Haagen-Dazs

My important Haagen-Dazs moments!

1. The first Haagen-Dazs parlour in Penang was at the revolving restaurant at City Bayview, I think. Auntie Tin was the one, who had it and kept on emphasizing the ice-cream awesomeness for many years before I finally had my very first Haagen-Dazs moment at the Belissa Row. It was an exclusive experience though we only shared a small bowl of ice-cream among many of us. It was of course expensive too, according to the 10 - 15 years ago standard. 

2. Fast forward to my another Haagen-Dazs moment - discovering the Haagen-Dazs bars. It was almost ten years ago during my trip to Australia. The MAS stewardess was offering the Haagen-Dazs bars after meal. It was so good that I could still remember the taste of the ice cream till today. 

3. Bought Donkoi's first Haagen-Dazs moment with my first salary 

4. Shared Dory's virgin experience with Haagen-Dazs

Hate Love Relationship with Haagen-Dazs

Haagen-Dazs is so cheaply accessible at the Walmart. However, it is still more expensive compared to other ice-cream on the shelves. I had been avoiding it last year for many  "valid" reasons, like I should not outgrow my Vera Wang dress. Hahaha. 

The thing is I have unleashed myself out of this prison of mind after our big day. Now, I paddle at the ice-cream row weekly not because I finish my Haagen-Dazs stock, but I just have this silent satisfaction by checking on the variety of the Haagen-Dazs. I am insanely in love with Haagen-Dazs. It is like my boyfriend. I have to pay it a visit every week. Ever since I have rekindle my relationship with my old "flame", I have this secret wish to taste the available (possible to my liking) ice cream flavours all over again. Here goes my ice-cream list for 2012:

1. Banana Split

2. Butter Pecan: in the fridge now

3. Cherry Vanilla

4. Chocolate

5. Chocolate chip cookie dough

6. Chocolate cookie chip

7. Chocolate peanut butter

8. Coffee

9. Cookie & Cream

10. Creme Brulee

11. Dark Chocolate

12. Dulce le leche 

13. Green Tea

14. Java chip

15. Mango

16. Mint chip

17. Pineapple coconut

18. Pistachio

19. Pralines and cream

20. Rocky road

21. Rum Raisin: My all time favourite!

22. Strawberry

23. Vanilla: Donkoi loves this so much that we almost finished the whole pint while watching shark tank on one of the Friday evenings

24. Vanilla bean

25. Vanilla chocolate chip

26. Vanilla swiss almond

27. White chocolate raspberry tuffles

Oh, photo is done!

Bingo, knock off another item from my to-do list thanks to one great song. When I heard of this song on air this morning, it acted as a reminder for me to complete the project, which was done half way before I started my new job. *I could not believe that I have started on my new job for almost 3 weeks now, and tomorrow is Friday, yay!*

"Music comforts your emotional turmoil, celebrates your happiness and keeps loneliness out of the way."

Penang Longchamp Le Pliage on sale

Can't believe it is another year of Mothers' Day. Let's celebrate it together with the Chic Ministry, which is a brainchild of my sister and I. Hereby, I am going to sound very much like any merchants in the commercial. xoxo us at our Facebook page/follow us at our blog sphere. Thank you! ^.^

Boogie-Woogie

I am binning (organizing) our wedding photos and videos. Watch the sentence - it is singular involvement because Donkoi is just not as keen as me to spread out the word that he is sold officially. Blek! :-P

It is coming close to 3 months ever since I was being pronounced as a Mrs, but we are yet to send out our thank you note with the party photos. Someone really has to put in the effort to whip up the material. If only if we have hired a full packaged wedding planner, everything should be taken care of. When you can't afford to spend, the next best resource you could have is someone, who is having her mini holiday. Hehehe. 

So far, one of the things that got the wonder of my magical powder is our dancing session material. The material are so precious that I haven't got bored staring at those happy moments countless times while doing the edition in these few days. Here is the private premiere of my work, enjoy it like I do!

Special Occasion: Accepting an award

I procrastinated for so long to complete this manual because it took too much of my brain juice to come up with the fake scenarios to say things that do not feel real to me. Hahaha. Anyway, I am done done done with this manual. Call me ACB from now onwards! :)  

xxx

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! I would like to thank Madam Kaliamah and Madam Linda for having our company members tonight. I congratulate both of you for another successful fundraising dinner. 

About a month ago, I was invited by Madam Kaliamah to drop in at the Seri Cahaya Welfare Home for a dinner with the kids. When I arrived at the home, Madam Kaliamah handed me a handmade invitation card by the kids. Inside the card, I was informed to attend this annual fundraising dinner to receive the volunteer of the year award. 

At the moment I finished reading the card, I felt very blessed that I have come to know this meaningful organization and become part of this big family. This award is recognizing not only for my effort, but it is also for you, all my respectable community team members. Instead of enjoying your after work time relaxing, you chose to volunteer for the Seri Cahaya Welfare Home together with me. Besides, our fundraising events in the company would not have been successful without the help from our HR counterparts and our site Managing Director. Hence, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your support from the beginning of my journey with the Seri Cahaya Welfare Home until today. 

The first time I came in contact with the Seri Cahaya Welfare Home was three years ago along with my fellow community team members. We had a mall outing with the kids from the Seri Cahaya Welfare Home. By the time we sent the kids home, Madam Kaliamah was at the doorstep like a loving mother waiting for her returning kids. After settling the kids with the helpers, Madam Kaliamah came to talk to us. Of course, we could not hold back our curiosity on why she came to establish this home. According to her, when she was serving as a community nurse in the 1990’s, poverty, homelessness, domestic abuse and educational deprivation were very common in this area. After being aware of these underprivileged families, she was determined to extend her assistance to them while she was still physically fit, so she gave up her stable income as a nurse to set up the Seri Cahaya Welfare Home with Madam Linda, who was a social worker back then. 

Ever since that conversation, their sacrifices and dedications have inspired me to volunteer at this home. Due to their selfless actions, many abandoned children are able to feel the joy of attending school, many single mothers are able to stand on their own feet and many senior citizens are able to wake up to a warm breakfast. Both of you are the true fighters in my heart. I look up to you to keep myself going for many years to come. 

In closing, I sincerely thank the Seri Cahaya Welfare Home for giving me this Volunteer of the year award. I wish all the individuals sitting in this room with good health because each of you have your very own contribution to move this organization forward, only with good health, you can continue your effort in giving hope to the residents in the Seri Cahaya Welfare Home. Let’s work together for a better tomorrow of the Seri Cahaya Welfare Home. Thank you.

Mini Holiday

Saturday + Sunday + Monday + Tuesday + Wednesday = mini holiday of 5 days.

(3 days extra off as I am resigning from my current job; moving to work in the same company as Donkoi)

I am going to NYC tomorrow for a one-day trip. The itinerary is so full that I am not sure we can finish everything in time. You can tell I am very happy (x3). After moving to Albany, I have come to realize that I am a totally city person. Missing all the crowd, traffic jam, small living space, big scaled events, overwhelmed temptation of malls, etc. A city outing is like a serve to my addiction. I become optimistic and cheerful after getting my dosage of city air. Time to sleep for a long day tomorrow... xoxo. :)

Daytime Firework at Washington DC

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We were taking our leisure time at the West side of the National Mall knowing the fact that we might missed some of the monuments around the Tidal Basin. We walked past the Japanese speeches in front of the stage backdrop titled with "daytime firework". Donkoi stepped into the a mud accumulation on the field. The water splashed. I shrieked like a little student, whose mission was to protect her white shoes.

We saw the Potomac Lake were surrounded by a layer of cherry blossoms across the street. We crossed the street. We stood underneath the trees hand in hand. The moment was just like the final scene in Meguri Ai, whereby Shuji were standing next to Eri under the full bloomed sakura. This drama imprinted the association of romance to sakura. I thought of seeing sakura with my love one then. I forgot about this until I saw the flying petals in Donkoi's eyes. Both the flying petals and his scintillating eyes were so pretty. I am in love forever.

We attempted to freeze the moment with our third eye. We were restlessly pressing on our shutters. The frame was insufficient to capture the actual beauty. Suddenly, we heard the explosion sound from the middle of the lake. We looked at the far away. The gloomy sky was tinted with candy colours. We observed the dynamic artwork along with the retired petals on the rocks. When the firework ended, Donkoi leaned over. We kissed. That was a sweet wonder in our first hanami.

“Not all those who wander are lost.”J.R.R. Tolkien