Recommendations

Not earning any commission for this but sharing this range of plant-based items. 

It started with at least 2 years back I tried the window cleaner. It keeps my mirrors and windows sparkly clean and I simply love the smell. And what surprised me was it works so much better than the other brands’ chemically laden window cleaners.

This year I came across their (1) all-purpose cleaner (2) handwash (3) bathroom cleaner + shower spray

(1) this is a “let’s try this. Looks interesting” and I’m sold into buying more 🤭. I have varying spray DIY bottles of castille soap + EO for the house so why did I buy this? Maybe it’s an aunty thingy? 

Verdict : used both lavender and grapefruit. Prefer lavender smell. If only they have refill packs

(2) decided to try both lemon mint and green tea + aloe foaming handwash. The latter is the winner in terms of smell, I like lemon but I love anything with green tea fragrance. When we changed the kitchen sink, I decided to get a handwash gel to put in the dispenser. I got Sea Minerals which has rosemary + bergamot + lime inside. I’m not regretting anything at all! 

Saw the sponsored ad in FB about their sale and took the opportunity to stock up $100+ worth of products. 

Freebies

(3) I bought the bathroom cleaner and shower spray about a month back

but haven’t used it yet. I still have 2 more bottles of the Japanese brand 🍋 smell cleaner. Did I mention that I simply love Japanese cleaning products!! I don’t know why. Just an old aunty prefer to stand in the cleaning aisle than the food aisle.  

Why I decided to try this shower spray?

I’ve always preferred to have a clean glass but it’s not easy to keep going to the toilet after my family members shower. Worst than “toilets checked!” in the aircraft. So the glass tend to leave behind water marks. 

If only my family members each do their duty to dry the glass after their shower…

What does the spray do?

Method daily shower prevents soap scum and dissolves mildew, hard water stains, and lime stains.

I’ve had many experiments in trying to maintain a clean dry squeaky clean glass. Not forgetting, the natural way of baking soda + vinegar to cough-due-to-inhalation of water repel spray. The water repellent wash and a follow up with a spray and clean glass dry with newspaper saw me holding my breath and running out of the toilet every few seconds. It’s really that horrible! Time consuming too coz I spend more time running out of the toilet than staying inside scrubbing it. 

I will try the shower spray another day. Not sure if I will like this coz you one is suppose to leave the water droplets on the glass. I prefer to have a dry shower screen lah!  Maybe the time when I do it, I’ll do it before I sleep so I wont see it 😜 and hopefully let the magic work overnight.

Pre - flight rantings

SERIOUS BUSINESS  (entry dated 22/6)

This is no laughing matter when …… we have to buy these in preparation for our upcoming trip. 

I’m definitely bringing my cool sleeve; my cap; my umbrella; my fans; Coolify 2 neck fan; my SQ small towel to wipe face n perspiration; UV cream. I hardly use my Kiehls UV cream but now will have to do so (ehh….expired or not?!) 

Should I just pack Dri-fit tops? Easy to wash and dry. Got Dri-fit undergarments or not 😂?  

Let’s see if the gal will believe me when I told her July summer heat is no joke. She ever asked “how hot can it be? We went in June before …..”

WHAT’S THE HYPE WITH YOUTRIP AND …. (entry dated 23/6)

So hubby was so excited telling me how good and easy Youtrip was, better exchange rate and concluded with “you go and apply another card”. Initially I was questioning him why use this card when it works the same as a credit card? And with my UNI$ I can redeem more practical items to feed my kids stuffs like BreadTalk voucher not buying useless stuffs.  

There were a few to choose from so I chose Revolut, which sounds more of the winner to me. Applied mine on 13/6 and the card was probably in the mailbox for many days (we don’t open the mailbox daily. Like every 2-3wks maybe? Or when someone rmbrs 🤭)

Put in S$1000/- first. Will top up more at a later date. 

Wait for my review on Revolut when I come back from Japan. 

Anyway, feedback from lil’ one who used daddy’s card in TW. Can only use the card in Taipei but not in Keelung. Many of the people couldn’t use their debit card in Keelung also. So luckily I changed around S$500+ and had some extra notes at home. I think it’ll be no problem for us coz we won’t be travelling in ulu places. Still, it would be good to have some cash around. Not forgetting I’ll need to hide my money from che-che 😂.

SUICA CARD (entry dated 26/6)

I had the cards since 2013? 

I probably did use the cards in 2015? 2016? But in 2020, I don’t think I used in Okinawa as we walked a lot. And 2022, I didn’t use my card coz we practically had a car so … but I did check on the value of my card and asked what I can do with the not so 小 kids’ cards now. The staff told me to approach the JR East Office to process refund. 

I didn’t do it in the end coz not much money left and if I did, there won’t be any ‘souvenir’ for the girls to keep next time. Or maybe they don’t even want to keep the card. 

It takes the tech savvy girl to help me to do it on the phone. I probably did try once and never succeed or worried that I’ll even lose my ¥821 [S$7.74 only 🤣 talk like as if I have thousands of dollars inside] Topped up my card with ¥5000. So it’ll be easy now to tap tap my phone. Thanks to advance technology! And she had to REITERATE with such great emphasis on “DON’T I REPEAT DO NOT USE THE PHYSICAL CARD ANYMORE.” because :

She knows her mom can __________

(a) be forgetful at times 

(b) never pay 100% to what they say

(c) both (a) and (b) 

Answer : ______

FINALLY PACKED THE LUGGAGE (28/6)

Clothes and items were left on the piano and electone for few days. Finally packed them in. Initially wanted to let che-che have responsibility for her own items but it means I’ll need 4 packing cubes (1 medium and 1 large sized cubes each) and each will have some leftover space. I asked her to pack only 4 sets of clothes, 2 sets of sleeping clothes, 3 sets of undergarments. 

that’s coz aunty will be washing clothes there. See the hanger? Lil’ one was the first person to try this out. 

Got this from Taobao

Have this too. It’s slimmer to keep in the luggage but only 4 clips each hanger so may not be enough for us two. Maybe can either let che-che bring this to the US if she prefers. 

After I weighed the bag, I hope I’m doing it correctly coz my luggage weighing scale is spoilt so used the weighing scale (total weight of me carrying the luggage - my weight = 15kg. Huh? Sure or not? Maybe it’s the cans of chilli + kaya for Mio that is heavy? 🫢

I asked che-che if we should use another luggage as we have an allowance of 20kg on the way back. Knowing SHE WILL BE BRINGING home lots of 可愛いstuffs, her なにわ男子stuffs, and her snacks confirm 20kg is not enough. Of course I have the worry that with 2 luggages, the first hotel might be even more cramped. Oh well! I think we can step on the bed to get into the bed then 🤷‍♀️. 

PRINTING DONE on 29/6

Got the chance to scan through some itinery. I have no idea where the places she wants to go in Osaka. So I told her she has to know which train to take coz I’m just going to follow her 😂. 

Printed the itinerary and hotel bookings. I forgot how to do the booklet way and she asked just print normal, why bind?

After I kept the printer, I realised I forgot to print the flight bookings. Actually most airlines don’t even look at bookings, scanning the passport is good enough. 

HER PLANNING STYLE VS MINE

actually this is the most laxed holiday… I left the planning to her BUT she’s not as detailed as I am. Nevertheless must admit she has done a good job. It’s taken a load off my mind so I have no stress; feel younger. 

On This Day - (28th June) #Reminders from FB#

28th June 2021

Begin the week with the greens

Repotted yesterday. I hope we're doing it right.

Love the smell! It's so strong!

The remaining lavenders

and then not sure if we needed the disco light. But...just try. I hope the leaves don't burn out.

Got this months back, meant for my sunflowers n adenium which didn't get enough sunlight. Which is why there are 4 arms. Didn't use it in the end coz Mr ☀️ came out.

Repotted my thorn plant - euphorbia geroldi

Crossing my fingers n toes (again ) for

I didn't want to cram the front part of the PES this way.

The two racks are meant to go alternating between the 4 huge pots. However it means that the plants don't get the • they need and always end up dying.

Love the uniformed look

Back in da kitchen.

Trimmed some mint to make a drink for self.

Changed the failed coriander pod. 3x leh! Something must be wrong with that batch. Re-pod another mint.

28th June 2020

Lil' one baked her Oreo cheesecake last night.

We need to double the portion on the crust, can only do 5. Maybe coz she was being too generous and did a thick crust each kal. (Her bakery sure go bankrupt) She had to put Oreo cookies at the base for the rests.

This time round I told her we will do a water bath si, tho recipe claims there's no need to but having had that crusty look the last time, no harm doing it this time round. And it sure looks so much better.

As usual she says she want to do a proper cheesecake but I don't hv the baking tin anymore.

Somehow I still prefer the cupcake way, it's easy to eat on the go, not too big n won't feel so overwhelmed.

As for me, tho l've been wanting to do my cutesy bakes but I just feel so lazy. For the easiest (i think) - I dont even know when I'll make my b 5 U'##! Maybe

next year co or the following year？千脆买来吃吧！

28th June 2020

Even this is prompting me to start exercising 😂

Does rolling around help to burn calories?

28th June 2019

Time to smell the roses before the new school term commence.

28th June 2016

Craving for fried mee Siam ...

Is there one near me?

Footnote written in 2023 : can use Thermomix to do it. I will try one day. 

28th June 2015

Mei-mei: mummy, I'm looking for the charger. The disposable charger, where is it?

Me: I've disposed it.

Mei-mei: Where?

Me: Thrown away. It's a disposable charger right?

(sigh...

...2nd time telling her she's using the wrong

word)

28th June 2015

22nd Nov 09 - She's 3yrs 2mths. See how hiao she dances and ...yup ... now I'm reminded - that there was a period of time she likes to stick a piece of tissue paper into her nose. Haha! And notice that grin on her face. The grin that will melt our hearts and forgive whatever silly & naughty things she does. (pardon my irritating voice)

28th June 2013

Argh!!!! Both girls piano exams on 23rd July. But good hor! Both on the same day.

28th June 2011

Lil' girl sleeping in car before school starts

28th June 2010

Mummy needs a bailout! Dying to bake something.

Something about do’nut

I like cute and pretty snacks but I’d hesitate if you ask me to eat one whole piece of cake with loads of cream as deco. Donuts on the other hand doesn’t make me guilt stricken. 

In years of seeing the world, I’ve grown to like some donuts as snacks I’d buy for myself to eat before check-out from a station. 

When we travel, I’d introduce donuts to the family but nobody likes them. Oh well! 

Last December, I introduced them to Mister Donut and カレーパン　🍞. Only lil’ one tried Mister Donut and only che-che tried the karepan 🤨. I only like chewy mochi from Mister Donut so I ordered that for myself and lil’ one ordered Pokémon donuts. She totally forgot about this until she got back from Taiwan and told me the donuts is nice and she misses it. Thought she didn’t try it before. OMG! I can feed her poison she also dunno. Anyway, she was elated when I told her there’s one opened in home ground recently. Kept bugging me for 2 days until I decided to bring her down to Junction 8 

The lady behind me was telling me I’m so lucky the queue is short today since it’s opening. Maybe the hype die down already? The wait was made bearable as we were talking about food and other food. Haha! Put two Singaporeans together and we can talk non-stop about food. 

I didn’t know there was a cap on maximum order (10) and only 4 pon ring donuts per customer. I should have asked lil’ one not to talk to me and pretend we don’t know each other and order more. 

Still I can’t believe the guy infront of me queued so long just to order 1. What?! I was still telling lil’ one we queue so long just order the max 10 instead of 6. 

Two cashiers so queue moved faster

On This Day - (27th June) #Reminders from FB#

27th June 2021

Plant matters 

Her lavenders listening to 仕事はじめ　🎶 

 now. She's been playing her Joe Hisaishi's thru the night.

She wants to repot her lavender to a bigger pot tmrw.

Wish us luck!

Che-che wanted a (she calls it) monster plant in her room but I didn't allow anything with soil in bedrooms.

So she chose this big one to put in balcony.

3 pots of dunno what thorns plant on the floor. Will do the repotting tmrw. Let me laze one more day.

Sow new 🌻 seeds tmrw, it hasn't grown beyond a seedling for the last 3 attempts.

27th June 2016

I wasn't sure if I packed this music book over, am glad I finally remembered to check the shelf in b.shelter today. Athena Ting, now you can play the songs, don't hv to rely on hearing or squint your eyes to read the scores on your phone.

#my20yrsoldmusicbook# #lesmisérables#

27th June 2015

Wah seh! All the liu lian posts put up by friends somehow got into me. I'm going to buy a small box for myself tomorrow.

27th June 2015

Received this in my email:

I'm going to fly First Class and travel around the world, treat my friends to nice makan after I claim my US$6.4 million. Don't stop me from claiming what's mine!

But wait! Which cousin died?

Perhaps I should drop him an email telling him his cousin died too and she has US$12million in her account.

27th June 2012

To my daughter's future teachers,

You will know when my daughter forged my signature.

Cannot control laughter when I saw this. "MUMMY"

27th June 2010

Sounds tt u hear d night b4 school term starts :

1. sounds of battery-operated pencil sharpener
2. opening of cupboard doors
3. shouting at d kids who are still-talking in their bed; thinking their mummy cannot hear "hey! I don't want 2 hear any noise from ur room... if not, 2 of u can come out & stand outside until tomorrow morning." - next minute kids keep quiet