Chap Goh Meh hawker food dinner

This was the second Chap Goh Meh hawker food dinner that I attended at Chinese Recreation Club (CRC). This club is also the place that my husband and I doing work out, my kids go for swimming and table tennis training. It has a nice restaurant that serves very delicious steamboat. We have been there many times for steamboat. On some weekends, when we were lazy to cook, we would have our dinner or lunch there too.

After attending the very satisfying Chap Goh Meh event last year, I missed those hawker food so much. I told my husband must remember buying dinner vouchers again this year.

YB Nga Kor Ming was invited to the event.



YB with his team and the club committee members.

Look, YB has more female fans than male.

I managed to ask him for a picture with us before he left.

Now, let see what we could have with only RM8 per person. We bought 3 set of vouchers only.

One set of vouchers (RM8) could get food from 6 famous local food stalls.

Ice Kacang

Mee Rebus

Siam Laksa

Sate

I don't have pictures of Char Koey Teow and Xiu Bak (roasted meat) only.

After leaving the place, my girls still had their last round of fire crackers fun in front of the house,

My big milestone

It felt like a big milestone. I remember reading somewhere that ‘The forties are the old age of youth, and the youth of old age,’ and that seems true to me. Though I expected that turning forty would make me feel more like a real "grown up" woman at last.

It was a very busy time, so I didn’t do anything special. My husband bought me a new smart phone, Samsung Galaxy SIII when my old Nokia stopped working suddenly  just a few days before CNY, but because it was near my birthday, we decided after the fact to treat it as a fortieth-birthday gift. I still like and appreciate it every day, so it was a perfect milestone gift.
My two girls had wished me the night before, and they called me 3 times this morning, each time before hanging up the phone, they said "Happy Birthday Mummy." They are going to present they DIY cards to me this evening. 

As I’ve grown older, and since I’ve spent so much time thinking about happiness. I   want to be whoever I want to be and I just have to decide to be it. 

Despite of no intention to celebrate it big, my office buddies still bought me these for lunch. 

PHD Pizzas, different type of nuts and pop corns.

Yours truly with Pretty Yvonne.

Yours truly with sweet Angeline

Earrings from Yvonne and belt from Angeline. You two have got me the gifts that I really like. Thank you. 

From left, Celine, Yvonne, yours truly, Angeline and Lorita. Thanks a zillion. 

I am not forgetting to thank all my dear friends who sent me lovely greetings on Whatsapp, SMS, FB and emails. I am touched by all your kind thoughts and wishes.

We all remember turning 17, turning 21, turning 30 and feeling super excited, but also kind of freaked out about not only how far we'd come, but also how much more we needed to accomplish in our lives. Turning 40 is probably one of the biggies in a woman's life. I was pretty happy and definitely contented — loving husband, small children, a bunch of best friends, busy career, helping to run a family. I never felt worrying about turning forty because these days, the 40-year-old woman sure doesn't look like she used to, so age is nothing but a number. 

April's first championship in Ping Pong tournament

A few days before Chinese New Year, April and May took part in school league ping pong tournament below 12 MSSD for district 'Larut, Matang dan Selama'. The competition lasted for 3 days.
May, though was just learning ping pong for 1 year, she managed to win her opponent who is elder than her. She joined her big sister to the tournament on the second day. After she lost in the subsequent game, she was back to school on the third day. Whereas, April skipped school for 3 days, as she managed to go into the final game.
Last year, this tournament was April's first ping pong competition, she (standard 2) was at position 5.
This year, this was the first ping pong tournament for May. She (standard 1) was at position 7.

April put up a good fight and won herself the first champion trophy in ping pong tournament.

I didn't go to support her, but her papa, her coach and her school teacher were there to cheer for her.

She lost in first 2 sets, but won in the subsequent 3 sets over the champion of last year.

She was so happy to hold such a tall trophy, and she is only 9 years old, her opponents are all 12 years old.

All the pictures were shared in her teacher's FB, and I just downloaded them from there.

She will take part in below 12 MSSD for state Perak this month end. Again she needs to skip school for 3 days. I am very concern of her studies and homework. Every time she skipped school, we would bring her to her classmate's house to follow up all the homework and lessons. I certainly do not like her to skip school for so many days, but all the school league games are held on schooling days.

To me, study is always the most important, but her papa likes them to be good in sports too.

Chinese New Year delights 2013: Crispy Crab Sticks

Yvonne kept telling me that crispy crab stick is the easiest delight for Chinese New Year. She said her kids like it the best. I don't listen until she gave some to my girls. I finally made my own crispy crab sticks when my girls pestering me to ask for more crab sticks from Aunt Yvonne again.

I bought KAMI brand crab sticks. It came in loose strips. If you want thinner strips, you may need to tear the crab sticks thinner.

Heat up oil and deep fry the crab sticks. Seasoning free, egg free and flour free.

We prefer more browish crab sticks. Some people prefer lightly brownish only.

Once you start biting on these crispy crab sticks, you can't stop eating until the container is empty.

I must make more of these crispy crab sticks next year to give away to friends and relatives, because many said nice when I let them try.

Crispy Crab Sticks

Ingredients:

1 Packs of Frozen Crab Sticks(KAMI brand), thawed

Oil for Frying

Method:

1.  Loosen the crab sticks into thin strips. Place on the lined tray.

2. Fry over medium high heat until light golden. Drain on paper towels. Pack in an air-tight container.

Tomorrow, we will be staying up late to pray for the Jade Emperor. I decided to steam some simple and healthy cup cake as part of the praying food.  

I really like this steamed cup cake. I make some in pandan flavour (from fragrance Screwpine leaves) and some in vanilla flavour. You can also make cocoa flavour steamed cup cakes if you like.

Here is the steamed cup cake recipe that I found at NasiLemakLover a.k.a Sonia.

4 eggs
100g sugar
50ml corn oil
130g self raising flour or cake flour
1/2 tsp vanilla ( or pandan, chocolate, etc)

1. Combine the eggs and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk until fluffy.
2. Add corn oil,vanilla, and followed by self raising flour and whisk well.
3. Pour into paper cup and steamed for 20 minutes.

 I am submitting this post to Chinese New Year Delights 2013 hosted by Sonia aka Nasi Lemak Lover

Chinese New Year 2013

Today is the fifth day of Chinese New Year 2013. I am back to work. So far, I have worn about 40% of my CNY clothes. In order to finish wearing them before CNY ends, I have to be hard working in changing clothes. So, I wore one new clothes in the morning and another new clothes in the evening.
Don't get me wrong here. I am not trying to show off the many new clothes that I have, because all my new clothes are cheap cheap one. None of them was from designer brand actually. In fact, most of them were 50% discounted items.

But then, I really proud of myself for another thing. I went to gym every day since CNY eve until yesterday. I spent around 1.5 hours there to sweat all the peanuts, cookies, desserts, cakes, chickens, prawns, fish, bak kwa and soft drinks out.

Now, I use a few pictures to recap my CNY 2013.

I need to credit to my husband for the CNY decor in my house. 

My two girls have grown up to be more helpful. They helped their grandma to stick red straps on fruits for prayer.

My MIL could easily whip up 10 dishes for CNY eve reunion dinner. We are so blessed to have her. Yummy!

My family portrait on CNY day 1. Spare the rod and spoil the children on CNY.  

I got a special Angpow from my husband this morning when I woke up.  He said " 开工大吉".  I thought he should say "情人节快乐". Anyway, thank  you 老公, it is the thought that counts.

Here I wish all my readers, Happy Valentine's Day. Cheers!

Whitesoot - Shell Wrap Ruched Knee Length Dress

I am actually a very traditional woman, I must find a very bright colour clothes to wear on first day of Chinese New Year. If I can't find red, then only I will go for yellow, orange, pink or floral design. Preferably RED.

 

I was actually looking high and low for a red dress that I can wear on this Water Snake Chinese New  Year.

 

I finally found my kind of red dress at Whitesoot. Moreover, I got it as my third free clothes. How I got it free? Please check it up at my first sponsored dress Whitesoot - Terra Ruched Knee Lenght Flare Dress  and my second sponsored dress Whitesoot - Royal Plum Halter Maxi Gown

 

This is my February clothes from Whitesoot.

 

Price : RM 63

Description : This dress is the definition of effortless elegance! Beautifully cut with ruched wrap detailing and gently flared skirt, show off the sophisticated length with platform heels. Details include: ruched detailing, self-tie waist sash, keyhole back and flare skirt with an inner polyester lining (lining is split at the sides to accommodate larger hips). Note: Due to the material’s weight, the dress can be 3-6cm longer.

Material : Cotton elastane blend

Product Code : Crimson Red (D1149)
Malachite Green (D1150)

Size : One size, Fits UK 4-12

Measurements (laid flat) : Bust 38-52cm, Waist 33-40cm, Hips 56cm, Length 104cm

On the day I got it from Pos Laju, I wore it right away to attend my company annual dinner that held in the evening.

I matched with 3 inches black straps sandals, gold colour bracelet and bangles.

The lighting in toilet is always good for camwhoring.

I like this piece of Shell Wrap design, because it allowed me to show my best with only a little bit of push up only. Ahem!



Posing with Mei Hua, you think of blossom or bosom?

When in doubt, wear RED.

Once again, thanks to Whitesoot for the sponsored clothes. I love all three selections of mine.

To all my Chinese readers,  新年快樂，萬事如意。

To all non Chinese readers,  Happy Holidays. 

Ushering Water Snake Year

 2 seconds3 seconds4 seconds5 seconds6 seconds7 seconds8 seconds9 seconds10 seconds  

1 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
My two girls were playing with my silk scarfs that their papa bought for me from Vietnam many years.

scripts for this interactive photo album is sponsored by
[SK] @ http://sk0617.blogspot.com [LINK]

Gamsahabnida

Chinese New Year is just around the corner and I receive gifts as many as last Christmas. I am truly blessed by your support and friendship.
Here I would like to express my heartiest gratitude towards them. 

My free CD, gifts and DIY card from SK. 谢谢你，感恩！The picture on top is just to tell you how I arranged all SK DIY cards on my fridge door.

Goodies from Wenn. Thanks for always remembering me when coming to my place.

My first awesome hamper in my life is from Anay, Nandri Anay.

These beautiful angpow packets were courier to me from lina. How sweet of her for thinking of me on my Festive. Terima Kasih Banyak Banyak.

I have showed you the bottoms of my Chinese New Year, many of my readers asking me to show also the tops and the dresses of my Chinese New Year. Here I showed three rows (15 pieces) of my new tops and dresses. First row is dresses only, second and third rows are tops only. There are still many not in the picture, especially those I bought at my December Year End Shopping in KL, and also 3 sponsored clothes from Whitesoot. 

Those clothes cost from RM60 to RM80. Averagely one is RM70. RM 70 * 15 = RM1050. These are the gifts that I need to thank my husband and myself. Muahahahaa.

Chinese New Year delights 2013: Melted butter cookies

This year, I baked butter cookies for the most number of times. Other than the earlier Danish butter cookies  recipe, I also tried this melted butter cookies recipe. I like the melted butter cookies more, because of its melt-in-mouth texture is really unresistable.

Instead of all purpose flour or self raising flour, this recipe uses High Protein Flour and Rice Flour. It needs only 2 more ingredients, which are butter and icing sugar. Meaning, this recipe requires no egg.

I kept trying this recipe as I wanted to practise my piping skill. I really enjoyed piping the cookies. It is so much fun.

My first batch of melted butter cookies.

My second batch of melted butter cookies . I had accidentally put in too much red colour. I wanted to do partially pink Daisy petals, but it had turned into totally pink Daisy.

This was my 3rd batch and I tried another piping nozzle. I invested in 2 piping nozzles for this festive season.

 

 

Melted Butter Cookies
Adapted from Vivian Pang's kitchen
Ingredients:(A)
200g butter, softened at room temperature
50g icing sugar

(B)
150g high protein flour
50g rice flour(粘米粉)

Methods:

1. Beat the butter and icing sugar until fluffy and pale.
2. Add in sifted flour mixture. Fold till well combine.
3. Put dough into a Piping Bag and pipe out into flower shapes.

4. Bake in preheated oven at 160c for about 10 minutes or till golden brown.
5. Remove from oven and let them sit for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack until completely cool down.

 

I am submitting this post to Chinese New Year Delights 2013 hosted by Sonia aka Nasi Lemak Lover