As we celebrate with our loved ones, we’ve all got little tips and secrets to make our festive occasions extra special. Join us and our friends Meera, a school teacher, Janet, a number crunching accountant, and Sharina, a supermom with tiny tots aged 5 and 7, as we share a treasure trove of personal touches.
Making the table look good
Sharina remembered her grandma’s décor sense, “She uses banana flower petals to serve toasted soy beans, corn chips and even sambal. They’re pretty and colourful… easy to find at any pasar malam.”
Jazz up plain water
“Sounds great! I usually add a stick of celery to a jug of water. It looks festive and the water tastes fresh,” added Janet. |
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Sweet scents of the season
Meera reminded us how important the sense of smell is. “I love vanilla scented candles for my table settings. They put me in the mood to enjoy a good time. Of course, if you’ve got kids visiting, make sure the candles are out of the way.”
Keeping the kids happy
Expecting young guests? Sharina who looks after her two kids all day, offered this child-friendly tip: “Use large pieces of white paper as table cloth for little guests. Give them crayons or colour pencils and let them go wild without the mess.”
“You could also have the latest animated movies on standby,” added Meera.
Good to know
Soy beans and chick-peas are high in protein. When toasted instead of fried they’re also low in fat.
Good to remember
Afraid to over-indulge? Here’s a great tip from a Dear Nestlé member, Nur Haslinda Jamil of K.L. “I plan my meals when visiting the homes of friends. I have an appetiser in one house, the main course in another and so on.” Thanks Nur, we’ll keep that in mind!
Meera's great ideas to add glamour to gifts
Meera loves to add something extra to her gifts. Try her fun ideas to say your gifts come from the heart.
Print 'n' pack
Cookie cutters make great handicraft tools. Dip them into watercolour paint to make pretty prints on a sheet of drawing paper. When dry, wrap your boxes or bottles of cookies with them.
Snazzy tags
Add a personal touch to your fruit basket this festive season. Why not whip up a batch of holiday gift tags in your kitchen? Put a slice of orange peel between a double layer of paper towels and microwave for about 1 minute. Flatten and paint when cool.
Bloom box
Jazz up your gift box with a single flower. Fake is fine but a fresh, full bloom is stunning. Tie it with a pretty piece of ribbon and your gift will be complete.
Button up
Bored with ribbons? Why not string together colourful buttons to tie your gift boxes. You can also use sequins or sparkly beads from your sewing box for that extra dazzle.