SUKKIRi (Mesh Ring Sling) Review with Discount Code!

What is SUKKIRi Mesh Ring Sling?

*Embrace your baby the natural way with SUKKIRi Mesh Ring Sling*

SUKKIRi Mesh Ring Sling comes with durable aluminium rings that are tested for safety in Japan. This sling is safe, comfortable, easy to use, and easy to store too because it can be folded neatly into the shape of a pouch. Its cooling material makes this mesh ring sling great to use when the heather is hot.

On a side note, if you're not familiar with the benefits of babywearing and the importance of ergonomic baby carriers , do read up my blog post about 4 points to consider when you decide to babywear.

SUKKIRi Mesh Ring Sling can be used for newborn babies (about 3.5 kg) up to toddlers of 36 months old (15kg).

Note: Don't miss the discount code at the end of this blog post. ;)

 

A Japanese innovation

The SUKKIRi Mesh Ring Sling is a product by Lucky Industry Co. Ltd which was founded in 1934 and is the oldest and most trusted baby carrier manufacturer in Japan. Pioneering the baby carrier industry, they are continuously improving and coming out with good quality and parent-approved baby carriers that are recognized worldwide.

Unison CA is the exclusive distributor in Malaysia and Brunei of the Lucky Industry Co Ltd. They bring in SUPPORi, PITTARi, SUKKIRi, Raku Raku, Yoomi, and many others.

Unboxing my Black PITTARi Wrap

SUKKIRi features

• Aluminum ring with the durability of 150kg
• Aluminum rings that lock and grip well
• Soft touch, breathable mesh fabric - suitable for hot tropical climate
•  The "tail" material can be used for discreet breastfeeding
• Convenient pockets to keep small articles
• Compact & lightweight
• One size fits all
• Can use from newborn
• Multiple carrying positions allowed

The SUKKIRi Ring Sling is acknowledged as a "hip-healthy" product by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

How to use SUKKIRi Mesh Ring Sling?

Watch this product video below:

My Experience with SUKKIRi Mesh Ring Sling

I start to use this wrap when my newborn turns four weeks old. I love how breathable the material is when I wrap my newborn, especially on hot days.

Take a look at the breathable mesh material. It's comfortable at the shoulder too.

My baby loves to cuddle up in the ring sling. Look how comfy he is!

 You see the knot at where the rings are supposed to be? To provide extra grip, I wrap the ring sling tail around the rings. At the same time, it also acts like a little pillow for my baby to put his head when he's napping in the ring sling.

Front view.

Another view.

 

Going for a walk with baby napping comfortably in this trusty ring sling.

Trust me, babywearing is so easy with this ring sling!

Look at that little bum!

Let's reiterate the benefits of babywearing. 

#1: Carried babies cry less because they are happy!

#2: Babies who are carried often are healthier because by being attached to his mother, he's in tune with the rhythm of her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and the movements his mother makes—walking, bending, and reaching.

#3: Comfort and convenience!

Where to buy SUKKIRi Mesh Ring Sling?

From UNISON CA's webstore - http://www.store.unisonca.com/collections/babywearing/brands/sukkiri-mesh-ring-sling

There are six available colors: Light Blue, Light Gray, Navy, Black, Olive, Purple

Discount code

Use this code: joyce15rs to get 15% off!
(Valid from 16 March 2017 till 30 June 2017)

Note: UNISON CA has given me one Black SUPPORi Mesh Ring Sling for review. However, all opinions are solely mine.

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FoodMatters revolutionizes healthy lunch delivery service

Who's FoodMatters?

Straight to the point: FoodMatters is a healthy lunch delivery service that provides monthly meal subscription packages that range from RM10 to RM14 per meal, thus making eating healthy a breeze. Their mission, based on their website: To banish the negativity surrounding the concept of healthy eating and to make it accessible, affordable and absolutely delicious. 

As a true blue Malaysian, eating is a big part of my life. By eating, I don't mean eating healthy because from my experience, healthy meals are either bland or too pricey. So, when FoodMatters comes into the lunch delivery scene with the concept of healthy eating, it's interesting to try their menu to find out how good can they be. 

How does FoodMatters work?

FoodMatters is a subscription based lunch delivery service. They have an array of nutritious options including healthy versions of all-time favorite local dishes, unique fusion meals, vegetarian, low-fat, low-carb, and gluten-free. Each meal even comes with calorie counts and nutritional information!

So here's the catch, it's subscription based. You can't buy a one-off, single meal. Why so? I look up their FAQ page and found this: Our meals are designed to work best when incorporated into a consistent diet. As such, we want our customers to feel the maximum results of our program and this cannot be achieved without some level of regularity.

True enough, we've been eating carbs-laden food for lunch till lunch coma every single day, so I do agree that it takes regular and consistent doses of healthy options to help us get used to the idea that eating well equals eating healthy.

Recipes by a certified nutritionist

Their recipes are crafted by American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA) certified nutritionist, Alexandra Prabaharan. Prior to obtaining her certification, she worked as a Food Editor for Friedchillies Media where she wrote food articles, hosted food shows and developed recipes for the Friedchilles website.

WOW! That explains how each meal comes with calorie counts and nutritional information. A certified nutritionist!

Okay, now let's take a look at the meals that I have sampled from FoodMatters.

Sample meals from FoodMatters

Recipe #1: Quinoa and Orange Salad

 

Fresh mixed salad greens tossed with quinoa, oranges, toasted almonds, and purple cabbage with miso dressing.

Calorie: 279; Fats: 20.4; Carbs: 21.0; Protein: 6.4

My verdict: Surprisingly and unexpectedly filling! Before this, I detest the idea of eating salad for lunch. I mean, how could eating vegetables keep me full? However, after trying this quinoa salad, I believe eating clean and hungry without going hungry is possible.

Recipe #2: Greek Salad with Couscous

This refreshing cold Greek salad is made up of couscous, packed with fresh veggies, and topped with a sprinkling of rich feta.

Calorie: 454; Fats: 12.7; Carbs: 68.4; Protein: 18.1

My verdict: Don't underestimate couscous. They maybe tiny but are great, healthier substitute of white rice. It takes my taste buds some time to adjust to this dish's overall taste because it's not your familiar fried rice or carbonara pasta kind of taste. Not a fan of raw onions, so I pick the tiny pieces out. My mom would have given me her look of disapproval. Lol.

Recipe #3: Chili Con Carne

This Chili Con Carne is packed with lean ground beef and protein rich beans. It's low in calories and saturated fat but high in flavor.

Calorie: 301; Fats: 7.8; Carbs: 30.9; Protein: 27.9

My verdict: This is my favorite dish! It's a familiar dish and I'm a big fan of beef and beans. Chili is my love! The brown rice adds a very tasty textured bite to the chili. Overall, a satisfactory lunch.

Recipe #4: Nasi Lemak

This nasi lemak is made from brown rice tossed with virgin coconut oil. The combination of sambal (chili), hard-boiled egg, and anchovies makes for one exciting dish and pays tribute to one of Malaysia's most iconic dishes.

Calorie: 398; Fats: 23.2; Carbs: 36.2; Protein: 11.5

My verdict: Despite no santan, this whole combo is surprisingly delicious. I love the generous amount of cucumber slices. This is indeed a well-made, healthier version of the iconic saturated fat-laden nasi lemak. It's filling as well because of the brown rice so you won't overeat.

Menu selection

Take a look at their menu selection: http://my.foodmatters.me/menu

How to subscribe?

Take a look at their subscription plan options and pricing before you subscribe: http://my.foodmatters.me/subscribe

For more info, check out their FAQ page or contact them at:

 

Website: http://my.foodmatters.me/contact

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodmattersmy/

Email: custmy@foodmatters.me

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Be A Happy Mom in 10 Easy Ways

We moms are superheroes. As supermoms, we put our kids' interests and needs before ourselves. We strive to do our best for our family. We sacrifice whatever me-time we have (if any, hahaha) so that we can have more time to care for our family. Such an irony.

But sometimes, our efforts might backfire. Why? Because we might experience episodes of burnt-outs. We might unknowingly put ourselves under stress. We might be over-tired. We might feel under-appreciated. We might feel we are the worst mom in the world. And the list goes on.

Yes, being the mom of a young child or more (especially one under three years old) is rich and rewarding, but it can also be stressful. At times, we are exhausted, frustrated, and angry. We might be irritated and agitated with our husband and might occasionally pick fights. Hahaha.

The problem is, if we don't make ourselves happy, it creates a chain reaction that causes more unhappiness. This happens to me so many times. So, I have been experimenting with ways to make myself happy.

So far, I have found these 10 easy (yes, easy!) ways to be a happy mom!

Here you go!

#1: Stay well hydrated

Source

As moms, we have so many things to do every day. Sometimes, we conveniently forget to drink enough water. Some health experts recommend to drink 1 cup (250ml) of water as soon as you wake up each morning. Drinking enough water to stay well hydrated will boost our resting metabolism; this will keep us from piling up on those unnecessary weight. We're not gonna be happy when we put on weight, right?

You can read this post about how to determine whether you're drinking enough water by looking at the color of your pee. Also, here's a very good article about 9 Tips for Staying Hydrated.

#2: Eat your breakfast

Source

Don't skip breakfast no matter how busy you are! Eating a good breakfast every morning will keep our metabolism running and keep us from piling on weight due to over-eating during other meals and unhealthy snacking between meals.

Running out of breakfast ideas? Check out this post about 8 Easy Breakfast Ideas for Moms and more ideas on my #breakfastseries Facebook album.

#3: Choose your meals wisely

Source

Do you know there's a NEW Healthy Eating Pyramid? The Healthy Eating Pyramid is a simple visual guide to the types and proportion of foods that we should eat every day for good health. It contains the five core food groups, plus healthy fats, according to how much they contribute to a balanced diet.

You can learn more about the new pyramid on this website and start choosing your meals wisely to stay healthy and happy! To incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet, you can read up about this "Eat the Rainbow" nutritional guide.

 #4: Keep your stress level in check

Source

We moms are always stressed out, no doubt. It's normal, we just need to admit it. We are not being a bad mom. It's undeniable that motherhood puts strain on our mood. However, we need to be aware that stress increases cortisol (stress hormone) that slows down metabolism. Stress also causes cravings and we might eat too much. This leads to weight gain, resulting in more unhappiness.

On one hand, once we stop expecting motherhood to feel warm and fuzzy all the time, life as a mom gets easier. On the other had, we can identify stress relief methods that suit ourselves. For me, my de-stress therapies are definitely baking, cooking, and blogging. Less stress, more happiness!

#5: Have a cuppa of your favorite beverage

Source

Tea? Coffee? Milk? You don't have to drink too much. Just a cuppa to drive away blues and make you feel relaxed.

#6: We love to move it, move it!

Source

Whether you're a stay-at-home-mom, work-at-home-mom, or full-time-working-mom, we gotta move our muscles all the time. Sitting down too long hour after hour can take a toll on our body. I found this really fun infographic about how can do simple movements at our desks!

#7: Get enough sleep

Source

Easier said that done, but really. Getting enough sleep is really crucial in the long run. Try taking short power naps whenever possible. Watch this informative infographic about Just How Bad is Sleep Deprivation?

#8: Get your priorities straight!

Source

One key to being in a more positive mood is by setting boundaries and getting our priorities straight so that we can do more things we enjoy. In my case, when it comes to house chores, I don't (and I won't) do it every day. I hire part-time maids to do those more difficult chores such as cleaning windows and ceiling fans.

Am I being irresponsible? Nope. If doing house chores transforms me into a mean and unhappy mom who shouts at my boys, I will rather spend time playing with him. House chores can be done later. If I can't find time to do it, then so be it. Adopting this style saves me from becoming insane from trying to get everything done.

#9: Get "addicted" to a new hobby

 For me, my new hobbies are babywearing and cloth diapering. Follow my journal here - instagram.com/myfluffjournal

10. Stay out of mom wars

Source

#1: Recognize the triggers

Here you go, the triggers/topics that will start mom wars in the cyber-world:

Note: Alphabetically ordered

• Babywearing vs. Strollers
  Sub-topic: Ergonomic carrier vs. Non-ergonomic carrier

• Breastfeeding vs. Formula feeding
  Sub-topic: Covering up vs. Nursing in public

• Co-sleeping vs. Sleep-training

• Disposable diapers vs Cloth diapering

• Full-time-working-mom vs. Stay-at-home-mom

• Home-cooked food vs. Organic food vs. Outside / Takeaway food
  Sub-topic: Food with salt, sugar, seasonings vs. Food without seasonings

• Natural / Vaginal birth vs. Cesarean birth
  Sub-topic: Drug-free birth vs. Painkillers

• On-schedule vaccination vs. Delayed vaccination vs. Un-vaccinated

• Rocking/Parent-soothing vs. Cry-it-Out/Self-soothing

• Spanking vs. Time-outs vs. Redirection

• Technology (tablet, smartphone) vs. No-technology

The list will just get longer. In the cyberworld, every single day, there are thousands of questions posted on mommies groups on Facebook. On and off, someone will post a question with the potential of triggering another wave of mom wars, knowingly or unknowingly.

#2: Adopt the agree-to-disagree approach

This is easier said than done. Depending on personalities, some moms will try to shove their ideas down others' throat. Some won't give two hoots about what people think. Of course there are polite ones.

#3: Remain silent

Silence is golden, especially if you disagree with someone and don't want to make a big deal out of it. I think, if one chooses to agree to disagree, the next step is to remain silent and move on to the next post. We can't control what others post, but we can control and filter what we're reading and consuming from the cyber-world, right?

#4: Accept the facts

Yes, the facts. The cold, hard facts. People will always be judgmental. No matter what you do, how perfect your methods are, there will be some who disagree. About being accountable to yourself. About not having to seek everyone's acceptance and understanding.


If you have more points about how to be a happy mom, do share them with me! :D
  

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Rice Cooker Quick Chili

Rice Cooker Quick Chili

We bought a brand new Philips Avance Collection Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker and tested it out by cooking a big pot of chili!

Ingredients:
(Serves 4-6)

1 medium red onion, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
400g ground pork (you can also use ground beef or chicken)
1 cup diced carrot
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup frozen green peas
1 small can tomato puree
1 can broad beans, drained
1 cup raw white kidney beans, soaked overnight
1 cup raw pinto beans, soaked overnight
2 tablespoons paprika powder
1 tablespoon chicken seasoning powder
Enough water to cover all ingredients

How to:

Place the inner pot into the rice cooker and add all ingredients into the inner pot. Stir until combined. Choose "Soup" from the menu selection and change the cooking time to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Press Start. Once done, give everything a good stir, season with salt and pepper if necessary, and keep warm in the cooker until ready to serve.

Here's how the rice cooker looks like:

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