Sony Alpha NEX Workshop, KL

08.08.10 / Child's Play, Cloth Pad, Parenting, best & good / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (15)
Tags: photography with sony, sony alpha nex, Sony interchangeable lens camera, Sony NEX5 camera

Again, I fought for my independent days during the weekend to attend the Sony Alpha NEX Workshop in Federal KL organised by Sony. Its FREE anyway, so I don’t see any reason I should skip it After all, I have spent so much for a small little camera and I think it would be stupid to skip something which I would love to attend so much. But then, someone again is not very happy at home (and you might be able to guess what’s happening at home by now, which I won’t bother to elaborate anymore this time).

Important notes of photography I have learnt:

Composition Guide of A Picture:

• Rule of Third
• Median/Triangle
• Reflection
• Leading Line
• Silhouette

Important Elements in a Good Picture

• Texture
• Light / Contrast
• Color
• Shapes
• Emotion

Day 1: Pictures taken by Edward (my brother)

Old Red Trishaw by the Pool at Federal Hotel, KL (Entry Category: Shapes)

Day Pub at Federal Hotel (Entry Category: Color of Reflection)

Antique Wardrobe at Federal Hotel (Entry Category: Color)

After some briefing on camera functions, and simple photography guides, we were given an hour to go out to capture some shots for contest. As he was holding my camera for the first week after I bought it, so I let him capture the contest shots, hopping that he might win something for me. Unfortunately, he did not get anything at each category. The gifts were nothing that great anyway !*consoling myself*

Day 2: Pictures taken by ME

Floors of Low Yat (Entry Category: Shapes) - my Winning Submission!!

I finally brave myself to take charge of my camera and try my best to do what I can with it. Hey!!  I won the first category among more than 30 participants in there. Ahem…not bad for some first timer hor….???

Red Chocolate Bouquet (Entry Category: Colors)

-nah…Wesley (our trainer) said it is good, but the other girl won this category of Best of the Colors with her candy shot.

QQ with her Marshmellow (Entry Category: Emotion) MY ANOTHER Winning Submission!!

See the benefits of bringing along a little model? Ya…I had to bring her for some reason, as she was disturbing her brothers on the previous day, so I though by bringing her, it would spare our “black face man” at home some trouble and complain (Nah…he did not complain, he prefers to stay BLACK for the past 2 days instead).

And I managed to win 2 out of 3 category, LOL!!!!

Reason of winning was not because my shot is good. As it was just too hard for beginners like us to steal the expression from the public, as many turned away when they see our camera.

On going seminar (taken in the low light condition using the Twilight Function)

So, I won 2 out of 3 Category for the contest, and I got myself a Cassette Walkman and a set of mini speaker. Nothing to show off, as the prizes were way too low below my expectation (I wanted something like u know extra battery, lens, camera bag and such!)

One of My Prizes is this little Pink Portable Sony  Speaker

Anyhow, it was really a good exposure to some yellow face SI-LAI like me who has just started PHOTOGRAPHY!

Updates at Mama patch

23.03.10 / Baby wearing, Cloth Pad, Mama Patch / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (0)
Tags: babywearing, cloth pads, fleece cloth pads, fleece pads, linen ring sling, Mama Patch, pure linen ring sling, ring sling

Anyone who sees me in mamapatch facebook now will surely know that what I am waiting for at this moment.Yes, the moment Mama Patch reaches 1280 fans, I’ll have to change all my price to Promo Price on website, and send out all my replied emails in draft. There has been lots of enquiry coming in.

Pure Linen Series

This discount is a great opportunity for anyone who wish to try out wearing their babies. Even existing customers are grabbing more Ring Slings (28% is really a good time to grab our new launched Luxurious Pure Linen) to match their clothing!

Premium Fleece Cloth Pads

Besides  a great chance to experience babywearing, friends who were reluctant to try out the cloth pads initially actually turn in to ask more about cloth too. Am really so happy to see many them giving cloth a try this time, and I can 101% assure you that there is no turning back to disposable once you tried cloth pads.

To check out more, do go to www.mamapatch.com. Wish to be in a part of our Grand Draw Giveaway? Do check out details at our website and see how you can join our Shout Out Contest, end at 12 midnight tonight!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA PATCH!

16.03.10 / Baby wearing, Child's Play, Chin Nee, Cloth Pad, Mama Patch, Mama pad, Parenting, best & good, remember me / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (13)
Tags: 1st anniversary, Anniversary, baby ring slings, babywearing, Birthday, Cloth Pad, cloth pads, facebook, fans in facebook, mamapatch, ring sling

*chop*, some announcement from mamapatch…

Gosh, time flies and without realizing we have now reached  Our 1st Anniversary, at Mama Patch! To honour and appreciate everyone who has support us, we have something nice for everyone to win:

How to participate:
All you have to do is copy and paste the below birthday wish and picture to

1. your blog (create a new blog post, link back to www.mamapatch.com) or/and
   
2. your facebook wall (write message, upload pic, leave us a comment on our page at www.facebook.com/mamapatch)
3. And lastly, remember to Join Us as a Fan on www.facebook.com/mamapatch

“It’s Mama Patch 1st Anniversary!
Check out their finest handmade at http://www.mamapatch.com
Join as a FAN at http://www.facebook.com/mamapatch “

Grand Draw: ONE FREE Pastel Silk Baby Ring Sling worth Rm168 (design fully custom made to your wish) or Cloth Pads (combination of your choice) worth Rm128
Everyone stand a fair chance. Blog or share on facebook starting from now. Each announcement will entitle one draw (so 2 announcement = 2 draws) so you can post or share as frequent (be it daily or even hourly) as you want. Our grand prize will goes the blogger/ facebook Fan, fairly and randomly pick by our little model in the pic above when he gets up in the morning on 31 March, 2010 (dateline).

Token for everyone: 28% Discount Voucher for ALL
And that’s not all. We want to thank everyone too, for walking down the one journey with us. Please help us to invite all your friends to join us as a Mama Patch FAN in FACEBOOK. Once we reach 1280 Fans, we will be announcing a Super 28% Discount Voucher (applicable all handmade on Mama Patch website) to everyone, through Facebook (do make sure you join us to be find out ya!)

Thanks a lot!

Very much blessed,
Chin Nee

I trimmed the boys’ hair!

22.02.10 / Child's Play, Cloth Pad, Just info, Parenting, Twins, best & good, ll / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (5)
Tags: botak-head, hair shaver, KVM switch, shave, shaver

Nice or not? Not bad heh….

I have been only trimming their hair with a little nail scissors, holding their hair up above my scissors-shape fingers all these while. Sometimes I even cut my own skin!

Hubby forbids them going to the barber as he thinks that it is too dangerous to let the hair dresser trims his sons’ delicate and very tender almost-botak-heads.

A week before the CNY arrives, I found out that my ex-nanny’s (who’s also my neighbour) has the electric hair shaver hence I decided to experiment with it. Never knew that electric hair shaver is so easy to use, even easier than plugging my DVD wiring into the KVM switch!

Result: Didi’s hair was accidentally shaved too short as I used a shorter shave-comb. Still, it is free and I can save a lot from sending them to the barber in future!

It’s a http://www.facebook.com/mamapatch

16.12.09 / Baby wearing, Cloth Pad, Mama Patch / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (4)
Tags: facebook, goes, Green, greener planet, Mama Patch, mamapatch, planet

Yeah!!!!

Finally we got our own URL and now officially named on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mamapatch

Thanks to support from all friends online, all my close blogging kaki-s and readers (silent readers, I know you are there following this blog up to Mama Patch, thank you!), Facebook Fans of Mama Patch, we have almost 500 FANS as of today. As compare to blogging sometimes back, I find that uploading latest information and pictures through Facebook is even more easier and quicker for me to reach out to all without leaving out anyone.

If you have beautiful babywearing moments or cloth wearing experience to share, do drop by at our WALL. Just:

1. log into your facebook account
2. go to  http://www.facebook.com/mamapatch or search for “Mama Patch”
3. You can either type “What’s on your mind” / insert photos / add link to your blog posting by clicking on the above shown

Mama Patch goes GREEN: Join us at http://www.facebook.com/mamapatch to help us promote babywearing and spread the love by using only reusable for a Greener Planet for the sake of our future generation.

If you wish to catch up with the latest release of Mama Patch (yeah, we are in the midst of coming up with something new even if you do not wear your baby or does not like the idea of using cloth pad) , come join us and BECOME A FAN in http://www.facebook.com/mamapatch to find out what’s happening behind our curtains ;p

p/s: Although it sounds a bit crazy, Mama Patch has the wildest dreams of reaching out to 3000 fans by 31 December 2009. Not sure if it is achievable, but we definitely need everyone’s help. Just

1. log into your facebook account
2. go to  http://www.facebook.com/mamapatch or search for “Mama Patch”
3. click on “Suggest to Friends” (see the red circle on Mama Patch as shown as above) to all your family members and friends.

*psssss*….We will announce something special for everyone (announcement will only be made through Facebook) once we reach 3000 Fans!

SHY - reason of enrolling into ballet

05.12.09 / Ballet, Child's Play, Cloth Pad, Family, Forum, Just info, Parenting, QQ, Tags / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (13)
Tags: Ballet

SHY- that is the main reason why I wanted QQ to take up something. Since she loves dancing, I feel that she will be able to “release” herself freely when she dance. I just can’t put her into anything else, although i would very much like her to take up Speech and Drama, to overcome shyness.

U know, I almost smacked her in her first trial class. We have been talking about ballet so long and finally I dragged along my “DOREMI” on that day just to bring her for trial. I knew immediately that is something what she wants when I saw her her teacher dancing with the girls but she just refuse to join in. Fine, I left my boys outside with the maid and go in with her. She hided behind me and refuse to join in too. I was furious and I asked her if she wants to go home immediately. Told her she can forget about dancing and ballet FOREVER.

Luckily teacher understand her silly fear, and ask us to just sit back and just let her observe. I tell you, her eyes SHINE looking at those girls dancing! 15 mins before the class end, teacher softly asked her if would love to join in and she STILL REFUSE. Boy…I was *boiling* already (pity my boys outside while maid alone struggle to feed them their brought along dinner). So I offer to dance in with the class and then slowly only she willing to go in with me. After a while, I went out of the door, to see the boys and assured her that I’ll be back in the class.

U know what, I peeped in and she seems fine. SO HAPPY AND FINE! Very much enjoying the movement and concentrating on the teacher! And now, she is the one always waiting for Friday to come, preparing herself and keep on rushing us how many hours to go before reacher her class.

This girl of mine is really not easy to deal with. However I am glad we went through it ….

P/s: If you have a girl like QQ who loves dancing, you might wanna check out for trial lessons near to your place. Afterall ballet is not very expensive as long as they do not go for exams (I was told exam is not required until Grade 4) which requires frequent attendance twice per week, hence double the monthly fee plus upgrade of costume after every grade.

Despite my “busyness” with the running boys

09.10.09 / Baby wearing, Cloth Pad, Mama Patch / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (12)
Tags: Baby wearing, cloth, designer, Mama, mamapatch, pads, patch, pocket, ring, sling

I am starting to worry as my boys are now taking too much of my time. Instead of spending more hours in front of the laptop, now I have to chase them all day long. I can only run to my laptop once in a while to check and reply urgent emails/orders. Since my neighbour is hospitalized now, I had to send QQ to school myself and even pick up her and some neighbour’s kids. Sometimes I even take more than 24 hours to reply emails, which can be quite embarrassing especially when I am running on online business.

Updates on Mama Patch Ring Slings

Some new Designer Pocket Ring sling, order customized by the customers

I get more orders for Ring Sling with Pockets nowadays as compare to the silk (which is still my favourite). Guess it is more convenient to wear a sling with pocket so we can at least go “free-hand” as we ladies hardly has pocket on our pants. As we allow customer to mix match the pocket prints and the color of the sling they want, they can really amaze me with the combination of design they come up with.

Most recent order, Barnsling Zip Pocket on White Ditte (Nah…I just wanna show off my new hair color ) I think this Barnsling will look very striking on Black Ditte too. To find out more variation you can create with our Designer pocket Ring Sling, do visit http://www.mamapatch.com/category/ring-sling-designer-pocket/ .

Updates on Mama Patch Modern Cloth Pads

Not only I am crazy about using cloth myself, I get very hooked up seeing the beautiful colors and combination I can come up with my products. Just can’t stand snapping pics of the cloth pads (You will think I am nut if you see me frequently lining up the colorful pads at my main sling door for the light I need for shooting!!) Hmm…at least something of my personal creation which I am really proud off! See more @ http://www.mamapatch.com/category/modern-cloth-pad/

Recent Discovery

After using cloth pad for my menses almost a year, I sometimes cannot be bothered if there are unremoveable stains on my pads. I am still sceptical about if it really gonna grow bacteria in the between layers so I decided to open up an old pad to check. Guess what’s my finding?

As I do not bother to soak with soapy water (you see, I can change new ones as frequent as I want, hehe…) the surface sometimes leaves stains. When I cut it up, I am SO SURPISE to see that the inner layers (right to the bottom) is actually as good as new!! Wonder why??

Well, the answer is because blood (blood from any part of our body, not just menses) is easily staineable ONLY when it is exposed to air. It will be good to sun your pads on the line as sun not only kills bacteria (hey, our blood is sterile anyway, OK!), it works great as a whitening agent too. But even if you don’t, you can now be assured that your pads is really clean in the inside (see picture above). Don’t believe, go open up your pad and check it out yourself

Updates on Mama Patch Petite Wetbags

Worry about the messiness of using Cloth Pads during outing? Here, is the solution by using wetbags. Mama Patch cute Petite Wetbags are designed for your convenience of pad storage. With just our single zip wetbag, you can keep the soiled pads in the zipped area (with pretty colorful waterproof lining) and separete the cleans one on the outer pocket. Isn’t it conveninent?Check out more prints @ http://www.mamapatch.com/category/wetbag/

Now if you are still lazy about bringing home soiled pads from shopping for hours, just go out with your disposable and bring a cloth for change when you are about to come back. Otherwise use only cloth at home on weekends and nights for a deep and comfy sleep.

Now you do not have any excuse for using cloth pad, do you?

How I got started on cloth

04.08.09 / Cloth Pad, Mama Patch / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (14)
Tags: Cloth Pad

Thanks for the positive and very encouraging support to Mama Patch Pads. I am indeed touched to know that so many friends around me are already reaching all way out to save our environment, besides enjoying the health, benefits and comfort from switching to cloth. Let me just share my childhood story here, starting from being a girl.

Experience with Disposable Pads

I consider myself one extremely unlucky female on earth having very bad regular menses cramp. Ever since I got my menses during my teens, I have been hating myself being a lady, having to go through monthly torture with not only bad cramp, but itchiness, rashes and extremely uncomfortable. I stay away from school and from work at least a day in a month when I have my menses. I had to rush myself into the loo very very frequently especially on heavy days as I can’t stand feeling damp when the blood clot gushed out from my body and stay jellied. And worst of all, I keep thinking that my blood stink, and it did not even cross my mind it is the horrible smell actually comes from the chemical in disposable pads. (to prove this, you notice our used liners sucks even though we do not bleed?)

Realise the Goodness of Cloth Pad

I started off my boys on cloth diapers after being nagged by a good online friend (must really thanks to you, Chanel). It really feels great converting my boys fully to cloth even at night and I thought, why not myself to cloth as well?

I was really skeptical about the whole thing at first, but well, no harm trying anyway. I started myself with cloth pad on lighter days and slowly brave myself to use cloth even on my heaviest flow. I was really amaze to realise that even a piece of thin cloth pad can actually absorb so much better than disposable! With cloth, now I could sleep very comfortably at night without having to worry myself overflow all over my mattress sheet.

From then on, I have been fully on cloth even on outing. Not only it saves more (disposable pads are really expensive in long run), but I just love the comfort of wearing cloth pad. Gone were the days of my damp and discomfort experience and I have never turn back to disposable ever since.

Washing Part

You will be so surprise to know that our blood does not stink at all. It is actually the chemical that makes us stink. I love washing my own pad and each time I do, it somehow gives me a kind of satisfaction for saving the environment.

1. Whenever I change to a fresh one, I’ll rinse off my soiled pad under running water until water runs clear.
2. Then I’ll leave it to soak to remove stain.
3. Toss into machine and just wash it as how I do my undies together with the laundry.

Healthier living for our new generation

Wearing cloth is so much healtier too. Now I know how comfy my boys feel wearing cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers. Realising the benefits of cloth, I will surely put my girl on cloth too, in future so that she could have a healtier, comfortable growing up journey in her life.

Modern Cloth Pad

02.08.09 / Cloth Pad, Just info, Mama Patch, Mama pad / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (9)
Tags: Cloth Pad, modern