January 13, 2015
The craze for Sofina 2.1 Bags is a well-known fact amongst handbag lovers in Malaysia. This was particularly wanted by mothers as it can be used as a stylish Handbag cum Diaper Bag/Mommy Bag for its roominess. Sofina 2.1. is a local product, namely by Sometime, but it was inspired by the fashion-guru herself, Ms. Vivy Yusoff from Fashion Valet. I read somewhere that the Sofina 2.1 was sold out within 5 minutes of it being up for sale, and when all seemed lost and that there was no way that I could purchase this anymore, Sometime opened up what is called their 'Reject Sale' where products that do not meet their QC standard for normal sale, will be sold. So here's my story on How I Bag the Sofina 2.1. within 5 minutes of this sale, and you can also get your dream bag at a discounted price!
Step 1
Follow Sometime's Instagram Page. This is how I got to know that they would be having this 'Reject Sale' and the date and time. Take note of this information.
Step 2
Go to their website and create an account, fill in the necessary information for billing and shipping so that you don't have to bother with this on the day of the sale and make checkout a breeze.
Step 3
Do your research, make sure you know the model and the colour of the exact bag that you want. Have some backup bags just in case the bag that you want isn't on the sale.
Step 4
On the First Day of Sale - if the sale is supposed to start at 11 a.m., make sure you are in front of your pc at least 15 mins before. Make sure you have all the things necessary for online purchases (i.e. credit cards, mobile phone etc). If you have a kid hanging around, now is a good time to find something for them to do that'll distract them for at least 20 minutes while you do your shopping.
Step 5
At the exact time that the sale is supposed to start, make sure you keep refreshing the page. If I recall correctly the sale was supposed to start at 11.00. am but it was only 'on' from 11.03am onwards. Keep refreshing until you see this sign:-
Step 6
Click SHOP NOW and hurry and grab the bag of your dreams! Don't waste time and dilly-dally, make sure you put it in the cart and go to checkout within 5 minutes (In #sofina21 's case at least) , because SOLD OUT within 5 minutes - I checked after I succesfully completed my purchase).
Step 7
Savour the happiness of being able to beat everyone else in getting that bag and wait for it to arrive on your doorstep. Hehehe. :)
So that is the step-by-step of How to Get the coveted Sofina 2.1. Bag within 5 minutes before it was sold out!
Note:- The 'minor defect' on the bag was barely noticeable, I think some people would even gladly pay full price for it. The Sometime team really pays attention to their QC, kudos to them!
January 11, 2015
As Malaysians, Guardian Pharmacy is no stranger to us. It's the most well-known pharmacy/chemist in the country and you can find an outlet pretty much everywhere. Having been in business for so long, Guardian now have their own products/corporate brands. Now some people might be sceptical in trying out these 'generic' brands because they might worry that the quality isn't as good as those well-knows product brands. Well I'm not one of them, I'll try it if it looks promising regardless of the brands and guess what? I have found some gems under the Guardian Pharmacy Products!
Today I will share with you 5 of my favorite products from Guardian. I consider these my top-pick because I have repeatedly purchased these items and I use them in my everyday life.
1. Guardian Botanical Garden Body Wash
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| Guardian Botanical Garden Body Wash |
Retail price:- RM 15.90
These smell lovely, it contains some good stuff in the ingredients and best of all it moisturizes really well and doesn't leave your skin dry. My favorite is the "Be Orchard". It makes you smell like you just came out from a relaxing spa after each shower, just nice and not overpowering at all. Win!
2. Guardian Total Protect Mouthwash
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| Guardian Total Protect Mouthwash |
This is just like the cheaper version of Listerine Total Care Mouthwash, it even looks similar, and as far as I can tell, works just as well.
3. Guardian Gel Hand Soap
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| Guardian Gel Hand Soap |
Retail price: RM 5.90
What I love about these is that it lathers well, smells lovely and best of all, doesn't dry your hands out even after repeated washing. My favorite is the purple one (Orchard Bliss).
4. Guardian Organic Olive Oil Oil Shampoo and Conditioner
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| Guardian Olive Oil Conditioner |
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| Guardian Olive Oil Shampoo |
Retail price:- RM 21.90 each
Everyone knows that Olive Oil is great for hair, and has been used for generations by people around the world for healthier hair. And Guardian has made this in easier form, Shampoo and Conditioner. It smells pleasant, not overpowering and the Shampoo lathers quite well (although not as much as the commercial brands but I personally find this a plus point). The packaging is great too, with pumps for both Shampoo and Conditioner.
5. Guardian Ultra-Hydrating Hand Cream
Now this hand cream, specifically the Velvety Rose flavor, feels to me a bit like a cheaper version of the famous Crabtree and Evelyn Rose Hand Cream, after first application. It does make my hand softer, with a hint of 'rosey' fragrance. The fragrance does not stick though, however my palm does feel better after application. I tend to have really dry skin on my palm when driving so I always have a tub of this in my handbag.
So there you have it, those are my Top 5 Favorite Products from Guardian Pharmacy. The fact that it's their own brand also means that there's almost always sale/discounts on these items, very rarely did I have had to pay full retail prices for these, so if you can get quality goods at cheaper price, why not? :)
(Disclaimer:- All the photos used in this post are taken from the Guardian Pharmacy Official Website)
January 09, 2015
Back in December 2014, we went for a short trip to Genting Highlands to watch "Elmo Makes Music" show, and since it was our first time in Genting, we managed to sneak some sight-seeing into our itinerary. The place I'm talking about is the Genting Highlands Strawberry Farm.
Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm is in Gohtong Jaya, so if you come from KL, it is before the top of Genting, near a roundabout - they have signages so you can't miss it. It was also quite close to where we stayed - The Awana Genting Resort.
I read somewhere that it was free to enter the farm before this and that you only need to pay to pick strawberry or go to Lavender Farm, but I guess they changed the rule now to make the most of everyone who came. There was an entrance fee before you even enter the farm now, so you have to pay once to go and see everything (Strawberry Farm, Lavender Farm, Mushroom Farm and Honey Farm).
Here are some photos that I managed to capture while I was inside the farm. Enjoy!
You can also choose to pick strawberries in here, it is RM8 per 100g, they will give you a scissors and a basket. It was Little A's first time seeing strawberries in real life, we thought she'd have fun doing this and she did!
Tips for Picking Strawberries at The Genting Highlands Strawberry Farm
Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm is in Gohtong Jaya, so if you come from KL, it is before the top of Genting, near a roundabout - they have signages so you can't miss it. It was also quite close to where we stayed - The Awana Genting Resort.
I read somewhere that it was free to enter the farm before this and that you only need to pay to pick strawberry or go to Lavender Farm, but I guess they changed the rule now to make the most of everyone who came. There was an entrance fee before you even enter the farm now, so you have to pay once to go and see everything (Strawberry Farm, Lavender Farm, Mushroom Farm and Honey Farm).
Here are some photos that I managed to capture while I was inside the farm. Enjoy!
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| Hydroponic style Strawberries, these have to be cut using scissors, not plucked with your fingers. |
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| These are Lavenders |
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| And these are not Lavenders ... Just some purple flowers.. Don't be fooled :P |
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| You can take photos with Parrots for a fee. |
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| Mushrooms! |
You can also choose to pick strawberries in here, it is RM8 per 100g, they will give you a scissors and a basket. It was Little A's first time seeing strawberries in real life, we thought she'd have fun doing this and she did!
Tips for Picking Strawberries at The Genting Highlands Strawberry Farm
- go in the morning, there are still lots of strawberries at this hour
- pick ONLY the really bright, red ones, don't pick the ones that are not so ripe yet because they are unlikely to ripen more after you pick them
- it costs RM8 per 100g, so unless you are willing to pay a lot of money, just pick about 7-8 strawberries just for the experience. 7-8 strawberries is approximately 100g (RM8)
Granted the farm isn't as big as the ones in Cameron but we somehow enjoyed it more. And don't forget to try the Strawberry Popsicle they have in the the cafe, it's really yummy! (the ones where they made it themselves, inside the long plastic tube thingy). So in conclusion, if it is your first time visiting Genting, this Genting Highlands Strawberry Farm is definitely a recommended place to check-out!
January 07, 2015
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| Photo from Google. |
Hi everyone, and Happy New Year 2015!
I thought I'd start the first blog post of the year by sharing about The Little Gym Malaysia, specifically the one that Little A goes to - in The Strand Mall, Kota Damansara. (Shortened TLG for here onwards).
Little A has been a member at TLG for about 5 months now, so I think it's quite appropriate for me to write a review now based on what I saw during these months. We started looking for something like a playschool, or playgroup for Little A since last year because we wanted her to be able to mix with other kids, and not be so socially awkward, seeing as how she is currently the only child and her only 'friends' are adults. Not to mention we needed somewhere for her to channel all those bursting energy. We tried by going to 'trial-classes' that these places offered. We've been to the Gymboree in Bangsar Village, and after the first trial we didn't really liked it for a number of reasons, so we ruled that out. I mean these places are not cheap, so if you are going to be spending money, it better be somewhere you are comfortable sending your child to.
I got to know about this place since this is near my workplace so one day I decided to drop by and checked them out. I was happy to know that they offer a free 'trial-class', so we brought Little A along one weekend, and we felt confident enough with the teachers and the place, we decided to sign her up right after the trial session! (Bonus point - the teachers aren't pushy like the ones in Gymboree, so hooray for The Little Gym Malaysia!)
Basically, TLG takes babies and kids from as young as 4 months old to as old as 12 years old, and they use three-dimensonal learning approach to help the development of our children. Here's some info about this 3-d approach as taken from their website:-
 | Get Moving! Physical activities to burn that boundless energy, plus build flexibility and strength, develop balance and coordination, and encourage agility, rhythm and overall fitness to launch a lifetime of healthy habits. |
 | Brain Boost! Designed to expand the mind and develop a love of learning, these exercises foster sustained concentration and decision making, prepare for or reinforce school lessons, and nurture problem-solving ability and creative expression. |
 | Citizen Kid! These activities teach life skills like sharing, working in a group, listening and leadership—all skills that translate to a well-adjusted, well-rounded superkid. |
Or in layman's terms, or from how I understand it at least - they take things that kids love doing anyway like running, jumping, climbing etc (things that we parents sometimes see as dangerous), and nurture them (i.e. how to roll/climb/jump properly without hurting yourself) and teach us how these skills can be important in life.
Now why do I Love The Little Gym Malaysia (Kota Damansara branch) so much?
- the teachers are qualified, trained professionals and more importantly they are passionate about their jobs and they genuinely love the kids
- I saw major improvements in Little A merely 2 months after joining, she's less shy and awkward around strangers and her confidence grew by leaps and bounds
- for each activity that they do every week (changes weekly), the teachers explained what they were doing and why they were doing it, instead of blindly asking the children to do something without knowing why they were doing it. (unlike in Gymboree)
- apart from the weekly classes, they have other activities as well like Halloween Party, Summer Camps, Winter Camps etc. Also something called Parent's Appreciation Night where you can leave your child there and go spend some quality time with your significant other, minus the toddler. (Little A is too young to go to this one but once she reaches 3 we're sending her for some alone time hehehe :p)
- the teachers are not pushy at all! (again, unlike in Gymboree). They understand that kids, specifically those around 2 years of age, are unlikely to listen to you 100% of the time, so they let the kids explore around the gym and not force them to do any activities they don't want to do - as long as they are having fun, they are learning something.
- They sanitize and mopped the gym after every session
- they have one of the most flexible class schedules I've seen in comparison to many playschools. So if your child is sick or you can't attend their normal classes for some reason, all you need to do is let them know and schedule a 'make-up' class for it. That way you make the most out of your monthly fee and you don't lose out on anything. Brilliant!
So there you have it, that's why I love the Little GymMalaysia so much! I don't know about other branches but this one is good enough for us :) (this is unlikely but Teacher Clint, Teacher Meagan and Teacher Brian, if you are reading this, you rock!)
If you need more information about The Little Gym Malaysia to see their locations or check out what classes they have to offer, head over to their official website here.
December 30, 2014
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| Outside view of Thumbs Cafe |
Okay I don't really know if hipsters (read:young people) hang out here, but that's the impression I got the few times that I've been here. I grew up in Ipoh, and lately everytime I go back to Ipoh I keep seeing all these cafes popping out, and people are calling them 'Hipsters hangouts' and that Ipoh is becoming the "In" thing for hipsters crowd, yada yada. I don't know if this is true since I'm probably too old to be in those circles anymore, but hey, if it means more good places to eat each time I come back to Ipoh, fine by me.
So anyway, went to Thumbs Cafe a couple of times, and I quite liked it and wouldn't mind going there again. Food is quite good, choices of both Malaysian and Western cuisini, price is reasonable, service is friendly and fast, and they have a small children play area - which is a bonus, I LOVE places with play areas so that Little A can channel all that energy playing there instead of bugging everyone once she gets bored and trust me, at the terrible two age, that happens A LOT.
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| The small play area |
I learnt from my dad that this place used to be orphanages (one for boys the other for girls - the other one also in the compound being turned to another restaurant called "Karat"), so they have kept the Kampung-style arhictecture and refurbished it to become a restaurant. The deco is pleasant, although there might not be a big place for a large family or crowd, probably safer if you call ahead and ask. Because from what I saw, they have a long table with bar stools - fine if you are a group of young ones, but probably not suitable if you have elderly in the family. The normal tables that I saw can probably fit 6 people at most. Again, this is only from my observation.
I would recommend the Pavlova from this cafe, it's light and not overly sweet. Little A liked the Mac'n'Cheese and my dad likes the meatballs. One negative point though, if you order Apple Juice or Orange Juice and the likes, they gave you drinks made from cordials and not that I have anything against cordials but I don't think it should be labelled as "Fruit Juices", quite misleading if you asked me. Anyway here are some photos of the interior, and some food we ordered.
Here's the address of the Cafe if you intend to pay them a visit:-
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| Thumbs Cafe 133,Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil, Greentown, 30450 Ipoh 012-6679122 |
December 18, 2014
Tried this out with the Shake'n'Take, and it turned out wonderful, even better than the ones we had in Boost Juice!
Ingredients:-
2 Bananas (I used Dole)
1 Cup Strawberry Yoghurt (I used Yoplait)
3 Teaspoons of Milo
A handful of ice
Milk (adjust according to your thickness preference)
Method:-
Put everything in the blender and off we go! :)
Ingredients:-
2 Bananas (I used Dole)
1 Cup Strawberry Yoghurt (I used Yoplait)
3 Teaspoons of Milo
A handful of ice
Milk (adjust according to your thickness preference)
Method:-
Put everything in the blender and off we go! :)
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