My big bad wolf book haul UMP Gambang 2019

I got so excited knowing that BBW is finally coming to Pahang earlier this year. We have been planning for our trip a month before the actual sales starts. Knowing that BBW is mostly about children books, it's just the right sale for our family of four.

We reached the venue at 1pm on the second day of the sale. It's a Friday, so we tried to visit BBW sale when half of our Malay friends would be at the prayers to avoid the crowd. Scheming much? We missed the left turn shortly after the UMP front entrance as the sign was in black and white only in A4 size. But there were plenty of parking spots.

The day was sweltering hot so we did not try the food trucks out. Instead, we were glad to push the sleeping Yi into the BBW exhibition hall which was air-conditioned.

This was only half of the hall. Imagine the number of books that one has to sift through. There were a variety of genre, but the main focus was on children books. From story books, sticker books, lift the flap books to activity books, I felt like bringing all the books home! However, only roughly a third of the books catered to adults.

Every customer was given a trolley to fill the books. So we could stroll in leisure and fill the trolley up. Most of us were parents with young children in carriers and strollers.

We were fast and spent 1.5 hours in the hall. The trolley was a third full. We only got preschool level books as Bing is just going to turn 3 and Yi is just going to be 3 months old. Guess how many books did we buy in total? 33 books!

 Incredibly cheap hard cover books at an average of RM10 each book, they were of good quality as well. Be careful of the occasional torn cover though. This is unavoidable due to the sheer volume of visitors coming through.

Revealing our haul of the day!

Flip the flap books. With Bing's favorite like vehicles, animals and music. We were hunting for the Lulu series but forgot to ask the staff as we could not locate it.

Sticker books and activity books. Now that Bing has entered preschool,  he has shown interest in doodling, colouring and writing. Peeling the stickers also help to train his fine motor skills.

More workbooks. These are unbelievably cheap at only RM1.50 to RM2 each book. You would have noticed most of the books are in Chinese because his current preschool doesn't teach Chinese. But it's the ideal school otherwise as Bing gets to mingle with children from all 3 races while learning English and Malay.

The bill came up to RM125.50 only! Using the RM50 voucher that I have won, we have such huge savings. Simply join their selfie contest to stand a chance to win the grand prize of a whole trolley of books!

We left the sales a very happy family. For those who wants to know about the details of the sales, please refer to my previous press release about the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Pahang 2019. 

Is babysitting beneficial to grandparents? or not.

Hubby and I are both breadwinners for our two young children, as well as my parents. Now that they have moved to Kuantan, they have been incredibly helpful, cooking us warm meals and offering to babysit. But should we take up the offer?

Many would say, come on, it's grandparents' duty to care for their grandchildren. Afterall, it will relieve the young parents of child caring duties. And financially, some money saved from not having a babysitter or sending the children off to daycare. With child abuse and murder going rampant, grandparents are the most trustworthy people after ourselves.

The recent article in the Star further elaborated the potential benefits in terms of longevity if they look after the grandkids.

"Maybe it’s the extra exercise, the mental challenges, or simply a psychological effect, but older people who spend a lot of time with their grandchildren are healthier and live longer, a new German study has found."

But there's a caveat.

"But it’s false to conclude that the more you help, the longer you’ll live,” Hertwig warns, noting that previous studies have shown no longevity benefits for grandparents who mind their grandchildren round the clock, which is stressful."

Hubby and I actually prefer hiring a babysitter for my almost 3 month old and sending my eldest to daycare. We are not depriving them of grandparents' love by any means. We still go over most of the evenings and weekends.

Baby Yi cooing at 2 months. 

Firstly, we have a reliable babysitter. She's experienced and loved our eldest just like her own grandson. She trained Bing to feed himself, sing, dance, to be continent. She played with Bing and taught him too. Even when Bing was ill, she cared for him. Now that Bing is attending daycare, baby Yi will go under her care instead. You may argue that your parents took care of you so they would be to care for your child, but they may not enjoy it and may not be good at it. But too hard to refuse your request.

Bing's daycare is great! His vocabulary and fine motor skills have improved tremendously. I love how he always brings his artwork home. And there's little next to none homework for 3 years old class. He has grown so much and transformed from a clingy baby to an independent toddler. He loves mingering with children from various ethnic and cultural background as well.

After work, us parents get to spend quality time with our children. It takes our mind off work. As absence makes the heart grows fonder, I particularly find that I am able to love them even better than being with them 24/7.

The current arrangement is a sweet spot for my family. Everyone gets some me time everyday with some doses of love for and from the young ones. That's how we prefer it. What about you? Mind sharing your thoughts?

Le Meridien Hotel KL Central Family Staycation. It's not just for weddings.| Review

Having small children in tow, we have stopped back packing. And have resorted to more comfortable staycation with shopping center nearby. In November 2018, we stayed 1 night at  Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur. Below is our experience with the hotel.

Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur

2, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
03-2263 7888

https://g.co/kgs/Ff6tt9

The room itself. Deluxe room with 2 twin beds and city view. We requested for a King sized bed in advance. Unfortunately it wasn't available so we resorted to two King single beds instead. Hubby on one bed, Bing and I in another one because Bing insisted to sleep with me despite me being heavily pregnant in third trimester. Very comfortable and clean as what a 5 star hotel is expected to be.

What we, or rather Bing really enjoyed was the view. We had a huge panel of glass directly overlooking the KL Central station. It's basically a free 24/7 train show for baby Bing! He could watch the trains and buses going in and out all the time.

The bathroom had a modern feel. A square sink with adjoining shower cubicle. The water from the rain shower was of course heated and the water pressure strong enough for a good back massage. 

The pool is always the highlight because baby Bing loves the water. Besides having a picturesque view, the pools are huge. The kiddie pool, Bing can easily wade through the water and it becomes too boring for him. He enjoys playing the big water slide in the adult pool with daddy instead. Diving into the pool is one of his other favorite activity. I remember the pool is also shared by guests who stay at Hilton KL Central.

The mesmerizing sunset view from the pool.

 I didn't have any photos for their buffet breakfast the next morning but I can assure you that it meets all your expectations of dining in a 5 stars setting because I was simply too busy chasing after baby Bing.

Western food choices- assorted bread, omelette, cereal, pastries including my favourite croissant and Danish. Salad and yogurt. Cheese platter.

Asian breakfast- from Malaysian nasi lemak, rendang, noodles station, sushi, pao and dimsum.

Le meridien’s proximity to the Central KL station is definitely a bonus with easy access from the KL international airport using KLIA express. It's also just a train ride away from major KL attractions such as KLCC, KL tower, bukit bintang. The station itself has also been transformed into NuSentral which is a shopping complex that caters to travellers’ needs.

We rate our stay 8/10! With the quality of the stay experience it's worth the price tag.

A memento using DIY air dry clay set- review

It's been 2 months since we have become a family of 4! It's so much more taxing having to care for a toddler and a newborn at the same time though. One nurses all the time and only catnaps whereas the other is very active, loves his brother luckily and still dependent on us for many things.

To commemorate this precious moment or rather a chaotic one, we have decided to try externalizing our prints onto this DIY clay set.

I love how neat the packaging is. The front is the round metal mould where the clay will sit. The box next to it contains the frame. Behind these are the rest of the tools needed for the DIY- paint brush, green paint for the print, carving tools, kneader, loose pieces of small decorations.

Not very artsy? Don't worry. Me neither. My mom did some of my art homework back then. Haha. The set comes in detailed step by step instructions.

The overview of the steps are as follows

1. Prewarm clay pack
2. Knead clay
3. Shape the clay
4. Get the print!
5. Decorate
6. Air dry
7. Paint

After step 5. It's looking pretty!

This is how it looks like when it's all done!

We didn't use the small glass bottle with cork which is used to store baby's hair. Because we have just shaved Yi bald when he turned a month old. We didn't paint it either because we like the prints white.

A few things I have noticed while working with the air drying clay. In our hot weather, there's no need to prewarm the pack because it gets too soft. Make sure you Vaseline your hands and rolling pin before have to avoid the clay from sticking everywhere. I kneaded the clay until the bubble popping sounds are no longer heard- I think that's pretty safe to assume the air bubbles are expelled.

More tips about handling air dry clay here. 

Would I recommend it?

It's a fun family bonding activity. Especially with baby Bing who's almost 3 later this year. We could enlist his help with most of the steps except kneading. It can get messy though without close supervision. He's so proud of the end product and kept mentioning it the whole day. Baby Yi, oh well, is too young to really understand.

The other great point is that even if you mess up the first time round, you can always reknead the clay and start over again.

On the flip side of the coin, I do think the clay side is a tad too small to fit all our prints! Oh well, it's designed for a single baby's hand anyway. But the quality of the set is commendable indeed.

Even though I do feel like it takes forever for these two princes of mine to grow up, they will before I realise. They won't always be the small, clingy and dependent babies who have such cute fingers. They probably won't want to hold our hands either after they have grown up. And I love how this DIY clay set keep this special moment frozen in time.

Interested? Get it from Shopee

Organic baby products review from Riley and Declan

Being thirty something parents, all we have in mind are healthy and happy babies. We have our good and bad days. When it's good, both our princes sleep at the same time, allowing us some time to relax- even something as simple as a good unpressured toilet trip. On disastrous days, we will have a fussy baby who's gassy and keeps posetting into late night with a toddler who is trying to scream his head off demanding mom to scratch his itchy eczema.

I'm sure many can relate to the above scenario. We will try anything that work to keep the peace and calmness at home. We are very excited to see if Riley and Declan baby organics can help us.

Riley and Declan baby organics is a line of Australian products made with natural ingredients certified by Ecocert Greenlife.
It's an international network that sets the standard for all organic products. As mentioned on the packaging of the super relief cream, 99% of the total ingredients are from natural origin. 41% of the total ingredients and 95% of the plant ingredients are from organic farming. The percentage differs from product to product.

Of course, this range of products do not contain phalates, parabens, petrolatum and SLS. These are potential allergens.

Comfy tummy rub

Colic is a common problem for infants. The constant crying that is often inconsolable can push any person off the edge. 2 month old baby Yi, unfortunately, can be pretty fussy and I could spend hours soothing him. This really wears me out because I won't have time to eat, shower or even to read stories to Bing, let alone having some rest. Maybe it doesn't fit into the medical definition of colic, but it's bad enough to make us cancel our evening appointments.

Read more about colic on webMD

The comfy tummy rub's main ingredients are

Aloe vera- very commonly used, soothes the itchy skin, moisturises and heals small wounds.

Jojoba oil- similar to human sebum therefore good for sensitive skin especially for young children. Moisturises and doubles as massage oil.

Ginger root oil- it makes the cream sweet, spicy, woody and warm. The aroma and sensation is soothing. It also helps to relieve bloatedness and digestive problems such as gassiness.

What does  Dr Yingzangel think?

I know for sure I can rely on an organic product like this to minimise potential side effects since it's only maternal instinct that I want to give my children the best. I love the smell of the cream and the warming effect is definitely helping baby Yi. He's less gassy and cranky after use coupled with some massage techniques that I'm already using.

Super Relief Cream

Eczema is a very common skin problem particularly in children. I have previously written about using aloe vera gel and steroid free serum to manage eczema. I must reiterate the usefulness and importance of steroid in severely inflamed cases though.

Besides aloe vera and jojoba oil, this cream also contains

Calendula- widely used in nappy rash cream. It reduces pain, swelling and inflammation, as well as facilitating new tissue growth.

Shiso leaf- it's edible and used in Japanese cuisine. An antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

In mild cases like baby Bing, it's perfectly ok to use products like this which contains no steroid. Because one can use it liberally on any part of the skin without worrying about thinning the skin which is the main side effect of prolonged misuse of steroid cream.

In more severe cases, one can use it as an adjunct to moisturise and reduce inflammation besides using steroid creams sparingly.

Riley and Declan baby organics

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Interested? Get it from
Butik Tateh Bangi or Motherhood.com.my

Children dental health featuring Zollipops (Malaysia) | review

I used to be quite slack with baby Bing's teeth brushing. I did clean his teeth with water and cloth twice a day with xylitol tooth paste. But I allowed Bing to sleep while latching on. We had a big wakeup call after a visit to the dentist and 2 teeth fillings when he's 2.

And we have since then been following these dental care tips:

1. Wipe gums before the first tooth erupt.
2. Use baby tooth brush appropriate to age.
3. Visit the dentist from 1 years of age.
4. Brush and floss properly at least twice a day.
5. Say no to sugary and starchy food.
6. Don't go to sleep with bottle in mouth.
7. Use fluoridated tooth paste once baby knows how to spit and gargle.

More details on Colgate website.

We have never offered Bing any sweets. But he must have learnt from his YouTube videos because one fine day he started asking for lollipops (mind you he's 2 years and 8 months old now). I don't even recall teaching him this word! I downright refused him any candies or lollipops in the worry of more dental caries. Until I came across Zollipop.

The kidpreneur behind Zollipop is none other than Alina Morse. Hailing from the US, it's the result of a why question- daddy, why can't we make a lollipop that's good for your teeth? It's been in the market since 2014.

Not only is zollipop sugar free but it's also loaded with ingredients that help to prevent dental caries. The main ingredients are

Xylitol- a natural sweetener that prevents bacteria from sticking to the teeth and helps to repair damaged enamel.

Erythritol- a 0 calorie sweetener , produced by fermentation. It is able to reduce dental plaque weight by 24% in a 3-year study and lower the levels of Streptococcus mutans bacteria.

Stevia-a plant derived sweetener that contains no fermentable sugar which is an essential food source for bacteria.

This is the science behind these powerful ingredients.

The full list of ingredients:

Isomalt Syrup, Erythritol, Xylitol, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Beetroot Juice, Stevia, Turmeric, Grape Extract Annatto Extract, and Color Added. All Colors are Derived From Natural Plant Based Sources.

Being an US product, of course it has to be non-GMO, gluten free, dairy-free, vegan and kosher!

A pack of Zollipop has all these mixed flavors:  Natural Peppermint, Strawberry, Grape, Orange, Cherry, Raspberry and Pineapple. The packet opens in the middle and is resealable.

Would I buy it again?

Yes. For a happy baby Bing and happy mommy.

Because now I have finally found a lollipop that dentists will approve of! Not only does it satisfy Bing's cravings but it's also good for his teeth. No more mommy guilt. After the occasional indulgence in chocolate (Bing is a chocoholic just like his dad), offer a Zollipop instead of chasing after him to brush his teeth.

It's by no means a substitute for good dental care but it is a fun and easy way to keep teeth clean during the day.

Interested to try? 

Get it from Shopee

Official website
Facebook page 

Contact lens health tips featuring Barbies Eyesland- how to prevent losing eyesight from infections | review

Contact lens wearing is a very popular way to correct vision besides the good old glasses and LASIK surgery. One can achieve the ditch the glasses look immediately. But eye infections and its complications including blindness are very common among wearers. So what should we do to protect our eyes?

CDC has extensive resources regarding contact lens health here. I have summarised the recommendations.

Good habits

1. Wash with soap and dry hands before touching the lens- get rid the germs on hands

2. No sleeping with lens on-overnight wear risks microbial keratitis

3. No water contact with lens on including swimming, using hot tub, showering- Acanthamoeba in water can cause keratitis

Contact lens

1. Rub and rinse with contact lens disinfecting solution only- best way to remove deposits and germs

2. Never store lens in water- Acanthamoeba keratitis can cause blindness!

3. Replace the lens as recommended- for optimal vision and comfort

Contact lens case

1. Rub and rinse with contact lens disinfecting solution only

2. Empty and dry with clean tissue

3. Store upside down with caps off

4. Replace every 3 months

Contact lens solution

1. Don't mix used and fresh solution- biofilms can form

2. Use only the correct type of solution- some lens can interact with certain solutions

Lastly, don't forget to see your eye doctors at least annually for examination.

Besides the conventional clear lens, coloured lens are becoming trendy as one can change the color of the iris and makes the pupils appear larger, a much coveted feature in a pair of beautiful eyes. 

Wearing coloured lens are safe, provided the quality of the lens are good. In other words, there's no increased risks of eye infection with coloured lens if wearers follow the tips I explained above.

Barbie Eyesland is an online store which offers 100% authentic contact lens brands, mainly coloured lens to create those lovely Barbie doll looking like eyes. Because they have no physical store with the related overhead expenses so the price is much cheaper. But this does not compromise the quality of their products.

The great news is the lens are made by Barbie Eyesland itself! Quality assured. Made in Malaysia and proudly Malaysian. The lens can be worn for 3 months at 8 hours a day. The range of colors include various shades of black, brown, grey, olive green and blue. Shades that complement Asian facial features well.

Once purchased, it takes 1-3 days to receive the products and around 5 days to reach Singapore. It's very convenient. There's no shipping fee in Malaysia as well.

Would I recommend Barbie Eyesland?

I'm wearing icy grey 16mm lens here.

It's lightly tinted so it provides a natural look. The other advantage is that it's not too opaque which may obscure the vision. I love how my eyes did not become dry after wearing it the whole day. 

I would suggest first time wearers to get a prescription at their optometrists first. Try clear lens first to get a hang of how to wear contact lens. Subsequently, enjoy wearing the aesthetic coloured lens from Barbie Eyesland at a fraction of the price. 

The power of the lens range from 0-800. So those who falls out of the range need to consider other brands. 

Those who are interested, these are the links. 

Official website
Facebook page
Email barbieeyesland@intlgroup.net WhatsApp 011333333010