Doota!

Mommies, girlfriends, bargain shoppers, fashionistas, and fellow bloggers, be sure to visit Doota! in Dondaemum. 8 floors of shopping area- B1 trendy/ sports, L1 women clothes, L2 more women's fashion, L3 Shoes & bags, L4 Accessories & Make-up, L5 men's fashion, L6 Children's shopping haven, L7 souveniers& homewares. Pick up children's hanbok for as cheap as 32,000W (USD30). Remember- if you are buying a lot and paying in cash, you can ask for discount. Ask for calculator and punch in the number you are bargaining for. You can't bargain too much in this place, disc usually goes up to 5% of total value.

Baby on Air

More pics from my blackberry...
Baby J is relatively easy on air. Our trip to Seoul is longest air time for her so I planned for the night flight - the red eye flight. We even went to the airport few hours earlier so she could sleep on her stroller.
Maybe Baby J could feel our excitement taking her for a trip, she stayed clear-eyed throughout the 3 hour wait in airport. On the plane, it took her awhile to settle down, she joined in the chorus of the other babies' cries on the same row and I had to walk and rock her to sleep.
Both mommy and daddy were already so tired and it was until 2am when she finally slept on the flight bassinet. Before I could doze, there was turbulence and I had to take Baby J out from her bassinet. We finally had couple of hours to nap before we touch down Seoul (approx 6hrs flight Singapore-Seoul).

On our flight back to Singapore, we took the 7pm flight and upgraded our seats to business class, using up all the mileage we earned for 1yr! It was a new plane, with the full recline seats, I thought Julia would be able to sleep this time around. Nope. With the extra space, it became playground for her to climb over to daddy and rummage the inflight magazines.
After few hours, when she was so tired from being unable to sleep and crying, she threw up. The best thing I could do was to stay calm, smacked daddy's head to wake him up, wiped off puke from my face and neck, grabbed baby's spare pajamas, walked over to restroom to clean baby first then barked at daddy to get my spare clothes. Baby J was too tired to cry further and she finally succumbed to sleep.With the plane buzz and my husband's snore, I got some sleep with Baby J next to me on the seat.
All was well towards immigrations and baggage claim, it was inside the taxi when Baby J woke up and grinned at us. It was 1am.

Travel Seoul

I lived in Seoul for 9 months as a housewife and I didn't really enjoy my time there due to lost in translation and homesickness. However, re-visiting Seoul with Baby J and friends turned out to very enjoyable. Here's what we did...
We strolled Baby J in the park. There are various parks by the rivers and many people jog, walk, play tennis, reading book, and many other activities. We saw the ducks by the river and it was first time for Baby J to see ducks up close.

Shopping!! Upscale shopping Corso Como on Apgujeong vs affordable shopping in Dongdaemun. Fantastic Korean beef, I'm not a big beef eater but I can taste quality! The Koreans carve good meet for the grill... I went into shopping craze for 3 different visitations to children's section! Its all about shopping, eating, hanging out and walking around till the wee hours. There are many 24hr restaurants, mini marts and super-late-night shopping.

For many local Koreans, or just these few Korean chaps we were with, they haven't visit the Namsan tower. Its a tourist thing and it was quite fun when you are with funny and easygoing group. We went on weekend, so there weren't any partking and there was a long queue to get on to the airconless cable car for an awful 5 minutes ride due to heat, so I highly suggest to visit any tourist place during weekdays.

Chaining locks of well wishes and loves on the gate. I had seen this display of love chains in Yellow Mountain, China, and well, that beats anything else...

Other worthwhile places to go in Seoul for the well-travelled visitors:

1. Everland Theme Park - this is fantastic for both adults and children. Ride the Express roller coaster which is touted as the Asian tallest roller coaster! Don't forget to purchase the picture outside the ride for a funny remembrance on how your face and hair look like.
2. Apgujeong Rodeo - Sit by any cafes and pay about $5 for coffee to people see. If you are lucky, you may chance upon local celebrities.
3. Nami Island - many dramas are filmed here, so walk down the memory if you are a Korean drama fan.
4. Eden Club - ever wonder where the beautiful and hip people spend their Saturday night? Eden. Wow! Back in my prime time, where I used to club, and let's just stick to Jkt, S'pore and HK, Eden Club in Ritz Carlton hotel has the most good people under one roof and on the same night. I haven't step into nightlife since I got married and due accompanying friends, that I got to sample Eden, and I was overwhelmed by the scene! Me and husband left at 1.30am and our friends told us when they left at 3.30am, there were still many people getting into the club.

Hello Kitty Exhibition in Seoul

Hello to all Hello Kitty lovers ~ We attended the Hello Kitty exhibition and saw some inspiring Hello Kitty stuff for Baby J's birthday thats coming up soon, which was of course, Hello Kitty theme.

Cardboard bookshelf made out of 3d apple; Hello Kitty cutout cardboard table and flower shaped bench; Hello Kitty artwork.

A huggable Hello Kitty; Siamese twins Hello Kitties, an interesting Hello Kitty diety...

Look! Its a crystal Hello Kitty! Its 3d and it turns to red suit and yellow suit.

Korean Gift Exchange (Ham)

Happy couple and their matchmaker. What a happy day for the couple to get engaged but who knew what trouble brewed for the friends to get this engagement be a successful one.
A brief introduction for Korean 'Ham', known as the gift exchange, is done by groom-to-be's friends and bride-to-be's friends. The 'Ham' is the box carried by Squid masked man and it contains the gifts for the bride's family. In order for the "Ham' to be sent to the bride's family, the bride's side has to 'persuade' these stubborn men. They have to use bribery in form of money in envelopes, alcohol and snacks and womanly wiles. It can take hours and it can be easy or it can also get ugly, they all depend on how the groom's friend play it out...

1. The groom's friends had arrived and the bride's representatives (family and close friends) came to greet them. This just started and they had parked far from where the bride's family's place. To get the groomsmen to come forward, money was laid to bring them closer. Getting to know the groomsment and negotiating. Few steps forward. Cigarette break.

More enforcement came forward - bride's unmarried girlfriends and brother to bring the drinks and snacks. Pouring and feeding the Squid man. The girls were not as patient as they pulled the Squid man to come forward. Baiting Squid man with more drinks to move while Squid man stood his ground and sat again.

Using some femini wiles to get Squid man going while the men asked Squid man's rep on how much it would take for them to get going. Many onlookers watched the show while one of bride's gang took away Squid man's chair forward. The grooms gang parked themselves again at the spot and the girls asked for more enforcement.

I pretty much left the scene after witnessing 1 hour of these banterings, negotiations, pullings, laughter and fun, as I had to bring Baby J back to our accomodation to sleep. I heard the Ham took about 2.5hour for Squid man to break down and send forward the Ham.

Baby J Pose

Taking Baby J pictures are always easy. She smiles easily and does not react differently to camera.

Here's Baby J sitting to watch TV (mommy doesn't usually let her watch too long).

Trying to Whip the Icing

I received Kitchen Aid from a dear friend, Lenny, which I appreciate it very much. However, its imported from US thus the power voltage differs from the one in Jakarta and I managed to use it twice before it went kaput on me.

Thus the whipping of the icing of the cupcake was done the traditional way - manually. Oh my goodness! Its a chore!!! I had to switched arms to whisk, beat and whisk, and thanks to my sis and brother-in-law, it finally reached the firm icing topping.

Can anyone let me know where I can fix my Kitchen Aid in Jakarta?

Affordable Sling

Mamita - Mommy's Best Friend. I have been using Hotslings but it's kinda expensive and I find that after a few wash, my pretty sling becomes a little washed out. Mamita slings are priced around Rp150,000 (USD15), so far so good with carrying Baby J with it.

Mamita site here.

More Inacraft Finds

More finds...

Inacraft - Quilts

Quilts Quilts and more quilts.
1. Miosche - has cute pillows, bumpers and quilt covers for children. Ordered the initial pillows, will blog on it when I receive them. Has store in ITC ambassador and has website here
2&3. - Pretty florals, fairies and other quilts for both children and adult designs. Has blog here
4. Lullaby- bumpers, bedsheet sets for children only. Has store in PIK Mediterania and has website here
5. Kain Patchwork-Intricate quilt, you can see the craftwork and quality. Really beautiful! Has blog here
6. Margriet - not exactly quilt but beautiful embroidery used as home furnishings. Has store in Kemang Raya 75B.

Tree House

O Gosh! Check this out from Rumah Pohonku (translated as My Tree House)! Cool tree houses!! I sooo wanted one when I was this little girl under the table, imagining I'm in a tree house.

Well, the site says that the tree houses can pratically be set up anywhere but it will defeat its purpose if I ask it to be installed in my apartment right?

It can install AC and TV...hmmm... kids these days are sooo lucky!

Image taken from Rumah Pohonku

Guilty Pleasures

I hog on to the internet and go from reading blogs to watching dramas and even to reading mangas online. Oh yes, let me put Ebay on the list. Time leftover from playing with Baby J, I put it all on internet.
Even my husband tried to pry me away from my laptop when we catch on our DVDs.

In anyways, here's some sites for you all out there who likes dramas and mangas!
Drama Beans - On Korean dramas, I couldn't be bothered watching the dramas online with my super-slow connection in Jakarta!
My Soju - Many updated dramas! You'll be hooked! Love Korean version of Boys Before Flowers :)
One Manga - Scanlations on Mangas.

Customized Bag

My sister just had this bad customized for Baby J! Its roomy enough to hold 2bottles, Baby J's teethers, utensils and baby food jars. And whats great is that its lined in plastic, so any mess can be wiped off.

Made by MW (MasterWorks).

LGChem KidMat

Baby J and her mini cousins spend most of their playtime on this mat. Its just a great product! Soft, cushiony, free of those nasty chemicals and I can't gush more about this. Its double the price than most playmats but this one can last for years and still look good!
Here's the vendor if you wish to get the mat- Kiddicare.
They are cheaper than found in stores and even compared to Singapore!

I find this print mat to be most interactive to infants' eyes. Baby J and Baby G stared and giggle at the bugs and other characters on this mat.

Chicco Puresteam

It took me some time to consider buying Chicco Puresteam. Its quite pricey and I do have a steamer and blender too. However, my steamer takes forever to steam small portion of baby's food and my blender, well, the mommy like to use it for mommy and daddy's food.

I think this little machine works like Beaba's Babycook but since Beaba's products are not available in Jakarta, the only choice is Chicco's and this model is just cool! Not only it's compact, smaller than my toaster, thus, saved a lot of my tabletop space, it also save more of my mineral water for steaming process, just a tiny bit of water and I can steam food compared to my old steamer that requires few cups of water.

I place pre-cut food into the container, steam for 20min (unlike my old steamer at 40min), take out the steamer compartment, scoop the steamed food into the container again, insert the blades and puree. Wow. All in one compact machine.

Another pro about Puresteam is that it's BPA-free! The container is made of PSU. I read that Beaba Babycook is not going to change its polycarbonate container and to me its just not babysafe considering that we steam baby's food in it and all those chemicals will leach directly into the food and into our baby...

Where to buy - Suzanna Baby Store in Pondok Indah is cheapest at 1.230.00, Kasih Ibu at 1.450.000 (before negotation) and Chicco store.

Writing A Good Complaint Letter

Image two: "What sort of animal would serve a dessert with peas in?"


I got a good crack of laughter when I read the complaint letter of a Virgin Atlantic passenger writing to the famous Richard Branson about his inflight meals as "Culinary Journey of Hell". Read it here

Usually nobody likes to read any complain letter about this so and so and how bad service so and so, but this letter caught my attention and I'm sure whoever read his complain letter in the Virgin Atlantic company would be more than happy to share his humor and send him free air ride tickets.

I Wish...But>>> I should rather

How I had wanted Louboutin shoes since college. When the store opened in Jakarta and I spotted the nude shoes, I almost ran in to try it. Then I saw the price. Then I put them down, my excitement dampened.

Few days ago, I went into the store again, hoping it went on sale and even thought of how I will not shop anything else this month just to splurge on the nude shoes.

I'm feeling frumpty lately, with my excess weight and my lack of bother to dress up. No matter how I blow my hair and went through my wardrobe, I still have to pull up my hair so Baby J don't grab and pull, wear soft clothes so Baby J can cuddle on my chest, wear appropriate shoes so I can hold Baby J responsibly.

And it happens so that the store sold out my dream shoes. I did my ebay research but reality hits me - when to wear it and what to wear it with?

So yep, no lust-worthy heels, stick to my Crocs and other faithful flats, and instead of spending chunk of my savings on dreamy Louboutins, I should be a good mom and should just purchase the upgrade for Baby J's car seat. This month ;) Maybe next month, the nude Louboutin will be in stores...

The Horrid Four Letter Word - D I E T

Dieting is horrible. Ugh. Yes I do understand the dictionary meaning of diet, its supposed to be a positive thing or bla bla bla. Yep thats how my body understand diet - blah.

Before getting married or worse, when I was in my roaring twenties (19-24; I stopped counting when I passed quarter century old), I was a serial dieter. I tried diet pills and full salad meals in college, the 3 times/day calorie soup thing post graduation, skipping dinners and straight alcohol during clubbing phase and even vegetarian for months.
I went from a chubby, awkward teen of 63kg to sort-of a healthy 54kg girl in college and 47kg at my lowest. When I first reached 47kg successfully through depression and crazy dieting (small portion food intake, chugged on water and late night exercising), I took in people shocked faces when they exclaimed I'm too skinny as being a compliment.

It was until I felt more comfortable at social scenes that I begun to enjoy lunching and dining again. Then I met my husband and I went to my skinny mode again without dieting. I was too stressed out juggling wedding planning, renovating and moving into our townhouse all by myself at the same time.

After my wedding, my weight went back to healthy 52kg, I had a little 'pouch' but was still able to wear bikini by sucking in my breath for illusion of flat stomach.

I tried hard not to gain weight for my pregnancy, trying to only reach 12kg healthy gain but to no avail. I was so happy during my pregnancy, that I enjoyed all forms of living styles, which includes food. Thus, I gained and my weight peaked till 68kg. I was very optimistic to lose the weight by thinking to exercise with my baby.

Dream on.

Its been 7months already, and the extra 5kg still shows up on the weighing machine. I tried to eat less carbs, sugar, sodium and even lesser for my last meal by 6pm. When I remember my past dietings, I almost gag when I see those diet soup sachets. I still run to my kitchen and open my snack cupboard to gorge on sweets during late night cravings.

The solution to my woes is simple - exercise but exercise doesn't seem to exist in my dictionary. There is a diet though which is good and worked well for me, which is Eat By Your Blood Type. I'm AB, which means no dark meat and no rice, which means quite impossible because I can't give up on my beef now when I'm enjoying every bite of it (I gave beef up for dieting sake and didn't eat beef for a full decade).

So... I guess I just have to eat 'healthy' as possible and try not to read food blogs at these hours to spare myself the misery of seeing the weighing machine the next morning...

Drool then -> Hunger Pangs

I just found this blog, Kuidoare, and was very excited to know its based in Singapore and the blog author teaches!

I'm actually more tempted to lick and munch on the pictures she put on her blog! Yes I admit I drool on most cupcake pictures I see very often online and this blog does not help my diet at all. Especially not at 10.30pm when I have to think and convince myself to not step out of the room and run to the kitchen and do some crazy rampage on the fridge.

image from Kuidoare

Baby J's Nursery Room

Decorating Baby J's nursery took months (along with other part of my apartment). As I get very particular with design perspectives, I went into details to explain to my baby furniture designer. Looking through many websites for nursery designs, here's my moodboard sort-of...I wanted a combination of fresh, classic and semi-girly room. Nothing too heavy for my baby girl. I love our apartment room aesthetics and how there's plenty of sunlight into the room.

The apartment came with walk-in wardrobe but with new baby and many other future children in mind, I thought of keeping the walk-in wardrobe as storage for baby toys and others.

So I designed (with designs from my sister-in-law's and other inspirations) Baby J's armoire and dresser table.

Visualizing the room layout with furniture

Wall adorned with wall stickers from Ettoi (bought in Agachan Baby store in Seoul). I had fun sticking the walls and I still smile whenever I open Baby J's door.

Crib big enough to become daybed in future. Sofa given by my parents and was reupholstered was supposed to be in my living room but we expected many guests to visit Baby J so we placed in the nursery. Flower bumper and diaper holder (hung on the crib) from Cotonnier.

Table and chair design inspired from Arginton.

Armoire to last for years :) Orange bin bought from I Wanna Go Home store serves as diaper pail too.

Corner sofa hidden behind crib, good coverage for nursing times and now for tired daddies to nap while babies play on. Knit cat pillow by Bla Bla Kids bought from Paper Tree. Curtain trimmings by Robert Allen and other fabrics from Internia Asia.