Day: January 27, 2025

Kicking Off Pre-CNY Festivities with Family, Food, and An Unexpected Surprise

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Our first Pre-Chinese New Year (CNY) dinner for 2025 kicked off yesterday, 26th January, at the Ming Room Restaurant in BSC. It was an evening filled with laughter, family bonding, and all the festive dishes we eagerly look forward to during this time of year. The dinner was with the Yaps, my hubby’s relatives, to usher in the CNY spirit.

No CNY meal is complete without the iconic Yee Sang, and we made sure to toss it high while making our wishes for prosperity, health, and happiness. Following the Yee Sang, we were treated to an array of auspicious dishes, each symbolizing good fortune for the new year. These included steamed fish (representing abundance), stir-fried prawns with assorted veggies (symbolizing laughter), fried chicken with salted egg yolk salmon skin, braised fish maw with chayote, lap mei fan (claypot rice with Chinese sausages and waxed meat), and deep-fried lin go with yam for dessert.

But the evening wasn’t without its surprises—of the unpleasant kind! As Cass was enjoying the stir-fried prawns with assorted veggies, she spotted something unusual among the greens. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a baby cockroach! Eek! Needless to say, we immediately brought this to the attention of the head waiter. He was quick to apologize profusely and replaced the dish with another stir-fried veggie platter. However, the incident was disappointing, especially coming from a 5-star Chinese restaurant. Hopefully, it was an isolated mishap because Ming Room has always been one of our go-to places for special occasions.

Despite the hiccup, the dinner was still a lovely start to our CNY celebrations. This meal is just the prelude to many more CNY gatherings with both sides of the family. Tomorrow, we’ll continue the festivities with a potluck dinner at my hubby’s uncle’s house to celebrate CNY Eve.

On the first day of CNY, we’ll enjoy the customary ‘jai’ (vegetarian dish) at hubby’s Aunt Wendy’s house (two units below ours), a family tradition that always feels extra festive. Then, on the second day, we’ll hit the road for Ipoh to reunite with my parents and brothers for another round of hearty meals and family time.

The only wildcard in this plan? Haru, our resident queen of sass. She’ll be joining us for the 2-3 hour road trip to Ipoh, and we’re hoping she behaves as well as she did last year without meowing too much throughout the journey. I love traveling with her knowing that she’s safe with me, but fingers crossed, she doesn’t give us too much trouble. Wish us luck as we navigate the joys and challenges of another CNY road trip with Haru in tow!

Here’s to more meals, memories, and mishaps (hopefully of the fun variety) as we celebrate the Lunar New Year with our loved ones. Wishing everyone an auspicious and joyful Year of the Sssssnake!

Yee Sang with crispy fish skin and jelly fish.

Stir-fried prawns with assorted veggies (the one that came with the surprise!), deep-fried crispy chicken with deep-fried egg yolk salmon skin, stir-fried veggie, and steamed fish with lala.

Stir-fried prawns with assorted veggies and macadamia (replacement dish), braised fish maw with minced pork and chayote, lap mei rice and deep-fried lin ko with yam.

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New Year’s Resolution: Have You Started Your Fitness Journey Yet?

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It is almost the end of the first month of the new year. Have you ticked off any of your New Year’s resolutions yet? If one of your plans is to kickstart a workout regimen to adopt a healthier lifestyle or lose a little weight, it’s the perfect time to get moving! There are many types of exercise that you can choose from, such as running, swimming, aerobics, hitting the gym, strength training, and cycling, just to name a few. Whichever exercise you choose, the right gear can make all the difference.  To give you the motivation, invest in some stylish and functional workout shirts to help you keep up your routine. Don’t forget to get a pair of good sneakers too.

If hitting the gym sounds like a cool thing to do from the positive feelings of accomplishment and endorphins rush, find a gym near your house or workplace so that it’s easier for you to work out regularly. Get some gym shirts that are lightweight and breathable to help you work out comfortably without restriction.  Treat yourself to a couple of new gym shirts to give you that extra push to put on your running shoes.

If you need a little motivation and something funny to elevate your mood during a tough workout, get some hilarious gym shirts with quirky prints and slogans. These tees can spark smiles and are great conversation starters with fellow gym-goers. Choose a few gym shirts that you love that will help you feel more confident and eager to stick to your fitness or weight-loss goals.

For gym shirts women love, options that combine style, comfort, and functionality are best.  These shirts will keep you comfy and stylish during intense workout sessions, thus helping you to work out longer. The gym won’t seem so intimidating once you’ve got your workout outfits sorted.

Have you started your exercise routine yet? If you have just started, well done, and keep up the effort. If you still haven’t, grab some new stylish graphic gym tees or tank tops and find a gym near you. If the gym sounds intimidating, start with brisk walking or jogging around your neighborhood. Whatever exercise you embark on is a good start and before you know it, you’ll love your new fitness journey and the benefits you’ll reap from it.

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HEALTH FREAK MOMMY