May 18, 2013

Mommies Can Look Very Good Too With A Little Help

By · Leave a Comment

It was a 7 years’ wait for my husband and I before we had our first son. We were both very busy with our careers and I did not want to be tied down by having children when I was still very selfish and wanted my own freedom and spare time. When Caden came into our lives as a gift from Heaven, we were unprepared and really caught off guard. Fortunately, he was the first grandson for my parents so naturally they stepped in to help us look after Caden. I went back to work full-time and I was glad that my mother-in-law and mother were at our beck and call.

I was about 30 during a routine medical check-up when I discovered that I had a hormonal imbalance problem which rendered my menstruation cycles to be irregular. The condition was hereditary but because of the hormones, I put on a lot of weight and it was awful. I was given medication which made me sick all the time and I had to take a lot of time off from work when I was on medication. I stopped the medication, hit the gym but the water retention and weight increase was rapid. I was angry and sad with all the weight gain, and when one of my colleagues introduced me to Bikram Hot Yoga, I decided to try it out.

At first it was hard, but I became so addicted and I was attending class 4 times a week. Slowly, the water retention problem was controlled and my weight melted with every Bikram Yoga class I attended. After about 2 years, I was close to my pre-marital weight. Although the weight melted, my skin got really sensitive. It broke out often and I was red all the time. I could not go out with a red face so I had to turn to my dermatologist for help and I was prescribed with steroids to reduce the inflammation of the skin. The red skin was controlled, but my face grew bigger and rounder with the steriods. The more classes I attended for Bikram Hot Yoga, the worse the skin condition got and I realized that popping steroids was not an option. I made the decision to stop going for hot yoga.

My weight slowly crept back and my facial appearance was permanently enlarged. I found myself with extra weight, an enlarged face and no exercise regime. I think it was at this time when I conceived my second son. It was hard work holding a full time job, having a young child, carrying another child and trying to tame a wayward boss. Work was so stressful that I had spotting close to my 12 weeks. Things at work did not get any better as my pregnancy progressed and I was stressed out all the time. After a few visits to the gynaecologist, I was given strict warnings for bed-rest. For the whole pregnancy, I could not exercise and the total weight gain was a whopping 17kgs. I stood at the weighing machine and I was 27kgs heavier than my pre-marital weight. I wanted to cry but for the health and sake of my baby, I did everything that I could to make myself happy. My husband was very nice and supportive. He told me that if I needed, he would sponsor plastic surgeries like tummy tuck and inner thigh liposuction so that I could look better after the birth of my second son.

It was at this time when I started to research about plastic surgery. I came across BK Plastic Surgery Hospital in South Korea and found out that they had consultations in Singapore. To be honest, a tummy tuck in Singapore would cost a bomb especially if the plastic surgeon was reputable; therefore I had to look elsewhere for cheaper alternatives. I sent an email enquiry and Dr Kim Byung Gun from BK Plastic Surgery Hospital replied instantly. His English Language was very good and I was extremely surprised. He was very patient and he explained to me in detailed about the tummy tuck and inner thigh liposuction. The first email I sent to Dr Kim and his staff was more than a year ago. Dr Kim has since become an adviser and a friend. He was very considerate and accommodating with me and took time to reply to my emails which went on for more than 12 months. His staff also spoke good English so when I called them, they were able to explain to me clearly on the phone about the costs, downtime and risks of the surgeries.

I asked my friends and none of them wanted plastic surgery because the process was invasive and had a longer downtime. So after Charles’ birth and with 27 extra kilos, I decided to lose weight the natural way by eating sensibly and doing cardio exercises thrice a week. It helped and I lost 10 kilos quite easily. I continued losing some weight but the tummy was large and enormous, with loose skin and with stretch marks because Charles was a huge baby at 3.715kg. I hated my looks, and it came to a point when I refused to take photos, refused to look into the mirror and had low self-esteem. I confided in my husband, and Dr Kim, plus a plastic surgeon friend in Singapore and everyone seemed to give the same opinion that I should have a tummy tuck and inner thigh liposuction to remove the weight which I have gained during pregnancy.

The more I talked to Dr Kim, the more convinced I was that doing a tummy tuck and inner thigh liposuction could and would help me regain my looks and also provide with increased self-esteem. The fees which Dr Kim quoted were reasonable and affordable, even if I included the airfare. Hence, I made a very tough decision to do an invasive surgery in a foreign land to save my self-confidence.

Honestly, I am terrified of surgeries so my husband has kindly offered to go with me to South Korea for the tummy tuck and inner thigh liposuction. As the date of the surgery is nearing, I have a lot of mixed feelings- mostly fear and excitement that I would look much better, feel more confident and be happier with my new image. I will have more updates from South Korea, so stay tuned. The English website for BK Plastic Surgery Hospital is at http://english.bkhospital.com/.

Courtship3

Before Marriage

Karen - Kay's Wedding 1

Before Kids

My picture with Charles after his birth.

My picture with Charles after his birth.

Filed Under: Family, Health, Lifestyle, Parenthood, Pregnancy · Tagged: , , ,
May 9, 2013

My Mother’s Day Thoughts

By · Leave a Comment

In a span of 3 short years, I have become a mother to 2 boys. To the friends who knew me before I became a mom, they would know how unprepared and terrified I was of motherhood. As I was the only girl and younger child in a family of 2 children, I probably had what I wanted most of the time and  I was always being spared the rod, because my elder brother got the brunt of the rod from my “martial arts trained” mother. She was so versatile with the rod. Left, right, up and down. The difference between my brother and I was that I was quieter and terrified of the rod while he was precocious and very naughty, hence my mom, who is a retired nurse, had no choice but to “straighten” him out.

This is the 4th year that I am a mother and to be honest, I am still trying to get the hang of it. Recently, my first son became sick because he was caught in the rain during a school trip. He was coughing his lungs out. With chesty phlegm, the little boy didn’t sleep well and wanted to be with me all the time. The first night, I put a lot of Vicks on his chest and throat because that was what my mother did for me. Whenever my son coughed, I gave him hot water. From this recent episode, I realised that I was not far from being like my own mother to my little boy.

When we got sick, my mother would be up all night and she would rub Vicks on our chest to make sure that our asthma did act up. She also pat and rub our backs to make sure that we felt better if we have a lot of phlegm. More than 3 decades ago, I doubt they had Mucosolvan or Flumicil  to help dissolve the phlegm, so my poor mom had to stay up all night to make sure that our airways were clear. We had Vicks rubbed on our chests and a lot of hot water to drink. The next morning, my mom would still go to work for the 7am shift. In my humble opinion, I think my mother has done a superb job of raising us. She made sure we had food to eat, books to read, games to play and a healthy lifestyle so that we didn’t fall sick so often. Mom also made had to make sure that we had monies to buy food and bus fare to come home from school. On top of it all, she was a great cook who made a lot of tonic soup for us so that we had the best nourishment.

On this Mother’s Day, I only want to say “Mom, we all love you very much and we remember all the things that you have sacrificed and all the things that you have done for us. We are stronger, better and more resilient because you have instilled the correct values and taught us well. I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day and many more to come. Cheers and we love you!”

09072009044

Filed Under: Blog, Childcare, Extraordinary Women, Food & Nutrition, Health, Lifestyle, Parenthood · Tagged: , ,
Apr 8, 2013

Press Release for Robe de Princesse

By · Leave a Comment

[Press Release] Launch of Robe de Princesse (RDP) Fashion Agency

7 Apr 2013, 11:11PM

Robe de Princesse or RDP is a new online concept store that introduces shoppers to an innovative way to buy chic, trendy and fashionable clothing from avant-garde fashion designers, filling a major void for in-vogue, modish and stylish designer wear in the marketplace. RDP is dedicated to providing shoppers with stylish, upscale fashion at astounding reasonable prices.

RDP is also a fashion agency which carries exclusive brands which the firm has signed on to represent in Singapore and other parts of Asia. The inventory of clothing in the E-store will be updated to ensure that consumers get the best fashion collections from the designers which RDP represents.

RDP prides itself as a stalwart fashion agency which brings in the most wearable designs and the most provocative designs as well. You will find all the designer collections on retail online at RDP’s Ecommerce website at www.robedeprincesse.com.sg which will be launched on 10 April 2013 and also via sales channels which will include easy to access fashion boutiques and retail stores.

“We created RDP as an avenue to continue stimulating the fashion industry in a time when Singapore as a first-world country does not have a first-world fashion collection,” said Karen Lee, Managing Partner of RDP Fashion Agency. “We are committed to making consumers’ lifestyles fun, convenient, enjoyable, and entertaining and we hope to influence the fashion buying trends by bringing in exclusive, voguish and stylish pieces to match the professional ladies and fashionistas who we hope will become our lifelong customers.”

RDP Fashion Agency also provides busy professional and career women, including trend-setters and socialites with fashion tips and advice to update their wardrobe via RDP’s fashion blog online. Our fashion tips will be thoroughly researched and refined to bring only the best advice to our readers and customers.

More importantly, we hope that the blog will be able to assist and help our favourite readers and customers choose appropriate ready-to-wear and glamorous eveningwear with matching brilliant accessories to bring splendour and glow to our readers and customers’ dressing and wardrobe.

For more information about RDP and our online store, kindly proceed to www.robedeprincesse.com.sg.  Please direct all media enquiries to Karen Lee at karenlee@robedeprincesse.com.sg.

RDP Fashion Agency is an agency that represents independent designers and boutiques by offering them state-of-the-art services such as Public Relations, Campaign Management (marketing and ad campaigns), fashion merchandising (selling designers’ collections to boutiques), and other services.

 

Filed Under: Entrepreneur, Fashion & Makeup, Lifestyle, Professional, Shoes · Tagged: , , ,
Feb 5, 2013

We are Singapore, Singaporeans (Do you still remember?)

By · 1 Comment

The heated debate in the Parliament points to a White Paper which was published and projected that the population would hit 6.9 million in 2030. The Workers’ Party (“WP”) was of the the view that the population increase should be revised downwards. Mr Chen Show Mao, one of the 5 MPs from Aljunied GRC, urged the Government to get more Singaporeans to work. Mr Chen cited that there are 1.06 million Singaporeans in 2012 who are not in active employment and Mr Chen has urged the ruling party to encourage these Singaporeans to work instead of importing foreigners to take up jobs which Singaporeans can be employed to work.

Mr Chen also shared that the ageing population should not be considered dependents or hindrances to a dynamic Singapore, but rather a ‘triumph of development’, many of whom still have much to offer our country. We should not neglect the greying population just because they are not as agile and dexterous as they were in their prime years, but we should encourage the greying population to lead a healthy lifestyle by exercising, eating properly, traveling and working. We should provide excellent healthcare and encourage more doctors to take up geriatrics medicine as a sub-specialty.

As a born and  bred Singaporean woman who is married with 2 kids and in her late thirties, I observe that many are not marrying or giving birth to kids until it is too late because of several key factors which I will highlight in my blog post. Although the Government has revealed a much better parenthood package for married couples who are trying for babies, it is dismal to say that having children does not mean just trying for babies and getting pregnant but the costs of rearing children are tremendous in Singapore and I know very well because I have 2 boys at home.

Pre-schools and childcare centres are run privately and are not fully regulated or wholly under the purview of MOE. As such, parents have to pay a premium or wait in the queue if they want to put their children into good pre-schools. Good private pre-schools charge S$1200 or more per month. If you want to put your children into enrichment classes for Chinese or Music, you have to be prepared to fork out another S$600 for 10 weeks’ of lessons.

I have 2 boys and of course I want to have a baby girl, who doesn’t? But I have got to think about my own stamina and the costs of bringing up my 2 sons . My first son was premature and suffered from acid-reflux, so we have been taking great care of his meals and we even employed one helper to feed him as he was not growing well and throwing up all the time. Now that he has started nursery, his condition is getting much better, but he is still a fussy eater. I am already very tired after worrying about him for nearly 4 years. My friends reminded via Facebook that in order to get our kids into good schools, we have to consider which school we want to volunteer at when my 4-year-old turns 5 next year. As if I am not stressed out enough, I have to worry now that my first child cannot get into one of the better schools. I am also tasked with the important duty of choosing which primary school to put him into and volunteer my hours at that primary school from next year onwards so that he gets into a good primary school.

On Monday, I just found out that the cost of employing an Indonesian maid is so expensive. My Indonesian maid is due to go home in May 2013 and I called up the agency to look for another maid and I am astonished that we have to pay a fresh Indonesian maid who cannot speak English S$450 and on top of that, we have to pay for her foreign domestic workers’ levy which is S$170, pay for her toiletries and meals which in total is about S$300 per month. We also have to give her an off-day every week and if we do not provide off-days, we have to pay her an additional S$70. In total, the cost of employing an Indonesian maid in Singapore is S$990. Some of us are super lucky to have parents who are very healthy and help in the supervisory of the maids, but for others who do not have such help, they can only rely on part-time nannies or child-care centres.

It is common that children from 1 to 6 get sick easily, especially when they are still building up their immunity system towards germs and viruses. However of late, our over-crowded child-care centres have been hit by a series of HFMD epidemics which have put MOH on alert. HFMD is Hand, foot and mouth disease, which is a human syndrome caused by intestinal viruses of the picornaviridae family. HFMD usually affects infants and children, and is quite common. It is moderately contagious and is spread through direct contact with the mucus, saliva, or feces of an infected person. It typically occurs in small epidemics in nursery schools or kindergartens, usually during the summer and autumn months. The usual incubation period is 3–7 days. My son just went back to school on Monday because there was a case of HFMD  from the class next to his. To be on the safe side, I decided to take him out of school for several days last week because I also have a younger baby to think about. This episode disrupted my son’s progressive learning.

On top of this, I run my own businesses, so a lot lies on my shoulders to make my businesses work, plus I have 2 children whom I need to ferry to enrichment classes or playgroups. I would like to purchase a car but the COE of a small car is S$90,000, which is more than the cost of the car which I want to buy and I am not asking for a big or luxurious car. All I need is a sedan to ferry my maid and children to enrichment classes and playgroups. In first-world countries, Singapore tops the charts by retailing motor cars at exorbitant rates.

With the rising population, the cost of owning any property has rocketed to astronomical amounts. My brother-in-law has to wait for 5 years or more to own a flat at Punggol 21 and the flat doesn’t come cheap. It is also very inconvenient for young couples who applied for Punggol because the Punggol LRT is always breaking down. Without any mode of transport, how are the younger population going to get to work on time, not to mention that working hours have stretched from 9 hours to 12 hours per day. They are pooped by the time they get home and are already too exhausted for baby-making.

I am merely stating the obvious. I know the Government is trying its best to provide for a better environment conducive for child-bearing but the underlying costs of living in Singapore has turned many couples away from being parents. Many marry late and thus face challenges with fertility. Stress is one of the most common factors for couples who are unable to conceive naturally. In addition, men and women alike are less fertile as they age. With stress, many white collar workers have also turned to alcohol and smoking to relieve stress and pressure, and these habits affect conception and fertility. Many who are capable and wealthy choose not to have children and turn to rearing pets for company.

Furthermore, it is also despairing to see that the foundation of marriage is not as strong as before. We are seeing rising number of divorces and also adultery cases, crimes which have rocked and affected the Government Departments lately and even costs PAP of a SMC ward. As many women are tertiary-educated, they refuse to take it lying down when husbands commit adultery or vice versa. They have the monetary means and are educated enough to know that they can always turn to divorce lawyers to settle their spousal disputes. Many go straight into divorce without even trying out marriage counseling and this is the real state of marital affairs in Singapore.

If we do not solve the above-mentioned problems, it will be hard to convince the well-educated and learned couples to have more children. I am truly blessed with 2 kids and every day, they teach me something new. They have taught me to try to be a better person and also appreciate my immediate family much more. They have taught me not to take things for granted and live every day in the present. I want to urge more couples to have children but I also want to highlight the issues that we face to increase our pathetic fertility rate. Before I sign off, I want to share a song which I always sing-along during National Day. As I live in the East, we were able to hear the fireworks during National Day. The song meant something to me because every National Day, I am reminded that I am a Singaporean and this is my country, this is my flag, this is my future, this is my life, this is my family, these are my friends, We are Singapore, Singaporeans. I hope that I can continue to sing this song with pride, honour and a sense of belonging in the coming years.

Filed Under: Childcare, Education, Entrepreneur, Family, Lifestyle, Marriage, Population, Relationship, Singapore · Tagged: , , , , , , , ,
Jan 9, 2013

Ignore Bloggers At Your Own Peril!!!

By · 1 Comment

As a freelance writer for some magazines, I have to come to terms that my blogging is just not enough for the editors, most of whom have stellar journalism degrees and who have worked for years as reporters and writers before they became editors of female magazines. In journalism school, they have been taught that they must be balanced and impartial when writing an article and that the article must be based on data and facts obtained from research and also interviews with experts in that particular field on the subject and article they are featuring or writing about.

I am writing this post to clear up the misconception of blogging to marketers, mainstream media and PR companies who think of blogs as articles or trying-to-be newspapers. Blogs or weblogs are essentially websites which have been created and maintained by people who are passionate about a certain subject and with easy-to-use blog sites, they are able to write about their area of expertise or interest and then publish the post which contains individual opinions and information on the blog site. Blogs or weblogs, as they are aptly called, are usually created and maintained by people who have fire in their belly and want to use their weblogs to communicate to users of the world-wide web about a topic they want to talk about. It is extremely easy for a layman to create a professional-looking blog by using free web-based tools such as WordPress or Blogspot.

A blog is a personal journal about the writer’s opinion on something, but there are also group blogs maintained by several writers and corporate blogs maintained by the social media strategic team who uploads new information about product launches or press releases for the company with information disseminated by the corporate communications division. The most popular blog is still the individual blog.

It is up to us bloggers to tell journalists, mainstream media and PR companies that even though a blog is viewed as a website, it contains information by experts or wannabes who want to use the world-wide web to have their ideas, opinions and voices heard. Hence, in this era, companies who continue to ignore personal opinions, independent product reviews and also forum comments, are setting themselves out to fail. Whilst millions of people have blogs and are shouting comments and opinions via the world-wide web, many mainstream media and rigid PR folks are still dismissing contents on blog sites as “garbage” and the road less traveled.

Blogs are not newspapers but they contain posts which the blog writer wants to share and communicate with their readers via the world-wide web. Many magazine editors, mainstream media and PR companies, dismiss blog posts as “Not Real Journalism”. It is true that weblogs are not newspapers and bloggers do not claim that they are journalists. Individual weblogs are direct and honest opinions about a topic written by someone who cares and is passionate about the topic. It is really up to the Marketer and PR company to decide if they want to believe the authenticity of the data and the research done by the blogger who may be a professor, an expert or just someone using the internet to write about a particular subject he or she has an opinion on. The catchphrase here is about opinions. Since a weblog is a journal and a record that belongs to a particular individual, the posts can be impartial and factual or they can also contain opinions of the blogger who maintains the weblog. Bloggers have their worldview published as posts on the world-wide web and are a huge voice that cannot be ignored. It is no longer a ripple that a blog post can cause but a tsunami that can rock the foundation and pillars of even the most well-established companies, brands and the products.

Most marketers and PR companies tend to ignore the information and contents disseminated by blogs because they do not understand the unique role of bloggers on the world-wide web. Bloggers never claimed to be journalists, so people in media, marketing, corporate communications and also PR, should not view blogs as newspapers but to use the information from the blog, with certain pinch of salt. If a Marketer or PR consultant continues to ignore and dismiss blog contents and information disseminated by blogs in its entirety, he or she will just be waiting for a media and PR disaster to unfold. Bloggers are very influential these days and the big challenge for mainstream media, corporate communications team and PR companies, is to make sense of the blog information out there and to incorporate their own judgement as to whether this information obtained from the blog is useful to the organization.

It is no doubt that organizations can be tremendously successful and rich by harnessing the millions of blogs sites found on the world-wide web. To ignore bloggers and dismissing us, is a clear mistake and can lead to downfall of the organizations if they continue to disregard and ignore blogs. I think it’s time that editors, mainstream media and PR companies, to embrace the fact that blogs are here to stay and they disseminate huge amount of information, and have influence over many topics. It is essential to use the influence of the millions of bloggers to grow your businesses far and beyond.

“The technology to deliver the enterprise with digital at its core is here now. The main challenges are around leading and marshalling the talent and innovative culture needed to make it a reality.”

(References have been made from The New Rules of Marketing & PR by David Meerman Scott and econsultancy.com)

ithinkthereforeiblog

Filed Under: Blog, Internet, Lifestyle, Technology, Weblog · Tagged: , , , ,
Dec 14, 2012

Super Mom, Super Wife & Super Entrepreneur – Ms Claire Chiang

By · Leave a Comment

INTRODUCTION

I met Mr Ho Kwon Ping in 2000 when he was a speaker at a White Collar Crime Fighting Conference. Although he was a well-known business leader, I saw a very humble and down-to-earth businessman. We had designated escorts from The Singapore Police Force to guide the speakers around the exhibition hall but Mr Ho declined having one and preferred to walk around the exhibition hall himself. Although he had achieved a lot in life, his quiet persona and down-to-earth personality made me wonder about the woman behind this successful businessman.

Ms Claire Chiang, the better half of Mr Ho Kwon Ping, comes across to me as a stoic “Iron Lady”. I have never met her before but I have read many articles which personified “Iron Lady” Ms Chiang to be a gutsy, motivated and very determined businesswoman. Most of the articles talk about Ms Chiang’s achievements in the business arena, her conviction to feminism and her determination and strong desire to make life and business work. I did not want to read about Ms Chiang from the articles. I wanted to hear this “Iron Lady” speak and share her own life and business experiences.

So when I found out that Ms Chiang was going to be one of the speakers at “Can Women Have It All?” forum organized by Mums@work, I jumped at the chance to listen to this female business leader speak and of course, to meet her in real life. True to words and articles written about Ms Chiang, she was every bit the devoted business leader who had a very strong conviction for life.

When she spoke, I listened intensely because her speech was thought -provoking. She did not speak about her achievements but shared on how to balance life, work and motherhood. She was providing us, the younger women entrepreneurs at the forum insights on “how to have it all” by drawing from her own experiences.  I told myself I must get an interview with Ms Chiang for my blog site when I got home. I asked the organizer about getting in touch with Ms Chiang, but she said she could not give out any details. So I chose an easier route and wrote in to Banyan Tree Holdings to ask for an interview and I was elated when Ms Chiang agreed to do the interview.

Much of what she says in my interview with her comes from her own life experiences, her sacrifices and her triumph to get people to sit up and listen to what she needs to say. You can say she is a true motivational speaker. She is also one of the pioneer women entrepreneurs and one of the two women in 89 years of history to be admitted to the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As an NMP, Ms Chiang also raised many issues in Parliament related to the social service sector, women, family, education and the disadvantaged.

The interview which I did with Ms Chiang features a softer side of her as a mother and wife and how she runs her household. I asked her many personal questions from her pregnancy to being a mother, a wife, and then a business leader and how she managed to juggle so many hats at one time. She was very candid and kind to answer the questions forthrightly, making the interview really interesting and captivating at the same time.

Without any snips or editing, I present to you Super Mom, Super Wife & Super Entrepreneur- Ms Claire Chiang.

Mrs Ho aka Ms Claire ChiangSenior Vice-President, Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd

Mrs Ho aka Ms Claire Chiang
Senior Vice-President, Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd

THE INTERVIEW WITH MS CLAIRE CHIANG

1)      Why did you choose sociology as a major in University? Did you actually want to do something else?

I was accepted to the law faculty but decided against it as I was told it was a cut and dry discipline and did not fit with my personality.  Sociology has provided me with a broader and more insightful perspective on how business, society and government work.

2)      You have a very strong conviction to feminism and a great passion for life. Was this shaped by your early formative years? Did your parents inculcate this conviction and passion in you?

It is a journey of awareness, sharpened by travel, reading, and engagement in community efforts.  As a working woman, wife and mother, now social activist, you cannot but become clearer about the important role women play in shaping and defining gender relations and defining the notion of what constitutes a good society.  We have our views, and they should be heard and included in all political discourse.  Although my parents are traditional, they gave me the room to express and find myself by supporting all my engagements.

3)      Although your family was not rich, your mother made sure that you had a proper and good education to give you a good start in life, what do you think about this?

I think that is the best thing a mother can do for her daughter.  Despite limited opportunity on her own behalf, my mother ensured I completed my tertiary education which to her was a symbol of the lifeline for my personal development.

4)      You became a human resource director in your husband’s company, why did you leave to set up your own business?

I was co-founder of Banyan Tree and in my job I continue to guide the human capital planning and development while taking on other roles.

5)      Why were you enthralled by the spa business? Was it something you have always wanted to do, to house travelers, give them a wonderful and relaxing time and also help local businesses?

I think of spa as a “Self Pampering Art.”  As part of the Banyan Tree wellness experience, our spas are a vital part of the guest experience as many come to our resorts to rejuvenate and enjoy a moment of stillness from their hectic daily lives.  The spas are an extension of the concept of Banyan Tree, which shelters travelers and provides a space for respite.

6)      Your company is now a multi-million dollar organization because of your conviction and business acumen, how do you feel about achieving so much?

This is not just a product of my own effort.  My husband, Ho Kwon Ping, is the visionary leader, supported by a wonderful team of architects and our property-based staff which now numbers 9,500 associates from 59 countries.  We have expanded into different brands, including Banyan Tree’s sister brand, Angsana, and it is really the collective journey of achievement for which we are most grateful.

7)      What was your first reaction when you knew you were going to be a mommy?

Exhilaration!  Motherhood is a unique experience that only a mother to be goes through.

8)      Were you prepared for your pregnancy?

Yes, I was already 30 when I planned for my pregnancy, which at our time was considered rather late.  I did all the necessary medical tests, and read thoroughly to prepare myself mentally for the baby.

9)      Was your husband supportive during the pregnancy?

He was very involved and supportive.  We were on our own in a small 2-room apartment without any help.  This was very much a shared experience which I feel is a very important journey for a new mother to be.

10)   Were you prepared for your own childbirth?

No, I went to birth classes in Thomson Medical Centre, without reading about or anticipating a Caesarean birth.  After many hours of labor, the doctor decided that C-section was necessary for my own safety and that of my child.  Kwon Ping rushed to a bookshop to read up on the topic straightaway.

11)   How have things changed for you after you have become a mother?

Motherhood is the critical milestone for any woman because you become responsible for a vulnerable young person whom you have to also raise.  Motherhood teaches you all the qualities required for protecting and nurturing others.  It also gives you a perspective about family and draws you out from your own self-centredness.

12)   Did you stop working after your first child was born so that you could be with him during his formative years?

Yes, I consciously took two years off from work because I did not have a helper, and I took care of my first child as I wanted to learn all about motherhood from breastfeeding to making baby food through motivating infants.  Those years prepared me to be a competent mother while I continued to read, write and travel with my son.  Motherhood did not stop me from being active; it became known that when friends invited me they also invited my son.

13)   As a mother, what do you expect from your children? Are you a Tiger Mom?

The definition of a Tiger Mother is relative.  Many would think I am a Tiger Mother because I do exercise discipline.  The only expectation I have from my children is that they try and do their best.  If they have tried, and failed, I have no issue.  If they do not even try, and give excuses, that’s when the Tiger rears its head and snarls.

14)   What type of education did your children have?  What do you think of the local school education system? Do you think our Singaporean children are having a well-rounded education?

All three children went to Nan Hua Primary School because I wanted them to have a Chinese education.  My eldest went on to Hwa Chong Institution and then Hwa Chong Junior College; later to The Wharton School at the University in Pennsylvania to complete his education.  My daughter went onto Raffles Girls’ Secondary School followed by completing her degree at the London School of Economics.  Ren Chung enrolled at ACS in an IB programme and will go to the army in 2013.  All three have different strengths and I do think the local school system could do less with examinations and grading, and do more with grounding our children in humanities and engaging them intensively in processes of discovery and experimentation in the world of the humanities.  Let specialization come later.  That said, parents are still the teachers in terms of life values and moral standards.

15)   How do you bond with your children? Do you have special moments or activities which you share with them?

Being the “Tiger Mom,” I set up times for “meals of the day,” “meals with grandparents,” and “holiday planning.”  These are the non-negotiated family activities that they must be involved in though they are already 30 (Ren Hua), 27 (Ren Yung), and 18 (Ren Chung).  Planning family activities and special moments require planning, determination and commitment.  Parents must try to set up time, no matter how busy they are, for this process.  They should invite the children to propose ideas.  As long as children are interested in what you plan for them, they will enjoy being with you.

16)   Have you given up any great overseas job opportunities so that you can be a mother to 3 wonderful children and a wife to Mr Ho Kwon Ping?

Yes, I had to leave an engaging job in the faculty of medicine at HK University in order to return to Singapore with my husband after he was summoned following his father’s stroke.  We had just moved into and renovated an apartment in Hong Kong city after spending three years in Lama Island.  Though unhappy about this need to move, my role as wife at this juncture was a priority consideration.  As it turned out, it was a turning point in my life journey.

17)   You have an extremely tough and hectic work schedule as the Senior Vice-President of Banyan Tree Holdings, being a social activist, a volunteer, an entrepreneur and being appointed to sit on many Government and Education Boards, how do you ever find the time to spend with your children and your family?

Planning and commitment are two important exercises for a busy person.  In 24 hours, and I need to only sleep for six, I have many hours to spread around in achieving “self bits,” “marriage delights,” “children’s joy” and “work chunks.”  We can have it all!

18)   You have made many firsts by breaking the norm for Singapore Women. You were one of first women to be elected to the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce, how did you feel about the election? For many people, it is deemed a great achievement but is it difficult sitting in a Board Room with all male traditional Chinese business leaders? How do you make these men listen to what you want to say?

Many men in SCCC have said they would like their daughter to be like me but not their wife.  You can imagine the anguish they would feel towards an independent woman like me. It’s a matter of creating more opportunities and platforms for men and women to work together and feel comfortable with each other.  I am grateful for that experience, to have helped to bridge that traditional ceiling, and made wonderful friendships in the Chinese Chamber, especially in leading the Career Women’s Group for 16 years while being in charge of other committees.  People, not just men, listen to what you want to say if you say it with reason, sincerity and integrity.

19)   What advice do you have for Singaporean Women aspiring to be entrepreneurs and social activists like yourself?

A journey is 1000 steps, as the wise saying goes.  You don’t get to a destination by dreaming about it; you take the first step towards the direction now.  You give time to achieving the goal.

END OF INTERVIEW

Filed Under: Childcare, Education, Entrepreneur, Extraordinary Women, Family, Lifestyle, Pregnancy, Professional, Relationship, Spa · Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,
Nov 22, 2012

“How Organic It Is” – Using Certified Organic Products

By · Leave a Comment

Many people who are health conscious are turning to organic products such as the food they eat and the liquids that they drink. However, we often neglect the skincare products that we use. The government regulations allow virtually any ingredient to be used in the manufacture of products that we use daily on our skin, hair, and nails, and in the water we drink. It only makes sense  for us to google to search for healthier options, which are clearly certified organic products. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) establishes the regulations and standards in the United States regarding the manufacture of drugs & food. The problem is that they do not pay as much attention to skincare and make-up as they should, thereby allowing some very harmful chemicals to be used in creating almost every skincare product that is being marketed and sold to the consumers.

Some of the harmful ingredients that are used frequently in manufacturing the most common non-organic skin care and make-up items include:

  • Mercury
  • Dioxane
  • Nitrosamines
  • DEA
  • Cyclomethicone
  • Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
  • Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40)
  • Polyethylene Glycol
  • Polyethylene eth-

Most of these compounds are easily absorbed by the skin but our body does not have any way of getting rid of these chemicals. The toxins remain in your intestine and will spread throughout the body, damaging our organs if we use these non-organic skincare and make-up products regularly and excessively.

It is expedient that we read what our skincare and makeup products are made of. We should read the ingredients printed on the skincare and makeup products diligently to protect ourselves from being exposed to harmful chemicals. We should be fastidious and careful about the products that we use, thus we should proactively read the ingredient labels and choose the correct products which are suitable for us. Once we get into the habit of reading ingredient labels, it is not hard to choose a good and certified organic range of skincare and makeup. The sooner you become familiar with the “bad” ingredients that are commonly used in skincare products, you will be able to recognize the difference between synthetic & natural products. Becoming a more informed consumer will allow you to make clever and astute choices while shopping for your organic skin care products.

The rule of thumb is that the ingredients should be listed in descending order according to the amount that they make up the formula. Hence, if you have a product that is 88% aloe and 90% water, the water would be listed first, the numbers show there’s more water than aloe in the product. Alphabetic listing does not override this.

The most common ingredients that is present in many type of skin care products, including organic skin care products & organic make-up are emollients, humectants, emulsifiers, surfactants and preservatives. The important thing is that we must differentiate between synthetic and natural ingredients. It is also important to note that synthetic ingredients are harmful to the body so we have to read and make sure that the products we use contain only natural ingredients in their production.

When you are looking out for organic products to use, make sure they are certified natural and organic. It should come as no surprise that there are companies which will try to “cheat” their way into the organic skin care products revolution. There has been a considerable amount of attention in the media on some of these companies.

Some examples of the lawsuits filed in USA against these unethical companies include the lawsuit filed by The State of California in May 2008 against Avalon Natural Products, makers of Alba, Un-petroleum and Avalon Organics, Beaumont Products which makes Veggie Wash, Clearly Natural brands, Nutribiotic, makers of grapefruit seed extract personal care products, and Whole Food Market of California, Inc., which sells the 365 brand products in the market. The lawsuit was filed because these companies either manufacture or distribute body care and household cleaning products that have tested positive for the cancer causing chemical 1,4-dioxane.

On 1st May 2008, the Forbes Magazine also published that another lawsuit was filed in California Superior Court in San Francisco accusing four companies, Kiss My Face, Stella McCartney America, Estee Lauder and Hain Celestial Group. The lawsuit accuses the companies of advertising that their products are organic, when in fact they are not.

Therefore, we as consumers, must be proactive to search for the certified organic labels when buying organic skincare products. The certified organic labels should and must be printed on the skincare containers. Many companies, in their efforts to get in on the organic movement, will use tactfully worded statements to describe their products as natural or organic. In doing so, they are able to work around the fact that their products also contain toxic chemical ingredients. If a product does not display one of the certified organic seals then check the ingredients very carefully. A vast majority of the products in the market which use one form or another of the words “organic” or “natural” on their label, actually contain toxic chemicals. If a product contains less than 95% certified organic ingredients, they cannot be certified as natural and organic.

During my recent trip to France, I have learned that most of the products in France are natural and they have to pass through many laboratory tests in order for the products to be sold in the French market. I am happy and grateful to be given an opportunity to work with a natural and organic skincare company which is Eco-cert certified and labeled by Cosmebio. The company is aptly called Oh’ quil est Bio, or “How Organic It Is!”.

Based on job specifications that were filed with the Ministry of Industry in 2002, the Cosmebio charter offers transparency as to the type of ingredients and the manufacturing procedures used to produce the organic cosmetic products. In accordance with Cosmebio’s charter, the products bearing the ORGANIC or ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY logo contain mainly natural ingredients or ingredients of natural origin. The entire composition of an organic product is carefully controlled and must comply with strict rules. It must contain at least 95% of natural ingredients, ingredients of natural origin or stemming from organic farming (in all cases the proportion is always more than 95%).

Although many consumers will find it cumbersome to read through ingredient labels or search for the certified organic label, it is worthwhile to do so because we are protecting ourselves, our children and our family from harmful synthetic and inorganic materials. So be cautious and be mindful about what we eat, drink and use for skincare and makeup. We are what we eat and what we use.

(References made from Global Healing Centre, Natural and Organic Choices and Skincare Pro- Cosmebio)

Adult Range for Oh’ quil est Bio (Natural and Organic)

Baby Range for Oh’ quil est Bio (Natural and Organic)

Filed Under: Baby Products, Childcare, Fashion & Makeup, Lifestyle, Natural, Organic, Skincare · Tagged: , , , , ,
Nov 14, 2012

Organic for Me!

By · 7 Comments

After my recent trip to Paris and Vincennes, I am of the opinion that Paris and Vincennes are great places to raise a baby. They have large parks where you can use gigantic prams to push your baby and take long walks with you baby and bond with him or her. The weather is good and the baby does not sweat as  all. In addition, everything from food to skincare, are all natural. French men and women are skinny because they live by all natural cooking, with little or no preservatives. More interestingly, France and French are advocates of  natural and organic products. They spends days and hours in the laboratory to create and cultivate the most compatible and effective natural products meant for the even the most sensitive baby skin.

It is a known fact that cotton is one of the most common fabric which is used to manufacture clothes and we have been wearing white cotton clothing for centuries. Naturally coloured cotton is cotton that has been bred to have colors other than the yellowish off-white typical of modern commercial cotton fibres. Natural colours grown include red, green and several shades of brown. The cotton’s natural color does not fade. Yields are typically lower and the fiber is shorter and weaker but the natural coloured cotton has a softer feel than the more commonly available “white” cotton.

Since the process of growing and fabricating natural colour cotton does not use pesticides, chemicals and  harmful artificial dyes,  there fewer occurrences of allergies and respiratory problems. This form of cotton also feels softer to the skin and has a pleasant smell. Naturally Coloured Cotton is still relatively rare because it requires specialized harvest techniques and facilities, making it much more expensive to harvest than white cotton. By the 1990s, most indigenous coloured cotton landraces or cultivars grown in Africa, Asia and Central and South America were replaced by all-white, commercial varieties.

The history states that  naturally coloured cotton is believed to have originated in the Americas around 5000 years ago in the Andes. Naturally colored cotton today mostly comes from pre-Columbian stocks created by the indigenous peoples of South America. Mochica Indians could be attributed with growing naturally colored cotton of myriad hues, which they maintained for over the last two millenniums on the northern coast of Peru.

Naturally coloured cotton comes from pigments found in cotton pigments and produce shades that range from tan to green and brown. There are certain limitations of  naturally coloured cotton because it has a small fibre and, thus is not suitable for heavy machine spinning. During the World War II, the insufficient supply of dye led to the cultivation of green and brown cotton in the Soviet Union. The US government also showed interest in cultivation of naturally colored cotton but later aborted the project due to low yield and short staple length.

The US Government instructed a famous agronomist, J.O.Ware, to study the Soviet cotton plants to determine whether they were commercially viable in the US. Ware and his colleagues concluded that the green and brown cotton plants yielded too little lint that was too short in staple length. Coloured cotton was officially regulated to obscurity and only in a few places where people are still entranced by its possibilities.

Due to smaller fiber, it becomes impractical to use naturally coloured cotton for clothing manufacturers. But now, coloured cotton is literally squeezed in with the conventional white cotton to make its fiber longer and stronger than other naturally colored cotton to be used in typical looms. Since this hybrid cotton fiber is stronger, it is being used by Levis, L.L. Bean, Eileen Fisher, and Fieldcrest for clothes like khakis.

Naturally coloured cotton is unique and exceptionally different from white cotton as it does not need to be dyed. As naturally coloured cotton does not use dye, it is also environmentally friendly, and it eliminates disposal costs required for toxic dye waste. With the removal of costs required to dispose toxic wastes,  naturally colored cotton is ecologically valid as well as economical. Elimination of dyeing in production could save from US$0.60 to US$1.50 per pound of fabric. Naturally colored cotton is also resistant to change as compared with the conventional dyed white cotton. After washing, the colour becomes stronger and more intense, a characteristic documented from research studies carried out by Texas Tech University. Eventually, the colors may start to return to their original color. Some naturally colored cotton darkens with exposure to the sun. However, green is less stable and fades to tan when exposed to sunlight.

Organic cotton is generally understood as cotton which is grown in subtropical countries such as the United States of America and India, from non-genetically modified plants, and is grown without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. Its production also promotes and enhances biodiversity and biological cycles. In the United States cotton plantations must also meet the requirements enforced by the National Organic Program (NOP), from the USDA, in order to be considered organic. This institution determines the allowed practices for pest control, growing, fertilizing, and handling of organic crops.

Cotton growers who make the transition to biologically based growing practices expect not only to offer a healthier and cleaner products, but also help and benefit the planet. Some of the contributions to the different ecosystems include:

  • Protecting surface and groundwater quality (eliminating contaminants in surface runoff);
  • Reduced risk in insect and disease control by replacing insecticide with the manipulation of ecosystems;
  • Long-term prevention of pests through beneficial habitat planting;
  • Conservation of biodiversity;
  • Eliminate the use of toxic chemicals used in cotton;
  • Organically grown crops also yield soils with higher organic matter content, thicker topsoil depth, higher polysaccharides content, and lower modulus of rupture; therefore reducing considerably soil erosion.

Production requirements specify the set of changes that must be made to the fielding and farming practices in order for a crop to be considered organic. To begin with, organic fields must go through a cleansing period of three years, without the use of any prohibited substances, before planting the first organic crop. Fields must also be equipped with physical barriers and buzzers in order to prevent contact of organic crops with any chemical substance product of surface runoff from crops nearby. Producers must also strive to promote soil fertility through cultivation practices while maintaining or improving the physical, chemical, and biological condition of the soil and minimize soil erosion. Organic growers must also implement practices to support biodiversity. Such practices include integrated pest management (IPM), which consists of the manipulation of ecosystems that benefit both the crops and the organisms that live around it. In addition to these practices, producers may only apply crop nutrients and soil amendments included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed in crop production.

Handling procedures are all the processes related to product packaging, pest control in handling processing facilities among others. Growers are only allowed the use of mechanical or biological methods for the purpose of retarding spoilage of products, but at the same time it prohibits the use of volatile synthetic solvents in processed products or any ingredient that is labeled as organic.

To ensure that the fabric products have excluded of all harmful chemicals, dyes and materials that will damage human Ecology and destroy Earth’s ecosystem, you must check to see if producers have been certified by International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile Ecology (OEKO-TEX®), head-quartered in Switzerland and the website can be found at http://www.oeko-tex.com.

The textile industry is characterised by a form of cooperation in which each production stage from raw material to finished textile product is often located in a different place in the world. This extremely fragmented structure is reflected in the complex supply relationships between all the companies involved throughout the textile processing chain. On top of this, different environmental regulations apply in the individual countries involved in textile production.This is where the basic concept of the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 applies: the aim is to level out global differences regarding the assessment of possible harmful substances in textiles. The OEKO-TEX® system can identify and eliminate potential sources of problematic substances at each processing stage. Testing becomes necessary whenever a textile product is recomposed or a chemical change is made to its material.

In fact, it becomes necessary and pertinent for all natural colour cotton and organic cotton manufacturers and suppliers to obtain this OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certification, which  is an independent testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production. Items eligible for certification will include raw and dyed/finished yarns, raw and dyed/finished fabrics and knits, ready-made articles (all types of clothing, domestic and household textiles, bed linen, terry cloth items, textile toys and more).

The independent certification body, which is based in Switzerland, will test for harmful substances which consists of:

  • illegal substances
  • legally regulated substances
  • known harmful (but not legally regulated) chemicals
  • as well as parameters for health care

In their entirety, the requirements clearly exceed existing national legislation. OEKO-TEX® testing for harmful substances always focus on the actual use of the textile. The more intensive the skin contact of a product, the stricter the human ecological requirements are to be met.

Accordingly, there are four product classes which can be tested:

  • Product class I:
    Textile items for babies and toddlers up to 3 years (clothing, toys, bed linen, terry cloth items etc.)
  • Product class II:
    Textiles used close to the skin (underwear, bed linen, T-shirts etc.)
  • Product class III:
    Textiles used away from the skin (jackets, coats etc.)
  • Product class IV:
    Furnishing materials (curtains, table cloths, upholstery materials etc.)

The requirement for certification of textile products according to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is that all components of an item have to comply with the required criteria without exception and that means in addition to the outer material, sewing threads, linings, prints as well as non-textile accessories such as buttons, zip fasteners, rivets are included in the testing. Hence it is extremely difficult for many manufacturers to obtain the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certification, which is all encompassing to make sure that the cloth that comes in touch with our skin is eco-friendly and without harmful dyes and chemicals which could cause skin allergies or infections.

The Cbiopourmoi range of Natural Coloured Organic Cotton clothes are all natural and safe to wear even on babies with the most sensitive skin. This is because from crop plantation to harvesting to fabrication of yarn and the manufacturing of the natural coloured organic cotton range, no chemicals, no preservatives, no dyes and no colourings have been added. As such, the natural coloured organic cotton makes is soft and soothing for babies with very sensitive skin. Harsh white cotton has been used to cloth babies for so long, and without proper knowledge and available literature, parents often attribute baby skin problems to our surroundings. It might be true that the air particles in the our surroundings play a part to affect the baby’s skin and respiratory conditions,  but these problem can be rectified and reduced if we use an organic baby body wash 2-in-1, apply organic baby face cream and body moisturizer to increase the baby skin protection barrier, and put on natural coloured organic cotton clothes for the baby. By using natural coloured organic cotton clothing and organic products, you are one step ahead of other parents in helping to prevent and elevate eczema or other skin-related ailments commonly found in newborns and babies.

Filed Under: Baby Products, Childcare, Education, Health · Tagged: , , , ,
Oct 8, 2012

Music Extraordinaire: Claressa Monteiro

By · Leave a Comment

Singer and Music Extraordinaire- Claressa Monteiro

I really want to thank Mark Zuckerberg because of his work and ingenuity, he created a user-friendly social networking website called Facebook. With Facebook, I was able to get connected with my friends, even though I don’t go out much, found long-lost friends and most recently got to know a lot of new friends, and one of whom is singer-songwriter, musician, host and super DJ, Claressa Monteiro.

I set up shop for my new clothing line called Robe de Princesse on Facebook webpage and I was hugely surprised when I saw that Claressa Monteiro had clicked “Like” on my Facebook webpage Robe de Princesse. I was even more astonished when she agreed to wear my evening and cocktail dresses for her hosting events when I asked her. My first reaction was “Oh my goodness, Claressa Monteiro wants to wear my clothes!”

From the point that Claressa adorn my black chiffon toga evening dress for her hosting gig, I knew she was a very friendly, honest and down-to-earth person. She is a shining star and I am just an online retail shop importing work dresses, evening dresses and cocktail dresses for the Professional Woman. I simply feel very honoured and privileged to be given an opportunity to dress Claressa.

A few weeks after, I invited Claressa to join my book project named “Extraordinary Women” and she accepted the interview graciously. I was elated and I took some time to craft the questions so that they are not too personal, yet my readers will know the real Claressa up-close from reading the post and get to learn and appreciate the super woman she is! Currently she is juggling at least 6 facets of different roles, being a host, singer, songwriter, DJ, mother and wife! I really admire her and I don’t know how she does it but she is juggling her roles very well!

Claressa started vocal training as a child and her parents, who were fans of Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, had exposed her to jazz music at a tender age. To Claressa, jazz music was the sweetest and happiest music she had heard during her childhood. However, as a jazz singer, she now tends to stay away from the “tortured” jazz repertoire because to her, jazz music meant joy and sweetness.

I asked Claressa if she was a “born singer” or “trained singer”.  She was of the view that no matter how talented you are, to be successful as a musician, you need proper training. She opined that music education and application must take over, or else there might be no growth and development no matter how good your vocals are.

Apart from making music, being a DJ was something Claressa wanted to explore. She was given the golden opportunity when her A&R Manager at Universal Studio asked Bernard Lim if there was a space on his roster for Claressa and the rest is history. Being a DJ, you are never far from music and in fact, you are also surrounded by music. As a DJ, you need to appreciate music, keep your cool under pressure and sound cheery and chirpy to all your listening fans whilst all hells might have broken loose in the recording studio.

In the interview, I asked Claressa many questions about motherhood and the first question was how she felt when she knew she was going to be a mom. Her answer was simple and it was “Tears of Joy”. I also asked her if she was prepared for her pregnancy and she asserted that all pregnancies are unique and different for each mother-to-be, so no matter how many pregnancy guide books you might have read, you are never really ready to become a mother.

Claressa was very lucky and fortunate because her husband was extremely supportive to her during her pregnancies. He had even gone to the extent to beg for an Orange Julius at 1am in the early morning when Claressa had her cravings during pregnancy. Despite of all the care taken, Claressa did not have easy labours and had to endure traumatic birth experiences for both her children. Nonetheless, all turned out good and she is very grateful to be able to have 2 great children.

With children in her life, Claressa revealed that she has become less self-centred and more willing to sacrifice, especially when it comes to her children. She gave up huge earning opportunities because she did not want to miss her children’s first words, first steps and first day at school. After her second child was born, she even gave up her lucrative music career so that she could spend more time with her children. Everyone told her that being a housewife would kill her career, but she was of the view that she was a mother to her children first and career comes next. She stayed home for 4 years and returned to the music scene afterwards. It was difficult at first but with her sheer grit and hard work, and for many who believed in her like Ebel Watch, The Peak Magazine, The Ritz Carlton and also Universal Studio, she has become even more successful than before.

With her arduous and hard schedules, it seems Claressa needs 32 hours every day but she makes it work with 24 hours. From the interview, I get strong vibes that Claressa is extremely proud of her 2 boys. She and her husband, always taught their children to speak their minds, to be righteous and honest and that failure was not the end of the world and it was just a life lesson. She believes that her children, who are equipped with the values like honesty, truth, determination and without the fear of failing, will ultimately succeed and lead fulfilling lives. For Claressa, she expects nothing from her 2 children and her only hope for them is that they have no qualms about chasing their dreams, living their lives to the fullest and be happy.

For this Super Mommy Claressa, she wanted her children to be as Singaporean as they can be, so she enrolled them into local schools. She expects them to complete their National Service prior to talks of any overseas education. Claressa bonds with her children by spending her little free time with them in mind. She joins her children on the activities that they like to do, such as riding the most exhilarating rides at Universal Studio, cycling with them and getting all dirty by crawling all over the place in The Forest Adventure.

In 2002, Claressa became the first South-East Asian music artiste to release her first jazz album entitled “Now and Then” with Universal Studio. It would be a lifetime achievement for any local music artiste, but for Claressa, she felt very humbled and grateful by the opportunity given to her to release the album. She also stressed that whatever breaks she had, she had worked hard to achieve and deserve them and will continue doing so.

Claressa also related that she had given up many lucrative singing and contractual opportunities but the decision to give up came very naturally because for her, her boys and family always come first. Now that her children are much bigger, she feels a lot more balanced and at ease to chase after work opportunities before the sun sets down on her career.

To wrap-up the interview, I asked Super Mommy Claressa what was the most recent activity she had with her family and she replied that she had spent a spectacular weekend with her family at Sentosa doing almost everything like iFly, Wavehouse and Megazip.

Super Mommy Claressa With Her Family

Filed Under: Childcare, Education, Entrepreneur, Extraordinary Women, Family, Lifestyle, Music, Professional · Tagged: , , , , , , ,
Sep 21, 2012

The Spa In The City

By · Leave a Comment

The Spa Artisan- Product Range

For a stressed out entrepreneur and a mom to 2 young boys, it is always a blessing when someone provides you with a full body spa treatment and I got that on the 14 September 2012. I booked for full spa treatment which included a Body Massage, a Body Scrub and a Soothing Facial treatment.

The spa treatment came at an opportune time as I was really stressed out from work and kids. The Spa Artisan is conveniently located on the Mezzanine Floor of The Fullerton Hotel beside the hotel gym and is managed by the Aramsa Lifestyle Group, who also manages Aramsa- The Garden Spa at Bishan Park.  The service staff at the counter was polite and fast to respond. I let them know that I made a reservation and they led me into the waiting lounge where I was treated to a special blend of floral tea. I was also asked to fill up a health form which I gladly did and told to wait for my therapist.

My therapist fetched me from the waiting area  and told me that I was going for The Hamman Spa Journey from The Red Flower Menu. She allowed me to choose from 3 blends of flower skin massage oil and I chose the Moroccan Rose because it smelt the nicest to me. By the way, the therapist will let you smell the flower skin oils when you choose your spa treatment from The Red Flower Menu and the flower skin oils which included Moroccan Rose Oil, Italian Blood Orange Oil and Ocean Oil, are just heavenly. The Hamman Spa Journey is highly recommended and it comes with a foot bath ritual, a body scrub using moroccan mint tea silt purifier and lemon coffee blossom olive stone scrub, a full body massage with your choice of flower skin oils and also a relaxing sculpt massage. Before we started the treatment, I told my therapist that I was also in dire need of a facial because I love the Skinceuticals skincare range which Aramsa carried. My therapist said she would check and came back to tell me that the facial would be in the package. She said that as my skin was sensitive so she would do a soothing facial treatment. I was so happy and nearly clapped my hands like an excited little girl.

My therapist led me to the massage room which was enclosed and came with an attached toilet. Everything was ultra hygienic and well-cleansed. I immediately changed into the bathrobe and jumped onto the massage bed. My therapist reminded me that I had a foot soak ritual and that she would not be able to do it later after my body scrub had started. I wanted my foot soak and foot scrub desperately so I quickly dressed up again and put my feet into the basin with flowers she had prepared. After which, she added sea salt into the water and started to cleanse and scrub my feet.

After the foot soak ritual, I hopped onto the massage bed and the therapist embarked on the body scrub. She started to purify my body by cleansing and exfoliating my skin with moroccan mint tea silt purifier and lemon coffee blossom olive stone scrub. My therapist was professional and when the full body scrub was done, she told me to take a shower in the attached toilet and was very attentive. She stood outside the shower room to wait for me. When she knew that my body shower cream was running out, she immediately asked me if I need another bottle. She passed me my towel after the shower and led me back to the massage table.

The body massage was the part that I was waiting for because my tired body was in need of some pampering. The therapist was careful and kept asking me if the strength of her massage was alright. After we ascertain the strength to be used, I was led into a make-believe world of total relaxation and contentment. My hour of massage ended too quickly, I still needed some more! Then there was the facial and I would recommend this facial for all who has sensitive skin. The facial treatment was hydrating and calming, something that my face seriously needed.

I was in bliss for a total of 210 minutes and it was enough for a gorgeous Friday evening. I had another drink of the flora tea and skipped out of the spa, feeling rejuvenated, energised and really merry. I would encourage stressed-out bankers who work long hours in Raffles Place to try out The Spa Artisan’s The Hamman Spa Journey from The Red Flower Menu. Private bankers can also treat their clients to The Hamman Spa Journey. Your client will be very glad to sit down with you and talk further about wealth management after the spa treatment. The Red Flower Menu from Japan is comprehensive, invigorating, soothing and rejuvenating. I don’t want to pitch too much because I am not in the business of boosting The Spa Artisans’ sales. I am in the business of trying out the spa treatments and seeing if the treatments are good enough to recommend to my readers, who are mostly stressed out parents like myself . I would give thumbs-up to The Spa Artisan as a spa providing relaxation, quality products and top-notch spa treatments to their customers.

On a final note, I need to bring out what The Spa Artisan lacked and it was space. I felt as if I was in a resort near the sea when I tried out the spa treatment at Aramsa- The Garden Spa but for The Spa Artisan, I felt very confined even though I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. I believe this is attributed to location because The Spa Artisan is situated in The Fullerton Hotel which is right smack in the middle of the Central Business District and of course, being a city hotel spa, you would naturally have less space. I prefer resorts and spas as opposed to spas in a hotel, so it’s really a personal preference. However, I would encourage all the hotel guests and of course bankers who are highly strung from work, to try the The Red Flower Menu. I love it and so will you!

The Spa Artisan- Special Blend of Flora Tea

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Spa · Tagged: ,
« Older Posts
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 64 other followers