A CNY Surprise

It was a usual workday morning, people were on the phone, reading mails, having their first cup of coffee when you could hear the faint clash of cymbals and the pounding of drums to a familiar rhythm popular around this time of the year. Heads slowly looked up and one by one, people started creeping off to where the sounds came from.

To our delight, there were lion dances in the office and a God of Prosperity walking around handing out ang pows (red packets) and mandarins. It has been years since we had a full blown lion dance with a pair of lions prancing around every single department. People started whipping out handphones to snap photos and there were crowds following the lions.

 

Have a fantastic Year of the Dragon!

What Hot, Summery Days are For

With the weather being blazing hot, Bubs decided to cool himself off by splashing around in the wading pool. I love how intent he is on trying to scoop the water out with his pudgy little hands. Isn't it fun being a toddler without a care in the world :)

Vanishing Memories: the Peacock House, Bayan Lepas

I've to confess, this isn't the original name of this house and I've no idea what road this is called but it's the main road leading from Bayan Lepas to Teluk Kumbar. Most of the shop houses there have been modernised into sundry and bicycle shops so I was happy to spot this one with all of its original fixtures still in place: from the painted tiles on the front wall (can you spotted the gorgeous twin peacocks?) to its geometrical patterned tiled walkway.

Counting Down to the Chinese New Year

Are you as excited as I am about Chinese New Year? Just a week more to go! I've been making these paper pom poms and leaving behind a mess of colourful confetti all over the dining table. 

 It's evident that I've been hard at work. Scouting for tree branches wasn't as easy as I thought, especially when carrying Bubs in tow. Some were covered with webs and other creepy crawlies. Others were still high up on the tree. Folks, don't believe anyone that tells you it's easy carrying a toddler in one arm and jumping madly while trying to yank down a branch with your other arm. Bubs was giggling hysterically as dried leaves scattered down on us. Hubs took the easy way out by asking the gardeners if they could find us some. Hmmmmph.

I first spotted these tissue paper pom poms on Martha Stewart's site but still got lost trying to figure these out. It's clear that a genius with handicraft I am not. Thankfully, Styleberry had more detailed step by step instructions and a video.

After 14 pom poms later, I learnt that: dental floss works great when you can't find florist wire anywhere, the bigger the pom poms the more sheets of paper you need, if you find it impossible to snip through the paper for the edges just cut them a few layers at a time.

And if all fails, you can just get them gorgeously ready made from this Etsy seller.

Mask Masak with Mother Garden

Ever since I saw this toy breakfast set on Olimomok, I've been obsessed with Mother Garden. The toys are insanely cute and intricate right down to a tee! I was ecstatic when I discovered that Bebe Lollitots warehouse clearance sale was having Mother Garden at 25% off but it was hard work persuading Hubs that we NEED a masak masak (pretend play cooking) set for Bubs.

Hubs: "He's a boy! Boys don't play masak masak"
Me: "Lots of famous chefs are male, Gordon Ramsey, Jamie Oliver ..."
Hubs: "But but but ... it's all pink! And there are strawberries everywhere!"

I kept insisting that we had to get at least one toy cooking set and brought both Hubs and Bubs to the sale. I went berserk - there were piles of lovingly detailed toy sets, from ovens with moveable dials to eggs that break into half with little yolks inside. I kept dithering until I finally narrowed my choices down to two: the picnic set and the takoyaki stall.

 

Can you believe that every single thing here is made from wood, including the plates? Wooden plates! Such a novelty for me, I mean Bubs, since these are supposed to be Bub's toys, not mine. The onigiri is so detailed that you can actually remove the "seaweed" velcro and remove the halves to reveal a circular/triangular filling inside and the wooden rice halves have concealed magnets inside so they snap together easily when you put them back.

It was hell trying to pick between the sea lion takoyaki stall or the oven and cookies set. After much deliberation, I chose the takoyaki stall as I figured that it's harder to find a toy takoyaki set anywhere and I could always resort to Ikea for a cookies baking set. I was also encouraged at the fact that Bubs was playing with the takoyaki balls during the warehouse clearance sale even though Hubs wryly  pointed out that there's a difference between playing with the takoyaki set and throwing the takoyaki balls around.