Warming the body with ginger bath and moisturising honey

Ginger is well known for its potent antioxidants and they are really good for the body and skin. Think anti-aging! Besides having it for my afternoon tea, I love to use it for my bath especially before bedtime or during cold and wet weather when my body need that extra warmth. To make soothing ginger bath, you need a couple of ginger roots and some honey. Honey contains antioxidants, enzymes and anti-bacterial properties. Besides being used to treat hard-to-heal wounds, honey is super moisturising for skin. I use Manuka honey because I am also using it for my ginger tea.

There are 4 common types of ginger, namely blue ginger, young ginger, old ginger and yellow ginger (turmeric). Blue ginger is said to contain the highest amount of antioxidants. For my tea and bath purposes, I use young ginger. You may also use old ginger but it is not advisable to use yellow ginger because it will stain your clothes and the white bathtub. Cleaning the stain thereafter will be a hassle!

 

To make warm ginger bath:

 

1. Wash the ginger roots and slice them into pieces.

2. Boil the sliced ginger roots in a small pot for 5 minutes.

3. While waiting for the ginger water to boil, prepare the honey. Dilute 3 to 5 tablespoons of honey (depending on the size of your bathtub) into a cup of slightly warm water. Do not use hot water because it will destroy the enzymes of the honey.

4. Prepare the bath water (ideally warm to touch as hot bath tends to dry skin out) and pour the ginger water and honey into the bathtub. To test the water temperature, dip your elbow and upper arm into the bath water. Add cool water if it's too hot.

Soak in and enjoy your warm ginger bath for 20 minutes.

Stay at home mom should earn $115,000 p.a

Says who?

According to an article in Forbes 2011, SAHMs should charge $115,000 per annum for their 'work'. That's about $9,583 per month. In USD! I think that's more than our PM's pay la! But definitely less than our PM's wife's who is infamous for her diamonds and Birkins. Ok, let me add a few more 'S' to it. Birkinsssss.

"Do you plan to work?"

"Aren't you bored of staying home all day with your two kids?"

"You should be doing something. Something productive, like work. It's good to be financially independent as a woman."

Those are the top 3 questions/remarks that I have encountered numerous times as a SAHM. Key word: WORK. As in salaried work.

At first, it was ok. Now it is starting to irk me every time someone asked me such a question. Whether I have plans to go back to work, my answer is no, not a full time 9 to 5 office bounded job. Yes, it's good to be financially independent, I know. I wished to have some side income so that I can splurge a lil' on Bottega and Chanel. It is not that dear hubby doesn't buy me one, but because I know it's not easy to be a single-income family these days. Moreover, a Jumbo Chanel can't store my kiddos' clean diapers and water bottles (yup, tried that once). Back to using Longchamp. Lightweight, with huge storage space.

Whether I am feeling bored, yes, things can get pretty mundane. Being a SAHM means schedules and routines. I have to wake up before my kids are up. I adhere strictly to their sleeping hours so I don't have to deal with unnecessary meltdowns in public. It is stressful. It is boring. It is a routine duty. While working ladies in their pretty make ups, trendy dresses and designer handbags are sashaying down the streets to grab a cold beer with friends after office hours, I am in my shorts and baby tee with my hair tied up in a messy bun cooking up a nutritious meal for my family. 

And people say I should work. Hello dear, I am working. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no annual leave, emergency leave, and medical leave. I am paid in the form of allowances, which are supposed to be used for the family groceries, kiddos milk powder and diapers. How 'interesting'. But the best perk is derived from my kids' laughter. It just melts away all things bad.

Here's an eye opener on what a SAHM actually does at home. And the one article that I really felt being understood was the one written by a husband (a real gem!).

Radiant skin with Laneige Water Supreme Base SPF 15 PA+

I used to have at least 15 minutes after shower to put on my make up. That was before I have my 2 kids. Nowadays, I have 10 minutes max, including shower time before the 2 monsters come screaming and pounding on my bathroom door. 10 seconds late in opening the door and I swear the door will see a hole through it.

If you're looking for a short cut to healthy, bouncy skin, try Laneige Water Supreme Base. I have been using it for almost a year now and it works wonders on my dull skin. It's great for mothers like me who barely has time to put on full make up but still wants a great looking skin with minimal efforts.

Laneige has 3 colours for the Water Supreme Primer Base:
• Light Pink (to even out skin tone)
• Light Purple (to brighten up dull skin)
• Light Green (to reduce redness on skin)

I am using the purple one. Just like the name suggests, it doesn't only act as a base to hold your foundation but it helps to maintain moisture on your skin, resulting in supple and translucent skin. It also has SPF 15 to block out harmful UV rays.

After a light moisturiser, I apply an even layer of the primer base (2 to 3 pumps) all over my face and neck. Due to its watery texture, it doesn't feel sticky on my skin.

Fluid texture

Yes, that's my dry looking hand. Evidence of brighter, dewy skin.

I hardly use foundation nowadays (unless for special occasions) but I replace it with loose powder, just to set a matte finish on my skin. After that I use an eyebrow pencil to fill in some mahagony brown onto both eyebrows and dab on some tinted lip balm on the lips.

Now, here comes the downside. It is too sheer to be able to cover any blemishes unlike BB creams. Its function is to achieve radiant looking skin. If you've dry skin, this product is definitely for you.