Environmentally and skin friendly products

Recently I've discovered a wealth of skin products that are environmentally, skin and pocket friendly!

1) Konjac sponge

From the website :http://www.konjacspongecompany.com/

KONJAC POTATO is a perennial plant, native to Asia and sometimes known as Konnyaku .

Benefits of a Konjac Sponge

• 100% Natural Sponge
• Gentle exfoliation
• 100% Colouring Free
• 100% Additive Free
• 100% Biodegradable
• Naturally Sustainable
• Environmentally Safe

A naturally moisture rich plant fibre which is by nature alkaline, and thus balances the acidity of the skins impurities and oils. The unique net like structure of the sponge, gently massages the skin and stimulates blood flow and new growth of skin cells. Leaving the skin extremely clean and refreshed…..naturally! No need for additional cleansers or soaps unless you really want. Should you chose to use additional cleansers or soap, you can use a fraction of your usual amount, as the sponge will generate more bubbles and spread the cleaner further than usual.

Better for your skin, better on the environment and your finances!

 

I've been using it since around March. (It's available in Watson, Sasa and Gmarket) I only use cleanser with it when I come home from outside as I still have left over cleanser. Other than that, I use it with just plain water. So far so good!

 

2) Baking soda

 

There's a wealth of uses for baking soda just google it!

I use it as a substitute for shampoo and shower gel sometimes.  I haven't been using it as a shampoo long enough to comment on it but on days that I use it as a shower gel, I feel fresh and my skin seems smoother.

 

3) Green Clay and Fuller's Earth Clay

 

I buy them online from a Singapore based website ( and use them as masks to deep cleanse my face or to lighten scars. 

 

These are just a few of the natural items that I've been using so far. I'm not sure whether they will work for everyone but I've enjoyed using them so far. I also think that they are a better, more environmentally and healthy alternatives to the concoct of chemicals that we see in the stores.

  

A New Chapter

Ok I think the title is a bit misleading...like I'm getting married or I'm having a kid...No....it refers more of my attitude towards my job....boring reflection ahead

Previously I was having a relatively good time on my job until I took my current batch of pupils 2 years ago.

Previously, I would be able to better manage the kids as time passed....their behaviours would improve.... and they would like me and I would like them too...however it all stopped until I took this batch of kids....

From my perspective...they were rowdy and stubborn....I thought it was because I have never taken kids of a younger age before and I was not used to it..being impatient and all.....

Then I took the same batch again the following year abeit a different bunch.......same problem.....

It didn't help that I felt physically unwell and no doctors that I had seen was able to alleviate my body pain and chronic fatigue. Frustration and guilt built up....felt that I was neither a competent teacher nor colleague.

I was ready to throw in the towel and get my sanity and health back. Thankfully my boss and colleagues were super nice and persuaded me to stay. Now, I still get bouts of guilt attacks, because they are so nice and caring despite me being such an incompetent teacher and awful person. Really really thankful that I have a chance to work here.

Then I started talking to people from different walks of life (and ages) and realise that people just need to progress at their own pace and there's nothing wrong with it...that's just life. I wanted the kids to behave in a certain way and have certain attitude....but they were just not ready for it yet....

Thinking back, if someone were to preach to me and expect me to behave in a certain way, I will probably balk and rebel...simply because I have not reach that stage yet.

i.e. My principal preached to my classmates and I when she caught us buying cup noodles from outside. Found her totally annoying but now I find myself agreeing to what she said.


And in a way, I'm also in no position to judge simply because my attitude towards studying and people around me weren't great in the past as well . If people around me had decided to be less forgiving and decided to judge me....I willl probably end up a sad and bitter person. I just needed to progress at my own stage and reach where I am at my own time.

I guess it extends to other facets of life as well, don't try to mould the people around you to fit your cookie cutter. Rejoice that we are fated to meet, and take pleasure in each other's good points.

By the way, I'm taking them AGAIN this year...same problem....but I don't find myself getting annoyed (well not that much...sorry I'm not a saint)with their lack of progress. Instead I try to look at the positive traits that they are already exhibiting .I'm also taking another level but it's been relatively a breeze with them ...so far...so it somehow provides some relief for me.

Wish List

Presenting my wish list (in random order)

1) Bringing back of non air-conditioned buses. I was marvelling at the beautiful greenery on the bus today when *bam* the only air I breathed in were cold air and not fresh air.

2) Pace of living will be slower. I like more time to just chill out and have some quiet time of reflection. No more checking of emails and smses to check for any new work and deadlines.

3) Less work for children and more time for real play and learning. I pity those children who have to stay back for remedials AND go for their own tuition classes.

4) Its ok to wear the same old clothes and accessories. Do we really need so many clothes, bags and watches??? So what if the face of the watch is a bit scratched or the handle of the bag is a bit frayed. Its still usable, I'm OK with it.

5) More vegan options in restaurants. Not able to accomodate to halal options/any options due to religious reasons is insensitive but being a vegan is picky??? Hello do I sense a double standard here?

6) Talk to me and not sms or play with your iphone. Hello real person sitting in front of you. LOOK AT ME , TALK TO ME!

7) Less emphasis on profit and loss. Taking care of your parents regardless of how competent they were as parents. Its sickening to see people care for others with a condition stamped on it. What happened to unconditional love? Do you check out the moral standards of those in need before you donate to charity? No right? You give because there is a need. Your parents need you. Care.

8) Religion harmony. If you delve deep enough into your own religion and take the time to read deeply and objectively into other religion, you will find them to be equal. Stop thinking your way is THE WAY and force them into others' throat.

9) See the good in others.

10) Parents spending more time with their kids.

Happy Holidays!

Loving Hut

Went to this restaurant (Bukit Merah Branch) today for lunch with my parents.
http://www.lovinghut.com.sg

Great food at an affordable price with a cozy ambience to boot. The service was great too, the waiter upon seeing that I didn't stir my drink came up to me and told me that I should stir it as it would make the drink taste better. Even my dad who is not a vegetarian kept praising about the food.

I think the restaurant is a vegan one, which means it not only doesn't serve meat but eggs and dairy products as well. I'm quite keen to try the milkless ice-cream if I have a chance to dine there again.

Do drop by if you have a chance too!

The Concentration game

With the exposure to a variety of provoking stimulants , its harder and harder to get the concentration of students. It becomes a vicious cycle. The more interesting you make the lesson, the harder it is for the students to learn to quiten down.

I feel worried and sorry for this generation of students. The jobs that matter most are going to require intense concentration. How is the next generation going to take up the job of running the country if they are constantly needing exciting stimulants?

Television and the Young Child
Kim Preston, Northen Subhurbs Waldorf Playgroup, Western Australia

Check out page 13-15 on the article of Television and the Young Child.
www.freshwatercreeksteinerschool.com.au/documents/Prep%20Handbook%202008.pdf

Saying I'm sorry

I came back to Singapore on the night of Fathers' Day so I did not get to see my father. The following morning, I greeted and apologised to my father, for being an unfilial daughter.

I could not help but feel that if I had apologised earlier ,my father would have been less lonely for the past years.

Family ties is something that will endure the test of time, harsh words and behaviours. Unfortunately, friendships are more fragile. Sometimes, an unintentional word or behaviour can cause irreversible damage. I wished that I have known this earlier.

Being a scatterbrain, I forget harsh words said to me easily and can be friendly to the person easily. I have naively believed that others would forgive me easily too. This is not so. Sometimes, I don't even realise or care enough on the hurt that I inflicted on others.

Be kind and treasure those around you and never take them for granted.

Teacher Parents Session

It seems like a long time since I last posted an entry (so long that I forgot what email and password to type in) but after checking the date, it doesn't seem that long after all.(ok so my memory is bad)

Will do a quick post before I go overseas.

It seems pretty common for ladies nowadays to continue working after the birth of their child. Some will leave the care of their child to either their parents or to a child care centre. Some points to ponder on:

1. The parents are basically doing double duty. After the arduous duty of raising their own child, they are faced with another round of raising their own grandchildren.

2. This is something which I find quite interesting , it was raised by another teacher. If the child is raised by the grandparents, what happens when the child starts a new generation? Will the mother of the child (who was raised by the grandparents) be equipped and prepared to raise her grandchild like what her parents have done for her?

For me, I like to take a peek at the profiles of the parents of my students. Students who have stay at home mothers tend to be better behaved which then translate to better academic results.


During the recent Teacher Parents meeting session (which I kind of enjoyed, both parents and me will learn something new about the child), one of the mothers told me that her son has become better behaved and less rebellious after she became a stay at home mum. Of course, life is not easy with a minus-one income but its definitely worth all the sacrifices.