Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Tuesday, 27 December 2016

My Very Merry Christmas 2016!

Happy Holy Christmas Everyone!

Wishing you all a year of health and happiness, from my family to yours!

祝大家圣诞节快乐,也祝大家新的一年里更健康幸福快乐!

Phew~! 2016, what a hasty year!
This year, once again, has been incredibly busy and more challenging than ever.
Earlier this year, I set myself a big number of small goals to achieve; and the idea of these mini goals were to help build my confidence and strengthen me in the areas where competency are obviously still lacking...

For examples: Money Management and Social Skill

In the current society we are living in, money matters more than you can imagine.
Thanks to my profession and social circle, I have managed to come across with many different people with different perceptions about money management.
I must admit - the number of people who really know how to use their money wisely are, in fact, very little. Genuinely speaking, I hope to retire earlier (before 50's); as such, I have started working on improving my understandings on several financial aspects which hopefully will make my dream comes true. 

On Christmas Day...

Apart from Easter Good Friday (usually falls on March-April), Christmas Day is the only day on which I can sleep in late. Today, I woke up at 9am with a big grin on my face (knowing that I don't have to rush to work) and ready to celebrate this jolly big day with my family.
I am not born Christian, Christmas has never been significant in my childhood life.
For the 1/3 of my life living in two Christian families, I have come to learn, adapt and now adore Christian celebrations; and Christmas Day now is bigger in my life than ever before.

This is me, checking out the reverse camera function on my new smart phone that Santa aka my husband gave me on Christmas Day.

(^o^) 


Every year, we adopt the traditional Christmas celebration.
By that, we mean, Roast Turkey is always served on Christmas Day.
I always have my Christmas tree and presents ready 2 weeks before Santa comes to visit us.
I enjoy watching the colours of my Christmas Tree!
This year quite a few people gave us Lotto scratches as presents. 
They must know I like scratching for $$$ luck! 


All sorts of different presents, wrapped in colourful papers!


Christmas Eve... The Night Before...

This is the night most people often don't know what other people do on Christmas Eve.
If you have children at home, quite likely this is the night where the presents are opened and the kids dancing all night with their hands & gifts both up in the air...!

But for us, it is always a very peaceful evening where traditional old English Christmas songs are played in the background and me bustling in the kitchen trying to get the dessert ready for the next day.

NOTE: Christmas Songs ≠ Mariah Carey's or Michael Bublé's Christmas Carols.


Christmas Trifle


In Year 2012, with the combined effort, Alex and I made a hugh Ginger Bread House.
In Year 2015, we decided to make a traditional cherry Yule Log for a change.
This year, we thought Summer Trifle would be perfect for this scorching weather of Queensland.

I work on each of these layers with great care and love!


Finally, Ta Ta...!!!


I sealed the trifle with utmost care but I almost dropped the glass bowl as I was carrying it to the fridge because it was too cold and wet to hold. My adrenaline skyrocketed to the roof!
Luckily my husband caught my hands in time. He saved the world!


This is our Christmas Trifle 10 minutes before it was brought to our parents' house!


Christmas Lunch

I didn't bring my camera with me, so I have to snap the rest of our Christmas feast pictures with the camera on my new phone. The amount of food was phenomenal, as if the feast was prepared for half a team of Rugby players. Roast turkey, smoked trouts, beans, brussel sprouts, salad, prawns... you name it!

In real honesty, this is the best part of Christmas;
To be with your family on Christmas Day, tucking into big feast with plenty of laughters and fun!


Christmas Presents

After leaving our parents' place, we headed back home, did a few things and finally time came to open the presents!

This year, we have got a lot of great presents from our friends and family.
This is a snapshot of some of the gifts, but there are loads more!


Trying out my Napoleon Lip Gloss Set!
Thank you Santa aka my husband!


So, this is it, my holy Christmas Day in Year 2016!
Sadly, it comes and goes too quickly; and soon New Year countdown will follow.

Merry Christmas to all of you; I hope you have had a tremendous day with your loved one and may 2017 brings you hope, health and happiness!

And don't forget to continue sharing your love and kindness to others!

Cheers! *Mia*

Sunday, 27 December 2015

Unforgettable Christmas 2015

Ho Ho Ho... Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas is one of the biggest Christian celebrations in the world & is also my most favourite festive season on earth! I love Christmas because Christmas brings out the kindliness in man and if only peace and kindliness can be spread to every corner of the world, wouldn't it be so perfect?

Let me speak no further. Please enjoy a series of pictures depicting my way of celebrating Christmas traditions in the hot scorching summer of Queensland.

1) Christmas Tree at my apartment lobby



2) Kahlua Roulade on Christmas Eve's morning tea


3) Santa's Sleigh (made out of candy canes and cadbury chocolates)

4) At the background, Moët Champagne


5) Christmas Carols from King's College Choir that played all night on our Christmas Eve



6) My proud Christmas baking accomplishment, Yule Log with plenty of cherries (I made this on the night before Christmas while listening to the carols ^^ )


7) My Christmas Tree and the Christmas presents underneath it


8) Our sumptuous Christmas feast at my parents in law's place - Bon appetite!


9) My very casual but happy family portrait on Christmas Day


10) Christmas presents for me this year - love them all! "Thank you Santa!"


11) One of my presents include the prestigious Dahlia Divin by Givenchy


12) My husband got a bottle of Hermes from Father Christmas


It was a memorable Christmas celebration for me despite only short-lived.

Too often I hear many say "Christmas is not quite the same as when you were little. It is just another day". No, that's not entirely true. Christmas lives in the heart of those who believe in it. Our roles may have changed but the peace in our heart & our devotion to Christmas celebration shall not change.

May the day of Christmas bring lots of love to the world. Merry Christmas to all.

Love, Mia

Monday, 21 December 2015

Eventful December 皆大欢喜十二月

终于 December 了!
欢乐的佳节悄悄又来到我们的身边了!

十二月来临之前,‘绰号车神’ 的公司司机历年来第一次出车祸。
侥幸司机人无大碍,我的车尾却扁成个 pizza 一样,面目全非!

说我心不疼,怎么可能?
这就是我十一月的尾声。


随着十二月的来临,跟着过不久就是老爷奶奶的结婚纪念日。
我们一家四口找了个锯扒餐厅来庆祝。

说得也是,我们四个就只有男人一个是喜欢吃扒的。
那为什么每一个大日子都来锯扒餐厅点三文鱼吃呐?
(男人你感受得到爸爸妈妈和老婆我都很疼你吗?)

那一晚的家庭日后,我开始感受得到幸福快乐的 December 终于来了!


接着,就是一连串的圣诞节吃喝玩乐。

圣诞晚宴 Christmas Dinner

今年圣诞节,为了想答谢同事们的努力,我带了大家到这里挺有名的 Cafe Bliss 来庆祝!
我喜欢这家餐厅昏暗的灯光及不太吵的气氛,适合我们小人数平静用餐和交换礼物。

跟从前灯光耀眼的大派对相比,我比较享受及喜欢用这样和睦平静的方式来庆祝圣诞。


当晚每个人都有张单人照,我也不例外。

注意喔,每个人头顶上的皇冠,贴纸都是分开贴上的,
哪有人像我那么有创意,把所有 stickers 都贴在一起变成粒大宝石呐?^^


当晚大家点的菜色都不一样,选择包括了海鲜、牛扒、猪排、烤鸭,卖相跟味道不分上下。

前菜跟主菜的摆盘都很用心漂亮对吗?这叫人怎么舍不得吃呐?


这是我的主菜,跟我一样,是碟诱人的猪排!



Menu 上看三文鱼已经看不出奇了,出奇的反而是看到天那么漂亮的三文鱼摆盘。


欣赏厨师的用心,完全满足到顾客的视觉与味觉。


再滑下去就是更精致的甜品了,看了别流口水~!

这个是谁点的?快跟我交换!


那个叫人流连忘返的甜品 -- 我的 Milles Feuilles!

我眼睛应该比我胃口大,才吃三分之一就吃不下了,太大份了咯!


男人 的火焰山甜品!

我撑着个大肚皮,自己的甜品都已经吃不完了,还挖人家的来吃?

 

欢乐的 December 前半部还没结束喔~

跟着就是找我们的好朋友吃 salad buffet 去!

我们的朋友早在小西瓜出世前就已经认识很久了。
随着西瓜 Millie 的出世,我们四人行变得更多八卦话题聊。

小孩子果然是联系感情最佳的 Topic!


两个大男人齐齐逗一个小朋友。
 

虽然顾小孩我是没经验,不过我也好歹当过一阵子的幼稚园老师,耐心方面应该难不倒我!

西瓜 Millie 双脚好有力,实在难以抓稳来拍照,唉~

 

十二月的上半部就这样,下半部跟着是一连串的忙忙忙及更多的吃喝玩乐。

下一篇再见,临走前献上我刚买的 Clarins Skin Illusion Foundation。

嗯!它是来暂代香奈儿的~


祝你有个美好的十二月

Saturday, 27 December 2014

Christmas 2014

Hello My Poppy-seeds!

Merry Kurisumasu and Happy Boxing Day to you!!!

Things have been pretty rough with me juggling hard between work and household chores this month. I am very thankful for having the physical and emotional support from my parents-in-law. I truly love them.

Before 2015 kicks in, let me share with you this very special dish my father-in-law prepared for our sumptuous family Christmas lunch this year!

Tur-Duc-Ken

A deboned chicken stuffed inside a deboned duck, then stuffed inside a deboned turkey. How special!


There are some other seafood dishes as well. I was busy eating and I forgot the pictures!


Christmas Trifle for dessert!

Yummy huh? Ho ho ho!


With a heavy workload ahead, I guess that's all from me for this year... *sadly*

Although 2014 had been quite a rocky year for me, I felt blessed and thankful nevertheless.

I wish for a smoother and happier 2015 for my beloved husband and family.
Same goes to you my blogger friends ^_^

May you and your family have a prosperous Year 2015!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! see you next year!

Thursday, 26 December 2013

Merry Christmas 2013

Weeks before Christmas, our neighbours are already all in the festive mood ^^


Christmas means a whirlwind of good times with family

Like many previous years, I woke up to plenty of Christmas presents ready to be ripped open in the afternoon.


Christmas is the only time of the year where I get to sleep in till past 9am.

Today, I am on a mission to bake a frittata to bring over to the family home at 1pm.

Hmmm... I really like the colours of frittata - red and green - the Christmas colours!


More food at mum and papa's house.

Turkey, king prawns, salmon, baked potatoes, brussels, puddings, ice cream, jelly etc etc etc.

Too much food but too little room in the stomach!


After feeding, I have rounds of Beckgammon games with Papas! 

Then, it comes the time to rip open the presents!

This is my favourite part of Christmas.... kekeke 


There are quite a fair few presents from my patients this year.

Some of them are really sweet - like hand knitted scarf, hand stitched doll (not in the picture) etc.

I really like the Choya plum wine from my friend, Aoki-san. 

I can't touch it because of the alcohol but Alex thinks it is amazing!


Nougat from the famous Country Road nougat company! Love it, absolutely love it!

And not to forget, I also receive plenty of chocolates, scottish finger biscuits etc etc too.

And they are really yummy ^^


More champagnesss from the reps! 

My fridge is really full with champagne at the moment ~


The award winning skincare product from London - Oskia.

This is a truly amazing product - I will have to write a separate review on this when I get the time ~

And it is for Alex ^^


It is ironic to see how much effort we put in well months before Christmas, and yet our Christmas day only last for a day ~

I hope you guys have enjoyed a wonderful Christmas this year.

May Good Lord brings you abundant happiness in the year 2014!