Tried & Tested: What We’re Loving This Summer, from Travel Hats to Family Photo Shoots

Team Sassy rounds up all the tried and tested things we’re loving this July

Team Sassy Mama gets invited to try many products and services and attends media previews and tastings to keep on top of everything new and noteworthy in Singapore. Here we share with you our favourites and, of course, all opinions are our own. We are a diverse group of mamas who are shopping, eating, watching, and experiencing fun things with our families, just like you!

So if you’re looking for some quick pick-me-ups and inspiration, mama, read on to see what tried & tested stuff we’re loving this month. 

Click here to see our past picks!

Abi: A’kin Micellar Water

While in Australia a couple of months ago I borrowed my friend’s make up remover as I’d forgotten mine… It was A’kin Micellar Water, made with organic coconut water, green tea, cucumber and lavender. On the bottle it claims to help cool, soothe and refresh the skin. My thoughts were WOW – this product is fast, effective at removing make-up and felt gentle on my skin.
It has a light green tea and cucumber fragrance and has none of the nasties in it (i.e Sulphates, parabens, artificial colours etc.)

Next question I asked myself: can I get this product in Singapore? A quick check on Google and the answer is YES. It’s a great price (roughly $20) and is available in Guardian, Watsons and FairPrice Finest.

Beate: Free Kids’ Online Yoga & Dance Classes

With the school holidays in midflow, my kids who are little energy balls spend all day at full speed and by the end of the day we all need something to calm down! The easiest solution would be switching on the TV, and whilst I’m less strict with screen time on holiday (especially when there are so many fun educational kids shows out there), I do think it’s important to mix passively sitting in front of the TV with ‘active screen time’. We are huge fans of Cosmic Kids which is a free online programme where Jaime the presenter teaches kids yoga through storytelling with a new theme for each episode, from Harry Potter to penguins, Minecraft to mermaids. You can choose a short under 10 minute class or 15+ minute ones and there are different energy levels to choose from. It’s pretty cute seeing your 4-year-old doing downward dog in the living room. The Cosmic Kids programme offers different categories, too – there’s dance as well as mindfulness and meditation videos which do a great job of making big topics easy for kids to understand. Jaime compares feeling stressed to watching a snow storm, and teaches kids how to breathe to calm the snow down. A great alternative to mainstream TV and popular shows like Paw Patrol, which has received some less than positive press recently.

Read more: Meditation & Mindfulness Classes for Kids and Adults in Singapore

Jessica: East Coast Park Mini Shoot with Tomato Photo

I never really liked the idea of a family photo shoot – they seemed highly staged, forced, and generally very uncomfortable. But asked to find a photo of our family of four? The best I had was a windswept selfie, with both kids hamming it up for the camera. So, we bit the bullet and had our first ever family photo shoot.

Hart from Tomato Photo offers a mini session at East Coast Park, so right away it seemed like an easy option. At just 30 minutes I knew it would be over quickly, and because it’s outside, we wouldn’t feel too awkward or posed. We hadn’t met Hart before, but he has such an easygoing manner that we felt comfortable immediately. It didn’t even feel like a photo shoot – we were just hanging out, chatting with someone who happened to have a camera. Hart put the kids at ease, and made the shoot really fun for them. The result is some really gorgeous, candid photos of them, and (finally!) some frame-worthy family photos to share with the grandparents back in Australia.

The 30-minute East Coast Park Mini Shoot is $799, with 30 – 50 digital images included. Whatsapp (+65) 8858 0088 or see www.tomato.sg for more 

Kate – “Complete Wellbeing Package” at the Fullerton Spa 

Last month I was invited to try out the new “Complete Wellbeing Package” at the Fullerton Hotel Spa. I’m a bit of a massage addict and love sampling the different hotel spas around town, but had never actually been to the Fullerton’s before; it’s not huge, but it’s well-kempt and elegant, and I was incredibly impressed by my therapist, who offered lots of insights and suggestions throughout the 150-minute treatment (without being overly chatty or intrusive). The package features a 30-minute exfoliation scrub, 60-minute massage, and 60-minute facial. As much as I love spa treatments I sometimes get a little antsy if I do more than one thing at a time, but I was totally blissed out during this one! I fell asleep during both the massage and the facial, and basically floated out of the hotel when it was over. And my daughter even complimented me on my “glowy” face! If you’re looking to treat yourself, you could do much worse, mamas.

The “Ultimate Wellness Package” at the Fullerton Hotel Spa lasts 150 minutes and costs $380. Click here for more details or call (+65) 6877 8182 to book

Kristin: Stylish Travel Hats You Can Actually Pack in Your Suitcase

Living in Singapore and traveling around Southeast Asia I am always on the hunt for a good hat. Enter Two Baked Buns: I first discovered them at the The Attaby Collective and quickly became obsessed. I first purchased their classic Panama for a trip to Cambodia and not only did it look great in the photos but it also kept me out of the sun. I love having a big floppy or structured hat on vacation, but hate having to deal with them on airplanes. Two Baked Buns’ hats are the perfect travel companion and are packable – you just roll them up, toss in your suitcase and they hold their shape. I recently purchased a set of customized floppy beach hats for all the ladies on my family vacation to Bali this June – they were a hit! You can customize their hats to say whatever you want (from names to sayings), and they have kids’ hats as well to make your mommy and me matching dreams come true.

Find Two Baked Buns online and at The Attaby Collective

Syaz: Delicious North Indian & Indian-Chinese Cuisine near Mustafa Centre

Copper Chimney has actually been around since 2012, but their new halal certification put them back on our radar (and on our list of Halal Restaurants & Cafes in Singapore!). Excelling in North Indian and Indian Chinese cuisine, the experience here was an amazing culinary journey through various flavours (thanks to the fresh spices flown straight from the motherland). Starters came in the form of the flavourful Masala Roomali, a thin bread filled with onions and tomato, and Kurkuri Bhindi (crispy, deep fried lady’s fingers). We tucked into a few delicious mains, and standouts included the Chilli Cheese Naan, Chicken Lababdar (a sort of butter-chicken-and-curry combo) and Salmon Fish Masala, which is cooked to perfection in Copper Chimney’s custom made tandoor. The Triple Szechwan Rice was a particularly memorable dish, made by frying long-grain rice, hakka noodles, and spicy gravy to create the perfect hotplate of comfort food. Conveniently located right opposite Mustafa Centre, it makes for the perfect hangout pre- or post-Mustafa shopping!

Copper Chimney, 100 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207676, www.copperchimney.com.sg