- Singapore Lager Beer 330mlx2
- Stolen Boat Summer Ale Beer 330ml
- Brickhead Pilsner 330ml
- Lindt Excellence Chocolate 100gx3
- Father’s Day Printed Mug
- Beer Steel Bucket 4.5L
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We spent more than 1/3 of our lifetime sleeping, so if there is 1 item that I would splurge on without batting an eyelid , it will be the mattress we sleep on! In fact, my very own mattress cost me a fortune 8 year ago, but that’s story for another day. Now that the kids are getting taller and older, it is time to get good quality and proper mattresses for them. Now that big C is moving into her own room (finally) instead of bunking in with her brothers, we decided to get her Origin LumbarCloud™ Mattress and this mattress will probably last her until she finish school, go out to work , get married and leave home. This mattress has a life span of 10 to 20 years, with a 15 year warranty.
Origin is a brand well known for its high quality yet affordable mattresses. This brand has also been featured on my news and media for its quality mattresses. Its latest offering Origin Lumbarcloud™ Mattress, is THE MOST PREMIUM mattress they have launched to date. Designed in Germany using the latest sleep science and mattress techology, having won 20+ international awards and over 50,000 happy sleepers in Singapore, I definitely has high expectation of this award winning mattress even before trying it out on my own.
First Glance
Undoubtedly , it is Origin’s thickest, plushest and most advanced mattress yet. On first glance, it is definitely thicker than most of my mattresses that I have – measuring at 35cm height. It is a Hybrid Mattress, combining different materials into one perfect mattress.
Why so thick? In this 35cm thickness ,starting from the TOP
These 10 layers reminded me of the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea but with these 10 layers you definitely wont feel the pea even if you are a princess, but these 10 layers work in perfect harmony to maximise every facet of sleep,
transforming your bed into a plush oasis. Now for my sleep test…..
Using it
I slept on my girl’s bed to give my honest verdict, the first impression was its plush like those high end hotels’ mattresses. It gives a weightless sleep sensation for deep relaxation. All thanks to the ComfortCloud™ Filling, it feels super plush and like sleeping on cloud ie weightless feel true to its name sake. Frankly, it’s quite difficult to describe in it in words, you really have to try it for yourself to be convinced. It has the ability to gently envelops the body from all angles – melting away all muscle tightness and soreness into immense and deep comfort.
As I don’t like to sleep in air-conditioned room, it was very cooling on first touch, and throughout the night I never once felt hot or discomfort – contributed by the Ice Silk Tencel layer and Graphite Foam which is 10x more cooling than memory foam. In fact, the Origin LumbarCloud™ is designed to sleep cool in Singapore’s weather. Its revolutionary SmartClimatePro™ system makes it highly breathable, and together with artificially compressed graphite and our FrostFlex™ layer, is able to carry heat away from the body to the surrounding environment.
Next the signature HexaGrid Plus™ give optimal support and pressure relief for all sorts of sleeper. I actually sleep on my tummy, so it is very well supported for whatever sleeper you are. Whether you are a back sleeper, side sleeper, this mattress is suitable for all kind of sleeper. It is 30% more comfort than foam & latex.
Those who are looking for soft or firm mattress, this mattress firmness magically adapts to your weight, providing more support for heavier sleepers and gentler support for lighter sleeper , this is the magic of ResponsePlus™ Titanium Springs with up to 3000 springs for optimal spinal alignment.
Like all good mattresses and as seen in advertisement, it comes with motion cancelling feature where your partner will be undisturbed with whatever motion (especially for queen and king size).
With all the most advance sleep technology (just count the number of innovation listed here) , I had a wonderful sleep and feel so energised and recharge the next day. In fact, this mattress is marketed for sleepers with chronic back and joint conditions.
Loving it
If I knew of this brand in the past, I wouldn’t have spent a fortune on the bed I am sleeping in. So the next time I ever need to change my own mattress, I know which brand to go for. You can see its comparison vs other brands in the market, Using technology and high quality material and yet at affordable pricing for the mass market. In fact , I have gotten 2 Origin LumbarCloud™ Mattress single mattresses as I am convert!
Comes in 4 sizes – single, super single, queen and king. The Origin Hybrid complies with CertiPUR-US® and CeriOEKO-TEX®. These certifications assure that their products are tested in independent labs, are free of harmful substances and are safe for all (including babies & toddlers).
The best part it comes with 120 Night Trial or your money back (but do give it 25 days for your body to adjust to the new mattress). Comes with Free Same-Day Delivery and industry leading 15 Year Warranty. If this still does not convince you and would want to touch and feel it, check out their showroom
Origin also sell pillow, duvet, blanket for the entire sleep experience.
Quote JAIMECHAN25 and you will receive an exclusive offer of $25 when you order Origin’s products online.
True story, 7 years ago my family moved into a bigger home to cater for my expanding family and with that I had a vision to furnish my new home with my wish list of furniture as the new home has more space – a coffee maker, a swing chair and a massage chair. I had brought the first two on my wish list the minute I moved into my new home , but my dream of owning a massage chair remains elusive – partly due to its immense cost and size.
So fast forward today, this one item remained in my wish list as I am unable to come to terms with the cost and some are extremely huge and bulky, but if a full size massage chair cost $1,399 (Yes, this is entire unit and not an installment payment etc) with 1 year local warranty, that is like a dream come true finally. For this Chinese New Year, I have new clothes and definitely a new massage chair from EMPIRE Massage Chair for better health and wellness.
Did you know that massaging helps to decrease pain especially if you have recurrent pain or ache, fewer headaches, for those who workout you have fast work out recovery, helps to lower blood pressure and heart rate, improved immune system and decrease overall body stress. I also believe that relaxing before bedtime also helps in better sleep quality! Check out my EMPIRE Massage Chair Review and how I have achieved all these health benefits.
Comes in 1 colour -grey with a very sleek design, matches most home ID without any issue. Made of high quality PU Leather, it is easy to maintain simply by wiping with dry cloth, build to last and withstand long years of usage.
At 70cm x 150cm, this is one of the smallest full body massage chairs in the market, easily fit in the living room or the bedroom, and this is build for Singapore men and women standard range of height.
Despite the super affordable pricing, EMPIRE Massage Chair is packed with features just like the other major brands of massage chairs in the market .
1. 10 Hands Sensation Massage
2. Whole body compression airbags
The airbags replicate the feeling of being pressed by the massage therapist, and this helps to relieve fatigue, stress, ache and pain after long day at work. Located at the shoulders, hand and also calves, I love the shoulder compression the most – really like having a massage therapist putting pressure to relieve all tied knots in the body.
3. Leg and sole reflexology
Hands up who love going to Thailand for a foot reflexology especially after a long day of shopping, the wonders of foot reflexology is also replicated in this massage chair, great for people who stand or walk for long hours in the day or after a day of shopping – instant relief!
There is a heat therapy situated at the calf areas of 45 degree for instant muscle relief and blood circulation, totally relaxing!
4. Zero Gravity
The chair is able to tilt 170 degree to give you the feeling of floating in the air and relieve pressure from your spine for a more relaxing massage!
There are 5 automatic modes – Health , Fatigue recovery , Relaxation, Muscle Recovery and Sleep mode. Of course if you know which part of your body requires more massage, you can choose the manual mode to control the airbags and how intense you need it to be, rollers’ position, direction , speed, heat therapy, zero gravity etc. For first timer, I just choose automatic modes for different sessions.
There are also bluetooth speakers on both side to connect to your smartphone to pipe in another music during your massage just like at the spa, dim the lighting, have some aromatherapy, and you have a spa session every night at the comfort of home.
Truth to be told, I have a massage package at a salon, that I can count how many times I gone for my sessions last year, probably less than 5 times, due to the time to travel there and also time of each treatment – making my massage session a luxury. Now with my own EMPIRE Massage Chair, not only for myself, both me and my husband can have daily massages before bedtime for better sleep quality, better wellness, or simply just taking out time daily for some dedicated me-time and mindfulness.
Check out my video review too!
Don’t take my word for it, try out the demo unit at their showroom for yourself before taking the plunge for a life changing addition to your home, especially for the new year! This full body massage also makes a perfect gift for your elderly parents this CNY for better health and wellness. All unit come with 1-year onsite warranty. This is definitely one of the Best Massage Chair in the market thanks for its full features and affordability.
Since launch, EMPIRE has proudly delivered and installed lots of massage chairs in Singaporean homes!
https://empire.sg/pages/
Address: 2 Kallang Avenue, CT Hub, #09-19, 339407 (right beside Bendemeer MRT, 3 mins from Lavender MRT)
Opening Hours 12pm to 8pm (Everyday, 7 days a week)
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.
With so many durian sellers in the market, why Durian SG Prime ? Their fresh quality durians are already cheaper by at least 20% right now compared to any reputable durian sellers in Singapore. They collaborate directly with plantations owners in Pahang to secure these durians for Singaporeans, unlike other durians sellers that are still buying the supply of agents. As for Durian SG Prime, they work directly with the plantations owner, skipping all agents and suppliers.
Ultimately, cheaper durians for all the durian lovers in Singapore! The next selling point is their source of durian. They only get durians from mature trees beyond 40 years old from the mountainous region of Raub. For those who are keen, they even had description of the 3 mountains where their supply of durian comes from Famous Tiger Mountain , Indigo Hill Mountain, Cold White Leaf Mountain. Quite an interesting read, and there is the difference between their durians and the rest of the other harvest in the market.
They are so sure of their quality that they have guaranteed exchange privilege for any durians that for any reason does not meet your expectation using their replacement word online.
My kids and I even had the privilege of patronising their store in Geylang Road during their school holidays. It was my kids maiden experience eating durian at the stall. The kids also got to see how they chose the durian and pried open in front of them. My kids totally love their experience eating durian at the stall, you see more from IGS highlights
They even provide gloves and tissue and you can even buy the coconut to get rid of the heatiness which was what we did too!
And for the rest who prefer to consume durian in the comfort of home, you can order online which was what we did as we didn’t manage to try Mao Shan Wang on the day we visited their store.
The pack of durians come in sizes 800g. What you see is what you get. No more paying for husk and not flesh. Here featured are 2 x 800g of Old Tree Mao Shan Wang (“OT”) and 800g Black Gold (“BG”), and 800g of XO D24. And they also de-husk upon order for optimal freshness.
To me OT and BG are pretty much similar as it is creamy and bitter, but XO is a bit inferior in quality but I do know of people who like XO. Not only lots of flesh, they have the smallest seeds too!
Depending on supply, they have D24, D13, etc so it is very stock and weather dependant as well
Besides durians, do check out other seasonal fruits like cempedak, jackfruit, mangosteen and many more, you can order from their website as well. Don’t wait any longer as you never know when the supply will dwindle and you miss this season of good durian.
Free DURIAN DELIVERY for order above $99. For 2 hour time slot flat one time fee of $7.5 and for express within 1 hour is one time fee of $15. You can also pick up at store, but best to pre-order as the stock is very seasonal as well.
Giveaway of $300 of durian ($100 each with no minimum spend, I will choose 2 from IG and 1 from FB) to savour all the variety of durian that you fancy!!
Without a doubt this will be the biggest ticket item, you will buy for your primary school child would be an ergonomic table. With his older siblings having their own study table and space, small J now currently in primary 2 should also be encouraged to have a proper table and space for his increasing demands of school work and also one that will cater to his growing years.
The single most important question for most parents, is there a need to spend on an ergonomic table? For me personally, I see it as a long term investment, the ergonomic table and chair will see your child all the way to secondary school and beyond as the table and chair will “grow” with the child. While we can’t change the chairs that are used in school or the demands of a computer era, I can provide a more ergonomic-friendly environment for my children at home.
The term “ergonomics” comes from the Greek words ergon (meaning “work”) and nomos (meaning “rule”) and is defined as the science of human work. In order to safeguard children’s health and ensure they learn well, rather than have them adapt to their furniture, their furniture should adapt to them.
The diagram below shows how an ergonomic table will help in creating a good and correct posture as compared to fixed height table and chair. They should not be leaning over excessively or have a rounded neck while they are seated at a desk. Ideally, the seated posture for kids follow a ‘90-90-90 degrees rule.
Even if the table and chair is at the correct height, once the child grow, you will need to change another set else creating a wrong posture. This problem is cleverly resolved with ergonomic table and chair which height can be easily adjustable.
I have been using Ergoworks ergonomic school bags for the past 6 years for all my school going kids and I can vouched to its good quality and durability. These are my ergonomic bags review post for the past 6 years , post 1, post 2 and post 3.
When I decided to source for an new ergonomic table and chair set for my third child, I didn’t need to look any further as I trust their quality and make as I have been using their products for the past 6 years.
A bit about Ergoworks
They are Asia leading brand in holistic ergonomic, posture care, and wellness solutions for the past 16 years. They offer an extensive range of high-quality, comfortable, and user-friendly ergonomic products, which is renowned for its functional features, health benefits, and professional services delivered to our customers. They provide total wellness and comfort to a diverse range of users across all age groups who desire maximum care for their body structure and posture. Their extensive range of products is professionally endorsed and recommended by both The Chiropractic Association (Singapore) and the Singapore Physiotherapy Association.
The set I chose for small J is ERGOSTARS – ES-8803-GY – Grey Healthy Kids Desk And Chair Set
Ergonomic features:
A good set of ergonomic furniture is one where the child sit with the feet supported (on ground or foot rest) and their knees forming at 90 degree. With incorrect posture, it will lead to all kinds of pains – abnormal bone growth, abnormal breathing, poor circulation, digestive issues, headaches and back and neck pain. By practising ergonomic from an early age, this will ensure good posture as they grow older.
The table’s height can be adjusted from 58 cm to 80 cm.The table should not be too high, otherwise they will be resting their hands awkwardly on the
table and putting unnecessary stress on them. If the table is too low, they will be leaning forward too much and more likely to round their necks or hunch their backs.
When adjusting the table’s height, make sure your child’s feet are supported, meaning that your child’s feet should touch the ground. If it is not possible, consider buying an ergonomic foot rest (for the same chair model in this set, the foot rest come attached to the ergonomic foot rest as well). The adjustment to the table height is a very simple process using the detachable lever handle.
Beside table height adjustment, ergonomic table also feature a desk that tilts. This minimises the kids natural inclination to lean forward when writing or drawing, as it allows the desk to be brought closer to them. Desktop tilt angle adjustment is from 0 to 25 degrees to eliminate slouching and strain in neck and to cater to different tasks, such as reading, writing or drawing, as it requires a different angle for the posture (0-5° for drawing and similar activities ,approx. 10° for writing, 20°-25° for reading). Adjusting this angle depending on the task will provide your child with a better neck position, which will result in less tiredness and stress.
lever for desk tilt – adjustable by child
Extra features:
Based on personal experience, you should try to get an ergonomic table with a spacious functional integrated bookshelf. Else you have books pilling up messily or you need to buy book rack to organise the books. A study table need shelves for all the books, stationery etc else you will need another dedicated book shelf etc.
The surface non reflective prevents light and sun rays from reflecting into the child eye. With the light from the desk light reflected the light rays into the eyes can increase risk of astigmatism, myopia etc.
The table edges are design to be child safe with rounded edge bumper. Some other additional features to this table is the easy mobility ,accessible stationery storage , bag hanger , wrist support pad that holds book and laptop and you can request for tablet/book holder as well (additional charges applied).
tablet/book holder (additional charges applied)
Certified E1 European Safety Standard, the sets are assemble locally with high quality parts sourced overseas, desk board- European standard MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) & quality powder coated cold-rolled steel, PP & ABS plastic.
Ergonomic chair
The DUOREST DR-289SR Junior Collection Ergonomic Chair is based on Original Germany Patented Design & Technology. Its dual backrests design is professionally endorsed and recommended by both Singapore Physiotherapy Association & The Chiropractic Association of Singapore. The dual backrest design reduces pressure on the spine, follows the curvature of the spine naturally.
This chair features adjusted to the seat depth and back rest, seat height adjustment but up to 90kg in weight. The height adjustment is similar to that with the table. If the chair is too high, they won’t be able to rest their feet flat on the floor, applying excess pressure to the back of their thighs. If the chair is too low, this puts them at an awkward position and causes unnecessary strain on their knee joints.
The best part I totally loved is the detachable circular type foot rest which is removable when the kid’s feet can touch the ground. Instead of getting a separate foot rest, this is attached to the chair itself – ingenious!
It is made of high density form to provide constant good support, high quality fabric materials to last many years, industrial grade steel & PP plastic parts, ISO certified environment friendly manufacturing facility and class 4 high quality gas cylinder for 100% safety and durability.
Beware of copies outside of Ergoworks, as they are the only company selling DUOREST in South East Asia market.
The ES-8803 table model comes with blue, pink and grey. As for the DUOREST DR-289SR chairs, it comes in blue, pink and green. I chose the combination of grey table and green chair for a more corporate look and a more gender neutral colour which will look less kiddish as the kid grow older. Buying it as a set will also be entitled to a free gift Philips LED Eye Care study lamp (worth $79 ) and a Made In Germany Floor Protection Mat (worth $129 and for prevention against possible scratches & better hygiene). This value bundle set is a complete set up for the children study ergonomic workstation, value for money and hassle free for all parents.
The prices quoted on the website includes 7% GST, delivery (no stair case charge) & installation (by our in house logistic and installation team) with no hidden costs or charges. Ergoworks only provides genuine ergonomic products and sincere services to customers as I am their customers for the past 6 years.
All Ergoworks products come with free delivery, installation, responsive and a full suite on-site warranty against manufacturing defects and breakdown (excludes surface wear and tear / abuse) , for this value bundle, the warranty is 3 years.
They have a 3000 square feet full ergonomic concept retail showroom, conveniently located in Marina Square Shopping Mall with friendly and professionally trained Ergonomic Specialists providing correct knowledge and information. Their showroom opens daily (inclusive of public holidays) from 11.30am to 9pm. I would advise to bring your child along to look at the many different models of ergonomic table and chair that they have to find the most suitable model for your long term investment. For picture of their spacious show room, you can see a quick tour here.
MARINA SQUARE
6 RAFFLES BOULEVARD #03-140/141 MARINA SQUARE (ONE LEVEL ABOVE MCDONALD’S)
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.
After using the large bento box from Stuck on You for the past year since big C started primary school, I realised that I do not use on days when big C would buy from the canteen for recess. You can see my review here for the large bento box. For those who are not familiar with the local primary school system, since 2015 MOE has been encouraging schools to provide two meal breaks – one longer, one shorter – ie recess and snack break.
I find the large bento box is a tad too big for snack break but perfect for recess break when the kid needs a larger meal. I couldn’t be more delighted when Stuck on You finally launched their mini version of the large bento box! This is just perfect size for snack break. So now, I have a personalised bento box for large meals like recess and another smaller one for smaller meals like snack break and for the smaller tummies.
At first sight
As always ordering it online is a breeze. You can customise to your heart’s content as the website will show the final. There are three categories of designs – fun, fresh and simple. The fun design has the most design to choose from but it is up to individual preference. I suppose for tweens and teens, they would prefer less kiddish design which can be found in simple category.
I actually love the unicorn design a lot so I had a hard design choosing the design as it is all so pretty. There are also lovely boy designs too and many bento box colours (8 colours to be precise) and many fonts to mix and match! The OCD me wanted to get the exact same design as big C’s older bento box so that its matchy matchy but I think I should try a different design for a change! So being inspired by big C’s coming birthday theme, I decided it shall be mermaid for a change!
I am sure you are keen to see a side by side comparison to the earlier larger bento boxes from Stuck on you. I would say the mini version is half the size and with 4 compartments. Even though it is smaller, the biggest compartment of the mini bento box is still extremely roomy. You can see from the sample bento set below , it probably can fit more than 10 open face pineapple tarts.
Using it
It is made of 100% food safe materials, free from BPA and phthalates. The lid is lined with leak proof silicone seal that covers each individual compartment to keep food fresh (no longer have soggy biscuits!) and encourage healthy eating. That said, it is not advisable to put water or other liquid. The only recommended are yogurt dip and sauces. All parts of the Bento Box Mini are dishwasher safe (top rack only) or use my method , wash by hand and the parts should be kept separated.
It is very versatile as it is suitable from babies for their first weaning food to even kids and adults for their school or work lunches. Due to the smaller size, my younger two boys can easily use this (as the large bento box is tad too big for their food consumption).
Loving it
For bento box beginner, you may be feel intimated, but trust me (I am no domestic goddess) ,it wasn’t hard as its all ready materials – fruits, snacks from CNY etc. From my previous experiences with the large bento box, to make the presentation even prettier, get some pretty food picks (from Daiso) and from bread cutters and your bento boxes will look maybe 60 to 70% of the experienced bento makers 🙂
See below for some sample of the mini bento boxes made by me pre and post CNY which explains for the mandarin oranges , CNY snacks and bbq meat. I am pleasantly surprised even though the mini bento box is half the size of the large bento box, the biggest compartment is actually roomy. Small C is a small eater but the biggest compartment can fit the amount of rice he can eat and even more.
I foresee that I will be using more of the mini bento box over the larger one as big C prefers to buy from the canteen for recess for most days but she still need a snack box for her 10-minute snack break at noon. You can also download the free e-book for more ideas.
Stuck on You
Promo code of 10% on all except value pack: SOYMPKZ 10% off (excluding value pack); Expire 31 May 2019
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.
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I have been using earphones from Sudio for a few years now. I started with their Sudio Vasa Bla and then Sudio Regent. Since then, I have been an audiophile convert. Now, I truly enjoy listening to good quality music streaming into my ears. When I went wireless with Sudio Vasa Bla, what Sudio Vasa Bla did was also to convert my life by using them as my jogging buddy. However, it did disturb me a little that there is still a wire running behind my neck.
With the introduction of the latest, Sudio Niva, Sudio’s first foray into truly wire-free earbuds, it is now TRULY wireless with no wires at all (sorry for my double emphasis), just like the Apple earpods and to add to its beauty it comes with a docking case that look like my makeup compact!
At first sight
It took my breathe away on first sight. I know I am biased as it is pink but this is the smallest pair of earphones I ever had – any smaller I am also worried it will drop off. Each set comes with 3 pairs of different sizes ear buds, so I had used the largest to ensure that it gives a tight fit especially I will bring it out for my evening run. I don’t want it to drop off while running. Let me just let the photos do the talking.
Using it
Truth to be told, as there are two devices – the right and left earphones, the pairing on Bluetooth is more of a two-step process as compared to the Sudio Vasa Bla and Sudio Regent that I owned. My older Sudios are considered as one single device so it is just 1 time pairing.
For the Sudio Niva, there is a big difference between left and right ear phone. Always switch on the right first and until you hear the word “pairing” before switching on the left bud (it doesn’t work the other way around ie left first than right). Right is the main/dominant side as it is will go to single mode (right only) when using it to answer phone calls. I fumbled a bit as I first got my hands on the pink earphones. I realised that my switching it on simultaneously doesn’t get both earphones connected. There is also a video to teach noob like me how to pair properly (ok I didn’t watch the video before I started using it, hence my initial fumbling with getting both sides paired successfully).
Always switch on the right then left and there was no issue there after. If the earphones are ever out of sync, they have a video on Sudio on how to reset and repair too which was what resolved my wrong connection which I did in the first place.
As for the quality of music stream , I am definitely familiar to the good quality music streaming of my older Sudios. But I am not audiophile hence unable to compare and contrast to other brands.
Storing it
One of the prettiest aspects of the Sudio Niva to me (IMHO) is the case. Some people have reviewed to say that it is (especially guys) that it is a tad too big to be carried in their pants pockets etc, but I do not have the issue as I carry a handbag whereby I go. It fits into my clutch as well so I don’t think it is oversize, in fact if it is any smaller, I worry the case may accidentally drop it unknowingly or slipped out while I rummage through my bag for my handphone or wallet.
Of course if you prefer an even smaller case, there is a newer model launched by Sudio –Sudio Tolv which comes in white and black (no pink). It comes in a much smaller case.
And the Sudio Niva case (looking like my makeup compact) is not just a pretty case, it is a docking station by itself. I can use the case for charging and for keeping Sudio Niva on the go, when it is not charge, the case is able to support another 4 charges to give a total of 17.5 hours of play time on the go -which means I can use my Sudio Niva for almost a whole week before charging it (I only use for morning and evening commute to and fro work , and my exercise)
Loving it
After I got over the initial stages of me fumbling to pair both sides, it has been a breeze pairing it. I really love that it is totally wireless that sometimes I forgot that I had earphones on me. When I had my hair down, no one knows that I actually have music streaming into my ears too! This pair of pink beauty has been with for the past few weeks especially on my daily commutes to and from work (yes, catching up on my K-drama) and with me to the gym for my daily runs. Besides that, thanks to the pretty docking case, the Sudio Niva last longer than my Sudio Vasa Bla as whenever the pair is returned to the case, the pair just charge again, to give a total of 17.5 hours of play time. I even shared one side of earphones with my hubby during our evening jogs (he even joked that he would know if I am trailing too behind when there is no music streaming as the bluetooth range is 10m).
Sudio Niva comes in black, white and pink (which is the nicest IMHO as I am biased) and retailing at SGD169 and comes with 1 year warranty.
You can order your set from sudio.com. Quote mypreciouzkids15 for 15% off and as part of Valentine’s Day promotion, you can get 25% when you purchase any 2 earphones/headphones and comes with free gift packaging too (from now till 14 February 2019).
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.
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My going-to-be p4 boy has been “harassing” me for a smartphone of his own – yes, I do know that many of his school friends do own a used /old hand-me-down smart phones but I don’t really see a need for a 9 year old to be having his own phone. However, given that there will be more after-school classes/CCA in the new academic year (ie the school bus would not be able to send him home), I do think it is high time that he learns to take his own public transport home. His sense of direction is also not the best, he has gotten lost in an unfamiliar shopping mall before and had to borrow the phone of a shop to call me when he lost his way.
Due to this very reason, I am going against my principle by giving him a device that works like a phone but it is not a phone still! Not a smartphone per say (no games etc) but a smart device for him to contact me vice versa, and also track his where-about via GPS. Of course you need a SIM card to do that, which I will share a zero dollar mobile plan for this watch (I will share more below), perfect for primary school kids whose usage may not be a lot. I received Oaxis my First Fone S2 just in time for trial run before school actually start next week.
At first glance,
Though it may look chunky at first glance, it is actually very light and fits my boy’s wrist nicely. It does not look oversize on my 9 year old wrist or even my 7 year old’s wrist. It feels very well-made but I think I can only comment more after weeks or months of usage. As I would like to have this review out before the new academic year , I would just review based on our usage this week.
Using it
The first order of thing would be a need for a working SIM card. What I was recommended by Oaxis was the Circles.life zero dollar package which includes 30 minutes talk time, 1G data and caller ID per month. So if you do not burst the quota, the plan is virtually free and there is no contract period. The only outlay would be SGD 35 for the cost of the SIM card. Here is the link for this zero dollar SIM card from Circles.life which I think would sufficient for big J’s usage. Alternatively, you can also consider this plan from Singtel, however do note that the Oaxis watchphone whihc is bundle is not the same one as the one review herein.
Once the active SIM card is detected, you will have to install my First Fone app on your own smartphone being the admin user (only the admin user can change certain function like class mode, care call which will be elaborated below). It is a pretty straight forward app and easy to navigate too! All other users can also communicate via the same apps just that they are not the admin hence would only be able to do the basic like voice, video call, messaging etc.
One of my biggest worries if it can be allowed to be brought to school for use. There isnt a clear directive my kids’ primary school but there is a classroom mode (which is controlled from the app by admin which is me) whereby you can set when this device becomes merely a watch ie no calls or messaging can be made during designated timings and days of the week. During class mode, the only 2 functions that are still working are SOS and GPS tracking.
What makes this more like a phone than a watch are :
a) 3G smartphone – voice and video call
b) messaging through voice or emoji (no text message as the screen is a tad too small even for their little fingers)
c) tracking using advanced GPS, WiFi and GSM to track the wearer , it may take some time to detect but it is very accurate, which also open up links to other map applications like google map
I can also set alert whereby big J’s location is send to me at every 10 minute interval especially the hour he is making his way back home.
d) use of WIFI when are home or WIFI connected area – this way you will never burst the 1G monthly data provided by Circles.Life – a tiny little keyboard pops up for J to key in the password for the wifi
e) Geo-fencing alert – you can set area whereby it is a safe area from 200m to 2000m from a designated location be it your home, the school or tuition centre, etc – beyond that , an alert will be given.
f) SOS button which is activated by holding on to the red button on the watch phone. Once activated, I will receive an emergency location alert with a 30s live recording of surrounding sounds.
g) Care call – eavesdrop on the surrounding and conversations to ensure the safety of the kid, you can actually set my First Fone to call my own phone – I must say it is a super cool function, but it is only for the admin user
h) Pedometer – you can also track how active your child has been and set goal to ensure your child has a more active lifestyle
i) Parents can also set alarm for waking up in the mornings, reminders such as homework time, practise piano etc
j) Camera – with a 1.3mp camera, this allow the watch to make video call and also for the kid to take random photos. The photo quality is definitely not on par with the current quality of top grade smartphone’s camera but this is quality is good enough for the video call.
Loving it
I like that my First Fone is still a relatively “primitive” device with voice/video call , messaging using voice memo and a camera (compared to the variety of very advanced smartphones). In view of big J’s safety and my peace of mind, I would need to have the ability to contact and track my 9 year old boy when he leaves the school premises. I guess this is the next best thing besides having a smart phone. You may argue that I could also get a simple and cheap phone like the Nokia 3310 however, I prefer my First Fone as it can be worn by my boy all the time. With a smartphone, it is also prone to misplacing etc. I don’t think you can misplaced a watch unless you remove purposely.
Oaxis my First Fone is super easy to use and navigate, even my 5 year old will be able to use it effortless. What I did was get big J to run through the different function in the watch. (oddly whenever I am typing this review, I tend to want to type that it is a phone instead of a watch)
This version comes in three colours – black, blue and pink and retailing at USD 149/SGD 199.
You can purchase the phone online. If you wish to touch and feel the phone before purchasing , you can visit Isetan, Takashimaya, Robinsons, Challenger and Kiddy Palace. It is also splash proof meaning you can wash your hands not having to worry about the watch as little splashes of water would not spoil it but not bring it swimming though.
If there is anything to critic, it would be the battery life. It was noted that the battery life can last 2 days but based on big J’s current usage, we have to charge it daily.
Oaxis also had an earlier model S1 (watchphone) which does not come with a camera hence unable to do video call.
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Giveaway
Oaxis has kindly sponsored the same set of my First Fone S2 worth SGD 199 (blue or pink) to one lucky reader so that she/he can track his/her child after school.
1. Like and follow mypreciouzkids and Oaxis on Facebook
2. Like and follow mypreciouzkids and Oaxis on Instagram
3. Tag to as many friends who do not think smartphone is the way to go but need to call and track the kids in this IG post (one tag per comment)
4. Bonus for 5 additional chances, repost this IG post with tag #mypreciouzkidsgiveaway
Giveaway ends 20th Jan 2019 Sunday 2359.
The very lucky winner is @spyvonne_chloe.
For those you didn’t win, you can still enjoy 15% off using mypreciouzkids via this link. Do note that the prices are in USD and there is a 7% GST upon checkout and remember to input “mypreciouzkids” upon checkout to enjoy 15% off.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.
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True story: Nothing fazes me much being an educated person/a degree holder/ a professional but whenever I go to a stall to buy durian,I am often worried,very worried. Worry I get cheated, worry that I overpay, worry the quality is not good, that I will just resist my cravings instead of having to stress of the process of buying durian. I remembered once I made my husband drive to a durian stall , and in the end I didn’t know which is buy as the stall owner keep recommending more and more expensive variants. So I left it to my husband to make the purchasing decision. I really dislike the experience of buying durian but I love eating them very much (such ironies in life).
Even my kids (all except one) crave for durian like I do. Often when I drive home through Geylang Road and the kids see stalls after stalls of durian, they will pester me to buy. So many stalls, which is good, which will give me a fair deal? So I often dismiss them especially the stalls at Geylang, I trust none of them as I see them more of a tourist trap.
Previously, I have gotten my craving satisfied from a very famous and highly recommended stall in the West near my previous office. I had to pre-order through phone , make arrangement, go collect during lunch time (it was vacuum wrapped so I am able to bring it back home using public transport) but it was a great big hassle just to have a good durian feast at home. The quality was good being high recommended but the hassles of having to pick up on my own and bringing it back home, it takes a real great craving in me to put in such effort.
Fast forward to my order today with Durian Delivery with free delivery (above SGD 80 purchase), I can’t believe with a click of a few buttons, I can have them delivered to home.
Things has changed, nowadays most durian sellers have taken to the social media and online to sell their durians. I thought its pretty good move to make it more transparent in pricing, however I am still skeptical of the quality.
What makes Durian Delivery different is that they have 2 hour delivery, money back guarantee or “bao chi” and guarantee of freshness.
The pack of durians come in 2 sizes-400g and 800g. What you see is what you get. No more paying for husk and not flesh. How often how you purchase a 1 plus kg durian and its content can hardly fill a small Styrofoam food container. Super heart pain. That’s one for the other reasons why I dislike buying durian, it’s like a game of chance or luck, besides being worried about being cheated. Frankly sometimes the seller also won’t know until he opens it for you though some experts may claim otherwise.
With Durian Delivery selling in 400g and 800g pack, you know what you are paying for. I think it’s work better for me as a buyer to buy through this packaging method instead of buying y the fruit.
And the quality, for my first order I ordered 800g for old tree mao shan wang (“msw”) and 800g young tree mao shan wang (“msw”), this is my review of its quality: I was pleasantly surprised that I prefer the slightly cheaper variant (price at time of order : old tree msw SGD 20 per kg, young tree msw SGD 18 per kg) being the young tree msw as its more creamy, kind of melt in your mouth feeling. Taste wise, I still it’s pretty similar , bitter and sweet and a complex rich after taste. I did not prefer the old tree msw as it was not as creamy, thicker skin and a tad more dry in comparison. In fact, if you read the description on their website, it’s pretty spot on for the old tree msw (ok, I didnt read the description before I ordered, my bad)
Not only lots of flesh, I see seeds like this! Just worth every cents !
But I do think that taste is subjective as my mother in law prefer the old tree msw. I wouldn’t say that it wasn’t good but in comparison, I prefer the young tree mao shan wang. What I did was to put the durians into the fridge and I tried the old tree msw on its own, and it was also very good as some of the moisture went into it and it become less dry which was more to my liking. My kids also crave for durians just like the adults, and they have to be restraint from over-indulging.
Besides the premium msw, they also sell xo d24 and d24 , red prawn etc also depending on supply . All their durians come from plantations in Pahang. Another promise they guarantee is that their durian reach your doorstep within 6-12 hours after they’re plucked, making them the freshest.
They are very confident of the quality of their durian supply and hence they are willing to give money back guarantee or bao chi. In order for them to have a loyal customer base (being a relatively new online business with a new business model of selling by 400g and 800g packaging), if the durian are not of good quality, you can choose between full refund or replacement.
You can place your order and payment (credit card/paypal) through their website – choose your designated time slot 1-4pm , 5 to 8 pm, 7 to 10pm and 9 to 11pm. I loved that its all so hassle free and easy (gone are the days I need to pick it up and carry it back home). Alternatively, you can pick up your order at their stall at 502 Macpherson Road which is also a big plus for me as I stay in the east. It is free delivery over SGD 80, so if you suddenly crave for durian in the day, pre-order, choose the designated time slot , pay online and you will have durian at your doorsteps for lunch/ tea/ dinner /supper, whichever you fancy (which was what I did today).
Durian Delivery also supplies to parties, corporate events etc, perfect for family/friends gatherings. I am definitely ordering from them again (I no longer worry of being cheated or bad quality durians) and the boss of Durian Delivery told the season may ends in January, perfect for year end gathering. They also have a very interesting article on their website on durian seasons , why prices were so insanely high last year, make it a very interesting for a durian lover like me. Don’t wait any longer as you never know when the supply will dwindle and you miss this season of good durian.
I am a guilty party, I don’t give them my phone during meal times outside at first instance (or prop the entire Ipad or smartphone the entire meal time) but I have given it to the kids in desperate times, especially if I need just another 10 minutes of peace and quiet just to finish the meal.
Kids this generation are constantly filled with activities, gadgets, stimuli that they have lost the ability to be just bored and doing just nothing. So they have nothing to do, they fidget and constantly look for things to do and fill their bored minds which make smartphones the easiest-go-to. Unless the kids are independent and keen readers, seldom does my kids have the habit to pack a small thin book out to kill time while waiting. The younger ones unable to read independently would need other forms of activities if I wish to hold my principle to not hand them my smartphone at first instance.
This is what the older kids pack for small C before we had our own #ohmymats, very handy and light however it’s not reusable per say. I must say it does help make outside dining a little more pleasant.
Now that we have been gifted this set of revolutionary reusable mats from #ohmymats, I think that I will never have to succumb to giving them the smartphones EVER!
Made from food grade platinum silicone which is meant for utensils and kitchenware, #ohmymats had commissioned a few artists from adults doodlers to talented kids doodlers to lend their hands at designing the mats. You can read more about the doodlers here including two very special young artists -Quintessa and Quentin. #ohmymats had made quality control checks at the manufacturer in Korea to ensure that the mats are of the highest quality and even had it tested in Singapore (especially crucial when the products are used for our young ones). You can read more about the testing they have done here.
Having high regards for baby products from Korea from breast pumps to playmats since the days for big J, I have an huge affinity for all things made in Korea. I have kind of wish such reusable colouring mats were invented since big J’s time and we will have an easier time since then. Better late than never, the younger ones still will be able to reap the full benefits of this. We had brought out the mats for testing by the kids for the past week and I have share my review below.
Besides being a life-savers at meal times (which is a godsend for parents), colouring has been proven to improve handwriting (develop good finger grip) , improves motor skills (development of the muscles of the fingers, hands and wrist), hand and eye coordination, relaxation and stress relief (adult colouring books are popular due to this) , builds patience and focus (very important for kids this generation as they are bombarded with fast gratification), colour/shape/form recognition , stimulate creativity (you can even doodle your own drawing on the ready made-design) and build self esteem and confidence (upon completing entire mat).
At first glance,
I am surprised of the softness and the flexibility of the mat which makes it easier for storage. When I first saw it in photos , I didn’t think that it is so “soft” and flexible (just like fabric). Made from food grade platinum silicone , it is super soft to touch and yet it is easily take in the colour. It is like colouring on fabric but even easier. Fabric has a certain friction to it but colouring on the mat is as easy as colouring on paper (perhaps even smoother as there is less friction and more vivid in colour as we use markers on mat instead of colour pencils on paper).
Storing it
As the #ohmymats are super flexible, you can easily roll it and store in a drawstring bag together with the markers and wet wipes. This is how I store 4 mats in 1 bag – but I think I will make them share the mats so that I can even downsize this bag even more!
Using it
All the kids took into colouring like fish into water, even small C. I am amazed that at almost 3.5 years old, he is able to make sure he is able to focus and finish his colouring before he ventures into something else. And the best part, I erase it in an instance, and he can draw, colour, trace to his fancy.
I have actually tried colouring with the kids – totally theraupeutic. I even secretly hope #ohmymats develop one design based on adult colouring books for adults and older kids. From the colouring shared below, you can see the progression of the different age groups of mypreciouzkids – 3 to 9 years old.
And if you want to unleash further creativity from the kids, flip the mat over for a clean surface and doodle away. Small J decided to draw a soccer field and create his own goal while small C started to write his own name, in fact, it was his first time writing out his own name unaided! #achievementunlocked
Loving it
I love it as it is super light weight, super easy to roll and carry it around, and most importantly, it is not something that the kids will like for a short time (ie electronic toys , once favoured but easily forgotten and chucked aside). What amazes me is that each kid can colour on the same design over and over again without getting bored. I have 4 of such mats and of coz the mats are meant to be shared, but they only want to colour their favourite design!
There is also zero mess (ok, some ink marks on their little hands and fingers which is easily clean using wet wipes) On one occasion, I forgot to bring wet wipes out, I just use water and serviettes from the restaurant. You can also put it under running water.
So long you have a big enough space, you can literally colour any where and at any time. Small J found a bench, and away he colours while waiting for his kor kor to finish training. Even hubby gave his nod of approval when he saw how well the mats kept the younger kids occupied sans electronic devices.
Launching just in time for Christmas, these mats make affordable presents that both kids (and parents) will be thankful to receive. You can order at www.ohmymats.com and if you want to touch and feel #ohmymats before purchasing them for your kids or as gifts, they will be having pre-christmas pop-ups at the locations below.
#ohmymats come in many designs and 2 sizes -small – 38cm x 24cm or big 48cm x 28cm.
I have put it side by side for easier comparison, I guess it ultimately boils down the design that you like/your child likes as there is no major difference in size IMHO.
Giveaway
#ohmymats has kindly sponsored 1 set of #ohmymats reusable colouring mat (of your choice) and 1 set of markers to 1 lucky reader.
1. Like and follow mypreciouzkids and #ohmymat on Facebook
2. Like and follow mypreciouzkids and #ohmymat on Instagram
3. “Hint” to as much friends as you like that you wish to own #ohmymats for your kids this Christmas by tagging them on this IG post (one tag per comment)
4. Bonus/Optional for additional chances : Like these two IG posts , post 1 and post 2.
I will be picking the 1 lucky winner using random.org. The giveaway closes on 9 December 2018 2359pm (Sun).