Happy dim sum treats

When we have nothing planned, the best thing is to eat our hearts out! Having wonderful dim sums is definitely a good option. I have tried these 3 places recently and find their food worth having.

Elegant inn Hong Kong cuisine

Now this is what we call the ultimate dim sum place. It's one of the best dim sums we have ever had in our lives- gold standard being Tim Ho Wan in Hong Kong. 

Smooth and springy cheong fan filled with juicy char siew. Stir fry carrot cake with crunchy bean sprouts which always smell amazing. Liu sha bun that really explodes and release all these great salty egg paste to saturate the taste buds. Their buns and pumpkin soup with sago are equally refreshing.

Other guides for yum cha places in Hong Kong

Kong Mah restaurant

Located in kampung sungai buloh, it's in the midst of the hustle bustle of various Chinese eateries in the area. They serve food at god speed. Everything is steamy hot. We feel a bit overwhelmed with the wide choices. Their dim sum is very fresh and definitely not the 'ready made frozen types'.

 Our favorite is the prawn dumplings with skin so springy and prawns so crunchy. But baby Bing's favourite is cheong fan which I thought was a tad too soft and squishy. They also recently upgraded to air-conditioned dining area.

Yong Xiang restaurant

We enjoy dining here because the environment is cosy, decoration modern and food fairly tasty. I'll say there are not many dim sum places in kuantan and this is one of the most decent ones.

The selection of dim sum is not as wide but they are full of flavor and order to make. Besides that, one can also order char siew, wanton, roast pork, as well as other rice and noodle dishes. I really recommend the butter chicken which is so fragrant and creamy with the scent of curry leaves.

If you crave for some good and delicate teatime, do try out one of these outlets and let me know what you think about them. Enjoy!

Caring for your skin with Virgin coconut oil featuring TropikaBeauty

Virgin coconut oil has long been reputed to have good skin and hair care effects. It's extracted from fresh coconut milk without using heat via cold compression or fermentation. It's a great moisturiser. 

Besides that, it contains lauric acid which has antibacterial and disinfectant properties hence preventing blemishes.

Because it's not refined, Virgin coconut oil retains high levels of vitamin E and minerals, as well as it's antioxidant priorities. And they smell fantastically coconut (really rejuvenating and relaxing).

Coconut is very easily available in a tropical country like Malaysia. Therefore it tends to be cheaper comparing to overseas.

TropikaBeauty came up with a series of skincare and haircare products not only suitable for adults, but also mild enough to be used in babies.

Tropika face cleansing oil

I have been searching for a good and natural makeup remover. This cleansing oil comes in liquid oil form. When applied onto dry skin, it removes makeup so effortlessly and thoroughly. Even for waterproof makeup. At the same time, the oil moisturisers the skin and avoids overdrying.

Tropika baby herbal cream

Baby Bing has been suffering from post viral cough and post nasal drip. And he really vomits sometimes, especially at night when it's cold. Poor boy. This cream is really great at soothing him. Besides coconut oil, it also has ginger, eucalyptus and menthol. We applied this on his chest and woila no more coughing at night!

Tropika baby hair and body coconut and lavender oil

Nowadays, even baby has aromatherapy and massage. This oil makes baby Bing smell great. I applied it on his hair because it's quite dry after shampooing. Even after playing when he sweated so much.

If you followed my previous blogpost, you will understand that lavender essential oil is also good for ezcema.

For babies who have sensitive skin--
One tip about trying new products for baby is only try one product at a time and use a patch of skin eg back of the hand to try first. After a day if there's no reaction then it's safe.

That's all for all the benefits of Virgin coconut oil. Stay tuned for more skincare and haircare tips.

Healthy snacking with signature market

Welcome back to the healthy eating series. As a breastfeeding mother, I'm constantly hungry. I'm sure those who breastfeed or have friends who breastfeed will understand. So I need lots of snacks. 

It's very easy to fall into the trap of taking unhealthy snacks such as chocolates, cookies, doughnuts and cakes because they give instant gratification. So, what snacks are healthy?

 Ingredients- low sugar, low salt, low calories, high minerals and vitamins, high fibre

 Way of cooking-Choose baked instead of fried

 Examples will be nuts and grains, yoghurt, vegetables and fruits, occasional dark chocolate is ok.

So one may argue it takes too much effort to prepare these snacks and they may be less tasty than our conventional bread and Kueh (which have high GI index) 

It's not easy to find instant snacks that fit the above criteria after a while. I chanced upon signature market while googling one fine day. It's based in Malaysia but also has products imported from the US.

 It's so easy to get organic products using signature market at a fraction of the price. Look at the varieties they offer. Not only can I get adult snacks, I can also get snacks for baby Bing! Signature market also has some household products.

 Got my parcel a week later. Full of yummy goodness. Very neatly packed.

 Baby Bing was also excited to open the parcel. Items received in perfect condition.

Tada! Resealable snack packs -white sesame energy squares, garlic bread cashew and cranberry super seeds trail mix. One can also choose different combinations of seeds and nuts if desired. Since our last try on ostricare yogurt pieces, baby Bing is in love. So there's more Happy Baby yoggis this time round.

The blueberry granola mix opens up just like a carton of milk. And can reseal on its own. Lots of GoNatural breakfast bars to last me during long clinic days. Otherwise I might just munch on cookies or cream filled bread which have way too much sugar and calories.

 Last but not least, pancake mix that will last us a few months. Signature market was also thoughtful because the eucalyptus laundry liquid was sealed separately in order to prevent leakage.

 Alright that's all for the post about healthy snacking because it's teatime! Here's my first yoghurt granola with cranraisin during teatime. Full of crunchy and fruity awesomeness :)

UK road trip- suggested itinerary part 2

Finally gotten the time to pen down the next half of our road trip. Be excited!

Day 4
Edinburgh city

Scott monument

It's smacked right in the center of the city. With a small fee, one can climb the windy stairs up for a bird eye view is the whole city. We didn't go up because it was gloomy and rainy the whole day.

National gallery of Scotland

A good collection of artworks mainly from the Renaissance era. One can rent an audio guide at a discounted price. We chanced upon a group of nursery children playing in the gallery. Bing clicked with one of the girls and started playing building blocks with her.

Multrees walk

Heaven for shopaholic! From departmental stores such as John Lewis to luxury brands, multrees walk has everything to suit everyone's taste.

Day 5
Edinburgh city

Holyrood park

Breathtaking scenery and I'm sure you will get a fantastic bird's eye view of the city but there's just too many steps to negotiate with an eager toddler in tow. Authur's seat appearing like a giant guarding the city.

Edinburgh castle

This is one of the best attractions we visited! Huge castle which exhibited the crown jewels. Full of exciting stories about the Scottish history and army. There's a complimentary half an hour tour in which a castle guide will talk you through interesting and humorous facts about the castle. There's also demonstration about the equipments of an archer- very lively and interactive ways to show us how to survive in a battle.

St Giles cathedral

The cathedral looks so magnificent against the blue sky. Located just a short walk away from Edinburgh castle, one feel immersed in the medieval atmosphere.

National museum of Scotland

Great place to hang out! We were especially interested in the animal section because baby Bing was so fascinated by the animal sounds and interactive games. There's also plenty of space for him to run around and spend some energy. It's always interesting to learn about new facts.

Day 6 

Glasgow

As my convocation was held at night, we decided an impromptu half day trip to Glasgow which was an hour's drive away.

The Glasgow cathedral and necropolis were next to each other basking in the morning glory. We had a morning walk at the necropolis. It overlooks the cathedral and is a pleasant view of greeneries. The cathedral has one of the finest post war stained glass windows in the UK. 

We then spent some time at the children's park at Kelvingrove park. Besides viewing the amazing collections in the museum, we also had so much laughter chasing after the pigeons.

That concluded our 6 full days of roadtrip, mainly in Scotland. Very different from our first visit which focused around the London city and the main attractions. Till we meet again!

Half day road trip to Kemaman

This is Bing's first time visiting kemaman, together with my in laws and their family. A fruitful half day trip indeed.

We started the day visiting our favorite keropok lekor brand-- Intan.

The ladies were making fresh keropok on the spot. Besides the conventional fish cake boiled in water, they also served crunchy fish crackers. Dipped in their special chilli sauce, it just tasted heavenly. Best eaten when hot and fresh.

One can also buy home frozen or vacuum packed fish cake, albeit I really think they don't taste as good after being frozen.

Next stop was supposed to be Hai Peng Kopitiam. But all 3 branches were closed. So we went for brunch instead. 

Finally found the Ah Yan kemaman fish noodles. It's so good that they only serve one version of their noodles. Especially love their sambal which is so full of flavors with spicy chilli and sweet onion taste. 

A trip to kemaman is not complete without Satar and Otak-otak. Warung kak nab is the place to be. We were the first customers of the day.

 We love eating here because their fish is fresh with little coconut, salt and MSG. The chilli is also not too overpowering. Complement these with a cup of cendol or ABC. So colorful! Great tropical treat.

After filling our tummy, we headed to Cherating turtle sanctuary. It's a fine and sunny day. Baby Bing was so excited to watch the turtles. One of the turtles kept raising its head above the water, as if to welcome us. We also visited the turtle nesting area. With a small donation, one can also arrange releasing the baby turtles back into the ocean.

We had a fruitful weekend with our family. One does not have to spend much money for some quality time. Looking forward to the next outing!

The health benefits of skincare and essential oil featuring Skinsoss

I have fallen in love with aromatherapy. Not only do they make me smell good but there are also various health benefits. Recently I have starting using this essential oil series from Skinsoss.

Essential oils are super concentrated plant extracts. So they are as natural as it can be. Skinsoss skincare oils are produced in strict laboratory conditions in Melbourne which ensures their puriety and quality.

When vaporised, they relieve respiratory problems such as sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and sore throat. Essential oils can also be used with other carrier oils such as jojoba oil or rosehip oil for skincare or massage use. These carrier oils also contain vitamins A, E and C which are essential for good skin. Oils can be vaporised in a diffuser or burner.

Aromatherapy is a great stress buster. My hectic work schedule sometimes forbid me to even eat and drink or attend the nature's call. After a long day at work, it can be difficult to wind down. Vaporised essential oils help me to relax and  sleep better.

Scents are very powerful because pleasant smells can trigger positive associations and emotions from previous experience. They do so by switching on the relaxation pathway in the brain which is the parasympathetic system.

Besides aromatherapy, essential oils are also great skinfood. They hydrate and lighten the skin. Oils such as tea tree oil can also be used to treat acne, small cuts and fade scars. Lavender oil, on the other hand, has antioxidant properties which render it age defying.

My partner suffers from terrible hand eczema after years of scrubbing in for operation. His skin is extremely sensitive towards perfumed and soap containing skincare products. Therefore, he only has very limited choices in this regard.

All three geranium, lavender  and tea tree oils are potent antiinflammatories that soothe the inflamed skin. Essential oils can also be added into warm bath for soaking. When added to Shea butter, they make wonderfully scented moisturiser. When combined with carrier oil, they can also be sprayed to relieve itchiness.

All the above oils can be safely used in expecting and breastfeeding mothers with no known ill effects. When massaged, they can relieve backache, nausea and alleviate ankle swelling. There's no known birth defects from the use of essential oil. These are some tips about essential oil use in this population.

The benefits of essential oils are multifold. Appropriate usage rejuvenates the skin and the soul, as well as relieving skin ailments.

Adding personal touch to gifts featuring Printcious.com – Precious Gifts From Your Heart

 After 7 years of courtship and 2 wedding anniversaries, I ran out of ideas to give my hubby unique gifts. I have tried ties, watch, socks, shirts, mobile phones and even camera lens. We celebrate and exchange gifts on our birthdays, anniversaries and festivals such as Christmas. In the quest of something special, I came across Printcious which customises gifts. 

Providing a personal touch to a gift is very important in my opinion. It's a token that leaves a lasting impression. As I'm not a very artistic person, I let Printcious to help customising my gifts. It requires very minimal skills to make something that really touches the heart. 

Designing gifts is also fun. It's very satisfying to give and receive something customised for keepsake. For those wanting a dream wedding, giving out personalised door gifts is also a great idea. 

What are the types of gifts that one can create using Printcious? 

-mugs 

-puzzles

 -cushions (square or heart shaped)/throw pillows 

-ceramic

 -graphic tee 

- canvas 

-keychains 

The steps are easy but as suggested, it's better to design using desktop. This is my experience in customising a throw pillow.

 1. Choose the type of gift eg throw pillow

 2. Upload the image desired (only took a few seconds using mobile data. Pretty impressive) 

3. Edit the image (one can choose to crop, change the saturation and contrast of the photo)

 4. Insert the image (the photo can be easily adjusted by being dragged) 

5. Add in some funky text with the text editor that has so many fonts! 

6. Change the background color of the pillow. 

Not only can one design a gift for your loved ones, one can also design and sell your design! Maybe I'll also start designing a set of family graphic tees for the next function we are going to attend as a family. 

Starting a relationship is easy but maintaining it requires effort. One of the ways to keep relationships alive is through gifting. No matter how busy we are, we have to sit together as a family and celebrate precious moments together and exchange gifts. Otherwise, it's very easy to drift apart because of the busy schedule. 

Now that I have finished designing the gift, can't wait to gift it! Let's keep this an open secret because I would really like to see how my husband reacts to the pillow. Stay tuned to find out!