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30 April, 2023

Dear Diary | April 2023 Edition

Hello to the second quarter of the year

How quickly time flies. April is a pretty slow month, so I can focus more on self-development, and prioritizing my personal wellbeing. Despite having a simple life routine, I am grateful that every day is blessed with abundance of love, care and kindness from the people around me.
 
My favourite MacRitchie Nature Trail 

01.04.2023; Nature venture | Back to my weekend routine to MacRitchie Reservoir Park and it helps a lot in calming my mind especially with great companion. Thanks for being around and having hours-long chat with me whenever I struggle from emotional turmoil.

Weekend food finds | The authentic British Fish & Chips from Smiths Fish & Chip Shop reminds me of those ol' good days in Sydney and Melbourne, except for the non-existence of seagulls and cooling sea breeze here. 

Potato Head @ Keong Saik Road

07.04.2023; Good Friday | It was a long weekend and I finally got to explore a little bit of Singapore - this time around Neil Road, Keong Saik Road and Chinatown area surrounding the Outram Park MRT station. It felt like being a tourist once again, reminding me of those days when I first came to Singapore.  

Every simple moment spent like this is a gift, and I realise I become more appreciative towards such meaningful times when they are becoming more and more rare in our everyday hectic life.  

Ginza Tendon Itsuki @ Tanjong Pagar Road
*Bonus*: Botanical gelato from Birds of Paradise

Weekend food finds | The one-bowl soul food served in the special Japanese porcelain bowl, reminds me of my recent tempura experience in Nihonbashi Tendon Kaneko Hannosuke, Tokyo. We had the signature Seafood Tendon and Buta Tama Tendon, and were surprised by the soft and juicy pork loin despite being fried. My favourite was still the onsen egg that popped with yolky goodness on the bed of short-grained rice. 

We then stumbled upon this famous gelato shop and there went our after-meal dessert - the highly recommended Pistachio (Earthy, nutty, mildly sweet) and White Chrysanthemum (Floral, delicate, sweet) flavours. Will be back again for the Pistachio gelato! 

SOD Cafe @ Upper Thomson Road

Weekend food finds | Our Sunday brunch date came unplanned and we were at this random café which serves a surprisingly good truffle scrambled egg croissant. The aroma of truffle was so prominent and we enjoyed every bite of it.

Ri Ri Cha @ Chinatown

Our Sunday dessert, Nian Gao Waffle with Ice Cream + Yakult Green Tea - the sticky glutinous rice cake gave a different dimension to the waffle, but not exactly my favourite. Nevertheless, it is not the food that matters, but the companion who shares the joy of sharing the food and the conversations that flow throughout the breezy afternoon. 

Recent favourites @ 51 Noodle House (麵屋), The Venue Shoppes

Throughout the month, I am happy that we get to spent some weekday evenings on food hunting around the neighbourhood, for instance this unique Fusion Bak Chor Mee. 

15.04.2023; Hello KL | It was a beautiful weekend of being home for a couple of days and doing my favourite things: To spend some quality time with family, and indulge myself in the hair and nail pampering sessions. It is pure bliss to be able to catch up with the loved ones :)

Before & After | Good to trim off the untamed manes! 

Equate Coffee @ Orchard Central

22.04.2023; Old friend meet-up | Nothing beats the feeling of spending quality time catching up with old friend, while indulging into good food. Close connection like this is getting rare, so appreciate it while it lasts :)  

29.04.2023 | It's a long weekend again, thanks to the Labour Day public holiday. Finally get to spend a couple of days to challenge myself and do things out of my comfort zone, such as joining my first spin class, yoga and boxing session in SG. These classes actually excite me and I want to do more of this moving forward! As part of the self-care regime, I finally managed to try my favourite Taiwanese egg crepe and Hong Kong double layer milk pudding here :P 

30.04.2023 | Yay, spent a fruitful day catching up with friend over a meal and had an impromptu trip into Sentosa Island although the island turned out to be disappointing due to the major construction ongoing near the beach area, on top of the immense heat and massive crowd. But thanks for accompanying me to go with the spontaneous flow of the day! Did some running to redeem my guilt from the heavy Marché lunch too :P 

***
And it's time to bid goodbye to April and I am going to kickstart the month of May
with a short trip to Bangkok!

Ultimately, it is simple happiness that matters most 
Thanks for being part of the beautiful memories in my life.

April in a nutshell
All in all, April has been filled with lots of positive vibes and meaningful moments. End of April marks my 6-month journey here, and I have to repeat myself on this – I couldn’t be more thankful and grateful for what I have here in Singapore thus far. Things have been so beautiful and dreamy, far exceeding my initial expectation of starting a new life here. 

Throughout the journey, I am glad that I made multiple decisions that prioritise my own happiness. “Choose only what you deserve to have, and never settle for less” – we often hear this saying, but how often do we practise this in life? After going through some self-reflection internally, I realise that a lot of times, we are worth more than what we thought. I am still learning to appreciate that, and try to choose what is best for me. 

Know your worth, and choose your own happiness.

xoxo,
FiSh @ 30 April 2023

28 April, 2023

[Recipe] Healthy U.S. Potato Vegetable Fritters

It's time to eat healthy at home and create some interesting dishes using U.S. Potato! 

When it comes to choosing healthy carb as one of the cooking ingredients, my favourite would definitely go to the mighty U.S. Potato. Do you know that the U.S. Potatoes are one of the most versatile vegetables for any occasion, power-packed with nutritional benefits and are easy-to-prepare be it baked, steamed, boiled, fried or grilled? 
 

Do you know that one medium size U.S. Potato contains the following?
❤ Only 110 calories per serving! Low-calorie yet more energy-packed than any other popular vegetables.
❤ 30% of your daily energy requirement
❤ 27 milligrams of Vitamin C
❤ 26 grams of carbohydrates, a key source of energy for muscles
 Helps support the body’s immune system that helps boost our immune system naturally to help us fight against illnesses. 
❤ Rich in Vitamin B6 with one medium potato providing 10% of the recommended daily value. Vitamin B6 is important for proper cell function. They help with metabolism, creating blood cells, and keeping cells healthy.
❤ 3 grams of plant-based protein per serving - the building block for muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues.  
❤ High (620 milligrams) in potassium, or 15% DV more than a medium-size banana.
❤ Free from fat, sodium and cholesterol 

To showcase the versatility of potatoes, Potatoes USA has collaborated with Dietitian, Indra Balaratnam to create 4 delicious and healthy recipes with U.S. Potato as the key ingredient. The four recipes are:

❤ U.S. Potato & Herb Soufflé
❤ Honey Mustard & Herb Scallop U.S. Potatoes
❤ U.S. Potato Vegetable Fritters
❤ Miso & Honey Glazed U.S. Fries
 
Recipe: U.S. Potato Vegetable Fritters
Crispy fritters of U.S. Russet potatoes with an assortment of colorful vegetables 

Recipe by: Consultant Dietitian Indra Balaratnam
(Feel free to click here to view the full recipe video.)

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ready Time: 30 minutes
Potato Type: U.S. Russet Potatoes
Serves: 6
Prep Method: Pan-fry
Course: Appetizer, Snack

Ingredients:
1 medium U.S. Russet potato – peeled & sliced into very thin strips like matchsticks
1/3 cup leek – very thinly julienned
½ cup yellow zucchini – very thinly julienned
1 medium onion – thinly sliced
4 spring onions – cut into 1-inch long strips
2 red chilies – thinly julienned
¾ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup rice flour
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon salt to taste
¾ cup water
2 – 3 tablespoons oil for cooking

For the dipping sauce:
1 tablespoon soya sauce
2 teaspoons vinegar
1 teaspoon chili flakes
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Instructions:
1. Thinly slice the U.S. Russet potato and all the other vegetables. You should have approximately 5 cups in total of sliced vegetables. Place them into a large mixing bowl.
2. Add in the all-purpose flour, rice flour, cayenne pepper, salt and water. Stir well to coat all the vegetables.
3. Gently heat the oil in a non-stick pan and place tablespoonful of the potato and vegetable batter.
4. Cook each side till they are golden brown. Once cooked, place them on paper towels to drain any excess oil.
5. Serve with the dipping sauce.

Feel free to search for the other recipes on U.S. Potatoes website
and enjoy savouring the healthy, nutritious and versatile U.S. Potatoes in many ways!

Looking forward to cooking more healthy meals at home and trying out different recipes too. 

For more information about U.S. Potatoes, please visit:

#uspotatoes #uspotatogoodness #uspotatorecipes #goodnutrition

24 April, 2023

[BEAUTY] Review: THE FACE SHOP Air Cotton Cushion

My new favourite cushion foundation: Air Cotton Cushion 

When it comes to cushion foundation, I have a fair share of experience in trying and testing many types of cushion foundations in the past 8 years, and among the firsts I tried are from THE FACE SHOP:


Due to my dry skin condition and the hot, humid weather in our country, I always prefer a base makeup with excellent coverage and matte finish so that my makeup can last throughout the day. Plus, the constant mask wearing habit makes me realise the importance of a good base makeup that does not stain the mask too. 

THE FACE SHOP Air Cotton Cushion @ RM61.90

And the latest Air Cotton Cushion from THE FACE SHOP is exactly what I need for everyday use! 

In response to the increasing demand for matte base makeup in Asia, THE FACE SHOP introduces the Air Cotton Cushion in March 2023 - a cushion foundation with excellent coverage and matte finishes. The result? A flawless natural skin tone and makeup enhancing coverage.  

Why you should own an Air Cotton Cushion?
Mainly because of the two key features:

❤ Dual Fixing system 
This technology is formed with the combination of flexible and rigid formers instantly creating a cosmetic layer which fixes firmly and flexibly on to the skin enhancing the long lasting effect.

❤ High Dispersion technology
It is formulated with fatty acid ingredients that help the liquid powder to be evenly dispersed without clumping. Hence, with the combination of this two technology, first application and touching up after a long day is effortless, the natural shades and lightweight texture is completely non cakey and clumpy.

One thing worth a mention is the super good quality cushion puff! I always replenish my stock of THE FACE SHOP cushion puff (it is available for sale separately as well) because of the amazing adhesion level and it allows for easy blending in just split seconds.

Texture:
❤ As light as air and as soft as cotton, it feels almost weightless on the skin! 

Coverage:
❤ High coverage with semi-matte finish gives the skin a moist and smooth final touch.
❤ Adheres well onto the skin and is better able to finish off with loose powder for a flawless complexion. 
❤ Able to conceal the open pores too.

Available in 3 shades:
❤ 201 (Light Beige) - I am using this, and it suits my skin tone perfectly. 
 203 (Beige)
❤ 205 (Dark Beige)

Verdict:
If you are looking for a lightweight, moist and smooth cushion foundation with a semi-matte finish for everyday use, then the Air Cotton Cushion is suitable to give you a natural, flawless makeup look. 

THE FACE SHOP Air Cotton Cushion is available
at all THE FACE SHOP stores and online. 

❤ ❤ 

Shop THE FACE SHOP online:
Official e-store: www.thefaceshop.com.my 

To find out more about THE FACE SHOP please visit:

23 April, 2023

Yippi Biz by TOGL - Get rewarded as you spend!

"Earn while you spend!" - Have you heard of such amazing deal? Yes! Yippi Biz's New Reward Program is here to reward us with points for dining, entertainment and even for paying off student loans and bills.

With the ever increasing cost of living, I am sure we are all constantly in the pursuit for the best deals. The easiest way here is to save money while you spend without even realising it in your daily life - just  by downloading Yippi, the Super App by TOGL!
 
Have you signed up for a free account in Yippi app?

Yippi has 6 million users in Southeast Asia and China. It has become an integral part of many people's lives worldwide, especially young people and those with spending power.

If you do not already know about Yippi, Yippi is a social and communication application developed by TOGL Technology Sdn Bhd. As a super app, Yippi's biggest highlight is the creation of a rewards ecosystem, powered by Yipps rewards points

Users can redeem the e-rewards points within the Yippi app and also within the whole ecosystems of Yippi Biz, TopzMall, TogaGo, Eostre, and more. Hence, it is a brand-new point accumulation experience that attracts so many users in the region. 

Yippi feels like an app that is closely linked to our everyday life. It allows us to share our daily lives on social media, do social networking, social messaging, express our ideas, do shopping, make travel bookings and most importantly, earn reward points to offset against our daily expenses. Yes, all you need is just one app - Yippi!

In addition to the tips received from posts or live streaming, Yippi users can also earn reward points through occasional game events. So if you like gaming while having fun, you can now kill two birds with one stone. 

With the YippsWanted reward program, shoppers will be delighted to hear that they can also earn instant reward points when spending at Yippi Biz's partner merchants including RedBox, Park 28 Boutique Dining, Freestore, Bottomless, etc., covering all areas ranging of dining, entertainment, fashion, tourism, beauty and healthcare. Alternatively, users can hop on TopzMall e-commerce platform  to shop, or book travel packages and hotels through the electronic travel platform TogaGo.
 
Other than that, users can also enjoy rebates from the accumulated reward points by offsetting the points against utility bills such as water and electricity bills, phone bills, and student loans. 

In summary, Yippi can meet all our needs from F&B to entertainment, and on top of that, allow us to earn and redeem reward points from our daily activities. Every penny counts, so we will enjoy huge savings in a long run. 
 
  
Yippi
Instagram: @yippiofficial

Yippi Biz
Instagram: @yippswanted

❤ ❤ 

So, be sure to download the Yippi app on Apple Store, Google Play Store or Huawei App Gallery. Then sign up for a free account, become a savvy consumer, and make your life easier!

In the Yippi app, you can easily access to Yippi Biz by clicking on the "Yipss Wanted" button at the home page of Yippi app to view merchants nearest to you. So, enjoy the Yippi app and save more with Yipps reward points!

20 April, 2023

Yippi, Southeast Asia's leading social communication app by Malaysia tech company, TOGL

Recently I have been introduced to the Yippi app, which is currently very popular among my circle of friends. Little did I know, it is actually developed by a Malaysian tech company, TOGL Technology Sdn Bhd (TOGL) which aims to lead the Southeast Asian social communications landscape.   



Established on 26 September 2017, TOGL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toga Limited in Malaysia. Its mission is to build Southeast Asia's premier Internet economy system and create an entrepreneurial platform for individuals and SMEs. Hence, we have seen the continuous development and improvement of new technologies done by TOGL in order to improve our quality of life through technology.  

TOGL also provides software support to all subsidiary companies, including TOGA, RedBox, Eostre, Keenon, and utilizes the company's technology more widely. In addition to all the products under the company, TOGL also provides a range of professional services to other external clients, such as application development, e-commerce solutions and online platforms, product design and digital transformation, technology consulting, web application development, information technology development, and more. 

TOGL’s Awards:
❤ Achieved ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management System
❤ Selected for the Prestigious GAIN Program by the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) 
❤ Received the SME100 Awards in 2020 for Malaysia’s Fast-Moving Companies from Business Media International 
❤ Received the International Innovation Awards 2020 
❤ Received Golden Bull Award 2020 for outstanding SME 
❤ Received The BrandLaureate Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) BestBrands e-Branding Awards in ICT, in 2020 
❤ Received Asis Corporate Excellence & Sustainability Awards in 2021 for Asis’s Most Promising SMEs 
❤ Received Golden Bull Awards 2021 for Outstanding Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) through Yippi
❤ Received Asia Responsibly Enterprise Awards in 2021 through Toga Resonance Technology (T-RT) 

TOGL first launched Yippi, a social and communication application which houses the social media, instant messaging, and live-streaming functions, all under one app. It is a multifunctional entertainment platform which you should download the app and sign up if you haven't! 
  
In 2019, Yippi also incorporated Toga Resonance Technology (T-RT), which was launched by Toga Limited at the Singapore Fintech Festival. T-RT encodes a series of natural frequencies that resonate with the natural energy frequencies of the human body, neutralizing or protecting the life force field of surrounding environments and users from electromagnetic radiation (EMF) in the generated vibration energy. Yippi’s focus on mental and physical health through social connections and T-RT is a breakthrough for the app.  

Fast forward today, TOGL expands its horizons with Yippi in social, shopping, tourism, and dining industries. 

My favourite feature in Yippi super app is the Yipps rewards points, where we can earn and redeem points within the entire TOGL ecosystem including Yippi Biz, TopzMall, TogaGo, Eostre, and more, covering various fields such as catering, online shopping, tourism, entertainment, beauty, and healthcare. We can also use the reward points to offset utility bills such as water and electricity bills, phone bills, and student loans. The more reward points we earn, the more we can save!

The point accumulation experience is very different from what we see in the past. Yippi users can earn rewards points by receiving tips from their content or live streaming, and also participating in occasional games and activities. Additionally, they can  How convenient it is!  

Under Yipps Wanted, the E-Rewards program, we can earn instant Yipps Points while making purchases at Yippi Biz's merchants, and redeem the points at several collaboration merchants such as RedBox, Park 28 Boutique Dining, Freestore, Bottomless, etc. Additionally, customers can spend in TopzMall E-commerce platform and TogaGo to book travel tickets / hotels, providing an added incentive for customers to choose local SMEs and helping businesses to build brand loyalty.

Yippi Biz
Instagram: @yippswanted

If you are a local entreprenuer or starting small businesses, then Yippi Biz is for you! Yippi Biz aims to help local SMEs to boost sales through online advertising and loyalty rewards while expanding into new markets, including the SEA region in Q2 2023 and China in Q3 2023.

It features an advanced CRM system that allows businesses to track customer data, engage with customers through targeted advertising, and improve customer retention through personalized offers and promotions. Additionally, the loyalty program rewards customers for their repeat business, helping build long-term customer relationships, and driving sales growth. Not only that, you can also place highly customisable, targeted ads within the app, hence able to reach new customers, increase brand awareness and achieve maximum impact.  

 
If you love shopping, then I am sure you would love TopzMall, the e-commerce platform established by Yippi, which provides end-to-end e-commerce platform solutions for individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises in Southeast Asia, enabling them to effectively promote their products and services.

With full-process business support, including product management, inventory management, order management, payment processing, logistics and distribution, and customer service, TopzMall greatly improves the operational efficiency of merchants, enhances customer satisfaction, reduces operating costs, and better captures market trends and opportunities. 

I am amazed by the wide range of products I can find in TopzMall! There are approximatley 23 categories and over 10,000 SKUs, include mobile phones and accessories, watches, health and beauty, baby and toys, groceries and pet supplies, car accessories, women's clothing, women's handbags, women's shoes, men's clothing, men's handbags and wallets, men's shoes, fashion accessories, travel and luggage, games, books and hobbies, home and living, home appliances, computers and accessories, sports and outdoor, games and consoles, cameras and drones, tickets and discount coupons. 

TopzMall is convenient, fast, and secure, providing a platform between buyers and sellers to communicate, transact, and cooperate. Yippi users can also exchange their rewards points for goods, thereby promoting the conversion rate of sellers. TopzMall is also constantly expanding its market to the whole of Southeast Asia, allowing customers to experience the fun of cross-border shopping online. 

For avid travellers, your to-go Electronic Travel Platform would be TogaGo! It is a one-stop platform for accommodation, tickets and tour packages. Operated by WGS Discovery Tours & Travel (M) Sdn Bhd, TogaGo offers customers over 1.4 million exquisite accommodation options worldwide, as well as booking services for train tickets, travel policies, and other queries within China, and exciting tour packages and exclusive discounts. It is definitely the best choice for domestic and international travel planning. 

Not only that, Yippi users can also choose to use their accumulated rewards points to exchange for their dream vacations on TogaGo, hence making the travel planning more efficient and convenient. 

It is worth mentioning that TogaGo has obtained the permission of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (KPK/LN: 8227 - Immigration, Departure, and Ticketing). Since 2019, TogaGo has also been honored to be a member of the Malaysia International Travel Exhibition (MATTA), Tourism Malaysia, and Malaysia Truly Asia, which is a nationally recognized electronic travel platform. 

In a nutshell

Do you know that Yippi now has 6 million users in Southeast Asia and China? It is especially popular among those with stronger purchasing power and younger generations. As a diverse platform, Yippi not only allows users to share their lives and express their ideas, but also helps to offset their daily expenses through earning reward points. All in all, it creates an amazing user experience and highly relevant to our daily needs. 

In just a few years of development, TOGL has continued to move towards its vision of being the No.1 Social Messaging Super in Southeast Asia. We look forward to seeing many more great achievements by TOGL!

❤ ❤ 

If you are not a Yippi user yet, please feel free to download the Yippi app on Apple Store, Google Play Store or Huawei App Gallery. Then sign up for a free account and enjoy the Yippi experience!

16 April, 2023

[BEAUTY] Review: THE FACE SHOP 'Clean Beauty' Yehwadam Young Camellia First Serum

Meet THE FACE SHOP's "Clean Beauty" latest addition, powered by plant antioxidants!

My first try on THE FACE SHOP Yehwadam (蘂花譚) First Serum was back in 2019, and I fell in love with it since then. I am excited that it now introduces the all-new Yehwadam  Young Camellia First Serum - with new "clean beauty" formula and vegan-certified! 

Do you know the importance of the very first step of skincare after cleansing? This is because our skin loses moisture within 1 hour of cleansing due to the loss of the sebum layer on skin’s surface. Therefore, it is important to immediately supplement the skin with moisture, so that our skin’s barrier remains strong and intact.

THE FACE SHOP Yehwadam Young Camellia First Serum (180ml) @ RM182.90

As the name suggests, the Yehwadam Young Camellia First Serum is the very first step of skincare that helps to quickly rebalance and replenish skin moisture, preparing it for better absorption of the next skincare steps.

Young Camellia, the star among the skin-loving blend of natural ingredients.

The star ingredient, Young Camellia flowers handpicked from Taean, is known for its excellent antioxidant benefits and protective power. The flower on its own, is able to bloom beautifully and survive the harsh winter. Each year, the flower petals are harvested from trees that are under five years old.

The Yehwadam formula also features the  8 types Oriental Herbal Oil derived from plants: Sea Buckthorn Fruit, Safflower Seed, Apricot Seed, Cotton Seed, Green Tea, Sunflower Seed, Flax Seed, and Black Bean, that are rich in tocopherol, a powerful anti-oxidant.

Not only that, the addition of two patented ingredients help to balance oil and moisture levels while caring for the skin barrier:
 Ferulic Acid moisturizes skin and promotes the production of hyaluronic acid.
 Betaine strengthens skin’s barrier, forming a protective shield to prevent moisture evaporation.

Featuring a “Less is More” concept - Yehwadam Young Camellia First Serum is all about clean beauty!

In the past year, we have seen THE FACE SHOP putting in a great deal of care and effort to create "clean beauty" skincare series, and for this time, a hypoallergenic first serum which is suitable for all skin types, even for teens or young adults.

Key unique features of Young Camellia First Serum "Clean Beauty" concept:
 Certified vegan by the Korea Agency for Vegan Certification and Services
 All ingredients used are EWG Safe grade
 Friendly on skin (anti-oxidation and skin irritation tests completed)
 Recyclable container
 Free from 23 harmful ingredients like parabens, mineral oil, PEG, animal-derived ingredients, and more!

How to Use:
❤ Immediately after cleansing, gently towel-dry your face. 
❤ Dispense 3 pumps and apply to face and neck. 
❤ Pat gently until fully-absorbed, then follow with toner, essence, emulsion and cream. 

Texture:
❤ The water-type texture absorbs easily, soothing sensitive skin while improving softness and radiance.

Feel on skin:
❤ Lightweight and gentle on skin.

Scent:
Featuring a 100% natural, skin-safe fragrance, it exudes lovely floral notes of Chamomile and Vetiver, imported from France, allowing the skin to relax and stabilize.

Verdict:
If you have not started your skincare regime with the ultimate "first step" (after cleansing, and before toner), then it is time to invest yourself THE FACE SHOP Yehwadam Young Camellia First Serum to achieve the long-lasting, moisturised and soft skin. 

THE FACE SHOP Yehwadam Young Camellia First Serum is available
at all THE FACE SHOP stores and online now. 

❤ ❤ 

Shop THE FACE SHOP online:
Official e-store: www.thefaceshop.com.my 

To find out more about THE FACE SHOP please visit:
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