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 :)

 

 

River Angpao 02-02-2014

My in-laws wanted to bring the kids to River Angpao to soak in the tradition and festive mood of CNY.

We braved the jams and crowds even though we would rather break a limb than to even go near a sale on normal days.



Stopped at Uncle Ringo for a damn long time queuing for the rides. All because Adam wanted to play. Glad it made him happy :)

HUAT AH!

Tired kids at the end of the night.

Good night!

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! :)