[Updated] Mummy Deals: Free Bump Box from Clearblue and more

For mummies with social media accounts and have used clearblue pregnancy kits, you are in luck! Most mummies probably have kept photos and even the pee stick anyway. Guess what, just share this photo on your social media and tag Clearblue, you will receive a bumpbox for them! Honestly, initially, it sounded a bit too good to be true. Because so far, all those "kind folks" that offer nice boxes for the baby are insurance agents. Lol.

I am glad to share that this is truly legit! Given that the Hubs spent a bit on the pregnancy kit, I guessed I have effectively recoup since the stuff in the bumpbox are pretty useful and premium too! We got:

1.  Swissper baby cotton balls
2. Swissper Breast Milk Storage Bags (Yes, I need that and I never knew Swissper sold them.)
3. Swissper Nursing Pads (This should come in handy!)
4. Swissper Contour Tips
5. Manicare Baby Nail Clippers (Great! Cos we haven't got one yet!)
6. Manicare Baby Scissors (Honestly, I didn't know manicare sold baby products)
7. A'kin Dry Shampoo (I did a whole post on dry shampoo here before, so yup this is going to be well used during confinement!)
8. A'kin Rose Hip Oil (Something for Mummy is always appreciated :D
9. 1 free class yoga class (The least useful in this climate)

And for first time mummies or mummies that need a refresher course on breastfeeding, Hegen is organising a Cherish Nature's Gift seminars with reowned medical experts to support us during this pandemic. One of my biggest grouses has been the lack of antenatal classes and I have been surviving on such online classes, slurping down globs of useful info in the comfort of  my bed...hehe. The hubs sometimes also join along and we will discuss how we intend to split certain roles. 

You don't have to use Hegen products to attend their classes, but if you are interested in their pumps, you can read up more here. Don't miss it! Register at https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/cherish-natures-gift-parenthood-seminar-registration-107797591498

On a separate note, it is quite good to attend courses etc. cos usually they come with door gifts and some of the provide quite nice sample packs/ discounts to their products. :D I ended up buying some products using the discounts at one of the classes and winning a giveaway! End up with so much duplicates OMG!

New and Improved: Lao Ren Shanghai Dumplings

Okay, I think I have been doing too many posts on baby stuff. So to cater to the pioneer readers, I will also be reviewing stuff that will be of interest to you. The Dragon Boat Festival will be occuring on 25 June this year, so I thought some of you might be interest on where to get your dumplings. I have never really talked about it here, but my family love glutinous rice in all forms.

My personal favourite is the Nonya dumplings, but sadly most of my relatives only do the traditional dumplings and the shops around my house mainly only traditional dumplings during this period. I think dumplings have been a stick in the mud for way too long. For my more adventurous readers, this post is sure to entice you. This year, you might want to tease your tastebuds and add in some Shanghai dumplings to the mix.

In terms of presentation, the Lao Ren Dumplings wins hands-down. Mooncakes is such a popular corporate gift because the boxes are always so pretty. But if dumplings had carriers like this, dang I think every company will be more than eager to gift them around. And the thing is, Lao Ren Dumplings doesn't even charge that expensive for a box of 6. With delivery, it would be in the low S$30 range. 

This is the first time I am trying Shanghainese dumplings so I was actually very excited. My father being worldly and all told me that it is going to be very different from the local taste we are used to and may be not for everyone. First of all, I have to say the shape of the dumplings already look different from what what we are used to. It is not the perfect tetraheral shape. 

Lao Ren Dumplings has 2 flavours, the original and mala. The original has salted egg (yum) and preserved meat. I think in terms of the meat marination, I probably still prefer the familiar taste I grew up with. For the original, I think our SG Ba Zhang reigns supreme! #localpride For the Mala flavour, I think it is a nice combo, I love mala. I find it spicy (maybe cos my tolerance for spice went down since I got pregnant) but my hubs who takes "Wei-la" finds it a good blend. 

I agree with my Dad that this is not for everyone, but it is definitely a must-try so that you know whether this is a taste for you. I hope Lao Ren Dumplings come up with more novel and exciting combos because I think the Dragon Boat Festival is ready for a revival. My Bro-in-law was commenting the other day, who even eats/makes dumplings now! But if dumplings have a fresh taste and a revamp in packaging, I think the youngsters (not that I am ancient) will embrace it back into their life!

[Updated] Blessings for babies

If you know where to hang out or sibei gian, you can actually get quite a lot of free, used stuff for your baby. Some people may also give away new stuff but it is really very rare. You will be surprised that it is not the low-income people that picks up these cheap thrills. Some parents just don't believe in spending too much on their kids.

If you are low income, you just have to ask and a lot of mothers will be more than happy to prepare a bag of essentials for you. I think there is something about motherhood that make women more generous. For me, I am quite lucky. I made friends with a few mothers who are ahead of me in their pregnancy or plain shopaholics (quite like me), so they always save the brand new, best stuff for me :D

1. BN 0-4m shoes

Quite honestly, I definitely won't be buying such tiny shoes if it was not gifted. Doesn't look like the kid gets to wear it much. Thank you Mama K for this!

2. BN 1 YO Donald Duck Romper 

Mama S had extras, so now our little one is going to twin when they meet. Excited, hope my boy don't outgrow this before their meeting!

3. BN 2YO Mickey Mouse Jacket

Once again, the shopaholic in Mama K struck again, so she gifted me this. I have such pullover jackets too, I guess mousy boy is going to pair with his Mummy! [Update: I ended up buying $50 of baby merch from her clothes store, haha!]

4. BN Nursing Bras

Another Mama got her size wrong and decided to give away her nursing bras. Brand new with tag too. Coincidentally, I am also using the 9 Months Maternity series. Best of all, they were both perfect for me. Having said that, this is honestly a rare blessing so don't bank on this! Please buy your own, cos you can't choose what others bless!

5. BN Disposible Undies for confinement 

Actually, these are one of the common things being blessed. Just that nobody gives enough pieces to last the whole confinement period. Apparently, my pregnant body is considered petite. So a mum who couldn't fit into what she bought blessed it to me if I could fit it. And I guess I hit jackpot. Just in case you are wondering, postnatal, the mother is expected to bleed quite a bit so these come in handy. Plus if you come from a traditional family that expects you to wash your undies, you can't really touch water during confinement... :D These are not branded pieces, I did contemplating buying more branded OG ones but my mum was like yo...use and toss donid so good one. Even the unbranded one doesn't exactly come that cheap. But there are always kind mummies blessing it out!

6. BN Confinement Herbal Bath

The same goes for confinement products cos somehow no Mums actually finish doing a proper confinement as they are always too busy with their newborn. Even for your red date tea, there will be mothers trying to bless it off. But for me, I am quite particular about food even if it is still in their packaging.

7. BN Bibs

There was a mother that lived near my in-laws house. She gifted me this set of brand new beautiful bibs. Was looking for a hands-free spectra and coincidentally she was letting go of hers brand new at a very reasonable price too. Managed to save on transport because I could jog there (FYI, I am already post-partum, haha)