Pupsik

Personalised labels for kids (and adults)!

2011-11-08T18:26:00.000+08:00

I have always been a self-confessed sticker maniac and ever since my 2 girls started preschool, I have been on the lookout for nice personalised labels to name their belongings. I have come across quite a few selling in pushcarts in malls but always found them a little too "kitchy" and decided I could do with a marker pen and white sticker paper, at least till I found something I really liked.

I was hence absolutely delighted when Jocelyn emailed me one day to introduce me to Muakids, her own home-business specialising in personalized labels for children. Muakids story begins a few years back when Jocelyn's own daughter had just started her preschool and she was asked to tag her belongings. She ended up creating the personalised stickers on her home computer for her girl and soon after, decided to turn this into a business. She lovingly named it Muakids - Muak being the sound you make when you kiss somebody.

Jocelyn was kind enough to send me samples of their personalised stickers and iron-ons. I was very impressed with the adorable colorful icons when I first received it and found it bright and easy to read. The fantastic labels are hardy and can be applied to almost any anything as they are Waterproof, Tearproof and Weatherproof! Needless the say, the kids love it.

I particularly liked the iron-ons which I obsessively began to apply on all my kid's favourite clothing item and bedding items without mercy.

Muakids lovely personalised labels are available to purchase directly from their lovely store or on Pupsik Studio. All labels ship free in Singapore and can be sent out within 2-3 working days after payment is received.

New Collection by Elly!

2011-10-18T14:37:00.005+08:00

If you are shopping for gorgeous and fun dresses for your little girl and sharp and cheery shirts for your little boy, check out the new collection by Elly!

Elly designs embody the essence of childhood - innocence, joy and laughter, wonder and excitement. Founded in 2009 by two sisters, Audrey and Carol, Elly is guided by the principle that dresses can be beautiful yet comfortable and practical. The collection for girls and boys are divided into 4 age groups ranging from 9 months to 4 years.

Elly's previous collection of Wonderland dresses sold out like hotcakes on Pupsik Studio the earlier part of this year and I was extremely delighted that they have reproduced this very versatile design with their new print "Wild Friends" (see above).

This gorgeous A-line dress can double up as a top for girls after they have outgrown them as dresses are are perfect for hot climates such as Singapore.

I simply adore their "Little Man's Shirt" in an array of bold prints that is sure to turn eyes on the street. The shirts come in a very classic and comfortable cut that your little man is sure to approve.

And if you prefer something a little more subtle, their matching shirt and twinkle dress in "Blue Leaves" below will be a perfect match for siblings.

All of Elly's dresses are made from high quality 100% cotton fabrics from the USA and Europe and the quality ensures that your dress/shirt will last a long time without fading or losing its shape after a few washes. Do check out more of the new collection and the very latest of this lovely little store on Elly's main Facebook page!

Color your own "Keep Calm and Carry On"

2011-09-29T23:43:00.003+08:00

Just created my own "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster that you can get your kids to colour and pin up for you. The pdf file for this can be downloaded here.

Create your own snow globe at home!

2011-09-29T13:35:00.003+08:00

I could not resist sharing this brilliant craft tutorial on how to create your own snow globe at home. Have fun!

Materials needed:

1. Glass jars

2. Figurines

3. Superglue to adhere the figurine to the inside of the lid

4. Distilled water

5. Dash of glycerin (available at drugstores) to keep the glitter from falling too quickly

6. Pinch of magic glitter

225 Inspired Projects for Year-Round Celebrations

2011-09-28T20:38:00.000+08:00

If you are in search of new craft ideas and inspiration, you will be delighted to know that the editors of Martha Stewart Living Magazine just launched a new book entitled Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts, 225 Inspired Projects for Year-Round Celebrations. I was lucky enough to get a preview copy of the book sent to me before its release and it was every bit what I imagine it would be - PURE INSPIRATION!

This book features some of the best holiday crafts from Martha Stewart Living. From New Year's Eve to Valentine's Day to Christmas and every holiday in between, Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts contains page after page of tips, techniques, and inspiring ideas. Craft enthusiasts will love the gorgeous photography combined with the easy-to-follow steps and techniques that only Martha Stewart can deliver. Some of my favourite projects that I think will be fun to do with kids include:

Lace stencils on tags to create the most gorgeous stationery

Transform a sock into a fashion accessory for dad. Perfect project for Father's Day if you have socks with missing pairs at home and not sure what to do with them.

Finger stamping hearts on love notes and tag. Kids will love how fun and simple this is!

Create your own fortune cookie with some felt, craft wire and fabric glue. Perfect for party favours.

My all time favourite project has got to be this DIY snow globe project (see below). All you need are simple materials such as empty glass jars, some figurines, glitter, glycerine (available at most drug stores), silicon glue to create this fun project to give away at Christmas! How fun!!

So if you are in a crafty mood, do check out this book available now HERE!

DIY Sugar cubes - sweet!

2011-09-23T12:52:00.001+08:00

Came across this nifty tutorial and thought the kids would have lots of fun making these. It looks fairly easy and fun enough to keep those little hands occupied for at least 30mins. Try it and let me know how it turns out for you! Full tutorial here.

Fun Easter Egg Project for Kids

2011-04-07T11:20:00.004+08:00

What a wonderful Easter Egg project. For the full tutorial, click here.

Swimtrainer

2011-03-26T16:27:00.002+08:00

The Swimtrainer is specially designed to let babies get acquainted with water and for learning the correct leg movements.

The Swimtrainer offers children:

* An ideal swimming position in the water
* Inflatable pads to prevent slipping through
* Adjustable safety belt to prevent tipping forwards

Suitable for babies and toddlers of an approximate weight from 6kg to 18kg. Now available here!

Work-Life Balance

2011-02-08T14:21:00.018+08:00

As a mother of 2 young children who decided to ditch a stable and relatively comfortable corporate career and domestic helper to wash, cook, clean and look after my own family and kids at home, I absolutely agree with Nigel that we should not leave the quality of our life in the hands of incompatible jobs, other people and the government. We should stop looking to others for answers and to look inside for the type of balanced lives we each want to lead that fulfills our spiritual, mental, financial and physical needs.

As Nigel shares, we need to take stock of how much and what we really need rather than "working long hard hours at jobs they (we) hate, to earn enough money to buy things they(we) don't need to impress people that they(we) don't like".

His concluding point that "small things matter" and "approaching balance in a balanced way" is particularly important. Seeking a balance is not about making radical and dramatic changes to our current way of life. It is about making the smallest investments in the right places to improve the quality of our life and transform society's simplistic definition of success that "the person who dies with the most money wins" to a more "balanced definition of what a life well lived looks like".

Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year! x

2010-12-27T11:01:00.002+08:00

This is a little late but I would like to wish everyone a belated blessed Christ-mas with your family and friends and a very wonderful New Year ahead! Looking forward to sharing more inspirations here on the Pupsik Blog in 2011!

xoxo Su Ling
(image above from Martha Stewart Kids. A wonderful idea to put missing socks to good use!)

What adults can learn from kids

2010-12-01T13:52:00.001+08:00

Finding Sophie

2010-11-29T11:14:00.008+08:00

What do you do when your precious giraffe goes missing at a fair? You make a public announcement for it over the PA system like any loving owner would.

Still looking for Sophie? Find yours here at www.pupsikstudio.com.

Christmas with Sophie

2010-11-27T18:59:00.002+08:00

Celebrate your child's Christmas with Sophie this year by entering this year's photo contest. Simply snap a Christmas-themed picture of your child with Sophie and send it to contest@sophie.sg with your name and a short caption. Get your friends to "Like" the picture on Sophie's facebook page and you are on your way to win a handful of prizes. Contest ends 24 Dec so don't wait!

Vera's 4th birthday at Abrakadoodle

2010-11-24T11:20:00.027+08:00

Vera recently turned 4 year old. This year, we decided to do something special by holding her theme party at her favourite art school, Abrakadoodle.

Vera has been attending Abrakadoodle's art program for the past half year. There are currently 2 branches operating in Singapore - one at Cluny Court @ Bukit Timah and the other at the Playground@Bigsplash (aka former East Coast Big Splash). The school offers an art education program that is regarded to be one of the most popular creativity programs in the world. Its education curriculum was developed by artists and educators that exceeds US National Standards for Visual Arts Education.
Each offers at Abrakadoodle offers a unique experience that often begins with an introduction to a new artist and his technique. The class itself usually takes an hour with the last 15 mins allocated to "Gallery Time" when the kids will have a chance to explain to the class and parents what he/she has done. Having a relatively shy child (especially in front of strangers), I found this to be extremely beneficial in building up Vera's confidence as she learns to speak up in a classroom environment that includes adults. What I also love is the fact that the art work completed in each class is taken home in a frame which allows you to immediately display on your wall as a wonderful showcase of your child's art in different styles.
For Vera's party this year, we invited 15 of her friends to celebrate. It was a drop-off party which meant no adults allowed (good for poor parents needing a break). The kids were treated to two hours worth of fun and games which I cannot describe here because 1. What they were allowed to do in the name of creativity is beyond words and usually not allowed under normal circumstances. 2. Proprietary reasons.
What I am allowed to show you is the end product. Believe it or not, this wall of art was created by kids as young as 2yrs (Nadya's art above) through a series of art techniques employed by artists past and present.
As a party favour, each child brought home their own unique piece of art work which can be hung up at home immediately for all to admire.
For parents wanting to let your child have a taste of this wonderfully creative experience, you will be happy to know that Abrakadoodle is currently running a special promotion. Parents who "like" their page on Facebook will get to enjoy a 25% off trial class fee (usual price: $40). They are also waiving the $50 registration fee and giving a 5% off for camp fees for their Facebook fans.

Have fun and get colourfully creative!

No-Bake 3D cake for less than S$50

2010-11-09T12:18:00.021+08:00

Friends and family will know that I recently made a 3D dino cake for Vera's 4th birthday party a week ago. I am not one that bakes much given my crazy schedule and lack of ability to follow cooking instructions. Tell me to add 2 cups of flour with 5 eggs and I will be bound to somehow mess that up in the name of improvisation. How did I manage to make this 3D dino cake you may ask....well I will tell you my secret...Sara Lee!

Yes! my secret is Sara Lee! By gosh I did not even have to switch on the oven to "bake" this cake! I came upon the idea of using Sara Lee cake blocks. I read somewhere that you need a really dense cake to be able to construct a 3-D cake, least it will crumble in your hands and leave you in tears and desperation. I was not sure about being able to "produce" a dense cake so I came up with the idea of using Sara Lee's cakes. (post note...I might have thought about this idea from a friend who casually mentioned this before but I cannot be sure where the original inspiration for this came from. So I will not take 100% credit for coming up with this "Sara Lee" idea.)

Any way, from my own experience with Sara Lee (the plain favour is the densest and easiest to work with), you can easy construct what ever it is you want to make as if you were building with lego. It is really easy....and everyone loves Sara Lee cos it is tasty, rich yet light

For the dino, the first thing I constructed was the body which consisted mainly of 2 cake blocks with the corners rounded off. Then I cut 4 smaller stumps for the legs and begun working down the head and tail. The good thing about buying Sara Lee off the supermarket shelf is you can also mix and match favours for different parts of the cake.

After I was satisfied at what looks like a dinosaur, I began applying whipped cream. You can easily get whipped cream from any regular cake store and all that needs to be done is the whipping and adding of colours. In my case, I chose pink for my girl (what else?). It was fun slapping on the whipped cream which also acted as the "glue" to hold the blocks together. The key here is to have fun with the whipped cream and get a bit of texture out of it instead of trying to achieve a smooth flawless surface. It is a dino after all!

After applying the whipped cream, I decided that what I had originally intended to be the head of the dino looked more like the tail portion so I added a longer tapered portion to complete the body.
Now there it is...body, head tail, legs.....

I completed the finishing touches by cutting up triangular pieces of pink fondant (also available in any regular cake store) for the spikes on the back of the dino. The toe nails ,nostrails, name were also all made from fondant.

Then I sprinkled M&Ms (kids love these) around the base of the dino for some added colour and some chocolates for the dino eggs/poo. and viola! My 3D- dino cake is completed in less than an hour...And the best part is, I spent less than $50 for this cake. Compare this to the hefty $200-900 price tag you would have to cough out if you were to buy a professionally made 3D cake....of course, it may look nicer if you spend more but I think nothing beats letting your child know that you "made" this cake with love (they will probably better appreciate this effort when they are older).Hope you will give this easy no-bake method a try and let me know how it turns out! If this method works for you, it will be nice if you can link back to this tutorial post.

Have fun and be creative!xoxo
Su Ling

Pretty Freebies

2010-10-16T17:40:00.004+08:00

If you are fan of all things pretty like us, then you would love these printable wrapping papers and pretty pastel desktop wallpapers with calendars. Free to download from here. All these are designed by Mae, a wonderful brand of wall decal we carry here on Pupsik Studio. Thanks Mae! x

Origami Houses

2010-10-16T17:08:00.005+08:00

There are a million things I should be doing at my desk right now and making origami houses was definitely not on the list before I sat down to work. But the urge to make something with my hands was far too great to resist this afternoon as I stumbled upon this wonderful tutorial. Now at last I can add "able to fold tiny houses" to my resume!

Vintage Dollhouse

2010-10-16T16:37:00.002+08:00

Isn't this dollhouse absolutely gorgeous? Oh that wooden ladder and dresser!! Wish I could be shrunk right now.

Want to learn how to motivate your child?

2010-09-13T00:39:00.009+08:00

I recently found out that a wonderful customer of ours, Hsiao-wei, runs an interesting business in individual and team coaching, training workshops, HR consulting and behaviour profiling.

Called MaDiff (which is the short for Making a positive Difference), Hsiao-wei's business started out targeting companies and professionals but now also reaches out to individuals, especially women and parents.

MaDiff is currently organising a lunch-time workshop September 24 (12:30pm - 2:00pm ) at United Square, #B1-62 (SportBall). Thus workshop will feature a talk by highly sought-after Educational psychologist on "Motivating your child".

During this workshop, participants will learn to

• Understand what motivates your child
• Use a basic reward system to encourage development of good habits
• Develop intrinsic motivation such as pride in what they do
• Think positively about parenting
• Use a powerful experiential tool to encourage your child to express their points of view

This insightful workshop is priced at $80 per person and includes lunch.

For more information or booking, please feel free to contact info@madiff.com.sg or call 96304461/96398065. Limited spaces only. Book early to avoid disappointment.

XYZ vintage blocks

2010-07-23T14:11:00.001+08:00

I adore these XYZ vintage blocks by Fred Flare.

Ways to help kids feel special

2010-06-30T17:37:00.010+08:00

I stumbled upon these wonderful ideas from Smartmom's blog and thought I would pass some of my favourites along here on this blog....

Smart Mom's Ways to help kids feel special

"Leave "secret messages" in surprise places where you know your kids will find them. Things like "I love you!" or "You're special to me!" left inside a favorite book, in the pocket of a coat, in a lunchbox..."

"Write a special message in birthday cards - maybe a brief anecdote, a memory, something to read and re-read later, when your kids are grown up. (ahh....this is where our Little Milestones come in!)"

"Celebrate your child's half-birthday with half a cake, napkins cut in half, the altered song 'Half-y Birthday""

"Once a month, have "Jane or John Day" - a day that's all about your child. Jane/John gets to pick the day's activities, decide the 'rules' for the day, choose the food, etc. This is especially good when theres more than one child. EACH child gets a special day and it not only makes the child being celebrated feel good, it helps the siblings learn to be happy for others. "

"Surprise your child at school and go on an unplanned adventure"

"When you go shopping, if your child did a really good job (not whining or fussing), make sure to stop after you check out and tell your child what he/she did right, say you appreciate the good behavior, are proud of him/her and then give a hug (maybe get a little treat afterward)"

"Gather things so your child can feel like a useful member of the family--child-size tools like mop, broom, rake etc, and then your child can help you while you work. Praise him/her for helping!"

"Talk to your spouse when your child has done something you were really happy about - when they are within earshot and they can hear the praise "indirectly""

"Don't let a single day go by without a hug!"

Clever ideas by Smart Mom, Inventors of the Teething Bling!

Long Term Part Time Help Required!

2010-06-29T10:07:00.010+08:00

We are looking for long term part time help with the online store. The person will mainly be handling email sales enquiries and processing online orders.

You will need to be available to work at our warehouse office (located in the West) 4 hours each day (Mon-Fri), preferably from 9-1pm.

Basic Requirements

- Good writing and email communication skills

- Responsible, independent and organised

Previous Sales or Marketing experience not required but will be a plus. Preferably living near our warehouse office in the West.

If you would like to consider joining us, please send in your resume and pay expectations to pupsikteam(@)gmail.com. We need to consider several factors to assess if the job will suit you too based on your Background, Expertise, Interests, Geographical Location, Pay Expectations, Constraints (if any), so please include ALL this information in your application to help us in our assessment .

Some of you have emailed to asked me for more information such as working hours, location etc . As I will not be able to personally attend to all your emails in a prompt manner, it will be helpful if you can indicate your preference, or any constraints you may have, in your application to help me assess your suitability for this position.

If we feel that this current position may not be suitable for you, we would certainly like to keep your application in view of other potential positions in the future!

I will only be contacting the shortlisted candidates for this current position by email and thank everyone in advance for taking the time to send in your application!

Thanks once again!

Su Ling
Pupsik Studio

Pink Elephant Labs

2010-06-23T16:33:00.007+08:00

Here are some lovely photos taken of Eva, one of the winners of our recent "Pupsik in a Pouch" Contest. As our winner, beautiful Eva had won for herself an outdoor photoshoot by Pink Elephant Labs. How adorable is she?!?! I love how natural the pictures are taken and the bright cheerful colours that simply pop! I am sure these would look simply lovely framed up in Eva's nursery.For a limited time only, Pink Elephant Labs will be offering Pupsik Fans a 10% discount for their studio package and a 20% discount for their outdoor package. More details of their packages can be found on their website.

To be eligible for the discount, the session must be booked by July 15, 2010, and the session date must fall before August 15, 2010. A $50 deposit is required to reserve their slot. When booking, they just need to put PUPSIKFAN as their e-mail subject. The first 10 people to book a session will receive a further 20% discount for any additional items (extra prints, a CD of images from the session, coffee table books, etc.) should they decide to purchase.

Thank you Pink Elephant Labs!

A Wedding Engagement - Disclaimer

2010-06-21T10:59:00.007+08:00

We love dressing up and being a part of your special day and thank all dear friends and family who have asked us to be a part of your wedding in such a special way...

However, this video serves as a gentle caution to anyone who wishes to engage Vera' Zagorodnova's services (henceforth referred to as "The Flower Girl") and releases Tan Su Ling (henceforth referred to as "The Mom") from any moral or legal obligations whatsoever for any events that may/may not occur during the actual wedding procession.

xoxo
The Mom

Pettitop and Pettiskirt from who else but the gorgeous Princess Ratbag of Australia.

Winner of The Pottywatch Giveaway!

2010-06-21T10:21:00.015+08:00

Congratulations to Serene and Yoke Yuen who have each won a potty watch for your child in our FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY last week! Please contact me HERE to claim your prize!

Different parents use different methods of potty training their kids. When adopting the Practice makes Perfect method of potty training, the biggest challenge a parent has is to remind their child that they need to go potty.

The Potty Watch is designed to help with just that challenge! It takes care of the job for you the parent and not only makes it easy for you but fun for your child!

How does the Potty watch work?

The Potty Watch helps children remember to try to go potty by playing music and lighting up at 30, 60, or 90 minute intervals, as set by their parent. Children just starting their potty training will usually start at 30 minute intervals, and increase as they get better at knowing when they need to go.

To help children stay on the potty long enough to really try, the PottyWatch plays songs (see video above) that they can sing along to while they're trying to go.

Features of the Potty Watch:

30, 60 and 90 minute modes that will count down to 00:00.
Song plays and lights flash to remind your child that it is time to go potty
After song (see song lyrics below), timer automatically resets itself and begins counting down again
Wristband - kid friendly FDA approved TPR soft rubber
Comes in 3 colors - Blue for Boys, Pink for Girls
NOTE: This is not a watch - it is timer to remind your child to go potty

Wristband length - 7 1/2 inches. For small wrists can fasten down to 4 3/4 inches

Face dimensions are 1 1/4 inches x 1 1/2 inches

Lyrics of the two songs that the Potty Watch Plays:

Potty Time

(Tune "London Bridge")

Look at me, it's potty time,
Potty time, potty time.
Look at me, it's potty time,
Let's go potty now.

I'm So Happy

(Tune "Oh My Darling")

I'm so happy,
I'm so happy,
I'm so happy, when I'm dry!
So I'm going to the potty,
Every hour, I will try.

Via Pottytrainingconcepts.

Nursery Decals

2010-06-16T13:48:00.002+08:00

I came across these gorgeous decals by Australian designer Mae recently. I have seen quite a good deal of wall decals by various designers but you can say it was love at first sight when I saw Mae's fabric decals.

Mae decals are perfect for children as they are removable & completely reusable. The stickers have a premium quality adhesive, so they can be scrunched into a ball and will easily un-scrunch & re-apply to your wall, many times over without damaging it.

(above) Girly Alphabets

(above) Up Up and Away & Summer Doll

Mae is Australian made & owned. What I also love about them is they make a point to keep the environment in mind and their products are sourced from local small businesses. Their packaging is recycled & their stickers use eco inks.

And to add to the list of why I love them, they also produce mini versions of their decals that you can apply on your accessories such as your laptop, books and other personal items. Simply adorable!

Available here.

Choosing the right toy for your child

2010-06-13T11:14:00.004+08:00

I am a firm believer that children learn most through play. Giving appropriate toys to a baby stimulates his/ her learning potential. Studies have shown that suitable infant educational toys play an important role in baby's early development. Bright colors, interesting patterns and variety of shapes help stimulate and appeal to the developing senses of your little one.

Here are some pointers, which will help you in knowing and selecting the perfect educational infant toy for your infant.

1. Sight. Research has shown that baby’ eyes are immature at birth and can only focus on contrasting colors like black and white. However, as they grow, they are attracted to bright primary colors. Chose brightly coloured toys such as this and this that are easy to gasp and most importantly safe for your child to chew on.

2. Touch. As your infant grows his/her sense of touch is more developed and this is evident when he starts fiddling with things. When you notice this, it’s important for you to introduce different kinds of textures such as this and this to your baby to stimulate his sense of touch.

3. Hearing. Studies have shown that babies respond well to sounds even before birth. Music can soothe your baby during uncomfortable times. Consider getting a musical toy with a gentle tune to play for your baby even before birth. They will continue to be comforted by the familiar melody they hear from your womb even after they are born. Rattles are also helpful in stimulating baby’s eyes and ears, while at the same time encouraging your little one to lift his/her arms and feet.

4. Taste. You will also notice at one point that your baby will enjoy putting things in their mouths. This is a natural reflex and an important part of their development. Chewing on different materials and shapes stimulates the periodontal membrane under the teeth. This helps promote jaw development which is essential as they start on semi-solid food. It is important to choose teethers that are made from non-toxic materials and are appropriately sized for baby's mouth and hands.

Rice Melamine

2010-06-01T04:30:00.007+08:00

While looking for cute, high-quality, melamine dishes to use as toddler tableware, I ran across a range of gorgeous and high quality ones designed by a company in Denmark called Rice.

Recently, Nadya has taken to flinging and throwing her food and dishes on the floor. Vera had gone through this stage when she neared her terrible-twos and we managed then with Ikea children’s dishes. With use however, we found that the Ikea plastics got scratched up and worn looking over time which got me very worried about using them.

I did a little research online and found our about the melamine dishes by RICE. A bit of background on melamine: this material is often used to make children's dishes as they are unbreakable, scratch-resistant, dishwasher-safe. They are generally known to be practical and safe, as far as unbreakable plastics is concerned. The only thing is melamine isn't microwave-safe, but I generally avoid popping any plastic containers in the microwave anyways. RICE produces really good quality melamine and what I really like is that the company take a lot of effort to ensure that their products are produced in a socially responsible way. I have completely ditched all my ikea plastics and porcelains after discovering them. They keep very well with heavy use and the best part is, they are all BPA free! YES!

What I also like about RICE, besides being beautiful eye candy, is that the designs are well thought through. The spoon and fork set for instance are smooth around the edges, unless the Ikea ones that tend to be quite sharp (not great if you have a food-stabbing kiddo like mine).

A limited range of Melamine dishes, cups and utensils specially designed for kids, such as the 2-handle cup, set of 6 baby spoons, Room-4 plates, is now available on Pupsik Studio here.

In addition to the melamine tableware, Rice has a lot of other really well designed products such as fabric banners, storage baskets.

The winner of our 64 pc Plus Plus Maxi is.....

2010-05-17T16:27:00.013+08:00

I roped in my 2 little helpers at home to construct a fort from a 64pc Plus Plus Maxi set to defend against a herd of dinosaurs.We stuck the names of all the participants in this giveaway on the fort and randomly selected 20 names to be stuck on a dart board behind to find our winner. Is your name on the dart board?
Vera had the honour of throwing the dart to find our lucky winner....Want to know who won? Watch the video below to find out!

Dear winner, please contact me to claim your prize. If it is unclaimed within 7 days, this prize will roll over to our next giveaway! Thank you to all the 200+ participants for joining the fun!

ps: Don't miss our next 2 giveaway on our facebook when we hit 900 fans!

Cool food portioners

2010-05-17T13:01:00.014+08:00

I was recently asked to review a very cool-looking food portioner by Brother Max.

Designed like little ice cubes that click together to attach, all you have to "un-click" a cube from the rest in the freezer, defrost in microwave, serve food straight from the pot and viola! I find this really convenient since I usually freeze concentrated soup stock which I use to add to porridge for that added nutrition and taste for the kids.I love the fact that the little pots click on and off easily. Its "lego-like" design means that you can configure it any way you like and even stack them up to optimise your freezer space. Each blocks is designed with easy open lids that lift up but also close firmly so it is great for travel without having to worry about spilling. Plus there is a pen included for you to write what you have freezed (important cos all frozen food look kinda the same!).

These portioners are wonderful to have when you are weaning as it conveniently stores pre-prepared food purees neatly in the freezer and all you have to do is "unclick" and pop in your diaper bag when you are planning to go out. The lids also keep out potentially unpleasant fridge odour from your precious baby food. Neat!

Featured on My Paper

2010-05-07T17:01:00.003+08:00

We were proudly featured in today's issue of My Paper. How exciting!

You can click on the image above for an enlarged version of the article. I am called the "Carrier Woman"(!)

Results of the 2010 "Pupsik in a Pouch" Contest!!

2010-05-06T10:31:00.018+08:00

Now the moment that we have all been waiting for! The results of our contest here! After counting over 3000+ votes, we have found 3 winners with the highest number of votes received that will each walk away with a photo package, as well as a gift hamper worth more than $150 from us at Pupsik Studio!

Drumroll please..............!

In no particular order, the first baby to receive the top 3 highest number of votes is.........#37 Baby Ayden, the adorable baby of Mom Yee Lin! Clap clap clap!!!!!

Isn't Ayden with that little cheeky wink in the pouch absolutely adorable? It is no wonder that this pic has captured the hearts of our voters! Congratulations Ayden! I am quite sure you will grow up to be one heartbreaker! For now, your fans have won for you an indoor photo package from Studio Loft, in addition to a gift hamper worth more than $150 from Pupsik Studio!

The second baby with the higest number of votes is....................#2 Baby Eva, the uber cool baby of Mom Mabel! Clap clap clap!!!Don't those shades absolutely match the cool lime green and aqua of the pouch that Mabel is sunbathing in during a trip to the zoo. I am sure that with Mom Mabel's influence, Eva will grow up to be some wardrobe fashionista! Congratulations Baby Eva! Your fans have won for you an outdoor photo package from Pink Elephant Labs, in addition to a gift hamper worth more than $150 from Pupsik Studio!

And the last but definitely no least baby with the most number of votes for our contest this year is #17 Baby Rayanne, baby of Mom Rachel! Clap clap clap!!

The active Mom Rachel apparently slings her baby in a pouch almost wherever she goes and draws stares from adoring passers-by (see that woman peering from behind the pillar in the pic above??) Congratulations Baby Rayanne! Your fans have won for you an indoor photo package from Pink Elephant Labs, in addition to a gift hamper worth more than $150 from Pupsik Studio!

So we have it! Our 3 adorable babies with the highest number of votes this year! I would have to say that this was a very close fight with some of the other contestants that also drew quite a formidable mind-blowing number of votes! Some real fans your babies have! Thank you all for participating and making this contest so exciting for all. I will continue to leave all your pictures in our online photo gallery for all to admire!And a big thank you to our sponsors from Pink Elephant Labs and Studio Loft for partnering us and so generously sponsoring the packages for our contest this year! If you would like to have some memorable pictures taken of your babies or families, I highly recommend that you check out the very reasonable photo packages offered by Pink Elephant Labs and Studio Loft. They specialise in pregnancy and children photography and will be sure to help you capture memories of your journey with your kids that you will treasure for a lifetime.

(above) Gifts for our winners prepared in the gift hamper from Pupsik Studio, Pink Elephant Labs and Studio Loft.

ps: Winners, please drop me an email to claim your prize! x

Recycled Crayons

2010-04-23T10:28:00.003+08:00

Give your Crayola a new lease of life with this project. These make the perfect size crayons that are chunky and easy for little ones to grab for a crafty project. And it is not that difficult to do! Perfect as a party project for kids!

Materials Needed:

Foil cupcake liners or silicone cake molds
Bits of crayon
Baking sheet

Put the pieces of crayon into cupcake liners or cake molds on a baking sheet. Experiment with different sizes of crayons to get different effects. Little pieces will create a dotted look; large chunks, a bolder look. (And regular crayons tend to run together more than Cray-Pas.)
Set the oven to its lowest setting, and put the baking sheet on the middle tray. Leave it in the oven for about 5 minutes, slightly longer if necessary. (Crayons will melt much faster than Cray-Pas.) Take out the tray when the bits are just melted. If they liquefy too much, the disks will come out a dull brown color.
Remove the baking tray from the oven, using mitts. Leave the crayons to cool and harden completely, then carefully remove the crayons from the liners or molds.

Via cookiemag.

Facebook Fan Giveaway - Set of Oobi Owl PJs!

2010-04-19T10:21:00.006+08:00

There were 77 participants to our recent Facebook giveaway celebrating us crossing our 600th fan mark. In celebration, we are giving away a set of adorable Oobi PJ in their vintage owl print.

Want to know who is the random lucky fan for this giveaway? Take a look at the video below!

Congratulations to the lucky baby with the number above who won our giveaway. Please contact me here and I will follow up with you on your win! =)

Congrats! xoxo

Deadline extended till 10 April - Pupsik Baby Pouch Contest!!

2010-03-28T17:43:00.001+08:00

We will be extending the deadline for entries to 10 April as I know some of you need a little more time. So if you have not sent us a pic of your little one, please do so NOW! Please send the pic to pupsikbaby@gmail.com. xoxoo

It is with very great excitement that I announce the search for our Pupsik baby in a pouch this year! This is the second time we are organising this. To be honest, we love doing this again cos we get such a big kick and utter satisfaction out of you sending us pictures of your adorable babies in our pouches that is hard to let the opportunity pass by this year!

If you were following this search last year, you would know of our lovely winners - Baby Hannah, Baby Jey and Baby Raeann, (above from left to right). This year, we will again have 3 lovely babies to walk away with a bunch of prizes that even I (the organiser) would like to win. The prizes includes photo packages generously sponsored by creative photostudios specialising in children/family photography such as Pink Elephant Labs and Studio Loft. In addition the winners will get to walk away with a new pouch of their choice from our new range of reversible pouches (launch date TBC) and a bunch of other prizes from our partners this year.

And if you are in need of a little persuasion to enter your little one for this contest, let me give you 3 good reasons why you should:

1. Everyone is a winner! Unlike the usual big magazine contests when you send in a picture and never hear back, you can be sure that everyone is a winner in this "contest". All entries will receive a $10 gift voucher that you can use to redeem from our store (terms apply).

2. You decide who wins! Call this our own version of American Idol if you like but we would like you, the mommy/daddy/grandma/grandpa/friend/uncle...to vote for our winners this year! Since this is more for fun, rather than creating unneccessary competition, the actual results of the voting will be confidential and we will only be announcing the winners with the highest number of votes . So, if you have a lot of computers, family members, fans and friends rooting for your kiddo, I say your chance of winning is incredibly high. =))

2. In the name of fun! We will be sharing the pictures (unless you do not want us to) in an online photogallery that we are creating. Not only will this precious and intimate moment of you and your child be captured together with us for a long time to come, this is also a fun and great way to share your babywearing journey with hundreds of others who have yet to discover the joy and benefits of babywearing!

I hope the above will convince you to join us this year! If so, please email your favourite picture(s) of your little one in a pouch to us at pupsikbaby@gmail.com with the subject heading "Pupsik in a Pouch 2010". Please let us know you and your baby's name. It will be great if you could include a few words with your entry to tell us why you like our baby pouch carriers.

You can be as creative as possible and send in as many pictures (funny, sweet, adorable, memorable) of your little one in a pouch. There is no age limit and if you entered last year, you can enter again this year as long as you are sending in a new photograph. If you have submitted multiple pictures, we will select one photo for the final voting exercise.

The deadline for entries is 30 March 2010.

I hope everyone can make this as fun as possible again this year. Thanks again and let the pictures roll! xoxo

Truffel Tree

2010-03-27T02:43:00.003+08:00

I was really excited when Xin of Truffel Tree contacted me a few weeks ago to tell me about her lovely handmade plushies. I fell in love instantly with the simple aesthetic and whimsical nature of her soft toys. Xin is a Singaporean mom living in the UK and she had bought a beansprout pillow from Pupsik Studio previously.

Ever since I got Alexi last year, I have been searching for suitable friends to join him and the rest if the gang on the shelf. I hence asked Xin if she could make me a toy to be named after my one year old, Nadya. I happily sent her a picture of Nadya as a "design brief" for the soft toy.

Immediately after sending the pic, I wondered if I was asking too much of Xin in sending her the photograph of a human baby and asking her to "make a soft toy out of it". Anyway, to cut a long story short, an envelope arrived from the UK 2 weeks later with a cotton sleeve and I literally squealed in delight when I saw what was inside!

Xin had transformed the picture I sent her of Nadya into a thumb sucking elf in a bear suit. She had also sewn a magnet in the paw of the elf and the mouth so you can actually detach the hand from the mouth. How clever!

The elf, named Plum, came with this note: " Look who's fallen under the truffle tree!...Plum has been a very busy elf, playing hide-and-seek with the big scary bears. Good thing she has her magic flying cape with her - having an imagination can be exhausting".

Plum even has a back pocket that is designed to hold little memories. I am printing a small picture of Nadya in the bear suit and sticking it in the pocket together with Plum's little friend.

And Xin was so sweet to send me another of her beautiful creations called "The Anonymous Rabbit". This gorgeous rabbit is made from soft, plain white calico cotton and firmly stuffed with new polyester filler. It has a simple fine embroidery thread running along the entire edge of the rabbit. I love how simple this rabbit looks with all its thoughtful intricate details and how soft (yet firm) it feels and stands on its own. Xin also embroidered the butt of the rabbit with my daughter's name!

So here is is, the new gang on the shelf! Looks like there is space for at least 2 more friends up there! Thanks Xin for these wonderful creations! xoxo

"Plum" and "The Anonymous Rabbit" are now available on Xin's etsy store, Truffel Tree. Do visit and support her beautiful creations!

ps: Xin and I are working together on a new toy that I hope will be available under The Fair section of Pupsik Studio soon. Stay tuned!

Tip Toey Joey

2010-03-03T15:04:00.016+08:00

Being a mom of 2 girls (one of which just only learnt to walk), I have to say that it is not very easy finding a good pair of walking shoes in Singapore that is comfortable and simple/versatile in design. I have been hunting for the pre-walker (age 1-2) equivalent of Birkenstocks or Ecco as I know how important it is to have comfortable shoes when the little one is just learning to walk. I finally found my answer in Tip Toey Joey...

Tip Toey Joey shoes are high-quality shoes specially designed for growing feet with thin rubber soles and “stretching heel”. Arguably the most “healthy” baby shoes on the market, Tip Toey Joeys are soft and non restrictive all over to support and protect baby’s very soft and malleable foot bones – bones that grow faster during baby’s first three years of life than at any other time.

Crafted of soft, 100% genuine leather inside and out, they allow baby’s feet to breathe, grow without restriction, flex naturally – and feel deliciously comfortable! But unlike other leather baby shoes, they feature a contoured design to match the shape of baby’s feet, an exclusive stretching heel for ease and fit, and a thin rubber sole that gives new walkers grip and protection while still allowing them to sense irregularities in the ground – something that’s essential for the natural development of foot muscles, balance and posture. Plus – elastic laces that never come undone, and allow the shoe to custom-adjust to baby’s foot.

These are high-quality, eye-catching shoes for those who demand the very best for their baby’s feet. I also love that there is a good range of colours and designs to cater to both boys and girls, whether you are looking for something casual or formal.

Tip Toey Joey are available at $68 on Pupsik Studio. They probably cost slightly more than your average shoe but is worth every cent considering your child will be wearing them much more often than any other clothing item they own, if not every day. You will instantly notice how differently your toddler walks in a good pair of shoes that is designed to give the right kind of support that is comfortable and allows them to feel the ground at the same time. The well constructed leather shoe (ohh...did I mention how wonderful it smells?) also means that it is made to last so you can keep it for your next one or another lucky child.

Product Review - Lil' Rinser

2010-03-03T00:30:00.006+08:00

Word got out that I have a 3 year old who hates having her head wet in the shower so I was recently given the Lil' Rinser as a gift recently to help make bathtime a little more fun.

Designed by a dad, the Lil' Rinser has a soft rim that contours to fit a 12 month old toddler's head (all the way to adults). This rim forms a gutter that completely channels water away from faces when you pour water down the head. This rinser comes with a convenient handle which you can hold on easily to. I've seen a few other rinsers out there but they usually look quite flimsy and leaks, unlike the Lil' Rinser that is designed to really work! The video below shows it all.

Vera loves putting on the rim as a hat while in the bath and loves it when the water from the showerhead runs to the back of her head (instead of the front) like magic! 12 month old Nadya loves doing the same when she sees her older sister putting on the "magic hat" in the bath.

The Lil' Rinser is available at $28.50 in a few outlying shopping malls in Singapore.

Elly on Pupsik Studio

2010-02-10T01:18:00.012+08:00

Pupsik Studio would like to welcome on board Elly, a new collection of lovely, one-of-a-kind dresses for your little girl.

Elly is designed by London-based Singaporean Audrey Ng. She started Elly when she found that she couldn't find that perfect dress to give her friends and relatives who had little girls. She loves spending every minute outside of her mundane 9-5 desk job designing for Elly.

This label is about comfortable and eye-catching fabrics made into designs which are comfortable to play and dance in and, more importantly, pretty at the same time. The unique designs are all made from the highest quality 100% designer cotton ranging from ultra modern to sweet vintage and are wonderful for play.

Every little girl has her personal favourite, be it the Wonderland dress in Zoology or pink scooters, or the Twinkle dress in Meadow in Pink. Some like playful while some like sweet! Whatever it is, you are sure to find the perfect Elly dress for your little girl.

Elly's one-of-a-kind collection sells out really fast so do get one before they are gone as fabrics are limited!

Well done, Audrey!

Keep Calm and Carry On

2010-02-08T02:45:00.003+08:00

We have just added a new section on Pupsik Studio called The Nursery and have included new items such as the "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster and handcrafted monograms.

From now till 14 Feb, enter discount code BLOGKC to take $2 off these vibrant nursery posters.

Product Review: 2-in-1 Potette Plus

2010-02-04T00:46:00.011+08:00

I have to admit that one of the reservations I had about starting to potty train Vera when she turned 2 was having to deal with her having to pee in the most inconvenient place. I mean, putting her on diapers simply means that I would not have to worry about her doing her business anywhere and anytime. What would I have to do if she asks to go when she in a car or a place that does not have a sanitory toilet?

The 2-in-1 Potette Plus solves this problem that I am sure many moms like me fret about when their kids reach potty training age. Designed as a portable potty and trainer seat all in one, this simple but extremly practical patented design can be used both as a folding potty with a disposable bag and also as a trainer seat for the adult toilet.

When not in use, the potty folds down compactly and an be placed under your stroller or back of the car when on the go. The patented disposable liners are super absorbent (it absorbs up to 150ml of liquid!), leak proof and easy to use. I cannot tell you how many times the potette plus has been a life saver on trips out with my 3 year old. Another plus point is she enjoys peeing on the pottete (esp in the car) so much that this contraption actually helped in the potty training process by making it fun! It is no wonder this practical product is a winner of numerous parenting awards.

Special features of the potette plus include:

-Contoured seat for your child's comfort
-Sturdy well-balanced base helps your child feel secure
-Legs lock into place when opened
-Folds flat so it can fit in a purse or diaper bag
-A great potty to keep in your car, boat, camper or RV
-Uses self-absorbing, disposable liners that discard like a diaper
-Disposable liners hold up to 5 ounces of liquid
-Liners are lightly scented to absorb odors
-Liner handles secure to the potty and tie closed for disposal
-Drawstring carrying bag included
-Comes with three super absorbent, leak-proof and easy-to-use disposable liners
-When used as a travel potty, suitable for ages 15 months and up to 50 lbs.
-Easily converts to a folding trainer seat suitable for children 2 years and up to 50 lbs.
-Non-slip, durable, and comfortable
-Hygienic -- can be used on all toilet seats
-Fold close after use and store
-Dimensions when Fully Open with Legs Extended: 9.875"L x 8.75"W x 4.875"H
-Dimensions when Folded Flat: 9.125"L x 8.75"W x 2.75"H
-Dimensions when Open as a Trainer Seat: 14.25"L x 8.75"W x 2.75"H

The 2-in-1 Potette Plus is now available in a gender neutral sanitory White HERE on Pupsik Studio. Each purchase comes with disposable liners. You can purchase additional liners separately.

For a limited time only, enter the discount code PUPSIKBLOG to enjoy 10% off the Potette Plus and additional liners. Happy Toilet Training!

Chinese New Year Sale

2010-01-28T00:00:00.008+08:00

Our 3 days Chinese New Year Sale is now now till Sat 30Jan! Many favourite clothing items from Oobi Baby and Princess Ratbag now on sale at 15% off! No terms attached, just while stocks last! Hop on over here!

ST NICHOLAS GIRLS FUNDRAISER

2010-01-26T12:31:00.015+08:00

At long last, after months of hard work, we have finally managed to work with the St Nicholas Alumnae Association to put together a new fundraising project for the school rebuilding efforts! Thank you all who have been patiently waiting!

To keep everyone to date as to how this all came about, this project started a year ago with this post. With the interest this aroused among many old school girls, this project evolved over the course of a year into a fundraising project to help raise funds for the St Nicholas Girls' School's re-building project.

Whether or not you attended pre-primary at St Nicholas, these adorable vintage uniforms will make a wonderful memorabilia for any old school girl since it represents a unique and significant part of the school's history. A lot of time and effort was spent tracking down the correct fabrics to recreate the uniforms. It is available in one size only and will fit most children age 1 to 3.

A very limited quantity has been made for this fundraising effort so please place your order directly from our website HERE.

ALL net proceeds from the sale will go to the St Nicholas Girls’ School PRIME fund. A list of contributors and the donation amount will be submitted to the Alumnae Association at the close of this fundraiser for the purpose of transparency. If you wish to remain anonymous, please indicate your preference at the comment section at checkout. Thank you all for supporting this effort.

Help Spread the Word!

If you wish to help spread the word using the button link above, please cut and paste the entire code below to your blog, facebook or website:

What are we feeding our kids?

2010-01-15T12:13:00.014+08:00

I recently watched the documentary Food, Inc and was shocked at how ignorant I had been about the food choices I have been making. I have never been too fussy about food in the way that if it looks fresh and is priced reasonably, I will usually buy it. This documentary changed this for me and make me think twice when I did my grocery shopping the past week.

Did you know that most of the chicken that you get from regular supermarkets these days are probably from a chicken that has been grown in cages too small for them to move? These chickens are usually kept in perpetual darkness to make them sleep more and fight less. They are fattened with cheap feed and growth hormones so fast that they cannot even stand up and walk.

And in all likelihood, the beef that we get from regular supermarket these days (and even at expensive restaurants) most probably came from a cow that spent much of its life standing in manure. Similarly, these cows are also fattened with cheap feed and hormones that they cannot even walk themselves to the slaughterhouse when the time comes.

If you have not watched this informative documentary, I would strongly urge you to as any summary I can give here will not do the documentary any true justice. If you would like to have an overview of the issues, see here.

Watching Food, Inc made me think really hard about my food choices for the family and how I should be more responsible in choosing food that is not only safe and healthy, but is also responsibly produced, priced and sold. Here are some useful quotes from the documentary.

“There is this deliberate veil, this curtain that’s drawn between us and where our food is coming from. The industry doesn’t want you to know the truth about what you’re eating because if you knew, you might not want to eat it.”

"When you add up the environmental costs, societal costs, health costs, the industrial food is not honest food. It's not priced honestly. It's not produced honestly. There's nothing honest about that food."

“Cows are not designed by evolution to eat corn. They’re designed by evolution to eat grass. And the only reason we feed them corn is because corn is really cheap and corn makes them fat quickly … The industrial food system is always looking for greater efficiency. But each new step in efficiency leads to problems. If you take feedlot cattle off their corn diet, give them grass for five days, they will shed eighty percent of the E. coli in their gut.”

You may think that we as individuals are at the mercy of what is sold to us. In fact, the exact opposite is true. If we choose not to buy food that is not fit for our families to eat, this will send a clear signal to the food producers out there to clean up their act. If you are convinced, like me, that the way our food is prepared and sold to us should be changed , here are 10 simple things you can do to start.

Product Review - Weego Glass Bottles

2010-01-13T00:17:00.000+08:00

With all the scary information out there surrounding leaching chemicals in plastics , it is no wonder why many are making the switch to BPA-free bottles and glass despite the relatively higher price tag.

I recently received a Weego glass bottle for my girls to be used as test subjects. The bottle itself is a glass bottle, with a BPA free cap, nipple and a stylish silicone sleeve that is also BPA free. The sleeve is designed to protect the glass from breakage and also makes holding the bottle with wet hands and tiny baby fingers a lot easier.

I really love the look and feel of glass bottles and my 3 year old was so taken in by the funky bright colour of the bottle that just the thought of drinking milk from it made her so excited! For me, what really bought me over (other than the look) was the safety and practically of the Weego bottles. Frankly, I have tested other brands of glass bottles (also with rubber sleeves) before and got put off by when those bottles started to leak. I also found the rubber sleeves with some of the other cheaper brands a pain to remove and clean. With the Weego bottles, the sleeve was a breeze to remove and slipped out of the glass bottle easily in warm soapy water. And since the bottle was sent to me as a tester, I took the liberty of hurling it on the ground several times to see if it would break. It was a thoroughly liberating process doing so and needless to say, the bottles survived the test and my girls are still drinking from them.

This bottle is currently retailing for SGD$28.90 (for a 9oz bottle) and SGD$23.90 (for a super cute 4oz mini bottle) and comes in 6 six unique colors to personalize and identify your baby's bottle (pink, raspberry, orange, yellow, sky light blue, and ocean dark blue). I personally think the price of these glass bottles is reasonable, considering that you are avoiding all the potentially dangerous chemicals in plastics altogether and those boring-looking BPA-free plastic bottles also cost pretty much the same as these stunning glass bottles anyway. What is more, these weego bottles fits perfectly on a Medela Pump, with both the sleeve and bottle being able to go directly in the freezer for storage. All Weego bottles are also compatible with any standard size nipples. Neat!

I am looking to make these practical, trendy and safe glass bottles available on Pupsik Studio. If you would like to pre-order a Weego bottle from us, do contact us HERE with the subject heading "Weego Glass Bottles" and details of your order (size, colour, quantity). Meanwhile, here is wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Now you know your ABCs

2010-01-12T12:19:00.001+08:00

	Disney - Alphabet Song .mp3

	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Kickstart the year by winning a Pupsik Pouch!

2010-01-08T11:55:00.003+08:00

If you are like me and love freebies, you will love this!! We are giving away a Pupsik Baby Pouch over at Der Nen's blog. What a better way to start the year than to win something for you and your baby! Even if you already have a pouch, no harm getting another one especially if it is free! It is a raffle so everyone has a chance of winning (+ there are ways to increase your chances! wink...)

Roll over to this raffle today and join in the fun! Good luck! xoxo

New Year Message

2010-01-01T12:08:00.001+08:00

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year!

I just wanted to start the year with a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who have helped Pupsik Studio grow over the past year. I never would have imagined that our little studio which began as nothing more than a personal dream would have grown to a full-fledged business in the course of a year.

As I crawl out of a very, very busy year as a mom and founder of Pupsik Studio, I have taken a pause to look back at our many adventures and lessons we have learnt in 2009. We do not take anything for granted and are grateful for everything big and small... Above all, we are thankful to customers like you who trust us and have chosen us, among so many online stores in Singapore, to shop for your precious little tots.

God willing, we will continue to improve and make the shopping experience at Pupsik Studio more exciting, fulfilling and fun for you. Rest assured, we are commited to making sure that you can look forward to more useful products and services that will make your journey as a parent easier and more beautiful every step of the way.

For all of your support and friendship in 2009, we can never say ‘Thank You’ enough. We hope and pray that 2010 will be a happy and fulfilling year for us all!

xoxo

Su Ling

www.pupsikstudio.com

Happy 2010

2009-12-30T22:36:00.003+08:00

Dear everyone reading this right now,

Thank you all for making this such an exciting year for us at Pupsik Studio. Whether you are a friend, family, customer, partner, fan or all of the above, we cannot thank you enough for the support you have shown us over the past year.

We are looking forward to bringing more useful and beautiful things to Pupsik Studio as we discover more parenting gems in the coming year. Meanwhile, here's wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

xoxo heaps,
Su Ling

only the best for our babies
(image from Marthastewart.com)

Vera at play

2009-12-23T00:36:00.003+08:00

Oh no, I think Vera has some of my perfectionistic and impatient streak in her.

A Sale A Day

2009-12-14T17:34:00.004+08:00

A different sale each day + a Wild Card item to spice things up a little. Don't miss this Sale of the year at Pupsik Studio!

Check our Twitter and Facebook for updates on the hour of each Wild Card sale each day!

Vera's Graduation from Nursery One

2009-11-30T21:58:00.003+08:00

Our 3-year old graduated form Nursery One last week and we attended her graduation as proud parents. I have to admit I had no idea what to expect. It was fun to watch and we were pleasantly amused when we saw Vera trotting around on stage in goldilocks curls and make-up, abeit clueless most of the time. We were also pleased that the school decided to conduct most of the graduation performance in Chinese this year.

Product Review - Safetytat

2009-11-29T16:23:00.008+08:00

As a kid, my mom used to get me to hold on to her skirt when we were out so I would not get lost. One day, in a stroke of genius (or so I thought), I placed a spool of thread in my mom's handbag and attached the end of it to my finger. I thought that this way, I was sure to find my way back to her should I get lost in the crowd. Needless to say, I got both me and my mom entangled in a cobweb of fine thread in the mall as a result of my "brilliant invention" at the age of six.

Kids these days seem to have it all. Mobile phones, GPS, and now, SafetyTat! Yes, some brilliant soul has invented a waterproof sticker tattoo that you can attach to your child and write your mobile number on in case they got lost. How B.R.I.L.L.I.A.N.T is this??!?There are several type of SafetyTat tattoos to choose from, such as allergy alert, special needs and medical alerts. The tattoos have a medical grade adhesive and are applied without water and have a blank space for you to fill in emergency information with a pen that comes together. The tattoos are vibrant, easily identifiable and the best part is, it can last up to two weeks which means that if you are planning to go on a trip away from home, you only need one (at most two) tattoos.

I was delighted to receive a couple of samples flown in all the way from SafetyTat to try it out for myself and have to say that it is everything it promises to do, plus it is so much fun too! The tattoos are so amazing that it won an iParenting Media Greatest Products Award.

I am doing a pre-order for the Quick Stick Write-On! Boy/Girl Travel 6-pack and Allergy 6-pack for the special price of S$16.90. That is approx $2.80 for each tattoo that will last 2 weeks. If you are interested to order, please place your order HERE!

New Re-usable Cotton Tote

2009-11-28T13:03:00.002+08:00

Looking for something to stuff your christmas shopping? This new re-useable, adorable and versatile 100% cotton tote is for you! It comes in 2 adorable prints designed by Pupsik Studio: Matryoshka Elephants and Rocking Horse.

Each handy bag measures approx 28(W) x 37(H) x 9(D) cm and has a 25cm long (50 cm overall) shoulder strap. Can be used to stuff gifts, books, toys, groceries and anything lovely under the sun!

Simply fold down and tuck in the corner of any handbag or nappy bag when not in use. Available here!

Giveaway by Sparkle Thots

2009-11-23T22:40:00.006+08:00

I am so excited to announce another fabulous giveaway this week by another of our sponsors, Sparkle Thots. There will not be one but three lucky winners selected by designer Ruth who will each run away with a gorgeous set of (4) Sparkles Colour Therapy hairpins. (see below)

To stand a chance to win these gorgeous hair clips, simply visit Sparkle Thots and pick out a jewelry item that you like. Then come back here and post a comment in this post with your favorite item, and why you like it.

To multiply your chances of winning, you can also do any or all of the following:

1. Visit Sparkle Thot on our design blog Laissezfaire and post a comment with your favorite item there.

2. Fan Sparkle Thots on Facebook, come back and leave another comment with your facebook name.

3. Follow Sparkle Thots on Twitter, come back and leave another comment with your twitter username.

4. Heart Sparkle Thots on Etsy, come back and leave another comment with your etsy username.

5. Tweet or blog about this giveaway, come back and leave another comment with your twitter account or blog link.

The contest will run for a week and end on Monday, November 30th. Three lucky winners will be selected at random to win and announced here on Dec 1st.

psst....Ruth has told me that she will be running a clearance sale starting Wed Nov 25th and there will be a storewide 30% discount so do be sure to visit before everything gets wiped out! Happy shopping and don't forget to come back to post which is your favorite here!

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Congratulations to Ashley, Wei and Deb. You are our random winners for this giveaway!

Nadya's First Step

2009-11-14T02:17:00.006+08:00

In celebration of nadya's first step on earth, we present this video (above) to dear family and friends! Needless to say, this important milestone was recorded in our "Little Milestones" Kit.

It is interesting how different Nadya's first step was in comparison to Vera(video below taken 2 years ago). Nadya seemed so ready for this moment, even though it was her first. Maybe it is because we never hurried her, unlike Vera, when we literally forced her to take her first step one day after her first birthday when we decided "it was time". I guess we were really anxious back then. This time with Nadya, you can say we are the super chilled parents who simply waited till she was ready on her own. No pressure. Ahh...the benefits of being the second born.

Vera's first step at 12 months -Nov 2007

Become a Pupsik Fan today!

2009-11-10T15:01:00.007+08:00

We have just started a new Fan Page for Pupsik Studio. This is by no means a popularity contest. It is just one of the ways of staying in touch with you and hearing what you want from us at Pupsik Studio. We will also use this platform to announce the freshest deals, giveways, contests and other fun stuff we have to offer only to our fans.

Whether you are a mommy, daddy, baby or none of the above, if you love us, Fan us!

xoxo
Su Ling

Juggling Work and Kids

2009-11-10T03:02:00.016+08:00

I came across this article by Gaby Hinsliff, who recently resigned from a high flying job as a political editor of the Observer Magazine to spend more time with her two year old son.

I think Gaby Hinsliff's article contains a lot of interesting observations and honest confessions from moms who try and juggle work and family. She writes that "survey after survey suggests a deep-seated, buried misery over the eternal battle between the two. Half of working mothers with children under 15 would stay at home full-time in an ideal world, according to a 2001 survey for the then Department for Education. Eight years on, this month's She magazine reports nearly three-quarters of its readers want to cut their hours. The journalist Cristina Odone's recent think-tank pamphlet, What Women Want, claimed if money were no object only 12% of mothers would work full-time. "

These survey results raise the question: if work truly makes mothers unhappy, what makes some of us do it?

And if the unhappiness of working mothers is well documented, Gaby confesses there is guilt, too, in giving up. She herself wonders if she has squandered the chances she has been given in trading her job title as "Political Editor" for the less glamourous title of "Homemaker". She asks herself, "Is this really what I was raised, educated and trained for?"

I have personally chosen the self-employed option so that I can continue working with more flexible hours after the babies came into my life. Since making this switch, I struggle from time to time when well-meaning relatives and friends ask questions and make passing remarks that go something like:

"Don't you think it is a waste? I mean, you graduated with a Masters degree and scholarship from XYZ University and you are throwing that all away to stay home and take care of the kids? Isn't it a waste?!?"

"I never expected you to do this (quit your job). I mean, you were always so driven!"

I usually am quite shocked by comments like this. I mean, it is not like I am staying home all day watching paint dry. While it is probably not intentional, such comments discredit the important work that moms do at home and reflect on how much value people place on outward success and achievement, particularly in the corporate world today.

Someone also commented to me recently that she felt that in comparison to work, "taking care of children does not bring immediate rewards". While I can see where she is coming from, I do feel that the daily rewards from staying home with your kids come in the form that you do not expect. The joy of hearing their laughter and sharing in their wonder and curiousity for the world around, for instance, is the best reward any mom can ask for.

It has been a year since I quit my full time job and the truth is, I have never been happier, more fulfilled and challenged doing what I am doing now. I feel blessed to have the opportunity of taking care of my kids while pursuing what I absolutely love doing with Pupsik Studio and Laissezfaire. While it has not been a bed of roses and I still struggle on a daily basis with time and juggling both responsibilities from home, at least I have much more flexibility doing what I love and do not have to negotiate with employers for part-time terms and benefits that I think I deserve.

I am not sure if I have found the right mix to balancing children and work and would love to hear how other moms are coping. Has anyone found or is working towards an “ideal” solution to this?

Cardboard-Box Oven Craft

2009-11-05T01:10:00.000+08:00

The next time you are tempted to throw out that cardboard box that came with the new TV, think about how you could turn it into a fun craft project for your kid - like this cardboard-box oven by Martha Stewart! Tutorial and video here!

"Under the Sea” at the Singapore Science Centre

2009-11-03T13:37:00.008+08:00

Our family was invited by proud sponsors Mead Johnson to attend the premiere of Imax “Under the Sea” at the Singapore Science Centre last week. We love taking the kids to the Science Centre and this is our second trip to the Imax theatre this year.

“Under the Sea” is a new IMAX 3D adventure that transport moviegoers to some of the most exotic and isolated undersea locations on Earth, allowing viewers to experience face-to-face encounters with some of the most mysterious and stunning creatures of the sea. Our first trip to the Imax theatre to watch “Sea Monsters” was back in June when we Vera was 2-and-a-half ( we didn’t take Nadya then as we were afraid the noise would scare her). Vitali and I enjoyed ourselves tremendously although the show scared Vera so much she fell asleep at the beginning of the movie out of fright.

It is amazing how much difference a few months makes. This time, at almost 3 years of age, Vera was super excited to watch the show. She probably thought the vivid life size sharks, giant octopus, turtles and sea snakes are really swimming to her as she screamed in delight and held on to me tightly to me throughout the show. Here is a trailer from the movie.

The show is fun and interesting for families and kids of all ages, provided they have the patience to sit through a 45 minute documentary and are not easily spooked by big fish eating other smaller fish.

The film features several interesting sea creatures that will capture your child’s attention. However, the documentary style of the show (even though it is narrated by funny guy Jim Carry) may lose very young kids towards the middle. I would definitely recommend this for kids above the age of 3 as an inspirational and entertaining way to explore the beauty and natural wonder of oceans, as well as the impact of global climate change.

The IMAX Under the Sea website also contains educational resources to download for kids by age group. The materials include worksheets, pictures, and even hands-on activities that kids can do to learn about sea animals, geography, the environment, and more.

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Promotion to the Science Centre and Imax Theatre!

As a leader in pediatric nutrition and a mission to create nutritional brands and products that nourish the body and mind, Mead Johnson Nutrition is collaborating with the Singapore Science Centre to offer a free admission ticket for your child to the Science Centre with every purchase of Enfagrow A+ / Enfakid A+ / EnfaSchool A+. This promotion is available from Enfa A+ milk purchased from any NTUC Fairprice outlets from 5 - 30 November. The coupon also includes discounts to the Omni Theatre. Simply bring along the coupon packaged at the top of the milk can to the Science Centre to redeem your free ticket. Enjoy!

US$75 Giveaway from Beaucoup to readers of Pupsik Studio!

2009-11-02T12:35:00.004+08:00

There were 16 people who took part in the giveaway and we have found a lucky winner!Congratulations to Sandy who has been selected by a random generator to be the first person to appear on our list. Sandy wins a US$75 gift card from Beau-coup! ..............

We have a special surprise for you lovely readers of Pupsik Studio!

Beau-coup is offering a US$75 gift card (SGD$100+) to one lucky winner towards anything on their site! Beau-coup carries everything from wedding favors to baby shower favors, birthday party gifts and decorations, and just in time for all the fall festivities Fall wedding & party favors and Halloween party favors!

Their unique party favors are amazing! Check out their Custom Fortune Cookies (US$1.65 each) and adorable baby piggy bank (US$3.50) that are thoughtful and practical gifts for big and little kids alike. A great favor for baby showers or birthday parties! Their gourmet cupcake baking set is bound to make that birthday party extra special for the girls especially! And dare we not forget the boys! These porcelain airplane keepsake box is handpainted and made to look like a World War II plane. It opens up on one side to reveal a cavity big enough for that first tooth or other small trinket.
Also check out these super adorable Baby Bloomer Sachets and Diaper Stacker Sachets! HOW TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY TO WIN A $75 GIFT CARD!

• Post a comment here telling us which item(s) from Beaucoup's website you’d love to get if you win! This is a perfect chance to win a handfull of little party favours for that special baby shower or party you have been planning for that little one! (psst...you can enter here on my design blog site too to double your chance of winning!)

• Giveaway ends Thursday, October 29th at midnight PST. Winner to win a US$75 gift card will be chosen randomly and announced on Friday, October 30th . Good luck, everyone!!

xoxoSu Ling

Pupsik Studio

The Giraffe Manor

2009-10-29T01:26:00.000+08:00

This is definitely one of my "To-Go Places with the Kids" one day!

Our nursing covers are restocked!

2009-10-26T17:12:00.008+08:00

We have finally restocked and added more yummy designs to our range of nursing covers! (above from left) Seapray, Fresh Poppies, Morning Glory, Martini Earth

All our nursing covers are made from 100% cotton designer's fabric handpicked and imported from the USA especially for mommies who love to feed in style. These covers also double up as a light blanket and pram cover on days out. A must-have for every nursing mom!

Click here to get one today!

Happy Birthday Vera and Nadya!

2009-10-26T14:07:00.007+08:00

We celebrated Vera's 3rd birthday and Nadya's 1st Birthday at Go Go Bambini's over the weekend. We are grateful to Go Go Bambini for handling all the party details so that we could concentrate on having fun. The girls enjoyed themselves so much at the party house we were worried they would suffer from nightmares during the night with all the running and excitment they had. Thankfully not!

(above) Vera: umm......I could have Fairy bread all day...

Happy Birthday Vera and Nadya!

May you both grow up loving each other and the little blessings each day brings.

xoxo

Mommy and Daddy

Happy Customers are our best form of advertisement!

2009-10-23T11:43:00.005+08:00

A lovely customer (Chee Chin) recently purchased a set of bedding fron our store in a lovely Breeze design. As mentioned in an earlier post, I simply love sets! So I was naturally very happy to put this order together. (pic above happily taken before order was sent. Looks a little washed out cos I took the pic in the wee hours of the morning).

Chin had heard about our store from her friend who shared about discovering about how we integrated 2 of her favourite childhood objects: Beansprout pillow "aka chow chow" + Taggies ribbons.

But nothing beats hearing back again from Chin after she received her orders to let me know how pleased she was with her purchase. She even took so many beautiful crisp pictures of the products she got from us (above). The bedding look larger than life compared to the adorable little one in the pic below, doesn't it? Thanks for the lovely testimony and for allowing us to share these lovely pictures you took, Chin! Thanks to Claudia the Panda for sharing about us too! xoxo

Food Face

2009-10-20T00:04:00.003+08:00

How fun is this? Perfect idea to make that kiddo eat his greens while exercising his creativity at the same time! This will be perfect for kid's parties or restaurants with a children's theme.

Kangaroo giving birth

2009-10-17T15:14:00.014+08:00

Do you know how kangaroos got their name? A myth goes that when European explorers first saw these strange hopping animals they asked a native aborigine what they were called. He replied "kangaroo" meaning "I don't understand" your question. The explorers thought this was the animal's name. And that's how the kangaroo got its name.

The young are born the size of a lima bean after a gestation of 31–36 days (this is equivalent to a human embryo at seven weeks old). Immediately after it is born, a joey finds its way to its mother's pouch to continue its second stage of development there. He will usually stay in the pouch for about nine months before starting to leave the pouch for small periods of time. It is usually fed by its mother until reaching 18 months. You have to show your kids this incredible video of a kangaroo giving birth and continuing its development inside his mother's pouch.

After watching this video, I almost wished humans gave birth the same painless way as kangaroos. And in case you think that only kangaroo babies live in their mother's pouches during infancy, you may be surprised to know that kangaroos are just one of a species of mammals called "marsupials" that carry their young in pouches through early infancy. Koalas, oppossums and the tasmanian devils are all examples of marsupial mammals that carry their young in distinctive pouches.

Like a newborn kangaroo that instinctively finds its way to mommy's pouch to continue its development right after birth, studies have shown that human babies can also benefit in their development from being carried in a pouch from birth.

Many parents can testify that babies who are carried in a soft pouch carrier close to their bodies cry less, are more calm and content. They also seem to sleep more peacefully, nurse better, gain weight better and develop better. More about the benefits of a pouch which is often considered parenting's best kept secret can be found here!

I guess we can now also add human beings as a evolved class of marsupial mammals?

If I had my child to raise again

2009-10-10T14:11:00.000+08:00

If I had my child to raise over again I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger paint more and point fingers less. I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play. I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging. I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.

I would be firm less often and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power, And more about the power of love.

Diane Looman "Full esteem ahead" (via Little Red Bus)

Baby in a Pot

2009-09-25T01:22:00.001+08:00

Now this is a fresh idea for those of us tired of "babies in a flower pot" type of photography.

Sale and our new Gift Vouchers!

2009-09-18T02:12:00.006+08:00

It has been a busy week for us at Pupsik Studio, managing the mega sale we are having on the gorgeous discontinued pettiskirts by Princess Ratbag among many other wonderful things we have lined up in the coming months!

It has been some adrenaline-pumping sale and I have to thank you lovely customers out there for contributing to all the excitement! I have to admit that I had a hard time parting with many of the skirts knowing that they are discontinued and I will not be able to get hold of some of the unique designs easily again. If you haven't checked in on the sale, do so now as many of the skirts are last pieces of that design and size that you can select from the drop down menu! This is a great time to get hold of a quality brand pettiskirt at a fraction of the usual price and save it for a special upcoming occasion!

As a little distraction for myself this week, I got down to doing some gift vouchers for the store. This is specially made for customers who would like to get a gift for a friend/ child but have absolutely no clue what the person needs. Each gift voucher is individually hand-made and binded together in a folded envelope which is sealed with a ribbon sticker. Cute and lovely as can be for a friend who has just popped to spurge in our store.

Vouchers available here!

Summerfruits Bedding Set

2009-08-27T01:28:00.001+08:00

I simply love sets! Just finished wrapping up a mini "Summerfruit Bedding Set" consisting of Baby pillow, blanket, bolster and beansprout pillow ordered by a customer today!

Mommies-in-Business Series - Little Gems Inc

2009-08-24T16:23:00.015+08:00

One of the best things about working from home for me is definitely the opportunity to spend more time at home with the kids while pursuing my own interests. However, ask any honest mom running a business from home and they can tell you that it is certainly no bed of roses , especially if you are managing both the business, kids and various household responsibilities with very little help. In many ways, my days are much more hectic than before but in many ways, more fulfilling and interesting.

Before I started Pupsik Studio, I had very little idea where it would lead to. I still do not know and this is what excites me each day. This business has brought along many surprises and new experiences. One thing I never quite expected to be blessed is so many new friends who share similar interests, tastes and passion in bringing up their babies. While many of our loyal customers turn into friends whose support I deeply appreciate, I have also gotten to know other like-minded moms in business who are running it with the same deep passion and belief they have for their kids.

I have been wanting to share more about such fellow Mommy-in-Business here on Pupsik Studio for the longest time to introduce you to many lovely home businesses run by mommies out there. Hopefully, you will be able to find something you like from these home businesses and extend your support to these mommies too!

The first Mommy-in-Business Mommy I would like to share here is Gloria. Gloria runs Little Gems Inc, an online boutique that carries many brandnames like Carters, Gap, Old Navy and Oshkosh B'Gosh all priced at less than SGD$30! How is this possible, you may ask? Well, most of the authentic stuff that the ever resourceful Gloria gets hold of are actually factory overruns, cancelled orders, shelf pull outs or delayed shipments. Yes, the kind of stuff that you would actually travel all the way to factory outlets in the US to get your hands on before but no longer have to do so because of Gloria! I got this lovely Laura Ashley Summer Dress from Gloria recently and absolutely adore the print and price tag!

I posed Gloria a few questions about her business some time back and she was really lovely to agree to share more about her life and business through this blog.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am a work at home mum. Mum to Nicole who is turning 8 this year. I have a webstore called Little Gems Inc. I am your typical ordinary mommy next door, except that I am also living with cancer. I was diagnosed at a pretty young age of 30, when Nicole was barely 2. It was a pretty trying and humbling episode in my life, dealing with the diagnosis and treatments that follow. But it did help put my life and priorities in perspective. I had a relapse in 2007, but with God's grace, i am still trugging along

2. How did you start with Little Gems Inc?

Little Gems Inc came about sometime in 2004. It was borne out of my passion for shopping, and dressing nicole up. However, at the back of my mind, the practical side of me kept reminding myself that kids do grow out of the clothes quite quickly. I started sourcing around, and realised that there are many like-minded mums like myself, always out to look for a bargain. Little Gems Inc. made its first couple of sales on Ebay and Yahoo.sg. I decided to create a webstore in order to have a web presence, and since then, there is no turning back.

3. What were you doing before you started this home business?

I spent a good part of my career in the cruise industry, followed by some years handling events and medical courses in a public hospital. The hours were long and demanding, and weekends were often spent away from the family.

4. What is a typical day like for you?

The day usually starts early at 5.30 am, getting Nicole ready for school. Afterwhich, its some housework and paperwork. Work "officially" starts at 9 am, and I will be answering emails, and packing orders. I am usually off to the post office by 1200. Afterwhich, I wll do a little grocery shopping, and make my way home by 2.00 pm to wait for the school bus to drop Nicole off from school. While she takes her afternoon nap after lunch, i will prepare dinner. Once thats done, its back to the desk again. Evenings are quiet time we spent together watching TV, and catching up on Nicole's schoolwork. Depending on my stamina and whats on TV, I will be back at my desk after 10pm when Nicole goes to bed. It does get a little more hectic when new inventory arrives, and the day gets busier uploading pics and product info onto the webstore.

5. Do you face any challenges running this business from home?

Time managment. Wish I have more than 24 hours in a day

Here is a picture of Gloria and her lovely daughter Nicole. Gloria also has a lovely blog (Little Gems Unravelled) which she uses to share more intimate details about her life, including living with Stage 4 cancer and taking the time to smell the roses. Knowing that there are many young moms reading this blog, Gloria was concerned enough to ask me to help stress the importance of doing regular breast checks for lumps as she herself was diagnosed with breast cancer at a very young age of 30.

"If you have a lump, get it checked. Never let the docs tell you that you are too young to get breast cancer. Having said that, not all breast lumps are cancerous. Its better to err on the side of caution, than to live with the regret of not catching it early."

Thank you Gloria for this insightful sneak peek into your busy life and for the concerned reminder to all young women to do regular breast examinations.

In the coming weeks, I hope to interview another mommy-in-business on the subject of Home Schooling! This busy mama not only takes care of her kids full time (no domestic helper, mind you!), she also runs her own business from home and home schools her own boys! Curious how and why she does this? Well I am so stay tuned!

Bloombaby Cot

2009-08-17T02:51:00.003+08:00

I love how this cot collapses for easy storage.

Wrapagaza!

2009-08-12T23:37:00.021+08:00

It has been a fun and busy day wrapping loads of stuff ordered as gifts for a special baby shower. Thankfully, my little "helper" was kind enough to doze off on her high seat while watching me tagging and packing dozens of beansprout pillows and covers. And off it goes in the mail....! I can't wait till the babies grow up so they can really help me with this.

In case you don't know, we offer gift wrap and free shipping for all orders above $120 so do visit our store if you are mulling over what to get for that pregnant friend of yours! For orders less than $120, you get to have your item beautifully wrapped for just $5 here!

All my favourite things from Pupsik (from Lily Low)

2009-08-11T12:53:00.009+08:00

A very sweet customer of Pupsik Studio did a beautiful collage of the things she bought from our store that she loves and posted on our facebook group. I am so touched by this and feel so blessed that the items that we have specially handpicked for our tiny webstore is sharing in the beautiful journey of mother and babyhood! Thank you for putting this together and making my day, Lily! xooxoxo!

From top left and clockwise
1. Beansprout Pillow (Top Left)
2. Teething Bling (Top Right)
3. Dimpled Pillow (Bottom Right)
4. Ahgoo Baby Plush Pad (Bottom Left)
5. Baby Pouch Carrier (Center)

The Shower Hug Sale in honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Month

2009-08-10T13:55:00.005+08:00

Breast feeding may make happy, healthy babies, but sometimes it can leave mom feeling drained---and more than a little sore. Breast tenderness can take away from enjoying one of the few peaceful moments moms have to themselves everyday: the shower.

That's why the founding Moms of Belmama & Cherub created The Shower Hug after experiencing first hand the breast tenderness and discomfort associated with pregnancy, early stage breastfeeding, bouts of mastitis, clogged milk ducts and other various ailments that inevitably come up as you nurse your newborns through infancy into toddler hood.

The Shower Hug is made of the softest, most luxurious stretch knit terry velour to provide expectant and new moms with gentle bust line support and soothe sensitive nipples as it shields the breasts from harsh shower sprays. Moms simply wrap the Shower Hug snugly around their chest and secure with the Velcro® closure. And this is not just great for the shower! As a nursing mom, I simply love wrapping a soft showerhug around myself in a warm bath and put on some music and aromatherapy to relax after a very busy day. The Shower Hug simply soaks up the warm water in the bath and acts as the best compress you can ever imagine. It is also a great alternative to a traditional nursing bra and can provide overnight comfort. Say goodbye to milk leaks on your PJs!

In honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we are offering a 30% discount on our luxurious shower hugs. Usual S$54.90, now $38!! Click here to experience the comforts of The Shower Hug for yourself today!

Princess Ratbag Pettitops

2009-07-30T01:09:00.004+08:00

Sarah and Kaif's 2 little princesses wearing matching Princess Ratbag Pettitops from our store. Thanks for sharing the lovely pics, Sarah! x

Classic Sesame Street film - Old paper, new paper

2009-07-29T03:44:00.001+08:00

Can Recycling (made for Sesame Street)

2009-07-29T03:41:00.001+08:00

I use to love watching these.

Why should the kids have all the fun?

2009-07-27T23:40:00.005+08:00

I love the caption on this gorgeous skirt from who else but the ever classy Princess Ratbag, Australia! These adult worthy glamorous skirts are guaranteed to rock any party. Now available at Pupsik Studio here for $79.90 (usual $89.90). Limited time only!

Share your parenting journey with us on facebook and stand the chance to win a goody bag

2009-07-26T17:06:00.007+08:00

Happy customers always make my day and I am really grateful whenever moms out that take the time to send me a picture of their little one in a pouch or post about their babywearing experience on their own blog.

We would like to invite more moms to share your parenting journey with us by uploading a picture of your baby in our brand spanking new Facebook page here! You could load any picture of your baby using anything you have purchased from our store, be it a pouch, beanspout pillow, changing pad, pettiskirt.....ANYTHING! Anyone who loads a pic on our page stands the chance to win a baby hamper full of goodies from our store!!

Thank you moms below who have kindly allowed me to share your pics and blog links on Pupsik Studio.

Su Ling
(above) My Little Rei

(above) The Hendons
(above)Weedeebabeepowder
(above) Secret Love Affair

(Above) Serene's princess wearing a Princess Ratbag Pettiskirt

Unconventional Beauty Tips - Got to try it!

2009-07-25T15:29:00.004+08:00

Really enjoyed this episode of the ellen degenerous show where Kym Douglas shares her unconventional beauty tips that is geared towards pregnant woman (but really can be used by any women). Ellen is seen wearing The Belly Bandit in this show.

Dabib is now available on Pupsik Studio!

2009-07-23T21:25:00.000+08:00

Dabib is now available on Pupsik Studio here!

Read out review below:

I was recently asked to review a new bib on the market called Dabib. A winner of an iParenting Media Award, this stylish baby bib is made from a super absorbent yet unbelievably soft and luxurious mico-fiber terry cloth. The bib also has a reversible waterproof backing that prevents food from soaking through.

Vera usually hates putting on bibs but she actually didn't object to putting on Dabib and letting it stay on while we fed her. She does look happy wearing Dabib, don't you think?

What I most love about this bib is its innovative "patent-pending" scrunch collar that is adjustable to minimise spills and dribbles that often goes under the bib onto her clothing. There is even a pocket to catch food that is rejected. Neat!

That's it! No more uncomfortable plastic and rubber bibs for Vera! This stylish, comfortable and practical bib is definitely here to stay. A big thank you to the entrepreneural mom who invented this excellent product!

Fund Raising for SNGS new school building

2009-07-13T14:47:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone,

At long last, we finally found the fabric for the now extinct pre-primary school uniform after months of hunting down literally every fabric shop on the planet! Thank you all for your patience!

I am starting a new fund raising initiative for the school rebuilding. We will be making the exact same design as the original. Bloomers, criss crossed top panel and pockets, blue trimmings and skirt. Before we start, we are currently seeking permission from the school to make these uniforms for children age 1-6yrs old. The pre-primary uniform will be priced at $50. All proceeds for this effort will go to the school rebuilding effort. If you are interested to purchase and support the school fundraising, please leave a comment and email contact on this post and I will keep you updated.

The exact details where to purchase and when this item will be available etc will be confirmed once we have a good gauge on the number of people interested in supporting this effort. The actual number of pre-primary uniforms we can offer for this effort may also be limited depending on the final availability of the criss-crossed fabric.

Please help spread the word to make this a success!

Su Ling

The pic above was taken back in 1982, outside the classrooms in Chijmes (near where Esmirada is now). I am seated second from the left in the front row, the one that is most coloured on. I still remember the names of the chinese teacher with the long hair--->Huang Lao Shi. At that age, it didn't matter how female adults looked to me. If they had long hair, they were pretty. The other one I forgot cos she didn't have long hair. Too bad...

================

Earlier post below dated 3 July 2008

I was caught up with a feeling of nolstaga when I visited my old school, St Nicholas Girls, a few months ago. The school building will be undergoing a major renovation and it is likely that most of the familiar places in the school will be torn down. St Nicholas used to have a pre-primary session for girls age 6 to attend before Primary 1. I spent my pre-primary school days in the building more commonly known as Chijmes today. Though it was such a long time ago, the memories of the old Chijmes buildings still remains in my head. I remember the oh-so-tempting fields which we were forbidden to trod on due to the dying grass... I remember dashing for fried chicken wings during recess, being taught the chinese school song in Chui Lao Shi's class and the spiral staircases leading up to the haunted classrooms where flying nuns sat on the ceiling fans....

Anyway, for some reason, I had a very strong compulsion to relive the memories of my pre-primary school days. I had forgotten how the uniform looked like. I vaguely remember the criss-crossed fabric and those huge bloomers...but couldn't quite remember the details. I started asking around the school to find out where I could locate the old school uniform maker.

Finally, after various phone calls, I managed to locate the old school uniform maker. To my pleasant surprise, she still kept the original fabric for the pre-primary school uniform. I jumped in joy when she agreed to make me a uniform sized for a 1 year old. I could have kissed her with excitement there and then!

So here it is, my unsuspecting (again) daughter wearing the uniform I wore when I was 6. With the bloomers, school crest, pockets and all! Guess I was just too impatient to wait till she really goes to school. The uniform is great and a wonderful design for play. I am so tempted to make more as her play clothes with this same dress pattern out of different fabrics!

Afternote: An old schoolmate alerted me that the pre-pri school uniform doesn't look like what it used to look so I did a check with my old school albums. Dug out my old primary school class photos which I "accidentally" drew with my crayons years ago....and gasps gasps!!!!! The bottom part of the skirt was blue! Just like what I first suspected!! The poor old tailor must have forgotton....Anyway, what she sewed for Vera was just as cute.

Nadya, Me and our Nursing Pillow

2009-07-09T23:30:00.009+08:00

Here is a recent pic of Nadya and I taken on our own range of nursing pillows which we have discontinued production.

We have had lots of enquiries on why we are no longer carrying this product on Pupsik Studio. As much as we would love to, we are unable to do so at this point in time due to the bulkiness of storing and shipping this product by post. We are currently looking at the potential of supplying these much coverted pillows to brick and motor stores if there is sufficient interest for us to push this item back into production again.

Will keep everyone updated! x

Little Milestones

2009-07-07T19:10:00.007+08:00

Record precious memories of your child with Little Milestones!

Designed and produced by Pupsik Studio in limited quantities of 200, this handy little stationary kit comes with 40 notecards in an attractive wooden box. Use to record the dates and details of memorable events of your newborn or toddler such as the date of his first word, the first step, the first funny thing your child said that made you laugh. Each box comes with enough room to store other precious memories such as that first lock of hair, first passport photo or that first tooth. A unique alternative to a diary or book and makes a perfect gift.

It's never too late to start. A wonderful keepsake to give to your child when he/she grows up.

Available at the special introductory price of $12.90 (usual $14.90) on Pupsik Studio.

We are giving away 10 extra cards to the first 10 customers to purchase here. That is 50 cards in total to record your precious memories!

Princess Ratbag Pettitops - Restocked!

2009-07-05T15:01:00.000+08:00

We have just restocked Princess Ratbag's gorgeous beyond gorgeous pettitops in our online store. Co-ordinate your pettiskirt with this matching petti tops or match these perfectly with a casual bottom such as Oobi's veronica bloomer or ruffle baby bloomer. The options are endless! These pettitops are made from the softest nylon chiffon that makes it comfortable to wear. Sizes available for babies and toddlers/teenagers.

Pettiskirts by Princess Ratbag -Restocked!

2009-07-03T22:57:00.002+08:00

You can say it was love at first sight when I first set my eyes on these pettiskirts. In a way, I think it fulfills the inner desires of every girl who dreams about being a princess or prima ballerina. In my case, it was both. As a vain-pot who spent her days dressing up in my own world of make-believe, you can say that I would have done everything my mom told me to do if she would just get me a skirt like this.

Pettiskirts first burst onto the fashion scene when Dakota Fanning wore one to the Teen Choice award in 2003. Since that time they have been an LA children fashion staple with the children of Anna Nicole Smith, Faith Hill, Molly Sims, Jennifer Garner and Adam Sandler who have all spotted a pettiskirt on the red carpet. Aside from this they have also been featured on Oprah and Martha Stewart's website.

These skirts are very tedious to make with each taking up to 7m of soft chiffon fabric. Vera loves her Princess Ratbag pettiskirt which she affectionately nicknames the "Cinderella skirt" and loves to twirl around the house in them when she is playing with her dolls.

(above) Vera at Elaine's wedding and her 2nd birthday.

There are currently a lot of brands of pettiskirts out there with varying quality and price. Princess Ratbag is the first and only Australian pettiskirt label and they own Australian rights with the very same manufacturer with which the top American labels are made. A quality pettiskirt from Princess Ratbag is definitely worth every single cent you pay for as your child will be able to enjoy it for many years to come.

Pupsik Studio is proud to be appointed the exclusive retailer of Princess Ratbag pettiskirts in Singapore. We have restocked our range of pettiskirts and they are fast running out again! Click here to purchase!

New Designs for Ah Goo Baby Plush Pads

2009-07-03T13:43:00.006+08:00

The new designs for Ah Goo Baby Plus Pads have arrived!

The Plush Pad® by Ah Goo Baby® is the highest luxury in portable diaper changing stations and is available in a variety of styles to cater to your sense of fashion. Designed with a body-contouring memory foam insert to soothe your baby's sensitive pressure points and vibrant cotton and minkee fabrics, it is the only portable changing station that is not only comfortable for the child, but also machine washable and water-repellant. Like investing in a good mattress and pillow to sleep on, this is definitely worth getting since you need something like this to change your baby at least 8-12 times a day.

I have been using these changing pads as a permanant changing station for Nadya for the past 8 months since she was born and love how comfy it feels when I place her on it to change. Definitely beats those cold plastic-y changing mats you can get everywhere these days.

Opened: 2 feet x 2 feet (square)
Closed: 3 inches x 10 inches (cylinder shape)

Click here to purchase.

The Belly Bandit - the celebrity mom's top secret is now available on Pupsik Studio

2009-06-21T17:50:00.017+08:00

Pupsik Studio is proud to retail The Belly Bandit - a high quality postpartum abdominal compression binder designed to help you get your body back to its former fabulousness post childbirth. It is currently one of the best selling post pregnancy tools in the US that has Hollywood celebrity moms such as Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry and Angelina Jolie raving about it.

Unless you are one of the lucky few, don't be surpised if you still look 7-8 months pregnant after giving birth due to uterine swelling and water retention. The Belly Bandit is specially designed to help reduce uncomfortable uterine swelling and aid in decreasing bloating caused by water retention, and give additional support for Mommy's weary legs & back. For breastfeeding moms, the Belly Bandit will help you with your posture during feedings, and may help to reduce the all too common back & shoulder pain associated with breastfeeding.

I wish I knew about this product The Belly Bandit when I had just given birth to Vera and Nadya. Friends who knew me when I was pregnant with these 2 know how HUUUGE I was when I was expecting and how HUGE I was even after I popped. Well meaning relatives did not hesitate at expressing their thoughts when they first saw me a few days after my delivery.

"Why are you still so big??" They would stare at my poor postpartum tummy and exclaim in genuine shock and horror. "Haven't you given birth?"

On the verge of tears virtually every other minute due to the hormonal imbalance, lack of sleep and stress of taking care of a newborn, it was no surprise that I was feeling quite insecure about myself and didn't really take these innocent remarks very well in the beginning. I was asking my poor husband every day whether I was really fat even though I knew he was trained by experience to say "No" without even blinking his eye. As I had a C section delivery, I could not commence on the post-natal massages to help shrink my poor flabby and bloated postpartum tummy. So I literally gritted my teeth and grew a thick skin for the first few months after I delivered when everyone on the street continued to give way to me thinking I was at least 7 months pregnant. The hospital did give me a belly binder (which I recall paying alot for) but didn't wear because it was forever rolling up my tummy when I sat down, leaving marks on my skin and making it itch like crazy. I wish I had a Belly Bandit then.

Exclusively tailored to provide strong support, the breathable and comfy belly bandit helps relieve discomfort and give you the extra confidence you deserve post partum. The best thing about The Belly Bandit is that it can be used the first 24-48 hours after delivery, even for C-sections, to help decrease post-op recovery time and minimizing associated incision pain. Its quality and unique constuction that is both firm and comfortable to wear is miles apart from what you can get in most hospital pharmacies.The video below shows you how you can wear a Belly Bandit yourself.

Pupsik Studio currently only retails the best selling and softest Belly Bandit in Bamboo. It comes in Black or Natural Nude and is eco-friendly and naturally anti-microbial. It is also moisture wicking which makes it the perfect choice for c sections The core is the original, and the outer shell is 95% bamboo and 5% spandex .

I know the price of SGD$130 may be a little steep but the good thing about this quality binder is that you can use it on your own right after you deliver for 6-8 weeks or more. It is perfect for combining with or reducing the need for expensive post-pregnancy massages that can cost hundreds of dollars to get your body back in shape faster. Additional benefits of this product is extra back support and improved posture. The loose tummy skin will also benefit from being supported by the Belly Bandit which may decrease tension and stretch marks in the post period.

You can find out more about this amazing product by reading the Frequently Asked Questions here. For more questions about this product, please feel free to email us at hello@pupsikstudio.com.

As seen on The Ellen Degeneres Show!

Happy Dada Day

2009-06-21T02:25:00.006+08:00

To the best dada in the world,

Thank you for carrying us in the pouch since the day we were born, changing our poo, making milk no matter what time it is, bathing us, buying us ice cream and singing us songs even though you cannot sing.

Happy Dada Day. We love you!

xoox vera, nadya, mama
Hope you like the handmade watch I made for you. kisses, vera.

Little Milestones

2009-06-18T03:38:00.007+08:00

We have had a lot going on over the last few weeks. Besides being busy with many exciting things in store for Pupsik Studio, we have been like any other parents of very young children. A major part of my day is spent taking care of the babies and work usually starts after I put the kids to bed.

Since starting Nadya (above at 8 months) on her semi solid diet a few weeks back, she has progressed to other milestones in her life such as standing in the crib and babbling dada. The little one has been very picky with her food. She somehow can distinguish between the organic food we get from NTUC Fairprice and from the gourmet food stores. Her weekly fresh food intake now arrives in a box from Super Nature. Vera has also started attending play school for 3 hours a day. She seems to really enjoy it.
(above) Mealtime. The food looked so yummy I felt so hungry when I was taking this picture.

(above) Fixing puzzles
(above) drawing on her own leg on her way to school in the car. Imagine my shock when I found her like this when we arrived at school. Point to note: Never leave your child with a marker pen in the car seat.

(above) School trip to the supermarket to learn how to buy groceries

Here is Vera's first school report after starting school for 2 weeks.

----------

Dear Mr Vitali and Tan Su Ling,Vera has been settling quite well in the school setting. She enjoys the outdoors, farm feeding the rabbit, spraying water at plants/trees and the indoor gym.She also enjoys doing art and craft activities and fixing puzzles.She is still having some problem with eating. We will continue to guide her in this.

Regards,

Teacher XXX

--------

Thank you Teacher XXX!

Back from the Fair!

2009-06-11T03:50:00.015+08:00

We are back from the 4 day Motherhood Fair that took place over the last weekend! It was such a fun filled event for us. Busy as we were, we really enjoyed meeting and interacting with our customers who we mostly only knew virtually until then!

Here are some pics we took to share.

(above from left to right) Me and my two best girl buddies that go way back with me from our carefree days in SNGS. Elaine (centre) is a trained architect who now teaches design in Singapore Poly and runs an etsy shop. She constantly keeps me inspired, happy and tickled by anything she is up to. Louisa, Elaine's sister, (right most) is the hippest mom with the best sense of style you can find. She is the founder of Mon Petit Jardin and is looking to bring in more new designs/colours for her lovely and oh-so-versatile nursing poncho soon!

(above) Our range of baby pouch carriers which were the best sellers at the fair. Thank you Mommies for letting us know how much you love our carriers. I cannot express how happy I am whenever I see a baby happy or deep asleep in a Pupsik pouch! (above) Our family (with the exception of Nadya sleeping at home) and our two very lovely Pupsik Studio assistants who kindly agreed to help us at the fair.
(above) My husband, Vitali, deep in a trance. It takes a Phd from Princeton to analyse our sales figures and operate the Pupsik Studio cashier.
(above) The very supportive hubbies. Chee (leftmost), Elaine's husband and also an architect, is a tough design critic who keeps us on our toes. Weng Cheu, Louisa's husband who brought his portable OSIM massager to the fair for us to use, owns and runs a thriving dental practice in Kovan Mall. If you are looking for a good dentist, do check him out here.

What would we do without these guys constantly supporting and encouraging us to follow our dreams (oh, and cook, clean and bear their children).
We also launched a few new products during the fair such as our very own natural kapok-filled bolsters now available here! We will take some time to load the rest of the items up on Pupsik Studio so do tune in to our "NEW ITEMS" section.

Again, thank you all for visiting and supporting us at the Fair!

x
Su Ling

WHEN I SAY, "I AM A CHRISTIAN"

2009-06-10T10:56:00.004+08:00

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not shouting, "I've been saved!" I'm whispering, "I get lost! That's why I chose this way".

When I say, "I am a Christian," I don't speak with human pride. I'm confessing that I stumble-needing God to be my guide.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not trying to be strong.I'm professing that I'm weak and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success.I'm admitting that I've failed and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I don't think I know it allI submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible but God believes I'm worth it.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I do not wish to judge. I have no authority--I only know I'm loved

Copyright 1988 Carol Wimmer

Blogger of the Month in June's issue of Home & Decor

2009-05-29T00:55:00.012+08:00

As some of you may know, I am the author of another design blog called Laissezfaire. Mainly used to catalog my design inspirations, Laissezfaire (a French term used to describe a policy of allowing events to take their own course, literally meaning "let do") was started in 2007 as a way of keeping in touch with the design community. It was during this time that I took a year off my full time job as an architect/urban planner then to take care of my baby at home. With God's grace, I have since then made a fulfilling career switch into a full-time mom of two babies and operate Pupsik Studio from my home studio + blackberry-on-the-go.

Thank you Home & Decor for choosing me as your blogger of the month in your June issue! I am deeply honoured to be featured! (click on image above to enlarge)

Happy Customers are our best form of advertisement (Part II)!

2009-05-28T18:37:00.004+08:00

Hi Chiao Chyi, thank you for putting together such lovely pics of you and Hannah in a pouch! The little one is growing beautifully! xoxo

"I thought my pouch days were over when my daughter started walking. When I won the pouch I was excited, but I really didn't know when I'd use it again, until you wrote that u were still using the pouch with Vera. So now I sling my daughter when I'm out alone with her, so she can't run anywhere...I can do my shopping! :)"

Chiao Chyi

Happy Customers are our best form of advertisement!

2009-05-26T01:22:00.003+08:00

Thank you to Yuling and Huijia for showering such lovely compliments of our pouch on your blogs! Happy customers like you two always make my day! xoxo

(above) Mommy Yuling and Missy Raeann in a Vintagebaby (classic) pouch.

"I don’t know how I would have survived the weekend without this Pupsik pouch.

There were gatherings, grocery shopping trips, lunches and errands to be fitted into every waking minute, and Missy Raeann was out and about like a little dancer on her toes. It doesn’t quite help that she can now go from the lying position to the sitting to the kneeling (on her own, with no assistance), and eventually to the standing position (provided there are props like the crib or our pillows). She’s adrenalized these days by her new skills!

I couldn’t keep her still in the stroller. I couldn’t get her to nap. She only wants to transform from position to position.

And the only thing that can soothe the revved-up Missy is this pretty little thing I won from the Pupsik giveaway.

That’s when the world is not so topsy-turvy, for me and missy.

That’s when I can take a swig of coffee.

That’s when she leans in close to my chest, her fingers clutching mine.

Now, she even swings her arms endearingly towards the sling when I take it out of the diaper bag. I’m getting so dependent on it I’m awfully glad it’s such a pretty one in vintage toile print. My yummy-mummy-wanna-be accessory." Yuling

(above) Huijia and Baby Luke in a Fairground pouch

Currently listening to

2009-05-24T23:35:00.000+08:00

Baby Weaning

2009-05-15T03:30:00.008+08:00

We have started the process weaning Nadya. She enjoyed her first semi-solid meal of organic brown rice cereal during Easter. Since then, we have introduced other delicacies into her diet bit by bit every 3 days such as pumpkin, oatmeal, bananas, pear etc...

Here is a video showing her enjoying her first mouthful of semi solids after 6 months of breastmilk.

I was chatting with Ann, a former midwife and loyal Pupsik Studio customer, about the subject of weaning a couple of months back. Ann was weaning her own son back then and offered to share her knowledge on "Child-led Weaning" through this blog.

Here is a lovely picture of Ann's son Leo in a Pupsik pouch. (Err...Ann, why did you cut your own head off?)

Another pic showing Ann and Leo with the teething pendant she got from us most recently.

Interview with Ann

1. Hi Ann, can you share a little bit about your background?

I started my nursing in NYP, then went on to the UK to get my nursing degree & worked there for about 1 yr. I was with Mount Alvernia Hospital for about 6+yrs & they sent me to do further studies in Midwifery. I'm now a SAHM to Leo Riki who is 9 months old.

2. Can you tell me briefly about baby-led weaning? What does it mean?

Baby-led weaning (often referred to as BLW) is a method of weaning where baby is in control of his solid food intake by self feeding from the start of the feeding process. As opposed to the parent controlling how much & what the baby consumes.

3. How is this different from just "weaning"?

There are no purees in BLW. Only chunks of food that a baby can hold onto in shapes such as french fries size. The baby is offered the SAME food as what the parent is eating, so long as there isn't any salt added. Baby chooses what he needs & feeds himself. ok leo's screaming for attention. will continue later

(Several weeks later....the interview continues over email...)

4. How do you do it?

Make sure baby is above 6 months of age, & has some what lost the tongue thrust reflex. just sit baby upright, either in a high chair or on your lap & allow baby to choose from what you're eating. best that there isn't any salt added to the food.

5. What advantages does this method have?

Improves dexterity, hand eye co-ordination & strengthens mouth muscles so speech may be earlier. baby chooses & eats according to what he needs. baby will less likely be a fussy eater. it easy, stress free, no purees.

6. Any difficulties moms might encounter and should expect?

There may be some gagging but it's normal & will be experienced by babies who're fed purees. family members may oppose to this method of weaning & believe that purees are best for baby & easier to digest.

7. Anything additional tips?

Relax & enjoy your baby feeding himself & enjoying it too! eating together is ideal so baby can follow you & feel included.

8. Any further web resources and feeding tools to recommend?

http://www.rapleyweaning.com/

http://www.baby-led.com/

http://www.tribalbaby.org/babyLedEating.html

http://babyledweaning.blogware.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby-led_weaning

Baby-led weaning by Gill Rapley & Tracy Murkett is a great book to read up on as well. A feeding mat is ideal for baby esp when eating out, a bib with a pocket to catch food that baby drops & a plastic sheet beneath the high chair at home to catch food that baby drops for easy clean up & you can give the food back to baby since it's off a clean mat & not the floor.

Oh talking about bibs...I have a great one to recommend moms. Da-Bibs is a wonderfully designed patent pending bib that offers wonderful coverage. I am looking to order a few for Nadya. I did a review on the bibs here before when I was weaning Vera and loved it! Interested to order? Email me at hello@pupsikstudio.com with the subject title Da-Bib to let me know which styles and quantity you want before May 30th. The special pre-order price of the bib will be SGD24.

Little Inspirations, Big Ideas

2009-05-08T05:53:00.009+08:00

Thank you Young Parents for choosing to feature us in your May issue feature on "little inspirations, big ideas"! It was so much fun and a great honour to be featured amongst 2 other amazing moms who have also turned their passion in business.
In the course of doing this interview, I was asked how Pupsik Studio came about. Since a few other moms whom I have met through this business have asked me this same question on a few occasions, thought I would take this opportunity to share more about the story behind this little business we run from home on this blog...

Pupsik Studio started out as a blog about 2 years ago. (Pupsik means baby doll in Russian). The blog was mainly started to update family and friends round the world on my first baby girl, Vera, who is half russian. I also used the blog to share interesting products that I found online with other parents. I am not sure how word spread but soon after, people were emailing me to share their own journey as new parents and sending me baby/children's products they had designed to review on my blog. I also began receiving sponsorship requests from organisations such as Martha Stewart's which supported my blog with ad revenue.

Trained as an architect and designer, I have always enjoyed designing and making things with my hands. During my free time over the course of my maternity leave , I experimented with designing and making things using my home sewing machine. My blog became a useful tool for me to share the products I had made and to get feedback on it. One of the items I made early on which became very popular with family and friends was the baby pouch carrier. I spent quite a lot of time in front of the sewing machine during the early days perfecting little details of the carrier which made it more comfortable and easy to use. I also sourced for suitable fabrics and sent the carriers to be tested with a professional body to make sure that it was safe to carry heavier babies. With the popularity of these carriers, I realised that I could actually turn this into a viable business and fulfill my dream of taking care of my babies at home while pursuing my own interests.

As most of you know, I welcomed my second baby girl, Nadya, 7 months ago and decided to turn quit my job as an architect to concentrate on the babies and run Pupsik Studio as a a full time business. While I am now busier than ever running this business, I am really thankful to God and happy to have the opportunity to work on something I am passionate about from home close to my kids each day.
(above) Vera's Oobi Baby reversible dress available where else but Pupsik Studio! =)