Taking better care of yourself, even if you are a Stay Home Mom.

 

 

I am guilty of a few things. I am guilty of hanging around my house in my pjs till after noon and only bathe until I stink badly/ or need to go out. I am guilty of buying too many facial products and not using them as often as I should be. I am guilty of not exercising which explains the size I am today.

  

Sigh. I don't even wish to continue the list anymore. It just reminds me of how lazy I have allowed myself to become ever since I quit my full time job and reverted to being a stay home mom. I left my job because I had to work on Saturdays and Sundays and this meant that I would miss out on a lot of family gatherings and time spent with the kids. I rather scrimp and save more than to work and be unhappy all the time. When I was working, I would slap on makeup everyday and go through more than 3 steps of my beauty regime before leaving my house. I had to meet clients and was managing a team so I wanted to look professional at all times. When I came back from work and before sleeping, I would bathe and carefully remove all make up, then go through another 7 steps of beauty regime before I finally go to bed. I would wake up with a flawless face and baby smooth skin. And people will praise me saying I look radiant. So a week in after resigning from my job, I stared at myself in the mirror and saw a face I could hardly recognise. I had a few break outs, my skin looked kind of dry and I allowed my eyebrows to grow out like a bush. So I decided something had to be done right away. I immediately took out my tweezers and began working on my brows. I quickly gave myself a mini facial, scrub, mask and moisturise. After doing so, I felt so much better and it certainly gave my confidence a big boost!

 

This made me think, how many mommies in Singapore are like me, given up on taking care of themselves because they are so busy taking care of their kids? How many moms have stalked their friend's FB page and admired how good they looked and wished they could be as well groomed too? My fellow mommy friends, the truth is, you can do it too. It starts with bathing,  putting on a clean Tshirt and a nice pair of shorts, tying up your hair and taking care of your skin. There's a Chinese saying that goes ' In this world, there are no ugly women. Only lazy ones.' I totally agree with it. If we don't make an effort to look good for ourselves, we can't blame our husbands if they wanna look somewhere which is pretty, right? Taking pride in how we look like also means that we don't allow ourselves to look all tired and worn out as if we were what the cat dragged in.  

 

So because I was reminded of how I looked better when I took care of myself, I decided not to be lazy and from today onwards, adopt the same skin care routine as before and start exercising. Seeing my old pic with all the breakouts verses the me now who has a smooth clear skin, I am really motivated to maintain the same routine and allocate time to myself and love myself a bit more. I'm also going to share with you the routine I have adopted to allow me to have better looking skin and although I must say it seems quite a lot to do, it really only takes less than 15 mins every day to get it done. So before I share the products I use, here's a before and after pic to share so you can see the difference for yourself. Lazy vs Hardworking.

 

 

 

Without too much rambling, I will be sharing with you on the products that I used plus a short write up on some of the better ones that I really like. Hopefully after this read, you will be more inclined to take better care of yourself and look better! Note that all the reviews of the items listed are solely my own point of view and therefore, unbiased.

 

Step 1: Cleanser

 

 

 

I use the Vichy Normaderm Cleanser. It's good for people with sensitive skin and 1 pump of this product is good enough for my entire face so I would say this is quite value for money. This product does not leave my face dry and tight after washing so I really love it. Sometimes I use the Mustela Dermo Cleanser to wash my face as well especially on days when I don't have any make up on. I like the smell of it and it's so gentle and doesn't leave my skin dry and tight too. For days that I need to remove makeup, I like to use Bioderma Sensibio H2O (makeup remover) to clean my face. It is by far one of the best make up removers I've ever tried.

 

 Step 2: First Essence



 Formulated with 91% fermented Jeju soybean concentrate, this product helps to promote healthy and vibrant skin. I use this as a first step after cleansing and before toner. This helps to soften the skin and prep it for the other products that I will layer upon. Initially when I started using this, I didn't see any results so I thought this was a waste of money. After about 3 weeks, I realised my skin was able to absorb products better and it's softer. The surface of the skin did not look as dry as it was before and my face seems clearer. I tried the Tony Moly's First Essence but I felt it left a greasy film after application and it probably is a little too rich for people with oily skin.

Step 3: Toner

 

 

 I am super in love with this toner. It's from Etude House and true to its name, Wonder Pore Freshner, it really does wonders and it's so refreshing! This product helps shrink your pores, keep it clean and reduce blackheads. It also contains alcohol, so this helps with sebum and oil control. I love that after about 2 weeks of using this product, my T zone is less oily and I need not blot of touch up my make up that often anymore. This is currently my holy grail for toners. It contains peppermint extract so after use, you get a nice refreshing clean and cool feeling on your face. Love it.

 

 Step 4: Eye Cream

 

 

 Innisfree Eco Science Eye Cream. I'm still a little undecided on this one. I cannot decide whether the dark circles that were lightened were due to this eye cream or because I am having more sleep. What I liked about this cream is that it probably did help with the fine lines below my eyes and kept it moisturised so whenever I put on concealer, it doesn't settle in the lines and look disgusting. I also like that this eye cream comes in a pump bottle kind so I don't have to put my fingers into the jar and dig around. It has a light gel consistency and while it is easy to pat on, it doesn't get absorbed very easily so it leaves an oily looking film beneath the eyes for a while. Despite that, it does not give me millia seeds so I am quite pleased with the eye cream. I only use this at night because of the oily looking sheen but it disappears by the next morning leaving soft and supple skin around the eye area.


Step 5: Brightening Essence / Serum

 

 I am currently using the Etude House brightening serum in the day time and the Missha Time Revolution Night Repair at night. The brightening serum has a liquidy gel like consistency that spreads easily and absorbed very quickly without leaving any sticky feeling. This is very good for our warm climate where sometimes the moment you step out of the house you start perspiring. It seems to minimise pores and even out skin tone. It BRIGHTENS up skin tone rather than whiten it for my case. It's a step before moisturiser/cream.

The Missha time revolution is one of Missha's best selling products. I like that it is easy to spread on and it protects the skin from environmental damage, reduce fine lines, even out skin tone, and moisturizes the skin. The star ingredient in this serum is Bifida Ferment Lysate, a probiotic that has been traditionally used internally to strengthen the immune system. When applied topically, it’s been shown in at least one study to reduce skin sensitivity and increase the skin barrier’s ability to repair itself. I can see results after adding this to my skin care collection. My cheeks weren't as red and I would like to think that it's doing its work in preventing wrinkles and the aging of my skin!

Step 6: Moisturiser/Cream

 

 

  I use the Innisfree balancing cream for night because it is heavier and does not get absorbed that quickly . I got it upon recommendation from the guy working at the shop and I have to say that it really does its job very well. I have combi skin and it helped to moisturise my face while controlling the sebum in the T zone.  It smells very good and it does give the skin a dewy appearance. However, because it's heavier and not absorbed that quickly, I am not keen to use it for day time. But so far, this is my to go to cream for night use.

For day time, I use the Etude House Brightening Essence Lotion together with the Collagen Moistfull Emulsion. It gives me a dewy appearance as well and absorbs very well, meaning I need not have to blot it or wait for it to dry on my face before putting on my sunscreen. It really gives the skin a boing boing effect which I really love.


Step 7: Sunscreen

I truly love this sunscreen and when I do have time I'm going to dedicate an entry just for the Holika Holika Wonder Sheild Primer sunscreen. It acts as a primer and a sunscreen and I tell you, this sunscreen is not oily and it doesn't have that strong sun screen smell! It's usually my last step of skincare for day time and somedays I skip BB cream and just lightly powder my face, draw my brows, put on some lip gloss and mascara then off I go. It does leave a bit of a white cast but by the time I leave house and take the bus it's not that obvious anymore. I really love that it is not sticky and provides enough coverage so you don't look all caked up. I really love love love this sunscreen and although I tried Kiehls before, I didn't like it as much as I love Holika Holika's sunscreen. I must say that it's worth a buy and if there's anything I must put on before I leave home, it will be this.

Facial Masks

1. I absolutely love the Innisfree Volcanic clay mask - It helps to clean out my pores and leaves the skin looking very clean and soft. I will probably do a review separately on this as well eventually. But this is now my twice a week mask.

2. Sulwhasoo TruFresh Mask - This was given to me as a birthday gift and I also absolutely love it. It helped to calm my skin when I was having my breakout due to a hormonal imbalance during that time of the month. It can be left on overnight or washed off after 10 mins. I like how the mask keeps your skin very soft and smooth after use and it seems to have brightening properties too!

3. Face shop's ampoule mask - The ampoules are to be put on your face before you put on the mask sheet. I find the amount for the ampoule to be quite a lot, so you can properly use half of it first with the mask and just use the remaining half next day. My face was very soft and well moisturised and I really recommend this to mommies who have not much time on their hands as this is very easy to use and it really packs a punch.

4. Innisfree's second skin mask - Also very good. It really covers your skin well and also very moisturising. One of my favourite too.


Again I know this might seem like a lot to do. You definitely can skip a few steps if you are time pressed, but really do invest some time in taking care of your skin. You don't want to look like you are 40 when you are 30, and 60 when you are 40. I have heard of friends who take care of themselves because they are scared their husbands will stray, but I strongly recommend you to do it to feel better about yourself. It's isn't about being beautiful, it's about taking pride in your looks and respecting yourself. When your kids see a happier you instead of a frazzled and unkempt mommy, I am sure they will be happier too!

Do write in the comments section below what are some of your holy grail products. I would love to hear what are you guys using for your facial routine!



Nursery Essentials - (things that you wished someone had told you to buy before baby comes home!)

When I was waiting for the twins to be discharged from the NICU, I started to prepare my room for the arrival of them. I started to get confused and hyperventilated from the sheer amount of work to be done. I had to set up the crib and because I am a HDB dweller, my room had space only to fit in a queen sized bed and a cot. I wasn't able to fit in 2 unless I decided that I wouldn't be needing to open my wardrobe. I also wanted the twins to sleep together as they were kept separate from birth, having to be in different incubators. So I set about trying to prepare and soon found myself in a whirlpool of baby products and necessities. No doubt some of the information online is helpful, I needed a list that would cater to a Singaporean Chinese family. I wanted a good mix of traditional and modern items that would make caring for baby much easier. So without too much rambling, I present you, Jenny's  List of Baby's essentials for your nursery.

If you, like me live in a HDB flat, the following will help you cut down on unnecessary purchases and help you save a little.


Big Ticket Items

1. Baby Cot - If you are on a budget, you can easily buy a 2nd hand cot and just invest in a good mattress. Seahorse brand has a standard size allows you to customise if you cot is well, special. For 2nd hand items, you should go to Lovey or Preloved Baby Goods on Facebook to see if you might come across any special deals.If you have a cot, you will also need cot bedding. My advice is just to get 1 set of bedding, and then have 2 or 3 pieces of mattress sheets. There's really no need to spend so much on the bumper and comforter (which you prolly won't use for long anyway).

2. Play yard/Play Pen - Again, these are items that you can buy 2nd hand cause you don't usually use it for a long time. A play pen is good if you don't have any additional help. So you can keep 1 in the living room and put baby in while you go about doing your chores. It might not be the most comfortable place to sleep in so I suggest it for older babies or when they are starting to stand and it's no longer to leave them in the cot for more than 15 mins. I suggest not using the cot for play so babies will just solely associate the cot for sleep. Play yards have more mileage and can go a longer way but are more costly. Again, go through the Facebook Groups mentioned to see if you can grab any good deals. If you buy a play yard, you will need a play mat but I have seen people using a thin mattress. Play mats are good to cushion the knocks and bumps for baby in future.

3. Steriliser - It comes in many brands and if you are on a budget, do get a 2nd hand item. However you will need to do a good descaling if you buy a 2nd hand sterilizer. For that matter, I prefer the Pigeon brand to Avent because for the Pigeon one, you can see the build up and it's 'open' as compared to Avent where there's a hole where water accumulates and you cannot see the disgusting stuff that's in there. So you really wouldn't know how much gunk is in there as you can't see it. Some people I know use the traditional way of boiling the bottles and teats. It's probably the cheaper alternative so do whichever that you feel is more convenient for you.

4. Breast Pump - If you intend to breast feed/pump. If you decide to latch then you probably don't need this. Good to have a manual one on standby to boost the supply or for emergency use when baby is unable to latch. A good manual one that I have tried is the Avent Manual Breast Pump. Very good suction and it sometimes yield more milk than my Mustela Freestyle. I used that for emergency purposes when I forgot to charge my pump and still feel it's a good breast pump.


These are some of the items that I can think off hand which are the more expensive ones. We will now move on to Diaper Changing Essentials.

1. A cot organizer (if you don't have table space. This can be hung onto the cot thereby making your life slightly easier) I had a changing table given to me from Ikea and just used that. I have seen my friends bought the Toyogo stand with wheels as well. Practical and cheap. Below is an example of it.

 

 

 



2. Diapers / washable and dispposable- You don't have to get too many newborn sized ones as they grow out of it very quickly. Stock up on S and Medium sizes as these are easier to sell if baby grows out of it. I also bought some muslin cloths meant to fold them for nappy use but the kids were too small and the cloth was too big so I gave up. Besides, I didn't have much time after pumping and latching them to wash their nappy and hang it dry.

3. Wet wipes / cotton wool - When the kids first came home, I used only water and cotton (those that comes in a roll and you can cut it into bigger squares) to clean their butt. For poo, I will use tissue to wipe off first then wash their butt to prevent nappy rash. I only used wet wipes when we were out and after they were about 6 months old. What you don't need, is a wet wipe warmer. This is because we are not living in a country that has winter which might result in cold or frozen wet wipes. Besides, how cold can our wet wipes be?

4. Diaper cream - I recommend the Mustela Vitamin Barrier Cream or the Earth Mama Baby Bottom Balm, both of which are selling in my online shop at www.mypixiebaby.com. These are 2 very effective diaper creams which prevents rash and red butt which can be very sore for them. Reviews on the diaper creams next time.

5. Ru Yi Oil - I simply love this oil. I love the smell of this on my babies! It's supposed to help rid the baby's tummy of gas and I think it really does. If you don't burp baby properly, it might result in them having gas in their tummy which might cause a bit of discomfort. So to help them fart, you can apply a few drops of  Ru Yi Oil on your palm, rub them together to warm it up and gently place them on your baby's belly. I was told to rub it clockwise, but I followed my grandma's method of stroking downwards and LIGHTLY pinching the base of the belly as if you are trying to "pluck" out the wind. Not sure if you understand this. Hahah. I also like to apply the oil to the base of my babies' feet as it has a bit of warming feeling and I feel they always sleep better after doing that.

I think that's about what you need for home use for diaper changes. Let's move on to feeding essentials.

When the twins came back, they each had 6 bottles, 6 teats and 2 pacifiers. Honestly, It was quite crazy but it saved me ALOT of time washing and sterilizing it multiple times. After milk, I will quickly rinse out the milk, put it into a basin and then, when I am almost down to the last bottle, I will wash everything at one go and sterilize all at 1 time. I had to do whatever that kept my sanity as looking after twins with no help was really quite crazy.

1. Bottles and teats - You can choose any brand you like. For hygiene purposes I don't suggest you use preloved ones for these. I liked the NUK ortho teats series and it comes with cute Disney designs!

2. Steriliser (as mentioned above)

3. Pacifier - There are many schools of thoughts on this. I used the pacifier because the twins wanted to latch all the time and my nipples were bleeding from their latching and pumping. I initially did not want to, but I had to save my nipples as it just simply got too painful.

4. Woods Gripe Water / Dentinox Colic Drops - I had both on standby because I was afraid that my kids would be colicky. I didn't have to use it because of good burping techniques taught to me. I did however introduced the Gripe Water diluted with water when the kids were about 6 months and only gave them after their bath. They were also on Neosure to gain weight so my mom recommended to feed some water as their poo was very hard.


Bath essentials. Ah, this would cost quite a bit if you are not careful. When the kids came home, I was using the California Baby body wash for them. Later I found it to be a bit drying for my daughter so I changed it to Mustela and have been using it since then till now. Good skin care is a must. In our tropical weather, babies tend to develop heat rash easily so invest in one that doesn't dry out the skin. A good moisturizer is essential if your baby sleeps in the air con with you. What you will need:

1. Bath towels x 3
2. Bath essentials like your shampoo, body wash etc. I personally love Mustela cause it's very easy to wash off and the smell is very good. Light and very baby-ish. Exactly how a baby should smell like. I used the Mustela Dermo Cleanser and the Mustela Baby Shampoo. SInce then, I didn't have to deal with angry red rashes or dry skin.
3. Moisturizer and baby powder. (Some use powder, some don't. It's up to you.) I used the Mustela Hydra Bebe Body Lotion. It's easy to absorb and very light. Not sticky after application. You can buy these cheaper than retail on my online shop at www.mypixiebaby.com.

After bath, I basically just changed my kids on the changing table or on my bed itself. I didn't fuss around with too many things because the simplier my life was, the better for us.

Other important things to have:

1. Clothes. I recommend buying about 9 to 10 rompers for 1 child. You can decide to let baby wear the romper to bed or just to go out. At home my kids usually just wear rompers and for sleeping use, I bought the long pants from this shop near the Guan Yin Temple in Bugis. It's cheap, like $12 for 6 pairs of long pants. The address of the shop is Blk 269 Queen Street #01-246 (S) 183269, Tel: 6338 3260. The shop is just opposite the Guan Yin Temple and a few steps away from the public toilets.

2. Bath Towels and hanky (used for cleaning milk stains, bath use), muslin cloth - All can be bought from the wholesale shop too. Muslin cloth is good as a burp cloth too. =)

3. A dustbin with a lid. This is for you to throw baby's smelly diapers in and keep the smell at bay.

4. A nightlight. Just so you need not switch on all the lights just to change 1 diaper.

5. I used Aden and Anais muslin cloths as blankies as they were big and light enough for day time when I only used a fan. For night time, I swaddled the babies so I just covered them with the muslin blanket.

6. Socks x 8 - for the cold weather and for going out or wearing it at night. You don't have to buy too many at one go as they outgrow it quite quickly.

7. Digital Ear Thermometer - I used the Braun one. www.mypixiebaby.com is bringing it in soon. Watch out for it!

8. Nail cutter / nail scissors.

9. Hair brush, grooming kit.

10. Beanies (some old people like to say that before the head fuses, wind can enter through the top of the head so we must keep it covered always. I didn't do it though as I found it pretty cumbersome.)

11. Mittens and booties. Also coming soon in www.mypixiebaby.com

12. Nose Frida - I must say this was a life saver when I had to suck out the mucus when the kiddos caught the flu bug. The pigeon bulb one was a useless piece of trash that didn't do much. I think they have one similar one to the Nose Frida but I have never tried it before so I'm not sure if that works fine.

As I was typing this it suddenly occurred I should also include a list of things that were a waste of money!

1. Crib toys. Trust me, I'd rather you play with your baby peek-a-boo instead. Don't waste money buying all those crib toys said to boost eyesight whatever. You will end up throwing it away instead.

2. Cot bumpers. I don't know why I spent so much money buying those. I hardly ever used it as I was more concerned of SIDS.

3. A formula milk stirrer. Seriously. This was a waste of money. Instead of helping to dissolve the milk powder, it ended up making the formula very foamy and almost like a teh tarik. Sigh..

4. The Pigeon brand mucus sucker,. That one with the bulb thingy. It doesn't do anything and can you imagine the stuff that stays inside because you are unable to clean it! Eeewl!

I cannot think of what else was a nonsense buy for now but as I spring clean my room, I will be sure I find more items that were useless! I will add onto this list every now and then.

Till then, thank you for reading and good luck!

Lots of Love,
J

Essential Oils – Love it or Hate it?

I wanted to write about this because there seem to be a craze over the use of scents and essential oils to help with children’s illness or to help cope with stress etc. Many moms are taking a holistic approach instead of traditionally giving oral medication.  I am not trying to promote any certain brand of oils, but mainly stating my own reviews and usage. Please note that these are not miracle oils and if necessary, please consult a doctor if your child is persistently sick.

My relationship with the Young Living Essential Oils started when my twins started to fall sick one after another and kept re-infecting each other. We had to go through more than a month of battling flu and cough and needless to say, they lost a substantial amount of weight. I was getting desperate and that was when a few friends suggested I try the Young Living  essential oil since it worked very well for their own children. I was skeptical and still am today to a certain extent, but some oils did seem to help alleviate some of their flu symptoms. I do not allow my children to consume the essential oils, because although some of the users do that, I have seen labels indicating that it isn’t for consumption so it’s strictly a NO for me. As usual, I will not bore you with the details of the sign up, but if you are interested in signing up as a member or buying some oils to try out, I can direct you to some of my friends who are doing this as a business and who will be more than happy to assist you on your questions. Alternatively, you may join the FB group called ‘One Drop’ to find out more.

Here’s a list of oils I have: (I know it’s not a lot, but a few good ones are all you need)

·         Valor

·         RC

·         Purification

·         Peace & Calming

·         Citrus Blend

·         Lavender

·         Lemon

·         Peppermint

Valor is my personal favourite and I use it as a scent more often than its intended uses. This oil supposedly instills courage and keeps one grounded. I apply it behind my ears and on my chest because I carry my babies so often when we are out and when they sleep, they do like to fall asleep in my arms so I don’t mind if they smell this instead of the synthetic perfume smells. I stopped wearing perfumes since I gave birth except for the occasional outings without the babies. I love to inhale this scent when I am feeling frazzled or floaty and can’t seem to concentrate. (1 drop on palm, rub together, cup over nose and inhale deeply) I don’t know if it’s because I do the deep breathing thing or because the oil really works. I tried to rub this oil onto Reagan’s feet and spine when he is ultra cranky, but this has never worked for him. LOL. *Bangs head*

RC is a blend of essential oils mainly to help with respiratory issues. I will not go into theory on the oil but this is a must have for me at home. Whenever the twins have flu, I will rub this oil on their chest, their back and on their feet then cup my hands over their nose to let them inhale. I will also diffuse this oil or Eucalyptus oil(Bioaire brand) when they have stuffy noses and it clears the mucus so they sleep a little better. I also do a bit of suctioning before their bed time. Sea salt spray and Nose Frida to suck out all the nasties. Get the one that you can have to manually suck out (like a straw like tube) instead of the dropper like thingy. It doesn’t work. Those SUCK. (pun intended)

Purification. Hmm, Usually I just diffuse this in my room because it smells nice. I don’t see any benefits from it. Not too sure what else I can use it for, but I am happy just diffusing it.

Peace & Calming. Initially I bought this because Reagan is a poor sleeper. He has frequent night terrors and it disturbs everyone’s sleep with his horrifying wailing. I tried to put a drop onto the base of his feet but it doesn’t really seem to have much effect on him. I tried diffusing this, but I end up sleeping a lot better than him. The smell can be a bit strong so I guess this oil isn’t for all. Does it work? Hmm, you have to try it out for yourself for this one.

Citrus Blend is a blend of citrusy fruits (duh) so you know that it is a very uplifting scent. My sis says it smells like a cheap toilet deodorizer, but I diffuse this whenever I want my kids to focus better and for myself, a perk me up.

Lavender is one of my ‘can’t do without’ oils because I use it for just about everything. I use it for pimples, (very effective) sunburn, (moderately effective) and cuts or stings. Not long ago Janelle had a lot of reddish spots on her back and we wondered if she has sensitive skin. After applying a teeny weeny bit of the oil, the redness disappears completely. The smell can be a little overpowering so I never tried it for calming because it makes me feel choked up even if it’s one drop so I wouldn’t recommending applying it too near your nose area. Other than that, it’s a pretty decent oil that does its job quite well.

Lemon & Peppermint was recommended by my friends to help bring down a fever. Lemon was applied at the base of the feet every 20mins and peppermint can either be diluted with the V6 oil or mixed a drop of it into normal water for sponging. I like to use the sponging way and it seems to be the most effective method to bring down a fever. Janelle is proned to fever fits, so I always have to give Paracetamol regardless. As I mentioned earlier, this isn’t a miracle oil and the effects are not instant so don’t expect it to straight away bring down a fever. Sponging with or without the peppermint seems to very quickly bring down a fever, so concentrate on the forehead, neck, armpits and near the groin area. I have tried just using Lemon purely for bringing down the fever but it did not work. So we are sticking to Peppermint for now. I will probably use Lemon for other uses but most likely will not replenish this oil when it is finished.

So these are the oils I have, and how I have used them on my babies. A little common sense will be good here, should the fever persist, please give them medication. If your child has been coughing for a week and despite using essential oils, please go see a doctor instead. I will not say that the oils have 100% worked for me or my babies. But I do love some oils and will continue to use those. I diffuse oils very often because I love a nice smelling room so I am also exploring other blends and brands. I know of friends who swear by this and friends who feel that it is too over rated. Personally, I don’t see any harm in trying out the essential oils, but please do not go all crazy over it at once. Buy a few, try and see if it works for you. If it does, great, buy some more other oils. If it doesn’t, just use it to diffuse and you will have a nice smelling room!

In my next entry, I will be talking about some of the essential things I must have in my room for baby needs. You can use the entry as a guide and prepare for baby’s arrival!

 

Till the next entry,

Xoxo,

J

Quest for shampoo

Before I start writing, I would like to clarify that this is my own personal review and hence please practise discretion when trying  the item for yourself.

I'm just going to jump right into this entry without having to bore you with the details on my quest for a good shampoo for the kids. They have started swimming recently quite frequently so their hair is subjected to the harsh chlorine from the pool. This made me quite upset because they don't have much hair to begin with especially for little J and now, the chlorine is drying out their already sparse hair. This got me looking around for a shampoo that will provide the needed moisture to keep their hair soft and smooth as before.

Therefore, in searching for a good shampoo, it must fulfil the following requirements:

1. Make my kids head smell good, even for hours after.
2. Keep their hair soft and smooth to the touch.
3. Be paraben free.
4. Must not smell too cloyingly sweet. I tend to stay away from fancy fruity smell as well.

I do not really care less for fanciful packaging and if possible, the simpler the better. So after going through a few organic shampoos cum body wash, I finally chanced upon Original Sprout Natural Shampoo. It is a little pricey at $25 per bottle but let me try and justify the price tag for you. Here's why:

1. It smells superb. I cannot stop smelling my kids! I mean, you know how when they starts to eat solids and their sweat don't smell so baby-ish anymore and borders on smelling a little sour-ish? That's when you need to get them a proper shampoo because those 2 in 1s don't seem to work as well anymore! This, my friend, works so well in the smell department, it's already a sure win.

2. It's organic, natural and without all the nasty stuff that generic shampoos may have. (Read: Parabens and Carcinogens) Wouldn't you want to delay such exposure for your loved ones for as long as you can? Or at least till they eventually want to make their own choices for shampoo?

3. SOFT. OH SO SOFT. OMG, their hair is so so soft after using this shampoo, I am seriously very tempted to use this on myself. I can't stop running my fingers through their hair and the softness of their hair makes me really happy. (I sound very psycho, I know. But I just love to stroke their heads when their are sleeping!)

4. It's tear free. I think. I haven't yet tried this on myself, but I was showering R jr and he accidentally rubbed his eyes after touching his head. He seemed ok. By ok it means he wasn't screaming, having his eyes turn red and trying to claw out his eyeballs.

5. You really don't need to use that much of the shampoo each time. I usually use about half pump or slightly more only.

I know this all sounds really good, so I bet you must be waiting for me to tell you the cons of this shampoo.

1. Expensive. But you pay for what you get.
2. It doesn't lather as well, but that is because it is sulphate free. That is the one that causes the suds in shampoos so I am fine with that.

Really. That's it. This are the only 2 cons I can think of at this moment and frankly, I can live with it. I am just too happy that I've finally found a shampoo that suits the kids and I absolutely love. Again, if you know me, my kids are the most important beings in my life, so I always try to provide the best that I can afford for them. I know some moms will think that I am being too lavish and all, especially when I'm spending such money on shampoos and stuff but hey, you are entitled to your opinions and I respect that. I won't say you are a bad mom just because you don't want to spend such money on your kids, so please, don't hate me if I do. You can buy this shampoo from Watsons or from the local distributor website - http://pout.com.sg/. I hope that if you decide to use this shampoo and love it, drop a comment and let me know too!

My next blog will be on aromatherapy oils - Love them? Hate them? If anybody is still reading this blog, feel free to comment on this topic!

Till the next entry,

xoxo.

- J

To do list

Just to motivate myself...


1. Clean up my room. Pack away the steriliser, bring our the bottles holder and use that instead.
2. Throw away old medicine. Keep the kiddos para and brufen properly together with the thermometer and fever patch.
3. Try and keep the play area as neat as possible. This means selling or giving away of old toys and unopened boxes of toys. Mental note - STOP BUYING ANYMORE TOYS.
4. Do up a proper command centre. This should have a calendar with the dates of the kids activities written down. Currently they don't have much appointments to keep, but it's good to get started on this habit.
5. Bring out their personal boxes. This should have their personal documents and knick knacks of things to keep for them. Label the folders.
6. Spring clean the kitchen. Discard items that are expired. Bring out old pots and pans for the kids to bang on and play.
7. Sort out their flashcards. Do up a proper reading corner for them.
8. Do up a weekly list of activities starting from next week. To be realistic, we must have 5 achievable tasks. Weekends are meant for family outings and play only. No flashcards during the weekends.  Flashcards in Chinese to be taught by their dad. Limit to 10 mins of learning only. This includes reading to them in Chinese. (something I could never do right)

Let's start with this first. To be completed by first week of May.

20.5.14 update

I have crossed out those tasks that have been done. That's 4 out of 8 done by first week of May. Will push on and make sure that I complete the rest of the tasks by the end of May at least! Jia you Jen!

25.04.14 - Out with the old, in with the new.

This is something I live by when it comes to my childrens' clothings. Because they are only at 10th percentile, they are considered quite small for 17 months. Currently J is wearing 9 to 12 month clothes, some designs, 12m. Reagan is wearing 3 to 6 months for shorts and 6 to 9 months for tops. He is very lean, like his daddy, so while he puts on weight, he doesn't get all fat and chubby like other kids do. (which I wish he does)

So one of the items in my to do list involves packing away their too small clothings. Right now we are at half a toyogo box full of clothes. I will soon be packing away their bibs, nappy, mittens etc. I am keeping it for either my no. 3 or my sis or cousin's baby (we're all trying hard) It's times like this, where I will wish that I can get pregnant again soon, but on the other hand, my schedule is packed with these 2 dragons I hardly have time to do much and yes, this includes hey shio hey shio. There will be people asking why don't I stop at two? Deep down I know that to procreate is joy and that I will be fruitful and multiply, that's why for now, we are simply leaving it to God to fulfil this wish of mine. And besides, what kind of question is that? If I want to have 10 kids, its really up to me isn't it? Why do I owe anyone an explanation?

Recently I have been so busy trying to source for stuff for my scrapbook that I am making for the twins. I want them to have items and keepsakes to remind them of how important they are for me to want to document and keep as many things as I can about them. I hope, as they grow up, they will read this and see my love for them is unwavering and strong. Those scrapbook items of mine are bought in bulk hence cheaper, so again, I will be posting them up for all to see when I have gotten it. I digress.

So back to the packing of clothes. It was pretty chaotic because the twins didn't wanna nap today and I had to pack with them in the room. They helped by removing everything from the box and drawers and sitting in it. It was pure madness, the kids threw everything I had folded, walked around the room with their hangers while dancing to Hi5. After what seems like forever, we managed to get things done and packed before I had to leave for class. I wanted to specially talk about 1 incident which left such an impact on me today.

In the midst of the packing and the madness, the kids would suddenly stop their nonsense, turn around, grin at me with their widest smile and run towards me wanting to hug or kiss me. That feeling is so amazing and magical at the same time. At that moment, I felt nothing but pure joy. Joy that I never knew was possible. I felt like I was the bestest person in the world for the kids to love me this way. I guess the saying is true, that you will never be able to experience true and pure love until you become a mom. The kids had unconditionally loved me and this makes me want to be a better person for them. A person they can model after, a responsible person who walks right with God. I am recording this down, only because whenever I feel shitty, I will remind myself to log in here and read on my past entries. Then remind myself all over again why I am doing all these for them.

24.04.14 - Approaching 17 months

Many people after knowing that I have twins, always like to ask me how do I cope with them. Initially I would smile and say it's tough and they make me go nuts blah blah and so on but recently, I will just tell them that I just simply cope. I don't know how else to explain to others. It is because having twins really does drive you up the wall at times and just when you think that you have reached your breaking point, one or both of them does something so cute you forgot what you were mad about. The hours just fly by quickly. In the morning after breakfast, they will have their shower. After which, they will have their play time and then break for lunch. Usually after lunch they will be full and drowsy so it's time for nap. After nap, it's more play time and recently, we have introduced cleaning the floor with the magic clean so that their play area is always clean. And the next thing you know, it's evening and then it's time for their dinner, then shower again and then bed. Phew, what a day.

Now as we approach the terrible 2s, I am beginning to catch a glimpse of what to expect especially during meal times. There are days where I will celebrate when they can finish at least half a bowl of porridge. Other days, I ask myself, why do I even bother to plan a menu for them. (It's times like this where I will throw away the food while vowing I'm not going to cook them anything the next day, but I always do in the end.) The kids now are becoming more and more independent. They are beginning to have minds of their own and forming their own opinions, likes and dislikes. It isn't very easy to coax or distract them with a toy now. And on some days, you will find that NOTHING works!

That's not to say that I hate my kids or anything. I just feel that they have grown, are really not babies anymore and I must make a mental note to remind myself to stop calling them babies, because the right term to call them is "toddler".  We are soon reaching an age were their PD will stop asking for their corrected age, and they will be expected to perform just as well as their peers born in the same year. I hope that isn't asking a lot from them though, I would hate to pressure my kids this way.

Anyway moving on I would be sharing some of the stuff that I do with the kids for sensory play or education through play. Some of the items can be purchased through me, if anytime you see something you like, feel free to leave a comment or email me at sheisemailing@gmail.com.

For today, I will be sharing with you guys my banana pancake recipe which I felt is one of the best and simplest recipe. It doesn't take a lot of time to prepare this if you have everything you need on hand ready. This recipe is friendly for toddlers and my kids really loved it, even without the maple syrup.

Here goes -

Ingredients

Dry

1 cup of plain flour or multi purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda (optional)
2 teaspoon baking powder
a dash of cinnamon (optional)

Wet

1 egg, beaten
1 cup of milk
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (I used coconut oil)
2 ripe bananas

Step 1 - Mash bananas with fork, set aside
Step 2 - Combine dry ingredients on a plate or mixing bowl
Step 3 - Combine wet ingredients in a mixing bowl
Step 4 - Mix everything together till it forms a batter. Don't worry if it gets lumpy, you don't want to overbeat it and have it turn watery
Step 5 - Turn on skillet or frying pan and start in small batches until you are able to control the heat. Plate up and enjoy!