Plus+ Women Sep-Oct Issue

E SU IS `S EN M W O Sep–Oct 2015

EASY

zumba workout WITH SUSAN

PATRICIA AND ADRENNE

super mums in childcare and business

The little things in life we learn from children

WITH JESSIE PANG

5 TIPS TO BECOMING A SUPER FIT MUM! USD $3.99 GBP £3.49 BND $5.00

EDITION

IN YOUR LITTLE ONES DIET

healthy meals for kids

BRUNEI

Smart ways to get more veggies

Homecooked

Ian Salleh 8889968, Mimie 8712444, Hjh Zimah 7122815, Juraini 8763765, Faisal 8635789, Dk Ratna 8299333

Sep–Oct 2015

+Content

+Life Inspired 26 BIBD Charity Expedition 2015 28 A conversation that is all natural

28 +Health

+Fitness

6 Eeeek Veggies!

Ways to get vegetables into your children’s diet

12 Super Fit Mom

36 Eating and living healthy Through the eyes of Pandachu 40 Simple Homemade Bread 42 Honey Balsamic Dressing 43 Citrus & Herb Baked Chicken

14 Zumba Your way to a happier life

+Focus 20 Mama's Life Hack

46

22 Things We Learn From Children: the Little Things 44 Tiny Blessings

51

46 Find Balance in your Life as a Mum

+Beauty 51 East meets West for a Fashion Euphoria: the M.A.C & Guo Pei Collaboration 55 Three Yves Rocher Products to Revitalize your Skin

2 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

+Publisher Info

Dear readers,

W

elcome to the September edition of Plus+ Magazine, where we are celebrating the joys of motherhood in this month’s women’s issue, with our normal mix of information on health, fitness, food and lifestyle for your reading pleasure.

Our cover this month features Patricia and Adrenne Chin, two cousins who decided they wanted more natural skin care products for themselves and their children — and started a business manufacturing them in Brunei.

We also meet Jessie Pang, a mother of two who shares with us her outlook on healthy living and her creative methods of getting her children to eat more healthily.

We have a wealth of healthy recipes this week too, plus our guide to getting your kids to eat vegetables should help you in the kitchen and make those meal times less demanding.

+Publisher Nexploit Services +Editor-At-Large Simon Keller +Talent Editor Elizabeth Sim +Senior Copy Editor Mohd Aslan Abdullah +Marketing and Digital Content Nursadiqin Misir +Graphic Designer Anna Thien Oleh Melnyk John M. Rey

For our workout routine this week, Susan Leung shares with us her journey to becoming a Zumba instructor, as well as taking us through the basic steps for two of the well-known dances — merengue and salsa.

Getting regular exercise into your routine can seem like an impossible task when you’re a busy mum, but if you follow our top tips to keeping fit, including getting the kids involved, you should be able to keep on top of your game — after all, you need to keep healthy to be the best mum in the world!

Don’t forget you can follow us for the latest updates @PlusBrunei on Facebook and Instagram, where we post behind the scenes pics and sneak peeks of upcoming features.

Many thanks and happy reading, Simon Keller & the Plus Team

+Photographer Jerome Wong

Ministry of Health (Brunei Darussalam) Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (Brunei Darussalam) Health Promotion Centre (Brunei Darussalam) Fitness Zone Royal Brunei Airlines Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd

+Publisher information Nexploit Services Lot 4169, Kg Serambangun, Tutong TA 2541 Brunei Darussalam

+Have a story to share?

Email it to  plusbrunei@gmail.com

+For business inquiries and distribution Email it to  plusbrunei@gmail.com

+Get interactive with Plus Magazine

+Featuring Jessie Pang Patricia Chin Adrenne Chin Susan Leung Nurul Akmar Jaafar +Contributors King Seh Horng Joanna Kwan Shelley Ann Busque Julie Andrea Anna Aziz

All rights reserved.

Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form of by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of Nexploit Services. Where option is expressed it is that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the editorial views of the publisher or Plus.

All information in Plus is checked and verified to the best of the publisher’s ability, however the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistake or omission enclosed in the publication.

4 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

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+Health

A

ll parents around the world invariably go through the struggle of getting their kids to eat their greens, with children sometimes being unbelievably stubborn at accepting vegetables as an important part of their diet.

After all, there are so many other foods that seem to taste better to them! Research shows it can take up to ten times for a child to develop a taste for a particular food. They key is to be persistent — and patient. Using encouragement is always the best method to try to introduce new food, remembering not to lose your cool if they refuse to take those first spoonfuls.

Eventually they will come round and accept these new foodstuffs, so here are a few methods that successful parents have adopted.

COOK THEM RIGHT No-one, whether adult or child, likes soggy, over boiled carrots or limp, wilted greens that are

6 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

just tasteless. Consider steaming vegetables so they don’t get overcooked — not only do they retain a better texture and flavour, they keep many more of their nutrients and vitamins compared to boiling.

ADD ADDITIONAL FLAVOURS Adding additional flavours to vegetables can make them more appealing, rather than just plain boiled or steamed — just like for adults. Adding flavours like a little stock, garlic, butter, or a touch of salt will improve the flavour and encourage them to try them out. Don’t go overboard; keep the flavours subtle so they still have the taste of the vegetable. Once they get used to it, no more struggling to make your kids munch on their spinach! If they still not accepting, then you can mix in foods you know they do like — for example if they love cheese, you can do cauliflower with a cheese sauce.

Try reverse psychology.

Eat more vegetables in front of your kids and tell them how much you love eating them.

They’ll surely give it a try.

Health+ ADD BRIGHT AND COLOURFUL VEGETABLES One thing that will work in your favour is children’s invariable love for colourful things. Offer diversely coloured vegetables on their plates and they will be more intrigued to eat them.

While adults tend to like to mingle their flavours together in a meal, children often prefer them separate.

DECORATE THE PLATE Other than colours, kids love to see their foods designed in different patterns on their plate.

Try arranging all the items in patterns and shapes on the plate. You can make food fun for them by shaping the food into a heart or a smiley face and they’ll certainly want to try out every

part of the picture, including the vegetables.

HEALTHY SWEET SNACKS Raw food such as sweet cherry tomatoes and baby carrots can be enjoyed as an alternative to junk food snacks. You can even make your own healthy crisps, by taking thin slices of beetroot or sweet potato and drying them out slowly in your oven — delicious.

GET KIDS INVOLVED Children will be more interested in eating a meal if they get to help with its preparation. You can take your kids out with you to the supermarket and let them pick one or two vegetables — not only is it educational, but will make them far more

interested to eat them later.

You can also plant a vegetable garden with your children, or just put a small cherry tomato plant in a pot. This will make them enthusiastic to try out the vegetables they’ve actually helped to grow.

MAKE FOOD FUN Relating vegetables to fun things that the children love and turning it into a game is a great way to make them eat them. Broccoli can be boring, but not when they are small trees that need to be devoured.

Likewise chomping on carrots like Bugs Bunny is a far more fun adventure! Compliments will also take you a long way — children might not understand the word healthy, but they understand faster, stronger, or taller if they eat their greens. 

SOME OTHER TRICKS YOU CAN TRY: ©© Set aside a plate of raw vegetables or a salad of cold cooked vegetables before serving the meal. Your kids are the hungriest at that time and they will surely munch on them. ©© Cook mashed sweet potatoes instead of white ones. They are healthier and contain more vitamins, plus of course they are sweeter for the kids to enjoy. ©© Let children make their own sandwiches with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and cheese slices. ©© Try reverse psychology. Eat more vegetables in front of your kids and tell them how much you love eating them. They’ll surely give it a try. ©© Make muffins more nutritious by adding shredded courgette and carrots to the mixture. ©© Take a handful of vegetables such as spinach, cauliflower,

or broccoli and blend into the pasta sauce. It’ll trick the kids into eating it with pleasure! ©© Develop a habit of having fresh salads as regular side dishes. ©© Sneak in chopped broccoli or extra carrots to chicken soups. ©© While making pizza with your child, try adding chopped broccoli, fresh basil or spinach to the pizza topping. ©© Sneak pureed carrots into a fruit smoothie. ©© Add pureed beets, spinach or prunes to a brownie or a chocolate cake mixture. For white and yellow cakes, use pureed carrots or apples. ©© Reduce the amount of beef and add some finely chopped mushrooms to the mix of spaghetti sauce. The meaty texture of mushrooms is similar to ground beef and they also absorb rich flavours of the sauce.

PLUS 7

Sep–Oct 2015

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+Fitness

BECOME A

WITH THESE 5 TIPS

T

he joys of motherhood are boundless, but reality can come crashing down like a ton of bricks the moment you look in the mirror and see a sagging belly. If that isn’t enough, staying healthy is a whole different ball game once you have a baby or a toddler to contend with. It seems that all your attention is towards looking after them, with no time to look after yourself. Forget about sticking to a workout schedule. Don’t fear; all is not lost - you can still become as fit as you want, as long as you take time to understand that prioritising some time for yourself is as important as prioritising looking after your child. Being at the top of your game as a fit and healthy mum will make your life a whole lot easier, with more energy, focus and the patience you often need to get through the demands of motherhood. So let’s take a look at 5 suggested strategies to assist you.

12 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

Fitness+ 1. MAKE IT HAPPEN Of course this it is easier said than done, especially when you always need to be on alert for when your baby throws all their toys out of the pram for no apparent reason, or your toddler comes running with a cut knee after charging around.

Your job doesn’t end when your shift does, whether it be shopping for and preparing the next meal, the laundry, or picking up their toys. The key is to be determined and allocate just a little time each day to getting some exercise in. If you’re a morning person, why not get 10mins exercise in first thing before they wake, or in the evening after you have settled them in bed, put on a workout video before you relax on the sofa. It will get easier once your child is old enough to be settled in to a routine, plus the more time you spend exercising, the more you will feel the benefits.

The key is to be determined and allocate just a little time each day to getting some exercise in.

2. SET ATTAINABLE GOALS It’s unlikely you’ll have time to commit to a full workout schedule or go to the gym on a regular basis, but you can commit to small, achievable goals.

Set yourself up for success - even small accomplishments matter. The trick to becoming a fit mum is to set goals that are attainable – if your time or budget doesn’t allow you to hire a babysitter to go to the gym, you can always make use of the stairs or put on an exercise video to do some cardio at home. A little commitment is all it takes. Likewise, there’s no point in spending time making nutritious food for your child and then ordering in unhealthy takeaway at night as comfort food. Look to make a meal that suits you both and change your diet one meal at time. You don’t need to count calories at every meal and punish yourself; after all, you have been running around looking after the little one all day.

3. THROW THE SCALES AWAY Every women dreads the moment when she has to step onto those scales. If you want to be a fit mum, then throw those scales away! Your clothing can do the talking. If you really can’t do without the scales, wait for ten days before you step on them instead of checking them every day and beating yourself up about the results. The way your clothes fit can also be a good indicator.

And remember, your body weight

constantly changes, especially if you are breastfeeding. Speaking of clothing, why not lay out your workout and day clothes the night before, then it’s time saved already the next day – all the more time for your early morning workout.

4. HAVE A WORKOUT PLAN Have a plan about how you are going to sweat it out, whether it be for just 10mins or half an hour. It’s one thing to find the motivation to work out, but it’s something else to find the motivation to figure out what to do for a workout. This is where some professional help such as an exercise video can help, with training right in the comfort of your own home. If you know in advance exactly what you plan to do, it’s a whole lot easier to make in happen.

5. GET THE KIDS IN ON THE ACTION If you are really struggling to get enough uninterrupted time for that workout, then why not get your child involved too. Kids love to charge around as they get older, so introducing them to ‘play’ with you at exercising can be a whole lot of fun. Your workout sessions will give you additional bonding time, making it fun for both you and them. Plus it introduces them to structured exercise, setting them up to keep physically active in later life and helps with discipline too.

PLUS 13

Sep–Oct 2015

+Fitness

ZUMBA YOUR WAY TO A HAPPIER LIFE

Featuring: Susan Leung • Article by: Elizabeth Sim • Photography: Jerome Wong

14 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

Fitness+

W

hat started as a simple festive outing ended in the biggest life changing event in Susan Leung’s life, when she found an unexpected love for Zumba and Latin music! As the founder of Susan’s Fitness Studio in Tanjong Bunut, she shares with us her tale of how it all began, what inspired her to get where she is now and even how anyone with enough heart and passion can learn to teach Zumba.

When did you first experience Zumba and how did you then become an instructor?

I discovered Zumba fitness for the first time at a festive bazaar where one of my friends was teaching a class at the YMCA in Edmonton, Canada back in 2007.

They played Latin songs during the classes, which I was not fond of at the time. Then 2 years later, the same friend got me to come and support a fundraising event and made me participate, as it was for a good cause, and this time I thought it was wonderful and really got into the music.

From that point I was hooked and by 2010 I had become a licensed Zumba Fitness Instructor.

Did you train then in Canada to obtain your certification?

Actually no, I did my training in Singapore and then in Perth initially. Becoming proficient in teaching Zumba doesn’t mean you are a Certified Fitness Instructor, but you are provided a certificate of completion after completing the training. There are no exams for either practical or theory so you get the certificate and a license to teach, but not a title. I then went on to study and am now a Certified Fitness Instructor for Zumba.

In this industry it is crucial for classes to be conducted by properly certified fitness instructors, who have the knowledge and skills to deliver a safe and effective exercise class for the participants. With such training, you continue to learn yourself

and we are always looking to upgrade our own skills.

Can just about anyone be a fitness instructor then?

Yes, anyone can become a fitness instructor, as long as they have enough dedication to get fully acquainted with his or her craft.

One must have the love and passion to teach any fitness program.

Attending different types of fitness classes is crucial is helping you decide which exercise you are best suited to teach.

Fitness instructors should be fantastic role models for their students, demonstrate good leadership, be a conductive instructor and also a great mentor.

What were or are some of the challenges you faced starting your own studio and in getting to where you are today?

The biggest challenge I had — and still have — with my studio, is knowing how to manage it hahaha. I am blessed and grateful for the 5 awesome local team instructors I have worked with for almost 5 years now. My goddaughter Vivian Ching also helps with the admin work and she is also one of our Certified Zumba Fitness Instructors. Of course credit also goes to my awesome team family. Without them, there will be no “Susan’s Fitness Studio”.

What forms of exercise were you involved in before Zumba became your main focus?

I was always into hiking, running, cycling, aerobics, steps and golf. In fact, in the 1990s, I used to drive with a friend most afternoons from Kuala Belait to Shabandar, just to go hiking.

That was until my husband and I moved to BSB in 2001. I continue to hike until today and I love cycling as well.

How supportive have your friends and family been with you and Zumba?

My family are in Canada and are very supportive. I moved back to Canada last July to be with my family due to illness.

My mother was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer, for which she has had a mastectomy on her left breast and gone through months of radiation therapy.

Fortunately she is now doing very well. I believe she sped up her healing process because of her strong positive outlook in life. My second sister was also diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2013 and she recently has undergone a major surgery, from which she’s currently healing.

I have an awesome circle of friends in Brunei who were also very supportive. My first Zumba fitness class was filled with a room full of friends!

What are the most common questions you get asked from people unfamiliar with Zumba?

Haha, well most of the time people would want to know If Zumba was an African dance? Or more commonly people simply ask “What is Zumba?” Most people don’t know that Zumba isn’t any traditional dance, but actually a licensed dance fitness program, that was developed only as recently as the 1990s.

Looking so good for your age, is there any top tips you can share?

Thank you so much for your compliment! My secret for eternal youth is to always be happy and never stop smiling no matter how hard life hits you sometimes. I love to SMILE and even LAUGH at things that don’t seem funny.

In fact my kids thinks I am crazy sometimes hahahaha.

What’s next for Susan’s Fitness Studio and do you have any upcoming events?

Our next project is to host the next Zumba Fitness Party in Pink, a charity event supporting cancer sufferers, which we are proposing to launch on the 1st November 2015. Next year we have the Zumba Education Specialist (ZES) Asia Tour in January 2016.

For more information on Zumba and Susan’s Fitness Studio, you can contact her via email at: susanpang6626@gmail.com

PLUS 15

Sep–Oct 2015

+Fitness

MERENGUE:

MERENGUE IS A STYLE OF MUSIC AND ASSOCIATED DANCE THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN THE CARIBBEAN IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY. THE SMALL STEPS AND ASSOCIATED SWEEPING OF THE FEET ACROSS THE FLOOR WHEN MOVING ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE ORIGINATED DUE TO ENSLAVED LABOURERS HAVING THEIR LEGS CHAINED TOGETHER.

1. MARCH: Simply march on the spot Right, Left, Right, Left.

A

B

2.

2 STEPS: Feet together.

Start with your Right Foot, move in small steps to the Right: Right, Left, Right, Left.

Then with your Left Foot, move 2 steps to the Left, so you are back in starting position.

A

16 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

B

C

Fitness+

3.

6 COUNT (SIDE TO SIDE): Start with your Right Leg to the side, Left Leg step in place. Then bring Right Leg back to Centre.

Then reverse, with Left Leg out to the side, Right Leg step in place, Left Leg back to Centre.

You can gradually pick up the steps by counting: 1,2,3,4,5,6.

A

B

C

4. BETO SHUFFLE: Stand with legs at shoulder width apart.

Bring Right Arm up at 90° to your side, then with your Left Arm push up above your shoulder, with elbow at 90°. Then repeat, swapping arm positions.

(When moving your arms, loosen up your feet and just sway your body side to side following your arms.)

A

B

PLUS 17

Sep–Oct 2015

+Fitness

SALSA:

WITH LATIN AMERICAN INFLUENCES FROM EARLIER DANCE FORMS POPULAR IN THE CARIBBEAN, SALSA MUSIC AND DANCE STYLES, AS WE KNOW THEM TODAY, ACTUALLY ORIGINATED IN MID-1970S NEW YORK. THE STYLE IS CHARACTERIZED BY KEEPING THE UPPER BODY LEVEL WHILST SHIFTING WEIGHT BY STEPPING, SO CAUSING THE HIPS TO MOVE.

1. SALSA RIGHT & LEFT: Stand with both Feet together, with both knees slightly bent.

Start with your Right Foot. Step to the Right, then return to Centre. Repeat with Left Foot to the Left, then return to Centre.

A

B

(As you move faster, you can sway your hips as you rock to each side).

2.

SALSA FRONT & BACK: Stand with both Feet together, with both knees slightly bent.

Step with you Right Leg forward, then back to Centre.

Repeat with your Left Leg, then back to Centre.

(You can also swing your arms as you move faster, it actually feels more natural).

18 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

A

B

C

D

Fitness+ 3.

2 STEPS: Stand with both Feet together, with both knees slightly bent.

Move your Right Leg 2 steps to the side, Right, Left, Right, Left.

Then Repeat with your Left Leg, Left, Right, Left, Right.

(You can add in arms as you go faster.)

A

A

B

B

C

C

D

4. ROCK BACK: Stand with both Feet together.

Move your Right Leg to the back, turning your upper body slightly to the Right as you do so. Repeat the same for your Left Leg, again turning upper body only to compensate for the motion.

(You can add in swinging your arms as you move faster).

PLUS 19

Sep–Oct 2015

+Focus

I

f there’s anyone who needs a good life hack- it’s a mum!

The frustration of juggling what seems like too many chores in a day can get very tiring. Some of our simple tips and tricks can do you a favour and make things easier in your household, whilst also saving time and money.

20 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

Focus+ REMOVE GUM FROM HAIR AND FABRIC WITH ICE Chewing gum will inevitably get stuck in your kid’s hair, favourite teddy bear or clothing. Don’t sweat it – just reach for some ice. The adhesive properties in chewing gum are dependent on it maintaining a flexible structure, so putting the item in the freezer or clamping the chewing gum between ice cubes, will freeze it and make it rigid. And at that point, you can simply scrape it away with a butter knife.

DIY PLAY-DOUGH No matter how hard you try to convince the kids to keep the colours of the play-dough separate, they will eventually get mashed together into a messy blob of brown gunk that will no longer be of interest. Instead of buying more ready-made tubs, simply use flour, salt, water and food colouring to make your own playdough. You can even involve the children in the fun activity of making it in the first place.

MAKE CHORES FUN When kids are young, it’s fairly easy to convince them that household chores can also be fun. It doesn’t have to be tiresome cleaning up the mess and tidying away the toys from all around the room. Make fetching the toys to the toy box a game and they’ll enjoy doing it. Tape off a square on a floor about a foot on each side and then hand your little one a broom and have them sweep everything in that square. Not only will it help you do the cleaning, but it also teaches hand-eye coordination and observation.

STOP POTS FROM BOILING OVER WITH A WOODEN SPOON Every mum has to experience this you’ve got a pot of boiling water for rice or pasta on the stove, but get pulled out of the kitchen because of some sort of child emergency and

when you get back, it’s too late! The water has boiled over making a huge mess. Well not anymore – simply lay a wooden spoon across the top of the pot and it’ll stop the bubbles boiling over.

KEEP CLEANERS TO HAND Children have their way of getting their clothes dirty or picking up germs, even when you think they’re in a pristine environment. Two indispensable items to always have ready are fabric stain remover and antibacterial hand sanitiser. That way you can pounce into action at the earliest opportunity without having to search for where you left them. If you are out and about, carry a little of each in small bottles, then you can clean-up mucky hands before a chance of infection, and pre-treat stains on the go so they come out more easily in the wash.

REUSE OLD SOCKS After a while, even with the greatest care in the world, you end up with a pile of mismatched socks. Kids somehow manage to lose, ruin or hide socks – and invariably just one of each pair. Instead of just throwing the odd ones out, use these socks in a game to help clean the house.

Give your children a spray bottle of water and let them put on several mismatched socks to skate on the floor. They can spray and glide over the floors. As a result, your floor gets clean and your kids get a fun activity!

DIY BIB HANGER Bibs are often not to be found, just when you need them! Get an adhesive hook and stick it on the back of the high chair. Now, whenever you wash the bib, remember to hang it there, and it’s ready and waiting within reach. Easy and out-of-sight!

COLOURING RACK In order to store and display your kid’s colouring books, pens, crayons and more, simply use some cheap kitchen accessories - a dish drying

rack and cutlery holder work perfectly to keep everything in order and less of a mess.

DIY BATHROOM STORAGE Your bathroom can quickly become a disaster zone once all your child’s stuff takes over. If you have limited space, you can use pegboards to keep toys and towels off the floor.

Just attach wire baskets, pegs and hooks to the board and you have a DIY storage solution to store bath toys, hang towels and also keep toothbrushes from falling in the sink. This will also help them to dry between baths.

A PROPER CAR BIN It’s no surprise to have a filthy car once you have kids, with food wrappers, spilt food and used drink bottles getting into every nook and cranny. Get yourself a car bin – an old plastic food container with a lid will do - so you have somewhere to store the rubbish that invariably accumulates as you go about your day. It makes cleaning the car interior so much quicker – and when they are old enough, you can even teach the children to use it too.

PLUS 21

Sep–Oct 2015

+Focus

Children have the curiosity and desire to learn and are not afraid to try new things.

22 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

Focus+

THINGS WE LEARN FROM CHILDREN:

THE LITTLE THINGS PLUS 23

Sep–Oct 2015

+Focus

1. TO BE CREATIVE: Creative pursuits can bring the joy of achievement and a real thrill to your life. As we grow older, most of us seem to stop seeing these activities as worthwhile and forget to lose ourselves in a creative project.

Children, on the other hand, can spend hours working on a drawing, building a sandcastle or making up stories with their toys, all with an incredible concentration to detail. But aside from artists, how many adults draw on a regular basis?

Not only is art therapeutic, it can build perseverance which is absolutely essential to achieve success in other areas of our life. So next time your child has a colouring book, pick up that crayon yourself and find out how relaxing it can be!

2. TO USE YOUR IMAGINATION: The great Albert Einstein said “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.”

We have access to so much information, which many of us feel overloaded with, but inspiration can be lacking at times. When did you last really use your imagination, as opposed to living the imagination of someone else feeding you a story via TV or the movies? Kids are incredibly imaginative and believe in making the impossible happen, that’s why they have the ability to make us laugh out loud when they say incredible things. But why shouldn’t that cardboard box be a race car or that old cereal box be made into doll’s house? We can all learn to use more of our imagination from them – and save wasting money too on expensive plastic toys.

24 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

Learn from your kids to be present in the moment and enjoy life as much as they do!

3. TO BE PRESENT IN THE MOMENT: Kids believe in living in the here and now - they don’t worry about the future, nor regret the past. When was the last time you paused to notice the beauty of the ‘now’ and be glad of how far you’ve come? No matter how the past looks like and how scary the future may seem, focusing on what is the present will make you realise there’s no point in worrying unnecessarily about such things. Learn from your kids to be present in the moment and enjoy life as much as they do!

4. TO BE EXPRESSIVE: Children are often expressive and very much in touch with how they feel. They don’t hold grudges. If they are hurt; they let it go by crying and if they are happy they smile or laugh. But with time, we adults often learn to suppress and avoid emotions which can create unnecessary stress. Although children don’t always express emotion in a responsible way, we can learn from them to vividly feel and express our emotions and move on rather than dwelling on it for an extended period of time.

5. TO KEEP ON LEARNING: Children have the curiosity and desire to learn and are not afraid to try new things. Research says that the average four-year-old asks more than 400 questions a day and this is a simple representation of their thirst for

understanding the world about them. But as adults we often become accustomed to just accepting things at face value, without understanding the why or the how. The act of learning new skills not only sharpens the mind but also keeps it young.

We should all remember there nothing wrong with asking questions and being inquisitive.

6. TO ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS: Children are naturally fascinated with the small things. They aren’t born wanting fancier toys or a more decked out stroller.

They are content with simple things and often make them more interesting with their imagination. How often has a child ignored an expensive gift and ended up playing with its cardboard box for an hour? Couldn’t we be happier if we remembered even a small amount of fascination for the ordinary and appreciated it more? Life could be so much easier that way.

7. TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY: Kids are born free from social boundaries and prejudices. They find friends in strangers and this is why we often need to warn them of potential dangers.

Children naturally give without expecting anything in return; they love you because they love you. There is nothing you need to prove to them. This is what real and unconditional love is all about and this is a lesson for all of us to remember.

+Life Inspired

BIBD CHARITY

EXPEDITION 2015

Featuring: Nurul Akmar Jaafar • Photography: Jerome Wong

W

ith the BIBD Charity Expedition 2015 just around the corner, Plus Magazine took the opportunity to chat with Nurul Akmar Jaafar, the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at BIBD, to find out more about the aims of their program in helping under-privileged children in Brunei, as well as her individual passion for providing welfare for the disadvantaged.

What is the idea behind the BIBD Charity Expedition and how many under privileged student has BIBD aided so far?

The charity expedition is designed to be a fund-raising platform to support Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam’s flagship CSR (corporate social responsibility) program, which is the BIBD ALAF (Advocating Life-Long Learning for an Aspiring Future). BIBD needed an event that can bring the community together around a common interest, and feels that with the positive habits being nurtured towards a healthy lifestyle as well as promoting family bonding through recreational activities, the BIBD Charity Expedition was — and still is — seen as the main event that can support the whole idea.

To date there are 84 students being supported through the BIBD ALAF program, who are currently in school from as low as Year 1 till Year 12.

What do BIBD plan to achieve with this year’s BIBD Charity Expedition?

Apart from raising funds through donations, BIBD also sees a growth in positive feedback from corporate clients, who wish to support the event and the ALAF cause, which is one of the key aims of the BIBD CSR initiative, namely bringing the community together, whether it be corporate or individuals.

The past two BIBD Charity Expedition events saw growing partnerships and participations from both corporate and individuals where 6,000 people participated. For 2015, we are aiming for the number to grow further.

Donations and support have steadily increased from corporate sponsors too, where from a handful of them initially, we now have almost 20 corporate partnerships in place. Public donations too have increased, but we are always looking to increase awareness of the BIBD ALAF program, to enable the public to appreciate the cause behind all these fund raising initiatives.

26 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

What Is BIBD ALAF Program About?

The ALAF program is an educational-community initiative, developed with the aim of providing education sponsorship to selected bright under-privileged students.

BIBD hopes to align this initiative with His Majesty’s 2035 Vision of obtaining a 100% level of education to everyone.

Proper education is the key to helping reduce poverty, leading Brunei towards a more prosperous and peaceful future, populated with educated, motivated and highly skilled and successful individuals. By focusing on underprivileged children, we empower the next generation to help pull their family out of their poverty rut, by ensuring all their educational needs are fulfilled until they graduate.

Why do you think it’s important to nurture the future generation of Brunei?

Our country is small but so rich with culture, a caring community, and an adherence to the Islamic principles as a way of life, as lead by His Majesty the Sultan. We see how His Majesty looks after his people, with so much compassion and earnest intentions for everyone to succeed, so it is up to all of us to support this vision, whether it is from parents or corporate initiatives. Helping nurture these principles of having a positive attitude, strong determination, patriotism, compassion and a will to see everyone succeed, will ensure we have a nation filled with educated, skilled individuals that advocate our MIB philosophy in the future.

As life these days is borderless and access to information is seamless, we need to ensure we nurture our young people with values that reinforce our roots and upbringing, so as not to lose sight of our Bruneian identity, whilst still be able to chase their dreams and aspirations.

Please tell us about what drives your passion for helping those children who are in need?

I come from a very big family and we were never well-off to start with. I saw the plight of my grandparents wanting to see success for their children, followed by my parents making sure we got to the highest level of education we could, in order to provide a decent living to support the family. My late mother was a teacher, and she always inspired me to see the importance of education and how, with Allah’s will, it can change people’s lives. She always had an overpowering desire to look out for others

Life Inspired+ the progress in their life. This is what drives my motivation and determination to help those in need. Children are pure and it is up to us adults to help shape their future.

What are your personal experiences of providing this nurturing to children that are in need?

Children just need continuous support, guidance and encouragement, just like I needed from my late mum. But when my mum passed away, I had two younger sisters to look after and I continued to encourage them, just as how my mum would have done.

Alhamdulillah they are successful in their own fields now, as well as many other family members, who were inspired by my mum to work hard at school. Most of them graduated with good jobs and this has helped our family prosper. All of this moved me to extend the care and attention I give to my work through BIBD’s CSR program to nurture the under-privileged community.

unconditionally, be it her family or friends, but also the community in general. Her ethos has been instrumental to how I think, feel and care about the people around me, especially children that are in need.

Understanding this need of being caring and how education is a priority, shall enable them to appreciate that only a proper education can help sustain

When we did our first school holidays camp for under-privileged children early this year, we celebrated birthdays for them, brought them to the movies, and gave them opportunities to meet mentors, bringing motivational speakers to inspire them. Of course they are still children, so we made sure there was plenty of time to simply enjoy themselves being a child. When some were overwhelmed and brought to tears with the experience and attention, knowing even the food we served for them for breakfast lunch or dinner was a luxury, we were also deeply touched and even brought to tears ourselves.

But when you see the results of the effort you put it to help them, it is priceless and certainly heartwarming.

The BIBD Charity Expedition 2015 will be held on 25th October.

So let’s make a difference to a child’s education. Register and join us for CE ALAF. For more information, please visit their website at: www.bibdalaf.com

PLUS 27

Sep–Oct 2015

A CONVERSATION +Life Inspired

THAT IS ALL NATURAL 28 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

Life Inspired+

PLUS 29

Sep–Oct 2015

+Life Inspired

M

eet Patricia and Adrenne, two mothers who are concerned about the potential harmful side-effects of chemicals contained in many of today’s mass produced skincare products. To find an alternative for their families, these cousins created The Natural Bar, a business dedicated to providing an all-natural chemical-free skin care range, handmade here in Brunei.

Plus Magazine had the pleasure of speaking to these two ladies about their inspiration and why they are passionate in coming up with natural formulations for daily essential skin care without synthetic additives.

Tell us about the concept behind The Natural Bar and how did you get started?

PATRICIA: It all began with an article I came across where a well-known commercial brand targeted for children was found to contain all sorts of synthetic and harmful chemicals causing detrimental effects on our health. From then on, we started researching and this exposed us to a whole new world of information that we were both alarmed and concerned about, especially since we were using these products on our children.

ADRENNE: We then scrutinised the products that we were using on ourselves. As we all know, women in general put all sorts of products on our faces and bodies. This spurred us even further to find a safer alternative so we started looking for natural options. However, what was out there on the market was either too expensive or not available in Brunei. That’s basically how The Natural Bar was born.

How long have you been doing this and what was your first product creation?

ADRENNE: The Natural Bar has been around for about 2 years now. From the get go, it was all about making natural chemical-free products which are safe for children and adults and effective.

30 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

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+Life Inspired

32 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

Life Inspired+ PATRICIA: We started off making lotions then moved on to our mosquito repellant, Buzz Off. It slowly took off from there and it drove us to expand our range.

What are some of the challenges of The Natural Bar’s journey?

PATRICIA: As far as challenges go, we need to be careful with our formulations. Many commercial products are full of artificial chemicals that are really just filling agents to aid consistency and shelf-life. With natural products, it is tricky as it can be quite temperamental depending on the variations in temperature, especially being in a humid country like Brunei.

ADRENNE: The formulation of each product is a lengthy process with a lot of trial and error. There is a lot of fine tuning involved in getting it right. Even when we think we have already perfected a product, we are still constantly looking at ways to improve it.

Who are your testers in helping you refine your products?

ADRENNE: Well, you are looking at them — and there’s more at home — our children and husbands.

PATRICIA: We test on ourselves because whatever we create is always something that we ourselves would use and need. From there we give samples to families and friends and get their feedback.

What other difficulties do you encounter when developing your products?

PATRICIA: Sourcing ingredients is another challenge for us, especially adhering to The Natural Bar’s ethos,. We

spend a lot of time ensuring our ingredients are obtained from reputable suppliers.

ADRENNE: Even down to getting the right packaging for each product is a hefty task.

So what other products have you experimented with and was it successful?

PATRICIA: One of the many things we tried making was an all-natural deodorant. As some of us are aware, research has shown the detrimental effects of deodorants and antiperspirants which has contributed to breast cancer. We want to provide clean and natural products wherever possible.

ADRENNE: We also tried a few things that are missing from our daily skin care routine, such as toner, make-up remover and dusting powder. However we are still not completely satisfied with the end product. It’s still an ongoing task.

How did people respond when introduced to The Natural Bar for the first time?

ADRENNE: We had a lot of positive responses from the start and many of our first customers are still with us today.

PATRICIA: People are actually quite surprised to find they are handmade in Brunei and are supportive of The Natural Bar. And who would you say are your regular customers?

PATRICIA: We have a good base of customers who are mainly women of all ages and mothers like us who choose to use natural products for their children as well as for

PLUS 33

Sep–Oct 2015

+Life Inspired themselves. We also have overseas customers who had purchased our products.

ADRENNE: We are grateful to our regular customers who have supported us in our small business. It is a joy to know they value what we do and genuinely love our products.

Running the business must take up a lot of your time?

PATRICIA: It can be time consuming but we enjoy the whole creative process and have fun with it.

ADRENNE: We take great pride in our products from start to finish and it is gratifying to see the end product.

What would you say your overall goal for The Natural Bar is?

FEATURING: Patricia Chin and Adrenne Chin ARTICLE BY: Elizabeth Sim EDITED BY: Anna Aziz PHOTOGRAPHY: Jerome Wong VENUE: Samo Furniture

34 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

ADRENNE: One of our goals is to educate our young ones and create that awareness amongst the Bruneian community in making informed decisions about the products we put on our face and body. Even my 10 year old daughter has picked up on this and now reads labels on products.

PATRICIA: People in Brunei are more conscious about clean eating and living and we hope to grow from there. It is not only about the food we eat but what we put on our skin. We would love to have The Natural Bar recognized from a home-based business to a notable house-hold name renowned for its clean natural products which are safe for the whole family.

You can find out more about The Natural Bar and their range of skincare products on their website:  instagram.com/thenaturalbar

+Life Inspired

36 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

Life Inspired+

EATING AND LIVING HEALTHY

THROUGH THE EYES OF PANDACHU

A

sk anyone who knows Jessie Pang to describe her and most people will says she’s one of those super mums who seems to do everything; having a food business, cooking healthy inventive meals and baking artisan bread, keeping fit with jogging, hashing and taking part in CrossFit, all whilst keeping down a full time job and bringing up two children.

Plus Magazine took the opportunity to catch a spare moment of her time to find out about how what drives her healthy lifestyle and her approach to juggling all the things that she does.

How did you get started in your journey towards a healthier lifestyle?

My family has a history of colon cancer, which didn’t bother me too much until more and more family members started falling sick. It kicked me harder when I had my own kids and I realized how I wanted to be around them as long as possible.

My sister is a nutritionist and I’m best friends with a doctor and I think it’s a known fact many people in our country consume a diet that’s too high in sugar.

My daughter had eczema and I realized that one of the causes could be the direct result of her consuming a lot of processed food which is too high in sugar.

This pushed me to start revisiting the way we ate a lot more closely. At the same time, I was also training for a run and I found out that proper diet can influence your performance. This new found interest got me started in making really healthy food and sharing it with everyone, as that’s what I enjoy.

In other words it is really inspired by my family and kids. I was also on a personal mission to

understand all there is to know about what healthy living.

So how do you apply your interest in healthy eating to your children?

Well it started when it was time to introduce food to my baby after the breastfeeding stage. Being Chinese, the most common baby food is rice porridge. However, if that’s all they mostly get, how to you then get your child familiar with other types of food, if you’ve only exposed their taste buds to rice porridge? So I started reading up on ways to make food more interesting, to make sure they eat the right thing and to take the right steps so that they’ll eat everything. You don’t want fussy eaters because that’s a big headache!

Growing up all I remember was how my mum would tell me to finish my cornflakes and milk and that was the norm before heading off to school. You would then have your pocket money for lunch from the canteen and recently I noticed that much of the food served in canteens is mostly unhealthy processed food, like fish balls or hot dogs, which is really not good for the kids especially if they are eating it every day.

So from there I got into bento boxes and the ideas around food art and how to make healthy food appealing for kids to enjoy. I soon discovered that when carrots are star shaped, then that’s what they go for first. They don’t care that it’s just a carrot.

What are these ideas then around bento boxes to make food more appealing?

One thing we all know is that we do not eat with just our mouths — we eat with our eyes. So seeing something visually appealing is

important for children. Broccoli as little trees or your bread as hello kitty and whatever it is, can really help them eat things. It’s also more enjoyable for me to spend a little time putting together an inspiring looking dish, rather than seeing it as a chore to just get the kids fed — and then it’s not a struggle to get them to eat it.

How old are your kids now then and do you feel that your methods are working in getting them to eat more healthily?

Haha, well there’s their real age and how old they think they are!

My son is turning 3, but already thinks he wants to do everything a 5yr old can, whilst my daughter is 4 but she talks like a 15 year old.

I swear she’s a 15 year old trapped in a 4 year olds body!

It’s easy to see that they know about healthy food by the choices that they now make. My sister takes them out and once, when she ordered an ice lemon tea, my daughter complained that it was too sweet. They also learn about healthy eating from school and they know they can’t have sweet fizzy drinks, so one time when there was left over coke from a fast food restaurant, my daughter added water to it so it wouldn’t taste that sweet. Or there was a time when she was eating a lollipop and then stopped halfway because she felt that was enough sugar. They know where to draw the line now that they’re learning to be more in control of their food choices.

Do you believe it takes professional training to come up with healthy food choices and dishes?

Not necessarily. A lot of us don’t have any formal training or degree in nutrition, just an interest in health. And being interested in staying healthy is a very strong motivator to understand about

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+Life Inspired the importance of food choices on the body. My husband is not as enthusiastic about healthy food as I am though!

So let’s talk about Pandachu — your food business. First of all, where did the name come from?

It was my nick name in university.

I’ve always had eye bags and the cartoon “Pikachu” was hot at that time so somehow the two got fused together and “Pandachu” was born. I used this nick name to chat online as well, so when I started a food business I decided to stick with it for familiarity’s sake.

And how did the business develop?

I like cooking for people and this interested started when I was university. Honestly, I like knowing that I can make something for $5 that’s normally worth $20 at a restaurant, so it started from there.

I was invited to one of the events organised by the Collective, where I was exposed to other food vendors and of course the customers.

The ball continued rolling after that with orders from customers and more invites to events.

How do you feel the healthy eating and living scene is progressing in Brunei?

I notice that there is a big move now in Brunei. You see a lot more people jogging at the stadium, you see a lot more people being more conscious about their food.

I have one habit when I grocery shop, when queuing for the cashier, I like to know what people have in their shopping carts haha.

Hmmm, she’s bought 3 bags of brown rice, skimmed milk but she also has 2 bags of processed chicken nuggets…

If there was one thing you could contribute to change the way people see food and health, what would it be?

I would want to create more awareness about the type of food we are eating. It has improved, but I think people are only getting bits and pieces of information and not the whole picture. For example, when someone makes a salad because they know that’s a healthy option, but then pours processed

38 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

mayonnaise or Thousand Island dressing all over it, they don’t know that all that sugar and salt in the sauce negates what you’re trying to achieve.

So basically once people have the right knowledge, they will make better choices on a regular basis, like choosing sweet potatoes over starchy potatoes, picking quinoa instead of white rice, or even enjoying dark chocolate over milk chocolate. Once you’ve become accustomed to these choices, you really will find it difficult to go back to what was once “normal”. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy a good nasi lemak once in a while, because we grew up with that, but it’s important to understand you can’t eat fried food and plain rice all the time if you want to remain healthy.

Why do you think some people don’t want to try and eat more healthy options?

Maybe because they rely on the misconception that healthy food is not going to taste good and it looks unappealing? Yet today we have a number of businesses in Brunei who are successfully producing amazing healthy food that tastes delicious and looks great.

Is it true that some don’t want to try because healthy food can be expensive?

It’s true. I posted something on my Instagram a while back “Don’t ask why healthy food is expensive, ask why unhealthy food is so cheap.”

We all know, for example, why processed hot dogs aren’t good for you because it’s not just meat that’s in there! So maybe this comes back again to awareness and knowledge.

What advice would you tell people who are making their first attempt at eating more healthily?

It takes a lot of support and will power to move away from what is sadly “normal” these days, a diet of processed, fried and unhealthy food. I know someone who lost 20kg in 6 months by balancing exercise and eating healthy. When she first started her job there was always “makan” at work with snacks all day. And it’s not just at work; it’s more of a lifestyle

here where food is everywhere throughout the day. It’s about learning when to say no and when you’ve had enough. The first step is always the hardest. Don’t try to make a drastic change right away — it’s about taking small incremental steps.

What about all the different fitness disciplines you do?

I have a workout buddy, for when I attend classes. I hate running really, but I visited run clinics because I needed someone to push me that extra step to get better. It works too, but I have not been back in a while as I started CrossFit as well. I did try running and doing CrossFit on the same night and realised that was too much, so I am learning to space them out. I’m also doing yoga now.

One thing that helped me was keeping a fitness diary, because I am into various fitness regimes and always need to juggle what I’m doing and when. I did get lazy at one point but now I’m doing my best to keep the practices consistent.

Besides a fitness journal who or what else helps you manage your busy schedule?

My husband. He needs to be around when I do what I do, so someone stays with the kids. I need to plan with him to make sure he’s home to be with the kids or when to do the school runs. Of course my friends are great, especially for big events because I always need their help!

What’s your ultimate goal with all that you do?

I really can’t tell yet. I started Pandachu not just to share with people what I’ve learned, but to be a part of something bigger but that will take time and planning and it has to be something both my husband and I want to achieve together.

You can discover more about Jessie’s recipes online at:  instagram.com/pandachu.bn FEATURING: Jessie Pang ARTICLE BY: Elizabeth Sim PHOTOGRAPHER: Jerome Wong VENUE:

@ILOVEWASHI KITCHEN

+Life Inspired

MAKES 2 LOAVES You will need: - 5¼ cups bread whole meal flour - 2 tablespoons sugar - ½ teaspoon salt - 1½ tablespoons instant yeast - 1½ tablespoons olive oil - 2 cups warm water (somewhere around 40°C)

SIMPLE

HOMEMADE Directions:

BREAD

1. Mix dry ingredients, then add the oil and water. Mix for 1 minute and then check the consistency of the dough, which should be very sticky. If it is too dry, add a little more water.

2. Mix for 5 minutes. (Do not add any more flour after the dough has finished mixing.)

3. Spray kneading surface with cooking spray and turn dough out onto surface. Knead dough briefly until it has a smooth even consistency.

40 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

4. Divide dough into 2 pieces (or more if you wish to have smaller loaves, adjust cooking time as necessary) and shape loaves into desired shapes and place on greased baking sheets. Cover with a large dish towel and let rise for 25 minutes.

5. While loaves are rising, preheat oven to 180°C. When your loaves are ready to go into the oven, use a sharp knife to make several slashes in the top. Bake your loaves for 25 minutes, or until they are golden brown.

Recipe by Jessie Pang Photography: Jerome Wong

+Life Inspired

HONEY

BALSAMIC

DRESSING You will need: - 2-3 tablespoons olive oil - 1 teaspoon mustard - 1 teaspoon honey - 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar - Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Put all ingredients in a bottle and shake to mix — ready in less than a minute, it’s that simple!

Best enjoyed with crunchy green salads.

Recipe by Jessie Pang Photography: Jerome Wong

42 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

Life Inspired+

CITRUS & HERB BAKED CHICKEN

You will need: - ¼ cup olive oil - 4 cloves garlic, minced - 2 whole lemons, one juiced, one sliced - 2 whole oranges, one juiced, one sliced - 1 tablespoon mixed herbs - ½ teaspoon paprika - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes - Salt and pepper, to taste - 10–12 pieces chicken thighs and legs, pat dry - 1 medium onion, thinly sliced - Chopped fresh parsley or coriander for garnish - Preheat oven to 200°C.

Directions: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, orange juice, mixed herbs, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.

Place chicken in a rimmed 13″ × 9″ baking dish. Place parts skin side up and spread them out evenly in the pan. Pour olive oil mixture all

over chicken, turning pieces to coat all sides (if you marinated chicken in the mixture*, pour everything including the marinade in). Arrange slices of lemon, orange and onion around and under the chicken.

Bake uncovered for about 1 hour or until chicken is cooked and juices run clear. If the chicken is not browned to your liking then you can grill it for an additional 10 minutes.

Remove parts to a serving platter and garnish with chopped fresh parsley or coriander.

Note: I added some potatoes and carrots to this dish as I wanted some roasted vegetables and there is plenty of marinade for everything. Feel free to add vegetables as you wish. * For best results, chicken can be marinated in the olive oil, juice & herbs mixture for several hours or overnight before baking.

Recipe by Jessie Pang Photography: Jerome Wong

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+Focus

Name: Md Arm and Edrian bin Efra Effendi Photo taken: 3 months old j Md Hasreen

Name: Muham mad Izyaan Mus lihuddin bin Aw Photo taken: g Norsallehudin 4 months old Farizan Name: Raniya Awliya bte old eks we 5 en: Photo tak

44 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

PHOTO: Muizzah of Tiny Blessing

Pg H n Fayyadh d Na'el Dea Name: Ak M 22 days old n: Photo take

+Focus

FIND BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE AS A MUM FOLLOW OUR SIMPLE TIPS TO KEEP STRESS TO A MINIMUM

46 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

+Focus

F

inding balance can certainly be a challenge if you are a mother, when your toddler tends to get into trouble the moment your back is turned! On top of being responsible for their every need, you can have the pressure of work, running the household and no time to stop and relax. Sometimes it can all get a bit too much and you may feel that you’re on the verge of a nervous breakdown, teetering on the brink between feeling “everything’s fine” and then being a total wreck. So let’s take a look at some simple strategies to help you avoid getting too stressed and make your life easier to keep in balance.

TAKE IT EASY — SCHEDULE SOME “ME-TIME” Have more compassion with yourself and try to take it easy. It’s just life, it’s just a day and it will pass. Don’t beat yourself up about that feed not going well or not being able to comfort your young one’s tears. Find ways to relax your body and mind on the toughest of days.

Always remind yourself that you are a capable, loving individual worthy of all good things. The best way to achieve this is taking a little time for yourself — even 10 minutes alone sometimes to unwind can work wonders. Remind yourself of the things that you used to do to relax and schedule this in — whether it be reading, going for a jog or catching up with your favourite TV show. Most importantly, work with your family to get their support, so you can have the opportunity to set aside these times for yourself to unwind.

MAKE A LIST — AND STICK TO IT! A list doesn’t have to be limited to just the grocery shopping. You might think that you have too much on your plate and — don’t worry — you aren’t alone.

Most mothers fail to realise that even seemingly insurmountable tasks can be accomplished faster if they are done systematically. Of course you have to be flexible, but writing down your overall goals, with tasks to accomplish them, can really bring some clarity to the madness. Have a list always to hand covering all your “To Dos” — and regularly review and update it — of course not forgetting to put “schedule some Me-Time” on it!

DON’T WORRY SO MUCH OR FEEL GUILTY If you are a working mother, then it’s natural to agonise over not spending enough time with your child. But then quitting is hardly an option if you have mouths to feed and are planning to save for your kids’ futures! Make that thought become your motivation to do your best — think about how your work is benefitting your family. Sure, there will be good and bad days. Be happy for the good days and take the bad days on with a stiff upper lip and with the hope that better times are sure to come. You need to accept the choices you make and focus on the immediate priorities — a key tenant of a successful career mother. If you find yourself worrying too much, then write down all the things that are

48 PLUS Sep–Oct 2015

bothering you, reflect on them, and then consider a range of solutions.

DON’T’ BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP & SHARE THE CHORES As a mum, you can often feel too proud to ask for help, feeling that makes you “a bad mother”, but when you’re feeling stressed or overloaded, there’s nothing wrong with admitting it. The human brain is a social organ and works best when connected to others. The support of friends and family is crucial and it’s fine to remove the “I’m OK” mask and open up to them for support and advice. You’ll be surprised how many true friends will step in to the breach when needed! A practical solution can also be in actually getting your child to help you out — it’s easier to teach your child at a younger age that it can be fun making the bed, or to help in other simple tasks, such as watering the plants. It will also instil the fact that mum deserves a break every now and then!

ORGANIZE YOURSELF AND BE OPTIMISTIC Mornings can be pretty hectic and if you don’t start in the right frame of mind, then it’s doubtful you’ll fully succeed in getting things done the way you want. If you look on the bright side of things — and prepare accordingly — then you can cope far better with any hassles along the way. If you take the time to get organised the night before, then you’ll wake up fresh and ready to tackle the day, rather than lying in bed worrying about the things you need to do. By ensuring the kids clothes are laid out the night before, or knowing what’s prepared for breakfast and packed lunch, and even having the things you need for work ready and waiting, all helps to keep you firmly in control and less likely to get stressed out.

SPEND TIME WITH YOUR SPOUSE Once you have found a way to balance your tasks, it will also give you the opportunity to spend some quality time with your husband. Remember, some “Me-Time” is great for a breather and to gather your thoughts, but your partner also needs your attention too. Especially when you are a new mum and breast-feeding, your husband can feel like he’s a spare wheel! Planning is the key — wait till the kids go to sleep and make an effort to cuddle up and watch a movie together rather than just crashing out in bed exhausted, or get someone to babysit and go out for dinner. After all, these kinds of moments are the crucial elements that brought you together — and of course sowed the seeds of your motherhood! In the end, it doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as you focus on spending time together.

Finding balance might be the last thing on your mind as a mum and may seem an impossible task, but taking time to focus on your needs — as well as those around you — is supremely important. Organise your priorities early on and the scales of your life should balance out on their own… 

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THE M.A.C & GUO PEI COLLABORATION

T

he world of “Designer-meets-​ makeup brand collaborations” continues to get more and more exciting with the upcoming launch of M.A.C Guo Pei Collection: Fall 2015, featuring the eminent Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei. This collection is sure to be just as colorful as the designer’s famous gowns!

Right after Rihanna blew us all away flaunting her elegant canary yellow gown at the 2015 Met Gala (we’ll surely be talking about it for years to come); there’s never been a better time for M.A.C to announce this collaboration with the woman behind

this masterpiece. Guo Pei is well known for her designing ornate, intricate and exquisite gowns with an artistic aesthetic that can take years to create.

One of her fashion shows featured a 78-year-old model in a gown so ornate that the train required the assistance of four men! Her dresses have been worn by famous celebrities starting from Zhang Ziyi to Actress Li Bingbing. She has already made a name for herself in China and surely is no more a mystery to the world after being on the global spotlight this year.

The Met Ball as we all know is the most fantastical and glamorous event of the year’ where the most beautiful and enchanting flock together to fundraise for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Institute in New York. This year’s theme and accompanying exhibition was China: Through the Looking Glass where alongside Balenciaga, McQueen and Dior, the storied Chinese couturier Guo Pei rocked her creations especially the 8 dresses for M.A.C Cosmetics and this is where the inspiration for the capsule makeup collection comes from. Talking about it, Pei says, “I always find the power of nature fascinating,

especially when the flowers are blossoming. The idea inspired the creative process of the dresses for M.A.C. I finished my preliminary sketch in my study on one quiet afternoon without a break.

However, while the drawings were beautiful, they lacked completeness.

Then one day, my daughter showed me a set of extraordinarily beautiful pictures of the Milky Way. The intoxicating colors of the universe sparked a power of life in my soul… I captured the energy and created eight dresses for M.A.C — ‘Garden of Soul.’ Based upon the eight dresses, we developed this beautiful makeup collection.”

Pei has designed a 16- piece collection for the brand that took about three years to come to fruition. The collection features makeup for eyes, lips, cheeks, and face along with two brushes. The makeup contents include colors that are just as otherworldly, with bright pops of blue, creamy rich neutrals and shades of coral and pink. While asked about the selection of such unusual colours Guo explained, “Blue is a colour of the soul. It’s also the base colour of the universe and our world. I chose pink and coral for the lip colours because I think they are the colours of happiness. I want to affect the people around me with happiness.”

However, what draws immediate attention is the breathtaking packaging with a fabric glided floral print. “There is a kingdom in a flower; a wisdom in a leaf. I always find the power of nature fascinating, especially when the flowers are blossoming,” said Guo Pei, quoting a Chinese proverb as the inspiration for the packaging.

The price is supposed to be comparatively higher than the usual M.A.C products, but it will definitely be worth the quality. The collection is all set to hit the stores and counters this October and will also be available online. With our expectations up high, this release is going to set the make-up market on fire! 

PLUS 51

Sep–Oct 2015

Beauty+

Lipstick Coral

Brush 129 Powder Blush

Eye Shadow Quad Night Sky

Guo Pei Powder Blush Ablaze Lite

Fluid Line Espresso Creamsheen Glass RevY and Kei Ver 2

Avaible Oct 2015 at M.A.C. KLCC and M.A.C. Pavilion

PLUS 53

Sep–Oct 2015

Beauty+

Three Yves Rocher Products to Revitalize your Skin

YVES ROCHER HAS ALWAYS SERVED THEIR NICHE OF CUSTOMERS WITH WONDERFUL PRODUCTS SPECIFIED FOR DIFFERENT TYPE OF SKINS AND ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS WITH A TWIST OF NATURE. THESE ARE THE 3 MUST HAVE PRODUCTS FROM THE FRENCH ARTISTS OF QUALITY SKINCARE PRODUCTS

1. YVES ROCHER OLIVE OIL SHOWER GEL: The Yves Rocher Les Plaisirs Nature brings you the enriched and aromatic Olive Oil Shower Gel that redefines luxury and gives you a pleasurable bath. Enriched with fresh olive oils, this bath and shower gel lathers into light and creamy foam.

The Yves Rocher has only chosen the authentic, extra virgin olive oil from the Provence region to offer you a luscious interlude of well-being with a truly beneficial shower. The body exfoliant frees your skin of impurities and dead cells revitalizing and recovering total smoothness. And the rich aromatic olive oil works wonders on the skin making you feel marvelous! In addition, easily biodegradable paraben free formula is the proof of first class natural product.

The Yves Rocher Olive Oil Shower Gel is stored in a single push bottle with a pump that fits perfectly and ensures easy application.

The delectably scented gel turns into a fine light foam

that restores the skin’s PH balance.

Happy Shower!

seal hair. Use a spray bottle for easy application.

2. YVES ROCHER RINSING VINEGAR:

3. YVES ROCHER EXCEPTIONAL YOUTH ESSENCE:

A truly traditional remedy is revisited

by Yves Rocher Botanical Hair Care, bringing you the Rinsing Vinegar to enhance the natural shine of your hair and make it radiant with splendor! Made from the Raspberry Vinegar guaranteed of French Origin, its delectable smell alone is a delightful sensory experience.

Raspberry Vinegar is traditionally used for its acidic compound, well known for its hair-smoothing properties and ability to reduce limescale build up. The Yves Rocher Laboratories have selected raspberry vinegar to offer you a rinsing product that will make your hair smooth and eliminate mineral build-up.

Yves Rocher Rinsing Vinegar is tested under dermatological supervision and suitable for all hair types. Rinsing every day would give greasy, dry ended hair a silky, luscious glow.

For radiant hair, first shampoo and rinse then use the Rinsing Vinegar right before the final rinse. Apply and softly massage the scalp and then rinse one last time preferably with cold water to

Yves Rocher introduces a highly concentrated skincare that restores a youthful looking skin. The Exceptional Youth Essence has an extraordinary brightening power of Licorice and anti-aging effectiveness of White Lupin to provide you with a visible effectiveness of a younger and radiant skin.

Discovering the amazing power of plant extracts like white licorice and white lupin, The Yves Rocher Research concentrated both in this range of skincare product. When the dual mixture is applied to the skin, they naturally produce a radiant and youthful look. In about 14 days, the complexion becomes lighter and more uniform. In a month, the appearances of dark spots are visibly reduced, wrinkles are smoothed and the skin seems renewed.

The formula is tested under dermatological supervision; hence there are not side effects. Plus, it’s free from paraben, colorant and mineral oil enhancing your skin’s condition all naturally!

The exceptional gel texture immediately melts on the skin. To be applied twice a day for an effective result. Experience an amazing skin transformation!

PLUS 55

Sep–Oct 2015

Bukit Shah Bandar Route Total distance from P1 - MANARA : 4KM (indicative) Estimate time to finish 1hr 30mins.

P8

P4

P7

P9

P3 P2

Menara

P1

NA

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ARE

A

playground

ARE

Emergency contacts Muizz Hasnani 8651032 POLICE 993 AMBULANCE 991 FIRE BRIGADE 995

P6

P5

PA

A

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GA

IN RK

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R PA Fresh coconut station

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You need Mandatory Gear to test this trail route • Mobile phone • Whistle • At least 1 litres of water or sports drink

en

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hig

#WEAREVICTORYATHLETES

Now 5x w e e k ly to b a l i EFFECTIVE 25 OCTOBER 2015

Better pack for a big adventure as you now have more options to fly on our increased direct flight from Brunei to Bali. Get ready, it’s time to fly.

Flight Schedule* FROM

DESTINATION

Brunei Denpasar, Bali Denpasar, Bali Brunei

SCHEDULE

Sat, Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri

FLIGHT NO. DEPART

BI757 BI758

Contact Royal Brunei Airlines at 221 2222 or visit our website. *Flight schedule is subject to change. Conditions apply.

WWW.FLYROYALBRUNEI.COM ROYALBRUNEIAIR

ROYALBRUNEIAIR

21:05 07:10

ARRIVE

23:30 09:35