WINNER! Raffle Wednesdays [#4 Little]

And the two lucky winners of a $50 voucher each are...

Congratulations you two! Please email me at junewee[at]gmail.com and I'll put you in touch with the wonderful mums at Little.

Baby, please email me by this Friday, 4 June, to collect your voucher before it expires!

Raffle Wednesdays [#4 Little]

Hooray, it's Raffle Wednesday again! I'm really excited about this raffle because the winnersss (yes, there's going to be more than one winner) will walk away with a $50 gift voucher. Each! *cheer and go crazy*

Here we go!

Introducing... Little! When I first saw the write-up on Little in Urban two Fridays ago, I squealed. And when I logged onto their website and saw this...

... I squealed some more (AND ran for my credit card, AND wished they made this in my size)!

I was never like this. Buying clothes for DN has been so boring and uninspiring. I mean, seriously, how far can you go from a jeans + t-shirt combo? The most fashionable thing I've bought for DN is... erm... hmm... ehh... *crickets chirping*

Dressing DN up is also so easy. All he needs is his jeans and a clean t-shirt. Well, actually that's me. According to DN, all he needs is Ben 10 underwear. -___-

Dressing DS up however... *faint*! You have skirts : mini, tiered, bubble; tops : puff, flutter, sleeveless; dresses : a-line, pinafore, overalls; and the accessories... oh my! At the rate I'm going, I'm going to have to talk to someone about refinancing schemes. And maybe a marriage counsellor because PF just doesn't understand why his daughter takes half an hour to get dressed.

Can you understand now, why I squealed after checking out Little's website?

I love this kimono top! Can't decide which colour I like better though. There's even a version for little boys. :)

Little was started by two moms - Rebecca and Rachel - who wanted to make happy clothes for little people, with an oriental twist. And because of my keen investigative nose, I have found out a little more about Rebecca and Rachel and their new business venture.

1. Love love love the Little clothes! Do you have formal training in fashion and dressmaking?

Thank you, we're so pleased! No, neither Rachel nor I have any training in fashion or dressmaking. My formal training is in Architecture, so that coupled with a general interest in art and design definitely helps when creating our collections. Rachel works in an insurance consultancy and her corporate background means she's very well-organised. We work on the collections together and she keeps everything in line!

2. How long does it take for a dress to go from design on paper to being sold in your online store?

From the point that we begin sketching our designs to the moment the clothes are packed and ready for sale, it's about 4 months.

3. It's boring dressing boys up. Is there life beyond the t-shirt and jeans ensemble?

Definitely! In our tropical climate, we think singlets and shorts are seriously underrated. Think surfer-style singlets and funky boardshorts. Throw on some flip flops and cool sunglasses (if you can get them to stay on!) and your little boy can be relaxed and beat the heat at the same time! 

4. How do you juggle work, children, couple time and me time?

With a sense of humour and great difficulty, at times! Seriously though, I think sticking to some sort of structure is key. Early bedtimes are strictly enforced (despite howling, bargaining and other monstrous behaviour) to ensure I can get some work done in the evening. Rachel is fortunate to have her husband and in-laws to help care for her 6-month old baby boy when she needs to work on Little, be at the office or travel for work.

5. What's the best thing about motherhood?

Rachel's immediate response was "boobs!". Can't say I disagree! Otherwise, I also feel quite warm and fuzzy when my 4-year old tells me earnestly, "sometimes you wear me out but I love you anyway". How many people are ever going to tell you that??

So, back to the raffle. Up for grabs are two $50 gift vouchers for two lucky lucky mummies. How do you win? Simple.


1. Just go to Little, choose a favourite item and tell me which it is by leaving a comment here.


2. For a second chance to win, check out Little's  Facebook page here, "click on 'like it' and leave me another comment.

3. For a third chance to win, blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me a comment with your twitter account or blog link.

Please leave me a new comment for every task you complete because I'm going to use a random number generator to pick a winner. So if you only leave 1 comment even after completing all 3 tasks, it will still register as only 1 chance. So comment away okay! The raffle closes a month from now, Friday, 21 May 2010. You don't have to complete all tasks to enter this raffle. But the more tasks you complete, the higher your chances of winning!

Good luck everyone!

WINNER! Raffle Wednesdays [#3 Gift Haven]

I'm so sorry this post is SO late. I wish I could say I've been busy training to ski to the North Pole, or that I'm busy saving the giant pandas, but no. Because of some miscommunication and a big dose of laziness on my part, this post is almost one month late. Someone just smack me already.

Congratulations Angelyn! You're the lucky winner of this raffle! Please email me at junewee[at]gmail.com and I'll put you in touch with Gift Haven. :)

Raffle Wednesdays [#3 Gift Haven]

Remember DS's Tintin hair? Well, that little tuft had a mind of its own I swear. It was ALWAYS standing up! Two minutes after a shower, DOING! It springs back up again. Not one to let a shopping opportunity pass, I told PF one weekend, "It is absolutely imperative that we embark on a clip-hunting excursion TODAY. Time to tame the tuft!"

So we made our way to Marina Square and went to Mothercare, Kiddy Palace... and all the other little shops that sold party frocks. Sadly, I couldn't find any clips suitable for little baby girls. She can't use snap clips because that would mean pressing down hard on her little head. *shiver* And she can't use french clips either because her hair would get stuck at the sides. So we left Marina Square defeated and tufty reigned.

Then a friend recommended Gift Haven and I was in love! I spent HOURS poring over the website. What should I get? Boutique bows? Tuxedo bows? Classic bows? And indecisive poring doesn't end there. You get to choose all your ribbons too!

101 types of bows + 101 ribbons to choose from + Indecisive person = Decrease in said person's work productivity

After the cows finally came home, I sent in my orders and five days later, PING! The clippies arrived in the mail! Okay technically they didn't arrive with a "ping". More like with a "Miss ah, can you sign here and here?"

Clockwise from top : Set of 4 clippies, Set of 3 russian doll clippies, Pink and brown boutique bow clippie, Russian doll rosette clippie and a matching Russian doll brooch for mummy! So yup yup, I chose all the different ribbons myself and matched them with buttons. For the rosettes, I got to choose my favourite fabrics. And yes, I love polka dots and russian dolls. :)

I requested for all my clippies to be fully lined so it won't tug on DS's hair.

And they all came with a non-slip pad so the clippie stays on the head!

I'm pleased as punch with the clippies I ordered. I think I squealed when I opened the envelope they arrived in. :p They are just too too cute. And when you pair them with a cute baby, lagi can die!

Look Mummy! No more tufty!

 

 Little Miss Ong modelling the red russian doll clippie.

Love the ric-rac on the boutique bow!

I am happy to introduce today's Raffle Wednesday host - Gift Haven. :) A partnership between two mummies, Gift Haven specialises in custom-making hair clips, hair ties and beanies for little girls and their mummies. 

Up for grabs this month is a one-time 15% store-wide discount for one lucky winner. How do you win? Simple.

Just go to Gift Haven's blog shop here and check out what's for sale. Next, leave a comment here and share with us why you love Gift Haven. Like so...

"I love your clips because they just 'up' my baby girl's cute factor tenfold! She is now irresistable to any human being! - June"

The best answer wins! Click here to start leaving your comment and don't forget to leave your name! Raffle closes on Sunday, 28 February 2010.

* Gift Haven reserves the right to publish the comments entered for this raffle.

WINNER! Raffle Wednesdays [#2 Pupsik Studio]

Congratulations April! You've won a Baby Pouch Sling from Pupsik Studio! Please email me at junewee[at]gmail.com for details on how to claim your prize.

There were 51 names in the bag this month. It was really exciting for me and I could feel my heart go "thump-thump-thump" as I shook the little pieces of paper about in my raffle bag, knowing that in seconds I would make one mummy really happy and many others really gutted. I'm sorry! How I wish everyone could win!

But take heart, I'm going to try my darnest to make sure Raffle Wednesdays are here to stay. :) Don't forget to check back here on Wednesday. I've got something really sweet lined up for you.

Raffle Wednesdays [#2 Pupsik Studio]

What's polka-dotted, sleepy and cute enough to be eaten?

Why, DS of course!

Why the lame riddle? Well, because I'm so excited about this next giveaway I just can't control myself! (Or think of better jokes for that matter...) Remember when I blogged about my own little Joey? Well, now you can have your own little Joey too! And I don't mean nicking a baby kangaroo from the zoo or the stuffed one from the little girl next to you on the MRT train.

PUPSIK STUDIO is today's Raffle Wednesday host and the winner of this raffle will win a baby pouch sling (up to a value of $45.90) of his/her choice! Okay everyone, control yourselves! No need to push the old ladies out of the way! Oh sorry, that was a telemarketeer who won't hang up? Go ahead. Need a hand?

Anyway, I'm so excited for the lucky mummy who's going to win this because honestly, my own pouch is indispensable. DS just lurrrves it! And I love it because Mr Cranky is still having issues about sharing things with his sister and sometimes insists on sitting in the stroller just so his sister can't. Argh! He will give me a hernia! Deep breaths, deep breaths. *exhale*

So it's the pouch to the rescue! DN gets on my nerves his stoller, DS gets her pouch, PF gets some peace and quiet and what about me? Well, I get better and better at using the pouch. I'm quite pro now you know? *smug face* Pop in, pop out. Easy peasy!

And I tell you, it was a godsend when we were in Phuket. It was just not possible to bring the stroller everywhere so DS ended up getting slung a lot. Not that she complained. She fell asleep in it whenever I put her in the cradle hold position. No kidding. EVERYTIME. Even now! When we're out and I know she's tired but just can't sleep because of everything that's going on around her, I just pop her into the pouch and in five minutes... zzz!

Want to know another reason why I love the pouch? It hides the wobbly belly VERY well. Haha! Now you don't have to be afraid of saying, "Is anyone having that last bit of cake?".

And do you know what? I hear that Su Ling, the founder of Pupsik Studio, is going to introduce new designs for her pouches in 2010! Can't wait. You should really check out her website. She has tons of cool stuff for mummies and babies. My other fav is the Little Milestones box. I bought one for DS. I'm going to record all her milestones here and when she's 21 (or 16... depends on how patient I am) I'm going to give it to her on her birthday. Now, how cool is that!

As always (and being the kaypoh that I am), I asked Su Ling a few questions about herself, motherhood and Pupsik Studio, so read on to find out more about her and her mummy-run business.

1. Was it easy deciding to quit your job and start Pupsik Studio?

I have always liked the idea of being self employed and having the freedom of doing something that I loved from home. The shift from being a full time architect/urban planner to a work-at-home-mom (of two girls) happened quite naturally and gradually over the course of two years. Of course, there were little hurdles along the way that made me question if I was doing the right thing. Nevertheless, I am thankful to God for the opportunity to pursue what I love from home. 

2. What's your favourite product from Pupsik Studio?

This is tough. It's like asking who's my favourite child. =) Being a mom myself, we try and test everything we sell to make sure we love it too before selling it, so I don't have a favourite product. I love them all! Whatever we cannot find that we love, we make ourselves. The baby sling pouch for instance is something that we decided to make as we could not find a good soft carrier in the Singapore market that is stylish, functional and affordable. We went through many rounds just to develop this single product. (Trust me, the pouch is not just a piece of cloth that you sew together.)

3. What did you get your girls for Christmas?

A kiss and our time. 

4. What are you planning for them to wear for Chinese New Year?

I am planning to bring in a new gorgeous line of clothing (designed by a homegrown Singaporean designer that just started her children's label) to the store so I will probably be dressing the girls in these new outfits!

So, back to business, how do you win a baby sling pouch? Simple.

1. Just go to Pupsik Studio, choose a pouch design that you like and tell me which it is by leaving me a comment.

2. For a second chance to win, be a fan of Pupsik Studio on Facebook here and leave me a comment with your FB name.

3. For a third chance to win, tweet or blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment with your twitter account, or blog link.

4. For a fourth chance to win, follow my blog by clicking here and yes, leave me another comment.

Click HERE to start leaving your comments! The raffle closes on Sunday, 31 January 2010. You don't have to complete all tasks to enter this raffle. But the more tasks you complete, the higher your chances of winning!

Now who says Christmas is over? ;)

WINNER! Raffle Wednesdays [#1 The Busy Bee Personalised Boutique]

Congratulations Joyce! Please email me at junewee[at]gmail.com for details on how to claim your personalised Santa book from The Busy Bee Personalised Boutique!

Thanks everyone, for taking part. This whole process was really great fun! Especially picking the winner. I wrote everyone's name on little bits of paper, cupped them in my hands and shook my hands until one piece of paper fell out. Never felt so powerful before! Mwah-hahahaha.

Stay tuned for January's instalment of "Raffle Wednesdays". The next giveaway is really really cool! TRUST ME. So don't forget to check back here regularly... especially on Wednesdays. ;)

And hot damn, I really wish I could take part in this one!

Raffle Wednesdays [#1 The Busy Bee Personalised Boutique]

Guess what? I'm giving something away here on this blog!

... for free!

... including postage!

... to anywhere in the world!

A good friend of mine, Debbie, started a lovely little store - THE BUSY BEE PERSONALISED BOUTIQUE - which specialises in goodies for our own busy little bees. There's something for everyone this Christmas - baby bee, toddler bee and even primary school bee! And from what I hear, soon, mommy bee will not be left out. ;)

For baby bee, I'd go for a personalised book ($15-$18). Brilliant!

For toddler bee, I'd get a personalised backpack ($38.90 non-personalised, $44.90 personalised) for playschool. How cool is that! Yee-haw!

And for primary school bee, I like the Money Savvy Pig. Oink!

I just love stay-at-home-mommy-run businesses, don't you? You know that the stuff they sell is always perfect because hey, they're moms too. Can you imagine what a daddy-run business will stock? Probably too many sweets, mismatched socks and uncoordinated outfits. That's what happens when papa bee is in charge right?

Anyway.

For my very first raffle, The Busy Bee Personalised Boutique is giving away a personalised santa book (worth $15) to one lucky reader. All you need to do is...

... leave a comment below (click here and scroll down) and answer this question - "What would you like to win next?". I hope to have at least 1 raffle a month!

For one extra chance to win this santa book, just be a fan of The Busy Bee Personalised Boutique on Facebook. Don't forget to leave another comment below telling me you're now a fan. I won't know otherwise!

This raffle is open for 10 days and I will draw a winner on Saturday, 12 December. Anyone, and everyone can enter! 

My very first raffle! I'm so excited! Even though I can't win anything. -__-"

I also thought it would be nice for everyone to learn a little bit more about Debbie and her Busy Bee Personalised Boutique, so I asked her three quick questions and here's what she said.

1. Why did you start The Busy Bee Personalised Boutique?
Well, I saw a gap in the local children's gift and apparel market. I felt there wasn't a store which concentrated on personalised and luxe stuff. And I'm a BIG fan of personalised stuff.

2. What's the funniest thing your baby bee has done?
Hmm.... this is a tough one. Too many! She is in the throwing-everything-stage and recently took off one of her socks and threw it out of the lift as the doors were closing. So we had to go back up to retrieve it. And the people in the lift were giggling! It's an incident that made me giggle to myself too!

3. What do you do to relax when baby bee is finally in bed?
Uhmmm, I don't think relaxation is really possible! When she's napping, I squeeze in my meals, catch up on chores or work on email orders. I try to sneak in a tea-time snack and a cuppa, or just chat with my BFFs online every now and then. After she's gone to bed, uhmm well, I watch TV. I'm a huge TV buff!