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Saturday, October 30, 2021

Maria Is Back At Work

Maria is back after a 6-month hiatus!

In May this year we had to tell Maria the most dreaded news again that we will have to stop her from coming to work in view of the spike in Covid cases. We had to protect ourselves as none of us was fully vaccinated at that time.  Since the lockdown in March last year, we had to stop Maria from coming into our house on three separate occasions, each lasting for several months. The longest hiatus is this time for a period of 6 months. 

Now that everyone in the house has been fully vaxxed including the girls, I made the decision to ask Maria to come back to work.  But there were conditions before she could step into our house.   The condo Management house rules is all part-time cleaners must provide proof of their digital vaccination certificate via My Sejahtera.  And I requested for a Covid test done in front of me using a Covid self-test kit.  I even gave Maria a fresh KN94 face mask and requested that she wore that instead of her own mask.  I was worried that Maria wore a recycled disposable face mask.  One time, Maria told me that she washed all her disposable masks and re-wore them.  

The entire procedure of the Covid self-test lasted 20 minutes - 5 minutes for collecting saliva and another 15 minutes for waiting for the result.  She did the test outside our unit. I had to watch the instructions via You Tube umpteen times to understand how to use this kit! 


Maria is also required to do a Covid self-test at her workplace where she works as a cleaner.  One of her duties is to clean the rooms of a Datuk and Datin.  The secretaries working for the Datuk and Datin would test her and other cleaners every two weeks. 

We're all so glad to have Maria back but the mil is still feeling a tad uncomfortable with having Maria around in the house.  I can't blame her as Maria was Covid positive 3 months ago.  

IMHO, I think we have to learn to live with the virus. According to WHO recently, the pandemic is far from over.   We will all have to mingle with people who were once Covid positive.  Three months ago, our neighborhood supermarket turned into a Covid cluster with almost all the staff infected. It was the same time that Maria was infected too as she stays at the same area, which was a red zone.  Residents are now going back to the supermarket, including myself.   We just have to take precautionary measures and remember to keep a physical distance, practise proper face mask wearing and sanitize our hands regularly.   




Different Styles of Handbags

Handbags are a fashion staple and functional necessity that every woman should have in their closet.  Handbags are a woman’s most visible fashion accessory, conveying to others the tribe to which they belong.  They are a form of self-expression, signal of personal style and they can reveal a little about the owner.  Handbags make our lives easier as we use them to carry our daily essentials, wherever we go.  Handbags are also an entrée to luxury and glamour, although some women use them solely for practicality purposes.

The most iconic of all the handbags are Hermes and Chanel, followed by Louis Vuitton, at the top tier. Not everyone can afford to own these bags in their life time because of the exorbitant price tag. Some brands, like the Hermes’ Birken model are not easily accessible.  For the average woman on the street who prefers affordable handbags to meet functional criteria, there are thousands of brands out there.  If you are the type of girl who’s always on the lookout for chic and à la mode bags that are affordable enough to add to your collection of bags, baginning.com has the coolest collection of ladies bags priced under USD100.

Handbags come in a myriad of styles to suit different occasions, needs and style preferences. They double up as a fashion accessory to finish off or add interest to an outfit.  

Here are the most common types of handbags.

Shoulder Bags

One of the most popular handbag options, the shoulder bag comes in a range of materials, designs, and hues. Straps are the easiest distinction between a shoulder bag or tote: a shoulder bag normally has one strap, and a tote bag has two.

 

Tote Bags

A tote bag is one of the very few bags which manages to combine practicality with style very effortlessly. Tote bags are similar to shoulder bags but they are often larger and roomier, mainly used for shopping purposes.



Crossbody Bags

Crossbody bags allow you to have your hands free while you're on the go or have other items to carry.  These bags are designed with long straps where you can sling it across your body and make your life easier.

 

Vintage Bags

A vintage bag is considered vintage at 10, 20, or 25+ years, and designer provenance is important here. However, one can find bags designed like vintage bags at bags specialty stores.



Clutch Bags

A clutch is a type of purse that is carried in the hands or tucked under the arm. A clutch typically does not have a strap for carrying.  A clutch is usually carried to accompany a beautiful gown. Matching your clutch bag to your shoes is a fool-proof recipe for classy formal wear.


The Bucket

Bucket bags are fastened with a drawstring around the top and have a long, crossbody strap. Sometimes they have a shorter strap in addition to this.

 


Satchels

Satchels are like crossbody bags but they are more specific in shape. Satchels are almost always rectangular in shape with an envelope flap and dual buckle fastening. These make great everyday handbags for office, dinner or casual.



Bag lovers usually have different types of bags in their closet to suit different occasions.  For me, I love tote bags and have half a dozen of them in different colours and motifs. They are the most ideal bags for a practical person like me. 

What about you? What type of bags do you have a specific liking for?

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Our Sunday, 24 October 2021

Hubby had to be at his central kitchen with this team today to prep food for a client's birthday lunch.  So we're left to settle our lunch and dinner ourselves.  Sherilyn whipped up a simple yet amazing sandwich with homemade bacon, avocado, eggs, organic salad and pan-toasted wholemeal walnut bread.





A close family friend ordered home-cooked lunch and had it sent to us by the seller.  He ordered waxed meat rice (Lap Mei Farn) and Tong Sui (pumpkin + sago and red dates + peach gum + snow fungus), cooked by a home-based seller.  The food arrived at around 1 pm but we ate it for dinner at 4 pm.  



Yep, that's how early we have our dinner everyday -- at a time between 3 - 5 pm. After our early dinner, we don't have supper or snacks. If the girls or I feel our tummies rumble by 9 or 10 pm, we don't even bother grabbing a snack but go straight to bed.    And our next meal of the day is around 7 a.m.   I love waking up feeling hungry.  So, we have at least 12-14 hours of intermittent fasting almost every day. 

Cass is now very fastidious about the time of her last meal.  Any food put on the table after 4pm and she will keep her dinner for breakfast the next day. She has at least 16 hours of IF every day and very happy with this regimen. She's slowly turning into a health and fitness freak and I can't be happier! 😁

I can't tell you how beneficial it is for our health to eat an early dinner. We've been doing this for more than 3 years (it started with the girls coming back from school at 3.30pm and I served them dinner at that time) and even the mil has finally bought the idea of having a crazy early dinner at 4pm (and sometimes at 3 pm!) 😁

5 Fun Christmas Activities to Fill Your Holiday With Festive Cheer

It may still not be normal this holiday season, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. I’m sure by now, after almost two years in lockdown, we have all learned how to be creative in finding new ways to create fun activities.  While reduced travel and gatherings may dampen your holidays, you can still feel as festive as ever with some great activities that are sure to create some joy and cheer.

 

Besides virtual or all-vaccinated in-person get-togethers, check out these fun holiday activities to fill your pandemic holiday with merriment and get ready for a fun-filled, festive holiday season!

 

1  Dress Up In Matching Outfits

A family that wears family matching outfits  show that you’re the kind of family that likes to have fun and thinks outside the box while ordinary clothes make you blend into society.  Matching clothes create a special vibe that makes occasions like Christmas even more special.   Imagine yourself going through your Google Photos album and seeing your family in pretty synced-up Christmas outfits. It will definitely put a smile on your face reminiscing how special such occasions were in your household.




 2  Host A Gingerbread Competition

Christmas is one of the best times to put your architecture skills to the test, and there’s nothing like a bit of friendly competition to stoke the holiday fires. Best of all, you can compare gingerbread competitions in person or via video chat.

 

3 Camp Under The Christmas Tree

If there’s one night of the year to let the kids (and yourself) camp in the living room, this is it.  Get everyone to put on cute matching family Christmas pajamas from online shops like Popopieshop, sleep under the tree and await the new day and new year. That’s going to be so much fun!

 

4 Put On Some Holiday Movies

If you’ve always wanted to binge watch movies with your loved ones but never had the time to, this is it.  Grab your favorite pajamas, turn off the lights and don’t forget to pop lots of popcorn before you hit play!


5  Shop For Matching Holiday Outfits

One of the best times to shop online for clothes is during Black Friday sales. Whether you’re looking for Black Friday mommy and me outfits or some cute kids clothing as Christmas gifts, you’re be saving loads of money when you shop during the sale!


 


Whether you’re planning to reunite with vaccinated family members and friends or cautiously emerging from your Covid-19 quarantine state of mind, I hope Christmas 2021 will be the light at the end of a very long tunnel for everyone. Stay safe, happy online shopping and continue to pray that we will all be able to celebrate the holidays like the old days once again.


Saturday, October 23, 2021

Chef Sherilyn's Creations

It takes passion, creativity, patience, aestheticism and continuous learning to churn out sublime gastronomical fare that packs a punch. Our teenage chef has it all.  And she does it naturally, sometimes just 10-15 minutes to dish out something that's simple yet absolutely delish, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner.


Healthy pasta with deep fried quail. 
The pasta sauce is composed of fire roasted red bell pepper, tomatoes and onions blended in the TMX6.  Topping is fried bacon bits. 
Served with 'burung puyuh berempah' (deep fried quail with spices) from hubby's central kitchen, Catermate
We all love the healthy pasta, which is something imaginatively special, creamy and textured with a beautiful blend of healthy veggies.  



Grilled orange sweet potato with mozzarella cheese and bacon bits. This is a fun ensemble that's full of rich, robust flavours.


Passion fruit souffle cake.

Chocolate chip cookies (crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside).  When re-toasted, it's crispy and oh so yummy!



Matcha tiramisu

All these were prepped either in between online classes or after classes.  During her free time, Sherilyn watches cooking and baking videos for ideas. Sometimes she opens the fridge to see what's available or what's about to expire or wither, then comes up with something creative to tantalize our taste buds!



Introducing Kameymall, a Chinese Wholesale and Retail Shopping Platform

For those of you who, like me, love buying stuff from China but don’t like to shop at Taobao due to various reasons such as high agent fees and inability to read or speak in Chinese, you now have an alternative to shop till you drop with ease at Kameymall.  The website is in English language and there’s no agent fees.  Kameymall has been in the in the wholesale and retail business for 20 years, covering the whole of Europe and the United States in import and export.


Products

Kameymall carries a wide range of products such as clothing, wigs, shoes, bags, outdoor sports products, beauty products, jewelry and watches, consumer electronics, home furnishing, mobile communication items, tech items and many more.  Do visit website of Kameymall to browse their extensive range of products. 

Besides wholesale reselling, Kameymall operate their own factory to produce items for international customers.


WHY CHOOSE KAMEYMALL

Quality assurance

The products listed on a Kameymall’s website have to meet certain quality criteria. This gives customers the confidence knowing that they are buying better products than they would get from random Taobao sellers.

Combined orders from different sellers

Wholesalers like Kameymall carry products from different sellers and allow you to ship them together to save money. This is an advantage over buying from different individual sellers directly.

Good discounts and Loyalty Programs

As Kameymall is a wholesaler, they buy in large quantities from the factory, allowing them to pass on the discounts and loyalty programs to you. This would be impossible for smaller single sellers to offer.

Customer service

Utilizing economies of scale, as a wholesaler, Kameymall can employ a bigger and better customer service team, covering longer hours and speaking English. This is another major advantage of shopping at Kameymall.   You can talk to the 24/7 customer service staff to resolve any issues you might be facing.

Company’s Principles

To be honest, clear and professional in their dealings.

Company’s Vision

Create a convenient and better life to customers and to ensure that customers enjoy top quality services.

Prohibited and Restricted Goods

Many products that are allowed to be sold in the country, such as weight loss drugs, drugs and related supplies, controlled weapons, spy products, medical equipment, alcohol and tobacco products, etc. will be banned on Kameymall.  Therefore, prospective Kameymall sellers need to be fully aware of this requirement before opening a store.


Trust and Safety

  1. Automatic and manual verification of seller identity and business history.
  2. Seller behaviour is monitored 24/7
  3. In the event the seller does not abide by the commercial policy, the seller will have to compensate the buyer.
  4. Dishonest seller accounts will be immediately blacklisted and closed indefinitely.
  5. Quality control system prevents fraud, illegal and counterfeit products from entering the Kameymall platform.
  6. Products are inspected by quality control personnel before shipment to customers.
  7. Customer information is encrypted and will be protected from hackers.

Coupons
  • Coupons for new users:
  • USD10 off, no minimum spending
  • USD20 off, $300 minimum spending
  • USD25 off, $500 minimum spending
  • USD40 off, $1000 minimum spending


Front Page

The front page of Kameymall shows you all the flash deals, offers and new product listings. It also allows you to sign into your account right away.

You can shop by category or search for a particular product in the search box.

Help Center: This is the place where users can go to for looking up answers to any questions they might have.

Customer service:  Users can talk to the 24/7 customer service to resolve any issues they might encounter.

Join us: This is the page to register an account or to sign in.

Shopping cart:  See what items you have added to your shopping cart, add or remove items from the shopping cart and to check out.

Personal center: Take a look at your past orders, coupons added to your account or modify your account information.


How to purchase

  1. Create an account by clicking “join us” or “join member”
  2. Collect the coupon on the front page
  3. Search for product you want to buy
  4. Pick the right colour, size and quantity
  5. Click “buy now”
  6. Key in your delivery address
  7. Choose the shipping service and payment method
  8. Redeem your coupon from step 2
  9. Click “pay order” and pay


Shipping

All the prices shown on the products do not include shipping.  Shipping fee will be dependent on location and weight of parcel. Shipping carrier offered will be FedEx, DHL, EMS and e-EMS.


Contact Info

WeChat: kameymsll

Website: kameymall.com

Reddit: reddit.com/r/kameymall/


The mission of Kameymall is to efficiently service customers and be a world-class international shopping platform.  Click on Help Center and then click FAQ to find out more on shopping or selling at Kameymall.

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Haru In Our Home

At 10 months old, Haru still drinks water from a milk bottle. She just won't drink water from a bowl or special pet water bottle that I bought.  However, she will drink water from her bowl only if it's mixed with her wet and dry food.   So she's been trained to eat her wet and dry food mixed with water and has no issue with it.  I still feed her water from a milk bottle to ensure that she gets enough clear fluids for optimum health.  

Recently we started feeding Haru with lactose-free goat milk from her milk bottle.  Like a little baby kitten, Haru LOVES it.  Cass will feed Haru after her online class in the afternoon, whenever she has time to.

Haru can even hold the bottle with her two front paws.

*Wink wink*  Mummy, I love milk from the bottle 😹




Shameless cat 😂😂.   


Saturday, October 9, 2021

Family Mart's Venetian Tiramisu Ice-cream

Family Mart's new sofuto flavor, Venetian Tiramisu is surprisingly very delicious!  It tastes exactly like tiramisu cake - creamy, smooth and not overly sweet.

Today I bought one pint pack (only RM8.90) and by the time I remembered to snap a pic of it, the girls have bolted almost the entire pint 😬

The girls commented that we don't have to buy Häagen-Dazs ice-cream or Tiramisu cake anymore as we now have a cheaper alternative that's so delish  😁

I think I'm going to get another pint pack tomorrow before this flavor is shelved and another flavor takes over.







Thursday, October 7, 2021

Klang's Famous Regent Pandan Layer Cake


I've always wanted to try the much raved about pandan layer cake from Regent Pandan Layer Cake in Klang.  There are so many resellers on Facebook selling this cake, which comes in pandan, yam, pandan + corn, durian and corn flavors.  I've always wanted to get the pandan and yam flavors to try. 

A friend of mine who lives in Singapore even organized a group buy with some friends and got the cake shop to transport the cakes to Singapore on a refrigerated truck, just to satiate their cravings!

I've seen many of my friends raved about this cake on their socials, which makes me drool even more. 

Yesterday must have been my lucky day. Hubs brought home two boxes of Regent pandan layer cakes!  His friend who's a famous Chinese food blogger traveled all the way to Klang to get hold of the layer cakes and got us some too. Woohoo, I was tickled pink!    

Any form of pleasant surprise sprang on us during this dreaded lockdown would make me happy.  Hubs likes to gives us surprises, all in the form of food and desserts.  I'm waiting for the day that he springs a bigger surprise on us by telling us that he has struck the lottery or 4D 😁



Our verdict?

The cake's deliciousness has been overrated.  No doubt the pandan layer cake is nice but I had expected it to have a stronger aroma of santan and pandan, the kind that would make me melt and say "so yummmmmmmy!" and then drift to dessert heaven.   I was a tad disappointed.

The pandan layer cake from RT Pastry House, a bakery at our hood, sells a similar looking pandan layer cake, which we have been eating for almost a decade.  It's our family's all-time favorite cake.   We find that RT Pastry House's pandan layer cake has a stronger santan and pandan aroma. And it's cheaper than Regent Pandan Layer Cake.

Our conclusion?

We're just stick to RT Pastry House's pandan layer cake.  I can get the pandan layer cake to satiate our craving at any time and don't have to cause a dent in our wallet on the delivery fee.