[Published!]

Time flies, just 1.5 weeks to japan...... Can't wait!!!

Also, we have been very honoured to be published in the latest Cubes magazine. You can read snippets HERE, or buy the latest issue at the newstands :)
Here are some pictures of us that were used:

We have always wanted to be known for the way we work and practice, so this article really does showcase the type of practice we have set out to create. It should not be just about glossy images and stylistic vignettes, but more of the thinking behind creating the spaces. Hopefully the article conveys that message!

All our purchases (or rather V's purchases for us) have arrived from eBay. :) It was fun trying out the winterwear. I will have to take a photo of all the nice stuff!

We visited Public Garden last weekend too, but it was quite disappointing as the venue was rather small and not as many stalls (in my opinion) participated. Was nice to bump into one of my regular reads Cookie Cutter there... and also this new stall!

G also had a playdate with her best friend from Kindie. The girls LOVED playing together, so nice to see her so happy! School issues are still there..... getting slightly better. As most things go, there are good days, then there are the not so good days. We're learning to not expect too much and just go with the flow! Of course it really helps that my parents are around to send her to school, makes it much easier for her and for us! Plus K gets to have lunch w us everyday now, which is a nice bonus :)

We also had a birthday party.... cute little girls!
G's drawings are getting more and more detailed. This is the princess, the catapult, the castle and the dragon. Together with a knight on a horse! :)

[School Blues]

G had been going into P1 for almost a month with not much complaints and quite a lot of joy and laughter. So much so that we were totally thrown aback when just 2 weeks ago, she became very reluctant to go to school, starting with crying before school starts, to an all out tantrum every single day for the past week. It has been very very trying on the teachers in school, the councillors and of course on poor G herself. It is also very very bewildering for us, who have seen her happy and cheerful face the whole morning, just for her to degenerate into the toddler behavior of scratching, crying, hysterical and screaming "no! no!" tantrums. Her separation anxiety really peaked today, where poor V had to be the one ferrying her to school and she clung to the school gates in a panic and refused to be cajoled to get into school. The other parents who were waiting outside the school gates probably felt so sorry for her as she resisted every single attempt to be led into school. According to the school, she can calm herself down quite quickly once she is in school and out of our sight. It is almost like she has set herself an internal "blowup" clock, which goes off just as she reaches the school gates and is just as easily disarmed once the 2nd period is over. In fact, she herself has come back home - always happy and smiling - to say that she feels absolutely fine after 2nd period but she just hates school.
We are at our wits end on how to deal with this situation, as it just becomes increasingly difficult to "force" her to remain in school. We have tried all methods, reasoning with her, writing coping cards, making little notes and photos to bring to school. The school advocates the firm approach, and from observation, it really does seem to work. If only the separation part can be less traumatic for all parties!
Also, in light of all these, it really does make me feel so appreciative of all the love and concern being shown to us. A BIG Thank You to those who listened, who talked, who prayed, who sent me countless smses of encouragements.... it was so great to know that we're not alone in this.

Some sources which I've been reading and have been invaluable in their advice and positivity.
Separation Anxiety, The Anxious child, The sensitive child. While I'm against labelling, reading it does make one much less worried and know that at least there is some way of overcoming this.

A little LO to remind her how beautiful and good she is. (it's the japan trip pix cos that's how long it's been since I last printed out my photos!)
I found this label from a dress that is sooo true - Handle with Love.

So touched by this little note her 10 yr old distant cousin (in the same sch) wrote to her to cheer her up.

Links on books about bullying by a fellow mum.
Over the weekend, we made it down to the civic district and tried out this place - Strictly Pancakes.
Distracting the girls with UNO cards are great for stopping the quarrels.

Look at that super happy face! This is the G we know and love.....Yums.
It is just opposite the SOTA campus. A nice shady spot for some weekend indulgence :)
K obviously enjoyed it...By the time the desserts arrived, we were sooo full from the pancakes! Who knew 3 pieces of savory pancakes with miniscule slices of chicken and sausages can prove to be so filling!

Here's to a great weekend and a good week ahead!

[All too quick...]

Can't believe that January is almost over! And Chinese New Year has come and gone... well, not technically, as there is still a few more days left of the traditional 15 day long celebrations. We are still not yet visited out, as there are a few more relatives (older folks) and friends (younger folks) left to cover! All the better to practice our styling on the 2 girls.
The other thing that has been very much a pre-occupation is our coming trip to JAPAN!!! This time around, we'll be travelling up north to Hokkaido, where hopefully there'll be LOADS of snow... The girls are excited, and even better, this trip will be with Popo and Gonggong. V has been doing me proud snapping up snow things for the girls, himself and me on eBay, basically fulfilling his role as family stylist to the T! haha...
So far, the flight tickets have been booked, accomodation sorted and now just the activities of the days that we'll be there to plan out. I will be documenting the various days as per all our previous trips - HERE, HERE and HERE. :)
We have also been experimenting a lot with the camera lately. Instead of just using the default "P" mode, we're venturing into "A" (aperture priority) and the more unpredictable "M" (manual!! Eeps!) So, lots of failed pictures, but here are the ones that I thought were really good...
2nd Day CNY celebrations at New House. Chockablock of cars!
Girls at the entrance.
Styling credits:
G : Top - Gingersnaps, Bottom - Gap, Tights - as before, Shoes - CottonOn
K : Top - Gingersnaps, Bottom - Gap, Shoes - CottonOn
Funny facial expressions - models own....
Me and the girls

G has the funniest and most animated facial expressions. V documented it well here:
a) Listening attentively to what the other person is sayingb) Trying hard to get a word in, and talking really quickly (sometimes TOO quickly!)
c) this is when she finally calms down and talks properly. I think she's agreeing to what E was talking about! Gotta love little friends and playdates :)
Taken with the iPhone and unedited - G and V. Love the spontaneity of this pix!
The weather has been so good in the evenings and it's a great place for the girls to just scooter about and let off steam!
Me and the girls. Love how this picture totally captures the mood of the moment. The laughter and the funny things they do! Love love love them to bits...
Snack after dinner - home made butter cookies and grapes.

[Dragon Year 2012]

Happy Chinese New Year!! We ushered in the Year of the Dragon with minimum fanfare but with lots of good food and snacks as usual. 1st day of CNY was a mad rush to visiting, from V's side of the family, to my side of the family. The girls LOVED the visiting - angpows and 'forbidden' snacks - what's not to love about it!! K too had her 1st new year (i don't think she remembered the one 2 years ago) and she was thrilled to be dressed up. You know you're a parent when you love dressing up the kids more than yourself!! Hah!
Our annual family portrait. We love styling the girls, so here's the credits :
G's clothes - Dress - Olive Juice, Tights - Cart at Bukit Timah Plaza, Shoes - Gap
K's clotehs - Dress - Gap, Socks - Cart at Bukit Timah Plaza, Shoes - Cotton On
Traditional AngPow giving to the girls - and our wishes to them for the year.
Arranging the table decor
My first attempt at Chinese New Year goodies! It was fun but so much work!!

My favorite shots of the girls that day. Incredible how much they have grown since the last CNY. We were watching old videos of the girls when we were living at New House before the house was completed, it was utterly adorable!
Love this candid shot too of all the girls :)
A shot of us, in the same chairs which we took our wedding portraits in - 10 years ago!

Go here for more pictures of CNY...

** On a side note - we're going to JAPAN!!! **

[what we do in the mornings before school..... etc]

We have been very organised and have drawn up a timetable which we have been following quite religiously for the 1st 2 weeks of school. Let's see how long it lasts! It's been rather loose though, as sometimes we do playdates instead of art or lunch out instead of at home.
G thrives on the 1 on 1 attention and is really such a sweet personality when she is outside of the competitive jealous environment caused by sibling rivalry. She has repeatedly told me these past 2 weeks - thank you for spending so much time with me mummy, i love you very much!! awww....
Playdate with D at Loewen gardens... love the pink decor!
Playdate with L & N while mummy finishes up the site visit checks.

Since I've been cooking a lot more at home, and have stocked up the house with all sorts of food - from a designated weekly marketing day no less! - there's lots of opportunities to have wholesome homemade food, minimal hassle and lots of good nutrition!
This is "almost" fastfood - wholewheat bread, ham slices and fresh lettuce and cheese. The only thing sinful are the chips, but then again, we would have finished our run before indulging!!
The girls after Gym class in their new $5 leotards which we bought for a steal at an obscure shop in Katong Mall....


Brought the girls to Keppel Island off the mainland last weekend, mostly to scooter and also to just work away the post-xmas and new year lethargy! V was trying out the new Aperture priority settings and it turned out quite good.

[1st day of school!]

It's been 2 weeks since G first started her "big girls" education, and we all had to make some pretty major adjustments to our work / life balance! It has been a great 2 weeks though, I get to spend quality 1 on 1 time with her in the mornings, while K gets the undivided attention of her grandparents in the afternoons. Plus 1 day a week, when I have to be overseas for work, V gets to spend 1 on 1 time with his precious daughter. So far it has been working great, except for some last minute adjustments in the morning when we both have to be in meetings.
Here's the pics of her all grownup and sooooo tall in her school uniform:
Taming her unruly hair at lunch.
Having lunch out before schoolAll dressed up!
Putting on her brand new shoes
Thankfully the 1st day was the only day with a super heavy bag. Most of the books are being kept by the teachers at school.
Proud mummy with my super grown up girl
Look at that smile!
Waving goodbye, ready to take on school!
Being cheeky
The first 2 days of school, parents were allowed into the school at recess time (to observe from behind a fence!) how their offsprings were doing. G had a p2 buddy that she really liked and she was happy to follow her around. This is her complaining to me that her sandwich was all dried up!
After school!! Meeting up with friends and munching on snacks... The girls are always famished at the end of a school day and will devour whatever was remaining of their snacks.
Proud daddy posing with his daughter outside school.
A very relieved mummy that the school days went well for G! :)