Smart Kids 2013

~ Posted on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 7:37 AM ~

Oh boy! Did you know that Malaysia’s biggest and longest running educational kids’ fair is back?!

Just for 3 days, parents and children get to attend this education fair and gather all information with regards to education, health related products and services, creative learning games and toys, basically everything you want to find out as a parent for yourself, your family and your children!

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"Smart Kids was founded based on the premise that parents needed to have a better avenue of choice in terms of education for their children. It was first conceptualized in year 2002 to provide a platform for parents and children to explore and discover together the latest educational products and services in a edu-fun way that is filled with exciting and innovative activities and programs.

Smart Kids’ mission statement is “to be the premier platform used by parents to introduce the joys of learning to their children, in a manner which utilizes the tools most readily accepted by individual children and tailored to an individual child’s most effective way of learning.” Smart Kids makes available a platform for holistic, whole child learning by gathering together various educational institutions, system providers and learning programmes in an environment conducive to fact finding and consultation."

I'm a full-time mummy

Did you know that one of Smart Kids’ core beliefs is that every child is smart in his or her own way and that their parents’ responsibility is to help them find ways and means beyond the usual, formal education system in which to bring out the best in their kids?

I am very pleased to find out about this as I do strongly believe in letting my child learn at their own pace, when they are ready and more receptive and yes, as a parent, I feel a deep sense of responsibilities to ensure that my children learns what it takes to not just survive the outside world, but to use their brain and logic thinking to chart their own path when they are grown up and ready to face the world.

As a stay-at-home-mother of 2 kiddos (and third one coming in September 2013!), I would personally watch out for educational related products. For those who are not aware, I'm currently teaching my 4 years old boy, nothing heavy yet and we don't have a curriculum to follow, although every weekdays we will have two half hour sessions of learning activities where I get my kiddos to learn how to write numbers, reading books together, coloring, play Lego, play dough and the rest of the day are pretty much playtime, eating, napping, bathing, a little iPad time (on story apps or games) and bonding with grandma and daddy.

I can't say for now how long I intend to teach my kiddos but I would totally be interested to find out more on the different methods of education (such as Montessori) and what are the extra fun and educational activities I can have my kiddos participate in as part of their playtime and also in improving their social skills.

I mean, looking at the list of companies and brands that are participating in this year's fair, I'm all giddy up and excited! I know my boy will be thrilled with Lego, I myself am happy to see this famous brand as one of the exhibitors during the fair and although I have personally never ever touched a single Lego brick before becoming a parent, I do believe now that it is really really useful and educational as well! We have personally witnessed the many Lego creations made by our 4 years old boy and see how it got our boy to be so creative at a tender young age. Amazing! And to think this is just one of the many many brands that will be participating in the education fair!

Now enough about me, we focus back to you and your loved ones! If you have not heard or attend this type of education fair and wondering how can it benefit you, oh well, think of how convenient it is to have all the information you wanted under one same place!

Anything you have been dying to find out, whether it is education program or methods or schools for your little ones, what sort of creative, fun and yet educational toys and games that you can get for your children, what are the latest products in health or finance related areas for yourself, your family and your children?

Imagine all the information all ready for you to go and find out! No need to crack your head to Google and compare the various websites and reviews and feedbacks when you can have a look yourself during the education fair itself. And don't forget the opportunities for you to ask the staff of the companies or brands face to face on the day itself if you are keen to know more!

I believe that if you attend the education fair with your family, you will be able to let your child explore and find out what interests them as well. Now parents, what better way to let your child discover their inner talents and passions while at the same time you get to find out more for yourself and your family and spend the day out as a family?

Of course, there are some contest and activities that your children can take part and have fun during the education fair as well and also some cool giveaways and lucky draws will be held during the education fair as well!

I'm a full-time mummy

Smart Kids 2013 will be held at Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur on 19 to 21 April 2013.

A bit more information on the admission details:

* FREE entrance for kids (below 16 years old)
* RM5.00 admission (per adult / day)
* Log on to www.smartkids.com.my to pre-register before 14th April 2013 for Free Admission Pass (per adult)

What are you waiting for? You have less than 2 weeks to register!!

** Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All thoughts, opinions and words are 100 % my own.
Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine.

Third Pregnancy - Then & Now...

~ Posted on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 7:32 AM ~

2 years ago (when I was pregnant with Alyson), I wrote a post about my pregnancy then and now and I'm recycling the contents of that post to include the 3rd pregnancy updates now.. hahah...

The table below is to recap and note down what are the differences between my pregnancy then and now...

Pregnancy in June 2008 - March 2009
Pregnancy in Nov 2010 - Sept 2011...
Pregnancy in Jan 2013 - now...
Working in IT line, constantly in meetings with users & vendors for the new IT system, apart from being in-charge of changing company's website & the legacy IT system
No longer working in IT line, a full-time mummy now catering to the whims & fancies of a 23 months old toddler who is ever so active and playful and cheeky.
A full-time mummy catering to the whims and fanices of a 4 years old boy and a 1.5 years old girl.
What's good then?
* A more fixed eating time, breakfast, lunch & tea time snacks are pretty fixed
* The availability of squatting toilets in the office allows me to practise my squats (which I read in some pregnancy article saying it helps with your contractions)
What's good then?
* Hopefully able to maintain regular eating times (as my schedule  is pretty much determined by Ben)
* No squat toilets in the house so have to make do with squatting as much as possible while playing with Ben, at the same time, ensure safety to ownself as well (as in not to be overly crazy while playing with Ben)
What's good now?
* Ben is fully potty trained before he turned 4 years old, so I've got one worries off my mind...
* Alyson is OK with pooping in a potty and a toilet seat though I have not officially potty trained her, but she does give me quite accurate signals a lot of times!
* Since March 2013, we have adopted a timetable, so eating, learning, playing, entertainment, etc are more fixed and not haphazard as it used to be...
Gone through 3 gynaes:
#1: Female gynae in a private hospital who we think is not capable & caring enough for her patients
#2: Male gynae in a private hospital (but has his own clinic) & who we think is capable & caring but  the charges are pretty steep
#3: Male gynae in a semi private hospital & who we think is capable, caring, soft-spoken & the charges are very low!
We wanted to go back to our gynae #3 but turns out he got promoted to be the dept head for O&G in Miri, Sarawak. So he's no longer in the semi private hospital anymore.

We are keeping our options open for other doctors in the same hospital though our current gynae check-ups are done at a private hospital.
We went back to our gynae in Putrajaya hospital, my first check up was done when baby is 10 weeks old. Next check up will be at 28 weeks pregnancy. Yay!
Complications during 1st trimester:
Do not experience any morning sickness at all

Complications during 2nd trimester:
Weight not going up, got scolded by 2nd gynae to top up food intake. Guzzled full cream milk on daily basis on top of going crazy with McDonalds' and Wendys few times a week.

Complications during 3rd trimester:
Blood pressure touching borderline. Ordered by 3rd gynae to go for alternate days for check ups on blood pressure. On my last gynae visit, was told I had low amniotic fluid and advised to go for induced or to be C-sect in a week's time. Thank God contractions started on the same day & I ended up having natural delivery.
Complications during 1st trimester:
The first 2 weeks, food looks good but when I eat it, it felt like a lump and very difficult to swallow and eat on. Had not been having any appetite when I see fried food.

2 months + now, no problems with any food, nothing that makes me giddy or nausea or anything though I've been regularly eating chicken rice with roasted pork slice.

Complications during 1st trimester:
The 2 months, food looks good but when I see it, I lost my appetite. The only thing that I wanted to eat for the 2 weeks are luncheon meat (I know, not healthy!) and luckily I found a substitute, which is salted chicken, a dish that my dear hubby taught me how to make.

And somehow this round, I bloat up real easily. Just drink a bit of water and I bloat up like I'm 6 mths preggy.

Tiredness was a definite thing this round, maybe because I've got 2 kiddos to handle this time, on top of learning, feeding, caring, blogging (which I've cut down loads of reviews and giveaways since) etc.
Have no idea what to expect in terms of breastfeeding
Breastfeeding? Bah... been there, done that... heck, still doing it!
Breastfeeding? Bah... been there, done that... heck, still doing it for Alyson! Ben weaned off at 45 months old, a happy journey I will always treasure in my heart. But this round, I have no worry about breastfeeding through pregnancy since I have done without any complications.
Have no idea what to expect during labor. In fact, totally forgot all about my breathing exercise!
Images and memories of 1st labor flashed back the moment home pregnancy tested positive...
Oh boy... I do get scared sometimes when I think back of my previous 2 labors...
Contraction 1cm at 12am
Contraction 4cm at 4am
Gave birth at 4.30am
Contraction 1cm at 6am
Contraction 8cm at 12pm
Gave birth at 12.30pm
No idea yet...
Natural delivery using Enthonox and had an episiotomy (4 stitches)
Natural delivery using Enthonox for few seconds and a slight tear due to gynae pulling out baby (4 stitches too)
Hopefully natural again... and no tearing...
Worries about Labor, breastfeeding, babycare
Worries about Labor, breastfeeding during pregnancy, baby care as Ben is around this time...
Not as worried since been there done that...

And just a couple more things to note that I will not be able to do in a few months time:

* Lie down on my front
* Be able to look at my feet (thanks to my hubby who kept telling me to enjoy looking at my feet now!)
* Wear my favorite short pants (no wait... I already can't wear it now!)
* Get up from bed as easily as I can now...

And the things I'm so NOT looking forward to in a few months time:

* Heavy belly
* Cramps on my feet
* Difficulty in breathing as the belly gets bigger
* Heartburn
* Itchiness around belly and/or thighs as belly gets bigger (skins stretching you see...)
* Stretch marks
* Swollen feet
* Clumsiness and being forgetful

Please wish me luck and I really need all the support I can get in making my breastfeeding during pregnancy works! And of course, most important is I have a smooth and safe pregnancy and delivery!

I have also made an extraordinary decision this round, will share when I received the items I ordered. I've already gotten my hubby's approval to do this, so hope to have my family, relatives, friends and you guys supporting me as well!

Thank you for reading, have a good week and God bless you!

Product Review - Tupperware TwinkleTup

~ Posted on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 1:15 PM ~

How often you get to review products from a leading household brand? And their latest range of products too! I received an email pitch asking whether I would be interested to review TwinkleTup, Tupperware's latest range of innovative products for children and toddlers and of course I said YES! Leading household brand, new products for children and toddlers! Count me in!

I'm a full-time mummy

Tupperware TwinkleTup

Description from the product page:
"Tupperware Brands, a company synonymous with making a difference to the lives of women all around the world, including Malaysia, have taken their relationship with women, especially mothers to the next level by introducing TwinkleTup, a new range of innovative products for children and toddlers.

Designed and developed after extensive research, tests and feedback from mothers, teachers and child developmentalists in markets worldwide, including Malaysia, TwinkleTup is a range of bright, colorful and specially designed range of drinking and feeding system for toddlers aged 6-18months and 18-36 months. The entire range of TwinkleTup comprise Twinkle Training Cup, Twinkle Snack Cup, Twinkle Hang on Spoon, Twinkle Easy Grip Bowl, Twinkle Cutlery Set and Twinkle Feeding Bowl. "

I'm a full-time mummy

My feedback will be based on each of the products I received, grouped by 2 categories of the TwinkleTup range which are the Twinkle Totz Set (6-18 months) and Twinkle Kidz Set (18-36 months). I got the products for both age group as Alyson is 18 months old and being in between these 2 groups, Tupperware was so generous enough to send me both age groups for us to try out! Awesome!

The 6 to 18 months Twinkle Totz Set

Tupperware TwinkleTup

Twinkle Training Cup - this cup is easy for my 1.5 year old girl to hold, all you need to do is turn the recessed lid a little and you just tilt the cup like how you drink from a cup and the water will flow smoothly to the rim. I tried it myself and the water flow is fast and smooth, unlike another brand of training cup I reviewed last year which required my child to suckle at the rim in order to get the water.

Tupperware TwinkleTup

Twinkle Snack Cup - This has got to be one of the cutest snack cup I've ever had for my kiddos! Despite its small size, it really can store quite a lot of snacks in the cup! The cover lid is a bit difficult for me to close off initially (but I think that's because it's brand new and I need some more practises with the One Touch method to open and close Tupperware products) but it does seal the snacks inside and maintain its freshness and crispness. I love the color combination for the snack cup and it is easy for my toddler to hold and carry around. Also she does not get her chubby hand stuck in the snack cup despite my initial fear that the cup looks a bit too small for her to stuff her hand inside. Plus point as well!

Tupperware TwinkleTup

Twinkle Easy Grip Bowl & Hang on Spoon -This is another cute little bowl which I used to put snacks and fruits in for my kiddos. It comes with a hang-on spoon where you can easily rest the spoon by leaning the groove part to the lid of the bowl. This bowl came with a blue colored cover which snaps on easily and closes the bowl conveniently. I do prefer to reuse the spoon for the Twinkle Feeding Bowl so if there's any way Tupperware could sort of add on another groove on the higher part of the spoon so that I can also rest the spoon on the Twinkle Feeding Bowl I think that would be awesome! But then, that's just my own preference of being able to make full use of the spoon whenever possible.

Tupperware TwinkleTup

 

The 18 to 36 months Twinkle Kidz Set

Tupperware TwinkleTupTwinkle Cutlery Set - Okay, the first time I opened up the orange-y colored pencil-case container and found a set of fork and spoon inside, the first thing that came into my mind is 'Oooo... I can recycle this case to be Ben's pencil case next time!' Woopss... sorry but I sometime tend to have ideas to recycle kiddos stuff! Anyway, the red colored fork and spoon fits nicely into the container and I guess it serves the purpose of being able to carry the cutlery set around everywhere you go! The size of the cutlery is just right not too small and easy to be hold by kiddos fingers, handling wise although the design is ergonomic, there are times the fork and spoon slipped right out of my wet hands (I sometimes feed my kiddos as we need to rush through our timetable when kiddos are having their slow-poke moments)

Tupperware TwinkleTup

Twinkle Feeding Bowl - Oooo! I love this gigantic feeding bowl. Okay, it feels gigantic to me anyway. The feeding bowl comes with a green colored cover which you can easily snap close onto the feeding bowl. The bowl is not too deep or too shallow and I like that my kiddos and I can easily scoop the remaining food in the bowl. 

Tupperware TwinkleTup

Twinkle Straw Tumbler & Straw Brush (not shown in picture) - This is by far my favorite products in the TwinkleTup range. My girl can easily hold and carry it around and I did tried to sip some water from the tumbler and I love the fast flowing water (unlike my kiddos' current water bottles which are quite difficult to suck through the water) One thing that I would totally like Tupperware to consider is to add a cute little strap around the tumbler so we could easily bring it out and hang it in our stroller or around kiddo's shoulder or sling across their body. That would be perfect!

Tupperware TwinkleTup

In summary, what is awesome about the TwinkleTup range of products is they are BPA-free, non-toxic, colour-safe and children-safe, something that us parents look out for and very concerned with when buying things for our children in this modern age. In addition, the products are said to comply with international standards and come with a lifetime warranty. Coolness!

I'm a full-time mummy

For more information, visit tupperwarebrands.com.my or http://www.facebook.com/Tupperware.Brands.Malaysia.Singapore

You can also view this video on the TwinkleTup products.

I'm a full-time mummy

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the products by Tupperware 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.