Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2020 i Singapore Women's Weekly

“If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough.”– Oprah Winfrey I earned my first paycheck at the age of 15, working as a retail assistant at an apparel boutique, during my school holidays. I’ve always been fiercely independent, and even at that age, I enjoyed the thrilling freedom that came with having my own income. To my mum’s credit, she had always tried to instill in me the importance of saving money. When I was in primary one, mum would give me 50 cents daily for pocket money. And without fail, every single day, I would buy a 30-cent bowl of noodles during my recess break, spend 10 cents on kacang…

Put on your chef’s hat and check out these cookbooks that deserve a spot on your bookshelf: Chock-a-block full of Chrissy’s trademark wit, Cravings was so popular when it came out in 2016 that it spawned a second cookbook, Cravings: Hungry For More. In her first project as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle sponsored this cookbook that features recipes from women whose community was affected by London’s devastating Grenfell Tower fire. Can you believe that this was actually the Goop founder’s fourth cookbook? It focuses on meals that are healthy but delicious, like Turkey Meatball Pho and Chocolate Chia Pudding. Like her sister-in-law, Pippa is a maven in the kitchen. Her cookbook features heart-healthy dishes and was produced in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation. Reese is a true…

Any form of support during the pandemic will make a difference. Check out these portals where you can step up as a citizen and contribute to Covid-19 relief efforts: SGUnited: Stay updated on community-led initiatives to contribute to at sgunited.gov.sg Giving SG: Use this charity website to find opportunities to give back at giving.sg/sgunited Singapore Red Cross: Donate blood to help top up our dwindling reserves at redcross.sg Food From The Heart: Purchase essential food items for the needy at foodfromtheheart.sg Beyond Social Services: Provide online tuition for underprivileged students at beyond.org.sg HOME: Help migrant workers get access to essential supplies at home.org.sg/donate YWCA: Provide milk and diapers to children from needy families at ywca. org.sg Sayang Sayang Fund: Support frontline healthcare workers and the elderly at cf.org.sg Stay safe,…

• Teabag Eye Compress Don’t dump used tea bags – use them to perk peepers up. Green and black teas are rich in antioxidants to reduce oxidative skin damage. They also contain caffeine to narrow blood vessels and reduce the appearance of dark circles. Place lukewarm tea bags on your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes for a spa-like treat, or use them as a cold compress to reduce swelling and puffiness after a late night. • Sugar Lip Scrub Dead skin makes lips look rough and dry. But there is no need to splash out on a fancy-schmancy scrub. Create your own batch with some sugar and olive oil, and massage this onto lips in circular motions to gently buff away dead cells. Both white and brown sugar work…

1 SAFARI SUITS Pair monochromatic animal prints with classic black suiting for a touch of sass. 2 ONE-PIECE WONDER Wear boiler suits with sneakers and layer it over a white tank top. These are perfect for breastfeeding mums too. 3 SIMPLE DOES IT A sartorial must-have, white sneakers elevate the style factor of any outfit instantly. 4 IT’S BRUNCH TIME Match a printed silk dress with a pair of bright summer sandals and shades for the perfect weekend get-up. 5 THE EVERY-OCCASION PRINTED DRESS Stand out in the office, look dressed up for grocery runs, and effortlessly chic for cocktails and weekend brunches.…

“It’s been tough so far being a mother juggling work-from-home (WFH) and home-based learning (HBL), and I’m sure many other mothers out there feel the same. I take comfort in the little things, being able to be with my children and seeing how they have become independent learners as they tackle HBL. My partner and I have a group chat with some of the wish families from Make-A-Wish Singapore whom we are closer to, and do check in with them from time to time. During this period, we find ourselves worrying and thinking of our wish children who are more vulnerable, and pray that they are all keeping well and safe. Meanwhile, I’ve also been staying positive and busy through writing and illustrating a third children’s picture book on Covid-19…

Zahra 31, sales manager, and mother-of-one, and pregnant with #2 When it comes to saving, I allocate 50 per cent of my salary on essential needs, 30 per cent on savings, and 20 per cent on insurance and emergency expenses Grace Lim 49, realtor at OrangeTee & Tie, and mother-of-two Consolidate your spending by sticking to one or two credit cards so that annual membership fees on these well-utilised cards may be waived more readily by banks Joyce Cher 52, business development manager, and mother-of-two Always spend within your means, and avoid zero interest bank instalment plans - if you lose your job down the road, it sucks having to continue paying for a sofa you bought a year ago. So when I really need to buy something costly, I…

CHICKEN AND PESTO PASTA BAKE Prep and Cook 30 mins | Serves 4-6 2 cups firmly packed fresh basil leaves (about 1 bunch) 1 clove garlic, peeled ¼ cup (40 g) pine nuts ½ cup firmly packed baby spinach ⅓ cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil ¾ cup (60 g) finely grated parmesan cheese 500 g penne pasta 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, extra 500 g chicken thigh fillets, cut into 1 cm pieces 100 g bocconcini cheese, sliced thinly 1. Process the basil, garlic, pine nuts and spinach in a small blender, or food processor until chopped finely. With motor operating, add oil in a thin, steady stream until combined. Stir in half the parmesan. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 2. Cook…

BERRY JAM Prep and Cook 40 mins | Makes 6 cups 1.3 kg white sugar 1.5 kg fresh mixed berries (blackberries, blueberries and raspberries) ½ cup (125 ml) lemon juice 50 g packet Jam Setta (or pectin), available at Amazon, Bake King and Phoon Huat 1. Preheat oven to 150 C (130 C fan-forced). Spread the sugar in a large baking dish to a maximum depth of 2.5 cm. Place the sugar in the oven for about 10 mins, stirring it a couple of times, so it warms evenly. 2. Meanwhile, combine berries and juice in a large saucepan; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium. Then, cook, uncovered, for about 10 mins or until berries have softened and are tender. 3. Add warm sugar and Jam Setta to the…

A hot shower can be incredibly soothing for the mind and soul… but not so much for the body. In fact, you may find your skin feeling itchier after shower. When you wash away dirt and dead skin cells, you also remove the skin’s natural oils that keep it hydrated. And as you get older, the skin slowly loses its ability to produce these protective oils. When that happens, your skin starts to feel dry and itchy. Alleviate the Itch, Soothe Dry Skin French skincare expert Bioderma offers deep hydration for the skin right from the shower with its Atoderm Huile de douche (Anti-Irritation Cleansing Oil). Dedicated to address very dry, irritated and eczema-prone skin, this shower oil is developed to provide up to 24-hour hydration, so the skin feels…

Every thought, emotion and action we take affects our hormone levels. These factors impact how our hormones release into the bloodstream and act on the body. “Good nutrition and appropriate treatments are important ingredients for hormonal balance. However, [if you don’t pursue] whole-person wellness, the improvement may only be short-lived,” explains Wendy Dumaresq, a natural fertility management counsellor and founder of Natural Woman Network. “We’re also mind, emotions and soul. Living in a way that puts these [elements] out of harmony can disturb our hormone balance, energy levels and happiness,” adds Wendy. What does harmonious living look like? Life is a combination of two opposing forces known as yin and yang in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Yin is the feminine energy: it’s about being grounded and feeling calm. The opposite, yang,…

KNOW YOUR CUTS. Get tail pieces from the back end of the fillet for stove-top cooking. Cutlets for barbecuing and char-grilling. Fillet from the shoulder for the oven. COOKING DURATION. Marks recommends medium-rare. Cook your fish skin-side down over a medium-heat stove for around 4 to 5 minutes. Then, give it a flip and cook for another 3 minutes. GET THAT CRISPY SKIN. Salt the skin of the salmon and set aside. Place a pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot add a tablespoon of olive oil. Place the salmon skin side down into the pan. Press down on the fillet with a fish slice. Cook the skin until crisp, turn then continue cooking until the fish is done. ACCOMPANYING SIDES. Stick with traditional European flavours. “Three fool-proof…

Every relationship is different, and although there is no standardised approach when it comes to finances, simply talking about it goes a long way. Readers share how they manage money with their partners. “I’ve been married to my partner for 10 years now, and we’ve always had a joint bank account. We spend sensibly, and because of that, there’s mutual trust, so we don’t really question or check on each others’ exact expenses. We have a monthly P&L that we revisit only if the end balance is way out of range. This works very well for us because we’re transparent in our communication, and so we’re able to draw up a budget together. For this to work, you and your partner would have to be on the same page when…

1 “I Don’t Have Money For Emergencies” You know you ought to have an emergency fund, but just can’t seem to squirrel away the money for it every month. Should an unexpected crisis occur, you’d be completely unprepared. But don’t panic. Anna Haotanto, CEO of online financial guide The New Savvy, says the first thing to do is assess what your needs in an emergency would be and how much money you’d need for it. “Distinguish between your needs – that is, your living expenses – and your wants,” says Anna. Next, use a goal-based investment approach. Bhaskar Prabhakara, co-founder and CEO of WeInvest, an online wealth management platform, says, “Divide your savings goals into investment pots for each of your potential emergency expenses.” You’ll want to save enough to…

HOT CHOCOLATE PUDDINGS Prep and Cook 25 mins (+standing time) | Serves 4 Melted butter, to grease 250 g dark chocolate, chopped finely 125 g butter, chopped 1 tbsp Tia Maria or Kahlua liquor 3 eggs 2 tbsps caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tbsp plain flour cream, to serve 1. Grease four small ovenproof ramekins, teacups or small bowls (¾ cup or 185 ml capacity) with melted butter. 2. Place chocolate and butter in a medium heatproof bowl above a saucepan of simmering water (do not allow base of bowl to touch water). Stir until melted, and then remove from heat. Stir in the liquor. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract until frothy. Sprinkle over flour and whisk in. Gradually whisk the…

1 Sit Well Before the WFH mandate, you were likely to use your home workspace (if you have one) for an hour or two catching up on work or for leisure. As the usage period is not high, you may not own an ergonomic chair. Now that you could be working from home for a longer period, it would be ideal for your posture and overall health for you to invest in an ergonomic chair. Sitting for long periods without proper support can lead to chronic neck, shoulder and back pain in the long run. LOOK FOR: Chairs that give you full upper and lower back lumbar support that minimise fatigue and provide adjustable tension control for longterm use. Another option is to look for a back rest to put…

The pandemic is turning our lives upside down, and some people may be feeling stressed or anxious. Pick one of these quick tips and techniques to beat tension in two minutes flat: - Interview Yourself: Complete this sentence: “The thing I worry about most is…” then review your answer. What evidence do you have that this bad thing will happen? Now write the same line, but complete it differently. Looking at the issue rationally prevents you turning everything into a catastrophe. - Let It Out: Sit quietly and hum gently, then focus on feeling it resonate through your body. Or tune into cheerful music and sing along. A long, noisy sigh or deep groan also helps to release stress. - Cool Down: This cooling breath helps counter stress-induced shallow breathing.…

WORKING MUM ICON EVA CHEN It’s not Eva if it’s not quirky. Hailing from NYC, the 39-year-old mother of two, children’s book author and Instagram’s fashion head is a trendsetter of modern workwear. She leans towards loud colours, unusual graphic prints and details. THE OG FASHION BLOGGER SUSIE BUBBLE One of the first fashion bloggers to be recognised by the fashion industry, the 36-year-old British freelance journalist and mother of one is known for her fondness of clashing prints and unusual silhouettes.…

Cranberry & Ginger Punch Prep time 15 mins (+ refrigeration time) | Makes 1.5 litres (6 cups) Combine 750 ml chilled ginger beer and 3 cups cranberry juice in a large jug. Squeeze 3 limes to make ¼ cup juice. Stir the juice into jug. Serve topped with 1 cup ice cubes, fresh raspberries, mint sprigs and thinly sliced pear. Apple Punch Prep and cook 20 mins (+ refrigeration time) | Makes 2.25 litres (9 cups) Stir ⅓ cup sparkling apple juice, ¾ cup caster sugar, 2 cups water, 1 cinnamon stick and 3 sprigs of fresh lemon thyme in a medium saucepan over medium heat, without boiling, until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil; simmer for 10 mins. Cool; then refrigerate until cold. Pour chilled syrup and 1 cup…

BASIC MINCE Prep and Cook 15 mins | Serves 6 2 slices (90 g) white bread ⅓ cup (80 ml) milk 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 medium (150 g) brown onion, chopped finely 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 medium (120 g) carrot, grated finely 1 kg minced beef ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 egg 2 tbsps tomato paste 1. Place the bread and milk in a large bowl; stand for 10 mins. 2. Heat oil in a small frying pan over medium heat; cook onion and garlic, stirring, for 5 mins or until softened. Add onion mixture to bread mixture with remaining ingredients; season well. Combine ingredients well using your hands. SAUSAGE ROLLS Prep and Cook 35 mins | Makes 72 1 medium (150 g) onion,…