Bff Trip To Pangkor Laut

Been real busy the past week as I was in Ipoh and Pangkor Laut for a holiday with my best friends.  All 8 of us spent a night in Ipoh and then 2 nights in Pangkor Laut for a getaway and to catch up.  The last time all of us, went on a holiday was in 2018 to Hoi An. Two of them couldn’t make it that time.

My friends and I have known each other since we were 7 years old. We weren’t best friends then but got closer when we enter secondary school. Then after we left school, we sort of drifted away as all of us were busy with our career and families.  We got back in touch when we were in our 30’s and tried to meet up whenever we can as we all stay in different cities and countries.

The getaway was a lot of fun and we got to hang out just like the old days.

The bridge to the jetty

Sunrise photo taken by my friend

We took a block of 4 Garden villas and mine was on the upper floor.

Our Queen size bed

There are 2 wash sinks, a rainshower and a soaking tub

This is the view from my villa

Relaxing by the pool

The weather was rather gloomy when we were there and it rained for an hour or so a day. It was great as the sun wasn’t scorching hot.  We took lots of photos and enjoyed this trip very much. We hope to have another getaway again next year.

Posted in being a mom, friends, me, travel | Leave a comment

Mammogram At Beacon Hospital For RM39

October is the Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is the annual an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. My friend, Elaine told me about the CSR campaign by Beacon Hospital from 12th July to 31st October 2022.  Women 40 years old and above can get a mammogram from Beacon Hospital for only RM39.  This fee does not include a RM15 registration fee or any other additional screening or medications.

I signed up in August and took my mammogram on 30th August 2022. Thank God everything is well. The last mammo I had was in December 2019 at KPJ (Damansara Specialist Hospital).

If you are interested, head over here to find out more and to register. They will call you to fix an appointment. The whole mammogram process takes around 2 hours or less.

Posted in being a mom, health, useful tips | Leave a comment

How To Budget During Inflation

Besides being a health crises, the pandemic has evolved into a deep economic crisis too. Most countries’ economies are effected with negative impacts on incomes, livelihoods, jobs and more. Many people lost their jobs during the massive lockdowns and although the restrictions have been lifted, the current situation and the state of the global economy are not looking too good. Recession is looming and despite the global slow down, inflation is rising due to the increase in food and energy prices.

I can definitely feel the pinch as eating a simple meal in restaurant for a family of three can set us back like RM150 at least. Even a bowl of noodle plus a drink from the local coffeeshop cost about rm15 per head. Everything is so expensive now and we have decided to eat out less.  I would usually cook on weekdays and eat out or order food delivery on weekends but looks like this has to change. That said, grocery is not cheap either and I really should look at my financial plans and how to save more money.

Some of the strategies I plan to take are as follows:-

  1. Reduce energy consumption at home by switching off lights and fans when no one is around. Use energy savings light bulbs. Wash full loads whenever possible. Take shorter showers. Unplug appliances when not in use.  All these can help to cut down on the utility bills.
  2. Look for cheaper alternative when shopping for groceries. I should get into the habit of comparing prices and look for store brand items that are cheaper than others.
  3. As I am following the keto diet, I usually buy keto bread and keto cakes, and they cost 10 times more than the regular ones. Looks like I have to buy less now and try baking my own.
  4. Look for a part-time job to supplement my income. I am a blogger and hopefully, I can do some freelance writing for my online advertisers/clients.
  5. Moving my fixed deposits to banks that offer better interest rate. This online savings calculator – SavingsCalculator.org can help me calculate the compound interest I can earn and make better financial decision.

There seems to be no end to rising prices and inflation does make budgeting more challenging. Having a budget to follow and spending wisely will be able to help me save some money for rainy days.

My Retirement Savings

The inflation also impacts my retirement income and it is important for me to start saving for retirement and learn how to grow my retirement savings. Learning how to maximize the returns will help me live a carefree and comfortable life.

Parents who are saving for their kids’ education may also want to factor in the inflation and the rising cost of education. The education savings calculator can help to calculate the inflated cost to invest the right amount to reach the goal comfortably.

Posted in being a mom, education, useful links, useful tips | Leave a comment

Doenjang Jiggae My Comfort Food

I love having a bowl of piping hot soup for dinner as it is just so satisfying.  I don’t need anything else as a bowl of soup is packed with nutrients and very savory too. One of my favourites is Doenjang Jiggae, a popular Korean stew that is flavored with fermented soybean paste. It is something like Miso soup but is more intense, rich and flavorful, not to mention more ingredients.

I added a lot of cabbage into my doenjang jiggae, together with tofu, enoki, daikon, carrots and slices of pork. It is so delicious and is the ultimate comfort food. So cozy and comforting.

Here is a recipe I found online on how to make a delicious Doenjang Jiggae. 

  1. Saute garlic in oil until fragrant then add onions and everything you want into the pot of water. 
  2. Boil for 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Add the Doenjang paste, tofu, and vegetables.
  4. Stir to completely dissolve the doenjang and cook until the meat and potatoes are cooked thoroughly

Easy right? You can also replace the sliced meat with seafood or pork shoulder or pork ribs. 

Here is my pot of hearty soup.  It is definitely good for the soul. 

Posted in being a mom, diet, dinner | Leave a comment

Curtain Cleaning Tips to Make Your Drapes Look Clean & New

Here are some curtain cleaning tips to make your drapes look clean and new. Not only that, cleaning the curtain and drapes removes debris and allergens that might trigger allergies especially if someone has a sensitive nose or skin condition.

We strongly advise doing regular cleaning on your home, shop or office curtain and drapes. There are two main options available, which is dusting, to beat out the dust out of the curtain, and vacuuming, which sucks off the dust that is on the curtain. The latter is a more effective and efficient method.

Provided that you have perform regular curtain cleaning and vacuuming, you will still need to clean your curtains at least annually. It is more appropriate to pay a professional company to steam clean curtains at your home or office to avoid any damage due to your own carelessness.

How about deep cleaning? Deep cleaning is usually a service provided by professionals to clean the dirt off the drapes. It is not a must, but advisable way to keep your curtain appearance and its useful life.

If you insist on washing your curtain at home, please make sure to read the curtain label that will list down the cleaning instructions of that particular curtain. This is because some curtain materials cannot be washed by strong chemical shampoo. Hence, select a gentler cleaning product during the curtain washing process. Additionally, please do not put drapes and curtains in the washing machine without reading the cleaning instructions.

When you accidentally get a stain on your curtain and drapes, do remove it immediately before it becomes permanent. Spot cleaning clean stains because it may not practical to wash the whole curtain just to remove a small stain. One method of spot cleaning is using liquid detergent and mixing it up with water in order to clean the stains. If it does not work, you can consult a curtain cleaning professional.

We recommend getting professional cleaners to perform curtain dry cleaning for you as they will have the right equipment and cleaning solutions to complete the job for you.

If you are too busy and you need a curtain cleaning service in Kuala Lumpur or Petaling Jaya, you can consider OrangUtan Cleaning as they are one of the most reliable curtain cleaning service providers in town.

Please do not be shy to reach out and call their number so that their friendly consultant can advise you on home onsite curtain cleaning options available to clean your curtain and drapes.

OrangUtan Cleaning will surely provide you with their experienced cleaners at a good price so go ahead and call them now!

Posted in business, good stuff, health, home | Leave a comment

A Fun Night At Euro Fun Park

Euro Park Fun Park came to this side of the city about two weeks ago and as usual, Ashley saw it on social media and wanted to visit the amusement park. She just loves all the heart-popping adrenaline activities.  So she made plans with her friends and went to the amusement fun fair on Friday night. When I saw the game stores, I told hubs that we should go too as I used to frequent fun fairs when I was a kid and these game stalls bring back memories of my childhood. We didn’t go on any rides that night because I am a wuss.

Euro Fun Park was established in the 90’s and is one of the pioneers in the travelling fair industry. There were quite a number of thrilling rides such as the Challenger, Vortex, Sky Rider, Haunted Castle, Roller Coasters, Dodgem Car and more. I told Ashley not to go on the Sky Rider that spins the riders through the air and also the Vortex that takes the riders cartwheeling through the air, spinning around and around in a dizzying adventure. Luckily she’s a good girl and listens to her mama.

We arrived at 6.30pm and the ticket booths only open at 7pm.  There were long queues at the booths and since there were 4 ticket booths, the wait wasn’t that long. The entrance ticket is RM6 per head. That night, there were many students from international schools visiting the fair. It got crowded after 8.30pm. The rides are rather expensive and can cost up to RM24 per head per ride. Ashley had an incredibly fun night with her friends and we left at around 9.30pm.  Below are some of the photos taken at the Euro Fun Park.

Roller Coaster

Euro Wheel

Daytona Kiddy ride

Wave Swinger

The Challenger which was the first ride Ashley and her friends went for.

One of the many game stalls

I realized that I did not take any photos of the thrilling rides but only videos that are difficult to post on my website.  Ashley said the next amusement park that she plans to visit is the new theme park in Genting.

Posted in ashley, being a mom, entertainment, family | Leave a comment

My Silly Furbaby

I looked out from the door a few days ago and saw this.  Actually this is the first time I have seen Sheldon sleeping sunbathing on the porch. Usually he would be lying under the shed. I thought the long fur would make him feel hot.

Our first baby, Buffy a rottweiler loves to sunbathe but not huskies. I have never seen Cooper doing this either. I wasn’t sure what was going on with this guy that day. He is full of surprises.

Posted in being a mom, family, Pet | Leave a comment

Aircon Service Offered by AirconMalaysia.Com

Having an air conditioner is a lifesaver in a tropical country like ours. Temperatures can soar up to 33 degree Celsius or higher during the daytime and go down to around  27 degrees Celsius at night. We rely on them in our daily lives to keep us comfortable so that we can work more efficiently whether we are at work or home and have a good rest at night. 

We all know how inconvenient it can be when the air conditioner breaks down. In order to avoid this problem, regular maintenance is important. Many of us tend to only service the air conditioning units when they break down. Do you know that regular servicing and aircon cleaning once every 6 months is important to keep the unit in top working condition? 

When we do not service our air conditioning units regularly, it can affect our health. The aircon filter is filled with dust after a while and may cause condensation which leads to mold and bacteria growing inside. This can be harmful to those who suffer from allergies.

Aircon service is important to ensure that the units last longer and work optimally. Without regular servicing, the unit will work harder and this can lead to problems with the compressor.  Replacing a compressor is expensive. So if you want to save money, remember to have them service regularly as well-maintained air conditioners can also help to cut down your electricity bill. 

Hiring an experienced and reliable technician to keep your air conditioning units in tip-top condition is another way to help you save money and energy. If you are looking for a professional aircon servicing company in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, visit Airconmalaysia, a professional aircon repair and servicing company that offers the best service and helps you achieve worry-free comfort at home or work. Airconmalaysia offers a comprehensive range of services such as follows:-

  • Aircon Installation
  • Aircon Servicing
  • Aircon Repair
  • Aircon Trade In
  • Chiller Repair
  • Chiller Servicing
  • Freezer Repair
  • Freezer Servicing

Why Should You Choose Airconmalaysia?

Airconmalaysia has a certified team of experts who have many years of work experience combined with the latest technological advancement to provide reliable and affordable solutions. They also include a complimentary site survey to better understand your air conditioner unit service requirement so that they can give you a better and more accurate quote. 

So if you are looking for the best aircon servicing Kuala Lumpur, give them a call today. Below are their contact details:-

Tel: 017 332 0897

Website:  www.airconmalaysia.com

Email:  nhn@airconmalaysia.com

Posted in business, General, health, home | Leave a comment

Busy Busy Busy

I just realized that I haven’t been updating my blog for the past 2 weeks. No excuses but things have been pretty hectic at work and at home.  On top of working full time, I have some part-time work and also taking care of a household that consists of 3 people and 2 dogs. Every day there is a lot of poo and pee to clean and wash.

My furbaby, Sheldon, the naughty one likes to spring a surprise every now and then like the one below.  Woke up one morning to find that he has dug out my mom’s favorite plant.  This means that I have to put the soil and plant back into the pot and wash everything away. The soil is hard to wash as it leaves a brown stain.

I wonder when Sheldon will grow out of this digging phase and have less work for me.

Posted in being a mom, family, Pet, rant, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A New Studying Method

A few nights ago when I went into missy’s room, she was doing some past year exam papers. Suddenly I heard the sound of some waves coming from her laptop. I asked her what was she listening to and she said it is a recording of the wave sound crashing on the shore.

She said the sound of waves crashing is very calming and helps her to relax. Right now she is having her mock exam and she has been studying hard for the past few weeks, even during the 3-week holiday break last month.  I guess the sound of waves lapping on the shore is soothing to the brain and helps people to experience lower stress and less anxiety. Well, I am all for anything that can help to calm her.

Why Do Ocean Sounds Help You Sleep?

Posted in ashley | Leave a comment