New Traditions, Same Love

Hi 

Another night, another round of being the Chief Safety Officer while the kids went wild with mercun and bunga api at Tokwan's. Even though we’re tucked away in a residential area and can’t exactly play the extreme ones, the kids didn’t care. Seeing their faces light up is worth the smoky hair and the mini heart attacks every time a sparkler gets too close to a car passing by! 😅

Flower pots to the rescue! Anything to get that pelita glow for Raya.

We’re down to the final two-weekend countdown to Eid, and this year, the script has been totally flipped. For the first time ever, my parents won't be celebrating Raya in Penang. Wait, what? No Penang?

Usually, my Dad is the busiest man in the state during Raya. As a barber, his phone basically becomes a 24/7 hotline. It’s on standby mode 100% of the time, and appointments fly in faster than we can eat ketupat. For him, Raya usually means No Rest for the Wicked (or the Talented).

This year, things are looking a little different. Dad’s currently in a season of recovery, and while his loyal customers are already calling to get that Raya look, he’s just not able to get back to the barber chair yet.

To keep his mind off the shop and focused on resting, we proposed a family intervention (the fun kind!). We convinced him to spend the final week of Ramadhan and Eid away from the usual hustle of Penang. And he likes it🎉

Changing plans at the eleventh hour has definitely kept us on our toes. We had to bid a sad farewell to our Early Bird ETS tickets that we snagged months ago. It’s okay, though the car is packed, we are ready to embrace the chaos.

Well, sometimes the unplanned plans are the ones that end up being the legendary ones. Wishing everyone a beautiful and peaceful remaining Ramadhan! 🌙✨

Calm in the Bonus Hour

Hi,

Tonight is weird. Good weird, but definitely weird.

Usually, my life between getting home and going to bed is a marathon. If there were a gold medal for Speed-Folding Laundry While Simultaneously Prepping Tomorrow’s Meal, I’d be on the podium every night. Normally, I don’t hit a horizontal position until 11:00 PM. That’s my personal best. My 'Mom vs. The World' routine is a finely tuned machine. If I don't prep everything at night, the next morning is basically a disaster movie.

But tonight? I finished everything one hour early. I’m standing in a clean kitchen, looking around like a confused sim who just had their task queue cleared. Since I have this rare bonus hour, I decided it was time for some self-care. But how? Okay, I found it.

Nothing beats the bonus hour like the final, perfect bite of SilverQueen almond chocolate.😋

Finally I got the last piece of SilverQueen Almond chocolate I brought back from Surabaya months ago. I was planning to hoard it until my next trip to Indonesia, but tonight felt special. So, I ate it. No regrets. It was easily the best decision of my week. My mood? Instant 10/10.

Then, while loading the bags into the car, I checked on the full-moon (my favorite monthly ritual), and honestly? She’s being a bit shy tonight. Not as bright as usual, but still stunning. There’s just something about looking at the moon that acts like a reset button for my brain after a hectic week. Very calming.

Hello there pretty moon.

I sat there waiting for sleepiness to kick in, but it’s currently a no-show. I think the chocolate and the moon have teamed up to keep me awake. It might be the chocolate-induced sugar rush, or maybe just the pure shock of having free time. Either way, I’m just going to hang out with my own thoughts until my eyes get heavy.

To everyone else in the Mom Marathon or just grinding through your own daily race, I see you. May your chores be fast and your chocolate be hidden in the back of the pantry where no one else can find it.

Goodnight, world!🌜

A Taste of Home

Hi,

Can you believe we’re already ten days into Ramadhan? Just like that, a third of the month has disappeared. I spent my Saturday playing professional organizer in our book room, which was more like a paper jungle. I never realized how massive school books are these days. I managed to sort everything into three piles: Keep, Recycle, and Let Go. For the books that didn't quite fit anywhere, I just followed my heart (and my desire to see the floor again) and tossed them into a random pile.

The mini library is finally looking sharp, but I did notice the stationery section looks like a small retail shop. Honestly, it’s a survival tactic. You know how kids are. The second you tell them to dim the lights for bed, they suddenly have an 'emergency' need for a glue stick. To save my own sanity, I’ve started stocking up on the essentials like I’m preparing for a craft-based apocalypse. 😂

By 6 PM, we headed over to my parents' place for a sleepover. The second I walked in, the aroma gave it away: Cencaru Belah Belakang for buka puasa! It’s been ages since we’ve had it, especially with my Dad’s health lately. My sister stepped up to the plate and recreated his signature recipe. Luckily, it was my first off-day from fasting, so I got to be the official taste-tester for her experiment. Total success! It tasted exactly like Dad’s. 🎉

From craving this in a tiny kitchen abroad to enjoying it at my parents' table. There’s no recipe quite like Dad’s, and no company quite like family. ❤️

To balance out the spicy sambal, Mom whipped up a giant container of her classic cekodok pisang. It’s the old-school kind, heavy on the ripe bananas, light on the flour, and 100% addictive. We polished off the entire batch in one sitting. 

The classic way is the only way. Tiny enough to pop in your mouth, dark brown for that caramelized flavor, crispy skin, and a soft heart. Serve 'em hot and watch the whole container disappear!

Although it wasn’t a fancy five-course meal, but it was absolutely perfect and soul-filling. Now, I’m looking forward to a relaxed Sunday with the family.

Catch you later!