The ABCs of TTC: How To Get Pregnant (When The Old Fashioned Way Doesn't Seem To Be Working)

I got the positive news on 9/10/11 :)

A few years ago, my husband and I decided that we finally wanted to have a baby. After about 6 years of marriage, we felt that it was about time for our family to grow. I married pretty young (22), so we had put it off for a while until I thought that I was ready to become a Mother. I had always longed to have children and it was something we had talked about before. But little did we know that our TTC (Trying To Conceive) journey would be a rocky one. It took us over 2 years before I got pregnant, and although it may not seem like a long time to others, to me it was pure hell on earth. Everywhere I looked, there were pregnant women all around me. Facebook announcements made me want to hurl my laptop out of the window. Friends lamenting about how terrible they were feeling during their pregnancy, while they sat there rubbing their baby bump, as I smiled as widely as I could and blinked back my tears. Complete strangers on the subway train, heavily pregnant, made me want to stand up and scream.

My husband and I both went for fertility check ups and were deemed healthy. Although the Doctor was a little concerned whether I was ovulating properly - as in, was an egg actually being released each time I was supposed to ovulate? So I went through a series of tests, was poked, prodded, inside and out, and would cry on the bus by myself as I made myself home from my weekly hospital appointments. It was torturous and I felt so alone because no one really seemed to know what I was going through and I had no one to talk to.

So when my prayers were answered and I finally saw the positive signs on the test kit for the first time in my life, I vowed to share my journey with others so that hopefully someone out there may find some comfort in hearing about the various trials and tribulations I endured, and most importantly, perhaps even benefit from the various methods I have gone through myself.

Below is an A - Z list of different conception tips you can try. Some may be pretty unconventional, but hey, whatever it takes, right? So do read through my compiled list of TTC advice and here's sending some baby dust your way!

A - Acupuncture

Image from Imagine

Ok, I must admit that I only knew about this while watching a random show on TV one evening about Mariah Carey and how she claimed that acupuncture treatments helped to boost her fertility and get pregnant with her twins. I have heard about acupuncture before and living in a South East Asian country gives me the luxury of having a wide range of places that offer such services. I had actually planned to go for one such treatment with one of my friends, but about month or two before that, found out the good news. However, it doesn't just magically happen after 1 session and you have to go quite a number of times before it can have any affect.

B - Baby Dust

Image from Imagine

There is something absolutely magical about carrying a baby or a tiny toddler in your arms. You hold them close to you and can smell their fragrant baby-powder, sweet caramel, natural baby-scented goodness. Some people believe that if you carry or play with a lot of kids, for some reason it will help to increase your chances of getting pregnant. Also, it is considered good luck to be around a pregnant Mom to soak in all her "baby dust". Sounds a little cuckoo? Oh who cares, it makes your ovaries sigh with happiness to cuddle those adorable babies anyway. Just enjoy it.

C - Cervical Mucus

Image from Imagine

No, this is not gross, it is perfectly natural and you should be aware of your cervical mucus (or vaginal discharge) because it is a good indicator of ovulation. The various states or consistency will change throughout.

EGG-WHITE = Most Fertile
WATERY = Fertile
CREAMY = Least Fertile
STICKY = Least Fertile (Post-Ovulation)
DRY = Non-Fertile (Pre-Ovulation)


D - Diet

Image from Imagine

This does not mean you have to starve yourself and just chew on lettuce leaves like a rabbit all day long. On the contrary - you have to be on a well-balanced diet and eat nutritious foods. You are allowed to have the occasional cheeseburger or slice of pizza or a can of soda, but all these should be consumed in moderation. Get more fruits and especially vegetables into your diet and try to include these fertility boosting foods as well:
Brown Rice
Eggs
Salmon
Whole Milk
Broccoli
Olives & Olive Oil
Black Beans
Oysters
Avocado
Almonds
Watercress
Collared Beans
Kale
Spinach
Grapefruit
Arugula
Figs
Green Tea
Coconut Cream
Tofu
(Damn, that list is making me hungry!).

E - Exercise

Image from Imagine

For those of us who are no way in hell going to strike a warrior pose on the beach by ourselves like a loony toon, fret not, you can get a bit of exercise into your daily routine without too much hassle. Take the stairs instead of the elevator/ escalator. Get off one bus stop early and walk the rest of the way. Do a few yoga stretches in the comfort of your own home (away from distracting bikini-clad babes who make you want to bury your head in the sand) - there are even some yoga poses which are specifically for boosting fertility. Whatever you choose to do, just get your blood pumping and your muscles working. I was told by my Fertility Doctor that I had to lose 10kg, and as much as I wanted to claw her eyes out, I did my best to shed the excess baggage by doing Taebo as often as I could. Although, do note that being underweight is also not very good for fertility. The trick is to find just the right balance.

F - Fertility Type

Image from Imagine

Once again I caught wind of this while watching some entertainment channel because I was following Giuliana Rancic's TTC journey. She mentioned Dr Sami David and his Making Babies programme, so I checked it out online and came across a questionnaire you could fill out which would then tell you the results of your "Fertility Type". It would also recommend what sort of diet and exercise regime would be the most suitable for you, which I felt was quite cool because not all of us are built the same.

G - General Health

Image from Imagine

Our bodies are funny but smart things, because sometimes when it can detect that you are not really in the pink of health, then chances of becoming pregnant are pretty slim. Perhaps it's just nature's way of ensuring that the Mother will be healthy enough to carry a baby to full-term and deliver without any complications. There are exceptions of course and this is most definitely not 100% accurate, but it does make sense that before you want to embark on a delicate 9 month journey, you should make sure that you are fully prepared for it mentally and physically. So take care of yourself first and also get a full health check-up before you start trying. For your sake, as well as your future baby's.

H - Hope

Image from Imagine

On most of my dark days, all I had left was hope. When I felt like giving up, like just breaking down and letting go of my dreams of ever becoming a Mother, I clutched on to the tiny shreds of hope I had left that someday my wish would come true. So cast thought negative thoughts aside and never ever give up hope. In fact, my favourite poem of all time by Emily Dickinson helped me through these tough times:

HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS

"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land

And on the strangest sea;

Yet, never in extremity,

It asked a crumb of me".

I - IUI & IVF

Image from Imagine

These were the next few steps that my husband and I were willing to explore. You can get these treatments done at  fertility clinic or some hospitals. Just talk to your doctor about it and how to take the next step.

IUI is when they place the sperm directly into your uterus. You usually take fertility drugs prior to this treatment to increase your chances of getting pregnant, thus possible resulting in multiples. I was actually about to take my first round of Clomid, but then got pregnant naturally before I could :)
IVF is when they combine the sperm with the egg in a laboratory dish and then transfer the embryo back into the uterus. This may also result in multiples.

This may not be the ideal way of getting pregnant like you thought of, but not all of us are blessed with perfect fertility, so it's good to know that these options are available to us, should we choose it.


J - Junk Detox

Image from Imagine

Be it smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, binging on fast food, taking drugs or gulping down gallons of coffee, try your best to eliminate all junk from your system. This goes for your partner as well. For us women, it is also better to cut this out of our habits because we shouldn't really be indulging in those things when we are pregnant anyway. I know it's hard, and it sucks and you're grumpy as hell - but the pay off is well worth it, I promise!

K - Keep Track

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Of your period (when did it start? How long did it last? When did it end?) and of when you did the deed. It helps you to figure out your fertile window, as well as hopefully get clued in about your conception date ;) You can track it down manually on a calendar/ daily planner, but there are also convenient and easy to use Apps you can also download. This information is also helpful when you go for any fertility check-ups, because it's obviously a little tough to try to recall the exact dates from memory. Some women also have irregular periods, so it's good to make note of when you do menstruate as this will allow you to calculate your next possible ovulation dates.

L - Lubricants

Image from Imagine

Some may not realise this, but a lot of lubricants actually hinder sperm from reaching the egg, because of their consistency. So it is better to your sperm-friendly lube, or you could even try natural alternatives such as:

Olive Oil
Vegetable Oil
Baby Oil
Egg Whites

M - Menstrual Cups

Image from Wikipedia

I came across this by chance while I was browsing through an online shop selling various TTC aid items, one of which was the Menstrual Cup. I had never heard about this in my entire life and thought it was pretty interesting. Not only do some women use it for their monthly visits from Aunt Flo, but it has also been said to be effective in holding in the sperm after intercourse to increase chances of conceiving. It makes sense, doesn't it?

N - Nesting

Image from Imagine

When you have that urge to start a family, they call that being "broody". Then when you start preparing your home for that special little addition, they call that "nesting". I'm not sure why they like to use bird analogies, but it does tie in rather nicely with the poem about Hope, doesn't it? :) Nesting isn't just reserved for those who already have babies on the way, I personally think that it's fine to start preparing for the little one when you're still TTC. Think about the sleeping arrangements - will bubs have his or her own nursery? If so, what colour do you want to paint it? Or will they share the same room as you? You can buying bits and bobs of baby stuff if that makes you feel happy - I certainly did, and yes, it made me feel very happy because I was preparing for my future baby, instead of sitting around just waiting and wondering. Make sure your house is baby-proof (this is easier to do anyway without a growing baby bump or those waves of nausea). Do your research about cribs, carseats, strollers, bibs, bottles, pumps, diaper creams, etc - just spend your days reading and preparing yourself for when the time comes. It's never too early for that, and it sure makes you feel positive about things.

O - Ovulation Predictor Kit

Image from Imagine

Oh, I get the bird analogies now! Every month when we ovulate, an egg is released from our ovaries and if it gets fertilized by a sperm then that's when you become pregnant :D It is important to know when exactly you ovulate, as you are most fertile around two to three days before that. Also remember that it is better to actually have sex before you start ovulating, so as to increase your chances of getting pregnant. If you're not sure about how to chart your fertile window, then you can also use an Ovulation Predictor Kit. They pretty much work like Pregnancy Test Kits and can be found at the same place in the shops. 

P - Pray

Image from Imagine

Whether or not you are religious, or what your religion is, just pray. Take the time out of the hustle and bustle of your daily life to say a heartfelt prayer for yourself and your desire to become a Mother. Ask for prayers to be made for you as well, regardless of everyone else's faith or beliefs. A prayer can be made in a place of worship, in private, in a roomful of other people, in your mind as you are on a long bus ride by yourself, before you go to sleep - just pray for the best. A prayer can also just be positive thoughts and good vibes sent your way. During this TTC journey, it's nice to just receive any form of support and good juju from those around you.

Q - Quotes

Image from Imagine

Pinterest is not just for finding delicious recipes for your next potluck party, or making yourself feel inadequate about your lack of party planning skills, you can also find a lot of inspirational quotes there to lift you up and remind you to soldier on (or funny sarcastic ones to give you a good laugh!). Go online to read about other people's TTC struggles with happy endings, which will give you hope as well. Connect with other people who have been in your shoes, so that you won't feel like you're all alone. You won't believe how touched I was when some of my friends shared their personal TTC stories with me and offered words of advice and encouragement. Some of whom I didn't even realise had problems conceiving as well, but were able to recognise the pain I was going through and reached out to me to offer a shoulder to cry on. This is also partly why I now want to be someone's listening ear as well and share the struggles of my past experience, so that hopefully it will benefit somebody else.

R - Relax

Image from Imagine

I know, I know, if you had a penny for every time someone told you to "just relax and it will happen", you will have enough to fill a sock to smack them over the head with. When my Fertility Doctor told me that I was too stressed and just needed to relax as well, I actually asked if there was a pill he could prescribe for that (turns out there is, actually). But not wanting do go down the pharmaceutical route just yet, I opted to cut down the stress-factors in my life and pretty much try to chill the f*ck out. As I work on a freelance basis, fortunately I had the liberty to start turning down a few projects that were offered to me, when before I would readily accept every single job that came my way. My schedule was a nightmare and as a theatre practitioner, the rehearsals would usually run late into the night. Chasing deadlines as a scriptwriter and typing furiously away while my husband was already snoring away in bed was also not very beneficial to my health. So we made it a point to have more "date nights", and to go on relaxing holidays or even staycations. I also signed up for a spa package which included massages and facial treatments, just to pamper myself and make me at least look good on the outside even though I was completely broken on the inside. 'Til this very day, I actually still have 2 more sessions to go to but have yet to do so because I got the good news before the whole package was even completed :)

S - Sperm

Image from Imagine

When you are trying for a baby, sperm is an obvious factor in the equation, so it's not all on us women to get pregnant, remember that! You have to make sure that your significant other's swimmers are in tip top shape as well. Ask him to go for a fertility check-up, get him on a better diet and lifestyle, ask him to cut down on all his unhealthy habits, make sure he also takes his supplements & vitamins. He is as much a part of this as you are. Sure, he may not be going through the emotional turmoil you experience every month and he may never begin to understand what it's like as a woman to long for something so precious to you that seems so out of reach - but he should show his support by not only being there for you to cry on, but also to do his part to make this happen. Remember, you're both in this together.

T - Traditional Massage

Image from Imagine

Massages are awesome whether or not you are TTC, but some of the ones offered at spas and such are usually just to help relax you - which is good too because, well, refer to "R" above. But Traditional Massages are good for targeting specific health issues or concerns. Massages are really good for your blood flow as well. I was lucky that my husband's old neighbour he had while growing up happens to be a Traditional Indonesian Masseuse who actually specialises in Fertility Massages as well as Post-Natal Massages (which I also had shortly after I gave birth). So she was pretty much an old family friend and watched my husband grow up since we was a teenage boy. Ok, I'm not sure if that made the whole experience nicer for me or more awkward though, haha! The massage was fairly painless, but she did focus on my womb area and at one point pressed down so hard I thought I would have a really embarrassing accident right in her face. LOL!!!! Depending on where you live in the world, there should be Traditional Massage services offered somewhere - umm, with happy endings of the baby kind ;)

U - Understand Your Body

Image from Imagine

It's unfair when you see someone popping out babies practically every year and they lament about it not even being planned. It's unfair that they didn't even take supplements; Only ate bags of potato chips and drank soda by the litres; Smoked like a chimney; Drank like a fish; Know jacksh*t about TTC; Are considered medically obese; Did not even read this whole entire damn list. Yes, it sucks big time. How come they conceived so easily but you didn't? What did you do wrong? The answer is nothing - you did absolutely nothing wrong. We are all designed very differently and what works for others may not necessarily work for you. You are the only one who knows your own body. Some people can eat a whole tub of ice cream for dinner every single day and not gain a pound (B*TCHES!!). Whereas some merely inhale the sweet aroma of freshly baked doughnuts and our waistline increases by one size (story of my life). So the same goes for being able to conceive on the first try or after several years. You just have to understand what works for your body and what you feel would increase your chances of a positive outcome.

V - Vitamins

Image from Imagine

Before you even get pregnant, your body should be prepped and ready for the baby. So taking supplements and vitamins will not only be beneficial to your health, but it will also boost your fertility (this goes for both you and your significant other). Besides taking a fertility blend supplement, my husband and I were both advised to take Folic Acid. Apparently this improves the quality of sperm, and also helps cut down on any problems with producing eggs. Here is a list of other fertility supplements & vitamins you can find out more about and try (but please consult your Doctor before taking any of them):

Chaste Tree Berry
Red Clover
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Maca Root
Folic Acid
Iron
Magnesium
Vitamin E
Vitamin B
Siberian Ginseng
Lady's Mantle
Black Cohosh

W - Weight

Image from Imagine

I know it sucks to hear this, because a lot women have some sort of issue with their weight or body image in general. But yes, your weight can actually affect your chances of conceiving. If you are overweight or even underweight, then that needs to be corrected. Same goes for your significant other as well. This was quite annoying for me because I found that the fertility supplements I was taking were actually causing me to gain weight and plump up because my body was getting primed for a possible baby. But I guess if my weight wasn't on the higher end of the normal BMI range to begin with, a few extra pounds wouldn't have been enough to tip the scale. You can go here to calculate your BMI (Body Mass Index) to determine whether or not you are in the Normal (Healthy) range.

X - XXX

Image from Imagine

Umm, yes, I think you all know how to do the deed. But when TTC, there are a few more things you have to make note of. WHEN you do it, HOW you do it, and HOW OFTEN. I used to think that it you get busy every single day, that would increase our chances, right? Wrong! It's actually better to do it every other day, so it doesn't decrease the sperm count. The boys need time to recuperate too :P Now I'm not going to go into details about positions and stuff, but apparently if you prop a pillow under your hips afterwards, it might help to keep the sperm in. I totally did this as well. Some people don't believe this works and some doctors say it's all hogwash, but seriously, at this point in time, you're open to all ideas, right? Also, remember that sperm can live inside you for about 24 - 48 hours (1 - 2 days), but your egg usually hangs around for only 24 hours (1 day). So it's better if you have sex at least 1 day before you ovulate, because it's better for the boys to be hanging around eagerly waiting for Her Royal Majesty to arrive, rather than have her show up to an empty stage, get impatient and then storm off. I know, such a Rockstar, right? Haha!!

Y - Youth

Image from Imagine

Notice how the older you get, the louder your biological clock seems to tick? It's just nature's way of reminding you that if you want to have a baby, now's the time to do it! Women over the age of 35 might have a more difficult time getting pregnant because as we age, unfortunately our fertility also decreases. Now even though it may not be entirely impossible to conceive at that age and up, it is advisable to start trying before that, so as to avoid any difficulties. But I do speak from experience being a 20-something year at that time and still facing problems TTC, so sometimes you wonder whether this whole age thing is just bunch of bull. Doctors do advise though that the older you are, the more increased risks you have of developing pregnancy complications. That being said, I have some friends and relatives who have conceived and had healthy, normal pregnancies when they were pushing 40, and also know of other people who were still in their 20's and faced complications. So once again, maybe life is just being a d*ck. But if possible, yes, try to start TTC earlier than 35, just to be on the safe side and at least you will have more time to play with.

Z - Zzz's

Image from Imagine

Apparently you can increase your chances of conceiving if you get at least 7 - 8 hours of sleep every night. It's also good to establish a stable sleep routine of going to bed and waking up around the same time every day. The amount of sleep we get alters certain hormones in a way, which in turn affects our fertility. But that doesn't give you an excuse to be Sleeping Beauty and lie in 'til after lunch. If you get too much sleep, that could also do more than harm than good. So remember, get good quality sleep between 7 - 8 hours. No more, no less.


So there is my super long-winded (but hopefully helpful!) list of ABC's on how to get pregnant. I really hope it will benefit at least one person to read it. Please remember though that I am not a medically professional, and all the above-mentioned tips are from my own personal experience or research I gathered on my own TTC journey, so do consult your doctor before you follow any of the advice mentioned, or at least do your own thorough research.

If you have any more questions or just want to vent about how TTC can sometimes really suck ass, do leave a comment (or email me privately) and I'll be more than happy to reply. Good luck and babydust to all of you! :)

How To Dye Your Hair Green (Or Other Wild Colours!)

When you become a Mom, there are few expectations the conservative society seems to have of you. No more listening to heavy metal music? No more black t-shirts and tight jeans? No more wild hairstyles?
I don't think so.
What I wear and how I choose to present myself should not affect my parenting capabilities. It is not doing any harm to my child or anybody else for that matter, so I do not see why I should not continue to dress the way I did before I became someone's Mother.

For the longest time, I have always been experimenting with my hair and putting it through all sorts of torture treatments, including various hairtsyles, cuts, colours, lengths and umm, accessories:

My ever evolving hair

My personal take is that, it’s only hair anyway right? And whatever it is, it can grow back! Plus you can also opt to wear a cap/ hat/ beanie/ bandana/ sombrero if you do end up regretting shaving half your head and dyeing it neon pink. 

Well, my most recent hair escapade is to have it dyed GREEN - why not right? Since that is a lucky colour for Taurus!). As I have dark Asian hair, it is absolutely necessary for me to get it bleached prior to getting any sort of hair colour dyed in, because if not, then you won’t be able to see any other colour besides black. Total pain in the ass and I am very envious of all blonde people out there, JUST because I really hate getting my hair bleached. It can really screw up your hair texture and ends up damaging it to a certain degree no matter how much effort you put into maintaining it (and trust me, I am pretty vain and have a meticulous beauty regime and my bleached bits are still a little “crunchy” sometimes. UGH).

Anyway, not wanting to blind myself, or bleach uneven patches all over my head, I got it professionally done at the hair salon.

Ola. I am a Biker Mouse from Mars.

Umm. Yes. So hawt. LOL! They had to bleach my hair like, 3 times to get it light enough so that the dye colour can be seen. This salon also carried Manic Panic hair dye and kept asking me whether I wanted them to dye my hair there instead, but the price they were quoting was enough for me to buy about 8 tubs of dye online if I were to do it myself, so, no thank you!

I ordered some wild hair colours from La Riche Directions from my friend who is a seasoned pro with bleaching and dyeing her own hair on a regular basis and eagerly waited for the shipment to arrive. Meanwhile, I was actually sort of liking my bleached bits.

Caramel Custard Pudding Milk Tea

So when my dyes finally arrived, I decided on APPLE GREEN for the first try. It was super simple to apply and actually smells pretty nice!

STEP 1: Shampoo your hair and towel dry it. Do not put in any sort of hair product. You can actually skip this step ONLY if your hair isn’t super greasy or has hair products in it.

STEP 2: Wear plastic/ rubber gloves and scoop some hair dye out of the tub and into another container (a bowl is ideal).

STEP 3: Squeeze in some hair conditioner (any kind) and mix well. Do note that the conditioner is going to lighten the dye shade a little bit, so just figure out the exact shade  you want by adding in more or less of the dye.

STEP 4: Apply the hair dye using those applicator brushes. I couldn’t find mine so just used a small comb. Worked just fine for me. You can get a friend to help you with this just in case you miss a few spots (like how I did and then had to go back and reapply it again the next day. Duh).

STEP 5: Put on a a shower cap or just clip up your hair and wait for at least 15 minutes. I left mine in for about 2 hours. Apparantly it is even safe enough to leave on overnight (for LA RICHE DIRECTIONS, as far as I know. Not sure about other brands, so please double check first if you plan on doing that!).

STEP 6: Rinse out with cold water (Pro tip: Warm/ Hot water makes your scalp greasy), until the water runs fairly clear. Use a Colour-Protector shampoo and conditioner for the next few washes to help make the colour last.

Dyeing my hair GREEN!

I’m really happy with how my green hair turned out! It’s actually a bit brighter than what you see in the picture, and some parts are hidden (if the wind blows and reveals the inner right part of my hair, it’s super greeeeeen).

Going to my daughter's weekly playgroup, I wondered if the other Moms would judge me and still want to talk to me. I was mostly met with positive comments and enthusiastic compliments. And I also noticed a few nervous side-glances. It's alright, I don't really care what some people have to think or say. It's their right to think I'm an odd "alternative" Mom, just like how it's my right to dress how I jolly well want to. To each their own, right?

I still have “Atlantic Blue” sitting in my bathroom, and as my current Apple Green is slowly starting to wash away as the weeks go by, I’ll probably mix it in on top of the green and see what colour comes out.

Lucky Green Hair for this Taurus Mommy \m/

I hope you found this tutorial helpful. Do you think green hair suits me? What colour should I try next? Leave your suggestions in the Comments section and I may just try it next time! ;)

A Look in the Clouds: Modern Art OR Toddler Art?

I was watching a TV show today called, "My Kid Could Paint That", which is an old documentary from 2007 about a supposed child prodigy named Marla Olmstead who was 4 years old at the time and was creating beautiful paintings which were selling for tens of thousands of dollars (!!). At one point of the show, the gallery owner who was also a Realist Artist expressed his disdain for Modern Art and was frustrated as to why people would spend significantly more money on such art pieces, as opposed to paintings in his preferred style. I sort of agreed with him, but also reminded myself that art really is very subjective. What may come across as a hot mess on a piece of canvas, may appeal to others and be perceived by them as a wondrous masterpiece. The same goes for music, theatre/ movies, fashion and all that. 

BIGGIE - Sculpted by Gemini Grrl (Age 2)

To me, listening to Heavy Metal and Rock music actually makes me feel happier, it can even calm me down and just put me in a better mood. Of course there are also certain songs that will fire me up and invoke other feelings, but generally I like to listen to these genres of music because it speaks to my heart. Some people, on the other hand, wouldn't even consider it as music, citing it to be too noisy, scary, and that it promotes violence and anger. They find it strange that I don't listen to Jazz for example - but honestly, for some strange reason, Jazz makes me feel highly irritable and it really makes me feel like punching someone in the face. My Mom thinks I'm odd.

There was buyer of one of Marla's painting and he was describing what he could see from the random paint splodges of colour smeared on the canvas. At one corner, he could supposedly make out  a narrow pathway leading up to an open door, and the figure of a person inside the doorway, looking out; as well as another figure of a person outside, looking in. When he pointed that out, I started to see it too and was nodding along in agreement. But then he pointed up towards the "sky" part beyond the open doorway and said he could clearly make out a baby's face with the perfect details of the nose, eyes, mouth etc - much like on an ultrasound scan. That's where he lost me. It was a literal look in the clouds and he saw what he wanted to see. But if that was what he saw and that makes him happy enough to fork out a 4-figure cheque, then it's his prerogative. Maybe some people prefer their art to be open for interpretation? Something which allows their mind to wander and their imaginations to run wild? Perhaps Realist Art is too "final"for them - because it is what it is and there's no other way to interpret it. Not to say that a skyline of buildings or a luscious landscape is not as admirable as random splatters of paint, I definitely agree appreciate the amount of talent, hard work, patience and effort that goes into such paintings. But maybe some people don't want their art to be definite and enjoy seeing what they want to see.

RED TULIP - Painted by Gemini Grrl (Age 2)

I was a Drama (Theatre Arts) student back in college, but was also exposed to the other mediums of Art as part of my course, however, I do not claim to have much knowledge in the field of Visual Arts, neither can I fully understand nor appreciate paintings, sculptures and such. But I do understand that just like any other art form, if you truly pour your all into your work, then it will be shown in the final piece. Also, if you create art with wild abandonment, only then will you be able to capture the raw and honest reflections of your heart and soul. I remember there were points in time when I was forced to come up with a devised piece or write a new script under pressure, and would work hard to squeeze out my creative juices. But art does not work that way. You cannot force it out of you. It is not something you can just sit down and let it flow out if the inspiration is not there. Especially if you're stressing about how many credit points it's going to get you, what grades you will be marked for it, whether the audience will appreciate and understand it or would anyone pay good money for it? An Artist cannot overthink things. That is the problem a lot of adults face. 

But children on the other hand, have no inhibitions. Creating art comes naturally to them and it is often in the innocence of children's artwork that you can catch a glimpse of the purity of their souls. The happiness in their heart. The beautiful way they see the world through their eyes, which we adults sometimes forget about.

I WANT COOKIES - Painted by Gemini Grrl (Age 2)

When I watch my daughter painting or drawing with crayons, there is this peaceful calm in her face as she concentrates on creating her masterpiece. It may not be the work of a child prodigy, but it makes me smile just seeing how relaxed and happy she is transferring her ideas onto paper. When she's done, she will proudly show me her work and I would ask her about the things she has drawn. Sometimes it is "a baby cat eating and it starts to rain", sometimes it is "Mommy is very happy and smiling", sometimes it is "a purple carrot in the garden". Sometimes I can't even make out what exactly it is. And sometimes even she doesn't know what exactly it is. But there are also times when I get myself excited because I think I can see a wonderful toddler's interpretation of Modern Art, so I snap 199 pictures of it and upload it for all my friends to see and give me their feedback whether they see the same thing I do - or do I just need to calm down and get my eyes checked.

OILY MAN - Painted by Gemini Grrl (Age 2)

There is a funny quiz online which asks if you can tell the difference between Modern Art and Toddlers' Art. I scored 5/11. Yikes. But apparantly when ABCNews asked Artists and an Art Historian to take this test, they didn't score too well either. So maybe, just for fun, I should submit Gemini Grrl's artwork to a gallery somewhere and hope that someone sees the value in them as much as I do? :P What do you think? Am I delusional? Can you make out the same things I can in her creations below? Let me know in the comments. I'd love to hear your feedback!

BLUE JAY - Painted by Gemini Grrl (Age 2)

DIY Portable Dollhouse: Tutorial for Handmade Miniature Furniture (BONUS! Video)

(Handmade LPS Portable Dollhouse)

I have always been fascinated with all things miniature and would pretend I had a little faery friend who I would someday build a house for. Well, ever since my little baby faery daughter was born (aka: Gemini Grrl), I have been putting my craft skills to work and have enjoyed coming up with homemade activities, DIY projects and other fun games we can do together.

My recent project was this portable/ carry-along dollhouse for a vintage Littlest Pet Shop Bobble-Head Siamese Cat (from the 2004 LPS Portable Pet Series), which I used to play with (please don't do the math. I still collected and played with toys well past my teenage years. Haha!), but have since passed down to my daughter. It came with a tiny pink pet carrier, but we decided that kitty needed a bigger place to call home.

I have made a few dollhouses out of old chocolate boxes and shoeboxes, but when I saw a few posts online of portable dollhouses using mini paper suitcases, they looked so adorable and I loved how we could easily bring them out with us to keep Gemini Grrl occupied when we're over at friend's house, or eating at a restaurant, etc. It was really fun to make and I got her to help pick out the wallpaper/ flooring, choose the decals, the various colours of things, the placement of certain items, and what exactly she would like in the house. She also helped to glue some bits (using child-safe school glue) and it took us only one day to get everything done (with breaks in between for snacks, lunch and naptime).

(The outside of the mini paper suitcase is blue with orange, red, green & yellow stars)

Below is a tutorial of how exactly I made the dollhouse.
But if you prefer, you can also watch a short & sweet tutorial video I made :)

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Mini Paper Suitcase

Scissors

Pencil

Superglue

Gift Wrap Paper or Scrap Book Paper

Cotton Wool

Drinking Straw

Toothpicks or Matchsticks

Popsicle Sticks

Various Bits of Fabric

Scrap Book Decals

Stickers

Magazine Cut-Outs

String or Wool

Letter Beads

Small Empty Boxes

Cupcake Liner

Craft Foam

(You can easily glue your wallpaper & flooring to the insides, if it is made of paper like this one)

You can either choose the same piece of gift wrap paper/ scrap book paper for both the wallpaper and the flooring, or you can do what we did and use two different pieces. Our wallpaper is light yellow with little trees, teal silhouettes of deer and tiny white flowers. Our flooring is white with green, red and yellow triangles. You can also use any kind of fabric or even felt for your flooring, to make it more like a carpet instead. I got both gift-wrap papers from a knick-knack shop near my house for 40 cents each (3 rolls for $1). This is partly why I have a seriously hoarding problem when it comes to gift-wrap! Put the mini paper suitcase on the the gift-wrap paper and trace around it with a pencil. Cut it to size to fit on the insides. I had to trim it a few times because the outside of the house is obviously a little bit bigger than the inside, but it wasn't too hard to do. 

(The cosy little bed with pictures on the wall)

I used an empty (plus washed & dried!) mini drink box and wrapped it up in a preloved baby washcloth that has been sitting in Gemini Grrl's bottom drawer for a while now, and glued it together. The pillow is a wad of facial cotton (the kind that you use to remove make-up), wrapped up in a small piece of fabric (also cut up from an old baby washcloth) and glued shut. The bed's headboard is a little craft foam decal used for scrap-booking, which I dug out of my collection of bits & bobs. You can use whatever you already have or cut out a nice picture from a magazine.

(Who's the fairest of them all?)

The picture frame directly above the bed's headboard (Je t'aime), is made out of toothpicks, but you can also use matchsticks. Just trim the length to fit around your chosen picture (mine was cut out from a magazine) and glue it directly onto the edges of the picture. I added a little craft foam heart at the corner there just to make it look even nicer, and glued the frame directly onto the wall.

The same method applies to the mirror on the other side of the room as well. I just so happened to have a piece of reflective paper which I tore out from a magazine years ago (seriously, I think it was actually 10 years ago! I told you I am a hoarder). You can also paint or colour in the frame to make it even prettier. The other picture on the wall of the crown with a heart in a middle, is actually a bottle-cap decal mixed in with my loot bag of craft stuff which I won from an online competition. SO happy with the stuff I got :)
Oh, and the round rug in front of the mirror is actually the liner from a Ferrero Rocher chocolate, but you can also use any other cupcake liner, or a piece of fabric.

(Itadakimasu!)

The base of the table is an old plastic bottle top and I glued this glittery yellow craft foam circle on as the table top. The dining chair is the top of a vitamin bottle (the seal thingy that you remove from the inside). The irritatingly cute sushi are actually erasers I got as a set from a dollar store. I know I can also make the miniature food myself, but I have a weakness for these things when I see them in the shops. They actually give me inspiration for my next dollhouse creation.

(Rub a dub dub)

I hope you can see the details on this one. The bathtub itself is cut out of a mini cereal box, and wrapped with some gift-wrap paper. The bottom of the bathtub (inside) is a magazine clipping, and so is the row of shampoo/ conditioner/ soap/ sponge. The shower is a bendy drinking straw. The taps are letter beads (H for Hot and C for Cold water). The pink towel is cut out from another old baby washcloth. And last but not least, the bathmat is a craft foam heart.
I actually glued down all the furniture in this dollhouse, so just a tip if you intend to do that - remember not to glue things too close to the edge because you won't be able to close the lid. Umm, I speak from experience. Haha. Next time I make a dollhouse, I probably won't glue the furniture down though, because my daughter got pretty annoyed that she couldn't rearrange stuff. I only did it this time because this was a portable dollhouse and I didn't want anything to fall out and get lost outside.
Oh, I also want to point out the magazine clipping of grass in the background around the edges there, which I glued on for fun. Yes, my kitty's bathroom is outdoors apparantly. Nevermind! :P

(The other side of the bedroom)

Really, the sky's the limit! Just use whatever you already have and go with the flow! I glued on a popsicle stick as a shelf and then wondered where to go next with this little corner of the room. But then discovered some darling little dress decals and decided to glue them onto a string of wool. I didn't glue the dresses onto the wall though, so they sort of flap around if you poke them. The two tiny cupcakes on the shelf are so random, I know, but they were in my craft bag and they were too cute not to use.

(Scrapbooking bits & bobs)

It's good to have lots of bits and bobs of scrap-book decals, magazine cut-outs, stickers and all that. I just squirrel them away, hoping that they'll be of use some day and sure enough, they definitely were! Don't stress yourself out over how to make it perfect. When you're having fun, the ideas will naturally come to you. You are only limited by your own imagination, so don't overthink it and just experiment.

If you want to see a video tour of this portable dollhouse, as well as the tutorial, do check out our video on Youtube. Please remember to Subscribe to our channel as well and do let us know in the comments if you would like to see more of our dollhouse creations! :)

★☆ WATCH THE DOLLHOUSE TOUR AND HANDMADE MINIATURE FURNITURE TUTORIAL HERE! ☆★