I was surprised when someone asked me "When you buy a new item of clothing do you need to wash it before wearing it?" my answer is a simple YES, this is something you should always do! even for those are new and in the bags.
1. That piece of cloth has been handled by many people working in a manufacturing facility. 2. With the increased of online shopping, there is chances you are getting a returned item 2. "new-clothes" smell, it some chemical wash that may irritate your skin
Do you don't do that? Share with me your thoughts?
Ang Bao aka Hongbao aka Lai See aka Red Packet aka Lucky Money
Chinese New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Also called: Spring Festival, Lunar New Year.
One of the most cherished traditions during Chinese New Year (CNY) is the exchange of red packets, known as "hongbao" in Mandarin. In this blog post, we'll explore the significance of Chinese New Year in Singapore and delve into the intriguing aspects of the red packet culture, including the much-anticipated red packet rates.
Chinese New Year Celebrations:
The festivities span 15 days, with gatherings at family and friends' homes featuring the exchange of red packets and tangerines (never visit a home with empty handed). While home visits aren't a regular practice, they become the norm during CNY, making it a time for reconnecting and celebrating with loved ones.
Red Packets as Symbols of Good Luck and Prosperity:
In Singapore, the act of giving and receiving red packets goes beyond a mere exchange of money. It's a gesture of appreciation, symbolizing the close bonds shared among family members and friends. Typically, it is the elderly or married relatives who extend their blessings to the younger generation or unmarried family members through these red envelopes.
Red Packet Rates - A Personal Touch:
Unlike strict guidelines, there's a flexible approach to red packet rates, acknowledging the diversity of financial situations among families. Comfort is key when determining the amount to give or receive. Red packet values in Singapore can range from a modest $4 to a generous $100, (with exceptions for parents).
General Guidelines for Red Packet Rates:
Parents, in-laws, and grandparents typically receive amounts above $200.
Siblings and children may expect red packets ranging from $50 to $200.
Nieces and nephews could receive between $28 to $100.
For cousins brothers/sisters/nieces and nephews, and close friends' children, ranging at about $6 to $28.
Preparing some extra of $6-10 for unexpected visitors such as children or maids of distant relatives, or even security guards in your condo who extend warm greetings during the festive season.
The exchange of red packets during Chinese New Year in Singapore is more than a financial transaction – it's a tradition that embodies blessings, well-wishes, and the enduring spirit of familial ties. As the red envelopes change hands, they carry with them the essence of prosperity, good fortune, and the warmth of shared celebrations, making CNY truly special.
I couldn't be more excited to share with you the first of a series of New York Guides...
As I was doing my research and planning for my upcoming trip, I feel that there is so much to explore in New York City. With its vibrant culture, endless possibilities, and bustling street life, New York City is a must-see destination. I can't wait to embark on my journey and share my experiences with you. Let's explore the Big Apple together!
First,let's look at how to get to Manhattan from JFK.
Option 1: Taxi; charge a flat fare of $70 (off-peak) for trips between the airport and Manhattan + tips/fees;
Option 2: Express JFK Airport Bus; Price: USD$19 one way - ceased operation in 2022.
Option 3: Air Train + Subway; Price: an $8.25 AirTrain fare + a $2.90 subway fare with over 20 stops until Manhattan.
Option 4: Air Train + Long Island RailRoad (LLRR); Price: an $8.25 AirTrain fare + a $5 City LLRR Fare
We chose Option 4. Not the cheapest nor the most convenient/no stress but it was the most cost-effective. We were looking for a balance of cost and comfort, and Option 4 seemed to provide the best of both. LLRR less crowded compared to the subway and has more luggage room space.
Once you have cleared customs, you can pick up your luggage. Look out for the "AirTrain" sign and take the Red Line to Jamaica Station.
Purchase combo tickets before exiting Jamaica Station (only from the machines). Note: As we travel between Zones 1 (Penn Station/Grand Central) and 3 (Jamaica), we just need a City Ticket on LLRR, not an Off-Peak/Peak Ticket. I saw many YouTubers had bought the wrong tickets and paid extra USD$.
When you exit Jamaica Station, follow the signs to the Long Island Rail Road and onboard LLRR at platform 2.
I was on a business trip in Poland this June, and decided to visit London over the weekend, which is a two-hour flight away. I packed my 2 days with the best things to do in London as well as shopping and must eat.
This trip's hippus started early. We booked Ryan's Air for a flight from Wroclaw to London, and we planned to check in at the airport when we arrived. We arrived at the airport two hours before the flight time, and waited in the queue for 30min. To our surprise, they don't do counter check-in, and online check in is closed 2hrs before take off. As a result, we have to pay SGD$80 for late check-in. On our return, we did online check-in, but they don't recognize ourAsia passport and we had to go to the counter to collect our boarding pass. So if you're flying to Europe, make sure you do ONLINE CHECK IN, ONLINE CHECK IN, ONLINE CHECK IN.
On the flight, the crew sold lottery tickets at a price of two euros, and the first prize wasa $500 Ryan's airline voucher.
"Lucky for us", we bumped into a Rail Strike. Initially, the plan was to take a train from the airportto HypePark, and weneeded to change the route to suit the Airport Express Bus. Looking back, Airport Express Bus £29(two-way) might have been a better choice than Air Train £24(one way), cheaper too.
Here's our itinerary for our 2D1N Weekend Getaway
Day 1: London's must-sees
During our first day in London, we aim to see all the classic London attractions everyone visiting for the first time should not miss.
South Bank & the London Eye - The views are stunning and we can see some of London's most iconic buildings and cityscapes. London Eye is the highest observation point in Europe, giving you a bird's eye view of central London.
Upon crossing the Westminster Bridge, you will find HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, also known as the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben, the iconic bell tower.
Visit WESTMINSTER ABBEY, a popular location for Royal Weddings and Coronations. The most recent event was the coronation of King Charles III. Tips: Book your timed-entry tickets in advance and don't forget to visit the souvenirs shop. i bought a ring which some princess inspired.
Walk across St. James Park towards Buckingham Palace: Witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace and admire the grandeur of the official residence of the British monarch. Note: Takes place daily at 11am in June and July, the rest of the year only on selected days.
11:10 St James's Palace relief leaves Buckingham Palace
11:25 Relieved sentries leave St James's Palace
11:40 Old Guard leaves Buckingham Palace
11:45 St James's Palace Guard leaves Buckingham Palace
Walk over to Harrods - London's most famous and iconic luxury department store, You'll find luxury clothing labels, makeup and high-quality housewares and jewelry and is an excellent place to get souvenirs - luxury tin of tea, cookies and Harrod's bears.
Afternoon tea is a must in London and we had it at Harrod's Cafe.
Many stations were closed as we walked down the street due to the rail strike. We saw a train station open, and took it to Oxford Street and went shopping down the street.
Check-in at Citadines Holborn @ Covert Garden London
Dinner at Flat Iron @ Convert Garden
Day 2:
Enjoy an English breakfast@ Fabrique
Taking a tube to St Paul’s Cathedral - wanted to climb to the Whispering Gallery for an acoustic experience, and enjoy the panoramic view from the Golden Gallery. However, it was closed for service on Sunday.The only thing we are allowed to do in the Church is a prayer and to light a candle.
Walk toLondon Bridge. Since childhood, we sang the song "London bridge is Falling Down" so this is a must. But this bridge is not the original bridge as itwas destroyed in 1831.
The Tower of London - another striking and iconic London landmark. This is where Britain's most infamous prisoners were held captive before being publicly executed.
Tower Bridge. If you’re lucky, you may even time your visit to watch the bridge lift, it does so 900 times a year!”
Duck and Waffle for an observation viewof the City near Liverpool Station
Shopping at Westfield @ STRATFORD Bus Station. I went mainly to the local's brands like - Cath Kidston - Burberry - Marks & Spencer - Superdry. Don't let the Japanese-inspired fool you, it's actually a UK-based Fashion label. - Jo Malone - River Island
Getting around..
You should have noticed that most of the time we were on our feet walking between the main attractions in London. If tube/subway is available, take it and save some leg energy. You may want to avoid Tube after 10pm as the homeless will starts to move into the station and you can find them at every corners. We used a contactless credit card for our train rides and it has a cap of £8 a day - don't bother about oyster card but remembered a pair of good walking shoe.
Due to rail disruption, we were unable to visit Harry Potter Platform 9 3/4. So we will be back. :)
Anyone like me has travel anxiety and fearsforgetting something, especially on a work trip. So I created a packing list, and jotted down everything that came to my mind instead of pondering it in my mind. I organized the items into categories for easier sorting and packing. I also made sure to leave some free space in my suitcase to accommodate any last-minute purchases. This helped me to feel more prepared and less anxious about my trip.
This is one of my recent happy purchase from Amazon:
Travel Umbrellas:
Depending on where you’re traveling, it might be a good idea to bring a travel umbrella!
As a travel umbrella, you may want something light and small to bring around. I saw this brand ハス(HUS) in Singapore Tokyo's Hand and I knew this is the travel umbrella I wanted. The price range is SGD$59.90 to SGD$79.90 but I bought the same one for below SGD$30 atAmazon.
The keto supplement I'm taking is KETO//OS NAT® from Pruvit, supplementing with exogenous ketones (ketones from external source) allows you to optimize your human potential (re-engine your body system) and experience the whole-body benefits of ketosis, without having to follow a restrictive ketogenic.
It comes with powder form (Charges - with caffeine; and non-caffeine) and is meant to be mixed and dissolved in cold water for intake one to two times a day.
In case you missed the video explaining how ketones work in your body and what they do for it, watch this:
Where to Buy?
As a beginner, I would recommend you to get the challenge pack to know which favours you like before you commit to a box of 20 packets of one flavour.
Option 1. Sign up an account with Pruvit and purchase directly on the 10 days challenge pack in the Asia store. For 1st time customer, they are giving out promotional rate for 20 sachets of random flavours (10 charged and 10 non-caffeine). Wait time is about 7-10 days for shipping, and the Shipping fee is USD$12 for the first box.
*Note: the promotional price only for 1st timer, once you are an existing customer the next purchase will be at USD$130.
Option 2. Sign up an account with Pruvit and purchase a box of 20 packets of one flavour. 1st box is usd$138 and doesn't forget to sign up for smartship (monthly subscription) to enjoy a 22% discount from next shipment onwards. Don't worry about the commitment, and You can cancel the smartship anytime or change the shipping date with no question asked.
Option 3. If you are based in Singapore and don't want to purchase directly or wait for oversea shipping, I can let go my extra stock to you if I have (wait time 1-2 days) or order on behalf (wait time 7-10days) at sgd$190 a box of 20 packets include local postage.
Drop me an email to yvonneohc@gmail.com or direct message via Instagram @yvonneoh.
No matter which option you choose, I can guide you along and answer any questions that you may have. I may not have all answers for you as different people have a different experience, but I have a support team and coaches network to support us, so feel free to reach out.
While you are waiting for your products to arrive, these are what you can do:
Start to hydrate yourself. Increase your water intake to at least 1.5 litres if you are not doing already.
Become aware of hidden carbs and sugars that you have been taking. Learn how to read labels. We need to maintain net carbs as low as possible.
Take before pictures so you can SEE the results
How to Start?
Follow the 8 steps in the N8tive OS-Zone to get you on the right track:
I would recommend starting with 1 packet a day for 1st 3 days to re-engine your body to adapt to the active ingredients. You can start with half pack in the morning and finish the rest in the late afternoon if you are feeling ok, or take the one full packet in the morning and drink it down slowly over 20-40 min. Some people do fine with a whole pack and have no problems. Others may have some reactions.
It's not uncommon to experience
- Slight headache, (maybe due to dehydrated, don't forget to drink up)
- Mild stomach cramping or gas or
- loose bowels.
Please note that this is not a fat burning or slimming product; this is to input ketones into your body to help re-engine your body to burn fat as energy instead of carbs. So it's essential to move your body to burn off the fat if you want to lose weight. I'm a full time working from home mom if I don't make an effort to go gym or park for a walk, my steps for the day is a few hundred. But I, not an exercise person, so walking is also considered as an exercise to me, so I try to maintain 7k to 10k steps a day or at least 30min of active a day. If you are a housewife, I recommend you to drink before you do housework, that's also considered as moving of the body. And if you are OL, drink before you go work, the journey to the office by train or bus can also be part of your workout (choose to stand than sit, walk the stairs than escalator). Bear this in mind, when you are in ketones body, every breath you take is burning your fat, so move it move it move it.
It is important to hydrate yourself when you are on ketones as your body no longer storing carbs and sugar for energy which leads to water loss. A good rule of thumb is to drink until your urine is light yellow. There is a formula shared by Pruvit: Divide your body weight (in lbs) by 2. This number, in ounces, is the amount of water you should drink daily. (simplified for kg - #kg/30=litre of water recommended). Estimated is about 2 litres of water a day.
When I'm on 2 packets a day to lose weight, I took my keto o/s (charged) in the morning before 8 am or an hour before exercise, and will try to finish 1 to 1.5 litres of water before my next keto o/s at about 330pm. Try not to take the 2nd dose (non-caffeine) too late; else it will disturb your sleep time. Once I reached my goal weight, I switched to taking 1 packet a day as I have fallen in love for the energy level, and I will take after my lunch to prevent food coma or an hour before exercise to get the most out of it.
I got one blender bottle from amazon for my keto o/s because they don't leak no matter how I shake them and when I open up to drink. Of cos, any bottles can work as long as you can pour the powder in and mix it well. Tips: sometimes, when I have a craving for fizzy water, I combine my keto o/s with soda water. it does taste better. :)
Diet-wise, although with keto o/s, it helps you get into ketosis and increase the tolerance level to carbs to maintain in ketosis. But that doesn't mean that will not break. So I will still recommend stopping all sugary drink and obvious carbs like rice, noodle, bread, and increase healthy fat to maintain in ketosis as long as possible. You don't have to go into a ketogenic diet but choose a lower carb meal.
When I just started, there is one question that I always wonder. How do I know I'm in ketosis? There are ketones test kits out there, and I got myself those Ketone Urine Test Strips from shoppe at about $3 to see if I'm in ketosis. There are ketones blood test monitor that gives a more accurate result and level of ketones you are in. That cost about $100 over and that need to see blood every time. I feel it is not necessary unless you want to - personal choice.
What to expect?
Ok. It's a long post. These are all I can think of for now. Welcome to join me, don't forget to share with me your testimony and motivate each other.
