The "Me" time

It is so difficult to find some "me" time these days. 

It's always work, homework, work, homework. Weekends are again homework, classes for the kid.

Repeat over and over again.

My second pregnancy has been nothing like the first. First was a breeze. Second is just full of up and down. First, everyone wants to know how I've been doing. Second, no one bothers. People are only interested in the firsts, I guess :)

So enough with the rambling. I have finally managed to put my daughter's first birthday album together. She actually had 3 celebrations - one on her actual birthday where we visited the KL Bird Park followed by a small cake cutting party at home, second was in Penang with my family where we took our family for a Thai seafood dinner and had a cake cutting celebration there. The third one was the actual celebration party where we invited a host of guests, hired a clown and set up a grand canopy+table set. We did spend quite a bit for that. But it was worth it, because when I showed the pictures to my daughter while I was doing the photobook, she was actually excited!

Ok, that's an off topic thing. I wanted some "me" time, remember? So what did I do? Yoga. 

Pre-natal yoga to be exact. I did attend one when I was pregnant with the first. It was a weekly class with a class duration of 1 hour at the Yoga Academy in Brickfields. It cost me RM150 for 4 classes then. I called them up again and it still costs the same. But the problem with it? The schedule. I can't make it for the Saturday afternoon class which is their only class offered for pre-natal yoga. So I searched for an alternative.

Lucky for me, I found two studios near home offering the class. I reached out to both through Facebook page (it was easier than calling) and one of the studios gave me the answers I needed while the other wanted my contact number so that they can get a consultant to call me. I decided to go with the studio that responded to my query.

Four classes, each 2 hours long and the classes are valid for 2 months all for RM140. That was good enough for me. Plus, it's near, very near, to home. The class is on every Sunday afternoon. Fits fine with me. I prepared some dish for lunch, showered and got to class today. But since it was my first time at the studio, I actually didn't know how to get there. Anand followed me of course, and we were 30 minutes late. But it was ok for first class I guess. I'll try to be there earlier next time.

Now, the class was just great. As I've been to other pre-natal yoga before, I feel the new class is just challenging and yet more fulfilling. I felt energized right after the class. Relaxed as well. I felt it was a well-spent 1.5 hours. The class I used to attend in 2013 was more into relaxation and simple techniques. Simple stretching here and there, and that's it. But today, I was actually sweating, it was an actual yoga that is for pregnancy - a good amount of stretching, good amount of rests in between. Not fast paced but easy enough to follow.

I'm glad I found this place and this class. I finally found some time to relax, and connect with my second baby :) 

Thank GOD!

Now, need to find a time for pre-natal spa. 

Giving a head start

My girl has spent almost every day of her life with only 3 people. My mother-in-law, my husband and myself. Every other people are just hi-bye. It got me really worried because I feel she started losing out on social life.

Her cousins are way back in Penang whom she only got to meet once. Lack of interaction with people has made my girl lose out a bit on social communication and that kept ringing alarms in my head every night.

I have heard a lot about baby playgroups and baby gyms. Most of these places take babies as young as 6 months old. Some even start out earlier - 3 months, or even earlier. I wasn't too keen enrolling my baby at such a young age given the fact she hardly has her immune built. I can't be spending every week taking care of a sick baby, can I? :P

As my baby approached her 9-month old birthday, I started scouting around for a good playgroup for her. Gymboree and Kindermusik were to choices that I had which was within my budget. I had my own reasons why I narrowed down to only 2 options. There are aplenty of options out there, which are either too expensive for me or too exhaustive for the baby. And I don't want to be the kiasu mother wanting her baby's right brain developed more than the left brain. I wanted normal development :)

So, after discussing with my husband, I scheduled for trial classes with Kindermusik and Gymboree. 

Kindermusik trial was ok. I went to the centers's HQ at PJ, somewhat near the SS2 mall and not too far from my own office. Location wise, the place is within reach on weekends. For weekdays, forget it. I know how terrible the traffic is. The center was at triple-storey (I think) shop-lot. After registration, a lady escorted us to a room few floors up. Since Baby Ma is less than 18 months old, she can only enrol in a program called Kindermusik Village. There were 3 other registered babies and 2 babies on trial pass. The class concentrates on singing, dancing and playing with different instruments suitable for the babies. 

My verdict, it was just ok. I did not enjoy the class. Although my baby was actively crawling around, she was just curious. There is nothing much that she can do. I sing quite badly, and my dance moves are equally terrible, so it wasn't really a good start for me. The choice of activities are just about music, and teacher guides parents on ways to bond with their child. The entire class duration was 45 minutes. What I liked about the class was the size - it was at a manageable size, closed environment. What I didn't like was how judgemental the teacher was towards my baby. She did not make an effort to find out how old she is and assumed she is a toddler - and was giving out comments or remarks that did not make me feel my baby was in right hands.

Kindermusik classes goes by semesters. Each semester consists of 8 classes, and you pay by semester. You can't replace missed classes. This was a setback for me, because sometime, I travel or have to attend some functions - if I can't replace missed classes, it's a big turnoff for me. Fees are around the region of 500++ per semester which includes some materials (book, CDs), course fee and registration fee.

Next was Gymboree trial class which we attended today at Bangsar Village. We eventually signed up for this. The classes consists of play, music and arts (they also have yoga and sports but not for my baby's age group). Each of the class are split into several levels based on the baby's age. For my baby's age (at 10 months old) she was enrolled in the Level 3 play class for the trial. I particularly liked this, because she gets to mingle with kids of her own age group. How do you expect a 10-month-old to talk to a 3-month-old? So the levels are really good to start with. The class size was quite big (around 9-10 kids were there). But I was told there is a limit to the size (15?) 

There were lots of activities areas for babies in the play class, Every 2 weeks the theme changes so that the kids have something new to learn. I don't know yet whether the themes get repeated, but it's a good thing the environment gets a fresh boost every now and then. There were 2 packages available for us - Package A for 12 consecutive classes of one type of class which was worth RM1000 inclusive annual membership fees. Package B consists of 48 classes that cost us RM2.8k. We were given extra 4 classes for using HSBC card making the total number classes to 52 - which are valid for a year and we can mix and match play, music and arts classes. Additional 10 playgym vouchers were given as well. Honestly, this was much cheaper than Kindermusik option.

Class verdict, my baby loved it as much as I did. There were plenty of babies of the same age group, parents who are at the same boat as I am and there were good amount of activity areas for babies. The teachers are attentive, trying very best to spend time with all the kids. The environment seems to foster more active communication and even from day 1, I can see my baby trying to "communicate" tots around. It was amusing. :)

When I was a kid, I never really had these exposure. But I'm sure my parents would have given it to me if only it was available then. The amount of money spent is not cheap. I used to open my mouth wide when people tell me their kids daycare or kindergarten fees comes up to 300++ per month for their 4-year-olds. Well, I just invested into something worth 200++/month for my child - all in the hope it gives her a good childhood head start. Am I going over the board? Naah... this is the best that my husband and I can give...for now... :) 

A new experience

My husband always tells me that I look beautiful without make-up. He feels I don't need to put on make-up. For him, I looked perfect. But then, I know I don't :P

I don't know whether anyone would classify wearing lipstick counts as putting on make-up. If it does, then that's as far I know about looking beautiful. Honestly. I have tried few times to practice wearing more than just lipstick. YouTube has been my sole reference, but somehow I always end up looking uglier.

So, for a very long time I wanted to learn the right way to put on some simple make-up. In fact, I've been wanting to take a class for it - since 2007. Finally, I made use of a Groupon offer for a 2-day personal make-up workshop for RM59. 

The workshop was conducted at Celmonze Aesthetic Academy which is located in Damansara Utama (near Uptown). My classes took place over the weekend, which was yesterday and today. What did the classes cover?

First day of the class, the workshop covered personality analysis and finding your color tone. This followed by step-by-step hands-on techniques on applying day make-up. All make-up products were provided and we were given the option to purchase make-up brush set for RM28 or use one of the sets they already have. I decided to purchase one since I do not own any :)

My day make-up was not impressive of course - given this is the first time I tried my hands applying my own make-up. The eyeshadow was horrible, my foundation was uneven and my eyeliner was a disaster! But, I learned a lot. And I know, putting on make-up is an art on its own, so I had to practice!

On 2nd day, we did a revision of the day make-up that we learned from day 1. I looked better :). This was followed by night make-up tutorial where the instructor taught us on smokey eye effect. Finally, we finished off the session with a hair-do tutorial - which I failed miserably. I just can't seem to get my hair to curl!

I took away a good experience from the workshop. I also made new friends which I felt was a good point of the overall experience. I learned how to use the different brushes, and picked up some basic knowledge on types of cosmetics available. Now, all I need is to practice, practice, practice!

For the price I paid to attend the course, I think it was well worth it. I wouldn't have paid anything more, because the course is really very basic. I think I should invest spending some time more workshop such as this - it opens up opportunity for me to meet new people and make new friends.