Getting into Chinese New Year mood..

Chinese New Year is just around the corner? Really? How come I don't really feel it? (ya, maybe staying with a not very cultural-inclined husband doesn't help too)

The only tell-tale sign of CNY celebrations being in full bloom are times when we went to shopping malls deck with lanterns and cherry blossoms, and when festive music blasts in the air.

And the I remember I snapped some pics 2 weeks ago and forgotten to download till now, when I was in Pavilion, meeting darling and Quin for lunch.


At the Main Entrance, shoppers get to touch this huge Golden Bull, a symbol of prosperity and good blessings to evoke an auspicious start of the Year of The Golden Ox.






I love cherry blossoms! Too bad we don't have Spring and only get fake ones here. But still, they are pretty and sweet..


The Pink Blossom Walk, as Pavilion's 2009 Chinese New Year theme is "Blossom in Pink, Prosper in Red".


There are demonstration of Chinese arts and craft, and Dragon's beard candy making








I was there in time to catch the performances too. So no, these are not very traditional Chinese dances, but I like the modern twist :)

I finally realized, there's only a week to go before CNY! Ok, ok.. I got to start on decorations at home, prepare ang pow (gosh, how much money to change? how do I estimate? I have never done this before! ok, don't panic.. I can do this..), tidbits for guests (don't expect much if you are visiting.. AND do pretend you don't notice I'm wearing old clothes as money for shopping will have to go into the first year double ang pow!).....


Before I end, photos from Pepper Lunch at Pavilion..


Thanks darling for buying me lunch that day


Loved your hair! And there is a very valid reason for taking this photo in portrait and not landscape.. muahahaaa....

Christmas Celebrations

A recap mostly in pictures (and a few words..). Some of which you would have seen from my Facebook album anyway.

It has been a whirlwind past few weeks for me and I've been preoccupied of late :P I know 2009 has kicked off but yes, I'm still in my festive mood. And I know Chinese New Year is around the corner, so I have to post this to wrap up Christmas!

It was our first Christmas as newly wed and so we threw a little Christmas party cum post-wedding gathering to thank dear friends for their help during the wedding.


Gifts all ready under the Xmas tree.

Gave hubby a fright the next morning when he stepped into the room I was using to wrap the gifts. I left it in this state to crawl into bed at 3am in the morning of the party. He claimed I turned the room into a 'war zone'.



So with gifts checked.



Decor - checked
Thanks to baby for helping out with the few remaining ornaments.





Food - checked
Pizzas from Yellow Cab Pizza at Jalan Raja Abdullah, Sushi roll from Isetan Supermarket, Ponteh (not in pic); the Nyonya dish cooked by MIL, Mashed potatoes by baby & baby's baby, Cupcakes by Lynnda.


We had a hard time choosing which pretty cupcake to devour!







I always put great thought into gift giving (for people I love anyway). It doesn't necessarily need to be big or over the top, it just has to be given with love, thoughtfulness and joy.. (I'm beginning to sound cheesy.. haha)



Overall, I'm happy to report that the party was quite a success.

Following that, we held a little family get-together to celebrate Christmas too.


Second batch of gifts under the Xmas tree! (this time around, thanks to sis, most of the gifts were wrapped by her)





Spending time watching 4 kids opening up presennts was fun but really tiring. The evening ended soon after that..

On Christmas morning, it was my turn to unwrap my presents! Ok, admittedly some of which I bought to reward myself :P



Hubby bought me the Shopaholic book I lost and never found.. woohoo! (I have since finished re-reading it and will eventually get through the series while waiting for the movie to release)

After putting aside the pressies, we made a day trip to the land where flowers bloom and tea is grown.



What exactly do you do in Cameron Highlands? Besides snapping a bunch of photos and buying flowers in my case.. or I think unless you stay at the Cameron Highlands Resort.



It was supposed to be a trip to unwind but you'd never guess, hubby was all stressed out over the traffic jam all the way 1,500 meters above sea level.

Unbelievable.
Christmas has come and gone. Heck, New Year has come and gone!

I'm not very good at resolutions, preferring to get through one day at a time. Alrighty, I think it's time to feed the soul with another lazy afternoon....

And so a new year begins...

Happy New Year to you!

May the year be filled with love and contentment and all the joys that the new year might bring.



For now, I'm living in one of those dreams that you wake up from with a smile on your lips, feeling inspired and optimistic and ready to face the days ahead and all the sweet potential that it holds.