Happy New Year!

As the year ends, I find myself looking back at 2008 and taking account of everything that had happened. There are times when we may find ourselves facing certain upturns and downturns in our lives but that's what makes it memorable.

At the start of the New Year, it's quite the norm to make resolutions and I hope 2009 will be a better year - financially, mentally and physically. I remember vividly over some resolutions I made last year but unfortunately, I haven't been able to fulfill them. More often, my resolutions will either be broken, forgotten, or easily ignored. :D Perhaps I'll simply continue from where I left off. As everyone is also keeping an eye on the economy, the best way is to buy only the essentials, spend wisely and try to resist indulging in an expensive lifestyle. I understand that it's easier said than done for some people. If credit cards are in hand, would you care about temptations or affordability? Whatever it is, let's put our worries aside and be happy celebrating life towards the New Year.

Above all, may 2009 bring prosperity, peace, fun and a better sense in money management for all of us. To those people who are getting ready to rock and roll at countdown parties tonight, be good, be safe and take care throughout the joyous celebrations.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Blog Awards Galore

Just as Christmas is a time for great cheer, as well as for giving and receiving, I believe it is also a season of awards for the blogosphere. With that in mind, I have several awards to hand out today. I apologize this has been posted thus late but it's better late than never. :D I have many wonderful inspiring blogging friends and I'm so flattered to receive the following awards from a few of them!!

This is my first ever award for this blog. Thanks to Foong

Thanks to Monica and Kriscell

Thanks again to Monica

Thanks to Kriscell

All awards are special and meaningful to me. So now, I have to pass these on to other fabulous bloggers to honour them for their truly inspiring posts that delight their readers. By chance, should any of you have already received these awards, you may keep them for your keepsake. No worries, I'll not take it personally if you have no intention to pass these awards to the others.

Eastcoastlife, Monica, Foong, Molly, Mariuca, Lina, Buzzing J, Nick Phillips, Johnny Ong, Azlan, Kriscell, Justin, Jenn, Chin Weng, Tz and Tracy.

Merry Christmas from Life Ramblings

It's Christmas eve and shopping malls, hotels and not to mention, homes of Christians are aglow with Christmas trees, lightings and colorful decorations while Santa Clauses and Santarinas are out at the malls to rope in the crowd.

Times have somehow changed this year and Christmas won't be the same. As I walked around KL, I couldn't help, if not everyone, pondered about the tough times and uncertainties ahead. Despite the bleak economy, let us try hard to enjoy this festivity with one another and embrace and reminisce the good old times. After all, life is about moving on, preparing for each day and make the most of what we have. The power is always in our hands.

With this festive season, everyone is trying to come up with the most impressive Christmas decorations.

Red Christmas at Sunway Pyramid old wing.

In the spirit of Christmas, shoppers were being entertained by the festive tunes at Sunway Pyramid

Beautifully decorated Christmas tree at Pyramid Tower Hotel


The lightings and decorations at Pavillion


Pavillion has a white sparkling mediocre Christmas tree outside their front entrance

another shot from the inside view

In honour of this joyous festival, I thought I would share one of my favourite Chrismas songs by Christina Aguilera for your pleasure.

Here's wishing all my readers and friends out there a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year. May God bless you with peace, joy and prosperity.

Wordless Wednesday - Too cute for words

For this week's Wordless Wednesday, I have my little girl in different versions of Photofunia.

Tong Yuen Festival

Today is Dong Zhi, which marks the Winter Solstice, according to the chinese calender. Dong Zhi is the time for family to get together to make tong yuen. Traditionally, Tong Yuen is served on special occasions such as during weddings and the winter solstice festival about 6 weeks before the Chinese New Year. This special occasion is widely celebrated by the Chinese community all around the globe where family and relatives would gather for reunion to mark this significant festivity.

Basically, Tong yuen is a Chinese dessert made from glutinous rice flour. Just like the past, my kids and I would gather with my mom and we would make the rice balls one by one from the glutinous dough prepared. If you're too lazy to roll the rice balls, the coloured balls can be easily obtained in wet markets or hypermarkets. Despite all these conveniences, nothing beats making it from scratch, with kids gathered together and helping out to learn the art of rolling tong yuen .

The whole affair can be a joyous and fun experience that they will remember always, and hopefully pass on to another generation. They enjoy doing it but will turn the whole house upside down with small piles of flour scattered on the floor, dough on the wall, colours on each other’s faces and practically everything else in the house. LOL!

There you go, a bowl of colourful Tong Yuen or Glutinous Rice Balls in Pandan flavoured ginger syrup. Some of the common used colours are white and pink but this year my mom create multiple colours which include green (extracted from pandan leaves), blue (extracted from blue pea flowers a.k.a bunga telang) and maroon (extracted from dragon fruit).

Hurray for Dong Zhi!