Cebion Effervescent Vitamin C and Calcium | Home Tester Club Review

Supplementing your diet with vitamin and minerals. Is it necessary, or is it a myth? Many studies have been done in this regard. Arguably, if you can have a good and balanced diet, there is no need for supplements. Then why is there still so much hype about supplements? Simply because we can rarely get enough in our diet.

Vitamin C, for example, in most of the studies, at least 500mg is needed to achieve health results. That is much higher than the daily recommended intake (RDA) of 75-90mg for adults. Even with supplementation, one will still need 5 servings of fruits and vegetables in a day! It's just not practical at times, to be so consistent in our vitamin C consumption. Therefore, supplementing has become the easy way out.

What is Vitamin C important for?

1. Reduces the seriousness of a cold and to prevent it from becoming lung infections
2. To boost the immune system weakened by stress
3. Preliminary studies have shown a 42% reduction in risk in developing stroke
4. Lessens the effect of skin aging

Read more about Vitamin C on webMD

Calcium, on the other hand, is also very important. At my age, I need 1000mg elementary calcium a day. Many Asians are unfortunately lactose intolerant, so milk and yoghurt may not be their best friends. Lactose free milk is also fairly hard to source for in parts of this world. So supplementing maybe a good idea too. It is widely known that calcium plays vital roles in bone and teeth health particularly later on in life when people become at risk of osteoporosis. Want to know more about calcium supplements? Read here on webMD.

So I have been given the chance to try Cebion Effervescent Vitamin C and calcium tablets, thanks for Home Tester Club. Each tablet contains 1000mg vitamin C and 600mg calcium carbonate (240mg elemental calcium). This is a trusted brand by an international pharmaceutical company called Zuellig Pharma. I am very much familiar with their other products such as Prolia/denosumab used in treating osteoporosis.

It is very simple to use. Dissolve a tablet in a glass of water and watch the effervescence. I personally find this very therapeutic. Then drink up! Remember to avoid taking this with caffeine/iron tablets because it will reduce absorption.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

Cebion is a reliable brand for drugs. In the effervescent form, it is an efficient delivery system for effective nutrient absorption. This is because Vitamin C is water soluble.

And I love the taste of this Vitamin C, orangey and slightly on the sweet side. The price tag is also very much affordable comparing to many other formulations in the market. I would definitely buy again.

I hope this explains the importance of supplements. But please do get the advice of your healthcare providers before choosing any supplements- so you can the right amount, to avoid possible side effects, to make sure the right brand/formulation is consumed and to monitor for side effects.

Disclaimer: the opinion given is merely a personal experience and does not constitute formal medical advice. Please seek your medical professional's advice before starting any supplements. Stop if discomfort or side effect ensues.

Interested to get it? Head to your nearest Guardian or Watsons stores now.

Recordable gifts featuring Sneapy

I love to give gifts. But after so many years of gifting, I have run out of ideas for my loved ones. In search of something meaningful yet creative, I chanced upon Sneapy. It's a gift that is customized and goes straight to the heart.

What are Sneapy gift cards?

Sneapy gift cards are not some cards with cash value that the receiver can use to shop like your Aeon Big or Giant gift card (that's the first thing that came to my mind when I saw gift card). Instead it's something that I won't normally associate with. It is a card that allows personalized video or audio messages to be recorded.

How does one record the messages?

I thought I had to press a button on the card to record! I admitted I was quite surprised when I received the cards. It's very simple.

Step 1

Use your phone scanner to go to the QR code on the card

Step 2

Go to the website

Step 3

Record a video/audio message using the website via your phone

Step 4

Set a secret passcode (You can skip this option)

Step 5

The message is kept in the system for 10 years!

Step 6

Simply present this card to your loved one and ask them to scan the same QR code to read the message. They will need to enter the correct password which can be part of the fun itself.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

This is such a simple yet creative idea that allows me to personalize a gift. I preferred to record video messages because I think it means more for the other person to be able to see your expression and appreciate the whole message better. But if you are camera shy, you can always choose to record an audio message only.

Comparing to physical cards, I find this gift card is easy to keep and is user friendly. I could easily prepared a card within 5 minutes. The price of RM10 each card is also fairly reasonable. I love how one can repetitively view or listen to the message over and over again without having to save it in their device.

However, I do wish that some basic video editing tools can be incorporated into the website. So that I don't have to NG so many times.

If you think you want to try Sneapy out, These are their websites.

Official website
Facebook
Instagram
Email: admin@thegiftaway.com

Shapee Lafee Maternity Nursing Bra Set wireless with laces, compatible to breast pumps | Review

I have finally weaned off baby Bing at 2 years 8 months old. Even though we both treasure the bond very much, but it gets too overwhelming to tandem feed Bing and Yi during bedtime because Bing simply cannot wait for Yi to finish (Yi can take hours!). Yi has just turned 2 months old and I'll go back to work in March. So it's time to bring out the pumps again and shop for some good supportive lingerie.

My old nursing bra from Shapee last year was so comfortable that I have to try Shapee's latest laced nursing bra and underwear set- Lafee. Ditch the idea that nursing lingerie have boring designs- it now has lace too! My perfect Valentine's gift.

Read about my previous experience wearing Shapee nursing bra and using disposable nursing pads here.

Lafee is similar to Shapee's previous products in these respects:

1. 3D seamless design provides comfort all day long and virtually invisible under clothing 

2. Comfortably fit and support your changing shape each step of the way.

3. 4 hooks & extensions for greater adjustability

4. Reinforced non-slip straps for total support and comfort

5. Removable foam cups provides greater flexibility

6. No underwires

7. Front clips

Getting a good fit is important. It shouldn't cut into  the breasts or cause them to spill out. The straps shouldn’t dig into  the shoulders, and the band across  the back needs to sit horizontally without riding up.

The underwear, on the other hand,  also has this seamless design. I like how it's invisible from the outside of my pants/skirts. The beige color offers a soft finishing with the lace an elegant touch.  The material is elastic and comfortable which doesn't stick to the skin but still able to  absorb sweat well.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

Consistent with previous Shapee products, Lafee is comfortable and uses fabric with premium quality. I really love how the laces add an interesting element to the lingerie without being too frilly and it remains practical.

It's important to have materials that are stretchable  with adjustable hooks because breasts simply grow and shrink with the amount of breast milk stored. Wearing tight bras can risk clogged ducts and mastitis.

Price wise, it's definitely good for value. The front clips can also hold my breast pumps nicely when I'm pumping at work. No need for freemies.

The downside is perhaps they can only be handwashed.  And I have no time for that. To be honest,  I have just chucked them into a laundry bag for a delicate cycle. So far so good. Ha. Please don't follow  this though. The bra insert is also in a single piece across the two breasts so it can be difficult to remove for separate washing.

Where to buy?

Shapee brand store

Don't forget your RM10 discount code LNBAH. This discount code only available at the official website for Lafee Nursing Bra only.

Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Body Wash by Love Beauty and Planet Review

This is my first time receiving products from Try and Review dot-com. It's a website allowing consumers to try actual products and to provide honest review. The reviewers are not paid. But you can your hands on the latest products in the market!

Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Body Wash by Love Beauty and Planet

A simple Google search will give you a lot of information about this product from the lazada website. All the following illustrations are taken there.

The ingredients used are all natural. The main being coconut water and mimosa flower. The descriptions are so detailed that I have decided to just repost it here.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

Using products like this which only use natural ingredients are definitely better for the skin. Free of allergens such as parabens and sulphates, this body wash will be suitable for those with sensitive skin prone to develop eczema.

Ethically speaking, this product has also fulfilled social responsibility by contributing RM1 each bottle sold towards the conservation of Malaysian tapir.That's the least we could do to help the planet. In other words, the product is also cruelty freee and began friendly.

In addition, I really love the smell of the body wash. It's just fresh coconut with fragrant floral scent. And it stayed on for at least half an hour after I showered. Not only did it clean well, it wasn't dehydrating or harsh on the skin.

Interested to get one? The retail price is RM27 on Lazada.

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.