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

A Little Help From AI: Solving My Overseas Payment Problem After 19 Years of Blogging

I have been creating content and accepting sponsored posts from overseas clients since 2007 — that’s already 19 years of this journey.

For many years, my clients paid me through my PayPal accounts without any issues. It became part of my normal workflow, so I never really thought about needing an alternative.

Recently, one of my clients from Cyprus informed me that they were no longer able to use PayPal for payments. Suddenly, I found myself stuck and needed to find another way to receive my overseas payments.

After doing some research and getting guidance from AI, I decided to try Wise. Setting up the account was a little unfamiliar at first, but with step-by-step guidance, I managed to get everything done.

To make sure everything worked, I first transferred USD10 from my Wise account to my Malaysian bank account as a test. When the money arrived successfully, I was so relieved and excited!

After that, I transferred the remaining balance from my Wise account to my bank account — and everything went smoothly. The money was transferred into my M'sia bank account within seconds.

I’m truly grateful to have AI as a helpful tool in my work journey. Whether it’s figuring out unfamiliar platforms, troubleshooting problems, or guiding me through new processes like how to create and edit videos, or even in personal matters,  AI has made many challenges much easier to overcome.

The Hidden Ingredient in Tea Bags

I love drinking tea — green tea, peppermint tea, Chinese tea, English tea… tea is part of my everyday life.

Most teas nowadays come in tea bag form, and honestly, it is so convenient. Just throw a bag into your mug, pour hot water, and sip throughout the day.

Several years ago, I discovered a hidden danger in many tea bags — microplastics.

Studies have found that some plastic tea bags can release around 11.6 billion microplastic particles and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into a single cup of hot tea. These tiny particles may enter our bodies and have been linked to inflammation, hormone disruption, gut issues and other potential long-term health concerns.

Because of this, I now cut open my tea bags and pour the tea leaves into a stainless steel tea strainer instead.

For green tea, I don’t even bother using a strainer anymore — I simply pour the tea leaves directly into my cup and drink up the leaves too! Extra fiber for me 😋

So the next time you drink tea, try not to brew using the tea bag itself. Get a good stainless steel tea strainer or buy loose tea leaves to brew your tea instead.

Happy tea drinking everyone 🍃☕

This is how I drink my tea from tea bags - pour the content into a stainless steel tea strainer and brew

My peppermint + blue pea flower tea

Can You Eat Avocados With Black Spots, Brown Spots and Dark Streaks?

Avocados are renowned for their creamy texture, rich nutty flavor, and jam-packed with health benefits. However, discovering a blackened interior with black veins in your avocado can be a cause for concern. 

Avocados are pretty costly and discovering an imperfect interior with brown spots, black spots, and dark stringy flesh can be very disheartening. Do you throw the avocado away? Or do you cut off the dark parts and eat the green parts?  If you’re an avocado lover, just like my family and me, you’ve most likely been faced with this predicament umpteen times.

Avocado with brown flesh

Natural Ripening Process 

Avocados undergo a natural ripening process, during which the flesh transforms from firm and green to soft and creamy. As part of this process, the color of the avocado can change to a darker shade, sometimes appearing almost black. This change is typically harmless and often indicates that the fruit is perfectly ripe.

Enzymatic Browning

The blackening of avocado flesh can also result from enzymatic browning, a natural chemical reaction that occurs when the fruit is exposed to oxygen. While this process may alter the color, the avocado remains safe to eat. You can simply scrape off the discolored portion to reveal the unaffected, flavorful flesh beneath.

Veining in Avocado 

Veining or string-like structures in an avocado may be a result of its variety or the presence of undigested fibers. This occurrence is not uncommon and is generally considered safe for consumption. The veins themselves are harmless and can be consumed without adverse effects.

Dark streaks within avocado flesh

Signs of Spoilage 

While discoloration alone does not necessarily indicate spoilage, it's crucial to be aware of additional signs. If the avocado emits a foul odor, has a sour taste, or displays mold growth, it may be an indication of spoilage and should be discarded.

Don’t try to salvage any part of a sour-smelling or moldy avocado, as it has the potential to make you sick.

Health Considerations 

Consuming black avocado flesh, even with veins, is generally safe for most individuals. However, those with latex allergies or sensitivity to certain proteins found in avocados may experience allergic reactions. If you have known allergies or concerns, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before consuming avocados.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the blackening of avocado flesh, accompanied by veins, is often a result of the natural ripening process and enzymatic browning. These occurrences are generally harmless and do not pose health risks. By understanding the reasons behind these color changes, you can confidently enjoy avocados while ensuring their quality and safety. Remember to rely on additional signs of spoilage, such as odor or mold, to determine the overall condition of the fruit. 

Through smell, taste, touch, and visual inspection, you can determine whether an avocado has spoiled, and whether to eat or discard it.

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.