Dr Donna Chow - Part 2

Shopping for a new baby: 10 lessons from a second-time mum

21/10/2017 by Dr Donna Chow Leave a Comment

As a first time mum 3 years ago, I was completely overwhelmed with shopping for baby #1. I sourced for checklists online and bought "almost" everything I could find. And I was so worried about missing out anything. But now, with #2, I have become more chilled and relaxed about shopping, especially when my first trimester was rather complicated. I started looking around the baby stuff only in the second trimester, around 24 weeks, when I was more certain that things would be looking brighter. This time round, I am also more cautious about the "over-buying" phenomenon and strategise on my Click to read more

Giveaway – Happycall Diamond Alumite Combi Set

30/09/2017 by Dr Donna Chow Leave a Comment

Nice set of Diamond Alumite pots from Happycall

Recently, I have received a brand new set of Happycall Diamond Alumite Combi Set as a free gift, and since I have no use for it, I decided to host a giveway here. The contents of the box have only been opened for photographing purposes. It includes the following: 24 cm Alumite Ceramic Pot 24 cm Diamond Wok 24 cm Stainless Steel Steamer 2 pieces of Silicone Pot Holder What I like about the set is the standing glass lid - its a good idea as it can fully stay upright on its own. That will save you the hassle of looking for space to hold the lid during Click to read more

Nourishing Black Bean Chinese Soup

01/08/2017 by Dr Donna Chow Leave a Comment

I have been wanting to cook some healthy Chinese soup lately and looking at various online recipes for ideas. The soup which we got from our tingkat delivery has been rather bland and diluted - it is as if they poured in lots of water to make more volume. So I came across this black bean soup recipe, which is hassel-free and easily replicated. And I like the fact that there is no herbs needed, and the soup tastes thick and yummy as my favourite black chicken soup. Because there is no added herbs, it is suitable for both the young, the old and the pregnant. And black beans are a cheap but rich Click to read more

Growing up too fast

21/07/2017 by Dr Donna Chow Leave a Comment

It has been a while since I last update an entry here. For the past 2 months, I have taken a short break from blogging and been trying to finish up work which I procrastinated for a while - that includes backing up photos and sorting out all the videos I have taken over the years. Since all the imaging is now in digital format - it becomes critical to sort and store them into sensible order on hard disks and computers. It becomes a painful task to delete off extra photos because they look so similar, and yet they are different in those very subtle ways. As I pore through the photos, I Click to read more

Baking a rainbow chiffon cake for my two year old

31/05/2017 by Dr Donna Chow Leave a Comment

Time really flies. Just last year, I have been busy organising a one year old birthday party for my boy. I still recall with vivid memories of me spending many late nights trying to create his giant rosette cupcake for his one year old cake smash. But as you may have known, buttercream cakes aren't the most healthy option for children - and adults alike. And to save myself the trouble of the hassle of whipping up more buttercream, I have decided I am not going to do any cream cakes for this year. Fondant cakes are my other alternative. They are like pieces of art and cost quite a bit to order Click to read more

Quick & Easy Tutorial: Sew a Bow Tie

18/04/2017 by Dr Donna Chow Leave a Comment

Most people have a soft spot for cute little boys donning a big smile and wearing a bow tie. Bow ties are not passe - they are fashionable accessories which will surely catch your attention almost immediately if you wear it the right way. In the medical fraternity, many surgeons, especially the gynaecologists, love bow ties because they don't come in the way of examining a patient, unlike the way a normal neck-tie would. Unfortunately, most people reserve bow ties for formal events, such as gala events and weddings. It's time to change the perception of bow ties - really! Bow ties are only Click to read more

The Three Muttsketeers Animated Show

15/03/2017 by Dr Donna Chow Leave a Comment

Sitting (L-R): Heidi, Shirley, Donna. Standing (L-R): Weijia, Elssa

When I first talked about producing a short animation show for The Three Muttsketeers to a friend, she thought I was joking. I thought I should do something to create publicity for my book, and Youtube is one good platform to create awareness as young kids are attracted to moving visuals more than anything else. "Who still read books nowadays?" Came one reply from the same well meaning lady friend. "Look at all these bookstores out there! They are not doing well. In fact, many (with the exception of bookstores which major in textbooks and assessment books) are closing down." Without a Click to read more

Is Taobao Ezbuy Prime for you?

11/03/2017 by Dr Donna Chow 2 Comments

Are you paying too much for your online shopping?

If you are a habitual online shopper, you would have come across Taobao - the largest and most comprehensive e-commerce platform in China. Many Singaporeans shop on Taobao and ship in their purchases either using the 4 main Taobao international parcel forwarding services (4PX, DPEX, DEX and PRouter) or through Ezbuy Ship-for-me / Prime (formerly known as 65daigou). A brief overview of these two services: (1) Taobao International Parcel Forwarding (TIPF) is the method which I have used most often. You download the Taobao App onto your mobile or access the Taobao website on your desktop. With Click to read more

Giveaway – 3 in 1 children study desk with storage

01/03/2017 by Dr Donna Chow Leave a Comment

It has been a while since I host a giveaway. The last one was at Christmas when I gave away 3 storybooks to 3 lovely mummies. I hope they enjoy reading the story as much as I love writing it. And thank you to Save Our Street Dogs and Causes for Animals Singapore for helping me mention my book on their facebook pages. Currently, I am trying to make an animated show of the book and post it on YouTube. That is why I have recently started a YouTube channel to share some of my videos as well - I am still picking up video editing skills; check out this video in which Ah Bee showcases some of his dog Click to read more

Needle Felting a Baby Chick

28/02/2017 by Dr Donna Chow Leave a Comment

Needle felting is a new craft I have started to explore in my free time when I am not working as a maid or keeping my little boy entertained and occupied. It is a very simple hobby that doesn't demand too much of my time, and the end product is quite adorable. What's more - you can also purchase the supplies readily from Daiso. I have seen a guy friend showing off his felted pikachu on facebook and he told me he picked up needle felting on You Tube. So, I decided it's time to do one of my own. I chose a baby chick design because this is a Rooster year; and also for other sentimental reasons. Click to read more