expatpetitemom

On Keeping Up Appearances as a Mom

10:34:00 PM

Hey Mommies,

First thing first, we did an amazing job creating our babies and we deserve all the love and praises no matter what size we are currently in. Of course, it was an amazing battle we hardly ever fought - but we won! And we can all nod in agreement that the moment a tiny little being stole our hearts and entered the no 1. spot in our lives, our priorities and perspectives in life began to diverge. I don't know about you but my youthful thinking and beliefs began to vanished and so with my looks. So long forever-young goals and appearances!

But don't fret, as KIM K very well put it and which I definitely agreed on, just because I'm a mom doesn't mean I'm dead. I believe we can still be pretty confident while trying our best maneuvering our time to save the world.

Exercise for a Healthy and Fit Body

For many years, I've been putting exercise and being body fit at the bottom of my priority. I went back to work 45-days after giving birth and oh man, the advancement in my career decreases my energy for everything that involves my baby and I'm often too tired. The solution; a realistic schedule and exercise plan. But who would have time to go to the gym when we have more tasks and responsibilities than the hours of the day? When we have more pressing concerns like SLEEP for instance? Good news you don't have to go that route!

There are many ways and option to do it without messing up your schedule and lifestyle. I wake up extra early in the morning to jog around the house with Chloe and the puppy. You can put your baby in a stroller and go for a walk early morning. Turn on the TV and do some Zumba dancing. Or better yet you can download a 7-minute workout app that lets you pick a workout that fits into a small time you have. It's free and helps keep your exercise options interesting in just a very quick 7 minutes - so you could spend more time chasing the kids around the house.

Ditch the Mommy Uniform and Just Be you!

I admit it, it takes months for me before I traded my loose T-shirt, Joggers, Mom up-do (because I haven't washed my hair for days) and my oldie but goodie sneakers for my now fashion stylin' while mommin' uniform.

I'm not an expert but looking good doesn't mean doing the full face of makeup or a blowout to take your kids to school. Or why not, if you scare people with your no-make up look? I love double duty beauty products that can work as a blush on, eye shadow and lipstick when I'm on a run. I went an extra mile and master the capsule wardrobe I can mix and match in so many ways. I love accessories that add oomph to my outfit or a staple style horse you can dress up or down. Jumpsuits are always my go-to when I'm in a rush and needs to get ready in a minute.

But if you choose comfort over style that's totally okay too. Only by knowing what works best for you and choose the right pieces to help you juggle with your mom duties comfortably.

Let Your Healthy Glowing Hair Do the Talking!

Earlier this week, Dhel asked me what's the best haircut for him as he hates the way his hair looks and grows thinner these days. I told him I wanted a rebonding treatment for my dry coarse hair too so we can go together. Let's call it a date? Lol

Regardless of whether you are a mom or a dad, our hair gets thinner as we get older. Our hair is our crowning glory so why do we give it so little care? It might sound excessive but our hair needs quality multivitamin too. Go straight to the source and nourish the inside by taking a supplement. It is best when you take one with biotin every morning and evening for healthier and stronger hair.

So again, mommies even if we are working full-time or part-time with our mommy duties our body deserves to be celebrated from head-to-toes. And all it takes is a little TLC and absolutely zero hating only pure body love.

Thanks a lot for reading!

This post was sponsored. As usual, all opinions are my own.

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The Best Gift On Mother's Day | Quality Time + Gold Sneakers

8:17:00 AM

A new pair of gold sneakers!

How was your mother’s day celebration so far? Last week there was some sort of fairy-tale like in the air at our house as my loving husband built the princess-warrior-vibe closet of my dreams? I spent the day staring at this impeccably styled built-in hanging shelf paired with a “less is more” clothing rack making ample use of the space beneath this tiny but cozy space like ours. The word impeccable was not random (only the Gold sneaker in the title was!) because as I gaze at my display while sipping coffee, lying on the bed with Chloe (on our PJs!) it seems to get dreamier and dreamier. Lol

Don’t we all fantasize about some quality time to ourselves especially on a Mother’s day? Spending the day with my loved ones would be the greatest gift of my life. I brought the puppy into our room, hang out on the bed until Chloe woke up with sloppy kisses all over. Daddy came in with my favorite coffee, which he usually does every single day of my life except that today he added extra condensed milk. Special hubby shoutout post coz after 6 rollercoaster-filled years, I can still feel all the feels! Sometimes moments and days like these are all I needed where I just want to relax and enjoy life, guilt-free J

This gold sneaker can wait another year, or maybe not.

Of course, we’ve seen how Gold Sneakers are clogging up our Insta feed or donned on fashion runways and I don’t see this sneaker moment ending anytime soon. This gold sneaker from StyleWE looks comfy and who wouldn’t say no to that stellar design and color, perfect for a sequined skirt paired with a basic tee. Go add to cart!!

Thankfully for an online shop like StyleWE, I can have my Mother’s day or holidays to myself and family, sometimes even wrap in beautiful packaging delivered to my doorstep.

Thus the impetus of this post; finding brands who share the same sentiment and making everyday lives less chaotic so we could spend more time with our families– setting our priorities straight!

A few months ago I’ve talked about how your ultimate love for designer’s clothing come to life at StyleWe. Today I’m talking about all their latest and fabulous collection at JustFashionNow.com and get ready for this formal season in STYLE. In fact, at StyleWe the sky is the limit, you can mix patterns, colors, shoes, bags, jewelry and casual dresses.

I’ve been in real style rut a couple of weeks ago as the perfect red formal dress I’ve been ogling for a colleague’s wedding was sold out at the last minute. The search at Bangkok’s market and shopping alley just couldn’t make me feel excited anymore. It’s just too many options and the ticking clock just added to the pressure. I was feeling under the weather and had to excuse myself to the wedding day itself. Such a bummer!

So I’ve put together a little inspired formal outfit guide from Justfashionnow for you to gobble up in case you do too. My ultimate favorite is this Spaghetti Sexy V-Neck Midi Dress and it's on fire! Be anything but simple in this stunning faux satin dress with spaghetti straps, sexy open back and chain-like back details.

So now I’m showing you what else I’ve got my eye on:

Click through their website and widen your imagination when choosing an outfit because as most women would agree, anything goes with fashion.

Thanks a lot for reading!

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Fuelbaby Feeding Bottle | For Super Moms with Super Active Baby

8:37:00 AM

Ever feel your blood slowly smoldering when you’re calling your baby for dinner or sleeping time but she lingers and ignores you? And poor momma had a stressful day at work so you snapped and shouted at a 3-year-old bubba. But still, she turns off her sharp antennae because this super active baby is too engaged in her long super fun play sessions. What makes a 3-year-old have all that energy?

Disturbing as this may sound, I’m trying not to interrupt her busy schedule right away. I know she’s assimilating with the new environment or neighborhood and playing with them would be a great way to expose her and spend some time in the company of adults other than me and daddy. I’m keeping in mind the benefit for her and a chance to develop special interactions with cousins, grandparents, kids of her age or close family friends. Plus, she can practice her communication skills.

On the side note, Chloe has nothing but goofy and silly facial expressions most of the time. (So long cute baby photos!) And the little girl is pretty clever she was telling mommy she gets it from Daddy and friends but nah ah, she just doesn’t want mommy to check what she’s watching on Youtube, on the TV and movies. She’s overwhelmed by what she’s seeing and hearing and she tends to copy them all. Sometimes good sometimes bad and we need some Spartan filtering to do!

So going back, implementing a consistent nap time or meal time with a 3-year-old can be so tricky. One surefire clue is when the power of play is making her consistently lively and resistant of sleeping or eating a regular meal. At this age, a nice transition of things can be helpful; “rest time” for sleeping and “milk-to-go” for eating.

That is why I’m so happy to be partnering with Fuelbaby on partaking innovative and useful resources in making lives easier for parents: save time, cost-efficient, user-friendly, safe for baby and makes us ready to face our day-to-day battles. Introducing their first ever product, the newly launched ultimate feeding bottle –Fuelbaby bottle.

Prep at Home. Mix on the Go. Feed Anywhere.

I always love to let my baby feel she’s in control of some situations like picking her own clothes, choosing her own toys or things she often used. This way she can give me a clue about which she likes better, given the proper guidelines and quality inspection by me of course. And the first time she saw Fuelbaby bottle, somebody had to call a referee because she won’t let daddy or anyone touch it. She calls it her “pink bottle”.

Their clump-free and forward-thinking designs come in three parts;

FuelbabyBottle 8oz

This design is very well thought of. It is lighter than some feeding containers considering its size and is shatterproof. It is easy to clean as you can break them in parts. You can wash them with your regular detergent and warm water by hand or dishwasher. I prefer to wash bottles by hand and I don’t boil them anymore since I’m afraid of chemicals that can be leak when exposed to hot temperatures. But nothing to worry as Fuelbaby bottle is free from any harmful chemicals and completely non-toxic so rest assured your baby is safe and happy. Isn’t that our main priority and criteria for judging?

Fueler

This comes in handy when you or your baby are always on-the-go or if she asks for a bottle during midnight. You can prepare in advance by measuring formula and store on this Fueler at home or before you go to bed. It saves me ample time by not using a separate storage or eliminates the mess because I don’t need to transfer it to the bottle. You can buy extra Fueler if you like so you can just swap it out for next serving. The size is perfect too for me not to mix big batches or amount only to throw out what’s left over in the end.

By the way, just a random tip for new moms like me, always mix formula exactly as it says on the label. I know you’ve heard it a lot but sometimes we’re so in a rush that we add too much water or too little. Definitely, you can see the results of this by looking at your baby’s poop. If that happens, try adding water if it’s hard on her stomach and vice-versa.

Teat AntiColic Nipple

Don’t you just love it that this feeding bottle is BPA-free and completely non-toxic? Some plastic bottles are filled with a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) and it’s extremely harmful. Of course, safety always comes first! All of their products including Nipples are completely non-toxic and it is even fueled with anti-colic air system that helps minimize uncomfortable pressure and gas that can be swallowed by baby while feeding. I can tell by basing it on the nipple’s hole that it has a good flow rate. We have tried several types of nipples in various shapes and sizes but so far my baby can drink easily from this one. Happy tummy equals happy baby!

You can watch their video here to have a better idea of how it works.

So mommies, the next time your baby demands and marches into the next house and stays there like forever – I mean until your partner struggles to bring her home – pack her meal or beddings and ask your friendly neighbors to babysit while you’re at it. Lol. We can get into battles with our kids on basically everything but if it’s only during the weekend and she enjoys it, I can’t be bothered. Now I don’t mind her staying in the neighborhood as long as she brings her milk or lies on the bed for rest time and charges her batteries. Let kids be kids for now.

Thanks a lot for reading!

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Amazing Campaign and Giveaway | pout Care Crusaders

3:26:00 AM

Guess what's this incredible thing happening at pout.com.sg today? Our favorite hair care brand pout Care Singapore (read our review here) is having an amazing campaign and giveaway called pout Care Crusaders where they are looking for kids with admirable characters such as Kindness, Perseverance, Creativity and Love for Learning. I strongly believe in developing characters on kids over anything else, so help me God. I'm not a perfect mom but I would love to be remembered as the mom whose kids feed the dog on the streets, hold the door for people or that my girl would always say please, thank you or yes ma'am - if that's the only thing I could teach her and remember by heart.

So if you think this is what motherhood is mostly all about - to do everything we can to raise the next generation of good mannered citizen - nominate your child and stand to win over $100 worth of pout Care products. Just follow the mechanics below, use the hashtag #poutCareCrusaders or tag a mom friend to join in. It's always fun to join with friends supporting you all the way and don't forget to tell me in the comment section your #momgoals and your kid's admirable qualities :)

Let's start:

Crusade #1 - pout Care Crusaders who display Kindness.

Here's how you can nominate your child:

1. Ask your child to write down an act of kindness that he or she displayed recently. It could be a simple act towards a sibling, or towards a stranger. Your child can be as descriptive as possible - we want to hear the details of what your child did and how the other party reacted to his or her act of kindness. If your child is below 7 years old, you may write it on behalf of your child.

2. Like pout Care Facebook page here.

3. Post your child's description on your own Facebook page and include a photo of your child with his/her name and age. Use this hashtag #poutCareCrusaders anywhere in your post. If you do not include this hashtag, they will not be able to find your entry.

4. Tag pout Care Facebook page in your post.

5. Ask your friends and family to Like your post.

Voila, you're done! The top 2 posts with the most number of votes will win a set of pout Care products worth over $100. For more information visit their website.

So hurry, nominate your child today! Crusade #1 will close on 26 May 2017.

Thanks in advance for joining,

***This post is in partnership with pout Care Singapore. And as usual, all opinions are my own.

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Fashion

Formal Dresses | What's On My Wishlist

6:46:00 PM

I've been pretty obsessed with pinning the perfect formal dresses lately; those with fashion-forward styling and kick ass details perfect for the young ambitious woman in me.

Ugh.

It's uncomfortable to hear those honest words of acknowledgement but truly satisfying to say them out loud sometimes instead of hiding them behind platitudes. Even if that would mean I've got way less likes and fewer engagements on Instagram because of my hashtag #glendaisamaterialgirl. Ha!

I mean if your Pinterest boards, subscriptions or wish list resembles lot like mine, you would find your online cart flooded with formal dresses galore. And instead of spilling your useful tips and helping your bride-to-be bff to get through the pre-wedding chaos on finding the perfect dress as she count the days to happily ever after, you found yourself diverting to the fantasy of fitting the perfect formal dress for you. Of course, there's just so much planning to do, but first, secure the idea of looking great yourself- without upstaging the bride. Sounds familiar?

I hear yah. That's why I've put together these classy and elegant formal dresses from Australia that's picture prefect and adds a visual definition of elegant. It's difficult to choose only a few from this collection because they all look stunning and gorgeous but I'll put in the extra effort to narrow down your choices and saves you more time to plan your ensemble accordingly.

This blue formal dress signals you to pull out all the stops; the highest of heels, the sparkle of gems and the studded clutch that spells "main attraction". I love how this hue conveys confidence and ultimate sophistication. With all the things associated with this color - the view of the ocean, the beautiful planets and the sky on a clear sunny day - this is no doubt the perfect dress for cooler vibes and cheerful personality!

If you want to add more dresses to the list of things you want to ask your Santa husband or boyfriend on a payday, visit Formal Dres s Australia and make sure to buy that cuteness before it's gone for good.

P. S if you're not feeling comfortable or confident with your dress, or even if it's just "okay", how can you expect to live a fabulous life?

xoxo,

***This post was sponsored by formal dress Australia. As usual all opinions are my own.***

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Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold

7:59:00 PM

To all the adventurers, trailblazers, risk takers and ultimate survivors this book is for us. Yes, plural!

I started reading this book sometime in August while vacationing at the beautiful beaches in Phuket. At first, I’m kind of disappointed with myself because I’m not good at deciphering flashback scenes in books or in movies. So I read the book slowly and mostly outdoors –sitting in a hammock on our hotel’s patio.

It’s simple but covers pretty much everything about adventure, mystery, history and intrigue. As the writer puts it, it’s a story of more twists and turns than a rollercoaster ride. I love how the main young character breaks out of the conventional gender role to be in her badass self by setting off on a seriously ridiculous and a bit hilarious adventure by flying her own De Havilland Beaver seaplane. It’s such a lovely series, one I’ll definitely read it to Chloe at an early age. Kitty Hawk’s boundless curiosity and knack for overcoming challenges or getting herself into all kinds of risky adventures is a great avenue to ignite children’s love for nature and adventure, one I definitely feel and would love my Chloe to grow up with.

I’m grateful how this one simple story of a young heroine woke up a side of me that’s hungry and curious for this type of adventure, which now made me starve for more travels, experiences, love for history, mystery and everything else.

My favorite part of the story would definitely be the time when she met the four “pretty-good-looking-brothers-having-a-bit-of-Hugh-Jackman-thing-going-on in all of them. I always have a thing for deep cinematography and these characters feel existent to me in a setting that gives the impression of actually watching a film or being with them. It was chilling and fascinating at the same time. Not to mention the subtitles in the chapters that grips you and keeps you turning pages.

I just wish these book series make it to the big screen someday, is this too much to ask? J

*****This post was sponsored by book publicity services. As usual, all opinions are my own*****

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Fashion

How Your Ultimate Love for Designers Clothing Come To Life!

11:59:00 PM

Do you have that strong craving for designers fashion but don't have the budget to support your taste?

At StyleWe, you can turn designers clothing into a budget wardrobe. It boasts a collection of unique and elegant fashion pieces at affordable prices that doesn't sacrifice quality but also delivers the chicest of accessories from independent designers around the world. With their unique concept of putting independent designers together to deliver high-quality fashion, this shopping website is exactly what it sounds like; a community of style shared by designers and customers.

I have to confess, I think I have a dangerous love affair with online shopping simply because I buy almost everything online. One of the main reasons I prefer online shopping over the conventional bricks-and-mortar shopping is its convenience. And I'm so happy to find another shopping mecca on the internet, StyleWe. Their beautifully constructed website is easy to navigate and is ultimately your one-stop destination for all things fashion, from dresses to jumpsuits, from bags to other chic accessories. And to make things even better, they allow consumers to communicate directly with their designers throughout the entire fashion cycle. Speaking of "people helping people"!

How does it work?

Take for example these versatile two-piece dresses tailored for a touch of elegance and are trendy enough for both work and play. Designers showcase their sense of style by focusing on the design. It is then the sole responsibility of StyleWe to ensure that production and the final product is able to meet all the designer's specifications. They even have in-house experts to review the design and quality for you. Only proves that StyleWe is dedicated to helping little-known designers to achieve their dreams.

Now comes my favorite part and the most exciting one; StyleWe then publishes the products online where you can choose from a variety of designs with the designer's name on the label and make your love for designers clothing come to life.

Don't worry about shipping and payment security. At StyleWe you can use Paypal for a secure payment and smooth transaction without giving away your credit card number and bank information which is one of the crucial parts of online shopping. And once your order and payment are submitted you can expect 3-5 business days for processing and 7-12 business days for shipping time depending on your location and chosen method of shipment.

And good news for international customers like me, StyleWe now offers international shipping at approximately 2 weeks processing and delivery time.

For more details, you can follow their Instagram account for a daily dose of design and outfit inspirations or their StyleWe Blog for more tips on buying quality fashion pieces.

Thanks a lot for reading,

****This post was sponsored by StyleWe and as usual, all opinions are my own****

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Fashion

Aisle Style UK: Your Ultimate Prom Dress Guide

1:20:00 AM

So when Aisle Style UK reached out to me and wanted me to showcase their latest collection of prom dresses I've said yes with a strange excitement. This reminds me of my Aunt's tailoring shop where I took an effort to make my own unique prom gown, "something that fits me well and represents my personality" I told my aunt and I can still clearly remember that approving look on her eyes. It would have been my own cinderella moment with an off-the-shoulder ruby ball gown except that our organizer canceled our JS Prom last minute. Well, teenagers are notorious for making their own rules and breaking somebody else's.

Anyway, I don't want you to get to that awkward stage where you'll look back at your prom pictures and cringe, okay?

About AISLE STYLE:

Aisle Style was founded in 2007 and is a global online retailer of evening dresses, wedding dresses, and most especially prom dresses. They guarantee you the best quality products at reasonable prices. Aisle Style has a wide selection of high-quality custom-made prom dresses to fit your style, body type, and fashion sense.

How to pick the perfect prom dress:

Well, they say it depends on your figure or body type but we don't want to limit ourselves, do we? Maybe we already have the idea of a perfect dress in mind but still want to check out the most exciting trends this year. If you want to go with the latest trends then take cues from magazines, celebrities, and runways to have an idea of the most sought style of the season. Crop tops, lace trims, and sequins are everywhere and have been rocking the runway as well as the red carpet recently. You can try many styles and cut as you want but THEN AGAIN maybe they are right! The key is finding what looks best on you, fits you comfortably well and most especially makes you stand out of the crowd. If not then what’s the point? Lol.

With over 1200 different models, Aisle style UK prom dress collection has something for every girl’s idea of the “perfect dress”. And if you’re the girl who doesn't like trendy but prefers the timeless beauty like me, you can always look for their dresses made of flowy chiffon, sexy jersey, and satin fabrics: simple yet chic enough to become an instant favorite.

Now let's talk about the perfect length:

A fun off-the-shoulder long gown is one of my personal favorite styles for prom or any special occasion. Of course, short gowns and above the knee length can be amazing for petite like me as well. I love how their bubble hemline creates the curve for my small frame and show off a lot of legs. Haha! The only setback with short dresses though is that details can be crucial. In order to keep it, formal go for delicate laces, ruffle skirts, bold florals or sequins, and crystals combined. I mean we can forget about hemline but long prom dresses for me are more prom-worthy. Either way, solid colors are my best bet. ;p

And always remember you don’t have to break the bank to look fabulous:

Girls don’t let the cost of your prom dress be the reason your mom will keep you from attending. Remember prom can be one pricey evening; think of your transportations, accessories, makeup and shoes that could add up to your expenses. But the good news is you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to look fantastic on your prom. You can shine as bright as anyone else with ordinary or cheap prom dresses just by acting as if they were pricey. Confidence is the key. You can’t have a good time unless you are fully confident in your own beauty. Just plaster a smile on your face and enjoy your moment.

Goodluck and thanks a lot for reading,

** This post was sponsored by Aisle style and as usual, all opinions are my own**

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Journeys in Thailand

There Are Many Ways To See the World

7:53:00 PM

I’m yearning for the sound of water flowing from the faucet, the sink is clogged.

I’m longing for the giggling of kids and heavy footsteps running up and down the stairs – beautiful slippers are scattered all around.

I’m curious about the people talking behind the walls - with noises I don’t understand.

I love the transparency of emotions on a woman’s eyes when she’s giving you something or asking you for a favor – her head bowed down.

I love to hear stories of the past – good or bad. I listen to every testimony this woman imparts – God is indeed good in everyone’s life.

I wonder how she loves to wear this worn-out dress when she’s this close to complaining she has a lot of dress to organize.

I admire this person’s ability to convince and sell you something you don’t personally support – she understands that.

I unleash genuine smiles and children greetings in the morning air – the hype of being a morning person.

I love the idea of having a shared bathroom and the chaos it cause us every Sunday morning – this reminds me of values sometimes forgotten.

I appreciate how they offer to take good care of my child and squeezed her with lots of hugs and kisses – I can always fix her ponytails and hairdos in case you got it ruined.

I hate the smell of cigarettes, dirty floor, dead fishes, and overflowing trash bins – I appreciate if you can offer a hand.

I’m always looking forward to the food you prepare for lunch and the trips we plan afterward. But unplanned trips are always the best – I’m more excited on that!

I love the taste of milk tea delivered on my doorsteps – it awakens my senses.

But most especially, I love the smell of the kitchen – the view of fresh vegetables like I woke up on my father’s farm.

I like it all.

"I see the value of each and every way of being and it makes me happy that these people are in this world!"

-G.R. Rondolos