Review: Dapple -- An environmentally friendly product

6 years ago, I became a mom. 6 years ago, I became a little more paranoid. I constantly source for safer products for the home, knowing that Big K may chew toys which she had glided on the floor or perhaps even lick her crumbs off the floor! She turns out to be an extremely cautious girl and generally very well behaved, but well, you never know! Fast forward, now, I am a mommy to two beautiful children and still on the lookout for better products for the family to minimise their exposure to harsh chemicals.

I was introduced to Dapple recently and was mighty impressed. Dapple is designed by two mothers who know exactly what it takes to clean tough baby messes. Dapple products are specially formulated for households with kids. That's us!

We tried the Dapple Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid and it lives up to expectations. It is said that it will remove milk films and odour. While most liquids may be able to remove milk films if you give the bottle a good scrub, odour is another matter altogether. I always felt that our milk bottles smelt funky. No matter how long i soak the bottle with detergent or have it filled with hot water, the smell persists. However, after using Dapple Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid, the smell was eliminated. I am truly in awe of its cleaning prowess. Being non-toxic and plant-based makes the product all the more safe. Most bottle liquids on the shelf contain artificial fragrances hence they smell good. But,  according to the Environmental Working Group, it is one of the top five allergens and can trigger asthma attacks. In addition to that, some products contain Phthalates which acts as a solvent to help fragrances last longer. This isn't good as it is an endocrine disruptor. Say what? The endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep and mood, among other things. The Dapple Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid does have a smell, but it is refreshingly scented with Apricot -- the real thing! Very light! We also tried the Lavender Bottle and Dish Liquid. A nice after wash smell. I do however prefer the Apricot probably because it reminds me of the fruit itself. Greedy me. It is also free from formaldehyde which acts as a preservative. This is an eye, nose, lung and throat irritant and what's worse, it is known to be a human carcinogen! Lately, the hubs complained that my palm is getting a little rougher, no thanks to harsh dishwashing liquids. Most contain Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureate Sulfate (SLES) to help disperse ingredients for easy rinsing. While this may sound good, people can get sensitised to it and it also has drying property. That explains why my hands are getting rougher! You would be also assured by its award-winning green technology which targets milk residue and uses baking soda to combat odour. It is made entirely of plant-based ingredients which makes it worth the money! Do not underestimate plant-based products as this is super-effective at cleaning our bottles! You would also be glad to know that refill packs are available for purchase. Environmentally friendly much?

The other product which tried was the Dapple Baby Laundry Detergent. Since a long time ago, we have been using powder detergent to wash our kids' clothings. I somehow feel that it isn't all that effective as we have to put quite a bit. I have been looking for a liquid which is able to do a better job. Unfortunately, I've tried several and the smell irks me. I abhor most fragrances from laundry products. Especially laundry products because we will be wearing the clothings infused with these fragrances every. single. day. So I was very glad to know that Dapple Baby Laundry Detergent is hypoallergenic and fragrance free! Great for sensitive skin! While the hypoallergenic bit doesn't seem to matter much since most of us use the washing machine to wash our clothes, it is quite critical when it comes to hand washing our clothes. I frequently have to hand wash my kids' clothings as some dyes run. As it is, the dyes from the clothing are probably not great, we wouldn't want to add oil to the fire and have our laundry products plagued with artificial colouring and fragrances. When Big K was still very young, she constantly suffered from hives. I suspect that it is due to all these harsh chemicals which she had been exposed. Knowing that Dapple products are made of plant-based ingredients and is a trusted brand of Healthy Child Healthy World puts me at ease. On top of that, no stains were seen on my clothings . You know how it is that certain laundry liquids might stain the clothes, well not Dapple. This laundry liquid is fragrance free. By that word, I initially thought the end product will still stink and probably not be as clean. However, our laundry came out smelling clean! It is so gentle and safe that it is perfect even for newborns. Dapple Baby Laundry Detergent really hits the bullseye! In addition, we need not add a whole lot. For small to medium loads, all you need is approximately 1/3 of the cap (1st bar) whilst larger loads would need approximately half of the cap (2nd bar). It is great that the transparent cap comes with indicators.

Quality assured

Dapple is an USA brand and its products are made in USA. Their products are not tested on animals and come with refill packs which saves 68% of plastic. Not only is Dapple baby-safe, it is also kind to the environment. Dapple is a trusted brand of Healthy Child Healthy World. It is also certified by the nonprofit B Lab to have met rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. 

Do check them out over at DearBaby. They've got a good range of products from surface care, laundry care to dish and bottle care. 

You can also follow them on Facebook

Now for more exciting news :: From now till 28 February 2017, DearBaby has kindly extended a 15% discount off all Dapple products on DearBaby webstore as well as Dearbaby at JEM. Simply enter the code " dapple15janice". Do note that for purchases online, there is a minimum order of $20. Easily hit!

Review: Ultherapy. The alternative to surgical facelift

Sometime in November 2016, I was invited by LS Aesthetic Clinic to try out a new treatment of theirs -- Ultherapy: a non-surgical, non-invasive aesthetic treatment that uses ultrasound energy to lift and tighten skin, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, as well as stimulate the body's natural collagen production. My first thoughts were " ok, great, so someone realises that I am aging and am in dire need of help. Things are sagging and it is too obvious to ignore."

Growing up, I have never been too concerned about beauty. I never liked pink and hated frilly dresses. I gravitated towards mixing with the boys and even with female friends, we competed on who had shorter hair. Looking back, those were my benchmarks of beauty. So, to me, beauty wasn't on my priority list. Things were however hard for me, especially during my JC days when I had to deal with very bad acne which started sometime when I completed my O levels. Blame it on bad genes and a crazy mother who enjoys popping my pimples. It affected my self-esteem so much that would wallow in sadness at times. Comparisons got the better of me when I was surrounded by girls with flawless skin who were prowled upon by boys with chiselled faces. Following that, whilst I was dating, I was also subjected to ridicules by the bunch of friends my then boyfriend, now husband, was hanging out with. They were mean. So I was determined to change. However, no matter what facial I went to, it didn't reap much effects. Side effects yes, but not for the better. After marriage and kids, probably due to age, the acne situation got better. I did get occasional breakouts but they could be covered easily with concealer.  But something else changed. The wrinkles started appearing and I somehow felt gravity was being merciless on me. Becoming a mom changed my lifestyle on many fronts and one of them is beauty. I started to neglect myself as I tried to survive by the skin of my teeth each and every day. The clock will not stop ticking, and beauty is in your hands, so I jumped at this chance to try out this treatment which is probably the next best thing after plastic surgery or botox. 

How did the treatment go?

On that very day, their in-house medical director, Dr Allan Kok, an established aesthetic doctor in Singapore with more than 10 years of experience in various skin conditions, accessed my skin condition and confirmed that I am suitable for the therapy after a consultation. I was offered the lower face treatment. 

Oh no!! Wrinkles and saggy skin on the neck!

The nurses applied a topical numbing cream on my lower face and before the therapy, I was given painkillers. I initially didn't want to take them as I thought my threshold for pain should be pretty high given that I have gone through childbirth not once, but twice. BUT, I was thankful I took those painkillers! Before the treatment, Dr Kok explained to me that as the ultrasound energy is delivered, I will feel tiny amounts of energy being deposited to precise depths, indicating that the collagen-building process has been initiated. He informed that after the treatment I might have a bruised sensation for the next couple of days. Some people may even experience slight swelling for a week. All these were actually secondary. I was more concerned about the pain! He was candid about it and said that comfort level vary from person to person, but the sensation only lasts while the ultrasound energy is being delivered. Some may feel that it is an ant bite, whilst others may not. Well, nothing could be worse than giving birth right? 

Ultrasound imaging allows the doctor to see where the treatment energy will be delivered.
Photo credit: http://www.ultherapy.com/about-ultrasound-skin-tightening

Procedure closeup. Photo credit: http://www.ultherapy.com/about-ultrasound-skin-tightening

In all honesty, when the pulses were initiated on the bone area, it was painful. I wanted to bash someone up there and then. However, it was tolerable when it was initiated elsewhere. There were two stages. Dr Kok delivered the energy first at a deeper level -- 4.5mm where the muscle is situated and later at 3.0mm skin deep. This is below the epidermis and the dermis, where the fat and connective tissues are situated. Typically lasers and radio-frequency are only able to reach the dermis layer and to reach as deep as the muscle, the only other option is surgical facelift. Upon administering the second stage (3.0mm), probably due to the fact that I was already numbed, the sensation this time was really like a bunch of ants biting my chin. 

After the procedure, I could resume my normal activities immediately without having to follow any special post-treatment measures. In fact, right after my treatment, I dated the hubs. I told him I was going for a procedure similar to a facial and he was expecting to see a red-faced middle-aged woman. But, when he saw me, he was surprised and thought I did not go for any treatment. There were no redness or swelling immediately after the treatment. 

How Ultherapy treatment works?

Unlike lasers, radio-frequency and other technologies, Ultherapy bypasses the surface of the skin to deliver energy at optimal depths, temperature and precision. Also unique to Ultherapy is the use of ultrasound imaging, which allows practitioners to see the layers of tissue they are treating, ensuring energy is delivered safely and to where it will be most beneficial. 

While Ultherapy does not duplicate the results of a facelift, it's an exciting alternative for those who are not ready for surgery and for patients who wish to extend the effects of cosmetic surgery.

About Ultherapy

The Ultherapy treatment is the only non-invasive procedure U.S. FDA-cleared to lift skin not he neck, under the chin and on the eyebrow. Now, also the only non-invasive treatment to improve lines and wrinkles on the décolleté. Ultherapy can help you achieve a fresher, more youthful look from your brow to your chest! It is:

• Non-invasive
• No downtime
• Builds collagen
• Natural results
• Single treatment
• Safe ultrasound

Ultherapy delivers focused ultrasound energy to the same foundational layer typically addressed by surgeons during cosmetic surgery -- without cutting or disrupting the surface of the skin.

This energy initiates the body's natural response to stimulate the growth of fresh , new collagen and strengthen weak collagen. COLLAGEN! That's what every woman needs!

Some patients see an initial effect right after their treatment, but the real results appear over 2-3months as new collagen builds, gradually lifting and tightening skin.

Below are some photos I have taken since day one till now. The top left hand photo being the before-treatment photo and the bottom right photo being the most recent shot taken during Chinese New Year. I do find that the V shape face is slowly surfacing. I have naturally broad jaws and unless I break those bones or go for plastic surgery, I'm probably not gonna change much of that. However, seeing the V shape coming out is really encouraging! The skin does feel a tad tighter too even though I neglected my skin badly due to the clash with dengue. You can read it here. I was rather surprised that the skin texture is improving too despite abandoning my usual beauty regime during that one month. Even though only my lower face was treated, it feels like the collagen regeneration is spreading to my cheeks. It looks plumper. Only a single treatment is required as the collagen regeneration will continue throughout the year. Patients would usually go back yearly for followups. This is indeed an alternative to botox which I am too chicken to try.

Me thinks I am looking younger, don't you?

This was taken a few days after the treatment and I did notice a very slight swelling on one side of my face. The bashed up / muscle ache feeling on my jaws lasted for approximately 4 days.

If you think my results are too subtle (coz in the first place perhaps I don't have much sagging to begin with *denial mode), check out the below shots:

Photo credits: http://www.ultherapy.com/Ultherapy-Lower-Face-Before-And-After-Photos

Photo credits: http://www.ultherapy.com/Ultherapy-Neck-Before-And-After-Photos

This new treatment has also been creating a huge buzz in the States. Hollywood stars like Real Housewife Adriana De Moura has also opted Ultherapy as a more moderate yet effective approach. 

"A more moderate approach taken by celebs....like Reality Housewife Adriana De Moura....is to undergo anti-aging procedures like Ultherapy, what some call 'Spanx for skin'"

Indeed, beauty is a pain in all aspects. However, no pain no gain right? The pain shall pass, but the beauty will remain :)

Prices range from $260 for an Ultherapy underage treatment to $3950 (before GST) for a Full Face and neck treatment. A steal compared to plastic surgery!

Ls Aesthetic Clinic is conveniently located at Wisma Atria Office tower. Book your appointment with them today!

Details as follows: 

435 Orchard Road #10-04

Wisma Atria Office Tower

Singapore 238877

Tel: +65 67384700

Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary Lower Face Ultherapy treatment for the purpose of this review. No additional monetary compensation was received. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and written according to my experience in using the products/ services.

Big K turns 5:: A Peppa Pig Party

Yup, it's real. The kids are growing up wayyyyy too quickly! Big K just turned 5 last week and I am thankful that i was able to organise, yet again, a small scale thematic party for her. As much as I'd like to invite more friends and excite her a little bit more, i have always kept it within the immediate family and school. Namely, it is an excuse to bring together the family who otherwise would not find time to meet up as often. As well as to thank them for all their help and support. Without a village, it would have been impossible for me to achieve this much. But also, undeniably, as much as I'd like to, pushing it to a larger scale would also break an arm and a leg! Haha

This year's theme was Peppa Pig. I love dressing up a party. I mean how many years would your kid want to celebrate their birthdays with you and for that matter dress up the entire place in Elsa and Anna or Peppa. So i really treasure this process despite it being a bit of a hassle. Unfortunately for the last couple of years, we mainly held our parties in restaurants. Particularly because the hubs did not want the fuss of cleaning up and also, our house was in a perpetual mess. It still is. But this year i insisted on doing it at home. Why? Because we have just moved in our newly renovated home! It's so nice and cozy so this is definitely my first choice! Also, often when i hold it in a restaurant, what would happen was that right after cake cutting, the fil and bil and my dad would all disappear. Fil isnt someone of great patience at the dining table and dad and the bil would head out for a puff. No one bothers eating the cake. No one bothers even waiting for the kids and i to have our cakes. In fact, it would be best if we had just blew the candles and pack up. If i were to be lucky, they would try a small slice and end up complaining that the cake was way too sweet for their palettes. It is really tiring managing everyone's requirements. 

So this year, the plan was to order a small boring cake for our home party. I had my eyes set on the pretty swiss roll baked by a certain homebaker whose business name started with J. I do not wish to point her out lest i am giving her more traffic. About a 1.5weeks before the event, I contacted her. She agreed to bake us a customised swiss roll and some nutella blossoms. A few days later, the hubs announced that he might have to fly on that date and I had to push forward things by a day. I discussed with the baker who agreed to deliver a day before. No firm timing was given till a day before she said I could collect the cake between 4-5pm that fateful day. Thinking that party would only start at 6pm, I thought i would  be in time. The day before i asked for an exact time and address as well as mobile number umpteen times but after 24hrs, there was still no response. An ominous feeling loomed. All the way till noon on party day i did not hear from her! Imagine my panic! I was tethering at my wit's end! At 245pm she finally replied my private message claiming that there was some techinical fault with her system such that she wasn't able to reply me and that she wanted to inform me that her fridge could not start up! Major horrors! I was frantic and despite not being a baker, I knew that with only an hour to delivery, it was impossible to set a cake even if her fridge was working. She requested for 10minutes and i was still hopeful. I waited but after 10minutes, it was still silence. I gave a chaser and fate was sealed, we had no cake! Immediately i spammed my resourceful mummy friends as my brain was completely busted. I couldn't think straight. Thankfully lots of ideas poured in and I finally managed to calm my nerves and get a cake from Flor Patisserie. Why didn't i think of that place earlier instead if driving aimlessly for half an hour. It is just a stone's throw away! Where was the hubs all this while? Napping away! He told me to chill even if there wasn't a cake as it wasn't Big K's actual day! Does that even matter?? A cake is a cake. What is a birthday without a cake! So anyhoots, I was just glad I made it in time and managed to get a refund after 24hrs and after persistent pestering, with me issuing a threat to report the matter to the police before she finally made the refund. She claimed she was busy running around doing deliveries. Wow! So suddenly her fridge was working the very next day? Nice. It was thereafter that several friends came forth to share that this baker has a bad name on a certain baking forum on fb! Who would have known! Especially since I engaged her after seeing an ig mummy raving about it. Just my luck i guess. 

 

So the above two cakes were the ones I got from Flor. They pride themselves for their Japanese-French inspired pastries. The Cocoa Royal cake was chosen coz it resembles the muddy puddle which Peppa and George love to jump on. I was hesitant to get a chocolate cake in all honesty coz we all know how sweet that would be. However, I took the risk and surprisingly, most of the guests tried! There were also hardly any comments from them except from the FIL who commented that it was sweet after chomping down 2 large slices. The second sliced cake, Bara, was a moose cake. The MIL's birthday was actually just 2 days away from Big K's hence I had to get her a little something too right? Especially when her own 3 flesh and blood do not do much (if any at all) to celebrate for her. This, despite the fact that she isn't a big fan of cakes. So I really hope she appreciates this gesture of mine!

Next, I gotten some brownie popsicles from Garden Slug. I thought it was pretty cute and got a couple. Took out one to serve as a cake to another birthday boy -- the SIL's husband. yeah, once again, I go the extra mile for these people who don't really give a hoot about birthdays. 

On decorations. This year's effort was pretty minimal. The buntings were bought from Taobao and the rest were either printables that are easily obtainable on the net, or stuff we've already have at home. I was pretty pleased with the outcome. :)

My birthday girl, all grown up. Awwwwww....

Everybody's birthday is their birthday!

Baked cheese green mussels with Thai sauce

Food packed from a nearby Zichar store. 

Cereal prawn

Claypot rice

Herbal Chicken

Food glorious. Another tricky thing with the oldies. You see, my dad is a pretty fussy person and not a very adventurous one. He only eats Chinese. My in-laws are very critical and would comment about how bad the food is instead of pouring compliments. In addition to that, we had a small crowd. Most buffets catered to a minimum of 15 pax. I was this close to taking on the task of cooking myself which THANKFULLY I did not! How would I have been able to pull off everything plus cook? So I googled around and was glad to have found Stamford Catering. They had mini party sets catered for 8-10pax! That was awesome as we were expecting a crowd of 9 adults and 2 kiddos. Perfect. The food arrived on time and the standards were more than satisfactory. The number of receptacles given plus the whole presentation was amazing! I got to keep the claypot which came with our claypot rice! As well as a wooden container which came with our Double Boiled Herbal Chicken. All these were packed in an insulated bag which again, was mine to keep! So aunty! I don't even know when I'd have a chance to use such a big bag! The quantity of food however, in the hub's opinion was a little too little for 10pax. In fact, upon unpacking, he immediately sent me down to pack extra dishes and rice! End of the day, we had leftovers. 

So that was Part one of our little celebrations. 

On to Part two -- Celebrations in school. Even though it was a mere school party, I tried to make it as pretty as possible as well. My own obsession mostly. Big K was very excited to share this day with her friends so I had to make it as memorable as possible for her right?

Starting with the all important cake. I had waited for 2 years before Susanne from LovingCreations4u agreed to bake me a cake. Our timings somehow never seemed to gel, hence the long wait. I love how she is able to turn a simple chiffon cake into a 3D creation. In addition to that, she uses natural food colourings. It was a hit with the kids and the teachers alike. Our form teacher even emailed me later to say that she overheard the teachers raving about the cake. I was initially a little worried as the kids just had a birthday cake the day before and it was the typical creamy fondant cake. You know how kids and sweets are? They are inseparable. However, the little mashmellow surprise plus the taste of the cake went well with the kids. Many asked for seconds!

I even went to the extent of dressing up my Vitagens. haha..the kids named it Peppa-gen.

This year's party packs were of minimal effort too. I always seem to be DIY-ing something for their packs but this year, they were all bought instore and put together. A lot of thought was put into it though. Like how the girls should get a pink bag and the boys a blue. I wanted the bags itself to be useful too, and was mighty happy that I managed to source for a drawstring bag. 

So that rounds up our little celebrations for my big girl. Sigh, I can't help but wish that time would freeze! Baby, may you grow up to be a fine young lady with abundance joy and wisdom! 

Happy Birthday my apple cheeks!

Home series: Furniture shopping

Sourcing for the right furniture is an arduous job. This is especially so when you have kids in tow and a work to run! The furniture could make or break the whole look and feel of your home. Hence I took it very seriously and went to several places to check things out. Our theme is skewed towards Scandinavian modern with probably some elements or industrial. Below are some of our sharings:

Our ID brought us to this place called Next Phase at Kaki Bukit Road, Enterprise One. It houses a collection of Korean inspired furniture called Daaz. They are simple and practical and we really liked what we saw. Only problem was the price tag. This three-seater sofa for example could set you back by $3980. It was hard to resist its sleek, minimalist design though. You could check out their website here for more inspirations.

We ventured next door at Enterprise One and chanced upon this store which sells a nice collection of wooden furniture. I love the quality of the wood. It is teak and is imported from the forests of Thailand and each piece is unique as their grains will be different. The prices however is a little hard to swallow. I believe the table itself is a whopping $5000?

City Extendable Dining Set. Great for parties as I can extend it! 

Atelier TV stand

I have been seeing a couple of ads on Facebook and decided to check out this place called Nook and Cranny. As much as I enjoy clicking the mouse and browsing through tons of photos, I still feel unsettled if I can't see the actual item. So I decided make a trip down to their brick and mortar shop. They are located at Blk 514 Chai Chee Lane #02-07 and have a good range of furniture. From Chinese antique furniture to industrial furniture range. A handful of home accessories are also available to help create a unique representation of your individuality. We managed to settle our dining set by getting the City Extendable Dining Set. It is priced at $1499! Pretty reasonable I would say! We also got a matching Atelier TV stand for $899. In order to save money plus to reduce fixtures, we didn't want to custom make a TV console hence had been searching for a long while for a suitable piece that was long enough to sit in our living room and THIS was simply perfect. Most of their bulky items has to be preordered, so do take note of the waiting time.

A hidden gem is Tan Boon Liat Building. If you haven't heard about it, it is located at Outram Road. This factory building houses a handful of furniture shops. The following are some which we have found: 

Journey East. You can find an eclectic range of furnishings of reclaimed teak wood furniture and hand-selected vintage furniture pieces here. 

Address: 315 Outram Road, #03-02, Tan Boon Liat Building 

The Beuro.

This company gets their inspiration from its environment. They redefine materials to create sculptural pieces. Unique. You may find industrial and contemporary pieces here.

Address: 315 Outram Road, #03-09/10 

Mountain Teak

They are a supplier of environmentally friendly teak wood furniture. They have good designs and caters to a wide range of interior styles.

The below is yet another shop which I saw online -- Castlery. It was popping up so often on FB, it was hard to miss. Once again, I needed to visit their brick and mortar shop at Delta House to check out the quality. The staff were very helpful and their selection was totally in sync with what we were looking for. 

We placed an order for the William Sofa in Dark Gray some time in March and had to wait for a few weeks before it arrived. No hurries since our place wasn't ready. However, when we unveiled the sofa, the colour was a stark different. (See above photo). It is supposed to be dark grey but it looked like it was more green than grey! I have since feedbacked and they have since sent someone to assess. And my hunch was right! The one we received was in Charcoal whilst the one we ordered was Dark grey. They are still in the midst of sorting things out with production. It has been a week now and things have not been sorted out at the time of print. In addition to that, we bought a standing lamp and was dismayed to find that light bulb holder had melted! See below photo. That spells Fire Hazard! We have tried to look for a similar light bulb holder but to no avail. We have since gotten a holder which doesn't fit well and had to use masking tape to adhere it. Their recovery was to either to do an exchange for a different piece or a full refund for the item. This, however, has shaken our trust in the product. I mean, shouldn't it be checked and tested before it was sent to us?  We had previously bought a bed frame cum side tables from them and had no issues. This time round, we were dismayed.

Next up, is one of my favourite place to shop -- TAOBAO! the largest online shopping mall from China! Seriously, everything comes from China these days so don't judge. However, there is a huge risk especially when importing big items. Quality is questionable. When people hear the words "Made in China", automatically a stigma is formed. Most buyers are resigned to a certain degree of risk when they shop for stuff which they have not touched or seen in person and hence have to accept that some flaws are part of the cheap deal. What I end up doing at times is to sell them away if I really don't like it. Shipping wasn't too bad as I consolidated my items and went via sea mode to save on costs. If you have more stuff, you could use freight forwarders who will charge by cubic metres. It is more economical for bulkier products to be charged by CBM. Wooden furniture sold on Taobao tends to be heavy due to the material used, so if you were to go by weight, it would definitely cost you. If the items aren't too heavy, you could consider using agents such as ezbuy (formerly known as 65daigou), Peeka, Etrove and many others. The list is endless and the process of shopping on this China eBay is addictive! You can find anything from a Nordic European Sofa, to a piece of sponge for your home! Below are some of my buys:

Majorly pleased with our bar stools! We could even choose the colour of the wood! Item came 90% close to the picture.



Adding an industrial touch to my study room. It was quite hellish drilling the holes though. Fortunately, the hubs is quite a handy man and with the right tools, it was up in a jiffy. 

This was another beauty from TB. My study table. There was a great selection of colours and the wood grain is lovely. Similar ones in Singapore could set me back by more than $600. This beauty was approximately $450 with shipping. The only problem we had with this was its depth! We were too engrossed in making sure the length was right that we forgot to check its depth! It couldn't enter my main door! It couldn't be dismantled either! I had thought that most furniture would come in pieces and that we had to assemble them somewhat like Ikea items. But this particular table wasn't quite like that. The frame was fixed so there was no way to unscrew things. Lesson to self: Check with the seller how it will be packed and ask for extra protection before purchasing! Our solution: to take down our fire rated main door and squeeze it in! Mind you, a fire rated door is extremely heavy! Thank goodness for helpful neighbour who came to the hub's rescue. Hub was trying to be hero and I was no help at all considering the weight and all. Another issue I have with the table is that the drawers have not rollers and hence are tough to pull in and out. You got to be careful not to pull it all out lest the entire drawer comes off! That said, I still love how the table matches my study room. 

If you are interested, the link for the study table is here. 

My Eames inspired chair. Love it! A steal at approximately $30! Link here.

So there we have it. Furniture shopping more or less done. Next up, I will share with you how I jazz up my little abode with little knick knacks! Stay tune!