Today’s Motherhood

Bring a WALTER bunny printout home this weekend at the HP photo booth

WALTER: ADVENTURES OF A CURIOUS COLOSSAL BUNNY
17 to 18 Sep 2011, 12pm to 9pm
Marina Bay City Gallery

Singapore‟s favourite bunny WALTER is hopping to Marina Bay this September! Join him at the various activities happening during the month including a photo exhibition featuring all the interesting spots he has visited in Singapore, a colouring competition, story-telling sessions, a mobile library on rabbits, a picnic and lots more!

WALTER is local artist Dawn Ng‟s pet project involving guerrilla installations of a curious colossal bunny who pops up across Singapore‟s standard landscape of flats and heartland enclaves. By using Walter to create and photograph scenarios packed with surprise and wonder, Dawn draws attention to commonly overlooked and over familiar spaces across our landscape, while dodging cops and people with no sense of humour. WALTER is a celebration of our ordinary by helping us look at this city as children again.

HP ePrints with WALTER

As part of the HP IPG collaboration with Marina Bay, a HP photo booth will be featured at the Marina Bay City Gallery for two days with HP ePrint-enabled printers. The HP ePrint technology enables users to take a quick photo on the spot with WALTER, email it to the ePrint-enabled printer via their smartphones, and get instant printouts! HP will also be providing complimentary printouts for the first 200 customers daily.

In line with the fun-filled activities at the event, HP will also be showcasing an array of kids friendly print apps on their latest HP Photosmart range that promises to provide hours of endless entertainment for families.

Come discover some of these apps!

	Sesame Street Printables Enjoy Sesame Street coloring pages, educational activities, and books from the Sesame Street eBookstore to make learning fun.
	DreamWorks® Animation Printables DreamWorks® Animation Printables – Try these fun printables starring your favourite DreamWorks® Animation characters. Start with new printables for “Megamind” and “Shrek Forever After”.
	Kids’ Activities by Crayola Put your crayons to good use with these great colouring pages from Crayola.

Stand a chance to bring home a HP Printer!

Visitors to the photo exhibition might be pleasantly rewarded when they visit the Marina Bay City Gallery. For two weekends running (Sept 17-18 and Sept 24-25), visitors simply have to „check-in‟ to “Marina Bay City Gallery” upon arrival to either Facebook Places or Foursquare, leave a comment or a photo and stand a chance to win a prize in an instant lucky draw. Present the „check-in‟ post at the gallery reception and automatically be in the running to win one of 50 prizes, which includes two HP Photosmart Wireless B110a printers (worth $199 each) as well as WALTER & Marina Bay memorabilia.

In addition, for photography enthusiasts, simply upload a photo taken with WALTER to the Marina Bay Singapore‟s Facebook page, with an interesting caption by October 2. The photo with the most “Likes” will win a HP Photosmart Premium C310a printer (worth $369), and the top three photos with the most interesting captions will win WALTER merchandise.

The HP photo booth will be located at the Marina Bay City Gallery, 11 Marina Boulevard.
Admission is free.

For more information, visit WALTER: ADVENTURES OF A CURIOUS COLOSSAL BUNNY

Having the belief that money saving skills is as important as leaning ABCs and 123s, Ekomini, a Canadian enterprise, has brought the traditional piggy bank to a whole new level.

Special features:

Keeping up with the 21st century, this web-enabled treasure chest features a patented coin-reader. This can be connected to a computer via a USB port, which allows you to keep track on the progress of your kids’ money savings.

That’s not all. It also features an online educational game that helps children learn what they should know about money. Your child not only becomes more money savvy, they also get to enjoy the process of saving through playing the educational game that comes along with it, Ekominiville.

The program helps your kids learn about saving up for something they like, how to manage their money right and even share it for a great cause. Suitable for children 6 to 12 years old, this treasure money chest has also a stamp of approval from educational consultant, Dr. Daniel Racine.

Money does not come by easily and requires effort and hard work to earn it. Children today are less aware of how hard it is to earn. It’s good to know that parents now have new teaching tool, to help them learn and understand the concept of saving.

Ekomini is now sold at Smart Alley.

Today’s Motherhood readers enjoy a special $20 discount when you purchase from Smart Alley’s website. Simple use the Coupon Code TMEP20 Limited to first 20 customers only.

Come join us at My Little Genius Open House!

Hougang & Jurong East Outlets: Sep 24-25

Enjoy Special Promotions worth up to $150!

Call us today at 62877637 (Hougang) or 65607050 (Jurong East)
to book your seats for Free Preview sessions!

Limited seats available.

www.MyLittleGenius.com.sg

SportsKids multisports program teaches children key movements (running, jumping, skipping, kicking, catching and throwing) through 10 kinds of sports to develop their fundamental motor skills according to each child’s capabilities.

Benefits of the program:
Sport Skills - Develop fundamental sports skills in a progressive and non-competitive environment.
Social Skills - Learn to socialise with other kids in a protected setting helps build self-confidence.
Suitability - Activities are tailored to age and ability with no fixed targets to meet, ensuring a fun learning
process.

Sign up with SportsKids Today!

• Gift Vouchers Available
• Trial Class Available

Email: enquiry@sportskids.com.sg

Tel: 929 98032

Website: www.sportskids.com.sg

Learning Kidz Educentre new child care centre @ AMK Central

Attractive Promotions:

• Registration fee and insurance waived for 2011
• $150 School Fees discount (Sep - Nov 2011)
• $100 School Fees discount (Dec 2011 - Feb 2012)
• Enroll now and save up to $833

* Terms and Conditions apply

Call 64560383 for more information

Website: www.learningkidz.com.sg
Email: enquiry@learningkidz.com.sg
Address: 61 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 #03-01/02/03 Jubilee Entertainment Complex Singapore 569814

Camouflage will be having a Kids’ Photo Contest. Stand a chance to win some great prizes worth up to $1500! To take part, simply follow the instructions below

Step 1 : Parents should email their kids’ photos wearing ONLY Camouflage Apparels. (Tops & Bottoms / Dress must be from Camouflage.).

Step 2 : The contest will start on 15th September and end on 15th October 2011

Step 3 : Parents should email the photos to enquiry@camouflage-kids.com with the following details

• Email title: Camouflage Kids’ Photo Contest
• Your Name:
• Child’s Name:
• Child’s Age:
• Contact Number:

Step 4 : All the photos received will be posted on Camouflage facebook

Winners will be selected according to the following categories:

Category A : 12 to 23 months
Category B: 2 to 4 years old
Category C: 5 to 6 years old

Each Category will have 3 Prizes namely :-

‘Most Photogenic Model’ wins $300/- worth of vouchers
‘Most Stylist Model’ wins $150/- worth of vouchers
‘Best Smile Model’ wins $50/- worth of vouchers

Results will be posted out in their Marketing Media by 4th November 2011. Winners will be notified by email accordingly.

Note: All pictures received will be used in Camouflage Kids Marketing Media eg. Facebook, Website, Announcements, Outlets.

For more information on Camouflage, visit www.camouflage-kids.com or Camouflage Facebook

Terms and Conditions Apply.

FIL Skin, Body & Spa Intelligence, a name synonymous with high standards for professionalism, customer care and treatments, has an extensive range of holistic treatments that attends to the mind, body and spirit.

Its spa menu boasts of over 60 proven customized therapies for facials, body therapies and spa treatments.

FIL Skin, Body & Spa Intelligence’s expertise of more than 40 years in skin refining and physique contouring has garnered numerous awards from top female magazines for their effective results.

Fancy an Award-winning Facial by FIL Skin, Body & Spa Intelligence?

Visit www.fil.com.sg for their promotions!

	Best Beauty Buys FIL Hyaluronic Concentrated Essence Face Therapy - STYLE, August 2011
	Best New Facial FIL Premium Gold Face Therapy – ELLE Beauty IT List, June 2011
	Best Firm and Contour Facial FIL Refirme Vibra-Lymph Face Therapy - Singapore Women’s Weekly, May 2011
	Best Anti-aging Facial FIL Young Anti-Aging Treatment - Bazaar Spa Awards 2010
	Most Revolutionary Treatment FIL Surgical Pulsed Light Therapy – Harpers Bazaar, February 2009
	Best Contouring Facial FIL Face Contouring Programme - Singapore Women’s Weekly, May 2009
	Best Neck Reviver FIL Neck Contouring Programme - Singapore Women’s Weekly, May 2008

Find us at these following locations

FIL SPA INTELLIGENCE PTE LTD
Far East Finance Building, 14 Robinson Road, #01-00 Singapore 048545
Tel: 6221 0606

Singapore Shopping Centre, 190 Clemenceau Avenue, #01-12 to 16 Singapore 239924
Tel: 6883 2777

Chinese Swimming Club (New wing), 21 Amber Road, 4th Storey Arrival Pavilion
Tel: 6345 3777

FIL SKIN & BODY INTELLIGENCE PTE LTD
Podium Block Tower A, Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Road #05-34 Singapore 238872
Tel: 6835 9000

International Building, 360 Orchard Road, #01-02/03, Singapore 238869
Tel: 6732 4646

Website: www.fil.com.sg

It goes without saying that what is mind-blowing sex to me may not be such for you. Also, what works sexually for me might not work for others. So, how can one actually define what is ‘the best’ sex or ‘great’ sex? Apparently, some brave scientists have attempted to answer this age-old question.

Peggy Kleinplatz at the University of Ottawa and A. Dana Ménard of Carleton University have found six major themes of what makes for ‘great sex’ or optimal sexuality. These may be the building blocks toward the farther reaches of human erotic potential and consist of: being present, authenticity, intense emotional connection, sexual and erotic intimacy, communication, and transcendence.

Ponder upon them so that you might be closer to your goal on your path to nirvana:

Being present
The most predominant and fully articulated characteristic of great sex was of being “fully present” and “totally absorbed in the moment.” One is definitely not thinking of work, checking off the To-do list for the day or worrying about the kids. You just are enjoying each moment for what it is, including all the sensations running through your body.

Authenticity
This refers to the ability of being themselves, feeling free to be themselves with their partners, and being relentlessly honest with themselves. The very act of being honest and open to one’s own desires is freeing and energizing, as well as powerful.  When one is open and increasing in self-knowledge, the opportunities for self-growth also increase. Participants could not have said it better in sharing: “Sexual encounters provide a unique and treasured opportunity for growth, for welcoming of unknowns, with the partner acting as a catalyst to affect self discovery.”

Intense emotional connection
Whether in long-term or other relationships, all great sex involved a powerful sense of intimate engagement. All participants stated that intense emotional contact for the duration of the encounter was an integral aspect of great sex .The degree of connection, energy, “alignment” or “conductivity” between the persons all determined how great the sex could be. This includes having trust, cherishing one another, sharing, accepting, validating, and feeling “as much desired as desiring”.

Sexual and erotic intimacy
This relates to the importance of a deep sense of caring for one another, regardless of the duration of the relationship. Intimacy was seen as making an exponential difference. Sexual intimacy was predicated on an emotional bond, and was seen as instrumental in sexual bonding.

Communication
For most participants, great sex required excellent communication, and was seen as crucial to the success of a sexual encounter. They spoke in terms of the abilities to listen, respond, being able to give and to receive feedback, to be nonjudgmental, to organize information and having the ability to give positive regard, thereby, “making people inspired to give back more”. There was also the ability to read the partner’s response via one’s own body, specifically via touch.

Transcendence
Great sex appears to involve a combination of heightened altered mental, emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual states in unison. This meant being awash in “awe,” “ecstasy,” “bliss,” “peace,” and “the sublime”. Sexual intercourse was regarded as a metaphor for the “ultimate form of merging”.

Home assignment:
1.    Share this article with your partner and discuss which of the above areas are working for you and which ones could be improved.
2.    Brainstorm about what could make your sex life sizzle more.
3.    Decide on one option and agree on a date and time to carry out your idea.
4.    Carry out, evaluate and restrategise. Have fun!

Dr. Martha Lee is Founder and Clinical Sexologist of Eros Coaching. She is a certified sexologist with a Doctorate in Human Sexuality. She provides sexuality and intimacy coaching for individuals and couples, conducts sexual education workshops and speaks at public events.

For more, visit www.eroscoaching.com or email drmarthalee@eroscoaching.com.

This article was first published in Today’s Motherhood Magazine Feb-Mar 11 issue Page 30

SmartKids Asia is giving away a Nintendo DS lite for FREE to celebrate Children’s Day!

Tag yourself on this photo on their fans page and and stand a chance to win!

Winners will be picked at random and announced on 1st October, 2011.

Once the pic reaches the tag limit, please tag another pic.

Tag Tag Tag Now!!!

*This Giveaway is only for SmartKids Asia’s Fans*

What is a Confinement Nanny
Chinese women usually hire a ‘pei yue’ (陪月), who is generally a lady helper who can aid during the postnatal period. As the name suggests, the services of a ‘pei yue’ is basically required during the first month after giving birth. The transition process from a single woman to a mother is not easy. This may be considered a trying time for new mothers. Hence, there is a need to look for a confinement nanny.

A confinement nanny is someone who looks after the welfare of the mother and her newborn. Some new mothers have experienced parents or parents in law to help them with their confinement period. However, there are still mothers who need a confinement nanny to assist her. Mothers can also choose between a day confinement nanny and a stay-in confinement nanny.

What are the duties of a confinement nanny?
The confinement nanny is expected to do confinement cooking, laundry for the mother and the infant, provide general care for the baby, and assist the mother with her baby. In summary, her job is to help the mother get through this recovery stage, at the same time, help to ensure the environment is conducive for rest and relaxation. Since the general purpose of the confinement nanny is to help the mother recover, she is also bound to take care of the other children in the house to ensure the conduciveness of the environment for postnatal healing.

What to look for in a Confinement Nanny
Confinement nannies are a mother’s refuge for recuperation. In order for her to become efficient in her role, she should possess the following qualities:

Fondness for babies and children – her main role is to take care of the baby and fondness is important to ensure that she is going to love what she has to do for you. If the nanny is fond of children, she will definitely last long in the service.

Patience – new born babies are unpredictable and can be quite demanding. Hence, patience is an important virtue in a confinement nanny.

Caring and Loving – confinement nannies should treat your child as their own, providing not only care but also the love and nurturing a newborn needs.

Adjusting to Confinement Nannies
The following are various things you need to consider during the adjustment period:
• Not all nannies are able to speak fluent English. Most of them speak in their own native tongue. You may want to speak to her over the phone or meet up with her, to find out how proficient she is in communicating in English before deciding to hire her.
• There are times when you may have some time to yourself. Take this time to rest or catch up with your friends, and let your nanny take care of the newborn.
• Confinement nannies are usually traditional in their own ways of caring. If your baby is not having any major issues after birth, it is alright to let the nanny do some things her way.

The confinement nanny is a source of help. In situations when she is unaware and hindering your own recovery with her traditional means of ‘nannying’, talk to her about it, or find another nanny. Your instructions and rules matters the most and they are best complied to when understood.