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One of the things I've been worried about while I was pregnant was having to cab around with a baby in tow when Dashiel is out. It's just a lot more troublesome to not have your own car when you have to bring a pram and giant diaper bag with you everywhere you go, not to mention it isn't safe for baby to be in a taxi with no car seat!



AND COE KEEPS RISING! It's so crazy expensive to buy a car nowadays!



So I was SUPER delighted to announce that I've gotten one of the best sponsorships in the 10 years of my blogging career - a CAR!!

My Nissan Sylphy and me!! WOOT!!

Because you die of jealousy, I didn't get a free car per se, I have a year's usage of 3 different rental cars, courtesy of Downtown Car Rentals and DUO Rewards, the customer loyalty program for Tan Chong International.



Which is just as awesome so I guess you can still die of jealousy. Haha ok I'm sorry but I'm just so happy with my new baby!! :DDD



Here's some pictures of my shiny machine:

Mid sized sedan with gorgeous LED headlights and in my preferred colour of white! No pink available but white is pretty too!

I decorated my dashboard with blue flowers (from daiso). Gives the car a Hawaiian happy vibe. I always feel like I'm on holiday when I see my car!

The Sylphy is just AWESOME to drive... I confess I don't know much about cars but when Mike was driving it for the first time he kept swooning and saying how the turning radius is great and the brakes are so good and it has powerful acceleration. Very fuel efficient too!

The Sylphy is very spacious! That day I just squeezed a total of 7 people in the car... Not sure if I'm supposed to do that but the 5 at the back still said they had ample space! :O

I love driving very much and singing like a crazy woman inside to my favourite songs... Luckily I can pick my radio stations or fast forward to the next song on my ipod via buttons on the steering wheel!

This is my designated "Dash Corner" in the car... If you are a parent you know how important it is that your child gets the maximum comfort and safety in their car seat. In my Sylphy there is plenty of space for Dash's seat and the head cushion holds my ipad just nicely for him to be distracted with children's songs while I drive! And yes, that little mirror at the top for me to see what he is up to via my rearview mirror.



The Sylphy is also really safe, which is much needed reassurance for me since I'm a new driver!

No fear, numbers to call just in case.

This key system is the BOMBDIGGITY!! Nissan's intelligent key means you can lock, unlock your car and boot, start the engine and drive away... ALL WITHOUT EVER REMOVING THE KEY FROM INSIDE YOUR BAG. It's just perfect... I don't have to dig inside my messy bag to drive! All the girls will love this.

The glove compartment is amazingly huge!! Look at all the things I stuffed in there!

The trunk is also one of the biggest I've seen!! It's crazy, I can fit my pram and still have so much extra space.

Mike took this photo for me and told me to make a joke about expensive housing prices and how people should stay in their trunks to maximize their COE value. -_- I told him the topic is too heavy and isn't funny but he insists it is. So erm... yes! That's me in the Sylphy's boot.

***************

The current COE price for cars below 1600cc is $74,000. TALK ABOUT SCARY!!



Many of us, especially those with young children, hope to drive but it is simply too expensive to own a car in Singapore nowadays. The value of a car will always depreciate too.



The smarter option is to simply rent a car!



My Sylphy is available for rent at Downtown Car Rentals for a day at only $135 - it is very reasonable!



Drive it around to run errands, do groceries or bring the kiddos out for a picnic. You don't have to worry about insurance or road tax or even servicing the car, it's all inclusive!



Of course, you should also become a member of DUO Rewards, the customer loyalty program for Tan Chong International!



As a member, you get loads of awesome rewards and earn points when you spend on any services at Tan Chong, be it car rental, car servicing, car purchase or even renting service apartments.



The good news is... ANYONE can join DUO Rewards for free! 



And why join? You can win tickets to to awesome events such as K pop concerts, ZoukOut etc... And if you love cars, DUO Rewards organizes complimentary car workshops too!



DUO Rewards is also offering discounts and privileges to DUO Rewards members such as Pet Lovers Centre, Raffles Hotel Singapore Bar and Billiard Room, True Fitness and True Yoga.

Get spotted with the DUO Rewards car decal and you can win Raffles Hotel Dining vouchers!! :D :D :D 



 I hope I win! The contest ends 12 August 2013.



DUO Rewards is also full of love!!



They support LostPaws, a website dedicated to finding a new home for abandoned pets and reuniting lost pets with their owners!



A lot of you are always emailing me asking me to help blog about your lost pets... I do help to tweet for you guys occasionally but Lost Paws is a better option for asking people to help seek a lost furry friend! The service is free!



If you find you want to have a furry little companion in your life, also check out Lost Paws for their dogs, cats and other small animals that are available for adoption! These little animals may not be suitable for their ex owners but could be perfect for you and your family!



If you wish to put up a pet for adoption, you can also do so via LostPaws.

The Guide To Life video on my exciting new ride... CLICK:

Please also LIKE DUO Rewards' facebook page!

http://facebook.com/DUORewards

Sakura White

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The gorgeous sakura...



So beautiful when it blossoms, that it was one of my dearest wishes to see it at least once before I die.... Many others also have the same wish unfortunately, which makes springtime flight tickets to Japan extra expensive due to Sakura season.

Lying on a bed of sakura

Luckily for me, I fulfilled my wish last year when I flew to Kyoto. I will never forget my first sakura experience. Bunches of countless flowers, so delicate and multi petaled, decked out in my favourite baby pink colour gently swaying in the breeze. As it was nearing the end of sakura season, the petals were falling from the trees like snowflakes, and the ground was littered with hundreds of thousands of soft petals. It was too pretty for words.



Other than just being beautiful, sakura also has many uses... Have you tried sakura flavoured ice cream or chocolate? Not only in food, sakura is also used in skincare.

Because we all want glowy, radiant skin with a rosy sheen, 

as if flowers are blooming on your cheeks!

Introducing Garnier Sakura White, Garnier's new range of skincare with Sakura extract!

I was so happy when I received the products because just like its namesake, this range is the prettiest shade of pink!



 The Garnier Sakura White range is a 4 step regime: A cleansing foam for cleansing, softening lotion for softening, day cream for moisturizing, and lastly, a radiance mask for treatment.



Infused with Sakura Extract from South Japan, Sakura White is proven to...

+60% more rosy radiance in just 4 weeks!

The result?



5 tested and proven claims:

Rosy Radiance

Luminous fairness

Even skintone

Satin softness

Dewy clear skin

I want all of that!!

Our skin needs constant tender loving care... With stress, lack of sleep or being in a dry environment too long, skin can become dull and yellow!!



Of course, we all hope to achieve skin that is translucent and dewy with a pink flush on the cheeks!!

Dash, did you use Garnier Sakura White?? Why is your skin so soft and rosy?? *kisses* Mommy wants to get baby soft skin like yours!!

I was most excited about the Gentle Cleansing Foam because I simply love that out-of-shower freshness on my skin.

The foam is a gel-like texture and smells like heaven... I love that it reminds me of the scent of sakura and brings back happy memories of my Japan travels!



It is gentle yet cleanses thoroughly! My skin feels really clean afterwards.

Next step is the softening lotion!!

Next step is the Softening Lotion!! This softens skin and also boosts moisture!



I love the convenient bottle form, there is no need to use cotton wool, it can simply be pat on the skin with your fingers!



The texture is also gel-like and very light. I love how it spread over my skin easily and the after effect is very velvety! If you don't have dry skin or don't sleep in aircon, I think just putting this is enough! It actually moisturizes pretty well too.

After childbirth I've been having very dry skin, so on top of the Softening Lotion I dabbed some Sakura White day cream too.

Just a few dots on my face and I spread it all around...

The day cream is a little heavier than the lotion... Although it's of a creamy texture, it isn't oily or sticky, which I find causes discomfort during sleep and might cause pimples!



I find that despite my very dry skin, the cream is strong enough to hydrate my skin all the way till the morning if I put it before bedtime. :D



I don't just put the cream to bed though! As the name suggests, it is actually a day cream! I tried the cream under makeup and found it works really well, hydrating my face so that my makeup can last longer without my skin producing too much oil to compensate for dryness.



Most importantly of all, the day cream has SPF21/PA+++, protecting my skin from the sun! NO SUN = LESS AGING!!!



Not to mention, the cream is the most pleasing shade of baby pink! I love it!

And and and... It smells super nice!! My face smells so good :D



Of course, as an extra step in ensuring maximum pampering for your skin, it is best to occasionally use the Sakura White Intensive Whitening Mask!

Formulated specially even for sensitive skin, the mask has Sakura Extract to lighten skin tone and dark spots, plus visibly unifies skin texture, revealing a rosy glow.

When I tried the mask on I was very pleasantly surprised to know that the mask is very very moist and fits my face really well!



Then I read that the mask has second skin technology, specially customized to wrap your face like a second skin, capable of absorbing 10x its own weight which allows the Sakura Essence to infuse deeply into your skin to moisturize from inside out.



Another special thing about this mask?



IT IS BABY PINK! Sorry, it's my first time seeing a pink mask so I'm very excited. :D



Looking for that answer to rosy pinkish skin? Maybe you want to give Garnier Sakura White a try!



Are you also fretting over your skin because of the recent crazy haze??



Other than Sakura extracts, Sakura White range also contains other key ingredients, such as Vitamin CG and B3 -- proven to protect and shield skin from pollution. Haze (pollution) causes skin to be dull and dry, Sakura is able to protect us from the Haze! Another interesting property of Sakura Extracts is that soothes & recovers skin from damage. If you get exposed to Haze/ pollution remember to follow the regime to recover your skin.

Vitamin CG: Protects skin from free radicals, oxidative stress and damage, often present in pollution

Vitamin B3: Provides a ‘shield’ that protects skin against environmental hazards by keeping skin’s moisture level balanced.

Sakura extracts: Anti-inflammatory action that helps to soothe and recovers skin from damage.

The best thing about Garnier Sakura White that you readers will love? It is very very affordable!



For the quality of the products, I was quite amazed to know that none of the products cost more than $25!



On top of that everything is discounted right now:

Cleanser: $4.70 U.P $5.90 (Is this price crazy or what?)
Softening Lotion: $14.30 U.P $17.30

Day Cream: $15.90 U.P $19.90

Masks: $17.50 U.P $21.90

ACT FAST!!! Promo only lasts until end of July!!

Here's to rosy, radiant skin in 4 weeks!!!

For more information and a chance to win great prizes, visit and like Garnier's Facebook page!

http://facebook.com/garniersingapore

Jaroslav Bednar

A skilled center with decent size (6'0", 200lbs), Jaroslav Bednar was a star at home in Prague, Czech Republic and also in the Finnish elite league. Yet he never found his comfort zone in North America.

An overage draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2001 (2nd round, 51st overall), the Kings had hoped Bednar could step into their line-up immediately after watching him dominate for two seasons in Finland.

Considered to be a comparable player to Martin Rucinsky, some scouts figured he would make an easy transition because he played more of a North American game than many older European players at that time. Though he never initiated much in terms of physical play, he was strong along the boards and did not shy away from the dirty areas. He was a sleek skater and possessed a deadly wrist-shot. However he really struggled with his consistency and defensive commitments in North America.

In the first season and a bit Bednar played a lot with the Kings farm team. He played a total of 37 games for the Kings, scoring 4 goals and 11 assists for 15 points.

On November 26, 2002, Bednář, along with Andreas Lilja was traded to the Florida Panthers for Dmitri Yushkevich. Over the next two seasons Bednar played 65 games for Florida, scoring 6 goals and 14 assists for 20 points. Overall, Bednář played 102 regular season games, scoring 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points.

Bednar returned to Europe before that 2003-04 season was over, joining Omsk of what is now known as the KHL. He would enjoy a long career back home in the Czech Republic and in Switzerland.

Judging by my Google images search, Jaroslav Bednar is quite the ladies man over there in Europe.

Am a mother now

Sorry for the lack of updates... I'm trying to find time to blog about Dashiel's birth and to edit all the photos from that day but I've been so super busy with taking care of him.



Luckily for me, Gillian recorded down the whole birth event for Guide to Life and produced my favourite episode so far... She actually went into the operating theatre with me!!



So if you haven't already seen it, here it is:









Hope this compensates a little for my lack of updates. I'll try to blog real soon, I know you guys are waiting for Dashiel's pictures and more home decor posts! *stressed*



xoxo



p/s: Please don't abandon me while I'm on what is technically a maternity leave.