Lady Di's Hi-tea

Recently went for hi-tea at Diana's house and I was truly surprised with the load of scrumptious desserts she has prepared for us! It's actually a small bookish gathering among the few of us with book swaps and some simple games plus getting to know each other better. Surprisingly, even though I was not as closed with some of them, we immediately clicked! Cliche as it may be but great minds do think alike!

Anyway, while I was in awe with Diana's elegant house, I definitely enjoyed myself even though I couldn't ate as much dessert as I wanted to. I was just so engrossed with our conversations that I think I've over looked it LOL!

Yummy desserts, thanks Diana!

1 of the games we played and I've forgotten the name LOL!

Look at us clowning around! Ai Jou, Diana, Vivian and Selvi, thanks so much for a wonderful afternoon of laughter, bookish chats and interesting games! I've never felt more at home than with these beautiful, intelligent ladies! Btw, these ladies are from a book club that I am in i.e. KL Book Appreciation Club. I am so blessed to have known them, honestly!

The Symphony Walk

This is just a quick sharing of my earlier shots taken from IOI City Mall's The Symphony Walk :-) Most would have known this is the star attraction of IOI City Mall. The musical fountain with it's elaborate colours at night is so beautiful and soothing. They have added some dinosaur's eggs at the other side... not sure for which occasion but I've enjoyed 'spamming' it though LOL! Just for the heck of it!

Oh no! The dinosaurs have invaded Le Meridien!!!

My Mother's Day away from my Angels

For those who didn't know, my kids stay with my mother-in-law in hometown, studying and growing up there. Hence we try to balik kampung monthly, especially on selected celebratory weekends la. Unfortunately, we had to forgo Mother's Day this time as they will be coming down to KL this month end for my brother's wedding. Finally! There will be a May wedding in the family!!!

So I was out the whole day, first to Subang Parade to collect some yarns I've bought from Babe's Creation. I did have a relaxing time with my current read and teh tarik at Uncle Lim's while waiting for the mall to open :-)

Tuesday's with Morrie is a superb read!

Mother's Day lunch was at Grand Imperial, Sunway Pinnacle. Some of the yummylicious food and dim sum we've ordered...

Then we headed for a caffeine fix at Coffea Coffee. It was so nice of them to offer a Mother's Day promo of a free cake with any 2 drinks ordered!

Finally, a family photo!

Last but not least, hubs treated me to these!!! It was unexpected so I was truly surprised and blessed. Unfortunately, angels were not with us hence the little sombre mood... sigh!

It was a simple day of eating, bonding and catching up for me. Totally welcomed this de-stressing and relaxing day though missing my dearest Tyger and Princess. Well then... looking forward to this month end's event!

Hi-tea with the creative ladies @ The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur

I have not been to a hi-tea before so I honestly do not know what to expect from it. So when I was treated to one, I felt so blessed and thankful since it's always associated with the elite. Well, it was not just an ordinary hi-tea as apparently it was one of the best in KL too!

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur is a YTL classic hotel. Living it up to it's name, this 5 star hotel does look majestic with it's colonial heritage design. It was built in 1932, being one of the iconic and fancy hotel back then to the rich and famous.

By the 1970s, however, the hotel had lost its lustre, giving way to newer, bigger and more luxurious hotels. Saved from demolition by the government, she was gazetted as a heritage building under the Antiquities Act. At the end of 1983, the last guests checked out and the hotel became home to the National Art Gallery from 1984 until 1998, until it relocated to its current premises. 

YTL Hotels was then entrusted with the restoration of this national treasure, a project the Company undertook with much pride. 

From http://www.majestickl.com/majestic-story.html

The Drawing Room is an elegant private room, so colonial English, apparently designed for Afternoon Tea. I was so grateful to be treated to such a tradition, hence feeling a little out of place in this grandeur. As English as it may be, the menu though was a mixture of traditional and modern.

From http://www.majestickl.com/drawing-room.html

Our excited selfie while waiting for Shia Lynn! Photo: Ai Jou

Our coffee table with the classic setting

Well, when we arrived, we were busy taking photos! How can you not snap when the lighting and setting is so perfect?!

Me with the host, Ai Jou

Healthy Chamomile Tea for the labour in us! And loving the cute honey jar!

Sweets and savouries on a quaint tray! Photo: Ai Jou

Ai Jou and Shia Lynn

Ai Jou, when was this taken?!!!

Photo: Ai Jou

And then it started raining... I just loved the window latch!

The Orchid Conservatory was really magnificent!

One of the rooms at The Smoke House - reminded me of Sherlock Holmes

Our last selfie of the day!

I am so lost for words while blogging this hence I've kept it short, mostly filled with photos. I just felt so lucky to have known these ladies, so blessed to be treated to this wonderful hi-tea and so grateful to experience such English Afternoon Tea.

Aside from us catching up over tea, I've also learnt something new - SARK's Creative Dream Game. Though I'm still a blur, I just hoped I did it right :-p Both Ai Jou and Shia Lynn are positive influences for me so I do hope to gain more self-confidence in my future endeavour moving forward. FYI, Shia Lynn is the founder and owner of this handmade creative business:
http://www.theartsycraftsy.com/

Thank you, Ai Jou, I truly appreciate it. Hugs and kisses!

Malacca day trip

Finally had the chance to go for a short getaway with Angels during their school holidays last year end. We have decided against overnight due to the long weekend so a day trip it is.

So, this is a late post as I seemed to have misplaced the photos from my camera. I only have the ones from my phone to share hence not many, in fact, very few so this will be short and sweet.

We have decided on Melaka based on the majority votes plus other various factors LOL! You wouldn't believed our first stop though...

Malacca Zoo! Our previous visit here was memorable hence we decided to spend some family quality time here plus it's educational. Unfortunately, through the years, the place has dilapidated, the condition has deteriorated and the animals looked sick and tired. I guess this will be our last visit here.

Map of Malacca Zoo

Batman!

After zoo, we headed to Jonker's Street for the infamous chicken rice balls. Again, it was jammed and crowded hence we had to opt for other less popular shops which turned out to be unappetising. Sigh! An afternoon walk along the street and it has started to drizzle. Bought some fresh butter and margarine pineapple tarts from the famous LW Nyonya Pineapple Tarts House and off we go to the car as the rain got heavier.

IMO, butter tasted so much nicer than margarine

Last stop before heading back to KL, a must try in Melaka, satay celup! We went to McQuek's Satay Celup at Jalan Parameswara and thankfully they had just opened so not many customers yet. It was a quarter past 5 then.

All in all, we had a wonderful quality and bonding time... fun as a family outing... definitely worthwhile albeit the few inconveniences! Now hoping Angels fare better in this year's major exams so that we can opt for a longer stay and better destination if the budget permits! I know I am looking forward to it *happy dance*

Day out with Angels

I was all hyped up last Saturday for a day out with my Angels. The day started beautifully with wan tan mee breakfast with hubs before he dropped us off at Summit. After that, it was the waiting game for Popular RM5 Fiesta to open it's doors. After a couple of hours of books and stationery, we headed for the ToysRUs Clearance sale upstairs on 4th floor. Surprisingly, it was pretty breezy as most of the toys were meant for babies and toddlers hence nothing much for my teens LOL! After an hour or so, we headed to Old Town White Coffee for something to munch, get hydrated and to rest my dear feet.

The staffs were busy getting ready before the door opened while we waited

Here's my haul except for John Boyne's which is my girl's! RM5 each! What a steal!

I am very proud of myself, setting a limit and sticking to it! I set my book purchase limit as 5 and I've stuck to it. I actually had more but reduced it to 5 so I am really happy about it. I mean I have so many TBR books and I won't be able to finish reading it any sooner. Adding more books will mean more hoarding so trying to reduce the buying but I can't do it overnight killing my itch instantly. I'm aiming for zero buying next year and clearing as many from my TBR. These books will always be in print, only the matter of pricing. I can still buy it after I've cleared at least 50% of my TBR and not simply hoard especially authors I've not read. What if I keep buying it based on good reviews but it might not be my cup of tea? Wasting money right? 'Waste not, splurge not' - my anti-hoarding mantra LOL!!!

Anyway, the afternoon was basically another waiting game as I was supposed to meet up with my ex-colleagues from Cellini Design Center. Evelyn was kind to pick us up from Summit at 3pm but she got delayed due to the very bad weather and traffic jam. Finally meeting up with the ladies after 2 years was momentous! Unfortunately, I was under the weather - without voice, so can't speak much... only able to laugh non-stop! It was filled with joy and laughter... even my kids were fully entertained by this bunch of aunties LOL!

Michelle's home-cooked yummy organic and healthy noodles and salad for tea!

Avis, Evelyn, Michelle and moi - ex-colleagues yet friends for life!

We met up at Michelle's shop - she's selling healthy organic produce in Taipan, USJ. You can check out her Facebook page for more organic details:

https://www.facebook.com/B-Nature-Organic-365373576957157/?fref=ts

I never knew healthy organic food can be so yummy! I do know it's a first for my kids so it was rather difficult getting used to the taste. Not only them, me acquiring healthy taste buds will be extra difficult after 40 odd years of unhealthy junks and snacks LOL! Well, there's a start for everything in life so planning for a more healthy diet in the coming months... slowly but surely... including lifestyle too. But I don't think I can stay away from my favourite junks so perhaps a mix of both then. Need to balance it and so do you. Unfortunately, being healthy is not cheap so give and take lah!

Life is short so live it to the fullest! Carpe Diem!

A day out with my BFF's

A sunny yet hazy Saturday at Sunway Pyramid on the eve of Mooncake Festival, spending quality time with my dear BFF's!

While waiting for Adrianne to arrive, thanks Joyce for the Cappuccino treat!

Our yummy late lunch at Bubba Gump! Thanks Joyce!

Joyce, Adrianne and moi... yakking session at Starbucks!

So enjoyed that day... it's been a while since we got together and catch up! I think we should do this monthly! LOL!

A toast to best friends, yummy food and delicious coffee!

Field trip to Bookalicious! @ The Summit, Subang USJ

Honestly, the event sounded like a school trip or something LOL! Anyway, last Sunday was the first time I attended an event from the book club which I've joined in Facebook, KL Book Appreciation Club (#KLBAC). I was nervous but also curious at the same time. Thankfully I do know Leon of Bookalicious! so in the end I didn't fell out of place or scared out of my wits. In fact, we had so much fun getting to know each other and also the bookstore that time actually flew by!

Background of this event:
It was created for #KLBAC members who wished to go to Bookalicious! as a group. Especially for those who did not know the way to this bookstore. Leon Ngai, Merchandising Manager of Bookalicious!, was there to give us a tour of his humble bookstore.

Just loved the facade! So inviting!

Leon's wife, Wendy, made all these yummy finger food for us!

The decorated, vintage posters! If you noticed, this is the Buy 1 Free 2 corner! So worthy!

Special, limited editions are behind the counter

Books galore! All arranged according to genres!

The biggest genre - Young Adults! From dystopian to fantasy to new adult!

New Arrivals at low prices every day!

Journals for the writers at heart

Group photo time! Jessica, Naz, Leon, Ai Jou and me

I was surprised we have a memento from this trip. Thanks KLBAC and Artsy Craftsy for this beautiful bookmark!

My humble journal haul from Bookalicious! So loving the cute bookmarks!

Pssst: according to Jessica, all the lovely bookmarks, paper-bags and logo were designed by Wendy! She's so talented and creative!

Honestly, I can just browse endlessly, looking at those luscious books the whole day! I am weird like that! As I've mentioned before, bookstores are my heaven!

Thanks to Ai Jou for organizing this wonderful trip. I do enjoy their company especially since we are all bibliophiles. I do hope to be able to join future events if the location, date and $$$ permit. It is a lot more fun with many like-minded people around, sharing ideas, infos and etc...

Bookalicious! is located at Lot G22, Ground Floor, The Summit USJ
Bookalicious! Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bookalicious?fref=ts

Well, if you are also a Bibliophile, you can join #KLBAC Facebook group here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/theklbac/