On top of straddling a day job as a banking executive, Ms Sandy Guo, 30, is a savvy shopper and a doting mum who believes in keeping the balance between work and family.

She also makes sure that her loved ones eat right by baking her own bread and cookies.

The lanky mother-of-one proved to be the superwoman she is when she was crowned the grand winner of Parkway Parade's The Most Shop-savvy Mom contest last Saturday.

Ms Guo was one of eight mothers who were pitted against one another in a shopping-spree challenge where they had to complete five shopping tasks for their loved ones with $300 worth of vouchers.

But it was during the second round of the contest that Ms Guo came out tops: Tasked with introducing the Osim uAngel chair, she presented a tasteful and professional demonstration of the chair that wowed the judges.

The loudest cheers, of course, came from her husband, sales consultant Bernard Chan, 35, and her 18-month-old son, Adan.

Ms Guo went home with the top prize of a pair of Osim uAngel Sofas worth $5,376.

The first runner-up, Ms Felicia Yeo, won a Goldheart Regalia pendant and earrings worth $3,006, while the second runner- up, Ms Ding Qiao Yun, walked away with a Goldheart Lovelle pendant worth $1,588.

For Ms Guo, managing work and motherhood has not always been a breeze.

Speaking to My Paper in an interview yesterday at her Dakota Crescent condominium, she said that she has to be brutal with planning and organisation, and extremely efficient with her time to not only get work done, but also spend quality time with her family, which is something she is not willing to compromise.

Ms Guo said that as an executive, she has always dealt with issues at work with a disciplined and instructional approach. But when Adan came along, everything "went topsy-turvy" because she could not dish out instructions to Adan like she did at work, she said with a laugh.

"I couldn't find out what Adan needed just by talking to him, so I had to fiddle about and try to understand what he wanted," she said.

She added that her company, a multinational invesment bank, gives her support by allowing her to work from home, which frees up her evenings for good quality time with the family.

And equally important is being able to spend couple time with her husband, for which Ms Guo takes a day off work once a month.

"We're Adan's only caregivers as my parents are working, so it also means no more impromptu movie nights or date nights," said Ms Guo.

"Now, we have to plan for these dates way ahead of time and let my parents know if we'll be dropping Adan at their place.

Everything has to be done in advance."

While Mother's Day for Ms Guo was spent without her husband as he had to work, the family of three eventually made time in the evening to celebrate with Ms Guo's extended family.

To top off the celebrations, she is looking foward to relaxing in her Osim uAngel chairs, which she said would be perfect for the aches in her calves that come from wearing high heels at work.

The chairs will also fit perfectly into their hectic schedules, she added.

"Now, my husband and I won't need to go to a spa for a massage, because we can easily get it at home."

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