Saving Big From Online Shopping

Last week’s online purchase of two acne-targeted skincare products for Cass yielded substantial savings for me. Besides the skincare products, I also bought cat food, toiletries, and cleaning products on Christmas Day when there were online sales on both the Lazada and Shopee platforms.

Online shopping has become my go-to method for procuring skincare products and for good reasons. The convenience, extensive options, and, most importantly, the potential for substantial savings make it an unbeatable choice. Last week's purchase is yet another testament to the financial benefits of online shopping!

Before diving into the savings, the total cost of the two Eucerin ProACNE Solution products was RM193.50 (BEFORE DISCOUNT).  After discounts, I only had to pay RM150.74.

Here's where the magic happened:

Free Shipping: there was free shipping for my purchase.  The parcel was delivered to me in just four days. If not for Christmas, the parcel would have reached me even earlier.

Store Voucher: A RM23.22 voucher from the Eucerin Official Store on Shopee further slashed the overall expense.

Cashback: Shopee, the platform where I made the purchase, rewarded me with 2044 coins, equivalent to a RM20.44 cashback, adding to the accumulated savings.

In total, I saved a substantial RM43.66 on these two skincare products, and this is not a one-time occurrence. Regular online shopping sales, discounts, and cashback offers continue to contribute to significant savings throughout the year.

Had I opted for the traditional route of purchasing these skincare products from a physical pharmacy, the cost would easily surpass RM200. The substantial price difference underscores the economic advantage of embracing the online shopping trend for me. And this is the reason why I hardly go to the malls now. Instead, I now spend at least an hour every day browsing Shopee and Lazada and adding items to my shopping carts. Best destresser ever 😁

A Slice of Italy in Malaysia: Savoring the Delight of iMarigliano Panettone

Every year, the arrival of panettone signals the beginning of the festive season in our household. A gift from my sister-in-law in England, this beloved Italian delicacy has become a hallmark of our Christmas celebrations. This year, the panettone's origin traveled even further, gracing our home directly from Italy.  The two loaves of panettone including shipping from Italy cost RM400.

The star of this festive package? Two luscious loaves of iMarigliano Panettone, one in the classic flavor and the other generously adorned with the richness of chocolate. 

As we unwrapped the carefully packaged panettone, the aroma of butter, eggs, dried fruits, and a hint of alcohol wafted through the air. What awaited us inside were two masterpieces from iMarigliano—one in the classic flavor and the other a decadent chocolate variant. The moment we sliced into these golden-brown beauties, we knew we were in for a treat.

The texture of iMarigliano Panettone is nothing short of extraordinary. Unbelievably soft and fluffy, each mouthful is a delicate dance of chewy softness and rich, robust flavors. Every bite is a testament to the craftsmanship behind this Italian creation, showcasing the perfect balance of ingredients that create an unrivaled taste experience.

Traditionally, the panettone sent by my sister-in-law lasted for a month or two, becoming a delightful post-Christmas treat. However, the iMarigliano Panettone proved too irresistible. In just two weeks, both loaves disappeared, without a chance to make their way into the fridge. 

As we bid farewell to this year's panettone, the anticipation for the next Christmas has already begun. The memory of iMarigliano Panettone's exquisite taste lingers, creating a yearning for the festive season to come around once more. 

Our Meals

We've not really cooked for more than two weeks. Even though the mil came back from New Zealand two weeks ago, she's been under the weather. With so many celebrations, weddings, and SIL from Hong Kong still in KL, we have no chance to cook. I had to give away all the organic veggies that I bought to Maria before they turned bad. We also have food from hubby's kitchen almost daily. I'm not complaining, in fact, I'm SO glad that we don't have to cook coz cooking is just not my jam. I don't mind cooking but the cleaning up just turns me off 😝.  I rather spend the one hour jogging outside vs. cooking and washing and getting all stressed up over it. 

These are some of the excess food from hubby's kitchen for us recently:

Sushi platter.

Chicken bolognese with colorful spiral pasta.

Chicken and beef satay.

Carrot cake with frosting. These are not too sweet and very yummy.

Clockwise from top left: Vegetarian Mee Siam (very aromatic with lots of fresh herbs), blanched broccoli and baby corn (cooked at home), Ayam Goreng Berempah (fried chicken thighs with spices) and Nasi Lemak.

On most days, all I need to place on the dining table is a veggie dish, which I usually blanch and season with olive oil or grape seed oil and soy sauce, or just make a one-pot chicken soup or miso soup with lots of veggies, meat, and meatballs.

As some of hubby's overseas relatives are still in KL, we're going to De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan for lunch tomorrow. So looking forward to Chef Wan's food again, though many of his popular dishes are pretty similar to what hubby's chef whips up every day.

Tuesday, 12 December 2023 – Last Day of School

As the academic year draws to a close, today marks a significant milestone for my youngest daughter, Cass, as it's her last day of school. While national schools continue classes until Friday, Cass attends a Chinese independent high school, concluding her Junior Three journey a bit earlier. The day unfolded with a unique celebration as Cass and her classmates embraced the end of the school year, creating memories that will linger long after the final bell.

With an early dismissal, Cass and her classmates seized the opportunity to celebrate the completion of Junior Three by heading to the shopping malls. It's a day of camaraderie and joy, especially for those whose paths will diverge next year as they move on to different classes. Today is a day to revel in the bonds formed during this academic chapter.

Cass has not only completed the school year but has also excelled academically. Her final exam results secured her a position among the top three in her class, a testament to her dedication and hard work. The school acknowledged her achievements by awarding her a RM100 book voucher, recognizing her commitment to academic excellence.

Next year holds new possibilities for Cass, and despite being allocated to the Science stream, she has decided to opt for the Commerce stream. This decision means delving into the realms of Economics, Commerce, and Accounting. Cass' decision to join the Commerce stream echoes the academic path of her elder sister Alycia. 

With a well-deserved two-and-a-half week of holiday stretching ahead, I know Cass has plans to spend a significant portion of her time at the skating rink, honing her skills in figure skating. She would love to spend the entire day on ice if her dad and I would allow her.

As Cass bids farewell to Junior Three, it's astounding to realize that she will be entering Senior One (Form 4) next year. Time, as they say, flies swiftly. The journey through high school is a tapestry of growth, learning, making new friends, and new beginnings. Today's celebration marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, filled with anticipation for the adventures Senior One will undoubtedly bring.

Cass' after-exam treat at Subway a few Saturdays ago.

Subway is Cass' all-time favorite fast-food and I think the sandwiches are a tad overpriced.

The set that Cass chose came with a complimentary photo of Cha Eun Woo, one of Korea's top k-pop stars and current ambassador of Subway.

After Subway, Cass requested more junk  food and pestered me to bring her to Family Mart for a sofuto. She wanted to try the new flavor, which is Taro and it was surprisingly very yummy. I ended up getting another sofuto, for myself 😐
Then we headed to Books and Bobs, a new bookstore at our hood and I got her a pre-loved novel at RM7.

Is The Cloudy White Coating On Blueberries, Grapes and Plums Safe To Eat?

I have never failed to wonder whether the cloudy white coating on blueberries, grapes and plums are safe for consumption. What is this white coating? I often wondered whether the white coating is chemical sprayed onto the fruits to prevent them from being attacked by bugs or chemical used to preserve the fruits. 

Today as I washed a punnet of blueberries and popped the sweet berries into my mouth, my curiosity got the better of me.  I Googled for an answer to quell my doubts and curiosity. 

The white waxy coating is called bloom, and it's there to protect the fruit from damage and disease. 

It's natural and it's not sprayed on artificially. The coating protects the berries from any external damage. The bloom, otherwise known as epicuticular wax, helps stop bacteria and fungal spores from sticking to the fruit and spoiling them.  In fact, all fruits are coated in bloom - and it's just because blueberries are so dark that it is more visible. 

Although the white film may scare some off,  shoppers should in fact actively seek blueberries covered in the waxy coating as it means they are fresher.

The waxy coating does such a good job of sealing in moisture and preserving freshness that farms don't wash them before they reach the supermarket because they don't want to remove any of the wax.

If you, like me, have always been having the same worry whenever you eat blueberries and grapes, I hope this post gives you some peace of mind now. But don't forget to give your fruits a good rinse under running tap water before you enjoy them.

Goodies From New Zealand and Ipoh

The MIL is back in KL after staying in Auckland for two months with her third daughter and family. As with all her overseas trips, she brought back loads of goodies from New Zealand for us.

A table full of snacks:

There are some more goodies in the fridge - huge wedges of gourmet cheeses, a big bag of almond, sourdough bread, almond butter, gourmet ham, and much more.

Whittaker's! Our favorite brand of chocolate, after Lindt. Our favorite is Almond Gold.

Two tubs of 1kg 10+ UMF Manuka honey. These will probably cost close to a thousand Ringgit in Malaysia.

Pure Delish - this is my favorite New Zealand brand for healthy snack bars and granola.

Cake Kits for Sherilyn, our house baker. But I doubt she will have the time to bake now. Baking will have to wait until she has her semester break.

Lucas Paw Paw ointment and Manuka honey lip balm

Keto-seeded crackers - these pair really well with the NZ gourmet cheese.

A very pretty white Michael Kors sling bag for Sherilyn.

And these handmade fruit cakes and pandan kaya are from Ipoh. My younger brother went back to Ipoh last week and lugged these back for us. My 80-year-old dad's kaya is the best in the world. He painstakingly stands next to the hot stove for almost an hour to stir the kaya mixture in a pot to churn our smooth kaya that's not too sweet. 

The yummy fruit cakes are infused with rum, and have the perfect balance of butter cake mixed with dried fruits, figs, and almond nibs. 

Delightful fruit cake with a lovely nutty texture and boozy kick.

Another Week of Delectable Delights from Hubby's Central Kitchen

As I reflect on the past week, it's hard not to feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the food that graced our dining table. In what can only be described as another 'good week' in my books, I found myself happily spared from the demands of the kitchen. The reason? An abundance of delectable dishes is generously provided by my husband's central kitchen, which has been abuzz with activity due to various functions. From aromatic Malay classics to tantalizing Indonesian and Indian flavors, our week has been a celebration of diverse tastes and hassle-free meals.

The culinary adventure commenced with the enticing aroma of Ikan Masak Cili, a succulent fried mackerel drenched in a zesty fresh chili sauce. This dish alone set the tone for a week filled with mouthwatering surprises. Each day brought forth a tantalizing array of Malay favorites, including the rich and aromatic Chicken Rendang, the fiery kick of Fried Egg Sambal, and the savory delights of Brinjal Sambal and Prawn Sambal.

Ikan Masak Gulai, Brinjal Sambal, Egg Sambal and Chili Prawns.

Indian fish curry with veggies and chicken rendang.

The central kitchen's offerings didn't stop there; they extended to the sumptuous Ikan Masak Gulai, where mackerel swam gracefully in a coconut milk curry and the aromatic allure of Indian Curry Fish. Bakwan (my favorite), a delightful Indonesian creation featuring vegetable fritters, added a crispy and savory touch to our dining experience.

This unassuming brinjal dish is super yummy, as good as the Terung Sambal that we ate at De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan recently.

Fried mackerel with fresh chili, braised potato chicken and Telur Dadar.

Fish from our house freezer, which I brought to hubby's kitchen and asked his staff to fry.

 The MIL bought the packet of fish just before she left for Auckland and since she's coming back soon, I better clear this from the freezer, lest she thinks that I never cook the whole time that she's away 😐. The fried fish were super crispy, so crispy that even the bones were edible. 

The convenience of having the central kitchen take charge of our meals not only offered respite from the daily chore of cooking but also allowed us to savor the authentic flavors cooked by hubby’s staff. As I revel in the joys of hassle-free dining, I can't help but hope that this trend continues. The prospect of receiving delectable meals from hubby's kitchen on a regular basis is, undoubtedly, a culinary luxury as it allows me to step back from the kitchen. 

Tuesday, 21 November 2023

Hubby hadn't eaten his lunch yet and Whatsapped me to join him for grocery shopping and then for lunch. He needed to stock up for some upcoming events. I was having brunch at home when he called and later drove to the supermarket to meet him. 

After we were done shopping, we went to LDG for lunch.  He has been craving steak for a long time but each time he suggested steak, I declined his suggestion as I preferred something light and easy for  my digestion. Moreover, I am now cutting down on red meat due to Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (genetic high cholesterol).  FH is an inherited condition characterized by higher-than-normal levels of blood cholesterol. I only eat red meat once or twice a week.  For the rest of the days, I usually eat eggs, chicken breast, and fish, prioritizing plant-based foods but avoiding soy products.

Hubby's steak was cooked to a tee. Superb taste and texture. I love the side of mashed potato with cheese and mayo.

After lunch, I rushed home to prep lunner for Cass, who would be coming back from school soon.

I cooked steamed herbal chicken drumsticks.  Cass loved it and ate three drumsticks.
This recipe is simple and mess-free.
The drumsticks are seasoned with soy sauce, Chinese cooking wine, chopped garlic, some Chinese herbs, red dates, and wolfberries. Place everything in two pieces of baking paper and wrap well. Then steam in medium heat for 40 minutes. The result is chicken meat that's really juicy and succulent.

* Herbs used - Yu zhu (Soloman’s seal), dang gui (Chinese angelica), hong zao (dried red dates), gei qi (Chinese wolfberry) and dang shen (Codonopsis root).

Saturday, 18 November 2023

Cass asked if I could bring her to Mid Valley Megamall. As her week-long holiday is coming to an end and school will resume on Monday, I agreed, even though I had nothing to buy. I bought almost everything that I needed during the 11.11 Sale last week.  

I thought that this girl would be done with her window shopping in just a couple of hours but I was so wrong. She didn't want to go home and we spent 6 frigging hours in the mall!  With nothing to buy, I still ended up a few hundred Ringgit poorer. I bought hubby's Christmas and birthday present.  His birthday is just a few days after Chrismas, so I got him a present for both occasions 😆

I wasn't even hungry but got myself a boba tea from Tealive and a bunch of buns from Barcook, our favorite bakery, for the girls.  Sherilyn worked part-time at Barcook for half a year after her SPM exam this year. The perks are pretty attractive but she told me that it's stressful working as a cashier as she hardly had time for breaks. The bakery is perpetually swamped with customers.

To wait for Cass, I spent three hours at Jaya Grocer, pushing the cart round and round all the aisles, and ended up with a bunch of things that I didn't really need.

A bunch of rather healthy foodstuff - matcha green tea bags, radish kimchi, Benns 99.9% dark chocolate, triple-washed salad, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, blueberries, and so-called healthy popcorn (non-GMO).  I also took a few punnets of antibiotic-free chicken thighs but when Cass told me that she needed 2 more hours, I put the chicken meat back in the chiller. I told Cass to hurry up coz the longer I spent at the supermarket, the more stuff would end up inside the trolley!

I also found a pair of Nike shoes from JD that are SO comfy on my feet!  

The Nike Free RN NN Women's Road Running Shoes (RM439) are made from sustainable materials. The flexible, super light, and barefoot feel makes me feel like I'm just wearing socks! Such a joy to walk and run in them. But hubby got me a new pair of Nike running shoes just last week. I guess I'll only bring this baby home next year and hopefully, the price will drop!

Safe Deposit Box Key Mystery

I wanted to snap a picture of an important document kept in my bank's Safe Deposit Box but the SDB key wasn't with me. Before my mil left for New Zealand, I gave her the key as she wanted to keep her stuff in the SDB but she hasn't returned the key to me yet. 

But I wasn't 100% sure if the key was with the mil. She could have returned it to me and I misplaced it.  That happened about 1.5 months ago. I started to go into panic mode!

I couldn't call the mil right away to ask her the whereabouts of the key as she was five hours ahead of us and it was 2am in Auckland. I WhatsApp-ed one of the bank staff to ask him about the procedures but he had already resigned from the bank. I Googled to find out what the procedures are for getting a key replaced. The answer I got sent me into a more panicked state of mind.  You cannot get your lost key replaced. The entire SDB lock has to be replaced with a brand-new one. A locksmith has to be engaged to hack the SDB. All the costs have to be borne by the SDB holder, ranging from RM300 - RM500!  I couldn't imagine money flying away like that, just like how hubby had to pay RM1k to get Alycia's iPad repaired when she carelessly slammed the car door on her iPad recently.

I sent a voice message to the MIL before going to bed. The next morning, she Whatsapp-ed me to tell me that the key was still with her and told me where she had hidden it. What a relief!! 😅😅

Last week we had food from hubby's kitchen again, on an almost daily basis. I'm the happiest as this means fewer chores for me in the kitchen 😊

Sambal prawns.

Mee Siam

Chicken Kuzi (my favorite), cooked using a wide variety of spices, ghee, and Koukakis Greek yogurt (imported from Greece). The Greek yogurt gives this dish a very creamy texture.

Mixed veggies, Thai fishcakes, Telur Dadar (omelet), and Kuih Koci.

Cut honeydew.

Haru My Therapy Cat

I thought my days of hiding in the wet kitchen to eat junk food and ice creams were way behind me as I would never have any more babies. But ever since our Pandemic Cat came into our lives almost 3 years ago, I have had to start hiding in the wet kitchen to eat certain foods again, as silent as a mouse, lest this cat with bionic ears hears me.  

But alas, I can never hide from this super cat with bionic ears and nose. No matter how hard I try to hide from her and how quietly I eat my chicken, cakes, breads, and paus, this wai sake mau (greedy cat) will always find out, even though she's deep in her sleep, or so I thought.  She then nonchalantly catwalks into the wet kitchen as stealthily as a ninja and then gives me a shock by scratching her claws on the metal kitchen door or brushing her tail against my leg, as if to chide me for hiding from her when I eat her favorite food 😅

The reason why I have to hide from Haru whenever I eat certain foods is because Haru has very sensitive guts. She cannot overeat and is allergic to grains. She will be down with diarrhea and vomiting if I overfed her. 

After almost 3 years, Haru still loves crawling into plastic bags, paper bags, and small cardboard boxes, contorting her body inside, and thinking that no one can see her.

Haru meets a veggie worm for the first time. The worm is from my organic spinach.

Saturday, 4 November 2023

Today is the first day of Cass' JUEC exam. She left the house before 7 a.m. and only returned at 5.30 p.m. It's been a long and tiring day for her. But she got a treat of a nice little dinner at Red Kettle, our favorite cafe. 

Tomorrow (Sunday) will be another long day for her at school as she gets to the grip of Day 2 of the exam.  It's also going to be a taxing day for me as I need to send Cass to school before 7am, fetch her back, and send Alycia to work in the morning.  This week is a no-rest day for me 😓

Grilled chicken salad for Cass. 

Double cheese pork burger for Sherilyn and me. 

Pan-fried seabass for hubby

Chicken chop for everyone

Carbonara for Alycia

Best-in-the-world Portuguese egg tart @ RM5.90 each from Red Kettle. First, we ordered one, then added another and when hubby joined us for dinner later, he ordered another one! I told hubby that he could buy 8 of these tarts for my birthday next year instead of a birthday cake 😁

This Char Koay Teow that I tapau-ed in the morning cost me a frigging RM11.50!!!  It has no prawns, no lard, and no cockles. I even brought my own container to take away.  And it's from our regular CKT seller.  I think she overcharged me for this CKT, which is composed of only noodles, bean sprouts, fish cakes, and an egg. 

Even economy noodles with add-ons like a sunny side up, spam, curry veggies, and fish cakes won't cost this much.

When I asked her if she had increased the price, she wasn't too happy about it. That's it, I'm going to another CKT stall in the future as there are 2 other CKT stalls in our neighborhood that don't overcharge, and their CKT tastes almost the same!