I was very blessed to be able to experience the OSIM uLove 2 (4手天王) at their media preview recently!

If you have been a regular follower of my IG story, you would remember that I have always wanted to have a massage chair at home. Due to my bad posture, I have been suffering from backaches and shoulder ache. Do you know I specifically told our interior designer to keep an area in our new house for a massage chair?

So when I was told of the launch of the OSIM uLove2, i was more than excited to have a try on it.

The event was well planned with an OSIM Airlines First Class theme.  We were being pampered from head to toe at the event. Everything was meticulously planned, from the decor, to the staff and finally when we were led to the uLove 2 “airline cabin”, everyone inside was in awe. I heard that quite a few ladies fell asleep shortly after the massage started. I was too engrossed by the chair’s 4-hand massage – it was literally like having 2 masseurs pampering you at 1 go.

Watch the event video here

https://youtu.be/FIGBthuArJM

Let me share some of the features of the OSIM uLove 2:

1. World’s first 4-hand massage – Like I mentioned above, this 4-hand massage technology features 4 sets of powerful rollers that massage your upper and lower body concurrently, mimicking the synchronised double massage on the upper and lower body, doubling your relaxation, doubling the pampering and doubling the luxury.  This is the closest you can get to having 2 masseuses at the comfort of your home!
2. Patented V-Hand with 720 degrees Roller Balls – This is one of my personal favourite features of the chair! The intelligent V-Hand Massage emulates the skilful techniques and flexibility of a masseuse’s hand for a realistic grip that extracts your deep-seated knots. The 720 degree roller balls rotate 360 degree in both directions, rolling along every contour of your body! Who says a massage chair cannot fight a real masseuse?
3. uLove 2 Signature Suite – With 8 massage programs that addresses your different lifestyle needs, from Sport Massage program to ease muscle tension, a pampering Beauty massage program to tone and firm, a Stretch massage program to loosen muscle and improve flexibility, to a Sleep massage program that relaxes the body and mind for a well-rested slumber.

Woah… This amazing massage chair leverages on its V-Hand and 4-Hand Massage to tailor a massage program that perfectly targets and eliminates your sore spots for an euphoric experience.

May I also share that the uLove 2 also comes with 3D surround sound speakers and a wireless Bluetooth music playback!  It was so relaxing to enjoy the massage with your favourite music playing in the background.

You would also have noticed the elegant and sophisticated design of the new uLove 2.  The feminine flora hand-painted drawing and the luxurious quilted leatherette, uLove 2 is really a versatile accent piece that complements every living space. My favourite colour is the purple one! Which is yours?

Cannot wait to bring one back home? Head over to this link  to grab this amazing OSIM uLove 2 (4手天王) at a special preview price now or head over to any OSIM Outlets or Roadshows to try it & redeem an exclusive preview gift, while stocks last!

Embrace today’s technology to better my tomorrow and everyday thereon. Technology can help so much in our daily lives as sometimes even the simplest tasks do not get easy on bad days.  As a mother of two and concurrently juggling a business all on my own, time is indeed an essence. I need to work smart at home and in office to make my to-do list the most efficient it can ever be.

I attended the media event of LG TWINWash last month. LG TWINWash totally changed my opinion about smart washers as I learnt how it could be helpful to a busy mummy like myself.

LG TWINWash totally swept me off my feet; not only did she check the boxes of what I thought front load washers could not achieve, the aesthetic feel of the washer is so chic. It just looked perfect for my new place. As the name of the washer suggests,  LG TWINWash washes two loads at the same time (yes… two loads at one time, no typo error here), how convenient!  Tell me mummies, how many times have you needed to put aside kids’ laundry because of them soiling their clothes from spilled food and drinks on themselves?  I would usually get my helper to soak it first as 1 or 2 pieces of laundry would not warrant the need to operate a washing machine that is normally used to wash a whole load.  Now with TWINWash, not only have I solved this problem but also got super impressed with the many innovative features of this beautiful machine.

Here are the key features and benefits of LG TWINWash which I thought are important to us mummies.

1. The number 1 benefit of this machine is definitely the ability to wash two loads at once.  Wash regular large loads in the main washer, and/or use the separate Mini Washer for delicates. I can now reduce our laundry time by half!  Because we can finish two loads of laundry in under 1 hour.  For the main washer,  we tried with our bedsheets and curtains. Wow.. big loads in less than 1 hour.  
2. For a mummy with a child that has a sensitive nose and skin prone to eczema, having their plush toys under the sun is a weekly routine. But now with the TrueSteam™ technology of this washing machine, I have replaced sunning their plushies to steaming them in the machine instead. I was able to steam their plushies in the main washer to get rid of 99.9% of allergens! How convenient!  And of course, I have the option of steaming their bedsheets and laundry as well. 
3. TWINWash Mini for Small Loads that Need Special Care. The TWINWash Mini is ideal for when I have 1 or 2 pieces of hubby’s white shirt but am unable to mix them into the main load that contains coloured clothes. My sweaty gym wear which I do not wish to leave overnight to the next wash, some table cleaning cloth which you’d normally just hand wash, and many other small washes. Now with the TWINWash Mini, I never need to wait or time my laundry tasks ever again.  
4. Smart ThinQ is so helpful for mummies who are often on the go; you can load your laundry and start it only as and when you desire even if you are not right beside the machine. The Smart ThinQ App allows you to operate and monitor your laundry on the go! I received an update when my washer finished a cycle and I could start the dryer cycle while I was out with the girls! Saving time and keeping our laundry fresh and clean!  

If you are shopping around for a washing machine please do check out the LG TWINWash here. I am pretty sure you will be very much in love with this beauty just like me.

*This is a sponsored post by LG but all opinions are my own

I remember clearly when I was younger and just had my first child, I did not believe in taking tonics as  I was more westernised during my younger days. Not to say that now I am not but I realized how the body had weakened since not doing any confinement after my 1st child was born.  Thus I told myself when I was pregnant with Alexis, that I was going to take good care of myself to recover the state of my general health.  During the time of my pregnancy, I would drink only warm water; even the times when I craved for something sweet, I would go for room-temperature Soya Milk.  I would also drink chicken essence and other tonic. Of course I completed my post-pregnancy confinement thoroughly and completely. I did not even wash my hands with tap water as the water I used was boiled and cooled. I felt totally different. I no longer fell sick as often and I would always have a little rosy cheek. I truly believed these were the results of taking good care of myself.

When Hao Yi Kang approached me to try out Lao Xie Zhen Premium Boiled Essence of Chicken, I was very happy to accept the offer as I am now a true convert of tonics consumption. What impressed me was the the delicious taste and natural yellow colour of Lao Xie Zhen Chicken Essence that made it very acceptable for Lauren and Alexis to love it as well.  The girls refused to take other brands of chicken essence due to the darker colour and the taste.  The girls called Lao Xie Zhen Chicken Essence, Chicken Soup.  As their school term had just restarted, I got Lauren to start the day with a sachet of Chicken Essence every morning before her breakfast.  I strongly believe this would help to boost her energy level and strengthen her immune system as my mum and grandma did the same to me when I was young. The only difference is Lao Xie Zhen Chicken Essence looks and tastes so much more appealing now compared to those days. Alexis being the usual copycat of Lauren at home, insisted she needs her “chicken soup” every morning too.  LOL.  Oh, you will be able to feel a little sticky texture after consuming, a little just like when we go for those Collagen soup Hot Pot, this is because of the collagen in the Chicken Essence.

I spent some time to find out more about background of Lao Xie Zhen Premium Boiled Essence of Chicken. Wow.. they had a long history of 80 years in Taiwan and has a favourable and trustworthy reputation!   They were also voted Best Chicken Essence in Taiwan! They are 100% natural with no preservatives, no additives and no cholesterol.  Wow Wow Wow.

I also found out that the Essence of Chicken was made with 2nd generation hens that were at least 12 months old.  The chickens were boiled with premium pork ribs for 8 hours and through their unique method of boiling, a more complete extraction of nutrients were made possible.

I also noticed that their packaging are very different. It is not in the traditional glass bottle but in sachet form; making it more ideal for storing! The 4-layered opaque sachet are directly imported from Japan, thus it is very safe to consume.

Preparation is easy. Just place the unopened sachet into a cup of hot water for 3 minutes, tear open the sachet and it is ready to consume! You can also consume it at room temperature and the sachet pack makes it so easy for me to carry around. I drink them in my car too!

So whether you are young (as young as 2 year old), elderly, pregnant, doing your confinement or just planning to use it as a daily nourishment. Give Lao Xie Zhen Premium Boiled Essence of Chicken a try! I am pretty sure you will be sold like me.

Here is a good news folks. You can get Lao Xie Zhen Premium Boiled Essence of Chicken at 5% off with code Msclak5 at Hao Yi Kang 好易康 online store www.so-well.com.sg Promo code is valid till 20th July 2018. Please do give it a try!

8th of March, International Women’s Day. On this special day that is dedicated to all women, I am also going to share this true story of mine.

Protecting myself because I need to be well to be there for them.

My close friends, family and colleagues would know that I was on a complete bed-rest for 7 months when I was pregnant with Alexis. I was diagnosed with Cervical Incompetence when I was 10 weeks pregnant. In layman terms, it means my cervix is too short and weak to hold my pregnancy. My doctor stitched me up to prevent me from premature delivery and ordered me to a complete bed-rest from 13 weeks. You can imagine how it felt for not being able to shower normally for 7 months and how did I keep myself busy while lying on the bed. Many people just felt I was unlucky but not many people know that my Cervical Incompetence could totally be prevented by having a yearly screening and a vaccination.

Back in 2009 after delivering my first child, my Gynae at that time did a routine pap smear for me during my first visit for post-delivery checkup. I had an abnormal pap smear result and the doctor advised that I did a colposcopy, which meant a biopsy to remove a small section of the cervix. Maybe it was because I had just delivered my first child, the procedure was very uncomfortable. The result of my colposcopy came back with a CIN1 and the doctor explained to me it was a HPV virus that could potentially lead to cervical cancer if left untreated. I did not know why I did not take the message seriously or realize the importance of it; perhaps I was young and felt things like that would not happen to me, it was more like a typical kiasu doctor trying to scare me. I did nothing about the CIN1.

Fast forward to 2013, 4 years after my last pap smear. I was trying very hard for my 2nd baby. I had 2 miscarriages back to back and was totally devastated as we wanted a sibling for Lauren badly. Another Gynae who was looking after me then suggested going for a round of pap smear. The result was again abnormal. I did not dwell too much about it then because I remembered my last result was also abnormal and I did a colposcopy for it. Somehow, the naivety side of me assumed the colposcopy was a treatment for the abnormal pap smear (in fact: the colposcopy was only a procedure to test for abnormal cells in your cervix). I went ahead with the 2nd colposcopy and the doctor told me I got CIN3, which was one stage before cervical cancer and I needed to quickly do a surgery to remove the affected part of my cervix. My CIN1 which I learnt about 4 years ago had progressed to a CIN3. I went ahead with the surgery and a huge chunk of my cervix had to be removed. Ok because the surgery was to remove a part of my body that I could not see or feel, I did not think it would have any major adverse impact on my life. No, I was totally wrong until I was pregnant with Alexis.

The Gynae warned me about my short cervix when he announced that I was pregnant. He told me he would most likely have to stitch me up and put me on complete bedrest. I ignored his advise again and told him I would be very careful. Until week 13, I woke up thinking I got a stomachache and then went to my Gynae alone (Hubby was away on business trip). Once he had examined me, he ordered me to be admitted immediately for a surgery to stitched my cervix up as it could not hold the foetus and had showed signs of opening up. I was at the risk of delivering at week 13! I cried while waiting outside the operating theatre alone. Lucky for me, the surgery was a success. The 1st thing I did when I woke up from the surgery was to request for a Doppler to hear the heartbeat of my baby. I could not describe the sense of relief I had when I heard those thudding sound. That marked the start of my 7-months of bed-rest experience. I set small milestones for myself like a 4 weeks goal because I knew my condition that I could deliver anytime if my stitch could not hold the foetus anymore. I aimed for 20 weeks because I read that if I were to deliver at week 20, my baby got a 50% chance of surviving. Then 24 weeks, then 28 weeks and my biggest goal was reaching 33 weeks of pregnancy. Because I knew once I reached 33 weeks, Alexis would be ok even if she had to be delivered then. I got into 2-minutes apart contraction at week 32 and I was sent straight into the delivery suit with doctors telling they needed to cut off the stitch and let me go into labour otherwise the contraction might force my stitch to tear and I would be in the risk of excessive bleeding. I begged the team to load me with muscle relaxants and I told them to give me some time to try to calm this contraction. Thinking back now, I realized I was really playing with fire and how dangerous the situation was at that time. The medical team at the emergency department loaded me with muscle relaxant 4 times within an hour (which was the maximum dosage allowed). The drug was so strong that I puked due to the bad headache. Eventually I did overcome the contraction and I was warded for 2 weeks in case I went into any contraction again. At week 35, my Gynae advised me to go for cesarean as he felt my baby was sitting too low and was a risk for me. I wanted to wait a few more days hoping to hit week 36 but Alexis was too eager to be out. One day before reaching week 36, Alexis came and met the world. I was so grateful when I finally held her in my arms. I am still tearing as I am typing this now that reminded me of the experience then. The baby who gave me the strength to fight this battle fiercely, who changed my perspective in life and made me believe I want to be healthy to take good care of my girls.

My only photo during the 2nd pregnancy as I was suffering from depression and this was taken when I was going to be admitted.

I am someone who believe we should never regret as we look back in life. But if there was one thing that I had regretted, it would definitely be the ignorance of my first abnormal pap smear result. Things would surely be different if I had heeded the doctor’s advice then. I would not have lost half my cervix and my pregnancy would not be that horrifying. Till now both hubby and I still discussed about life with a 3rd baby but we all knew the answer. How life-endangering it would be for myself and the baby.  Anyway, I should be thankful that my CIN3 was treated before it became cervical cancer. I was so close to that.

After hearing my long grandmother’s story, I urged all woman to protect ourselves. Not just for ourselves but for our loved ones. I want to be well for my daughters and hubby. I want to be there for their graduation, their wedding and I want to look after my grandchildren. Like what you have always hear, prevention is better than cure. Precisely so hence I recently did another round of cervical cancer prevention vaccination. This was my 2nd course of vaccine. I did one a few years back but there is presently new technology to the latest vaccine so I wanted to protect myself further because I truly understood that this disease could be totally preventable. FYI, I do my Pap smear twice a year now.

I approached Dr Quek Swee Chong, a good friend of mine for a collaboration. This man with a heart of gold is always in support for educating women the importance of prevention and early detection of any illness.
Dr Quek trained as a gynaecologist in London and worked there for 10 years before settling back in Singapore. He was the Clinical Programme Director for Pre-Invasive Services and Head of the Pre-invasive and Screening Unit in KK Hospital,  before setting up his own practice in Gleneagles Medical Centre at ASC Clinic for Women.
He has a special interest in women’s cancer prevention, particularly cancer of the cervix, and has conducted many training courses for doctors and nurses in cervical cancer prevention.
In addition, he also founded and heads the Himalayan Women’s Health Project 10 years ago. This is a humanitarian health project that provides free screening and treatment for women in the northern Himalayan region of Ladakh, India.

Dr Quek Swee Chong from ASC Clinic for Women

You ladies are super super lucky! In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Dr Quek has agreed to sponsor one session of his consultation, ultrasound scan and a pap smear worth $300! eFresh Singapore is so honored to have such a renowned doctor coming forward to collaborate with us! To do our part, the lucky winner will also walk away with eFresh Products worth $389.90 (all the best selling items on eFresh) after Dr Quek’s consultation.

The kind-hearted Dr Quek will also be offering 3 more ladies a super good deal for the cervical cancer prevention vaccine. (NEVER WILL YOU FIND THIS DEAL ELSEWHERE. I CONFIRM PLUS CHOP)
The package of 3 doses of this vaccine will be at the shocking price of $535 instead of $800. Basically Dr Quek is sponsoring 1 out of the 3 injections given. Thus the price you pay will be for 2 doses and Dr Quek will absorb the cost of the 3rd dose. eFresh will also sweeten the deal with a pack of Aqua Defence silk mask worth $49.90 for these 3 lucky ladies!

FYI, the 3 lucky ladies will be paying lesser than what I paid ok..

How to take part in these giveaway on our eFresh Instagram page?
1. Like this post on eFresh instagram

2. Follow @efreshsingapore on Instagram here and ASC Clinic for Women Pte Ltd on Facebook here.
3. Tag a woman in the comment of eFresh instagram post. 1 comment per tag please. Tag all the women you love in your life, your mum, your sister, your bff, etc…
4. Repost this post for the additional chance to win and also to share and protect more women.

Contest is open to women residing in Singapore only. Results will be announced on 30th March 2018 via DM.

Here was me getting my 2nd shot yesterday.