DIY home spa | Melix body care series review

Being a busy mother of two hyperactive princes, having some time out for spa seems far-fetched. But who doesn't like to be pampered? So there came my idea of a DIY spa night! I didn't have a bathtub so I did my DIY spa during my staycation at Pullman KL Bangsar recently for a short scientific meeting.

These were what I did:
1. Set the scene with some instrumental music and soft lighting.
2. Fill the bath tub with warm water and bath salt.
3. Use body scrub.
4. Use a good bath spa product for the body.
5. Wash hair and apply hair mask.
6. Use foot mask.
7. Use facial mask.
8. Apply body lotion and other skincare products.

If you have the mood, put some flower petals and light scented candles or diffuse some essential oils would be heavenly. Most importantly, Step 4 is definitely one of the key to an enjoyable DIY spa experience. I had the chance of using Melix body care series in my DIY spa.

Melix British Blossom Body Spa

Formulated in France, the scent is of the classic red rose signifying romance and mystery.

The active ingredients include:
1. Organic rose water- helps to minimize pore appearance, maintain skin suppleness and radiance.
2. West Indian cherry extract- rich in vitamin C and antioxidant to prevent skin ageing.
3. Apple stem cell extract- encourage collagen production of the skin

Melix Hydra Moist Body Lotion

This body lotion aims to hydrate the skin as well as to lock moisture into the skin, reduce fine lines,  calms sensitive skin, prevent pigmentation and whiten complexion. It's so lightweight and absorbed readily into the skin. Therefore it is also suitable for oily and fatigued skin.

These are the main active ingredients:
1. Olive fruit oil and Olive leaf extract- hydrates the skin and prevent moisture loss
2. Shea butter- conditions, soothes and tone the skin
4. Moringa pterygosperma seed extract- cleanses the skin deeply and soothes the irritated skin
5. Rumex Occidentalis extract- prevents pigmentation from forming and improve skin radiance

Melix body care series does not contain harsh chemicals which may irritate the skin such as paraben, alcohol and SLS/SLES.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

I really enjoy using Melix British Blossom Body Spa because the lingering rose scent. It cleanses gently yet effectively. Melix Hydra Moist Body Lotion has a slightly runny consistency, making it easy to apply. The floral scent complements the rose scent from the body spa. As a female, I really love the pink packaging as well. Pink is a great colour to calm the mind and to relax.

Dedicating a special period for "me time" and relaxation is very important to destress. Paying attention to our body parts is called mindfulness which makes us more aware of our existence and prevent ourselves from running on an automatic pilot mode. Chronic stress can make people go about daily lives just following the routine subconsciously without realizing. And this adds on to fatigue, anxiety and depression due to the pressure. Loving oneself is an art to master. Only when we take good care of ourselves then it's possible for us to perform both at work and focus on caring for our loved ones.

These wonderful body care products from Melix do not only nourish the skin from inside out, but it also fills the body and bathroom with floral freshness. This really brightens my day and helps to alleviate stress at the end of my working day.

Find out more from the following:
Official website
Instagram
Facebook

Homemade halal burger and Western food | Burgerak Kuantan

Looking for great homemade burgers? Burgerak would make a great fit. Besides the tasty food, cosy dining environment and convenient location, the menu is definitely going to make one laugh eg  kepak kepak keboom keboom (grilled chicken wings) and ayam mabok cendawan (chicken mushroom soup with bread).

Burgerak
4a, Jalan Besar, 25000 Kuantan, Pahang
https://g.co/kgs/XaupU3
Opens daily 10am-11.30pm
except Fridays 10am-12.30pm then 3-11.30pm and Sundays 4-11.30pm
Instagram
Facebook

These were what we ordered:

Lamb burger

Fragrant minced lamb patty grilled to lose the gamey smell. Combined with a sunny side up egg , a slice of cheddar and some chilli sauce, the portion is generous for a person. Love the crispy fries too. But it will be more perfect if the patty is juicier with some sauce, say black pepper.

The set came with a lemonade which is mild in flavour and not too sweet. This can be changed into hot Teh O or Kopi O (tea or coffee without sugar) upon request.

Burger Ayam Keluar Malam

Definitely going to repeat this order. Succulent chicken breast marinated with a spicy and creamy piri piri sauce. Onion slices with a melting piece of cheddar. It's finger licking good! Instead of fries, it came with a serving of fresh garden salad-- a healthy option.

Grilled lamb chop

Succulent lamb shoulder, when drizzled with black pepper sauce, became a heavenly combination. A fluffy baked potato and a serve of fresh garden salad completed the dish.

Burgerak definitely has its own appeal. There are so many other options in the menu that we would surely come back for more!

Taste 4/5
Price 4/5
Atmosphere 4/5
Customer service 4/5

Tips for choosing the right underwear | Rejuve Innerwear Review

Besides having a good skincare regime, ladies should also pay special attention to the most precious body part responsible to bear and raise the next generation. This is because the intimate parts are down below and covered up. The presence of a balanced population of good bacteria helps to keep the area healthy and clean.

So, follow these few care tips!

1. Choose cotton or silk underwear (allows sweat to evaporate)
2. Avoid nylon and other synthetics material
3. Wash and dry underwear throughly
4. Avoid prolonged wearing of wet swimwear
5. No douching or deodorizing sprays
6. Change tampon/sanitary pads regularly
7. Consume probiotics/yoghurt

Rejuve Innerwear has all these tips taken into consideration while designing their underwear.

Rejuve Innerwear is a Malaysian innerwear company that incorporates the latest silver ion antimicrobial technology from Europe into Rejuve underwears. Even after 100 washes, Rejuve still retains its original antimicrobial properties. The silver used does not contain silver nanoparticles which theoretically may cause cancer in animals.

Organic cotton is used to produce Rejuve underwears. They fulfil both OEKO-TEX® standards and GOTS to ensure only fabric of the highest quality is used.

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 runs 100 laboratory tests with stricter limits for fabric intended for closer skin contact or for use in babies. Toxins and allergens such as prohibited azo dyes, formaldehyde and nickel are not tolerated.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) regulates the processing of organic textile from field harvesting to manufacturing as well as labelling. This makes sure each step is environmentally and socially responsible.

Why organic cotton?

Conventional cotton farming is responsible for the release of 16% of the world’s insecticides. Up to 8,000 types of synthetic chemicals could then be used in various stages of production such as bleaching, dyeing and finishing. Organic cotton uses none of these harsh substances which can be detrimental to health.

Besides that, Rejuve also complies to Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) and BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) which are global standards on safe, humane and ethical manufacturing.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

Honestly, Rejuve offers an eye opening experience in the care of intimate parts. I feel reassured that each piece is made with the highest standards. The fabric is soft and absorbs sweat well. There's no odour even on days when I had to spend most of my time under the sun or without air-conditioning. It does not cause mold spots formation either. 

Furthermore, the design is elegant that really brings out the feminine side using good workmanship and the use of non irritative lace patterns. It comes in mini (low waist) and maxi(high waist) designs. The price tag though, is definitely high but I would say it's still value for money.

Minis are suitable for low waist pants and skirts.

Maxis are great to hide the stomach fat or to protect the skin after surgery such as a Caesarean section.

More information please watch my YouTube video and refer to the following sites!

Official website
Facebook

Dessert Lovers' Haven | Kula Cakes Kuantan

If you haven't tried Kula Cakes before, you should! It's one of the signature dessert hotspots for Kuantanese. It started with its classic mango cheesecake under Lilawadi restaurant, now it's a standalone cakeshop along the mainstreet in Kuantan old Town area.

Kula Cakes
96, Jalan Besar, 25000 Kuantan, Pahang
Opens daily 11am-6.30pm except Mondays
017-971 1396
https://g.co/kgs/hiBgPq
Instagram
Facebook

The shop is fairly small, just enough to display the cake with the cashier counter next to it with some space for customers to queue up for orders. But people are willing to do self service because they simply love the cakes!

On the display were- mango cheese cake, burnt cheese cake, Cadbury cheese cake, Toblerone cake, peanut butter pie, triffle mess, brownies, carrot cake, pavlova, Oreo pavlova, chocolate salted caramel cake, chocolate moist cake, Nutella donut and red velvet cake. Mouthwatering!

The seatings were mainly outdoor either just outside the shop or just next to it surrounded by artificial plant walls, overlooking the Kuantan tower. So having a good time at Kula Cakes depend on a great weather too.

These were what we had:

Mango cheesecake

A classic and must try. It's unlike other cheesecake because it's relatively mild in flavor. Even non cheese lovers enjoy having it. The mango slices on top with mango syrup give the cake its flavor instead. A tip-- it's served straight from the chiller to ensure freshness so please give 5 minutes or so for the cake to regain its softness. Great for hot weather if you eat it frozen just like a gelato!

Burnt cheese cake

This is for cheese lovers like me. Dense cheesy texture with a caramelized outer layer. The cheese is amazingly fragrant and creamy. Full on and extremely satisfying.

Chocolate salted caramel cake

A generous slice of moist chocolate cake with gooey salted caramel in the center. The rich chocolate cream surrounding the cake is surprisingly not sweet and light in texture. I usually scrap off excessive cream from cakes but for this, it's all down into the stomach!

Peanut Butter pie

Interestingly the peanut butter part is soft and fluffy like a mousse unlike my usual impression of a pie. The base is made of lovely Oreo cookie crumbs. Consistent with Kula Cakes dessert, the sweetness is just right.

Sorry we were too eager to eat so that's the only photo I have for all the 4 cakes we ordered. 

So these are our verdict for Kula Cakes!

Taste 4/5
Value for money 3.5/5
Atmosphere 4/5
Customer service 3/5

What do you think? Remember to leave some comments about your experience with Kula Cakes.

Hearty Chinese Lunch in KL | Jeff Lee Kitchen Sungai Buloh

There are so many restaurants in KL area. Only true local guides like our foodie friend Leslie knows where to get good and cheap eats, especially during CNY. This is throwback to our lunch meetup at Jeff Lee Kitchen on Chor 10 of CNY 2020!

Jeff Lee Kitchen 鲜味馆
Lot 4133, Jalan Perkhidmatan U19, Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh, 40160 Shah Alam, Selangor
Opens daily except Thursdays 10am–3pm,
6–10pm
03-61561817

It can get really crowded at mealtimes. So head there either before or after usual times. They do accept reservations though. Even though there were plenty of indoor air-conditioned seatings, by 12noon, they were all filled up and people were already queuing up for table availability.

Jeff Lee offers most of the common Chinese cuisines, but we think the following 3 dishes are must tries. Their portion is fairly generous, please order modestly.

Stir fry kuay teow.

Fragrant rice noodles fried with just enough heat called "wok hei" before it burnt , combined with bite sized kailan and egg. Very simple ingredients but each mouthful spelled contentment. The dish didn't need bombardstic ingredients to make a statement. A classic done elegantly. Definitely make the dieters bend their rules.

Fish porridge.

Fresh grouper fish slices hidden in a densed rice porridge. The broth is sweetened by the freshness of the fish. Sprinkled with chopped spring onions, this pot of gold is the ultimate comfort food. Baby Bing and Yi easily downed half of the pot in no time. If only every meal time was as easy as this!

Roast duck

Being great fans of roast duck, we would say this is one of our favorite spot! Thick and juicy duck flesh with crispy golden skin. It retains its natural flavor without the dipping sauce. However, when mixed with sweet plum sauce, it neutralizes the oiliness well.

Besides having a hearty meal, we were lucky to meet the God of Fortune again! This time by Maggie. Didn't win the grand prize but we were all blessed by auspicious Ang Paus.

The price is of course very reasonable at RM91 only-- to feed 3 adults and 2 children..

The followings are our verdict:

Value for money 5/5
Taste 4.5/5
Service 4/5
Cleanliness 4/5
Comfort 4/5

Stress management using dietary supplements | ATX 10Plus

This day and age is all about speed and efficiency. Because of the advent of Internet, the expectation is a lot higher. The same goes to healthcare professional like me. Lots of educated patients come to us with health information gathered over the internet. So we have to keep up by continuous medical education and attending conferences. This makes healthcare management decisions highly stressful.

This is me looking tired with the constant post call look (before I started ATX 10 Plus)

The following tips are how I deal with stress

1. Efficient time management
2. Eat well - focus on fresh produce
3. Drink lots of fluids
4. Limit caffeine, salt and sugar
5. Avoid alcohol
6. Stop smoking
7. Good skincare regime
8. Me time!

At the cellular level, combating stress means blasting it with loads of antioxidants. Antioxidants stop radicals from damaging cells which cause the cells to die resulting in the ageing process. Even though there are many super foods out there, to get enough dosage to achieve the antioxidant effect require supranormal amount of food which is simply not practical.

The following are the active ingredients in ATX 10 Plus which is a powerhouse of antioxidants. They are mainly sourced from Japan and France.

Extracts of mixed berries-Blueberry, Cranberry, Raspberry, Blackcurrant, Strawberry, Red grapes, Elderberry
Taking a sachet of ATX 10 Plus is akin to having a mixed berry feast without the hassle of preparing a gigantic fruit bowl. The amount of vitamin and minerals provide an instant boost to the body- strengthening the immune system, replenishing the nutrients and rejuvenating the body.

A week into consuming ATX 10 Plus. I felt much more energetic and my skin was glowing. Same top with same hair style for easier comparison.

Inulin- a starchy substance found in many plants such as wheat, onions and bananas. It is not digested. Instead it goes straight to the bowels and is used directly by the good bacteria to grow in order to improve digestive problems. It also refrain the production of fat in the body.

Hydrolysed collagen- this is the most absorbable form of collagen sourced from cod fish. Collagen production dwindles with age. Supplementation is essential for skin, hair and bone health.

Astaxanthin- a red pigment called carotenoid derived from algae, it is a superb antioxidant and boost the immune system. It also improves energy level and reduces fatigue.

Registered under Nutraceutical food class, ATX 10 Plus is classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe). This means that it doesn't contain any hormone or drug. GRAS is a United States Food and Drug Administration designation that a substance added to food is considered safe by experts, and so is exempted from the usual Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act food additive tolerance requirements. More information about GRAS is found here. Besides that, ATX 10Plus is also produced under the strictest and hygienic condition abiding by MESTI,  HACCP and GMP regulations.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

After 20 days, I'm in love with the tasty treat which boosts my energy level and immune system as well.

ATX 10 Plus is a great supplement and is suitable for those who are highly stressed with very little time to consume big amounts of fruits and vegetables. It's suitable for most people except those who have chronic illnesses especially kidney, liver and heart failure, expecting and breastfeeding mothers as well as those take regular prescription medications. Even though marine collagen is of the highest quality, those allergic to fish and seafood must refrain from taking it. Having said that, ATX 10 Plus is definitely a shortcut to boost general wellbeing.

Interested to try? Get onto their official Facebook page now!

ATX 10 Plus
Facebook

Disclaimer: the opinion given is merely a personal experience and does not constitute formal medical advice. Please seek your medical professional's advice before any complementary therapy. Always ask for certified professionals before proceeding with treatment and stop if discomfort or side effect ensues.

Apothecary baby and adult skincare products | Herbbies Care Series Review

Skin is the largest organ in the body. It covers most of the external surface of our body and acts as our first defense against invading bacteria, harsh chemicals and pollutants. Therefore, healthy skin is not just for the sake of maintaining a great appearance. But it is also to safeguard our health in general. Born in a family with atopy ( a medical term to describe an inherited trait of having sensitive skin, nose and airways), I am always open to apothecary skincare products such as Herbbies.

Herbbies is founded by Malaysian, uses Malaysian herbs of premium quality harvested from an organic farm in the state of Selangor to produce skincare products with medicinal properties. We had the opportunity to try out the Care Series. The Care Series consist of 2 oils-- the facial and body oil, as well as the treatment oil.

The oil bundle came in the mail on the same day Bing boy came home with his hand painted necklace using macaronis from his play school. 

The main active ingredient in the Care Series is Vernonia Oil aka bitter leaves. Originally found widely in South Africa, bitter leaves are known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions and are used for its medicinal properties. When used in Skincare Products, it helps to dampen inflammation and relieve itchy rash.

Other essential oils used in the Care Series include grape seed oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil. These oils are known for their properties in hydrating the skin, as well as nourishing the skin with vitamins and minerals. Herbbies products do not contain harsh chemicals such as paraben, alcohol and steroid which can irritate sensitive skin or make skin thinner and bruise easily. It is 100% vegan friendly.

How to use Herbbies Care Series?

Put a few facial and body oil droplets onto the palm and rub into warm oil. Apply the oil onto the sensitive skin areas then massage gently to facilitate absorption. As for the treatment oil, simply roll onto the affected areas and use the roller or hand to gently massage the oil in. As these products are not tested in children younger than 3 years old, Herbbies does not recommend usage in toddlers and infants. Otherwise, breastfeeding and expecting mothers can use it safely provided the product is not applied to the breast in case the baby accidentally ingests the oil.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

Baby Yi joins Mommy Yingzangel for his first debut YouTube video

Oils for external use like the Herbbies series should also be tested against allergy before use. Especially for those with a history of allergy. Try it on a small area in an inconspicuous spot such as the upper inner arm 24hours beforehand. If there is no reaction, it is safe for use. I did use the Herbbies Care Series oil for baby Yi who is 1year plus. He has dry and sensitive skin. Any insect bite will result in blisters and an exaggerated area of swelling and redness which with scratching, often leaves behind pigmentation and scars. So far, the oil is quick to apply, fast to absorb and mess free. It relieves the itch, moisturizes his skin and dampens the inflammation. It gives off a faint woody scent which also calms him.

Look at how interested baby Yi is to the oils.

If you are interested , visit Herbbies website to find out more!
Official website

Disclaimer: the opinion given is merely a personal experience and does not constitute formal medical advice. Please seek your medical professional's advice before any complementary therapy. Always ask for certified professionals before proceeding with treatment and stop if discomfort or side effect ensues.

Top Kuantan shellout and cheese naan | D'King Corner Restaurant

Seafood is popular in Kuantan as it's a coastal area. We get an abundant supply of fresh water fish and prawns as well. Shellout restaurants, just like Ikan Bakar restaurants, mushrooms around Kuantan. This time round we would love to introduce everyone to D'King Corner Restaurant.

D'King Corner Restaurant
47, Lorong Padang Permai 43, Kampung Padang, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang
+60 14-967 5130
Opens 7am to 12am Tuesdays to Sundays
2pm to 12am Mondays
Facebook page

For the past 1.5 years, Puan Lina and her family has worked very hard to please their diners. The restaurant is easy to find next to Shell petrol station with clean and airy indoor seatings.

Shellout for 4

This was a celebration of fresh seafood in a sticky spicy sauce-- prawns, squids, bamboo clams, flower crabs, green mussles and lala clams with broccoli, capsicum, sweet corn, carrot, green peas and onions. Absolutely heavenly and was finger licking good.
Definitely a crowd pleaser and a reason to add more servings of rice (cheat day!).

Cheese Naan with mutton curry

Soft and fluffy naan bread pieces were baked in a tandoori oven by being slapped against the sides.

When cooked they peeled off automatically. Added with mozzarella cheese and herbs, this was the best naan we had for a long time. Bing boy easily had half of it.

The mutton curry had thick and fragrant gravy. It went extremely well with the flat bread and cheese. There was no gamey taste at all and the meat was so soft and tender that it just melted in the mouth. Other options were chicken and beef curries.

Steam barramundi fish in lime.

Extremely fresh and soft fish steamed to perfection in a generous bed of celery, lettuce, tomato, chilli, onions, coriander, lemongrass and ginger. I must say not many Malay restaurants can cook steam fish so well.

Boba teas!

These beverage cooled down the heat from the chili very well because of the milk and ice content. Boba teas usually can't be found in this type of Malay restaurants too. We had Boba fresh milk caramel and milk tean with tapioca pearls. Tasted as good as the 'branded' boba teas from other franchised outlets at half the price tag. Can always consider to custom order a less sweet version.

Besides that, D'King Corner Restaurant also offers various stir fry dishes,as well as simple fried rice/noodles. Tandoori chicken is available too! It has something to suit everyone's taste buds.

So this is our verdict!

Tastiness: 8/10
Cleanliness: 8/10
Comfort: 7/10
Value for money: 7/10
Location: 6/10

Add D'King Corner Restaurant to your to try list! If you think it's a bit too far from the town area, they are opening a branch tomorrow for their cheese naan fans at Lepak Luu along Jalan Beserah next to Tan Chong Nissan. Cant wait!

CNY family Cuti Cuti Malaysia | Genting Highlands half day trip

We took our CNY leave in 2 smaller chunks over 2 weekends this year to accommodate our babysitter's overseas trip. Wondering where to have some fun despite the gloomy Wuhan virus pandemic. So we decided to brave the weather to visit Genting Highlands again.

One can choose to drive up the highland or Park and Go. We decided to park at Genting Premium Outlet/Awana Skyway's undercover multilevel car park. The rate was about RM5/hour though- kind of pricey as our parking ended up with RM20.20 with 10% touch and go surcharge.

Genting Highlands Premium Outlets (GPO)
KM13, 69000 Genting Highlands, Pahang
https://g.co/kgs/QHY21e
Opens daily 10am-10pm
03-6433 8888

After layering ourselves with an extra jacket, socks and closed shoes, we were ready to brave the weather. The children were genuinely excited to ride a gondola up to Resorts World Genting (RWG). Each standard gondola could fit about 10 people comfortably. It was raining so the ride was fairly windy and misty. Nevertheless it was a good 10 minutes spent. A round trip cost RM16/adult. The management was concerned about visitors' health as many hand rubs were ready for use in both GPO and RWG. There were also thermal scanners are the entrance of the gondola station.

As we were already peckish at arrival, we headed straight to Morganfield's Sky Avenue.  We frequent Morganfield's for their great service, short waiting time and attentive staff.

Morganfield's Sky Avenue Genting Highlands
Level 1 (towards Arena of Stars)
Opens daily 11am
03-6101 1699

These were our orders:

Mini platter for 2 (Captain's catch)
- half a slab of roast pork ribs, 2 slices of battered fish fillet with tartar sauce, garden salad with lemon vinaigrette, 1 original sausage, 1 black pepper sausage and a serve of fries.
- We would say it wasn't mini at all! Juicy and sticky ribs marinated to perfection and roasted until it just melted in our mouths.

Mac and cheese from the kid's menu
- Rich cheddar cheese sauce, chicken slices, brocolli florets, steam sweetcorn and fries. These are all time kids' favorites and can never go wrong.

Small sides
- fried calamari rings with crispy tempura on a bed of garden salad and salsa.

After a sumptous lunch, a short stroll brought us to a chanced family portrait session with a tiger mascot. Yi was simply amazed by the life sized mascot.

Zipping up our jackets, we ventured to Metro City when the drizzle came to a halt. Lucky us, we managed to bump into CNY dance performance with Ang Pau giving by the God of Fortune.

Metro City
Level G, SkyAvenue Genting – entry below Bona Cinemas

On the way down to pick up our car, we spent some time shopping and having a cuppa at GPO. I must say they have good bargains for branded stuff all year round. Food and beverage service was at a similar price tag as KL City.

Look at how engrossed the children were watching a movie in Cotton On kids.

This CNY we managed to meet the "God of Fortune" thrice- at Genting Highlands, Desa Park City and Jeff's Kitchen. Maybe it's a sign that we will do well this year? Huat ah!