Tips & Tricks

5 APPS TO ELEVATE YOUR INSTA STORY

It is undeniable that Instagram story is dominating the social media world these days. In just 24 months the 24 hours lasting content has gained 400 million daily active users. SAY WHAAAAATTTT ?!?!? And it doesn’t disappear after 24 hours – now it is automatically saved to your “archive“.

Based on my research, 7 out of 10 my audiences spend more time on Instagram story than Instagram feed these days. Because, it is more presence and engaging for their eyes; is like watching various movie highlights or so. “Tap” for next scene or “Swipe” for the next channel.

Yep. Here comes the problem; “tap and swipe” – you want to avoid your audiences to do those two things. You want them to stay through the whole journey you’ve made available for them.

GET THEIR EYES PEELED WITH YOUR NEXT LEVEL INSTAGRAM STORY USING THESE 5 AMAZING APPS

UNFOLD

a toolkit for storytellers. Template specially made for Instagram story size. Find your top template from minimal to elegant. This enable you to collage your photos and videos using just one app. Add some text or pick your frame colour for extra punch.

download: iOS & Android

SPLICE

Vertical video is everywhere! And now you can make one too – using Splice. Simple yet powerful, Splice makes it easy to create fully customized, professional-looking videos on your iPhone, iPad. Imagine the performance of a desktop editor, optimized for your mobile device. Just tap to trim clips, adjust transitions, add slow motion effects and more to create beautiful videos you’ll love to share. It’s never been easier to edit like a pro on the go. Same day edit videos on the phone, how cool is that?!

Now enjoy a full screen mode video without tilting your phone.

download: iOS & Android

CANVA

One stop for creative mind to create their work using pre reserved design template made by many graphic designers. You can easily replace them with your own pictures, text, and logo. The tools can be used for both web (.jpeg or .png) and print media (.pdf)

This saved a lot of time in designing a business promotion or blog title. I can do it as I go, very handy, since I have all the control in my palm.

download: iOS & Android

OVER

Whereas Canva provides a static design template, Over is a little ahead – with moving objects template. You can design your video using Over in Instagram portrait size. YES!! However, some of the templates are not free of charge.

Another cool feature on Over is “scheduling” – you are able to plan and schedule your posts and rest up for the day. How cool is that?!

download: iOS & Android

HYPE TYPE

Add animated text to your Instagram story using hype type. Sometimes you just need to give extra “oomph” to your photo – but not too much that it may overtake the beauty of it. Animated text is the answer – it is eye catchy and engaging.

download : iOS & Android

So, now…are you ready to impress your boss and colleagues? You sure do! Or maybe you wanna impress yourself. Why not?! Expand and channel your creativity through more moving objects are so much fun. Just remember to create content that is a cohesive fit with your brand aesthetic and Instagram marketing goals while you’re crafting and creating with apps for Instagram Stories and designing templates.

Last but not least: HAVE FUN!!

Love,

Kenny

LUNCHBOX IDEA – SAUSAGE ROLLS HACK

Hey!! Who’s feeling organised with lunch box preparation? I am leaning more towards overwhelmed these days. I never thought that this process will take so much of my attention and energy until the 4th week of school.

We live in a busy, fast paced schedules often mean there are just not enough hours in a day. This is why preparing lunch boxes can be so challenging for parents. Kids can be fussy and coming up with new and interesting foods that aren’t full of sugar that won’t get thrown in the bin can be tricky. But the importance of packing a healthy lunchbox is immeasurable. Kids are more alert and focused when they’re fuelled with healthy food.

And, you all know that I am very intrigued to always find new things which may make life a lot simpler and efficient. So, here we go again!! I create a very simple hack to nail a healthy lunch packs for your little ones.

What you need is 2 main ingredients and 20 minutes of your time

SAUSAGE ROLLS HACK

puff pastry (room temperature)
poppy seed (optional)

filling:

gourmet sausages (your own choice at room temperature)

how to:

pre-heat the oven at 200’C
remove the sausages’ skin
cut half the pastry – rectangle shape
roll the sausages inside the pastry
cut into small pieces/ finger size (3cm)
place them on the layered baking tray
sprinkle them with poppy seed (optional)
In the oven for 20 minutes or until golden

I can’t believe that I just made a homemade sausage rolls. AARRGGHHH!! I am a cool mum. I had Jared back home bringing his empty lunch box and said, “that was the best mum!” – the best feeling ever. TT

This very simple idea can be done quickly after dinner or early in the morning. It is a great finger food option for your busy little champions packed with nutrients and tasteful. It’s worth to try!

Yup!! IT IS TIME TO TAKE YOUR KIDS’ LUNCH BOX TO THE NEXT LEVEL. BECAUSE YOU CAN.

Share your reviews on the comments below and if you like my hack, please like this article and subscribe for more hacks coming to your inbox. x

Love,

Kenny

WHO DESERVES YOUR LOVE THE MOST ?

As a mom, I tend to put myself behind others in the family, don’t you? Just because, I am a MOM. It’s in my nature to nurture and care the offsprings.

Who’s the first waking up in the morning?

Who’s the last closing their eyes at night?

Who’s the last person sitting on the dinner table?

Who’s the first person leaving the dinner table?

I don’t know about YOU. But these sounds like ME in everyday life. I tick all the boxes there – so I deserve a win I guess (on their eyes). Yes babe! You do! Take all the credits. I say it once again, take all the credits!

Ha….It took me only 3 years to understand this very word –

“I deserve all the credits”

I spent too many times hating and beating myself hard for not lifting up my performances to my expectations. Many nights, I sat on the corner of my bed crying out of guilts. Many hours, I sobbed pitying my life with dirty nappies and mess kitchen. Many occasions, I let others opinion overwrite my joy.

Then, a moment lights up – one night I sent J to bed as per usual, we planned to do all the bedtime routine as normal. The day was quite intense that day, and my face had turned red at the time, @#%3hdie&&! filled my brain. In the middle of our book reading, J told me “mommy, you should leave me now and go to work.” Then I replied, “wha do you mean?” J insisted “you should go to work, so you’ll get some money, and you will buy me toy, won’t you?”

I stopped there – AND yeah I realised that I can not pour out of an empty cup nor half empty cup. Others could feel the anger and disappointment within my soul. My child, he can sensed it. And that is the LAST thing you would let them feel; your negative vibe. No matter how hard you try to cover it from them, whatever you keep in your heart will ooze to the surface.

So, I quickly learn to love myself first before I can love others surround me.

^{Luke 10:27}The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
– Luke

Here was clearly stated to love your neighbors as yourself – how can you love others without knowing the art of loving yourself first? It is not an easy decision for me to put myself above others. However, I understand the significant impact it could bring onto others life today. SO, I CHOOSE TO LOVE MYSELF FIRST THIS VALENTINE’S DAY.

4 PRACTICAL STEPS ON HOW TO LOVE YOURSELF

1. SAY 3 THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF TODAY

Trust me! It is not as easy as it sounds!! ;(

Do yourself a quick test:

(in 5 seconds) mention 5 of your strengths / things you would die to keep in your life forever

(in 5 seconds) mention 5 of your weaknesses /something you wish you could change in life

Which questions you get all 5 in time?!

It is was easier to judge ourself than to appreciate ourself in life. We tend to train our brain by traits. By forcing myself to think hard about things I love about myself these days is the best healing force I have ever done.

2. BE GRACIOUS TO YOURSELF

The fact that you are a human. You have feelings and emotions. No one is perfect. Some of us confuse self-love with endless positivity and endless optimism. This will drag you to even hates yourself even more when you assume that we can only be tougher as what the world throw at us.

Allow yourself to be honest with who you are. Forgive yourself for your past deeds, those things you are ashamed of.

Learn to say “it is okay”

It is okay to not get everyone dress up nicely to the church.

It is okay to get a McDonalds for dinner today.

It is okay to leave the dirty dishes till tomorrow morning.

3. TREAT YOURSELFT

This part I love the most. Put your sanity above others. Go get some massage. Fix your nail and toe nails. Have some pretty blow dry at saloon. Enjoy your night outs with the girls.

Because you deserve it. Don’t feel bad about it.

4. SHARE YOURSELF

And only after you have worked out your own personal bumps you can begin to see the diamonds in the rough: your gifts.

Knowing that someone else out there might been through the exact pain/ confusion you were in last weekend. It is always worth to share your story to others. This is another effective way of self- healing; is when you try to be open with yourself. Being vulnerable is not a weak indication of a person, is a strong point of someone.

Find a medium or platform or group where you can give your experiences and take some tips and tricks about mothering/ parenting. It is always calming to have someone like-minded who gets your back through thick and thin.

So, here I am sharing my journey on this platform, believing that I am never alone in this, and would love to be someone else’s buddy on this journey called motherhood.

Connect with me on :
Instagram (@mamaonrepeat)
Pinterest (mamaonrepeat)

Lastly, here’s the answer to above question.

YOU!

It is you who deserves your love the most ! Remember that ! xx

Much love,

Kenny

MOTHERHOOD TRAP

Well, finally they were asleep… Where should I start?

Expectation: 1) clean the crumbs on the floor, disinfect the high chair 2) load the laundries onto washing machine 3) cook dinner 5) wash the dishes 6) clean the toilet 7) hang the laundries 8) tidy up the toys.

Reality: 1) make a warm cuppa 2) sit on my favourite couch 3) fashion magz and iPhone on both hands until I hear the weird noise from the other room.

Gap: Motherhood Trap

Yes, this is motherhood trap

The feeling to be and do everything, all the time. Oh I am serious on this! This feeling is toxically good. I mean on one side you may feel superior for becoming the primary carer for the house/family. However, on the other side you may end up burning yourself up with responsibilities.

NOPE! I refuse to be overwhelmed with my role as a mother. Motherhood is supposed to be enjoyed, not endured. Often times the gap between our expectation and the reality is getting bigger and bigger. And if you’ve never decided to address and treat this issue well, this will only trigger the crap out of you. Because you will always feel defeated by your situation which eventually will crack you under pressure.

Because hey mummas…. It’s a world of contrasts. We’re being pulled in a thousand different directions everyday; having a battle between being a mum or a cook, a mum or a cleaner, being a mum or career woman, a mum or a wife ALL DAY LONG. Perhaps, I should put it this way, we are literally trapped in a several worlds, holding the laundry basket on hip, walking the puppies, holding it all together and there is no way of pleasing everyone.

Yes, this is motherhood trap

It is complicated – new mums, if only we can simply sleep while the baby sleeps. For me, I know that is the only time I can get my things done (households and works). Everyday is full of choices and sacrifices. And with each choice came, unbidden, a sense of guilt or regret or anxiety: Maybe I should have played with the kids instead of cooking dinner? Maybe I should have tidied the house instead of having a lie-down?

Yes, this is motherhood trap

There is no way we can avoid this situation. BUT, there some ways we can rise up to the occasions. So, let me share 2 TRUTHS ABOUT YOU, MUM:

1. You are a capable mother NOT a perfect mother

A mother can do anything but not everything. Always keep in your mind that you can not get everything on top of you. Do things one at a time, by following these steps:

Make a day to day to-do-list to simplify your tasks (categorise them based on your priorities),
cross each task you have done, and
do a quick review at night, lastly
celebrate every small wins you have done in a day.

2. What you do today will never devalue your identity as a mother

Whatever choices you make today come with consequences. Never feel less about yourself. Believe on what you choose is for the benefits of the family. And in case you just had a bad day, please don’t milk it for too long. Stop a moment, take a deep breath and move on. You’ve still got many mothering things to do.

THUS…LET’S CLIMB OUT OF THIS MOTHERHOOD TRAP

Love,

Kenny

8 LAST MINUTE IDEAS FOR KIDS HALLOWEEN COSTUME

Hey yeah!! Who doesn’t excited for Halloween?! Anyone’s ready with their pumpkins? What about Halloween costumes?

Honestly, I am SO pumped for Halloween, but thinking about the preparation heading to the D-day was a bit too much now this time round, especially with our second boy, Asher, on board. Time is very crucial for me. Everyday I am challenged to think and do things more creatively; to save my time and energy.

And who knows that preparing a kid costume is a mountain work and effort?! But, do not worry. I have prepared some easy ideas for busy moms like us. You don’t need to spend any dollars on it, look around some stuffs inside your house you wouldn’t ever thought will be a life-saver for this Halloween season.

8 LAST MINUTE HALLOWEEN KIDS COSTUME IDEAS

1. Baby Burrito

who can resist this deliciousness in a wrap? So dayummm… Also a good way to keep your baby warm and calm during trick & treats.

2. Smurf

this photo was taken on Halloween 2014, when Jared was 4 months old. I woke up that day feeling discouraged cause I realised I haven’t had any costume prepared for my little one. Then suddenly, an idea came into my mind the moment I skimmed through Jared’s wardrobe (mostly blue and white – the theme of his nursery room). But, how cute it turned out at the end aye! Do you agree with me?

3. Baby Skeleton

My favourite invention this year. 1) Get white mask tape / 2) Cut them equally in size / 3) Stick them on the a black onesie (baby/toddler) or top & pant (kid)

Yes! Who would ever thought that white mask tape can do all the job for you busy momma. This is the way to go when you’re running out of time. Perfect for boys or girls.

4. Baby Tarzan

Do you have an old leopard or pattern scarf? It may not sounds so trendy today, but do not throw them away yet. Cause this could be a life changer for this particular Halloween season. Turn your baby into mini Tarzan. This outfit is perfect for the warmer weather in souther hemisphere too.

5. The Mummy

Tissue Roll takes a big part in my life. It cleans almost everything around the house, and it does me a favour in time in needs for Halloween season. Roll them all over the body and stick them with white tape. Trick or treat ready in 10 minutes. LET’S GO SPOOKY!!

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

6. Pumpkinlicious

you can never go wrong with pumpkin costume right? 1) Get an orange onesie / 2) double tap – cut it into some shapes / 3) Stick them all onto the dress

Above are some costumes I made for the boys. BUT, girls..don’t you worry. I have asked my 2 favourite talented momma of girl to share one spook-tacular costume for their girls. Let’s take a peak.

Black Swan – by Elizabeth Veth (@elizabeth_veth)

Can it be any cuter than this? This moment made me wishing to have one little girl in the family. gahhh… oh please zoom in to those bad bats on the wall and floor. Aren’t they gorgeous?! And yes you guessed it, this lady made them all. Quick tutorial below:

8. Black Riding Hood – by Ivone Hendarta (@ivonehendarta)

Bringing the dark side of Red Riding Hood this Halloween. why not?! Such a genius idea. Spooky yet girly. Imagine this tiny munchkin knocking on your house door, can’t you not give them your whole bag of candies?

So, which one is your favourite? Do you find some hope this Halloween? I hope these ideas help you getting Halloween ready this year. We can all do this and let’s have fun together!! Creating memories together with our little ones. HAPYY HALLOWEEN FRIENDS>>

Love,

Kenny

7 TIPS TO GET YOUR KIDS TO SLEEP ALONE

I have to say how happy I am to tuck in a happy kid in bed after 3 years of needing to lay with him till he fell into very deep sleep OR many times I ended up waking up on his bed.

Does it sounds familiar in your household? Then maybe these tips are for you or at least letting you know that it’s possible. Cause I doubted it too. 😉

But, today I am proudly say that these tips do good to us, as a husband and wife, a father and mother. We wake up feeling good.

7 TIPS TO GET YOUR KIDS TO SLEEP ALONE

1. REASON

Always give your kid a reason behind your action.

I used to say to him that “he is now a big boy, he is brave, etc.” But somehow, it didn’t work. Telling him the fact of his present existence isn’t really helpful.

Then, I tried to use a different approach, “blame others”. I told Jared, that the doctor wants mommy and daddy to sleep at mommy’s bed so baby could have a nice sleep without being possibly kicked by him. While daddy’s need to help mommy in case mommy need to pee at night. He somehow got this idea and let us sleep in our bedroom.

I am not suggesting you to tell any lies to your kids, give them more specific reason which weight on others than YOU, parents. Because kids, they are tend to regards others/strangers highly than their closest ones.

2. REWARD

It is time to congratulate them for their successful effort. By giving them a reward. A sticker, kinder egg, lollies, anything on their top list will do. Because who doesn’t love acknowledgement?! Even a small reward will help to boost the confidence of your minis.

I used to have a sleep tracker stuck on Jared’s bedroom wall. It’s a monthly calendar filled with stickers. 1 sticker for 1 successful night. Every night before bed I always point out to that “sleep track calendar” to remind him of how close he is from getting all the stickers collection.

3. REDUCE

If you happened to get used to stay at your kids room until they fell asleep, you might want to try to reduce your stay inside.

Find an excuse to get out of their room with a promise to come back afterwards.
Be specific in what you are going to do and when are you coming back.

For example: Mommy needs to throw some laundries to the drier, be back for 5 minutes. Mommy needs to use the toilet to do #2, I promise I’ll be finished in 5 minutes max. Mommy needs to call aunty XX to arrange our playdate tomorrow, be back in 7 minutes. Then, please make sure you’re back at the right time.

My point is this; try to reduce your stay inside your kids’ room to loosen the their attachment before sleep with you. Make them used to with the new (alone) environment.

Do this gradually. A drastic change may cause a shock to your child’s mental. Give time for your child to process the new forms and informations you are trying to implement in the house. Again, it’s all about the progress not the process. We’ve started with 3 minutes – 5 minutes – 10 minutes – standing on his door – 15 minutes – to not coming back because all we can hear is silent.

4. RELY ON THEM

Rely on their choices. They know what works best for them. They know what makes them comfortable most. Let them do it their way. Involve them in the process, count their opinions.

Every time (still today) before I leave the room, I always throw questions to Jared on how he would like to set the mood inside his room which will help him to send him help faster.

do you want me to leave your water bottle next to you or may I take it with me?
do you want me to cover your whole body with blanket or just your feet?
do you want me to turn off or leave the lights on?
do you want me to close or leave the door open?

I realised, by allowing Jared to has input in some of the minor decisions, he can begin to feel important and have confidence in their abilities to do so.

5. REINFORCE

Do not forget to send good vibes in the morning post a successful night.

“Mommy and Daddy had such a very good night, and baby were happy too.”

“Mommy is feeling really good this morning, can’t wait to have more fun with you.”

Give the positive credits to your kids as a reassurance of their brave action. “Because of you, I can ________________” (fill in the gap).

6. RESTRAINT

This is the hardest part. One night must be easy. The other nights must be super challenging. One thing to remember, stand on your ground. Restraint on your feet. Do not give in.

There were nights when I had to send him to his room back and forth 20 times; which were very frustrating both physical and emotional. There were nights I ended up raising my voice. BUT, I stand on my belief, that WE (Jared and mommy) can do this together. Both parents and kids need to support one another in order to succeed this challenge.

7. REPEAT

Repeat above steps again and again.

After approximately 60 days of training, consist of repetition of some bedtime routines (which I will post in details next week), we finally made it. Through this repetition, Jared was improved his confidence. The new routine had been set up. And we can’t be more proud and happier than this.

These routine is really helpful for me especially with the addition of the newborn in the house, I am able to get more works done around the house.

Above routine is best to apply for those of you who are not doing co-sleep. Including me, I and hubby chose to choose crib-sleep and keep our bed as our sanctuary. Read more about our crib-sleep journey here.

Above approach isn’t a sleep training, this is for toddlers who has been sleeping through the night without needing any bottle or still weaning. This does not requires a tough love. This requires a lot of patience, assurance, and explanations. Each toddler may not sit at the same level of readiness. Some toddlers, they need more time to adapt, while others may take it instantly.

Nonethless, one key to rememeber; is to keep doing it, and doing it right. You can’t do it for 3 days straight, then stop for the whole week. You gotta be consistent in implementing this new lifestyle.

If you find these tips helpful, leave your comments below. Or you might wanna share some of your tips too, I am more than happy to hear that. Happy trying!! May you have some good quality pillow talks with your partner. Time to mend the romance back. X

Love,

Kenny

7 RITUALS TO KEEP MY SANITY AS A MOTHER

I had a lot of questions from families and friends regarding my recent status as a mom of 2 boys;

how do you cope with 2 kids?

My classic answer would be – Yeah, I am fine! (while busy covering my boobs during feeding time and telling Jared to finish his lunch including the veggies).

The truth is – I AM NOT OKAY. I NEED HELP. I NEED AN ASSISTANT.

My motherhood journey aren’t always neat and beautiful as my Instagram/Pinterest feed. Some days are glorious. Some days are scabrous. Some days I win a lottery. Some days I lost my sanity.

Unlike my husband who had an above average EQ level. Mine is probably on the edge of the bottom line. I struggle with my patience a lot. However, I do not let this fact define who am I as a mom. I realised as a parent, we are the role model of our kids behaviour. Thus, it is very important for me to keep my physical and emotion being in front of my kids by keeping my sanity.

On a bad day; or when thing goes wrong. I do these 6 rituals to help me back to my rational state of mind.

1. STOP & BREATH

Mom-hood is indeed a full on job from am to pm. Busy busy busy…it’s all I can say. I rarely find myself sitting on the couch with stretched leg. When the bub were finally asleep, your 3yo were calling you to be his sparring partner.

Mom-hood is selfless, you decide to put someone else’s need above yours. However, this would become a boomerang when we forget to maintain our health being. We may feel over-giving and lost to the occasion.

Being a mom is like having 3984 tabs opened at the same time. Your brain never stops working. Imagine if you never switch your computer to sleep mode or forget to format your hard disc. One day it hang randomly from overused/overloaded. Same thing with our brains, we gotta remind ourself to stop and breath. Your baby can cry for another 5 minutes without getting injured. Give yourself a space to restart your button. Lock yourself behind those pantry doors.

2. DRINK WATER

A new study found that drinking water can improve your mood.

Breastfeeding takes up a lot of my energy and time. It consumed me to a deeper emotion level sometimes while keeping up with a busy buzzy toddler. So, in order for me to win my everyday hustle, I have to keep myself hydrated. Drink a lot of water when things go wrong, let it cool the heat within me. Or probably

3. TURN ON SOME MUSIC

Music, more than any other art form, has the power to give me an immediate emotional hit. Everyone has a song that can instantly make them cry, or a tune they can’t help but dance to. Music is an easy way to manage not only our feelings, but how we function. At this point, I would do whatever helps to get my mojo back. SO TURN IT ON HIGH AND DANCE TO IT. And let the kids dance around too.

4. HAVE SHOWER

Having a warm bath helps me relaxed my tension muscles. But, hey mama, isn’t bath time is a luxury thing we get to do most of the days?! Yes, it is! When I can’t fit myself to the shower, at least I manage myself to wash my face and both hands. And let this warm water does its magic to my mood.

5. PHONE A FRIEND

You need to let it out. Let me clear it up once again. YOU NEED TO SAY IT LOUD. that you are having such a crap day. do not keep it for yourself. let the world knows you are not okay today. Trash that negative vibes out of your mind, mouth, and body. I guarantee it will instantly ease your burden. SAY IT LOUD OR WRITE IT CLEAR!

Get some confirmations that you are not alone on this. Get your tribe to cheer you up and shower you with word of affirmations and encouragements.

6. WORD

Before I ended my day and labelled it a “bad day” – let me get back to His word. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right – 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

His word gives me perspective while the world gives me an objection. And I choose that WHO AM I IS DEFINED BY THE WORD NOT THE WORLD. I am wonderful and beautiful, I am called to do this, He equips and enables me to finish the task.

7. GET SOME SLEEP

Last but not least, cuddle your precious bears and rest with them together. Forget the laundries and dishes. Leave the toys & crumbs on the ground. Do not put so much pressure on your shoulders. Enjoy the cuddles for a little longer before they outgrown your hugs, kisses and bed. 😉

Keeping my sanity is very important for me. I believe of our capacity to love others is determined through our contentment about ourself. Our feelings are transcend through our action. And kids, they are able to feel our pain and disappointment.

Everyday I want to learn to love myself better and to love my kids deeper. May you also have the same desire. And again I remind you, that it is okay to be not okay. You are human and you are normal. Ask for help TODAY by clicking the links below: (no way sponsored)

Beyond Blue

R U OK

LIFELINE

Love,

Kenny

3 TOP TIPS HOW TO TAKE YOUR OWN NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TO THE NEXT LEVEL

The time you bringing your newborn baby home is simply one of the most wonderful moments in life!

The newborn days are so precious, yet so fleeting. I appreciate how quickly the days pass by and how sweet every little details are. This is why I decided to start taking more pictures of my little ones since the early days of their existence.

While some has the opt to hire a professional photographer to seal the first moments of their new bub. Some are beyond excited to get behind the camera themselves.

I know as a first time mom, delivering and nurturing a child is a big project already. How can I get my hands on the deck for some details’ photo?! It is undeniable hard work. But, trust me, every click is worth captured.

So, today I am going to share my 3 TOP TIPS – how to make your own home session newborn photography experience an enjoyable and stress-free one for both bub and you.

1. TIMING

One of the benefits of photographing your own newborn is that time is on your side. Having your own home session newborn photography isn’t the nearly best or even easiest option you could do. It at least gives you more flexibility.

Unlike a client based photography, which is limited to 3-4 hours window to work on a varied gallery. Own home session allows you to work on the project for days, or even weeks. Remember! You just delivered a baby, your body is still recovering. So, do not rush.

Other than that, having a choice to decide the best timing for your bub to do the shoot is also important. “Happy bub, happy life.” Based on my experience, morning session, between breakfast and lunch is the best timing to do the shoot where most babies are mostly settle well during this time. Who’s agree with me?

2. LIGHTING

Unlike having a studio based photo session, working from home means limited space and equipment. This includes lighting. Many of us do not have additional lighting in house. Natural lighting is our best friend – the sun. This will make or break the deal.

It is in the sky above us. Therefore, seeing a person who is lit from below is very unnatural looking. We definitely do not want to see our babies to look like they belong in a horror-flick.

We are looking for a nice soft-shadows and highlights for the shot. Have the light flows from baby’s head to feet at approximately a 45 degree angle. SO, lighting is everything. BUT, do not overuse it! Please do not uplight your baby.

3. EXPERIMENTING

The other benefit of having your own newborn photo session is having opportunities to try new things. You will be surprised by the magic a photo could bring.

Play with some angles and perspectives. Do not rush in re-positioning your baby, instead try to getting up and moving around to get some unique details.

Utilise different corners in your house. You do not need extra props to get a dynamic photo, find a new “lit” spot with a plain background will be another way to get a stunning photo.

Involve the siblings, relatives, and yourself in the photo. Make these moments memorable for the whole families.

Photographing your own newborn can be challenging but also so very rewarding.

The days are long but the years are short. In a blink of eyes, you would find yourself chauffeuring to school and sport carnivals, teaching them how to drive, sending them to college, witnessing their marriage. So today, while you can, enjoy your baby! Live in a moment and capture the magical of each second.

Love,

Kenny

6 TRICKS TO DECORATE YOUR ROOM ON BUDGET

Who doesn’t want to live in a “pinterest” decorated room? Huh.

But, how much will it cost me? How much effort we need to pay for this?

Wait….decorating your room won’t be necessarily costly or time consuming. Perhaps, you only need a little tweak or good catch around the house.

As a growing family with single income, we always find ourself adjusting our lifestyle again and again. We moved houses several times, but it doesn’t mean we buy new things every now and then. We love to keep things minimal yet liveable. So here are my tips in decorating a house on budget.

6 TRICKS TO DECORATE A ROOM ON BUDGET

Regular Declutter – How often do you do decluttering? I used to be a person who was very unorganized plus irresponsible to my belongings. If I can’t find things, I will straight away buy a new piece or set. I piled up so many junks around the house that will eventually become an eye-pinching wall art in my room. Till I met my organized husband, and he inspired me to be his clone. Nowadays, decluttering has become a part of my life. We do declutter every trisemester. First, the house feels light. Second, it freshen your soul. Third, ease you to find and move things around the house. Once you get cleared your house, you might find some old forgotten bits and pieces which will suit your house theme. Such as, a cute family caricature, an old newborn book journal, a traditional wooden music instrument, a handmade plate you bought overseas, etc.

Move around your furniture – Every now and then, you need to re-arrange the furniture around the house to freshen up your mood. Who would ever think that changing position of your sofa or dining table could give a different vibe in the house. Do you realize that visual repetition is boring? But changes boost your interest? Most importantly, it’s my favourite zero cost hacks in decorating a house.

Featured wall – It is so trendy nowadays. But sometimes paintings can cost much of our money and time. Another way to keep your wall on trend is by sticking a wall sticker / paper. Easy to apply on dry surface and easy to peel off without damaged. Perfect for those of you who are living in an apartment like our family. Top hack for all mums; decorate your kids wall room using duck tape/round label from officeworks. It cost less than A$5 for the entire wall in the room.

Frame the kids’ artwork – ha. This is obviously my favourite hack. We all know that a pretty wall art can be pricy sometimes. And definitely we need more than one wall arts to fill the house. Alright….why not skimming through your kids school artwork and find some best one which match the colour theme of the room. Next step is….. FRAME IT!! Voila… your new Picasso wall art is ready to hang.

DIY – One of the thing I love to do as a stay at home mum is DIY. When the house is silent, I love to express my creativity through some art and craft. Most of the time, it cost less than the off-shelf bundles. More than that, I love how DIY bundles add a personalized touch to the room. (eg: DIY Dreamcatcher)

Light it up – Invest in a good light fixtures. Light fixtures work as a vital element in decorating any room. As per the experts, the decorative lightings are the architectural jewelry pieces. So, to have the best home decoration, it is necessary to consider the shape, style, size, and color of the lights. A creative use of lighting can actually enhance any home décor project a lot. Its the hero in the room.

Hope you enjoy above articles. And be encouraged to start a new room decor project for your own house.

My last tip is to be creative. Stylish does not always pricy. Find small precious things in the house and make them stand out.

See you on the next post! X

Love,

Kenny

10 SMALL SPACE HACKS YOU MAY NEVER CAME ACROSS BEFORE

Whether you live in a small apartment or have a tiny room in your home, it’s quite likely that you’re going to get yourself into some trouble figuring out how to make your space livable. – Shelby Wax

Our growing family lives in a 800 feet; 2 bedroom apartment. There are 3 (soon to be 4 ) living under the roof; 2 adults, 1 toddler, and 1 newborn’s on the way.

Not to brag that we have a LOT of stuffs. toys and music instruments, since my boys are musician buddies. For more than a year since we moved in, we have never felt comfortable with the space that we’re staying in. You will see stacked stuffs on every corner of the room. Or perhaps some squeezed things in between the cupboards. Trust me, the view was really unpleasant to the eyes and soul. Limited storage is mainly the only problem we could jot down on the list. But then, I realised, if we didn’t try to make things work, it won’t do any good to us, especially with the next living human addition is going to enter the house.

Thus, this year, we made a new resolution to create a livable home for the family.

After spending 264 nights on pinterest, we came up with 10 hacks of making small spaces livable. Hope we did something right, and may inspire you to start revamping your space.

10 SMALL SPACE HACKS YOU MAY NEVER CAME ACROSS BEFORE

TALL THIN LEGS – Furniture with tall thin legs are the go-to solution for the storage issues. They looks light, they don’t use up a lot space in the room, we are able to tuck away stools or extra storage baskets underneath.

VINTAGE CRATE – Do you have some unused crate? Do not throw them away, store your magazine and books there. And in case you need a coffee table, it will do too.

SKIP THE FLOOR LAMP – proper lighting is really needed in the room, but sometimes a floor lamp could be very burden. Instead, hang the lamp next to your bed or working table. Then, you may have more free space to work on the ground.

HIDE THEM SHOES – Who love shoes? I DO!. Too many is never enough to me. I loose count on my black shoes. Duh. But, seeing them placed on along the doorway is way too heavy, plus it leaves stains on the wall too. So, why not hiding them at the back of the door and leave your doorway clean and tidy.

CLEAN STATE – Visually open up your space by painting your walls white. The neutral works wonders at making a home feel bigger and brighter.

MULTIFUNCTION FURNITURE – It’s all about functionality. Be smart in choosing your furniture and homewares. Pick high-tech things which covers 2-3 functions for the house. For example, I bought this bedside table/coffee table/speaker. It has Bluetooth and phone charger too. Perfect for a relaxing night in my room.

COLLECTIBLE JARS – You may have no space for another boxes or baskets in your room. No worries. Collect more pretty jars in your room, and store your jewelry, cables, and stationaries in there. Other thing, these jars will add some aesthetic look to your room.

EMBRACE MIRRORS – Invest on some mirrors. It will definitely adding reflective surfaces to open up a tiny space.

FLOAT UP – Shelving units are great for adding some much needed organization to a home, but they can also take up quite a bit of space. Consider using floating shelves instead that let you place other furniture pieces below.

STICK ON THE WALL – Great way to store your outfit master-piece is by hanging them on the wall. Make them a statement in the room.

Motivation is a horrible leader. So, don’t wait to be motivated. be active and motivation will follow. – @crtvchurch

Above are some results of our “active response” towards the new year. We are still waiting on some deliveries and giving some finishing touch to some rooms here and there. We are extremely happy with how it turned out so far. It’s not the best compare to other houses. Yet it is livable for the whole crew of The Tjungs Squad. (well, isn’t it the end goal, is it?) Both adults and my kid are happy to stay longer in the house while creating beautiful memories here.

What about YOU?! Are you still waiting for some motivation to do your house or are you ready to make some move to make things happen?!

Full house tour blog is coming up in a few months time, predicted to be out before the 2nd baby arrives. So, stay tuned for more. And if you’re happy with the home decor contents and wanting more of this, please like and share this blog and follow my motherhood journey being unfolded every single week. Bye for now. X

Love,

Kenny