2nutguys: Dessert Trio

My main supply maintainer/ booster are mainly products from 2nutguys. One thing I really like about 2nutguys is that there are options. Not all the products are super boosters but at least it gives you choices so that you don't have to eat the same thing every day and feel miserable about your breastfeeding journey. 

I decided to give the Dessert Trio ($91.90) a try, so that all of you can have the benefit to know more. For me, it doesn't boost more than Best of  3 Worlds (you can read my review here), but it gives a lot more satisfaction. 

1. Mummy's Granola ($19.90)

Milk is my booster, so I am not too sure if the granola is a booster. It is a really tasty meal for sure. Especially for working days when I am rushing and missed my breakfast, I would whip this out. I also had this once for lunch when it was raining and I was just too lazy to go out. 

Unlike other granola, this one adds rice puff which really gives more dimension. Even when I am not breastfeeding, I am likely to still get this because it is nutritious and delicious. A good way to start the way right.

2. Mummy's Gelato ($45.90)

This one doesn't work for me, maybe because gelato is not my favourite type of ice cream. Cold stuff is still very satisfying given the hot weather. I take it on its own. Maybe I should add it to my other beverages?

In the whole range of products, this is the most pricey. So maybe it is a blessing in disguise this didn't work out for me...haha

3. Roasted Almom Milk ($62.90 for 2 bottles)

The repeated feature is the roasted almom milk in the both series. I love it, this is really my all time favourite and it is great that it is the most effective for me. In fact, when I received it, I immediately drank mine. :P

Some Mums have actually asked me if I drink it on its own. I prefer a 50% milk ratio. You can try it too. Just writing about it is making me crave for another bottle. Dang. 

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Because it works for me, I would like to share this discount code with other lactating mummies out there, you can quote"10CHAA" to get 10% off . The code can help you save some money on your trial purchase or on your boost journey. #BecauseIKnowHowHardItIs

Free Trials: Is it even worth it?

Recently I won a giveaway for a workshop at Plain as Play. Cos we sort of live pretty far from the place, my transport back and forth was estimated to be around ~$60. Including the lunch we had outside, we ended up spending around ~$100. 

My husband joked that for this unstructured play with no clear deliverables and outcomes, the price of it doesn't entirely justify. This set me thinking if attending enrichment trials to give the child alternative activities are even worth it. 

There were supposed to be 2 activities that day. One was an art collage where he basically pasted cut pieces of cloth on a canvas and another was a threading activity which my toddler had absolute no interest in. I am not sure if it is obvious to you readers but I generally don't force my children against their wishes. They do walk away at events sometimes which explains why we are quite selective who we work with. 

From an economical sense, my husband asked if we just came all the way here to let him paste cloth on canvas. And I was like, yup. Haha. Personally, I found their activities though simple to execute, creative and something I would have never thought of. And...I am highly unlikely to prepare these materials for him at home. 

Overall, my toddler certainly had fun and enjoyed his day out (amidst some melt downs). He was more impressed with the automated dustbin and half the time he was busy finding something to toss into the bin. As you can see, he totally miss the point of the workshop. LOL!

But to all the people who think like my husband...I just want to say a lot of things shouldn't be measured by money. I value more on the experiences and exposures my kids get. Fine, some things just don't work out and turns out to be an absolute waste of resources but hey at least we tried and now we know what the kids like and don't like. It is exhausting to bring the duo out for specific events, but because I don't have that much time with the kids, I always see these as opportunities for the family to do something together. :)

Will I continue to bring the duo for interesting play/ events I see? Of course!

Flower Power - Golden Gift

Ever since I fell sick, I realise the beauty of flowers...literally. I finally understood why people send flowers to perk others up during sad moments. Because flowers do have the power to lift moods. Received some flowers from Golden Gift for Mother's Day. I went for the freestyle flower arrangement because I like displaying my flowers on my table top. If it was a bouquet, I would have to rearrange myself into the pots and to be honest, I suck at flower arrangements.

They arrived nicely in a transparent bag, looking in full bloom. You know something, photos of flowers never have to be edited because they are always beautiful as it is. Immediately after receiving the flowers, I cleaned up our messy dining table (it has been neat ever since). I even propped myself to work beside my bouquet because that was how much I love staring at them and enjoying the scent of nature. Usually, I hate things that create more housework for me. When the petals fell (the purple ones), I felt like the Beast trying to reverse time, haha. 

On a separate note, I thought I would share a little more on Golden Gift and their fresh flowers services. They have flowers catered for every occasion/ events and have quite a variety for add-ons like balloons, chocolates and even alcohol. Same-day delivery is also available (great for last minute lovers). 

My personal favourite are their freestyle products (which I went for) not because I have no idea what to get, but because I like the surprise element. Also, it doesn't hurt that it is more affordable and sustainable too, since the florists uses whatever fresh flowers they have for that day. Another favourite of mine is the bloom boxes - an affordable option for people who like having fresh flowers on their work table.

We went to Polliwogs @ Vivo!

Part of parenthood journey is to explore all the possible indoor playgrounds. We went to Polliwogs. We have always walked past the Vivo one but somehow we never made it in. In terms of pricing, it is definitely not the cheapest. But since we had a baby who could enter free, I decided to give it a go. :P

The area was split into 2 sections. 1 was for the toddlers below 3 years old and the other was for the bigger kids. My kid actually played at both areas. The staff doesn't restrict you to an area simply because of your kid's age. 

If you only have one kid who is under 6 months, please don't go because it is free for him/her. First of all, you have to pay for the adult tickets (likely to be x2 = $24) and there is really nothing much to do for the child. Look at mine, she basically just sat supported in the merry go round, got buried in a ball pit. The rest of the time, she was slung to my husband who paced around aimlessly. I guess she had a bit of fun, but she would rather be doing other things. 

My toddler on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed himself. He is at an age he finally appreciates indoor playground. At the toddler's area, he played with the slides, ball pits and the merry go round. 

Initially, he kept sticking to me and insisted I played along. Yes, their structures can support the weight of adults. But it was really exhausting for me who had to maneuver all these tiny spaces. It was almost like a full workout. At the toddler's section, apart from the ball pit and merry-go-round, there were those magic mirrors, a mini slide and some puzzles. Sounds like nothing much but the kid had fun. 

The section for the older kids had more activities going on. But...my kid was more interested in the mechanism of the ball sucking system. He was also quite interested in shooting the balls. So all the photos and videos I have of him is just calmly staring at systems. Haha. 

Nearing the end, he finally found a friend to play with and that was when I could really sit back and chill. Whew! So I guess that's the trick, find the kid a friend. The few of them thoroughly exhausted each other. Polliwogs @ Vivo is quite family friendly with nursing and changing facilities for the children. It is not the most impressive but clean enough. 

I was however impressed with their party room's size and that set me thinking if I should host a party there. To be quite honest, it does look impressive and I think the guests (kids in particular) would have a ball of fun there. Each session is around 2 hours but by the end of it, sounds short but boy it sure is long.

We will probably go back again, but till then I am going to take a rest. Haha. 

Dolce Gusto Capsule Organiser

It is no secret that my house is on a constant revamp state.  I am not much or an organiser but my husband happens to be very skilled in that (not a bias statement I assure you) and has good aesthetics sense. He is not always the deal seeker just to caveat. 

We love our capsules beverages and for the longest time our Dolce Gusto capsules have been in boxes. Husband found this organiser ($15.90) and wow, it really does give an office pantry kitchen vibe. You may find something similar and cheaper but this one, at least we tried and knows the product is as stated. :)

You are welcome! If you are a capsule maker and want me to try your products, yes you can hit me up. I am a capsule addict. I have a Nespresso machine too (in office). LOL!

It is ok to be lousy

A while back, I sent my kid to a Gymnastics Trial. It was the first time I sent him for an enrichment-sort-of class. And I realised he was extremely lousy at it. My kid is really tall and bulky for his "month-group". At the class, he was visibly a lot more clumsy and less flexible. He also had a bit of anxiety issues. 

Generally, he does well in his developmental milestone. This was the first time he "faltered". There was a bit of initial disappointment he will never be a gymnast (not that I was), but I managed to laugh it off. Maybe not everyone will be able to get over it as fast, so I thought I would share with you my thoughts. 

I am an absolute klutz and is not much of an athlete. Yes, you see me running and jumping in my athleisure wear. But...I have no natural talent. And it is kinda weird to expect my offspring will acquire some gene which I don't even have to begin with. I don't even have that sort of expectations on myself. Even if we are good in our "hobbies", we might not become professionals. Yes, you get the drift. 

Also, nobody is born to b e skillful in every single thing. My kid is not adept for gymnastics, let's move on. I am sure we will find something he likes and he is good in to build up his confidence. If he really enjoys gymnastics, let's go for it. Who says we can't do something we are lousy in? I myself actually did 2 years of Judo which I absolutely struggled in because I wanted to learn some self-defense.

Note to self: Don't let your competitive, kiasu maternal instincts take over. Let your kid grow like you did. 

Wan to Play @ West Coast Plaza

I might really be secretly using my children to enjoy all the indoor playgrounds around Singapore. A new one - Candy Land popped out in West Coast Plaza and we decided to give it a go too. At first glance, I thought it was pretty small and girly. Didn't really expect my boy to enjoy it, let alone myself. 

Boy, I was wrong. I had so much fun on their slide. It was the best slide I have ever been in all the indoor playground so far. It was fast and furious. I squealed in joy. In fact, we only stayed at the ballpit and climbing structure the whole hour. My kid was not interested in the dress-up area. 

Like most indoor playground, I found the structures pretty narrow or maybe cos I am fat, so it was like a full workout when my kid made me follow him him away. Tip: Find the child a friend and you will be free. Fortunately, halfway some other older kids "adopted" him and the 3 of them had so much fun together. It was also great cos these older kids looked out for him and taught him to climb the more difficult structures. I could finally take a break. 

In case you are wondering, this inflatable bunny looking thing was from the playground as well. My kid was so obsessed with it, he brought it everywhere. Thank god, he didn't insist on bringing it home. It blocked the narrow entrances and there were times I had to "rescue" it. Gawd, save me. 

The price is quite reasonable and I do see a lot of parents throwing their children there while they go grab their groceries. After an hour, my kid was utterly exhausted. I do see ourselves going there for another round because he didn't even try out the other "stations". The area also sell quite a bit of toys/ props. Personally, I find the colour scheme/ sales items more catered to girls. 

But I guess when it comes to slides and having fun, there is no gender differentiation. There was a party that day so there was a "free magic show". But my kid was utterly uninterested, LOL! I had lotsa fun...which is kinda of important right cos if you wanna take my money, you better make sure I am having fun too :P

Food Tour 33: Nice Food in the West

I am growing kinda of fat because I am eating a lot more than I am supposed to...Oops. But the good thing out of this (for you readers) not for myself ok, is that you will find some exciting food places to venture. I actually like all the food being featured this time round, so do drop them a visit.

1. Lee's Confectionary

I have at least visited this place twice. I love them because of their intricate desserts and delicious drinks. But...their prices are a little on the steep side. Having said that, if you stay in the extreme west, there is really not much cafe hopping culture (or cafes even) to hop around. So this is quite a nice one drop by a visit. It is somewhat near Jurong Lake Gardens. Usually, they will display around 5 varieties, with 2 (I think) being seasonal. Takeaways doesn't come with the ice-cream but it will be cheaper :)

2. Soul Kind Cafe

This place may not be for everyone because it is a vegetarian place. Personally, I have been there so many times because I crave for their food that I suspect the owner kinda of recognise me. The chef for sure does. I have kinda of made it my goal to try out all their food. My personal favourites are the milk bubble tea and Vietnamese Spring Rolls. 

I have been trying to recommend a lot of people to visit them. I realise that Singaporeans actually don't really enjoy meatless food. Everytime I mention it is "vegetarian", most people would want to give it a pass. Kinda of sad, cos this place is really good. Hi Boss, if you see this, can throw in some free snacks next time hehe!

3. Smile Desserts

So this shop actually have a few outlets in Singapore. Because they used influencers so heavily, I had a little bit of doubt on the food quality. But boy, I was wrong. They had the best shaved ice ever. The bubble tea was however so-so only. The ball pit was so much fun for the kids. And yes, I admit we were there for the ball pits. Am probably going to slowly try out all their desserts because they have quite a huge variety!