Parenting Archives - Parenting & Work From Home

Lexis Hibiscus vs Avani Sepang Gold Coast

May Blog, Just Sharing, Parenting May 17, 2017September 1, 2020 2 Comments

Lexis Hibiscus or Avani Sepang Gold Coast, which one is better? Many parents were asking about it while deciding their family trip.

I had been to both resorts for family trip as well, here are some comparisons based on my experience.

Lexis Hibiscus

Since the resort was opened in year 2015, it has became one of the hot spot for vacation, perhaps popular due to the private swimming pool and glass panel on floor to view the marine life.

We went to Lexis Hibiscus resort last year and stayed in Premium Pool Villa, located in the hibiscus petal area. The resort was new and clean.

Same as other guests, we were excited with the in-room swimming pool, steam sauna room and the viewing glass on floor right after checked in the room.

Too bad the water underneath wasn’t crystal clear, so there were no marine life as described, a bit disappointed. Huhuu…

Nevertheless, we love the private swimming pool and steam sauna in the balcony.

We don’t need to carry swimming float, toys and etc and walk to public pool like other resorts. Just placed everything besides our own private pool, change in room then could jump into the water!

The best was you are able to enjoy private water fun with family members only without outsider in the same pool…! However, don’t try to swim naked in the pool because other resort room was quite close to each other. Ha…

We spent most of our time in room only since the kids love their own private pool.

There were two big King bed in room, just nice for four of us. The facilities in the room were modern and clean as well. The resort even invested LED TV built-into full bronze mirror wall.

Other than the nice in-room facilities, you have to pay for the rest of the indoor and outdoor activities provided by the resort, too bad.. The kidz world, karaoke facility, bicycle, and some other water sports were all chargeable.

Avani Sepang Gold Coast

We had a short getaway at Avani Sepang Gold Coast just recently. Instead of hibiscus petal, Avani uses the similar concept with the resorts spread along to form the palm tree.

Same as Lexis Hibiscus, the buggies service are available round the clock in resort. My two little monsters were excited with it every time.

Overall, the resort looked a bit tire and old as compare to Lexis Hibiscus. Our room was considered clean, the only shortcoming was four of us had to share a King bed.

avani sepang gold coast review — Sunset view from the resort balcony

The kids were having fun in resort although without in-room private pool because they were entertained with many activities.

There’s a public infinity pool located at clubhouse area. Other than that, kid’s play area was providing free movie, coloring and board game. Batik painting, sand art and few other activities were chargeable, but the free activities were enough to make the kids occupied for an hour.

Morning and evening time were good for beach activities, e.g. building sand castle and walk along the beach. My girls were shouting to see a lot of baby crabs !

avani sepang beach — Can you see the baby crab!

Another good thing I like here is there were plenty of bicycles nearby the lobby area. You can just grab it and cycling in the resort.

Which is good?

It depends on your expectation. If you like modern resort with private pool, Lexis Hibiscus is a good choice.

If you have lesser budget and don’t mind a moderate resort with similar concept, Avani Sepang Gold Coast could be your cup of tea. They have more variety of activities and a private beach for you to have family fun as well.

No matter whichever resort you are going, family bonding is most important right?! ;)

Homemakers Making It Work From Home!

May Blog, Parenting, Work From Home May 14, 2017September 1, 2020 0 Comment

Work from home mums in the newspaper this Mother’s Day !!

New Straits Time today featuring 3 work from home mums with inspiring stories..! 😍 That’s including me . Hehe…

Thanks Audrey for the nice write up this Mother’s Day:

“WHILE juggling the roles of chef, transport provider, tutor, nurse and caregiver may seem daunting enough for the average Jane, many modern stay-at-home mums are going the extra mile by working from home to supplement their household incomes and provide the best for their families.

Mother of two, May Tan, gave up her job as a commercial manager twice to spend more quality time with her two daughters.

“I’d been a stay-at-home-mum for a year after my first child was born, but I rejoined the workforce. Eventually, after the birth of my second daughter, I quit my full-time job for good.

“It really wasn’t a difficult decision to make because I knew I wanted and needed the flexible hours — so that I have more time for my daughters and ageing parents. My father is a diabetic patient and I need to take him for regular check-ups as well.”

Tan said she was fortunate to have a very supportive husband, and also close friends who made her decision an easy one.

“Sometimes I miss full-time working life, especially the social interaction with colleagues.

“However, if I had to do it all over again, I would make the same decision.”

Tan now does freelance work for a foreign technology company to spearhead their technology in Asia.

“I still get paid and I’m not completely out of the workforce.

“When I need to attend project meetings, I get help from childcare sources.

“I can arrange my own schedule to be available for school activities, pay full attention during their sick days, spend more time guiding them with their homework and also arrange outings for them during less crowded days,” she said.

The grass may definitely seem much greener on the other side, but having been on both sides of the fence, Tan said being a full-time mum was much more challenging due to the lack of personal time.

“Support from spouse and family members is very important before making this decision. Calculate your budget before making the jump, and, if possible, build a plan to earn side incomes before quitting.”

In this current economic climate, she said, it was necessary to have cutbacks to survive on a single income.

“As a family, we have learnt to adopt a simpler lifestyle. Realistically, to live a comfortable family life on a single income is a challenge, especially here in Kuala Lumpur.”

You can read up more about the article here.

As a mum, it’s all about being a mother who juggles our children and works. Being a mum who works at home or office should not only about fulfilling our task as a mother and family finance contributor. It is about finding ways toward work-life balance too, right? ;)

Happy Mother’s Day to all beautiful great mothers!!!

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Feel free to get in touch with me if you need help to succeed in your work from home journey.

Breastfeeding Tips – 7 Factors That Keep Me Sustaining Breastfeeding

May Blog, Parenting June 22, 2015September 1, 2020breastfeeding 0 Comment

My Breastfeeding Tips

This week is 2 years ‘anniversary’ of my breastfeeding journey again. Hurray!

Can’t imagine I have been a moo moo mum to my elder princess for 26 months and to my younger princess for 24 months now, yet still keep going. It’s tough but this round i decided to opt for baby-lead weaning.

Looking back, there are indeed lots of tears and hardship to be a successful breastfeed mother. Many friends keep asking how do I sustain for years. What’s my breastfeeding tips? After think long, these are the factors that i have gone through before successfully breastfed.

1. Pre delivery preparation

I have to admit that pre delivery preparation is important, in terms of knowledge. Absorb whatever breastfeeding tips from experience mothers and gather relevant information as much as you can prior to delivery.

Same as most new mums out there, I told myself I want to breastfeed when I was conceiving the 1st time. That’s it, without trying to read and learn the relevant information. I thought breastfeeding is easy and even standby a small tin of formula milk for the “in case”.

Not until my elder girl was born, she sucked then cried forever. End up I resorted to the “technique” of letting her suck then offered formula milk for a month before I learnt and read what a breastfed mum should know.

2. Breastfeed Friendly Hospital

If you want to breastfeed successfully, choose a breastfeed friendly hospital. The first bonding right after the baby is born is important. Tell the nurses in advance your intention to breastfeed so that they will not offer formula milk to the baby.

I choose to deliver at Putrajaya Hospital during 2nd pregnancy. It’s tough as the baby will be with you all day round but you get to feed on demand.

3. Confinement Lady

This is one of the big obstacles to mums who employ confinement lady as a helper.

I had a bad experience with the first confinement lady, who always complains my breastmilk was not enough, baby hungry and etc. I couldn’t forget how I drop tears in the blanket during midnight with my breast engorged to fullest but my baby was fed with formula milk by the helper. Yet I dare not to object.

Be sure to choose a breastfeed friendly confinement lady too. Tell her in firm you want to breastfeed without formula milk allowed. That’s what i did to my 2nd confinement lady who brought the baby to me whenever she cried for milk.

4. Mindset

If you think your milk is not enough, take the word of a nurse. She said she will never believe our breastmilk is not enough unless the baby tell her. I suddenly “wake up” from my own myth after heard this and threw away the standby formula milk.

That marks my starting point of fully breastfeed my elder girl since 1 month old.

If you are a new mum, set your goal into a series of smaller milestone at 2 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months and etc.

After you get the hang of breastfeeding, it becomes a natural routine.

Set your brain to the concept of

supply = demand

You will have milk supply whenever baby needs it although you just fed 5 minutes ago.

5. Determination

There are too many hardship you have to go through to be a successful breastfed mum.

Stress at work, no time to pump, no suitable place to pump milk, question by busybody, sick, engorgement, block milk duct, mastitis and the list goes on.

Learn to pretend deaf to nonsense comments. Breastfeed or pump the milk regularly no matter how busy how sick you are.

One of my unforgettable experience is bringing the breastpump while admitted hospital. Pump on time although severely diarrhea due to food poisoning.

Without realize, determination and perseverance become the factors for a busy moo moo to continue the journey.

6. Support of Spouse and Family

Communicate to our spouse and family to get the support in our breastfeeding journey.

Direct latch and washing sterilizing bottle breastpump take up a lot of time. Be firm and confident on what you are doing is right.

Although my family members are supportive, but some of the time i still need to be thick skin pretend deaf whenever they can’t stand to complain what the hell i was doing in the kitchen with the bottle and pump.

7. Mingle with like minded mum

With the convenience of internet and smartphone, there are many informative websites, forums and social media groups related to breastfeeding.

Join the group, discuss, ask questions, get support, get motivation. The more knowledge you gain, the more confident and longer you can sustain breastfeeding.

I don’t know how long i will be a moo moo this time, but looking back… it’s really worth it!

Leave your comment below if you have any questions i can help. Wishing you to be a successful moo moo mummy also :)

No matter how, there’s a will, there’s a way….

5 Myths About Working from Home Mum That No One Tells You.

May Blog, Parenting, Work From Home June 5, 2015September 1, 2020motherhood, parenting, part time, work from home, work from home ebook 0 Comment

Working from home is nearly every mum’s dream.

Yes.. It is great.

You will be available whenever you are needed by your child.
Your earn money yet can take care of the family at home.
It’s a perfect work-life balance that every mum is dreaming for.

While everybody is talking about the perk of working from home, is anybody telling you that working from home could be more challenging than working outside of home?

Here are 5 Myths about working from home that probably nobody ever tell you.

Why you need to know about these? Get ready with what to expect will help you to make correct decision to work from home and be prepared for what’s ahead.

WORK FROM HOME MYTHS?

#1. Your house will be clean all the time

No matter you are a freelancer, telecommuting, or starting your own small business from home, you are still working. Regardless it is 4 hours or 8 hours a day, your work has to be done during the day.

Instead of spending the time to clean your house, you will have to finish your daily project to-do list.

By the end of the day, you might not have the energy to finish all the house chores. The dishes that used during breakfast might still left in the sink till dinner time. The floor is not shining enough to be your mirror.

#2. You gain plenty of free time at home

Yes. Working from home save the hours stuck in the traffic, save the nonsense chit chatting with colleagues in the pantry, meeting and etc.

But don’t forget you will still start work late (after sent your child to school) and end earlier as soon as they get back home from school.

Otherwise, if you have a baby, he/she is your boss who determines how much time you can work.

Preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner also will take up most of your time. So being organised with the time/schedule is the key to success.

#3. Working from home is easy

Ha.. How nice because no boss or superior is telling you what and how to do at what time. Nobody will restrict your online activity.

So you have to make sure not to spend the first few hours of the day checking other people’s life on facebook and grab the most value for money offer in online shopping.

You have got to be discipline, focus and self-motivated to get the work done.

#4. You are at home so you are not working

Be sure to tell your friends and family that you are actually working at home. Many people have the impression that if you are staying at home, you will have free time to help fetching their kids or ask a favor from you during the day.

Educate them and learn not to volunteer or helping friends in need while you are working.

#5. You no need childcare or helper

Perhaps the pull factor for you to work from home is you get to spend more time with your child and save on childcare cost.

But depends on what you are doing to make a living from home, there might be occasion that you will need childcare or helper in order to focus and get your work done.

Imagine will you bring your child to office and expect to get the work done as needed?

So before you let go your full time babysitter, it’s good to have a back up childcare plan or even just get your friends or family to help you few hours a day or a week in exchange of quiet time for your work.

Notwithstanding all the myths about working from home, most work from home mums will still telling you that it is doable. Practice makes perfect.

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Why you need to set goal before becoming work from home mum?

May Blog, Parenting, Work From Home May 17, 2015September 1, 2020 0 Comment

Become a work from home mum is nearly every mum’s dream. That is your goal or your wish?

GOAL VS WISH

Do you know the difference between a GOAL and a WISH? A GOAL is something realistic and achievable. A goal has a time frame and measurable.

WISHes don’t require any energy or discipline; goals do. Wishes don’t need any commitment; goals do.

You may wish to be work from home mum, but in order to achieve that, you need to set a goal and time frame. Without any effort to turn your wish into a goal that you work to achieve, your wish to be a work from home mum will remain wish only.

“Making good money as a work from home mum may take a lot of sacrifices, time commitment and effort from you especially at early stage.

By defining your goals and purpose early on, it will help you through the ups and downs and tough time until you enjoy with passion for whatever you are doing.”

Before you hop in and decide any work from home opportunity, spend some time thinking about your goal. For instance:-

You may want to work from home after your baby is born or once your child start school or by any other date.
You want to work from home temporary and return to your professional career after your little one grows up.
You just want to add some extra money to your family’s budget.
You want to start something new that can work from home and make it as your career.

No matter what it is, be sure it is reasonable and make that as your long term GOAL.

What is your goal in becoming a work from home mum? ;)

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