My Merdeka Month Online Shopping Tips

hello? I'd need a dose of online shopping please

One thing I love about online shopping is all the crazy deals that come with it. This month, I bet everyone is looking at the Merdeka deals. Even me, I'm looking to also have my garage sales so my readers can stock up their beauty products and save at the same time. Do look out for my Instagram and Facebook for it! Who knows you might find something you like.

another reason to celebrate Merdeka this August!

Althea Korea is now on Lazada!

Since we're also talking about this, I want to share that Althea Korea is now available on Lazada Malaysia! I wonder if you have seen the Lazada Althea Flagship Store? You can find the best-selling Althea A'bloom masks there along with other Althea exclusive products and trendy Kbeauty brands. Look out for the grand launching promotions, exclusive Althea X Lazada beauty box (slash off prices), and special deals. Honestly, I wouldn't buy anything on Lazada if I don't have a Lazada Voucher at hand.

It's like my shopping mantra, no voucher no buy.

FYI, I bought a very nice pink European Afternoon Tea Set from Lazada and it took over a month to reach me. I wanted to cancel it but it was already too late. If anyone wants to buy this over from me at RM170 (losing a bit, I paid RM180++ for this with delivery) you can come to pick it up from my home (Damansara Perdana) or office (Menara UOA Bangsar). It's still in the box and in good condition (nothing broken).

more pics + details click here

I love pink with gold and elegant logos on the teacups. They're in a scallop or pumpkin shape design comes with teaspoons as well. Notice the gold rims? Beautiful. The material is porcelain. Please email me at tammylci@gmail.com or message me on Instagram or Facebook if you're interested to buy this off me. They're great not only for a cuppa but for flat lay or content photography which was the reason I bought them in the first place but right now I would rather go on a vacation with the extra money I have.

Merdeka Flight Sale!

Anyway since Merdeka is a long weekend holiday, I'm also looking at some flight tickets to Bali or Bangkok on Malaysia Airlines (MAS). My friend Jo says she always gets good deals on air flights back to Jakarta using Malaysia Airlines Promotion. I'll stalk their site to see if they're going to have super savers on destinations I want to go. I really need the break :(

I want to go eat Jay Fai's Michelin Star food stall
(image credit Michelin Guide & The Guardian) 

I really really wish I could try that Micheline star Chinese noodle hawker store in Bangkok. My fiance is right now in Bangkok and my ex-staff, Bokoaz took him out to all the good yummy street food last Friday. She shared some pictures, but not enough. I want to be there too! She said they waited in line for over 30mins for the popular grilled squid too.

Oh man *tummy grumbles*

Mission Foods Launch 'Breakfast Of Champions' Campaign

L-R Malaysian Gymnast Farah Ann, Mark Tan (Retail Sales Manager of Mission Foods Malaysia), Cosme Martinez (CFO of Asia and Oceania), Randall Tan (Mission Foods Brand Manager South Asia) & Malaysian MMA Fighter Peter Davis at the launch of Mission's new healthy wraps range. 

"Breakfast of Champions" sounds really appetizing and appealing right? Well, you too can wake up in the morning kickstart your day feeling like a winner eating what Malaysian Gold Medallist Gymnast Farah Ann and MMA Champion Peter Davis eat for breakfast thanks to Mission Foods new campaign. Last week they launched their new line of healthy wraps @Yellow Brick Road Café, Bukit Damansara, where they teamed up with promising new athletes Farah Ann & Peter Davis. We were given a glimpse of what winners eat when they shared their favourite breakfast recipes at the event. (They even showed off their culinary skills too by cooking their own food!)

Mission Foods are the world's largest flatbread producer and their aim is to support those of you out there who are interested in living an active and healthy lifestyle. The healthy wraps are available in 3 different varieties, Reduced Carb, Quinoa, and Chia.

Mission's new healthy wraps range Reduced Carb, Quinoa & Chia

The Reduced Carb wraps are perfect for those of you who are on a low sugar and low carb diet, as they have 70% less carbs and 90% reduced sugar. Also, as they are high in fibre, you can also use them if you're on the Keto diet. These wraps are a favourite of Peter's, as he has recently turned pescatarian and he feels that the high fibre but low carb and sugar content is superior to other wraps in the market. The model, actor, host and professional MMA fighter stated,

"As an MMA fighter, I have to stay sharp and focused at all times, to be swift like a coursing river. My energy level has to be constant throughout, and so I require food that is low in sugar, rich in fibre and protein which is why superfoods such as Quinoa and Chia benefits me tremendously." Well, if it's good enough for Peter then it can be good enough for you too!

At the launch, he demonstrated 2 recipes - simple and cheesy 'Cheese and Onions' using the Chia wrap and 'Sea Bed' with the Quinoa wrap.

Farah Ann & Peter having fun in the Mission Food kitchen

Farah Ann & Peter showing their new favourite healthy Mission wrap breakfast recipes

Farah Ann, an artistic gymnast who has a rigorous training regime both in the morning and afternoons, is a great believer in starting the day off with the right breakfast. She says, "Many people have the wrong idea and practice of skipping breakfast in order to stay fit and lean but this is not the right way. Not only does this do more harm to our body but it prevents us from staying on top of our game and leaves us feeling drained and moody by the end of the day."

She made 2 fun and easy recipes - 'Banana in Chiajammies' using the Chia wrap, as well as, 'It's a Party in my Wrap' with the Reduced Carb wrap.

The #BreakfastofChampions campaign is certainly something to look forward to as these champions give us a glimpse of what's on their plate, so we can be inspired to think, act and eat like a champion too. Nothing beats starting the day like a winner! (Still need to get your ass down to the gym or outside to exercise and work out though. No shortcuts lah, eating healthy only part of the overall process!)

'Breakfast of Champions' Table

Mission Foods new healthy wraps range are available at all leading supermarkets on the bread aisle alongside their existing range of Supersoft Wraps, Naan, Pita, Pizza Crusts and Chips.

For more info: 
Website - www.missionfoods.com.my
FB - @missionfoodsmalaysia
IG - @missionfoods.my

Taste Australia Launch 'Tasty & Nutritious' Avocado Campaign

Taste Australia Haas Avocado Display Stand @Jaya Grocer, Starling Mall

Have you heard that Avocados have taken the food industry by storm as one of the most consumed fruits on the market? Yes, this creamy, delicious superfood aka 'Green Goddess of fruits' is packed full of nutrients and healthy fats, making it a popular and must-have ingredient in a more healthier meal choice for consumers nowadays.

Taste Australia, the national brand representing the Australian horticulture industry to support and drive the demand of fresh produce through engagements in key export markets, launched a Tasty and Nutritious Avocado campaign last week @Jaya Grocer Starling Mall. I was invited along to cover this event, which aims to inspire health-conscious Malaysians to make healthier food choices, as part of a more healthier lifestyle.

Caitlin Noble (Trade Commissioner of Austrade), Alexandra Prabaharan (Nutrition & Health Advocate) & Marc Francois (Fresh Distribution Centre Head, Jaya Grocer) 

Good news is that we can take advantage of these yummy, rich and creamy Australian Avocados of the highest quality all year round. And according to Caitlin Noble, Trade Commissioner of Austrade, they're air freighted at optimum maturity into Malaysia, ensuring freshness and ripeness. She claims that "When customers buy Australian Avocados, not only do they get 'farm to table' freshness, they are also buying into the country's very high environmental, food safety and employment requirements. And because we're so close, we can deliver the freshest products to Asia in 48 hours!"

Opportunities for increasing supply into Malaysia has been made possible through the expectation of a large Hass Avocado harvest from growing regions all over Australia and continuing growth in production.

According to certified nutritionist and health advocate, Alexandra Prabaharan, Australian Avocados are not only superior in taste but were also grown in a safe environment with generations of expertise involved to ensure they were the highest quality avocados available.

She said, "Many know of the buttery and tasty appeal of the avocado but not everyone is aware of its powerful health benefits. The unique combination of vitamins and minerals found in avocados can:

• help keep your immune system strong
• boost your energy
• enhance brain power 
• increase bone strength 
• aid gut health
• support healthy skin
• put you in a better mood!

Ms Prabaharan further added that avocados could also boost the nutrition of other healthy foods, with research showing that adding avocado to a salad can increase your ability to absorb key nutrients in other fresh vegetables such as lycopene from red tomatoes and beta carotene from orange carrots.

Alexandra Prabaharan making some yummy avocado treats

During her demo session, she shared the many exciting ways to enjoy avocados and their versatility by producing 3 simple tasty recipes, which comprised of eggs, a smoothie and chocolate mousse dessert. Whether you're making a dip, salad, pasta, sandwich, smoothie or dessert, avocados are a fantastic ingredient to bring that creamy texture and bundle of health benefits to every dish.

All the many different recipes you can make using Avocados

Avocado Chocolate Mousse, Malaysian Avocado Smoothie & Avocado Devilled Egg

Sharing below for you the recipes for the 3 yummy Avocado treats in the pic above :

Avocado Devilled Eggs 

Serves 6

Cooking Time: 10 mins

1 ripe avocado

6 hardboiled eggs

2 tsp mustard

1 squeeze of lime

1 pinch cayenne

1 pinch paprika

Cilantro

Cut the eggs in half and spoon out the yolk. Mash the yolk with the avocado, mustard, lime, cayenne, and paprika. Pipe this back into the hollowed-out eggs and sprinkle with cilantro leaves.

Malaysian Avocado Smoothie

Serves 2 

Cooking Time: 5 mins

1 avocado

1 Tbs gula Melaka, heated with bruised pandan leaf

3/4 cup almond milk

1/4 cup coconut cream

Blend everything till smooth and creamy. Enjoy cold.

Avocado Chocolate Mousse

Serves 2

Prep time: 5 mins

Setting time: 30 mins

1 avocado

1 banana, brown and ripe

1/4 cup coconut milk

1-3 Tbs honey, depends on the ripeness of the banana 

2-3 Tbs cocoa powder, depending on how chocolatey you like it

Assorted berries for topping

Put all the ingredients in a food processor or in a bowl with a hand held immersion blender and blend till smooth. Put into a serving dish and chill in the fridge for at least 30 mins to set and top with berries.

You can try these flavoursome Australian Haas Avocados at participating retailers including your local Jaya Grocer, Village Grocer & AEON supermarkets. So head down and jump on board the Avo-wagon to a more healthier lifestyle!

To find out more info, visit Australian Avocados website at http://australianavocados.com.au/ and also on social media FB: www.facebook.com/AustralianAvocados/  IG: @australianavocados