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

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

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

1. 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.)
2. 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.
3. 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!

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!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pupsikstudio.com/st-nicks-fundraiser-/st-nicholas-fundraiser.html"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 78px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrJQoLX2CEVdWC-wlM5WmjdLuxuQ7uObQMN9lMK2fvg09PncWvg54OZxOIs5gNalvCId4z4sFnoG7pdYdSxnfEdCM5mAzTtcSAKbbpFHcAyUESUk-2L_9IcjeQQ1-As_zHI0IU8mcgH8/s400/sngs_button.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430904670598617410" border="0" /></a><br />

What are we feeding our kids?

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

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 on Pupsik Studio 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!

Now you know your ABCs

	Disney - Alphabet Song .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Kickstart the year by winning a Pupsik Pouch!

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

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