Do you have the habit of reading the ingredients list before buying any skincare product? My students used to tell me that I'm weird because I read ingredients lists while I brush my teeth or when shampooing my hair, but don't you want to know what you put on your precious skin? And when you see a whole long list of chemical names on the label, are you happy or worried?

Over the years, with more knowledge and after trying out many brands of skincare products, I've grown to love products that are natural, free from synthetic chemicals, and holistic - because, in most bottles out there, I see many fillers and preservatives which are unnecessary for our skin. And every now and then, we read of new research findings telling us that a certain chemical used in many skincare products is tested to be unsafe.


I am happy to find Mambino Organics, a brand of personal care products that is committed to providing "the purest and best performing natural personal care products possible". Mambino Organics is well known for eczema, cradle cap, diaper care and scar repair. The skincare products are designed for newborns, children, men and women of all skin types and age and are safe to use during pregnancy. Every product uses pure and certified organic plant oils, herb and flower extracts in its products, and they disclose all the ingredients they put into each bottle, giving the assurance and relief for green-minded parents. The products are handmade (no mass production) without any severe heating or hydrogenating processes in order to ensure the nutritional content and potency of the natural ingredients used.

Almost all the products from Mambino Organics are certified to USDA Organics Standards, giving you the confidence that you are definitely using a high-quality natural product.

1. New Beginning Pore Refining Face Wash (170 ml)

This is my current favourite cleanser! The fresh citrusy smell from the organic sweet orange peel oil perks me up in the mornings and gives a calming effect after a long day. Free from all petrochemical, synthetic surfactants, foaming agents, formaldehyde or phthalates, fragrances or alcohol, this face wash is great for all skin types and gently exfoliates the pores with 100% natural ingredients.

There are some brands of cleansers which leave my face tight and itchy after washing, especially around the cheeks, but I'm relieved that the New Beginning Pore Refining Face Wash leaves my skin clean and soft. What I also notice is that after I started using this face wash, those hard whiteheads that usually form around my forehead and chin are cleared. The bottle comes with a self-foaming pump to create the rich lathering foam for easy cleaning. Because of this cleanser and the Organic Youth Glow Omega Face Serum, I have been a returning customer of Mambino Organics!

How to Use
Splash face with some warm water and pump one pump of cleanser into palm of your hands. Create a soothing lather and work into skin in upward, circular motions, never rushing this important step. Follow with your preferred tonic, serum and moisturizer. Use morning and night. 

Ingredients
Saponified cocos nucifera (organic coconut oil), saponified olea europaea (organic olive) oil, saponified sim-mondsia chinensis (organic jojoba) oil, vegetable glycerin, aloe barbadensis (organic aloe) leaf juice, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (organic sweet orange) peel oil 

Organic content: 77% 

2. Organic Youth Glow Omega Face Serum (30 ml)

Oils and my face don't go well together, so I was a little hesitant before trying this product. Now, it is an important part of my daily face routine. Loaded with essential fatty acids and antioxidants that my tired skin needs, this oil is quickly absorbed to give a natural glow on my face and improves my complexion. Even without applying any moisturizer, my face stays hydrated and comfortable. What more, with ingredients like evening primrose, hazelnut and sea buckthorn fruit, what's not to love about the scent!

Psst ... I also read that this serum is popular amongst men for reducing any irritation and redness after shaving. It's time to surprise your favorite man with one bottle!

How to Use
Apply a few drops on cleansed face, eye and neck area every morning and night. For oilier, acne-prone and combination skin use it instead of your regular moisturizer. For dry skin, follow with your moisturizer. (Quick Tip: for best results, apply the serum on slightly damp skin right after cleansing or toning.) 

Ingredients
Corylus avellana (organic hazelnut) seed oil, rosa canina (organic rosehip) fruit oil, oenothera biennis (organic evening primrose) oil, hippophae rhamnoides (organic sea buckthorn) fruit oil, calophyllum inophyllum (organic tamunu) oil, citrus sinensis (organic orange) peel oil, lavandula angustifolia (organic lavender) oil

*USDA Certified Organic/ Vegan / Cruelty free

I have no idea why I have not jumped onto the "honestbee grocery concierge" bandwagon till now. It's about time, I guess, especially since I will be without any domestic help in a month's time.

I usually shop at FairPrice Xtra for most of the family needs as we have one well-stocked outlet nearby. Occasionally, I'll drop by the Chinese medicinal hall a few streets away to get cheaper diapers or take a 10-minute drive to the nearest NTUC Finest for gourmet grocery for a special homecooked meal. It's a lovely experience to be at the store physically, browsing through shelves of products, but if I have 5 other errands on my To-Do list, grocery shopping can get frustrating.

And imagine bringing a 6-year-old child along and lugging three bags of groceries that weigh 5 kg each - hence the need to explore online grocery.

honestbee? What's that?

I believe by now, most of you would have heard about honestbee even if you have not tried the services before. honestbee started out as an online grocery concierge service and today, it has expanded its concierge services to medication, food and laundry services. (Scroll down for current promotions for first-time sign ups)
For online grocery shopping, the number of stores available on honestbee is impressive! There are 29 stores available in my area, with products ranging from premium vegan cold-pressed juices, DIY home improvement products, exquisite French or Japanese gourmet products and local domestic products. What have I missed out all this while?!

More savings with honestbee's Family Market

Recently, honestbee launched a new store that aims to cater to the needs of families with young children. Family Market, as the name implies, carries family and baby essentials ranging from food and snacks, health and beauty essentials, to baby care products like diapers and milk powder, and household goods. These products are direct from the suppliers so you will find that the prices are lower than those of major supermarkets.

For example, I save $1.72 when I get the Dove shampoo at Family Market store than the usual supermarket I go to.

Price comparison for Dove shampoo

Look at how much a parent saves from diapers at Family Market! A price comparison on Merries diapers across other honestbee's stores and Redmart shows that you get to save most on Family Market. (If you are only looking to buy diapers, Singapore Motherhood has a very useful article on cheap diapers in Singapore.)

Price comparison of Merries diapers (prices quoted are accurate at the time of publication)

For now, there are about 900 items available at Family Market which I feel is rather limited. I believe honestbee will continue to add more essential items to better serve the needs of families with young kids. Oh, also take note that there are no fresh or chilled products from this store (yet).

My online grocery shopping experience with honestbee 

Since it was my first time ordering from honestbee, I took some time to familiarise myself with the platform and compare prices of items I wanted across various platforms and with the stores on honestbee. As I added items to the cart, I imagined little hardworking bees buzzing around the store, picking up those items as I clicked. I know ... I'm too imaginative. 

Here's sharing what wow-ed me (and didn't) about honestbee:
The "Wow!" about honestbee

• The website has a very user-friendly interface and it is easy to navigate around the platform. 
• They promise their prices are exactly the same as in the stores. I compared prices of a few items I usually get from FairPrice Xtra with the FairPrice store on honestbee. Yes, same same indeed.
• I can shop at multiple stores in one order! This will come in useful if I am hosting a gathering and need gourmet groceries, soft drinks, disposable cutlery, etc. Imagine the amount of time saved from running all the stores myself. 
• The convenience and time saved because someone else is doing the task and I don't have to break my back carrying bulky items home. My first honestbee order is a 10-kg load of items and I am thankful that it was delivered right up to my doorstep.
• There is real-time tracking of the order. The order showed that my concierge shopper was preparing my stuff at 6:27 pm. 
• honestbee delivers from 11 am to 10 pm daily (subject to store operating hours), including weekends and public holidays. 
• The glass bottles were separately packed in another box with a label indicating fragile items. 

The "Hmmm..." about honestbee

• There is a delivery charge of $10 for off-peak delivery timings if the minimum spending ($40 or $50, depending on stores) at each store is not met. 
• It is not possible to collect LINK points, rebates or discounts on purchases made with an OCBC NTUC Plus card and in-store promotions are not available. 
• Same-day delivery may not apply to some stores. When I made my order from the Family Market store on 5 Jul, 10:18 am, the earliest delivery available was the following day at 9 pm. 

Discounts for first-time sign-ups 

Your child's shampoo has run out and the next bath is just a few hours away. You get to the usual aisle of your supermarket and grab hold of that familiar bottle of shampoo. But wait.

When was the last time you took a closer look at the list of ingredients stated on the label? How do you decide if that shampoo is most suitable for your kids? Are all kids' personal care products equivalent in terms of quality and function?

As parents, we probably go for hypoallergenic baby care products and avoid ingredients like fragrances, parabens, preservatives and the more well-known Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or its lesser evil cousin - Sodium Laureth Sulfate - which act to create lather that we all love.

But there are others, like dioxane and triclosan, in many of our children's (and adults') personal care products. According to a study done by the California-based Center for Environmental Health in 2013, it states that a cancer-causing chemical has been found in hundreds of popular brand shampoos. That culprit is "Cocamide DEA". In another report recently released (Oct 2016) by the Breast Cancer Fund's Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, it reveals the widespread presence of toxic chemicals in children's hair products, lip balms, makeup kits, face paints and nail products.

Labels revealed chemicals of concern in products marketed to children, including endocrine disrupting compounds, chemicals linked to organ toxicity and neurological damage, and ingredients that can be contaminated with carcinogens. - report by Breast Cancer Fund

Cost aside, is one shampoo or body wash, therefore, as good as another? Of course not!

Why expose your child to more hazardous chemicals if there is an alternative?

The good news is, there are many companies that are making safer personal care products for our children, using ingredients that are natural instead of synthetic ones that might have some harmful effects on our bodies. My kids have been using certified organic products from Mambino Organics and Cottoncubs to protect their dry and slightly sensitive skin. They love it and so do I. Here's why.

* Mambino Organics *

Mambino Organics baby care products - Made in USA

Co-founded in 2006 by Ms Maki Maodus, a passionate and ecological-conscious aesthetician who has worked in the natural skin and body care products for over a decade, Mambino Organics is a brand well-known for eczema, cradle cap, diaper care and scar repair. Every product uses pure and certified organic plant oils, herb and flower extracts in its products, and they disclose all the ingredients they put into each bottle, giving the assurance and relief for green-minded parents. The products are handmade (no mass production) without any severe heating or hydrogenating processes in order to ensure the nutritional content and potency of the natural ingredients used. Mambino Organics is USDA Organics certified.

Mambino Soothe Me Body Wash & Shampoo (170 ml)

The first thing I noticed about Mambino's Soothe Me Baby-Kids Body Wash & Shampoo is its ingenious self-foaming pump. Because there are no foaming agents used, the pump makes the oh-so-lovely foam for easy washing. The gentle head-to-toe baby wash protects even the most delicate skin and washes off so easily. Ch noticed that the body wash stings when it came into contact with her eyes, and that is only because the product doesn't contain numbing agents (additional chemicals). Although not overpowering, the smell needs some time to get used to, especially if you are not used to the smell of coconut oil on your hair/body product - but once dry, it smells good. Hair does not entangle much after wash. The body wash is effective for cradle cap.

How to Use
Massage one or two pumps onto damp face, body and hair, avoiding eye area, then rinse thoroughly.

Ingredients (INCI)
Saponified Cocos nucifera (organic coconut) oil, Saponified Olea europaea (organic olive) oil, Saponified Simmondsia chinensis (organic jojoba) oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Aloe barbadensis (organic aloe) leaf juice, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf extract, Lavandula angustifolia (organic lavender) oil.

Mambino Baby's Best Daily Essential Lotion (146ml)

The sweet tangy orange smell of the Mambino Baby's Best Daily Essential Lotion reminds me of an orange smoothie drink which I love. It leaves a non-greasy feel and is absorbed into the skin very quickly. We find the lotion very effective at keeping the skin moisturised and soothing to L's dry itchy skin.

How to Use
Apply small amount of lotion and gentle massage over face and body right after bath or shower. For best results, use daily.

Ingredients (INCI) 
Aloe barbadensis (organic aloe) juice, Cocos nucifera (organic coconut) oil, Camellia sinensis (organic green tea) extract, Cetearyl olivate, Sorbitan olivate, Cetyl palmitate, Sorbitan palmitate, Olea europaea (organic olive) oil, Calophyllum inophyllum (organic tamanu) oil, Palm stearic acid, Xanthan gum (polysaccharide gum), Aurantium dulcis (organic sweet orange) essential oil, Anthemis nobilis (organic chamomile) flower oil.

Where to Buy

* Cottoncubs *

Cottoncubs baby care products - Made in Australia

It all started with a mother's love for her son who was suffering from eczema then. Staying in Sydney, Australia, Ms Bilyana Di Costanzo could not find any suitable cool clothing for her son under the extreme Australian summer heat, and decided to make him some apparel using ultra-light cotton voile. And Cottoncubs was born since 2008.

Now, Cottoncubs also has its own organic baby care range of products, specially formulated with the finest natural and certified organic ingredients from plant extracts and pure essential oils, to help babies, toddlers and young kids with sensitive skin. Recognised and certified by Australian Certified Organic (ACO), you can be assured of Cottoncubs' quality. (Do note that Cottoncubs products contain Parfum in their ingredient list.)

Cottoncubs Baby Shampoo (250ml)

Cottoncubs Baby Shampoo is a clear liquid which produces a small amount of lather after it's gently massaged on the scalp. It washes off quite easily and is soap and sulfate-free. We like the clean smell that lingers on the hair after a wash. Ch smeared some of the lather on her eyes and it does not sting.

How to Use
Wet the scalp/hair of your baby/toddler before use. Apply a small amount on the scalp/hair and gently massage into a lather. Rinse off thoroughly and dry with a soft bath towel.

Ingredients
Organic Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) juice, Purified water (Aqua), Coco glucoside, Organic Guar Gum (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), Citric Acid, Organic Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil, Parfum, Organic glycerine, Organic Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) essential oil, Potassium sorbate, Organic Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) extract, Organic Avocado (Pesea gratissima) oil, Organic Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) oil, Organic Olive Leaf (Olea europaea) extract, Organic Calendula (Calendula officinalis) extract, Organic Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) extract, Rosehip (Rosa rubiginosa) extract.

Cottoncubs Baby Body Wash (250ml)

Gentle on the skin, Cottoncubs Baby Body Wash has a lovely lavender fragrance which also provides relief for skin irritations. Evening primrose oil helps to restore dry flaky skin conditions as it has a high amount of essential fatty acids. We find that the gel leaves a smooth film on the skin after rinsing.

How to Use
Dispense a small amount into a running bath for babies or simply apply directly onto your child's wet body and massage the gel into a mild lather. Rinse off thoroughly and dry with a soft bath towel

Ingredients
Organic Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) juice, Purified water (Aqua), Coco glucoside, Organic Guar Gum (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), Citric Acid, Organic Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil, Potassium sorbate, Parfum, Organic glycerine, Organic Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) essential oil, Organic Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) extract, Organic Avocado (Pesea gratissima) oil, Organic Evening Primrose (Oenothera Biennis) oil, Organic Olive Leaf (Olea europaea) extract, Organic Calendula (Calendula officinalis) extract, Organic Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) extract, Rosehip (Rosa rubiginosa) extract.

Cottoncubs The Skin Soother (60ml)

Where to Buy
My First Shoots website 


As the main person deciding on the types of products we use at home, I am mindful of the family's safety and consciously seek safer food and food packaging, as well as safer cleaning products and toys. Knowing that the kids' personal care products are not laden with harmful chemicals, it gives me a peace of mind when they bathe.

*INCI refers to the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients; is a system of names for ingredients of soap, cosmetics etc, and is largely based on scientific names.

Disclaimer: We were given the products mentioned in this post for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was given and all opinion are ours.

This is the second post of the series featuring our collaboration with Nippon Paint Professional Painting Services. Read about our pre-painting site consultation experience and the surprise we got.

 - The day our room breathed a new look again -

The painting team from Nippon Paint Professional Painting Services reached our house on time with their tools and paints and started work promptly. Quietly, the two painters worked in tandem to shift the furniture to the centre of the room, tape the fixtures etc.

Job to be completed in 5 hours: walls and ceiling of my helper's room and ceilings of my Master Bedroom and two toilets.

Pre-painting preparation

Protecting all fixtures with Nippon Paint-approved masking tapes

Nippon Paint Plastic Drop Cloth to protect all the furniture and floor

Painting work starts

Adding a coat of primer (sealer)

Although the Vinilex 5170 or ExpressKote sealers might be more efflorescence resistant (hence providing more protection to the finishing coats of paint), the Nippon Paint 5101 Odour-less Water-based Wall Sealer was suggested by Alan (project manager of Nippon Paint Professional Painting Services) as we have young children at home. It emits a low level of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compound), hence is safer for them as compared to the other two types of sealers. And... did you notice the name says "odour-less" instead of odourless? Keke... true to its name, the water-based sealer does emit a little odour, but is definitely much less as compared to the normal paints, and it is almost unnoticeable.

The work was divided between the two painters. One painted the top coat of my helper's bedroom while the other worked on the ceilings and the toilets.

Top coats waiting to dry

Blistered paint removed from the toilet ceiling

Areas on the ceilings where the old paint blistered or peeled off were scraped and cleaned before applying the new coat of ceiling paint. The Nippon Paint Anti-Mould Ceiling White paint is formulated to have anti-mould properties against most species of mould - definitely what we need, considering the booklice feast on mould on the walls.

Just when the painters were going to clean up after completing the work, we found bubbles forming under the new coat of ceiling paint in one toilet. Thankfully, the painters rectified the problem immediately. They had to reapply new coats of paint after removing the bubbles and stayed on to check if the problem persisted. I am impressed with their work attitude because not once did they give me any "black face" for delaying the completion of the paintwork.

Cleaning Up

The painters worked fast to clean up the rooms and removed all masking tapes and drop cloths. As part of their professional painting services, they were supposed to reinstall the furniture in my helper's room to the original arrangement, but the painters told me to let the top coat dry completely for a few hours before doing that. I was more than happy to do it myself since they stayed almost the whole day just to make sure the ceiling paint dried up properly.

We love the new colours and a refreshed look for my helper's room. Stay with me for photos of the completed paintwork in my next post!

We have been neglecting the maintenance of the paintwork of our house since we moved in. Other than a new paintwork in 2011 at the foyer leading to our main door and the current bedroom which Ch and L are sharing, the rest of the house still retains the original paintwork that was done in 2003.

Parts of the ceilings in our toilets and Master Bedroom have blistered and cracked. The wall paint in my helper's room and the balcony suffer from the growth of mould and "scars" when stickers or Blue Tack were removed.

Problem areas on interior walls and ceilings

We have been thinking of giving the walls a new paintwork especially since the helper's room looks kind of dull, but ... you know how things are with work and kids around ya? The days turn into months and the months into years, with the problem areas still unattended to until we were invited to try out Nippon Paint's Professional Painting Services.

Helper's room cum play area for the kids

Pre-painting site inspection

What do you see on this bedroom ceiling?

Do you notice the tiny black speck at the joining of the ceiling and wall? That is actually a living thing!

A closer look under my microscope

It was a shock to see these pests which have been breeding on the walls in my helper's bedroom. Alan told me that these tiny insects (length about 1 mm) are booklice and they are commonly found in warm and moist conditions which are conducive for the growth of mould and mildew. The mould and mildew are their sources of food.

Booklice don't bite and they are not like head lice. They are generally harmless but they may cause skin irritation for some and are difficult to remove effectively. There are a couple of ways to eradicate booklice but since we were going to repaint the problematic areas, that would remove the thriving population.

Choosing the type and colour of paint

From macarons to room colour ideas

It's that time of the year where our labelling work gets intensive. There are school books, bags, water bottles, wallets, pens, lunch boxes, uniforms, etc, to label before the new school term starts.  

Very often, name labels either fade easily or peel off with time, with some lasting only a few months. But with Stickerkid stickers, we found that those name labels we received two years ago are still in good condition! 

That is because:

Stickerkid.com uses the highest quality material to provide you with the best possible stickers. We take great care in selecting the materials, papers, inks and machines used in completing your order. We took our time selecting the most malleable and flexible adhesive, allowing you to apply the stickers to any surface. Despite our extensive research, our adhesive does not work on Teflon. Our plastification consists of an extremely thin film, only a few dozen microns so as not to alter the flexibility of our stickers. But we use top-of-the-line material to ensure longevity in our product. Once applied, the sticker will resist the test of time for years. For our textile labels, we guarantee that they will withstand 45 machine washes at a temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius. These labels are washing machine and tumble dryer resistant. - Stickerkid.com

Stickerkid.com

I ordered the stickers from Stickerkid.com's website and within 24 hours, I received an email notification that the stickers were ready and off to the Swiss Post. Shipping to Singapore costs S$3 and is delivered directly to the letter box.

Other than the single items, Stickerkid.com offers personalised value packs that include all the essential stickers you need to label your belongings at the childcare, school or for a school camping trip. I've seen brands that offer cheaper value packs with more stickers included, but the disappointment comes when I realise the font and colour customisation applies to all the stickers in the pack, hence giving the same look. 

Unlike those brands, Stickerkid's value packs allow you to customise each type of sticker in terms of the wording, colours, font and picture logo. Best for kids (or mothers) who want a bit of everything! 

Choosing her own colours and picture logo

At this age, K is able to tell me which colour and picture logo she likes. She couldn't decide between a blue or a red background for her shoe stickers and if she likes ladybug or a princess better. I was amused while I watched how L helped her with the decision-making process.
The value packs also come with at least 30% savings! The extra savings can be channelled to fuel more coffee breaks for moms! Happy!

Various types of value packs from Stickerkid.com

Can I tell you how much I love Stickerkid's shoe stickers? I think this is such a clever idea especially for young kids, and our school-going kids. These stickers come in handy for popular brands/colours of shoes. I've seen two other friends' kids with the exact pair of shoes as K's, so the shoe stickers (and the amount of shoe dirt) help me identify her shoes more easily.

Customised shoe stickers for K

Name labels and Clothing labels from Stickerkid

Elephant Door label

Note: discount is not applicable for promo items.

Have fun customising your own name stickers!

Disclaimer: We were given Stickerkid personalised stickers for the purpose of this review. Names on the stickers were edited for privacy reasons. No monetary compensation was given and all opinion are ours.

[Media Invite] Wakeboarding is a water sport very alien but super cool to me, and one that I associate with rich people who can afford to rent a boat out to sea. I have never imagined that I will attempt this thrilling sport at my age (with stiff bones and a body that is so telling of the lack of exercise) because this seems more like a popular sport among the younger people. But I did it, and so did my kids! Thanks to the newly-opened Singapore Wake Park at East Coast Park!

What is wakeboarding or cable-ski?

Cable-ski, wakeboarding - they are "same, same, but different". From the little understanding I have, wakeboarding is a more general term to describe the sport where a person is towed across the waters on a board that is slightly smaller than a surfboard. The person can be towed by a motorboat or by an overhead running cable system (hence, the name cable-ski).

The [NEW] Singapore Wake Park 

Known as Ski360degree under the previous cable-ski park operator, the cable-ski park was taken over by the Island Lifestyle Group and renovated and re-opened to the public since end October 2016. Singapore Wake Park features two System 2.0s (70 metres and 140 metres) that allow the speed to be adjusted to suit the beginner rider, as well as a full-sized cable system with obstacles for those who are more competent to challenge themselves. More details about the park facilities here.

This is a playground for both children and adults, from cable-ski thrills to lounging by the lagoon. Learn a new sport, get sun-kissed, end the day with a big smile on your face. This is also a pit-stop for runners, cyclists and skaters to take a break and watch the Park in full adrenaline swing. - Singapore Wake Park

Our first wakeboarding experience

We went during the evening to avoid getting a sunburn. Night cable-skiing is cooling and made possible with powerful floodlights to illuminate the park. After we signed the Liability Waiver Form, the lesson started with a short safety briefing and we were issued our cable-ski equipment (a buoyancy vest, helmet, and a wakeboard/kneeboard).

Can young kids wakeboard? Of course yes!

With no wakeboarding experience, we started out with the System 2.0 course as this is a safe learning environment to master the technique of balancing on the wakeboard with confidence. In fact, because it is safe and easy to use, children from as young as 6 years old and able senior citizens can have a try at wakeboarding.

The System 2.0 caters to one rider at a time so we had full attention from the instructor. He suggested starting off on a kneeboard for us to get accustomed to the forward pull. As the cable tightened, the initial tug on the handle caught us by surprise and we almost lost our grip on the handle, but we got the hang of it quickly and whizzed across the 70 m of water.  The ride was exhilarating!! We quickly requested to be "upgraded" to the next board.

Types of boards for beginners

With the Easy Up board, the whole ball game changed. The aim is to hold the sitting position while launching off and slowly standing up to balance on the board with the right stance. Ch and I had a little competition to see who would be the first to make it to the end successfully.

We fell into the water multiple times. Being thrown into the water after losing balance is as fun as the cable-ski experience itself although hauling ourselves and the board onto the white floating walkway was no easy feat. I was a little embarrassed when I could not pull myself up the first time and felt myself panting while I tried to "sashay glamorously" back to the starting point. The extent of body aches the next morning is evidence of the full-body workout I received. Strangely, my kids didn't have any muscle aches at all. Tsk tsk!

It's very fun and I like swimming to the walkway when I fall into the water. - L

Wait-time for your turn to cable-ski depends on the size of the crowd. We had close to 10 rides each and all three of us managed to progress to the wakeboard by the end of the session.

I learnt from Singapore Wake Park that the water in their lagoon flows directly from the sea (no wonder we tasted salty water) through a filtration system, and the repeated flow of seawater ensures the quality of the water in accordance with NEA's guidelines. The filtration system also ensures no debris enter the lagoon, apart from small organisms like sea grass and little fishes which we noticed during our rides. Before the Park opens and after it closes, the crew also clears any sea grass/fallen leaves on the surface of the water and floating walkways. The water quality levels at the Park are checked every 3 to 6 months to ensure that it is consistently safe for its riders.

That one-hour wakeboarding session was a precious family experience and one that we would still talk about it fondly. K cheered for us from the deck nearby with many "good job!" and thumbs-up hand-sign and the determination to conquer System 2.0 was strongly evident in Ch and L. They just kept going despite swallowing water when they fell into the lagoon. And although L is a non-swimmer, he was able to make his way to the floating walkway confidently with the help of a life jacket.

To progress to the full-sized cable system, beginners have to successfully wakeboard across System 2.0 three times in a row. None of us managed to, but you can read more about the system here.

If you want to see how the Park looks like during the day, hop over to Sengkangbabies to read about their day cable-skiing experience.

Our wakeboarding instructor

Coastal Rhythm cafe with a semi-alfresco dining interior

Feasting on finger food at Coastal Rhythm

More information about Singapore Wake Park

Opening hours: Mon to Fri, 10 am to 10 pm | Sat, Sun and Public Holiday, 9 am to 10 pm
Address: 1206A, East Coast Parkway, Singapore 449891
Telephone: 6636 4266
Singapore Wake Park Website | Facebook | Instagram

Park rates:

*** SPECIAL GIVEAWAY! (7 Dec - 14 Dec) ***

Special thanks to Singapore Wake Park, one lucky reader will get to win TWO Weekday 1-hour Passes (worth $80)!!

How to enter the giveaway:
Compulsory steps:

1. Visit Singapore Wake Park's Facebook page and Simply Lambchops' Facebook page. (While you are there, we'll appreciate a lot if you could "like" the page)
2. Leave a comment on this Facebook post with:

• your email address (for contact purposes if you are one of the winners),
• and tell me who you will be bringing along for this great experience.

Sharing is caring, so do share this giveaway with your friends! 
This giveaway ends on Wednesday, 14 December 2016, 23:59 hours. Results of the random draw will be announced here.

Giveaway terms and conditions:

• This giveaway is only open to people residing in Singapore. 
• Winner will be contacted by email for info to redeem the prize. 
• The passes are valid until February 2017.
• All incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries will be verified before the winner is announced. To be fair to our sponsor, please note that all fake Facebook accounts (e.g. accounts set up purely to take part in contests with no or very few real friends) will also be ineligible to win. 
• The winner will be contacted using the particulars provided when entering the draw, and has 48 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. 
• Please note that this giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. By taking part in this giveaway, you agree to provide your information to Simply Lambchops and the sponsor.
• All personal details provided in this giveaway will be kept confidential.

Disclaimer: We were invited for the wakeboarding experience for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was given and all opinions are ours.