Good shopping are worth sharing

Recently the husband introduced me to Zalora and got me hooked on it.

Unbelievable.

And I went shopping like never before! All from the comforts of my home and sometimes even from the office, heh.

This site offers a wide variety of shopping options for women and men which includes well-known brands like Marc Jacobs, Chloe, m)phosis, Steve Madden, Ted Baker...just to name a few.

But if seeing these branded names makes you think twice about buying as their items are gonna be super expensive, well you'll be in for a surprise!

Almost every week, they offer special discounts and promotional codes to help ease your pockets. And if you're not into designer stuff, fret not! Because, even for brands I've never heard of, the quality of their products are still on par and if I may say, even better than some of the retailers out there!

I can vouch with my life.

So far, I've purchase from them four times, and every single time I received my package, my heart would leap in delight at the quality of the products I've bought. And mind you, my purchases were either marked down, so called 'normal' brands which I've never heard of and always within the S$10-S$25 budget.

These are what I've bought:

Adel T-Strap Sandals

Mandy Studded Sandals

Aila Metal T-Strap Sandal

Bird Printed Tie Dress

Polka Dot Jacquard Shorts

Jersey Tank Dress
I got it in white though

I've worn the Mandy Studded Sandals and Aila Metal T-Strap Sandals out for the whole day and there is no discomfort at all. Their sizes runs true and it fits me very well.

For the clothes, the sizes runs true for me too, although the Jersey Tank Dress was a tad too tight around my erm have-not-loaded-off-my-poop tummy area. You want to see the truth?

I took a huge sucking in

and this is what happens if I let it all out

Just a word of advice; if you're in between size, go one size up as it would be easier to alter as opposed to sizing down. And also, I will usually refer to the model's bodys' measurements and the size she's wearing to get a good gauge of the fit.

While I enjoy shopping on Zalora, the best part of it is probably the Free 30 days return. If you just don't like your purchase when you received it, just fill in the form they have provided and dropped it at your nearest Singpost, that's it! How's that for convenience?!

And you can either choose to have your refund credited back into your bank account or as store credits too. Your choice!

So go take a look see now and get a S$10 voucher when you sign up for their newsletter! While you're at it, use my voucher code ZBAPPpe during check out for 15% off!

Hope you enjoy the shopping!

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*Disclaimer: I am not compensated nor approached by Zalora for this post. All opinions and purchases are bought on my own. I was given a voucher code to share as I've joined their Brand Ambassador Programme.

If you like it, you should put a ring on it

I was admiring a ladys' rings on her fingers the other day when I realised I have not been wearing my wedding rings for close to 3 years now. 

In the beginning, my engagement ring was like a shiny badge of honour and I would wear it at any chance I get to. For the very obvious reason of showing it off.

And after I got married, the wedding ring became a status bearer, telling the whole world, hey I'm taken! Married! Off the shelf! Like finally! Yay!

So what got me thinking was actually this. 

There really is a difference on your fingers to wearing and not wearing your rings. 

For one, you can truly feel the weight of the rings and it is a daily reminder to oneself that hey, I'm really taken! Really married! Truly off the shelf! Like yes its true! Yay! or Nay?

Ha.

I'm not making a joke out of it as many married couples can attest to the fact that yes, the rings serves as a remembrance to the commitment that they've made to each other, it is a symbol of unconditional love, endless love and it is to signify to other people out there at a glance.

However, there are also many married couples out there whom have been faithfully married to the same person and they don't wear their rings on a daily basis. 

There are many reasons for them not wearing it and still, they are being reminded daily of the commitment to their spouses. 

As for me, with the rings, my fingers feel shackled. Is that too strong a word? And when I'm not wearing it, my fingers feel light and free! 

But that does not mean I love my husband any lesser. Nor does he have any urge to go and have flings around. Although I'll still gladly accept that Cartier ring if he wants to buy it for me. Hear that husband of mine?!

Do you wear your wedding rings daily? And what are your thoughts on it?

Linking up with:

MummyMOO

Today, Jeb turns One

We held a small family celebration for him over the weekend and I attempted to make it a teeny bit more festive. I bought some balloons but one got busted while I was boarding the cab and the rest, well they got deflated. Two are still surviving but doubt they'll last the week. 

They're not very Pinterest worthy though I did get some ideas over there. 

printed via

Birthday boy chillaxing before the party.

Family.

One photo with his birthday present before his gor gor took it over.

Opening of his present. 

His face says it all.

Happily posing.

Still happily posing.

"Never mind. I am stunt baby and Lee Xiao Long look a like. My muscles will come in time.
So gor gor, you watch out. Wa-tah!"

It's been a year of trying times raising this kid. For one, he has an extremely small and fussy appetite. First milk, now food. While his milk intake is now much better, the trying and frustrating part is getting him to eat proper food.

Five mouthfuls in and he'll stop.

It's awful hearing remarks on how small and skinny he is but honest to god, we're all trying our hardest to get him to eat. And I know that there different kids, different sizes. But it's still demoralizing and heartbreaking to see his ribs jutting out when he stretches because we're so used to seeing chubby babies with fat rolls and double chins.

Nevertheless, I take comfort that he is at least developing well in his motor skills, he is healthy, happy and strong. Like able to lift a plastic chair and walk around kind of strong, strong. Yeah he is that strong for a one year old kid. We secretly thinks he prefers to eat batteries instead of real food because he's always gnawing on that anyway.

So. One huh.

Jeb Jeb,

Mama wants you to know that you're a very special boy. The second child. Perhaps relegated to having hand-me-downs, toys being snatched from you by your over zealous big brother, being shoved at, being yelled at, being pushed at. 

But you know what? You're no pushover either. 

You're strong, you're brave and you're fearless. 

You always picked yourself with nary a cry and always so eager to go exploring on your own. A little too eager but still, this spirit of yours is admirable. You know what you want and you're not afraid to get it. A little go getter you.

I hope you'll always have this spirit and not give up easily but who knows what the future holds eh. But really, never give up. Okay scratch that. I may be eating my words twenty years down the road but know that this applies to life lessons, not meal times.

So!

To an awesome year ahead!

Lots of love,
Mama

Next

We shifted house last week over the long weekend and I'm still bone tired from all the packing and unpacking.

I had only planned for us to packed everything on Thursday and the movers to move on Friday. A highly ambitious plan but thankfully, it worked. But definitely NOT recommended.

And to add on, we had to look after a sick Benjamin in the midst of all the mess and chaos but he was still so wonderful and sensible to play on his own although he would still come and look for me to play or read to him.

And of course, awesome family teamwork from the husband and my mother-in-law.

We're currently staying at an interim place and planning for our next phase, relocation.

In all honesty, I'm terribly afraid yet looking forward to it. It's so full of uncertainties, yet it is also filled with endless possibilities. 

I'm just thankful for all the open doors. And windows and whatever cracks there is. It has shown some light into our future and that's where we're looking at, forward.

Linking up with:

Facetime

If there's any lesson that I learnt this weekend, it is that I've learnt to really looked at my children's face. And perhaps put a name to their faces too, over here. I've been referring to them as the son and the kid, and truth be told, I get confused sometimes. Not just you, as a reader. 

So to set the record straight. My elder son is called Benjamin and the second son is called Jeb. There. 

As I was saying about a lesson I learnt this weekend was through looking at their faces right. I think next to a face of sadness, a disappointed face ranks the second. Especially of a child's. 

We were running late from an appointment and all the while I was rushing around preparing the stuff to head out, I keep yelling out to Benjamin to switch off the DVD he was watching. (He was watching a Thomas Sing-Along DVD and by now, he has know most of the songs by heart and the sequence to it). 

I told him to shut it down and he would reply "One last song Mama. The next song is Never Never Give up!"

Okay. Song came and during the song, he excitedly told me the next song was Down by the Dockside, which by now I'm already all strapped up, with Jeb, and ready to go. So I cut him off and said no. 

With that, he just gave a downcast look and said okay. 

And that, was the moment if I had missed, I would have robbed him of his excitement. Simply by not looking at him and brushing him off.

And thus, I said, "Okay, but it is really the last song". 

And with that, I gave him back his excitement. 

And we left the house on a happy note. 

Sometimes throughout the day when I might be busy with the cooking, cleaning or my phone (ahem), I would either give a cursory nod, mumbled some stuff or a quick wave to acknowledge him. Or when sometimes he'll be so excited to show me a new discovery he found, I would give a non committal grunt and he'll be so insistent and go, "Look, look Mama! Look!"

And it forces me to stop whatever I was doing and really look. It might be a flower, a dried leaf, a butterfly, a snail, some toys he found, some bug crawling or something and that to me might be insignificant but to a three year old kid, it is a life, alive. 

Lesson learnt. 

I put a mask over his bolster and it has become his new best friend.

New best friend is tired and sleeping. 

No. I am not the one who cut his hair.
His hair just grew wild after we shaved it off few months back.

And sometimes when I feel so squeezed out of air, I just have to look at them and it helps me to breath again.

Hada Labo 3-in-1 Ultra Hydrating Perfect Gel

{SPONSORED REVIEW}

We all know what happens when we don't get enough sleep. We'll get tired, restless, suffer from lack of concentration and not to mention, those horrendous dark eye rings and eye bags.

On top of these, our skin, being our first line of defense, tends to bear most of the brunt from the lack of sleep too!

Saggy skin, dull complexion, blotch and patches, you get the drift.

As a full time working mother of two, sleep is very important to me. Not only that, but what I use on my face before I go to sleep is even more important. Cleanser, toner, serum, essence, eye cream, moisturiser and the occasional face mask to boot, its an arsenal of products on my face!

Sigh. The price for beauty.

Since sleep is the time when the body repairs itself, Hada Labo introduces the new Hada Labo Ultra Hydrating Perfect Gel to replenish the skin's moisture while you sleep.

Less products = less steps = quicker time off to bed!

from the kind people from Hada Labo

glob of goodness

The Hada Labo gel has a rich cream texture that is non-sticky, allowing your skin to feel light even after applying. Be sure to thoroughly massage into your skin to allow it to be absorbed fully.

After trying it out for the past week, my skin became smoother, softer and it does really give off a dewy glow. As my skin has been rather dry due to the long hours in an air conditioned office and thrown in the mix of hot weather, I'm really amazed by how quickly I can see the results. 

Prior to using the Hydrating Gel, I've also been using their Moisturising Lotion on its own. But coupled together, its an awesome combo! Now my SKII has been relegated to the side. True story.

The Hada Labo Ultra Hydrating 3-in-1 Perfect Gel is now available at selected Watson's stores.

*Disclaimer: I was sponsored the gel for review purposes and not compensated in any way. 

3 Scratchers

If you have boys, you know where this is going to lead to.

I know dogs scratch themselves, alot. But what I didn't know was boys scratch too. Till I lived with one. Boy, man, that is, not a dog.

And man can they really scratch.

Its not just scratch scratch and done. It's full on hardcore scratching, making sure every piece of skin is scratched, up down, left right, up down again, left right and then some. It's fast, hard and brutal.

And you know they got a good scratch when there's a contented sigh. I should know.

My 3 year old use me as a scratcher. He always comes to me to help him scratch.

"Faster, harder, Mama. Higher, HARDER!"

The husband also uses me as one.

"Faster, to the right, higher a bit, no down a bit, left a bit, no no down a bit, yes yes that's it, no a bit more, ah yes yes that's it! AHHHH!"

Sounds exciting doesn't it?

So it comes as no surprise that my 10 month old also scratches himself. This is often done whenever I lay him down for a diaper change. Off goes the diaper and the scratching comes on.

It's hilarious watching a 10 month old scratch.

With all these scratching around, there is no need for a pet. They can just scratch themselves into a frenzy.