GST coming....so what?

Hi folks!

With GST implementation approaching on Apr 1st, many people around me, my siblings, colleagues, friends have been asking me what is the preparation have I started/plan to do.

Some questions comes to me are like:

1. What are you stocking up?

   I've bought a few essential and more of the non-perishable items which I used frequently (groceries, chinese herbs for making soup, Organic products I used frequently for my family especially for my baby).

Have been trying to find a bicycle for the little ZS...but has not found a suitable one yet..yeah..time is ticking...

2. What are you reducing/cancelling?

Unnecessary insurance, credit cards with annual fee.

3. What are the cost-saving measure you're taking?

Not sure yet, been doing all these while..now need to step it up further.. (sigh)..

I love watching a show call International House Hunter to see how people make their purchase decision as well as to understand the economic and living condition of people in different cities and countries and yesterday I saw a couple who moved from a big city in Dublin to a small rural area in Luthinia, putting their savings in a self-sufficient farmhouse which is still cosy and nice...that would be my dream life honestly..to grow my own vegetables, etc. To be self-sustainable...makes me starts thinking why are we working so hard for? To put food on the table? For kids' education?

KY just told me that she loves to be homeschool so that she doesn't have tonnnes of uninteresting homework daily(which I had to agree..imagine lotsa colourings, writings, repetitive writings of the same thing?) I would say it's "brain-less" training if u might say...i.e. without the need to use their brain...but their strength to keep writing and colouring thus makes them real bored!

Mommy couldn't afford to quit her job to homeschool her just yet..but I do hope I could spend more time doing some reading and more interesting learning stuff with them this year :)

4. What are the money-earning measure I could take up to?

Uncertain yet...due to time constraint...what do you all have in mind/doing? Mind sharing?

That's all my rambling for today....

And sending my thoughts to Lee Kuan Yew, the mighty PM of Singapore who passed away....an admirable and solid leader which is very lacking these days...

Meat Free Week

Hi folks!

With impending higher cost of living and upcoming GST installation...there's more reason to switch to a healthier and more cost effective diet...

Let's strive to keep ourselves healthier with more meat free meals..

Need some inspirations or recipes? 

Head over to Jamie Oliver's site for more clue!

Cheers to a healthier self!

Largest Mouthwash Rinsing Event

Hi folks!

Howdy..how often do you rinse your mouth? I started the kids on mouth rinsing pretty early to inculcate in them and to spread awareness about the importance of complete daily oral care routines.

Now, let's 

JOIN HANDS TO SET THE “LARGEST MOUTHWASH RINSING EVENT” RECORD FOR WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY 2015!

Celebrate World Oral Health Day with the Malaysian Dental Association and Malaysia’s No. 1 mouthwash brand*, LISTERINE®, and set a record for the Largest Mouthwash Rinsing Event in the Malaysia Book of Records! Details below:

Date: Saturday, 21 March 2015

Time: Anytime between 10am to 10pm  

Venue: 1Utama Shopping Centre (New Wing), Highstreet Concourse (Ground Level)

All you have to do is to register and rinse to get a bottle of Listerine, a discount voucher and an exclusive certificate, plus stand a chance to win Johnson & Johnson hampers given throughout the day! Be a part of this record-setting attempt and make a stand for good oral health! The World Oral Health Day 2015 roadshow will showcase educational activities for all ages and free dental check-ups, alongside the day-long rinsing event.

The World Oral Health Day 2015 roadshow is supported by the Oral Health Division of the Malaysian Ministry of Health.  Find out more about World Oral Health Day 2015 from www.listerine.com.my  or ‘like’ the LISTERINE® Malaysia Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ListerineMalaysia! 

See you there!

Cheers to a beautiful smile!

Happy Chap Goh Mei

Hi Folks!

Happy Chap Goh Mei everyone!

Today is also the chinese Valentine's day (and last day of CNY) whereby single folks will traditionally throw mandarin oranges at the river (supposingly to be picked up by their "other" half-in-waiting..not sure if this is still practiced anywhere....

Anyhow..to us it's another day for us to have vegetarian meals with family and friends and a reason to gather around!

Wishing everyone good health, abundance of wisdom, laughters and joy!

Cheers!

C NY and another bf milestone

Hi folks~

 

Howdy….how has your CNY break been?

Mine was quite fulfilling…with visiting friends, gathering and managed to sneak in some nap in between (*happy mom*).

Not sure if you had same experience, I do feel my face kinda glowing and smoother with enough rest (like after-facial effect..not kidding you!).

And finally after the CNY break, back to work and reality, rushy, hectic life…

Today marked a milestone in my bf journey. My supply kinda reduced dramatically from 3 bottles per day till barely 1 or 2(if I managed to pump at least once during the middle of the night when ZS sleeps soundly). Thus, yesterday I quickly went to BMS Organic to grab a substitute(O Kids' Oatmilk) and also trying to find rice milk/quinoa milk cos ZS rejected almond milk…but they only have soymilk…so no choice just have to give the Edensoy Soymilk(original flavor) a try 'cos bbsitter been asking us to add-on one more bottle as ZS seems to have increased appetite for milk these days…

So keeping my finger crossed whether he can adjust himself with the "substitutes" for mom's milk. Hoping to keep on nursing him till he's 2 this May.

I am not stressing myself out this time…as I felt I've achieved another great milestone by fully-bf ZS compared to the older two kids whom I only managed to fully-bf till they are 6 months and had to mixed with formula thereafter. Giving a pat at myself. Even though I am looking forward to more time spent having fun with 3 of them rather than spending much of my time nursing, expressing and sterialising bottles…I still love the quiet and close moment while nursing him..Gonna miss this bonding time for sure…wait till he said No more nen nen…till then I will continue this journey till it's time J

How has your CNY been…another 2 more days to go…

 

Happy CNY again folks!

 

Cheers!

Sunway Pyramid's new Baby Room and special gift pack for readers..

Hi folks!

Whenever i visited any malls, i would love to find out how their baby or nursing room facilities.

There are some which has really great setup and maintenance (in terms of hygiene). However there are some which really I wouldn't want to step in with my baby at all (imagine soiled diapers with poo thrown in the bin and the bin doesn't seem to have anyone clearing it at all...the smell would make you throw up the moment you opened the door! I am not kidding as I visited one of the mall and happened to need to change diaper for ZS and that is what I've experienced! Talking about this I really should write a letter to the management of that mall!)

Anyway, today I would like to share one of the better example of a baby room (will include more reviews of other baby rooms in future for parents who are like me who loves visiting places with their babies on tow).

I visited Sunway Pyramid yesterday, yea...doing some last minute shopping to get some new pairs of shoes for the kids and happened to check out their new Baby room as well.

Now let's start with the baby room.  Let's start of with the good points about their new baby room located at  LG1 Orange Zone (beside Bonita):

1. Clear signboard - I saw this sign the moment i stepped out of the lift and it's right at the entrance of the baby/nursing room. Oh yes, there's another sign when i visited their toilet.
2. Security/Privacy - I like to fact that there's a button to press to open the door leading towards the nursing room rather than an open concept where anyone(including males) can just walk in anytime
   
3. Facilities - It has hot and cold water dispenser (great for parents who need to prepare milk for their babies), a clean and working sink to wash our hands (I certainly need to stress clean and working sink here as I have came across a non-functioning sink after I have pumped on the soap dispenser at some places! Imagine needing to walk out of the room to look for a toilet to wash my hands with a baby needing to carry..nah..i just quickly use a wet wipe to clean off the soap then...a big disappointment at that particular mall!), and they have a clean diaper changing area and clean and comfortable arm chair for nursing moms too!
   
   (Hot/Cold water dispenser)
   
   
   
   (Diaper-changing place next to washing/sink area..convenient!)
   
   
   
   (This room/compartment with doors which we could close it while nursing)
   
   
   I felt these are at least the very basic amenities needed in baby/nursing room. And Sunway Pyramid's baby room fits the bill :)
   
   
   The only recommendation for improvement I could suggest is that they should perhaps have more than 2 rooms/compartment in the nursing room? When i went in, the 2 rooms/compartment (with doors) are fully occupied.
   
   
   Good thing is I managed to  find alternative place in their ladies toilet to change diaper. And the place is clean and spacious too, not at any awkward corner which might make diaper-changing task a challenge or even disturb the other users (get what I mean?!)
   
   

   

   
   
   
   
   (Note: Can you see the diaper plastic bag is provided for us to throw the soiled diaper after changing? Thoughtful!)
   
   
   And what I really like is they have installed a combi chair on the wall to place our baby and also a mini toilet seat for our toddler in one of their ladies toilet room which is very convenient and thoughtful for mommies who are perhaps shopping alone  and needs to bring all the kids alone to the toilet, to have a quick relief herself?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   All in all, Sunway Pyramid has quite thoughtful fixtures and facilities in their baby/nursing room. I hope all other malls would follow suit to provide such basic, clean and comfortable place for their parents' shoppers!
   
   
   Before I end, here's some good news to my readers/ followers, if you happened to be shopping at Sunway Pyramid, i would like to invite you to check out their baby room. And specially for secondtimeparenthood blog readers/followers, you can redeem a gift pack from LG1 concierge located at the Blue Zone (just mentioned my blog name). First come first served, as the gift is limited to first 50 packs!
   
   
   Cheers!
   
   

Kids meal on Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day folks!