[Review] Epigram Books Jan - June 2020

If you have read the post on the review of some Epigram books in October 2019. We have more books review coming to you this 2020!

This circuit breaker, besides our daily revision, some kitchen activities and challenging each other at Mario Cart,  we are also taking the chance to read more! Here are some kids' titles which are currently on 20% off till 31st May 2020! I have bought plenty over the years at their usual price so this is a good chance to grab these books!

The Womps: Pinto's Pinky Promises (by Samantha Han) This delightful simple short story teaches the most important quality one should have. The littlest yet it carries the highest promise of all promises. If you break it, you are the worst,  this is a fact!

ISBN :978-981-48-4586-1

Be someone trustworthy, be someone who keeps your pinky promises. Illustrated by John Lim with adorable and colourful drawings, Vera was so attracted to it! Make a guess if Pinto managed to fulfil all the pinky promises he made?

Parents with toddlers, you can also take the chance to teach the little ones the names of the fingers using the Finger Family song to add some singing, music and movement to your reading session. This book is suitable for 4yo and above or beginning readers.

Not only Istana is a familiar establishment to me during my course of work when I don the blue, it is also familiar to most Singaporeans, with the opening up of the establishment for community happenings on festive holidays. 

To the kids, the impression of the Istana was, they remembered it as a huge park, the Istana (Neo-Palladian Style Government House) with the Presidential Standard flying at the highest point of the building and they clearly remembered the Swan Pond! 

It is never too early to expose our younger generation to find out more about the history of Singapore, especially so with so many resources available. The history of Istana is a significant part of Singapore's sovereignty and I am glad that in this collection we get to rediscover more facts about the past, the people and the building through aplenty interesting stories! Here, I recommend the following books:

50 Best Kept Secrets of The Istana - People and Places by Wong Sher Maine

50 Best Kept Secrets of The Istana - History and Heritage by Irene Hoe

50 Best Kept Secrets of The Istana - Flora and Fauna by Sharon Cheah

Harry Builds a Nation, ISBN 9789814615310 

50 Best Kept Secrets of The Istana, ISBN: 978-981-14-1788-7

Sengkang Snoopers Book 2 (The Secret To The Tiger's Den), ISBN: 9789814655910

I have to agree with what Xav had said "The three versions of the 50 Best Kept Secrets of the Istana are books that reveal things about the Istana that you may or you may not know! From flora and fauna to its history and heritage, all of these awesome facts will leave you spellbound!"

Through Singapore Hornbill Project, the Oriental Pied Hornbill were encouraged to reside and breed within the Instana Domain. This specie once, near to extinction, is now flourishing!

We can even create Istana's signature drink and sorbet from home! 

I would highly recommend to have this set of books ready with you, bring it along with you for the next Istana Open House and explore the ground with the books, I guarantee you the visit would be an even more fruitful and meaningful!

I have previously bought the following titles, I think these will complement well with the set above! 

A Boy named Harry: The Childhood of Lee Kuan Yew
Harry Grows Up: The Early years of Lee Kuan Yew 
Harry Builds a Nation: The Legacy of Lee Kuan Yew

A Boy named Harry, ISBN 9789814615297 

Next, Sengkang Snoopers: The Secrets of The Tiger's Den by Peter Tan, is the second part of a series taking place in Singapore. This time, the snoopers went to Sentosa for vacation and discovered a map which led them to a hidden treasure from the Japanese Occupation! Being extremely curious, the team decided to embark on an adventure. An interesting and humorous book, and at its climax, it has a lot of suspense with a twist adding on to the excitement. By @XavierChua

FALL IN! by Matthew Chew and Nicholas U Jin

ISBN: 9789814901383 

In a blink,  it will be Xav's turn to enlist in a few year's time. Whether he is going to choose to sign on with Mindef or follow our footsteps, signed on with the Singapore Police Force, it is still unknown. Regardless, both organisation would have similar expectations from the recruits.

And now, we have this really useful and handy book, perfect for the young men who are awaiting enlistment and of course the worried parents and girlfriends to know more about what is expected of a recruit's life and the entire enlistment process and all the way to ORD, with loads of tips and tricks to learn and make a recruit's life easier. Written in short paragraphs, some in point forms, some doodles and funny comics, it brings us all the facts in a humorous way!

We have also watched 'From Ah Boys to Men', a 5-part army-themed comedy film produced by Jack Neo to show an insight into life in Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) together with the kids! I remembered bringing the kids to Army Museum Singapore for one of the Children's Season. Right now it is still undergoing an upgrading. You can google to check it out periodically to see if they will be back in operation anytime!

ELMER by Gerry Alanguilan who used to be an architect from 1968 to 2019. He became a comic book artist in 1992 and became his comic career as an inker for Marvel, DC and Image, working on titles familiar to all- Wolverine, X-Men, Superman, Batman, Avengers, Hulk and Superior.  This comic, graphic novel is more for mature readers as the book is more of reflecting social commentary. I was attracted to the beautiful pen work, even the letters in the book were hand-lettered! The characters' expressions were full of emotions!

ISBN: 9789814845731

Great book for leisure read if you would like to read on about Jake Gallo, a chicken who still hold grudges against mankind and how he attempted to make peace with mankind after reading Elmer's (his father) diary after his death. 

These are some other Epigram Books I have reviewed before: 

Epigram's October Launch 2019

Make Animals Great Again and Other Creatures

My BFF is An Alien

Till the end of this month, Epigram is having a 20% discount for all kids books! Grab this chance to have some savings and get the kids their favourite titles and buy some for gifting! Get a FREE SHIPPING for local SG orders $35 and above.

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8 Crabs Seafood Delivery

Planning for a self-declare off in the kitchen or any form of celebration at home be it anniversaries, birthdays or the upcoming Mother's Day! I highly recommend 8Crabs seafood delivery. The only company in Singapore using AAA premium Sri Lankan sourced wild crabs. You get to enjoy the crabs and good quality Tzhi Char at the comfort of your home!

8 Crabs' Award-winning Salted Egg Yolk Crab did not disappoint! The meat was fresh and firm, much meatier than the usual Sri Lankan crabs I had tried before. No hollow space between the shell and meat, it's firmly packed, even on its leg too! I felt the difference because I would normally try to "crack" the shell of the legs by mouth but I tell you, this is one tough crabbie! Just look at the huge, meaty pincer next!

Award-winning Salted Egg Crab

Let me share something about crabs. Do you know that crabs naturally travel about 500m every night and prefer to live alone? Crab farmers breed many crabs in a confined space in order to be profitable and the confined space caused the crabs to get stressed easily in captivity as many farms could not replicate their natural habitat which is the wild. As a result, crabs produce ammonia, which is a sign of decomposition of seafood and is usually covered up highly fragrant gravies.

This also explains why the carbs from 8crabs are fresher, tastier and meatier as the crabs are caught in the wild and air-flown over! It was well cooked and the meat did not stick to the shell at all! You will feel like getting some mantous to just wipe the bowl of gravy clean! Totally CRABILICIOUS!

Vera was for sure helping herself to the huge claw confidently without any help from us! Trust me that the crab was really good! Going to order and deliver over to Mom-in-law for this coming Mother's Day!

This curry fish head is sure to tantalize your taste buds. Topped with plentiful of lady-fingers, soaked in a generous amount of curry.

Curry Fish Head (Nyonya Style) 

I find it too spicy for me but it was really shiok lah whilst my mom and Don said it was not too spicy for them. It was so good that my mom had to get two slices of bread and dipped into the curry after the whole fish head had been wiped out.

This signature prawn roll was a hit as well, very much welcomed by the kids! Just Vera alone, she ate about half the portion of the dish. It was even nicer to go with the sweet sauce! It arrived at my place warm and nice, it was not soggy from the delivery, for the paper box that was used to pack the prawn rolls had openings to allow the hot air to escape.

Signature Prawn Roll (Ngor Hiang)

Lastly, Claypot Beancurd was cooked with a variety of vegetables in it. This pot was wiped out completely with the gravy gone as well. The taste of the gravy was just nice, not too saltish and was pretty light and well balanced. 

Claypot Beancurd

I requested for the food to be delivered between 5.30-6.30pm. The food was promptly delivered hot and warm at 5.45pm! Being able to deliver on time already score points right! You can also opt for contactless delivery. You can now place your orders at https://8crabs.com, the steps are pretty easy to follow too! Get free delivery with orders $120 above!

Thank you 8Crabs for the sumptuous dinner!

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[Ceased Operation] Gu Ma Jia's New Fusion Assam Burgers

We were in for an Assam-licious treat when Gu Ma Jia sent over their new dish - Fusion Assam Trio  Fish or Pork Burgers and some of their other signature dishes! There are other two new western dishes too!

I gave the Assam sauce 4s - Saucy, Sweet, Spicy, Sourish. 

Scoop a few teaspoons of the Assam sauce and spread over the crunchy fish/ pork fillet! It was spicy yet appetizing! Each set comes with 3 burgers and a tub of Assam sauce to bring satisfaction to your palates!

Tightly wrapped handmade prawn rolls, I loved the fragrance of the seasoning used to marinate the rolls. Simply dip into the sweet sauce and savour! 

One of the signature dish- Ubin Lala Bee Hoon! Did Gu Ma read my mind? I love this dish a lot, read my review back in 2015! This dish still taste as good! My mom tried the bee hoon and told me " Li gor mei fun mmm chor (in Cantonese)". I replied of course because it is from Gu Ma Jia's. Straight away she remembered because I brought her there to dine before. Good food always leaves a lasting impression, she could even tell me the restaurant is at Potong Pasir right?

This is also another signature dish, GMJ's Flaming Pork Ribs (formerly known as Kyoto Pork Ribs). The meat was in good portion and is usually soft but it felt dry and tough this time. However, the sauce remained as good as usual unlike the ones sold in most Tzhi Char stalls which is overly-sweet.

Last but not least, Gu Ma Jia's handmade sambal chilli sauce! To me, it is really FIERY hot! For the sambal chilli lovers, this is for you!

Homemade Sambal Chilli

The other two new western dishes are: 

GHJ Pork Cutlet
Image credit to Gu Ma Jia

GMJ Fish and Chips
Image credit to: Gu Ma Jia

Defintely no Monday blues with such nice dishes for lunch whilst being cooped up at home during this Covid 19 Circuit Breaker. 

Now, you can enjoy some savings! Here's how to: 

Join Gu Ma Jia's Telegram Group and get 30% off your first online order! 

https://t.me/gumajia_private_kitchen. 

3 hours advance order is required. Do call 6285 2023 or Whatapp GMJ at: https://wa.me/6587138779 to place your order.

Orders can also be placed online for delivery: https://gumajia.com.sg/order-online/.

Get a 10% discount for all Takeaway (Da Pao) - Only self-collect or Drive-Thru (no minimum spending), only via phone call or whatsapp order. Not applicable for online orders. 

Online order/ Call-in Delivery: No minimum order, $10 delivery charge, Free delivery for orders $100 and above. 

Gu Ma Jia 姑妈家

45 Tai Thong Crescent 

Senette Estate

Singapore 347866

Tel: 62855602 

Thank you Gu Ma Jia and ATMCBizExpert for the media drop!

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[Review] Venna Intense Medical Treatment Luminous Hydrating Lifting Mask

Hope everyone is coping fine with taking extra caution during this challenging time of Covid19 outbreak. Activities have been slowed down the past two weeks and I am glad to be making use of this situation to pace myself down and catch up with my neglected tasks, of which skincare regime is one of them.

You read about my review on Venna Rice Spa in January 2018, I was informed by FabLife Singapore that many of you are still buying after reading my review post on it. I am deeply humbled and appreciate all of you for your trust and support. This is one of the masks I love and I am still using it till now and I hope the same for you.

Recently, I bought Face-Inc Home-kit that consists of a micro-needle derma roller and a bottle of anti-aging serum and Alice had sent me a box of VENNA Intense Medical Treatment Luminous Hydrating Lifting Mask as she shared that this mask is good to use after the home-kit.

The best partner to pair with is none other than Venna Rice Spa! Simply use it after Venna Rice Spa for another round of hydration pump. Before you start using, another method to enjoy the mask further is to chill it in the fridge.

It was challenging to take all on one night with some interruptions here and there. So here you go, you will see some of the pics below taken on different days but using the same product. It comes in 5 pieces per box, individually sealed and soaked in a clear pack with a generous amount of active essence to help deeply repair and nourish the skin!

The essence contains a high concentration of highly efficient antioxidant grape seed extract (a popular youth essence), with dual hyaluronic acid fusion to penetrate skin cells, nourish and deeply moisturize. This essence acts as a regenerating agent for vitamin E & C. It provides powerful antioxidant and natural anti-ageing effects for the skin. It also contains whitening properties as well.

The quality of the mask was definitely not those cheap and low-quality type that tears easily. The premium sheet mask is actually a Korea imported 3D cut film cloth (Fleece fabric) using 3D cutting technology. This facial mask was very soft and actually hugged my face contour nicely, just like a second skin. The picture below does not even look like I am having a sheet of mask on my face just that I looked a little "fairer".

The after- application, I could see the large pores on my cheeks got smaller, the whole face felt as smooth as baby's skin to touch. I felt my skin was also firmer and totally loved the glow left on my face. It kept the skin moisturized with a protective layer (sodium hyaluronate HA large + Hydrolyzed hyaluronic HA). I felt my skin was more balanced up even after a night's sleep, it kept my skin supple overnight.

To sum it up, why choose Vienna Intense Medical Treatment Luminous Hydrating Lifting Mask:
1. Concentrate hydration which tightens skin.
2. Delay skin ageing and improves skin condition.
3. Soothe sensitive skin, get rids of freckles and yellowish spots.
4. Skin whitening.
5. Contains anti-ultraviolent and anti-radiation compounds.

No preservatives were used but Hydroxyacetophenone that acts as a natural preservative and the collagen content quickly replenished the lost collagen in the skin. With so many benefits in one sheet mask, I guarantee it is as effective as Venna Rice Spa!

Do check out FABLife Style's page for any promotion! I have just replenished the masks during the moving out sale! For more details, click on the link below:

Facebook Page: FABlife Style Always Aspire
Instagram: FABLife Style
Website: https://www.fablife.style/

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Breathe well, go with gush !

It's going all WHITE this time! It has been 9 years since we moved in and we thought that it was about time to give the house a new coat of paint.

Last quarter of 2019, all of us in the family, especially Xav and me, had been suffering from sinusitis. Every morning, he woke with a congested nose and seemed irritable to him as I observed him rubbing his nose pretty hard. As for me, it would be like a "broken tap", my nose would also be both congested and runny, followed by a back-drip down the throat which would likely escalate into a cough. Worse, at times it turned into a sinus infection (discoloured discharge) and recurring episodes over the months.

I would usually just do oils, change our diet and if possible try to keep the house as clean as we could though I know it is impossible to be dust-free. But when it showed no improvement, we highly suspect that it could be the not so visible culprit, found on the walls especially, doors and cabinets. It was hard to spot it on the wall but if I do look carefully using natural sunlight ( I do see the patches on the wall).

Living room (Before painting) 

Spot the white patch ?

Living room (Before)

I have also wiped off white patches on our bedroom doors but after a while, the white patches resurfaced. You would have probably guessed it, yes it was mould and it could also aerosolized from the toilet bowl when you flush. Hence, do remember to keep the lid down when you flush the toilet.  

In fact, fungal sinusitis cannot be treated by any course of antibiotics as it does not kill fungi. The only way we could think of was mould removal, to remove the presence of mould particles in our home. Our bathroom's condition is quite bad due to the moist and slightly higher temperature from both the shower and the humid weather in Singapore. That made a perfect condition for mould to thrive and caused respiratory issues.

MBR Bathroom

Secondly, I strongly believed that another contribution to our respiratory issue was microscopic particles that like dust-mite which could be found in the mattresses and pillows.

Lastly, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compound) such as formaldehyde, toluene and benzene are commonly found in our household. I have been trying to convert Don to use plant-based cleaning products. I have my own preferred set of cleaning products while he has his own. Go and take your bottle of cleaning detergent for mopping the floor, take a look at the label behind the container (if you have been using those bought from the commercial shelves), you would probably see some of the mentioned ingredients. 

Other products that released these harmful VOCs are common products like cosmetics, moth-balls, aerosol sprays, carpets and air freshener (great to say that I use none of them) To be honest, I was relieved that I hardly put on make-up and use essential oils to clean up the air instead whenever needed. If you do not know, VOCs are odourless most of the time and you will not be able to see it being released from the above-mentioned products.

So coincidently, Don was also looking at and decided to give local brand GO WITH GUSH a try.  

We contacted gush and arranged for an onsite inspection to be carried out and we were told that our master bedroom and bathroom were in need to be painted more than anywhere else.

On the day of painting, first, big plastic sheets were pulled up, taped and sealed to protect the window grills, furniture and switches as well from the paint drip.  

Xav's Bedroom 

Living room

The painting began with a coat of anti-mould solution, followed by a layer of oil-based sealer which had such an over-powering odour. 

Xav's room ( In progress) 

Next, this ionizer was allowed to run so as to reduce the smell of the sealer as well as to remove mould spores. But everyone was to vacate the house if possible as it may cause harm to the lungs, especially so, to the children and elderly. 

The final process was to give the rooms a new coat of paint using gush- cair interior paint. 

Our plan for the first day was to have the two bedrooms completed first followed by the Master Bedroom and living room, the last. 

Living Room (In progress)

I have to highlight that the internal communication between gush, their staff and us, can be further improved. Don took leave on the first day of painting, we expected them to arrive in the morning around 9-10 am to get started. Long story short, the painters only arrived at 4.30pm late in the afternoon after several chasers from us, asking for their status update. That aside, paying client or not, I do not think such service lapse should be experienced by the clients. I brought this up so that I hope others will not have to go through a similar experience as me (yes, am a paying client). 

But I have to give praise to the painters, they informed that given the short timeline, only one room could be completed instead of two. However, they offered to paint the other room as well if we do not mind that they would leave later. Of course, we were more than happy with their offer and offered them dinner for staying later than the usual 'knock-off' timing, we were grateful for that. 

The painting service was spread and completed within three days, we made it in time to welcome the Lunar New Year.
  

A brighter, cleaner living room

There were some minor hiccups even though protection has been made but these were overlooked. Now, my comforter has speckles of white paint.

A patch in the living room was spotted unpainted but this is an easy fix, hence, we did not request for gush to send their men down just for it. 

You read about the good and bad, now comes the most important part, is it worth spending this amount to get gush paint? I was quite amazed in fact that I observed that Xav stopped rubbing his nose early in the morning and I did not hear any of any nose congestion from him thus far. As for myself, my sinus attacks were much lessened, not completely gone as I believed it was due to the dust as I have not completely unboxed all the stuff. 

To sum it up, these are the Benefits of gush: 

- Air purifying properties, it contains zero VOC but is able to help breakdown other VOC and eliminates 60% of Formaldehyde within 48 hours.

- Anti-moulding is the key factor of gush paints, by limiting moisture accumulation, it helps prevent mould growth and keep mould-related health conditions at bay.

- Regulates humidity by absorbing excessive moisture when air is too humid and releasing back when it is too dry. Such regulation is good to prevent mould from growing due to humidity. The science behind it is indeed intriguing. 

- Anti-Bacterial by eliminating 99.9% of infection-causing bacteria such as E-Coli and S.Aureus for a cleaner and more sterile interior.  

- Odourless Cair emits minimal odour for a safer painting process. No more unpleasant smell afterafter renovation works.

For more information, do visit:
Website: www.gowithgush.com

Facebook: Go with gush

Instagram: Go with gush

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Disclaimer: This is a partially sponsored post, no monetary compensation is involved. All opinions are of my own.