Remember these pegs I made for Sentosa KidzFlea recently?

I've got leftovers and thought of giving it away to those of you who are interested! :)

The pegs can be used to clip notes or memo together, and they can brighten up your work stations because they are so pretty! If you are interested to have a set (2 mini & 1 large) mailed to you (you may indicate the design you would like, subject to availability), please follow the simple steps as follows:

1. Like The J Babies Facebook page, if you have not.

2. Leave me a comment on this blog entry (Facebook or Blogger/Disqus is fine), or drop me an email at and leave your FACEBOOK NAME. In either case, I would need your email address to follow up on your request.

3. Only applicable for readers residing in Singapore.

Giveaway ends on Friday, 5 April 2013.

Product Review

I've always been an avid coffee drinker. My primary choice will always be black coffee with sugar, but when that is not available, I go for 3-in-1 instant coffee, and that can satisfy my caffeine craving as well. Because of that, I am familiar with the many brands in the market that sells instant coffee. 

A couple of days ago, Super sent over their latest two new flavours for me to try - Super Coffee with ‘Brown Sugar’ and Charcoal Roasted White Coffee with a ‘Roasted Hazelnut’ flavour.

Brown Sugar - This is an enticing blend of coffee with just the right touch of brown sugar, makes it an irresistible cup for coffee lovers who prefer their cup with an intense caramelic aroma. Hubby is not a fan of caramel, but I enjoy it. :)

Roasted Hazelnut - For those of you who enjoy a gourmet cup of rich coffee with a roasted hazelnut taste, this next one is suitable for you. :) Now, you don't have to sit in a cafe for a cup of flavoured coffee and can still enjoy something similar in the comfort of your home at less than one-tenth of the price.

Packing the same great taste with its delightful new look, the Super Coffee and Charcoal Roasted White Coffee range of products will be available from mid-March 2013 onwards in major supermarkets and convenience stores, retailing from S$5.20 and S$6.20 respectively.’

The Super Coffee range of coffee retails from $5.20 (different variant different price) while the Charcoal Roasted White Coffee range of coffee retails at $6.20 (same for all variants).

I've been besotted with Instagram ever since I got my Samsung Note II. It is a much faster way to capture snapshots than hurling out my big G15. Of course, the quality and sharpness cannot match up, but sometimes moment-shots are more precious. :)

Showing you five of my favourite instagrams that wrapped up the month of March.

We filled up balloons with water and played water bombs at the void deck!

Papa Isaiah had to work and I took both girls out to Sentosa with me. I thank God that it is a lot manageable to bring the girls out on my own now that they are older.

Snapped this when she was uncontrollably laughing and hugging my legs one day. Can't remember why though. :)

Made my first batch of DIY fabric pegs. Mightily proud of them.

The kids' first flea experience.

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Transiting to Primary One is a big deal for kids. It's the beginning of formal education in Singapore and for many of the kids, it's their first encounter with serious and intensive studying. Apart from the kid feeling the stress and heat, the parents usually get stressed up and nervous as well, especially if it's the first time for them. I started this series to document the chronological order of events, my intimate thoughts and emotions on this journey, and it will continue until Joey settles down in Primary One. Hopefully, as we go along, the posts would become more and more positive and encouraging. I do believe in that. :)

Tuesday
26 March 2013
4.14pm

Secrets? What secrets??

How can a mere seven-year-old have any secrets at all? I thought all kids are transparent and show their every displeasure and emotion on their faces as-it-is?

Apparently not.

The last day of the March school holidays, we were packing her school bag in preparation for school the next day. I reminded her to return her school library books because they were approaching the deadline after one week of school holidays. She casually mentioned that she has decided not to borrow any more books from the school library because she wants to focus on reading her books at home. I recently bought some new storybooks for her, so I didn't think much into her comment.

My MIL was the sharp one. She immediately picked up that something was not right with Little Missy. The school library was her favourite hangout place, and to declare that she would not borrow any more books really didn't sound very right. She immediately asked Joey, "What happened? Quarrelled with someone at the library? Somebody scolded you at the library, is it?"

Joey muttered, "It's a secret."

There! When a kid says she has a secret, it is a cue to immediately pin her down, pry open her mouth and demand that she spits out the truth with absolutely no delay whatsoever. But of course, I am a kind and nice lady and would do no such thing. Between my MIL and I, we coaxed her to tell us what happened.

Apparently, on the last day of school a week ago, she went to return her books at the school library, and one of the book jackets fell off. The librarian chided her for not taking good care of the books, to which I imagine (Purely my imagination) she retorted, "But it's not my fault! The jacket fell off by itself in my bag!" The librarian was clearly upset that she refused to admit her mistake, and reportedly told Joey angrily that she was not to borrow such books from the library anymore. Joey felt humiliated that she was scolded in front of everyone in the library, and so made a conscious note NEVER to borrow books from the school library again.

See, a little heart is easily wounded.

I have yet to get the full story of what exactly happened though. I've messaged Joey's Form Teacher to help me find out what made the librarian so upset that she would scold her like that because of a book jacket that dropped off. In any case, I explained to Joey that if she were to give up borrowing and reading her favourite books in the school library simply because of a pride issue, it was totally not worth it. Furthermore, the book jacket did come out in her school bag, so the least she could do was to say sorry and that she did not mean for it to happen, as simple as that! She came home that day with 4 more newly borrowed books. :) But when asked whether she greeted the librarian, she said, "It was awkward." =P

Some lessons I learnt from this incident:

1. Be extra sensitive to the kid's facial expression and the words that she says. It may give a good hint to something that's happened in school which she did not tell you about.

2. Do not embarrass a kid in public no matter what. Their pride is everything - Embarrass them and they'll remember you forever for it.

3. Kids, when not taught the right way to handle some situations, may make 'secret vows' on their own, which is usually not the best solution. In this case, Joey thought that avoiding the library will be the best way to avoid confrontations until I analysed and explained to her.

What's happening to our kids nowadays?? They seem to mature too fast, it's scary!

Post script on 28 March 2013 8.45am

Joey came home last night and proudly showed me a bookmark that the librarian gave to her as a present, exclaiming that it's her first ever bookmark (Like real, babe. Mummy has given you so many bookmarks before, can??!). So, apparently, they are now friends again.

I can't remember the last time I fell this sick.

Occasional bouts of flu or cough I would get, but a full-blown high-fever-cum-burning-throat-and-killer-ulcer-in-mouth, I've not had for a long time. I would refrain from showing you my humongous ulcer for fear of traumatizing you. I attribute it to the fact that I am a mummy, and mummies do not have the privilege to fall sick. Mind over body. Mind over body. When everyone in the household is down, I am often the last one standing.

But I guess the many late nights, lack of rest and over-exhaustion finally took its toil on me. The last straw was the Sentosa KidzFlea when I slogged hard under the humid weather. On Saturday night, I feel warm and cold all at the same time. By Sunday morning, I was well enough for church but by evening time, whole body started aching again. By that time, I was down with high fever of 38.5 degrees. The fever would subside after I popped Panadol Flu, but would come back up again a few hours later. Monday was my off day and I thought I could sleep myself back to health again, but the fever kept coming back. Finally, I saw the doctor on Tuesday and got a two-day MC. I thought the doctor looked very concerned when he realised I was down with fever since Saturday, which was 4 days ago. He checked my blood pressure, listened to my pulse and poked into my throat. Thankfully, it was just a common flu, albeit a rather serious case.

I think for a mummy, the worst thing is not falling sick and having to take loads of medicines, but still having to take care of the kids! With whatever little strength I could muster up, I got to bathe them, feed them and answer their never-ending questions. A mummy cannot fall sick - It's tough!

On the flip side though, through the sick episode, I am also reminded of how much grace God has given to me. In my 7 years as a mum, I hardly fell sick - Thank God for good health! One of the criteria of being a mum is a good physical body because you need everything it takes to take care of the little rascals.

So pardon me for this short post today while I go and nurse myself back to health. Medicines are yucks by the way.

I've always believed that a name given to a person plays a part in determining what kind of life that person lives.

And I have an explanation for that belief - It is the power of confession. When you call someone by a name, it is like you are confessing aloud what that name means. So, choosing a good name for our kids is so important. It must bring a positive impact on the lives of our little ones.

Seeing my two girls, I'm even more convicted about this belief. Joey's Chinese name means 'Music of the Lord', and since young, she's always been interested in singing and making all kinds of music. She sings well, and learns new songs very fast. Just like what her name means, she is talented in the music arena. Her English name Joey means 'He will enlarge', and I really pray that the Lord will enlarge her in every area of her life. :)

Jayne's Chinese name means 'Heart of the Lord', and I must say she has always been a kid who tugs the heart of anyone who interacts with her. She is a very sweet girl who would show concern for people even at a young age. When my father-in-law comes home from work, she would run to him, give him a hug and ask him how was his day. Some call it sweet-talk, but I prefer to think of it as a caring and loving heart. In fact, Jayne means 'God is gracious' - so I am sure the graciousness of the Lord will be in her life. :)

Because of how sweet Baby Jayne is, it is sometimes very hard to get upset with her. Especially now that she is going through the really naughty phase in her life, I am constantly struggling between the need to discipline her, and the desire to cuddle her. She is such a cutie when she's not a terror! Took these series of photos of her before bedtime, and they never fail to make me smile every time I see them. So cheeky and so happy! :)

Another day, she suddenly put her little hand in mine, and asked me, 'Mummy, will my hand grow to be as big as yours?' It was so sweet and heart-warming, I nearly teared. Haha drama mama.

"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all."
Proverbs 22:1-2

Media Invite

The highly-anticipated Sentosa KidzFlea finally happened last weekend. It was the first time the J Babies worked so hard at any one event, and I am happy to say that they did a really fine job! By they, I really mean Joey, because Jayne was just lazing on the picnic mat, watching performances and munching on chips most of the time. =P Expectedly so though, because the KidzFlea is meant for kids between 7 to 12 years old, to build up their entrepreneurial spirit, as well as to help the needy in the society, in this case, 20% of all proceeds go towards Hospice Care for Children.

It was our first flea experience, and I was thankful that it was only a five-hour affair. Even with the grandparents helping, my bones were already breaking by the end of the day. Flea market is really hard work!!

We were among the first to reach for the setup. As you can, all the tables and chairs were really tiny - meant for kids of course. The kids were the bosses, and the parents merely employees.

We had helpful friends who donated their pre-loved items for us to sell, as well as a 12-year-old girl who handmade crafts for us to sell at the flea market. We didn't manage to sell everything, but it was the big-heartedness that we appreciated. Thank you to all our friends who contributed! The best sellers were the soft toys even though we spotted several other stalls selling soft toys as well. Objectively speaking, ahem, our stall had the best soft toys. =P This was after all a flea market run by kids for kids. Things that attracted the kids naturally sold much faster than the rest.

Much of the fun for me during the preparation was making my DIY items, and I was glad I found people who appreciated my crafts at the flea market, though I suspected they would sell much better at an arts flea market. LOL!

The kids were given aprons and name tags to label them as kid bosses. Look how much the kids were sweating even before the flea market started!

We had a pretty good location I must say. Behind us was a small grass slope where we laid our picnic mats, and the kids and my parents rested there. The stage where performances were held periodically was just behind us, so they could watch the performances conveniently. Really good!

What a happy sight to see family supporting our first ever flea market! Hehe. We brought fried rice, fried bee hoon, fruits, popcorn and chips along - It could well be a picnic!

Interesting observations at the flea market:

1. Even before the flea market started proper, my mother-in-law spotted a pretty pair of shoes displayed by the stall opposite us, and brought the kids over to check it out. They came back with their proud purchase. Hello mummy, we were there to sell, not buy!!? =P

2. Business was quiet when it started at 2pm. Many people were walking through the market but nobody seemed to be buying anything. At 2.15pm, Joey started whining - "Nobody wants to buy our things.... why nobody wants to buy.... why...." Along with the warm and humid weather, I can understand it must be frustrating for the little girl. =P I had to keep encouraging her to greet and smile, and just try her best. Even if we didn't manage to sell anything at the end of the day, it was still a good experience. She couldn't really appreciate that thought - she got freaked out thinking we might end up selling nothing. LOL!

3. Finally the breakthrough came an hour later when we finally made our first sale - to my mum. Haha! She bought a nail art sticker for $5 even though we priced it at $0.50! Talk about supportive. Joey's spirits lifted a little after we made our first sale. Thankfully, sales started happening thereafter, and people were starting to check out the items on our table and asking for prices etc.

4. I sent Joey out with baskets of items to sell. She was initially resistant but agreed to do so after seeing many kids walking around selling stuffs as well. I think  the main point for a kidzflea is to encourage kids to step out of their comfort zone and be bold enough to approach strangers, promote their products and urge people to buy and help the needy at the same time. It is a great chance for them to learn how to relate and communicate, and overcome any shyness or fear. Several 'adult customers' commented that Joey was bold and spoke fluently and confidently. She also made several successful sales on her outstation trips - So proud of Joey! =D

5. Once the sales started pouring in, Joey became visibly more confident. Instead of staying at the stall and waiting for the customers to come, she decided that going to them was more effective. Apparently, adults find it hard to resist kids asking them to make a purchase. Towards the second part of the flea market, Joey was really having fun selling the items, and making friends along the way.

6. Joey did her first barter trade. She came back excitedly from one of her outstation trips and proclaimed excitedly that she got 1 hair clip and 2 Easter surprise eggs for FREE! Then we realised what she did was to give away 3 of our handmades for 3 of the 'free items'. Haha! That was barter trade, babe! =P

7. Flea market is not Jayne's cup of tea. She was too young for it yet and cannot appreciate the art of negotiating with customers. She was really there just to have a picnic and watch performances. When asked what was her highlight of the day, she said, 'The fairy puppet show!' Well, as expected. =P

At the end of the day, we did manage to sell many of our items, although all at really low prices. But it was really the experience that counts, and it's something we finally checked off on our to-do-list for this year. =)

Thank you Sentosa KidzFlea for the invitation to be part of the project! :)

The truth is, a girl's never too young for a manicure. Plus, it's the school holidays, so it's legitimate reason enough to go for one.

We walked into a nail parlour, and I thought I heard a few customers laugh lightly when I said that it was not I who needed a manicure, but my little seven-year-old girl. It was pamper-Joey day, and Papa Isaiah let her go for BOTH manicure & pedicure! She was delighted!

As usual, the girl took a LONG time to decide which colour for the fingernails and which for the toenails. Her options were both in the glitter series - Very typical princessy choices. =P

She must have felt very special with two ladies working on her nails at the same time and kept asking them what each bottle was used for. One of the ladies commented that she makes good conversations, and it was a good thing because some kids don't even dare to talk to unfamiliar people.

Look at the blissful expression on her face. LOL!

The spongy thing was a little weird for her though - she kept wanting to wriggle her toes. =P

Ta da! =)

A few more days before her fingernail polish got to be washed off. =P Well, at least she'll be skipping to church this Sunday with her sparkling new nails!

A girl got to do what a girl got to do. Period.

Baby Jayne has a peculiar hobby.

She can be self-entertained by this hobby for up to an hour sometimes. I call it peculiar because I cannot understand why.

We have a file folder where we keep all the kids' cartoon DVDs. Baby Jayne would take them out one by one from the sleeves, stack them up like pancakes, then put them back one by one again. Repeat and repeat and repeat.

I don't understand how fun this whole process can be, but some people just like to do mundane things, I suppose. When I feel stressed up, I also enjoy doing mundane things that require little or no brain juice because it is therapeutic in its own way.

It is interesting to watch her because she makes absolutely no noise and is mostly expressionless while going through the motion.  Yes, very much like a robot.

But anything that can occupy the little for a long time must be good. Now, all I need to do is to channel this organizing and sorting hobby of hers to my wardrobe, and maybe one day, it can too become neat and tidy. =P

That is what I am, a Happy Full-Time Working Mum.

Unlike many mums I know whose greatest desire is to stay at home to take care of their kids 24/7, I am not like that. While it is certainly a noble idea to be able to watch the kids grow up and stay by their side all the time, with my personality, I probably wouldn't last more than a week. SAHMs ought to receive a commendation from the Nation for their hard work & commitment.

As for me, I'd either escape to a faraway place or morph into a monster mum with sharp teeth and red bloody eyes with a whip in hand, all of which are unthinkable.

How did I come to that conclusion, you ask me? I admit it is a little strange, especially when my childhood dream was to be a full-time housewife. To quantify, that dream was built with the assumption that I would be living in a mansion with 20 bedrooms, a garden, a lake and a butler + 5 maids at my beck and call. That of course didn't happen in reality, so the dream burst faster than I could say, "Save Me".

It was during my maternity leave when the Truth became very real to me. While I relish in the moments I got to spend with my baby, I was counting down to the day I could get back to the workforce. I love my job, and all the perks that came along with it - Intelligent adult conversations, relaxing lunches, mental stimulations and of course, the money.

My FTWM journey was probably an easy and blessed one. When my kids were babies, I brought them to my workplace where there's a Nursery for babies under the age of two. I still have fond memories of pushing Joey to work every morning in a pram. How I managed to squeeze into those peak-hour MRT every morning then still baffles me now when I think about it. If you've hung around long enough, you might remember the blog entries I penned then. :)

Joey when she was 5 months old with a Nursery helper.

Joey was in the Office Nursery till she was 2 years plus, then I transferred her to a full-day child care where she enjoyed school tremendously. It was an awesome two years because I could pop in to see her anytime during the day. When it was Baby Jayne's turn, she was in the Office Nursery for about a year before my mother-in-law volunteered to look after her at home. That ended my bring-baby-to-work life, and it was great knowing that she was well taken care of at home by a family member.

Jayne when she was 5 months old in the Nursery.

Three months into the new year, we have settled down into a comfortable routine. With both girls starting a new phase in their schooling journey, many adjustments had to be made. I leave for work bright and early every morning, and Papa Isaiah would send Baby Jayne to her childcare centre. I would start work early and end early so that I can go & fetch Baby Jayne home. My mother-in-law would prepare Joey for school, send her to the school bus and fetch her back in the evening. She would also cook for the kids so that when they come home in the evenings, they would have hot home-cooked meals everyday. My mother-in-law is very strict with cleanliness, which is why she prefers to handle all the cleaning chores around the house, for which I gladly oblige of course. =P That is also why we managed to survive without a maid throughout my seven years as a FTWM. Basically, we get to spend time with the girls every weekday evening and all of the weekends, which are packed with wet marketing, outings, blogging invites, church and family dinners with my parents. My days are usually very packed, but I am enjoying every bit of the busyness. This journey has been made enjoyable by a supportive husband and helpful parents. I am very grateful.

I am a happy FTWM - Thanks for following me on this journey. :)

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Next Saturday on 23 March, the J Babies will be BOSSES for the very first time. Yes, they always thought they are the bosses, for this time round, it's for real.

The Sentosa KidzFlea is back again this year, and the kids have been invited to set up their stall at the flea market, promote and sell their products, earn some money and donate some part of the proceeds for a charitable cause. We thought it is a very meaningful event since proceeds go towards helping less fortunate children who are sick and dying (Hospice Care Association), and the kids can finally put their pretend play into real action.

Photo from Sentosa Facebook Page

Admission to the flea market is free-of-charge, so do hop down to support us next Saturday at the Beach Station. Buy something from us, and you can also do your part to help the children from Hospice Care Association. :) We will be selling some pre-loved items (90% new!), hand-mades by yours truly and my friend's 12-year-old daughter and a whole lot of soft toys & stuffs, all at very reasonable prices, so I am sure you can find something you like over there. The kids have also gone through one training on customer service, so hopefully they will remember to greet everyone who patronize our stall with a "Hello" & a "Thank You". =P

Because of the KidzFlea, I've got the legitimate excuse to finally get down to doing some crafts. Bought these materials from Daiso, which is a budget craft supply haven!

Do you like my craft box? =D There're my favourite fabric tape, ribbons, twines, glue, scissors all in one place neatly compartmentalised... Lovely!

Also made bunting banners & a signboard for our stall - The J Shop! Hehe... Look out for it at the flea market!

And you can find these cute hand-mades at our stall - Please come support us!!

Fabric notes pegs

Friendship Bands

Besides all the kids entrepreneurs manning their stalls, there will also be free performances for kids to enjoy on a lovely Saturday afternoon. Bring along your picnic mats and basket, and just hang around with us! While the kids slog it out at their stall, Papa Isaiah and I will be lazing around with our lattes. =P

Photo from Sentosa Facebook Page

Come say 'HI!' this Saturday! :)