Mummy me-time: my bag and shoe addiction.

Before I became a Mum, and way before I even became my husband's girlfriend (last time, we call em Steady, LOLS), I had a hobby of buying designer goods like bags, small leather goods, and sometimes random pieces of clothing like scarves and such.

During those days, I'm not sure if you are familiar with Jean Paul Gaultier (aka JPG, the designer, not a photo file extension!), Chantal Thomass, and Sonia Rykiel. Are these people still alive??!

Remember the signature V logo (Valentino) wallet??

And Ferragamo head bands/ hair clips... Roflsssss

Oh how Valentino and Ferragamo have evolved over the decades.

Liking higher end fashion was something I would say I was born with.

Why do I say that?

My parents are normal folk who don't buy designer goods as they wont understand why theres a need to spend thousands of dollars on something which can be bought at 1/10 of the price at Metro, so there's no way I would have inherited anything LV or Chanel from them.

My younger brothers also do not fancy designer brands. Guys being guys, as long as it looks good and is priced good, they will buy.

So other than "being born with it" like an unexplained congenital disease, I don't know  how else to describe my incessant want for high end goods.

I started out with high street brands like JPG, Chantal Thomass during my sec school days, and moved on to brands like Balenciaga and LV when I got older and more spending power.

Then I moved on to even higher end brands like Chanel and subsequently (unfortunately or not :P), Hermes.

From my years of buying and selling bags and accessories, I've come to the realization that Hermes holds her value the most, for the longest period of time.

I've bought and sold several H bags along the way, and they almost always manage to break even my cost or sometimes even make a small profit.

 

 

Allow me to share some pieces from my humble collection.

 

Clean white sheets and orange boxes make my day.

My first Birkin - a gold 30cm with PHW.



I got her for my birthday last year and my heart skips a beat when I look at her pictures now.
I've since sold her because I'm finding the gold difficult to match most of my outfits and I prefer colours, but the special feeling of buying your first B lingers :) 

Hermes scarf with a pack of knotting cards which the SA threw in for me. Sometimes it is not available so I am stoked!

 

Hermes 90x90cm scarf worn as a halter at W resort during our staycation last year.

 



Lindy 34 in Rouge Garrance with my Clover charm.

Outfit of the day throwback:
Grey top with red macaw details.
Levis jeans
Ferragamo peeptoes
Hermes Lindy in Rouge Garrance.

Outfit of the day:
Leopard hearts top from random shop
Mango MNG chilli red cigarette pants
Charlotte Olympia kitty flats with red trimmings and glasses.
Hermes Evelyne GM in Etoupe

What I wore one day:
Cheong Moschino Barbie tee from Carousell
Hermes Garden Party in white
Hermes Oran slippers in white.

All white-and-pink err day.
 

Shoes of the day:
Valentino yellow rockstuds paired with my yellow blouse and culottes which I got from a boutique at United Square level 1.
Went there for kiddy stuff but ended up buying clothes for myself too.



Soufre Toolbox 26



Hubby calls my TB the Ugly Duckling bag especially when paired with my yellow Valentino rockstuds.. But don't care :P

I really like how lightweight Swift leather is, and it holds a ton without weighing down on your shoulder. The amazon strap length is just nice, not like the Lindy 34 strap is slightly too long.
Initially, I didn't really like the toolbox. Hubby said it looks funny and I think it looks like MacDonald's Happy Meal box, but after I got it, I start loving it more and more for its practicality.

One fine day, while browsing my favourite www.deluxemall.com, the stars aligned and I found my perfect little pink bag.
My Miss Yellow ugly duckling with little Miss Tosca Birkin 30.

Hermes picotin 18 (smallest) with horseshoe charm.

Purchases from H boutique in Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, when the AUD fell to an all-time low against SGD. It was my lucky day!

 

Tips for buying Hermes in Singapore:

- You're better off buying from reputable resellers like Luxlexicon, Ciaciasg.hermes and Jael99 on Instagram, than trying to play the quota game of buying small goods at the boutiques and being put on an infinite wait list.

 

 

- (cont'd from point above...) Unless of course, you really like the small accessories like CDCs, charms and clic clacs and don't mind buying them from the boutique to build up your profile.

Sometimes, CDCs and Rodeos are much cheaper in boutiques than from resellers who mark up the price to sky high amount.

When I was in Brisbane, I saw they had some lizard KDTs and Kelly dogs available which would be much cheaper after 10% tax rebate + low AUD exchange rate than if you were to buy from resellers here.

It's really a matter of being at the right place at the right time!

 

 

- Once, I walked into a boutique asking for Lindy in size 30 (as I already have one in 34). The SA told me no shipment lately so I ended up buying other stuff. Before she was about to wrap them up, she said "Oh, maybe I have something in the back room which may interest you" and popped out a Lindy 30 in Feu.

This is how H boutiques work. The quota game suck, but you still go back wanting for more >_<

 

 

- Join www.purseforum.com and read up on the Hermes authentication threads to learn how to tell the authentic engraving and blind stamps from the fake.

 

 

- Some resellers mark up like crazy, so always do your homework on www.deluxemall.com and Carousell to know the different prices charged by different sellers.

 

 

- Don't go in debt buying these stuff. Remember, you can never out-chase fashion!

Spend within your means after you have sorted out the big ticket things already: your own home, children's education monies, and invariable expenses that you cannot escape from every month like eg. maid salary, enrichment classes, tuition, bills etc.
It's also important to set aside some savings for variable expenses like spoilt electronics, car servicing and repair, holidays.

 

 

- Lastly, these bags are only material.

I can't say the same for your children, but I do know mine will lean on my bags, step on my footwear (my first and ever pair of Chanel Aloha slippers had the petals fall off due to said children stepping on them when they learn to walk), and they aren't the most careful beings in the universe.

But it's Ok for me because I'm not one who will over-pamper my stuff like bringing a bag cover or bag hanger when going out for meals / gatherings etc.

 

 

 

If you have any expert advise on shopping which I have missed out/ don't know, please kindly email me or leave a feedback :)

Ok la, that's all before I log off and go for dinner with my family.

 

I still have photos from our Tokyo and Gold Coast trip I haven't uploaded, not to mention blogging about Ashton turning THREE. I am soooooo backlogged.

 

 

Disclaimer: this post is meant to be part of the Fashion/ Beauty posts run by Singapore Mom Bloggers (SMB) community which I belong to, and is in no way meant to represent any brand or company. All photos belong to me and objects featured in photos belong to my personal collection and are not for resale. Usage of my photos without permission is not allowed.

 

 

[sponsored review] King Koil Foss Flakes pillow and bolster + Discount code at end of post =)

Hands up if you prefer your pillows and bolster soft, like me!

Hubby and I will never fight over our pillows because he prefers hard ones and me, cotton-candy soft fluffy ones.

I don't know how he does it but if I sleep on a hard pillow at night, I will wake up with a stiff neck the next morning >_<    #myChinesenameshouldbeZhenMafan

 

Luckily for me, King Koil has generously sponsored me 2 Foss Flakes pillows + 1 Foss Flakes bolster for review.

For your information, Foss Flakes comes in 2 types of hardness/softness: Firm or Soft.
So for the fairness of this review, I requested:
1 x Firm pillow (for hubby to trial)
1 x Soft pillow (for myself)
1 x Bolster (for myself)

Foss Flakes came at a very timely period and I cannot stop counting my blessings for King Koil's generosity because it's high time to throw out our old bedding.
(Warning: DISGUSTING photos to follow)


I've not done household chores for the longest time because I always leave it to my helper to change the sheets and once in a while to throw the pillows and bolsters into the washer to wash & spin.

When I wanted to throw away my old pillow and bolster, I was in for a nasty shock:

My old pillow was some memory soft gel one.

Sho dirty can? Alamak! To think I happily hugged all the germs and dirt to sleep at night.

Anyway, here's what I find about the King Koil Foss Flakes collection after using them for 2 weeks:

Ability to retain shape despite its softness:

I've ever used soft pillows which lose their shape and fluff after few weeks of use but King Koil's is just superb. It takes little to no effort to puff up at bedtime.

 

 

Comfort level:

This is subjective, varying from person to person. Hubby doesn't really like it because it's too soft.
But then again, he's the super fussy type, having tried goose down, memory foam, micro-gel etc etc, you name it!
He's got a tall order to fill.

 

Price:

 At $338 for 2, King Koil is priced among the highest, almost at the Tempur range.
However, if you're thinking of trying Foss Flakes, I have good news for you.
Just scroll down for more info :)

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For Mumzilla's readers, you are entitled to purchase 2 of King Koil's luxurious pillows at only SGD$128!

Without discount, the UP is $338. If you do your math, that's more than a whooping 60% off discount!
Enter the code "MUMZILLA128" to enjoy this special offer, valid until 31 August 2015.
Click HERE to buy
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Blog Train: Small spaces at home.

Hi everyone!

I haven't done any personal posts for quite some time, aside from our traveling posts that is :)

This blog post is the last installment of Blog train series by a group of Singapore Mom Bloggers, entailing about how you make use of small spaces at home.

 

In land-scarce Singapore, the vast majority of us stay in high-rise apartments.

As we all know, children require so much s p a c e, I don't even know where to start.

Space for them to conduct their activities, space to park their vehicles (trikes, scooters, skates, ride-ons etc), space for their height-specific furniture (tables, chairs, bed, shelves).

Most importantly, children need lots of space for TOYS and BOOKS.

 

Here's a virtual tour of our humble home, a 3 bedroom apartment in a quaint little neighbourhood in the East of Singapore.

Adam has just turned 6 (2009 Ox baby) and will be going to Primary One next year - honeymoon's over, baby!

Ashton will be turning 3 in August (2012 Dragon baby). He is very much our last baby, which explains why most of the baby stuff like rocker and baby toys are still hangin' around.

I don't think I can ever bear to give his toys away! And when that day dawns, imma cry me buckets ;(

 

This is the children's Play Room, in which our helper sleeps.
The white IKEA shelf was a hand-me-down from my good friend, colleague, cum fellow mummy.
Right now, toys take up most of the space in this shelf, but I am trying to slowly build up their book and puzzle collection.

This brilliant calender clock is also gifted by the same friend who gave us the IKEA shelf :P
I feel extremely blessed that I do not have to go source for this because I know quality wooden toys are very hard to come by, and expensive.
In the background, the giraffe toy storage is used to keep all their nick nacks.
This, plus all those IKEA storage boxes on wheels. Oh gawd, one has no infinite idea how many things children have until one has real children of his/her own *shocked*

The boys' bedroom.

 

Just a little more info about me - I resigned and stayed home for 3 months when we first got our house keys.
Although I was a SAHM so-to-speak, there wasn't much staying-home to do, with all those calls and meet-ups with contractors, carpenters, landscape company etc.

Here are some ideas which I'd like to share with you:
1) If you can, source for your own contractors, carpenters, handyman, landacape company etc.
That way you'll save A LOT by striking off a middle-party known as Interior designers.


2) Don't be afraid to drop in on the construction works several times during the day.
I usually drop by to buy drinks, then buy lunch, buy coffee and tea for the workers. It makes them very happy. Happy workers = increased productivity on your freakin' home.
And also, don't be shy to ask for the extra layer of lacquer on your parquet, add another layer of silicone sealant around your sinks & bathtub, or to plaster-up that chipped corner.
Because you are nice and generous to them, they will be less likely to cut corners on you :)


3) If you have a balcony, which most new homes now do, consider making it a feature for the perfect wind-down relaxation after a long day at work.
We decked up the whole balcony and installed a koi pond which has seen been the centre of attention for kiddy visitors to our place.


4) Don't be afraid to get colourful, and who says boys can only have blue?
Colours such as green, neon pink, red, grey, navy, lime green, add cheer to the children's rooms.


5) Getting your house professionally cleaned before the big move-in is a lifesaver.


6) Packing is a pain in the ass, so do up your bomb-shelter shelves / storage cabinets FIRST thing before you move-in.
Trust me, once your boxes of stuff are unloaded from the lorry, you never want to unpack those barangs ONLY to pack them up the shelves later on all because you skipped this step in your moving enthusiasm.


In case you couldn't tell, I am quite the neat freak bordering on OCD and I attribute it as part of being a nurse :P
Hope you enjoyed reading!
This post is part of the Small Spaces blog train, which is hosted by Justina aka "Mum in the Making" (http://makingmum.blogspot.com)

Next up on this blog train is Libby, another fellow Mum-blogger.

Libby blogs at http://littlebowgirl.com.
She's married to her university sweetheart and OCD husband who thinks he does housework (and everything) better than her.
She is Mama to 15-month-old Sophie-Rose and runs a business from home selling handmade clothes and dresses.
Read about how she tries to reignin her innate dreaminess and messiness and finds space for her bub's overflowing clothes and shoes collection.

June holidays trip: Shangri-La at Cebu Philippines PART 1.

Hello everybody! The Tan household just got back from Cebu Philippines and we had so much fun.

We stayed at Shangri-La resort and I must say, their service is excellent. Way surpassed my expectations in terms of friendliness, helpful staff, and being accommodating to our requests and needs (eg. late check-out, adding on of sofa bed for the kids, on-site babysitting and drop-off services).

In fact, after being to Maldives the last trip, sorry but the service standards of Vilamendhoo left much to be desired.

 

So here's an overview of our family vacation at Cebu, Philippines.

The resort had several pools but the main pool had a water playground and water slide for the kids.



As parents, one of the first things we did was to locate the childcare centre.
Fun zone for kids, sanity for parents!

Each child is entitled to 2 hours per day FREE play inside the Adventure Zone indoor playground.
Do note that all kids need to wear long sleeved tops and socks to enter.

If you're in for some arcade fun, it's right next door to the Childcare Centre.

 

Do check out PART 2 and PART 3 of our Cebu trip here for more outdoor and sea-sport activity!