When I went grocery shopping for Lunar New Year items, I was prepared to buy the assorted candies in those large red containers. Where it’s too big for a small family and also having some candies that no one would eat. So I was thrilled to find a small packet with the candies that we would eat. I notice this year there were a lot more choices making it easier to customize our own trays of goodies.

My co-worker subtle hinted that she wanted me to draw a rose on our whiteboard. Here’s my attempt; I found an online picture to use as a my guide. She’s still working on a quote to put next to it.

Lunar New Year’s Eve
I’ve been slowly preparing for New Year’s Day; getting the house clean, get rid of unwanted stuff (donating/throwing away/consigning), New Year snacks. Work has been kind of hectic, so my holiday spirit kind of subsided. I’m letting things fall where they fall, because I don’t have the energy to fix every detail.

In the mist of preparation, I stumble upon what I think would be a pretty cool tradition. It’s called Prosperity Candles or New Year’s Candles, from the Phillapines or Singapore. It’s a set of 7 colored candles, each color representing Love, Fortune, Health, etc. You are to light all 7 candles at 11:30PM (30 minutes before midnight/New Year’s Day). At midnight, you blow them out and line them up side by side from shortest to tallest. The shortest is what is to come for you this new year. Sounds cool, huh? Except I can’t find anything like that here in the states. That’s including looking for each color individually and not in a pack. I still did not have any luck. Maybe next year? Anybody visiting the Phillipines or Singapore?

For this post I put up a picture of my fortune from a fortune cookie. I will be posting these a lot. For the longest time I’ve been keeping almost every fortune I recieved. I have little piles everywhere that I had forgotten and would find them all stacked neatly and paperclipped. I had planned on gluing them down in a cute notebook or something. Obviously I never got around to it, also because I didn’t want to glue it due to the backside always teadching you chinese or lotto numbers. Hey, who knows it could be my lucky ticket. Then again I never play. Anyways, I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner, but taking pictures front and back seems to be the most sufficient and less mess.

Mmm Honey Basil Seeds drink, bought from yesterday’s luncheon with the fam. celebrating Nephew’s Bday & New Year’s.

Nom Nom
I find this place very quaint and cute with all their little potted plants, especially their cactuses. I think I will plant more cactuses this summer! So far mine from a couple of months ago is thriving! I’m so happy!

The meal was awesome, but if I had known about the side dishes they were going to serve, we wouldn’t have ordered the zucchini pancake. Our entries alone was very filling. It’s okay because this will make a delicious leftover =P

I left work on time to make it to the preview of Man on the Ledge, but The Boyfriend called and cancelled. So I went to FIT instead, needed to buy something to store my Bundle Monster Plates. I did find what I needed, but also picked up some hair accessories =P

A little sad that someone purchased the last crochet strawberry ponytail holder. I had them in my hand, but I put them back. I wanted to look at everything before I decide what I want. I’m pretty sure I made the employees nervous, because my basket was empty until the end. That’s how I shop (most of the time). So hopefully they will restock it.

Going to watch Innocent Steps tonight to make up for missing the movie. Here’s a clip, Enjoy!

Innocent Steps – (2005) South Korea

Today, The Boyfriend and I attended the 4th Annual Ice Sculpting Competition at Discovery Green. The shark and clown fish was my favorite. But before we got here, the warm day started with…

Lunch at MKT Bar inside Phoenicia Specialty Foods.

After we ate, we walked around the supermarket. It’s our first time at this location (downtown). Phoenicia always have beautiful kitchen ware & tea sets. I always have to go down those aisles.

I found something to add to my wishlist; herb pot from the Project series by Pascal Charmolu. I thought I could find it cheaper online, but unfortunately I can’t find any U.S. online shop that sold it. So I might pick it up the next time I’m there.

Then we walked over to Discovery Green to watch the competition. As the day went, it got warmer and Boyfriend was removing his jacket and I, my scarf. Boyfriend was feeling weary, so we left before they announce the winner. On the way back to the car, we got desserts.

The Boyfriend got an Italian Creme cupcake from a food truck. I didn’t catch the name, but Boyfriend said it was mediocre. I had a Spiderman Popsicle. I can’t remember the last time I bought one from a ice cream truck. It was perfect =)

To see more ice sculpture photos & pictures from this day go to my new flickr page.