Clary Sage Essential Oil: Love at First Whiff

Today is the 18th August, a rare lunar eclipse of the Aquarius. It's supposed to bring a huge energy shift within us. 

Well, it's almost 9pm now and I'm feeling happy and relaxed. Or could it be I've had a shower and put on the amazing Clary Sage essential oil from Doterra. I've started using it one week ago and this essential oil is amazing. The first time I took a whiff of it, it knocked me hard. I felt like a happy Rastafarian. No joke. You won't believe it but it feels like tension has rolled off my face and shoulders. 

Well, it's not that surprising as Clary Sage is popular for its anti depressant and relaxing properties. It's also highly effective in regulating our hormones. It's love at first whiff for me. I'm on cloud nine and still loving it everyday.

Budget beauty mommies, this is a must have in every home. You've got to have it. Try it and you'll know why.

#budgetbeautymommy

Restaurant Review for Best Steamed Fish Head

In the spirit of #keepingheritagealive, I would like to do a restaurant review. This is a very special family-run restaurant serving the best steamed fish head and authentic Heng Hwa cuisine. It's called Hoi Kee Heng Hwa restaurant. 

It used to be a small rustic shack with no air conditioning situated in Brickfields. Due to development, this gem of a restaurant had to relocate and we were devastated as we can't locate it after it was demolished. By sheer chance, after many years later, we found it and it has moved to Taman Desa and its fully air conditioned now. A far cry from its humble origins. 

We have been going to this restaurant for decades with my family and the food still tastes just as good today. We were just there last weekend and the chef remembered me and my late daddy. Had a little chat with him. 

Despite its new sleek look, it still retained the customary red table cloth, hot Chinese tea with a small basin to wash your cups and utensils. A hallmark feature in traditional Chinese restaurants. 

We ordered the signature steamed fish head with minced ginger, oyster omelette, stir fried sweet potato leaf and honey ribs served with white rice. These dishes have been our staple and we never ever got tired of them. 

This restaurant is perfect for family meals and it is children friendly. On Sundays, it's nice to see families dining in here with grandparents and grandchildren. The owners and staff are really friendly and efficient, an added bonus. Food is served quickly and always fresh. I didn't ask, but I think there is no MSG in the food as you don't get that thirsty feeling after meals. 

Budget Beauty Mommies, I highly recommend this restaurant as it's steeped with tradition and food is so good. Prices are still so reasonable too. Dad would have been so proud that we have converted a Brit to being a fan of this restaurant too.

#budgetbeautymommy

Most long wearing lip ink from Nakeup Face Korea

Just received my Nakeup Face One Day Water Volume Lip Ink(No.4 Look at Me) from Korea.

The moisture level and lasting power of the lip tint is amazing but the colour is way too red for my style. This lip tint is really, really very long lasting and richly pigmented. I ate and drank my meals with it and it still stayed on. It's amazing. 

If you blot your lip after application, it minimises transfer on cups and on your lil darling's cheeks. 

I found the colour to be too red so I opted for a gradient lip look. 

‪#‎budgetbeautymommy‬

It's the simple things that matters in life

This morning, my BFF sent me a picture of her breakfast in the old coffee shop in the heart of town. It's brought me very fond memories as my parents used to frequent that coffee shop in their younger days. 

A wave of sadness swept through me as I also realised that our kids and the next generations would barely know such hidden gems. I'm saddened to think that our kids would only know fast food joints and fine dining restaurants. They wouldn't experience life like eating without air Cond, sharing tables with strangers because there are not enough seats or queuing up to buy food or even waiting patiently for food to be served. They may be inconvenient but the meal brings just as much joy and satisfaction. We may grumble but we are grateful. 

I'm afraid that our kids may not be as resilient as us and may not have the capacity to enjoy the simple things in life when modern living is all about instant gratification. 

For me, it's not the end that justifies the means. But it's the journey that's worth it. 

From now onwards, I hope all budget beauty mommies will share with their little darlings their heritage and tradition so our little darlings will not forget their roots.

‪#‎budgetbeautymommy‬

Why you should live life today?

Life is so fragile. Was just talking about doing a yearly health check as breast cancer runs in my family and this morning the first thing I hear after waking up, is that my friend's wife had just passed away after a 7 months battle with cancer. 

The news really made me extremely upset and sad because she was so young and beautiful and they have a beautiful baby daughter. I have never even met her before but my heart aches for her and the family. 

Just makes me rethink how short life is and that most of us are just going through life in auto pilot and not living. 

If you're laughing everyday, crying from laughter and have love and can give love, I think that's a beautiful and fulfilled life, amongst other definitions of a good life. 

If you're a Budget Beauty Mommy, squeeze your kids tight and let them know what a miracle they are to be yours. It's ok, the mess on the floor can wait. Memories don't wait. Our kids grow up too fast. 

Tell your parents, spouse, family and friends that you love them. They may know you do, but it means the world to hear it from you. If you really, really can't say it, express it through a card or an sms. 

You have a passion or hobby or even a new job direction that you're too afraid to try, just take the plunge. You'll never know where it might just bring you. 

You've fancied a certain special person for a long time in the distance, just give them a call or chat them up face to face. You'll probably get an ego bruising but you'll never have a what if scenario anymore. 

If you're feeling lonely despite being with someone. And you've genuinely tried everything in your means to keep it together. Well, life is short, walk away. There is always someone who would love you for who you are. It's better to be alone than to be lonely with someone. When one door closes, another opens. If they're really meant to be yours, they will eventually come back to you. 

Do something nice for someone today. Be it a stranger or someone in need or a helpless animal. It doesn't really matter. Touch a life and make life more beautiful - one person at a time. Pay it forward, put a smile on someone's face today. 

Life is precious and we only get one chance at it. Make memories everyday and leave an impact in everyone's lives that you have touched. We'll never know when our time is up. 

I love you all!

‪#‎budgetbeautymommy‬

Best drugstore cleanser

Do you have trouble finding the right cleanser? I have tried literally thousands of cleansers, from luxe to drugstore brands, and there's only one brand that I still go back to, time after time, despite my rather ridiculous search for the perfect cleanser. Mind you, this search has spanned 2 decades!

You see, I've first started using this cleanser when I was a teenager. As I get older, I thought it's time to splurge on more expensive cleansers because luxe brands means they are better. Biggest myth in the beauty world! Expensive doesn't mean it's more effective. Now you know why I'm a firm believer of Budget Beauty Mommy? Due to my ignorance, I've embarked on a journey trying out every single brand of cleanser from Lush, Body Shop, L'occitane, Simplicite, Melvita, Clinique, SKII, Kiehls, Peter Thomas Roth right down to La Mer! Name it, I've probably tried it before. 

It took me a long, long time and unnecessary money spent, to discover that after all the 

years trying various brands, I've come back to my trusty St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub. It's a great cleanser AND exfoliater. It has 100% natural exfoliants. Oil free and hypoallergenic. 

Not only that, it's paraben free and sulphate free. It has Salicylic Acid 2% to keep you spot free. It's not too harsh nor drying on the skin. It's really the best multitasking cleanser I've ever used. It's not fragranced so it has a rather natural, earthy smell that you'll get used to. 

It is found in all drugstores and it's so affordable. It may not look special but it's hands down the best cleanser I've ever used and no more wasting time trying to

find the best cleanser. I've already found it all along!

‪#‎budgetbeautymommy‬