Benjamin Moore: Baby-friendly Paints

Grrr...my house is coming soon and we have commenced on the renovations. Due to Covid, the keys to the house was delayed (had to literally appeal to HDB to prioritise us ahead). Initially, we really wanted the house to be ready before our baby arrives. But renovations were halted. And so, sigh baby arrived before the house. 

We had to re-design the house and also make a lot of  changes here and there to accomodate our newborn. One thing the Hub was really particular about was VOC emissions. Vinyl flooring was out of the question. We used tiles for the flooring. Then it came to paint. 

We came across Benjamin Moore and thought many parents should know more about them. They are the only paint brand in Singapore that pride themselves for being Zero-VOC. (Note: the others are just low emission.) Initially, I have to admit I was very reluctant to make a trip down because it was so far from my house. >_<

Homeowners, let me tell you. You need to make at least a trip down because a lot of your questions will be answered once you are there. Just in case, you have the same questions as me, let me share a bit of what we found out here. 

• All the series of paint are Zero VOC. Regal is being phased out. Aura is an ideal choice if you are using vibrant colours. Natura is the most eco-friendly range which is also certified to be asthma and allergy friendly. We chose the cheapest Ben because our house colour was just a simple shade of white and the salesperson also assured us that Ben would be good enough if we were on a budget. 
• Cost saving tip: Benjamin Moore is more expensive than other paints in the market. To enjoy some cost savings, buy in Gallons (4L) to enjoy economies of scale. For orders more than $1000, which is quite easy to hit, you get to enjoy free delivery as well. 
• Even when I was there, I couldn't tell the difference between the various paint finishings. My ID could so we followed his recommendations. 

Benjamin Moore holds a large variety of colours. If you are like me who is terrible at matching, you can download their mood-book brochures, which have some nice themes ready. For me, I printscreen the moods I like to my ID and he reverted with his recommended combi and litres required. We cross the samples collected from the mortar store against the tile to be absolutely sure. FYI, we made slight changes to our ID's choices for the tinge of white. The change is so slight, it was not very visible to an untrained eye like mine (never knew white has so many shades!)

Our paints have been up and I am quite pleased with it because there is no smell at all! We change from the basic Nippon paints to Benjamin Moore and this set us back by roughly 2 times the initial budget. Our friend used the basic paint for their renovation and she did feedback to us that it was starting to flake after a year. Her advise was 2 times the price was not an issue if the quality is good. But as we all know, only time can tell. Will update you guys here a year later on the durability. 

Boosting my immunity system with Blackmores Vit C

I am not sure whether is it because I am breastfeeding, but my immunity was kinda of bad lately, such that I would sneeze whenever the wind from the fan blows at me. Yes, it was that bad. Baby was also sort of getting a bit phlegm and would be snoring slightly in his sleep. I am generally quite cautious when it comes to supplement and medication (don't give a shit when it comes to food...have been guilty of snacking).

Based on my research, it is okay to take Vit C supplements to boost your immunity even when you are breastfeeding. The brand that I am trying needs no introduction. Blackmores is quite reputable. I have tried their folic acid too (highly potent but the pills were so huge and it made me nauseous). Try and Review sent me the chewables Bio C for review and I found them to be rather delicious and effective. 

Although the recommendation is to take 2 every meal, I personally feel that 2 a day should be more than suffice to see an effect for maintenance. I still think that the best form of nutrients definitely come through food and not supplements unless of couse you are lacking due to some reasons. 

Story Time: The Tale of Motherhood

 In "Mummy's Guilt", it talks about squeezing some me-time for a cup of Joe. I used to read a book every month. Ever since the arrival of my child, I have to admit that my life revolves around his schedule. When he is asleep, I either catch 40 winks or get a few things done. And when he is awake, boy, he sticks to me like a glue and expects me to come out with stimulants to entertain him. 

I am not saying it is not worth it. Motherhood to be has been rather sweet and challenging. I relish those days he smiles and always hurriedly dash about to his side when other caregivers inform me about his new milestones. Days have just gotten more tiring but meaningful. 

And so, to usher in 2021, I decided to launch a whole series on book reviews (preferably one article a month) just to get my life back. My preference would be of course to feature to local literature. But of course it really depends on what I read. Believe it or not, just reading this book alone took me a few day, split between a series of nap-time of my child. Sigh.

"Me-time" no longer comes naturally. It is about deliberate prioritising. If I do this, I can't do that. Sigh. For any mummies, "Mummy's Guilt" is relatable for all even if you are a SAHM. Honestly, part of me wished I had gotten this book before our little one came because the checklist and experience shared pre-baby was very useful. If you are a lazy mama that hates doing research, this book has quite a good summary. :)

The book explores quite a bit of topics that go through many mothers' head, one of which is going back to work after maternity leave. Personally, I oscilliate between achieving my ambitions, taking a temporary step back and just staying at home for my child. Eventually, after reading the book, I am pretty certain I will never be happy to just be a stay-home mum. 

My personal favourite section is the cases at the last section. The interviewees were mainly successful working mothers that gave some tips on how "to have it all". One of the tip which I actually use as well is creating a to-do list. It helps to get things done although a bit slowly. Overall, I would recommend this book to new mums! It is an easy read and very informative!