5/08/2025

Ibumie Penang LadMee Hot Pepper Noodle,5x75g

I was hesitant to buy this Ibumie Penang variety due to the bad reviews. I bought it nevertheless and I don't agree with those. This is a great variety of instant noodles. Of course, I cannot compare it to the Penang white curry variety because this is not a curry and it's more like a clean soup. The pepper flavour is delicate but noticeable and I didn't found it overwhelming.  I added some Chinese fried shallots and a bit of chicken slices and it was a very clean but savoury soup. Not acidity or strong chemical flavour. 

5/06/2025

Nature's Way Restore 30 Billion Probiotic 30 Capsules

I've  used this brand of probiotics before, the regular version, for years, on an off, depending on my needs. I used as a preventive sort of supplement and to keep a healthy intestinal flora. I never tried this concentrated version till now due to some medication affecting my digestion and regularity. I saw results in a day, noticeable results in three days and my body was working like a clock after a week.  This is a relatively simple probiotic, in the sense that it has just 4 probiotic strains but in high dose. It worked for me, probably because I have healthy eating habits and general good health. I'm happy that I got the relief I needed and didn't have to pay for the way more expensive 15-strain varieties, because just these four were sufficient. The tablets don't need of refrigeration, so I can keep them in my pantry ,or on my desk or wherever I want to without worry of them getting off.

CedarFresh Balls - Lavender (18 Count)

I bought this pack to spread through bedroom drawers and bed linen storage containers. I've used a similar product in the past and I was satisfied with the balls. I find cedar balls aesthetically pleasing, environmentally friendly and they do the job. However, this set had barely no lavender scent when I opened the box. For the rest, what makes cedar balls successful against scrawlers is their natural cedar scent and oils; yet, the scent  was barely there for me. Perhaps the fact that I cannot smell anything doesn't mean anything, and they work the same? In short, I hope they do the job, but not sure if they will.

Yubbaex 6pc Basic Washi Tape Set (Black & White Plaid Grid)

This is a small set of grid black & white (off-white I'd say) washi tape rolls. I love the simple patterns because they are excellent to use in tag art and mixed media projects due to their simple design. They go well with everything and they make great accents. The rolls in this set are small in diameter and only have 5 metres of tape each, which is more than enough for me. I have other gridded tapes, and these ones are lower in quality, but nothing to complain about because the product is sold as a basic set and  costs little. 

Jacquard Lumiere Metallic Silver ( 2.25 Oz 5)

This is another beauty from the Jacquard Lumière collection. The silver colour and brilliance are there because the paint has both metallic and pearlescent pigments. This paint is  medium to light body (viscosity) and is not fully opaque, so I need two or three coats if I want to cover something completely. Sometimes, I use a primer coat of matte grey and then apply this metallic silver. The end result is a natural-looking beautiful silver. The brand sells this paint as lightfast and waterproof and those are big hits with me. I prefer heavy body to light body (fluid) acrylics, especially for metallic colours but this one is just beautiful. 

Derwent Inkense Blocks (Tin of 36)

Derwent Inktense Blocks are professional-quality highly-pigmented water soluble blocks that can be used as watercolours or as mixed media crayons. This package contains a great mix of vibrant and neutral colours that are perfect for my needs. 
 
I love the tin box quality and design, which is great to keep the blocks safe and neatly stored. If I remove the inner holders, I can use it for other purposes. I love the "crevasses" on the sides, which are perfect for broken or half pieces. 
 
Having used the Derwent XL blocks and XL coloured graphite blocks I can honestly say that I prefer the two first to the Inktense Blocks. However, I love the quality of the bright lines and accents I can get with these blocks especially when I don't mix them with other products, as they're vibrant and make any piece standout.  They're very bold as watercolours. 
 
Are the Derwent Inktense blocks/pencils lightfast? According to the company, "87% of the range is lightfast, however, once water is added, lightfastness ratings will be different depending on how much each colour is diluted." They also state that these blocks are made using different binders and wax blends, which affects the lightfastness of each colour. As mentioned in other cases for similar products, you need to use a medium to seal the colour if you intend to work with liquid media after using these blocks. The same can be said if you use them on you painting top layer. Furthermore, once the piece is finished, you can protect it by using an UV protection varnish and, of course, by keeping the artwork out of direct sunlight.   
 
If I had to buy them now, knowing as I know, I would buy the Inktense pencils, which will have the same quality pigment but are better for me. So, in short I like these ones but I don't love them. 

MIND
The blocks are quite thin and break easily while exerting a bit of pressure. Handle with care. 

TouchCool 3pc Acrylic Marker Set (White, Fine tip, 0.8mm)

I paid little for these three acrylic gel markers. I was not hopping much from them because they're from a brand that I don't know and there were no reviews when I purchased them. Glad that I had no expectations because these markers are just OK. 
 
The first issue is that it takes a while for the ink to come out. When it does, it's really fine and clean. However, the ink doesn't always flow effortlessly, especially when working on mixed media, so that's the biggest let-down. 
 
The second issue is that these markers are sold as waterproof and they aren't. Just today, I painted some lines on dry acrylic paint. Then, I came with a damp tissue and the marker lines went off easily. I'd say they're OK for school and crafts purposes, but you would need a sealer of you want them to be waterproof. .  
 
The writing on the exterior gets off easily  as well, but this doesn't bother me.