SAHM Survival Tips!

It's been almost three years that I've been a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM). Imagine all that I could have done in that three years..be it furthering my education, working, or even traveling the world like what most of my peers are doing/have done. I'll admit it that at times I do wonder about all the possibilities, but the the truth is I really wouldn't feel right leaving Kaitlin in the care of someone else be it the grandparents, helper or childcare option.

Most people have the misconception that being a SAHM is all fun and that we lead the tai tai life. People assume we get to watch the kids grow up and just spend our day playing with them. Yes, we do that..but we also do alot more like cooking for them, showering them, picking up after them, researching and doing fun activities with them and the one that's the hardest..disciplining them. Yes, just like how you have a full-time job, we have one as well. In fact, most times we work 24/7. It's not easy, and even till today I find myself struggling at times. Thankfully though, I've realised and learnt certain things during my SAHM journey that I would like to share with you:


Planning
Planning is so very important for a SAHM. Trust me, whether it's sitting down at the table and planning your to-do list or planning it in your head, just do it.

This includes planning activities for your kids, meal planning, planning for outings and the list goes on.

I find that it helps me feel less stress and more prepared for the day/week. I know what I've to do, what I've to prepare and what to expect and in turn a less stressed mom means a happier mom.

What I find helpful is to write up a to-do list at the start of the week. Whether or not I follow through with all the things (trust me, I have yet to cross everything off so chill if you can't finish doing everything), at least I know what I've to do. I feel pretty accomplished when I manage to check off a few things and that sort of also gives me encouragement that I will be able to get through the entire week.

When I'm on the go or putting Kaitlin to sleep, I'll spend time planning as well. I'll just plan on my phone and I find that I've more time to do other stuff this way.


Prepping
Similar to planning, prepping helps a whole lot instead of leaving things to the last minute. Trust me, you don't want to be in situation when you are rushing to get everything ready while having a toddler clamouring for your attention

If you know where you and your bub will be heading to the next day, pack the night before after he/she has gone to bed. If not, wake up a little earlier to pack.

If you are going to be cooking that day, prepare the your ingredients while your child is asleep, and if you've more time you can even start cooking, that way the meal will be ready when your child wakes up and you can give time your full attention.


Meals
I personally feel that homecooked meals are the best for our kids. Not only is it cost-efficient, it is also healthier. It may seem like alot of hard work, but trust me it's not.

Firstly, cooking in batches will help you to save time, and you have a ready supply of food kept in the freezer should there be a day when you simply aren't able to cook and manage the kids. I usually cook big portions of soup, stock and sauce and then store them.

A good way to save space is to first store them in ice cube trays in the freezer, and then remove and transfer them into ziplock bags. Don't forget to label the bags so you know when you should finish them by.

Steam or bake. These two are my favourite methods of cooking for Kaitlin as they are healthy, and most importantly you don't have to constantly check on the food or be busy stir frying at the stove while looking after the kids.

There are lots of recipe ideas on the net and even baby cookbooks you can borrow from the library. Give it a try, and you'll realise it's not all the hard.


Involvement
I try to involve Kaitlin as much as I can when I'm trying to get things done. This helps me to keep her occupied, she learns new things along the way and I get to keep a close eye on her.

This includes cooking, simple chores, and preparing materials for our activities. Of course, do exercise caution. For cooking, I let her do simple tasks like cracking a hardboiled egg and cutting a banana with a butter knife.

Kaitlin loves to help me with hanging out the laundry. I only let her carry the clothes from one room to the other and I do the actual hanging myself. As for preparing materials, I let her grab her own art materials other than those that are sharp like scissors or items that are hard to reach.

Involve the kids as much as you can even when clearing up. Throwing the rubbish away, wiping the table after and keeping their toys away. This might not make the cleaning up process easier for you at the start (they make more of a mess) but it teaches the kids about independence and responsibility and in the long run when they get the hang of it, they'll actually be helping you out.


Outings
I find that bringing Kaitlin out makes not just her, but also myself a happier person! I like to bring Kaitlin to explore new places and expose her to environments and situations that she isn't usually used to at home. It gives her a chance to socialise with other kids and I especially like how I get to teach her new concepts and vocabulary while we are out. It's a fun way of teaching her and I find that she learns better this way.

Head to an indoor playground, or if you are feeling adventurous head outdoors and expose the kids to nature at the park or beach. The Zoo, museums and supermarkets are great options as well.

Not only do we get to have fun with the kids (a bonus if the hubs can join us!), we moms get to take small breaks while the kids are exploring and playing on their own.


Rest and Relaxation
This is the most important of all and you should't deprive yourself from any rest and relaxation. If you can afford to, nap with your child when they are napping. Sleep as early as you can as well. Rest is important cos we really need all the energy when the kids are up. Also, a more rested mom means a less grumpy one. As moms, we have an endless list of things to do but the fact is we can never ever finish all of it in a day. If you can, that's great. If you can't, don't beat yourself up about it. Prioritise what's important and do what you need to first, then get some rest and continue again.

If you are able to, get the husband or anyone else your are comfortable with leaving your children with to to help you out while you take a nap or do something that helps you unwind. It could be going for a spa session, out for coffee with friends, taking a long shower (10 minutes instead of 3 minutes makes a world of difference!) or even just using Facebook for a few minutes. It can be stressful with so much to do in a day and having to deal with tantrums, so these moments really help us to take a breather so that we don't end up hollering at the kids more than we should.


That's all the tips I've got to share! I hope it helps you in one way or other. If not, don't fret cos this post is part of a daily blogging series in May started by Gingerbreadmum, where 30 other Stay At Home Moms share their tips on how they cope.

Next up on the blog train is Adeline:

Apart from being a SAHM, Adeline from accidental-mom-blogger.com also took the opportunity to pursue her passion in jewelry making while juggling her time looking after her children for the past 13 years. Although her children are now in their teens, she recalls and share the times she coped when her children were much younger.

Kaitlin is 32 Months Old!

Kaitlin is growing up so fast that my once innocent newborn has now become quite the rebel and has even developed a sense of humor.

In the past month..

Kaitlin has been pretty expressive with her emotions, be it frustration or excitement she shows it all
She's able to joke with us
We are able to hold longer conversations with her
She has been using manners like "please", "thank you", "no thank you" and "excuse me". Sometimes prompting is needed, and she would know what she should say.



Able to identify right and wrong actions. Like hitting and kicking is wrong. She does it, but she understands it's not right.
Loves wearing her raincoat
Able to carry an umbrella on her own and shelter herself
Can hold a pencil with a thumb and two fingers
Is able to join dots
Able to draw simple shapes like square and circle



Current favourite fruits: bananas, watermelon, grapes, papaya
Current favourite foods: xiao long baos, buns, noodles, waffles and cake
She is able to recall certain events that have happened even after a week
Did her first tunnel crawl and tunnel slide!
Interacts with kids at the playground
Likes to climb up and downs stairs
Loves bouncing on the bed
Runs very fast and able to avoid most obstacles

Can recognize most upper case alphabets and some lower case alphabets
Understands the concept of now, later, today and tomorrow
Participates in cooking activities together
Is able to crack and peel the shell of hardboiled eggs
Learnt how to peel a banana skin
Able to help herself to drink water in the middle of the night

Review: Mustela Stelatopia Range - Skincare for babies and toddlers with Dry Skin

Where it comes to matters concerning Kaitlin, I'll admit that I can get pretty fastidious about the food she consumes, hygiene matters and especially the products that we use on her.

I'll make it a point to always read up about the products, do the usual Google search and read reviews about the product before actually letting her use it.

Since Kaitlin has slight eczema, I am very careful with the skincare products that we use on her. She'll be scratching during day time and will tell us about how itchy it is. At times, she'll even cry about it and get cranky. The worst is how it disturbs her slumber at night.

Despite using the prescribed steroid creams from our paediatrician, Kaitlin's eczema problem still exists, and when they flare up it can get pretty bad. That's why besides the creams, I have also tried different skin care products on her. In fact we've already tried out four different baby/toddler body soap brands on her. Her condition has improved slightly with the change of soaps and creams, but I'm still on the lookout for any other products that might improve her skin condition and help soothe the itchiness.

When Mustela sent over their Stelatopia range of products, I couldn't wait to let Kaitlin give it a try. Afterall, Mustela has been a trusted brand that moms have been using on their babies and toddlers.

In case you didn't know, Mustela products are hypoallergenic and contain no parabens, phenoxyethanol, phthalates or alcohol, which makes it safe for even newborns with the most delicate skin.

The Mustela Stelatopia range has been specially designed for newborns and toddlers who have atopic dermatitis. The great thing about this range is that sunflower distillate oil which has a rich content of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids with antioxidant, nourishing, firming and regenerating properties is included.

Kaitlin herself was excited to try out the new bodycare products when I showed them to her!

For the past two weeks, we've been using the Mustela Stelatopia Cleansing Cream whenever we give Kaitlin a shower. At the least, that's two times a day. I like how the practical pump dispenser makes it easy for Kaitlin to soap herself. Besides that, I noticed that the cleansing cream has no strong scents which makes me feel at ease that the product does not contain perfumes which might irritate her already dry skin. This product contains sunflower oil distillate which soothes the skin.

Right after Kaitlin's shower I will immediately moisturize her skin with the Stelatopia Emollient Cream. According to dermatologists, the best time to apply moisturizer is right after a bath as the product would be able to trap some of the water still on the body and use it to hydrate the skin. Kaitlin likes doing it herself as well and would remind us to do it when we are changing her.



I like how the texture of the emollient cream is smooth and does not sting Kaitlin's skin unlike some other products we have used. It moisturizes her skin leaving it supple and yet does not have a sticky after-feel which can get pretty uncomfortable especially in our humid weather. This product contains both sunflower oil distillate and plum oil which softens the skin.

Before we started using the Mustela products, Kaitlin had frequent eczema flare ups on parts of her skin, such as the back of her knees. I applied the Stelatria Purifying Recovery Cream on her skin two to three times a day and noticed a reduce in skin irritation and an improvement in her skin appearance.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed with the Mustela Stelatopia range. Within the two weeks that we tried the products, Kaitlin's skin condition has improved. Her eczema problem still exists, but it is definitely more controlled with lesser flare ups and we've also noticed that the itchiness has reduced.

Seeing the results thus far, I do think that using the products over a prolonged period of time would have more effective results on her skin. Moreover, I do like how the products are safe and contain natural ingredients.

Having had pretty bad eczema when I was young and even with occasional flare ups now, I do understand how frustrating eczema can be as there is no real cure. As such, for reduced irritations and itching, and a reduction in skin dryness I do recommend giving the Mustela Stelatopia range a try.

Disclaimer: I received the Mustela Stelatopia range of products for the purpose of this review. All opinions and views are my own and was not influenced by any external factors.

Shrove Tuesday

In the past when Daddy Li was less busy, we would often bring Kaitlin with us to have waffles and ice-cream! It's been quite some time since we last did that so a few weeks back after Kaitlin's class ended, we decided to check out Shrove Tuesday.

I love how whimsical and welcoming their interior is. Check out the cute furniture as well! I was in love with their tiled table while Kaitlin was drawn to the chair and immediately shoo-ed Daddy Li away and climbed onto it. Don't the two of them look so cheeky below!

Besides waffles, Shrove Tuesday also has a variety of cakes and a selection of beverages to choose from that will satisfy your sweet tooth. They have also got a good range of ice-cream and gelato flavours like avocado, black sesame, coconut and pistachio.  

We got a scoop of ferrero ice-cream and a scoop of peach gelato. Daddy Li and I both preferred the latter. It was refreshing and light, perfect for the sunny afternoon. The waffles were good, but in our opinion,  we've tried better ones. I think the next time we come back, we'll skip the waffles and just go for the ice-cream!

If you're around the Toa Payoh/Braddell area, Shrove Tuesday is worth checking out for it's yummy ice-cream and gelato flavours. 

Shrove Tuesday

Add: Blk 94 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh #01-32

Opening Hours: Sun - Thurs: 10:00 - 22:00, Fri - Sat: 10:00 - 23:00

Tel: 6258 2254

Linking up with:

The Kiddies Review x GIVEAWAY!

Shopping with an active toddler can sometimes be quite difficult that's why sometimes I online shop for Kaitlin's clothes.

These days it's not easy to find clothing that's comfortable yet affordable for kids. Comfort is a very important factor to me as Kaitlin is at an age where she is very active and as she has eczema I always try to make sure that the clothing I buy is gentle on her skin. Plus, many of the local online shops stock mostly the same clothes and there's a lack of variety.

Thankfully though, THE KIDDIES is one such shop that I can shop at.

THE KIDDIES is a Singapore based online shop selling kids' clothing and shoes at affordable prices and in limited pieces providing that same exclusivity as premium luxury brands. For the latest updates, you can follow them on Instagram!

I was very happy that the apparel that I chose for Kaitlin was delivered so fast. You know the joy you get when you receive parcels from the postman?

Yeah, Kaitlin was just as happy too and couldn't wait to open her parcel when I showed it to her!

She went "See i got shorts and shirt, flower flower one", "See got ribbon also", "Pretty pretty I want to wear". I told her though that we got to wash it first and she listened.

Here's her all excited in her new outfit before we took pictures for her two and a half years old milestone post.

Besides the efficient service from THE KIDDIES, I was also impressed with the quality of the clothing given the affordable price. So far, Kaitlin has worn her new outfit quite a number of times, and no problems at all. The fabric used is very soft and she doesn't sweat as much in it as compared to some of her other outfits which is good news especially with our humid weather and the fact that Kaitlin sweats super easily.

Other than the lovely apparel, babygirl totally loves the owl bag that we received and carried it on her own when we went out. Check out her owl face below!

You know how some clothes are pretty but compromise on comfort? Well, Kaitlin could go crazy at the playground in this outfit and there were no complains from her that she was starting to itch. 

If you are thinking of getting some new apparel for the kids, THE KIDDIES is worth checking out. Thanks to THE KIDDIES, all Hello Little Sunshine readers get to enjoy free normal postage if you mention BWHLS-FNP when placing your order. In addition, there's a giveaway for you readers!

**GIVEAWAY!**

Here's a chance for you to win a 20% discount voucher!

Simply join using the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: We received a set of clothing and lunch bag for the purpose of this review. All opinions and views are my own and was not influenced by any external factors. 

April [ in pictures ]

April has been a fun and tiring month! 

The active little bub has been more hyper and adventurous these days and this means that mommy over here has to catch up with her alot more.  I honestly don't know how I could do this motherhood thing if I was 35, so I have immense respect for those who can and who have more than one child to handle. 

Kaitlin has also been talking alot more these days..and that includes imitating the things we say and even talking back! She's also been quite the rebel. It has not been exactly easy dealing with that..but one step at a time I guess. 

Besides that, I'm glad to be able to meet up with friends this month and also being able to spend special moments with Kaitlin. 

I don't know about you, but I feel like the past few months have just flew past. I don't know how the next few months are going to be like..especially with there being lots of ups and downs. I hate uncertainty, but I guess life's mostly like that. For now, I'm just trying to learn to be thankful for what I have and appreciate it. 

Hope you had a good Labour Day with your loved ones..now on to May and hehe I'm actually counting down to the next public holiday :)

Good Friday & Easter Weekend

The long weekend last week was just what I needed (yes, even as a SAHM a long weekend is better than a regular weekend cos that means an extra pair of hands to help out around the home!), and I was happy that I managed to spend time with people that matter the most.

Spent Good Friday morning having brunch at Strangers Reunion and going to the playground with Kaitlin and her new best friend ;)

Strangers Reunion was pretty crowded and Kaitlin was restless, thankfully I could still manage her and I was surprised that I didn't have to scold her or resort to technology. That same day I had wanted to bring her to an indoor playground/go out to grab some eggs to decorate but since it was pouring heavily so we stayed home instead and did arts and craft with babygirl.

On Saturday, Daddy Li went to work while Kaitlin and I spent the morning together. We did more craft work and played around the house.

After Kaitlin woke up from her afternoon nap, we brought her to Happy Willow! It's been sometime since we last brought her to an indoor playground, and since they were having Easter activities, it was a perfect time to go.

I think it was not just a workout for Kaitlin, but a workout for us as well!

On Easter Sunday, we finally went for brunch! It was a last minute decision, but yay for spontaneous decisions like this :) We had wanted to go to Symmetry, but we had to wait quite abit so we decided to walk a little further down to Artistry and we were pleasantly surprised with the place. In fact, I actually liked that Artistry wasn't as crowded.

Daddy Li ordered the Big Breakfast and I got the Squid Ink Crabmeat Burger. Both were yummy and I definitely recommend trying out the Squid Ink Burger. The cakes on display looked lovely too, but we decided not to be piggish.

After Kaitlin's class, we checked out Shrove Tuesday to have some waffles. Kaitlin got to play at the playground nearby as well, and she totally enjoyed herself. She's getting more adventurous and is able to play independently now. 

Our weekend was a good mix of chilling around and having lots of fast-paced fun. I'm thankful for weekends like this where I get to enjoy the company of people whom I love dearly. Can't wait for the upcoming weekend :D