Mooncakes, MoonCakes, MOONCAKES!!!

This year is definitely a MOONCAKE year for us.
Before we could get ourselves a box of mooncake, we had BOXES of mooncakes as gifts!

My sis and BIL surprised me by passing me a box of Chop Tai Chong Kok - Da Zhong Guo Bing Jia 大中国饼家 mooncakes during my birthday celebration with them at Zafferano last week. At first look, I thought it was Da Tong Mooncake - Tai Thong Cake Shop

Age must be catching up on me, memory has been failing.
Only after a short conversation with my sister, I found out that the long blog post about the traditional mooncake shop which I wrote back in 2010 was Da Tong Mooncake - Tai Thong Cake Shop and not Chop Tai Chong Kok - Da Zhong Guo Bing Jia 大中国饼家 mooncakes.
*palm on face*

My sister knows that I love to eat mooncakes with egg yolks, so she gave me a box of Lotus Seed Paste with Two Yolks!
Yeah!

 I love traditional things and when I see these paper bags, a huge grin on my face was the immediate response! The small one is so cute! *Muack* Love it!

 The lotus seed paste of the Chop Tai Chong Kok - Da Zhong Guo Bing Jia 大中国饼家 mooncakes is not as sweet as the Da Tong Mooncake - Tai Thong Cake Shop, which is a good thing. However, the size of the egg yolk was smaller and the taste of the egg yolk changes quite drastically as the days go by. *Sad*

Just when we had finished the last piece of Chop Tai Chong Kok - Da Zhong Guo Bing Jia 大中国饼家 mooncake, our lovely insurance representative sent us TWO boxes of The Ritz-Carlton Mooncakes.

I love the boxes so much!!!!
Definitely going to keep it and put it to good use.
*wink*

The taste of the Ritz-Carlton Mooncakes is very different from the Chop Tai Chong Kok - Da Zhong Guo Bing Jia 大中国饼家 mooncakes and the Da Tong Mooncake - Tai Thong Cake Shop mooncakes.

Maybe because I am so used to eating the Traditional type of mooncakes that comes with a harder outer skin, this Ritz-Carlton mooncake's skin is much softer and thinner. Even the paste tastes lighter and smoother. The Ritz-Carlton mooncakes are definitely in a different league from that of the other two.

Once again, as a CRAZY EGG YOLK lover, the size of the egg yolk did not satisfy my cravings. *pout* I think the only way I can FULLY SATISFY my egg yolk cravings is to get them from the market and eat them on their own! *laugh*

Happy Mid-Autum Festival everyone!

As you chew into your mooncakes tonight, I will be playing with candles and lanterns with my nieces and nephews!
*wink*

Song Sharing Sunday #193 - Moon River ~ Andy Williams

Whenever I hear this song, I can see my dad singing it in my head... his expressions... his voice... all so clear...

Enjoy the big round moon tonight...
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone!
*smile*

<a target="_blank" href="http://allaboutyourchild.blogspot.com/search/label/Song%20Sharing%20Sunday"><img border="0" width="125" alt="Song Sharing Sharing Badge" src="http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x169/TammyDuplessie/SongSharingSundayBadge.jpg" height="125" /></a>

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?


Moon River - Andy Williams

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Song Sharing Sunday #192 - Viva La Vida [ColdPlay]

Recently, my boys are crazy over this ONCE-VERY-POPULAR-SONG.....

<a target="_blank" href="http://allaboutyourchild.blogspot.com/search/label/Song%20Sharing%20Sunday"><img border="0" width="125" alt="Song Sharing Sharing Badge" src="http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x169/TammyDuplessie/SongSharingSundayBadge.jpg" height="125" /></a>

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?


Viva La Vida - ColdPlay

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Zafferano - Restaurant at Level 43

I would make an effort to try new things every year for my birthday celebration.
A little pact I had with myself.
*wink*

Each year, having birthday dinners with my Sis, Allan and my boys, and my closest clique in Secondary School has become a ritual.
However, this year is slightly different...

My sister no longer stays with me after her marriage last December, so I have an EXTRA birthday celebration from now on. Hooray! *laugh*

Instead of 2 birthday dinners, I will now have 3!
*clap clap clap*

To make this first birthday dinner with her and my BIL memorable, I searched deep and hard for THE 'special' restaurant and I found Zafferano, an Italian restaurant located at the 43rd storey of Ocean Financial Centre. I thought it would be awesome to dine at a place where I could have a bird's eye view of the hottest spot in Singapore : the Marina Bay Sands.

Well, that was what I thought....

I made the reservation online.
Set it on Tuesday, 18th September at 7pm.
Called to confirm it and was already put off by that first call.

The staff on the other line told me that my kids were not allowed to dine there on weekdays. Children below 12 were not allowed.
I corrected her because Zafferano's Website stated that the 'forbidden age' was below 7 years old.
After 'arguing' for some time, she said she would go verify and call me back later.
 She did call back and said that my kids would be allowed in.

Yesterday, hubby and I looked at Zafferano's dinner menu and started to worry: "What will the kids eat?"
Well, its Italian restaurant right?
I was expecting to see Pizza, ANY KIND OF PIZZA, to be on the menu.
My kids love to eat pizzas.
But I was wrong.
Not only were there no pizza, other than the 'Sweet' Category, we could find NOTHING for the kids.

I was contemplating, should I cancel my reservation?

In the end, I decided to stick to it.
Picked up the phone and made my second call to Zafferano,
just to check if they would have a kids menu, since they WELCOME kids to dine in during weekends.
Nope, no kids menu.

"Should I cancel the reservation?" I asked myself again.

For so many years, my birthday dinners have been putting my children before myself, I thought, its time I put myself before them for MY birthday celebrations. Now that they are old enough, its time I enter a classy restaurant and eat my heart out.

GREEN LIGHT lit up
I should just go ahead with my plan.
Worst case scenario would be if they do not like what I order for them, I would bring them to McDonalds after that.

Seriously, first impression was good when we went today.
After the food was ordered, the waiter came and gave us these (photo below), saying that it was complementary from the restaurant.

Assorted bread with Beetroot Jelly

The kids were so excited to see the full F1 race course, the laser beams from Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Flyer, etc.

Look at those smiles on their faces! 
Love it!
I guessed even if they go hungry, this trip would still be worth it.

It was everyone's 'FIRST TIME' in Zafferano and so each of us get a taste of each other's food by sampling a little here and there. 
What taste good?

In my opinion, none of the dishes that I tried would make me go back.
Firstly, the portion was too little to fill our stomach.
 I was still hungry after that and yes, we did go McDonalds because the Risotto, which I ordered for the kids, had some spice or pepper in it. 
It was too spicy for my boys' taste buds.
They ended up eating more from our plates and the bread selection.

Nonetheless, some were more to my liking than others. 
And they are in this order, starting with the most satisfactory :

BIL's Filletto

Hubby's Guancia

Sister's Capesante

Sister's Ravioli

Kids' Risotto Aragosta

My elder son's Minestrone

My Maiala

Did you notice that I had the worst luck in choosing food?
Ya, mine tasted really weird. Even hubby thinks so too.
I think next time, I should just let my BIL order for me!
Yes BIL?
*wink*

I must have caused his heart to skip a beat if he read that sentence.
*laugh*

Thank you Sis and BIL for giving me the treat even though none of us was TRULY satisfied with our experience are Zafferano.

Song Sharing Sunday #191 - GANGNAM STYLE ~ PSY

Everyone and EVERYWHERE, people are talking about GANGNAM STYLE.
I have zero clue what it is.
Until today.
So THIS is what Gangname Style is all about.

I wonder if my super-Korean-fan, eldest niece, would know how to dance this GANGNAM STYLE.
Would be really cute!
*laugh*

Wanted to find out today when we meet up at my in-law's place (just like every Sunday), unfortunately, my MIL called and said that the whole family is down with high fever.
Its been spreading from one family member to another ever since the youngest in the family hit 40 degrees celsius on Tuesday.
The 5 year old has recovered, but the rest are down and out of the healthy scale.

As a result, my MIL told us and my 2nd BIL not to go over this week.
Other than worrying for everyone's health, she is also vexed over the BIG BIRTHDAY CAKE which they had bought for my 1st BIL's birthday celebration.
I guess, they will have to eat the birthday cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner....
*giggle*

So here's wishing my elder BIL a "Happy Healthy Birthday!"

<a target="_blank" href="http://allaboutyourchild.blogspot.com/search/label/Song%20Sharing%20Sunday"><img border="0" width="125" alt="Song Sharing Sharing Badge" src="http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x169/TammyDuplessie/SongSharingSundayBadge.jpg" height="125" /></a>

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?


GANGNAM STYLE - PSY

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Song Sharing Sunday #190 - Some Nights ~ Fun

I love rhythms like this...
I can imagine thousands coming together to sing the chorus "Woah..ah...Woah..ah.."
However....
am NOT a fan of the lyrics though....

<a target="_blank" href="http://allaboutyourchild.blogspot.com/search/label/Song%20Sharing%20Sunday"><img border="0" width="125" alt="Song Sharing Sharing Badge" src="http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x169/TammyDuplessie/SongSharingSundayBadge.jpg" height="125" /></a>

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

Some Nights ~ Fun

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Wordless Wednesday - Puffer Fish

Renovation Company Confirmed!

Ever since 3 months ago, we had been going 'renovation company hopping'.
Yes, we had been asking for renovation company for quotations even before we went for our HDB 1st appointment!
*laugh*
You cannot blame us, we are just toooooooooooooo excited!

Two weeks ago, a few days after our long awaited HDB 1st appointment, we finally confirmed with a renovation company. They gave us the best offer. When I say best offer, I am NOT talking about price alone. I am talking about what they offer, the materials that they will be using as well as the cost. Most importantly, I like their responsiveness and sincerity. One word : SATISFIED!


I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Jennifer for the great recommendation. Even though they had to wait till end of next month before they could start work, I know they will do a good job because after conversing with Jennifer a couple of times over different topics, I know she would not recommend anything or anyone whom she herself is not satisfied with. So thank you once again Jennifer! *Super Hugs*

The date for the renovation company to begin work in my new house has been set. Even typing this sentence makes my heart dance to an upbeat rhythm! *laugh*

After signing the agreement with the renovation company, we asked, "What can we choose/decide now?"
"Only Tiles." he said.

IMMEDIATELY after we stepped out of their office, we drove to their designated supplier for tiles.
In less than 30mins, we made our choices and left the shop cheerfully with samples of our tiles.
Faxed the codes of the tiles to the renovation company that very day too.

It is so easy to get things done speedily, when we are so clear of what we want.


Now,
I do not want time to fly, 
I want it to ZOOOOOOOOOOM......
C'mon! 
Speed Up!
 

Song Sharing Sunday #189 ~ One More Night ~ Maroon 5

Last week I mentioned that 'Whistle' from Flo Rida was hypnotising.
THIS SONG IS EQUALLY HYPNOTISING!!!
Everyone of us cannot help but sing/hum along....
does it have the same effect on you?

<a target="_blank" href="http://allaboutyourchild.blogspot.com/search/label/Song%20Sharing%20Sunday"><img border="0" width="125" alt="Song Sharing Sharing Badge" src="http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x169/TammyDuplessie/SongSharingSundayBadge.jpg" height="125" /></a>

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

One More Night ~ Maroon 5

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...