Play Learning Tuesday: Poms on a plate blowing activity

Here's a handy activity to get the kids engaged on a laid-back evening.

All you need are coloured pom-poms, coloured paper plates (or you could paint white paper plates in different colours) and straws. Then place the pom-poms and paper plates on a flat surface. The aim of the game is to blow at the coloured pom-poms using the straw, and match them to the respective coloured plates.

Easy isn't it? Even little AA joined in the fun.

Are you and your kids playing with poms-poms too?

*****

What is Play Learning Tuesday?
Play Learning Tuesday is a weekly linky hosted by Toddly Mummy where bloggers are invited to share their child-friendly play, learning and craft activities. Taking part for the first time? You might like to read the guidelines here first.

<div align="center"> <a href="http://toddlymummy.blogspot.com" title="Toddly Mummy"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmAIvfzuQ4fpIwb3NE3KhW-h23oHXpTc_Tk7XyKs6CTKJHWqjaX0s0lBW4YGV5lMi0mtMGp8MfteBNa2ChGu4UQ5GCHJ_ZAtK1rOoZroYwbJzmi9J9g9Fjjip504Ls3C7JVabXYcLwRfD/s288/Play-Learning-Tuesday.gif" alt="Toddly Mummy" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Linking up with:

{Giveaway!!} 4 heART Studio Holiday Art Passes

The September holidays is just round the corner. Are you looking around for creative and fun classes for the little ones?

You might know that during the recent June holidays, I signed EV up for art classes at heART Studio, and she had a blast! Read more about the review I did, and how she absolutely adored Teacher Syafiq, who is brilliant with kids, by the way.

So I am really happy to share that heART Studio is giving away TWO passes to the Mermaids class and TWO passes to the Outer Space class to Toddly Mummy refers. Each session is worth $75.

These classes are suitable for children aged 3 to 4. They are specially designed to let them have loads of opportunities to create characters such as spaceships, mermaids, monsters and Hello Kitty, by using simple shapes and observing details.

So if you have a little kiddo of the same age, and who loves art, take part in the giveaway today! All you have to do is to complete the Rafflecopter widget below. Easy peasy! Do note that heART Studio will try their very best to accommodate your preferred choice of class, subject to the availability.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: We received a complimentary session from heART Studio for the purpose of this giveaway. No monetary compensation was received.

An awesome 14-day 'fun in the sun' challenge with NIVEA

{User experience}

As some of you may know, I embarked on the NIVEA Body Whitening Serum 14-Day Challenge not too long ago (Read about it here.) You might recall that I was extremely excited to start on this challenge, and was really looking forward to more hydrated and brighter skin.

So 14 days later, what has been my experience?

One word – awesome!

From day one, I have been applying the serum meticulously. In the morning before I head for work, during mid-day when I go for lunch, I make sure I give my arms and legs a quick rub before I step into the sun, so that they are well protected from the UV rays. Yups, I have one tube of this wonderful serum on my office table, just so it is within reach as and when I want to use it.

The serum was my trusty companion too when I headed to the pool. It protected me in more ways than one - it shields my skin from UV rays and keeps it hydrated from the drying effects of chlorine. Perfect yet affordable choice for a ‘water baby’ like me. 


The most important question on your minds is – was it effective? Did it do what it promised in 14 days?

Now, I would not declare that a miracle has happened, and the terrible pigmentation spots on my feet have disappeared. That would have been magic.

However, I can confidently say that the pigmentation in those areas have evened out, and my skin has become more hydrated and smooth. It looks and feels healthier!

Yay, I’m on the way to getting beautiful legs like my mum’s! Hmmm… if I get a tube of the serum for her, will her skin become even more beautiful than it is now?

Nah… I’ll keep to myself. It will be my little secret. Thanks NIVEA!

Instagram Campaign

Want to win $188 NIVEA hampers? Just upload photos of sunny outdoor activities that you do as part of your lifestyle or on the weekends, with the hashtags #NIVEASG #UVWhtSerum #Sunnyfun #Sunshine. The best photos depicting the hashtags will win weekly $188 NIVEA hampers. 

Hurry! The campaign ends this Thursday, 15 August 2013.

Disclaimer: We received monetary compensation and products from NIVEA for this review. All opinions and images are my own, based on my authentic user experience.

Play Learning Tuesday: Amazing cardboard & straw maze

EV has taken a liking to mazes. It's a great activity to train her spatial awareness, eye & hand coordination, fine motor development, problem solving and the concept of overcoming challenges. She usually does 2D mazes from puzzle books, and I thought, why not make a 3D version so she can play with it?

So here is EV, all geared up for the big make-it task, excited at the prospect of playing with straws, one of her favourites.


Here's what you need.
A piece of cardboard. We used the cover from the diaper box that the kids' diapers come in (we buy our diapers in bulk)
Straws

First we secured the loose flaps of the cover by gluing down the sides. EV was really good at this, and needed no help.

While she was gluing, I cut up the straws into different lengths, measured and planned approximately where I wanted the straw pieces to go. Basically, planning out the structure of the maze. When that was done, I guided EV where to stick the straw pieces.

And then, the amazing cardboard and straw maze is done! Simple, fuss free, and this kept EV zoom-zooming all the way for a good 30 minutes.

What fun are you having with your kids today?

*****

What is Play Learning Tuesday?
Play Learning Tuesday is a weekly linky hosted by Toddly Mummy where bloggers are invited to share their child-friendly play, learning and craft activities. Taking part for the first time? You might like to read the guidelines here first.

<div align="center"> <a href="http://toddlymummy.blogspot.com" title="Toddly Mummy"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmAIvfzuQ4fpIwb3NE3KhW-h23oHXpTc_Tk7XyKs6CTKJHWqjaX0s0lBW4YGV5lMi0mtMGp8MfteBNa2ChGu4UQ5GCHJ_ZAtK1rOoZroYwbJzmi9J9g9Fjjip504Ls3C7JVabXYcLwRfD/s288/Play-Learning-Tuesday.gif" alt="Toddly Mummy" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Linking up with:

5 breastfeeding travel tips for a Big B 'record breaking' event

I can’t help but declare that I am extremely proud of myself. When it comes to breastfeeding, I mean. When it comes to breastfeeding, I’ve been there, done that, and still doing it. (Read about my earlier experiences here and here.)

Yups, still doing it. My dear son AA is now 18 months, and yes, he still look for me daily. My boobs actually. To him, ‘mummy’ means ‘boobs’ or ‘milk’, especially at night. My little son knows exactly what he wants. When I carry him and ask him what he wants, he immediately points to my boobs!

Boobs, my poor boobs! Ravaged, expanded, pinched, bitten. They only got a 10-month break after I weaned EV off, before AA came. But despite all this, I loved the experience, and still do. There’s a special, tender bond that I find hard to put into words, a special closeness that only a mummy and her child can share.

Even now, though I would like to wean AA off, part of me is not willing to. It is amazing how powerful this bond is. Often, when AA is wailing and no one can calm him down, he will quieten down the moment I carry him. Then when I bring him to my boobs, his transformation is just magical. He becomes an absolute angel, having found his source of comfort and security. And then he falls into a peaceful sleep. Sigh… peace at last.

Despite mishandled boobs, I’m a total advocate of breastfeeding, as you can tell by now. My journey has been quite uneventful. The major challenge was when we brought EV to Hong Kong to visit her great-grandmother in 2010, and then in 2012, after AA was born. We were there for our holidays, and there was of course all the touristy things to do, and the family get-togethers to attend. We were practically on the road from morning to night, so how did I manage to even breastfeed?

Here are some tips that you might find useful.

Invest in a good nursing cover

Then you can breastfeed almost anytime, anywhere. Almost. You become an instant milk machine. Well, figuratively speaking.

Prior to the trip, do some research and find out whether the places you are visiting have nursing rooms

Be prepared that some places may not have fully equipped with nursing rooms, maybe just a sink and a changing station, without a door. I encountered this in a shopping mall in Hong Kong. Out came the nursing cover. 

Be mentally prepared to breastfeed at the back of the tour bus

That's what I had to do with EV. We were on a day tour to the outlying islands off Hong Kong, and as we were on the road, I had no choice but to do that, with the help of the nursing cover of course. The hubby also helped by blocking any prying eyes.

Be adequately hydrated

Fluid intake will affect milk production, so make sure that there is lots of fluid intake.

Have fun!

Being relaxed is extremely important too, and helps to ensure that milk production is not adversely affected. 

Join the Big B Event

Are you a breastfeeding advocate too? Are you still breastfeeding your child?

Join the Big B Event, and help to set a new national record with the Singapore Book of Records for the most number of mums breastfeeding together.

This record-breaking event will be taking place on 31 August, Saturday, 1pm at the Singapore Expo Hall 6A.

The event also aims to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and importance of breastfeeding babies for the first 6 months.

Hurry! Sign up today and be part of this meaningful event! See you there!

Play Learning Tuesday: Pom-pom alphabet fun

What fun we had over the weekend! I have been extremely busy at work, and have been coming home rather late last week. Each time, E will not fail to say 'mummy, I love you so much!'. I missed her so much too. So I was really glad for the opportunity to spend time with her over the weekend. Just the two of us, doing the things we love - playing together!

EV was really excited for some alone-time with mummy, and so was I. I didn't have anything planned, and was really scratching my head trying to think of a meaningful, yet fun activity for her. Something that makes use of available materials at home, something that's a bit different from what we've done before, something that will get her laughing with glee. And then, my eye spied the bag of pom-poms in the cupboard.

This activity is extremely easy to do. Besides the pom-poms, which you can get at most craft shops, I also took out our pipe cleaner, letting EV choose her favourite colours (which have now expanded to black and red, besides blue). We have an alphabet mat in the living room, so I made use of that. What EV had to do was to place the pom-poms on the letters, in the direction that they are written. For the pipe cleaners, she bent them to fit the letters.

This is great for reinforcing letter recognition and formation.

To push this activity a little further, and to stretch her letter recognition, we started a game of 'Where's the letter?'. I called out a letter, and EV had to search for it, and throw pom-poms on it. Sometimes I would give the letter sound instead. One pom-pom became a rain of pom-poms. She was having so much fun.

This is definitely one activity that we can do again.

Do your kids love playing with pom-poms too?

*****

What is Play Learning Tuesday?
Play Learning Tuesday is a weekly linky hosted by Toddly Mummy where bloggers are invited to share their child-friendly play, learning and craft activities. Taking part for the first time? You might like to read the guidelines here first.

<div align="center"> <a href="http://toddlymummy.blogspot.com" title="Toddly Mummy"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmAIvfzuQ4fpIwb3NE3KhW-h23oHXpTc_Tk7XyKs6CTKJHWqjaX0s0lBW4YGV5lMi0mtMGp8MfteBNa2ChGu4UQ5GCHJ_ZAtK1rOoZroYwbJzmi9J9g9Fjjip504Ls3C7JVabXYcLwRfD/s288/Play-Learning-Tuesday.gif" alt="Toddly Mummy" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Linking up with:

Ready, get set, go! My 14-day 'radiant skin' challenge with NIVEA

{User experience}

Cleanser, check. Moisturizer, check. Sun block, check. I sound like a real beauty junkie, right? Not!! All these items that I've named above, they are my skincare products for the face. And only the face.

When I worked with a beauty client previously, I had learnt how harsh the environment can be on the skin, and how UV rays can trigger the production of melanin, which is what causes pigmentation. Skin will also become dull, with a lack of lustre and brightness.

Here, I don't just mean the skin on the face. Like what was shared with me then, we ladies tend to focus on the skin in our faces, but isn't it equally important to take care of our whole body?

Knowing is one thing, doing is another. I have continued to focus only on my facial skin, and neglecting the rest of my body, except for the occasional scrub.

Then motherhood came and I didn't even have the time to do my weekly facial mask treatment, let alone pamper the skin on the rest of me. Let alone applying moisturiser. Dont talk about UV protection. Couple that with skin that is aging daily, no, it does not bode well.

Yes, my skin, especially on my legs, have suffered badly from my neglect. Just take a look. The skin is dry, cracked and flaky. Even my mum has better leg skin than me, and that's because she moisturises her legs every night before bed. I really should learn from her.

Can you see the pigmentation spots and uneven skin tone? I definitely need help.

So I'm quite grateful that I got the chance to try out the NIVEA Body Whitening Serum 14-Day Challenge. I knew I had to make a commitment to looking after my body skin, and this was a start. Fairer, smoother and more radiant skin in 14 days? Oh yes, I want!!!

This body serum sure looked promising. It is the first ever body whitening serum with SPF25. Just what my suffering legs need.

It is enriched with natural Vitamin C from Camu Camu, which is a riverside tree with cherry-like fruits that grows in the Amazon forest, and 95% Pure Vitamin C that targets, repairs and restores skin that has been exposed to the sun. Did you know that Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant to help reduce melanin production and lighten dull, dark skin.

Aroma & texture

The first thing I noticed the moment I opened the tube is its pleasant aroma. It is not overpowering, and was rather refreshing. I must have smelled really nice, as EV said later 'what's that smell? Mummy smells nice!'.

I love the texture of the serum too. It's not too thick, and was absorbed very quickly the moment I applied it. The lightweight serum also didn't leave a sticky-after feeling. Exactly what I like as I find most body skin products too thick and sticky.

And the price? I think it's a steal. All this goodness in a tube costs just $9.55.

14-day challenge to more moisturised and even toned skin? Bring it on!!!

Instagram Campaign

Want to win $188 NIVEA hampers? Just upload photos of sunny outdoor activities that you do as part of your lifestyle or on the weekends, with the hashtags #NIVEASG #UVWhtSerum #Sunnyfun #Sunshine. The best photos depicting the hashtags will win weekly $188 NIVEA hampers. The campaign will run from 21 July to 15 August.

Disclaimer: We received monetary compensation and products from NIVEA for this review. All opinions and images are my own, based on my authentic user experience.