Baby Wearing - Baby Carriers vs Slings - TULA vs Baba Sling

I see many new Mummies asking around, finding out information about baby wearing before deciding whether to invest in a baby sling or a baby carrier - that's probably the first headache before having to decide on the brand. 

Before my BBG, Fayth was born, I have already decided that I would be a thrifty Mummy who only buys things that are necessary since I know alot of new parents tend to over-buy things and end up having alot of clutter at home. Nah, I disliked that idea. As it was SG50 this year, babies borned in Singapore were considered Jubilee Babies and would be given a Jubilee Baby Gift pack from the government. The gift pack included a baby sling by Baba Sling. So when Hubs & I went shopping for baby's stuff, of course I knew baby slings and/or carriers were to be stiked off the shopping list. 

My first time using the Baba Sling was after Fayth's full month when Hubs & I took her to the PD for her first month's checkup. I searched for the baby wearing tutorial on Youtube and followed the video instructions. The first method the video taught was the Koala Cuddle (with her arms inside the sling) so I just followed and got it right on the first try. It was quite easy for me to use though I've seen alot of Mummies on Facebook's group commenting that it was really difficult and complicated to use. 

Usually when Hubs & I take Fayth out on the weekends we would put her in the stroller when we have our meals and I'd wear her in her Baba Sling other times. She's now almost 3.5 months old and on the last family day out I started to feel slight strain on my shoulder and waist - guess she's growing and getting heavier already. Lol. Baba Sling did advise to change the sling's position every 45 minutes to prevent strain, I guess I just didn't listen to advise well.. **opps** The only reason why I didn't change the sling's position or change sides was because my girl would fall asleep soundly in the sling and I just don't bear to wake her up.

Until recently I've noticed many Mummies on Facebook sharing pics of them wearing baby in TULA Baby Carrier which looked pretty stylish and comfy. One Mummy carried her baby in exactly this design below called "Pixelated", it was really pretty. : )

Since Fayth was getting older and neck getting stronger by the days, I thought it would be good soon to use the carrier on her. Shared with my Hubs how popular TULA carrier was and we decided to head to Bumwear to try out on baby.

I had friends who started using TULA Baby Carrier since infancy (with the baby insert; baby inserts are needed for babies below 7kg of weight), because they as well found the Baba Sling difficult to use. My friends shared with me why they chose TULA brand out of all the baby carrier brands; that most of their friends recommended this brand... even before they converted they've tried other brands which the fabric tends to be warmer. TULA baby carriers are also printed in more stylish designs and many to choose from! One of my girlfriends shared with me this comparison chart below which I found useful as a visual guide; just FYI! Oh oh, and TULA Baby Carriers can hold babies up to 22kg, so it's quite a good investment cuz it's not like a use for few months kind of thing. But I think I'll probably not want to wear Fayth by then. Haha. ; )

Bumwear was a little shop located on the 3rd level of Marina Square Mall. I got to try out the baby carrier with the help from the friendly store assistant. It was a breeze to put the carrier on and wear baby, Fayth looked comfortable and was happy being in it. The TULA Baby Carrier was going for $229 in the store and we purchased it after trying and selecting of the print I wanted, even though I knew it was just slightly more costly than online prices (i.e. $219). I didn't mind paying $10 more, took it as a service fee for trying and seeing all the prints in person before I really decide to commit to one.

I baby wore Fayth in my new toy immediately and it felt so comfortable, no more one-sided shoulder & back aches! Yay! If you see the picture below, baby's legs are supposed to be extended past the carrier so I'll need to wait for her to grow a little more to be using this carrier since I didn't buy the infant insert (b'cuz she's almost 7kg and her legs are almost there). Mummy loves her new TULA Baby Carrier in Puppy Love. Thanks to Daddy for the early X'mas prezzie! : D

After using both slings and carriers, I would say they are equally good - but just serves different purposes. I love baby wearing for the convenience when going out and also while traveling. Based on my own experience, I'll share the cons for each type...

Baby Slings:

~ great for newborns because their neck are not stable to turn and hold up on their own.

~ super snug, makes babies feel like they're carried in Mummy's arms.

~ breastfeeding outdoors are easier.

Baby Carriers:

~ easier to wear as compared to slings. 

~ distributes baby's weight evenly thus reduces backaches especially one-sided aches on shoulder/back.

~ can be used until baby is older (may differ for brands).

~ when baby can turn their heads and are awake more in the day, being in a carrier lets them look around.

Do bear in mind the TICKS checklist for safe babywearing.

Investing in a good baby sling/carrier is important for baby wearing. Choosing between a baby sling or baby carrier depends on a few factors to consider. And ultimately, the one who really chooses which to use is really your baby. So it's always a good idea to try out the sling/carrier before committing to purchase. Happy trying & shopping Mummies & Daddies! 

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Merry Xmas & Happy New Year! : )

Matrix Sensoria Spa Cream Bath Scalp Treatment @ Headlines Hairdressing

Maintaining a healthy head of hair is one of the things I try to upkeep consistently since the last time I fried my hair years ago (yea, that had me chopping off my long hair to short bob hair). Since a year ago when I found Charles (Senior Stylist from Headlines Hairdressing), he has treated my frizzy hair and had it transformed into a lustrous mane and I can't tell you how thankful I am. You probably might be able to relate that it is really difficult to find the suitable treatment which brings your hair back to life. But yes I did! (if you'd like to know what that superb treatment was, read up here).

If you have been following my blog posts, you'd know that I have just given birth to my BBG, Fayth, in September this year. What I have read when I was pregnant was that one of the perks of being a pregger is you get to have a full/thick head of hair. But what some mummies may not know is that this awesome news doesn't last long after the birth of your baby (you can read up here). Mummies on average start losing hair from 3rd month post partum and would only see visible improvement after 6 months to a year. This is caused by significant hormonal fluctuations and also possibly due to stress taking care of baby after birth. 

I've always thought of myself to have lesser hair than others. It is prominent when I tie my hair, bcuz my ponytail always ends up in a tiny bundle as compared to many of my girlfriends. Secondly, my Mom has little hair... So since young I have been mentally prepared that one day I might end up like her. : O What I've been doing these years was just to start preventive measures by using hair loss shampoo, tonic, and supplements. I've also stopped using hair sprays and minimize usage of styling products since I knew it is bad for the scalp which may cause hair falls too. So since I have read about postpartum hair loss, I contacted Charles to ask if he could help with this upcoming issue since at that time of contact I was already 2.5 months postpartum.

My healthy head of hair, credits to Charles from Headlines.

Wefie after a pampering session.

Charles recommended the Matrix Sensoria Spa Cream Bath Treatment that helps to detox and treat my scalp which could help in alleviating the hair loss phenomenon. Of course this treatment is like any other types of treatment that needs to be done on a monthly basis as maintenance, but I was willing to try any remedy which could help. Hey, you don't know... I seen and heard from alot of mummies how much hair they've shed till they're left with bad spots. A little help is better than none!

This conditioning cream treats and balances hair and scalp. It is suitable for all types of hair and even safe for breastfeeding mummies - yea you heard me right! 3 yays for BF mummies. : D The spa cream is enriched with grapefruit extract and apricot oil which deeply nourishes and hydrates the hair, leaving hair silky smooth and frizz free after use. Using this spa cream regularly helps to keep hair healthy as it contains natural ingredients.

Matrix Sensoria Spa Cream Bath was first applied onto my hair after wash, then I was sent to a steaming session which took about 30 minutes. Read a magazine and browsef through the internet on my phone and viola! done with the treatment and now just to anticipate the results.

The treatment made me feel rather relaxed and comfortable as my hair got steamed, feeling warm and sleepy - hehe.. Time passed real fast when enjoying hor. Okay lah, I think we Mummies deserve a pampering session once a while.

This was after wash & blow drying - look at my healthy and shiny mane. Super loved the fragrance from the treatment product as well. I didn't wash my hair for 2 days and my scalp still felt fresh, hair still smelt great - haha, please don't judge me!

I'll be coming back for more sessions on a monthly basis to help detox my scalp and strength my hair roots - *keeping my fingers crossed* that my hair loss is a mild one, cuz I cannot expect totally no hair loss since it is natural to shed hair after delivery... Oh ya, in case if you are wondering how much the treatment costs - its $98 per session. For a once a month maintenance to reduce the risk of having bald spots or botak head (lol), I think its pretty worth it.

P.s. I was advised this treatment is safe for breastfeeding Mummies. : )

More info below if you'd like to know more.... ; )

And do remember to make your appointments earlier since the festive seasons are just round the corner. Cheers & be Merry!

Check Out Charles' Profile Here:

http://www.headlines.com.sg/index.php/team/item/55-charles

Headlines Hair Dressing Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/headlines.hairdressing.sg

Headlines Hair Dressing Address (China Square Branch):

18 Cross Street, #01-15

China Square Central

Telephone: 6221 6866

Opening Hours:

- Mondays to Fridays 10.30AM to 8.30PM

- SATURDAYS 10.30AM to 7PM

- Sundays & Public HOLIDAYS 10.30AM to 5PM

My Plastic Surgery Review with Wish Clinic Taipei - Part 3

The rest of the days spent in Taipei was rather relaxing. Some days were spent in the apartment resting & relaxing, other days I went out to walk around but mostly just nearby or to Ximending since Zhongxiao Dunhua station was just 5 stops away from Ximending station. Zhongxiao Donglu was near the area I lived, and it is kinda an equivalent to Singapore's Orchard Road. If you're into themed cafes or just nice cosy cafes, there's a few in that district which you can visit while you're in the area.

More photos to show how the neighborhood looked like.

Walked around and stumbled onto the steps of the popular Dazzling Cafe.. Didn't try it since I wasn't an avid fan of thick toasts. Well, at least now you know where's one of their chain stores.

Some other little stores around the corner.

This building sits on the opposite side of the road to the area where I live. Most shops housed in this area are no stanger; from Uniqlo to Forever 21, Fossil and Adidas.. All in this same area. I personally went to their Forever 21 store, prices are pretty similar but their sale items are alot cheaper! It was near winter season then so most sale items were spring/summer clothing, great for our weather and priced for a steal. ; )

And this big building, is the one that houses Wish Clinic. Super easy to locate. Just look for this Korean fashion brand, SPAO... practically takes the entire space of level one. Surely not miss it!

Took my Mom to 2 themed cafes during this trip; Hello Kitty Sweets Cafe near Zhongxiao Fuxing station & Toilet Cafe which was located in Ximending. Prices of course compared to local food were expensive, but comparable to cafe prices in Singapore. Figured out what better way to spend time with my Mom having fun lunches and taking loads of Wefies together. Both cafes provided free wifi, which was great since we could post our pics while feasting.

Blogged about Hello Kitty Sweets Cafe in a separate blog post, link: http://vannytelly.blogspot.sg/2015/11/themed-cafes-in-taipei-hello-kitty_30.html

Blogged about Toilet Cafe in a separate blog post, link: http://vannytelly.blogspot.sg/2015/11/themed-cafes-in-taipei-modern-toilet.html

My Aunt took my Mom & I to a Hong Kong cafe in Ximending one noon for lunch, the food was yummy and price was affordable. The HK cafe served roasted meat and noodles, as well as Dim Sum. Three of us had a very filling lunch for SGD$50. We ordered almost a total of 10 items for that price. But unfortunately I didn't get the address or photo of the shop, super satisfied after lunch I totally forgotten to take a snap shot. Alamak *slaps face*. Will share again if I find out later! Here's just a few pictures taken to let your eyes salivate. Haha.

This was a wrong order. My Aunt wanted a Bubble Milk Tea but she ordered a Bubble Milk Dessert instead. Turns out, this was one of my fav item ordered. Super yums! Its Milk Tea ice shavings on a bed of pudding, topped with a scoop of Milk Tea Ice Cream (which was super creamy in texture!!) and a pool of pearls. Must try!

Shrimp Wrapped in Beancurd Skin

Polo Butter Bun; Hong Kong Cafe must-try.

Ain't its colour beautiful...? Haha..

Roasted Char Siew (Pork) & Roasted Chicken. I've never been a big fan of Roasted Chicken but this simply took my taste buds away. The chicken meat was super tender it almost melted in my mouth. YUMS! : P

Taiwanese Braised Beef Noodles, my all-time Fav Taiwanese dish since I was a kid. They serve a good one here. Beef meat & tendons were really tender and juicy, soup was great even wo chilli (since I could not take spicy food). Def will go back for this again when I come back to Ximending!

Salmon Sashimi was fresh.

And now it suddenly feels like im writing about food more than my surgery.. Hahaha.. Hey, its Taiwan and its all about food here!! Share with you guys one more thing, again about food.. Some days when I stayed in, I packed "Bian Dang" at this shop near my apartment. Its like our "Cai Fan" (aka Mixed Vegetable Rice) but in Taiwan they serve a wide variety of dishes compared to what we have here. Pictures to prove..!

Lady's Finger, Kelp, Pumpkin, Tomato Egg.. So simple yet super yum can!! If I'm not wrong this cost NT$65, which is equivalent to SGD$3.. Cheap right?

For carb base, there were choices of white rice, brown rice, vermicelli, and noodles. I chose brown rice to try. The salmon was super deli! This set cost approx NT$110, which is equivalent to SGD$5... How not to love Taiwan?! Lol.

Kimchi w Pork, Pork Liver, Dried Tofu, Tomato Egg.... *slurps*

A snap shot of how the place looks like. Look at the varieties of dishes, so much more than what we have in Sg!

And a snap shot of the shop. If you see some place like this next time, try it for super affordable and yummy meals. ; )

And what's a beverage not to miss when in Taiwan? Bubble Tea! On average a large cup cost NT$50, that is equivalent to SGD2+... Half the price of a large cup of Koi in Sg. Think Bubble Tea lovers will get sugar high from OD-ing on this sweet drink while on holiday. Haha.

And so that was my food diary for the trip.. So let's check out my post-op recovery process with these pics I've taken along the way. 

IDK why my face was puffy. If anyone didn't know, would think I have done fat grafting on my face or something - which I did not lah. It might be water retention or something.

What do you think of my recovery progress? Doesn't seem that bad eh?

Stitches behind my ear; wound for the removal of ear cartilage for tiplasty. Stitches were removed on the 11th day post op back in Singapore because the wound was still a little raw so I waited out a few days before getting the stitches at an aesthetics clinic in SG.

So far its been a month post op and the recovery process has been fine, results seem satisfying and I can't wait to see the final results when the swelling is totally gone. My plastic surgery journey so far has brought me new experiences; good and bad.. well I would say the thing I disliked most was the recovery process, where the initial stages looking awkward with the swelling was most annoying but honestly I couldn't care less about anyone knowing since I've already publicly shared on my blog. Think most people, esp first-timers, would hide at home and avoid seeing anyone until he/she has recovered and back looking normal. But for me I already am at the stage I would just walk around with my swollen lids, haha.. Other than this, I feel great already with my new features. I know as much as how weird it sounds, it makes me feel quite alive going through this process. Maybe the norm and the routine is so mundane I just give myself excuses to get plastic surgery done. Im not saying you should get PS done if you feel bored, just do it if it would make you happier. Choice is yours, don't listen to haters. Am ending the topic on my recent PS journey with this blog post and feel free to drop me messages or mails if you have any questions and I'll gladly help if possible. 

To read up on blog post 1, see link: http://vannytelly.blogspot.sg/2015/11/trip-to-taiwan-my-plastic-surgery.html
And blog post 2: http://vannytelly.blogspot.sg/2015/11/trip-to-taiwan-my-plastic-surgery_17.html

If you would like to see my more recent post-op pics and progress of my recovery, you can follow me on Vannytelly... Click on the links below for my pages. 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vannytelly/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vannytelly/

Themed Cafes in Taipei - Modern Toilet Cafe

If you Googled for themed cafes in Taipei, you would find a list and one of them would be the Modern Toilet Cafe. Wanting to pass some time during my recent solo trip to Taipei, I arranged for lunch with my Mom at the Modern Toilet Cafe. Come let's take a look at what the cafe had in store for us. ; )

On the ground floor you'd find a staircase leading to the dining area on the second floor.

At the entrance, you already could see decors of toilet bowls & poop. Lol. 

Toilet, anyone? : D

Arriving on the second floor was a crowd of customers dining on toilet bowls.
Looks pretty funny huh.

And this... Was my toilet bowl for that afternoon. Haha.

Seated down, we were greeted with a basin of poop - the decor under the dining table.
Fancy the view during mealtime?

Flipping through the menu, I found the prices rather reasonable. Main courses ranged from NT$200-$400, and each main course came with tea and an ice-cream. The variety was fairly wide too.

Payment was made at the cashier during order. Souvenirs can be purchased while waiting. 

There's a corner with more novelty items for sale.

Gift items were funny-looking & affordable too.

I ordered a Classic Toilet Meal - Chicken Curry with rice. I ordered this thinking it was Japanese-style curry, ended up it tasted more like local Singapore curry. Curry gravy was thick and tasteful, and generous with the chicken chunks. Its not bad if you are a curry lover. The sides that came with the rice was a clear mushroom soup that tasted bland, and a small saucer of shell-like appetizer which I did not try 'cuz I wasn't supposed to take seafood. In the top right corner you see two glasses of beverages. The simple looking one was the complimentary red tea that came with the main course, and the blue urinal drink was Bubble Milk Tea which I topped up an additional NT$50 for. The Bubble Milk Tea was not fantastic, would rather buy from bubble tea stores else where. IMO the complimentary red tea actually tasted better than the Bubble Milk Tea. Topped up only for the novelty of the cup for photo-taking actually.

Picture looks good eh? Making myself feel hungry already. : P

Mom ordered a Seafood Pesto Cream Sauce Spaghetti. She said it tasted yummy though I personally felt nothing about it. Maybe it was because I tried this after taking a bite of my Curry Chicken and made this taste less. I must say it looked pretty decent though.

The complimentary Chocolate Ice Cream tasted a little like Milo Ice Cream.
Cute and quite tasty. Poop ice-cream anyone? : D

Wefie with Mom. : D

Time for a selfie! with the Poopies. : P

Mommy wanted a selfie too!

What's this? Toilet bowl used as a basin.

Urinal display in the washroom.

Total of approx. NT$750 was spent for 2 set meals, which was equivalent to SGD$33 - price was quite affordable I would say. Of course it was more expensive than local street foods, but for this price to dine for the experience while travelling, not that bad after all lah. Here's the address and website link for more info. ; )

MODERN TOILET 便所主題餐廳

• 2F, No. 7, Lane 50, Xiníng South Rd
  Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan
  臺灣臺北市萬華區西寧南路50巷7號2樓
  (Nearest Metro: Xinmending)
• (+886) 02 2311 8822
• Mon – Sun: 11.30am – 10pm

http://www.moderntoilet.com.tw/en/