Mombie. Life as of late.

As someone who gets agitated easily when things don't go according to plan, the past 6 months have taken on a whole new level of craziness. Being a new mom has been the most trying, most humbling, most emotional experience in my life. It has also been the most rewarding.

Everyday, for the past 3 months at least, I try to have a routine but really, Christophe shows me who's boss. Sometimes when its time to nap, he decides to bounce around the bed, and I play along 'cos I find him too adorable. I do not know how mothers do it with a fixed schedule. Sometimes I doubt myself, maybe I am not disciplined enough, maybe I am not following it through so he gets mixed signals, maybe I should have waited 5 mins before picking him up since birth, maybe, maybe, maybe. This is especially so with the sleep training. What sleep training? There's no training. He cries, and we pick him up.

So! this is what our routine is like everyday.

6.00-7.00am C wakes up hungry. Feed. Most of the time he decides not to sleep after that.

7.00-8.00am Flurry of activities. Change diaper and out of the sleep suit. Place him in the bouncer, let him spend a few mins with daddy before he goes to office. I wash up and make the bed. Once daddy leaves, I will wash the bottles that were used for night feeds, set up the sterilizer, boil new batch of water, top up the water dispenser. C watches me from the bouncer. I pass him a cold teether before he gets cranky.

8.00-9.00am On a good day I make coffee to brace myself for the day ahead. I let him play or attack Sophie the giraffe while I take sips of my coffee. At this point, I also decide what he should play with that day. I have an issue with toys conquering my living room. I think its a better idea to rotate his toys to keep things fresh.

9.00am Feed breakfast/milk.

9.30-10.30am Nap time (sometimes he naps for 10 mins but most of the time 30 mins) / Prepare lunch for C

11.00-11.30am Lunchtime for C (so far he hates fish porridge, broccoli with potato, carrot with potato but thats another story altogether)

12.00pm Bath

12.30-2.30pm Feed. Naptime. I wash bottles (never-ending) and dishes, shower on a good day and have lunch.

2.30pm Feed.

3.00-5.00pm Play. Reading. Head out for fresh air/shopping. Feed.

5.00pm Dinner

5.30-6.00pm Depending how tired he gets Bedtime Routine

6.30pm Feed and Bedtime.

7.00-9.00pm Wash bottles (again), sterilise, boil water, laundry, clean up play-mat, wipe toys especially teethers, sweep the floor. If C wakes, feed and pray he'll fall asleep soon.

After 9.00pm Collapse on the sofa/bed.

Unglam but happy! Wefie by yours truly.

9.00pm to 6am C wakes up 3-4 times at least and this has been so recently. Sometimes for a feed and sometimes crying to be carried/rocked to sleep.

Surviving Pregnancy

Not many of us are blessed with a smooth, morning sickness-less (!) pregnancy. 

As I am currently in the homestretch of pregnancy, and in the light of recent news of Kate Middleton's condition of hyperemesis gravidarum making a comeback during her second pregnancy, I began reflecting on what worked and what did not work for me especially the first 5 months of pregnancy (I was diagnosed with mild hyperemesis gravidarum and was put on drips in the hospital). Not fun. 

Pregnancy Survival Kit by anyta1 featuring a dop kit

First Trimester 1+2 // I did not use these items although some friends swore by it. It took a lot of energy for me to go look for the Preggie Pops (available at Maternity Exchange) I heard that Mothercare carries it but I couldn't find it so I eventually gave up. I will stock up and give it a go the next time 'round. Seabands are available at the Guardian Pharmacy.

First/Second Trimester 3 // I stocked up on Uncle Toby's yoghurt/muesli bars as being on empty stomach makes the nausea worse. If there were any gaps between meals, I will snack on these bars and it helped a great deal. Sometimes to be on the safe side, I will have a slice of wholemeal bread with jam after the muesli bar.

I have heard ginger ale helps with nausea but carbonated drinks made things worse for me.

White bread gave me constipation so I avoided that as well.

First/Second/Third Trimester 4 // To avoid looking like a train wreck, put on some eyeliner and gloss. It opens up your eyes.

Second/Third Trimester 5 // I am at my 9th month now and till date I haven't had a single stretch mark. I do not know whether I owe it to my genes or  this Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil. It is quite pricey but cheaper than laser treatments IMHO.

Second/Third Trimester 6 // Yoga kept me occupied and relaxed most of my second/third trimester. I felt pretty good about myself and that is really important for an expectant mother. I still feel that yoga had a part to play in regulating my emotions and keeping me positive especially after a very difficult first trimester. Not to mention the toning of muscles to aid in childbirth.

Second/Third Trimester 7 // I got pregnancy jeans from Motherswork. It is so comfortable and slimming and I think that I will be able to get away with wearing it even post-pregnancy. I feel that tent dresses only make you look bigger than you actually are so I avoided maternity dresses/tops.

Third Trimester 8 // Now that I am in my last leg of pregnancy, the only dress that keeps me comfortable is a black sleeveless maxi from H&M. Its not a maternity dress so I'll still be able to wear it after I pop.

Third Trimester 9 // Ah-ha! The Upsie Belly' Belly Support Belt. It supports my lower back as the baby gets heavier and I wear it 24/7 (almost). Sleeping was a chore and very painful till I found this. It was really hard to change sides as I feel I have a bowling ball inside my tummy.

First/Second/Third Trimester 10 // Uniqlo AIRism bra top is a savior because you get away with wearing less especially during an exercise session or at home.

If you are considering breastfeeding, you shouldn't be wearing bras with wire.

Uniqlos bras are worth considering as well.

First/Third Trimester 11 // For soothing relief, essential oils are the answer. I avoided all except citrus oils during the first trimester just to be on the safe side. I do not know if they really help with vomiting but I did feel slightly better after I used it with a diffuser while lying down and resting.

I have also heard that peppermint helps and clears your head while lavender helps with relaxation (for sleepless nights) and even during labour. 

Party Planning :: Away to the woods ...

Recently I have been pinning pictures of kids' birthday parties. I think I have had enough of tacky parties that take place most of the time here. Enough of Frozen y'all! Let it go already (sorry, can't help it) It's now time for more creative ideas/themed parties. Recently my sister, Flora threw me a tea-time woodland themed baby shower and I loved the fact that it was not a predictable typical baby boy shower. Perfect for parents who choose not to find out the gender of the child.

{all photos by yours truly}

Cupcakes/Cakes: Sugarie Sweet
Party/Card design: My very talented graphic designer sister,  Flora
Props: Stylist's own/ TBA
Teatime Delights: TBA

Well ... hello!

… I'm not dead yet. I've just got a bun in the oven. As first time parents, we are really excited and nervous to meet this little guy (yes, a little man!). As I am typing, I can feel him being all hyper in my tummy. He reminds me of Rodin's The Thinker.

A new chapter unfolds.

// 20 week sonogram

Destination Thursday

Let's travel, follow my feet to random experiences

//image via

Traveling is one of my favorite things to do in life. 

The excitement of planning, landing in a new country, figuring out how to get around and seeing breath-taking sceneries or amazing architectures just make you feel so alive doesn't it?  Travel allows me to look at life in a different perspective. During my last trip to Europe with the hubz, we went for Boxing Day mass in Florence, Italy. We didn't even think for a second the day before that we will be in Florence the next day. It was an unplanned trip. We decided to get the train tickets the night before from Milano Centrale railway station (We were based in Milan) and off we went. A random thought creeped up during the mass ... I just thought about how fortunate I am to have the means to experience so many faraway cities, food and culture with my loved one(s).

So! I am aiming to start a new series called //Destination Thursday which will document my favorite travel memories, packing tips, surviving long hauls and cool seasons (for those living in the tropics, like me!), dream destinations, related gift ideas and so on. I hope I will be able to keep this up so ... wish me luck!

Decor Series :: My entry table with chinoiserie feel

So, this is my attempt at creating an entry-table vignette for Chinese New Year.

I've always had the turquoise chi dogs and I love them to bits. The framed picture behind is actually a wrapping paper with an IKEA frame, and of course when I saw these fuchsia orchids in a supermarket, I had to get them.

This is proof that you don't need to spend tons of money to get creative. Just work with what you already own at home.

I would also like to wish everyone a very happy Lunar New Year and for non-chinese, like me, have an A-MAZING break!

Word.

Wow, where should I begin.

We have experienced the extremes of bitter sweet sentiments the past few months.

I quit my day job to pursue my passion in design//visual communication. While I should be rejoicing in the fact that I have a supportive hubby who has been encouraging me to do just that and to take a sabbatical, issues surrounding financial independence had me dwelling in my insecurities.

My father-in-law succumbed to lung infection following bone marrow transplant a couple of months ago - on our wedding anniversary. That didn't make things better.

Well, I would like to think that things will look up from now on. We welcomed a new niece to the family and I am looking forward to a weeklong trip to Europe next month. On the professional front, I have been busy with design projects (looming deadlines). Love that I have been getting in touch with my creative side.

The craziest year. Ever.

via

Word.

Furniture Finds in Singapore :: Hock Siong

Hock Siong is not your typical furniture showroom. With 3 large warehouses of furniture, accessories and glassware, it houses second hand loot that mainly comes from hotels and show flats. Dusty - not for those with allergies (you might want to wear a mask) and in an obscure part of the island, you have to be patient in your search for gems. Generally most items are still trendy but I tend to go more for accessories that are classic, unique and easily replaceable. Pieces that probably will not go out of style or items that can't be obtained anywhere else that cheap!

What I absolutely love about them is that they have a social media expert, Brillyn who uses social media platform - Facebook showcasing their treasures so customers and aficionados get to know about new items real-time!

These are some of the stuff I purchased over the past few months. 2 lamps with thin, golden base perfect for our tiny bedroom last week (see after pic). In line with the Great Gatsby theme *swoon*

Tyrol horns at a bargain!

A display table for my jewelry.

Do check them out at the following address and of course, "LIKE" them on FB!

Address/Contact:

153 Kampong Ampat
#01-03, Junjie Industrial Building
Singapore, 368326

Tel: +65 62818338

Saturday Reflection.

Love this post from Live Creating Yourself. Poignant thoughts about love and marriage.

“Marriage is those two thousand indistinguishable conversations, chatted over two thousand indistuinguishable breakfasts, where intimacy turns like a slow wheel. How do you measure the worth of becoming that familiar to somebody—so utterly well known and so thoroughly ever-present that you become an almost invisible necessity, like air?”

“People always fall in love with the most perfect aspects of each other’s personalities. Who wouldn’t? Anybody can love the most wonderful parts of another person. But that’s not the clever trick. The really clever trick is this: Can you accept the flaws? Can you look at your partner’s faults honestly and say, ‘I can work around that. I can make something out of it.’? Because the good stuff is always going to be there, and it’s always going to pretty and sparkly, but the crap underneath can ruin you.”

Words by Elizabeth Gilbert, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage

photos via I Am Beyonce. Thanks 

Christmas 2012

{image by yours truly}

Losing my religion - Not!

Just trying to find ways to incorporate my faith in design.


{via Sarah Klassen/Haute Design}

Glimpse into our home

I know this is looong overdue. I've not been very diligent with the blog to begin with.

We got our apartment because of the gorgeous view it comes with. Hopefully it'll stay that way (there'll be new developments coming up around us, yikes!). You may notice that the pictures are taken during day and night, thats because they were captured at different occasions and I have only recently learnt that its best to take interior shots during the day.

This is the view from our balcony and I am terribly proud of it.

The balcony fits a dining table and a random bird's nest fern we adopted recently.

We absolutely love the 1970 spiral lamp by Vernon Panton and decided to splurge on one for the living room. It's SO drama and I was quite hesitant about getting it initially but since we were going for a cosmopolitan feel for the apartment, I succumbed to the temptation.

The walls appear purple in the above picture but they are actually dark grey (smoke pearl to be exact).

The above three shots are of my favorite room in the apartment - the study. This room was given alot of attention due to the amount of time I spend in it - blogsurfing, blogging, facebooking, pin-ning, working, dressing, applying make-up and so on. It's part dressing room and I display my make-up + jewellery in it.

I use the Expedit from Ikea as my book/knick-knack storage. It takes alot of work to maintain and keep in pristine condition as it gets dusty and cluttered quite easily. So if you are living in a high-rise, smack in the middle of 2 busy traffic junctions/highways, think twice about getting the open-faced Expedit. Another possible solution is to fill up the Expedit cubes with individual boxes. Easier to clean.

Decided to construct a photo railing along the hallway. Pretty useful and there's no need to use nails and mess up the walls.

If you are from Singapore, you would hate the bomb shelter that comes with your apartment. Door is heavy and industrial-looking and you can't even hack the walls to get rid of it/make your space bigger. If it sits along a narrow hallway to the rooms like mine, you don't even not have the luxury to build false walls to conceal the ugly door.

I did not fret and just painted mine the same wall color as the rest of the living area and coverted it to a large gallery space filled with travel mementos + pictures making full use of the magnetic door - Easy short term cost-effective solution.

{All photos by yours truly}

Party Planning :: Rooftop (almost!) tapas party

Last weekend, we had some friends over and we decided on tapas themed dinner. I went with the idea as it would supposedly be easy to prepare and enjoyed by all. The dishes I chose to prepare did not turn out the way I wanted it but edible and yummy!. I think no one could tell I was freakin' out in the kitchen. I'm glad they enjoyed the food and of course, I had to reflect and think of how I can do things better the next time 'round.

This photo above basically summed up the colors for the party.

The menu included Parma ham + melon + rocket salad, strawberry crostini, cheese platter, patatas bravas, chorizo + chickpeas with charred peppers, meatballs in mushroom sauce and of course sangria. Thanks to a pal, Keith, we got some champagne as well.

I collect nice champage/wine bottles and I love how the label color of Veuve Clicquot goes with the overall theme. At the background, I have proudly displayed a clay jar (in blue/white) bought in Spain.

A row of photographs taken during our honeymoon in Switzerland.

Recently I splurged on aged balsamic vinegar (16 years) and I love adding it to everything I eat.

Our entryway - the first thing that guests see when they enter our home.

The appetizer spread. *point to note* Cheese does not keep well in the humidity. I overlooked this point and laid full blocks of cheese out in the balcony. It became ugly, soft and goo-ey after a while, especially the Gorgonzola. If you have to have a cheese platter, don't put an entire block outdoors. Top it up as and when required.

For chorizos, I did not use the sliced ones I normally use (from Pamplona, as written in the label), for the party (big mistake!) I bought another type of chorizos (little whole sausages from Bilbao). If you are cooking whole chorizos, remember to remove the first layer of skin before cooking. *point to note* After its cooked, use a very sharp knife and slice the sausage very thinly. That might go down well with people who aren't used to the salty, spicy, Spanish sausage.

A toast to the New Year and friends.

There will always be space for good dessert.

Small apartment storage

I shared my obsession with organizing (part of) in my earlier post. Hopefully this post gives you more ideas. I was very lucky when I stumbled upon a wood + metal side table in a second-hand furniture warehouse. This warehouse is like my new obsession and I am always on the lookout for gems.

I purchased it at a good price yesterday and used it immediately to organize my make-up, skin products and accessories.

This table is superb because I can see all my accessories at one glance and pull the drawer to take my pick. Just like in a boutique! If your apartment gets pretty dusty in a short period of time, this table is a life-saver.

I adore this clamshell. It's perfect for holding little items. I personally feel that little jars of cosmetics or skin products resting on their own, invite clutter. .. and we all know that we don't stick to one or two products.

There! My little beauty corner.

{all images by yours truly}

Small apartment storage

Everyone needs a place of solace. For me it's my study. When I'm home after a long uninspiring day at work or after time spent away from my home, I get into my study to feed my thirst for design inspiration and ideas, to feed my soul. I need space (physical and mental) to get grounded.

My study is my hideout, workspace AND dressing room (space comes at a premium in land-scarce Singapore) so I find means and ways to organize, avoid clutter, multi-functional-ize and make it a pretty place while at it.

I use an IKEA Expedit in my study to organize books, craft items, documents, travel momentos AND yes, glassware. I can't afford the space for a full-fledged bar and it is impossible to accommodate all the extra glasses I have in my compact bar-cart, so I use a compartment in my Expedit. If you have to do this as well (to store glasses somewhere other than a proper glass storage area especially on a shelf), use a tray. It functions as a drawer. 

When you have guests over, you may choose to get the tray out a little to reach the champagne glasses behind without toppling the glasses in front, or you may take the entire tray out. No broken glasses, no tears. 

I'd suggest arranging the glasses face down to ensure they are clean inside (no dust, no bugs). If you want to take additional pre-caution, wipe the glasses clean, especially the rims probably a day or two before the party.

... and I digress. A bottle of alcohol in the tray wouldn't hurt as well. A nightcap in the study while working! 

Enjoy the party!

{All pictures from yours truly}

Specially for the city dwellers

I came across an adorable post by Joanna Goddard who lives in Manhattan NY with her husband, Alex and toddler son, Toby. Like many of us city dwellers, she struggles with the fact that we do not have outdoor areas to hang out in after a long day.

This is a true case of making do with what you have and having fun with it! After a lightbulb moment, they sneak out to their fire escape space via the bedroom and they have made it into a ritual after their baby falls asleep.

Cute I say!

PS. I shall make better use of my decent balcony from today!

Styling my study

{all pictures by yours truly}