I hope everyone is enjoying the Chinese New Year holidays with your family and loved ones. And for those of you who dread CNY and can’t wait for it to be over because it’s just so frigging exhausting with non-stop cooking, cleaning up, entertaining (hello nosy and insensitive relatives!), and traveling (darn the traffic congestion), hang in there. It will soon be over.
This CNY we’re staying put in KL as Sherilyn will be sitting for her SPM exam a few days after the CNY holidays and wishes to spend more time revising.
Alycia had planed to follow her grandaunt back to Ipoh by car on Thursday but on the morning of departure, she was down with food poisoning, fever and cough. She literally camped in the loo the entire night. The previous night Alycia had dinner of Moo Kata with her colleagues and must have eaten something that’s undercooked or contaminated that caused her food poisoning with persistent diarrhea. Thus, she had to cancel her trip back to Ipoh.
This CNY, there’s been quite a bit of ‘massive’ cooking by the mil for three days straight. While she enjoys all the cooking, I certainly don’t enjoy doing all the aftermath-cleaning up, especially the greasy stove, counters and floors 🤪
Our CNY Eve dinner at home. Hubby’s cousin joined us for dinner.Home-made Yee Sang, from a seller who operates from her home in OUG. She makes pretty good Yee Sang and we have been buying from her for years. Sherilyn learned how to prep Yee Sang two years ago during the lockdown, using a variety of healthy fruits and veggies. It’s really delish and fresh. We’re going to get her to prep it again next CNY. Sherilyn has not been cooking much lately as she’s preparing for her SPM exam.The sea cucumbers and abalones were prepped a couple of weeks earlier. It’s a tedious and time-consuming process to rehydrate and cook the dried sea cucumbers and dried abalones. It takes days of soaking and boiling before braising with other ingredients such as pork belly, fish maw and dried scallops.Our customary vegetarian dish on the first day of CNY.Our meatless lunner at Alexis @ The Gardens Mall on the first day of CNY – vegetarian spaghetti, vegetarian pizza, mushroom soup with garlic toast and mushroom risotto. Tiramisu, bitter chocolate mousse cake, pecan pie and flourless orange almond cake.
We invited some close friends over for lunch today (Chor 2) for ‘Hoi Nin Fan’ and it was another massive cooking and cleaning. I was so busy cleaning up the kitchen that I forgot to snap photos of the dishes. On the dining table were fried fish, fried prawns, steamed village chicken, lotus root soup, stir-fried snake beans, beef rendang and leftover vegetarian dish from yesterday.
I’d like to wish everyone a very prosperous year of the Rabbit. May you and your loved ones enjoy the heavenly favors of good health, wealth, and fortune all year through. Happy Chinese New Year!
Children who are dealing with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder can benefit from making lists of new year’s resolutions. Parents should encourage kids to factor the symptoms of this condition into the way they frame resolutions. Coming up with resolutions that address ADHD symptoms can help children focus on achieving all of their goals. Here are a few recommendations for resolutions that range from practicing patience and developing organizational skills to trying holistic Brillia ADHD medication.
Practice Patience
Impatience is a common symptom of ADHD. Having a child or teen identify situations that make them feel restless or irritable can help them identify opportunities to practice patience in the new year. The act of making this list can remind them to focus on being patient at these times or in certain surroundings.
Exercises for building patience can also help children develop this skill. Resolutions that challenge a child or teen to wait calmly and disregard distractions or resist impulses for set periods of time can sharpen the skill of patience. Brillia for Children reviews indicate that a holistic, over-the-counter antibody treatment for ADHD that does not have the side effects of prescription stimulant ADHD medication can reinforce these efforts.
Keep a Daily Planner for Organization
Instilling the habit of using a daily planner can set a child up for success in academic and extracurricular endeavors. A child may prefer to use an analog daily planner or a planner app on a smart device. Analog planners enable a child to use colorful writing implements, while daily planner apps can be readily accessible anywhere at any time.
An analog or paper daily planner can be preferable to an app if you or your child want to limit screen time as part of practicing patience or managing other ADHD symptoms. It can be hard to beat the ease of access to a digital daily planner, even if you have to allot a set amount of time for using this and other apps.
Try a Holistic ADHD Treatment
The most effective over-the-counter treatment for ADHD works by inhibiting activity of the S-100B protein in the brain and body. This protein regulates calcium levels and plays a part in neuron communication. When the S-100B protein is overproduced or is overactive, a child, teen or adult may experience symptoms such as hyperactivity, restlessness, inability to concentrate or irritability.
One of the most frequently asked questions about a holistic, non-stimulant approach to treating ADHD symptoms is “can you take Brillia with ADHD medication?” Brillia has no contraindications with any other medications or supplements, and can be dosed up to three times a day alongside prescription ADHD medication or taken as an alternative to treatments that work by stimulating dopamine and norepinephrine production.
These pointers can help children and teens who are dealing with ADHD make and keep new year’s resolutions. If your child exhibits the symptoms of this condition, it can be worthwhile to consider these approaches. Taking a proactive approach to managing ADHD symptoms can help children achieve their goals.
When she was about seven, Cass was obsessed with Shopkins. These cute little toys are a range of tiny, collectibles manufactured by Moose Toys. Based on grocery store items, each plastic figure has a recognizable face and unique name. They also have special finishes like translucent, glitter, or squishy. Shopkins were a rage with little kids back then.
Cass’ dad and I would buy her Shopkins as reward for good exam grades and during birthdays. Cass collected them for about four or five years. Then came the pandemic. During the pandemic, the girls were hooked to their laptops, busy with online classes, watched movies and played games. Life during the long lockdowns was so mundane to the point of depressive and Cass eventually forgot about her precious little babies, all kept in a box under her desk.
While decluttering her space recently, Cass rediscovered her precious gems. They were so precious to her when she was in her early primary school years. But now she had made up her mind to part with her precious Shopkins collectibles as her interest has diverted somewhere else – figure skating! She wanted to get some extra moolah to partially pay for the expensive classes as well as to save up to buy a pair of more advanced skates which cost over RM2k.
Cass took photos of her Shopkins collection and posted the items for sale at Carousell. Cass and Alycia had previously sold some novels pretty quickly at Carousell. This time, her Shopkins were snapped up very quickly too. And that’s because she sold them for a song. The entire collection cost a few hundred Ringgit and she sold them for only RM40 🤭
Cass kept a few Shopkins pieces as keepsakes to remind herself of her childhood craze. I’m surprised that she had the heart to part with something that once meant so much to her.
I still keep my collection of Sanrio items that’s over 40 years old! They include cute Sanrio stickers, pencils, writing pads, envelopes, etc. They are all originals and made in Japan. In those days, there were no made in China copycats. And the quality of these stationery items are still very good even after more than 40 years. Cass brings them out to show me once in a little while and going through these collectibles that grew with me evoke a lot of nostalgia in me. I still keep a Snoopy and Garfield wall decor that my bestie, Ju gave me when she was 13 and 14.
This aunty here is walking with a spring in her step 😁
Just a moment ago I bumped into my car park neighbor at the basement. We have not crossed path with each other for almost a month due to the school holidays. We greeted each other and chatted. As usual, our conversation is always on our daughters. His younger daughter is in the same high school as Cass. They were classmates two years ago and had swimming lessons together when they were 7 years old (7 years ago). While chatting, he suddenly switched the subject and commented that I never age and wonder why I look even younger now. I told him that I will turn 50 in two months and I have wrinkles on my face – if he were to scrutinize it during the day, he would have spotted those fine lines. But he was in awe and could not believe my age. In my heart, I was really flattered and already walking on air 😆
Ok, coming back to my throwback food snaps!
Year-end holidays are all about food, celebrations and merriment. The photos below were taken from 27 December 2022 through 1 January 2023.
27 December 2022 ~ Dinner at Ramen Mob, a newly opened ramen restaurant in our hood. The restaurant is owned by an ex-pilot. We had dinner at this restaurant on the day that I came back from Ipoh.29 December 2022 ~ Brunch at Money’s Corner Food Court @ Brickfields. Our favorites from this food court are the Indian rice, pork noodles, Vietnamese food (stall owner is an ertswhile chef at a Pho Viet) and Sarawak Kolok noodles.Clockwise from top left: Vietnamese noodle salad, curry noodles (mediocre in taste), beef pho and pork noodles.30 December 2022 ~ Today is hubby’s 51st birthday! We had lunch at Golden Dragon City Seafood Restaurant @ Paramount Garden. Clockwise from top left: Deep fried super crispy fish (everyone’s favorite), sauteed kailan with garlic, steamed village chicken with Bok Choy and crabmeat soup.Clockwise from top left: Claypot braised pig’s trotters, pan-fried tiger prawns, longevity noodles and stir-fried assorted vegetables with fried cuttlefish.31 December 2022 ~ New Year’s Eve dinner at Seng Kee Kitchen, our favorite neighborhood ‘tai chow’ restaurant.1 January 2023 ~ Our first meal of the new year was at VCR Stacks @ 163 Retail Park, Mont Kiara. Our primary reason for going to this shopping mall is because of Cass. Her doting dad brought her to the the mall for her to practise ice-skating. After dropping her off at the Blue Ice skating rink at 163 Retail Park, we walked across to the Shoplex Plaza to have brunch.
We had three types of toasties – beef, cheese and mushroom.
Cass’ doting dad bought takeaway pizza for her to enjoy it at home. We also got some takeaway food from QingHeGu 청학골 Korean BBQ Restaurant, a Chinese Korean restaurant @ 163 Retail Park. Blue Ice skating rink @ 163 Retail Park – the smallest skating rink compared with the Blue Ice Snow Park @ Pavillion Bukit Jalil and Sunway Pyramid Ice @ Sunway Pyramid.
Whenever Cass is at the skating rink, she forgets about being hungry and everything else in the world. The ice is her world. Figure skating is her world… for now. And she says it will be her love forever 😁.
The started out well until around 11 a.m. I was at Kimchitiam (one of our favorite Korean restaurants) with Cass and waiting for our food to arrive. While waiting for our food, I played with my phone.
Then came a Whatsapp message from my mum in our family chat group. She informed us that her trip to Sabah with papa that night had to be cancelled as she had a bad fall and broke several bones in her hand and shoulder. I was shocked to read the message. I tried calling mum and papa on their mobile phones but they went unanswered. My worst fear was she had to undergo a surgery to fix the fractures.
This photo of my mum’s bent fractured wrist shattered my heart.
I lost my appetite after reading the message from my mum. When the food arrived, I ate very little. I had some marinated spinach, kimchi and pinched some Bibimbap from Cass. I only ate a few forkfuls of japchae that I ordered for myself and had it doggy-bagged home.
While chewing the spinach, I suddenly bit into a bunch of sand! And then I felt a pang and a sharp sensitive feeling in my right bottom back tooth. It felt like the top part of the enamel was scraped off by the hard sand and the nerves were exposed! 😱 I could feel with my tongue that the top part of that tooth was gone.
Double whammy!!
After lunch, Cass and I hurriedly walked home as I had to fetch Sherilyn back from school. We deliberately walked to the plaza to have lunch to soak in some sun. Today is the last day of school holidays for Cass and tomorrow will be her first day in Junior 3 (Form 3).
After trying to call my parents like 100 times but in vain, mum finally sent another Whatsapp message to the chat group to update us on her condition.
This is her message:
Doctor advised not to travel. There are 3 broken bones on the wrist and one fracture on the shoulder. The orthopedic surgeon pulled the bones back to straighten the bent and misplaced bones. Now in fibreglass cast, will take 2-3 months to heal.
In a cast. Mum can still muster up a smile despite a throbbing hand, swollen cheek and lips. I felt better after seeing her smile.
Praise the Lord that no surgery was necessary🙏 I pray that mum will never have another fall. She had had several bad falls over the last two years.
Now back to my tooth. I was too lazy to go out again to the dentist and thought that I could hang on until tomorrow morning but each time I ate something, the chipped tooth hurt. I called up the dentist’s office and the dental assistant told me that I could come pronto. So I zoomed off to the dentist to get my tooth fixed.
The dentist told me that he only needed one layer of patching on my tooth. Thank God the damage to my tooth was only superficial.
Since I was already on the dental chair, I told the dentist to perform scaling on my teeth as well. I’ve not gone to the dentist for at least 4 years. I always try to evade going to the dentist as I have low pain tolerance and hate the feeling of lockjaw each time I open my mouth wide for Mr Dentist 🤐 🥴. I hate the feeling of the draining tube in my mouth and metal clanging in my teeth.
Total damage to my wallet was RM210 (RM90 for tooth patching and RM120 for scaling).
Back home, everyone asked me why didn’t I complain to the boss of the Korean restaurant about the sand and the damage it caused to my tooth. The answer is I wasn’t in a mood to complain about anything and I had to hurry home to fetch Sherilyn back from school. Moreover the boss (a Korean dude) had walked out of his shop.
Later in the evening, I sent a Whatsapp message to the Korean restaurant owner to tell him what happened. Our family has known the owner for almost 10 years as we’re his regular customers. He was very apologetic and told me that my next meal there would be on him. My main intention of telling the owner wasn’t to get a free meal but to let him know so that this unfortunate incident would not happen again to other customers. His staff are all foreign workers and they must be reminded about rinsing veggies thoroughly for their customers’ safety. After this unpleasant experience, I don’t think I will ever eat their marinated spinach appetizer again. I am now paranoid over spinach! Actually this ain’t the first time I’d chewed on sand in my spinach dish.
As a freelance work-from-home mum, I struggle to balance family time with my work commitments, house chores, chauffeuring duties, and other activities. Many mums and dads face this issue, which can be one of the most challenging aspects of parenting. It gets even more challenging as your kids get older. This year my eldest daughter will be turning 20, my middle child 18, and the youngest 15. Ever since my eldest daughter started college and is now at university, we hardly ever have a complete headcount at the dining table, in the car, or in outings.
Quality time is one of the best ways to show your family you care without having to break the bank or create elaborate shows of affection. Here are four of my top favorite ways to spend quality time with my family.
1. Cook a meal together.
This is one of my favorite ways to bond and spend quality time with my girls. We cook a meal together. It can be a simple dish or a new recipe. The time spent in the kitchen – prepping ingredients, chatting, joking, and making fun of each other is priceless.
2. Have a movie night at home together.
This is another favorite activity that my girls and I enjoy doing together during the holidays. We like watching Netflix or YouTube at home on our smart TV.
Recently, I saw my friend’s social media posting on her brand new INLAB Senz smart home cinema projector, which was a big hit with everyone at home – from the youngest to the oldest. She mentioned that the home cinema experience was so real that it blew her mind away. They don’t even need to go to the cinema anymore!
What is INLAB Senz?
INLAB Senz Projector is a smart LED projector equipped with Android OS. Similar to a smart TV, INLAB Senz projects natively 1080P (supports up to 4K) videos/images effortlessly. It consumes less power than a TV albeit the sharpness, clarity, and brightness are superb.
INLAB Senz Projector.INLAB Senz Projector is a smart LED projector equipped with Android OS.The INLAB Senz can be optimal ranging from 100-120 inches and costs less than RM1k.
With the Android OS built-in (setting takes a few minutes), one can access all the popular TV applications like Netflix, YouTube, Disney Hotstar+, and over 100 more applications with a tap of a button. These applications can be installed onto the INLAB Senz from the Play Store Application.
3. Exercise together.
Keeping fit, slim, and healthy together is a fantastic family activity that everyone should try. There are endless ways to exercise together from brisk walking at your neighborhood park to jogging, swimming, working out at the gym, hiking, cycling, and the list goes on and on. After a good workout, you and your family can have a drink or a meal together.
4. Have board game nights.
Board game nights with their grandparents were my daughters’ favorite activity when they were younger. There’s just so much guffaw and excitement at the table where all of them were gathered. Board games are an excellent way to connect with someone or to break the ice with newfound friends. Board games and card games are still the best methods for our girls to warm up with our friends’ children during get-togethers. Plus, it’s technology-free and keeps us away from our gadgets for a moment.
There are many ways to spend quality time with your loved ones. Find one that suits your lifestyle and make the effort to connect with your family. I strongly believe that a close and good relationship with your children starts from day one and requires a lot of effort from the parent.
I’m now a tad tempted to get an INLAB Senz smart home cinema projector for our family’s movie nights! It’s now selling at a discounted price of RM989.90 (original price is RM2,899) and you’ll get an extra RM30 discount with voucher code INLA30 when you check out from the INLAB website. It’s still way cheaper than getting a 45-inch smart TV, which is priced at approximately RM2k plus. The INLAB Senz can be optimal ranging from 100-120 inches but costs less than RM1k.
If you’re planning to purchase this product from Lazada, do click on this link to collect a RM30 voucher.
For more information or to order, you can head over to the following sites:
A good friend became a grandmother for the first time and sent us a lovely baby full-moon package on her grand daughter’s full-moon. The full-moon package came with a whole fried chicken, Nasi Kunyit (turmeric rice), red eggs and angku kuih. Everyone ate all the nice parts of the fried chicken and left the breast, which was dry and hard, untouched. Chef S repurposed the dry breast meat and bones into another sumptuous dish the next day.
Instead of using turkey to cook Turkey And Vegetables Barley Soup, a dish that the girls’ grand aunt will cook every year after Christmas using leftover roast turkey, Chef S cooked Chicken And Vegetables Barley Soup.
Chef S dumped in the leftover fried chicken breast and added lots of vegetables, pumpkin, onions, sweet corns and barley into the pot of soup. She also fried some chicken drummets and added them into the soup.My hearty bowl of Chicken & Vegetables Barley Soup. It’s so delish and nourishing that I can eat this everyday. I ate this two days in a row.
2022 Winter Solstice Festival Dinner at Seng Kee Kitchen:
For once in a very, very long time, there was a complete headcount at the dining table on Winter Solstice Day (22 Dec 2022). With Alycia in university now, Sherilyn prepping for SPM and hubs who’s tied down with work, it’s extremely difficult for everyone to be present together for a meal or for outings.Everyone’s favorite – steamed free-range chicken from our favorite neighborhood restaurant. The chicken meat is smooth, juicy and has a distinct aromatic chicken flavor, something that’s missing in regular hormones-and-antibiotics-fed chickens.On the house – handmade and homemade Tong Yuen from the affable lady boss.My daily gut-loving dessert ~ sugar-free yoghurt from Farm Fresh (made from only milk and probiotics with nothing else added), macadamia, melon seeds, organic black sesame paste and a drizzle of Gula Melaka syrup. This aids in promoting bowel regularity.
Whether you’re a restaurant owner or a customer, there are some valuable tips for making restaurant reservations. These tips will help you avoid making unnecessary reservations while improving your dining experience.
Make Duplicate Reservations
Creating duplicate restaurant reservations is a whole lot more challenging than it sounds. One way to ensure you get your table is to call at least the day before your reservation and be ready to go. Aside from the obvious, many other factors come into play. For example, if you want to ensure that your table is available, you will want to get there early to ensure that your dining experience is as stress-free as possible. Another consideration is how long you will be able to stay. If you plan on staying at a particular restaurant for the night, you may want to bring extra cash. Finally, ensure you are aware of any fees associated with your Mac’s on main reservation Grapevine, TX. These can vary widely from restaurant to restaurant.
Balance Walk-ins with Reservations
Whether you own a restaurant or not, it is essential to balance walk-ins with reservations when making restaurant reservations. A large volume of walk-ins can be stressful for your staff and make for unpredictable service. However, many restaurants are using reservation systems to help alleviate this issue. For example, restaurants can predetermine how many tables are available and notify guests when they are next available. This will allow the staff to plan better for the dining room.
Another critical aspect of reservations is the ability to hold a table. Some restaurants will require a credit card to have a table. Others use online booking services to ensure that reservations can be made, changed, or canceled. Finally, some restaurants offer call-ahead seating, which allows guests to reserve a seat on their way to the restaurant.
Optimize the Seating Process for Walk-in Customers
Managing the seating process for walk-in customers can take time and effort. However, balancing the number of reservations and walk-ins is essential to maximize your restaurant’s profitability. If you don’t make sure you have enough seating for both, you’ll end up with a lot of empty tables. Naturally, this means a loss of revenue. Luckily, a few tips help you keep your walk-ins happy.
One way to ensure your restaurant’s seating process for walk-ins is optimized is by using an On-Waiting-List (OWL) system. These systems put guests on a waitlist and set them aside at a table as close to the time of their reservation as possible. This way, they won’t have to wait as long as they would on a walk-in.
Another way to optimize your restaurant’s seating process for walk-in customers is by offering incentives to make them come on time. But the better your system manages walk-ins, the less you’ll have to worry about a no-show rate.
Turn Front-of-House Staff into Reservation Rock Stars.
Whether you’re a restauranteur or a swashbuckling shopper, turning your front-of-house staff into reservations, magicians can significantly impact you. The following six tips can get your staff on the right track.
Using a well-implemented reservation system can highlight tables that need turning. Also, you’ll want to know about the latest restaurant trends and best practices, as well as the newest technology, such as tableside wireless menus and touchscreen ordering systems. Having a well-oiled machine on your staff can only help you deliver the customer experience your patrons expect.
Using the right software can streamline operations and give your staff the time to do what they do best. For example, with the right tools, you can turn your front-of-house staff into reservations wizards and get your restaurant booked.
With 2022 almost in the bag, I want to thank you all for reading my blogs. Some of you have been long-time readers of my blogs. A few of you have been reading my blogs since you were just teens and now are parents yourself. Wow! I really do consider you all friends, even if that’s a little weird, especially if we have never met in person before.
The school holidays are now into the third and last week. I was back in Ipoh with Sherilyn and Cass to celebrate Christmas with my parents. We took the night ETS train on Christmas Eve and arrived Ipoh at close to 10 p.m. It was our first time taking the night ETS. We got back yesterday after spending three glorious days in Ipoh with my parents and younger brother who also made a trip back to Ipoh. Missing our reunion were my eldest brother in Singapore and his family, hubs and Alycia.
Always glued to their phones.
We have an extra seat to put our stuff as the MIL who was supposed to follow us back had high fever and a tummy flu at the eleventh hour. She had packed her bags and dressed up, all ready to go. But her temp was hovering at 38C the entire day and she had a tummy upset, so everyone advised her not to travel.24 December 2022 night ~ Just arrived at Ipoh Station. Cass taking a photo of the train.
On Christmas Day, we had ‘chap fan’ for lunch as the girls woke up late and had a late breakfast of Chrismassy cakes, cookies and pastries. When lunch came, we wanted something light as we were going to have an early dinner. So dad brought us to their favorite economy rice stall to get takeaway ‘chap fan’. The dishes lined up at the stall were all my favorite and looked so very appetizing! I wanted to get like 10 dishes, but chose 4 meat-free dishes. Dinner was at my parents’ favorite restaurant nearby. We didn’t want to venture out to town as the entire Ipoh city was jam-packed with tourists with horrendous traffic jam everywhere.
Our Chrismassy nosh. All the cakes, cookies and bread on the table were homemade.Mum made the gingerbread cookies, mince pies and Panettone. Cake on the foreground is flourless orange cake made by Sherilyn. The two loafs of cakes with red and green cherries are my mum’s signature fruit cakes, matured with rum.Hubs bought these French pastries from Croisserie Artisan Bakery @ Damansara Heights for me to bring back to my parents. End of holiday. Bye-bye Ipoh. Picture taken by my mum, at the Ipoh train station yesterday. Long queue from the entrance of the train station right up to the stairs leading to the platform.At almost 50, I still get a Christmas pressie from my mum, every single year ❤️. Mum is 76 this year.
Hubs had some free time in the morning today and took us to The Gardens Mall for a quick lunch.
We ambled around the mall and were undecided on what to eat, as usual. We went the Isetan to check out the Japanese restaurants but they were not ready to serve lunch yet. We were there at around 11.30 a.m. Finally we settled for Vietnamese food at An Viet.
Cass going through the menu.Cass ordered this bun set (Vietnamese rice vermicelli) that comes with delicious meat balls and pork ribs in a rich, flavorful broth.My low-carb dish of grilled lemongrass chicken and fried egg. This is by far the tastiest grilled lemongrass chicken with very strong aroma of lemongrass. This is the dish that I will always order whenever I dine at An Viet.Grilled rice paper wrap for the mil.Hubs had only vegetarian spring rolls as he was already stuffed with all the food tasting at his central kitchen. He has a big event later in the afternoon and was at his kitchen in the morning to test taste the food that his chefs cooked. The hot lemongrass + ginger tea @ RM13.90 per jug is superb with strong aroma of lemongrass. This is another favorite of mine at An Viet.My yearly Christmas treat to Cass – a large cup of limited-time only Christmas-themed smoothie from Boost Juice. This year I got a large cup of smoothie for free as I’d accumulated enough stamps to claim a free large drink.
Sherilyn chose to stay at home to bake a wheat flour-free + gluten-free orange cake for her grandparents in Ipoh. The cake is composed of almond meal, 2 whole oranges, eggs, butter and reduced sugar. It’s the MIL’s and my favorite cake.
Low-carb almond flour orange cake. Sherilyn made 2 loafs – one for her grandparents in Ipoh and another loaf for her favorite grandaunt.Sherilyn also made this divine chocolate cake for her friend’s birthday today, using Royce chocolate, Royce Nama chocolate Au-Lait and Whittaker’s Gingerbread chocolate for the decor. Looks like a few hundred dollars and I’m sure it tastes like one too!
I grew up eating canned baked beans and sardines by Ayam Brand. It’s the trusted brand of choice by my parents. Naturally for me now, Ayam Brand is my brand of choice when it comes to buying canned food for my own family. Our family’s favorite Ayam Brand products have always been canned tuna, saba, mackererl, sardines and baked beans.
Over the decades, Ayam Brand has evolved and expanded their range of pantry staples. From canned baked beans, tuna and sardines, Ayam Brand has over the years introduced new products such as pasta sauce, canned corn kernels, curry paste and coconut milk.
Ayam Brand products are perfect for days when you’re feeling lazy to cook up a fancy meal from scratch and great for camping trips.
Canned food can be transformed into tasty dishes too. For example, canned sardines. All you have to do is to slice some raw onions, julienne some cucumbers and add a squeeze of zesty lemon or lime juice to the plate of sardines and you’ll have an appetizing dish that everyone loves. And baked beans can be cooked with eggs in several styles. These two canned dishes are my absolute favorites.
The other day I received a goodie bag filled with Ayam Brand products, which includes chili saba, tuna mayo, baked beans, chopped tomatoes, packet coconut milk and green curry paste. I was over the moon as I’ve always wanted to try their green curry paste.
Love this cute cushion in the shape of canned plant-based luncheon meat. This is something that I’d like to try some day – a meatless luncheon meat.I’m going to pair the coconut milk with red bean ‘tong sui’ (sweet soup). I love my ‘tong sui’ drizzled generously with thick coconut milk. So yummeh!
Which Ayam Brand product is your favorite? How do you like to cook your favorite Ayam Brand canned food?
There are a variety of materials to choose from when choosing jars for cosmetic products. These materials include glass, plastic, and aluminum. Glass is an upscale material that is considered to be environmentally friendly. However, shipping and manufacturing costs can be high. Glass jars are especially good for lotions and serums that contain high levels of vitamin C or essential oils.
Biodegradable Jars
Eco-friendly packaging is an important step to reducing the environmental impact of your cosmetic products. Using biodegradable jars and tubes means fewer materials are used to create packaging and can be recycled and reused. They are also lightweight and cheaper to ship. Using biodegradable packaging also benefits your brand. It also raises customer loyalty.
Biodegradable jars are available in a variety of materials, including bamboo. Bamboo is naturally sustainable and lightweight, making it an excellent option for cosmetic packaging. Bamboo jars can be reinforced with a plastic or glass liner for additional durability.
Glass Jars
Glass cosmetic jars come in various sizes and colors and are used to contain various types of cosmetic products. These jars are often thick-walled and are suitable for eye shadow, lip gloss, cream products, and liquid foundation. The jars are also available with different types of lids to ensure that the product stays fresh and free from contamination. Many cosmetic jars also feature a shave insert to keep unwanted foreign objects from settling in the contents. These inserts are removed easily using a tab. Plastic containers are another alternative to glass jars for cosmetic products. These are often cheap and available in a wide range of sizes. They are ideal for storing and transporting cosmetic products and are considered recyclable. Some plastic jars are also available in different colors and are particularly durable.
Plastic Jars
When choosing plastic jars for cosmetic products, there are several factors to consider. Some manufacturers manufacture cosmetic bottles, while others outsource their production to other countries. While you can find some cosmetic bottles manufactured in the US, you should consider that they may not be as high-quality as you would like. Furthermore, you must consider the time it will take for the jars to reach you.
Another important factor to consider is the price. Plastic containers are available at a wide range of prices, and some are quite affordable. Generally, the more affordable plastic containers are made of polystyrene, a lightweight material with low impact resistance. However, this material is unsuitable for very oily products, as it will crack if exposed to too much oil. You can choose glass jars or frosted glass bottles to avoid this problem.
Aluminum Jars
When choosing jars for your cosmetic products, you should consider aluminum because it is highly recyclable. In addition to looking elegant, this material also keeps products fresh. You can also market your product as environmentally friendly, which will appeal to those who care about the environment. Aluminum is a lighter and more malleable material than glass, allowing you to experiment with unique designs. It is also highly resistant to ingredients and is shatter-proof. Aluminum cosmetic containers also have food-grade interior varnish, which separates the container and the contents.
Sizes Of Jars
When it comes to cosmetic packaging, choosing the right sizes is vital. This will help you maximize your product offering while ensuring that your customers have easy access to them. Smaller jars are best for samples or smaller cosmetics, such as lip balm and rouge. Larger jars are best for full-sized products. Glass jars typically come in sizes ranging from 1 oz for samples to 32 oz for bulk products. The height and diameter of the container will determine the amount of product you can pack. You will also need to consider caps.
Colors
Colors are important in cosmetic packaging, and the right color can evoke a particular emotional response in a person. The colors of cosmetic jars are often inspired by culture or current fashion trends. The colors of cosmetic jars also play a role in the marketing and sales of a product. The right tone and hue can appeal to different age groups, and they should also express the individuality of the product. Colors should match your brand. A good color choice should capture the attention of potential customers and set your brand apart in the crowded beauty industry. In Chinese culture, gold symbolizes supremacy. For this reason, purple-colored cosmetic jars are a perfect choice for promoting products that are high in quality and noble in nature.
We were at Pavillion Bukit Jalil again today as Cass wanted to practise skating. Her figure skating coach is on a holiday and classes will only resume in January 2023.
When we reached the skating rink, there was an on-going figure skating performance in conjunction with the holiday season. Cass didn’t check if the skating rink was available prior to asking her dad to bring her to the mall, thus she couldn’t skate in the session that she wanted. But all was not futile as we both watched a spectacular performance by figure skaters, both amateurs and professional. Cass’ dream is to one day be on that rink doing a dazzling performance too, and even more. With her perfervid passion in figure skating, it’s not impossible to achieve her dreams. I will have to sacrifice all my Sundays to bring her to the skating rink for classes and practice sessions 😳. I’m not sure how long my patience will last though 😐
Photo taken after the performance ended.Lunch was at Tokyo Teppan @ Tokyo Town, Pavillion Bukit Jalil.After we left the mall, hubs stopped by at our neighborhood supermarket to grab some stuff for his kitchen. Just as we were about to leave the supermarket, rain bucketed down the sky and we had to wait for it to stop. To kill time, we tucked into some croffles and coffee at a cafe.
Sherilyn woke up at 5 a.m. today to say goodbye to her aunt Sarah who had to take the early morning Grab ride to the airport for her flight back to Hawaii. Sarah stayed with us for 10 days to celebrate her mom’s birthday. The eldest SIL from the UK and second SIL from Hong Kong were also in KL to celebrate their mom’s 77th birthday.
After her aunt Sarah left, Sherilyn couldn’t go back to sleep. As she had so much time in the morning, she whipped up a batch of fluffy blueberry pancakes for brekkie for everyone. The pancakes were perfect – super fluffy, soft and addictive!
The blueish hues were from blue pea flowers flour and fresh blueberries, mixed into the batter. These were so good that someone chomped down five pieces in one sitting 🤢. Not me!We had lunch at Kimchitiam, one of our favorite Korean eateries at our hood. The restaurant is run by a Korean dude. The grilled saba fish (almost zero carbs) is mine.Beef stew for Sherilyn and Bibimbap for Alycia. Cass didn’t follow us out as she’d already completed her 3 meals for the day. This girl only eats once a day.Potato pancake for the K-food fans.
Haru is almost turning 2 years old! We don’t know when exactly she was born but hubs discovered Haru and her siblings just outside his office door step on New Year’s Day last year (2021). She was just a teeny-weeny cute lil kitten, but spicy and hissy pissy.
The first time Sherilyn and I went to see the kittens, Haru was the first to poke her face out amongst her siblings. She was always the nosiest and spiciest kitty, yet the cutest in the litter. She was always the first to greet us whenever we went to feed her mother and to check on the kittens. And that’s how she won me over, the one who never liked cats but now adore Haru to bits❤️
On weekdays, the girls miss Haru a lot. When they’re back from school, they give Haru cuddles, squeezes and kisses. However, Haru is not the sort of cat that likes this kind of affection and love bombing. She tends to run away from her sisters when she sees them run towards her 😹
Do you think Haru tried to snatch the piece of Saba fish that Sherilyn was putting into her mouth?Nope she didn’t. Haru loves fish but we’re surprised that she didn’t swipe the fish with her paws.Cass and Haru.
Silicone is a type of synthetic polymer made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and silicon. Silicone was recognized by the FDA as safe to be used as a food-grade material (food-grade silicone) in 1979.
Silicone is more heat resistant compared to organic polymers. It is widely used and commercialized in many industries such as mom and baby products, baking utensils, personal care, automotive, coating, chemicals, electronics and many more due to its durability, ease of manufacturing, and stability over a wide range of temperatures. Most silicone products can withstand temperatures of up to 260°C.
As silicone is considered more chemically stable than plastic, experts say it’s safe to use and likely not toxic, if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. According to Health Canada, there have been no known health hazards associated with the use of silicone cookware. Silicone rubber doesn’t react with food or drinks or produce any hazardous fumes.
Whether you are looking to purchase household silicone products or custom silicone products, always choose silicone products that are made from the best silicone materials and very durable, such as those manufactured by Newtop Rubber.
Newtop Rubber uses food-grade and medical-grade liquid silicone materials to manufacture high-quality products. As a source manufacturer, they have more price advantages than intermediate traders and stricter quality control.
If you’ve always wondered whether it’s safe to use silicone kitchen utensils such as spatulas, cake molds, and oven gloves, the answer is yes, they are completely safe to use. Just ensure that your silicone kitchen tools are 100% pure food-grade silicone, and are recognized by the FDA and Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS). Silicone utensils are freezer-safe as well as they can endure extremely cold temperatures. Silicone products are generally safe under many conditions and a safer alternative to most plastics.
Silicone kitchen utensils are very durable – they won’t scratch, break, shatter and will probably last very long. The rubber-like soft material doesn’t damage non-stick surfaces and makes them flexile. No doubt silicone is not biodegradable, it can however be recycled and remoulded into other products.
If you’re looking for a silicone mold supplier for your business or for bulk purchases, check out Newtop Rubber for an extensive range of silicone products.
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