It's my Birthday!

 (This was originally posted on my daily blog)

 

It's my Birthday! 

Every year I try to reflect on things I learned and have accomplished. These are the things I have learned:

1. Those who matter won't mind, and those who mind won't matter. 

I can't stress enough how true this is. When I reflect on my friendships from years ago compared to those I have now, a clear pattern emerges. The friends who have stayed through thick and thin, regardless of how I may have stumbled along our journey, are the ones who remain steadfast and our friendship has only grown stronger. On the other hand, those individuals I once believed held great significance in my life often vanished at the first sign of a misstep or when they perceived that I no longer held the same importance in their eyes.

2. Don't take things for granted. Appreciate what you have.

I can't emphasize the importance of this. We don't realize how much something matters to us until we lose them. For example, when I lost my trees... yes, they were always there for me, but I never realized how important and how much they would affect me with their presence. 

I try to cherish each relationship and everything I have.

3. Be Positive.

I wasn't aware of the effects of being negative till I met a very negative person. She actually "had it all" a job, a house, a family and friends, yet she will complain that God did her bad because of a few inconveniences. God definitely spoke to me while I tried to convince her that she should be focusing on the good she has. 

Her negativity resulted in her family leaving her and her friends ignoring her calls. 

I learned through her that it is okay to complain but at the same time, look for the good.

4. Trust God

This has been tough for me, but I have learned to trust God in all circumstances. I also learned that He is the only one who cares about me more than anyone or anything in the world. 

5. It is okay to Lament.

Throughout the past year, God has shown me that I can lament and complain to Him because He cares (there is a WHOLE book in the bible called Lamentations!). A lot of times, I have considered complaining to friends... (who care about me) but there is only so much they can do, BUT God is different, He cares and He can do something about our circumstances and suffering, so why not run the best source.

The media doesn't talk about this enough, but when the premier of Nova Scotia cried out to God (regarding the horrifying wildfires engulfing the province in May/June) God answered and He extinguished them.

I take these lessons to me as I move on to next year. filled with hope and living through God's promises for me. May I grow another year wiser :)

Thanks for your support for this blog and for me this year <3

Sharpie S-Gel Pens review

 

It has been almost a year since I've had these and I think I'm ready to give a review.

Sharpie S Gel pens were heavily advertised across Youtube and other social media platforms. It piqued my interest because Sharpie, the permanent marker, has always been one of my favourite writing tools, whether it was to create posters or write on parcels or to even take notes, Sharpie markers have been with me through thick and thin.

I was quite excited to hear that they have gel pens available and I really wanted to get them. I was very hopeful. 

very sleek design

These were advertised as:

• having vibrant colours (black, red and blue)
• smooth writing

They claim:

experience a high-performance gel pen

Features:

• Contour rubber grip (for a comfortable writing experinece0
• always vivid writing (with intensely bold ink colours)
• no smear, no bleed technology (for an exceptional writing experience

They were sold out everywhere! I finally stumbled upon a Walmart and they had one pack of these left! 

writing (please excuse my messy writing) lines look nice... writing not so...

These are medium with a 0.7mm point tip.

(They also come in Fine 0.5mm and Bold 1.0mm)

writing bled through pages... (Muji notebook)

impressions:

• smooth but felt a bit runny
• has a slight sharpie scent (like the marker but very toned down)
• it is smooth but not on all paper
• it leaks through paper
• it is smear proof (and quick dry)
• it is not waterproof

I really liked how they felt in my hands. The rubber grip made it easy to hold the pen and the plastic body made me wonder whether it was metal or plastic. It has a nice matte finish.

I was also disappointed that it isn't smooth on all papers. It leaked through my Muji notebooks (Muji notebooks have higher quality paper than normal loose-leaf lined paper). 

random doodling... (disclaimer: I can't draw!)

Drawing:

It didn't take long for me to realize that these pens were made for drawing more than writing. For drawing and doodling, they do a nice job (whether you are drawing lines or circles) but when you are writing, I found it tough to write nicely.  The ink colour is definitely very bold and vibrant. I haven't had the chance to use blue and red (once I get to test them out, I'll leave an update here).

I had a drop of water on my desk and this 2 week old writing smudged :(

The ink/gel was a bit runny and made it hard to write letters (most of my writing ended up looking like cartoon, sans comic writing). 

highlighter and smear test

When they claim that their key feature is smooth and consistent writing, it isn't for words... it is for drawings... for drawings, it was definitely a smooth and consistent experience. 

Overall, I liked how bold and saturated the ink colour was. I like that it was smooth and vibrant. However, I was not impressed by the ink bleeding through my pages and not being permanent. I was disappointed to see how the ink smudged after being in contact with a small drop of water. For a Sharpie product, I would expect the writing to be permanent. 

I would continue to use this for drawing and doodling but there are much better options for writing.

Score: 7.8/10
Website: https://www.sharpie.com/pens/gel-pens/sharpie-s-gel-medium-point-0.7mm/SAP_2096134.html

Raw Chocolate ice bars short review

Indulging in the Pure Delights of Raw Chocolate Ice Bars

Introduction: 

Raw chocolate is a familiar concept to chocolate enthusiasts. Unlike its roasted counterpart, raw chocolate is made from unroasted cocoa and does not contain additives like sugars during the manufacturing process. Most chocolatiers add sugar afterwards to achieve the desired sweetness. This results in a pure and creamy chocolate experience, making it a favourite among connoisseurs.

Discovery of Raw Chocolate Ice Bars: 

A few days ago, I stumbled upon an exciting find at my local grocery store: Raw Chocolate Ice Bars. For those who love chocolate, you know how elusive raw chocolate can be. Whenever I come across anything labelled "raw chocolate," I can't resist purchasing it immediately.

one of the raw chocolate ice bars

These particular raw chocolate ice bars were made in Mongolia.

impressions:

• it has a very strong, rich and full chocolate taste
• it has a slight mochi (chewy) texture
• it melts very quickly
• the tin foil/aluminum packaging made it difficult to unwrap the bar

The chocolate flavour is undeniably intense, rich, and full-bodied. The ice bars possess a delightful mochi-like texture, adding a chewy element to each bite. They melt quickly, ensuring an effortless indulgence.

Given recent experiences with unmeltable popsicles/ice cream from China, I appreciate the fact that these raw chocolate ice bars melt as they should. 

the aluminum wrapper made it difficult to unwrap the ice bar

Conclusion:

Discovering these raw chocolate ice bars was a treat. Their strong and rich chocolate taste, coupled with the slight mochi-like texture and quick meltability, made an exceptional experience. If you are a chocolate enthusiast like me, I highly recommend these raw chocolate ice bars. They will allow you to experience the pure allure of raw chocolate.

Score: 10/10

Website: no website

Kirkland's Cinnamon Danish Rolls short review

Cinnamon Danish Rolls

It has been a while since I saw a YouTube video raving about Kirkland's Cinnamon Danish Rolls (found at Costco). After eagerly waiting for them to arrive at my local Costco, I was finally able to get my hands on them!

Appearance:

When I first saw them, I must admit, I was a bit skeptical. The rolls didn't look as appetizing as I had imagined—they appeared slightly dry and looked unappetizing. Nevertheless, I decided to give them a try.

The pictures you see here don't do these cinnamon rolls any justice... they look small and regular-sized in the pictures... but in reality, they are bigger than the size of my palm. 

Taste:

The Cream Cheese (or frosting or icing) is quite sweet, so I found it best to heat them up before enjoying them. Trust me, it makes a HUGE difference. Heating the rolls not only melts the cream cheese/frosting/icing, allowing it to coat the cinnamon rolls better but it also reduces the concentrated sugary taste, but it also makes the outer shell crispy and gives it a creamy, buttery, and aromatic flavourful interior.

Impressions:

• must be heated (in an oven... or if you don't have one, in a microwave)
• Cream Cheese/frosting/icing is very sweet (make sure it is melted before you eat it)
• (after you warm it in an oven) the outside is super crispy and the inside is very creamy
• it has the exact amount of cinnamon sugar inside

To truly savour these rolls, I highly recommend heating them, either in an oven or a microwave. This way, the cream cheese/frosting/icing is melted. Once warmed, you'll experience a delightful contrast between the super crispy exterior and the creamy interior. The cinnamon sugar is perfectly balanced, creating a delightful taste.

Cinnamon Danish Rolls

Comparison:

I hate to make comparisons, but these cinnamon rolls actually taste better than the ones I've had at Tokyo's Starbucks, which is renowned for its cinnamon rolls in Asia. Firstly, these rolls are larger than the ones offered at Starbucks. Secondly, they possess a stronger cinnamon sugar taste. And lastly, they have a wonderful texture with a crispy exterior and a warm, creamy interior, unlike Starbucks' cinnamon rolls which maintain the same texture throughout.

Verdict:

If it's not already obvious, I absolutely LOVE these cinnamon rolls! My family devoured them in just two days, which is a record considering their generous size. Even my dad, who isn't usually a fan of cinnamon, couldn't resist finishing them.

However, it's important to note that each roll contains 410 calories, which is something to consider. Despite the calorie count, if you're a fan of cinnamon rolls, I highly, highly recommend giving these a try. They strike the perfect balance with just the right amount of cinnamon sugar, and the Danish pastry provides a delightful crispy exterior and a luxuriously creamy interior.

score: 9.9/10 (deducted 0.1 for the high calorie count)

website: no website available

Comparison: Japanese Instant Noodles vs International Instant Noodles Ramen

 

International version

The title of this post might be strange. This is what I meant: the comparison between the Japanese version of the same brand (e.g. Nissan) Noodles and the international version of the same instant noodles.

Japanese version

If you ever wondered whether they might be different, you are correct. They are quite different. In fact, if you blindfolded me and asked me to do a taste test, I would not be able to tell that both are from the same brand. 

International version 

ready to serve International version

I've always thought that the Nissan Instant noodles we know of were the standard until I moved to Tokyo and realized they are very different. There was a day I was craving that oiliness of Nissan noodles, however, when I went to the store and bought a packet that "looked" similar enough to be the Nissan Ramen I am familiar with, but to my surprise (and disappointment)... it wasn't. 

Japanese version: uncooked

Japanese version: ready to serve

Here are some differences I noticed. 

Differences between Nissan noodles:

	Japanese version	International version
Noodle type	baked, not fried, contains bits of dried ginger and other condiments	fried, a bit of an oiliness, plain
Noodle texture	thin, firm and has a heavier chewiness,	thick, slightly porous and has a light chewiness, also a bit oily
Taste (broth)	saltier, richer flavour and healthier tasting (similar to egg noodles), heavy on ginger taste (with noticeable ginger bits)	lighter brother, everything is "well balanced" and gives you a comfort food taste. Heavier on sesame
Noodle prep time	1.5 minutes (in boiling water)	3 minutes (in boiling water)
Calories	306 calories	450 calories

It has hard to choose which one I prefer because both are good and different (in a good way). The International version is more of a comfort food, while the Japanese version seems healthier and more preferred if I want a ramen meal (for dinner). 

Which do you prefer?

For those interested, here are more photos and info about each version of ramen. While reviewing the images, I realized the instructions have changed since I reviewed these noodles (on their old packaging)... so please ignore the differences in directions (between the review and the images... I'll make amendments in a bit.)

Nissin International Version:

highlights: 

made in Hong Kong

Made in Japan

Kiehl's products that didn't work

 

you have heard me rave about Kiehl's products... and to make my reviews as transparent as possible. I decided to write about the products that didn't work for me. 

Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate

This product claims to instantly boost radiance and have anti-aging benefits such as reducing fine lines. 

I discovered this product when I made a mistake and ordered this. I was planning to purchase the "Precision Lifting & Pore-Tightening Concentrate" but somehow bought this instead. They are both the same price and they look the same and I made a mistake and bought this instead of the other one. Unfortunately, my skin didn't like this as much as I thought it would though, this is more of a "me" issue than Kiehl's. My skin has reacted badly to most Vitamin C products I have tried. I thought Kiehl's might be different since most of the products I have used from them worked well, but I was wrong.

Hours after applying this product, my skin still did not absorb the Vitamin C contents which made my skin very wet and sticky. I was able to feel and smell the product (especially the Vitamin C's metallic odour). Although it didn't worsen my skin's condition, it didn't make it better either. The most frustrating part was that it just sat on my skin and didn't absorb.

I was also unimpressed with their container, similar to the Precision Lifting and Tightening Concentrate, this product's container is made of plastic. 

Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate

If you are ever planning to give this product a try, Kiehl's provides a disclaimer to NOT travel with it. It contains a mild dose of Cannabis (as the name suggests) and some countries have strict laws of possession (think Brittney Griner).

I have heard many good things about Cannabis skin care products about their ability to calm and relax the skin.

However, my experiences were different, and this is one of the products that didn't work.

My skin hated this oil and wasn't able to absorb most of it. It ended up staying on the surface of my skin for hours. This also means that I had to smell the weird weedy grassy scent and it got all over my hands, clothes and phone... >___<.

Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

All Skin Types, including Sensitive Skin A potent Retinol serum in a daily-strength micro-dose that visibly reduces wrinkles, evens skin tone, firms skin, and minimizes the look of pores with minimal discomfort. Maximum efficacy and maximum tolerance for even first-time users, sensitive skins, and for use around delicate eye areas. The formula is paraben-free and fragrance-free. The other main ingredients are peptides and ceramides.

I have heard many... MANY great things about Retinol, so I decided to order this and give it a try. Boy, was I wrong. The formula was silky smooth and it glided easily on my skin. At first, my skin was willing to absorb the serum (which was a good sign!) however, I started noticing my skin getting worse.

At first, I thought my skin was purging... and so I didn't think much of it (and was actually glad there was purging) BUT... after a month of using this... my skin had worsened to the point that there were dry patches, acne forming in different areas and my skin just seemed unmanageable. It had a hard time properly absorbing other products. I switched out this serum and my skin slowly got back to normal. 

T&T Black Sugar Tapioca Cake short review

apologizes for not having a picture of the product with the packaging (but you can see what it looks like on their website). It looks like a small roll of cake. We got rid of it before I decided to write this review. (yes... it was THAT bad >__<)

I will make this as short and simple as possible.

I didn't like it.

impressions:

• dry
• tapioca is too soft (as in not chewy)
• weird
• the cream was extremely dehydrated
• no black sugar

To be honest, it tasted like old cake (cake left in the fridge for over 2 weeks), which doesn't make sense, since we ate it the day we bought it. I couldn't be more disappointed... especially after a worker/baker at T&T told us that this is a best-selling product at T&T and highly recommended it to us.

She even claimed that we were lucky they still had some left. 

Score: 0/10

Website: https://www.tntsupermarket.com/eng/50742301-tnt-bakery-brown-sugar-tapioca-swiss-roll-320g.html