A Trip to EPF With Dad - Fixing Our i-Akaun Problems

I have been having an issue receiving a TAC number required for EPF's 2-factor authentication when trying to access my EPF account through both the phone app and the EPF website for the past few days.

So today, I decided to go to the EPF office in Greentown to get it sorted.

Dad, who had forgotten his EPF membership number and also couldn't log into his EPF account, decided to tag along because he had his own EPF problem to solve. 😆

Since parking around the EPF office is pretty insane, I told Dad we'd better just take Grab. It cost us RM9 to get there and RM11 to come home. Cheaper than the stress of finding parking!

When we arrived at the EPF office, we were told to first update our personal information at the kiosk. You need your MyKad and fingerprint for this. Once you scan your MyKad and thumbprint, the system pulls up your information and you can update your details at the kiosk.

There are staff members stationed around the kiosks to assist, so you won't be standing there wondering what you're supposed to press. 

Thankfully, I managed to resolve my TAC issue almost immediately at the kiosk, so I didn't even need to see an EPF officer.

Dad, however, needed to reset his password and get his EPF statement printed, so after completing the kiosk process, he had to take a number and wait.

We waited about 30 minutes before it was his turn. The female officer who attended to us was very patient, and Dad's issues were sorted out and his statement printed in less than 30 minutes.

Overall, I was actually quite impressed with the whole experience. There are plenty of staff around to assist members, so you won't feel lost or clueless about what to do. The system is pretty efficient, and the staff were helpful and patient.

And for anyone wondering — there's no need to dress up in long sleeves and long pants just because it's a government office. 😂 There's no strict dress code, but do dress up decently.  Just come as you are, with your MyKad!

So, EPF office visit: less painful than expected. 😂

You can watch the video here >> https://www.facebook.com/reel/1757542651993772

You Can Still Eat Cheaply in Ipoh

One of the places we go to stock up on cheap stuff for the kitchen in Ipoh is Lotus’s. You can get pretty cheap vegetables, fruits, dried food, meat and all sorts of other perishables there.

Dad and I usually go once or twice a month to stock up.

And of course, after shopping, we have to go downstairs to the mamak restaurant to tapau our favourite chicken murtabak and curried vegetables. 😋

The prices at this mamak restaurant are really cheap compared to KL.  A thick slab of chicken murtabak is only RM5 and it comes with pickled onions and thick delish curry. The curried vegetables, like sautéed cabbage and French beans with kerisik kelapa, are just RM1 a portion.

Last week, we tapau-ed 2 chicken murtabaks and 2 portions of vegetables for only RM12.

And that's lunch for Mum, Dad and me! 😂

Because all three of us eat like toddlers, we couldn't even finish everything. There was half a piece of murtabak left, which I happily had for breakfast the next morning. 

Honestly, this is one of the things I love about living in Ipoh. Life is just a little slower, very manageable traffic and parking, and more importantly, cheaper.

So if you're thinking of retiring in a city where you don't have to spend a bomb just to eat and stock up your kitchen, Ipoh is worth considering, of course Ipoh is not as happening as KL la 😆

Cheap food, cheap groceries, less rushing around… and plenty of good food to eat. What more does auntie need? 😄

Photo below: my chicken murtabak with pickled onions, turmeric cabbage and French beans with kerisik kelapa (toasted grated coconut). So yummy!

Organise a Family Storyboard Without Sharing Private Photos

A family creative project does not have to begin with photographs of the people who live in the house. An adult's original drawing can provide a subject, a setting, and a small change to explore. A storyboard then puts those ideas in order before anyone chooses between a printed sequence, a slideshow, or an imaginative motion clip.

For this guide, imagine an adult making a simple illustration of a teacup beside a window and a houseplant. The drawing contains invented shapes and no view of a real home. This is a hypothetical craft project, rather than a family memory or an account of using a particular tool. Its purpose is to organise a short visual story using material the creator owns.

Choose a small story that fits the drawing

Begin with one change. Perhaps attention moves from the teacup to the window, then to a patterned leaf on the plant. That is enough for a short sequence. The story can be a change in viewpoint rather than a dramatic event. Write its idea in one sentence before drawing additional frames.

Decide whether the project is intended for a private activity, a printed display, or an online post. These uses can call for different amounts of explanation. Keep a private working version with the creator's notes and prepare a separate sharing copy containing only the information needed to understand the artwork.

Choose a title about the invented scene, such as “A Window and Three Shapes.” It does not need family names, a location, or a description of the home's routines. If the project will be shown to others, explain that its scene is drawn. A simple craft illustration should not be presented as a photograph of an actual moment.

Prepare the source artwork before making variations

Draw the teacup, window, and plant with enough space around them to select different views. Keep the original on paper or in an editable file. If photographing the paper, use a plain surface and inspect the surrounding frame for unrelated documents or personal details. Crop a working copy while preserving the original source.

Use shapes and marks the adult created. Borrowed cartoon characters, photographs of relatives, and recognisable logos are unnecessary for this example. If material from another creator is used in a different project, check permission for the intended adaptation and publication before including it.

Store captions separately from the picture. Short phrases such as “the whole scene” and “a closer look at the leaf” can be edited without altering the artwork. Give the source and each variation a clear filename. This makes it easier to find the complete drawing after several crops and exports have been prepared.

Plan four specific frames

The first frame establishes the whole scene. Show the teacup, window, and plant together, with the title outside the drawing. The viewer should have a clear starting point before the presentation moves to individual details.

The second frame looks more closely at the teacup. Choose an existing part of the drawing, such as its handle or an original stripe pattern. Keep the crop understandable and note that it is a detail from the same artwork. There is no need to invent steam or a drinking action.

The third frame turns attention to the window and the plant. Select a leaf shape or a colour relationship that the creator wants to discuss. Keep enough context to identify where the detail belongs in the original scene. The frame can carry a short question about the visible artwork.

The fourth frame returns to the whole drawing. Add a closing caption, or invite the viewer to choose a detail for a future drawing. Returning to the source helps connect the close views with the complete composition.

This original text plan shows the four frames. It is a planning diagram, not a photograph or generated video.

FRAME 1        FRAME 2        FRAME 3        FRAME 4
WHOLE SCENE --> TEACUP DETAIL --> WINDOW + LEAF --> WHOLE SCENE
Title           Existing        Existing         Closing
outside art     stripe/handle   drawn shapes     caption

SOURCE: Adult-owned original abstract drawing
TEXT:   Editable captions stored separately
SHARE:  Selected artwork only, without private family details

Make the still sequence complete on its own

Arrange the four frames on a page or in a small gallery. Add their captions and check whether the order is clear. A numbered sequence can be read without animation or sound. The creator can also print the frames and rearrange them to consider a different order.

A manually edited slideshow uses the same artwork while allowing control over pacing. Keep transitions simple and allow time to read each caption. Review the complete export, including the first and last frames. If a caption is revised, update both the still sequence and the slideshow that uses it.

Explore abstract motion as a separate interpretation

An optional clip can explore motion in a working copy of the original drawing. Magic Hour's image-to-video tool accepts a starting image and an optional movement description, then provides generation, preview, and video download. It is one possible route for an imaginative interpretation, alongside the still gallery and manually arranged slideshow.

Keep the idea narrow, such as a gentle change of framing across the drawn shapes. Inspect the preview for added objects, altered details, and unintended lettering. Add important captions separately during final editing. Identify the result as an AI-generated interpretation of original artwork, rather than footage of family life.

Use the abstract drawing for this project instead of uploading children's photographs, voices, names, or personal documents. Review what appears in the source file and the final sharing copy. This is a choice about the materials used; it does not depend on assuming a particular privacy feature in any tool.

Finish with readable text and a tidy project pack

Provide a brief description of the sequence alongside the images. W3C's guidance on describing visual information explains that descriptions make meaningful visual content available to people who cannot adequately see a video. For this artwork, describe the whole scene and the two details selected, rather than relying on motion alone.

Keep the source drawing, four frames, captions, and selected export together. Separate experimental clips from the version intended for sharing. Before publishing, inspect every frame and its accompanying text. The finished storyboard can remain a modest creative project: a clear sequence built from owned artwork, with any generated motion identified for what it is.

Contributor note: Magic Hour is a platform for creating and editing images and videos. This original article was prepared with AI assistance for Health Freak Mommy editorial review; review is requested and not claimed complete. Magic Hour retains copyright, granting limited nonexclusive publication permission.

Are you Team Fully Ripe or Team Half-Ripe?

Have you noticed that the bananas we buy seem to ripen so quickly? Most of the time, a banana that is half green and half yellow in the morning can turn completely yellow by the same night.

I’ve spoken to a few fruit sellers in KL who told me that calcium carbide is always used to speed up the ripening of bananas and other fruits such as papayas and mangoes. Calcium carbide is a ripening agent that has been banned or restricted for food use in many places because of safety concerns, yet it is widely used here. So, personally, I’d rather let my bananas ripen naturally whenever possible.

Anyway, coming back to my bananas. 😂

I actually prefer half-ripened bananas. They’re firmer, less sweet and I simply like the taste and texture more. Fully ripe bananas are just a little too sweet and mushy for me.

So whenever Dad comes home from the market with his usual half-ripened bananas, I’ll cut up a few and pop them into the freezer. ❄️🍌 This way, I can enjoy my half-ripened bananas throughout the week without them all becoming soft and overly sweet overnight.

Half-ripe bananas contain more resistant starch than fully ripe bananas.  Resistant starch acts somewhat like fibre and may support a gentler blood-sugar response, satiety and a healthy gut microbiome. Resistant starch passes through your small intestine undigested and reaches your colon, where gut bacteria ferment it into beneficial compounds.

And one more thing I do: I usually eat a few nuts before my banana.  The protein, fat and fibre in nuts can help slow down digestion and may help reduce the rise in blood sugar after eating carbohydrate. It’s a simple little trick I use when I want to enjoy my banana (or any carb) without sending my blood sugar soaring.

Which camp are you in — fully ripened, half-ripened or raw/green bananas? 🍌

The bananas in the middle have my preferred ripeness.

Wait… There’s RICE in My White Pepper?!

I was today years old when I found out that the ground white pepper I bought online was NOT 100% pure pepper! 😂

Instead, it contains ground rice mixed with white pepper. I didn't even know until my mum asked me to check the ingredients coz I told her that the pepper had no taste. 😳

Seriously, why do they have to add ground rice to pepper? No wonder this white pepper doesn't have much of a peppery taste, even though the packaging says Sarawak pepper.

So, at 53, I have learned another important auntie life lesson:

Always check the ingredients label when buying ground spices! 😂

Make sure it says 100% pure white pepper or black pepper, with no added fillers or other ingredients.

Now I understand why this shaker-bottle white pepper was slightly cheaper. It was mixed with rice! Aiyo… felt a bit cheated. 😅 But okay, partly my own ignorance because I didn't read the ingredients properly.

So don't be like this auntie. 🙈

Read the ingredients label carefully before buying your spices. You may be getting less pepper than you think!

And BTW, have you ever seen those videos claiming that some chilli powder is adulterated with things like brick powder to make it look redder? 🤔🌶️

I don't know how true every one of those videos is, but after discovering the rice in my pepper, I'm definitely going to be reading my spice labels more carefully from now on! 😂

Can a Walk in the Forest Really Boost Your Immune System?

I love brisk walking outdoors, especially in places surrounded by lots of trees and greenery. And apparently, there may be more to it than just getting some exercise, helping you de-stress, and enjoying the scenery.

Trees and other plants release natural chemicals called phytoncides. These are volatile compounds that plants produce as part of their defence system against insects, bacteria and other threats.

When we spend time in a forest or anywhere filled with greenery, we breathe in some of these compounds. Studies on forest bathing have found that spending time in a forest may temporarily increase the activity of our natural killer (NK) cells — immune cells that help identify and destroy virus-infected and abnormal cells.

Some studies have even found that the increase in NK-cell activity can last for several days after a forest visit. Amazing, isn’t it?

There are probably several things working together — the physical activity, fresh air, greenery, relaxation, reduced stress and possibly those plant compounds.

So perhaps my regular walks in my neighbourhood that’s surrounded by greenery and limestone hills aren't just good for my legs and my mental health. They may also be giving my immune system a little helping hand. 🌳

No fancy wellness retreat required. Just find some trees and go for a walk. Find it hard to believe that nature and trees can strengthen your immunity? Go Google it yourself 😄😄

My Low-Carb “Dessert” Fix

One of my favourite “desserts” that won’t cause much of a blood sugar rise is… cheese!

I actually LOVE those individually wrapped square cheese slices, but they are more processed and can be quite high in sodium and other food additives. So when I buy cheese, I usually go for block cheese with the shortest ingredient list and the lowest sodium I can find.

Cheese is naturally very low in carbohydrates, so it has minimal impact on blood glucose. Of course, the nutritional profile varies between different types of cheese, so I still pay attention to the label, especially the sodium and saturated fat.

My favourite way to enjoy cream cheese is spreading a little on sprouted wheat bread, dipping raw bell peppers into it, or simply eating it on its own.

I love cheesecake, but most cheesecakes are way too sweet for me these days — and they can be pretty expensive too. So this is my much simpler and cheaper alternative.

I'm currently trying to bring my HbA1c down from 6.0 to at least 5.5. Hopefully, with more strength training and some further adjustments to my diet and lifestyle, my blood test next month will show some improvement.

And here's something worth remembering: you don't have to look overweight, unfit, or unhealthy to have a higher-than-ideal HbA1c. Blood glucose and HbA1c are influenced by many factors, not just body size or appearance. I wrote an article on HbA1C earlier, titled I Don’t Eat Much Sugar—So Why Is My HbA1c Still High?

Bega Tatura cream cheese - I eat it as it on its own, like ice-cream 😋

Love this Tatura cream cheese.

Raw red bell pepper with cream cheese.

Raw green bell pepper with cream cheese.

A Simple Way To Blunt Blood Sugar Spikes After Meals

One simple way to help reduce the rise in blood glucose after a meal is to get your muscles moving soon afterwards. You don't necessarily need to go outdoors for a walk, though it would be great if you can.  5–10 minutes of squats, sit-to-stands or light dumbbell exercises can get your muscles working and encourage them to take up glucose from the bloodstream, helping to blunt the post-meal glucose rise.

I usually mop the kitchen floor and clean up after every meal, so that's already about half an hour of movement. Then I head to my room and do another 5–10 minutes of light dumbbell exercises, including squats, before I shower. Sometimes I walk up and down the stairs for at least 10 minutes.

You don't need a long workout or hundreds of squats. A few sets of comfortable, moderate-intensity exercises using your legs, arms or other large muscle groups can get your muscles working. 

Post-meal exercise can help with short-term blood glucose control.  For long-term diabetes prevention, it's about the bigger picture: keeping your carbohydrate intake sensible, staying physically active, building and maintaining muscle, maintaining a healthy weight and getting enough good-quality sleep. Your muscles are one of the body's major tissues for storing and using glucose, so keeping them active is definitely a good thing.

PS: The photo is our dinner from a few nights ago. Dad cooked steamed bearded chicken and made a basil, soy sauce, fried garlic and fried garlic oil dipping sauce for the chicken. We also had sautéed yau mak and French beans with preserved vegetables, carrot, onions and garlic. Simple home-cooked food — and very yummy! 😋

Shopee and Lazada Poison Post

If you’re a regular shopper on Shopee and Lazada, you’ll know there are sales at least 3 times a month. Minimum! Sometimes even more.

There’s the same-digit date sales (9/9, 10/10, 11/11, etc), Mid-Month Sale and Pay Day Sale. And honestly, some things are so much cheaper than what you’ll find in supermarkets and even 99 Speedmart.

The padded gym wear items are also much cheaper than branded ones. And if you know which stores to buy from, the quality can actually be really good.

So… what was my damage for September? 😅

Lots of gym wear, shampoo, conditioner, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed meal, organic lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, Top Glove nitrile gloves, wet wipes, hanging tissues, bedding… and probably a few things I’ve conveniently forgotten. 😂

But I think I saved more than RM100 (maybe more) by buying these during online sales instead of buying them elsewhere.

So sorry for this poison post. 🤣

This is just a retired cheapo auntie teaching you how to save some money. You’re welcome. 😂

I bought this flare bra top here >> https://s.lazada.com.my/s.Z3TMr1?c=d&t=p-iGISbaK-s2G67h8b

Top Glove nitrile gloves (excellent quality with good grip) here >>https://s.lazada.com.my/s.Z3TMwY?c=d&t=p-i4NRRdc-sOvYvE4

Padded flair bra top with cross back straps - size L (quite big on me) but super comfy. Can breathe easily in it. Suitable for zumba and casual wear.

Top Glove disposable nitrile gloves with excellent grip and quality. They can even be reused. My favourite gloves for cleaning and washing dishes. Perfect for an OCD auntie 🤣.

Mum Worries

The past week, my mind has been flooded with all sorts of worries.

I’m a professional worrier and overthinker. 😂 So when problems crop up, I basically double up on the worrying and overthinking.

I worry about my daughters’ relationships, their university studies, whether they’ll pass their exams or suddenly decide to drop out. Someone has already switched course mid way and it's a very tedious (and costly!) process.  I worry when they’re not home yet — Why are they home so late?! — and worry even more when they don’t reply my messages. 😩

I can be quite negative at times too. I don’t have the best relationship with “thinking positive” — sometimes the outcome isn’t exactly encouraging. 😂

No names mentioned here because I have a feeling my daughters secretly read my blogs and Facebook page. 

It’s tough being a mum, even when your kids are young adults. You can’t exactly breathe down their necks because they’ll tell you to relax and they may not want you to know too much too … so you worry quietly lor. 😂

Anyone else in the same boat with young adult kids?

PS - My TOTD - green tea with homegrown blue pea flowers and purple flowers (don't know its scientific name but it has medicinal properties).

The Homework Years

This is the scene at our house in KL back when my girls were in Chinese primary school. Every single day, there would be a mountain of homework piled up on the dining table — just from school. And then there was another pile of Chinese tuition homework waiting for them on their desks.

Life revolved around homework: school homework, Chinese tuition at home, more homework from the tutor, and BM tuition outside for the two older girls.

Eventually, they got so sick and tired of homework that I think it actually backfired. 😂 I knew they were hiding their homework and not finishing it, but I was often too busy with my own freelance work and running my online shop to check every single day.

Every now and then, I would check their school bags and discover unfinished homework hiding inside. Some of the piles honestly shocked me. 

I really didn't know how to handle it because, at the same time, I knew they were exhausted. Chinese wasn't their first language — English was what we spoke at home, and both their parents couldn't speak Mandarin. So here they were, trying to keep up in a Chinese-medium school while juggling tuition and even more homework.

Somehow, they survived all six years at Kuen Cheng 2, which was a Grade A school and, back then, recognised as a Sekolah Berprestasi Tinggi. Two daughters went on to study at a Chinese Independent High School and survived yet again.

Looking back, I'm actually glad those crazy homework years are behind us. And despite all the struggles, I'm also glad I sent them to a Chinese school. Today, all three of them can converse fluently in Mandarin.

Meanwhile, their yellow banana mum is still struggling with Mandarin and has to use Google Translate. 😂🍌

So I guess all those piles of homework were worth something after all. 😆

Missing My Girls

Missing my 3 daughters just a little more today. ❤️

All three of them are completely absorbed in their own busy lives — university, exams, assignments, dance and skating practices, social life, work and even house renovations. 😅

It would be lovely if they could make a short trip back to Ipoh for a little break, but I guess that probably won’t happen until Christmas or CNY.

But do I regret moving back to Ipoh? Not at all. I love being here with my parents and having this slower, simpler life. It’s just that I still worry about my girls every single day, even though they’re all grown up now.

And today, this photo of my three girls suddenly popped up on my Google Photos. It was taken in September 2011 — exactly 15 years ago — at Pavilion KL. Back then, we were crazy about going to Tokyo Street, browsing Daiso and having Japanese food at Pavilion.

Looking at this photo made me miss those days when my girls were little, sweeter and still thought I was their hero. 😂 Now they’re all grown up, busy with their own lives and probably don’t need their mother nearly as much anymore. 🥹

And then I realised… this must be exactly what my mum went through 36 years ago when I left Ipoh for KL to study.

So I guess this is payback time. 😂

What goes around, comes around, Mum! 

Mid Autumn Festival 2026

Knowing that I’m attending Zumba this evening, Dad thoughtfully cooked a big pot of lentil and vegetable curry for lunch and dinner. So sweet of him! ❤️

He also bought half a roast chicken this morning so that I can have an early dinner. When it comes to roast chicken, the breast meat goes to Haru and me. 😂🐱

Unfortunately, Mum won’t be joining me at the gym for the time being, as the aches and pains in her limbs haven’t improved yet. Hopefully she’ll feel better soon.

We didn’t buy any mooncakes this year because we find most of them a little too sweet. But our neighbour gave us some famous Kam Ling snowskin mooncakes from Kampar, from his wife’s parents’ shop, and Alycia’s BFF also gifted us some less-sweet mooncakes from KL.

So we ended up with mooncakes anyway! 😂

And did you know that a typical mooncake can easily pack around 400 calories? That’s quite a lot of calories for one little round of deliciousness! Depending on your body weight and pace, you could be looking at several kilometres of running to burn that off. 😂

Wishing everyone a very happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 🥮🏮🌕

Zumba OOTD.

Pressure-cooked lentil and vegetable curry.

What's inside the curry - lentils, sweet potato, carrots, potatoes, big onions, garlic, tomatoes, broccoli, brinjals, puffed tofu, moringa leaves, curry leaves, spices and EVCO.

Rice cooked together with the curry in the PPC.

23 September 2026 — Lunch & Dinner

Lunch: Tapau chap fan from our favourite shop — braised chicken with black fungus, braised tofu, steamed fish and braised turnip. Only RM23.

The three of us couldn’t even finish the chicken, so the leftovers went straight into the dinner menu. Why we ate so little? Coz at 83, dad doesn't like eating meat anymore, he's a flexitarian now.

Dinner: Dad took over the kitchen as usual. ❤️

Sautéed Romano beans with leftover roast chicken and char siu, air-fried salmon with garlic and turmeric, and steamed tofu with a little fish sauce and scallions.

Simple food, but so good.

After more than two decades of planning two meals a day for my daughters, I finally don’t have to do it anymore. 😂

No more daily brain gymnastics of “What shall I buy and cook? What shall we eat?”

Retired Ipoh auntie life has its perks. 😆

Shopee Sale

Shopee is having 50% OFF on clothes from selected sellers, and my favourite seller is one of them!

As a responsible retired Ipoh auntie, I had to investigate.

And somehow, my investigation resulted in a few new bra tops and skorts joining my wardrobe.

But hello… 50% OFF leh! Half price! This is called saving money, okay?

If you’re looking for affordable workout/activewear, check them out here >>

https://s.shopee.com.my/5Asi7JEV3V

PS - do size up when selecting clothes from this seller. I am wearing size XL for this bra top and size L for this skorts. My weight is 41.5kg as reference. I prefer loose-fitting vs. dumpling tight.

Dad’s Kitchen, Dad’s Rules

Stir-fried leek with siew yoke is one of our family favourites, and one of my 83-yo Hakka Dad’s signature dishes. ❤️

It’s a popular Hakka dish and a common sight on the dining table during CNY because leeks have an auspicious meaning. It’s also a pretty delicious way to “recycle” leftover roast pork. 

Simple, inexpensive, fuss-free… and SO yummy! 😋

While Dad is busy being the Head Chef, my JD in this house is to clean up after him — the kitchen floor, counters, stove and, of course, some of the dirty dishes.

But here’s the funny part…

Dad doesn’t even allow Mum and me to wash the dishes! Apparently, we’re all doing it “the wrong way.” 

So I’ve had to master the art of quietly washing the dishes whenever Dad isn’t looking. 🙈

Because in Dad’s kitchen, apparently even washing dishes (and throwing rubbish) requires the correct SOP. 🤣

The Ipoh Auntie Guide to a Less-Bloated Tummy

Some time ago at the hair salon, a lady in her 50s saw me walking in — as usual, in my gym wear. She stared at me for a while and, even though we didn't know each other, suddenly asked:

“Eh, what do you do to have such a flat tummy?”

😂😂😂

Actually… I DON'T have a flat tummy.

After three kids, expecting an abdomen like an airport runway is a bit ambitious. 😂

My midsection is relatively flat mainly because I don't eat a lot, I've cut down significantly on UPFs, sugar and refined carbs, and I exercise and stay pretty active.

These are the simple things I find helpful for keeping my tummy from getting too bloated:

1. Stop eating when I'm about 50–60% full.

I rarely eat until I'm stuffed — even at buffets.

Forget the FOMO and the kiasu mentality of “I've paid for it, must eat until I get my money's worth!” 😂

Your stomach doesn't know whether you've paid RM30 or RM300 for the buffet.

2. Cut down on sugary foods and refined carbs.

Since moving back to Ipoh, I've hardly eaten junk food because my parents in their 80s don't really eat that stuff.

My usual snacks are pretty boring — nuts, seeds and yoghurt. Very glamorous, I know. 😂

3. Keep moving.

Exercise if you can. If you don't have time for a proper workout, at least don't spend the whole day sitting.

Walk around the house. Move around the office. Use a standing desk if that works for you.

After meals, I usually don't plonk myself straight onto a chair. I'll mop the floor, clean the kitchen or stand while doing some work on my laptop.

Basically, my post-meal exercise is… household chores. Very atas. 🤣

4. Don't eat too close to bedtime.

When I was living in KL, I used to have dinner as early as 3-4pm with my girls when they came home from school.

Now that I'm back in Ipoh, that's no longer possible because my parents eat later — and they insist that I eat with them.

So I just eat a very small portion. Basically, toddler-sized. 😂

I also try to finish dinner at least about 3 hours before bedtime.

My “flat tummy” tips are really nothing complicated.

No expensive treatments.

No slimming packages.

No Ozempic.

Just cheapo Ipoh auntie methods that I've been doing for years. 😂

Eat less. Move more. Don't stuff yourself. And be consistent.

That's pretty much it.

Dad's homecooked dinner - braised radish and carrot with pork ribs, sauteed red spinach, air-fried salmon with homegrown tarragon and rosemary, and steamed turmeric pandan basmati rice for dad & mum. I dont eat rice.

Retired Ipoh Auntie Life

Sunday, 20 Sept 2026 — What We Ate 

Breakfast: Mum’s homemade keto pandan santan mug cake + chocolate mug cake. 😋

Lunch: Leftover Seoul Garden from last night. We’re such small eaters that THREE dishes became dinner + today’s lunch. 😂

Dinner was my 83-yo dad’s home-cooked spread — red bell pepper with garlic, onions & tempeh, silky steamed egg, siew pak choy and steamed fish with red dates & goji berries. Mum also made homemade yogurt with fresh pandan juice and coconut cream. SO good! 🤤

Back in KL, Sundays were usually “Where shall we go eat?” days. Here in Ipoh, life is basically:

Eat. Clean the house. Exercise. Eat again. Hang out with Mum, Dad & Haru. Clean up after dinner. Repeat. 😂

Sounds boring, but honestly? This is exactly the kind of low-chaos life I want at 53.

No rushing, no packed schedules — just simple food, family, a happy tummy and a peaceful life.

Apparently, my idea of excitement these days is… what’s for lunch and dinner?

Sauteed red bell pepper with tempeh + carrots + garlic + onion.

Steamed fish fillet with red dates + goji berries, steamed egg and steamed siew pak choy.

I don't eat rice, so dad steamed a sweet potato for me.

Mum's pressure-cooked pandan + santan unsweetened yogurt.

Nong Geng Ji Hunan Cuisine @ Sunway Pyramid

A quick lunch at Nong Geng Ji Hunan Cuisine @ Sunway Pyramid 🌶️🥢

Last month, when I went to Sunway Pyramid for my youngest daughter Cass's figure skating competition at Skate Asia, we stopped by Nong Geng Ji Hunan Cuisine for lunch.

I only had about 30 minutes to eat because my taxi was coming at 3.30pm to drive me all the way back to Ipoh. So this was definitely a case of eat first, chew later. 😂

Cass's dad ordered three dishes for the three of us — dry pot shredded spicy cabbage, stir-fried silky tomato omelette and stir-fried free-range chicken with tea oil.

Everything was really good, but my favourite was the tomato omelette. 🍅. I honestly didn't expect a simple-looking tomato-and-egg dish to be the star of the meal, but it was SO good.

The bill came up to RM120.50 for three dishes, which I thought was pretty reasonable for a restaurant in Sunway Pyramid. And the portions were quite generous too. Because I was rushing and could only eat a little, there was still quite a lot of food left. Cass happily tapau-ed the leftovers for her lunch the next day. 😂

There was even free ice cream for diners, but sadly, yours truly had zero time to investigate the ice cream situation. 😭🍦

I also really liked the ambience. The waiting staff were dressed in traditional Hunan-style costumes, which added a nice touch to the whole dining experience.

Nong Geng Ji is a China-origin Hunan restaurant chain that came to Malaysia in 2024, and the Sunway Pyramid outlet opened in 2025. It has also received pretty good reviews from diners.

The next time I'm at Sunway Pyramid, I'll definitely go back — hopefully with more than 30 minutes to eat this time! 😂

If you're at Sunway Pyramid and in the mood for something a little different from the usual Chinese fare, Nong Geng Ji is definitely one place you can consider trying. 🌶️🥢

Nong Geng Ji Hunan Cuisine 农耕记湖南菜

📍 Sunway Pyramid, LG1.42

💰 Our lunch: RM120.50 for 3 dishes / 3 people

You can watch a short video of our lunch at Nong Geng Ji on my Facebook Page.

1980s Nurse or Tennis Player?

I bought this white tennis dress with a built-in bra and shorts online, and it took less than a week to arrive from overseas. Not bad! 

The quality is actually pretty good, and it’s not sheer at all. BUT the moment I put it on, I had one thought:

OMG… why do I look like a nurse from the 1980s?! 😂😂😂

If you’re old enough like yours truly, you’ll remember the nurses and school dentist back then — white dresses, white shoes, very proper-looking… especially those who came to school to give us our jabs and to pull our teeth. 💉😱

So… be honest. Am I giving tennis girl vibes or 1980s school nurse vibes? 🎾💉🤣

I got the dress from Shopee >>>https://s.shopee.com.my/1BMTtWnQmd