Be my guest!

Invited my gals over for CNY lunch and celebrating my 31st Birthday at my humble home last week!

They had wanted to celebrate my birthday in advance, since we hardly have time to meet up.

Every year, no matter how busy we are, we make it a point to gather during our birthdays.

This year, however, something different is that I decided to cook for them instead of being given a treat.

This is because 1 of my resolutions this year is to give more, take less.

Really blessed to have these angels in my life, to support me, to love me, to knock sense into me when needed, to guide me when I'm lost.

 

 

 

 

My tried-and-tested recipe: Oven baked stuffed chicken, and shitake mushrooms with minced meat, chopped tomatoes and cheese.

Using the cashew nuts my Aunt roasted for me, I cooked butter fried rice with raisins and cinnamon. New recipe that I tried today which turned out Ok.

Charmaine made garden salad.

Adam's favourite guests whom he has been asking and talking about the entire day!

My gals gave me a HUGE ANGPAO. Super novel idea!

Charmaine, Clare, Royce and Tommy joining the photo-taking :)

My birthday "cake" was a Lemon meringue tart!

My lovelies!

Prankster gals make me literally count my blessings untillll................

 Thank you for being my friends :)

 

 

Horsing around in the Year of Horse 2014

Hi all, how did the first day of your CNY go? For us, it's an annual mad rush to go from house to house to visit as many relatives as possible. The kids can only take cat naps in the car, the adults are busy giving out Angpaos, and we are out of the house for easily 12 hours.

 At least the kids have a lot of fun collecting Angpaos and snacking on pastries and new year goodies.

REUNION DINNER with my parents and family:

HAPPY & PROSPEROUS LUNAR NEW YEAR 2014!

馬到功成 : Wishing you success and may you achieve your goals.


CNY 初一

新年快乐: Happy new year!

Cheongsam from To-a-tee at The Cathay.
Clutch: Hermes Dogon.
Earrings: Chanel.
Watch: Rolex ladies oyster perpetual datejust.

万事如意: May all your hopes be fulfilled and best wishes.

心想事成 : May all your wishes come true.

Cheongsam from Guangzhou during my recent trip there. I am so in love with the hand-sewn Phoenix sequins that I bought another piece in black!
Bag: Hermes Birkin.
Earrings: Chanel.
Watch: Cartier.

 History of Lunar New Year:

The centuries-old legend on the origins of the New Year celebration varies from teller to teller, but they all include a story of a terrible mythical monster who preyed on villagers.

The lion-like monster’s name was Nian (年) which is also the Chinese word for “year."

The stories also all include a wise old man who counsels the villagers to ward off the evil Nian by making loud noises with drums and firecrackers and hanging red paper cutouts and scrolls on their doors because for some reason, the Nian is scared of the color red.

The villagers took the old man’s advice and the Nian was conquered. On the anniversary of the date, the Chinese recognize the “passing of the Nian” known in Chinese as guo nian (过年), which is also synonymous with celebrating the new year.

credit: http://chineseculture.about.com/od/chinesefestivals/a/ChineseNewYear.htm

 Since then, it is tradition to wear red and hang red ornaments and decorations for CNY! :)

Christmas 2013 - Party 3, at my evil twin's house.

Please meet Twinkle, she's my evil twin at work. I remember on the first day I joined my department, she was the most friendly to me, she greeted me with the loudest "Hello! I'm Twinkle!" and we've been best friends at work ever since!

 

So love this nonsense Aunty whom I always have a topic to chat with - our kids are around the same age (Adam and her younger son Rayden are both 2009 babies), we both have 2 boys, and we love bags, fashion, and talking nonsense.

 

with Mrs Turkey

I baked these Nutella frosted chocolate cupcakes, don't play play Ok!
My first attempt at rosette piping is a success!!

Francis (Twinkle's husband) is a Christmas baby. Both our hubbies are December babies, can save a lot of $$ on presents HEHE.

 

 

P.S. I just got home from my weekend Guangzhou trip with Hubby.

First time travelling without my babies! Will upload that in another post soon.

 

Happy New Year everyone!!

Can I stay in December forever? It's been a holy macaroni month of traveling, presents, gatherings and not working, spending loads of time with my boys.