Quiet Sundays at Pavilion Damansara Heights

Lately, hubby has developed a new favourite weekend hangout spot — Pavilion Damansara Heights. This fairly new mall, which opened its doors in October 2023, is a breath of fresh air compared to the hustle and bustle of Mid Valley Megamall, Pavillion Bukit Jalil, or 1 Utama. It’s quiet, uncrowded, and surprisingly relaxing, even on Sundays.

That’s precisely why he loves it.

Free parking on Sundays, minimal crowds, no waiting in line at eateries — it’s becoming our little Sunday sanctuary. In fact, we were there two Sundays in a row!

Sunday #1: Goose, Pork & Prawn Wantans

Last Sunday, hubby decided to bring us (MIL and I) to try Hong Kong Roasted Goose King, the only restaurant in the mall that was fully packed while most other eateries were calm and quiet. I’m not a fan of duck, goose, or anything with webbed feet, but hubby and MIL absolutely love them.

Hubby ordered a quarter roasted goose, along with cha siu, siew yoke (roast pork), wanton mee with plump prawn wantons, double-boiled choy kon tong (dried veggie soup), and pork porridge. I must say, the food was impressive. My favourite was definitely the rich, flavourful double-boiled soup — loaded with ingredients and full of depth. The wanton noodles were springy and smooth, and the prawn wantons were fresh and juicy. It was a well-balanced, satisfying lunch for the three of us.

Sunday #2: Ramen, Shopping & Cake

This Sunday, the trio was slightly different — it was Sherilyn, hubby, and me. Deciding on where to eat took longer than expected. We walked around the mall for a good 15–20 minutes, checking out menus and discussing options. In the end, Sherilyn chose Aori Ramen, a Japanese restaurant specialising in ramen.

The menu was simple, with limited but focused ramen options. We each ordered a bowl, priced at RM38 per bowl, and added a few sides. While the ramen was tasty, we all agreed that Bankara Ramen (which has an outlet at Pavilion KL) is still our favourite. Thankfully, we spotted a sign — Bankara Ramen will be opening soon at Phase II of Pavilion Damansara Heights! Something to look forward to in future.

After lunch, Sherilyn and I dropped by Guardian Pharmacy to stock up on toiletries. Hubby, on the other hand, had his eye on dessert. He led us to Artelier Coffee, where he enjoyed his usual latte and a slice of Basque burnt cheesecake — the perfect end to a satisfying meal.

As usual, Cass couldn’t join us as she was still at Sunway Pyramid, cheering on her teammates and attending the closing ceremony of Skate Malaysia 2025. Alycia was also busy, working her weekend at her part-time café job.

Even though the whole family couldn’t be together, I still cherish these little moments of food, family, and calm amidst the chaos of daily life. Pavilion Damansara Heights is slowly becoming our go-to spot — and with Bankara Ramen coming soon, I suspect we’ll be spending even more Sundays there!

Lunch at Aori Ramen today.

Coffee and Basque burnt cheese cake at Artelier Coffee after lunch today.

Last Sunday's lunch at Hong Kong Roosted Goose King - very delicious wantan noodles and superb double boiled 'choy kon' soup.

Roast goose

Cha siu and siew yoke.

Simple Meals, Simple Joys – Eating Clean in a House of Fussy Eaters

When it comes to food, my girls and I definitely prefer light, clean meals — no excessive oil, no overpowering salt, sugar, and seasoning, just simple goodness. Cass, in particular, is very particular about what she eats. She loves her vegetables raw or blanched in plain water, without any seasoning. Because of that, I rarely buy ‘chap fan’ (economy rice dishes) for her anymore. Instead, I prepare very basic home-cooked meals, usually involving air-fried or roasted chicken breast or drumsticks — no char siu or siew yoke for her, as those are too oily for her liking.

As for me, I sometimes crave something warm and soupy, so I’ll get takeaway bitter gourd and minced pork soup, or pan mee soup (minus the noodles!) with minced pork, black fungus, and green veggies. I usually skip the noodles and rice. I've been avoiding these carbs ever since I was diagnosed with PCOS (an insulin-resistant and hormonal disorder in the year 2001). 

One of my favourite lunches this week was just that: a hearty pan mee soup without noodles and a slice of sprouted wheat bread topped with cream cheese and Lurpak Light butter. Simple, satisfying, and just the way I like it.

Honestly, I could happily eat steamed dishes every day -- steamed chicken, pumpkin, sweet potato, fish, anything.  I’m not fussy at all when it comes to food. But the same can’t be said for everyone else in the house — I live with some very fussy eaters, and catering to all their different preferences can be quite the daily stress!

Still, I try my best to find a balance — keeping meals clean and healthy while still feeding everyone something they can enjoy. It’s not always easy, but that’s mum (wife and daughter-in-law) life!

My lunch two days ago - pan mee soup sans the noodle and sprouted wheat bread.

A Stressful Tuesday, a Determined Skater

This past Tuesday was one of the most stressful days I’ve experienced in a while — not for myself, but for my youngest, Cass. And when your child is stressed to the point of tears, it’s almost impossible not to absorb that stress as a mother.

Cass had a full-dress rehearsal for Skate Malaysia (which will be held next week), and the skaters were required to arrive at Pavilion Bukit Jalil by 6PM, already dressed in their costumes with full makeup on. The timing couldn’t have been worse — Tuesdays happen to be her co-curricular day, and school only dismisses at 4.45PM.

It was chaos trying to work things out. There were tears, some tension, and a lot of rushing. In the end, her dad stepped in to save the day — driving through the peak hour madness to pick Cass up from school. But before that, he had to swing by home to collect her big luggage bag filled with her skates, costume, makeup, and everything else she needed. I prepared her dinner in a lunchbox and handed it to my husband to pass to her on the go.

Everything was happening at breakneck speed, and amidst it all, Cass still had to revise for her upcoming tests. That night, she only managed less than 3 hours of sleep — not that it was unusual. Lately, with SPM Trials looming, she’s only been sleeping about 3–4 hours a night.

I constantly nag her to go to bed earlier, but like most teenagers, mothers’ advice often falls on deaf ears. As much as I wish I could take the burden off her shoulders, I know this is a path she’s chosen and worked so hard for — balancing her academic responsibilities and her passion for figure skating.

Last year, Cass proudly won Gold in her category at Skate Malaysia. This year, with the added weight of SPM stress, I honestly don’t know what the outcome will be — but that doesn't matter as much. What matters is that she’s giving it her all. Whether she comes home with a gold, silver, bronze, or just the satisfaction of having done her best, I hope she will be happy and proud of herself.

To my dear Cass — I’m so proud of your grit, your strength, and your determination. I pray you’ll stay healthy, calm, and focused through this challenging season. Good luck next Thursday at Skate Malaysia — I’ll be cheering for you with all my heart.

My Bangkok salad was very good.

On the last day of the mid-year school holidays, I took Cass to La Juiceria to dig into something healthy. Both of us love the food at La Juiceria, it's our kind of healthy food with lots of greens, superfoods, and healthy chicken breast on our plates.   We don't mind eating this kind of food every day, but the cost is my main turn-off!

Cass's high protein plate with a big portion of grilled chicken breast and surprisingly, the chicken breast was very tender, juicy, and flavorful.  

Gold Medals, Matcha Lattes & Midnight Assignments

Yesterday marked another proud moment for Sherilyn — she and her dance team clinched a Gold Medal in the Contemporary Dance category at the 12th Malaysia Dance Competition, organized by CSTD (the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing). It’s yet another glittering win to add to their growing list of accomplishments, and I couldn’t be prouder of these hardworking, passionate dancers!

But Sherilyn’s life isn’t just about competitions and choreography. She’s currently juggling the intense demands of her university degree in architecture — a field known for its relentless stream of assignments and projects. Her days (and nights!) are packed, leaving her very little room to breathe, let alone relax.

Yet, in true Sherilyn style, she still finds ways to carve out small moments of joy. This week, during a short break from her hectic schedule, she whipped up a delicious cucumber and tomato salsa to pair with air-fried salmon belly — her version of a quick, nutritious, and satisfying meal. And of course, no Sherilyn meal is complete without her signature café-style matcha latte, which she prepares with all the finesse of a trained barista.

Speaking of barista skills, she also went to work at her part-time Saturday café job today — yes, even after competing and dancing the entire day before! Her energy and drive never cease to amaze me.

As I type this, Sherilyn is getting ready to join us for dinner at Mid Valley Megamall — a rare treat, as her packed schedule usually keeps her too busy to dine out with us.  After dinner, she and Cass are off to the cinema to watch  “How To Train Your Dragon”.  It’s these little family moments that I treasure so much, even more so when she manages to make time for them.

Another gold medal to her collection.

Sherilyn's wholesome lunch - air fried salmon belly, salsa and creamy scrambled eggs.

Sherilyn's matcha latte with homemade mango syrup.

When One Word Nearly Gave Me a Heart Attack

Yesterday afternoon, just as I was expecting Cass to be home from school, I saw a missed WhatsApp call from her. Naturally, I tried calling her back immediately, but the call didn’t go through. A little worried, I waited, thinking maybe she was on the way home and would call again soon.

Then came a single WhatsApp message from her: "Accident."

My heart literally dropped to my stomach.

I froze. What accident? Was it the school van? Was it her? My mind raced through every possible horrible scenario in a matter of seconds. I called her back again — no answer. I messaged her, asking whether it was her school van or she who got into an accident. But no reply.

That short window of waiting felt like an eternity.

Finally, after what felt like forever (but was probably just a few more nerve-wracking minutes), she messaged back. Guess what she meant?

She accidentally called me.

Yes. Accident = accidentally. That’s it. She shortened the word “accidentally” because she was too lazy to type the whole thing. Just like we always do when we’re texting – abbreviating, cutting words, and assuming the other person will know what we mean.

Well, this one-word shortcut nearly gave her mother a heart attack!

Of course, I was immensely relieved. My heart gradually climbed back to its proper place. But the emotional rollercoaster that little word sent me on? Not something I want to repeat anytime soon.

I know teenagers like Cass are always in a rush and type fast, but I told her that next time she must be clearer — especially when it comes to sensitive words like "accident". Don’t just assume your mum will decode it correctly, especially when I’m waiting for her to get home safely.

We all shorten our messages out of habit – LOLs, BRBs, TTYLs – but sometimes, a few extra letters can save someone else a whole lot of unnecessary panic.

Lesson of the day: next time you mean “accidentally,” please just say “oops” instead.

Haru’s Love Language: Bites Over Pats

Haru, my four-legged furry housemate, is not your typical clingy lap cat. She’s fiercely independent and aloof—and very selective with her affections. While I long for those sweet moments of her rubbing up against me like she does to my hubby and Alycia, Haru makes it crystal clear that I’m not her preferred leg-rubbing human. Apparently, she gravitates toward those who are not head over heels for her, like me and Sherilyn are (guilty as charged!).

I recently read that some cats actually prefer showing affection to the humans who don’t smother them with attention. That explains why she rarely showers me with a leg rub. But make no mistake—Haru has her own unique way of showing love to me: biting. When I give her too many pats or interrupt her royal nap, she responds with a gentle (sometimes not-so-gentle) nip. And during her crazy zoomie episodes? Watch your ankles! She’s quick to sink her teeth in for no apparent reason.

My allergy to her fur and saliva has reduced significantly over the past four years since we rescued her off the street. I like to think my body has started to recognize her as family too. Though I still have to wash my hands after every love bite and patting, I wouldn’t trade her quirky cat love for anything in the world.

Painful love bite on my ankle, by Haru!