Breakfast and TOTD

My breakfast today is mum’s microwaved low-carb cake, 2 half-boiled eggs, half an avocado, a handful of walnuts, groundnuts and almonds, plus some pressure-cooked chickpeas. It’s a wholesome low-carb, high-protein and high-fiber meal that keeps me full without snacking in between meals 💪

Mum’s low-carb mug cakes are my favorite. She makes it with coconut or almond flour, extra virgin coconut oil, a little honey, sugar-free cacao powder, milk, a pinch of salt and baking powder. Simple ingredients, but super yummeh! 😋

My Tea of the Day (TOTD) is a liver-loving tea with dandelion roots, jasmine buds, rose buds and red dates — a fragrant and comforting herbal blend to enjoy with my breakfast. 🌸🍵

Back in KL, Saturdays and Sundays were usually our eat-out days with the girls and their dad. Here in Ipoh, life is much simpler and slower-paced. We mostly enjoy home-cooked meals and only head out to restaurants or cafes when my brothers or daughters come back to visit, or when relatives and friends drop by. ❤️

Different seasons of life bring different kinds of joy. Sometimes, happiness is found not in fancy meals outside, but in a simple breakfast prepared with love at home. 😊

My 25-Year Journey with PCOS, Insulin Resistance & Hope

I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) in 2001 when I was 28 years old.

What prompted me to see a gynaecologist was how suddenly everything changed. My weight shot up from 42kg to 47kg in just one month, I started getting acne on my chin, and my periods came only a few times a year. I just knew something wasn't right.

After an ultrasound scan, my gynaecologist diagnosed me with PCOS. It came as a real shock.

Looking back, I suspect years of work stress and unhealthy late-night meals may have played a part. At that time, I was working as a PA to a prominent Dato', and my job was incredibly stressful.

Being the health geek that I am 😄, I spent countless hours reading and researching everything I could about PCOS. Instead of relying solely on medication, I decided to make major lifestyle changes. I adopted a very low-carb diet and exercised consistently every single day, come rain or shine.

One important thing I learned is that PCOS is commonly associated with insulin resistance, which increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

True enough, despite eating very little sugary food, exercising regularly and following a low-carb diet for years, my HbA1c was still 6.0 when I had my blood test in February 2026.

Since moving back to Ipoh, I've cleaned up my diet even more. I've eliminated about 95% of junk food, including chips, ice creams, biscuits and ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The remaining 5%? Well... life is too short to completely give up the occasional slice of cake, ais kacang, or my favourite kuih! 😊

I also believe that my chronic insomnia, brought on by perimenopause, is one of the biggest reasons why my HbA1c has remained stubbornly at 6.0. Unfortunately, even taking magnesium bisglycinate twice a day hasn't made much difference to my sleep.

This year, I've added several new habits to help improve my insulin sensitivity:

1. Strength training
2. Zumba
3. Daily brisk walking
4. Taking apple cider vinegar + lemon juice after meals
5. Eating protein and fibre before carbohydrates
6. Continuing my habit of not sitting down immediately after meals (OCD me mop the floor and clean the kitchen after every meal)
7. Cutting back even further on carbohydrates, including bread and oats

My next blood test is in September, and I'm really curious to see whether all these lifestyle changes have made a difference.

I'm hopeful that my HbA1c will improve, but at the same time, I'm trying to stay realistic because quality sleep continues to be the one piece of the puzzle that I haven't been able to fix.

Until then, I'll keep doing what I can—eating low-carb meals, practising intermittent fasting whenever possible, staying active, and hoping that one day, I'll finally enjoy a full night's sleep.

As for strength training and my daily brisk walks... I know they'll remain my faithful companions for the rest of my life. 💪❤️ 

Nuts, seeds and legumes are my only snacks now. No more chips, ice-creams and biscuits. 

Nourished by Love

Yesterday, Mum and I had our Zumba class at 6.30pm, which meant we had to eat an early dinner. Dad, being the super caring dad that he is, cooked a big pot of porridge for us so we could eat it for both lunch and dinner.

His porridge is always incredibly delicious and packed with goodness. It had just about everything in it—roast pork, chicken fillet, pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots, corn kernels, fish balls and dried oysters—making it a wholesome one-pot meal. To make sure we had enough protein before our workout, he also steamed some fresh garoupa fillet.

In the morning, Mum harvested fresh Thai basil leaves and blue pea flowers from our garden and made another batch of homemade pesto. She blended the basil with roasted cashews, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, Himalayan pink salt and fresh lime juice. One batch was frozen in silicone ice cube trays for future meals, while another container went into the fridge for me to enjoy with my eggs in the morning. ❤️  

Our delish one-pot loaded meal.

Thai basil and blue pea flowers harvested from our garden. There's surely something for us to harvest every morning - lady's fingers, jasmine flowers, moringa, figs, lemon grass, water spinach, Malabar spinach, or chilies.

Homemade pesto using Thai basil, garlic, EVOO, lime juice, Himalayan sea salt and roasted cashews.

Our First Zumba Class

This evening, Mum and I attended our very first 6.30pm Zumba fitness class at the gym, led by our group strength fitness coach @ IFC Gym Ipoh.

The moment the class started, my first thought was, "WOW... I can't keep up!" 🤣 The music was fast, the choreography was even faster, and since I was standing towards the side of the class, I couldn't see the coach very clearly.

But after a while, I slowly got the hang of it and ended up enjoying it so much! The energy was amazing, the music was infectious, and before I knew it, we had been dancing our way through a full hour without a single break.

I'm absolutely exhausted now, but it's the good kind of tired 😅 I'm secretly hoping this high-intensity workout will tame my insomnia tonight and let me sleep like a baby. 🤞😂

I never imagined I'd enjoy Zumba this much, and I already can't wait for next week's class! 💃

You can watch our video on my Facebook page.

Affordable & Delicious Chap Fan in Ipoh

Our lunch is usually chap fan, while Dad takes care of cooking dinner. Depending on the day, we'll either tapau our lunch home or eat at the shop.

Today's lunch from Resipi Chong, Ipoh Garden came to just RM23.90 for the three of us. That's pretty good value!

We only dine in when it's Resipi Chong because it's air-conditioned, clean, comfortable, and has a pleasant ambience. They also provide free soup, drinking water, tea, ice cubes, and tissues.

One thing I really like is their wide selection of dishes—there are easily 50 or more to choose from. Every dish has a price tag, so you know exactly how much you're paying before you fill your plate. Fish can be a little pricey, ranging from RM7 to RM16 per piece, so we usually choose carefully.

We often stop by for lunch here after fetching Mum from her physiotherapy session.

Economical, tasty food, a comfortable place to eat, and best of all... no cooking, no washing up, and no cleaning the kitchen afterwards! 😄

 

Dad took two dishes + plain congee, mum took 3 dishes with rice and mine, as you can guess, is without rice, almost keto.

One Year Later

Exactly a year ago, I had to make one of the biggest decisions of my life. It wasn't an easy decision because there were so many factors to consider, and every choice carried consequences. I knew that whatever I decided could change my life—for better or for worse.

Thankfully, God placed a very special person in my life. For five months, I spoke to this person every single day, often for at least an hour. Those conversations gave me the clarity, encouragement and courage I needed before I finally took that leap of faith.

Looking back today, I am so grateful that I made that decision, and I thank God for sending this person into my life at exactly the right time.

If you're facing a difficult decision, don't struggle through it alone. Find someone you trust—someone who will listen without judging, offer honest advice, and support you through the process. Life-changing decisions are rarely easy to make by ourselves.

And if you genuinely have no one to turn to, AI tools like ChatGPT can also be helpful. I often use AI to help me think through problems, and I've found its suggestions surprisingly useful. That said, AI is only a tool, not a replacement for human wisdom. Always use your own judgment and make the final decision yourself.

Most importantly, don't carry your worries alone for months or years. Prolonged stress can take a serious toll on both your physical and mental health, and no problem magically becomes easier simply by worrying about it.

Face it head-on. Reach out. Talk to someone. Seek wisdom. You never know—the decision you're afraid to make today may turn out to be the very best decision you've ever made.

Getting Back into Our Routine

Getting back into our routine after a short break felt so good today.

Mum and I finally returned to our Seniors' Strength Training class after almost two weeks away. We had visitors, and Mum wasn't feeling well, so we had to press the pause button for a while. It felt wonderful to be back, moving our bodies and catching up with our gym friends.

Even though Mum has painful sciatica, a right shoulder and wrist that were fractured but have never fully healed, and the usual aches and pains that come with age (she's 80 this Sept), she still gets excited about going to the gym. It doesn't matter if she can't do every exercise or follow every step perfectly. She simply does what she can, enjoys the workout, and treasures the fun and laughter shared with everyone.

This Friday will be another little adventure for us—our very first Zumba class! 💃🕺 The same coach who teaches our strength training will be leading it, and he has a special way of making everyone laugh and feel young again.

After class, Mum and I did what we enjoy most—we went on a little food hunt before heading home. Exercise always seems to make food taste even better!

Growing older doesn't mean slowing down. It simply means finding new ways to stay active, embrace life's little adventures, and enjoy every precious moment together. ❤️

You can watch our video on my Facebook page.  

Getting Out of My Comfort Zone

I've never been an adventurous person when it comes to driving. For years, I've only driven a sedan. The girls' dad always drove a huge SUV, but throughout the years we lived in KL, I never once drove it.

My dad in Ipoh also drives an SUV. Ever since I moved back to Ipoh last December, I never thought of driving his car because I have my own.

But after Dad's accident last week, when he briefly drifted off and crashed into the back of another car, I felt it was a gentle wake-up call from God. It made me realize that perhaps it's time for me to take over more of the driving whenever we go out.

I kept telling Dad to let me drive his SUV, and today he finally agreed. 😊

So this morning, I drove Mum to her physiotherapy appointment, while Dad insisted on sitting in the front passenger seat to "supervise" me. 😂

To my surprise, driving an SUV wasn't difficult at all. I wasn't even nervous. The only challenge was parking. An SUV is much bulkier than a sedan, and squeezing into a tight parking space with equally large cars on both sides definitely tested my skills!

But I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I master that too.

I've never enjoyed stepping out of my comfort zone. Yet when I look back on my life, every time I've forced myself—sometimes very reluctantly—to embrace something new, it has always led to growth and unexpected blessings. What once felt uncomfortable eventually became my new comfort zone.

Perhaps that's one of life's greatest lessons: growth rarely happens inside our comfort zone.

Tea of the Day: Garden-Fresh Jasmine Green Tea

As many of you know, I'm a tea lover and I enjoy experimenting with different tea concoctions. ☕🌿

Today's TOTD is green tea infused with fresh jasmine flowers, hand-picked from my garden this morning. 

I absolutely love this combination. It has the refreshing, delicate taste of green tea, beautifully complemented by the sweet, dewy fragrance of freshly bloomed jasmine. Every sip is soothing and uplifting.

This simple cup of tea is packed with goodness — powerful antioxidants from the green tea, paired with the calming properties of jasmine flowers. Jasmine is also believed to help reduce stress, support digestion, and promote relaxation, making it the perfect tea to unwind with. 

Every Reunion Is a Gift

My eldest daughter came to Ipoh and stayed with us for two nights. We had so much to catch up on, talking about everything under the sun. We enjoyed three meals a day together, laughed until our cheeks hurt, and cherished every precious moment we had together.

I only wished my two younger girls could have been here too, but university commitments kept them busy. I miss my daughters every single day. No matter how old they become, a mother's heart never stops thinking about them, praying for them, and hoping they are eating well, sleeping enough, staying healthy and safe, and finding happiness in their own lives.

We'll be together again in September to celebrate my mum's 80th birthday. Sadly, my youngest won't be able to make it because the celebration falls during her first-semester exams – her very first exam in uni. Instead, I'll be making a trip to KL in the middle of next month to spend some time with her and cheer her on at her Skate Asia competition.

Distance may keep us apart, but it can never lessen the love between a mother and her children. Until then, I'll keep counting the days until we meet again. ❤️

You can watch our short video here >> https://www.facebook.com/reel/1966680263991313

A Gentle Wake-Up Call

Yesterday was a very eventful day for my parents and me.

The day started as usual, with Mum and me attending our personal training session at the gym. It was our 20th and final session. I thoroughly enjoyed every workout, although "enjoy" doesn't mean it was easy! Every session was physically demanding and often painful, requiring plenty of determination. Looking back now, I can genuinely feel how much stronger I've become. Exercises that once felt impossible or extremely difficult have become so much easier. That's a really rewarding feeling. 💪

Even though our personal training has ended, Mum and I will continue going to the gym to enjoy the unlimited group classes, including Zumba, yoga and strength training.

After the gym, we drove to Falim to meet Dad's siblings, who had come to Ipoh for lunch. Before we left, I offered to drive because it was quite a long journey, about 40 minutes. But Dad insisted on driving. I can never win that argument, so I let him.

We had a wonderful lunch together with my aunts and uncles. The food was delicious, but even better was the chance to catch up and spend time with everyone.

After lunch, I once again offered to drive home, but Dad refused. By the time we reached Ipoh, it had started raining and the roads were slippery.

To be honest, whenever Dad drives nowadays, my anxiety level shoots up. At 83 years old, his eyesight, reflexes and judgement are understandably not what they used to be. Sitting in the passenger seat, I often find myself stepping on an imaginary brake with cold sweat or instinctively telling him to slow down, brake, or pull back to the left.

As we reached Ipoh Garden, it was still raining. Suddenly I felt the car was moving too quickly. I told Dad to brake... but it was too late.

He couldn't stop in time and our SUV bumped into the back of a Honda hatchback.

The Honda's rear bumper was dented, while, quite unbelievably, Dad's SUV escaped without a single dent or scratch.

Dad immediately got out to speak to the other driver. For a split second, I thought he was comedian Harith Iskandar because he looked so much like him! 😄

The gentleman, who happened to be Indian, was incredibly polite, calm and understanding. There was no shouting, no anger and no hostility. Later, I spoke to him over the phone, and he was just as pleasant. I felt so terribly sorry that we had caused him so much inconvenience.

After that, we headed to the police station to lodge a report for the insurance claim. Unfortunately, the reporting system went down, so we waited nearly two hours before the report could finally be printed.

After discussing the pros and cons of paying for the repairs ourselves versus making an insurance claim, we decided to claim the insurance. This means Dad will lose his No Claim Bonus (NCB) and will also have to pay a RM300 traffic summons for causing the accident.

It was a stressful and traumatic day for all of us, but I kept reminding myself of one important thing: it could have been so much worse.

I'm deeply grateful that no one was injured. I'm also thankful that I was there to help my parents with the police report, liaise with the insurance company and communicate with the workshop.

What a day it was! Life can change in the blink of an eye, and moments like these remind me that the safety of everyone involved is far more important than damaged cars.

I told Dad that perhaps this accident was a gentle wake-up call from God. Thankfully, it wasn't a serious one, and no one was hurt. I said that from now on, whenever we're travelling a longer distance—whether into town or out of town—I hope he'll let me do the driving. At 83, there's no shame in letting your daughter take the wheel. In fact, it would give Mum and me much greater peace of mind. ❤️

Watch the video here >> https://www.facebook.com/reel/3592338244256473

Tea is how I stay hydrated

For optimal health, the general recommendation is around 2.1 liters (about 9 cups) of water a day for women and 3.1 liters (about 13 cups) for men, although individual needs vary depending on factors such as activity level, climate and overall health.

My challenge is that I don't really enjoy drinking plain water at room temperature. I prefer it chilled, but cold drinks tend to trigger phlegm for me. Since warm water feels gentler and is easier for me to sip throughout the day, I found another way to make hydration more enjoyable.

The answer? Tea!

I'm a huge tea lover. I enjoy almost every kind of tea—flower teas, green tea, matcha, black tea, flavoured teas, dried fruit teas and herbal infusions.

I also love lemon and lime drinks, but after years of drinking them regularly, the acidity affected my tooth enamel. So I stopped drinking fresh lemon and lime juice frequently.  Instead, I use dehydrated lemon slices, which add a lovely citrus fragrance and pair beautifully with different teas and herbs. I still add a few drops of organic lemon juice into my water every now and then to make the water more palatable. 

Here are some of my favourite tea concoctions:

🍵 1. Chrysanthemum flower buds + osmanthus flowers + dried hawthorn

🍵 2. Green tea + chrysanthemum flower buds + saffron

🍵 3. Green tea + osmanthus flowers + dried lemon slices

🍵 4. Dried lemon slices + dried hawthorn + half teaspoon black tea + fresh blue pea flowers

🍵 5. Chrysanthemum flower buds + dried lemon slices

🍵 6. Peppermint tea + chamomile tea

🍵 7. Chrysanthemum flower buds + osmanthus flower + half teaspoon black tea + saffron + goji berries

I get my dried chrysanthemum flower buds, hawthorn and other flowers from an online seller on Shopee. What's already sitting in my cart now is dried dandelion, which I plan to add to my future tea experiments.

I find it so much fun creating different tea combinations every day. It turns something as simple as drinking water into a little daily ritual—and it helps me reach my hydration goal too.

These warm, fragrant teas make staying hydrated so much easier. 

I always get my chrysanthemum flowers, dried hawthorn and other dried flowers and herbs from this seller on Shopee > https://s.shopee.com.my/18uYGeZnY

Do you enjoy drinking tea? What's your favourite tea combination? I would love to discover some new blends! 💛

Dried lemon + hawthorn + black tea + blue pea flower tea

Chrysanthemum + osmanthus + green tea

Chrysanthemum + osmanthus + saffron + green tea

Chrysanthemum + lemon + green tea

Chrysanthemum + hawthorn + osmanthus tea

Chrysanthemum + hawthorn + blue pea flower + green tea

Domino's New Pizza Puff – A Tasty Grab-and-Go Meal for Only RM9.90

Yesterday I received some complimentary samples from Domino's Pizza to try their brand-new Pizza Puff range.

Wrapped in a golden, flaky crust and folded into a half-moon shape, the Pizza Puff locks in the heat and its generous fillings, giving you a warm, satisfying bite from start to finish. Unlike a traditional pizza, everything is neatly sealed inside, making it easy to enjoy on the go without the mess.

At only RM9.90 each, it's a great grab-and-go option for lunch, dinner, or whenever you're short on time but still want something hot and filling.

The Pizza Puff comes in three delicious flavours:

🍕 Loaded Beef – Ground beef, beef pepperoni, smoky BBQ sauce, and melted mozzarella.

🍕 Loaded Chicken – Chicken potpourri sausages, chicken pepperoni, tomato pizza sauce, and melted mozzarella.

🧀 Loaded Cheese – Perfect for cheese lovers, with a rich molten cheese centre, melted mozzarella, and tomato pizza sauce.

My personal favourite is the Loaded Cheese. If you're a cheese lover like me, you'll probably enjoy this one the most! The moment I received the Pizza Puffs, they were still piping hot and I immediately dug in. The crust was very crispy, while the inside was soft, hot, and generously filled with gooey melted cheese and savoury fillings in every bite.

For just RM9.90, I think it's very reasonably priced and surprisingly filling. If you're looking for a quick, convenient meal or snack that's easy to eat on the move, Domino's Pizza Puff is definitely worth a try.

For more information, visit www.dominos.com.my or follow @dominosmy on Facebook and Instagram.

Forest Bathing: My Free Therapy for the Mind and Soul

One of the activities I make time for almost every day is brisk walking in nature.

My fitness journey began many years ago after I was diagnosed with PCOS, a hormonal condition that's often linked to insulin resistance and metabolic issues. Before I became a mum, I used to jog twice a day—once in the morning and again in the evening—at the park.

After becoming a mother, my routine changed. The twice-daily runs became a single run at 5:30 every morning before heading to work. Later, when I left the corporate world to become a work-from-home mum, I continued my daily runs faithfully, rain or shine - with an umbrella on rainy days.

Then age gradually caught up with me. My knees started to protest, so I swapped running for swimming and brisk walking. Today, I still brisk walk five to six times a week, on top of my strength training sessions at the gym.

Now that I'm back in Ipoh, I'm blessed to live in a neighbourhood surrounded by majestic limestone hills and lush greenery. Being immersed in nature has become one of the most therapeutic parts of my day.

Worry and emotional stress have always been my greatest enemies. They can affect my mental well-being, sleep, mood, and overall health. Whenever life feels overwhelming, my favourite way to clear my mind is simply to step outdoors.

Unlike hiking or exercising for fitness, forest bathing isn't about burning calories, reaching a destination, or hitting a distance goal. It's about slowing down, being fully present, and allowing nature to soothe your mind.

On days when I'm tired, I stroll at a leisurely pace. When I'm feeling energetic, I brisk walk or even break into a run. Either way, just 30 minutes surrounded by trees and hills leaves me feeling calmer, clearer, and happier.

I don't bring my phone with me. I don't wear headphones or earphones. Instead, I listen to the birds singing, monkeys calling in the distance, dogs barking, and the gentle rustling of leaves as the wind moves through the trees.

For me, this is the best prescription for a calmer nervous system. It helps quiet anxiety, ease worry, clear brain fog, and restore my emotional balance.

Nature is my reset button. It asks for nothing, gives so much, and best of all—it's completely free.

Protein, Fiber, And The King of Fruit – My Perfect Morning Combo

Wow... ChatGPT just blew my mind! 🤯

I simply described what I had for breakfast today, and ChatGPT generated this beautiful poster for me! 😍 I didn't upload a food photo or give it any design instructions. All I did was describe my breakfast, and it created this magazine-style image complete with the food, layout, colours and text.

Below the AI-generated poster is the actual photo of the breakfast I ate today. I think it did an amazing job!

AI technology is improving at an incredible pace. Every time I use it, I'm amazed by what it can do. It really feels like we're living in the future now! 😊

Have you tried using AI to create images or help with your work? I'd love to hear what you've used it for.

Poster generated by ChatGPT

Actual photo of what I ate

My Simple Nightly Habit for Keeping Sore Throats Away

One of the simplest health habits I've kept for decades is gargling with warm salt water every night before bed.

As a child, I was very prone to sore throats and inflamed tonsils. I dreaded those episodes because the antibiotics (that yucky bright pink liquid) prescribed back then often made me vomit.

One day, Mum brought me to a doctor in Ipoh who suggested something surprisingly simple: gargle with warm salt water every day to help reduce the chances of getting a sore throat. I decided to give it a try, and it soon became part of my nightly routine.

For decades now, I've been gargling with a mixture of warm water, Himalayan pink salt, a few drops of Melaleuca (tea tree) essential oil, and peppermint essential oil. I do this every single night before going to bed, even when I'm travelling. I also enjoy the fresh, clean feeling it leaves in my mouth before sleep.

Whenever I catch a cold or a viral throat infection, I would increase the salt water gargling to several times a day, throughout the day and night. While gargling doesn't kill viruses throughout the body or guarantee that I'll avoid illness, I personally find that it helps soothe my throat, ease discomfort, and has become one of the simple self-care habits that works well for me.

A commonly recommended salt-water gargle is about ½ teaspoon of salt dissolved in one cup (about 240 ml) of warm water. Be careful not to make the solution too salty, as a highly concentrated mixture can irritate or dry out the delicate tissues in your mouth and throat, potentially making discomfort worse instead of better.

I usually prep the solution enough to last for a week. I store it in a glass jar in my bathroom.

If you choose to add essential oils, remember that less is more. I only use a few drops in the gargle, and I always spit the mixture out after gargling—never swallow it. Tea tree (Melaleuca) essential oil is not meant to be ingested, and some people may find essential oils irritating or may be allergic to them. If you're trying this for the first time, it's always wise to start with plain salt water first or check with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

This little habit has been part of my life for many years, and it's one of those simple, inexpensive wellness practices that I don't leave home without.

Cold Pressed Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil - The Most Versatile Oil in My Room and Kitchen

I have been using organic cold-pressed extra virgin coconut oil for more than 10 years, and it has become one of the most versatile products in my home.

I use it as a face moisturiser before applying sunscreen every single morning, as a lip balm for chapped lips, and as a moisturiser for my entire body. I also use coconut oil to clean my teeth.

One of my daily routines is massaging my breasts with coconut oil three times a day. My acupuncturist and gynaecologist both encouraged me to massage my breasts regularly. I don't know whether it was the massage itself or simply changes in my hormones over time, but I personally noticed that I developed fewer breast cysts after making it part of my daily routine for almost 10 years. This is just my own experience and not medical advice, as there isn't strong scientific evidence that breast massage prevents breast cysts.

In the kitchen, we use coconut oil for cooking and baking too. Mum adds a little to cook rice and for making keto breads/cakes, and if I run out of coconut milk, I sometimes use it in tong sui as an alternative.

I also rub a few drops onto the ends of my hair to help tame frizz and detangle knots.

For health and skincare purposes, I only use organic cold-pressed extra virgin coconut oil because it undergoes minimal processing and retains more of its natural compounds.

And no, I don't go around smelling like a walking coconut! The scent doesn't linger for long. Sometimes I mix in a few drops of essential oils such as geranium, sweet orange or mandarin for a lovely fragrance. However, citrus essential oils like sweet orange and mandarin can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, so I only use those blends when I'm staying indoors.

Some of the benefits of organic extra virgin coconut oil include:

Helps moisturise dry skin and chapped lips.

Works well as a gentle massage oil.

Can help reduce moisture loss from the skin.

Contains lauric acid, which has antimicrobial properties.

Suitable for hair to help reduce frizz and improve manageability.

Heat-stable for many everyday cooking methods because it is high in saturated fats.

Minimally processed, so it retains more of its naturally occurring compounds compared with refined coconut oil.

This is the brand that I have been buying from Shopee and it smells and tastes really good : https://s.shopee.com.my/AKYypHDjby

Simple Meals, Precious Moments

Our meals in Ipoh are generally very simple. We usually eat at home unless my brothers and my daughters come to visit, then we eat out every day.

For my parents, who are both in their 80s, and me, lunch is usually either mixed rice (tapau) or one of Mum's simple, healthy home-cooked meals on days when we don't go to the gym.

Dinner is usually Dad's department. At 83, he's an amazing self-taught cook who can whip up several dishes with ease. He takes his own sweet time in the kitchen, and that's exactly how it should be. Mum and I never rush him, so by the time dinner is ready, it's usually around 7.00–7.30pm. And this is considered supper for me 😅

Back in KL, my youngest daughter came home from school around 4–5pm, so we would have our last meal of the day together. I kept that routine for many years, which naturally gave me about 12–14 hours of intermittent fasting overnight.

Here in Ipoh, however, my last meal is usually between 7.30 and almost 8.00pm and I don't have the 12-13  hours of IF anymore. I often tell Mum I'm not hungry and could easily skip dinner, but she insists I eat. She says I'm too skinny, worries that I'm not getting enough nutrition because I have low BP, and is determined to fatten me up! 😂 So, to make her happy, I sit down and eat with my parents—just a tiny portion, about the amount a two-year-old would eat. 😄

At my parents' age, being able to share three meals a day with them is something I don't take for granted. It's a blessing, and these are moments I truly cherish.

In this photo, Mum cooked Beacon chicken wanton in Beacon chicken soup. The lady's fingers, Malabar spinach and water spinach were freshly picked from our garden. A simple, nutritious and delicious lunch, made even more special because it was shared together. ❤️ 

My Favourite Budget Deodorant Hack

For me, the best and most affordable deodorant isn't an organic or aluminium-free deodorant. I've tried quite a few, but unfortunately, none of them worked well for me.

The one thing that has consistently worked is plain baking soda.

Since I exercise regularly and spend quite a bit of time at the gym, I feel it's important to be considerate of the people around me. Nobody wants to be the person with body odour in a shared workout space!

I bought my baking soda from an organic store on Shopee. Every morning, I simply apply a tiny pinch to each underarm, and it does an amazing job of neutralising odour throughout the day.

Of course, everyone's body chemistry is different, so what works for me may not work for everyone. But if you've been struggling to find an effective deodorant, baking soda is inexpensive and definitely worth trying. It has outperformed every expensive deodorant I've ever used.

Caveat: some people with sensitive skin may find baking soda irritating if used daily, so it's a good idea to test it on a small area first or stop using it if irritation develops. Otherwise, if it suits your skin like it does mine, it's a wonderfully simple and budget-friendly solution.

I got my baking soda here >> https://s.shopee.com.my/2g9Suad1dA

The Girl Who Hated Tuition

My three daughters had the same Mandarin tutor, Ms. M, who came to our house every week from the time they were seven years old. She wasn't the strictest or most outstanding tutor academically, but she had something equally valuable—an incredible amount of patience. She was always respectful towards me and tried her best to accommodate whatever I requested. Over the years, she became part of our family's life for almost a decade.

Cass, however, was a different story.

She didn't dislike Ms. M but she simply hated tuition.

I made her attend Mandarin tuition throughout all six years of primary school because her Mandarin wasn't strong. Well, what could I expect when she was raised by two "yellow banana" parents? 😄 Looking back, I know those six years felt miserable for her.

My attempts didn't stop there. In Form 1, I enrolled her in BM tuition, but she resisted, always had ‘stomach ache’ on tuition days, and quit after a few months. In Form 2, I signed her up for online Add Math tuition. That lasted only a few months too before she stopped.

Cass hated tuition so much that she finally made me a promise. She told me, "I'll study on my own. I'll ask my teachers and classmates if I don't understand something. Just don't make me go for tuition anymore. I will prove to you that I will do well"

I decided to trust her.

From Form 2 until she completed her SPM, she had almost no tuition at all. She became an independent learner, had the courage to stay back after class to ask her teachers questions, and worked hard on her own. In the end, she did quite well in her SPM.

Today, for some reason, I suddenly thought of Ms. M.

I remembered the times Cass would grumble, complain, and sometimes even say very unkind things whenever she was given tuition homework. She even fell asleep on the table during tuition, not once, not twice, but every single time. Thinking back, I felt sorry that Ms. M had to put up with my difficult girl all those years.

So today, I sent Ms. M a message. I updated her on what Cass is doing now and thanked her for the patience, kindness and understanding she had shown Cass throughout those six years.

She was so happy to hear from me and was delighted to know how Cass is doing today.

Despite six years of listening to Cass protest about tuition and complain about the homework Ms. M gave her, I have always been grateful for Ms. M's patience and perseverance. Looking back, I believe those six years of Mandarin tuition gave Cass a solid enough foundation to survive the demanding Chinese Independent High School that she later attended. While she may not have appreciated it then, I know those lessons played a part in helping her get through those challenging school years.

Photo below - Ms M with my 3 girls in 2014. Alycia was 11, Sherilyn was 9 and Cass 6.