All i want for christmas is YOU .....

All i want for christmas is YOU ..... being happy

This year, our relatives had a pre-christmas reunion.

Got some gifts for the kids.

Hopefully the children are happy, cause I got a question from a little girl 

"Aunty why you give that present to that jie jie but not me?" 

For colleagues, we didn't have any christmas party but I was thinking of giving them something as gratitude for them helping me throughout the year.

For children

For adults 

cheapskate vacation

When it comes to free things, i can be very thick skinned.

So when I receive a invitation from Palace of Golden Horses for credit card members of certain bank, my 1st reaction was : 

1. Is this for real?

2. Got any hidden catch or charges or not?

3. Grab ah dear and tell him as spouse is required for the hotel stay

ok...this is what the invitation says :

just attend a 1-hour talk session with their health sanctuary service consultant and under no obligation, will receive

(a) free health screen

(b) free buffet dinner for 2

(c) free 1 night stay @ Palace of Golden Horses

So I shifted into kiasu mode.

1. checked with dear on his available after work time

2. checked & arrange my own schedule 

3. arrange for children caretaker after work

4. checked the horse racing day, as to avoid traffic jam

5. call up to find out if any hidden catch

6. book the 1-hour session appointment

So as planned, we went & listen, 

and as we don't look like 'people who can afford their packages'

we finally got the buffet dinner & free 1 night stay voucher.

(all the while thinking what if I'm the person at the other end of the deal)

Thereafter, we plan & plan for the trip even it's just nearby, 

intended to bring all 3 kiddos but couldn't find a day whereby don't have to skip classes.

(the voucher is valid for 60 days & cannot be used during peak season ie. school / public holiday).

Ended we had a honeymoon trip with baby.

We left house only about 5.30pm on Sunday, it was raining that day so no swimming.

We reached, checked in, walked around before heading for buffet dinner.

We were suprised to find the room quite big for a free night stay. 

In fact, can fit all 3 kiddos and they will have plenty of running space.

Even the toilet is big.

The weather was rainy & windy, 

I had a good relaxing rest, despite still need to wake up for feeding.

Thanks to the thick curtain, I had a sleep-in, again missing my pool time.

brought little one to the green green field downstair, wanted to let her move around on the grass (until I see a guy spraying some stuff (which I don't think is water since they already have sprinkler on the field).

Haih... I decided not to have those kind of chemical exposure ... why can't they just leave the green grass field alone?

Nevertheless, thank you very much to Palace of Golden Horses for the buffet dinner & night stay even though we didn't sign up for any package. 

 

vadai

how I know the existence of such nice food is through ERT (Ekonomi Rumah Tangga).
Remember in one of the major assessment, Soon Yeng and me was in the same team and we ended up with making vadai as part of the dishes. 
It was then I learnt to appreciate vadai ...
here after 15 years ... I tried making them again, this time with more daring & healthy combination and fried with less oil. 
My kids love them .... as much as their mama =D

heals without heels

It has been a few years since I last attend company annual dinner,
somehow it always coincides with my maternity leaves or I was too 'occupied' to attend.
This year, just when I decided to attend and looked forward to the good food and glimpse of lucky draw, 
the dinner taught me a lesson.
A lesson that heals a tired heart.

The lesson : 
No matter how well you prepare yourself, 
how good you take care of yourself and your stuff,
some things if meant to happen, 
will happen,
So take it, learn to see 'light' in it
and don't let it stop you from being you.

Here on, will let the picture do the talking.

Theme of the night : Dazzling.
All the colourful dazzling stuffs provided by organising committee.

Tempted : to steal the whole kit home for children to go wild.

left heel came off as soon as I reached.
Never mind the awkwardness of walking with uneven heels,
 contrast a right hand holding a heel with a left hand that hold elegant dinner bag.
I didn't knew what should I do with the heel,
keep it for repair (I've got no plastic bag)
throw it ( I can't find a single dustbin)
hide it under table (dinner hall not open yet)  

I think The One up there got other plan for me.
As I was walking to the ladies, the other heel decided to come off too.
So there I am, a carefree aunty with no worry of tripping over high heels.

Despite of this incident, I was rather suprised to find myself rather unperturbed by the situation. 
I was actually OK, relaxed and found myself laughing at me. 
My team mates were amused, I still enjoyed the good food.
I guess this tired heart is too tired to think too much.

While leaving, one of colleague even commented "wah, you so smart geh, got bring flats some more"
I just smiled and winked. 
I guess 'Ching'derella heels just got turned into flats at the stroke of 10.