The Chill Mom | Singapore Mum Blog

When we first started looking to buy a highchair for Lauren, we wanted something good looking. Something that would match the rest of our furnitures. However all the nice, wooden, designer looking ones were expensive. So we got the plastic IKEA one in the end. Cheap, light and does the job (at the time). However, Lauren has grown out of it at 2 years old. It is often very awkward getting her in and out of the chair too.

So for Georgia, we are lucky to have found Nino Nino wooden high by MG. The seat and foot rest are adjustable, so the chair is suitable for baby from 6 months up to 10 years of age! Lauren has been asking to sit in it too. It is quite light despite its sturdiness, which make it easy to move around. Apparently, it can hold up to 70kg. It feels very stable and not rocky at all. I feel safe putting my girls in it although it doesn't come with a seat belt.

According to the product guide, all materials/paints are 100% toxic-free, adhering to European safety standards (BS EN71-3:1995). Although it is delivered flat-packed, it is very easy to assemble. It also comes with a removable tray.

Usual retail price is S$329, but over at MommyGrabs.com, you can get it for only S$149.

It is available in wood and white with many colour choices for the cushion.

Giveaway to ONE lucky reader!

Now, if you like a gorgeous highchair for your little one, here's 2 easy steps to win.

1. Register as a member on MommyGrabs.

2. Leave a comment at the end of this post on why you want to win, along with your name and email address.

Note: You have to complete both steps to be qualified for the draw.

This giveaway is open to all residents in Singapore. Giveaway ends on 25 Nov 2014, at 2359 hours. Winners will be announced at the bottom of this post and on my Facebook page.

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I received a Nino Nino Wooden Highchair from MommyGrabs for the purpose for this review. MommyGrabsis an online private sale store started by a mompreneur. It features daily deals on top quality products catered especially for mothers, babies and kids.

PS: How to support your baby's development through play.

It is a given that post-pregnancy, our bodies will never be the same again. Unless of course, you are a Victoria Secret's model. Mere mortals like me are left with our jelly bellies (loose skins, stretch marks and all), bad skin and dark eye circles from late night feedings.

And this is exactly what the team and technology at PhysioAesthetics can help us with. I was lucky enough to be invited for a trial session of Microcurrent Body Toning & Sculpting and their Signature Face Lift treatment.

As soon as I arrived at their doorstep, I was swept into the consultation room for a chat about my lifestyle and body concerns. Adrienne , the clinic manager pointed out my dark circles, uneven skin tone and that I've developed some light pigmentation on my cheeks due to my ad hoc, sometimes put, sometimes don't put skincare routine. Yikes! She offered some very good advice and was able to answer all my questions.

Next, I changed into my robe and did a full body analysis that measures not only weight and inches but my BMI, visceral fat (fat in between inner organs), metabolic rate, muscle and fat percentage.

Now let's move on to the treatments.

MICROCURRENT BODY TONING & SCULPTING

I was told this treatment is recommended for people who lost large amounts of weight over a short period of time, and ended up with excess skin. Perfect for post pregnancy or post liposuction. The Microcurrent Body Toning & Sculpting treatment uses Specific Frequency Signatures to cause hydrolysis of triglycerides (the shrinking of fat cells) while simultaneously toning muscle. It also improves circulation and lymphatic drainage.

Apparently, a 55 minutes effortless isometric muscle contractions replaces 2 hours of exhausting sit-ups. The result is long lasting circumference reduction from the problematic areas. Nice!

The wires and all might look scary but it really didn't hurt at all. There was some slight discomfort, only when they increased the strength of the contractions.

My core muscles felt a little sore the following day and lasted the whole weekend. Not that I'm complaining though. The soreness is similar to the sore you get after some intensive abs workout. So I guess it was working. The treatment is safe and non-invasive.

Duration: 55 minutes | Price: $350 for one zone or a package of 10 sessions is $2500.

PHYSIOAESTHETICS SIGNATURE FACE LIFT

While my tummy was shrinking, I was treated to PhysioAesthetics Signature Face Lift.

It started off with a normal cleanse, exfoliation and a relaxing eye massage with chamomile eye oil. Apparently, the muscle around our upper eye lids tends to weaken and slack as we age. The eye massage is best suited for tired looking and stressed out eyes from insufficient rest. Exactly what I needed. The oil smelled heavenly too.

After applying a cool gel that works as a conductor for the electrical pulses, out came the treatment device with 2 handles with 4 metal prongs on each. The skillful aesthetician pressed the metal prongs gently on my one half of face and massaged it upwards, paying careful attention to areas prone to sagging and fine lines.

She carefully explained how each low frequency signals produced by the device would feel like and what it does to my skin. Using Nano pico micro currents, the treatment targets the skin entire system, enhanced muscle tone and gives the ultimate face lift. The device increases production of collagen and elastin, improved blood circulation, and cell regeneration, so the skin gets better muscle tone and a natural boost of youth.

Besides some tiny tingling in areas of the face where the skin is thinner (for me, it was around the jaw and upper lip), the procedure was rather relaxing. I fell asleep by the time she worked on the other half of my face.

The left photo (taken under fluorescent lights) was taken when only one side of my face is done. You can see that the right side is more 'lifted'. The photo on the right (taken with natural lights) was taken after the whole procedure. The visible effect may not be very obvious but I like that my skin felt firmer, if not a little. My eyes didn't look as sunken as before too. A week later, a friend commented that my face looks slimmer.

Duration: 90 minutes | Price: $380

Overall Satisfaction

Personally, I would consider the facial treatment every 2 months. It is great as an anti-aging, fine lines prevention beauty regime and we, mommies deserve a little break and invest in ourselves too, no? I like that it is targeting the skin cell inside out; it is not something we can do at home.

As for the body treatment, if I have some cash to spare, sure! It would help getting rid of my love handles a lot quicker. But in the meantime, I'll just stick to my healthy eating and baby-wearing as workouts.

With the friendly aestheticians at PhysioAesthetics

PhysioAesthetics1 Orchard Boulevard, #04-06 Camden Medical Centre
Tel: 6836 7731 | Email: enquiries@physioaesthetics.com | www.physioaesthetics.com

PS: How I lost weight without exercising.

I didn't know there was such a thing called lactation cookies prior to this. So when I heard from a friend that it helped with increasing her breast milk supply, I gave it a try. I used a classic oatmeal raisin cookies recipe and adapt it by adding the key ingredients in lactation cookies, namely flaxseed, oats and brewer's yeast. I've also reduced the sugar by half.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

4 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons flaxseed

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

3 cups oats

1 cups raisins

3 tablespoons brewer's yeast (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees Celcius.

2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, brewer's yeast and salt. Gradually beat into the butter mixture. Stir in oats, flaxseed and raisins. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto baking paper.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Let cool completely.

Tip: I divided the batter into half before adding raisins. I added chocolate chips instead into one half of the batter. So I have 2 types of cookies in one batch :)

Enjoy!

PS: In this rainy weather, how about some beef stew?

So we learnt that baby needs sleep and play for their brain to fully develop in the first post of the series. If you haven't read or watch the video, you can start here.

Now we move on to uncover which areas of development we should be focusing on. There are 3 pillars of development, namely physical, cognitive and social & emotional awareness. Watch on…

Understanding The 3 Pillars of Development

Mind blowing stuff? Lets go in-depth and find out how we can support our baby in each area, shall we?

Physical Development

Cognitive Development

It is so true that especially in Asia, doing well in formal schooling is a huge part of our culture. So most parents ended up sending them to preschool and enrichment classes at a very young age. I'm constantly being asked if Lauren is going to 'school' since she was 1.5 years old. The truth is as a parent, of course I want my child to do well in school and eventually in life. Not that there's anything wrong with early preschool, but the trade-off is I get to see my child less. Yeah yeah, selfish me.

Anyway, these videos reassured me that I'm not holding Lauren back by keeping her at home. Playing or more importantly, providing play-based learning at home, we can build the very foundation for our kids to thrive in life.

So look around you. Are the toys you currently have at home, encourage baby's development physically and cognitively? I think I need to go through our toy box and do a complete reassessment. Do share what you currently have that fits the bill!

Next month, I'll share about the last pillar in this holy trinity of child development - social & emotional, PLUS what I learnt at a parenting workshop on the same topic!

This is part 2 of a 5 blogs series on how to support babies development most effectively. I will be sharing educational videos, play tips, toy reviews as well as a giveaway contest over the next few months. So sign up here or follow me on Facebook to receive updates.

Living in this part of the world where it is hot and humid all year round, nothing makes me feel quite as fresh as after a total body exfoliation. I always imagine I shed a whole layer of dead skin like a snake and emerge renewed and smooth after a good scrub. But I've also read about how insoluble micro-beads exfoliator are causing world pollution. So I scoured the world wide web, tried and tested some recipes and this 5's are my favourite all natural DIY exfoliator. Homemade skin care is, after all, cheaper, more natural and customizable. Win-win-win!

Floral Oats Cleanser

Oat flour exfoliates without irritating, so it is really great for eczema or any other skin ailment. This recipe is also hydrating because of the aloe gel.

You'll need:
1 tbsp oatmeal
1 tbsp dried rose
½ tbsp dried lavender
½ tbsp chamomile tea leaves
2 tbsp aloe gel

Put dried flowers in food processors and blend until powdery. Combine all the ingredients, and mix with aloe gel.

Coffee Scrub

Coffee is excellent for reducing the appearance of cellulite. I kid you not. Chat up the barista at your favourite cafe and see if they will give you some used coffee ground that they usually bin.

You'll need:
½ cup coffee ground
½ cup sugar
½ cup olive oil

Combine all ingredients. Apply deliberately in a circular motion, paying close attention to problem areas. It can get quite messy. It is better to do it in the shower so you can easily rinse it away when you are done.

Papaya Brightening Mask

Papaya enzymes are great for gentle chemical exfoliation. It helps even out your skin tone while lightening and brightening dark spots.

You'll need:
1 tbsp papaya pulp
1 tbsp oat flour
1 tsp sugar

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, and then apply as a mask. You can gently massage it in during application for some extra exfoliation. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes.

Salt and Honey Scrub

This 2 ingredients recipe exfoliates, moisturizes, and nurtures skin. It is great for dry skin like mine. You can also add lavender or mint oil into the mix.

You'll need:

½ cup sea salt

½ cup honey

Blend the ingredients, add a bit of oil to make it smoother and gently scrub on dampened skin. Wash with soap and rinse clean.

Coconut Yogurt Scrub

This scrub not only exfoliates and smooth, it smells so nice you'll want to eat it instead.

You'll need:

½ cup desiccated coconut

¼ cup oatmeal

½ cup plain yogurt

A few drops of cinnamon/lavender oil

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and scrub away. Rinse thoroughly with water.

Since the holiday season is coming up, here is a tip. Turn all these DIY exfoliators (except the last recipe with yogurt) into inexpensive and thoughtful gift. All you need is a little jar, a ribbon and some stickers for cute handwritten instructions.

Let me know which one works best for you? And if you have some beauty recipe that works, do share!

PS: DIY eco friendly cleaning tips.

Lately my hair has been falling by the clumps. It is quite a depressing sight but postpartum hair loss happens to 90% of women. It is due to declining estrogen level after child birth and should end by six months. It is still depressing nonetheless.

Just as if god heard my shrieks in the bathroom after every hair wash, I was invited to try out the Soda Spa Scalp Treatment at le blanc by mashu, located at Plaza Singapura.

What is Soda Spa Scalp Treatment?

Originated from Japan, Tansan bubble spa is a deep cleansing process which incorporates the use of carbonated water to improve blood circulation and deep cleanse grease and dirt from follicles. This treatment can be the solution for oily scalp, dry and damaged hair and hair loss problem.

The Anti Hair Loss Soda Spa Scalp Treatment started off with using Shiseido Professional Shampoo – Fuente Forte to cleanse the scalp. Then the Soda Spa Foam is massaged onto the scalp and hair. This process flushes carbon dioxide through the scalp, carrying away waste in the body. It enhances metabolism and increases oxygen and nutrient supply to the scalp and skin. My hair was then wrapped in a towel and steamed for 10 minutes. This helps with better absorption of the goodness by the hair.

Well, when you leave me alone for 10 minutes and I'm supposed to blog about this experience, I just had to do take a few photos, don't I? Please pardon the weird angle.

After the foam was rinsed off, Sparkling Spa Shower which is basically a hair tonic which contains ten herbal extracts, including ginseng, witch hazel extract, ginger and angelica root extract, blended with 3,000ppm super high-concentrated carbon dioxide was pumped directly to the skin or scalp.

After the treatment, their Japanese Creative Director, Mr Masaaki Ueda worked his magic and gave me a haircut. Watching him cut my hair is a bit like watching a show. He doesn't really divide my hair into sections. It looked as if he was randomly snipping a little off here, layering a bit there with his fast scissors. He heard my anguish at having a receding hairline, changed my parting and gave me a soft fringe. He also gave me tips on how to style my hair at home to create more volume. I obviously was paying attention as I had forgotten to take any 'after' photo at the salon.

Bathroom selfie taken at home because I'm just that professional.

Anyway, my hair feels really soft and light after the treatment. Amazingly, I found less hair on my bathroom floor the very next day too. Well, lets see how long this last and I'll report if there is any changes later, alright?

Giveaway time!

I have two vouchers (worth $235 each) for my lucky readers to experience the same signature Soda Spa Scalp treatment, haircut and styling at le blanc by mashu. Just complete these 2 steps to win!

Via Instagram
1. Follow my Instagram account.
2. Repost my bathroom selfie, with hashtag #thechillmomgiveaway and tag @mzmichhon, so I can find you.

OR

Via Facebook
1. Follow me on Facebook.
2. Share this post on Facebook with a comment why you'd like to win. Remember to tag @thechillmom, so I can find you.

Contest ends 15 Dec 2014, 2359 hours. Go on now, submit your entries!

Current Promotion

Go in for le blanc by mashu's Soda Spa Scalp Treatment (priced between $110 and $150) and you will receive a complimentary bottle of Soda Spa Foam worth $50! The promotion ends December 30, 2014.

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About le blanc by mashu

Established in Osaka, Japan, 25 years ago, the hair salon chain – known for its chic cuts and customising in vogue trends with each customer’s beauty style, now has 11 salons in the city. It opened its first Southeast Asian outlet at Plaza Singapura in late 2014, and the team of experienced stylists is now poised to introduce fashion-forward hair trends from Japan to the cosmopolitan Singaporean.

Address: 68 Orchard Road, Plaza Singapura, #04-31 (New Wing), Singapore 238839
Telephone: 6333-4681 or 6333-4682
Operating Hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 7:30pm; Sun: 11am - 6:30pm

Psst.. Make sure you call ahead to make an appointment because I was there on a Tuesday late afternoon and they were very busy!

This past week had been a busy one for Lauren & I, because we went to 'school' every morning! Okay, it was only a 5 days Christmas workshop. This was the first time Lauren attended any proper class where she had to follow instructions and participate accordingly. I'm happy to announce that it went rather well!

On the first day, Lauren was initially in her own world and dancing to her own beat. But it didn't take her long though. By the time we left for the day, she was telling everyone, "See you morrow!"

On the 2nd day, she has decided who she wants to be best friends with. But her feelings wasn't reciprocated. My dear girl didn't give up and kept chasing the boy, much to her daddy's dismay when I told him about it later.

We had Christmas story telling every morning.

And Lauren picked up a book by herself! This may be nothing to most parents, but it is a huge deal for me. This girl doesn't care much for reading. I sure hope this will soon change.

Colouring session.

That concentration. But really, it only lasted a good 5 minutes before she wandered off to look for a balloon.

"Hmmm… cookie…"

Art & craft time!

Look at that face trying to stuff a sock. We were making a snowman from a sock.

Something I discovered she liked doing - water colour painting. Things are about to get messy at home.

Some of the crafts we made at the 5 days Christmas workshop.

On graduation day, Santa came to visit! All students got a little gift from Santa. Lauren, of course, was terrified. But her desire for the candy bag overruled her fear. She grabbed the candy bag from Santa and ran!

All in all. Lauren and I had a great time at the workshop. The teachers are very pleasant and engaging and most importantly, Lauren was excited to go to 'school' every morning. So much so that she got up earlier and dragged me out of bed.

Okay, enough about us and for my own narcissistic quota for the day, and let's talk about BlueTree Education Learning Centre. It is newly established, offering pre-primary and primary programs. If you are looking for a place to dump your child on holiday seasons, find out more about their fun learning workshops for preschoolers and primary school goers on their website or Facebook page.

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ABOUT

BlueTree Education Learning Centre is an enrichment enterprise that aims to redefine learning, thinking and creativity in the ever-changing education landscape in Singapore.

Here at BlueTree Education, we want to grow a child to be a thinker, a learner, an achiever. Our curriculum is designed not only with academic excellence in mind; we want every child to acquire the core thinking skills of thinking critically, inventively, and reflectively as their foundation for learning.

Address: 271 Bukit Timah Road, Balmoral Plaza #02-15 Singapore 259708
Nearest MRT: Newton Bus Services
Balmoral Plaza Bus Stop): 48, 66, 67, 170R, 171, 700, 700A, 960

Contact number: +65 9106 4702
Website: http://bluetreeeducation.com

Looking for an enrichment centre for your child? Check out this brand new enrichment center located at Parkway Centre. I like the location because it is right opposite Parkway Parade, so you can drop your child off and hit the shops! Half joke aside, an open house is the perfect opportunity for you and your kids to experience the learning environment and meet the teachers.

Lauren and I attended a preview class 2 weekends ago. Lauren had never attended any 'school' before. She takes time to warm up to strangers and usually clams up when it is noisy and crowded. So I was really interested to see how she would be like in a 'school' setting.

Judging by the photos now, she somehow got herself to be in the middle of it all and participating!? I'm just as baffled!

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a ball pit and Mother Goose Club playing on the tv mounted on the wall. Lauren was too captivated to be affected by all the strangers around her. Lauren: 1 | Fear: 0

Up next, we visited the sand and water play area.

Then, we were ushered into a room where the class took place. The theme of the day was 'Under The Sea' and you can see in the photos below, the room is nicely set up with pictures, words and artwork.

Each class has 2 teachers and conducted bilingually by native speakers. I can tell the chinese teacher in the preview class is very experienced. She just knew what to do to capture the children's attention. Well, by children's attention, I really meant Lauren's. I know this child of mine who just loves to wander off and be in her own world. At one point, Lauren wanted to leave the room to get to the ball pit at the entrance. And guess what the teacher came up with to make her stay? Stickers.. simple yet genius!

In the short 2 hours, there were story telling, singing & dancing, colouring, play-dough, bubbles and arts & craft. Since the theme was 'Under The Sea', the children were given materials to make their own aquarium to bring home. Neat, right? I could add a photo of the finished product below, but I have nothing to show because my kid didn't want to leave the play dough table.

If you're interested to sign up your child, La Madison has special class package for you.

Quote 'The Chill Mom' when you register your child at LA Madison during the Open House and get extra classes for the first month. Sign-up for their daily programme (5 days/week) and get additional 4 Saturdays of free classes or sign up for their 3 days/week programme and get additional 2 Saturdays of classes for free.

More information about La Madison open house:

Date: 20 December 2014, Saturday

Location: 1 Marine Parade Central #04–07 Parkway Centre
Building opposite Parkway Parade Shopping Centre, same building where McDonalds is located.

There will be 3 sessions only on the day. The timings are 0930 to 1030, 1030 to 1130 and 1130 to 1230. Do RSVP your child's spot at Eventbrite now!
You can also email enquiry@la-madison.com or via Facebook Event

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About LA Madison

La Madison supports the mental, social, and emotional development of children from 18 months to 6 years old through learning in English or Chinese. Children will be taught using Montessori Method and adaption of Reggio Emilia approach to achieve linguistic, mathematical, scientific, artistic, physical and social skills.

Come for our Open House on 20 December 2014, Saturday Register for your spot in our talk and class trial for your child.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to be the leader and innovator in early childhood education.

To provide a happy, safe, caring and stimulating environment.
A place where children will be recognised and achieve their fullest potential before embarking on their compulsory education.
Providing a head start and school readiness.

Mission Statement

LA Madison recognises that each child is an individual; each child is an angel; that all children are creative; that all children need to succeed. Therefore, LA Madison respects the individual needs of children; fosters a caring and creative environment; and emphasizes the social, emotional, physical, intellectual development of each child.

LA Madison is a place where children leave school with:

A set of moral values - honesty, integrity and good judgement.
A complement of basic skills - linguistic, mathematical, scientific, artistic, physical and social.
An enquiring and discriminating mind and a desire for knowledge.
Developing self-esteem and high personal expectation.
Tolerance and respect for others.

I just received my new pair of glasses I ordered online! Huh, don't you have to put them on to see if they suits you? I hear you ask. Well, not really. Finding the right frame for your face really depends on knowing your face shape. Because at GlassesOnline, the frames are sorted by gender and face shape, so you know if you will look good in them!

So first thing first. How to determine your face shape?

Is your face oval, round, diamond, triangle, square, oblong or heart-shaped. Take a selfie facing directly at the camera and use a piece of tracing paper to outline the edge of your face to work out your face shape. No camera? Then look in the mirror. Using an erasable pen or lipstick, trace the outline of your face on the mirror - whatever you do, just make sure you can wipe it off afterwards!

Now that you are sure of your face shape, shopping for frame online is easy.

There are so many choices on GlassesOnline, so the best thing to do is start by narrowing it down to those suited best according to your face shape. Or if you know exactly which model you want, you can search or sort by brand.

After sorting, you can have a closer look at the specs of the glasses you like.

Just enter in your prescription. I got mine from a local optometrist for S$20 or free if you purchase a pack of contact lenses.

Check your cart and pay with credit card or Paypal account. Voila!

My prescription glasses was delivered to my doorstep at no charges within 2 weeks.

So how do I look? Before this, I always had to drag someone to the optical store with me to give me an opinion if I look good in certain glasses. Even so, I'd still have a hard time deciding because I'm don't trust their judgement. Yes, I know it is hard being my friend.. haha. Anyway, with GlassesOnline, you can change your mind and simply send back the glasses in its original condition and packing with the invoice to get an exchange or refund.

I think I should keep mine. What'd ya think?

*****

About GlassesOnline

GlassesOnline (www.glassesonline.sg) is one of Singapore's leading online eyewear retailers, carrying a variety of brands including all the popular brands such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada, Gucci and many more, with a total of more than 60,000 products. It has the largest collection at the best prices.

This year, partnering up with the girls clothing sponsor, Fox Fashion, we are donating 30 newborn onesies to Tubs of Love Programme. It is an initiative by Ronald MacDonald House Charities Singapore (RMHC) and NUH Medical Social Work team, to help new mothers who need some initial aid and support by providing them with some newborn items. You can find out more about the programme here.

This holiday and gifting season got me thinking about teaching the girls the meaning of giving and receiving. I'd like them to know there are people who are less fortunate than us. This is the time to be appreciative of what we have instead of focusing only on what we want for Christmas. Baby Georgia is perhaps too young to understand, but Lauren can definitely get in on the act of giving. She copies everything I do, so modeling behavior is the best way to go.

Donate books, toys and clothes

We do our spring cleaning twice a year. I get Lauren involved by asking her if she wants to 'keep' or 'give' a toy or book. I put all the 'give's in a bag and drop them off at Salvation Army. One tip though, make sure you explain to your child well that the 'give' bag is not coming back anymore, or you might find yourself buying a same toy when she changes her mind.

Mini volunteering

Giving doesn't always have to involve money. Simple acts of kindness like helping out a neighbour or a friend in need counts as volunteering too. You could bring your child when you visit a friend or relative recovering from an injury. They may need help with domestic chores, or even meal preparation. Explain to your child why you are helping.

If you have older kids and would like to get them into the act of volunteering, here are some of non-profit organizations in Singapore to volunteer your time: Hearts, Dignity Kitchen (they are looking for carolers this season!), and SWAMI Home.

Practice everyday

Besides the one time big act of volunteering or giving, I think it is important to be kind and generous on a daily basis. Let the girls drop change into collection boxes at McDonald's counter, buying a drink for the homeless man, or simply be kind to their own siblings are some of the examples that comes to mind.

What else do you do to foster the act of giving in your kids? I'd like to hear!

Now I can't just preach but no action, right? Giveaway time!

While we are in the spirit of giving, I have 2 vouchers (worth S$50 each) be given away to you and your friend. Let's just keep on giving, shall we?

Follow these 3 steps to win:

1. Like Fox Fashion Facebook page.
2. Share this post on your profile (set it to public view!), and tag the friend who you'd like to share the vouchers with. Remember to tag @thechillmom so I can see your entry.
3. Leave a comment here with your Facebook profile name and email address.
4. Like my page too if you like (totally optional but it would make me really happy if you do! )

Contest ends on 31 Dec 2014, 2359 hours. Winners will be announced here on this post and on my Facebook page. Good luck!

Since Lauren was born, I had not gone shopping for clothes at the mall for longer than an hour. Even when I have my me-time, I feel guilty for leaving the kids at home. Then I tried bringing the kids along, and anyone who's a mom would know, shopping and young kids just don't gel.

So I turned to online shopping. Shopping for clothes online can be tricky though. At times, the clothes that arrive at my doorstep look nothing like what I see on the website. After my fair shares of hits and misses, I've learnt a few things to look out for when shopping for clothes online:

Know What Suits You

When shopping for clothes online, it is best with stick to your tried and tested styles. This is no time to be adventurous and buy a plunging neck line if you don't usually buy said style. Another option is to try a similar style in store and purchase it online because of the amazing deal that saves you money.

Read description carefully

Screenshot taken from River Island

Speaking of purchasing a similar item you've seen in store, don't assume it is the same just by looking at the photo. Sometimes the print and colour may look similar, it is often not the same. Read the description, fabric composition, washing details carefully.

Know Your Own Measurements

My vital statistics has certainly gone yo-yo for the past few years of pregnancy, giving birth and breastfeeding. You know, bigger breasts, thicker waist and losing it all again. So it is important to keep my measurements up to date. When unsure, I always whip out the measuring tape.

How to measure: Measure around the widest part of your bust, the narrowest part of your natural waist, and the widest part of your hips. Wear your usual bra while doing this. Keep the tape taut and parallel to the floor - how tight to pull it is up to you, but you'll generally get the most flattering size results if you pull the tape as tight as you'd like your clothes to fit. For difficult to reach areas like inseams or bust, get your partner to measure for you. It could turn into something sexy *wink*.

Take note of the model's stats and pose

A dress that ends knee length on the model may reach your ankle. Okay, that is an exaggeration but you get my point. A good site usually include the model statistics, so you can have an idea how an apparel may look compared to your own measurements.

Also, I'm extra careful when the model have the above poses. From experience, yours truly had done a few catalogue shoots in her former life, these poses are needed for those not-so-flattering apparel. Notice how the hands are hiding the waist or covering one side to create a thinner waistlines. Anyway, in this case, see if they have other photos showing the other angles of the apparel, just to be sure.

Check out the sizing charts

One designer's 'medium' could be another designer's 'small'. Many vendors purposely change sizes around to trick people into thinking they're smaller than they actually are to make them feel good. It is termed "vanity sizes". Once you have your own measurement, it is easy to find yourself on it and go from there.

This is especially important when you shop online from retailers like Zalora, ASOS and Net-A-Porter because they carry different labels and designers. Keep in mind that the size chart for one item may not apply to everything. Look for a site-wide chart, but even if you find one, check for sizing notes on the items you're thinking about buying.

Reviews are your best friend

Do look for customer's review too, if they are available. They often let you know if an item is cut small or large, colours accuracy and if the item falls apart after a couple of washes.

There you have it. Besides looking at the site's return policy, I usually look at these before making my purchase of each apparel. So far, I've bought lots of dresses, playsuits, lingerie, tops, bags and even shoes, but never pants. Can someone tell me the secret of buying shorts or pants online?

Last year, I didn't make any resolution. I've gone through many years saying I'd eat heathy, exercise more, made some career related goals and have it all but abandoned by 2nd week of January. So I saved myself some dignity and told myself (and Nick), "I'm not making any resolution this year. Just going to focus on my pregnancy and looking after Lauren."

Well this year, I have no more excuses for lying around and wasting my days. My kids are growing up so quickly. I've decided to make a change and use a single word to define my goal for 2015. And the word is.... QUALITY.

Family
Everywhere I turn, I see articles about being really present in children's live. I've been struggling with this, really. I'm always distracted with social media. Scrolling down the phone has become a habit. So this year, I vow to stop doing that. Stop multitasking. My husband, kids and family get full attention from me. Period.

Time
I'm not sure if anyone else feels the same. Time and years go by really quickly after I hit 30. As I'm turning mid thirties this year, I want to make the most out of my time. No more wasting what precious time I have left on earth on things or people I don't like or care about.

Things
I've also come to notice that we are running out of space. Sometimes I buy things just because they are on sale, they are cheap. I have countless bottles of body lotion, a weakness of mine, and clothes, both mine and kids. This year, less is more. No, I won't stop shopping, let's not kid ourselves here but I will only buy quality items that we really need. This includes food items, toiletries, books and toys.

Blogging
As for blogging, I will stick to my current schedule of posting twice a week. I want to focus on write only quality content that matters. I started this blog with no direction whatsoever. But now I blog with my daughters in mind. My own mother passed away when I was 13. I never had a chance to ask her how being pregnant with me was and if she has any tips on how this whole motherhood thing works. I wish this blog would be the source of reference for my girls when the time comes and if I'm no longer around. Early disclaimer though: Quality doesn't mean perfect grammar and composition. English is my third language; as long as it is useful and close to my heart, it is quality in my book :)

So how am I going to stick to my goal of a year of QUALITY? Well, specifics require some thinking. Coincidently, I'm participating in Singapore Mom Blogger's first blog train this year on how we will do 15 things differently in 2015. My post will be up on 4 Feb, so I have till then to work out what it takes.

Hope your new year has been great so far. If you have already forgotten the 50 resolutions you made on new year's eve, maybe it is time to think of just one word?

Happy New Year from us!

As a parent, 'Coddle' is the last thing we want to do to our kids. But when it comes to us being coddled and pampered by the hands of professionals, I'd say, "YES! Puh-leeaase!" Last month, Ting, Mabel and I was invited for a Naked Afternoon Tea at Molly Coddle Spa. Now, don't you get all excited. We were dressed. Only our faces were naked - make-up free!

With fellow mommy bloggers

Located at One Raffles Place, Molly Coddle Spa is the latest brainchild of Dr Cindy Yang, who is also the founder of Dr Cindy Medical Aesthetic Clinic. With her extensive experience in clinical aesthetics care, Dr Cindy passionately curates all the treatments and services offered at the spa.

That's Dr Cindy Yang in yellow - So pretty and young!

After the sumptuous afternoon tea, we had a one-on-one consultation with Dr Cindy. By the way, all first consultation with therapists at the spa is free with no obligation to start a treatment.

Age Minus Face Care Treatment

Dr Cindy recommended the 90 minute 'Age Minus' facial treatment for me because of my dry and uneven skin tone. I also have concern of fine lines and developing wrinkles. Don't we all? 'Age Minus' is targeted at rejuvenating and lifting skin. While I like the idea of years being lifted off my face, the word 'age' made me feel a little, well, old. I guess I deserve it for not looking after my skin as well as I should.

As for the treatment, I absolutely love the lift ampoule and Vitamin C Cream massage. Vitamin C is great for brightening up the skin tone and fight free radical damage. The skillful hands of the therapist on my face felt so good, I wish it lasted forever. I really appreciate that she carefully explained the products and what each step does.

You know how sometimes you can hear footsteps and chit-chats when you trying to enjoy your facial? It is one of my pet-peeves. I'm happy to report none of that happens here. The treatment rooms are cozy and private, with Christmas carols playing softly in the back ground. I felt a total bliss drifting off to sleep during the 20 minutes mask application.

If you ask me, I think there's definitely some improvement after the treatment. My face looked brighter, supple and remained soft to touch even after a couple of weeks. At home, my moisturiser glided on and absorbed better. Don't ask me how, I didn't know that was even possible.

So thumbs up! I really recommend it.

Duration: 90 minutes | Price: $188

Express Manicure

I was also treated to a basic manicure. They have many colours to choose from. I picked red just because it was Christmas and I was trying to feel sexy. I think it is something that only a stay at home mom would understand. I hardly get to dress up, so a little sexy red really lifted my spirit.

Price per set: $12

Half Back Massage

You guessed it. I enjoyed the back massage too. There were moments when I was cringing in pain though. Apparently my neck and shoulders were tight in knots (due to bad posture, hunching over the lap top, hammering out blog posts no less!) So the masseur had to rub it out while I tried not to scream. Other than that, all is good. 30 minutes was a little short though, so if you really want a nice relaxing back rub, opt for a 60 minutes massage. Better value too.

Duration: 30 minutes | Price: $68
Deep Tissue (Pressure) Massage: 60 minutes | $108

Giveaway Time!

Overall, I had a great experience and I think you deserve the same at the start of this brand new year. Molly Coddle Spa kindly offers 2 complimentary Age Minus facial treatment (worth $188 each) to my amazing readers. To qualify for the draw, simply follow 2 simple steps below!

Details of Age Minus Face Care Treatment

1. Leave a comment on this post with your name and email address.
2. Share this post on your Facebook page. (To gain an extra entry!)

This giveaway is open to all residents in Singapore. Giveaway ends on 26 Jan 2015, at 2359 hours. Winner will be announced the following day at the bottom of this post and on my Facebook page. Good luck!

*****

Molly Coddle Spa by Dr Cindy

Address: One Raffles Place #05-19A, Singapore 048616

Telephone: 62234433

Website: www.mollycoddlespa.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MollyCoddleSpa

When I first heard of Julia Gabriel's parenting workshop on 'Developing Your Child's Social & Emotional Awareness', I thought, "Oh yeah, Lauren is really shy around strangers. I wonder why?". Turned out, these areas of development are far more encompassing than I had initially thought.

Social and emotional skill is one of the 3 pillars of children's development. To read about the other two pillars, go here.

Very often, social and emotional development in children is overlooked by parents. Today's society tend to place more emphasis on academic success. But you know what? Social skills and emotional development are the very foundation of all other areas of development (cognitive, motor skills and language development). Think about it. Children who feel good about themselves and able to express their ideas and emotions are more likely to speak better and learn faster.

Unfortunately, as much as we like to say how a baby is just as calm/friendly/shy like his or her parents, children are not born with social and emotional skills. It is nurtured. It is known as character strengths which parents can start to build right from birth.

So how do we support our children social and emotional growth? Find out more in this video:

"There is no success without emotional success."

On a side note, I fully recommend Julia Gabriel Centre's parenting workshops. After every session, Nick and I came home feeling more confident, armed with invaluable tips from Julia herself. To find out when the next session is, contact them here.

This is part 3 of a 5 blogs series on how to support babies development most effectively. I will be sharing educational videos, play tips, toy reviews as well as a giveaway contest over the next few months. So sign up here or follow me on Facebook to receive updates.

Since I found out baby's brain doubles its weight in the first year and that it needs all the stimulation and reaction we can provide in order to grow, the kiasuness in me have made an effort play, sing and read more with my girls. Because every interaction counts.

But do you know how to play with your baby? Let's face it, they are not very mobile or verbal.

Here are some simple games I do with my babies (0-6 months) that cover some basic elements of development:

Finger Grasp (Social development, trust, upper body strength)

Finger Grasp is baby's first initiation at physical contact. It helps babies learn to hold onto another person as a mean of support and communication. It is actually a reflex that occurs if you place a finger on the baby's open palm. Her hand will close around your finger. Her grip will tighten if you try to remove your fingers.

With Georgia, starting from 3 months, I lay her on my bed, facing up. I let both their hands grasp my fingers and gently lift her up to a sitting position. Then I lower her back to the lying position. Now (at 6 months old), the game has evolved from a sit to a stand. So it is lay, sit, stand. She loves it and wants to do it again and again.

Wheels on the Bus (Language, cognitive, sensory, gross motor)
(Source: Fisher-Price Play IQ)

Georgia's workout time and she absolutely loves it. These exercises will help keep your baby in shape. Another one of our favourite. Remember to be gentle with your baby's movement!

Lay your baby on a blanket or towel, on her back. Sing the following song, moving the assigned body part on your baby as you sing.

(Bicycle your baby's legs as you sing the first four lines.)
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town.

The people on the bus go up and down.
(lift your baby's arms up and down)

The wipers on the bus go back and forth.
(roll baby from side to side)

The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep.
(touch your baby's nose)

Kiss & Tell (Emotional, sensory)

I love doing this with my girls when dressing and undressing them for bath. This activity builds a bond between mommy and baby, while building their cognitive and language skills.

I tell Georgia I love her forehead, then I kiss her forehead. Then I repeat for nose, mouth, ears, belly, hands and toes.

Incy Wincy Spider (Language, cognitive, sensory)

Another favourite activity of ours. In fact, I still do this to my 2 year old, Lauren.

Lay baby on down on the bed. Starting from the sole of her feet, run your fingers up her body while singing 'Incy wincy spider climbed up the water spout'. Run the fingers down her body while singing 'Down came the rain and wash the spider out'. Gently tap the sole of her feet while singing 'Out came the sun and dried up all the rain'. And run your fingers up again while singing 'And incy wincy spider climbed up the spout again'. Repeat and 'climb' up to different parts of her body. I usually go progressively higher, eventually reaching the top of her head.

Imitation (Visual tracking, sensory, cognitive, social)

Imitation is a complex activity for a baby. She may need some practice but she will learn to imitate you eventually.

I put Georgia in her rocking chair and I sit facing her. If your baby can't sit up unassisted yet, you can have her laying down, facing up, as long as she is in a position to focus on your face. I start with pursing lips. Do it slowly repeatedly. Watch out for any movement she may make. It may be very subtle but she will get it eventually. I rotate between sticking out my tongue, pursing my lip, mouth wide open, tilting my head to one side, then another. Don't expect a full-on imitation from your baby but I guarantee you'll get at least get a smile from her for your silliness.

Tipsy Teeter Totter (Gross motor skill)
(source: Fisher-Price Play IQ)

Balance is a tricky task for your baby to master in those early months. At first she has difficulty just balancing that big head. But soon she'll enjoy being challenged with games like Tipsy Teeter-Totter!

Place a small towel on your thigh as a cushion for your baby. Seat your baby on your thigh, facing you. Hold your baby by her arms, then move your hands down the length of her arms to her fingers, so you're holding on lightly. As you balance your baby on your leg, move your leg around slowly. Try to let go of one hand, then the other, while balancing your baby, being ready to catch her if needed. Turn your baby in the other direction and play again.

This is part 4 of a 5 blogs series on how to support babies development most effectively. Check out my Facebook page over the next couple of weeks for 'How To Play With Baby' videos. Meanwhile, here is an infographic to guide you along your baby's first year!

Are you suffering from flat, limp hair? Well, I am. My hair is so straight that hairstylists often think I've done rebonding. It also doesn't help that I'm currently losing hair post pregnancy and somehow my scalp becomes greasier than ever.

Then I read online about reverse shampooing.. (sounds like an advert, doesn't it?)

What Is Reverse Shampoo?

Reverse shampoo basically means washing my hair in reverse order. Conditioner first, shampoo second. The theory is that when you wash your hair, you can never quite rinse all the conditioner out - leaving a residue that weighs hair down and makes it flat, and not bouncy.

The Test

I am always up for an experiment if it sounds fairly reasonable. So I started with gently applying conditioner onto the bottom half of my hair. I leave it in for about 5 minutes while I shower and then rinse it out. Then I massaged shampoo onto my scalp and the rest of my hair before rinsing it out.

Verdict

Air-dried hair with conditioner last on the left, and reverse shampoo on the right.

I thought it worked great considering you don't get that soapy finish you sometimes get when you condition after shampoo. I thought my hair would be hard to comb through but it was knot free and felt very clean and fresh.

It looks a little frizzier but I don't mind it that much. Usually my scalp would feel oily without washing after a day but with reverse shampoo, I managed to stretch it out to 3 days!

I think I might alternate between reverse shampoo on some days and the usual conditioner last on days when the hair starts to feel dry.

Remember to use clarifying shampoo that deeply cleanses without any built-ups. I use sulfate-free Full Shampoo from Living Proof. It can be purchased on Sephora makeup online.

So have you try this method? Did it work for you? Do you have any advice on how to deal with greasy and flat hair? I'd love to hear!

Has your daughter been pretending to ballet dance in front of the mirror? Has she been taking your handbag and dragging it around the house? Does she love tiaras and princesses? If your answer is yes; you, my friend has a girly girl on hand. And I think she might like this collection from Dreams Avenue. Psst..You will like it too as they are very pocket friendly :)

I am going to gush a lot on this post. I mean, just at her. How cute is she in this white Belle of the Ball dress?

It is made with eyelet floral material with pretty rosette in contrasting colour on one side of the collar and a lovely bubble skirt. It comes with matching handbag and floral hairband.

Lauren started hopping in front of the mirror when I put this dress on her. Maybe it reminds her of a fluffy bunny? By the way, anyone needs a flower girl for their wedding? I have one for loan and we have a perfect dress for it too.

If white isn't your thing, this baby blue Like You Dots! Twirl Dress is just as sweet and ladylike. The lace ribbon brooch on the shoulder is detachable; I just love the fully lined circle skirt with ruffles. With the matching handbag and faux pearl necklace, your girl is ready to join you on your next high tea.

Sometimes less is more. This mod dress with ruffles at the bottom is just enough to bring out the fashionista in little girls. It is called Diamond in the Ruff Dress for a reason.

Comes with a matching handbag and an elastic faux pearl necklace, this red Earn My Stripes dress would be perfect for visiting during Chinese New Year.

I love the subtle floral prints on the skirt. So sweet! This detachable rose brooch would also look great on the shoulder.

Lauren loves this lovely Cutie Pie Striped Tank Tutu dress. She refers to it as the 'ballet dress' and wants to wear it everyday. Available in 3 colours - red, blue and Lauren's favourite purple, the attached top is a comfortable stretchy cotton tank. It is really good enough to wear daily.

This Flower Power Dress in magenta is so photogenic. I had a hard time choosing which photo to include in this post. It features a rosette and ribbon on one shoulder and comes with a matching handbag and a faux pearl floral hairband.

Lauren is about 91cm tall and all the dresses shown here are sized 3-4 years old. The Asian mommy in me always pick a larger size but I reckon she could wear these at least for another 2 years. The dresses come with matching tie-back, so the waist will always fit. The skirt will get shorter as she grows, but aren't short dresses just as cute?

Most Dreams Avenue dresses are catered for children aged 2 to 8; while some go as small as newborn sizing. Georgia and Lauren are both wearing the super cute Beary Fine Cropped Jacket. It could be worn alone or draped over the shoulder. Yes, babies can look chic too! If you are unsure about which size to get, feel free to drop the helpful and prompt Dreams Avenue team an email.

Besides fancy dresses, I spied some fashionable blazer, cardigans and t-shirts for boys on the website too. For my readers and friends, Dreams Avenue has kindly offered 10% off all purchase. Just enter THECHILLMOM10OFF as you check out. Offers ends 2 March 2015.

******

About

Dreams Avenue is the brainchild of a husband and wife team who wanted to provide the same great, comfortable and affordable children-wear they wanted for their daughter, for everyone. Sourcing from different countries, Dreams Avenue brings in a multitude of chic designs for different ages and for all occasions.

Dreams Avenue | Website | Blog | Facebook | Instagram

When Rachel Teo of Catch 40 Winks suggested this blog train in January, I had a million things at the top of my head. I still do. But since I've made the promise on my 'quality' blog post about being fully present when I'm with my family, I have little time left to blog. So please bear with me as this post is rather last minute and is all over the place. That is what happened when I've composed the post in my head and just vomit it all out at one go.

One thing.. I've just celebrated my 35th birthday over the weekend and I'm done thinking I'm old. No, seriously, for years I have this thing about not having a big celebration for birthdays for fear that people will know how old I am in the future. Like I am worried for the future me, just in case I need to hide my age in the future.

Somehow this year, something clicked. I feel alright being my age and I'm gonna embrace that from now on.

Talking about embracing. Lauren, Georgia, Nick, dad, sis and bro, watch out. There will be more hugs for you people this year. Literally and metaphorically. Since we (my dad and siblings) are not logistically close to each other, hugs will come in the form of whatsapp messages, skype and phone calls. Yes, turn off your phone if you get tired of me... coz I'm ready to give lots of sugar this year.

So what triggers the sudden flowing of love, you ask?

Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, a girl lost her mom to asthma at 34 years old. Her maternal grandmother passed away at around the same age too. This girl grew up thinking she might live until 34 years old only too. So all her life she has been fiercely independent, living her life exactly how she wanted to a point when she's been called self-absorbed and she didn't even mind it. Because life is short. Then one day, she turned 35. She had a sudden realisation that she had outlived her mom and grandmother. She looked around and noticed that her life hasn't worked out exactly the way she wanted. She spends her day looking after others but she couldn't be happier.

I'm grateful and happy as of this moment, being 35, happily married with 2 super adorable girls. I will strive to wake up every day excited about the day ahead. For days when I don't feel so great, I will think of all the things I'm grateful for.

I say this because sometimes I lament and complain about things. Life gets crazy sometimes - with so many articles out there telling you how to be a good parent and I lose it. I forgot how to be a fun, happy mom, wife, daughter, sibling and friend.

Maybe it is the chilly weather today or maybe the house is a little quiet at the moment (although this may change at any moment's notice when a child wakes up from nap), I feel that this year, in order to gain some equilibrium, I should also start listening to myself. Listen to my gut feeling. If a social invitation or blogging opportunity comes up, and I don't immediately go, "Hell yeah!"; I would just say no. This way I could focus my time and energy into things that really matter. Doing some educational activities with the kids, for instant.

I want to manage my time better too. I will get rid of time-robbers activities like watching TV, shopping unnecessarily or killing time on the computer. Maybe not entirely, but it is a work in progress.

And finally, I want to look after myself well, so I can look after my family. It is time to take out those bottles of supplements from the kitchen cabinet and actually eat them on a regular basis. I also need to sleep earlier than my usual 1am sleep time.

So I ended up with 9 things instead of just 5. When you are ready to make changes in life, it is hard to contain yourself. These changes are not just for 2015. It may change or it may evolve as time goes by. These are just the beginning towards a better me.

*****

What will you do differently this year? For more inspiration, click on this badge to see what other mommy bloggers have planned for themselves. Next on the blog train is Ashley Lee of Mothers' Avenue.

As an Infant Teacher by day and mommy by night, Ashley spends most of her free time at home, occasionally taking off for 'me-time'. Ashley, a mother of one spends her time typing away for her blog, Mothers' Avenue Singapore and she shares raw emotional views on parenting and marriage related issues.

Valentine's Day is approaching and what better time for me to show my appreciation to you, my awesome readers!

Since you've shown me so much love, I'm partnering up with RISIS, a premier lifestyle gift-maker, known for its artisanal techniques and unique designs, to give one lucky reader a beautiful bracelet from their 2015 Valentines's Day collection, Love Meets Love. Get it? Get it?

The bracelets (worth S$248) is crafted in 925 silver and plated in 18K gold. It is embellished with a red enameled saga seed (symbol of affection in the region) and a pink rose quartz, specially cut to resemble the unique, organic form of the saga seeds.

So make sure you enter by completing these few steps!
1. Like RISIS Facebook page.
2. Sign up for my weekly newsletter here. (Current subscribers are all eligible since I already have your email addresses!)
3. Comment on this post telling me what you love to read on The Chill Mom.

Bonus entry: Share this post on Facebook and gain additional chance at the draw.

This giveaway is open to all Singaporeans and permanent residents in Singapore. It starts today and ends on February 13 (Friday) midday.

Have a lovely weekend!

Last week I was on fire and published 4 posts on 4 consecutive days. So this week, I'm just gonna cheat and just fill a post with photos and let them do most of the talking. Here goes....

We went to Legoland Waterpark during the last school holiday. We set out bright and early at 9:30am from Singapore Flyer. There are 'direct' shuttle coaches that departs 4 times/day to Legoland Malaysia. For more info, go here.

Despite leaving early, we finally got to Legoland just before noon. WHAT?! The 'direct' coach wasn't so direct after all. It went via Woodlands and made a pitstop at City Square to drop some passengers off. Apparently, there was a Doraemon exhibition. Hopefully, this isn't always the case and one could actually get to Legoland faster.

So we head off to grab some lunch outside the waterpark before heading in because it is one time entry. NO re-entry after you exit the park. But don't worry, you can grab food INSIDE the water park too. We will come that later.

Here is Dulop Splash Safari - the toddler pool. You see what you get - animal statues, sprinklers, mini slides and styrofoam lego blocks that floats.

I know I look more excited than my toddler here. But trust me, she did make go with her over and over again.

Meanwhile, my 7 years old nephew, Rohan and 9 years old niece, Mithraa were having a blast at Joker Soaker. It is basically a massive water playground for children above the height of 102cm to play unsupervised. I took Lauren there but she was having none of it.

Here I am, anticipating 350 gallon of water to splash down from the bucket above.

Oh no... here it comes!

AHHHHHH!!!!! The water was cold!

We spent most of our time here at the Build-A-Raft River.

We took a long time to build a raft.

Turned out there is a special method of building a raft from Lego blocks. Luckily a staff came over to show us how.

We, of course, were then proudly parading our raft along the river ride, which took about 10 minutes.

We managed to get on just long enough to snap this photo before we all tumbled off. Err.. by the way, that's how the smallest life jacket fits on Lauren. Doesn't she look ecstatic?!

If you don't have a raft, you can float along the river in one of these giant floaties too.

Looking so proud on board HMS Rohan's Raft. He told everyone he built it.

These cabana are up for rent if you are keen to have a spot to call your own to chill. You know, away from the crowd. These would come in handy for breastfeeding and toddler nap time too.

I didn't get one. So I breastfed and held Lauren this way while she napped in the changing room for AN HOUR.

If you are feeling hungry, there are 2 options at LEGOLAND WaterPark. There's Beach N' Brick Grill (located next to Wave Pool) that serves substantial Asian and Western meals and this one - Brick Bay Cafe serves sandwiches and light meals.

Photo credit to Legoland Malaysia

Meanwhile, my sister, niece and nephew busied themselves with Legoland waterpark's thrilling slides. Too bad I'm there with a toddler who is below the minimum height of 102cm.

The only water ride I tried was this Brick Blaster. I screamed all the way down. Mind you, the last time I went to big waterpark was 17 years ago.

After her nap, this was pretty much where Lauren spent the rest of her afternoon. Younger kids seems to gravitate towards this Imagination Station where they get to built bridges, buildings AND play with water guns.

Lastly, we cooled off at the Wave Pool. Nice consistent waves lapping on us without any sands.

Although most slides and water station were catered to older kids, I think what's there was enough for toddler like Lauren too. She may not get to play everything, but judging from this photo after they had a shower and ready to go home, I think we had some pretty happy customers.

I can't wait for both Georgia and Lauren to be older, so we can try all the slides. We will be back!

PS: We went to Legoland Malaysia Theme Park too!