May 2018 – HEALTH FREAK MOMMY

Moobaan Thai Village, Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur

There are at least 5 Thai restaurants at Taman Desa and all 5 of them serve pretty good Thai food. On Saturday night, we had Thai as our regular Chinese restaurant was closed. We chose Moobaan Thai Village as we have not tried it yet, though the restaurant has been around for 2.5 years.

At Moobaan Thai Village, one can hardly go wrong with their unpretentious Thai street food marked with affordable price. A non-halal restaurant, so the authenticity is certainly much closer to the country of origin. Most of the dishes here are pocket-friendly, except for fish which can cost up to RM45 each.

The Phad Thai is by far the best that we’ve tasted; Tod Man Pla (Thai Fish Cake) with a spicy nutty sauce for dipping and Gor Moo Yang (Grilled Pork Neck). I didn’t quite like the grilled pork neck as it had a strong pork odor on random pieces. Can’t comment on the fish cake as I didn’t even have the chance to try the it as I was busy at work with the photography! If it can be gone within a couple of minutes of serving, it must be good.

Thai green curry chicken was very decent with the right balance of thickness, flavours, spiciness, sweetness and ingredients. Love the Thai eggplant in it. Have you seen a Thai eggplant before? They are very small and has a soft juicy texture.

Thai eggplant

Thai fried rice was very aromatic which came from the flavorful Thai spices. There was also a fried Kangkung, which was delish and slightly sweet which I didn’t take a pic.

Of all the Thai omelette that we had tried, Moobaan’s omelette is the best as it’s not super oily and salty like the rest. The egg was cooked to just nice, fluffy with slightly crisp edges, filled with aromatic green leaves at the center. I finally found a Thai omelette that’s not drenched in oil!

The Thai style steamed squids stuffed with meat balls was my favorite and the girls’ too. The four of us comprising mother and daughters are crazy over sotong 😝 But we are not a lot of blur sotong ladies ya.

Pla Lat Nam Pla (deep fried fish served with Thai sauce) is super crispy and addictive. Last but not least, a Thai meal would never be complete without tomyam. Moobaan has two versions: the regular red tomyam and white/clear tomyam. The foodie hubs chose the red tomyam, which came with generous servings of sotong (yay!), prawns, oyster mushrooms and aromatic kafir lime leaves. Though really appetite whetting and aromatic, the spiciness level is too strong for the girls and me to handle. It should be just right for those who can stomach really spicy food.

The girls had Thai milk tea, which was REALLY refreshing on the burning mouth after a spicy meal. I had chilled lemongrass pandan water sans sugar. At RM4 a cup, it is refillable.

According to the lady boss (coz I asked her), everything from the milk to the tea and to the sauces are imported from Thailand, except for the perishables. If you are a fan of Thai milk, Moobaan serves it too. They are bottled and kept in the chiller.

We would definitely be returning to Moobaan Thai very soon to get our Thai cravings fixed. I’d love to try their Boat Noodles and papaya salad. They serve good and authentic Thai food with prices that won’t hurt your wallet, the lady boss is very friendly and accommodating (she read out every item that was printed on our bill for us to counter check before paying), what’s not to love?

Moobaan Thai Food Restaurant
Address:
15, Jalan Bukit Desa 5,
Taman Bukit Desa,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: 12PM-3PM; 5.30PM-10PM (Mon-Sun)
Contact: 016-312 3331
Faceook: https://www.facebook.com/MoobaanThai/

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Fond Memories Of Baby C’s Pack And Play Yard

At our family Whatsapp chat group yesterday, mum posted a picture of all the baby paraphernalia that she had just dug out from the storeroom, in preparation for my twin baby niece and nephew to use when they are back in Ipoh from Singapore next week. They are a pack and play yard (playpen), stroller, walker and bouncinet, among other stuff. Just a little intro on the history of the playpen, stroller and walker.

If you search for best strollers, you’ll most likely find All Mom Needs website which has lots of strollers buying guides, tips and tricks that’ll help any mom a lot during stroller buying process.

The hubs and I bought the pack and play yard for Alycia, our first born almost 15 years ago and it is still in almost perfect condition! I still remember that day very vividly when we went to the baby products shop in Ipoh to shop for it. We were so excited to buy our very first pack and play for our precious first born. It’s been used by our 3 girls, my Singapore brother’s oldest daughter and now his twins.

The stroller was a gift from my sil 15 years ago for Alycia. It’s been used by our 3 girls and the same sil’s 3 babies.

The bouncinet belongs to my brother, used by his oldest daughter and now his twins.

As for the baby walker, it’s an epic. Mum bought it 47 years ago for my eldest brother. It was then used by me, my younger brother and now the twins! And it’s not even crumbling or rusty yet.

When my brother’s twins outgrow the pack and play yard, I think I am going to ask mum NOT to give it away. The sight of the pack and play yard brings back a lot of happy memories of my 3 precious babies growing up. They used to sleep and play in it each time we were back in Ipoh for our holidays. Who knows my daughters’ babies will be using it one day, just like the baby walker that my brothers and I used over 4 decades ago.

At our KL home, there used to be two pack and play yards for Baby C (Cass). One was her playpen in my room and the other for the living room. She hardly slept in the playpen in my room as she slept under my armpit for 3 years. She was breastfed for 3 years and co-slept with her dad and me. My 2 older girls loved the playpen. They used to cramp inside it and pretended that it was a tent. Sometimes the both of them would take their nap inside the play pen.

Alycia was about 6+ and Sherilyn 4+ in these photos. Drama Queen (Sherilyn) was still a compulsive thumb-sucker then. Gawd, I am missing my babies terribly now 😥

When Cass outgrew the two pack and play yards, I sold the pink one and gave away the other one. I should have kept the pink one for keepsake and perhaps for my future grand children! But then again, my daughters probably wouldn’t want a 30-year old pack and play yard when they have their own babies in future. Pack and play yards are aplenty and the designs and features keep improving over time. You can browse these directions for the best pack and play yards, rated and reviewed by moms.

Looking back at these photos when Cass was under two years old makes me miss her baby days terribly. How I wish that Cass was still a toddler, cute as a button and still didn’t know how to challenge me mentally and answer me back rudely. Of course her baby days weren’t easy for me due to her health condition.

It would be really nice if there were a baby at home now. I really miss having a baby around. Hubs would be glad to jump straight into having another baby with me IF I agreed to have baby #4. But no, my child-bearing days are over. I am now looking forward to the next phase of my journey where I can claim some independence. It takes a village to raise a child and in this day and age, it takes a million bucks to raise one till he/she completes tertiary education and this is the main reason why I am not ready to have another baby 😐

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Distraction

I am in trouble. Serious trouble.

No, I don’t have 1 trillion Ringgit in debts. But I have sleep debts, backlog of work and yet, I can’t keep my eyes away from the news. I try hard not to go to Facebook but my phone is beeping away from my Whatsapp notification on incoming messages. The stream of news trickling in every minute of the day since 9 May 2018 on our very juicy Malaysian politics is SO hard to resist not to read! I was never interested in politics but this time, I am hooked on it! The current Malaysian politics is as thrilling as TVB drama series. Who gets in the Cabinet and who gets kicked out finally (good riddance!) is so exciting!

The entire Malaysia is anxiously waiting for more skeletons to be dug out from the closet, for explanation on how the 1 trillion Ringgit debts came about, on the truth behind Altantuya’s and Kevin Morais’ gruesome murder and much, much more! We can’t wait to see that kleptocrat and his rapacious other half suffer behind bars for all the wrongs and hardship they had inflicted on the Rakyat.

Thankfully the mil is around to cook, else I would be buying takeout dinners or have sandwiches or toasts for dinner everyday as I am too busy to even cook 😆

Nope this is not our lunch or dinner. It’s my breakfast – 2 slices of wholemeal bread slathered with pure butter and papa’s homemade strawberry jam and almond jam, washed down with a packet of antioxidant packed and eye-loving Ningxia Red.

Cass’ breakfast was a Portugese egg tart and a packet of Ningxia Red. This girl who seems to have zilch appetite at 5:30 in the morning (but transforms into a ravenous piranha later in the day) was moaning about how heavy her breakfast was and how she felt like puking after forcing the egg tart down 🙄

But I strongly believe in having a good breakfast to fuel the body and mind for the day and satiate unhealthy cravings throughout the day. Once, I agreed to let her go to school without any food in her stomach and what do I know? She came home and told me that she had fleeting blackout moments just before recess. She thought that she was going to faint and quickly bent down, something which I had taught her. There you go girl, told you breakfast is important!! After that incident, no matter how ‘full’ she feels in the morning, I always make sure that she has food in her stomach, even if it’s some unhealthy sweet biscuits. But I always put food that she likes on the table ~ quail eggs, chicken eggs, boiled fish paste, siew mai, cold green tea noodles and savoury bites.

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Thieves Household Cleaner

My bottle of Thieves essential oil-infused Household Cleaner from Young Living has arrived and I am so excited to find recipes to whip up various uses for it. With Thieves, I can now ditch my regular bathroom cleaners with harsh chemicals. And with Thieves, I now have the peace of mind to rope in my daughters to help clean the bathrooms 😆

Thieves Household Cleaner

Thieves Household Cleaner is an all-purpose, concentrated cleaner formulated with 100 percent plant-based and mineral-based ingredients. Formulated with the power of Lemon essential oil and Young Living’s proprietary Thieves essential oil blend, this cleaner provides a deep clean without dangerous or synthetic ingredients.

To my daughters reading this post, there will be no more excuses not to wash toilets ok! You will thank me one day that I have delegated the toilet-washing task to you. 😉

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What You Eat Is What You Are

Today I had Tosei Rawa for brunch. It’s been a while since I last had it. Drama Queen ordered a Maggie Mee Goreng, much to my objection. But that contriving Drama Queen said “but it’s just once in a while, not like I eat it every day or every week” that I succumbed to her request. See how manipulative this girl is! Well, this will be the last time she gets to eat Maggie Mee Goreng. Read on to find out why.

The food sure looks yummy eh? Yeah it was but not until I saw the workers at work, trying to be hygienic but contaminated the cooked food with toxic chemicals 😲 💀

Worker #1 was trying to repel and kill some cockroaches at the food display section where he whipped out a can of Ridsect. He then sprayed toxic fumes liberally at the food display area and there was no cover / lid on the cooked curries, fried chicken and Briyani rice!! When I thought he was done spraying the floor, he opened up all the doors of the cupboard under the food display unit / warmer and sprayed more chemicals inside.

What made my tummy churn and vowed never ever to patronize this eatery again was when I walked over to the food display area to inspect what the heck the worker was spraying that I saw baby cockroaches crawling on the chopping board for chopping fried chicken. 🤮

While worker #1 was busy spraying toxic fumes at the cockroaches with oblivious and unsuspecting patrons eating nearby (expect for me, the ever curious kpc), worker #2, with a bottle of pink color chemical started spraying and wiping all the tables and chairs with the cleaning agent and cloth. With the same cloth that’s not washed, he went to the chiller / fridge where canned drinks and peeled hard boiled eggs are kept to clean the fridge with the pink color liquid cleaner and contaminated cloth. Just when I thought that he was done wiping the exterior of the fridge door, he opened the fridge and sprayed more chemicals on the interior fridge door, with the peeled hard boiled eggs just inches away from the chemicals – and wiped it with the same piece of unwashed cloth that he’s used to wipe the dirty tables and chairs!

Oh. My. Gawd!! That’s it. This will be my last time patronizing this eatery.

This is the problem faced by eateries that are opened 7 days a week, 365 days a year. There is hardly a day for the owners to fumigate the eatery to repel it from pests. I am sure that what I saw today is happening in most eateries which are managed by foreign workers, with little or no training on proper food handling given. And the boss is hardly seen at the outlet to supervise.

This is why cancer is so prevalent as more and more people are exposed to chemical carcinogens everyday, everywhere, even at home when most of us are exposed first thing in the morning ~ from our toothpaste to our personal care products.

Homecooked simple, humble and nutritious food is key to good health and longevity. It’s proven. Remember the 83-year old lady, fit as a fiddle with a mind as sharp as razor, who lives at my condo whom I used to blog about? I learned from her that the secret to her longevity and good health is simple homecooked food, daily exercise and lots of walking. She even takes public transportation to the heart of KL to run her errands. She always tells me that she does not like eating outside food. Something for everyone to ponder on a Monday 😉

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DIY Essential Oil Blend For Decongestant / Nasal Congestion / Sinus Buster

Essential oils can support your essential life. Whether you are looking to reduce pain and inflammation from over exercising, help soothe an upset stomach, ease situational anxiety or depression, ease nausea or help prevent a cold or the flu – there are countless recipes just for you.

I am getting more and more hooked on making essential oil blends for just about everything and every situation ~ from anti-stink armpit spray to baby powder, face blush loose powder, sore throat gargle to mouth rinse to sinus buster. The list is just endless and what I really love is that I know what goes inside all my personal care products ~only pure and pesticide-free essential oils, baking soda, arrowroot powder and witch hazel without the yuckies.

When I was down with a cold two weeks ago, I had a bad bout of nasal congestion. I couldn’t sleep well as I had trouble breathing. The blocked nasal caused a painfully piercing pressure on my head when I tried to inhale. Still, I did not resort to over-the-counter cold medicine. Instead I made my own decongestant and the result was very effective in relieving my blocked nasal. As a result, I could sleep better and got better within a week, without any medication.

Decongestant Roller Bottle Recipe (10 ml bottle)

4 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
4 drops Melaleuca (Tea Tree) Oil
10 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
4 drops Lemon Essential Oil
2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
2 drops Thieves Essential Oil

Directions:

1) Add essential oils into roller bottle. I recycled my empty 10 ml Young Living essential oil bottles and affixed a roller ball (from Young Living) to it.

2) Fill rest of bottle with carrier oil, be sure to leave space at top. This is optional and I did not use any carrier oil. I prefer it to be undiluted.

3) Insert roller ball and cap, roll bottle between hands to blend oils together.

4) To use, apply small amount to the areas around the nose and nostrils. Be sure to avoid eyes. Repeat as needed.

A note of caution: be sure to get your essential oils that are pure and are of therapeutic grade from reputable sources. Cheap essential oils are adulterated and contain pesticides and herbicides that may cause harm to your body.

Let me know if you need help to get the essential oils. I can get them for you at wholesale price. Just drop me an email at shireenyong@gmail.com. You can also click here to sign up as member (signing up online is so easy and fast!) or Whatsapp / call me at 019 266 4290.

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Bread With Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

My breakkie today:

A slice of wholemeal bread drizzled with a tablespoon of organic extra virgin coconut oil and Gula Melaka syrup (palm sugar). Love this simple, wholesome yet delish coconut bread!

Coconut Oil is amazing for hormone health. It provides the necessary building blocks for hormone production, can assist weight loss, reduce inflammation, and even has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. My favorite way to consume it is to blend into coffee and use it as bread spread sweetened with palm sugar syrup.

Health benefits of coconut oil:

Hormone balancing – the fatty acids in coconut oil actually help the hormones get to where they want and need to go in the body, and so support the creation, processing and elimination of estrogen and progesterone, leading to hormonal balance.

Weight loss-promoting – studies show that coconut oil increases the metabolism and prevents hunger, allowing for successful weight loss.

Thyroid-supportive – coconut oil has the ability to transform cholesterol into pregnenolone, which is one of the essential building blocks for thyroid hormone-creation. When you add more coconut oil to your diet, you’re increasing the saturated fats made up primarily of medium-chain fatty acids that aren’t found in many other oils. These medium-chain fatty acids increase metabolism and promote weight loss, which is a big part of your healthy thyroid function. In addition, coconut oil can increase basal body temperatures, which is super important for women with low thyroid function.

Gut-healing – coconut oil repairs gut tissue and encourages the growth of good bacteria in the gut. Like breast milk, coconut oil is powerfully antimicrobial and antibacterial. The high levels of lauric acid in coconut oil protects against infection from viruses, bacteria, yeast, parasites and fungi. Lauric acid inactivates harmful microbes in your gut that can lead to hormonal imbalance.

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Mother’s Day 2018

On Mother’s Day Sunday, I was rushing to complete the usual chores at home before church service at 9 a.m. After 2 rounds of laundry, boiled 2 rounds of water and mopped the floor, I was sweating bullets.

Then my Alycia, the least expected one, the one with royal fingers who doesn’t like to dirty her hands, the one who hates all kitchen chores, presented me with my Mother’s Day breakfast (pic on the right). It was meant to be a heart shape bread spread with garlic & herbs cream cheese but it looked nothing like a heart shape. I asked her what it was and she told me it was a heart shape. Then the both of us burst into peals of laughter.

Cass also prepped something for me. It’s a piece of bread art with cheese, painted with hazelnut chocolate spread. Very nicely done.

But with only 20 minutes left before service would start and I hadn’t showered yet, I didn’t have the mood nor the time to sit and relax and enjoy my breakfast. I only had time to hurriedly stuff Alycia’s bread into my mouth and while chewing, quickly rushed to the bathroom to have a quick shower. I never have the time to sit down to enjoy my breakfast during the weekends. I had to abort my plan of washing my sweaty head and hair. I even had to stop Drama Queen from prepping breakfast for me. We were running late and I didn’t have the time to eat.

This is one of the sacrifices of being a mum ~ even on Mother’s Day, where I am supposed to sit back, chillax and do nothing, work at home continues. My man doesn’t help with house work 😡. Guess I can only have the time to be a lady of leisure in 10 years’ time.

After service ended, all the mothers were treated to Gelato ice-creams. All the youths from the Fellowship (including Alycia & Drama Queen) worked hard to prep home-made waffles and serve ice-creams to the mothers.

Below: My waffle, hot from the waffle maker, prepped by Drama Queen and Alycia, with 2 scoops of Gelato chocolate ice-cream. I could only eat half of this as I already had 2 scoops of ice-cream (green tea and strawberry) sloshing in my tummy!

After church, I went to 99 Speedmart to get some groceries. While I was at the checkout counter, I got a surprise. Out of a sudden, I heard someone wishing me enthusiastically “FOR YOU. HAPPY MOTHER DAYS” … and then someone from behind me handed out a stalk of carnation to me. The girls and I burst into peals of laughter again. So sweet of the general worker to give me a stalk of carnation. For someone who could hardly speak English, he tried his best to wish me, albeit in less than perfect English.

Lunch was at Les Deux Garcons (LDG) again, the man’s favorite cafe. It was when we were waiting for our food that I remembered that we came here for Mother’s Day lunch too last year! How time flies yo!

Salad and pumpkin soup with garlic toast.

Egg omelette and fries with photobomb from someone really hangry; spaghetti bolognese for Cass who never ever gets sick of it.

Mushroom chicken chop for moi; LDG beef balls for Drama Queen.

Ice-cream and cake, on the house from LDG for mothers. But I gave them to my 3 piranhas who can really chow down like a champ. They have a bottomless pit and can out-eat all their peers and even we adults! I’ve had enough of ice-creams and wasn’t even hungry when we had lunch.

Cass made this moving card for me at Sunday School. At the pull of a stick behind, each card pasted on the stick flickers, with a message written on every card.

And behind the card, my baby girl clipped a one Ringgit note to it 💝

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Health 101: How To Cultivate A Lifestyle Of Wellness

While cultivating great health is the key to taking every area of your life to the next level, it’s important to remember that most people don’t take the time to develop a wellness plan or strategies that will help them accomplish this objective. Yet you should. When done consistently and correctly, implementing health strategies can generate great life outcomes such as increased productivity at work, better social interactions, enhanced self-esteem, and an improved ability to fight the onset of debilitating diseases. Below you’ll find three of many health strategies you can implement to begin cultivating a lifestyle of wellness:

1. Get Your Diet Together
One great way to take your health to a new level is by getting your diet together. Do it right now instead of waiting until next week so you can begin attaining the absolutely amazing results that will take your quality of life from average to amazing. There are many ways that you can begin developing good eating habits that last a life time. Your first step to success is abandoning the world of dieting forever. Dieting is dangerous for multiple reasons, one of which is that it ruins your metabolism. Another issue with dieting is that they tend to involve severe caloric restriction, with this reality ensuring that people won’t remain on the plan their whole life. In addition to ending your relationship with dieting, consider the value of hiring a nutritionist or joining an online health community where you can join other individuals in lively, informed discussions about food.

2. Start Exercising
In addition to getting your diet together, start exercising regularly. Doing so is important and advantageous because getting in regular physical activity will help optimize your metabolism, thereby enhancing your body’s natural weight management potential. Additionally, regular exercise is important because it helps the body fight disease more effectively while also enabling you to think more critically and clearly. You can exercise in isolation from home or with other people in the group setting at the gym.

active, adult, athlete

3. Focus On Optimizing Your Aesthetic Appeal
In addition to exercising regularly, make sure that you focus on optimizing your aesthetic appeal. This technique is important because feeling good about the way you look can heighten self-esteem and thereby contribute to your mental health. Note that lacking confidence about your physical appearance can cause a wide range of unwanted mental problems, some of which include depression and social anxiety. If you’re searching for a botox Cary NC company to assist you with getting your face in optimal condition, know that the professionals of Cary Plastic Surgery can assist you.

Conclusion
Three strategies you can implement to cultivate a lifestyle of wellness include getting your diet together, exercising regularly, and focusing on optimizing your aesthetic appeal. Begin using these strategies now so that you can take your mind and body into deeper dimensions of excellence and exceptionalism immediately!

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10 May 2018 ~ Post GE14 Day 1

Today, 10 May 2018 is the day history is made in Malaysia. This day will definitely be included in the Sejarah text book of Malaysian students soon. Our most beloved Tun Dr Mahathir will be sworn in as the 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia.

As of typing this post at 5 p.m., I together with the rest of the Malaysians await anxiously and patiently for Tun to be sworn in at the Palace. My desktop computer keeps getting ‘hanged’ from watching Astro Awani live the whole day. Tun was supposed to be sworn in at 9:30 in the morning but when the ceremony was cancelled without any reason given, the entire country was switched into panic mode. Well, at least for me, my family and all my friends. All of us were hooked to our phones and computers since yesterday to check on updates on which Party was leading and now, on who will actually be the 7th PM of Malaysia.

I am not a politics person. I don’t normally comment on it but this time, I get all hyped up and can’t contain my anxiousness and excitement. I am sure that you, if you are a Malaysian, you are feeling the same too. Let’s continue to pray and wait for updates. Together we pray for a better Malaysia!

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Preparing For Your First Visit To A New Dentist

Whether you have a deep fear of dentists and have been putting off your visit for far too long or you’re simply changing dentists, there are some ways to prepare. It’s important to be ready for your first visit to a new dentist, so the appointment will go smoothly and you’ll be able to have a more positive experience.

What Should You Have with You?
It’s never a good idea to go to your first appointment with a new dentist Skokie empty-handed. There are a number of things you can bring with you to help the visit more efficient and less tedious. For instance, if you are switching from another dentist, it’s helpful to have your X-rays with you. If they’re newer X-rays, your new dentist may not need to take new images of your teeth. Even if they’re older, it will help your dentist identify past problems and areas that need special attention.

Additionally, if you were referred, bring along your referral slip, as well as medical and dental insurance forms. Your new dentist will also want to know what medications you’re currently taking. This includes over the counter medications and herbal remedies. This is important, because they may negatively interact with treatments he plans to prescribe for you.

Arriving for Your First Dental Treatment
If your dentist determines that you need treatment, he will tell you in advance how to prepare for the day of your treatment. Be sure to strictly follow his instructions to ensure you’re treatment will go as well as possible. This likely means restricting what you eat and drink, as well as stopping any medication you may be taking. Facilities such as Northwestern Dental Group often employ the newest innovations and are equipped with state of the art equipment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sabotage your treatment by failing to follow the dentist’s instructions.

Why visit the dentist regularly?

You should be sure to get to the dentist’s office early on the day of treatment. Arriving at least 15 minutes early will help the staff compile any last minute information they need and also ensure you’re fully prepared to undergo the procedure. If you’re feeling nervous or anxious about the procedure, be sure to let the staff know. They may be able to help you allay your fears and will be sure you’re treated with extra sensitivity, during the treatment.
When you begin seeing a new dentist, how you prepare can influence how positive the experience will be. This means being able to supply your dentist with as much information as possible about your current dental and medical conditions. Together, you and your dentist can make treatments more positive, which will reduce your anxiety about returning.

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Keeping Fit And Trim

As a mother, it can be challenging to maintain a healthy workout routine. After all, the children have their needs and the pile of papers at work is growing by the moment. However, none of those things matter if you’re in disarray. You can’t be of service to anyone if you can’t take care of yourself. Make your workout routine a main priority as a self-affirming practice. It’s so important to understand that you matter. As you take the first few steps toward the gym, consider these tips to help you build a workout routine that you love.

1. Home Options
As a mom, you might get tempted to stay home and skip a workout when a child gets sick or things get crazy. Instead, work out from home. Log on to YouTube and check out all the free exercise videos. You can easily work up a serious sweat within 20 minutes.

2. Interesting Workouts
If a workout seems really boring, you’re less likely to complete it. If nothing about jogging intrigues you, find a dance class to enjoy. When you like the workout, you’ll be more likely to lean in and enjoy it. Take a look at some of the physical activities you tend to gravitate toward. If you love watching basketball, join a local league. If you love rollerblading, purchase Rollerblades and head outside. Keep it interesting and you’ll keep coming back.

Rollerblading - Manly

3. Challenging Exercises
You shouldn’t be able to leave a workout and think that it was really easy. In order to achieve a physical fitness goal, you’ll have to challenge the body and get it out of its comfort zone. If you tend to shy away from a cardio cycling class, it’s time to get on a stationary bike and begin working out. The more you face your challenges, the sooner you’ll conquer them.

4. Goal-Setting Practices
Before you begin your new workout regimen, sit down and figure out your goals. If your only goal is weight loss, write it down. If you desire to work out so that you can maintain a beautiful body and optimal health, write those goals down. If you are working out so that you can learn how to swim faster, be clear about that. As you set the goals, make sure that you also write down the ways you ‘re going to turn those goals into realized achievements. In order to improve your technique, you’ve got to get into the pool. If you’d like to improve the look of your body, you’ll want to examine the areas you don’t like. Then, find workouts that target those areas in particular. Once you’ve become clear about your goals, it’s a lot easier to focus and get into the zone when you’re ready to workout.

9 Top Tips For Swim Set Success #SwimTechTues

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Hosting a Backyard Summertime Party

On a hot summer day, hosting a refreshing and rustic summer party in the backyard is a great way to beat the heat. With some delicious catered food and refreshing homemade lemonade or sweet tea, friends and family will have a great time catching up during the slow relaxing days of the best season of the year.

Entertaining the Children
While the adults have a great time socialization and kicking back with their drinks, the children will need a way to stay entertained. There are many fun games that can be set up for the children including a slip and slide, ring toss, horseshoes, bobbing for apples, and so much more. By keeping the children entertained, they will be far less likely to partake in mischievious activities and they will not become upset about being bored or wanting to go home as quickly.

Planning the Refreshments
One of the most important features of a summer party is the food. The food can take a long time to prepare, making catering St Petersburg a viable option when trying to prepare food for a large number of people. For drinks and snacks, homemade sweet tea, homemade lemonade, watermelon, and fruit salads are wonderful summer pastimes.

Catering food table set decoration â Stock Photo

Booking a Photographer
Memories are always worth photographing. When hosting a large party it is a great idea to book a local photographer to capture the event. He or she can capture beautiful candid shots throughout the party, which can be far superior than standard portrait shots. If the budget is somewhat tight, there are many hobbyist photographers who are willing to capture events for far cheaper; a great example might be a recent high school graduate who dabbled in photography classes.

Parties are a great way to relax and have a fun time during the summer months. Both kids and adults can enjoy the sunshine, wonderful food, and the best of company. For many people, these summer parties are the best for family reunions because schools are not in session and many adults can take summer vacation time.

No. of times viewed = 5

Chinese Egg Fried Rice / Golden Fried Rice

On the eve of GE 14 today, it’s school off for Alycia and Drama Queen. Alycia gets 3 days off and Drama Queen gets 2 days off as their schools are used as polling station. Cass gets only one day on 9 May. Poor her and me. I was anticipating for an off day for Cass too so that I could sleep in for 2 days. But no such luck. I still have to wake up early tomorrow to prepare for voting, my first ever. I’m so excited! 😁 Hopefully Thursday and Friday or Monday and Tuesday next week will be declared a public holiday, as promised by the respective Parties should they win. So, who do you think will win? 😉 I can’t wait to find out!

Since I have all morning to myself today without having to do school and tuition runs, I did what I love best ~ retail therapy, all by myself. Bliss! My most favorite past time to destress is to go shopping alone with no one breathing down my neck for this and that and no one rushing me to quickly finish up and go home.

At Uniqlo, I saw this SPRZ NY top that is SUPER light and feels like I’m not wearing anything. Was tempted to get it for myself for traveling as the material drys up super fast. I thought I could share this with Alycia but after Whatsapping her the picture, to which she said “NO, I DON’T WANT IT, DON’T BUY IT!!”, I put the top back. This is not something that I would wear often. My wardrobe only has sleeveless tops and dresses 🤭 and jackets. And I added another sleeveless bra dress to my collection 👗

Back home, Drama Queen made two batches of pancakes. The first batch was a flop. She tried to be creative and made blue pancakes using blue pea flower tea and wholemeal flour but the batter churned out starchy pancakes. The second batch was cooked to a tee ~ fluffy, pillowy and soft.

For dinner, I cooked Chinese Egg Fried Rice / Golden Fried Rice. This is by far the most perfect Chinese fried rice that I’ve dished up! In future, I’ll stick with this recipe for the ultimate Chinese egg fried rice.

And what’s the secret?

The secret is by coating the cooked rice with egg yolk and separately frying all the ingredients.

Method:

First, separate the yolks from the whites. There are several methods of doing it. You can separate it with a spatula with drainer, by scooping the yolks up with half the cracked egg shell, sucking the yolks up with a water bottle, separating the yolks upon cracking the shell and by using your bare hands. Check out this video to see which method suits you best. Drama Queen and I prefer scooping the yolks up with the cracked egg shell.

Beat up the egg yolks and in a large bowl, mix the egg yolk with the rice evenly. Make sure that every grain of rice is coated with egg yolk. If the egg yolks are not enough, prep more. I used Basmati rice and brown rice.

Heat up wok with sesame seed oil and olive oil. Fry the rice coated with egg yolk until the rice is dried up. You will hear ‘popping’ sounds when the rice is dried up. I added a little Chinese sausage into the fried rice as it’s leftover from the previous night dinner. Season with salt and pepper and a little soy sauce if you wish but do not add too much as the soy sauce will cause the rice to be wet and the wok to turn brown/burnt. Remove the fried rice from the wok.

Next, brown the garlic and onions. Then remove from the wok.

Brown the minced pork until you hear ‘crackling’ sounds from the wok or when the minced pork is golden brown. Add in the chopped long beans and carrots and fry till cooked. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from wok.

Then fry the egg whites. As egg white tends to stick to the wok very easily, be sure to keep scraping the egg whites off the base of the wok to prevent them from getting burnt / stuck to the wok.

Finally, add in the fried rice, meat and vegetables and the chopped spring onions and stir well.

Ingredients:
1. Cooked rice. I didn’t really measure as I had some overnight cooked rice and I cooked another 1 cup of rice.
2. 6 eggs ~ yolks separated from whites (use more if necessary)
3. 1 bulb garlic
4. 2 bulbs red onion
5. Protein of your choice ~ I used organic minced pork
6. Vegetables of your choice ~ I used 1 packet organic long beans and 1 carrot
7. Chopped scallions / spring onions
8. Salt and pepper to taste. Soy sauce is optional

Instructions:
1. First, separate the yolks from the whites. There are several methods of doing it. You can separate it with a spatula with drainer, by scooping the yolks up with half the cracked egg shell, sucking the yolks up with a water bottle, separating the yolks upon cracking the shell and by using your bare hands. Check out this video to see which method suits you best. Drama Queen and I prefer scooping the yolks up with the cracked egg shell.

2. Beat up the egg yolks and in a large bowl, mix the egg yolk with the rice evenly. Make sure that every grain of rice is coated with egg yolk. If the egg yolks are not enough, prep more. I used Basmati rice and brown rice.

3. Heat up wok with sesame seed oil and olive oil. Fry the rice coated with egg yolk until the rice is dried up. You will hear ‘popping’ sounds when the rice is dried up. I added a little Chinese sausage into the fried rice as it’s leftover from the previous night dinner. Season with salt and pepper and a little soy sauce if you wish but not too much as the soy sauce will cause the rice to be wet. Remove the fried rice from the wok.

4. Next, brown the garlic and onions. Then remove from the wok.

5. Brown the minced pork until you hear ‘crackling’ sounds from the wok or when the minced pork is golden brown. Add in the chopped long beans and carrots and fry till cooked. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from wok.

6. Then fry the egg whites. As egg white tends to stick to the wok very easily, be sure to keep scraping the egg whites off the base of the wok to prevent them from getting burnt / stuck to the wok.

7. Finally, add in the fried rice, meat and vegetables and the chopped spring onions and stir well.

No. of times viewed = 20

Power Of Prayers

On Saturday, I hurriedly left the house to bring Cass to Yamaha for piano lesson. Cass would normally remind me to bring along my mobile phone as I have a tendency to leave my phone behind. I am perpetually in a rush from one place to another, thus always leave my phone at home. I have since appointed Cass to be my personal reminder for me to bring along my phone and purse before I leave the house.

But on that particular day, Cass had forgotten to remind me. She was dawdling away at home, enjoying her freedom as her exam had just ended. Despite me hollering at her to dress up and go, she was taking her own sweet time, did her theory homework at the eleventh hour and other non important stuff.

About 20 minutes before we left the house, I put the kettle on the stove to boil water. I told myself that I HAD TO REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE FIRE BEFORE GOING OUT but as I was busy rushing Cass to get ready and got myself ragged and frazzled nagging her, I buggered up. This is the second time I had left the kettle on the stove and left the house. How could I?!

Note to self ~ never ever do this again! NEVER. REMEMBER!! *pull my own ears to the sides*

While in the class, I realized that I had left the mobile phone at home. Without the phone to distract my mind, my mind wandered back home. Suddenly, I remembered that the kettle was still on the stove, with the fire ignited at max speed. Alycia was at the gym. Drama Queen was in the bathroom. Our dear part-time helper was cleaning the bedrooms and bathroom. Dang it. No one would realize the kettle whistling until the water inside evaporates to nothing, the kettle gets burnt and the smoke detector gets activated and the loud alarm beeps. And I had no phone to call home. I immediately said a prayer to Jesus to protect everyone at home, for Him to get the helper to turn off the fire and to not let a tragedy happen. Our part-time helper who is a very initiative maid often helps to turn off the fire on the stove when the kettle whistles. Drama Queen also helps to do the same IF she’s in the kitchen.

After piano class ended, I sped home and dashed right into the kitchen and guess what?

The kettle was still on the stove, the knob was still turned to the max level but there was NO FIRE on the stove. NO FIRE. NO GAS SMELL. The kettle was COLD.

I am 100% sure that I saw the fire when I ignited the stove.

How could this happen?

I asked our part-time helper if she had turned off the fire and she said NO.

I could only think of DIVINE INTERVENTION!

Thank you Jesus for your help once again!!

Cass, doing what she loves most ~ reading a novel and munching on an apple, on a lazy Saturday morning, after a stressful exam week.

No. of times viewed = 14

DIY Sore Throat Gargle With Essential Oils

Someone brought home some nasty bugs and didn’t take special care to use separate cutlery when we were eating. I got bitten by the bugs eventually. I find that when I am chronically sleep deprived, it takes a toll on my immunity. I get bitten by flu and cold bugs pretty fast when I lack sleep. I started with a mild sore throat and advanced to a cold with nasal congestion. Darn it!!

The most common cause of a sore throat is a cold or the flu. You often first realize a cold or the flu is coming on when you get that first bit of pain and scratchiness in your throat.

Being an all-natural wellness mommy, I googled for an essential oil recipe for sore throat gargle. All that’s needed are 3 ingredients, that’s it and in just a day, my sore throat is gone! I love my Young Living essential oils!

Just a short introduction on Young Living essential oils:

Young Living’s very strict “Seed to Seal” standards regulate the company’s processes and that of its suppliers. Young Living takes the methods of distilling and producing an essential oil very seriously, which ensures that the essential oils they produce are nothing less than therapeutic grade or functionally active. Also Young Living owns 11 of their own farms around the world where they employ beyond organic practices to ensure quality and consistency.

The quality control measures that Young Living imposes upon itself and its partners go beyond the current organic standard, which is why they are able to deliver 100% pure, unadulterated essential oils with all the natural ingredients and therapeutic properties that occur naturally.

Ok, back to how essential oils can help make a sore throat go away quicker or avoid one all together!

The following essential oils for sore throat pain will kill germs, ease inflammation and speed healing of this annoying and painful malady:

1. Peppermint
Peppermint oil is commonly used for treatment of the common cold, cough, sinus infections, respiratory infections, and inflammation of the mouth and throat, including sore throats.

2. Lemon
Lemon essential oil is known for its ability to cleanse toxins from any part of the body and is widely used to stimulate lymph drainage, to rejuvenate energy and purify skin.

Lemon oil is derived from the skin of the lemon and is excellent for sore throats since it is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, high in vitamin C, increases salivation and helps keep the throat moist.

3. Clove / Thieves
Clove essential oil is useful for boosting the immune system, so it is extremely useful at discouraging and relieving a sore throat. The sore throat benefits of clove oil can be attributed to its antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and stimulating properties. Chewing on a clove bud can also help a sore throat (as well as a toothache).

I added 2 drops of Clove and 2 drops of Thieves. If you have no Thieves essential oil, you can use Clove. Thieves essential oil is a blend Clove, Lemon, Rosemary, Cinnamon and Eucalyptus therapeutic grade essential oils.

4. Tea tree
According to a 2013 study, tea tree oil has powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects against germs. It’s often used as an antiseptic for gum infections and other oral problems.

Baking Soda
According to American Cancer Society, rinsing your mouth regularly with a salt, baking soda, and water solution (1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt mixed in 1 quart water) can help prevent infections and helps your mouth feel better. Gargle with the mixture to relieve a sore throat, but don’t swallow it.

Saltwater
Several studies have found that gargling several times a day with warm salt water can reduce swelling in the throat and loosen mucus, helping to flush out irritants or bacteria.

What Is Needed For Sore Throat Gargle
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
Boiled filtered water
2 drops each of the following essential oils: Lemon, Peppermint, Clove / Thieves, Tea Tree

Method
Dilute the sea salt with some warm boiled water.
Add in baking soda and essential oils.
Mix well.
Store in sterilized bottle.

Directions
Gargle several times a day for at least a minute each time but DO NOT swallow.

Let me know if you need help to get the essential oils. I can get them for you at wholesale price. Just drop me an email at shireenyong@gmail.com. You can also click here to sign up as member (signing up online is so easy and fast!) or Whatsapp / call me at 019 266 4290.

No. of times viewed = 84