Testimonial: Yvonne and her beautiful breastfed baby

We are very happy today to receive an email from Yvonne who has successfully breastfeeding her newborn baby Ing Shuen (in the picture above) (what a beautiful name too!). Yvonne has the following to share:

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Hi Vivian,

How are you?
I was one of your customer who attended your 2nd Breastfeeding Group Sharing Sessions. I would like to feedback to you that I have benefited a lots from the sessions, especially with the true experience sharing from all the mothers who has successfully breastfeed their babies.

I gave birth to my baby gal on 18 Nov, till now I am solely breastfeeding her without adding any formula. It was very difficult for the 1st few days esp the 2nd day when the milk hasn't arrived, and with the baby's crying at midnight, i almost want to give up but luckily with my husband's support and the lesson that we learnt together at your BF session, it endures us to move forward to breastfeed her.

Here, would like to extend our sincere appreciation to you and the team and keep it up to organise sessions like this to enable us to learn further.
As much as i like to join you guys, i am still on confinement now... and hope that we will catch up and do more sharings again.

Love,
Yvonne, Vincent and our baby Ing Shuen
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Thanks Yvonne for making our day! It's always very happy to know that a mother is giving the best and a baby is receiving the best from the nature - mother's milk! We look forward to seeing you again in our breastfeeding support session, in a different role - ahem - now an experienced mother! Congrats!

13 Dec - The Sign, Say & Play® TRIAL Class

The Sign, Say & Play® Class is a six-week Baby Signs® play class program designed especially for parents and children ages 6 months to 2 years. This Class is conducted in a relaxed and fun environment. It introduces easy ways to learn and practice signs with your infant/toddler. The class aims to provide you the following:

• Highlights signs that are most important in the lives of babies
• Teaches signing through fun games with BeeBo™ the Baby Signs® Bear
• Provides signing practice through delightful Baby Signs® songs
• Introduces play activities that reinforce important language, motor development, cognitive and social-emotional skills
• Brings families together to share their signing experiences

Participants attending the Sign, Say & Play® class will receive a Sign, Say & Play® Kit.

Our TRIAL Class will be held at The Breastfeeding Cafe, Fabulous Mom on 13th Dec at 10.30 a.m. There will be a charge of RM20 per pair (2 adults) for our TRIAL Class.

Address and location map to our cafe and showroom as per link below:

http://www.fabulousmom.com/catalog/showroom.php

For more information, please Jamie (the speaker) at 012-3101704.

Please email vivian@fabulousmom.com to register and payment must be made upon confirmation of registration to our Maybank account as the details below:

Account Name: FM ONLINE

Account Number: 514271256321

If online banking is really inconvenient to you, please email us to arrange for making payment via credit card.

Fee paid is not refundable if the cancellation is made within the last 48 hours of the event's date. Fee will be refundable in the form of store credit.

A simple profile of Jamie, as follows:

Jamie Solomon, began her journey with the Baby Signs® Program with her son Shawn when he was 10-months old. The experience of signing with her son was so rewarding, that it inspired Jamie to share this with other parents/grandparents/caregivers right here in Malaysia.


Jamie is the first International Independent Certified Instructor for the Baby Signs® Program in Malaysia and Jamie is now the Director of Baby Signs Malaysia. Jamie’s aim is to share this invaluable Program with parents/grandparents/caregivers who are keen to speak to their children and have their children ‘speak’ to them.

Easy Payment Scheme is now AVAILABLE

Dear Valued Customers,

We are very pleased to be the FIRST in Malaysia to offer an easy payment scheme for purchase of BREASTPUMPS. We hope to make parenthood easier for all parents. We will always stand by this vision.

Terms and conditions as below:

1) You can purchase any breastpumps in our store which the amount is NOT LESSER than RM500(this is the minimum requirement from the bank). Alternatively, you can buy a breastpump which the amount is lesser than RM500 and top it up with purchase of other goods of normal price items to meet the minimum amount required.

2) Maximum value is RM2000 per transaction - that means you still can buy a Medela Pump In Style Advanced (RM1688) using this scheme. :-)

3) No free gifts, no discounts or no package deals should be included in this purchase. All items will be sold at the normal price.

4) You can split the payment into 6 months without any interest (interest free).

5) Available in our showroom only and it's for Standard Chartered credit card members only.

Event: 6 Dec - Successful Breastfeeding (by Dr. Koe Swee Lee)

We have a good news for all mothers and mothers-to-be (fathers too, of course!). Dr. Koe Swee Lee, a very popular and well respected Lactation Consultant cum Pediatrician is coming to our very own The Breastfeeding Cafe for a breastfeeding talk. She will be covering on the topic "Successful Breastfeeding".

Dr. Koe graduated from Singapore University. She became interested in Breastfeeding when her Professor got a Breastfeeding mothers support group to breastfeed very sick babies in the Hospital 30 years ago. When she had her own children , she breastfed them and saw the amazing effects of breastfeeding on them. Since then she has been promoting breastfeeding and telling mothers and families about the amazing food for babies that make them healthy and smart! :-)

The talk will start at 4pm and end at 5pm. Therefore, our showroom hours for that Saturday will be from 2pm to 6pm.

Address and location map to our cafe and showroom as per link below:

http://www.fabulousmom.com/catalog/showroom.php

Fee is RM10 per parent inclusive of 1 free drink.

Also, as we wish to have more parents benefit from this talk, we will take in more numbers this time, meaning that some parents will have to sit on the floor, which we hope all of you will understand. I'm sure none of us will mind, since it's only for that 1 hour. :-) Babies are welcome or you can have your husband taking care of the baby at our selling floor or for a walk downstairs or to the park nearby (if it's not too hot). :-)

Please email vivian@fabulousmom.com to register and payment must be made upon confirmation of registration to our Maybank account as the details below:

Account Name: FM ONLINE

Account Number: 514271256321

If online banking is really inconvenient to you, please email us to arrange for making payment via credit card.

Fee paid is not refundable if the cancellation is made within the last 48 hours of the event's date. Fee will be refundable in the form of store credit.

Event: 15 Nov - Preparing for a Gentle Birth

On the 15th Nov, we are most honoured to have Wai Han to share on Preparing for a Gentle Birth - a topic which will interet all expectant moms - first timers or moms who had unpleasant birth experience.

Wai Han is a certified HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educator, accredited and affliated with the HypnoBirthing Institute. She received her training from the founder, Marie Mongan, and is among the first batch of certified practitioners in Malaysia and Asia.

She has started embracing and sharing HypnoBirthing since 2003, after the empowering hypnobirth of her first child -- long before there was any practitioner here in Malaysia. Following her training and accreditation in 2005, she passionately brings HypnoBirthing formally into Malaysia. As an experienced HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator, she has helped many couples dispel their fears and birth their babies gently, peacefully and joyfully into the world.

Wai Han is also a proud HypnoBirthing mother of two. Both her births had been natural, gentle and peaceful, totally free of drugs and discomfort. Her first amazing painless drug-free HypnoBirthing experience led her to her career. With another miraculous HypnoBirthing experience of labouring and receiving her baby lovingly by herself at home, she is even more convicted in helping all mothers to develop the art and joy of rediscovering their natural birthing instinct.

Besides managing a busy family and career, she also selflessly contributes in local parenting forums, sharing her wealth of knowledge and compassion in gentle birthing, breastfeeding, tandem nursing and attachment parenting. Her website is http://www.hypnobirthing.com.my/

In this session, we will explore all the birth questions all of us will have. So, please come prepared with questions... e.g. Why go through the 'hard' way of labour? What's the fuss with natural birth? How to birth? How to push? How to breathe? What is the best pain relief? Episiotomy or tear? What if baby is too big? What should the Dad do?What is HypnoBirthing? etc.. etc.. etc.. We'll enjoy some birth affirmations and a nice relaxation session together.

This session will be held at our very own The Breastfeeding Cafe on the 15th Nov, Saturday, from 10.30am to 11.30am. Address and location map as per link below:

http://www.fabulousmom.com/catalog/showroom.php

Fee is RM5 per parent inclusive of 1 free drink.

Please email vivian@fabulousmom.com to register and payment must be made upon confirmation of registration to our Maybank account as the details below:

Account Name: FM ONLINE

Account Number: 514271256321

If online banking is really inconvenient to you, please email us to arrange for making payment via credit card.

Fee paid is not refundable if the cancellation is made within the last 48 hours of the event's date. Fee will be refundable in the form of store credit.

Event: 29 November - Special Story Time for Babies/Toddlers

Baby Signs Malaysia is having a Special Story Time for Babies and Toddlers (for children 0 months to 3 years) on Nov 29th (Saturday) at 1o.30a.m. at The Breastfeeding Cafe. Address and location map as per link below:

http://www.fabulousmom.com/catalog/showroom.php

Come and meet BeeBo the Baby Signs® Bear for a fun story time using sign language. A certified instructor and BeeBo will read stories, teach some signs, sing a song and explain more about the Baby Signs® program/classes and about using sign language with hearing babies.

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Profile of speaker is as follows: -

Jamie Solomon, began her journey with the Baby Signs® Program with her son Shawn when he was 10-months old. The experience of signing with her son was so rewarding, that it inspired Jamie to share this with other parents/grandparents/caregivers right here in Malaysia.

Jamie is the first International Independent Certified Instructor for the Baby Signs® Program in Malaysia and Jamie is now the Director of Baby Signs Malaysia. Jamie’s aim is to share this invaluable Program with parents/grandparents/caregivers who are keen to speak to their children and have their children ‘speak’ to them.

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Fee is RM5 per parent inclusive of 1 free drink.

Please email vivian@fabulousmom.com to register and payment must be made upon confirmation of registration to our Maybank account as the details below:

Account Name: FM ONLINE

Account Number: 514271256321

If online banking is really inconvenient to you, please email us to arrange for making payment via credit card.

Fee paid is not refundable if the cancellation is made within the last 48 hours of the event's date. Fee will be refundable in the form of store credit.

Event: 22 Nov - Communicating with Your Babies/Toddlers

Ever wonder what your baby is thinking? Or why your baby is crying?

Very soon your baby will be looking for ways to share his or her thoughts, feelings, and new discoveries with you. However, trying to communicate without words can be very frustrating!

Using the Baby Signs® Program gives babies a way to “talk” with their parents, before they can talk. Babies can communicate about the world around them, long before they have mastered their verbal speaking skills!

Babies and their parents can use simple signs to communicate important things – like being hungry or thirsty, hot or cold, afraid or sad – often a full year before babies could otherwise speak.

Research has proven that using the Baby Signs® Program with babies has dramatic benefits, including decreasing frustration for babies and parents, enriching the parent-child bond, boosting emotional development, helping babies talk sooner – even raising IQ.

Come join us at The Breastfeeding Cafe on 22nd Nov at 10.30a.m. to find out more about this interesting program. Address and location map as per link below:

http://www.fabulousmom.com/catalog/showroom.php

Fee is RM5 per parent inclusive of 1 free drink. Babies and toddlers are welcome.

Please email vivian@fabulousmom.com to register and payment must be made upon confirmation of registration to our Maybank account as the details below:

Account Name: FM ONLINE
Account Number: 514271256321

If online banking is really inconvenient to you, please email us to arrange for making payment via credit card.

Fee paid is not refundable if the cancellation is made within the last 48 hours of the event's date. Fee will be refundable in the form of store credit.

Job Vacancy

Fabulous Mom Sdn Bhd, a fast growing company in retail industry specializing in mother and baby products. In line with our expansion, we are seeking qualified candidates to fill the following positions:

Indoor Sales Executive (Location : Puchong)

Operate and handle showroom and online sales
Independent, good interpersonal & communication skills
Self driven and motivated to achieve sales target
Results-oriented with positive work attitude
Have strong desire to succeed and passion to deal with people
Conversant in English.
Attractive basic with commission
1-2 years experience. Fresh graduates with positive attitude are encouraged to apply

Admin cum Accounts Assistant (Location: Puchong)

Provide general administration support to the company
Good organizational skills
Computer literate
Experience with UBS Software an advantage
Willing to learn and able to work under pressure with minimum supervision
1-2 years experience. Fresh graduates with positive attitude are encouraged to apply


Interested candidates are requested to submit their application with complete CV, including work experience, academic results, current & expected remuneration package, and a recent passport size photograph to:

The Human Resource Department
Fabulous Mom Sdn Bhd
2A, Jalan TK2/1C
Taman Kinrara, Seksyen 2
47100 Puchong, Selangor


Or fax to 03-8076 5562


Or apply online yinyee@fabulousmom.com

Due to our tight schedule management, we do not entertain phone/email enquiries on the vacancies. We apologise for any inconveniences caused.

The Lucky Winners of Our Mother's Day Sale Contest

The lucky mommies who have won a mystery gift worth RM50 from Fabulous Mom are:

Ms. Chan Voon Lee, Ampang, Selangor

Puan Mazawati Osman, Taman Melewar, Kuala Lumpur

Puan Ida Zuraida Zakaria, Serdang, Selangor

Ms. Chan Chooi Yen, Puchong, Selangor

Puan Nur Fatimah Abd Mukti, Shah Alam, Selangor

Puan Suria Musa, Jitra, Kedah

Ms. Tan Soh Bee, Old Klang Road, Kuala Lumpur

Puan Roza Pukedin, Miri, Sarawak

Ms. Rita Irtak, Sibu, Sarawak

Ms. Chew Meng Min, Penang

Ms. Tan Bee Kheng, Ipoh, Perak

Ms. Gene Khoo Bee Geik, Kuantan, Pahang

Ms. Salinita Chandran, Gombak, Selangor

Puan Hayati Sayuti, Ampang, Selangor

Puan Rusmaniah Hishamuddin, Kemaman, Terengganu

Ms. Lim Fah Yuen, Penang

Puan Bonnie Tan Abdullah, Kuala Terengganu

Puan Nazreen Abdul Rasip, Cheng, Melaka

Winners will be notified via email within the next 2 weeks regarding prize collection.

Thanks for your support,

Fabulous Mom

Our Holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam - Important Phrases

Some of the important words/phrases we must know when visiting Vietnam:

Please - xin - pronounced as (p.a.) seen

Thank you - cam on - p.a. cahm un

Hello - xin chao - p.a. seen chow

Goodbye - tam biet -p.a. tum bee-et

sorry - xin loi - p.a. seen loy

Yes - vang - p.a. vung

No - khong - p.a. khom

I want to buy - toi muon mua - p.a. toy moon mooa

How much? - bao nhieu? - p.a. bow nyew?

Expensive - dat - p.a. dut

Cheap - re - ze

We want to go - chung toi muon di - p.a. chum toy moon dee

Where is it? - o dau - p.a. er dow

Hotel - khach san - p.a. khack san

Restaurant - nha hang - p.a. nya hang

Toilet - (nha) ve sinh - p.a. (nya) ver sing

Bottled water - nuoc khoang - p.a. nook kwang

Boiled water - nuoc soi - p.a. nook soy

Tea - che - p.a. chair

Coffee - ca phe - cah-feh

Hot - nong - p.a. nom

Cold - lanh - p.a. lang

Good - tot - p.a. tote

Bad - khong tot - p.a. khom tote

Picture showing a restaurant's name which is written in Vietnamese

Our Holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam - Language

Vietnamese is the official language. English, French and Chinese are spoken (very) occasionally. It's a MUST to bring along a map when hiring a taxi. We were very surprised that most taxi drivers do not speak English, even some simple words. We have to arm ourselves with basic Vietnamese words and a map, so that we can show them our desired location. Most restaurant workers do not speak English too, however most menus have English written under each Vietnamese words, so we can still roughly order some food. Vietnamese food is in a way quite similar to our Chinese or Thai food but with their own style, which is a great dining experience.

Most staff in the hotels speak fair/fluent English.

Picture is showing Ryan was studying the map with Eu Anne kept asking 'where... where...' :-)

Our Holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam - My Cold Hat

Do you like my cold hat? :-) I bought it for Vietnamese Dong 30,000, which is around RM7 at the roadside (which was sold by a poor middle aged lady, it wasn't even a stall, she just laid a mat and displayed a few items for sale to feed her whole family). I liked it very much, it kept me warm and bright at the same time. My very good friend, who is also a member of Fabulous Mom team, Casey (our key account executive) had borrowed it when she went to Genting Highlands last weekend, she liked it too.

Our Holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam - Dressing for Cold Weather

Eugene and Eu Anne who live in tropical climate like Malaysia really enjoy the cold weather in Hanoi. Basically, we need a cold hat, which will help keeping the whole body warm. We didn't bring any with us, but it's ok, as there were plenty of shops selling it with a wide variety of designs with cheap price. We bought Eugene and Eu Anne's cold hat for Vietnamese Dong 30,000 each, which is around RM7. The stretchy cold hat which Eugene and Eu Anne were wearing could be pulled down low enough to protect the ears and best of all, it's impossible to blow off in the wind. :-)

It's advisable to bring shawls or scarfs to go around our neck and keeping it warm too. Look at the happy Eugene with my shawl around his neck. :-)

Also, don't forget the sunscreen cream/lotion, as the sun's radiation is more intense in cold weather. Lip balm is very important to prevent chapped lips. For nursing moms, you may want to bring the nursing cream to keep the nipples moisturised or you will find it painful when the weather gets really cold. :-) You don't need the lip balm if you have the nursing cream with you, as most nursing cream is widely used to prevent or cure chapped lips too, and most of all, it's edible and safe for babies.

Our holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam - More Scene of Hoan Kiem lake

More scene of Hoan Kiem lake, picture is taken inside the Ngoc Son temple.

Our Holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam - Rising Sun Bridge

This is the Rising Sun bridge which connects the Ngoc Son temple and the mainland.

Our Holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam - Ngoc Son Temple

Ngoc Son Temple is founded in 18th century and is located on an island in the northern part of Hoan Kiem lake. It is surrounded by water and shaded tress. It's a peaceful spot to rest while enjoying the beautiful scenes. The temple is reached via the red 'Rising Sun' bridge. The temple is dedicated to the national hero Tran Hung Dao who defeated the moguls in the 13th century.

Our Holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam - Hoan Kiem Lake

We strolled around Hoan Kiem lake which is 5 minutes drive from Melia Hotel (taxi fare is cheap, which is around 15,000 Vietnamese Dong = around RM3.60) to see Hanoi city life. Hoan Kiem lake is located right in the heart of the downtown of Hanoi.

Our Holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam - New Friend

This is the picture of me and Liem. Liem is the staff at the executive floor. She is very friendly and helpful. She volunteered to help us in many aspects which was out of her job scope, including offering to take me behind her bike to a wholesale shop in Hanoi selling baby stuff. :-) Even though I was on holiday, I still could not resist to check out my business related stuff, which Ryan called it a kind of 'sickness'. :-) Anyway, I was too timid to get up on her bike, as the traffic in Hanoi is very busy and errr.... a little scary! :-)

Our holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam - Melia Hotel

We checked into Melia Hotel, which is located strategically at Hoan Kiem district, the heart of the city of Hanoi, which is very near to the very popular "Old Quarters" 36 streets business centre. We stayed in the V (Executive) level deluxe room which costs USD165 per night. We actually booked the V level room by no choice as the rest of the rooms were fully booked. However, we later found out that it was a wise decision as the facilities provided are great.

The price we pay is inclusive of free buffet breakfast, free Wi-Fi service which is great for us to do last minute web surfing on tour info, and best of all, we are also entitled for free flow of tea, coffee, juices and fruits. The lounge also provides afternoon tea and happy hours (free flow of wine, juices, etc...) which usually come along with cookies, mini sandwiches and local delights (for instance: spring rolls) which both adults and kids enjoy. Eugene and Eu Anne get to socialise with other kids too while lounging around the club.

The menu of the room service is limited in Melia Hotel. However, we can always order food from other restaurants in the hotel and get them to send to our room. It's great to dine in the room, after a long day out sometimes. :-) The Vietnamese food served in the El-Oriental Restaurant is great and at reasonable price too.

Picture showing Eu Anne playing with other kids at the lounge.

Our Holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam - Weather

We flew from LCC Terminal, KLIA via Air Asia airline on the 26 December, 2007 to Hanoi, Vietnam for our year-end holiday. Our flight was scheduled at 6.05am in the morning, meaning that we all had to get up at 3.30am to get ready to go to the airport. Checking in, passing through the customs, etc. will take up time which is good to be there early, since Air Asia also requires all passengers to check in at least 45 minutes before the flight. We went through all procedures smoothly and the flight took off at 6.05am sharp. All of us slept through the flight, which took 3 hours and 30 minutes.

We touched down at Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi at 8.35am local time. The time difference is one hour. Malaysia is one hour behind Vietnam. The weather is 16'c, which is very cold for us who are used to tropical climate, especially when it's very windy. The weather is cold in Vietnam from November until March, which the minimum temperature is ranging from 14'c to 18'c. This period will be quite fun to visit Vietnam, as traveling is less fatique in this nice cozy weather.

The above picture is taken from the 20th floor of Melia Hotel, it's misty and it's cold! :-)