Power of music

Another Friday. Does a housewife even know what day it is? I survived the heavy chores, and now I face the ironing pile. Housework has no end.

@ 2.12pm

Hubby packed dinner (I didn’t cook this whole week 🤭) so I’m free after a nice cold shower. Hid in the chilled room, away from the 32°C yet feels like 36°C heat. 

@ 4.11pm. Listening to the music and chomping down on someone’s snack. Need chocolate, need a cold ice water. Actually I feel like napping, another sleepless night. Whole day today keep taking deep breaths. I will need to start stuffing my ears with earplugs again. 

Bed Vacumn - III

开展咯! Used the new bed vacumn. 

Vacumned che-che’s bed first coz the laundry rack will not have enough space tomorrow to hang if I wash all 3 bedsheets and bed protectors. 

Not sure if it’s good sign that it’s green light the whole time I was vacumning her bed. It’s either the bed is really clean or there’s something wrong with the machine 😂.

Verdict :

1)  it doesn’t beat the mattress as hard as the previous one, or maybe the old one was wearing out? When the beating was vigorous the previous one, it was so loud on the Saturdays I have to vacumn the beds 😂. I like the new one coz my arms don’t vibrate with the machine 🤣 and I don’t get the tingling sensation on my left arm n palm (that injured arm). I have to use my strength to hold the machine down for the old one. But because I don’t hear the beating sound, psychologically I feel like Iris Ohyama didn’t do its job. 

2) because the handle is higher than the previous one, I don’t have to lean that close to the vacumn. No backache.

3) the ‘neck’ is movable so it’s less tiring for me. However it posed a challenge when I was vacumning the sides of the mattress. The ‘neck’ doesn’t lock in place so one hand has to press down on the base/plate. 

4) as the coverage is wider than my previous bed vacumn, I move lesser across the mattress. Usually I’d run the mattress thrice with the old vacumn, for this I can run the mattress twice. 

5) as for cleaning the vacumn parts, I shall check that tomorrow

A comparison between my old and new bed vacumn :

Which is better : 

Eczema : Coz of che-che’s eczema I always have to clean/dust her room more often than I clean/dust lil’ one’s room. Haha! Lil’ one will be heartpain if she knows about this. But I think I need to step up on vacumning che-che’s bed every week, everytime we change her bedsheet. I cannot follow my monthly schedule. Infact, ideally need to change her bedsheet twice a week. But she’ll complain lor … coz I only helped to change bedsheet & bed protector once for her - the time we moved in 🤣. She’s been doing it herself all these years coz it’s a struggle to handle her bed myself with no space to move the mattress out.

Drink

Saw this at the Japanese butcher and just had to buy it. Has more ume taste imo.

Information about this :

The selected product is the Wairatamba Yuzu Ume Puree, an additive-free 5x concentrated fruit syrup made with fully ripened plums from Tanba, Kyoto, and Japanese-grown yuzu citrus. 

Key Details

Ingredients: Kyoto Tanba ripe ume plums and domestic Japanese yuzu.
Features: Completely additive-free, 5x concentrated dilution ratio.
Usage: Dilute 5 times with water, soda, or alcohol, or use as a topping for yogurt, pancakes, and ice cream

Day out with lil’ one

I love my daughter to bits, but after four hours of non-stop talking today, I am officially ready to wave the white flag! 😂 

Starting from the morning. Every Thursdays when it’s “self-study” day she’ll pretend and walk into the toilet just as I’m getting ready to leave the house for my Fight-Do class. Pretend to comb hair then look at me, pretend to hover around me. Then comes the sweet, high-pitched voice: "Can I follow you?" 🤣🤣As usual I always like to tease her and pretend the answer is no. 😬 But deep down, the real answer is always yes. I find myself wondering how many more of these moments we have left.The fear that most parents have when their young duckling starts to wander off the nest, so I’m soaking it in while I can.

On days when I don’t have sudden craving she gets to choose what she wants to eat, as long as she don’t make me drive crazy distance. She asked for Uncle wanton again, no complaints from me coz I don’t mind going back to my home turf. 

Ray was helping out at the stall today, last week was Jean. I ordered their fried wanton. I saw people ordering fried 水饺 and they look so deliciously tempting. I shall give it a try next time I’m there.

Here, lil’ one ordered an otah for herself but she felt her throat uncomfortable after just a few bites. Sigh… her sensitve tonsils.

It’s PSLE day 2 the road will be clear in Tembeling Road (Haig Girls), thus I took the opportunity to pick up the tonkatsu from Ginkakuji Onishi. OMG! I checked and the last time I went there was 8th Dec 24. 

Saw some interesting foodstuffs- (1) Morita Truffle sauce with shoyu. Che-Che loves truffles but I hesitated. What if she doesn’t like it? None of us eats truffle tasting stuffs at home. (2) Yuzu Ume puree (3) Yuzu vinegar [im getting this next time!]

More about Yuzu Vinegar :

The selected product is Marumoto Whole Pressed Yuzu Vinegar, a traditional Japanese drinking and culinary vinegar. 

Health and Wellness Benefits

Rich in Vitamin C: Yuzu contains up to three times more Vitamin C than standard lemons. This powerful antioxidant directly supports your immune system, protects cells against oxidative stress, and aids in collagen production for healthier skin. 
Fights Inflammation: The vinegar features citrus-derived compounds such as limonoids and flavonoids. These elements help target and reduce internal chronic inflammation. 
Fatigue Relief: Like many premium Japanese fruit vinegars, it contains organic citric and acetic acids. These acids assist the body in breaking down lactic acid, speeding up muscle recovery and easing daily fatigue. 
Aids Digestion: Consuming diluted vinegar before or after meals supports the gut microbiome, stimulates digestive enzymes, and helps regulate post-meal blood sugar levels. 

How to Use It

As a Beverage: Dilute 1 part yuzu vinegar with 3 to 5 parts water or sparkling soda. You can also blend in a spoonful of raw honey to balance out the sharp tartness. 
In Cooking: It serves as a bright alternative to standard rice vinegar or lime juice. Use it to craft vibrant salad dressings, gyoza dipping sauces, or marinades for grilled fish and white meats.

More about fig vinegar : 

Incorporating a premium Japanese fruit drinking vinegar like this whole-pressed fig vinegar into your daily diet offers several notable wellness advantages. The drink blends the inherent nutritional values of fermented acetic acid with the unique properties of the fig fruit. 

The primary health benefits include:

1. Digestive and Gut Health Support

• Enhances Gut Microbiome: The fermentation process yields beneficial organic acids and enzymes that encourage the growth of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. 
• Aids Nutrient Absorption: The natural acetic acid stimulates stomach acid secretion, making it easier for your body to break down food and absorb essential minerals like calcium and iron. 
• Relieves Bloating: Drinking a small amount diluted with water before or after meals promotes steady intestinal motility, helping to alleviate indigestion and constipation. 

2. Metabolic Regulation

• Stabilizes Blood Sugar: Consuming fruit vinegar alongside or slightly before carbohydrate-rich meals is widely recognized for slowing down gastric emptying, which helps minimize sharp post-meal blood glucose spikes. 
• Assists Weight Management: Regular intake of dilute vinegar can encourage satiety (the feeling of fullness) and help optimize metabolic rate, assisting in natural appetite control. 

3. Rich Nutritional and Antioxidant Profile

• Potassium Infused: Figs are naturally high in potassium, a crucial electrolyte that plays a vital role in balancing sodium levels, regulating muscle contractions, and supporting healthy blood pressure.
• Cellular Defense: Artisan vinegars aged gently carry polyphenols and antioxidants derived directly from the whole fruit skin and pulp. These compounds combat everyday oxidative stress and help maintain healthy, clear skin. 

As usual, was just there for tonkatsu but I ended up buying two other unnecessary things. Togarashi is not considered unnecessary as I had used up the last bit recently.

About the mushroom salt :

The highlighted product is Aranami Samurai Shiitake Salt, a premium Japanese seasoning developed under the supervision of Chef Teiji Nakajima from the Michelin-starred restaurant Shinjuku Kappo Nakajima. It infuses fine Ako sea salt with the deep, savory umami flavors of Eastern shiitake mushrooms and dried kelp.

Because it contains high concentrations of natural umami, it should be used primarily as a finishing salt rather than for heavy cooking. 

Best Ways to Use It

As a Finishing Touch: Sprinkle a small amount over your dishes right before serving. It works exceptionally well over the Japanese Pork Loin Katsu shown in your tray.
On Simple Staples: Shake it directly onto plain steamed white rice, handmade onigiri (rice balls), or fresh spam musubi.
For Noodles and Pastas: Toss a light dust over cooked udon, fried soba noodles, or olive oil pastas like peperoncino.
In Soups: Stir a small pinch directly into clear dashi broths or hot consommé soups to immediately build depth.
With Snacks: Shake it over fresh popcorn, potato chips, or french fries for an instant umami upgrade.

Tip: Start with a very small pinch. The mushroom extract intensifies the perception of saltiness on your tongue, so you need less of it than standard table salt to season your food perfectly. 

Initially wanted to drop by to visit mom but coz lil’ one was getting tired + I had the frozen tonkatsu I went straight home again. Weather is getting too hot for comfort, my head was throbbing and I also needed the rest myself. 

Back at home packed the tonkatsu individually. Took a short nap after that.

Konjac towel??

I like to eat konjac, a low calorie food. And after watching this video I’m never ever going to look at konjac in another way. 😂

Can’t help but think the towel I used to wipe my armpit is the same thing as I ate. 

Sent this link to Japanese girlfriend and told her I hope konjac is not on her dinner menu tonight. 😬

Power of music

Lost the concentration. Was researching on upcoming trip then was distracted and went to blog 😂😂. I think I seriously need to test if I have attention deficit. 

Now need to be back on track. So it’s to the Christmas music that I always need, anytime of the year, to keep my mind working hard. Ehh…maybe hard for the next 15mins before I lost my interest again. 

Jiayou! I need to work this plan out fast