Olive Baby Products Review

The bug came back to play! T____________T

This time, brought everyone down including the old boy too, but I was resilient, I refused to join in the fun! /fistpumpschest because I'm a goody-two-shoe like that haha. Yeah, so they got my throat itch a little and have to cough a little, but no, I’mma strong as a tough old granny!

The week when the girls first came down with the fever and cough, we had no choice but to feed them medicines, we generally try to avoid these as best we could, because we much prefer to let their bodies fight the bugs and recover naturally. Alas, there are also times, we need to do the opposite when things got a little out of our hands. 

So they’ve been on medications and all that. One thing I noticed about Oli is that, every time she’s put on medication, she’d purge. I assume it’s normal? Does it happen to your littings? I didn’t get to ask the doctor though.

So there were times when she purged, we didn’t notice, especially at night during sleep and she didn’t signal us (which she would if she poos), she’d be wearing soiled diapers and that hurts her skin really badly. The private part area was raw and red, and there was even a wound, and boy did that bother her. :( You should see her when she pooed, and knew that I was going to bring her to the bathroom for cleaning, she’d ran and hid in a corner, crying and screaming murder! How heart breaking! T___T

Anyway, I am glad though, just a week or two before they both fell ill, I was approached for an opportunity to try out the Olive skincare products for baby and I thank God for such right timing! 

Originated from New Zealand, these Olive + Tebe (pronounced as teh-be) skin- and bodycare ranges contain extra virgin olive oil, an antioxidant rich in vitamins and minerals which has been used as a beauty secret in the Mediterranean for centuries. Tebe also contains olive leaf extract which is rich in Oleuropein, a natural antioxidant extremely beneficial for one's skin.

Olive + Tebe products are created by the largest olive estate in New Zealand, Simunovich Olive Estate, with over 40,000 trees producing 150,000 litres of high quality, award winning olive oil every year, much of which goes into the creation of their skin care products. The founder of the estate, Ms Branka Simunovich said that “olive oil is like mother’s milk. It is the one product in the world that no one is allergic to and that makes it perfect for beauty treatments.”

I’m sure, for a mother, a woman, that statement is like music to the ears! In these modern days, our diets and hygiene regimens are unavoidably filled with all kinds of unwanted chemicals and artificial ingredients that not just pollute the environment, it also affects the state of our health. So these products are like a breath of fresh air to me and I was eager to put them to test.

And so, soon the girls fell sick and Oli with her nappy condition, I started applying the Olive Baby Nappy Cream on her. Before that, I’ve been using the usual nappy cream – Egozite, which works just as well, except, in this case, I’d much prefer something more natural. 

By now, Oli was suffering with her skin condition and was highly uncomfortable, thus cranky and was unable to sleep through the night. It was a nightmare for all of us! I was pleasantly surprised that the first application of the cream already brought relief.  The skin on Oli’s private part was much better, and she’s able to get through the day a happy baby. Best part, she didn’t ran away from me when she pooed like previously, and allowed me to wash her without whining and crying in pain and fear.

It took around 3 days for the wound to dry up and the skin to get back to its normal condition. So I am really, really happy with the product!

One more thing I like about the nappy cream, is that it comes in a tube with an attached lid. So there’s no fumbling in the dark looking for that tiny plastic screw cap during diaper change that got tangled and hidden amidst the sea of pillows and blankets! 

Another product that I received was the Olive Baby Moisture Milk – a light lotion specifically formulated to guard against chapping, chafing, and dryness – according to the pamphlet. When I received the parcel, I was more excited about this lotion than the nappy cream, because my girls have really dry skin, obviously seen on their legs.

While light in texture, the lotion has a very heavy perfume scent which I don’t like. Babies should smell light and fresh, right (I'm pleased with the nappy cream's scent though!)? But that’s just a personal preference.

That said, the lotion, though looks creamy and heavy, is really quite light and absorbs so well and quickly into the skin! And it doesn’t give you that greasy feel and leave you rather handicapped because you can’t do anything with oily hands? Urgh, I hate that, one reason I don't use body lotion or hand cream! Anyway, after a few applications, I can see that those dry, chapping skin’s not that obvious anymore. Win!

Behold my dry skin! T_T

I'm not sure if you can see, but the fine lines/wrinkles are much more softened and smoother!

The bottle comes with a pump for easy application, but it’d be nice if the pump has some sorta turn-and-lock system to avoid children’s itchy hands from having a pump party and waste all the lotion goodness and slippery surfaces for the mommies to clean! Also it'll be handy to carry around in bags for instant dry skin relief!

Overall, I’m really happy with the Olive products for baby and I’ll definitely restock once I’m out of them! Though a little pricey (both retailed at RM92), the all-natural, skin-safe, pH-balanced formulations are more than enough to justify the purchase. If you need more convincing, here’s why:

- The products is said to be proudly made on the estate in NZ

- pH balanced
- Made with natural ingredients
- Made with pure spring water from the estate
- Fast absorbing, non-greasy formulation
- Nutrient-rich, concentrated formulations
- Recycable and reusable packaging
- Not tested on animals
- Gentle and suitable for all skin types
- Formulated in small amounts for greater quality (the nappy cream and the moisture milk is   75ml and 100ml respectively)
- Scented using natural hypoallergenic fragrances

Both Olive + Tebe have extensive skin- and bodycare ranges for women, men, and baby. So definitely there’s something for everyone in the family! Olive + Tebe is distributed under The Skin Topic and you can find them at Pavilion KL (P.5.12.00, Level 5) and Subang Parade Mall (Lot LGC01, Lower Ground Floor).

Also check them out on their website and facebook page for more info on the products, reviews, as well as promotions and contests to win luxurious Olive & Tebe products!

Do let me know how you like them if you happened to be using them now or in the future,  even! :) 

Sick Bubs

Last weekend the girls threw a party. The Let's Get Sick Together Party. Oh it was glorious, one that involved sweet cough syrup, pink paracetamol - both oral and suppository, sexy antibiotics called Augmentin, and there were even puke fest! We were beside ourselves with glee! There was no sleep and lotsa cranky hacking in the middle of the night, all through the weekend. Ah, good times.

Right now, I'm just happy to bid the sick bugs adieu, and I don't mean to be rude but, good riddance!

Time to clean up and sanitize the whole house. Urgh. 

Have You Written Your Resolutions Hmm? Pt. 2 + Ellie.Bie Promo

I realized in a haste, I've used a stupid title for my previous post, and so I'm stuck with that "Pt. 2" bit in this post. This really has nothing to do with writing resolutions anymore. Haha. If you haven't, then get on with it because well it's for the good of the mankind! Read my Pt. 1 here! :D

I mentioned in my previous, previous post that I was going to “review” an online clothing site owned by a friend of a bunch of my friends and so we were not really connected, she’s really an acquaintance but we are also friends now, to a certain level. WHY DO I ALWAYS LENGTHEN ALL MY SENTENCES NONSENSICALLY I ALSO DUNNO HAHAHA SORRY I CAN’T HELP THE VIRTUAL ME TALK. OKOK I stop.

So yeah! I’m really excited for her, Elaine, the sweet petite owner of ellie.bie! I’ve always wanted to start some kinda blogshop but for one and all reasons, I never did. And to see someone you know doing it, I admit, it does make me feel a little envious, ok fine a lot. -_- but at the same time, so proud and excited! You know, as if the person is your child that made you proud. Or something…. Never mind me. -.-

So on to ellie.bie. Elaine was kind enough to loan me a couple of her sample pieces to try on, and boy was I sold. I’m not making these exaggerations just “oh because she’s your friend. You can say like that lah!”. The thing is, when I saw the process of how ellie.bie came to be, the hard work and effort Elaine puts into it, and how determined this girl is, really, my heartfelt salute! 

And then when the samples came to me, I was very surprise with the clothes’ quality and cutting! I mean, honestly, there are so many online clothing stores out there, and most of their quality is well, just alright (for the price range around RM50-ish?). So when I saw ellie.bie’s pricing, the “ah it’s just another blogshop” did flash past my mind. How wrong I was.

I picked 2 pieces – one dress and one top – to try on, and both the pieces are made of quality, thick cotton, and so the good fabric lends the clothes a very good, tailored structure when worn.

Ellie.bie stocks mostly office wear, or at least most of the bajus look corporate-ish to me, and so this well-tailored/structured look is important when you are working in the corporate world to look groomed and chic. 

Here this, is a Roland Mouret-inspired Margaret Pencil Dress (RM69.00). I picked the grey one because well erm, I’m a very grey person. Haha. I actually do love grey very much and find the colour so full of character! And this grey on this dress is just simply amazing! It’s very non-flashy, yet it is also very stylish.

The length makes it perfect for the office without losing that sexy edge. Ah, if I’m still an office lady, I’d definitely bag this! 

 

Comes in grey, red, blue.

I also picked out this Sabrina Tulip Top (RM55.00), and went with a safe colour – black, because I’ve been looking for staple pieces for my wardrobe, and I think I’ve found myself one here! I just simply adore this piece! It’s so versatile; it can be dressed up or down. I tried it with a body-hugging bright yellow pencil skirt (which makes me want to go back and sit in an office!), a pair of shorts, and jeans, and I love every pairing! And the fact that it's black, it makes pairing super fun, because you can match it with bright colored bottoms, crazy statement pieces, or simple accessories like an envelope clutch and thin belts. They'll all work, like, mama for real!

I wish I could show you better and more professional photos with perfect angles and that how awesome this top is, alas a full length mirror I have not (@hubs, ONE OF my birthday presents, perhaps? ;), but I did have 2 crying toddlers locked up in the cot when I was trying on these clothes! Oh the stress I tell you! 

 

Anyways!!! ellie.bie updates their site every Thursday at 12pm, so do check them out! Recently they’ve included some biker chick essentials in their stock, and they are all so drool-worthy! AND since Chinese New Year is right round the corner, they have stocked cheongsam-inspired peplum dresses in the most festive of reds and also lots of yummy lace fabrics! 

Here are a few of my favs (click on the pics to bring you to the site):

Love this ensemble!

Cute yet elegant blouse

How cool is this?!

Enjoy a RM5 discount on ALL PIECES (not valid with other promotions) when you make a purchase! Just key in the discount code: letsbrewlove and save! Imagine that, if you buy 3 pieces, that's a saving of RM15! (Hmm, considering this is my birthday month, maybe I should update my wardrobe after all hmm? Hehehe)

Promotion valid till 31st March 2013! (That's a lot of stock updates in between this period! But don't hold out your orders too long, all pieces are quite limited, so grab them before they are gone! :)

Have You Written Your Resolutions Hmm? Pt. 1

Greetings! And a very Happy New Year I wish you, beautiful people of the earth! 

Let me just take a moment and go, woouoah! Like, seriously, what’s the deal with time man, why the hurry?! It was just what, yesterday? That my second baby arrived! And suddenly, she’s like 1 plus. And then in a couple of week’s time, ahem, I’m turning a year older cooler! 

WOUAH! 

Really, exclamation marks are really an understatement, though very necessary haha. ANYWAY!
Regardless, I’m really excited about the year 2013! 12 months of endless possibilities! Thank God for His grace and mercy! Speaking of which, I saw someone shared a picture on instagram, and I find it so funny I made a mental note to share it somewhere. But I really don’t mean to be rude in any sense ok! Here, this:

HAHAHA! Funny right!!!

:x OK moving on! 

So I mentioned that WELL, in a few weeks’ time my birthday will be rolling right over and I’ve decided to be shameless declare the month of January a month of celebration! Yes, please, you can take a day off and feel free to bask in my awesomeness for you will find no other. *angels sing*

But I’m super lousy in coming up with plans and stuff lah. So all I did manage was a pathetic list of things that I want to do (starting) this month – 

1. Eat Korean bbq because erm, I’ve never tried it before? -.-

2. Start taking supplements and collagen and stuff because well it’s high time? Actually, I don't know how is this part of my birthday celebration. Sorry wrong list. Zzz.
3. Plant potatoes and spinach. HAHAHA! Because it’s time I make myself useful by bringing some bread to the table too. I’m serious ok.
4. To have a truckload of cool presents! 
5. To own a ukulele! For no apparent reasons; it’s just something I’ve always thought it’s cool to have, never mind the fact that I play no string instruments. Uh, yeah. 

So that’s it! For now. But really, how simple I am! The hubs should really be counting his blessings. 

Oh and have lotsa makan and yumcha sessions with friends! Nothing makes me happier than just lepak-ing with friends, gossiping updating each other about the happenings.

Anyway, this being my grand birthday month aside, have you come up with your resolutions for this year? I was never a erm, resolutionist. But I figured (how smart right hehe) one needs some kinda goals or plans to motivate you through, I mean, otherwise, what’s the point of you being alive right? Takkan just wipe your babies’ shit and cook porridge for them only! But you see, even that is some kinda resolution already! You resolute to be a better parent who wipes their butts cleaner and better, see?! And you will act accordingly and that makes your life purposeful! SEE?! Light bulb! Nuff said!

So then, in place of a to-do list, I decided each year, I’ll give myself a word to live by. Last year my word was “NEW”. And I’m pretty proud to report back that I’ve lived up to that word, by seizing opportunities whenever I can and try doing new things – like organizing meetups and meeting new friends, both of which makes me wiggle in anxiety and discomfort; signing up for a makeup course that I don’t see the point of doing (but enjoyed it thoroughly in the end, plus met new friends, plus had good fellowship with the friends I attended the class with!); and going on a short holiday trip with ONE friend who was really just a hello-goodbye friend (in a much closer sense), and now I dare say we’ve found a friend in each other (I hope!); with the help of the hubs, I've also organized a crazy preloved clothing sales and I’m just so proud that I could even pull it off in the first place; and erm, dip-dying my hair haha never mind I look like an old lala mui now; dress up more, just because I can, why wait until I’m all gray and wrinkly right? Seriously what was I thinking when I was like, 10 years younger?! When I was 20, I lived in tents and men’s jeans, likka a real aunty. The late bloomer in me has once again, live up to its true character. Yerrr! Why! Y_Y

So yeah, stuff like that lah! I tried to go with the flow more, even if it makes me uncomfortable but eventually usually I'll end up having fun. And that was pretty much my 2012, on a personal level!

And this year, behold, my word – POSITIVE. *cues spotlight shining down from behind the clouds

This year, besides continue trying new things, I also resolute to learn to be more positive; to think positively; to see the positive side of every negative situation and thought. Because I think, how things turn out depends so much on how we think. Positive attracts positive. Positive words and thoughts reap positive results. Besides, if the mama is positive, the littlings will be happier too. You get my drift? Yeah…

OK NOW! After getting all these sappy a-year-older-a-year-wiser stuff outta the way! Let me give you a small little “gift”, ok not so much a gift from me, but you know, just a little something to get the fashion-loving blood in you pumping  a teensy bit faster (thus more oxygen into your heart and brain! More oxygen means better well being! GOOD NEWS, THIS! :D)

**wait, let me cut this post into 2 parts so that you won’t get overwhelmed with all my words of wisdom! Haha! 

Please stay tuned with the part 2! YOU REALLY DOWAN TO MISS IT (cos I’m modeling with a pathetic half-length mirror and an iphone camera. Self-shoot no less. z. Story of my miserable blogger life  -.-)**

MEANWHILE, what's a blog without pictures right? (You saw that coming, doncha? haha!)

Dong Zhi Day, where we fought for tang yuen! Ah, good times!

Christmas Dinner and free choc drink! Because this lil missy smiled and waved to the barista and melted his heart! Think it'll work if I do the same? Hmmmmmm

A sisterly aww moment there. Right after that, Frappy told Oli "no more. one only!" -_-

Yummy dinner @ La La Chong with great company!

Our impromptu stay at Saujana Hotel, thanks to a sweet angel!

Buffet breakfast time! My fav!

Oli's first dip and frappy clinging on to her dear life.

We're chilling, no pictures please.

pic nipped from melly

Girly sleepover (with super noob boys in attendance, who got excited over exfoliating their faces. Like, seriously? Yes, seriously. HAHA! I don't know why I like to answer my own questions likka pro =_=)

Facial / brotherly bonding time

I know it's too late, but I hope it's not too late anyway, to wish one and all a very Blessed Christmas and an awesome New Year! May the Lord keep lotsa cool stuff in store for you in 2013. It's gonna be uhmaizing! 

But before the uhmaizing begins, gotta crash now! I pretty much typed this whole thing with my eyes half closed. BUT! Remember to check back for the part 2 of this post k! Nightssss!!!