Review: IMPACT Spinal Protection School Backpack

Shared in an earlier post, I have always been mindful of spinal care and posture for the kiddo. With her entering Primary school almost 2 years back, I bought her an ergo bag but found it to be unsuitable for her. The bag was a tad too long and the width was a tad narrow where Dumpling found it hard to slot the books in. So, that bag was put aside where we just use it to put the kiddo’s music books instead.

With the kiddo entering into Primary 3 in less than 2 months, the issue was still nagging at the back of my mind as she will have more books and worksheets to bring to and from school. That started our hunt for another ergo bag. With the recommendations from a friend, I visited ERGOWORKS showroom at Centrepoint to pick up a new bag for Dumpling in preparation for Primary 3 next year.

ERGOWORKS carries its own line of ergonomic bags called IMPACT. The line comes in a few models with different features shown below. The main differences are in the shape and in the back of the bags. 

Some target various back muscles (above left) while another has a groove to allow for the spine "sit" on it (above right)...

And one of its latest model is this bag above which allows the user to map the child's height to the strap length (adjustable).

Dumpling was fitted (with the help of the knowledgeable consultants there) for a suitable bag (something not too long) with a curvature which follows and allows for the spine to develop properly.

Importantly, we were looking for a bag that not only fits well but is not as heavy as some of the ergo bags are. 

The bag which she ended up choosing was the IMPACT Spinal Protection School Backpack. Besides the special groove, some of the other unique properties are:

• It uses a Safety reflective material (by USA 3M) on the trimmings and part of its straps
• It is 100% Made in Taiwan
• Its high ballistic Nylon is treated with Anti-Water, Dust and UV resistance coating, 
• As seen above, it uses a "loop lock zip" pull tabs
• It also features an anti-Slip PU base with 
• Multiple file compartments (with elastic band) to hold content upright and stabilise the Centre of gravity of load
• It also has pockets for water bottle and school essentials
• And importantly, the bag’s weight is lightest in its class at approx. 1050g

With that, the kiddo chose her favorite color (pink of course!) and tried it out during the last few days in school. :)

Here's what the kiddo thought of the bag:

"I like that the bag feels snug against my body. The old bag was soft (no structure) and so, the books were pulling down the other way. I had to keep pulling back the straps to keep the bag up. 

This IMPACT bag has a solid structure which allows me to put my books easily and did not pull away from my body. The bag also has a thicker backing. I cannot feel anything poking into my back when carrying it, unlike the previous one. 

I also like that there are sections (compartments) in the bag which helps me organise my books better ~ heavier books are now placed at the back with the lighter ones in the front compartment. 

All in all, I like this bag as it is comfortable."

Dumpling ~ 8YO.

Here's more information on the backpack:

IMPACT Spinal Protection School Backpack

Usual SRP: $149

Special: $129 (inclusive of 7% GST)

(Comes in Navy, Light Purple & Royal Blue)
Website: www.impactlifestyle.com.sg

ERGOWORKS Showrooms

Causeway Point

1 Woodlands Square #03-26 Causeway Point

(level 3 next to Kiddy Palace )

Opens Daily: 11:30am - 9.00 pm

Telephone: 6893 8488

Marina Square

6 Raffles Boulevard #03-337/338 Marina Square

(level 3 Art of living furniture zone)

Opens Daily: 11:30am - 9.00 pm

Telephone: 6837 3370

Centrepoint

176 Orchard Road #03-36 Centrepoint

(level 3 next to LALU boutique)

Opens Daily: 11:30am - 9.00 pm

Telephone: 6836 8488

Connect with Ergoworks on their Facebook page! 

:: About IMPACT Brand

IMPACT brand was founded since 1997 and is sold internationally. Today, it is remains the ONLY ergonomic brand medically endorsed and recommended by Singapore Physiotherapy Association & The Chiropractic Association of Singapore.

If you have found this post useful, you may enjoy more posts on Dumpling's Primary school journey.   

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored review. We were invited to review the IMPACT Spinal Protection School Backpack so that we can give our opinions about it. We are not compensated for the post. All opinions are entirely ours. 

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts (both to the kiddo and my furkid), food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!  

Primary School Journey: Ergonomics Workstation for Better Spinal Care!

(Source)

I have scoliosis, diagnosed when I was in Primary School. Similar to the image above, my curvature is an "S curve". Being someone with Scoliosis with an S curve, I am quite mindful of spinal care. In fact, when Dumpling was younger, I have brought her to my chiropractor before for a spinal check. The spine is basically linked to the nervous system and when it is not properly aligned, there could be tension or back aches, etc. For myself, I suffer from some really bad headaches, neck and back aches.

Hence it has been on my mind for some time to look into an ergo table for the kiddo. When Dumpling was younger, she used a small pink desk from IKEA which was alright as the table and chair height were suitable for her size then. However, as she grew over the past years, she would spend longer hours at the table (since there’s more homework) I have noticed that she had to bend over to read or to write.

:: The shop

So over the weekend, the family visited ERGOWORKS at Causeway Point to check out the ERGOSTARS workstation. The mall seems to be a popular choice for families with young children. Ergoworks is located on Level 3 along the near other children friendly shops such as Kiddy Palace, Popular bookstore, etc.

:: The product range

The shop is a cozy unit but there is no lack of ergonomics products on display:

From IMPACT ergonomic bags

To DUOREST ergonomic chairs
(and ohhhhhhhh… I must say that I tried the below range and my back was in utter bliss the whole time I was seated on it. The support and the angle were perfect for my very sore back ~ I just had a deep tissue massage the day before!)

And to this portable Backjoy support which you can add on to your existing chair. And did you see what I saw???? They even have one in Hello Kitty ™ design!!!!

:: The experience

We met up with the shop Consultant – Jacky who is strong in his product knowledge and explained the functionalities of the ERGOSTARS workstation which we are keen on. Based on my observations from the other customers as well as Dumpling's experience, Jacky was very “hands-on” and took the time to explain the various models and choices available. He also got the kiddo to sit down and tried out the various workstations as well as the chairs.

Consultative Advice

One of my friends have shared with me that ergonomics workstations are also available from various online shops. But personally, after having visited the store and learning more from Jacky, I found that the consultative advice shared to be really important for such products, something which we will not have access to, online. 

To elaborate, with an ergonomics work station, this is the neutral posture all of us should have: 

Hence, the in-store experience is necessary ~ to have a chance to sit down on the chair, adjust the angle of her back rest, and the angle and height of the table, etc. and try it for comfort. 

The "trial"
The ERGOSTARS workstation comes with DUOREST ergonomic Junior chair which is made from original German dual backrests design and technology invented since 1988. Jacky was very patient and took his time to advise us on the steps to adjust the chair for good spinal support ~ to sit close to the the back of the chair and that the legs should be at 90 degrees, touching the floor (or a foot rest ~ see last photo below).

During the trial, he was also very mindful that Dumpling is the user and often stopped to check with her on the comfort level and well as showed all of us what the right angle should be. 

Dumpling’s choice of table allows her to adjust the tilt angle where 25 degrees is optimal for reading (Note: see how she is not hunched over in the right pic?)

With a simple press of the lever (tucked neatly on the side of the table), the table top is then placed flat again for writing. 

Other features of Ergostars model include:

• Effortless height adjustment system
• Desk height adjustment (58cm to 80cm) to grow with your child
• Detachable lever handle
• Child safe design with rounded edge bumper ~ great for younger children
• Non-reflection desk surface ~ better for eyes
• Desk feet leveler ~ in case of un-even floor surface
• Bag hanger
• Wrist support pad that holds book and laptop
• Less than 1 meter in width - fit in to most small space! 
• Environmental friendly
• Safe to use
• E1 European Safety Standard

I also appreciate that the desk comes with front caster wheels for easy mobility, which is great for sliding the workstation out for easy cleaning.

The chair also comes with a rest to cater for smaller children whose feet may not be able to touch the floor.

The ERGOSTARS bundle Usual Price is $1998/set ($1299: desk + $699: chair). 

I am pleased to share that the set is NOW at $699/set with options to purchase a drawer and desktop riser at 50% discount. This bundle set comes in 3 different colors: pink, blue and grey. 

:: The delivery arrangement
Once the choice was made, it was a very simple process of writing down our details for Jacky who checked against the computer system and arranged for the delivery. 

I was told that most deliveries will be between 5 to 7 working days and they will call us prior to arrange. I will update you again in my next post on our delivery and user experience.  

ERGOWORKS Showrooms

Causeway Point

1 Woodlands Square #03-26 Causeway Point

(level 3 next to Kiddy Palace )

Opens Daily: 11:30am - 9.00 pm

Telephone: 6893 8488

Marina Square

6 Raffles Boulevard #03-337/338 Marina Square

(level 3 Art of living furniture zone)

Opens Daily: 11:30am - 9.00 pm

Telephone: 6837 3370

Centrepoint

176 Orchard Road #03-36 Centrepoint

(level 3 next to LALU boutique)

Opens Daily: 11:30am - 9.00 pm

Telephone: 6836 8488

Connect with Ergoworks on their Facebook page! 

:: About Ergonomics
Ergoworks is the ONLY ergonomic brand endorsed & certified by both Singapore Physiotherapy Association & The Chiropractic Association Singapore, this endorsement assure customers are buying genuine ergonomic products. 

If you have found this post useful, you may enjoy more posts on Dumpling's Primary school journey.   

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored review. We were invited to review the ergonomics workstations (ergostars) so that we can give our opinions about it. We are not compensated for the post. All opinions are entirely ours. 

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts (both to the kiddo and my furkid), food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!  

Giveaway! Adeline Loft's Swirly Decollete Mummy-Daughter Necklace Set

Being a mum to a daughter means many things of which one is to be able to dress up in matching outfits and even accessories. There’s something fun yet deeply gratifying to be able to don on identical items with the kiddo. :p

(Matching outfits and even hats!)

I started off with mum and kiddo matching clothes but evolved as she grew older to something more subtle such as matching hats, shoes and accessories.

I have been shopping at Adeline’s Loft for bespoke lifestyle jewelry for years. From earrings to necklaces, Adeline does them all. The process is straight forward and painless. I find that I am usually inspired by some of her creations online and will then approach her thereafter to work on my pieces based on the changes to the beads / stones and colours that I want.

One thing that impresses me is that Adeline is really creative with the pieces she designs – you can certainly see this from the varied necklaces and styles from some of my previous orders!

I then became “hooked” onto matching accessories:

(Pearl necklace for me and pearl bracelet for her)

(Matching long necklaces – darker tone for me while the kiddo gets something sweet and light)

And here’s my latest mummy-daughter matching set! Isn’t this absolutely gorgeous? With Christmas just around the corner, this adds such a festive cheer and will be perfect for our Christmas party! 

For this Christmas period, I am pleased to share that Adeline is sponsoring a “Swirly Decollete Necklace Set” worth $62! Made with felt and in shades of purple and marine blue (connected with double royal purple suede strand), this mummy-daughter set adds a fun and playful twist to your outfit!

About the set:

:: Mum's necklace:

Accented with black faceted glass beads, fluted silver beads and rose beads. Approx.4" at widest width. 17" length + 2" extension chain

:: Girl's necklace (suitable for age 3 and above):
Accented with smooth white porcelain beads and snow flake design, star shaped silver beads. Approx.3" in widest width. 14" length + 2" extension chain

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Remember to leave a comment and share on "What value you wish to instill in your daughter?" 

Can't wait for the give away or looking for Christmas gifts? Contact Adeline via email: ade.loft@gmail.com or for faster response, connect with her at her Facebook page.

Matching mother and daughter necklace sets are generally priced between $55-$65, depending on final choice of beads and chosen materials. Do provide a color theme upon query and Adeline will get back to you on the mock up design. Current lead time is between 7-10 working days. Price quoted is inclusive of standard local mail. Or add on $4 for a Singapore Post smartpac option for next day delivery. Total above $100 will receive complimentary smartpac service.

Disclaimer: The giveaway is kindly sponsored by Adeline's Loft. We are not compensated for the post. All opinions expressed are entirely ours.

Beanie N Us, A Juggling Mom and Dinomama are pleased to bring to you a series of giveaways leading into December! Please remember to share and like our pages to keep abreast of our giveaway lineup!

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!  

Giveaway: Chew Time for Man's Best Friend!

We recently adopted a Singapore Special, Jaime. Having a puppy means chewed up walls, slippers and sofas. Well, at least that’s how it has been for me and the 4 dogs that I have had so far. Puppies chew a lot because they are bored and because they are teething.

The natural thing for us to do was to look for chews for her to chew on. And not just any chew, but healthy natural ones too. 

:: The Shopping Experience

A quick online search brought me to Chew Time and I was immediately drawn to their “Sale” page which featured bundle deals! :p 

What is especially useful for me is the description of the items in the individual bundle packs and chew box pages. Being a puppy, Jaime is a fairly aggressive chewer and description like the below helps me:

Additionally, the bundle packs are also bundled specially where they are cheaper than purchasing as individual items.

The checkout process was fast and easy. Smart Pac is offered free for orders above $50 and free courier is available for orders above $80. Mode of payment is also easily done via internet / bank transfer.

(Jaime sussing the items out)

A few days later, the SmartPac arrived in our letter box. And it couldn’t have arrived on a better day. It was a special day for us and for Jaime because that is the day when she was formally adopted by us. :)

:: The items

I had ordered the September Chew Box and added on some bully sticks. I was pleased to see that the items were not only vacuumed sealed but also labelled individually. 

 (Close-up of the items I ordered)

(Some of the pieces were really big!)

The VID (very important dog) was of course ecstatic! And what a better time for us to work with her on her “sit” and “stay” than this! 

(Human, may I be "released" now? This is animal cruelty!)

It was a great moment to teach her the "come" command too. :) 

The website made good its recommendations and our bully sticks lasted for a while (about 2 hours) which was quite good considering that she is an aggressive chewer!

Jaime has almost finished all the pieces in the box and so far, she has enjoyed all of them. From the Roo Tendon to the Lamb Shank, and from the Bully Sticks to the Roo Tail, they were definitely great treats and training rewards. :) 

Would you like to win 1 x October Chew Pack or 1 x October Chew box for your furkids? 

I am pleased to share that I have 1 of each worth a total of almost $80 to give away!

(Chew Box worth $32!)

(Chew Pack worth $47!)

Take part in the rafflecopter below to enter for a chance of winning! 
(Please remember to leave a comment below on "Why you would like to win a Chew Box" as well as include your email address!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

:: Terms and Conditions:

1) The give away is only for people residing in Singapore.
2) No duplicate winners allowed.
3) Winners have to provide an email address and respond within 48 hours after receiving notification email. Otherwise, another winner will be chosen.

Can't wait for the giveaway to pamper your best friends? Fret not! Chew Time is running a Halloween Sale from 26 Oct to 1 Nov 2015 which offers additional savings! :)

Beanie N Us, A Juggling Mom and Dinomama are pleased to bring to you a series of giveaways leading into December! Please remember to share and like our pages to keep abreast of our giveaway lineup!

Disclaimer: The giveaway is kindly sponsored by Chew Time. We are not compensated for the post. All opinions expressed are entirely ours.

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!  

Review + Giveaway: Dr. Lily's Aloe Vera Gel

Review
 
The good thing about having an active lifestyle is that well, I sleep better (having spent my energy) and of course, that I can continue to eat like a horse being the foodie that I am. BUT the bad thing is that it does horrifying things to my hair and (gasp) skin!
 
I recently went on a short trip to Krabi to spend some days under the sun, in the pool and on the beaches. Importantly, I wanted to bring Dumpling for open sea snorkelling.
 

 

Each day after all the fun (AND THE SUN!), I'd head back to the hotel with skin that is dry and a tad hot to touch. Thankfully I received 2 tubes of Dr. Lily's Aloe Vera Gel prior to my trip and decided to bring them along for a 'road test'. 

 

 

It's common knowledge that Aloe Vera has many healing properties and are exceptionally good for sunburns. While Dumpling and I did not get any burns, I am fairly diligent about facial care. With the amount of sun that we are both getting coupled with sea water AND chlorine, I was not going to take any chance.

 

Instead of using something that is oil based which may not be suitable for Dumpling, I smeared Dr. Lily's Aloe Vera Gel all over on our limbs and even our faces - in the morning when we are up and before we go to bed. Being water based, I did not have to worry that the properties are not suitable for Dumpling. The gel was nice, refreshing and cooling on our golden skin.

 

Then on Day 2, being the klutz that I am, I slipped on the stainless steel ladder when coming down from the longtail boat which we were on. I had a fairly large bruise on the side of my shin and I recalled that Aloe Vera has anti inflammatory properties amongst many others. This is how my bruise looks after 3 days; it has basically faded to a pale yellow.

 

The kiddo does not like any sticky or greasy after-feel and neither do I. But of course, we did not have problems with the gel and it was being absorbed quickly. Best of all, this product has no fragrance which works for me as I am picky about scents!

 

 
I am excited to share that I have the below to give away: 

• 1 x 100ml Dr Lily's aloe vera gel
• 3 x mini jars of Dr Lily's aloe vera gel (with essential oil - randomly chosen) &
• 1 x Dr Lily's recycle bag

Here's how you can win this!

• Rafflecopter below
• Share the giveaway on your FB page (as in share this page URL)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Being the awesome person that I am (LOL!) I have a discount code for those of you who wish to purchase this! Just quote "Beanie N Us" when you send your order to friends@drlilys.com to enjoy a 15% discount!

:: Terms and Conditions:

- Entries that do not fulfill the requirements stated will be disqualified without notice.

- Winners will be notified by email, through the email address provided.

- This giveaway is open to Singapore residents only. 

Disclaimer: The sponsorship of this giveaway is by Dr. Lily and I received the gels to try so as to give my opinion of it. All 'golden tans' acquired during our vacation are entirely our own. :D No monetary compensation was received for this post.

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram! 

 

Privi-Kids: our choice! Review + a giveaway!

I am pretty sure that the idea of online shopping came from a female. And perhaps a mum at that. I could never lug a kid around in crowded malls. The number of times I have been out to the malls since I had Dumpling is definitely less than 10 times a year (the neighhourhood one not withstanding since the library is in the mall and yes, am a dork). So where do I buy our stuff from? I prowl on the internet for online shops. From groceries to books to learning resources to clothes, online shops are my best friends.

:: Range of sizes

I chanced upon Privi-Kids last year as I was looking for a gift for a girlfriend who was having her second child, to add to a gift 'basket' I was making. I wanted to look for a matching dress for the firstborn and the infant and I was really glad to find it here. Sizes at the shop usually start from size 1 or 2 and go to size 7 or 8. This would be great for parents with same gender kiddos who want to wear the same design!

:: Clean design, easy navigation

I have to admit that what draws me to the site is that the design and background colors are kept clean and simple. I have come across sites which are hard to navigate and has a really busy background which I personally find distracting (ok, am anal) as I like items with print. At times, I find it hard to choose because the background of the webpage clashes with the prints!

Navigation tabs on Privi-Kids are kept simple with clear drop-down menus too. 

:: Checkout 

Checkout is as simple as 4 steps and the best part is, because it is a local shop, it allows for 'bank transfer' as a payment option! How convenient is that?!?

:: Spoilt for choices

With Chinese New Year around the corner, I have been shopping online again and here are my picks for Dumpling for this  Chinese New Year!

For something dressy... 

There's something about this piece that Dumpling really likes. It could be the nice soft jade colour or it could be the soft silky feel of this long dress but upon receiving it, she immediately chose to wear this for a reunion luncheon with my folks.

This piece features simple girly details like faux pearl buttons and 'drawstrings' at the shoulder area to create soft ripples, giving it a romantic look :)

For playdates...

For outdoor casual play dates, we love spaghetti dresses and tops. You can do no wrong with this simple yet cheery sundress. And in red too, how apt! You can choose to dress it up with a fancy hairclip (like below) or a simple necklace (yes, my kiddo has necklaces)!

(While Dumpling was waiting for me to test my camera and lighting, she started practising various expressions and angles... She will probably hate me for sharing these shots in future but... :p)

From the exaggerated expression...

To a serious poser...

To an angelic shot, this dress clearly takes you places (and faces too I must say!) :p

For something that has a bit of 'Cheeky Fun'

I am not big on petticoats / poofy skirts but I am BIG on tulle, layering and texture. Dumpling has loads of simple tops at home and I am always on the lookout for nice shorts and skirts. When I saw this 'Fairy Skirt' I added it to my cart IMMEDIATELY...

This skirt has a pink under-layer and an almost turquoise blue tulle over it. Coupled with a silver waistband and a pink bow, it is every girl's 'fairy' dream. :) 

I had originally brought Dumpling's violin down as a prop for the shoot but she started playing on it and I could 'see' how beautiful this skirt would be in a black and white photo too because of the layering and textured effect. I'd  let you be the judge!

As always, I have good 'lobangs' to share! Just for Beanie N Us readers, here's a 10% discount code! 

Simply key in BEANIENUS10 at the checkout!

I am also pleased to share that 1 lucky winner gets to select 1 outfit from Privi-Kids!

Here's how to win:

Earn credits using Rafflecopter below by:

1) Clicking 'Like' on my Blog Facebook page

2) Clicking 'Like' on Privikids Facebook page 

3) Leaving a comment on the comment section on "Which outfit you like and why?" 

4) Sharing this post with your friends on your FB page! 

(For Singapore residents only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The more credits you earn, the higher your chances of winning! :) 

Disclosure: I was invited to shop at PriviKids for the purpose of sharing my experience. No monetary compensation was received though Dumpling got to keep those really cool dresses and skirt after the shoot! All outfits featured are from PriviKids (except the white top paired with the Fairy Skirt). Shoes, hairclip and violin are model's own. Stylist, hairstylist, personal shopper and photographer - model's talented mum. :D

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!