Let's start with me

I recalled that during my younger days (though I’m not that old for sure), I had praises for my clear and clean skin. Thank goodness for good genes, I thought, as I am one lazy person when it comes to a skincare regime. In school, my gal mates are so into a skincare routine that includes step 1 to step nth. And to some of them, having a face cleanser is not enough, unless the skincare range includes the moisturiser, toner, creams upon creams and what-have-you. For me, a bar of soap back then with an all natural product - water – is all I need to keep my skin clear, clean, fresh and radiant.

I’ve tried all sorts of products before – those over the counter tops as well as luxury brands that you get only from the mall. Even then some of these expensive brands have not shown its miracles on my skin, though touting miraculous ingredients in it. I could use water and a bar of ordinary soap, but I realised that my young, clear and supple skin is not the same as it is now, me a mother of two. Further, it’s common knowledge that our skin does not regenerate as fast as it did during those girly days. But all I wanted is a simple cleaning routine, something that is not harsh on my skin nor pockets to achieve that simplicity. After some researching on the internet, the halal movement on cosmetics and skincare is something that seems to strike a chord with me. And it made me wanted to only put halal skincare on myself. I mean, if 60% of what we used on our skin gets absorbed into the body, why should I not feed my skin with products that are safe, chemical-free and halal-certified as well? And so the search went on, and without a doubt, caring for our planet is also another good ethos to live by, and products that are eco-friendly definitely got my nod and stamp of approval. With all these in mind, I discovered Saaf.

I believe in Saaf Pure Skincare, and I believe in the ethos it lives by. So I created this website – Alamaya Lifestyle – hoping to create a greater awareness of a way of living. It’s not perfection or vanity that I craved for, but for each and everyone of us, we could at least create a living that is better, healthier, happier and safer for ourselves and for our children’s future.

Due to our ailing Gaia, I feel that it is even more imperative that we strive to do something that can heal our Mother Earth, and thereafter our World or Universe (Alamaya) as a whole. It seems idealistic but if I can do a little something through Alamaya Lifestyle, then why not?

No part is too small.

So, let’s create the awareness, let’s create the movement, let’s start with ourselves.

Come discover Saaf Pure Skincare at www.alamayalifestyle.com. Welcome to our world, a world of pure senses.

Memory booster for your kids with rosemary essential oil

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I love to roast – especially my all time favourite rosemary chicken that hubby and Afzal simply love to the bone bits. In fact, it is an easy weekend treat, but also a great platter for welcoming and entertaining guests. I love the aroma and the taste of the rosemary herb. It has a wonderful depth of aroma and taste, but also very bright, uplifting and almost sweet.

Now the great part is, rosemary essential oil is also known to strengthen one’s mental capacity. It has a pronounced effect on the brain, as it helps to increase blood flow. Therefore, it has a reputation as an excellent brain stimulant as well as boosting memory. Further, it also helps with headaches, migraines, neuralgia, mental fatigue and nervous exhaustion. Since it increases the circulation to the scalp, it is also very good in promoting hair growth.

Because of its skin regenerative properties, rosemary essential oil is also used in some skincare products for troubled skin like puffiness, swelling, acne, dermatitis and eczema. However, it is noted that it should not be used during pregnancy and unsuitable for people with epilepsy and high blood pressure.

Rosemary essential oil blends particularly well with Cedarwood, Citronella, Geranium, Lavender, Lemongrass and Peppermint.

With such memory enhancement properties, I’m sure a little dose of this essential oil while your child is studying, reading or doing mental arithmetic will help to improve your kids’ mental capacity. That aside, I’m sure it will also provide a nice, warm and pleasing environment for learning. Wouldn’t you want that for your children?

Now, for only 7 days, I'm offering a 100ml rosemary essential oil for only S$60. Retail is usually between S$18.50 to $S20.50 for a 10ml bottle. Imagine, the average savings of about S$130! You wouldn't want to miss this special.

Other essential oils I have to offer is country rose, lavender, ginger and lemongrass blends, lemongrass, grapefruit and sweet orange.

Free delivery within Singapore. Submit your orders to mariaandtahir@gmail.com. Orders will be processed once a fund transfer of 50% has been made to one of the following account:
DBS: 029-0-028080 POSB: 084-87540-6 OCBC: 553-0-055416

Balance of 50% will be cash on delivery. Once you have made a fund transfer, please email mariaandtahir@gmail.com or sms to 8102-8487. This offer is good up to 24 June 2010. So hurry, don’t miss this opportunity! Only S$60 for a 100ml bottle!

Calming your kids with lavender essential oil

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One of my favourite scents is lavender. It's sweet floral-herbaceous scent that comes with a slight woody undertone is a must-have for me as I used lavender scent all the time as my fabric softener. Also, there is always a can of lavender scent spray either at home or in the car.

Lavender is grown at high altitude mainly from the mountainous region of France. This fragrant essential oil is nearly colourless and blends well with most oils, especially citrus like Sweet Orange, florals like Ylang Ylang and Geranium, and with woody scents like Cedarwood, and Pine.

According to one scientific study, lavender has the ability to help restful, deep sleep and what you can do, is to simply diffuse lavender essential oil in your bedroom or just sprinkle a few drops on the sheets for this calming and relaxing effect.

This is definitely helpful after a long day, especially when trying to get your kids to calm down and have a good night sleep. Applying directly to your kids'feet can have a wonderful relaxing effect on your little tikes. Or you may just add one drop under the pillow for children.

You too can enjoy a nice foot bath with a few drops of lavender oil. It helps to relieve fatigue and stress for you and the significant other. Also, keeping a small bottle of lavender oil with you throughout the day and in the car is a wonderful accompaniment especially when dealing with stressful and challenging situations with your children. It helps to calm both you and your kids and make your day relax, calm and enjoyable.

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For all its benefits, I'm offering a 100ml of lavender essential oil for only S$60. Retail is usually about $20.50 for a 10ml bottle. Imagine, the savings of about S$140! You wouldn't want to miss this very special offer.

Other essential oils I have to offer is country rose, ginger and lemongrass blends, lemongrass, rosemary, grapefruit and sweet orange.

Free delivery within Singapore. Submit your orders to mariaandtahir@gmail.com. Orders will be processed once a fund transfer of 50% has been made to one of the following account:
DBS: 029-0-028080 POSB: 084-87540-6 OCBC: 553-0-055416

Balance of 50% will be cash on delivery. Once you have made a fund transfer, please email mariaandtahir@gmail.com or sms to 8102-8487. This offer is good up to 24 June 2010. So hurry, don’t miss this opportunity! Only S$60 for a 100ml bottle!

Kids can bake!

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Without a doubt, baking is one of the most multi-sensory activity you can do with young children. It entices and engages the child through all his senses. He not only touches, but he could see, smell, hear and even taste.

When two moms with young kids do not know what to do to fill up their kids time, they get them to help in the kitchen, and voila, AlphaBake was born!

As their toddlers grow into primary schoolers, these moms decide that venturing out to get their hands and other kids in dough creativity is the funnest thing they can do on top of their already busy schedules as working mom with kids. Soon, the excitement and the requests keep filling in, and they have not looked back since.

With baking, young kids get to exercise their fine motor skills through the dough making, the rolling, the cutting and the decorating. On top of that, they get to learn all sorts of sciences and mathematical concept in an incidental manner. And now collaborating with another entrepreneurial mom from Nurturing Minds, AlphaBake is infusing their baking classes with some fun mathematical approach this June holidays.

So why wait? Join their workshop.

AlphaBake is offering a fun-filled and multi-sensory workshop this June holiday.

Date: Saturday 12 June 2010
Venue: Seminar Room 1, Bukit Batok Civil Service Clubhouse
Time: 10am-12pm
Class Synopsis:
Show your appreciation for DAD this coming Father's Day by baking him a sweet treat he can't resist. Learn the concept of shapes, division and sharing in forming letters A and D and have great fun turning a boring 'ol semi circle and triangle into a beautiful treat for Dad!

Email them at alphabake@gmail.com if your interested.

Genius in the making

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I've blogged about Glenn Doman before, and am using some of its methods now, though not fervently. I have also purchased the encyclopaedic materials from The Institute of Human Potential from the US, and that sets me back by a hefty hundred dollars. Recently, however, I've discovered the GeniusMaker which is a downloadable software that has words, pictures, dot cards and more. It is a flashcard programme similar to Glenn Doman, and perhaps the Shichida method if you have heard of him.

Truth be told, I don't quite appreciate the Shichida method as compared to Glenn Doman. This was because when I went to the Shichida parent seminar about 8 years ago when Afzal was about 2 years old, I was quite put off by some remarks and comments made by the lady owner who brought Shichida to Singapore. And besides, I am wary of methods that used some form of hypnosis in wanting to reprogram your child's brain. Some Shichida parents may not agree with me but there would also be other parents who don't quite agree with the flashcard program.

I do believe that flashcard program works, as I know of people who have used the Glenn Doman methods, and their children's success are testimony that Glenn Doman works. However, in raising our children to be gifted and geniuses, we have to incorporate other creative strategies in nurturing our kids. And to me, flashcard is just one of the many workable methods or tools in nurturing our young kids.

I have not bought the GeniusMaker but I am wondering whether I should cos it is very affordable and will be a good investment for Aqil and perhaps more bubs in the future. I'm sure it takes away the many hours of trying and struggling to make some of the resources myself, and these self-made resources may not come cheap. This software is also usable in the school environment, so if anyone has a preschool, the GeniusMaker could be one of the tools used in the preschools, and I really hope that our Malay/Muslim based preschools might consider using this software as well.

Click here to find more about the GeniusMaker.

I need time management!

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My firstborn is 10 years old this year, and he is mid-way into his primary four education (aka grade 4).

Since he is out of the zero to nine years age range, the age range of 'early childhood', well, I can safely say that Afzal is into his middle childhood. Now, what does that mean?

It just mean one thing for me. His mathematics subject is getting harder, and it is definitely a steeper learning curve this year, not only for him but for me. On top of the mathematics, there's the science that is a lot more demanding this year.

The problem sums are getting more complicated, and there are layers of layers of problems to solve before you even arrive to the actual answer that the question wants. My speciality has always been early childhood maths, and now I realises that I am not as productive as I could be in assisting him with this middle-hood maths.

I have reliquished my teaching role to the hubby, partly maths is getting a bit too complicated for me. It has been less fun to teach without using manipulatives and hands-on materials, because at primary four, there's very little creativity involved in the teaching. Maybe I have not researched enough how to solve the problem sums more creatively.

And partly we have an addition to the family, our 2nd born son. As a growing baby, Aqil needs attention, and at 6 months, he already knows whose attention he wants to seek. ;P And now I am re-starting my early childhood strategies cycle once again this time on Aqil.

It's going to be an exciting ride ahead! With the trials that Afzal had gone through with me, I definitely have a better idea of what, how, why, and when to do things with Aqil, I surely hope so. But one thing that I have to remember is that every child is different, but every child has the potential to learn anything and everything. And in order for Aqil to maximise learning, it really depends on me as the parent to nurture and harness his capacity. However, it is always so easy to get sidetracked and distracted with the daily grind of life.

As a working mother who only wants the best for her kids and our lives ahead, I have to keep reminding myself that my children are only young once. If I missed that moment, that opportunity, that milestone, it will never, ever come back to me. So, this reminder is for me to spend my time wisely with my children. Time management! is key to my sanity as a working mum!

Moving again

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It's been two years. And it's time to move again.

Property prices are really on the rise, but compared to the same time two years ago, the price then was really mad. It was sky-high! Now, we can see rentals that are lower than what we are paying for the same square feet. And since we are waiting for our own - yes OWN abode to be ready in 2 years time, we decided to move to a more reasonable rental unit, to save some of the money for our future furnishings and reno.

So the search is on, and mind you, I - really am tired. It's mind boggling negotiating deals, because the hubby will only say what he wants but would not do the searching, the shorlisting, the calling and the negotiating. Sometimes I'm really mad at his irrational choices, but because he is the hubby and would go into the 'black-face' mode when I questioned his irrational reasoning, I decided for my own sanity just to go ahead with his decision. And he jolly well know that at times he is paying for his bad decision-making skills.

Enough ranting about the other half, but I can't help it. I have some viewing to do tomorrow and I will go without him cos he is working. I can't wait for him to be off on weekends as weekends are the time that more units are available for viewing.

In 2005, when we were in the States, we rent out our executive apartment in Jurong which was only going at $1150. Now for the same unit, it can go as high as $2700! Can you imagine the prices we are paying now? And yet the rise in our salaries does not match the cost of living in Singapore.