Braving le petit society’s warehouse sale THEN off for The People’s Nasi Padang lunch

Today’s my first time visiting le petit society’s office (for their warehouse sale) and it was really crowded – 10am on a weekday (?!) And there were staff members in this area as well… so it was even more jam-packed. They pinned up the pricelists – so each article of clothing has a colored sticker and you need to check the pricelist to find out how much the item costs. Everything was supposed to be between $5 and $50. Those which I found were real steals were the silver tags ($5) and red ($10).

After just a few minutes, I felt a little light-headed already, being in that small space with so many people and so many hands reaching here and there. Someone carrying a YSL slingbag was nudging people out of her way too, like a disgruntled tourist.

So I gave up on browsing the racks… and went straight to some shelves where tees were sitting neatly folded. I grabbed a small dinosaur one for Melody (1YO), another plain tee for myself. And then 2 large adult tees with iced gem biscuit print.

And I went to make payment: $30 for 4 items. Not too bad. Payment was to be made using PayNow or credit cards (with an extra charge of 3%?)

I did feel it was a bit of a waste of this HUGE space. The racks could have been spread out over a MUCH larger area and according to age group. If I had the opportunity to check out every single item available, I’ve no doubt I’d have spent more money.

Anyway… getting 4 items is pretty decent already. At the recent Mothercare atrium sale in Marina Square, I bought only 2 bags.

Then we went to 61 Tai Seng Ave, to look for The People’s Nasi Padang. Had read an article online about the boss. He’s the son of the founder of HJH Maimunah. He was incarcerated for a bit – something about setting fire to an ex-wife’s residence, if I recall correctly. But still an inspiring story – providing jobs for other ex-convicts to help keep them on the straight and narrow.

My platter with 3 veg and 1 chicken drumstick cost $5.50 so emboldened, he ordered beef rendang with his… and that cost $8.50 (still stumped by #nasipadangmath cos beef was supposed to cost just $1 more than chicken so not $6.50 meh?)

Interestingly, we saw a Maserati pull up nearby and this makcik got out… A younger lady (dressed fashionably) quickly came up to greet her and later, the two went straight to the nasi padang stall and the yakiniku stall to serve customers. XD

Verdict: Ok la. Wouldn’t say it’s worth a special trip down. Only if you happen to be in the area. I found the potato wedges a tad hard. The brinjal and bergedil were decent. Drumstick, again, a tad stiff but cooked thoroughly. The beef was alright though my darling said the man serving him (likely the boss himself) was not quite pleased when he asked for the softer cuts of beef. Actually it’s for me la… like a granny with dentures, I prefer soft pieces of meat. Lol.

*To get to this nasi padang stall… you’ll have to park your car then take a lift down to B2.

If you manage to figure out #nasipadangmath, do let me know. XD

Katong Mei Wei Boneless Chicken Rice, Mothercare Store at Parkway Parade

We popped by Katong Mei Wei for chicken rice about a week ago and I am happy to report that the food’s still as good! This 2015 blogpost of mine states that half a chicken cost $16 back then. Eight years have passed and the price has gone up by just four dollars. Very reasonable. We ordered the quarter this time and it was sufficient for us. Melody was snoozing in her stroller (HENG AH!) so we managed to finish most of this meal in relative peace and quiet. Hahaha! This meal cost us $16.80 – quarter chicken plus two plates of rice, with complimentary achar (refillable) and soup (NOT refillable but it’s such a big bowl already). I’m happy to dine here again any time! 😀

And here’s the APRIL 2023 menu and pricelist for Katong Mei Wei:

It helps if you have already decided on what you wish to order BEFORE going up to the counter as the Auntie may get a bit anxious if you’re hemming and hawing and there’s a customer (or more) waiting behind you in the queue. 😉

ALSO, DO NOTE THAT THEY ACCEPT CASH ONLY! Calvin Cheng is not gonna like this stall. XD

And because we do not live near this place, we made sure this trip involved getting something for Melody too, instead of just filling our stomachs and satisfying our cravings. LOL. We visited the Mothercare outlet at Parkway Parade to get her new clothes. For the parents who aren’t aware, there are two Mothercare outlets which are, arguably, the best ones in Singapore because they have a wide selection of items on sale – past season’s stock which they’re letting go at (often) more than half price!

We picked – or rather, I picked – 5 outfits for Melody. Her doting father paid for these:

SALE: each priced between $10 and $15! 🙂

My darling had gone on to Mothercare’s website recently (I know, so strange right? He loves shopping!) and was bummed that the blue submarine top was out of stock. He thought it was really cool that the submarine portholes (the windows) had flaps which could be lifted to reveal the creatures supposedly seated inside the submarine. Ahahaha. ANYWAY… I found SO MANY pieces of this submarine top at the Parkway Parade outlet, so I picked one in the correct size for Melody.

If you’d like to see Melody in these oh-so-cute outfits, stalk us on IG @therealtigermom. XD

The Secret World of Instagram Brand-Repping

Imagine my surprise when, just a few days after I’d delivered my baby, there was this comment left on my new Instagram account telling me a company wants me to represent their brand. HUH?! I haven’t even gotten round to posting these pictures of my adorable Melody that you see above! 😀 A fortnight later, another comment from yet another brand wanting to feature my “cute little one” as one of their “Official Ambassadors”. Flattering, yes. Suspicious, also yes. The first company is one MommaSoon with 93 posts and 32.5K followers currently. The second is TheToddlersHood with 67 posts and 114K followers. How they have so many followers despite not being on IG very long is really anybody’s guess. TTH’s first post was on 3 Aug 2022 while MS’ was on 2 Sept 2020. What they also have in common is that they claim to be donating up to 25% of revenue (not profit!) to charity!

I really hate it when people try to use the “create a sense of urgency” tactic on me. Forcing me to make a purchase within 24 hours then telling me that the code can be reactivated when I obviously take no action isn’t very smart (er… then why rush me into making a purchase within 24 hours? Just make the code valid for 24 days! Haha!)

The more I’m being hurried into making a purchase, the more I’ll just wait it out. ‘Cos I kenna conned before… in person! I think it happened when I was still a teenager… went shopping and a pair of gorgeous earrings caught my eye. Only bought them as the salesperson said they’ll only be there that weekend. Then I found that the booth was still there the next weekend… and the following one after that… SIGH. So that’s how I came to have trust issues.

Here’s one website I visit when in doubt. Alright… just a small chance of risk but I’ve already blocked that account. So moving on to the next one…

Someone should tell them that they are NOT VERY DIFFERENT from other brands in donating “25%” to charity.

8 only?! Out of all the other cute babies WORLDWIDE? Wah! Very flattering leh!!!

The Engrish is making me throw up already… and that “All we ask” <- ZUN BO?! You want me to make a purchase lah.

SO… at first… I’m offered 30% DISCOUNT!

Then I take no action. So… “sense of urgency” tactic is used again. And 30% discount is UPPED to 45% with freebies… I have also used this “I talked to my manager” tactic before, as a real estate salesperson, so yah… (@_@) #DontUseItOnMe #ItWontWork BUT IT GETS BETTER>>>

After no response and no action from me, now the “OWNER” also wants to send me some love. 50% OFF now?! Woowheee!~

I kind of hate it that this person keeps mentioning Ukraine.

Anyway… I’ve already dismissed this as a scam as the numbers simply don’t add up. There’s free worldwide shipping plus 50% discount plus all these freebies. AND 25% goes to charities in Ukraine. Then how does this business survive? Also, they’re claiming to pay 50% comms wor!

Just putting this out there… if you choose to believe them and their cause, and make a purchase to show your support, then by all means please go ahead. I need to see SOLID proof that monies are being sent to charities and the children in Ukraine before I’ll be moved to take any action.

But it’s not all bad on IG.

There’s a company “Pret-a-Pregger Singapore” which reached out and sent me their Recovirth Post-partum Velcro Binder. NO purchase required. (*Quick review: I like their binder more than the one purchased from the hospital’s Pharmacy. This one has more straps so it’s tighter and gives better support.)

Melody was a bit annoyed that we put her in a Santarina costume XD

Interestingly, they stated “Tiger Mom” on the package. My IG is therealtigermom 😀 That got a laugh out of me.

BUT…

Strangely enough, when I checked yesterday, (I’m sure I followed their account on IG) we’re both not following each other:

HOW STRANGE! I was unfollowed plus removed as follower?

OK… perhaps it’s not “The Secret World of IG Brand-Repping” but “The Strange, STRANGE World of IG Brand-Repping”.

At the end of the day… well, brands are welcome to send me free stuff but if anyone wants me to make a purchase first (AND SUBMIT MY CREDIT CARD DETAILS!!!) then it’s a no-go.

Update 10/02/2023:

Merry Tot supposedly donates 20% of their revenue to Love146 which seeks to end child trafficking and exploitation. When probed, the admin even sent me a donation acknowledgement slip from Love146…

Wah! Over 16K! 😀

Naturally, I wrote to Love146 and asked Carlee to verify whether this donation actually happened. No surprises…

Then I decided to get back to Merry Tot. Wanted to make sure the admin was available to chat first…

As you can see, I was ignored for more than 3 hours though the person was available to chat. Hahaha! SO… I’m going to conclude that this is a scam, where they even went so far as to falsify a donation acknowledgement slip. Tsk tsk.

Alright now… so to conclude the IG Brand Repping / Ambassador chapter… if any brand asks you to:

1. Buy items to support them, using their promo code, and get free shipping worldwide => SCAM! (Usually they’ll say they give 20% of revenue to charity *YAWN*)
2. Pay for shipping so you can receive 3 (or 4, or however many) items for free => SCAM

You can read more about these IG scams here.

A brand that REALLY wants you to represent them will send you the item(s) for free, and you definitely won’t have to pay for shipping.

Review: LUMOS TEMPO Wireless Earbuds

LUMOS is a Singaporean brand specializing in home projectors and they have launched a new audio product – TEMPO Wireless Earbuds – that offers superior Active Noise Cancellation up to 42db, 30-hour battery life, high definition 6-mic calling, sweat and water resistance, among other attractive features! I was excited to find out for myself just how good these wireless earbuds are, since there are pipe-laying works constantly being done downstairs PLUS I have a neighbor whose protracted renovation works cause so much noise that I can hardly be heard over phonecalls (so please do not call me; just email, thanks!)

In terms of aesthetics, I do have to say that there are some similarities with other brands. There’s the typical clean, white packaging, and the shape of the charging case is not exactly something we haven’t seen before. However, there’s this slight grainy texture to the case, which offers just enough friction so the case is unlikely to slip out of your hand (especially if your palms are sweaty or wet). And you most certainly will perspire in this recent crazy heat we’ve been experiencing…

We like the fit of the earbuds and, of course, the long battery life is a huge plus! But what I really appreciate is the active noise cancellation. Whether you want to tune out the noisy kids in the mall (*ahem* school holidays are not my fav time of the year, as an adult) or the sounds of your neighbour’s kitchen cabinet being installed while you are working from home, these earbuds are a must-have.

*The Active Noise Cancellation Mode (ANC) is activated by tapping the right earbud twice. You’ll hear “Noise Cancelling ON” and you’ll know it’s been activated. Otherwise, the default mode is the ambient mode which allows you to hear what’s happening in your environment.

LUMOS is offering 50% discount right now. So instead of paying $359, you can get the TEMPO wireless earbuds at just $179. I don’t know how long this launch offer will last so it’s best to act fast! There’s also free delivery (I got my earbuds via NinjaVan) and 1-year local warranty which you may not even utilise since the earbuds undergo a rigorous series of QC tests for durability, audio and material, and only the best ones are shipped out to customers.

To purchase the LUMOS wireless earbuds at the special launch price, head over to https://lumosprojector.com/products/lumos-tempo-wireless-earbuds now! 🙂

Review: Lucca Vudor’s leather sneakers (Fantasia A888-3)

No matter how old I get, I suppose I’ll always have a soft spot for white sneakers, even though they are notoriously easy to get dirty. So please do not step on my shoes or offer me ice cream! 😀 I am now the proud owner of this stunning pair in white, with a gorgeous gold accent. Matching comfort with aesthetics, these sneakers also come with the signature Lucca Vudor Pressure Relieving Sole. Apart from the rubber outsole, the rest of the shoe is made with lambskin!

If you’ve noticed, the sneakers also provide some *ahem* additional height without being overly heavy. And though I wore my oh-so-thin Coca-Cola socks (purchased from Zalora), these sneakers remained very comfortable to wear, with sufficient wriggle room for my toes.

And even if sneakers are not your thing, Lucca Vudor offers heels, sandals, flats and slippers, in colors and designs meant to turn heads. So allow me to show you 5 of my top picks:

*You may click on the images to be directed to their respective webpages 🙂

For the quality, I do find their prices very reasonable. And interestingly enough, on the inside of the shoebox lid, I found a unique 15% discount code to use for my next purchase! Wow! Of course, I won’t share an image / the code here. 😛 You’ll have to get your own. 😀

~

To begin shoe-shopping for comfortable footwear you deserve, head to Lucca Vudor’s website here: https://luccavudor.com/

The GUESS? SS22 Collection For Summer: Hits and Misses

I received a press release about the GUESS? SS22 Collection and decided to take a peek even though I usually just hit the ‘Delete’ button when it comes to press releases. XD I was impressed by some of what I saw though a few items made me wonder what the designers were thinking. XD Anyway… as you can see in these first two pictures (above and below), I think the activewear’s definitely going to be a hit. So chio!

Loving the floral details.

And now we move on to some of those pieces which made me go… “HUH?!”

One butterfly’s in the wrong place lah. Seriously.

And this looks like something Annabel would wear. Doesn’t belong in a summer collection. More of a Halloween horror collection. XD

And I like the ‘botanical’ concept but to wear something like this, I need a boob job + tummy tuck + a nose job (or else those pretty sunglasses would be resting on my cheeks)… So… this is out of my budget! XD

Now… THIS is chio! But… cannot go for buffet…

And this is inclusiveness and diversity all in one picture…

Looking fresh as daisies…

If you’d like to check out the rest of the collection (there are SO MANY items), head over to www.guess.com. There’s something for everyone!

Hello Kitty Haul From SHEIN :D

I’d totally missed the 11.11 sale on SHEIN because I was preoccupied with Shopee that day. It was only on the 13th of Nov that I placed my SHEIN order and it arrived on the 18th! Just 5 days! Ridiculously quick! So if you’ve ever wondered about the SHEIN Singapore shipping time, let me just say it’s a lot faster than Shopee’s! 😀 Anyway, this time, I bought numerous Hello Kitty items, and they’re all SO adorable! In the picture above, you see the Hello Kitty bedroom slippers I got off SHEIN for just $9.68! They’re really plush and comfortable. I’m actually wearing them as I’m typing this! Ha! Best WFH footwear!!!

And as for this pair of Denim Shorts ($9.68), it’s not my first! I’d bought a pair previously, found the fit comfortable and decided to get one more, as they have these cute Kitty details. 😀

Kitty bow in front, and Kitty’s head on one of the back pockets

I also bought this thoroughly impractical (‘cos white)Tote Bag at $12.32. But it was just too kawaii AND… SHEIN also sells accessories to jazz up this tote. And I’ll show you some pictures in a bit. This tote has the cute furry handles but it also comes with a detachable, long shoulder strap so the tote can be carried two ways.

And here’s one of the Bag Charms ($3.96) which can be added to the tote bag. It features a kitty head with a pink bow and it’s a mini pouch of sorts. You can use it for keeping your TraceTogether Token, keys, ezlink card or even some loose change. 🙂 And the low, low price of $3.96 makes it really irresistible. Why did I buy just one?!

I also bought this Keychain for $3.52 as, likewise, it can be used as a bag charm. This one is less functional than the pouch above but it’s so pretty!

Here’s yet another SANRIO Bag Charm ($3.52) which can double up as a bracelet or as an accessory to jazz up a pair of jeans. And if you haven’t already realised, SHEIN offers a number of SANRIO character items! SANRIO fans should certainly shop on SHEIN for affordable merchandise. And the quality is good too! I’ve not had to return any item I’ve purchased off the app since my very first SHEIN order.

Also, I’d picked these brooches which cost $4.40 for 2…

The prices I’ve listed above already have discounts factored in. So do not be alarmed if they appear higher when you do your shopping. Usually you’ll get 10% / 15% / 20% off. Also, there’s free standard or express shipping once you hit certain spending tiers e.g. free standard shipping with $30/$40 spent or free express shipping with $80 spent. <- Check the SHEIN app for more details!

Also… I’d just like to add that SHEIN does not pay me nor send me any items. Any SHEIN blogposts you see on my blog were all done on my own accord. So… if you’d like, click on my referral link here and you’ll get 10% off your SHEIN shopping (no minimum spending requirement) and I’ll get a 15% OFF coupon (for $40 spent) 😀 Even if you don’t, that’s fine. I was so glad to hear from someone who’d read my first blogpost about SHEIN then decided to give it a try too. She had previously been skeptical and thought SHEIN’s… scammy? Eventually she came to realise that the site’s legit and the prices are just fantastic.

For this order, I paid a total of $54.59 for 8 items including a jacket not featured here as it’s not a Hello Kitty one. 😀

If you decide to buy something off SHEIN after reading one of my blogposts, let me know. Drop a comment below or send me an email. Hehe!

Is SHEIN Legit? How Long Does Delivery To SG Take?

You’ve probably seen ads on Facebook and elsewhere showing apparel from SHEIN, right? Their pictures are stunning, prices are unbelievably low, and you might have been tempted at some point in time to place an order. However, if you were to Google the company, you might come across certain search terms others have used, such as “is SHEIN legit” and “is SHEIN reliable” – all legitimate concerns since the prices really seem too good to be true. Apparently, SHEIN’s a Chinese fast-fashion retailer (or e-tailer) which offers worldwide shipping, yes, even to Singapore! Recently I bought 6 items from them, spending a total of just S$41.99 (so each item costs an average of 7 bucks). I even got to select a free gift, and I chose a 4-pc set of watercolor sticky notes.

Here’s what you might see if you were to Google “is SHEIN…”

I’d placed my order on 26th December 2020. And it arrived at my doorstep today (2nd Jan 2021)! It took just over a week, and considering how there’s New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in-between, I’m pleasantly surprised at how quick the parcel reached me! It was estimated to get here around 10 Jan 2021 (according to the app) so I wasn’t even expecting the delivery to happen this week!

I bought six tops and one’s for my darling. In this picture below, you’ll see our his-and-hers matchy-matchy tops. Haha!

As for the quality, I have to say that it’s outstanding for the price paid. Only if I were to nitpick would I find some flaws to point out… such as some loose thread on this otherwise gorgeous strap:

So, would I recommend you shop on SHEIN? Of course! The prices are so low that you won’t even feel any heartbreak if the item doesn’t fit well and you have to give it away or donate it. And except for 1 item, all the stuff I purchased were ‘true to pic’ and gorgeous. I would definitely shop on SHEIN again. 🙂

Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace from Yellow Summer

I’m currently in love with this owl-shaped essential oil diffuser necklace from YellowSummer.net. At first glance, I suppose many people will think it’s just a piece of jewelry to wear with a plain tshirt and jeans, maybe? BUT… bring it up to your nose for a sniff during the day, when you’re feeling a little tired for an instant perk-me-up. When you’re feeling stressed, you can use a lavender scent to aid in relaxation, and when you need extra focus and concentration, you might want to use a peppermint or lemon essential oil. 😉 And if necklaces are not your thing, you might want to get the essential oil bracelets instead. Head over to Yellow Summer to check them out.

I’ve got quite a number of essential oils given to me by my pal, Julia:

THANK YOU! 😀

Along with the necklace, I got a whole set of diffuser pads. Just a few drops of the oils on these pads and the scents last all day (and even till the next day!). I’ve got the ‘Orange’ scent on a sparkly pink diffuser pad today. 😀

I highly recommend getting a piece of essential oil diffuser jewelry. Prices are very affordable – go take a look. And these items do double duty: as a fashion statement or to jazz up your outfit AND lets you reap the benefits of aromatherapy throughout the day.

From Yellow Summer, I’ve also gotten a gold locket which is supposed to be able to keep a small note or picture within, but I’m having trouble opening it – so I’ll just leave it as it is. And the Moon and Stars Necklace too, which you can see in the very first picture above. That necklace is dainty and pretty – I’ll probably wear it during weekend brunch.

But as you can probably already tell, the owl necklace is my fav! And it also comes in a gold color, if that’s what you prefer. 😉 And there are many other designs too, so you’ll be sure to find one that you love.

~

The lady who approached me regarding this review is Jessica Fernhof, and she’s apparently living and working as a freelance writer and SEO manager in Bangkok, Thailand (my fav weekend travel destination!) I think this side business of hers is especially attractive since jewelry is something women can never get enough of. And I believe these products came via dropshipping as they arrived separately, and based on the information on the packages, they weren’t sent to me from BKK! 😀 The downside is that there’s no particular branding or packaging that’s unique to Yellow Summer. Imagine a bright yellow box that reminds you of sunshine… that’d be lovely, wouldn’t it? I would want to collect those, just like Tiffany & Co. boxes. 😀

But the obvious advantage is that Jessica doesn’t have to keep any inventory nor handle any of the packages! 🙂 A great business idea for ladies (and guys) who love their bling bling!

For those who cannot be bothered with setting up a website and doing the marketing / selling, you can still simply SHOP over at Yellow Summer where the prices really are very reasonable! 😀

For some retail (and aroma) therapy, head over to https://www.yellowsummer.net/

Dress Your Kid In Fashionable Outfits From 隋棠 Sonia Sui’s Label

I’ve only just found out that Taiwanese actress / model / host Sonia Sui (隋棠) has a fashion label that not only has clothing for women but also for kids! 😀 Gosh! The label’s called Sui Tang Tang. And yes, I’m already eyeing a few pieces for myself; now all I need to do is lose a bit of weight to look as good as she does in those outfits. Muahaha! *I guess we should all be familiar with Sonia Sui, right? She got really famous after the drama series ‘The Fierce Wife’ 犀利人妻. Who knew that models could also act so well?!

At 1.73m tall, Sonia obviously looks good in most outfits, but what I really love is her sense of style. And now we can literally shop her style over at suitangtang.com.

If you’d like direct links to the outfits shown in the first image above, click on the links below:

https://www.suitangtang.com/Product/537?c=54&m=140

https://www.suitangtang.com/Product/558?c=57&m=140

https://www.suitangtang.com/Product/544?c=15&m=140

And here are some of the ladies-only outfits which have caught my eye:

$39.60 https://www.suitangtang.com/Product/784?c=51&m=91

$39.60 https://www.suitangtang.com/Product/818?c=60&m=91

I love the pastel shades, how easy it is to mix-n-match the pieces, and the price points, really! Sure, you have to pay a bit for shipping (I think it’s about $10 for 3 pieces or so). But overall, it’s still really affordable.

Head over to https://www.suitangtang.com/ now! 🙂