I'm a full-time mummy

Lately, I've been getting more emails from my blog readers and Facebook fans (you know who you are :D) about blogging stuff, such as how to start a blog, how to do product reviews, how to do book reviews, where to start to do reviews and so on.

You may choose to ignore what I'm writing down here if you don't agree with what I said, after all, I am not an experienced blogger and there are many many more things that I' m still discovering and learning throughout my blogging journey. This post is just to share my 2 cents worth of opinions and experiences I have in blogging.

It took me quite some time to learn the tricks and tips to all this. Please note, I do not intend to spoonfeed you guys by giving step by step and direct answers. I believe in working hard to get what you want instead of just being spoonfed. At least by searching and scouring the world wide web looking for the solutions and fixes, I believe we learned much much more and truly appreciate the hardwork we put into building up our blog.

FYI, I will break each of my 2 cents worth of advice and experiences into separate post since I can be quite talkative and rambles on and on at times. So here goes:

The Birth of a Blog...

Purpose driven blog?

Firstly, why do you want to start one? Think of your purpose and then think of your audience.

*Image taken from Google search

For me, I started this blog when I quit and became a SAHM in June 2009. I blogged to keep sane, a channel to note down my life as a SAHM, journey with my baby boy and family. In the beginning, I don't think I would want anyone else to read my blog other than my own family members, so that they get updated with what's going on in our lives.

How about you? Are you planning to blog as if it's just an online diary for yourself? Or you want to share your experience and memories with family members, friends, strangers out in the big world? Think about this first!

Foundation! Foundation! Foundation!

*Image taken from Google search

Choose your foundation wisely! The 2 most popular choices for your blogging platform (free one that is) are Blogger and Wordpress. You can read the comparisons between Blogger and Wordpress and decide for yourself.

Of course, when I started blogging, I immediately go for Blogger. That seems to be the easiest and fastest not to mention user friendly blog platform around. And the tons of blog design templates to choose from!

Hello! My name is...

*Image taken from Google search

Names, names, names... once you've decided on which blogging platform, you have to think of your blog name - because if you think of the name 1st, sometimes they might not be available anymore... bummer, right?

Now blog name is really really really important! Unless it's just going to be yourself reading the blog then fine... but if you plan to let other people read it, please consider the following when you are thinking up a name:

* Is it easy to pronounce? (Think simplicity!)
* Can it be spelled out easily? (Please also consider not naming it too long!)
* Is it catchy or easy to remember? (You would want your blog name to leave a lasting impression from the first visit itself!)
* Is it unique or does it stand out from the normal? (Be different!)
* Does it allow for 'future expansion'? (Imagine naming your blog something like fulltimemummyofone and few years down the road with more than 1 kid, and you're still stuck with this name...)

(Tips: I believe in synchronising your blog name with your user name. For example, my user name is "I'm a full-time mummy"-goes in line with my blog name, it's easier for people to associate you with your blog that way and yes, longer impression!)

Plain Jane or Simple Simon?

*Image taken from Google search

After you have your name chosen and registered on the blogging platform of your choice, don't just leave your blog template looking plain and ordinary! Just to make life easier for you newbies, I go to http://www.deluxetemplates.net/ to find my blog template. Wordpress users can go to sites like http://www.freewpblogthemes.com/ or many more.

You just browse through the many selections available (make sure it's free!) and choose the one you like best, download it and upload it via your blog platform's dashboard. Google around how to upload these templates into your blog. And make sure you leave the credit untouched as it is good to acknowledge the hardword put by the original blog designer in putting up those templates for you to use!

Once your template is up, go and beautify it even more! Even if your blog is only meant for yourself to see, I do believe a nice looking blog with additional accessories makes so much difference and brings happy feeling to ourself (simply put, you would at least wear a nice shirt and comb your hair when you go out right?).

So, apart from the varieties of widgets which can be added through Blogger/Wordpress or whatever platform you chose, I also searched around blogs and see what widgets they have. Those that I like, I find out more and I tweaked (by tweaking means, I customise it to fit my blog, keep testing and changing until I am satisfied with the look) it to be compatible with my blog template. I also get a lot of widgets from http://www.widgetbox.com/overview/. Make sure you try it out or at least read the reviews posted as some of the widgets are not working.

Not being IT literate or have zero knowledge in web design/coding is not an excuse. I Googled for tutorials to find out how to do all this, if I can do that, so can you!

When I grow up, I'm going to be...

*Image taken from Google search

You will also need to consider what will your blogging future be? Will you be having your own domain (as in your own blog/website link instead of for example http://imafulltimemummy.blogspot.com/ or http://imafulltimemummy.wordpress.com/ (OK, I just made this up...)? Will you remain on the same platform after you have your own domain? Do Google up why some people are moving out of Blogger into Wordpress and so on. Feel free to read my post on why I left Blogger if you're curious.

Next question is, are you just going to remain blogging? Or do you plan to venture into doing products reviews? All this play an important part in determining your blog's future!

I think I pretty much covers all there is on the topic of the birthing of a blog. I've always treat my blog as if it is my child (ok, lower ranking than Ben of course!), and I think you should too!

Nurture it, build it, have fun and make happy memories with it as how you would do with your child. It does bring joy to your heart! Feel free to leave me a comment if you would like to find out more on a certain topic.

Until then, happy blogging!

This is my 1st Christmas music album review! I would like to share my feedback and review on this awesome album called “Bethlehem Skyline Vol. 2” which was released on September 28, 2010.

Featuring songs:

Excerpts taken from the album's bio page:

Christmas is a time of joy and wonder that is often mixed with anxiety and stress as the secular and sacred collide. Even believers are sometimes distracted from the true reason for celebration by the mundane demands of life during the hectic holiday season. For many people, music serves as an oasis in the midst of the madness, a way to focus on the miracle of our Savior’s birth and the beauty of God’s plan. Bethlehem Skyline 2 opens a doorway to worship and invites everyone to celebrate.

Like the songs on its predecessor, 2007’s inaugural Bethlehem Skyline, this new compilation is a labor of love created by the Centricity Music family of artists. Downhere and Jason Gray, who contributed memorable tracks to the first Skyline project, once again participate on this second set. The new album also features songs from Andrew Peterson, Me in Motion, Lanae’Hale, Sixteen Cities, High Valley and Matt Papa.

Bethlehem Skyline was born out of a sense of community, not a company marketing agenda. “The album actually had very humble beginnings,” Gray explains. “It was a project that we all got to work on when we were at a retreat. What is beautiful about it, is that it was a labor of love.”

I love Christmas songs! I've already been playing Christmas carols since early this month... I have been feeling pretty Christmas-sy and I'm so glad I get to review this album! These are the following songs I enjoyed from the album:

* "Do You Hear What I Hear" by Jason Gray - a warm but yet upbeat song with nice lyrics, makes you want to dance and sing along!

* "Give it Away" by Me In Motion - Awesome rock tune, and I love the line where it says "Christmas isn't really Christmas till we can take all we that we are, and give it away"

* "Carol Of The Bells" by Lanae Hale - the tune and melody is just so nice (whimsical like) and easy for the ears

* "Christmas In Our Hearts" by Downhere - catchy, make-you-wanna-dance Christmas song!

* "Long, Long Ago" by Andrew Peterson - I loved Peterson's voice and this song is just so soothing and gives you a fuzzy feeling! Btw, you can read my previous review on his album, Counting Stars.

* "Little Drummer Boy" by Matt Papa - A new rock twist to the classic Christmas song. A refreshing and upbeat tune!

The rest of the songs in the album are great too, just because I don't mention it doesn't mean it's not good. But the above few are the ones that keeps me replaying it over and over again... I know Christmas is still 2 months away, but you really, really should get this album!

You can get the Bethlehem Skyline 2 album from:

https://missinginkshop.com/bethlehemskyline/store/featured/bethlehem-skyline-2.

I would like to give a note of thanks to Penny from Centricity Music for contacting me and giving me this wonderful opportunity to review the album! I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the authorised and confidential link to listen to the album to assist my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine.

Oh boy, you guys are in for a long review of mine in this post! I tend to go on and on when I discovered something I love and this book is one of them! But please stay on, this book is totally worth it!

I'm so glad I got the chance to review this wonderful parenting book called: "SUPERBABY: 12 WAYS TO GIVE YOUR CHILD A HEAD START IN THE FIRST 3 YEARS". This book was published on September 7th and I've only managed to finish reading this book (yes, all pages!) now, as I could only read it when Ben is napping or after he goes to bed at 10pm+ (plus I've also gotta continue my blogging activities).

Cute cover picture eh?

Ben loves touching the embossed 'SuperBaby' title!

Author: Dr. Jenn Berman
Publisher:  Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
ISBN: 9781402770333
Hardcover: 432 pages, all in 2-color
Dimension: 8.9 x 6.2 x 1.6 inches

Description from the Amazon product page:

"The first three years of life are the most important for nurturing a child's full potential: that's when they start forming attachments, developing a sense of self, and learning to trust. During this time, there are critical windows of opportunity that parents can take advantage of-if they know how. In a dozen succinct yet information-packed chapters, award-winning columnist and professional therapist Dr. Jenn Berman gives parents the knowledge they need. Her enlightening sidebars, bulleted lists, and concrete, easy-to-use strategies will help parents raise happy, healthy babies…who grow to be flourishing toddlers and successful adults."

Superbaby! Who in their right mind would want to turn down the opportunity to review a parenting book? Of course, at first I was a bit skeptical when I saw the title but thank God I surfed around to get more information about the book and decided yeap, this is the one! And thank God that Emily, the representative from Sterling Publishing gladly agrees to send me a copy for review! Awesome!

Now back to the book, it is broken down into 12 chapters, which I will note down my feedback in red for your easier reading:

# 1 - Talk the Talk: Respectful Communication
My feedback: I love the section about the advantages to using narration when communicating to our child and agree with the 10 reasons why we should not spank our child. You should also read about the 10 pillars of respectful communication and the 10 rules for effective praise. Great points there!

# 2 - You Got Me! Responding to Cues
My feedback: I love the 10 points that prevents parents from responding to their child's cues and couldn't agree more (guilty too!). Am making my best effort to do away with all the interruptions stated in the book.

# 3 - Tick-Tock: Creating Security and Predictability
My feedback: In this chapter, I get to understand the reasons to putting our child on schedule and totally agree with it. We used to have irregular going to bed time for Ben few months back, he would sometimes sleep at 9pm, or 11pm or even past midnight, but after a couple of weeks of following a schedule, now Ben goes to sleep around 10.30pm or so. We will be on the lookout for signs of tiredness or sleepiness around 30 minutes prior or after his usual bed time.

And I also agreed with the beauty of keeping a log book, something which I always do as I actually logged down info on Ben's feedings (what and how much), poopings and all when he started his solids at 6 months old. All this helps when we bring Ben for his routine check-ups or when Ben has problems pooping.

# 4 - Let Your Fingers do the Walking: The Importance of Touch
My feedback: This chapter touched the 8 physical benefits of touch and the effects of touch deprivation. For example, a couple friend of mine dare not touch or carry their baby (he was about 2-3 months old then) too much as they feared their baby will get used and wants to be carried around all the time. I find this sad as they are losing out precious memories and time as children grows up very fast, I mean, if you don't touch and hold your baby now, when do you want to do that?! In this chapter also, I learned a new term called kangaroo care or K-care.

# 5 - More Than Chitchat: Promoting Language Development

One of the chapters I enjoyed!
My feedback: I enjoyed reading the 15 simple things parents can do to promote language development and I love the extra note on what to do when you have no clue what your child is saying, some of which I personally have been practising with Ben, such as asking him to repeat what he has said and also telling him mummy don't understand what he is saying but that mummy really wants to know.

# 6 - Talk to the Hand: Sign Language
My feedback: For those of you who uses sign language with your child, do read up on this chapter on why using ASL is better than baby signs.

# 7 - Babies Without Borders: Foreign Language
My feedback: I've been trying to speak in other languages with Ben, but so far, still reverted to English most of the time. I'm a Cantonese Chinese while hubby is a Hokkien Chinese (for those of you who are confused, we're still Chinese, just that we are of different dialects in terms of speaking in Chinese) but it is interesting to read about this chapter on the benefits on getting your child to learn other languages.

# 8 - Baby Got Book: Reading
My feedback: I love it that the author includes list of recommended books for the appropriate age and the reasons why some books should just be kept away for our children. I'm glad to see that one of the book I reviewed recently which is "26 Big Things Small Hands Do" is listed in this chapter! And yes, I do want to cultivate the reading habits in Ben!

# 9 - A Different Kind of Toy Story: The Importance of Play
My feedback: I learned about the importance, developmental and emotional benefits of play in this chapter and why blocks rock! And I am very concerned when I read the sentence "The more a toy does for a child, the less the child needs to do." This statement is so true! Think of the toys available in the market nowadays... are our children engaging with the toys effectively? I also love the list of toys and games recommended from birth to age 3. Very useful!

# 10 - Thinking Outside the Box: Screen Time
My feedback: Let me tell you, as you read this chapter, your worries for your kids grow more and more. You read about the 14 risks for children when they watch TV (even an hour daily is bad enough!) Luckily, this chapter came with steps you can take to gain control of the remote control and get TV out of your life! Seriously, after reading this chapter, I became more wary when Ben is being exposed to TV. Prior to this, the MOST I allow him is one hour of TV time, which he spends while playing at the living room downstairs with my MIL. Nowadays, I tried not to be tempted by the TV.

# 11 - It’s Easy Being Green: Reducing Exposure to Toxins
My feedback: In this chapter, I read about lead poisoning, PVC and Phthalates, Parabens, flame retardants, cigarette smoke (I hate smokers!), plastic and BPA. You will get to read the 6 simple ways to reduce toxins at home.

# 12 - Food for Thought: Eating and Nutrition
My feedback: In this last chapter, I read on how to build a better intuitive eater, benefits of breastfeeding (hooray to breastfeeding! I'm entering 20th month soon!). You also get to read about feeding tips for the first 3 years, and what' really in our children's food (scary, scary!)

There are also a few appendixes on child care, preschool, sample schedules for your child and how to reduce risk of SIDS.

Apart from the above feedbacks for each of the chapters, I also like the fact that the book included “From the Experts” sidebars from leading experts and many others. Plus, I totally love the colors used in the book, red nice and easy on the eyes fonts. The one thing I don't like about this book is the jacketed flaps. Too flimsy and waste of paper. Other than that, this book is just perfect!

For those who are already a parent or going to be one or a friend or relative to one or considering to be one, PLEASE, PLEASE, I beg you, consider getting a copy of this book. You will not regret it!

You can purchase this book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and many more.

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a copy of the book by Sterling Publishing in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine.

And if you'd like to read my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"