CNY Block Dinner

I like this as it's held just downstairs from my home so I can go in my shorts and bring my own glasses along.

9 course Chinese banquet starting with yusheng and ending with mango sago dessert.

I really liked the performers this year, they had me singing along to the songs and there was even an acrobat.

The thing about yusheng is that it's messy, but good messy. The strewn vegetables are soo colourful that it looks like confetti on the table.

Leftover Candle Wax

Do you save or throw away your leftover candle wax? If there's alot leftover like below, I combine all of it into giant jar candles. With extra fragrance oils of course, I just love burning fragrance candles.

It's real easy but a little messy. Chop up the candlewax, microwave for 5 mins, add fragrance oils and pour into container.

These are the biggest glass containers I can find in my kitchen, a former cookie jar and a glass container with missing lid. Perfect candidates for my domestic project.

To setup the wick you can use any rope type yarn, buy proper wicks online or rummage your neighbourhood religious incense store (Indian or Chinese) for materials.

Entire process took me about 3 hours, mainly waiting for the layers to cool down before pouring and cleaning the microwaveable containers so the colours don't mix.

Today, I made a 16oz watermelon candle and a 20oz ombre lantern candle.

Sailing Boat Cross Stitch

I am still sticking to smaller sizes but smaller squares this time around so this 14ct cross stitch measures 35cm x 40cm and has 40 different colours. The challenge is really the longstitches to show definition and ropes on board the ship. There are a total of 8 colours just for that and there is a tendency to get confused with the grid lines on the pattern, so I don't think you can get a machine to do this.  

This cross stitch took me just over 2 months to complete. Think I may be slowing down gradually.

 

Hello Kitty x Courrèges

Unlikeliest collaboration. But, it works!

Changed my wallet to a bright metallic red Hello Kitty Courreges (HKC) wallet for CNY. Also got a HKC makeup pouch with red hearts. My staples for the new year and valentine's day :)

These are the Japan only exclusives and slightly different in design from the International version. In my personal opinion soo much cuter. I almost couldn't believe it when the sanrio store in Singapore announced their arrival.

Ice Kachang

A classic Singapore dessert - shaved ice with 4 types of flavoured syrup and condense milk, sometimes with gula melaka. Underneath is red bean paste, attap seed, sea coconut and corn. It's the hot weather that drives us to this.



Iwai Zen

Iwai zen is a celebratory meal and happens to be on Ichiban Boshi's menu this month.

Best part of the set are Ibi Shiba Ni and Kouhaku Salmon, embellished with a 金龟!



Chinese Tonics Hall

Mom's stocking up on chinese herbs after the CNY celebrations. We had lots of delicious herbal hotpots and dishes this year, thanks mom!