Wednesday, 28 October 2026

After our gym session yesterday, Mum and I headed to Bercham food court for lunch, as Mum needed to go to that area to visit Bake With Yen.

She had one last item to buy for her Black Forest cake — preserved cherries with stems! 🍒 The day before, we had visited FOUR shops looking for the exact type of preserved cherries she wanted, but none had them. We even went to AEON to look for fresh cherries, but couldn't find any either.

Mum is very persnickety when it comes to baking. She's a perfectionist, and guess what? My second daughter is exactly the same! Both of them have a passion for baking complicated cakes, and both are super perfectionists when it comes to getting every little detail right. 😂

Coming back to our lunch, it was our first time eating at Bercham food court, and I was pleasantly surprised by how cheap the food was!

My chap fan (economy rice) cost only RM5.50 for THREE dishes — curry lean pork, omelette and lettuce. So cheap leh! And the food was pretty tasty too. The only downside was that the dishes weren't kept warm in a food warmer, so the food was cold. But I'm not fussy when it comes to food, so I was perfectly fine with it. 😁

Mum ordered Vietnamese chicken noodle soup. The soup was very clear and light, just the way she likes it — not too heavy and, I think it was not loaded with MSG as mum didn't complain of being thirsty post-meal. It also came with plenty of shredded chicken and fresh basil leaves. Simple and comforting!

After lunch, we headed to BWY to get the elusive preserved cherries before making two more stops at pharmacies to look for some of Mum's stuff.

And today, the cake-baking mission has officially begun! 🎂 It's still a work in progress, so stay tuned to see how Mum's Black Forest cake turns out 😊

RM5.50 chap fan dishes (no rice). Cheap and nice.

Mum's Vietnamese chicken noodle soup

Tapau-ed 1 portion of roast chicken breast to eat later to meat my protein quota for the day. Also shared some with my cat.  Only RM6 and comes with pickled cucumber.

DD Food Court, Bercham

Strength Training at 53+ and 80 — And We're Not Stopping Yet!

Mum and I nearly missed our strength training class this morning because she had baking plans! 😂🍰

With her wedding anniversary coming up at the end of this month, Mum had planned to spend today baking a Black Forest cake, which is no easy feat. And instead of letting us buy her one (which would have been so much easier and more convenient), she insisted on baking an authentic one herself. 🍒

Baking is Mum's hobby, and I love how it keeps her mind active. She had spent days researching recipes to find a good one, and yesterday and today, we went to BWY to get all the ingredients she needed.

Thankfully, her plans changed a little, and she told me late last night that she could make it for this morning's strength training class after all.

We missed last week's class because I had to go for my blood test, so I was really looking forward to getting back to our weekly workout together. 🏋️‍♀️💪

As always, I really enjoyed today's class! If only the gym were just a few steps away from our house, I would probably be there every day, trying out all their different classes. Unfortunately, having to drive out sometimes makes me lazy, and I end up opting for the convenience of my home dumbbell workouts instead. 

Now I understand why my youngest daughter goes to Anytime Fitness almost every day. Her gym is conveniently located in the same mall as her skating rink, where she spends time skating daily. Once she's done skating, she simply heads downstairs to the gym for her workout. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

When your gym is practically right next door to where you already spend your time, it's so much easier to stay consistent with exercise. No need to make a separate trip just to work out! 

Anyway, Mum and I have decided to sign up for another personal training package at the gym, and I'm so looking forward to it! 💪🥰

You can watch our short video on my Facebook Page.

The Only Job With No Retirement Age: Being Mum!

When my girls were newborns, I couldn't wait for them to become toddlers. When they were toddlers, I wished they would hurry up and become teenagers. And when they finally became rebellious teenagers who sometimes broke my heart so badly that I swore I felt like I was going to have a heart attack, I wished they would grow up quickly so I could finally reclaim my freedom. 😂

Little did I realise that even when they became adults, I would still worry about them just as much! My eldest is now 23, my second is 21, and my youngest is 18. I sometimes wish they were already in their 30s, more matured adults who know how to navigate life wisely and make better decisions for themselves. 

I guess no matter how old our children are, a mother's worries never really go away. The things we worry about may change, but the worrying never ends!

I am almost 54, and my mum is already in her 80s, but she still worries about me whenever I get home half an hour to an hour later than usual. The moment she hears my car engine at the porch, she quickly opens the door to greet me and asks, "Why are you so late? I thought something happened to you!"

But hello, Mum! I'm only half an hour to an hour late! 😂😂😂

And then it dawns on me that this is probably what motherhood is all about. No matter how old we get, we will always be someone's little girl.

So I can already imagine myself at 80, with my girls in their 50s. One of them comes home a little later than usual, and there I am, rushing to open the door, breathing a sigh of relief the moment I see her standing outside.

And I can almost hear myself asking, "Why are you so late? I thought something happened to you!" 🤣

Throwback photos of my girls when they were younger, cuter, and still willing to pose for their mum’s camera without rolling their eyes at me or dodging away. 🥺❤️

The girls circa June 2008 when #1 was 5, #2 was 3 and #3 was 2 months old.

The girls with my parents in Melaka circa 2010.

The girls Skyping with their granny (my mum) circa 2011.

Monday, 26 October 2026

This morning, I spent three hours waiting at two different banks. Thanks to the lack of parking in this busy area filled with banks, I had to park quite a distance away from both places and walk to and fro between the banks and the car park.

This is my little ‘job’ that earns me some pocket money without having to report to a boss.😂

Fortunately, it has been raining non-stop in Ipoh for the past two days, so at least the weather wasn't scorching hot or hazy. Walking for a total of half an hour wasn't too bad under these conditions.

But guess what? In my rush to get out of the house, I forgot to put on my sneakers! So there I was, walking around in socks and Crocs. Not exactly the best footwear for a half-hour walk 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

When I finally got home, lunch was already prepared for me. Thank you, Mum and Dad! ❤️

Today's lunch was simple but nutritious — canned sardines in tomato sauce, pressure-cooked chickpeas, steamed sweet potato, and a colourful mix of spiralled cucumber and carrot with fresh lettuce. A high-protein, fibre-rich meal with plenty of nutrients, and filling too!

Speaking of sardines, have you noticed how much attention these little fish have been getting from health and wellness gurus and even doctors lately? They're packed with nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, protein and calcium (when you eat the soft bones). It's the go-to food if you're trying to bring down your HbA1C.

Looks like my simple lunch deserves a little shout-out today! 😁

When Rushing Through Life Gives Us a Heart Attack

Last night, the girls’ dad messaged me and asked if the little girl had told me that she lost her purse with her IC in it on the eve of her flight to Taiwan. I was shocked because she hadn’t mentioned a word about it to me! No wonder she was so quiet that day leh… she was battling her own demons. 😅

I quickly messaged her, and she told me that, luckily, she found her IC at the skating rink the next day. Phew!

This girl always gives us heart attacks before overseas trips. When she was just seven, she had a terrible tummy ache at KLIA, and I thought we might have to send her to the hospital while her dad and sisters went off to Hong Kong Disneyland without her. Thankfully, she recovered and eventually got to fulfil her dream of visiting Disneyland too!

All her heart stopping moments reminded me of a few incidents from my own life.

When I was around her age, I accidentally left my purse behind in a taxi that I shared with my boyfriend. A few days later, the kind soul who found it returned my IC and other important documents, via snail mail.  Unfortunately, the purse and money were gone lah. And to make matters worse, I had already made a police report by then!

Then there was the time in late 2000 when I was driving to Singapore with my parents and younger brother for my elder brother’s wedding. About 15 minutes into the journey, I suddenly realised that I had left my passport in the bank’s safe deposit box!

AIYO, HOW COULD I?!

How could someone who worked as a PA to a prominent Dato, and who constantly reminded him to bring his passport whenever he travelled, forget to bring her own passport? Talk about being good at reminding others but forgetting yourself! 😂

Long story short, I F1-ed my way back to the bank, retrieved my passport, and then drove all the way to Singapore. Crisis averted!

And then there’s my eldest daughter. Two years ago, she finally fulfilled her dream of attending Taylor Swift’s concert in Singapore. But on the eve of her trip, she went to a money changer to exchange some cash. When she got home, she realised that her IC was missing!

PANIC MODE ON. 😱

Was her long-awaited dream about to be ruined by her own carelessness?

She called the money changer, but the foreign staff member sounded rather blur and said he hadn’t seen her IC. I told her to go back to the money changer and check for herself. And thank goodness she did — her IC was right there!

Looking back, our family has certainly had our fair share of heart-stopping moments before overseas trips. One lost IC here, one forgotten passport there, and one unexpected tummy ache at the airport!

I guess we’re all guilty of rushing through life, juggling too many things at once and trying to get everything done as quickly as possible. Sometimes, in our hurry to accomplish more, we forget the simplest things.😅

Down memory lane: Alycia, then 11 years old with her newly bought pair of Keds Taylor Swift sneakers on 24 Augusut 2014.

Life, Regrets and the Things We Learn Along the Way

All of us make mistakes that we regret for a long time. I’ve certainly had my fair share of them. Mistakes I made as a teenager, times when I didn’t listen to my mum’s advice, and many other decisions I wish I had made differently. Some of these mistakes have left me with regrets that still linger till today. If I could turn back the clock, I would go back to 1990, when I was 17, and relive that year with the wisdom I have today.

But anyway, what’s done cannot be undone lor.

What worries me, though, is seeing one of my daughters coming close to repeating some of my mistakes. She’s a mini-me in certain ways. The way she thinks, the way she talks to me (sometimes exactly how I used to talk to my own mum!), and now, something else she’s doing that I’m genuinely worried she may one day regret.

I message her every single day, chat with her, and try to subtly steer her away from decisions that I fear may lead to heartache. I was once her age, and I think I understand what’s going through her mind. At her age, the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and weighing long-term consequences is still developing, with maturation continuing into the mid-20s. So, no matter how hard I try to knock some sense into her, I know there are things she simply may not be ready to see or understand yet. 

So, what am I supposed to do?

I can only let her walk her own path, even when I’m afraid she may stumble and get hurt along the way. As much as I wish I could protect her from every wrong turn, I know I cannot live her life for her.

But I’ve told her time and again that if she ever falls, gets hurt by her own decisions or gets hurt by someone else, she can always come to me. My door will always be open. I won’t say, “I told you so,” and I won’t lecture her. I just want her to know that she will always have a safe place to land.

I even told her, “Just come to Ipoh. I’ll buy you ice cream and we’ll go eat buffet.”

Because sometimes, when life gets too much, you don’t need a lecture or someone to remind you of your mistakes. You just need a hug, a good cry, some ice cream and a buffet meal with your mum. ❤️

So, now you can understand why I’ve been struggling with chronic insomnia, panda eyes and eye bags. There are just too many things going on in the mind of this professional worrier! And it’s not just one daughter I worry about. I have three, and each gives me a different set of worries. Some are big worries, some are smaller ones, but a mother’s mind never really switches off, does it?

I know this is just the ebb and flow of life. I also know that worrying excessively won’t change the outcome of things. So, I’ve been trying to teach myself to let go.

At 3am, I resist the urge to check my phone to see if Daughter A has replied to my message. I tell myself not to think about all the problems weighing on my mind and try to coax myself back to sleep. The outcome? Almost always futile. By 4.30am, I give up, check my phone and get out of bed to start my day. 😂

Honestly, I wish I could just chill and stop worrying so much about everything.

But perhaps what I really need to learn is acceptance.

Accept that my daughters will make their own choices, just as I made mine. Accept that they may make mistakes, even when I’ve tried my best to guide them. Accept that I cannot control every outcome, prevent every heartbreak or protect them from every lesson life has to teach them.

And perhaps, just as importantly, learn to stop worrying so much about what other people think or say.

I’ve spent enough years worrying about the past, the future and all the things that could go wrong. Maybe it’s time to let life unfold as it should, one day at a time.

I can love them, guide them and be there for them. But I cannot walk their paths for them.

Now, if only I could convince my overthinking brain to accept all this and let me sleep peacefully at night. 😅

Below is a throwback photo of my girls taken 12 years ago at the Boh tea plantation in Camerons 🩷 

Friday, 23 October 2026

So, my three girls took the 3am flight to Taiwan early this morning.✈️ They’re now in Kaohsiung, although Typhoon Champi means their sightseeing plans may be a little limited.

But at least they’re in good hands, travelling with their dad’s side of the family.  I’m sure they’re having the time of their lives, especially my two younger girls, who don’t get to travel overseas as often as their big sis, who jets off several times a year.

It’s going to be a short trip, though. They’ll be back in KL by Monday, ready to return to uni and work.

And their mum, who’s stuck here in Ipoh? Not bad lah!  I went shaking my legs and chooming to a mix of dirty dancing moves at Zumba this evening!  

Our coach loves throwing in some dirty dancing moves throughout our one-hour session, giving us a proper top-to-toe workout. Some of his moves are downright suggestive and cheeky, but they never fail to make us laugh while giving our old creaky hips a good oiling! 💃🏻😂

Everyone has their own kind of adventure. The girls get Taiwan, and I get my Friday Zumba fix. No travelling? It’s A-OK with me! 😆

Happy Friyay, people! 

P.S. I don’t have any recent photos of my girls, so here’s a throwback to 2014, when my eldest was 11, my second was 9, and my youngest was 6. We were in the lift, heading to church. 

How I miss those days when my girls were little and still thought their mum was the smartest mum and bestest cook in the world. 🥹❤️ 

Mum’s Health, Dinner Plans and a Rainy Evening

Today, I accompanied Mum to consult an orthopaedic and spine surgeon at Fatimah Hospital. Mum has been going to this private hospital for decades and feels right at home here.

The chronic pain in her spine, legs and buttocks has not improved despite countless treatments, from physiotherapy and acupuncture to TCM medication, using a TENS machine and more. In fact, the pain has been getting worse and now it has radiated down to the soles of her feet where she sometimes feel numb or could not feel her feet much.  I have been urging her to see a surgeon as soon as possible, hoping to get to the root of the problem and treat it before it progresses further.

The surgeon has prescribed some medication to help calm her nerves and manage the pain. If Mum decides to go for an injection, which costs around RM3,000–RM4,000 per jab, or considers surgery (although surgery is probably not something she would opt for at her age), she will need to undergo an MRI first. For now, I have advised her to try the medication and see how she responds before we decide on the next step.

For dinner, we headed to Stadium Food Court.  I was craving for  bean sprouts and chicken, while Dad was looking forward to his fruit rojak. Unfortunately, most of our favourite stalls were closed, so we had to settle for other options. We ended up ordering claypot chicken rice, sautéed frog, and chicken chop. Quite an unusual combination, but that's what happens when your favourite stalls decide to take a day off.

It started pouring really heavily while we were having dinner, and the rain continued even after we finished eating. We eventually made our way back to the car through the drizzle.

One day at a time, one step at a time. ❤️

My 80-yo mum who loves to take pix to update her socials.

Those panda eyes and eye bags, after a week of chronic insomnia.

Claypot chicken rice, RM11

Kung Po froggy, RM33

I swapped the fries with more coleslaw and what you see here is really a LOT!  Only RM11

Riding the Waves of Life

Have been feeling a little emotionally heavy these past few days. There have been quite a few things on my mind — worries about my daughters and the choices they make in life, relationship issues with people close to me and even those who have grown distant, Mum’s chronic health issues, and many other things.

One thing I've come to realise is that what Gen Z sees as the best choices for their lives may not always align with what we Gen X parents think is best for them. Perhaps it's because we've been through so much in life, experienced our fair share of ups and downs, and learned some hard lessons along the way. We worry because we've seen how certain choices can play out, and we want to spare our children from making the same mistakes. But then again, every generation has its own way of looking at life, and sometimes we just have to learn to let our children make their own choices (and mistakes), feel the pain, and find their own way, even when it's not what we would have chosen for them.

To top it all off, my insomnia has been at its worst this past week. There was one night when I barely managed an hour of sleep. 🥹

But that's life, isn't it? Not every day is going to be smooth sailing. Even celebrities and highly successful people have their own struggles, worries and difficult days.

I keep reminding myself that things will get better. There will be days when I feel lighter and happier, and then there will be days when I feel like I'm hitting a wall again. I guess that's just the ebb and flow of life. We can't always control what happens around us, but we can learn to ride the waves and trust that the difficult days will eventually pass.

I'll be fine again. We'll all be fine. ❤️

Anyway, here's what my parents and I had for dinner yesterday at our favourite restaurant. The three of us generally prefer dishes that aren't too meat-heavy but are still packed with protein, fibre and nutrients.

We had braised bitter gourd with egg yolk, fu yi yau mak (Chinese lettuce with fermented bean curd), and claypot tofu, which actually had quite a generous amount of lean pork slices in it. Simple dishes that hit the spot.

My 10.10 Sale Haul: Lakanto Monk Fruit Sugar (Zero GI)

During the 10.10 Sale, I restocked my Lakanto! 😍

As I’m on a low-carb diet and trying to cut down on refined carbohydrates, including white sugar and white flour, I try to minimise my sugar intake and avoid sweeteners that may cause blood sugar spikes.  

My fasting blood glucose has consistently been below 5 mmol/L, yet my HbA1c came back at 6.0%, which falls within the prediabetes range. This means my average blood sugar over the past two to three months has been higher than ideal, despite my normal fasting readings.

That’s why I’ve been making lifestyle changes, including following a low-carb diet and doing regular strength training, in the hope of bringing down my HbA1c.

I use Lakanto as a sugar substitute in the cakes and breads that Mum makes. Other than that, I don’t add any sweeteners to my coffee, cacao or tea. I prefer my drinks without any added sweetness. ☕🍵

Here’s why I like Lakanto:

🍃 Zero calories and zero glycemic index (GI)

Lakanto is a monk fruit sweetener blended with erythritol. It is marketed as a zero-calorie, zero-GI alternative to sugar and generally has minimal impact on blood glucose levels, making it a popular choice among people following low-carb or ketogenic diets.

🌿 Monk fruit sweetener without the taste I dislike

One of the things I appreciate about Lakanto is that it has no noticeable odour or the distinctive aftertaste I find difficult to tolerate in stevia. Of course, taste is subjective, but Lakanto works well for me!

I bought my Lakanto from the Saraya Official Store. 

If you’re interested, here’s the link to the store: 
https://s.lazada.com.my/s.Z4JYXI?c=d&t=p-i8P1sO-s9EtQw

Are You Making the Most Out of Your Fixed Deposits?

Do you have Fixed Deposits (FDs) with banks? If you do, do you keep track of their maturity dates, check the interest rates offered upon renewal, and compare them with what other banks are offering?

A few years ago, Mum told me that she and her friends regularly monitor their FD maturity dates and move their money from one bank to another whenever they find a bank offering a higher interest rate. It sounds like this has become their little “job” after retirement! 😂

And honestly, it makes sense. If you have a substantial amount of money in FDs, leaving it in a bank that offers a low interest rate means missing out on potentially hundreds or even thousands of Ringgit in additional interest every year, depending on how much you have saved.

For example, if your FD in Bank A earns just 1.8% p.a., while Bank B offers 3.83% p.a. for fresh funds with PIDM protection, wouldn't you want to consider moving your money to Bank B instead?

Of course, always check the terms and conditions, minimum deposit requirements, promotional period and eligibility for the higher rate before making the switch.

When I was still working in the corporate world and juggling a demanding job and young kids, I never really bothered to check my FDs. I simply let them auto-renew whenever they matured. It was only after my parents advised me to monitor the interest rates and move my money to banks offering better rates that I started paying more attention.

Looking back, I realised how much difference a little effort could make! And how much I have 'lost' for not keeping track of my FDs.

So, if you've never really paid attention to your FDs, here's your reminder to do a little financial housekeeping:

✅ Check the maturity dates of all your FDs. I enter the maturity dates on my eCalendar and check the list of FDs on my online banking app from time to time.

✅ Find out what interest rates you're currently earning.

✅ Compare them with the latest FD rates offered by other banks.

✅ When your FDs mature, consider moving your money if you find a better deal.

After all, why settle for a lower interest rate when you could earn more on the money you already have?

A little effort can go a long way. Make your money work harder for you — because extra interest earned is practically free money! 💰

Psst psst - Maybank is currently offering a limited-time e-Islamic Fixed Deposit-i (eIFD-i) offer with promo rates of up to 3.93% with minimum fresh funds deposit ranging from RM5k to RM20k! 🤑

Here's my TOTD - green tea with fresh jasmine flowers from my garden.

My Sanrio Bedsheet Haul: Below RM100 for 4 Sets

Haru loves sleeping on my bed. The funny thing is, I never allowed her on my bed when we were living in KL. For five years after we rescued her from the streets, she slept on her own little bed in the living room.

But ever since I brought her back to Ipoh in December 2025, this little fella has decided that sleeping with Mum is the way to go. 😹

The problem? I have OCD tendencies, and I’m allergic to her fur. As much as I love Haru and treat her like my baby, I really don’t like having cat fur all over my bed. But how do you have the heart to kick your fur baby out of your room when she just wants to sleep beside you? 🥹

So, I came up with a compromise. I cover my bed with a bedsheet and wash it every day. This way, there’s minimal fur on my bed, and I don’t end up sneezing or having itchy skin and eyes. Win-win!

Recently, I discovered on TikTok that you could get king-size bedsheets for under RM20. Being the bargain hunter that I am, I just had to buy a set to try! 😂

When the first set arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. The quality was actually pretty good, and the prints were so cute!  Then I went back to order another set, then another, and now I have FOUR sets of king-size bedsheets for less than RM100 in total! 😍

What a steal! Now I can change and wash my bedsheets every day without worrying about running out of clean ones. Fresh bedsheets every day, happy Mum, happy Haru!

Of course, there’s one tiny problem. I have to make sure this little maniac doesn’t suddenly get the zoomies and start parkouring around my room and across my bed. Otherwise, my new bedsheets will be shredded in no time! 🤣

Most of my existing bedsheets already have threads fraying and coming loose thanks to her little claws. Apparently, having a cat means accepting that your home furnishings are now her personal scratching playground. 🙄😂

This TikTok shop carries bedsheets featuring several Sanrio characters, and the prints are really cute! If you’re looking for affordable king-size bedsheets, you can check them out here: >>

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS9Uur8MEWmne-kRrCl/

The Haze Is Back, but Nothing Beats 2015

The worst haze I’ve ever experienced was in October 2015. It was so bad that even from the 5th floor of our condo, we couldn’t see the Twin Towers or any other buildings in the distance. Our air purifier stayed on red throughout the day for weeks!

On one particularly frightening day, the entire sky turned yellow. It felt like something out of an apocalypse movie, as if the world were coming to an end. 😱 Check out the photos I took back in October 2015.

Although the haze this year has been pretty bad, it’s still nothing compared to what we experienced in 2015. UM, where my youngest daughter studies, has even moved classes online until further notice.

Speaking of my youngest daughter, she spent the past three days in Johor Bahru competing in Skate Johor, and this proud mum is happy to share that she won gold in both her events! 🥇🥇 She also clinched gold in her event at the Skate Asia competition in August. What an achievement! 

Unfortunately, I have no photos or videos to share this time because she doesn’t like me posting them for the whole world to see.  That’s my girl — a very private person who prefers to stay out of the limelight. I’ll respect her wishes lorrr.

Next week, she and her two older sisters will be flying to Taiwan to attend a relative’s wedding. Wah, this girl is one busy bee! 🐝 Between university, skating competitions, skate classes and training, skate coaching, uni exams, and family trips, she certainly has a packed schedule.

Hopefully, she’ll have some time to come to Ipoh next month during her semester break. This mum would love to have all her girls around, even if it’s just for a little while.❤️

Taken on 20 Oct 2015. The skies suddenly turned dusty yellow in the evening!

20 Oct 2015 - We could barely see anything outside the window from the 5th floor of our condo.

3 Oct 2015. Even with the windows all closed, we could smell smoke inside our unit, even in our bedrooms throughout the day.

My Favourite 10/10 Sale Hauls: Peppermint Leaves & Longjing Green Tea

Two of my most recent favourite online sale hauls are dried peppermint leaves and Longjing green tea leaves! 🍃

I've ditched tea bags for a few years now because of concerns about micro and nanoplastics. I used to cut open tea bags and pour the tea contents into my cup to brew, rather than steeping the bags directly in hot water. Now, I've taken things one step further by switching to whole tea leaves instead of the tea powder or crushed tea commonly found in tea bags.

And I've discovered that whole dried leaves are so much more aromatic! 

My latest haul included peppermint leaves and two types of green tea leaves, and I'm especially loving the peppermint and Longjing green tea.

🌿 Peppermint Tea

The peppermint leaves brew into a wonderfully refreshing cup with a strong, cooling peppermint flavour. I love drinking this in the afternoon and evening when I need something refreshing!

🍵 Longjing Green Tea

Longjing is my favourite type of green tea, and the aroma of these whole leaves is simply lovely! I drink it in the morning and before 2pm, as I prefer to avoid caffeine later in the day.

The flavour and aroma are on another level compared with the green tea I've had from tea bags. Once you've experienced the fragrance of these whole leaves, it's hard not to appreciate the difference!

If you're a fellow tea lover and would like to try switching to loose-leaf tea, you can check out my finds here. 👇

Peppermint Leaves (Shopee) >> https://s.shopee.com.my/9fLjQyUJdh

Longjing Green Tea Leaves (Lazada) >> https://s.lazada.com.my/s.ZexZJt?c=d&t=p-iYTBm4-s13Pe5A

Happy brewing! ☕️💚

My cuppa pure peppermint tea - so cooling and refreshing.

My cuppa refreshing tea - longjing with peppermint leaves.

Dried longjing (Dragon Well) tea leaves

Chrysanthemum buds and peppermint leaves, two of my favourites.

My Daily 10K Steps

Health experts often recommend aiming for 10,000 steps a day to stay healthy and support longevity. I clock up at least 10K steps most days since I got my first smart watch (a Fitbit) 8 years ago. Not too shabby for a soon-to-be 54-year-old auntie, eh? 😆💪🏻

But lately, the haze has been so bad that I've had to skip my usual evening brisk walks. Instead, I stay indoors to do my dumbbell exercises and dance along to K-pop dance videos on YouTube. Got to improvise when the weather doesn't cooperate! 😂

On days when I have Zumba, I clock up at least 13K steps! Not bad, right? It's technically dancing, but my legs are moving non-stop for a whole hour. Who says exercise has to be boring? 💃🏻🔥

Friday, 16 October 2026

When I got home, I told Haru that Mum had gotten a parking saman and was feeling so sad and careless. 

She looked stunned at first, then gave me this totally nonchalant look, as if saying, “So? What do you expect me to do? Just pay the saman, Mum.” 🙄😂

Wah, this cat has absolutely zero sympathy for her poor mum! 🤣🐱

Anyway, my day ended on a much happier note after my evening Zumba class! 💃❤️

Zumba always makes me happy. Not that I can dance like BLACKPINK  but I  do love watching their videos to learn some of their dance moves.  It's the thunderous music blasting through the studio that really gets me going. The energy is infectious, and we have an awesome and funny Zumba coach too, who also happens to be our strength training coach!

Unfortunately, Mum had to cancel at the last minute today as she was still feeling under the weather. She's still having a bad tummy and aching legs, so she decided to rest instead.

Hopefully, she'll feel much better by next week and can join me again for our workout sessions. 

Well, at least the day ended with some music, sweat and happy endorphins instead of saman blues.

My Daily 10K Steps

Health experts often recommend aiming for 10,000 steps a day to stay healthy and support longevity. I clock up at least 10K steps most days since I got my first smart watch (a Fitbit) 8 years ago. Not too shabby for a soon-to-be 54-year-old auntie, eh? 😆💪🏻

But lately, the haze has been so bad that I've had to skip my usual evening brisk walks. Instead, I stay indoors to do my dumbbell exercises and dance along to K-pop dance videos on YouTube. Got to improvise when the weather doesn't cooperate! 😂

On days when I have Zumba, I clock up at least 13K steps! Not bad, right? It's technically dancing, but my legs are moving non-stop for a whole hour. Who says exercise has to be boring? 💃🏻🔥

My Unlucky Day: Got a Parking Saman!

Today is officially my unlucky day. I got a parking saman! 😩

I thought I could just park my car for less than 5 minutes to grab a few items from 99 Speedmart in my neighbourhood. After all, I was only going to be inside for a minute or two, right?

While I was at the counter, I suddenly heard a lady shouting, “Chow phai!” (police issuing summonses!).

OMG! I immediately abandoned my shopping, ran out of the shop without even finishing paying, but alas, it was too late. The saman had already been issued. 😭

So, lesson learned, people! Even if you're just popping into a shop for ONE minute and your car is parked right outside, don't take the risk!

Don't be lazy to open your TNG app to pay for parking. Don't try to save 30 sen by paying for just 30 minutes (or whatever the minimum parking duration is in your area). That little bit of money you think you're saving could end up costing you much more!

Here's the cost of my lesson:

RM15 if paid within 7 days

RM20 if paid within 8–14 days

RM30 if paid after 14 days

Well, this auntie has learned a lesson today. Not a very expensive one, thankfully, but one that makes me want to bang my head against the wall. 🤦‍♀️😂

Now, should I wait and hope the government will announce another traffic saman discount campaign?

Nah! Better not gamble on that. I'll just pay it today, get this shit out of my mind, be law abiding, and move on with life.

From now on, even if I'm stepping out of the car for just HALF A MINUTE, I'm paying for parking first!

Lesson of the day: Don't let 30 sen turn into a RM15 saman 😓

A Morning at UTC Ipoh: Applying For Our New Generation MyKad and Driving Licences

This morning, Dad, Mum and I left the house at 8am and headed to UTC Ipoh to settle our MyKad and driving licence matters.

I needed to update the address on my MyKad, while Dad and Mum wanted to apply for the new-generation MyKad, which started to be issued in September 2026.

The new MyKad features a new physical design, upgraded chip technology and a total of 53 security features aimed at making the national identity card harder to counterfeit. There's also a QR code at the back of the new MyKad.

When we arrived at the JPN (National Registration Department) office, a RELA officer was seated outside, ready to advise visitors on what to do. I needed to photocopy a utility bill as proof of my new address, so I used the electric bill I had brought along. Thankfully, there was a photocopying service just a few steps away from the office, and it cost only 30 sen.

After getting my document photocopied, I returned to the office to take a queue number. There were only four people ahead of me, which is exceptionally few compared to my experience at UTC Pudu in KL. Back in KL, the entire place would be a sea of people by 8am. What a contrast between the two cities.

Meanwhile, Mum and Dad were already being attended to. I waited less than 30 minutes before it was my turn. I paid RM10 for the renewal, and my photo was taken right there at the counter. About 15 minutes later, my new MyKad was ready for collection.

The entire process was surprisingly quick!

Next, we headed to JPJ (Road Transport Department) office which was just next to the JPN office.  Dad and Mum wanted to renew their driving licences, while I needed to update the address on mine.

Once again, the process took less than half an hour.  To get a queue number, you have to download an app onto your phone, and a Rela officer was there to assist.

However, there was one small hiccup: JPJ had run out of stock for the physical driving licence cards, so we couldn't get printed copies. We were advised to call again in a month's time to check whether new stock had arrived.

In the meantime, we can access our renewed driving licence details, road tax information, summonses, and other vehicle-related matters through the MyJPJ app.

I also had an issue with MyDigital ID on my phone, so I asked the RELA officer at JPN for help. Within 15 minutes, the problem was resolved. It turned out to be a simple matter of going into my phone settings and enabling Automatic Date and Time.

With MyDigital ID working again, I can now access the MyJPJ app on my phone. Previously, I couldn't use it because MyDigital ID kept showing an error.

All in all, we took less than two hours to settle our MyKad and driving licence matters at UTC Ipoh. I was genuinely impressed by the efficiency and helpfulness of both the UTC and RELA staff.

We were already home before 10.30am. Dad and Mum then continued with their day by heading to the bank to settle some banking matters.

A little tip if you're driving to UTC Ipoh: Parking fees are paid by scanning the QR code printed on the pillars in the car park. Simply scan the code, select your preferred payment method and pay. It's pretty straightforward! 

You can watch our video on my Facebook Page.

Another 10/10 Sale Haul Arrived!

More of my 10/10 Sale haul has arrived! 

One of my favourite purchases from this haul is this pretty lilac mesh Zumba skort. The material is ultra-soft, and I love how comfortable it is!

The inner shorts don't dig into my down under like some shorts do, and the waistband is super comfy too. No tight elastic digging into my waist and leaving those annoying indentation marks. Comfort is everything, especially when I'm dancing and exercising!

This skort was shipped from overseas, but it took less than a week to arrive. That's pretty fast, isn't it?

For your reference, I am 42kg, waist is 66cm. I ordered a size M, which is actually a little big on me, but I prefer it this way. I like my workout clothes to be comfortable rather than clingy. 😁

Psst, psst! The Month-End Sale will be here in less than 10 days, and guess who's already busy browsing her shopping cart? 🙈😂

Some things never change. This 53-year-old auntie is still easily excited by a good sale! 🛍️

I got this pretty lilac mesh skort from Shopee here >>https://s.shopee.com.my/5fpW99P9Ns