a day in my life | took a day off from work & went shopping

  

Decided to take a break from work and get out the house now that Klang Valley is now in Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan. I made sure to the the necessary precautions and only visited the shops where I plan to shop for stuffs.

Can't believe it's November in a week's time and another year where I've been stuck at home most of the time. Fingers crossed I will be able to clear my leaves and unwind. While work is good, I think I need more fresh air! Best is without a mask but at this point that isn't possible yet...

EP9 Malaysia's first Don Don Donki branch in Lot10, Bukit Bintang!!

 

Back with another video, this time me exploring & shopping around the newly launched Don Don Donki! Super happy that more Japanese branded foodstuff are more accessible here and OMG the variety!! It'll be quite an adventure to try 'em all.

When I went, it's just slightly over a week since the official opening and quite a number of items were sold out from the empty shelves here and there. For one, I wanted to try the yuzu sake flavored kit kat but didn't find it nor the other flavors! *sigh* A lot of well-known Japanese beauty products were unavailable but still, there were still enough things to spend on LOL. Donki's having quite a field day!

Sharing the video on my mini adventure in Donki. I can't wait to revisit already!

Here are what I bought!

Snacks which I proceeded to stuff myself silly the next few days. I shared the price and what I think about them in my video above.

Not in the video bc I tried the potatoes laterwards. The silk potatoes have the most velvety texture and prettiest Indigo shade I've ever seen! Told my fam that they look like they lead a very good life. I heated it in my toaster oven just like it's instructed at the back of the packaging but don't know if I do it right. Unlike the creamier ready-to-eat sweet potatoes you can get at both Donki and Isetan, this one felt drier? Still filling but it's like, I felt like I need to have something that isn't too dry on top of this since it's dry (idk how to describe!)? Interesting stuff.

365 Days of Lockdown in Malaysia | Movement Control Order (MCO)

This vlog took me awhile to put them together! Compiled are the videos I have taken throughout MCO, mostly in the recent months since at the first few months I was literally hibernating. These were just a summary of what happened, to tell everything is impossible! So much has happened, a lot of them in my own head! (:

Jumping right into the video!

get fitter this MCO 2.0 & introducing (possibly) the best exercise mat ever!

As we are all bracing for MCO 2.0, this is the chance to set new resolutions to be fitter especially if you haven't done so since the last MCO or new year. No more excuses or procrastination, peeps!

Sharing some of the workouts videos I'm following the past weeks which I super like!

 

Favorite stretching workout so far!

I had thought the Pamela Reif's workouts are the toughest until I tried this workout by GrowingAnanas and couldn't complete it and even felt super dizzy at the end laughdieme. Though I do feel super muscular the next day lolol Attempt this at your own risk! Just early this week, I tried her legs workout which is made up of combination of some basic moves that totally ramp up the intensity!

Other than the above workouts without equipment, I am trying some workouts that incorporates resistant bands because I just got several from CottonOn Body. Kinda like how they increase the intensity for workouts such a squats, lunges, crab walk, fire hydrants and the likes. The variety also make working out from home less boring.

Since I've started doing cardio/HIIT/Tabata at end of March/April of last year, I have lost several inches on my waist, butt and arms but most importantly, felt much stronger!

Previously I jogged but that didn't seem to improve my stamina nor did much to reduce some stubborn fat. Hopefully with a better mat and consistent workout for the year I'd get to lose a few more inches. Weight-wise, it's a bit funny because I'm still the same weight. I'm told that meant I've gotten leaner and built some muscles  ᕦ(* •̀ ᗜ •́ * )ᕤ “ Hopefully the same for you who does the workout consistently!

~🤍~

Aside from the above, I wanna flex my new mat in this post hahaha 

Tadaaaa °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

This Forest Fitness mat is a new one I bought with my own money (therefore NOT a sponsored post) at the start of the year and I'm already loving it! As you have probably hear me mentioned, my first workout mat fell apart just 2 months into using but which I didn't part until last month because I didn't know what are the other alternatives that could last. Thinking back, I was quite noob and chose a yoga mat thinking it is the only option for home cardio. BTW I do very little yoga, mostly stretches that incorporate yoga moves (Pamela Reif's vid above) while most of the time its cardio or HIIT. 

Found out later what I need is a pilates mat! Of course, the other option is gym flooring mat but I'd prefer something I can roll up and put aside. With this new mat, I kinda have high hopes for the new mat for the price I'm paying and seeing how the material seems much durable. It is described as a mat "made with heavy duty and premium grade natural rubber built for extreme durability and long term usage".

I think Forest Fitness is a local brand which is only available on Shopee.MY. For that, I went to search on Amazon for yoga mat that has almost similar-looking material and surface with my: here, here (black and navy blue) and here. A lot with this kinda surface are black, I'm not sure why. Of course if you want something prettier, you can go for Lululemon's which apparently offers amazing mats as well.

Close up!

Pros of this Forest Fitness mat include:

1) amazing grip at the bottom and top surfaces which prevents slipping. I think this is important because it reduces unnecessary friction so you can focus your energy and getting the most of your workout!

2) doesn't sink so very stable when holding poses such as deep lunge

3) absorbs impact better than foam ones so lesser noise when jumping around. I also noticed I bruised less on my knees _it was a frequent thing with my old mat. Besides that, my elbows don't hurt or get scrapped when I do moves like planks or the likes!

4) surprisingly, sweat evaporates off easily and do not leave sweat stains. I was worried it doesn't look like it'll absorb as well as foam one initially. It is also super easy to clean

5) doesn't have too strong rubber smell 

The only cons I can think if now is that its only in one color, it is quite heavy (hovering about 2.6kg on my kitchen scale) if you're looking for something to bring around and definitely to the pricier end. The latter, I wont mind if I don't need to change it anytime soon! So far it hasn't disappoint. Will remember to keep y'all posted on the mat condition after I have used it for a few more months. If you already own this mat or bought it from my recommendation, please do share your experience in the comment!

Twenty-twenty: This too, shall pass.

With 2020 drawing to an end, I'm reflecting on the things that happened or lack thereof like the number of posts on this blog... I wanted to write about my last adventure but then didn't want to come off as not being able to read the room (｡•́︿•̀｡) So instead, I shared tips on building mental resiliency through workouts and meditation, 'cuz everyone needs that. Even myself. 

Oddly despite only two posts for the year, my daily readers have increased. You all have too much time now is it? LOL

This month I'm leveling up my workout with these resistance bands and for massage ball just to keep my foot busy while working standing up. 

My right foot hurt terribly the first few times, I wonder if it meant there were something wrong with my body? Several nights in a row after trying this I noticed I sleep better and with more massage, I don't feel much on both legs now. Planning to let my fam try when I balik kampung. The massage ball was RM10 after fifty percent off, still quite pricey. I have read that you can use a tennis ball but this has extra weight to it so I don't know if it makes much of a difference.

Post-workout selfie, wheee~~~ ୧(*^∀^*)୨ *refreshed* I bought some workout wear sets but recently been lazy of changing into them...

Other stuff I shopped for recently is the fabric kind resistance bands, also from Cotton On Body which was on sale at half the price. Those has became a favorite and more suitable for the kind of workouts I'm doing. Still using the latex ones for some squats and arms exercise but not for lunges because they tend to fold. Overall, still happy that I got these!

~🤍~

Past months I have finally taken up learning to cook and bake partly out of boredom and sick (not really) of instant noodles and must have tried a dozen brands, even two types of ghost chilli instant noodles just to spice up my life. One stings so bad it brings me back to the reality of 2020. Har. Har. Har. Har.

There are even fresh foodstuff in the fridge_ a corn on cob, pumpkin, okra, apples and tofu_ unlocking another adulting achievement *gives self pat on the back* 

This month I finally have the chance to bake the walnut cake with my trusty, somewhat new, favorite toaster oven  (o˘◡˘o ) I also baked another for my fam when I returned to my hometown.

Here's an experimental quiche topped with garlic bread where I discovered roasted garlic isn't the nicest thing. Will just stick to loads of grated cheese.

Not sure if I should try burnt cheesecake that has been trending hmmmm. Having a cute oven motivates me to try out new recipes hahaha!

~🤍~

In the middle of December, I went back to my hometown, the first since the start of the MCO. While it was supposed to be my holiday, I ended working and following up with odd issue that turned up *sigh* It still feels great being home, much cozier and my meal time is much consistent LOL Mom is trying to feed me with everything during the week, its like a CNY feast every meal! #thankfull

Bought several different brands to make drip coffee for fam to try~~ I have a fourth brand of coffee powder but didn't use it because its too fine and not suitable for drip coffee... Thankfully, dad is not fussy and thinks they're all nice LOL

~🤍~

Looking back, it's a funny year. Sometimes time seems to pass slower than usual but yet there are so much things to do. At first it sucked being cooped up in just my rental room but the perks of being an adult is you grow accustom to this soon enough.

Things that went well in 2020:

🤍 Home workout. I almost signed up for a gym membership! Guess I won't be needing one anytime soon.

🤍 Learning to cook and  baking, I prefer the latter! 

🤍 Living more sustainably by composting and cutting down on shopping. Also, WFH meant that I didn't have to worry about changing cloth pads, so I have been using them in every cycle since the start of the lockdown. With exception of one disposable pad (seriously only one!). Other than that, I tried taking care of some plants but they died...

🤍 I have healthier hair now, ironically because I no longer wash them daily. It wasn't possible before since my hair is always oily after spending the day out.

🤍 More time to rest and less advocating the hustle culture

🤍 Health-wise, I took the opportunity to do Radioactive Iodine Treatment back in September. It was something that I have been putting aside with excuse of being too busy. Thinking back that was quite a stupid thing to do _ not prioritizing my health. What was I thinking?! Unfortunately my recent result showed a relapse which meant I need to do another round next year (ㄒoㄒ)

🤍 On the same subject, everyone in the fam & close buddies are in good health! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖° 

There is a quote that I have came across several times that goes, "I thought 2020 would be the year I got everything I want. Now I know 2020 is the year I appreciate everything I have". Not all is lost this year but hoping that next year will see the light at the end of the tunnel.