New Year, New Clothes

I can't believe 2020 went pass in a flash like that. Quite honestly, I don't think I have much of any achievement to boast of, except the birth of a baby and as a result a launch of a rather sucessful series - Baby Talk. This year, most of my money has been spent on my child and the vast quantity went to his clothes. It is really something you can never have too much of. Oops. 

Many people will tell you that you shouldn't spend too much on your child's dressing in their early years because they grow up way too fast. But please don't go to the extreme and don't spend at all. I am saying this because I do derive a lot of joy dressing my child and I know one day he won't let me dress him the way I please anymore. 

And so, now when I am shopping, I decided to get bigger-sized clothes for baby. Believe it or not, our little one is wearing clothes nearing 9 months-old. He is really growing up too fast and outgrowing his clothes even before wearing them. Such a waste! A lot of my friends have commented that our child dress very dashingly. 

Everyone thinks we spend quite a lot on our child's clothes. Actually, if you buy during sales, you can get quality apparels at a very good price. Today, let me introduce you a new clothes store we found - Piou Piou Club. The clothes there is really stylish and I can assure you their product quality is very decent. My only grouse is their selection is a little limited, but on the bright side, if they had any more clothes, they might truly slowly burn a hole in my pocket. 

Just look at the intricate details in some of the designs I pick. This time round, I am getting greater than 1 year old clothes for my kiddo, haha. (This mama growing smarter already...hehe.) I am generally very satisfied with all the pieces except one - the YEAH PERFECT Children Boy Denim Shirt, which might seem a bit warm given the furry materinal on the inside. Was actually hoping to double it up as a top but I guess it can only be used as an outerwear (this is adding on to the 8 outerwears my boy already has, OH GAWD!)

Here's a lobang alert, all the pieces are currently on 30% discount, sales item included. It is really quite a good time to snatch some pieces off the shelf. After all, Chinese New Year is coming and if you are pantang like us, New Year MUST wear new clothes!

Merry Christmas: Feat. Ed Charly

This year, I feel like any form of structure in my life has been pulled apart yet not re-assembled. Haha. First, covid struck and we pretty much started to work from home. This was the first time I stayed at home so long. I got pregnant too this year so this mean I was pretty much stuck at home most of the time (very boring yes). And then, we welcomed a baby late this quarter and this child almost rob all our time away in the first year. 

Finally, after 2 odd months since his arrival, we have a breather. Can't really slack too long because I still needa rush out the reno and launch some new series next year! But since it was Christmas, I really wanted to give thanks to my partner who has been steadily supporting me throughout this period and putting up with some illogical outburst at time. 

Getting a gift for the husband has always been a difficult task. His style is at the opposite spectrum of mine. He loves his things simple and classy, better if timeless. When I saw Ed Charly's products, I knew he would love them! For the longest time, we have been searching for a functional yet gorgeous slim wallet and I am glad to say Ed Charly made the cut. 

There are 3 different designs available and I decided to go for Ed Classic because I thought it would be cute to twin. We are people with quite a bit of coins and I prefer designs that could snap shut. The Hubs doesn't use pure card holders so Ed Classic was a design that suit both our needs.

Each design came in 3 colours and I settled for the classic brown for the Hubs and a nice trendy red for myself. The brown actually look darker in real life while the red isn't as vibrant as it seems. (We both adore our choice in colours by the way...hehe.) For pure leather products, the wallets are retailing at S$59, quite a steal really. Free shipping if you are located in Singapore and a flat shipping fee at $6 if you are overseas. 

The wallets comes in a very nice box and dust pouch, making it look like a rather luxurious gift. The Hubs was so happy with what he recieved, he actually used it immediately (quite rare of him, usually he just politely thank me for the present when I get his taste wrong). He thought it was perfect for his suit (no bulging wallet in pants) and also for Reservist (although honestly I think this is way too premium to be brought into camp...zzz). But you know, I can't control the user on how he uses it. 

To all my readers, I hope you have a very blessed Christmas. One last photo featuring Ed Charly looking rather snug under our mini tree. We are moving soon so the house is looking like a mad storeroom (no thanks, covid!) with no space for a bigger tree. And with a baby who needs plenty of stuff, haix the whole place is disturbingly cluttered. May 2021 be a better year cos I can't deal with this mess any longer!

New Ears for the New Year

It would be awesome if we could change ears haha although I really love mine with a lobe. By now, readers you would realise that not only do I love my bags and shoes, I absolutely adore my earrings too. Now that 2021 (and Chinese New Year too), it only makes sense to get yourself some new earcessories to to start the new year right. 2020 was just too wrong. 

You may or may not have realised (depending on how sensitive with fashion you are), but clay earrings are raging. Clay earrings can both have very classy or cutesy design. I came upon ChurRo which holds the cutest (not kidding here) selection I have ever seen.

Morandi color autumn scenery earrings ($17.90)

At first glance, many would be thinking that this piece must be weighing me down. Erms...nope! In fact, it is really light-weight. This is a very intricate and pretty piece, but to be honest, it is not the usual colour I go for so I do have some problems matching it. Am thinking of wearing them for CNY because I am usually go for brighter colours and more floral prints and this piece would go nicely with it.

If you have plain earth-coloured clothes, this piece would also give it a nice pop. Am not sure if this is a sign from the higher powers to try more earthly tones...hehe.

Simple Studs ($15)

If you like simple pieces, you might want to go for the studs. Personally, I prefer my clay accessories to be a bit more complex with more colour gradients so that the designs are more obvious. Both the sizes of the green and brown pieces work for me, but in terms of designs, I prefer the brown stud more. You have to stare a lot harder before you can notice the designs on the green piece. 

For formal work setting, the green piece might work a little better. I have never really tried clay accessories with corporate wear, maybe this is a sign to just try!

Little Daisy Honeycomb Earrings ($17.90)

This was definitely my favourite. I even wore this on my first twinning shot with my baby (but oops the earrings not very obvious in the photos). This is just one of the many quirkier pieces at ChurRo. For such detailed and unique pieces, you will be glad to know ChurRo charges them at quite an affordable price. If you like such pieces, you can find animals and even food variations. :D

Really looking forward to CNY so that I can mix and match these pieces. Can't help but wonder if visitations will be still the same, will be quite bummed to dress up and have nobody to see/comment/criticise.

Cleaning infant's gums (feat. Marcus & Marcus Finger Toothbrush & Gum Massager Set )

 Do you know that babies, even though they don't have teeth have to clean their mouths/ tongues too? I am quite sure many parents actually don't know about this. Babies unlike us don't produce as much saliva, so after drinking milk you will observe that they have a build-up of white residue in their mouth. The excess milk can lead to bacteria growth. 

By right, you should clean every feed. My Mum helps to clean his tongue/ gums once a week ever since our child passed 4 weeks and so far he seems fine. (I can do it myself but my Mum really enjoy this exclusive bonding moment so the honour is all hers.) The tool we use is Marcus & Marcus Finger Toothbrush & Gum Massager Set ($8.90).

From what I heard from other mothers, there are other different options in the market. However, this comes in a set of 2 and is reusable. I intend to use it to clean baby's tooth too! Ever since baby's mouth got bigger, my mum changed to the bristles. She dips the brush in a cup of water and give baby's mouth a good scrub. The silicon is very gentle and baby doesn't fuss at all when his mouth is being cleaned. 

The only grouse I have with it is that it doesn't fit all fingers. My husband has insisted that his finger (even his pinky) can't fit in snuggly. My Mum and I have no problem at all, so I can safely say that it works for females. By the time he starts toothing, he will probably be used to this routine and hopefully he doesn't bite and hurt my mum >_<

Festive Dining at Kwee Zeen @ Sofitel

I have to admit, I love festives. I love crowds and most importantly, I adore the yummy feast that come along. This year, Christmas seems rather muted, maybe cos I am spending my time mostly at home. Nonetheless, we are not cutting down on the feasting even if it means I will be growing FAT. Haha. 

This year, Sofitel has launched The Ultimate Festive Champagne Brunch at Kwee Zeen. For every Sunday in the month of December, a tower brunch can be served at S$128++ per diner, with min. 2 diners to order. Top up another S$98++ and you will get to enjoy unlimited champagne. As I was still breastfeeding, I had to sadly give my champagne a pass. Nonetheless, I still had lots of fun feasting on such a luxurious meal. This brunch was particularly popular with couples and catch-up gatherings.

The tower was 3 stories high, with the meats at the bottom, the cheese platter in the centre and the sweets on top. And it comes with a whole bowl of seafood with caviar and lobster with roe (yum!) Tip: There was so much food that there was even enough to bring back. So start on the seafood platter and the perishables first because there was no way to finish everything!

 

My personal favourite was the second platter. The cheese was so good I had a hard time stopping myself :P The seafood bowl and the meat platter was definitely the most value for money but the Christmas feast is not for everybody. The Hub who was more of a Chinese cuisine type of dude did seem to enjoy it a little less. You can also opt for takeaway options (including orders for turkey and log cakes).

While you are there, do set aside some time to explore the place because Sofitel is gorgeous. Once you step in, you do have a resort vibe. Even though I was only there for a meal, I do feel I have stepped out of Singapore and is on vacation. As we were walking away some calories, I managed to capture some nice shots :P

If you still have your Rediscover Singapore vouchers, you may consider using it here. For families, you can consider the Infinite Family Experiences which includes kids acitivities and full dining experiences. For couples, do consider the Retreat to Sanctuary which looks super shiok. Final tip for those without cars: There is a shuttle bus to Sofitel from Harbourfront MRT station. :D

Snowperk review

Skincare routine is really not for the lazy. Now that I have a baby at hand, anything that takes up too much time or effort has pretty much taken a huge step back. Time is really too much of a luxury and I would rather spend the time either sleeping or sleeping haha. Yes, I need my beauty rest darn badly. 

By now, you may have realised that I am slowly laxing in terms of my requirements of my skincare products and reintroducing chemicals on my face and body. The reason being, my skin is slowly losing its glorious pregnancy glow (boo!) and I really didn't want to look too tired most of the time. 

I was introduced to Snowperk by Try and Review. Snowperk is a personalised skincare product. Each set comes with a base moisturiser and a booster that is based on your skin needs. I was recommended to use Booster No. 7, which is mainly for skin protection. The products aims to defend my skin against harsh elements such as environmental pollutants, and help my skin be more resistant to aggressions so that it will look more radiant and healthy. 

Personally, I don't use any product of similar function in my regime. Currently, I barely step out of the house and my poor skin condition is mainly due to lack of sleep and breastmilk that somehow always end up spilling on my pillow and clothes (no thanks, baby! Hmph! )

I have been using for 7 days and so far my sensitive skin shows no sign of further irritation. The product is very light and non-greasy. However, I don't really the fact that we have to mix the booster into the base moisturiser ourselves. To a new mummy, I prefer simplified products. 

Packaging wise, I appreciate the cover that squeezes out the moisturiser so that you don't need to have any contact with it. However, the cover could be removed so I am not sure if this would help the product to not be oxidised that quickly. The product is quite reasonably priced so I do see myself using it again since I don't have any product in my regime that does the same function. :D

Shopback: It's shopping time

I really have a love-hate relaionship with the last quarter of the year. Part of me really love the good deals that come along with it. Another part of me truly abhor the face that I am spending non-stop this quarter. First 9.9, then 10.10, next 11.11 and now 12.12. My pocket has truly burnt a big hole. 

Here's a money saving tip. When I am shopping at the platform, I always access them through Shopback. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Shopback, it is a rewards platform that give you cashback when you shop with their partners. Yes, you get cold hard cash back. I have tried and tested it :P

This year, Shopback launched the World's first christmas cashback cake from Bake Inc.. The light and fluffy chooclate sponge cake is layered with a rich dark chocolate cream and is topped with chocolate cream. It is dusted with powedered sugar and decorated with lots of money to remind us the amount of savings shoppers can bring for us. Here's a spoiler, within this delectable treat lies cold hard cash waiting for you to unravel. :P

The 800g cake costs $58. For every purchase, you will get 1% cashback credited into your Shopback account which can be eventually withdrawn to your personal banking account. In addition, you will find S$12 embedded within the cake. In total, the cake will cost less than S$50, which is quite a good steal. The cake can feed more than 10 pax (although it humbly claims to feed 8 to 10 people) and for the health-conscious you will be happy to know that it is low in sugar and does not contain any preservatives. 

Coincidentally, my little brother's birthday lie within the Christmas season and we decided to double this up as a birthday cake. So you lucky readers get to have an early review on the taste. The cake definitely taste as good as it looks. Be reminded to thaw it before consuming so that the runny chocolate would taste nicer. My brother was tickled pink by the surprise embedded in it. 

Personally, I was more excitied by Cashback Troopers Plushies (comes with the cake) which I thought was extremely adorable and good as props for my future photoshoots. So don't be surprised to see them popping up as and when in future photos. :D Ending the post with a boomerang. Yes, this cake is so good for photos and Instag! Fastest fingers first cos there are only 400 cakes available!

Baby's First Toy: Taf Toys All Around Me Activity Hoop

 

Although I didn't write about this first, this was actually the first toy we opened for baby. It was really interesting because we got to witness how baby rearcted and eventually warmed up to it. Taf Toys All AroundMe Activity Hoop is basically a circular hoop which you can pop in interesting items to engage the child. It consists of a rainbow baby-safe mirror, felt cards (both in black-white/ coloured, creaking koala, butterfly and snail rattle as well as a plushed koala with a baby teether. 

Honestly, it was initially quite disappointing because at 0+ month, the baby was barely interested in any of the toys. Most of the time, he was yawning at me despite my desperate efforts to play with him. There were some points I wondered if he was behind his peers in his development (Note: It is just me being over-zealous.) Fortunately for us, the toy was quite easy to set up so I had enough patience to keep trying. 

By the second month, our little one can be seen cranking his head to look at the felt cards. As he grew more active (and aggressive), we saw him punching some of the more advanced toys. For me, I only use a-third of the Taf Toys All AroundMe Activity Hoop to make baby turn on his left side so as to shape his head.

At his stage, he would be more reactive to the mirror and black-white felt cards but I incorporated all the toys (different one each time) to expose him to the different textures. Also, I didn't want him to be bored by the same toys. His favourite thus far is the butterfly rattle which we always hoop onto his arm when he is in the rocker. 

By now, as a parent, I have learnt that toys don't always have to be played in their intended manner. My FIL hung the toys on the top of the bunk bed and I thought it was ingenious. I am quite happy with the taf toys thus far as they are encouraging our baby to lie in different poses and seem to develop his motor skills. He used to be rather lazy in doing his push-ups. Now, he would occassionally show them off to me and would even be seen "lifting pillows". It is really fascinating sometimes to see how much he grows and develops, although I admit I don't entirely let nature takes it course (by creating opportunities for him to practice his motor and coordination skills).

Taf Toys All AroundMe Activity Hoop is retailing at S$69.90. It is cheaper as compared to the Koala Musical Newborn Cosy Gym (read my review here). Personally, I prefer the Koala Musical Newborn Cosy Gym  more because I am not very creative when it comes to modifying toys and the baby seems more engaged in the  Koala Musical Newborn Cosy Gym because he is not a fan of tummy-time. But if you are on a budget, Taf Toys All AroundMe Activity Hoop is a great option because it is versatile and can grow up with baby, making it quite a value for money investment!

I love Clarins

I don't usually write reviews that fast. But for this product, I am very confident of its effect. I am still using Clarins products post-partum (didn't use it during pregancy and utterly regret it) and is now a converted fan. Apart from the samples I received from DreaChong x WeBarre, I also received more Double Serum sachets from Try and Review. 

Although Clarins products are quite expensive, they are very effective and really deliver what they promise. To regain the pregnancy glow, we tried out the Double Serum. Within 7 days, visible improvement can be seen. My skin looks more refreshed despite the sleep deprivation. The product promises instant radiance, reduced pores and fine skin and visibly looking skin, which I think I will be able to see these effects only when baby is older.

All about Cloth Diapers: Part 1

Hurray, our little one has reached his 2 months milestone. I have to admit that our little cooing infant is growing a lot cuter than the weepy newborn. He is now able to express himself better and react to the surrounding. With his tears and angry grunts, we now better know his wants, desires and needs. 

For his 2 month DIY shoot, I decided to dress him up in diaper. If you are wondering, how come our diaper is so cute and colourful. This is actually a cloth diaper from Shears. Unlike disposable diapers, the designs of cloth diapers are usually lot prettier and are a good replacement for pants/ shorts.  (Psss...money saving tip hehe).  

Now that baby is a little older and has a firmer schedule, we decided to rock the boat a little. Initially, we have always been using disposable diapers because with breastfeeding, confinement etc. OMG, time is very precious. I really didn't have the time and mood for more laundry. By now, baby doesn't poop as much as when he was a newborn. So I thought, let's go a little greener.

Many mothers move into cloth diapering because of the long-term affordability. FYI, to get a full set of cloth diapers to start the journey will usually set you back by S$100++. Some babies also have very sensitive buttocks when using disposables and hence mummies of such babies would also opt for cloth diapers. For us, we really wanted to try cloth diapering because we felt baby was using way too much resources at such a young age. We really want to play our tiny part for sustainable living.

Generally, you would need at least 3 cloth diapers to start the journey. Before baby arrive, I was hesitant to invest in cloth diapers because I wasn't sure whether I would take the plunge. A fellow mummy gave me a brand new brandless purple cloth diaper to start off my journey. Now, let me tell you what other cloth diaper Mummies never share: The brand/ design matters! 

 

At first glance, the design of my brandless cloth diaper seems to work like the Shears cloth diapers. It even had velcro. But you know what, the brandless cloth diaper was so super difficult to wear. And the cloth material wasn't very good as well. It was so frustrating, I was so close to giving up. Fortunaely, I tried out the Shears cloth diaper and regained some confidence in cloth diapering. The quality was superub in comparison and it was so easy to slip in the padding. It was also quite easy to use the buttons to adjust the waist size so that it is fitting for your child. FYI, the cloth diaper can be used till baby is 24 months. 

It also helps that the design was really adorable. In terms of laundry, we have a helper who help us to handwash everything. But when we move into our own home, I will be doing everything myself. The solution: Just rinse out the poop and throw this into the washing machine. It is really a balancing act, and for me time saved > money saved. 

Here's an update, our little one is Shears first ever little ambassador. Shears is a local baby toy and gift set maker. If you are a parent, you are bound to have received their bay gift sets or see them in major retail stores. Moving forward, we will be featuring quite a bit of Shears products because pssst...many of you may not know but they hold more than just clothes and toys! Also, their products are very affordable so we thought that more parents should know that you don't have to break an arm or a leg just to give your child the best. 

A collage of our little one growing up in Shears! We received this set as a gift from a relative and I would like to give special mention to their top. Personally, as a first time mum, I initally hated letting baby wear anything that goes over his head cos a newborn seems so fragile. I now realise that the trick is to find clothes with big head opening! Shears shirt is one of baby's favourite or maybe more accurately our favourite because the opening is big enough for us to slip his head through. Will be sharing more in future posts so save "Shears Baby" tag to follow us through the journey! <3

Battle of the Organic Baby Wet Wipes

During baby's first few months, we tried out different wet wipes samples. I thought there might be some merit in doing this post to share with fellow mummies and daddies my favourites. My baby doesn't really have a "golden bum" so we have the luxury of choice. (Note: If your baby has sensitive skin, you may not be able to pick and choose from the variety of brands.)

The few criteria we look at includes (i) pricing, (ii) ease of pulling out each piece, (iii) moisture and (iv) as chemical free as possible. I am quite a hoarder so my price may be based on cartons...hehe.

1. Huggies Pure Clean Baby Wipes (S$31 for 768 pieces)

I was exposeed to this wet wipes after joining Huggies Club. It is made of 100% pure water and works out to be S$0.04 a piece (might be cheaper after stacking even more discounts). Hands-down, this wet wipes won the hearts of both the Hubs and I. It is the thickest and the most moist among all the wet wipes we have tried. Also, it used the least number of wipes to clean up a poonami. 

Useless fact alert, the wet wipe even got pattern on it, haha! As we didn't try out the value packets, I am not sure whether the wipes will clump together and if the stick-on seal will work as effectively for a bigger packet. But for now, the small packets are our must-haves in our diaper bags. Ranked #1!

2. WaterWipes ($79.90 for 720 pieces)

WaterWipes is  the agreed #2 because of the price. It is at S$0.11 a piece. WaterWipes contains only 2 ingredients 99.9% distilled water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract, and thus I would deem it to be chemical-free. It is also sufficiently moist for even the worst poonami and you won't use more than 5 pieces for it.

As mentioned, I don't really like clasp so this stick-on packaging works really well for me. It is easy to open and locks the moisture within the wipes well. The only problem was only at the end of the use when it starts clumping. I am actually quite baffled as to why this isn't as wildly raved by mothers (maybe because of the price), so here's a big shout-out to them!

3. Cloversoft Unbleached Bamboo Organic Pure Water Baby Wipes ($81 for 1200 pieces)

I got the Cloversoft at $0.02 instead of the $0.06 a piece direct from their website making it the cheapest among all the organic wet wipes. (Note: They did some adjustment to their pricing so now the wet wipe is like more expensive than before.) Cloversoft doesn't clump even till the end and the stick-on seal even though isn't as robust as WaterWipes does as needed, keeping the very last wet wipe moist till the end.

But the biggest problem with Cloversoft was that it just wasn't moist enough. We ended up using 11 pieces during a poonami, which might make it even more expensive than the rest during one diaper change. (P.S: We can't just look at cost per piece but must look at cost per diaper change). I got it during the sale so it wasn't that bad and this also explains why it was ranked within the top 3. 

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For info: Personally, I am not a fan of wet wipes with fragrance, so any wet wipes that has a fragrance is automatically ruled out and will not be even considered in my comparison battle. :D

Support Local: Pee-Ka-Poo

When I first came across this brand, I have to admit I was quite tickled by their name incorporating pee and poo, which is what a diaper contains. Honestly, I have heard more about their diapers than their products so I was quite excited when I received their soap and wet wipes as well for review.

Pee-Ka-Poo diapers ($173.40 for 6*80 pieces)

I can totally understand why this is their most known product. We have tried a few samples and this one definitely ranks within our top 3. The diaper managed to hold baby's pee and poo well and felt premium. Also, it had a pee indicator which let us have a sense of when to change the diaper. For parents who are after diapers with designs, Pee-ka-poo comes in one classic pattern. 

Value-conscious parents would be happy to note that the price per packet of 80 pieces remains constant for different size (note: this is not the case for many brands). Also, Pee-Ka-Poo has a return and exchange policy which allows swapping to bigger diapers. This is particularly useful because it is so hard to gauge how fast the baby grows.

Happy Sparkle Head-To-Toe Shampoo (S$29 for 280ml)

Personally, I feel that this product is under-rated and deserve a way bigger shout-out. Although this product is called a shampoo, it can also be used as a body soap. Baby uses it for both his head and body. The soap has a nice peach scent which I love. I will always smell my baby after he has a nice, long bath. 

For older kids, the soap can produce quite a nice foaming effect with a few drops. I know it cos the silly Hubs made a bubble bath for baby when he was only 4 days old. The little one cried buckets as he still hated bath time. The only grouse I have with this product is that they only have it in one scent. I would definitely love some variety because this product is dope!

Bamboo Wet Wipes with Honeysuckle Extract (24 * 80 pieces for S$72)

The wet wipes failed to make the cut for me. The mositure and thickness of the wipes were acceptable and they wipe away the poop pretty efficiently (within 5 pieces a poonami butt can be cleaned). It was also very gentle on baby's little bum bum. However, the clasp was a huge issue for me and the Hubs. It was very secure such that when the baby was screaming and we were panicking, we just couldn't open the clasp quickly. 

Perhaps, it is a personal thing but I prefer wet wipes designs without the clasp so that you can easily stick it on and off. Plus, with the clasp, it is extremely tough for me to be independent. I would always need to wake my Hubs up for the night changing. Overall, I am still quite a fan of Pee-Ka-Poo and 2 out of 3 of their products ranks highly. Given that it is a local brand, I think we should really give them our full support :D

Baby visits family home Feat. Koala Musical Newborn Cosy Gym

Finally, after a month or more of confinement, I finally pluck up the courage to bring my baby out. Okay, he isn't exactly going out. He is just going to my family home. Honestly, I am quite excited because it is like showing a part of my past to my child (he probably can't see that well yet LOL!) This was also when I realise "Oh my, a baby needs so many stuff!"

As my child isn't staying with my parents, we don't really have a nest etc. there. Fortunately, we decided to bring the Koala Musical Newborn Cosy Gym along. Our intent was to provide baby with something to do, but when we arrived at my parent's house, we realise there was no mattress for baby. Oops. And hence, we used the thickly padded gym as a nest too, which was pretty effective because baby was so comfortable, he fell asleep. 

The Koala Musical Newborn Cosy Gym comes with 4 multi-sensory toys. It includes a mirror, crinkling toys, rattles and also a teether. There is a music & lights toy that play an extremely catchy tune :) As of this time, my baby is only about 1.5 months old. He doesn't interact much with the toys if you hang it on the arches. However, if you put infront of his face, he might stare at it for a while or 2 depending on his mood. 

On the arches, there is a lower position for you to hang the toys. Being rather kiasu, we actually got more toys for him (not in the photo). For those who are keen, you just have to get toys with hooks and you can also incorporate them into the Cosy Gym . Similarly, the toys that come with the Cosy Gym can also be removed and fixed onto your strollers/ cars. 

Here's some behind the scene photos of my parents being really entertained by their grandchild. Oh, did I tell you how good this Cosy Gym looks in photos? The vibrant colours of Cosy Gym makes it a superub photo backdrop. I love how pretty every photo of it and the baby is. The Cosy Gym grows with the baby and can support tummy time in his early stage and transits to a playmat for him to improve his motor skills as he grows older, letting us milk every dollar worth of S$139.90. Hehe. 

So far, the baby's favourite toy is the music & lights toy. And it is no wonder because the music is so catchy. I am quite embarrassed to say but sometimes I do hum along and boogie with the music. Here's a video which we captured of the baby looking extremely adorable <3 Will definitely be sharing more of his playtime. This is not the last you see of our Cosy Gym.

Gaston Luga: Mummy's Day Out Bag

If you have been a long time reader, you would know I am a bagaholic. I LOVE BAGS! After becoming a mother, I have to be honest, I no longer have the time to change bags as frequently. A lot of mothers would suggest having functional big diaper bag to stuff everything (mother and child) in. But, I beg to differ. For me, we keep our things separate and I feel it is better that way. 

One thing for sure, I don't want to be overly attached to my baby. Having a separate bag means I have my own life too. When I go out with my friends (2 hours quick meet-up outside), I don't have to tug a huge diaper bag along. And...I feel liberated. Hehe. Using one bag now is also easy because time is so precious, I don't have to repack my essentials to a separate bag. 

During my third trimester, I had started using the Gaston Luga Classy in Black-Pink. At that point, the Hubs encouraged me to get something for myself because I have been shopping too much for the baby. And I am glad that I listened because this is now a bag which I use everywhere. The bag is stylish and versatile. It matches well with all my casual wear and it is in the same shade of pink as my phone cover ...Hehe. Both of them looks like a set. 

The bag is relatively spacious. I could put a laptop in it. However, it is not very stretchable and I love the bag too much to abuse it. So I can't/ don't put bulky shopping items in it in the main compartment. It has a small slip at the back which I find it extremely useful. I can slip my ez-link card and IC in it, which is really useful when I am out shopping. :D

And tada...the great pospartum reveal. This is particularly meaningful for me because for the longest time I don't have the confidence to do any LOTD stuff. Well, the flabby bod is still there. I am starting to exercise again but god knows if I will ever regain my figure. But you know what, it is really a mindset change. Confidence is truly key because I think I still look quite awesome in my shoots even when I am covered with saggy fats. 

For any of you who share my love for bags, here's a deal you can't miss. Gaston Luga is having a Black Friday Sale. Quote "FFSale15" and you get to enjoy 30% off and receive a cardholder too. If you are in need of a bag or just a bagaholic, now is a good time to buy. Either that, stock up early for Christmas. I find the bag designs at Gaston Luga very classy and they have designs suitable for males too, so I am sure all of you will be able to find something there.

Breastfeeding Journey: Why am I still pumping?

I wish more people had share their breastfeeding reflection. No, I am not talking about influencers who paint a rosy picture, but true, real stories on how difficult it is. I am a Mummy that can't fully supply my baby with breastmilk. And after going through the process, let me tell you why I think this is so.

• My little one is huge. He was such a good size that the nurses told me in the hospital, don't sweat it feed him formula milk if you have to. 
• I did not know latching was the key to increasing milk supply. After I left the hospital. I immediately went on exclusive pumping cos it felt so much more comfortable on the nipples. 
• My pump was not hospital-grade. For a good long time, I was just pumping for an hour and still not clearing my boobs. Sigh. I wish I had listen to the other mothers earlier.
• I didn't have much support from the extended family. Our parent's generation didn't really have the concept of breastfeeding so their first instinct was always to get the baby formula when he cries. I barely had any opportunity to latch him during the first month. :'(

What people never told us was how difficult latching actually was. When I tried to re-latch the baby back at home, my mother had to help me position my child. My boobs were also perpectually sore. My body was literally aching everywhere. I barely had strength to carry my little one and my body had problems recovering because of the lack of rest (I had to wake up every 3 hours to pump). In the end, I fell sick with fever for 5 days and my supply dipped. 

At that point, I really truly wanted to give up on breastfeeding. I miss the taste of alcohol even though I am not a hardcore drinker and I wanted my freedom back. I no longer wanted to be restricted by the 3 hours. But then, my baby was very constipated with formula milk and I have to admit that breastmilk did provide him with very good antibodies from me to counter the flu bug spreading around the house and the germs from his sick mama. 

Coincidentally, at that period I received some Boobkies and Boob Juice from Gooberr for review. And so I thought let's give it one last shot. If my milk supply still continued to drop, then it is a sign to stop breastfeeding. As you you may know, lactation cookies don't work for everybody. My body was growing immune to rolled oats, so I was praying that the brewer's yeast (halal compliant by the way) would do some magic.

At the same time, I was also drinking the ginger fennel lactation tea and fenugreek bergamot lactation tea (S$18 each). I tried to squeeze every value out of it, so I would use each sachet for 1 day worth of refill. There were 12 sachets in each packet, so with this I could last 24 days :D And fortunately for me, my milk supply went back to its original amount. Although my supply didn't increase anymore from there, I was happy that the amount was no longer as little as when I was sick.

For tea time, I would always have 8 boobkies. By right, it was recommended to eat 8 eof them before very pump, but I just recovered from my fever so I was abit cautious about over-doing it. Between the white chocolate matcha and white chocolate earl grey, my favourite was the latter. I love that you could actually taste the strong earl grey flavour, I guess I am a true tea lover. :P Each packet retails at S$19.90 which I thought was pretty reasonably priced. 

Overall, I would think that the boobkies and boob juice was quite a hit for me. I am just thankful my breastfeeding journey wasn't forced to end early because of my fever. To all other Mummies out there, I just want to say don't give up, try all boosters if you really want to continue breastfeeding. Some will be hits, and others will be misses. But if you never try, you would never know! :D

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Follow "Breastfeeding Journey" tags for tips to make the breastfeeding experience bearable!

Thumb for Lego

If you have been following my blog for a while, you would know that I am quite a fan of Lego. I also have a soft spot of local crafters. When I came across the work done by Thumb for Lego, I felt obliged to do a post on it. If you look through the videos on how he makes each piece, you would feel the pain and hard work that goes into each thumbdrive. 

The Lego thumbdrive I have to say makes a very good gift for Lego fans. It is both practical and adorable. It is also very unique, I don't think you will ever pick up the wrong thumbdrive but I have to be honest...don't save too much important documents in it. Because I am sure there many thieves out there who is eyeing on your thumbdrive (less so your important documents).

When I show the Hubs and Lego fan friends the behind the scene video, the first thing they commented was "woa...so much work, sure not cheap" Crafting it sure isn't easy and I am sure given the tools used, there must have been quite a bit of injury while honing the skill. And for all this, Thumb for Lego could have charged a lot more. 

You will be happy to know that you can get a piece at S$36. For the rarer piece, of course, you may have to pay a little more. Still, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. A Lego keychain typically cost around S$10, this means you are pretty much paying only S$26 for the crafter's effort!! Here are some videos of the exclusive behind the scene. Be prepared to be in awe. My advice: Quickly stock up for Christmas and anniversaries before Thumb for Lego inflates the price!!!

Sofzsleep: So comfy, he peed

My baby is still a few months old so he is currently still sleeping in his nest. As you all may observe by now, I am a 100% kiasu Mummy. Being ahead of my time (as usual), I decided to get a playpen mattress first so that I won't panic when he grow out of his nest. When it comes to mattress, the most important criteria I look at is comfort. 

I came across Sofzsleep playpen mattress and was impressed by its thickness. There are definitely cheaper mattresses out there online, but I just can't imagine how comfortable a thin mattress can be. Even my marital bed was a thick mattress, I didn't want to shortchange my baby in any way. Apart from being thick, the mattress also provided good support. It is made with 100% pure natural latex without any foam and metal springs. 

The Sofzsleep playpen mattress came rolled up and well compact. It was great because we had moved over to our in-laws and we had barely any space. Any thing that took out less space was very welcome. I am quite a bit of a germophobic so I was very pleased to note that the mattress has been sanitised using the Swiss antimicrobial treatment, ensuring that our little does not breathe in any toxic chemicals or dust mites. 

The Sofzsleep playpen mattress also promised to be naturally breatheable because of its open cell structure which ensure air circulation and ventiliation. Initially, I couldn't verify the comfort level because baby hasn't used the mattress. I was only convinced that it was truly comfortable when we used it during baby's home photoshoot.

I am so embarrassed to admit that our little one didn't just doze off lying on it. He was so comfortable he peed on it. Thank god, I place an underpad on top of the mattress. For parents who are keen on getting a Sofzsleep playpen mattress for your little one too, you might want to note that they come in 2 sizes (96 * 66 cm and 104 * 70 cm). You can also customise your own if you need a different size. 

There is no better time than 13 November till 31 December to get your mattress because there is going to be a year-end sale. If you would like to feel the mattress before purchasing, you can head on down to their showroom. Sofzsleep don't just hold baby mattresses, there are also adult and children mattress which you can purchase for yourself and older kids. Will update this post again when baby starts lying in his playpen. Remember to bookmark this post if you are keen to follow up on this!

Yum in the Tum: Amelia Carrot Cake

If there is one good thing that came out of the circuit breaker, it would be the realisation you no longer have to go to good food, you can actually bring good food to you. With the rise of many home cooks and bakers, there is now better variation and rendition of food that we can get to try...Yum!

We came across Amelia Carrot Cake and decided to review some of their menu. 

1. Carrot Cake ($10)

Perhaps it is because the store name has "carrot cake" so we naturally expected this to be the best product. My Dad found the texture for this on the softer side and preferred a stronger "egg" taste. Nonetheless, it was very tasty, rich with the flavour of dried prawn and the white carrot was well infused. It is definitely better than the carrot cake you can get outside and you can just eat it plain. If you purchase their special shredded scallops, the taste would be even more intense. It is definitely more expensive compared to the normal hawker fare but for a once a while treat, sedap!

2. Pumpkin Cake ($13)

One thing you have to admit, Amelia Carrot Cake doesn't hold back when it comes to spamming the ingredients. Personally, this was our favourite, maybe because there isn't as many cheaper variations available out there in the market. I like how every bite is packed with bits of pumpkins and chunks of mushroom, it makes me feel like I am not being cheated of my money because I can actually feel the ingredients. This is possibly the best in the menu and is something not to be missed! Highly recommended!

3. Hokkien Dumpling and Nonya Dumpling ($5.50 each)

As many of you know, my family loves our dumplings. And this one actually meets the mark. Most dumplings (probably because they are not freshly made) are always rock tough. However, Amelia Carrot Cake's are chewy and soft. Unlike those you find outside, for once, there is actually less rice than fillings! One dumpling is definitely more than enough to fill a lady's tummy (erms and I am not that small an eater). For $5.50, I think it is quite a steal. If you want a bigger bang for your bucks, go for the Hokkien Dumpling cos they are packed with more goodies. Now, I don't have to wait till the Dragon Boat Festival to enjoy good dumplings. 

Overall, I would say the menu at Amelia Carrot Cake is very decent. To make your delivery fees ($5) worthwhile, order a meal worth of food to share with the family. Order 5 boxes and above, delivery is free! If you have any homemade food you want us to try, drop us an email, and we will be more than happy to sacrifice our round little bellies. Hehe.