Vera's Graduation from Nursery One

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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

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

Our nursing covers are restocked!

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

I love how this cot collapses for easy storage.

Wrapagaza!

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)

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)