Ipoh for the Weekend

Posted on September 18, 2012 by The Giddy Tigress

We made a trip to Ipoh last weekend, because it had been a long while since the kids had visited their grandparents, and coincidentally my parents were in Penang a few days before, so I figured it would be a opportune time to give them a ride home.

I packed very lightly for this 2-day trip, so I only relied on my iPhone for pictures.  Surprisingly though, the one picture which I had posted on Instagram and then fed through Facebook and Twitter, which invited the most comments was that of the refreshingly delicious dessert I had been craving for for a long long while:

Meet the humble yet temptingly refreshing Wan Tau Long:

Apparently this dessert is only available in Ipoh.  I did not even know that until recently.

It’s such a simple dessert that it boggles me as to how delicious it is…it’s just plain shaved ice with jelly on top, some syrup and some like it with a squeeze of lime juice.  For me, it ranks right on top with the ice kacangs, “tab tim krobs” and (for some) cendols.

Have you tried this?  If you haven’t, remember to try it next time you’re in Ipoh 🙂 – this coming from an Ipoh lass right here 🙂  I’ve enjoyed it when I was a young girl growing up in Ipoh, and I am still enjoying it now… mmmmm 🙂

My food-conquering tasks in Ipoh were made complete with these two favorites of mine, which I always try NOT to miss whenever I’m back home:

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Posted in Close to Heart & Home, Drooling & Cooking, Thoughts & Scribblings | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Modern Way to Prepare for Examinations

Posted on September 18, 2012 by The Giddy Tigress

Back in those days, students used to prepare for examinations using sample test papers which could either be purchased from bookstores or shared among friends.  I remember we sometimes exchanged trial exam papers with friends from other schools too, just so we could have more practice.  Lots of paper work then!

As these students enter the working world, some elect to take further certifications to boost their resumes, most of these certifications are software-based and courses would be offered by the relevant software organizations and vendors.  However, some students and professionals find it arduous to hunt down test questions in preparation of the certification examinations.

That’s where TestsLive comes in.

This is a site that primarily focuses on training and preparing IT professionals to face examinations confidently, while ensuring they are equipped with the best examination preparation skills they can get.  IT professionals who sign up for an account with TestsLive will be provided with practice exams in a whole wide range of certification courses, just so they are confident enough of attaining good results.  In fact, the folks at TestsLive would go so far as to guarantee your money back should the candidate fail the examination!

It is just like a professional study aid which you can access right from the comfort of your home, at any time of the day.  Imagine having a whole bunch of examination advisors and experienced professionals at your disposal!  What more could an IT professional ask for?  It is literally information at the fingertips!

Posted in Rainmakers, Thoughts & Scribblings | Leave a comment

My Absolutely Natural and Homemade Mosquito Repellent

Posted on September 5, 2012 by The Giddy Tigress

The two things I am very particular about when I get my kids ready for school are:

  • Sunblock
  • Mosquito repellent

For sunblock, I use the storebought versions which just frankly makes life easier for me, plus it works wonders, but for mosquito repellents, I’ve discovered lately that I do have other options besides buying them.  Initially I used the sticker type of repellents, but eventually I found that they tend to leave a sticky residue on the kids’ attire, something which I detest.

I then chose the spray-on type, making sure that I read and reread all the ingredients on the bottle first.  I wanted to be absolutely sure they did not contain harmful ingredients, like DEET.

Well one day, I came across some sites that had recipes for making homemade mosquito repellents or bug repellents, if you may.  The ingredients looked simple enough and you know me, if they are all-natural and they are easily obtainable, nothing can stop me.

So I finally did it…and succeeded in making my own Homemade Mosquito Repellent.  It smells AMAZING (probably because of the essential oils) and most importantly, it’s completely homemade, natural and it WORKS A TREAT!

…so say my kids anyway.

Here’s my easy recipe for Homemade Mosquito Repellent:

You will need:

  • 6oz Witch Hazel
  • 6 drops of Citronella essential oil
  • 6 drops of Lemongrass essential oil
  • 5 drops of Lavender essential oil
  • 1 clean mixing bottle (I cleaned out an empty bottle of my Dr Bronner’s Magic All-One Liquid Castille Soap, and used that)
  • 1 (or more) spray bottles (You can easily get these from drugstores or pharmacies.  I got mine from Daiso though)
  • Funnel for pouring (useful but not compulsory)

What you need to do:

  1. Pour the witch hazel in the mixing bottle.
  2. Add the essential oils.
  3. Give the bottle a good shake.  At this point the mixture should look cloudy.
  4. Pour into your spray bottle(s).
  5. Spray onto skin or clothing to repel bugs and mosquitoes!

By the way, just in case you were wondering, I bought my ingredients (witch hazel and essential oils) from iHerb.com. 🙂

Frankly, I can find everything there!  Let me know if you try this out and it works for you! 😀

(Recipe adapted from I Can Teach My Child)

Posted in Close to Heart & Home, Parenting & Motherhood | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Photobook Project Ticked Off My List

Posted on September 3, 2012 by The Giddy Tigress

After much delay and procrastination, I am proud and pleased to announce that I have finally completed Hannah’s photobook! 🙂

After I made one for Ethan some years ago, I have sometimes been “pressured” to make another one for Hannah.  So what was supposed to be completed a little after her second birthday, has only became a tangible result now…she’s three plus now, but better late than never, right?

As before, I made 3 copies of this photobook, one each for the grandparents and one for us.

For Hannah’s photobook however, I did the imagewrap version, which is a hardcover book with an image printed directly on the hardcover.  However, I also discovered that the default paper used is not the same as the one for Ethan’s.  I kinda preferred the slightly embossed quality that was Ethan’s, but Hannah’s photobook has a beauty all its own.

This one here is one of my favorite pages…I had to redo it several times, changing the background, placement of photos, size of photos, but it was all worth it:

…and then this one was also quite time-consuming, but hubby really likes it 🙂

 

All in all, the effort was worth the while…the only thing now is that I need to find more time to complete a couple more photobooks! 😀

Posted in Close to Heart & Home, Hannah, Parenting & Motherhood, Relax & Celebrate | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

I’m Loving Esmeria’s 5-Repair Eye Gel!…but was it a Penny Wise Decision?

Posted on August 15, 2012 by The Giddy Tigress

Here’s a somewhat funny story I’d like to share of how I ended up with the Esmeria Ultimate 5-Repair Eye Gel.  If you don’t already know, I am a loyal user of Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Eye (EL ANRE), and although my purse screams out in mercy each time I put some on my eye area, I keep using it simply because I cannot find any other eye treatment thingy that does the job as good as the EL ANRE does.

Anyway, back to my story.  I had with me Esmeria vouchers worth RM15, which were expiring soon; I think I won them either at a contest, or by filling up some survey.  But anyhow, since my EL ANRE just finished, I thought I would use the vouchers to purchase the Esmeria Ultimate 5-Repair Eye Gel instead.

Off I trotted to the one and only store in Penang where I could use the voucher, and as luck would have it, they did not carry the eye gel at all!  Since I did not need any of the other Esmeria products, I walked out empty-handed…but once I got the chance, I wrote a message to the Esmeria folks in KL to let them know of my predicament.

Well, whaddya know?  They were kind enough to allow me to purchase it direct from them in KL, and they would also ship the item to me free of charge.  To sweeten the deal further, the eye gel was being sold at a promotional price of RM49.90 then (RM10 off its retail price of RM59.90), and with my RM15 vouchers, I only needed to pay RM34.90!

 

I just love the packaging of this product!  It’s a longish box with an outer cover that slides on top of the bottom part, encasing the eye gel inside.  Another great thing is that the eye gel comes in a tube form: yay for hygiene!

I have a thing for eye gels that come in tubes because the gel does not get exposed every time I open the tub.  Plus, gels are so much better for me than creams, as I am prone to oil seeds and milia around the eye area.  This one was, surprisingly, very refreshing and soothing on the eye.  I had tried the other Esmeria eye gel before, the Ultimate 5-Effect Eye Gel, and it was rather meh for me.

The Esmeria Ultimate 5-Repair Eye Gel, on the other hand, suits me better.  It’s of a runnier gel consistency and applies easily on the eye.  Takes about a minute for full absorption and I can instantly feel the eye area refreshed and supple.  It boggles me though, why this product has not been reviewed quite as much as its friend, the Ultimate 5-Effect Eye Gel. 😛

The 5 REPAIRING aspects of the Esmeria Ultimate 5-Repair Eye Gel are as follows:

  • Reduces deep wrinkles around the eye
  • Firms the skin around the eye
  • Prevents dryness
  • Protects DNA level
  • Has deep healing properties

Well, I don’t (yet) have deep wrinkles to begin with, but I’d have to say that this gel definitely firms the skin around the eye and certainly helps prevent dryness.  I use it twice a day and that’s enough to get results.  I’m not sure how to check the DNA protection level, but I am hoping it’s something that is happening under the skin!  A week or two ago, I had some reddish spots right under my lower lash line.  I applied this gel and overnight those spots disappeared!  Very impressive!

The Esmeria Ultimate 5-Repair Eye Gel is certified organic and has a light and pleasing lavender floral scent.  Here are the ingredients, for anyone who’s interested:

So the question now is: Can it replace the EL ANRE?  For me, I would give it a resounding YES!  I find the effects for both similar, and pricewise, definitely the Esmeria one takes it all.  Both eye treatments perform some repairwork on the skin around the eye area, and in my case, I could see not difference when I use either one.  So there you go, a budget buy for the eyes that works a treat!

The Esmeria Ultimate 5-Repair Eye Gel retails at RM59.90 and you can check out the list of available stores that sell it.

Posted in The Fairer Sex, Thoughts & Scribblings | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments