook new dishes on this day, people eat meals from the leftover.
• Breaking dish plate, bowel or cup means bad money luck coming. In case that happens, then Chinese put all broken pieces in a round container until the coming trash day.
• A married women shouldn't go back to her mother home, otherwise her mother family will get poorer.
• To sweep the floor or dump the trash will take away the wealth and luck from the house.
• Don't have a lunch nap at noon, otherwise people will be lazy year long.
• To wash the hair will wash your good luck away.
• Don't wear in black or white to visit friends, because black and white are funeral color in China
• People shouldn't visit friend's house, if they have a family member newly past away.
• Don't eat rice porridge in the morning breakfast, otherwise you won't get rich because only poor people eat rice porridge in the past.
• Don't eat meat in the morning breakfast, because many gods who are vegetarians arrive New Year Day festival in the morning.
• Don't wake up people by calling their names, otherwise that sleeping person needs people's push all year long.
• Don't eat unnecessary medicine, otherwise you will become unhealthy this year.
• Don't wash clothes, because New Year Day is the birthday of the god of Water.
• If someone owes you money, do not ask for the money back on this day. Otherwise, you will do it often in the rest of the year.
• Don't let people take anything away from your pocket or purse, because that's a sign of money loss in the yea

Strange as it seems, I'm a little reluctant to let 2009 leave. Time's moving too quickly! Pause for a moment to think what you have achieved. Pause, play and rewind. Hopefully the year of the tiger beckons more fortune and luck for me and I'm able emulate all accomplishments!

GONG XI FA CAI! HAVE A ROARING YEAR AHEAD!