It's still New Year...

The pasar malam these days are quite different, I got a steamed mantou shaped like Eeyore.

And I just realized the first $500 I withdrew for CNY went quickly through my fingers.

$100 for clothes which is really not a lot coz the only size I can wear are those sold in the neighborhood stores. I got 4 T-shirt dresses, 2 sets of joggers with T-shirts and 3 singlets.

$250 for groceries, yup that one cart cost $250. It's mainly drinks and disposable paper products. Although I did get cleaning supplies like dish-washing liquids, floor cleaners and laundry detergents. 

$100 on Qoo10 for two Cat & the Fiddle Cheesecakes and CNY decor items. The Strawberry Cheesecakes are discounted at Qoo10, at the web-shop itself Mango Vodka Cheesecakes are discounted.

 The remaining $50 went towards meals and we ate really cheaply at coffee-shops.

As we were putting up CNY decor, I noticed the new greetings printed, 非衣足餐 a play on the more common phrase 足衣足食. What it means is instead of enough clothes and food, its a lot of clothes and enough meals.

Bread Society had some festive baked goods, I say go for the fruit custards and get a multigrain bun for your lunches the next day, its the perfect size to feed a family of four when cut into quarters.

Poke bowls that are really Chirashi bowls. $20 sounds like a lot, but you pay the same for it in a Japanese restaurant.

Instead of all sushi and sashimi, we went with the seasonal menu @ fast food places, like this honey sesame KFC.

First Day of CNY!

It's officially 2018! This is the year of the Earth Dog. According to Chinese Astrology there will be many initiatives kick-started and we will all be busy doing with less time planning or postponing. I have a feeling this year will rush right by me.

Starting off my mornings with the breakfast of champions, dumplings. Dumplings are special occasion food in my family and with the new hawker stall selling these in the morning, we can get it everyday for breakfast.

Earlier this month, I made CNY advent calendars for my family. It's filled with stuff like Lee Kum Kee stir-fry sauce, ginseng, rose milk tea from Taiwan etc. Lots of small things I thought they would like, instead of 1 big item.

I also did some major grocery shopping earlier this month in preparation for CNY. I don't like to jostle with crowds especially when its all heavy and bulky stuff. There are a lot of CNY themed food items around this time of the year and this year I only got the tissue boxes that come with red packets.

My recommendation for this CNY is actually not packaged for the occasion. Lux Luminique Shampoos $16.90 for 450ml. Kinda expensive for Lux brand products but these are scented with traditional Chinese incense, forget about what the label contents state. When I first opened this, the traditional TCM scent is kinda overwhelming but after a few uses it gets gentler and smells just like joss sticks at the temple.

As for gifting, I bought Sapporo beer for myself, it's very light and refreshing. Japan's oldest beer brand is actually made in Vietnam nowadays. I also picked up a 6 pack Singha beer for my dad, this is the classic royal Thai beer seen on guys singlets everywhere.

These CNY decor items are not going to be used over CNY, its gonna be a more permanent feature around my home post-CNY.

Indulging in festive treats, matcha chocolate soft serve from Godiva really hits the spot. They also sell a range of ice-creams in cardboard cups with flavors like Peach White Chocolate and Pear Dark Chocolate, also $9 each. 

Stopover at Isetan supermarket to check out the produce, the best of Japan is sold here including hundred dollar seasonal fruits. I usually get a seasonal bento box but this time I headed out to Itacho Sushi for lunch. The new ordering app took forever to setup but you get a few dollars off for the effort.

Valentine's Day Wishlist

Louis Vuitton has been offering an all red gift & handbag collection for Chinese New Year, in addition to its Supreme collaboration last year. But this Neverfull MM I want is from LV Cruise 2018 collection, featuring Kabuki motifs. The bag comes with a pouchette and is priced above $2,000.

The all new Pandora Rose Gold charm bracelet. It's almost nude with a pinkish tinge, the perfect discreet jewelry for the new year. Around $1,000 for a bracelet and some charms.

Lladro Kokeshi dolls at around $700 a piece. Lladro also makes the Maneki Cat dolls for around the same price as well. 

Casio Baby G watch $279. It's made of resin, clock is analogue or digital, multiple functions, lights up in the dark and comes in all colours and patterns.

Forever Friends Bear, $399 for 4 feet of hugs and kisses from loved ones. I am also ok with the smaller 32" version at $199. It even comes in white or panda bear.

Crabtree & Evelyn hampers, filled with traditional English soaps and tea-time treats. The packaging is light and colorful, screams Spring. Or a Fauchon hamper filled with delicious gourmet foods, I especially like the hot pink packaging that says Valentine's day and also CNY. Priced between $500 to $150.

HP Sprocket photo printer, at just $199. It's compact, wireless and has loads of borders/emojis to add onto your picture, best part is its ink-free.

Fitflop slippers in tweed! Latest thing from the brand since elasticized sneakers that I am waiting on for the silver version to be released. I have 2 pairs of Fitflop slippers covered in Swarovski crystals and cannot wait to get a pair of these matte tweed ones, $160 a pair.

The Body Shop Spa of the World collection of scrubs, massage oils, masks and creams. Priced between $12 and $56. The alternative is an oil blend called Oils of Life, similarly priced. 

Bouquet of fresh flowers, this one is $39.90 with free delivery.

Staycation @ Orchard Road

Escaping the renovations at home by staying in a hotel for a couple of days. I stuck around the last few works that got done but this time I really had to move somewhere else as its the bedroom floors that need to be redone. It's quite dreadful coz the floors are already caving in at certain spots, its also scratched & scuffed with gaps in between.

I used my Chan Brothers Travel Vouchers for this and booked a club room with access to club lounge for the conveniences. You get magazines, WIFI, snacks and drinks for free. Every hotel's club lounge details are different so you should check with the hotel you are staying in beforehand.






I really like this automated coffee machine in the club lounge that can do cold or hot milk foam. In the evenings there are alcoholic drinks and cocktails.




I was at CK Tang doing some window shopping, there are loads of ideas for CNY, like Ettetea Fortune Cookie Chai or Clipper Tea Co. House of Good Fortune Teas. Estee Lauder, Lancome and SKII had CNY 2018 limited edition skincare.

Peranakan rendang at the food court and lychee soft serve from McDonald's.

After 6:30 pm most of the items in the hotel bakery go on sale...

This sandwich and salad combination cost me $9. I also got the 2 desserts for $10.

I caught a couple of movies in my room, Transformers 3, GI Joe, Kungfu Panda 3.

I also checked out Scotts Square where I got this pastel blue spatula @ $9.90 and Christmas sticker labels @ $2.

Marks & Spencer's flagship store that had sales but no CNY specific items. I bought this tie coz there was a great discount on it for $15, not sure who I'm going to give it to yet.

Stopped by Isetan and got this cute panda cake from the Jap Bakery $2.20. It's really good, I was surprised by how nice this cake tasted.

The club lounge actually serves really substantial meals, not just tiny bites and fruit. I love the pastries that are soo buttery and flaky. I don't know how many of those things I ate.

Asian Breakfast and Western style Breakfast.

My limit is 2 cocktail drinks a day, with blackout curtains in the room I can sleep right through the night into midday.