tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65501736425126057172024-03-28T20:07:36.591+08:00Urban MantraFashion blogger, avid explorer, and working mom, areer woman trying to prove that you can do it all! Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.comBlogger293125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-1211929704419258392023-06-04T14:58:00.005+08:002023-06-04T16:48:20.006+08:00Where to Find Singapore Souvenirs and Gifting Items<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9piP4_pjXPM1MKmWcI8vT3hyk2KISoN6dtNZB3_OfphafeP_smRagnes3bjtRv6i3KPpiWut4_jfP4OrWMnE5jHsh56kSiTGBjEtm-lZLK3h6qeD_IECx1zqrBG-nCSmtjS0h6im72qIb1OyGPjByTsK5NHBMHSl2PwIM5qPpEIMW7RfBHWGbRtE/s2360/IMG_9935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2360" data-original-width="1827" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9piP4_pjXPM1MKmWcI8vT3hyk2KISoN6dtNZB3_OfphafeP_smRagnes3bjtRv6i3KPpiWut4_jfP4OrWMnE5jHsh56kSiTGBjEtm-lZLK3h6qeD_IECx1zqrBG-nCSmtjS0h6im72qIb1OyGPjByTsK5NHBMHSl2PwIM5qPpEIMW7RfBHWGbRtE/w496-h640/IMG_9935.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Ever been in a situation where you needed to buy a Singapore souvenir for visiting friends and family and you couldn’t think of what to get? Or you have expat friends who are moving out of Singapore and you want to gift them something meaningful to remember the Little Red Dot?</div><br />Don’t worry, I got you covered! Here’s a comprehensive list of local stores where you’re bound to find something suitable for your gifting needs!<div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Home/Lifestyle</h3><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://photophactorysg.com/" target="_blank">Photophactory</a> - One of my favorite go-to websites for finding gifting items! The brand offers purses and home decor pieces (such as tray sets and coasters) which capture the quintessential parts of Singapore, such as the batik print, Perenakan design, and the unmistakeable skyline.</li><li><a href="https://ilovethiscity.co/collections/singapore" target="_blank">I love This City</a> - This online website offers curated paintings, sketches, and photography from different cities and brings their essence to your home. You can check out their <a href="https://ilovethiscity.co/collections/singapore">page on Singapore</a> and find unique and affordable artworks from recognizable neighborhoods around town (like the Joo Chiat shophouses, etc).</li><li><a href="https://cat-socrates.myshopify.com/">Cat Socrates</a> - This charming boutique with locations in Joo Chiat and Tiong Bahru is full of cute and unique Singaporean gifting items - think coffee table books about Singapore, coasters and magnets with funny or irreverent Singlish terms, cards, puzzles, and trays/plates with a Singaporean design. A must visit!</li><li>Singapore Visitor Center - There are different locations around town and here you’ll find a combination of vintage items (Perenakan style teapots) and more modern gifting pieces (Merlion stuffies, local card games and books) designed for tourists.</li><li>National Gallery Gift Shop - Great for gifting coffee table books and other stationary type of knick-knacks that are local in flavor.</li><li><a href="https://www.independentmarket.sg/" target="_blank">Independent Market</a> - Quirky and fun, Independent Market has tons of curated Singaporean products and brands, including artwork by local artists, cushions and magnets featuring local dishes or Singlish terms, books, etc. </li><li><a href="https://emandcoart.com/" target="_blank">Em + Co Art</a> - Colorful and whimsical art, tea towels, and gifting cards that capture the tropical vibe of Singapore and the classic shophouses</li><li><a href="https://cat-socrates.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">The Creative Hut</a> - This watercolor artist has converted some of her best pieces into gifting pieces, such as a fabric hardbound journal and linen sets, that capture Singapore’s lust tropical flora and fauna</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4cSBTNQsyKeTZJP5j1XjUT9Twc_p4-TvFrsx2AngQt1DH-P1ISoa836pEyc_aKJymGEIKREAB5ASpPEJk9tlzZjzaD1h_zsXJRNwgRxGi3KMaOjdD9j6nEk2-LEHh1gr8m7TS0HGx3ch091Lw12dlPJ5dfFt7xu-BjxPgRBVvm2BE_YcZbeRKUvX/s4032/IMG_2792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4cSBTNQsyKeTZJP5j1XjUT9Twc_p4-TvFrsx2AngQt1DH-P1ISoa836pEyc_aKJymGEIKREAB5ASpPEJk9tlzZjzaD1h_zsXJRNwgRxGi3KMaOjdD9j6nEk2-LEHh1gr8m7TS0HGx3ch091Lw12dlPJ5dfFt7xu-BjxPgRBVvm2BE_YcZbeRKUvX/w300-h400/IMG_2792.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many books you'll find at Cat Socrates or at Independent Market</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Women</h3><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.designorchard.sg/" target="_blank">Design Orchard</a> - A retails space on Orchard Road which spotlights Singapore's local designers and homegrown brands - be it clothes, jewelry, scarves, or other trinkets, you will find some creative pieces here (note: the items here are on the expensive side)</li></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;">Kids</h3><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Times Junior (at Jewel Changi) - With merchandise ranging from books, toys, stationery, gifts and accessories - including a dedicated selection of children’s books by Singapore authors</li><li>DrawnBy Jessica - These washable silicone mats with magic markers are a great gifting idea for the little ones. There is one specifically with the <a href="https://www.bumwear.com/drawnby-jessica/DrawnBy-SingaporeLah">Singapore skyline</a> which makes it an apt souvenir!</li><li><a href="https://indigrowkids.com/collections/singapore-collection/products/singapore-christmas-bundle">Indigrow Kids</a> - Check out their cultural book called A to Z of Singapore. It’s perfect for toddlers and up</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLPUAsHUwKuMlEoNvsTY07oClvzOhBZGG9DchIbP643qa54q36NtW7GYPB9ZEbQPHkmzNj5gbbPWI6Jw7bqkG4xO8kyz3lHJ1lLTO7rn0tZppxvQorp3xBSs9KEoY-ycxPFcjYdhkp5eVqdNthK_2XBdNbwE4WIcEtpnRpUtf_8PELceEVslMLoa9/s1800/D7D55DFF-21E6-4D14-8341-D1C924C4F51C.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLPUAsHUwKuMlEoNvsTY07oClvzOhBZGG9DchIbP643qa54q36NtW7GYPB9ZEbQPHkmzNj5gbbPWI6Jw7bqkG4xO8kyz3lHJ1lLTO7rn0tZppxvQorp3xBSs9KEoY-ycxPFcjYdhkp5eVqdNthK_2XBdNbwE4WIcEtpnRpUtf_8PELceEVslMLoa9/w320-h400/D7D55DFF-21E6-4D14-8341-D1C924C4F51C.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Food</h3><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Bengawan Solo - I love to gift Bengawan’s <a href="https://bengawansolo.sg/cookies" target="_blank">local treats and cookies</a> (almond cookies, pineapple tarts, sugee cookies, etc) which come in beautifully decorated tin boxes. They last well too so you can easily pack and carry them in your suitcase to gift them to your friends and family on the other side</li><li><a href="https://eatirvins.sg/pages/the-snack-shop" target="_blank">Irvin’s</a> - This Singaporean snack brand is famously known for its addictive Salted Egg Fish Skin Chips. They’ve been a hit whenever I’ve taken then for colleagues and friends. You can easily find stores in the city as well as at the airport.</li><li>Kaya Jam - It is synonymous with the local breakfast and it's oh-so-good! This coconut-based jam is meant to be spread it on your toast and it's delish! You can find it anywhere but if you're looking for a nice packaging, check out <a href="https://www.lazada.sg/products/raffles-signature-kaya-jam-i2387507239-s14002352829.html?from_gmc=1&exlaz=d_1:mm_150050845_51350205_2010350205::12:19482288611!!!!!c!!14002352829!585418276&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7PCjBhDwARIsANo7Cgm2cU9QmPctYgQ0rcoJlqOBCK_1gfpI2CBLXus7jh5ZsK7b1PCl4boaAquEEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Raffles Hotel Signature Kaya Jam</a>.</li><li><a href="https://tanglin-gin.com/shop/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7PCjBhDwARIsANo7CgljwhASl3DTi7OBRxB24i2WlsAf-IINIkZvGgS3vFmUxBiOpsBryGYaAjghEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Tanglin Gin</a> & <a href="https://brassliondistillery.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7PCjBhDwARIsANo7CgkD8Xv42KVL8UND-n4Ynqnre3p9ygS7zKThDRWonrnWaNKdoh1S2zoaAi35EALw_wcB" target="_blank">Brass Lion Gin</a> - Both are local gin distilleries in Singapore that make good quality gin in different flavors. What’s more, they come packaged in beautiful bottles! Be sure to try Brass Lion’s Butterfly Pea Gin which changes color upon adding soda or tonic (it’s one of my faves). <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhEbT0IOM1qA_fRuJF0ZT3IjE73SiXhg8b543m3d_SK4SdUi59HxeQC6_COcqFtgyxdZsTQD46TkZkXKhabfJJgZIDZinswvBHaXuCLgB2J9Ehy2CIoanolwnn1dtZLY4y4dcsM4j8Pz-JilAWcVO5gZgSBsUDTLQFk7kuYRdkQZoNGNDh8IpmIyD/s4032/IMG_2800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhEbT0IOM1qA_fRuJF0ZT3IjE73SiXhg8b543m3d_SK4SdUi59HxeQC6_COcqFtgyxdZsTQD46TkZkXKhabfJJgZIDZinswvBHaXuCLgB2J9Ehy2CIoanolwnn1dtZLY4y4dcsM4j8Pz-JilAWcVO5gZgSBsUDTLQFk7kuYRdkQZoNGNDh8IpmIyD/w480-h640/IMG_2800.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-29758718402876955732023-05-03T15:51:00.003+08:002023-06-04T14:59:26.979+08:00Recommendations for Indian Cultural and Language Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWuKVqLuwrElyY2XC7eqV8M4RxWh9QkChNUH-ObdDxRnhabEo0AnGKyxSL_BiJTxPFVwGRhrQFYEeokP7ykrdDXPIfA8h5GZNtCyWzQRChGqFA6s9Q81JUwk6pimBrdbkANaRAQSp8wRMstd7HDae30PxUybDjuF7IAISY4dYCKJl6WVVMoZKk082/s4032/IMG_4019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWuKVqLuwrElyY2XC7eqV8M4RxWh9QkChNUH-ObdDxRnhabEo0AnGKyxSL_BiJTxPFVwGRhrQFYEeokP7ykrdDXPIfA8h5GZNtCyWzQRChGqFA6s9Q81JUwk6pimBrdbkANaRAQSp8wRMstd7HDae30PxUybDjuF7IAISY4dYCKJl6WVVMoZKk082/w480-h640/IMG_4019.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Living outside of India, books have been a powerful medium for teaching my boys about Indian culture, festivals, and mythological stories. Over the years, I've accumulated quite a collection in our home library and while visiting the Crossword Bookstore in Mumbai recently, I discovered a few more!<br />Sharing names of books and publishers which have helped me in my journey over the years...<br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Language & cultural books:</h4><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://hindibyreena.com/" target="_blank">Hindi by Reena</a> - intro to Hindi for preschoolers</li><li><a href="https://t4tales.com/" target="_blank">T4Tales</a> - Bilingual (English and different Indian langaugess with beautiful illustrations for preschoolers up to age 5/6</li><li><a href="https://indigrowkids.com/" target="_blank">Indigrow</a> - <i>A to Z of India</i> and <i>Colours of India</i> books showcase the familiar, cultural and every day moments of Indian life</li><li><a href="https://www.tulikabooks.com/">Tulika Books</a> - publisher of children's books by South Asian authors, many of which are bilingual </li><li>Meet Buckley - English and transliterated Hindi book </li><li><a href="https://mangoandmarigoldpress.com/">Mango and Marigolds Press</a> - independent publisher on stories of the South Asian experience, including those living abroad and growing up outside India</li><li><a href="https://shopyug.in/collections/yug-people" target="_blank">ShopYug</a> - Offers books on various historical and notable figures in Indian history</li></ul><h4 style="text-align: left;">Religious/mythology books:</h4><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Meet My Hindu Gods</i> by <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Hindu-Gods-Cultural-Babies/dp/0692741909" target="_blank">Desi Babies</a> - An introduction to your toddler or preschooler to the Hindu gods and goddesses</li><li><i>Kahaani Puraani</i> by <a href="https://t4tales.com/products/kahaani-puraani" target="_blank">t4tales</a> is a boardbook introducing the story of Ramayan in its simplest form for a young audience</li><li><i>Amma Tell Me</i> series by <a href="http://bhaktimathur.com/amma-tell-me-series.html" target="_blank">Bhakti Mathur</a> is for ages 4 and up, showcasing stories of Indian festivals and mythological stories on Ram, Hanuman, Maa Kali, etc</li><li>Anita Raina Thapan books such as <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hurray-Diwali-Thapan-R/dp/8176212008" target="_blank">Hurray for Diwali</a></i> & Little Hanuman</li><li><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ganeshas-Sweet-Tooth-Sanjay-Patel/dp/1452145563" target="_blank">Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth</a></i> by Emily Haynes and Sanjay Patel for kids up to ages</li><li>Collection of books by Swamini Supriyananda, including <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Contributor-Anastasia-Illustrator-Swamini-Supriyananda/dp/817597690X" target="_blank">Mata Mama & Me</a></i>, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Go-Hanuman-Swamini-Supriyananda/dp/8175976306" target="_blank">Go Hanuman! Go!</a></i>, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ganesha-Mousecapade-Nishita-Chaitanya/dp/8175974672" target="_blank">Ganesha’s Mousecapade</a></i> for preschoolers up to ages 6/7</li><li><i><a href="https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjw3Pmy1Nj-AhWYlksFHW-4AcsYABAAGgJzZg&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESbOD2TkaTnotQY5WT3NgeNEXN7pVEOhdBm6TOwyBrFDhfU1jUDF5VdNVegyrAAcqP8YXQEkRntw8P1bbGjnbBObBvpajEB2_jb4sFccnG6XXtf2AWQUyG7E9NYjsCLZwyuCaiCh1afCuZ8JIXwA&sig=AOD64_25xDFW8e9a2CTV0ZtkSjQN3gGDvg&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwitjfSy1Nj-AhXQwjgGHdazArUQ0Qx6BAgIEAE&nis=8" target="_blank">Amar Chitra Katha books</a></i> (online app also available)</li><li><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Young-Pandavas-Elephants-Anupam-Arunachalam/dp/9388322797" target="_blank">The Young Pandava</a></i> series for kids ages 7 and up</li><li> ShopYug for its <a href="https://shopyug.in/collections/yug-stories" target="_blank">Ramayan</a> book for younger kids</li></ul>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-79482542182651197142023-03-29T10:43:00.000+08:002023-03-29T10:43:55.747+08:00Phuket Travel Diaries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Phuket is quite the popular travel destination in Southeast Asia. I remember visiting Phuket in the 80s when I was really young…while my memory might be fuzzy about that first trip to Phuket, I do distinctly remember the pristine vibes of this locale long before it became part of the tourist map. In the past two years, I’ve made several trips to Phuket with family and friends. Now, Phuket is far more developed and highly frequented by visitors than ever before. But it still has its charming beachy vibes and you can still get that authentic experience if you know where to go. <br />
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I’ve stayed in different parts of Phuket every time I have visited – Patong, Kamala, Kathu, and Laguna. In addition, I have stayed in AirBnBs, hotels, and hotel villas. It’s been a different experience every time and each setup has its pros and cons when traveling with kids. Here are some of my recommendations of places to go in Phuket and where to eat (by no means exhaustive but just sharing what I have enjoyed). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Picture taken at the Banyan Tree Hotel in Phuket. The hotel is part of a group of hotel and resort properties in the Laguna community. Staying in one of the hotels allows one access to the other hotels in the Laguna area.</span></td></tr>
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<b>Beaches:</b><br />
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I have generally found the stretch of beaches along the west coast of Phuket to be quite good. Other than Patong Beach which is overexposed and overcrowded, I have enjoyed the following beaches: Kamala Beach, Bangtao Beach, Surin Beach, and Kata Beach.<br />
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Most, if not all, of these beaches will have water activities such as banana boating, parasailing, etc. Some will have horseback riding along the beach (for grownups and kids alike). You can even light the night lanterns which can be released in the sky. <br />
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<b>Restaurants:</b><br />
- Beach clubs: There are a few good ones, which have a chill daytime vibe and a clubby night time scene. Check out Cafe Del Mar, Carpe Diem, and Xana Beach Club to name a few.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Baan Rim Pa (there are two locations, Patong and Kalim, both of which are good): Admittedly, the food is strictly mediocre but the views are stunning from the hilltop! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmXdm8r9xAUfvLN4k7j_qhJmjZbLZxKQHvmIgc7Unx5RHNmHmzn1f1K7DMmqMnDAec346xEmMD0QXju7fIkTXHYI-jGeVfRl0ErB9qTIA0uvJBwP-nxu_SPo2hs42LzvW98OUL0Ts6x4/s1600/Baan+Rim+Pa.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmXdm8r9xAUfvLN4k7j_qhJmjZbLZxKQHvmIgc7Unx5RHNmHmzn1f1K7DMmqMnDAec346xEmMD0QXju7fIkTXHYI-jGeVfRl0ErB9qTIA0uvJBwP-nxu_SPo2hs42LzvW98OUL0Ts6x4/s640/Baan+Rim+Pa.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The view from Baan Rim Pa Restaurant</span></td></tr>
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- Salvatore’s Italian Restaurant: Located in Old Phuket town, this restaurant has delicious Italian cuisine and the service was attentive. The staff catered well to our group with kids, accommodating to our requests and vegetarian food requirements.<br />
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- Tung Ka Café: Thai restaurant on top of Rang Hill. I would suggest going here a bit before sunset to get a spectacular view of Phuket city and the sea beyond. Take time for photos and then follow it up with dinner at Tung Ka Café. This place has authentic and delicious Thai food but since it’s out in the open, be sure to take mozzie patches and repellent. <br />
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- Baba's Nest at Sri Panwa Resort: This is a rooftop bar in the Sri Panwa Resort located towards the southernmost part of Phuket. From the rooftop deck, you get a stunning view of Phuket peninsula and the Andaman sea as you enjoy cocktails. Just make sure to make reservations in advance!<br />
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<b>Shopping:</b><br />
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- Old Phuket Town is a historical part of Phuket noted for its Sino-Portugese shophouses lining the streets. The main roads within this neighbhorhood are Thalang Road (which has a small lane called Soi Romanee), Phang Nga, Krabi, Dibuk, and Yaowarat. Here you’ll find charming heritage shophouses of various candy colors selling souvenirs, clothes/apparel, and other trinkets. You’ll also find cute coffee shops and some hipster cafes. Definitely worth a visit to roam around and do something non-beach related. If you can, visit this area on a Sunday evening. That is when the weekend market (called Lard Yai) which takes place on Thalang Road on Sundays from 5pm to 11pm. </div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIwrGHcyUZinmJD9qhEqACjFEMdlBlWIV_wIwDEvCEbAiQ4vHneVzwUVKTpgh7RthVe1R2IZjhQ2LyFFaSrgsSx4vW5J9ADL1ksLGn8jUlSkioK-Bo67c3T76P8J_-0f7IflGe8ZlkRY/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1a8b.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIwrGHcyUZinmJD9qhEqACjFEMdlBlWIV_wIwDEvCEbAiQ4vHneVzwUVKTpgh7RthVe1R2IZjhQ2LyFFaSrgsSx4vW5J9ADL1ksLGn8jUlSkioK-Bo67c3T76P8J_-0f7IflGe8ZlkRY/s640/fullsizeoutput_1a8b.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Exploring the characteristic Perenakan historical shophouses in Old Phuket Town. Many of these have been converted to coffeeshops and stores selling souvenirs, clothes, and other speciality items</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZAMJ11-hlUdQ6H_DnaTMZqwi92KxkFsXAohoICnE-5AhIyqOwAVl54sdJ54FDVTCKKOpy71Woijz9VOr1ZDvDFjrExbNUJVHcsX5bkQcUoJX9q_kU9zxYJXUQ13Y3qUfqKH5XBpHQSU/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1a53.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZAMJ11-hlUdQ6H_DnaTMZqwi92KxkFsXAohoICnE-5AhIyqOwAVl54sdJ54FDVTCKKOpy71Woijz9VOr1ZDvDFjrExbNUJVHcsX5bkQcUoJX9q_kU9zxYJXUQ13Y3qUfqKH5XBpHQSU/s640/fullsizeoutput_1a53.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bulan store located on Thalang Road in Old Phuket Town</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabXfn_Ui7HLW8W7MAKYqQqez8PiEsNvWINXk6mdiVJHZUY8mYJyw6F-j-rmszHncsSrmDrAk6WQIpzCeG6PM4ZSBZqUs6hodSAZh8cezCscmWnb1g41nd_SuD9qj1sMdKrtHiCw9FxAk/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1a55.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabXfn_Ui7HLW8W7MAKYqQqez8PiEsNvWINXk6mdiVJHZUY8mYJyw6F-j-rmszHncsSrmDrAk6WQIpzCeG6PM4ZSBZqUs6hodSAZh8cezCscmWnb1g41nd_SuD9qj1sMdKrtHiCw9FxAk/s640/fullsizeoutput_1a55.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYQb5adM5vj3M_4Z8x9wBsWFto0gsZL9-2aeHZNNrrKEoVpdsHdYnPmRczrWsyD3MnvQnNcmePx9pMABcHA1SuF2UDbv7w9OK5hLH_8XV2P58JmOARSMG6R_hVJw8YXZKJlKMfHTU6GM/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1a87.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYQb5adM5vj3M_4Z8x9wBsWFto0gsZL9-2aeHZNNrrKEoVpdsHdYnPmRczrWsyD3MnvQnNcmePx9pMABcHA1SuF2UDbv7w9OK5hLH_8XV2P58JmOARSMG6R_hVJw8YXZKJlKMfHTU6GM/s640/fullsizeoutput_1a87.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fresh fruits from the Thalang Weekend Market. You will find a variety of local fare here</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLzphiFxxjzvU7hyQVy3gNrCJIhyjK_tBAMAUDh1RACMLoHvikh2uc6HiPXuAObZjU4dIDTsW4AXCOriLY41rZtQVFkr9lFzLvZ4YQ5WziGzrWvJSR82JNv5PmopsvYUgwvq9IkAfWA8/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1a5b.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLzphiFxxjzvU7hyQVy3gNrCJIhyjK_tBAMAUDh1RACMLoHvikh2uc6HiPXuAObZjU4dIDTsW4AXCOriLY41rZtQVFkr9lFzLvZ4YQ5WziGzrWvJSR82JNv5PmopsvYUgwvq9IkAfWA8/s640/fullsizeoutput_1a5b.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbIWi-H5DAfCEckpQZDw9QUTvyspr3kny7JS8thA3v-cf1C6_KKJuYh3clD9YIDUarQogoZxrNQvaZoJOTmir69MX0p2bUn11je1cZf9EsmU_WsfGcfXfUAv-LgYfy4CghWuo_xOjJ3k/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1a89.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbIWi-H5DAfCEckpQZDw9QUTvyspr3kny7JS8thA3v-cf1C6_KKJuYh3clD9YIDUarQogoZxrNQvaZoJOTmir69MX0p2bUn11je1cZf9EsmU_WsfGcfXfUAv-LgYfy4CghWuo_xOjJ3k/s640/fullsizeoutput_1a89.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Local style popsicle sticks at the weekend market - a perfect way to cool off in the heat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
- I’m not a fan of visiting the generic malls when I travel abroad. But having said that, the <a href="http://www.jungceylon.com/">Jung Ceylong Shopping Mall</a> undoubtedly offers tons of options for restaurants, a supermarket (should you wish to buy some basic necessities), and local and chain stores. Sometimes that’s what you need when traveling with kids and looking to get some easy shopping done!<br />
<br />
<b>Other activities:</b><br />
<br />
- Patong Night Life: A bit seedy for my taste but it’s definitely rocking at night! <br />
<br />
- Go-karting: <a href="http://www.gokartthailand.com/">Patong Go-Kart Speedway</a> is a fun activity to do for the adults. Racing around, vroom vroom!<br />
<br />
- Horseback riding: I have tried the one in the Laguna area called <a href="https://phuketindex.com/bangtaobeachridingclub/">Phuket Riding Club.</a> They have ponies for kids to ride and horses for the adults. You can choose to do a one hour-long horse riding along the beach or even longer. Krishnav (age 5) surprisingly lasted an hour and had a great time! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOuCVcS9faEjJXtM_5qFQzp2xI6n0kBqyAqG81JHbM6fHlh7D0TlJsu76CM3DazUPpzkSntA2cxBqU8A5Ud55syjH4up8TKlf2BYIhE11LA9dY9TF5RFTCRhGJbebjfGr6oSCFAeEkHQ/s1600/Horseback+Riding.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOuCVcS9faEjJXtM_5qFQzp2xI6n0kBqyAqG81JHbM6fHlh7D0TlJsu76CM3DazUPpzkSntA2cxBqU8A5Ud55syjH4up8TKlf2BYIhE11LA9dY9TF5RFTCRhGJbebjfGr6oSCFAeEkHQ/s640/Horseback+Riding.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
- Elephant sanctuary: There are several in Phuket but I encourage you to look into the ones that are ethical and offer proper care for rescued elephants. <a href="https://www.oasisspa.net/destination/phuket/">Phuket Elephant Sanctuary</a> claims to be the only one to do so.<br />
<br />
- Massage places: There are numerous spas/massage places so the best option is to search places online with a high number of positive reviews. I have had a very good experience at the <a href="https://www.oasisspa.net/destination/phuket/">Oasis Spa</a> (it's a chain so you will find several locations around the island). I liked their quality of service and massage there. <style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oasis Spa</span></td></tr>
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Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-44578693734537818562022-12-07T22:00:00.000+08:002022-12-07T22:00:03.629+08:00Parenting in the Digital Age<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTNhb22H-oyE72VLxEK25WX3nEXAgy1BECmDf_Mog-PGVIS6FPxLi3G4Ni9UuQJ3o0jpViieMFw9AfxjjKXc1kIgXnqCPEwHS5-pi66cszTe3BwdhCOwnKmpJCLfNoa9t9B0urN1-urLFmO-QVQOnBPnVYQY1P59oAXKr1aQ6CP0Z-hSMINDKDDSA/s4032/arjun%20on%20ipad.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTNhb22H-oyE72VLxEK25WX3nEXAgy1BECmDf_Mog-PGVIS6FPxLi3G4Ni9UuQJ3o0jpViieMFw9AfxjjKXc1kIgXnqCPEwHS5-pi66cszTe3BwdhCOwnKmpJCLfNoa9t9B0urN1-urLFmO-QVQOnBPnVYQY1P59oAXKr1aQ6CP0Z-hSMINDKDDSA/w640-h480/arjun%20on%20ipad.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Digital technology surrounds us and is part of our daily lives. Learning how to use it wisely is an essential skill for life and learning in these times. As parents, we sometimes don’t feel equipped to support our child’s journey and worry about their use of technology. Which controls should we put in place? How much screen time is too much? What kind of conversations should we have with them?</div><br />I<span id="docs-internal-guid-a1dfc4c3-7fff-a413-be13-f8a6bc382e0d">n this blogpost, I will share some of the learnings I’ve gained recently from my own research and at a recent workshop I attended on this topic.</span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Mindset Shift: Not all screen time is the same.</b></h3><span>Most of us reading this are probably of the generation where our first ever home-owned computer, the Internet, and smartphones entered our lives when we were older. Since then, technology has evolved by leaps and bounds. We are finding ourselves raising children in a generation where technology is integrated into their daily lives from an extremely young age. It’s a bit scary being in this position because, as parents we’re still “figuring things out as we go”. On top of that, we mostly hear the negative effects of screen time, social media, and use of technology in the news. <br /><br />First, we need to change our own thinking around screen time. Recognize that not all screen time consumption is the same. There are different types of screen time:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span id="docs-internal-guid-a1dfc4c3-7fff-a413-be13-f8a6bc382e0d">Passive: watching TV</span></li><li><span id="docs-internal-guid-a1dfc4c3-7fff-a413-be13-f8a6bc382e0d">Interactive: playing videogames, interactive educational apps, browsing the Internet or using social media</span></li><li><span id="docs-internal-guid-a1dfc4c3-7fff-a413-be13-f8a6bc382e0d">Communicative: communicating with the real world through your device, such as video-chatting</span></li><li><span id="docs-internal-guid-a1dfc4c3-7fff-a413-be13-f8a6bc382e0d">Content creation: using devices to make digital art or music</span></li></ul>Each type of screen time consumption affects or uses a different part of our brain. Passive use and addiction to social media is known to have negative, anti-social effects on children. However, there is a positive impact on behavior, literacy, and cognitive ability when children are using educational interactive apps or digital tools to create content, coding, and connecting with family/friends using technology (remember how that was a god-send during Covid!). <br /><br />All this is to highlight the following: <b>How our children use technology is highly context dependent and not all screen time is bad!</b> An hour of watching YouTube videos is not the same as an hour spent designing digital art. :)<br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Parenting Approaches</b></span></h3><div><div><span>There are different approaches to parenting with regards to use of digital devices at home. Given the scope of this post, I will not delve too much into this and will instead share <a href="http://portfolios.uwcsea.edu.sg/eastech/2015/02/05/parenting-in-the-digital-age/">this link</a> for further reference. <br /><br /></span><div><span>My own personal opinion is that it is impractical to eliminate or minimize use of technology in this day and age. It’s all about finding the right balance and following it in a consistent manner so that we don't send confusing signals to our children. Also, your child is watching you. If you’re on your phone during meal times, your child will think it’s acceptable behavior to watch a show on their iPad at the dining table. If you’re scrolling endlessly on Instagram or Facebook while talking to your child, you can expect that they will return the favor to you someday! So remember, role modeling is important and use technology the way you want your children to.<br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Good Practices / Tips</b></span></h3><span><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span>Rule of thumb to tell your child: Be safe, responsible, and respectful with online use and technology. Just as you would want your child to be safe, responsible, and respectful in the classroom or playground, the same rules apply to the digital world.</span></li><li><span>Agree on a set of ground rules for technology and online use. This includes asking for permissions to download apps and agreeing on how much screen time is appropriate, depending on the type of screen time (discussed above). Be prepared to revisit this topic again and again as your children grow and circumstances change.</span></li><li><span>According to <a href="https://theconversation.com/yes-your-child-will-be-exposed-to-online-porn-but-dont-panic-heres-what-to-do-instead-149900">sources</a>, the average age that a child will be first exposed to pornography or adult content online is at 11 years of age. Sometimes this can occur simply by accident if a child is searching online for a particular term or phrase. Instead of waiting for it to happen when you least expect it, have a preemptive chat with your child. Remind them that if they see something inappropriate online, they should turn it off immediately and then inform you.</span></li><li><span>Encourage them to think before they post - what may feel like a harmless joke or funny photo could be something that they regret posting later or embarrassing or hurtful to someone.</span></li><li><span>Making good choices online can be challenging for people of all ages, and we all make mistakes. Be present for your child and keep an eye on their online activity. Together you can unearth cool learning discoveries or concerns which can be addressed early on.</span></li><li><span>Create regular screen-free times as a family (e.g., meal times or evenings where you play boardgames) to bond and connect without digital distractions.</span></li><li><span>If you are using your phone in front of your child, name it. That means, identify what you’re doing so that they know you’re not ghosting on them or losing interest when they’re talking to you. I often do this. For example, if we are talking about catching a movie together, I pull out my phone and say “I’m looking up movie timings so that we can plan our weekend ahead”.</span></li><li><span>Keep devices in plain sight. Create a “digital station” or “phone zone” for charging all devices and for identifying a common area for your kids to return their devices once done (before bedtime, etc).</span></li></ul></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Resources</b></span></h3>Be informed<span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span><a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/">Common Sense Media</a> is a great source for families providing reviews and recommendations around video games, TV shows, movies, and technology</span></li></ul>Monitoring<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span><a href="https://support.apple.com/en-sg/guide/iphone/iph24dcd4fb8/ios">Screen time function</a> shows how much time you’ve spent on your iPhone or iPad and also enables setting of limits</span></li><li><span><a href="https://support.apple.com/en-sg/HT204100#:~:text=Open%20Mission%20Control,Apple%20keyboard%20or%20Touch%20Bar.">Three finger</a> swipe allows you to see other open windows and apps</span></li></ul>Setting parental controls<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span><a href="https://support.apple.com/en-sg/HT201304">Apple products</a> (iPhone, iPad)</span></li><li><span><a href="https://support.google.com/youtubekids/answer/6172308?hl=en">Youtube Kids</a></span></li><li><span><a href="https://families.google.com/kidsspace/">Google Kids Space</a> (software for Android tablets)</span></li><li><span><a href="https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/510?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid">Google Safe Search</a> (filters explicit content from your Google Search)</span></li></ul>Some great apps for “interactive” or “content creation” for kids<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span>Flipaclip - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAf38GpZa3Y">tutorial</a></span></li><li><span>Stopmotion - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ra-I7BVSU">tutorial</a></span></li><li><span>iMovie - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7WTmRN_aPA">tutorial</a></span></li><li><span><a href="https://bookcreator.com/">Book Creator Journal</a></span></li><li><span>Minecraft - <a href="http://minecraft">how it can be educational for kids</a></span></li><li><span>Roblox - <a href="https://education.roblox.com/">for educational purposes</a></span></li></ul>Helpful articles<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/family-technology">How to Limit Kids’ Tech Use</a></span></li><li><span><a href="https://www.nspt4kids.com/parenting/how-to-set-technology-rules/">How to Set Technology Rules</a></span></li><li><span><a href="https://www.parentclub.scot/articles/talking-your-child-about-online-safety">Talking to Your Child About Online Safety</a></span></li></ul></span></div></div></div>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-7196252522457072842022-11-08T10:11:00.013+08:002022-11-08T10:50:28.333+08:00Bali Travel Recommendations <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kW41R5sE0G7Y5OXvA-wI-Yo_QS2JA2m4d2OE8RqWbxhLEOFvWdZUYa91EDCx8UaYDhJUXDCHBzkP4j58vvwjbUR6ur8TPuh9lIMFhtdZF6hiATt99IyaFU4R6D53lolzPchmyjst1V4/s1600/Bali-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kW41R5sE0G7Y5OXvA-wI-Yo_QS2JA2m4d2OE8RqWbxhLEOFvWdZUYa91EDCx8UaYDhJUXDCHBzkP4j58vvwjbUR6ur8TPuh9lIMFhtdZF6hiATt99IyaFU4R6D53lolzPchmyjst1V4/s640/Bali-1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p>I've visited Bali five times in the past few years and always discover something new on this beautiful island. If you've explored enough of the hipp-dippy, earthy vibes of Ubud (see post about it <a href="http://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2018/10/bali-travel-recommendations.html">here</a>), it's time to hit up the happening hipster neighborhoods of <b>Canggu</b> and <b>Seminyak </b>in Bali! This blogpost will provide my recommendations for these two different areas which are located relatively close to one another. Seminyak is a hotbed for amazing eateries and boutiques. Meanwhile, Canggu is an up-and-coming surfer beach town, north of Seminyak and south of Tanah Lot.</p><div><div><i>Things to do in Seminyak </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>1. <a href="https://seminyak.potatohead.co/feast/beach-club/">Potato Head Beach Club</a>: Located by the beach (though the beach itself isn't anything to write home about), this beach club is the epitome of casual, laid back Seminyak vibes. The beach club has amazing food and is super kid-friendly during the day time. For a more grown-up vibe, visit in the evenings! </div><div><br /></div><div>2. Shopping: Go to Seminyak Square and begin your window-shopping or actual shopping experience there! If you’re looking for stores with home furnishings, check out Satunama, Kim Soo, Mercredi and Domicile (just to name a few). I found this <a href="https://thehoneycombers.com/bali/best-homewares-shopping-bali/">article</a> for homewares in Seminyak very helpful. For clothes, you will find many local or international brands that made their start in Bali (these boutiques are generally more expensive). Street shopping and haggling is also fun - I had bought a pair of cute sandals for $13 SGD.<br /><br />3. Spa: I’ve only tried Sunderi Spa (twice) and it was lovely both times. Good service and massage treatments at a good price.<br /><br />4. Restaurants:<br /><ul><li>Motel Mexicola: Mexican food done right! If you go for dinner, stay until 10pm and you’ll see the crowd go crazy dancing on the tables to the beat of the live band! </li><li>Ginger Moon: Great for lunch or dinner with pan-Asian cuisine. It’s located near all the cool shops and boutiques in Seminyak so it makes for a great option for a meal after your shopping escapades! </li><li>Mamasan: This is not a child friendly restaurant in terms of food and ambiance but more suitable for a date night spot. The pan-Asian cuisine here is novel and lip-smacking good. I particularly loved the creative cocktails here - we had ordered 4 different drinks at our table and loved all of them. </li><li>Chandi: Lovely restaurant that features Indonesian-influenced cuisine. This place specializes in different types of satay so don't try to stray from that when you make your order. As a vegetarian, I was a bit unconvinced about how good tempeh and vegetable satays could be but Chandi proved me wrong. Seriously good stuff! </li></ul><i>Things to do in Canggu </i></div><div><br />1. Finn’s Beach Club: The Beach Club is great for lounging all day, dipping in the pool, and having a relaxing time. We loved the food and service here. Super kid-friendly and a great way to spend a lazy day! In addition, I would recommend Finn's Recreation Club - there's a bowling alley, supervised kids club with activities, trampoline jumping, and a water park. Great fun for the kids! </div><div><br /></div><div>2. Surfing lessons: For adults or kids, you can take surfing lessons in Canggu and it's challenging yet fun! My 9-year old went for a spin and he really enjoyed it.<br /><br />3. Shopping: </div><ul><li>Walk along Jalan Pantai Berawa and you'll see lots of homeware stores, such as Bungalow Living, Cove Island Essentials, One Love, etc. (Again, refer to this helpful <a href="https://thehoneycombers.com/bali/best-homewares-shopping-bali/">link</a>)</li><li><a href="https://tamoragallery.com/">Tamora Gallery</a>: This is a lifestyle shopping center featuring family-friendly cafes and activities, stores, and a kids' outdoor playarea. </li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrCkZs6o-c68MBQ-rExmR3sapvpQNjMf9eWxy7mllg9LnFlb7mY7Tiwq1NOr6iQG2nLPubbdzMutSkC0yzTGzJXw6i77iM2IReCRGxu8Afiib_c_kUTJzxseJq0BarNVsAx7s8_a6oxGSNv_-Ui2LtykrKn00IGW9B_shab8H0MVD6iK_IFDwGEQ-/s2048/canggu.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrCkZs6o-c68MBQ-rExmR3sapvpQNjMf9eWxy7mllg9LnFlb7mY7Tiwq1NOr6iQG2nLPubbdzMutSkC0yzTGzJXw6i77iM2IReCRGxu8Afiib_c_kUTJzxseJq0BarNVsAx7s8_a6oxGSNv_-Ui2LtykrKn00IGW9B_shab8H0MVD6iK_IFDwGEQ-/w480-h640/canggu.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing in Tamora Gallery</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>4. Restaurants (all vegetarian friendly): <br /><ul><li>La Baracca: There are more than one location but either day, the pizza here is great! The restaurant had a rustic vibe but the food is oh-so-good!</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwonm0FGQQTTGNDdYtTu6pPVX81BI0GEoII-xDx43IftetuoyoXVRVjBmVmvfW13gv0sAms6ZI4X0dv3Ls-z7RzxnscdVBASfc0Xtnj3KXccvvK4OEHeWuYcP0-Pd-q7mXUFjdYwN0gVs/s1600/Bali-4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwonm0FGQQTTGNDdYtTu6pPVX81BI0GEoII-xDx43IftetuoyoXVRVjBmVmvfW13gv0sAms6ZI4X0dv3Ls-z7RzxnscdVBASfc0Xtnj3KXccvvK4OEHeWuYcP0-Pd-q7mXUFjdYwN0gVs/s640/Bali-4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /><ul><li>Milk & Madu: Think chilled out café with pizza, pasta, avo toast, and breakfast bowls. What I loved most about this café is the play corner meant just for kids. There’s a big treehouse and a slide along with coloring activities to keep the little ones happily engaged.</li></ul></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDVE-ycv6kdkS0nv7DXgd6tF24XFBebDWRTDKGwC3bHZSG7gSlKU5CZJ67B4aXJpaCBsvqhrlBqbUB88jK-ASGmfdv-vLYmm8hpu_CRHuqUdDEHA1zW6tsFC79qBNg9PRj_0WCD4LIJI/s1600/Bali-5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDVE-ycv6kdkS0nv7DXgd6tF24XFBebDWRTDKGwC3bHZSG7gSlKU5CZJ67B4aXJpaCBsvqhrlBqbUB88jK-ASGmfdv-vLYmm8hpu_CRHuqUdDEHA1zW6tsFC79qBNg9PRj_0WCD4LIJI/s640/Bali-5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div><br /><ul><li>Zin Cafe: Absolutely love the breakfast options here, including the eggs and the breakfast bowl</li><li>Yema Kitchen: Mediterranean cuisine with delicious food</li><li>Nu Delhi: For days when you want Indian food to hit the spot</li><li>Panama Kitchen & Pool: Restaurant with a family pool in a cute charming setting (1 min walk from Finn's Beach Club)</li><li>Other restaurants and coffee shops to visit in Canggu: Cafe Organic, Hungry Bird, Revolver, La Laguna (go only in the evening for the live band), Monsieur Spoon (this French bakery unexpectedly opens onto a rice paddy field!), and Seasalt in the Alila Hotel (amazing beach views over drinks).</li></ul></div><div>5. Tanah Lot Temple: Amongst the more famous temples in Bali, Tanah Lot is a rock formation which is also home to an ancient Hindu temple. If you're in the Seminyak or Canggu area, you are not that far from the temple so it's well worth a visit!</div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hKMQaLrVPL2EMZ5zQHthlLbERszCqON8ENsOG-gvXq8RYMrEskkTshYz3zFmGF_87NudHFaQ3Pr1Z4IeTYAaHVB-uts6XWyQpQzGbDm3HZp8JefdJjco5BFuGuB8QrdVklzT49W6ahs/s1600/Bali-18.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hKMQaLrVPL2EMZ5zQHthlLbERszCqON8ENsOG-gvXq8RYMrEskkTshYz3zFmGF_87NudHFaQ3Pr1Z4IeTYAaHVB-uts6XWyQpQzGbDm3HZp8JefdJjco5BFuGuB8QrdVklzT49W6ahs/s640/Bali-18.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Enjoying coconut water just outside Tanah Lot temple</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkfckUM35stmMjNWDaRP6cMGJARBuj0TdnTWu5j7Xa-6dJnoOAsoTm-NPOT0LAb2WPZYAh1m6Z8uyHukR1i0KVu3P2R74BNDhjoEHbH_4j_Ss-m-dlhHOqlxVU5p2BQXkvxKVudQv0AY/s1600/Bali-19.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkfckUM35stmMjNWDaRP6cMGJARBuj0TdnTWu5j7Xa-6dJnoOAsoTm-NPOT0LAb2WPZYAh1m6Z8uyHukR1i0KVu3P2R74BNDhjoEHbH_4j_Ss-m-dlhHOqlxVU5p2BQXkvxKVudQv0AY/s640/Bali-19.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Tanah Lot - you can see the rock formation over the water with the temple on top</span></td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Other Areas in Bali</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Nusa Dua </b>is the beach destination of Bali. This is where you are likely to find the better beach spots and get some sun & sand. If you want to do snorkeling, it's worth considering a trip to the nearby island of <b>Nusa Penida</b>. A speedboat takes you on a 45-60 min ride (sometimes bumpy) to the island where there are clear waters fore excellent snorkeling. We have done this with the kids and it's doable (though a bit of a trek). It does make for a full-day plan. We worked with <a href="https://forevervacation.com/tours-in-bali">Forever Vacation</a> for planning our Nusa Penida visit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-k55OuEMCU05QnnrmZ7G9dfyIBxT2RkHIs0N1Ndt0vgfYzEvLSErN8tLqt3Q-ubeIUaQxHpq1DdEUmAWk_QV7pb-SI4czjskdHj9gqbQg03x1esVFIiboD11ymvO5ABSaqhQs9VoqVxGy1wwjsGAFG_-rlDAkAKUzsNPxlGqTkcHWhd5KNNnNGvn/s4032/nusa%20penida.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-k55OuEMCU05QnnrmZ7G9dfyIBxT2RkHIs0N1Ndt0vgfYzEvLSErN8tLqt3Q-ubeIUaQxHpq1DdEUmAWk_QV7pb-SI4czjskdHj9gqbQg03x1esVFIiboD11ymvO5ABSaqhQs9VoqVxGy1wwjsGAFG_-rlDAkAKUzsNPxlGqTkcHWhd5KNNnNGvn/w480-h640/nusa%20penida.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking the cliffs on Nusa Penida</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Jimbaran</b> is another area in the south of Bali. There is not much to do in this area itself other than visit Ayana Resort which boasts the famous <a href="https://www.ayana.com/bali/dining/rock-bar-bali/">Rock Bar</a>. Essentially a bar carved into the side of a rocky hill, this spot is really a great place to enjoy sea views and fancy drinks in a unique setting (I really have to give it to Bali for having figured out how to create amazing experiences in restaurant settings!). When I had visited Rock Bar, I happened to take my kids with me as they are allowed to enter the restaurant/bar.<br /><br /><div>I hope you guys found this Bali guide helpful. This guide is by no means exhaustive but it's a good start! Do let me know what you discover from your travels there.</div></div>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-72774206505798395652022-11-08T08:45:00.001+08:002022-11-08T10:44:04.218+08:0010 Things to Do in Ubud, Bali<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There is something about Bali. Maybe it’s the fact that it has retained its authenticity despite the massive tourism. Maybe it’s the Balinese people who are so genuine in their interactions with you. Maybe it’s variety of things that Bali has to offer, from beaches to volcano hikes to rice terraces. Or maybe it’s the sheer number of inviting cafes and the fact that they all have wifi! Whatever the reason, I find Bali a versatile destination for a couples getaway or for families with kids. I have been to Bali 5 times in the past few years and I know there is still so much more to explore. <br />
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This blogpost is specifically on <b>Ubud</b>, the cultural heart of Bali. Ubud is the perfect place in Bali to get away and be closer to the elements. Here you will find the famous rice terraces and the flourishing arts and crafts centers on the island. You can hear the sounds of nature and help a farmer harvest his rice for the season! </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If you choose to go to Ubud, my recommendation is to just stay put there for 3-4 days. It’s further away from the main, frequented areas in Bali, such as Canggu, Seminyak, and Nusa Dua. Thus, one can unnecessarily end up spending a lot of time going to and from Ubud for just a day’s trip. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Here are my top 10 list of things to do in Ubud (followed by foodie recommendations below)!</b><br />
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1. Tegalalang Rice Terraces: There are several restaurants along the rice terraces and almost all boast a view of them. Pick one to have lunch in and take lovely pictures of the rice terraces. Along the same lines, look into doing a walking or biking <a href="https://www.balisunrisetours.com/trekking-tours/ubud-walking-tours/" target="_blank">tour of the rice paddies</a>. We did a walking tour and my older son enjoyed getting a glimpse of the slow, village life!<br />
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2. <a href="http://www.balichoklat.com/visit-us-in-bali" target="_blank">Pod Chocolate Factory</a>: Bali’s own chocolate factory makes its chocolates from locally grown cocoa pods. Kids will love making their own chocolates here! And well, adults too! Pick which kind of chocolate you want along with the toppings and you’re all set to create your own gourmet batch to take home (just make sure they don't melt later in the heat like ours did!). You can take elephant rides in this place as well. <br />
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3. <a href="http://www.monkeyforestubud.com/" target="_blank">Monkey forest</a>: This is the famous touristy thing to do in Ubud. Worth a one-time visit to see friendly (and sometimes rather naughty!) monkeys up close in their natural forest habitat. The forest itself is extensive and has a mysterious air about it with dense trees and creeping vines.<br />
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4. <a href="http://baliswing.com/activities/swing" target="_blank">Bali Swing</a>: So there are more than one of these “Bali Swings”. They look super cool in the Instagram photos, with the person soaring high in the air with a view of some hills over yonder. But I’ll warn you that it’s a bit of a tourist trap. We had gone to Bali Swing, lured by similar such enticing photos only to find long lines of people waiting to just climb a swing and get a ride. My advice is to try to go early in the day when the lines are shorter. Ultimately, I’d say it was fun just as long as the waiting lines aren't too cumbersome.</div>
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5. Ubud main market area: Lots of shops and boutiques to check out here, both along the main road and the inner alleys. Your best bet is to stay along these connected roads and you'll find many a store or cafe here: Jalan Raya Ubud, Jalan Dewi Sita, Jalan Arjuna, and Jalan Hanuman. Plan for a few hours to stroll along this area.<br />
<br />6. Sunrise Trek to Mount Batur: This is one of my top activities to do in Bali. I've done the sunrise trek twice now, once with my husband and second time with my 9-year old son. It's a moderately challenging trek up the active volcano of Mount Batur. The trek begins at 4:00 AM so that you reach the top just in time for sunrise. It's worth the climb and is definitely an awe-inspiring experience! There are many tour operators you can find online. Ours was Abadi Bali Tour & Travel (whatsapp at +62-878-6057-0999).</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcumZ2hncxjyUmFdStvFAY5MoDYRUiCyKYhqkbJdnpOYZ6REWIPT1o0x0NqGNhx7zt2QhDPNZPo8ECvw0TeqmeWvGdpRq6m9vy_e8I5FZiMWseQAKii_1qe19aE4iBk0InP6q81NwBknkLTFgQ_ayA5ImSCZIEtQIJ1NZepBb5gSfqDxG7tlUycahE/s4032/mount%20batur.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcumZ2hncxjyUmFdStvFAY5MoDYRUiCyKYhqkbJdnpOYZ6REWIPT1o0x0NqGNhx7zt2QhDPNZPo8ECvw0TeqmeWvGdpRq6m9vy_e8I5FZiMWseQAKii_1qe19aE4iBk0InP6q81NwBknkLTFgQ_ayA5ImSCZIEtQIJ1NZepBb5gSfqDxG7tlUycahE/w480-h640/mount%20batur.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atop Mount Batur just at sunrise at 6:00 AM </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>7. White Water Rafting along Ayung River: If you are looking for an "intro level" white water rafting experience, this is perfect. It was a good combination of relaxing and exhilarating 2 hour ride down the Ayung River, led by our guide. I did this activity with my 9-year old son and he loved it! We went through <a href="https://ayungdewatarafting.com/">Ayung Dewata Rafting</a> for our experience. </div><div><br /></div><div>8. Saraswati Temple and Ubud Palace: Both these heritage spots are located near the Ubud market area. For the Saraswati Temple, the locals recommend going in the evening to see the beautiful sunset that lights up the temple premises. In the daytime, it is nothing too exciting as the temple itself is not open to the public (only the small compound). Similarly, you can enter Ubud Palace for free and walk around the main (small) premises and get a feel of the traditional temple architecture. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the Sarawati Temple</span></td></tr>
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<div><br /></div><div>9. Tirta Empul is a Hindu temple built around a bubbling spring. What I loved about our experience is that even though it is a religious place of worship, its spiritual acts can be taken by anyone. One enters the cold spring waters and undergoes a purification of sorts. Each watering spout holds special significance, such as washing away bad deeds and karma. It's a beautiful ritual and we all participated in it as a family. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjWQ21oulVd5MeiDr0qUaSgDqqe3yZ_NtpWt0MW1CbBCr0DSyWoj4ruaj_Y8HnE5plKS_GC5kwoagSZMbtO-y-GGp2AmqR-K-mpb_xmSwfknmCcwHkUr7cCXEMadsMu5TIzh0OjSpsA7rbycPdHfLx5PqHAzTK_V8IIx-lnmEsZipSMiulKP4XrAm/s2048/tirta.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjWQ21oulVd5MeiDr0qUaSgDqqe3yZ_NtpWt0MW1CbBCr0DSyWoj4ruaj_Y8HnE5plKS_GC5kwoagSZMbtO-y-GGp2AmqR-K-mpb_xmSwfknmCcwHkUr7cCXEMadsMu5TIzh0OjSpsA7rbycPdHfLx5PqHAzTK_V8IIx-lnmEsZipSMiulKP4XrAm/w480-h640/tirta.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>10. Tibumana Waterfall: We made our way down many, many steps to get to this concealed cove with a waterfall. You can go for a dip in the cool refreshing water or chose to see the waterfall from a close distance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mXWYogXO-wLTL9zkDfDpzgT3kKRHdUD79fPUzIFUeSsIYoe8bqRHV3dEowA7IDnZfO41jWHqRJ1Lohgteavw_JUPJy6TmJ8M160mbZ4IuvTXxBIKcPZvZjlzUAZzJWod4GE0FmUtvKXQvrxJHQVu90K4RW3EtBWUTrD-JJQVXj_EsqAgDv_ykfyN/s2048/waterfall.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mXWYogXO-wLTL9zkDfDpzgT3kKRHdUD79fPUzIFUeSsIYoe8bqRHV3dEowA7IDnZfO41jWHqRJ1Lohgteavw_JUPJy6TmJ8M160mbZ4IuvTXxBIKcPZvZjlzUAZzJWod4GE0FmUtvKXQvrxJHQVu90K4RW3EtBWUTrD-JJQVXj_EsqAgDv_ykfyN/w480-h640/waterfall.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>--------------------------------------------------------</i></div><div><i>Foodie Recommendations</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Walk along Jalan Gautama and you will find plenty of charming little cafes, many specializing in organic & vegan foods! In addition, there are restaurants in other parts of Ubud worth visiting. Our recommendations below:</div><div style="text-align: left;">
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<li>DUMBO: Great cocktails and thin crust pizza</li><li>Akasha: Entirely vegetarian and vegan food restaurant nestled amongst the rice paddies. It's a beautiful restaurant and the food is delicious.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi1fq_549zZfRq7uNS1D1a-OAEWQ5sExBhWOH6oDzJmPirHyc3jhTANATQ3fJlcUIjisKegvSOj6pClOURZLsAif82PCq4FZkbj0ijSTD-vSXE1cm-GcTal1M4-KQpA54fWd5aRUBb-DMzOUPYElIUL1mhaFa5FoNmlrXIcHxh5zN14-hqDazzElh/s4032/image0%20(4).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi1fq_549zZfRq7uNS1D1a-OAEWQ5sExBhWOH6oDzJmPirHyc3jhTANATQ3fJlcUIjisKegvSOj6pClOURZLsAif82PCq4FZkbj0ijSTD-vSXE1cm-GcTal1M4-KQpA54fWd5aRUBb-DMzOUPYElIUL1mhaFa5FoNmlrXIcHxh5zN14-hqDazzElh/w300-h400/image0%20(4).jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All vegan menu at Akasha</td></tr></tbody></table><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Taco Fiesta - Fairly decent Mexican food in a small lane called Jalan Bisma off Jalan Raya Ubud. Makes for a good meal stop during your shopping in Ubud Market area</li><li>Warung Siam Ubud - good Thai food and good people watching! </li>
<li>Soma Café: Located in an antique wooden house, the menu comprises of various fruit juices and what they call “raw” food items. The food is strictly ok but the restaurant gets a thumbs-up for being kid-friendly with a kid zone upstairs.</li>
<li>Murni’s Warung: I suggest going for lunch as it would get quite mosquite-infested by dinner time. The restaurant setup and décor is so interesting as it is built against the side of a hill. Other than the fact that you will need to take mozzie patches when you go, this restaurant is very kid-friendly.</li><li>Ganesha and Indian Delites for days when you crave Indian food </li>
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<ul><li>Luwak coffee: Ubud is the place in Bali to try the famous luwak coffee. Have you heard about it? Well, if you haven’t, I’ll let you <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_luwak">read about it</a> for yourself. But certainly it’s a fun experience to try it out this famous coffee.</li></ul></div>
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Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-60141324770227530602022-10-12T10:35:00.000+08:002022-11-08T08:11:28.067+08:00Diwali Gift Guide for Singapore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMkMHgeGNemmvA8k7zxrhRIhvBlWod9Zz32JLMGb6gWNC5ucUI4B_EoQLgXhhEKsJOGfLsZG9v-cra7upYr4eweFKH0vXXlrWcTq8JRvA4GQu1SFDPBTUClt-7jyffUGtwr0Ctxcvg5c/s2048/Diwali+pic.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMkMHgeGNemmvA8k7zxrhRIhvBlWod9Zz32JLMGb6gWNC5ucUI4B_EoQLgXhhEKsJOGfLsZG9v-cra7upYr4eweFKH0vXXlrWcTq8JRvA4GQu1SFDPBTUClt-7jyffUGtwr0Ctxcvg5c/w512-h640/Diwali+pic.jpeg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><i>** Blogpost updated on Oct 12, 2022 **</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Diwali is a special time of year for many South Asians. While Singapore's current restrictions will not allow for group gatherings and celebrations for Diwali, one thing is certain - we all are, nonetheless, looking for ways to make the Festival of Lights special for our family and friends. I've had the distinct pleasure of being able to try products and services by many South Asian entrepreneurs by virtue of being in the social media space, and am so grateful for that. As a way to support them, I thought it would be a good idea to put together a Diwali gift guide specific for Singapore-based brands and businesses creating festive gift boxes and hampers!</span></div><div><br />I have personally tried and tested over 95% of the products/services relating to the festive season in the list below. If I have missed any, please do let me know and I'd love to add to this list.<br /><br /><b>Fun fact: Almost all of the tags below are women-led businesses and I love the idea of supporting them further! </b><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><b><span style="color: #800180;">HOME & LIFESTYLE </span></b></div><div><i>Be it natural essential oils and remedies, eco-friendly stationery, handcrafted candles, block-printed table linen, and other pieces to add a beautiful touch to your home - I've enjoyed them all</i></div><div><a href="https://photophactorysg.com/collections" target="_blank">Photophactory</a> - Rich designs of decorative trays, cheeseboards, and other home pieces<br /><div><a href="https://mirasingapore.com/collections/gift-boxes" target="_blank">Mira</a> - Handcrafted soaps and candles<div><a href="https://www.itsollie.com/gift-boxes" target="_blank">Ollie Oils</a> - Gift boxes with essential oils and wellness treats</div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/btrayedetc/?hl=en" target="_blank">B'trayed Etc.</a> - Home decor, trays, and linen products<br /><a href="https://www.houseofhappy.sg/shop?Collection=INDIAN+FESTIVE+Collection" target="_blank">House of Happy</a> - Festive collection of table decor sets<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/happyhappyhomeshomes/" target="_blank">Happy Homes</a> - Home linen products<br /><a href="https://left-handesign.com/collections/all" target="_blank">Left Handesign</a> - Sustainable gift products such as plantable greeting cards, notebooks, pencils<br /></div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/happy_handsbypayal/" target="_blank">Happy Hands</a> - DIY Diwali kits and other gifting items</div><div><a href="https://www.kaladrishti.com.sg/" target="_blank">Kaladristhi</a> - Handcrafted home decor</div><div><a href="https://domilivinggroup.com/" target="_blank">Domi Living</a> - Home decor</div><div><a href="https://merakilily.com/" target="_blank">Meraki Lily</a> - Home decor</div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thecreativehut_sg/" target="_blank">The Creative Hut</a> - Diwali festive cards</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #800180;">FOOD </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Think chocolates, mithais (some even vegan), kulfi, and other mouthwatering delights tailored for the festive season and packaged beautifully for gifting!</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://foodsbyri.com/" target="_blank">Healthyish and Happy</a> - Cardamom rose laddoos made with all the good stuff (nuts, dates, spices!)</div></div><div><a href="https://indian-spicebox.com/spicebox/" target="_blank">Indian Spice Box</a> - Organic indian spice boxes in beautiful packaging<br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nutbite.sg/?hl=en" target="_blank">The Nut Bite</a> - Customizable box with a variety of nuts in different flavorings; includes candles/diffusers<br /><a href="https://www.herriseabove.com/deepavali" target="_blank">Her Rise Above</a> - Variety of gifting hampers put together by a business essentials program for women<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bombaykulfi.sg/" target="_blank">Bombay Kulfi</a> - Assorted kulfi flavors (paan, mango, gulkand, you name it!)<br /><a href="https://fromthepan.sg/festive/" target="_blank">From the Pan</a> - Mithai box<br /><a href="http://Nourishsg.com">Nourish</a> - Vegan mithai box</div><div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/indulge.by.ekta/" target="_blank">Indulge by Ekta</a> - Diwali cookies</div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/holygrains.sg/?hl=en" target="_blank">Holy Grains</a> - Fresh homemade granola (try the rose pistachio one!)</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #800180;">BEAUTY/WELLNESS </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Highly recommend these organic, natural skincare brands that don't break the bank. Most are offering Diwali bundles! </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://glownatureal.cococart.co/" target="_blank">Glow Natureal</a> <br /><a href="https://www.urjaglow.com/shop/" target="_blank">Urja Glow</a> <br /><a href="https://www.escentialthebodytonic.com/collections" target="_blank">Escential - The Body Tonic</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.detoxswaha.com/" target="_blank">Detox Swaha</a><br /><a href="http://kalpz.com" target="_blank">Kalpz Beauty Kitchen</a> <br /><a href="https://hey-poppy.com/" target="_blank">Hey Poppy</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b><span style="color: #800180;">GIFTS FOR KIDS </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>My recommendations for books and crafts to bring to life the magic of this season with kids</i></div><a href="https://t4tales.com/our-books" target="_blank">T4Tales</a> - "Kahani Purani", a storybook of the Ramayan for kids, in different languages<br /><a href="https://indigrowkids.com/collections/festive-bundles-india-inspired" target="_blank">Indigrow Kids</a> - Books, puzzles, and games related to India and a free downloadable Diwali festival kit<br /><a href="https://bookbear.com.sg/gift/" target="_blank">Book Bear </a>- Diwali bundle of books related to the Ramayan and the Festival of Lights</div><div><a href="https://www.hindutoysonline.com/" target="_blank">Hindu Toys</a> - Mantra-singing plush toys of Hindu gods and goddesses</div><div>Indian Spicebox Kids Book & Spice Box available from <a href="https://closetfulofbooks.com/" target="_blank">Closet Full of Books</a> </div><div><br /><b><span style="color: #800180;">ADULTS & KIDS ETHNIC WEAR AND ACCESSORIES </span></b></div><div><i>There are tons of ethnic fashion and jewellry brands and I can't possibly list them all. But here are some local brands across different price ranges that will get you sorted for the festive season!</i></div><div><div><a href="https://nimbu.sg/" target="_blank">Nimbu Kid</a>s - Adorable ethnic wear for the little ones with a fashion sustainability ethos</div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/limelemon_kidswear/" target="_blank">Lime and Lemon Kidswear</a> - Ethical brand for kids clothing, including ethnic wear</div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/saffronstrokes/" target="_blank">Saffron Strokes</a> - Curated collection of kids clothing and pajamas</div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/empaar.pl/" target="_blank">Empaar</a> - Ethnic wear for kids and men</div></div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dhaagahandcrafts_sg/?hl=en" target="_blank">Dhaaga Handcrafts Singapore</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/eminentmien" target="_blank">Eminent Mien</a> - Women's clothing and accessories<br /><a href="http://amaalya.com" target="_blank">Amaalya </a> - Women's kurtas, kaftans, and dresses; home decor and table accessories</div><div><a href="https://jinders.com.sg/" target="_blank">Jinders</a> - Women's clothing<br /><a href="https://www.melangesingapore.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwtrSLBhCLARIsACh6RmghysIZHS-6c4_HuArC5wyao0jqcOsuAwElGDYtD24cmTibnx4bBqgaArjpEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Melange</a> - Women's clothing<br /><a href="http://divas-closet.com" target="_blank">Divas Closet</a> - Women's clothing</div><div><a href="https://www.aadyas.com/" target="_blank">Aadya's Boutique</a> - Women's clothing</div><div><a href="https://www.linenandmoreshop.com/" target="_blank">Linen n More</a> - Women's clothing</div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/twinkle_toes_sg/" target="_blank">Twinkle Toes</a> - Jooties<br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9tzcryyUq_5b7ZvK7qZL1RFbmx740rKYd8-Kr1xCkebmfjep3RHX1Zt9zf-q2Ev6ms_Bx9TRvGmjHn3OH9HGZSMcRs3fQe0hz91QcuZCqJFQTnkqwf1Smkv2tJLc3YOKzo6wq8quHk0/s2048/wilson-mathew-La_qLgznrjQ-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9tzcryyUq_5b7ZvK7qZL1RFbmx740rKYd8-Kr1xCkebmfjep3RHX1Zt9zf-q2Ev6ms_Bx9TRvGmjHn3OH9HGZSMcRs3fQe0hz91QcuZCqJFQTnkqwf1Smkv2tJLc3YOKzo6wq8quHk0/w640-h426/wilson-mathew-La_qLgznrjQ-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-65059269973100937752021-08-23T23:45:00.011+08:002021-08-24T14:48:42.234+08:00Hotel Quarantine Survival Guide<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkySkQlmairf5IRF4XSQL-8a_45IIxhqgwx0wJFRMiyOkAsNABwHd2XdIwD1TpzagZkTT8zXLYPoKlgbV8p0I5B1_ZhfeiqIIxCvScESCPxb5ZYQp10xH2HsMlDCxYVg-GCB8NOpLAbNc/s2048/Hotel+quarantine+pic.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkySkQlmairf5IRF4XSQL-8a_45IIxhqgwx0wJFRMiyOkAsNABwHd2XdIwD1TpzagZkTT8zXLYPoKlgbV8p0I5B1_ZhfeiqIIxCvScESCPxb5ZYQp10xH2HsMlDCxYVg-GCB8NOpLAbNc/w480-h640/Hotel+quarantine+pic.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br />It's probably the most "daring" thing I've ever done in recent times - to travel during a pandemic and clock in a total of 4 weeks of hotel-based quarantine (in Singapore and Thailand)! These are unusual experiences in unusual times. But half the battle is won when you enter a required quarantine with a positive, can-do approach. A hotel quarantine is not a breeze. But there are things you can do to make your stay as comfortable as possible within a confined space. In this post, I'm going to share all the resources and things you should consider bringing with you so that you are fully prepared for the long stay. <p></p><p>To set your expectations, the hotel facilities dedicated for quarantine in Singapore comprise of standard rooms. As a family with kids, you can request for two adjoining rooms with a connecting door (email at ICA_SHNhotelneeds@ica.gov.sg) OR you can look into upgrading to a <a href="http://safetravel.ica.gov/haelth/shn/sdfupgrade" target="_blank">suite</a> which provides more space and even a kitchenette. Our family stayed in two conected standard rooms - these rooms do NOT have a balcony or open windows, there is no laundry service or room cleaning service, and there is a limited set menu from which to order meals. </p><p>With that said, below are some of the items I think are helpful to carry:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Wet wipes or an all-natural surface cleaner (<a href="https://www.itsollie.com/product-page/dirt-be-gone" target="_blank">Ollie Oils</a> has a good one) to clean surfaces in your room/living space/bathroom. It was especially handy becaue the kids would eat on a small table and inevitably drop food on the floor or dirty the table. So wet wipes were really handy! </li><li>Room deodorizer or spray: With no open windows, there is no fresh air in quarantine. Add to that the fact that you're eating, sleeping, and exercising in the same space for several days at a stretch. A deodorizer really helps to freshen up the air and remove any odors or staleness in the air. </li><li>The Laundress is a line of non-toxic products which I found very useful for travel: The "<a href="https://www.pupsikstudio.com/the-laundress-crease-release-8oz.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjo2JBhCRARIsAFG667XTRQtULe8qwTjzMNbJjspJRtQ3Bk9d4vPtyYSGdZ52DW4mNPOcMV4aAqG2EALw_wcB" target="_blank">Crease Release</a>" is a spray which removes wrinkles from clothing without the need for ironing (available via different websites in Singapore and Amazon). They also have laundry detergent and other cleaning items that you may want to check out! </li><li>Plastic tupperware/boxes to store food left over from your meals: You'll find that you don't necessarily finish all the food and some food items are good to save for the next day. So some storage containers are helpful to have. </li><li>Pack enough inner wear (i.e., undergarments) to last the duration of the quarantine if you don't plan to wash your own dirty clothes. Also, to reduce unnecessary laundry build-up, I feel there's no shame in repeating your outfits since you're indoors and sweat-free anyway</li><li>Pack vitamin D supplements: In general, it's good to take vitamins! But more importanlty, since you're not exposed to the sun for a long stretch of time, preempt a vitamin D deficiency by taking your supplements</li><li>Entertainment for grown-ups: Books/Kindle, embroidery kit, adult coloring books, your Apple TV device... whatever you need to keep sane and calm</li><li>Entertainment for kids: Refer to my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CP2Qfovpwoz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank">Instagram post </a>with my recs (this warrants a separate post in itself!)</li><li>A bit of indulgence: If you're with young kids, there may not be much time for relaxation but you can still bring a touch of indulgence into your quarantine. I suggest bringing some essential oils or ordering bubble bars or bath bombs from <a href="http://sg.lush.com" target="_blank">Lush</a> to be delivered to your hotel</li></ul>Useful Resources:<div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Rental needs: <a href="http://www.happyshn.com">www.happyshn.com</a> is a website which allows you to rent items you might need for your quarantine, such as a microwave, exercise equipment, yoga mat, fans, vaccuums, portable washing machines, etc. It's a brilliant idea and we used it for renting a microwave - easy and fast delivery!</li><li>Online workouts: I highly recommend doing short workouts or getting some movement into your day during quarantine. It really helped to boost our spirits and alleviated that "cooped in" feeling. There are tons of workouts you can do in your hotel room - search for PopSugar Fitness, Brian Syuki for walking-based workouts, and SELF for HIIT/cardio on Youtube (20-30 min workout routines worked great for me personally). In addition, you can pack resistance bands or light weights to support your workouts!</li><li>Good delivery apps (Food Panda, Deliveroo, and Grab Food) and <a href="http://alcohaul.sg">alcohaul.sg</a> for delivery of spirits to lift your spirits! :) They helped to break the monotony of the hotel food and gave us something to look forward to whenever we ordered something. </li></ul>I hope you found this list helpful. Good luck to those of you embarking on any travels and get ready to face quarantine like a boss! If you have any questions, just email me at urbanmantra1@gmail.com or DM on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urbanmantra1/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. </div>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-8679456485933853552021-04-27T14:12:00.006+08:002022-09-26T12:11:57.954+08:00Five Tips for Time Management as a Working Parent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLn6vkvLwIWCTzu71dymlfN3JH1oAMEKIShkbg5zvjzQewiYStRXSaSLTAJ1XdH6EvTh7E_G3zcJNW6eX-7vP5JskvSq0kJfwH4AXUORMFm-Bb1x0HrWavegLVUBxRwFTG17WqH8VVXU/s2048/IMG_0809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLn6vkvLwIWCTzu71dymlfN3JH1oAMEKIShkbg5zvjzQewiYStRXSaSLTAJ1XdH6EvTh7E_G3zcJNW6eX-7vP5JskvSq0kJfwH4AXUORMFm-Bb1x0HrWavegLVUBxRwFTG17WqH8VVXU/w640-h426/IMG_0809.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Balancing work and parenthood is challenging and at times, really overwhelming. But time management and learning how to juggle all the different facets of your life is key! As a working professional, a mom to 2 boys, and an active blogger, I often get asked how I “do it all and make it look so easy”. Be under no illusion - it’s NOT easy and I DON'T do it all. Have you heard of the saying of how serene a duck looks on the surface, but underneath he's paddling like hell? Yeah, that’s me.</div><br />I’m certainly no expert but would humbly like to share some practices which have been effective for me in better balancing my life goals and ambitions. <br /><br /><b>1. Ask yourself what you want in life and focus your energies accordingly.</b><br /><br />Are you looking to build a high-profile career or develop your own business? Or are you looking for a steady job that keeps you satisfied, pays the bills, and gives you balance in life? If you don’t know the answer, then sort that out first. Because you need that clarity on a meta-level to decide where you want to focus your energies on and how you tackle the different facets of your life (be it kids, a career, or non-professional endeavours).<br /><br />Example: Upon self-inflection several years ago, I realized I wanted a balanced lifestyle with regards to my job, family, and personal pursuits. I sought a career path that gives me meaning and purpose without necessarily the highest-ranking positions. I wanted to be a hands-on Mom to my kids. I wanted space to pursue my own passion projects (i.e., blog/Instagram). So with that clarity, I divide my life roughly into the following framework: 40% career, 40% family & kids, 20% personal endeavours. This bigger picture helps me figure out where to channel my time and efforts. <div><br /><b>2. Be flexible and adjust your priorities as needed.</b><br /><br />Priorities are not static. No single week is the same in terms of what's on your plate. A successful habit I have had for years is making a planned "intentions and to-do list" at the start of the week (Sunday night or Monday morning). I write down what needs to be done according to the different buckets in my life (work deliverables, family stuff, social media content creation, social obligations, etc) and rank them in order of importance for that week. Doing this gives me a sense of intentionality and clarity on how to manage my time before the week kicks in. </div><div><br /></div><div>At certain times, work will reign supreme because there’s a major deadline coming up and everything else takes a backstep. Other times, I will be able to place more time and attention with my children. <b>Be flexible and not guilty</b> in knowing that priorities do shuffle around. <br /><br /><b>3. Create a strong support(ive) system.</b><br /><br />It takes a village so don’t try to do it all on your own. Between my husband, a reliable helper, trusty friends, and a good school, I ensure that my kids are well-taken care of, happy, and well-adjusted. On the career front, I place strong importance on jobs which allow flexibility and are supportive of working mothers and their schedules - this makes a <b>BIG</b> difference in maintaining work-life balance!<br /><br /><b>4. Be efficient & work smart!</b><br /><br />One thing I know I'm good at is my ability to get sh*t done. I achieve that by being disciplined and efficient across all areas of my life. How?<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Work smart: I calculate the areas of my life where I need to <b>work hard</b> versus <b>work smart</b>. For example, I don’t compromise on my kid’s learning but I let it go if they didn’t eat the most healthy meal every single day of the week (for some, that priority may be flipped). At work, I will dedicate much more time for a big report with high visibility and impact but for a lower priority project, I would put in just enough effort to keep the ball rolling but not agonize over every small aspect. Know when to give your 80% versus your 110%. </li><li>Goes without saying, stay on top of things with lists or online apps that help you create efficiencies and organization in your busy life! There are tons out there and find what works for you :)</li><li>On the home front, I try to create efficiencies in small ways so that the household can run smoothly: weekly meal planning, online grocery shopping at the start of a new week, outsourcing housework if needed with hired help, ordering in meals on certain days to relieve cooking fatigue, and having the kids clean up after themselves. </li></ul><b>5. Lay boundaries to make space for family or personal life.</b><br /><br />We all know that work can easily spill over our personal life if we don't lay clear boundaries. So here are two tips that I apply:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Both I and my husband block out our work calendars for certain times of the day when we want to be with the kids. That way, no one schedules work meetings and people learn to be more respectful of your time.</li><li>Secondly, let’s get better at saying NO in the workplace or acknowledging when we need more resources and support. By having the courage to say NO or conversely, ask for help, we are setting ourselves up for a more manageable lifestyle.</li></ul>If you found this post helpful, do let me know! I would also love to hear your thoughts on how you balance work and life. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPf2XwkZOSBQKuoEMzJ6x8wajkkOk0zfFDa_1vHNU5iFpbl1SQ2Gk_IytS8vBwq4sIa8tfvh3Y0bLPn-htm25PNlDyKTl9CoLcPiK9XoDusUoiYfCGPdFEMsDaOpxO-dJXFwNLjcjav8/s2048/IMG_0604.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPf2XwkZOSBQKuoEMzJ6x8wajkkOk0zfFDa_1vHNU5iFpbl1SQ2Gk_IytS8vBwq4sIa8tfvh3Y0bLPn-htm25PNlDyKTl9CoLcPiK9XoDusUoiYfCGPdFEMsDaOpxO-dJXFwNLjcjav8/w426-h640/IMG_0604.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-77861754013773810662021-04-21T08:19:00.006+08:002021-04-21T09:13:19.071+08:00Career Break Revelations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UKgrXjw9yLdoJpFIsepC-PFRjjRK3MkU8mh36WbhOHD8Oj5zaqaJLEIcsDxBVipqtoiOry2X1sgkoECpyUBWyHV-ojwuQBmfZros3IWK25-UN2VoH6dFLUBlB64t2OchywotoTbvUSc/s2048/IMG_0667.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UKgrXjw9yLdoJpFIsepC-PFRjjRK3MkU8mh36WbhOHD8Oj5zaqaJLEIcsDxBVipqtoiOry2X1sgkoECpyUBWyHV-ojwuQBmfZros3IWK25-UN2VoH6dFLUBlB64t2OchywotoTbvUSc/w640-h426/IMG_0667.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>About three years ago, I left my old job without another in hand. I knew I had gone as far as I could in that job and the company was going through turbulent times. It was time to look elsewhere. At the same time, I also wanted to spend more time with my kids. To quit a job without knowing where I was going next was a scary thing to do. But it was also the right thing to do...for me at that time in my life. Ultimately, I did take that break which lasted 6-7 months (fairly short in the grand scheme of things). I have no regrets and haven't looked back since.</div><div><br /></div>Many of us may be at a juncture where we're considering a career break. Are you deliberating whether it is the right move? Are you worried how it will impact your career trajectory or prospects of finding a job later on? I want to let you Moms out there know that taking a career break for family (or even other reasons) need NOT equate to career suicide. <br /><br />From my own personal experience, I made 4 revelations which I'd like to share with you. These revelations require a <b>proactive and productive mindset</b> and worked well for me. Hopefully, they can may help you emerge on the other side of your career break, happier and wiser. <br /><br />#1. <b>Treat the break as an investment towards yourself and your next phase in life. </b>Being on a career break doesn’t mean you’re sitting idle. I found myself busy in various ways, balancing quality time with the kids while also pursuing interests which I never had time for before. For example, I took a course on social media marketing (for my own interest) and attended seminars on AI (incidentally, same field as my role now). This leads me to my next point....<div><br /></div><div>#2. <b>Make a strategic plan and stick to it. </b>Going in, I didn't know how long my career break was going to be. But one thing I <i>did</i> know was that I didn't plan to be out of the job market for very long (not more than 1-2 years). So I made a monthly plan of action and stuck to it (it helps to brainstorm and talk it through with your partner too). I signed up for seminars and workshops on various topics. I created a bucket list of fun and educational things I wanted to do. I made a point to meet 2-5 people on a professional level weekly for "coffee chats". I even used LinkedIn to “cold-call” people working in companies or jobs of interest to me. Some of the things that I did were also relevant to add to my resume.<div><div><br /><div>#3. <b>The gap in your resume is NOT a bad thing; it’s HOW you explain it that matters. </b>When you do return to the job market, there is no shame in explaining to potential employers that you chose to prioritize family and at the same time reassess where you wanted to take your career. <i>Normalize this thinking and talk about it frankly.</i> In my case, as I spoke to various people in different companies, this reasoning was accepted without question (I recognize that this isn't the case in all industries). Secondly, outline the list of activities, projects, or courses you did for self-development - this shows initiative and a growth mindset. Lastly, don’t be apologetic or guilty about taking time off! Sadly, we are made to believe we somehow failed by choosing to be at home and giving up a job. Own it and be self-assured that you’ll get back to work when the time is right. This confident attitude makes a difference during interviews. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>#4. <b>View this break through a macro lens.</b> A break is a tiny blip in your overall life timeline. We have many years of working ahead of us. So a break is GOOD for us! It forces us to reset our thinking and is an opportunity to reassess career paths. Believe that you can & will climb back!</div><div><br />Bottom line? Be productive in ways that help you on a personal or professional front and enjoy it. Network. Upskill yourself with courses or seminars. Make genuine interactions with people who are in the line of work you want to break into. Freelance. Read lots. Do something you always wanted to do that is not career related! The best part? You get to do it on your own terms and convenience! You never know how these experiences will lead to something in the future.<br /><br />Lastly, let’s not forget to focus on the very reason for wanting to quit working for a while: our children! This phase is one we’ll never get back so let’s fully embrace it and make it count.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgkZHYGltA6apab9Beb5_K0PPdUD3gaTFa-i4BC87ognE5hW4ACKI67GOnDUAYDChD9VhVptgAueXucETC-d2rQNFKb4feCAbxLbM3XfWa1QB34jP5IWREgQYfgMJ5bnOEJFCK5yOCok/s2048/IMG_0665.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgkZHYGltA6apab9Beb5_K0PPdUD3gaTFa-i4BC87ognE5hW4ACKI67GOnDUAYDChD9VhVptgAueXucETC-d2rQNFKb4feCAbxLbM3XfWa1QB34jP5IWREgQYfgMJ5bnOEJFCK5yOCok/w640-h426/IMG_0665.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-49855692120608738282021-04-20T09:33:00.004+08:002021-04-20T09:44:58.594+08:00Dealing with Imposter Syndrome at Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tTMnBfr5PcqYp4bVNC87MElXj5vqUdM1Wso-1C2LPqyGz7eKfmJoZyLkhHlQaADU88vE60EcVPdriQKdaE8pqYhOZhS3cXNgJ0wtVPdiM2z99SLIclwX4BxL1Q6jK4ANcfnuma51aqE/s2048/IMG_0358.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tTMnBfr5PcqYp4bVNC87MElXj5vqUdM1Wso-1C2LPqyGz7eKfmJoZyLkhHlQaADU88vE60EcVPdriQKdaE8pqYhOZhS3cXNgJ0wtVPdiM2z99SLIclwX4BxL1Q6jK4ANcfnuma51aqE/w640-h426/IMG_0358.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>We've all suffered from imposter syndrome at some time in our life! That feeling of inadequacy, insecurity, not feeling like you measure up compared to everyone else. I have experienced it myself - I remember feeling it acutely whenever I have started a new job or role at work. I would see the shiny, polished exteriors of my coworkers who seemed so confident and comfortable and feel even more hypercritical of myself. <i>Do I belong here? What if they realize I'm a bad hire? </i>It's a terrible, sinking feeling but it can be overcome!</div><b><br />Be brave enough to believe in your own ability.</b><br /><br />I'd like to share some tips that worked for me as I've dealt with imposter syndrome. I hope you'll find it useful for yourself as well:<div><br />1. <b>Realize you're not alone: </b>There's a lot of people out there who give the impression of "fake it till you make it". But in reality, they have their own insecurities too. It's normal to experience self-doubt. Knowing you're not the only one is assuring.<br /><br />2. <b>Focus on the facts: </b>Make a "brag sheet" where you objectively list out your accomplishments at work. Sometimes, our emotions blur our reality. We often perceive our negative thoughts and shortcomings to be worse than they really are. Appreciate your own positive achievements (big and small) <u>based on fact</u> with this list. It really works!<br /><br />3. <b>Put your best foot forward:</b> Coming into a new role and unsure of yourself? Rely on your strengths and do what you do best. There may be a steep learning curve on a subject matter but you can still use certain transferrable skills to make a strong impression. For example, when I shifted careers from Pharma to Tech, there was a lot of technical stuff I didn't know. But I used my ability to connect with people, manage stakeholders, and communicate effectively as a rock and to demonstrate value (while working to catch up on other areas).<br /><br />4. <b>Positive affirmations: </b><i>"I am good, I do my best, and I cannot control the rest".</i> Repeat this to yourself and you will feel more in control. Release that inner critic inside of you.<br /><br />5. <b>Open up to others: </b>You need not share every dire thought you have been experiencing but opening up to your coworkers can lead to surprising results. After a few months at a new job, I remember jokingly telling a coworker that I felt so insecure when I had started my job because everyone else around me is just so smart. To my surprise, my coworker replied, "Oh yeah, I totally get you. I had this imposter syndrome for the longest time!". We ended up chatting about it and exchanging our thoughts on it and it was so helpful! </div><div><br /></div><div>Imposter syndrome can make us hesitant to speak up, accept a new role, or apply for that dream job. It can eat away at our self-confidence and lead to a downward spiral. Don't let it get to you. I hope the advice I shared above can help you realize the power of your own self! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7FRBEqbLBWvKfWdbRXM7qhGvp1JvqeDnBQzswGsdbJyE0sEDweyxq1J-t2HeMcT-4qfBZlQG6UBIX1f1UBfr8Sf7ZnXgKthxhirzBLSwkRPzBG06cEAEAiX3TZssx0Dw0xqqOjzfSC8/s2048/IMG_0364.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7FRBEqbLBWvKfWdbRXM7qhGvp1JvqeDnBQzswGsdbJyE0sEDweyxq1J-t2HeMcT-4qfBZlQG6UBIX1f1UBfr8Sf7ZnXgKthxhirzBLSwkRPzBG06cEAEAiX3TZssx0Dw0xqqOjzfSC8/w640-h426/IMG_0364.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-53534544505848738052021-02-09T08:07:00.002+08:002021-02-09T08:20:43.715+08:00How I Started Meditation With My Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp33icTZ0zuREh7WI-xT60JOKEUy7AnLP2VGLEjnbOr2wt7LSXv363YcaNBH-jmWi8VMEzUpS_34OrYaXCflJNlciehsC0zKRKhC4RTiGBd5zaCRtYwffTSqDpkBDyhW7n1vs7J2WmQk/s2048/image0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp33icTZ0zuREh7WI-xT60JOKEUy7AnLP2VGLEjnbOr2wt7LSXv363YcaNBH-jmWi8VMEzUpS_34OrYaXCflJNlciehsC0zKRKhC4RTiGBd5zaCRtYwffTSqDpkBDyhW7n1vs7J2WmQk/w426-h640/image0.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I recently started doing nighttime meditation with my two kids, ages 7 and 3.5. Introducing them to meditation and relaxation techniques has been the best thing I have done for them in a long time and they both enjoy it so much. I get many questions from other parents on how to introduce meditation to their children so this blogpost is here to answer all your questions! <br /><br />As a disclaimer, I am no expert in meditation but I do believe that by following some basic guiding principles, anyone can do it. Don’t worry about being perfect or getting it right. There’s a reason we call it a “practice”, after all. The key is to just start without expectation and pressure. <br /><br /><i><b>What are the benefits from meditation and what made me start with my kids?</b></i><br /><br />If you think about it, our lives today have very little down time. This applies not just to adults but also to children. There is societal pressure and expectation to keep our kids engaged and busy all the time. Add to that the technology surrounding us in the form of phones, TV, and other gadgets. All of this leaves very little time for our brains to recharge. Meditation just felt like the right answer to me. I believed it would be beneficial in the long run for the following reasons:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Instill better bedtime/sleeping habits</li><li>Practice mindfulness</li><li>Learn stillness and deep breathing to help calm oneself and reduce stress/anxiety</li><li>Be in tune with their emotions and have a positive mental attitude</li><li>Learn gratitude and reflection on the day</li><li>Get quality time together at the end of the day</li></ul>I also recommend this article on the Parent magazine called “<a href="https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/behavioral/meditation-for-kids-a-beginner-s-guide/">Meditation for Kids: A Beginner’s Guide</a>”. <br /><br /><br /><b><i>Ok, so what exactly do you do? Walk me through this. </i></b><br /><br />The kids lie down in their beds with the lights off. I lie down next to them and once we’ve settled in, I take one of two approaches. Either I will turn on an app which does a guided meditation for kids or I do my own. If it’s the latter, these are the steps I go through in a slow, calming voice:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We take in 3 deep breaths, breathing out with our mouths each time. I tell my kids that we are breathing in all that is good and positive and breathing out all that is bad and negative</li><li>I do a mindfulness exercise which I call the “X-ray”. We sweep our inner eye over every single part of our body, starting from the tips of our toes to the top of our head. The objective is to focus on each part of our body and relax our muscles.</li><li>Then I start a visualization exercise called a “mental vacation”. I describe a calming place (e.g. beach, park, favorite playground) and talk about how we feel at that moment in time. Sometimes I will talk about a situation which may cause anxiety and stress (e.g., making new friends, getting angry) and how we can deal with it through deep breathing, being resilient, or doing positive affirmations</li><li>We talk about 1 thing we liked about our day or are grateful for</li><li>Together, we end with 3 rounds of Om followed by the Gayatri Mantra, a powerful incantation that is associated with strong energy vibrations.</li></ul>This whole thing lasts anywhere from 5-10 minutes. Often the kids will talk or ask questions in the middle. While I don’t discourage it (they are curious little beings, after all!), I do tell them that this ritual is effective only if we lie still and succumb to our surroundings for a while. <br /><br /><b><i>Can you introduce meditation to young kids? Do they even sit still? </i></b><br /><br />Yes, definitely! You can start them as young as age 3. The key is to keep it short because of their attention spans. So 4-5 minutes is sufficient. I also think the time of day matters. I purposely choose to do it in the night because it works as a great wind down. The kids are tired from the day already and are more likely to practice stillness and be receptive to it. Both my kids really enjoy the session we do together and ask to do it every day! <br /><br /><b><i>What apps or resources do you use for this? </i></b><br /><br />I like the Calm app which has short sessions for the little ones. My kids particularly love the “Thomas & Friends: Learn to Meditate” sessons. Headspace is another good one I would recommend. For a list of apps for guided meditation for kids, check out this <a href="https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/finding-an-assistive-technology/8-meditation-apps-for-kids">link</a>. <br /><br />If you want more guidance on how to do your own meditation with kids, check out <a href="http://www.greenchildmagazine.com" target="_blank">Greenchildmagazine</a>. It has some really nice scripts which you can read aloud or get ideas from. <br />Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-21552948404102524002020-11-06T11:06:00.005+08:002020-11-06T11:18:40.494+08:00Making the Most of your Sentosa Staycation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnUHYHihAbwpjM27ANbN-fyLvrHT43m8qOUM6C9KphHVLyqGHFcrdaiRp-7xBz-TXlHtyu6XYxXd7ue-IXhYXFsuQQzyGDZ6YYhbS-ypbgOfxeEkiC1Dt0WNg_SIkaHHflRG2W-V-Has/s2048/image1+%25286%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnUHYHihAbwpjM27ANbN-fyLvrHT43m8qOUM6C9KphHVLyqGHFcrdaiRp-7xBz-TXlHtyu6XYxXd7ue-IXhYXFsuQQzyGDZ6YYhbS-ypbgOfxeEkiC1Dt0WNg_SIkaHHflRG2W-V-Has/w480-h640/image1+%25286%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It took my husband and I a long while to succumb to the idea of a staycation in Singapore. It just didn't feel worth the money to stay at an expensive hotel for a couple nights, knowing that your own bed is probably not more than 10km away. It felt frivolous and wasteful. And what's more, we highly doubted it would truly feel like a getaway. Well, I'm writing this blogpost to tell you that we were wrong on all counts. </p><p><b>Who the staycation will be beneficial for: </b></p><p>1. Those who want to break away from the routine: You have to think from the perspective that a staycation offers you a change of scene (of course it's not the same as a true holiday!). Having seen only the four walls of your house for the greater part of the year, you WILL appreciate getting out and breaking from the usual routine. </p><p>2. You get to be a tourist in your own city and have an immersive experience in a different part of town. We discovered lots of new things about the area we stayed at (Sentosa).</p><p>3. Families with young children will have a great time without the hassle of airport travel and lugging bags while getting as close to a "holiday experience" as possible with the hotel stay. </p><p>4. If your child is old enough and if you feel comfortable leaving them with your nanny/helper back at home, you and your spouse can get some kid-free, well-needed time off. </p><p><b>(Who the staycation may <i>not</i> be ideal for: </b>Those with young babies for whom you probably need consistency with sleep schedules and routines. A staycation can mess with that and in the end, you might end up finding it more tiring than relaxing.)</p><p>Now that I have sufficiently convinced you that a staycation is worth it, here are a few things to know about booking your staycation in Sentosa and what to do there.</p><p><b>Hotel Bookings:</b></p><p>Don't book without looking for a deal! And if it means calling up the hotel to ask if they have any special promotions going on, do it. I have done two staycations at The Sofitel at Sentosa in the past 2 months and on both occasions, we got a good deal which included all meals covered plus a discount on the hotel room price. Check out the hotel websites as well as the following links for promos: <a href="https://www.sassymamasg.com/travel-kid-friendly-hotels-family-staycation-singapore/">SassyMama</a> ; <a href="https://www.rwsentosa.com/en/articles/hotels/guide-to-rws-hotels-and-best-staycation-packages">RWS Sentosa </a>; <a href="https://www.klook.com/en-SG/promo/sgstaycation?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjwufn8BRCwARIsAKzP696LTHRQLwQMpeEsPGJnMZ-f799x94MGikjBA6VWJeFStU7tdm9kBLIaAu0aEALw_wcB">Klook </a>.</p><p>I can only comment on The Sofitel Hotel experience - the food was delicous and the hotel has very relaxing, vacation vibes. Both times I have really enjoyed my stay there. Service can be a bit spotty at time, so if you can overlook it, it's a great choice of hotel. Also, they took all the necessary precautions for Covid-19. Hotel guests have to book slots for pool access (2 hour slots available throughout the day) as well as for dining. This is to maintain a certain person limit in the public areas. Also, if you didn't wear a mask while roaming about, the hotel staff was conscientous in reminding you to put it on (they also provided disposable masks upon request). </p><p>As for length of stay, we did 3 days/2 nights. For the first 2 days/1 night, the kids were with us. For the remainder, my husband and I sent the kids back home with our nanny so that we got some time to chill without kids as well. It was the perfect balance! I also recommend doing a staycation for at least 2 days because it takes a day to get into the "staycation" mode and unwind. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny1n-AuecyuQla2vUcXgmtDprrH88zzSgsvo0PTWvhPz2EiwPToYD976Y-Lv6Ae0skIlwboHmW4cufKZRsSxe5wwt4vyfwALJztytsfdLF0gtgdy55F-BXlHfT9TM4BTO2vO5aP80rLw/s2048/image2+%25286%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny1n-AuecyuQla2vUcXgmtDprrH88zzSgsvo0PTWvhPz2EiwPToYD976Y-Lv6Ae0skIlwboHmW4cufKZRsSxe5wwt4vyfwALJztytsfdLF0gtgdy55F-BXlHfT9TM4BTO2vO5aP80rLw/w480-h640/image2+%25286%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sofitel Hotel surrounded by peacocks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b>Beach access: </b></p><p>If you book at The Capella or The Sofitel hotels, you will be located within walking distance of Tanjong Beach. This is great because you can step out of your hotel and have access to the beach and sand for the kids to play. (Agreed that the beaches aren't anything to write home about but the kids don't know any better at this age, right?!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6baZBEhno_VKZMW3Lnk4dh4eRGGq5BgY-ePa8hAQcskj20z8GV3pdf9tntV3aKPao2tD9RCtw2ShA3new0YIx2AG8cQF3pZIzbx1jnrk4gkmMY1aJXSQKNnHpnVtEln5ZrUII_VaNHJI/s1440/image1+%25288%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6baZBEhno_VKZMW3Lnk4dh4eRGGq5BgY-ePa8hAQcskj20z8GV3pdf9tntV3aKPao2tD9RCtw2ShA3new0YIx2AG8cQF3pZIzbx1jnrk4gkmMY1aJXSQKNnHpnVtEln5ZrUII_VaNHJI/w640-h640/image1+%25288%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>Transport: </b></p><p>If your bags for the overnight stays aren't too cumbersome, consider taking the cable car ride from Mount Faber into Sentosa Island. It's a different way to enter Sentosa and something that would be exciting for the kids. </p><p>Within Sentosa, take advantage of the free tram rides which take you along the length of Sentosa beaches (Tanjong, Siloso, and Palwan beach). Fun for the kids, easy on the wallet! Hotels along the beaches will have easy access to these trams which run all day long. </p><p><b>Biking:</b></p><p>Ask your hotel about free bike rentals to go around Sentosa. It's a great way to explore the area and we came across such different parts of the island - from lush trails with toucan bird-spotting to areas which looked like Beverly Hills with palm trees and perfectly manicured lawns. The bike rides are easier to do without the kids though (due to the slightly hilly terrain).</p><p><b>Kid-friendly activities:</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Sky Ride and Luge: Super fun! There is a minimum height requirement of 110 cm, and the younger ones can ride accompanied with an adult. Note that tickets bought online are cheaper than those bought in person</li><li><a href="http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/rasasentosaresort/for-kids/nestopia/">Nestopia</a> is a huge outdoor and shaded playground suitable for kids ages 2 and up. It's located along Siloso Beach.</li><li>Trick Eye Museum</li><li>S.E.A. Aquarium</li><li><a href="http://www.headrockvr.sg">Headrock VR</a> is an indoor theme park where you can escape to worlds through virtual reality. Open to kids over height 110 cm</li><li>Segway tours</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIssOcef8cE6JR37pMJPkq_l9ljw9Iyy_LJUAG_EwYN4jv0YmnAZD39rX8sm8_XyzadhNJHF3DZCk72rFUjkClCogTkPcQpl_XPjIrK4zw7yBjxTKi-9ynaYZ4qt7zKobugjTGo5fRGA/s2048/image3+%25285%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIssOcef8cE6JR37pMJPkq_l9ljw9Iyy_LJUAG_EwYN4jv0YmnAZD39rX8sm8_XyzadhNJHF3DZCk72rFUjkClCogTkPcQpl_XPjIrK4zw7yBjxTKi-9ynaYZ4qt7zKobugjTGo5fRGA/w640-h480/image3+%25285%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having fun at the TrickEye Museum in Sentosa<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><b><br />Restaurants: </b></p><p></p><p>While our meals at the hotel were covered, we did step out for some meals just to get out of the hotel. Here are a few places I would recommend: </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Rumors Beach Club - Accessible by the free tram ride or cab ride from Sofitel. One of the better beach clubs because of the size of the pool and kid-friendly factor. The place is known for its satay but the pizza and pasta are good too! I really liked the chill vibes here - get the cabanas if you can!</li><li>Panamericana - Within walking distance of The Sofitel, this restaurant is located within the Sentosa Golf Course and has an amazing panoramic view of the sea. </li><li>Coastes - Chill restaurant by the beach and located just next to The Luge. The place has a variety of food options which are good</li><li>Sentosa Cove - you probably have already been here before but lots of good restaurant options. Actually, this was a great morning spot to come to for coffee after a good, active bike ride</li></ul><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAVJAp_aojgOFSVnOd_eeaa26ByW4vbpeh86KTB-4pg0Gx1ogcmg-boFI09rQKJi5k70WDFiQLEG2KiYw4tJPH-tM7YfdAkR0_g9O11gQU1BGhLqdr4PlJ_vxcLs2ID8XyUDjeLWSu1M/s2048/image0+%252822%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAVJAp_aojgOFSVnOd_eeaa26ByW4vbpeh86KTB-4pg0Gx1ogcmg-boFI09rQKJi5k70WDFiQLEG2KiYw4tJPH-tM7YfdAkR0_g9O11gQU1BGhLqdr4PlJ_vxcLs2ID8XyUDjeLWSu1M/w480-h640/image0+%252822%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out at Rumours Beach Club<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeCew0C9gRNj67ZIdu1-FwsDtCTs90z5SlANwsGxARLImrvzr513NWHNxonyvfMGqEyphnx2TCB7rgms7R_WNIcrZL9CnldbazKeiZItAu9pxbOwd-lK_0gOWC_-nsKBko8wpsbyWCAg/s1440/image0+%252824%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeCew0C9gRNj67ZIdu1-FwsDtCTs90z5SlANwsGxARLImrvzr513NWHNxonyvfMGqEyphnx2TCB7rgms7R_WNIcrZL9CnldbazKeiZItAu9pxbOwd-lK_0gOWC_-nsKBko8wpsbyWCAg/w640-h640/image0+%252824%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Coastes restaurant along Siloso Beach<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-74578407904145434232020-10-22T09:28:00.000+08:002020-10-22T09:28:02.455+08:00Girl Books for Boy (and Girl) Moms<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHR6YKj3xapTeebqltmbEgDo7cP94cb17taGKDYB9jzXtBTnE_t8EzS94syjXKCRTUo9fapl9T9M7hoSqjymJixnFhKEYgauFxq_si3XqNSE7zWDpjc7fH46QrLw7YUvOndbRd_jPcGw/s2048/image0+%252821%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHR6YKj3xapTeebqltmbEgDo7cP94cb17taGKDYB9jzXtBTnE_t8EzS94syjXKCRTUo9fapl9T9M7hoSqjymJixnFhKEYgauFxq_si3XqNSE7zWDpjc7fH46QrLw7YUvOndbRd_jPcGw/w480-h640/image0+%252821%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><p></p>As a boy mom, gender equality and neutral parenting is something I care a lot about. First and foremost, it’s important to be a strong female role model for my own boys. But beyond that, I’m also mindful about the little influences we have around the house. I’m talking about books.<div><br /></div><div>Have you noticed that the overwhelming majority of kids books are male-centric? I find far fewer books where girls are front and center, leading the pack, being the heros. Society already has gender stereotypes and the under-representation of females in books can perpetuate this. In fact, in the Time's list of the 100 Best Children's Books Of All Time, 68% of the books featured a male protagonist. Basically, not even a quarter of the "best children's books of all time" center around a female character! Furthermore, if they do feature girls, they play second fiddle to boys or are less likely to speak up. I find myself acutely aware of this and wonder what it means for my boys...</div><div><br /><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1f4da" /> Without even realizing it, what if we are inadvertently raising children that perceive gender bias? The messages conveyed through over-representation of males and under-representation of females in books may skew children’s ideas of what it means to be a boy, girl, man, or woman. <br /><br /><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1f4da" /> A small action I started taking in recent years is balancing the representation of books in our home library. I seek out kids books that depict a girl as the main character, a girl who fights to save the day, a girl with a bright idea, a girl who speaks her mind. At home, I also try to share stories of women who have done amazing things in real life (think Jhansi ki Rani, Malala Yousafzai, Marie Curie, Serena Williams, Hilary Clinton, the list goes on...but if we don't talk about it, they may not know!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Below I share links to some sites which provide an excellent and comprehensive list of female character-centric books...to empower your girls and inspire your boys! :)</div><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/top-20-female-characters-childrens-books.html">Top 20 Female Characters Who Show Girls How to Be Fierce & Fearless</a></li><li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1336-20-children-s-books-with-strong-female-characters">20 Children's Books with Strong Female Characters</a></li><li><a href="https://www.shegotguts.com/posts/2018/9/19/25-brilliant-books-for-your-feminist-toddler-">25 Brilliant Books for your Feminist Toddler</a></li></ul><div><br /></div>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-2317032385557614002020-08-13T11:30:00.003+08:002020-08-13T12:03:01.185+08:005 Ways to Rock Animal Print <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQoMEpIBzCfX9x0XJcG0S-I7Owd5_quPrd66bGAMl5QS77y0yQuFBGFXUJAJNQNHWOO-rvLDDt_vovsDSRM3wecP28xuedBbaJOGHkBhyphenhyphen7tVYEcunXJpnHwJ2kM5RO652RXFj6jKwkyw/s2048/image0+%252814%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQoMEpIBzCfX9x0XJcG0S-I7Owd5_quPrd66bGAMl5QS77y0yQuFBGFXUJAJNQNHWOO-rvLDDt_vovsDSRM3wecP28xuedBbaJOGHkBhyphenhyphen7tVYEcunXJpnHwJ2kM5RO652RXFj6jKwkyw/s640/image0+%252814%2529.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>For the longest time, I shied away from wearing animal print. I didn’t think I could carry it off. Styling it just seemed tricky! In fact, I wasn’t even sure I liked it that much. Based on what I saw on TV growing up, it was either older women sporting animal print in the form of shapeless caftans or women with a bold dress sense wearing body hugging, leopard print dresses. There were very little examples of how to wear it elegantly and in an age-appropriate, work-appropriate, and daily styling manner. <div><br />It wasn’t until I was in my early 30s when I started experimenting more with animal print. Here, I'm sharing some tips for tastefully incorporating animal print wear into your closet. This is what worked for me so I hope you find it useful.<br /><br />1. <b>Start off with baby steps:</b> I first learned to get comfortable with integrating smaller accessories into my overall outfit. So start with an animal print headband...a belt...a pair of leopard print shoes...or a purse. So for example, for chic day-to-day styles, wear animal print flats with cut-off shorts or with a pair of boyfriend jeans and a colorful top that doesn't have a busy print. Then build up to larger pieces over time as you get more confident with wearing these prints. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-8XzWiJKIYgyjtn4AqLFzSv6o22DczH5-p7UzgvFnouTCqx1bHNHlfdonxU18Za6FNt0r-rwHc6qMd22j60C8fMSIGfwzcmBDr6njpqebrLaBmv8xDrt0bHLyC9fYsdo5n_lJ99sQgI/s2048/image3+%25284%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-8XzWiJKIYgyjtn4AqLFzSv6o22DczH5-p7UzgvFnouTCqx1bHNHlfdonxU18Za6FNt0r-rwHc6qMd22j60C8fMSIGfwzcmBDr6njpqebrLaBmv8xDrt0bHLyC9fYsdo5n_lJ99sQgI/s640/image3+%25284%2529.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br /><br />2. <b>Keep it simple</b>: I suggest you stick to a single animal print piece and harmonize your other outfit pieces around it. Print mixing with animal print can end up looking busy or crazy, if not done right. Unless you’re supremely confident about pattern mixing with animal print, it’s best to keep it simple. For example, if wearing an animal print blouse, wear a solid colored skirt. If wearing a single tone dress, add an animal print belt or shoes. Don't go all out with multiple animal print pieces in one look.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPMVwE7WJrvwEfSyzqwMyH7l4Jn3nUwzu-TGjThrQPpLcGsDPC9GqZIkVPtZNSFncoFD3T2lnsPPyYo_TAqDsQnBFCoDseMzU4gPNFUARlegpav1h7ZCrwzJxlYVwU18tSf2dwpJo-wI/s1600/image0+%252815%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPMVwE7WJrvwEfSyzqwMyH7l4Jn3nUwzu-TGjThrQPpLcGsDPC9GqZIkVPtZNSFncoFD3T2lnsPPyYo_TAqDsQnBFCoDseMzU4gPNFUARlegpav1h7ZCrwzJxlYVwU18tSf2dwpJo-wI/s640/image0+%252815%2529.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL-x2elTItUAKlmI8hmRnRuJKBIGXemes7GIMcT2UIkYKbhp87J7i9dDJbgalUxSr6QfkxSBVoYBiF4aYm819aeLtwUh3ZCV5yXE0q5osXkFqj8eJEoztHpTl-K3vuhsf8nTYQ0TWkF8/s1600/image2+%25284%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL-x2elTItUAKlmI8hmRnRuJKBIGXemes7GIMcT2UIkYKbhp87J7i9dDJbgalUxSr6QfkxSBVoYBiF4aYm819aeLtwUh3ZCV5yXE0q5osXkFqj8eJEoztHpTl-K3vuhsf8nTYQ0TWkF8/s640/image2+%25284%2529.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />3. <b>Colors that work beautifully with animal print </b>(particularly leopard print) in my view: red, black, yellow, and gold. Black is classic, red is bold and sexy, yellow is fun, and gold is glam/elegant. Gold accessories pair really well with leopard print too. And oh, you can't go wrong with denim. :)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaEU03XQXF-Gim9U1kFFF9fsKK_6uQuO1pbRYVx6LwMY5M4FbjF5OZkps720YmZN3m0djDeKvdSfakYmn_jMp7rP4FxZ8ZY2cj9YnN88MTi6Hg9uORB-gQF2Hre3Rui3rzWbeP07BteA/s2048/image0+%252816%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaEU03XQXF-Gim9U1kFFF9fsKK_6uQuO1pbRYVx6LwMY5M4FbjF5OZkps720YmZN3m0djDeKvdSfakYmn_jMp7rP4FxZ8ZY2cj9YnN88MTi6Hg9uORB-gQF2Hre3Rui3rzWbeP07BteA/s640/image0+%252816%2529.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br />4. <b>Animal print for work</b>: If I'm styling for the office, my own preference is to keep the use of animal understated. I incorporate animal print into work wear in the form of accessories, such as a scarf or headband. If it’s an article of clothing, such as a blouse, I make it work appropriate by pairing it with an otherwise neutral-colored pant or skirt. </div><div><br /></div>5. <b>Let your curves guide you: </b>As with all patterns, animal prints tend to add volume to the part of the body that is wearing it. So my suggestion is to recognize your body’s proportions and figure out what you would like to play up! In my case, I prefer to highlight my top half and waistline. But in your case, maybe it's those long legs! <div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYehnpKVtRAJDb3XLnkPJdC0a3rrCv_phpIYgnSAtGgy6JuQVR4w3ln7pYDA_rJuC_qM-PXekLgKTUzYAQ7zBsHJ2xX9w0m2xaf0rudKWse3SyhKDlOji4SI25ldmT7QUo-St1vzB6D4/s2048/image0+%252817%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYehnpKVtRAJDb3XLnkPJdC0a3rrCv_phpIYgnSAtGgy6JuQVR4w3ln7pYDA_rJuC_qM-PXekLgKTUzYAQ7zBsHJ2xX9w0m2xaf0rudKWse3SyhKDlOji4SI25ldmT7QUo-St1vzB6D4/s640/image0+%252817%2529.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br />Leopards, tigers, and zebras! I have them all - prints, that is :) Over time, I have graduated to tops, skirts, and dresses in all these print designs and I love them. There’s something about it that instantly creates an eye-catching, fun, or edgy look.</div><div><br /></div><div>Are you comfortable with animal print? How do you like to style them?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5i0JM7tFnMyVQigIxjn-F6LXVsEHub-Mocn-9f84Qv8KfpMIgTdLGiqenmcBwu4Pdpmr192Np_S2YeEZ5ZF4tGaJluCo312IENtXECDNSVVWiHshdRU39cajxmcU_6-sxOWBgSZ1SuE/s2048/image0+%252818%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5i0JM7tFnMyVQigIxjn-F6LXVsEHub-Mocn-9f84Qv8KfpMIgTdLGiqenmcBwu4Pdpmr192Np_S2YeEZ5ZF4tGaJluCo312IENtXECDNSVVWiHshdRU39cajxmcU_6-sxOWBgSZ1SuE/w427-h640/image0+%252818%2529.jpeg" width="427" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-11099205674006031792020-05-29T15:38:00.001+08:002020-06-01T10:40:02.980+08:00Fashion Journey: The Year of the Bump 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello, hello! We are nearing the end of my Fashion Journey series where I talk about my fashion steps and missteps, social media learnings, and evolution of my blog along the way.<br />
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So where are we at now? 2017, the year of the Bump!<br />
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I call it that because this was the year when I was expecting my second child and as a result, I featured a lot of maternity looks. I also call it the year of the bump because I experienced a rise in my social media following. Pods were becoming a thing back then. Curious to find out how they worked, I hopped on to that "pod" train. It actually resulted in my blog/IG platform getting exposed to a wider audience and connecting me to the mom blogger community within Instagram. A bit about pods: They have their pros and cons. As a blogger, they help to build your following and get more exposure. But my advice is to find a group that you genuinely like to follow and/or support. Otherwise, it feels tiresome and inauthentic to have to comment on accounts which don't resonate with you. I have since then moved away from pods because I personally got disenchanted with them but I do believe they have their merit.<br />
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So here's a look at the outfits I sported in 2017 in chronological order!<br />
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<i>Side note: Finding interesting backdrops and locations continued to be something I aspired to do for my outfit shoots but it got a bit de-prioritized with my pregnancy!</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WwOxGnDNStJPne62Rtayw6qTFobwZ8i7Xm0JTjTkIADpNWZmcv_589L3cNtTpTM9vBbzpxmTkfsHnVxtMMyt-1XaSEQxwMvnSCq-VaceaJpmPQWrVQEk7NvHdYRz80EHrYVxr1hJY98/s1600/waikiki-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WwOxGnDNStJPne62Rtayw6qTFobwZ8i7Xm0JTjTkIADpNWZmcv_589L3cNtTpTM9vBbzpxmTkfsHnVxtMMyt-1XaSEQxwMvnSCq-VaceaJpmPQWrVQEk7NvHdYRz80EHrYVxr1hJY98/s640/waikiki-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">April 2017: I'm about 6 months pregnant here but you can't tell! This <a href="http://www.asos.com/">ASOS</a> top was a maternity top which was roomy and comfy. When photographed from the front, you could barely tell that I'm preggers! Pic taken on a trip to Hawaii at Waikiki beach. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9r2Un3w_atyuHam7Q20kqovGq7xJ1jPcm-0uIKmShJeyspmJmjLKOTvesbfNk5Q6MSl4soLrWV4t1x4RFBm6uZkAlRmH9bmS-oNX8hz_SczIGJPUrJ56UDChcruPk90YiyYjCPgA8QZo/s1600/Red+mat+dress-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9r2Un3w_atyuHam7Q20kqovGq7xJ1jPcm-0uIKmShJeyspmJmjLKOTvesbfNk5Q6MSl4soLrWV4t1x4RFBm6uZkAlRmH9bmS-oNX8hz_SczIGJPUrJ56UDChcruPk90YiyYjCPgA8QZo/s640/Red+mat+dress-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">April 2017: On that same trip to Hawaii, I got dressed up for a dinner date with my hubby and Krishnav. This was really our last trip as a family of 3. I love this red ASOS dress. It was simple but the color made a statement and it fit so comfortably as a maternity dress. Guess what? I still have the dress! I got it altered to be able to wear it as a regular dress.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuac0kIn33uz6XmMFDwBGrYzn9QoOQG3wDsOjXVetk7PZj3aLPE3XKTjOoKwr4FX7lIHQcW0XdVr8Xw99sFZ10xc4uPnrNS590MqmSfPwBImKAqgVVqmNmu31_NSyvAYRmYzT0FzFGXE/s1600/image3+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuac0kIn33uz6XmMFDwBGrYzn9QoOQG3wDsOjXVetk7PZj3aLPE3XKTjOoKwr4FX7lIHQcW0XdVr8Xw99sFZ10xc4uPnrNS590MqmSfPwBImKAqgVVqmNmu31_NSyvAYRmYzT0FzFGXE/s640/image3+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">April 2017: Wearing this pink dress from <a href="https://mogradesigns.com/">Mogra Designs</a> (beautiful selection of clothes with a fusion or ethnic touch, responsibly sourced and made). It's actually not a maternity dress but because it's flowy, I could easily wear it even when I was expecting. I still own this dress and it's great as a fusion wear piece.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAym6Y4fMenqsOAo3e6S6_lMmYIx0qHagPlnu5kpAcB9W4UaDiNxL0oT8WkCmH_wzMlA2L_AwAAFM3TEZBr2Ve-M4Oa-eDAywEUeFwgCif3BHHotMt567lOQgBjg-KdrSEVHEX2nTZCM4/s1600/Island+Shop-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAym6Y4fMenqsOAo3e6S6_lMmYIx0qHagPlnu5kpAcB9W4UaDiNxL0oT8WkCmH_wzMlA2L_AwAAFM3TEZBr2Ve-M4Oa-eDAywEUeFwgCif3BHHotMt567lOQgBjg-KdrSEVHEX2nTZCM4/s640/Island+Shop-3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">May 2017: I was quite heavily pregnant by now at 8 months. This was not a maternity dress (from <a href="https://islandshop.com.sg/">Island Shop</a>) but I purchased it in a slightly bigger size to be able to wear it. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RGBLZ2rjxTKXkDotXW80PCLFFNJ2gf7oNYbOiU0Pqp-C-wEzvBqAdqJzRtA1DlAHpvMunzeJLBmJtTRi558OfhCLfAwbOcixm1Xv8sXK1sytTnmN3-riE3nuTnS_lmGMFrMqB9CkF44/s1600/image0+%252812%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RGBLZ2rjxTKXkDotXW80PCLFFNJ2gf7oNYbOiU0Pqp-C-wEzvBqAdqJzRtA1DlAHpvMunzeJLBmJtTRi558OfhCLfAwbOcixm1Xv8sXK1sytTnmN3-riE3nuTnS_lmGMFrMqB9CkF44/s640/image0+%252812%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">May 2017: None of the outfit pieces here are maternity. Just regular jeans (Gap) and a plain white top (Forever 21) which were purchased in a bigger size at the start of the pregnancy to accommodate my expanding belly! I love that bomber jacket of mine - it's from Forever21! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqE5ojuXVS_GzIKGo2YtInrDYYin6WVQpf_6KLkSnhMkQIOl9hlmKAFhFPm1N8HEi-x94JjIAsdGLoiAUO__Czj6x-nQC5P63u3Q3QZJXi0EviNhyphenhyphenY6Gkdkx66OnAoatOiAjhOJbjtyg/s1600/Pink+Turtle-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqE5ojuXVS_GzIKGo2YtInrDYYin6WVQpf_6KLkSnhMkQIOl9hlmKAFhFPm1N8HEi-x94JjIAsdGLoiAUO__Czj6x-nQC5P63u3Q3QZJXi0EviNhyphenhyphenY6Gkdkx66OnAoatOiAjhOJbjtyg/s640/Pink+Turtle-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">June 2017: Final month of pregnancy! I can't believe I was still doing outfit shoots. I must have been crazy! This is a cute maxi dress with a turtle design from <a href="https://linenandmore.business.site/">Linen</a><a href="https://linenandmore.business.site/"> n' More</a> (a Singapore boutique known for its linen-based outfits, many of which have a resort-wear vibe). I just added a belt to give some definition to my bump and wore pink heels (I still liked to wear heels at this stage!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mstrf_lr8hlec1D6-ht5BevzFy99_PkGb8NRwh-VcUJUf_1nnvp-z5As7jfi7oxMVyzGzw-zp1cXKUqDdIox23PQ3dj9GiIEp7fEVXemC0Pp1TgykMG6AuH22WC58daI0b2L0IMIYGU/s1600/Post+Delivery-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mstrf_lr8hlec1D6-ht5BevzFy99_PkGb8NRwh-VcUJUf_1nnvp-z5As7jfi7oxMVyzGzw-zp1cXKUqDdIox23PQ3dj9GiIEp7fEVXemC0Pp1TgykMG6AuH22WC58daI0b2L0IMIYGU/s640/Post+Delivery-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aug 2017: First post-partum look after my delivery in June. I was so happy to step out for an outing for a short bit with my sister who was visiting me at the time. She took this pic for me! I really liked this neoprene floral skirt from <a href="http://www.shein.com/">SheIn</a> but unfortunately it got worn out so I had to give it up.</span></td></tr>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHljtHe_LI2SLgOftNYI4lnIsMFisp9_VPhQ6nKzihZV9forQ9XPulrfvshigPr0fGmOLYUjQnwod_0H1CuDoIcEOr-qv1mZM39B7CdClVPqmdlh6eGOh-3oauaDO84TvCGtkv39bZWc/s640/Black+Leather+Skirt-3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oct 2017: Black faux-leather skirt with a cropped top from </span><a href="https://www.globaldesi.in/?___store=gd_oth&___from_store=gd_in" style="font-size: medium;">Global Desi</a>.<span style="font-size: small;"> I liked this edgy chic look. I still own both these pieces - come to think of it, why haven't I worn this combo recently? I think I should. What do you say?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75_TkpGz-uOBTvChFpIDHO5Td3pisWWiMbT_cWQqTonV5ljjCMCiOhsXbh4hJ6IajdLGlwIYdso6pGqAYm7BxNJ2sJd04udVVRWnMa_1wq7VJIcattM3hvKt-LRs74u57N0RvVCfpqCU/s1600/image1+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75_TkpGz-uOBTvChFpIDHO5Td3pisWWiMbT_cWQqTonV5ljjCMCiOhsXbh4hJ6IajdLGlwIYdso6pGqAYm7BxNJ2sJd04udVVRWnMa_1wq7VJIcattM3hvKt-LRs74u57N0RvVCfpqCU/s640/image1+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oct 2017: This was a white-on-white look along with a scarf styled as a head band. Simple and classic. Add red lipstick for a pop of color! :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm3bkq8JAXstClUpne1CtVaO9b4Of4Fh3G8OAnqYo196rds-yoqyLALm0PjxhEMgBImvNha1oOhKoA1gfX0hau4J-jsYfRagH4mROWqMPuvB-GaTzYTr5lj6KJSLbKVAvIBKwQ_jPIwU/s640/image2+%25283%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oct 2017: Purple dress from<a href="http://m.urbanrevivo.com/sg/"> Urban Revivo</a> (a store based in Singapore with trendy outfits. I quite like their stuff). I took this pic myself using a remote control and camera timer in Emerald Lane, a street known for its quaint homes. This outfit was taken for a post where I talked about why I love blogging - <a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-reasons-why-i-blog.html">read it here</a>!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXio4nWCZSKZAWTNcAwfzFt-aWYTZ1xpfYILPtw6df07DmFLE0MVxjYXn1vbWkdF27xL5PP0Cw7uopmqYywZD5bNtZfG5_8lywz6NbtVb8pfk67gEQ_iWeVi8D9HVeJlZJPC4EAxTVLzU/s1600/image0+%252811%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXio4nWCZSKZAWTNcAwfzFt-aWYTZ1xpfYILPtw6df07DmFLE0MVxjYXn1vbWkdF27xL5PP0Cw7uopmqYywZD5bNtZfG5_8lywz6NbtVb8pfk67gEQ_iWeVi8D9HVeJlZJPC4EAxTVLzU/s640/image0+%252811%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My favorite picture from 2017! Taken in Aug during my birthday month with the photographer being my mom who was visiting at the time! I feel like I looked and felt absolutely fabulous, positive, and happy in this picture! And why not? I was enjoying my maternity leave with my newborn baby and relished every bit of this time I had with my kids! Plus, I think I was still sporting a post-delivery glow! Haha... </span></td></tr>
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So tell me, which one was your favorite look from this whole year?<br />
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If you want to see my fashion evolution from the time I started my blog, refer to these posts!<br />
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<b>Fashion Journey Series:</b><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-discovery-2012.html">The Year of Discovery 2012</a><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-change-2013.html">The Year of Change 2013</a><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-quiet-year-2014.html">The Quiet Year 2014</a><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-fresh-starts.html">The Year of Fresh Starts 2015</a><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-prolific-year-2016.html">The Prolific Year 2016</a></div>
Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-45335852299475282972020-05-27T18:58:00.001+08:002020-05-28T08:13:46.460+08:00Boredom Buster Box for Kids<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUzzpopJBkwG1cEL3kzFmkUNhm-Q5KdZ-MfEu2ctAILM2bEuJVhBhsF3tiR9SPHUpB9V3Q11DxavwH4fx91tzv-cJPpRs0rWxgNGmpQNIijII_kbJRrHaREo67830ne043Ob0d7bPuso/s1600/image0+%252810%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUzzpopJBkwG1cEL3kzFmkUNhm-Q5KdZ-MfEu2ctAILM2bEuJVhBhsF3tiR9SPHUpB9V3Q11DxavwH4fx91tzv-cJPpRs0rWxgNGmpQNIijII_kbJRrHaREo67830ne043Ob0d7bPuso/s640/image0+%252810%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Has it happened that your kid has a look of utter boredom after actively playing with his/her toys and says, "<i>Mom, what do I do now?</i>"</div>
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Has it ever happened that you're in the middle of something and that's precisely when your child decides he needs your attention? </div>
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Has it happened that your children want to do some activity but you're drawing a blank?</div>
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I bet it has happened to you...on more than one occasion! </div>
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This has become especially apparent during the Covid-19 induced quarantine. There are plenty of moments in the day when the kids are dawdling around the house, feeling like they want to do something but don't know what. Furthermore, as a mom working from home, I am not necessarily able to be with them all day. Yet, I feel like I need to have a ready supply of ideas to pull out of my hat! Wouldn't it be nice to create a setup where our children can take the initiative themselves to decide what they want to do as an activity? Well, this is what prompted me to make the "<b>Boredom Buster Box</b>" aka <b>Krishnav's Idea Box</b> aka <b>WDID Box</b> (*WDID = What Do I Do?). </div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue;">What is it?</span></i></b></div>
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It is essentially a jar filled with small folded-up strips of paper which contain ideas of activities, big and small. Whenever my son wants to do something, he can just reach inside the jar and pull out 1 or more strips of paper. The intent is for him to seek ideas for independent play and creative activities, especially if Mama is busy or indisposed. </div>
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<i><b><span style="color: blue;">What are the ideas you have dropped inside the jar?</span></b></i></div>
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Well, this is precisely the purpose of this post. The <b>Boredom Buster Box</b> has been quite effective and useful so I'd love to share the ideas with you all. The ideas are a mix of my own plus that of my 6.5 year old son. We created it together as a mini project in itself. </div>
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<i><b><span style="color: blue;">Here goes the list </span></b></i>(organized according to different topics/themes but essentially all thrown together into the jar):</div>
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<b>Lego-related challenges</b> (I got a lot of inspo from <a href="https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/lego-activities-steam-challenges-kids/">Little Bins for Little Hands</a>)</div>
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<li>Use Legos to create a catapult</li>
<li>Make a Lego maze</li>
<li>Create your initials using Legos</li>
<li>Make a Lego zipline</li>
<li>Create a model of your room using Legos</li>
<li>Lego symmetry: Set up one side of the baseplate with an abstract image and have your child copy the same design using the principles of symmetry)</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWjta38nt3OQ4aDG202UqkRnJD8Z5vIBvr81kwfBgKPnGZK9HAXnysleP85gaCYpl0-MQGN0fIQZngVIRYkFV9XmGZhuBXKgcv-iAx-bO7upu0PdXLhnb-K15gQMSMtXq3sC89YWZGfo/s1600/image3+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWjta38nt3OQ4aDG202UqkRnJD8Z5vIBvr81kwfBgKPnGZK9HAXnysleP85gaCYpl0-MQGN0fIQZngVIRYkFV9XmGZhuBXKgcv-iAx-bO7upu0PdXLhnb-K15gQMSMtXq3sC89YWZGfo/s640/image3+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An actual functioning catapult engineered by my son <br />(with some help from Little Bins from Little Hands website)</span></td></tr>
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<b>Math riddles</b></div>
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<li>Math art: refer to this <a href="https://zyndteldesigngraphics.blogspot.com/2011/05/mystery-math-picture-for-childrens-to.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR3tlgzAE6tlwvofWdpbb83lbpDYjAcDRNGs0woCnJeglGQbxm1giOjfqlg">Zyndtel Design</a> for printouts which we liked</li>
<li>Include a few fun math brain teasers that are age-appropriate</li>
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<b>Arts and Crafts</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Refer to a YouTube art channel for a tutorial on drawing your favorite cartoon character</li>
<li>Create your own Sistine Chapel like Michelangelo - stick an empty paper under the table and create your own artwork under the table</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27WRbmvXWuXjiAy8xaegyPDHWc02gRAywCoes-lqZx3sTN-7zRps5u6HAnocVytNMhDlNXBt29vTU1rKxRzkXmB-aTuDzA6lriell5tasK5Ky3k7XW2FDvEFSPC5bnTL7CC7JuaWpzCE/s1600/image0+%25289%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27WRbmvXWuXjiAy8xaegyPDHWc02gRAywCoes-lqZx3sTN-7zRps5u6HAnocVytNMhDlNXBt29vTU1rKxRzkXmB-aTuDzA6lriell5tasK5Ky3k7XW2FDvEFSPC5bnTL7CC7JuaWpzCE/s640/image0+%25289%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Michelangelo working on his masterpiece </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
</ul>
<div style="font-weight: bold;">
<b>Writing</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Write a nonfiction story about any topic (or assign a specific topic)</li>
<li>Write 5 sentences about _______<insert here="" topic="">. </insert></li>
<li>Write a poem about ________<insert here="" topic="">.</insert></li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Refer to books and activities you have at home</b> (sometimes they just need to be reminded of what</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">they have already)</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Read a few pages from so-and-so book or do the read-aloud from the <b>Epic</b> app </li>
<li>Do a puzzle or make your own DIY puzzle </li>
<li>Play Bingo! </li>
<li>Play with your Beyblades </li>
<li>Pull out your boardgame (e.g, Connect-4, Snakes & Ladders, Uno, etc)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<b>Printables </b><i>(printed and kept at a designated place for your child to easily access when needed)</i><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Spot the difference printables (<a href="https://www.timvandevall.com/activities/spot-the-difference-printable/">here</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/635852041117937741/">here</a>)</li>
<li>Free coloring sheets (many sources out there, for example try this <a href="https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/minifigure-robot-coloring-pages-free-printables/">link</a> from Little Bins for Little Hands)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<b>Exercise</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Do 10 jumping jacks, 4 burpees, 5 push-ups (repeat 3 times!) </li>
<li>Ball catching practice against the wall</li>
<li>Do Cosmic Yoga on YouTube</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<b>Others</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>A to Z scavenger hunt: find items around the house starting with each letter of the alphabet</li>
<li>Create your own scavenger hunt for your parents!</li>
<li>Line up wooden blocks and then create the domino effect</li>
<li>Call up any of your family members for a quick chat (grandparents, friends) - I recommend <b>Caribu</b> app which is like Zoom for kids</li>
<li>Create your own campsite with a makeshift tent</li>
<li>Make your own riddles to ask Mom and Dad</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
There are endless possibilities! Hopefully this gives you ideas to keep your kids busy and out of your hair when needed! Of course, feel free to adapt to your child's age level, and please do share any ideas you might have as well. And if you liked this post, please share with your friends as well.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Cheers!</div>
</div>
Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-18268636151754060392020-05-24T10:32:00.002+08:002020-05-24T10:32:39.831+08:00Fashion Journey: A Prolific Year 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hi folks! If you're just tuning in now, I recommend checking out my previous posts from this week. I'm taking a walk down fashion lane from the time I started my blog - looking back at my fashion do's and faux-pas as well as social media lessons learned along the way!<br />
<br />
Let's talk about 2016, my fifth post in this series! I call it my <b>most prolific</b> year for a few reasons:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>More posts: I had the most number of blogposts and evolved my thinking about what an outfit posting should be about. I used to feel that if you're posting about an outfit, it has to be something dressy. Why couldn't we also post about regular everyday or casual styling too?</li>
<li>More social media presence: I also began acquiring savvyness on social media. I began to use Instagram more seriously as a blogger/social media platform. Until now, Instagram was just a semi-extension of my blog but now it became an equal partner (after 2016, it morphed completely into my main platform). The blogosphere was beginning to change and people were consuming less of blog posts and more of faster, visual platforms like Snapchat and Instagram.</li>
<li>More self-reliance: I realized that I couldn't continue to rely on photographers or my husband for photos - I was either at the mercy of photographer's limited schedules or my husband's limited patience. I knew I had to figure out my own way if I wanted to post consistently. So I "invested" in a camera tripod and a remote (it cost no more than $50!). All except one photo below is taken by yours truly - can you guess which one is <i>not</i> taken by me?</li>
</ul>
Let's take a look at the pictures! :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQgj7Vx6Hye8i25CGOY2ggvI69PkttlveB20lt6veI7M1Rt0lIdkvm6QJDo_B5R-sBpzwQ5qjpFjIwJw61qhY0AoDh9B8JAYpBSXns4LItWpj-Wu9o09rwezNfKdu07Faau5RxG0Jz3s/s1600/image0+%25288%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQgj7Vx6Hye8i25CGOY2ggvI69PkttlveB20lt6veI7M1Rt0lIdkvm6QJDo_B5R-sBpzwQ5qjpFjIwJw61qhY0AoDh9B8JAYpBSXns4LItWpj-Wu9o09rwezNfKdu07Faau5RxG0Jz3s/s640/image0+%25288%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jan 2016: Looks like a jumpsuit but it's actually an olive-colored two piece set. I purchased it from a store in Singapore called Lowry Farms (store no longer exists). I still have it and wear it a LOT. The fabric falls in a very flattering manner and you can wear this outfit with flats or heels. I remember waking up at 7AM for a shoot at this location to avoid the crowds. It's called the Helix Bridge, so called because it was made to resemble the DNA double helix structure. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RXG7ec7z2IwPRbgakbkmNXfg0vEc2G6yNPU3oi2IYYSVIRgA8zwDSAnih-yn-TdAf68ZX_TPdCy_UsKkLUmYmCkKJPlZLiwLnCVENyMt2XS1iH7QnrositvZFWESNq01AhK9w51jgZ4/s1600/IMG_9732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RXG7ec7z2IwPRbgakbkmNXfg0vEc2G6yNPU3oi2IYYSVIRgA8zwDSAnih-yn-TdAf68ZX_TPdCy_UsKkLUmYmCkKJPlZLiwLnCVENyMt2XS1iH7QnrositvZFWESNq01AhK9w51jgZ4/s640/IMG_9732.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">May 2016: I'm wearing a black shift dress from Boohoo.com (similar <a href="http://www.shoptiques.com/products/naked-zebra-scallop-edge-black-dress?signalSource=shopstyle&utm_source=shopstyle&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=linkshare_us&utm_content=289908&pmrw=1&rcid=106&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=J84DHJLQkR4&utm_campaign=Linkshare_10&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=QFGLnEolOWg&utm_campaign=Linkshare_15">here</a>) with my <a href="http://www.rebeccaminkoff.com/round-sofia-crossbody-spring16">Rebecca Minkoff round Sofia crossbody bag</a>. The dress has a cute scallop detailing but otherwise plain. So I used my accessories to dress it up! A simple black dress is a wardrobe essential, I say!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCr8fpzz1S8DrL_37gpJ9Uk-jIwCip-5XddXzjdPWcUDuNUfXeUvsAQrSsLiZDbSAUEBMQOtZlrHCAFTi4czNaNYkBpmd-te8mt0MFgxHZO6JfnPIf2BtjUGagq8ezLKxCPdBPjQUsChY/s1600/image1+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCr8fpzz1S8DrL_37gpJ9Uk-jIwCip-5XddXzjdPWcUDuNUfXeUvsAQrSsLiZDbSAUEBMQOtZlrHCAFTi4czNaNYkBpmd-te8mt0MFgxHZO6JfnPIf2BtjUGagq8ezLKxCPdBPjQUsChY/s640/image1+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">June 2016: Not afraid of color! I bought this dress online from Lulu's and just loved its colors. I have styled this dress in multiple ways in the past - as a dress, as a beach cover-up, and as a top paired with a skirt!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZSVgm8x0Qs4MMgpMyEk6stKT-ZPqR6wtjK31885cXfsqC8qcW1qJ24TVbD7suT7Qqrkp2kNRze_e9miSOgOEf5AlCh1pjEcbe2crL8POf0ossD5GFcfQfsUHjCNDNqKGiRfL_o2OsYQ/s1600/IMG_0473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZSVgm8x0Qs4MMgpMyEk6stKT-ZPqR6wtjK31885cXfsqC8qcW1qJ24TVbD7suT7Qqrkp2kNRze_e9miSOgOEf5AlCh1pjEcbe2crL8POf0ossD5GFcfQfsUHjCNDNqKGiRfL_o2OsYQ/s640/IMG_0473.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">July 2016: A casual outfit of shorts paired with an ethnic top I purchased from a trip to Chiang Mai (a northeastern province in Thailand). I think this top precipitated my growing love for pompoms and tassels in outfits! More to come as you scroll down! Also, this location was literally around the corner from my old apartment in a random alley. Yeah, real sexy....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWR0iVkbTxQ_J2PHSQ3G_kLefbVkiiostmTIHXzZ_mkSBhkcyL89q4V7PwzChRawiEArnIdZlxCrkZyeYnM6o4r4q6MdFeH0d5_q1MEZ01MiEVAsBfBPtoAzNrNbJSbnbjeIhFYOkYFlw/s1600/image2+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWR0iVkbTxQ_J2PHSQ3G_kLefbVkiiostmTIHXzZ_mkSBhkcyL89q4V7PwzChRawiEArnIdZlxCrkZyeYnM6o4r4q6MdFeH0d5_q1MEZ01MiEVAsBfBPtoAzNrNbJSbnbjeIhFYOkYFlw/s640/image2+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">July 2016: More of the "casual styling" outfits making an appearance. Here, I wore a fusion look of dhoti pants with a black top. The look was elevated with accessories like this colorful pom pom necklace and ethnic clutch.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe5nlfkvZXzCsYwLq3HXcsP1LABOv7NpyJVbbme5CJRlHfjnbXuf3kXmJlhQUowDq3i2SdpNp3oufDdX0G_dwPa8Fdxjn1cq30BeCPXjvD4uEt6vJ13FA_sFl_8ljKryFYQI7F2FIqGo/s1600/image3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe5nlfkvZXzCsYwLq3HXcsP1LABOv7NpyJVbbme5CJRlHfjnbXuf3kXmJlhQUowDq3i2SdpNp3oufDdX0G_dwPa8Fdxjn1cq30BeCPXjvD4uEt6vJ13FA_sFl_8ljKryFYQI7F2FIqGo/s640/image3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aug 2016: More of the fun color pops here! Blue and color make a great complementary color pairing and I like how I paired this striped cropped top with these yellow bottoms.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6NhLZ-HFZ0QMt6rBeNrG1fdX-Eb2s4FLYPzqrsIjdVOHo4LI6yD7mQviFdBibUNq30SiDlv1mQFzZWZ3LbXC-ROtu3plbpRCUBimfkk8loVQeTrqm_sczQVwOb38-4q-jCg7D_xEjLY/s1600/IMG_1021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6NhLZ-HFZ0QMt6rBeNrG1fdX-Eb2s4FLYPzqrsIjdVOHo4LI6yD7mQviFdBibUNq30SiDlv1mQFzZWZ3LbXC-ROtu3plbpRCUBimfkk8loVQeTrqm_sczQVwOb38-4q-jCg7D_xEjLY/s640/IMG_1021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sept 2016: Did I mention tassels? Again, just a weekend casual outfit made cute with this off-shoulder white top with tassels and a red duffel Coach bag.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS8dqXjAevbaYAv16AYJ9eBfusDifNNH3scZbOqtFTv7JlPpAfO9UeyBL0F6V4bbZFeYDKH90-bCenP5d1SQlhP4OKPRi7IiR5kvkyiP92dsviLSnZqgTELlNFF-zenUW3W6TrJRy8f0/s1600/IMG_1978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS8dqXjAevbaYAv16AYJ9eBfusDifNNH3scZbOqtFTv7JlPpAfO9UeyBL0F6V4bbZFeYDKH90-bCenP5d1SQlhP4OKPRi7IiR5kvkyiP92dsviLSnZqgTELlNFF-zenUW3W6TrJRy8f0/s640/IMG_1978.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oct 2016: I have a general love of white because the color is a canvas against which you can add any splash of color! I still own every piece of this outfit - the dress from <a href="http://www.morninglavender.com/">Morning Lavender</a>, the shoes, the boho pom pom bag. :) Another photo taken just near my old apartment at a heritage shophouse.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZkDiqAXQuOcmJjSvnqBl2frYBNCwX1WmiEVxc54Z4lCaD5I6x0jStRE3lRf1XmlBzOqpI1I6VcU2UmXaLpQwO09uAQqqQGewnXYLI2WEwrewMnigxMHqCIcvEdo17lh9DxyrBdauVuk/s1600/IMG_2252-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZkDiqAXQuOcmJjSvnqBl2frYBNCwX1WmiEVxc54Z4lCaD5I6x0jStRE3lRf1XmlBzOqpI1I6VcU2UmXaLpQwO09uAQqqQGewnXYLI2WEwrewMnigxMHqCIcvEdo17lh9DxyrBdauVuk/s640/IMG_2252-edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nov 2016: I loved this navy blue jumpsuit that I had ordered online from Lulu's (available <a href="https://www.lulus.com/products/learning-to-fly-navy-blue-jumpsuit/156690.html">here</a>). I wore a thin yellow belt to break up the monotony of the blue (a thick belt would have looked too chunky) and matched my clutch to the purse. Notice another outfit where I paired blue with yellow!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQu-bewClrkGulja4jm-DOR54Gn0OZZJNh_lzMsU2TPhUA-AjkUu1JsJeQoM77wA2qGUkWF_dYPBGDYGTHNoLTigXzc41lClC7z0mZfPOYtWcTvQZNdeIawZHHXiF5CmdCPpgxVlpVZwI/s1600/IMG_2631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQu-bewClrkGulja4jm-DOR54Gn0OZZJNh_lzMsU2TPhUA-AjkUu1JsJeQoM77wA2qGUkWF_dYPBGDYGTHNoLTigXzc41lClC7z0mZfPOYtWcTvQZNdeIawZHHXiF5CmdCPpgxVlpVZwI/s640/IMG_2631.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dec 2016: This is a jumpsuit I ordered from <a href="http://www.styletheory.co/sg">Style Theory</a>, a subscription box for renting clothes. I remember ordering this red outfit for a Christmas shoot along Orchard Road which was decked up for the festive season. I was 2 months pregnant with my second one then but hadn't shared the news yet! :)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjED9TGicR9wcWfYgWXOlhPdo6FPHVQXhqP7YbSYbtzCwrYQcd89CLa3ig9QlYpwuFcL5xCXB3Begvcpf3R06rdPKIrtBG8g5TaoK5-0stGIZJ5puhqndfZKENF5JopMnOyfe3gIaNlU/s1600/IMG_3679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjED9TGicR9wcWfYgWXOlhPdo6FPHVQXhqP7YbSYbtzCwrYQcd89CLa3ig9QlYpwuFcL5xCXB3Begvcpf3R06rdPKIrtBG8g5TaoK5-0stGIZJ5puhqndfZKENF5JopMnOyfe3gIaNlU/s640/IMG_3679.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dec 2016: This was an outfit I wore for a collaboration with Rent-a-Dress. I opted for this strapless dress with its unusual shade of green and paired it with these pink heels. At 2 months pregnant, I was able to squeeze into this dress and that's probably the last time I wore anything fancy for a while!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>My fashion tips:</b><br />
- I like to use accessories to elevate a simple outfit or to make it more visually interesting.<br />
- If wearing something dressier, then think about keeping everything else like accessories more understated so that it looks balanced (let the dress do the "talking" so to speak)<br />
- White and black are classic colors and hence I think a plain white dress or plain black dress are nice closet essentials to have! You can dress them up or down in numerous ways!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fashion Journey Series:</b><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-discovery-2012.html">The Year of Discovery 2012</a><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-change-2013.html">The Year of Change 2013</a><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-quiet-year-2014.html">The Quiet Year 2014</a><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-fresh-starts.html">The Year of Fresh Starts 2015</a></div>
Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-78139499507750702992020-05-20T22:13:00.000+08:002020-05-20T22:13:34.088+08:00Fashion Journey: The Year of Fresh Starts 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hi everyone! This is my fourth post in a week-long blog series about my "Fashion Journey". Take a look at the previous posts to catch up. Go ahead, I'll wait....</div>
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Done? Okay, let's move ahead with 2015 then! </div>
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After taking more than half a year of hiatus from the blog, I slowly regained my mojo in 2015. I felt ready for a fresh new start for my blog, this time armed with a better knowledge of what makes for good quality photos and content based on my previous years of experience and closely observing the work of professional bloggers. Instagram was becoming more popular as a social media platform too. Because I had already been on it for 3 years by then, I was also posting about my blog there. </div>
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The common theme you will see in all the pictures below is that I tried to shoot my outfit pics against interesting parts and backdrops of Singapore, the city I now called home. I had begun to shed my inhibitions of shooting in public places and worked with photographers to elevate the quality of my photos. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvoB-2jlxqaWo22NxgOYcTQBUvILd9Ff-IcEAcJDQ7P10bKOAFjxMwMzZc3cI56jtm55a3MbT1PGyZ8b_srRrsTvCCCrIBRT0Xlfu16Nc2Qy4gxMjnR39ps5PkpBPxl9_CoIZ-mLDcts/s1600/IMG_4863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvoB-2jlxqaWo22NxgOYcTQBUvILd9Ff-IcEAcJDQ7P10bKOAFjxMwMzZc3cI56jtm55a3MbT1PGyZ8b_srRrsTvCCCrIBRT0Xlfu16Nc2Qy4gxMjnR39ps5PkpBPxl9_CoIZ-mLDcts/s640/IMG_4863.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jan 2015: I was still honing my styling with color combos. I know it sounds cliched but I think a coordinated purse and pair of shoes looks good together. Which is why the yellow heels and green purse seem discordant in this outfit. In retrospect, I would have preferred to go with a cream or light colored purse to match the shoes. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2rReDv8YGKZXMXSCUpOte3iS3DpXjB-x1qW5_golN7Dr0x6zOIMBsYyyuMhYLOuokqWNJAte8Ryz84LwA9T3yUFbkA97bdyM8EHM80zHUPpZCnhxqSrsIcQ3QlISiuQevjZU29HjqiA/s1600/IMG_6472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2rReDv8YGKZXMXSCUpOte3iS3DpXjB-x1qW5_golN7Dr0x6zOIMBsYyyuMhYLOuokqWNJAte8Ryz84LwA9T3yUFbkA97bdyM8EHM80zHUPpZCnhxqSrsIcQ3QlISiuQevjZU29HjqiA/s640/IMG_6472.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">March 2015: Blazer love brewing! I still own that pink blazer and i just love my outfit here. It's cute, no? Picture taken at Henderson Waves Bridge.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hOqUt3QaHDZYAl3GtKWpz5k74S1ldyip8N9lNaMlUXN0wOACmdRI07TLSUyjTFoTy37TapFPXTNim8JclZC19T3ueJ9g6LwA0hYU_kasGC2IUoSFCZlq7Kw_D0JVwvBZQhfibdcE82U/s1600/Haji+Lane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hOqUt3QaHDZYAl3GtKWpz5k74S1ldyip8N9lNaMlUXN0wOACmdRI07TLSUyjTFoTy37TapFPXTNim8JclZC19T3ueJ9g6LwA0hYU_kasGC2IUoSFCZlq7Kw_D0JVwvBZQhfibdcE82U/s640/Haji+Lane.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">April 2015: Just a basic white tee with distressed denims and heels. <br />Perfect for a casual weekend look! Pic taken at Haji Lane.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgPGqGOzNX4gMYFJcPUbLEjyE1H3d_9pd3VNhcaYzw1MYVjq-pYnU8sgWqbpAhKSVmJD4Pw6Npc1nli2K9AgvZtsP6Z8u_YIf3wrA_Z7ntdX9M1DCFDzRW_7PgBXZ_pkudjeqWAmgzUw/s1600/IMG_0791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgPGqGOzNX4gMYFJcPUbLEjyE1H3d_9pd3VNhcaYzw1MYVjq-pYnU8sgWqbpAhKSVmJD4Pw6Npc1nli2K9AgvZtsP6Z8u_YIf3wrA_Z7ntdX9M1DCFDzRW_7PgBXZ_pkudjeqWAmgzUw/s640/IMG_0791.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">May 2015: Tried my hand with printed floral pants for the first time here in this pic! I think it's a cute bright look! Pic taken at Chijmes. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LWxabMhVJyKKLpbkLq0nzFTKSRrNd2yxCekyk0OiABUamL7kVKXwcM0T41qY7nufVNF5bUzJVG_BwDNgIymXhOGvnqXRvsb8oX8qTLlE2SCHNCP1lyRqtymykHTvdJ2olIh-bnXFO8o/s1600/IMG_8713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LWxabMhVJyKKLpbkLq0nzFTKSRrNd2yxCekyk0OiABUamL7kVKXwcM0T41qY7nufVNF5bUzJVG_BwDNgIymXhOGvnqXRvsb8oX8qTLlE2SCHNCP1lyRqtymykHTvdJ2olIh-bnXFO8o/s640/IMG_8713.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">May 2015: Sporting a flowy maxi skirt and looking boho. I just love the framing of this shot. Pic taken on the old railroad tracks in the Green Corridor.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8g2Y9M6HdNvWg2-xHRLxVidBMNE1ZUfJ4qQxqeWSxHokWoQstNcy43-AsZXLnm7Grc7_j9BKZbDRpAf2RGmLNaa2ffvYN1OVniqzVQ7DZ5224IdFyxEPRg2-z3gQt_rmTpxJszl1YT0/s1600/DSC04237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8g2Y9M6HdNvWg2-xHRLxVidBMNE1ZUfJ4qQxqeWSxHokWoQstNcy43-AsZXLnm7Grc7_j9BKZbDRpAf2RGmLNaa2ffvYN1OVniqzVQ7DZ5224IdFyxEPRg2-z3gQt_rmTpxJszl1YT0/s640/DSC04237.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">June 2015: This is a Zara brushstroke dress which I absolutely loved and wore for a long time until it was really worn out. Pic taken in downtown Singapore.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZZ9eSmpJevIF-NKPa9ASw-lqtk2C3oTqRQ_qkhLUHkawCMsyU8_Hotd6uE24cbrPlEZO-YOTgkgy_kwzZDM0vmHGNb5vFJjFfPO88NlluyATFT0dxYXXzJBluFa6APkpJiOlYxUoIuk/s1600/NMS-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZZ9eSmpJevIF-NKPa9ASw-lqtk2C3oTqRQ_qkhLUHkawCMsyU8_Hotd6uE24cbrPlEZO-YOTgkgy_kwzZDM0vmHGNb5vFJjFfPO88NlluyATFT0dxYXXzJBluFa6APkpJiOlYxUoIuk/s640/NMS-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">July 2015: These were my first high-waisted pants and I still own them (purchased from a Bangkok brand called <a href="http://www.jaspal.com/">Jaspal)</a>. The striped top was from Forever21. And oh, that Zara necklace makes an appearance again (if you saw my pic from <a href="http://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-change-2013.html">2013 Fashion Journey blogpost</a>, you'd know!). Pic taken at the National Museum of Singapore.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfyKz7LVPH_9x6U04bXX1zZsqzE8eMO8B9wzXaqhmO7n6dIEq8dmn3Pdizpty_Uxouz4TSO7-nk1yGeXqjrYMr7MM6uA5Icyjh5eXZiibQ9_WRri9Vm75sRn0u2rJvvt1Sv0sggXvn-Y/s1600/Somerset+Skate+Part-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfyKz7LVPH_9x6U04bXX1zZsqzE8eMO8B9wzXaqhmO7n6dIEq8dmn3Pdizpty_Uxouz4TSO7-nk1yGeXqjrYMr7MM6uA5Icyjh5eXZiibQ9_WRri9Vm75sRn0u2rJvvt1Sv0sggXvn-Y/s640/Somerset+Skate+Part-2.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dec 2015: The sad part about living in Singapore is that there are no seasons so all my looks have a spring/summery look year round! Oh well - here's me trying printed bottoms and a crop top and going for an edgy look. I felt a bit conscious about my tummy but decided to get over it lol! The fringe necklace is from <a href="https://www.accessoryconcierge.com/">Accessory Concierge</a>. Pic taken at Somerset Skate Park.</span></td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fashion Journey Series:</b><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-discovery-2012.html">The Year of Discovery 2012</a><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-change-2013.html">The Year of Change 2013</a><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-quiet-year-2014.html">The Quiet Year 2014</a></div>
Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-82257566743162809672020-05-19T10:05:00.002+08:002020-05-19T11:25:39.535+08:00Fashion Journey: The Quiet Year 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi! If you're just joining in now, I'm doing a series of posts this week looking back at my fashion journey from the time I started my blog in 2012. Yes, I've been blogging for over 8 years, can you believe it? Over the years, I learned and picked up styling ideas, tips, and tons of inspo along the way. I thought it would be fun to share my looks from the past.<br />
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Today, we are talking about 2014, which I call the "Quiet Year" because the blog was mostly dormant. This was the year we made an unplanned move back to Asia after 16 years of living in the US. And so, after about 2.5 years of blogging about fashion, travel, and other lifestyle related things, I decided to take a break. I wanted to focus on my baby and my postpartum recovery, the new move and settling in, and being with my family. So blogging and Instagram not only took a backseat, it was put on hold with no definite plans to come back.</div>
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But towards the middle of the year, I started to post again. I missed having something I did just for <i>me</i>. I missed having a creative outlet. So there was a slow but gradual comeback.<br />
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Here’s a look back. You'll notice that in all the pics, I'm either wearing a black/white combo or some bright color combo. No in-betweens! </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBRfRQppL6Kl78Kgk2JwuTWua56hVRN3q04qk2MgnJpibhQYindfTLLQ8153QtFFAkP8bkgTsJO4gR4gn96RUwWqSuEYDlOiG7ExWnay6PNzPT78s486AuUXvPll4WPi7XZB2iuXBShc/s1600/IMG_9868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBRfRQppL6Kl78Kgk2JwuTWua56hVRN3q04qk2MgnJpibhQYindfTLLQ8153QtFFAkP8bkgTsJO4gR4gn96RUwWqSuEYDlOiG7ExWnay6PNzPT78s486AuUXvPll4WPi7XZB2iuXBShc/s640/IMG_9868.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb 2014: This is actually a dress I purchased from Promod. I was about 5 months postpartum and had shed some weight. So this was my first outfit purchase after a long time. I still like this look, it's classy and elegant.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvB00GjSsu22WXVHM4xIVawIQPqabilbqk3eds7acO7IraEe67EUmnyBBiR87zdWZmyfvj6NLOXiPxIlo6bk7PB-nugiKdFZFtPoDPXH9DrF619oUt4O3n9Laj6qcNMXDfCQUY7KEddCs/s1600/IMG_0498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvB00GjSsu22WXVHM4xIVawIQPqabilbqk3eds7acO7IraEe67EUmnyBBiR87zdWZmyfvj6NLOXiPxIlo6bk7PB-nugiKdFZFtPoDPXH9DrF619oUt4O3n9Laj6qcNMXDfCQUY7KEddCs/s640/IMG_0498.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">March 2014: I paired this Ritu Kumar top with this pleated skirt I purchased from a store in Bangkok. I think this was probably my first pleated skirt and since then, I've never looked back! You'll find TONS of pleated skirt looks on my Instagram page! I loved how I mixed the combo of green and blue here. I'm wearing a bib necklace from <a href="https://www.stelladot.com/shop/jewelry/necklaces">Stella & Dot</a>, a US-based jewelry brand which I love for its statement jewelry. This piece was expensive and more than I typically spent on jewelry at that time but I took the plunge and got it anyway! It's still one of my favorite statement pieces from my collection.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajurGImcnz-eNCtsQQqMFrJanMbsGYHEpQm3lkNgZoux2XMKmZzx8DzF8qu6Vn_VycpqH5JYaTIYjco7Sjzo6pxo_8XoG_W6T1eG1gEfypy3EvLXMts_WGSiFKf7Ng2jkysihy3EzU-Q/s1600/IMG_1397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajurGImcnz-eNCtsQQqMFrJanMbsGYHEpQm3lkNgZoux2XMKmZzx8DzF8qu6Vn_VycpqH5JYaTIYjco7Sjzo6pxo_8XoG_W6T1eG1gEfypy3EvLXMts_WGSiFKf7Ng2jkysihy3EzU-Q/s640/IMG_1397.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">April 2014: Clearly I was beginning to experiment more with bright color combinations. I paired this floral pencil skirt with a blue top and a pink Ralph Lauren bag. I was playing off the pink and blue colors in the skirt. I probably would have opted for nude heels now rather than these red ones, which I find distracting from the overall color scheme. What do you think? </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dQ53UzBw1C1EujY7iI3akPh9A-Ro9vBRMpQOg5u2US31iOUMJihjTIasils0O_c4lGYQ9RjdaRojn0GJgKQMmqkKYYDgWSI1jmCn4t8YqobvOdfkkzomgKG5nYlgQF2D3KBlqtNtp-k/s1600/IMG_4180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dQ53UzBw1C1EujY7iI3akPh9A-Ro9vBRMpQOg5u2US31iOUMJihjTIasils0O_c4lGYQ9RjdaRojn0GJgKQMmqkKYYDgWSI1jmCn4t8YqobvOdfkkzomgKG5nYlgQF2D3KBlqtNtp-k/s640/IMG_4180.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dec 2014 - Taken in Hawaii, this pic is from our first trip as a couple without Krishnav! I had purchased this maxi dress from Target just before I had moved out of the US the year prior. And believe it or not, I still own this dress. It's loose and flowy, so even after 2 babies I can manage to fit into it! :)</span></td></tr>
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My fashion tips:<br />
- Black and white is a classic combo. Can't go wrong with that!<br />
- Trying experimenting with colors but keep one or two colors as the dominant one in the whole look. Adding in too many bright colors can look distracting.<br />
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<b>Fashion Journey Series:</b><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-discovery-2012.html">The Year of Discovery 2012</a><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-change-2013.html">The Year of Change 2013</a></div>
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Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-56782043667783820292020-05-18T10:14:00.002+08:002020-05-19T20:36:19.398+08:00Fashion Journey: The Year of Change 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi! I'm doing a week long series of posts where I share my style evolution over the past 8 years. You see, I'm largely considered a mom blogger now. But my blogging journey didn't actually start off that way. I started blogging as a newly married girl starting a new phase of her life, wanting to document her big city adventures and personal style journey. I shared more about that in my first "Fashion Journey" <a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-discovery-2012.html">post from yesterday</a> along with somewhat cringe worthy pictures, so do you check it out!<br />
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Today I'm digging into my fashion archives circa 2013.<br />
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<b><i>2013: The Year of Change!</i></b><br />
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By this time, I had graduated from a Canon digital camera to a proper Canon DSLR camera which many aspiring and serious bloggers sported at the time. I even took a course on photography to learn how to maximize on the features of my new fancy camera. It was also in 2013 that I attended a blogger conference in NYC and attended interesting sessions about blogging tips and tricks, photography techniques, and iPhoneography (the art of taking great photos with your iPhone and editing them through apps, such as Snapseed, etc). I was seriously interested to hone my photography skills, learn how to develop better content, and connect with fellow bloggers (it doesn't mean the pictures were great but you'll notice a gradual improvement!).<br />
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By now, I was beginning to feel more confident in transitioning from fashion choices that would be considered "safe" to a bit more bold and experimental! Not only that, I plucked up the courage to even share that on a public platform on my blog. Colored bottoms, leather jackets, bold floral blazers - I tried it all!<br />
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Besides the change in camera and shift in bolder fashion choices, I experienced the biggest change of all. I became a Mom. I look back at this phase incredibly fondly. Check out my pics below!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEV5fNzMQdgdwJpjLcYIRoxrxLDyYG7aD1OD0m9HbjpjS5Rmb1EyRtdKasw8phJlct1Oo_jnjIQ9ltF2ZugepjTBGbpEaU7JtjdvOzaYrXe3W9-wSmGUbnW8Hr_iuPGGe2hkdlgRUpAI/s1600/Unexpected+NY-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEV5fNzMQdgdwJpjLcYIRoxrxLDyYG7aD1OD0m9HbjpjS5Rmb1EyRtdKasw8phJlct1Oo_jnjIQ9ltF2ZugepjTBGbpEaU7JtjdvOzaYrXe3W9-wSmGUbnW8Hr_iuPGGe2hkdlgRUpAI/s640/Unexpected+NY-7.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jan 2013 - I was in the first trimester of my first pregnancy but you couldn't tell yet. I wore an animal print top with a military green jacket. Pulled the look together with a yellow belt and clutch. The picture is fuzzy but I would totally still wear this look today if I could. I liked the combo of these different colors.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJANsCBnf4ebg_2QBMFdrAbgVcMZa37otlarLrRdm7htmF6LRrvkwS7b2TGbWSBvossKxid9JvLgdjAkRmhJ6fDEvYFBaBxnbekiH3fb1C4KQy1LoAAwZW_1mgepbd1hqcwf-EFrIl8PQ/s1600/Scarf-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJANsCBnf4ebg_2QBMFdrAbgVcMZa37otlarLrRdm7htmF6LRrvkwS7b2TGbWSBvossKxid9JvLgdjAkRmhJ6fDEvYFBaBxnbekiH3fb1C4KQy1LoAAwZW_1mgepbd1hqcwf-EFrIl8PQ/s640/Scarf-6.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb 2013 - I wore this look for a post I had written on <a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2013/02/5-different-ways-to-wear-scarf-part-i.html">different ways to style a scarf</a>. Here, I tied the scarf with a statement ring. I also liked the pairing of the striped top with the olive green pants - a classic look with a twist. Man, I looked fit back then! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS37zxenHtgKx7KcgfPve2AY6ZmZ-5rQoFUqdUk28or5g2YgiFPMtf0ZNuGU95eiH6lYoe64xprtz1Hs9MgfF_rq_r1fUBp9LMPeRYkd6MU5y7LBMqpU2WCCSSdWlqGiAOP55Cv51fBHc/s1600/Tropical+Getaway-5+%2528edit%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="1600" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS37zxenHtgKx7KcgfPve2AY6ZmZ-5rQoFUqdUk28or5g2YgiFPMtf0ZNuGU95eiH6lYoe64xprtz1Hs9MgfF_rq_r1fUBp9LMPeRYkd6MU5y7LBMqpU2WCCSSdWlqGiAOP55Cv51fBHc/s640/Tropical+Getaway-5+%2528edit%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: small;">May 2013 - I was definitely showing by now but I was hiding it in my photos. Hence, the strategic placement of that clutch! What do you think of this look? This bright floral blazer was definitely something that was outside my comfort zone. But I gave it a shot anyway and liked how it came together. I kept everything else muted with the plain top and black jeans. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK485W164Fb7zBjHDOaVcychBAs4jxCcehChyphenhyphenGPtHguE_gRqDOGolfQJ06PE7QDeB2LMhKKyB_EQqACTAxezy8f5RlwB5JfRr-PVWee6uHVrRYznuzZAPYR5QxuDJuYqmt1GCXhOTVks/s640/Baby%252520027.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="426" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: small;">May 2013 - Okay, now my pregnancy was clearly beginning to show on my face and if I stood sideways, my bump would have been obvious. This is a regular top I bought in a larger size from Macy's and paired it with leopard print heels. I wore this outfit for my <a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2013/07/big-announcement.html">"Pregnancy Announcement" post</a> (you'll see the bump more clearly in that post). This is a top I kept and wore even during my second pregnancy with Arjun so my clothes definitely keep and last for a while!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK485W164Fb7zBjHDOaVcychBAs4jxCcehChyphenhyphenGPtHguE_gRqDOGolfQJ06PE7QDeB2LMhKKyB_EQqACTAxezy8f5RlwB5JfRr-PVWee6uHVrRYznuzZAPYR5QxuDJuYqmt1GCXhOTVks/s1600/Baby%252520027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK485W164Fb7zBjHDOaVcychBAs4jxCcehChyphenhyphenGPtHguE_gRqDOGolfQJ06PE7QDeB2LMhKKyB_EQqACTAxezy8f5RlwB5JfRr-PVWee6uHVrRYznuzZAPYR5QxuDJuYqmt1GCXhOTVks/s1600/Baby%252520027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6BiWf8zgpB3mZw4nIL1SbD-x0F2NdSXjOHCHN5NW8iqv22pB1MvAHkf88BC2M-MKKU560SwDwj8XLROQIMCVyYsDWaV_zAFoN7ijHe4WY8FRfuUbSmiGKlwp2pFxl_2E0LXR2fG4sDw/s1600/Oxblood%252520007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6BiWf8zgpB3mZw4nIL1SbD-x0F2NdSXjOHCHN5NW8iqv22pB1MvAHkf88BC2M-MKKU560SwDwj8XLROQIMCVyYsDWaV_zAFoN7ijHe4WY8FRfuUbSmiGKlwp2pFxl_2E0LXR2fG4sDw/s640/Oxblood%252520007.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oct 2013 - Freshly postpartum! This was my first outfit shoot after the delivery. My mom was visiting and helping out during my maternity leave. She soon became my photographer as well! I love these red jeans paired with a lighter pink sweater. To this day, I still wear the combo of red + pink. But beyond that, I just feel like there's too much going on in the look. I'm going for a two-tone look plus an edgy look. I added that faux-leather jacket along with leopard print heels. Now when I look back, I would remove that jacket and change the type of heels I wore. Also, not a fan of that clutch but it was trending back then and I followed suit. Since then, I've learned to follow what looks good on me! Not trends!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqFs4uczRQR4wVzrzPZN13vZF6bTET7lw0zDHlaE_lWJMiC1Wk4RBUCW_u-QSwVLFY9fJgOGlseVGZSM9dABs4NaolTD27Hf9tRNcPWLILkkJ2xcJYL_aMADg4SXcpKcdEyTrjRZIxUQ/s1600/Funky%252520Sweater%252520012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqFs4uczRQR4wVzrzPZN13vZF6bTET7lw0zDHlaE_lWJMiC1Wk4RBUCW_u-QSwVLFY9fJgOGlseVGZSM9dABs4NaolTD27Hf9tRNcPWLILkkJ2xcJYL_aMADg4SXcpKcdEyTrjRZIxUQ/s640/Funky%252520Sweater%252520012.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nov 2013 - Post pregnancy shoot in Central Park! It was clearly fall weather and I had purchased this funky sweater from H&M because I liked its funky, boho Aztec print. I stole out for a quick outfit shoot with my mom while my husband watched 2 month old Krishnav! I'm not a huge fan of this look - kinda of a lot going on, I feel. I could have done without the belt and that bag. Maybe go for something more muted against that funky sweater. But to this day, I still own this sweater and take it out when traveling to cooler climates. I wore it as recently as last December during a trip to the US.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MzKpi31Q8CZGOPDjH4MISOnEGmxFTT5uCsnnjYc2u06vTZ7-vGiQypSlou4CmRTXCa8Gt4gHV2V-7Nbnq9OcGqYzYe8m0IgXNVSeTLRUhjEuzjZ8fYhc-9Us_C7AqPtG70yyANt125M/s1600/White%252520Top%252520013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MzKpi31Q8CZGOPDjH4MISOnEGmxFTT5uCsnnjYc2u06vTZ7-vGiQypSlou4CmRTXCa8Gt4gHV2V-7Nbnq9OcGqYzYe8m0IgXNVSeTLRUhjEuzjZ8fYhc-9Us_C7AqPtG70yyANt125M/s640/White%252520Top%252520013.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nov 2013 - Doing outfit shoots while on maternity leave was my only outlet and excuse to dress up. So I'd rely on my mother to do a shoot for me once a week. This was taken on the roof of my NYC apartment. I knew it wasn't a pretty backdrop but I was too shy back then to go to public places for a shoot. Here, I wore a plain white blouse against dark purple tights and black boots. I wore this Zara necklace with it (which I still own!). Again, not a huge fan of this look. In fact, I recall wearing these tights and then deciding I really didn't like them because it felt too skin tight and not comfortable - promptly returned them to the store after this single wear! (Oops, don't judge!). Similar to the previous pic, I have come to realize that I like one piece of clothing to do the talking. If there are too many competing pieces, the overall vibe clashes. </span></td></tr>
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<b>So lessons learned:</b><br />
- Don't follow trends - follow your style mantra!<br />
- Don't mix different styles together, like boho chic with edgy or something like that. Looks too confusing.<br />
- Don't be afraid to bring colors into an outfit! But I prefer to have one or two colors be the dominant ones for a cohesive, put together look. Beyond that, it just looks messy and uncoordinated.<br />
- The pieces that have lasted the longest in my closet are those that I truly love to wear and feel comfortable in. If something doesn't feel comfortable, don't buy it or just return it if you can.<br />
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<b>Fashion Journey Series:</b><br />
<a href="https://urbanmantra.blogspot.com/2020/05/fashion-journey-year-of-discovery-2012.html">The Year of Discovery 2012</a></div>
Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-83900418812708372382020-05-17T11:12:00.000+08:002020-05-19T20:36:37.002+08:00Fashion Journey: The Year of Discovery 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been blogging for 8 years now, far longer than I ever imagined when I first started! During this time of Covid-19-induced reflection, I decided it would be fun to look back at how my style journey has evolved over time.<br />
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<b><i>How did it all start? </i></b>Well, I published my first blog post on a February afternoon in 2012. I had just gotten married, completed my PhD, and moved to New York City. Indeed, a new phase of my life was beginning and I was truly excited to explore new neighborhoods, try new restaurants, and have my "big city" experience. It was also during this time that I discovered fashion bloggers online, such as <a href="https://www.extrapetite.com/">Extra Petite</a>, <a href="https://www.brooklynblonde.com/">Brooklyn Blonde</a>, <a href="https://www.the-atlantic-pacific.com/">Atlantic-Pacific</a> (all of which have endured and flourished to this day!) and started to get inspired by their ways of styling and dressing. I have always enjoyed fashion but these bloggers opened up a new world of fashion where a regular, 'non-celeb' person could style like a boss and post about it - it make fashion approachable to me! <br />
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And so began my blogging journey on all things related to lifestyle, central to which was documenting <i>my</i> own personal style journey. Over the next seven days, I will be putting up a daily blog post sharing some pictures from my blog archives about my fashion choices and styling lessons I learned along the way - one for every year starting from 2012!<br />
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And here goes my first one!<br />
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<b><i>2012: The year of discovery!</i></b><br />
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<i>A year of discovery on so many fronts - I discovered blogging and also joined Instagram! I discovered a new way of styling myself for the new phase of life I had embarked on. And lastly, I discovered fashion accessories and styling pieces to add to my wardrobe. </i><br />
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Having just come out of grad school and starting my first job, I wanted to upgrade from my casual grad student attire to something more professional and put-together. I also started following fashion bloggers (an emerging concept at the time!) to get ideas on how to elevate outfits for work and social meet-ups. Also, anyone who has visited NYC knows that it’s one of the fashion capitals of the world! Just walking along the streets of Manhattan gave me so much fashion inspo!<br />
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Here's a look at some old pictures from back then - mind you, the blog and Instagram world were still a brand new concept and I was barely just figuring out how to take good "blog-worthy" pictures. It was a combination of using my Canon digital camera or iPhone pics transformed with hazy Instagram filters at the time. Haha!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgld908lyUe2jT8rxE9qXBRAwbwEucKf613t6l2KMymlV_W5PXW9a5vnj8sGYrrRvHa9DutKVJjvLBSIUvEiyCfEDapMkBN_koZnQYANzfcBweQCzaqOWBxrMxB37hcT2dEaLfxy7YSFpE/s1600/1A4DBC61-AB4C-4682-8B1E-C663DD19253C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgld908lyUe2jT8rxE9qXBRAwbwEucKf613t6l2KMymlV_W5PXW9a5vnj8sGYrrRvHa9DutKVJjvLBSIUvEiyCfEDapMkBN_koZnQYANzfcBweQCzaqOWBxrMxB37hcT2dEaLfxy7YSFpE/s640/1A4DBC61-AB4C-4682-8B1E-C663DD19253C.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was a dress I had bought online and I loved its three-tone colors.<br />I remember having worn it numerous times for all sorts of parties and get-togethers. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Sdxy54-5i7rLEjDAV7CvZ59fL9xfuaakexQsBDT3aPKfbJcmCbcZt0P5CRSxhXCDLAZzY70i7oy51ZXN4kN4hM-X8zPTL8PycdxxJIV-euchDmYJMLMUMFHBXMFrIdTXiy-rbjBHhTI/s1600/8A1CAB4F-944E-40CB-B513-9F6E6634F10D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Sdxy54-5i7rLEjDAV7CvZ59fL9xfuaakexQsBDT3aPKfbJcmCbcZt0P5CRSxhXCDLAZzY70i7oy51ZXN4kN4hM-X8zPTL8PycdxxJIV-euchDmYJMLMUMFHBXMFrIdTXiy-rbjBHhTI/s640/8A1CAB4F-944E-40CB-B513-9F6E6634F10D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I clearly remember this day - my husband and I had visited Governor's Island (an island accessible by boat from Manhattan) for a food and arts festival. I had worn this white lace dress purchased several months ago from Dress Barn . This is a store normally meant for more matronly looks but this dress had caught my eye. I had just discovered how belts could drum up an outfit so I took a stab at it - I paired the dress with a thin gold belt and this reddish-brown bag for a pop of color. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9qKzBv-SSEgqb-AXuywQUNKcbauxMTujf80gsXNdEAIm46mfgncVKS349tv3LyKewebYe5h8BwuZXk4rrI6rbajHj7lu56t1Us0pnY8Khys9gGO_4miYaCcHaKJK01U9BEbom7k9ve0/s1600/61BB81C5-E1A6-4D30-9998-F2FAE711F77E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9qKzBv-SSEgqb-AXuywQUNKcbauxMTujf80gsXNdEAIm46mfgncVKS349tv3LyKewebYe5h8BwuZXk4rrI6rbajHj7lu56t1Us0pnY8Khys9gGO_4miYaCcHaKJK01U9BEbom7k9ve0/s640/61BB81C5-E1A6-4D30-9998-F2FAE711F77E.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the outfit I wore for a New York Fashion Week event that was open to us common folks. I was so excited to get the opportunity to attend a real runway show in NYC! I had purchased this blazer from H&M just for this event. This was probably my first ever purchase of a blazer and discovered how much I love them for dressing up even a casual outfit! I own so many blazers now. And guess what? I still own and wear this blazer to this day - just goes to show, fast fashion is only fast if you cycle through it quickly. But if you rewear and restyle it for a long time to come, you have done your part for fashion sustainability. </span></td></tr>
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So indeed, 2012 was the year of discovering the as-yet untapped social media world, new wardrobe pieces of fashion and fashion accessories (belts and blazers), and my own style mantra. :)<br />
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Stay tuned for tomorrow's post!<br />
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Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-74102663472833486932020-05-13T08:31:00.001+08:002020-05-13T14:00:28.337+08:00Learning and Bonding with Family during Quarantine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Whichever part of the world we’re in right now, as parents we are all on the same boat with regards to our children. It’s probably never been tougher to be a parent during these trying times when we are under some form of isolation due to Covid-19. How do we keep our children busy, happy, and entertained during these long hours of being indoors? One week into our lockdown situation in Singapore, I was already tearing my hair out! It is then that I started forming ideas on how to create a routine for my kids. In this post today, I’d like to share one of the ideas that has been very successful for us five weeks into our “iso life”. <br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">What is the idea?</span></b><br />
I instituted something called the “Grandparent Academy”. The concept is simple: I set up time for the grandparents to teach something to my children five days a week at a specific time of day. It is built into their daily schedule and something they look forward to! Of course, this idea can easily be applied to other family members like older cousins, aunts, or uncles living far away.<br />
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<b><br /><span style="color: blue;">Why it worked for us</span></b><br />
The secret sauce is basically that it is a win-win situation for everyone involved! For my kids, it is a way for them to learn something new or interesting from someone other than their teacher or parents. For the grandparents, it is a way to interact with their grandchildren while also staying connected to family far away. For us parents, it’s an hour of our day free of the kids, allowing us to work or take a break. The bonding over these 5 weeks of Grandparent Academy has been incredibly heartwarming to see! I dare say, my older one has learned more from these sessions than from school remote learning itself!<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">How to implement it</span></b><br />
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- Start off with 20-30 mins sessions and increase the length of time as needed (depending on age and attention level of your child)<br />
- It's good to plan out topics in advance for the week ahead. That way, the grandparents (or whoever is teaching) can think about the topic and how they want to teach it. In our case, the grandparents found fun YouTube videos or photos as visual aids for these sessions. It's really cute to see how they get into it!</div>
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- Keep the topics varied and diverse. Also ask what your child would like to learn more about!</div>
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- Follow the child's lead - if they are asking questions and seem engaged, that's a great sign! If you happen to go off on a tangent, don't sweat it. The intent is to have a session to talk and discuss about things - not a rigid learning structure per se</div>
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- Introduce surprise guests to mix things up! Even though it's called "Grandparent Academy", we've had older cousins, aunts, and uncles come to teach as well!</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Topics we have explored so far</span></b></div>
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I had talked about Grandparent Academy on my Instagram and have received numerous messages from people who have also adopted this idea with great success. The question I receive frequently is: what are the topics you cover during these sessions? Well, these sessions are geared more towards my 6.5 year old son so the topics I share below are relevant to the 5-7 age group. Having said that, hopefully these ideas inspire you to come up with topics that are suitable for your child or to adopt a modified level of these topics.<br />
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<li>How does a car work?</li>
<li>Space related topics</li>
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<li>Solar system and the different planets</li>
<li>How a rocket launches into outer space</li>
<li>Cycles of the moon</li>
<li>Solar and lunar eclipses</li>
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<li>How to solve a rubik’s cube</li>
<li>Answering fun riddles together (here's a <a href="https://www.fatherly.com/play/the-best-riddles-for-kids-not-confusing/">link</a>)</li>
<li>Learning about cricket (or any sport that is of interest to your child)</li>
<li>Learning about an animal of choice (we've covered cheetahs so far)</li>
<li>Mythology</li>
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<li>Dush Avatar (learning about the different avatars of Lord Vishnu over each session)</li>
<li>Ramayan stories</li>
<li>Mahabharat stories</li>
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<li>History of India</li>
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<li>Stories from the Independence Movement (like Salt March)</li>
<li>Famous characters and personalities - Jhasi ki Rani, Tipu Sultan, Mahatma Gandhi, etc </li>
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<li>Math: Math made fun in daily life</li>
<li>Learning to tell time on an analog clock</li>
<li>Spelling bee</li>
<li>Learning about continents and oceans</li>
<li>Reading a book together online</li>
<li>Trivia Quiz (many websites but here is <a href="https://parade.com/944584/parade/trivia-questions-for-kids/">one</a>)</li>
<li>Learning or practicing a language (in our case, we do Hindi and Thai)</li>
<li>Learning about flags of the world - what do the colors represent, etc</li>
<li>Reading and discussing poems and learning how recite them expressively </li>
<li>Learning about a specific country (so far we have started with India and the USA)</li>
<li>Reverse sharing time: The child teaches or presents something they want to talk about</li>
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Other topics I've heard from those who tried out "Grandparent Academy" were: Morse code, science-related topics, inventions and how they came to be, cowboys, Harry Potter, lifecycle of a particular animal, and animal habitats.</div>
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If you do decide to try this out, do drop me a line and let me know how it worked for you! I would also love to hear about the topics you covered. </div>
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Good luck!</div>
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Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-72369930230081266392020-05-03T12:11:00.002+08:002020-05-04T16:36:31.055+08:00How to do No Screentime with Kids<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>No Screen Time Day</b> is something we recently initiated in our household. No, it wasn't meant to induce self-torture on ourselves as parents! Rather, during this time of quarantine due to Covid-19, there has been an inevitable spike in our children's screen time - be it iPad, phone, or TV. As we are homebound, there has been an unavoidable reliance on our screen-facing gadgets to shoulder the burden of entertaining our children or keeping our sanity. Besides entertainment purposes, screentime comes into the picture due to school e-learning and social interactions held virtually as well. Hence, I felt it was important for the children to get a break from it all once a week. Their eyes and minds also need a break, after all, for health reasons.<br />
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So we picked one day of the week (Saturday) and gave it a go! After 2-3 successful episodes, I thought it would be good to share what measures were effective and sustainable for us week on week:<br />
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<li><b>A SHARED MINDSET: </b>Inform the children of this plan in advance and agree on it together. It is important that you make them equal partners invested in this initiative. Each time, I had a reminder conversation about the "No Screen Time Day" with the children the night before so they know what to expect the next day. I was pleasantly surprised that my almost-3 year old son also bought into this initiative. This is probably the single most important thing to do because it puts them in the mindset and everyone is on the same page.</li>
<li><b>OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND: </b>Put away the electronic devices like iPads. Remove/hide all temptations. </li>
<li><b>RULES ARE FOR EVERYONE:</b> You’re in this together. That means, no TV time for us parents and limiting time on the phone in front of the children.</li>
<li><b>EXERCISE:</b> Starting the day on a physical, active note seems to keep them mellower for the rest of the day. If you're able to, begin your morning with a bike ride or long nature walk. It helps to expend their pent-up energy and starts the day on a healthy note.</li>
<li><b>BOOKS: </b>We did lots of book readings during slow parts of the day and during meal times for my younger one. My younger one often wants to see Peppa Pig or some cartoon during his meals but with animated readings of a slew of books, he was just fine. In fact, he completed his meals much faster this way!</li>
<li><b>BOARD GAMES:</b> Load up on family board games! Family picture bingo for kids, Connect 4, Jenga, Uno...these are all great games that you can play as a family.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2mFSe1P3g5b6oVns8Y_n6SuI6_VSPwzJofA0XIYbVNpEBtGIITMMqOF2M834aay3owPjFcEqzDpqLa7FaMiJm0A6R9eQh3ydxU6MdluP6IMMaowjD2ckU9bY4kwG6UPzOc04jt_trDs/s1600/image0+%25287%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2mFSe1P3g5b6oVns8Y_n6SuI6_VSPwzJofA0XIYbVNpEBtGIITMMqOF2M834aay3owPjFcEqzDpqLa7FaMiJm0A6R9eQh3ydxU6MdluP6IMMaowjD2ckU9bY4kwG6UPzOc04jt_trDs/s640/image0+%25287%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Family picture bingo game - lots of fun for kids ages 3 and up!</span></td></tr>
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<li><b>Stock up on STE(A)M supplies:</b> I have two very active rambunctious boys so I have a ready supply of arts & crafts, Legos, etc so they can do free play and give you a break during the day. If you aren't doing it already, use this time for the kids to create something of their own. Give them a Lego challenge, bake together, print out coloring sheets online for the kids, have them do artwork and put up a pretend "art exhibit" in their room, or plan a craft activity to do together. </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVDxFT_XXmkm3VqMhaUIA2GvypwTxoNhMuE_YRgZu2uenJ5benDehHVwjabfQ37pix2pwzRpVSTqDWz9LV9vbV-PlcSIiMOwqTicavNSoW0-Qw5KFil3pj_5SzNFDgqTtUDZS6PHmlEY/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVDxFT_XXmkm3VqMhaUIA2GvypwTxoNhMuE_YRgZu2uenJ5benDehHVwjabfQ37pix2pwzRpVSTqDWz9LV9vbV-PlcSIiMOwqTicavNSoW0-Qw5KFil3pj_5SzNFDgqTtUDZS6PHmlEY/s640/image1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We created cool things with Legos. This is a Lego catapult we created <br />thanks to the website <a href="http://www.littlebinsforlittlehands.com/">Little Bins for Little Hands</a></span></td></tr>
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<li><b><br />MUSIC: </b>Create a family playlist of everyone’s favorite songs and play that in the backdrop to create happy vibes in your home.</li>
<li>Embrace the slow living, chill day! When the kids are doing independent play, don't interfere. Instead, use that for your downtime. And yes, you will get downtime...it's not going to be as tough as you think it to be!</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz5ljPbpyh2BCFx2lOl54uBz0YO0fRidTZSzEfQMi8Zt-NWWxWCVPbsbvuVMQ9UumdV_fkr1ohPr78iNJ8XWRdzTwnxQegQ1FtN-J4KK6E8t_n_80DfNd5poJ3TIRPft0_HUxM4LjS_8/s1600/image2+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz5ljPbpyh2BCFx2lOl54uBz0YO0fRidTZSzEfQMi8Zt-NWWxWCVPbsbvuVMQ9UumdV_fkr1ohPr78iNJ8XWRdzTwnxQegQ1FtN-J4KK6E8t_n_80DfNd5poJ3TIRPft0_HUxM4LjS_8/s640/image2+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A moment of quiet solitude in the day when the kids were engaged in free independent <br />play (and there were actually plenty of moments like this. It's not sooo bad!)</span></td></tr>
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Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6550173642512605717.post-18786405324407621742020-02-21T08:30:00.000+08:002020-02-21T08:30:53.593+08:00Raising Children To Know Their Mother Tongue <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>“You’ve got to know your language to understand your culture.”</i></div>
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—Beatrice Taylor, Ojibwe</div>
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I did not realize the challenge I would face in raising my children in a foreign country to know their language. After all, my own parents raised me in Thailand and my first language is Hindi. Yet when it came to my own children, I struggled. Times are different and we live in an increasingly globalized world where English is often the primary mode of communication. I came to see that raising my boys to know Hindi while living outside of India would not be an easy task. I constantly face hurdles but by investing time, effort, and dedication to the cause, I believe it is possible. <br />
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Why do I care so much about my children knowing their mother tongue? To me, language is power. And knowing one’s mother tongue is even more powerful. I’ve seen it from my own experience. Knowing Hindi has connected me to my roots and culture, builds bridges with family that still live in India, instantly removes barriers between others who also speak the same language, and helps me understand our cultural contexts. <br />
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On the occasion of International Mother Language Day (February 21), I wanted to share how I try to cultivate a love, knowledge, and appreciation of Hindi in my children despite living outside of India.<br />
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<b>The lesson I learned that started it all</b></h3>
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Up until age 2, both my boys spoke only in Hindi because of me speaking exclusively in Hindi to them. I felt very proud of that! But upon starting preschool, their world expanded beyond me. Within 2 months, I noticed that they had stopped speaking and replying in Hindi and had begun to speak mostly in English. I was taken aback by the swiftness by which my efforts of two years had been displaced. <br />
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We live in a place where the primary mode of instruction in school and communication in everyday life is in English. The two people with whom our children are mostly likely to be spending a sizeable chunk of the day (especially if you are a working parent) are the teacher and nanny, both of whom speak in English in Singapore. There is no natural exposure to mother tongue beyond what the parent teaches at home. I realized that I would need to step up my efforts.<br />
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<b>Mindset</b></h3>
Having the right mindset helped to set more realistic expectations from my children. Once I let go of the fact that my children should speak in Hindi like a native, this whole process became less burdensome and more fun!<br />
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<b>Number 1: </b>It’s okay if they speak with an accent! Get over the fact that they should sound like a person from India speaking in Hindi (or Gujrati, Tamil, Telugu, or whatever). The environment and surroundings are totally different so it’s not a level playing field. What’s important is that they KNOW it and can SPEAK it at all.<br />
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<b>Number 2: </b>I don’t expect my children to know formal spoken Hindi or written Hindi. To me, it’s more about fluency in the everyday spoken language which most people would converse in. </div>
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<b>Things that you can do with your children</b></h3>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Speak in your language to your children everyday as much as possible</span></b> (if not always): This is the most important and vital thing you can do. If it’s not possible for both parents to do so, have one parent be the point person to speak in the mother tongue to the children.</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Have them speak back to you</span></b>: I set aside time every day to speak in Hindi with my children. Every night before bedtime, I sit with Krishnav and ask him about his day, how school went, and other general things. The only thing is, we do it in Hindi. By allocating a specific time where we speak only in Hindi (10 mins to start with and build up over time), we make it more approachable and doable. It also helps to slowly build confidence in Krishnav speaking the language.</div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Books, books, books</b></span>: There is a small (but growing) number of bilingual and South Asian cultural storybooks that cater to our generation of moms and kids. In our home library, we have a collection of books from <a href="https://t4tales.com/">T4Tales</a>, <a href="https://indigrowkids.com/">Indigrow</a>, <a href="https://www.tulikabooks.com/info/hindi-bilingual-books">Tulika Books</a>, <a href="http://www.tokabox.com/">Toka Box</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.sg/Meet-Buckley-Sey-Millo/dp/167493288X">Meet Buckley</a>. Also check out <a href="https://mangoandmarigoldpress.com/collections/all">Mango and Marigolds Press</a>, an independent publisher for South Asian children's books. One of their most recent releases was <i><a href="https://mangoandmarigoldpress.com/products/bindiya-in-india">Bindiya in India</a></i> by author Monique Chheda which weaves Hindi and English words together in a sweet story about a girl who visits India for the first time. <a href="https://www.hindibyreena.com/">Hindi by Reena</a> is another source of Hindi language as a first step for young children. </div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Sing and play songs in your language:</b></span> It can be nursery rhymes or songs in general. We play (and dance to) a lot of Bollywood music in our house! Make a playlist of songs which you can play instantly without having to think about it (Hello Jio Saavn app!)</div>
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<b style="color: blue;">Tell stories in your mother tongue: </b>I often relate silly animal stories in Hindi to Arjun, literally making it up as I go along. If you are a parent who doesn’t speak fluently in Hindi yourself, you can still do this because the kids love these stories delivered in a simple understandable way.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Kid-appropriate cartoons and movies:</b></span> There are several of them out there, like Chota Bheem, Little Singham, Ramayan, and Mahabharat. Sometimes we even play Peppa Pig in Hindi (yes that does exist, just look it up in YouTube).<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Enlist the help of others:</span></b> Invite grandparents, friends, an aunty, or language tutor to come into your home to speak in Hindi with your child more often. This can be in a formalized setting or less structured - whatever you choose, the intent is to give your children more exposure and opportunity to speak in their language. On a similar note, consider a nanny who speaks in the same home language as you. I know it sounds odd but it greatly increases the chances of your child being able to speak in the language in question. This is because beyond us parents, our children also spend a significant amount of time with their nannies. (We don’t have a Hindi-speaking nanny but I have observed several instances where this has factored into a child being able to speak their mother tongue more fluently).<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Language classes:</b></span> This setup provides language learning in a more formalized setting. Krishnav has been going to Hindi classes for 3 years now. I find that he picks up certain things better in a classroom compared to unstructured learning at home. He's also learning reading and writing which, for me, is an added bonus.<br />
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It might feel like a losing battle on some days but there are enough times when my kids pleasantly surprise me. Both boys understand Hindi 100% which I think is a win already. When prompted, both can express themselves in Hindi well enough (though they prefer to speak in English as default mode). Krishnav sometimes writes words and short stories in Hindi! <br />
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So my advice is: keep at it! There will be a payoff someday and it will be so worth it. <br />
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Urban Mantrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11420928114285112369noreply@blogger.com3