Happy new year

Love the weather now.  Cooling days are finally here. It came late this year. Must be global warming. But happy it is here. Now i can even enjoy doing my house chores.

But still got a lot of mosquitoes. My son got so many mosquitoes bites. Sad. Really tried different methods to keep out mosquitoes from our home but seems like a losing battle.  Don't know what else to do.  Hope things will get better. 

Today my daughter suddenly had thick yellowish eye wax.  Worry! Hope it will clear soon else not sure can wait till Friday to see a doctor.  So much things to worry.

Really hope next year will be much better as 2014 is not that smooth sailing. 

Anyway my iherb stuff ate here too.  Very efficient.  I think i only order a few days ago and here it is.   Trying out new facial cleanser by Andalou Naturals - 1000 Roses Cleansing Form. 

Love its strong rose scent. Will do a review on it when i try a few more times.

So that's it.  See you all next year.   Wishing all of you a Happy New Year. Good health and stay happy.  Cheers.

Life as a stay home mum

After giving birth to my second kid in May, I have been taking care of them as a stay home mum.  My eldest currently is still going to full day child care but things will change in 2015.  He will be going to a 3 hour kindergarten instead.  I will be much busier.  Why the sudden change!

A few reasons why my husband and I decided to change his routine.  To spend more time with my eldest and allow the kids to spend more time together.  Kids in childcare tend to get sick easily so I hope my eldest health will improve.  Also to free his time for some enrichment classes during weekdays.  Thus weekends we don't have to rush for classes so that we can have time for other outdoor activities.

However my worries is I am not able to cope with the two kids.  Hope they will cooperate and I will not get frustrate so easily.  Now the challenge starts in the evening.  Next time it will start in noon and I will be all alone with them.  Can't wait.  Lol.  

Sometimes I wonder when will I get back to work force.  Quite worry I can't adjust back to work life and difficult to get a job as I will be in my late 30s.  But this will be my next year end or the year after worries.  I know I worry too much, that's why I decide to pen down as a kind of release for me.  Must take care of my own mental health.  

Actually I dislike not working as I have no income.  I have been working since graduating from polytechnic and that was like 15 years ago.  No income means cannot shopping and holidays, the loves of my life.  The last time I was on a flight is two years ago.  Time files.  Now the luxury in my life is 'ME' or kopi time while my baby or kids are sleeping.  Ok I need to end now as my baby is awake.  Hope I will write soon again.   

Cheers.  

Promotion for the week

This week Takashimaya is having four day special starting from today to Sunday 25 May. Takashimaya cardholders entitled additional 10% discount.  

Bud Cosmetic at Takashimaya is having promotion too.  Enjoy 15% off on Buds Baby, Logona, Illume and NEOM Body products.  Thought of buying another Bud nappy cream for my baby.  The cream was not bad.  I have not try the nappy cream given by Thomson Medical, which my husband's cousin feel is good.  Got to ask my husband to buy as I am not allow to go out shopping during my confinement period.  So bore.  

By the way, Watsons is giving 5 times points store wide with minimal nett purchase of $38 in a single receipt at all Watsons stores till 25 May.

Happy shopping.  Cheers.  

Review

I have just given birth in 14 May.  Been a busy week.  Son is sick, baby still having jaundice.  Worry and worry.  Need to relax.  Shall write a post.  

Some products that I have tried and used before and didn't get the chance to review.  

Dior Hydra Life Skin Energizer -  a lightweight lotion.  Easier absorb to skin.  Nice fragrant.  Good for normal to oily skin type.  I got it from those office sales so not sure of its retail price or whether is it still in the market.  Don't mind getting again if got sales.  Not too bad.  My sister is a die hard fan for its product.  

Kiehl's Acne Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Treatment - A white lotion type product.  Like to use it during my combination skin days, when I have pimples and white heads.  It helps to control but don't expect it to do magic.  No scent.  Used to be $52 per tub but not sure whether it's price has increase or not.  However, now not working so don't think will buy after finishing my two tubes on hand.  Save money.  

Before I gave birth, received my iHerb purchase.  

So many products to try out but these few days, not so active in trying my skincare.  Tire.  Currently trying out Dermalogica Extra Firming Booster as serum.  Will update with a review.  

Cheers.  

All about my hair

Recently I went to cut my hair short as the weather is real hot.  However the hair stylist refused to cut till super short.  Angry waste $41.  Pixie hair but with long fridge.  Don't look super nice but seem less warm.  Need to wax and I am not very good at it.  If I do not wax, I will put my skinny hair band.  My other hair band can be quite uncomfortable for a long duration. Will try to drag as long as possible for next haircut.  Save $$$$$!!!!

What do I use for my hair?  I will alternate between two to three shampoos.  Currently, I am using Natural Multiflower Ginseng Shampoo, Pure & Basic Natural Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Sunsilk's Lively Clean and Fresh shampoo.  Actually my mother in law is using the first shampoo to prevent white hair as I have quite a number of white hairs so thought this will help to prevent more.  However, it does not seems to help much.  

The fragrant is pretty strong of ginseng.  

As for Pure & Basic Natural Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, I bought from iherb to try.  Light and nice scent.  Will have the refresh after feeling.  I do not mind purchase again if there is no other better choice.  

After trying most of the Sunsilk's ranges, my favorite are Lively Clean and Fresh and Hair Fall Solution.  They keep my hair clean and manageable even without usage of conditioner.  

My usage of hair conditioner is pretty low as I don't use them often.  Too lazy.  Currently I am using Bee Choo Origin Purity Repair Hair Conditioner.  

It's scent is present.  Hair will feel smooth and silky after applying.  

Usage is even worse for my hair serum or cream. I used to use the hair cream more frequent as I will go gym during my lunch time, so after bath I will need to blow my hair dry.  Using this cream - Bamboo Smooth Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray will prevent over heat by hair dryer.  I bought this from Seporahe and cost about $33.  Not sure whether is good or not but my hair still remind almost the same during my gym days.  It could be worse with the frequent use of hairdrayer.  

Think maybe still need to color hair, still got many white hair.  Now I cut those that I can see.  Awful!!

 

Anyway I have bought a number of organic shampoo, conditioner and leave on conditioner from iherb to try.  Keke.   

Cheers.  

Body care

For body care and hair, I tend to be more relax.  Fo morning or early afternoon, I will usually use organic shower gel which is gentler and lighter.  Since morning, body not so dirty.  For a relaxing bath, I will use Avalon Organics Bath and Shower Gel Lavender. 

It has a soothing scent.  Make one feel relax.  Cost around $16 for about 1 liter.  If I want a refreshing bath, then I will use Avalon Organics Bath and Shower Gel Peppermint.  

Cost around $8 for 500ml.  Not cheap.  Thinking - These are the few item I may cut down to cut costs.  

For night wash, what body wash i use really depends how strong I want it to be.  If I have hot and long day, I will use Dettol shower gel for washing.  I always feel clean and refreshing with Dettol especially with it's cool range.  

I also like it's natural range.  

Or else I will just use back my morning shower gels.  

At least once a month I will scrub my body but these few month I reduce as I feel my skin is more delicate during my pregnancy.  Maybe I should scrub my legs and hands and not my expanding body.  If I dont have a body scrub on hand, I will use my cheaper face scrub for my body.  Scrubbing is good for smoothing dry and rough patches.  

Currently I am using my face scrub for my face and body as I do not use a lot of body scrub.  Like this organic scrub/mask - Aubrey Jojoba meal and Oatmeal.  

Bought it from iherb.  Around $10-15.  Scent a bit strong herbal smell but I like herbal smell. So I am fine with it.  Particles in it are rather big.  The colour of the scrub is brownish so it does mess up a bit of my bathroom which Is white in colour.  Lol.  Leave it on skin for a few minutes before scrubbing.  Skin feels softer and smoother after using.  

After scrubbing should moisturize or do a quick hand or leg mask as I feel skin wil absorb better.  However I tend to moisturize less when I am at home as I have to do house chores.  Washing, cooking etc.  in office, it seems easier to apply hand cream.  I also seldom buy hand or body lotion.  During Christmas usually will receive a number of them or else I will either use facial cream that I don't really like or not suitable for my skin or my son's cream as his usage is pretty low.  

Currently I'm using Avalon Organics Moisture Plus Lotion with SPF18 as hand and body lotion.  

As a facial cream, after trying for a few weeks, I feel it does not really suitable for my face so I stop using it. So I use it on body especially those drier and rougher patch.  It has a nice soothing lavender scent.  After use, there will be a slight sticky after feel, which I don't really like.  Or maybe I am too generous with the lotion.  Lol.   

Next blog I will talk about my hair care.  Cheers.  

Chinatown vs NTUC vs Watson's vs iHerb

Now my most frequent shop will be NTUC.  Lol.  More for grocery and household stuff.  The toilettes they carry are mostly those commercial ones, seldom organic brand.  Not as cheap as Chinatown.  However when they having promotion, I don't mind buying from them as the price is quite comparable to Chinatown.  Plus the effort and time to go to Chinatown and carrying the heavy load back.  

Example when NTUC is having promotion for Sunsilk's shampoo.  Two for $15.65.  Each costing about $7.83.  If I don't remember wrongly, Chinatown price is between $6.50 to less than $8.  So I don't really mind buying from NTUC, plus buying more than $200, there will be free delivery.  Now I am mostly at home so I can wait for the delivery.  

Beside NTUC, I also find whenever there is Watson's member sales, some of the toilette and makeups are quite worthwhile.  However you must not mind the crowd and queues.  The queue is killer.  If I don't have a lot to buy, I will rather skip it cos the queue goes round and round especially the one in Tampines Mall.  Or go during odd hour to avoid the crowd.  

Anyway I am quite ks with my household stuff such as toilettes etc.  my store room is filled with stuff.  Of course I don't stock a lot but usually there are backup.  But I will keep track all the stuff so you can tell why I am so busy.  (Maybe now I should do a spreadsheet for tracking.  Lol.)  And I like to buy when there is promotion so they usually come is pair etc.  I also like to buy from iherb especially some of my boy's stuff - organic shower gel and toothpaste.  For his shower gel, each bottle costs about $10 at iherb as compare buying from Unity for $20.  Also trying out new organic brands that I happen to see them selling in Singapore or word of mouth.  

I tried Amazon but I find it quite complicate as it got different seller and the shipping charges are not as clear as iherb.  Of course they have more stuff and some stuff are slightly cheaper.  If I really need to get from Amazon, I will ask my husband to handle it as he is pro in this type of online shopping.  Hehe.  Supplement is also much cheaper in Amazon and iherb.  

Currently I'm waiting for my iherb purchase.  Hope when they delivery, I'm in.  Or else I need to go Singpost to collect.  Very heavy.

Cheers.  

Marks & Spencer Sale

Are you a fan of Marks and Spencer?  My sister is.  Currently Marks & Spencer is having sale.  Never really been to its sales.  Too bad Tampines don't have M&S or else can go and take a look.  

Looking for nursing bar top.  Any idea where to get cheap one?  I tried to find at G Market but mostly sold out.  Wonder H&M still got or not.  

Today just bought my son for his long over due injection.  He finally complete all his injections before my second baby comes out.  Worry he will have fever.  Praying for the best.  

Cheers.  

Night skin care regime

My night regime is much simpler as I need to entertain my son.  So usually I will try to simplify as much as I can.  After removing makeup, will be cleanser and toner.  

For cleanser, please look at my morning cleanser.  So after cleanser for night, off and on I will use toner.  I know I should use it daily but sometimes laziness wins.  Toner is very important as it helps to clean the last bits of dirt from your face.  Ok I will try to use it more often and during my confinement, I will use it as I will wash less face during the period.  Currently, I am using Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Toner.  

Not very sure whether it is really effective but quite like its herbal scent.  

Then I will apply a serum or oil.  On hand I have Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate and Kenzoki Face Phenomenon Deep Moisturizing Serum.  Actually last time I am always very lazy to apply products at night.  Mainly due to laziness and forgetfulness but when my skin was so tight during my first and second trimester, I remember to do so.  So now I still try to keep this habit.  Sometimes I still skip it to let my skin breath for a night.  

Initially I don't really like Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate.  

I find it oily and messy.  Even thought it does absorb to my combin skin after a while.  However I find it rather useful for dry skin.  Really keep dry skin plump.  No wonder my mum like it so much.  I almost finish my bottle during my first and second trimester.  Of course the scent is wonderful with lavender.  

Kenzoki Face Phenomenon Deep Moisturizing Serum has refreshing scent and works for all skin type.  

I got it real cheap from its office sales as last time my office is at Great World City, where a number of the beauty brands are there.  So when they having office sales, there will be notification.  Usually during these office, it will be long queues so must go early.  Miss those days. 

Cheers.

Cheap mobile phone and Uniqlo promotion

My current hand phone is my husband old HTC model, which is going to down soon.  Very slow and insensitive.  Usually my mobile contract is for my husband to buy hand phone that he will like to try and thus my contract is still on going.  So cannot change a new hand phone.  Actually I am quite easy with hand phone.  As long can take and store many quality picture, surf net, check email, call and check bus application.  

Saw this advertisement, thought it is quite a good hand phone for this budget and some more without a contract.  

Less than $200 if you pre-order it before 30 April 2014.  Had ask my husband to pre-order for me, don't know will get it or not.  Only con is that it does not have radio.  Hope the camera is as good as my current one.  In the ad, it mentioned there is red but when my husband registers, no more red.  Sad.  

By 1st of May will know, keep you update on the status. 

By the way, Uniqlo is having promotion for its normal and Airism bra top from now till 29 April.  Price range from $14.90 to $19.90.  

Now I am more busty so I carry it better.  Bought black and white.  Still thinking of whether to get more color but don't think so, save money.  Will try soon and hope it is as good as it stated.  

Happy weekend.  Cheers.  

Night Skincare Regime

At night, I will still use a makeup remover to remove all trace of impurities for the day.  Currently, I am using Nivea Visage Pure & Natural Cleansing Lotion and Blum Naturals Thick Towelettes.  

I find Nivea Visage Cleansing Lotion cheap and good.  

Price around $8.  Considering there is no parables and silicones.  Easy to use.  

Whereas Blum Naturals Thick Towelettes is more for convenient especially when I am taking care of my son alone.  

No mess.  I got different skin types packs from iherb.  Tried them but cannot really tell the different.  All clean up quite well and don't really dry the skin after usage.  Each packet less than $10.  However once open must use it asap as it will dry up.  I tried MAC wipes of 50, some of the wipes were quite dry at the ending.  

Find it so so.  Prefer Blum Naturals.  Don't think will buy again as to cut cost and not much make up.  

Share with you my mistake, thought this Desert Essence Natural Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleansing Pads is a makeup remover but don't think so.  

A bit too strong for my liking.  So now I use to wipe my husband's back when there is pimple.  Don't waste.  

Anyway today Wastons is having one day member sales but too lazy to go.  Plus must queue.  Now I am so huge and get tire easily so rather slack at home even though the weather is so hot.  

Cheers.  

Mango's Deal

This Mango cross body bag looks not bad but a bit small or else I might make use of this deal.  Not that I got stuff to buy from Mango.  But quite a good deal if you like this bag.  

Still looking for a cross body bag but have not find one that suit my budget.  Actually I wanted to buy a bag from Asos but it was out of stock.  Sad.  So currently using my existing bag from Pretty Fit but slightly too big and heavy for what I am looking.  

Anyway maybe I can use it and spoil it so that I can clear some old stuff from my cupboard.  

Happy long weekend.  Happy Good Friday and Easter!

Cheers.  

Morning last skin regime (continue) - Sun protection

For my sun protection, I usually have more than a choice to choose cos I like to alternate and try new products.  Currently, I have Biore UV - Bright Face Milk, Clarins UV Plus HP and Badger Aloe Vera Board Spectrum SPF 30  Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Lotion.  

Biore UV is my all time favorite. 

I prefer the white bottle but quite difficult to get.  A lot of place don't carry it.  And the price keeps increasing.  Waston is selling around $15 but you can get it around $13 at Chinatown.  My husband's current Taiwan trip also could not find it.  It is light weight.  Easily absorb and non-greasy.  After apply for a minute, I can apply my make up.  

Clarins UV Plus HP is slightly thicker but made the skin more radiant. 

Take slightly longer to absorb.  Of course this is more expensive.  I got it from DFS so slightly cheaper but I cannot remember its price.  

Lastly is Badger's Zinc Oside Sunscreen Lotion.  

First time try, got it from iherb.  Around $20 plus.  Should have get a baby sunscreen so that I can share with my boy.  I find it quite thick.  Thickest among the three and take the longest to absorb.  Once absorb, no greasy feeling.  Still quite easy to apply.  Quite big tube so can last for awhile.  Next time will get a baby sunscreen so that can share with my son as he does not use that often.  

After sunscreen, I will proceed with my makeup.  Of course now as I am not working, I don't really put on that much make up.  Next post, I will talk on my night skin care regime.  

Cheers.