Christmas is coming! Personalise your gift using Printcious

It's Christmas in a month's time! Jingle bells ringing. Festive seasons means time to prepare gifts. At my church, it is accustomed for everyone to bring a gift for exchange after the morning service as a sign of goodwill. I also try to prepare gifts for my family and close friends. It is not easy to think of something special after all these years.

If you have read my recent post, I have designed a few personalised gifts using Printcious. I designed a cushion for my husband using our recent family photo taken at Edinburgh castle. He was very surprised and happy at the same time. Now the cushion is placed on my living room couch. Even baby Bing loves hugging the cushion. He can also point to papa, mama and himself when asked.

Later on, I have created 2 mugs for my parents. Shamefully speaking, I haven't given them any birthday presents for some time.

Received them in pristine condition wrapped neatly in layers of bubble wraps. And the mugs are thick walled and of very good quality. Can't wait to look at their response when they get these.

So what should I design this time for Christmas?

Firstly, my sister in law is getting engaged this weekend! How else better can we eternalise this turning point in their lives than to present a memorable personalised token? I am going to keep it as a secret first as to what the design it's going to be just in case she's going to come across this post before she got the present. Just listing out the types of gifts that I can choose to personalise for this lovely couple.

My other idea is get my 2 close cousins gifts with personal touch. We have grown up together but unfortunately we have been growing apart for almost a decade now that I am married and have my own family and monster toddler to handle. Distance makes the heart grows fonder though. Hoping this gift will keep our relationship alive.

Besides designing from scratch, Printcious also provides quite a few ready templates depending on the occasions and types of gifts. So even if I don't plan to use my own photos, I can still add a personal touch by adding texts to my gifts.

Can't wait to celebrate Christmas! Just hoping that there will be no more flood this year so everyone can enjoy the festive season instead of becoming stuck at the evacuation centre. Pray for Penangites!

Use the correct supplements to boost health featuring Lynnity

There are so many health supplements in the market now it can become very confusing for the consumers. How do we know which ones are really helpful/necessary or just sales gimmick? Are they really natural remedies? Or rather, downright harmful? Dr Yingzangel is going to answer your questions today.

Firstly, the Malaysian ministry of health has come up with this brilliant MADRAC committee which has a list of banned supplements and one can report adverse effect of a drug.

Look out for these important certification before purchase. GMP compliance (Good Manufacturing Practice) is an internationally recognized way to ascertain good quality and hygience of pharmaceutical products. It's US based and FDA approved.

HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) is a management system that ensures food safety from its raw material through the production belt until it's distributed to consumers. It's also widely used practice internationally. This prevents hazardous ingredients from being incorporated into food products.

So let's apply the principles on Lynnity Phyto Citrus Blend. Lynnity is a hybrid of functional supplement derived from traditional Chinese herbs using modern technology. It focuses on using phytonutrient so it's definitely vegetarian friendly. Read webMD to understand what phytonutrient is all about. Their products are GMP and HACCP certified.

This Phyto Citrus Blend by Lynnity is a healthy blend of many plants (fruits and vegetables), grains, as well as essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Look at the extensive ingredient lists.

Lynnity claims this product is great for bone health and has shown their own research as to how it reduces the level of parathyroid hormone, thus preventing calcium being reabsorbed from the bone into the blood stream. Sounds like a good way to protect one from osteoporosis. It's beneficial as a health supplement to minimise bone density loss.

However, those who have already suffered from osteoporosis and fracture as a result will still need to seek advice from healthcare professionals. Current research is looking at combining calcium and vitamin D supplements with phytonutrients in preventing osteoporosis. Healthcare professionals still don't know how powerful phytonutrient is exactly but it looks promising.

This combination of phytonutrient in Lynnity Botanic Health will definitely help to increase the intake of  fruits and vegetables. These have positive effects on healthy weight, good digestive system and cardiovascular health.

What sounds so great must also taste great in order to encourage daily consumption. I have tried the juice and it's very palatable. It's not easy to eat such a huge combination of plant based food in our daily diet without supplementation to be honest.

Besides food supplements, Lynnity also harness the goodness of essential oil. Their relief essential oil roll on is very handy and can easily fit into the purse or packet for instant relief of soreness.

Relief roll on contains a combination of essential oils as stated in the photo. You can refer to my previous posts about essential oils and coconut oil to understand their potential health benefits and stress relieving properties.

The main ingredient Myosotis Sylvatica flower ie forget me not helps to maintain skin suppleness and reduce fine line

Photo courtesy of container garden for you. Com

 Due to  the stressful nature at work, I really find these useful and safe in relieving mild aches and pains. It's soothing at the same time not burning or stinging unlike most other roll on in the market.

And what's great is that instead of buying through the pharmacy or supplement shop, consumers can now purchase these products directly from Lynnity. This means cheaper price tag! I hope now you all understand more about the benefits of phytonutrient and how to choose health supplements.

Beauty tips- primer and serum and sunblock 3 in 1 featuring 9 herbs

Whether you prefer to do a full makeup or just a simple BB cream and lip balm, there's one important skincare product that one shouldn't miss out. But many are not aware of the importance of primer.

What are the functions of a primer?

Makeup primer is essential for makeup to go up smoother and last longer. It can also be used on its own if you desire a fresh no makeup look which is more polished. When worn on eyelids, it can double as an eye shadow. As the first layer, one really has to choose a product with good quality.

I'm fortunate enough to try 9 herbs beauty in a drop. What's interesting is that this is  primer, sunscreen and serum 3 in 1. Great for ladies who have no time to put on full makeup but still want to look fabulous.

Let's analyse the skin food contained in this 9 herbs primer.

Jojoba oil closely resembles sebum, a natural skin conditioner and moisturiser. It's also anti aging.

Photo courtesy of health line website

Argan oil is also a great moisturiser, anti comedogenic, anti oxidant and anti inflammatory.

Photo courtesy of organicfacts.net

Peppermint oil, on the other hand, brightens the skin, is anti comedogenic. It's also a great toner.

Photo courtesy of stylecraze.com

So what is my experience using these beauty drops?

Firstly, the colour is a blinding fluorescent pink! Just looking at the colour is enough to make one excited.

One small drop can cover the back of my hand. Immediately, my hand has taken on a cute pink shade and shine.

It's also non greasy.

I also wore these miraculous drops at work without any other additional makeup. Apologies for the just woke up puffy face. It's also water proof and provides UV protection. The effect lasts until the end of the day without need to touch up.

Hopefully everyone now is convinced about the benefits of primer. Stay tuned for more beauty tips in the near future!

Contact 012- 454 0187 (Kak Raaina) for enquiry.

You can purchase 9 herbs products at http://www.9herbs.com/ 

This Beauty Drop is priced at RM109 (discounted at the moment)

Quote Promo CodeIMC-BitD#1 for your own unique discount!

Healthy haircare routine featuring Cherry Blossom Haircare Sets

Dr Yingzangel has oily hair and it can be difficult to keep her hair healthy in this hot humid weather here at Malaysia. She's going to share her fuss free haircare routine.

Firstly, oily hair can be shampooed daily. Loosen her hair by combing will dislodge dirts and dead hair cells from the scalp. Clear shampoos are better options as they are not oily unlike creamy shampoos. Ketoconazole shampoos can be used once every week if there's dandruff.

The second step is also a must. Condition your hair carefully. Apply it evenly from midway till the end. Avoid the roots so the scalp won't become oily. I love leave in conditioner at I don't have to wait for the conditioner to work for sometime before rinsing it out thoroughly. Apply leave in conditioner when hair is still damp though.

If you want a good conditioning, don't use 2 in 1 shampoos because instead of making your hair light and smooth, it can cause product buildup and dull hair!

When brushing, try to untangle the hair from the end then work your way up to the roots. Avoid brushing when hair is wet as it's more brittle. Instead brush it before showering.

After showering, blot the hair dry because excessive towel drying can cause frizz. Avoid excessive heating. Use the lowest heat setting that you can get away with for the style you want to achieve.

So Dr Yingzangel got the chance to try out Cherry Blossom Haircare Sets! Let's put them to the test.

The shampoo and leave in conditioners are made with all natural ingredients. The other feel good factor-- no animal product was used and there was no animal testing involved.

Aperio also attests 0% harmful products used eg no mineral oil, alcohol, paraben, propylene glycol and DEA! Read this article about how these ingredients can be harmful to your hair.

Read the label. These are the awesome ingredients leading to strong and healthy hair!

Among the important ingredients in the shampoo

Aesculus Hippocastanum/horse chestnut Extract- makes hair glossy without risk of product buildup.

Photo courtesy of super food health benefits webpage

Calendula Officinalis/pot marigold Extract- hydrates the scalp, removes dandruff, gets rid of free radicals this leading to a thicker mane.

Photo courtesy of GreenMedInfo

Vitamin B5-strengthens hair follicles and anti hair fall

What about the leave in conditioner?

Besides vitamin B5, it also contains Hydrolyzed Silk and Wheat Protein, as well as olive oil. These are great at moisturising, smoothen and softening the hair.

So enough of its benefits. Let's look at my experience using the products!

The shampoo is a clear colour. Amazing floral smell. One pump is enough for my medium length hair.

Once rinsed off, my hair felt kind of dry initially. But it's really clean because I have noticed a marked improvement of my scalp comedones even after the first use.

However, after applying the conditioner, my hair became soft and flowy. The standard amount is the size of a dime. Usually, I only apply this at the end of my hair in fear of hair becoming too greasy. But this conditioner is not greasy at all! The conditioner accentuates the floral smell and makes me feel great.

This is my hair just after shampooing. 

Me at work. I usually shampoo my hair the evening before. No mess even though my workplace is operated by fan.

It may not be easy to get a good hair day but with the advice above and using the right Aperio shampoo, everyday is a good hair day!

Aperio Malaysia Official FB: https://www.facebook.com/AperioNatural.Malaysia/

Aperio Malaysia Store: http://www.11street.my/store/aperionatural

Doughnut sugar rush @ Sekilau Bakery & cafe kuantan

For doughnut fans in East coast, besides the popular Big Apple Donut outlets at Giant and East Coast Mall, there's also Sekilau Bakery and cafe.

The doughnuts are fresh from oven everyday, available from 1pm onwards.

If the weather is nice, one can choose to savor their afternoon tea outside the cafe.

Otherwise they also have a cosy corner inside.

Look at these sugar coated doughnuts in all their golden glory! RM 1 each

Topped with shredded cheese or chocolate with cornflakes, they look even more inviting. The doughnut is moist inside, bigger and denser than Big Apple with a nice milky aftertaste. The toppings are just at the right amount of sweetness but it will be better if they can be more generous with the chocolate. RM2 each.

Look at their ghost velvet cake (matcha)

Chocolate cake. Makes me drool and will definitely try that in the near future. Have you all tried their cake? Let me know what you think.

We rate their doughnuts 8/10!

Teatime in KL @Cube Coffee Kepong Caltex

Our best friend Victor claims Cube Coffee is the best coffee in town. Let's go and find out how true this statement is!

This cafe is located in a makeshift container that's in a striking yellow. It's small but fully air-conditioned and the air is infused with the aroma of coffee beans. The interior decoration is creative, making use of simple materials yet appearing cute and stylish.

Watching the barista make coffee is enough to make one falling head over heels for the coffee. It just smells amazing! The coffee here has the ability to drive away all the stress and fatigue.

One sip of the hot cappuccino immediately wakes up the senses. So invigorating and rich in flavor. The blend of coffee bean used here goes in smoothly, leaving a slightly bitter aftertaste.

The cold latte, on the other hand, still tastes stronger than the usual latte. The milk they use is creamy and complement the latte very well.

The only downside is there's not much space for you to enjoy coffee in the cube.

We highly recommend visiting Cube Coffee. Taste it and you won't forget it. We rate it 8.5/10!

Breakfast/lunch @Jess cafe starcity kuantan

Started as a cafe that sells stuffed tofu, Jess cafe has come a long way. It's a popular place for the old and young alike. People flock there for weekend breakfast and brunch. Students hang out there after school.

The interior is comfortable with half of the tables air-conditioned. But the place is always full of people.

The signature dish is their curry noodles. I love my noodles dry and other ingredients in curry soup. One portion comes with a gigantic stuffed beancurd, brinjal, bitter gourd and tofu puffs. This is the biggest 酿料 I have ever had. Each almost a fist size.

Their curry is a very inviting colour of red with a very sinful layer of chilli oil. Alternatively, one can choose to have clear soup or different ingredients. The one in the photo here had chicken and fish cakes.

This is my first time trying their fried pork drizzled in a generous amount of cream sauce. Very appetizing! Meat is cripsy and just coated with a thin layer of flour.

Food here is definitely tasty and of good quality but the price tag is also a tad higher, generally about RM2 more expensive than similar dishes elsewhere. But it's worth it. Therefore, we rate it 7.5/10!