Baby: Pregnancy and baby journey Archives ⋆ Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby https://www.budgetpantry.com/category/pregnancy-and-baby/ Sat, 24 Oct 2020 06:48:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.7 Bloom Photography Review: Baby Cake Smash Singapore https://www.budgetpantry.com/bloom-photography-review/ Sat, 24 Oct 2020 00:52:37 +0000 https://www.budgetpantry.com/?p=11349 Time has surely gone by in a flash. My tiny little baby is now one year old! Since Cbb days, I’ve made sure we go for photoshoots on her milestones, and of course a cake smash session for her first birthday was a must! Read this blog post for our experience with Ashley Low Photography during Cbb’s time. And now it is Cdd’s turn! Because we had such a great experience, we went back to Ashley’s studio again. This time, our photos were taken by Bloom Photography, the sister company of Ashley Low Photography who has been established since 2011. It’s a new studio and brand founded in February 2020 by Ashley together with Bloom Photography’s Chief Photographer, Su Wen. It was amazing that they planned three types of photography services for us on the day of the shoot: cake smash, family and milk bath! Let’s see the photos!! Cake Smash Before the shoot, we were sent a wide range of set-ups and themes for us to choose from. All the themes were super cute and we had a hard time deciding – but in the end we chose SUPERMAN!! We were also asked if we had any specifications for the cake, like does Cdd have any allergies, etc. As Cdd has mild eczema, we opted for less colouring just in case and our request was acceded to, no questions asked! Their cakes are all eggless, nutless and low in sugar to suit babies. All the props including the Superman outfit were provided, too. Su Wen welcomed us on the day of the photoshoot, and she was super patient in trying to make Cdd smile! OMG really kudos to her. It was not an easy job for sure! For some reason, Cdd was extra cool that day and practically expressionless in the initial shots. I think this makes him super cute though haha. See my cool Superman! Intruder alert!! Cbb also got her wish of appearing in the cake smash shoot with didi. Haha. Milk Bath After the cake smash session, we did a milk bath shoot which was done with practically no mess. The change of setting was done as soon we cleaned up Cdd in the clean and spacious bathroom (read on for our experience!). And it is true, babies are still happiest when they play with water! Family Shoot We actually did this shoot first, and it makes sense because we all arrived in our coordinating outfits. Su Wen was great in prepping Cdd and gave us clear instructions on what to do during the shoot. Cbb, as usual, was a pro, so photogenic and always camera ready! And this is my favourite photo of alllllll! Our experience with Bloom Photography From our initial contact till the end of the shoot (and photo delivery!), I have nothing but praises for Bloom Photography! It makes a difference when a professional photographer does your shoots as compared to someone who’s just starting out. I know, because for Cdd’s newborn shoot, we made the mistake of engaging an amateur photographer and it was a real disaster. Because of that, we missed out on documenting Cdd’s newborn moments, and this is something I truly regret. Don’t make the same mistake I did! Bloom Photography was professional from the start and led us through the entire process. Once we decided to go for the cake smash shoot, they sent us a range of themes to choose from. And boy, there was a lot! Sailor, safari, pilot, camping, Batman – we were really spoilt for choice. Read more about their cake smash sessions and check out some of their themes (they have a lot more so ask them!!): We were given advice on how to prep Cdd before the day of the shoot, and their studio is really well-equipped! Their play area with filled with toys – perfect for making Cdd less nervous for sure. Apart from the play area, they also had a clean changing room with mirror for us – essential for me to check on my makeup and ensure my outfit was in place! They’re also super thoughtful – all we need to do was to show up. The cake smash outfit and all props were provided. We didn’t have to worry about dealing with dirty clothes with cake because they took care of it for us. After the cake smash session, we simply brought Cdd to their studio bathroom, which was all stocked with baby body wash, shampoo, a bathtub, hot water – you name it. We didn’t have to worry about a thing! And of course, the chief photographer, Su Wen was a total gem who has her way with babies and kids. We laughed so much during the session – it was so enjoyable for us. And as you can see, the photo quality is fantastic! She’s a real pro! Look at some behind-the-scenes of Su Wen in action: So if you ask me to recommend a photography studio in Singapore, I will without a doubt recommend Bloom Photography. Contact them to check on rates and availability. Thank you, Bloom Photography, for documenting our journey! Bloom Photography Website: https://www.bloomphotography.sg Facebook: http://facebook.com/bloomphotographysg Instagram: https://instagram.com/bloomphotographysingapore Email: info@bloomphotography.sg Phone: +65 6443 3953 / 9640 3774

The post Bloom Photography Review: Baby Cake Smash Singapore appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.

]]> Time has surely gone by in a flash. My tiny little baby is now one year old! Since Cbb days, I’ve made sure we go for photoshoots on her milestones, and of course a cake smash session for her first birthday was a must! Read this blog post for our experience with Ashley Low Photography during Cbb’s time. And now it is Cdd’s turn! Because we had such a great experience, we went back to Ashley’s studio again. This time, our photos were taken by Bloom Photography, the sister company of Ashley Low Photography who has been established since 2011.

It’s a new studio and brand founded in February 2020 by Ashley together with Bloom Photography’s Chief Photographer, Su Wen.

It was amazing that they planned three types of photography services for us on the day of the shoot: cake smash, family and milk bath! Let’s see the photos!!

Cake Smash

Before the shoot, we were sent a wide range of set-ups and themes for us to choose from. All the themes were super cute and we had a hard time deciding – but in the end we chose SUPERMAN!! We were also asked if we had any specifications for the cake, like does Cdd have any allergies, etc. As Cdd has mild eczema, we opted for less colouring just in case and our request was acceded to, no questions asked! Their cakes are all eggless, nutless and low in sugar to suit babies. All the props including the Superman outfit were provided, too.

Su Wen welcomed us on the day of the photoshoot, and she was super patient in trying to make Cdd smile! OMG really kudos to her. It was not an easy job for sure! For some reason, Cdd was extra cool that day and practically expressionless in the initial shots. I think this makes him super cute though haha. See my cool Superman!

Intruder alert!!

Cbb also got her wish of appearing in the cake smash shoot with didi. Haha.

Milk Bath

After the cake smash session, we did a milk bath shoot which was done with practically no mess. The change of setting was done as soon we cleaned up Cdd in the clean and spacious bathroom (read on for our experience!). And it is true, babies are still happiest when they play with water!

Family Shoot

We actually did this shoot first, and it makes sense because we all arrived in our coordinating outfits. Su Wen was great in prepping Cdd and gave us clear instructions on what to do during the shoot. Cbb, as usual, was a pro, so photogenic and always camera ready!

And this is my favourite photo of alllllll!

Our experience with Bloom Photography

From our initial contact till the end of the shoot (and photo delivery!), I have nothing but praises for Bloom Photography! It makes a difference when a professional photographer does your shoots as compared to someone who’s just starting out. I know, because for Cdd’s newborn shoot, we made the mistake of engaging an amateur photographer and it was a real disaster. Because of that, we missed out on documenting Cdd’s newborn moments, and this is something I truly regret. Don’t make the same mistake I did!

Bloom Photography was professional from the start and led us through the entire process. Once we decided to go for the cake smash shoot, they sent us a range of themes to choose from. And boy, there was a lot! Sailor, safari, pilot, camping, Batman – we were really spoilt for choice. Read more about their cake smash sessions and check out some of their themes (they have a lot more so ask them!!):

We were given advice on how to prep Cdd before the day of the shoot, and their studio is really well-equipped! Their play area with filled with toys – perfect for making Cdd less nervous for sure.

Apart from the play area, they also had a clean changing room with mirror for us – essential for me to check on my makeup and ensure my outfit was in place! They’re also super thoughtful – all we need to do was to show up. The cake smash outfit and all props were provided. We didn’t have to worry about dealing with dirty clothes with cake because they took care of it for us. After the cake smash session, we simply brought Cdd to their studio bathroom, which was all stocked with baby body wash, shampoo, a bathtub, hot water – you name it. We didn’t have to worry about a thing!

And of course, the chief photographer, Su Wen was a total gem who has her way with babies and kids. We laughed so much during the session – it was so enjoyable for us. And as you can see, the photo quality is fantastic! She’s a real pro! Look at some behind-the-scenes of Su Wen in action:

So if you ask me to recommend a photography studio in Singapore, I will without a doubt recommend Bloom Photography. Contact them to check on rates and availability. Thank you, Bloom Photography, for documenting our journey!

Bloom Photography

Website: https://www.bloomphotography.sg
Facebook: http://facebook.com/bloomphotographysg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/bloomphotographysingapore
Email: info@bloomphotography.sg
Phone: +65 6443 3953 / 9640 3774

The post Bloom Photography Review: Baby Cake Smash Singapore appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.

]]> Staying sane when introducing solids to your baby https://www.budgetpantry.com/staying-sane-when-introducing-solids-to-your-baby/ Fri, 03 Jul 2020 08:45:29 +0000 https://budgetpantry.com/?p=11278 Two weeks ago, I shared a post on Facebook about feeding my 9-month-old. So many moms have reached out to say NOW they don’t feel so guilty about not cooking for their babies from scratch, or not spending hours on making stock for porridge every day. And to me this is exactly what I hope my posts and blog articles can do for all of us: TAKE AWAY THE MOM GUILT. Thank you for telling me this was what you really needed to read. If you’ve missed it, here’s the original post. Some of you ask me how I cook porridge for Cdd. What bones do I use? Do I freeze the rice to make it smoother? Do I use… Posted by Budgetpantry on Sunday, June 21, 2020 And now I have included a quick summary of the post, and added a few more tips on how to keep sane while making sure my baby still gets all the good stuff in him as much as possible. As a second-time mom, I have learnt a lot from my past experiences. I now find it possible – and more time-efficient – to do away with many things I used to do before, like steaming and blending baby food in a blender and freezing them in ice cube trays in advance. I don’t do these now, but if it works for you, why not? I no longer use an electric blender, but I do find a manual baby food masher handy. Top tips for feeding your baby: I don’t bother with stock. To cook porridge, simply scoop rice in a pot, add water and veg & meat and simmer till soft. Mash with a the back of a spoon (or use a manual baby food masher) to the consistency suitable for your baby. Of course, if you have some home made stock on hand, use it in place of water. Don’t make feeding your baby a chore for you. It shouldn’t be so hard! I just ensure there’s a carb, a protein, a fibre in each meal. Ok, sometimes, in at least one meal. Vegetables: fresh or frozen – doesn’t matter. I stock up on frozen carrots, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, squash and corn often. Sometimes they’re even better than the ‘fresh’ versions as they’re quick frozen (and nutrients preserved!) from source. Play around with different textures. If your baby rejects the peas today, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t like it. Try adding more liquid, or some breast milk or formula milk to alter the consistency. Sometimes, a familiar taste in the form of milk may make him more ready to accept new foods. Don’t fret if your baby hates that expensive fish that is supposed to be super good for him. Give an alternative protein – some other types of meat, a milder fish, eggs, or even beans? Stop trying to be ‘perfect’. Everyone has crazy days. Your baby will survive for one meal without having all the nutrients from the 3 food groups. On busy days where I just make it in time to cook dinner, I open a yummy baby food pouch and that’s it! Lots of goodies in those, too! There’s no need to feel any guilt over this. Try and reduce the number of appliances involved in making meals for your baby. I feel this is really important. Instead of setting up multiple contraptions and washing up the blender blades, jar, cover, etc and putting away the base, wires and more things, now I just use a pot and stove. Or airfry that fish in the nifty baking pan of my Philips Airfryer for easy clean up. Which brings me to my next point. You don’t need to make SPECIAL FOOD for your baby. The style or texture can be different, but the core ingredient should be the same as what the rest of your family eats. If we’re eating salmon today, my baby’s eating salmon today. If we’re having peppers and roasted potatoes with that salmon, my baby’s having the same – just in a softer texture suitable for him. Then what happens if I want to eat mala hot pot? It’s obvious my baby can’t eat it right? Yes, but what you can do is fry all the vegetables first, scoop up a portion for your baby, THEN add the mala spices. Problem solved. So that’s it for now, I think! I will update again if I think of something else that will make ALL our lives easier. Have fun exploring the many ways you can make eating fun for your little one!

The post Staying sane when introducing solids to your baby appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.

]]> Two weeks ago, I shared a post on Facebook about feeding my 9-month-old. So many moms have reached out to say NOW they don’t feel so guilty about not cooking for their babies from scratch, or not spending hours on making stock for porridge every day. And to me this is exactly what I hope my posts and blog articles can do for all of us: TAKE AWAY THE MOM GUILT.

Thank you for telling me this was what you really needed to read. If you’ve missed it, here’s the original post.

Some of you ask me how I cook porridge for Cdd. What bones do I use? Do I freeze the rice to make it smoother? Do I use…

Posted by Budgetpantry on Sunday, June 21, 2020

And now I have included a quick summary of the post, and added a few more tips on how to keep sane while making sure my baby still gets all the good stuff in him as much as possible. As a second-time mom, I have learnt a lot from my past experiences. I now find it possible – and more time-efficient – to do away with many things I used to do before, like steaming and blending baby food in a blender and freezing them in ice cube trays in advance. I don’t do these now, but if it works for you, why not?

I no longer use an electric blender, but I do find a manual baby food masher handy.

Top tips for feeding your baby:

  • I don’t bother with stock. To cook porridge, simply scoop rice in a pot, add water and veg & meat and simmer till soft. Mash with a the back of a spoon (or use a manual baby food masher) to the consistency suitable for your baby. Of course, if you have some home made stock on hand, use it in place of water.
  • Don’t make feeding your baby a chore for you. It shouldn’t be so hard! I just ensure there’s a carb, a protein, a fibre in each meal. Ok, sometimes, in at least one meal.
  • Vegetables: fresh or frozen – doesn’t matter. I stock up on frozen carrots, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, squash and corn often. Sometimes they’re even better than the ‘fresh’ versions as they’re quick frozen (and nutrients preserved!) from source.
  • Play around with different textures. If your baby rejects the peas today, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t like it. Try adding more liquid, or some breast milk or formula milk to alter the consistency. Sometimes, a familiar taste in the form of milk may make him more ready to accept new foods.
  • Don’t fret if your baby hates that expensive fish that is supposed to be super good for him. Give an alternative protein – some other types of meat, a milder fish, eggs, or even beans?
  • Stop trying to be ‘perfect’. Everyone has crazy days. Your baby will survive for one meal without having all the nutrients from the 3 food groups. On busy days where I just make it in time to cook dinner, I open a yummy baby food pouch and that’s it! Lots of goodies in those, too! There’s no need to feel any guilt over this.
  • Try and reduce the number of appliances involved in making meals for your baby. I feel this is really important. Instead of setting up multiple contraptions and washing up the blender blades, jar, cover, etc and putting away the base, wires and more things, now I just use a pot and stove. Or airfry that fish in the nifty baking pan of my Philips Airfryer for easy clean up.
  • Which brings me to my next point. You don’t need to make SPECIAL FOOD for your baby. The style or texture can be different, but the core ingredient should be the same as what the rest of your family eats. If we’re eating salmon today, my baby’s eating salmon today. If we’re having peppers and roasted potatoes with that salmon, my baby’s having the same – just in a softer texture suitable for him. Then what happens if I want to eat mala hot pot? It’s obvious my baby can’t eat it right? Yes, but what you can do is fry all the vegetables first, scoop up a portion for your baby, THEN add the mala spices. Problem solved.

So that’s it for now, I think!

I will update again if I think of something else that will make ALL our lives easier. Have fun exploring the many ways you can make eating fun for your little one!

The post Staying sane when introducing solids to your baby appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.

]]> Cdd’s Baby Full Month Party + Elsie’s Kitchen’s 2019 Christmas Buffet Menu https://www.budgetpantry.com/cdds-baby-full-month-party-elsies-kitchens-2019-christmas-buffet-menu/ Thu, 14 Nov 2019 05:18:55 +0000 https://budgetpantry.com/?p=11171 Helloooo! Can’t believe Cdd is soon going to be TWO months old! We held a belated baby full month party last weekend when he was six weeks old – for friends and family who haven’t had the chance to see him at the hospital. Who knows all that he did was sleep throughout the event. And when he woke up, he screamed immediately and I had to go upstairs to feed him. We’re really sorry guys! We will have another gathering when he is older and hopefully less angry with the world. *insert roll eye emoji* Our Venue (err I don’t recommend this!) We decided to try holding the party at the multi-purpose space at our block as we’ve seen a lot of events being held there. DON’T DO IT. The ventilation isn’t the best and there are no toilets. Our guests had to go up and down to our unit for toilet breaks. If you want to hold it downstairs your block please arrange for a portable toilet for the convenience of everyone! Lighting was bad also which equates to lousy photos. And not that the rental was cheap!! We will consider Bukit Batok CSC next time … air conditioned with great facilities! But! There are still highlights to the party ok! I rented a bouncy castle for the kids! Cbb was so thrilled … ok she was thrilled BEFORE all the other kids arrived and she suddenly turned upset. ‘Why are you upset, baby girl?’ ‘Because… because… other people bounce my bouncy castle!’ Oh dear, I had told her the week before that I will have a surprise for her. I didn’t expect her to take it that it was a surprise FOR HER ONLY. Wahaha. In happier times… Customised Thematic Decor And because I rented a bouncy castle, I asked the people at Elsie’s Kitchen if we could have a CARNIVAL theme to go with our buffet (their 2019 Christmas Menu is OUT! Go take a look!). And WOW of course they delivered! Yes all the decor you see comes with the buffet catering. Elsie’s Kitchen does customised decor for your event! Take a look at the magic they conjured up for us: Quite cool right?? The colour scheme is on point and the little touches all contributed to the CARNIVAL theme. I always love ordering from Elsie’s because they’re a one-stop-shop. No need to engage decor companies or have a separate pretty dessert table! Baby Full Month Boxes And I also discovered that they also provide BABY FULL MONTH BOXES! We were going to order from somewhere else, then I browsed their website and saw they do the baby full month boxes too! Super awesome really, less headache on logistics and no need to liaise with different vendors. Saves this mummy so much time and effort! You can customise the box sleeve: The Ang Ku Kueh had great reviews… but of course Cbb went straight for the cupcakes. LOL. And now for the 2019 Christmas Catering Menu This Christmas, Elsie’s Kitchen is supporting local farmers and focusing on home-grown fresh produce such as Sakura chicken, seafood (barramundi, prawns and mussels, etc), as well as a myriad of vegetables and mushrooms. Here are some of the dishes from their extensive Christmas selections: Very unique and locally inspired dishes! The Yasai Tempura was the bomb… there were still some leftovers at the end of the party and we packed some home to AIRFRY till perfectly crispy for dinner hehe. It’s seriously AMAZING and not oily at all! I forgot to take a pic of the Iced Lemongrass Sweetened Green Tea. I really liked it! Promo Code for Christmas Catering Enjoy $2 off per pax when you place your Christmas buffet orders with promo code ‘2OFFXMAS’. Date of event must fall before or on 18 December 2019. Browse their Christmas menus here: https://www.elsiekitchen.com.sg/menu/Christmas-Catering-2019 Plan your party now! *Exclusive* For Budgetpantry readers only: Free Decor Upgrade til March 2020! Complimentary upgrade of Customised Baby Full Month Set-up till March 2020 when you pay for one of their basic décor packages. You will receive a free upgrade to a customised theme of your choice, just like our CARNIVAL theme for here! Email sales@elsiekitchen.com.sg to find out more and remember to quote ‘budgetpantry’. The price for their decor packages are super reasonable and you get a customised upgrade. Don’t miss it! Plus, read all my other posts on Elsie’s Kitchen and see all the decor I have had in the past, including Enchanted Forest, Cloud, Under the Sea and more! Elsie’s Kitchen Website: http://www.elsiekitchen.com.sg/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/elsiekitchen/ Email: sales@elsiekitchen.com.sg

The post Cdd’s Baby Full Month Party + Elsie’s Kitchen’s 2019 Christmas Buffet Menu appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.

]]> Helloooo! Can’t believe Cdd is soon going to be TWO months old! We held a belated baby full month party last weekend when he was six weeks old – for friends and family who haven’t had the chance to see him at the hospital. Who knows all that he did was sleep throughout the event. And when he woke up, he screamed immediately and I had to go upstairs to feed him. We’re really sorry guys! We will have another gathering when he is older and hopefully less angry with the world. *insert roll eye emoji*

Our Venue (err I don’t recommend this!)

We decided to try holding the party at the multi-purpose space at our block as we’ve seen a lot of events being held there. DON’T DO IT. The ventilation isn’t the best and there are no toilets. Our guests had to go up and down to our unit for toilet breaks. If you want to hold it downstairs your block please arrange for a portable toilet for the convenience of everyone! Lighting was bad also which equates to lousy photos. And not that the rental was cheap!! We will consider Bukit Batok CSC next time … air conditioned with great facilities!

But! There are still highlights to the party ok! I rented a bouncy castle for the kids! Cbb was so thrilled … ok she was thrilled BEFORE all the other kids arrived and she suddenly turned upset. ‘Why are you upset, baby girl?’ ‘Because… because… other people bounce my bouncy castle!’ Oh dear, I had told her the week before that I will have a surprise for her. I didn’t expect her to take it that it was a surprise FOR HER ONLY. Wahaha.

In happier times…

Customised Thematic Decor

And because I rented a bouncy castle, I asked the people at Elsie’s Kitchen if we could have a CARNIVAL theme to go with our buffet (their 2019 Christmas Menu is OUT! Go take a look!). And WOW of course they delivered! Yes all the decor you see comes with the buffet catering. Elsie’s Kitchen does customised decor for your event! Take a look at the magic they conjured up for us:

Quite cool right?? The colour scheme is on point and the little touches all contributed to the CARNIVAL theme. I always love ordering from Elsie’s because they’re a one-stop-shop. No need to engage decor companies or have a separate pretty dessert table!

Baby Full Month Boxes

And I also discovered that they also provide BABY FULL MONTH BOXES! We were going to order from somewhere else, then I browsed their website and saw they do the baby full month boxes too! Super awesome really, less headache on logistics and no need to liaise with different vendors. Saves this mummy so much time and effort! You can customise the box sleeve:

The Ang Ku Kueh had great reviews… but of course Cbb went straight for the cupcakes. LOL.

And now for the 2019 Christmas Catering Menu

This Christmas, Elsie’s Kitchen is supporting local farmers and focusing on home-grown fresh produce such as Sakura chicken, seafood (barramundi, prawns and mussels, etc), as well as a myriad of vegetables and mushrooms. Here are some of the dishes from their extensive Christmas selections:

Very unique and locally inspired dishes! The Yasai Tempura was the bomb… there were still some leftovers at the end of the party and we packed some home to AIRFRY till perfectly crispy for dinner hehe. It’s seriously AMAZING and not oily at all! I forgot to take a pic of the Iced Lemongrass Sweetened Green Tea. I really liked it!

Promo Code for Christmas Catering

Enjoy $2 off per pax when you place your Christmas buffet orders with promo code ‘2OFFXMAS’. Date of event must fall before or on 18 December 2019. Browse their Christmas menus here: https://www.elsiekitchen.com.sg/menu/Christmas-Catering-2019 Plan your party now!

*Exclusive* For Budgetpantry readers only: Free Decor Upgrade til March 2020!

Complimentary upgrade of Customised Baby Full Month Set-up till March 2020 when you pay for one of their basic décor packages. You will receive a free upgrade to a customised theme of your choice, just like our CARNIVAL theme for here! Email sales@elsiekitchen.com.sg to find out more and remember to quote ‘budgetpantry’. The price for their decor packages are super reasonable and you get a customised upgrade. Don’t miss it! Plus, read all my other posts on Elsie’s Kitchen and see all the decor I have had in the past, including Enchanted Forest, Cloud, Under the Sea and more!

Elsie’s Kitchen

Website: http://www.elsiekitchen.com.sg/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/elsiekitchen/
Email: sales@elsiekitchen.com.sg

The post Cdd’s Baby Full Month Party + Elsie’s Kitchen’s 2019 Christmas Buffet Menu appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.

]]> Tian Wei Signature Confinement Food Review: 28-day Lunch & Dinner Experience https://www.budgetpantry.com/tian-wei-confinement-food-review/ https://www.budgetpantry.com/tian-wei-confinement-food-review/#comments Wed, 23 Oct 2019 16:26:41 +0000 https://budgetpantry.com/?p=11122 One of the decisions I had to make when I found out I was pregnant with cdd was whether to hire a confinement nanny or go for confinement food catering. Now that we know how to bathe/feed/change a baby’s diaper as compared to when we were first-time parents, we decided to go with confinement food delivery this time. After doing our research, the choice was clear. We went for the 28-day lunch and dinner confinement food delivery with Tian Wei Signature. My lunch and dinner for the confinement period was settled! And I am convinced I made the right choice! Here’s why: The special menu helps with breastfeeding and proper recovery after childbirth Eating right is vital during the confinement period. Even though I hired a confinement nanny during my #1, she wasn’t exactly the best cook. I wasn’t sure I was getting the nutrients I needed for proper recovery after childbirth. Thinking back, this could be one of the reasons I didn’t have a great breastfeeding journey. With Tian Wei confinement food, I could be assured that every meal – infused with carefully selected ingredients and herbs designed by their head chef, culinary expert Eugene Tan – would help me in my recuperation process. What’s more, their menu is pro-breastfeeding to help in breast milk production. Each meal also comes with 1 litre of red date tea! They offer one of the best traditional confinement food menus in Singapore, along with fusion dishes which you will see in this post. A wide variety of Traditional Confinement Food, Fusion Confinement Food & Confinement Herbal Soup For the 28 days, I never once got bored of my meals! The menu was interesting, varied and nutritious –  made up of traditional and fusion dishes that were hardly repeated. Traditional Confinement Food Their traditional confinement dishes include Braised Pork Trotters in Black Vinegar, Sesame Braised Chicken, Red Fermented Wine Chicken, Braised Chicken with Angelica and Herbs, Steamed Threadfin Fillet with Ginger Broth and Black Fungus and more. According to traditional confinement theory, ingredients used in these dishes – such as  old ginger , sesame oil, rice wine, black vinegar and red dates – help to dispel ‘wind’, remove ‘cold, regulate blood level and stimulate ‘qi’. Fusion Confinement Food Fusion dishes are added to the confinement menu for an interesting mix. You can look forward to Japanese Sesame Chicken and Stir Fried Udon, Kurobuta Pork Loin with Apple Mirin Sauce and Spaghetti, Seared Salmon with Cauliflower Cream and Tri-Colour Grains, Tian Wei Signature Coq Au Vin (a French dish of chicken braised with red wine and other yummy ingredients) and lots more lip-smacking modern dishes. I am salivating just thinking about these! Confinement Herbal Soup And what is a confinement meal without soup? Each meal comes with a big portion of confinement herbal soup to help in recuperating and restoring our bodies’ immunity. Honestly, I know next to nothing about herbs and can’t imagine having to prepare these soups myself. I’m more than happy to leave this to the experts! Some of the soups include: Ginseng Nourishing Soup (人参大补炖汤), Ganoderma Lucidum Stewed Chicken Soup (灵芝炖鸡汤) and the all-time favourite Green Papaya Fish Soup (青木瓜鱼汤). Each meal comes in a generous portion Every meal was enough for two people and I’m not exaggerating – my husband and I shared lunch and dinner every day! Read what other mummies are saying about the generous portions: Customer Testimonials Know your daily menu in advance + special requests Curious to know what’s on the menu? Simply key in your estimated date of delivery (EDD) here and you will be able to view what’s planned for you during your confinement period! Try it! If you have special requirements, just indicate on the online booking form and they will be able to take note. Like you will be able to request no egg and chicken for the first two weeks, or no pork liver or kidney, etc. Quite cool right? How to order? + Enjoy early bird discounts! Ordering is really simple! All you need to do is select your meal package online, enter any special requests, indicate if you would like any add-ons (Bird’s Nest Dessert for $20/week! yums!), make payment online and a representative will be calling you to confirm your order. Click on this link for package prices and combinations. Prices start from $30 for a lunch or dinner trial meal and $448 for 14-day single or 7-day double meals. You can also choose to order 20/21/28-day lunch or dinner meals. The possibilities are endless! Enjoy early bird discounts if you order at least one month before your EDD. Find out more. Need more info? Go on over to Tian Wei Signature‘s website to see why you should consider them as your tingkat caterer during confinement. Also, read the testimonials of real mummies who have also opted for hassle-free confinement meals delivery just like me. So if you’re looking for a combination of traditional confinement food in Singapore along with an interesting fusion menu, book your confinement food delivery with Tian Wei today. I’m glad I made my booking way in advance – it’s really great to have one less thing to worry about! Wishing you all the best in your pregnancy journey! **My confinement meals were complimentary of Tian Wei Signature but all opinions in this post are my own**

The post Tian Wei Signature Confinement Food Review: 28-day Lunch & Dinner Experience appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.

]]> One of the decisions I had to make when I found out I was pregnant with cdd was whether to hire a confinement nanny or go for confinement food catering. Now that we know how to bathe/feed/change a baby’s diaper as compared to when we were first-time parents, we decided to go with confinement food delivery this time.

After doing our research, the choice was clear. We went for the 28-day lunch and dinner confinement food delivery with Tian Wei Signature. My lunch and dinner for the confinement period was settled! And I am convinced I made the right choice! Here’s why:

The special menu helps with breastfeeding and proper recovery after childbirth

Eating right is vital during the confinement period. Even though I hired a confinement nanny during my #1, she wasn’t exactly the best cook. I wasn’t sure I was getting the nutrients I needed for proper recovery after childbirth. Thinking back, this could be one of the reasons I didn’t have a great breastfeeding journey. With Tian Wei confinement food, I could be assured that every meal – infused with carefully selected ingredients and herbs designed by their head chef, culinary expert Eugene Tan – would help me in my recuperation process. What’s more, their menu is pro-breastfeeding to help in breast milk production. Each meal also comes with 1 litre of red date tea! They offer one of the best traditional confinement food menus in Singapore, along with fusion dishes which you will see in this post.

A wide variety of Traditional Confinement Food, Fusion Confinement Food & Confinement Herbal Soup

For the 28 days, I never once got bored of my meals! The menu was interesting, varied and nutritious –  made up of traditional and fusion dishes that were hardly repeated.

Traditional Confinement Food
Their traditional confinement dishes include Braised Pork Trotters in Black Vinegar, Sesame Braised Chicken, Red Fermented Wine Chicken, Braised Chicken with Angelica and Herbs, Steamed Threadfin Fillet with Ginger Broth and Black Fungus and more. According to traditional confinement theory, ingredients used in these dishes – such as  old ginger , sesame oil, rice wine, black vinegar and red dates – help to dispel ‘wind’, remove ‘cold, regulate blood level and stimulate ‘qi’.

Fusion Confinement Food
Fusion dishes are added to the confinement menu for an interesting mix. You can look forward to Japanese Sesame Chicken and Stir Fried Udon, Kurobuta Pork Loin with Apple Mirin Sauce and Spaghetti, Seared Salmon with Cauliflower Cream and Tri-Colour Grains, Tian Wei Signature Coq Au Vin (a French dish of chicken braised with red wine and other yummy ingredients) and lots more lip-smacking modern dishes. I am salivating just thinking about these!

Confinement Herbal Soup
And what is a confinement meal without soup? Each meal comes with a big portion of confinement herbal soup to help in recuperating and restoring our bodies’ immunity. Honestly, I know next to nothing about herbs and can’t imagine having to prepare these soups myself. I’m more than happy to leave this to the experts! Some of the soups include: Ginseng Nourishing Soup (人参大补炖汤), Ganoderma Lucidum Stewed Chicken Soup (灵芝炖鸡汤) and the all-time favourite Green Papaya Fish Soup (青木瓜鱼汤).

Each meal comes in a generous portion

Every meal was enough for two people and I’m not exaggerating – my husband and I shared lunch and dinner every day! Read what other mummies are saying about the generous portions: Customer Testimonials

Know your daily menu in advance + special requests

Curious to know what’s on the menu? Simply key in your estimated date of delivery (EDD) here and you will be able to view what’s planned for you during your confinement period! Try it! If you have special requirements, just indicate on the online booking form and they will be able to take note. Like you will be able to request no egg and chicken for the first two weeks, or no pork liver or kidney, etc. Quite cool right?

How to order? + Enjoy early bird discounts!

Ordering is really simple! All you need to do is select your meal package online, enter any special requests, indicate if you would like any add-ons (Bird’s Nest Dessert for $20/week! yums!), make payment online and a representative will be calling you to confirm your order.

Click on this link for package prices and combinations. Prices start from $30 for a lunch or dinner trial meal and $448 for 14-day single or 7-day double meals. You can also choose to order 20/21/28-day lunch or dinner meals. The possibilities are endless! Enjoy early bird discounts if you order at least one month before your EDD. Find out more.

Need more info?

Go on over to Tian Wei Signature‘s website to see why you should consider them as your tingkat caterer during confinement. Also, read the testimonials of real mummies who have also opted for hassle-free confinement meals delivery just like me.

So if you’re looking for a combination of traditional confinement food in Singapore along with an interesting fusion menu, book your confinement food delivery with Tian Wei today. I’m glad I made my booking way in advance – it’s really great to have one less thing to worry about!

Wishing you all the best in your pregnancy journey!

**My confinement meals were complimentary of Tian Wei Signature but all opinions in this post are my own**

The post Tian Wei Signature Confinement Food Review: 28-day Lunch & Dinner Experience appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.

]]> https://www.budgetpantry.com/tian-wei-confinement-food-review/feed/ 1 Pregnancy #2: The third trimester – Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) https://www.budgetpantry.com/oral-glucose-tolerance-test-ogtt/ Fri, 06 Sep 2019 03:55:01 +0000 https://budgetpantry.com/?p=11092 Ok I haven’t updated in a while because I have been busy trying to clear work before I go on my annual leave + child care leave + maternity leave combo starting tomorrow to March 2020! Can’t believe I still have a full month of AL + CCL to clear, but very thankful because I honestly need the time to prep for cdd’s arrival SOON! Today’s post is a major throwback to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) that I took at week 28 of my pregnancy. It was more than 6 weeks ago … I am 34W1D today! Although this is my second pregnancy, it is only my first time doing the OGTT. Not that I have any symptoms to warrant the test – my weight gain has been relatively decent (+7.5kg at 28 weeks) and monthly routine urine tests came back clear – but it’s kind of the norm to test these days. I’ve heard that some private gynaes skip it though if you haven’t shown any signs of having gestational diabetes. Anyway, I still had to go for the test. Here’s how it went. The night before I had to fast for at least 10 hours and could only take sips of water. The first reading At 8.30pm, I reported to level 3 of Mount Alvernia Medical Centre. The test basically goes like this: 1. At the clinic, take the first reading before anything. This is your fasting blood glucose level 2. Drink 500ml glucose drink 3. Take the second blood glucose reading after an hour 4. Take the third blood glucose reading after two hours The nurse took a tube of blood and a urine sample. This was the first reading of the day, my fasting blood glucose level. According to the guidelines from Mount A, the fasting plasma glucose should be less than 5.1 mmol/L (92). I then had to drink a 500ml bottle of glucose drink which basically tasted like non-carbonated F&N orange, and take my second glucose level reading an hour later. This is to gauge how my body processes the glucose after an hour. The second reading In between the one hour, we went up to my gynae’s clinic for our routine appointment to see cdd! Ok at least this hour isn’t wasted sitting around waiting for blood to be drawn. At 28W1D, cdd was 997g! 2 weeks later at 30 weeks, he was 1698g (700g in 2 weeks what is this) and at 32 weeks, he hit 2.2kg. Ultrasound scans are getting boring cos he is taking up all the space and you can’t see anything at all… I went back to take my second reading. Time check: 9.36am Again, a tube of blood was drawn + a urine sample. This reading should not exceed 10.0 mmol/L (180). The third reading Time check: 10.36am By now, two hours have passed since I drank the glucose liquid. The nurse drew the last tube of blood and took my urine sample. At the end of two hours, the plasma glucose reading should be less than 8.5 mmol/L (153). And I was free to go. From the time I drank the glucose liquid till the last reading, I was not supposed to drink any water but I did take small sips. I also walked up and down the stairs and along the corridor instead of sitting down waiting. My results I didn’t get the results on the spot. My gynae told me that his clinic will call me in 1-2 days to let me know if everything was normal or not. If yes, then he will see me 2 weeks later at our next appointment. If I have gestational diabetes or am pre-GD, then I will need to see the dietician. I passed! And here are the guidelines/cut-off: My weight gain I put on 17kg in total when I had cbb… I think I can do lesser this time round! At 34 weeks, I have put on 10.5kg so far… but cdd has been growing quite fast, putting on between 500g and 700g for the past two visits. With a month to go, hopefully I can keep my weight gain below 13kg cos confinement sure put on weight. My doctor hasn’t said anything maybe because I’m having a c-section. As long as we are both healthy! Can’t wait to see you, cdd!

The post Pregnancy #2: The third trimester – Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.

]]> Ok I haven’t updated in a while because I have been busy trying to clear work before I go on my annual leave + child care leave + maternity leave combo starting tomorrow to March 2020! Can’t believe I still have a full month of AL + CCL to clear, but very thankful because I honestly need the time to prep for cdd’s arrival SOON!

Today’s post is a major throwback to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) that I took at week 28 of my pregnancy. It was more than 6 weeks ago … I am 34W1D today!

Although this is my second pregnancy, it is only my first time doing the OGTT. Not that I have any symptoms to warrant the test – my weight gain has been relatively decent (+7.5kg at 28 weeks) and monthly routine urine tests came back clear – but it’s kind of the norm to test these days. I’ve heard that some private gynaes skip it though if you haven’t shown any signs of having gestational diabetes. Anyway, I still had to go for the test. Here’s how it went.

The night before

I had to fast for at least 10 hours and could only take sips of water.

The first reading

At 8.30pm, I reported to level 3 of Mount Alvernia Medical Centre.

The test basically goes like this:

1. At the clinic, take the first reading before anything. This is your fasting blood glucose level
2. Drink 500ml glucose drink
3. Take the second blood glucose reading after an hour
4. Take the third blood glucose reading after two hours

The nurse took a tube of blood and a urine sample. This was the first reading of the day, my fasting blood glucose level. According to the guidelines from Mount A, the fasting plasma glucose should be less than 5.1 mmol/L (92).

I then had to drink a 500ml bottle of glucose drink which basically tasted like non-carbonated F&N orange, and take my second glucose level reading an hour later. This is to gauge how my body processes the glucose after an hour.

The second reading

In between the one hour, we went up to my gynae’s clinic for our routine appointment to see cdd! Ok at least this hour isn’t wasted sitting around waiting for blood to be drawn. At 28W1D, cdd was 997g! 2 weeks later at 30 weeks, he was 1698g (700g in 2 weeks what is this) and at 32 weeks, he hit 2.2kg. Ultrasound scans are getting boring cos he is taking up all the space and you can’t see anything at all…

I went back to take my second reading. Time check: 9.36am

Again, a tube of blood was drawn + a urine sample. This reading should not exceed 10.0 mmol/L (180).

The third reading

Time check: 10.36am

By now, two hours have passed since I drank the glucose liquid. The nurse drew the last tube of blood and took my urine sample. At the end of two hours, the plasma glucose reading should be less than 8.5 mmol/L (153). And I was free to go.

From the time I drank the glucose liquid till the last reading, I was not supposed to drink any water but I did take small sips. I also walked up and down the stairs and along the corridor instead of sitting down waiting.

My results

I didn’t get the results on the spot. My gynae told me that his clinic will call me in 1-2 days to let me know if everything was normal or not. If yes, then he will see me 2 weeks later at our next appointment. If I have gestational diabetes or am pre-GD, then I will need to see the dietician. I passed!

And here are the guidelines/cut-off:

My weight gain

I put on 17kg in total when I had cbb… I think I can do lesser this time round! At 34 weeks, I have put on 10.5kg so far… but cdd has been growing quite fast, putting on between 500g and 700g for the past two visits. With a month to go, hopefully I can keep my weight gain below 13kg cos confinement sure put on weight. My doctor hasn’t said anything maybe because I’m having a c-section. As long as we are both healthy! Can’t wait to see you, cdd!

The post Pregnancy #2: The third trimester – Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.

]]>