Cayla’s Newborn Shoot by Ashley Low Photography

Posted on September 21, 2016 by missuschewy

Hello chewy chewy friends! I’m finally ready to share Cayla’s newborn photos that were taken by Ashley when Cayla was 7 days old! Ashley is the only photographer in Ashley Low Photography which was started about 4.5 years ago, specialising in Newborn and Baby Photography. She has undergone specialised Newborn Photography training both in UK 2013 and subsequently, in Australia 2015. Besides that, Ashley also provides photography services for maternity, babies (3-12 months old), and family.

Prior my delivery, I received very detailed preparation guidelines pertaining to the newborn shoot so that I know what is provided by the studio, the duration of the session, what to bring along to the studio, and what to expect after the photoshoot. I was certainly very impressed by all the concise details given in the guidelines and this made me feel at ease before the photoshoot. I didn’t have to ask a hundred and one questions and I definitely didn’t feel lost when we reached the studio. Ashley’s studio is located at Oxley BizHub, and it’s clean, cosy and spacious. It felt as though I walked right into someone’s home!

Ashley’s studio is very well-equipped and super baby-friendly. There’s a diaper changing station, complete with wet wipes and diapers sponsored by Merries! Parents need not panic if they forget to bring or run out of diapers at any point of the photoshoot. There’s also a private area for nursing, as well as hot water boiled in an airpot every morning, if you need to warm up or prepare milk for your little ones.

A pantry that is well-stocked with snacks and drinks!

Look at that huge array of props! It is also a nice area for children to get warmed up before a shoot. It didn’t take long for Chanelle to help herself to the toys!

Ashley was building rapport with Chanelle and that made Chanelle less shy during the siblings and family shoot.

According to Ashley, the best time to conduct a newborn photoshoot is when your baby is around 5 to 12 days old because they spend most of their time sleeping and hence, it’s easier to position them in various poses. Not forgetting putting on the cute outfits and accessories too! I was a little worried at first because Cayla was unusually awake at the studio even after her milk feed. To think I had told Ashley that Cayla could sleep hours on end at home! Haha looked like the little one was trying to prove something else! However, my fears were unfounded. It was an eye-opening experience watching how Ashley and Samantha (one of Ashley’s assistants) shush Cayla to sleep by gently rocking her and playing white noise that mimics the womb’s rumbly sounds. Takes plenty of patience too and that’s definitely one of the most important and inherent qualities of an amazing newborn and baby photographer.

Much to my relief, Chanelle was pretty cooperative during the shoot, despite going through the Terrible Twos stage. Hurhur. I’m also very glad that Ashley managed to make Chanelle smile genuinely, which made the siblings shots turn out extra nice!

Before the shoot, Ashley had also informed us that if Cayla was unsettled or showed signs of discomfort, she would not attempt to push the poses and would just move on and do what Cayla was comfortable with. It was evident that throughout the shoot, Ashley placed emphasis on Cayla’s well-being and safety, while striving to get the perfect shots at the same time. Despite Cayla staying awake for the first half of the shoot, the photos turned out much better than I had expected and I believe the following photos speak for themselves!

With the wide variety of props and setups available, Ashley aims to change up to 5 different sets/concepts for each newborn shoot. If you have any preference towards floral, prints, neutral or pastel colors, etc, you can always let Ashley and her team know at least one day prior the shoot so that they can get everything ready and start the shoot pronto. Setup wise, Ashley provides a variety such as fabrics, baskets, beds, beanbags, and themes.

Fabric setup. Love the bright sunshine yellow colors in this one!

Hahaha omg Cayla looks 100% like misterchewy here! XD

Basket setup. This is definitely my favorite setup of all! So heart-meltingly sweet and there’s a whimsical feel to it.

I brought the name banner and donuts along because of the Donutella character and Ashley managed to incorporate them nicely!

Bed setup. Awww I could just sit and gaze at sleeping babies all day.

Theme setup. This was pretty impromptu and I borrowed the Singapore flag from my MIL when we picked Chanelle up for the shoot. Whenever I look at this photo, it will remind me of Cayla’s birth story!

We had our Family shoot to wrap things up! Chanelle is generally a very smiley and cheerful girl but it’s wonderful how Ashley captured her playful side through all her cheeky expressions! It really brightens up my day just by looking at these photos!

Our experience with Ashley Low Photography was nothing short of amazing! For more info on Ashley’s photography services, click here and also follow her on Facebook and Instagram!

*Mention MISSUSCHEWY and get $50 off the session fee for any shoots! Valid for full priced session only. Offer is till 30 June 2017.*

Baby Cayla’s Birth Story – 9 August 2016

Posted on August 19, 2016 by missuschewy

Chewy Junior #2 is finally here! Our second princess was born on 9 August 2016, which makes her a National Day baby. Just like her elder sister, Baby Cayla was also delivered on a CHEWSDAY (Tuesday lol) and is a 40w5d baby. Amazing, isn’t it? Many people told me that I might deliver earlier since this is my second child. On the contrary, I worked through 40 weeks and 3 days of pregnancy. My last day of work was on 5 August, Friday, and I was joking to my colleagues that I hope the situation would be exactly the same as two years ago. Last day of work on Friday, enjoy Saturday and Sunday, rest at home on Monday, and deliver on Tuesday. Only difference is that it would be extra special because of National Day. My wish came true!

When I was resting at home on Monday, I was wondering if there is even a possibility of delivering the next day because I didn’t feel anything at all. Knowing that lying down all day wouldn’t help, I decided to exercise as a natural way of inducing labour. I went to wash toilet! LOL. But not very hardcore kind la. Still no feeling. When the hubs came home from work, I told him, “Aiya until now no feeling leh. So sad. Confirm no chance to be the first National Day baby liao”. Hahaha XD Machiam I super patriotic kind.

The hubs went to bed early but I watched Korean drama until 3am. Then I went to sleep. At around 4am, I felt warm water gush out from you-know-where and I went O_O !!! I didn’t expect my water bag to burst at home because for my first pregnancy, my gynae burst my water bag for me. Initially, I was shocked, and then “National Day baby, here I come!” Hahaha siao I know. I woke the hubs up, “Eh! Zhihao! My water bag burst leh!” He jumped out of bed. I was quite calm on the other hand. Told him to switch on the water heater for me because I want to take a shower and wash my hair first! I think I took too long because he was waiting outside the bathroom and told me not to shower for too long. I even blow dried my hair before we made our way to Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Reached at around 5.30am and went straight to the Admissions counter. Upon knowing that my water bag had burst, the staff told me to sit on the wheelchair, much to my bewilderment. “NO NO I don’t need a wheelchair..!” But of course, I was being wheeled to the delivery ward after the staff said, “Mam, because your water bag has burst. Don’t worry, there’s nobody around at this hour to see you in a wheelchair.”

Got changed and a couple of nurses prepped me up. Felt a bit of contractions coming in and the intensity grew a little as time passed. Dr Chia Yee Tien, my gynae since my first pregnancy, arrived close to 9am and carried out the vaginal examination. Shall spare you the details but I knew something was amiss from the tone of Dr Chia’s voice as she was speaking to the nurses. Dr Chia said my water bag did not burst fully and instead of baby’s head, she felt baby’s fingers instead. This meant that baby was in a transverse-lie position, which is the most dangerous position before delivery. Dr Chia tried to turn the baby but baby was too high up. I was already panicking and screaming in pain. Both Dr Chia and another nurse pressed hard on my belly, trying to shift baby’s position but in the end, if I’m not wrong, the umbilical cord kinda blocked the delivery pathway too. Ok to cut the long story short, I had to be wheeled into the operating theatre for an emergency caesarian section. There was quite a bit of shouting going on and I nearly broke down. To make matters worse, the hubs wasn’t around because he had stepped out to buy some drinks. I reached out for my iPhone underneath the pillow and sobbed, “Where are you? I’m going for emergency caesarian now..!” I was so traumatised by the sudden turn of events that I started to shake uncontrollably. An anaesthetist arrived and he assured me that I will be alright. I was given anaesthesia to inhale and then I went out like a light.

When I regained my consciousness, my eyelids were very heavy and I had difficulty opening my eyes. I could only hear what was going on around me and I knew I was being wheeled somewhere. A male and a female, presumably nurses, carried and shoved me onto another bed. I cried out in pain because the area where I was operated upon really hurt! I was groggy and I remembered being super whiny about the pain. I could hear the hubs talking to me and holding my hands but I couldn’t really open my eyes for a while.. I felt cold and sleepy. After the anaesthesia wore off, the hubs showed me a couple of photos he took of Cayla when she was out of the OT.

Oh my! Cayla looks so much like her jiejie at birth! Hahaha. I pointed to the inhaler thingy and the hubs explained that Cayla was given some oxygen.

Cayla was 3.38kg and 52cm at birth. Very slightly bigger than her jiejie by 0.02kg and 1cm! Can’t believe they are so similar already!

Glad we bought the Singapore flag and managed to put it to good use! Never waste our 90 cents lol. And luckily I didn’t forget to bring this milestone card from Toddley Thoughts along!

Chanelle jiejie came to visit!

When we asked Chanelle if she wanted to carry meimei, her eyes lit up and her hands were outstretched, ready to carry Cayla.

A big sisterly hug.

I was really touched when I saw how lovingly jiejie was gazing at meimei.

Another big hug because I love you so much!

Well, it looks as though jiejie is ready to kick the arse of those who bully meimei. Haha let’s hope there’s no need for that.

This time I stayed in ward 4373. Two years ago, I stayed at the adjacent ward, 4375. If you are keen, you can read about Chanelle’s birth story here.

Our very first updated family photo taken on 9 August 2016 🙂
Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy

The Chewys’ Outdoor Maternity Photoshoot 2016

Posted on August 9, 2016 by missuschewy

HELLOOOOO! Just in case you guys are wondering, I have not delivered yet! Chewy Junior #2 is already overdue by a few days! Who says second one will come out earlier? Obviously not true! Haha. Ahlamak, both kids also find my womb too comfy! Shall keep this post short and sweet because it’s my bedtime! We had our outdoor maternity photoshoot with Dphotofolio when I was 37 weeks pregnant. Alvin was our photographer back then so we decided to contact him again. Enjoy the photos! 🙂 In the meantime, I will be updating my Instagram @missuschewy and Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy so see you guys over on the other side!

Chewy Junior #2 is on the way!

Posted on May 25, 2016 by missuschewy

YES WE ARE PREGNANT!! 😀 We have been keeping this a secret for the longest time!
This piece of good news totally caught us by surprise last year because misterchewy and I weren’t planning for a second child so soon as we wanted to wait till Chanelle is slightly older. However, what has happened has happened, and there’s no turning back lol. I have always wanted to have at least two kids by 30 but didn’t have the courage to do so. I guess it’s fated! 🙂 I’m currently in my third trimester and will be popping sometime in August! We are keeping baby’s gender a surprise for now! 😉 As with my first pregnancy, Chewy Junior #2 has been pretty kind to me and I’m constantly in high spirits, even at work. Haha! During my first trimester, I experienced only very mild morning sickness but I was extremely lethargic especially during the first 6 weeks when I didn’t know I am pregnant! It’s weird that I still do not have any weird or strong cravings, just the occasional fast food perhaps. I’m thankful for being pregnant because I can indulge in ice cream before bedtime without any guilt! LOL. You should check out our fridge! We have like 4 tubs and 2 boxes of ice cream!

I was about 5 months pregnant when we were in Japan, and it wasn’t the case that I wasn’t really showing yet. The thick layers of clothing helped to conceal my baby bump a little 😛 Here’s a clearer recent photo of 3 plus 1! 🙂 It feels really surreal that misterchewy and I are gonna be new parents all over again soon! Little misschewy is equally excited because we told her she’s gonna be a jie jie! Well, WE LOVE KIDS!! *Throws confetti and sprinkles baby dust* 😀

5 Reasons Why Merries Walker Pants is the Best Diaper for Your Active Child!

Posted on May 12, 2016 by missuschewy

– Advertorial –

From time to time, I find myself browsing the numerous photos that I have taken of Chanelle since she was a newborn. I feel a tinge of sadness that she is no longer an innocent little baby with chubby fat rolls, yet at the same time, I am proud that Chanelle has now grown to become a feisty, inquisitive and increasingly active toddler. As parents, misterchewy and I firmly believe in providing only the best for our child if it is within our means. Needless to say, comfort is a top priority for us as it affects our child’s well-being across all levels on a daily basis.

We find that this is especially true in the case of diapers for Chanelle, who has not really shown signs of readiness for toilet training at the moment. As with most young children, Chanelle has sensitive skin and she has tried various brands of diapers, even progressing from tape diapers to pants diapers now. We have always wanted to make the switch to pants diapers ever since Chanelle could start walking at 16 months but the diaper samples that we got either did not fit well, thus resulting in messy leakages, or were not absorbent enough which caused her skin to develop diaper rash. We almost gave up on our search for the perfect pants diapers until we discovered Merries Walker Pants soon after she turned two!

We put the new and improved Merries Walker Pants to the test, and here are 5 reasons why Merries Walker Pants is the best diaper for your active child!

1. Exceptional Breathability

Made in Japan with premium quality, Merries Walker Pants exudes exceptional breathability, which is very important in my opinion because Chanelle is extremely active. Even at home, she doesn’t walk, but dashes around and likes to climb everything in sight. She perspires easily and the last thing I want to worry about is her skin developing diaper rash just because heat and moisture are not released throughout the day! Merries Walker Pants is designed with an all-round breathable sheet to release heat and moisture not only from pee but also perspiration, by allowing air to flow freely between the diaper and the skin. I’m particularly impressed by the airy channels around the waist of the Merries Walker Pants which allows heat and moisture to escape from the top as well! I can now rest assured that Chanelle stays dry all day, thanks to Merries Walker Pants’ exceptional breathability!

2. Comfortable Waist Fit

Thanks to Japan’s extensive research, Merries diapers provide ultra-comfort to babies. The soft gathers around the waist fit snugly and hold the diaper in place such that even when Chanelle’s diapers were full and heavy, her pee did not cause the Merries Walker Pants to slide down her waist. I’m also glad that given Chanelle’s round tummy and chubby yummy thighs, Merries Walker Pants do not cause her skin to develop any red marks or abrasions. I attribute this to the improved, cottony soft material used in Merries Walker Pants, thus giving my active toddler extra comfort! In addition, I have extra faith in Merries as Merries has been awarded a “Good Design Award” for its amazingly comfortable fit! (http://web.kao.com/sg/merries/gda/index.html)

3. Color-changing Wetness Indicator

Gone were the days when we had to keep grasping and patting Chanelle’s butt to determine if it was time for her diaper change! Plus, this old method was not fool-proof! Now, we only need to peek into her shorts or skirt. When the wetness indicator strips turn from yellow to dark green, we know that it is time to change her diaper!

4. Side Seal is Softer and Easier to Tear

Once again, I’m fascinated that the Merries Walker Pants have been designed with a softer side seal that is made easier to tear, resulting in less messy diaper changes especially when poo is involved.

Diaper changes are no longer a struggle! Once the wetness indicator turns to dark green, tear the seals at both sides to remove diaper. Roll the pants diapers up and seal firmly with the tape at the back and dispose! Easy peasy!

5. Merries Total Range and new XXL pants

Merries Walker Pants carry the largest range of pants sizes, which run from size M to the new addition, XXL. XXL can fit children from 15 kg up to 28 kg, which is the only brand that caters to the heaviest weight range.

I always receive comments that Chanelle is such a cheerful girl and I believe that a good disposable diaper contributes to this in one way or another. Merries Walker Pants supports freedom of movement in an active child, from playing to sleeping and leaves her skin free from any rash or discomfort.

Merries keeps your child merry all day! Request for Merries Walker Pants samples here and let your child experience the ultra comfort that she/he deserves. You can find out more about Merries via Merries’ website and don’t forget to ‘Like’ Merries’ Facebook page to stay updated on Merries promotion!

Tokyo Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth

Posted on April 11, 2016 by missuschewy

OHAIYOU! It has been two weeks since we got back from our Japan trip and we are still suffering the post-holiday blues! Before we share more about our Japan itinerary as highly requested already by a number of readers, we will first be doing a series of short posts on certain places of interests. Of course, we will kick things off by sharing our trip to Tokyo Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth! This was my third visit, misterchewy’s second and Little misschewy’s first!

Little misschewy’s birthday was on a Friday but after much deliberation, we decided to go to Disneyland a day earlier to avoid the weekend crowd. A few weeks before, we bought our tickets via Tokyo Disneyland’s website, which in our opinion, is a highly recommended move if you want to get into the theme park as swiftly as possible! WHEEE! WE ARE READY! 😀

We went straight for the Castle Carrousel ride at Fantasyland!

Spinning teacups and saucers at Alice’s Tea Party!

Fly on a pirate ship to Never Land at Peter Pan’s Flight!

This is nice but be prepared to queue at least an hour!

Dumbo the Flying Elephant!

Somehow, I was quite amused by the sight of all these parked strollers. Haha.

Little misshewy actually ran towards the Castle Carrousel and gave us a cheeky smile, indicating that she wanted to go on the ride again.

We managed to catch the colorful Daytime Parade, “Happiness is Here”!

This colorful parade filled with fun will make your heart thrill with happiness. Goofy leads the parade followed by a float designed with a huge Mickey Mouse toy. And there’s a float that expresses the vibrant, lovely world of the Disney princesses and fairies, and lots more. The parade presents all kinds of happiness for you to experience.

After all the excitement, we took a short break by stopping at one of the restaurants at Disneyland for lunch. As expected, the food was overpriced and tasted mediocre. But we really needed to rest our legs plus the little one was sleeping in the Tula.

Pooh’s Hunny Hunt at Toon Town!

HAHAHA Little misschewy was frightened by the weird lightings and loud noises from the honey shooting game.

I think Little misschewy adores Donald Duck as much as I do! She was shouting “Nonald Nuck! Nonald Nuck!” but it was a pity they stopped allowing people to queue for photos with Donald 🙁

We saw many kids and teenage schoolgirls with popcorn buckets slung around their necks and couldn’t resist getting one for Little misschewy as well. Actually, there are plenty of other designs but we were too lazy to scout for them. This is one of the popular designs featuring characters from Frozen.

We got the normal Caramel flavoured popcorn but if you are popcorn connoisseur like one of our neighbours, you can also try the other flavours such as Salt, Curry, Chocolate, Honey, Strawberry and Soy Sauce & Butter! You can’t get all flavours at one location, so check the map!

This girl really very happy leh!

We managed to get one miserable Fast Pass at Tomorrowland and we used it for Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek!

It was quite a run ride and our first time on it!

After Little misschewy’s diaper change and milk feed at the Baby Center, we headed to one of the shops and these caught my attention!

If you refer to the photo of our lunch earlier, you will notice that this is a mini replica of our pork katsu bun!

I bought the miniature Donald Duck popcorn bucket but now I kinda regret not getting the pork katsu bun and Mickey pancake!

I think it was about 7pm when we sat and joined the crowd for the Nighttime Parade, “Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights”.

The Disney stars are literally sparkling in this nighttime parade of lights and music. With Mickey and his pals, including characters from Aladdin, Toy Story and other Disney films, appearing on colorful floats, nighttime in the Park is even more fantasy-filled.

After the intriguing Electrical Parade, we rushed off to It’s A Small World at Fantasyland. As children of the world sing, enjoy the “happiest cruise that ever sailed”. This is one of my favourite rides in Tokyo Disneyland and I love to experience this all over again each time I visit the park.

Fireworks were cancelled so we decided to leave as it had been a long and fruitful day for us!

Last minute souvenir shopping!

Here’s a brief outline of our itinerary which we promise to share in greater detail! In the meantime, check out these 16 Hotels near Tokyo Disneyland That Have the Wow Factor by HotelsCombined to complete your Disneyland experience with the entire family.

THE CHEWYS’ MARCH 2016 JAPAN 10D9N ITINERARY
(Tokyo – Osaka – Kyoto – Kanazawa – Shirakawago)

Day 1: Singapore to Narita Airport > JR Narita Express to Tokyo > Check into Airbnb at Kita-Ikebukuro > Asakusa Temple & Shopping Street > Shopping and dinner at Sunshine City

Day 2: Tokyo Disneyland

Day 3: Tsukiji Fish Market > Ueno Park > Shopping at Ameya-Yokocho Market > Tea at Fujiya Peko-chan Milky Restaurant > Pokemon Centre at Sunshine City > Dinner at Ichiran

Day 4: Tokyo DisneySea

Day 5: Fujiko•F•Fujio Museum (Doraemon Museum) and Doraemon Cafe > Shopping and dinner at Harajuku

Day 6: Shinkasen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka > Check into Airbnb at Shin-Osaka > Osaka Castle > Dinner at Dotonburi (Namba station, Midosuji line)

Day 7: Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto > Kiyomizu-dera Temple > Kimono rental and outdoor photoshoot > Dinner at Kichi-Kichi Omurice > Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka

Day 8: Thunderbird Limited Express from Shin-Osaka to Kanazawa > Check into Hotel Nikko Kanazawa > Kenroku-en Garden > Kanazawa Castle > Lunch at Sushi Zanmai > Omicho Market > Higashi Chaya District > Tonkatsu dinner at Tomikinton (富金豚)

Day 9: Nouhi bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go > Sightseeing around Shirakawa-go > Nouhi bus from Shirakawa-go to Kanazawa > Thunderbird Limited Express from Kanazawa to Shin-Osaka > Dinner at Dotonburi (Namba station, Midosuji line)

Day 10: Kansai Airport Limited Express “Haruka” from Shin-Osaka to Kansai Airport > HOME SWEET HOME

We will be covering more on our Japan trip, so do stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy for more updates! 🙂

Share Your Special #MyMandai Moments and WIN Vouchers!

Posted on January 29, 2016 by missuschewy

– Advertorial –

Through my growing up years, I had made numerous trips to the Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park. There is always so much to see and do at these nature attractions that it really never gets old! Apart from the occasional trips with my parents and younger brother, excursions organized by my primary school teachers were equally fun-filled. One of #MyMandai moments is riding on this adorable little pony at the Singapore Zoo when I was about 5 or 6 years old! I was excited yet nervous at the same time, hence the slightly awkward smile. Hehe. Check out the full story behind this picture here!

When misterchewy and I started dating in mid 2010, I was a little surprised when he suggested a trip to the Singapore Zoo so that we could both relive our childhood memories together. Haha I guess that is what most newly dating couples like to do! Look, we even brought Sally and John along!

It was during our zoo trip that we discovered our common passion for photography. I also vividly remember that it started to pour midway and we ran to the nearest cafe to seek shelter. It was when we chatted endlessly and took random selfies while waiting for the rain to stop. This has got to be our unforgettable #MyMandai moment!

I’m glad our relationship took off from there and now that we are parents, it is only natural that we want Little misschewy to experience the same joy and excitement as we did visiting Mandai’s wildlife parks during our younger days. Since one of her first words is “bird”, we decided to take her to Jurong Bird Park where she could be charmed by a plethora of birds! She was 16 months old at that time and it has been a good six months since our last visit!

I bet she didn’t know that penguins are not like all the other birds; they can’t fly but they can swim. Just look at her face. She’s probably thinking, “You guys gotta be kidding me right? Are those birds or fishes?!” LOL. Marvelling at the penguins swimming gracefully could be Little misschewy’s #MyMandai moment!

Looking back, the Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park certainly played a special and significant role in my life. I’m proud to say that I’m one of the many Singaporeans who grew up with these nature attractions and it was nostalgic recollecting #MyMandai moments. In January 2015, it was announced that the Mandai area will be rejuvenated into a nature precinct. There are also plans to add more nature attractions in the Mandai area which is really an exciting piece of news for us!

Do you have a special #MyMandai moment too? It’s time to start digging out old photo albums and take a trip down memory lane!

The Mandai Team has launched a photosourcing campaign last December to call for the public to send in their earliest or best memories of Mandai’s wildlife parks. I had a great time browsing memories from other contributors too.

Share your personal special #MyMandai moment at mymandai.com! By sending in your best #MyMandai moments, you can see your memories being brought to life in the growing digital mural over the next two months. See the grand reveal at the Singapore Zoo entrance from 29 January 2016 onwards or check here to see the digital mural grow! It could be at any of these wildlife parks — Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, River Safari and Night Safari. Receive a $10 F&B voucher from Wildlife Reserves Singapore for the first 1000 memories submitted and $100 F&B voucher from Wildlife Reserves Singapore for the most moving memory of the week!

5 Must-Have Items For Stylish Mothers

Posted on December 5, 2015 by missuschewy

Just because I’m a mother doesn’t mean my sense of style has to go out the window. No “mom jeans” for me! But it is true that as a mother, your style evolves. You start wearing clothing based on the baby – don’t wear a dress you don’t want spit-up on; don’t wear heels too high for you to run from one end of the room to the other in a hurry; don’t wear anything too revealing. But – again, that doesn’t mean you have to totally abandon your favorite pieces just because you’re with child.

All it takes is a little adjusting to make outfits work for your lifestyle. And if you do it right, what you wear will actually enrich your lifestyle rather than simply existing within it. What do I mean? Check out these five examples of things to wear as a mom with a busy schedule but an appetite for style.

1. Basic Layers

Layering your soft basics is perfect for those days you don’t have enough time to get ready. With sleeves and fits that aren’t constricting, you’re able to do practically anything necessary in order to complete everything on your to-do list. It’s also helpful that layering is stylishly minimalistic.

2. Comfortable Flats

If you haven’t learned by now, wearing uncomfortable shoes can be comparable to walking on a bed of nails. “Look to chic ballet flats,” like this page suggests, and you’ll be able to focus on the task at hand rather than your throbbing feet.

3. A Carry-All Bag

The things you carry should not be carrying you – meaning, you should have a do-it-all bag to keep your essentials safe in one place. Real Simple did a great job of rounding up inspiration, listing large bags and diaper bags for the stylish mom.

4. Stylish Sunnies

This list of fashionable looks for moms recommends sunglasses as a standalone fashion statement. Even more, a pair of sunglasses is great for hiding tired eyes after long nights.

5. Stretchy Pants

For the countless moments you spend picking things up off the ground and moving in ways you didn’t think would be necessary, a pair of pants that moves with you is a must-have. Luckily, joggers and athleisure garments are the perfect mix of trendy and stretchy.

Being a mother is not only a most rewarding experience, but it also gives me a chance to see my personal style in a new light. Finding new tricks to making my fashion functional has not been simple, but it helps seeing other sources of inspiration out there.

Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa Penang

Posted on November 26, 2015 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Post –

Earlier, we reviewed Golden Sands Resort Penang and we are gonna do a quick post on Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa today. When we were in Penang, we spent the entire day in Georgetown before checking in for a night in the evening. Rasa Sayang is located just next to Golden Sands.

We stayed at one of the newly refurbished Garden Wing rooms which had a spacious and airy, nature-inspired ambience. Elegant yet understated, the family-friendly Garden Wing allows guests to feel relaxed and at ease. The Garden Wing rooms are designed with the family in mind, marrying function and beauty, both practical yet elegant.

All rooms are serviced by the resort’s housekeeping team at least twice daily. Each room is facilitated with an in-room locker, data port for internet, IDD telephone with voice mail, satellite television with non-stop in-house movies, and more!

The bedroom is furnished with a separate shower and bathtub as well as Shangri-La’s collection of bathroom amenities, hair dryer, slippers and bathrobes.

The 189 rooms and suites at Garden Wings are breezy and pleasant, offering accommodation which features views of the sea and gardens. Most of the suites feature a spacious terrace with a separate sitting room and parlour, giving it a touch of home.

We took a buggy ride to Golden Sands Resort so that Little misschewy could have her dose of fun at Adventure Zone, a modular play area designed for kids of all ages.

The 10000 square foot facility has a comprehensive indoor playground with three categories of drop slides and multiple sections of modular play equipment. The main highlight are the drop slides, which have been proven to be extremely safe and offer a high level of enjoyable for both children and adults.

This is the toddler-friendly area that was more suitable for Little misschewy.

Can’t say no to her favorite ball pit!

We had breakfast at the Spice Market Cafe the morning before we checked out. It is a casual restaurant that offers authentic ethnic cuisines from diverse cultures such as Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Thai and also Western. Located on the ground floor of the Garden Wing, the restaurant is right beside the swimming pool under the rain trees.

Hearty breakfast before we make our way to the airport for our flight back home! Daily buffet breakfast at the Spice Market Cafe is from 6.30am to 11am.

Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy, @misterchewy and @little_miss_chewy 🙂

Golden Sands Resort Penang Blog Review

Posted on November 9, 2015 by missuschewy

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With 2015 coming to an end soon, I really have to say that this year has been a pretty exciting one for The Chewys. We went on a total of five short trips to nearby countries, which is extremely rare and something which we never thought we could achieve now that it’s no longer just the two of us.. With a young one in tow, we have to take into consideration numerous factors when it comes to travelling and for now, long haul flights are definitely out of the question! We have always wanted to visit Penang for its delicious street food and I guess we couldn’t pass up the chance when we were invited to review two of Shangri-La’s resorts in Penang. We spent the first two nights in Golden Sands Resort before transferring to Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa.

Upon touching down at Penang International Airport, no time was wasted and we were whisked away in a limousine to the lovely Golden Sands Resort. We were caught in a bad jam but thankfully, the limousine was equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi which kept us occupied throughout the rest of the journey. Golden Sands Resort is located along Batu Feringgi Beach, which is about 45 minutes’ drive from the airport. Unfortunately, we spent more than an hour on the road that day because we couldn’t get a better flight timing and reached Penang during its peak hour in the evening.

We were escorted to the check-in counter on the ground floor and our luggages were being sent up to our room thereafter. Appreciated the little welcome note and fresh fruits provided.

Our Deluxe Sea Facing Room is just one of the 387 guest rooms in Golden Sands Resort. It spans about 30 square metres and is a cosy haven for a small family like ours. I like that the design of our room is kept simple, such that it is not over-the-top and it emanates a low-key and laid-back charm, which is perfect for a family beach holiday.

There is a private balcony in our room which offers refreshing views of lush tropical greenery, the resort’s swimming pool as well as the enticing sea view beyond. It was actually pretty therapeutic lounging by the balcony while sipping a bottle of beer.

Little misschewy was contented with her comfortable corner in the room.

Double sinks!

Premium Shangri-La toiletries

It was already late evening by the time we settled down and obviously heading out to Georgetown for dinner would be a very bad idea. Golden Sands Resort has a plethora of dining options that will definitely make you spoiled for choice. The new Sigi’s Bar and Grill is a fun, family-style restaurant located right on Batu Feringgi beach and we say, go for it!

Besides their extensive Ala carte dinner menu, Sigi’s also offers BBQ buffet which is great if you want to try a bit of everything. We had roast chicken rice, sambal fish, grilled chicken wings, mutton curry, etc and certainly ate to our hearts’ content!

For registered hotel guests, children under the age of 12 can enjoy complimentary buffet meals when accompanied by a paying adult, up to a maximum of 2 children. Little misschewy loved the fried calamari rings!

We were so well-fed that we almost didn’t have room for desserts!

Took a leisurely stroll back to our room and saw that the resort has gone the extra mile in providing a turndown service for its guests. Not all hotels and resorts practise this, and it is a nice touch that Golden Sands Resort sees to it that rooms are refreshed and bed linens are turned down for sleeping.

Even though we had two days of food trail ahead of us, we couldn’t resist having the buffet breakfast at Golden Sand Resort’s Garden Cafe!

Piping hot food awaits!

The resort’s swimming pools look so inviting, don’t they! We regretted not packing our swimsuits along!

Hahaha pardon the little one’s expression. She was feeling bummed out that she had to miss out on all the fun!

Besides the pool, there are also other activities such as massage and foot reflexology services available.

For the adrenaline junkies, parasailing is a popular choice.

We were truly impressed that there is a family entertainment centre otherwise known Adventure Zone, housed within the resort. More on that in the next blog post!

Snapped a photo with Golden Sand Resort’s mascot, Polly the Parrot, before we boarded the complimentary shuttle bus to Georgetown for our Penang food trail!
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